I represent some Angolan refugees in South Africa. There is a voluntary return to Angola campaign organised by the UNHCR and the SA Govt. but my clients are not convinced that the temporary 'peace' will last. They are also very scared to go home fearing persecution in Angola. The SA Govt paints a rosy picture of the 'new' country, and refuses to acknowledge the political problems in Angola, and try to force my clients to go 'home'. Do you have any insightful information into the political situation in Angola which might substantiate and justifies my clients' fear? Your honest and urgent reply soon would be appreciated. Sang FUNG Attorney SC Fung Cape Town SOuth Africa
By: sang Fung
Added: October 08, 2007 01:13 PM
Reply to Sang Fung
Thanks for the comment/query. What I have tried to convey in this article was precisely an honest appraisal of the current political situation in Angola. Whether or not it might substantiate or justify your clients’ fears is up to the particular circumstances of each case/individual concerned. I wouldn’t say that there is an indiscriminate climate of political persecution in the country, so much so that I hear every so often about people who are planning to or have already returned to the country after many years abroad from almost all corners of the earth and obviously not every Angolan citizen living in the country shares the same fears, not even every journalist… So, I would say that each case should ideally be judged on its own individual merits. Additionally, I don’t think that a new war will start any time soon or after next year’s planned general elections, as many tend to fear – there is simply, in my opinion at least, no political or military force capable or willing to restart armed hostilities of the scale registered in 1992. So, all the concerns I have expressed in this article relate to the nature of the political regime and the serious issues arising from a faulty compliance with the rule of law and the many instances of disrespect for human rights observed in the country.
1 comment:
Comments from Africanpath
Added: October 08, 2007 07:00 AM
Angola Crisis
I represent some Angolan refugees in South Africa. There is a voluntary return to Angola campaign organised by the UNHCR and the SA Govt. but my clients are not convinced that the temporary 'peace' will last. They are also very scared to go home fearing persecution in Angola.
The SA Govt paints a rosy picture of the 'new' country, and refuses to acknowledge the political problems in Angola, and try to force my clients to go 'home'. Do you have any insightful information into the political situation in Angola which might substantiate and justifies my clients' fear?
Your honest and urgent reply soon would be appreciated.
Sang FUNG
Attorney SC Fung
Cape Town
SOuth Africa
By:
sang Fung
Added: October 08, 2007 01:13 PM
Reply to Sang Fung
Thanks for the comment/query. What I have tried to convey in this article was precisely an honest appraisal of the current political situation in Angola. Whether or not it might substantiate or justify your clients’ fears is up to the particular circumstances of each case/individual concerned. I wouldn’t say that there is an indiscriminate climate of political persecution in the country, so much so that I hear every so often about people who are planning to or have already returned to the country after many years abroad from almost all corners of the earth and obviously not every Angolan citizen living in the country shares the same fears, not even every journalist…
So, I would say that each case should ideally be judged on its own individual merits.
Additionally, I don’t think that a new war will start any time soon or after next year’s planned general elections, as many tend to fear – there is simply, in my opinion at least, no political or military force capable or willing to restart armed hostilities of the scale registered in 1992. So, all the concerns I have expressed in this article relate to the nature of the political regime and the serious issues arising from a faulty compliance with the rule of law and the many instances of disrespect for human rights observed in the country.
By: Koluki
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