IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), [email protected]

Angola Alert

July 01, 2005

Journalist jailed

Journalist Celso Amaral, the former director for the government-controlled
national radio in the northern province of Huila, was arrested on a charge
of mismanagement and has been languishing in jail for the last month.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Angola learnt of Amaral's
arrest when it undertook an information trip of some of Angola's regions at
the end of June. MISA Angola was informed that Amaral, a veteran local
journalist, has been held at the provincial prison of Comarca since the end
of May after being arrested by group of people who identified themselves as
criminal police. The group stormed into the radio station in Huila's capital
city, Lubango, and presented a document indicating that there were charges
against Amaral relating to mismanagement of the station advertising
revenues.

To date it is not clear who levelled the charges against Amaral as local
police, whilst confirming the detention, refuse to comment on the issue. The
journalist's attorney could not be reached for comment and MISA Angola
continues to investigate the circumstances leading to Amaral's arrest.

Further investigation indicates that the police invoked its powers to
perform preventive arrests which allow it, under Angolan law, to detain a
suspect for up to three months whilst it investigates an alleged crime.

BACKGROUND

Fifty two-year-old Amaral has been working for the provincial radio for over
two decades and is known as having the "most beautiful and powerful" voice
all over the province.

- Ends