Student Anti- newsletter, Fall 1984

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Alternative title Student Anti-Apartheid newsletter Author/Creator American Committee on Africa (ACOA) Contributor Nessen, Joshua Publisher American Committee on Africa (ACOA) Date 1984 Resource type Newsletters Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) United States, , Namibia Coverage (temporal) 1982 - 1984 Source Africa Action Archive Rights By kind permission of Africa Action, incorporating the American Committee on Africa, The Africa Fund, and the Africa Policy Information Center. Description Divestment victories. Petition for the Release of . Political Prisoners. PAC Six. ANC. Anti-Apartheid Action. Format extent 7 page(s) (length/size)

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http://www.aluka.org CAmerican Committee On Africa

CAmerican Committee On Africa 198 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10038 I (212)962-1210 I (able AMCOMMAF FALL 1984 Student Anti-Apartheid Movement Newsletter The tempo of protest and repression in South Africa has escalated dramatically over the past month, centering around widespread rejection of elections to newly created and powerless "Indian" and "Coloured" chambers of parliament. While the Reagan Administration has praised these sham elections--which exclude Blacks from even a token role--hundreds of protesters have been arrested and dozens shot dead in the townships of South Africa. Now it is even more critical for you to participate in campaigns to end U.S. support of South Africa and build direct support for those struggling to end apartheid. Along with a summary of the recent surge in divestment victories, this mailing contains information on political prisoner campaigns, Spring 1985 Weeks of Action, and Fall events. We hope that you will participate fully in these vital mobilizations: SATURDAY OCTOBER 6: A Southern Regional Anti-Apartheid Conference will be held in Atlanta focusing on campus and legislative divestment organizing, U.S. foreign policy, and material aid campaigns. FOR INFO CONTACT: Tandi Gcabashe c/o AFSC 92 Piedmont Ave Atlanta 30303 #404-586-0460 THURS OCT 11: The North American Regional Anti-Apartheid Conference held at the United Nations June 18-2.1 called for a day of Coordinated Protest in Solidarity with Southern African Political Prisoners on October 11. On that day we encourage you to hold events focusing on political prisoners as well as targeting your school or other local institution for divestment protests. At noon a minute of silence should be observed outside protest targets to indicate respect for victims of apartheid. By October 4 please mail ACOA (198 Bway NYC 10038) filled out copies of the petition on back page for the release of Nelson Mandela to be presented at an Oct 11 UN Session. SAT NOV 10: At Dwight Hall off High Str. on the old campus of Yale University in New Haven from lOam-6PM there will be a Northeast Regional Anti-Apartheid Conference. Focuses will be: l)Legislative divestment efforts 2)Campus anti-apartheid organizing 3)Spring 1985 Weeks of Action. FOR INFO: ACOA #212-962-1210 (Planning Mtg l1am Sat Sept 22) -198 Bway NYC Rm 402EIGHT MAJOR DIVESTMENT VICTORIES SCORED IN PAST NINE MONTHS -On August 3, 1984 the trustees of the New York City Employees Retireme'h Sqft n voted unanimously to gradually withdraw the system's $665 million invested in c'll"ani's'd._ .ink.' oig bet% nts's in Sdouth'Afrii ; Th"me . " .....M.I... o is d, osiedin end~r-.@ ~th f, caan< a~i~ad mesa l istokontldi in cie'tll $:I00 m ) iilj'i at samge moth ifr wr, Ne ert' 1 ty odinane nwa u olivan,Co se signaig ises; 3)Wi mnin five iyF pthe.i eund gnmed o cp rpus i' 6outh ~fiAt xe thqpg'rd.Pm d , trta pbeoeug nil asistance to efforts to end apartheid." This should effect divestmen t from almost -I5 milo-th BoSton ky kedun to at an ordinance,- to:. )eampv all dcity'.saey deposited in lengrso Sguh si , -TNaibiasnd 2)Divest all stockholdings in Afr a ations gert siilr &utbil Africa and NamCbiy wThe opgasure wil affeact etee 0l- 20 million. That same month in Newark, New Jersey a city ordinance !n Mryarte diemandatin dizestmnt of city pension funds linked to South Africa. !g .__,- - I-.,c, -I 1shit [iouh tahidtae tioph isla oendiwf e ed dive stment i -$65 fflid' in iiteks linked . tSouh AOn t o ab -ecmd aspie fa oIservTiv -rv Beffort i Congress. This measure 'f4ol0lowed a sucessfulbind g referendum in Santa Cruz (Dec 1983) cutting city links h1. fan fiks leifi 7E& South Africa and passage of a similar bill in Camahoga County which encompasses Cleveland. In Marcha partial divestment bil was also enacted in Nebraskasand Maryland became tie grs Ksouthernstte to ps, lesislation'withenatmentRof a bankdivoestmeht bill. -On So4t0me. ayor Flynn d t r dt speaehsa e unaghi is ;ecison by the io -Execttiie: Commi'tef ofih U.S. - 6n f~tende of 1-46yrs to rec, mmeind paisage of divestmen6k.egts4ation i41UScie. DIVESTMNT SMA-RY,:,Bindin ddivestmp iea7ures affecting t$400 millto in publice -fnds lte this datg.,have now beep:x enacted in:.,, Five ~ ~ ~ - SperCureiu Msahuaetts,.Mlchigan-( 2 bills), ;.3ebraqka; anid Maryland. i ~~ a,- -iut, -sa y 12 Citiesand counties: Philadelphia, Boston, Berkeley, Cambridge, Cotati, Davis, dayahoga~oiinty Idoa rs,~ York, Newark, Wilmington, and Washington DC. -Io a, citin, non-idn dietetreouIn have been pasae4 ink nw ous ,places. including:, FXensgsAtlanta,...Po3rtland[ .EaseLai "ing, Graqd,-Rakt~ds and lMultnomah County. -Over 40 uT.S: eeI1eges and 'unf'('eritiii have di-iresteda tota o6f ' about :$175 - milion io:Sauth Aftit~a-lihked holdings'-i'nde :1977 . 'Fotal sdiiiitmei Ehas taken' placea nine schobols' led~by:';Univ of 1isedinan ($r mll, ih State n'v$72mill), Agine ($3 mill) . PtfASE -TIINO0VER...

