I advise the House that in total 20 minutes remain in this debate, eight of which are Deputy Kemmy's.
Estimates, 1988. - Release of Nelson Mandela: Motion (Resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion:
That Dáil Éireann salutes Nelson Mandela, who is the focus of black aspirations for a just and democratic society in South Africa, and sends greetings to him on his 70th birthday on 18th July, 1988. As an ageing man in ill-health, one who has spent more than one-third of his life in prison, he still remains a source of encouragement to all who seek a peaceful, united and democratic South Africa, freed from the evils of Apartheid. Dáil Eireann therefore calls for the unconditional and immediate release of Nelson Mandela and all other political prisoners in South Africa.
—(Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs.)
When we adjourned at 7 o'clock I was saying that we have learned a good deal from sportsmen and rugby players who have gone to South Africa and played there and have seen Apartheid at first hand. I have in mind players like Tony Ward who refused to go back again and who has spoken and written about the situation at some length here. We can also learn a good deal from television programmes and from journalists. I do not always agree with journalists but there have been many brave journalists and television commentators who have gone to South Africa at a good deal of risk to themselves and have reported in a most objective way. Nobody in this House or elsewhere can say that they are not aware of the facts of Apartheid. In an eloquent phrase, the Minister said that the blinds have been down in recent years in South Africa. That is true because of censorship but nobody should allow that to blind them to the reality of the situation. While he is right in saying that the blinds have been pulled down you cannot pull down the blinds on human progress, you cannot pull the blinds down on the march of the people of South Africa towards full civil and human rights.
For more than 25 years, Nelson Mandela has been in prison. He is a symbol not only in his own country but throughout the world, of a person who has stood up for civil and human rights in South Africa. While I would not cavil at this motion before us — it is a very good motion and has the support of all sides of the House — there is one inaccuracy in it. That is the reference to Nelson Mandela being an ageing man in ill health. Nelson Mandela is not in ill health. He is in good health and this motion as such could cause some difficulty in South Africa because of that wording. I ask the Government and the Taoiseach, in processing this motion at a higher level, to delete that phrase because Nelson Mandela is not in poor health, contrary to what the motion states.
It is right that we should honour him today, that he should be remembered on his seventieth birthday. We must do more than pay lip service to the man and we must do much more than pay lip service to bringing about, an end to Apartheid. As to a small neutral country we must have a real and meaningful role to play at every international forum. We must pursue vigorously the call for the release of Nelson Mandela and also for the dismantling of Apartheid at every possible international forum, at the EC and at the United Nations. Apartheid can never ever be justified. The continuing oppression of the majority in South Africa is an intolerable blot on mankind and is an insult to civilisation. We must, therefore, continue to oppose South African policies and allow the call for a free racial and democratic society. No temporary solutions or stop gaps will do. What is wanted is full human freedom and full civil and human rights for all people there.
Let it be known today that the Irish people and, indeed, democratic and freedom loving people throughout the world salute Nelson Mandela. Let it be known also that the Irish Parliament unanimously calls for his immediate release and for the ending and dismantling of the Apartheid system. Twenty-five years is a long time to spend in prison especially in a South African jail. Mandela has spent that quarter of a century in prison for human freedom. It must be obvious to everybody, including the regime in South Africa, that they will not break his spirit, that they will not break the spirit of his people, because in the long term the aims of his people will triumph. Let there be no mistake about that no matter how much money is poured into South Africa, no matter what quantities of arms are built up there and no matter how much terror, oppression or intimidation is applied, his aims will triumph.
As I said at the start of this debate this motion is one of the most enlightened motions to have come before this House. It unites all strands of politics. With the one exception which I mentioned, that is the reference to ill health, the motion has my full support. I hope that the words of the Minister and the other speakers will reverberate not only around this country but around the world, including South Africa.
I propose to share my time with my colleague, Deputy Andrews.
Is that satisfactory? Agreed.
Throughout the world the Second World War brought about the end of colonialism and racialism. Yet in South Africa the racism of Apartheid has continued unabated. It is no different from Nazism or the racism of colonial oppression. Tonight Dáil Éireann salutes Nelson Mandela who represents the indomitable spirit behind the ANC today, a symbol of nationalism, human rights and of justice. Nelson Mandela is one of thousands in jail in South Africa, half of these are children some as young as 11 years of age. How can the South African Government say that these children are a danger to the State? How can a government say they are afraid of these children? Such a government, such a system cannot survive while the spirit of the people is alive. Nelson Mandela represents that spirit. This spirit will never be broken, it will only grow in strength. That is why I am convinced that Apartheid will end, and it must end very soon. Nelson Mandela is in prison now for over two decades. He has emerged as a source of inspiration for all humankind. He is a man of peace and non-violence. It was only in the sixties when supporters of the ANC were tortured and killed that the ANC decided to resort to a military campaign due to the state of terrorism that existed then in South Africa and which still exists today. The UN has rightly described Apartheid as a crime against humanity. The Charter of Human Rights states: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights". The people of South Africa led by the ANC have made immense sacrifices. Women and children have become victims of a repressive government. The Soweto and Sharpeville massacres are examples of this brutal regime.
Despite his period of continuous incarceration Nelson Mandela has remained steadfast and unbroken. He has rejected humiliating offers for his personal freedom. His resolve is reflected in his own words and I quote: "I cherish my own freedom but care more for your freedom. I cannot sell my birthright or the birthright of my people to be free".
We must not forget tonight, Winnie Mandela, the embodiment of courage and conviction. She has been banned, detained, persecuted and yet she continues her campaign for Nelson Mandela's release.
