Tutu Says South Africa Sanctions Needed : Apartheid: Nobel laureate said dramatic changes in his country would not have occurred without international sanctions and they must not be eased.

In his first speech in Orange County, Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu told a jam-packed auditorium at Santa Ana High School on Monday night that sanctions against South Africa must continue and vowed, “We are going to be free.”

Speaking before a sold-out crowd in the 1,500-seat auditorium, Tutu, a 1984 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also praised freed African National Congress leader Nelson R. Mandela and even asked the audience to “pay a warm tribute” to South African President Frederik W. de Klerk.

Tutu said that despite de Klerk’s effort to ease apartheid in South Africa, sanctions against that nation must not be eased. He noted that the recent dramatic changes there would not have taken place without economic sanctions from countries around the world.

“I know Nelson Mandela would not be out (of prison) today if it were not for sanctions,” Tutu said. “I know our political organizations would still be outlawed if not for sanctions. And I know Nelson Mandela and his team would not be sitting across the table from Mr. de Klerk and his party had it not been for sanctions.”

Tutu criticized those who have called for South African sanctions to be eased, especially those who argue that sanctions most hurt blacks there.

“How is it that one has never heard any of those arguments when you apply sanctions at the drop of the hat on Nicaragua?” he said. “No one debates whether sanctions are hurting the people you want to help most.”

Tutu’s speech evoked laughter, rousing cheers and cries of “Yes” and “Amen” from members of the audience. Some of the loudest cheers arose when Tutu vowed that a black majority in South Africa would be free.

“We do not debate whether we will be free or not,” Tutu said. “That’s not on the agenda. We know we are going to be free in South Africa.”

Tutu’s speech came after a performance by the St. Joseph’s Ballet Company, accompanied by the Biola University Gospel Choir. Tutu clapped his hand against his thigh and smiled broadly as the dancers performed, including one dance number set to the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Let freedom ring” speech.

Tutu praised sponsors from Santa Ana’s Episcopal Church of the Messiah for bringing him out from “behind the orange curtain,” and he praised the audience for its concern about the situation in South Africa. He said he would absorb the audience’s heart-warming response “like a sponge.”

“When I get back home, I will tell the people, ‘Squeeze me,’ ” he said.

Members of the audience said they attended the event, which was restricted for the most part to parishioners from the Episcopal Church, to hear firsthand about the anti-apartheid struggle.

“I think it’s an important event to come out to and see such an important figure who stands for so much,” said Connie Jones of Santa Ana. “He stands for justice and he stands for making a difference.”

About 25 youths showed up at the end of the evening to protest Tutu’s visit. They chanted: “What do we need? White power. When do we need it? Now,” and “Race traitors out.” They carried Confederate flags and held signs reading, “Fight for white rights,” “Death to the African National Congress” and “Keep them in their place.”

Police kept the protesters a block away from the main entrance to the high school, and there were no arrests. Most of those inside the auditorium were not aware of the protest.