AFRICA IN THE U.S. PRESS, SEPTEMBER 15, 1988

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R000700130007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 30, 2012
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 1, 1988
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/30: CIA-RDP90M00005R000700130007-9
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RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN PRIORITY 0000
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0000
RUEHBG/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG PRIORITY 0000
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UNCLAS STATE 302945
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: OPRC, XA
SUBJECT: AFRICA IN THE U.S. PRESS, SEPTEMBER 15, 1988
BRUSSELS PLEASE PASS USEC
CAPE TOWN ALSO FOR EMBASSY
--j-HE-SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE' VOTED 10 TO.9 ON
A STRAIGHT .PARTY LINE'?YESTERDAY TO APPROVE HARSH NEW
ECONDMICSANCTIONS AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA.`'".THE LEGISLATION,
BACKED BY 10 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND OPPOSED BY ALL NINE
REPUBLICANS, WOULD VASTLY EXPAND SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY
CONGRESS IN 1986 OVER PRESIDENT REAGAN'S VETO. IT WOULD
CUT OFF VIRTUALLY ALL U.S.-SOUTH AFRICA TRADE AND FORCE
AMERICAN FIRMS TO WITHDRAW ALMOST ALL INVESTMENTS FROM THE
COUNTRY. BEFORE SENDING THE BILL TO THE SENATE FLOOR, THE
COMMITTEE ACCEPTED A LAST-MINUTE AMENDMENT BY KEY SPONSOR
SEN. ALAN CRANSTON (D-CALIF.) TO DELETE A PROVISION THAT
WOULD PENALIZE FOREIGN OIL COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS WITH
SOUTH AFRICA WHEN THEY BID IN THE UNITED STATES FOR OIL
NCL A SSIFIE
STAT
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AND GAS LEASES. THE PROVISION BROUGHT A STRONG PROTEST
FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, WHICH THREATENED
COUNTER-SANCTIONS AGAINST AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES IN
BRITAIN. CRANSTON'S MOVE TO DELETE THE PROVISION DREW A
STRONG PROTEST FROM SEN. JESSE HELMS WHO ASSAILED THE
LAST-MINUTE AMENDMENT AS CONTRARY TO A UNANIMOUS,
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT AMONG COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO ACT ON THE
LEGISLATION WITHOUT CHANGING IT. ALTHOUGH CRANSTON SAID
THE DEMOCRATS WOULD PRESS FOR FINAL PASSAGE INCLUDING A
VETO OVERRIDE, HE ACKNOWLEDGED TO REPORTERS LATER THAT IF
THE REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN A SOLID FRONT AGAINST THE
MEASURE, IT WILL BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OBTAIN FINAL
ENACTMENT. MDU LEMBEDE REPORTS. P. A29; W.T. P. A3;
C.S.M. P. 2; N.Y.T. P. AlO.
-- JUST A HALF-HOUR AFTER POPE JOHN PAUL II'S MOTORCADE
PASSED WITHIN SEVERAL BLOCKS, SOUTH AFRICAN COMMANDOS
OPENED FIRE WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON GUERRILLAS HOLDING 69
PILGRIMS HOSTAGE ON A HIJACKED BUS IN LESOTHO'S CAPITAL,
MASERU. THREE HIJACKERS AND A WOMAN HOSTAGE WERE KILLED
AND ll PERSONS WERE WOUNDED. THE FOURTH HIJACKER WAS
CAPTURED. THE SHOOTOUT ENDED A 26-HOUR DRAMA HIGHLIGHTED
BY THE GUNMEN'S DEMAND THAT THE POPE, ALONG WITH THE KING
OF LESOTHO AND THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR, MEET WITH THEM. A
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID THE FIREFIGHT ERUPTED
WHEN THE HIJACKERS ATTEMPTED TO RAM THE BUS THROUGH THE
CLOSED GATES OF THE BRITISH EMBASSY. AN ESCAPED HOSTAGE
SAID THE HIJACKERS CLAIMED TO BE GUERRILLAS OF THE LESOTHO
LIBERATION ARMY (LLA), WHICH IS SEEKING TO OUST THE
MILITARY JUNTA THAT CONTROLS THE COUNTRY. THE LLA HAS
DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. WHILE A LESOTHO GOVERNMENT
SPOKESMAN DENIED THAT ANY SOUTH AFRICANS WERE INVOLVED IN
THE BUS SIEGE, OR THAT LESOTHO HAD REQUESTED ASSISTANCE
FROM PRETORIA, THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTRY OF LAW AND ORDER
CONFIRMED THAT ITS SECURITY FORCES TOOK PART. MEANWHILE,
DURING THE POPE'S UNSCHEDULED STOP IN JOHANNESBURG, HE MET
WITH SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTER PIK BOTHA IN THE
AIRPORT'S VIP LOUNGE. WILLIAM CLAIBORNE REPORTS. P. 1;
W.S.J. P. 1; N.Y.T. P. All, Al (PHOTO); W.T. All; BALT.
