Greetings from Yokohama, Japan.
Diamonds for Peace had conducted the online campaign addressed to the Angolan president to cancel the sentence against the journalist, Rafael Marques de Morais, who revealed the cases of violence and murders in diamond producing areas in Angola masterminded by Angolan high ranking officials.
Diamonds for Peace mailed the second batch of 580 signatures from 42 countries along with the open letter addressed to the new president of Angola and confirmed that the Angolan embassy in Tokyo received them 31st October 2017.
Please see below for the open letter and the breakdown of 42 countries.
Open Letter to the Angolan President
27th October 2017
His Excellency Joao Lourenco
President of the Republic of Angola
Re: Conviction of Rafael Marques de Morais
Dear Excellency,
We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, call on you to cancel the verdict for the journalist Rafael Marques de Morais issued on 28th May 2015.
Mr. Morais was not allowed to present the evidence and not given a chance to let his eye witness testify in the trial. This is because the Angolan government officials made an agreement with him prior to the trial pretending to drop the charges against him.
We are concerned that the rights to fair trial and freedom of expression in your country are in danger. Angola acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and ratified the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, both of which stipulate the basic human rights and freedoms.
We strongly request you to take immediate necessary measures to cancel the verdict for Rafael Marques de Morais and ensure that the government of Angola respects and protects the rights of all its citizens.
Thank you for your kind attention to the matter.
—–end of the open letter——
Breakdown of 42 countries
Angola, Argentine, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, UK, USA, Zambia
The total number of signatures received for 1st and 2nd batch is 1,016.
Diamonds for Peace has closed the online petition. If we hear news regarding the trial, we will let you know on this website.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.