Dokument #1302599
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
According to several sources, a Ricardo de
Mello (also spelt de Melo), variously described as an independent
journalist, or editor, or director of Imparcial Fax was
killed in January 1995.
Index on Censorship and the UNITA
opposition radio, Voz da Resistencia do Galo Negro, reported that
de Mello, the editor of the independent paper, Imparcial
Fax, was killed on 18 January in Luanda (Mar.-Apr. 1995, 169).
The International Herald Tribune reported that de Mello was
"found dead early 18 January" (9 Feb. 1995).
La lettre de Reporters sans
frontières and Radio Mozambique stated that de Mello,
the director of Imparcial Fax, was killed on 17 January, as
did Agence France Presse, which described Imparcial Fax as
an independent newsletter (Feb. 1995, 9; 18 Jan. 1995; 18 Jan.
1995). According to AFP, de Mello's wife claimed her husband's
death occurred because of "political motives" (ibid.).
Keesing's Record of World Events
corroborates de Mello's position at Imparcial Fax, but it
states that he was shot dead "by unknown assailants" on 17 January
(Jan. 1995, 40345).
West Africa described de Mello as
"the independent journalist killed (very probably by Angolan
authorities) in January" (27 Feb-5 Mar. 1995, 297-98). The
Economist also reported that the government is the main suspect
in the January murder of de Mello, whom it described as "one of
Angola's few independent journalists" (18 Feb. 1995). According to
The Economist, de Mello built the reputation of Imparcial
Fax "on exposing the corruption that is rampant in [President]
dos Santos's regime" (ibid.). The International Herald
Tribune also mentions the speculation that the government or
the military is responsible for de Mello's death (9 Feb. 1995).
New African reported that de Mello
had been investigating corruption and fraud allegations concerning
President dos Santos his wife, as well as similar accusations
raised against the leader and generals of the opposition group
UNITA (June 1995, 29).
Other sources reported that de Mello had
received death threats on account of his reporting on military
affairs prior to the assassination (Keesing's Jan. 1995,
40345; Index on Censorship Mar.-Apr. 1995, 169; La
lettre Feb. 1995, 9; AFP 15 Feb. 1995; Radio Mozambique 18 Jan.
1995; The International Herald Tribune 9 Feb. 1995).
In 1994 Index on Censorship
described Leopold Baio as the editor of Imparcial Fax and
Ricardo De Mello as the paper's director (July-Aug. 1994, 165).
For additional information, please consult
the attached articles from The International Herald Tribune
and Agence France Presse.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Agence France Presse (AFP). 18 January
1995. "Angolan Journalist Murdered; Wife Says Motive 'Political'."
(DIRB Country File Angola)
The Economist [London]. 18
February 1995. "Angola; Peace Maybe."
Index on Censorship [London].
March-April 1995. Vol. 24, No. 2. "Index Index: Angola."
_____. July-August 1994. Vol. 23, No. 3.
"Index Index: Angola."
The International Herald Tribune.
9 February 1995. Paul Taylor. "In Angola. A Troubling
Assassination; Journalist's Death Tarnishes Image of Luanda's
Rulers." (DIRB Country File Angola)
Keesing's Record of World Events
[Cambridge]. January 1995. Vol. 41, No. 1. "Angola: Killing of
Journalist."
La lettre de Reporters sans
frontières [Paris]. February 1995. No. 66. "Angola: Le
prix de l'impartialité."
New African [London]. June 1995.
John Liebenberg. "Angola: Welcome to the Lion's Den."
Radio Mozambique Network [Maputo, in
Portuguese]. 18 January 1995. "Imparcial Fax Director Killed
in Luanda." (FBIS-AFR-95-011 18 Jan. 1995, p. 14)
Voz da Resistencia do Galo Negro [Jamba,
in Portuguese]. 19 January 1995. "MPLA Blamed for News Director's
Death." (FBIS-AFR-95-012 19 Jan. 1995, p. 19)
West Africa [London]. 27
February-5 March 1995. Chris Simpson. "Angola: Baffled in
Bailundo."
Agence France Presse (AFP). 18 January
1995. "Angolan Journalist Murdered; Wife Says Motive 'Political'."
(DIRB Country File Angola)
The International Herald Tribune.
9 February 1995. Paul Taylor. "In Angola. A Troubling
Assassination; Journalist's Death Tarnishes Image of Luanda's
Rulers." (DIRB Country File Angola)