REF: OM/ __ 218 __ /10
LOBITO, 3rd September 2010
C/C: His Excellency the President of the Republic - LUANDALOBITO, 3rd September 2010
His Excellency the Secretary of State for Human Rights - LUANDA
His Excellency Mr. Ombudsman - LUANDA
His Excellency the President of the National Assembly - LUANDA
His Excellency the Provincial Governor of Huila - LUBANGO
Her Excellency UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing - GENEVA
To His Excellency
The Minister of Territorial Administration - LUANDA
OPEN LETTER: THREATS OF MORE DEMOLITIONS IN HUILA IN VIOLATION OF RESOLUTION 37/09 FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Best regards.
On September 3rd, 2009, the National Assembly approved and adopted Resolution 37/09 where it highlights that, among others, “The demolitions, whether in Luanda or in any other city, town or village in the country, when needed, should be accompanied by the creation of basic and acceptable conditions to rehouse the affected citizens and by the creation of a dialogue and the involvement of the citizens in the rehousing solutions”.
In spite of this resolution, in March 2010, more than 2000 families were evicted in Lubango through an abusive use of force, without having been provided with dignified rehousing conditions. The climate of tension in Huila hindered local reactions, however, organizations such as ACC managed to send out some information, which was disseminated by OMUNGA, spurring an unexpected wave of solidarity at national and international level. It also resorted to the strategy of systematically sending information to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing.
On April 4th, 2010, His Excellency the Minister of Territory Administration, Bornito de Sousa, on behalf of the President of the Republic, apologised to the victims for the way the demolition and eviction process in Lubango was carried out and guaranteed that such actions would not happen again.
More recently, approximately 1300 families were once again evicted in the municipality of Matala, Huila province, without having been provided, until the present date, with the conditions stipulated by the National Assembly’s resolution or by UN's international human rights treaties.
However, the organization OMUNGA became even more concerned after learning, through Associação Construindo Comunidades (ACC), that “320 houses are on the verge of being demolished along the Mukufi River, which divides the city in half and whose bridge gives access to church Igreja da Lage and to school Escola 27 de Março.
According to the Commission member, the demolitions have not taken place yet because two weeks ago the Administration was not able to reach consensus with the residents who would be affected by the process. The residents have already received cards to be given land in Tchavola, but have not received any land yet to begin the construction works".
Apart from representing a flagrant violation of the National Assembly's resolution, they contradict the recommendations accepted by Angola following the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights, of which we highlight the following:
130. To carry out indispensable urban rehabilitation and reconstruction in accordance with the relevant legislation and internationally accepted human rights standards (Portugal);
131. To adopt legislative measures strictly defining the circumstances and safeguards related to eviction, and to stop all forced evictions until such measures are in place (Netherlands);
136. To provide the necessary assistance to evicted persons, especially members of vulnerable groups, including women, children and the elderly (Uruguay);
In face of such information, the organization OMUNGA hereby requests clear explanations on the steps given by the Executive towards:
1 – Rehousing the evicted populations from Lubango and Matala, by respecting the principles contained in international human rights treaties, in the Constitution and in the National Assembly's Resolution.
2 –Adopting the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council, accepted by Angola on July 10th, 2010.
At the same time, OMUNGA asks the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing to adopt all the necessary measures to clarify the Angolan state's obligations and responsibilities.
We are confident this subject will be given due importance to. Please accept our best regards.
José A. M. Patrocínio
General-Coordinator
Her Excellency UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing - GENEVA
To His Excellency
The Minister of Territorial Administration - LUANDA
OPEN LETTER: THREATS OF MORE DEMOLITIONS IN HUILA IN VIOLATION OF RESOLUTION 37/09 FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Best regards.
On September 3rd, 2009, the National Assembly approved and adopted Resolution 37/09 where it highlights that, among others, “The demolitions, whether in Luanda or in any other city, town or village in the country, when needed, should be accompanied by the creation of basic and acceptable conditions to rehouse the affected citizens and by the creation of a dialogue and the involvement of the citizens in the rehousing solutions”.
In spite of this resolution, in March 2010, more than 2000 families were evicted in Lubango through an abusive use of force, without having been provided with dignified rehousing conditions. The climate of tension in Huila hindered local reactions, however, organizations such as ACC managed to send out some information, which was disseminated by OMUNGA, spurring an unexpected wave of solidarity at national and international level. It also resorted to the strategy of systematically sending information to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing.
On April 4th, 2010, His Excellency the Minister of Territory Administration, Bornito de Sousa, on behalf of the President of the Republic, apologised to the victims for the way the demolition and eviction process in Lubango was carried out and guaranteed that such actions would not happen again.
More recently, approximately 1300 families were once again evicted in the municipality of Matala, Huila province, without having been provided, until the present date, with the conditions stipulated by the National Assembly’s resolution or by UN's international human rights treaties.
However, the organization OMUNGA became even more concerned after learning, through Associação Construindo Comunidades (ACC), that “320 houses are on the verge of being demolished along the Mukufi River, which divides the city in half and whose bridge gives access to church Igreja da Lage and to school Escola 27 de Março.
According to the Commission member, the demolitions have not taken place yet because two weeks ago the Administration was not able to reach consensus with the residents who would be affected by the process. The residents have already received cards to be given land in Tchavola, but have not received any land yet to begin the construction works".
Apart from representing a flagrant violation of the National Assembly's resolution, they contradict the recommendations accepted by Angola following the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights, of which we highlight the following:
130. To carry out indispensable urban rehabilitation and reconstruction in accordance with the relevant legislation and internationally accepted human rights standards (Portugal);
131. To adopt legislative measures strictly defining the circumstances and safeguards related to eviction, and to stop all forced evictions until such measures are in place (Netherlands);
136. To provide the necessary assistance to evicted persons, especially members of vulnerable groups, including women, children and the elderly (Uruguay);
In face of such information, the organization OMUNGA hereby requests clear explanations on the steps given by the Executive towards:
1 – Rehousing the evicted populations from Lubango and Matala, by respecting the principles contained in international human rights treaties, in the Constitution and in the National Assembly's Resolution.
2 –Adopting the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council, accepted by Angola on July 10th, 2010.
At the same time, OMUNGA asks the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing to adopt all the necessary measures to clarify the Angolan state's obligations and responsibilities.
We are confident this subject will be given due importance to. Please accept our best regards.
José A. M. Patrocínio
General-Coordinator
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