DATE=6/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233728
TITLE=SAF / CHEMICAL WEAPONS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IN SOUTH AFRICA, THE "TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION" 
COMMISSION PROBING APARTHEID-ERA HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES HAS HEARD 
MORE SHOCKING TESTIMONY ABOUT THE WHITE MINORITY GOVERNMENT'S 
EFFORTS TO DEVELOP CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS THAT WOULD BE 
EFFECTIVE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE ONLY.  MORE FROM V-O-A 
JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA.

TEXT:  A SCIENTIST INVOLVED IN THE APARTHEID-ERA PROGRAM HAS TOLD
THE TRUTH PANEL RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATED THE POSSIBILITY OF 
DEVELOPING DRUGS THAT WOULD ONLY WORK ON BLACKS -- EITHER KILLING
OR INJURING THEM OR LEAVING THEM INFERTILE.  THE SCIENTIST, DAAN 
GOOSEN (EDS: WHO-SENN), SAYS THE PROJECT WAS NEVER REALIZED.  BUT
HE SAYS ITS AIM WOULD HAVE BEEN TO CONTROL WHAT WAS AT THE TIME 
AN INCREASINGLY RESTIVE BLACK MAJORITY. 

DR GOOSEN SAYS HE NOW REALIZES THE PLAN WAS A MISTAKE.  BUT THE 
SCIENTIST SAYS HE WAS ORDERED TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT BY WOUTER 
BASSON, ONE-TIME PERSONAL PHYSICIAN TO APARTHEID ERA PRESIDENT 
P-W BOTHA AND THE MAN IN CHARGE OF SOUTH AFRICA'S COVERT CHEMICAL
AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM.

THE TRUTH PANEL HAS PREVIOUSLY HEARD HOW RESEARCHERS INVOLVED IN 
THE PROGRAM MANUFACTURED HALLUCINOGENIC AND OTHER DRUGS AND 
DEVELOPED POISONS TO BE USED AGAINST BLACK ACTIVISTS.  THERE WAS 
EVEN A PLAN -- NEVER CARRIED OUT -- TO POISON NELSON MANDELA, THE
FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER WHO IS NOW PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA.

THE RULING AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (PARTY), REACTING TO THE 
DISCLOSURE OF THAT PLOT AGAINST MR. MANDELA, HAS ISSUED A 
STATEMENT BLASTING THE FORMER APARTHEID GOVERNMENT.  THE 
STATEMENT LIKENS SCIENTISTS INVOLVED IN THE CHEMICAL AND 
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROJECT TO THOSE WHO SERVED THE NAZI REGIME IN
GERMANY (DURING WORLD WAR TWO).  IT SAYS THE COVERT PROJECT 
TYPIFIES WHAT IT CALLS THE GENOCIDAL PROGRAM OF THE APARTHEID 
REGIME.  (SIGNED)

NEB/BEL/KL/MMK

11-Jun-98 11:29 AM EDT (1529 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.