DATE=4/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / UNITA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261212
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Angola's government says the "backbone" of the
UNITA rebel movement has been broken. But Southern
Africa Correspondent Alex Belida reports, regional
security analysts say the rebels, relying on guerrilla
tactics, still pose a significant threat.
TEXT: UNITA has not been heard from in nearly two-
weeks. But regional security analysts say that does
not mean the Angolan rebel movement has been defeated
or that it has ceased military activity.
Even Angolan officials concede there are still a few
pockets of UNITA guerrilla activity around the
country. But Defense Minister Kundi Payhama insists
the rebels' ability to carry out further conventional
military operations has been destroyed following
successful offensives by the country's armed forces.
Sources familiar with Angolan military planning say
the government is preparing a new offensive at the end
of May or the beginning of June.
In preparation for that operation, the chief of staff
of the Angolan army, Joao De Matos, has established a
new forward command post at Luena in the eastern
province of Moxico, long thought to be one of the last
strongholds of the UNITA movement.
In its last military communique, UNITA made no mention
of any clashes in Moxico with government forces. But
the March 20th communique said more than 800
government troops had been killed during a two-week
period in scores of other incidents in other provinces
around Angola.
Analysts believe UNITA may be scattering its guerrilla
attacks in an effort to force General De Matos to
disperse his forces and to prevent him from
concentrating government troops for the anticipated
offensive in the Moxico area.
Security sources are linking UNITA's
uncharacteristically long silence to fears of rebel
leader Jonas Savimbi that use of the rebels'
communications systems may enable their hiding place
in Angola to be pinpointed.
These sources say Angolan officials are privately
claiming Mr. Savimbi's fears have been compounded by
an alleged decision by the United States to declare
him an international criminal and to post a huge
reward for his capture. The officials say his fears
may have even prompted Mr. Savimbi to flee the
country.
But U-S diplomats in Luanda say they have no
information about Mr. Savimbi having been declared a
wanted man. Regional analysts believe the claim is
disinformation circulated by Angolan authorities as
part of an ongoing propaganda campaign aimed at
undermining the rebel movement and its supporters.
Angola's government has branded Mr. Savimbi a war
criminal. It broke off talks with UNITA after
accusing the rebels of violating the terms of a 1994
peace agreement. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/RAE
12-Apr-2000 09:10 AM EDT (12-Apr-2000 1310 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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