PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA 17 M4ARCH 1988
This morning, I summoned the South African Ambassador in
Canberra to my office to make representations on behalf of
the Sharpeville Six, who are due to be hanged on Friday
18 March 1988.
I asked the Ambassador to pass my representations to the
South African President, Mr P. W. Botha. This afte Ynoon in
Parliament, in answering a question, I referred to,, my
representations. I expressed the hope that I was speaking
on behalf of all members of Parliament in making an appeal
for clemency on behalf of the Sharpeville Six.
At the time, I was somewhat concerned that the Leader of the
opposition did not seek to associate the Opposition with my
remarks, because I believe that they would ha. e more impact
with the South African Government if they clearly reflected
a bi-partisan position of the Australian Parliament.
I was utterly horrified by the subsequent remarks made in
the Parliament by the opposition spokesman on Foreign
Affairs, the Honourable Member for North Sydney, who in
effect acted as a prosecutor of the Sharpeville Six, on the
basis of information supplied to him by the South African
Embassy. I would remind the Opposition that no evidence has been
produced in the case sufficient to establish a direct causal
connection between the conduct of the accused and the death
of the victim.
moreover, a key prosecution witness in the case stated
publicly yesterday that he had perjured himself in the trial
at the behest of the police. This has led to a last minute
appeal to the South African Supreme Court, which will be
heard tomorrow.
I appreciate that there are policy differences between the
Government and the opposition on the general situation in
South Africa and the need for sanctions.
But I appeal to the Leader of the opposition to put aside
partisan differences on this issue, in the interests of the
overriding humanitarian concern for the fate of the
Sharpeville Six.
I ask him to join the Government in appealing to the,
Government of South Africa to spare their lives, as
President Reagan, Prime Minister Thatcher and other world
leaders have done. 005136