The mailing warns that action by President Bush and Congress to drop U.S. sanctions against South Africa would rapidly erode sanctions imposed by many Western European nations and would damage chances for ending apartheid and creating a democratic government in South Africa. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is heavily funded by U.S. taxpayers, is considering making a $1.9 billion loan to the South African government. This loan needs to be stopped. This mailing is a year-end emergency appeal for funds and call to action to hold the line on U.S. sanctions and prevent a public misuse of taxpayer dollars to fund the IMF loans. In their meeting in the Oval Office, President Bush promised...
The mailing warns that action by President Bush and Congress to drop U.S. sanctions against South Africa would rapidly erode sanctions imposed by many Western European nations and would damage chances for ending apartheid and creating a democratic government in South Africa. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is heavily funded by U.S. taxpayers, is considering making a $1.9 billion loan to the South African government. This loan needs to be stopped. This mailing is a year-end emergency appeal for funds and call to action to hold the line on U.S. sanctions and prevent a public misuse of taxpayer dollars to fund the IMF loans. In their meeting in the Oval Office, President Bush promised South African President F. W. de Klerk that he would attempt to get Congress to modify or suspend its sanctions. Bush administration officials now say that de Klerk has already met three of the conditions for ending sanctions: (1) lifting the ban on democratic parties, (2) agreeing to enter into good faith negotiations with black leaders, (3) lifting the State of Emergency still in force in Natal Province. Bush praised de Klerk as a courageous leader who had put his country on an "irreversible" course towards dismantling apartheid. We strongly disagree that de Klerk has sincerely embarked on any irreversible course to create a genuine democracy. TransAfrica led a large protest outside the White House. In press comments afterwards, it said Bush's reference to the "irreversibility" of reforms is the key term European governments are looking for to lift their sanctions. In an appearance on the McNeil/Lehrer News Hour, de Klerk negated a one-person, one-vote democracy by saying that means would have to be found to "protect the rights of minority" whites. For six years, starting in November 1984 when TransAfrica began its campaign with demonstrations and mass arrests at the South African embassy, it has fought to pass and then maintain economic sanctions. The appeal asks for people to sign and return the Citizen Petitions that will be sent to members of Congress.
