CAnti-Apartheid Movement

CAnti-Apartheid Movement A 13 Mandela Street London NW1 ODW Tel 071-387 7966 Fax 071-388 0173 NC/MAY 92/2 4INUES OF ME MEETING OF THE NATI(OML COMMITTEE 15 FEUARY 1992, NAIGO HO, LQaDCH Individuals: R Hughes (Chair), M Terry, S Kamath, R Harris, C Haswell, B Filling (& Scottish Ctte), R Jewkes, T Oshodi, G Watson, D Craine (& Eltsa), P Blomfield, C Burford (& Haringey AA), M Pye, D Kenvyn, M Ling (& MAC), F Fletcher, J Richardson, M Sparham, N Canavan, M Malik, P Carroll, A Barrett (& Tyneside AA) Local Groups & Regional Cttees: SW Reg Ctte: D Starrs, Tyneside AA Youth: C Morgan, Sheffield AA: C Owen & K Harding, Hackney AA: S Thompson, Oldham AA: S Morris, Greater Manchester AA: C Sutherland, Nottinghill AA: C Gurney, Kingston & District AA: D Gandolfi, Barnet AA: P Long, London Ctte: A Kruthoffer, Oxford AA: S Snowden & H Kimble, Bristol AA: D Spurgeon, Birmingham AA: A Chaffer, Wessex Regional Ctte: D Hoadley, Southampton AA: D Smith VotinQ Orcianisations: R Kareh: UNA, J Stockwell: NALGO, T West: ASLEF Observer Organisations: L Naidoo: ANC, Staff in attendance: G Omasta Milsom, B Paterson 1.00 APOLOGIES J Jones, C Onwurah, T Huddleston, A Minty, C Roskelly, H Bhamjee, L Higgins, AEU - T Butler, CIIR - M Paterson, BDAF - E de Keyser, Nottingham AA, Aberdeen AA, Edinburgh AA, Ipswich AA, Exeter AA, Plymouth AA, Swindon AA, Bedford AA, Camden AA, Bradford AA, Birmingham AA Under this item Robert Hughes apologised for any inconvenience which may have been caused by the change of date of the meeting, which the EC had made to avoid a clash with the Anti-Racist Alliance demonstration the following Saturday. 2.00 MINUTES OF NATIG L OMI=MEENGS 2.01 Minutes of the meeting 14/9/91 - The minutes (NC/FEB 92/2) were agreed as a correct record. 2.02 Minutes of the meetin 30/11/91 - The minutes (NC/FEB 92/3) were agreed with one correction - Glenroy Watson was incorrectly listed as present as a voting representative from the NURMT. 3.00 MATMS ARISM Fm 14/9/91 & 30/11/91 The meetings attention was drawn to Section A of the Report to NC (NC/FEB 92/9) which provided a written report on these matters. The following additional points were made. 3.01 Matters arising from 14/9/91 i) Front Line States - It was agreed that the NC would be circulated with a report on the meeting with Lynda Chalker and the follow up. This would include details of EC & UK development aid to Southern Africa. ii) Media Watch - It was accepted by the meeting that it would not be viable to continue with the media watch, in view of the "sliming down" of the AAM. iii) Financial Sanctions/Loans - In addition to the written report of action which had been taken in this area since the September NC meeting, Dave Crane (ELTSA) reported on further recent developments. He explained that just prior to the NC the South Africans had successfully raised two loans with the prospect of more to come. They came with extortionate interest rates attached, thus potentially saddling any future democratic government with an enormous burden of debt. The NC's attention was drawn to the statement on sanctions made by Nelson Mandela to the Financial Times. It was agreed to keep up pressure on this issue especially in relation to TSB, which is the only UK high street bank participating in such loans. iv) COSATU Trial - The written report on the outcome of the trial was noted. FOR FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA v) Report of Consultative Conference - The NC noted that this report had been revised as agreed by the September NC. 3.02 Matters arising from 30/11/91 (3.02 i - iii) i) Co-options - No further proposals regarding co-options were made. ii) NC Meetings - The question of the venue for the next NC was discussed. Offers were made Tyneside, Birmingham and Sheffield to host the meeting of 16 May. The advantages of London were also stressed. It was agreed to ask the EC to take a decision. iii) Remitted motion on NPT - At the NC meeting immediately following the AGM which had considered this matter at the request of the AGM it had been decided to adopt the remitted motion on the nuclear relations with South Africa as AAM policy. Bristol AA had written indicating that they did not agree with this The text of their letter was read to the meeting in which they argued that the AAM should seek a permanent ban on all nuclear relations with SA, even when a democratic government was in power. The NC, after discussing the matter, decided to maintain the position as set out in the motion i.e. to oppose nuclear collaboration with apartheid South Africa. 