i. d. a.! news notes
Published by the United States Committee of the International Defense and Aid Fund for Southern Africa P.o. Box 17, Cambridge, MA 02138 August 1986, Issue No. 28 Telephone (617) 491-8343
tospiral? Orwill it take concertedaction of an effective kind? Such The Commonwealth Mission action may offer the last opportunity to avert what could be the worst bloodbath since the Second World War. Prime Minister Thatcher's refusal to act against apartheid at the 1985 Commonwealth summit has led to the most The full text of Mission to South Africa: The Commonwealth Report is trenchant and realistic assessment of the South available from IDAF in paperback for $5.95. African situation ever to come from such solid Establishment figures as a conservative Prime Minis ter and an archbishop. They were members of a Commonwealth delegation of seven "Eminent Apartheid's Wars Persons;' led by former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo and former Australian Prime Minister On April 23, 1986, Cavin Evans ofSouth Africa's End Conscription Malcolm Fraser, who tried for six months to persuade Campaign spoke at the Harvard Graduate School ofEducation. Evans the South African government to commit itself to genuine negotiations with the black majority. The was in the US to address the United Nations Special Committee against following are some of their most salient conclusions. Apartheid. We thank the New England War Resisters' League for arranging the talk and allowing us to print the excerpts below. After more than 18 months of persistent Olusegun Obasanjo Myopposition tothe military really started at the age oftwelve, when unrest, upheaval, and killings unprecedented in the country's history, we started our cadet program in school. We had to come to school in the Government believes that it can contain the situation indefinitely by uniform once a week, do drills and learn how to shoot. It seemed like use of force ....Although the Government's confidence may be valid quite a pointless exercise to me, and there was a lot of opposition to it. in the short term, it is plainly misplaced in the long term. South Africa At the moment there are six or seven hundred thousand white is predominantly a country of black people. To believe that they can be schoolboys doing cadet training, and what they're doing now is a lot indefinitely suppressed is an act of self-delusion. more severe than what I had to do. At the school I went to they now do While the Government claims to be ready to negotiate, it is in mock grenade attacks, military maneuvers, camouflage, and they shoot truth not yet prepared to negotiate fundamental change, nor to R-1 assault rifles. We just learned to shoot .22s. In 1976, when students countenancethecreationof genuine democratic structures, nor to protesting against apartheid were gunned down with the army being face the prospect of the end of white domination and white power in the foreseeable future. (continued on page 2) There can be no negotiated settlement in South Africa without the ANC; the breadth of its support is incontestable; and this support is New Books Available from lOAF growing. Among the many striking figures whom we met in the course of our work, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo stand out. Their Nelson Mande/a: The Struggle is My Life (IDAF, 1986, 278 pp., illus.) $6.95 paper, $21.00 hardcover reasonableness, absence of rancour and readiness to find negotiated This new edition of IDAF's popular title includes new material describing solutions which, while creating genuine democratic structures would Mandela's life on Robben Island and in Pollsmoor prison, Cape Town, where he is still give the whites a feeling ofsecurity and participation, impressed us now serving a life sentence. It is the most complete account of Mandela's views and deeply. If the Government finds itself unable to talk with men like his role in the struggle for liberation. Mandela and Tambo, then the future of South Africa is bleak indeed. Brutal Force: The Apartheid War Machine by Gavin Cawthra. (IDAF, 1986, 320 pp., iIIus.) $13.00 paper, $25.00 hardcover Is the Commonwealth tostand by and allow thecycle of violence Brutal Force is a detailed examination of the growing militarization of South Africa, the strength of its military and nuclear forces, and its aggression both at Fifth Annual Walk for Peace home and abroad, from the 5harpeville massacre of 1960 to the 5tate of Emergency in 1985-86.' Sunday, October 26 Apartheid's Private Army: The Rise ofRight-Wing Vigilantes in South Africa by Once again, IDAF is participating in the Walk for Peace, an opportunity for our Nicholas Haysom. (Catholic Institute for International Relations, 1986, 141 pp., iIIus.) Boston-area supporters to raise funds for our work on behalf of political prisoners $5.50 paper and their dependents. The walk is ten kilometers (6.2 miles) long and begins and This book by a 50uth African still living and working there examines the apartheid ends at the Boston Common. This year, 60% of funds received from pledges will regime's use of black mercenaries to attack blacks opposing the regime. It reveals go to IDAF, or whatever group you designate. (The remaining funds go to cover the true nature of much of the "black on black" violence in the ghettos and costs of the Walk, as well as to the Free 50uth Africa Movement and peace and bantustans. justice networks in the Greater Boston area.) 'IDAF also has available South Africa at War: White Power and the Crisis in Brochures on the Walk for Peace are available at our office; please write or call Southern Africa by Richard Leonard. (Lawrence Hill, 1983,280 pp.) $12.50 paper if you would like to receive one. For more information, call IDAF or the Walk for IDAF's 1986-87catalogue is now available. Please write or call for your free Peace at (617) 868-5259. copy. APARTHEID'S WARS continued from page 1 like weve seen in Langa and in Mamelodi, because the police and army used in abackup capacity, it became clear to me that we were actually are instructed to kill. being trained to carry out a civil war against the majority of South This has led to a massive growth in resistance. In 1984, according to Africans. government figures, 1,593 people failed to tum up for military service. The first branches of the End Conscription Campaign were set up at In January 1985, which is half the year's callup, the number rose to the beginning of 1984. We decided we should be a nonracial group, 7,589. A lot of these were people who later got student deferments or working closely with the UDF and more recently with COSATU on the left the country, but there is growing abhorrence for what the army is Troops Out of the Townships campaign. At the moment weve got 52 doing. In January 1986 the government refused to release the figures affiliate organizations: church groups like the SACC and Southern because the ECC would "misuse' them. We have reason to believe African