US embassy cable - 04MAPUTO464

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000464 
 
SIPDIS 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KCRM, MZ, Trafficking in Persons 
SUBJECT: ALLEGATIONS AND ACCUSATIONS IN NAMPULA: UNCOVERING 
THE TRUTH ABOUT TRAFFICKING IN ORGANS AND CHILDREN 
 
1. Summary: Allegations of trafficking in human organs and 
children in the northern provincial capital of Nampula have 
riveted the public's attention for the past several months 
and received wide-spread press coverage. In the middle of the 
firestorm is a foreign couple accused of trafficking in 
organs by a Brazilian missionary. Following weeks of 
sensationalistic articles slanted against the couple, the 
climate has begun to change as the press has acknowledged 
that the couple may have been the victims of rumors and 
unfounded allegations. An investigation by the Attorney 
General's office found no evidence to support the accusations 
against the couple. High-ranking government officials and 
opposition party leaders in Maputo and the provinces have 
weighed-in on the case, with both parties calling for 
enhanced measures to investigate and prosecute traffickers. 
The case has been discussed twice in the National Assembly. 
While a number of international organizations and high-level 
government officials have questioned the accuracy of the 
allegations, criticism of the investigation undertaken by the 
Attorney General's office has been widespread. End Summary. 
 
2. The allegations leveled against the foreign couple (the 
husband is South African, the wife is Danish) stem from a 
single source: a Brazilian missionary named Maria Elialda dos 
Santos. The couple are neighbors of dos Santos and own a 
successful poultry project in Nampula. The case first 
attracted public attention in December, when the couple were 
detained by local authorities on trafficking charges and 
spent several days in jail. The couple was released due to a 
lack of evidence and the intervention of the Danish 
Ambassador. Post contacts in Nampula who know the couple 
personally have categorically stated that they are innocent 
and are being framed by Ms. dos Santos over a land dispute. 
 
3. In response to the allegations, the Attorney General's 
office sent several teams of investigators to Nampula, 
including the country's leading forensic doctor. Local police 
and investigators have also been working on the case. The 
preliminary report on the investigations found no evidence of 
trafficking in human organs. However, the report did not 
specifically clear the couple of the charges. The 
investigation on allegations of trafficking in children, 
based principally on charges of missing or "disappeared" 
children, were inconclusive. Investigations are on-going. The 
Attorney General's report has been widely criticized by the 
press, religious groups, local NGOs and the opposition party 
RENAMO, who have questioned publicly the credibility of the 
investigation. 
 
3. The Attorney General's annual report to the National 
Assembly on the country's legal system, presented on March 9, 
focused extensively on the Nampula case. While Attorney 
General Madeira noted during his remarks that there was no 
evidence to support the allegations of trafficking in human 
organs, he did not fully vindicate the foreign couple. In 
fact, he stated only that the investigation did not 
"categorically" prove that the couple was involved in the 
alleged crimes and called for a continuation of the 
investigation. The Nampula case was also cited during the 
opening session of the National Assembly on March 1. During 
the session, Manual Tome, Head of the FRELIMO parliamentary 
bench, urged a professional and thorough investigation of the 
case and noted the Assembly's "willingness and readiness" to 
work towards the adoption of anti-trafficking legislation. 
 
4. Comment: The Nampula case has served to highlight both the 
lack of education about trafficking in persons among civil 
society and many government officials, and the power that 
traditional beliefs still hold in Mozambique. NGOs and 
government programs on trafficking in Mozambique have focused 
almost exclusively on children, reflecting, in part, concerns 
stemming from a tradition of child migration and abuse in the 
country. Yet, international organizations such as the 
International Organization on Migration (IOM), which produced 
a report on trafficking in Southern Africa in 2003, found 
that a significant number of cases of trafficking in 
Mozambique involve women. On the positive side, the Nampula 
case has served to raise public awareness about trafficking 
and may well prompt the adoption of more aggressive 
government policies to investigate and prosecute traffickers, 
including the adoption of desperately needed anti-trafficking 
legislation. However, given the lack of financial and 
technical resources within the government on trafficking 
issues, international assistance will likely be required for 
the development and implementation of effective policies or 
programs. 
LA LIME