| British Human Rights activist charged with spying in Angola |
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| World Affairs Talk | |
| Tuesday, 22 May 2007 | |
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Global Witness is an international NGO that highlights the links between natural resource exploitation, conflict, poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide. Sarah Wykes, an anti-corruption campaigner who was in Angola to meet representatives of civil organisations, was detained by police, in her hotel, in the oil-rich enclave of Cabinda two days after her arrival there. She appeared in a Cabinda court on 19 February after spending a night in jail, and prevented from consulting with her lawyers, said Andie Lambe, a spokeswoman for Global Witness. The prison she was staying in is bad shape. There is a lack of hygiene, ventilation and water, reported her lawyer. Her lawyers were trying to get her released and pay a charge if $2,259 for her bail, but the bank holiday on Tuesday, 20 February was a problem for arranging the money. Wykes was in Cabinda to meet local groups to discuss oil-related "revenue transparency" issues. There was no immediate comment from the Angolan government on the case. The British government on the other hand said it was aware of Wykes' arrest and was discussing her case with Angolan officials. “Our consular staff have spoken to her several times and are on their way to Cabinda” a spokeswoman for Britain's Foreign Office in London said. Angola, sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer right after Nigeria, is often accused of having one of the world's most corrupt oil sectors, with large portions of revenue unaccounted for each year. Angola in several occasions refused to bow to Western demands that it make its economy more transparent, turning instead to China for the credit and loans to reconstruct after a devastating 27-year civil war that ended in 2002. On recent development, Wykes, was released from jail on 21 February, 2007 but was ordered not to leave southwestern African nation. She was set free after posting bail of 180,000 Angolan kwanzas ($2,200) following a court appearance in Cabinda. The conditions of her bail mean she can't leave the country unless she gets permission from the public minister in Cabinda said Gavin Hayman, a spokesman for London-based Global Witness. He added Wykes planned to pick up her passport at a police station in the provincial capital Cabinda and then fly back to the Angolan capital Luanda to seek advice from the British consulate. Global Witness, which has described the charges against Wykes as baseless, said it was concerned her case could take months or even a year to be resolved. It added that it hoped Angola's government would decide to let Wykes leave the country. Share & Bookmark             |
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