Tutu Asks for Sanctions To Urge Racial Reforms

Bishop Desmond M. Tutu this week called for immediate punitive economic sanctions against South Africa, in an apparent move to urge Western governments to pressure Pretoria into liberalizing its racial policies, The New York Times reported yesterday.

Tutu's request, which was also seen as an illumination of Black despair, came at the same time that the government dropped restrictions preventing the wife of jailed Black nationalist leader Nelson Mandela from returning to her home in the township of Soweto.

Winnie Mandela returned Wednesday after a nine-year absence to a tearful welcome in the Black satellite city of Johannesburg, but remains a "listed" person who may not be quoted, The Times reported.

"Our land is burning and bleeding and so I call on the international community to apply punitive sanctions against this government," said Tutu, Johannesburg's first Black bishop and winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize.

"I have no hope of real change from this government unless they are forced," he said in a lengthy statement.

The bishop did not specify what types of sanctions he would advocate, saying only that they should be "concerted," "united" and "immediate." It is unclear whether Tutu included divestment of South Africa related stocks in his proposed sanctions.

"We face a catastrophe in this land, and only the action of the international community by applying pressure can save us," Tutu continued.

Although some lawyers say that speaking in favor of sanctions is illegal in South Africa, Tutu said yesterday he does not feel deterred by fear of arrest.