DATE=3/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247349
TITLE=ANGOLA / UNITA (L)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A STARTLING NEW DIMENSION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE ANGOLAN
CIVIL WAR -- THE UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT HAS ACQUIRED JET
FIGHTER-BOMBERS AS WELL AS ATTACK HELICOPTERS. CORRESPONDENT
ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHERN AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: AFRICAN INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY SOURCES SAY THE UNITA
REBELS HAVE ACQUIRED JET FIGHTER-BOMBER AIRCRAFT AS WELL AS
HELICOPTERS THAT CAN BE USED BOTH FOR ATTACK MISSIONS AND TO
CARRY TROOPS.
UNTIL NOW, THE REBELS HAVE HAD NO OFFENSIVE AIR CAPABILITY.
ANALYSTS SAY UNITA'S ACQUISITION OF AN AIR ARM COULD CHANGE THE
COURSE OF THE ONGOING CIVIL WAR IN ANGOLA.
A SENIOR UNITA OFFICIAL, INTERVIEWED BY THE VOICE OF AMERICA BY
SATELLITE TELEPHONE, REFUSES TO CONFIRM OR DENY THE INFORMATION.
/// UNITA-GATO ACT - IN PORTUGUESE - FADE UNDER ///
HOWEVER THE REBEL OFFICIAL, GENERAL PAULO LUKAMBA GATO, SAYS
UNITA WILL, IN HIS WORDS, "DEFEND ITSELF WITH ALL ITS MEANS AND
WHATEVER ELSE IT TAKES."
THE INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY SOURCES, SPEAKING TO V-O-A ON
CONDITION OF STRICT ANONYMITY, SAY UNITA'S SIX JETS, BELIEVED TO
BE MIGS, WERE FLOWN TO A REBEL-HELD AIRFIELD IN SOUTHEASTERN
ANGOLA EARLIER THIS MONTH. AN EYEWITNESS SAYS THE PLANES WERE
PILOTED BY WHITE MEN. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THE AIRCRAFT COME FROM
UKRAINE.
/// OPT /// IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW SOON THE JETS COULD BE
READY FOR MISSIONS. BUT ANALYSTS SAY UNITA COULD USE THEM IN
SURPRISE STRIKES -- NOT ONLY AGAINST GOVERNMENT-HELD BASES AND
CITIES BUT EVEN TO DISRUPT FLIGHTS BY GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT. THESE
ANALYSTS SAY ANGOLA'S GOVERNMENT FORCES MAY BE HARD-PRESSED TO
DEAL WITH THE NEW THREAT AS THEIR ANTI-AIRCRAFT CAPABILITY HAS
BEEN LONG NEGLECTED. /// END OPT ///
THE SOURCES SAY UNITA HAS ALSO ACQUIRED BETWEEN THREE AND SIX
HELICOPTERS, IDENTIFIED AS MI-25 HINDS.
/// OPT /// ANALYSTS SAY THE HELICOPTERS COULD BE USED TO
FERRY TROOPS OR TO STRIKE AT KEY INSTALLATIONS, POSSIBLY
INCLUDING ANGOLA'S IMPORTANT OIL FACILITIES. THE SOURCES SAY
UNITA HAS ORDERED MORE SUCH HELICOPTERS FROM ITS SUPPLIERS IN
UKRAINE AND IS AWAITING THEIR DELIVERY. /// END OPT ///
ANGOLA HAS HAD NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE NEW UNITA MILITARY
PURCHASES, WHICH ARE ALSO UNDERSTOOD TO INCLUDE CRUDE
GROUND-TO-GROUND MISSILES KNOWN AS FROGS WITH A 70 KILOMETER
RANGE.
BUT OFFICIALS IN LUANDA HAVE PRIVATELY CONFIRMED THEY KNOW ABOUT
THE PLANES AND HELICOPTERS.
/// OPT /// DIPLOMATS IN THE ANGOLAN CAPITAL SAY THEY HAVE
HAD NO CONFIRMATION OF THE PURCHASES, WHICH ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE
BEEN FINANCED THROUGH THE SALE OF DIAMONDS MINED FROM TERRITORY
UNDER UNITA CONTROL. /// END OPT ///
ANGOLA'S U-N BACKED PEACE PROCESS, LAUNCHED IN 1994 WITH THE
SIGNING OF A PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE RIVAL SIDES, COLLAPSED
LATE LAST YEAR AMID GOVERNMENT FRUSTRATION OVER UNITA'S FAILURE
TO DEMILITARIZE AND TURN OVER TERRITORY. THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS
UNITA USED THE PEACE PROCESS TO REARM ITSELF AND TO REINFORCE ITS
BASES. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
29-Mar-99 9:45 AM EST (1445 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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