Weekly ANB1023_06.txt #7

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 23-10-2003      PART #6/7

* South Africa. Spy probe causes ANC split  -  15 October: South Africa 
launches an official hearing, investigating charges of spying and abuse of 
power by top figures in the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Just 
months before general elections, allegations are swirling around close 
colleagues of President Thabo Mbeki. They spring from a probe over reports 
that Deputy President Jacob Zuma asked a French arms company for a bribe as 
part of a multibillion-dollar arms deal, which triggered one of the most 
damaging scandals since the ANC swept to power in post-apartheid elections 
in 1994. "It's tearing the party asunder", says Xolela Mangcu, political 
analyst and director of the Steve Biko Foundation. He says the arms deal, 
dogged by corruption claims, has heightened a power struggle in the ANC. 
The party, which under Nelson Mandela led the fight against white rule, is 
expected to retain power easily. But its credibility has suffered from the 
string of corruption cases. The inquiry touches on a range of thorny and 
emotive issues from press freedom to collaboration with the apartheid 
regime. It focuses on claims that Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani 
Ngcuka spied for the apartheid government in the 1980s -- claims that 
surfaced as Ngcuka's FBI-style Scorpions unit investigated the corruption 
allegations against Zuma. 21 October: The investigation into Bulelani 
Ngcuka is rocked when a human rights lawyer confesses that she was the 
agent at the centre of the inquiry. It was reported that Mr Ngcuka had 
operated as agent RS 452. But lawyer Vanessa Brereton admits that she was 
undercover agent RS 452. Ms Brereton, now living in London, contacted 
investigators with the information, saying she no longer wants to live with 
any deceit. Ms Brereton, who was well known for defending anti-apartheid 
activists in court, says she was recruited by the former regime's security 
police to inform on suspected "communist sympathizers" during the 1980s. 
She says she provided information about whites involved in the 
anti-apartheid movement. From 1985 until 1991, she told security police 
about the activities, meeting places and residences of people involved in 
the anti-apartheid movement. She says she ha been assured that her 
information would not lead to any brutal acts. But Ms Brereton said she 
became worried in 1989 when a car bomb, detonated by one of her police 
superiors, killed four black men. She later moved to England and did not 
even tell her husband or family of her double life. "We were very surprised 
that she came forward, but we are very glad that she did," said commission 
secretary John Bacon.   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 21 October 2003)

* South Africa. Mandela's 46664 concert  -  21 October: Beyonce, Queen and 
Bono from U2 are to headline a huge concert in Cape Town, South Africa, to 
raise awareness of Africa's Aids plight. They will be joined by artists 
such as Anastacia, Ms Dynamite and a host of African acts for the show, 
which will take place on 29 November. A CD and DVD will be released early 
in the new year in aid of the campaign. The initiative, called 46664 and 
spearheaded by Nelson Mandela, is launched in London today. The five digits 
46664 represented Mr Mandela's prison number for more than 18 years while 
he was kept prisoner in South Africa's Robben Island jail. "Millions of 
people today infected with Aids are just that -- a number," he said. "They 
too are serving a prison sentence for life. That's why for the first time I 
am allowing my prison number...to brand this campaign. A tragedy of 
unprecedented proportions is unfolding in Africa. Aids today in Africa is 
claiming more lives than the sum total of all wars, famines and floods, and 
the ravages of such deadly diseases as malaria. We must act now for the 
sake of the world. Aids is no longer a disease, it is a human rights 
issue." -- A new analysis of the Aids epidemic in South Africa suggests 
that fewer people are becoming infected with HIV than in previous years. 
The research also predicts that the total number of HIV-positive people in 
South Africa will remain constant for the foreseeable future.   (ANB-BIA, 
Belgium, 21 October 2003)

