the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
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Basson’s arrest was <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> NIA losing out in a bureaucratic battle,<br />
after “o<strong>the</strong>rs blew <strong>the</strong> whistle” on Basson’s drug activities. At <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong><br />
Basson’s arrest, several South African press reports attributed <strong>the</strong> timing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
arrest to CIA reports to <strong>the</strong> South African government that Basson was getting<br />
ready to flee <strong>the</strong> country, possibly to work in <strong>the</strong> Middle East, a few weeks<br />
before his arrest. The reports described how Basson had been under <strong>the</strong><br />
protection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> NIA due to concerns that he would be <strong>the</strong> target <strong>of</strong> a foreign<br />
assassin. Chris Bateman “The man who knows too much about killing” Cape<br />
Times, (12 June 1998), 17. Ano<strong>the</strong>r news report, which claimed to be based on<br />
OSEO sources, reported that Basson had sent four cases (three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m were<br />
worth R6m, R5,57m, and R220,815) out <strong>of</strong> country to banks in Luxemburg<br />
and Belgium, shortly before his arrest. The account went on to allege that<br />
British and Belgium secret agents were involved in <strong>the</strong>se transactions. See<br />
Chris Bateman “Evil Einstein,” Cape Times, (12 June 1998), 17.<br />
185 At <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> Basson’s arrest, all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se investigators shared a sense <strong>of</strong><br />
urgency because <strong>the</strong>re was some question as to whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> government would<br />
be able to keep <strong>the</strong>se records. These documents had been found towards <strong>the</strong><br />
end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> week and <strong>the</strong> investigators were concerned that Basson's lawyers<br />
would be able to successfully argue in court <strong>the</strong> following week that <strong>the</strong><br />
contents <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> trunks were personal property. (Interview with Dr. Villa-<br />
Vicencia, 20 July 2000).<br />
186 The “verkope lys” was a list <strong>of</strong> items, allegedly ordered by Dr. Basson and<br />
given to CCB operatives. This list includes anthrax-infected cigarettes,<br />
shampoo poisoned with an insecticide, and poisoned chocolates. Orr, 328-9.<br />
See Appendix I for <strong>the</strong> complete list.<br />
187<br />
Interview with Dr. Villa-Vicencia, former senior investigator for <strong>the</strong> TRC,<br />
21 July 2000.<br />
188<br />
Interview with Dr. Villa-Vicencia, former senior investigator for <strong>the</strong> TRC,<br />
21 July 2000.<br />
189 For additional details <strong>of</strong> this meeting that included representatives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old<br />
and new military and political guard, see Orr, 331-2. Dr. Orr notes that she<br />
arrived at this hastily called meeting and found that she was <strong>the</strong> only TRC (and<br />
<strong>the</strong> only woman) representative among <strong>the</strong> 40 participants.<br />
190 Orr, 332. She notes that Dr. Folb made himself forever unpopular with<br />
many participants at this meeting by making this observation.<br />
191 Chandre Gould confirmed <strong>the</strong> agreement regarding <strong>the</strong> status <strong>of</strong> documents<br />
in a telephone interview in July 2000.<br />
192 Telephone interview with Dr. Peter Folb, Cape Town, 20 July 2000.<br />
111