Confusion dogs U.N. plan for withdrawal

Press, 12 April 1989, Page 12

Confusion dogs U.N. plan for withdrawal

NZPA-Reuter Windhoek United Nation peacekeepers stood by yesterday to transport S.W.A.P.O. guerrillas from a Namibian battlefield, but rebel leaders demanded clarification of peace-plan details before ordering a withdrawal to Angola.

A multinational plan reached at the week-end apparently marked an end to the Namibian crisis, but confusion emerged on Monday over the terms and timing of a pull-out by the South West Africa People’s Organisation (5.W.A.P.0.). The withdrawal plan was formulated with the help of Soviet and United States advisers to reverse a S.W.A.P.O. incursion on April 1, the day a U.N. independence plan for Namibia was to take effect with a border ceasefire after 23 years of conflict. British and Australian soldiers prepared remote border assembly points to receive the guerrillas. Officials said the assembly points would be marked by a large U.N.

flag and would be staffed by 15 armed U.N. troops as well as South African and Angolan soldiers. S.W.A.P.O.’s information secretary, Hidipo Hamutenya, said in the Angolan capital of Luanda on Monday that the rebels would remain in the bush until all uncertainties were removed:

Hourly radio broadcasts urged rebels caught up in nine days of warfare with South Africa to report to the U.N. assembly points from noon yesterday and then withdraw to Angola.

But Mr Hamutenya said the guerrillas would listen only to their own leaders and would not move out of hiding. He cited contradictory reports by U.N. and South African officials on how many assembly points would be set up, on whether S.W.A.P.O. arms would be surrendered permanently and on how long the guerrillas would have to withdraw. South African officials said 263 guerrillas and 27 government troops had

died by Monday in fighting that continued with sporadic gun battles.

The clashes threatened the collapse of a U.N.sponsored deal struck by Cuba, Angola and South Africa last year for Namibian independence by April, 1990, from South African rule.

Seeking to rescue their plan, the three countries agreed at emergency talks ending on Monday that the S.W.A.P.O. forces should be taken to bases at least 150 km inside Angola and kept there under U.N. supervision for at least six weeks.

They said it would be up to Angola, S.W.A.P.O.’s host and sponsor since 1975, to ensure the guerrillas’ co-operation. The negotiators named 18 assembly points in a declaration after their week-end meeting, but U.N. and Namibian Government officials said they would only set up nine.

The U.N.’s special representative, Martti Ahtibaari said the list of 18 was a recommendation and not a firm statement.