DATE=9/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / U-N (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253807
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The independent monitoring group, Human Rights
Watch, has issued a new report sharply critical of the
failed U-N peacekeeping mission in Angola. Southern
Africa Correspondent Alex Belida has details.
TEXT: Human Rights Watch accuses the United Nations
of following what it calls a policy of -- See no evil,
hear no evil -- in Angola. A policy that it says
fueled the resumption of civil war in the country late
last year.
It says unless U-N officials learn from what the
report calls -- its fatal mistakes -- any new
peacekeeping mission in Angola will be at risk, as
will similar missions in other African countries.
In a newly-released 205-page report, Human Rights
Watch says the renewed conflict in Angola and
accompanying human-rights abuses were triggered by new
arms flows that occurred despite a U-N arms embargo
against the main rebel group, UNITA.
It says that not only was the United Nations
ineffective in dealing with UNITA's sanctions-busting,
U-N officials were ineffective in verifying Angola's
1994 peace agreement -- even though the U-N mission in
the country was the largest in the world.
The report accuses both UNITA and the Angolan
Government of committing widespread human-rights
abuses. It says the abuses have included
indiscriminate killings, torture and abductions as
well as forced recruitment into the military.
The Human Rights Watch report notes the renewed
fighting in Angola has resulted in a growing
humanitarian crisis. It calls for both sides in the
war to permit the establishment of neutral
humanitarian corridors to allow relief supplies to
reach civilians in need. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/GE/RAE
13-Sep-1999 09:01 AM LOC (13-Sep-1999 1301 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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