N. KATANGA PRESIDENT ASSASSINATED

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30479, 29 June 1964, Page 13

N. KATANGA PRESIDENT ASSASSINATED

Rebels Seize Capital City Of Albertville

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LEOPOLDVILLE, June 28.

Mr Jason Sendwe, the North Katanga provincial president, was knifed to death with several of his aides by rebels who seized the capital city of Albertville, it was reported yesterday.

Mr Sendwe was a member of the Baluba tribe and it was feared the Balubas would go on the rampage, adding to the. troubles of the Congo already faced with revolts in four provinces—Kivu, Kwilu, North Katanga and Orientale.

Reports said Mr Sendwe was killed with his Economic Affairs Minister, Fortunat Kabange Numbi, and a military aide. The bodies of two other Provincial Government officials, Salomon Il Unga and Kabile, were also found.

Mr Sendwe’s death was disclosed in the former Belgian air base of Kaanina in Katanga province as a number of political leaders, including the former Katanga president, Moise Tshombe, and the former selfstyled “King” Albert Kalonji, were assembling in Leopoldville for unity talks.

Mr Antoine Gizenga, the former Leftist President of Orientale province, refused to join the talks and said he preferred to remain in gaol. He is being held at Bula Bemba, a prison island at the mouth of the Congo river.

The Government offered to free Mr Gizenga and fly him to Leopoldville for a meeting with the Congolese Premier (Mr Cyrille Adoula). Mr Gizenga did not want to see Mr Adoula; instead he asked for “immediate and unconditiona' liberation.”

When he was in power the Russians offered him unlimited aid. He was imprisoned when he became a rebel threat to the central Government. The rebels in four prqvinces are on his side. Apparently Mr Gizenga is seeking for joint talks with Mr Adoula, Mr Tshombe, Mr Kalonji and President Joseph Kasavubu on his own terms.

Mr Kalonji returned to the Congo yesterday morning from voluntary exile in Spain to take part in the national reconciliation talks.

Meanwhile, a hand grenade hurled at a polling station injured about 40 Congolese as they waited to vote in a nation-wide referendum to approve a new constitution. Two people were arrested after the bombing. The assailants had first cut a telephone wire to prevent police from being summoned. Four police were among those taken to hospital from the

voting station, a school at the outlying African township of Yolo. Otherwise voting took place calmly. It began in Leopoldville yesterday and will continue until July 10 as referendum committees tour the interior of the Congo. An overwhelming majority of Congolese are expected to approve the new draft constitution, which replaces the i nratified “fundamental laws” left behind by the Belgians when they granted the Congo independence in 1960.