IDAFSA Canada
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IDAFSA Canada Legal defence and aid for the victims of apartheid 294 Albert Street Suite 200 Ottawa, Ontario KIP 6E6 Tel: (613) 233-5939 Envoy: IDAFSA Telex: AHH 6740 FAX: (613) 233-6228 Mission Statement o f IDAFSA (Canada) o assist those who are the victims of apartheid by ensuring Ttheir legal defence, by providing humanitarian aid and by building support in Canada through representation and education. IDAFSA (Canada)'s Objectives are to: 1 Ensure legal and financial assistance to prisoners who are detained under the apartheid laws and practices in South Africa, and to their families. 2 Educate Canadians about the reality of life under apartheid. Origins DAFSA's origins date back over 30 years to South Africa, J when legal and financial aid was provided in the famous trial involving Nelson Mandela and Albert Luthuli. For supporting the opponents of apartheid, the IDAFSA's oper ations through its South African committees were banned in 1966. Since then all the organizational work has been done externally, with a head office in London, England and affiliated national committees in several countries. In 1974, a North American Committee was established. In 1980, Andrew Brewin, a retired lawyer and long time Member of Parliament, together with several IDAFSA supporters, started an independent committee in Canada, affiliated to the international organization. IDAFSA (Canada) is federally incor porated as a non- profit corporation and registered as a charity with Revenue Canada. The money IDAFSA (Canada) raises for its humanitarian work, is generously matched by the Canadian government. Creating Awareness DAFSA (Canada) is committed to helping you to find out the J reality of life under apartheid and to give you the opportu nity to do something about it. To achieve this goal, an Information Centre and Education program were developed. Contact the IDAFSA for: • general information • information about a specific subject • educating others IDAFSA regularly publishes information on apartheid in South Africa. Information on materials available will be sent to you free of charge, on request. IDAFSA (Canada) seeks financial support from Canadians for its legal and humanitarian work. We invite your support. For More Information o find out how to get involved locally or to make a Tdonation, please contact the IDAFSA (Canada) office. Telephone: (613)233-5939 Envoy: IDAFSA Telex: AHH 6740 FAX: (613)233-6228 Board of Directors Bruce Archer, Executive Assistant, David Matas, Barrister and Ontario Teachers' Federation, Ontario Solicitor, Winnepeg Chantal Bernier, Lawyer, Colin McNaim, lawyer, Dept, of Justice, Ottawa Ontario Automobile Joan Fairweather, Insurance Board Anti-apartheid activist, Ottawa Terry Padgham, Researcher, Gloria Fallick, Supervisor, Victoria City of North York, Toronto Paula Kingston, Lawyer, Correctional Law Review, Solicitor General Canada, Ottawa Larry Kuehn, Director, Organizatwn Support, British Columbia Teachers' Federation, Vancouver Keith Philander, Director, Brian Rowe, Manager, CUSO, Social Justice Dept., Ottawa Archdiocese of Regina, Regina Archbishop E. Scott, President, Chengiah Ragaven, Vrofessor, IDAFSA (Canada), Toronto Sociology and Anthropology Esmeralda Thornhill, Lawyer, Depts., Concordia University, Q uebec H um an Rights Montreal Commission, Montreal Don Ray, Professor, Political George Tillman, Science Dept., University of Consultant, Ottawa Calgary Anne Mitchell, Executive Director * Please Note: Members of the Board are individual members and do not represent the organizations for which they work. A Review of Recent Events in South Africa he Harare Declaration is regarded by the international com T munity as the starting point for creating the necessary cli mate for negotiations between the South African Government and the ANC. The document was drafted by the Organization of African Unity's ad hoc Committee on Southern Africa, in Harare in 1989 and has since been adopted by the United Nations and the Mass Democratic Movement in South Africa as the blue print for talks with the Government Following President De Klerk's speech on February 2nd, the South African Government, has to a limited extent addressed the following clauses. • Lifting all bans and restrictions on all proscribed and restricted organizations and people. The Government still has the power to reban/restrict under the Internal Security Act the state of Emergency in Natal Province. 