From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: ANGOLA: UPCOMING ELECTIONS BREED FE
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 06:38:19 GMT

Area: Asia, southern
Title: ANGOLA: UPCOMING ELECTIONS BREED FEAR


an inter press service feature

by vicki finkel

luanda, aug 26 (ips) -- a man brandishes an ak-47 rifle as he
commands the aisles of an open market in luanda, the angolan
capital.

sporting a partial police uniform and freezing his gun
straight out in the direction of whoever may happen to be in his
line of fire, the angolan's stance forces fearful market women
to abandon their heaps of fruits and vegetables and flee for
safety.

the scene in the capital's prenda market reflects a palpable
sense of fear gripping the population as the south-west african
country approaches its first multiparty elections at the end of
september with apprehensive uncertainty.

internationally-monitored elections are a key component of a
cease-fire signed may 31, 1991 by president jose eduardo dos
santos and national union for the total independence of angola
(unita) leader jonas savimbi, ending angola's 16-year civil war.

but the staggered arrival of approximately 400 international
observers who will be in the country during the voting days of
sep. 29-30, has not lifted the veil of fear shrouding the
country. an unprecedented rise in crime has plagued angola since
the signing of the peace accords.

despite the lifting of the wartime curfew in the capital,
luanda's streets are eerily void of traffic late at night with
many people afraid to leave their houses.

''i feel like a prisoner in my own home'', says one angolan
woman. ''but going out at night here is not worth the risk
now'', she adds.

another angolan who wished to remain anonymous, says he
refuses to stay in at night. but when he leaves his house, he
always carries a gun. ''because of all the bandits around, i had
to arm myself'', he says.

while the elections are fast approaching, the slow pace of
demobilisation has alarmed many observers in the country. under
the peace accords, both belligerent factions were to unite into
one scaled-down national army, and demobilise the remaining
soldiers.

far behind schedule, only about 25 percent of the combined
soldiers have been demobilised and a mere 12 percent of the
national army formed. (more/ips)


angola: upcoming (2)

observers fear that not the anticipated army, but three --
the national army as well as the two former warring sides --
will exist during the voting.

large arms caches still retained by both sides, combined with
skyrocketing inflation and high unemployment, remains a serious
security threat to residents in the country.

''everyone should stock up on food and good books in case
things heat up'', advised a senior united nations official
working in luanda, where many embassies have prepared evacuation
plans for their nationals.

while common criminality has often replaced crimes of a
political nature, the violent release of political tensions
throughout the country has bred new fear into the population.

clashes this month in the central province of malanje between
unita and mpla supporters left at least eight people dead. in
the south central bie province, a unita youth gang called
''007'' has been reported to attack anyone who happens to be
wearing an mpla t-shirt.

over and over, the population's war-weariness has been held
up as a guarantee to the finality of war in potentially one of
the richest countries in africa.

''but it is not 'the people' but a small percentage of
power-driven angolans who fought and led this war'', says a u.n.
children's fund (unicef) representative in luanda. ''these
people still have deep-seated differences'', she continues.

some angolans are taking no chances, and have sent their
families out of the country or have booked tickets for them to
leave before the casting of ballots. many foreign
non-governmental organisations are planning to pull their staff
out during the voting.

meanwhile, government workers, many afraid they may lose
their jobs after september, are trying to make the most out of
the privileged positions. new cars constantly roll out onto the
streets, as mpla officials receive gifts with an uncertain
political future ahead.

a western diplomat in luanda compares the ruling party's
activities to the titanic. ''it's as if they've decided to party
until the iceberg hits'', he says.

while the international community is determined to keep the
elections on schedule, a growing feeling among observers in
luanda is that if violence is to occur, it will be in october.
(end/ips/vf/ar/tvh/92)


-- 
Mr. Aaron Barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us -- posting from Evanston, Illinois