;: -l::. EPISCOPAL CHURCHPEOPLE tor a FREE SOUTHERN AFRICA C S 339 Lafayette Street New York, N,Y. 10012 A ?~C:le: (2:"2) ~ii-OJ66 # 88 FAX: (212) 979-1013 30 June 1989 CHOICES Two widely differing representatives from South Afrlca visit the USA this summer. One" already here, consists of members and affiliates of the coun­ try's millions-strong opposition, the United Democratic Front. Many of the delegation suffer ~nder draconian Pretorian restrictions and were given per­ mission only for this trip. Most prominent is Ms Albertina Sisulu, one of UDF's three co-presidents and wife of long-imprisoned ANC leader Walter Si­ sulu. They see President George Bush today, firm in their insistence on comprehensive, mandatory sanctions against South Africa to enforce the de­ molition of apartheid. Next expected in Washington - late July it is said - is the heir apparent as ruler of the South African regime, Frederik W. de Klerk. He is the lead­ er of the National Party which is almost assured of being able to hang onto power in whites-only elections on 6 September. De Klert is due to meet with Secretary of State James Baker and the 'possibility' of a session with Bush is talked about. The South African comes bearing a 'Plan of Action' wildly adopte~ by a National Party congress in Pretoria yesterday. The manifesto is a mishmash of perennial utterances by the rulers.of the apartheid state. Talk of 'democracy' and 'no domination', and much talk of two standbys of Pretoriaspeak: 'consensus' (all races in some sort of national 'dispensa­ tion' must be in agreement on issues and legi~l~tion, effectively giving the whites ve~o power) and tgroup rights', the current euphemism for apartheid. De Klerk has just returned from a journey to London, Bonn, Rome and Lisbon saying he was 'heartened' by the' realism' expressed by government leaders 'in those- capitals. He gave no details. In Britain he had almost two hours with Prime Minister Thatcher but no respite from London's well-informed and vigor­ ous anti-apartheid activists who knew his schedule and dogged his every move. He didn't show up for an evening at the theatre, cancelled a t.v. interview and his press conference at South Africa House consisted of his reading a statement then fleeing the press room. The Pretorians can't take it anymore. What can they say? Now for the big one. De'Klerk has strewn rose petals ahead of his path to America. He granted passports to the UDF delegation and his Plan of Action is supposed to disarm the anti-apartheid movement with its insistence on mandatory economic sanctions. Pretorians have uttered a steady flow ~f as­ surances that apartheid is being dismantled, i~ dying, is dead, going way back 15 years to Balthazar Vorster. At the end of May, Foreign Minister Pike Botha flew to Rome to see Secretary Baker who was on mission with the President. Botha came out, mugging the t.v. cameras and asserting 'The South African Government has accepted that apartheid must be dismantled and white domination must end. If that isn't enough I don't know what is enough.' (cf: Plan of Action) . The Bush ad~i~istration is busy consulting with Congress on the matter of deepest concern for both Washington and Pretoria - sanctions. How to stave off total c~= strictly enforced laws? The choice is to follow de Klerk or the U8F. ~he decision depends on the effort we Ame"i:ans put in pressing the Co ngress. Thatcher to meet the ambassador·of THE GUARDIAN modern apartheid Friday June 23 1989 David ",••ford ANCopens in;,ohan_.....'lI HEN Mrs Thatcher' THE GUARDIAN meets South Africa's Friday June 23 1989 Wnew National Party campaign· leader, Mr F:. W. de Klerk, today she might be well ad­ But Mr De Klerk is ever a "All the lip-service being vised to remember that she pragmatist. usually backing paid to a so-called non·racial will be facinll something of a oil before a disagreement ­ society is pure nonsense. master in the didactics of particularly within his own There is no such thing as a of defiance apartheid. p~.rty - can develop into too non·racial society In a multi· Whatever doubts one damaging a controversy. De· racial country," be said ear· might han about Mr De scribed as "the man who lier this year. "Is tbe special Klerk's qualiflcalions for the leaves no footprints." he accommodation of the Scot· crisis. Mr F. W. de Klerk. the presidency of South Africa, rarelv runs the risk of step­ tish people, within the Brit· Victoria .,Itl8in new leader of the National he is unquestionably well­ ping out of line. ish constitutional frame· Pany, who is due to see Mrs suited to the ambassadorial ,work, apartbeid?" be