"The Executive Secretariat of the Standing Committee of the Political Commission of UNITA informs that the members, friends and supporters of UNITA, are first and foremost Angolan citizens, therefore, they are free to individually participate in the demonstration called by civil society activists" , reads a press release released today.
At issue is the convening of several demonstrations for Saturday, in Angola, against "the rise in the price of gasoline, the end of street sales and the proposed Law on the Statute of NGOs [non-governmental organizations], to take place in several cities of the country", convened by civil society organizations.
UNITA criticizes the measures taken by the Government regarding the withdrawal of fuel subsidies, considering them "legislative initiatives and economic and social policy measures by the Angolan Executive, which lead any patriotic citizen to enormous concern, as they reflect a worsening of the conditions of citizens' lives, as well as a clear setback in the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Angola".
Regarding the demonstrations, the party says that the "prosecutors' motivations are legitimate" and "expresses its solidarity with the cause of the activists", appealing to the executive, in particular the Ministry of the Interior and the security forces, to "strict respect and safeguarding constitutional rights".
President João Lourenço's decision, at the beginning of the month, to stop subsidizing fuel meant that overnight, a liter of gasoline in Angola cost 300 kwanzas against the previous 160 kwanzas.
