(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is condemning threats against independent media by Information Minister Pedro Hendrik Vaal Neto during a 1 June 1999 press conference. He notably stated that his government was contemplating “resorting to violence” against independent media which do not support the government in its war against UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is condemning threats against independent media by
Information Minister Pedro Hendrik Vaal Neto during a 1 June 1999 press
conference. He notably stated that his government was contemplating
“resorting to violence” against independent media which do not support the
government in its war against UNITA (National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola), while accusing certain media of being “the fifth
column of Jonas Savimbi’s rebel movement.” He added that he may ban certain
publications.
These statements, which RSF considers to be of particular concern, follow a
series of attacks against Angolan and foreign journalists.
On 5 May, Joaquim Alves, a journalist with the weekly “Actual Fax”, was
assaulted close to his residence in a Luanda suburb by three armed
individuals, including one who was wearing an Angolan army uniform. The
journalist was beaten. His attackers accused him of having written an
article, published in April, in which a businessman, Mr. Kamakongo, was
referred to as a “Savimbist”.
On 13 May, Lara Pawson, a correspondent with the Reuters press agency and
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio, was attacked by several men
while leaving a restaurant in Luanda. One of the men held her face and
threatened her with repercussions if her reports became more critical of the
government, reminding her that “Angola belongs to Eduardo Dos Santos.”
On 14 May, two men who introduced themselves as members of the special
security forces searched the residence of Herculano Coroado Bumba, a
correspondent with Portuguese Radio TSF. The two men, who did not have a
warrant, explained that they were searching for arms. This incident occured
at a time when the journalist had been receiving regular telephone threats
in connection with his reports.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the information minister:
exercising their right to inform
and
Political Rights, which guarantees the right to inform and to be informed
journalists cease and that those responsible for attacks against Coroado
Bumba, Pawson and Alves be identified and punished
newspaper “Folha 8”, prosecuted for “slander, insulting the army, libel,
incitement to subversion and desertion”, after publishing a series of
articles concerning the Angolan army’s mobilisation order (see IFEX alert of
22 April 1999)
Appeals To
Pedro Hendrik Vaal Neto
Minister of Information
Luanda, Angola
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
