|
IRIN Web Special on Cabinda
Interview with Roman Catholic priest Father Jorge Congo
Father Congo supports independence
Credit: IRIN
|
QUESTION: The Catholic church is being increasingly perceived as the legitimate interlocutor in any future peace process in Cabinda and, by default, the voice of civil society in the province. Does this signal disillusionment with what the separatist movement can actually achieve?
ANSWER: It is true that the church has become more vocal - especially following atrocities suffered by civilians over the past year - but this is not the first time we have spoken out. In the past we have been vocal about the terrible living conditions many Cabindans endure on a daily basis.
I don't think Cabindans are disillusioned with FLEC but, instead, are now prepared to rise up for themselves and try to bring about change. We can see this in the emergence of several civic groups in the province. FLEC, on the other hand, remains a historical reference point for most Cabindans.
Q: Some analysts have speculated that by openly defending the cause of Cabinda's self-determination, the Catholic Dioceses have fuelled rather than defused the conflict. Is this a fair assessment of the role the church has played thus far?
A: The government would have launched the military offensive in October [2002] anyway. As church representatives it is our right to report what is happening to the people, and to express exactly what people are feeling. The church is not responsible in any way for the worsening of the situation. Also, we have condemned both warring parties for their crimes against civilians.
Q: Could civil society perhaps pose a greater challenge to the government given the support it commands in Cabinda?
A: Cabindans have come to rely on those leaders who have remained in Cabinda instead of hoping that exiles would deliver their freedom to them. In many ways, this means that there are individuals who command a lot more support than the individual FLEC factions. The government's fight against the military wing of FLEC has been particularly brutal but it is a lot harder to win the people over. The government will have to deal with civil society in the future if it hopes to win that battle.
Q: The government has in recent months said it had a clear plan for Cabinda, but until now not much has materialised. Do you think Cabindans are convinced of the government's commitment to resolve the impasse through dialogue?
A: The military offensive proved that the government has no intention of resolving anything peacefully. In the past there have been several mentions of peace talks and peace plans - but the result has been violence. Of course, Cabindans are not persuaded by so-called plans. They want to see their daily lives made better. The calls for independence are as strong as ever.
Q: Is it widely believed that some kind of autonomy is likely? Has there been any consideration of possible self-determination by the government?
A: Yes, there have been talks around this, but the government has yet to explain exactly how this would work. Autonomy works differently in various parts of the world. This idea of autonomy is very vague. We say, let's talk about transitional autonomy, which would lead to independence.
Q: How would transitional autonomy work?
A: Firstly, power will have to be decentralised from Luanda. Also, the new local government should reflect the broad interests of all the people of Cabinda. A consensual timeframe should also be agreed upon, to determine how long this transitional period would last.
Q: So independence would remain the final objective?
A: Yes. Ask any Cabindan on the street and they will tell you that they seek independence. Autonomy should not be a gift from the government. If Luanda sees it as that, it will never work.
Q: So far, preliminary talks between the government and FLEC have failed to produce the conditions for a negotiated settlement. Is there not a case for perhaps watering down the question of self-determination as a compromise?
A: We have always advocated a peaceful solution to the Cabindan problem and, yes, there is always room for dialogue, but the government has got to respect the legitimacy of the concerns and desires expressed by Cabindans.
Q: Would a referendum resolve the issue?
A: The government would want all Angolans to participate in such a referendum, when the decision should be left up to the people of Cabinda alone. The government needs to be more consultative when it decides that it wants to be serious about Cabinda. There are many voices which have emerged in the province, who have very important contributions to make to the well-being of this province.
Q: There appears to be a lot of dissatisfaction among Cabindans over the oil companies' perceived lack of interest in the social conditions in the province. Could the oil companies do more to uplift the province?
A: Definitely! The amount of wealth the oil companies receive doesn't compare to the small financial investment they have made in the development of the province. Cabindans resent the fact that they live in abject poverty while there are oil companies making huge amounts of money out of what belongs to Cabindans. Something has to be done to correct this situation.
[Ends]
|
