Mailing consisting of a cover letter and update. The letter says 1985 was one of the most significant years in the struggle against apartheid, both in South Africa and from the international community. Over 700 black South Africans have been killed, and over 4,000 people have been arrested in the attacks launched against the Black townships by the South African military and police. Americans have been educated and mobilized to such as extent that both Congress and the President have been forced to support sanctions as part of U.S. policy toward South Africa. The letter says the financial and political crisis in South Africa has overtaken both the President's Executive Order and legislative...
Mailing consisting of a cover letter and update. The letter says 1985 was one of the most significant years in the struggle against apartheid, both in South Africa and from the international community. Over 700 black South Africans have been killed, and over 4,000 people have been arrested in the attacks launched against the Black townships by the South African military and police. Americans have been educated and mobilized to such as extent that both Congress and the President have been forced to support sanctions as part of U.S. policy toward South Africa. The letter says the financial and political crisis in South Africa has overtaken both the President's Executive Order and legislative proposals making them "too little, too late." During the last year, 26 banks, including Citibank and Chase Manhattan, have stopped making loans to South Africa; 18 corporations, including Pepsi, Coke, and Apple Computer, have announced plans to reduce or eliminate their South African holdings; Krugerrand sales in this country are down by 75%; and the white South African business community has called for President Botha's resignation, an immediate end to apartheid, and talks with African National Congress (ANC) leaders. People are asked to contribute to the Washington Office on Africa. Washington Notes Update reports on President Reagan's Executive Order imposing weak sanctions on South Africa - the beginning of the end of constructive engagement. The Update says issuing the Executive Order was designed to keep Congress from passing a Conference Report imposing stronger sanctions and avert a politically embarrassing override of President Reagan's promised veto. The Update says Republican conservatives led by Senator Malcolm Wallop introduced a bill to recognize and aid the Mozambique National Resistance (MNR), a terrorist group (similar to the Contras in Nicaragua) supported by the South African government to destabilize the legitimate government of Mozambique; people are urged to urge their Senators to vote against it. Contents of Washington Notes Update: Weak Executive Order Demands Stronger Sanctions • CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS • ANTI-APARTHEID SUCCESSES • OTHER CONGRESSIONAL ACTION
