Evening star., 1961-12-29
U. n. Congo
Biding Time
For TshoInlbe

today to be- biding their time
until January 3 when Noise
Tshombe' s Katanga assembly Is
to meet to discuss future rela-
tions with the Leopoldville
regime. sf-sot. -.
Military and political tension
remained high In the Katangan
secessionist capital Of Elisa
bethville and was likely to
remain so until Mr., Tshombe's q
politicians decide whether they
will adhere to the agreement
he made at Kitona on Decor '>9r
81 to end secession.
Mr.. Tshombe, whose author
ity as president Of Katanga
has seldom seemed in doubt,
contends the agreement has to
be ratified by his provincial
assembly.
The central government Of
Premier Cyrille Adoula regards
the agreement as ironclad, but
has made no move to press
matters. -.-.
Deputies Add Little
Six Katangan deputies, who
took seats In the national
parliament yesterday in partial
fulfillment Of the compact,
made no significant contribu-
ton to the debates. The nine
remaining Katangan represen-
tatives had not reached Leo
poldviile, although they were
expected yesterday.
Albert Nyembo. head of the
delegation of six, has made
declarations to newsmen and
bystanders outside parliament
that leave in doubt the degree
Of Katanga's cooperation. The
Katangans contend they came
here TO seek a change in the
provisional constitution to give
the secessioniSt province more
home rule.
The policy of waiting on the
Katangans extended even to
the 1.000-man Congo army unit
the United Nations agreed to
accept as part Of its force. The
Congolese appear to be having
second thoughts about 1t. A 90
man advance unit was to have
left for Kamina Air Base in
North Katanga three Gays ago
but has not moved.
A U. N. spokesman said
there has been no change in
the U. N. position" concerning
the Congolese troops. These
troops were to have been
placed under U. N. command
and wear pale blue U. N. he'll
NETS.
Reports from Elisabethville
said feelings between Katan-
gans and U N. personnel again
were reaching the high pitch
that preceded the outbreak Of
/ fighting on December 5. Ka-
tangans were beginning to react
against U. N. patrols. road
blocks and arrests.
A Swedish patrol yesterday
killed two Katangan soldiers
and took "a prisoners when it
was fired on unexpectedly. the
U. N. announced.
-Four Ethiopians who started
to enter an African township
outside Elisabethville were
turned back by an angry mob.
U. N. troops virtually ringed
off African townships south of
Elisabethville. U. N. spokesmen
said this was to prevent Ka-
tangan police action" against
Baluba and other tribesmen
hostile to Mr.. Tshombe, and
also to stop movement of loot
ed goods.
ShOOtingS Ren0rted
U. N. reports said there had
been shootings and assaults by
Katangan police on Balubas
and other outside tribesmen,
and as a result whole families
were moving into houses va
Gated by whites near U. N.
headquarters.
The movement seemed to be
forming the nucleus of another
refugee camp which could
cause as much trouble as the
shanty camp housing 10000 or
10000 Balubas on the eastern
outskirts. U. N. forces have had
difficulty controlling and feed
ing this camp.
| A dispute over prisoners was
eaSed, however, when four cap
tured Swedish soldiers were ex-
changed yesterday for SIS Ka-
tangans, including So police.
The Katangans are still hold
ing at least 10 SwedeS and two
Norwegians.
| The U. N. force began receiv-
ing reinforcements when a first
plane load of about 60 Tunisians
arrived. The Tunisian contin-
gent will number SAT men at
full strength. A smaller contin-
gent of about 100 men from
Sierra Leone is expected in
about two weeks. .--
Diplomatic sources reported
the following unofficial casualty
figures from the Katangan side
in the recent fighting in Elisa
bethville: s.
rs civilians killed, including
38 whites.
405 civilians wounded.
rs Katangan military person.
mel killed.
These figures compiled from
hospital reports did not include
Is bodies found in shallow
graves. ..
The last U. N. report on its
casualties in the two weeks of
fighting in Elisabethville listed
20 killed. -.