Angola: Stop Stifling Free
Speech!
The Angolan government in the lead up to
the elections that are to take place on August 31st this year, have been
initiating violence on peaceful protests and committing acts of political
violence. In addition to this, those who have been arrested for protesting,
have been made, whilst in custody to make incriminating remarks about opposing
parties.
The government has also been interfering
with independent media and using state media for partisan purposes. In essence, there has been absolutely no
freedom of speech what so ever.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights specifically states that:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of
opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any
media and regardless of frontiers."
Although the declaration was just a
statement of objectives, and therefore not legally binding, the
International Covenant on Civil and Political rights, is enforceable at international
law, and has been signed and ratified by Angola. Article 19 of this says:
1.
Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2.
Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall
include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds,
regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of
art, or through any other media of his choice.
3.
The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries
with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to
certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and
are necessary:
(a)
For respect of the rights or reputations of others;
(b)
For the protection of national security or of public order or of public health
or morals.
In
this situation, Angola are clearly flouting this international law. Despite the
fact that it is a domestic issue, many people are suffering from this. They are breaking international law. Law
that Angola agreed to follow. So should the international body step in, in such
a situation?
Interestingly,
the provision in Article 19(3)(b) of the ICCPR provides that there may be
restrictions for protection of morals. Enforceability of this provision must
surely be almost impossible on an international level given that almost every
country has a different standard of morals. Or is it?
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| Image from activistpost.com |
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