2024-03-14 18:50:17
Police are accused of killing a prospector found with materials for diamond extraction, corporation opens investigation
In the municipality of Cuango, Angola’s diamond-producing province of Lunda Norte, the National Police (PN) used firearms to disperse a crowd that on the morning of this Thursday, 14th, demonstrated against the shooting death of a miner allegedly by agents of that corporation.
The local Human Rights representative, Jordan Muacabinza, said that the young man identified as Amado João Mulesse, aged 23, was killed at close range and later burned by police officers after being surprised with artisanal mining material. diamonds.
The police action, according to Muacabinza, was motivated by the fact that the residents decided to take the charred corpse to the local corporation police station as a sign of protest.
That activist described the environment experienced last night and this Thursday morning as one of “panic and violence”, confirming the images circulating on social media.
Police officer arrested and corporation opens investigation
“There are arrests and many unidentified injuries, including a child who was run over by a police motorcyclist during the stampede”, concluded Jordan Muacabinza.
Meanwhile, the provincial command of the PN in Lunda Norte reported having opened “an investigation process” to determine the real reasons behind the “tactical police incident”, appealed for calm and offered condolences to the family.
Speaking to Voice of America, the spokesperson, superintendent Domingos Muanafumo, said that the alleged perpetrator is being detained for subsequent criminal and disciplinary liability.
Muanafumo justified the clashes that occurred this Thursday, 14th, with the fact that the population transported the body to the police station and set up barricades and burned tires on public roads “in an act of rebellion”.
UNITA, the largest opposition party, demanded accountability for those involved, according to deputy Joaquim Nafoia.
“That is a human killer”, accused Nafoia in reference to Cafunfo, a region known for popular uprisings against the police.
Cafunfo 2021
In January 2021, the Angolan authorities had classified the police station in the neighboring region of Cafunfo as “rebellion and attempted assault”, resulting in the deaths of around dozens of people.
Following that action, the Public Ministry (MP) accused the leader of the Lunda Tchokwe Protectorate Movement, José Mateus Zecamutchima, and another 25 protesters involved in protests were tried and convicted “for committing crimes of outrage against the State and its symbols and association of evildoers.”
Zecamutchima was named as the leader of this alleged “act of rebellion”, which for local citizens was a “peaceful demonstration”.
That activist was then sentenced to four years in prison, but in March 2023 a court ordered his release under a government amnesty.
By Venâncio Rodrigues
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