Russia nuclear support designs, German technology applications, Eastern European productions, Iran contractor equipment smuggling, Iran bank money-laundering, Russia contacts in South Africa and Uganda arranging Congo black-market nuclear yellow-cake, uranium, cobalt, beryllium, and columbite-tantalum ( coltan ) smuggling to Kazakhstan metallurgy processing, delivering new Iran strategic war plans using individual Tactical Nuclear Terrorists ( TNT ).
Nuclear Kings of the Jungle
Kings of the Nuclear Jungle
by, Unwanted Publicity
April 15, 2008
Introduction
This independent report provides 'factual content', 'research notes', 'excerpts from public and private sources', 'reference links' to 'additional information'.
Preface
A shocking look behind the 10-year Iran nuclear support operation complex using foreign country collective multi-national companies' and partnered affiliates' for clandestine money-laundered purchases, secret designs, product refineries, smuggled deliveries of multiple nuclear weapon support platforms built in foreign companies and then shipped secretly to other foreign country companies received by individual businessmen for terrorists.
This report sees intelligence agencies no longer asking 'how' this was accomplished but rather 'when' will new independent tactical nuclear attacks from terrorists begin.
British and U.S. intelligence agencies knew Russia was fueling more than 'natural gas' success for GAZPROM and its partnered affiliates secretly facilitating Iran with delivering a new type of nuclear war machine using 'independent terrorist attacks' against the West, which would be left with no 'superpower' country to target, where the only logical alternative would be Iran.
Iran Rolling Stock Piled Nuclear Arsenal
A March 31, 2008 American television broadcast FOX News announced that Iran banks were laundering money, however that report concluded without details.
On January 24, 2008 a copy of a 'foreign purchase order and payment contract' - dated January 12, 2006 - appeared on the internet ( see reference link bottom of page ) surrounding an Iran clandestine foreign order for 'several' specially designed and built heavy equipment freight railroad cars in East Europe purchased with money laundered from an Iran bank in West Europe, along with secret delivery instructions.
The contract and what surrounded it exemplified precisely how Iran government clandestine defense projects receive support from large multi-national corporations through 'partnered affiliates' given authorization to 'issue foreign company purchase orders' to obtain what is later discovered to actually be 'secretly designed' and 'specially built' nuclear arsenal 'support equipment and materials' paid through foreign trans-border money-laundering banks into commercial bank accounts of foreign manufacturers, suppliers, importers, exporters, and brokers all facilitating a secret nuclear black-market supply chain.
One of several methods, from where foreign government intelligence agencies obtain their highly valued information, is through a source known as Human Intelligence (aka) HUMINT where either positionable 'floaters' or those 'in-place' take high-risks using certain pretexts to 'retrieve' and means to 'transmit' secret information either as freelance assets, contractors, or employees.
One of the flaws foreign government intelligence agencies experience on occassion is attributable to 'incompetent handling' of 'valuable information' and/or 'HUMINT sources' left unattended or unmaintained.
Rarely do all three (3) intelligence mishaps occur, especially when a foreign government agent employee deals directly with one (1) HUMINT source, except in the exemplified case below:
Foreign Purchase Order Payment Contract
The Eastern European nation of the Republic of Serbia company GOŠA FABRIKA ŠINSKIH VOZILA (aka) GOŠA-FŠV (aka) GOŠA-RSC [ established in 1923 sold in 2007 to ŽOS TRNAVA A.S. ( Slovak Republic ) operating now under the ŽOS GROUP ( Republic of Slovenia ) ], a rolling stock ( railroad car ) company fulfilled a 'foreign production order' to build 'several specially designed rail cars' for WAGON PARS COMPANY ( Arak, Iran & Tehran, Iran ) whose website advertising claims is "The largest manufacturer of rolling stock ( railroad cars ) in the Middle East" and who operates under contracts with the SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ), an Iran government defense contractor.
Clandestine Foreign Order Money-Laundering
WAGON PARS COMPANY under the SAMEN GROUP directed monies earlier sent 'in-to' Iran at BANK TEJARAT ( Tehran ) that was given instructions to redirect those monies 'out-of' Iran and 'in-to' France where at BANK TEJARAT ( Paris ) it was given instructions to redirect those monies 'out-of' France and 'in-to' Italy where at BANCA INTESA it was given instructions to redirect those monies 'out-of' Italy and 'in-to' Serbia where at BANCA INTESSA it was given instructions for those monies to be deposited 'in-to' the corporate account of GOŠA HOLDING ( Belgrade, Serbia ) as payment for those 'special built rail cars'.
Clandestine Foreign Order Smuggling
What the purchase contract did 'not' reveal was GOŠA specially built rail car specifications and delivery instructions to the import and export firm of BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED shipping and receiving office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan where WAGON PARS COMPANY left those GOŠA 'specially built rail cars' to be received by another SAMEN GROUP partnered affiliate company IRAN SAMEN COMPANY also located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan that saw those same GOŠA 'specially built rail cars' exported from the shipping and receiving office of BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to Tehran, Iran where they were delivered to a WAGON PARS COMPANY receiving the same GOŠA specially built rail cars for the SAMEN GROUP Iran government defense contractor.
It is understood that SAMEN GROUP Iran government defense contracts included the GOŠA 'specially built rail cars' due to the extraordinary clandestine measures undertaken for an additional Iran tactical nuclear war strategy patterned on either, the:
- Russia 25-year old ( 1983 ) mountain cave concealable mobile railroad car ( rolling stock ) modified by design to support additional Iran tactical nuclear weapon delivery system deploying Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles ( ICBM ); or,
[ NOTE: The IRAN SAMEN COMPANY met with Russia government officials and its partnered affiliate BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED whose shipping and receiving office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan is led by its headquarters office in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia and is the partnered affiliate of the Russia large multi-national company GAZPROM ( detailed further below ) ]
- China 8-year old ( 1999 ) mountain cave concealable mobile railcar nuclear weapon delivery system that was retrofitted using stolen U.S. M-88 miniature nuclear missiles. [ NOTE: SAMEN GROUP has a partnered affiliate office in China ( not detailed in this report ). ]
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) information notes ( immediately below ) review only a few of many items the Iran government obtained from its defense contracts with many large multi-national companies through their partnered affiliates issuing purchase orders and delivery instructions:
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Note(s)
- By October 1997, the CIA already saw Iran Yellow-Cake (aka) Uranium and Hexafloride gas nuclear fuel for nuclear weapons using purchased UF6 designed for that conversion processing at its Isfahan plant;
- By May 2001, the CIA already saw Iran finance and purchase six (6) 1,000 kilometer + range 'Ghadr' Land Attack Cruise Missiles ( LACM ). Through the Pakistan based A.Q Khan network, Iran purchased a Ukraine supply of Russia designed Raduga Kh-55 missiles enabling Iran nuclear strikes on Europe from sea, air, and land - including mobile rail car launch platforms in the future. Iran purchased 120 kilometer range 'Noor' anti-ship cruise missle knock-off copies of the LACM / YJ-82 / C-802 for attacks in the Persian Gulf against the U.S. Navy and as far away as one of the secret U.S. SPAWAR Space Command satellite defense installations located on the island of Diego Garcia;
- From 2003 thru 2005, the CIA already saw Russia MiG-29 and Su-24 pilot groups from Iran training in Russia;
- By 2004, the CIA already saw Iran receive nuclear weapon component designs via the A.Q Khan network. Iran had already purchased 'Nasr' ( JJ/TL-6B ) and 'Kosr' ( JJ/TL-10A ) - optical guided - tactical missiles from the HONGDU AIRCRAFT COMPANY ( China ). Iran purchased 'Hoot' rocket torpedos from Kyrgystan based on the Russia designed 'Shkval' VA-111 underwater missile weapon that avoids sonar detection and can be deployed fast enough to punch a hole through most U.S. Navy warships having little defense against it;
- By late 2004, the CIA already saw Iran purchase and process nuclear trigger beryllium, centrifuges to reprocess Uranium to an even more powerful strategic weapon grade material, and Maraging steel fabricating defense hardened nuclear bomb casings;
- By mid 2005, the CIA already saw Iran purchase designs from the A.Q Khan network allowing Iran to fabricate its Uranium 'pit' for a nuclear weapon, which the A.Q. Khan network earlier sold to Libya, and even earlier during the 1980s to Pakistan;
- By February 2006, the CIA already saw Iran shoulder and launch 'Mithaq-2' Surface-to-Air Missiles ( SAM ), a modified version of the QW-1 ( China );
- By March 2006, the CIA already saw Iran purchase ten (10) very fast ( 50 knot ) 'Holy Prophet' attack boats equipped with anti-ship radar guided versions of the C-701 ( China ) with a 20 kilometer range and where both - packaged as a land and sea based mobile system - were launched from a truck to the sea for use as an Iran mobile coast missle defense system, also capable of arming the Iran 19-ton missile fast attack ship known as the 'China Cat';
- By May 2006, the CIA already saw Iran use UF6 to test its reprocessing centrifuges, indicating Iran mastered its Uranium reprocessing cycle to retain nuclear weapon production capabilities. Iran had already puchased solid fuel ballistic missile technologies from Russia providing sufficient range capability so Iran nuclear weapons could reach Europe;
- Over the past 10-years, the CIA already saw Russia exports increase deliveries of weapons to Iran, not limited to, but including these additional few:
- Thirty-five (35) MiG-29 fighter-bombers;
- Thirty-two (32) Sukhoi Su-24 fighter-bombers LACN / C-802 anti-ship cruise missile capable;
- Seven (7) Su-25 attack fighters;
- Three (3) KILO class submarines;
- One (1) TOR-M1 short-range anti-aircraft missile system; and,
- More.
After the CIA saw China losing its natural resource mines of raw ore materials to supply military tooled equipment production for Iran, China was seen at an even further loss as Central Asia already arranged importing oil from Russia pipelines.
With those economic cards stacked against China, the UN Security Council saw China capitulate to U.S. led sanctions against Iran as China tried was used to pressure Russia from taking over China's lucrative weapon supply trade with Iran.
China did this by simply exposing information on Iran requests surrounding certain weapons, equipment, and strategic materials it had already fulfilled plus information surrounding Iran requests to China for supplying various future weapons and support equipment, all of which led U.S. intelligence and other foreign intelligence agencies to discover what weapons and support equipment Russia would be requested to fill for any Iran void learned from its China experience.
Although China has enough 'financial resources' and a current weapon stock piled arsenal for sale to beat U.S. led sanctions at the United Nations.
The U.S. President George Bush Jr. Administration urging the UN Security Council to ban the export of weapons and dual use military technologies to Iran, consequently contributes pressure on Russia, Ukraine, and other European nations to end their lucrative military sales and dual-use technology programs to Iran that would direct requests through Syria and/or Iran self-sufficient missile and weapon production. Iran, however will not remain satisfied playing with its weapons in the sand all alone, which concerns Israel that is keenly aware of Iran military capabilities with hundreds of nuclear sites where a 'tactical nuclear first strike' against Israel - a country 100 times smaller - could literally erase Israel and knowing Iran has already 'purchased designs and equipment' enabling its own production now for several Tactical and Surface-to-Air Missiles ( SAM ), fast Missile Ships, and other weapon systems can hamper U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force retaliatory attacks on Iran nuclear facilities when a new war occurs.
Reference
- JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY ( 20DEC00 ): "U.S. Customs Arrests Suspected Iranian Agents"
- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( 27FEB03 ): "Undercover Investigation Leads To Federal Charges Against Nine Defendants For Illegally Shipping Arms"
- WASHINGTON POST ( 15FEB04 ): "Libyan Arms Designs Traced Back to China, Pakistanis Resold Chinese-Provided Plans"
- NEW YORK TIMES ( 24NOV04 ): "CIA Says Pakistanis Gave Iran Nuclear Aid"
- FINANCIAL TIMES ( 02FEB05 ): "Iran and China Linked to Ukraine Cruise Missles"
- REUTERS ( 28JUL05 ): "Iran Took Chinese Beryllium For Nuclear Weapons"
- UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL ( 06FEB06 ): "Iran Produces Sophisticated Rocket"
- NTV MIR - Moscow, Russia ( 02APR06 ): "Iran May Have Obtained Soviet Super-Torpedo Through Kyrgyzstan"
- THE GUARDIAN ( 20APR06 ): "Radical Iranian Group Seeks British Suicide Volunteers"
- AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE ( 24APR06 ): "US Urges Ban On Military Sales To Iran"
- NEW YORK TIMES ( 26APR06 ): "Senior Iran Cleric Tells Sudan That Nuclear Aid Is Available"
- REUTERS ( 02MAY06 ): "Iran Says Russia And China Will Not Back Sanctions"
- ASSOCIATED PRESS ( 03MAY06 ): "Iran threatens Israel if U.S. attacks"
- TAIPEI TIMES ( 04MAY06 ): "US Needs China's Help In Dealing With The Issue Of Iran's Nuclear Program"
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/pr2003/036.html
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/37c2003c-7565-11d9-9608-00000e2511c8.html
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Interestingly, with all the CIA already knew about Iran weapon purchases, shipments, and deliveries over the past 10-years, somehow the CIA failed in January 2006 to evaluate information recieved from a HUMINT source supplying hard copy data that foretold of yet another nuclear launch platform that Iran has now been equipped with to use, which was based on Russia government military construction plans that provided the clandestine design incorporated in equipment that Iran purchased and had delivered that holds specially reinforced freight rail cars that support a new nuclear weapon platform for Iran optionally mating scaled-down nuclear missiles for mobile rail cars subsequently copied by Russia using China stolen plans mating U.S. M-88 nuclear missles into Iran's version of a modified U.S. MX nuclear launch platform system hidden underground and in mountains.
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The official France communiqué ( below ) only opens the public curtain revealing a limited portion of the global stage where in the background for over 10-years intelligence reports led the U.S. government push forward into war with a very confidently stubborn Iran.
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Communiqué
France Foreign and European Affairs Ministry
Paris
FRANCE
Embassy of France
Pacific Star Building - 16th Floor
Makati at Gil Puyat Avenue
1200 Makati City
Republic of the Philippines
Subject: Iran Nuclear Policy / United Nations Security Council Resolution 1803
3 March 2008
By a vote of 14 to 0, with 1 abstention, the United Nations Security Council adopted a 3rd sanctions resolution against Iran.
This resolution expresses - once again - the international community concerns about the Iran nuclear program where concerns recently strengthened by evidence gathered by the IAEA concerning activities that could indicate a 'military dimension' to the Iran nuclear program.
By refusing to implement the measures successively demanded by the IAEA [ International Atomic Energy Agency ] Board of Governors and the UN Security Council, to rebuild trust, Iran has left the international community no choice but to adopt new sanctions.
The UN Security Council is thus formulating a call for vigilance and bans affecting several aspects of relations between Iran and the rest of the international community. They include:
- Iran bank activities - notably MELLI BANK and SADERAT BANK - involved in proliferating transfers;
- Iran export of dual-use items;
- Iran transportation activities; and,
- Iran shipping activities.
But sanctions are not an end in them.
The resolution also recalls that the six (6) - China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and United States - that want a negotiated solution, as those six (6) foreign ministers stressed in their joint declaration following the vote.
The UN Security Council resolution recalls the efforts expended by the six (6) to engage in a dialogue with Iran and, in particular, the ambitious proposal they made in June 2006 providing for cooperation in the area of civilian nuclear power as well as economic and political cooperation 'if' Iran agreed to suspend its 'sensitive nuclear activities' and to negotiate.
This proposal remains on the table and we call on Iran once again to seize this opportunity to achieve a solution in the interest of all.
Reference
http://www.ambafrance-ph.org/newsfromfrance.php?article_id=1168
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Note
Excerpts ( below ):
ASSOCIATED PRESS ( AP )
CHICAGO TRIBUNE - Chicago, Illinois, USA
China Played Whistle-Blower, Diplomats Say
Beijing Gave UN Nuclear Info on Iran
by, George Jahn - The Associated Press
April 2, 2008 / 10:53 PM (CDT)
AUSTRIA, Vienna ( Wien ) — China gave the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) intelligence about Iran's nuclear program despite Beijing, China opposition to harsh UN Security Council sanctions on Tehran, Iran according to diplomats familiar with the matter.
China and Russia have acted as a brake within the UN Security Council, consistently watering down a U.S. led push to impose severe penalties on Tehran, Iran.
A China decision to provide information for an investigation into Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program could be a sign of growing international unease about Islamic Republic of Iran denials it never tried to make nuclear weapons ... John Bolton, who was U.S. ambassador to the UN and U.S. Under-Secretary of State in charge of the Iran nuclear dossier, said any such China move would be "potentially significant" because of Beijing, China's former military ties to Tehran, Iran. "We have known or felt for some time that both in the 'ballistic missile field' and in the 'nuclear field' there has been cooperation for some time," he said in an interview ...
... [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] ...
Reference
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/thursday/chi-iran-nukes_03apr03,2,5446500.story
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Note
Excerpts ( below ):
JANE'S INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE REVIEW
Jane's on Iranian Weaponization
by, Mark Harrington
March 16, 2008
... Documents, shown exclusively to Jane’s, indicate that Iran is continuing its pursuit of the advanced technologies necessary to develop a nuclear weapon, regardless of Tehran, Iran's claims that its nuclear program is purely peaceful.
Jane’s was shown the information by a source connected to a Western intelligence service, and the documents were verified by a number of reliable independent sources in Vienna, Austria ...
... an organization within the Iran Ministry of Defense has actively pursued the development of a nuclear weapon system based on relatively advanced Multi-Point Initiation ( MPI ) nuclear implosion detonation technology for some years, 'in parallel with developments' within Iran's own Atomic Energy Authority ( AEA ) ...
Reference
http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/1823/janes-on-iranian-weaponization
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Iran Government Clandestine Activities
For more than 40-years, as an ally of Russia, Syria and Iran have been seen within days of each for over 10-years in the Republic of the Congo ( DRC / RCD ) as black market smuggling recipients of 'yellow-cake' nuclear material.
Since at least 1971, and according to official U.S. intelligence reports, Syria received its first (1st) tactical nuclear weapon from Russia, which has seen to upgrading its modern missile guidance telemetry technology for over 37-years.
On January 12, 2006 the Smederevska Palanka, Serbia firm GOSA-FSV (aka) ZOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) received a foreign order from a Tehran, Iran firm WAGON PARS COMPANY ( headquartered in Arak, Iran / formerly known as Soltan-abad, Iran ) to specially build several new railroad cars designed to hold special loads 'freight' railroad cars - sold at an unbelievable low price - were purchased by WAGON PARS COMPANY ( Tehran, Iran ) whose advertising claims state it "...is the largest railroad car manufacturer in the Middle East" saw paid from money-laundered funds out-of a previous foreign bank deposit in-to BANK TEJARAT ( formerly: IRAN-RUSSIA BANK ) in Tehran, Iran that money-laundered those funds out-of its BANK TEJARAT Paris, France branch that money-laundered those funds in-to Italy BANCA INTESA that paid out-of funds in-to its Belgrade, Serbia branch where those funds eventually landed in-to the account of GOSA HOLDING COMPANY.
Given the combined 'yellow-cake' nuclear material smuggling history of Syria alongside Iran, it is not beyond reality for Iran tactical nuclear weapon capabilities to engineer and retrofit its 'clandestinely purchased special built-to-order railroad freight cars' from a country as far away as Serbia especially when Tehran, Iran has its own company WAGON PARS COMPANY claiming to already build and supply railcars, heightening suspicions coupled with the fact that the SAMEN GROUP, holds defense contracts with the government of Iran. Why did SAMEN GROUP reach all the way to Serbia, other than to conceal a clandestine Iran government war strategy?
The SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ) holds defense contracts with the government of Iran through its partners, one of which is WAGON PARS COMPANY headquartered in Arak, Iran ( formerly known as Soltan-abad, Iran ) whose Tehran, Iran broker office was especially used to order the specially built railroad cars manufactured in the Smederevska Palanka, Serbia by GOSA-FSV (aka) ZOS GROUP ( in Slovenia ) for 'specially built rail cars' under delivery instructions that BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LTD. ( headquartered in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia with offices in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ) receive them so the rail cars could then be turned over to its partnered firm IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka) INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY ( in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ), a subsidiary of SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ) holding defense contracts with the government of Iran.
A copy of the aforementioned 'original purchase contract' was immediately forwarded to a U.S. information broker for U.S. intelligence analysis returned a reply expressing "no interest," nevertheless the foreign field information source allowed the document to cool for 2-years, and after not receiving any further reply back for special instructions to either secure or destroy the document, a copy of the original contract was posted to an internet website on January 24, 2008 ( see online reference link at bottom of this report ).
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Note(s)
- GOŠA HOLDING (aka) GOŠA FABRIKA ŠINSKIH VOZILA (aka) GOŠA-FSV (aka) GOŠA ROLLING STOCK COMPANY (aka) GOŠA-RSC owned by ZOS GROUP [ Rail car production ( established on 02OCT23 at Smederevska Palanka, Serbia ), operated within ISO 9001 guidelines and German TÜV welding certification, purchased by ŽOS TRNAVA A.S. ( Slovakia ) in February 2007, partner of the ŽOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) ];
- WAGON PARS COMPANY [ Rail car production ( headquartered in Arak, Iran (aka) Soltan-abad, Iran with offices in Tehran, Iran ), partner of the SAMEN GROUP (aka) IRAN SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ) ];
- SAMEN GROUP (aka) IRAN SAMEN GROUP [ Holding company ( headquartered in Tehran, Iran ) with Iran government defense projects, with numerous subsidiaries and partnered affiliates including the IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka) INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY ( headquartered in Tehran, Iran with office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ) ];
- IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka) INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY [ SAMEN GROUP subsidiary ( headquartered in Tehran, Iran with office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ) with numerous subsidiaries and partnered affiliates including BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED ( office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan headquartered in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia ) ];
- BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED [ Import and Export equipment firm ( headquartered in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia with offices in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ) partnered with INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY (aka) IRAN SAMEN COMPANY ( office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan headquartered in Tehran, Iran with office ), and partnered with GAZPROM ( Russia ) involving petroleum and natural gas equipment ];
- BANK TEJARAT (fka) IRAN-RUSSIA BANK [ Established in 1926 in Persia (aka) Iran with the former Soviet Union until September 1979 when it merged into eleven (11) other banks in Tehran, Iran now holding branches for this one (1) bank ( alone ) worldwide ]; and,
- GAZPROM [ Russia government authorized supplier of natural gas and petroleum shipments to surrounding countries, partnered with BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED [ Import and Export equipment firm ( headquartered in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia with offices in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ), and partnered through contracts with GOŠA HOLDING (aka) GOŠA FABRIKA ŠINSKIH VOZILA (aka) GOŠA-FSV ( Smederevska Palanka, Serbia ) ].
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American intelligence agencies have known for decades the Russia government has always favored using several primary companies for many years, not limited to, and including:
- GOŠA HOLDING ( for over 80-years ), for international and national transportation, international and national infrastructure, and international and national government defense projects;
- GAZPROM, for international and national natural gas distribution and through its affiliates and partnerships for energy equipment production equipment and development projects; and,
- LUKOIL, for international and national petroleum and by-product exploration and distribution through its affiliates and partnerships to energy dependent countries throughout East Europe, like the Republic of Serbia.
It is also commonly known, amongst international intelligence agencies, that Russia government contracts with companies like GOŠA HOLDING, GAZPROM, LUKOIL, and hundreds of their contracted affiliates and partnered firms do not stop at delivering industry standard products and services, but extend to also assisting foreign companies when their countries may be seen in conflict with the rest of the world, especially when it comes to countries like the Islamic Republic of Iran whose needs are met by arranging and facilitating 'money-laundering' to continue trading, contrary to whatever may be represented before any country or group within the United Nations.
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Note(s)
Iran's Persian ( Farsi language ) word "Tejarat," is defined by the American ( English language ) word "Trade."
- - - -
Winter 1998
The Internal Publication of BANK TEJARAT - No. 8
. . . [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] . . .
IRAN-RUSSIA BANK was formed between the governments of the former Soviet Union of Russia and Islamic Republic of Iran in 1926 with an aim of facilitating trade exchanges between these two (2) countries.
The headquarters of the bank was in Tehran, Iran with some branches being inaugurated in northern parts of the country.
The bank dealt with financial affairs of instituteions affiliated with the government of the former Soviet Union and trade exchanges between the two (2) countries.
The activities of this bank, which were subject to Iran banking regulations, continued until 1979 when this bank along with 27 other state-owned or private banks were nationalized under a decision approved by the Revolutionary Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
[ NOTE: "IRAN-RUSSIA BANK" became known as "BANK TEJARAT" in September 1979, when it joined eleven (11) other private banks, and was capitalized with 39,100,000,000 billion Rials on 20DEC79. ]
. . . [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] . . .
Reference
http://www.parstimes.com/history/banking_history.html
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Note(s)
BANK TEJARAT
Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Investment Projects
Investment and participation of banks in great national projects and plans is one of the policies of government after Revolution, which plays a prime role in providing grounds for activity of private sector on one hand, and directly and indirectly creates many job opportunities on the other. Therefore, BANK TEJARAT has participated in financing great national projects by facilitating Rials in 2004 as it has in past years.
Some titles of main investment projects are as follows:
FAJR PETROCHEMICAL CO.
Partnership of bank in this company with following products is effected in special economic zones like Razi and BANK IMAN with a capital of 73,000,000,000 billion Rial.
- Electricity - 585 Mega-Watts
- Steam - 860 tons per hour water
- Reverse Osmoses - 4,680 cubic meters per hour
- DH - 980 cubic meters per hour
- Service water - 400 cubic meters per hour
- Drinking water - 250 cubic meters per hour
- Service air - 16,500 normal cubic meters per hour
- Precision tools air - 15,000 normal cubic meters per hour
- Nitrogen - 18,000 normal cubic meters per hour
- Oxygen - 19,000 normal cubic meters per hour
KHORASAN PETROCHEMICAL CO.
Not only does this project meet the considerable needs of domestic industry petrochemical products, it also meets a great number of many countries and regional needs, especially Central Asia. Employment, creation of new job opportunities, suitable foundation for commissioning development of related industries, decreasing domestic dependence on industries importing petrochemical products, and development of upstream and downstream industries are amongst the national benefits of this project. Participation within project production of 330,000 tons of Ammonium plus Nitrogen Urea ( N-37 ) agricultural fertilizer amounts to 495,000 tons per annum had been facilitated through a BANK TEJARAT grant of 567,000,000,000 billion Rials.
TRANS-CITY RAILWAY OF TEHRAN AND SUBURB
Not only does this project reduce the air-pollution of Tehran, Iran but it also will reduce traffic problems of the city is of prime importance considering a wide range of problems. BANK TEJARAT has participated in this project by facilitating a grant of up to 1,007,000,000,000 trillion Rials.
KAROON 3 DAM
Aridity is one of the main problems of Iran requiring intensive control of surface water. For Iran, the Karoon 3 Dam and Power Plant is the biggest hydro-electric power plant and water supply center holding a capacity of 2,000 Mega-Watts that could be upgraded to 3,000 Mega-Watts, which by itself, is the total capacity of hydro-general power capacity before the Islamic Revolution. This dam height of 205 meters is the highest dam of Iran and may save about 3,000,000,000 billion cubic meters. Karoon 3 Dam is one of the water supply projects commissioned under grant facilitation by BANK TEJARAT up to 835,000,000,000 billion Rials.
QAZVIN-RASHT EXPRESSWAY
Qazvin-Rasht Expressway is one of Iran's largest development projects under construction with the participation of BANK TEJARAT and Roads and Road Transport Organization.
Primary estimated expenses is 431.31 billion Rials, consisting of 3.06 billion Rials in capital, plus the facilitation of a 428.5 billion Rials grant. By January 2005, physical work on this project was 39% complete.
COPPER INDUSTRIES OF IRAN
Sarcheshmeh Copper Development Project and Shahr Babak Mineral-Industrial Complext Project were commissioned and put into operation with 894,065,000,000 billion Rials and 1,046,952,000,000 trillion Rials respectively.
Sarnegoon Copper Project is under completion with 850,956,000,000 billion Rials and will be completed by the end of Iranian year 1384, with was totally financed up to 2,791,973,000,000 trillion Rials by BANK TEJARAT.
Reference
http://www.tejaratbank.ir/en/Projects.html
- -
BANK TEJARAT
124-126 Rue De Provence ( Angle 76 Bd Haussmann )
75008 Paris
FRANCE
TEL: +33 1 44707844
FAX: +33 1 40080635
TELEX: 281972 F BKTEJ
TELEX: 281973 F BKTEJ
SWIFT: BTEJFRPP
CONTACT: Mr. Mahdian - General Manager
E-MAIL:
WWW: http://www.tejaratbank.ir/en/Branches.html
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Note
ALALAM NEWS - Tehran, Iran
Iran, GAZPROM to Uphold Energy Co-Op
January 16, 2008
IRAN, Tehran - Russia energy giant GAZPROM plans to offer Iran new cooperation prospects of oil and gas, Iran's oil minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari said on Tuesday in Tehran, where GAZPROM is interested in oil and gas exploration, pipeline construction, and oil and gas deposit developments in Iran.
In 2007, Iran Deputy Oil Minister Hossein Noghrehkar Shirazi and GAZPROM Chief Executive Officer Alexei Miller met in Moscow to discuss bilateral cooperation. The parties identified oil and gas deposit exploration and development, in particular the further development of the energy-rich Southern Pars deposit in Iran, as priority areas for cooperation. "We held serious talks with GAZPROM officials in Russia agreeing to cooperative bilateral energy proposal presentations by mid-March 2008," said Iran oil minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari.
In 2006, Iran produced 105,000,000,000 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and has a proven natural gas reserve total more than 28,000,000,000,000 trillion cubic meters.
In 1997, Iran's Southern Pars Stage 2 and 3 Persian Gulf natural gas fields, initiated by TOTAL, with France holding a 40% stake, GAZPROM, with Russia holding a 30% state, and PETRONAS, with Malaysia holding a 30% stake that saw twenty (20) production wells from two (2) offshore platforms built - where each was equipped with underwater gas pipelines 100-kilometers ( 62-miles ) long - and built one (1) land-based plant to hold an annual capacity of 20,000,000,000 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
Reference
http://www.alalam.ir/english/en-NewsPage.asp?newsid=039100120080116134257
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What forced the IRAN SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ) to launder money out-of their banks in Iran and in-to GAZPROM affiliate banks for the purchase of several 'specially built rail cars' coming all the way from Serbia to Turkmenistan, and 'then' to Iran, when WAGON PARS COMPANY ( Tehran, Iran ) website advertising claims indicate that 'it' is "The Greatest Manufacturer of Rolling Stock [ Moving Rail Cars ] in the Middle East"?
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Note
WAGON PARS COMPANY
76 Taleghani Street at Felestin Square [ NOTE: Philistine Square ]
P.O. Box 14155-5814
14168 Teheran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
TEL: +98 (0) 21 64 03 27 6
FAX: +98 (0) 861 33 39 99
WWW: http://www.wagonpars.com
About
The Greatest Manufacturer of Rolling Stock [ Moving Railroad Equipment ] in the Middle East:
- Freight cars [ NOTE: Includes 'flat-bed rail' cars & 'open or closed container rail' cars ];
- Locomotives [ NOTE: Also 'built' in Serbia by GOSA (aka) ZOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) ];
- Passenger coaches [ NOTE: Also 'built' in Serbia by GOSA-FSV (aka) ZOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) ]
- Metro cars [ NOTE: Also 'built' in Serbia by GOSA (aka) ZOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) ]
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are fully prepared to answer your general and technical questions with pleasure.
Reference
http://www.virtualmarket.innotrans.de/index.php5?id=43611&highlight=&fid=35&offset=0&Action=showCompany&bmp=10111
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Note
IPR Strategic Business Information
Iran: Wagon Pars Set To Acquire Serbian CBU Cars
MAY 24, 2006
According to the Tehran Times, Iraq based WAGON PARS COMPANY will purchase five (5) completely built unit ( CBU ) freight cars from a Serbia rail car manufacturer.
WAGON PARS will start to manufacture fifteen (15) wagons, after buying 'Serbia made freight cars', in-keeping with the renovation of RAJA train equipment ...
... [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] ...
Reference
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-146166520.html
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Note
SAMEN GROUP
Agencies
Some of the companies we represent, are:
... [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] ...
WAGON PARS COMPANY - Founded in 1974 and started manufacturing different types of rolling stocks [ moving rail cars ] in 1984 ‘through a joint investment agreement’ between the Iran Development and Renovation Organization ( IDRO ) and the Islamic Republic of Iran Rail Road ( IIRR ).
... [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] ...
Reference
http://www.samengroup.com/agencies.htm
- -
SAMEN GROUP
Iran Headquarters:
SAMEN GROUP
3 Cross Shadab Street at Sepahbod Gharani Street
Building 3 - 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 14185-366
15846 Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
TEL: +98 (021) 88915465-8
FAX: +98 (021) 88915469
E-MAIL:
samen@samengroup.com
WWW: http://www.samengroup.com
Turkmenistan Office:
IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka)
INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY
2 Ashgabatsky Business Centre ( ABC )
Archabil Shayoly 41
1939 Ashgabat
TURKMENISTAN
TEL: +993 12 48 88 25
TEL: +993 12 48 92 29
TEL: +993 12 48 85 16
E-MAIL: samengroup@online.tm
WWW: http://www.samengroup.com
CONTACT: Geahpur Gulan Reza ( director )
NOTE: See, e.g. SAMAN BANK [ Tehran, Iran ]
Russia office:
TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. [ Tehran Machine Import Equipments Limited ]
Borisoglebsk
Voronezh Oblast
RUSSIA
TEL: (47354) 6-77-37
TEL: (47354) 6-83-31
TEL: (47354) 5-70-91
TEL: (47354) 5-64-63
FAX: (47354) 6–83–31
E-MAIL: pro@texmash.ru
WWW: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.texmash.ru/content/view/9/10/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsamengroup%2540online.tm%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN
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Although having taken place in '2005', the following event remained hidden by the SAMEN GROUP, which only 'archived' it in 'August 2006' along with all its other news releases, but even then further clandestinely hid by 'misspelling all proper names' of the 'Region', 'Republic', 'Province', and 'Capital City' where the actual event took place, which was then later corrected by a private information source on April 2, 2008 ( further below ).
Here now, is the ‘original un-corrected news release’ produced by the SAMEN GROUP, which kept it hidden for years until now ( immediately below ).
- -
SAMEN GROUP
IranSamen News Aug 2006
PHOTO http://www.samengroup.com/images/ahmadi%20nejad/ashgabat%20ex3(2005).jpg
IRAN SAMEN 'S manager traveled to Russia
IRAN SAMEN 'S manager traveled to YekeTellingBurgh of Surdelufask province by foreign programming and economical ministry of Russia for creating proper area to export our technical & engineering services . Several meeting accomplished with men of Russia industry , governmental official and industrial province in this period .Where as several bilateral and multilateral agreement signed , we can export our services until next year .
Letter of economical
cooperation agreement was signed by traveling of marketing group and managers of Iran Samen group to Eufa capital of Beshghirstan .Private and governmental departments of mentioned republic expressed their in tersest in our technical and engineering services . We can greeting proper export market at mentioned republic with cooperation of our economical institution such as technical banks .
Reference
http://www.samengroup.com/archive_aug_2006.htm
- -
While there was 'no need for language translation' of the aforementioned SAMEN GROUP 'original news release', there was however and because 'none of the proper names existed anywhere in the world', the above-mentioned SAMEN GROUP original news release required much needed private analysis and research to reformulate proper names into correctly spelled proper names, consequential sentence restructuring and punctuation that then demanded slight reorganization before this privately produced intelligence interpretation could provide any true meaning.
Here now ( below ) is that final intelligence work product:
- -
SAMEN GROUP
Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Iran Samen Company
Ashgabat
REPUBLIC OF TURKMENISTAN
News
August 2006
PHOTO http://www.samengroup.com/images/ahmadi%20nejad/ashgabat%20ex3(2005).jpg
Iran Samen Manager Traveled To Russia
Iran Samen manager traveled to Yekaterinburg, formerly known as Sverdlovsk, province [ Central Russia ] and was met by the Russia foreign program and economic ministry for creating a proper area to export our technical & engineering services.
Several meetings, during this period, were accomplished with Russia industrialists and government officials within the industrial province of Yekaterinburg - formerly known as Sverdlovsk - where several bilateral and multilateral agreements were signed to begin exporting our services in 2007.
A letter of economic cooperation agreement was signed with IRAN SAMEN GROUP marketing group and managers whom traveled to the capital city of Ufa, Bashkortostan.
While there, private and governmental departments of Bashkortostan expressed interest in our technical and engineering services for an appropriate export market cooperation between Bashkortostan and our technical institution financial bank.
- - - -
Note(s)
A. Potential gas reserves of Turkmenistan are estimated at 22,000,000,000,000 trillion cubic meters, indicating the country as the 5th largest in the world.
A. Russia primary economic region in the Urals in the federal district of Volga sees the Republic of Bashkortostan holding one of the major raw materials bases for Russia non-ferrous metallurgy.
B. There was an anthrax outbreak in Yekaterinburg in April and May 1979, which U.S. intelligence agencies indicated local citizens inhaled from spores from an aerosol of pathogen accidentally released at a military microbiology facility there. In the book entitled, Biohazard, Dr. Kanatjan Alibekov accounts for the Yekaterinburg - then known as Sverdlovsk - anthrax leak, which was later found in 1994 by Michael Meelson to have been from the Russia military facility known as Sverdlovsk 19.
C. On May 1, 1960 a U.S. intelligence surveillance mission conducted in a Lockheed U-2 aircraft piloted by U.S. Air Force Captain Francis Gary Powers - reportedly operating under U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) directives - was shot down over the Russia province of Yekaterinburg, Oblast, captured as an American spy, interrogated by the former Soviet Union KGB, imprisoned for years, and after a U.S. captured Soviet Union KGB agent exchange freed Powers - only few years later - he reportedly died while piloting a helicopter for major television news firm in a mysterious Los Angeles, California accident.
Reference(s)
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.texmash.ru/content/view/9/10/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsamengroup%2540online.tm%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN
http://www.wikipedia.org/
- - - -
Note
TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. ( Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia )
News Release [ Already placed in company website “Archive” by ‘April 2, 2008’ ]
Excerpts:
March 11, 2008 - March 18, 2008
"Gazprom" Will Have To Fight For Its Position In The World ... Gazprom ... consolidation of state control over the company and the removal of restrictions for foreign investors ... [ GAZPROM ] aggressively expanded its influence in the former Soviet republics, as well as signed agreements with Serbia, Bulgaria and Hungary to build gas pipeline "south flow," virtually blocking Nabucco project ... Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, in turn, stressed that Germany sees this project as very important for the entire European energy security, RIA Novosti [ http://www.rian.ru ] ...
Potential gas reserves of Turkmenistan are estimated at 22,000,000,000,000 trillion cubic meters, which puts the country on this indicator on the 5th largest in the world ... This calls into question the implementation of alternative pipelines, as well as in raising prices to the European level from 2009 Russia became only transits" - told RIA Novosti [ http://www.rian.ru ] General Director of the Center for political expediency Konstantin Simonov. In his view, the management station of Central Asia is well aware of how significant resource has, and increases the price of fuel in line with the situation in the market. Simonov stressed that the "gas" hunger will continue to boost prices.
[ Russia's ] FAS will allow exports of natural gas ... Gazprom ... The [ Russia ] law on the export of gas would not apply to liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG ), carriage by rail. Now manufacturers are exporting LPG on the basis of his letter the Federal Customs Service. The [ Russia ] law on the export of gas in effect since the summer of 2006, Gazprom - the only exporter of gas ...
Central Asian countries will sell [ GAZPROM ] gas at European prices ... In November ... [ 2007 ] ... "Gazprom" and Turkmenistan signed an addition to the contract for the supply of fuel from the Republic, under which the price of gas in the first half of 2008 at 130 dollars per thousand cubic meters, in the second half of 2008 - 150 dollars, and from 1 January in 2009 will be determined by the formula prices on market principles.
Formula prices, which will be operational in 2009, will determine the price of supplies to the long-term contract until 2028 ... Until 2009, "Gazprom" buys from Turkmenistan 50 billion cubic meters a year ... Deliveries are made through ... [ Turkmenistan ] ... gas transit pipelines "Central Asia - Center", passing through the territory of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ...
After Russia, Turkmenistan is the second ‘producer’ and ‘exporter’ of gas in the post-Soviet space ... Moreover, "Gazprom" serves as operator of the transit of Turkmenistan natural gas throughout the territory of Uzbekistan and ‘Kazakhstan’ ...
Reference
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.texmash.ru/content/view/9/10/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsamengroup%2540online.tm%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN
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Note
IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka)
INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY (aka) [ note new name spelling: "SAMAN" 'not' "SAMEN" ]
SAMEN GROUP
Ashgabat
Turkmenistan
About us
IRAN SAMEN was established in Tehran [ Iran ] to supply the demands of domestic producers for 'importation of production line machinery' as well as 'exportation of their products'.
Iran Samen enjoys a good name and reputation in its business field owing to years of business activities, experience, and reputation both in Iran and maintaining various representation offices in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Iran Samen has been able to provide means of public and private sector business for both importers and producers and, owing to its suitable communication facilities inside and outside Iran, has been able so far to have a good share of that market.
The experienced commercial, technical, and engineering staff of the company offer desirable 'consultation services' to customers and are well able to act as a suitable 'communication path among foreign and domestic suppliers, purchases and producers'.
With respect to the expanded facilities, experiences, and 'international credit' that has been 'attained by this company and its affiliated companies' during long years of business, we hereby inform our reputable foreign companies in all mentioned countries.
We also inform 'our preparation to work with those investors' who are willing to have reliable business party in there.
Policy of Iran Samen Company [ Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ]
Iran Samen Company has been active in 'removing the demands of local manufacturers and producers' by 'supplying their orders of industrial machinery, exports, production and relevant services', and at the same time 'making optimized use of all available software and hardware equipment', 'offering technical and engineering services' in the industry as well.
With respect to its commitment to fulfill the customers' demands and needs and for continuous optimization and making the activities effective, Iran Samen Company has taken action to establish quality management system based on ISO 9001 : 2000 and feels obliged to continue and maintain these standards.
Following goals are on top of the objectives of Iran Samen Company:
- Improve satisfaction of customers;
- Improve quality and quantity of products and services with continuing company processes;
- Improve local markets by arriving in international markets;
- Improve know-how, skills, and satisfaction of personnel; and,
- Encourage personnel to participate in decision-making, adopting a teamwork policy.
Since the above-mentioned goals could be achieved only through the help and cooperation of all colleagues, they are requested and expected to perform their utmost efforts through suitable concept and belief in order to execute the contexts of this policy, and while witnessing the quality management system establishment and development, we would witness increasing success.
Reference
http://www.samengroup.com/about_us.htm
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Middle East, South Central Asia, and Africa terrorist network operations, those financing them, those supplying them, the strange bedfellows government intelligence agencies kept secret for over 10-years, and those surrounding the First International Bank of Grenada ( FIBG )
FIBG Terrorist Financing & Supply Services
by, Unwanted Publicity
March 31, 2008
The connections were there. Fidelity International Bank Incorporated - registered on the South Pacific island of the Republic of Nauru - along with its predecessor bank First International Bank of Grenada Limited ( FIBG ) - registered on the Caribbean island of the Commonwealth of Grenada - routed monies on a perpetual base into Sub-Sahara Africa, Sudan Egypt, and Pakistan banks from 1997 thru 2000, ending-up funding two (2) Africa nation rebel leaders, one (1) of whom had met in the Middle East ( Yemen ) with Muslim fundamentalist terrorists. But, there was more, much more.
Although few knew, authorities had been intercepting communication traffics while at the same time seizing other information from 'reliable sources', nearly 3,000,000 pages of information documents under the control of several U.S. government offices collecting all this data from 1994 thru 2008 were unable to properly analyze it all to put the puzzle pieces together forming anything more than their publicized picture that a network of independent offshore banks were nothing more Ponzi schemes designed to defraud depositors and investors.
At the conclusion of several federally led investigations over a 14-year period of time, they were unable to locate where all of the $170,000,000.00 millions ( USD ) disappeared, however one individual carrying-on a parallel investigation spanning several continents refused to accept that 'official' public storyline read in the mainstream press.
Understanding, anything other than what the public read in news reports, two (2) primary factors kept people from knowing more about FIBG and what surrounded it.
1.) No single official ever 'read and analyzed all the documents' obtained but only 'some of the documents' - including information from 'official entities', 'public entities', 'private entities', 'contract assets', 'private assets', 'confidential informants', and 'communication intercepts' - were 'limitedly read' by a 'few officials' and 'some officials' whom 'analyzed' only 'some of the documents' but 'not all documents'. Two (2) different federal U.S. District Court judges asked criminal defense attorneys for an estimate on how long it would take these professionals to just 'read' 1,000,000 million pages of government evidence - the government possessed a grand total of 2,000,000 million additional pages of documents never released. More than ten ( 10 ) attorneys agreed in one (1) combined response that it would take one (1) attorney ( alone ) more than 1-yr. but less than 2-yrs to just 'read' 1,000,000 million pages of government documented evidence; and,
2.) No single government information source had 'inside knowledge of all activities', nor did any 'read all the documents', and 'none comparatively analyzed all documents' officially held. Hence, final reports were produced from several official perspectives based on individual information selections.
Those unfamiliar with all of the information surrounding FIBG bank may now learn a little more.
Within 7-months of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, a credible information source on April 29, 2002 initiated one (1) private person into action where nearly 6,000,000 pages of documents, much of which governments had 'not' collected, pertaining to FIBG and those surrounding it was - from private sources - collected, read, analyzed, and with nearly 1,000,000 pages of those documents set-aside for research, additional field work obtained 'inside information' for comparative analysis.
Nearly four ( 4 ) calendar years later, during April 2006, more than 35,000 hours of work had been performed and officially documented. The lone individual published a few mixed information reports on the internet while keeping more than 99% of core information details, sources, and field work confidential.
When asked whether any link was ever found between FIBG and/or those surrounding it to 'terrorist financing', which initiated the private investigation wrapping around the globe, the individual held up four (4) DVD discs, but would not release them, however eventually released were a few select 'public information extracts' (aka) snippets, where only 'some' contained privately edited [ NOTE: ] insertions. The only non-public information article, headlined the others ( below ).
--
"First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. ( FIBG ) CEO Gilbert Allen Ziegler ( from 11OCT97 until 01OCT99 ) arranged the Cornerstone Foundation account number 10007 via FIBG bank ( Grenada ) to send 'perpetual bank money wire transfers' commencing in 1997 - sent out later by the Van Brink entity Onmabutoloa Foundation Ltd. FIBG account number 100246 - until April 4, 2000 depositing over a period of nearly 3-years into the Muslim Commercial Bank ( Lahore, Pakistan ) account number 139-6 held by Muslim imam (aka) leader named Yaqub Masih believed tied to Middle East terrorists hidden by FIBG bank record referencing "pastor" within memos, FAXs, and e-mails."
