EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 12/08/91

Distr: UA/SC

UA 392/91 Arbitrary killings12 November 1991

ANGOLA:Killed:at least four people including one

named Maria (other name unknown)

Wounded: 28 people including:

Marta Delfina, a woman

Pedro Domingos

António Fernando, 15 years old

Felix Domingos Ginga

António José Gomes, 17 years old

Timóteo Alexandre Lelo

Afonso Macosso, 12 years old

José Mambona

Inácio Bento Mandingo, a 25-year-old teacher

Francisco Padi, 18 years old

Alfredo Poba

At least four people are reported to have been shot dead by government soldiers during demonstrations in Cabinda province calling for self-determination for this Angolan enclave situated between the Republics of the Congo and Zaire.

Demonstrations organized by the Frente para a Libertação do Enclave de Cabinda (FLEC), Front for the Liberation of Cabinda, took place on Saturday and Sunday, 9 and 10 November 1991. Independent sources report that at least four people were killed and many others were wounded. Sources close to FLEC said that on Saturday, soon after the demonstration began, a local government official shot into the crowd but no one was killed or injured. On the next day the demonstration continued, reportedly peacefully, but a detachment of government soldiers and armoured cars summoned to Cabinda city opened fire on the demonstrators, allegedly killing at least 16 people and injuring 28 others, seven of them seriously. The same sources said that 12 bodies were taken to the mortuary, but at least four other people died and their bodies were then taken home by their families.

Amnesty International has been unable to obtain the names of the dead, except for the first name, Maria, of a woman who is said to have died after she was hit by a bullet which entered her house. The wounded are said to include Inácio Bento Mandingo, a 25-year-old teacher who was shot in the back, and Alfredo Poba, who was shot as he was passing the Military Procurator's Office in the middle of Cabinda city, António José Gomes, a 17-year-old who received shrapnel wounds in his legs, and three other youths.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

There are a number of Cabindan separatist groups, including different factions of FLEC, some of which are engaged in armed opposition to the government, while others have not used or advocated violence. It is not clear which groups were involved in the demonstrations on 9 and 10 November.

The right to demonstrate peacefully was included among amendments made to the Angolan Constitution in March 1991 and a law governing this right was passed in May 1991.

Since a peace agreement was signed in May 1991 between the government and the largest armed opposition group in Angola, the União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA), National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, both the government and UNITA have said that they would be prepared to grant autonomy to Cabinda. However, Cabindan opposition groups have continued to press their demands for greater self-determination and a larger share of Cabinda's oil revenues.

page 2 of UA 392/91

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telegrams/telexes/airmail letters:

- expressing concern about reports that at least four and possibly as many as 16 civilians were shot dead and dozens of others were wounded by soldiers during a reportedly peaceful demonstration in Cabinda on 10 November 1991;

- requesting clarification of these reports;

- saying that, while recognizing the responsibility of the authorities to maintain law and order, it appears that the security forces used excessive, indiscriminate and lethal force against unarmed civilian demonstrators;

- explaining that such killings are a serious violation of human rights, both of the right to freedom of assembly and to freedom of expression and of the right to life;

- calling for a thorough, independent and impartial inquiry into the reports, for the findings of the inquiry to be made public and for those responsible for any unlawful killings to be brought to justice.

APPEALS TO

1. President of the Republic:

Sua Excelência Excelência

José Eduardo dos Santos Your Excellency

Gabinete da Presidência

da República

Palácio do Povo

Luanda, República Popular de Angola

Telegrams: Presidente da Republica,

Luanda, Angola

Telexes: 3072 lugol an

3345 gab pres an

2. Minister of Foreign Affairs:

Sua Excelência Excelência

Pedro Castro van Dunem "Loy" Your Excellency

Ministro das Relações Exteriores

Ministério das Relações Exteriores

Luanda, República Popular de Angola

Telegrams: Ministro van Dunem, Ministerio

Relacoes Exteriores, Luanda, Angola

Telexes: 3127 or 3128 mirex an3. Minister of Defence:

Sua Excelência Excelência

Pedro Maria Tonha "Pedale" Your Excellency

Ministro da Defesa

Ministério da Defesa

Rua Silva Carvalho

Luanda, República Popular de Angola

Telegrams: Ministro Tonha, Ministerio Defesa, Luanda, Angola

Telexes: 3138 def an

COPIES TO:

Provincial Governor (female):

Sua Excelência

Maria Mambo Café

Província de Cabinda

Cabinda, República Popular de Angola

and to diplomatic representatives of Angola in your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 15 December 1991.