In a speech in a debate in the National Assembly on "Citizens' Rights and Freedom versus Acts of Public Disorder", proposed by the parliamentary group of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the deputy of the ruling party Luísa Damião said that her party defends peaceful, orderly demonstrations and respect for the Constitution, emphasizing that demonstrating without breaking the law is legitimate and democratic, with the State having the task of ensuring compliance with the rights and guarantees of citizens under the terms of the law.
"It is necessary not to confuse the exercise of citizenship with the apology for civil disobedience, the instrumentalization for social disorder and instability", underlined Luísa Damião, calling for the avoidance of "hidden agendas, wrapped in true sheets of social terrorism".
On his turn, the deputy of the parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), Manuel 'Nelito' Ekuikui, who participated, last Saturday, in Luanda, in a national demonstration against the increase in the price of gasoline, prohibition street vending and alteration of the NGO statutes, highlighted the need to address "the deep reasons why people demonstrate".
"The MPLA parliamentary group never had the courage to bring up the debate on the excess of the police, which killed more than 150 people during the mandate of President [of the Republic] João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço", said the deputy, advising the MPLA to self-reflect on the reasons for the rise of "hatred more and more" by the ruling party.
"It's instigation, I don't think so! The problem is hunger, exclusion, this is the problem", considered the deputy, interrupted by his MPLA colleague, Vunda Salucombo, for a point of order, to ask for restraint in the accusations .
UNITA deputy Adriano Sapiñala said that he participated in Saturday's demonstration "as an Angolan citizen", with "all pride and honor" for the cause that moved the protest, with his testimony generating "noise" from his MPLA colleagues.
The deputy, who is also the provincial secretary of UNITA in Luanda, explained that he was at the place of concentration and witnessed, between the organizers of the demonstration and the police, "a normal environment in the place".
According to Adriano Sapiñala, the problem started on the Operative Unit bridge, stressing that from the place of concentration to that area "the march took place normally and with the protection of the public order police", encountering only a barrier of the Rapid Intervention Police (PIR ) in that area, from where "the scene was completely distorted", starting to see "anti-riot police creating riots".
"We, who had our images printed on television, in every corner, challenge anyone to show Adriano Sapiñala with a stone or a knife, I challenge it, there was no demonstrator who was equipped with blunt material", he said.
Deputy Bendito Daniel, from the mixed parliamentary group Social Renewal Party (PRS) and National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), underlined that the exercise of the demonstration and meeting must be done in accordance with the law, respecting above all the rights of third parties.
"It is necessary to maintain public order, but the use of force by police authorities must be proportionate and in accordance with the principles of the democratic rule of law (...), citizens must also have the responsibility to act within the defined norms, follow the laws and regulations in force, simply demand the objective of your claim and avoid public disorder", defended the deputy.