-Make multiple copies (8 x 11") of the petition/declaration (below) which was initiated by Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, President of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement and backed by the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid. Immediately begin tabling to gather signatures. -By October 4 mail all petitions that have been filled out to: American Committee on Africa, 198 Broadway NYC 10038 #212-962-1210 -All petitions received will be presented at a special United Nations Session in Solidarity with Southern African Political Prisoners to be held on Thursday October 11. Continue petitioning even after Oct 11. and save copy of each petition. (eo- below) PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF NELSON MANDELA AND ALL SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICAL PRISONERS Nelson Mandela has been held by the South African authorities in continuous incarceration for over twenty years since his arrest on August 5, 1962. He continues to be a living symbol of resistance to apartheid. Nelson Mandela has dedicated his live to the cause of freedom for his people. He has been at the heart of numerous struggles against the injustices of apartheid and racial tyranny in South Africa for almost forty years. On June 12, 1964, together with and other African National Congress leaders, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. For Nelson Mandela and all other political prisoners in South Africa a life sentence means life. We cannot accept that Nelson Mandela and other imprisoned leaders would be allowed to spend the rest of their lives in the dungeons of apartheid. We refuse to believe that the world can any longer tolerate the defiance of the South African authorities in the face of world-wide appeals for the release of Nelson Mandela. We, therefore, declare our determination to actively strive for the release of Nelson Mandela and all South African political prisoners and urge the United Nations and their Governments and peoples of the world to join us in this endeavor: signature atreet ades printed name city,state,zip sinature street address . 2 printed name city state'zip signature street address 3 printed name cftyetatezip signature 'tet address 4 printed name city,state,zip . tre tretet d1 re;. 6 printed name citytate,zi p signature street address 6 printed name citystateip - signature .street address' 7 printed name citystate,zip sionature. striet address' 8 printed name citystate, zip signature street address 9 printed name city,statezip signature street address 10o printed name ciystate'zip Please return petition to: (If possible by Oct 4) American Committee on Africa, 198 Bway NYC 10038

