DATE=10/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / UNITA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255523
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Angolan government forces have launched a
wide-ranging manhunt for Jonas Savimbi and other top
officials of the UNITA rebel movement. V-O-A
Correspondent Alex Belida reports from our Southern
Africa Bureau.
TEXT: Following their seizure of UNITA's main
strongholds in Angola's central highlands this month,
Angolan troops have been staging a series of raids on
other known and suspected rebel hideouts in hopes of
capturing or killing top UNITA officials.
Rebel spokesmen say UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi and his
aides escaped unhurt from the towns of Andulo and
Bailundo in what was described by the rebels as a
strategic withdrawal. But the whereabouts of Mr.
Savimbi and other senior rebel officials remains
unknown. They have used UNITA's satellite telephone
only sporadically since leaving the central highlands,
apparently out of fear the signals could be used to
locate them.
Angolan military and regional security sources say
government troops recently staged a surprise
helicopter-borne assault on the town of Lumbala-
Nguimbo, a known Savimbi retreat close to Angola's
border with Zambia.
These sources say the raid failed to capture Mr.
Savimbi or any other key rebel personnel.
/// OPT /// However, it is believed that some UNITA
officials who were in the town may have fled into
neighboring Zambia.
/// OPT /// United Nations refugee authorities in
Lusaka report there has been an influx of several
hundred Angolans into Zambia since the latest military
offensive against UNITA began last month.
/// OPT /// However, there are no reports thus
far of any senior rebels seeking refuge - nor has
there been any word of armed rebels crossing the
border and surrendering. /// END OPT ///
Angolan news media claim Mr. Savimbi has no chance
of reaching Zambian territory because his escape
routes have been cut off through rapid troop
deployments like the raid on Lumbala-Nguimbo. They
say the rebel leader's only chance of saving his life
is to surrender.
However in their latest satellite telephone calls to
news organizations, including V-O-A, UNITA officials
have said the rebels will fight on for decades. They
deny government troop advances have seriously hurt the
UNITA movement.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
Regional security analysts say the loss of UNITA's
central highlands strongholds was of symbolic
importance, but did appear to have diminished the
rebels' military capabilities. These analysts believe
UNITA will revert to classic guerrilla tactics to
harass government forces. They also consider it
possible that some rebel units might try to stage
attacks in and around the Angolan capital, Luanda.
Angolan authorities broke off talks with the rebels
last year after accusing UNITA of failing to
demilitarize as promised under a 1994 United Nations
brokered peace agreement. (Signed)
NEB/BEL/JWH/JP
27-Oct-1999 11:20 AM EDT (27-Oct-1999 1520 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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