Written: October 11, 1985
Published: October 12, 1985
Source: The Ethiopian Herald, October 12, 1985
Digitalisation: East View
Proof-reading: Vishnu Bachani
HTML: Vishnu Bachani
Distinguished participants of this Emergency International Conference,
Esteemed guests,
Comrades,
On behalf of the people, Party, and Government of Ethiopia and on my own behalf I express my heartfelt pleasure in welcoming all of you to our country, as representatives of freedom forces and peace-loving people to participate in this special international conference.
This Emergency International Solidarity Conference was convened to help accelerate the historic defeat and inevitable collapse of the fascist racist system in the southern part of our continent which sucks the blood of the African masses and is perpetrating untold sufferings and gruelling atrocities.
It is thus intended to hasten the process of national liberation and the attainment of sovereign independence by providing all-round support and bolstering the struggle for which heavy sacrifices have already been paid.
As you all know, this forum is taking place at a time when the Pretoria racist regime has declared a state of emergency and deployed en masse its brute task forces from the police and army to hold back the wave of popular struggle which has engulfed the entire territory of South Africa at a scale unprecedented in its history. It is also being held at a moment when the racist regime is engaged in carrying out its repugnant acts against the masses of South Africa while tightening its web of censorship to conceal the reality from the world community.
It is, therefore, our firm conviction that this conference will not only expose the fascist crimes and massacres of the racists in South Africa but also contribute significantly to the popular upsurge by providing concrete support and reliable assistance.
Dear participants of the Conference,
Comrades,
We are gathered here today to express our firm support to the oppressed people of South Africa. Our solidarity stems from our unswerving commitment to freedom, democracy, and equality, which are trampled upon by the despicable regime in South Africa representing the worst and most deplorable form of oppression unparalleled anywhere in the world.
It is to be recalled that it was through of a handful of whites intoxicated with the idea of the supremacy of the white race and impelled by the worship of capital that imperialism first set foot on our continent and extended its tentacles deep into the southern region.
When those adventurist colonisers started to encroach upon the region in 1652 by way of what is now known as Cape Town, black Africans resisted heroically in defence of their land, rights and culture.
Nevertheless, the colonisers were able to gain a foothold on account of their technological advantage and their sinister strategy of divide and rule. Gradually, they plundered the virgin lands of the black Africans and established their sole repressive state.
By setting up a structure for exploitation and promulgating oppressive laws, they institutionalized the apartheid system characterised by terrorism. This odious system did not only stifle the progress of the African people, but also subjected them to perpetual suffering.
Ever since 1948 when apartheid became South Africa's official state policy, the people of the territory have been forced to lead a life of unbearable existence. Even today, 27 million black Africans, persons of mixed race, and Asians languish under the worst form of oppressive rule of no more than four million whites.
The black Africans in particular, who are the rightful owners of the land, have been robbed of their birthright, deprived of their citizenship, denied freedom of movement, and relegated to the pitiful status of becoming strangers in their own country.
Moreover, due to intricate racist laws, decrees and proclamations issued from 1909 onwards, the African majority have been exiled to special reserves subjected to mass arrests, made to languish in jails and face mock trials. They are mowed down by in the streets and even forbidden to mourn at the death of their beloved, to bury their dead, to nurse the wounded and in general are precluded of anything and everything and forced to lead a life of endless sufferings.
The crime of the racist Pretoria regime is not confined to the oppressed people of South Africa. Its inhuman actions and barbaric deeds have been further extended to the neighbouring territory of Namibia.
The mandate given to the South African regime to administer Namibia ended 19 years ago. A decade has also elapsed since the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 385 demanding the regime to withdraw from the territory.
However, the racist regime has shown no willingness whatsoever to translate the Resolution into deeds. Although the racist regime pretends to have accepted Resolution 435 passed by the Security Council in 1978, it is deliberately delaying the independence of Namibia by linking it with a matter that has absolutely no connection with the real issue, namely, the presence of Cuban internationalists in Angola.
By turning a deaf ear to the repeated calls of the international community to grant independence to the oppressed people of Namibia, it has established a puppet provisional administration in the territory to maintain its interests.
