U.S. Ambassador Joins S. African Protest : American One of Few Blacks to Join Tutu, Hundreds of Whites

The U.S. ambassador joined hundreds of white South Africans who filled Cape Town cathedral today as they pledged to defy a government ban on campaigns against detentions without trial.

Edward Perkins, a black who has kept a low profile since taking up his post six months ago, issued a statement saying the U.S. government will “continue to use the resources at our command” to protest detentions, particularly those of children.

For Perkins, who was among a minority of blacks in the congregation, it was his strongest public stand yet against South African government policies.

Jewish, Roman Catholic and Nonconformist church leaders joined Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who called the service saying that he feared the weekend ban had outlawed even public prayers for detainees and that he could not abide by this.

Law and Order Minister Adriaan Vlok said Tutu is perfectly entitled to lead prayers for detainees, as long as he does not “incite” his congregation to join public campaigns for their release.

Tutu said Vlok must have realized that he had made a “monumental” error in phrasing the new regulations so vaguely that they could be interpreted as including prayers.

“I will urge my congregations to take part in a campaign and to do so peacefully and nonviolently, whatever the consequences for me,” Tutu said.

He added: “I appeal to the authorities to release all detainees or to bring them to trial. I hope you support me in such a cause. Do you?”

Tutu was answered by nearly a minute’s applause by the congregation of more than 1,000.

Allan Boesak, president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, said the government is “in its last days,” and told the congregation: “I say quite simply and openly, South Africa’s people should rise up in revolt against this ban to show our love for our people.”

The emergency decree, published Saturday, makes it an offense to encourage anyone to honor detainees, protest their imprisonment, call for their release or perform a symbolic public act of solidarity with them.

Civil rights groups say 30,000 people have been detained at various stages during the nine-month-old state of emergency.

The government has named about 13,000 detainees, including children aged 11 and younger.