4.00 HOWRARy 71EAsINRRS REpcR N.B. This item was in fact taken after agenda item 7.00 due to the Honorary Treasurer being delayed. The Report was presented to the NC by Richard Caborn. The report covered financial performance for the first half of the financial year (July - Dec '91) and the revised budget for the second half of the year (until June '92). It showed that whilst there was still a considerable amount to be done some progress had been made. The situation was now being managed. The NC discussed in particular: i) Debt - The document gave a report on action that had been taken to reduce the AAMs debt. The NC was unanimous in its thanks to the trade unions who had given further financial support in converting loans into grants - this had helped considerably in reducing the total of the AAMs debt. A particular thanks was given to NALGO which had converted £20,000 of a £50,000 loan into a grant and had agreed new arrangements for the repayment of the remaining loan. The overdraft facility had been extended and the bank was being reported to on a monthly basis. ii) Staff - The NC was informed about the necessary steps which had been taken to slim down the staffing levels of the AAM. iii) Income Generation - The information provided in the report on income generation was noted. However concern was expressed concern about the suggestion that the AAM sell its membership list. It was explained that it would be on a one-use only rental basis with safeguards to prevent further use. It was agreed that the EC should look at this again and in particular that AA News should carry an opt-out clause for members who did not wish their name to be on any list sold. In addition the list would not be sold to any political party and there would be safeguards about who it was available to. In relation to the question of a special appeal to meet the AAM's debt it was agreed to postpone any such action and to discuss this matter further at the May NC. The NC expressed its thanks to Mike Terry and Richard Caborn, as well as other staff and EC members, who were doing the day to day financial work. The meeting also recorded its very sincere thanks to the trade unions which had provided such generous support. The report and the recommendations in it, with the agreed provisos regarding membership lists, were approved.

5.00 CREDENTIALS (LUITTEE REPCNT The Credentials Committee Report (NC/FEB 92/13) was formally moved and agreed. 6.00 REPORT TO THE NATi camITEE (NC/FEB 92/9, Section C) i) Anti-Racist Alliance - The NC welcomed the support being given to the ARA and in particular the Statement from Executive. ARA publicity material was being circulated on a regular basis to Local Groups and the NC. The BEM Committee reported that they had taken a decision to affiliate to the ARA. ii) BART - This item was formally noted. iii) European Community - The report of the lifting of the 1986 EC sanctions, formally lifted at the end of January, and the work of the Liaison Group in relation to this was discussed. The European Parliament resolution, adopted on 13th February (NC/FEB 92/14), was welcomed. It was suggested that letters be sent to the British Labour and Conservative Groups of MEPs welcoming their support for this resolution. In particular a letter should be sent thanking Roger Barton, MEP for Sheffield Central, for his support and hard work. The Liaison Group would be looking at further initiatives to prevent the lifting of the 1985 sanctions measures. The NC asked for their appreciation of the work being done in this area by the Executive, and particularly Mike Terry, to be formally minuted. iv) De Klerk's visit - This report was formally noted. v) Nelson Mandela's visit - This report was formally noted. vi) SATIS - The memo (circulated to the NC), 'Political Imprisonment in SA', showed that 1 in 4 political prisoners had yet to be released. Release of prisoners was being carried out on an arbitrary basis. Mike Terry reported that there was growing evidence that the regime was using these political prisoners as hostages to secure concessions by the ANC over the future of Umkonto we Sizwe. Political prisoners were being discussed in one of the CODESA Working Groups. People were urged to write to their MPs with a copy of the memorandum. Oxford AA reported that they had circulated a petition on prisoners which would be sent to the Prime Minister. vii) CODESA - This report was noted. viii) Violence - It was noted that C.A.S.E. had prepared a briefing on political violence for the AAM which would be circulated to Local Groups as soon as possible. ix) Military sanctions - This report was noted. x) Return to South Africa - AAM members were urged to get bookshops to stock Bishop Huddleston's