Moreover, the racist regime has become a source of menace all along the southern African region.
Alarmed by the establishments of progressive governments in the Frontline States which stand for the national liberation of the oppressed peoples of South Africa and Namibia, the racist regime is openly flouting international laws by unleashing wanton aggression under the pretext of destroying the organisational structure of freedom fighters.
It continues to commit grave injustices by violating even the very agreement which it concluded with neighbouring countries.
Through direct invasion of the Frontline States and by arming and mobilising mercenaries against them, the racist regime is undermining their sovereignty and endangering their national independence.
These criminal acts which are particularly directed against Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, and other neighbouring countries are not limited to the violation of their borders: some capital cities have also become targets of attacks and bombings.
Furthermore, the Pretoria regime recruits, organizes, and arms bandits such as UNITA, MNR and L.L.A. to infiltrate and destabilize the neighbouring states.
Distinguished participants,
Comrades,
All these acts of exploitation and recourse to war and brute force have not enabled the fascist apartheid system to maintain its hold. Today the South African white minority regime together with its apartheid system has, because of the general uprising of the masses, reached a stage of total collapse. The inevitable and historic downfall of the entire system is imminent.
This process of liberation has more than ever been intensified since the oppressed people embarked upon a sustained opposition to foil the enforcement of the sham constitution of the racist regime. Imbued with the fighting spirit of their forefathers who with spears and sticks resisted the racist colonizers, the oppressed masses of South Africa have risen with determination and renewed vigour to do away with a system that has been forcefully imposed on them.
Since the white localities cannot remain unscathed while the villages of the black Africans are raging in flames as a result of the recently issued state of emergency, the struggle has spread throughout the country, causing great panic among the racists.
Consequently, even those who used to regard ANC, the leader and coordinator of the struggle, as a terrorist body have been compelled to recognise the organisation as the legitimate representative of the South African people.
The intensification of the struggle from within as well as the growing pressure from without has greatly alarmed the imperialist countries, which are the mainstay of the racist regime, transnational corporations, and the capitalists inside South Africa itself.
These parties, having despaired and retreating from their previous stance of obduracy, are now frantically seeking contacts with the African National Congress.
As the South African economy is engulfed in crisis under the pressure of mass uprising, foreign capitalists, losing faith in the system, are withdrawing their capital from the country.
Externally, the conscience of the world community has been stirred and aroused more than ever before by the inhuman acts and fascist massacres which the racist regime is perpetrating on the oppressed masses of that country. This heightening of opposition by the international community has further isolated the racist regime and brought a crisis to its external relations.
The leaders of Western European countries have been pressured by their people to take strong and concrete measures against Pretoria. It is to be recalled that Britain in particular, in complicity with the racist remnants of Dutch colonialism, was responsible for setting the stage in 1910 which led to the subjugation of the oppressed peoples of South Africa under apartheid. In the same vein, the British government has become insensitive to the massacre and plight of the African masses in order to protect the interests of its 200,000 citizens deriving their livelihood from exports to South Africa and maintain its 12.5 billion dollar investment in the country. However, member states of the Commonwealth have expressed their willingness to exert pressure on the British government so that it would reconsider its obstinate policy.
Likewise, the American administration, which wishes for the continuation of the racist regime, has been compelled to impose economic sanctions on limited sectors based on its so-called policy of "Constructive Engagement".
In a broader scale, the United Nations Security Council has approved the voluntary economic measures against South Africa proposed jointly by France and Denmark.
These developments show on the one hand that the international community has increasingly come to realize the inhuman character of the racist regime. On the other hand, they fully demonstrate that its evil nature having been fully exposed, the fascist regime has failed to withstand international pressure.
Dear Participants,
In the light of the volatile situation in South Africa, the Pretoria regime is trying to project the image of a reformer to the outside world. Contrary to this facade, the true image of the regime is manifested by the barbaric acts it perpetrates on the oppressed people of South Africa, using no less 100,000 soldiers armed with sophisticated weapons. The fictitious claim to have enacted reforms is nothing but a ploy to hoodwink international public opinion and neutralize the struggle for freedom.
