IN THE face of the escalating political situanon in ing class as defined by the the fight against 16 supporters of the tional Congress (ANC).
ternational communism'.
The accused were found at ine time but Mandela was arrested once more August 1962. In 1963 with Walter Sisulu and other leaders of the ANC and Communist Party, his was sentenced to life imprisonment.
spent the major part of this sentence in the There was real danger of death sentences at the time, and this was only averted as a result of widespread protests and the fear of the within The 16 accused in the present trial include leaders of the multi-racial United Democratic Front (UDF), Tumunsti other organisations. They include the 'Durban 4', the people who sought asylum in the British consulate ir Durban when they were being threatened with arrest because of their participation in the successful campaign against the TriCamarel elections last year.
Among the better known people facing trial is Albertina Sisulu, presiCounty Hall York Rd London Rally Trafalgar Square THE TRIAL which has opened in South Africa of United Democratic Front (UDF) is the largest since the massive trial of 156 people which dragged on from 1957 until March 1961. Among those on trial were Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and other leaders of the African NaThey were charged with membership of a 'country wide conspiracy to overthrow the state by force and violence inspired by indent of the UDF and wife ot the imprisoned ANC leader, Ismail Mohammed the Transvaal Anti Presidents council committee Others include Sam Kikine, Isaac Mcgobo Thozamile Gwqeta, president the South African Allied Workers Union (SAA WU).
By Charlie Van Gelderen The accused are being charged with and support of 'a revolu tionary COLLICU by the ANC, CP and the of Unions. According to the the ultimate aim of the alliance was the of state power. The prosecution alleges that the insistenc on 'non violent forms of political struggle which the accused espoused was only a cover for their rea revolutionary aims.
Under South Africa's draconian laws all found guilty of high face the death penalty and it will arouse the widest movement of support for these victims of apartheid.
When the unionists were arrested in February, Donald Anderson, Labour Party front bench spokesperson South Africa said that this had further frustrated hopes of a dialogue ween the Botha regime and the 'extra parliamentary opposition' But the regime determined make an example of the accused in the hope that it will cower the liberal forces, it will take more than platitudinous statements their lives.
These women and men are guilty of nothing else but carrying on legitimate struggle against racist te repressivt regime. The only violence during the anti election campaign came from the and the military. I police is not for any covert Or overt act of treason that they stand in the dock.
In the present climate of revolt in any political ideas coming Many section of the liberation movement can raise the consciousness of the people and inflame the situation It Is for their politica beliefs that these people now face the possibility of prolonged prison sentences OT even death. The international movement cannot stand idly by and allow this to happen.
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Anti-Apartheid Movement NATIONAL