Catholic Bishops Conference, student groups like NUSAS, theres been quite a dramatic increase. religious youth groups like the Young Christian Students, civil rights In our current campaign, called Working for a Just Peace, weve groups, women's groups, and specific issue groups like Koeberg Alert, become involved in community projects under the leadership of black which is opposed to nuclear power. community organizations. In Westem Coloured township, one of the We started by focusing on the issue of Namibia and the troops' poorer townships ofJohannesburg, we've helped run aholiday program occupation ofAngola, and developing links with the Namibian Council for mainly primary-school children. At Crossroads the residents' associa of Churches, SWAPO, and other groups in Namibia. That really tion asked us to run a driving school because the activists in the area changed in October 1984 when troops occupied the black townships needed driving skills. We've also done environmental projects; we felt in South Africa. Young people whdd previously been content to go into that working to improve the environment was also away ofserving your the army, because all they were doing was country, rather than wearing a uniform. Weve also done a lot of cultural being a clerk or doing menial tasks, were activities: art displays, drama, theater. suddenly finding themselves called up into the South Africa relies exclusively on white conscripts, and South African black townships a few miles away from their troops are completely overstretched at the moment. They're occupying secluded white suburbs. at least 35 townships, the whole of Namibia, and areas of southern There was no ambiguity about what the Angola. They're also involved in adventures in other Southern African troops were doing in the townships. Not only countries, and there are simply not enough troops to go around. So were they working hand in hand with the police they're overstretched in terms ofthings like backing up UNITA. Now the in killing township residents opposing them, but American govemment is going to provide $30 million in aid for UNITA, they went house to house in pass raids, helped which means there is basically $30 million which South Africa can then demolish squatter camps, and even did things rechannel into applying apartheid at home. It also means the Angolan Gavin Evans like patrolling whites--only beaches. They were government will not only be fighting against South African troops and involved in what was becoming acivil war, killing and wounding black UNITA, but also against advanced American weapons. Therefore the township residents. Initially they used primarily tear gas and rubber Angolans simply can't allow the Cuban troops to be withdrawn from bullets. There were lots of people killed by rubber bullets, which often Angola. It's giving South Africa a further excuse to stave off Namibian surprised us at the beginning until-we saw-what-a-robberballetwas. 'ndependence: The South Africans have by far the largest military Now they only use buckshot and live R-1 bullets. The tactic is to kill a machine in Africa, and the Angolan troops are simply no match for few people in front of what they would consider a rioting mob, and them. UNITA itself is really nothing but a South African puppet force, hope that the rest ofthem will disperse. That's why weve had massacres soon to be a South African and American puppet force. D
Southern Africa News Calendar June and July 1986
The follOWing news items are based primarily on shortwave broadcasts by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), The Voice of America (VOA), and Radio South Africa (RSA). 4 June South African and British newspapers are also used. Items are intended to supplement major news South Africa- The government banned until the end of june all meetings to sources and are not exhaustive. Because radio reception is sometimes unclear, the spelling ofall commemorate the 1976 Soweto uprising. It also banned all meetings to mark the proper names cannot be guaranteed. adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1955.
Items relating to political trials and detentions appear in red. SouthAfrica- Police said they shot dead an ANC guerrilla near the border of Lesotho and the Orange Free State, when he tried to throw a hand grenade at them. For more comprehensive news about political prisoners in Southern Africa, please see our bimonthly publication Focus. 1 June News Blackout Zimbabwe- Security Minister Emmerson Munangagwa said nine Zimbabweans were Despite rulings by Supreme Courts in johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and being held in connection with the May raid by South Africa. Durban, the renewed nationwide State of Emergency declared on 12 june has drastically tightened the already severe press restrictions imposed in November 1985. 3 June Reporters, photographers, and TV crews were already excluded from areas of South Africa - Nelson Mandela declined to meet with kwaZulu bantustan leader "unrest" and were sometimes attacked by police. joumalists have been detained and Gatsha Buthelezi -a regular critic ofthe ANC. deported and newspapers have been heavily censored and sometimes even confiscated from newsstands. As a result, arrest and casualty figures cannot be determined with any accuracy, and police and troops are immune from public opinion. Only the regime is permitted to give information on deaths, detentions, Official Violence demonstrations, security force movements and actions, etc. The news media are Violent deaths occurred in South Africa virtually every day during this news period, prohibited from disclosing the "name or identity" of any detainee, and many next of and were announced by the regime, which under the current heavy censorship is kin have never been informed ofdetentions. There is a ban on publishing "subversive the sole source of such information. We therefore report only some of those announce statements" including calls for disinvestment, or endangering "the termination of the ments that contain unusual features. Security forces have been responsible for the State of Emergency"; and the burden of interpreting emergency regulations rests on majority of killings, even according to the regime's own accounts. 