DATE=11/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / UNITA SUPPLIERS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256309
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Angolan authorities have allegedly uncovered
evidence that could show where and how the UNITA rebel
movement has been acquiring arms and equipment in
defiance of U-N sanctions. Correspondent Alex Belida
reports from our Southern Africa Bureau.
TEXT: Angolan army troops that captured UNITA's
Central Highlands strongholds last month are reported
to have found computer diskettes containing details of
rebel purchases of arms and military equipment from
Angolan and foreign suppliers.
Southern African security sources, speaking to V-O-A
on condition of anonymity, say the diskettes and other
information were left behind when rebel-leader Jonas
Savimbi hastily abandoned his office complex in the
town of Andulo.
These sources do not exclude the possibility that the
government claim to have recovered such potentially
important data is disinformation, designed to worry
UNITA's suppliers and force them to suspend their
operations.
However the credibility of the claim appears enhanced
because these sources report some of the information
was destroyed by government troops before its
significance was realized. Intelligence specialists
were quickly sent to recover the remaining items.
The sources say they understand the information on
UNITA's weapons suppliers is being analyzed.
Officials of the U-N Angola Sanctions Committee are
apparently aware of the existence of the information,
but have so far not been granted access to it.
Angolan authorities have said nothing publicly about
the contents of the computer diskettes or other
intelligence data that was found.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
UNITA's supply network has long been a subject of
intense interest. Rebel spokesmen claimed in the past
that UNITA's main arms source was military equipment
abandoned by or captured from the Angolan government.
But Angolan officials have often accused other
countries in the region of letting supplies flow
through their territory to UNITA. These countries
have included South Africa and Zambia.
U-N Angola Sanctions committee officials recently
toured the region in a bid to promote stricter
enforcement of measures designed to prevent the rebels
from acquiring arms, ammunition, fuel, and other vital
supplies. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/RAE
18-Nov-1999 08:26 AM EDT (18-Nov-1999 1326 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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