Leonora Lloyd, a leading member of Stop the Amendment Campaign (STAC) and the
apply it to South African realities.
Implicit in the recent agenda of the ANC has been the idea that it would represent the whole nation, overcoming tribal and ethnic divisions within its ranks. It also has had the strong implication that the new political sys tem would evolve towards a one-party state, Zimbabwe-style.
This undercurrent has been clear, not only in the ANC's rough treatment of other trends within the liberation movement, but also in its attempts to annex the trade union movement to its own programme.
In a recent SACP pamphlet, Has Socialism Failed?, Joe Slovo strongly endorses Gorbachev and perestroika. He addresses the question of democratic socialism, concluding that in both national democratic and socialist phases a multi-party democracy is essential. For what this would look like in a post apartheid-South Africa one need only look at the constitution adopted by post-independence Namibia.
But the more immediate implications are for the political map of the liberation movement in the next period. Mandela's presence on the political stage enhances the already overwhelming preponderance of the ANC.
Other organisations within the liberation movement like the Pan-African Congress, Azanian Peoples* Organisation and the Cape Action League face the problem of marginalisation both through the ANC and govemment excluding them for the political process.
However the question of pluralism arises both from the ANC's necessity to unite with currents to their right, the necessity of a continued alliance with the unions and their own internal divisions.
Under these conditions Slovo's musings have more than a theoretical significance. Campaigns for united action with ANC and Mass Democratic Movement forces (MDM), particularly around continuing government repression, are finding an echo with forces at the base.
The basis for participation in the various manifestations of the MDM, and debate with currents within it has never been greater. Neither is it "too late' for a fighting unity to be established. While Mandela has predicted the end of apartheid within his lifetime, we are not witnessing the sudden collapse of a regime.
This applies to the solidarity movement interationally. The road to the smashing of the apartheid state is not a short one. Maintenance of international sanctions remains an essential part of the armoury of the liberation movement and maintenance of pressure on our government, a vital component of the fight for sanctions.
The positive turn towards pluralistic debate now argued by Joe Slovo should also be the approach of the solidarity movement. drawing in all the political elements who have been stirred and motivated into taking action by the momentous events of February. SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 22, March 1990
FEATURES Embryo Bill Campaigning against the amendment Q. What is the current situation in parlia- ment? A. The third reading will be on March 6th and 12th in the House of Lords. Then it is two weeks before the Bill can go the Com- mons, which will be further delayed by the Easter recess. I think that the major amend- ments will come up in the House of Com- mons, Q. What do you think is the most likely outcome? A. Well, there are three areas really. Firstly, possibility that all embryo research will be banned or in the context of the Bill, permitted up to 14 days. I think the pro-lifers could lose on this. MPs have had lots of let- ters expressing support for research and against a total ban (nought days). Tony Benn's office certainly has. The amendment to prevent access by single women was defeated in the Lords by one vote: this is a very open issue and MPs
ABORTION LELAL AND SAFE National Abortion Campaign (NAC) for her views on the issues and debates now coming up and what activists should be doing.
haven't made up their minds yet, so there's a lot of work to be done and I'm not convinced that the Campaign for Access to Donor Insemination (CADI) is doing it all. On the abortion time limits issue, Anne Widdicombe says she's confident of winning on 22, or 20 weeks even, but I think she's over-confident. The consensus is for 24 weeks and I think we'll find that hard to stop. It's going to be a tactical question for MPs, we can't just sling slogans around. It all depends in which order the vote is taken. If they start the vote at 18 weeks and then go up. the lower limits might get defeated. Then the anti-abortionists might vote against the 24 weeks on the grounds that it doesn't go far enough. But if they start the other way round, many MPs will feel the need to vote tactically for 24 weeks to stop lower time limits getting through. There are very few Labour MPs who are prepared to stick to the present 28 weeks limit. Page 9
Tory thinking behind the
The problem is that unlike with previous attempts, they haven' got the option of voting against the whole Bill at the end of it. Q. What are the next steps for the campaign?
A. Firstly, there's the week of action, which seems to be going well.
Then there's the issue of writing to MPs, petitioning. This will have an impact because a lot of MPs don't know what to think as yet.
Then we've discussed the question of a national demonstration when the bill gets to committee stage - we're aiming at some time in May I think - though I wasn't at that meeting. Q. What is the state of the local groups?
There are groups in most areas now. They are either STAC or NAC or CADI. Only two groups that I know of have a position on the Embryo Bill itself, and I think that's right because it's divisive at this stage to take a position on the whole Bill, like they have in North London and Leicester. But I think STAC groups should link up with CADI and if there isn't a CADI group then they should take up the other amendments. Q. What about the national demonstration - do you think that should be on the Issue of DI and abortion rights?
A. Yes, I think the demonstration should be joint - on reproductive rights - and I think we could get backing on that basis. Q. What is your own personal view on the Embryo Bill itself?
I think people have made a mistake in