Angola: "Committee of Nationals of Cabinda" including their leaders, activities, political views, treatment by the government and any connection with the Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave (FLEC)

The Comité dos Nacionais de Cabinda (CNC) is a political organization committed to non-violence (AI Apr. 1998, 6). Quoting Amnesty International, Asylum Law states that,

Members of the CNC held a meeting in 1995 to discuss the Treaty of Simulanco. They had, in accordance with the law, informed the authorities 24 hours in advance. After the meeting started, 30 members of the paramilitary police burst in and arrested 27 of those present. They were handcuffed and taken to police headquarters. There, they were made to lie on the floor and were beaten. One man said that a large officer hit him as if he were a "punchbag" using a baton 60 cm long and 40 cm in diameter, sometimes using both hands. He was hit on his shoulders, ribs, spine, buttocks and head. Other detainees had bayonets held to their throats, or received shocks from electric cattle prods. Police also stamped on heads, backs and fingers. On this occasion there were no fatalities, but the police commander, rather bizarrely using a football metaphor, told them they had been shown the yellow card and next time it would be the red one. This incident was not made public until 1997 as those involved were too frightened. No actions against the police involved were taken by the authorities (n.d).

According to Amnesty International, "under the Treaty of Simulambuco of 1 February 1885 Cabinda became a protectrate of Portugal and Portugal promised to maintain the area's integrity. In 1974, just before Angola's independence, Portugal promised to hold a referendum on the question of self-determination for Cabinda. However, under the Alvor independence agreement of January 1975 Cabinda was declared an integral and inalienable part of Angola" (Apr. 1998, 6).

In November 1998, the secretary-general of CNC, Afonso Justino Waco, reportedly charged that government authorities were responsible for the disappearance of activist Pedro Zacarias Lelo. Pedro Zacarias Lelo was last seen in his car outside the provincial capital of Cabinda (Lusa News Agency 11 Nov. 1998). He reportedly disappeared on 17 September 1998; however, local authorities allegedly declined to comment on the accusation (ibid.).

No reports on the CNC's connection with FLEC could 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 see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Response.

References

Amnesty International (AI). April 1998. Angola: Extrajudicial Executions and Torture in Cabinda. London: Amnesty International (AI Index: AFR12/02/98)

Asylum Law. n.d. "Angola 1999." [Accessed 24 Nov. 2000]

Lusa News Agency [Macao in English]. 11 November 1998. "Cabindan Separatists Blame Government for Activist's Disappearance." (BBC Summary 13 Nov. 1998/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Research Bulletin. 1998-2000.

Amnesty International Report 1999. 2000.

Keesing's Record of World Events. 1998-2000.

LEXIS/NEXIS

Search engines including:

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Mamma

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All Africa