Ex-Ministers In Congo Hanged

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31076, 3 June 1966, Page 9

Ex-Ministers In Congo Hanged

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) LEOPOLDVILLE, June 2. Four former Congo Cabinet Ministers were hanged in a public execution in Leopoldville today for plotting to overthrow the Government.

The hanging was in the square, a giant field in the heart of the Congolese capital.

A brief military court in a grassy clearing of Kokolo military camp yesterday found the four former Cabinet ministers guilty of treason. The trial lasted in all about 90 minutes The three judges

took about six minutes to reach their verdict: death by hanging. About 10,000 Africans crowded around the open air court, shouting and fighting. There was no evidence presented at the trial. No prosecution case was made. The

defendants had no counsel. And there were no witnesses. Each accused was invited to make a statement in his own defence. All bore themselves well. But a good part of what they said was lost in the crowd’s uproar. For every time a prisoner tried to make a point in his favour the crowd hissed and booed. In Pain

The star prisoner was Evariste Kimba, a former Prime Minister. He spoke hardly above a whisper. He stood before his accusers, ropes knotted around his forearms. He seemed to be in pain and finally asked if the ropes could be untied. The Court allowed them to be loosened.

The prisoners were bruised and barefooted, their hands and arms were swollen, and their clothes tom and dirty. The other men were Jeromy Anany, Alexandre Mahamba, and Senator Emmanuel Bamba. Did Not Finish

Mr Anany was the last man to speak—but he did not finish. His low voice was drowned out by commotion and fighting in the African crowds and the chief judge. Colonel Pierre Ingila, said: “This is a council of war. We have no time for much discussion. We shall deliberate now.”

The four politicians had been accused of plotting the downfall of the Government of President Joseph Mobutu—and of planning the murder of the President