Angola
Journalists attacked during anti-government protestPosted Sep 14 2011
Jose Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola. AP Photo by Ed Betz.
During an anti-government protest on Sept. 3 in Angola’s capital of Luanda, the Angolan police force attacked a number of journalists covering the protest. The protest occurred in Luanda’s Independence Square.
Police allegedly attacked Alexandre Neto, a local correspondent for the Portuguese-language news segment of Voice of America, cameramen Hugo Ernesto and Nicolau Chimbila of Portugal’s RTP , reporter Coque Mukuta of Radio Despertar and Ana Margoso of Novo Jornal.
TPA reported that protesters attacked its news team as well. Angolan security forces also attacked journalist António Cascais of Portugal, who was involved with journalism training in Angola.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Neto said police accompanied by several “unidentified men” knocked him down and took his possessions. Portugal’s” RTP”:www.rtp.pt/ broadcast footage showed men in plain clothes attacking a camera. One of RTP’s cameras was reported broken.
“We condemn the security forces' use of violence and intimidation to prevent journalists from covering anti-government protests,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita in an article on the CPJ website. “The authorities must return all confiscated journalistic material and pay compensation for damaged equipment.”
The protesters gathered to ask President José Eduardo dos Santos to step down. The president has been in power since 1979. Police began attacking protesters who attempted to march to the presidential palace and demand the release of one of the opposition leaders, who had been kidnapped at gunpoint earlier that day.
The Angolan police reported four police officers and three citizens injured, with 24 people arrested. Human Rights Watch, however, said many more were injured and more than 40 demonstrators were arrested. The Human Rights Watch and Voice of America have both condemned the attacks.
Since earlier this year, the Angolan government has increased efforts to stop anti-government protests in Luanda.