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International solidarity IN SWEDEN ... there has been a big expansion of the solidarity movement with South Africa in recent years. The Isolate South Africa Committee, ISAK, has increasingly become the legitimate representative of the solidarity movement.
In March this year there was a demonstration of some 3,000 people in Stockholm against apartheid and against racism in Sweden. There has also been a successful campaign in all Swedish schools, collecting for the 'A day's work for South Africa' fund drive.
Within and outside the solidarity movement the question of a boycott has been a much debated theme in the last year. The Swedish legislation regulating trade with, and investment in, South Africa was sharpened, but still without essentially affecting the Swedish investments in South Africa. Imports of fruit have, however, been banned.
At the beginning of this year a big cooperative chain of distributers and retailers decided not to sell any South African goods. This was seen as a big step forward after years of campaigning with the local Coop branches. In the Metalworkers union a very important debate has been taking place on the issue of the withdrawal of Swedish companies from South Africa and the selling of shares in companies with South African investments. A group called Metalworkers Against Apartheid was set up and a resolution went forward to the national congress of the union in September. The motion was not carried but the debate was very important in putting pressure on the union leadership to take some action on the issue.
In the coming months, ISAK has several activities planned. These include a big demonstration against apartheid on October 11, a "Peoples Parliament Against Apartheid' next February and a continuation of the campaign against companies with investments in South Africa. Students, for instance, are now organising a boycott against one of the bigger text book publishing companies, Esselte. IN THE USA ... many groups have endorsed the call for an outpouring of opposition to the apartheid regime on October 11 - the National Anti-Apartheid Protest Day and Day for South African Political Prisoners. Protests are planned in Albany, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson, Washington and other cities as well as over 100 colleges and universities. Plans include marches, rallies and picket lines along with other educational activities such as teach-ins on apartheid and Washington's role in South Africa. These actions are being organised by, in some cases, newly formed ad-hoc coalitions and in others by already established anti-apartheid organisations.
In August, there were large actions in New York and Washington DC demanding that congress pass legislation imposing sanctions against the South African government. These built on the largely campus-based protests demanding divestment. A further meeting in New York took an important step in involving trade unionists in the campaign. On September 17, the New York Anti-Apartheid Coordinating Council was established at a meeting called by the United Auto Workers District 65 and involving representatives from several different trade unions in the City. IN FRANCE ... the key task of the solidarity movement is to unify itself in order to fight for an extension of the meagre sanctions imposed by the Fabius government (see International Viewpoint No 82, September 16, 1985). 12
An important step towards such a process was made at the September 26 demonstration called by various different organisations including SOS-Racisme, the ANC, SWAPO, the Anti Apartheid Movement and one of the major student unions - UNEF-ID (Union National des Etudiants de France - Independente et Democratique). Between 3,000 5,000 attended the demonstration - possibly the biggest on this issue yet seen in the capital. On the same day, workers at Orly airport attempted to stop all flights to Johannesburg. They succeeded in holding up the flights, in this, the very beginnings of trade union action against the South African regime.
The Anti-apartheid Movement is holding a forum at the end of the month with international speakers to discuss how to take the campaign forward. IN BRITAIN ... the main focus for action against apartheid is the national demonstration called for November 2 by the Anti-apartheid movement. The expected turnout is somewhere in the region of 50,000 people.
Thus far the main focus of the campaign has been to demand that Prime Minister Thatcher agrees to impose even the limited sanctions agreed to by the EEC (European Economic Community). Pressure for a more activist campaign based on the demand 'Break all links' is now growing: IN THE NETHERLANDS ..The FNV, the main trade union federation, has established a solidarity fund for independent Black unions in South Africa. This issue of solidarity with South African Blacks is just beginning to become a real focus of attention following a huge debate in parliament and outside about the visit of the Foreign Affairs minister to South Africa as part of the EEC delegation. On September 14, there was a 2,000 strong demonstration and there is a campaign for a boycott of South African fruit under way. Two major supermarket chains. Ahold and Vendex International have already decided to implement such a boycott. IN WEST GERMANY ... On Saturday, September 21, 15,000 people demonstrated in Bonn and West Berlin for a total boycott of the racist regime in South Africa.
The West Berlin demonstration of 5,000 was supported by the SPD and the Jusos [SPD Youth] as well as by the Alternative Lists. The SPD state chairman Jergen Egert was among the participants.
In Bonn's Muensterplatz, along with Dr. Wela Boesak, the brother of the recently arrested president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Dr Allan Boesak, were HBV [SPD Student organisation] Executive member, Christian Goetz and Ingrid Mattaeus-Mueller of the SPD Bundestag fraction.
The attempt to make the Bonn demonstration, for which there was a national mobilization, into a genuinely united action failed despite a number of preparatory meetings. The DKP [German Communist Party] only invited representatives of the liberation movement who were close to the CP influneced ANC: Pashukeni Shoombe of SWAPO and Elena Khanyil of the ANC women's section. The fact that along with Peter Gingold (DKP) and the theologian Professor Walter Kreck, Uschi Eid of the Greens was also to speak could hardly counterbalance this one-sidedness. Please send details of solidarity activity in your country to IV, 2 Rue Richard Lenoir 93108 Montreuil, France.
International View point 14 October 1985