Msoni Slams Treason Charges on Barotse Activists Political activist Nason Msoni says the wholesome charging of Barotse activists with treason is ridiculous and an act of injustice. Commenting on government’s charging the 53 Barotse activists with treason; Msoni said government should exercise restraint in the manner it slapped the charge of treason as it had the potential to ruin innocent lives if misapplied. “The wholesome charging of the more than 53 Barotse activists with the offence of treason is irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour by the Zambian government,” he said. “Charges of treason should always be reviewed to ensure that suspects are not abused and charged wrongly by those who seek to use the state apparatus to pursue their own vindictive activities by slapping the charge of treason indiscriminately.” He said the Barotse activists’ had been punished for pressing for discourse on a subject that should be open for public discourse. “We still feel that the alleged offence does not merit and meet the threshold of treason in the true sense. The parameter of democracy is wide and open to bouncing-off ideas and therefore we think it is criminal conduct on the part of government to stifle open debate with the use of state sponsored violence by arresting the advocates indiscriminately,” he said. Msoni wondered what would happen in the event that government withdrew the case through a nolle after the accused had already suffered wrongful detention. “We think holding them indefinitely and later entering the infamous nolle pros-quo is terrible injustice to the detainee,” he said. He urged the government to review its charge of the detainees and consider dialogue as a way of solving the pressing problem. “Accordingly we urge government to reconsider the outrageous charge slapped on the barotse detainees,” he said. “We think injustice on these fine young men is injustice on everyone and everywhere.” zambiareports/2013/09/15/msoni-slams-treason-charges-on-barotse-activists/
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 06:46:15 +0000
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