African Activist Archive

Fundraising mailing that discusses growing political challenges being faced by the anti-apartheid movement. There is growing political complacency on South Africa because U.S. foreign policy attention and media headlines are riveted on the Mideast crisis. Therefore, weakening South African sanctions might not be challenged while there are "bigger problems" in the Middle East. Also, the "appearance of reform" in South Africa, through public relations gestures and token reforms by the de Klerk regime, has eroded Western governments' willingness to stand firm on sanctions. Furthermore, exaggerated and unrealistic expectations about Nelson Mandela's capacity to quickly bring the warring factions together and achieve a negotiated settlement has led to disappointment, frustration and a loss of energy within the movement. The Free South Africa Movement (FSAM) in the United States stands in solidarity with Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and all our brothers and sisters in South Africa by insisting that nothing less than a constitutional democracy based on one-person, one-vote will be acceptable to the majority of black South Africans. TransAfrica has been urged President Bush to hold the line on sanctions by running full-page advertisements this fall, delivering testimony before Congressional committees, speaking engagements across the country, radio and T.V. appearances, and major articles in national magazines and newspapers. The mailing points out that TransAfrica is also deeply involved in other crucial foreign policy issues affecting the entire continent of Africa - such as economic development, human rights, food policy, and refugee relief. Historically, African nations have received only a pittance of U.S. economic assistance. TransAfrica's lobbying efforts convinced Congress to raise Africa's appropriation by 40 percent over the administration's request. Also, TransAfrica has been speaking out for years about the long-term CIA funding of the war in Angola. Work on this issue is still needed, since President Bush recent vetoed legislation that would have finally placed restrictions on U.S. lethal assistance to the Angolan rebel movement. TransAfrica also is concerned about the refugee crisis created by the civil war raging in Liberia. More than half a million Liberians have fled to neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. The mailing discusses the African National Congress (ANC), the European Community, bans on steel, iron and gold coins, and investment in South Africa.

African Activist Archive

SUBJECT: Ending Apartheid in South Africa - Our 1991 Agenda

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