Angola
Angolan parliament grants amnesty to UNITA

afrol News, 3 April  - Following the Angolan government's peace and national reconciliation plan, the UNITA rebel movement yesterday were granted a blanket amnesty in parliament yesterday. The decision was unanimous. Meanwhile, the new UNITA leader has arrived in the capital to formally sign the ceasefire agreement with the government.

The legislative approved the Draft Law of Amnesty for military crimes and those against state security committed during the civil war in the country. The draft law had been presented by the government in a plenary session, where the parliamentarians also were briefed about the peace talks held in Luena, eastern Moxico Province. Last Saturday in Luena, military chiefs from the government and UNITA forces had signed a Memorandum of Understanding complementary to the Lusaka Protocol meant to cease the hostilities and fulfil the remaining pending military issues. 

The proposal of an Amnesty Bill was included in a 13-point peace and national reconciliation plan, issued by the Angolan government on 13 March. The plan also included a general cease-fire, the demilitarisation of UNITA, the full integration of UNITA into national political life and its rebel soldiers into the Angolan army. The amnesty was proposed, "Seeking with this measure to assure the necessary legal and political guaranties for the promotion and realisation of the national reconciliation process." 

The amnesty, approved unanimously by the Angolan parliament, covers "all civilians and soldiers, Angolan or foreign, who committed crimes against the security of the Angolan state" as well as "any person imprisoned during the war" and "deserters" from the Angolan army. 

While the talks in Luena had been between the military leaders of both sides, the political leadership of the Angolan government and UNITA are to meet tomorrow in the capital, Luanda, to formally sign the ceasefire agreement. The newly accepted UNITA leader, General Paulo Lukamba "Gato", this night arrived Luanda for the first time. He was accompanied by the UNITA commander-in-chief, General Abreu Kamorteiro, who led the UNITA delegation in Luena. 

General "Gato" in an interview with the Angolan radio "Luanda Antena Comercial" today confirmed that UNITA was set to return to the national parliament as a legitimate political party after having been outlawed for 26 years. His party now wanted to familiarise with "parliamentary rituals," he said, guaranteeing UNITA was interested in political dialogue. UNITA was to form a constructive but "firm opposition".

The UNITA delegation also met with the parliamentary fraction UNITA-Renovada, a group that split from the rebels at the last peace crossroads and claims to represent the rebels in parliament. Eugénio Manuvakola, leader of UNITA-Renovada, after meeting the UNITA delegation however assured that the parliamentary group just "one of the fractions within UNITA." He also promised that "UNITA will represent UNITA" and that his party, seeking "the dissolution of the rebel army," would not interfere with the rebels peace negotiations. 

Earlier yesterday the UN Secretary General's special representative for African Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, arrived in Angola to witness tomorrow's signing of the ceasefire agreement, which formally will end 27 years of civil war. Gambari, upon arriving, said the agreement had "the total backing of the Security Council". Gambari today met with President Eduardo dos Santos.

President dos Santos further has announced he will make a broadcasted speech to his compatriots, presenting the recent achievements and peace efforts. Dos Santos just returned from official visits in Portugal, the US and Brazil.

Sources: Based on Angolan govt., press reports, UNITA and afrol archives

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