South Africa grapples with charges of racism in military

South Africa armed forces reflect the country's multiracial population

In this story: Maoist rebels strike at heart of Nepal's government Report reveals malaria-carrying mosquitoes stowing away on aircraft   Sri Lanka works to restore, preserve cultural treasures Cuban man recalls a century of experiences One New Zealander's bouncy fun is another's noisy nuisance RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Kevin Grieves
CNN World Report

South Africa's political transformation from a bastion of apartheid to an open society has been remarkable by most estimates. The world watched as former apartheid-regime prisoner Nelson Mandela took up the reigns of government, and looked on as South Africans tried to heal the wounds of the past through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. But recent events seem to show what distance remains for the country on the road of racial conciliation.

About CNN World Report: CNN World Report strives to fulfill its mission: To provide television viewers around the world with the opportunity to see other countries as they see themselves. CNN World Report gives the world's broadcasters a global forum from which to report the news 'as they see it' to the rest of the world. CNN World Report airs daily on CNN International and weekends on CNN. For program times in your area, click here (international viewers) or here (viewers in the United States & Canada)

South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) told CNN World Report viewers about an incident last September which is still having repercussions in the multiethnic nation: a black soldier at the Tempe military base in Bloemfontein shot nine white people in a rampage said to have been sparked by racial tensions at the base. The Tempe base was one of the first installations in the country to integrate former African National Congress fighters with their adversaries from the pro-apartheid Defense Force.

The scars of the shooting were further deepened when some black soldiers reportedly refused to participate in an honor guard for some of the slain white officers. South African National Defense Force (SANDF) officials claim race relations in the country's army are good. But SABC says the South African government has launched an investigation into racism in the military, and that commission will be visiting SANDF bases to examine the issue.

SABC correspondent Robyn Curnow says the racism commission may have to dig to hear the full story: soldiers are being required to get permission from commanding officers to testify, prompting worries that many soldiers will be intimidated into not speaking out about problems. "The issue of intimidation has come to our notice," commission chairman Bethuel Setai acknowledges, "but people are coming to us anonymously ... perhaps an indication that there's a problem."

Vigilant Nepalese soldier watches for Maoist rebel activity

All is not well in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. A group of rebels who follow Maoist doctrine began a campaign four years ago to overthrow Nepal's constitutional monarchy, and more than 1,000 people have been killed in that conflict.

Nepal Television told viewers about the challenges facing the government in the conflict, primarily the remoteness of the Maoist rebels' area of activity in the western part of the country. The Maoists receive much of their support from the impoverished and largely illiterate populace in that area. But the rebels are clearly aiming their attacks at Nepal's leadership, as evidenced by a recent attempt on the life of Girija Prasad Koirala, the president of the ruling Nepali Congress Party. Koirala was not present when a bomb exploded at the location where he was to make a speech, thanks to his flight being delayed in the capital, Kathmandu.

Nepal Television reporter Rojee Kattel says Nepal's government has issued an appeal to the Maoist rebels to renounce their violent tactics, and to work within the framework of the country's constitution. Yet hope for a peaceful resolution appears remote. "Though the government of Nepal has repeatedly called the Maoists to come for dialog, the possibility seems very far from its destination," Kattel concludes.

	VIDEO
Swiss TV-SRI reports on how malaria can travel to other countries. Windows Media 28K 80K

Malaria is a deadly disease that claims the lives of an estimated 2 million people each year, primarily in tropical regions of the world. The mosquito that carries the malaria virus is commonly associated with swampy areas in tropical countries, and it is often puzzling for doctors to encounter cases of malaria in places such as Switzerland, thousands of kilometers from malarial mosquito breeding grounds. But some Swiss scientists have uncovered the path of those mosquitoes, a common mode of transportation for humans.

Swiss TV-SRI reported on some recent findings of researchers looking at the capability of mosquitoes to survive in the cargo compartments and fuselages of jet aircraft flying from tropical areas to Switzerland. Even more troubling, some mosquitoes are known to have become unwelcome guests in the passenger cabins. Swiss TV-SRI showed how some airlines are reacting to the problem of the deadly stowaways.