Therefore, we who stand in firm solidarity with the struggle of the oppressed peoples of South Africa, cannot but totally reject this formula of deceit.
The wounds of injustice inflicted upon the people of South Africa cannot be healed by reforms. Nor can token measures provide a cure to the plight of the people in the country. The real solution lies in the complete dismantling of the apartheid system and the creation in its place of a new undivided, democratic South Africa free from racism. These have been the fundamental objectives of the Freedom Charter and action programme which constitute the historic documents of the African National Congress.
It should be clearly realised that the inevitable freedom of the people of South Africa cannot be attained by crumbs of reforms handed out by the racists, but by seizing the crown of victory through arduous struggle.
This is the noble objective for which the ANC has courageously fought for ever since its founding in 1912, a goal for which a great number of black Africans paid dearly with their lives at Sharpeville, Soweto, and Kassinga and for which renowned veterans of the struggle like Nelson Mandela are suffering in racist gaols. It is for this same objective that hundreds of peoples are sacrificing their lives today.
Distinguished Participants,
Our freedom and human dignity and integrity will remain incomplete so long as there are people subjected to the despicable philosophy of racial supremacy and are deprived of fundamental rights.
Therefore, it is anticipated that this conference which has drawn the attention of the International Community and is being closely watched by the oppressed people of South Africa would be instrumental in facilitating concrete assistance to help intensify the struggle.
We who stand for the anti-apartheid struggle, democracy, and justice attach great importance to a genuine peaceful solution.
In this regard, although economic sanctions against carefully selected and identified targets would have an impact, the main thrust of our effort should be for the imposition of comprehensive mandatory economic and military sanctions. To this effect, peace-loving and democratic forces should step up the pressure on Western governments which closely cooperate with the racist regime.
We should likewise mount a strong and concerted political campaign to ostracize the racist regime from all political, cultural, sports, scientific, and other fora.
Since the fascistic nature of the racist regime should not be overlooked, together with the provision of material support it is essential to create conditions conducive to bolster the armed struggle.
I think it is appropriate to recall the words of Nelson Mandela, whose fervour for struggle has not slackened by suffering in apartheid jails, who remarked while being hunted by the racist, regime 24 years ago: "Only through hardship, sacrifice, and militant action can freedom be won. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my life. The struggle is my life." We should carry aloft this slogan, "the struggle is ours, the struggle is our life", with renewed dedication and firmly commit ourselves to translate it into deeds.
As we all know, a great deal has been said about apartheid. It has been repeatedly denounced and condemned. The point, however, is not to indulge in rhetoric and pass endless resolutions but to struggle with resolve in order to destroy it.
Today, the people of South Africa, particularly the youth, are demonstrating their resoluteness and that they will in no way retreat short of freedom. Industrial and agricultural workers and other anti-apartheid forces have created panic among the ranks of the enemy. What, therefore, can we, who have stood for freedom, do for the people to whom we have repeatedly pledged solidarity? This is a question which now calls for a practical response.
Esteemed Participants,
Comrades,
As I mentioned earlier, the ruling classes in South Africa are feeling the wrath generated by the accumulated suffering and yearning for freedom. This mass uprising in which the old and the young, Africans, Asians, coloureds and whites are actively involved should be rendered every support for it to culminate in a decisive victory.
In this respect we are confident that the African National Congress which has been spearheading the struggle will continue to provide able, bold, and effective leadership commensurate with current developments.
Twenty-five years ago, the steel-tempered and far-sighted militant Nelson Mandela said, when addressing the Pan-African Freedom Conference held in this very capital in January 1962: "In South Africa, the liberation movement faces formidable difficulties and the struggle is complicated, hard and bitter—requiring maximum unity of the national movement inside the country—unity among our people in South Africa—has become as vital as the air we breathe."
The call for reinforcing the clenched fist of the popular movement and for strengthening the unity of militant forces demands, more than ever before, practical deeds. It is therefore expected that the freedom movements which have been leading the struggle and won the trust and confidence of the people forge closer unity with all democratic forces to mobilize the masses behind the anti-apartheid onslaught for the ultimate victory.
