BAK
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- Feb 11, 2007
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Tuesday, April 14 2015 at 11:55
In Summary
In their letter to State House, the activists say they are saddened by Parliament for passing the bills without removing articles that contradict the current Mother Law and violates human rights at large.
Dar es Salaam
A combination of 50 human rights groups have officially presented a letter to President Jakaya Kikwete asking him not to sign into law the newly passed Statistics and Cybercrime bills.
In their letter to State House, the activists say they are saddened by Parliament for passing the bills without removing articles that contradict the current Mother Law and violates human rights at large.
They called upon President Jakaya Kikwete not to sign the bills into law, saying the move would shed a negative light on the open government initiative efforts that he has been championing since he came into power.
"We are calling on you Mr President to hear this public outcry before you sign these bills into laws as we know you have been a champion of freedom of opinion," reads part of the letter.
The letter, signed by 50 human rights groups, civil societies and legal aid centres noted that assenting to the bills was discouraging citizen journalism as well as adding draconian laws to the already existing ones. The groups say the mentioned bills if signed into law would violate the existing Constitution and grabs people their constitutional rights.
They dispute that the Statistics Act gives more powers to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and by signing into law such a bill then the country would be disqualifying any research information given by institutions and academic centres a point they said was not supposed to be found in a democratic country like Tanzania.
They added that the new law has come to erase and discourage any research work done by private and public institutions.
"In total, the new law has come to wipe away all the research work done by institutions and media houses in the country and all will now be required to get confirmation from National Bureau of Statistics," reads part of the letter which was obtained by this paper.
The letter, according to the country coordinator for the Tanzanian Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa, was handed to a secretary at the State House's reception yesterday.
When contacted to confirm receiving the letter, the director of Presidential Communications, Mr Salvar Rweyemamu, said he had not received the document, saying it might be on its way to his desk.
He added that it was not appropriate to force the President not to sign the bills because they have undergone a legal process in Parliament of which thePresident is just supposed to assent to.
He said it is better for the groups to wait for the president to sign and then they should begin a process to change or challenge them instead of forcing the president who is just fulfilling legal procedures.
"Why should the president enter into a constitutional crisis with parliament when all the legal processes to pass the laws were followed", said Mr Rweyemamu.
Las week the activists said they are looking at the possibility of going to court if President Kikwete will sign the bills into law.
They said they are sorting out some few things as they await government response as well as ponder the next move which is going to court protesting the signing of the new laws.
Tized, Mr Rocky, Fixed Point, lyinga, NATA, Chakaza, Elly B, Ablessed, Michelle, KikulachoChako, Emma, EMT, Daudi Mchambuzi, Arushaone, MziziMkavu, Ablessed, afrodenzi, Heaven on Earth, Power to the People, Jasusi, Eiyer, idawa, nguruvi, Mentor, Sikonge, Dingswayo, MANI, tpaul, Bramo, Bulesi Bulldog, Sangarara, MTAZAMO, Erythrocyte, Mag3, Mimibaba, zumbemkuu, Crashwise, amkawewe, Idimi, Ogah, Chakaza, mshana jr, JokaKuu, MWALLA, genekai, PRINCE CROWN, Tuko, Shark, lynxeffect22, samaki2011, MoudyBoka, adolay, Elli, nyabhingi, Janjaweed, S.N.Jilala, MEANDU, Tabby, Candid Scope, Honolulu, August, dyuteromaikota, BONGOLALA, Gefu, Bigirita, Kozo Okamoto, Shark, mirisho pm, Camp 05, Ngoami, Kamakabuzi, jerrytz
In Summary
In their letter to State House, the activists say they are saddened by Parliament for passing the bills without removing articles that contradict the current Mother Law and violates human rights at large.
Dar es Salaam
A combination of 50 human rights groups have officially presented a letter to President Jakaya Kikwete asking him not to sign into law the newly passed Statistics and Cybercrime bills.
In their letter to State House, the activists say they are saddened by Parliament for passing the bills without removing articles that contradict the current Mother Law and violates human rights at large.
They called upon President Jakaya Kikwete not to sign the bills into law, saying the move would shed a negative light on the open government initiative efforts that he has been championing since he came into power.
"We are calling on you Mr President to hear this public outcry before you sign these bills into laws as we know you have been a champion of freedom of opinion," reads part of the letter.
The letter, signed by 50 human rights groups, civil societies and legal aid centres noted that assenting to the bills was discouraging citizen journalism as well as adding draconian laws to the already existing ones. The groups say the mentioned bills if signed into law would violate the existing Constitution and grabs people their constitutional rights.
They dispute that the Statistics Act gives more powers to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and by signing into law such a bill then the country would be disqualifying any research information given by institutions and academic centres a point they said was not supposed to be found in a democratic country like Tanzania.
They added that the new law has come to erase and discourage any research work done by private and public institutions.
"In total, the new law has come to wipe away all the research work done by institutions and media houses in the country and all will now be required to get confirmation from National Bureau of Statistics," reads part of the letter which was obtained by this paper.
The letter, according to the country coordinator for the Tanzanian Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa, was handed to a secretary at the State House's reception yesterday.
When contacted to confirm receiving the letter, the director of Presidential Communications, Mr Salvar Rweyemamu, said he had not received the document, saying it might be on its way to his desk.
He added that it was not appropriate to force the President not to sign the bills because they have undergone a legal process in Parliament of which thePresident is just supposed to assent to.
He said it is better for the groups to wait for the president to sign and then they should begin a process to change or challenge them instead of forcing the president who is just fulfilling legal procedures.
"Why should the president enter into a constitutional crisis with parliament when all the legal processes to pass the laws were followed", said Mr Rweyemamu.
Las week the activists said they are looking at the possibility of going to court if President Kikwete will sign the bills into law.
They said they are sorting out some few things as they await government response as well as ponder the next move which is going to court protesting the signing of the new laws.
Tized, Mr Rocky, Fixed Point, lyinga, NATA, Chakaza, Elly B, Ablessed, Michelle, KikulachoChako, Emma, EMT, Daudi Mchambuzi, Arushaone, MziziMkavu, Ablessed, afrodenzi, Heaven on Earth, Power to the People, Jasusi, Eiyer, idawa, nguruvi, Mentor, Sikonge, Dingswayo, MANI, tpaul, Bramo, Bulesi Bulldog, Sangarara, MTAZAMO, Erythrocyte, Mag3, Mimibaba, zumbemkuu, Crashwise, amkawewe, Idimi, Ogah, Chakaza, mshana jr, JokaKuu, MWALLA, genekai, PRINCE CROWN, Tuko, Shark, lynxeffect22, samaki2011, MoudyBoka, adolay, Elli, nyabhingi, Janjaweed, S.N.Jilala, MEANDU, Tabby, Candid Scope, Honolulu, August, dyuteromaikota, BONGOLALA, Gefu, Bigirita, Kozo Okamoto, Shark, mirisho pm, Camp 05, Ngoami, Kamakabuzi, jerrytz