2 reporters themselves. South Africa- Addressing Parliament on two new security bills, Law and Order Min Nation. The move came after Coloured and Asian representatives in Parliament blocked ister Louis leGrange disclosed that restrictions on news coverage ofghetto protest would two tough new security bills. be reintroduced. Opposition MP Helen Suzman said the new bills would hasten eco South Africa- Police clashed with women from squatter settlements protesting nomic sanctions. security force actions outside the Parliament building in Cape Town. At least 30 people were arrested, including the dean of St. George's Cathedral, the Rev. Edward King. 5 June United Kingdom-The Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group presented its re SouthAfrica - Defying the regime's ban, Bishop Tutu said he would instruct his clergy port on South Africa, concluding that concerted Commonwealth action might be the last to commemorate the Soweto uprising and would take part in events himself. He opportunity to avoid a bloodbath. The group said the South African regime feared eco described the ban on commemorations as one of the most insensitive and provocative nomic sanctions but was not prepared to negotiate fundamental changes. It said there actions so far by the Law and Order Minister, who he said was provoking blacks into could be no negotiations without the ANC, and that the regime could not contain the defying the ban so as to give the police yet another excuse to "get us black people:' situation indefinitely by force. . South Africa- The rand fell sharply to US 38¢ after international criticism of the South Africa- Police reported petrol bombings in white areas of Cape Town. regime's handling of protest, moves in the US Congress towards economic sanctions, and United Kingdom - Supporting economic sanctions against South Africa, the former fears of sanctions by Commonwealth countries. Australian Prime Minister and EPG memberMalcolm Fraser noted that South Africa itself Angola - The Angolan govemment said South African patrol boats armed with uses economic sanctions against its neighboring states, and that failure to impose Scorpion missiles attacked the southem Angolan port of Namibe, sinking a Cuban sanctions would leave opposition black leaders with no recourse but to "shoot it ouf' freighter and destroying two fuel tanks. 13 June 7 June South Africa- Bishop Tutu, meeting with President Botha, criticized the ban on commemorations ofthe Soweto uprising. He said any calm flowing from the Emergency Mozambique-RSA said the MNR rebel movement was opening an office in would be brittle, superficial, and sullen, and warned that detentions of leaders could Washington, DC in order, among other things, to persuade Congress to end aid to the Mozambican government. cause the people to become a mob if trouble erupted. South Africa - On the second day of the State of Emergency, state-<:ontrolled TV put the number ofdetentions at around 1,000, while apro-govemment newspaper used afig 8 June ure of 2,000. Two bishops were detained. Authorities said one African was killed in a South Africa- More than 600 leading business people put forward a wide-ranging clash with police and that six were killed in fighting between Africans. In Soweto, 73 program to halt unrest and solve the country's political and economic problems. schoolchildren were arrested under a regulation banning them from school grounds South Africa- An African policeman was bumed to death in Witbank in the Eastern during holidays. PFP leader Colin Eglin said South Africa had effectively become a police Transvaal, the second policeman to die in the area in the last ten days. Altogether 43 p0 state. lice officers had died in the "unrest;' all but four of them African. South Africa- Police confiscated copies of the Sowetan and Weekly Mail newspapers from newsstands. Both papers had published extensive reports and 9 June commentaries critical of the State of Emergency, which was prohibited under the new regulations. Zambia - Three people in the copper belt town of Kitwe were detained and accused of conspiring to overthrow the government with South African aid. They were accused UnitedNations - The Security Council issued astatement condemning South Africa's ofentering Namibia's Caprivi Strip with the aim of soliciting support from South African State of Emergency, calling for the immediate release of those detained, and holding the security forces there. South African government responsible for any bloodshed resulting from repression on the anniversary of the Soweto uprising. Lesotho - Rfty-three political refugees from South Africa were ordered to leave Leso tho on 12 june. The refugees included members ofthe ANC, PAC, and Black Conscious ness Movement. 14 June South Africa-At least 14 people were killed in the Crossroads squatter camp as South Africa-The regime announced that 12 people had been killed in so-called several thousand right-wing vigilantes known as the "Fathers" attacked the main relief "black-Dn-black violence" since the State of Emergency came into force. center for refugees from earlier violence. Vigilantes also attacked the neighboring KTC squatter area, setting scores of shacks alight. Police denied reports by priests, joumalists, France-The French Minister for Human Rights announced new restrictions on the opposition MPs, and others that they were helping the "Fathers'~ importing of South African wine, fruit, and other foods. Zambia - President Kaunda again threatened to take his country out of the South Africa- Authorities said a car bomb exploded outside a hotel-restaurant in Commonwealth unless Britain agreed to impose economic sanctions on South Africa. Durban, killing at least three people and injuring 69. He said Britain's rejection of sanctions was not due to its concern about the suffering of South African blacks but to the profits reaped by British companies operating there. 15 June 10 June USA - About 40,000 people attended an anti-apartheid rally in New York, and demanded economic sanctions against South Africa. A letter from Winnie Mandela was South Africa- At least 50,000 people in the Crossroads area were now homeless as read, in which she compared Botha's regime with Hitler's. violence continued. Right-wing vigilantes drove away anti-apartheid activists known as Comrades in athree-hour battle using guns, axes, spears, clubs, and broken bottles. Police Zimbabwe - Speaking at a rally to mark the anniversary ofthe Soweto uprising, Prime in Casspir armored vehicles fired tear gas at those fleeing. Police said 14 people had been Minister Mugabe called for the establishment of an African military force for defense killed in two days of fighting. A local priest accused police of aiding the vigilantes. against South African aggression and to help end apartheid. South Africa- Police said a white schoolboy and two African farm workers were Botswana - Police said four masked gunmen raided a house near Gaborone, killing injured in separate landmine explosions in the Eastern Transvaal. a young woman and wounding a three-year old girl and a young man. Most observers South Africa-George De~th, a cameraman for the ITN television network, was blamed the raid on South African agents trying to eliminate ANC members. attacked with axes by right-wing vigilantes at Crossroads. [Dei\th later died in hospital.] Denmark-The Danish government announced a general trade embargo on South Africa. 