- Title: BELGIUM: ANTWERP: SHIP FROM MATADI ARRIVES WITH REFUGEES.
- Date: 27th July 1960
- Summary: 1. GV Refugees leaving customs, "Thysville" in BG. 0.15 2. SV. PAN. Refugees meeting relatives. 0.26 3. SCU. Nuns. 0.3 4. SV Group of nuns conversing. 0.32 5. CU. Negro nun. 0.37 6. SV. Mother and children meeting relatives. 0.43 7. CU. Mother and small child. 0.47 8. LV. Refugees luggage placed on cars. 0.54 9.
- Embargoed: 11th August 1960 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ANTWERP BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Reuters ID: LVA2PTNZR1CPGIFN6OCG6YV2H8HY
- Story Text: A ship which became a European fortress in Matadi, Congo Republic, during the Congolese army's mutiny, arrived at Antwerp, Belgium, July 26. Ironically, her name is the "Thysville" - named after the place where the mutiny broke out July 6. On board were 350 refugees.
When Belgian troops and the Congolese were fighting in the big Congo port of Matadi, the "Thysville" was used as a refuge by 500 Europeans. She was the last ship to leave Matadi with refugees on board, and was prevented by Congolese from sailing for several days before finally departing July 11. 150 of the 500 refugees were transferred to another ship before the voyage to Belgium began.
As the "Thysville" came into port, news came from Brussels that the Belgian Government inquiry commission had compiled a preliminary report on atrocities suffered by Belgians during the Force Publique mutiny.
The report is based on written statements made by refugees as they arrived in Belgium, and includes many accounts of rape and torture. It tells of numerous atrocities committed at the Thysville military base where the mutiny broke out.
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