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Articles - Angola

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Angola

Police crush anti-government critics

Angola has been gearing up for its 10-year anniversary of peace on 4 April by cracking down on anti-government critics and arresting protesters. This year alone, the authorities have put down five anti-government rallies and arrested at least 46 protesters, says a new report by Human Rights Watch.

Angola

Authorities block activists on way to parallel SADC summit

In an apparent restriction on free expression, journalists and activists trying to participate in activities planned around last week's summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Luanda, Angola, were denied entry to the country, report the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Human Rights Watch. A parallel civil society forum was also cancelled.

Angola

First journalist murdered since 2001

Neighbours and friends found Angolan journalist Alberto Graves Chakussanga at his home with a bullet in his back on 5 September. The radio journalist worked for Radio Despertar, a station that has been critical of the ruling MPLA government, report the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Angola

War on separatists used as cover to imprison rights defenders and harass journalists

The Angolan government is targeting human rights defenders with intimidation, harassment and detention, says Human Rights Watch. The lethal attack on Togolese football players by Angolan separatist rebels in January was also used as an excuse to round up critics of the government. At least eight activists have been arrested since the attack and journalists have been threatened.

Angola

NUEVA LEY DE MEDIOS NO PROTEGE LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Angola

LA NOUVELLE LOI SUR LES MÉDIAS NE PROTÈGE PAS LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Angola

NEW MEDIA LAW FAILS TO PROTECT PRESS FREEDOM

Media coverage of the 2007 elections in Angola will be compromised unless the government brings its press law up to international free expression standards, warns Human Rights Watch.

Angola

DOS PERIODISTAS ASESINADOS

Angola

DEUX JOURNALISTES SONT ASSASSINÉS

Angola

TWO JOURNALISTS MURDERED

Two Angolan journalists have been killed in the space of eight days, according to Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF). "These murders are a reminder of how Angola was an especially dangerous country for the press in the 1990s," says RSF.

Angola

INSTAN A ANGOLA A REFORMAN LEYES DE DIFAMACIÓN Y PRENSA

Angola

L'ANGOLA EST INVITÉE À RÉFORMER SES LOIS SUR LA PRESSE ET SUR LA DIFFAMATION

Angola

ANGOLA URGED TO REFORM PRESS, DEFAMATION LAWS

International legal rights groups have called on Angola to reform its press and defamation laws and comply with a recent UN Human Rights Committee ruling that found the government violated an international human rights treaty when it jailed a journalist for criticising the president.

Angola

DOSSIER DE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SUR LA LIBRE EXPRESSION EN ANGOLA

Angola

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH DESTACA LIBRE EXPRESIÓN EN ANGOLA

Angola

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SPOTLIGHTS FREE EXPRESSION IN ANGOLA

In 2006, Angola plans to hold its first elections in nearly 15 years. The country is enjoying peace after decades of a brutal civil war in which hundreds of thousands were killed. According to a new report by Human Rights Watch, however, freedom of expression will not fully return as long as the government keeps a firm grip on the media.

Angola

IMS Reports Assess Media Situation in Angola, Rwanda

19 August 2003

Angola

CONDICIONES DE PRENSA SE DETERIORAN

Angola

LA SITUATION DE LA PRESSE SE DÉTÉRIORE

Angola

PROVINCIAL OFFICIAL KILLS JOURNALIST; PRESS CONDITIONS DETERIORATE

Alegria Gustavo, a journalist for the local branch of Rádio Nacional de Angola (RNA) in the province of Huambo, was murdered on 8 July, report the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters sans frontières (RSF) and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE). The four organisations report that Gustavo was shot dead by provincial vice-administrator Matias Kassoma after leaving a party. The journalist's friends reportedly attacked Kassoma after witnessing the murder and left him in critical condition. RSF, CPJ and CJFE have called on the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder. MISA notes that the Angolan government has not been able to explain past killings of journalists including Ricardo de Mello, Feliciano Zau Bunga, Antonio Casimiro and Simão Roberto.

Angola

MISA PROTESTA CONTRA PROYECTO DE LEY DE MEDIOS

Angola

LE MISA PROTESTE CONTRE UN AVANT-PROJET DE LOI SUR LES MÉDIAS

Angola

MISA PROTESTS DRAFT MEDIA LAW

A new draft media law has provoked protests from the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the Independent Union of Angolan Journalists (SJA), and MIACOOP (Associated Journalists). These groups organised several debates over the new draft law in the provinces of Bengo, Benguela, Huíla and Luanda during September. Numbers journalists, civil society stakeholders and representatives of political parties participated in the discussions.