11 June USA - The Bank ofAmerica announced aban on any new loans to private businesses in South Africa, making it the first US bank to make such a move. The bank stopped loans South Africa-Anglican bishop Sigisbert Ndwandwe, who was detained in April to the South African government in 1980. under the Intemal Security Act, was again arrested at his home. South Africa-About 3,000 right-wing vigilantes clashed in Crossroads with an equal number of African youths, both sides armed with bush knives and axes as well as 16 June pistols and assault rifles. At least 23 people had been killed there since 9 june. White South Africa- Commissioners ofpolice in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Cape gunmen, some in paramilitary uniform, were seen among the vigilantes. ordered that no one be allowed on school premises or in school buildings in African Mozambique-RSA said more than 15,000 Mozambicans were reported to have ghettos until 1 july. fled into eastem Zambia, and that Zambia had decided to establish a permanent refugee West Germany-The West German govemment summoned the South African center for them. ambassador to protest the detention ofthree West German nationals, two ofthem priests. It was announced later that they had been released and would be expelled from South 12 June Africa. South Africa - The regime imposed anew State ofEmergency throughoutthe country. South Africa - The Commissioner ofPolice banned journalists from any reporting on Several hundred black and white anti-apartheid campaigners were arrested, including the role ofsecurity forces or from entering any African ghetto or other area where "unrest" leaders ofAzapo, the UDF, and the Black Consciousness Movement, trade union leaders, is going on. Authorities said eight more Africans had been killed over the previous 24 church workers, civil rights campaigners, and the entire staff ofthe newspaper The New 3 hours, three of them killed by police. South Africa- Winnie Mandela was placed under partial house arrest for the 19 June duration of the State of Emergency, and ordered notto give interviews to the news media. Switzerland- Speaking to a meeting of the Intemational Labor Organization, ANC South Africa- Well over one million people took part in a general strike. The BBC Leader Oliver Tambo called on trade unions worldwide to impose their own economic said the strike was even bigger than that of lWIy Day, and said the stayaway rate in the sanctions against South Africa. Witwatersrand was about 90%. One Pretoria resident described the city as a tomb. South Africa- The entire staff ofthe newspaper The New Nation was reported to be Phone lines to all the country's black ghettos were cut off and security forces were making arrangements to go underground following the publication of today's issue. deployed in strength. SouthAfrica-Priscillajana, a prominent lawyer, said Jawye,s were lIlable tofu1etion South Africa-Addressing a commemorative service in johannesburg before a lnlerthe Emergency. She said police refused to give any information about the Iuxteds multiracial congregation, Bishop Tutu said the regime's ban on all gatherings to mark the ofdetainees, and were accepting no food, reading material, or other items for them. She Soweto anniversary was trampling the dignity of blacks underfoot. said numerous young people were detained. Botswana - Foreign Minister Gaositwe Chiepe accused South Africa of carrying out a South Africa- Authorities acting under the Emergency imposed a curfew in African commando raid on a house in Gaborone, in which one Botswana citizen was killed and ghettos near Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. T-shirts and other articles bearing the names two injured. of about 47 anti-apartheid organizations were banned. Everyone except students and USA - Hundreds ofanti-apartheid protesters demonstrated outside the South African teachers was banned from school premises. Embassy in Washington and a mrnber were arrested. South Africa- Authorities were reportedly bulldozing shelters recently rebuilt after South Afric.1-The Information Bueau said the Soweto amivel5ary passed off violence in the KTC squattercamp, and clearing the Crossroads camp of debris used for relatively ~etly, with no deaths reported. [Authorities later admitted that 11 Africans building shelters. were killed, four by security forces and seven by other Africans. This was the highest number killed in one day during this Emergency. The Chief Minister of the kaNgwane bantustan revealed another four deaths on 26 june, but details could not be reported. 20 June Amnesty Intemationallater said a 14-year-{)ld boy died of head wounds received when South Africa- The Sowetan newspaper said it had been advised by police that the security forces raided a prayer meeting in Mdantsane in the Ciskei bantustan. The group blank spaces it had left in censored articles were considered subversive. also said 600 people were arrested in the African ghetto near Graaff-Reinet. A South Africa- The President's Cou1ciI overruled Parliament and approved the government spokesperson described the severing of phone lines to the country's African Intemal Security Amendment Bill, extending police powers for detention without trial yet ghettos as a technical failure, which met with open disbelief by reporters.) further, and the Public Safety Amendment Bill, authorizing security forces to declare ·unrest areas" for three months or more. Critics had said these laws gave the regime powers virtually identical to a State of Emergency without having to declare one. The 17 June government said earlier it would not have irTlJX)Sed the State of Emergency if Parliament Kenya - Speaking in Nairobi, SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma said Israeli weaponswere had passed these two measures. being used by the South African army to massacre Namibians and South Africans. Healso accused Britain, West Germany, and the US of allowing mercenaries to be recruited in their countries to serve in the South African anny. 21 June South Africa- The government's news blackout on coverage of security force South Africa- The police chief of the Western Cape forbade joumalists to quote activities was extended to include the six non!!independent" bantustan areas. members ofthe UDF, COSATU, the End Conscription Campaign, NUSAS, Detainees' Parents Support Committee, Release Mandela Campaign, and Azapo. News of the UnitftJ Kingdom - Amnesty International said police arrested an entire Dutch orderwas atfirstdenied by the police chiefand by Deputy Information Minister Louis Nel. Reformed Church Coloured congregation of about 200 people at Elsie's River near Cape Town over the weekend, and photographed and fingerprinted all ofthem. [Among those South Africa- Deputy Information Minister Louis Nel denied London newspaper arrested was the Rev. Richard Stevens, interviewed in the December 1984 News Notes.) reports that several infants were killed on 19 june when security forces fired tear-gas About 70 children were later released. canisters into a church in the African ghetto of KwaThema, east of johannesburg. USA - The US government announced that South African security forces