SUN P. 28A; C.S.M. P. 8.
-- SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTER PIK BOTHA SAID ON
WEDNESDAY THAT THE THREE ANTIAPARTHEID ACTIVISTS TAKING
REFUGE IN THE U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL IN JOHANNESBURG AFTER
ESCAPING DETENTION ARE FREE TO LEAVE AND WILL NOT BE
REARRESTED. BUT THE LAWYER FOR THE THREE MEN SAID HE HAD
RECEIVED NO OFFICIAL WORD OF THE GOVERNMENT'S STANCE AND
GAVE NO INDICATION OF WHAT HIS CLIENTS PLANNED TO DO. A
LAW AND ORDER MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAID THE THREE "ARE FREE
PEOPLE PROVIDED THEY DO NOT BREAK ANY OF THE COUNTRY'S
LAWS." IN A STATEMENT THE THREE ACTIVISTS SAID: WE
SOUGHT REFUGE IN THE U.S. CONSULATE BECAUSE WE FAILED TO
SEE ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR OUR CONTINUED DETENTION WITHOUT
TRIAL. WE HAVE NOW RESORTED TO THE ONLY DIGNIFIED
RESPONSE TO OUR CONTINUED INCARCERATION." THEIR STATEMENT
ALSO CALLED FOR AN END TO THE 27-MONTH STATE OF EMERGENCY
AND DEMANDED THAT THEY NOT FACE REDETENTION IF THEY LEFT
THE CONSULATE. THE LAWYER FOR THE THREE MEN, KRISH
NAID00, SAID HIS CLIENTS GAVE NO INDICATION THEY WANT TO
LEAVE SOUTH AFRICA WHEN HE MET WITH THEM EARLIER ON
WEDNESDAY. P. A29; BALT. SUN P. 28A; C.S.M. P. 8;
W.S.J. P. 1;
-- BURUNDI HAS BARRED ENTRY TO ASSISTANT OAU
SECRETARY-GENERAL BROWNSON DEDE. MR. DEDE SAID THE OAU'S
POSITION WASN'T TO CONDEMN A MEMBER COUNTRY FOR ITS
ACTIONS BUT TO TRY AND HELP IT FIND A SOLUTION TO A
UNCLASSIFIED
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PROBLEM. THIS DECLARATION IS THE FIRST ON-THE-RECORD
COMMENT BY A SENIOR OAU OFFICIAL SINCE THE-MASSACRE
ERUPTED IN BURUNDI. IN ADDITION TO DENYING", MR. DEDE
ENTRY, PRESIDENT BUYOYA ALSO REFUSED ENTRY *b. EUROPEAN
REQUESTS FOR INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS-.OxTHE
MASSACRES. OFFICIALLY, THE BURUNDIAN GOVERNMENT CLAIMS
5,000 DIED IN THE MASSACRE WHILE ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SOURCE
HAS STATES THE NUMBER COULD BE AS HIGH AS 24,000. AGENCE
FRANCE-PRESSE REPORTS FROM KIGALI. P. A11;.
-- AS NOTED IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT, THE IMF.ISBECOMING
INCREASINGLY WORRIED OVER LATE PAYMENTS OF.-LOANS AND HAS
BEEN SETTING ASIDE MONEY IN A CONTINGENCY FUND TO MAKE UP
FOR THE CUT IN RECEIPTS. MONETARY SOURCES SAID THE
ARRANGEMENT SUGGESTS FURTHER THAT THE IMF?I;.S:BECOMING MORE
WORRIED ABOUT COUNTRIES EITHER UNABLE OR.UNWI:LLING TO MAKE
THEIR LOAN PAYMENTS. THE REPORT NOTED THAI E-IGHT
COUNTRIES HAVE BECOME INELIGIBLE FOR NEW-1 SS-ISTANCE BY THE
FUND BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN IN ARREARS ON;LDAN PAYMENTS
FOR OVER A YEAR. FIVE OF THE EIGHT COUNTRIES ARE AFRICAN
