The British Alexander Defence Committee met earlier this-month to consider its further course of action in light of the rejection by the South African court of the appeal of.Dr. Neville Alexender and his ten co-defendants against the miscarriage of justice in their case,
The eleven political opponents of the apartheid system, including four women, were sentenced to terms of up to ten years for their political opinions, since no overt act was charged against them. They are now serving their sentences in the dungeons of South Africa. The seven men are confined in the notorious Robben Island prison where more than 1,000 political prisoners are held,
The British Alexander Defence Committee came to the conclusion that the court's decision is unacceptable. It therefore decided to keep up the fight to free the Alexander Eleven and to extend the work to include other victims of the apartheid system.
The committee decided to work along the following lines:
To continue to publicise as widely as possible the case of Dr. Alexander and his colleagues;
To explore new legal avenues for their appeal and providing funds for their defence and the support of their families;
To assist the prisoners in any way possible to continue their studies ;
To organise such actions as it is able to compel the Government of South Africa to renounce its apartheid policies, to amnesty all political prisoners and improve the unspeakable conditions under which political prisoners re held;
To assist, where possible, other victims of apartheid whose needs are brought to the attention of the committee;
To co-operate as closely as possible with all organisations in Britnin and other countries who have similar aims.
This decision by the British committee follows a similar decision by the Alexander Defense Committee in the United States. It is expected that the committees in Algeria, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Canada and West Germany will take similar decisions,
The committee is at present drawing up plans for a wide range of future activities and these will be announced in The Week as they become finalised. The committe has produced literature on the case and can provide speakers for organisations on the Alexander Eleven and others aspects of the fight against apartheid. Anyone interested should contact: Mrs. C. Kirkby, 27, Thursley House, Holmewood Gardens, London S.W. 2e