From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: ZAIRE: Africa Watch says Mobutu undermines transition
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 09:23:39 GMT

/** reg.safrica: 180.0 **/
** Topic: IPS: 07/91 **
** Written  7:04 am  Aug  8, 1992 by gavan@UCT_elc.mth.uct.ac.za in cdp:reg.safrica **

/* Written 12:11 am  Jul  9, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "ZAIRE: Africa Watch says Mobutu und" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: ZAIRE: Africa Watch says Mobutu undermines the transition process

washington, jul 7 (ips) -- the administration of u.s. president
george bush should ''definitely distance itself'' from president
mobutu sese seko of zaire, according to africa watch, a prominent
u.s. human rights group.

in a 47-page report released here tuesday, the new york-based
organisation charges that mobutu has manipulated and undermined
his own self-proclaimed transition to democracy over the past two
years.

and it said that his continued control over the security
forces, particularly four specialised services known as ''the
owls'', remains the key to his strategy for retaining power.

the bush administration, however, ''has continued to regard
mobutu as a friend'', according to africa watch, and has insisted
that mobutu's continued tenure as president remains the best
guarantee of a democratic transition.

the report's release follows the visit here late last month of
the chairperson of a national conference in kinshasa which
reconvenes this month to try to map out such a transition.

archbishop laurent monswengwo received a high-profile welcome
here by the administration, which has repeatedly urged mobutu to
cooperate with the conference, and by international institutions
which have cut off credit to mobutu over the past year.

in a sign of increased support for the opposition-dominated
conference, the administration set up meetings between the
archbishop and bush's national security adviser, brent scowcroft,
and secretary of state james baker.

monsengwo also met with the head of the international monetary
fund, michel camdessus, and with robert mcnamara, the former head
of the world bank.

like africa watch, a number of senior u.s. lawmakers, including
members of the republican party, have urged bush to publicly
disassociate himself from mobutu, whose 27-year reign has been
marked by serious abuses of human rights and massive corruption.
(more/ips)

zaire: africa watch says mobutu undermines the transition process(2-e)

zaire: africa watch (2)

but mobutu's record of cooperating closely with washington in
cold war geopolitical struggles in southern and central africa has
made bush reluctant to act against him, according to state
department officials who have themselves urged the white house to
distance itself from the leader of zaire.

pressed by internal and western demands, mobutu announced a
democratisation process in apr. 1990.

but africa watch claimed in its new report that the transition
has been ''a facade'', and that the government and its security
forces continue to violate human rights ''with impunity''.

at the same time, the last two years have brought an outpouring
of political activity and criticism which culminated in the
convening of the national conference one year ago.

even then, according to africa watch, mobutu sought to pack the
conference delegates and split the opposition by offering cabinet
positions to some opposition leaders.  last december, he dissolved
the conference and only agreed to reconvene it after unprecedented
public protest and western pressure which included a personal
appeal from bush himself.

africa watch said two key events have brought the situation to
its present pass: the may 1990 massacre by security forces of an
unknown number of students on the lubambashi university campus,
and last february's march of up to one million christians in
kinshasa and other towns around the country which ended in the
slaying by soldiers of at least 33 non-violent demonstrators.

in addition, mobutu's forces have detained and harassed
opposition leaders, closed down newspapers, and may have been
behind mass lootings last fall, according to africa watch.

the key to mobutu's strategy for holding on to power remains
the security forces, the report said, which, in addition to the
army and the 'owls' (so-called because their actions generally
take place at night), also include two paramilitary groups and
contingents of mercenaries.

most of these units are commanded by mobutu's close relatives,
the group said.

it added that bush's refusal to publicly denounce mobutu
ignores the fact that the president remains the chief source of
instability in the country. (end/ips/hr/jl/yjc/92)


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