Radio Nacional de Angola on
Issa Diallo, the UN secretary-general's special representative in Angola, today chaired a ceremony that marked the beginning of the withdrawal of MONUA [UN Observer Mission in Angola] personnel from our country. After acknowledging government's support, Diallo hailed President Jose Eduardo dos Santos:
[Diallo - recording, in French fading into Portuguese translation] Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen: We would like to express our gratitude to the Angolan government for the hospitality it accorded to the personnel of MONUA and other UN agencies. The Angolan authorities rendered assistance to all of them, permitting us successfully to complete the withdrawal of our personnel from the various regions.
Throughout the peace process, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos showed himself to be exemplarily patient and have the qualities of a real statesman, thus permitting important progress on the road to peace. We pay homage to him. [End of recording]
Twenty months later, MONUA could not fulfil its role. For Diallo, the only one to blame is Jonas Savimbi.
[Diallo - recording] Twenty months later, we are forced to acknowledge that MONUA was unable to fulfil its mandate. The UN Security Council primarily blames UNITA [National Union for the Total Independence of Angola] for the current impasse. Under the leadership of Dr Jonas Savimbi, UNITA failed to comply with its obligations in terms of the Bicesse peace accord, the Lusaka Protocol and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. [End of recording]
Angolan Territorial Administration Minister Faustino Muteka also blamed Savimbi.
[Muteka - recording] Jonas Savimbi deceived the Angolans and misled the government and the international community. He did not permit the effective verification of his forces. His delaying tactics were designed to gain time and rearm his forces. UNITA declared twice that it had disarmed, but on both occasions the international community discovered that the organization was still armed.
'Technical' Groups Created To Assist Government Luanda TPA Television on March 1, 1999
Text, as broadcast by Angolan TV on 1st March, of decree issued by
Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos in Luanda on 10th February.
In view of the need to improve and strengthen the technical corps that assists
the Standing Commission and the Ministers Council in the discharge of their
duties and in the implementation of the general strategy to end the country's
socioeconomic and financial crisis, I, for administrative reasons and in terms
of Article 74 of the Constitution, hereby order: The establishment of two
technical groups to assist the Standing Commission of the Ministers Council
in socioeconomic and legal matters, respectively.
The two technical groups are generally responsible for: disseminating their
findings, and drafting studies, projects, and reports as requested by the
government's collegial agencies and government officials; Rendering technical
assistance to the Standing Commission of the Ministers Council as required
for the drafting and implementation of its decisions; monitoring the execution
of the program on ways of ending the socioeconomic and financial crisis, and
recommending concrete measures aimed at correcting mistakes and
measures whose implementation prove to be ineffective; and carrying out
other tasks and duties as assigned by the head of government, the Standing
Commission, and the Ministers Council.
The technical group responsible for socioeconomic issues is coordinated by
Dr. Julio Bessa, and includes the following members: Dr. Manuel Junior,
Laura Monteiro, Luis Machado, Mario Barber, Peixao Franco, Francisco
Cristovao, Felix Matias Neto, Antonio Castelo Branco, Neto Costa, Pedro
Luis, and engineers Rui Pereira do Amaral Gorgel, (Quiala Gabriel), and
Antonio Assis.
The technical group responsible for legal matters is coordinated by Dr.
Frederico Cardoso and includes the following members: Dr. Virgilio de
Fontes Pereira, Dr. Edeltrudes Costa, Dr. Francisco Queiroz, Dr. Rui
Ferreira, Dr. Ana Maria Silva, Dr. Jose Pereira Gorgel, and Dr. Conceicao
(Chango).
The technical groups, under supervision of the Ministers Council secretary,
will be materially assisted by the Ministers Council Secretariat. If necessary,
the technical groups, and the Standing Commission and the Ministers
Council secretary on their own initiative, may seek the assistance of other
experts.
65,000 Displaced Persons Lack Food in Seles Area
Luanda TPA Television on March 1, 1999
A total of 65,000 displaced persons in Cuanza Sul Province's Seles District
lack food. In an initial step to address the situation, government and
humanitarian organizations will distribute seeds and farm tools to revamp
subsistence farming in the area. Pedro Olipi, deputy director of UN Office
for Humanitarian Assistance Coordination, has visited the area to assess the
situation. In addition to food, the displaced persons also lack clothing and
medical care. The displaced persons are from all of Cuanza Sul Province's
districts, and the neighboring provinces of Huambo and Benguela.
War Leads to Increase in Displaced Persons
Luanda TPA Television on February 26, 1999
There has been an increase in the number of displaced persons in the central
highlands due to bandit activity by the Savimbistas. There are more than
3,000 new displaced persons in Caala District, who fled from Cuimba.
[Begin unidentified official recording] So far we have received 3,500
displaced persons, but the number is set to increase because six people have
just arrived. They said a large number of people are heading to Caala. We
lack the means to assist these people.
Opposition Party Ends Congress, Elects President
Luanda TPA Television on March 1, 1999
The first Social Renewal Party, PRS, congress ended in Luanda today,
electing Eduardo Kwangana as its president. The PRS congress expelled
four of its militants who represent the party in the National Assembly. The
PRS came third in the first multiparty elections held in Angola. In a final
communiqué, the PRS recommended government to annihilate Jonas
Savimbi's war machine as soon as possible, and to index civil servants'
salaries to inflation.
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