On 11 October, police arrested at least 12 youth protesters in Luanda and injured several others using metal batons. While the police released most of the protesters that day without charge, one was sentenced to 30 days in prison, for allegedly tearing a police agent’s uniform. Police held five of the students for nearly two weeks, denying them medical care and access to lawyers until five days after their arrest. On 28 May 2014, police briefly arrested Rádio Despertar journalist Adérito Pascual at a police station in Viana when he asked for an official statement for a live broadcast on a violent operation to remove street traders. Police seized his phone, recorder, and identification and government agents forced him to delete his videos. He was released after two hours and his equipment returned. In a similar incident on 24 September 2014, police briefly arrested Álvaro Victoria, a journalist with the privately owned weekly newspaper Novo Jornal, at the S. Paulo market in Luanda, where he filmed police beating street traders. Police assaulted, threatened and then detained him for two hours, after which he was released without charge. CENSORSHIP AND BANNING Journalists banned from broadcasting freedom of expression debate In a shocking contradiction, reporter Gonçalves Vieira from Radio Despertar was forced to leave precincts of the National Assembly in late May during a session of Parliament apparently aimed at celebrating Freedom of Expression Day. Just as the debate, “The Role of Public Media in a Democratic State” com- menced, Vieira was forced to stop the live broadcast and was quietly removed from the upper floor chambers of Parliament as the debate continued. “A civilian addressed me and asked if I knew that live broadcasts were prohibited. I replied that I knew the sessions were open to the public,” Vieira of Radio Despertar told MISA Angola. As he continued to broadcast the debate, Vieira was approached again. “What are you doing?” asked a woman with no nametag. “I am broadcasting the debate live,” Vieira responded. According to Vieira, the incident drew the attention of Vianey Baptist, head of the Office of Communication of the Assembly. Baptist ordered the reporter to stop the broadcast immediately. Vieira was discreetly asked to leave the room from the doorway by a man who later identified himself as a superintendent of police. He was forced to leave his work equipment behind, including his computer, recorder and backpack. MISA Angola’s sources say audience members are frequently asked if they are journalists before being allowed to enter the room. President of the National Assembly, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, also known as Nando, condemned the presence of media during the debate, saying Radio Despertar took advantage of broadcasting the debate live. “This is wrong, in this room access is allowed, but only if you do not perform the duties of a reporter.” Such comments seem inconceivable, particularly in the context of the topic of the debate that was taking place at the time. So This is Democracy? 2014 21