Title	Angola: From war to ... what? No reconciliation without accountability
Publisher	Amnesty International
Publication Date	1 October 1996
Country	Angola
Topics	Arbitrary arrest and detention | Extrajudicial executions | Freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment | Human rights monitors | Impunity | Peace agreements | Peace process | Political situation
Citation / Document Symbol	AFR 12/006/1996
Reference	Amnesty International is a worldwide voluntary movement that works to prevent some of the gravest violations by governments of people's fundamental human rights. The main focus of its campaigning is to: free all prisoners of conscience people detained an
Cite as	Amnesty International, Angola: From war to ... what? No reconciliation without accountability, 1 October 1996, AFR 12/006/1996, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a98b18.html [accessed 7 June 2023]
Comments	The Angola peace process, as set out in the Lusaka Protocol of November 1994, is nearing completion. Former enemies are striving to restrain old hatreds and build a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation. But when the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) leaves Angola, as it is scheduled to do in February 1997, what will happen? Reconciliation cannot be achieved while each side fears a repetition of the mass killings and other human rights abuses which occurred during the conflict which followed elections in September 1992. The UN has patiently woven a political compromise in Angola which will unravel if it does not include mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights. Trust between the government of President José Eduardo dos Santos and the União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA), National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, led by Jonas Malheiro Savimbi, is very fragile. At every stage there are delays and difficulties which could tip the balance once more towards war. The difficulties of restoring full respect for human rights in a context of bitterness, mistrust, and lack of accountability on both sides cannot be underestimated. Yet the failure to do so could jeopardize the peace process and the future of over 10 million Angolans. The coming months must be used to find ways to end the impunity which has cost so many lives and to institute safeguards to ensure that the abuses of the past are not repeated. As the peace process draws to a close it is vital that action is taken to protect human rights: without this, peace cannot last. This document draws attention to the extent of the human rights problems which have built up over the years under the shelter of complete impunity. It describes what is currently being done to protect human rights and makes proposals for further actions which can be taken during the next few months to increase human rights protection. Both the government and UNITA have bound themselves to protect human rights: it is important that each translate their words into deeds. They should take immediate steps to ensure that members of the security forces who abuse human rights are brought to justice. They should invite UNAVEM III to assist in the establishment ofa permanent, independent and impartial body which is able to monitor human rights and ensure that appropriate remedial action is taken. These steps would encourage civil society -- non-governmental organizations, the media, religious groups, trade unions and professional groups -- to become more deeply involved in the promotion of human rights. The international communityhas invested much effort in bringing peace to Angola: it should now actively promote projects to build adequate protection for human rights without which peace will not last.
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