September 8, 1997 THE DOTHAN EAGLE 9-A Former Zairian leader Mobutu Sese Seko dies By The Associated Press His coup was vying with the Zairian RABAT, Morocco Mobutu Sese Seko, the nent, and by of leader despotic toppled rule in May after nearly 32 ian government years that left his country in share power in shambles, has died, hospital workers and the offi- Mobutu cial Moroccan news agency reported. He was 66. institutions and Mobutu died Sunday evening of prostate cancivilian rule. cer at the Mohamed military hospital in Rabat, he Instead, where he has been since June 30, said two hospi- founded the tal workers who spoke on condition of anonymity. banned The billionaire leader fled Zaire on May 18, embarked party, on a surrendering power to rebels led by Laurent Donning his Kabila.
Mobutu was accompanied by an changed his entourage of hundreds into exile, first to Togo and then to the north African nation of Morocco. Mobutu became a symbol of excess, leaving his resource-rich country of 45 million in economic and political shambles. Rebels who began fighting to topple him last September finally deposed him after an eightmonth sweep across the vast Central African nation. Mobutu was out of Zaire during most of the rebel advance, recovering from cancer surgery in his palatial homes in Switzerland and the south of France. Mobutu had earned his soldiers' loyalty by building up the military forces and crushing post-independence secessionist revolts.
When he finally gave up power in May, he cited only health reasons. Mobutu asked France, his longtime ally, to allow him to return for medical treatment but Paris refused him entry. Several days after Mobutu fled Zaire, rebel Laurent Kabila seized power, proclaiming himself president of the country and renamed it the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mobutu was the last of Africa's Cold War relics, an autocrat who lived like a king while leading his country down a ruinous path. The former Joseph-Desire Mobutu seized power in a military coup on November 24, 1965.
Then a colonel and the army chief of staff, Bottoms Garden Chapel Funeral Home Hartford, 588-3250 ers, Clifton Capps of Hartford and Harmon Capps of Graceville, two sisters, Loette Parrish and Inez Johnson, both of Columbus, Ga. Ruby Lee Ketchem Mrs. Ruby Lee Ketchem, 85, of Rt. 1 Hartford passed away early Saturday morning, Sept. 6, 1997, at Flowers Hospital, following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Revs. Earl Capps, Rankin Tyler and Marcus Ramer officiating.
Burial will be in the Hartford City Cemetery, Bottoms Garden Chapel Funeral Home in Hartford, directing. The family requests that all flowers be omitted and donations may be made to the Hartford Rescue Squad. Mrs. Ketchem will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service Monday. She is preceded in death by her parents Grady and Lela Capps and a sister, Alma Hicks.
Mrs. Ketchem was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband of 64 years Ralph Ketchem of Hartford, two daughters, Jeanette Parker of Hartford and Linda and Gaston Howell of Hartford; two sons, Frank and Fay Ketchem of Hartford and Paul and Selena Ketchem of Montgomery; 10 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson; two broth- Mobutu Sese Seko Sese Seko sentiments ian protests required French crush. France's ian affairs, a "walking bank and challenged al fortune coffers to feed Estimates of lion, though he $5 million.
"No, I have man. I have not ple's money," he As the Cold began to fall, promises of party elections tion marches pallbearers will and grandsons-in-law. welcomed by the West, which was Soviets for influence on the contiZairians weary of the bickering civilthat couldn't decide how best to the ethnically diverse new nation. promised to preserve democratic eventually return the country to declared himself head of state, Popular Revolutionary Movement all other political parties, and pursuit of absolute power. trademark leopard-skin cap, he Christian surnames to Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa za Banga, which loosely means: "The all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest, leaving fire in his wake." In a 1980 speech, Mobutu dashed any hopes of allowing Zaire to become a democracy.
As the Cold War waned, so too did Mobutu's glory days. The country's deteriorating economic situation and Mobutu's refusal to respond to the pro-democracy sweeping the continent fueled civiland military riots in 1991 that and Belgian intervention to secretary of state for humanitarBernard Kouchner, referred to him as account in a leopard-skin hat" him to spend some of his personmost of it allegedly stolen from state his people. his wealth are as high as $8 bilsaid his worth was no more than a clear conscience. I am an honest pocketed one dollar of the peosaid. War-era leaders around him Mobutu hung on with empty reform.
