Nationalists threaten to boycott Rhodesian talks

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33741, 14 January 1975, Page 13

Nationalists threaten to boycott Rhodesian talks

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

SALISBURY, January 13. Rhodesia’s African nationalist leaders have refused to attend the proposed Constitutional conference unless the Government fulfils eight undertakings said to have been drawn up at last month’s Lusaka talks. The Rev. Ndabangingi Sithole, a spokesman for the nationalists, said that it had also been agreed that my Constitutional- conference would have to be called by the British Government and presided over by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Mr James Callaghan. Dr Sithole said the undertakings given at the Lusaka talks were:— 1. That the Government would release all political detainees and restrictees, including tribespeople who have been moved into so called protected villages to remove them from guerrilla influence and attacks. 2. That it would release all political prisoners as soon as possible. 3. That it would revoke death sentences imposed on political prisoners and release them. 4. That it would grant a general amnesty to all those considered to have

committed political crimes, including those outside the country. 5. That it would lift the ban of Rhodesia’s two guerrilla groups — the Zimbabwe African National Union (Z.A.N.U.) and the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Z.A.P.U.). 6. That the Government would create conditions to allow free political activity and expression in the country. 7. That the Government would halt political trials. 8. That the Government would lift Rhodesia’s state of emergency. The South African Govern-, ment yesterday announced that guerrillas had killed a South African policeman serving in Rhodesia and wounded five others.

This brings to seven the number of South African policemen killed by insurgents since the cease-fire last month in Rhodesia’s guerrilla war.

South African policemen with para-military training have been helping the Rhodesian security forces fight guerrillas since 1967. After last month’s Rhodesian cease-fire agreement, the South African -Prime Minister (Mr Vorster) said that he would withdraw the police units from Rhodesia as soon as it was clear that guerrilla activity in the country had completely ended. _____

Under the cease-fire accord, the guerrillas agreed to lay down their arms while the Salisbury Government said that it would release black political detainees and convene a round table conference on the Rhodesian Constitutional question. However, last week the Salisbury Administration called a temporary halt to the release of black politicians, complaining that the

guerrillas had not kept their side of the bargain and stopped fighting.

In a newspaper interview, yesterday, the Rhodesian Defence Minister (Mr Pieter Van Der Vyl) said that there was evidence that guerrillas were still coming into the country with arms and supplies.