DATE=1/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244591
TITLE=ANGOLA/WAR (S&L)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=LUANDA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ANGOLAN AUTHORITIES SAY THE MILITARY SITUATION IN THE
COUNTRY REMAINS TENSE WITH UNITA REBEL FORCES THREATENING SEVERAL
KEY CITIES. BUT THE LUANDA GOVERNMENT CLAIMS IT HAS THE
SITUATION UNDER CONTROL. V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT
ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM THE ANGOLAN CAPITAL.
TEXT: AN ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT MADE AVAILABLE TO THE VOICE
OF AMERICA IN LUANDA CLAIMS THE LATEST UNITA OFFENSIVE IS AIMED
ULTIMATELY AT SEIZING THE CAPITAL AND OVERALL POWER.
THE FOUR-PAGE MEMORANDUM SAYS THE REBELS FIRST INTEND TO TAKE
CONTROL OF CUITO AND HUAMBO IN THE COUNTRY'S CENTRAL HIGHLANDS,
FOLLOWED BY THE COASTAL CITY OF BENGUELA AS WELL AS THE CITY OF
MALANJE IN THE INTERIOR.
IT CHARGES UNITA FORCES ARE WELL-ARMED WITH TANKS, ARMORED
PERSONNEL CARRIERS, LONG-RANGE ARTILLERY AND OTHER MILITARY
EQUIPMENT. IT CLAIMS THE REBELS ARE ALSO BACKED BY MERCENARIES
OF VARIOUS NATIONALITIES. IN ADDITION, IT MAINTAINS UNITA HAS
RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM VARIOUS AFRICAN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING
BURKINA FASO, RWANDA, TOGO, UGANDA AND ZAMBIA AS WELL AS ELEMENTS
OF THE FORMER WHITE MINORITY GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA.
THE STATEMENT SAYS THAT DESPITE CURRENT TENSIONS, THE GOVERNMENT
HAS THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL.
// REST OPT //
LARGELY A SUMMARY OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PREVIOUSLY-KNOWN POSITIONS,
THE DOCUMENT SAYS AUTHORITIES IN LUANDA ADHERED TO THE COUNTRY'S
1994 PEACE AGREEMENT, KNOWN AS THE LUSAKA PROTOCOL. BUT IT AGAIN
CHARGES UNITA NEVER OBSERVED THE TERMS OF THE ACCORD AND INSTEAD
SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO REARM AND REBUILD ITS FORCES INSTEAD OF
DEMILITARIZING.
THE GOVERNMENT DEFENDS ITS DECISION TO SEVER CONTACTS WITH UNITA
LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI, WHOM IT CONSIDERS A WAR CRIMINAL AND
TERRORIST. IT ALSO SAYS THE PRESENCE OF A U-N PEACE MISSION TO
MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1994 LUSAKA PEACE AGREEMENT IS NO
LONGER JUSTIFIED. IT SAYS ONLY U-N HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
SHOULD CONTINUE IN ANGOLA.
IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO THE RENEWED CONFLICT IN ANGOLA,
AUTHORITIES HAVE WARNED PRIVATELY-OWNED NEWS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
COUNTRY TO EXERCISE CARE IN THEIR REPORTING SO AS NOT TO INCITE
THE PUBLIC AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.
A LETTER BY ANGOLA'S MINISTER OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS
SPECIFICALLY WARNS PRIVATE PUBLICATIONS AND BROADCASTING OUTLETS
NOT TO ENCOURAGE RESISTANCE TO THE RECENT GOVERNMENT ORDER THAT
ALL 18-TO-20 YEAR OLD MALES REGISTER FOR MILITARY SERVICE.
THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS THE CHILDREN OF WEALTHY AND
INFLUENTIAL ANGOLAN FAMILIES, WHO ARE OF DRAFT AGE, HAVE BEEN
SENT ABROAD OR HAVE PURCHASED EXEMPTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/DW/JO
24-Jan-99 9:53 AM EST (1453 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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