UNITA, the Angolan opposition, this Thursday urged taxi drivers and motorbike drivers dissatisfied with rising petrol prices to refrain from violence and asked for a parliamentary inquiry into the Huambo clashes that killed at least five people.
The position of the parliamentary group of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola regarding the incidents that took place in the cities of Huambo and Lubango on June 5 and 6 was expressed this Thursday by the leader of the Liberty Bench Chiaka in Luanda.
The leader of parliament criticized the “timely” end of gasoline subsidies – a measure announced on June 1 that will come into effect in less than 24 hours – arguing that the decision was not in the public interest and that it was irrational, casting doubt on the government. criteria.
UNITA believes the government “reacted poorly and communicated worse”, accusing it of being “kidnapped by the interests of duly established groups and lacking human touch”.
The increase in the price of gasoline (from 160 to 300 kwanzas) caused a riot of taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi drivers in a number of provinces, since, despite the benefits, the vast majority still do not have cards that allow them to use the benefits.
Police said at least five people died in Huambo (local sources say eight dead), and dozens were injured or arrested.
Also in Lubango (Huila), taxi drivers decided to paralyze activity: the bus was burned and more than 50 people were arrested.
UNITA will propose to the plenum of the National Assembly on June 22 “as a matter of urgency” to establish a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) to investigate the circumstances of the “serious incidents” in Huambo and Lubango.
“The National Assembly must verify, irrespective of the police investigation of who gave the order to shoot and kill citizens, that the state must protect and truthfully determine the extent and depth of serious incidents of death and destruction of property.
After the police investigation and the CPI, the authorities of the sister state must take political action,” defends the largest Angolan opposition party.
For UNITA, “Angolans cannot die because of government failure, human insensitivity and group interests” and “lack of dialogue and consideration” is associated with situations of constant violations of the Constitution and the law.
Finally, the UNITA Parliamentary Group calls on citizens, in particular taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi drivers, to refrain from violence: “violence breeds violence and can legitimize those who are wrong, those who do not know how to govern”, concludes the largest Angolan opposition party.