arrested four South Africa-=1erry Waite, the special assistant to the Archbishop of Canterbury, US citizens in Cape Town over the weekend and that US diplomats had been refused appealed for the release ofclergymen and church merrbers detained without trial under pennission to visit them. the State of Emergency. He contradicted government claims that the families of all those held had been informed of their detention, and attacked the ban on family visits to South Africa- CBS-TV cameraman Wim de Vos was expelled from South Africa after detainees. losing his appeal against a deportation order. De Vos, a Dutch citizen living in South Africa since 1975, filmed the scx:alled Trojan Truck incident when police hiding in the back of a truck opened fire unexpectedly on teenagers in the Cape. 22 June South Africa- An Information Bureau spokesperson wamed journalists that because South Africa- Four explosions struck a cinema, a chemical plant, and an oil pipeline. emergency regulations prohibit reporting on security force activities, reporters could South Africa - The regime said 55 people had been killed in political violence since not in some cases report on the questions they themselves had asked. Live satellite the State of Emergency began. broadcasts by foreign TV crews were prohibited under the State of Emergency. Italy-In a front-page editorial, the Vatican newspaper said apartheid was morally unsustainable because it discriminated against people on the basis of race and ignored 18 June human dignity. South Africa- The police announced severe restrictions on funerals in the Western South Africa- Authorities in the Bophuthatswana bantustan said a former divisional Cape, to remain in force for more than two weeks. Ghettos affected by the order included police chief, Andy Molope, was shot dead in Winterveld. In IWIrch, Molope had ordered Langa, Guguletu, and other places where recent violence had occurred. police to open fire on a crowd holding an anti-government demonstration, killing at least South Afric.-laking advantage of Parliamentary privilege, opposition I'll' Harry 11 people. Swart said people were being detained and "just disappearing." He named a detained student leader, saying he had disappeared along with thousands of others. 23 June South Africa- Black supermarket workers in many parts of the country staged sit South Africa-Olarges of high treason against four senior leaders of SAAWU down strikes to protest the detention of union leaders. Thozamile Gqweta, Sisa Njikelana, Sam Kikine, and Isaac Ngcobo-weredropped in the USA - The House overwhelmingly approved a sanctions Supreme Court in Pietennaritzburg. The four were charged 13 months ago with 12 other bill by Ronald V. Dellums (D-CA) which would sever all eco UDF leaders, in the largest such treason case for almost 30 years. The other 12 were nomic ties with South Africa and require about 280 US acquitted in December. The case against them collapsed after the judge found that tape companies to shut down operations there within 180 days of the recordings used as evidence had been tampered with. bill's passage. UnitedKingdom - Terry Waite, the special assistant of the Archbishop of Canterbury, United Nations - For the second time in a month, the US revealed a letter smuggled out of a South African prison by an African man. The letter and Britain vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for said, "We are on hunger strike. We are not allowed basic rights such as washing and toilet sanctions against South Africa, this time regarding the attack paper. The food is bad and when we complain the authorities don't want to listen and we two weeks ago against the Angolan port of Narnibe. The have one more right taken away'! Angolan ambassador said he felt frustration and despair, and South Africa- The government was to try the Rev. jeff Quinlan on 25 july for refusing the Indian ambassador said that by failing to act with decision to evict refugees from the Crossroads squatter camp who had settled at his Anglican and speed the Council had sent the wrong signal to South Church of All Saints. Africa. Ronald V. Dellums South Africa- The Foreign Correspondents Association said that since the State of Emergency was declared, restrictions on the media progressively became among the 24 June world's worst. The Sowetan appeared with a blank space instead of its editorial column. South Africa - The Information Bureau said about 20 people were injured in bomb Authorities blacked out reports on the Emergency in the British Financial Times, and explosions in central johannesburg. distributors of Newsweek decided after official advice not to import issues of the South Africa- The government expelled a journalist working for Israel Radio and a magazine. 4 Tel Aviv daily paper, saying he must leave the country by 26 june. United Kingdom - ANC President Oliver Tambo met with Foreign Office Minister 29 June Lynda Chalker, the first time the ANC had met with a British government Minister. Chalker South Africa- Union leader tv10ses Mayekiso, the senior merrber of the Alexandra said her emphasis was on the suspension of violence, while Tambo's was on the need for Action Committee and leader of the Allied Metal W>rkers, was reported to be under pressure to end apartheid. arrest following a two-week visit to Sweden. Other senior union leaders believed to include jay Naidoo of COSATU werealso detained beforean emergency summit meeting 25 June of COSATU. Crucial wage negotiations were under way for about one million miners and South Africa - Law and Order Minister Louis leGrange said 279 people were killed metalworkers. in "unrest-related" incidents from january 1986 until 11 june, the day before the new State South Africa-Zulu chief Gatsha Buthelezi of Emergency. He said it was not in the public interest to announce how many people had addressed a rally in Soweto, the first political been detained since 12 june. meeting allowed there under the Emergency. He said that the multiracial national council proposed 26 June by Pretoria could be the beginning of the final victory of the black struggle for liberation. No South Africa - Police offered rewards to residents of African ghettos for information members of Buthelezi's Inkatha movement had about recent violence and on the identify ofthe young militants known as the Comrades. been detained under the Emergency. South AfriCol-Piroshaw Camay, the leader of the ColIlciI of South African Trade United Kingdom -In a report on riot weapons, Unions (CUSAl, was released after being detained on 12 june under Section 50 of the the BBC explained that a rubber bullet was not "a Internal Security Act. He said 50 to 60 members and officials of CUSA and its affiliates sort of soft squishy pellet" but a hard cylinder fired A rubber bullet: length 3W; were now detained, and that CUSA offices in Pretoria had been raided. at about 150 mph. The newer plastic bullet, also a diameter 1W; weight 3.5 oz. South Africa- Police near Durban said they arrested four suspected ANC members f1at-ended cylinder about the same size goes at twice that speed, and also causes broken and discovered a stock of arms. A nighttime curfew was imposed in the KwaNdebele jaws, noses, and teeth, as well as blinding. bantustan and severe restrictions placed on people's movements. The government said it had protested to Zimbabwe about an incident earlier in the month in which it claimed a gr
