"The justification [for the vote against] has to do with the fact that, unfortunately, our colleagues from the UNITA parliamentary group always intend, from plenary to plenary, to create a political fact and, often, these facts go against the normal functioning of the State institutions", said MPLA deputy Milonga Bernardo, in statements to Rádio Nacional de Angola.
Justifying the opposing vote of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) to the demands of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), the deputy also expressed feelings of condolence to the families of the victims.
"The most important thing here is for the MPLA parliamentary group to express to all the families and the community of Cuanza Norte our feelings of regret and solidarity," he said.
The MPLA parliamentary group encourages all state institutions to work to identify the perpetrators of these heinous acts that have been taking place in the province of Cuanza Norte, concluded Milonga Bernardo.
UNITA expressed its "deep indignation" on Thursday at the MPLA's vote against the demands to condemn the deaths of 16 elderly women in the province of Cuanza Norte and the "illegal detention" of two deputies.
The UNITA parliamentary group sent a request to the National Assembly asking for the discussion of a protest vote against the murder of 16 elderly peasant women in the province of Cuanza Norte, but this was rejected by the plenary.
MPLA deputies voted against UNITA's proposal, with 107 votes, a stance that generated indignation from the president of UNITA's parliamentary group, Liberty Chiyaka.
Another request to change the agenda of the plenary meeting taking place this Thursday was also submitted to the plenary by UNITA, this one for the discussion and vote on a protest vote against the "illegal detention" of deputies Francisco Falua and João Quipipa Dias, but it also did not pass the plenary's scrutiny, deserving votes against the parliamentary majority.
Liberty Chiyaka, reacting to the MPLA's vote against both requests, expressed "indignation, revolt and deep sadness at the lack of human solidarity" shown in the vote against by the ruling party's deputies.
Francisco Falua and João Quipipa Dias, UNITA deputies from the Cuanza Norte provincial constituency, were arrested by the police in that province last Sunday, when they were participating in a march in solidarity with the death of elderly women in that province.
