World Report 2011 - Human Rights Watch

WORLD REPORT 2011writing. Independent private radio stations cannot broadcast nationwide, whilethe government’s licensing practices have favored new radio and television stationslinked with the ruling MPLA and the presidency. The 2006 press law containsprovisions that prevent the establishment of media monopolies and requiredisclosure of shareholders of media corporations. Yet, the real shareholders ofcompanies registered as owners of several media corporations established since2008, which are reportedly linked to the presidential entourage, have not beendisclosed. In June a company reportedly linked to the president bought three ofthe most popular weekly newspapers known for their government criticism,Semánario Angolense, A Capital, and 40 percent of Novo Jornal.Freedom of Assembly and DemonstrationThe new constitution guarantees freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstration,and Angolan laws explicitly allow public demonstrations without the need toobtain government authorization. However, in 2010 the authorities arbitrarilybanned two public demonstrations organized by civil society organizations, publiclythreatened demonstrators, and deployed security forces to prevent thedemonstrations. In November the police also temporarily detained peacefuldemonstrators and opposition party activists in Luanda who were peacefully distributingleaflets.In March a demonstration against mass forced evictions and demolition of housesin Huila, organized by the human rights organization Omunga, was banned bythe governor of Benguela province. The governor deployed hundreds of policeagents and publicly rejected “any responsibility” for the resulting physical damageor harm to the protesters. The demonstration later took place on April 10 followinglocal and international pressure. In May the governor of Cabinda banned apublic demonstration organized by civil society groups in solidarity with civiliansjailed on suspicion of state security crimes after the January 8 guerilla attack. Thegovernor deployed police and military to prevent the demonstration from takingplace on May 22. The military and police also surrounded the organizers’ houseson the day of the demonstration, despite the demonstration being called off byits organizers.80