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Angola: Treatment of family members of journalists by government authorities (April 2001)

According to a 9 August 2000 MISA report, Isaias Soares, a stringer for Voice of America (VOA) and for the Angolan Radio Ecclessia, claimed he had often been threatened with severe physical punishments or death by army and police officers while "psychological pressure has been placed on his family and close friends to discourage him from being critical." The same journalist expressed, in a 19 August 1999 VOA report, fears that his life was in danger, and appealed for "protection for himself and for his family."

Referring to a journalist named Mussamo who was arrested on 2 December 1999 by the Angolan police, a 2000 CPJ report revealed that "during that time, authorities cut off his home telephone line and confiscated some of his family's possessions" (CPJ 2000).

Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). 2000. " Angola: Angolan Police Originally Arrested Mussamo on December 2, 1999." <http://www.cpj.org/attacks00/africa00/Angola.html> [Accessed 19 Apr. 2001]

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). 9 August 2000. "Angola Alert: Update: Journalist Continues to face Official Harassment." <http://www.misanet.org/alerts/20000809.angola.0.htm> [Accessed 22 Mar. 2001]

Voice of America (VOA). 19 August 1999. "Angola/Reporter (L Only)." <http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/ops/war/1999/08/990819-angola.htm> [Accessed 19 Apr. 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. 2000-2001.

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 2000-2001.

Country Reports. 2000-2001.

IRB Databases.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Resource Centre country file. Angola. 2000-2001.

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International.

Index on Censorship.

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Daily Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg]. Search Engine

Digital Freedom Network.

Freedom Forum Journalists Memorial.

Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)

ReliefWeb

Reporters sans frontières (RSF)

UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate. April 2000. "Angola Assessment."

United Nations

Search Engines:

Dogpile

Google.

Lycos.