From: amnesty@amnesty.oil.ca
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 00:52:53 -0500
Message-Id: <199911100552.AAA17235@amnesty.oil.ca>
To: amnesty-L@oil.ca
Subject: ANGOLA: Targeting of journalists
Sender: owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: owner-amnesty-l@host.oil.ca

* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
News Service: 206/99
AI INDEX: AFR 12/20/99
10 November 1999

Angola

Targeting of journalists

Since the resumption of full-scale war in December 1998, the Angolan
authorities have increasingly used legal procedures to arrest, question
and intimidate journalists with the intention of silencing criticism,
Amnesty International said in a new report published today(
ANGOLA.Freedom of expression under threat. AI Index: AFR 12/016/99).

"The abuse of legal proceedings for political ends violates
international human rights law, Amnesty International said. "Any
journalist or individual imprisoned for exercising their right to
freedom of expression in a non-violent way would be considered a
prisoner of conscience."

The report examines attempts by the government to censor the media but
does not address the issue in those areas under the control of União
Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA). In UNITA
controlled areas freedom of expression is practically non-existent.

Since January 1999, some 20 journalists, most of whom worked for
privately-owned radios and newspapers, have been briefly detained for
questioning by police concerning possible charges including defamation,
slander or crimes against the security of the state.

Charges levelled against journalists by the authorities are often
broadly formulated so as to make them difficult to rebut. The government
claims that some media reports relating to the on-going conflict have
endangered public order or security or the good name of the state.
However no state of exception has been declared and no exceptional
measures to restrict the right to freedom of expression have been
imposed in law.

Nevertheless, the authorities regularly invoke laws, including the press
law of 1991 and a security law of 1978, in a manner that contravenes not
only Angola's constitution but also several treaties to which Angola is
party, including, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
(ACHPR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR).

Albano Custódio, a Rádio Ecclesia correspondent in Kuito, Bié province,
in central Angola, and a VoA reporter, Aniceto dos Santos, were
questioned by police on 25 August about a report of UNITA's shelling of
Kuito, the provincial capital. According to reports, the Bié police
claimed that the broadcast could spread panic in the city and prevent
humanitarian aid flights from landing at the airport.

"The right to freedom of information is essential to enable Angolans to
know what is really happening in their country," the organization said.
"It will allow them to contribute to the resolution of the crisis in a
meaningful way."

"Restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and information
beyond the limits permitted under international law only serves to hide
and therefore to encourage other human rights violations and violations
of international humanitarian law," the organization added. While the
use of legal proceedings against journalists is a new trend, violence
against journalists is a pattern which has been emerging over the years.

On 13 May 1999, the Reuters correspondent in Angola, Lara Pawson, was
assaulted by three men in Luanda, the capital. One of the men held her
by the face and threatened to harm her if she continued to publish
reports critical of the government. He told her to remember that "Angola
belongs to President Eduardo dos Santos".

"At the same time, the authorities are continuing to fail to protect the
physical integrity of journalists and to investigate the cases of those
who receive death threats or have been physically assaulted or
murdered," the human rights organisation added.

"The government must immediately end this culture of violence against
journalists and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice."

Amnesty International calls on the Angolan government to amend its
legislation in accordance with international human rights standards.

"No restrictions on freedom of expression or information on the ground
of national security should be imposed unless the government can show
that the restriction is prescribed in law and is necessary to provide a
legitimate national security interest."

ENDS.../
Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
****************************************************************
You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main
text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting
Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the
list subscription message may be removed.
****************************************************************
To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to <majordomo@oil.ca>
with "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe,
send a message to <majordomo@oil.ca> with "unsubscribe amnesty-L"
in the message body. If you have problem signing off, contact
<owner-amnesty-L@oil.ca>. <owner-amnesty-L@oil.ca> handles
only messages concerning list administration. Past and current Amnesty
news services can be found at <http://www.amnesty.org/news/>.
Visit <http://www.amnesty.org> for information about Amnesty International
and for other AI publications. Contact amnestyis@amnesty.org if you
need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International.