Weekly anb0528_05.txt #5

[anb-bia <anb-bia at village.uunet.be>]

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 28-05-2003      PART #5/5

* South Africa. Soldiers face the past  -  South Africa is still trying to 
come to terms with its violent past, both in internal conflict and military 
intervention across southern Africa. During the apartheid era, every white 
man was liable for conscription into the army, in which he would serve at 
least two years. Several thousand black men and women were trained in 
military camps run by the liberation groups, MK and APLA. The legacy of 
these conflicts is in some cases massive mental trauma, stemming from the 
shame and horror at the activities these soldiers were forced to carry out. 
"You don't talk about it," Dave Swart, one former soldier, said. "I don't 
anyway. This is the first time in years, and it feels kind of strange." 
Although a Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) was set up in the new, 
post-apartheid South Africa, "There are a lot of skeletons in a lot of 
cupboards on both sides," Professor Philip Frankel, an expert on military 
psychology and sociology at Witts University in Johannesburg, said. He 
added that when he approached ex-combatants for his own research, he often 
met with the response: "Why don't you go and read the TRC reports?" "The 
TRC was a very valuable exercise. It gave a lot of people the opportunity 
to make clear what they had done under apartheid, and to apologise for it. 
Psychologically it was a process of tremendous cleansing for a lot of 
people."   (BBC News, UK, 23 May 2003)

* South Africa. Treason case set to begin  -  26 May: South Africa's 
biggest treason case since the end of apartheid is set to begin today, as 
22 members of the radical-right Boeremag ("Boer Force") stand trial. The 
trial will take place in Pretoria's Palace of Justice, where Nelson Mandela 
and other anti-apartheid activists were tried in the early '60s. Now the 
tables will be turned as black-controlled South Africa tries the extremist 
Afrikaners, members of the dominant ethnic group under the racist regime 
that ruled until 1994. The men face charges of high treason, terrorism and 
sabotage in connection with an alleged plot to stage a coup d'etat and 
restore South Africa's historic Boer republics. Police have linked the 
group to a series of bombs in Johannesburg's black Soweto township, a 
mosque, and a Buddhist temple last year that killed one person and injured 
several others. Police also allege the Boeremag plotted to assassinate Mr 
Mandela as he travelled to a school in the northern Limpopo province. -- 
However, once again, the trial is adjourned because of some difficulties in 
guaranteeing adequate security for the defendants.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 
May 2003)

* South Africa. South African climbs Mount Everest  -  26 May: The record 
for the fastest ever ascent of Mount Everest has been broken for the second 
time in three days. Lakba Gelu Sherpa made the ascent from Base Camp to the 
summit in just under 11 hours, shaving nearly two hours off the previous 
best time. The latest record came on the same morning that a 32-year-old 
South African man became the first black climber to reach the top of the 
world's highest mountain. Game warden Sibusiso Vilane reached the summit 
shortly after dawn. He says he is feeling well and is very grateful to be 
there. A record numbers of people have been attempting to climb the 
mountain on the golden anniversary of the first ever Everest ascent. A few 
hours before Mr Vilane reached the summit, Lakba Gelu Sherpa had arrived at 
the top of Everest in record time. His 11 hours from Base Camp to the 
summit is a journey that takes the average climber a good four days of hard 
climbing. The previous fastest ascent record was set by a fellow Sherpa, 
Pemba Dorjie, who reached the top of the mountain in 12 hours and 45 
minutes. Mr Vilane's attempt at the summit came after spending weeks at 
Base Camp and up on the mountain acclimatising and waiting for a break in 
the weather. He reached the top of the world after climbing through a clear 
and starlit night. But the winds are now much stronger and he still has to 
get safely back down the mountain.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 May 2003)

* Soudan. L'opposition boucle les négociations  -  Le 24 mai au Caire, les 
leaders de l'opposition soudanaise ont clôturé leurs négociations en faveur 
de l'unité et se sont exprimés pour un soutien aux pourparlers de paix 
entamés au Kenya entre la SPLA et le gouvernement de Khartoum. John Garang, 
leader de la SPLA (Armée de libération du peuple soudanais), et Sadeq 
al-Mahdi, chef du parti Umma, se sont entretenus avec Mohammed Osman 
al-Marghani, leader du Parti unioniste démocratique, à son domicile au 
Caire. Ils ont rendu publique une déclaration dans laquelle ils promettent 
"de faire usage de tous leurs moyens pour soutenir les négociations en 
cours, ainsi que pour forger un consensus national à travers la 
participation de toutes les forces politiques". Le 21 mai, Mirghani, en 
exil, avait affirmé que les pourparlers de paix SPLA/Khartoum seraient 
voués à l'échec pour avoir mis sur la touche les autres partis 
d'opposition. - D'autre part, le 27 mai, le secrétaire d'Etat américain, 
Colin Powell, a clairement indiqué au ministre soudanais des Affaires 
étrangères, Osman Ismail, en visite aux Etats-Unis, que les sanctions 
économiques qui frappent le Soudan ne seront levées qu'après la signature 
d'un accord avec le groupe rebelle sudiste.   (PANA, Sénégal, 26-27 mai 2003)

