I am editing, for Panther Books, an anthology of revolutionary and radical poetry by young British poets. The intention of the book is to justify, reflect and define the political aspirations of young people today.
I would be pleased to consider contributions from your readers - who should send poems, with S.A.E. please, directly to me,
Alan Bold
19 Gayfield Sq.
Edinburgh
FROM ANTI APARTHEID
Available press reports state that at least 50 people have been arrested and detained in South Africa under the Terrorism Act within the past three months, and in accordance with the terms of this Act have been held in solitary confinement without access to lawyers, their families or the press. Due to some British Government pressure, Philip Golding, a British citizen now detained for three months, has been permitted five visits from the British consul, He has not so far been brought to trial and such representations that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have made on his behalf have had little effect on the South African Government,
Concern for the welfare of these detainees is justified by documented information on conditions prevailing in South African prisons and the treatment accorded detainees, Since 1963 at least 11 have died in detention and hundreds have been tortured...
The South African Government's appalling history of repressive legislation, which includes the 90-day no-trial detention clause, the 180-day law, and the Terrorism Act, has now moved a step further with the establishment of the Bureau of State Security under the General Law Amendment Act in July of this year, Under this act an individual is effectively deprived of his rights to apply to a court of law for redress whether the aggressor be the state itself or any private individual, BOSS has a budget of over £2 million per annum; it is not subject to the authority of the Treasury or the South African Parliament, Clause 10 of the General Law Amendment Act makes it possible to commit an offence under the Official Secrets Act if anyone, including journalists, communicates matters which are being dealt with by BOSS - although no one is permitted to know what BOSS is dealing with,
Clause 10 also gives the security police the right to detain and interrogate people who allegedly have communicated information about matters with which BOSS is dealing. Even if this detention is unlawful, the victim will have no redress in the courts, He cannot prove the lawfulness or otherwise of the police action - because he is not entitled to know what matter was being dealt with by BOSS, Under Clause 29 the Minister can issue a certificate preventing the victim or anyone else giving evidence in court as to his detention
The desperate situation of all political prisoners in South Africa and Namiba is thus clarified I am writing in some detail to indicate the urgent need to publicise the plight of the detainees and the men on trial in Namiba*, It is generally accepted that the campaigns on behalf of the Rivonia prisoners in 1963/4 and the 35 Namibians in 1967, helped avoid the death sentences in their cases. We urge you to use every means — gain the maximum publicity for these men and women, whether it be by writing letters to the press or by protest demonstrations.... If you have any further suggestions for implementing or cooperating with us in this campaign, we would be grateful if you would let us know,
David Steele MP,
Anti-Apartheid Movement
89, Charlotte St.,
London WIP 2 DQ
* Since this letter was written news of the sentences has come through. Five men got life; the others got heavy prison sentences.
NB: This letter has been shortened by taking out sections which had been overtaken by events, The AAM will send information about the detainees on application, This can be extremely useful when raising the matter in the labour movement.