Eugénio Costa Almeida [pt] wonders why Angonotícias [pt] website has not had any updates for a while and links display the message FORBIDDEN – erro 403. “Angonotícias may have many faults, and it is actually good because it means that you can not please absolutely every one, but shutting it up on the eve of the elections is at least strange, very strange!”
5 comments
I am an Angolan living in the capital Luanda and made my education in Huambo. The issue of press freedom is of concern to all of us I agree with Eugenio Costa. In fact Angonotícias and Rádio Ecclésia have been acting rather strangely lately.I never expected rádio ecclésia to broadcast live from a rally of the ruling party here in Luanda. Has Rádio Ecclésia been bought out? As for Angonotícias it used to be a real fora for different points of view for Angolans but it seems to have been turned into another replicator of the ruling party’s propaganda. If one looks at the news posted at angonotícias and those published at state owned Jornal de Angola one sees no difference at all. It is a given fact that current Government is there to stay in power at whatever means. China, North Korea, Myamar and Zimbabwe have embarked on similar measures to shut down several media outlets. It is a shame that the international community is not reporting on anything happening in Angola. Major WORLD NEWS TVs (BBC, CNN, Aljazzeera) focus the spotlight on Zimbabwe, Darfur and other spots but never Angola. Is it on account of the poor command of the English language by our journalists? I call on Angolans with knowledge of the english language to use whatever means in their possession to inform the world how this cleptocratic, ruthless and nepotistic state rules this country. Angola’s “democracy” in questionable and its government should be treated the same way as Zimbabwe and Myamar.
In the following article on Angonoticias, the government representative seems to be putting all journalists on notice that dissent will not be tolerated around the elections.
http://www.angonoticias.com/full_headlines_.php?id=20515
The Angolan Government is known to be authoritarian and both the MPLA and UNITA follow the same authoritarian philosophy. Even though I don’t live in Angola, I know one member of parliment from the PRS party, and he is a honest and hard working politician. I hope he wins re-elections to the new legislature and that other minority parties increase their representation.
I was born in Kuito-Bie and brought up in Huambo where I started my school till college in Hoch-minh( I may get the spell wrong…I was forced to join the FAPLA I had no choice otherwise I was not allowed to carry on with my carrier…well we take that the country was in war ok…But their kids didnt join the army if they did…they do send them abroad to stud for pilot or something.
Actually i live in America after 16 years I do miss my country my friends but not the party on Power with this Dos santos Leader.I hate him(dos santos and Savimbi) are all bullshits