South Africa- Dr. Fritz Leutwiler, the Swiss banker who had mediated between sanctions against South Africa, and deploring "constructive engagement" with its attempt South Africa and its Western creditors, gave up the job, saying insufficient progress was to link the Cuban troop issue with Namibian independence. being made toward ending apartheid. Mozambique - An MNR spokesperson in Portugal, said that the MNR President had USA - Paulo jordan, an executive committee member of the ANC, accepted the demoted the Secretary General, Evo Fernandes. There had been speculation about asplit W.E.B. DuBois award on behalf of Nelson Fvlandela, the first intemational award in MNR leadership over possible talks with the Mozambican government. presented by the NAACP. South Africa- Authorities extended State of Emergency restrictions to five areas ofthe South Africa-About 1,000 members of the black Municipal and Allied Workers kwaZulu bantustan, prohibiting entry by nonresidents and curtailing movement around Union were detained in what was believed to be the biggest single roundup since the school premises. State of Emergency was proclaimed. SouthAfrica- The country's two largest business groups, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and the Federated Chamber ofIndustries, whose members control about half 4 July of South Africa's jobs, called for an end to the State of Emergency. tv1eanwhile COSATU South Africa-A spokesperson for the DeBeers mining company said almost 2,000 leader Elijah Barayi was released from detention. miners were on strike at four mines in the Orange Free State and were demanding the company take action to secure the release of detained union leaders. [The strike was 12 July joined on 7 july by 5,500 gold miners, and ended on 9 july.] South Africa- Africans in Soweto defied a ban on large funerals to bury an African Zimbabwe - Former President Jimmy Carter and 40 Western diplomats walked out youth shot by police the previous week. ofaceremonial dinner when the Zimbabwean Youth and Sport Minister attacked US and South Africa-Without citing any figures, the regime claimed a 77% decrease in British policy for being rooted in preserving business interests in South Africa. [Carter later violent incidents since the Emergency began. However, the BBC said the average number said he did not object to the minister's message, only its venue, and said it was what the killed was almost exactly the same as just before the Emergency. The official death toll vast majority of people on earth believed. The US said it was withholding $13.5 million was 148. Human rights groups estimated the number ofdetentions at over 7,000, ofwhich in aid to Zimbabwe until an apology was made.] they had names for about 2,500. Those detained included over 1,500 trade unionists. 5 July 13 July South Africa- Bishop Tutu said he would refuse to see Sir Geoffrey Howe during his South Africa- Educational authorities were granted Draconian powers to refuse planned visit next week on behalf of the EEC, asking what Howe could achieve that the anyone admission to schools and to assign those admitted to particular classes. Students Eminent Persons Group were unable to achieve in six months. He added "I won't see him, refusing to accepttheir assignment would be deemed to have left school voluntarily. Large Allan Boesak certainly won't see him, and I hope Nelson Fvlandela will refuse to see him numbers of army reservists were stationed at schools and pupils were issued with ID as well:' cards. South Africa - Two members ofathree-man African "assassination squad" were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Katlehong near johannesburg. 14 July South Africa - Between nine and twelve Africans reportedly died in fighting in 6 July Soweto between migrant workers and anti-apartheid activists, but the Information Bu South Africa-Human rights groups said the death toll in 22 months of political reau announced only two deaths. By the Bureau's own count more than 2,000 people violence had passed 2,000. The institute of Race Relations said 1,997 people, almost all had been killed in less than two years of resistance to apartheid. Africans, were killed between the outbreak of violence in September 1984 and 30 june South Africa- The day of action called by COSATU resulted in sit-ins, slowdowns, of 1986, and at least 12 others had died since then. short work stoppages, and a widespread stayaway in the Eastem Cape. Hundreds of thousands ofstudents stayed away. The release ofCyril Ramaphosa ofthe National Union 7 July of Mineworkers was seen to have averted an all-oot strike by African miners. United Nations - Atthe start offive-day conference on Namibia in Vienna, Secretary South Africa- Four African miners were reported killed in disturbances in gold General Perez de Cuellar denounced South Africa's refusal to end its occupation of the mines in the Orange Free State over the weekend. territory. He said SWAPO guerrillas were willing to halt their fighting if South Africa took steps to free Namibia. 15 July United Kingdom - The Synod of the Church of England called on the British SouthAfrica- The Information Bureau said nearly 1,000 people had been arrested by government to impose economic sanctions on South Africa. the end of june in connection with "murders" and that 800 were now standing trial. South Africa- The Law and Order Minister said Winnie Mandela was no longer on Authorities in the Ciskei bantustan said police there killed a suspected "terrorist:' the list of banned persons. 16 July 8 July South Africa - Authorities said 12 Africans were killed in political violence, one ofthe South Africa- The government announced new restrictions in the johannesburg area worst casualty reports since the Emergency was declared. on indoor meetings of more than 30 organizations, including the UDF, Azapo, and South Africa- Two judges in the Durban Supreme Court rejected an application to COSATU. Outdoor meetings were also banned. [The ban was lifted on 10 july after a declare the Emergency totally invalid, but ruled that President Botha had no authority to court challenge, but the government then issued new orders confining the ban to Soweto deprive detainees of their common-law right to legal representation, and that opposing and excluding union organizations.] the govemment in writing or speech did not constitute a criminal offense under the emergency regulations. They ordered certain sections struck down because they were 9 July "hopelessly uncertain" and rejected the view that the onus of interpreting regulations should fall on journalists and other individuals. [The decision applied only to Natal prov Nigeria-Nigeria and Ghana announced they were pulling out of the ince.] Lawyers began at least 700 applications to visit clients in detention. Commonwealth Games taking place in Scotland this month because ofBritish policy on Southern Africa. [They were followed by another 31 countries over the following two South Africa- The government withdrew a charge under the Intemal Security Act weeks, including the largest Commonwealth country, India. Some said they would against Anthony Heard, the editor of the Cape Times, for publishing an interview with reconsider if Mrs. Thatcher changed her position on sanctions.] ANC President Oliver Tambo. The paper's owners and publishers were to be prosecuted instead. South Africa - Seventeen Africans were reported killed over the previous 24 hours. 