Nuns in danger for exposure
2004-02-13 11:33
Lisbon - Four Roman Catholic missionary nuns living in Mozambique said on Thursday they had received threats after exposing an organ trafficking network involving children in the province where they are based.
"We have received some very clear threats," Sister Juliana, of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate order, told a public radio station in Portugal. "It is the entire community of nuns that is suffering through this tragedy."
The four nuns, one Spaniard and four Brazilians who have been living in northern Mozambique for 30 years, last week denounced in the Spanish press an alleged network of organ traffickers near their convent in the town of Nampula.
Dead children
They said they had gathered testimony from would-be victims of the network who managed to escape and had photographs of dead children with missing organs.
"Several countries are involved in this traffic," Sister Juliana said. "We are convinced that Nampula is part of an international ring.
"The world must react to what is happening here."
Attempts to abduct children
According to the nuns, cases of missing children and adults have increased in Mozambique since January. They said there have also been several attempts to abduct children from the orphanage they run in Nampula.
Spain's ambassador to Mozambique and the European Union's Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Antonio Vitorino have reportedly been made aware of the situation.