NEWS - Security Tight for all Digni

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Subject: NEWS - Security Tight for all Dignitaries      <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Security Tight for all Dignitaries

               Africa News Service
               15-JUN-99

               Johannesburg (Business Day, June 15, 1999) -
               More than 2000 security personnel have been
               deployed to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries
               at tomorrow's presidential inauguration in what
               police believe is the largest security operation in
               Pretoria's h istory. 

               Bomb disposal personnel yesterday combed every
               room of five upmarket hotels in northern
               Johannesburg and Pretoria ahead of the arrival of
               foreign dignitaries. The amphitheatre at the Union
               Buildings, where the inauguration is to take place,
               has been un der constant watch by security
               personnel since the weekend. 

               Head of the police's VIP protection service Gary
               Kruser said yesterday that each foreign delegation
               sent an advance team last week to make security
               arrangements for dignitaries. 

               Officials from the SA Secret Service and the
               National Intelligence Agency did risk analyses for
               each visitor, and have assigned eight guests
               "medium and high-risk status." 

               It is understood Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
               was the first to make the high-risk list, and has been
               surrounded by SA bodyguards since his arrival on
               Sunday. 

               The Union Buildings and state theatre will be
               surrounded by a ring of soldiers and uniformed
               police tomorrow. Several hundred plain clothes
               personnel will be among the crowds. 

               Dignitaries and international media attending the
               inauguration will be the first to use Johannesburg
               International Airport's brand-new international
               arrivals terminal. 

               Airport GM Rory Mackey said contractors had been
               working around the clock for the past three months
               to have the terminal ready to offer guests a
               world-class arrival. 


               Delta Motor Corporation loaned the Department of
               Foreign Affairs 32 vehicles. They were 25 Opel
               Astras, five Saabs and two Cadillacs. 

               In Geneva, SA trade union representatives and
               worker delegates at the International Labour
               Organisation (ILO) yesterday denounced
               government's move to invite the Burmese
               government to the presidential inauguration. 

               This follows reports to the ILO conference that the
               Burma government allows the widespread use of
               forced labour. 

               A report compiled by the International Confederation
               of Free Trade Unions said all basic trade union
               rights were denied in Burma, while the government's
               "military dictatorship" had cracked down on all trade
               union activity. Many trade unions were forced to
               operate from outside the country. 

               The worker delegation to the ILO conference has
               proposed the adoption of a resolution by the
               conference at its closure on Thursday halting all
               technical and other assistance by the ILO. This
               resolution has been proposed in view of Burma's
               flagrant viol ation of the ILO convention on forced
               labour. 

               The resolution said the Burmese government had
               persisted in failing to comply with the convention,
               which it had ratified. 

               National Council of Trade Unions general secretary
               Cunningham Ngcukana said it was unacceptable for
               the SA government to invite representatives of
               Burma. w. He said "the military regime in Burma has
               made mileage out of the fact that they received an
               in vitation". 

               He said the head of Burma military intelligence was
               expected in SA. 

               The standing committee on the application of ILO
               standards and conventions received reports that
               there was "abundant evidence" showing the
               "pervasive use of forced labour imposed on the
               civilian population throughout Burma by the
               authorities and the mi litary". The Burma
               government forced people to do construction,
               maintenance and to service military camps and to
               do other work in the military. 

               Trade unionists at the ILO conference were
               concerned the head of Burma military intelligence,
               who led the oppression in Burma, had been invited. 

               Meanwhile, the statues of generals Botha, Hertzog
               and Smuts at the Union Buildings are to be draped
               for the inauguration. The Democratic Party
               criticised the action as an "airbrush" of history,
               reminiscent of the Eastern Europe of old. 


               "We urge the decision to cover up the past be
               reversed. It is a gesture that will trigger an era of
               discord SA can ill afford to project to eminent
               foreign guests and visitors," DP culture spokesman
               Dene Smuts said. 

               By Jonny Steinberg, Renee Grawitzky, Simphiwe
               Xako and Linda Ensor 

               Copyright 1999 Business Day. Distributed via
               Africa News Online.