-- PERU, SUDAN, LIBERIA, GUYANA, VIETNAM,; ZAMBIA, SIERRA
LEONE AND SOMALIA. HONDURAS, PANAMA AND HAITI ARE ATLEAST
SIX MONTHS IN ARREARS AND OTHERS ARE BEING7C SELY
MONITORED. ALVER CARLSON REPORTED FROM REUTERS .:. P. C4;
-- IN A NEWS ANALYSIS, PETER YOUNGHUSBAND WRITES THAT THE
RECENT BOTHA/CHISSANO WARMING TREND COULD -PROVE TO BE AN
HISTORIC TURNING POINT IN THE APPROACH OF'PRE`TORIA TO THE
FLS. DIPLOMATIC SOURCES IN PRETORIA EMPHASIZED THAT
BOTHA'S GUARANTEE OF STOPPING AID TO RENAMO-,,WASN'T AN
ISOLATED PHENOMENON. THIS MOVE IS PART OF'A""'LARGER NEW
POLICY PATTERN WHICH STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS-AGO WHEN THE
SAG DECIDED TO PULL ITS TROOPS FROM ANGOLA AND TO EXTEND A
PUBLIC PLEDGE TO BEGIN NAMIBIAN INDEPENDENCE PLANS WITH
THE EXPECTATION OF A CTW FROM ANGOLA. SOURCES SAY
PRETORIA APPEARS TO HAVE MADE A DELIBERATE, GENERAL POLICY
SWITCH AWAY FROM GIVING AID TO REBEL MOVEMENTS IN
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND SEEMS EAGER TO EMPHASIZE TO THE
WORLD ITS WILLINGNESS TO ENTER INTO "CONSTRUCTIVE
ARRANGEMENTS" WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.} IF CARRIED OUT,
PRETORIA COULD UNDERCUT THE BASIC CHARGE BY,'ITS NEIGHBORS
THAT THE SAG IN ENGAGED IN A DESTABILIZATION EFFORT. AN
IMPROVEMENT,IN THE MOZAMBICAN AND ANGOLAN SITUATIONS COULD
PAVE THE WAY FOR IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS WITH ZIMBABWE.
A NUMBER OF VARIABLES COULD BE THE ROOT OF SOUTH AFRICA'S
TURNAROUND, I.E. THE CONDITION OF ITS ECONOMY, THE EXPENSE
INVOLVED IT ITS AGRESSION EFFORTS TOWARDS ITS NEIGHBORS,
THE REALIZATION THAT THE WEST WON'T COME TO ITS AID AS
GUARDIAN AGAINST COMMUNISM, AND THE BELIEF THAT THE WORLD
WON'T STOP PRESSURING SOUTH AFRICA UNTIL BLACK AFRICA ASKS
THE WORLD. MOZAMBIQUE WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THE
RESURRECTION OF THE NKOMATI ACCORD. WITHOUT RENAMO,
MOZAMBIQUE COULD OPEN UP INTERNAL COMMUNICAION IN THE
COUNTRY. MOZAMBIQUE COULD POSSIBLY EXPERIENCE A REVIVAL
OF ITS TOURISM INDUSTRY, RECEIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM
THE SAG IN EXPANSION OF ITS HARBOR AND RAIL LINES BETWEEN
THE TWO COUNTRIES AND SEE A RESURGENCE: OF THE LUCRATIVE
TRADE THAT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
YOUNGHUSBAND THINKS SOUTH AFRICA'S GAINS IN MOZAMBIQUE,
MAY "...BRING A FRING BENEFIT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
CONTINENT - IN ANGOLA." GUS CONSTANTINE FROM WASHINGTON
CONTRIBUTED TO THE ARTICLE. P. Al;
-- GEORGIE ANNE GEYER FROM BRIGHTON, ENGLAND WRITES THAT
WHILE MANY ARE PRAISING AN AMERICAN-NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT
IN ANGOLA, THE RUSSIANS AND CUBANS ARE US 1 THE INTERIM
PERIOD TO GO FOR THEIR, FINAL OFFENSIVE AGAINST UNITA.
