Freedom for Rafael Marques

War Resisters' International calls for support to the Angolan peace movement in times of war and repression

War Resisters' International, the international network of pacifist and antimilitarist organisations with 80 member organisations in 40 countries world-wide, calls for freedom for the Angolan peace activist and journalist Rafael Marques, and for support to the Angolan peace movement in general and deserters from any of the armed forces in particular.

Angola is a country at war for more than 25 years, with a brief interlude of a cease fire between the Angolan government and the UNITA and FLEC rebels. As a result of this war, so far more than hundreds of thousands of people have died, the wealth of the country is converted into arms, while 70% of the population live below the poverty line. The country's resources are plundered to fuel the war -- oil on the side of the MPLA government; diamonds on the side of UNITA. This can only happen with the support of international oil companies which are working in Angola in partnership with some Western governments.

All armed forces the government forces as well as UNITA and FLEC use forced recruitment to fill their ranks. Young men and boys (down to the age of 14) are gang-pressed into one of the armed forces, and if they manage to flee one of the forces, they might be forced to serve in another.

Rafael Marques, a well known peace activist and journalist, was detained on 16 October 1999 and released 41 days later. He was formally charged only shortly before being released. He was charged with "defaming the president", together with Aguiar Dos Santos, director of the independent Angolan weekly »Agora«, because of an article by Rafael Marques that was published in Agora in July 1999. In this article, Marques referred to the Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos as a dictator.

Both were first sentenced on 31st March 2000; Rafael Marques to six month imprisonment and a fine of US$ 14,000, Aguiar dos Santos to two month and a fine of US$ 7,000. In this trial the judge was a so-called 'peoples' judge' without judicial education, who at the same time was an officer of the Angolan secret service. On 27th October 2000, the Angolan Supreme Court ruled in their appeal case. Marques' prison sentence was upheld, but the fine reduced to US$ 8,500, plus an additional US$ 8.50 per day for six month to be paid to the court for costs. The sentence was suspended for five years, during which time Marques may not talk or write publicly or travel.

Dos Santos two month prison sentence was also upheld, and his fine reduced to US$ 4,250. His sentence was suspended for three years, and he is allowed to travel.

The special measures against Rafael Marques -- the prohibition to talk, write and travel -- clearly are aimed to silence one of the most outspoken peace activists in Angola.

Although recently an amnesty was declared by president José Eduardo dos Santos, this amnesty failed to include journalists, but instead included rapists and war criminals.

Rafael Marques was among those who initiated the »Manifesto for Peace in Angola« in July 1999. This manifesto calls for an immediate cease-fire and peace through dialogue, facilitated by the emerging civil society in Angola.

Rafael Marques was supposed to represent the Angolan peace movement at the War Resisters' International conference on Nonviolence and Social Empowerment, taking place in India from 18.24. February 2001. The recent sentence makes this impossible, and therefore is an attempt to weaken the Angolan peace movement, as well as a violation of human rights.

We therefore demand:

* for Rafael Marques the recognition of basic human rights: the right to write, publish, talk in public and to travel as he likes; most immediately to the international conference on Nonviolence and Social Empowerment in India;
* from the Angolan MPLA government, the UNITA and FLEC forces: an immediate cease-fire and the beginning of a peace process, as outlined in the »Manifesto for Peace«;
* from the international peace and human rights movement: support to the Angolan peace movements, and pressure on our own governments to stop support the war in Angola.

We ask you to send protest letters to:

Senhor José Eduardo dos Santos
President of the Republic of Angola
Palacio do Povo
Luanda
Republic of Angola
tel.: +244-2- 353877/354545/391691
fax: +244-2- 331898/331885

Senhor Domingo Culolo
Attorney General of the Republic of Angola
Procudoria Geral da Republica
Rua 17 de Setembro
Luanda
Republic of Angola
Tel.: +244-2- 333171/337065/391733
Fax: +244-2- 333172

Dr. Cristiano André
Presidente do Tribunal Supremo de Angola
Rua 17 de Setembro
Luanda
Republic of Angola
Fax: +244-2- 335411

Senhor Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos
Minister of Interior
Tel.: +244-2- 391079/391049
Fax: +244-2- 321034

Senhor Paulo Tjipilka
Minister of Justice
Ministerio da Justicia
Rua 17 de Setembro
Luanda
Republic of Angola
Tel.: +244-2- 394040
Fax: +244-2- 338175