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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 11-05-2000

PART #3/4 - From  NIGERIA to SOUTH AFRICA

* Nigeria. Controversy over HIV cure — Nigeria is in the grip of controversy over the unproven claims of a doctor who says he has found a cure for the HIV virus. It is not the kind of place you would expect to stumble across one of history’s great scientific breakthroughs — but the Nigerian public are queuing up in droves outside Dr Jeremiah Abalaka’s private clinic in a dusty township outside Abuja. He denies they are desperate people who have fallen for a con-trick. Rather, they are the lucky ones — amongst the first people in the world to discover that HIV can be cured. Dr Abalaka says he does not only have a cure for HIV — he even has a vaccine to prevent you contracting the virus. He says he has already cured 29 people. (BBC News, 8 May 2000)

* Rwanda/Grande-Bretagne. Développement — L’inauguration, le 8 mai, du bureau rwandais du DFID (Département pour le développement international) par le secrétaire d’Etat britannique pour le développement international, Clare Short, en visite de trois jours au Rwanda, est une étape importante pour le renforcement du partenariat entre le Royaume-Uni et le Rwanda, a déclaré un communiqué du ministère. Le bureau de Kigali, mis en place en novembre dernier, jouerait un rôle essentiel dans le soutien des activités de développement du DFID au Rwanda au fur et à mesure que le programme bilatéral du Royaume-Uni au Rwanda se développerait. Ce bureau aiderait également le DFID à surveiller les efforts humanitaires consentis dans le Burundi voisin. (IRIN, Nairobi, 8 mai 2000)

* Rwanda. Peine de mort requise contre Mgr Misago — Le 9 mai, le procès de l’évêque de Gikongoro, Mgr Augustin Misago, est entré dans sa dernière phase. La Chambre spécialisée du tribunal de première instance de Kigali a entendu toute la journée du mardi les réquisitoires des avocats des parties civiles et du parquet. Le représentant du procureur a demandé au tribunal de reconnaître l’accusé coupable et de le condamner à la peine maximale, la peine de mort. Les avocats de la partie civile ont également demandé que l’évêque soit reconnu coupable et condamné à payer des dommages moraux à raison de 27 milliards de francs rwandais. - Le 10 mai, le Saint-Père a envoyé le message suivant à Mgr Misago: «Son Excellence Monseigneur Augustin Misago, évêque de Gikongoro (Rwanda). - Face aux douloureuses nouvelles qui me parviennent sur votre détention en prison, qui se prolonge depuis déjà treize mois, et plus encore sur la demande de peine capitale qui a été proposée, je me sens le devoir de vous dire une fois encore, très cher pasteur du diocèse bien-aimé de Gikongoro, combien je suis proche de vous, comme l’est aussi toute l’Eglise. En formulant des vœux pour que vous soit redonnée rapidement la liberté et que vous puissiez reprendre le gouvernement pastoral de votre communauté diocésaine, je demande au Seigneur ressuscité de vous accorder la présence et le soutien de son Esprit, et de grand cœur je vous envoie la bénédiction apostolique. — Ioannes Paulus pp ii». (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 10 mai 2000)

* Rwanda. Prosecutors: «Misago deserves death» — 9 May: Prosecutors in Rwanda have called for the death penalty to be imposed on Bishop Misago, accused of helping to plan the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Prosecuting attorneys put forward their final arguments against Bishop Augustin Misago —who has steadfastly denied the charges against him during court hearings in Kigali. «We have submitted all arguments attesting to Misago’s role in the planning of the genocide, complicity in genocide and perpetration of genocide», says the prosecuting attorney, Eduard Kayihura. «And given his proven role in these killings...Misago deserves the death sentence». The Defense attorneys are due to present their final arguments in court on 11 May. A verdict is expected eight days later, but court officials say it could take longer. (Editor’s note:The Pope has sent a message of solidarity with the Bishop. The Pope expressed his sorrow at the suffering of the Bishop in prison.) (CNN, 10 May 2000)