INSTEAD OF TALKING, RECONCILIATION WITHIN ANGOLA, THE MPLA
BEGAN THIS PHASE BY TALKING ABOUT NEUTRALIZING AND
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ANNIHILATING UNITA. IN LATE AUGUST, PRESIDENT DOS SANTOS
TOLD HIS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THAT "NEUTRALIZATION-OF THE
GUERRILLAS WOULD DEMAND AN ADDITIONAL AND FINAL SACRIFICE
COMBINING POLITICAL AND MILITARY ACTIONS." HE READ THE
PEACE AGREEMENT WHEN HE REFERRED TO THE POLITICAL. ON
SEPTEMBER 4, JONAS SAVIMBI GAVE A LITTLE-REPORTED PRESS
CONFERENCE WHERE HE ASSAILED THAT CROCKER HAD "ENGINEERED
THE DEAL, AND HE AVERRED UNFLINCHINGLY THAT UNITA WOULD
KEEP ON FIGHTING." THE LESSONS TO1BE LEARNED FROM THIS
ARE CLEAR: THE RUSSIANS AND CUBAN::';ARE USING THE
SETTLEMENT TO LAUNCH A FINAL VIC1,711Y. WHILE GORBACHEV
TOOTS REFORMS, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO REFLECT A CHANGE IN
THE SOVIET MILITARY STRATEGY. GEYER WARNS THE U.S "WITH
DIPLOMATS FAR TOO EAGER FOR AND PERSONALLY INTERESTED IN
'SETTLEMENTS"' NOT TO ABANDON UNITA. BEFORE THE
SETTLEMENT "SAVIMBI AND UNITA WERE NOT ONLY WINNING, BUT
WERE AND ARE THE NATURAL AND POPULAR LEADERS OF THAT
BENIGHTED COUNTRY." P. Fl;
-- THE UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM BLAMED "DONOR FATIGUE" AMONG
WESTERN NATIONS YESTERDAY FOR THE FACT THAT CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES HAVE FAILED TO KEEP UP WITH
INCREASED NEEDS. AT A SYMPOSIUM IN VIENNA, UN/WFP
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES INGRAM TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO
NOTE THAT JAPAN HAS SHARPLY INCREASED ITS AID IN RECENT
YEARS. P. 28A;
-- JON PARELES REVIEWS MURAINA OYELAMI, A NIGERIAN YORUBA
DRUM EMSEMBLE APPEARING IN NEW YORK. P. C16;
-- RESPONDING TO AN AUGUST LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON SUDAN,
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF CALLS
FOR THE US AND THE SOVIET UNION TO USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO
BRING PEACE TO NORTHEASTERN AFRICA. HE CALLS FOR
DEVELOPED NATIONS TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE NEEDS OF
THESE CRISIS RIDDEN COUNTRIES. A0A FIRST STEP, HE
SUGGESTS THAT THE US OFFER DEBT R;JIEF TO THE POORER
SUB-SAHARAN NATIONS. P. A34;
-- ROBERT ROTBERG WRITES ON THE THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE
NAMIBIA PEACE TRAIN. AS THE PRESSURE MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE NEGOTIATIONING TABLE, ALL PARTIES MAY WIN OUT IN
THE END. IF THE CUBANS LEAVE ANGOLA IN A TWO-YEAR
TIMETABLE AND IF THE CEASEFIRE HOLDS OUT WITHOUT CUBA AND
SOUTH AFRICA FIRING AT ONE ANOTHER, SOUTH AFRICA WILL HAVE
TO LEAVE NAMIBIA. IF THE SOUTH AFRICANS WANT THE CUBANS
OUT OF ANGOLA, SOUTH AFRICA WILL HAVE TO STOP SUPPORT OF
UNITA. ANGOLA WANTS THE US TO DO LIKEWISE. GIVEN SOUTH
AFRICA'S TROUBLES AT HOME AND ITS SHORTAGE OF CASH, IT
SEEMS TO HAVE FINALLY REALIZED THAT A SWAPO-RULES NAMIBIA
WOULDN'T POSE ANY MORE OF A THREAT TO SOUTH AFRICA THAN
SOCIALIST-LEANING ZIMBABWE. IF SOUTH AFRICA SEES AN END
OF THE CUBANS AND USHERS IN A FREE NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA
COULD GENERATE SOME "WORLD GOODWILL, TRADE WITH ANGOLA AND
NAMIBIA, AND COULD STILL DOMINATE THE REGION AS THE ITS
STRONGEST ECONOMIC AND MILITARY FORCE. AS PEACE BREAKS
OUT AROUND THE GULF AND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,
RATIONALITY MAY EVEN PREVAIL ALONG THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC
SHORES OF AFRICA," WRITES ROTBERG. P. 12;
-- AN EDITORIAL SUPPORTS THE US POSITION OF PROVIDING
REFUGE TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN DETAINEES IN JOHANNESBURG.
DESPITE OUR TENUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH SOUTH AFRICA, IT
UNCLASSIFIED
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COMMENDS THE US FOR ITS STAND OF PROVIDING REFUGE FOR THE
%THREE DETAINEES AS WELL AS ITS OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM ON SUCH..
ARRESTS. IT APPLAUDS THE STATE DEPARTMENT MEDIATORS IN
THEIR ONGOING EFFORTS IN THE ANGOLA/NAMIBIA NEGOTIATIONS.
IT WELCOMES PRESIDENT BOTHA'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT
CHISSANO AS AN IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENT. THE MOVE BY SOUTH
AFRICA "EXTRICATE ITSELF FROM BATTLE WITH ITS NEIGHBORS
AND TO IMPROVE ITS IMAGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"
IS EXACTLY WHAT THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN
ENCOURAGING. P. 22A;
--WASN'T RECEIVED TODAY.
SHULTZ
UNCLASSIFIED
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