José Mateus 'Zecamutchima' was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for being found guilty of the crimes of criminal association and incitement to rebellion due to his involvement in a demonstration held on January 30, 2021, in the diamond town of Cafunfo (Lunda Norte), where clashes between police and demonstrators resulted in an undetermined number of deaths and injuries.
At a press conference held this Thursday in the auditorium of Livraria Irmãs Paulinas, on the outcome of the Cafunfo case, José Mateus 'Zecamutchima', who was arrested on February 9, 2021 in Luanda, the city where, he said, he has always lived and lives currently, he said he was "unjustly convicted".
"I've never even been to Cafunfo", he underlined, guaranteeing that the demonstration was peaceful and aimed at demanding better living conditions.
'Zecamutchima', who says he suffers from various health problems and has had "threats of a stroke" during his time in detention, regretted not being allowed to have consultations and medical examinations, despite his deteriorating condition.
Asked about the continuity of the movement, he said that he was never told that "it cannot continue", stressing that the objectives are to "talk" and promote a civic struggle for economic and social rights in the Lundas region (northern Angola).
He therefore appealed to the Angolan authorities who are mediating peace processes in Southern Africa to start the dialogue at home.
"Only by having our house tidy will we be able to clean up that of others", he highlighted.
He also considered that he was misunderstood regarding the autonomy of those provinces in the north of Angola (Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul) and that it is not a matter of "separating the Lundas from Angola", giving examples of federated and cohesive states like the USA.
On whether holding local elections would contribute to resolving the problem of centralism, he said he had "no formed opinion".
"These are things that have to be found in dialogue with the Government to find the best way", he said.
Responding to activist Dito Dali, who questioned the leader about whether the regime had had "secret conversations" in the sense of "selling or giving up" its causes, 'Zecamutchima' guaranteed that he continues to fight for the same principle.
"This desire to see my people free runs in my blood. The dignity of man is what matters to me, money means nothing to me, I am not for sale, the blood of those who died is greater than any amount of money", he declared.
In addition to the activists, lawyers from the office of Zola Bambi, president of the Observatory for Social Cohesion, who represent 'Zecamutchima' and members of the MPPLT, attended the press conference.
Leonel Jerónimo, lawyer for the Observatory, presented a summary of the events of January 30, 2021, which resulted in "one of the most brutal repressions in recent times against defenseless citizens, causing more than 100 deaths, dozens of injuries and relentless persecution of survivors, participants and their relatives".
The numbers differ from those of the Angolan authorities, which initially pointed to six deaths. Amnesty International counted 10 deaths, members of civil society from Cafunfo linked to Catholic organizations estimated at least 20 dead, and activist and journalist Rafael Marques concluded that there were at least 13 deaths.
Following the clashes, two judicial proceedings were initiated in which 25 defendants were charged with the crimes of armed rebellion, outrage against the State and its symbols, criminal association and preparatory acts and association of malefactors.
Among these were four citizens of Congolese nationality (acquitted of all crimes) and a man with mental disorders.
Two defendants did not go to trial - one died in prison, the other died in the hospital where he was being held - and only two were effectively imprisoned: 'Zecamutchima' and another member of the MPPLT.
In total, according to the Observatory, six members of this process lost their lives, some in jail, others released, but in a fragile state of health who died in their homes.
'Zecamutchima' was released on March 3, benefiting from the amnesty law that came into force recently.
The Observatory also highlighted the existence of 28 survivors with serious injuries and an undetermined number of forced disappearances, as well as acts of arbitrary detention, torture, desecration of corpses, false imprisonment and pointed out "discrimination of the rights of prisoners", who were deprived of medical assistance.
The organization also said that the inaction of the Angolan authorities forced the leader of the protectorate to "another ten days of unnecessary imprisonment", the time between the release warrant and the effective release.
In a statement, the MPPLT stressed that its demonstration was "peaceful" and had "no intention of going against the established order", reaffirming its "engagement in the recognition of the Constitution and the institutions of the Angolan State".
Created 15 years ago, the MPPLT reaffirmed that it is against violence and acts of vandalism and fights "against regional asymmetries": "we are not a group of criminals, we are not at the service of foreign forces for the destabilization of the country, we are not a threat to national security, we are not an armed rebellion movement".
The movement also launched an appeal to gather the possible means so that 'Zecamutchima' can travel abroad for medical treatment as he is still weak.
