Support the people of Angola - angolademocracy.com

<h1>Angola democracy - The people of Angola need our support!</h1> <h2>Angola, has one of the continent's fastest growing economies while it's people remain among the poorest. The President has been in power for the last 27 years. Members of the Parliament were elected 14 years ago.</h2> <p> <strong> The people of Angola need our support! <h2>Gustaf Silfverstolpe</h2> </strong> Angola, has one of the continent's fastest growing economies while it's people remain among the poorest. The President has been in power for the last 27 years. Members of the Parliament were elected 14 years ago. Sign up to demand that the long-delayed elections be called for. According to the Constitution of Angola a) the president is elected for a 5 years term (art. 59º) by universal, direct, equal, secret and periodic ballot b) The Angolan parliament consists of one house, composed by 223 representatives elected by universal, direct, equal, secret and periodic ballot for a 4 years term. (art. 79/1), No elections have been held in Angola since 1992 (disputed and inconclusive). With the end of the 27 year armed conflict in February of 2002, Angola was supposed to begin a new democratic era. However, Angola has moved towards the long-delayed elections in fits and starts: a) 5 Oct. 2003 demonstrations in Luanda demanding dates to be set for elections. b) 5 December 2003 the Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos as head of the ruling MPLA-party declared that the coming Angolan elections would be like a sporting competition where all competitors would have the same opportunities and rights. According to the official Angola news agency, ANGOP, of 12 December 2003, to the MPLA leader, all political parties are integrated in the new democratic regime and are indispensable in a competitive framework, which he termed as a sportive proof whereby "without adversaries there is no game". The president continued "When everybody have the same opportunities and rights, the victory only smiles to whoever presents the best resources and arguments." The MPLA, he added, sees individual freedoms as one of the main supporters of peace. "The freedoms of citizens should be sacred and preserved and should be based on tolerance, be it social or political", the president said. Source: <a href="http://www.angolapress-angop.ao">Angola Press</a> c) 8 Jan. 2004 the United Nations news agency IRINnews.org told about "the proposed national elections next year" d) 9 Feb 2004 the United Nations news agency IRINnews.org reported that "Angola's opposition has reacted with surprise to news reports that the government was considering delaying elections until 2006. e) In Feb. 2004 the Angolan President assured President Bush, during a trip to Washington, that elections would take place no later than 2006. f) 24 Aug. 2004 the ruling MPLA party presented a Timetable for elections in September 2006. Source: <a href="http://www.angolapress-angop.ao">Angola Press</a> g) 3 Sept. 2005 the state-owned Angola Press Agency ANGOP reported: "president Jose Eduardo dos Santos discussed with opposition leaders issues related to next elections." "During the meeting, Holden Roberto /FNLA/ and Isaias Samakuva /UNITA/ manifested the interest for the next legislative and presidential elections to be held simultaneously." h) 4 Sept. 2005 ANGOP news agency wrote about "the elections, scheduled for 2006". i) 5 Sept. 2005 ANGOP wrote "However, they /opposition leaders/ were all unanimous in saying that the elections have to take place for the country's democratic normality." j) 16 Sept. 2005 the Portuguese LUSA news agency carried the following telegram: Angola: Opposition parties demand dates be set for first post-war elections - Angola's opposition parties have jointly demanded that dates for post-civil war elections be set with "great clarity", saying a definitive electoral timetable was an "absolute necessity". The demand was issued in Luanda Thursday (15 Sept) after a meeting of the six opposition parties with legislative seats and a coalition of small extra-parliamentary groups." The opposition parties demand went unanswered. k) LUANDA, 14 Nov 2005 (IRIN) ANGOLA: Dos Santos promises free polls but short on details - President Eduardo Dos Santos used the occasion of Angola's independence day celebrations to deliver a speech promising elections and greater prosperity, but critics said he failed to outline a proper timetable for the polls. l) 16 feb 2006 IRIN news:"Uncertainty increases over election date" The chances of the southwest African country's first ballot in more than a decade happening this year are growing increasingly slim. m) 11 April 2006, during the visit to Angola by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr. José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, the Angolan President in a joint news press conference stated that elections will be held "this year or, next year at the latest". (= 2007 at the latest.) Source: <a href="http://www.portugalinbusiness.com">Portugal in business.com</a> So far the Angolan president has not announced any dates for elections, neither in 2006 or 2007. Most observers in the country are being to fear that the president has no intention to hold his promise to hold elections 2007 "at the latest". In August 2006 the presidents of Sierra Leone and Nigeria as a demonstration of their governments commitments to good governance and democracy both announced dates for elections 2007: A) - On 3 August the president of Sierra Leone made an announcement that he had decided to name the date of 28 July 2007 for elections, nearly a year in advance, as a demonstration of his government's commitment to good governance and democracy. Please see - BBC NEWS Friday, 4 August 2006 "Sierra Leone sets 2007 poll date". Source: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk">BBC</a> B) - On 29 August BBC News brought the news that "Nigeria has announced that elections to choose a successor to President Olusegun Obasanjo and a new national assembly will be held on 21 April 2007." Please see - BBC News Tuesday, 29 August 2006 "Nigeria sets April election dates". Source: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk">BBC</a> C) - on 30 August ANGOP Angola Press Agency brought news "The Government approved this Wednesday, here, a resolution that establishes the normal Electoral Registration period that should happen from 15 November 2006 to 15 June 2007." Please see - "Angola: Cabinet Approves Date for Voters' Registration Start". However, nothing was said about date(s) for elections. Source: <a href="http://www.allafrica.com">allAfrica.com</a> D) on 24 August 2005, two years ago, ANGOP Angola Press Agency also brought news "Angolan prime minister, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Tuesday in Luanda assured that the elections expected for 2006 in the country will be open to national, regional and international observation. Addressing the closing of the first international seminar on organisation of electoral processes, Fernando da Piedade said that such verification is seen as "verification of the regularity of the electoral process, done by regional and international organisations." Please see encl. "Government Pledges Internationally Observed Elections". Source: Angola Press Agency Against the fact that Angola has not had a constitutionally elected president since independence 30 years ago 1975 - similar situation as in DRCongo - it is important that parliament and presidential elections are held simultaneously - as in DRCongo. Simultaneous elections are an essential factor to avoid a situation with possible uncertainty after elections. The Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has been in control of the country´s politics since 1979, ought to follow the honourable examples of the presidents of Sierra Leone and Nigeria and announce soonest date(s) for simultaneous president and parliament elections in 2007, a year in advance, as a demonstration of the Angolan government's commitment to good governance and democracy. Angola should also follow the promise of its Prime Minister Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos Nando and invite the United Nations and the international community to monitor and verify the elections the same way as being done now in DRCongo. The official announcement should be made soon to bring certainty to the Angolan political landscape, assure ordinary Angolans that the government is indeed committed to democracy and give the international community the assurance that Angola has indeed turned an important page. Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos should follow the good examples of the presidents of Sierra Leone and Nigeria and 1) make an official announcement urgently setting the dates for elections 2007, 2) declare simultaneous election dates for parliament and president elections and 3) invite the United Nations and the international community to monitor and verify the elections the same way as being done now in the DRCongo. Show your support! Sign up as supporter of the "Elections Now Movement" for Angola and demand an urgent annoncement by the Angolan President for simultaneous presidential and parliamental elections in 2007. </p> <h1>Show your support! Sign up as supporter of the "Elections Now Movement" for Angola and demand an urgent annoncement by the Angolan President for simultaneous presidential and parliamental elections in 2007. </h1>