The position was expressed by the parliamentary group of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), during the discussion of the theme "Rights and Freedom of Citizens versus Acts of Public Disorder", which led to discussion in the National Assembly.
Deputy João Guerra (MPLA), in the presentation of the report that supported the topic under discussion, informed that, in 2022, Angola recorded a total of 332 demonstrations and meetings, of which 319 took place in a peaceful environment and 13 generated violent actions, representing 4 percent.
According to Guerra, last year there were an average of 16 demonstrations per month, with emphasis on the provinces of Luanda (217), Benguela (17), Huíla (12), Cuando Cubango (10) and Huambo (8).
This year, according to the document, 27 demonstrations have already taken place, of which 20 were peaceful and "seven evolved into violent actions", which represents 26 percent, with emphasis on the provinces of Luanda, Benguela, Huíla, Huambo, Zaire , Cuanza Sul and Namibe.
"One cannot ignore the increase in violence, which stands at 22 percent compared to 2022. This is not a good sign," he said.
The deputy stressed that last Saturday in several provincial capital cities, hundreds of citizens took to the streets, "to exercise in an orderly and peaceful manner the right to hold a demonstration, under the terms of article 47 of the Constitution".
"For this fact, the MPLA parliamentary group welcomes and congratulates the patriots from Cabinda to Cunene, meanwhile, from the provinces of Luanda and Benguela, unfortunately, these demonstrations degenerated into acts of violence against National Police personnel, depredation of public property and, above all, the curtailment of the exercise of fundamental rights by third parties, including the loss of human lives", he underlined, adding "feelings of regret to the bereaved families" of the parliamentary group.
The deputies of the ruling party repudiated "the gratuitous and unreasonable violence" in that demonstration, which had as its motto the rise in the price of gasoline, the end of street vending and the amendment of the statutes of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"Any citizen has the right to freely demonstrate, but does not have the right to prevent other citizens from circulating as well, that other citizens can freely go shopping, work, can, in short, legitimately earn their bread", he stressed.
From the recommendations, they highlight "the special responsibility" that political parties with a parliamentary seat have to sensitize and raise awareness among citizens so that these events run in an orderly and peaceful manner and that the police are there to guarantee public order and protect people and property.
The authorities, in turn, must observe "reasonability and proportionality in securing demonstrations", as well as greater capacity for interaction with citizens in conflict management.
The demonstration was repressed by the National Police in Luanda and Benguela, with an undetermined number of injured and about a hundred detainees.
The discussion in the National Assembly resulted from a request by the MPLA, approved unanimously.
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) submitted to parliament a proposal for discussion and voting on a protest vote "against police violence, the murder of six citizens in the city of Huambo", on June 5, "and against the kidnapping of deputy Domingos Balanga, the UNITA parliamentary group and four civic activists in the city of Huambo", which was rejected.
Saturday's demonstration against the rise in fuel prices, specifically gasoline, was attended by JURA, the youth arm of UNITA, the largest opposition party, and the presence of some of its deputies.
In a statement released after the demonstrations, the National Police held UNITA responsible for the disturbances registered in Luanda and Benguela, with the party considering the accusations "politically motivated", considering filing a criminal case against the organ's spokesman, for the crimes of slander and defamation.
