The SJA, in a note made public this Monday, "condemns the obstruction to the exercise of freedom of the press" and states that the journalist José Adalberto was "prevented from doing the report by agents assigned to the 3rd squad", in the province of Huambo.
According to SJA, the professional was taken to the police station, when he reported, on Saturday, about the social role of foreign citizens' canteens, shortly after a call from an alleged agent of the local Criminal Investigation Service (SIC).
The note also underlines that the provincial commander of the national police in Huambo, in the south of the country, acknowledged that it was "overzealous" and apologized to the journalist, who, however, was prevented from completing the report.
The SJA says it is "concerned" with "repeated misunderstandings" by agents of the National Police about the work of journalists and recalls that freedom of the press is a fundamental right.
"Journalists do not need authorization from the authorities for any work in public places, except for the restrictions imposed by the Constitution and the Press Law", adds the note signed by Teixeira Cândido, secretary general of SJA.