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Alert

Public radio station fires journalist for criticism

(MISA/IFEX) - Angola's government-controlled National Radio has fired a respected sports analyst after he criticised the country's Football Federation.

On 22 August 2005, Zeca Martins, a commentator for Radio Cinco, National Radio's sports channel, received a letter indicating that he was, as of that day, no longer a member of the station staff for "breaking personal confidence." Martins told MISA-Angola that he was fired for allegedly breaking the personal trust of the social communication (information) minister, an allegation that he denies.

Earlier that day, Martins, who is known for his independent views on sports issues, strongly disagreed with the interruption of the Angolan championship football match by a series of matches organised by the Eduardo dos Santos Foundation (FESA) to celebrate the president's birthday.

The Angolan Football Federation allegedly decided to allow the interruption "to allow all Angolans to follow the (FESA) match."

"The FESA tournament on the occasion of the President's birthday [is] something that will lead to the interruption of the national championship, which seems to be politically motivated and designed to make the President happy," Martins told a live morning show.

The order to interrupt the championship came from the Football Federation's chairperson, a close advisor to the president.

Another apparent transgression by Martins was to question whether other parties and opposition movements like the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola, UNITA) would be allowed to interrupt the national football championship.

He said he was particularly worried that it was the second such interruption in less than two months.

"It definitely has a very negative impact on our football," he stressed.

President Jose Eduardo dos Santos appointed Manuel Rabelais, a very popular sports journalist, as information minister four months ago. Although he is no longer officially managing the station, it is believed that Rabelais exercises tight control over editorial content.