Angola: Drei Menschenrechtler im Visier

Dear Prosecutor General,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the arbitrary detention and safety of three human rights defenders, Jaime Domingos Chimbamba Mussinda, (known as Jaime MC), Edgar Cláudio and João Luanda.

Jaime MC is the National Coordinator of the Legal Team and Victims Support Committee of Movimento Cívico Mudei, an Angolan civil society movement that documents human rights violations and supports victims seeking accountability. Edgar Cláudio and João Luanda are members of the movement’s communication team. On 12 May, the three were in Benfica, a neighbourhood in Luanda province, documenting human rights violations against women informal sellers (known in Angola as zungueiras) following several complaints about abuses by the women during inspection operations. Their work focused on reports that goods seized from women informal sellers were being taken without proper records, seizure notices or other formal documentation. While the three were carrying out this documentation work, an unidentified man - allegedly linked to the Benfica inspection services - seized Jaime MC’s phone and assaulted Edgar Cláudio, punching and slapping him several times. Instead of taking the aggressor to the police station, police officers who were present at the scene arrested the three men and took them to ex-Controlo do Benfica police station in Luanda. The three were held for five hours at the station and reportedly subjected to psychological pressure and abusive questioning. Videos and photographs recorded by Edgar Cláudio and João Luanda that day of their work with the zungueiras, which could have served as evidence of the incident, were also reportedly deleted from their phones. The three were released on the same day, without being presented with any charges, formal process or clear explanation for their arrest.

Jaime MC, Edgar Cláudio and João Luanda’s arbitrary arrest and detention, together with the assault against Edgar Cláudio, raise serious concerns about the intimidation and criminalization of human rights defenders in Angola for their work. Amnesty International remains concerned for the three men’s safety and potential risk of re-arrest and targeting for their human rights work.

I urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure Jaime Mussinda, Edgar Cláudio and João Luanda are protected from future intimidation, harassment, reprisals and/or arbitrary arrest, detention and prosecution in connection with their legitimate human rights work. I also urge you to ensure a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and effective investigation into the assault against Edgar Cláudio and the arbitrary detention of Jaime Mussinda, Edgar Cláudio and João Luanda, with those responsible held accountable.

Yours sincerely,