MINUTES OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE HELD ON 19th JULY 1986

MINUTES OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE HELD ON 19th JULY 1986 AT THE SHEFFIELD TOWN BALL, SHEFFIELD. PRESENT: T---- iduals: Margaret Ling, Cedric Mayson, Vella Pillay Brian Filling, Paul ilomflecd, Cate Clarke, Dick Caborn, Hanif Bhamjee, Bob Hughes, MP (Chair), Mike Terry, Alan Brooks, David Haslam,RogerHarris, ° . Local Grou: Allison Barrett (Tyneside), Pauline Williams (Sheffield), (eodbrig)rG (Nottlngh)), Liz Hobbs (Basingstoke & Dist.), David Kenvpn (Redbridge), G Sen (Lambeth), Andy Dixon (Sockport), Dominic Tweedie & Philip Roberts (Eariney)I C. Fraser (N. Staffs), Jim Hillier (Bedford) Clive Haswell (Torka & kumberside AA Committee), Hanif Bhamjee (Wales AAM5, Andy Chaffer (Birmingian), Steve Monaghan (Merseyside AA) Robert Smith (]aln) Cliff Williams . Oldham), Jeremy hepherd (Camden), iunir Malik (Iandsvort Paul Sutton' (Hull), Jim Freed (Wakefield & Dis rict), Andrew Brook (Teeside) Lionel Barren (Cardiff) Immo Kleinschmidt (WaltM Forest), Peter Black (Newham), Steve Monaghan tMerseyside) Von 0ansations: David Haslam (ELTSA), Bill Morris (TGWU), Bill Rowbsley, tLEF), w ewtt-Dutton (ANY) Observer Organisations: M D Naidoo (ANC), Panduleni F Itula (SWAPO), Gerry Pocock (iunik), orlan Griffin (BFAWU), Mary Boucher (NSC) Staff: Chitra Karve, Mick Flynn Karen Talbot. opening the meeting Bob Aughes from the Chair reported that Mrs Starrs had recently been taken ill, and sent the Committee's get well to her. 1 APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Denis Goldberg Suresh Kamath, Abdul .nurfy, Bishop Huadleston, Christabel Gurney, Dorothy kobinson Iain Picton (Tory Reform Group) Fred Carneson Des Starrs, Pete Morris (NUPE), Hackney & Tower Hamlets AA, Lnda Douglas, LPS, Elaine Unterhalter, Ben Turoc, S W Herts AA, Brian Bunting, Bristol AA, Beverley Howe, Somerset & Dorset AA. 2 MINUTES of the last meeting: The minutes of the meeting of 26 April 1986 were ado pted as the correct record of the proceedings with one amendment, that Munir MalIk is recorded as present from Wandsworth AA. 3 MATTERS ARISING: A written report had been prepared and circulated- at the meeting. a) Shell: The report was noted. Mike Terry reported further that the takeup for this campaign had been slow. Rekha Patel from Aberdeen reported a successful Shell Day of Action, and that they were hoping to hold another one soon. b) AGM: The written report was noted, and after discussion, it was agreed to move the date for the AGM to 10 & 11 January 1987, to be held at Camden Centre. '- 4 REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA AND ASSESSMENT OF JUNE CAMPAIGNING ACTIVITIES: In addition to the written report Bob Hughes spoke from the Chair, and expressed gratitude to the office stalf and volunteers that helped make the March and Festival For Freedom in Namibia and Southwa Africa the biggest political event on Southern Africa ever seen in London. He also suggested that Jerry Dammers and Artists Against Apartheid should be written a thank you letter, and also to TGWU for financial assistance. He added that Cate Clarke in particular should be thanked for coordination of the whole event. Mike Terry reported on the reply from the Prime Ministers Secretary about the Resolution taken at Hyde Park. He further commented that events in Southern Africa and the actions of the Movement together with findings of the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons clearly contribute to a change in the thinking of the international Community on the subject of sanctions. He said that it was important that the Movement took advantage on all levels of this change, especially for the forthcoming mini Commonwealth Summit. Bob Hughes also said that the EC would like to put on record the appreciation for the work put in by local groups for the Local Authority 10 Days of Action, and also the work done by Roger Harris for the Lobby of Parliament. Dick

