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DATE=1/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244352
TITLE=ANGOLA/DRAFT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=LUANDA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN REGISTERING YOUNG MEN FOR
COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE, FOLLOWING RENEWED FIGHTING WITH 
"UNITA" REBELS THAT HAS SHATTERED A FOUR-YEAR-OLD, U-N-BACKED 
PEACE EFFORT.  MORE FROM V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX
BELIDA IN THE ANGOLAN CAPITAL, LUANDA.
TEXT: THEY SAY THEY UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS MORE SOLDIERS
TO FIGHT THE REBELS OF JONAS SAVIMBI'S UNITA MOVEMENT. THEY EVEN 
SAY THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM REGISTERING FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY 
SERVICE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROSPECT OF ACTUAL COMBAT, MANY
OF THE 50 OR SO 18-TO-20 YEAR OLDS GATHERED TUESDAY MORNING 
OUTSIDE A SMALL MUNICIPAL OFFICE NEAR LUANDA AIRPORT FOR THE 
COMPULSORY SIGN-UP SAID THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA.
18-YEAR-OLD STUDENT IGNACIO SILAS (EDS: CEE-LASH) EXPLAINS.
                  // IGNACIO SILAS ACTUALITY //
         YOU SEE, WE ARE ALL ANGOLAN. WE ARE ALL FROM ANGOLA. YOU
         SEE. I CAN'T MAKE (A) FIGHT WITH MY BROTHER. THIS IS 
         VERY BAD.
                       // END ACTUALITY //
IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MANY MEN THE GOVERNMENT HOPES TO GET FROM THE 
CALL-UP. BUT MANY WEALTHY ANGOLANS ARE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE SENT 
THEIR CHILDREN OF DRAFT AGE OVERSEAS TO AVOID ARMY SERVICE.
THESE YOUNG MEN GATHERED (NEAR THE AIRPORT OFFICE) TO REGISTER 
CLAIM THEY HAVE HEARD SOME CORRUPT AUTHORITIES ARE SELLING 
OFFICIAL DRAFT EXEMPTIONS.
// OPT // STILL, AS THEY WAIT IN THE HOT SUN TO BE PROCESSED, 
THEY CHEER AND WAVE AS AN ARMY TRUCK CARRYING SEVERAL UNIFORMED 
SOLDIERS DRIVES BY. THE SOLDIERS SMILE AND WAVE BACK. // END OPT 
//
THE GOVERNMENT ORDERED THE CALL-UP FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF 
ANGOLA'S FOUR-YEAR-OLD U-N BACKED PEACE EFFORT -- A PEACE EFFORT 
THAT ENDED TWO DECADES OF CIVIL WAR IN THE OIL AND DIAMOND-RICH 
COUNTRY. 
BUT THE UNITA REBELS FAILED TO DISARM AND DEMOBILIZE AS PROMISED 
UNDER THE PEACE PACT. THEY ALSO FAILED TO TURN OVER TO THE 
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TERRITORY UNDER THEIR CONTROL. THE 
GOVERNMENT'S PATIENCE RAN OUT, AND IT IS NOW BENT ON DESTROYING 
UNITA MILITARILY. THE U-N PEACE MISSION IS PULLING OUT OF ANGOLA 
AS A RESULT.
/// OPT ///  IN THE PAST, BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND UNITA USED 
FORCED RECRUITMENT -- A PROCESS THAT IS REPORTED CONTINUING IN 
RURAL AREAS. BUT HERE IN LUANDA, AUTHORITIES HAVE TRIED TO APPEAL
TO YOUNG ANGOLANS' SENSE OF PATRIOTISM, CALLING MILITARY SERVICE 
AN INDISPENSABLE RIGHT AND OBLIGATION. /// END OPT ///
ANGOLAN STATE RADIO HAS SAID THAT ONLY WITH THE HELP OF YOUNG MEN
LIKE THOSE GATHERED OUTSIDE THE REGISTRATION CENTER CAN THE 
GOVERNMENT DESTROY WHAT IT CALLS THE "WAR MACHINE" OF UNITA 
LEADER SAVIMBI. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF/GE
19-Jan-99 9:20 AM EST (1420 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.