* Swaziland. Disparitions mystérieuses  -  Alors que le roi Mswati III 
s'apprête à soumettre au référendum l'ébauche de la Constitution nationale, 
la police déplore une vague de plus en plus importante de disparitions qui 
sévit dans le pays. Les hommes politiques qui rivalisent pour des sièges 
parlementaires et des postes importants dans le gouvernement, pourraient 
être impliqués puisque, traditionnellement, les Swazis croient que pour 
assurer leur victoire, les candidats doivent commettre des meurtres rituels 
à l'occasion desquels certaines parties du corps sont retirées pour les 
besoins du fétiche. La police affirme avoir reçu depuis le début de cette 
année, plus de 20 cas de personnes disparues. La plupart sont des femmes. 
Rien que cette semaine, trois jeunes filles ont été portées 
disparues.   (PANA, Sénégal, 22 mai 2003)

* Swaziland. Delays in food aid delivery being resolved  -  On 26 May, IRIN 
reported that the World Food Programme (WFP) in Swaziland was unable to 
distribute a full food basket to each of its 152,000 beneficiaries in April 
and May. In its latest situation report on the regional food crisis, WFP 
noted that "Swaziland has experienced pipeline problems during April and 
May and as a result, most implementing partners (who distribute on behalf 
of WFP) were only supplied with cereals in May. (...) Jennifer Abrahamson, 
WFP spokesperson in Johannesburg, South Africa, explained that the 
shortages the agency was experiencing in Swaziland were due to a number of 
factors. "Essentially, the problem was that there was a quality check delay 
(of the maize) and that problem should be resolved soon. In terms of the 
vegetable oil, we have experienced a shortfall region-wide. Donations have 
come in but there's a lag period between when a donation is made and when 
the food arrives. But it is coming now and should continue coming 
in".   (IRIN, Kenya, 26 May 2003)

* Togo. Présidentielle le 1er juin  -  Le 1er juin aura lieu l'élection 
présidentielle au Togo. La précédente, en 1998, avorta quand le 
général-président Eyadéma envoya la troupe pour arrêter le dépouillement et 
se proclama vainqueur. Cette fois-ci, la commission électorale n'est pas 
indépendante, le code électoral a été changé, de même que la Constitution, 
permettant au chef de l'Etat de se représenter, tandis que son principal 
opposant, Gilchrist Olympio, a été éliminé de la course. L'Union européenne 
a décidé de ne pas cautionner le scrutin par l'envoi d'observateurs. Paris 
en a décidé autrement et demandé à quatre élus de partir pour 
Lomé.   (S.Sm., Le Monde, France, 26 mai 2003)

* Togo. Presidential election  -  On 1 June, Togo is holding its 
presidential election. MISNA reports that on 26 May, a dozen Christian and 
human rights organisations denounced the "parody of democracy" which Togo 
is experiencing. The associations spoke of "the present atmosphere of fear 
which will not permit the population to vote freely".   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 
27 May 2003)

* Ouganda. Remaniement ministériel  -  Le vendredi 23 mai, le président 
Museveni a procédé à un remaniement de son gouvernement, au lendemain de la 
démission du vice-président du pays et d'autres personnalités suite à des 
divergences avec le Mouvement, la formation au pouvoir. Museveni a nommé le 
ministre en charge des Affaires présidentielles, Gilbert Bukenva, au poste 
de vice-président, en remplacement de Speziosa Wandira Kazibwe, qui avait 
démissionné mercredi. Les ministres d'Etat Eriya Kategaya et Jaberi 
Bidandi, confidents politiques du président, dont les démissions avaient 
été présentées jeudi, ont été limogés au cours de ce remaniement. Ces deux 
personnalités étaient considérées comme des "piliers politiques" de 
Museveni, mais s'étaient opposés avec véhémence à son projet de briguer un 
troisième mandat de cinq ans, en contradiction avec les dispositions de la 
Constitution. D'autres personnes ont changé de place dans ce gouvernement, 
l'un des plus pléthoriques de l'Afrique, avec 52 hommes et 15 
femmes.   (PANA, Sénégal, 23 mai 2003)