Caborn gave a verbal report on a Bill that was to receive its first reading in Parliament soon, and requested the meeting to ask their MPs to su port it. Bob Hughes reported that the demonstration in Wales on June 28th hid been very successful, with over 6 500 people attending. Brian Filling reported on the range of actions that had taken place in Scotland, especially in connection with tihe Commonwealth Games. Vella Pillay reported on the financial outcome of the event. 2 documentS had been circulated in advance, first a provisional income and expenditure account, and secondly a draft report on contributions by local AA Groups. He urged the groups that had not contributed to the expenses of the demonstration to do so as a matter of urgency. 5 COMMONWEALTH EPG: Bob Hughes reported that even though the Movement had had doubts about the efficacy of the EPG, the end result of their findings had in fact been very welcome. Mike Terry then reported on the forthcoming mini Commonwealth Summit, and detailed' 4 possible scenarios; the most positive being the switchround of the governments. stance against sanctions. Tne most negative would be that Mrs Thatcher blocked all measures. The more possible outcome would be that she would agree to,*some limited measures from Nassau, and the last alternative was that no real agreement would be reached, and there would be a further delay. The task of the Movement would be to ensure that she did not block all measures, and was unable to succeed with her delaying tactics. A document laying out provisional plans for mobilisation and actions over the time of the summit was circulated. Mike Terry suggested that further to these events, groups outside London could hold demonstrations for sanctions. He also reported on the work of the Trades Union Committee, who were appealing to all Trade Union to refrain from handling South African goods during the 3 days of the summit. Hanif Bhamjee suggested that the Movement should inform local AA groups which Trade Unions had agreed to complywith this action. It was also reported that Ford workers in Dagenham had agreed not to handle South African goods at all. Bob Hughes reported that the EC had requested a meeting with the TUC. The provisional programme was a&reed with the proviso that the meeting on the eve of-the Summit might not come off. 6 CHALLENGING APARTHEID: Documents for this item had previously been circulated. Mike Terry explained that the last National Committee meeting had agreed to take comments on the proposals set out in Challenging Artheid, and to discuss the specific relations of WAAM and the Scottish The meeting then proceeded to consider the proposed amendments to the Constitution set out in Appendix 1 of Challenging Apartheid together with a further set of amendments set out in a document entitled Sheet A. The meeting adopted the proposed amendments to Clauses 3,4, and 5. Under Clause 6 there were a number of proposed changes to the amendments to the Constitition. Brian Filling suggested that the delegate entitlement for national organisations affiliateg under Clause 3 a) i ( of the Constitution should be amended so that organisations with over 500,000 members should have ten delegates to the AGM. This amendment was not accepted. There were then a series of proposals for amending the entitlement of delegates from local Anti-Apartheid Groups. It was eventually agreed to amend the prop osal and for there to be two delegates for Groups with u to 100 members and then one additional delegate for every additional -50 members up to a maximumof10delegates. t e The National Committee then adopted the remaining amendments to the Constitution as set out in Challenging Apartheid" and Sheet A plus a textual amendment to the third paragraph in the new Clause 9. The complete set of amendments to the Constitution are set out in Appendix A of these minutes. Karen Talbot drew the meetings attention to a proposal from Exeter AA Group who were unable to be present at the meeting concerning the arrangments for visitors to the AGM. It was agreed that this did not require an amendment to the Constitution. Brian Filling then raised the issue of a registration fee for the AGM. It was noted that the last AGM had agreed to such a registration fee and this would be implemented for the next AGM,however after further discusion it was agreed that the EC should investigate the possibility of an intergrated registration fee and pool fare. Cate Clarke introduced the revised draft guidelines for Local Anti-Apartheid Groups which had been circulated as Sheet B. The purpose of these Guidelines was to provide a framework for local group activity. Following discusion it was resolved to include the Guidelines as a Schedule to the Constitution. The draft Model Constitution for Local Anti-Apartheid Groups was then introduced and it also resolved that it should be adopted

