Word: klerk
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...promising after so many years of political stalemate. In a major breakthrough, the A.N.C.'s national executive committee announced late in the week, from its base of exile in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, that it will send a delegation to South Africa to begin talks with De Klerk. The date is not yet fixed, but when the meeting takes place it will be the first such consultation ever between representatives of the exiled guerrilla leaders and the government...
...A.N.C. also said it was prepared to negotiate "a suspension of hostilities" as soon as its remaining preconditions are met, which include a lifting of the state of emergency and the release of all remaining political prisoners. Two weeks ago, De Klerk signaled he was prepared to discuss both issues if calm prevails. During last week's welcome-home celebrations, two people were known to have died...
...various delays may irritate the De Klerk government, which must now be eager for negotiations to get under way. De Klerk must move quickly to convince white voters that Mandela's release holds the promise of compromise, and not greater chaos. In particular, he hopes that with Mandela's help, the final obstacles to lifting the state of emergency and releasing political prisoners can be ironed out. From there, De Klerk expects to proceed to formal negotiations on a new constitution, a strategy that could pay off handsomely -- or become a political swamp...
Pressure on De Klerk is likely to remain strong. Supporters regard him as a bold innovator of the stripe of Mikhail Gorbachev, but white detractors say De Klerk is unleashing forces he cannot control. Ultraright-wing militants are already gearing for battle. Last week the Conservative Party, made up of right-wingers who eight years ago broke away from the ruling National Party because they considered it too conciliatory, brought treason charges against Mandela and two other antiapartheid leaders and demanded that they be investigated...
...protest march in Pretoria drew 15,000 right-wingers. The Conservatives also organized a week of anti-Mandela rallies and threatened strikes to force De Klerk from office. "I am not proclaiming an armed struggle," thundered party leader Andries Treurnicht. "But if a government does not protect the rights of its people, what can be expected but that the volk will protect itself...