DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241589
TITLE=ANGOLA / SAVIMBI / APPEAL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=LUANDA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN ANGOLA, THE LEADER OF THE DISSIDENT "RENEWAL" FACTION
OF THE UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT HAS APPEALED TO JONAS SAVIMBI TO
ABANDON HIS GUERRILLA STRUGGLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM LUANDA THE DRAMATIC APPEAL
COMES FROM JORGE VALENTIM (EDS PRON: 'GEORGE' -- NOT 'HOR-GE' --
'VAL-EN-TEEN' DESPITE "M") IN AN EXCLUSIVE V-O-A INTERVIEW.
TEXT: JORGE VALENTIM WAS A CLOSE FRIEND AND AIDE TO UNITA LEADER
JONAS SAVIMBI FOR 30 YEARS. BUT HE SAYS THEIR REBEL STRUGGLE HAS
NOT BROUGHT PEACE OR EVEN HOPE TO UNITA'S FOLLOWERS. HE SAYS IT
IS TIME FOR MR. SAVIMBI TO STOP FIGHTING.
/// VALENTIM ACTUALITY ///
STOP THIS WRONG WAR OF DESTRUCTION. /// OPT ///
JOIN TO OTHERS TO SAVE HIS OWN NAME AND THE HISTORY OF
ANGOLA. /// END OPT /// DON'T DESTROY ANGOLA FOR
THE SAKE OF DESTRUCTION.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
MR. VALENTIM IS ONE OF THE SENIOR OFFICIALS NOMINATED BY UNITA
LAST YEAR TO SERVE IN A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION.
HE CURRENTLY HOLDS THE POST OF MINISTER OF TOURISM.
HE AND SEVERAL OTHER UNITA REPRESENTATIVES IN LUANDA ANNOUNCED
THEIR BREAK WITH MR. SAVIMBI AND THE FORMATION OF UNITA RENOVADA
OR UNITA RENEWAL IN SEPTEMBER. THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNIZED THE
FACTION AND CUT OFF ALL CONTACTS WITH MR. SAVIMBI.
IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW AT HIS MINISTRY IN LUANDA, MR. VALENTIM SAYS
ANGOLA IS AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT IN ITS HISTORY. HE SAYS IF MR.
SAVIMBI AGREES TO JOIN WITH OTHER ANGOLANS TO WORK FOR PEACE AND
PROSPERITY IN THE COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE WILL BE FORGIVING.
BUT HE SAYS MR. SAVIMBI MUST ACT NOW -- OR SUFFER THE
CONSEQUENCES.
/// VALENTIM ACTUALITY ///
TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE. DO IT NOW BECAUSE AT A
CERTAIN MOMENT OF HISTORY, WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG, IT
IS THE LEADER WHO PAYS.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
MR. VALENTIM SAYS MR. SAVIMBI IS CAPABLE OF SURPRISES. BUT HE
SAYS HE IS AFRAID THE UNITA LEADER IS NOT CAPABLE OF ABANDONING
HIS FIGHT AND ADMITTING HE WAS WRONG. HE PREDICTS THAT IF MR.
SAVIMBI STAYS IN HIS STRONGHOLD IN ANGOLA'S CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, HE
WILL EVENTUALLY BE ATTACKED. HE SAYS IF MR. SAVIMBI FLEES
ABROAD, HE WILL BE, AS HE PUTS IT, LOST.
IN THE MEANTIME, MR. VALENTIM SAYS HIS MAIN PREOCCUPATION IS
WINNING THE GOVERNMENT'S PROMISE OF SECURITY GUARANTEES FOR ANY
UNITA SOLDIERS STILL IN THE BUSH WHO BREAK WITH MR. SAVIMBI AND
SURRENDER THEMSELVES AND THEIR ARMS.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
MR. VALENTIM WILL GIVE NO DETAILS, BUT SAYS HE IS GETTING
MESSAGES FROM UNITA COMMANDERS AND SOLDIERS WHO WANT TO DEFECT.
HE SAYS HE HAS HAD SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WORRYING ABOUT THEIR FATE IF
THEY DO GIVE UP.
MR. VALENTIM DENIES HIS UNITA RENEWAL FACTION IS A PUPPET
CREATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE RULING MOVEMENT FOR THE
POPULAR LIBERATION OF ANGOLA, OR M-P-L-A PARTY. HE ALSO
CATEGORICALLY DENIES THAT HE AND OTHERS IN THE DISSIDENT SPLINTER
GROUP HAVE BEEN PAID VAST SUMS TO BREAK WITH MR. SAVIMBI. HE
DESCRIBES HIS DECISION AS WHAT HE CALLS A "PATRIOTIC RESPONSE" --
A MOVE INTENDED TO SAVE ANGOLA'S PEACE PROCESS AS WELL AS UNITA
ITSELF. HE INSISTS UNITA RENOVADA HAS STRONG SUPPORT IN
PROVINCES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.
MR. SAVIMBI HAS DENOUNCED THE GROUP. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/JO
12-Nov-98 2:49 PM EST (1949 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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