The mailing reports that President Bush repealed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986. TransAfrica strongly opposed lifting these sanctions because it knew from first-hand reports from inside South Africa that the F.W. de Klerk government had fulfilled neither the letter nor the spirit of the Act's conditions. The South African Council of Churches, African National Congress, Pan Africanist Congress, American Committee on Africa, and Amnesty International also opposed this action as premature. There was almost no challenge to the President's action, despite specific provisions of the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 stating how Congress could challenge the President's decision....
The mailing reports that President Bush repealed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986. TransAfrica strongly opposed lifting these sanctions because it knew from first-hand reports from inside South Africa that the F.W. de Klerk government had fulfilled neither the letter nor the spirit of the Act's conditions. The South African Council of Churches, African National Congress, Pan Africanist Congress, American Committee on Africa, and Amnesty International also opposed this action as premature. There was almost no challenge to the President's action, despite specific provisions of the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 stating how Congress could challenge the President's decision. Congress caved in not only to President Bush, but also to the back-room pressure of the public relations mercenaries hired by the South African government. TransAfrica's Executive Director Randall Robinson expressed disgust that a foreign power can influence and ultimately control major foreign policy decisions of the U.S. government by multi-million dollar lobbying schemes. Over the past year, 11 U.S. lobbying firms received more than $1 million for doing Mr. de Klerk's bidding with Congress, the executive branch, the media, and U.S. banks and businesses. American "hired hands" wrote de Klerk's speeches, scheduled his meetings, and spoke on his behalf. Washington lobbyist John Sears, a former highly placed Republican operative, admitted that he was paid by the South African government to inform on TransAfrica's activities. With the U.S. sanctions law overthrown by President Bush, de Klerk now has little incentive to go forward with earnest negotiations leading to a democratic, egalitarian society. In light of Mr. Bush's actions, TransAfrica must take the lead in making sure that the remaining sanctions remain in place, while this administration has already stated its intention to lift further sanctions. The Justice Department may take action soon to invalidate all remaining public anti-apartheid laws. We must not allow that to happen; all restrictions on International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank lending to South Africa and all state and local government anti-apartheid laws should be kept firmly in place. All U.S. aid destined for black South Africans should be routed only through non-governmental groups. The mailing mentions the National Party, Nelson Mandela, Ted Koppel, and nonracial democracy.