American Committee On Africa S .198 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10038 1(212)962-1210 I Cable AMCOMMAF ) iFALL 1984 CAMPAIGN FOR THE RELEASE OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN PRISONERS (List on back...) As resistance to apartheid grows in South Africa and Namibia, evergrowing numbers of people are being thrown into the dungeons of the white minority regime, where they are subject to electric shock treatment, daily beatings and other forms of torture. Adding to this, the police are now installing 24-hour surveillance cameras in the cells of political detainees in an effort to shatter all psychological defenses to interrogation. . . Britain, Scandinavia and otber.parts of the world therehave been sstematic ,aqpaign5 waged for the release of Namibian and South African prisoners. 1 [Ai natek!, in the United States the anti-apartheid movement has not developed such a focus. It is time to do so now. In.orde' tO assist in the launching of such a campaign the American Committee has developed tbe following list of Namibian and South African (see back of page) v soners a l6o with suggestions for :campaigning... In developing this resource -we vs been assi tpd by the International Defense and Aid Fund, the African National Congress, the P. n Africanist Congress, and SWAPO. f OUTLINt OF CAMPAIGN (Adopt-a-Prisoner) '. .he successful prisoner support campaigns must be ongoing. This fall is'thl-t'Ime to lay the basis for campaigns in support of bothNamibian and 4 4 Xfrcan prisoners of apartheid. l)On October 11 hold an event geared to building support of a prisoner support campaign. For example, petition and supply your audience with infor'mation about the prisoners You have decided to ad atd are pressuring your school or other local institution to adopt. By-October 4' you should already have sent in the petitions we, supplied for the release of Nelson Mandela after several weeks of intense petitioning. October 11 is the time to take the next step by including a focus on additional specific prisoners, particularly Namibians. * On October ii we are suggesting that groups observe a minute of silence at noon on behalf of victims of apar theid in the course of divestment demonstrations. *2)Out of the list of Namibian prisoners we are asking each group to select at 4eae-oe~-sw - the--y'atr agrre--eo-tk-~o. 'T a oiTMatttV-M7,- . . aClosely monitor the particular case (we will assist you in this). b)Write a letter to the authorities requesting information and urging"the .. .c)Write to your Congressional Representative and Senator informing thema of the case and urging them to also pressure for the person's release. ~dto.~aheSeereta-y of State uusgi-ag--the--same.---**e)Send copies of all your letters to the Windhoek Observer, P.O. 3717 Windhoelk gdmfbia steps as suggested for Namibian prisoners. Write: Sowetan, P.O. 6663 Johannesbu 2000 ....,4).Fqr..b9.h Namibian. and SouthAfric.a4. priso.nrs pre-s, yopur. s.hool 4resideeg orother relevant institution to also adopt the prisoners you have chosen. 5)Addresses to write: a)Administrator'General Dr. . . So- h-,-West Afriea, Govt-BIdg, .Windhoek; South Wsst Afriea b)Minister of Law and Order, Hon. Louis Legrange, Union Bldgs, Pretoria, South Africa c)Ambassador Brand Fourie, South African Embassy, 3051 Mass Ave NW, Wash Dt, 20008 e)Senator , U.S. Senate Office Building, Wash DC 20510 f)CongtesSpersoh , U.S. H6use-of Representatives, Wash-DC 2051 KEY 6)Always send copies of the letter 'you send the South African authorities t6. Editor, Windhoek Observer Editor, The Sowetan BE 3L7B..Wiedhoek,. Nambia .... 0- 6663..rg 20l.. othtAfriDa .... -SEE BACK OF PAGE F0JI MS$T .OF NI'i1BAlj JIP . QUDH AflJICAL PRISONERS- .... PLEASE TURN OVER....

