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Anti-Apartheid Movement Anti-Apartheid Movement 13 Mandela Street, London NW10DW. Tel: 071 387 7966. Fax: 071 388 0173 NC/JLY 93/2 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE 24TH APRIL. CONGRESS HOUSE PRESENT Individuals: R Hughes (Chair), A Minty, M Terry, B Switzer, J. Lestor, M Ling(& MAC), M Sparham, A Kruthoffer, C Burford(& Haringey), C Gurney, M Malik, D Kenvyn(& Redbridge), M Malik, C Adkins, H Kimble, I Stuart, A Barrett(& Tyneside), R Harris Local Groups & Regional Committees: Aberdeen AA: B O'Hare, Southampton AA: D Smith, Scottish Committee: B Filling, SW Region: D Starrs, Oxford AA: I Longworth, Nottingham: M Oidham, Exeter and District AA: J Saleem, Birmingham AA: A Chaffer, Bristol AA: D Spurgeon, Lewisham AA: C Duah, Bath AA: I Roker, Haringey AA: S O'Donovan, Colchester AA: J Plummer, Cardiff AA: C Haswell Voting Organisations: UNA:R Karesh, NUCPS: N Bellamy, MAC: P Brayshaw, NSC: J Silvester, C Fowler, ASLEF: T West Observer Organisations: LAAA: N Roy, BDAF A Maseko Guest: Mr Mendi Msimang, NEC of ANC Staff in attendance: G Omasta-Milsom, C McMaster, R Dadoo 1.00 APOLOGIES: Bishop Huddleston, GPMU: Brian Willoughby, Methodist Church: Rachel Stephens, Rt Rev Wilfred Wood, Hugh Bayley MP, Wessex Regional Committee, Sheffield AA, Camden AA, Kingston & Sutton AA, Hanif Bhamjee, Vella Pillay, Rachel Jewkes, Richard Caborn, Mike Pye, Dave Crane. Bob Hughes opened the meeting by apologising for the change of time and venue of the National Committee meeting due to the memorial meeting for Chris Hani taking place the same afternoon at Congress House. He announced the sad news of the death of Oliver Tambo earlier that morning and it was agreed that the AAM's condolences be conveyed to the ANC and to the Tambo family. In answer to a request he was sure that the ANC would open a book of condolences for Oliver Tambo's friends in London to sign. A minutes silence was held in memory of Oliver Tambo and Chris Hani. 2.00 MINUTES OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING 27/2/93 It was noted that Munir Malik was not minuted as present at the last NC meeting. The minutes (NC/FEB 93/2) were agreed as a correct record with the above amendment. 3.00 MATTERS ARISING FROM NC METING 27/2/93 3.01 Twinning Seminar It was noted that the twinning seminar which had been scheduled to take place that morning had been FOR FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA postponed to the Chris Hani memorial. It was agreed to reschedule it for the morning of the July 10th NC meeting. 3.02 Trade Union Work It was reported that the trade union seminar had been postponed as a date proposed was not suitable for COSATU. The AAM trade union committee had not yet agreed on a new date. 3.03 LAAA It was reported that the conference held in Manchester had been very successful and well organised. The first meeting of the new National Steering Committee was to take place in Islington. It was agreed to send the list of participants to local groups. Gerard Omasta-Milsom was thanked for his help. Brian Filling reported that the ANC had suggested the postponed visit of Nelson Mandela to Glasgow might now take place in early July and the Scottish Committee was now awaiting confirmation. 3.04 Pilatus The importance of this potential breach of the UN arms embargo was stressed. The meeting agreed that the EC, in consultation with the World Campaign should take all necessary initiatives in order to prevent the export of the Pilatus aircraft to the SAAF. 3.05 BSC Education Conference It was reported that about 30 people attended. A full report would be available from the Black Solidarity Committee. 3.06 Study GrouD Helen Kimble raised the question of financial support for the Study Group. Mike Terry reported that it had already been agreed to meet the costs concerned. It was reported that Mendi Msimang and Abdul Minty would not be able to attend the meeting until 12.45 and therefore it was suggested that item 4.00 be postponed until their arrival. It was agreed to move on to item 5.00. 