Rebels refuse to fight despite Arafat mutiny

Press, 2 July 1983, Page 10

Rebels refuse to fight despite Arafat mutiny

NZPA-Reuter East Lebanon Palestinian guerrillas of all factions in the povertystriken Wavell Refugee Camp in Lebanon, including those critical of Yasser Arafat, say that they will refuse to fight each other despite a spreading antiArafat rebellion. As the rebels appeared to be gaining ground in what has become a largely peaceful coup against Mr Arafat’s leadership, local representatives of all eight guerrilla groups within the Palestine Liberation Organisation, which Mr Arafat heads, pledged that they would not take up arms against one another. The move came as the 9000 civilian Palestinian refugees who inhabit the squalid shanty town prepared for a peace march to

call tor an end to fighting within the P.L.O. The local guerrillas’ unexpected show of unity and the refugees’ peace move represented the strongest renunciation of violence since a revolt against Mr Arafat’s moderate policies broke out two months ago. Fatah guerrillas loyal to Mr Arafat revealed that contacts were under way with the rebel officer, Colonel Saeed Musa, known as Abu Musa, to prevent any fighting in the area round the camp, outside the ancient town of Baalbek. A pro-Arafat Fatah guerrilla said that two officers supporting Abu Musa were driving between Baalbek and a rebel base at Deir Zanoun to discuss the situation, particularly in the

light of the presence of thousands of Palestinian civilians. “We told them we don’t want to fight against our brothers. They replied that the other side does not want any more fighting either,” said the Fatah man. The Baalbek area of the fertile Bekaa Valley, scene of sporadic clashes between Arafat loyalists and rebels in recent weeks, was peaceful yesterday. Guerrillas in and around the Wavell camp showed no signs of preparing for a fight. Local Palestinian civilians said that press reports of the fighting were exaggerated. One said: “The Abu Musa people seem to be gaining ground a bit but it’s more a question of persuasion than fighting. Casualties have been mostly dur-

ing shoot-outs at road blocks.” The statement issued by all the P.L.O. groups in the camp also called on Syria to revoke an expulsion order issued against Mr Arafat a week ago after he had accused Syrian forces of aiding the rebels. A crisis meeting of Palestinian leaders in Tunis called to discuss the mutiny is likely to last longer than planned, said sources at the talks. A delegate said after the first session of the 14-mem-ber committee. “It now looks as if it might last longer than planned because of the many talks Arafat is having on the fringe.” There was still no sign yesterday whether the meeting would lead to a reconciliation.