This international conference should assist in this effort by not only examining and discussing the mass upheaval in South Africa but also by mapping out strategy for effective action. The conference should, above all, recognize the need for mounting a coordinated propaganda campaign to expose and discredit worldwide the barbaric and fascist crimes of the Pretoria regime.
Besides revealing the inhuman policy of the racist regime, attention should also be given to explaining the genuine character of the freedom struggle and creating a mechanism for mobilizing international support. In this connection, this solidarity conference should explore ways of establishing a solidarity fund to collect mutual aid from all forces of freedom, peace, and progress.
This conference should also focus, on the strengthening the effort of the Organisation of African Unity, particularly its Liberation Committee, towards the triumph of the struggle.
It is well known that the apartheid system has not only defied international laws but also challenged the United Nations itself, which stands for the maintenance of international peace and security and for the affirmation of the dignity and well-being of peoples. This conference should, therefore, exert pressure so that the world body would live up to its historic responsibility.
In this regard, we propose to this conference that appeals be made to member nations and the international community as a whole to mount a major campaign to declare 1986 as the year of the anti-apartheid struggle. Measures should likewise be taken to strengthen existing national and regional anti-apartheid groups and help form new ones with a view to stepping up pressure on governments which are collaborating with the racist regime.
The Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organisation (AAPSO), true to its name, is a platform of forces struggling for freedom and peace and has made notable contributions to the downfall of colonialism and to the attainment of national independence. Hence its continued participation in the decisive struggle to destroy apartheid is of crucial importance.
Dear Participants,
Comrades,
The ineffectiveness of the Nkomati Accord and other agreements which the Pretoria regime has signed with neighbouring independent African states has proved the wily strategy pursued the racists under the cover of symbolic change and determination to continue persecuting the oppressed black population. The Pretoria fascists harbour the delusion that they could put down the historic mass uprising and permanently silence the wrath of the people by bullets and tear gas. The history of the struggle of peoples clearly demonstrates, however, that oppression breeds struggle, and struggle brings about freedom but does not create fear. This is why intensification of the armed struggle becomes the decisive strategy for action. To this end, the concrete support which we give to the fighting force of the popular struggle, "uMkhonto weSizwe”, should be increased manifold.
I wish to take this opportunity express firm solidarity of the people, party, and government of Revolutionary Ethiopia for the oppressed and exploited people of South Africa and affirm that we will channel material political and diplomatic support within the limit of our resources.
The solidarity of the Ethiopian people with the oppressed people of South Africa did not begin now on the eve of the victory of the anti-apartheid struggle. Revolutionary Ethiopia which has made support for people's freedom, equality, and strengthening of anti-imperialist solidarity an important tenet of its foreign policy has steadfastly supported the cause of the peoples of outhern Africa at the U.N., the O.A.U., the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international fora.
Accordingly, it is providing moral and material support in various ways for the ANC, the vanguard of the freedom struggle in South Africa, and for SWAPO, the sole and authentic representative of the people of Namibia. It has helped establish the offices of the two organizations in Addis Ababa, provided them with radio broadcasting facilities and rendered other assistance designed to intensify the anti-apartheid campaign.
The Workers Party of Ethiopia which attaches great significance the peaceful development of the working people of the world and to the success of popular movements has underscored this position in its programme. Accordingly, the WPE vigorously opposes imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all other forms of oppression and exploitation. In this spirit, it continues to strengthen the solidarity of the Ethiopian masses with African, Asian, Latin American peoples, and other progressive forces who stand for these common objectives.
As may be recalled, the Revolutionary Government, in cooperation with AAPSO and the National Solidarity Committee, earlier organized here in Addis Ababa conferences to express support for the total emancipation of the people of South Africa. Fruitful results were obtained from those deliberations. The launching of the current solidarity week and the hosting of this important international gathering is in keeping with this same spirit.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the initiative taken by those who organized this conference, in particular AAPSO and national solidarity committees. I wish you success and a pleasant stay in our country.
— Apartheid will be destroyed!
— The struggle of the oppressed people of South Africa will triumph!
— Thank you.
[1] Given that the original scan is available, minor typos have been corrected without using [sic].
[2] Oxford commas have been added to lists to avoid unnecessary ambiguity.