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.

References

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."

Attachments

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)