Adalberto Costa Júnior was speaking this Friday in Luanda, as part of the celebrations of the 58th anniversary of the founding of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
"Fifty years later, Angolans with relevant responsibilities continue to want to divide Angolans. Fifty years later, Angolans continue to intend to pit brothers against brothers", accused the leader, implicitly criticizing the MPLA.
The UNITA leader stressed that "no one in this country" - where MPLA and UNITA faced each other in a long civil war lasting almost 30 years - "is in a position to purge themselves of responsibilities and throw stones on their neighbors' roofs", insisting on the creation of a truth and reconciliation commission “capable of purging the ghosts”.
Adalberto Costa Júnior considered that many comrades have lacked "humility, courage, a sense of justice and patriotism" and explained that UNITA withdrew from the Commission for Reconciliation in Memory of the Victims of Political Conflicts (Civicop) "out of respect for the memory of those who have already are not here", namely the memory of the founder of UNITA, Jonas Savimbi.
"It is unacceptable that not even the dead are allowed to rest. We withdrew after having invited the commission's objectives to be relaunched, which, unfortunately, was not achieved", stressed the politician.
UNITA announced its departure from Civicop in December due to "violation of principles" by the Government, considering that the organization "remains hostage to the regime's spurious interests".
For several months, Public Television of Angola (TPA) aired reports showing images from Jamba, former UNITA territory during the armed conflict, where Civicop technicians were excavating in search of bones of alleged victims of Jonas Savimbi.
Adalberto Costa Júnior said that UNITA has met with families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones, "victims of internal processes", and paid tribute, among others, to generals "Bock" and commander Antonio Vakulukuta and "all those who fought for cause", asking family members for forgiveness for the pain and suffering caused.
"We are looking for genuine forgiveness and a true embrace between children of the same country, a true national reconciliation", said the leader of UNITA, considering that these conditions are fundamental for a democratic state and the rule of law.
That political leader regretted that Civicop had not resisted "the low level of party games", considering that it was destroyed by "some unreconciled minds with relevant national responsibility".
"Angola, almost 50 years after the hearts in the refrigerators and the negative propaganda of the days of independence, once again watched with sadness and with national rejection the dissemination of hate and more reprehensible propaganda on our televisions", he criticized.
Adalberto Costa Júnior also highlighted that the development of Angola is inseparable from the development of Angolans and that both "imply a climate of peace, democracy and the rule of law".