book. It continued to be hard to obtain, appearing as a religious rather than a current affairs book. People were also urged to contact Mandela St and let them know if they had any problems obtaining the book. 7.00 RECDIT DEYE oIJ.s In s0m AFRICA Lawson Naidoo, from the African National Congress, was welcomed to the NC and gave the meeting an update on recent developments in South Africa, including the Convention for a Democratic South Africa. He reported that CODESA, which met for the first time in December 1991, would pave the way for the transition from apartheid to democracy. The ANC acknowledged that difficult negotiations lay ahead to realise the goal, enshrined in the Declaration of Intent, but it was now realisable. The Declaration embodied many of the general principles laid out in the OAU Harare Declaration and the UN General Assembly consensus resolution. Lawson reported that within the CODESA Working Groups there was now a convergence of opinion on many areas. The group discussing interim arrangements had quickly become the most important one to which the work of all the other groups was related. Whilst De Klerk had conceded the need for a new body to supervise the interim period (an advance made as a result of continued pressure and the Inkatha revelations) there were still significant differences. The ANC's proposals regarding the interim arrangements was available at the NC. Lawson Naidoo pointed out that De Klerk saw an Interim Government as an end in itself, the ANC as a means to an end - this being a democratically elected government. They were of the view that you could not enter into such a government without it having a definite lifespan and clearly demarcated responsibilities. These issues were set out clearly in the ANC January 8th Statement. The ANC was adopting a flexible approach with regard to the negotiations but were clear that, whilst you could compromise in the interim phase, the goal at the end must be kept sacrosanct. The role of Inkatha in CODESA remained unresolved and a special group had been established to consider this. Lawson stressed that the ANC was in the ascendancy on many of these issues. He welcomed the European Parliament resolution which supported an interim government and helped to keep up the international pressure on De Klerk. In addressing other developments in South Africa Lawson Naidoo suggested that members of the NC should follow the proceedings of the Goldstone Commission of Inquiry which was providing conclusive evidence of the SADF and security forces involvement in the violence. He referred the NC to the statement which Nelson Mandela had made in the Financial Times which set the record straight on the ANC position regarding sanctions. This showed that whilst the ANC acknowledged that preparation should be made for the lifting of sanctions the time to lift them was not yet right. In conclusion he was thanked for his contribution to the meeting. At this point item 4 of the agenda, deferred due to Richard Caborn being delayed, was taken. 8.00 FUTURER OF mEAR, IN. IPLEMrTATICN C RES 6 - 9 The NC's attention was drawn to Section B of the Report to the NC & the discussion paper, NC/FEB 92/4, presented as a draft from the Officers. Mike Terry introduced the discussion paper. He stressed that the paper was a draft and amendments and changes were welcome. He explained that its purpose was to move the debate further forward. The significance of the ANC calling this year the year for democratic elections should not be underestimated, it was a time of rapid change and hope for the future. Mike Terry outlined the stages which the AAM particularly needed to prepare for and which were addressed in the paper: CODESA II when the working groups would be reporting back; the establishment of an Interim Government; ensuring that, if elections were held for a Constituent Assembly, these were free and fair. Mike Terry gave an outline of the areas covered in the discussion paper: - the changes which had taken place and those which were on the horizon; - the importance and significance of finance and fundraising; - the change in the role of the AAM which the period of transition would necessitate, in relation to the government of South Africa, including the obvious changes to the AAM's work should there be an end to sanctions; - suggestions for how we could meet these changes, considering in particular how a special meeting should be constituted. The view expressed by the Officers was that the optimum time to effect any change in the AAM would be following the first democratic elections. This meant that the AAM could continue in its current form