His vow in 1990 to hold multiremains unfulfilled, and opposiwere met with military force. Zaire's former leader Mobutu Sese Seko stands with Ronald Reagan on a visit to the U.S. Mobutu said he would run for the presidency this year but the civil war has once again put the vote on hold, furthur frustrating a people in desperate need of a change in leadership. Perhaps no event better highlighted Zaire's decline as the May 1995 outbreak of ebola, the virus that began its deadly rampage in an abysmal clinic in the remote city of Kikwit. While foreign and Zairian medical experts worked to control the outbreak, which killed 244 people, Mobutu briefly visited Kinshasa to voice concern for the victims but refused to visit Kikwit himself.
His doctors warned him it was too dangerous, he explained before flying back to his marble mansion in Gbadolite some 700 miles away. Mobutu returned to the capital to a hero's welcome last December, after months of cancer treatment and convalescence at his French Riviera villa. Thousands of cheering people lined the streets to welcome him home, hoping his uncanny ability to unify a country of more than 250 ethnic groups would bring an end to Kabila's rebellion. But he did little more than shake up the military leadership and quietly head back to France, more ill than he or his government ever let on. When he returned again in March, after his prime minister was ousted and his government had fallen in his absence, few turned out to greet the longest-ruling dictator in Africa.
When the dying despot finally fled his homeland with his second wife Bobi Ladawa and many of his nine children, his departure was welcomed by the international community and the Zairian people he left behind, among the poorest in the world. Obituaries Funeral arrangements will be announced by Byrd Funeral Home. Searcy Funeral Home Enterprise, 347-2517 Josephine Martin Hardwick Mrs. Josephine Martin Hardwick, 83, of Enterprise, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 1997, at Medical Center Enterprise.
Graveside service will be held at Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997, at Meadowlawn Cemetery with the Rev. Norman Carr officiating and Searcy Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be at Searcy Funeral Home 4 p.m. Monday.
The family will receive friends at Searcy Funeral Home Monday from 6-8 p.m. Mrs. Hardwick was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Billie Hardwick, and a granddaughter, Leta Mills Splees. Mrs.
Hardwick worked for the Piggly Wiggly Company in Enterprise for 33 years. Survivors include a daughter, Bille Jo Mills, Enterprise; a son, Max M. Hardwick, Destin, a sister, Clem Wheat Parrish, Aliceville, a brother, Jeff R. Martin; five grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. James Lipford Funeral Home Graceville, 263-3238 Nettie Jones Watson Mrs.
Nettie Jones Watson, 84, of Graceville, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 1997, at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997, at Whitaker Church cemetery with James Lipford Funeral Home directing.
Family will receive friends at the funeral home 6-8 p.m. Monday. Mrs. Watson was born May 16, 1913, in Geneva County, Whitaker Community, moving to Graceville in 1964. She was a homemaker and of the Methodist faith.
She is preceded in death by her husband, C.W. "Jack" Watson and two sons, B.L. Watson and Jack Watson Jr. She is survived by two sons, Davis B. Watson, Ft.
Walton Beach, Billy Watson, Elizabethtown, two daughters, Mary Alice Tew, Slocomb, Bonnie Knight, Graceville; 17 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren, host of nieces and nephews. Levite Funeral Home Mitchell Turner Mitchell Turner, formerly of Dothan, a residence of Marina Del Rey, passed Sunday, Sept. 7, 1997, in California. Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but will be announced later by Levite Funeral Home of Dothan. Helen Earline Doster Helen Earline Doster, 84, of Snell Road, Pinckard, died Thursday, Sept.
4, 1997, in Flowers Hospi- Youngsters enjoy park improvements Continued from 1-A The present playground consists of two swing sets, a tire swing, three slide units, two track slides and monkey bars. The effort to improve Shivers Park will take about 10 years, he said. The City plans to build a picnic pavilion that holds 100 people and permanent bathrooms. It also plans to resurface two of the three tennis courts, pave the parking lot and add a walking trail where parents can walk and still be able to watch their children, McDonald said. "This park used to be a scary place," said Mary Vining of Chipley, who brought her daughter here to play when she was a young girl.
"There wasn't much here to offer before. "The equipment wasn't kept up good, and it didn't feel safe. Four-year-old Bradley Vining spends most of his time playing on the slides and climbing equipment when his family visits Shivers Park. Jonathan, 3, and Lee, 1, stay closer to their grandmother. "We plan to start coming here once a week," she said.
