Tu^g.q.- 7-»g b'SCu^i'on ALL POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS MUST BE UNBANNED The banning of organisations is the single most important cause of political violence in South Africa. When an anti-apartheid organisation with thousands of members and supporters is denied any channel for peaceful opposition, it will inevitably take up arms. The majority of South Africans do not recognise the government's MIRGE,NUSAS and ECC. Printed at 131 Main Lr Road, Obs right to rule, let alone to ban their organisations. The widespread support for banned organisations indicates clearly that there can be no peaceful change until and allowed to take their rightful place in the democratic political life of our country. Without freedom of association there can be no peaceful c'hange. APARTH5ID MUST BE DISMANTLED Apartheid and the entire system of minority rule is an unjust and illegitimate process, and it is the root cause of all the violence in South Africa. The majority of South Africans have indicated their determination to rid themselves of apartheid, and play a role in determining the future of South Africa. The government has made adjustments to apartheid, but insists on determining South Africa's future on its own terms. The government insists on remaining in power, while the majority of South Africans refuse to acknowledge its right to rule as a minority government. Peaceful change will only be possible when apartheid in its entireity is dismantles, and there is a recognition that the only legitimate government in South Africa is one based on the will of all South Africans established in a single democratic process. AS SOUTH AFRICANS WHOSE DEEPEST WISH IS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE IN OUR LAND, WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO WORKING TOGETHER TO REALISE THESE PRECONDITIONS. LET US MAKE PEACEFUL CHANGE A REALITY !________ Nl is NO WAR IN N AM IBIA South Africa's illegal occupation of DID YOU KNOW? Namibia • There are over 90 000 SADF troops in Namibia. • The Namibian war costs Namibia has been illegally under which people live) among occupied by South Africa since South Africa more than R2 m Africans is one of the highest in every day. 1966 when the United Nations (UN) the world while infant mortality It costs about R1 m to kill ended South Africa's mandate and among whites is one of the lowest. ordered South Africa to withdraw one SWAPO guerilla (SABC The official figure for the current fig u re ). from the territory. International housing shortage in the townships • 10 000 Namibians have died law recognises the United Nations is 380 000, but independent in the war since 1966. This Council for Namibia as the legal research puts the figure at roughly represents 1% of the entire authority, and in turn the UN; three times this amount. The population. recognises the South West African chronicle of poverty is endless, yet • In 1980 PW Botha announed People's Organisation (SWAPO) as South Africa continues to use much that R3 000 had been spent on the sole representative of the needed financial resources on "infrastucture and defence" people. Yet South Africa continues illegally occupying neighbouring to rule by force. De facto Namibia territory. in Namibia. Since then the is occupied by South Africa with figure has increased the northern areas under military substantially. control. the withdrawal ot Cuban troops from neighbouring Angola. At present South Africa is again SWAPO, and initially South Africa, "Only when we are granted accepted UN resolution 435 in engaged in negotiations regarding our independence will the 1978 which detailed the steps that the withdrawal of the South African struggle stop. Only when were required for South Africa to Defence Force (SADF) from our human dignity is withdraw from the territory. Namibian territory. Should South restored to us, as equals of However, South Africa went on to Africa remain intransigent the the whites, will there be kill 700 mostly women and implementation of resolution 435 peace between us. children in the Kassinga raid into and Namibia's independence will "We believe that South Angola and then to hold internal be stalled yet again. Africa has a choice - either elections which did not have the to live at peace with us or to participation of SWAPO and other The cost of maintaining South subdue us by force. If you representative groupings. Africa's illegal occupation is choose to crush us and enormous. Millions of rands are impose your will on us then spent everyday on this war while Pressure continues to be exerted on The people of Namibia should be you will not only betray our South Africa by the international the majority of South Africa's left to conduct free and fair trust, but you will live in community and many attempts have people live under some of the worst elections as outlined in resolution security only as long as been made to force the conditions in the world. The infant 435 while South Africa's soldiers your power is greater than implementation of UN resolution mortality rate (IMR is widely should be performing a truly ours." 435. A stumbling block has always accepted as being an accurate national service which benefits the SWAPO leader been South Africa's insistence on indicator of the social conditions majority of people in this country. Andimba Toiva ja Toiva THE EFFECTS OF WAR "If we saw a well-built kaffir we'd know he was a terr. If he had soft feet that would prove it beyond doubt, at least if we were out in the bush, because who else wears shoes? Sometimes you could also see marks on his shoulders or his waist from the webbing. "We'd interrogate him, and if he was stubborn he could have trouble. Maybe we tie him to the front of the Buffel and do a little bundu-bashing. Feel it? Why should I feel it? I wasn't on the front of the Buffel. "If he's still okay when we get tired of driving around maybe we give him a ratpack (a seven-day food supply, containing corned beef, chocolate bars, ’dog biscuits’ etc.) and tell him to shut up. "Sometimes they shout and shout and complain and then we have no choice, we have to finish him off. Sometimes he's finished off before we stop driving. Then we just untie him and farewell." (SADF soldier, Frontline August 1985) Two former South African National Serviceman were sentenced to 22 years and 18 years respectively by the Windhoek Supreme Court for the murder of an Ovambo- speaking civilian, Mr Sebastiaan Lukas, in northern South West Africa. At about 8 p.m. on February 9 1985 they saw Mr Lukas (40) walking through the sorghum field and took him into custody because they thought his movements had been "suspect". They ordered Mr Lukas to squat on his haunches, and they stepped five to eight paces away, swung around and opened fire on him with their army issue R4 automatic rifles. (Citizen 29/10/85) Fast for a Just Peace Today, the 17th of September, is International Day of Peace. It is also the first day of a three week fast by Dr Ivan Toms, prominent Cross­ roads doctor. Can we celebrate peace when our country is in a state of turmoil, when South Africa is at war with itself? We should, with Ivan Toms, dedicate ourselves to resolving conflict and working for a just peace. AT SCHOOLS IN CAPE TOWN... A t "w h ite " schools, classes in the Pupils like yourselves have been morning andijport in the afternoon sjamboked, teargassed and shot at remain unaffected by our country's w ith rubber bullets and live conflict. A t "coloured" and ammunition. Now all the "colour­ "black" schools teachers and school ed" schools in the Western Cape pupils have been protesting against have been closed down by the the state of emergency. Their government, leaving many pupils protests have been met by police unsure as to whether they can and army violence. write their matric exam. TROOPS OUT CAMPAIGN The presence of the SADF in the The ECC has launched a “ TROOPS townships aggravates the state of OUT CAMPAIGN" calling for the conflict in our country. The pres­ withdrawal of the SADF from the ence of the SADF in the townships townships. is a declaration of war against the township residents. Young con­ As an act of personal commitment scripts are forced to participate in to peace. Dr Ivan Toms will fast the township war. The withdrawal in St George's Cathedral from of troops from the townships is an September 17th to October 7th. essential pre-requisite for any Ivan is a conscientious objector serious attempt to find a peaceful and a doctor at the SAC LA Clinic solution to our country's conflicts. in Crossroads. Church leaders and prominent individuals will fast with Ivan throughout the period. "Fasting has a long political and Christian tradition. Therefore as a Christian conscientious objector and a member of the ECC, I have chosen to fast in order to protest against the oppression of blacks in what is now civil war. In a situation like this where young men are expected to fire on fellow South Africans, the very least we can call for is that individ­ ual conscripts be given the right to decide not to go into the town­ ships." Dr Ivan Toms What can we do? You can join the Fast for a Just Peace — October 6-7 for 24 hours. Visit Ivan in St George's Cathedral from 17th September — 7th October to chat to him.