The mailing says that South African President de Klerk agreed in 1990 to release all political prisoners as a precondition for negotiations with the African National Congress (ANC), but he is eight months overdue on his promise, and as many as 500 political prisoners are still being held. De Klerk denies that political prisoners held in bantustans (or "homelands") are under South African jurisdiction, which hides the magnitude of political repression. Many political prisoners have gone on hunger strike to protest that they have not yet been released, including prisoners at St. Albans prison in Port Elizabeth and in the Bophuthatswana bantustan. The mailing says at least 17 political prisoners...
The mailing says that South African President de Klerk agreed in 1990 to release all political prisoners as a precondition for negotiations with the African National Congress (ANC), but he is eight months overdue on his promise, and as many as 500 political prisoners are still being held. De Klerk denies that political prisoners held in bantustans (or "homelands") are under South African jurisdiction, which hides the magnitude of political repression. Many political prisoners have gone on hunger strike to protest that they have not yet been released, including prisoners at St. Albans prison in Port Elizabeth and in the Bophuthatswana bantustan. The mailing says at least 17 political prisoners are now on death row, raising the possibility that they could be executed before being released. Political prisoners are dying of abuse and torture while in jail; on October 14, Babusang Monnane died in Rooigrond prison and Solly Ramakgate died after being assaulted in police custody in the Lebowa bantustan. In addition, more political opponents of apartheid are being imprisoned. More than 500 political trials involving 3,000 accused were completed in 1991, and at least 200 trials involving 2,000 accused are continuing into 1992. The mailing says organizations around the world have called for the South African government to turn over power to an interim government which would govern South Africa during the period of negotiations. Supporters include the 14 anti-apartheid movements in European Community member states, and Mayors David Dinkins of New York and Ray Flynn of Boston. The mailing asks people to write to State President F.W. de Klerk and Ambassador Harry Schwarz urging them to free all remaining political prisoners in South Africa, direct the bantustans to do the same, and agree to the formation of an interim government to lead South Africa during the course of negotiations. The mailing includes an editorial from The Boston Globe, "South Africa's unending scandal," that discusses the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), "Inkathagate," and Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
