BALUBAS - THE TRIBESMEN WHO RAN WILD FROM THEIR REFUGEE CAMP TO ADD TERROR TO THE CONFUSION OF THE FIGHTING IN THE KATANGA CAPITAL OF ELIZABETHVILLE; BALUBAS - WHO SHOT AND BURNED TO DEATH THOUSANDS OF THE KANIOKA TRIBESMEN IN KASAI PROVINCE - HAVE NOW BEEN THREATENING THE COMPARATIVE CALM OF THE CENTRAL CONGO CAPITAL OF LEOPOLDVILLE.

BROUGHT FROM THE NEAR-STARVATION CONDITIONS OF A KATANGA CAMP, SOME HUNDREDS OF BALUBA FAMILIES WERE SETTLED IN HOUSES OF THE FORMER BELGIAN ADMINISTRATION AT MATETE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LEOPOLDVILLE BUT EARLY THIS MONTH ALBERT KALONJI, THE SELF-STYLED "KING OF SOUTH KASAI", LEADER OF THE 2,500,000 BALUBAS SCATTERED ALL OVER THE SOUTH-EASTERN CONGO, WAS PLACED UNDER DETENTION AT A MILITARY CAMP OUTSIDE LEOPOLDVILLE. THE NATIONAL CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, OF WHICH HE IS A MEMBER, LIFTED HIS PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY AND ACCUSED HIM OF MALTREATING POLITICAL ENEMIES. HIS ARREST HOWEVER, WAS THE SIGNAL FOR UNREST AMONG THE RE-SETTLED BALUBAS AND A PLOT WAS UNCOVERED OF THEIR INTENTION TO MARCH THROUGH LEOPOLDVILLE AND FREE KALONJI, SELF-STYLED PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KASAI.

GOVERNMENT FORCES ACTED SWIFTLY, AND ON JANUARY 15 AN AIRLIFT, UNDER ARMED ESCORT, OF 840 BALUBA MEN TO BAKWANGA, THE CAPITAL OF SOUTH KASAI, WAS UNDER WAY. BUT THEIR FUTURE WILL BE A BLEAK ONE. SOUTH KASAI IS DRASTICALLY SHORT OF FOOD AND UNEMPLOYMENT IS RIFE.