DATE=7/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236336
TITLE=SAF / CHEMICAL WARFARE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE MAN WHO HEADED SOUTH AFRICA'S APARTHEID ERA CHEMICAL 
WARFARE PROGRAM SAYS WESTERN GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THE UNITED 
STATES, SHARED CHEMICAL WARFARE SECRETS WITH SOUTH AFRICA.  AND 
AS V-O-A'S DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM JOHANNESBURG, THE FORMER 
OFFICIAL, WOUTER BASSON, SAYS THE FORMER GOVERNMENT DID  NOT  
HAVE PLANS TO POISON THEN-JAILED NELSON MANDELA.

TEXT:  WOUTER BASSON TOLD A HEARING OF SOUTH AFRICA'S TRUTH AND 
RECONCILIATION COMMISSION THAT UNITED STATES OFFICIALS SHARED 
CHEMICAL WARFARE SECRETS WITH HIM.  HE SAID THE U-S OFFICIALS 
GAVE HIM WHAT HE CALLED AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF DETAIL.  DR. 
BASSON, A MEDICAL DOCTOR, SAID HE HAD GOOD ACCESS TO SENIOR 
OFFICIALS IN MANY WESTERN COUNTRIES.

DR. BASSON HEADED SOUTH AFRICA'S CHEMICAL WARFARE PROGRAM UNDER 
THE APARTHEID GOVERNMENT.  HE TRIED NUMEROUS LEGAL TACTICS TO TRY
TO AVOID TESTIFYING AT THE TRUTH COMMISSION HEARING.  THE 
COMMISSION'S LEGAL MANDATE HAS ENDED, AND AS A RESULT, ITS 
INVESTIGATION INTO DR. BASSON'S WORK HAS BEEN CONFINED TO A 
HEARING OF ONE DAY.

AT EARLIER HEARINGS, OTHER WITNESSES SAID DR. BASSON HEADED A 
PROGRAM TO INVESTIGATE DIFFERENT METHODS OF POISONING SOUTH 
AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA, WHO WAS THEN IN JAIL.  DR. 
BASSON DENIED THESE ALLEGATIONS, SAYING THAT INSTEAD, THE PROGRAM
WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT MR. MANDELA'S ASSASSINATION.

HE SAID HE HAD INTELLIGENCE THAT MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL 
CONGRESS YOUTH LEAGUE PLANNED TO KILL MR. MANDELA.  HE SAID HE 
PUT TWO TEAMS TO WORK ON THE PROJECT -- ONE TEAM TO DEVISE 
POSSIBLE WAYS MR. MANDELA MIGHT BE ASSASSINATED, AND A SECOND TO 
WORK ON METHODS TO COUNTERACT SUCH ATTEMPTS.  

DR. BASSON TOLD THE COMMISSION THAT ALLEGATIONS HE ALSO TRIED TO 
DEVELOP A BACTERIA THAT WOULD KILL ONLY BLACK PEOPLE WERE 
RIDICULOUS.  HE SAID IT WOULD BE SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO 
DEVELOP AGENTS THAT AFFECTED ONLY ONE RACE GROUP.

DR. BASSON WILL GO ON TRIAL NEXT MONTH ON CHARGES WHICH INCLUDE 
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER, THE MANUFACTURE OF TONS OF DRUGS 
INCLUDING ECSTASY AND COCAINE AND, FRAUD OF TEN-MILLION DOLLARS. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/DAR/JWH

31-Jul-98 11:50 AM EDT (1550 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.