DATE=6/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233644
TITLE=SAF MANDELA POISON (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
NOT VOICED:
INTRO: SOUTH AFRICA'S FORMER APARTHEID GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT
HATCHED A PLOT TO POISON NELSON MANDELA PRIOR TO HIS RELEASE FROM
PRISON IN 1990. V-O-A'S DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM
JOHANNESBURG, THE AIM WAS TO MENTALLY DISABLE MR. MANDELA.
TEXT: A SCIENTIST WHO WORKED FOR SOUTH AFRICA'S CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE LABORATORY SAID HE WAS TOLD OF A PLAN TO ADD
THALIUM --- A RARE HEAVY METAL --- TO NELSON MANDELA'S MEDICATION
WHICH WOULD RESULT IN GRADUAL BRAIN DAMAGE.
THE SCIENTIST WAS TESTIFYING AT A SPECIAL HEARING OF SOUTH
AFRICA'S TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION INTO THE BIOLOGICAL
AND CHEMICAL WARFARE PROGRAM OF THE APARTHEID GOVERNMENT.
THE SCIENTIST DID NOT SUGGEST THAT THE PLAN --- WHICH WAS UNDER
CONSIDERATION EVEN AFTER MR MANDELA WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL IN
1990 --- WAS EVER CARRIED OUT. AFTER HIS RELEASE, MR MANDELA
LED THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS TO VICTORY IN THE COUNTRY'S
FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTION IN 1994 AND BECAME SOUTH AFRICAN
PRESIDENT.
// REST OPT //
THE COMMISSION ALSO HEARD THAT IN 1986 FORMER PRESIDENT P-W.
BOTHA'S STATE SECURITY COUNCIL -- KNOWN HERE AS THE SUPER-CABINET
-- RESOLVED THAT MR MANDELA SHOULD ONLY BE RELEASED ONCE HIS
HEALTH WAS SO POOR HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO LEAD THE AFRICAN
NATIONAL CONGRESS.
AT THE TIME, MR BOTHA OFFERED TO RELEASE MR MANDELA IF HE WOULD
AGREE TO RENOUNCE ALL POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND GO AND LIVE IN THE
THEN-TRANSKEI HOMELAND. MR MANDELA REJECTED THE OFFER OUT OF
HAND, SAYING HE WOULD ONLY ACCEPT AN UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE WHEN
ALL SOUTH AFRICANS HAD FREE AND UNFETTERED POLITICAL RIGHTS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAR/KL/JO
10-Jun-98 10:43 AM EDT (1443 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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