"There is no justification to shorten their lives. No one can justify the death of these young people, particularly in the circumstances in which they lost their lives," said Matsinhe in the virtual seminar "Police Violence in Angola," organized by AI.
At the seminar, Matsinhe pointed out that AI, in collaboration with the non-governmental organization Omunga, documented 10 homicides committed by the security forces as part of the imposition of restrictions against covid-19.
"These young people, who were practically our present and future, still had much to offer to their families and their communities, to society and to the world in general," he added, pointing out that the victims were between 14 and 35 years of age, including five minors.
Angola has been the scene of protests against a growing discontent with the governance of President João Lourenço, including one on 11 November, the day the country marked 45 years of independence.
The government of Luanda province had banned this demonstration, citing several reasons, one of which was non-compliance with the presidential decree on the state of public calamity, which prevented the gathering of more than five people in the streets, as a measure to prevent and combat the spread of covid-19.
The police prevented the attempt at a demonstration, using force and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, with reports of injuries and some arrests.
Similarly, on 24 October a protest calling for better living conditions, more jobs and the holding of the first local elections in Angola was frustrated by the authorities, resulting in 103 arrests and injuries to police and protesters.
For her part, Professor Cesaltina Abreu, head of the Sociology Department of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FCS) of the Agostinho Neto University (UAN), pointed out that factors such as a poor human development index, unemployment - in particular youth unemployment - and the situation of insufficient food in Angola may "answer the question 'why people go to the street?'".
The teacher added that the role of the security forces is to "promote security and public tranquility and public order" and to do so "within the strict observation of citizens' rights.
She added that recent events represent a violation of the Constitution by the security forces.
"The events that have marked the last months are more than a warning, they are the confirmation of serious violations of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution," said Cesaltina Abreu.
Salvador Freire, leader of the "Mãos Livres" association, pointed out that to fight covid-19 rights were limited "that cannot be restricted," including "in decrees or in some infra-constitutional norms, that is, those norms that are inferior to the Constitution.
"This infra-constitutional presidential decree has restricted freedom and the fundamental guarantees of citizens," he said.
The jurist considers that the national police "has carte blanche" and that agents are allowed "to do whatever they want.
"Many Angolans were killed simply because they didn't wear the mask. It's inconceivable," he said, recalling that in the demonstrations held "the citizens only went to express their feelings.
In the report released on Tuesday, and recalled this Wednesday by the speakers at the seminar - including the coordinator of the NGO Omunga, João Malavindele - Amnesty International makes several recommendations to the State, including that "immediate and urgent measures be taken to ensure that law enforcement officials stop resorting to the excessive and unnecessary use of force as a means of any circumstance, including for violations of covid-19 regulations".
The AI also calls for an "immediate" end to violence against peaceful demonstrators, the practice of arbitrarily dispersing peaceful meetings and the arrest of individuals before demonstrations, considering this to be a way to prevent them from taking place. The organization also asks the executive to "fully respect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly for all citizens in Angola.
The report also suggests to the justice system to end "all criminal proceedings brought against individuals simply for attempting to exercise the right to freedom of peaceful assembly" and requests that in cases where these result in punishment, the annulment of convictions and the abolition of fines be promoted.
The NGO calls for measures to trigger an "immediate, thorough, independent and impartial investigation of the allegations of youth murders" by the security forces during the implementation of the covid-19 regulation.
