CHAD: PRO-GOVERNMENT RALLY IN FORT LAMY

Record ID: 215184

  • Title: CHAD: PRO-GOVERNMENT RALLY IN FORT LAMY
  • Date: 9th March 1968
  • Summary: CROWD; OFFICIALS, GOMBO SPEAKS; SALIM SPEAKS; PARADE AND PLACARDS. Initials GHB/VS/CCT/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 24th March 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FORT LAMY, CHAD
  • Country: Chad
  • Reuters ID: LVACJCC8CCKJMMY0BMAA2M21X3ZL
  • Story Text: A RALLY OF MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE TOOK PLACE IN FORT LAMY, CAPITAL OF CHAD, ON THURSDAY (7 MARCH) IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND IN PROTEST AGAINST THE RECENT CIRCULATION OF CLANDESTINE ANTI-GOVERNMENT LITERATURE.

    ONE OF THE PRIME CAUSES OF THE PROTEST WAS THE CIRCULATION OF LEAFLETS CALLING FOR THE OVERTHROW OF THE GOVERNMENT ORIGINATING FROM AN ORGANISATION CALLING ITSELF THE - "CHAD NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT".

    THE CHAD GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH THAT SECURITY FORCES HAD KILLED THE LEADER OF BANDITS OPERATING IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE COUNTRY AND CALLING THEMSELVES THE NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT.

    CHAD'S FIRST FEDERAL RURAL SECRETARY, M. AHMED GOMBO, SAID IN A SPEECH THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR BANDITS WHO ATTACKED SECURITY FORCES AND PEACEFUL CITIZENS TO BE SHOT DOWN AND THEIR ACCOMPLICES MADE POWERLESS. HE ADDED THAT DEMOCRACY DID NOT NECESSARILY MEAN DISORDER, WEAKNESS AND INDIFFERENCE.

    M. GOMBO SAID THERE WAS NO INTENTION OF THROWING A MODEST VEIL OVER WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN CHAD, BUT, HE SAID, "JUSTICE MUST FIRST BE DONE TO US". HE TOLD THE CROWD THAT IT WAS NOT THE RULING SINGLE PARTY WHICH STARTED THE HOSTILITIES LEADING TO THE ARRESTS OF MARCH 1963 - WHEN FIVE LEADING POLITICIANS WERE ARRESTED ON CHANGES OF SUBVERSION. HE BLAMED - "THE PUPPETS OF DYING COLONIALISM" - FOR THE CLASHES BETWEEN DEMONSTRATORS AND SECURITY FORCES IN THE SAME YEAR.

    OTHER SPEAKERS AT THE RALLY INCLUDED M. ALI SALIM, A MEMBER OF THE UNATRAT NATIONAL COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR OF FORT LAMY.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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