PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 15 JULY 1988
Monday 18 July is the 70th birthday of Nelson M~ andela.
Tragically, as with so many of his other birthdays, he will
be celebrating it in gaol.
I would like to use the occasion to appeal once again to the
South African Government to release unconditionally Mandela
and the numerous other political prisoners who have been
gaoled for their opposition to apartheid.
The release of the prisoners would be an important gesture
of goodwill by the South African Government and could have a
role in laying the basis for negotiations leading to the
peaceful abolition of apartheid and the establishment in
South Africa of a just society.
The situation in South Africa is tragic and will not endure
indefinitely. It is in the interest of South'Africa and the
world that it be resolved peacefully. Bold action by the
South African Government, such as the release of
Nelson Mandela, will be necessary to achieve this and would
be applauded by Australia and other members of the
international community.
I have sent the following message to Nelson Mandela himself:
" on the occasion of your 70th birthday please accept my
personal best wishes and those of the Australian
Government and people.
In 1985, you described your period of imprisonment as
" long, lonely, wasted years". In terms of their impact
on world views about your people's suffering, however,
your long, lonely years have not been wasted.
Your years in gaol are a constant reminder to us of the
abhorrent impact of apartheid, not only on you,
personally, but also on the many lesser known people,
including children, who continue to be gaoled and to
suffer daily under that system. It is a tremendous
tribute to you that, after so many years in gaol, you
are still regarded by South African blacks as the symbol
of their struggle for freedom.
Your courage in withstanding the privation of the prison
system and your determination to maintain your
commitment to the freedom of your people, even at the
expense of your own freedom, have been an inspiration
not only in South Africa but to people throughout the
world.
2.
Your refusal to become embittered and your consistent
willingness to negotiate with all parties the possible
future of a free, democratic, non-racial South Africa
are characteristics greatly admired here in Australia.
The Australian Government is deeply concerned over the
continuing polarisation of politics within South Africa,
the banning of political groups, the constraints on free
trade union activity, the muzzling of the press, and the
detention of so many whose only offence is their
courageous determination to strive for a better future
for their people.
As a first step towards achieving the political and
social reconciliation that this will require, Australia,
along with other members of the international community,
has long been calling for the release of all political
prisoners. That message was central to the Nassau
Accord on Southern Africa, agreed by Commonwealth
leaders in 1985 and was given the highest importance by
the Eminent Persons Group.
We will continue to call on the South African Government
to release you unconditionally. Such action would be
seen by the world as an act of hope and as a measure of
the readiness of the South African authorities to take
the necessary first steps away from confrontation and
violence. For our part, Australia and Australians will continue to
do what we can to impress on the South African
Government the need to enter negotiations to put an end
to apartheid. I was pleased to be able to talk about
these and other matters with ANC President, Oliver
Tambo, when he visited Australia in 1987.
It is my sincere hope that you will be able to take part
in such negotiations and to see the beginnings of real
movement towards the goal for which you have worked so
hard and given up so much.
My support and sympathy go out to you and to the family
and friends who you have been isolated for so long. I
can assure you that many of us in Australia will be
thinking of you and of the other political prisoners in
South Africa on the day of your birthday." 369
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