Repeated censorship and threats against journalists and independent radio stations

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned by repeated censorship and threats against journalists and independent radio stations. According to RSF’s information, the radio station Ecclesia, which broadcasts the Africa programme of the Portuguese radio station Renascença, was forbidden to broadcast on three separate occasions: on 13 January 1999, when a report was to be broadcast concerning […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned by repeated censorship and threats against
journalists and independent radio stations. According to RSF’s
information, the radio station Ecclesia, which broadcasts the Africa
programme of the Portuguese radio station Renascença, was forbidden to
broadcast on three separate occasions: on 13 January 1999, when a report
was to be broadcast concerning fighting between Angolan forces and UNITA
(National Union for the Total Independence of Angola); on 18 January,
before the broadcast of an interview with Paulo Lukamba Gato, UNITA’s
Secretary-General; and, on 26 January, just as the radio station was
preparing to interview Carlos Morgado, UNITA’s foreign representative.
Moreover, on 22 January, the radio station’s director, M. Aristides,
received threats further to a broadcast, that same day, of a report on
fighting in the country.

On 25 January, Jose Cabral Fande, director of the independent radio
station Morena (in Benguela, city south of Luanda), was detained by
police officers. He was accused of having broadcast reports on UNITA,
and was released forty eight hours later, further to the judge’s
decision, rejecting the accusations for lack of proof.

Moreover, a number of foreign correspondents, notably Portuguese
correspondents, have complained that their telephone lines were
systematically cut while they were transmitting their reports to their
media concerning the current conflict.

Recommended Action

Pedro Hendrik Vaal Neto

Minister of Information

Luanda, Angola