--
Information extract ( circa DEC99 ):
"Africa Research Bulletin ... there have only been two (2) documented instances of contractual investments between foreign companies and non-state authorities in Congo.
In the first [ 1st ] case Anglo-American, a South Africa mining company, concluded an investment contract worth almost $1,000,000,000.00 billion with Laurent Désiré Kabila a few months before the latter took over power in Kinshasa. It was, however only after both Mbuji Mayi and Lubumbashi had fallen to Kabila troops in April 1997 and barely a month before the fall of Kinshasa, that Anglo-Americans embarked on this deal ... an instance of "future booty" based on the anticipation of Kabila approaching sovereignty, rather than of pure contracting between rebels and foreign firms. The fact that Anglo-American CEO [ NOTE: Chief Executive Officer ] Jean Raymond Boulle lent his private airplane to Kabila troops further suggests his hope and anticipation of their victory.
The second [ 2nd ] instance occurred in the east of the country, in November 1999 [ NOTE: 24NOV99 ], under control of the spin-off rebel group 'Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie Mouvement de Libération' ( RCD - ML ) [ NOTE: Republic of the Congo for the Democratic Movement of Liberation ( Democratic Republic of the Congo Liberation Movement ) ], and involved a less than reputable firm, the First International Bank of Grenada ( FIBG ), which agreed [ NOTE: document entitled "Agreement For Humanitarian Aid And Economic Development For The Democratic Republic of the Congo" held signatures of Dr. Claver Lumana Pashi ( Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo Liberation Movement - Commissar - Foreign Affairs ), John Tibasima ( Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo Liberation Movement - Deputy General Commissar - Mines & Finance ), Van Brink ( of USA, in Uganda - Chairman of the Board - Union Reserve System ), Douglas Christie Ferguson ( of USA, in Uganda - Executive Director - Union Reserve System ), Debbie Antoine ( in Grenada - Corporate Secretary - First International Bank of Grenada Limited ), and Mark Kennedy ( of Canada, in Grenada - Chairman of the Board and CEO - First International Bank of Grenada Limited ) ] to spend $16,000,000 million [ USD ] for the renovation of 15 hospitals and some roads in the province of Oriental [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ], apparently in-exchange for becoming [ NOTE: the 'Union Reserve System' ( later known as ) 'African Union Reserve System' ( AURS ) ] the equivalent of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Bank - and issuing 'mining assets backing new currency in rebel territories'.
Had this deal actually gone through it would have constituted a remarkable case of institutional innovation and an attempt by a rebel organization to take over some of the trappings of sovereignty. The RCD-ML soon fizzled away as a credible organization, however ... it is unclear whether this arrangement could have become operational even if RCD-ML had survived. FIBG had indeed been previously banned from activities in Canada because of investment frauds, and the U.S. Customs Service [ NOTE: "Operation Risky Business" in Antigua ( 1996 ) ] was investigating it for money laundering allegations...
...Both the Mulelist insurrection and the Simba rebellion illustrate the changing nature of the political game in Congo following the decision by the West [ NOTE: aligned nations with United States Foreign Policy aligned nations ] to support the country's territorial integrity.
Although the state [ NOTE: Democratic Republic of the Congo ] was still weak and armed struggles appeared to be a reasonable means to achieve power, the objective for each of these movements was to take over the entire country rather than to break away from it. Secessions, doomed to non-recognition, were no longer perceived as credible options.
Nationalist and revolutionary insurrections on the other hand could benefit from the recognition of non-Western countries and carried therefore a greater promise of success. Indeed, the original Stanleyville government of Antoine Gizenga - set up after the dismissal of Patrice Lumumba in September 1960 - had been recognized by Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Guinea, Cuba, Poland, Yugoslavia, Russia, Democratic Republic of Germany, China, and other countries following the Patrice Lumumba assassination in 1961..."
Reference
http://www3.qeh.ox.ac.uk/pdf/qehwp/qehwps95.pdf
--
Information extract ( circa 01MAR01 ):
"U.S. State Department ... Money Laundry And Financial Crimes ... Grenada ... The Government of Grenada ( GOG ) anti-money laundering measures have thus far proven inadequate, as evidenced by the apparent fraudulent operation and ultimate collapse of the offshore First International Bank of Grenada ( FIBG ) ... In its first year [ 1997 ], the bank claimed to have acquired assets of approximately US $26,000,000.00 billion.
In March 1999, an independent auditor of the FIBG warned the government of Grenada ( GOG ) of serious irregularities such as a lack of real assets and Brink's obstruction of the audit. Brink subsequently moved to Uganda and began to conduct business with rebel leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In January 2000, the FIBG [ NOTE: First International Bank of Grenada Limited Chairman of the Board and CEO during all of "January 2000" was Mark Kennedy ) ] hosted a conference of 60 Congo rebel leaders and signed [ NOTE: Agreement dated 08JAN00 held a 'specified term' of "5-years" with signatures of King Kalinda Ndandu ( for Democratic Republic of the Congo, North Kiwu, Massissi ), King Ndare Simba ( for Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Kiwu, Bafulero ), Valentina Piskounova ( of Russia -aka- Valentina Piskanovna -aka- Valentina Piskounove -aka- Valentina Piskanov -aka- Valentina Petrovich, in South Africa and Uganda - International Relations Secretary - Union Reserve System ), Van Brink ( of USA, in Uganda - Chairman of the Board of Governors - Union Reserve System ), Debbie Antoine ( in Grenada - Corporate Secretary - First International Bank of Grenada Limited ), and Mark Kennedy ( of Canada, in Grenada - Chairman of the Board & CEO - First International Bank of Grenada Limited ) ] a deal promising them [ NOTE: "The Tribal Kingdoms located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo" and "Union Reserve System" (aka) 'African Union Reserve System' ( AURS ) ] millions in aid.
In August 2000 the GOG stepped-in to take control of the bank. Auditors claim that millions of dollars were transferred to international accounts belonging to officers of the bank, including Van Brink in Uganda..."
Reference
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2000/959.htm
--
Note
Information extract ( circa post-September 2002 ):
Network War: An Introduction To Congo's Privatised Conflict Economy - Executive Summary
by, Tim Raemaekers
... Case study: The Victoria Group ...
A case in point of this conflict business is the VICTORIA GROUP. This company represents a specific scheme used by the UDPF [ Uganda Defense Force ] for their looting activities. It is a ghost company, not mentioned in any commercial register, that represents the top of the Congo rebel movement and its Uganda supporters to commercialize resources from occupied territory.
VICTORIA GROUP is led by the son [ NOTE: step-son ] of president Museveni [ NOTE: Uganda president Yoweri Museveni ], Muhoozi Kainerugabe, along with Salim Saleh ...
[ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force ( UDPF / UDFP ) General Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho, co-owner of SARACEN KAMPALA LTD., a security company Africa branch office of SARACEN SECURITY LTD. ( UK ). For the security of Van Brink, General Saleh personally assigned an armed security guard who on May 24, 2004 was shot and killed by Kampala Police while inside the residence property ( Luzira, Kampala, Uganda ) of Van Brink.
From 1999 thru March 2004, General Saleh feigned being the close personal business friend and business associate of Van Brink who for 5-years was extorted to pay in-excess of $1,000,000 million dollars for his 'security' plus perform confidential financial business and personal consulting services under numerous requests by General Saleh.
In addition to 'monthly' extortion payments amounting to thousands of dollars paid by Van Brink to General Saleh was his order that Brink create and then draft personal letters that Saleh used as though Saleh had created them, where one of many such letters included a 38-page letter dated 14JAN02 for Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho that Brink created and drafted was entitled "My Perspective on the Allegation of Illegal Exploitation" later presented personally by Saleh as his own reply later submitted to a UNITED NATIONS Security Council Commission named the Porter Commission (aka) Porterson Commission led by David Porter looking into charges against General Saleh personal involvement surrounding the supply of military armament and ammunition, conflict diamond mine holdings and smuggling, gold mine holdings and smuggling, coltan mine holdings and smuggling, uranium smuggling, trans-border international money laundering, and bribing government officials involved in corrupt criminal practices throughout areas of Africa.
Beginning in 1999, Van Brink began using services within the VICTORIA GROUP network of companies supported by two (2) privately held companies, using the DIAMOND TRUST BANK LTD. building ( Kampala, Uganda ), named:
- VICTORIA CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. [ Operated by Achille Karuletwa and his wife Phyllis Karuletwa in Uganda ], providing private company clients' customized multiple bookkeeping, accounting, and banking transaction service 'numbered accounts';
- COMNET SERVICES LTD. (aka) COMNET SERVICES 2 (aka) CONMET (aka) COMNET (aka) COMMNET, providing private company clients' with customized multiple two (2) way communication postal ( Mail ), facsimile ( FAX ), telephone ( Message Center ), and internet ( E-Mail ) service 'numbered accounts'; and,
- OFIRA LTD. [ Operated by Olukayode Osunsan (aka) Olu Osunsan ( of Rwanda ) in Uganda ], providing private clients' ( including Van Brink and his brother James Gregory Ziegler ) customized multiple bookkeeping, accounting, and banking transaction service 'numbered accounts' cross-referenced into VICTORIA CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. other named company client 'numbered accounts'.
VICTORIA CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. and COMNET SERVICES LTD. (aka) COMNET SERVICES 2 (aka) CONMET (aka) COMNET (aka) COMMNET private company clients, were not limited to, but included:
- LA COMMNET S.P.R.L., co-owned by Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounova (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Piskanov (aka) Valentina Petrovich ( of Russia ), friend of General Salem Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho;
- ALEXANDER AIR, co-owned by Jovia Akandwanaho, wife of Caleb K. Akandwanaho (aka) General Salem Saleh of Uganda;
- SARACEN KAMPALA LTD., co-owned by General Salem Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho;
- THIRD MILLENNIUM MACROSYSTEMS LTD., controlled under Van Brink whose brother James Gregory Ziegler had attorney Dr. Epifanio Vasquez-Santos Esq. register in Souza, Commonwealth of Dominica ); and,
- Other companies.
VICTORIA GROUP network of companies VICTORIA CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. and OFIRA LTD. tabulated and money-laundered bank transactions for multiple accounts of their company clients whom received millions of dollars derived from thousands of criminal transactions, including but not limited to fraud, where those monies had been earlier deposited by company clients' representatives into other international 'bank accounts' and international bank 'trading accounts' upon instructions received from those controlling the accounts who took additional instructions for how those accounts were to be managed at any given time, in-addition to transactions where intermediary (aka) correspondent secondary financial institutions initiated bank wire transfers upon receipt of instructions from yet other individuals initiating direction of bank wire transferring monies - over the course of time - amounting to many millions of dollars deposited, withdrawn, and placed into multiple 'banks', their 'client banks', and their 'customer client' accounts, not limited to, but including:
- Individual 'retail' accounts;
- Individual 'bank fund' accounts;
- Individual 'bank trading' accounts;
- Corporate 'retail' accounts;
- Corporate 'bank fund' accounts;
- Corporate 'bank trading' accounts;
- Commercial 'retail' accounts;
- Commercial 'bank fund' accounts;
- Commercial 'bank trading' accounts;
individual trading accounts', and bank client 'private trading accounts' client companies and individuals in-addition to 'bank trading accounts' for their clients belonging, to:
- Other named companies and individuals, 'trading accounts'
Such transactions involving multiple Van Brink, received by those controlling those accounts provided to those financial institutions received by others bank wire transfer deposits from many international banks that held 'correspondent bank' accounts and 'trading accounts' - evidenced by bank wire transfers from the NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK LTD. ( Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadaines ) 'trading account' of its client FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & TRUST LTD. ( Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines ) that received FAX instructions for such from its client FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA ( FIBG ) issuing FAX instruction directives for bank wire transfer instructions it received via numerous e-mail and FAX instructions from Van Brink. converted by FIBG into FIBG bank FAX wire instructions to an FIBG bank international business company Fidelity Management & Trust Ltd. ( established by Van Brink's brother James Gregory Ziegler - via Olin J.B. Dennie Esq. - saw Gerard Beeman Esq. in Canada, Costa Rica, and St. Vincent as its executive director using a mail drop in Kingstown, St. Vincent for both Fidelity International Bank Inc. and First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. ) from early 1998 thru at least mid 2000 used its 'global trade' account number 8096 at National Commercial Bank that sent-out those fraud scheme millions for deposit into Kampala, Uganda location banks named Stanbic Bank Uganda Ltd., Nile Bank Ltd., Crane Bank Ltd., Orient Bank Ltd., Standard Chartered Bank Ltd., Barclay's Bank Ltd., Diamond Trust Bank Ltd., as well as to other bank locations around the world, a much longer list of banks. All account numbers and transactions currently held in private data files located in four (4) known locations. ]...
...and his wife Jovia Akandwanaho [ co-owner of Alexander Air, a cargo airline ( Kampala, Uganda ) used by Non-Governmental Organizations ( NGOs ) whose Export Manager ( from 2000 thru April 2003 ) arranged air shipments - labeled as "relief supplies" for poor starving people in war areas of Africa - the U.S. government linked as a pipeline supplying al-Qaeda and Muslim religion terrorists arms and ammunition war rebels in Africa territorial disputes used inside Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, etc. where in return 'advance information details' of air shipments provided necessary information for intelligence calculation approximates determining planned invasion forces ready to hit small or large targets dependent on 'quantity of ammunition' dropped at each location during 'multiple leg air route supply drops' whereupon at each arrival drop point - during multiple leg air routes - pilot instructions were delivered from a rebel group leader as to where the next air drop location was to occur ), 'how many rebels would be involved' for each specific war mission dependent on 'quantity of individually-manned weapons', and finally - upon the planes successful return - each air drop 'general location' directed Saracen Kampala Ltd. notification to headquarters Saracen Security Ltd. in the United Kingdom for further government information sharing. ]...
Also, a clear link has been indicated between the Victoria Group and Museveni's right hand in DRC, Ugandan general James Kazini. Evidence put forward by the Porter Commission demonstrates that Kazini issued a safe conduit for Victoria's diamond, coffee, and gold exports from DRC as early as July 1999. That month, Kazini wrote a letter to several tactical headquarters of MLC and UDPF [ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force ] in eastern Congo in which he confirmed that "the company Victoria Group has the [ sole ] authorisation to do commerce in coffee, diamonds and gold in the region under your command." He added, "Everything that concerns the payments of this company to assure its security will be treated directly by the general headquarters in Kisangani.
Contrary to its political protectors, the commercial management of the Victoria Group has so far remained excessively vague. Reportedly, it is managed by a group of Lebanese traders who have a long tradition in the Congolese diamond trade. At the head of this group stands a certain "Mr. Khalil." [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] According to the UN, Mr. Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] deals directly with the wife of Salim Saleh. He has two (2) collaborators, in the DRC based in Kisangani and Gbadolite, Mohammed Gassan and Mr. Talal - who have dealt on a regular basis with MLC and UDPF officials to control the region's diamond business.
For example, in 1999 Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] obtained a diamond concession from Jean Pierre Bemba in Oriental Province in-exchange for military fatigues and socks, which were all made in Uganda. Mr. Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim]also helped Salim Saleh [ NOTE: (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho ] and his wife [ NOTE: (aka) Jovia Akandwanaho ] to obtain the control over the local diamond market in Kisangani, according to the UN Panel of Experts.
Eventually, this move laid the ground for the ravaging wars between Rwanda and Uganda in Kisangani in March and May 2000.
Following the Kisangani wars, the Victoria Group has moved towards a less direct involvement in DRC. From June-July 2000 onwards, Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] and his network have shifted their operations to the Ugandan capital Kampala -which has thus become a major centre for conflict diamonds coming from DRC. The extent of this operation became clear after a rather peculiar incident in July 2000. That month, a large sum of USD was stolen from a Lebanese diamond dealer on the road from Entebbe airport to Kampala...
... A Global Network ...
A central person in this conflict diamond network is Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim. The police report describes this man as a key representative of the Lebanese network that trades diamonds from DRC through Uganda. Most probably, this is the Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] the UN and others have connected to the Victoria Group.
In his statement to the police, Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] says that he came to Uganda in 1999, the same year the Victoria Group was founded.
His statement reads:
"It was in January 1999 that I came to Kampala. I had a Lebanese restaurant along Kampala Road and I also do business of buying diamonds in Congo, especially in Kisangani, Buta, and Bunia."
This phrase is vital to connect Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] to Victoria Group's diamond operations.
Interestingly enough, it colludes with a similar statement of Jovia Akandwanaho [ co-owner of ALEXANDER AIR ( Kampala, Uganda ) ], the wife of Salim Saleh, to the Porter Commission in Uganda. Asked about her dealings with Victoria Group and Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim], Jovia Akandwanaho declared that she used to have a Lebanese restaurant with this man [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] in Kampala in 1999.
This certainly tells a lot about the way in which Uganda elite has conducted its business strategies in DRC.
From the moment they met in that [ NOTE: Lebanese ] restaurant, Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim ] became Salim Saleh's [ NOTE: (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho ] key economic advisor to take control over Congo's lucrative diamond market...
... Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim ] entirely orchestrated the takeover of the diamond trade by Victoria Group which led to the brutal wars between Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani, and his [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] associates have continued to deal with MLC and UDPF officials to control the region's business in diamonds, coffee, and gold...
... Van A. Brink and the African Reserve System [ NOTE: correct name was actually 'African Union Reserve System' (aka) 'Union Reserve System' ] ...
Valentina Piskanova first appeared in June 1999 on a futuristic contract for a central banking system in eastern Congo. Signed by the leader of the RCD - ML [ NOTE: Democratic Republic of the Congo Liberation Movement ] Wamba dia Wamba, Willy Mishiki, and a man called Van Brink, it proclaimed a structural agreement with the AFRICAN UNION RESERVE SYSTEM (AURS) to set up a new monetary system in eastern Congo including the issuing of a new currency.
This system was to be backed by the country's considerable diamond and gold reserves. There was only one problem. The chairman of the AURS, Mr. Van A Brink, was known as a notorious swindler.
During the 1990's, he was suspected of laundering millions of USD from the First International Bank of Grenada - which were now going to be invested into a non-existent government. Not surprisingly, Wamba got criticised for "selling the country's sovereignty" by his opponent Jean-Pierre Bemba. Thanking Bemba for bringing this to light, Wamba eventually cancelled the deal and refused to further negotiate this "fraudulent practice"...
In 2001, Valentina Piskanova appeared in a documentary in the company of her Russian partners and Willy Mishiki in a villa in Kampala, Uganda where they were planning their stake in the DRC ‘coltan’ business.
Mishiki, a self-proclaimed prince of the Congo village of Walikale and former Agriculture Minister under President Mobutu, promised to provide them with the necessary back-up to develop their operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ), while the Russians would assure the sales of 'coltan' supplies to a 'processing plant' in Kazakhstan ... ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT JOINT STOCK COMPANY (aka) ULBINSKY METALLURGICAL PLANT JSC (aka) UMP JSC (aka) NAC KAZATOPROM NATIONAL NUCLEAR COMPANY in Kurchatov ( formerly known as Semipalatinsk ), headquartered in Ust, Kamenogorsk, Republic of Kazakhstan ) ...
[ NOTE: rearrangement of article paragraphs, forwarding to article paragraph inserted ( immediately below ): ]
... Coltan: The Black Gold ...
Unlike diamonds and gold, coltan does not look very impressive. This piece of black stone could be dug up from the mud almost anywhere in the world: from Congo to Nigeria and Southeast Asia.
Coltan nonetheless represents one of the most precious resources of our time. In processed form, it is called tantalum.
It used for the production of mobile phones, computers, jet engines, fiber optics and capacitors - the components that maintain an electric charge in a computer chip.
But while this precious mineral has caused a stir on the international market, it has also become Congo's curse.
At the end of 2000, a sudden demand for tantalum capacitors - the new generation of mobile phones was thrown on the global market - caused a veritable boom in prices for coltan.
In no time, prices for processed coltan ore shot up from $30 to $40 ( USD ) per pound to over $300 ( USD ) in December...
...The trade was quickly monopolised by the Rwandan army and its allies of the DRC. Airplanes stuffed with coltan flew directly from the mines in South Kivu [ NOTE: near city of Beni, DRC ] to Kigali, where they were further transported to international destinations...
...While Uganda officers active in the minerals trade from DRC have remained entirely motivated by their personal enrichment, the Rwandan revenue is directed by a so-called Congo-desk, controlled by the Rwanda foreign intelligence service...the RPA [ NOTE: Rwanda Patriotic Army ] made a $64,000,000.00 million ( USD ) profit through the Congo-desk with coltan exports from DRC in the year 2000, and another $44,000,000.00 million ( USD ) in 2001. The latter are official figures ... 60% to 70% of these profits have been reinvested in the war [ NOTE: Rwanda ]...
...Before coltan can be used, it needs to be refined, tantalum or niobium are separated through a chemical reaction from the ore and transformed into a metal powder by a 'very small group of companies':
- ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Kazakhstan );
- BRUSH WELLMAN INC. ( Cleveland, Ohio, USA );
- H.C. STARCK GMBH ( Goslar, Germany );
- CABOT CORPORATION ( Boston, Massachusetts, USA ); and,
- NINGXIA ( China ) ...
...In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, coltan is mostly found in the two (2) Kivu provinces [ NOTE: South Kivu province held 30,000 workers ], and in Maniema ...
[ NOTE: discontinuing rearrangement of article paragraph ( above ), returning to continued article paragraph (below): ]
... Van A. Brink and the African Reserve System [ NOTE: correct name was actually 'African Union Reserve System' (aka) 'Union Reserve System' ] ...
...But since prices for coltan went down shortly after the agreement, the Piskanov’s left Butembo and are now awaiting better conditions for their return.
For Mishiki, the story ended with a blow. Beginning 2002, he already got questioned, on his arrival in the US on suspicion of money laundering.
On 27 June 2002, he was finally arrested in Belgium while he was trying to change 300,000 euro worth of false CFA notes. Along with two (2) other suspects, Mishiki is currently staying in a state prison near Brussels...
In Butembo there are five companies that buy coltan from local miners; they are all in the hands of ex-Soviet citizens: Russians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks...
[ NOTE: in Kivu province near Beni, DRC ] …one of them, called Conmet [ NOTE: (aka) Comnet Services Ltd. (aka) Comnet Service 2 ( Kampala, Uganda ) ] ... belongs to Kullinan Finance Investment, a Uganda company ... sell to South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Germany ... 50 tonnes a month ...
... Russian criminal groups have been familiar with Congolese minerals for some time. During the coltan boom, trading centers such as Butembo and Beni, were suddenly visited by ex-Soviet citizens who all seemed very interested to get a stake in the coltan business.
Conmet [ NOTE: (aka) Comnet Services Ltd. (aka) Comnet Service 2 ( Kampala, Uganda ) ] set up a counter on the main road in Butembo in 2000 to buy coltan from local miners. It is run by two (2) Russia citizens from South Africa - who lead their operations from the Uganda capital Kampala - Valentina Piskanov [ NOTE: Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Petrovich ] and Alexei Piskanov.
Their network is extremely indicative of the close connection that currently exists between mineral traders, corrupt Congo officials, and organised crime.
A remarkable aspect of Congo Russia trading companies are their close connection to Kazakhstan where uranium, coltan, beryllium, cobalt, and more is refined at the ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Republic of Kazakhstan ), an incredibly well-known processing plant of the former Soviet Union, where the United States now has strategic defense contract arrangments, for:
- Beryllium ingots;
- Tantalum; and,
- More.
[ NOTE: See, e.g. special research report link, at: http://www.totse.com/en/politics/the_world_beyond_the_usa/forwantofanucl173464.html ]
Currently, it has a capacity of 250 million tonnes per year...
... Finmining Ltd. ... is an offshore company registered in the tax-free haven of Saint Kitts. On the same address, Chris Huber set up a third (3rd) company that trades coltan from DRC: Raremet Ltd. All these companies have been proven to buy coltan from the Rwanda Patriotic Army...
...Since then, Semion Briskin is reportedly staying on the French Riviera, together with his partner Chris Huber.
31 MAY 93: PETRA CORP. foundation ( Russia );
1993-1995: PETRA CORP. transport contracts with Angarska petrochemical plant ( Russia );
24 JUL 97: FINCONCORD / FINMINING LTD. foundation ( Switzerland );
1997: FINCONCORD / FINMINING LTD. contract with ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT raw material provision tantalum based end product sales ( Kazakhstan );
1997: Beligorski GOK rare metal factory purchased by Semion Briskin ( Kazakhstan );
1998: FINCONCORD / FINMINING LTD. buys coltan from trading post ( Rwanda );
1999: PETRA CORP. tax evasion & forgery investigation by Interior Ministry ( Russia );
1999: Semion Briskin escapes to ( Germany ) or ( Spain );
2000: RAREMET LTD. purchase contracts with trading posts ( Rwanda );
APR 2000: PETRA CORP. investigation by Russia FSB intelligence agency, Regional Service Combating Organized Crime ( RUBOP ), Federal Fiscal Police, joined by Regional Public Prosecutor ( Russia )...
The cases of Finmining Ltd. and Conmet [ NOTE: (aka) Comnet Services Ltd. (aka) Comnet Service 2 ( Kampala, Uganda ) ] clearly illustrate the problematic nature of the coltan trade from DRC today...
... Arms ...
...The small arms trade is a phenomenon that defies definition.
First, there are both 'legal' and 'illegal' transfers of small arms.
Illegal arms transfers are commonly explained as those that occur outside the control, or against the wishes, of exporting states. In this context, it is important to note that most arms transfers to the Great Lakes Region [ NOTE: Africa ] do not constitute a violation of international law.
Of all the participants in the DRC conflict, only the Angola UNITA ( until recently ) and the Rwanda Interahamwe are subjected to a UN embargo. A European Union ( EU ) embargo exists against Zaire (later DRC) [ NOTE: now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo ] since 1993 and against Zimbabwe since 2000.
Second, some international institutions have issued agreements that are commonly classified under the concept of international 'soft law': they are mere principles that may or may not develop into an international law in the future but are essentially non-binding.
A strong call against arms transfers to conflict regions has been forwarded by the European Code of Conduct for Arms Exports. It invites member states not to authorise any exports that are 'susceptible to provoke or prolong armed conflicts or aggravate tensions or conflicts in the country of destination'.
Another 'soft law' initiative that has gathered the EU [ NOTE: European Union ] support is the ECOWAS-moratorium on small arms in West Africa. This moratorium acquired a new dimension lately when a group of East Africa and Central Africa countries ( including Burundi, DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda ) signed a declaration against the proliferation of firearms in the Great Lakes Region...
...Legal transfers of weapon systems to the participants in the Great Lakes conflict from 1998-2001, included:
Uganda -
- 35 Russian Mig fighter / bomber jets;
- 90 T-54 battle tanks; and,
- 1 mine clearing vehicle.
Angola -
- 18 Russian Mig-23 fighter / bomber jets;
- 55 T-55 and 1 T-72 battle tanks;
- 5 multiple rocket launchers; and,
- 7 armoured personnel carriers.
Namibia -
- 2 Russian Mi-8 and 2 Mi-24 helicopter gun-ships;
- 24 140mm artillery systems;
- 30 Werewolf anti-mine vehicles;
- 4 photo recognition aircraft; and,
- 1 patrol craft.
Zimbabwe -
- 29 systems ( unspecified );
- 23 armoured carrier vehicles; and,
- 6 surveillance aircraft.
Democratic Republic of the Congo -
- 18 artillery systems ( unspecified ); and,
- 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
Rwanda -
- 14 armoured personnel carriers.
Burundi -
- 12 armoured personnel carriers.
Countries or nationals that have 'legally' provided the Great Lakes region with weapons or military assistance since 1998, include:
North Korea -
- Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Poland -
- Uganda; and,
- Democratic Republic of the Congo.
China -
- Uganda;
- Rwanda; and,
- Kinshasa.
France -
- Uganda.
Italy -
- Uganda.
Russia Federation -
- Uganda; and,
- Angola.
Ukraine -
Kazakhstan -
Belarus -
Slovakia -
- Angola ( from 4 nations immediately above ).
United States -
- Angola;
- Rwanda; and,
- Zimbabwe.
- South Africa -
- Angola;
- Namibia;
- Rwanda;
- Burundi; and,
- Zimbabwe.
A much bigger problem is the 'illegal' trade in small arms.
This trade involves a complex spectrum, which ranges from 'grey' deals - where arms are 'bought legally' but are later 'diverted illegally to conflict zones' - outright sanction busting - where stocks of weapons - mostly surplus stocks of the Cold War - are immediately sold to sanctioned military actors.
Consolidated Sales Corporation ( CSC ) was introduced to the Uganda Defense Ministry by Salim Saleh in November 1996.
After negotiations with the company manager, the latter agreed that the first two (2) of four (4) optional helicopter [ NOTE: helicopter gun-ships ] would be fully overhauled 'before' delivery to Uganda.
But when the equipment arrived in early 1998, UDPF [ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force ] discovered that it had not been overhauled as agreed, and that the price for the choppers [ NOTE: helicopter gun-ships ] had been increased by at least 60%.
An independent assessment ( by Haines helicopters from South Africa ) revealed a financial scam, which had led to the loss of millions of USD [ NOTE: U.S. Dollars value worth ] of Ugandan taxpayers' money.
While each of the four (4) helicopters cost $1,500,000 million ( USD ), the brokers of CSC [ NOTE: Consolidated Sales Corp. ] and several high placed Uganda officials - including Saleh [ NOTE: retired Lieutenant General Salim Saleh, M.P. Uganda Defense Force ( UDPF ) -aka- Caleb K. Akandwanaho ] - had agreed a total sum of $12,000,000.00 million ( USD ), or four (4) times the normal market price.
By that time, the Uganda government had already lost $6,000,000.00 million ( USD ) in the form of promissory notes for the two (2) remaining helicopters [ NOTE: helicopter gun-ships ] from Belarus...
...One aspect which makes this trade so difficult to monitor...is the role of the middlemen - the brokers and the shipping agents [ NOTE: export managers and air cargo aviation business owners ] - who arrange the shipment of military equipment...
...Often, these middlemen [ NOTE: brokers / arrangers ] control the aviation businesses [ NOTE: Jovia Akandwanaho co-owner of Alexander Air ( Kampala, Uganda ) ] that are so essential to the logistics of armies and rebels...
...Very often also, these arms contracts provide a means for the arrangers [ NOTE: brokers (aka) middlemen who own aviation businesses [ NOTE: Jovia Akandwanaho co-owner of Alexander Air ( Kampala, Uganda ) and her husband Caleb K. Akandwanaho (aka) retired Lieutenant General Salim Saleh, M.P. Uganda Defense Force - UDPF ] - mostly high placed military officials - to generate incomes for themselves through the issuing of large commissions...
...in 1998-1999 UDPF Commander Salim Saleh got involved in a number of fraudulent purchases of military equipment for the Uganda Army [ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force - UDPF ], which involved the payment of illegal commissions. In one such case, Saleh reportedly cashed in a bribe of between $800,000.00 and $1,300,000.00 million ( USD ) for the procurement of four (4) Mi-24 helicopters from Consolidated Sales Corp., a company registered in the Virgin Islands...a high-placed source within the Uganda judiciary assured the author of this report that Saleh effectively received this bribe from CSC [ NOTE: Consolidated Sales Corp. ]...The source acknowledged that it is hardly possible to trace this money since Saleh immediately reinvested it in his businesses in northern Uganda.
In spite of these reports, Salim Saleh was never punished for the 'purchase of this dysfunctional military equipment'. Apart from a 'temporary removal from his post' for "indiscipline", president Museveni [ NOTE: Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, the step-father of Lt. Gen. Salem Saleh, Commander of the Uganda Defense Force - UDPF ] never took any sanctions against Saleh for his numerous frauds.
As a result, this purchasing strategy has further consolidated the role of Army commanders in the war economy. Their strong connection with important arms brokers has led to an increasing privatisation of the war effort in DRC, which is enforced by the involvement of some of these middlemen in the minerals trade.
Through the sale of arms to rebel chiefs and army leaders, they are assured of their local involvement in the exploitation of precious resources such as coltan and diamonds. In turn, these resources provide the income for the military actors to secure their power...
... The network of Victor Bout ...
Prominence has to be given to the arms trafficking network of one particular man: Victor Vassilyevich Bout [ NOTE: DOB: 1967 / POB: Dushanbe, Tajikistan ( then, controlled by the Russia Soviet Union government ), formerly operated in Angola as Soviet KGB agent ].
This Russian arms broker is under investigation by Interpol and various Western countries for his complex network of over 50 planes, several airline companies, cargo charter companies, and freight-forwarding companies that are involved in shipping illicit cargo.
Thanks to this network, Bout has established himself as the world's most famous arms supplier to embargoed state actors such as the Revolutionary United Front ( RUF ) in Sierra Leone and UNITA rebels in Angola...
Today, company clients of Bout's, include:
- Uganda;
- Kenya;
- Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC );
- Congo-Brazzaville;
- Rwanda;
- Sudan;
- Libya;
- Cameroon;
- Sierra Leone;
- Liberia;
- Equatorial Guinea;
- Swaziland;
- Angola;
- Central Africa Republic ( CAR );
- South Africa [ NOTE: and other countries ]..
In the DRC [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ], Bout's planes [ NOTE: e.g. ALEXANDER AIR ( Kampala, Uganda ) co-owned by Jovia Akandwanaho ] have been 'transporting arms', 'diamonds', and 'coltan' to the Democratic Republic of the Congo [ DRC / RDC ] rebel movements such as the MLC and the RCD [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ] ...
... In 1995, he set up an airline company called TRANS AVIATION NETWORK at Ostend airport ( Belgium ), together with the Belgium pilot Ronald Desmet. The airplanes of this company were registered in Monrovia ( Liberia ).
...in 1997 ... Ronald Desmet paid Air Cess pilots $10,000 USD - in addition to their usual salaries - for each flight carrying arms and munitions, mostly intended for the Taliban ... in Afghanistan.
A judicial investigation into the company's activities in Belgium made Bout move his business to the Sharjah, United Arab Emirates [ NOTE: UAE ] airport, where Air Cess still has its official company address.
Currently, Viktor's brother Sergey [ NOTE: Sergei Bout ] heads the company [ NOTE: Air Cess ]...
...In 2000, the Central Africa Republic ( CAR ) initiated an investigation into fraud concerning the registration of an aircraft operated by Centrafricain Airlines, also controlled by Viktor Bout...
After September 11, 2001 he has been accused of supplying Islamist terrorists with arms, but so far there exists no public evidence to this allegation [ NOTE: see, e.g. client company, formerly Alexander Air ( Kampala, Uganda ), cargo flights into Sudan and Egypt connection ]...
... Ruprah [ NOTE: Sanjivan Ruprah ] has a large stake via the Oriental Timber Company ( OTC ) [ NOTE: Van Brink - referenced a $3,000,000,000.00 billion (USD) value + timber deal – during the minutes of the meeting on June 29, 2002 ( Yei, Sudan ) with the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) rebel leader Chairman and Commander Dr. John Garang Demabor (aka) Dr. John Garang DeMabior and his Commanders Edward Abyei Lino ( friend of World Bank vice-president Dauson Wai, a Sudan national ), Bior Ajang, James Wani Iga, Kuol Manyag Juuk, Arthur Akwen Chol, SOUTHERN SUPPLY AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES LTD. executives Christian DeLane Park, Solomon Chaplain Lui and Blyth Fred Walekwa, ALANDIS executive director Kenneth Lubega, and Peter Emusugut.
Libya intelligence reported the SPLA / SPLM was being manipulated by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ), noting the SPLA / SPLM at one time meeting with an al-Qaeda terrorist, who lived in the inpenetrable hills of Yemen, and held strong political connections between Saudi Arabia; Kartoum, Sudan; Afghanistan and Pakistan.
UN Experts demonstrated how OTC [ NOTE: DRC province Oriental Timber Company ] paid $500,000.00 ( USD ) via Sanjivan Ruprah for San Air, one (1) of the companies of Victor Bout ...
... British and U.S. intelligence agencies have been keeping a close eye on Sanjivan's moves in Belgium, where he was living with his wife.
In February 2002, the Belgian police eventually arrested him, and accused him of travelling on a false passport and membership of a criminal association. At the same time, the Belgium also issued an arrest warrant for Sanjivan's friend and master Victor Bout...
... Los Angeles Times stated ... Sanjivan had given the CIA information about Victor Bout's operations for the Islamist terrorist network Al Qaeda ... Sanjivan's lawyer in Belgium, Mr. Luc De Temmerman ... acknowledged that Ruprah had informed U.S. intelligence officials about Al Qaeda ...
In March [ NOTE: 2002 ], Ruprah was left free on bail - reportedly for the sum of 75,000 euros - only to be arrested again in Italy a little later.
On 2 August 2002, the Italian police in Cremona stopped him, just a few miles from Milan, carrying a false Belgium passport under a Pakistan name, along with 10,000 Euros in cash.
So far, he has not been indicted for arms trafficking...
... Guns for Diamonds? The case of ER-57929 [ NOTE: Moldavia airlines registration was actually "ER-75929" ] ...
... Culworth Investments ... established supplier of military material to Uganda for some time. It is registered in Monrovia ... headed by an Egyptian arms dealer Mr. Sharif Al-Mazri ... sales agent for a MI-24 helicopter gun-ships to the Uganda Ministry of Defence in 1999 ...
...In November 2000, Culworth Investments ... again selling arms to Uganda ...[ NOTE: Russia plane ] ... Ilyushin-18 ... Moldavia registration ER-75929 [ NOTE: aforesaid Moldavia registration number is 'correct' ] arrived at Entebbe airport [ NOTE: Uganda ] on 21 November 2000 ... left for Monrovia ... 3-days later ... same plane arrived back in Uganda to pick up a second ( 2nd) consignment of 1,250 She guns [ NOTE: machine-guns from Slovakia ] ... Uganda authorities ... pay for the weapons and keep them in the country [ NOTE: Uganda ]...
... The Kisangani Wars ...
...Two (2) years after the Kisangani wars, it has become apparent that the conflict was also related to the competition over Congo's diamonds. Under the direction of the Victoria Group, the UDPF had taken almost total control over the diamond market in Kisangani.
The offices operated by Victoria Group refused to report their exports to their Rwanda counterparts.
Not surprisingly, this move led to a growing frustration amongst RPA [ Rwanda Patriotic Army ] officials, who were themselves trying to get hold of this lucrative business.
Through the statements of Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] and his associates to the Ugandan police, it becomes possible to partly clarify the operation mode of the Victoria Group in DRC and Uganda.
According to Khalil's [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim’s ] partner Ismail Dakhlallah 40 - the man that was robbed on Kampala Road - he works through a company called Beccadi Limited ( Bugolobi, Kampala, Uganda ), along with another partner called Abbas Khazal.
Both men used to be based in DRC "to buy diamonds in Buta, Kisangani," says Ismail Dakhlallah. This statement is only partially correct, because the company Ismail Dakhlallah referred to is not called "Beccadi" but Piccadilly Import Export, which has been trading in diamonds officially since 1983.
In this company [ NOTE: Piccadilly Import Export ], two (2) more names appear as managers of the Victoria Group network:
- Hussein Ali Hamad [ NOTE: (aka) Hamad Ali Hussein ]; and,
- Nazih Ali Hamad [ NOTE: (aka) Hamad Ali Nazih ].
The former is a well-known person in the diamond business in DRC.
According to specialist observers, Ali Hussein has played a major role in diamond and gold deals in Bukavu and Kisangani, where he used to have a office until mid-2000. Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] also acknowledges to have worked with Hussein. To the police, he declared that "I used to send money through Hussein, and at times I go myself to buy the diamonds."
...Subsequently, Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] took Ismail Dakhlallah to Belgium, apparently "to show Ismail what to do as far as the business is concerned." In Belgium, the Victoria Group representatives then found their financial support with a company called "Nami James", according to Dakhlallah...
[ NOTE: Nami James ] ...Its managers are Hemang Shah, a Belgian citizen of Indian descent, and his Belgian associate Roseline Mariette Lecluyse ... Mr. Shah confirmed that he had supported the diamond deal with Khalil Nazzeem in July 2000...
Accordingly, it remains difficult to estimate who currently finances Victoria Group's operations in DRC [ [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ] ] and Uganda ... Through conversations with investigators, customs officials and NGOs [ Non-Governmental Organizations ] in these countries ... researchers found a diamond office in the city [ NOTE: Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo ] centre with the rather exotic name, AHMED AND MISTER CASH ... Heavily armed UDPF [ Uganda Defense Force ] soldiers ...controlled every move in and out of the front gate ..."MISTER CASH" is run by a certain "Mr. Ahmed" who works for the account of the Uganda officers Salim Saleh [ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force General Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho ] and James Kazini, and receives the protection of the local RCD - ML [ Democratic Republic of the Congo for the Democratic Movement of Liberation ] Commander Kakolele ...
... Customs officials in Beni [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ] told about the leadership of the RCD-ML [ Democratic Republic of the Congo Movement of Liberation ] had explicitly forbidden them to report the ‘diamond exports’ of "MISTER CASH" in their annual statistics.
This lack of official documentation reveals the extent to which VICTORIA GROUP has taken control over the trade in Congo resources...it is apparent that these diamonds still end up in Uganda, from where they are further commercialised to international destinations.
From investigators and observers in DRC and Uganda...a company called BELDIAM buys diamonds from "Mister Cash" in the Uganda capital Kampala ... BELDIAM is run from a room in the Kampala Sheraton Hotel by Abbas Khazal - the same man that used to work for Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] in Piccadilly Import and Export...
[ NOTE: Secured intelligence reports placed Van Brink meeting frequently with Uganda Defense Force ( UDPF ) retired General Salim Saleh along with Valentina Piskanovna at the same location (Kampala Sheraton ) on DRC ‘mining’ business. ]
...the activities of the Victoria Group clearly indicate the extent to which the UDPF [ Uganda Defense Force ] is orchestrating the fight over Congo resources.
In particular, the alliance between a closed circle of Lebanese [ NOTE: Lebanon ] traders and Uganda leading elite has made it possible to exit millions of USD [ NOTE: U.S. Dollars ] in Congo 'conflict diamonds' to European destinations.
Particular importance has to be given to Antwerp [ NOTE: Belgium ], where most of Congo diamonds are sold, polished and cut.
Along with Kampala [ NOTE: Uganda ], this city [ NOTE: Antwerp, Belgium ] is certainly a main trading centre for 'conflict diamonds' from the DRC..."
Reference(s)
Source: Royal Museum for Central Africa - Contemporary History Library Custody Only ( Tervuren, Belgium, Attention: Lore Van de Broeck, TEL: +32 (0) 2 686 02 70 ) ... Network War: An Introduction To Congo's Privatised Conflict Economy, by Tim Raemaekers ... Executive Summary ...
http://www.totse.com/en/politics/the_world_beyond_the_usa/167160.html
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[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately below ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
U.S. Captures New Sudan Oil & Gold Intelligence
by, ShoreLines [ ShoreLines@safe-mail.net ]
October 25, 2005
From 1999 through 2004, a complex series of wars and political events involving the Middle East and Africa stemmed from a secret personal business relationship that developed between two (2) men:
- The 'government military' and 'business financial' beliefs of Uganda Prime Minister Yoweri Kaguta Museveni step-brother, a retired Uganda Defense Force ( UDFP / UDPF ) General Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho; with,
- The 'christian religious fundamentalist' and 'business financial' beliefs of U.S. ex-patriot Gilbert Allen Ziegler (aka) Van Arthur Brink, former Grenada bank executive.
Once these two (2) were brought together in 1999, other relationships that were operating under cloaked government economic agendas of the U.S. and Russia entered the picture. One held 'certain connections' and was 'attractively designed' while others were 'equipped with untraceable fraud funds' and once all together were purposely injected to nurture 'special relationships' with the tribal leaders / kings of provinces in Africa war zones.
Congo 'obvious' prized natural resources are 'diamond' and 'gold' mines, which also provide excellent distractions cloaking even more important international 'strategic defense' and high-end technology mineral ores, some nearby from 'gold' tailings and 'coltan' ores, which net 'tantalum' processed at the ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Kazakhstan ) where 'uranium', 'high-grade yellow-cake', and 'beryllium' ore for 'nuclear triggering mechanisms' are also processed.
When these types of high-stake strategic materials are involved, superpower nations conduct high-risk operations to protect their own interests. From within their intelligence arsenals smaller countries, banks, businesses, and a wide spectrum of individuals are used, including:
1.) Unwitting characters, often from ‘unsavory ( extraordinary deniability ) backgrounds’ purposely positioned as ‘disposable’ cut-out ‘agents of convenience’ whom are briefed by a ‘familiar private individual’ to act as ‘facilitators’ for ‘providing concepts’ for such operations; with,
2.) Witting characters, often times from ‘popular ( plausible deniability ) backgrounds’ purposely positioned as ‘indispensable’ key ‘agents in place’ whom are briefed by a ‘familiar government contractor’ to act as ‘negotiators’ for ‘providing introductions’ for such operations.
In 1998, General Saleh had been groomed by a woman from Russia, Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounova (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Piskanov (aka) Valentina Petrovich representing holding Kazakhstan business connections to a raw mineral ore 'special processing facility' at the ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Kazakhstan ). Saleh saw his business SARACEN KAMPALA LTD. necessary to provide his paramilitary commando friends for security over 'coltan' raw ore mineral smuggling out-of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kazakhstan. For Saleh, all Piskanovna needed were enough funds to finance such an operation.
In 1999, South Africa business executive John A. Myburgh of Atlantic Pacific Enterprises Ltd. ( Bahamas ) telephoned Grenada independent offshore bank executive Van Brink who was invited to meet with retired General Salim Saleh on an operation to support the failing CO-OPERATIVE BANK by 'enhancing its balance sheet with assets' using 'high-value asset bank paper instruments' that First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. ( FIBG ) held under management - Brink saw Robert Earl Palm in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada inject as legitimate instruments worth billions - that Valentina Piskanovna ( Petrovich ) learned about from Mel Holt, a United Nations panel member, who had earlier ( 1998 ) picked her up at the SHERATON hotel ( Kampala, Uganda ) lounge / bar thinking she was a high-class foreign ( Russia ) prostitute he noticed always carousing and flirting amongst many men there.
After several months of Myburgh continuing to summon Brink from Grenada to Africa, both men finally met at Heathrow Airport ( UK ) to discuss high-value asset documents held under management by First International Bank of Grenada Ltd., which Brink later placed in safe-keeping with a London man Ray Winstone and his wife Diana.
Brink, along with Myburgh, then flew from Heathrow Airport to Johannesburg, South Africa where Brink (alone) boarded another plane bound for Entebbe Airport ( Uganda ) whereupon arrival he was met by Valentina Piskanovna, who Brink earlier heard was Myburgh’s South Africa business partner.
