Hello All
Some news, and an article from the Mail & Guardian that does not auger well for our long term future in Angola.
wn.apc.org
I wonder if Angolan diamonds have a particular carbon or other geochemical signature that the UN could use to scan for and seize smuggled rough?
With the US/UN laser guided and night vision technology, you would think that some surgical air strikes and coordinated guerrilla infiltrations might not be able to cut of the head of this organization, including their arms suppliers and diamond buyers.
Nobody wants a jungle war and you would have to think UNITA is counting on this. Can the US Iraq dessert success be duplicated in a forested/jungle environment?
If the UN is that sure about mobilization, they must have satellites focused on the region and very possibly in-country surveillance.
Damn poor timing but as I have repeatedly said, I do not believe the market has put any value on SUF's Angolan assets so while depressing news, I doubt the market will give it too much weight.
News on Angola
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White House Statement on Death of UN Representative to Angola
White House Press Office on June 30, 1998
We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Maitre Alioune Bloundin Beye, the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Angola. In the five years since Maitre Beye assumed his responsibilities as Special Representative, he was tireless in his efforts to bring peace to the people of Angola.
When Maitre Beye began his work in 1993, over a thousand Angolans a day were dying in a civil war that has lasted more than three decades. Beye was the driving force behind the November 1994 Lusaka Peace Accords which stopped the fighting and gave the Angolan people the longest period of peace they have known in more than a generation.
Now, the best way to acknowledge Maitre Beye's life's work will be for the two parties to fully complete the implementation of the Lusaka Accords, giving the Angolan people the lasting peace for which Maitre Beye gave his life.
The President and the people of the United States extend their sincerest condolences to the Beye family, to his friends and colleagues and to the entire United Nations family during this time of great sorrow.
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Annan Speaks on Air Crash Carrying Angola Representative
United Nations Press Statement on June 27, 1998
The following statement was issued on Saturday (27 June) by Secretary- General Kofi Annan:
I am extremely saddened at the tragic incident, which took place yesterday evening. According to reports received from Abidjan and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), the United Nations plane transporting my Special Representative for Angola, Alioune Blondin Beye, and five members of MONUA together with two pilots crashed while approaching the Abidjan airport at about 8 p.m. local time on 26 June.
The search and rescue operation, which has been conduced by the Ivorian authorities assisted by French helicopters, has found the wreckage of the United Nations aircraft, approximately nine kilometers from the Abidjan airport. So far, no survivors have been sighted. Due to the nature of the terrain, the rescue team is experiencing difficulties in reaching the site. I have been notified that the Foreign Minister of Cote d'Ivoire, Amara Essy, has visited the area. He confirmed the seriousness of the crash and has dispatched a specialized unit of military and gendarmerie officers to ascertain whether or not there are any survivors. I greatly appreciate the prompt assistance of the authorities involved. An urgent investigation is being launched.
Mr. Beye, who for several years has been spearheading the implementation of the peace process in Angola, was travelling in the region in yet another attempt to seek support of African leaders in overcoming the present crisis in this war-torn country. In this difficult time, I once again appeal to all Angolans, in particular the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation and UNITA, to continue to cooperate closely with the United Nations and to bring the peace process to the earliest conclusion.
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Security Council Extends Mandate Of Angola Observer Mission
United Nations Report on June 30, 1998
The Security Council this evening decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) and demanded that the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation (GURN) and, in particular, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) cooperate fully with MONUA in its verification activities.
Unanimously adopting resolution 1180 (1998), the Council called upon the GURN and, in particular, UNITA to refrain from laying new mines. It reiterated its call on the GURN to notify MONUA in a timely manner of its troop movements, in accordance with the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol and established procedures.
The Council reiterated its demand that UNITA immediately stop any attacks by its members on the MONUA personnel, international personnel, GURN authorities, including the police and the civilian population. The Council called upon the, GURN and, in particular, UNITA to guarantee unconditionally the safety and freedom of movement of all United Nations and international personnel.
At the outset of the meeting, a minute of silence was observed in the memory of the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Angola, Alioune Blondin Beye, and colleagues and crew who were killed when their aircraft crashed in Cote d'Ivoire on Friday, 26 June.
