News Service 024/99

AI Index: AFR 12/05/99

3 February 1999

MEDIA ADVISORY

New Amnesty International report on human rights abuses in Angola

Issued today, as the United Nations (UN) considers its future role in Angola, a new Amnesty International report hopes to stimulate debate about how to best protect the human rights in Angola.

The new report describes the patterns of human rights abuse which occurred in 1998 and concludes that decisive action to protect human rights is an essential foundation for a lasting peace in Angola.

The report also contains several recommendations which, if implemented, would offer some protection to the civilian population while new attempts are made to end the war. These recommendations include:

1. Continuing the monitoring and protection of human rights in Angola as a crucial aspect of the search for lasting peace. In particular, the work of the UN human rights officers should continue in areas not directly affected by the conflict.

2. The Angolan government should make ending human rights violations by its own officials a priority and ensure that the police and soldiers fully respect national and international human rights laws and standards.

3. The authorities must bring to justice those suspected of violating human rights.

4. UNITA and armed Cabindan separatists should fulfil their obligations under common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions to protect the lives and physical integrity of unarmed civilians and of combatants who have laid down their arms.

ENDS...\

To receive a copy of the report, or to arrange an interview, please call Amnesty International’s press office in London, UK, on +44 171 413 5566/5729, (0) 468 670 247, or e-mailgnevins@amnesty.org