London -Supporters of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on Saturday accused the nearly two dozen nations boycotting the Commonwealth Games of trying to black-mail Britain. Opponents claimed Mrs. Thatcher is responsible for the problem

Mrs. Thatcher made no comment but she also showed no sign of bowing to the demand by Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda that she make a “categorical statement” that she will impose economic sanctions on South Africa as the price for ending the boycott.

In New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange said the boycott threatens the 49-nation Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies.

By Saturday as many as 21 African Asian and West Indian nations were reported to have joined the boycott to protest Britain’s rejection of sanctions against South Africa The protesters say tough sanctions are the only way to force South Africa to end its Official policy of racial segregation under which five million whites dominate 24 million vote less.

Mrs. Thatcher insists sanctions would be ineffective and would harm South African blacks and the fragile economies of neighboring black states Britain is one of South Africa’s main trading partners.

Athletes representing 58 flags were to compete in the Commonwealth Games scheduled to open Thursday in Edinburgh Scotland. The difference in numbers between the delegations and Commonwealth members is because some nations will send multiple teams representing different parts of the country. Britain will field squads representing England Scotland and Wales.

Nations that have said they will boycott the games are the Bahamas Bangladesh Ghana Kenya Malaysia Nigeria Papua New Guinea Sierra Leone Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Jamaica Uganda Zambia and Zimbabwe.

There also were unconfirmed reports that Barbedos Gambia Guyana India St. Kitts-Nevis St. Lucia and St. Vincent would join the boycott.

A 22nd nation the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho that is surrounded by South Africa said it was not joining the boycott but it was not sending a team because its athletes were “not in good enough shape to participate.”

In Edinburgh organizers worked frantically to reschedule seeding’s.

“We are naturally disappointed” said Brian Cowgill deputy chairman of the games. “But we already have around 1000 athletes in Edinburgh” and “we are determined to press ahead with the games regardless”

The Foreign Office said the withdrawals were “a matter of regret.” It declined further comment.

John Carlisle a legislator from Mrs. Thatchers Conservative Party said she “must reinforce her stand not to be blackmailed into any hasty decision or a U-tum. Her message to the Commonwealth should be: Do your worst and if you wish to tear yourselves apart be it on your own heads.”

But George Foulkes a spokesman for the opposition Labor Party blamed Mrs. Thatcher for the disarray.

“It has been her actions her statements and probably most of all her manner and her style which have precipitated this” he said

Lange said in Auckland New Zealand where the 1990 Commonwealth Games are to be held that the boycotting countries risk fragmenting the organization.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 25, 1986