This fundraising mailing focuses on Nelson Mandela's U.S. tour and the continuing need to lobby on U.S. policy. Mandela's presence in the U.S. engaged many previously uninvolved Americans. This trip also put enormous financial demands on TransAfrica. In his speech to the U.S. Congress, the summary text of which is enclosed, Mandela emphasized the importance of sanctions in achieving democratic rule. Many Americans may mistakenly believe that the apartheid situation is moving quickly to resolution because of the parades, incredible press coverage and high-level meetings in Washington. But the Bush Administration, despite its willingness to host Mandela at the White House, is still extending an...
This fundraising mailing focuses on Nelson Mandela's U.S. tour and the continuing need to lobby on U.S. policy. Mandela's presence in the U.S. engaged many previously uninvolved Americans. This trip also put enormous financial demands on TransAfrica. In his speech to the U.S. Congress, the summary text of which is enclosed, Mandela emphasized the importance of sanctions in achieving democratic rule. Many Americans may mistakenly believe that the apartheid situation is moving quickly to resolution because of the parades, incredible press coverage and high-level meetings in Washington. But the Bush Administration, despite its willingness to host Mandela at the White House, is still extending an invitation to President de Klerk. Also, some members of the Administration have been insinuating that "the substantial dismantlement of apartheid" - a pre-condition for the lifting of U.S. sanctions - has already occurred. The sanctions that Mandela spoke of must remain until apartheid is totally ended. Several months ago, TransAfrica did a national petition campaign and a newsprint ad campaign protesting any visit by President de Klerk to the U.S. Inviting de Klerk to the Oval Office makes a mockery of strong U.S. public opinion against apartheid and insults millions of courageous black South Africans who still risk their lives in their freedom struggle. The mailing documents recent deaths in detentions, political prisoners, detainees, people killed and injured by police, and Death Squad activities. Yet even before the Mandela visit, White House Chief of Staff Sununu claimed that the required conditions for lifting of economic sanctions had already been met. Twenty-seven million black South Africans still cannot vote in their own country; the Population Registration Act, the Internal Security Act and the Lands Act are still in force. The recent decision by the African National Congress (ANC) to suspend its 29-year-old armed struggle has removed major obstacles towards negotiations. The ANC and Mandela have repeatedly made more serious concessions and good faith commitments to this negotiating process than has the de Klerk government. We must continue to urge Congress to pass the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act Amendments of 1989, which require the South African government to establish a timetable for eliminating all the pillars of apartheid, and also to press for passage of the Financial Sanctions Amendment to the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, which would prohibit U.S. banks from providing financial services to South African banks and the government of South Africa.
