Over: 1000 activists students and labour movement organisations met at the Anti-Apartheid Movement AGM last Sunday.
The broad agreement registered series of campaigning proposals reflected the confidence of a movement that has just built the biggest anti-apartheid demonstration ever in Britain. A 50 per cent growth in membership was reported, and plans were discussed for doubling this growth over tne comung montas The AGM was opened with speeches presentatives the SWAPO.
Greetings were read from the UDF and a telegram of support was sent COSATU the new tinion federation at the weekend.
AN 'Agenda for Action' with extensive proposals for activities in the next six months was AAM tional secretary Mike Terry.
The report explained that the black people in South Africa, the solidarity movement Britain, had been able to strike major blows against the apartheid regime and its backers over the past year.
Ever British government had been orced to make small policy shifts. The Movement now had to expose A saried regime's counter-offensive, incluUS backing UNITA's military action in Angola.
paign for sanctions campaign sanctions against full plan of action, was outlined (see box).
From the statement of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress, read to the Anti-Apartheid Movement THE AFRICAN National Congress, on behalf of the fighting people of South Africa. greets the annual eneral meeting British Anti-Apartheid Manene WISI The AGM takes • immediately after more than 100,000 British people took to the streets London demanding and support for the ANC.
fire liberation is engulfing the The avaltheid DOUCHEI economic crisis. apartheid crumbling. The ANC calls on our people to help make the coun try ungovernable. This is exactly what the people are structures of apartheid in the black ghettoes. The ANC calls on the people to take the struggle the white areas. They're doing just that. The racists are in frenzy. Even the businessmen are in a frent• licy are abkile I0l ad vice from the ANC! representing local groups, on a major A resolution confirming the AAM's committment to campaigning for diplomatic links between Brianna South Africa was agreed.
WO DON caused considerable conThese contain trovesy.
proposals that the AAM should broaden its platform to take on campaigning on general anti-racis issues proposed by Bradford AAM — and in opposition to the Prevention of Terrorism Act proposed by Edinburgh branch of the ultra-left Revolutionary Communist Group.
adopted DOLI welc after amendment to clarify that LUIS involved the AAM extending support to other struggles rather than changing its own platform. The PTA was opposea in ils use against South African and other anti-apartheid activists.
These differences revealed two entirely different directions for the movement.
Either the AAM can be Hovellell azallist apartheid, uniting all those who are disgusted by the South African regime on this sole basis. Or there is the proposal of the RCG ting the on tronts boycotts, the church rganisatiol South the South side Africa . The sucnot then hurt boycotting super What ing know LIC UNCIVES. They children.
In people, try that the movement should effectively be confined to those who also oppose the PTA, and any other quesSuch an approach - In restricting and confining the forces we are prepared mobilise against apartheid to agree programmine of other questions would be a grave disservice to the people of South Africa.
While the AAM can, and should, lend its support to other struggles, its first responsibility has to be the people of South Africa. This means simplest possible platform opposition aval theid for sanctions now, and the broadest possible mobilisations.
This difference underlay ine question o1 Ine status of City of London AAM which filiated as a group by the CommuLLet February 1985, though individuals retain their na tional membership.
The facts presented to the NC indicated that the City AAM was attempting native national movement by recruiting members na tionally, with-holding funds from national AA, and calling its own 'national' actions in London.
two-thirds vote against reinstatement was Inuenced by ine aisrup tive tactics of the City group and the RCG, in their lives.
South cluding constant heckling with terms like 'Judas' and 'scab' Aside the political differences, there underlying problem the structure of the Movement. No one should be witch-hunted for their VieWs. but Cit only possible while there is no weighted delegate structure for conference.
Individuals, local groups and labour movement delegates all have the same status. Those in London, who mobilised for can easily •LIC COnCICICe. dominate by sending every possible supporter.
The campaigning priorities allow every possibility for such a mass solidarity movement Will the south people to continue to grow in Britain, the heartland of international support for The way to deal with this is through a represenLalive structure which would result in accountable caucishp bodies.
Action guide for a coordinated dav of sanction:
action against Barclays • 1 March Trade union completion • 17-23 March Week of local trade union action around sanctions • 19 March Mass lobby of Parliament • 22 March Day of local demonstrations for first anniversary of • January Date to be set massacre and demanding • 1 June Target date for certain South African goods boycotts 'Freedom March' in Lon campaign against Richard Shops, which has taken over the Next South Alcan coining contrac Langa 1o be prioritised SOLDARTY SANG TONS South Africa Heroes' Day (Founding day of Umkhonto we Sizwe)
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