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The Amnesty Committee of Truth and Reconciliation Commission today refused amnesty application by Azanian Peoples Liberation Army (Apla) high command.

The application by Apla high command was considered in chambers in Cape Town. The Committee found that the Apla commanders did not specify their individual names as applicants, acts, offences or omission committed of which people died others injured and damaged to property according to the application form.

In terms of the Act an applicant has to apply as an individual and specify the actions or offences he or she is applying for. Apla high command in the application took a collective responsibility for any acts committed as a result of their direct of indirect
instructions.

The Committee pointed out that an act, omission or offence must be subject matter of any application and in this instance no such act, omission or offence had been disclosed. The Committee further found that the application of the high command did not comply with the requirements of the Act and as such was refused.

The Committee said this would amount to the granting of a general amnesty. The Apla high command application is similar to the one submitted by ANC leaders.

The ANC application as well took a collective responsibility of acts and offences committed by cadres of Umkhonto Wesizwe(MK) under their command. The ANC application was dismissed on the same grounds last year.

Meanwhile the Committee granted amnesty to five ANC cadres for planting limpet mines at Moutse Magistrate Court, Kwaggafotein police station in 1987 and the attack of Klippan Radar station of a military base in Rustenburg in May 1989.

Granted amnesty are Jerome Maake, Piet Mathebe, Chakei Mathebe, Charles Mathebe who operated as an MK unit in Moutse area and Dumisa Mdlulwa an MK commander for the attack on the Klippan Radar station.

The Committee found that the five applicants met with the requirements of the Act in that they made full disclosure of all relevant facts of operations and their motive had a political objective. Victims in both incidents were referred to Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee for consideration.

Phila Ngqumba: 021 - 4238741 or 4245161

Issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 20 June 2000