Uproar over police tactics
THE DEATH of a doctor who was pulled over for not wearing a mask has triggered a public outcry in Angola about the excessive use of force by police enforcing measures to curb the coronavirus epidemic.
Silvio Andrade Dala, 35, was driving home on September 1 after a 24-hour shift at a clinic in the capital, Luanda, when he was stopped by police and fined $8 (R135) because he didn’t wear a mask. Unable to pay immediately, he was jailed.
His body was found later at a hospital, said Union of Angolan Doctors president Adriano Manuel.
“How can jail even be justified for a doctor who identifies himself as such?” Manuel said. “Why didn’t they seize his car and let him fetch the money?”
The incident comes after a spate of complaints of abuse by security forces and follows the publication of an August 25 report by Amnesty International detailing the deaths of seven young men at the hands of police since the government declared a state of emergency in March. The seven include a 15-year-old boy who was shot while playing sport, according to the UK advocacy group.
“Angolan security forces in various provinces have resorted to excessive, disproportionate, abusive, and even lethal use of force to deal with infringements of Covid-19 prevention measures,” Amnesty said.
The government hasn’t commented on the report.
Initially, police said Dala showed signs of fatigue, began convulsing and died en route to a medical facility. On Friday, it said an autopsy showed that he had died of pre-existing conditions, without specifying what they were.
However, images of Dala’s bloodied body that are circulating on social media have triggered widespread anger.
The government has pledged to investigate the incident. The Health Ministry said it supported the prosecutor in finding the “real cause” of his death so that the “culprits can be held accountable”.
Police spokesperson Waldemar Jose could not be reached for comment.
Angola had 2 965 confirmed coronavirus cases and 117 deaths on Monday. Most businesses have reopened and those with Covid-19 have to stay indoors. Wearing a mask outside the home remains mandatory, even while driving alone.