* Rwanda. Ruggiu plaide coupable — L’ancien journaliste italo-belge Georges Omar Ruggiu est prêt à passer aux aveux devant le Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda, ont confirmé ses avocats le 10 mai à Arusha. Ruggiu était animateur à la Radio-télévision libre des mille collines, dont le parquet affirme qu’elle “diffusait régulièrement des messages conçus pour créer la haine inter-ethnique et encourager la population à tuer”. Georges Ruggiu reconnaît avoir “fait de la discrimination et de l’incitation” directe et publique à commettre le génocide, selon ses avocats, qui ajoutent que le parquet présentera une demande de modification de l’acte d’accusation existant. (Agence Hirondelle, Arusha, 10 mai 2000)

* Rwanda/Uganda. Bad blood — Bad words escalated between the two countries when there was a change in President in Rwanda. Discussions on local radio and analyses in Ugandan newspapers gave the impression that Uganda still seems to regard Rwanda more like a satellite state. Rwandan newspapers hit back, calling Uganda’s President Museveni a «dictator». The fact is, Uganda has been playing host to Rwandan opposition supporters, including military officers who have turned renegade against Rwanda’s government. Uganda gave protection to John Sebarenzi Kabuye, former Speaker of Rwanda’s parliament who fled to Uganda. He had allegedly been conspiring with «pro-monarchy» forces to cause trouble in Rwanda. President Museveni said he could not turn Sebarenzi over to the Rwandese authorities because he was being persecuted for his political beliefs. A good explanation, but don’t forget, two years previously, Uganda had handed over Nathaniel Nsengyumva. In spite of recent events in Kisangani, Congo RDC, Uganda does not want to completely break with Rwanda, as that country is presently the largest export destination for Ugandan commodities (Crespo Sebunya, 26 April 2000)

* Sénégal/Tchad. Procès d’Hissène Habré — Le 10 mai, des groupes de défense des droits de l’homme ont publié un communiqué soulignant que le Sénégal a l’obligation juridique de traduire en justice l’ancien dictateur tchadien Hissène Habré. Cette déclaration a été publiée à la veille d’une audition à Dakar devant la chambre de mise en accusation. Les avocats d’Habré plaideront notamment que le Sénégal n’est pas compétent pour juger des crimes commis au Tchad. Les ONG estiment, quant à elles, que la Convention 1984 des Nations unies contre la torture, ratifiée par le Sénégal, fait obligation aux Etats de poursuivre en justice ou d’extrader les présumés bourreaux qui entrent sur leur territoire. (IRIN, Abidjan, 10 mai 2000)

* Sierra Leone. Hopes for revival until... — Catholic organisations have been to the forefront of the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in Sierra Leone, but they are frequently faced with financial hiccups. With the present unrest and uncertitudes continuing, it is important that the people have somewhere they can turn to, in their time of need. By the beginning of April, Sierra Leone was beginning to pull itself out of the ashes of war. A two-man delegation from Caritas International and the International Catholic Commission on Migration thus made a visit in early April to assess and evaluate the activities and projects of Catholic educational institutions coming under the care of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Children Associated with War (CAW), a Catholic rehabilitation organisation with a special interest in rehabilitating former child soldiers. The delegation insisted on the importance of their visit, saying: «The children have been in the jungle, taking part in the widespread atrocities committed by the rebels. Many of them have become used to consuming hard drugs. After visiting the southern province, the head of delegation, Mr Hermann Deboue, said both the organisations they represented will strive to influence other organisations in Africa to introduce projects, not just for emergency situations, but also for long-term development assistance to Sierra Leone. Father Theophilous Momoh, CAW‘s director, said: «There is a herculean task to be performed in post-war Sierra Leone. This visit has given us a ray of hope». Let us hope that with the present renewed violence, this hope is not completely dashed. (Alpha R.Jalloh, ANB-BIA, Sierra Leone, 3 May 2000)