When the Governor of the Central Bank of Uganda ( BOU ) closed CO-OPERATIVE BANK, Van Brink created the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) also known as the AFRICAN UNION RESERVE| SYSTEM ( AURS ) and became Chairman of the Board making Valentina Piskanovna, URS Internal Relations Secretary.
Piskanovna, as International Relations Secretary of the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ), then applied her ‘attractively packaged’ SHERATON ‘hotel charms’ upon several tribal kings from provinces within the Democratic Republic of the Congo that eventually brought about signed agreements for certain cooperative ‘natural resources’ including ‘gold’, diamond’ and ‘coltan’ mining ‘concessions’ to be funneled into the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM.
Brink then traveled for 10-days to Poland, in the company of a woman named Jadwiga Nowak (aka) Jagoda, but upon his return to Uganda discovered Valentina Piskanovna - representing herself as International Relations Secretary of the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) holding Power of Attorney - misrepresented her capacity and holding power over the URS in an ‘unauthorized requisition’ of $800,000.00 (USD) out-of First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. that she directed wire transferred into her business LA COMNET S.P.R.L. bank account, which she then saw all those funds laundered out-of until they disappeared.
In 2002, three (3) years into the personal business and financial relationship between Van Brink and General Salim Saleh - who earlier approached his step-brother Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on intelligence matters surrounding ‘micro-finance’ - Brink was invited to act as an ‘unwitting’ participant to act as a “facilitator” providing “financial concepts” in a Uganda People’s Defense Force ( UPDF ) operation in Sudan code named the “New Sudan Protocol.”
Operation New Sudan Protocol surreptitiously acclaimed to only be ‘planning peace’ by ‘logical prosperity’ with ‘community support’ that involved harvesting and mining ‘natural resources’, but shortly after these secret meetings, the public would only see the President of Uganda meeting officially with adversaries in discussions that led to drafting mutual accords, which a few envisioned would only last a short time and did.
Operation New Sudan Protocol held secret meetings, where its ‘minute notations’ were later captured by the Sudan intelligence agency discovering most importantly its ‘economic infrastructure development plans’ using ‘natural resources’ within ‘conflict’ war zones, involving:
- Mining ‘diamonds’, ‘valuable minerals’ ( e.g. gold, platinum, silver, rhodium ), and ‘valuable strategic defense by-products’ (i.e. ‘tantalum’, ‘uranium’, 'cobalt', etc.) from ‘coltan’;
- Harvesting ‘timber’, valued in-excess of $3,000,000,000.00 (USD) billion;
- Developing ‘energy’ from ‘petroleum’ exploration’;
- Establishing a ‘co-operative bank’ founded partly on ‘Islamic’ gold based bank standards but using a ‘Christian’ progressive ‘fractional reserve bank theory’ in direct opposition to U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and U.S. Federal Reserve System operations;
- Issuing a New Sudan ‘currency’ based on that co-operative gold based bank fractional reserve foundation; and,
- Establishing a ‘wireless communication’ system.
Behind all those enterprising economic concepts he presented during these secret New Sudan Protocol meetings was Van A. Brink, who was later identified during a 2004 Portland, Oregon, U.S. District Court federal criminal proceeding where near the end of one of many of his ‘pre-trial release hearings’ - heard by Judge King – the federal court prosecutor Assistant U.S. Attorney Clair Fay (aka) Claire Mae Fay pointed to another U.S. government agency that told the U.S. Marshals Service that Van Brink an "economic threat" to U.S. National Security, therefore she presented Van Brink was ‘not suitable for release’ from government imprisonment while awaiting his trial, which on appeal decided to the contrary he ‘was suitable for release’ and was consequently released into the ‘custody of his family relatives’, who only abandoned him for one (1) weekend whereupon returning home to Wilsonville, Oregon found Van Brink dead on December 10, 2005. Government authorities would ‘not’ release to his family members, autopsy reports or toxicology tests into determining his death, which they claimed to be from congestive heart failure attributable to smoking cigarettes.
In Khartoum, Sudan where the business of Usama Bin Laden flourished, the Islamic government there would not allow independent faiths to practice anything that might be contrary to strict Islamic laws.
Christian and tribal religious practitioners rose-up against the Sudanese government in the north, which led to the north trying to drive out Christians and tribal religions to the south. Hence, the division between north and south Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) backed the Christians and tribal religious fight against northern Islamists for 19-years.
The Machakos, Kenya Peace Accord on July 20, 2002 tried to end the longest running civil war of Africa in Sudan that lasted over 19-years with over 1,500,000 million people who died primarily because of ‘starvation’ due to ‘religious inequality and indifference’ that fueled a territorial dispute between northern Sudanese Muslims in their Islamic war against southern Sudanese whom wanted to live there as Christians. Who introduced Christianity to Sudan?
About 1-month after the Machakos Protocol, a U.S. Voice Of America ( VOA ) broadcast announced that a meeting on July 27, 2002 hosted by Republic of Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with Republic of Sudan President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, and Republic of Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Commander-in-Chief Kuol Manyag Juuk had accomplished two (2) very important handshake agreements.
The U.S. Voice Of America failed, however to announce to the world about a secret meeting that had taken place 30-days before Museveni, Al-Bashir, and Juuk ever met in Kampala, Uganda.
U.S. intelligence agencies became aware of that secret meeting, shortly after it was adjourned, and it took steps to monitor communications between its members and others because, it involved individuals it did not wish to see get its hands on gold, oil, and other valuable natural resources of New Sudan, which will come-up for grabs on July 20, 2008 when a referendum will be put to the people of as to whether to become a totally independent nation.
In order for others to gain control over a portion of Sudan ‘natural reserves’ it would be left up to ‘agents in place’ to oversee the 'systematic removal' of any ‘cutout’ attending those secret New Sudan Protocol meetings that were seen to be a threat to U.S. National Security.
One of the men to go, was Van Arthur Brink, a name that had been captured in earlier international press reports as the unscrupulous founder of the independent offshore bank, FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LIMITED ( FIBG ), begun in Grand Anse, Grenada later establishing its headquarters in St. George's, Grenada.
In 1994, three (3) economic terrorists - in the United States of Georgia, Oregon, and Hawaii - planned financial support to launch an 'independent offshore bank' that would base its asset reserves on 'anything' except 'fiat' currency (aka) 'paper' money, and they collectively decided to educate Gilbert Allen Ziegler ( later known as Van Brink ) on developing an independent offshore bank based on 'gold' assets led by a group of radical Christian religion fundamentalist progressives to operate this network of banks based on theorized 'fractional reserve banking' under a religion protected sovereign government - somewhat like the Vatican - but that would in essence eat away at traditional domestic bank deposits and investments regulated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank Board of Governors, Federal Reserve Bank System of Central Bank Branches, U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the U.S. Currency ( OCC ), and eventually affecting the World Bank, International Monetray Fund, Bank for International Settlements, and other major banks around the world.
In 1996, Brink - a for7th Day Adventist religious follower – with encouragement from these three (3) men who later became known as his "Three Wise Men" – formed a relatively solid, secret, and complex network of independent fundamentalist Christian group 'church leaders' (aka) 'team builders' whose names were 'not listed' on official State of Oregon corporation division records of TEAM BUILDERS INTERNATIONAL LLC. that was originally designed to primarily use independent fundamentalist Christian group 'church leaders' (aka) 'team builders' to 'solicit donations' from their fundamentalist Christian group 'church members' (aka) 'team players' sent through another Oregon firm TEAM PLAYERS INTERNATIONAL LLC., which formed a working core group of thousands of investors of like-minded individuals that wove the fabric of funds into what became a highly complex network of banks and enterprising investments for what the FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. ( FIBG ) led along with several gold recovery projects that eventually led 6,000 people to lose a collective total of about $250,000,000.00 million (USD) in a relatively short period of time.
In 1995, U.S. intelligence agencies along with the U.S. Customs Service ( now known as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ) were investigating independent offshore banks on the island of Antigua.
In 1996, Van Brink sent his brother James Gregory Ziegler to have established an Antigua international business company ( IBC ) known as the INTERNATIONAL DEPOSIT INDEMNITY CORP. (aka) INTERNATIONAL DEPOSITORS INDEMNITY CORP. that led to later forming the INTERNATIONAL DEPOSITORS REINSURANCE CORP. ( IDRC ) in Charlestown, Nevis that led to forming the INTERNATIONAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORP. turned over to executive directors Samuel D. Rubenstein and Douglas Christie Ferguson - believed related to the Bahamas Prime Minister Christie and his family member who led banking, along with C. Dennis Christie of McLean Management Associates ( Oregon & Virginia ). Hence, it came as no surprise that it was Douglas Christie Ferguson who presented the 'fractional banking reserve theory’ to Van Brink earmarked for incorporation into the FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. ( FIBG ), which the U.S. federal government later had the Commonwealth of Grenada seize on August 11, 2000, auction and begin to liquidate until it closed during February 2001 when the bank license was finally revoked.
Closing the network of banks down was no simple task for the U.S. government, after Grenada’s FIBG bank laid claims to having under management nearly $230,000,000,000.00 (USD) billion from several Wars worth of gold bullion holdings, treasured rare artifacts, and more that documented assets controlled by a legacy China Triad family whose assignees were in Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, India, Israel, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Philippines, Canada, United Kingdom, and Scotland with representatives in the United States, Canada, Spain, Uruguay, Brazil, and Indonesia bundling packaged portions of those assets into joint venture contract agreements and memorandums of understandings the U.S. government decided to try and put a halt to by contracting several nefarious 'financial engineers' of whom two (2) were old Non-Official Cover ( NOC ) undercover government intelligence agents, not limited to, but including the infamous William S. Sass and Robert Earl Palm ( United States & Canada ) along with Gabriel Francis MacEnroe ( United Kingdom & Switzerland ) whom established a series of events that led to the downfall of that independent offshore bank network.
Van Brink, feeling the heat of U.S. government agents breathing down on his bank supported by international major news coverage popping-up out of nowhere from international news wire services, decided to resign on October 1, 1999 when only a few months earlier he was invited to meet with the half-brother of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, a Uganda People’s Defense Force ( UPDF ) retired General Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho.
General Saleh was no stranger to international press reports either, which placed him in the limelight of other country natural resources and businesses involving air cargo transportation, the Uganda CO-OPERATIVE Bank, and SARACEN KAMPALA LTD. ( Kampala, Uganda ), a branch office of SARACEN SECURITY LTD. ( UK ), a private military contractor with former British SAS intelligence officers led by a member of the Scotland Royal Family.
Operation New Sudan Protocol secret meeting minutes are now revealed (below ):
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Minutes for a Special Meeting on Printing the New Currency for The New Sudan
Date: 29th June 2002
Meeting Between:
Chairman, National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM )
AND,
Management of ALANDIS PRODUCTS in coordination with SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS )
PREFACE
This report is a follow-up of the previous meeting with Mr. Peter Emusugut, representative of one international company; in finding out a way to identify one company, which can print the new currency for circulation in New Sudan.
The last part of this report also answers some of the questions raised by Mr. Van Arthur Brink in the effort to finding a solution to accomplishing the task given to SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ).
The meeting was held at the NILE HOTEL starting at 10:45 a.m.
Present at the meeting were:
- Commander Kuol Manyag Juuk - Chairman - National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM );
- Commander Bior Ajang - Chief of Military Operations - Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM );
- Commander Edward Abyei Lino - Chief of Security - Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM );
- Mr. Van Arthur Brink - Managing Director, international company;
- Mr. Peter Emusugut - Representative, printing company;
- Mr. Kenneth Lubega - Resident Director, ALANDIS PRODUCTS;
- Mr. Solomon Chaplain Lui - Director, External Relations & Planning, SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ); and,
- Mr. Blyth Fred Walekwa - Projects Development Manager - SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ), and meeting Secretary.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING
The Director of External Relations & Planning for SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ), Mr. Solomon Chaplain Lui, opened the meeting by first introducing the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) delegation, which included:
Commander Kuol Manyag Juuk, Chairman, National Economic Affairs Commission, Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM );
Commander Edward Abyei Lino, Chief of Security - Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ); and,
Commander Bior Ajang, Chief of Military Operations - Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ).
Next introduced, was:
Mr. Blyth Fred Walekwa, Projects Development Manager, SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (SSDS);
Mr. Kenneth Lubega, Director (resident), ALANDIS PRODUCTS;
Mr. Van Arthur Brink, Managing Director, international company; and lastly,
Mr. Peter Emusugut, Representative, printing company.
He informed the meeting that the two (2) gentlemen brought in by Mr. Peter Emusugut ( printing company representative ) knew very little about Southern Sudan. He therefore requested the Chairman if he could give some brief history of New Sudan.
The History and People of New Sudan
The Chairman thanked the SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) management for their efforts to introduce the visitors who had come to respond to the urgent needs of New Sudan.
He went on to inform, that the war of liberation struggle started from, 1955 to 1972, when people of Southern Sudan rebelled away from the Khartoum government. In 1995, the administration decided to establish developmental service departments and secretariat (ministries). The system established in New Sudan, represents the administration formed into an Economic Commission comprised of several ministries.
He also informed the meeting that the two (2) gentlemen with him were key figures in the struggle and administration of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) affairs, and that he invited them to come and participate in establishing facts and look for a way forward for the development of New Sudan.
After his brief introduction, the Chairman requested Commander Lino to give a short history on New Sudan.
Commander Lino informed the meeting that the Southern Sudanese have reached a level of not waiting anymore; they have reached a level of announcing our total independence. He further noted that Sudan, the biggest country in Africa, combines the size of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
He indicated that the biggest part of Southern Sudan is now captured under control of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) with some civic administration set up. The biggest population in Sudan is formed of black Africans. During convention meetings in 1994, the people of Southern Sudan decided to call the liberated areas "New Sudan", and had determination of wining the war. He further emphasized that the people have never lost hope.
He informed that the people are very poor yet the land is very virgin and fertile, abundant land for agriculture, with rivers, natural resources, and a huge animal population of livestock constitutes availability of great opportunities for rapid development of New Sudan. In our historical defense, it is the people who have decided about their independence.
He continued, that the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) has already established offices in various countries globally, which offices are being used to sail the liberation struggle concepts and for the recognition of New Sudan. Those are efforts by the people themselves to declare to the world their own independence.
Commander Lino noted, that the National Economic Affairs Commission has a number of technical experts in the financial sector who would come and give the technical requirements to satisfy the issues raised on recognition of New Sudan. None of the three (3) Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) delegates at the meeting are economists. They must therefore rely on special information made available by technical people in various specialization areas appointed by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ).
Commander Lino regretted that most of the learned professionals from Southern Sudan were scattered all over the world, which depleted domestic human resources.
He informed, that with services in New Sudan there is an urgent need for its own currency. The people in the service industry have been working without pay, even the fighters continue without payments.
We need money to pay for these services. The former Sudanese Pound, an old currency, is still being circulated even though it is totally depleted and that is why the National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) has been given the task to ensure the people of Southern Sudan are paid for their efforts in developing New Sudan.
He clarified that trade activities and other macro issues are being put in place and that the people themselves are asking for the their own currency.
Commander Lino indicated that since the involvement of SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) we have been introduced to sympathizers who are ready to take part in freely telling the world the need for our independence. We are looking forward to our friends to come to our recognition, he notably requested.
With sad regret Commander Lino informed the meeting that the war had killed more than 2,000,000 million people of Southern Sudan, but that he hopes if the total liberation of the remaining areas - where oil reserves are located - are captured by July next year [ 2003 ], then New Sudan will be having another story to tell within a short time to come.
The Chairman then requested Commander Bior Ajang if he had any comment to add-on.
Commander Bior Ajang then informed the meeting that the oil reserve in Bentui is currently producing 1,000,000 million barrels per day. In the future oil will be within our control with enough resources to justify the viability of our new economy. He noted that southern Sudan is a very rich territory with gold reserves.
He also informed, that in 1982 timber was valued at $3,000,000,000.00 (USD) billion, and that many other resources are available. Even with a slow starting pace New Sudan has a great potential for development.
Mr. Van A. Brink addressed the meeting, and noted that if the value of timber was $3,000,000,000.00 (USD) billion in 1982, that it is now of higher value.
Mr. Brink wanted to know why New Sudan had not announced itself as an independent state, reiterating that without declaring themselves independent, there is no state or international donor community who will accept the legitimacy of New Sudan existence and gave an example of Somalia currently running its affairs using more than six (6) currencies introduced by different factions.
The Chairman Elaborates On Issues
The Chairman noted to the meeting that a lot of preparations and examinations have been made to establish all possibilities for New Sudan having its own currency, but that the only prevailing problem is the financial problem being faced the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Administration, which calls for immediate financial support intervention.
These people have been fighting for the last 19-years. They have social problems for themselves and their families. There is also an urgent need to address and find solutions to help the Army's logistics and humanitarian support to enable them to win the war, he noted.
The Chairman continued that we have no infrastructure as a result of having been discriminated from development. We started from nothing, the roads are in bad shape, the bridges are broken.
The Chairman also sited the situation in Somalia where local factions without the establishment of a central bank are using private currencies in circulation.
He further informed the meeting that with the potential of exporting our resources, the currency would only remain within the territory as a medium of exchange. By putting this currency in circulation, the international Non-Governmental Organizations ( NGO ) will bring foreign currency, and investors will be attracted.
He sited the example where farmers fail to sell off their surplus produce due do non-existence of medium of exchange. These farmers are discouraged to produce more crops in the next seasons.
He indicated that the large number of Sudanese human resources staying abroad keep sending money via Western Union to their relatives, which was another big source of foreign currency.
He noted that the issue of declaring themselves independent is very complex, both militarily and politically. We have the support from the people at the grassroots, but the international community does not understand the truth about our struggle.
He further noted that if at least the Army captured Juba, it could be a great achievement where some international support would immediately come in. The people have confidence in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ), the grassroots keep asking when they would have their own currency.
The Chairman went on to inform the meeting, they need to print at least 3,000,000,000 billion notes of new currency for circulation, and printing shall cost the administration nearly $800,000.00 dollars, plus another $300,000.00 dollars to print sensitization posters. With money not readily available, this is the reason why we are now looking for friends who can come to our rescue.
Interactive Responses
Mr. Peter Emusugut wanted to know if the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Administration had made any effort to establish the reserve fund, which could determine the volume of money to be printed.
Mr. Van A. Brink gave a brief history of his banking professionalism and work experience, and asked what steps had the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) prepared in efforts of establishing a legitimate currency policy and monetary framework to attract recognition from the international community and foreign investment.
Mr. Brink sited the example of forming a Currency Trustee, which could originate from the common laws of the land, which is acceptable internationally.
He also advised that the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) should take the initiative to declare New Sudan an independent state - he further gave the idea that it is high time the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) thought seriously of setting up a diplomatic office in Kampala.
He told the meeting that New Sudan could be recognized as an independent state if the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) managed to convince at least three (3) member states of the United Nations.
Mr. Brink also wanted to know if the Economic Commission had already designed the type of currency they wanted to print.
The Chairman confirmed, they already have the design, and further informed the meeting that they have identified a printing company but the problem was to raise the money for printing costs.
It was at this moment when Mr. Brink suggested that it is time all efforts are made to find all possible means of getting $1,000,000.00 million dollars on loan for the task.
SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (SSDS) Director Mr. Blyth Fred Walekwa intervened by first thanking Mr. Brink for efforts he had shown in helping them in solving this problem. He also thanked Mr. Brink for the advice given in the effort of accomplishing their task, and that the advice given them will be taken seriously.
Mr. Walekwa informed the meeting that New Sudan is more prepared and more advanced than the sited example Somalia, noting that the people have all strong support for their Movement. The administration is set and is operational with the leadership is being received by international sympathizers as they move around advocating for recognition. The only problem is the financial support we need from friends.
The Chairman intervened by informing the meeting that the National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) has already identified one (1) printing company, the only problem was the $1,000,000 million dollars required for the task.
The Chairman informed Mr. Brink that the Commission is looking for someone to borrow money for them, further noting that the National Economic Affairs Commission Administration is now setting up a monetary system being designed by SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) in collaboration with professional economists and bankers from the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ), which system shall meet the international standard to attract foreign investment.
The Chairman informed the meeting that the situation in New Sudan needs immediate intervention. The people are using different currencies depending on the areas of residence.
He sited the example of people bordering Eretia using the currency from that country, and the same applies to residents living in areas of neighboring respective countries of the Republic of Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC / RDC ), which end up using currencies from those countries.
The central area of Southern Sudan is now using the old Sudanese Pound that is no longer used in Northern Sudan, while people neighboring Northern Sudan are using the Sudanese dinar. This is a sad moment, the Chairman noted, and emphasized that our people need their own currency for effective development.
Mr. Brink informed the meeting of steps that could be taken to address the situation, promising he would contact some of his counterparts via the internet to find suitable ways of solving some of the problems.
He informed the meeting that some business would come in if New Sudan has enough reserves, which could work as export alternatives to pay off the loan.
He strongly advised for a free trade zone, where the people after such long suffering should not be subjected to tax, and sited examples of Brunei and Alaska using the same system, following the massive reserves they possess capable of subsidizing for the welfare of the people.
The Chairman informed the meeting that the opportunities are big. That Southern Sudan is endowed with abundant resources. He sited the example of massive orders from Uganda for Palm Oil, Honey, and Sesame Seeds.
The SSDS Director informed the meeting that Southern Sudan has a big reserve of teak timber worth $3,000,000,000 billion dollars. He told the meeting that Sudan produces 80% of the world's requirement of Arabica Gum of which 60% can be tapped from Southern Sudan. There is also potential for exporting Shea Nuts to the Far East Market.
Break
Mr. Brink requested a break of 15-minutes enabling him to consult with his delegation.
Interactive Responses
Commander Lino informed the meeting that it would be advisable to involve or seek some advice from the current Vice-President of the World Bank, Mr. Dauson Wai, who happens to be a Sudanese national, believing he could be of help in the efforts of finding recognition for the new currency by the international monetary system.
After some consultation with his team, Mr. Brink raised a few issues and questions to the Chairman and his team to clarify in the efforts of having a compromise to the task.
The following questions were raised:
- What is the Monetary System currently in use?
- Could he review a copy of the Monetary Policy?
- Has the Commission established a Business Plan for the operations of the financial sector of New Sudan?
- What is the type of infrastructure in the present New Sudan?
- Does the territory have communication system, e.g. telephone network, radio broadcasting, publication of newspapers, etc.?
- How does the Commission intend to sensitize the public about the new currency?
- What system is set in place for the circulation of the new currency?
- What is the administration set up for the currency distribution in New Sudan?
Responding to some of the questions, Commander Lion ( Chief of Security ) informed the meeting that there is 'no telephone communication system' in New Sudan, and that most international NGOs currently use 'satellite telephones' in order to communicate with the rest of the world.
The meeting was further informed that people have to move from the depths of southern Sudan to Kampala, Uganda, Nairobi, Kenya, or Addis Ababa in order to communicate with their relatives abroad.
The National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Administration has already secured one (1) short-wave radio of 500-Kilowatts capable of broadcasting beyond the whole area of Southern Sudan.
There are no media agencies operated by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ).
The Chairman requested for intervention in solving the problem by identifying companies, which could come and invest in the communication sector.
The meeting was further informed that the roads are in existence but need rehabilitation, which is inclusive of broken bridges, which need reconstruction. There is also need to the establishment of power generation plants along the River Nile and its tributaries.
Mr. Brink informed the meeting that there is a new technology communication system, which costs $5-million dollars with a capacity of connecting more than 1,100 networks at a time. The system can be connected to radio communication, internet, televisions, satellite telephones, and other types of media.
The Chairman in response requested Mr. Brink to find an investor who could come in to install the system.
Mr. Brink further informed the meeting that the system could be run commercially on the fact that many business ventures have a growing need for international communications.
The Chairman further informed the meeting that the laws are set and there is free market economy to attract foreign investments with the establishment of a civil authority given mandate to run most of the service activities.
He informed the meeting that New Sudan set under the administration of regional provinces, headed by governors with appointed Directors running departments of various sectors, regions are divided in Administrative Districts headed by Commissioners, which are further comprised of Counties and Sub-Counties.
The Chairman further informed, that the type of communication available in New Sudan is currently via the Radio Call System. The people travel long distances to get access to radio communication.
As far as the civil authority yet to conduct a national budget for the capital and recurrent expenditure, SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (SSDS) in collaboration with Sudanese professionals will conduct a situation analysis to come up with the budget.
The Chairman also expressed the need to attract professional citizens staying abroad to come and participate to the development of their country.
The Way Forward
The Chairman was of the opinion that it would be important during the next meeting to invite the finance personnel from the Economic Commission to contribute to the technical aspects in the efforts of establishing a moderate monetary system in New Sudan.
The next meeting was set for Monday, July 1, 2002 at one (1) venue ( as a matter of maintaining privacy ) suggested by the Mr. Brink delegation.
In response to most information required by the Mr. Brink Team, SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) as the appointed Consultants of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Administration has developed a draft of the investment and monetary policy framework, which is yet to be approved by the Economic Commission.
In the process of stimulating economic growth, human development and reducing poverty in New Sudan, acceptable standards for developmental policies have to be set and tasked, which SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) has undertaken to implement by the introduction of Initiative and Poverty Reduction Strategies by Rural Development and Environmental activities with efforts addressing Social Development and Post Conflict Reconstruction.
Other areas of concern, which need immediate intervention, shall include Private Sector Development, Infrastructure and Finance as a measure to attract both domestic and foreign investment and exposure to global trade, an initiative that SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) has undertaken by identifying potential international foreign investors and soliciting for international markets for the New Sudan.
In this effort of economic reform, New Sudan will need exposure to technology and advanced knowledge through partnerships for capacities of building and advocacy for good governance, areas professionally prepared under the SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) Projects Development Department.
As a note of concern, New Sudan - together with most Sub-Sahara economies - are growing again after decades of stagnation, but on average growth continues to fall short of what is needed for the absolute number of poor to decline. The challenge for New Sudan is to create the right conditions for high economic growth and improve the welfare of its citizens living in severe poverty.
Need To Raise GDP Growth Rates
While war and discord have left doubts about southern Sudan future, a more complex and encouraging reality is also unfolding about the potential rapid development available for the new economy, given the fact of the availability of abundant resources.
A special situation analysis has to be conducted by highly qualified developmental consulting firms to assess potential global intervention in the process of reforming the economy of southern Sudan.
SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) suggests that if New Sudan needs to raise its GDP and key economic reforms, the following have to be considered:
- Liberalizing Markets and Trade;
- Improving Economic Management; and,
- Promoting Private Sector Activity.
Growth and personal incomes have to be risen and poverty has to be declined. Southern Sudan, having entered the 21st Century is among the poorest regions in Africa that sees the average income per capita lower than at the end of the 1960s.
Incomes, assets, and access to essential services are unequally distributed as compared to neighboring economies like Uganda and Kenya.
Those most vulnerable to poverty live in rural areas, in large households, which are often headed by women. In addition HIV / AIDS is fast reversing some of the social gains. The current HIV infection rate could be in excess of 25% of the adult population.
The combination of low economic growth, the highest rate of population increase, and a high ratio of dependents-to-workers places New Sudan low on the rankings for the most critical indicators of social progress. How long people live, how much knowledge they acquire, and how much access they have to resources necessary for a better standard of living are key issues to raise in the situation analysis.
The twin challenge is to achieve sustainable economic growth and make sure that growth reaches the poorest in New Sudan.
Currently the territory will need to grow by more than 5% per year just to keep the number of poor from rising. With percentages living in dire poverty, efforts must be embarked upon so they may be halved by 2015. Not only will the economy need to grow considerably but also incomes will have to be distributed more equitably among the populace.
This will require decisive action in five (5) main areas:
- Resolving conflict and improving governance;
- Greater equity and more investment in New Sudan people;
- Increasing competitiveness;
- Diversifying the economy; and,
- Better support from the international development community.
Stimulating Growth and Reducing Poverty in New Sudan
New Sudan cannot achieve and sustain rapid economic growth without investing better in its people. Many lack the access to health, education and productive resources to contribute to a thriving economy.
Women are one of Southern Sudan's hidden growth reserves, providing most of the country's labor, but their productivity is hampered by widespread inequality in education and access to essential services and skills.
HIV / AIDS continues to take its toll on the population and has undermined savings growth and the social fabric in New Sudan.
Initiative reforms should be put in place with New Sudan, and these need to be scaled-up to have a substantial impact on development.
Political participation to free the people democratically through referendums should be enhanced to pave the way toward government accountability. Free elections should be conducted in the shortest possible time with effort to solicit for international recognition and support.
With the high hopes of wining the war New Sudan should not be viewed by international critics as a battleground where the country and its people rely entirely on foreign assistance regardless of their current good established civil governance and development.
Globalization and new technologies, especially information technology, will offer great opportunities for New Sudan to make significant advances in its development agenda.
Efforts must be taken to commit substantial resources to support not only a resurgence in the economic performance but also one which should be able to begin to lift the well-being of the 12,000,000 million citizens who live on less than $1.00 dollar per day.
The strategies mentioned above will be tackled individually to maximize success.
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. . . [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] . . .
Submitted for review,
ShoreLines
[ E-MAIL: ShoreLines@safe-mail.net ]
Reference
SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES - SSDS
Twese Building, Room 3
Plot 4 Wilson Road
P.O. Box 23496
Kampala
UGANDA
TEL: +256 41 348-358
FAX: +256 41 348-477
E-MAIL: ssdsug@yahoo.com
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately above ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
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Note(s)
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately below ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
President AL-Bashir Meets Dr. John Garang Leader Of SPLM / SPLA In Kampala Uganda
UGANDA, Kampala - July 27, 2002 - Within the present promising peace prospects in Sudan, His Excellency Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir President of the Republic of the Sudan held in Kampala, Uganda on 27 July 2002 an historic meeting with Dr. John Garang de Mabior leader of the SPLM / SPLA in the presence of host Uganda President His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
H.E. President Al-Bashir arrived in Kampala July 25, 2002 for an official visit responding to the kind invitation of his brother President Museveni.
President Al-Bashir meeting with John Garang was the first meeting between them. It followed the landmark peace accord concluded between the delegations of the Sudan Government and the SPLM / SPLA in Kenya on July 20, 2002.
Following is the text of press communiqué issued in Kampala on July 27, 2002 highlighting the historic development.
Begins:
The REPUBLIC OF UGANDA COMMUNIQUÉ
1. At the invitation of H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmen El-Bashir of the Republic of the Sudan paid a two day official visit to Uganda from 26 to 27 July 2002. H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmed El-Bashir was accompanied by the Minister for Presidential Affairs, the Presidential Peace Advisor, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs and other high ranking officials.
2. H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had also invited Dr. John Garang de Mabior, Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM / SPLA, to discus matters pertaining to the Sudan peace process. This visit provided the opportunity for a meeting, which had for some times been outstanding between President Omar Hassan Ahmed E.L-Bashir and the SPLA / SPLM leader. Dr. John Garang de mabior was a complained by the Chairman of the SPLM Commission for External Relations, Information and Humanitarian Affairs, the Commissioner for Information and Officials Spokesman of the SPLA, and other high-ranking Officials of the Movement.
3. H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmed EL-Bashir and their delegations held official talks in which they discussed bilateral and regional matters of mutual interest. The agreed to continue developing their current cooperation for the mutual benefit of their countries. In particular they recommitted themselves to work together towards total peace and secure along their common border and its environs in accordance with the Nairobi Agreement signed in December 1999. In this respect, H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir reiterated his government's commitment to continue cooperation with Uganda regarding the current military measures in place across the joint border.
4. Regarding further improvement of relations, the two Presidents agreed to the implementation of the understanding reached by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs in April 2002, to upgrade diplomatic representation to ambassadorial level and to establish a joint Ministerial Committee to over-see cooperation activities.
5. H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni re-iterated his government's continued support to the IGAD Peace Initiative aimed at resolving the conflict between the Sudanese Government and the SPLA/SPLM. In this regard, H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will continue exerting his personal efforts toward encouraging the Sudanese parties to make more progress for the success of the IGAD initiative.
6. The meeting between H.E President EL-Bashir and Dr.Garang had been arranged by H.E President Moseveni before the Machakos talks as supplementary efforts to the IGAD Peace process. They acknowledged the progress achieved at Machakos particularly on the fundamental issues of "State and Religion" as well as the "Right to Self-determination". H.E President EL-Bashir and Chairman Dr. Garang applauded the break-through in Machakos and paid tribute to H.E President Daniel Arap Moi, Chairman of the IGAD Sub-Committee on peace in the Sudan, for all his tireless efforts. They undertook to ensure that all efforts are deployed to resolve the outstanding issues, which will be discussed in the next phase of peace talks. They underscored the need to reinforce the peace process by rallying popular support behind it and building national consensus on comprehensive political settlement.
7. On regional matters, the two Presidents reiterated their governments' resolve to continue supporting all measures aimed at bringing about peace and security so that steady development can be realized.
8. H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmed EL-Bashir thanked H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Government and people of Uganda for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He extended an invitation to H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to pay a return visit to Sudan at his convenience, to which the latter gladly accepted.
Done at Kampala on 27 July 2002.
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately above ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
Reference
http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:ROtWup00wHIJ:www.sudanembassychina.com/NEWS/en-7-27.htm+%22President+AL-Bashir+Meets+Dr.+John+Garang+Leader%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=de
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/MHII-6227SC?OpenDocument
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/bkg.nsf/doc200?OpenForm&rc=1&cc=sdn&mode=kh
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[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately below ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
KHARTOUM MONITOR - Khartoum, Sudan
July 28, 2002
Beshir And Garang Confirm Commitment To Machakos Protocol
by, William Ezekiel, Hanadi Osman, Howeida Salim, Alawiya Abdel-Rahman
President Omar El Beshir and the Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Colonel John Garang met yesterday in Kampala for the first time.
Speaking at Khartoum airport yesterday on arrival President Beshir said the 2-hour meeting between him and Garang was cordial. He said the two of them reassured their host, President Yoweri Museveni of their commitment to what had been agreed at Machakos last week.
“Garang and I agreed to keep in contact whether by telephone or other means,” President Beshir told journalists.
He said in his conversation with Garang he expressed his desire to realise peace within the framework of voluntary unity.
“Colonel Garang assured me that he is also for national unity as unity makes us all strong,” said the President.
General Beshir noted that the SPLM and Colonel Garang were serious in their peace proposals. El Beshir said that other political forces would attend the next peace talks in Kenya as advisors.
He also said that the national government that would be formed after signing the peace talks would include all the political forces.General Beshir said his visit to Uganda was planned before the Machakos meeting to discuss how to boost the peace process in Sudan as very little hope was placed in the Machakos negotiation.
“Despite the stride made at Machakos, we decided to go ahead with the Kampala meeting to confirm our obligations and to prepare the way for the next peace talks in Kenya,” said General Beshir.
Back at home in Khartoum, politicians have been commenting on the historic meeting between Beshir and Garang.
“The meeting in Kampala, yesterday between President El Beshir and the Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Colonel John Garang, is an important historical step towards peace realization in the Sudan,” member of the opposition Popular National Congress party ( PNC ) Wisal Al Mahdi announced yesterday. She hoped that the Beshir - Garang meeting will boost the recently concluded agreement between the two sides in Machakos, Kenya. She said that her party welcomed the agreement with some reservations.
The Chairman of the new wing of the Umma Party, Mubarak Al Fadil welcomed the meeting between the Beshir and Garang, saying that his party would always welcome any step to unite the Sudanese people.
A member of the Machakos talks government delegation, Amin Hassan Omer, said that the Beshir - Garang meeting would push ahead the Machakos agreement and smooth the path for the next round of talks.
Omer said the meeting was evidence that more efforts were being exerted for peace in the country and that the two sides want to achieve peace.
The minister of the humanitarian affairs at the transitional peace council in the Nuba Mountains, Ismail Saad el Din, also welcomed the Beshir - Garang meeting, saying the meeting was proof that the process of peace was in the right direction.
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately above ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
Reference
http://www.khartoummonitor.com
http://www.cedej.org.eg/IMG/pdf/politicpdf.pdf
http://www.ecosonline.org/back/pdf_reports/2003/AIaugustus%202003.pdf
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BBC - UK
Riots After Sudan VP Garang Dies
August 1, 2005 / 21:41 GMT
Sudanese police have quelled riots and imposed a curfew in Khartoum after anger at the death of ex-rebel leader John Garang spilled onto the streets. At least 20 people were reported dead in clashes in the capital. There were also reports of unrest elsewhere.
Sudan's newly appointed Vice-President Dr. John Garang died in a helicopter crash as he was returning from Uganda. He signed a deal to end 21-years of civil war in January 2005 and was sworn in as deputy leader 3-weeks ago.
His former rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ), nominated deputy leader Salva Kiir as his successor and the next vice-president of Sudan. BBC Jonah Fisher in Khartoum says that in choosing Mr Kiir, the SPLM has sent a clear message that there will be no radical departure from Mr. Garang's era.
Eerie Calm
U.S. President George W Bush, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and others joined Mr. Kiir in urging the Sudanese people to remain calm and continue to implement the peace agreement.
Mr Garang's death was announced just before 0800 (0500 GMT) on Monday, though he had been reported missing over the weekend.
Our correspondent said gangs of youths from southern Sudan - Mr. Garang's home - appeared on the streets looting cars, throwing stones, and smashing office windows. Gunfire could be heard and there were clashes with security forces as they tried to seal off the city centre. However, shortly after an overnight curfew was imposed at 18:00 ( 15:00 GMT ), there was an eerie calm on the streets, our correspondent reports.
Our correspondent says many of the 4,000,000 million southern Sudanese living in Khartoum hoped Mr. Garang would change their lives, and they are now venting their frustration at his death.
Peace Maker
Mr. Garang steered the SPLM rebels from the Christian and animist south in a war against the Islamic government in the north, which left some 1,500,000 million people dead.
Mr Garang's death leaves a gaping hole in Sudan's political landscape, our correspondent says, 3-days of national mourning have been declared.
The Uganda President Mi-72 helicopter carrying Mr. Garang - back from a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at his ranch in Rwakitura - crashed in mountains near Mr. Garang's base in New Site, southern Sudan. Six (6) of Mr. Garang's associates plus seven (7) crew members also died in the crash, which has been blamed on bad weather.
Mr. Garang had ruled the disparate SPLM with an iron hand, and managed to keep it together through years of fighting. The conflict in Sudan ended with the signing of a peace agreement in January and Mr. Garang became vice-president in a new government of national unity.
Sudan President Omar al-Bashir ( El-Bashir ) said he was confident the peace agreement would remain on course.
Reference
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4734517.stm
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South Sudan Crisis Adds To Khartoum's Darfur Woes
Southern Sudan Party Quits Government
THE NEW VISION - Kampala, Uganda
SPLA Quits Sudan's Unity Government
by, Henry Mukasa
October 11, 2007
UGANDA, Kampala - October 11, 2007 - The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) has suspended its participation in the national government over delays in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum told a news conference in Juba that the party had recalled all its ministers and presidential advisers from the government of national unity. "Presidential advisers, ministers, and state ministers will not report to work until these contentious issues are resolved," Amum said.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January 2005 by the late SPLM leader John Garang and Sudan President Omar El-Bashir ( Al-Bashir ), ended 20-years of war between the dominant Arab north and Christian south. Garang, who died only weeks after being sworn in as the Sudan first Vice-President, was succeeded by Salva Kiir.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement laid down wealth and power sharing arrangements between the national government and the semi-autonomous government in the south. It also provides for a referendum in 2011, in which the southerners can vote for self-determination.
The SPLM representative in Kampala, Uganda listed four (4) reasons which led to yesterday’s [Thursday's] decision: the demarcation of the north - south border, wealth sharing, the withdrawal of troops from the South, and arrangements concerning the oil rich Abyei area.
"The ruling National Congress has impeded the work of the border commission by not availing it with resources," said James Ernest Onge Aremo, South Sudan’s envoy in Uganda.
"So far, no work has been done in demarcating the border. This could result in delaying the population census, the expected elections in 2009 as well as the 2011 referendum."
He also accused Khartoum of violating the security provisions.
"The Sudan armed forces are still deployed in the south, especially in the oil fields, in the Unity and Upper Nile states they have 14,000 soldiers, yet by July 2005 they should have moved all their troops to the north."
On wealth sharing, southern Sudan envoy James Ernest Onge Aremo complained of lack of transparency in oil production and revenue. According to the agreement, the government of South Sudan was supposed to get 50% of the oil extracted from the south.
"The SPLM is excluded from the management and development of the oil sector. The government of South Sudan does not know the exact figure of oil production. They are locked out," he said.
Another contentious issue, according to Aremo, is the oil rich Abyei area, which was supposed to be administered by a council appointed by the Presidency in an initial phase before elections.
"The government of national unity has rejected the implementation of the Abyei boundary commission, and refused to set up the Abyei administration as an interim measure."
The SPLM representatives emphasised that their protest action should not lead to the resumption of war.
"We have not declared war. Sudan has suffered a lot. We don’t need war. Going back to war would not be helpful to President Bashir or any other groups," said South Sudan envoy James Ernest Onge Aremo.
He called upon Ugandans working in South Sudan not to panic. "They should continue their work normally. This will not affect them. There is no cause for alarm," he said.
The SPLM has just over 25% of government posts in Khartoum, including the foreign affairs and humanitarian affairs ministries, the two (2) key liaison posts with the international community.
One of the main northern opposition parties, the Umma Party, said the SPLM move would force the hand of the National Congress Party. "This is the ultimate thing that could have been done. It’s very serious, it’s very positive, and the NCP has to respond in a responsible way," spokeswoman Mariam Al-Mahdi said.
Reference
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/591560
http://platform.blogs.com/passionofthepresent/2007/10/splm-quits-suda.html
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Note
From: "Van Brink"
To: "Willy Mishiki"
Subject: Re: princeofcongo@hotmail.com has sent you a New Vision News Article!
Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 09:30:37 +0000
CONFIDENTIAL:
Hi Willy!
Yes, I saw that article and the disparraging references attributed to Valentina. [ Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounova (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Piskanov (aka) Valentina Petrovich ]
The editor of New Vision seems to delight in publishing any possible bad statement about me that anyone might say, anywhere, anytime. It has been that way since I landed in Kampala and offered a financial rescue package for CO-OPERATIVE BANK. Seems the bank in which THE NEW VISION editor owned or owns an interest, was hoping to pick up some of Co-Operative Bank assets, and he therefore by no means wished to see Co-Operative Bank rescued. Of course, that part of the story is never published.
You might recall the context, as you happened to be with me when I made the presentation to the late Governor of the BANK OF UGANDA ( BOU ). I handed him an offer by FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. ( not a personal offer ) of more than double the amount that BOU's own report said was needed to put CO-OPERATIVE BANK back into good standing. He politely glanced at it, then threw it back on the table, saying it really didn't matter how good the offer was, that he and the Uganda Minister of Finance had concluded the previous day that no rescue would be allowed, but that the bank would simply be canibalized in favor of selected stronger banks.
He later lied to Parliament when he said BOU had done a thorough investigation and determined I wasn't a fit and proper person and that was the reason the CO-OPERATIVE BANK bail-out offer was rejected. What was never explained is how BOU managed to do such a thorough investigation of 'me' within the same time it took him to look at the offer and throw it back down on the table saying it didn't matter how good any offer was. They were irrevocably decided on what the final disposition of CO-OPERATIVE BANK would be.
I was set to go to the Committee hearings at Parliament to rebute the late Governor's testimony and set the record straight, but was then informed the Governor was terminally ill. Indeed, he died shortly thereafter, and all my testimony would do would be to cause grief and embarrassment to the Governor and his family in his final days and that wouldn't be able to resurrect CO-OPERATIVE BANK so, I held my peace.
On the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ), the ironic thing is that Valentina is the only one who received URS funds. After the Grenada conference with Congo tribal kings, RCD - Goma and MSPD, and signing of agreements for humanitarian aid, I left to return to Uganda but detoured to Poland for 10-days. And between that time - when I left Grenada - and when I got to Uganda, Valentina had requisitioned something like $800,000.00 (USD) in funds from FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. in the name of the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ), 'all' suposedly for the projects put forward by the Congo kings who later were ready to lynch someone because they never received even $1.00 dollar toward any of their projects.
I didn't find out about this until about 30-days later when I had finished putting together a protocol for how and when funds would be requisitioned for each group's projects when I submitted what I 'thought' was the 'first' URS request for funds from FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. Only then, was I told about the $800,000.00 (USD) Valentina had already received ( without URS authorization ) that was not properly accounted-for and that no other funds would be forthcoming until I straightened 'that' out and a more efficient funds requisition system be instituted. I was dumb-struck. I couldn't believe that Valentina would - without any delegated authority - pose as the party authorized to requisition funds, and would then order and receive in her private company account $800,000.00 (USD) in the name of URS for the kings and proceed to "eat" it. She truly has gall in saying that URS, you, and I are fakes. Good grief!
But her misappropriations weren't the end of it.
She then proceeded to convince RCD - Kisingani that I had personally embezzled the funds for their projects and that was the reason the humanitarian projects they had proposed weren't receiving funding.
They were quite livid about that and offered me some not very veiled threats on my personal safety and well-being.
I finally had to have a meeting with Wamba dia Wamba to set the record straight.
She told the other kings much the same thing, and before you know it there's a new front page scandal story in THE NEW VISION about how I had personally bilked something like $50,000,000.00 (USD) million in humanitarian funds intended for DRC and was just living it up in a palatial lifestyle.
At that time, in the continued hope of setting the record straight, I consented to an in-depth inverview with THE NEW VISION reporter who was claiming the byline on the Congolese humanitarian funds story. I took him chapter and verse through the agreements and the records of what had been done, what had been attempted, the underlying basis of the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) project, the records we had on who ( Valentina ) had requisitioned funds allegedly on behalf of URS, the amount of such funds, and the notice from FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. that the entire project had been suspended.
The next NEW VISION article that appeared was simply a re-hash of the previous claims on how I had embezzled humanitarian aid funds. Not one word or fact, from my interview with the NEW VISION reporter, was included.
Through a 3rd party source, I heard that the NEW VISION reporter 'did file the complete story', but that any / all balancing references to 'me' or 'quotes from me' had been 'deleted' from the story written by William Pike, THE NEW VISION Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, himself.
I don't know if that's true, but there was a follow-up a few months later via an editorial by William Pike that, Uganda doesn't need to harbor people of my ilk and that I ( Brink ) should be thrown out of the country.
And all of this, Willy, is to say that I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that THE NEW VISION would publish any comment I would make about Valentina's recent statements to the David Porter Commission. Wish I could help you on that, but I know I can't.
Last I heard was that Valentina is now claiming that it was not UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) funds she requisitioned, but that the $800,000.00 (USD) was for some consulting services she did for FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. While 'that' claim of hers can easily be disproven, what does it matter at this point?
