Thatcher coup plot questions delayed/family home put up for sale

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Thatcher coup plot questions delayed
From Xan Rice in Johannesburg
Snip from The Times

PROSECUTORS from Equatorial Guinea have been forced to delay their trip to South Africa to question Sir Mark Thatcher about his alleged role in a coup attempt after failing to receive permission from the authorities here. A delegation led by Jose Olo Obono, Equatorial Guinea’s Attorney-General, had been expected to arrive in the country yesterday. Mr Obono made a formal request to the South African Government last Monday to interview Sir Mark, who was arrested in Cape Town on August 25 on suspicion of financing an operation to overthrow the Government of the oil-rich state.

But the South African Department of Justice said last night that no approval had been given to the visit. “The Justice Minister was out of the country last week and is still considering the interview request. She will give her answer within days,” a spokesman said. The Scorpions, South Africa’s elite investigations unit, confirmed that a meeting scheduled with Mr Obono for today had been postponed indefinitely until “procedural issues” had been cleared.

The trial of 18 suspected mercenaries in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, has been delayed for 30 days to allow prosecutors time to question Sir Mark, who denies the charges. While it seems likely that South Africa will accede to the request, Mr Obono will not be able to interview Sir Mark directly. South African laws require a list of questions to be given to a local magistrate, who will then subpoena Sir Mark to appear in court. His responses will be passed back to the Equatorial Guinea Government. Lawyers for Sir Mark, who paid 2 million rands (about £165,000) bail on Friday and is no longer under house arrest, have said that he has no objections to being interviewed.

Sir Mark will today put his multimillion-pound home in Cape Town on the market. At the time of his arrest, he denied reports that that he had made plans sell the seven-bedroom house and flee the country before he was charged. Mike Greeff, a Cape Town estate agent, confirmed that the 8,105sq m property would go on sale for R24 million — a record price for the exclusive suburb of Constantia. Mr Greeff described the mansion as a “residence of ambassadorial proportions”. He said that he did not know where Sir Mark planned to live once the sale went through, although there have been suggestions that he is planning to buy a home on the nearby Steenburg Golf Estate, where he is a member. Sir Mark’s wife, Diane, flew to Dallas, Texas, last week with their two children, Michael, 15, and Amanda, 11, who will attend school in America.
More:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,170-1248643,00.html

[seemslikeadream]

1. Look at these two photos

They are (were)on the site right next to each other
Now isn't this interesting considering Thatcher was buying helicopters to protect his mining interest in the Sudan!



Sun 5 September, 2004 10:46

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Mark Thatcher's Cape Town mansion has been put up for sale for $3.6 million (2.03 million pounds) as the son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher faces questions about a suspected coup bid in Equatorial Guinea.

The thatched roof house boasts seven bedrooms, a "safari lounge" and one of South Africa's best addresses and should fetch close to its asking price of 24 million rand, real estate agent Mike Greeff said on Sunday.

"It is an ambassadorial residence," Greeff said. "It is up there with the best."

Thatcher, 51, posted bail of about $300,000 on Friday but must remain in the Cape Town area until a court hearing on November 25 to face charges that he helped to finance an coup attempt in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=577272§ion=news

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2. Latest betting on "Mark Thatcher involved in financing Jinjaweed

murderers in Darfur ethnic cleansing": 5/4fav? What else might this jumped up little shit be financing I wonder? Maybe the Jinjaweed were clearing the terrain of all those innocent people they massacred for a little yellowcake uranium exploration that MT might be speculating in....? Any link to a Riggs Bank overseas branch in Khartoum? Maybe correspondent office?....

[seemslikeadream]

3. clearing the terrain reminds me of the Barrick(bush) - Congo story

The Screwing of Cynthia McKinney

Greg Palast

........

After George Bush Senior left the White House, he became an advisor and lobbyist for a Canadian gold-mining company, Barrick Gold. Hey, a guy’s got to work. But there were a couple of questions about Barrick, to say the least. For example, was Barrick’s Congo gold mine funding both sides of a civil war and perpetuating that bloody conflict? Only one Congressperson demanded hearings on the matter.

You’ve guessed: Cynthia McKinney.

That was covered in the . . . well, it wasn’t covered at all in the U.S. press.

McKinney contacted me at the BBC. She asked if I’d heard of Barrick. Indeed, I had. Top human rights investigators had evidence that a mine that Barrick bought in 1999 had, in clearing their Tanzanian properties three years earlier, bulldozed mine shafts . . . burying about 50 miners alive.

I certainly knew Barrick: They’d sued the Guardian for daring to run a story I’d written about the allegations of the killings. Barrick never sued an American paper for daring to run the story, because no American paper dared.

