African Activist Archive

The report says the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 (CAAA) stipulates that the South African government must release "all persons persecuted for their political beliefs or detained unduly without trial" before any modification or relaxation of sanctions. To lift sanctions, President Bush ignored undeniable evidence of continued imprisonment of individuals on political charges. The document reviews the evidence about release of political prisoners, which has been a key condition for relaxing international pressure. On August 6, 1990, the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African government issued the joint "Pretoria Minute," which defined "political" prisoners. All political prisoners were to be released and all political exiles were to be granted indemnity by April 30, 1991. The South African government still has not fulfilled these obligations. It has intentionally underestimated the number of remaining political prisoners (and overestimated releases), to create the perpetual impression that it is on the verge of satisfying this requirement. In April, President F.W. de Klerk stated that only 200 political prisoners were left in apartheid's jails. The report says President Bush claims that the South African government has released all those who the State Department defines as "political prisoners," but the Executive branch has no authority to construct its own definition of a "political prisoner." Even the most narrow definition of a "political prisoner" must include those imprisoned for high treason in Bophuthatswana; President Bush does not dispute this, but he argues that the South African government cannot be held responsible for the acts of a regional administration which it contends is "independent." However, the CAAA explicitly defines the Bophuthatswana "homeland" or Bantustan as a part of South Africa. The termination of sanctions is a clear violation of the process set down by Congress in the CAAA; Congress must act immediately to uphold the integrity of this legislation and to reverse the President's action. The report mentions the Human Rights Commission, security forces, Laurence Mahila, and hunger strikers.

African Activist Archive

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT FAILS TO MEET CONGRESSIONAL CONDITIONS FOR LIFTING SANCTIONS

Creator

Place Created

Date

Type of Item

Length/duration

Description

Organization

Coverage Africa

Language

Digital Format

Rights Management

Collection