THERE is an unprecedented depth to the crisis of the apartheid regime in South Africa and its allies, seen most significantly in the South African decisIon to maintain moratorium on the repayment overseas debts. I ne regime is in debt to the tune of $24bn of outstanding loans, $10bn of which were due for repayment this year. The regime can't see its way out of the crisis, and its traditional friends in the financial community are very relucThat crisis is behind the initiatives which have been taken from within the white population and behind the divisions which emerging. The regime itself is in a state of confusion, internally and externally.
Twenty months ago the regime was talking peace and signing cords, yet it escalates its war of attrition destabilisation azallisl neighbouring states. One minute it takes measures to make it easier for its allies to support it; the next it does things which pose problems even for its closest backer, the United States.
The most important tning recognise is that this has come about primarily because of the struggles of the oppressed people of South Africa and Namibia. the media sees change in terms. of the white community and white politics. These perceptions which are essentialWe have the power, through direct action, to isolate Botha. The trade ly racist, have to be challenged constantly if we are to develop the kind of solidarity that can stand by the people of South Africa. their The depth of the crisis is reflected of in the level struggle sometimes even sympathetic people underestimate. The there alc 100,000 South soldiers now soldier for dolles, There is this other factor at work and that's the desire by the ruling circles of western countries to try to offset public opinion by seeming to distance themselves from the regime. But there are others who believe their interests are best served by giving more explicit backing to that system. That's what Thatcher has chosen to do. Wherever there's a prospect of taking the meekest measures to isolate South Africa, Britain's role has been to block them, as at the UN recently.
However, at the conference of Commonwealth nations, Britain was obliged to take measures, measures which to the shame of Labour administrations SAY implemented. They include: the ban on computer sales to the police; a ban on the import of Krugereffective oil embargo.
Thatcher described
'tiny-weeny shift in policy'. rand sales alone earn $140bn.
Mrs Thatcher but it's a lot of money to the South African regime.
the most government, measures which government has consistently refused to take. This is an indication that the mere fact that solidarity movement internationally is African a much more powerful force today Namibia than it was ever before.
five which this government can no longer assume itself to act as the number one DrOLCCLO. of South challenge has been most meaningfully expressed in the words of Oliver Tambo, the Labour Party conference and the 2 November demonstranon organised by the Anti Apartheid Movement: 'people sanctions'. People have the OOWCIl South Africa if the Tory government isn't prepared to do so.
at the BTR factory in South Africa are on brought in, that the previous movement in this country should take action at BTR and at Dunlop its submilitary rands to this country; a ban on trade Whether promotion to South Africa; and an these as KrugerSouth Atrica That may be a little bit for leaders.
We've seen the Thatcher governpro-south being forced to impletrial, lawyers, LaDONt munity on trial.
We have to create a situation in gle. It's Africa. This elements who ing to protect president of the ANC, given to denied to the regime for it. 9 Southampton capacity to isolate loaded.
Swansea dockers This means that when the workers and scab labour Is role to play ty. sidiary, to make it more difficult for that company to pursue its policies in you're involved in the student movement. in the black com munity, or in the trade union movement, wnerever you look you can see struggles in South Africa which can be reinforced by action here.
Take the current trial of UDF There's scarcely a section of our community which can't be touched in some way to express its solidarity with those intrepid leaders on trial for high treason. There is a doctor on trade union leaders, leaders of the Indian and Asian comWhen we campaign for sanctions, for the isolation of South Africa, we uno estame war we are comoremer ting the liberation struggle there, not somehow substituting for that strugclear that some of the are currently talking about the need for sanctions are trywestern interests in order to control change. . We have to be wary when they talk about the need for limited sanctions or selective sanctions. Ultimately we must have total universal sanctions so that all forms of collaboration between this country past and the international community are We welcome the action taken at our docks when dockers along will otner umons lackca dowi military equipment which was being exported to South Africa, blocked it on the quayside and stopped it being We welcome the action by who stopped coal from South Africa being unloaded The labour movement has a particular Those who talk about municipal socialism have a special responsibilihere has to be a campaign to disinvest from those companies who operate investments and services in South Africa. The same is true of the boycott campaign. We saw the first rea breakthrough this when after 25 years the Coop suddenly got its act together and stopped purchasing South African goods. Within a few days Sainsbury's announced that it had instructed its buyers to look for alternative sources At the end of October, students took Barclay's advertising at its word and visited their Barclay's manager. They made 350 Barclay's branches across the country inoperative for 6 We are now at the point where the Anti Apartheid Movement can agree a programme to take the whole movement onto a new level. We've seen unprecedented levels of action in the past 12 months.› much of one day. The Barclay's campaign should be stepped up.
We're now at the point where the Anti Apartheid Movement can agree a programme to take the whole movement onto a new level. We've seen unprecedented levels of action in the That momentum must be maintained many more activists working in our local groups, building union and labour movement, ensuring that the Labour Party and other political par: ties take seriously their policies South Africa. particular we are planning a trade union conference to put a resolution to the TUC that it's now up to the trade union movement itself to isolate South Africa, and to follow that conference with a week of the international commumity and this regime are denied. › trade union action At the heart of what we're doing is the need to send the message of solidarity to those struggling in South Africa. When we can get that message through it gives those people that extra renewed confidence to make their very courageous sacrifices to bring about the end of apartheid. In so doing they will have struck a very big blow to the racists in this country and abroad
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compelled even the Thatcher government to take TERRY of the Anti Apartheid Movement. unions and the Labour Party have a special responsibility.
Photo: (IM 6 XX)K.SO)N THE FORCE OF the liberation struggle in South Africa, backed up by the solidarity movement abroad, has measures against the apartheid regime argued MIKE
é When we campaign for sanctions for the isolation of South Africa we understand that we are complementing the liberation struggle there, not substituting
"Ultimately we must have total universal sanctions so that all forms of collaboration between this country or