The primary source for my story, an internationally famous lawyer named Tundu Lissu, was charged by the Tanzanian police with sedition, and arrested, for calling for an investigation. McKinney has been trying to save his life with an international campaign aimed at Barrick.

That was another of her mistakes.

more
http://www.alternet.org/story/16172

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4. Thanks! joining up all these dots always ends up spelling

"Shitty BFEE Murderers"

[seemslikeadream]

5. I ran across this little known coup story the other day

Alleged Boeremag leader linked to CIA, court told


September 03, 2004, 16:19
http://www.sabcnews.com/article/images/0,1059,20101,00.gif
Tom Vorster, the alleged Boeremag leader


The Boeremag treason trial has been postponed following dramatic evidence by Henk van Zyl, a State witness. Van Zyl told the Pretoria High Court today that Tom Vorster, the alleged leader of the organisation, was actually a military intelligence agent with links to the American CIA.

Testifying under cross examination, Van Zyl admitted that the State wanted him to give evidence that favoured their case. Van Zyl testified that the prosecution claimed to have carried out a security clearance check on Vorster and found his wife to be an informer.

more
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,87124,00.html

State witness in Boeremag trial reveals more
September 02, 2004, 21:42

A self-confessed former coup plotter currently testifying for the prosecution in the Boeremag treason trial says he believes the alleged leader of the organisation is an "agent provocateur" who works for the state.
more
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,87072,00.html

The Boeremag accused were initially held at C-Max prison, but were later moved to Pretoria Local Prison after obtaining a court order about the noise levels at C-Max. Pistorius said communal cells at the prison were built for 30 people, but presently apparently held 60 persons. He foresaw problems. "Prevention is better than cure," he said.

Prosecutor Dries van Rensburg said Jan Nel, who co-ordinates between the accused and correctional services, was presently negotiating with the department and that the objections were premature. Trial Judge Eben Jordaan asked to be kept informed of developments.

Cross-examination of self-confessed coup plotter Henk van Zyl meanwhile continues. Van Zyl implicated several of the accused of being involved in a plot to overthrow the government. He suggested that Tom Vorster, the alleged Boeremag leader, might be a police spy.

Vorster today unexpectedly jumped up and, using an expletive, complained bitterly about the way in which he said Van Zyl was looking at him. The trial continues. - Sapa
more
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,86991,00.html
Boeremag trialist denies involvement in coup plot

August 30, 2004, 16:15

Another accused in the Boeremag treason trial has denied any involvement in alleged right-wing plans to topple the government. Dirk Hanekom's lawyer has told the current State witness his client will deny any involvement in plans to execute a coup or that he was a member of the Boeremag organisation.

Lawyers are currently cross-questioning Henk Van Zyl, a Free State potato farmer, who is a self-confessed former Boeremag member in the Pretoria High Court.

Van Zyl and his family are currently in a witness protection programme.

Twenty-two alleged coup plotters are standing trial in the Pretoria High Court for their alleged role in a conspiracy to overthrow the government
more
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,86805,00.html

Boeremag had big plan for Soweto, court hears

August 11, 2004, 15:47

New evidence has emerged in the Boeremag treason trial relating to plans to dump poisoned oranges in Soweto. Henk van Zyl, a State witness, told the Pretoria High Court today that the Boeremag leader gave Gerhardus Visagie, the organisation's chaplain, the task to inject oranges with poison.

Van Zyl testified the plan was to create chaos. He says this would have created a favourable climate for the execution of a coup d' etat.

Van Zyl also testified in detail of how they abandoned their first attempt to plant bombs in Gauteng in 2002. He testified that he and a group of 21 men were on their way to Johannesburg with explosives when they received a message that police knew about their plans.

He told the court a panel beating warehouse was hired in Alexandra.
more
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,85529,00.html

[readmylips]

6. Yep, they run to hide in bush crountry...Texas

what's wrong with Texas?

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7. Chums of Stephen Cambone/Heather Andrews? old school

mates of Idema?

BFEE Coup Plot Season at fever pitch right now...

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8. Mampara of the Week: Tom Vorster

Hogarth feels for the brothers in the right-wing movement who are being tortured in prison by their evil captors.

Of course this is torture of a different kind. The electric shocks, wet bags and sleep deprivation which the rightwingers used against their black brothers in the apartheid era have been replaced by... a radio station.


This week, the Boeremag brothers' attorneys complained in court that listening to Metro FM was "psychological torture".


"We have men sitting here in tears and who are busy cracking," said Rudi Lubbe who represents brother Tom Vorster.