* South Africa. Controversy over new AIDS projections  -  AIDS experts have 
raised doubts about a new study suggesting South Africa's HIV/AIDS epidemic 
peaked in 2002 and was expected to level off as fewer new infections were 
reported. The study, published in the recent issue of the African Journal 
of AIDS Research, said that the epidemic in South Africa peaked last year 
with about 4.69 million people living with HIV/AIDS and had started to 
level off. It also noted that HIV incidence rates in the 15 to 49 age group 
had decreased "substantially" from 4.2 percent in 1997 to 1.7 percent in 
2003. These projections were based on a new statistical model developed by 
Dr Olive Shisana, executive director of HIV/AIDS research at the Human 
Sciences Research Council (HSRC), and Thomas Rehle, an independent 
consultant in international health and disease control. The study used data 
from the Department of Health's national antenatal HIV prevalence survey 
and the 2002 Nelson Mandela/HSRC Study of HIV/AIDS.   (IRIN, Kenya, 22 
October 2003)

* Soudan. Attaques de milices islamiques au Darfour  -  Une centaine de 
personnes tuées et 15 blessées, tel est le bilan d'une série d'attaques 
lancées durant le week-end (18-19 octobre) par des milices tribales 
islamiques dans la région du Darfour, selon le quotidien El-Ayam, citant un 
député de la région. Les miliciens ont mis à feu et à sang une quinzaine de 
petits centres, contraignant à la fuite au moins 15.000 personnes. Des 
témoignages parlent d'une nouvelle vague de violence dans la région. Les 
rebelles de l'Armée/Mouvement de libération (SLA/M) du Darfour ont accusé 
le gouvernement soudanais d'avoir violé le cessez-le-feu "plus de 47 fois" 
au cours de ces 45 derniers jours, provoquant quelque 200 morts. "De 
nombreux indices font penser que ces milices tribales islamiques ne sont 
rien d'autre que des mouvements paramilitaires liés au gouvernement, qui 
est ainsi libre de continuer à lutter contre les rebelles malgré la 
signature de la trêve et les négociations en cours", a expliqué une source 
diplomatique occidentale.   (Misna, Italie, 21 octobre 2003)

* Sudan. New series of peace talks  -  16 October: The Sudanese 
Vice-President, Ali Osman Taha, arrives in Nairobi to attend peace talks in 
Kenya with rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). He says: 
"We are glad that we are once again in Nairobi to resume negotiations which 
we hope are the last". The Sudanese Vice-President specifies that Khartoum 
is determined to entirely resolve pending issues during this new phase of 
talks. John Garang, the SPLA's leader says: "We have come, as we did last 
time, with the same level of openness, commitment, determination and 
purpose to move on with the remaining issues so that we are able to reach a 
peace settlement". 21 October 21: US Secretary of State Colin Powell turns 
his attention to the conflict in Sudan, one of the priorities he set when 
he took office early in 2001. Sensing a possible success for US diplomacy, 
Powell is flying from Bangkok to Nairobi to meet representatives of the 
Sudanese government and southern rebels, who are deep in peace talks in the 
Kenyan town of Naivasha. US officials have played down expectations he can 
pull off a final agreement when he sees the negotiators on 22 November but 
they say they hope he can speed up the talks so that they come to fruition 
within weeks. Colin Powell says: "I am here to keep the momentum going on 
these talks. There's a lot of work ahead, but frankly we're getting close. 
Now that we've come this far, let's finish it, let's kick it in, let's 
throw it into high gear. Let's not miss this opportunity". 22 October: 
After meeting representatives of both sides in the civil war, Colin Powell 
says that they have committed themselves to signing a peace deal to end the 
civil war by the end of the year. Mr Powell says that they will be invited 
to the White House by President Bush for a signing ceremony once a 
comprehensive agreement is completed. Mr Powell says it is essential to 
move forward to an agreement to end the suffering of the Sudanese 
people".   (ANB-BIA, Belgium, 22 October 2003)

