At a social consultation meeting with civil society organizations organized by the Angolan Bar Association, activists from various associations brought up cases of human rights violations in various parts of the country and also spoke about their experiences, reporting a climate of intimidation.
The human rights activist and executive director of the 'Mãos Livres' association, Guilherme Neves, expressed concern about the right to participation, association and expression, which he considers to be "increasingly restricted", because "in the opinion of those who govern emancipation is seen as a danger in maintaining power”.
He gave as an example the more than 50 activists convicted in the last three years, many of whom were judged summarily and said that four activists are currently in prison, with sentences of more than two years, for expressing their discontent, accused of crimes of outraging the State, its symbols and organs.
On the other hand, he spoke about the repression of protests in Luanda and Cabinda, where since 2017 no demonstration other than those of political parties had been held.
In Cabinda, where there are independence movements, “when there are attempts to demonstrate, the city is besieged”.
For Guilherme Neves, the “situation of activists is worrying”, being the target of various methods of intimidation, from surveillance, verbal and physical torture, infiltration of agents within organizations, arrests and convictions, physical elimination and impediment of access to sources of performance.
He highlighted many problems of human rights violations in the north of Angola, particularly the lack of health care and access to education, sexual exploitation and abuse of minors, accusations of witchcraft and forced marriages, as well as evasion of fatherhood.
South zone activist Pio Wakussanga, priest and member of the Construindo Comunidades association, lamented that the public space is “narrowing” and denounced being the target of surveillance: “I feel sometimes, when I'm talking to someone from the opposition or civil society. , I hear strange noises on my cell phone”, adding that he has already received “visits” from the Angolan intelligence services on the mission.
Pio Wakussanga pointed out the “precarious” human rights situation in the southern provinces, affected by drought and hunger that has pushed young people to Namibia where many find themselves in a situation of almost slave labor.
Lawyer and activist Luís de Castro, from Jango Cultural, also pointed out human rights violations in the central area, remembering that there were deaths in protests in Huambo last year, and cited impediments to holding lectures.
“The people are fed up, they are sulking with these attitudes and we had to stop young people from rising up against the defense and security bodies”, he reported.
To the “many” situations of human rights violations in the central zone, with the discovery of rare earths, there is now added the “scam” of Chinese companies and generals in Huambo, he denounced.
Also in the eastern provinces (Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul), the head of the Mwana Po association, Juliana António, lamented the cases of violations of the rights of women and girls, especially in diamond exploration areas.
Children, women and people with disabilities are groups with extreme vulnerability for political and cultural reasons, the activist highlighted, also pointing out access to justice and the school system among the “challenges”.
