Catholic bishops call for dialogue

The Catholic bishop of Angola’s northern Uige province has said the Luanda government is primarily responsible for restoring peace to the country, urging “frank dialogue” with the UNITA rebels. “Insistent appeals to end the war in no way indicate that the government is responsible for the war, but rather, that it is most responsible for peace”, Bishop Francisco da Mata Mourisca was quoted in news reports as saying. “In this militancy for peace, UNITA cannot be sidelined”, he said, urging rebel chief Jonas Savimbi “to collaborate” in “reconciliation”.

Da Mata Mourisca, who leads the Angolan Catholic Church’s Pro Pace peace movement, said that reconciliation “implies frank dialogue, with truth and confidence”. His comments marked the first anniversary of a national pro-peace conference in Luanda, staged by the country’s Catholic hierarchy, that called for a cease-fire and “direct or indirect” talks between the belligerents. The conference also urged the inclusion of Angola’s churches, political parties and civil society groups in the search for peace.