According to information received by MISA, Andre Domingos Mussamo, the chief editor of the Cuanza Norte provincial branch of the Angolan National Radio, has been in detention since 2 December 1999. Mussamo, who is also a correspondent for the independent bi-weekly “Folha 8”, is being held in the Cuanza Norte provincial capital, N’Dalatando. To date, […]
According to information received by MISA, Andre Domingos Mussamo, the chief editor of the Cuanza Norte provincial branch of the Angolan National Radio, has been in detention since 2 December 1999. Mussamo, who is also a correspondent for the independent bi-weekly “Folha 8”, is being held in the Cuanza Norte provincial capital, N’Dalatando. To date, no formal charges have been brought against him.
Mussamo is being accused of stealing documents from the provincial government headquarters and of violating state secrets because of an unpublished article that made reference to a letter from the provincial governor to President Eduardo Dos Santos.
According to MISA sources, Mussamo left the article in one of his books at work, after deciding not to send it for publication. A member of the security apparently searched his papers and then found the article, which was written in September.
MISA sources further report that Mussamo was imprisoned two days after the provincial governor, Manuel Pedro Pacavira, summoned an investigator from the police’s criminal investigation department (DNIC) in Luanda to examine a pretext for Mussamo’s arrest. The investigator apparently found no pretext to arrest Mussamo. Infuriated, the governor summoned the deputy head of the provincial DNIC to arrest the journalist, but he also declined citing the lack of evidence to arrest the journalist. The governor finally ordered the second commander of the police to carry out his orders.
Since his detention, Mussamo has not had access to a lawyer or a doctor, although his wife has apparently been able to see him.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– bringing their attention to the case of Mussamo and strongly protesting his continued detention
– pointing out that it violates the Angolan legal process, which demands that a detainee be charged or brought to trial within fifteen days of being arrested
– demanding that Mussamo be immediately and unconditionally released
– further pointing that the arrest and detention of the journalist violates the right to media freedom and the right of the journalist to operate and perform his work freely and without fear of sanction
– noting that these rights are derived from, among others, Article 9 of African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Angola is a signatory, and that these rights are further enshrined in the Angolan Constitution
– earnestly calling on them to respect and uphold these rights
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Hon Jose Eduardo dos Santos
President of the People’s Republic of Angola
Fax: +244 2 392 733 / 391 476 / 331 898
Sr Fernando da Piedade dias dos Santos
Minister of Interior
c/o Fax: +244 2 392 733/ 391 476/ 331 898
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
