Mandela Urges Canada to Keep Up Pressure on South Africa

Nelson Mandela praised Canadian opposition to apartheid Monday and urged Parliament not to lessen international pressure on South Africa.

In a moving speech, the African National Congress leader spoke of black men and women who--during years of oppression--”met torture without flinching,” who “met the hangman’s noose with songs of freedom.”

His visit is part of a six-week tour of 14 nations in Africa, Europe and North America that began June 6. He will begin an eight-city U.S. visit Wednesday, when he flies to New York to address the United Nations.

The black nationalist leader arrived in Ottawa on Sunday from Britain.

Mandela praised Prime Minister Brian Mulroney for his opposition to apartheid in speeches to the United Nations and in meetings of Commonwealth leaders.

He said South Africa needs a new constitution to dismantle the apartheid system and to establish an independent judiciary.

“Any move at this stage toward lifting or lessening international pressure would create a situation in which the white minority would feel comfortable with the minimal changes which have taken place,” Mandela told a joint session of the House of Commons and the Senate.

Canada imposed economic and political sanctions against South Africa in 1986. Like many other nations, it has pledged to maintain the bans until there is clear evidence of irreversible change in the apartheid system.

Mandela, 71, also asked Canadians to aid black nationalists in their struggle to build a multiracial society in South Africa.