VAN DER STEEN AND MONGA TALK TO PRESS IN LUBUMBASHI; VAN DER STEEN'S BANDAGED HAND AND EAR; VAN DER STEEN IS TAKEN INTO HOSPITAL GROUNDS.




Initials IF/VS/MGT/OS



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Background: ON JULY 2ND, THE FOREIGN PRESS WAS ALLOWED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO INTERVIEW TWO MEN WHO HAD BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF BEING INVOLVED IN SABOTAGE AGAINST THE CONGO KINSHASAN ECONOMY. ONE OF THE MEN, MR. ARSENE VAN DER STEEN HAD BEEN 'FINED' ONE EAR AND TWO FINGERS AS RETRIBUTION FOR HIS ALLEGED OFFENCE.

MR. VAN DER STEEN WAS ARRESTED AT THE END OF LAST MONTH ON CHARGES OF SABOTAGE, AFTER A KEY RAILWAY BRIDGE IN THE KATANGA PROVINCE WAS DYNAMITED. ALTHOUGH HE STRENUOUSLY DENIED THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM, MR. VAN DER STEEN, A BELGIAN, WAS FOUND GUILTY 'FINED' HIS RIGHT EAR AND TWO FINGERS. THESE WERE CUT OFF BY SOLDIERS PRIOR TO HIS RELEASE.

FIRST FILM OF THE SUNDAY PRESS CONFERENCE SHOWS VAN DER STEEN AND HIS FELLOW 'SABOTEUR' AT THE RESIDENCE OF GOVERNOR MANZUKALA IN LUBUMBASHI. THEY WERE PRESENTED TO THE PRESS BY M. ELEBE, DIRECTOR OF THE CONGOLESE PRESS AGENCY REPRESENTING THE HIGH COMMISSION FOR INFORMATION. THREE-QUARTER OF AN HOUR'S TALK WAS ALLOWED BEFORE THE DETAINEES WERE TAKEN AWAY.

PRESIDENT MOBUTU'S REACTION TO THE MUTILATION WAS THAT HE DEEPLY REGRETTED THE PAIN INFLICTED ON THE BELGIAN. HOWEVER, HE ADDED 'UNTIL PROOF OF THE CONTRARY IS FOUND, I AM OBLIGED TO CONSIDER HIM A BANDIT AND AN ENEMY'. TODAY (SATURDAY) THE CONGOLESE PRESIDENT PUBLISHED A PLEA IN KINSHASA'S THREE MORNING PAPERS THAT THE CONGO AND BELGIUM SHOULD BURY THEIR DIFFERENCES.