José Mateus Zecamutchima expressed concern about his companions, who began to be tried, on Monday afternoon, by the Cuango District Court, Lunda Norte province.
"We are concerned about this flagrant violation of human rights, the very court of a country with democratic law, as stated in the Constitution of Angola, is what allows this to happen", criticized José Zecamutchima, speaking to the Lusa agency.
In turn, Zola Bambi told Lusa that he is the lawyer in this case, but was not notified about the trial.
"It is not normal, and our constituents are aware that they cannot be represented by another office – unless they change their mind – which did not happen. We are aware that it occurred yesterday [Monday], but without the court having contacted nor attempted to notify the lawyers", he highlighted.
The defense highlighted that it wants clarification on what actually happened, stating that "if any decision is made" it will fight for its annulment.
According to Zola Bambi, "the process has already started flawed", considering that his constituents did not commit any infraction of which they were accused.
"There was talk of incitement to rebellion, association of criminals and other [crimes] that did not happen, because they were captured in a place where there were no acts of violence," he said.
Zola Bambi said he is representing ten people.
The lawyer stated that he is preparing to go to Lunda Norte, to closely monitor the case, highlighting that two weeks ago his constituents completed a year of detention, which is why he had already filed a request for release, due to excessive preventive detention, without judgement.
"Even so, they were kept in preventive detention, so that, even if there is an unjust conviction, they will be forced to face imprisonment. This was on purpose", he criticized.
Last October, José Zecamutchima asked for the release of 40 members of this organization, detained for a year in jails in the provinces of Lunda Norte and Moxico, without trial.
The Lunda Tchokwe Protectorate Movement fights for autonomy in the Lundas region, in northeastern Angola. The autonomy of the Lundas region (Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul, in the east of the country), rich in diamonds, is claimed by this movement, which is based on a Protectorate Agreement signed between Lunda-Tchokwe natives and Portugal in the years 1885 and 1894, which would give the territory an internationally recognized status.
Portugal would have ignored the kingdom's condition when negotiating Angola's independence in 1974/1975 only with the liberation movements, according to the organization, which is not recognized by the Angolan State.