350 individuals still cannot be quoted and various organizations operate under prohibitions, such as preventing them from receiving foreign funding. The unbanning of organizations did not affect the prohibition of their literature under the Publications Act. • Ceasing all political trials and executions. The South African Government has not made a clear statement on the termination of political trials. Political executions have only been suspended pending investigation. • Ending the State of Emergency and repealing all legislation such as and including, the Internal Security Act, designed to circumscribe political activity. The state of Emergency has lapsed in 3 out of the 4 provinces in South Africa. It m s however, renewed in Natal Province. Legislation remains to reimpose the State of Emergency at any time. Repressive legislation is still in place; including the Internal Security Act, the Public Safety Act, The Group Areas Amendment Act etc. • Releasing all political prisoners and detainees uncondition ally and refraining from imposing any restrictions on them. j4s a result of the measures announced by President De Klerk on February 2nd and the lapsing of the State of Emergency in the 3 provinces, some political prisoners were released. The majority of political prisoners, however, remain in prison. Monitoring groups have estimated that the total number still in prison could be as high as 3000. • Removing the troops from the townships. The South African Government has failed to address this clause. Despite a possibility that all troups may withdraw in the forseeable future, there is considerable concern over the role of the police in the townships. At a meeting in January with 500 police commanders, President De Klerk told them that the role of the police force was being redefined in light of recent changes. In addition, in October 1989, a plan was announced to double the size of the police force over the next ten years. This brochure has been generously funded by Partnership Africa Canada IDAFSA Canada (International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa) FIDAAA Canada L'aide juridique et assistance pour les vie times de Vapartheid 294, rue Albert, piece 200, Ottawa, Ontario KIP 6E6 Tel: (613)233-5939 Envoy: IDAFSA Telex: AHH 6740 FAX (613) 233-6228 La mission du FIDAAA (Canada) A ider les victimes de I'apartheid en assurant leur defense / l juridique, en leur procurant uneaide humanitaire et en recueillant de plus en plus d'appuis au Canada, par l'education et la representation. Les objectifs du FIDAAA (Canada) 1 A ssurer la defense juridique et finandere des prisonniers detenus en vertu des lois et pratiques d e I'apartheid, ainsi que leurs families; 2 Sensibiliser les Canadiens aux reality de la vie sous I'apartheid. Origines es origines du FIDAAA remontent a plus de trente ans, en L■ Afrique du Sud; une aide juridique et finandere avait alors ete apportee a Nelson Mandela et Albert Luthuli, lors de leur fameux proces. Parce qu'il soutient les opposants de I'apartheid, l'action du FIDAAA (par 1'entremise de ses comites sud-africains) est interdite depuis 1966. Depuis lors, tout le travail d'oiganisation s'effectue de l'exterieur, a partir d'un bureau chef situe a Londres (Angleterre) et d e comites nationaux affili£s situes dans divers pays. En 1974, un com ite nord-am ericain voit le jour. En 1980, Andrew Brewin, avocat a la retraite et depute de longue date, fonde avec plusieurs supporters du FIDAAA un comit£ canadien independant, affilie a l'organism e international. Le FIDAAA (Canada) est incorpor6 comme sodete a but non lucratif aupres du gouvemement federal, et enregistre comme organisme de charite aupres de Revenu Canada. Les som m es recueillies par le FIDAAA pour son travail hum anitaire donnent lieu a une subvention equivalente, genereusement foumie par le gouvemement du Canada. Sensibiliser le public e FID AAA (Canada) s'est engage a vous aider a comprendre Li ce que sont les realites de la vie sous l'apartheid, et a vous donner l'occasion d'agir pour remedier a cette situation. P our atteindre cet objectif, nous avons cr£e u n centre d'information et un programme de sensibilisation. Com m uniquez avec le Centre d'inform ation d u FID AAA si vous desirez: • obtenir des renseignements d'ondre general • obtenir des renseignemnts sur une question specifique; • sensibiliser d'autres personnes. Le FID AAA publie regulierem ent des informations sur l'apartheid en Afrique du S u d . Sur dem ande, nous pouvons vous faire parvenir des renseignements sur le materiel disponible. Le FIDAAA (Canada) a besoin du soutien financier des Canadiens pour son travail juridique et humanitaire. N ous sollidtons votre appui. Pour plus de renseignements T) our savoir comment vous impliquer localement ou pour faire I un don, veuillez communiquer avec notre bureau. Telephone: (613)2335939 Telex: A H H 6740 Fax: (613)2336228 Envoy: IDAFSA Membres du conseil diadministration Bruce Archer, D avid M atas, a v o c a t, adjoint exicutif, Ontario W in n ip eg Teachers' Federation, Toronto Colin McNaim, Chantal Bernier, a v o c a te , Comission de Vassurance m inistere de la Justice, Ottawa automobile de VOntario Joan Fairweather, m ilita n te Terry P ad g h am , anti-apartheid, Ottawa chercheur, Victoria Gloria Fallick, superviseur, Keith Philander, d ir e cte u r , Ville de North York, Toronto D ipartem ent de la justice Paula Kingston, a v o c a te , sociale, Archidioc&se de Revision du droit correct ion nel, Regina, Regina Solliciteur general Canada Larry Kuehn, directeur de soutien aux organisations, British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, Vancouver Chengiah Ragaven, professeur, Mgn.