(1) I don't think anyone would be able to recover $1.00 from her;
(2) FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. is in liquidation and the Liquidator is paying himself and his hired help 100% of all liquidation proceeds, having published that when he is finished absolutely zero ( 0 ) will be paid to depositors; and,
(3) UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) needs a whole lot more than $800,000.00 (USD) to accomplish its mission - if it could recover that from Valentina and again I believe that would be a 100% wasted effort - an expensive legal process could be commenced to attempt recovery, but neither URS nor I have the funds to engage legal counsel to do such.
What I don't understand is how and when 'you' ever got on Valentina's bad side. Did you make the mistake of ever confronting her with the truth on some matter? I did. And the next thing I knew is that RCD - Kisingani was accusing me of having stolen the funds for their humanitarian projects.
Another irony, in the whole situation, is that Valentina was the one who introduced us. She greeted me when I first got off the plane in Uganda. I hadn't known her previously.
Valentina worked with John A. Myburgh, the South Africa businessman who persuaded me to come to Uganda and see what I could do to rescue CO-OPERATIVE BANK.
I had flown from Grenada to the UK and met John Myburgh at Heathrow airport in London to fly on to Uganda. John said that my schedule of meetings was all set.
In my mind, I had come to Uganda for one (1) reason: to analyze the CO-OPERATIVE BANK situation and to formulate and present a rescue offer, if possible. I wasn't interested in anything else and only wanted to stay in Uganda for 3-days, then return to Grenada.
What I learned in those first 3-days is about something called "African time," i.e. that whatever it is you want to do, it will take you a multiple of your normally estimated time in order to see it done.
After 3-days, I extended my stay for another week, then another, and another, and another. Once I made the extension, Valentina was at me - off and on - for several days singing your praises to me and urging me to meet you and see if there wasn't something that I could do to help so, I took the meeting.
You first suggested I go to your country and start a bank. I started asking about basic infrastructure, etc. The more I asked, the more I realized there wasn't really enough "on the ground" and working in your country to really commence a normal banking operation. So we shifted directions and started talking and the concept of how to independently rebuild the Congo economy without reliance on the World Bank, the IMF, and the "donor" community. You said if I wrote such a plan, you would see it presented to all of the power groups in DRC. I spent the next several days drafting the plan for the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ). You kept your word and began introducing me to the various power groups, starting with Wamba's RCD - Kisingani.
The URS plan was published on the internet in 2000. For all of the criticisms of and attacks against me, I have yet to read one rational criticism to the URS plan.
We were blind-sided and side-swiped, Willy. Had we been allowed to implement the URS plan in 1999, I'm guessing that 1,500,000 million of the estimated 2,000,000 million lives that have been lost in your country through this civil war could have been spared. Is there a horrendous enough word to describe the magnitude of such atrocity? I don't know what that word would be.
The sad thing to me isn't the lies or the idiotic and hurtful things that are said about me and reported in the press. I gave up allowing such to upset me some time ago. With respect to your country and the URS, the sad thing to me is how many people have suffered and died needlessly, when there easily could have been security, peace and development for all.
In our first meeting, I told you I knew nothing at all about your country - not its history, not its present state of development, not its resources, not its people or politics. You told me something of Congolese history, how a Belgium king once considered all of Congo to be his personal estate and required all able bodied men to work on his rubber plantations, and those who had other ideas - of what would be better for them to do - and refused to put their hands to the tasks the king had for them, had their hands chopped off.
When you told me that it brought tears to my eyes. What I see today is that not much has changed since the days of that king.
We proposed to do something in a way that would allow the Congolese people to truly establish themselves as independent, sovereign, economically viable and self-sufficient.
I don't know about your hands, but mine were chopped off. I'm doing my best to grow new ones so, I can get back to doing what I know that there is to be done.
I don't know how you could ever set THE NEW VISION record straight on Valentina's comments. I'm not sure it is at all worth the investment of your time to attempt doing so. As for me, I have other, more productive things, to do with my time.
But it has been nice to share with you on these things, as there was some of the background you didn't know that you really do need to know.
All the best,
Van
-- original message --
From: New Vision Online Division
To: vanabrink@hotmail.com
Subject: PrinceOfCongo@hotmail.com has sent you a New Vision News Article!
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 01:44:53 +0100 (CET)
Hi there!
PrinceOfCongo@hotmail.com thought you might be interested in this article (below) from The New Vision online ( http://www.newvision.co.ug ).
They also added this comment:
"Van, Did you see how Valentina is spoiling our names in the press, saying the URS was a fake project. I need to react on this side immediately. Take care, Willy"
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NEW VISION
Justice Porter Checks Salim Saleh Accounts
JUSTICE David Porter has begun investigating Lt. General Salim Saleh’s foreign accounts, reports Alfred Wasike.
Porter chairs the Judicial Commission of Inquiry which is investigating allegations that Saleh and other top UPDF ( Uganda People's Defense Force ) officers plundered the DR Congo ( Democratic Republic of the Congo ) while the UPDF fought there.
Speaking to The New Vision in Kampala yesterday, Porter said, “We have written to Gen. Saleh’s external accounts in Europe. We want them to avail us with details of his transactions. He gave us the authority to do that the last time he appeared before us.”
Meanwhile, the hearing turned dramatic on Wednesday when Saleh reappeared before the commission. He was cross-examined by commissioner Joseph Berko. Berko asked Saleh to explain reports that he owns several companies in the DR Congo, including LA CONMET S.P.R.L., which has exported 23 tonnes of coltan to Kazakhstan, a former Soviet Union republic, through Uganda.
Saleh looked Berko in the eye and said, “My lords, I don't even know whether these companies exist. Do they exist at all?”
The judge stared back at Saleh and said, “Yes they do. For example General Kazini is very much involved in VICTORIA GROUP. Those companies, have very high-level UPDF connections, as do your wife's ( Jovia Akandwanaho ).”
The probe, which sat at the International Conference Centre ( Kampala ), had to put up with more drama than it had bargained for.
CONMET proprietors Anatoli Petrovich and his wife Valentina contradicted themselves over Saleh.
Anatoli, who testified in Russian, swore that he did not know Saleh and had never seen him except in newspaper and television pictures.
But his wife - addressing the probe in English - eagerly admitted that she knew Saleh personally and as a family friend.
“Oh! Yes, we know General Saleh. I know him personally. We respect him. He is our family friend. He is very nice,” she ( Valentina Petrovich ) said.
But Anatoli ( Petrovich ) insisted, “I don’t know him ( Saleh ) at all. I have never seen ( Saleh ) him apart from pictures in newspapers and television.”
General Saleh had just returned from Kinshasa ( province in Democratic Republic of the Congo ) on a special peace building assignment by Presidents Museveni ( Uganda ) and Joseph Kabila ( Democratic Republic of the Congo ).
He said, “My lords, I am not involved in that company. I am also not involved in VICTORIA GROUP, TRINITY, TERM INVESTT and other companies that the panel is trying to tie on me.”
Anatoli ( Petrovich ) was speechless when the Commission discovered that he had dealt with the Congolese Liberation Front, RCD ML, and other rebel groups although he had sworn that his company only dealt with and paid all taxes to the Kabila Government ( Democratic Republoc of the Congo ).
Anatoli ( Petrovic ) and his wife ( Valentina Petrovich ) said they met a UN ( United Nations ) panel member, Mel Holt, several times at the SHERATON and SPEKE hotels in Kampala ( Uganda ). They said he did not tell them that his conversation with them would be used in the panel’s final report.
Staring at the ceiling, Valentina said, “He was very well-dressed in an expensive white suit. He said he worked for the UN. I was very impressed and told him how smart he was. He asked if we could have some coffee. I said why not? He was very friendly. He offered to help my husband find coltan buyers in the US.”
She said she made a “very serious mistake” when she allowed herself to be a signatory with controversial businessman Arthur van Brink, now Belgium jailed Prince Willy Mishiki, then RCD leader Professor Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, John Tibasiima, and others on June 15, 1999 for the establishment of the African Union Reserve System ( AURS ) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She said the bank never took off and that the deal was signed in Kampala, Uganda.
“My lords, I accept that it was a very serious mistake. These were fake people. I am very sorry. I was misled. Even the Van Brink Union Reserve System ( URS ) was a complete fake. I am really sorry for that,” she told the probe.
She confessed that she was a partner in a company called ITURI GOLD MINING COMPANY, but denied it was engaged in active mineral prospecting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ends
Reference
http://www.newvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=8&newsCategoryId=12&newsId=94242
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BRITISH BROADCAST COMPANY ( BBC ) - London, UK
DRC is Home to 80% of the World's Coltan Reserves
Congo's Coltan Rush
by, Helen Vesperini - in province Goma DRC
August 1, 2001 / 16:37 GMT 17:37 UK
In the yard of the Shenimed sorting house, young men are busy sorting and cleaning colombo-tantalite ore (aka) coltan as it is known in this part of the world. Regional analysts say the international demand for coltan is one of the driving forces behind the war in the DRC, and the presence of rival militias in the country.
First the young men toss it up into the air as if they were winnowing rice. The men concentrate calmly on their work or joke among themselves. Then they sort it with magnetic tweezers to eliminate any particles of iron ore.
It is then washed, crushed manually in a big pestle and mortar and tested again for iron ore before being fed into a photospectrometer to test its tantalum content.
Blood Tantalum
It is a far cry from the drama of the "No blood on my cell phone" campaign that a group of NGOs and religious communities have launched in Europe to lobby for an embargo on so called "blood tantalum", the colombo-tantalite ore that comes from the war zones in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tantalum is essential in the manufacture of electrical components known as pinhead capacitors. These regulate voltage and store energy in mobile phones, tens of millions of which have been sold in the past few years.
The European lobby groups, like the regional analysts, say that coltan production is fueling the war in Congo. Such allegations infuriate both the rebels, who control this part of Congo, and their Rwanda backers.
They baffle the men on the ground in the coltan business, too preoccupied with making a living. "It's our only way of making a living," said Blanchard, an intermediary who travels upcountry to buy coltan from the small-scale miners and brings it back to Goma to sell. "There's nothing else to do here." Most of the men now in the coltan trade used to be farmers.
Military Uniformed Bandits
Local human rights' groups say that coltan production does lead to security problems. They say it is not uncommon for a miner who has just sold, say, $200 worth of coltan to be visited by 'military uniformed' bandits who know exactly how much money he has in his house.
Foreign criticism of child labour in the coltan mines must be put into the context of Congo.
It is a country where the preoccupation of the average peasant is finding enough cassava to eat for the day. If children were not helping mine coltan they would be working in the fields.
What would be cause for concern in the long term is if coltan were to be such big business for so long that the peasants forgot their farming skills in the way that some Central African villagers have forsaken logging for oil jobs.
When the 'coltan' or the 'oil' reserves run-out they no longer have any means of livelihood. Given the recent slump in coltan prices on the world market that scenario no longer seems so likely. Local people say the price drop has had a disastrous effect on the region's economy.
"It's been a catastrophe," said Antoine, a local businessman. "I would estimate that 80% of all business here is either in 'coltan' or dependent on the 'coltan trade', and there's just a lot less money in circulation now."
Reference
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1468772.stm
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BRITISH BROADCAST COMPANY ( BBC ) - London, UK
DR Congo Uranium Mine Collapses
July 12, 2004 / 16:05 GMT 17:05 UK
Part of a uranium mine has collapsed, in an eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least nine (9) people.
The Shinkolobwe mine in DR Congo supplied the uranium in the bombs which the United States dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan to end World War II.
It was officially closed earlier this year but people still mine there for 'coltan' used in mobile phones. Nuclear experts have raised fears that 'Congo uranium' could fall into the hands of terrorist groups.
'Trapped'
Petwe Kapande, mayor of the nearby town of Likasi, told the BBC that nine (9) bodies had been found. Some 30 miners were underground when the roof collapsed on Friday.
"When I arrived, I found that six (6) of the clandestine miners had been pulled out safe and sound but others still remained trapped in the ruins," Mwema Teli, a safety official for the Congo government mines agency, told the Associated Press news agency.
Because of poor communications in Democratic Republic of the Congo, news of the collapse only reached the capital Kinshasa on Monday.
Fears
Earlier this year, the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman found some 6,000 people working there illegally, even though it had officially been shut down. At the same time, Mines Minister Diomi Ndongala appealed to the international community to help restore security in the area and prevent access to the mine.
When DR Congo became independent in 1960, the two (2) main uranium shafts were flooded and covered with a concrete slab by Belgium before its departure. But activities resumed in 1997.
The mined cobalt is 'sold to private businessmen' who operate furnaces in the area and then 'export it to the world market' via neighbouring Zambia.
The UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, expressed concern about the mine. It said that trace elements of uranium might be extracted from the mine as an associated mineral along with the 'cobalt' for use by terror groups.
As a result, in February 2004, President Joseph Kabila announced he had forbidden access to the mine, but the measure was never implemented.
A fragile peace is holding in DR Congo after 5-years of war, which dragged in at least six (6) neighbouring armies.
Reference
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3887373.stm
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REUTERS News Service
DRC to begin coltan certification in 2009 - Minister
March 26, 2008 / 0:00
Democratic Republic of Congo hopes to set up a scheme to certify columbite-tantalite produced within its borders in 2009, the country's Deputy Mines Minister Victor Kasongo said on Tuesday.
The illegal traffic of the rare metal, used in mobile phone chips and commonly referred to as "coltan" helped fuel a 1998 - 2003 war resulting humanitarian crisis in the central African country that killed an estimated 5,400,000 million people.
But a new G8 backed and German financed pilot initiative aimed at creating a 'mineral fingerprint' for 'coltan' could soon help developing countries trace ore that is 'illegally exported' [ smuggled ] and boost their profits from legal exports.
Kasongo said he hoped a 'global certification process' aimed at 'ethically minded consumers' would follow.
"All the 'large companies' are fighting for this. They'll be able to display a certificate to prove fair trade. You'll 'begin seeing many machines', many 'iPods', that are certified," he said.
Congo plans to use the data to set up its own certification process within the next 8-months, which should help the 'creation of a global system' similar to the Kimberley Process set up to end the trade in "blood diamonds" from war zones.
"We believe that in 2009 we should be able to enforce certification ... early next year," Kasongo told Reuters in an interview. "Licences. Centralised control. Certification. More revenues to Congo. More peace and stability. Those are the things we are aiming for."
A team from the Germany Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources is due to arrive in Congo on April 2, 2008.
Researchers will 'map the country coltan producing areas' and 'isolate unique characteristics of local ore samples' to 'create mechanisms for tracing ore' to its 'origin'.
"BLOOD COLTAN"
Congo, believed by many experts to possess the World's largest coltan reserves, was one of the principal suppliers of the ore as demand from the mobile phone and electronics industries spiked in the late 1990s.
Much of the so-called "blood coltan," originating in Congo, was illegally smuggled into Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi during a 5-year war that saw the plunder of its natural resources by neighbors and foreign backed contracted militias.
Congo's coltan rich eastern border remain a patchwork of militia controlled zones and rebel tribal fiefdoms, where a UN Security Council commissioned report recently said 'illegal armed groups still buy weapons' with 'mining revenues'.
Ethical concerns and more efficient industrialised mine 'processing' have now made Australia the World's leading 'producer' and 'exporter' of coltan.
Congo hopes the certification process will rehabilitate the image of its coltan. and help to stabilize its eastern provinces.
"We'll make sure that the coltan is 'not linked to any military activities'. We understand that once we have control of the coltan itself, we'll have some control over the stability of the area," Kasongo said.
Reference
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=129765
- - - -
Information extract ( circa 2006 ):
"Globalization, Violent Conflict And Self-Determination, by Valpy Fitzgerald [ International Economics and Finance in the Department of International Development ] ... first major comparative study of the causes and consequences of violent conflict ... in the developing world as the critical issue for the 21st Century ... conflict prevention a central security problem ... in the context of global economic and cultural forces, and of local responses ... Index ... Terrorist Financing ... The single most important global cultural force has been political Islam, which spread through a variety of 'informal' channels, such as standard Arabic teachers from Egypt who were influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood ... FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA ( page 127 )..."
Reference
http://www.palgrave.com/PDFs/1403987947.Pdf
http://unwantedpublicity.spaces.live.com/lists
http://lccn.loc.gov/2005056577
- - - -
Information extract ( circa 28DEC05 ):
"KYC News ... Grenada Bank Research Report, by Offshore Informant ... [ Van Brink quote: ] ... 'The next day I was contacted by Bob Skirving to meet him and DuSean Berkich [ references below ] in Egypt regarding opening a representative office. I let him have it with both barrels on the Cold-Tap, et al. purchase contracts that had been converted to lump sum CDs. I went to Egypt, determined to drop the axe on both Skirving and Berkich, as that unilateral decision they had undertaken potentially undermined everything else I was doing. I ended up terminating neither, but we did come to a clear meeting of the minds. Which puts us now ahead of the story ... I was booked for meetings in Burundi, Rwanda, DRC [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ] and South Africa and for a COMESA conference in Egypt.
I cancelled the introductory diplomatic meetings in Burundi, Rwanda and DRC, left for South Africa, arrived back for 18-hours before leaving for the conference in Egypt, where I was scheduled to speak before representatives of 20 to 30 Africa nations to introduce the [ Africa ] Union Reserve System [ AURS ] concept. About 24-hours prior to the speaking engagement I was reliably informed of being the intended target of an assassination plot to be carried out before I arrived at the convention center to speak ... I changed the flight arrangements and breathed a sigh of relief upon boarding the plane departing Egypt.
Some Egyptian-looking security personnel boarded the plane just prior to take off and checked, talked among themselves, double-checked, talked among themselves some more and radioed to someone off the plane, then triple-checked my ticket and passport before handing them back to me and exiting the plane without an explanation to anyone in English...
Through Rowe [ NOTE: David Frank Rowe, the CEO & Chairman of the Board of Cambridge International Bank & Trust Company Ltd. ( Grenada ) ] I had been introduced to Stephen Richardson [ NOTE: Stephen D. Richardson president of Asian International Bank of Commerce Ltd. in Koror, Republic of Palau ( formerly known as ) Saipan ] and John Myburgh [ NOTE: John A. Myburgh ] and the company [ NOTE: John A. Myburgh - while in South Africa during June 1999 - owned the company Atlantic Pacific Enterprises Ltd. ( Bahamas ) ] Atlantic-Pacific something. Rowe said he didn't have the capacity to help them in their projects and suggested that perhaps First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] could.
One of their projects was in setting up an offshore sector for the Government of Palau. They proposed First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] help fund that to the tune of about $200,000 on a joint venture basis in which the JV [ NOTE: joint venture ] company would split with Palau [ NOTE: Republic of Palau ] the resulting annual registration fees for international business companies, offshore trusts, offshore banks, etc.
They produced letters from [ NOTE: Republic of Palau ] Palau officials inviting them to do that and virtually guaranteeing such a future financial arrangement. We proceeded on that project, although Richardson and Myburgh could never seem to get the ball into motion at which point I brought in Barnabe and he suggested also involving a London barrister named Lawrence Jones to help wrap it up. First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] agreed and sent Larry Barnabe and Jones to Palau [ NOTE: Republic of Palau ] with Richardson and Myburgh.
The Palau negotiations seemed to be proceeding well, when Myburgh said there was a commercial bank [ NOTE: CO-OPERATIVE BANK ] having difficulties in Uganda that maybe First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] could help. I said no way was I flying off to Uganda without a credible written invitation.
Within days I received a credible invitation. So Kennedy and I took off for Uganda to see if there wasn't something First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] could do to rescue Co-Operative Bank (dozens of branches throughout the country and about 250,000 depositors). They needed additional capitalization of $4.5-million, according to a report (that Co-Operative Banks shareholders contested as inaccurate) received from Uganda's central bank. Of particular interest and motivation to us was a huge underground vault facility at the headquarters branch of Co-Operative Bank.
Upon examining that facility Kennedy (who had become COO for First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] ) pointed out that the Co-Operative vault would be perfect for First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] taking physical custody of some of the large assets. I agreed, and Kennedy flew to the Philippines to make arrangements for shipping the boxes and some gold bullion that was also there. Meanwhile arrangements for the shipping of the pre-1935 currency [ NOTE: 1934 U.S. Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston Notes (aka) Treaty of Versailles Morganthau Bonds ] were also being made on the Sherwood/Chadwick side of things, allegedly arranging cargo plane transport from Taiwan to Bombay and from Bombay to Africa.
Not wanting to miss out on a perfect opportunity for an excellent underground vault facility, I structured First Banks [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] offer at $10-million in additional capitalization for Co-Operative Bank. The capital was to be provided in stages, the first stage being a quickly-staged rollout of $5-million to more than take care of what Bank of Uganda (the central bank) claimed was the deficiency in Co-Operative capital, following up in the second year with an additional $5-million in capital contributions.
The late Governor of the central bank rejected the offer without looking at it, explaining that he and the Minister of Finance had already accepted a bids from other local banks that wished to cannibalize Co-Operative Bank, dividing its assets among themselves and leaving Bank of Uganda to settle up with depositors (BOU operating a deposit insurance program guaranteeing account holders up to 3-million Uganda shillings each, about $2,000 at what was then the exchange rate now it amounts to about $1,700 at current exchange rates incidentally, BOU is completing payments to depositors on another failed Uganda bank that failed previous to Co-Operative Bank, it now being about three years after the failure).
Uganda's Parliament was not at all pleased with the late Governor of BOU or with the Minister of Finance in the Co-Operative Bank affair. Both the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Economy urged me to stay in Uganda insisting that the Co-Operative Bank decision would be reversed and both convinced rural Ugandans were better off with Co-Operative Bank in operation than with it removed from the financial sector.
Believing all of that to be true I arranged to purchase a residential property featuring two executive homes, having learned by experience that the coming and going of First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] executives would prove more economical and efficient having homes with kitchens available, rather than Executive Suites in hotels with room service. It was also urged that First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] demonstrate financial capacity by making another investment in Uganda. Another property was purchased.
In June 2000 I negotiated sales of these properties, as the properties did constitute a drain on the bank for the monthly expenses related to their maintenance.
With cargo planes arranged on stand-by (literally sitting on the airfield with the pilots in nearby hotels waiting for flight instructions) we couldn't wait however many months it would take for Parliaments argument with the central bank over the Co-Operative Bank situation to be worked out, so I located a large warehouse complex with a foot-thick high perimeter walls and razor wire on top of the walls, installed security sensors and other visible and invisible electronic surveillance systems as well as armor-plated the interior walls, ceiling and floor of one of the warehouse complexes easily accessible (but who'd ever guess it) interior buildings, lined up national security arrangements, including top secret airport clearances and military escort capability so that we could quickly proceed, daily reports being received from several quarters that shipments were eminent.
By the time Parliament got around to hearings on the Co-Operative Bank situation, the late Governor of the Bank of Uganda had dug up some negative articles about me and First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] and pointed to them as reason for why the offer of capital from First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] had been rejected, not mentioning that at the time the offer was presented and not looked at, he and the Minister of Finance had already determined to see the bank cannibalized by a few of Uganda's other banks and had opened the sealed bids of these other banks the day prior ( per what the late Governor had told me the morning when I presented the offer ).
Within a couple days of first landing in Uganda, Myburgh also introduced me to Willy Mishiki of the Democratic Republic of Congo [ NOTE: former DRC Minister of Agriculture and representative of I.M.S.P.D. n.g. ) ]. Mishiki explained economic conditions in his country and urged me to write a plan for the economic redevelopment of DRC ( formerly Zaire ). So was born the Union Reserve System and the African Union Reserve System, relying on $10,000,000,000.00 billion in asset backing from First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ].
AURS was structured as a trust with the beneficial parties being the government of DRC (once they got around to holding democratic elections again), First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] (to assure its recovery of its initial asset placement) and Atlantic-Pacific (for having made the initial introductions). URS was also structured as a trust, but the beneficiaries being the respective governments that would choose to participate and First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ].
From July 1999 to January 2000, a total of four agreements were written, three being humanitarian aid agreements on projects suggested by one of the rebel factions, by the largest civil society, and by the 50 tribal kings of DRC with First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] as the funds provider and Union Reserve System as the funds administrator. Additional negotiations were underway with one other rebel faction with offers of negotiations made to the other main rebel faction and to the government itself. Mishiki had stated that if I’d write the plan he would see it accepted by all warring factions and with civil societies and the tribal kings.
In August 1999 Skirving and Berkich were interested in seeing opened for First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] a representative office in Cairo [ Egypt ]. I flew to meet with them and several businessmen intent on the project. We didn't proceed with the representative office proposal, but did enter into a joint venture with one of the parties in which he put up $300,000,000.00 million in European bank instruments and First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] matched that amount. The other party was to arrange for hypothecation and placement. That play was set in motion. The other party chose to utilize a Grenada IBC called Sunset Shores as a joint venture partner in Eastlink [ NOTE: Eastlink Limited - Grenada ], another Grenada IBC. I can't remember if First Banks [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] half of Eastlink was owned by the bank itself or by the banks solely owned subsidiary, First Acceptance Corporation. After I resigned Kennedy maintained contact and a close working relationship with that group and believed funding from Eastlink was eminent, even as of when he resigned in June 2000."
Reference
http://www.kycnews.com/message_board_detail.asp?id=16959&page=1
http://www.member.homenet/ups/newspaper/vol14a.htm
ftp://opinions.ca5.uscourts.gov/byDate/Aug2004/Aug06/03-11053-CV0.wpd.pdf
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/D1D8651D5F3F08FF882571D900547E72/$file/0510587.pdf
http://www.totse.com/en/politics/international_banking_money_laundering/foreignwargold179194.html
--
Information extract ( circa 10FEB08 ):
"Indymedia World Reports ... First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. network of companies ... By multiply applying surreptitious fraud techniques, using new entities with willing participants, complex fraud networks continued to build hundreds of hidden fraud support entities and individuals involved for over a decade...
…- GUANGZHOU FREE TRADE ZONE TAOJIN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL CITY CO. LTD. [ c/o CAIRO BARCLAY'S ( account number: 5030-446848-005-002 ) NASR City, Cairo, Egypt c/o Mr. Guanghui Jin ( field application engineer ) c/o INTEL ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD. Beijing Tong Heng Tower, Suite 401, 4 Hua Yuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100088, People's Republic of China, TEL: (86-10) 6238-5130 extension 530 ]..."
Reference
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/world/2008/02/391023.html
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Information extract ( circa 2003 ):
"One Big Fib, by Owen Platt ... Chapter 7 ... page 48 ... By the beginning of September [ NOTE: referencing 1997 ] the reputed asset base of FIBG [ NOTE: documents ( September 1997 thru May 1998 ) referenced "reputed asset base" was of 'Fidelity International Bank Inc.' ( FIB ) 'not' "FIBG," a 'bank that did not exist' until October 11, 1997. Only in May 1998, did a 'portion' of 'FIB' bank "asset base" merge with "FIBG" bank ], consisted of the following: ... Exotic additions to these traditional securities [ NOTE: U.S. federal official authorities indicated the "asset base" held 'non-traditional securities' that were definitely 'not' "traditional securities" ] ... were pre-Ming Dynasty [ NOTE: 'China' ] vases and 'Egyptian antiquities' ... All in all, a grand total of $13.89 billion..."
Reference
http://books.google.de/books?pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=%22Egyptian-antiquities%22FIBG&sig=dvLABo0AwgnxGQKUAJkP84V7Nvo&id=3eDAGOl0w3YC&hl=en&ots=RACjNSynzh&output=html
http://www.iuniverse.com/lookinside/LookInside.jsp?isbn=0595282989&page=4
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Many are familiar with the officially reported outcome (below):
Information extract (circa 2007):
"U.S. Treasury Department ... Office of the Internal Revenue Service ... Tax Fraud Investigations ... August 27, 2007 ... in Portland, Oregon, four (4) individuals were sentenced for their involvement in promoting a $170,000,000.00 million fraudulent investment scheme in the name of the First International Bank of Grenada. Robert J. Skirving of Portland, Oregon was sentenced to 97-months in prison ... 3-years of supervised release and ... pay more than $32,000,000.00 million in restitution. Laurent Barnabe a Canada citizen and current resident of Lake Oswego, Oregon was sentenced to 72-months in prison ... 3-years of supervised release ... ordered to forfeit his interest in money held in a foreign bank account ... and pay more than $26,000,000.00 million in restitution. Douglas Ferguson of Portland, Oregon was sentenced to 52-months in prison ... 3-years of supervised release, and ... pay more than $26,000,000.00 million in restitution. Rita Regale of Portland, Oregon was sentenced to 18-months in prison ... 3-years of supervised release, and ... pay more than $26,000,000.00 million in restitution. The defendants were indicted in October 2003 on conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering charges arising out of the creation and promotion of the First International Bank of Grenada ( FIBG ). According to court documents, FIBG was established in 1997 and offered interest rates to depositors as high as 300%. It claimed to have earned more than $12,000,000,000.00 billion in high-yield trading, and ... acquired assets in excess of $26,000,000,000.00 billion ..."
Reference
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=163019,00.html
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The aforementioned report ( below ) takes into account what U.S. intelligence gathered out-of Africa from operations out-of Saracen Kampala Ltd., a branch office of Saracen Security Ltd. in the UK, co-owned by Uganda Defense Force ( UDFP ) retired General Salim Saleh ( step-brother of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni ), his wife Jovia Akandwanaho ( co-owner of Alexander Air Cargo ), and their Russia friend Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounova (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Piskanov (aka) Valentina Petrovich whose 'friendly' persuassion with Congo tribal Kings arranged'raw uranium based minerals' including 'coltan' valued at $200 per pound smuggled out-of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to her friends at the ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Kazakhstan ) processing facility in Kazakhstan while collecting her commission fees through her partner John A. Myburgh in South Africa.
Unknown by many was the role Valentina Piskanovna ( her Russian name ) played for receiving $800,000.00 million ( USD ) by acting and signing contracts as the International Relations Secretary for the infamous UNION RESERVE SYSTEM (aka) AFRICAN UNION RESERVE SYSTEM that was being positioned in sub-Sahara Africa as its own Islamic gold based reserve system version of a U.S. Federal Reserve System but on the basis of operating a fractional reserve banking theory incorporated by direction from Van Arthur Brink who became the wide-eyed close personal friend of both Uganda Defense Force ( UDFP ) retired General Salim Saleh and Valentina Piskanovna while living in Kampala, Uganda from September 1999 thru May 24, 2004 when Brink was finally captured in the wake of one (1) Saracen Kampala Ltd. security officer being shot and killed by Kampala Police in Luzira, Uganda.
Five (5) U.S. FBI agents transported Van Brink from Entebbe airport in Uganda to Johannesburg, South Africa en-route back to Portland, Oregon, USA for him to answer federal fraud and conspiracy charges, however 'only in connection with his founded but then-defunct independent offshore bank' First International Bank of Grenada Limited that saw 6,000 people worldwide loose a collective total $250,000,000.00 million (USD) news reports quoted along with U.S. government authorities unabashed claims of their inability to locate all the money-laundered bank deposits and investments they simply reported "missing."
Might any of those tens of millions of U.S. dollars that went missing, have funded any portion of the mines of 'gold', 'conflict diamonds', and coltan that Valentina Piskanovna arranged with Democratic Republic of the Congo Tribal Kings order to have their people smuggle out-of Africa to Kazakhstan?
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The final report ( below ) wraps-up what was actually occurring behind the scenes of an East Europe Russia government energy company providing money-laundering aide coupled with sub-Sahara Africa uranium 'coltan' raw materials, which saw production eventually deposited into Middle East government state-sponsored terrorist countries, companies, and banks of Iran and Syria.
Is Congo Supplying Tehran With Uranium?
by, Erik Bruyland
August 16, 2006
The British newspaper The Sunday Times has reported, "Iran is seeking to import large consignments of uranium from Africa".
Several documents are circulating, which point at direct links between Kinshasa, Damascus and Teheran. Even if they were to be only partially true, it still would be disturbing.
Rumor has it that, in October of 2005, radioactive material was collected from a business on 12 rue de Limete in Kinshasa, where usually spare parts for IVECO trucks are traded, could possibly be linked to a report the British Sunday paper The Sunday Times printed on its front page on August 6, 2005 under the title "Iran's Plot To Mine Uranium In Africa".
A senior Tanzanian customs official, who spoke to the newspaper on the strict condition that he would not be named, has confirmed that the Tanzanian customs had intercepted, in October of 2005, a shipment of uranium which "no doubt was transported from Lubumbashi".
According to our own equally anonymous Congo sources, direct flights between Lubumbashi and Mwanza in Tanzania are taking place could concern the same cargo, unless there are two (2) parallel uranium transports, one from Katanga and the other from the Congolese capital.
Through accounts of the Laurent Kabila Foundation
Trends is in possession of copies of correspondence, dating from November 2005 to May 2006, between the Iran company SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES OF IRAN and WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GMBH of Bavaria, Erlangen, Germany about the purchase of the radioactive material U-235, i.e. shipments carrying the numbers 388420-11B-111, 367080-41B-122 and 386730-MB147.
Several sources contend these documents are authentic and that WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GMBH is active in Tanzania with representation in Lubumbashi.
In the letters between the Iran and Germany companies, incredible amounts of up to $2,000,000,000.00 billion ( USD ) are mentioned.
One B. Bergmann of the WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GMBH export department writes that he has "received the funds from SAMAN CHESHEMEN" and mentions in passing that "the work in Tanzania is well under way".
According to these documents, John Kahozi - said to be a confidant of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - travels between Tehran, Iran; Dubai, UAE; and, Harare [ NOTE: formerly known as Salisbury ] the capital of Zimbabwe to handle the financial side of things through Iran BANK MELLI, BANK MELLAT and REFAH KAREGARAN BANK.
The sums, according to those documents, passed through accounts of the Laurent Désiré Kabila Foundation to the Dubai Islamic Bank account of John Kahozi.
According to our sources, part of the bank transactions also passed through the COMMERCIAL BANK of Dubai to the account of the trading company CONGO FITUR in Kinshasa.
Our sources maintain that on November 12, 2005 John Kahozi stayed at the OVERVIEW hotel in Dubai, and from December 2nd thru 6th 2005, in the AZADI hotel in the Iran capital city, having accompanied a ‘consignment’ through Zambia.
While in Tehran, Iran, John Kahozi by an India subject named Praveen Kundou, an acquaintance of Katumba Mwanke, the special advisor to President Joseph Kabila. Allegedly Kahozi had also been seen at the MEIKLES hotel in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Twelve (12) Shipments To Iran Since 2002
Several sources suggest that the smuggling of uranium started in the mid-1990s and reached a peak during the weekend of February 25th and 26th, 2006.
One of the first shipments was said to have left as the Zaire dictator Mobutu was fleeing from Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Four (4) generals of the Zaire Army allegedly turned in over 1,600 pounds of uranium reserves, which hastily had been shifted across the river Congo to neighboring Congo-Brazzaville in order to negotiate their return with Laurent-Désiré Kabila.
That consignment, was privately reported transferred to Iran from Switzerland via Lignes Aériennes Congolaises, a scheduled passenger airline based out-of in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Laurent-Désiré Kabila is said to have approached the Libya President Muammar Gaddafi initially, but at the time Gaddafi was preparing to resume relations with the West. Fidel Castro refused likewise.
On the other hand, North Korea was spotted on the mining site of Shinkolobwe in Katanga during 1998, where the raw material for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atom bombs came from that were dropped on Japan. Strong U.S. pressure made Laurent-Désiré Kabila ( b. 27NOV39 – d. 16JAN01 ) President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from May 1997, break-off contact with North Korea.
Eventually Didier Kazadi, former director of the security services under Laurent-Désiré Kabila and alleged go-between in the uranium contraband, is said to have found his way to an Iran - Libya group. Kazadi is mentioned in a UN report, however regular uranium shipments to Iran were only allegedly to have begun as of 2002. According to our sources, there have been twelve (12) in all.
In an attempt to check the authenticity of the detailed and disturbing documents, Trends contacted the companies mentioned in Germany and Iran, but as the U.S. NGO, Global Witness, experienced when it investigated the mining industry in Katanga ( See, e.g. "Deep-Seated Corruption", July 2006 ), the real level of truth can seldom be ascertained. The Iran government dismissed the publication in The Sunday Times as "American propaganda" with the Congo government condemning it as "gross lies".
Still, the UK newspaper referred to a report by an investigation team to the UN Security Council, dated July 18, 2006 indicating Congo security services intercepted fifty (50) cases of uranium and cesium in Kinshasa during the past 6-years where 100 kilograms of U-238 and U-235 were seized in March 2004. The UN also mentions the cargo that fell in the hands of Tanzania customs, via the largest Iran port of Bandar Abbas, was destined for enrichment in a smelter in Kazakhstan.
Did Belgium Know?
On August 7, 2006 Trends asked Belgium Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel De Gucht ( VLD ) whether the country was aware of this uranium smuggling to Iran.
KAREL DE GUCHT: "Shortly after the operation in October 2005, mentioned in the Sunday Times article, I received a general report from our state security services about possible uranium contraband from Katanga. I have asked for a further enquiry, but in the second (2nd) report of our state security services of January 2006 it says that there are no concrete indications. Subsequently we have contacted the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ). They labeled the Tanzanian trail possible, but also without concrete indications, while a trail from Kinshasa seemed rather improbable to them."
Trends put the same question to the European Union Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, predecessor of Karel De Gucht, while at Belgium’s Foreign Affairs, but didn't get a reply. In the past, Louis Michel was closely involved in the political developments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Congo informants tell us that in February 2006, the U.S. government received a report about the illegal mining operations in Shinkolobwe from Azarias Ruberwa ( Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC / RDC ), one of the Congo vice-presidents in charge of Security.
According to our Congo sources, routes of the twelve (12) shipments of uranium-bearing material to Iran came via Mwanza, Tanzania and Khartoum, Sudan with stops in Damascus, Syria.
Zimbabwe comes into the picture as a transit country for bank transactions. Most shipments concerned a mixture of uranium-bearing ore and coltan, a mineral that is used in mobile phones [ i.e. tantalum capacitors, and mass fatality weapon applications when specially processed ] from mines in Shinkolobwe, Kakanda and Kambove.
The same sources say the first (1st) shipment concerned a load of material - ( still dating from the President Mobutu era ) - from the Equateur province [ NOTE: the northwest province of the DRC bordered by Orientale province to its east ] transported from the Ndjili International Airport in Kinshasa to its suburb named Cité de L'Oua where it was collected - as was the second (2nd) operation in mid-2002 and the third (3rd) at the end of 2002 - by two (2) from Iran.
The fourth (4th) transport, in early 2003, consisted of two (2) boxes labeled "Made in Ohio," which was retrieved by others from Syria.
U.S. Embassy Alerted
The fifth (5th) transaction took place via Tanzania in September 2003 and allegedly reported by one of our Congo sources to the U.S. Embassy chargé d' affaires Polydor Olela in Kinshasa, but the next day that informant is said to have been picked-up by the Congo security service ANR. After that incident, our sources lost contact with the Americans. Our informants see some similarity with the 1998 terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy in Mombassa, Kenya however U.S. intelligence services ignored warnings from local informants.
Last week, U.S. President George Bush was informed about the uranium smuggling from Congo to Iran.
According to U.S. journalist Jackson Wilson, Bush immediately ordered CIA General Michael Hayden to clarify the entire affair, quoting itinerant ambassador and a Presidential Advisor to Kabila, Katumba Mwanke who was pointed-out in reports of the West, UN, and Congo NGOs as a go-between in large mining contracts.
Too, Jackson Wilson points-out that Katumba Mwanke is mentioned in a report to the U.S. National Security Agency ( NSA ) where Mwanke allegedly traveled to the Middle East in 2005, visiting Tehran two (2) times.
The sixth (6th) transport is said to have taken place in October 2003, the seventh (7th) in December 2003, and the eighth (8th) in February 2004 in Ngiri-Ngiri - a district of Kinshasa - just like the ninth (9th) transport operation in April 2004.
The October 2003 operation, mentioned by The Sunday Times, may have been the tenth (10th) with the eleventh (11th) following soon thereafter in November 2005.
The most recent transports, from the Limete district in Kinshasa, took place on February 25th and 26th, 2006.
Our informants point at certain pivotal figures in the entourage of the Congo President where in the U.S. Global Witness July 2006 report, "Deep-Seated Corruption," that presidential entourage was called the "political umbrella" when the Brussels, Belgium based International Crisis Group speaks of "a predatory government".
Disturbing Questions
Is it conceivable that the President of Congo has been unaware of all this?
Trends obtained correspondence addressed to the President that appeared authentic, and although it cannot be excluded they were merely paste-ups conceived by political opponents of Joseph Kabila, in any case they contain precise information about identifiable persons, places, and companies, which - even if only a fraction is true - must be investigated by the competent security agencies.
According to our informants, although Belgium security services received the information in Kinshasa months ago, it was classified as "not serious." Our Congo sources conclude they "no longer trust the Belgium security services". The documents include text by the firm SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES of Iran in Farsi but written in non-classic Arabic script.
One might also wonder how it was possible that - with some exceptions - transports from the Katanga mines to Iran could have passed unnoticed. From a logistic point of view, large quantities of petrol fuel and trucks would have been needed to take the uranium-bearing ore to Tanzania, e.g. Katanga is 30 times larger than the size of Belgium.
Air transport from Lubumbashi could have been monitored. Recent UN reports indicate suspicious freight movements, particularly in the east of Congo where an Islamic network is said to be brewing and recruiting Congolese who are fed, amongst other things, with food aid from Iran.
According to The Sunday Times, the British security services are on to "Iranian sleeper cells," who could be planning terrorist attacks against United Kingdom nuclear facilities.
There is yet another question that asks how did WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH, a leading German manufacturer of fixed and mobile vacuum equipment for all kinds of industrial applications - according to documents in our possession - get involved in all this?
Our Congo sources assert that the Joseph Kabila entourage operates via small companies or friendly businesses. They mention, amongst others rightly or not, WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH, the Belgium and Lebanon firm CONGO FUTUR, and Tehran, Iran firm SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES with a clandestine branch in Lubumbashi.
WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH is said to be active in Tanzania and represented in Lubumbashi by Samba Kaputo, the chief of security services for Joseph Kabila.
Since being founded by Kasim Tadjideen of Lebanon in 1997, CONGO FUTUR is a Kinshasa agriculture food trading company mentioned in UN reports in 2004, which at the beginning of 2006 was accused of illegally felling wood - harvesting ‘timber’ - but developed into being the Democratic Republic of the Congo primary food supplier.
The U.S. Global Witness report on mining exploitations in Katanga quotes sources that assert ore smugglers have close ties to members of the Joseph Kabila family, and while Global Witness may not bring its sources to the forefront to prove this, some local informants insist the judicial bodies and security agency ANR receive bribes to turn a blind eye.
Trends asked WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH for an explanation to determine whether the company might have been unwittingly used, however "B. Bergmann," who supposedly signed the incriminating letters, has meanwhile been replaced by Gerhardt Bormann who says that WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH had no activities south of the Sahara, and certainly not in Congo or Tanzania.
Too, SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES of Iran appears to be unknown to Gerhardt Bormann when he said, "To be sure, we are doing business with PARS CEMENT in Tehran, Iran. Maybe improper use has been made of our company name and our stationery. And no, we have never been contacted by western intelligence services about this."
We also called SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES of Iran, but found no one to speaking English.
Carina Tertsakian, of Global Witness - in possession of the same documents - says, "This has to be sorted out. There are sufficient serious indications to warrant a thorough investigation by specialized western intelligence agencies."
Congolese Uranium For Terrorists
In a response to the report in The Sunday Times, Tehran said Iran has uranium mines of its own and therefore there's no need for imports.
Iran uranium however is low-grade when compared to high-grade uranium raw minerals from Katanga.
Iran has rather extensive known uranium reserves at its disposal, yet to be able to continue its nuclear program, Tehran allegedly tries buying small amounts illicitly outside the international control circuit.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo government asserts uranium-bearing ore cannot be transported out of Katanga in its raw state because the ore concentrator of Shinkolobwe, which was used for the Hiroshima bomb, was dismantled in 1961, so the ore cannot be enriched in-situ to the so-called yellow cake allowing smaller concentrated transport. But because the uranium-bearing ore from Katanga is so high-grade, relatively small quantities may nevertheless be sufficient. According to our Congolese sources, not enough for atomic bombs, but for small so-called "dirty bombs", that can be used for terrorist attacks.
Katanga Governor Kisula Ngoy declared the U.S. Embassy visited the Shinkolobwe mine on August 9, 2006 and found nothing irregular, nevertheless calling for an official independent enquiry raising the possibility that radioactive material from illicit exploitations is being sold by local companies.
Serial numbers of the uranium shipments referred-to in the letter exchanges between WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH ( Germany ) and SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES ( Iran ) could, according to an investigation by Trends, possibly be taken from official uranium sales by the Congo state-owned company GécaMines, out-of existing reserves from 1966 and 1968 from Shinkolobwe.
Have those previous serial numbers been used to give this smuggling operation an appearance of truthfulness? The incredible value of $2,000,000,000.00 billion ( USD ) might be explained by some as part of a money-laundering operation.
Apart from Katanga uranium ore operations, on which our Congo sources sound the alarm, may involve radioactive waste from the meanwhile heavily neglected nuclear research center at TRIGA II in Kinshasa.
"You westerners are incredible," said one informant, "You react with disbelief while it is happening before your very eyes."
When referring to Usama / Osama Bin Laden the informant said, "Even the intelligence agencies don't understand how someone was able to finance 9/11 attacks in New York from a cave. The money certainly did ‘not’ pass through Wall Street, but passed the same way as Islamic madrassas advancing from East Congo to North Katanga, via ‘cooperatives’ nicknamed “Africa savings associations."
Reference(s)
Document reference link:
http://www.msnusers.com/UnwantedPublicity/Documents/CLICK%20-%20Downloads/Iran%20-%20Serbia%20-%20WAGON%20PARS%20CO.%2C%20WAGON%20PARS%20CO/12JAN06%20Iran%20flatbed%20railcars%20from%20Serbia%20GOSA%20FSV%20via%20Italy.JPG
http://www.gosa-fsv.co.yu/eng/o_nama_tekst_eng.htm
http://www.armscontrol.ru/atmtc/kazakhstan/pinch_china_summer_school.htm
http://www.ulba.kz/eng/
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trends.be%2Fnl%2Fdossiers%2F4-1471-uraniumleveringen-tussen-iran-en-congo-dossiers.html&langpair=nl%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8
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Submitted,
Unwanted Publicity
E-MAIL: UnwantedPublicity@Gmail.com
WWW: http://groups.msn.com/UnwantedPublicity
by, Unwanted Publicity
April 15, 2008
Introduction
This independent report provides 'factual content', 'research notes', 'excerpts from public and private sources', 'reference links' to 'additional information'.
Preface
A shocking look behind the 10-year Iran nuclear support operation complex using foreign country collective multi-national companies' and partnered affiliates' for clandestine money-laundered purchases, secret designs, product refineries, smuggled deliveries of multiple nuclear weapon support platforms built in foreign companies and then shipped secretly to other foreign country companies received by individual businessmen for terrorists.
