Yala grumbles at visit by rights activists

Four months after his overthrow in a bloodless coup, former president Kumba Yala showed little interest when human rights activists, concerned about his welfare, went to visit him at home. The President of the Guinean League of Human Rights (LGDH), Luis Manuel Cabral, led a delegation to Kumba Yala's private residence on Wednesday. However, the meeting, which had been scheduled to last 90 minutes, was over in 15 as Kumba Yala accused the LGDH of being a politicised organisation with no genuine concern for his well-being. The philosophy teacher turned politician said he was not ill, had no need for any such visit and chased some of the human rights team out of his house. But Kumba Yala, who lives under virtual house arrest, did take advantage of the presence of journalists to launch a strong attack on the head of the armed forces, General Verissimo Correia Seabra, who overthrew him on 14 September. Kumba Yala accused Corriea Seabra, who had authorised the visit by the LGDH, of failing to account for US $5.8 million which had been allocated for the payment of soldiers. Seabra has so far declined to comment on this allegation. One of the main reasons for Kumba Yala's overthrow was the failure of his virtually bankrupt government to pay the army or civil servants for almost a year. Yala, who was elected president in 2000, said he was still being deprived of his liberty, being unable to move around freely. But he said he was ready to play an active role in Guinean politics, through his Social Renovation Party (PRS). The LGDH president said he was not frustrated by the way the visit had gone as the delegation had achieved its aim of gaining access to Kumba Yala.