ANGOLA POLICY FRAMEWORK

The document says the war raging in Angola since late 1992 is one of the world's most serious and most neglected humanitarian crises. As many as 1,000 are dying each day, agricultural production is paralyzed in many areas by ongoing combat, and thousands of displaced people are pouring into government-held urban areas. Diplomatic hopes for a renewed cease-fire have been repeatedly disappointed; the international community has deplored Unita's resort to war and called on all parties to continue negotiations, finally imposing a mandatory arms and oil embargo against Unita; but the slow international response has failed to bring effective pressures to bear to restore peace. Despite what former United Nations Representative Margaret Anstee called "a conspiracy of silence by the international media," it is urgent to mobilize support for active implementation of effective policies. The document discusses the Peace Accord, military victory, Zaire, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Bophuthatswana, development, Mobutu, the Africa Faith and Justice Network, Maura Browne, the African-American Institute, Vivian Lowery Derryck, American Committee on Africa, The Africa Fund, Jennifer Davis, the American Baptist Church USA, the Association of Concerned Africa Scholars, David Wiley, Center of Concern, Church of the Brethren Washington Office, Timothy A. McElwee, Community Action International Alliance, Joan Heckscher, Episcopal Church, Better Coats, Interfaith/Impact for Justice and Peace, Disciples of Christ/United Church of Christ, Rev. Dan Hoffman, Erich Mathias, Joint Ministry in Africa Office, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Terrance Miller, Maryknoll Sisters, Sister Janice McLaughlin, Sister Maria Zeballos, Missionaries for Africa, Father Richard Humphrey, Mozambique Solidarity Office, Prexy Nesbitt, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Africa Office of the National Council of Churches, Willis Logan, National Rainbow Coalition, and Rev. Jesse L. Jackson. • Premises • Recommendations for U. S. Policy • 1. The U.S. government should take the lead in implementing the mandatory United Nations embargo on the supply of arms, fuel and other war-related material to Unita. • 2. The U.S. government should reiterate, at high levels, its warnings to Unita not to attack U.S. and other oil installations in Cabinda and off-shore at Soyo and should make clear that it will not recognize the legitimacy of Unita's acquisition of territory by force nor recognize any government that might be established on that basis. • 3. The U.S. government should express its willingness to support a greatly expanded United Nations presence in the case of a renewed settlement. • 4. The U.S. government should continue and expand support of UN and other efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Angola and immediately initiate development aid programs in conjunction with the Angolan government and non-governmental organizations, where security considerations permit. Plans for both private and public-sector economic cooperation, through trade and investment, should not be held hostage by the war. • 5. The U.S. government should stress to both parties the urgent imperative for respect for the laws of war, particularly concerning attacks on civilians, kidnapping, summary executions, and lack of respect for humanitarian relief operations. • 6. The U.S. government should recognize that stability in Angola depends on completion of the democratic transitions under way in Zaire and South Africa, and urgently address itself to the obstacles threatening those transitions. • ANGOLA POLICY FRAMEWORK ENDORSEMENTS