In support of its partner in Angola, the NGO Kutakesa - Movimento de Defensores dos Direitos Humanos em Angola (Movement of Human Rights Defenders in Angola), the International League Against Arbitrary Detention submitted information to the United Nations Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council regarding recent arbitrary arrests targeting trade union members in Angola.Â
TRADE UNIONISTS ILLEGALLY ARRESTED WHILE MONITORING STRIKE IN ANGOLA
On March 20, 2024, the Criminal Investigation Services (CIS) and National Police officers, carried out the illegal arrest in the province of Huambo of trade unionists, including members of members of ENDE’s Trade Union (SINTEE) and members of the Board of the Independent and Free Trade Unions of Angola (CGSILA), while they were in the vicinity of their workplace, the National Power Distribution Company (ENDE), to monitor the strike.
These arrests took place in the context of a lawful strike initiated after the authorities failed to reach an agreement over the demands from workers of both the public and private sectors. The trade unionists were arrested without a warrant and taken to the Municipal police station where the Provincial Commander referred them to the Public Prosecutor's Office. The trade unionists were kept in detention until March 21, when they were brought before a Magistrate who acquitted them.Â
ARBITRARY ARRESTS SOLELY RESULTING FROM THE EXERCICE OF FREEDOM TO ASSOCIATION
While the trade unionists were released the next day after their arrest, this practice of arbitrary arrests and intimidation tactics employed by state authorities violate international obligations of Angola under articles 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guaranteeing the right of peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of association. These fundamental rights include the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of interests and the right to strike.Â
For this reason, ILAAD joined its partner Kutakesa in Angola to draw the attention of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, as well as of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, on this practice that must stop.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL PROCEDURES
For all of the above reasons, the International League Against Arbitrary Detention and Kutakesa - Movement of Human Rights Defenders in Angola, respectfully asked the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, and the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, to urge Angola to put an end to threats, intimidation and arrests perpetrated by the Angolan state institutions against the members of the trade unions exercising their human rights, through freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association.
ILAAD joins Kutakesa in its call to :
put an end to and take concrete measures to prevent and investigate threats, harassment, arbitrary arrests carried out by the national police and by "non-state players" against all those dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms in Angola.
condemn and repudiate any and all acts of insecurity, death threats, physical torture or psychological coercion, intimidation, as well as the deprivation of freedoms.