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afrol.com, 2 September - According to the news service of the Angolan embassy in Washington, Angolan President dos Santos will offer UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi pardon if Savimbi would lay down his weapons. dos Santos has addressed Savimbi in a reconsolidating tone lately, opening a door for negotiations. On June 20, President dos Santos announced that all of Jonas Savimbi's rebels, "perhaps Savimbi himself," would be well received by the government if they lay down their weapons. The President's public statement was the first in a series of offers by the government to end the war in a peaceable fashion. President dos Santos reiterated his offer of a pardon to UK Minister Peter Hain on July 4 and Angolan Foreign Minister Joćo Miranda echoed the President's statement during a visit to Lisbon on July 7. "If Jonas Savimbi today were to ask for a pardon and ask for the forgiveness of the Angolan people, naturally the door would be open to that," he said. Although UNITA rejected the offer of a pardon and said it would continue to wage war, the Angolan government's offer remains on the table. On August 27, the President reiterated that he would "offer peace to whom wants peace, and war to whom wants war." He added that as long as the people cannot elect another government because of the current circumstances, "our mission is to unite all the people under the government of unity and national reconciliation, forgetting about the time of divisions, and creating a moment of union of all Angolans for national reconciliation and reconstruction." Until such time as Savimbi accepts the government's offer and ceases his campaign of violence, the Angolan government will continue military actions to stabilize the situation and reestablish state authority over all areas of Angola. In recent months Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) have made significant strides. Most importantly FAA troops have now taken control of 11 of the 13 municipalities in Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul provinces. Both provinces are rich in diamonds. By wresting control of the area, the FAA has denied UNITA access to its traditional diamond revenues. In addition, state administration has been restored to four regions bordering Namibia in Cuando Cubango Province. The areas of Calai, Cuangar, Dirico and Mucusso now have their first government administrator in nearly 25 years. The FAA has also captured yet another important rebel logistical base at Munda in Bie province, confiscating tanks, armored personnel carriers and other sophisticated war materiel. Over the past 18 months, 14,000 soldiers have defected defections from Savimbi's rebel movement, according to General de Matos. Nonetheless, Savimbi still has a capacity to launch terrorist actions. Recent attacks at an orphanage in Quissala, raids on aid supplies from the Catholic church in Catete, and abductions of women and children from Our Lady of La Salette mission in Ganda all demonstrate the need for the Angolan government to continue its military operations until Savimbi and his men reject such terrorist actions. As President dos Santos told reporters on August 21, "we believe our armed forces will continue with their campaign and those pockets of resistance will be dealt with. In tandem with this, there will be dialogue with all those who adhere to peace " Source: O Pensador
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