DATE=6/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250523
TITLE=SAF/TREASON (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOUTH AFRICA MAY BE PREPARING FOR ITS FIRST TREASON TRIAL
SINCE THE END OF THE APARTHEID ERA. V-O-A JOHANNESBURG
CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS IT COULD PROVE AN EMBARRASSING
AFFAIR FOR THE MAN CONSIDERED LIKELY TO BECOME THE COUNTRY'S NEXT
DEPUTY PRESIDENT.
TEXT: SOUTH AFRICAN NEWS REPORTS QUOTE AUTHORITIES AS SAYING
THEY ARE PREPARING POSSIBLE TREASON CHARGES AGAINST PHILLIP
POWELL, AN INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY ACTIVIST WHO EARLIER THIS YEAR
LED OFFICIALS TO A HUGE BURIED ARMS CACHE IN KWAZULU-NATAL
PROVINCE. OTHER SENIOR I-F-P MEMBERS ARE ALSO REPORTED TO BE
UNDER INVESTIGATION ON THE SAME CHARGES.
MR. POWELL CLAIMS HE REVEALED THE LOCATION OF THE ARMS CACHE
AFTER BEING PROMISED INDEMNITY FROM PROSECUTION. BUT THE OFFICE
OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS HAS DENIED THIS. A SENIOR PROSECUTOR IS
QUOTED AS SAYING MR. POWELL WAS ON THE VERGE OF BEING ARRESTED
FOR GUN-RUNNING WHEN HE LED POLICE TO THE HIDDEN WEAPONS.
MR. POWELL HAS SAID THE WEAPONS -- INCLUDING LANDMINES, ROCKET
LAUNCHERS,AND GRENADES -- WERE SUPPLIED IN 1993 BY CONVICTED
KILLER AND FORMER POLICE COMMANDER EUGENE DE KOCK. THEY WERE
PROVIDED TO INKATHA SELF-DEFENSE UNITS IN THE VOLATILE TRANSITION
PERIOD THAT LED UP TO SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS
IN 1994.
ANALYSTS SAY IF MR. POWELL AND OTHER I-F-P ACTIVISTS ARE PLACED
ON TRIAL FOR TREASON, IT COULD PROVE EMBARRASSING TO INKATHA
LEADER MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI, THE MAN WIDELY TIPPED TO BECOME
SOUTH AFRICA'S NEXT DEPUTY PRESIDENT.
MR. BUTHELEZI HAS HAD NO COMMENT ON THE POSSIBLE TREASON
ACTION. HOWEVER, OTHER I-F-P OFFICIALS HAVE CONDEMNED THE WAY
PROSECUTORS ARE HANDLING THE MATTER. THEY CHARGE A DELIBERATE
EFFORT IS UNDER WAY TO DAMAGE AND DISCREDIT INKATHA'S IMAGE.
// REST OPTIONAL //
THE "SOWETAN" NEWSPAPER REPORTS, MEANWHILE, THAT THE TOUGH LINE
AGAINST MR. POWELL IS AIMED AT DEMONSTRATING THAT INCOMING
PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI INTENDS TO CRACKDOWN ON SO-CALLED WARLORDS
WHO HAVE LARGELY OPERATED WITH IMPUNITY IN KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE
FOR THE PAST DECADE.
THE PROVINCE HAS BEEN WRACKED BY POLITICAL VIOLENCE, OFTEN
BETWEEN SUPPORTERS OF THE I-F-P AND THE RULING AFRICAN NATIONAL
CONGRESS PARTY. ANALYSTS HAVE SAID THE OFFER OF THE DEPUTY
PRESIDENCY TO I-F-P LEADER BUTHELEZI IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE
CONTINUED PEACE IN KWAZULU-NATAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/BE/GE
11-Jun-99 10:04 AM EDT (1404 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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