9 September 2008
Luanda — The president of Angola's governing MPLA party, José Eduardo dos Santos, Friday here defended the need for a reform in the Angolan justice system, aiming the consolidation of its independence and implementation of an effective system and organisation to fight against different forms of crime.
José Eduardo dos Santos was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Third National Conference of MPLA, running until Saturday at Futungo II Complex, in Luanda, with the participation of 1,500 delegates.
"It is necessary to reform and reinforce the Angolan legal and judicial sector, in structural and instrumental plans, aiming the construction of a society guided by principles of good governance, legality and justice", explained the MPLA leader during his speech that was constantly interrupted by applauses from the delegates to the conference.
According to President Dos Santos, the reform aims at strengthening the system of administration of justice, correctional system, consolidating the independence of the justice, implementing an effective organisation and system of fight against different forms of crime, thus guaranteeing human rights protection, stipulated in the Constitution.
Guaranteeing the protection of groups rights, particularly the vulnerable (women, children and the youth, elderly, disabled people), as well as making viable the financial management of justice system and building a suitable architecture to the objectives of reform and upholding the citizens' access to quality legal services, are some goals of the reform defended by Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who is also the President of the Republic.
He acknowledged, however, that the current situation of this sector is in crisis, with evident shortage of human resources and infrastructures.
"The justice system is slow and uncertain, which affects the efficiency, effectiveness and credibility of the sector, as well as the access of citizens and economic agents and investors that need and look for it," he affirmed.
In his intervention, José Eduardo dos Santos referred that among the principles of good governance, one should not neglect the fight against corruption and trafficking of influences, for the negative repercussion on the normal functioning of the country's public and private institutions and, mainly, the public ethics and moral, which harms the citizens' interests and sometimes the national interests.
In defence and Security sector, the politician said that the programme of MPLA aims at pursuing the structural reforms contained in the Rebuilding Programme of Angolan Armed Forces, taking into account its modernisation, reinforcement of efficiency, functional and operational capacity.
These reforms, he argued, bear in mind the changes taking place in the country and in the region and its specific missions concerning the defence and integrity of national territory, inviolability of borders, peace keeping and regional and national stability.
The President of MPLA underlined the special attention that must be placed on the National Police of Criminal Investigation, for its greater proximity to the lives of citizens who demand security and protection.
"The National Police must be technically and organisationally built up, so that they can carry out their obligations in public security sphere, such as fight against crime, road safety, protection of public and private properties, upholding of order and respect to the law," he stressed.
He referred that the freedom of expression, association and creation responsibly exerted in the terms of Law, and the abnegated work of citizens in every dominion as well as the good functioning of Justice are essential conditions for the strengthening of democracy and development.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 Angola Press Agency. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Anogla is one of the fastest growing country. Justice system ofcourse needs attention. I am married to an Angolan woman and have two children there. My work visas expired on 7th December, 2007, so I left the country.
On 21 November, 2007, I went to the Angolan Immigration in Luanda and explained that according to the Immigration law of Angola I am suppose to get the residence card as I have to stay with my family to earn living for my family. All required documents were give to them.
What happened there shocked me. I met the… [Read Full Text]