Angolan Government Abuse Highlighted in Washington.

WASHINGTON, September 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Opposition Leader Presses for Election Monitoring

Dr. Eduardo Kuangana, President of the Angolan Party of Social Renewal (PRS) met with key leaders in the United States government and civil society, and delivered a very clear message: "America must pressure the MPLA government in Angola to cease its harassment of opposition parties, and allow for a free and fair election next year." Over a six day period Kuangana, along with PRS National Secretary Benedito Daniel, met with senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the State Department, the Africa and Human Rights caucuses of the United States Congress, the United States Agency for International Development, and civil society organizations headquartered in the American capitol. The responses were good news for Kuangana. The United States supports free and fair elections in Angola, and is closely monitoring electoral reform in the oil-rich nation that is slowly recovering from nearly thirty years of civil war under a totalitarian communist regime.

In response to questions from Members of Congress and Senate staff, Kuangana highlighted the government's oppressive and arbitrary enforcement of election law, restrictions on freedom of speech, and the glacial progress of election reform. He explained that voter registration is due to begin November 1 this year. "We have purchased the necessary materials from abroad to register our voters, as they are not available in Angola. Yet the government refuses to allow our materials into the country. Are they so afraid of our words? Are they concerned that our voter kits will remind the voters that they live in poverty and squalor while those in government are bloated with profit from sale of oil, diamonds, gold and uranium? The people know this even without those things that the government holds in Luanda. This is why the government does not wish to have a genuine democratic election in Angola," Kuangana explained.

Kuangana also received pledges of support from conservative and Christian leaders at a luncheon at the Capitol Hill Club, where he was feted by members of the Conservative Caucus, the eagle Forum, and the Republican National Committee. At the luncheon, Kuangana spoke of the natural compatibility between the platform the PRS and the classical liberal tradition of the United States. Kuangana added, "PRS is the only party [in Angola] which sees federalism as the framework for lasting peace. Federalism will give Angolans a more representative government, and help to combat the corruption that cripples society. We believe that free markets are the only way that all Angolans will be given opportunity to share in the country's wealth, and assert that true democracy cannot grow without the support of a market economy. PRS also believes that the quickest path to economic recovery lies not with foreign monetary aid, but with the fostering of entrepreneurial opportunity. By removing bureaucratic red tape and relics from the communist era, and with tax and finance incentives, the true wealth of Angola -- the work ethic and creative drive of its people -- will be revealed."

Photographs available

Web site: http://www.prs-angola.com

Hank Jones [phone], [e-mail] or Benedito Daniel [phone], both for the Party of Social Renewal