INTRODUCTION

On Saturday, 27th January, 2001 a number of our fellow citizens were shot by the police of the brutal dictatorial regime of Tanganyika in Zanzibar. These killings were conducted by the government's members of police force, army and other para-military units, in what was said as to stop the illegal demonstrations organized by the opposition party.

These demonstrations were planned to be held countrywide to demand for fresh elections in Zanzibar. So there were demonstrations in Dar-es-Salaam and other regions in the mainland Tanzania, or Tanganyika. However, prior to the demonstration day, tense situation started to form when the led government banned them saying that it was illegal. This was also illegal as the law does not require political parties to ask permission to hold rallies, and opposition determined to hold-on their decision. 

Opposition party activists took to the streets on Saturday. Their they were received by the clubs and tear gas from the police. But the situation in Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba Island) was different. The police, who were  sent to Zanzibar to wait for this day, responded with live bullets, and tear gas. The people started to defend their lives. They responded with stones and what  could come in front of them. The situation was even worse in Pemba where people are tired of the brutal police, who are employed to the island from time to time. It is said that people started to attack the police stations. Then the police sent helicopters and stated to drop tear bombs to the crowds. More police from Tanganyika were sent to the island.

The sad part of the story is that, even when people took shelter in their houses, the police invaded their houses, bet, tortured, raped, shot and stole their property. Those who were injured were not accepted in the government hospitals, and thus left to bled to death.  The relatives of the dead were not allowed to go and burry their dead. More people were detained and tortured. Another story says that some people tried to take the injured to Kenya for treatment in fishing boats, nut the police helicopter spotted them and dropped grenades.

Up to now, (30 Jan.) the true death toll is not known as the government is trying to cover-up the situation from the international community. The government keeps the number as 19, but most of the private media give it as at least 40.

It is important to note here that similar demonstartions were held in other parts of Tanganyika, but police used common sense to disperse the crowd. NO DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPOTED.

An injured man from Pemba is attended to at the Msambweni Hospital

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