* Sierra Leone. Le chaos — 4 mai. Révisant son bilan, le porte-parole de l’Onu à Freetown a précisé que non pas sept, mais quatre casques bleus ont été tués dans des affrontements avec les partisans du Front révolutionnaire uni (RUF). Trois autres ont été blessés à Makeni, d’où ils ont été évacués. Le chef du RUF, Foday Sankoh, n’est pas assigné à résidence, mais des casques bleus encerclent son domicile à Freetown pour “assurer sa sécurité”. La veille, Sankoh a lancé un appel afin que ses hommes libèrent les otages. L’Onu multiplie aussi ses appels aux médiateurs: les présidents malien et libérien ont été sollicités. Cette épreuve de force intervient alors que l’Onu doit achever son déploiement dans les zones diamantifères dans l’est du pays, fief et coffre-fort du RUF. La réussite ou l’échec de l’opération de l’Onu en Sierra Leone pourrait avoir des répercussions sur d’autres engagements en Afrique, notamment au Congo-RDC. - 5 mai. Le vendredi soir, les Nations unies ont annoncé qu’au total 318 membres de leur mission (Minusil) étaient pris en otage par les ex-rebelles du RUF. Dans la journée, les 4 membres d’équipage et les 2 passagers civils d’un hélicoptère de l’Onu ont été libérés. Cependant, s’ajoutant aux 86 otages séquestrés depuis trois jours, 208 soldats zambiens au centre du pays et 24 autres casques bleus à Kailahun, à l’est, ont été désarmés par les rebelles qui les retiennent. Le Parlement sierra-léonais a adopté une “résolution”, sans valeur coercitive, réclamant l’arrestation de Foday Sankoh. Les agences de l’Onu et les ambassades occidentales ont décidé l’évacuation de leur personnel “non essentiel”. -6-7 mai. Le samedi 6, 226 soldats zambiens, envoyés en renfort à Masiaka à 65 km au nord de Freetown, ont rejoint leurs quelque 300 frères d’armes déjà séquestrés. Dans la nuit, le porte-parole du Minusil a annoncé que des bandes armées du RUF fonçaient sur Freetown, ce qui a suscité une panique en ville. L’Onu a appelé les organisations humanitaires à une évacuation d’urgence. Mais au petit matin, le porte-parole a dû annoncer que tout n’était qu’une “erreur malheureuse” de leur part... Le dimanche soir, la Grande-Bretagne a annoncé qu’elle envoyait un bataillon de parachutistes et cinq navires au Sénégal par “mesure de précaution” afin d’aider à un éventuel rapatriement massif de ses ressortissants. - 8 mai. 250 soldats britanniques ont débarqué à Freetown et “sécurisé” l’aéroport en vue d’assurer l’évacuation des expatriés occidentaux. 500 autres débarquaient à Dakar, pré-positionnés pour un éventuel accroissement de l’intervention en Sierra Leone; Londres n’a pas exclu qu’ils pourraient être utilisés dans une opération de rétablissement de la paix. A Freetown, une manifestation devant la résidence de Foday Sankoh s’est soldée par au moins 4 morts et plusieurs dizaines de blessés lorsque des rebelles se trouvant à l’intérieur ont ouvert le feu. Par ailleurs, pour conjurer le péril d’une nouvelle débacle de l’Onu en Afrique, Washington s’est déclaré prêt à apporter une aide logistique à la Minusil, tout en excluant des “troupes américaines au sol”. D’autre part, le Nigeria a convoqué pour le 9 mai un sommet régional extraordinaire consacré à la crise en Sierra Leone, auquel ont été invités les chefs d’Etat de neuf pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest. -9 mai. Toute la journée à Freetown, les troupes britanniques ont poursuivi l’évacuation des expatriés. Paris a mis en alerte sa base à Dakar et y a constitué un “détachement aéromobile” de soutien aux Britanniques. Les casques bleus stationnés à Masiaka, à 65 km à l’est de Freetown, s’en sont retirés après avoir essuyé des tirs. Dans la capitale régnait une apparence de calme; les boutiques et les bureaux ont ouvert, mais l’électricité est coupée. Cependant, des milliers de civils fuyant vers Freetown affirmaient que les rebelles du RUF étaient à leurs trousses. On ne semble pas savoir où se trouve Foday Sankoh qui a disparu la veille de son domicile pendant la manifestation hostile. D’autre part, le sommet de la CEDEAO, réuni au Nigeria, devait conférer un mandat régional à un corps expéditionnaire nigérian qui pourrait servir de “force d’action rapide” à l’Onu. Les chefs d’Etat africains ont également mandaté le dirigeant libérien Charles Taylor pour négocier la libération des casques bleus. - 10 mai. Alors que des milliers de réfugiés continuaient à affluer à Freetown, les casques bleus, aidés par des parachutistes britanniques, se préparent à défendre la ville. Cependant, une coalition de forces loyalistes composée de guerriers traditionnels et de soldats de l’armée sierra-léonaise a réussi dans la soirée à repousser les rebelles du RUF de Waterloo (28 km de Freetown) à Newton (36 km de la capitale). (ANB-BIA, de sources diverses, 11 mai 2000)

