BACK! A return to blawging
With my thesis is done and (nearly) behind me, I am returning to regular postings in the coming weeks. This one is a short notice of an article published by myself and Yonatan Fessha on decentralised governance in Africa.
The article is on the Publius journal website. Get it while it's hot!
Independent Prosecutor Suspended - South Africa
Over a fortnight ago, President Thabo Mbeki suspended Vusi Pikoli, head of the National Prosecuting Authority. head and police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
Prevention of genocide
The Conference on the Prevention of Genocide starts on Thursday, 11 October, in Montreal.
1 Reference
de Klerk defending apartheid
In response to the last post, here is a 1999 interview of FW de Klerk defending apartheid in principle if not in practice. He also denies knowing about the "Third Force" that poured gas on the ANC-IFP battles in KwaZulu-Natal.
For Canadians, his defence comes disturbingly close to those arguing for First Nation self-government like the Nisga'a Final Agreement. Of course, de Klerk argued for putting 80 per cent of South Africans on a fraction of the worst land in a number of Bantustans. But he raised real problems about separate development (literally apartheid) of "incompatible" cultures. This question deserves more study in Canada as we move away from colonial-era reservations towards the novel micro-nationhood of the Nisga'a.
Coel Kirkby
in South African politics
|
Post a Comment
De Klerk in trouble
FW de Klerk must finally answer the questions that dogged him since the early 1990s. His alleged crimes range from ordering or condoning particular atrocities to creating the "Third Force" and arming the Inkatha Freedom Party as a counterweight to the ANC. Eugene De Kock, a death-squad leader serving 212-years for his atrocities, has long mainted that he had direct orders from the nation's top leaders for his actions.
I would like to ask De Klerk why anyone should doubt the word of a convicted murderer, namely myself, and why they have to believe the word of an unconvicted murderer, namely De Klerk.
The National Prosecutor has finally stepped up and laid charges for those who were denied amnesty by the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. Former former Law and Order Minister, Adrian Vlok, has been charged with the attempted murder of the Reverend, now Mbeki's right-hand man, Frank Chikane. If the NP can make a build a good case against Vlok, he may well turn on De Klerk. This may well prove Nelson Mandela's belief that De Klerk was negotiating the transition with him while fuelling senseless killings in KwaZulu and in hostels around the country.
If this is ever proven in court, De Klerk should become the first Nobel laureate to have his prize revoked for his gross hypocrisy.