This report sees intelligence agencies no longer asking 'how' this was accomplished but rather 'when' will new independent tactical nuclear attacks from terrorists begin.
British and U.S. intelligence agencies knew Russia was fueling more than 'natural gas' success for GAZPROM and its partnered affiliates secretly facilitating Iran with delivering a new type of nuclear war machine using 'independent terrorist attacks' against the West, which would be left with no 'superpower' country to target, where the only logical alternative would be Iran.
Iran Rolling Stock Piled Nuclear Arsenal
A March 31, 2008 American television broadcast FOX News announced that Iran banks were laundering money, however that report concluded without details.
On January 24, 2008 a copy of a 'foreign purchase order and payment contract' - dated January 12, 2006 - appeared on the internet ( see reference link bottom of page ) surrounding an Iran clandestine foreign order for 'several' specially designed and built heavy equipment freight railroad cars in East Europe purchased with money laundered from an Iran bank in West Europe, along with secret delivery instructions.
The contract and what surrounded it exemplified precisely how Iran government clandestine defense projects receive support from large multi-national corporations through 'partnered affiliates' given authorization to 'issue foreign company purchase orders' to obtain what is later discovered to actually be 'secretly designed' and 'specially built' nuclear arsenal 'support equipment and materials' paid through foreign trans-border money-laundering banks into commercial bank accounts of foreign manufacturers, suppliers, importers, exporters, and brokers all facilitating a secret nuclear black-market supply chain.
One of several methods, from where foreign government intelligence agencies obtain their highly valued information, is through a source known as Human Intelligence (aka) HUMINT where either positionable 'floaters' or those 'in-place' take high-risks using certain pretexts to 'retrieve' and means to 'transmit' secret information either as freelance assets, contractors, or employees.
One of the flaws foreign government intelligence agencies experience on occassion is attributable to 'incompetent handling' of 'valuable information' and/or 'HUMINT sources' left unattended or unmaintained.
Rarely do all three (3) intelligence mishaps occur, especially when a foreign government agent employee deals directly with one (1) HUMINT source, except in the exemplified case below:
Foreign Purchase Order Payment Contract
The Eastern European nation of the Republic of Serbia company GOŠA FABRIKA ŠINSKIH VOZILA (aka) GOŠA-FŠV (aka) GOŠA-RSC [ established in 1923 sold in 2007 to ŽOS TRNAVA A.S. ( Slovak Republic ) operating now under the ŽOS GROUP ( Republic of Slovenia ) ], a rolling stock ( railroad car ) company fulfilled a 'foreign production order' to build 'several specially designed rail cars' for WAGON PARS COMPANY ( Arak, Iran & Tehran, Iran ) whose website advertising claims is "The largest manufacturer of rolling stock ( railroad cars ) in the Middle East" and who operates under contracts with the SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ), an Iran government defense contractor.
Clandestine Foreign Order Money-Laundering
WAGON PARS COMPANY under the SAMEN GROUP directed monies earlier sent 'in-to' Iran at BANK TEJARAT ( Tehran ) that was given instructions to redirect those monies 'out-of' Iran and 'in-to' France where at BANK TEJARAT ( Paris ) it was given instructions to redirect those monies 'out-of' France and 'in-to' Italy where at BANCA INTESA it was given instructions to redirect those monies 'out-of' Italy and 'in-to' Serbia where at BANCA INTESSA it was given instructions for those monies to be deposited 'in-to' the corporate account of GOŠA HOLDING ( Belgrade, Serbia ) as payment for those 'special built rail cars'.
Clandestine Foreign Order Smuggling
What the purchase contract did 'not' reveal was GOŠA specially built rail car specifications and delivery instructions to the import and export firm of BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED shipping and receiving office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan where WAGON PARS COMPANY left those GOŠA 'specially built rail cars' to be received by another SAMEN GROUP partnered affiliate company IRAN SAMEN COMPANY also located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan that saw those same GOŠA 'specially built rail cars' exported from the shipping and receiving office of BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to Tehran, Iran where they were delivered to a WAGON PARS COMPANY receiving the same GOŠA specially built rail cars for the SAMEN GROUP Iran government defense contractor.
It is understood that SAMEN GROUP Iran government defense contracts included the GOŠA 'specially built rail cars' due to the extraordinary clandestine measures undertaken for an additional Iran tactical nuclear war strategy patterned on either, the:
- Russia 25-year old ( 1983 ) mountain cave concealable mobile railroad car ( rolling stock ) modified by design to support additional Iran tactical nuclear weapon delivery system deploying Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles ( ICBM ); or,
[ NOTE: The IRAN SAMEN COMPANY met with Russia government officials and its partnered affiliate BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED whose shipping and receiving office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan is led by its headquarters office in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia and is the partnered affiliate of the Russia large multi-national company GAZPROM ( detailed further below ) ]
- China 8-year old ( 1999 ) mountain cave concealable mobile railcar nuclear weapon delivery system that was retrofitted using stolen U.S. M-88 miniature nuclear missiles. [ NOTE: SAMEN GROUP has a partnered affiliate office in China ( not detailed in this report ). ]
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) information notes ( immediately below ) review only a few of many items the Iran government obtained from its defense contracts with many large multi-national companies through their partnered affiliates issuing purchase orders and delivery instructions:
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Note(s)
- By October 1997, the CIA already saw Iran Yellow-Cake (aka) Uranium and Hexafloride gas nuclear fuel for nuclear weapons using purchased UF6 designed for that conversion processing at its Isfahan plant;
- By May 2001, the CIA already saw Iran finance and purchase six (6) 1,000 kilometer + range 'Ghadr' Land Attack Cruise Missiles ( LACM ). Through the Pakistan based A.Q Khan network, Iran purchased a Ukraine supply of Russia designed Raduga Kh-55 missiles enabling Iran nuclear strikes on Europe from sea, air, and land - including mobile rail car launch platforms in the future. Iran purchased 120 kilometer range 'Noor' anti-ship cruise missle knock-off copies of the LACM / YJ-82 / C-802 for attacks in the Persian Gulf against the U.S. Navy and as far away as one of the secret U.S. SPAWAR Space Command satellite defense installations located on the island of Diego Garcia;
- From 2003 thru 2005, the CIA already saw Russia MiG-29 and Su-24 pilot groups from Iran training in Russia;
- By 2004, the CIA already saw Iran receive nuclear weapon component designs via the A.Q Khan network. Iran had already purchased 'Nasr' ( JJ/TL-6B ) and 'Kosr' ( JJ/TL-10A ) - optical guided - tactical missiles from the HONGDU AIRCRAFT COMPANY ( China ). Iran purchased 'Hoot' rocket torpedos from Kyrgystan based on the Russia designed 'Shkval' VA-111 underwater missile weapon that avoids sonar detection and can be deployed fast enough to punch a hole through most U.S. Navy warships having little defense against it;
- By late 2004, the CIA already saw Iran purchase and process nuclear trigger beryllium, centrifuges to reprocess Uranium to an even more powerful strategic weapon grade material, and Maraging steel fabricating defense hardened nuclear bomb casings;
- By mid 2005, the CIA already saw Iran purchase designs from the A.Q Khan network allowing Iran to fabricate its Uranium 'pit' for a nuclear weapon, which the A.Q. Khan network earlier sold to Libya, and even earlier during the 1980s to Pakistan;
- By February 2006, the CIA already saw Iran shoulder and launch 'Mithaq-2' Surface-to-Air Missiles ( SAM ), a modified version of the QW-1 ( China );
- By March 2006, the CIA already saw Iran purchase ten (10) very fast ( 50 knot ) 'Holy Prophet' attack boats equipped with anti-ship radar guided versions of the C-701 ( China ) with a 20 kilometer range and where both - packaged as a land and sea based mobile system - were launched from a truck to the sea for use as an Iran mobile coast missle defense system, also capable of arming the Iran 19-ton missile fast attack ship known as the 'China Cat';
- By May 2006, the CIA already saw Iran use UF6 to test its reprocessing centrifuges, indicating Iran mastered its Uranium reprocessing cycle to retain nuclear weapon production capabilities. Iran had already puchased solid fuel ballistic missile technologies from Russia providing sufficient range capability so Iran nuclear weapons could reach Europe;
- Over the past 10-years, the CIA already saw Russia exports increase deliveries of weapons to Iran, not limited to, but including these additional few:
- Thirty-five (35) MiG-29 fighter-bombers;
- Thirty-two (32) Sukhoi Su-24 fighter-bombers LACN / C-802 anti-ship cruise missile capable;
- Seven (7) Su-25 attack fighters;
- Three (3) KILO class submarines;
- One (1) TOR-M1 short-range anti-aircraft missile system; and,
- More.
After the CIA saw China losing its natural resource mines of raw ore materials to supply military tooled equipment production for Iran, China was seen at an even further loss as Central Asia already arranged importing oil from Russia pipelines.
With those economic cards stacked against China, the UN Security Council saw China capitulate to U.S. led sanctions against Iran as China tried was used to pressure Russia from taking over China's lucrative weapon supply trade with Iran.
China did this by simply exposing information on Iran requests surrounding certain weapons, equipment, and strategic materials it had already fulfilled plus information surrounding Iran requests to China for supplying various future weapons and support equipment, all of which led U.S. intelligence and other foreign intelligence agencies to discover what weapons and support equipment Russia would be requested to fill for any Iran void learned from its China experience.
Although China has enough 'financial resources' and a current weapon stock piled arsenal for sale to beat U.S. led sanctions at the United Nations.
The U.S. President George Bush Jr. Administration urging the UN Security Council to ban the export of weapons and dual use military technologies to Iran, consequently contributes pressure on Russia, Ukraine, and other European nations to end their lucrative military sales and dual-use technology programs to Iran that would direct requests through Syria and/or Iran self-sufficient missile and weapon production. Iran, however will not remain satisfied playing with its weapons in the sand all alone, which concerns Israel that is keenly aware of Iran military capabilities with hundreds of nuclear sites where a 'tactical nuclear first strike' against Israel - a country 100 times smaller - could literally erase Israel and knowing Iran has already 'purchased designs and equipment' enabling its own production now for several Tactical and Surface-to-Air Missiles ( SAM ), fast Missile Ships, and other weapon systems can hamper U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force retaliatory attacks on Iran nuclear facilities when a new war occurs.
Reference
- JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY ( 20DEC00 ): "U.S. Customs Arrests Suspected Iranian Agents"
- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( 27FEB03 ): "Undercover Investigation Leads To Federal Charges Against Nine Defendants For Illegally Shipping Arms"
- WASHINGTON POST ( 15FEB04 ): "Libyan Arms Designs Traced Back to China, Pakistanis Resold Chinese-Provided Plans"
- NEW YORK TIMES ( 24NOV04 ): "CIA Says Pakistanis Gave Iran Nuclear Aid"
- FINANCIAL TIMES ( 02FEB05 ): "Iran and China Linked to Ukraine Cruise Missles"
- REUTERS ( 28JUL05 ): "Iran Took Chinese Beryllium For Nuclear Weapons"
- UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL ( 06FEB06 ): "Iran Produces Sophisticated Rocket"
- NTV MIR - Moscow, Russia ( 02APR06 ): "Iran May Have Obtained Soviet Super-Torpedo Through Kyrgyzstan"
- THE GUARDIAN ( 20APR06 ): "Radical Iranian Group Seeks British Suicide Volunteers"
- AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE ( 24APR06 ): "US Urges Ban On Military Sales To Iran"
- NEW YORK TIMES ( 26APR06 ): "Senior Iran Cleric Tells Sudan That Nuclear Aid Is Available"
- REUTERS ( 02MAY06 ): "Iran Says Russia And China Will Not Back Sanctions"
- ASSOCIATED PRESS ( 03MAY06 ): "Iran threatens Israel if U.S. attacks"
- TAIPEI TIMES ( 04MAY06 ): "US Needs China's Help In Dealing With The Issue Of Iran's Nuclear Program"
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/pr2003/036.html http://news.ft.com/cms/s/37c2003c-7565-11d9-9608-00000e2511c8.html - - - -
Interestingly, with all the CIA already knew about Iran weapon purchases, shipments, and deliveries over the past 10-years, somehow the CIA failed in January 2006 to evaluate information recieved from a HUMINT source supplying hard copy data that foretold of yet another nuclear launch platform that Iran has now been equipped with to use, which was based on Russia government military construction plans that provided the clandestine design incorporated in equipment that Iran purchased and had delivered that holds specially reinforced freight rail cars that support a new nuclear weapon platform for Iran optionally mating scaled-down nuclear missiles for mobile rail cars subsequently copied by Russia using China stolen plans mating U.S. M-88 nuclear missles into Iran's version of a modified U.S. MX nuclear launch platform system hidden underground and in mountains.
- - - -
The official France communiqué ( below ) only opens the public curtain revealing a limited portion of the global stage where in the background for over 10-years intelligence reports led the U.S. government push forward into war with a very confidently stubborn Iran.
- - - -
Communiqué
France Foreign and European Affairs Ministry
Paris
FRANCE
Embassy of France
Pacific Star Building - 16th Floor
Makati at Gil Puyat Avenue
1200 Makati City
Republic of the Philippines
Subject: Iran Nuclear Policy / United Nations Security Council Resolution 1803
3 March 2008
By a vote of 14 to 0, with 1 abstention, the United Nations Security Council adopted a 3rd sanctions resolution against Iran.
This resolution expresses - once again - the international community concerns about the Iran nuclear program where concerns recently strengthened by evidence gathered by the IAEA concerning activities that could indicate a 'military dimension' to the Iran nuclear program.
By refusing to implement the measures successively demanded by the IAEA [ International Atomic Energy Agency ] Board of Governors and the UN Security Council, to rebuild trust, Iran has left the international community no choice but to adopt new sanctions.
The UN Security Council is thus formulating a call for vigilance and bans affecting several aspects of relations between Iran and the rest of the international community. They include:
- Iran bank activities - notably MELLI BANK and SADERAT BANK - involved in proliferating transfers;
- Iran export of dual-use items;
- Iran transportation activities; and,
- Iran shipping activities.
But sanctions are not an end in them.
The resolution also recalls that the six (6) - China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and United States - that want a negotiated solution, as those six (6) foreign ministers stressed in their joint declaration following the vote.
The UN Security Council resolution recalls the efforts expended by the six (6) to engage in a dialogue with Iran and, in particular, the ambitious proposal they made in June 2006 providing for cooperation in the area of civilian nuclear power as well as economic and political cooperation 'if' Iran agreed to suspend its 'sensitive nuclear activities' and to negotiate.
This proposal remains on the table and we call on Iran once again to seize this opportunity to achieve a solution in the interest of all.
Reference
http://www.ambafrance-ph.org/newsfromfrance.php?article_id=1168 - - - -
Note
Excerpts ( below ):
ASSOCIATED PRESS ( AP )
CHICAGO TRIBUNE - Chicago, Illinois, USA
China Played Whistle-Blower, Diplomats Say
Beijing Gave UN Nuclear Info on Iran
by, George Jahn - The Associated Press
April 2, 2008 / 10:53 PM (CDT)
AUSTRIA, Vienna ( Wien ) — China gave the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) intelligence about Iran's nuclear program despite Beijing, China opposition to harsh UN Security Council sanctions on Tehran, Iran according to diplomats familiar with the matter.
China and Russia have acted as a brake within the UN Security Council, consistently watering down a U.S. led push to impose severe penalties on Tehran, Iran.
A China decision to provide information for an investigation into Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program could be a sign of growing international unease about Islamic Republic of Iran denials it never tried to make nuclear weapons ... John Bolton, who was U.S. ambassador to the UN and U.S. Under-Secretary of State in charge of the Iran nuclear dossier, said any such China move would be "potentially significant" because of Beijing, China's former military ties to Tehran, Iran. "We have known or felt for some time that both in the 'ballistic missile field' and in the 'nuclear field' there has been cooperation for some time," he said in an interview ...
... [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] ...
Reference
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/thursday/chi-iran-nukes_03apr03,2,5446500.story - - - -
Note
Excerpts ( below ):
JANE'S INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE REVIEW
Jane's on Iranian Weaponization
by, Mark Harrington
March 16, 2008
... Documents, shown exclusively to Jane’s, indicate that Iran is continuing its pursuit of the advanced technologies necessary to develop a nuclear weapon, regardless of Tehran, Iran's claims that its nuclear program is purely peaceful.
Jane’s was shown the information by a source connected to a Western intelligence service, and the documents were verified by a number of reliable independent sources in Vienna, Austria ...
... an organization within the Iran Ministry of Defense has actively pursued the development of a nuclear weapon system based on relatively advanced Multi-Point Initiation ( MPI ) nuclear implosion detonation technology for some years, 'in parallel with developments' within Iran's own Atomic Energy Authority ( AEA ) ...
Reference
http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/1823/janes-on-iranian-weaponization - - - -
Iran Government Clandestine Activities
For more than 40-years, as an ally of Russia, Syria and Iran have been seen within days of each for over 10-years in the Republic of the Congo ( DRC / RCD ) as black market smuggling recipients of 'yellow-cake' nuclear material.
Since at least 1971, and according to official U.S. intelligence reports, Syria received its first (1st) tactical nuclear weapon from Russia, which has seen to upgrading its modern missile guidance telemetry technology for over 37-years.
On January 12, 2006 the Smederevska Palanka, Serbia firm GOSA-FSV (aka) ZOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) received a foreign order from a Tehran, Iran firm WAGON PARS COMPANY ( headquartered in Arak, Iran / formerly known as Soltan-abad, Iran ) to specially build several new railroad cars designed to hold special loads 'freight' railroad cars - sold at an unbelievable low price - were purchased by WAGON PARS COMPANY ( Tehran, Iran ) whose advertising claims state it "...is the largest railroad car manufacturer in the Middle East" saw paid from money-laundered funds out-of a previous foreign bank deposit in-to BANK TEJARAT ( formerly: IRAN-RUSSIA BANK ) in Tehran, Iran that money-laundered those funds out-of its BANK TEJARAT Paris, France branch that money-laundered those funds in-to Italy BANCA INTESA that paid out-of funds in-to its Belgrade, Serbia branch where those funds eventually landed in-to the account of GOSA HOLDING COMPANY.
Given the combined 'yellow-cake' nuclear material smuggling history of Syria alongside Iran, it is not beyond reality for Iran tactical nuclear weapon capabilities to engineer and retrofit its 'clandestinely purchased special built-to-order railroad freight cars' from a country as far away as Serbia especially when Tehran, Iran has its own company WAGON PARS COMPANY claiming to already build and supply railcars, heightening suspicions coupled with the fact that the SAMEN GROUP, holds defense contracts with the government of Iran. Why did SAMEN GROUP reach all the way to Serbia, other than to conceal a clandestine Iran government war strategy?
The SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ) holds defense contracts with the government of Iran through its partners, one of which is WAGON PARS COMPANY headquartered in Arak, Iran ( formerly known as Soltan-abad, Iran ) whose Tehran, Iran broker office was especially used to order the specially built railroad cars manufactured in the Smederevska Palanka, Serbia by GOSA-FSV (aka) ZOS GROUP ( in Slovenia ) for 'specially built rail cars' under delivery instructions that BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LTD. ( headquartered in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia with offices in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ) receive them so the rail cars could then be turned over to its partnered firm IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka) INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY ( in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ), a subsidiary of SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ) holding defense contracts with the government of Iran.
A copy of the aforementioned 'original purchase contract' was immediately forwarded to a U.S. information broker for U.S. intelligence analysis returned a reply expressing "no interest," nevertheless the foreign field information source allowed the document to cool for 2-years, and after not receiving any further reply back for special instructions to either secure or destroy the document, a copy of the original contract was posted to an internet website on January 24, 2008 ( see online reference link at bottom of this report ).
- - - -
Note(s)
- GOŠA HOLDING (aka) GOŠA FABRIKA ŠINSKIH VOZILA (aka) GOŠA-FSV (aka) GOŠA ROLLING STOCK COMPANY (aka) GOŠA-RSC owned by ZOS GROUP [ Rail car production ( established on 02OCT23 at Smederevska Palanka, Serbia ), operated within ISO 9001 guidelines and German TÜV welding certification, purchased by ŽOS TRNAVA A.S. ( Slovakia ) in February 2007, partner of the ŽOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) ];
- WAGON PARS COMPANY [ Rail car production ( headquartered in Arak, Iran (aka) Soltan-abad, Iran with offices in Tehran, Iran ), partner of the SAMEN GROUP (aka) IRAN SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ) ];
- SAMEN GROUP (aka) IRAN SAMEN GROUP [ Holding company ( headquartered in Tehran, Iran ) with Iran government defense projects, with numerous subsidiaries and partnered affiliates including the IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka) INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY ( headquartered in Tehran, Iran with office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ) ];
- IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka) INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY [ SAMEN GROUP subsidiary ( headquartered in Tehran, Iran with office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ) with numerous subsidiaries and partnered affiliates including BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED ( office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan headquartered in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia ) ];
- BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED [ Import and Export equipment firm ( headquartered in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia with offices in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ) partnered with INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY (aka) IRAN SAMEN COMPANY ( office in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan headquartered in Tehran, Iran with office ), and partnered with GAZPROM ( Russia ) involving petroleum and natural gas equipment ];
- BANK TEJARAT (fka) IRAN-RUSSIA BANK [ Established in 1926 in Persia (aka) Iran with the former Soviet Union until September 1979 when it merged into eleven (11) other banks in Tehran, Iran now holding branches for this one (1) bank ( alone ) worldwide ]; and,
- GAZPROM [ Russia government authorized supplier of natural gas and petroleum shipments to surrounding countries, partnered with BASHKIR TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. (aka) TEHRAN MACHINE IMPORT EQUIPMENTS LIMITED [ Import and Export equipment firm ( headquartered in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia with offices in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ), and partnered through contracts with GOŠA HOLDING (aka) GOŠA FABRIKA ŠINSKIH VOZILA (aka) GOŠA-FSV ( Smederevska Palanka, Serbia ) ].
- - - -
American intelligence agencies have known for decades the Russia government has always favored using several primary companies for many years, not limited to, and including:
- GOŠA HOLDING ( for over 80-years ), for international and national transportation, international and national infrastructure, and international and national government defense projects;
- GAZPROM, for international and national natural gas distribution and through its affiliates and partnerships for energy equipment production equipment and development projects; and,
- LUKOIL, for international and national petroleum and by-product exploration and distribution through its affiliates and partnerships to energy dependent countries throughout East Europe, like the Republic of Serbia.
It is also commonly known, amongst international intelligence agencies, that Russia government contracts with companies like GOŠA HOLDING, GAZPROM, LUKOIL, and hundreds of their contracted affiliates and partnered firms do not stop at delivering industry standard products and services, but extend to also assisting foreign companies when their countries may be seen in conflict with the rest of the world, especially when it comes to countries like the Islamic Republic of Iran whose needs are met by arranging and facilitating 'money-laundering' to continue trading, contrary to whatever may be represented before any country or group within the United Nations.
- - - -
Note(s)
Iran's Persian ( Farsi language ) word "Tejarat," is defined by the American ( English language ) word "Trade."
- - - -
Winter 1998
The Internal Publication of BANK TEJARAT - No. 8
. . . [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] . . .
IRAN-RUSSIA BANK was formed between the governments of the former Soviet Union of Russia and Islamic Republic of Iran in 1926 with an aim of facilitating trade exchanges between these two (2) countries.
The headquarters of the bank was in Tehran, Iran with some branches being inaugurated in northern parts of the country.
The bank dealt with financial affairs of instituteions affiliated with the government of the former Soviet Union and trade exchanges between the two (2) countries.
The activities of this bank, which were subject to Iran banking regulations, continued until 1979 when this bank along with 27 other state-owned or private banks were nationalized under a decision approved by the Revolutionary Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
[ NOTE: "IRAN-RUSSIA BANK" became known as "BANK TEJARAT" in September 1979, when it joined eleven (11) other private banks, and was capitalized with 39,100,000,000 billion Rials on 20DEC79. ]
. . . [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] . . .
Reference
http://www.parstimes.com/history/banking_history.html - - - -
Note(s)
BANK TEJARAT
Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Investment Projects
Investment and participation of banks in great national projects and plans is one of the policies of government after Revolution, which plays a prime role in providing grounds for activity of private sector on one hand, and directly and indirectly creates many job opportunities on the other. Therefore, BANK TEJARAT has participated in financing great national projects by facilitating Rials in 2004 as it has in past years.
Some titles of main investment projects are as follows:
FAJR PETROCHEMICAL CO.
Partnership of bank in this company with following products is effected in special economic zones like Razi and BANK IMAN with a capital of 73,000,000,000 billion Rial.
- Electricity - 585 Mega-Watts
- Steam - 860 tons per hour water
- Reverse Osmoses - 4,680 cubic meters per hour
- DH - 980 cubic meters per hour
- Service water - 400 cubic meters per hour
- Drinking water - 250 cubic meters per hour
- Service air - 16,500 normal cubic meters per hour
- Precision tools air - 15,000 normal cubic meters per hour
- Nitrogen - 18,000 normal cubic meters per hour
- Oxygen - 19,000 normal cubic meters per hour
KHORASAN PETROCHEMICAL CO.
Not only does this project meet the considerable needs of domestic industry petrochemical products, it also meets a great number of many countries and regional needs, especially Central Asia. Employment, creation of new job opportunities, suitable foundation for commissioning development of related industries, decreasing domestic dependence on industries importing petrochemical products, and development of upstream and downstream industries are amongst the national benefits of this project. Participation within project production of 330,000 tons of Ammonium plus Nitrogen Urea ( N-37 ) agricultural fertilizer amounts to 495,000 tons per annum had been facilitated through a BANK TEJARAT grant of 567,000,000,000 billion Rials.
TRANS-CITY RAILWAY OF TEHRAN AND SUBURB
Not only does this project reduce the air-pollution of Tehran, Iran but it also will reduce traffic problems of the city is of prime importance considering a wide range of problems. BANK TEJARAT has participated in this project by facilitating a grant of up to 1,007,000,000,000 trillion Rials.
KAROON 3 DAM
Aridity is one of the main problems of Iran requiring intensive control of surface water. For Iran, the Karoon 3 Dam and Power Plant is the biggest hydro-electric power plant and water supply center holding a capacity of 2,000 Mega-Watts that could be upgraded to 3,000 Mega-Watts, which by itself, is the total capacity of hydro-general power capacity before the Islamic Revolution. This dam height of 205 meters is the highest dam of Iran and may save about 3,000,000,000 billion cubic meters. Karoon 3 Dam is one of the water supply projects commissioned under grant facilitation by BANK TEJARAT up to 835,000,000,000 billion Rials.
QAZVIN-RASHT EXPRESSWAY
Qazvin-Rasht Expressway is one of Iran's largest development projects under construction with the participation of BANK TEJARAT and Roads and Road Transport Organization.
Primary estimated expenses is 431.31 billion Rials, consisting of 3.06 billion Rials in capital, plus the facilitation of a 428.5 billion Rials grant. By January 2005, physical work on this project was 39% complete.
COPPER INDUSTRIES OF IRAN
Sarcheshmeh Copper Development Project and Shahr Babak Mineral-Industrial Complext Project were commissioned and put into operation with 894,065,000,000 billion Rials and 1,046,952,000,000 trillion Rials respectively.
Sarnegoon Copper Project is under completion with 850,956,000,000 billion Rials and will be completed by the end of Iranian year 1384, with was totally financed up to 2,791,973,000,000 trillion Rials by BANK TEJARAT.
Reference
http://www.tejaratbank.ir/en/Projects.html - -
BANK TEJARAT
124-126 Rue De Provence ( Angle 76 Bd Haussmann )
75008 Paris
FRANCE
TEL: +33 1 44707844
FAX: +33 1 40080635
TELEX: 281972 F BKTEJ
TELEX: 281973 F BKTEJ
SWIFT: BTEJFRPP
CONTACT: Mr. Mahdian - General Manager
E-MAIL:
WWW:
http://www.tejaratbank.ir/en/Branches.html - - - -
Note
ALALAM NEWS - Tehran, Iran
Iran, GAZPROM to Uphold Energy Co-Op
January 16, 2008
IRAN, Tehran - Russia energy giant GAZPROM plans to offer Iran new cooperation prospects of oil and gas, Iran's oil minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari said on Tuesday in Tehran, where GAZPROM is interested in oil and gas exploration, pipeline construction, and oil and gas deposit developments in Iran.
In 2007, Iran Deputy Oil Minister Hossein Noghrehkar Shirazi and GAZPROM Chief Executive Officer Alexei Miller met in Moscow to discuss bilateral cooperation. The parties identified oil and gas deposit exploration and development, in particular the further development of the energy-rich Southern Pars deposit in Iran, as priority areas for cooperation. "We held serious talks with GAZPROM officials in Russia agreeing to cooperative bilateral energy proposal presentations by mid-March 2008," said Iran oil minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari.
In 2006, Iran produced 105,000,000,000 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and has a proven natural gas reserve total more than 28,000,000,000,000 trillion cubic meters.
In 1997, Iran's Southern Pars Stage 2 and 3 Persian Gulf natural gas fields, initiated by TOTAL, with France holding a 40% stake, GAZPROM, with Russia holding a 30% state, and PETRONAS, with Malaysia holding a 30% stake that saw twenty (20) production wells from two (2) offshore platforms built - where each was equipped with underwater gas pipelines 100-kilometers ( 62-miles ) long - and built one (1) land-based plant to hold an annual capacity of 20,000,000,000 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
Reference
http://www.alalam.ir/english/en-NewsPage.asp?newsid=039100120080116134257 - - - -
What forced the IRAN SAMEN GROUP ( Tehran, Iran ) to launder money out-of their banks in Iran and in-to GAZPROM affiliate banks for the purchase of several 'specially built rail cars' coming all the way from Serbia to Turkmenistan, and 'then' to Iran, when WAGON PARS COMPANY ( Tehran, Iran ) website advertising claims indicate that 'it' is "The Greatest Manufacturer of Rolling Stock [ Moving Rail Cars ] in the Middle East"?
- - - -
Note
WAGON PARS COMPANY
76 Taleghani Street at Felestin Square [ NOTE: Philistine Square ]
P.O. Box 14155-5814
14168 Teheran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
TEL: +98 (0) 21 64 03 27 6
FAX: +98 (0) 861 33 39 99
WWW:
http://www.wagonpars.com About
The Greatest Manufacturer of Rolling Stock [ Moving Railroad Equipment ] in the Middle East:
- Freight cars [ NOTE: Includes 'flat-bed rail' cars & 'open or closed container rail' cars ];
- Locomotives [ NOTE: Also 'built' in Serbia by GOSA (aka) ZOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) ];
- Passenger coaches [ NOTE: Also 'built' in Serbia by GOSA-FSV (aka) ZOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) ]
- Metro cars [ NOTE: Also 'built' in Serbia by GOSA (aka) ZOS GROUP ( Slovenia ) ]
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are fully prepared to answer your general and technical questions with pleasure.
Reference
http://www.virtualmarket.innotrans.de/index.php5?id=43611&highlight=&fid=35&offset=0&Action=showCompany&bmp=10111 - - - -
Note
IPR Strategic Business Information
Iran: Wagon Pars Set To Acquire Serbian CBU Cars
MAY 24, 2006
According to the Tehran Times, Iraq based WAGON PARS COMPANY will purchase five (5) completely built unit ( CBU ) freight cars from a Serbia rail car manufacturer.
WAGON PARS will start to manufacture fifteen (15) wagons, after buying 'Serbia made freight cars', in-keeping with the renovation of RAJA train equipment ...
... [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] ...
Reference
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-146166520.html - - - -
Note
SAMEN GROUP
Agencies
Some of the companies we represent, are:
... [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] ...
WAGON PARS COMPANY - Founded in 1974 and started manufacturing different types of rolling stocks [ moving rail cars ] in 1984 ‘through a joint investment agreement’ between the Iran Development and Renovation Organization ( IDRO ) and the Islamic Republic of Iran Rail Road ( IIRR ).
... [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] ...
Reference
http://www.samengroup.com/agencies.htm - -
SAMEN GROUP
Iran Headquarters:
SAMEN GROUP
3 Cross Shadab Street at Sepahbod Gharani Street
Building 3 - 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 14185-366
15846 Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
TEL: +98 (021) 88915465-8
FAX: +98 (021) 88915469
E-MAIL:
samen@samengroup.com WWW:
http://www.samengroup.com Turkmenistan Office:
IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka)
INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY
2 Ashgabatsky Business Centre ( ABC )
Archabil Shayoly 41
1939 Ashgabat
TURKMENISTAN
TEL: +993 12 48 88 25
TEL: +993 12 48 92 29
TEL: +993 12 48 85 16
E-MAIL:
samengroup@online.tm WWW:
http://www.samengroup.com CONTACT: Geahpur Gulan Reza ( director )
NOTE: See, e.g. SAMAN BANK [ Tehran, Iran ]
Russia office:
TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. [ Tehran Machine Import Equipments Limited ]
Borisoglebsk
Voronezh Oblast
RUSSIA
TEL: (47354) 6-77-37
TEL: (47354) 6-83-31
TEL: (47354) 5-70-91
TEL: (47354) 5-64-63
FAX: (47354) 6–83–31
E-MAIL:
pro@texmash.ru WWW:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.texmash.ru/content/view/9/10/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsamengroup%2540online.tm%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN - - - -
Although having taken place in '2005', the following event remained hidden by the SAMEN GROUP, which only 'archived' it in 'August 2006' along with all its other news releases, but even then further clandestinely hid by 'misspelling all proper names' of the 'Region', 'Republic', 'Province', and 'Capital City' where the actual event took place, which was then later corrected by a private information source on April 2, 2008 ( further below ).
Here now, is the ‘original un-corrected news release’ produced by the SAMEN GROUP, which kept it hidden for years until now ( immediately below ).
- -
SAMEN GROUP
IranSamen News Aug 2006
PHOTO
http://www.samengroup.com/images/ahmadi%20nejad/ashgabat%20ex3(2005).jpg IRAN SAMEN 'S manager traveled to Russia
IRAN SAMEN 'S manager traveled to YekeTellingBurgh of Surdelufask province by foreign programming and economical ministry of Russia for creating proper area to export our technical & engineering services . Several meeting accomplished with men of Russia industry , governmental official and industrial province in this period .Where as several bilateral and multilateral agreement signed , we can export our services until next year .
Letter of economical
cooperation agreement was signed by traveling of marketing group and managers of Iran Samen group to Eufa capital of Beshghirstan .Private and governmental departments of mentioned republic expressed their in tersest in our technical and engineering services . We can greeting proper export market at mentioned republic with cooperation of our economical institution such as technical banks .
Reference
http://www.samengroup.com/archive_aug_2006.htm - -
While there was 'no need for language translation' of the aforementioned SAMEN GROUP 'original news release', there was however and because 'none of the proper names existed anywhere in the world', the above-mentioned SAMEN GROUP original news release required much needed private analysis and research to reformulate proper names into correctly spelled proper names, consequential sentence restructuring and punctuation that then demanded slight reorganization before this privately produced intelligence interpretation could provide any true meaning.
Here now ( below ) is that final intelligence work product:
- -
SAMEN GROUP
Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Iran Samen Company
Ashgabat
REPUBLIC OF TURKMENISTAN
News
August 2006
PHOTO
http://www.samengroup.com/images/ahmadi%20nejad/ashgabat%20ex3(2005).jpg Iran Samen Manager Traveled To Russia
Iran Samen manager traveled to Yekaterinburg, formerly known as Sverdlovsk, province [ Central Russia ] and was met by the Russia foreign program and economic ministry for creating a proper area to export our technical & engineering services.
Several meetings, during this period, were accomplished with Russia industrialists and government officials within the industrial province of Yekaterinburg - formerly known as Sverdlovsk - where several bilateral and multilateral agreements were signed to begin exporting our services in 2007.
A letter of economic cooperation agreement was signed with IRAN SAMEN GROUP marketing group and managers whom traveled to the capital city of Ufa, Bashkortostan.
While there, private and governmental departments of Bashkortostan expressed interest in our technical and engineering services for an appropriate export market cooperation between Bashkortostan and our technical institution financial bank.
- - - -
Note(s)
A. Potential gas reserves of Turkmenistan are estimated at 22,000,000,000,000 trillion cubic meters, indicating the country as the 5th largest in the world.
A. Russia primary economic region in the Urals in the federal district of Volga sees the Republic of Bashkortostan holding one of the major raw materials bases for Russia non-ferrous metallurgy.
B. There was an anthrax outbreak in Yekaterinburg in April and May 1979, which U.S. intelligence agencies indicated local citizens inhaled from spores from an aerosol of pathogen accidentally released at a military microbiology facility there. In the book entitled, Biohazard, Dr. Kanatjan Alibekov accounts for the Yekaterinburg - then known as Sverdlovsk - anthrax leak, which was later found in 1994 by Michael Meelson to have been from the Russia military facility known as Sverdlovsk 19.
C. On May 1, 1960 a U.S. intelligence surveillance mission conducted in a Lockheed U-2 aircraft piloted by U.S. Air Force Captain Francis Gary Powers - reportedly operating under U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) directives - was shot down over the Russia province of Yekaterinburg, Oblast, captured as an American spy, interrogated by the former Soviet Union KGB, imprisoned for years, and after a U.S. captured Soviet Union KGB agent exchange freed Powers - only few years later - he reportedly died while piloting a helicopter for major television news firm in a mysterious Los Angeles, California accident.
Reference(s)
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.texmash.ru/content/view/9/10/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsamengroup%2540online.tm%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN http://www.wikipedia.org/ - - - -
Note
TEHMASHIMPEKS LTD. ( Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia )
News Release [ Already placed in company website “Archive” by ‘April 2, 2008’ ]
Excerpts:
March 11, 2008 - March 18, 2008
"Gazprom" Will Have To Fight For Its Position In The World ... Gazprom ... consolidation of state control over the company and the removal of restrictions for foreign investors ... [ GAZPROM ] aggressively expanded its influence in the former Soviet republics, as well as signed agreements with Serbia, Bulgaria and Hungary to build gas pipeline "south flow," virtually blocking Nabucco project ... Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, in turn, stressed that Germany sees this project as very important for the entire European energy security, RIA Novosti [
http://www.rian.ru ] ... Potential gas reserves of Turkmenistan are estimated at 22,000,000,000,000 trillion cubic meters, which puts the country on this indicator on the 5th largest in the world ... This calls into question the implementation of alternative pipelines, as well as in raising prices to the European level from 2009 Russia became only transits" - told RIA Novosti [
http://www.rian.ru ] General Director of the Center for political expediency Konstantin Simonov. In his view, the management station of Central Asia is well aware of how significant resource has, and increases the price of fuel in line with the situation in the market. Simonov stressed that the "gas" hunger will continue to boost prices. [ Russia's ] FAS will allow exports of natural gas ... Gazprom ... The [ Russia ] law on the export of gas would not apply to liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG ), carriage by rail. Now manufacturers are exporting LPG on the basis of his letter the Federal Customs Service. The [ Russia ] law on the export of gas in effect since the summer of 2006, Gazprom - the only exporter of gas ...
Central Asian countries will sell [ GAZPROM ] gas at European prices ... In November ... [ 2007 ] ... "Gazprom" and Turkmenistan signed an addition to the contract for the supply of fuel from the Republic, under which the price of gas in the first half of 2008 at 130 dollars per thousand cubic meters, in the second half of 2008 - 150 dollars, and from 1 January in 2009 will be determined by the formula prices on market principles.
Formula prices, which will be operational in 2009, will determine the price of supplies to the long-term contract until 2028 ... Until 2009, "Gazprom" buys from Turkmenistan 50 billion cubic meters a year ... Deliveries are made through ... [ Turkmenistan ] ... gas transit pipelines "Central Asia - Center", passing through the territory of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ...
After Russia, Turkmenistan is the second ‘producer’ and ‘exporter’ of gas in the post-Soviet space ... Moreover, "Gazprom" serves as operator of the transit of Turkmenistan natural gas throughout the territory of Uzbekistan and ‘Kazakhstan’ ...
Reference
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.texmash.ru/content/view/9/10/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsamengroup%2540online.tm%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN - - - -
Note
IRAN SAMEN COMPANY (aka)
INTERNATIONAL IRAN SAMAN COMPANY (aka) [ note new name spelling: "SAMAN" 'not' "SAMEN" ]
SAMEN GROUP
Ashgabat
Turkmenistan
About us
IRAN SAMEN was established in Tehran [ Iran ] to supply the demands of domestic producers for 'importation of production line machinery' as well as 'exportation of their products'.
Iran Samen enjoys a good name and reputation in its business field owing to years of business activities, experience, and reputation both in Iran and maintaining various representation offices in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Iran Samen has been able to provide means of public and private sector business for both importers and producers and, owing to its suitable communication facilities inside and outside Iran, has been able so far to have a good share of that market.
The experienced commercial, technical, and engineering staff of the company offer desirable 'consultation services' to customers and are well able to act as a suitable 'communication path among foreign and domestic suppliers, purchases and producers'.
With respect to the expanded facilities, experiences, and 'international credit' that has been 'attained by this company and its affiliated companies' during long years of business, we hereby inform our reputable foreign companies in all mentioned countries.
We also inform 'our preparation to work with those investors' who are willing to have reliable business party in there.
Policy of Iran Samen Company [ Ashgabat, Turkmenistan ]
Iran Samen Company has been active in 'removing the demands of local manufacturers and producers' by 'supplying their orders of industrial machinery, exports, production and relevant services', and at the same time 'making optimized use of all available software and hardware equipment', 'offering technical and engineering services' in the industry as well.
With respect to its commitment to fulfill the customers' demands and needs and for continuous optimization and making the activities effective, Iran Samen Company has taken action to establish quality management system based on ISO 9001 : 2000 and feels obliged to continue and maintain these standards.
Following goals are on top of the objectives of Iran Samen Company:
- Improve satisfaction of customers;
- Improve quality and quantity of products and services with continuing company processes;
- Improve local markets by arriving in international markets;
- Improve know-how, skills, and satisfaction of personnel; and,
- Encourage personnel to participate in decision-making, adopting a teamwork policy.
Since the above-mentioned goals could be achieved only through the help and cooperation of all colleagues, they are requested and expected to perform their utmost efforts through suitable concept and belief in order to execute the contexts of this policy, and while witnessing the quality management system establishment and development, we would witness increasing success.
Reference
http://www.samengroup.com/about_us.htm - - - -
Middle East, South Central Asia, and Africa terrorist network operations, those financing them, those supplying them, the strange bedfellows government intelligence agencies kept secret for over 10-years, and those surrounding the First International Bank of Grenada ( FIBG )
FIBG Terrorist Financing & Supply Services
by, Unwanted Publicity
March 31, 2008
The connections were there. Fidelity International Bank Incorporated - registered on the South Pacific island of the Republic of Nauru - along with its predecessor bank First International Bank of Grenada Limited ( FIBG ) - registered on the Caribbean island of the Commonwealth of Grenada - routed monies on a perpetual base into Sub-Sahara Africa, Sudan Egypt, and Pakistan banks from 1997 thru 2000, ending-up funding two (2) Africa nation rebel leaders, one (1) of whom had met in the Middle East ( Yemen ) with Muslim fundamentalist terrorists. But, there was more, much more.
Although few knew, authorities had been intercepting communication traffics while at the same time seizing other information from 'reliable sources', nearly 3,000,000 pages of information documents under the control of several U.S. government offices collecting all this data from 1994 thru 2008 were unable to properly analyze it all to put the puzzle pieces together forming anything more than their publicized picture that a network of independent offshore banks were nothing more Ponzi schemes designed to defraud depositors and investors.
At the conclusion of several federally led investigations over a 14-year period of time, they were unable to locate where all of the $170,000,000.00 millions ( USD ) disappeared, however one individual carrying-on a parallel investigation spanning several continents refused to accept that 'official' public storyline read in the mainstream press.
Understanding, anything other than what the public read in news reports, two (2) primary factors kept people from knowing more about FIBG and what surrounded it.
1.) No single official ever 'read and analyzed all the documents' obtained but only 'some of the documents' - including information from 'official entities', 'public entities', 'private entities', 'contract assets', 'private assets', 'confidential informants', and 'communication intercepts' - were 'limitedly read' by a 'few officials' and 'some officials' whom 'analyzed' only 'some of the documents' but 'not all documents'. Two (2) different federal U.S. District Court judges asked criminal defense attorneys for an estimate on how long it would take these professionals to just 'read' 1,000,000 million pages of government evidence - the government possessed a grand total of 2,000,000 million additional pages of documents never released. More than ten ( 10 ) attorneys agreed in one (1) combined response that it would take one (1) attorney ( alone ) more than 1-yr. but less than 2-yrs to just 'read' 1,000,000 million pages of government documented evidence; and,
2.) No single government information source had 'inside knowledge of all activities', nor did any 'read all the documents', and 'none comparatively analyzed all documents' officially held. Hence, final reports were produced from several official perspectives based on individual information selections.
Those unfamiliar with all of the information surrounding FIBG bank may now learn a little more.
Within 7-months of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, a credible information source on April 29, 2002 initiated one (1) private person into action where nearly 6,000,000 pages of documents, much of which governments had 'not' collected, pertaining to FIBG and those surrounding it was - from private sources - collected, read, analyzed, and with nearly 1,000,000 pages of those documents set-aside for research, additional field work obtained 'inside information' for comparative analysis.
Nearly four ( 4 ) calendar years later, during April 2006, more than 35,000 hours of work had been performed and officially documented. The lone individual published a few mixed information reports on the internet while keeping more than 99% of core information details, sources, and field work confidential.
When asked whether any link was ever found between FIBG and/or those surrounding it to 'terrorist financing', which initiated the private investigation wrapping around the globe, the individual held up four (4) DVD discs, but would not release them, however eventually released were a few select 'public information extracts' (aka) snippets, where only 'some' contained privately edited [ NOTE: ] insertions. The only non-public information article, headlined the others ( below ).
--
"First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. ( FIBG ) CEO Gilbert Allen Ziegler ( from 11OCT97 until 01OCT99 ) arranged the Cornerstone Foundation account number 10007 via FIBG bank ( Grenada ) to send 'perpetual bank money wire transfers' commencing in 1997 - sent out later by the Van Brink entity Onmabutoloa Foundation Ltd. FIBG account number 100246 - until April 4, 2000 depositing over a period of nearly 3-years into the Muslim Commercial Bank ( Lahore, Pakistan ) account number 139-6 held by Muslim imam (aka) leader named Yaqub Masih believed tied to Middle East terrorists hidden by FIBG bank record referencing "pastor" within memos, FAXs, and e-mails."
--
Information extract ( circa DEC99 ):
"Africa Research Bulletin ... there have only been two (2) documented instances of contractual investments between foreign companies and non-state authorities in Congo.