NAMIBIAN PRISONERS (Adopt at least one prisoner plus campaign for the release of all Mariental detainees, send letters to Windhoek Observer, P.O. 3717 Windhoek, Namibia) The Mariental Detainees In May 1978 South African jets bombed and strafed a Namibian refugee camp at Kassinga in southern Angola. Nearly 1,000 Namibian children, women and men were massacred and over 200 survivors captured and carried back to Namibia. There are currently 76 persons (56 from Kassinga) being held in the Mariental concentration camp in southern Namibia. They have been tortured brutally. They have never been charged or tried. Their families have not been allowed to see them. **WRITE YOUR CONGRESSPERSON to support Congressman William Gray's resolution (Con Res 228) for the release of the Mariental detainees. Congr , US House of Reps Wash DC 20515 *WRITE IMMEDIATELY: Admin Genrl Dr. Willie van Niekerk, SWA Govt Bldg, Windhoek, SWA Ida Jimmy, SWAPO activist, was given a seven year sentence in 1980 under South Africa's Terrorism Act for her speech at a rally in support of SWAPO. In 1983 she lost a child to whom she had given birth in prison and was refused permission to attend the funeral. Rudolph Kadhigwa was one of twenty sentenced to life imprisonment following the trial of 37 SWAPO members in 1968 under the newly passed Terrorism Act. He has been reported as seriously ill and been hospitalized during his term on . Johannes Samuel Shiponeni was also sentenced to life in 1968 for participation in SWAPO guerilla activities between 1962 and 1967. While in pre- trial custody he suffered a knee injury which was aggravated during 1968 while working in the lime quarry on Robben Island. A month later he was taken to Cape Town and his leg amputated without his prior knowledge or consent. Marcus Kateka is under sentence of death for assisting a SWAPO guerilla action while he was working on a white-owned farm in Northern Namibia. The May 1980 action involved an attack on the farm which destroyed property but in which no one was injured. SOUTH AFRICAN PRISONERS (Adopt at least one prisoner be sure to send copies of letters to: Editor, Sowetan, P.O. 6663 Johannesburg 2000 South Africa) Malesala Benjamin Moloise, an ANC supporter, is under the shadow of a 1983 death sentence for alleged participation in the ANC's execution of South African Special Branch Officer Philipus Selepe. This notorious police officer had been involved in the capture and torture of ANC combatants Motaung, Mogoerane and Mosololi who were hanged on June 9, 1983. Mr. Moloise had been detained in connection with this latter case and refused to turn State's evidence, prompting the current prosecution. Moloise has exhausted all judicial appeals, thus all groups should appeal for clemency immediately to: His Excellency Marais Viljoen, State President "Presidensia", Bryntirion, Pretoria, South Africa Barbara Hogan in 1982 became the first white female to be convicted of high treason. She was sentenced to 10 years jail on the grounds that her membership in the ANC amounted to participation in a conspiracy to violently overthrow the South African State. Barbara Hogan was the first person to be convicted of treason in South Africa without having been implicated in any specific act of violence. L. Weisman Magxwalisa of the ANC was sentenced in 1983 to 24 years imprisonment for high treason and attempted murder in connection with the alleged attempt to blow up a railway bridge over the Orange River near Upington. Jane Ntsatha received a five year term in 1983 for membership in the ANC, possession of banned literature, and recruitment of ANC combatants. The PAC Six In a 1963 trial 6 members of the Pan Africanist Congress veceived life sentences, and they are currently the longest serving prisoners on Robben Island. The six are: Samuel Chibane (aged 37) charged with incitement to attack government installations and sabotage; Dimake Malepe (35) charged with PAC membership and conspiracy to attack white teachers at the Hebron African Training Institute. Jeff Masemula (49) charged wf.th conspiracy to commit sabotage has been kept in solitary confinement since 1968; Isaac Mthimunye (37) charged with organizing POQO (PAC military wing) activities; John Nkosi (35) charged with conspiracy to commit sabotage; and Philemon Tefu (39) charged with incitement to attack government installations.

American Committee On Africa 196 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 100381(212) %2-1210 1 Cable AMCOMMAF COORDINATED WEEKS OF NATIONAL ANTI-APARTHEID ACTION (March 21-April 6, 1985) The American Committee on Africa calls upon individual organizations and coalitions to endorse and mobilize for the Spring 1985 coordinated anti-apartheid action outlined below. We are specifically asking you to: l)Contact the American Committee on Africa to formally endorse the action weeks at: 198 Broadway NYC 10038 #212-962-1210 2)Distribute this action plan immediately to your contacts. 3)Work with the American Committee on Africa on a mutual contact mailing (for late Fall 1984 or early 1985) in which: a)Your spring mobilization information would be sent to anti-apartheid activists nationwide. b)Your organization would send information prepared by ACOA on the Weeks of Action to your contacts. Background to Weeks of Action From June 18-21, 1984 over two hundred activists from the United States and Canada participated in a North American Regional Conference held at the United Nations. At this conference it was unanimously agreed to mobilize for Coordinated Weeks of Action in Spring 1985. The 1985 Weeks of Action are scheduled from Thursday March 21, the 25th anniversary of the 1960 in South Africa, through April 6, the anniversary of the execution of ANC freedom fighter Solomon Mahlangu, and include April 4, the day set aside to commemorate the assassination of Martin Luther King. The basic political principles underlying the Weeks of Action are: l)Support of southern African liberation movements and the front-line states. 2)Opposition to all U.S. ties (military, nuclear, economic, cultural, sports, academic, diplomatic) to South Africa with an organizing emphasis on economic divestment and support for comprehensive sanctions against South Africa. 3)Linking the struggles against apartheid to organizing against racism in the United States. 4)Coordinating opposition to U.S. support of apartheid with mobilizations against other U.S. inverventions--notably in Central America. OVERALL PROPOSED PROGRAM OF ACTION (See Back of page) PLEASE TURN OVER.°.

