The vigil “for freedom of the press and electoral transparency” was an initiative of the parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) as part of the celebrations of May 8, UNITA Deputy's Day.
Dressed in white shirts, with lit candles in their hands and carrying signs that read “we defend freedom of the press”, “everyone has the right to equal treatment”, “I vote yes, with a voter registration card” and “we demand dignity for journalists”, the deputies deplored the current state of freedoms in the country.
With chants and slogans, the vigil began at 7 pm local time in front of the National Radio of Angola (RNA) and went on until midnight. The activity was monitored by a strong police cordon who, according to the deputies, tried to prevent it from taking place.
UNITA deputy Olívio Kilumbo recalled that the activity aims to honor the patron of his party's deputies, Raul Danda (who passed away on May 8, 2021 and who was also an RNA announcer), “a staunch defender” of freedom of expression and the press.
“We decided to protest against the attack on freedom of the press in Angola, carried out by the MPLA regime, and today we are here presenting our protest against censorship, freedom of the press and constant attack on the Constitution,” the deputy told Lusa.
The vigil in front of the RNA facilities aims to warn that this state body “has been captured and used by the regime against democracy and against Angola’s progress from a democratic point of view”, stressed the parliamentarian.
Speaking to Lusa, UNITA MP Adriano Sapinãla said that the “peaceful and silent” vigil was taking place within the framework of the law, noting that initially the administrative authorities and the national police tried to transfer the protest to Largo das Escolas “due to a misinterpretation of the law”.
Sapinãla, also provincial secretary of UNITA in Luanda, spoke about the purposes of tonight's vigil, saying that there are “deviations of freedom of the press, flagrant violations of the Constitution and electoral laws” (under discussion in parliament).
The figure and role of Raul Danda, patron of UNITA deputies, were highlighted in songs during the vigil, a journey that was highlighted by deputy Mihaela Webba considering that he was an “excellent journalist and deputy”.
It considered, on the other hand, that the activity also aims to express repudiation of the actions of public media, with regard to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the unequal treatment of political parties.
Deputy Albertina Ngolo reported that in other provinces UNITA deputies also replicated the vigil in Luanda, in honor of Raul Danda, “frontline fighter” for freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
“And also for a free and fair electoral process,” said the deputy.
The president of UNITA, Adalberto Costa Júnior, also joined the vigil, for whom Angola is experiencing “times of regression” in civic values, political values and values acquired throughout the peace process.
“What is common is that the passage of time brings consolidation of achievements in a democratic context and what we are seeing is that there is a very damaging loss of essential values, freedoms and plurality,” he said.
Costa Júnior also expressed concern about the government's proposals regarding the review of the electoral legislative package, considering that the legislative body has voted “against the Constitution”.
