Leber Jeweler calls on Angolan state prosecutors to drop all charges against Rafael Marques
Leber Jeweler Inc. continues to express our concerns over efforts by the nation of Angola to criminally prosecute human rights activist and investigative journalist Rafael Marques de Morais on charges of criminal libel against a number of Angolan generals. The state-sponsored trial is a direct result of his research that has linked these senior generals, who are also major shareholders in a diamond mining company, with torture, homicide, and land seizure...Leber Jeweler Inc. calls on the Angolan state prosecutors to drop all charges against Rafael Marques de Morais. In addition, we formally request Angola’s President José Eduardo dos Santos order the formation of an independent commission that will fairly and objectively investigate the allegations of human rights abuses committed against artisanal diamond mining communities documented by Rafael Marques de Morais’ thorough and rigorous reporting.