(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned over the comments made by the Minister of Social Communication, Hendrik Vaal Neto, in an interview carried on state radio on 1 June 1999. Neto’s comments are particularly alarming because this is not the first time that the Angolan authorities have warned of a crackdown against journalists who are […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned over the comments made by the Minister
of Social Communication, Hendrik Vaal Neto, in an interview carried on state
radio on 1 June 1999.
Neto’s comments are particularly alarming because this is not the first time
that the Angolan authorities have warned of a crackdown against journalists
who are “unpatriotic” or allegedly “inciting treason.” At the same time
there has been a marked increase in both the frequency and the seriousness
of reported attacks on the media in Angola since late 1998, when the
breakdown of the Lusaka Protocol peace accords led to a resumption of the
civil war.
**Updates IFEX alert of 8 June 1999**
On 1 March, the Ministry of Social Communication announced that reporting on
draft evasion would be considered a criminal act, and that journalists who
disregarded this would “face the sanction of the law, including, among
others, the cancellation of the license to publish and withdrawal of the
license to broadcast.”
On 3 April, William Tonet, editor of the independent newspaper “Folha 8”,
was interrogated for several hours at the Criminal Investigation Department
in Luanda. The military attorney’s office had earlier alleged that certain
articles published in Tonet’s newspaper were inciting young men to evade
military duty, and that they insulted the Angolan government. An
investigating officer wanted Tonet to reveal his sources, and accused him of
jeopardizing state security. To date, no formal charges have been made
against Tonet.
On 29 April, CPJ wrote to His Excellency Jose Eduardo dos Santos of the
organization’s concern over the attack on Luanda-based journalist Josefa
Lamberga, again in connection with reporting on draft evasion. To date, CPJ
has not received a reply to this letter.
In the 1 June interview, Neto threatened the independent press in Angola
with closure if it does not support the government’s war effort against
Jonas Savimbi’s UNITA rebel movement. The Minister described the independent
press as “supporting Savimbi’s propaganda,” and again said that certain news
reports were “unpatriotic” and that they effectively incited young men to
disregard military
conscription.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to His Excellency Jose Eduardo dos Santos:
impart information and ideas of all kinds, as guaranteed by Article 19 of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 9 of the African Charter
of Human and People’s Rights, to all of which the Republic of Angola is a
signatory
position would also constitute a grave violation of these freedoms
into all reported attacks on the press in Angola, and to instruct all
government officials to respect journalists’ right to practice their
profession freely and safely, without fear of reprisal
Appeals To
His Excellency Jose Eduardo dos Santos
President of the Republic of Angola
Gabinete da Presidencia da Republica
Luanda, Angola
Fax: +244 2 339855
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
