Unita claims govt 'torture'
2005-03-09 20:19
Luanda - Angola's main opposition party accused an armed militia close to the ruling party on Wednesday of torturing and even crucifying their supporters in the central province of Bie.
"Traditional chiefs have told me that there have been serious violations of human rights, including torture, the expropriation of land and even crucifixion," said Isaias Samakuva, leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita).
He identified the perpetrators as members of the Organisation of Civil Defence (ODC), a militia armed by the ruling Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party.
In a statement distributed during the media conference, Unita said that its members were attacked and wounded by members of the ruling party, its youth wing and the ODC in other towns of Bie.
Both the Unita and the MPLA were bitter rivals during a 27-year civil war which claimed an estimated 500 000 lives and only ended in 2002 with the signing of a peace accord.