In the first [ 1st ] case Anglo-American, a South Africa mining company, concluded an investment contract worth almost $1,000,000,000.00 billion with Laurent Désiré Kabila a few months before the latter took over power in Kinshasa. It was, however only after both Mbuji Mayi and Lubumbashi had fallen to Kabila troops in April 1997 and barely a month before the fall of Kinshasa, that Anglo-Americans embarked on this deal ... an instance of "future booty" based on the anticipation of Kabila approaching sovereignty, rather than of pure contracting between rebels and foreign firms. The fact that Anglo-American CEO [ NOTE: Chief Executive Officer ] Jean Raymond Boulle lent his private airplane to Kabila troops further suggests his hope and anticipation of their victory.
The second [ 2nd ] instance occurred in the east of the country, in November 1999 [ NOTE: 24NOV99 ], under control of the spin-off rebel group 'Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie Mouvement de Libération' ( RCD - ML ) [ NOTE: Republic of the Congo for the Democratic Movement of Liberation ( Democratic Republic of the Congo Liberation Movement ) ], and involved a less than reputable firm, the First International Bank of Grenada ( FIBG ), which agreed [ NOTE: document entitled "Agreement For Humanitarian Aid And Economic Development For The Democratic Republic of the Congo" held signatures of Dr. Claver Lumana Pashi ( Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo Liberation Movement - Commissar - Foreign Affairs ), John Tibasima ( Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo Liberation Movement - Deputy General Commissar - Mines & Finance ), Van Brink ( of USA, in Uganda - Chairman of the Board - Union Reserve System ), Douglas Christie Ferguson ( of USA, in Uganda - Executive Director - Union Reserve System ), Debbie Antoine ( in Grenada - Corporate Secretary - First International Bank of Grenada Limited ), and Mark Kennedy ( of Canada, in Grenada - Chairman of the Board and CEO - First International Bank of Grenada Limited ) ] to spend $16,000,000 million [ USD ] for the renovation of 15 hospitals and some roads in the province of Oriental [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ], apparently in-exchange for becoming [ NOTE: the 'Union Reserve System' ( later known as ) 'African Union Reserve System' ( AURS ) ] the equivalent of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Bank - and issuing 'mining assets backing new currency in rebel territories'.
Had this deal actually gone through it would have constituted a remarkable case of institutional innovation and an attempt by a rebel organization to take over some of the trappings of sovereignty. The RCD-ML soon fizzled away as a credible organization, however ... it is unclear whether this arrangement could have become operational even if RCD-ML had survived. FIBG had indeed been previously banned from activities in Canada because of investment frauds, and the U.S. Customs Service [ NOTE: "Operation Risky Business" in Antigua ( 1996 ) ] was investigating it for money laundering allegations...
...Both the Mulelist insurrection and the Simba rebellion illustrate the changing nature of the political game in Congo following the decision by the West [ NOTE: aligned nations with United States Foreign Policy aligned nations ] to support the country's territorial integrity.
Although the state [ NOTE: Democratic Republic of the Congo ] was still weak and armed struggles appeared to be a reasonable means to achieve power, the objective for each of these movements was to take over the entire country rather than to break away from it. Secessions, doomed to non-recognition, were no longer perceived as credible options.
Nationalist and revolutionary insurrections on the other hand could benefit from the recognition of non-Western countries and carried therefore a greater promise of success. Indeed, the original Stanleyville government of Antoine Gizenga - set up after the dismissal of Patrice Lumumba in September 1960 - had been recognized by Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Guinea, Cuba, Poland, Yugoslavia, Russia, Democratic Republic of Germany, China, and other countries following the Patrice Lumumba assassination in 1961..."
Reference
http://www3.qeh.ox.ac.uk/pdf/qehwp/qehwps95.pdf --
Information extract ( circa 01MAR01 ):
"U.S. State Department ... Money Laundry And Financial Crimes ... Grenada ... The Government of Grenada ( GOG ) anti-money laundering measures have thus far proven inadequate, as evidenced by the apparent fraudulent operation and ultimate collapse of the offshore First International Bank of Grenada ( FIBG ) ... In its first year [ 1997 ], the bank claimed to have acquired assets of approximately US $26,000,000.00 billion.
In March 1999, an independent auditor of the FIBG warned the government of Grenada ( GOG ) of serious irregularities such as a lack of real assets and Brink's obstruction of the audit. Brink subsequently moved to Uganda and began to conduct business with rebel leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In January 2000, the FIBG [ NOTE: First International Bank of Grenada Limited Chairman of the Board and CEO during all of "January 2000" was Mark Kennedy ) ] hosted a conference of 60 Congo rebel leaders and signed [ NOTE: Agreement dated 08JAN00 held a 'specified term' of "5-years" with signatures of King Kalinda Ndandu ( for Democratic Republic of the Congo, North Kiwu, Massissi ), King Ndare Simba ( for Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Kiwu, Bafulero ), Valentina Piskounova ( of Russia -aka- Valentina Piskanovna -aka- Valentina Piskounove -aka- Valentina Piskanov -aka- Valentina Petrovich, in South Africa and Uganda - International Relations Secretary - Union Reserve System ), Van Brink ( of USA, in Uganda - Chairman of the Board of Governors - Union Reserve System ), Debbie Antoine ( in Grenada - Corporate Secretary - First International Bank of Grenada Limited ), and Mark Kennedy ( of Canada, in Grenada - Chairman of the Board & CEO - First International Bank of Grenada Limited ) ] a deal promising them [ NOTE: "The Tribal Kingdoms located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo" and "Union Reserve System" (aka) 'African Union Reserve System' ( AURS ) ] millions in aid.
In August 2000 the GOG stepped-in to take control of the bank. Auditors claim that millions of dollars were transferred to international accounts belonging to officers of the bank, including Van Brink in Uganda..."
Reference
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2000/959.htm --
Note
Information extract ( circa post-September 2002 ):
Network War: An Introduction To Congo's Privatised Conflict Economy - Executive Summary
by, Tim Raemaekers
... Case study: The Victoria Group ...
A case in point of this conflict business is the VICTORIA GROUP. This company represents a specific scheme used by the UDPF [ Uganda Defense Force ] for their looting activities. It is a ghost company, not mentioned in any commercial register, that represents the top of the Congo rebel movement and its Uganda supporters to commercialize resources from occupied territory.
VICTORIA GROUP is led by the son [ NOTE: step-son ] of president Museveni [ NOTE: Uganda president Yoweri Museveni ], Muhoozi Kainerugabe, along with Salim Saleh ...
[ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force ( UDPF / UDFP ) General Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho, co-owner of SARACEN KAMPALA LTD., a security company Africa branch office of SARACEN SECURITY LTD. ( UK ). For the security of Van Brink, General Saleh personally assigned an armed security guard who on May 24, 2004 was shot and killed by Kampala Police while inside the residence property ( Luzira, Kampala, Uganda ) of Van Brink.
From 1999 thru March 2004, General Saleh feigned being the close personal business friend and business associate of Van Brink who for 5-years was extorted to pay in-excess of $1,000,000 million dollars for his 'security' plus perform confidential financial business and personal consulting services under numerous requests by General Saleh.
In addition to 'monthly' extortion payments amounting to thousands of dollars paid by Van Brink to General Saleh was his order that Brink create and then draft personal letters that Saleh used as though Saleh had created them, where one of many such letters included a 38-page letter dated 14JAN02 for Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho that Brink created and drafted was entitled "My Perspective on the Allegation of Illegal Exploitation" later presented personally by Saleh as his own reply later submitted to a UNITED NATIONS Security Council Commission named the Porter Commission (aka) Porterson Commission led by David Porter looking into charges against General Saleh personal involvement surrounding the supply of military armament and ammunition, conflict diamond mine holdings and smuggling, gold mine holdings and smuggling, coltan mine holdings and smuggling, uranium smuggling, trans-border international money laundering, and bribing government officials involved in corrupt criminal practices throughout areas of Africa.
Beginning in 1999, Van Brink began using services within the VICTORIA GROUP network of companies supported by two (2) privately held companies, using the DIAMOND TRUST BANK LTD. building ( Kampala, Uganda ), named:
- VICTORIA CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. [ Operated by Achille Karuletwa and his wife Phyllis Karuletwa in Uganda ], providing private company clients' customized multiple bookkeeping, accounting, and banking transaction service 'numbered accounts';
- COMNET SERVICES LTD. (aka) COMNET SERVICES 2 (aka) CONMET (aka) COMNET (aka) COMMNET, providing private company clients' with customized multiple two (2) way communication postal ( Mail ), facsimile ( FAX ), telephone ( Message Center ), and internet ( E-Mail ) service 'numbered accounts'; and,
- OFIRA LTD. [ Operated by Olukayode Osunsan (aka) Olu Osunsan ( of Rwanda ) in Uganda ], providing private clients' ( including Van Brink and his brother James Gregory Ziegler ) customized multiple bookkeeping, accounting, and banking transaction service 'numbered accounts' cross-referenced into VICTORIA CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. other named company client 'numbered accounts'.
VICTORIA CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. and COMNET SERVICES LTD. (aka) COMNET SERVICES 2 (aka) CONMET (aka) COMNET (aka) COMMNET private company clients, were not limited to, but included:
- LA COMMNET S.P.R.L., co-owned by Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounova (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Piskanov (aka) Valentina Petrovich ( of Russia ), friend of General Salem Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho;
- ALEXANDER AIR, co-owned by Jovia Akandwanaho, wife of Caleb K. Akandwanaho (aka) General Salem Saleh of Uganda;
- SARACEN KAMPALA LTD., co-owned by General Salem Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho;
- THIRD MILLENNIUM MACROSYSTEMS LTD., controlled under Van Brink whose brother James Gregory Ziegler had attorney Dr. Epifanio Vasquez-Santos Esq. register in Souza, Commonwealth of Dominica ); and,
- Other companies.
VICTORIA GROUP network of companies VICTORIA CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. and OFIRA LTD. tabulated and money-laundered bank transactions for multiple accounts of their company clients whom received millions of dollars derived from thousands of criminal transactions, including but not limited to fraud, where those monies had been earlier deposited by company clients' representatives into other international 'bank accounts' and international bank 'trading accounts' upon instructions received from those controlling the accounts who took additional instructions for how those accounts were to be managed at any given time, in-addition to transactions where intermediary (aka) correspondent secondary financial institutions initiated bank wire transfers upon receipt of instructions from yet other individuals initiating direction of bank wire transferring monies - over the course of time - amounting to many millions of dollars deposited, withdrawn, and placed into multiple 'banks', their 'client banks', and their 'customer client' accounts, not limited to, but including:
- Individual 'retail' accounts;
- Individual 'bank fund' accounts;
- Individual 'bank trading' accounts;
- Corporate 'retail' accounts;
- Corporate 'bank fund' accounts;
- Corporate 'bank trading' accounts;
- Commercial 'retail' accounts;
- Commercial 'bank fund' accounts;
- Commercial 'bank trading' accounts;
individual trading accounts', and bank client 'private trading accounts' client companies and individuals in-addition to 'bank trading accounts' for their clients belonging, to:
- Other named companies and individuals, 'trading accounts'
Such transactions involving multiple Van Brink, received by those controlling those accounts provided to those financial institutions received by others bank wire transfer deposits from many international banks that held 'correspondent bank' accounts and 'trading accounts' - evidenced by bank wire transfers from the NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK LTD. ( Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadaines ) 'trading account' of its client FIDELITY MANAGEMENT & TRUST LTD. ( Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines ) that received FAX instructions for such from its client FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA ( FIBG ) issuing FAX instruction directives for bank wire transfer instructions it received via numerous e-mail and FAX instructions from Van Brink. converted by FIBG into FIBG bank FAX wire instructions to an FIBG bank international business company Fidelity Management & Trust Ltd. ( established by Van Brink's brother James Gregory Ziegler - via Olin J.B. Dennie Esq. - saw Gerard Beeman Esq. in Canada, Costa Rica, and St. Vincent as its executive director using a mail drop in Kingstown, St. Vincent for both Fidelity International Bank Inc. and First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. ) from early 1998 thru at least mid 2000 used its 'global trade' account number 8096 at National Commercial Bank that sent-out those fraud scheme millions for deposit into Kampala, Uganda location banks named Stanbic Bank Uganda Ltd., Nile Bank Ltd., Crane Bank Ltd., Orient Bank Ltd., Standard Chartered Bank Ltd., Barclay's Bank Ltd., Diamond Trust Bank Ltd., as well as to other bank locations around the world, a much longer list of banks. All account numbers and transactions currently held in private data files located in four (4) known locations. ]...
...and his wife Jovia Akandwanaho [ co-owner of Alexander Air, a cargo airline ( Kampala, Uganda ) used by Non-Governmental Organizations ( NGOs ) whose Export Manager ( from 2000 thru April 2003 ) arranged air shipments - labeled as "relief supplies" for poor starving people in war areas of Africa - the U.S. government linked as a pipeline supplying al-Qaeda and Muslim religion terrorists arms and ammunition war rebels in Africa territorial disputes used inside Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, etc. where in return 'advance information details' of air shipments provided necessary information for intelligence calculation approximates determining planned invasion forces ready to hit small or large targets dependent on 'quantity of ammunition' dropped at each location during 'multiple leg air route supply drops' whereupon at each arrival drop point - during multiple leg air routes - pilot instructions were delivered from a rebel group leader as to where the next air drop location was to occur ), 'how many rebels would be involved' for each specific war mission dependent on 'quantity of individually-manned weapons', and finally - upon the planes successful return - each air drop 'general location' directed Saracen Kampala Ltd. notification to headquarters Saracen Security Ltd. in the United Kingdom for further government information sharing. ]...
Also, a clear link has been indicated between the Victoria Group and Museveni's right hand in DRC, Ugandan general James Kazini. Evidence put forward by the Porter Commission demonstrates that Kazini issued a safe conduit for Victoria's diamond, coffee, and gold exports from DRC as early as July 1999. That month, Kazini wrote a letter to several tactical headquarters of MLC and UDPF [ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force ] in eastern Congo in which he confirmed that "the company Victoria Group has the [ sole ] authorisation to do commerce in coffee, diamonds and gold in the region under your command." He added, "Everything that concerns the payments of this company to assure its security will be treated directly by the general headquarters in Kisangani.
Contrary to its political protectors, the commercial management of the Victoria Group has so far remained excessively vague. Reportedly, it is managed by a group of Lebanese traders who have a long tradition in the Congolese diamond trade. At the head of this group stands a certain "Mr. Khalil." [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] According to the UN, Mr. Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] deals directly with the wife of Salim Saleh. He has two (2) collaborators, in the DRC based in Kisangani and Gbadolite, Mohammed Gassan and Mr. Talal - who have dealt on a regular basis with MLC and UDPF officials to control the region's diamond business.
For example, in 1999 Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] obtained a diamond concession from Jean Pierre Bemba in Oriental Province in-exchange for military fatigues and socks, which were all made in Uganda. Mr. Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim]also helped Salim Saleh [ NOTE: (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho ] and his wife [ NOTE: (aka) Jovia Akandwanaho ] to obtain the control over the local diamond market in Kisangani, according to the UN Panel of Experts.
Eventually, this move laid the ground for the ravaging wars between Rwanda and Uganda in Kisangani in March and May 2000.
Following the Kisangani wars, the Victoria Group has moved towards a less direct involvement in DRC. From June-July 2000 onwards, Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] and his network have shifted their operations to the Ugandan capital Kampala -which has thus become a major centre for conflict diamonds coming from DRC. The extent of this operation became clear after a rather peculiar incident in July 2000. That month, a large sum of USD was stolen from a Lebanese diamond dealer on the road from Entebbe airport to Kampala...
... A Global Network ...
A central person in this conflict diamond network is Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim. The police report describes this man as a key representative of the Lebanese network that trades diamonds from DRC through Uganda. Most probably, this is the Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] the UN and others have connected to the Victoria Group.
In his statement to the police, Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] says that he came to Uganda in 1999, the same year the Victoria Group was founded.
His statement reads:
"It was in January 1999 that I came to Kampala. I had a Lebanese restaurant along Kampala Road and I also do business of buying diamonds in Congo, especially in Kisangani, Buta, and Bunia."
This phrase is vital to connect Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] to Victoria Group's diamond operations.
Interestingly enough, it colludes with a similar statement of Jovia Akandwanaho [ co-owner of ALEXANDER AIR ( Kampala, Uganda ) ], the wife of Salim Saleh, to the Porter Commission in Uganda. Asked about her dealings with Victoria Group and Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim], Jovia Akandwanaho declared that she used to have a Lebanese restaurant with this man [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] in Kampala in 1999.
This certainly tells a lot about the way in which Uganda elite has conducted its business strategies in DRC.
From the moment they met in that [ NOTE: Lebanese ] restaurant, Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim ] became Salim Saleh's [ NOTE: (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho ] key economic advisor to take control over Congo's lucrative diamond market...
... Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim ] entirely orchestrated the takeover of the diamond trade by Victoria Group which led to the brutal wars between Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani, and his [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] associates have continued to deal with MLC and UDPF officials to control the region's business in diamonds, coffee, and gold...
... Van A. Brink and the African Reserve System [ NOTE: correct name was actually 'African Union Reserve System' (aka) 'Union Reserve System' ] ...
Valentina Piskanova first appeared in June 1999 on a futuristic contract for a central banking system in eastern Congo. Signed by the leader of the RCD - ML [ NOTE: Democratic Republic of the Congo Liberation Movement ] Wamba dia Wamba, Willy Mishiki, and a man called Van Brink, it proclaimed a structural agreement with the AFRICAN UNION RESERVE SYSTEM (AURS) to set up a new monetary system in eastern Congo including the issuing of a new currency.
This system was to be backed by the country's considerable diamond and gold reserves. There was only one problem. The chairman of the AURS, Mr. Van A Brink, was known as a notorious swindler.
During the 1990's, he was suspected of laundering millions of USD from the First International Bank of Grenada - which were now going to be invested into a non-existent government. Not surprisingly, Wamba got criticised for "selling the country's sovereignty" by his opponent Jean-Pierre Bemba. Thanking Bemba for bringing this to light, Wamba eventually cancelled the deal and refused to further negotiate this "fraudulent practice"...
In 2001, Valentina Piskanova appeared in a documentary in the company of her Russian partners and Willy Mishiki in a villa in Kampala, Uganda where they were planning their stake in the DRC ‘coltan’ business.
Mishiki, a self-proclaimed prince of the Congo village of Walikale and former Agriculture Minister under President Mobutu, promised to provide them with the necessary back-up to develop their operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ), while the Russians would assure the sales of 'coltan' supplies to a 'processing plant' in Kazakhstan ... ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT JOINT STOCK COMPANY (aka) ULBINSKY METALLURGICAL PLANT JSC (aka) UMP JSC (aka) NAC KAZATOPROM NATIONAL NUCLEAR COMPANY in Kurchatov ( formerly known as Semipalatinsk ), headquartered in Ust, Kamenogorsk, Republic of Kazakhstan ) ...
[ NOTE: rearrangement of article paragraphs, forwarding to article paragraph inserted ( immediately below ): ]
... Coltan: The Black Gold ...
Unlike diamonds and gold, coltan does not look very impressive. This piece of black stone could be dug up from the mud almost anywhere in the world: from Congo to Nigeria and Southeast Asia.
Coltan nonetheless represents one of the most precious resources of our time. In processed form, it is called tantalum.
It used for the production of mobile phones, computers, jet engines, fiber optics and capacitors - the components that maintain an electric charge in a computer chip.
But while this precious mineral has caused a stir on the international market, it has also become Congo's curse.
At the end of 2000, a sudden demand for tantalum capacitors - the new generation of mobile phones was thrown on the global market - caused a veritable boom in prices for coltan.
In no time, prices for processed coltan ore shot up from $30 to $40 ( USD ) per pound to over $300 ( USD ) in December...
...The trade was quickly monopolised by the Rwandan army and its allies of the DRC. Airplanes stuffed with coltan flew directly from the mines in South Kivu [ NOTE: near city of Beni, DRC ] to Kigali, where they were further transported to international destinations...
...While Uganda officers active in the minerals trade from DRC have remained entirely motivated by their personal enrichment, the Rwandan revenue is directed by a so-called Congo-desk, controlled by the Rwanda foreign intelligence service...the RPA [ NOTE: Rwanda Patriotic Army ] made a $64,000,000.00 million ( USD ) profit through the Congo-desk with coltan exports from DRC in the year 2000, and another $44,000,000.00 million ( USD ) in 2001. The latter are official figures ... 60% to 70% of these profits have been reinvested in the war [ NOTE: Rwanda ]...
...Before coltan can be used, it needs to be refined, tantalum or niobium are separated through a chemical reaction from the ore and transformed into a metal powder by a 'very small group of companies':
- ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Kazakhstan );
- BRUSH WELLMAN INC. ( Cleveland, Ohio, USA );
- H.C. STARCK GMBH ( Goslar, Germany );
- CABOT CORPORATION ( Boston, Massachusetts, USA ); and,
- NINGXIA ( China ) ...
...In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, coltan is mostly found in the two (2) Kivu provinces [ NOTE: South Kivu province held 30,000 workers ], and in Maniema ...
[ NOTE: discontinuing rearrangement of article paragraph ( above ), returning to continued article paragraph (below): ]
... Van A. Brink and the African Reserve System [ NOTE: correct name was actually 'African Union Reserve System' (aka) 'Union Reserve System' ] ...
...But since prices for coltan went down shortly after the agreement, the Piskanov’s left Butembo and are now awaiting better conditions for their return.
For Mishiki, the story ended with a blow. Beginning 2002, he already got questioned, on his arrival in the US on suspicion of money laundering.
On 27 June 2002, he was finally arrested in Belgium while he was trying to change 300,000 euro worth of false CFA notes. Along with two (2) other suspects, Mishiki is currently staying in a state prison near Brussels...
In Butembo there are five companies that buy coltan from local miners; they are all in the hands of ex-Soviet citizens: Russians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks...
[ NOTE: in Kivu province near Beni, DRC ] …one of them, called Conmet [ NOTE: (aka) Comnet Services Ltd. (aka) Comnet Service 2 ( Kampala, Uganda ) ] ... belongs to Kullinan Finance Investment, a Uganda company ... sell to South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Germany ... 50 tonnes a month ...
... Russian criminal groups have been familiar with Congolese minerals for some time. During the coltan boom, trading centers such as Butembo and Beni, were suddenly visited by ex-Soviet citizens who all seemed very interested to get a stake in the coltan business.
Conmet [ NOTE: (aka) Comnet Services Ltd. (aka) Comnet Service 2 ( Kampala, Uganda ) ] set up a counter on the main road in Butembo in 2000 to buy coltan from local miners. It is run by two (2) Russia citizens from South Africa - who lead their operations from the Uganda capital Kampala - Valentina Piskanov [ NOTE: Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Petrovich ] and Alexei Piskanov.
Their network is extremely indicative of the close connection that currently exists between mineral traders, corrupt Congo officials, and organised crime.
A remarkable aspect of Congo Russia trading companies are their close connection to Kazakhstan where uranium, coltan, beryllium, cobalt, and more is refined at the ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Republic of Kazakhstan ), an incredibly well-known processing plant of the former Soviet Union, where the United States now has strategic defense contract arrangments, for:
- Beryllium ingots;
- Tantalum; and,
- More.
[ NOTE: See, e.g. special research report link, at:
http://www.totse.com/en/politics/the_world_beyond_the_usa/forwantofanucl173464.html ] Currently, it has a capacity of 250 million tonnes per year...
... Finmining Ltd. ... is an offshore company registered in the tax-free haven of Saint Kitts. On the same address, Chris Huber set up a third (3rd) company that trades coltan from DRC: Raremet Ltd. All these companies have been proven to buy coltan from the Rwanda Patriotic Army...
...Since then, Semion Briskin is reportedly staying on the French Riviera, together with his partner Chris Huber.
31 MAY 93: PETRA CORP. foundation ( Russia );
1993-1995: PETRA CORP. transport contracts with Angarska petrochemical plant ( Russia );
24 JUL 97: FINCONCORD / FINMINING LTD. foundation ( Switzerland );
1997: FINCONCORD / FINMINING LTD. contract with ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT raw material provision tantalum based end product sales ( Kazakhstan );
1997: Beligorski GOK rare metal factory purchased by Semion Briskin ( Kazakhstan );
1998: FINCONCORD / FINMINING LTD. buys coltan from trading post ( Rwanda );
1999: PETRA CORP. tax evasion & forgery investigation by Interior Ministry ( Russia );
1999: Semion Briskin escapes to ( Germany ) or ( Spain );
2000: RAREMET LTD. purchase contracts with trading posts ( Rwanda );
APR 2000: PETRA CORP. investigation by Russia FSB intelligence agency, Regional Service Combating Organized Crime ( RUBOP ), Federal Fiscal Police, joined by Regional Public Prosecutor ( Russia )...
The cases of Finmining Ltd. and Conmet [ NOTE: (aka) Comnet Services Ltd. (aka) Comnet Service 2 ( Kampala, Uganda ) ] clearly illustrate the problematic nature of the coltan trade from DRC today...
... Arms ...
...The small arms trade is a phenomenon that defies definition.
First, there are both 'legal' and 'illegal' transfers of small arms.
Illegal arms transfers are commonly explained as those that occur outside the control, or against the wishes, of exporting states. In this context, it is important to note that most arms transfers to the Great Lakes Region [ NOTE: Africa ] do not constitute a violation of international law.
Of all the participants in the DRC conflict, only the Angola UNITA ( until recently ) and the Rwanda Interahamwe are subjected to a UN embargo. A European Union ( EU ) embargo exists against Zaire (later DRC) [ NOTE: now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo ] since 1993 and against Zimbabwe since 2000.
Second, some international institutions have issued agreements that are commonly classified under the concept of international 'soft law': they are mere principles that may or may not develop into an international law in the future but are essentially non-binding.
A strong call against arms transfers to conflict regions has been forwarded by the European Code of Conduct for Arms Exports. It invites member states not to authorise any exports that are 'susceptible to provoke or prolong armed conflicts or aggravate tensions or conflicts in the country of destination'.
Another 'soft law' initiative that has gathered the EU [ NOTE: European Union ] support is the ECOWAS-moratorium on small arms in West Africa. This moratorium acquired a new dimension lately when a group of East Africa and Central Africa countries ( including Burundi, DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda ) signed a declaration against the proliferation of firearms in the Great Lakes Region...
...Legal transfers of weapon systems to the participants in the Great Lakes conflict from 1998-2001, included:
Uganda -
- 35 Russian Mig fighter / bomber jets;
- 90 T-54 battle tanks; and,
- 1 mine clearing vehicle.
Angola -
- 18 Russian Mig-23 fighter / bomber jets;
- 55 T-55 and 1 T-72 battle tanks;
- 5 multiple rocket launchers; and,
- 7 armoured personnel carriers.
Namibia -
- 2 Russian Mi-8 and 2 Mi-24 helicopter gun-ships;
- 24 140mm artillery systems;
- 30 Werewolf anti-mine vehicles;
- 4 photo recognition aircraft; and,
- 1 patrol craft.
Zimbabwe -
- 29 systems ( unspecified );
- 23 armoured carrier vehicles; and,
- 6 surveillance aircraft.
Democratic Republic of the Congo -
- 18 artillery systems ( unspecified ); and,
- 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
Rwanda -
- 14 armoured personnel carriers.
Burundi -
- 12 armoured personnel carriers.
Countries or nationals that have 'legally' provided the Great Lakes region with weapons or military assistance since 1998, include:
North Korea -
- Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Poland -
- Uganda; and,
- Democratic Republic of the Congo.
China -
- Uganda;
- Rwanda; and,
- Kinshasa.
France -
- Uganda.
Italy -
- Uganda.
Russia Federation -
- Uganda; and,
- Angola.
Ukraine -
Kazakhstan -
Belarus -
Slovakia -
- Angola ( from 4 nations immediately above ).
United States -
- Angola;
- Rwanda; and,
- Zimbabwe.
- South Africa -
- Angola;
- Namibia;
- Rwanda;
- Burundi; and,
- Zimbabwe.
A much bigger problem is the 'illegal' trade in small arms.
This trade involves a complex spectrum, which ranges from 'grey' deals - where arms are 'bought legally' but are later 'diverted illegally to conflict zones' - outright sanction busting - where stocks of weapons - mostly surplus stocks of the Cold War - are immediately sold to sanctioned military actors.
Consolidated Sales Corporation ( CSC ) was introduced to the Uganda Defense Ministry by Salim Saleh in November 1996.
After negotiations with the company manager, the latter agreed that the first two (2) of four (4) optional helicopter [ NOTE: helicopter gun-ships ] would be fully overhauled 'before' delivery to Uganda.
But when the equipment arrived in early 1998, UDPF [ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force ] discovered that it had not been overhauled as agreed, and that the price for the choppers [ NOTE: helicopter gun-ships ] had been increased by at least 60%.
An independent assessment ( by Haines helicopters from South Africa ) revealed a financial scam, which had led to the loss of millions of USD [ NOTE: U.S. Dollars value worth ] of Ugandan taxpayers' money.
While each of the four (4) helicopters cost $1,500,000 million ( USD ), the brokers of CSC [ NOTE: Consolidated Sales Corp. ] and several high placed Uganda officials - including Saleh [ NOTE: retired Lieutenant General Salim Saleh, M.P. Uganda Defense Force ( UDPF ) -aka- Caleb K. Akandwanaho ] - had agreed a total sum of $12,000,000.00 million ( USD ), or four (4) times the normal market price.
By that time, the Uganda government had already lost $6,000,000.00 million ( USD ) in the form of promissory notes for the two (2) remaining helicopters [ NOTE: helicopter gun-ships ] from Belarus...
...One aspect which makes this trade so difficult to monitor...is the role of the middlemen - the brokers and the shipping agents [ NOTE: export managers and air cargo aviation business owners ] - who arrange the shipment of military equipment...
...Often, these middlemen [ NOTE: brokers / arrangers ] control the aviation businesses [ NOTE: Jovia Akandwanaho co-owner of Alexander Air ( Kampala, Uganda ) ] that are so essential to the logistics of armies and rebels...
...Very often also, these arms contracts provide a means for the arrangers [ NOTE: brokers (aka) middlemen who own aviation businesses [ NOTE: Jovia Akandwanaho co-owner of Alexander Air ( Kampala, Uganda ) and her husband Caleb K. Akandwanaho (aka) retired Lieutenant General Salim Saleh, M.P. Uganda Defense Force - UDPF ] - mostly high placed military officials - to generate incomes for themselves through the issuing of large commissions...
...in 1998-1999 UDPF Commander Salim Saleh got involved in a number of fraudulent purchases of military equipment for the Uganda Army [ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force - UDPF ], which involved the payment of illegal commissions. In one such case, Saleh reportedly cashed in a bribe of between $800,000.00 and $1,300,000.00 million ( USD ) for the procurement of four (4) Mi-24 helicopters from Consolidated Sales Corp., a company registered in the Virgin Islands...a high-placed source within the Uganda judiciary assured the author of this report that Saleh effectively received this bribe from CSC [ NOTE: Consolidated Sales Corp. ]...The source acknowledged that it is hardly possible to trace this money since Saleh immediately reinvested it in his businesses in northern Uganda.
In spite of these reports, Salim Saleh was never punished for the 'purchase of this dysfunctional military equipment'. Apart from a 'temporary removal from his post' for "indiscipline", president Museveni [ NOTE: Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, the step-father of Lt. Gen. Salem Saleh, Commander of the Uganda Defense Force - UDPF ] never took any sanctions against Saleh for his numerous frauds.
As a result, this purchasing strategy has further consolidated the role of Army commanders in the war economy. Their strong connection with important arms brokers has led to an increasing privatisation of the war effort in DRC, which is enforced by the involvement of some of these middlemen in the minerals trade.
Through the sale of arms to rebel chiefs and army leaders, they are assured of their local involvement in the exploitation of precious resources such as coltan and diamonds. In turn, these resources provide the income for the military actors to secure their power...
... The network of Victor Bout ...
Prominence has to be given to the arms trafficking network of one particular man: Victor Vassilyevich Bout [ NOTE: DOB: 1967 / POB: Dushanbe, Tajikistan ( then, controlled by the Russia Soviet Union government ), formerly operated in Angola as Soviet KGB agent ].
This Russian arms broker is under investigation by Interpol and various Western countries for his complex network of over 50 planes, several airline companies, cargo charter companies, and freight-forwarding companies that are involved in shipping illicit cargo.
Thanks to this network, Bout has established himself as the world's most famous arms supplier to embargoed state actors such as the Revolutionary United Front ( RUF ) in Sierra Leone and UNITA rebels in Angola...
Today, company clients of Bout's, include:
- Uganda;
- Kenya;
- Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC );
- Congo-Brazzaville;
- Rwanda;
- Sudan;
- Libya;
- Cameroon;
- Sierra Leone;
- Liberia;
- Equatorial Guinea;
- Swaziland;
- Angola;
- Central Africa Republic ( CAR );
- South Africa [ NOTE: and other countries ]..
In the DRC [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ], Bout's planes [ NOTE: e.g. ALEXANDER AIR ( Kampala, Uganda ) co-owned by Jovia Akandwanaho ] have been 'transporting arms', 'diamonds', and 'coltan' to the Democratic Republic of the Congo [ DRC / RDC ] rebel movements such as the MLC and the RCD [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ] ...
... In 1995, he set up an airline company called TRANS AVIATION NETWORK at Ostend airport ( Belgium ), together with the Belgium pilot Ronald Desmet. The airplanes of this company were registered in Monrovia ( Liberia ).
...in 1997 ... Ronald Desmet paid Air Cess pilots $10,000 USD - in addition to their usual salaries - for each flight carrying arms and munitions, mostly intended for the Taliban ... in Afghanistan.
A judicial investigation into the company's activities in Belgium made Bout move his business to the Sharjah, United Arab Emirates [ NOTE: UAE ] airport, where Air Cess still has its official company address.
Currently, Viktor's brother Sergey [ NOTE: Sergei Bout ] heads the company [ NOTE: Air Cess ]...
...In 2000, the Central Africa Republic ( CAR ) initiated an investigation into fraud concerning the registration of an aircraft operated by Centrafricain Airlines, also controlled by Viktor Bout...
After September 11, 2001 he has been accused of supplying Islamist terrorists with arms, but so far there exists no public evidence to this allegation [ NOTE: see, e.g. client company, formerly Alexander Air ( Kampala, Uganda ), cargo flights into Sudan and Egypt connection ]...
... Ruprah [ NOTE: Sanjivan Ruprah ] has a large stake via the Oriental Timber Company ( OTC ) [ NOTE: Van Brink - referenced a $3,000,000,000.00 billion (USD) value + timber deal – during the minutes of the meeting on June 29, 2002 ( Yei, Sudan ) with the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) rebel leader Chairman and Commander Dr. John Garang Demabor (aka) Dr. John Garang DeMabior and his Commanders Edward Abyei Lino ( friend of World Bank vice-president Dauson Wai, a Sudan national ), Bior Ajang, James Wani Iga, Kuol Manyag Juuk, Arthur Akwen Chol, SOUTHERN SUPPLY AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES LTD. executives Christian DeLane Park, Solomon Chaplain Lui and Blyth Fred Walekwa, ALANDIS executive director Kenneth Lubega, and Peter Emusugut.
Libya intelligence reported the SPLA / SPLM was being manipulated by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ), noting the SPLA / SPLM at one time meeting with an al-Qaeda terrorist, who lived in the inpenetrable hills of Yemen, and held strong political connections between Saudi Arabia; Kartoum, Sudan; Afghanistan and Pakistan.
UN Experts demonstrated how OTC [ NOTE: DRC province Oriental Timber Company ] paid $500,000.00 ( USD ) via Sanjivan Ruprah for San Air, one (1) of the companies of Victor Bout ...
... British and U.S. intelligence agencies have been keeping a close eye on Sanjivan's moves in Belgium, where he was living with his wife.
In February 2002, the Belgian police eventually arrested him, and accused him of travelling on a false passport and membership of a criminal association. At the same time, the Belgium also issued an arrest warrant for Sanjivan's friend and master Victor Bout...
... Los Angeles Times stated ... Sanjivan had given the CIA information about Victor Bout's operations for the Islamist terrorist network Al Qaeda ... Sanjivan's lawyer in Belgium, Mr. Luc De Temmerman ... acknowledged that Ruprah had informed U.S. intelligence officials about Al Qaeda ...
In March [ NOTE: 2002 ], Ruprah was left free on bail - reportedly for the sum of 75,000 euros - only to be arrested again in Italy a little later.
On 2 August 2002, the Italian police in Cremona stopped him, just a few miles from Milan, carrying a false Belgium passport under a Pakistan name, along with 10,000 Euros in cash.
So far, he has not been indicted for arms trafficking...
... Guns for Diamonds? The case of ER-57929 [ NOTE: Moldavia airlines registration was actually "ER-75929" ] ...
... Culworth Investments ... established supplier of military material to Uganda for some time. It is registered in Monrovia ... headed by an Egyptian arms dealer Mr. Sharif Al-Mazri ... sales agent for a MI-24 helicopter gun-ships to the Uganda Ministry of Defence in 1999 ...
...In November 2000, Culworth Investments ... again selling arms to Uganda ...[ NOTE: Russia plane ] ... Ilyushin-18 ... Moldavia registration ER-75929 [ NOTE: aforesaid Moldavia registration number is 'correct' ] arrived at Entebbe airport [ NOTE: Uganda ] on 21 November 2000 ... left for Monrovia ... 3-days later ... same plane arrived back in Uganda to pick up a second ( 2nd) consignment of 1,250 She guns [ NOTE: machine-guns from Slovakia ] ... Uganda authorities ... pay for the weapons and keep them in the country [ NOTE: Uganda ]...
... The Kisangani Wars ...
...Two (2) years after the Kisangani wars, it has become apparent that the conflict was also related to the competition over Congo's diamonds. Under the direction of the Victoria Group, the UDPF had taken almost total control over the diamond market in Kisangani.
The offices operated by Victoria Group refused to report their exports to their Rwanda counterparts.
Not surprisingly, this move led to a growing frustration amongst RPA [ Rwanda Patriotic Army ] officials, who were themselves trying to get hold of this lucrative business.
Through the statements of Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] and his associates to the Ugandan police, it becomes possible to partly clarify the operation mode of the Victoria Group in DRC and Uganda.
According to Khalil's [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim’s ] partner Ismail Dakhlallah 40 - the man that was robbed on Kampala Road - he works through a company called Beccadi Limited ( Bugolobi, Kampala, Uganda ), along with another partner called Abbas Khazal.
Both men used to be based in DRC "to buy diamonds in Buta, Kisangani," says Ismail Dakhlallah. This statement is only partially correct, because the company Ismail Dakhlallah referred to is not called "Beccadi" but Piccadilly Import Export, which has been trading in diamonds officially since 1983.
In this company [ NOTE: Piccadilly Import Export ], two (2) more names appear as managers of the Victoria Group network:
- Hussein Ali Hamad [ NOTE: (aka) Hamad Ali Hussein ]; and,
- Nazih Ali Hamad [ NOTE: (aka) Hamad Ali Nazih ].
The former is a well-known person in the diamond business in DRC.
According to specialist observers, Ali Hussein has played a major role in diamond and gold deals in Bukavu and Kisangani, where he used to have a office until mid-2000. Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] also acknowledges to have worked with Hussein. To the police, he declared that "I used to send money through Hussein, and at times I go myself to buy the diamonds."
...Subsequently, Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] took Ismail Dakhlallah to Belgium, apparently "to show Ismail what to do as far as the business is concerned." In Belgium, the Victoria Group representatives then found their financial support with a company called "Nami James", according to Dakhlallah...
[ NOTE: Nami James ] ...Its managers are Hemang Shah, a Belgian citizen of Indian descent, and his Belgian associate Roseline Mariette Lecluyse ... Mr. Shah confirmed that he had supported the diamond deal with Khalil Nazzeem in July 2000...
Accordingly, it remains difficult to estimate who currently finances Victoria Group's operations in DRC [ [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ] ] and Uganda ... Through conversations with investigators, customs officials and NGOs [ Non-Governmental Organizations ] in these countries ... researchers found a diamond office in the city [ NOTE: Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo ] centre with the rather exotic name, AHMED AND MISTER CASH ... Heavily armed UDPF [ Uganda Defense Force ] soldiers ...controlled every move in and out of the front gate ..."MISTER CASH" is run by a certain "Mr. Ahmed" who works for the account of the Uganda officers Salim Saleh [ NOTE: Uganda Defense Force General Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho ] and James Kazini, and receives the protection of the local RCD - ML [ Democratic Republic of the Congo for the Democratic Movement of Liberation ] Commander Kakolele ...
... Customs officials in Beni [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ] told about the leadership of the RCD-ML [ Democratic Republic of the Congo Movement of Liberation ] had explicitly forbidden them to report the ‘diamond exports’ of "MISTER CASH" in their annual statistics.
This lack of official documentation reveals the extent to which VICTORIA GROUP has taken control over the trade in Congo resources...it is apparent that these diamonds still end up in Uganda, from where they are further commercialised to international destinations.
From investigators and observers in DRC and Uganda...a company called BELDIAM buys diamonds from "Mister Cash" in the Uganda capital Kampala ... BELDIAM is run from a room in the Kampala Sheraton Hotel by Abbas Khazal - the same man that used to work for Khalil [ NOTE: Khalil Nazzeem Ibrahim] in Piccadilly Import and Export...
[ NOTE: Secured intelligence reports placed Van Brink meeting frequently with Uganda Defense Force ( UDPF ) retired General Salim Saleh along with Valentina Piskanovna at the same location (Kampala Sheraton ) on DRC ‘mining’ business. ]
...the activities of the Victoria Group clearly indicate the extent to which the UDPF [ Uganda Defense Force ] is orchestrating the fight over Congo resources.
In particular, the alliance between a closed circle of Lebanese [ NOTE: Lebanon ] traders and Uganda leading elite has made it possible to exit millions of USD [ NOTE: U.S. Dollars ] in Congo 'conflict diamonds' to European destinations.
Particular importance has to be given to Antwerp [ NOTE: Belgium ], where most of Congo diamonds are sold, polished and cut.
Along with Kampala [ NOTE: Uganda ], this city [ NOTE: Antwerp, Belgium ] is certainly a main trading centre for 'conflict diamonds' from the DRC..."
Reference(s)
Source: Royal Museum for Central Africa - Contemporary History Library Custody Only ( Tervuren, Belgium, Attention: Lore Van de Broeck, TEL: +32 (0) 2 686 02 70 ) ... Network War: An Introduction To Congo's Privatised Conflict Economy, by Tim Raemaekers ... Executive Summary ...
http://www.totse.com/en/politics/the_world_beyond_the_usa/167160.html - - - -
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately below ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
U.S. Captures New Sudan Oil & Gold Intelligence
by, ShoreLines [
ShoreLines@safe-mail.net ] October 25, 2005
From 1999 through 2004, a complex series of wars and political events involving the Middle East and Africa stemmed from a secret personal business relationship that developed between two (2) men:
- The 'government military' and 'business financial' beliefs of Uganda Prime Minister Yoweri Kaguta Museveni step-brother, a retired Uganda Defense Force ( UDFP / UDPF ) General Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho; with,
- The 'christian religious fundamentalist' and 'business financial' beliefs of U.S. ex-patriot Gilbert Allen Ziegler (aka) Van Arthur Brink, former Grenada bank executive.
Once these two (2) were brought together in 1999, other relationships that were operating under cloaked government economic agendas of the U.S. and Russia entered the picture. One held 'certain connections' and was 'attractively designed' while others were 'equipped with untraceable fraud funds' and once all together were purposely injected to nurture 'special relationships' with the tribal leaders / kings of provinces in Africa war zones.
Congo 'obvious' prized natural resources are 'diamond' and 'gold' mines, which also provide excellent distractions cloaking even more important international 'strategic defense' and high-end technology mineral ores, some nearby from 'gold' tailings and 'coltan' ores, which net 'tantalum' processed at the ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Kazakhstan ) where 'uranium', 'high-grade yellow-cake', and 'beryllium' ore for 'nuclear triggering mechanisms' are also processed.
When these types of high-stake strategic materials are involved, superpower nations conduct high-risk operations to protect their own interests. From within their intelligence arsenals smaller countries, banks, businesses, and a wide spectrum of individuals are used, including:
1.) Unwitting characters, often from ‘unsavory ( extraordinary deniability ) backgrounds’ purposely positioned as ‘disposable’ cut-out ‘agents of convenience’ whom are briefed by a ‘familiar private individual’ to act as ‘facilitators’ for ‘providing concepts’ for such operations; with,
2.) Witting characters, often times from ‘popular ( plausible deniability ) backgrounds’ purposely positioned as ‘indispensable’ key ‘agents in place’ whom are briefed by a ‘familiar government contractor’ to act as ‘negotiators’ for ‘providing introductions’ for such operations.
In 1998, General Saleh had been groomed by a woman from Russia, Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounova (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Piskanov (aka) Valentina Petrovich representing holding Kazakhstan business connections to a raw mineral ore 'special processing facility' at the ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Kazakhstan ). Saleh saw his business SARACEN KAMPALA LTD. necessary to provide his paramilitary commando friends for security over 'coltan' raw ore mineral smuggling out-of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kazakhstan. For Saleh, all Piskanovna needed were enough funds to finance such an operation.
In 1999, South Africa business executive John A. Myburgh of Atlantic Pacific Enterprises Ltd. ( Bahamas ) telephoned Grenada independent offshore bank executive Van Brink who was invited to meet with retired General Salim Saleh on an operation to support the failing CO-OPERATIVE BANK by 'enhancing its balance sheet with assets' using 'high-value asset bank paper instruments' that First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. ( FIBG ) held under management - Brink saw Robert Earl Palm in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada inject as legitimate instruments worth billions - that Valentina Piskanovna ( Petrovich ) learned about from Mel Holt, a United Nations panel member, who had earlier ( 1998 ) picked her up at the SHERATON hotel ( Kampala, Uganda ) lounge / bar thinking she was a high-class foreign ( Russia ) prostitute he noticed always carousing and flirting amongst many men there.
After several months of Myburgh continuing to summon Brink from Grenada to Africa, both men finally met at Heathrow Airport ( UK ) to discuss high-value asset documents held under management by First International Bank of Grenada Ltd., which Brink later placed in safe-keeping with a London man Ray Winstone and his wife Diana.
Brink, along with Myburgh, then flew from Heathrow Airport to Johannesburg, South Africa where Brink (alone) boarded another plane bound for Entebbe Airport ( Uganda ) whereupon arrival he was met by Valentina Piskanovna, who Brink earlier heard was Myburgh’s South Africa business partner.
When the Governor of the Central Bank of Uganda ( BOU ) closed CO-OPERATIVE BANK, Van Brink created the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) also known as the AFRICAN UNION RESERVE| SYSTEM ( AURS ) and became Chairman of the Board making Valentina Piskanovna, URS Internal Relations Secretary.
