DATE=4/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248193
TITLE=ANGOLA/UNITA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND 14 SOUTHERN AND
CENTRAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE VOWED TO TIGHTEN SANCTIONS AGAINST
ANGOLA'S UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT. V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA
CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS THAT DESPITE INTERNATIONAL
SANCTIONS, UNITA HAS DEVELOPED AN EXTENSIVE ILLEGAL SUPPLY
NETWORK.
TEXT: THE PLEDGE TO TIGHTEN SANCTIONS AGAINST UNITA CAME AT THE
END OF THE FIRST-EVER U-S/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
FORUM HELD THIS PAST WEEK IN BOTSWANA. ACCORDING TO THE
MEETING'S FINAL COMMUNIQUE, PARTICIPANTS AGREED ANGOLA'S REBELS
ARE WHAT THE DOCUMENT TERMS "THE PRINCIPAL OBSTACLE TO PEACE" IN
THAT WAR-TORN COUNTRY.
THE HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS ATTENDING THE GATHERING MADE TWO
COMMITMENTS: FIRST, TO SHARE INFORMATION ON VIOLATIONS OF UNITED
NATIONS SANCTIONS AGAINST UNITA BY BOTH SUPPLIERS AND TRANSIT
COUNTRIES. SECONDLY, THEY VOWED TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL WAYS TO
REDUCE UNITA'S ACCESS TO WHAT WERE TERMED VITAL SUPPLIES. THERE
WAS NO IMMEDIATE ELABORATION.
SEVERAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED IN ILLEGAL
SHIPMENTS OF WEAPONS AND OTHER SUPPLIES TO THE ANGOLAN REBELS. A
CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE DOCUMENT CIRCULATING AMONG GOVERNMENTS
CONCERNED ABOUT THE ANGOLAN CONFLICT SAYS THAT DESPITE U-N
SANCTIONS AND THE RESUMPTION OF FIGHTING, UP TO 20 FLIGHTS A DAY
ARE STILL BRINGING FRESH SUPPLIES INTO UNITA-HELD TERRITORY.
THE REPORT, MADE AVAILABLE TO THE VOICE OF AMERICA, SAYS UNITA'S
SUPPLY FLIGHTS CARRY DIESEL FUEL, FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES AS
WELL AS MILITARY EQUIPMENT. IT SAYS THE FLIGHTS ORIGINATE FROM A
VARIETY OF AIRFIELDS, INCLUDING ENTEBBE AIRPORT IN UGANDA AS WELL
AS SEVERAL AIRFIELDS IN ZAMBIA. THE REPORT SAYS ADDITIONAL
SUPPLIES DESTINED FOR THE REBELS PASS THROUGH NAMIBIA, MALAWI AND
TANZANIA -- ESPECIALLY THE PORT OF DAR ES SALAAM.
WHILE THE REPORT GIVES NO ESTIMATE OF THE VOLUME OF SUPPLIES
ACQUIRED BY UNITA IN RECENT WEEKS THROUGH THESE ILLICIT ROUTES,
IT SAYS SPECIFIC WEAPONS SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED INCLUDE
TANKS, ARMORED CARS AND ARTILLERY ROCKETS.
ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE CONCEDED THEY WERE SHOCKED BY
THE EXTENT TO WHICH UNITA HAS BEEN ABLE TO MOUNT SUSTAINED AND
POTENT ATTACKS USING HEAVY WEAPONS WHEN THE CIVIL WAR RESUMED
LATE LAST YEAR FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF A U-N BACKED PEACE
PROCESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
16-Apr-99 9:20 AM EDT (1320 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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