Before the march began, 17 students were arrested, including MEA leaders, according to the organization's president, Francisco Teixeira, who told Lusa.
Another 20 were arrested at 12 noon near Largo de São Paulo, the location chosen for the start of the parade and where dozens of young people gathered on Saturday morning, displaying signs with slogans such as "No to corruption" and "Replacement of desks in public schools", in front of a large police contingent.
The National Police charged and attacked some students and forced the young people into police vans, thus preventing the protest in that location, which was quickly emptied.
At 2:30 pm, according to a MEA leader, Francisco Teixeira is in an unknown location, but "in a safe place", and more than a hundred students have already been detained.
Speaking to Lusa, Tavares Gabriel, responsible for communications at the MEA, regretted that the march had been "frustrated" by the police.
"There were attacks, there were arrests by the police, just so you have an idea, around 150 students have been arrested so far," he said, adding that Francisco Teixeira is being sought by the police.
According to Tavares Gabriel, the MEA informed the Provincial Government of Luanda about the initiative on April 14, complying with the provisions of the law regarding prior notice, so there were no reasons for the impediment, justified by another march alluding to the 23rd anniversary of the achievement of peace in Angola, organized by the Council of Christian Churches in Angola (CICA).
"The police said the march could not go ahead," said the student leader, noting that the two parades would be held in different locations so "they did not clash."
The president of the MEA told Lusa that eight of the 60 young people arrested on Saturday during the march in defense of education and public schools in Luanda will be summarily tried this Monday.
Francisco Teixeira said that the MEA leaders remain in custody, and the other young people are already free.
In addition to the students, four journalists were also detained or intimidated by the police while covering the demonstration, complaining that they were forced to hand over their cell phones to be searched.
In total, around 150 students were collected in police vans, of which 60 were taken to the operational unit and the rest abandoned in places on the outskirts of the city, said the head of the MEA, who "had been warned" and avoided being arrested by not joining the first groups of protesters, who were detained next to the Church of São Paulo.
The MEA leader stressed that the march had very specific demands.
"We are only asking for the basics. We are not asking for anything extraordinary. What we are asking for is what the government has in schools, in their children's schools [...]: Books, desks, chalk, snacks, teachers. That is what we need. And we will continue fighting for this," he said, promising new protests and accusing the minister of a lack of dialogue.
According to Francisco Teixeira, the police stopped the march with the justification that it had not been authorized by the Provincial Government of Luanda, so the students will be held accountable for crimes of disobedience.
The president of the MEA, however, pointed out that Angolan law does not require authorizations, and only prior information must be provided to the authorities.
"The police acted on political advice. It was the politicians who instructed the police to use the necessary force," he accused, guaranteeing that all legal requirements for holding the march were met.
Francisco Teixeira regretted that the minister in charge, Luísa Grilo, remained silent, after several letters were sent without response, highlighting that they were never received by the government official.
"The minister is not communicative, she reflects a certain arrogance, a certain disrespect", he criticized, adding that only once did she delegate the mission of receiving students to her Secretary of State.
"She was upset when she said in that interview that we shouldn't immigrate, because she likes to be criticized even here at home. But that's not true. She doesn't respond to letters and doesn't sit down with people to discuss the deep problems related to education," he stressed, recognizing a more dialoguing stance among the provincial Education delegates.
Last week, Minister Luísa Grilo stated that young people who leave Angola due to lack of social and economic conditions "are not missed" and that "good young people stay right here" and "criticize" the government to improve its work, statements that displeased many youth organizations and members of civil society.
"As long as the State doesn't tell me when it's going to put the desks in, when it's going to put the books in, we have to keep fighting," insisted Francisco Teixeira.
Lusa contacted the Angolan National Police, but has not yet received any clarification on the arrests of the students and journalists.
The students' objective was to protest against the shortages in the capital's schools, namely the lack of water in schools, the lack of basic sanitation, the lack of bathrooms, teaching materials and teachers.
