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EPISCOPAL CHURCHPEOPLE for a FRE! SOUTHERN Afrlca E 339 Lafayette Street, New York, N.Y

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EPISCOPAL CHURCHPEOPLE for a FRE! SOUTHERN Afrlca E 339 Lafayette Street, New York, N.Y EPISCOPAL CHURCHPEOPLE for a FRE! SOUTHERN AFRlCA E 339 Lafayette Street, New York, N.Y. 10012·2725 c (212} 477.0066 FAX: (212) 979-1013 s 16 June 1993 A #137 anniversary of the Soweto Mas.sacre - or 1~76 "Fre~ and fair" election in South Africa? Violence and intimidation Whether or not the ANC obtains nominal shared control over the South African security forces. it is unreasonable to assume that those forces will end either their own or others' violence and intimidation during a process that will so vitally affect their future. In Namibia UNTAG, despite its international status and its numerous civilian, police, and military officials, was unable to prevent violence and intimidation throughout the populous north until the very end of the campaign period. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the Namibian electoral process could not have succeeded without the UN's massive presence (plus economic and political pressure exerted by the West on a vulnerable Pretoria). It is unlikely that the UN will be present in South Africa under comparable conditions, with an equivalent mandate, in the same (let alone the greater needed) numbers, and backed by equal Western support. Consequently, it will be urgent for respected non-partisan groups (like the churches, human rights groups. etc.) to ensure that there are adequate numbers of private observers/monitors and press in the Republic throughout the entire electoral process to monitor and expose violence and intimidation (as well as unfair manipulation). These non-partisan groups will need to assign adequate staff to assist the monitors: to ensure that they are distributed throughout the entire country, includ:..ng ren1ote and highly contested areas; to help with arrangements for accomodations, transport, and protection (if needed) in their assigned posts; to train them to behave in non-partisan manner,* and to know what to look for and what to do if they find (or experience) it. The presence of the press will be equally essential: if the monitors cannot get their observations to the world via the media, they will not be able to exercise effective pressure against violence and intimidation. In Namibia the South African government provided 'iavish facilities for the press in Windhoek: press packets; wire, telephone, and fax services; guided tours; bar and food; and even a limited number of rooms. While the non-partisan groups in the Republic will not be able to compete in all these respects, they should be able-- and delighted-- to provide simple assistance: information packets, introductions to civic, religious, and political leaders, and tours to meet their monitors. UNTAG effectively hobbled the press in Namibia by concealing most information it received from its field personnel. Non-partisan groups in South Africa should attempt to get information from outlying areas to the press. One useful step would be to expand beyond the statistical data now released by the Human Rights Commission by keeping available a log in central or regional headquarters of information concerning apparently serious complaints or charges made to or by monitors and updating them regularly with additional information. *Observers sent by international organizations and interested states almost always show a bias in favor of the powers-that...;be-- they hate to have to call an election not free or fair--; so other monitors must demonstrate their superior fairness (and thus superiority as a source of press reports), rather than engaging in unwinnable slanging matches. THE GUARDIAN Saturday June 12 1993 THE OBSERVER, SUI'-<DA Y 13JUNE 1993 Unsung hero of S African-death Biko conspiracy penalty debate would be a material witness if Allister Sparks the inquest were held. So I reveals the role of a made my pledge of confidential­ puts 300 at risk top pathologist in the ity. Back at the office I briefed our best reporter, Helen Zille, case that rocked the md despatched her to Port Eli­ apartheid regime. zabeth to confront the three 1 hvldllereaford Government doctors who had In Johannesburg THE death in Johannesburg the examined Biko. other day of South Africa's fore­ Zille doorstopped them at most pathologist, Dr Jonathan their surgeries. Their alarm at BATTLE for the Jives of Accomplices of Mrs Mandela When Mr De Klerk SUS· Gluckman, releases me from a being confronted with the facts at least 300 prisoners on have publicly accused her of pended executions in F'cbruarv 16-year pledge of confidential­ was proof enough that they had A Pretoria's death row will taking part in a beating which 1990. in anticipation