On 19 January 2000, a member of the Angolan parliament and member of the ruling MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) party, Mendes de Carvalho, issued a death threat against journalist Rafael Marques during a parliamentary debate. Speaking during a parliamentary debate on freedom of the press and of expression in Angola, De […]
On 19 January 2000, a member of the Angolan parliament and member of the ruling MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) party, Mendes de Carvalho, issued a death threat against journalist Rafael Marques during a parliamentary debate.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on freedom of the press and of expression in Angola, De Carvalho stated that if Marques continued to criticize in writing the president of the republic, he will not live to the age of forty. Marques is twenty-eight.
To date, neither the president nor the ruling party have commented on or distanced themselves from De Carvalho’s comments.
Following is the full text of a letter by Marques to the president of the Angolan National Assembly, Roberto de Alameda.
Luanda, January 24 2000
His Excellency President of the National Assembly
Mr. Roberto de Alameda
C/C:
– His Excellency President of the Republic
Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos
– Dear Mr. João Lourenço
Secretary General of MPLA
– Dear Mr. Bornito de Sousa
President of MPLA Parliamentary Group
– Dear Mr. Mendes de Carvalho
MPLA Member of Parliament
Excellency
As a citizen of Angola, it is an honour to request Your good offices in publicly condemning – and dissociating Yourself, the Parliament and the MPLA from – the death threat issued against me last Wednesday, January 19, 2000, by the Honourable Mr. Mendes de Carvalho, Member of Parliament and of the MPLA.
As you are no doubt aware, in remarks offered during a parliamentary debate concerning freedom of the press and of expression in Angola, Mr. Mendes de Carvalho stated, in substance, that, if I continue to criticize in writing the President of the Republic, I will not live to the age of 40. I am 28 years old at present.
The statement of Mr. Carvalho – which was broadly disseminated on national media – concerns me as a human being who would like to live to a ripe old age, as a journalist committed to freedom of thought, and as a citizen convinced that, as the supreme legislative body in a democratic country, Parliament – and its members – must guarantee the rights and freedom of all citizens, in compliance with the law and the Constitution.
I am even more troubled by the fact that Your Excellency, president of the Parliament, has at no time since January 19 made clear that threats to the life of a dissenting citizen – by anyone, including a member of Parliament – are not acceptable in a democracy. Surely the role of Parliament is to protect, and not to endanger, the right to life.
At the same time, I am disappointed by the failure to date of the office of the President of the Republic, the leadership of the MPLA parliamentary group, and the leadership of the political opposition, to dissociate themselves from the threat against my life.
Your Excellency, I want to live more than 100 years without giving up my rights of citizenship.
As the president, himself, declared in his speech of November 11 1999, “No politician, no journalist is above the Law”. Therefore, let it be so, and have my acts judged by the Laws, and not by a “death sentence” which is invisible to the current Laws of the country.
Since Mr. Mendes de Carvalho made his threatening statement, my life has become a matter of profound concern to my family, friends and fellow country-men and -women who are supportive of my plight.
The ensuing silence of Your Excellency, and other high government and political bodies, makes me fear the impending execution of this public death sentence.
I will carry on with my normal life. In the meantime, any attempts against my life will be the primary responsibility of the Parliament presided over by Your Excellency – the same Parliament in which Mr. Carvalho’s threatening message issued.
Thank you very much for your attention and I wish you success in your mission of democracy for Angola.
Respectfully,
Rafael Marques
(Poet and Independent Journalist)
Address: Rua Manuel de Vasconcelos, 68
(Largo do Cine Corimba)
Bairro Azul, Luanda
