Something doesn't add up in the following report (a cross-post from IPP’s The Guardian)
Autopsy report on Emeliana Gaspa Maro (46) a woman who allegedly died at the hands of law enforcement agents in Babati district, indicate that she died from neurological shock caused by severe pain sustained from blunt objects or hard surface trauma, The Guardian has learnt.
The findings are the result of a week-long investigation conducted by this paper in collaboration with the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) in Dar es Salaam.
The inquiry was prompted by allegations of widespread abductions and torture of innocenet civilians by officials empowered
Autopsy report on Emeliana Gaspa Maro (46) a woman who allegedly died at the hands of law enforcement agents in Babati district, indicate that she died from neurological shock caused by severe pain sustained from blunt objects or hard surface trauma, The Guardian has learnt.
The findings are the result of a week-long investigation conducted by this paper in collaboration with the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) in Dar es Salaam.
The inquiry was prompted by allegations of widespread abductions and torture of innocenet civilians by officials empowered
to run the anti-poaching campaign, ‘Tomeza Ujangili’.
Emeliana’s husband, Eliasi Cosmas Kabuga was arrested on suspicions of poaching and illegal possession of firearms.
It is alleged that on October 14 this year, police officers in collaboration with game reserve militia, Field Force Units and the TPDF stormed into Elias’ residence around midnight and arrested him.
“So Emeliana went to check her husband at the Babati Police station, but she was not able to find him,” our source reports.
“Later that day she too was taken by officers from her home and a few hours later they returned her badly wounded with severe injuries, she looked like she had been beaten horribly,” the source narrates.
The source went on to explain that the officials searched their house and compound digging up areas of the ground but recovered nothing but still left with Emeliana.
A phone call from the OCCID on October 18th, to family reported that Emeliana had died and that Elias was now legible for bail.
Before accepting to take the deceased body from police for burial, relatives requested for an autopsy to find out the cause of death. Allowed to follow the postmortem conducted by three doctors were two relatives, her husband and a selected committee member.
Dr. Gabriel Sonno one of the three doctors during the autopsy said: “The other possible cause of death, is hypertension because the referral report from the Tarangire Hospital indicated that she had high blood pressure,”
It is the blood pressure issue that prompted Tarangire Hospital doctors to refer her to Mrara hospital where a staff (anonymous) said Emiliana was already dead when they received her on October 17 at around 12 midnight.
“The anti-poaching operations are likely to abuse power due to lack of professionalism,” admitted the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Robert Manumba while talking to a team from the LHRC.
He also said: “Protecting wild animals does not give leeway to break rules and regulations…we have tried to intervene in the situation, but it is hard because of the variety of agents involved in the operation.”
Manyara regional police commander, Akili Mpwapwa, has confirmed reports of abductions and torture conducted under the umbrella of operation Tokomeza Ujangili.
He also admitted that to having received reports of the death of Emeliana and announced that investigations are on going.
The anti-poaching operation has raised public criticism following allegations of major law violations by the entrusted security organs. Several people are reported to have died or rather (pending investigations) killed.
Others have allegedly disappeared mysteriously and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Emeliana’s husband, Eliasi Cosmas Kabuga was arrested on suspicions of poaching and illegal possession of firearms.
It is alleged that on October 14 this year, police officers in collaboration with game reserve militia, Field Force Units and the TPDF stormed into Elias’ residence around midnight and arrested him.
“So Emeliana went to check her husband at the Babati Police station, but she was not able to find him,” our source reports.
“Later that day she too was taken by officers from her home and a few hours later they returned her badly wounded with severe injuries, she looked like she had been beaten horribly,” the source narrates.
The source went on to explain that the officials searched their house and compound digging up areas of the ground but recovered nothing but still left with Emeliana.
A phone call from the OCCID on October 18th, to family reported that Emeliana had died and that Elias was now legible for bail.
Before accepting to take the deceased body from police for burial, relatives requested for an autopsy to find out the cause of death. Allowed to follow the postmortem conducted by three doctors were two relatives, her husband and a selected committee member.
Dr. Gabriel Sonno one of the three doctors during the autopsy said: “The other possible cause of death, is hypertension because the referral report from the Tarangire Hospital indicated that she had high blood pressure,”
It is the blood pressure issue that prompted Tarangire Hospital doctors to refer her to Mrara hospital where a staff (anonymous) said Emiliana was already dead when they received her on October 17 at around 12 midnight.
“The anti-poaching operations are likely to abuse power due to lack of professionalism,” admitted the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Robert Manumba while talking to a team from the LHRC.
He also said: “Protecting wild animals does not give leeway to break rules and regulations…we have tried to intervene in the situation, but it is hard because of the variety of agents involved in the operation.”
Manyara regional police commander, Akili Mpwapwa, has confirmed reports of abductions and torture conducted under the umbrella of operation Tokomeza Ujangili.
He also admitted that to having received reports of the death of Emeliana and announced that investigations are on going.
The anti-poaching operation has raised public criticism following allegations of major law violations by the entrusted security organs. Several people are reported to have died or rather (pending investigations) killed.
Others have allegedly disappeared mysteriously and their whereabouts remain unknown.
No comments:
Post a Comment