CORTEGE MOVES THROUGH KINSHASA; REQUIEM MASS AT SAINTE MARIE; INTERMENT CEREMONY AT BEMBA SINGINI.




Initials CP/VS/JF/OS



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Background: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CONGOLESE MOURNED FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH KASAVUBU LAST WEDNESDAY (MARCH 26) AS HIS BODY WAS CARRIED IN FUNERAL PROCESSION THROUGH THE STREET OF KINSHASA. IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CROWDS EVER SEEN IN THE CONGOLESE CAPITAL.

MR. KASAVUBU, THE FIRST HEAD OF STATE OF AN INDEPENDENT CONGO, DIED OF A BRAIN HAEMMORAGE LAST MONDAY (MARCH 24) IN BOMA, ON THE CONGO RIVER ESTUARY. HIS BODY WAS FLOWN TO KINSHASA ON TUESDAY IN PREPARATION FOR THE STATE FUNERAL CEREMONIES.

AT DAWN, CROWDS BEGAN FILING PAST THE BODY, LYING IN STATE AT THE ENTRANCE HALL OF THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING, BEFORE IT WAS CARRIED IN AN OPEN CAR TO THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY FOR A REQUIEM MASS.

MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT, ARMY OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS WALKED BEHIND THE COFFIN, WITH TWO MILITARY BANDS LEADING THE FUNERAL CORTEGE.

CINEMAS, SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND FACTORIES WERE CLOSED AS THE COUNTRY OBSERVED A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING.

MANY PEOPLE IN THE CROWDS MASSED ALONG THE ROUTE WORE A NARROW WHITE CLOTH AROUND THEIR HEADS AND WAVED BRANCHES AS A SIGN OF MOURNING. WOMEN WAILED LAMENTS.

MR. KASAVUBU WITHDREW FROM THE CONGO'S TURBULENT POLITICS AND RETIRED TO HIS SMALL FARM AT BOMA AFTER GENERAL JOSEPH MOBUTU SEIZED POWER IN A BLOODLESS DAWN COUP IN NOVEMBER 1965.

THE EX-PRESIDENT WAS ABOUT 56 -- HIS PRECISE DATE OF BIRTH REMAINED A MYSTERY -- AND THE ONLY MAJOR CONGOLESE POLITICIAN TO WEATHER THE STORMS OF THE COUNTRY'S FIRST POST INDEPENDENCE YEARS.

THE NEXT DAY, AFTER THE FUNERAL CEREMONIES IN KINSHASA, MR. KASAVUBU'S BODY WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE VILLAGE OF BEMBA SINGINI, THE EX-PRESIDENT'S BIRTHPLACE, FOR THE SOLEMN BURIAL CEREMONY.