Two major NGO coalitions join opposition to NGO Act

Two major international NGO coalitions have expressed support for their Tanzanian counterparts who oppose the country's NGO Act, due to enter into force before the end of October, because it would impose "serious restrictions to freedoms of association and expression". In an open letter to Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, the International Federation for Human Rights and the World Organisation against Torture - in the framework of their joint programme, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders - warned that several provisions of the proposed act contravene the Tanzanian constitution, the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Observatory singled out for particular criticism the fact that the act called for criminal sanctions against NGOs that did not register with the government; aligning NGO activities with government plans, contrary to the non-governmental nature of NGOs; and prohibiting national networks and coalitions of NGOs. "The Observatory is very concerned with the provisions contained in the NGO Act [and] considers that this legislation demonstrates a desire of the Tanzanian authorities to control the activities of NGOs and interfere with their work," the Observatory said. "The Observatory urges Your Excellency to take the necessary measures so that the NGO Act is not enforced and to return it to the competent authorities in order to amend it, so as to ensure the full respect of freedoms of association and expression, in accordance with international and national human rights instruments," it added. [For the complete letter, go to www.fidh.org] [See also earlier IRIN story, "NGOs repeat call for NGO Act to be reviewed"]