* Soudan. Powell en médiateur  -  Le secrétaire d'Etat américain, Colin 
Powell, est attendu ce 22 octobre à Naivasha, au Kenya, alors que les 
pourparlers de paix intersoudanais sont entrés dans une phase décisive. Il 
doit rencontrer séparément le vice-président Ali Osmane Taha et le chef de 
la rébellion sudiste, John Garang. Les deux parties butent encore sur trois 
contentieux: le partage du pouvoir, celui des richesses, notamment de la 
rente pétrolière, et le statut de trois régions disputées. M. Powell a 
promis au régime de Khartoum, accusé dans le passé de soutien au 
terrorisme, une aide conséquente en échange d'un accord. - S'exprimant 
devant des journalistes à bord de l'avion qui l'emmenait au Kenya, le 21 
octobre, Colin Powell a souhaité insuffler de l'"énergie" dans les 
pourparlers de paix au Soudan, en promettant un réexamen des sanctions 
américaines contre le pays africain si un accord définitif était trouvé par 
le gouvernement et les rebelles. Rappelons que depuis 1997 les Américains 
imposent un embargo sur la majeure partie des activités commerciales avec 
le Soudan et ont gelé les avoirs soudanais, accusant Khartoum de soutenir 
le terrorisme, de commettre des violations des droits de l'homme et des 
libertés religieuses.   (Libération, France, et AP, 22 octobre 2003)

* Swaziland. Parliamentary elections  -  18 October: Parliamentary 
elections are taking place in the tiny kingdom of Swaziland, with 55 seats 
at stake. Some opposition groups are urging a boycott of the poll, saying 
it will be meaningless in a country where political parties are banned and 
the legislature can only advise King Mswati III. However supporters of the 
king say the parliamentary vote, which takes place every five years, is a 
step in the right direction. Several members of outlawed parties are 
contesting seats as independent candidates, including former prime minister 
Obed Dlamini. The king, who has ignored court rulings in the past, says 
that political differences are better resolved through negotiation. A 
number of organisations, including the Commonwealth, have sent teams to 
observe the election. 19 October: Counting is under way in that 
parliamentary elections. Opposition groups believe the poll is meaningless 
in a country where political parties are banned, and the legislature can 
only advise King Mswati III. The king's supporters say the parliamentary 
vote is a step in the right direction. Several members of outlawed parties 
contested seats as independent candidates, including former Prime Minister 
Obed Dlamini. The king, who has ignored court rulings in the past, says 
political differences are better resolved through negotiation. Swaziland is 
also discussing a controversial new constitution which is likely to 
maintain the king's position as monarch. 21 October: IRIN reports that 
results from 48 of the 55 constituencies are now known. There is an 
increase in the number of women Members of Parliament (MP)s. The King will 
appoint 10 MPs next month who will join the 55 elected MPs in selecting 10 
members from the general public to serve in the House of Senate. A majority 
of the 30-member Senate, however, will be filled by the King's personal 
appointees. He will also appoint a prime minister and fill his cabinet as 
he chooses, with most ministers drawn from among the MPs.   (ANB-BIA, 
Belgium, 21 October 2003)

* Chad. Face to face with those he tormented  -  Souleymane Guengueng was a 
lowly government employee when he was picked up by Chad's political police 
in August 1988 and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Wrongfully 
accused of working for the opposition fighting to overthrow President 
Hissène Habré, he was released two and a half years later when the dictator 
fled into exile. His family had given up hope of seeing him again. Now the 
tables have turned, and soon Hissène Habré -- darling of the Americans and 
the French during his bloody eight-year rule -- will be facing charges of 
crimes against humanity and torture. Mr Guengueng and his group, 
representing 792 victims of the Habré-era atrocities and their surviving 
relatives, are the accusers. A Belgian investigating magistrate is expected 
to formally indict the former Chadian leader in a landmark case which will 
show African dictators they should no longer assume they can commit human 
rights abuses with impunity. It has been an emotional journey for Mr 
Guengueng, supported by Human Rights Watch, in his long quest for justice 
against the man known as the "African Pinochet". After a Chadian Truth 
Commission accused Habré's regime of 40,000 political murders and 
systematic torture, the exiled president was placed under house arrest in 
Senegal three years ago. For a time it looked as though he would be judged 
there. Mr Guengueng, armed with documents he kept hidden under his house, 
testified in secret. But the process was halted when the Senegalese courts 
ruled in 2001 that he could not be tried in the country as his alleged 
crimes had not been committed there. Mr Guengueng and Human Rights Watch 
still had another card to play. During the case in Senegal they had sought 
Habré's extradition to Belgium under its "universal jurisdiction" law. The 
legislation meant that perpetrators of war crimes, genocide and crimes 
against humanity could be tried no matter where the crime was committed, 
and regardless of their nationality. Belgium repealed its controversial law 
in July, under US pressure. But because three of the Chadian victims have 
Belgian nationality, and the investigation by the Belgian magistrate Daniel 
Fransen had already begun in Chad, Mr Guengueng's case will go 
ahead.   (Independent, UK, 17 October 2003)

