Soames and chiefs appeal to guerrillas

Press, 5 January 1980, Page 6

Soames and chiefs appeal to guerrillas

NZPA-Reuter Salisbury Britain released 10 senior guerrilla leaders from detention as the British Governor (Lord Soames) and the insurgents’ commanders pleaded with their troops to report to special cease-fire assembly camps. The'move was both a sign of the British conviction that the cease-fire was working and an effort to convince the guerrillas still hiding in the bush of the good intentions of the British. On the sixth day of the truce in the seven-year guerrilla war, the British spokesman reported that 7300 guerrillas were in the camps. There are an estimated 16,000 guerrillas. The British spokesman, Mr Nicholas Fenn,, said, “It (the number of guerrillas) better get much higher than that.” He said it would be a serious problem, but would not in itself destroy the ceasefire accord if the figure did not rise sharply. Mr Fenn was clearly hopeful, noting that the British and guerrilla leaders had always expected a last-minute rush to the cease-fire camps. He also said the figure of 7300 was probably , low for technical reasons. Guerrilla leaders broadcast appeals on nationwide radio throughout the day appealing to their men to report in. Lord Soames also pleaded with the guerrillas to turn up, saying they would be unlawful if they did not. Informed sources have said the British were not likely to order instant reprisals against recalcitrant guerrillas despite pressure from the white-led Rhodesian Army. However, Mr Fenn said the cease-fire rendezvous points would be closed after the deadine. ; The assembly camps would ; remain open, however. i Mr Fenn reported that 24 1 guerrillas arrested by the i former Governments of Mr ; lan Smith and Bishop Abel Muzorewa had been released. ’ That figure included 10 se- j nior leaders of the Zimbabwe 1 African National Union of Mr 1 Robert Mugabe, which has <

been slower to accept the truce than Mr Joshua Nkomo’s Zimbabwe African People’s Union. Seventeen other leaders remained in custody, and their cases were being reviewed, Mr Fenn said. The British had refused previously to release any of these 41 guerrillas until they were certain the ' cease-fire was working. ' ' In other developments: — Z.A.N.U. and Z.A.P.U. announced that the scheduled week-end arrivals in Rhodesia of Mr Mugabe and Mr Nkomo had been delayed at the Governor’s request. Mr Nkomo’s arrival was rescheduled for January 13. There was no date given/for Mr Mugabe’s' arrival. • ■■?’/ — The Zambian-Rhodesian, border was . opened at .K:iriba, and, officials said the Mozambican border wouldff .beopened soon. 'The ■ Zambian border had been closed for six years and .the, Mozambique border since ' early 1976. ~ — The Rhodesian Military reported a rocket and small arms attack Wednesday night by guerrillas on the. town of Sinoia, about 130 km northwest of Salisbury. No injuries were reported. — The British Commonwealth monitoring force re-, ported that the general lawlessness that followed the introduction of the truce was dying down.