Bombing did not deter N.Z. churchman

Press, 28 April 1981, Page 1

Bombing did not deter N.Z. churchman

Being blown up by a parcel ' bomb would be enough to put most people off helping black South African refugees, but it only made Canon John Osmers more determined. In July 1979, he was opening a parcel of magazines in Lesotho, a tiny independent black State in the middle of South Africa, when the parcel exploded. The explosion blew his hand off and ripped most of the skin off the top half of his legs.

Five other people were injured by the blast.. “The bomb was planted by the South African security service, which wanted to eliminate me,” said Canon Osmers yesterday. The parcel, which contained magazines sent from Europe, was intercepted at Johannesburg Post Office and booby-trapped he said. Canon Osmers is back in Christchurch, his home town, visiting relatives. After attending Christchurch Boys’ High School

and completing an M.A. degree at Canterbury University, Canon Osmers went to England where he entered 'the Anglican ministry . An interest in Africa eventually led him to work in Lesotho, where he has lived since 1965. Since 1976 he has spent a big part of his time helping refugees from South Africa; manv of whom were young blacks involved in the Soweto uprisings on the run from the South African security service. He is also an active mem-

ber of the African National Congress, an organisation pledged to the destruction of the white regime in South Africa and its replacement with a “nonracial society.” “I was a New Zealander living and working in South Africa, trying to live by the moral standards I had grown up with, and they tried to kill me,” said Canon Osmers. He saw no contradiction in being a churchman and supporting groups seeking to overthrow violently the South African Government.

Canon Osmers believes the South African Government will use the Springbok tour to make its people 'think New Zealanders sympathise with its policies .

“Black Africans are very sensitive about who is seen to be for the white South Africans, with whom they are involved in a life or death struggle, and who is seen to be against them,” he said.

While in London, Canon Osmers was notified by the Lesotho Government that

he would not be allowed back into the country. The South African Government had pressured Lesotho into keeping him out, he said. However Canon Osmers is not finished. He has been offered work with South African refugees in Botswana and after staying in Christchurch for the next six weeks he will probably go there. The loss of his right hand has not proved much of a handicap. “I am left-handed anyway,” he said.