Piskanovna, as International Relations Secretary of the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ), then applied her ‘attractively packaged’ SHERATON ‘hotel charms’ upon several tribal kings from provinces within the Democratic Republic of the Congo that eventually brought about signed agreements for certain cooperative ‘natural resources’ including ‘gold’, diamond’ and ‘coltan’ mining ‘concessions’ to be funneled into the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM.
Brink then traveled for 10-days to Poland, in the company of a woman named Jadwiga Nowak (aka) Jagoda, but upon his return to Uganda discovered Valentina Piskanovna - representing herself as International Relations Secretary of the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) holding Power of Attorney - misrepresented her capacity and holding power over the URS in an ‘unauthorized requisition’ of $800,000.00 (USD) out-of First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. that she directed wire transferred into her business LA COMNET S.P.R.L. bank account, which she then saw all those funds laundered out-of until they disappeared.
In 2002, three (3) years into the personal business and financial relationship between Van Brink and General Salim Saleh - who earlier approached his step-brother Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on intelligence matters surrounding ‘micro-finance’ - Brink was invited to act as an ‘unwitting’ participant to act as a “facilitator” providing “financial concepts” in a Uganda People’s Defense Force ( UPDF ) operation in Sudan code named the “New Sudan Protocol.”
Operation New Sudan Protocol surreptitiously acclaimed to only be ‘planning peace’ by ‘logical prosperity’ with ‘community support’ that involved harvesting and mining ‘natural resources’, but shortly after these secret meetings, the public would only see the President of Uganda meeting officially with adversaries in discussions that led to drafting mutual accords, which a few envisioned would only last a short time and did.
Operation New Sudan Protocol held secret meetings, where its ‘minute notations’ were later captured by the Sudan intelligence agency discovering most importantly its ‘economic infrastructure development plans’ using ‘natural resources’ within ‘conflict’ war zones, involving:
- Mining ‘diamonds’, ‘valuable minerals’ ( e.g. gold, platinum, silver, rhodium ), and ‘valuable strategic defense by-products’ (i.e. ‘tantalum’, ‘uranium’, 'cobalt', etc.) from ‘coltan’;
- Harvesting ‘timber’, valued in-excess of $3,000,000,000.00 (USD) billion;
- Developing ‘energy’ from ‘petroleum’ exploration’;
- Establishing a ‘co-operative bank’ founded partly on ‘Islamic’ gold based bank standards but using a ‘Christian’ progressive ‘fractional reserve bank theory’ in direct opposition to U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and U.S. Federal Reserve System operations;
- Issuing a New Sudan ‘currency’ based on that co-operative gold based bank fractional reserve foundation; and,
- Establishing a ‘wireless communication’ system.
Behind all those enterprising economic concepts he presented during these secret New Sudan Protocol meetings was Van A. Brink, who was later identified during a 2004 Portland, Oregon, U.S. District Court federal criminal proceeding where near the end of one of many of his ‘pre-trial release hearings’ - heard by Judge King – the federal court prosecutor Assistant U.S. Attorney Clair Fay (aka) Claire Mae Fay pointed to another U.S. government agency that told the U.S. Marshals Service that Van Brink an "economic threat" to U.S. National Security, therefore she presented Van Brink was ‘not suitable for release’ from government imprisonment while awaiting his trial, which on appeal decided to the contrary he ‘was suitable for release’ and was consequently released into the ‘custody of his family relatives’, who only abandoned him for one (1) weekend whereupon returning home to Wilsonville, Oregon found Van Brink dead on December 10, 2005. Government authorities would ‘not’ release to his family members, autopsy reports or toxicology tests into determining his death, which they claimed to be from congestive heart failure attributable to smoking cigarettes.
In Khartoum, Sudan where the business of Usama Bin Laden flourished, the Islamic government there would not allow independent faiths to practice anything that might be contrary to strict Islamic laws.
Christian and tribal religious practitioners rose-up against the Sudanese government in the north, which led to the north trying to drive out Christians and tribal religions to the south. Hence, the division between north and south Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) backed the Christians and tribal religious fight against northern Islamists for 19-years.
The Machakos, Kenya Peace Accord on July 20, 2002 tried to end the longest running civil war of Africa in Sudan that lasted over 19-years with over 1,500,000 million people who died primarily because of ‘starvation’ due to ‘religious inequality and indifference’ that fueled a territorial dispute between northern Sudanese Muslims in their Islamic war against southern Sudanese whom wanted to live there as Christians. Who introduced Christianity to Sudan?
About 1-month after the Machakos Protocol, a U.S. Voice Of America ( VOA ) broadcast announced that a meeting on July 27, 2002 hosted by Republic of Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with Republic of Sudan President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, and Republic of Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Commander-in-Chief Kuol Manyag Juuk had accomplished two (2) very important handshake agreements.
The U.S. Voice Of America failed, however to announce to the world about a secret meeting that had taken place 30-days before Museveni, Al-Bashir, and Juuk ever met in Kampala, Uganda.
U.S. intelligence agencies became aware of that secret meeting, shortly after it was adjourned, and it took steps to monitor communications between its members and others because, it involved individuals it did not wish to see get its hands on gold, oil, and other valuable natural resources of New Sudan, which will come-up for grabs on July 20, 2008 when a referendum will be put to the people of as to whether to become a totally independent nation.
In order for others to gain control over a portion of Sudan ‘natural reserves’ it would be left up to ‘agents in place’ to oversee the 'systematic removal' of any ‘cutout’ attending those secret New Sudan Protocol meetings that were seen to be a threat to U.S. National Security.
One of the men to go, was Van Arthur Brink, a name that had been captured in earlier international press reports as the unscrupulous founder of the independent offshore bank, FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LIMITED ( FIBG ), begun in Grand Anse, Grenada later establishing its headquarters in St. George's, Grenada.
In 1994, three (3) economic terrorists - in the United States of Georgia, Oregon, and Hawaii - planned financial support to launch an 'independent offshore bank' that would base its asset reserves on 'anything' except 'fiat' currency (aka) 'paper' money, and they collectively decided to educate Gilbert Allen Ziegler ( later known as Van Brink ) on developing an independent offshore bank based on 'gold' assets led by a group of radical Christian religion fundamentalist progressives to operate this network of banks based on theorized 'fractional reserve banking' under a religion protected sovereign government - somewhat like the Vatican - but that would in essence eat away at traditional domestic bank deposits and investments regulated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank Board of Governors, Federal Reserve Bank System of Central Bank Branches, U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the U.S. Currency ( OCC ), and eventually affecting the World Bank, International Monetray Fund, Bank for International Settlements, and other major banks around the world.
In 1996, Brink - a for7th Day Adventist religious follower – with encouragement from these three (3) men who later became known as his "Three Wise Men" – formed a relatively solid, secret, and complex network of independent fundamentalist Christian group 'church leaders' (aka) 'team builders' whose names were 'not listed' on official State of Oregon corporation division records of TEAM BUILDERS INTERNATIONAL LLC. that was originally designed to primarily use independent fundamentalist Christian group 'church leaders' (aka) 'team builders' to 'solicit donations' from their fundamentalist Christian group 'church members' (aka) 'team players' sent through another Oregon firm TEAM PLAYERS INTERNATIONAL LLC., which formed a working core group of thousands of investors of like-minded individuals that wove the fabric of funds into what became a highly complex network of banks and enterprising investments for what the FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. ( FIBG ) led along with several gold recovery projects that eventually led 6,000 people to lose a collective total of about $250,000,000.00 million (USD) in a relatively short period of time.
In 1995, U.S. intelligence agencies along with the U.S. Customs Service ( now known as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ) were investigating independent offshore banks on the island of Antigua.
In 1996, Van Brink sent his brother James Gregory Ziegler to have established an Antigua international business company ( IBC ) known as the INTERNATIONAL DEPOSIT INDEMNITY CORP. (aka) INTERNATIONAL DEPOSITORS INDEMNITY CORP. that led to later forming the INTERNATIONAL DEPOSITORS REINSURANCE CORP. ( IDRC ) in Charlestown, Nevis that led to forming the INTERNATIONAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORP. turned over to executive directors Samuel D. Rubenstein and Douglas Christie Ferguson - believed related to the Bahamas Prime Minister Christie and his family member who led banking, along with C. Dennis Christie of McLean Management Associates ( Oregon & Virginia ). Hence, it came as no surprise that it was Douglas Christie Ferguson who presented the 'fractional banking reserve theory’ to Van Brink earmarked for incorporation into the FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. ( FIBG ), which the U.S. federal government later had the Commonwealth of Grenada seize on August 11, 2000, auction and begin to liquidate until it closed during February 2001 when the bank license was finally revoked.
Closing the network of banks down was no simple task for the U.S. government, after Grenada’s FIBG bank laid claims to having under management nearly $230,000,000,000.00 (USD) billion from several Wars worth of gold bullion holdings, treasured rare artifacts, and more that documented assets controlled by a legacy China Triad family whose assignees were in Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, India, Israel, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Philippines, Canada, United Kingdom, and Scotland with representatives in the United States, Canada, Spain, Uruguay, Brazil, and Indonesia bundling packaged portions of those assets into joint venture contract agreements and memorandums of understandings the U.S. government decided to try and put a halt to by contracting several nefarious 'financial engineers' of whom two (2) were old Non-Official Cover ( NOC ) undercover government intelligence agents, not limited to, but including the infamous William S. Sass and Robert Earl Palm ( United States & Canada ) along with Gabriel Francis MacEnroe ( United Kingdom & Switzerland ) whom established a series of events that led to the downfall of that independent offshore bank network.
Van Brink, feeling the heat of U.S. government agents breathing down on his bank supported by international major news coverage popping-up out of nowhere from international news wire services, decided to resign on October 1, 1999 when only a few months earlier he was invited to meet with the half-brother of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, a Uganda People’s Defense Force ( UPDF ) retired General Salim Saleh (aka) Caleb K. Akandwanaho.
General Saleh was no stranger to international press reports either, which placed him in the limelight of other country natural resources and businesses involving air cargo transportation, the Uganda CO-OPERATIVE Bank, and SARACEN KAMPALA LTD. ( Kampala, Uganda ), a branch office of SARACEN SECURITY LTD. ( UK ), a private military contractor with former British SAS intelligence officers led by a member of the Scotland Royal Family.
Operation New Sudan Protocol secret meeting minutes are now revealed (below ):
- - - -
Minutes for a Special Meeting on Printing the New Currency for The New Sudan
Date: 29th June 2002
Meeting Between:
Chairman, National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM )
AND,
Management of ALANDIS PRODUCTS in coordination with SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS )
PREFACE
This report is a follow-up of the previous meeting with Mr. Peter Emusugut, representative of one international company; in finding out a way to identify one company, which can print the new currency for circulation in New Sudan.
The last part of this report also answers some of the questions raised by Mr. Van Arthur Brink in the effort to finding a solution to accomplishing the task given to SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ).
The meeting was held at the NILE HOTEL starting at 10:45 a.m.
Present at the meeting were:
- Commander Kuol Manyag Juuk - Chairman - National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM );
- Commander Bior Ajang - Chief of Military Operations - Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM );
- Commander Edward Abyei Lino - Chief of Security - Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM );
- Mr. Van Arthur Brink - Managing Director, international company;
- Mr. Peter Emusugut - Representative, printing company;
- Mr. Kenneth Lubega - Resident Director, ALANDIS PRODUCTS;
- Mr. Solomon Chaplain Lui - Director, External Relations & Planning, SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ); and,
- Mr. Blyth Fred Walekwa - Projects Development Manager - SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ), and meeting Secretary.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING
The Director of External Relations & Planning for SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ), Mr. Solomon Chaplain Lui, opened the meeting by first introducing the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) delegation, which included:
Commander Kuol Manyag Juuk, Chairman, National Economic Affairs Commission, Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM );
Commander Edward Abyei Lino, Chief of Security - Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ); and,
Commander Bior Ajang, Chief of Military Operations - Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ).
Next introduced, was:
Mr. Blyth Fred Walekwa, Projects Development Manager, SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (SSDS);
Mr. Kenneth Lubega, Director (resident), ALANDIS PRODUCTS;
Mr. Van Arthur Brink, Managing Director, international company; and lastly,
Mr. Peter Emusugut, Representative, printing company.
He informed the meeting that the two (2) gentlemen brought in by Mr. Peter Emusugut ( printing company representative ) knew very little about Southern Sudan. He therefore requested the Chairman if he could give some brief history of New Sudan.
The History and People of New Sudan
The Chairman thanked the SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) management for their efforts to introduce the visitors who had come to respond to the urgent needs of New Sudan.
He went on to inform, that the war of liberation struggle started from, 1955 to 1972, when people of Southern Sudan rebelled away from the Khartoum government. In 1995, the administration decided to establish developmental service departments and secretariat (ministries). The system established in New Sudan, represents the administration formed into an Economic Commission comprised of several ministries.
He also informed the meeting that the two (2) gentlemen with him were key figures in the struggle and administration of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) affairs, and that he invited them to come and participate in establishing facts and look for a way forward for the development of New Sudan.
After his brief introduction, the Chairman requested Commander Lino to give a short history on New Sudan.
Commander Lino informed the meeting that the Southern Sudanese have reached a level of not waiting anymore; they have reached a level of announcing our total independence. He further noted that Sudan, the biggest country in Africa, combines the size of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
He indicated that the biggest part of Southern Sudan is now captured under control of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) with some civic administration set up. The biggest population in Sudan is formed of black Africans. During convention meetings in 1994, the people of Southern Sudan decided to call the liberated areas "New Sudan", and had determination of wining the war. He further emphasized that the people have never lost hope.
He informed that the people are very poor yet the land is very virgin and fertile, abundant land for agriculture, with rivers, natural resources, and a huge animal population of livestock constitutes availability of great opportunities for rapid development of New Sudan. In our historical defense, it is the people who have decided about their independence.
He continued, that the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) has already established offices in various countries globally, which offices are being used to sail the liberation struggle concepts and for the recognition of New Sudan. Those are efforts by the people themselves to declare to the world their own independence.
Commander Lino noted, that the National Economic Affairs Commission has a number of technical experts in the financial sector who would come and give the technical requirements to satisfy the issues raised on recognition of New Sudan. None of the three (3) Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) delegates at the meeting are economists. They must therefore rely on special information made available by technical people in various specialization areas appointed by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ).
Commander Lino regretted that most of the learned professionals from Southern Sudan were scattered all over the world, which depleted domestic human resources.
He informed, that with services in New Sudan there is an urgent need for its own currency. The people in the service industry have been working without pay, even the fighters continue without payments.
We need money to pay for these services. The former Sudanese Pound, an old currency, is still being circulated even though it is totally depleted and that is why the National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) has been given the task to ensure the people of Southern Sudan are paid for their efforts in developing New Sudan.
He clarified that trade activities and other macro issues are being put in place and that the people themselves are asking for the their own currency.
Commander Lino indicated that since the involvement of SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) we have been introduced to sympathizers who are ready to take part in freely telling the world the need for our independence. We are looking forward to our friends to come to our recognition, he notably requested.
With sad regret Commander Lino informed the meeting that the war had killed more than 2,000,000 million people of Southern Sudan, but that he hopes if the total liberation of the remaining areas - where oil reserves are located - are captured by July next year [ 2003 ], then New Sudan will be having another story to tell within a short time to come.
The Chairman then requested Commander Bior Ajang if he had any comment to add-on.
Commander Bior Ajang then informed the meeting that the oil reserve in Bentui is currently producing 1,000,000 million barrels per day. In the future oil will be within our control with enough resources to justify the viability of our new economy. He noted that southern Sudan is a very rich territory with gold reserves.
He also informed, that in 1982 timber was valued at $3,000,000,000.00 (USD) billion, and that many other resources are available. Even with a slow starting pace New Sudan has a great potential for development.
Mr. Van A. Brink addressed the meeting, and noted that if the value of timber was $3,000,000,000.00 (USD) billion in 1982, that it is now of higher value.
Mr. Brink wanted to know why New Sudan had not announced itself as an independent state, reiterating that without declaring themselves independent, there is no state or international donor community who will accept the legitimacy of New Sudan existence and gave an example of Somalia currently running its affairs using more than six (6) currencies introduced by different factions.
The Chairman Elaborates On Issues
The Chairman noted to the meeting that a lot of preparations and examinations have been made to establish all possibilities for New Sudan having its own currency, but that the only prevailing problem is the financial problem being faced the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Administration, which calls for immediate financial support intervention.
These people have been fighting for the last 19-years. They have social problems for themselves and their families. There is also an urgent need to address and find solutions to help the Army's logistics and humanitarian support to enable them to win the war, he noted.
The Chairman continued that we have no infrastructure as a result of having been discriminated from development. We started from nothing, the roads are in bad shape, the bridges are broken.
The Chairman also sited the situation in Somalia where local factions without the establishment of a central bank are using private currencies in circulation.
He further informed the meeting that with the potential of exporting our resources, the currency would only remain within the territory as a medium of exchange. By putting this currency in circulation, the international Non-Governmental Organizations ( NGO ) will bring foreign currency, and investors will be attracted.
He sited the example where farmers fail to sell off their surplus produce due do non-existence of medium of exchange. These farmers are discouraged to produce more crops in the next seasons.
He indicated that the large number of Sudanese human resources staying abroad keep sending money via Western Union to their relatives, which was another big source of foreign currency.
He noted that the issue of declaring themselves independent is very complex, both militarily and politically. We have the support from the people at the grassroots, but the international community does not understand the truth about our struggle.
He further noted that if at least the Army captured Juba, it could be a great achievement where some international support would immediately come in. The people have confidence in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ), the grassroots keep asking when they would have their own currency.
The Chairman went on to inform the meeting, they need to print at least 3,000,000,000 billion notes of new currency for circulation, and printing shall cost the administration nearly $800,000.00 dollars, plus another $300,000.00 dollars to print sensitization posters. With money not readily available, this is the reason why we are now looking for friends who can come to our rescue.
Interactive Responses
Mr. Peter Emusugut wanted to know if the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Administration had made any effort to establish the reserve fund, which could determine the volume of money to be printed.
Mr. Van A. Brink gave a brief history of his banking professionalism and work experience, and asked what steps had the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) prepared in efforts of establishing a legitimate currency policy and monetary framework to attract recognition from the international community and foreign investment.
Mr. Brink sited the example of forming a Currency Trustee, which could originate from the common laws of the land, which is acceptable internationally.
He also advised that the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) should take the initiative to declare New Sudan an independent state - he further gave the idea that it is high time the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) thought seriously of setting up a diplomatic office in Kampala.
He told the meeting that New Sudan could be recognized as an independent state if the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) managed to convince at least three (3) member states of the United Nations.
Mr. Brink also wanted to know if the Economic Commission had already designed the type of currency they wanted to print.
The Chairman confirmed, they already have the design, and further informed the meeting that they have identified a printing company but the problem was to raise the money for printing costs.
It was at this moment when Mr. Brink suggested that it is time all efforts are made to find all possible means of getting $1,000,000.00 million dollars on loan for the task.
SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (SSDS) Director Mr. Blyth Fred Walekwa intervened by first thanking Mr. Brink for efforts he had shown in helping them in solving this problem. He also thanked Mr. Brink for the advice given in the effort of accomplishing their task, and that the advice given them will be taken seriously.
Mr. Walekwa informed the meeting that New Sudan is more prepared and more advanced than the sited example Somalia, noting that the people have all strong support for their Movement. The administration is set and is operational with the leadership is being received by international sympathizers as they move around advocating for recognition. The only problem is the financial support we need from friends.
The Chairman intervened by informing the meeting that the National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) has already identified one (1) printing company, the only problem was the $1,000,000 million dollars required for the task.
The Chairman informed Mr. Brink that the Commission is looking for someone to borrow money for them, further noting that the National Economic Affairs Commission Administration is now setting up a monetary system being designed by SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) in collaboration with professional economists and bankers from the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ), which system shall meet the international standard to attract foreign investment.
The Chairman informed the meeting that the situation in New Sudan needs immediate intervention. The people are using different currencies depending on the areas of residence.
He sited the example of people bordering Eretia using the currency from that country, and the same applies to residents living in areas of neighboring respective countries of the Republic of Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC / RDC ), which end up using currencies from those countries.
The central area of Southern Sudan is now using the old Sudanese Pound that is no longer used in Northern Sudan, while people neighboring Northern Sudan are using the Sudanese dinar. This is a sad moment, the Chairman noted, and emphasized that our people need their own currency for effective development.
Mr. Brink informed the meeting of steps that could be taken to address the situation, promising he would contact some of his counterparts via the internet to find suitable ways of solving some of the problems.
He informed the meeting that some business would come in if New Sudan has enough reserves, which could work as export alternatives to pay off the loan.
He strongly advised for a free trade zone, where the people after such long suffering should not be subjected to tax, and sited examples of Brunei and Alaska using the same system, following the massive reserves they possess capable of subsidizing for the welfare of the people.
The Chairman informed the meeting that the opportunities are big. That Southern Sudan is endowed with abundant resources. He sited the example of massive orders from Uganda for Palm Oil, Honey, and Sesame Seeds.
The SSDS Director informed the meeting that Southern Sudan has a big reserve of teak timber worth $3,000,000,000 billion dollars. He told the meeting that Sudan produces 80% of the world's requirement of Arabica Gum of which 60% can be tapped from Southern Sudan. There is also potential for exporting Shea Nuts to the Far East Market.
Break
Mr. Brink requested a break of 15-minutes enabling him to consult with his delegation.
Interactive Responses
Commander Lino informed the meeting that it would be advisable to involve or seek some advice from the current Vice-President of the World Bank, Mr. Dauson Wai, who happens to be a Sudanese national, believing he could be of help in the efforts of finding recognition for the new currency by the international monetary system.
After some consultation with his team, Mr. Brink raised a few issues and questions to the Chairman and his team to clarify in the efforts of having a compromise to the task.
The following questions were raised:
- What is the Monetary System currently in use?
- Could he review a copy of the Monetary Policy?
- Has the Commission established a Business Plan for the operations of the financial sector of New Sudan?
- What is the type of infrastructure in the present New Sudan?
- Does the territory have communication system, e.g. telephone network, radio broadcasting, publication of newspapers, etc.?
- How does the Commission intend to sensitize the public about the new currency?
- What system is set in place for the circulation of the new currency?
- What is the administration set up for the currency distribution in New Sudan?
Responding to some of the questions, Commander Lion ( Chief of Security ) informed the meeting that there is 'no telephone communication system' in New Sudan, and that most international NGOs currently use 'satellite telephones' in order to communicate with the rest of the world.
The meeting was further informed that people have to move from the depths of southern Sudan to Kampala, Uganda, Nairobi, Kenya, or Addis Ababa in order to communicate with their relatives abroad.
The National Economic Affairs Commission for the Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA ) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Administration has already secured one (1) short-wave radio of 500-Kilowatts capable of broadcasting beyond the whole area of Southern Sudan.
There are no media agencies operated by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ).
The Chairman requested for intervention in solving the problem by identifying companies, which could come and invest in the communication sector.
The meeting was further informed that the roads are in existence but need rehabilitation, which is inclusive of broken bridges, which need reconstruction. There is also need to the establishment of power generation plants along the River Nile and its tributaries.
Mr. Brink informed the meeting that there is a new technology communication system, which costs $5-million dollars with a capacity of connecting more than 1,100 networks at a time. The system can be connected to radio communication, internet, televisions, satellite telephones, and other types of media.
The Chairman in response requested Mr. Brink to find an investor who could come in to install the system.
Mr. Brink further informed the meeting that the system could be run commercially on the fact that many business ventures have a growing need for international communications.
The Chairman further informed the meeting that the laws are set and there is free market economy to attract foreign investments with the establishment of a civil authority given mandate to run most of the service activities.
He informed the meeting that New Sudan set under the administration of regional provinces, headed by governors with appointed Directors running departments of various sectors, regions are divided in Administrative Districts headed by Commissioners, which are further comprised of Counties and Sub-Counties.
The Chairman further informed, that the type of communication available in New Sudan is currently via the Radio Call System. The people travel long distances to get access to radio communication.
As far as the civil authority yet to conduct a national budget for the capital and recurrent expenditure, SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (SSDS) in collaboration with Sudanese professionals will conduct a situation analysis to come up with the budget.
The Chairman also expressed the need to attract professional citizens staying abroad to come and participate to the development of their country.
The Way Forward
The Chairman was of the opinion that it would be important during the next meeting to invite the finance personnel from the Economic Commission to contribute to the technical aspects in the efforts of establishing a moderate monetary system in New Sudan.
The next meeting was set for Monday, July 1, 2002 at one (1) venue ( as a matter of maintaining privacy ) suggested by the Mr. Brink delegation.
In response to most information required by the Mr. Brink Team, SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) as the appointed Consultants of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Administration has developed a draft of the investment and monetary policy framework, which is yet to be approved by the Economic Commission.
In the process of stimulating economic growth, human development and reducing poverty in New Sudan, acceptable standards for developmental policies have to be set and tasked, which SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) has undertaken to implement by the introduction of Initiative and Poverty Reduction Strategies by Rural Development and Environmental activities with efforts addressing Social Development and Post Conflict Reconstruction.
Other areas of concern, which need immediate intervention, shall include Private Sector Development, Infrastructure and Finance as a measure to attract both domestic and foreign investment and exposure to global trade, an initiative that SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) has undertaken by identifying potential international foreign investors and soliciting for international markets for the New Sudan.
In this effort of economic reform, New Sudan will need exposure to technology and advanced knowledge through partnerships for capacities of building and advocacy for good governance, areas professionally prepared under the SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) Projects Development Department.
As a note of concern, New Sudan - together with most Sub-Sahara economies - are growing again after decades of stagnation, but on average growth continues to fall short of what is needed for the absolute number of poor to decline. The challenge for New Sudan is to create the right conditions for high economic growth and improve the welfare of its citizens living in severe poverty.
Need To Raise GDP Growth Rates
While war and discord have left doubts about southern Sudan future, a more complex and encouraging reality is also unfolding about the potential rapid development available for the new economy, given the fact of the availability of abundant resources.
A special situation analysis has to be conducted by highly qualified developmental consulting firms to assess potential global intervention in the process of reforming the economy of southern Sudan.
SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( SSDS ) suggests that if New Sudan needs to raise its GDP and key economic reforms, the following have to be considered:
- Liberalizing Markets and Trade;
- Improving Economic Management; and,
- Promoting Private Sector Activity.
Growth and personal incomes have to be risen and poverty has to be declined. Southern Sudan, having entered the 21st Century is among the poorest regions in Africa that sees the average income per capita lower than at the end of the 1960s.
Incomes, assets, and access to essential services are unequally distributed as compared to neighboring economies like Uganda and Kenya.
Those most vulnerable to poverty live in rural areas, in large households, which are often headed by women. In addition HIV / AIDS is fast reversing some of the social gains. The current HIV infection rate could be in excess of 25% of the adult population.
The combination of low economic growth, the highest rate of population increase, and a high ratio of dependents-to-workers places New Sudan low on the rankings for the most critical indicators of social progress. How long people live, how much knowledge they acquire, and how much access they have to resources necessary for a better standard of living are key issues to raise in the situation analysis.
The twin challenge is to achieve sustainable economic growth and make sure that growth reaches the poorest in New Sudan.
Currently the territory will need to grow by more than 5% per year just to keep the number of poor from rising. With percentages living in dire poverty, efforts must be embarked upon so they may be halved by 2015. Not only will the economy need to grow considerably but also incomes will have to be distributed more equitably among the populace.
This will require decisive action in five (5) main areas:
- Resolving conflict and improving governance;
- Greater equity and more investment in New Sudan people;
- Increasing competitiveness;
- Diversifying the economy; and,
- Better support from the international development community.
Stimulating Growth and Reducing Poverty in New Sudan
New Sudan cannot achieve and sustain rapid economic growth without investing better in its people. Many lack the access to health, education and productive resources to contribute to a thriving economy.
Women are one of Southern Sudan's hidden growth reserves, providing most of the country's labor, but their productivity is hampered by widespread inequality in education and access to essential services and skills.
HIV / AIDS continues to take its toll on the population and has undermined savings growth and the social fabric in New Sudan.
Initiative reforms should be put in place with New Sudan, and these need to be scaled-up to have a substantial impact on development.
Political participation to free the people democratically through referendums should be enhanced to pave the way toward government accountability. Free elections should be conducted in the shortest possible time with effort to solicit for international recognition and support.
With the high hopes of wining the war New Sudan should not be viewed by international critics as a battleground where the country and its people rely entirely on foreign assistance regardless of their current good established civil governance and development.
Globalization and new technologies, especially information technology, will offer great opportunities for New Sudan to make significant advances in its development agenda.
Efforts must be taken to commit substantial resources to support not only a resurgence in the economic performance but also one which should be able to begin to lift the well-being of the 12,000,000 million citizens who live on less than $1.00 dollar per day.
The strategies mentioned above will be tackled individually to maximize success.
- - - -
. . . [ EDITED-OUT FOR BREVITY ] . . .
Submitted for review,
ShoreLines
[ E-MAIL:
ShoreLines@safe-mail.net ] Reference
SOUTHERN SUPPLY & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES - SSDS
Twese Building, Room 3
Plot 4 Wilson Road
P.O. Box 23496
Kampala
UGANDA
TEL: +256 41 348-358
FAX: +256 41 348-477
E-MAIL:
ssdsug@yahoo.com [ NOTE: The report information ( immediately above ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
- - - -
Note(s)
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately below ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
President AL-Bashir Meets Dr. John Garang Leader Of SPLM / SPLA In Kampala Uganda
UGANDA, Kampala - July 27, 2002 - Within the present promising peace prospects in Sudan, His Excellency Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir President of the Republic of the Sudan held in Kampala, Uganda on 27 July 2002 an historic meeting with Dr. John Garang de Mabior leader of the SPLM / SPLA in the presence of host Uganda President His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
H.E. President Al-Bashir arrived in Kampala July 25, 2002 for an official visit responding to the kind invitation of his brother President Museveni.
President Al-Bashir meeting with John Garang was the first meeting between them. It followed the landmark peace accord concluded between the delegations of the Sudan Government and the SPLM / SPLA in Kenya on July 20, 2002.
Following is the text of press communiqué issued in Kampala on July 27, 2002 highlighting the historic development.
Begins:
The REPUBLIC OF UGANDA COMMUNIQUÉ
1. At the invitation of H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmen El-Bashir of the Republic of the Sudan paid a two day official visit to Uganda from 26 to 27 July 2002. H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmed El-Bashir was accompanied by the Minister for Presidential Affairs, the Presidential Peace Advisor, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs and other high ranking officials.
2. H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had also invited Dr. John Garang de Mabior, Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM / SPLA, to discus matters pertaining to the Sudan peace process. This visit provided the opportunity for a meeting, which had for some times been outstanding between President Omar Hassan Ahmed E.L-Bashir and the SPLA / SPLM leader. Dr. John Garang de mabior was a complained by the Chairman of the SPLM Commission for External Relations, Information and Humanitarian Affairs, the Commissioner for Information and Officials Spokesman of the SPLA, and other high-ranking Officials of the Movement.
3. H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmed EL-Bashir and their delegations held official talks in which they discussed bilateral and regional matters of mutual interest. The agreed to continue developing their current cooperation for the mutual benefit of their countries. In particular they recommitted themselves to work together towards total peace and secure along their common border and its environs in accordance with the Nairobi Agreement signed in December 1999. In this respect, H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir reiterated his government's commitment to continue cooperation with Uganda regarding the current military measures in place across the joint border.
4. Regarding further improvement of relations, the two Presidents agreed to the implementation of the understanding reached by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs in April 2002, to upgrade diplomatic representation to ambassadorial level and to establish a joint Ministerial Committee to over-see cooperation activities.
5. H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni re-iterated his government's continued support to the IGAD Peace Initiative aimed at resolving the conflict between the Sudanese Government and the SPLA/SPLM. In this regard, H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will continue exerting his personal efforts toward encouraging the Sudanese parties to make more progress for the success of the IGAD initiative.
6. The meeting between H.E President EL-Bashir and Dr.Garang had been arranged by H.E President Moseveni before the Machakos talks as supplementary efforts to the IGAD Peace process. They acknowledged the progress achieved at Machakos particularly on the fundamental issues of "State and Religion" as well as the "Right to Self-determination". H.E President EL-Bashir and Chairman Dr. Garang applauded the break-through in Machakos and paid tribute to H.E President Daniel Arap Moi, Chairman of the IGAD Sub-Committee on peace in the Sudan, for all his tireless efforts. They undertook to ensure that all efforts are deployed to resolve the outstanding issues, which will be discussed in the next phase of peace talks. They underscored the need to reinforce the peace process by rallying popular support behind it and building national consensus on comprehensive political settlement.
7. On regional matters, the two Presidents reiterated their governments' resolve to continue supporting all measures aimed at bringing about peace and security so that steady development can be realized.
8. H.E President Omar Hassan Ahmed EL-Bashir thanked H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Government and people of Uganda for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He extended an invitation to H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to pay a return visit to Sudan at his convenience, to which the latter gladly accepted.
Done at Kampala on 27 July 2002.
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately above ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
Reference
http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:ROtWup00wHIJ:www.sudanembassychina.com/NEWS/en-7-27.htm+%22President+AL-Bashir+Meets+Dr.+John+Garang+Leader%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=de http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/MHII-6227SC?OpenDocument http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/bkg.nsf/doc200?OpenForm&rc=1&cc=sdn&mode=kh - -
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately below ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
KHARTOUM MONITOR - Khartoum, Sudan
July 28, 2002
Beshir And Garang Confirm Commitment To Machakos Protocol
by, William Ezekiel, Hanadi Osman, Howeida Salim, Alawiya Abdel-Rahman
President Omar El Beshir and the Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Colonel John Garang met yesterday in Kampala for the first time.
Speaking at Khartoum airport yesterday on arrival President Beshir said the 2-hour meeting between him and Garang was cordial. He said the two of them reassured their host, President Yoweri Museveni of their commitment to what had been agreed at Machakos last week.
“Garang and I agreed to keep in contact whether by telephone or other means,” President Beshir told journalists.
He said in his conversation with Garang he expressed his desire to realise peace within the framework of voluntary unity.
“Colonel Garang assured me that he is also for national unity as unity makes us all strong,” said the President.
General Beshir noted that the SPLM and Colonel Garang were serious in their peace proposals. El Beshir said that other political forces would attend the next peace talks in Kenya as advisors.
He also said that the national government that would be formed after signing the peace talks would include all the political forces.General Beshir said his visit to Uganda was planned before the Machakos meeting to discuss how to boost the peace process in Sudan as very little hope was placed in the Machakos negotiation.
“Despite the stride made at Machakos, we decided to go ahead with the Kampala meeting to confirm our obligations and to prepare the way for the next peace talks in Kenya,” said General Beshir.
Back at home in Khartoum, politicians have been commenting on the historic meeting between Beshir and Garang.
“The meeting in Kampala, yesterday between President El Beshir and the Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) Colonel John Garang, is an important historical step towards peace realization in the Sudan,” member of the opposition Popular National Congress party ( PNC ) Wisal Al Mahdi announced yesterday. She hoped that the Beshir - Garang meeting will boost the recently concluded agreement between the two sides in Machakos, Kenya. She said that her party welcomed the agreement with some reservations.
The Chairman of the new wing of the Umma Party, Mubarak Al Fadil welcomed the meeting between the Beshir and Garang, saying that his party would always welcome any step to unite the Sudanese people.
A member of the Machakos talks government delegation, Amin Hassan Omer, said that the Beshir - Garang meeting would push ahead the Machakos agreement and smooth the path for the next round of talks.
Omer said the meeting was evidence that more efforts were being exerted for peace in the country and that the two sides want to achieve peace.
The minister of the humanitarian affairs at the transitional peace council in the Nuba Mountains, Ismail Saad el Din, also welcomed the Beshir - Garang meeting, saying the meeting was proof that the process of peace was in the right direction.
[ NOTE: The report information ( immediately above ) was mysteriously erased from the internet for unknown reasons to the public. ]
Reference
http://www.khartoummonitor.com http://www.cedej.org.eg/IMG/pdf/politicpdf.pdf http://www.ecosonline.org/back/pdf_reports/2003/AIaugustus%202003.pdf - - - -
BBC - UK
Riots After Sudan VP Garang Dies
August 1, 2005 / 21:41 GMT
Sudanese police have quelled riots and imposed a curfew in Khartoum after anger at the death of ex-rebel leader John Garang spilled onto the streets. At least 20 people were reported dead in clashes in the capital. There were also reports of unrest elsewhere.
Sudan's newly appointed Vice-President Dr. John Garang died in a helicopter crash as he was returning from Uganda. He signed a deal to end 21-years of civil war in January 2005 and was sworn in as deputy leader 3-weeks ago.
His former rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement ( SPLM ), nominated deputy leader Salva Kiir as his successor and the next vice-president of Sudan. BBC Jonah Fisher in Khartoum says that in choosing Mr Kiir, the SPLM has sent a clear message that there will be no radical departure from Mr. Garang's era.
Eerie Calm
U.S. President George W Bush, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and others joined Mr. Kiir in urging the Sudanese people to remain calm and continue to implement the peace agreement.
Mr Garang's death was announced just before 0800 (0500 GMT) on Monday, though he had been reported missing over the weekend.
Our correspondent said gangs of youths from southern Sudan - Mr. Garang's home - appeared on the streets looting cars, throwing stones, and smashing office windows. Gunfire could be heard and there were clashes with security forces as they tried to seal off the city centre. However, shortly after an overnight curfew was imposed at 18:00 ( 15:00 GMT ), there was an eerie calm on the streets, our correspondent reports.
Our correspondent says many of the 4,000,000 million southern Sudanese living in Khartoum hoped Mr. Garang would change their lives, and they are now venting their frustration at his death.
Peace Maker
Mr. Garang steered the SPLM rebels from the Christian and animist south in a war against the Islamic government in the north, which left some 1,500,000 million people dead.
Mr Garang's death leaves a gaping hole in Sudan's political landscape, our correspondent says, 3-days of national mourning have been declared.
The Uganda President Mi-72 helicopter carrying Mr. Garang - back from a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at his ranch in Rwakitura - crashed in mountains near Mr. Garang's base in New Site, southern Sudan. Six (6) of Mr. Garang's associates plus seven (7) crew members also died in the crash, which has been blamed on bad weather.
Mr. Garang had ruled the disparate SPLM with an iron hand, and managed to keep it together through years of fighting. The conflict in Sudan ended with the signing of a peace agreement in January and Mr. Garang became vice-president in a new government of national unity.
Sudan President Omar al-Bashir ( El-Bashir ) said he was confident the peace agreement would remain on course.
Reference
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4734517.stm - - - -
South Sudan Crisis Adds To Khartoum's Darfur Woes
Southern Sudan Party Quits Government
THE NEW VISION - Kampala, Uganda
SPLA Quits Sudan's Unity Government
by, Henry Mukasa
October 11, 2007
UGANDA, Kampala - October 11, 2007 - The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement ( SPLM ) has suspended its participation in the national government over delays in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum told a news conference in Juba that the party had recalled all its ministers and presidential advisers from the government of national unity. "Presidential advisers, ministers, and state ministers will not report to work until these contentious issues are resolved," Amum said.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January 2005 by the late SPLM leader John Garang and Sudan President Omar El-Bashir ( Al-Bashir ), ended 20-years of war between the dominant Arab north and Christian south. Garang, who died only weeks after being sworn in as the Sudan first Vice-President, was succeeded by Salva Kiir.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement laid down wealth and power sharing arrangements between the national government and the semi-autonomous government in the south. It also provides for a referendum in 2011, in which the southerners can vote for self-determination.
The SPLM representative in Kampala, Uganda listed four (4) reasons which led to yesterday’s [Thursday's] decision: the demarcation of the north - south border, wealth sharing, the withdrawal of troops from the South, and arrangements concerning the oil rich Abyei area.
"The ruling National Congress has impeded the work of the border commission by not availing it with resources," said James Ernest Onge Aremo, South Sudan’s envoy in Uganda.
"So far, no work has been done in demarcating the border. This could result in delaying the population census, the expected elections in 2009 as well as the 2011 referendum."
He also accused Khartoum of violating the security provisions.
"The Sudan armed forces are still deployed in the south, especially in the oil fields, in the Unity and Upper Nile states they have 14,000 soldiers, yet by July 2005 they should have moved all their troops to the north."
On wealth sharing, southern Sudan envoy James Ernest Onge Aremo complained of lack of transparency in oil production and revenue. According to the agreement, the government of South Sudan was supposed to get 50% of the oil extracted from the south.
"The SPLM is excluded from the management and development of the oil sector. The government of South Sudan does not know the exact figure of oil production. They are locked out," he said.
Another contentious issue, according to Aremo, is the oil rich Abyei area, which was supposed to be administered by a council appointed by the Presidency in an initial phase before elections.
"The government of national unity has rejected the implementation of the Abyei boundary commission, and refused to set up the Abyei administration as an interim measure."
The SPLM representatives emphasised that their protest action should not lead to the resumption of war.
"We have not declared war. Sudan has suffered a lot. We don’t need war. Going back to war would not be helpful to President Bashir or any other groups," said South Sudan envoy James Ernest Onge Aremo.
He called upon Ugandans working in South Sudan not to panic. "They should continue their work normally. This will not affect them. There is no cause for alarm," he said.
The SPLM has just over 25% of government posts in Khartoum, including the foreign affairs and humanitarian affairs ministries, the two (2) key liaison posts with the international community.
One of the main northern opposition parties, the Umma Party, said the SPLM move would force the hand of the National Congress Party. "This is the ultimate thing that could have been done. It’s very serious, it’s very positive, and the NCP has to respond in a responsible way," spokeswoman Mariam Al-Mahdi said.
Reference
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/591560 http://platform.blogs.com/passionofthepresent/2007/10/splm-quits-suda.html - - - -
Note
From: "Van Brink"
To: "Willy Mishiki"
Subject: Re:
princeofcongo@hotmail.com has sent you a New Vision News Article! Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 09:30:37 +0000
CONFIDENTIAL:
Hi Willy!
Yes, I saw that article and the disparraging references attributed to Valentina. [ Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounova (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Piskanov (aka) Valentina Petrovich ]
The editor of New Vision seems to delight in publishing any possible bad statement about me that anyone might say, anywhere, anytime. It has been that way since I landed in Kampala and offered a financial rescue package for CO-OPERATIVE BANK. Seems the bank in which THE NEW VISION editor owned or owns an interest, was hoping to pick up some of Co-Operative Bank assets, and he therefore by no means wished to see Co-Operative Bank rescued. Of course, that part of the story is never published.
You might recall the context, as you happened to be with me when I made the presentation to the late Governor of the BANK OF UGANDA ( BOU ). I handed him an offer by FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. ( not a personal offer ) of more than double the amount that BOU's own report said was needed to put CO-OPERATIVE BANK back into good standing. He politely glanced at it, then threw it back on the table, saying it really didn't matter how good the offer was, that he and the Uganda Minister of Finance had concluded the previous day that no rescue would be allowed, but that the bank would simply be canibalized in favor of selected stronger banks.
He later lied to Parliament when he said BOU had done a thorough investigation and determined I wasn't a fit and proper person and that was the reason the CO-OPERATIVE BANK bail-out offer was rejected. What was never explained is how BOU managed to do such a thorough investigation of 'me' within the same time it took him to look at the offer and throw it back down on the table saying it didn't matter how good any offer was. They were irrevocably decided on what the final disposition of CO-OPERATIVE BANK would be.
I was set to go to the Committee hearings at Parliament to rebute the late Governor's testimony and set the record straight, but was then informed the Governor was terminally ill. Indeed, he died shortly thereafter, and all my testimony would do would be to cause grief and embarrassment to the Governor and his family in his final days and that wouldn't be able to resurrect CO-OPERATIVE BANK so, I held my peace.
On the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ), the ironic thing is that Valentina is the only one who received URS funds. After the Grenada conference with Congo tribal kings, RCD - Goma and MSPD, and signing of agreements for humanitarian aid, I left to return to Uganda but detoured to Poland for 10-days. And between that time - when I left Grenada - and when I got to Uganda, Valentina had requisitioned something like $800,000.00 (USD) in funds from FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. in the name of the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ), 'all' suposedly for the projects put forward by the Congo kings who later were ready to lynch someone because they never received even $1.00 dollar toward any of their projects.
I didn't find out about this until about 30-days later when I had finished putting together a protocol for how and when funds would be requisitioned for each group's projects when I submitted what I 'thought' was the 'first' URS request for funds from FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. Only then, was I told about the $800,000.00 (USD) Valentina had already received ( without URS authorization ) that was not properly accounted-for and that no other funds would be forthcoming until I straightened 'that' out and a more efficient funds requisition system be instituted. I was dumb-struck. I couldn't believe that Valentina would - without any delegated authority - pose as the party authorized to requisition funds, and would then order and receive in her private company account $800,000.00 (USD) in the name of URS for the kings and proceed to "eat" it. She truly has gall in saying that URS, you, and I are fakes. Good grief!
But her misappropriations weren't the end of it.
She then proceeded to convince RCD - Kisingani that I had personally embezzled the funds for their projects and that was the reason the humanitarian projects they had proposed weren't receiving funding.
They were quite livid about that and offered me some not very veiled threats on my personal safety and well-being.
I finally had to have a meeting with Wamba dia Wamba to set the record straight.
She told the other kings much the same thing, and before you know it there's a new front page scandal story in THE NEW VISION about how I had personally bilked something like $50,000,000.00 (USD) million in humanitarian funds intended for DRC and was just living it up in a palatial lifestyle.
At that time, in the continued hope of setting the record straight, I consented to an in-depth inverview with THE NEW VISION reporter who was claiming the byline on the Congolese humanitarian funds story. I took him chapter and verse through the agreements and the records of what had been done, what had been attempted, the underlying basis of the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) project, the records we had on who ( Valentina ) had requisitioned funds allegedly on behalf of URS, the amount of such funds, and the notice from FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. that the entire project had been suspended.
The next NEW VISION article that appeared was simply a re-hash of the previous claims on how I had embezzled humanitarian aid funds. Not one word or fact, from my interview with the NEW VISION reporter, was included.
Through a 3rd party source, I heard that the NEW VISION reporter 'did file the complete story', but that any / all balancing references to 'me' or 'quotes from me' had been 'deleted' from the story written by William Pike, THE NEW VISION Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, himself.
I don't know if that's true, but there was a follow-up a few months later via an editorial by William Pike that, Uganda doesn't need to harbor people of my ilk and that I ( Brink ) should be thrown out of the country.
And all of this, Willy, is to say that I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that THE NEW VISION would publish any comment I would make about Valentina's recent statements to the David Porter Commission. Wish I could help you on that, but I know I can't.
Last I heard was that Valentina is now claiming that it was not UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) funds she requisitioned, but that the $800,000.00 (USD) was for some consulting services she did for FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. While 'that' claim of hers can easily be disproven, what does it matter at this point?
