Worry at Angola rights ban threat

AJPD's activities were restricted just ahead of September's landmark vote

International aid groups have said they are seriously concerned by the threat to ban an Angolan rights organisation.

Twenty-two groups are calling for the end to restrictions on the Association for Justice, Peace and Democracy.

They have written to Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos as well as the UN, African Union and European Union.

The Angolan government is alleging that the AJPD's statutes are illegal and restricted its activities just before the country's September election.

Pressure groups have in recent months criticised the Angolan government for what they say is a pattern of intimidation of human rights groups.

In May, the Angolan authorities ordered the United Nations human rights body to close its offices in the capital, Luanda.

The international human rights groups who signed the letter include Oxfam, Christian Aid and the Mozambican League for Human Rights.

Local organisations that also added their names included the Centro Nacional de Aconselhamento Angola, Omunga Angola and the Open Society Institute Angola.

They say that on 4 September, the day before Angola 's landmark elections, AJPD was informed that a court ruling was pending on a case calling for its closure and was given 15 days to respond.

The association had not been notified previously of the existence of the case, which dates from 2003.

AJPD has appealed against the proposed ban, on the grounds that the claims of illegality are unfounded and that the law on which the complaint is based is itself unconstitutional.