**Media wages information war against Zaire's rebels**

(Reprinted from the May 24, 1997 issue of the People's
Weekly World. May be reprinted or reposted with PWW credit.
For subscription information see below)

By Victor Perlo

The victory of the alliance of democratic forces for the
liberation of Congo (Zaire), headed by Laurent Kabila, was
accomplished with the support and participation of the
majority of Congolese people, and neighboring states with
progressive governments. It is a major event of African and
world significance.

The New York Times' reports have been heavily weighted
against the revolutionary war, led by Laurent Kabila, in
the Congo (Zaire), and its editorial tirades have been
decidedly hostile to the alleged abuses of human rights.
However, the news story by Howard W. French in the issue of
May 3 contradicts the Times' editors:

"Zairian and foreign military observers have watched with
wonderment as Mr. Kabila's rebels have swept through the
country, usually managing to keep tight control over chain
of command and discipline, even as they travel huge
distances."

Establishment media have honed in on one incident of
alleged mistreatment of participants in the 1994 mass
slaughter of 500,000 Rwandans among the refugees in Zaire -
as the target of denunciation, building it up even as the
overall problem of refugees nears solution with the
cooperation of the revolutionary forces.

The New York Times admitted: "Mr. Mobutu's government
reportedly suffered another setback at the major river port
of Mbandaka when (Mobutu) soldiers who were said to be
arriving by ferry ... began looting the city today.

"Throughout the war here, Zaire's cities have faced a sort
of domino effect at the approach of the rebels as soldiers
panic, loot and then flee toward the next city, which panic
and is looted in turn."

A serious battle was fought at Kenge, only 120 miles east
of Kinshasa and "the Government forces were defeated at a
heavy cost in casualties to Mr. Mobutu's troops, to the
rebels and to civilians in the area ... at least 100
Government soldiers were killed, along with 200 civilians
and 20 or more rebel fighters.

"Among the civilians, the French medical charity, Doctors
Without Borders, said an entire local church choir was
killed by retreating Government troops."

Shouldn't the revolutionary forces be supported and praised
for ending these atrocities, which are characteristic of
the Mobutu dictatorship in war and in peace? Shouldn't the
Times editorial denunciation be directed against the old
order that is being swept into oblivion by the "rebels" who
have already set up a new, progressive regime?

Kabila has wisely rejected an American demand for early
elections under terms that call for supervision by U.S. and
other foreign observers. An election, held in neighboring
Angola, was actually won by the progressive government
forces, headed by Dos Santos. But with CIA support, Mobutu
politician Savimbi has not carried out his agreement to
disarm his soldiers, who have effectively split the country
in half.

Concerning the latest battles, the NYT article comments:
"... fighters loyal to Mr. Mobutu, most likely former
Angolan rebels (Savimbi troops) were recently flown into
the area to at least temporarily slow the final advance of
Mr. Kabila's forces on Kinshasa."

Congo (Zaire) has enormous wealth in deposits of gold,
diamonds, copper, zinc and other minerals, the sale of
which provides the country's major source of foreign
exchange. The mineral industries have plummeted under
Mobutu's misrule.

The new government, having already established a state
mining company, Gecomines, has started contracting out
operation of mines to capitalists with technical equipment,
skills and markets. A. U.S. company, American Mineral
Fields Inc., has been awarded a contract of over $800
million for processing zinc tailings. The Anglo-American
Corporation of South Africa, which has virtual monopoly for
distribution of African minerals, has agreed to supply $100
million of capital in exchange for a 20 percent interest in
this contract.

That practice is in accord with anti-imperialist,
progressive governments in today's world - dealing with
capitalist corporations in order to obtain funds and
technology for development while retaining control and
majority ownership. This aspect conforms with the policy of
establishing state ownership of basic industries and
transport. The Congo (Zaire) has nationalized a key
railroad that was owned by a private company with South
African, Belgian and Zairian interests.

A worrisome development is the reported action of the South
African government in halting all rail traffic to and from
Zaire in protest against the nationalization. In effect,
this imposes a blockade similar to the U.S. blockade of
Cuba.

An opposite, capitalist, course is being followed by the
reactionary government of Brazil. Under the privatization
program decreed by Washington and the International
Monetary Fund, the Brazilian government, despite strong
popular opposition, is selling off the state-owned Vale do
Rio Doce (CVRD), the world's top producer and exporter of
iron ore despite.

The largest Brazilian steel company won the biggest slice
of CVRD, but a group, including Citicorp, won 25 million
shares, and Nations Bank of Charlotte, North Carolina, a
recent large player on the national scene, won 12.5 million
shares.

Citicorp makes its largest rate of profit from its large
and growing investment in Brazil. The steel company
purchase is being made through a Cayman Island subsidiary,
making it more open to foreign - including American -
stockholders. This privatization apparently marks a major
sellout to Wall Street by the Brazilian government.

-Victor Perlo is the economics columnist for the World.