until the summer of 1993. There followed a discussion and in general participants welcomed the discussion paper and the direction which it took. A number of points and suggestions were made during the discussion. It was agreed that the EC would revise and finalise the paper in the light of the comments made by the NC, particularly taking into account the following points: a) more information should be included about present campaigns; b) references to any change in name should be reformulated to avoid any confusion; c) the alternatives between a special NC meeting and Consultative Conference should be spelt out more clearly; d) the potential for a less centralised structure for the AAM could be referred to in the section dealing with new structures; e) the paper should be redrafted, where appropriate, to indicate that the AAM is already addressing "post-apartheid" issues; f) the significance of restructuring the AAM - ie with new objectives, etc should be stressed - by explaining that this would enable the AAM to promote membership, affiliations, etc by looking to the future (and the importance of this in maintaining members) - it is not a purely structural question; g) the section dealing with the problems of continuing in the present form beyond June 1993 should be reformulated; h) the 3rd paragraph in section 2 should be reformulated to remove rhetorical questions; i) an additional point under section 6 referringto the need for up-to-date information during the process of transition. Once revised the paper would be circulated to Local Groups, affiliated organisations and others with a request for responses. The question was raised as to what would happen with any responses received. It was agreed that all these would be considered by the April EC meeting and circulated to the May NC which would take decisions about future moves. The EC was asked to make appropriate proposals to this meeting. In addition the NC welcomed in particular the proposal that an event be held to celebrate Bishop Huddleston's 80th birthday in 1993. The meeting agreed that preparations for both this and the proposed international conference should be proceeded with independent of other discussions. 9.00 AM L GNER. N 1991 9.01 Assessment of AGM/Credentials Ctte Report - The NC was referred to Section B of the Report to NC. The general opinion of the EC and NC was that the AGM had gone very well. The smallest number of motions ever had fallen under the guillotine. 9.02 DIrplementation of Resolutions adopted - The NC considered the report on the implementation of AGM resolutions (NC/FEB 92/5). The following was agreed: i. Resolution 1: The Vote for Democracy campaign was considered under point 10.01 of the agenda. ii. Resolution 2: A simple document setting out the need for a Constituent Assembly would be prepared; iii. Resolution 3: - The twinning programme would be progressed with Local Groups & Regional Secretaries. - A meeting with the ANC Projects Group would work out priorities in relation to the establishment of other links (except TUs) and AA News would carry an article about this. - The proposal regarding a worker in SA would be discussed with the ANCand a report would be made to the NC on this discussion; iv. Resolution 5: The views of SANROC and NOCSA would be sought. Potential action in relation to 741 ,

SARFU would also be discussed with NOCSA; v. Resolution 6: This was discussed under agenda item 8.00; vi. Resolution 7: - A special AA News looking at these issues would be considered by the Editorial Board. - The EC had placed a note about the Study Group in the members newsletter. The NC agreed that Margaret Ling and Helen Kimble should initially be the conveners and Allison Barrett also expressed an interest. Claire Morgan and Tim Oshodi both expressed an interest in looking at the question of youth in this context and the TU Cttee expressed an interest in having representation on it. The terms of reference were as per the resolution and it was to be self financing. It was suggested by Oxford AA that Local Groups could consider financing it; vii. Resolutions 8 & 9: These resolutions would be considered by the special meeting agreed under resolution 6; viii. Resolution 10: This item was discussed under agenda item 3.01 i; ix. Resolution 11: - This would be raised with the Executive Secretary of SADCC. The NC also wanted his opinion on the nature and magnitude of aid needed by the region. Mike Terry was asked to report back to the next NC. - It was agreed that this issue could also be on the agenda for the proposed international conference; x. Resolutions 12 - 15: - It was hoped that Local Groups would