The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
20 June 2008
A BRITISH soldier for hire, whose coup attempt to topple an African president was folied, completed his testimony and cross-examination by State Prosecutor Attorney General Jose Olo Obono yesterday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Simon Mann's two-day testimony, implicated Sir Mark Thatcher, son of ex British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, as part of the "management team" and Lebanese millionaire Eli Calil as "the boss" of the failed 2004 coup to topple Equatorial Guinea president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
The former SAS officer, who the prosecution wants sentenced to a minimum of 32 years in jail for plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government of Equatorial Guinea in 2004, also told the court that Spanish and South African governments gave the "green light" for the project.
Sir Mark Thatcher, the defendant said, "came on board completely and became part of the management team" but that it was Lebanese millionaire Eli Calil who was "the boss" of the March 2004 botched coup. The men have repeatedly denied involvement.
Attorney General Jose Olo Obono said the state will be seeking the extradition of Sir Mark Thatcher - who was arrested but struck a plea bargain deal with the South African authorities - and businessman Eli Calil.
"By January 2004, the operation was like an official operation because the Spanish government and the South African government were both giving the green light. I am very, very sorry for what I have done. I am also very happy that we failed ... I think that the people that were seriously involved in this and have not faced justice, they should do so," Simon Mann testified on day two of the trial.
The British mercenary said businessman Eli Calil at a 2003 meeting said that Equatorial Guinea was a country he "would like to be king for a day" and that he was later introduced to exiled Equatoguinean politician Severo Moto who was to be the new president after the coup.
"I was told by Calil that the Spanish government had promised Moto that in the event of a coup they would immediately, the following morning, give international recognition to Moto and send their Civil Guard to Equatorial Guinea to assist him."
Simon Mann said a March 14, 2004 deadline (the date of the Spanish general election) was set for the coup. The defendant and 68 mercenaries were arrested on March 7, 2004 at Harare International Airport with a plane load of guns and ammo en route to Equatorial Guinea. Simon Mann served four years in a Zimbabwean prison.
The Briton admitted he was part of the plot for financial gains and expected "a great deal of help from local people" but denied he intended to assassinate current President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
"I understand the President's guard is 300-strong and then there's the army. How could I expect to overpower them with just 80 men? I was there simply to protect Moto while he formed his new government."
Serving Secretary General of the Presidency of the Government of Equatorial Guinea Fortunato Ofa Mbo Nchama, who the prosecution said registered a company in Equatorial Guinea linked to the 2004 coup attempt, is also on trial.
Simon Mann's testimony and cross examination by Attorney General Jose Olo Obono was translated by a court-assigned interpreter. The Briton's lawyer is Jose Pablo Nvo.
Day three of the trial continues at the conference centre in Malabo. Security remains heightened around Equatorial Guinea with uniformed armed members of the security forces on patrol.
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Why not these 'blood-sucking' colonial whitemen and their local puppets would leave world alone? Why are they still feeding on the misery of poor nations? Why do they call themselves humanitarians?
Answer is because you have all sort of natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, quality wood, mines, etc. They only want to get them at the cost of nothing.
Wake up, Africa! You are neglected, disregarded, tortured, tormented, raped, ignored!
Wake up! Work for yourselves! Produce for yourselves! Give more importance to education!
It is sad to hear all this. The Western media are doing all they can to brush Simon Mann's testimony aside. They have shown all the skeptisism they can show. Yet, it is out. The British House of Lords is involved in every evil work across the globe - no wonder they partnered George W Bush in Iraq to overthrow, loot and pillage. Africa should rather be assisted to develop using her own resources. Oil has been discovered in Ghana too now, I am just afraid for Ghana, since this is an election year and British, American and European… [Read Full Text]
So now you see again why they, the Britons, Americans and the entire West hate Cde Mugabe so much. The vigilent security forces of Zimbabwe foiled their coup and the attempt to destroy, loot and plunder Guinea Bissau. They would delivered fake speeches in celebration of the new-found loots in GB and said the President there is corrupt.
These true terrorists say they are looking for terrorists. Why don't they send Thatcher for trial if they believe in justice. Shame on you, you white rogues bent on plundering african resources and pretending to be giving aide to Africa.
Wait… [Read Full Text]
Yes I strongly agree with the brother or sister that commented on the vigilancy of the zimbabwe's army in the foiling of the western sponsored coup on poor mugabe.Yes a new generation of african leaders or none-leaders are now emerging, and they will teach these m-f what africans are really like.Enough is enough.We have been taken for granted for quite a long time, and it is about time they stop.Personaly I think mugabe is the true african patriot.He was the only in the exception of the ANC that actually dealt with the white colonial ding bangs.And he did that within… [Read Full Text]
I hear you and want you to know that you do have white allies out there, and I may be white but I know that I will be against the white oppressor when the War breaks out. I wanted to question your knowledge of the current crisis in Zimbabwe. Mugabe started out with genuine intentions to end the white minority control in Rodesia, but like many great leaders and ideas his and his cronies practice of these ideas were flawed. He has become just as bad in the way he treats his fellow country men and women. … [Read Full Text]
These British colonialists and white savages must be brought to justice. Had Mann succeed in overthrowing the gov't of Equatorial Guinea, a lot of people would have died, oil revenues were going to be in the hands of these Britons, the people of Equatorial Guinea were going to be perpertual slaves in their own country.
The next person to be tried should be Mark Thatcher. Mark Thatcher is also banned in the USA because of illegical financial dealing. Thatcher, the son of former PM Margret Thatcher is a crook and a cheap thief who should be brought to Justice. Equatorial… [Read Full Text]
The world would be better off without Teodoro. He is consistently ranked as one of the worst dictators in the world. His regime is known for arbitrary arrests, torture, forced labor, child labor, disappearing political opponents, and massive corruption. He won an "election" with 97.1% of the vote. As callow as Mann behaved, Nguema is not worth defending.
Tried to place comment on BBC's Questiontime board posing the question "In light of the revelations alleging specifically Mark Thatcher's and complicitly the UK USA and Spains role in the coup in E.G., should these allegations prove true where does this place the west in the War on Terror?". My very genuine question was posted back to my e-mail by Nobody@bbc.co.uk. So much for a free and impartial media in the UK led by the BBC. To think I pay my T.V. license fee for this... Ha ha.
It is time the West woke up to the perpetual Terror War… [Read Full Text]