To: VAUGHN who wrote (2293 ) 12/20/1998 4:12:00 PM From: Gord Bolton Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 7235
Angola Angolan rebels attacked the northeastern city of Malanje on December 18. Wounded are said to be flooding local hospitals. Heavy fighting is underway in Cuito and Huambo as well. Casualties are thought to be high. PANA said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva issued a statement saying that the political and military situation in Angola has worsened "in a spectacular way," and over 100,000 people have been displaced in just the past two weeks. Overall, UNHCR says some 500,000 people have been displaced. Rebel leaders have issued statements warning that a military victory over them is unattainable and will simply elicit intensified rebel fighting. Rebel strategy appears to be to either force the Government of Angola back to the negotiating table or defeat the government in a military solution of its own. Regional analysts say the rebels have stunned the dos Santos government and regional leaders with their power and with their capacity to regain territories. Rebels have employed highly sophisticated conventional warfare tactics and have used heavy artillery and tanks with great effect. Rumors are they are being well-coached by former South African military officers. But the real issues deals with how the rebels managed to maintain such a large and combat ready force throughout the Lusaka Peace Accords implementation process and how they financed the effort. Government forces are said to be over-committed with their deployments to the Congo Republic and DR Congo. Government spokesmen say they can control the situation and reaffirm their pledge to defeat the rebels militarily. UN Secretary General Annan has issued a statement expressing his deep concern with regard to the inability to stop the fighting in Angola. Mr. Annan also expressed dismay that the Government of Angola was blaming the UN for the resumption of hostilities. The secretary general said UN peacekeeping forces, MONUA, were regrouping in safe-havens and their role is being reevaluated. Mr. Annan earlier told the Security Council "There is war in Angola," which would seem to confirm that the Lusaka Peace Accords are effectively dead. Angola's state-owned mining firm, Endiama, is going to examine whether South African firm De Beers (DBRJ.J) has been buying diamonds from the Angolan rebels. Endiama has threatened "drastic action" if the allegations prove true. A British human rights group has made the charge. The charge is that the rebels have earned $3.7 billion between 1992-1998 from diamond sales. De Beers has denied its involvement. De Beers has buying offices in Angola, an exploration program, and diamond concessions.marekinc.com