DATE=12/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242996
TITLE=ANGOLA / UNITA / DIAMONDS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE RESUMPTION OF HEAVY FIGHTING IN ANGOLA BETWEEN
GOVERNMENT FORCES AND UNITA HAS FOCUSED FRESH ATTENTION ON HOW
THE REBEL GROUP HAS MANAGED TO OBTAIN SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS
DESPITE INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AIMED AT FORCING ITS
DEMILITARIZATION. V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX
BELIDA REPORTS A LONDON-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION SAYS
DIAMONDS HAVE PROVED TO BE UNITA'S BEST FRIEND.
TEXT: THE INVESTIGATIVE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP GLOBAL WITNESS SAYS
UNITA HAS CONTINUED TO SELL DIAMONDS ON THE WORLD MARKET DESPITE
UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS AIMED AT BLOCKING SUCH TRADE. IT
CHARGES THE FAILURE OF U-N MEMBER STATES AND THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY
TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THESE SANCTIONS HAS ALLOWED UNITA TO REARM.
THE GROUP SAYS THIS HAS FATALLY UNDERMINED THE ANGOLAN PEACE
PROCESS.
IN A REPORT RELEASED THIS WEEK AS HEAVY FIGHTING RESUMED IN
ANGOLA'S CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AREA, GLOBAL WITNESS CLAIMS ITS
INVESTIGATIONS HAVE REVEALED THAT SIGNIFICANT DIAMOND EXPORTS
STILL TAKE PLACE, MAINLY BY AIR AND IN SMALL QUANTITIES, THROUGH
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES LIKE ZAMBIA.
THE HUMAN RIGHUS GROUP SAYS MOST OF THE DIAMONDS ARE SOLD IN
BELGIUM, A KEY WORLD DIAMOND MARKET. IT SAYS UNITA HAS EARNED AN
ESTIMATED THREE-POINT-SEVEN-BILLION DOLLARS FROM ITS DIAMOND
SALES SINCE 1992.
GLOBAL WITNESS SAYS THERE IS WHAT IT CALLS AN URGENT NEED FOR THE
DIAMOND INDUSTRY TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH IT WORKS. IT SAYS
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR DIAMONDS TO BE USED AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF
REVENUE IN A CONFLICT AND ASKS HOW MANY PEOPLE, WHEN BUYING A
DIAMOND FOR A LOVED ONE, HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT IT CALLS THE
HORRIFIC PRICE ANGOLANS HAVE HAD TO PAY.
GLOBAL WITNESS CALLS ON ALL U-N MEMBER STATES TO RIGOROUSLY
ENFORCE THE SANCTIONS AGAINST UNITA. IT SAYS THE DIAMOND
INDUSTRY ALSO SHOULD TIGHTEN ITS CONTROLS TO PREVENT TRADING IN
UNITA-SOURCED GEMSTONES.
THE UNITED NATIONS HAS IMPOSED VARIOUS SANCTIONS AGAINST UNITA IN
AN EFFORT TO FORCE ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THE 1994 PEACE AGREEMENT
SIGNED IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA THAT ENDED TWO DECADES OF CIVIL WAR.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT, THE REBEL GROUP WAS TO HAVE
HANDED OVER ALL ITS WEAPONS AND DEMOBILIZED ALL ITS SOLDIERS.
HOWEVER SECURITY EXPERTS SAY UNITA KEPT MOST OF ITS BEST AND
MOST MODERN ARMS AND RETAINED AN ARMY ESTIMATED IN SIZE AT
30-THOUSAND MEN. EXPERTS SAY UNITA ALSO HAS PURCHASED NEW ARMS,
INCLUDING LONG-RANGE ARTILLERY, TANKS AND MISSILES.
U-N OFFICIALS HAVE DECRIED THE RESUMPTION OF FIGHTING IN ANGOLA.
BUT U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS SAID THERE IS LITTLE THE
WORLD BODY CAN DO BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY SMALL, ONE
THOUSAND-PERSON SIZE OF ITS PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN THE COUNTRY.
SOUTH AFRICA HAS CALLED ON BOTH THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT AND UNITA
TO SEEK A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE CONFLICT, SAYING THERE CAN
BE NO MILITARY SOLUTION.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS
APPEALED TO BOTH SIDES TO AVOID WHAT IT CALLS THE DELIBERATE AND
ARBITRARY KILLINGS OF UNARMED PEOPLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
15-Dec-98 6:50 AM EST (1150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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