Demands for immediate ceasefire

Angolan civil society groups have challenged the United Nations to heed the views of all Angolans in its efforts towards a peaceful solution for the country. The organisations also urged the government and the UNITA rebel movement to adopt an immediate bilateral ceasefire. The organisations, including humanitarian, religious, women's and other interest groups, made their call during a meeting on Thursday with UN Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari who is on a week-long visit to Angola. They argued that the 1994 Lusaka protocol, which the Angolan government sees as the key to peace, is not enough to ensure a lasting settlement. "The Lusaka Protocol is a base, but it cannot continue to be a graveyard for innocent Angolans, while the signatories of the protocol continue to use it for their own benefit," the civil society statement read. The statement continued: "The whole of society, including non-governmental organisations, churches, traditional authorities and organised civil society, should also be involved, so that an effective peace can quickly become a reality in our country." The organisations also said they wanted "to see a mechanism immediately created for the integration of national NGOs and civil society in the dialogue process". Said one local humanitarian official at the meeting: "We weren't present at the signing of the Lusaka Protocol so we don't know what is in it. What we want is an immediate ceasefire so as to be able to work together with our people." Arriving in Luanda last weekend, Gambari said the purpose of his visit was to consult with the government of Angola, political parties, civil society, churches and other interested parties on how best the United Nations could help to accelerate the peace process in Angola "within the framework of the Lusaka protocol". Recent meetings of the UN Security Council have reaffirmed the Lusaka agreement as the basis for finding a solution to the Angolan conflict, but church and civil society leaders have argued recently that a formula that involves only the government and UNITA is not enough. Gambari told IRIN after Thursday's meeting that "the role of civil society is to be encouraged, and I believe they could be a channel to initiate contacts with the other side". The UN special representative also emphasised that there could be no military solution to the conflict in Angola. Recently the government has repeated its assertion that the defeat of UNITA is within its grasp. The organisations' statement also urged "a bilateral ceasefire for the opening of humanitarian corridors that would be a Christmas and New Year gift from our political brothers and the UN". Over the past few months, both the Angolan government and UNITA have insisted that the other side must be the first to call a ceasefire