Mercenary Group Denies Charge of Racism in North Mozambique

JOHANNESBURG - In the wake of the days-long attack by Islamic extremist rebels on the northern Mozambican city of Palma at the end of March, a private military group contracted by the Mozambican military denies charges that it gave preference to whites when rescuing people trapped in a hotel.

Amnesty International charges that the Dyck Advisory Group gave preference to whites over Blacks when evacuating people at the Amarula Hotel. "Witnesses told us of racial discrimination in decisions about who to evacuate from the Amarula Hotel," said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's regional director for east and southern Africa. These are alarming allegations that the rescue plan was racially segregated, with white contractors obviously receiving preferential treatment. The total lack of coordination between the Mozambique security forces and Dyck Advisory Group resulted in evacuations that were racist and must be thoroughly investigated." The Dyck Advisory Group said Friday that its helicopters rescued 24 people from the hotel, six of whom were white and 18 others who were Black.