A/HRC/7/10/Add.4 page 11 3. Freedom of religion or belief in Cabinda 27. While the Angolan Civil War ended in 2002, a low level armed separatist struggle persists in the north of the enclave of Cabinda and the province remains heavily militarized. 9 The armed conflict for secession led by the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Frente para a Libertação de Enclave de Cabinda, FLEC) has been underway in the territory since Angola’s independence in 1975. In 2004, FLEC, the Church, and civil society organizations set up the Cabinda Forum for Dialogue (FCD) to enter into dialogue with the Government for peace in Cabinda. On 1 August 2006, a Memorandum of Understanding for Peace and Reconciliation in Cabinda was signed between the Government of Angola and the President of the FCD, Bento Bembe. This memorandum was however rejected by FLEC and other members of civil society who did not recognize the legitimacy of Bento Bembe, former FCD president, who was expelled from the organization in April 2006. 28. Bishop Filomeno Vieira Dias was nominated to take over as bishop for the Cabinda diocese in February 2005 by Pope John Paul II and in June 2006 sworn in. His nomination has been marred by controversy with some members of the Church expressing discontent at having a bishop who is not from Cabinda and instead closely connected to the Government. In this report the Special Rapporteur takes no position on the appointment of Bishop Filomeno Vieira Dias, but does instead focus on the fallout following the Bishop’s appointment. Numerous incidents contributed to maintain a tense situation in the Catholic diocese. On 17 May 2006, seven priests who had celebrated the Eucharist with the Youth Commission in Cabinda’s central cathedral, contrary to a prohibition from the new General Vicar, were subsequently suspended for disobedience by the Vatican. 10 A reconciliation mass was reportedly held on 14 May 2006 aimed at “reunifying” the Catholic Church of the enclave. Worshippers reportedly ignored the call 9 North of the Chiloango river, confrontation between the Angolan Armed Forces and FLEC forces loyal to Nzita Tiago is reported as continuing, causing victims among military and civilians. Male inhabitants - aged between 15 and 60 years old - of ten villages in the central region of Cabinda were reportedly forced by the Angolan armed forces to leave their houses in the night of 31 August 2007 and forcibly displaced to a location in Cochiloango plain. This operation apparently targeted populations supporting FLEC, the pro-independence movement that has not recognized the peace agreement signed between the Government of Angola and the Forum of Cabinda one year ago. The separatist conflict in Cabinda is related to the fact that Cabinda became a colony of Portugal in 1885 more than three hundred years later than the rest of Angola was colonized, after the Treaty of Simulambaco in 1885. This Treaty recognized Cabinda’s special status as a semi-autonomous state. Angola and Cabinda were however united in 1956 without negotiations with Cabinda. 10 As of late November 2007 the suspensions of three had been lifted. Meeting on 31 October 2007, the Catholic Bishops of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST) reconfirmed that the suspended priests would have to accept the nomination of the bishop of Cabinda, named by the highest Catholic Authority, the Pope, or could face excommunication according to Canonic Law.