"I live on a busy street and don't have much play equipment for them. "Here they can play, enjoy themselves and meet other kids of all ages." The use of Shivers Park since its renovation has been "overwhelming," McDonald said. "The park is getting an awful lot of use, especially for birthday parties and family reunions," he said. The City's goal in renovating the park is to create a place for families to gather during these warm summer days. "This park is improving the quality of life," McDonald said.
RACK PINIONS I BE 794-2733 1-800-235-5507 TOLL FREE Since 1936 Monday Friday 7:30 5:00 240 Fortner St. Dothan, AL 36301 Israel responds to bombing with 100 Palestinian arrests By Dafna Linzer Palestinian Associated Press Writer JERUSALEM Israel has arrested 100 Palestinians in response to a deadly bombing last week and is demanding the extradition of the Palestinian Authority's police chief, authorities said Sunday. Those detained, believed to be Palestinian militants, were taken for interrogation by Israeli security forces, the army said. The West Bank sweep follows Thursday's triple suicide bombing that also killed four Israelis. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has denied that the bombers came from territory under his control.
Recognizing the further escalation of tensions, leaders on both sides are hoping a visit to the region later this week by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will help revive the moribund peace process. Israel wants Albright to pressure Arafat to crack down on militant groups including Hamas. "Only the United States persuade the Palestinian Authority? this point to crack down," David Bar-Illan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman, said. Last week, three bombers killed themselves and four Israelis on a mall in the heart of Jerusalem. On July 30, two suicide bombers killed 15 Israelis at an outdoor market in Jerusalem.
In Jordan, security officials arrested Hamas spokesman Ibrahim Ghosheh, his son said Sunday. Meanwhile Friday, Netanyahu's Cabinet said no more West Bank land would be transferred to Palestinian authority until Arafat strikes at the infrastructure of the organizations. tal. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Greater St.
Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Pinckard with Rev. Doster officiating. Internment will follow in the Union church cemetery in Newton with Levite Funeral Home of Dothan directing. Visitation will be today at 2 p.m. She leaves to memory three sons author Doster and Carnell (Lucille) Doster, Cleveland, Ohio, Julius (Rena) Doster, Dothan; one daughter Helen E.
(Billy) Hadges, Pinckard; one step son Alto Doster, Sarasota, two sisters Lula (James) Babino, Dothan, Pantine Adams, San Diego, three brothers-in-law, Cecil (Mattie) Doster, Pinckard, Robert Doster, Newton, Rubin (Edra) Doster, White Plains, N.Y.; four inlaw, Estelle Fishburn, Waterberry, Bethra McCrary and Arsie Rita Green, White Plains, Lucille Calloway, Pinckard; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Pittman Funeral Home Geneva, 684-2600 Clifton Dale Hillman Clifton Dale Hillman, 26, of Rt. 2, Box 48, Samson, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997, in a logging accident. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1997, from the chapel of Pittman Funeral Home Geneva with the Rev. David Lamb, Rev. Raymond Holt and Rev. Communications Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo accused Netanyahu of using "pretexts" to postpone land transfers called for in the Israeli-Pales- Israel's Prime Israel's Prime AP tinian peace Minister agreements.
Benjamin "Mr. Netanyahu is a Netanyahu political partner for the terrorists," he told The Associated Press. "Both of them want to kill and undermine the peace process." According to the agreements, Israel which retains control over more than 70 percent of the West Bank is supposed to complete three land transfers by mid-1998. The Palestinians say one was due Sunday. In a joint statement issued from Cairo, Arafat, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Hussein warned against any action that would violate earlier peace agreements.
Also Sunday, the Justice Ministry initiated a request for the extradition of Palestinian police chief Ghazi Jabali, whom Israel has accused of initiating attacks against Israelis. Jabali denies the accusation. It was not clear whether the Palestinians have formally received the request. Israel's Cabinet met Sunday to discuss security measures, and several Cabinet ministers also have called for a special meeting to reassess Israel's role in Lebanon. Eleven soldiers were killed Friday in a bungled commando raid in Lebanon, and a 12th is missing.
