Fourth International urges massive solidarity campaign INTERNATIONAL solidarity with the struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa is growing in many countries in the world. Within the trade union movement, on the campuses and in political parties there is a growing pressure for sanctions against the South African regime and growing links being made with the independent Black unions in South Africa.
At the October meeting of the United Secretariat of the Fourth International an appeal was issued for the stepping up of this action by all sections of the International. We reprint the appeal below and give some examples of the type of activity that has been taking place.
We propose that these different organisations be invited to attend and speak at mass actions. We also call on workers organisations to send fact-finding and solidarity delegations to South Africa.
In the workplaces we call on the trade unions to participate in the solidarity structures. At the same time we aim to get them to take on specific solidarity tasks in relation to the independent South African trade unions (particularly those that correspond to their industrial sector through appropriate trade-union aid, the popularisation of their struggles and press, and possibly "twinning"
International Viewpoint on South Africa
International Viewpoint has already published several articles on South
Africa in the following issues:
Independent Black unions in South
Africa' by Nathan Palmer and
Peter Blumer IV No 8, June 6,
1982.
*Land and the national question in the South African revolution'
Document of the Fourth International /V No 25, March 7, 1983.
The mounting revolutionary mass mobilisations of the people of South Africa against the apartheid regime demand the broadest possible support and active solidarity throughout the world. The FI calls on all its sections to place a high priority on this work, helping to organise the most powerful united action against the brutal repression of the racist South African government, for the freedom of Nelson Mandela and all political and trade union prisoners, and against the complicity of the imperialist governments with the apartheid regime.
The call to break all ties with the South African government, divestment campaigns aimed at companies doing business in South Africa, opposition to sales of the Krugerand, boycott of all sporting events with South African teams, and the forging of direct links with, and concrete support for, the struggling civic associations, independent trade unions, student organisations, churches and other organisations - these are the kind of solidarity actions that have already been taken. They must be broadened deepened and intensified, especially within the organised workers movement in all countries.
The goal of this international campaign is the progressive isolation of the South African regime on all levels, and the growing active involvement of working people the world over as they throw their weight behind the courageous and determined
International Viewpoint 14 October 1985 battle being waged by their sisters and brothers of South Africa to bring down the hated apartheid regime.
The South African mass movement is internally strongly differentiated on the political, trade-union or association front. The press of the International and its sections should take this differentiation into account.
Solidarity work should be undertaken in an identical fashion for all the components of the mass movement, without sectarianism or exclusion. In the solidarity campaigns or committees that our sections participate in we oppose all sectarian practices that consist of only really supporting one section of the organisations representative of a section of the oppressed and fighting against apartheid. US solidarity with South Africa (DR)
'Mass response to the new racist constitution by Nathan Palmer IV No 46, 13 February 1984. •Another step toward "Pax Americana", by Claude Gabriel IV No 54, June 4, 1984. 'Mass struggles come together to produce explosive situation' by Nathan Palmer. IV No 60, October 1, 1984. 'New upsurge sharpens debate over strategy' by Peter Blumer, Tony Roux IV No 65, December 12, 1984. "The people's anger' by Ndabeni IV No 74 April 22, 1985. SPECIAL DOSSIER ON SOUTH AFRICA IV No 80 15 July, 1985. *The implications of French sanctions' by Nathan Palmer. No 82, September 16, 1985. FAR
End US Suppori
For South African Apartheid