5.00 ANGOLA: Peter Brayshaw gave a background to the current situation in Angola which is very bleak in terms of numbers of people killed and displaced and facing disease and starvation. He noted that the international community had not translated its verbal condemnation of UNITA into deeds for instance UN resolution 811 which was adopted in March expressed condemnation of UNITA but has not resulted in isolation or sanctions. The American government also had not honoured its pre-election promise to recognise the Angolan government. This is despite Congress adopting a resolution urging immediate recognition. Peter Brayshaw then gave a report back from the last meeting of the Angola Emergency Campaign. The AEC petition so far has collected 3,600 signatures. He asked for all petitions to be returned by Tuesday as they would be handed in to Lynda Chalker at the Foreign Office on Wednesday 28th. Donations so far totalled £1,000 which would be used for medical aid. A campaign postcard should be available by the end of next week and an A4 leaflet and fact sheet on the current situation are planned. The AEC will chase up organisations who are sympathetic but have not yet become participating organisations. There will be a national mobilising conference on Angola on 22nd May. In discussion it was explained that the petition concentrated on humanitarian issues as it was designed to complement the petition organised before Christmas. It was intended that the leaflet and fact sheet would address the political issues. In answer to a question about what parliamentary work had been done so far it was reported that Bob Hughes had led the delegation which had met with Lynda Chalker,parliamentary questions had been tabled and an Early Day Motion had been tabled and signed by at least 50 MP's. However it was still necessary to put pressure on local MP's to take up the issue. It was reported that Michael Meacher was due to visit Angola and it was hoped that on his return he would assist in raising the profile of Angola. It was also stressed that it was important to write to MP's, government ministers, the US embassy etc to keep up the pressure. It was noted that another priority was media coverage. It was agreed to encourage members to complain to the media over poor coverage of Angola. Peter Brayshaw summed up and urged local groups to attend the conference. Bob Hughes asked the meeting if item 6.00 could be postponed as Suresh Kamath was hoping to be able to attend for this item. It was agreed to move on to item 7.00. 7.00 PREPARATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOUTRERN AFRICA. JUNE 14/15 Mike Terry drew the meetings attention to the draft brochure and programme for the International Conference which had been circulated to the NC. He gave an update on other arrangements for the Conference. He explained that Bishop Huddleston and Mwalimu Nyerere had met in Geneva the previous week and it was felt that good progress was being made in preparation for the Conference. Sadly the death of Oliver Tambo will be a great blow for both the Convenors, particularly as they had been looking forward to him opening the Conference. The Programme for the Conference which had been circulated was in draft form. The acceptances to address and chair the Conference received so far were most encouraging and it seemed that there would be an impressive line up of contributors. The National Committee would all be formally invited to attend the Conference. Mike Terry also reported that there was a proposal to have a day of Workshops on the Sunday prior to the Conference which would provide a framework for discussion of new areas of solidarity involving ngos from Southern Africa coming to the Conference as well as overseas AAM's who may arrive early for the Conference. There was then a discussion during which a number of issues were raised. Firstly in relation to the £25.00 registration fee it was suggested that this may be underpricing the event. It was proposed that there be a two rate pricing system so that organisations/corporate bodies paid more than individuals. Regarding participation at the Conference members of the NC and local aa groups were asked to make suggestions concerning potential invitees, such as academics, trade unionists, etc. In relation to the funding of the event it was noted that the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid were making a grant towards the costs and that other sources of income were being investigated. Andile Maseko said that BDAF welcomed the Conference and looked forward to participating. In answer to a question Mike Terry said it was hoped that Norman Willis would be able to attend the Conference although he had to be in Geneva the day before and that invitations to the international trade union community were going to be sent out. Mike Terry also reported that it was hoped that one of the South African participants, such as Frank Chikane, would be able to come to Britain to address the National ARA demonstration on the Saturday immediately prior to the Conference. Mike Terry summarised the discussion and also reminded the NC to send in their requests for tickets for the Trevor Huddleston 80th Birthday Tribute as soon as possible. 8.00 SANCTIONS It was reported that Mike Terry had met with Dave Craine of ELTSA and Chris Burford of the CBU to discuss the question of priorities for action around sanctions and economic campaigns in the light of the last discussion at the NC.

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