* Tchad. Radio <MSB>FM-Liberté fermée pour comportement "déviant"  -  La 
radio associative FM-Liberté a été fermée le 21 octobre 2003, et pour une 
durée indéterminée, par le ministère tchadien de la Sécurité publique pour 
"fonctionnement illégal et comportement déviant". Cette décision fait suite 
à la diffusion d'une chronique très critique envers le président Idriss 
Deby. "L'évolution de la liberté d'expression au Tchad était plutôt 
positive depuis quelques années. Malheureusement, nous sommes forcés de 
constater que certains sujets restent tabous, surtout lorsqu'il s'agit du 
président et de son entourage. Déjà, au printemps 2003, deux journalistes 
avaient passé deux mois en prison après s'en être pris à la belle-mère du 
chef de l'Etat", a déclaré Robert Ménard, secrétaire général de Reporters 
sans frontières. qui a protesté contre cette mesure. "Ce n'est pas la 
première fois que les autorités du pays s'en prennent à FM-Liberté, connue 
pour être proche des organisations de défense des droits de l'homme", 
a-t-il ajouté. FM-Liberté avait récemment comparé le président Deby à 
Hissène Habré, l'ancien dictateur tchadien (1982-1990), et l'accusait 
d'avoir "apporté des prédateurs, des fossoyeurs de l'économie et des tueurs 
à gage qui ont le droit de vie et de mort sur les autres citoyens".   (RSF, 
France, 22 octobre 2003)

* Tunisie. Radhia Nasraoui en grève de la faim  -  La Fédération 
internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) et l'Organisation 
mondiale contre la torture (OMCT), dans le cadre de leur programme 
conjoint, l'Observatoire pour la protection des droits de l'homme, 
expriment leur vive préoccupation au regard de la situation de Me Radhia 
Nasraoui, avocate au Barreau de Tunis, qui a entamé une grève de la faim le 
13 octobre 2003, afin de protester contre les entraves systématiques 
qu'elle subit dans l'exercice de sa profession d'avocate et du harcèlement 
constant dont elle, sa famille et ses clients sont l'objet. Me Radhia 
Nasraoui est la cible depuis de nombreuses années d'actes de harcèlement en 
raison de son activité en tant qu'avocate de prisonniers politiques et en 
tant que défenseur des droits de l'homme. Le 13 octobre, lors d'une 
conférence de presse, Radhia Nasraoui a expliqué que le harcèlement dont 
elle fait l'objet ainsi que ses filles, sa soeur et ses frères a pris un 
caractère systématique et une dimension de plus en plus pernicieuse. Sa 
maison est constamment surveillée par la police, sa ligne téléphonique est 
sur écoute, son courrier est intercepté et le 13 juillet 2003 Nadhia 
Nasraoui a notamment été physiquement agressée par des membres de la police 
politique. De même, ses clients font l'objet de très fortes pressions 
visant à les dissuader d'avoir recours à son conseil. L'Observatoire 
souligne que ces faits s'inscrivent dans un cadre général de persécution et 
de harcèlement de toute personne osant dénoncer les violations des droits 
de l'homme en Tunisie et émettre un avis critique à l'encontre du 
pouvoir.   (D'après News Press, France, 21 octobre 2003)

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