Peace congress calls for dialogue

A unique church-led peace initiative, which last week brought Angolans together to discuss a solution to almost three decades of civil war, ended with a call for an urgent ceasefire, dialogue and national reconciliation. The four-day peace congress opened on Tuesday and drew participants from civil society groups, a wide cross-section of church members, opposition politicians and officials from the governing MPLA party. The fact that such a meeting could take place, at a time when the government has stressed that only a military solution could end the war with the rebel UNITA movement, was widely regarded by participants as a step forward in the search for a sustainable peace. The congress ended on Friday with a list of proposals which included a call for the entrenchment of democracy as a key to peace, tolerance, and the respect for human rights. It also pleaded "with urgency" for a ceasefire and freedom of movement of people, as well as dialogue and national reconciliation between all representatives of Angolan society. The congress, presided over by Catholic Cardinal Dom Alexandre do Nascimento, also called for a ban on land mines by both sides in the conflict. US gives US $2 million The United States government has contributed US $2 million to UNHCR in support of their programmes in northern Angola, the US State Department said. Philip T Reeker, deputy spokesman said the money would be used to fund emergency relief and humanitarian needs for IDPs. "We believe that the protection and care of the internally displaced and the pursuit of permanent solutions are shared international responsibilities. We call on other donors to be generous in supporting the programmes of the UNHCR and other UN agencies and NGOs working in Angola," Reeker said. Last week UNHCR appealed for US $8 million to help fund its operations in Angola. Resettlement plans for 21,000 families The Angolan government is preparing to resettle 21,000 families displaced by the civil war in the southern Huila Province. Provincial governor Ramos Da Cruz said last week that the families would be resettled in "productive areas" in the municipalities of Lubango, Cakula, Quilengues, Quipungo, Matala and Chicomba. He said the government would help provide assistance. Da Cruz said that last year some 24,000 people were resettled in the province with the help of international relief agencies. He added that as a result of the Angolan conflict, Huila is home to 243,293 internally displaced people - 165,695 of them newly displaced - most of them having fled the provinces of Huambo, Benguela, and Cuando Cubango.