August 23, 2006
Cabinda: Exclusive interview with Antonio Nzita Mbemba
Below is an exclusive interview with Antonio Nzita Mbemba, Representative of the FLEC in France and Executive Secretary of the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue, on the recent agreement between the government of the Angolan Republic and the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue Below is an exclusive interview with Antonio Nzita Mbemba, Representative of the FLEC in France and Executive Secretary of the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue, on the recent agreement between the government of the Angolan Republic and the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue:
Divide and conquer strategy capitalized upon by Angolan Government
Antonio Nzita Mbemba, of the Political Bureau of the FLEC, Representative of the FLEC in France and Executive Secretary of the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue reacts to the announcement of an agreement between the government of the Angolan Republic and the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue: We all agree on direct discussions with Luanda. But negotiation does not mean prostitution or self-sacrifice
Kimpwanza: The Angolan government and the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue have just announced an agreement on the pacification of Cabindan territory and on granting the Enclave special status. As Executive Secretary of this forum, and not having taken part in the negotiations which were held in Brazzaville last week, what is your position?
Antonio Nzita Mbemba (ANM): About 2 years ago, in Helvoirt in Holland, we created a space in which all Cabindans could express their position on the future of Cabinda, in the context of negotiations with the Republic of Angola. We called this the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue (CFD) and we instituted a team, an ad hoc commission to start negotiations with the Angolan Government in provided that the latter showed the same intentions, viz. to openly negotiate with us.
After establishing this commission, we addressed several letters to the Angolan authorities, notably to President José Eduardo dos Santos, to demonstrate our goodwill to resolve the conflict peacefully and with dialogue.
As far as I know, to date we havent received any official response from the Angolan government. Direct negotiations with the Angolan party cannot consist of individual or personal ambitions to the detriment of collective consultation in the framework of the body that has come out of the Helvoirt Emmaus Agreements.
We planned three or four training seminars for the CFD team and diplomatic initiatives before initiating negotiations, if ever the Angolan party were to accept them. The Cabinda Forum for Dialogue team was beginning to prepare for the negotiations when the president of the Forum, Mr. Antonio Bento Bembe was arrested.
He was arrested in Holland following an FBI international arrest warrant for his participation in the holding of an American citizen, detained by the FLEC in 1990. After his arrest, the Bush administration, via Condoleeza Rice, the State Secretary, officially solicited his extradition to the USA. And just when we were all fighting to prevent this extradition, Mr. Bento Bembe escaped Holland, with the help of the Angolan Government and went to Brazzaville and Kinshasa where he held meetings and negotiations with Luanda without informing either the FLEC President or the leading authorities of the FLEC.
Mr. Bento Bembe then went against the very foundations of the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue, even going so far as to appropriate and use it to the MPLAs service. We are all in favour of direct talks with Luanda. But negotiation does not mean prostitution or self-sacrifice. This is why I emphasise that we dont recognise and we vehemently condemn the so-called agreements concluded between Bento Bembe and the MPLA Government. These agreements only concern its authors and not the whole Cabindan people.
Kimpwanza: Do you admit that there may be a new split within the FLEC?
ANM: Nobody amongst us can sustain a new split within the FLEC. Despite this short-term political crisis we are facing, all the main figures in the Movement have affirmed their attachment to the spirit of the Helvoirt Emmaus Agreements.
Mr. Bento Bembe and his group chose to capitulate before the Angolas MPLA government; this is their choice which at least clarifies their position. They cant integrate the MPLA and keep saying that they are part of the FLEC.
We are not the only movement in the world that has undergone a crisis due to manipulation, intrigues, ambitions etc. Human nature, even politics has always been so. However, international public opinion should not condemn us for this. An internal crisis within a movement is not the unique to FLEC. We will overcome this crisis because we must all defend the interests of our people. The Cabinda Forum for Dialogue has not been dissolved; it is here and has to assume the role that was conferred to it by its components - FLEC and Cabindan civil society. A new organisational framework for the Forum is being elaborated and we believe in the virtue of a equitable and sincere dialogue with the Angolan authorities.
Kimpwanza: There is an unhealthy debate between Cabindans from living abroad and those from within, some of the latter saying that every day they go through the sufferings of the people whereas the others have a quiet life. What is your opinion, as you live outside Cabinda?
ANM: In my opinion, there is no difference between Cabindans living outside and those living within. The Cabinda issue will find a solution in everyones combined efforts. It is really unfair and dishonest to say that Cabindans in exile in Europe or elsewhere do not know the sufferings of the people. Many among us have experienced resistance and others went to refugee camps. These sufferings didnt just start today; in fact, since Portugals annexation of Cabinda to Angola these sufferings have concerned all of us. In all honesty, who today can say that he knows or has gone through the sufferings of Cabindans more than the President Nzita Henriques Tiago, who resisted for 12 years; he is also the only Cabindan leader who experienced Portuguese imprisonment to defend the interests of the Cabindan people.
To say that just because people suffer we should bow down to the Angolans to relieve the misery of the people, thats a weakness, a show of depravity which the people would never accept.
Kimpwanza: It seems that differences within the FLEC led to infighting and defamation campaigns, including against some civil society members, what do you think about it?
ANM: Our responsibility is to not encourage such defamation campaigns led amongst ourselves and against ourselves. Some leaders of the movement held libellous and disrespectful speeches against President Nzita Henriques Tiago, this is disgusting and unacceptable and I condemn it very vigorously.
Moreover, I call upon all those given to soiling the honour of members of the FLEC and other friends of the Cabindan people to cease. These practices are repugnant and destroy the excellent image of FLEC. The FLEC can accept debates and internal differences without falling into crudity and indignity. Regarding the Cabindan Church, I dont know anything about defamations orchestrated against its leaders by FLEC members in Europe. If this were the case, then, naturally, I would energetically disapprove of them.
Kimwanza: from 19 to 30 June, you personally participated to the first session of the UN Human Rights council in Geneva. Can you tell us more on the impact of this forum?
ANM: Indeed, I received an accreditation to attend the first session of the Human Rights Council [HRC] which was established by the resolution 60/251 adopted on 15 March 2006 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. In fact, the HRC replaces the former UN Human Rights Commission. Its new mission is to promote universal respect and defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms, for all, without distinction and in a just and equitable manner. At this session, I had much diplomatic contact with various people present at Geneva.
For me, the most important moment was the positive vote and the adoption of two resolutions to be submitted to the General Assembly of the UN. These resolutions pertain to the Convention on Disappeared Persons and above all the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is important to underline that the text on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms that these peoples have the right to self determination and that they freely determine their political status. It is also noticeable that when the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was announced, the members of the Angolan delegation, who were not present during the debate concerning the study of this agenda item, had their heads hung, as if embarrassed, when the whole assembly stood up to give a long ovation to this historical event.
Interview by André Patrick Tchissambou
[Translated into English by UNPO]