publicise the Executive's Statement on sanctions. A further briefing would be produced setting out in greater detail the position vis a vis different sanctions. - It was suggested that there be a wider discussion, which included the trade unions etc, on the issue of investment. Contact would be made with the SACC re the seminar on codes for investment they were convening. - Under this item Chris Burford, convenor of the CBU, reported that up to date information on the working conditions of agricultural workers was being sought and would be used in the consumer boycott. It was suggested a letter be sent to Donald Woods about the contribution he had made to a feature on SA, on R4's 'Breakaway' programme, in which he attacked the AAM; xi. Resolutions 16 & 17: These were considered under agenda item 6.00 (Report to the NC, section C, vi); xii. Resolutions 18, 19 & 20: The proposed Trade Union Seminar, looking at the role of the TU Movement in the transition and beyond, would be proceeded with; xiii.Resolution 21: The proposed meeting with BTR unions would be convened and NUMSA would be written to; xix. Resolution 23: The EC had agreed to seek the views of the BEM Committee on this resolution and its proposals (NC/FEB 92/11) were circulated. These proposals in summary form were as follows: - Full support be given to the ARA, incl. giving information in AA News/ newsletter; - Funding for BEM to produce a Black Solidarity banner; - Resource BEM to produce a leaflet; - Encourage LGs to explore working with Black people in their area incl. holding meetings with local black groups, offer speakers etc. BEM could try and provide speakers; - Ensure continued and adequate contact and help for BEM in AAM office;

- Make every attempt to translate campaign materials into different languages, BEM may be able to help; - Ensuring adequate representation of Black people on AA committees etc and on public platforms; - Involve the Black community in every aspect of implementation of AGM resolutions; - When supporting anti-racist initiatives the AAM should make the links between what is happening here and how racism has operated in SA. The importance of this work was stressed in a number of contributions. It was agreed that Local Groups should be encouraged to follow up these proposals. The EC was asked to meet with the BEM Committee to follow up the implementation of these proposals which were agreed in principle subject to financial and staffing considerations. xix. Resolution 24: As the Women's Council had not met since the AGM a report would be made to the next NC. 9.03 Motions remitted from the AGM i. The NC agreed to adopt Motion 8. ii. The NC considered Motion 20 and agreed: - the deletion of point 1 - the deletion of point 3 - that point 2 be remitted to the EC with the suggestion that they remit it to the study group. The motion was carried as amended. 10.00 CAMPAIGN PANS 10.01 Vote for Democracy - There was a short time left for this campaign to run. The EC was considering what should be done with the votes when the campaign was finished, a possiblity was to try and send a delegation to present them to CODESA. The votes needed both a representative and an activist nature, ie both quality and quantity. It was reported that the votes from the South West would be delivered to London by a group of cyclists. Proposals had also been received from the BEM Ctte suggesting that the campaign materials be translated and that work be done with the black press to promote the campaign. 10.02 Manifesto for Democracy - This had been sent to Local Groups and the General Secretaries of affiliated unions. It would be sent to all candidates when a General Election is called. Local Groups were urged to follow it up and make contact with all candidates in their area. 10.03 Twinning - This was now taking off and twinning activity would be promoted in relation to the ANC's 80th anniversary this year. In reporting regional activity Yorkshire and Humberside informed the NC that they were raising £6000 for the Natal Midlands region. London Cttee were planning a visit from Barbara Hogan. The London Cttee were considering asking people to sponsor an advert in the SA press which would send greetings to people in their twinned region. 11.00 AN OTE BUSINESS 11.01 Bantustans - In response to a query about campaign plans on the bantustans it was reported that CODESA could not be precipitated but that the ANC would be asked what progress was being made. It was suggested that Local Groups, particularly those in Mr Hunter's constituency (who convenes friends of Bophuthatswana), put some pressure on their MP if they had connections with Bop.