10 July An unofficial report said five Africans were killed in Soweto during aclash between police South Africa-A bomb went off outside the johannesburg Stock Exchange, the 14th and 2,000 residents defending a rent strike. bombing under the State of Emergency. UnitedKingdom - The Archbishop ofCanterbury called on Mrs Thatcher to soften Zimbabwe-After talks with Sir Geoffrey Howe, Prime Minister Mugabe said her opposition to economic sanctions. Howe's mission was futile. He completely rejected Britain's argurnent that economic sanctions would hurt black people and said sanctions would in fact shorten the burden of economic suffering. 17 July South Africa -Students in the ghettos of Lamontville and Chesterville near Durban 11 July burned their ID cards and staged boycotts and sit-ins to protest new security measures. South Africa- Police said a white man was being held in connection with the South Africa-Police said they killed ten ANC "terrorists" in two gun battles in "necklace" killing of an African police sergeant in june. Alldays in the northern Transvaal, about 30 miles from Botswana, and at King William's Town in the Eastern Cape. This brought to 17 the official number of alleged ANC operatives killed since 12 june. 18 July Austria-A UN conference in Vienna attended by 128 nations ended by supporting South Africa- The London Guardian reported that Pretoria was taking advantage of the use of armed struggle against the South African occupation of Narnibia, calling for 6 collapsing oil prices to stockpile oil on a huge scale. South Africa- The Supreme Court ofthe Orange Free State ruled that the Emergency USA - White House spokesperson Larry Speakes said Assistant Secretary of State regulations were valid, although they had not been considered by Parliament within 14 Chester Crocker would discuss "nonpunitive sanctions" with EEC officials. days of the Emergency decree. United Kingdom - The Commonwealth Games began in Edinburgh, with more than half the teams boycotting to protest Britain's opposition to sanctions against 19 July apartheid. South Africa-Zwelakhe Sisulu, editor of The New Nation and a prominent USA - The WxldCouncil ofOuuches said its sources estimated that more than 10,000 opposition figure, was released from detention. people had been detained under the State of Emergency. South Africa-The Information Bureau said four Africans had been killed by the security forces in the previous 24 hours. 26 July South Africa-The govemment said security forces killed two armed African 20 July insurgents in ashootout in Katlehong, 30 miles southeast ofjohannesburg, one ofwhom South Africa-A delegation of the Intemational Confederation of Free Trade Unions was Zondi Molapa, a leading "terrorist:' said it was shocked by the plight of more than 250 unionists known to have been detained, and would call on its members in over 100 countries to take action. Nonnan 27 July Willis, a British member ofthe delegation, said union officials had told him that although blacks would suffer from sanctions they were prepared for the sacrifice. Ethiopia - The OAU Council of Ministers recommended cutting diplomatic links with Britain unless Britain agreed to sanctions against Pretoria; cutting air and sea links with USA - President Reagan was reported to have abandoned his plan to name Robert South Africa; and providing greater support for liberation movements. Brown, a black businessman, as the next US ambassador to South Africa becuase of potential problems with Brown's business connections with the former Nigerian USA - Terence Todman, the black foreign service officer being considered as the next govemment of President Shehu Shagari. An Administration official said they would try to US ambassador to South Africa, had been severely criticized for his negative attitude to find another black candidate. ward human rights. 21 July 28 July USA - Brian Burchfield, a Lutheran minister of four Coloured congregations who was South Africa- Bishop Tutu met President Botha for nearly two hours and said he expelled from South Africa, said South Africans were urgently calling for sanctions. urged the lifting of the State of Emergency and bans on nationalist organizations as well Burchfield was detained three times in six months, and his wife was teargassed while as the withdrawal of troops from ghettos. PW. Botha had called on Tutu to reject eco visiting a squatter camp. On 22 April he witnessed a police captain assaulting a 14-year nomic sanctions. old girl, kicking and jumping on her while two other officers pinned her down. South Africa - Police fired a tear-gas canister into the Rev. Allan Boesak's car after a church service near Cape Town. Boesak had refused to relinquish his microphone to a Ethiopia - Opening the OAU's annual summit meeting, President Mengistu said that Ethiopia, despite its own serious problems, would train and equip 10,000 guerrillas for group ofwhite police who interrupted aservice in solidarity with the families ofdetainees. Southem Africa. South Africa- Sir Geoffrey Howe met with bantustan leaders Gatsha Buthelezi and 22 July Enos Mabuza; all black opposition leaders refused to see him. USA -In a speech on South Africa, President Reagan called for the abolition of Kenya-At the World Methodist Conference in Nairobi, Bishop Tutu defended the emergency laws and the release ofNelson Mandela, butcriticized blacks' use ofviolence involvement ofthe church in politics, saying religion and politics should not be separated. and appealed to Congress and Europe to resist the "emotional clamor" for sanctions. Congressman William Gray (D-PA) said Reagan's policies had already failed, and with "a Japan - The japanese govemment reportedly planned to impose modest economic modem-day Holocaust" unfolding, asked "how can sanctions hurt black South Africansr' sanctions against South Africa, including a ban on the import of coal and steel. Desmond Tutu said PW. Botha must be thrilled to have such a wonderful public relations South Africa-Authorities said eight Africans