of amnes· ity to disclose his role in expos­ indeed known what was wrong be fought in the South African Jed to the boy's death, claiming ties for political prisoners. a ing the truth about Black with the prisoner md had parliament next week when she fabricated an alibi which number of whom were on death Consciousness leader Steve joined a conspiracy of silence. President F'. W. de Klerk moves led to her being cleared of as­ row. South Africa had a partie· Biko's death in police detention to end the moratorium on the sault charges. ularly ugly reputation for capi· So we found ourselves in the The timing of the debate on at a time when the Minister of awkward position of knowing death penalty. tal punishment, having what Justice was attempting a the facts but not being able to Members of the parliament in · capital punishment is extraor· was believed to be the highest cover-up. Gape Town are to be given a dinary, coming as the country execution rate in the industrial· source them clearly. Zille and I free vote when a motion to re­ prepares for the introduction of ised world, hanging the con· I had just become editor of composed a carefully-worded start hangings is debated on a new non-racial constitution. demned in batches of up to six the Rand Daily Mail, that cru­ report that began: 'An investi­ Thursday. The t~o main black political at a time. sading newspaper which strug­ gation by the Rand Daily Mail The announcement of the groupmgs, the ANC and the In· At one time the few white gled through the dark years of - which included interviews date triggered controversy ·yes­ llatha Freedom Party, have prisoners hanged had the bene­ apartheid to expose the evils of with doctors who examined Mr terday as black political group· both indicated they want capi· fit of new ropes, while black the system. It was my first Steve Biko in detention - has ings - strongly opposed to the tal punishment banned. prisoners had to make do with experience of the double­ revealed that the black con­ death penalty - denounced the There is speculation that the used ropes. whammy of Government pres­ sciousness leader showed no move. government may be taking the Death row, in Pretoria's ccn· sures and unsympathetic pro­ signs of a hunger strike or dehy­ The liming of the debate has step to try to reinforce its tral prison. is now overflowing. prietors that had driven my two dration.' The report went on to been given added piquancy by "tough" image in the face of because courts have continued predecessors from the editorial say that our investigation indi­ reports yesterday suggesting growing unease within the rul­ to impose capital sentences chair, and which in time was to cated that Biko bad died of that Nelson M1mdela's wife. Win· j ing National Party that their since the moratorium. A partie· drive me out as well and even­ brain damage, and that the facts nie, may soon face a new trial. concessions at the multi·party ularly strong abolitionist argu. tually shut down the paper. contradicted Kruger's state­ possibly on capital charges. negotiations are earning the men! in South Africa- in addi· Dr Gluckman was one of the ments. We published it under a The attorney.general for the Iparty a reputation of weakness. tion to those routinely mounted unsung heroes of South Mrica, banner headline: 'No sign of Witwatersrand, Klaus von in other countries - is that a tall, rotund man whose hunger sttike-Biko doctors'. J.ieres und Wilkau, confirmed "This is a cynical and undein· ! legal resources are so stretched slightly pompous air concealed Next day the roof fell in. that he had received a police ocratic excercise by De Klerk that few accused in capital a passionate humanitarianism Kruger protested that the report on an investigation into with no other purpose than cases can expect an adequate that drove him to reveal more report was false and demanded Mrs Mandela's alleged links party political gain. They are defence. acts of criminal injustice than a hearing of the Press Council, a with the disappearance of two playing with people's Jives for It is also argued that the al· anyone else in South Africa's body set up by the Newspaper you! hs in J988. the sake of a few votes," an most all-white composition of long history of racial oppres­ Press Union- the proprietors' He said that no decision had ANC spokesman, Carl Niehaus, ~he judiciary - only one judge said: sion. organisation - in the face of yet been taken on a possible IS black - means that the risk threats by Prime Minister John prosecution. The two missing The government had no right of miscarriages of justice as a On the morning of 29 Sep­ to make such a decision "on the tember, 1977, I got a call from Vorster to pass a press control boys are assumed to have been result of language and cultural law if the newspapers did not murdered.
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