OVERALL PROPOSED PROGRAM OF ACTION Thursday March 21: Sunday March 24: Saturday March 30: Groups hold local commemorations of the Sharpeville Massacre during which police killed 69 unarmed people protesting South African pass laws. Anti-Apartheid activists join with Central America solidarity groups in marking the anniversary, of the assassination of El Salvador's Archbishop Romero. Groups hold programs to raise material aid for southern African refugees--for example through Runs For Freedom (for info contact ACOA 198 Bway NYC) Thursday April 4, Anniversary of Martin Luther King's death: This will be a Day of Action in Washington DC involving: l)Protest rally outside the South African embassy 2)Day-long lobbying on Capitol Hill for U.S. legislation cutting U.S. ties to South Affrica. Saturday April 6, Anniversary of execution of ANC's Solomon Mahlangu: This will be a National Armband Day against U.S. U.S. complicity with Apartheid and in solidarity with southern African political prisoners. Groups distribute black armbands in their community and highlight ongoing petitioning efforts for the release of political prisoners. Day of local lobbying in city and state legislatures during the Weeks of Action for divestment legislation. A list of pending bills with legislative schedules will be available from the American Comm. on Africa. Anti-Apartheid Play: During the Weeks of Action the highly effective anti-apartheid play, FOR BETTER NOT FOR WORSE., will be on tour. This two-person play written by black South African exile Selaelo Maredi has toured over 20 states, Europe and,the.Caribbean and played a dynamic role in raising-awarenes' about apartheid as well as being a,critical succqss. Contact: Amterican Committee on-Africa immediaely 'toisdhedlile 198 ,Bway NYC 10038 #212-962-1210 See: Review of play on next page.,

American Committee On Africa 198 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 100381(212) 962-1210 I Cable AMCOMMAF FALL 1984 Anti-Apartheid Movement Newsletter EIGHT MAJOR DIVESTMENT VICTORIES SCORED IN PAST NINE MONTHS -On August 3, 1984 the trustees of the New York City Employees Retirement System voted unanimously to gradually withdraw the system's $665 million invested in companies and banks doing business in South Africa. The measure's main provisions call for: l)The immediate divestment from U.S. firms that sell to the and Military or that lend to the government; 2)Immediate divestment from non-Sullivan Code signatories; 3)Within five years the divestment from all U.S. corporations in South Africa except those "deemed by the trustees to be of substantial assistance to efforts to end apartheid." This should effect divestment from almost all U.S. firms, including adherents to the Sullivan Code. -In July the Boston City Council enacted an ordinance to: l)Remove all city money deposited in lenders to South Africa and Namibia and 2)Divest all stockholdings in U.S. corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia. The measure will affect between $10-20 million. That same month in Newark, New Jersey a city ordinance was unanimously passed mandating divestment of city pension funds linked to South Africa. -In Washington DC this year a comprehensive pension fund divestment bill-- affecting $65 million in stocks linked to South Africa and Namibia--became law despite a conservative veto effort in Congress. This measure followed a successful binding referendum in Santa Cruz (Dec 1983) cutting city links with banks lending to South Africa and passage of a similar bill in Cayvhoga County which encompasses Cleveland. In March a partial divestment bill was also enacted in Nebraska and Maryland became the first southern state to pass legislation with enactment of a bank divestment bill. -On September 7 Mayor Flynn of Boston spearheaded a unanimous decision by the Executive Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors to recommend passage of divestment legislation in all U.S. cities. DIVESTMENT SUMMARY: Five States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan (2 bills), Nebraska, and Maryland. 12 Cities and counties: Philadelphia, Boston, Berkeley, Cambridge, Cotati, Davis, Cayahoga County, Santa Cruz, New York, Newark, Wilmington, and Washington DC. -In addition, non-binding divestment resolutions have been passed in numerous places including: Kansas, Atlanta, Portland, East Lansing, Grand Rapids and Multnomah County. -Over 40 U.S. colleges and universities have divested a total of about $175 million in South Africa-linked holdings since 1977. Total divestment has taken place at nine schools led by: Univ of Wisconsin ($11 mill), Mich State Univ ($7.2 mill), Maine ($3 mill). Executive Director: lenniitr [i. ,: ; Associate Director: PWu:, :Research: C(ti Hone\ / Projects: )un-anm Ku/I, Literature: R, tiard Kmuht :I