were killed in the previous 24 hours, officer in the White House and said Reagan had made a moral choice that blacks were bringing to 190 the official death toll under the Emergency. expendable. South Africa- The Law and Order Minister denied telling Malcolm Fraser of the 29 July Eminent Persons Group that security forces could end the "unrest" if they shot enough South Africa- After a final round of talks with P.W Botha, Sir Geoffrey Howe urged blacks. Pretoria to release Nelson Mandela and other leaders, saying that without tangible pro gress, economic measures against South Africa were likely. He also said the ANC should renounce violence. Botha said Howe had come merely to pressure the govemment and 23 July said he would not be forced into "national suicide:' USA - Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) said President Reagan's speech had shown his lack of leadership on the South African issue. Lugar said he was drafting a sanctions bill. South Africa- The Rand Supreme Court declared it unlawful for divisional Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-KSl said she was deeply disappointed in the speech. Sen. commissioners ofpolice to issue orders in terms ofthe State ofEmergency. The ruling, on Edward Kennedy (D-MA) called it a disaster. a case brought by the UDF, overturned a ban on outdoor gatherings by the Soweto divisional chief of police. South Africa- The National Union ofMineworkers threatened widespread strikes to USA - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee began closed hearings on asanctions block expected dismissals, saying mine owners were using sanctions as an excuse to fire bill by Richard Lugar (R-IN). miners. USA - The New York Times reported that the US had been providing South Africa with intelligence information about the ANC for 20 years. A White House spokesperson 30 July denied the report but did not elaborate. Ethiopia - The OAU adopted a series of 30 strongly-worded resolutions condemning South Africa and calling for its total isolation through mandatory sanctions. The US, Brit 24 July ain, 'Nest Germany, France, and Israel were condemned for their "economic and nuclear collaboration" with South Africa. South Africa - The chair of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce UnitedKingdom - The Eminent Persons Group met in preparation for presenting its who had hitherto opposed sanctions, told Sir Geoffrey Howe that the African majori~ conclusions to the Commonwealth mini-summit in London. Former Australian Prime Min- now favored the introduction of international sanctions against apartheid. Officials of COSATU refused to meet Howe. USA - The city council ofHouston, Texas aproved atough new ordinance prohibiting News Blackout investment of city funds in companies doing business in South Africa or the purchase of Despite rulings by Supreme Courts in johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and South African or Namibian goods. Durban, the renewed nationwide State of Emergency declared on 12 june has Zambia - Saying "You people will not be forgiven by history,' President Kaunda met drastically tightened the already severe press restrictions imposed in November 1985. Sir Geoffrey Howe with an accusation that Britain and the US were conspiring to protect Reporters, photographers, and TV crews were already excluded from areas of apartheid. He said Reagan's speech had signalled Pretoria that they had nothing to fear "unrest" and were sometimes attacked by police. journalists have been detained and by way of US or British sanctions. deported and newspapers have been heavily censored and sometimes even confiscated from newsstands. As a result, arrest and casualty figures cannot be 25 July determined with any accuracy, and police and troops are immune from public Lesotho - Three ANC members living in exile in Maseru were murdered in their opinion. Only the regime is permitted to give infonnation on deaths, detentions, homes over the past week by armed men. Another was kidnapped. Two of the killings demonstrations, security force movements and actions, etc. The news media are were said to have occurred only hours after the ANC men had been released from police prohibited from disclosing the "name or identity" ofany detainee, and many next of custody. kin have never been informed ofdetentions. There is a ban on publishing "subversive statements" including calls for disinvestment, or endangering "the termination of the South Africa- Two ANC members were convicted of attempted murder and State of Emergency"; and the burden of interpreting emergency regulations rests on sentenced to 25 years. The two were linked with Dutch fugitive Klaas Dejonge, an reporters themselves. alleged arms smuggler for the ANC now taking refuge in the Dutch Embassy. 7 ister Malcolm Fraser, the co-chair ofthe EPG, criticized President Reagan and Prime Minis Acronyms andAbbreviations ter Thatcher, saying the continuation of "half-policies" was guaranteed to hand Southern ANC - African National Congress Africa to the Soviets. AWB - Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging or Afrikaner Resistance Movennent. a group of radical right-wing South Africans. South Africa- The Information Bureau reported that the internal affairs minister ofthe Azapo - Azanian People's Organization kwaNdebele bantustan had been killed by a car bomb. He had been linked with the BCM - Black Consciousness Movennent right-wing Mbokhoto vigilantes. At least seven people, including three police, were BCP - Basutoland Congress Party reported killed in agrenade and machine-gun attack on the main police station in Urntata, Broederbond - a politically powerful secret society of right-wing Afrikaners Contact Group - the 'Mestem nnediating group on Namibian independenoe, made up of the US, Franoe, UK, in the Transkei bantustan. An official ofthe kaNgwane bantustan was reported shot dead 'Mest Germany and Canada by unknown gunmen at his home over the weekend. COSAS - Council of South African Students COSATU - Congress of South African Trade Unions Zambia - The US arnbassador met with three members of the ANCs National DTA - Democratic Tumhalle Allianoe Executive Committee. The ANC officials said that without sanctions its military wing EEC - European Economic Community would have no choice but to step up the use of violence. FLS - Front-line States: Angola, Botswana, N'Iozambique, Tanzania, zambia and Zimbabwe FOSATU - Federation of South African Trade Unions Frelimo - MozambiqJe Liberation Front, the ruling party 31 July HNP - Herstigte Nasionale Party, an extrenne right-wing Afrikaner party South Africa-In an out-of-court settlement, the government lifted its ban on IMF - Intemational Monetary Fund LLA - Lesotho Liberation Army, the military wing of the exiled BCP meetings and publications by about 100 organizations in the Cape Town area. COSATU MACWUSA - Motor Assemblers' and Component Wori
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