DATE=5/6/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-231801 TITLE=SAF MERCENARIES (L-ONLY) BYLINE=MICHAEL HAMLYN DATELINE=CAPE TOWN CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SOUTH AFRICA'S PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY PASSED THE WORLD'S FIRST LAW BANNING MERCENARY ACTIVITY. THE "REGULATION OF FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE" BILL, AS IT'S CALLED, NOW AWAITS THE SIGNATURE OF PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA BEFORE BECOMING LAW. MICHAEL HAMLYN WAS IN THE CAPE TOWN GALLERY AS SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSED THE BILL. TEXT: THE NEWLY-COMPLETED BILL BANS MERCENARY ACTIVITY OUTRIGHT. IT DEFINES AS DIRECT PARTICIPATION AS A COMBATANT IN ARMED CONFLICT FOR PRIVATE GAIN. IT WILL ALLOW MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENTS -- UNDER STRICT CONTROLS. THE ASSISTANCE MUST BE APPROVED BY SOUTH AFRICA'S CABINET'S NATIONAL CONVENTIONAL ARMS CONTROL COMMITTEE, WHICH CURRENTLY OVERSEES ALL REQUESTS FOR DEFENSE SALES ABROAD. THE BILL'S PASSAGE WAS SEEN BY MANY A GRAND ANTICLIMAX, BUT MAY HAVE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS FOR THE IMAGE OF SOUTH AFRICA. SOUTH AFRICA'S NAME WAS REVILED IN THE PAST, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF SOUTH AFRICAN SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE. THEY WERE SO-CALLED "DOGS OF WAR," WHO LENT THEIR MILITARY EXPERTISE TO GOVERNMENTS OR REBEL MOVEMENTS ON THE BASIS OF WHO PAID THE BEST. SUCH FORCES HAVE TOPPLED AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS. MERCENARY FORCES BASED IN OR CONSISTING OF SOUTH AFRICANS, EARNED A REPUTATION FOR BRUTALITY AND CASUAL CRUELLY THAT THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA IS ASHAMED OF. //OPT// RECENT AREAS OF ACTIVITY INCLUDE KATANGA PROVINCE OF THE OLD CONGO, AS WELL AS MORE RECENT WARS IN WEST AFRICA, AND IN THE COMORES. //END OPT// MERCENARY ACTIVITY IS ALSO AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED IN SOUTH AFRICA'S NEW CONSTITUTION. TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE, THE BILL PASSED ON WEDNESDAY AFTER PARLIAMENT'S SECOND HOUSE -- THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES -- AMENDED IT TO INCLUDE JURISDICTION OVER FOREIGNERS, AS WELL AS SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS. (SIGNED) NEB/MH/PCF 06-May-98 2:31 PM EDT (1831 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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