(1) I don't think anyone would be able to recover $1.00 from her;
(2) FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA LTD. is in liquidation and the Liquidator is paying himself and his hired help 100% of all liquidation proceeds, having published that when he is finished absolutely zero ( 0 ) will be paid to depositors; and,
(3) UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ) needs a whole lot more than $800,000.00 (USD) to accomplish its mission - if it could recover that from Valentina and again I believe that would be a 100% wasted effort - an expensive legal process could be commenced to attempt recovery, but neither URS nor I have the funds to engage legal counsel to do such.
What I don't understand is how and when 'you' ever got on Valentina's bad side. Did you make the mistake of ever confronting her with the truth on some matter? I did. And the next thing I knew is that RCD - Kisingani was accusing me of having stolen the funds for their humanitarian projects.
Another irony, in the whole situation, is that Valentina was the one who introduced us. She greeted me when I first got off the plane in Uganda. I hadn't known her previously.
Valentina worked with John A. Myburgh, the South Africa businessman who persuaded me to come to Uganda and see what I could do to rescue CO-OPERATIVE BANK.
I had flown from Grenada to the UK and met John Myburgh at Heathrow airport in London to fly on to Uganda. John said that my schedule of meetings was all set.
In my mind, I had come to Uganda for one (1) reason: to analyze the CO-OPERATIVE BANK situation and to formulate and present a rescue offer, if possible. I wasn't interested in anything else and only wanted to stay in Uganda for 3-days, then return to Grenada.
What I learned in those first 3-days is about something called "African time," i.e. that whatever it is you want to do, it will take you a multiple of your normally estimated time in order to see it done.
After 3-days, I extended my stay for another week, then another, and another, and another. Once I made the extension, Valentina was at me - off and on - for several days singing your praises to me and urging me to meet you and see if there wasn't something that I could do to help so, I took the meeting.
You first suggested I go to your country and start a bank. I started asking about basic infrastructure, etc. The more I asked, the more I realized there wasn't really enough "on the ground" and working in your country to really commence a normal banking operation. So we shifted directions and started talking and the concept of how to independently rebuild the Congo economy without reliance on the World Bank, the IMF, and the "donor" community. You said if I wrote such a plan, you would see it presented to all of the power groups in DRC. I spent the next several days drafting the plan for the UNION RESERVE SYSTEM ( URS ). You kept your word and began introducing me to the various power groups, starting with Wamba's RCD - Kisingani.
The URS plan was published on the internet in 2000. For all of the criticisms of and attacks against me, I have yet to read one rational criticism to the URS plan.
We were blind-sided and side-swiped, Willy. Had we been allowed to implement the URS plan in 1999, I'm guessing that 1,500,000 million of the estimated 2,000,000 million lives that have been lost in your country through this civil war could have been spared. Is there a horrendous enough word to describe the magnitude of such atrocity? I don't know what that word would be.
The sad thing to me isn't the lies or the idiotic and hurtful things that are said about me and reported in the press. I gave up allowing such to upset me some time ago. With respect to your country and the URS, the sad thing to me is how many people have suffered and died needlessly, when there easily could have been security, peace and development for all.
In our first meeting, I told you I knew nothing at all about your country - not its history, not its present state of development, not its resources, not its people or politics. You told me something of Congolese history, how a Belgium king once considered all of Congo to be his personal estate and required all able bodied men to work on his rubber plantations, and those who had other ideas - of what would be better for them to do - and refused to put their hands to the tasks the king had for them, had their hands chopped off.
When you told me that it brought tears to my eyes. What I see today is that not much has changed since the days of that king.
We proposed to do something in a way that would allow the Congolese people to truly establish themselves as independent, sovereign, economically viable and self-sufficient.
I don't know about your hands, but mine were chopped off. I'm doing my best to grow new ones so, I can get back to doing what I know that there is to be done.
I don't know how you could ever set THE NEW VISION record straight on Valentina's comments. I'm not sure it is at all worth the investment of your time to attempt doing so. As for me, I have other, more productive things, to do with my time.
But it has been nice to share with you on these things, as there was some of the background you didn't know that you really do need to know.
All the best,
Van
-- original message --
From: New Vision Online Division
To:
vanabrink@hotmail.com Subject:
PrinceOfCongo@hotmail.com has sent you a New Vision News Article! Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 01:44:53 +0100 (CET)
Hi there!
PrinceOfCongo@hotmail.com thought you might be interested in this article (below) from The New Vision online ( http://www.newvision.co.ug ). They also added this comment:
"Van, Did you see how Valentina is spoiling our names in the press, saying the URS was a fake project. I need to react on this side immediately. Take care, Willy"
- -
NEW VISION
Justice Porter Checks Salim Saleh Accounts
JUSTICE David Porter has begun investigating Lt. General Salim Saleh’s foreign accounts, reports Alfred Wasike.
Porter chairs the Judicial Commission of Inquiry which is investigating allegations that Saleh and other top UPDF ( Uganda People's Defense Force ) officers plundered the DR Congo ( Democratic Republic of the Congo ) while the UPDF fought there.
Speaking to The New Vision in Kampala yesterday, Porter said, “We have written to Gen. Saleh’s external accounts in Europe. We want them to avail us with details of his transactions. He gave us the authority to do that the last time he appeared before us.”
Meanwhile, the hearing turned dramatic on Wednesday when Saleh reappeared before the commission. He was cross-examined by commissioner Joseph Berko. Berko asked Saleh to explain reports that he owns several companies in the DR Congo, including LA CONMET S.P.R.L., which has exported 23 tonnes of coltan to Kazakhstan, a former Soviet Union republic, through Uganda.
Saleh looked Berko in the eye and said, “My lords, I don't even know whether these companies exist. Do they exist at all?”
The judge stared back at Saleh and said, “Yes they do. For example General Kazini is very much involved in VICTORIA GROUP. Those companies, have very high-level UPDF connections, as do your wife's ( Jovia Akandwanaho ).”
The probe, which sat at the International Conference Centre ( Kampala ), had to put up with more drama than it had bargained for.
CONMET proprietors Anatoli Petrovich and his wife Valentina contradicted themselves over Saleh.
Anatoli, who testified in Russian, swore that he did not know Saleh and had never seen him except in newspaper and television pictures.
But his wife - addressing the probe in English - eagerly admitted that she knew Saleh personally and as a family friend.
“Oh! Yes, we know General Saleh. I know him personally. We respect him. He is our family friend. He is very nice,” she ( Valentina Petrovich ) said.
But Anatoli ( Petrovich ) insisted, “I don’t know him ( Saleh ) at all. I have never seen ( Saleh ) him apart from pictures in newspapers and television.”
General Saleh had just returned from Kinshasa ( province in Democratic Republic of the Congo ) on a special peace building assignment by Presidents Museveni ( Uganda ) and Joseph Kabila ( Democratic Republic of the Congo ).
He said, “My lords, I am not involved in that company. I am also not involved in VICTORIA GROUP, TRINITY, TERM INVESTT and other companies that the panel is trying to tie on me.”
Anatoli ( Petrovich ) was speechless when the Commission discovered that he had dealt with the Congolese Liberation Front, RCD ML, and other rebel groups although he had sworn that his company only dealt with and paid all taxes to the Kabila Government ( Democratic Republoc of the Congo ).
Anatoli ( Petrovic ) and his wife ( Valentina Petrovich ) said they met a UN ( United Nations ) panel member, Mel Holt, several times at the SHERATON and SPEKE hotels in Kampala ( Uganda ). They said he did not tell them that his conversation with them would be used in the panel’s final report.
Staring at the ceiling, Valentina said, “He was very well-dressed in an expensive white suit. He said he worked for the UN. I was very impressed and told him how smart he was. He asked if we could have some coffee. I said why not? He was very friendly. He offered to help my husband find coltan buyers in the US.”
She said she made a “very serious mistake” when she allowed herself to be a signatory with controversial businessman Arthur van Brink, now Belgium jailed Prince Willy Mishiki, then RCD leader Professor Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, John Tibasiima, and others on June 15, 1999 for the establishment of the African Union Reserve System ( AURS ) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She said the bank never took off and that the deal was signed in Kampala, Uganda.
“My lords, I accept that it was a very serious mistake. These were fake people. I am very sorry. I was misled. Even the Van Brink Union Reserve System ( URS ) was a complete fake. I am really sorry for that,” she told the probe.
She confessed that she was a partner in a company called ITURI GOLD MINING COMPANY, but denied it was engaged in active mineral prospecting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ends
Reference
http://www.newvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=8&newsCategoryId=12&newsId=94242 - - - -
BRITISH BROADCAST COMPANY ( BBC ) - London, UK
DRC is Home to 80% of the World's Coltan Reserves
Congo's Coltan Rush
by, Helen Vesperini - in province Goma DRC
August 1, 2001 / 16:37 GMT 17:37 UK
In the yard of the Shenimed sorting house, young men are busy sorting and cleaning colombo-tantalite ore (aka) coltan as it is known in this part of the world. Regional analysts say the international demand for coltan is one of the driving forces behind the war in the DRC, and the presence of rival militias in the country.
First the young men toss it up into the air as if they were winnowing rice. The men concentrate calmly on their work or joke among themselves. Then they sort it with magnetic tweezers to eliminate any particles of iron ore.
It is then washed, crushed manually in a big pestle and mortar and tested again for iron ore before being fed into a photospectrometer to test its tantalum content.
Blood Tantalum
It is a far cry from the drama of the "No blood on my cell phone" campaign that a group of NGOs and religious communities have launched in Europe to lobby for an embargo on so called "blood tantalum", the colombo-tantalite ore that comes from the war zones in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tantalum is essential in the manufacture of electrical components known as pinhead capacitors. These regulate voltage and store energy in mobile phones, tens of millions of which have been sold in the past few years.
The European lobby groups, like the regional analysts, say that coltan production is fueling the war in Congo. Such allegations infuriate both the rebels, who control this part of Congo, and their Rwanda backers.
They baffle the men on the ground in the coltan business, too preoccupied with making a living. "It's our only way of making a living," said Blanchard, an intermediary who travels upcountry to buy coltan from the small-scale miners and brings it back to Goma to sell. "There's nothing else to do here." Most of the men now in the coltan trade used to be farmers.
Military Uniformed Bandits
Local human rights' groups say that coltan production does lead to security problems. They say it is not uncommon for a miner who has just sold, say, $200 worth of coltan to be visited by 'military uniformed' bandits who know exactly how much money he has in his house.
Foreign criticism of child labour in the coltan mines must be put into the context of Congo.
It is a country where the preoccupation of the average peasant is finding enough cassava to eat for the day. If children were not helping mine coltan they would be working in the fields.
What would be cause for concern in the long term is if coltan were to be such big business for so long that the peasants forgot their farming skills in the way that some Central African villagers have forsaken logging for oil jobs.
When the 'coltan' or the 'oil' reserves run-out they no longer have any means of livelihood. Given the recent slump in coltan prices on the world market that scenario no longer seems so likely. Local people say the price drop has had a disastrous effect on the region's economy.
"It's been a catastrophe," said Antoine, a local businessman. "I would estimate that 80% of all business here is either in 'coltan' or dependent on the 'coltan trade', and there's just a lot less money in circulation now."
Reference
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1468772.stm - - - -
BRITISH BROADCAST COMPANY ( BBC ) - London, UK
DR Congo Uranium Mine Collapses
July 12, 2004 / 16:05 GMT 17:05 UK
Part of a uranium mine has collapsed, in an eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least nine (9) people.
The Shinkolobwe mine in DR Congo supplied the uranium in the bombs which the United States dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan to end World War II.
It was officially closed earlier this year but people still mine there for 'coltan' used in mobile phones. Nuclear experts have raised fears that 'Congo uranium' could fall into the hands of terrorist groups.
'Trapped'
Petwe Kapande, mayor of the nearby town of Likasi, told the BBC that nine (9) bodies had been found. Some 30 miners were underground when the roof collapsed on Friday.
"When I arrived, I found that six (6) of the clandestine miners had been pulled out safe and sound but others still remained trapped in the ruins," Mwema Teli, a safety official for the Congo government mines agency, told the Associated Press news agency.
Because of poor communications in Democratic Republic of the Congo, news of the collapse only reached the capital Kinshasa on Monday.
Fears
Earlier this year, the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman found some 6,000 people working there illegally, even though it had officially been shut down. At the same time, Mines Minister Diomi Ndongala appealed to the international community to help restore security in the area and prevent access to the mine.
When DR Congo became independent in 1960, the two (2) main uranium shafts were flooded and covered with a concrete slab by Belgium before its departure. But activities resumed in 1997.
The mined cobalt is 'sold to private businessmen' who operate furnaces in the area and then 'export it to the world market' via neighbouring Zambia.
The UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, expressed concern about the mine. It said that trace elements of uranium might be extracted from the mine as an associated mineral along with the 'cobalt' for use by terror groups.
As a result, in February 2004, President Joseph Kabila announced he had forbidden access to the mine, but the measure was never implemented.
A fragile peace is holding in DR Congo after 5-years of war, which dragged in at least six (6) neighbouring armies.
Reference
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3887373.stm - - - -
REUTERS News Service
DRC to begin coltan certification in 2009 - Minister
March 26, 2008 / 0:00
Democratic Republic of Congo hopes to set up a scheme to certify columbite-tantalite produced within its borders in 2009, the country's Deputy Mines Minister Victor Kasongo said on Tuesday.
The illegal traffic of the rare metal, used in mobile phone chips and commonly referred to as "coltan" helped fuel a 1998 - 2003 war resulting humanitarian crisis in the central African country that killed an estimated 5,400,000 million people.
But a new G8 backed and German financed pilot initiative aimed at creating a 'mineral fingerprint' for 'coltan' could soon help developing countries trace ore that is 'illegally exported' [ smuggled ] and boost their profits from legal exports.
Kasongo said he hoped a 'global certification process' aimed at 'ethically minded consumers' would follow.
"All the 'large companies' are fighting for this. They'll be able to display a certificate to prove fair trade. You'll 'begin seeing many machines', many 'iPods', that are certified," he said.
Congo plans to use the data to set up its own certification process within the next 8-months, which should help the 'creation of a global system' similar to the Kimberley Process set up to end the trade in "blood diamonds" from war zones.
"We believe that in 2009 we should be able to enforce certification ... early next year," Kasongo told Reuters in an interview. "Licences. Centralised control. Certification. More revenues to Congo. More peace and stability. Those are the things we are aiming for."
A team from the Germany Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources is due to arrive in Congo on April 2, 2008.
Researchers will 'map the country coltan producing areas' and 'isolate unique characteristics of local ore samples' to 'create mechanisms for tracing ore' to its 'origin'.
"BLOOD COLTAN"
Congo, believed by many experts to possess the World's largest coltan reserves, was one of the principal suppliers of the ore as demand from the mobile phone and electronics industries spiked in the late 1990s.
Much of the so-called "blood coltan," originating in Congo, was illegally smuggled into Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi during a 5-year war that saw the plunder of its natural resources by neighbors and foreign backed contracted militias.
Congo's coltan rich eastern border remain a patchwork of militia controlled zones and rebel tribal fiefdoms, where a UN Security Council commissioned report recently said 'illegal armed groups still buy weapons' with 'mining revenues'.
Ethical concerns and more efficient industrialised mine 'processing' have now made Australia the World's leading 'producer' and 'exporter' of coltan.
Congo hopes the certification process will rehabilitate the image of its coltan. and help to stabilize its eastern provinces.
"We'll make sure that the coltan is 'not linked to any military activities'. We understand that once we have control of the coltan itself, we'll have some control over the stability of the area," Kasongo said.
Reference
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=129765 - - - -
Information extract ( circa 2006 ):
"Globalization, Violent Conflict And Self-Determination, by Valpy Fitzgerald [ International Economics and Finance in the Department of International Development ] ... first major comparative study of the causes and consequences of violent conflict ... in the developing world as the critical issue for the 21st Century ... conflict prevention a central security problem ... in the context of global economic and cultural forces, and of local responses ... Index ... Terrorist Financing ... The single most important global cultural force has been political Islam, which spread through a variety of 'informal' channels, such as standard Arabic teachers from Egypt who were influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood ... FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK OF GRENADA ( page 127 )..."
Reference
http://www.palgrave.com/PDFs/1403987947.Pdf http://unwantedpublicity.spaces.live.com/lists http://lccn.loc.gov/2005056577 - - - -
Information extract ( circa 28DEC05 ):
"KYC News ... Grenada Bank Research Report, by Offshore Informant ... [ Van Brink quote: ] ... 'The next day I was contacted by Bob Skirving to meet him and DuSean Berkich [ references below ] in Egypt regarding opening a representative office. I let him have it with both barrels on the Cold-Tap, et al. purchase contracts that had been converted to lump sum CDs. I went to Egypt, determined to drop the axe on both Skirving and Berkich, as that unilateral decision they had undertaken potentially undermined everything else I was doing. I ended up terminating neither, but we did come to a clear meeting of the minds. Which puts us now ahead of the story ... I was booked for meetings in Burundi, Rwanda, DRC [ Democratic Republic of the Congo ] and South Africa and for a COMESA conference in Egypt.
I cancelled the introductory diplomatic meetings in Burundi, Rwanda and DRC, left for South Africa, arrived back for 18-hours before leaving for the conference in Egypt, where I was scheduled to speak before representatives of 20 to 30 Africa nations to introduce the [ Africa ] Union Reserve System [ AURS ] concept. About 24-hours prior to the speaking engagement I was reliably informed of being the intended target of an assassination plot to be carried out before I arrived at the convention center to speak ... I changed the flight arrangements and breathed a sigh of relief upon boarding the plane departing Egypt.
Some Egyptian-looking security personnel boarded the plane just prior to take off and checked, talked among themselves, double-checked, talked among themselves some more and radioed to someone off the plane, then triple-checked my ticket and passport before handing them back to me and exiting the plane without an explanation to anyone in English...
Through Rowe [ NOTE: David Frank Rowe, the CEO & Chairman of the Board of Cambridge International Bank & Trust Company Ltd. ( Grenada ) ] I had been introduced to Stephen Richardson [ NOTE: Stephen D. Richardson president of Asian International Bank of Commerce Ltd. in Koror, Republic of Palau ( formerly known as ) Saipan ] and John Myburgh [ NOTE: John A. Myburgh ] and the company [ NOTE: John A. Myburgh - while in South Africa during June 1999 - owned the company Atlantic Pacific Enterprises Ltd. ( Bahamas ) ] Atlantic-Pacific something. Rowe said he didn't have the capacity to help them in their projects and suggested that perhaps First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] could.
One of their projects was in setting up an offshore sector for the Government of Palau. They proposed First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] help fund that to the tune of about $200,000 on a joint venture basis in which the JV [ NOTE: joint venture ] company would split with Palau [ NOTE: Republic of Palau ] the resulting annual registration fees for international business companies, offshore trusts, offshore banks, etc.
They produced letters from [ NOTE: Republic of Palau ] Palau officials inviting them to do that and virtually guaranteeing such a future financial arrangement. We proceeded on that project, although Richardson and Myburgh could never seem to get the ball into motion at which point I brought in Barnabe and he suggested also involving a London barrister named Lawrence Jones to help wrap it up. First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] agreed and sent Larry Barnabe and Jones to Palau [ NOTE: Republic of Palau ] with Richardson and Myburgh.
The Palau negotiations seemed to be proceeding well, when Myburgh said there was a commercial bank [ NOTE: CO-OPERATIVE BANK ] having difficulties in Uganda that maybe First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] could help. I said no way was I flying off to Uganda without a credible written invitation.
Within days I received a credible invitation. So Kennedy and I took off for Uganda to see if there wasn't something First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] could do to rescue Co-Operative Bank (dozens of branches throughout the country and about 250,000 depositors). They needed additional capitalization of $4.5-million, according to a report (that Co-Operative Banks shareholders contested as inaccurate) received from Uganda's central bank. Of particular interest and motivation to us was a huge underground vault facility at the headquarters branch of Co-Operative Bank.
Upon examining that facility Kennedy (who had become COO for First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] ) pointed out that the Co-Operative vault would be perfect for First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] taking physical custody of some of the large assets. I agreed, and Kennedy flew to the Philippines to make arrangements for shipping the boxes and some gold bullion that was also there. Meanwhile arrangements for the shipping of the pre-1935 currency [ NOTE: 1934 U.S. Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston Notes (aka) Treaty of Versailles Morganthau Bonds ] were also being made on the Sherwood/Chadwick side of things, allegedly arranging cargo plane transport from Taiwan to Bombay and from Bombay to Africa.
Not wanting to miss out on a perfect opportunity for an excellent underground vault facility, I structured First Banks [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] offer at $10-million in additional capitalization for Co-Operative Bank. The capital was to be provided in stages, the first stage being a quickly-staged rollout of $5-million to more than take care of what Bank of Uganda (the central bank) claimed was the deficiency in Co-Operative capital, following up in the second year with an additional $5-million in capital contributions.
The late Governor of the central bank rejected the offer without looking at it, explaining that he and the Minister of Finance had already accepted a bids from other local banks that wished to cannibalize Co-Operative Bank, dividing its assets among themselves and leaving Bank of Uganda to settle up with depositors (BOU operating a deposit insurance program guaranteeing account holders up to 3-million Uganda shillings each, about $2,000 at what was then the exchange rate now it amounts to about $1,700 at current exchange rates incidentally, BOU is completing payments to depositors on another failed Uganda bank that failed previous to Co-Operative Bank, it now being about three years after the failure).
Uganda's Parliament was not at all pleased with the late Governor of BOU or with the Minister of Finance in the Co-Operative Bank affair. Both the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Economy urged me to stay in Uganda insisting that the Co-Operative Bank decision would be reversed and both convinced rural Ugandans were better off with Co-Operative Bank in operation than with it removed from the financial sector.
Believing all of that to be true I arranged to purchase a residential property featuring two executive homes, having learned by experience that the coming and going of First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] executives would prove more economical and efficient having homes with kitchens available, rather than Executive Suites in hotels with room service. It was also urged that First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] demonstrate financial capacity by making another investment in Uganda. Another property was purchased.
In June 2000 I negotiated sales of these properties, as the properties did constitute a drain on the bank for the monthly expenses related to their maintenance.
With cargo planes arranged on stand-by (literally sitting on the airfield with the pilots in nearby hotels waiting for flight instructions) we couldn't wait however many months it would take for Parliaments argument with the central bank over the Co-Operative Bank situation to be worked out, so I located a large warehouse complex with a foot-thick high perimeter walls and razor wire on top of the walls, installed security sensors and other visible and invisible electronic surveillance systems as well as armor-plated the interior walls, ceiling and floor of one of the warehouse complexes easily accessible (but who'd ever guess it) interior buildings, lined up national security arrangements, including top secret airport clearances and military escort capability so that we could quickly proceed, daily reports being received from several quarters that shipments were eminent.
By the time Parliament got around to hearings on the Co-Operative Bank situation, the late Governor of the Bank of Uganda had dug up some negative articles about me and First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] and pointed to them as reason for why the offer of capital from First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] had been rejected, not mentioning that at the time the offer was presented and not looked at, he and the Minister of Finance had already determined to see the bank cannibalized by a few of Uganda's other banks and had opened the sealed bids of these other banks the day prior ( per what the late Governor had told me the morning when I presented the offer ).
Within a couple days of first landing in Uganda, Myburgh also introduced me to Willy Mishiki of the Democratic Republic of Congo [ NOTE: former DRC Minister of Agriculture and representative of I.M.S.P.D. n.g. ) ]. Mishiki explained economic conditions in his country and urged me to write a plan for the economic redevelopment of DRC ( formerly Zaire ). So was born the Union Reserve System and the African Union Reserve System, relying on $10,000,000,000.00 billion in asset backing from First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ].
AURS was structured as a trust with the beneficial parties being the government of DRC (once they got around to holding democratic elections again), First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] (to assure its recovery of its initial asset placement) and Atlantic-Pacific (for having made the initial introductions). URS was also structured as a trust, but the beneficiaries being the respective governments that would choose to participate and First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ].
From July 1999 to January 2000, a total of four agreements were written, three being humanitarian aid agreements on projects suggested by one of the rebel factions, by the largest civil society, and by the 50 tribal kings of DRC with First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] as the funds provider and Union Reserve System as the funds administrator. Additional negotiations were underway with one other rebel faction with offers of negotiations made to the other main rebel faction and to the government itself. Mishiki had stated that if I’d write the plan he would see it accepted by all warring factions and with civil societies and the tribal kings.
In August 1999 Skirving and Berkich were interested in seeing opened for First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] a representative office in Cairo [ Egypt ]. I flew to meet with them and several businessmen intent on the project. We didn't proceed with the representative office proposal, but did enter into a joint venture with one of the parties in which he put up $300,000,000.00 million in European bank instruments and First Bank [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] matched that amount. The other party was to arrange for hypothecation and placement. That play was set in motion. The other party chose to utilize a Grenada IBC called Sunset Shores as a joint venture partner in Eastlink [ NOTE: Eastlink Limited - Grenada ], another Grenada IBC. I can't remember if First Banks [ NOTE: FIBG bank ] half of Eastlink was owned by the bank itself or by the banks solely owned subsidiary, First Acceptance Corporation. After I resigned Kennedy maintained contact and a close working relationship with that group and believed funding from Eastlink was eminent, even as of when he resigned in June 2000."
Reference
http://www.kycnews.com/message_board_detail.asp?id=16959&page=1 http://www.member.homenet/ups/newspaper/vol14a.htm ftp://opinions.ca5.uscourts.gov/byDate/Aug2004/Aug06/03-11053-CV0.wpd.pdf http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/D1D8651D5F3F08FF882571D900547E72/$file/0510587.pdf http://www.totse.com/en/politics/international_banking_money_laundering/foreignwargold179194.html --
Information extract ( circa 10FEB08 ):
"Indymedia World Reports ... First International Bank of Grenada Ltd. network of companies ... By multiply applying surreptitious fraud techniques, using new entities with willing participants, complex fraud networks continued to build hundreds of hidden fraud support entities and individuals involved for over a decade...
…- GUANGZHOU FREE TRADE ZONE TAOJIN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL CITY CO. LTD. [ c/o CAIRO BARCLAY'S ( account number: 5030-446848-005-002 ) NASR City, Cairo, Egypt c/o Mr. Guanghui Jin ( field application engineer ) c/o INTEL ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD. Beijing Tong Heng Tower, Suite 401, 4 Hua Yuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100088, People's Republic of China, TEL: (86-10) 6238-5130 extension 530 ]..."
Reference
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/world/2008/02/391023.html - - - -
Information extract ( circa 2003 ):
"One Big Fib, by Owen Platt ... Chapter 7 ... page 48 ... By the beginning of September [ NOTE: referencing 1997 ] the reputed asset base of FIBG [ NOTE: documents ( September 1997 thru May 1998 ) referenced "reputed asset base" was of 'Fidelity International Bank Inc.' ( FIB ) 'not' "FIBG," a 'bank that did not exist' until October 11, 1997. Only in May 1998, did a 'portion' of 'FIB' bank "asset base" merge with "FIBG" bank ], consisted of the following: ... Exotic additions to these traditional securities [ NOTE: U.S. federal official authorities indicated the "asset base" held 'non-traditional securities' that were definitely 'not' "traditional securities" ] ... were pre-Ming Dynasty [ NOTE: 'China' ] vases and 'Egyptian antiquities' ... All in all, a grand total of $13.89 billion..."
Reference
http://books.google.de/books?pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=%22Egyptian-antiquities%22FIBG&sig=dvLABo0AwgnxGQKUAJkP84V7Nvo&id=3eDAGOl0w3YC&hl=en&ots=RACjNSynzh&output=html http://www.iuniverse.com/lookinside/LookInside.jsp?isbn=0595282989&page=4 - - - -
Many are familiar with the officially reported outcome (below):
Information extract (circa 2007):
"U.S. Treasury Department ... Office of the Internal Revenue Service ... Tax Fraud Investigations ... August 27, 2007 ... in Portland, Oregon, four (4) individuals were sentenced for their involvement in promoting a $170,000,000.00 million fraudulent investment scheme in the name of the First International Bank of Grenada. Robert J. Skirving of Portland, Oregon was sentenced to 97-months in prison ... 3-years of supervised release and ... pay more than $32,000,000.00 million in restitution. Laurent Barnabe a Canada citizen and current resident of Lake Oswego, Oregon was sentenced to 72-months in prison ... 3-years of supervised release ... ordered to forfeit his interest in money held in a foreign bank account ... and pay more than $26,000,000.00 million in restitution. Douglas Ferguson of Portland, Oregon was sentenced to 52-months in prison ... 3-years of supervised release, and ... pay more than $26,000,000.00 million in restitution. Rita Regale of Portland, Oregon was sentenced to 18-months in prison ... 3-years of supervised release, and ... pay more than $26,000,000.00 million in restitution. The defendants were indicted in October 2003 on conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering charges arising out of the creation and promotion of the First International Bank of Grenada ( FIBG ). According to court documents, FIBG was established in 1997 and offered interest rates to depositors as high as 300%. It claimed to have earned more than $12,000,000,000.00 billion in high-yield trading, and ... acquired assets in excess of $26,000,000,000.00 billion ..."
Reference
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=163019,00.html - - - -
The aforementioned report ( below ) takes into account what U.S. intelligence gathered out-of Africa from operations out-of Saracen Kampala Ltd., a branch office of Saracen Security Ltd. in the UK, co-owned by Uganda Defense Force ( UDFP ) retired General Salim Saleh ( step-brother of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni ), his wife Jovia Akandwanaho ( co-owner of Alexander Air Cargo ), and their Russia friend Valentina Piskanovna (aka) Valentina Piskounova (aka) Valentina Piskounove (aka) Valentina Piskanov (aka) Valentina Petrovich whose 'friendly' persuassion with Congo tribal Kings arranged'raw uranium based minerals' including 'coltan' valued at $200 per pound smuggled out-of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to her friends at the ULBA METALLURGICAL PLANT ( Kurchatov, Kazakhstan ) processing facility in Kazakhstan while collecting her commission fees through her partner John A. Myburgh in South Africa.
Unknown by many was the role Valentina Piskanovna ( her Russian name ) played for receiving $800,000.00 million ( USD ) by acting and signing contracts as the International Relations Secretary for the infamous UNION RESERVE SYSTEM (aka) AFRICAN UNION RESERVE SYSTEM that was being positioned in sub-Sahara Africa as its own Islamic gold based reserve system version of a U.S. Federal Reserve System but on the basis of operating a fractional reserve banking theory incorporated by direction from Van Arthur Brink who became the wide-eyed close personal friend of both Uganda Defense Force ( UDFP ) retired General Salim Saleh and Valentina Piskanovna while living in Kampala, Uganda from September 1999 thru May 24, 2004 when Brink was finally captured in the wake of one (1) Saracen Kampala Ltd. security officer being shot and killed by Kampala Police in Luzira, Uganda.
Five (5) U.S. FBI agents transported Van Brink from Entebbe airport in Uganda to Johannesburg, South Africa en-route back to Portland, Oregon, USA for him to answer federal fraud and conspiracy charges, however 'only in connection with his founded but then-defunct independent offshore bank' First International Bank of Grenada Limited that saw 6,000 people worldwide loose a collective total $250,000,000.00 million (USD) news reports quoted along with U.S. government authorities unabashed claims of their inability to locate all the money-laundered bank deposits and investments they simply reported "missing."
Might any of those tens of millions of U.S. dollars that went missing, have funded any portion of the mines of 'gold', 'conflict diamonds', and coltan that Valentina Piskanovna arranged with Democratic Republic of the Congo Tribal Kings order to have their people smuggle out-of Africa to Kazakhstan?
- - - -
The final report ( below ) wraps-up what was actually occurring behind the scenes of an East Europe Russia government energy company providing money-laundering aide coupled with sub-Sahara Africa uranium 'coltan' raw materials, which saw production eventually deposited into Middle East government state-sponsored terrorist countries, companies, and banks of Iran and Syria.
Is Congo Supplying Tehran With Uranium?
by, Erik Bruyland
August 16, 2006
The British newspaper The Sunday Times has reported, "Iran is seeking to import large consignments of uranium from Africa".
Several documents are circulating, which point at direct links between Kinshasa, Damascus and Teheran. Even if they were to be only partially true, it still would be disturbing.
Rumor has it that, in October of 2005, radioactive material was collected from a business on 12 rue de Limete in Kinshasa, where usually spare parts for IVECO trucks are traded, could possibly be linked to a report the British Sunday paper The Sunday Times printed on its front page on August 6, 2005 under the title "Iran's Plot To Mine Uranium In Africa".
A senior Tanzanian customs official, who spoke to the newspaper on the strict condition that he would not be named, has confirmed that the Tanzanian customs had intercepted, in October of 2005, a shipment of uranium which "no doubt was transported from Lubumbashi".
According to our own equally anonymous Congo sources, direct flights between Lubumbashi and Mwanza in Tanzania are taking place could concern the same cargo, unless there are two (2) parallel uranium transports, one from Katanga and the other from the Congolese capital.
Through accounts of the Laurent Kabila Foundation
Trends is in possession of copies of correspondence, dating from November 2005 to May 2006, between the Iran company SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES OF IRAN and WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GMBH of Bavaria, Erlangen, Germany about the purchase of the radioactive material U-235, i.e. shipments carrying the numbers 388420-11B-111, 367080-41B-122 and 386730-MB147.
Several sources contend these documents are authentic and that WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GMBH is active in Tanzania with representation in Lubumbashi.
In the letters between the Iran and Germany companies, incredible amounts of up to $2,000,000,000.00 billion ( USD ) are mentioned.
One B. Bergmann of the WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GMBH export department writes that he has "received the funds from SAMAN CHESHEMEN" and mentions in passing that "the work in Tanzania is well under way".
According to these documents, John Kahozi - said to be a confidant of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - travels between Tehran, Iran; Dubai, UAE; and, Harare [ NOTE: formerly known as Salisbury ] the capital of Zimbabwe to handle the financial side of things through Iran BANK MELLI, BANK MELLAT and REFAH KAREGARAN BANK.
The sums, according to those documents, passed through accounts of the Laurent Désiré Kabila Foundation to the Dubai Islamic Bank account of John Kahozi.
According to our sources, part of the bank transactions also passed through the COMMERCIAL BANK of Dubai to the account of the trading company CONGO FITUR in Kinshasa.
Our sources maintain that on November 12, 2005 John Kahozi stayed at the OVERVIEW hotel in Dubai, and from December 2nd thru 6th 2005, in the AZADI hotel in the Iran capital city, having accompanied a ‘consignment’ through Zambia.
While in Tehran, Iran, John Kahozi by an India subject named Praveen Kundou, an acquaintance of Katumba Mwanke, the special advisor to President Joseph Kabila. Allegedly Kahozi had also been seen at the MEIKLES hotel in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Twelve (12) Shipments To Iran Since 2002
Several sources suggest that the smuggling of uranium started in the mid-1990s and reached a peak during the weekend of February 25th and 26th, 2006.
One of the first shipments was said to have left as the Zaire dictator Mobutu was fleeing from Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Four (4) generals of the Zaire Army allegedly turned in over 1,600 pounds of uranium reserves, which hastily had been shifted across the river Congo to neighboring Congo-Brazzaville in order to negotiate their return with Laurent-Désiré Kabila.
That consignment, was privately reported transferred to Iran from Switzerland via Lignes Aériennes Congolaises, a scheduled passenger airline based out-of in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Laurent-Désiré Kabila is said to have approached the Libya President Muammar Gaddafi initially, but at the time Gaddafi was preparing to resume relations with the West. Fidel Castro refused likewise.
On the other hand, North Korea was spotted on the mining site of Shinkolobwe in Katanga during 1998, where the raw material for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atom bombs came from that were dropped on Japan. Strong U.S. pressure made Laurent-Désiré Kabila ( b. 27NOV39 – d. 16JAN01 ) President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from May 1997, break-off contact with North Korea.
Eventually Didier Kazadi, former director of the security services under Laurent-Désiré Kabila and alleged go-between in the uranium contraband, is said to have found his way to an Iran - Libya group. Kazadi is mentioned in a UN report, however regular uranium shipments to Iran were only allegedly to have begun as of 2002. According to our sources, there have been twelve (12) in all.
In an attempt to check the authenticity of the detailed and disturbing documents, Trends contacted the companies mentioned in Germany and Iran, but as the U.S. NGO, Global Witness, experienced when it investigated the mining industry in Katanga ( See, e.g. "Deep-Seated Corruption", July 2006 ), the real level of truth can seldom be ascertained. The Iran government dismissed the publication in The Sunday Times as "American propaganda" with the Congo government condemning it as "gross lies".
Still, the UK newspaper referred to a report by an investigation team to the UN Security Council, dated July 18, 2006 indicating Congo security services intercepted fifty (50) cases of uranium and cesium in Kinshasa during the past 6-years where 100 kilograms of U-238 and U-235 were seized in March 2004. The UN also mentions the cargo that fell in the hands of Tanzania customs, via the largest Iran port of Bandar Abbas, was destined for enrichment in a smelter in Kazakhstan.
Did Belgium Know?
On August 7, 2006 Trends asked Belgium Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel De Gucht ( VLD ) whether the country was aware of this uranium smuggling to Iran.
KAREL DE GUCHT: "Shortly after the operation in October 2005, mentioned in the Sunday Times article, I received a general report from our state security services about possible uranium contraband from Katanga. I have asked for a further enquiry, but in the second (2nd) report of our state security services of January 2006 it says that there are no concrete indications. Subsequently we have contacted the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ). They labeled the Tanzanian trail possible, but also without concrete indications, while a trail from Kinshasa seemed rather improbable to them."
Trends put the same question to the European Union Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, predecessor of Karel De Gucht, while at Belgium’s Foreign Affairs, but didn't get a reply. In the past, Louis Michel was closely involved in the political developments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Congo informants tell us that in February 2006, the U.S. government received a report about the illegal mining operations in Shinkolobwe from Azarias Ruberwa ( Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC / RDC ), one of the Congo vice-presidents in charge of Security.
According to our Congo sources, routes of the twelve (12) shipments of uranium-bearing material to Iran came via Mwanza, Tanzania and Khartoum, Sudan with stops in Damascus, Syria.
Zimbabwe comes into the picture as a transit country for bank transactions. Most shipments concerned a mixture of uranium-bearing ore and coltan, a mineral that is used in mobile phones [ i.e. tantalum capacitors, and mass fatality weapon applications when specially processed ] from mines in Shinkolobwe, Kakanda and Kambove.
The same sources say the first (1st) shipment concerned a load of material - ( still dating from the President Mobutu era ) - from the Equateur province [ NOTE: the northwest province of the DRC bordered by Orientale province to its east ] transported from the Ndjili International Airport in Kinshasa to its suburb named Cité de L'Oua where it was collected - as was the second (2nd) operation in mid-2002 and the third (3rd) at the end of 2002 - by two (2) from Iran.
The fourth (4th) transport, in early 2003, consisted of two (2) boxes labeled "Made in Ohio," which was retrieved by others from Syria.
U.S. Embassy Alerted
The fifth (5th) transaction took place via Tanzania in September 2003 and allegedly reported by one of our Congo sources to the U.S. Embassy chargé d' affaires Polydor Olela in Kinshasa, but the next day that informant is said to have been picked-up by the Congo security service ANR. After that incident, our sources lost contact with the Americans. Our informants see some similarity with the 1998 terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy in Mombassa, Kenya however U.S. intelligence services ignored warnings from local informants.
Last week, U.S. President George Bush was informed about the uranium smuggling from Congo to Iran.
According to U.S. journalist Jackson Wilson, Bush immediately ordered CIA General Michael Hayden to clarify the entire affair, quoting itinerant ambassador and a Presidential Advisor to Kabila, Katumba Mwanke who was pointed-out in reports of the West, UN, and Congo NGOs as a go-between in large mining contracts.
Too, Jackson Wilson points-out that Katumba Mwanke is mentioned in a report to the U.S. National Security Agency ( NSA ) where Mwanke allegedly traveled to the Middle East in 2005, visiting Tehran two (2) times.
The sixth (6th) transport is said to have taken place in October 2003, the seventh (7th) in December 2003, and the eighth (8th) in February 2004 in Ngiri-Ngiri - a district of Kinshasa - just like the ninth (9th) transport operation in April 2004.
The October 2003 operation, mentioned by The Sunday Times, may have been the tenth (10th) with the eleventh (11th) following soon thereafter in November 2005.
The most recent transports, from the Limete district in Kinshasa, took place on February 25th and 26th, 2006.
Our informants point at certain pivotal figures in the entourage of the Congo President where in the U.S. Global Witness July 2006 report, "Deep-Seated Corruption," that presidential entourage was called the "political umbrella" when the Brussels, Belgium based International Crisis Group speaks of "a predatory government".
Disturbing Questions
Is it conceivable that the President of Congo has been unaware of all this?
Trends obtained correspondence addressed to the President that appeared authentic, and although it cannot be excluded they were merely paste-ups conceived by political opponents of Joseph Kabila, in any case they contain precise information about identifiable persons, places, and companies, which - even if only a fraction is true - must be investigated by the competent security agencies.
According to our informants, although Belgium security services received the information in Kinshasa months ago, it was classified as "not serious." Our Congo sources conclude they "no longer trust the Belgium security services". The documents include text by the firm SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES of Iran in Farsi but written in non-classic Arabic script.
One might also wonder how it was possible that - with some exceptions - transports from the Katanga mines to Iran could have passed unnoticed. From a logistic point of view, large quantities of petrol fuel and trucks would have been needed to take the uranium-bearing ore to Tanzania, e.g. Katanga is 30 times larger than the size of Belgium.
Air transport from Lubumbashi could have been monitored. Recent UN reports indicate suspicious freight movements, particularly in the east of Congo where an Islamic network is said to be brewing and recruiting Congolese who are fed, amongst other things, with food aid from Iran.
According to The Sunday Times, the British security services are on to "Iranian sleeper cells," who could be planning terrorist attacks against United Kingdom nuclear facilities.
There is yet another question that asks how did WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH, a leading German manufacturer of fixed and mobile vacuum equipment for all kinds of industrial applications - according to documents in our possession - get involved in all this?
Our Congo sources assert that the Joseph Kabila entourage operates via small companies or friendly businesses. They mention, amongst others rightly or not, WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH, the Belgium and Lebanon firm CONGO FUTUR, and Tehran, Iran firm SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES with a clandestine branch in Lubumbashi.
WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH is said to be active in Tanzania and represented in Lubumbashi by Samba Kaputo, the chief of security services for Joseph Kabila.
Since being founded by Kasim Tadjideen of Lebanon in 1997, CONGO FUTUR is a Kinshasa agriculture food trading company mentioned in UN reports in 2004, which at the beginning of 2006 was accused of illegally felling wood - harvesting ‘timber’ - but developed into being the Democratic Republic of the Congo primary food supplier.
The U.S. Global Witness report on mining exploitations in Katanga quotes sources that assert ore smugglers have close ties to members of the Joseph Kabila family, and while Global Witness may not bring its sources to the forefront to prove this, some local informants insist the judicial bodies and security agency ANR receive bribes to turn a blind eye.
Trends asked WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH for an explanation to determine whether the company might have been unwittingly used, however "B. Bergmann," who supposedly signed the incriminating letters, has meanwhile been replaced by Gerhardt Bormann who says that WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH had no activities south of the Sahara, and certainly not in Congo or Tanzania.
Too, SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES of Iran appears to be unknown to Gerhardt Bormann when he said, "To be sure, we are doing business with PARS CEMENT in Tehran, Iran. Maybe improper use has been made of our company name and our stationery. And no, we have never been contacted by western intelligence services about this."
We also called SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES of Iran, but found no one to speaking English.
Carina Tertsakian, of Global Witness - in possession of the same documents - says, "This has to be sorted out. There are sufficient serious indications to warrant a thorough investigation by specialized western intelligence agencies."
Congolese Uranium For Terrorists
In a response to the report in The Sunday Times, Tehran said Iran has uranium mines of its own and therefore there's no need for imports.
Iran uranium however is low-grade when compared to high-grade uranium raw minerals from Katanga.
Iran has rather extensive known uranium reserves at its disposal, yet to be able to continue its nuclear program, Tehran allegedly tries buying small amounts illicitly outside the international control circuit.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo government asserts uranium-bearing ore cannot be transported out of Katanga in its raw state because the ore concentrator of Shinkolobwe, which was used for the Hiroshima bomb, was dismantled in 1961, so the ore cannot be enriched in-situ to the so-called yellow cake allowing smaller concentrated transport. But because the uranium-bearing ore from Katanga is so high-grade, relatively small quantities may nevertheless be sufficient. According to our Congolese sources, not enough for atomic bombs, but for small so-called "dirty bombs", that can be used for terrorist attacks.
Katanga Governor Kisula Ngoy declared the U.S. Embassy visited the Shinkolobwe mine on August 9, 2006 and found nothing irregular, nevertheless calling for an official independent enquiry raising the possibility that radioactive material from illicit exploitations is being sold by local companies.
Serial numbers of the uranium shipments referred-to in the letter exchanges between WIELAND LUFTTECHNIK GmbH ( Germany ) and SAMAN CHESHEMEN MINES ( Iran ) could, according to an investigation by Trends, possibly be taken from official uranium sales by the Congo state-owned company GécaMines, out-of existing reserves from 1966 and 1968 from Shinkolobwe.
Have those previous serial numbers been used to give this smuggling operation an appearance of truthfulness? The incredible value of $2,000,000,000.00 billion ( USD ) might be explained by some as part of a money-laundering operation.
Apart from Katanga uranium ore operations, on which our Congo sources sound the alarm, may involve radioactive waste from the meanwhile heavily neglected nuclear research center at TRIGA II in Kinshasa.
"You westerners are incredible," said one informant, "You react with disbelief while it is happening before your very eyes."
When referring to Usama / Osama Bin Laden the informant said, "Even the intelligence agencies don't understand how someone was able to finance 9/11 attacks in New York from a cave. The money certainly did ‘not’ pass through Wall Street, but passed the same way as Islamic madrassas advancing from East Congo to North Katanga, via ‘cooperatives’ nicknamed “Africa savings associations."
Reference(s)
Document reference link:
http://www.msnusers.com/UnwantedPublicity/Documents/CLICK%20-%20Downloads/Iran%20-%20Serbia%20-%20WAGON%20PARS%20CO.%2C%20WAGON%20PARS%20CO/12JAN06%20Iran%20flatbed%20railcars%20from%20Serbia%20GOSA%20FSV%20via%20Italy.JPG http://www.gosa-fsv.co.yu/eng/o_nama_tekst_eng.htm http://www.armscontrol.ru/atmtc/kazakhstan/pinch_china_summer_school.htm http://www.ulba.kz/eng/ http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trends.be%2Fnl%2Fdossiers%2F4-1471-uraniumleveringen-tussen-iran-en-congo-dossiers.html&langpair=nl%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8 - - - -
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