UNITA pledges to release Caxito child hostages

UNITA has promised to search for and return about 60 children kidnapped by its soldiers during an attack on a children’s home in Caxito, about 55 km outside the capital Luanda. Without accepting responsibility for the kidnappings, the rebel movement said in a communiqué released on Tuesday that “the UNITA General Staff has ordered a strict inquiry aimed at identifying children who might have been forced to accompany the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FALA) in the
wake of the 5 May 2001 raid ... “. It said the children would be handed over the closest Catholic mission if they were found.

In the same communiqué, the rebel movement issued a stern warning to the Danish aid agency, People to People Development Agency (ADPP). “FALA’s General Staff regrets the insulting language used by the director of ADPP [People to People Development Agency] in Luanda, despite the fact that politicised and disciplined guerrillas held a cordial meeting with more than 15 foreigners working for that non-governmental organisation. ADPP is hereby advised not to establish a presence in areas likely to be attacked by FALA forces. The FALA General Staff declines any responsibility for the safety of ADPP and its personnel,” the communiqué said. However, it stressed that UNITA did not “wish to interfere” with the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other agencies providing humanitarian aid in Angola.