* Uganda. Government resignations  -  21 May: Uganda's first-ever woman 
Vice-President resigns from the government, officially to go for further 
studies in the United States. But there are suggestions that the 
resignation of Specioza Kazibwe could be part of behind -- the-scenes 
political manoeuvring in the ruling National Resistance Movement. President 
Yoweri Museveni's secretary said he has agreed to Mrs Kazibwe's request to 
be allowed to leave office in order to pursue her medical studies at 
Harvard University. However, Mrs Kazibwe's decision to resign seems 
bizarre, especially coming at a time when the political landscape in the 
country is undergoing changes. 23 May: President Yoweri Museveni fires 
three cabinet ministers in a move analysts say is aimed at silencing 
opponents of his wish to extend his rule beyond a two-term constitutional 
limit. Long time allies Eriya Kategaya, the first deputy premier, and local 
government minister Bidandi Sali lose their cabinet positions. Ethics and 
Integrity State Minister Miria Matembe is also dismissed. The three were 
vocal critics of a proposal by the ruling party in April to remove the 
presidential limit of two five-year terms, paving the way for Museveni to 
seek re-election. Museveni's second and final term under the current 
constitution expires in 2006. 26 May: The former rector of the faculty of 
medicine in Makerere University, Gilbert Bukenya, is appointed 
Vice-President of Uganda. General Moses Ali is appointed deputy prime 
minister. The general director of the Internal Security Organisation, Henry 
Tukumunde, is "distanced from his post".   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 May 2003)

* Zimbabwe. La succession de Mugabe  -  Le 22 mai, le président Robert 
Mugabe, 79 ans, a réitéré son appel lancé le mois dernier, invitant ses 
compatriotes à discuter ouvertement de sa succession afin d'éviter les 
dissensions politiques. Il a affirmé que de hauts responsables au sein de 
son parti avaient déjà commencé à chercher secrètement des appuis afin de 
lui succéder, en attendant son retrait de la politique, prévu à la fin de 
son mandat actuel de six ans, en 2008. "Il faut débattre ouvertement de 
toutes les questions, notamment des postes de direction", a dit M. 
Mugabe.   (PANA, Sénégal, 22 mai 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Embattled Mugabe looks for successor  -  Robert Mugabe has 
urged members of his ruling Zanu-PF party to discuss his successor, 
fuelling speculation that the Zimbabwean leader is considering stepping 
down. Zanu-PF officials confirmed yesterday that Mr Mugabe was considering 
retiring next year when he turns 80, but said he still preferred to retire 
on his own terms without involving the opposition. He could achieve this by 
getting the requisite two-thirds majority needed in parliament to change 
the constitution and imposing a successor without calling a new election. 
He is four seats short of this majority but three seats are up for 
by-election soon. The opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, recently 
accused Mr Mugabe of plotting to kill opposition MPs to force by-elections 
that he could "rig". Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) 
party has already lost three seats to Zanu-PF in by-elections. Addressing 
supporters on 22 May, Mr Mugabe was quoted as saying: "The issue of my 
successor must be debated openly, although I would urge you not to allow it 
to create divisions within the party." He was quoted on 23 May as accusing 
party members of consulting traditional healers and ancestral spirits for 
charms to enhance their chances of succeeding him. He also defended his 
seizures of white-owned land, which have left more than half the population 
reliant on food aid. Meanwhile, the militant Zimbabwe National Liberation 
War Veterans' Association (ZNLWVA), which Mr Mugabe used in the violent 
campaign to seize farms, has warned the MDC that it will not tolerate 
planned street protests aimed at forcing Mr Mugabe to resign. Patrick 
Nyaruwata, the ZNLWVA chairman, said in a statement that the war veterans 
would resort to "military tactics" to thwart the protests.   (The 
Independent, UK, 24 May 2003)

* Zimbabwe. Opposition action next week  -  26 May: Zimbabwe's main 
opposition party says it will begin its "final push" against President 
Robert Mugabe next week. A spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change 
(MDC) said the party is calling for prayer meetings culminating in marches 
to start on 2 June. Paul Themba Nyathi said the protests would not stop 
until "Mr Mugabe gives a clear signal that he will leave office". The 
latest sign of the economy meltdown is a shortage of bank notes. There were 
long queues outside banks on 24 May ahead of today's public holiday despite 
limits on cash withdrawals. There have been shortages of basic commodities 
such as bread, sugar and petrol for several months. The latest statistics 
show annual inflation is running at 269%.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 26 May 2003)


Weekly anb0528 - #5/5

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