GAOLING OF TSHOMBE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 20

GAOLING OF TSHOMBE

No Trial For Six Months

LEOPOLDVILLE. May 8 The Congo Government today published an “act of internment,’ under which it claimed legal powers to detain President Moise Tshombe of Katanga, for six months without trial for allegedly threatening the security of the State.

The act. signed by the Minister of the Interior (Mr Cyrille Adoula) comes 13 days after Mr Tshombe was seized by Congolese soldiers as he prepared to leave the conference of political leaders at Coquilhatville. The act charges . Mr Tshombe with treachery and causing civil war which brought about the deaths of Congolese citizens. Similar charges have been laid against his Foreign Minister (Mr Evariste Kimba) who is at present held with him in Coquilhatville. The “act of internment” said Mr Tshombe was interned under the law of February 25 which gave the Government power to detain without trial.

Mr Tshombe's fate will be decided by the legal review commission. which will study the evidence against him and report to the Prime Minister in Leopoldville (Mr Iles).

Within eight days of receiving the commission’s report, the Prime Minister will decide either to continue the internment for six months or have Mr Tshombe brought to trial.

The act charged Mr Tshombe with usurping powers of head of state although he only had those of a provincial Governor.