Author: Government of Angola

Date: Luanda, 13 March 2002.

Title: Announcement of Cessation of All Offensive Military Movements

Original language: Portuguese. Tranlated by Angolan Embassy in Washington.

Concerning: The Angola government announces it will cease all military operations against the UNITA rebels to give substance to peace offers after the death of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi in February.

Source: Angolan Embassy in Washington, DC

Announcement of Cessation of All Offensive Military Movements

The Government of Unity and National Reconciliation of the Republic of Angola considers the country to be living in a unique moment of its history for joining wills that will lead definitively to the end of the current armed conflict. Issues of peace and national reconciliation should be weighed within a legal and political framework that respects the Constitution, judicial order, the institutions of the state, and which accepts unequivocally the validity of peace agreements and resolutions of the United Nations Security Council related to Angola. 

In order to reach peace, the Government has defined an agenda that passes necessarily through the resolution of all military issues resulting from the armed conflict that arose subsequent to the formation of the Angolan Armed Forces under the terms of the Bicesse Accord and the Lusaka Protocol. 

With the objective of encouraging and promoting the trust of the entire Angolan nation regarding this opportunity for peace which must not be wasted, the Government has instructed the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) to cease all offensive movements beginning at 0001 on 14 March 2002. This is in order to permit the establishment of "in situ" contacts between the military commands of the FAA and UNITA military forces. 

With this measure, the road will be opened to dialogue and collaboration between military commands, so that a general cease-fire may be agreed in the shortest possible time. At the same time, there would be a freezing of the movements of all forces seeking to reinforce or occupy new military positions, the carrying out of acts of violence against civilian populations, the destruction of public or private goods, or the obstruction of the free circulation of citizens and their possessions. 

The Government considers fundamental and decisive the demilitarization of UNITA under the terms of law. In the interest of national reconciliation, the Government will present a program for the incorporation into national life of generals, officers and soldiers of UNITA military forces. 

Regarding issues related to the full integration of UNITA into national political life as a political party whose action is important for the consolidation of the democratic process, the Government intends, within the context of its public responsibilities, to contribute to the creation of conditions in the country that will permit UNITA militants to resolve internally and freely the problem of leadership of their party and its reorganization and functioning in accordance with law. 

The Government will propose to the National Assembly the approval of an amnesty for all crimes committed within the context of the armed conflict, seeking with this measure to assure the necessary legal and political guaranties for the promotion and realization of the national reconciliation process. 

The extension and installation of state administration throughout the country and the nomination of UNITA personnel to anticipated political positions will be concluded in conformity with the implementation of administrative tasks contained in the Lusaka Protocol. Simultaneously, secure conditions will be created for the return of displaced citizens to their home areas in order to permit the gradual revitalization of the economy throughout the land. In this sense, the Government will promote a broad de-mining program with the assistance of the international community to make possible the free circulation of people and goods. 

The Government considers it necessary to find a political and legal solution to the electoral process that was not completed in 1992. It will implement pertinent political, legal and administrative measures for the organization of the next elections. In addition to completing the process of approving a new constitution, the Government will engage itself in revising electoral legislation, the resettlement of displaced populations and in electoral registration and census taking processes. 

The Government will work with all society, specifically the churches, political parties, civic associations and socio-professional associations during the entire process. It will continue to maintain regular consultations with these groups with the objective of obtaining their valuable contributions regarding actions to be undertaken for the consolidation of peace and democracy in the country. In particular, it seeks their contributions to restoring spiritual peace, the observance of tolerance and mutual respect, and the mobilization of resources and the determination to achieve the rapid resolution of problems that affect the victims of war. 

The consolidation of peace requires timely and effective handling of the immediate consequences of war on the life of the most heavily impacted segments of the population. Efforts must be directed at ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all needy people without discrimination. In this area, the Government is preparing an emergency program to support the reintegration and resettlement of 4 million displaced persons; the return to society of 150,000 combatants from Angola's various wars, as well as veterans; the reintegration of 100,000 wounded; and the sheltering of 50,000 child war orphans. 

The Government recognizes the effort that has been undertaken by the international community in the area of humanitarian assistance. It reiterates its appeal to national and international donors to mobilize resources to support the above mentioned emergency program. 

Its implementation must be able to count upon the effective participation of churches, non-governmental organizations and the determination of a civil society that can make its experience available to assure transparency and rational utilization of resources received. 

Within the framework of its engagement on behalf of rapid reconstruction of the country, the Government will discharge the immediate tasks contained in its program for a way out of the crisis. An integral and essential element of that program is the Public Investment Program (PIP). The implementation of PIP will permit the rehabilitation of economic and social infrastructure that will make viable the exercise of economic activity; the delivery of medical assistance to the people; the raising of education levels; the movement of people and goods: and better connections between the provinces, municipalities and towns. It will also make possible the installation, organization and capacity building of local administrations. With the aim of mobilizing additional resources for the enormous task of rebuilding Angola in an era of peace, the Government, with the cooperation of friendly countries, has taken the initiative to plan an international donors conference at a date to be determined. 

During this critical period in which once again the destiny of the nation will be decided, the Government appeals to all political forces and to civil society in general, for each citizen to maintain a higher sense of responsibility in word and action. The Government encourages the propagation and consolidation of a climate of tolerance throughout the country, a climate in which debate and meeting of ideas may be possible without resort to physical or verbal violence, offense or slander. 

The Government urges the unity of all Angolans in together turning an important page in its country's history. It is a time of reconciliation, of mutual forgiveness and of unity. We bid farewell forever to arms and to war and dedicate ourselves to rebuilding a prosperous and modern Angola as brothers; an Angola capable of guaranteeing physical, material and spiritual well being to all its citizens, and capable of occupying a place that it deserves for its own sake in the concert of nations. 

The Government of the Republic of Angola, 
Luanda, 13 March 2002 

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