The press release says the Washington Office on Africa condemns President Bush's premature lifting of sanctions on South Africa. The move shows the White House's disregard for the objectives of South Africa's popular Black leadership and the administration's eagerness to reinforce the position of its allies in the white minority regime. Consistent with the Reagan administration's "constructive engagement" policy, President Bush has been hostile to using sanctions to accelerate the end of minority rule in South Africa. Congress overrode a presidential veto when it enacted the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act (CAAA) of 1986 in October, 1986. This act delineated...
The press release says the Washington Office on Africa condemns President Bush's premature lifting of sanctions on South Africa. The move shows the White House's disregard for the objectives of South Africa's popular Black leadership and the administration's eagerness to reinforce the position of its allies in the white minority regime. Consistent with the Reagan administration's "constructive engagement" policy, President Bush has been hostile to using sanctions to accelerate the end of minority rule in South Africa. Congress overrode a presidential veto when it enacted the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act (CAAA) of 1986 in October, 1986. This act delineated conditions under which sanctions could be modified or terminated; they remain unfulfilled, despite Bush's statement to the contrary. The executive order infringes on both the letter and spirit of the CAAA. It ignores continued incarceration of hundreds of political prisoners, suppression of political expression under security legislation, involvement of security forces in political violence, qualifications placed on repealing apartheid legislation, and political exclusion of Blacks. Repealing sanctions also will strengthen the white regime's position in future struggles over the contours of a post-apartheid society. Sanctions have proven effective as a catalyst for change in South Africa, complementing activities of anti-apartheid organizations within South Africa, and have encouraged the National Party to communicate with recognized Black leaders. The U.S. must keep pressure on South Africa until segregated political institutions have been abandoned and a representative assembly has been convened to draw up a non-racial constitution. The Washington Office on Africa calls upon members of Congress to defend the integrity of the CAAA and to reject the President's certification of South Africa's compliance with the Act's conditions.
