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" CRY FREEDOM" PREMIERE
SYDNEY 10 FEBRUARY 1988
AS Australia celebrates its Bicentenary, " Cry Freedom" is a
stark, powerful remi'nder that, in South Africa, a different
kind of anniversary is in train: the fortieth anniversary of
apartheid. In these forty years, many former colonies throughout
Africa, the Caribbean and in our own Asia-Pacific region
have achieved nationhood with majority rule and
independence. The concept of racial equality has become
accepted as a basic fact in the international community as a
whole. But in South Africa those four decades of
Nationalist Party rule have seen only the development of an
anti-democratic state built on discrimination, injustice and
brutality. Steve Biko's story as told by Sir Richard Attenborough in
" Cry Freedom", forces us again to face the human tragedy of
South Africa today. Steve Biko was obviously an exceptional
individual in his courage and the force of his personality.
But tragically, in confronting an intransigent and
inexorable police state, Biko's was not an isolated fate. It
is typical of the experience shared by so many blacks in
South Africa from leaders such as Nelson Mandela to unknown
numbers of people, including even children.
The plight of children as victims of the apartheid system
lends a special poignancy to this film and to this evening's
Australian premiere.
I am particularly pleased that the proceeds of tonight's
showing will go to UNICEF which does so much for children
all around the world, including the many in South Africa who
continue to be the brutal victims of apartheid.
" Cry Freedom" also highlights, in the story of Donald Woods,
the troubles that await white South Africans who dare to
support the cause of justice and freedom.
For millions of South African blacks, life under the now
seemingly permanent provisions of the State of Emergency
remains appalling. 004335
In the townships, poverty, ill-health, evictions and
violence continue to prevail either unhindered or actively
helped by the security forces.
In Australia we see less of this South African oppression
these days because of the new censorship regulations, the
purpose of which is to keep South Africa's shame from the
world. But trying to hide apartheid doesn't make it go away.
That official silence gives us the responsibility to ensure
that we do not become immune to the horrors of apartheid or
allow other, more immediate, tragedies and troubles to
dissipate our sense of outrage and our determination to
achieve peaceful change.
And the silence of censorship also makes it very important
that " Cry Freedom" has been made. It is encouraging that
this film will undoubtedly reach millions of ordinary people
around the world. It frustrates the South African
Government in its attempts to hide apartheid and keeps world
attention focused on the enormity of the issue. It shows the
tragic human reality behind the cold facts of the apartheid
system and the methods used to enforce it.
There is encouraging evidence that the international
community remains determined to keep up the pressure for
change on the minority government of South Africa.
Within the Commonwealth, that concern has made Southern
Africa the dominant political issue at the two most recent
meetings of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Nassau
and Vancouver, and the subject of a special Commonwealth
Summit in London in 1986.
In 1985, in response to an Australian initiative, the
Commonwealth established the Eminent Person's Group, whose
aim was to provide a basis for negotiations between the
South African Government and representative black groups.
The EPG was co-chaired by Malcolm Fraser, and I take this
opportunity once again to express my appreciation of his
role both in Government and later with the EPG, in helping
the international community to a proper understanding of the
issues at stake in South Africa.
As well as helping to set up the EPG, Australia has also
participated very fully, both in the Commonwealth and
independently, in the imposition of economic and other
measures designed to put pressure on the South African
Government to come to its senses before it is too late.
South African whites are feeling increasingly under pressure
from such measures and, as their own minister for Finance
has acknowledged, the South African economy has been
significantly affected. 0 043 3G
My Government has also been concerned to do what we can to
help the victims of apartheid. Last month, we announced-an
increase from $ 55 million to $ 100 million in our current
three year aid program for Southern Africa.
A few days ago, Mr Hayden attended a meeting of Commonwealth
Foreign Ministers in Lusaka, the aim of which was to push
forward the Commonwealth's goals in Southern Africa.
I am pleased that an Australian proposal, which I had made
at the Vancouver Commonwealth Conference, for a study of
ways of limiting international financial links with the
South African economy was enthusiastically endorsed by the
Lusaka meeting.
Western nations, which have ignored the case for economic
sanctions, citing as their justification that sanctions
would only hurt the black majority, would do well to
consider the views of Steve Biko, as quoted in a recent
newspaper interview by Donald Woods:
" Steve Biko used to say you must always ask the victims
what they want not the non-victims."
Along with the overwhelming majority of representative South
African black leaders, Steve Biko was strongly in favour of
sanctions against South Africa.
Australia of course has not been free of its own racial
problems a fact which we acknowledge in particular during
our Bicentennial as we review our history and look to the
future. The question of black deaths in custody, which is
an issue in " Cry Freedom", has been a subject of profound
concern to my Government in recent months and the apparent
scale of the problem has rightly caused anguish in our
community. Our public response to this situation and the actions taken
by the Commonwealth and State governments in Australia to
tackle it reflect the world of difference that exists
between the nature of the problem here and in South Africa
and between the political systems in Australia and South
Africa. We quickly mobilised Federal and State resources in the
establishment of a Commonwealth/ State Royal Commission,
headed by Commissioner Muirhead to enquire into these
deaths. We have sought the fullest participation of
Aboriginals in the Royal Commission processes. When, after
the Royal Commission had been operating for some weeks, the
number of deaths identified was found to be significantly
larger than first thought, we took rapid steps to augment
the Royal Commission, with the objective of seeing that
answers are produced as quickly as possible. 004337
4.
This systematic, principled approach we have taken is aimed
at unravelling the causes of the problem and identifying
remedies. In South Africa, the authorities try to ijnore or
to conceal the truth of violent and illegal acts carried out
by the police and the security apparatus and to do nothing
to deal with the fundamental evils of the apartheid system
and the human tragedies that flow from it.
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is instructive to compare " Cry Freedom" with another of
Sir Richard Attenborough's films, " Gandhi" a film which
also deals with the great themes of racial equality and
political freedom, and non-violent political protest.
The oppression which Gandhi experienced in South Africa had
a fundamental impact on his subsequent struggle in India and
on the whole course of Indian history indeed, it is no
exaggeration to say, world history. The oppression and
death of Steve Biko, decades later, continue to have an
impact on the fight for freedom in South Africa, the outcome
of which is yet to be determined.
But the outstanding difference between the two stories, and
I believe it is a tragic one, is that, unlike Gandhi's
cause, the cause in which Steve Biko risked and lost hislife
remains unachieved. The forces which destroyed him still
prevail. His people remain in thrall to them. Their
struggle goes on.
What we must realise is that time is running out. The
wisdom, moderation and courage so fully possessed by Steve
Biko is in limited supply. If the successors to Steve Biko
fail to achieve the necessary reform, then they may be
replaced by leaders with less wisdom, less moderation, less
courage. The consequence for all South Africans, black and
white, and for all of us who care about the future of South
Africa, would be dire indeed.
I believe we all owe Sir Richard Attenborough a great debt
for lending the weight of his talent and prestige to telling
the inspiring but tragic story of Steve Biko.
" Cry Freedom" reminds us that the monstrous injustices of
the apartheid system continue undiminished. The film
enables us to feel directly the human dimensions of the
tragedy of South Africa. I am sure that Sir Richard's film
will play a major role in furthering public understanding of
the great moral and political issues involved. 004,338