198 Broadway• New York, N.Y. 10038 • (212) 962-1210 Tilden J . LeMelle, Chairman

Jennifer Davis, Executive Director

A SPECIAL APPEAL FOR THE PRISONERS OF APARTHEID

June 5, 1991

Almost a year ago South African President F.W. de Klerk signed an agreement to release all political prisoners. As I write to you over 1,500 political prisoners are still behind bars. Nearly 200 of them embarked on a hunger strike, vowing to fast until they died or were released.

We are in constant communication with the prisoners' fami­lies. They have told us about the beatings, the strip searches and the daily brutality in the prisons. The psychological torture, as hopes for release have risen only to be shattered, has taken an even greater toll.

Meanwhile the families live between elation and despair. Over and over again they have expected to see their loved ones momentarily. And just as often their hopes have vanished like a mirage.

Now we have received desperate appeals for help from politi­cal prisoners in maximum security prisons and on death row. They say that it will take pressure from abroad - especially from America - to make the government keep its promises.

Because of the generous help you have already given us, we have been able to immediately begin generating protests and publicity:

o We sponsored a Washington Post ad signed by Spike Lee, Senator Paul Simon, and Rep. Patricia Schroeder, among others, supporting the hunger strikers and demanding that all the political prisoners be released. I have enclosed a copy of the ad.

o I was able to tell the House Africa Sub-Committee about the plight of the political prisoners when I testified on behalf of our non-tax exempt associate, the American Committee on Africa.

o Rep. Ron Dellums (D-CA} responded to our emergency appeal by sending a letter to every member of Congress.

Established by The American Committee on Africa. 1966 • Contributions are tax-deductible

o Africa Fund staff members exposed the apartheid regime's dishonesty and their gross violations of human rights in radio and television programs in New York, Washington D.C., Detroit and San Francisco.

o We got The New York Times and Newsday to report on the continuing detention of the political prisoners.

I hope you will add your voice today by sending a telegram to South African President F.W. de Klerk at the Union Building, Pretoria, South Africa ~ Urge him to keep his word and immediately free all the political prisoners.

I sincerely believe that if we all do our part, the prison­ers can be released and reunited with their families in the near future.

But to make that dream come true we are going to need to reach out to tens of thousands of people from coast to coast. The stream of mailings, faxes and phone calls which have already gone out are only the beginning. We will have to redouble our efforts and, if need be, redouble them again, until the last political prisoner is free.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that all this will be enormously expensive. That's why I'm making this extraordinary appeal to you and to other special friends.

Please take a moment to write a check to The Africa Fund, in the largest amount you can, so that these brave people can final­ly walk free. Thank you.

For f rn, Jen ifer Davis Ex . cutive Director

P.S. I want to thank you agai for making all our work possible. With your help we will carry n until both the prisoners and their country are "Free at last."

J

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DON'T LET SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICAL PRISONERS DIE

Nearly two hundred political prisoners are on hunger strike in South Africa. Almost a year ago the apartheid government promised that by April 30 all political prisoners would be released. Today 1,700 are still behind bars. When the promise was broken the prisoners were forced to embark on a hunger strike to appeal to the conscience of the world. Now many are near death.

The South African government has responded with shocking brutality. Hunger strikers have been chained to their beds. Others have been denied water, been beaten by guards and even taken to a prison mortuary where they were told they would be

' allowed to freeze to death. Doctors and relatives have been denied access to the hunger strikers.

We as Americans from all walks of life are compelled to raise our voices for the sake of humanity and justice. This is all the more urgent in the face of the alarming silence from our government. Call Western Union ( 1-800-325-6000) to send a tele­gram to South African President F.W. de Klerk at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, South Africa. Urge him to keep his word and immediately free all the political prisoners.

Frances & Robert Boehm Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery Rabbi David Saperstein

Bishop Edmund L. Browning Southern Christian Leadership Union of American Hebrew

Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Conference Congregations

Church William Lucy Rep. Patricia Schroeder

Rev. Joan Campbell Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Colorado

National Council of Churches The Hon. Hilda and Charles Mason Senator Paul Simon

Rev. Ben Chavis Gay McDougall Illinois

Washington Office on Africa Lawyers Commiuee for Civil Rights South African Women's Day

Bishop Herbert Chilstrom Under Law Committee

Evangelical Lutheran Church Vincent McGee Rep. Edolphus Towns

Rep. Ronald V. Dellums Bishop Emerson J. Moore New York

California Archdiocese of New York Richard Trumka

David N. Dinkins National Council of Jewish Women United Mineworkers of America

Mayor, The City of New York Andrew Norman Bishop Orris G. Walker

Carol & W.H. Ferry Episcopal Bishop of Long Island Reebok Human Rights Projeds

Rep. Maxine Waters Committee for Health in Southern Africa Rep. Charles Rangel California

New York Cora & Peter Weiss Fund for a Free South Africa Marvin and Evelyn Jones Rich Rep. Howard Wolpe Danny Glover Dennis Rivera Michigan

Rev. Dan G. Hoffman Local 1199, Drug, Hospital & Health Alfre Woodard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Care Employees Union

Rev. M. William Howard Randall Robinson Little Steven van Zandt

American Commiuee on Africa TransAfrica Artists United Against Apartheid

Spike Lee Karen Russell Artists for a Free South Africa

This ad has been coordinated by The Africa Fund, 198 Broadway, New York, N.Y.10038

Tilden LeMelle, Chairman Jennifer Davis, Executive Director

Tax deductible contributions to defray the cost of this advertisement and help free all political prisoners should be sent to The Africa Fund.