REBELS OPPOSING MARXIST REGIMES IN 4 NATIONS UNITE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303610003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: June 6, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/16: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303610003-7
^TirtE APPEARED -'
WASHINGTON TIMES
6 June 1985
Rebels opposing
Marmst regimes
in 4 nations unite
By Michael Sullivan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES FOREIGN SERVICE
JAMBA, Angola-' Four guerrilla
groups fighting to replace Marxist
governments in Asia, Africa and
Latin America have forged a historic
anti-Soviet coalition at the bush
headquarters of UNITA, Angola's
anti-Marxist resistance movement.
Key anti-Marxist resistance fig-
ures gathered here included Adolfo
Calero, head of the Nicaraguan
Democratic Force, the largest anti-
Sandinista guerrilla group, which
operates from bases in Honduras;
and Jonas Savimbi, who heads
UNITA, the National Union for the
'Ibtal Independence of Angola.
Other resistance groups repre-
sented included Afghanistan's
mujahideen and the Ethnics Liber
ation Organization of Laos.
Citizens for America, a conserva-
tive Washington-based lobby, helped
organize the three-day session.
Lewis Lehrman, CFA chairman, who
unsuccessfully ran for New York
governor in 1982, read a personal
message from President Reagan
that. said of the resistance forces,
"Their goals are our goals."
"Around the world we see people
joining together to get control of
their own affairs and to free their
nations from outside domination
and an alien ideology. It is a global
trend, and one of the most hopeful of
our times:' President Reagan said.
The new coalition called its meet-
ing the First Conference of Armed
Movements Fighting Against Soviet
Expansion.
A declaration set out the estab-
lishment of a "Democratic Interna-
tional" similar to the
"internationales" established by
Moscow to impose Marxist govern-
ments. The participants pledged
unity in their joint struggles in "the
fight for independence from Soviet
colonialism."
"The Soviets and the communists
have shown the way," said Mr. Calero,
who spent three days in Jamba meet-
ing with Mr. Savimbi and viewing
UNITA'S military and social organ-
ization.
Despite the direct message to him
from the president, Mr. Lehrman
said there was no direct U.S. or
White House support for the confer-
ence. Mr. Lehrman said there had
been no contact with the State
Department and he saw no contra-
diction between the meeting and
Washington's policy of "constructive
engagement" to negotiate a with-
drawal of Cuban troops from
Angola.
Mr. Lehrman presented each
delegate with a framed copy of the
Declaration of Independence and
spoke of the need to uphold such val-
ues as faith, family, freedom and
fidelity of the Republic.
Mr. Savimbi, in his opening
statement, warned against outsiders
prescribing solutions or courses of
action to indigenous rebel move-
ments.
"If you prescribe, you can't have
UNITA on your side - because you
will fail:' Mr. Savimbi said.
He stressed that each group must
establish a strong base in its own
country, because, with outside allies,
he said, "allegiances shift."
Of conservatives, he said: "You
tell us we are formidable chaps, but
when we leave you say Africa is a lost
continent...
"We want you to understand our
mind, if you are our friend."
The meeting, according to the
delegates, was primarily a political
gesture, but there were hopes that
further contact would follow, and a
Secretariat is to be established in
Washington.
"The first gesture of solidarity is
to make the people of the United
States understand the struggle of all
these people:' Mr. Calero said.
Of the success UNITA has had,
Mr. Calero said, "they have given us
inspiration that the Cubans can be
beaten"
UNITA has kept fighting the gov-
ernment of Angola despite the sup-
port of Luanda by some 30,000
Cuban troops.
uonterence organizers Sulu
increasing support and legitimacy
for the Contras, as the Nicarguan
resistance is also known, was a
major feature of the meeting.
Congress is debating on a revived
aid package to the Nicaraguan resis-
tance, and Mr. ('alero predicted it
will pass this time.
Since the cutoff of U.S. funding
last year, the Nicaraguan guerrillas
have received approximately $10
million from private sources.
Among the guerrilla groups,
UNITA clearly was the most impres-
sive, with the largest and best organ-
ization and its hold on one-third of
Angola. It was the only group with a
truly "liberated zone" under its con-
trol.
The other delegates clearly were
impressed with what they were
shown here in Jamba: a military
parade, an infantry combat course
with live-fire exercises and mock
attack, hospitals, workshops and
schools.
"Afghans are brave:' said Haroon
Wardak, who, along with his father,
Col. Ghuram Wardak, represented
Afghanistan's guerrillas, "but they
are selfish. Everyone wants to be a
leader."
Col. Wardak cited the major fail-
ings among Afghanistan's splintered
resistance as a lack of organization
and discipline.
Organizers said Afghan guerrilla
leaders representing several groups
had been detained in Pakistan last
week as they left for the conference.
They said Pakistani authorities had
given no reason for holding the three
men.
In addition, one organizer said,
the Mozambique National Resis-
tance had been invited but was pre-
vented from accepting by South
Africa, which withdrew support for
the MNR last year.
Another invited group, the Khmer'
People's National Liberation Front,
was unable to attend, but leader Son
Sann sent a message of "solidarity."
The Laotian delegation, led by Pa
Kao Her, a Hmong tribesman, said
the meeting was "meaningful for
political reasons:' but he said he had
learned little practical information.
The Lao organization claims a fol-
lowing of about 8,000 fighters, and
Mr. Her said its troops receive
training and direct support primar-
ily from China.
More than 2,000 men have been
trained in China, he said, but his
group has refused outside advisers.
"China has the rioht to heln but not
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/16: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303610003-7