* Sierra Leone. Deteriorating situation — 4 May: Foday Sankoh warns the UN not to reinforce military positions near his stronghold. «We don’t want violence hear again. It’s provocation. You provoke the man, you make a big mistake». At the same time, he orders his fighters to free dozens of UN peacekeepers seized during a dispute over disarmament which cost the lives of at least seven Kenyan UN soldiers. The UN calls for more UN troops to be sent to Sierra Leone. 5 May: Rebels have captured a 208-strong contingent of Zambian peacekeepers sent to reinforce the Kenyan battalion that came under attack earlier this week, and may be using 13 stolen armoured personnel carriers for their own operations. The UN says that with the detention of the Zambian troops on their way to the central town of Makeni, and the taking of 24 other UN personnel near Kailahoun in the east, the total number of UN peacekeepers and staff being held hostage has risen to 318. A team of British military experts is due to arrive in Sierra Leone tomorrow to advise the embattled UN force. 6 May: The 15-strong «technical assistance» team from Britain arrives in Sierra Leone. The UN sparks panic in Freetown when it announces its troops have clashed with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels outside Freetown. It later withdraws its report, blaming «inaccurate information» for the mistake. The UN also says contact has been lost with another 200 of its soldiers. Sources have said that the RUF procured at least five large planeloads of weapons from the former Soviet bloc through Burkina Faso in 1998 and 1999. 7 May: From the town of Lunsar, 80 km northeast of Freetown, RUF rebels attack UN forces. The Independent reporter in Sierra Leone says that the small town of Rogberi in central Sierra Leone is in ruins after fighting at the weekend. Zambia’s Defence Minister says the Zambian peacekeepers captured by Sierra Leonean rebels were «lured into a trap». 8 May: A battalion of 700 British paratroopers has flown into Sierra Leone as the rapidly deteriorating situation persuades the British government to advise all Britons with no essential reason to remain, to leave the country. A British helicopter carrier, a frigate and three support ships are also being dispatched. The paratroopers immediately begin the operation to airlift British and other foreign nationals from Freetown. The rebel advance towards Freetown has been halted after talks with UN officials. The rebel commander, General Issa, says he has ordered his troops to withdrawn to Makeni, 140 km east of Freetown. Witnesses say at least four people died after bodyguards protecting the home of RUF leader, Foday Sankoh, open fire on thousands of protestors, marching to demand Mr Sankoh respect the 1999 Lome peace accord. Sankoh’s home is looted during the course of the afternoon. The press agency MISNA reports that Foday Sankoh is now (9 May) in a military base in Freetown. After the fight outside Mr Sankoh’s house, truckloads of Major Johnny Paul Koroma’s men could be seen heading towards the property. In recent days, he has been on the radio ordering his soldiers to gather in specific spots to help protect Freetown against RUF soldiers. Nigeria is said to be considering sending about 1,600 soldiers to back up government forces. The Nigerians will not be UN peacekeepers but will operate under their own flag. The WFP announces the suspension of emergency humanitarian assistance to needy people in most parts of Sierra Leone. 8-9 May: Gangs of guntoting fighters cruise the streets of Freetown during the night, and the roads are jammed with refugees and soldiers. 9 May: Fighting between government and rebel forces prompts thousands of people to flee towards Freetown. The rebels have taken control of the strategic town of Masiaka. The Presidents of Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Togo, plus ministers from Burkina Faso, Ghana and Liberia, meet in Abuja, Nigeria, and warn they are prepared to use military force to prevent any attempt to seize power in Sierra Leone. They call for a defence ministers’ meeting for 17 May in Abuja. The UN says some of its difficulties in Sierra Leone are due to the fact that it is being asked to carry out peacekeeping missions on a shoestring budget. The Independent (UK) reports that the people of Freetown watch in anger and sadness as the foreign nationals in their midst, are plucked to safety. «They are left to observe a peace plan that is unravelling, and an inept United Nations force that is rarely seen outside its fortified compounds», says the paper. 10 May: Pro-government troops are reported to have recaptured a strategically important town. The RUF captured Masiaka on the night of 8 May sparking the refugee exodus. The development comes as thousands of refugees flee from rural areas to Freetown, to escape a reported rebel advance towards the city. Sierra Leonean government hopes that British troops would bolster its defences have ben dashed by the UK defence secretary. Army chief. Johnny Paul Koroma told a private radio station that his troops has recaptures Masiaka. The UN pledges that Freetown will not be abandoned to the RUF. The lack of news about the fate of RUF leader Foday Sankoh, is a matter of grave concern. The fear of many people is that he escaped back into the bush after the attack on his Freetown home. Also, speculation is rife that he was whisked away by UN forces to their headquarters. The UN denies this. The MISNA press agency reported a senior political source as saying Mr Sankoh was being held at defence headquarters in Freetown for his own protection. The Deputy Defence Minister denies this. Nigeria says it and not the UN should command West African troops if they are sent back to Sierra Leone. 11 May: Senior British ministers are expected to hold a crisis meeting today to confront the dilemma Britain faces: getting involved in war that cannot be won, or suffering the opprobrium that will come if UN peacekeepers are left in the lurch by British paratroopers. The most likely outcome is the paras will continue to hold Lungi Airport outside Freetown, awaiting the arrival of reinforcements for the UN force (mainly from India, Jordan and Bangladesh). Canada has committed itself to ferrying the extra soldiers to Freetown. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 11 May 2000)

