Following the incidents of January 30, which resulted in an undetermined number of deaths, a team of four went to the mining town to find out the reasons for the arrest of the catechist André Candala, coordinator of the Parish Commission of São Francisco Xavier, after making statements to Lusa about the matter.
However, the team consisting of a social worker, two lawyers and a logistical support employee who arrived in Cafunfo on February 9, three days after the detention of the catechist, who was released a few hours later, was prevented from leaving the parish house where he was staying.
The NGO members ended up leaving Cafunfo a few days later, without carrying out their mission and complaining about the intimidating action of the police.
The two NGOs are now demanding justice and are questioning what crimes the team members committed to be subjected to harassment, intimidation and house arrest, and to be prevented from moving around Cafunfo.
They also want to know why they were prevented from being "legal defenders of people like Mr. Candala, who have been subjected to serious violations of their civil and political rights.
In the report, described in the communiqué sent to Lusa, they explain that the objective, upon arriving in Cafunfo, was to find out the circumstances and reasons for the detention of André Candala, coordinator of the Parish Commission of St. Francis Xavier, and to constitute the necessary legal defense, as well as to provide assistance to that parish commission.
They also revealed that they had previously contacted the public prosecutor in the Cuango municipality, António Cândido, who assured them that the team's journey to Cafunfo would be smooth and confirmed that Mr. Candala's detention was "an arbitrary act" that was not justified.
Shortly after arriving at the parish house of the Missionaries, they were contacted by the chief prosecutor of the Province of Lunda Norte, António Espanhol, who sought to know the reason for the visit and suggested that a member of the Mosaiko team and the DDH Network of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) be part of the commission of inquiry led by the prosecutor, to "avoid making too many inquiries into the same reality.
A few hours later, two National Police officers who did not want to identify themselves showed up at the parish house, claiming to have been summoned by "someone from Luanda who preferred not to say their name."
On February 10, eight armed agents invaded the residence.
"Without any prior argument or justification, the police commander ordered the team to accompany him to the police command," an order whose legal basis the team questioned and refused to comply with.
"Tension rose as the order was repeated in an impatient tone: 'You have to go and answer at the police station'," the statement said, indicating that the team was available for dialogue as long as it was at the parish house.
They ended up being surrounded with controlled exits and entrances.
"Only the priest could leave to say Mass and return," they add.
The parish house was raided again by seven more Criminal Investigation Services agents and an official from the local health authority who demanded that the team present the tests to covid-19.
"The tests with negative results were displayed, but the agents understood that the team would then have to be quarantined, thus contradicting what is in Presidential Decree No. 39/21 of February 9," they stress.
The team left Cafunfo on February 12, "having been followed by a police car to the limits" of the town.
The incidents in Cafunfo, in Lunda Norte province, in the early hours of January 30, which authorities consider an "act of rebellion" and protesters claim was a "peaceful act," have caused an undetermined number of deaths and injuries.
The police claim that about 300 people linked to the Movement of the Portuguese Protectorate Lunda Tchokwe (MPPLT), which has for years advocated autonomy in this region rich in mineral resources, tried that day to invade a police station and, in defense, the forces of order and security fatally shot six people.
The police version is contradicted by the leaders of the MPPLT, political parties in the opposition and local civil society who speak of more than 20 dead.
