HANNESBURG, South Africa President Pieter Botha was not cowed by the fierce world reaction to his three-pronged military assault on alleged African National Congress strongholds in neighboring states and warned “we have only delivered the first installment.”

The assault was not the first over cross border action against the 74-year-old Black Nationalist movement that seeks to overthrow his government and it was not the bloodiest.

But the simultaneous attacks May 19 on settlements in or near the capital cities of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana comprised the biggest single action against Nelson Mandela’s rebels committed to military action in Zambia or in Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980.

The reaction from governments around the world was swift and strong. But Botha told lawmakers three days later “we will continue to strike against ANC bases and facilities in foreign countries. We have only delivered the first installment.

The United States and Britain, the United Nations and the European Community, Brazil, China, the Soviet Union, Australia, African states and even Greece heaped vitriolic condemnation on both as government

I cannot understand why they should do this now,” said one U.S. diplomat in southern Africa.

Another American official said the attacks seemed to be intended specifically to torpedo the common wealth effort at the moment when it was believed to have a chance of success

The secretive Commonwealth initiative, launched in August and headed by former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, aims at a cease-fire and negotiations to end the 25-year battle between Pretoria’s security forces and guerrillas of the ANC.

Fraser, looking grim after abandoning talks prematurely in Cape Town, said “there is still a slim chance of peace.”

Botha remained unrepentant. He said South Africa had the right to attack terrorists wherever they may be, and made it clear he would sanction similar action in future if necessary.

“Jam of the view that action by any government in the world against elements who want to engage in senseless destruction of life and property can be justified,” Botha said in parliament.

“Israelis have struck against the Arab states, India has done it against Pakistan and the United States has attacked Libya,” he said.

South Africa too has done it before both overtly and covertly.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 30, 1986