Active grandsons Marjorie Ree Rhodes Mrs. Marjorie Ree Rhodes, 72, of Slocomb, passed away Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997, at Flowers Hospital following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held Monday Sept. 8 (today) at 4 p.m.
from the chapel of Bottoms Garden Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Hughvon King officiating. Burial will be in Antioch Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery near Faydett with Bottoms Garden Chapel of Hartford directing. Mrs. Rhodes was a member of Hartford Community Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband Coy Lee Rhodes. Survivors include three sons and one-daughter-in-law, Tommy Rhodes, of Slocomb, Steve and Brenda Rhodes, of Panama City, Joey Rhodes, of Hartford. four daughters and two sons-in-law, Frances Cannoin of Slocomb, Hazel and Earl Helms of Slocomb, Dorothy Cotter, Panama City, Linda and Charles King of Hartford, two sisters, Bertha Summerlin of Geneva, Lou Mirle Fisher, Panama City, 36 grandchildren, 49 greatgrandchildren, and one greatgreat grandchil Byrd Funeral Home Dothan, 793-3003 Bobbie Casey Cain Bobby Casey Cain, 65, of 407 Rebecca Dothan, died Sunday, Sept. 7, at her residence. Pope plans to speak at nun's funeral Continued from 1-A Mother Teresa's funeral Saturday will be held in the stadium where Pope John Paul II addressed the faithful during his 1986 visit to India, a spokesman for Calcutta Archbishop Henry d'Souza, Father Ambrose, said Sunday.
Members of the Missionaries of Charity said Mother Teresa would be buried in the courtyard of the order's headquarters, on the edge of a Calcutta slum. Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, who visited St. Thomas' Church where Mother Teresa lay Sunday, said that just as India had Mohandas Gandhi to lead the fight against poverty, hunger and injustice in the first half of the century, so it had Mother Teresa to carry on that fight in the latter half. Gujral has called for a state funeral, meaning Mother Teresa will be given the full military honors normally reserved for heads of state.
That also makes it likely presidents and prime ministers from around the world will attend. The frail, 4-foot-11-inch nun was born in Albania but had become an Indian citizen. She had suffered heart problems and other ailments for years and gave up leadership of her order in March. Mother Teresa, who said she saw God in every suffering human being, began her charity work with just a few helpers in this eastern Indian city five decades ago. Daniel Perry officiating.
Burial will follow in the Church of Samson Cemetery with Pittman Funeral Home of Geneva directing. Visitation will Tuesday 6-8 p.m. in the funeral home. Mr. Hillman was born Oct.
12, 1970, in Fort Polk, son of Roger Dale Hillman and Faye Bedean Paul Hillman. Mr. Hillman was a self-employed logger. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Thames Hillman, Rt. 2 Samson; two sons, Clint Hillman and Morgan Hillman, Rt.
2 Samson; his father, Roger Dale Hillman, Anaco. co, his mother, Faye Bedean Hillman, Dothan; one sister, SharIon Hillman Ingram, Ashford; his grandparents Henry Clifton and Bonnie Hillman, Anacoco. ANS the We Wiregrass. best have Entertainment your movies Read in ticket Arts, the to entertainment every Friday in The Dothan Eagle FOR CONVENIENT HOME DELIVERY CALL (334)792-3141 or 1-800-811-1771 Beds More newest most unique furniture 5 Pc. "Tile Top" Dinette.
5 Pc. Oak Dining 7 Pc. Dining Room Cherry Finish and 6 month Price Guarantee 3805 Ross Clark Circle (Located Across from Williams Lincoln Mercury) 671-BEDS Her order now has more than 4,000 nuns and runs 517 orphanages, homes for the poor, AIDS hospices and other charity centers around the world. One man who broke down in tears after seeing Mother Teresa's body said the Catholic nun's compassion transcended religious boundaries. "She worked for the people and never thought about whether we were Muslim or Hindu," said Mohinulisam, 38, who uses only one name.
He said he saw Mother Teresa daily when she visited a home for the aged near his shop in Calcutta. Mother Teresa died at the headquarters of her Missionaries of Charity, where she lived in a simple room. Her body lay in the order's small, dimly lit chapel, surrounded by flowers and praying nuns. But the chapel was too small to accommodate crowds, so the public viewing was delayed. Her body was moved early Sunday in a white ambulance, escorted by a police officer on motorcyele, as bells pealed in St.
Thomas' Church and anguished wails rose from mourners. Mourners began gathering before dawn, and by the time the coffin arrived, the line snaked half a mile in front of the chapel. "People loved her so much, they want to see her at peace, even if only for a' moment," said Indrani Dasgupta, a student. ARE YOU CALLED TO THE MINISTRY? ARE YOU READY TO BE TRAINED? ZOE Bible Training Center Is now accepting applications from prospective students for the term that begins October 1997. If you have a desire to answer the call of God on your life to be trained for the ministry, call or write for a free information packet today.
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