EG 'coup court' eases up on 15
2004-07-27 23:36
Pretoria - The 15 men, including eight South Africans, who were scheduled to appear in a court in Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday in connection with an alleged coup attempt, will probably appear only in a couple of weeks' time.
Clarity about the "correct procedures" and proper legal representation for the South Africans are some of the conditions set by the South African delegation to Equatorial Guinea that need to be met before court procedures can continue.
Mokgethi Monaisa, South Africa's ambassador in Gabon and with responsibility to Equatorial Guinea, said from the capital, Malabo, on Tuesday: "We agreed that certain things first have to be done right (in accordance with acceptable practices) before the case can proceed."
The Equatorial Guinean government has refused to issue a visa to a South African attorney wanting to enter the country to consult with the men.
SA wants its input for trial to count
The country also declared that an Equatorial Guinean legal representative would be appointed for the men.
Monaisa said: "The people here are willing to work with us (for the sake of a free and fair trial)."
"We would rather postpone the trial so that our input can count in the legal process."
According to him, Equatorial Guinea's existing legal process will be followed during the trial.
"We want to ensure, however, that the necessary (internationally accepted) norms apply within this process.
"At the same time, we don't want to force on them the way in which the South African legal system is operated."
According to Monaisa, a South African attorney would be retained urgently to see the eight South Africans "as soon as possible".
"We have the assurance that Equatorial Guinea will now gladly grant a visa to such an attorney. We should have an exact court date tomorrow (Wednesday)."
Monaisa, the rest of the South African delegation and two of the men's wives (Belinda du Toit, wife of Nick, and Georgia Boonzaaier, wife of "Bone") were set to visit the men in the maximum-security Black Beach Prison in Malabo late on Tuesday afternoon.
AU and UN also will send observers
According to Monaisa, the South African delegation will stay in Malabo until Friday to further help in the refining of the legal process.
The delegation will return later as observers during the trial.
The African Union and the United Nations will also have observers at the trial.
The men were arrested in Malabo on March 8, shortly after 69 South Africans were arrested in Zimbabwe for the same plans.
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