South Africa

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 20

South Africa

Sir, —After recent events in South Africa a detailed response to 'G. Emerson (March 3) would be superfluous. We have all observed the effective outlawing of legitimate black protest against apartheid. We have seen water cannon used against a peaceful mixed-race protest by a church congregation and church leaders arrested. We have seen a white doctor jailed for two years

for rejecting military service which would involve him! in violence against blacks in ithe name of law and order. Against such evidence of increasing repression, G. Emerson’s comments about “evolution” and “recognition and respect” for j the rights of each race are meaningless and irrelevant. They simply highlight the determination of the white minority Government to retain political power.; — Yours, etc., . ALISTAIR PRINGLE. March 10, 1988.

j Sir, —There is another side to the Tutu-Boesak ■■ anti-Govern-ment protest (March 15). A.N.C. Church leaders, who represent only one-fifth of the black population in Africa, maintain in their "liberation theology” that { the role of the Church today is to preach communism according to Marx. If we follow Tutu in calling A.N.C. butchers "liberators” rather than terrorists,! we must surely ask who are they liberating? It is certainly not the innocent people they terrorise. Balanced comment would read: “South Africa offers her advanced transport and other infrastructure, her economic , and industrial might, and her technical, management and professional expertise: to her neighbours in an active and constructive manner in order to promote stability and progress in Southern Africa.” As a regional superpower she accepts the responsibility- of resisting foreign intervention and neo-colonialism in southern Africa, and the expansionist ambitions of Russia.’ Her efforts are as much in our interests as her own. — Yours, etc.,

BERT WALKER. March 15, 1988.