Luanda - The Angolan Parliament approved on Thursday the Proposed National Security Law, in general, which defines the nature of citizen participation, collaboration and the framework for intersectoral and international cooperation.
The document was approved with 112 votes in favor, zero against and 81 abstentions (UNITA and PRS-FNLA mixed parliamentary group), during the 3rd Ordinary Plenary Meeting of the 2nd Legislative Session of the V Legislature.
When presenting the Bill, the Minister of State and head of the Military Affairs Office of the President of the Republic, Francisco Furtado, explained that it results from the mismatch of the current legal regime established by Law nº 12/02 of 16 August (Law of National Security), whose content is out of date with that established by the Constitution of the Republic.
The Proposed Law aims to provide an updated definition of the concept of national security and a new way of organizing and functioning institutions, bodies and services within the scope of the national security system.
The Bill seeks to respond to national and international challenges that are posed to the country in the field of national security, a concept that is highly transversal, requiring greater citizen inclusion and better coordination of institutions.
It also requires the bodies and services of the national security system to guarantee stability and sustainable socio-economic development against threats and risks.
The proposal clarifies and updates the concept of the national security system, made up of the sectors of national defense, the guarantee of order and the preservation of State security and broadens its understanding to three essential subjects, namely the citizen, society and the State.
A Legislative initiative by the Executive, the Proposed Law contains 46 articles, divided into six chapters and seven sections.
Parliamentarian Joaquim Frederico de Almeida, from MPLA, justified his party's favorable vote with the fact that, in the legal framework established in 2010, with the approval of the Constitution, all legislation governing defense and security bodies must be in accordance with the same.
'We voted in favor because we are aware that the State has the responsibility to mobilize all members of society, in a permanent, regular and organized way, to protect the well-being of the population and be the guarantor of social justice in the country, a desideratum that is achieves with a full and effective national security framework'.
In the opposite direction, UNITA, in the voice of the parliamentarian Jorge da Cruz, said that they voted to abstain because the proposal in question 'is very much in the national interest'.
He understands that, as it is a multidimensional matter that will guarantee the security of people and goods and the stability of the country, it should not be limited to just addressing issues of a military nature.
The UNITA parliamentary group recommended that the Executive improve the aforementioned proposed law, 'so that it is more comprehensive and meets the expectations of all citizens'.
Likewise, Rui Malopa Miguel, from the PRS-FNLA mixed parliamentary group, said that they abstained 'because the suspicions contained in the Bill can be dispelled through consensus, in the context of specialized discussion'.
The Plenary of the Assembly also voted on the Draft Resolution for Angola's ratification of the Southern African Development Community Protocol on Fisheries.
The Draft Resolution was approved with 176 votes in favor, zero against and no abstentions.
At the Summit held in August 2001, in Blantyre, Malawi, the Heads of State and Government approved the SADC Fisheries Protocol as an indispensable piece for the management and sustainable use of the Community's food resources and the development of aquaculture.
The document came into force in August 2003, after the ratification and consequent deposit of the aforementioned instruments with the SADC Secretariat by the majority of States Parties.
Angola, despite being one of the original members and having signed, is one of the few States in the region that has not yet ratified this important document.
The protocol is one of the most important pillars of economic architecture in the SADC region and is also one of the bases for the materialization of food security strategies. DC/VIC/DOJ