Angola

UN PROJET DE LOI SUR LA PRESSE PRÉVOIT DE LOURDES AMENDES POUR LES MÉDIAS

Angola

PROYECTO DE LEY DE PRENSA IMPONDRÍA FUERTES SENTENCIAS A MEDIOS

Angola

DRAFT PRESS LAW WOULD SLAP MEDIA WITH HEAVY SENTENCES

Journalists charged with defamation of the president would face heavy fines and between two to eight years in prison under the new draft press law in Angola, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Under the legislation, journalists could be charged for publishing, disseminating or reproducing "news or facts of the national or foreign press, which attack the honour and reputation of the President of the Republic." According to CPJ, "if passed, this law will make it practically impossible for journalists in Angola to cover any matter relating to the country's political life without risking incarceration." The Angolan Minister of Social Communications, who publicised the draft bill in July, stated that the legislation would mark "a decisive step in the process of consolidating Angolan democracy." The bill resembles statutes currently used against Angolan journalists who have criticised or challenged President José Eduardo dos Santos, reports CPJ.

Angola

PROHÍBEN NUEVAMENTE A MARQUES SALIR DEL PAÍS

Angola

MARQUES DE NOUVEAU INTERDIT DE SORTIR DU PAYS

Angola

MARQUES AGAIN BARRED FROM LEAVING COUNTRY

On 8 August, journalist Rafael Marques was once again prevented from leaving Angola, reports Reporters sans frontières (RSF). Marques was attempting to travel to the United States to receive the Percy Qoboza Award from the US-based National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). The award, which recognises "the extraordinary work of a foreign journalist while overcoming tremendous obstacles," was to be presented to Marques on 18 August at NABJ's Newsmaker Banquet.

Angola

LES ?GESTES DÉMOCRATIQUES? NE SONT QUE FAÇADE, DIT LE MISA

Angola

"DEMOCRATIC" MOVES ONLY COSMETIC, SAYS MISA

Political moves made by the Angolan government which seem to demonstrate a level of democratic openness concerning media law should be met with caution, states the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) - Angola. On 25 July, the Minister of Social Communication, Mr. Hendrik Vaal Neto, declared that "the President of the Republic (PR) has taken the initiative of democratizing the debate over the revision of the Media Law." Neto invited "all Angolan citizens, in particular, journalists, to participate in the elaboration of the new Media Law." The government's drafting of the legislation was not as consultative in approach, however, and this seemingly democratic gesture is an attempt to "manipulate the reality" of media repression that continues to exist under President José Eduardo dos Santos, asserts MISA-Angola.

Angola

MANIOBRAS "DEMOCRÁTICAS" SON SÓLO COSMÉTICAS, DICE MISA

Angola

LES ACCUSATIONS PORTÉES CONTRE UN JOURNALISTE VIOLENT LA CONSTITUTION

Angola

CARGOS CONTRA PERIODISTA DESAFÍAN CONSTITUCIÓN

Angola

CHARGES AGAINST JOURNALIST DEFY CONSTITUTION

After weeks of postponement, Angolan freelance journalist and poet Rafael Marques, and two media workers for "Agora", publisher Aguiar Dos Santos and reporter Antonio José Freitas, faced trial today, 21 March, for "criminal defamation" of the president, reports the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Marques was first charged on 16 October 1999 for broadcasting and publishing an editorial in "Agora" which harshly criticised President José Eduardo Dos Santos. 30 minutes into the all-day trial, however, the judge ruled that all public, including human rights activists, journalists and officials from the United States and Portugese embassies, leave the courtroom, reports CPJ and the Open Society Institute (OSI). At the trial's adjournment for the day, the judge ruled that the trial continue on Thursday 23 March. If convicted, Marques faces from two to eight years in prison.

Angola

UN JOURNALISTE EST TUÉ DANS UNE VAGUE DE RÉPRESSION DIRIGÉE CONTRE LES MÉDIAS

Angola

PERIODISTA MUERTO EN REPRESIÓN CONTRA MEDIOS

Angola

JOURNALIST KILLED IN MEDIA CLAMPDOWN

According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Mauricio Cristovao, a journalist at the

Angola

CONVOCAN A DÍA DE ACCIÓN EL 8 DE JULIO

Angola

APPEL À UNE JOURNÉE D?ACTION LE 8 JUILLET

Angola

DAY OF ACTION CALLED FOR 8 JULY

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has asked colleagues around the world to mark 8 July as a day of action on Angola. MISA has expressed concern about the apparent deteriorating situation for media workers in Angola where journalists still have no judicial recourse for the protection of their fundamental rights. Despite the fact that Angola's constitution provides for freedom of expression and of the press and the country is signatory to international treaties also protecting these rights, no court is currently empowered to deal with constitutional matters, according to MISA.

Angola

PERIODISTAS Y ESTACIONES DE RADIO CENSURADAS Y AMENAZADAS

Angola

LES JOURNALISTES ET LES STATIONS DE RADIO SONT CENSURÉS ET MENACÉS

Angola

JOURNALISTS AND RADIO STATIONS CENSORED AND THREATENED

Journalists and independent radio stations in Angola have suffered repeated censorship and threats during recent fighting between Angolan forces and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), reports Reporters sans frontières (RSF). This comes at a time when the United Nations has voted not to renew the UN Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), due to "the UN Secretary General's bleak assessment of the prospects for peace," according to the "Angola Peace Monitor" (No. 6, Vol V), published by the United Kingdom-based Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA).