/I1II2.END CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN

P.O. Box 537 Phone: 836-8423Kengray 2100 Fax: 834-3189

PRESS STATEMENT

On 1 December, a group of South African Conscientious Objectors (COs) who have been living in exile will be returning to South Afri ca.

Over 23000 white males, many of whom are highly skilled graduates, have left South Africa since 1980. Many of them left because they were not prepared to serve in the SADF, a structure which they believed upheld apartheid, and no other legal alternatives were available to them.

The recent positive political developments in South Africa have convinced many exiles to return and use their skills and talents in building a non racial democracy in South Africa.

Unfortunately, upon their return these COs will still face prosecution for their ongoing refusal to serve in the SADF, a structure which they still believe upholds apartheid.

The return of this "advance party" of exiled COs on 1 December serves as a challenge to the government to prove its commitment to a new South Africa and facilitate a reversal of the brain drain, by ending the system of military conscription.

We commend the courage of these COs and call on the government t o :

1. Refrain from prosecuting the returning objectors.

2. End all objector trials.

3. End the system of apartheid conscription and in the interim provide a system of non-punitive alternative national service.

£nd Co* I " 1 C o**'tpaijrt

ORGANISATIONS WHO HAVE SO FAR ENDORSED THE ECC STATEMENT

Register of Jewish Conscientious Objectors.Jews For Social Justice.Black Sash Transvaal Region.Conscientious Objector Support Group.Gay and Lesbian Organisation of Witwatersrand.Human Rights Commission.National Union of South Africa Students.South African National Students’ Congress.Sheena Duncan - Senior Vice President. SACC.Archbishop Daniel - Catholic Bishop of Pretoria.Five Freedoms Forum.Jannie Momburg MP - Chairman Cape Western Region Democratic Party.South African Students’ Press Union.Rev. F.P. Mhlope - Baptist Convention of South Africa. Organisation for Appropriate Social Services for South Africa - Transvaal Region.South African Communist Party.Congress Of South African Trade Unions.Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa.P. Soal MP - Chairman Southern Transvaal Democratic Party.Dr. A. Maker - Presbyterian Church Bishop Peter Storey - Methodist Church.Bishop D. Buchanan - Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg.Rev. F. Chikane - General Secretary, S.A.C.C.African National Congress Youth League.War Resisters International.Baroness Tessa Blackstone, Member House of Lords, UK.Michael Campbel1-Johnston, Jesuit Provincial of the UK Anthony Sher, South African actor.Tony Benn MP, Labour Party, UK.Donald Anderson MP, Labour Party, UK.Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, President Anti Apartheid Movement, UK.Stanley Booth-Clibborn, Bishop of Manchester, UK.Mary Benson, South African writer.Malcolm Harper, Director United Nations Association, UK. National Education Coordinating Committee.African National Congress - Southern Transvaal Region.Rev. Beyers Naude.Prof. A. Stadler, Politics Dept., Wits.Bishop Philip Russell, Anglican Church.YWCA, Human Rights Commission.Anglican Justice and Reconciliation Support Group, Durban.Prof. J. Cock, Sociology Dept., Wits.Prof. M. Shear, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Wits.Prof. J. Dugard, Faculty of Law, Wits.Prof. E. Rankin, Dean of Arts, Wits.Prof. F. Sellschop, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Wits.Prof. D. Freer, Dean of Education, Wits.Prof. E. Mureinik, Dean of Law, Wits.Prof. M. Sears, Dean of Science, Wits.

Prof. R. Charlton.Science Students’ Council, Wits.Student Teaching Education Programme, Wits.Wits SRC.Earth Life Africa - Johannesburg Branch.Catholic Justice and Peace Commission - Durban.Rabbi A. E. Assabi - Senior Rabbi, Temple Emmanuel.Committee Against Apartheid - Medical Faculty, Wits.Lawyers For Human Rights - Bloemfontein Democratic Party - Bloemfontein.African National Congress - Southern OFS Region.United Democratic Front - Southern OFS RegionSouth African Council of Churches - Southern OFS Region.Rev. I. Jenkins - Pretoria.Black Sash - Northern Transvaal Region.Abraham C. Viljoen - Pretoria.South African Union of Jewish Students.Mary Burton - National Black Sash.Prof. J. Lund, Dean of Law Faculty, UN-PMB.Prof. King, UN-PMB.Black Sash - Natal MidlandsArchie Gumede - Co-President United Democratic Front.Danny Chetty - Director - Practical Ministries, Natal.Bishop Richard Harries - Bishop of Oxford, UK.Jeremy Corbyn MP - Labour Party, UK.Virginia Gcabashe - Senior Vice President, SACC.Prof. C. De B. Webb, UN-PMB.Sir Richard Luyt - Cape Town.Diakonia - Durban.Paddy Kearney, Director Diakonia - Durban.Roy Ainslie, Regional Director Democratic Party - Natal Coastal Region.Peter Gastro M.P, Democratic Party - Durban.Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Action.Bishop Michael Nuttall - Anglican Bishop of Natal.Rev. L. Sibisi, Chairman Anglican Justice and Reconciliation Committee - Durban.Bishop N. Hudson - Methodist Bishop Natal.Community Servers Group - Durban.Democratic Party - Northern Transvaal Region.Mark Banks - Satirist.Black Sash - Boarder Region.Prof. F. Wilson, Dept. Economics, UCT.Prof. M. Savage, Dept. Political Science, UCT.Mrs. J. De Tolly, National President, Black Sash.Pieter Dirk-Uys - Satirist.Prof. Dian Joubert, Dept. Sociology, University of Stellenbosch. Dr. Johan Hattingh, Dept. Philosophy, University of Stellenbosch. Dr. A. Blumer, Chairperson, UDUSA, Stellenbosch.The Scottish Justice and Peace Division.Michael Magowan, MP. - European Parliament.Anti Apartheid Movement, Holland.

END CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGNP.O. Box 537 Phone: 836-8423Kengray 2100 Fax: 834-3189

PRESS STATEMENT

On 1 December, a group of South African Conscientious Objectors (COs) who have been living in exile will be returning to South Afri c a .

Over 23000 white males, many of whom are highly skilled graduates, have left South Africa since 1980. Many of them left because they were not prepared to serve in the SADF, a structure which they believed upheld apartheid, and no other legal alternatives were available to them.

The recent positive political developments in South Africa have convinced many exiles to return and use their skills and talents in building a non racial democracy in South Africa.

Unfortunately, upon their return these COs will still face prosecution for their ongoing refusal to serve in the SADF, a structure which they still believe upholds apartheid.

The return of this "advance party" of exiled COs on 1 December serves as a challenge to the government to prove its commitment to a new South Africa and facilitate a reversal of the brain drain, by ending the system of military conscription.

We commend the courage of these COs and call on the government t o :

1. Refrain from prosecuting the returning objectors.

2. End all objector trials.

3. End the system of apartheid conscription and in the interim provide a system of non-punitive alternative national service.

As exiled Conscientious Objectors currently resident in Botswana, we would like to pledge our support for the first group of exiles returning from London.

Furthermore, we would like to extend our full support for the position taken by this group representing the many thousands of exiled objectors in a similar position in Europe, USA, the Frontline states and other countries.

We, as a group, call on the Minister of Defence, Magnus Malan, and State President, FW De Klerk, to recognize the right to legitimate Conscientious Objection to Apartheid’s army.

We call on the Government to ensure, with immediate effect, that all Conscientious Objectors and other returning exiles the world over may return without the fear of harassment, detention or prosecution.

We demand an end to compulsory military service and that the defense of our country is brought under the democratic control of all South Africans.

We also call on the ANC National Executive Committee and Deputy President Nelson Mandela to give their full support to the return of exiled Conscientious Objectors.

Members of our group have decided to return home to South Africa in the near future to join the London group regardless of whether any offer of immunity from prosecution is forthcoming. As trained professional people and university graduates, we believe we have a more valuable contribution to make in our country than in exile.

Alongside their family and friends, we would like to welcome the London group back home and are anxious to join them here soon. Together with them, we hope to contribute to the building of a new non-racial, democratic South Africa.

Exiled Conscientious Objectors Botswana 1 December 1990

As exiled Conscientious Objectors currently resident in Botswana, we would like to pledge our support for the first group of exiles returning from London.

Furthermore, we would like to extend our full support for the position taken by this group representing the many thousands of exiled objectors in a similar position in Europe, USA, the Frontline states and other countries.

We, as a group, call on the Minister of Defence, Magnus Malan, and State President, FW De Klerk, to recognize the right to legitimate Conscientious Objection to Apartheid’s army.

We call on the Government to ensure, with immediate effect, that all Conscientious Objectors and other returning exiles the world over may return without the fear of harassment, detention or prosecution.

We demand an end to compulsory military service and that the defense of our country is brought under the democratic control of all South Africans.

We also call on the ANC National Executive Committee and Deputy President Nelson Mandela to give their full support to the return of exiled Conscientious Objectors.

Members of our group have decided to return home to South Africa in the near future to join the London group regardless of whether any offer of immunity from prosecution is forthcoming. As trained professional people and university graduates, we believe we have a more valuable contribution to make in our country than in exile.

Alongside their family and friends, we would like to welcome the London group back home and are anxious to join them here soon. Together with them, we hope to contribute to the building of a new non-racial, democratic South Africa.

