KWACHA UNITA PRESS KWACHA UNITA PRESSTHE NATIONAL UNION FOR THE TOTAL INDEPENDENCE OF ANGOLA
UNITA
STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE POLITICAL COMMISSION
1999 - Year of Generalised Popular Resistance
COMMUNIQUE NO. 15/CPM/99
1. In order to defend itself against the murderous fury of José Eduardo dos Santos, on 12th May '99 in the province of Lunda North, the Generalised Popular Resistance forces using the means at its disposal shot down an Antonor-26 military transport airplane on the outskirts of the municipality of Luzamba.
2. Three crew members on the plane, claiming Russian nationality, are being held by UNITA. It should be pointed out that the three men arrived in Angola in January 1999 as mercenaries in José Eduardo dos Santos' war. The following are their identities:
a. Alexander Zaitsev, son of Leonid Zaitsev and Maria Zaitsev, born on 6th January 1960. A pilot by profession.
b. Serge Tchesrokov, son of Alexander Tchesrokov and Ivan Tchesrokov, born on 9th April 1954. Co-pilot by profession.
c. Sergy Zaharov, son of Kamstaten and Liley, born on 23rd August 1955 in Moskva. On board Engineer by profession.
The three mercenaries were captured alive and are in good health, being held under the leadership of UNITA.
3. The leadership of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola does not understand why the Russian Federation, a permanent member of the UN Security Council having taken part in the Angolan peace process in the Troika of observer nations, allows its citizens to be sent to Angola as mercenaries to take part in the Eduardo dos Santos' war against the Angolan people.
Bailundo, 17th May 1999.
The Standing Committee.