-P a schedule to the Constitution. There was discusion on the status of the representation of local grou a on the national committee and at the AGM and if they.culd be mandated or tree to act according to their conscience. After consideration of the matter it was agreed not to proceed with this proposal. There was also discusion about the possibility of two levels of local group organisation in larger cities. It was agreed that the Executive should look into the matter further in the areas where this problem may arise. It was recognised that under the revised Constitition there could duly be one local group recognised under Clause 3 a) iv) of the Consititution in any specific area. The draft Guidelines and Model Constitution for Local Groups are reproduced as Appendix B of these minutes. The meeting empowered the Executive Committee to draw up draft Guidelines for Regional Anti- Apartheid Committees and a draft Constitution for such Committees. The National Committee then adopted the amendments to the Standing Orders set out on Sheet D.These amendments are reproduced as Appendix C of these minutes. It also 'resolved to empower the Executive Committee to revise Challenging Apartheid in the light of the decisionitaken by the National Committee and to publish and distribute the report to all members prior to the AGM. 7 NAMIBIA WEEK OF ACTION: A document on the proposed actions was circulated. Bob Hughes welcomed presence of Panduleni Itula from SWAPO. Mike Terry reported that the aim of the week should be to broaden the understanding and priority of Namibia in the Movement as a whole. Cate Clarke then introduced the document on the activities for the Namibia Week of Action. She added that briefing papers should be prepared that would outline the role of British companies in Namibia. The SWAPO representative then gave a report on the current activities that could be organised around Namibia, and urged the Movement to prioritise Namibia in actions and educational events. During discussion, it was suggested that with Barclays and Shell, some good campaigns could be built around RTZ and Uranium links, since there was potential of linking with the peace movement on this issue. Margaret Ling thanked the SWAPO representative for his input and suggested that a material aid campaign would also be effective, as well as requesting Oxfam to work with the Movement during the Week of Action. David Haslam also reported that since Namibia Week was also One World Week it would be useful to try to get religious organisations involved in Namibia. Brian Filling reported that on Friday October 24th, there would be a Seminar on Namibia hosted by Bd.&bewh City Council. He also asked whether there had been any liaison with the AAM on moves by the NSC to establish local groups. The meeting was informed that there had been no such liaison. After further discussion alltheproposalsset out in the document for the Week of Action were agreed on. 8REPORTTONC: ThewrittenReport was noted. The only item that needed discussion was item (i); Membership under clause 7 of the Constitution. There were queries raisea about the status of the following organisations: Bebington Group Against Apartheid, County Hall Workers AA Group, and Bangor A. The NC agreed to empower the EC to accept the affiliation of Architects against Apartheid. (ii) Office Expansion: The report was noted. (iii) Staff: The report was noted, and under this item Bob Hughes gave on behalf of the EC a tribute to the work done by Cate Clarke for the Movement, and to wish her well for the future. Hanif Bhamjee suggested that in the light of the staff changes and the office expansion plans, it would be a good idea of have an Office Manager. Bob Hughes reported that this idea had been considered before but the nature of the work of the Movement made it difficult to structure the staffing in this way. AA Enterprises: The report was noted. Pluto Diary: The report was noted Jvi) Mandela Cycle Ride: The report was noted vii) TUCand PartyConferences: Underthisitem BirminghamAA brought up the subject of the proposed Lobby of the TUC of the Birmingham Trades Council and asked for support for the lobby from the AAM. After discussion it was agreed that the issue would be refered to the Trade Union Committee and the Execurive ommirree for rNeir urgent consiaerarion. 9 ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Under this item a Resolution was put forward by Lambeth AA, who proposed that a ANC/SWAPO speaker should be invited to all National Committee meetings. Bob Hughes suggested that before a vote was taken on this, the EC should discuss it with ANC/SWAPO and report back to the NC. This was agreed. The date of the next National Committee was set for 20th September 1986. Bob Hughes apologised in advance for his absence at this meeting.