* South Africa. Reparations remain unpaid — There is mounting anger about the South African government’s failure to pay reparations to victims of human rights abuses. Failure to pay reparations, say some legal analysts, could place the entire Truth and Reconciliation process — including amnesties already granted -in jeopardy. There are increasing criticism of the ANC-led government’s inability to follow through the quid pro quo upon which the Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC was established. According to the agreement, victims of conflicts during the apartheid era, agreed to give up their civil and legal challenges on condition that they were paid compensation. The former head of investigations at the TRC, Judge Dumisa Ntsebeza says, «people are upset about the lack of movement by the government on reparations. It’s only a matter of time before this matter is challenged in the courts.» The judge’s comments follow the warning by the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, last week, that the problems in Zimbabwe, where war veterans are invading white-owned farms, could occur in South Africa if the government failed to keep the promise to TRC victims. When the TRC presented its final report to the government in August 1998, it recommended that just under 3-billion be set aside over six years to reimburse victims of gross human rights abuses. The money was intended to partly compensate for the death of a breadwinner or the loss of income due to injury or expenses incurred because of abuse. The report suggested that a reparations trust fund be established and also raised the possibility of a once-off levy on corporate and private income in the form of a wealth tax. The government has since allocated R300 million towards reparations, R20 million of which has been used so far to make «urgent interim payments» (limited to amounts between R2000 and R5000) to 7000 victims. No provision has been made for final payments or larger sums to be allocated. (James Brew, ANB-BIA, South Africa, 5 May 2000)