5 July 2008
Luanda — Angolan Government announced that coercive disarming of civilians in illegal possession of firearms started in the country on Friday, Angop learned in Luanda.
The announcement that included an appeal for those still in possession of firearms to voluntarily hand them in and thus avoid punishment, came at the end of a meeting of the National Commission for Civilians Disarming headed by the prime minister, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos.
According to a press communique, the National Commission has with satisfaction noted a high level of awareness on the undue use of firearms and the rise in the number of weapons surrendered every month.
Members of the National Commission that would not supply figures deplored the fact that some citizens insist in keeping unlawfully possessed firearms.
On the other hand, the Commission expressed satisfaction at the performance of the district administrations, political parties, traditional authorities, national technicians, church entities, military officers, media and members of the population in general, for the way they have supported the disarming programme.
The coercive disarming of civilians in illegal possession of firearms is the third part of Government's programme. The first focused on awareness on the dangers of unlawful possession of weapons, followed by voluntary surrender of means of war.
Attending Friday's session of the National Commission for Cuivilians Disarming were the ministers of Defence, Kundy Paihama, Interior, Roberto Leal Monteiro, Finance, José Pedro de Morais, Education, António Burity da Silva.
The session was also attended by the chief of Staf of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), gen. Francisco Pereiro Furtado and the general commander of the National Police, Ambrósio de Lemos.
Deputy ministers, national directors and representatives of the civil society also attended.
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