Conference on ‘A Common vision for Cabinda’
Centro Cultural Chiloango, Cabinda, 8-9 July 2003
Organized by: Open Society Foundation – Cabinda
Recommendations:
In a manner unprecedented in the history of Cabinda, over 1500 people
participated in the Conference on ‘A Common Vision for Cabinda” organized by
Open Society Foundation from 8 -9 July, 2003 at Centro Cultural Chiloango in
Cabinda. After intense debates and deliberations the participants recommend
the following:
1. In general:
1.1. The immediate cease-fire between the Angolan government invading forces
and the FLEC factions (FAC and Plataforma);
1.2. The status of the Republic of Cabinda should be the object of
negotiations only when Angola has a government that has been legitimized by
its people; a government established through elections that are truly free and
fair;
1.3. Until a new government has been chosen and legitimized by the people of
Angola, the Cabindan situation must be provisionally defined within the
transitional period in Angola, as a form of ensuring the end of hostilities
and the preparation of conditions to normalize the political, social, economic
and cultural life in Cabinda;
1.4. The international community, and in particular the United Nations, should
support all the efforts to normalize the political and social situation in
Cabinda;
1.5. Combine civic and judicial efforts in holding the Commander-in-Chief of
the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) José Eduardo dos Santos, accountable for the
war crimes and crimes against humanity that continue to be systematically
carried out in Cabinda.
2. To the government:
2.1. Put an immediate stop to the “cleansing operations [1]” that are
indiscriminately victimizing the civilian population;
2.2. Put an immediate stop to the systematic human rights violations, above
all, the rape of minors and women by soldiers, summary executions, torture,
and arbitrary detentions;
2.3. Immediately reduce the military contingent currently deployed in the
territory; estimated to be above 30, 000 soldiers – for a population of 300,
000 inhabitants;
2.4. Put an end to the looting of people’s personal belongings;
2.5. Remove MPLA [2] cells from public administration and the rural areas in
Cabinda;
2.6. Stop the manipulation of public media and its abuse for propaganda in
favor of MPLA interests;
2.7. Abandon the policy of repression against citizens that are supposedly in
support of FLEC;
2.8. Stop the formation and the support of dissident groups that present
themselves as internal interlocutors without any representation;
2.9. Abstain from retaliating against local public administration staff that
engages in civic activities.
3. To FLEC and the different political and social actors in Cabinda:
3.1. FLEC and other political, religious and social forces should seriously
and responsibly engage in the search of internal agreements that, as a first
step, guarantee the preservation of the most basic rights for Cabindans;
3.2.The diverse political and social actors in Cabinda should be pro-active in
the search of viable and peaceful solutions;
4. To Chevron Texaco:
4.1. Strictly respect the rights of the local workers, native to Cabinda and
put an immediate end to discrimination;
4.2. Seriously revise the "process of angolanization", giving special
attention to the placement of natives of the territory, according to their
competences;
4.3. Stop the active complicity with the State’s repressive structures;
4.4. Immediately demine the areas surrounding its oil compound (Malongo) as it
violates the Ottawa Treaty which bans the use of anti-personal landmines,
ratified by Angola;
4.5. Immediately clean the beaches and maritime coast that are highly polluted
because of its activities;
4.6. Compensate all the victims of its activities, with particular attention
to the fishers;
4.7. Publish its payments related to petroleum exploration and to its
transactions with the Angolan government, as a form of contributing to
transparency and distancing itself from the institutional corruption which
siphons away oil revenues to the detriment of development and citizens’
welfare;
4.8. As the main financial contributor to the Angolan state, it has the
obligation to assume a responsible position and not that of an agent of
corruption and accomplice in the underdevelopment of a nation so rich in
natural resources.
Cabinda, July 09 2003.
[1] Expression used by the government and its military commanders to define
its military operations in Cabinda.
[2] MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola), in power since 1975.
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