A month after the violent events, which, according to the official version, caused six deaths during an alleged invasion of a police station, but which local witnesses and civil society organizations described as an attempted demonstration in which more than 20 people were killed, João Lourenço spoke about the case, saying that the conclusions of the ongoing investigation are still pending.
João Lourenço was speaking Tuesday at the opening of the second ordinary session of the Council of Ministers, which is being held in the Upper City in Luanda, stressing that his speech would focus not on corruption or covid-19, but on "social political events of the last few days that have drawn the attention" of Angolan society.
According to João Lourenço, the country was surprised on January 30 with an "act of armed rebellion in the town of Cafunfo, in Lunda Norte, led by national and foreign citizens who attacked with weapons a police station," resulting in the reaction of the police forces the death of six insurgents and some wounded "who were promptly assisted in some hospital units.
The President regretted the loss of human lives "19 years after the definitive silence of the weapons in the country and the re-establishment of peace among the Angolans", but "strongly" condemned the action, discouraging the practice of all acts that attempt against the security and the national sovereignty, against the Constitution and the law, such as the attempt of division and dismemberment or separation of parts of the national territory.
João Lourenço also left messages to non-governmental organizations, Catholic bishops and opposition parties that condemned the police action in what they described as a massacre.
"As always, views emerged that hastened to condemn the police action that thwarted the criminal action, and not the actors of the attack against the Angolan State. For these people and organizations, the police are criminal because, in their view, those who at dawn attacked the police station with guns are peaceful citizens who were holding a simple demonstration demanding better living conditions," he said.
According to the Head of State, this group includes "political parties with parliamentary seats whose deputies have sworn to comply and enforce the law".
In this sense, continued the Chief of the Executive, it is necessary to let "the competent organs of the State, the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) and the courts to determine the truth of the facts, the responsibility of each of the participants and act within the terms of the law.
João Lourenço also said that it is necessary to wait for the conclusions of the investigation in course and the criminal responsibility of the police agents that "have practiced acts considered inhuman, dishonoring the uniform that they wear".
The head of state also "vehemently condemned this type of practice that does nothing to dignify the corporation.
The police claim that about 300 people linked to the Movement of the Portuguese Protectorate Lunda Tchokwe (MPPLT), which for years has defended the autonomy of this region rich in mineral resources, tried that day to invade a police station and, in defense, the forces of order and security shot dead 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.
