The Netherlands Institute of Southern Africa (NIZA), formerly the Dutch-based Eduardo Mondlane Institute, Holland Committee on Southern Africa and Anti-Apartheid Movement Netherlands, hereby expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Carlos Cardoso, one of Mozambique's most significant journalists, who was brutally assassinated on Wednesday, the 22nd of November 2000.

Cardoso was a well-known and highly respected journalist in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He was known for his unwavering commitment to the watchdog role of the media, for his role in helping to legally establish media freedom in Mozambique and for his originality of thought and analysis in respect of important matters of public debate.

NIZA believes, along with the journalists of Mozambique, that the brutal attack on Cardoso is in principle an attack on the rights of all journalists to report without fear or favour on any persons and institutions that are accountable to the Mozambican public.

NIZA calls on the organised journalism and media freedom groups in Mozambique to do their utmost to ensure that the assassination of their colleague is speedily and thoroughly investigated and that his murderers, including those who gave the orders, are arrested and punished to the full extent of the Mozambican law.

In view of the fact that Cardoso investigated corruption in important Mozambican government institutions, such as the attorney-general's office, it is NIZA's view that an international commission of inquiry would help to lend credibility to the findings of any investigation into his death. As an independent and international NGO who works in support of the role of a free and independent media in the countries of Southern Africa, NIZA would be willing to appoint a representative to such a commission if requested. NIZA would also be willing to consider other means of material and moral assistance in support of efforts to protect Mozambican journalists and freedom of expression against such attacks in future.