UA 194/92 - Angola: death in police custody: Francisco dos Santos Queiros
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AFR 12/04/92
Distr: UA/SC
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UA 194/92 Death in police custody 11 June 1992
ANGOLA: Francisco dos Santos Queirós
Amnesty International has recently learned that Francisco dos Santos Queirós,
aged 21 years, died in police custody in the capital, Luanda, on 28 May 1992,
apparently as the result of a severe beating.
Francisco dos Santos Queirós was reportedly arrested at his home in the afternoon
of 27 May 1992 by three men in civilian clothes who were described as police
informers and who accused him of being a member of a gang of car thieves. The
three men took him to the 10th Squadron, a police station in Bairo Cazenga,
a suburb of Luanda, where he was reportedly subjected to a severe beating,
particularly to the head. Francisco dos Santos Queirós died, apparently as
a result of the beating, on 28 May 1992. An autopsy was said to have been carried
out but the results are not known to Amnesty International.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Over the last 18 months the rate of violent crime in Angola has soared,
particularly in Luanda where unemployment is rife and weapons are easily
available. The police lack the resources to control the crime-wave and few
police officers have had adequate training in respect for human rights. Angola
became a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
in January 1992.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/airmail letters:
- expressing concern about the report that Francisco dos Santos Queirós was
killed in police custody;
- seeking clarification of this report;
- asking whether there was an official inquiry into his death and, if so,
requesting copies of the autopsy report and the report of the inquiry;
- noting that the United Nations Body of Principles for the Protection of All
Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, Principle 34, requires
that whenever the death of a detained person occurs a judicial inquiry should
be carried out and that the findings of such an inquiry should be made available
upon request;
- urging, if no inquiry has been carried out, that a full judicial inquiry
be set up to establish the precise circumstances of his death so that those
responsible may be brought to justice, and so that steps may be taken, in
accordance with international standards, to ensure the safety of prisoners
held in police custody.
Page 2 of UA 194/92
APPEALS TO
1) Interior Minister:
Sua Excelência
Francisco Magalhães Paiva "Nvunda"
Ministro do Interior
Ministério do Interior
Luanda
República Popular de Angola
Telegrams: Sua Excelência Francisco Magalhães Paiva,
Ministério do Interior, Luanda, Angola
Salutation: Sua Excelência / Your Excellency
2) Procurator General:
Exmo Sr Antero Gruedosa de Abreu
Procurador Geral da República
Procuradoria Geral da República
CP 1274
Luanda
República Popular de Angola
Telegrams: Exmo Sr Antero de Abreu Procuradoria Geral da
República, CP 1274, Luanda, Angola
Salutation: Exmo. Sr. / Dear Sir
3) Provincial Police Chief:
Primeiro Superintendente
Gaspar Manuel da Silva
Comandante Provincial da Polícia
Direcção da Polícia Provincial
Avenida 4 de Fevereiro, 204
Luanda
República Popular de Angola
Telegrams: Primeiro Superintendente Gaspar da Silva,
Direcção da Polícia Provincial, Luanda, Angola
Salutation: Exmo. Sr. / Dear Sir
COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
Foreign Minister:
Sua Excelência
Pedro de Castro Van Dúnem "Loy"
Ministro das Relações Exteriores
Ministério das Relações Exteriores
Palácio do Comércio
Avenida Comandante Gika
Luanda
República Popular de Angola
and to diplomatic representatives of Angola in your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 23 July 1992.