Lubbe said Vorster would refuse to stand trial until such time as his "physical and mental torture" in prison had stopped. They don't make mamparas like they used to.

http://www.suntimes.co.za/2003/08/24/insight/in15.asp

and from BBC News:
SA right-wingers 'tortured by rap'
A group of alleged white extremists facing treason charges in South Africa has complained about being forced to listen to "black" music while on remand in prison. The men are being held in Pretoria's C-Max prison, where Metro FM radio station is played throughout the day. The BBC's Hilary Andersson in Johannesburg says Metro FM plays extremely loud music, including Rhythm and Blues, rap and South African kwaito, aimed at a young black audience. Lawyers for several of the 22 men on trial said this was a form of "psychological torture".

The men are accused of involvement in attacks on government installations on behalf of a white supremacist organisation, the Boeremag or Afrikaner Force.

"The music resounds through the halls all day," said another lawyer, Paul Kruger. "Some of my clients have suffered breakdowns, which affect their ability to stand trial."
More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3162997.stm

Moremoreore (including pic I was unable to download)

Thomas Vogel Vorster (55) - alias "Tom" - of Garsfontein, Pretoria, is a self-employed businessman, has black hair, and is 1.78 metres tall. He weighs approximately 85kg and wears spectacles with thick lenses. A warrant for an alleged plot to overthrow the government has been issued for his arrest. Anyone with information was requested to contact crime stop at 08600-10-111.

Tom Vorster.jpg Posted by Wotknott on 10/09/2002, 8KB

French-languiage coverage, Afrique express:
http://www.afrique-express.com/archive/AUSTRALE/afsud/afsudpol/259groupextremedroite.htm

and:
From the great CIA/FBI Website:

'Boeremag leader a CIA agent'

The Boeremag treason trial today stopped unexpectedly when a State witness claimed he had proof that Boeremag leader Tom Vorster was a CIA and Military Intelligence agent. Free State potato farmer Henk Van Zyl, a self-confessed Boeremag coup plotter, elaborated on his claims that Vorster was a government agent and worked with police spy J C Smit, who earlier testified that he had infiltrated the Boeremag.
He claimed a news story drawn from the internet site of the Afrikaans newspaper Beeld confirmed his suspicions that Vorster had been "planted" in the Boeremag and had deliberately misled them.
One of the defence advocates, Piet Pistorius, said Van Zyl's claims had serious consequences and might result in the defence demanding a trial-within-a-trial to establish the truth of the claims.

He said his clients might have been seriously compromised because Vorster was an accused and had been present when his clients consulted with him. He said he needed more time to consult with his clients about the way forward. Van Zyl showed the court a printout of the story, which he said has since "disappeared" from the website.
The article referred to rumours that Vorster had worked for the CIA for five years, but quoted police commissioner Jackie Selebi's spokeswoman, Director Sally de Beer as refusing to comment on the rumours and saying there were strict orders as to what information could be released.

It further quoted Henri Boshoff, of the Institute for Security Studies, saying that Vorster specialised in the right wing when he was still involved with the collection of covert information for the military before 1994 and had established contact with foreign rightist organisations such as the Ku Klux Klan. "I know Vorster was in the USA. He told me until 1994 he was at the artillery base. From there he went to America for five years. There were rumours that he worked for the CIA. "I believe he (Vorster) was not really what he purported to be. He deliberately misled us. If he had admitted that he worked for Military Intelligence, we would never have run after him the way we did. We would have used the bullet (killed him as a traitor) there and then," Van Zyl said.

Van Zyl claimed he had discussed the article with the prosecution, but was told about two weeks ago that he could not use it, as it had no bearing on the case. He claimed prosecutor Dries van Rensburg had told him he had drawn Vorster's security clearance and that Vorster was not a government agent, but that Vorster's wife was an agent. Van Rensburg told the court there was no information that either Vorster or his wife Annetjie worked for the government. To questions by Pistorius, Van Zyl admitted he believed the State did not want him to give open and honest evidence, but wanted him to give evidence that would favour the State's case. "There are things that I say in court that they don't like, especially about JC Smit, but I'm not here to impress the State, I'm here to tell the truth. "JC was one of the founding members (of the Boeremag) and he was planted there to mislead us. I believe he got money for every guy that was arrested. He was paid and I believe he's still being paid. "I've lost such a lot - I'm bitter about it," Van Zyl said. He believed the police were the "author of his downfall". The treason trialists turned their backs on Vorster and none of them spoke to him. His only ally in court appeared to be his advocate. The trial adjourned to allow the State and defence to reconsider their positions, but will continue on Monday.

Sapa

http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,1696799-6078-0,00.html