DATE=2/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245396
TITLE=ANGOLA / UNITA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN OFFICIAL OF ANGOLA'S UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT HAS DENIED
ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT CHARGES THAT HE IS IN SOUTH AFRICA RECRUITING
MERCENARIES ON BEHALF OF UNITA. V-O-A JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT
ALEX BELIDA REPORTS.
TEXT: THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT CLAIMS UNITA REPRESENTATIVE MINES
TADEU (EDS: MEAN-ESH TA-DEO) IS INVOLVED IN A REBEL EFFORT TO
RECRUIT MERCENARIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
BUT MR. TADEU, IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW IN JOHANNESBURG, DENIES THE
CHARGES.
/// TADEU ACTUALITY ///
THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT IS SAYING THAT UNITA IS
RECRUITING MERCENARIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND SO ON, AND
THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OPERATION. BUT THIS DOES
NOT CORRESPOND TO REALITY. IT'S NOT TRUE.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
ANGOLAN NATIONAL RADIO SAYS THE ALLEGED RECRUITING DRIVE IS
FOCUSING ON ANGOLAN-BORN FORMER SOLDIERS OF SOUTH AFRICA'S
APARTHEID-ERA ARMY WHO NOW LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA. IT SAYS SOME
HAVE ALREADY BEEN LURED BY PROMISES OF WHAT THE RADIO SAYS ARE
LARGE SUMS OF MONEY AND THAT A GROUP RECRUITED IN PRETORIA HAS
LEFT FOR ANGOLA VIA ZAMBIA.
MR. TADEU SAYS IT IS NOT UNITA BUT RATHER THE ANGOLAN
GOVERNMENT THAT HAS BEEN RECRUITING MERCENARIES IN SOUTH AFRICA.
MR. TADEU ACKNOWLEDGES HE IS STILL A UNITA REPRESENTATIVE. BUT
HE SAYS HE IS IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR PERSONAL REASONS.
MR. TADEU SERVED ON UNITA'S DELEGATION TO ANGOLA'S JOINT
COMMISSION IN LUANDA OVERSEEING THE COUNTRY'S NOW-DEFUNCT PEACE
PROCESS. HE SAYS HE LEFT ANGOLA BECAUSE OF THREATS TO HIS LIFE
AND BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO JOIN A SPLINTER UNITA GROUP CALLED
UNITA RENOVADA THAT HAS BEEN COOPERATING WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF
PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
11-Feb-99 7:50 AM EST (1250 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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