Funding appeal from the American Committee on Africa (ACOA) discusses the cracks in President F.W. de Klerk's carefully nurtured reform image. Three hundred political prisoners on Robben Island went on a hunger strike, demanding to be released. Although the hunger strike has been suspended pending negotiations, the fact that they were forced to resort to a hunger strike goes to the heart of de Klerk's "reforms." The release of Nelson Mandela and major political leaders from prison and the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organizations are critical victories for the people of South Africa. The mailing discusses apartheid, bantustans, demonstrations,...
Funding appeal from the American Committee on Africa (ACOA) discusses the cracks in President F.W. de Klerk's carefully nurtured reform image. Three hundred political prisoners on Robben Island went on a hunger strike, demanding to be released. Although the hunger strike has been suspended pending negotiations, the fact that they were forced to resort to a hunger strike goes to the heart of de Klerk's "reforms." The release of Nelson Mandela and major political leaders from prison and the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organizations are critical victories for the people of South Africa. The mailing discusses apartheid, bantustans, demonstrations, "minority rights," "group rights," "protection of minorities," freedom, democracy, Namibian independence, the Sharpeville massacre, pass laws, P.W. Botha, the United Democratic Front (UDF), divestment and selective purchasing measures, the Religious Action Network, the army, and the police. [The ACOA ACTION NEWS that is mentioned is available on this website.]
