Unfinished Democracy: Media and Political Freedoms in Angola

This 35-page report examines the relationships between political change and freedom of the media, focusing on recent changes in Angola. It argues that the end of the conflict in Angola has "encouraged Angolans to start exercising again their right to debate the future of their country. In 2003 alone, four new weekly newspapers were established and the detention of journalists became less common. In the capital, Luanda, opposition parties have in the past year been able to hold demonstrations without government reprisals".

The report warns that despite peace creating new opportunities for the enjoyment of rights, a substantial gap remains between the freedoms promised by Angola's constitution and its laws, and by the international treaties Angola has ratified, and the realisation of those freedoms by Angolans.

The report states that positive changes have been confined mainly to Luanda and other coastal regions. It warns that "in the interior of the country, the situation remains troubling from a human rights perspective: opposition activists continue to be the target of violence by the police, the army, the Civil Defence Organisation, and supporters of the government. Private media are almost unknown. The judicial system does not have the independence to enforce the legislation that should in practice guarantee basic freedoms. The police force has not yet begun to fulfil its mandate as a politically neutral keeper of law and order".

The report also notes that over 30 percent of the population cannot read, only 38 percent of households have a radio and only 14 percent own televisions. Human Rights Watch sees these limitations as an obstacle to full participation in the political process. The report also gives the testimony of witnesses who claim that UNITA has been victim of political violence. It gives the example of Kalima, near Huambo city, where it is alleged that the UNITA* office was attacked by members of the ODC wearing army uniforms.

* UNITA was a group in opposition to the Angolan government (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola).