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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as <strong>the</strong> U.S., Great Britain, and o<strong>the</strong>r countries, that full public disclosure, ei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
in parliament or in <strong>the</strong> TRC hearings, could pose a serious threat to domestic<br />
security. Foreign governments were also concerned that highly sensitive<br />
information might be leaked. Concerns about <strong>the</strong> fragile political situation that<br />
prevailed in South Africa and <strong>the</strong> possible reactions by <strong>the</strong> public or<br />
paramilitary groups to complete disclosure <strong>of</strong> Project Coast was a genuine<br />
source <strong>of</strong> concern <strong>of</strong> many South African politicians in <strong>the</strong> government and<br />
several interested foreign governments during this period. 178<br />
BASSON’S ARREST AND TRIAL AND TRC HEARINGS (1997-2000)<br />
Revelations and Roadblocks during <strong>the</strong> Truth & Reconciliation Hearing<br />
on Project Coast after Basson’s Arrest in 1997<br />
The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was<br />
established at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> 1995 when Nelson Mandela <strong>of</strong>ficially appointed <strong>the</strong><br />
Chairperson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Dr. Alex Boraine, Vice-<br />
Chairperson, and 17 TRC Commissioners. The mandate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Truth and<br />
Reconciliation Commission required full disclosure and transparency about <strong>the</strong><br />
past actions <strong>of</strong> current and past government <strong>of</strong>ficials. In December 1996,<br />
Mandela’s <strong>of</strong>fice, for <strong>the</strong> first time, provided <strong>the</strong> TRC with a copy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Steyn<br />
Report, so it could be investigated more fully. At <strong>the</strong> time, <strong>the</strong> TRC <strong>of</strong>ficials<br />
said that <strong>the</strong> information could not be released, because much <strong>of</strong> it was in <strong>the</strong><br />
form <strong>of</strong> “untested allegations.” 179<br />
The TRC was “a political compromise born out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> negotiated<br />
settlement between a minority government and <strong>the</strong> liberation movements.” It<br />
was “a compromise between those who wanted an apar<strong>the</strong>id war crimes trial<br />
and those who demanded blanket amnesty for those who had killed, tortured<br />
and committed political crimes during <strong>the</strong> apar<strong>the</strong>id era.” 180 The Commission<br />
tackled four tasks: 1) to reveal <strong>the</strong> truth about <strong>the</strong> period between 1960 and<br />
1994 in order to understand how <strong>the</strong> apar<strong>the</strong>id system developed and endured;<br />
2) to provide a forum for thousands <strong>of</strong> victims; 3) to consider what<br />
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