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Activists call new demonstration for November 11th

The promoters of last Saturday's demonstration in Luanda, repressed by the police and which resulted in the arrest of 103 people, called this Wednesday for a new protest for November 11, Independence Day of Angola.

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The announcement was made this Wednesday by Dito Dalí, one of the promoters of last Saturday's demonstration, in which several people were arrested and assaulted in the confrontation between demonstrators and the forces of order.

According to Dito Dalí, who claims to have been one of the victims of the police aggression, even losing his senses, the protest scheduled for November 11 is taking place following others who demanded the removal of the director of the office of the President of the Republic, Edeltrudes Costa, whose name came up in an investigation into corruption released by TVI.

"We announced that day that from now on we will make the streets our offices, to express our discontent and demand from the President a clarification on the timing of local elections, the removal of Edeltrudes, the president of the National Electoral Commission and demand that the President create conditions to solve the problems of citizens," said Dito Dalí.

The activist stressed that the social and economic situation of Angolans continues to deteriorate, and complaints should be presented to the executive, which has the mission to "attend to the problems that society suffers".

"We have an executive that closes, a totally arrogant president, who is not open to dialogue with society," said the activist, criticizing the fact that the head of state received, Tuesday, the president of the National Youth Council instead of "dialogue with the people who are demonstrating".

"The President has to talk to those people who have been claiming over the past years, it's those people who have to sit down. The National Youth Council does not represent the majority of Angolans, the National Youth Council represents the interests of the party," he said.

Dito Dalí reiterated that the next demonstration aims to continue the demands made.

The promoter of the demonstration said he hoped that "the authorities understand that the country has laws, and they must respect them, and the citizens have the right to demonstrate, guaranteed by the Constitution".

For the next demonstration, invitations will be sent to the opposition political parties and also to the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).

"After all, the struggle is for citizenship, which does not choose party color. It means that we all face the same problems, we are hungry, we don't have water in our houses, there is lack of electricity, public transportation, in short, the life of Angolans is hard and these problems extend to political parties, their cousins, children, brothers, mother. That's why we understand that the presence of all opposition parties makes sense," he stressed.

Regarding the course of the political situation in the country, Dito Dalí regretted that the head of state "seduced" the people at first with "beautiful speeches," which have now become a disappointment.

"The President began so well at his inauguration, who was not moved by the President's speeches? We felt included, in a new Angola, that was intended. Unfortunately, we were seduced by beautiful speeches, to be disappointed that way, a total disappointment", he stressed.

For the activist, the President "still has time to correct these mistakes", opting for dialogue with society.

"This is the President's obligation, he is the President of the Angolans and he has to call the Angolans, he has to sit down, listen to everyone, he cannot confine himself to the Presidency and he cannot be kidnapped by a group of people. If he wants to be helped by the Angolans we are available, we are here to help him with ideas and make proposals," he concluded.

The attempt at a demonstration organized by young people from civil society, with the support of leaders of the largest Angolan opposition party - the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) - and other opposition forces, was frustrated by the authorities, resulting in 103 arrests, injuries to police officers, and undisclosed numbers of demonstrators, in addition to the destruction of the means of law enforcement.

According to the demonstrators, two people were "shot dead" during the clashes.

The protests were also marked by the throwing of stones, the placing of barricades on the road with dumpsters and burning tires by the demonstrators.

The march aimed to demand better living conditions, more jobs and the holding of the first local elections in Angola.

According to the Secretary of State of the Interior Ministry, Salvador Rodrigues, who denied the existence of any death resulting from the event, 90 men and 13 women are arrested and six police officers were injured in clashes with demonstrators.

Among the more than 100 arrested are young people from civic movements, activists and other demonstrators. There were also six journalists arrested, three of whom were released only on Monday and without explanation.

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