Buddha's tooth relic shines in original splendor following a $1.4 million facelift

Sri Lanka, the island nation off the Indian subcontinent, has suffered civil war for decades, with the Tamil Tiger movement fighting for a separate homeland in the northeastern part of the island since 1983. More than 55,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and Sri Lanka's towns bear the scars of warfare. And not just the towns -- religious sites, some dating back centuries, have also been damaged in the fighting.

But reconstruction work on cultural sites under way in the country is beginning to bear fruit. The Maligawa temple in Kandy housing the Buddha's tooth relic has been refurbished, erasing the damage caused by bombing by the Tamil Tigers. The temple is listed on the UNESCO roster of World Cultural Heritage sites, and paintings and murals there had been seriously damaged from the bombing.

Viewers were led on a tour of some other Sri Lankan cultural treasures, including the ancient capital of Anuradhapura and the religious site of Landarama, both locations benefiting from an effort to preserve the cultural legacy of Sri Lanka.

Correspondent Savrithri Rodrigo says Sri Lanka's centuries-old civilization, has many cultural treasures of great value to archeologists and ethnologists. "The current conservation and restoration projects will ensure that we can share our ancient history with the rest of the world," she says.

Luis Muro Bernal's life may seem like ancient history to some of the younger people around him. The Cuban citizen marks a milestone in his life this coming June, when he celebrates his 101st birthday.

Luis Bernal shares memories of his century-long life with a Cubavision reporter

Cubavision reporter Teresa Huerta recently met with Bernal, who recounted some of his memories from a life that now spans three centuries. Despite his advanced age, Huerta says the 100-year-old man still has a sharp mind. He has seen a lot in those 100 years, and participated in such historical events as the 1959 Cuban revolution. Bernal worked as a physician in a career that spanned more than half a century, and he recalled the early years of his medical practice among Cuba's impoverished population. "At the time, people didn't have much money," he told Huerta. "I had to think of what medicine I could prescribe for less than 20 cents."

Bernal proudly recounts stories of his 10 great-grandchildren, and reveals one of the secrets of his successful longevity: his greatest happiness comes from being together with his family.

Jumpers attached to elastic lines hurtle towards the ground, only to stop in mid-air and spring back skyward. Bungee-jumping has become a favorite of the extreme-sports crowd, providing an adrenaline-filled surge of exhilaration for the jumper. But TVNZ of New Zealand told CNN World Report that a new bungee-jumping tower in downtown Wellington is not so fun for some of its neighbors.

Wellington neighbors don't share enthusiasm for noisy thrills from bungee ride

The bungee device, with jumpers strapped into a capsule, is located in a lot next to a commercial block, and jumpers tend to express their airborne glee with forceful yells and screams. The neighboring tenants told TVNZ reporter Heather Shiels they're fed up with the noise level directly outside their office windows, and the Wellington city council says the noise has crossed the "acceptable level" at times. To make matters worse, one of the offices is occupied by a therapist who treats adult survivors of severe childhood trauma; the clients associate screaming with traumatic violence.

Bungee operators told TVNZ they did not understand what the fuss was about. "I think it's really been blown out of proportion," says John Saunders of Reverse Bungy New Zealand. "We're in downtown Wellington ... It's not a tranquil place at the best of times."

TVNZ's Heather Shiels says the company running the bungee attraction is now supplying its guests with special face masks designed to muffle screaming voices. Since those masks were introduced, the level of noise -- and the level of complaints -- have dropped.

CNN World Report contributors

Belgians bridle under legacy of Waterloo showdown
February 18, 2000
Brazilian children take up cause of cleaner surroundings
February 11, 2000
Slovenia extends helping hand to Kosovo refugees
February 4, 2000
China pledges commitment to freedom of worship
January 24, 2000
Angolan strife spurs wave of refugee flight
January 17, 2000

click here for more archives...

• CNN World Report
  
• CNN World Report Transcripts
  
• CNN World Report Television Archive At Texas Tech University
  
• First Chapter: CNN Making News in the Global Market
  

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.