26 February 2007
Although Dr. Sarah Wykes, an anti-corruption campaigner at Global Witness, has been released from prison following her Feb 20 arrest on espionage charges, she has not yet been able to leave the oil-rich Cabina region, where she was detained.
Wykes is still awaiting official permission to leave the region.
In Angola, as in other resource-rich countries around the world, Global Witness has advocated for increased transparency and accountability in the extractive industries. Local and international civil society groups are calling for her immediate release.
Global Witness issued the following press release concerning an update on the arrest of anti-corruption campaigner Sarah Wykes, by Angolan authorities in Cabinda:
Angola: Anti-corruption campaigner remains incarcerated in Cabinda, Angola
Published 20/02/2007
Global Witness employee Dr Sarah Wykes spent her second night in jail in Cabinda yesterday and remains in prison as of this afternoon. She is comfortable and has been provided with supplies by her civil society colleagues. She has also met with the UK consul.
Charges against her remain unclear but seem to centre on an allegation of violating national security: this covers a very broad and inspecific set of issues under Angolan law. Global Witness believes these charges are baseless and that she should be immediately and unconditionally released. She was due to be offered bail of c. US$2000 on Monday but the interim Attorney General in Cabinda has not yet signed the papers for her release. The bail conditions also remain unclear. Her court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday - today is a public holiday in Angola - though Global Witness is working to to get the interim Attorney General to sign the release papers today.
Dr Wykes originally travelled to Angola to speak to civil society, companies and the government to assess progress made on improving the transparency of the money from the Angola's oil sector, which constitutes the majority of the government's budget.
For more information contact: +44 (0)20 7561 6361, +44 (0)20 7561 6395 or +44 (0)7843 058 756
You can help by making appeals in writing to the Angolan authorities in your country (i.e. the Ambassador in the local Angolan Embassy) for the immediate and unconditional release of Sarah Wykes. All charges against her should be dropped.
Appeals can also be faxed to the following government officials in Angola:
Provincial Procurator General of Cabinda
Exmo. Sr. Pascoal Joaquim
Fax: +244 231 222415
Salutation: Excelencia
Procurator General of the Republic
Exmo. Sr. Dr. Augusto da Costa Carneiro
Procurador Geral da Republica
Procuradoria Geral da Republica
Rua 17 Setembro
Luanda, Republica de Angola
Fax: + 244 222 333 170/172
Salutation: Excelencia
Minister of the Interior
Sua Excelencia General Roberto Leal Monteiro
Ministro do Interior
Ministerio do Interior
Avenida 4 Fevereiro No. 106
Luanda, Republica de Angola
Fax: +244 222 395133
Salutation: Excelencia
COPIES TO:
Minister of Justice
Sua Excelencia Manuel Aragao
Ministro da Justica
Ministerio da Justica
Rua 17 Setembro, Luanda, Republica de Angola
Fax: +244 222 330 327 / 222 33 81 75
Salutation: Excelencia
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