Africa-Press – Angola. The management of PRA-JA Servir Angola was prevented this Thursday, 11, from visiting the leaders of taxi associations, detained in the penitentiary units of Viana and Calomboloca, with the prison officials claiming that they did not receive superior instructions.
The attempted visit followed a meeting between party leader Abel Chivukuvuku and taxi drivers’ associations, in which he promised to visit the prisoners and, together with the relevant authorities, understand the reasons why the association leaders have remained in prison to date.
“The management of the Viana penitentiary unit did not allow the party president and its members to visit the prisoners, after all protocol had been followed,” Xavier Jaime, vice-president of PRA-JÁ Servir Angola, told Novo Jornal, stressing that they were informed by prison officials that they had not received superior orders for the visit to take place.
According to the politician, the party leadership submitted a letter on Tuesday, the 12th, requesting visits to prisoners in the Viana and Calomboloca penitentiaries, not understanding this impediment.
“We will persist until the visit takes place,” added Xavier Jaime, who says he believes in the collaboration of the competent authorities involved in this process.
When contacted, the management of the Viana penitentiary unit said that they had not received any communication from higher authorities regarding the visit by the management of PRA-JA Servir Angola.
“There is no reason to prevent the party leadership from visiting the prisoners, but unfortunately we have not received any communication from higher authorities,” said a source at Viana prison.
It should be noted that the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) recently arrested leaders of taxi drivers’ associations, suspected of criminal association, incitement to violence, terrorism and attacks on transport security.
The arrests were made in Luanda and the police allege the suspects’ involvement in promoting acts of vandalism and in the context of investigations following the riots during the taxi drivers’ strike, which resulted in at least 30 deaths, more than 200 injuries and 1,500 arrests.
The strike took place between July 28 and August 30. NJ
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