An extremely capable de­ N ESCALATION of Thatcher today, was not deal­ role. And. unless Mrs demanded last year. the armed struggle, Ing with the fundamental Thatcher proves particularly bater, tbe hallmarks of his Segregation is founded in perceptive and incisive. be is political style are meticu· and a mass defiance issues. he said. I practicalities. " ... The qUI'S' campatgn breaking "Central to all the refonns likely to leave tbe Prime lousness and caution - both tion of separate facilities is A the state of emergency rules, being proposed is the concept of of Which be brings to bear in not an end in itself ... It is his defence of tbe concepts are being planned in South Af· group rights. We reject the con· not a principle ... it is in fact rica, accordmg to senior ANC cept," Mr -Oliver Tambo, the which lies at tbe heart of his justified for tbe purpose of government's modern racial officials. ANC's president. said ·earlier policies. I preventing friction, coDDict Mass defiance has already tlus week. Mr Pahad, amplify­ I and over-crowdinl:," be de­ He might well be nick· begun. Mr AzIZ Pahad, an offi­ ing Mr Tambo's remarks, said: I dared last year. cial from the ANC's national "The current situation is worse named Mr Own Affairs, be­ And it is not only residen· cause tbis notion - tbe executive commlllee, said in than ever and cannot be I tial segrelation wbicb is as· 1..011<1011 yesll'rday. He cited the allowed to conttnue." "rigbts" of groups to main­ I sured. "As long as the major· tain responsibility for their recent funeral of the murdered He cited the 27 per cent in· Ilty of wbite voters vote for academic. Da\'ld Webster. crease in the military budget. , "own affairs" - is the an· I tbe National Party, we - be­ cbor of Mr De Klerk's politi­ where banned individuals the bannings of 32 organisa· I cause this is fUDClamental to , cal philosophy, as It is of his group security - sball not broke their house arrest rules, tions, death squads within the party's. Drened up per· throw tbe white government le:Jders of banned organisations country such as those who mur· versely in the rbetoric of spoke out openly. and ANC dered David Webster. and the scbools open," be pledled in flag, were everywhere.• "Red Alen" in the ANC's of­ civil liberties, it is a more 1987. sophisticated rationale for Tbey are some ofthe politi· ooT!}c orl:anlsations have fices across the Frontline states segregation than the old Ver' cal utterances of the man readjusted to the repression;" in- response to a spate of poison· woedian dogma. who said, in an interview he said. ings and bombings in recent "My party strives -for a last year: "I'm a fairly SlJllultancously, the ANC, in weelrs. an .,nor! 10 Sl'lze the initiative He revealed that this week non·racialistic country. a straight·forward cbap." It country free pf racism, of Oil IIc~ollalluns With the De Klerk ... Leading might be a mistake for Mrs the Lusaka building housing I spokesman for Pretoria racial batred, free of negll· rC~lInc, and pre-empt mitia­ the secretary and treasurer of ' tive discrimination on the Tbatcher to belieye him. tlves beml: put forward by the the ANC had been bombed. Mtnister much reassured basis of race," Mr De Klerk 13rnish Go\'ernment and others. The case of Mr Webster, who about the future of the sub· said earlier this year. "White IS clrculatlnl: a diSCUSSion docu· carried British passport no conttnent under bis rule. domination must end,"be de­ ment on talks to organisations C423432, issued in Johannes­ Mr De Klerk's talents as a clared in 1987. within South Afnca. burg in November, 1985, was champion of National Party Behind sucb Lincoln·like "The question of the atms of not expected to be raised during policy haH been finely statements lies a rationale: such negotiations, the pre-con­ Mr De Klerk's visit, a ForeIgn honed in recent years by his "If we do not succeed in ditions, v.'ho should be at the Office spokesman said. parltamentar~' experience ­ bringing about the freedom table, how hostihtles will be The Rev Frank Chikane. sec­ of dealing not only witb of all the other people in this ended and a transitional go\,· retary general of the South allacks from the left. to country ... our freedom can ernment set up, are among the African Council of Churches, which he is long accustomed, never be secure," he said in Issues put forward," Mr Pahad said yesterday he was shocked but from the new rightwing I1987. "A balance bas to be said. by the British Government's de­ official opposition, which is I struck between political The process of consllitation cision to meet Mr De Klerk.