The Secretary-General recommends that the United Nations should continue to assist the Angolan people in restoring peace and national reconciliation. Therefore, if the demands contained in Council resolution 1173 (1998) were implemented, the mandate of MONUA should be extended for two months, until 31 August. The strength of MONUA should be maintained at the present level: 414 troops belonging to three infantry companies; 302 military support personnel; 39 staff officers; 90 military observers; and 336 police observers. The MONUA would also continue to operate on the basis of its current mandate and organizational structure as outlined in the Secretary-General's previous reports of 13 March and 16 April (documents S/1998/236 and S/1998/333, respectively). In addition, the Mission would be prepared to support the full extension of State administration, including Andulo, Bailundo, Mungo and N'Harea.
Should the Council decide to extend the Mission's mandate to 31 August, the additional costs would be limited to an initial bridging appropriation of $43.6 million gross, equivalent to a monthly rate of $10.9 million gross, for the period from 1 July to 31 October. The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budget) have completed reviews of the request for that appropriation, and the General Assembly was expected to adopt the financing resolution.
According to the report, the situation in Angola has become critical. That status is attributable, for the most part, to the failure of UNITA to fulfill its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol and to implement the "crisis resolution plan" offered to the parties by the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Alioune Blondin Beye, on 15 May. The Secretary-General appeals to UNITA to cooperate in the immediate extension of State administration through the national territory.
The peace process also will not be possible without full demilitarization of the large number of troops being retained by UNITA, the report says. The GURN should exercise restraint and avoid any action which might further undermine the peace process. The Secretary-General deplored the acts of violence committed against United Nations personnel and property and other international organizations which were providing assistance to the Angolan people.
No progress had been achieved during the reporting period in the implementation of one of the last major pending tasks under the Lusaka Protocol (S/1994/1441, annex), the report states. That task, the normalization of State administration throughout the country, including in the four strategic areas of Andulo, Bailundo, Mungo and N'Harja, remained under UNITA control. To date, State administration has been normalized in 272 of the total of 335 localities envisaged. Delays in the normalization process in many localities are due to logistical difficulties, including poor infrastructure and the presence of mines.
On 19 May, the Government and UNITA endorsed Mr. Beye's crisis resolution plan, which is aimed at overcoming the current impasse, the report says. The plan envisaged full normalization of State administration by 31 May in the four strategic areas, strict verification of the alleged presence of UNITA elements throughout the country, the cessation of hostile propaganda in the government mass media and an end to the harassment of UNITA members by the Angolan National Police. The plan also stipulated that, if either party failed to implement it, the Council would be requested to consider taking appropriate measures.
On 31 May, Jonas Savimbi sent a message to Mr. Beye in which the UNITA leader indicated his general support for the plan, but presented new proposals which contained additional conditions, the report states. Those proposals envisaged that the joint government and UNITA technical teams would conduct their work in the four localities between 17 and 21 June, and that the full normalization of State administration would take place by 25 June. Government representatives publicly rejected those new delays and warned of possible action unless UNITA immediately disbanded the military structure it had maintained in defiance of the Lusaka Protocol.
According to the report, armed attacks against villages, local government authorities and United Nations and other international personnel, have become commonplace in the reports received from MONUA. Acts of banditry, new mine-laying activities, and troop movements have also increased. Some localities where State administration had been recently established have been abandoned by the local population and government authorities for fear of attacks by UNITA elements. The normalization of State administration had been reversed in over 30 localities, and the Government acknowledged that 17 localities had been re-occupied by elements allegedly belonging to UNITA. On 26 May, the Force Commander of MONUA presented to the Joint Commission a report on the verification of the demilitarization of UNITA forces, in which he concluded that a large number of UNITA cadres continue to be armed.
The repatriation of United Nations military personnel from Angola was resumed, as requested by Council resolution 1164 (1998), the report says. The Zambian infantry company, together with a small number from the formed units and some military support elements, have already been withdrawn. In view of the dangerous security situation, the drawdown of formed units was postponed until the end of June. The remaining three infantry companies and small support units will provide minimum security to United Nations personnel and assist in verification functions conducted by unarmed military and police observers.
Humanitarian organizations continued to register an increase in the number of newly displaced persons, the report says. Despite the return of some newly displaced persons earlier in the year, it is estimated that there are about 1 million displaced persons in Angola. Some humanitarian organizations had to suspend their activities temporarily and withdraw some of their personnel to provincial capitals. The Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit is assisting humanitarian organizations in building capacity to respond to the high level of insecurity. Until the situation improves, priority humanitarian assistance in support of the returnees will be temporarily suspended.
The report states that urgent funding is required for the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). If no additional funds are received by the end of June, those organizations will have to reduce their activities in the country. Additional resources are also urgently needed for the air transportation service managed by the World Food Programme (WFP) on behalf of the humanitarian agencies operating in Angola.
Regards |
