Africa-Press – Angola. Yesterday, the deputies to the National Assembly recommended the authorities to hold citizens and institutions, public or private, responsible civilly and criminally responsible for violating the Organic Law on General Elections, after carrying out an assessment on Public Maintenance and Security, before, during and after the elections, an initiative of the MPLA Parliamentary Group.
In continuation, the parliamentarians appealed to all the actors involved in the process of holding the elections, to intensify the actions of massification of the electoral civic education programs, so that the message about harmony, peace and healthy competition reaches the voters. In passing, the approach referred to the National Electoral Commission, competing political forces and civil society organizations.
The deputies also request the reinforcement of programs of the public security bodies, as well as the training of the staff in the scope of ensuring the electoral process. In this regard, they recommended public and private media, including media that exploit virtual space, such as digital newspapers and social networks, to refrain from spreading false news or information that disturbs public order and tranquility.
During the session, in which some occurrences recorded in the public space, with the presence of serious violence, were highlighted, deputy Serafim do Prado clarified, in accordance with the MPLA proposal, that it is necessary to ensure that the process runs smoothly. The moment of the elections, according to the deputy, demands from political parties, civil society organizations and religious institutions increased responsibilities for the pacification of emotions, guaranteeing the necessary tranquility. “At this point, one can witness a high level of social anxiety and political intentions, due to the competition process to which candidates are submitted, so if messages are not properly safeguarded, there is a risk of being called into question. national unity and cohesion”, said Serafim do Prado.
Law Must Be Observed By All Competitors
The MPLA deputy took the opportunity to clarify, clinging to the General Elections Law, that, during the process, the presence of voters who have already exercised their right to vote is not allowed in polling stations. “Because only agents and election observers should remain in the place”, he stressed.
The deputies therefore appealed to citizens to refrain from practices of violence against opposing parties, their candidates, activists or militants from other political forces, as well as not to fall into the temptation to practice acts contrary to electoral ethics, democracy, to the law and good manners.
“Parties, coalitions of political parties, their candidates and private institutions must, under the terms of article 4 of the Electoral Code of Conduct, refrain from inciting the people or their militants to violence or the practice of an act of vandalism, either against militants from other parties or coalitions of political parties, or against their candidates”, warned deputy Serafim.
He added that the actions must also preserve public and private goods, which forces political actors to guide their militants, friends and sympathizers not to gather in public spaces without a brief communication of administrative and local activities.
To the media, the deputies indicated that they must act with rigor and professionalism, avoiding publishing unofficial electoral data, as a way of not incurring in the practice of transmitting messages that incite hatred and violence.
UNITA deputy, Franco Marcolino Nhani, said that maintaining public order means, in the first place, complying with the Constitution and the Electoral Law. Benedito Daniel, from the PRS, congratulated the MPLA Parliamentary Group for including on the agenda the debate on Public Maintenance and Security, before, during and after the elections, having recalled that the task of maintaining public order falls to the National Police, which must be equipped with the tools to ensure public order.
Deputy Lucas Ngonda, from the FNLA, considered the MPLA proposal adjusted to the current electoral situation. The deputy understands that the elections should not be considered a threat to public order or national security.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
