From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Date: 11 Nov 92 20:11 PST
Subject: AI UA349/92 ANGOLA Legal concern
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700791:000:5248
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Nov 11 20:11:00 1992


/* Written  3:47 pm  Nov 11, 1992 by gn:rmitchellai in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI UA349/92 ANGOLA Legal concern" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AFR 12/16/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC       
 
UA 349/92         Legal concern/      11 November 1992
                   Fear of ill-treatment
 
ANGOLA:           Godfrey Absalom Nangonya, aged 61
 
 Godfrey Absalom Nangonya was reported to have been arrested at
his home in the capital, Luanda, on 1 November 1992 after the
out-break of fierce fighting between government forces and armed
members of the opposition Uniao Nacional para a Independencia Total
de Angola (UNITA), National Union for the Total Independence of
Angola. He is reported to have been imprisoned solely on account of
his sympathy with UNITA. Godfrey Absalom Nangonya is reportedly
being held incommunicado in the Luanda high security prison known
as the Prisao da Estrada de Catete. His family has reportedly taken
food to the prison but they have not been able to see him. Amnesty
International is concerned about his safety in view of the current tense
situation in Angola in which UNITA members have been the targets
of violent attacks and UNITA prisoners are reported to have been
ill-treated. 
 
Godfrey Absalom Nangonya, aged 61, was imprisoned on several
occasions before Angola became independent in 1975 and was
redetained in February 1976, apparently because of his sympathies with
UNITA, and held without charge or trial until November 1981. He
subsequently worked for the state oil company, SONANGOL. He is a
prominent member of the Associacao Civica de Angola, Angolan Civic
Association, and was one of those responsible for the association's
human rights program: in this capacity he has made appeals to UNITA
concerning prisoners held by UNITA. 
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
Violent clashes took place in Luanda between 30 October and 2
November 1992 as diplomatic efforts were underway to resolve the
political crisis following UNITA's rejection of the results of the
September elections and its occupation of large areas of the country.
Over 1,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Luanda since
30 October. Many lost their lives in the fighting but there have been
persistent reports that citizens to whom the authorities distributed arms
have carried out reprisal killings against suspected UNITA supporters.
The authorities have made public announcements calling on people not
to carry out reprisal killings but the government is not known to have
made it clear that anyone carrying out such acts will be brought to
justice. Other UNITA members and supporters were arrested - some
are recently reported to have been released. UNITA is also reported
to have killed suspected supporters of the government and it has taken
prisoners and hostages.
 
RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send telegrams/telexes/airmail
letters either in Portuguese or in your own language:
 
- expressing concern about the arrest of Godfrey Absalom Nangonya,
who appears to have been detained solely because of his political
views;
 
- calling for his immediate release unless he is to be charged with a
recognizably criminal offence and given a prompt and fair trial;
 
- urging that he be given access to his family and lawyers and that he
is not ill-treated whilst in detention;
 
- calling on the authorities to release any others who may be detained
solely because they have expressed, or are suspected of expressing,
support for UNITA without taking up arms against the government
and to ensure that any who remain detained are treated in accordance
with international standards to protect prisoners. 
 
APPEALS TO:
 
President of the Republic:
 
Sua Excelencia
Jose Eduardo dos Santos
[Salutation: Sua Excelencia / Your Excellency]
Gabinete da Presidencia da Republica
Palacio do Povo
Luanda
Republica de Angola
Telegrams: Presidente da Republica, Luanda, Angola
Telexes:   3345 gab pres an
 
Interior Minister:
 
Sua Excelencia
Francisco Magalhaes Paiva "Nvunda"
[Salutation: Sua Excelencia / Your Excellency]
Ministro do Interior
Ministerio do Interior
Avenida 4 Fevereiro
Luanda
Republica de Angola
Telegrams: Ministro do Interior, Luanda, Angola
 
Procurator General of the Republic:
 
Excelentissimo Senhor
Antero Gruedosa de Abreu
[Salutation: Excelentissimo Senhor / Dear Sir]
Procurador Geral da Republica
Rua 17 Setembro
Luanda
Republica de Angola
Telegrams: Procurador Geral da Republica, Luanda, Angola
 
Provincial Police Chief:
 
Primeiro Superintendente 
Gaspar Manuel da Silva
[Salutation: Excelentissimo Senhor / Dear Sir]
Comandante Provincial da Policia
Direccao da Policia Provincial
Avenida 4 de Fevereiro, 204
Luanda 
Republica de Angola
Telegrams: Primeiro Superintendente Gaspar Manuel Silva, Direccao
Policia Provincial, Luanda, Angola
 
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
 
Foreign Minister:
 
Sua Excelencia
Pedro de Castro Van Dunem "Loy"
Ministro das Relacoes Exteriores
Palacio do Comercio
Avenida Comandante Gika
Luanda
Republica de Angola
 
and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details.
 
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 23 December 1992.