Exiled Conscientious Objectors Botswana 1 December 1990

COSAWR'S CAMPAIGN

SAFE RETURN OF EXILED WAR RESISTERS

The objectives of the campaign have been outlined as follows:1. to ensure the safe return of exiled war resisters. This involves ensuring that a significant group of war resisters publicly return to South Africa. It also means that thesafety' of the return must be campaigned for, both in SA and

overseas.2.to raise the profile of conscription issues, in the democratic movement here and at home, and for the general public. Includes calling for the release of jailed objectors, a moratorium on trials, and the abolition of conscription into apartheid's army.3. to call on other South African emigres (not only war resisters) to 'return and contribute' - an emphasis on reversing the brain-drain.4. to ensure, as far as is possible, that support structures exist for returning war resisters.5. to raise funds for the campaign and for the costs of the return.

Various groups will be targetted: war resisters and their families, South African emigres, 'notables' both here and in SA; churches, solidarity organisations, organisations within SA, the families of exiled war resisters.

The campaign will be discussed in detail with the ANC office in London, and with the ECC. All decisions about the return will be made in consultation.

The proposed date of return is 30 November, which will probably mark the end of the campaign.

The campaign is being organised by a 'campaign sub-committee' of COSAWR, co-ordinated by Janine. Matthew co-ordinates the 'return gro u p ' .

As the main objectives of the campaign are to publicise the issues and pull in people, media work forms the bulk of the strategy at the moment. Campaign media has already been produced - a petition for people abroad to sign, calling for the end to conscription and trials, the release of CO's, and the return of exiles; postcards with these demands to be posted to De Klerk; a pamphlet explaining the campaign and how people can get involved.

Other strategies being considered include a concerted campaign of letter-writing to the South African press, using phone-in programs on South African radio, using notables' to support our campaign and help to achieve press coverage, and trying to get TV coverage of our issue.

In general, we will try to ensure that COSAWR is represented on AAM and ANC platforms, and to lobby speakers at solidarity events to raise conscription issues.

To reach the South African emigre community, we plan to place small ads in various newspapers and publications, to leaflet South African hangouts in London, to organise house-meetings introducing COSAWR and ANC speakers, and possibly to co-host with the ANC a public meeting around the call to 'return and contribute1, addressing fears about returning to South Africa.

Inside SA, we are proposing to liase with ECC around the refusal to serve at the time of the August call-up, and possibly a 'mothers' action calling for the return of exiles.

Various suggestions were made at a recent COSAWR meeting for what war resisters would like to see ECC and COSG doing in relation to this campaign. Aside from the ongoing campaigning around conscription and objector issues, there is a strong need for support work to be done for returning objectors. This includes setting up media coverage of the return, providing material support to returning war resisters as necessary, and ensuring political and legal support for some time after the return. It must be stressed that the 'return group' are a small proportion of the war resister community, and return by individuals will continue over a long period - perhaps until conscription is abandoned, perhaps when we have our first free elections ! So the support and publicity mechanisms at home need to be maintainable over a fairly long period. War resisters feel that any individual returnee who goes home should be entitled to the same support as the group will receive. Some may return before the group return in November.It has been suggested that COSG may be the appropriate group to do the support work.

In a more general discussion, it becamne clear that war resisters have a lot of ideas to offer the anti-militarisation movement back home, and are very excited about the prospect of returning to work inside South Africa.

PRESS RELEASE

SAFE RETURN CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE ON SOUTH AFRICAN WAR RESISTANCE

On 30 November, a group of South African draft resisters who have been in exile for some years will be making a public, return to South Africa. They face prosecution and military call-ups on their arrival in Johannesburg. ‘ «

The group of returning war resisters see themselves as *an advance p a r t y 1, testing the waters for the return to South Africa of up to 10 000 draft evaders believed to have left since the mid-1970's.

This return marks the end of the operation of C0SAWR - the Committee on South African War Resistance - in London and i|n the Netherlands. C0SAWR has represented the interests of exiled South African war resisters all over the world since its formation in 1979.

<

The war resisters will be accompanied by wives, children and1 friends, many of whom are also South Africans who have been’ living in self-imposed exile in Europe. i

They will leave Heathrow on 30 Nov on British Airways BA 057. \ Departure time: 19h00. Arrive Johannesburg 08h35 on 1 Dec.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews with returning war resisters can be arranged by contacting Matthew Temple at Central London telephone number: 071 733-3478

PHOTO-CALL

A photo-call will be arranged at Heathrow airport on the evening of the group's departure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact Matthew Temple or Janine Rauch at theCommittee on South African War Resistance in London tel / fax (071) 733-3478or Roddy Payne at the End Conscription Campaign in Johannesburg tel (11) 836-8423 fax (11) 836-6931

Collection Number: AG1977

END CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN (ECC)

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