National & International News
Compiled by the Department of Communication
MLK Pilgrimage Planned
A pilgrimage to the Lorraine Motel, now the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., will be held April 3-5 to mark the 30th anniversary of the assassination of famed civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The weekend is organized by the Commemorative Commission Connecting Community (CCCC), led by Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles, a friend of King and a witness to his murder. Other members include the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Benjamin Hooks, former NAACP executive director.
According to the CCCC, "Pilgrimage To Memphis" will include a service at Mason Temple, the site of King's last speech; tours of the six-year-old National Civil Rights Museum, a number of forums and a march along the path of King's memorial march on April 8, 1968. On Saturday, April 4, ministerial and civil rights leaders will gather for a candlelight vigil at the Lorraine Motel.
You can register for the program by writing to the CCCC at P.O. Box 3050, Memphis, Tenn. 38173-3050. Registration is $30 for adults and $10 for children under 12.
Third Trial in Gammage Case
Two White police officers tried twice in the 1995 beating death of a Black motorist will be retried, the newly-appointed District Attorney of Allegheny County has announced. Stephen A. Zappala, Jr. said retired Lt. Milton Mulholland and Patrolman Michael Albert will go back to court because his office believes that a crime was committed when Jonny Gammage died at the hands of five suburban policemen just outside Pittsburgh. Gammage, the cousin of Pittsburgh Steeler, Ray Seals, died after a traffic stop, Oct. 12, 1995. Another police officer charged in the crime was acquitted by an all-White jury. Community groups in the city however, believe that justice will not be served, even with a third trial. "Until they are trying all of the police men, justice will not be served," said Dorothy Urquhart, a member of the United Concerned Christians at Work. At presstime, a march was planned from the site of the trial, the Allegheny County Courthouse to the federal building on Jan. 17. ---- the Pittsburgh Courier
International
Annan Appoints Canadian His Deputy
NEW YORK (PANA) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has announced the appointment of Louise Frechette, a Canadian, to the newly-created post of Deputy Secretary-General of the world body. Annan recommended the post as part of his reform package for the UN. Until her appointment, Frechette was Canada's deputy minister of national defense. Born in Montreal, Canada, she also holds a graduate diploma in economic studies. In the service of her country, Frechette was variously ambassador to Argentina and to the UN. In her new position, she will assist the Secretary-General in managing the secretariat, act for him in his absence and ensure coherence of UN activities and programs. ---Jerome Hule
Somalia Council Extends Own Mandate
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (PANA) - The 26 factions represented in the National Salvation Council (NSC) of Somalia have extended the mandate of their council until a transitional government of national unity is established in the country, which has had no central government since the late President Siad Barre was toppled in January 1991. The decision was reached at the end of the third session of the NSC, which was held from Jan. 2-12 in the Ethiopian capital.
The NSC also announced that a national reconciliation conference will be held in Baidoa, central Somalia, on Feb. 15. It said a consensus had been reached resolving differences among NSC members over the December peace agreement concluded in Cairo, Egypt, with the Hussein Aideed faction. At the proposed national reconciliation conference in Baidoa in February, 189 delegates to the Somali Constituent Assembly, representing all clans in the country, will consider the formation of a transitional government to run the country until a constitutionally elected administration is established. This task is entrusted to a proposed 13-member Presidential Council and a Prime Minister to be named by the Constituent Assembly, the NSC said.-- Ghion Hagos
Kaunda Says State Cooked Up Story About Him
LUSAKA, Zambia (PANA) - Detained former President Kenneth Kaunda has told the Lusaka High Court he had feared that the state would arrest him on "cooked up" charges.
Kaunda is challenging his recent detention without charge. The state says Kaunda was implicated in the foiled coup Oct. 28 but he has not been formally charged.
The state alleges that Kaunda together with another detainee, Zambia Democratic Congress President Dean Mung'omba, and Liberal Progressive Front leader Rodger Chongwe conspired to topple the government, unlawfully.
Kaunda is accused of having sealed the agreement for a military takeover on Oct. 13, 1997. The state alleges that Capt. Steven Lungu, alias Capt. Solo and his group, were to hand over government to a civilian coalition to comprise Kaunda as chairman and Chongwe as president.
"It is impossible for me to make any meaningful contribution to my own defense on accusations of this nature. This is what I feared when I spoke to the attorney general and the solicitor general, something like this could come up, completely cooked up," Kaunda said, referring to the grounds contained in the restriction order placing him under house arrest. -- Mildred Mulenga