Luís Nascimento told Lusa News Agency that the decision “was expected”, but left any further details for the family to announce.
“When he spoke to me on Monday, he was considering the possibility of ending the protest. It was more than likely, in a certain way he acknowledged the appeals made by colleagues and namely the last appeal by his wife, because of their daughter”, the lawyer told Lusa.
Monday was Luaty Beirão’s 36th day on hunger strike in protest against what he said was the excessive time they had been held on remand and demanded to await their trial in freedom, as foreseen under Angolan law.
The musician and activist, who has dual Angolan and Portuguese nationality, is one of 15 Angolan political activists who have been held on remand since June on charges of preparing a rebellion in Angola and an attack on the president.
The trial has been set for 16 November near Luanda.
There have been numerous signs of support from many famous and anonymous individuals and organisations regarding the hunger strike by Angolan activist and rapper Luaty Beirão. The Angolan state was not among them.
Angolan writer José Eduardo Agualusa said on Tuesday that Luaty Beirão’s objectives behind the hunger strike were “not met”, but it “called attention” to the question of political prisoners in Angola.
Another Angolan activist, Rafael Marques, said Luaty’s action was a “historic event” that made people more aware of what was going on in Angola as the hunger strike had lasted one day for every year President José Eduardo dos Santos had been in power.
“Luaty, a rebel as always, ended the 36 days that also meant the 36 years the president has been in power. It is symbolic and also a declaration, proof of Luaty’s stamina, the author of the book “Diamantes de Sangue” (Blood diamonds), told Lusa.
The president of Amnesty International Portugal, Teresa Pina, praised today’s announcement that the protest was over, considering it “an act of bravery and courage”.
“He decided to end the hunger strike as he realised he had to start another phase to resolve the question”, she said.
Teresa Pina added that “AI respects the will of individuals and does not interfere in this kind of decision”.
Meanwhile, the Angolan ambassador in Portugal told the Portuguese foreign ministry he was “displeased” with a vote of solidarity with the 15 activists held in Angola and said it was meddling in national affairs.
“We told the foreign ministry we did not appreciate this attitude, which interferes with affairs of state and so we showed our displeasure”, the Angolan ambassador to Lisbon said on Tuesday.
He was referring to a vote that was passed on 13 October by Lisbon City Hall in support of Luaty Beirão and the other activists arrested in Luanda in June.
In line with this view, was the statement by General Bento dos Santos, also known as ‘Kangamba’, who said this week that Portugal is getting involved in internal, sovereign Angolan affairs and should let the rule of law run its course.
Nephew of Angola President, José Eduardo dos Santos, the General is seen as a leading figure in the MPLA hierarchy and was not having any of the Portuguese civil society campaigning over the fate of 15 activists remanded in custody since June.
“If I were Portuguese I would think 20 or 30 times before speaking about a foreigner. First I have to put my own house in order and then talk about others,” said General Bento dos Santos before adding Portugal “has neither the juridical nor the political conscience to defend itself and never mind Angolans.”
The general appealed for calm as “justice would be done” before attacking the focus on one particular activist.
Stating that Angola had many people in prison awaiting trial “people of renown even, generals accused of crimes waiting for justice to decide and nobody leaves before that happens” with the general continuing “the Portuguese are appealing for one who has the same colour as them and the others who are the colour of coal get nobody appealing for them. This is ugly and is something that you do not see any more in Angola.”
General Bento dos Santos was also none too impressed with those participating in the protests: “The people are the same apart from the two pretty figures that turn up there for the Left Bloc. But the people who are against Angola are the same. They think Angola is today a slave, that we are slaves” with the general then calling for the Portuguese to recognise Angola as a sovereign state and stop trying to boss the country around.
“This has nothing to do with the President of Angola, this has nothing to do with any party. This has to do with justice. And justice is autonomous” with Kangamba closing with the affirmation that “there is democracy and liberty” in Angola.