DATE=6/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233581
TITLE=SAF / CHEMICAL WEAPONS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN SOUTH AFRICA, THE "TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION"
COMMISSION THIS WEEK BEGAN HEARINGS INTO THE FORMER APARTHEID
GOVERNMENT'S SECRET CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM.
JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS ON THE OFTEN
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY.
TEXT: WITNESSES DESCRIBED AN APARTHEID GOVERNMENT THAT APPEARED
TO HAVE COUPLED FICTIONAL AGENT JAMES BOND'S AFFECTION FOR
UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONS DISGUISED AS HOUSEHOLD OBJECTS WITH AN
INTEREST IN ILLEGAL DRUGS AND THE KIND OF MISGUIDED MEDICAL
EXPERIMENTS CARRIED OUT BY NAZI DR. JOSEF MENGELE.
THAT IS THE PICTURE THAT EMERGED THIS WEEK AS THE TRUTH
COMMISSION BEGAN ITS HEARINGS INTO COVERT CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS EFFORTS CARRIED OUT UNDER WHITE MINORITY RULE.
ONE SCIENTIST INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM HAS ALREADY REVEALED HOW
SPECIAL WEAPONS WERE DEVELOPED FOR ASSASSINATIONS. HE SAYS THESE
INCLUDED SCREWDRIVERS, BICYCLE PUMPS, WALKING STICKS, AND
UMBRELLAS CAPABLE OF INJECTING POISONOUS SUBSTANCES INTO VICTIMS.
THERE HAS ALSO BEEN TESTIMONY ABOUT DOCTORS CARRYING OUT
FERTILITY EXPERIMENTS ON ANIMALS IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO
DISCOVER A METHOD TO CUT THE BIRTH RATE AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN
BLACKS.
IN ADDITION, FORMER RESEARCHERS DISCLOSED HOW COMPANIES INVOLVED
IN THE APARTHEID ERA CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM
ALSO MANUFACTURED BANNED DRUGS LIKE ECSTASY AND MANDRAX.
/// OPT /// THEY SAY THEY WERE LED TO BELIEVE BY SENIOR
OFFICERS IN THE THEN WHITE-LED MILITARY THAT THE DRUGS WOULD BE
USED TO INCAPACITATE APARTHEID'S OPPONENTS. /// END OPT ///
THE HEARINGS ARE BEING HELD IN PUBLIC DESPITE LAST MINUTE APPEALS
FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA. WHILE THE
GOVERNMENT SAYS IT SUPPORTS THE TRUTH PANEL'S PROBE, IT BELIEVES
THE HEARINGS SHOULD BE HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS SO THAT NO
WEAPONS MANUFACTURING SECRETS ARE REVEALED.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
TRUTH PANEL OFFICIALS HAVE PROMISED THAT NO DOCUMENTS
CONTAINING SCIENTIFIC DETAILS SUCH AS CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS FORMULAS WILL BE RELEASED.
HOWEVER, THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUBLISHED ALLEGATIONS THAT
AGENTS OF THE FORMER APARTHEID REGIME MAY HAVE SOLD CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS SECRETS TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING
LIBYA AND SYRIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
09-Jun-98 9:13 AM EDT (1313 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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