Africa-Press – Angola. Forensic doctors from Lisbon, Portugal, have been working, since last Monday, in Luanda, with technicians from the Central Criminalistics Laboratory of Angola, in examining the genetic profiles of the families of Sita Valles and José Van-Dúnem, among others, who died in consequence of the events of the 27th of May.
The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights clarifies, in a press release yesterday, that the team of forensic specialists was indicated by the victims’ relatives and is the bearer of reference samples, collected in Portugal, to holding the exams in Luanda.
During its stay in the country, the team, headed by Professor Duarte Nuno Vieira, will interact with the forensic doctors of the Central Criminalistics Laboratory and must hold a working meeting with the Commission for the Implementation of the Reconciliation Plan in Memory of the Victims of Political Conflicts (CIVICOP).
Last month, before the Commission delivered the bones of Nito Alves, Sianouk, Monstro Immortal and Ilídio Ramalhete, employees of the former DISA, to their families, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Queiroz, made it known, on the occasion, that in the same place, where their bones were removed, there were about 20 bodies.
“Which means that there are more individuals being analyzed, from a genetic point of view, to determine their DNA”, stressed Francisco Queiroz, adding that “many of them, already
have the registration completed”. “So, on our part, the DNA registration is already completed, we just need to cross this registration with that of the families residing in Portugal”, he clarified, referring that the families will send the genetic material (blood), which is already collected, “and, when it arrives, the crossing will be carried out with the DNA data that are available to us”.
At the time, it was mentioned that the registration had remained in Portugal. However, as part of the sample confirmation activities, the team of Portuguese experts is in the country to determine the blood match. “The registration did not come with the technicians from Portugal, because the families indicated a specialist, in fact a teacher they trust. We are not opposed, because we want to give this process all transparency, technical and scientific security”, stressed the minister. , adding: “Families are free to choose this model, which may delay a little, if it weren’t for that, possibly more bodies would be delivered, and not just the four former leaders”, Francisco Queiroz had explained, at the time.
Return Of Identity In Conflict Situations
On the last day of work, in Luanda, Professor Duarte Nuno Vieira will give a lecture on “the return of identity in disaster and conflict situations, within the framework of the approach “Humanitarian forensic action”, indicates the note from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Humans. On this path, the team has reserved a moment for clarifications to the media.
Sita Valles’ Brother Praises Executive’s Initiative
Edgar Francisco Dias Valles, brother of Edgar Ademar Valles and Sita Maria Dias Valles, murdered following the events of May 27, 1977, considers the initiative of reconciliation and tribute to the victims of conflicts in Angola to be “positive”.
Resident in Lisbon (Portugal), Edgar Valles proposed, at the time, the issuance of death certificates, location and return of mortal remains to families. It highlights the fact that the brothers, especially Sita Valles, have generously engaged in the final phase of the national liberation struggle, which culminated in the country’s Independence, on November 11, 1975, and in the subsequent period of national reconstruction.
The president of the Commission for the Implementation of the Reconciliation Plan in Memory of Victims of Political Conflicts (CIVICOP), informed that, at his request, he met with Edgar Valles, in Lisbon, when he traveled to the Portuguese capital to Cape Verde, where he took part of the work of the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the CPLP.
“The meeting took place at my request. We spent more than an hour talking. I shared all the information about the project, the national consensus it had achieved and the results it had already produced. I told him that the purpose is to forgive and reconcile”, said Francisco Queiroz, who is also the Minister of Justice and Human Rights.
The minister pointed out, by the way, the difficulties in locating the bodies and consequent identification. He invited, at the time, Edgar Valles to participate in the meetings of the Commission, but he expressed his unavailability, having indicated his nephew, orphan of Sita Valles and Zé Van-Dúnem, who teaches in Angola, at the Catholic University.
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