TSHOMBE FOR TRIAL ON TREASON COUNTS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29508, 9 May 1961, Page 15

TSHOMBE FOR TRIAL ON TREASON COUNTS

L.N. Troops Surround Katanga Mercenaries

(A.Z Press Assoctation—Copyngnt)

LEOPOLDVILLE, May 8.

Malayan United Nations troops have surrounded a Katanian unit, including 100 British and South African mercenaries, at Nynzu, North Katanga, it was reliably reported from Katanga today.

The Malayans were said to be demanding that the mercenaries be handed over, but negotiations on this are reported to be still going on between the Katangan Government and United Nations authorities in Elisabethville.

The central Congolese Government is expected to meet soon to consider the case of President Tshombe, of Katanga, the British United Press said.

Yesterday, the Congolese Foreign Minisiter, Mr Justin Bomboko, announced in Coquilhatville that Mr Tshombe, who is held in a villa there, will be tried on charge of high treason and of killing the Congo’s first Prime Minister. Mr Patrice Lumumba. Of Lumumba, Mr Bomboko said: “He should have been tried for his offences, but the Katanga authorities executed him outright.” The charges will also include the assassination of

Baluba tribesmen in northern Katanga, rebellion against the central Government and forging, because he issued his own Katangese money.

Mr Tshombe announced the secession of Katanga from the Congolese Republic last year, and refused to recognise the authority of the central Congolese Government in Leopoldville He will also be charged with the theft of arms, planes and bank funds belonging to the Congo Republic, since the central Government inherited them from Belgium at independence. Mr Bomboko did not sav when Mr Tshombe's trial would take place, only that i’ would be in the near future and either at Coquilhatville or Leopoldville The conference of Congolese leaders at Coquilhatville is expected to continue for several more days Committee work may take another two or three days, and the committee’s report will then be taken up at plenary session

Mr Bomboko also warned that the central Government was "going to do n our power to liberate the Province of Katanga—by force if necessary ” But in Katanga itself, the Katanga Minister of the Interior (Mr Godefroid Munungo) said yesterday that if force was used to impose

central Government decisions on Katanga, the Katanga Government and people would ‘■fight to the last man to defend our rights " It is thought this may mean Katanga will adopt a “scorched earth" policy if necessary, said the British United Press.