Word: klerk
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...decades, most of the South Africans arrested for political protest have been black. But now that the government has entered formal negotiations for a new constitution with black political parties, including the African National Congress, President F.W. de Klerk is signaling a more evenhanded approach...
There unanimity ends. The A.N.C. and its allies demand that the white government of President F.W. de Klerk hand over power to an interim government that would hold elections for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. The ruling National Party rejects the idea, though it is willing to amend the present constitution to allow blacks to participate in the government during the transition. The government also opposes the notion of an elected constituent assembly. De Klerk says he intends to "share power," but will not surrender it to a black majority...
Even if Mandela and De Klerk bridge their differences on how to get started, another broad area of disagreement lies ahead. The A.N.C. wants the new constitution to provide for majority rule and a strong, centralized government. The National Party is holding out for a collective three- or five- person presidency, a decentralized federal system and what amounts to a veto for whites over major legislation...
...African National Congress last week endorsed the South African National Olympic Committee's decision to replace the leaping springbok with a neutral flag featuring Olympic rings on a background of silver, blue, brown and green. But President F.W. de Klerk charged that the committee was "abusing sport and culture for political ends...
...award pleased readers and critics of her 20 volumes of fiction, including 10 novels, and prompted an interesting response in South Africa, where she was born, where she has lived all of her life, and where three of her books were once officially banned. President F.W. de Klerk congratulated Gordimer for what he termed "this exceptional achievement, which is also an honor to South Africa...