It is fitting that this motion be passed by an Irish Parliament — representing a people who understand the true meaning of being freed from a colonial power. This has been said already tonight by other speakers. We more than any other country should recognise the right of self determination of the people of South Africa and indeed the African Continent as a whole. Those of us who have succeeded in achieving equality of freedom for ourselves cannot remain insensitive or indifferent to such aspirations elsewhere.
I am aware that we have been very vocal on the question of Apartheid at international level and have worked within the Twelve to intensify economic sanctions on the import of goods into Europe from South Africa. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the time is now right for unilateral action by Ireland on sanctions, a country that can readily identify with the struggle for freedom by the South African people.
The time is now right, I believe, to introduce a ban on the importation of South African coal into this country. Let that be our birthday present to Nelson Mandela. This would be more than an economic decision, it would be a major symbol of our abhorrence of Apartheid. The ANC, SWAPO and trade union leaders in South Africa have called for increased sanctions. The Irish Catholic Church has recently called for a ban on coal imports. This is one of the concrete means available to this Government — and there are few — to show where they stand on this issue, and it should be availed of. At the same time I believe that a strategic selective and united approach should be taken by the EC on sanctions. We must introduce sanctions where they hurt. Pretoria will be forced to take note if we do so. The reality is that the Apartheid system cannot be reformed, it must be dismantled — this can be brought about by the intensification of sanctions worldwide — in particular by western Europe.
Let us remind the South African Government tonight that the release of Nelson Mandela — such is his stature internationally — would be viewed from outside as a major turning point in South African affairs. His release, along with the release of other political prisoners who are the true voice of the African people, would show the world that the Pretoria Government were interested in negotiating with the black leadership and interested in the creation of a free, peaceful, non-racial South Africa. It would bring peace to the frontline states of Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, and allow Black Africa with its own beautiful culture and heritage to grow economically, politically and socially at its own pace and, in its own African inimitable way, with the economic support of the western world. I am proud to participate in this brief but highly significant debate.
I am most grateful to my colleague for allowing me to come in as one of the co-signatories of the motion before the House.
You have five minutes.
Some ten years ago in Nigeria I represented the then Government at a conference on Apartheid in the distinguished company of people like the late Dr. Seán McBride and Dr. Kadar Asmal who was recently instrumental on his own behalf and on behalf of the Irish anti-Apartheid group in asking all parties in the House to sponsor the motion now before it. In that regard I am privileged to have been associated with it.
To return to the Nigerian conference on Apartheid, it was significant even then that Ireland had an important moral role to play as a nation with a point of view on this particularly evil system. It is evil because it seeks to discriminate against individuals in the context of their colour and their political beliefs, and any system that seeks to do that seeks to consign individuals to the role of second class citizens. In those circumstances that system is basically evil and wrong.
It was interesting to hear Deputy Kitt speaking about burning everything South African but their coal. That echoes our history in the sense that there was a cry many years ago to "burn everything English but her coal". There is a significant comparability between ourselves and South Africa historically.
Nelson Mandela has been in prison for the past 25 years for his political beliefs. Any system that confines an individual to that length of time in prison is a wrong, evil system that flies against the designs of both God and man. I urge strongly those people who have spoken, who represent the strong views of this democratically elected Parliament, to get a message through somehow to Robben Island Prison where Mandela is now incarcerated. Despite what the respected Deputy Jim Kemmy says, I believe Mandela is not in the best of health and I ask that in some way the message be got through from our sovereign Parliament to that place of detention to let him know that we on this island remember him on his 70th birthday and will continue to press for his release and the release of his colleagues as long as they are in prison. I have no doubt but that Nelson Mandela's wife, Winnie, a woman of great courage, can receive a message from this Parliament to take to her husband during one of her visits to him. I understand that the restrictions in that regard are appalling and again an affront to humanity. Altogether as long as people like Nelson Mandela know this country, small and all as it is but with a very important moral role in international diplomacy, is aware of his existence and that we continue to press for his release it will give him hope at any rate, and that is all he can expect from the present South African regime of suppression. If we can get this message of hope through to him it will do something for his morale in the meantime. We assure the black population in South Africa that we support their legitimate peaceful aspirations to a multiracial society. The motion before the House seeks the release of an individual who represents all that is good in the democratic process.
Deputy Jim Mitchell.
If Deputy McCartan would like to share the time I am willing to facilitate him.
There are five minutes left so that is two and a half minutes each.
I wish to be associated with the motion because Nelson Mandela is a symbol to all freedom loving people in the world. There is no doubt he is a beacon light of hope that lights up the darkest regime that mars this world, the regime of Apartheid. If one issue unites all the parties and independent Members of this House it is the total, unified opposition to Apartheid and the total horror felt unanimously at the continued imprisonment of Nelson Mandela after 25 years. I know as a former Minister for Justice that in this country eight years is considered the maximum life sentence unless a person is an absolute danger to society, so it could be said that Nelson Mandela has served three life sentences already, yet from within those prison walls the example, the feeling for liberty and equality emanates. On this night when Dáil Éireann salutes Nelson Mandela and his wife, Winnie Mandela who has been such a courageous bearer of his message outside the prison walls, I can only express the hope that this horrible system of Apartheid is brought to a quick end.
We have to face the fact that some of our colleagues in the EC seem less than enthusiastic in talking the fullest measures against Apartheid. Sanctions are all right for Nicaragua and some other countries but there is excuse after excuse for not imposing sanctions against South Africa. We should not put up with those excuses any more and we should urge our Government to press harder and harder at EC level to get all the countries of the EC to accept the need for sanctions and to press ever more intensely for the dismantling of Apartheid.
I thank all the speakers and you, Sir, for the opportunity to conclude on this very important, historic motion tonight. It has been said, and I say again, that it is important and significant for this House to recognise the giant Nelson Mandela on his 70th birthday. It is a credit to us that we have taken the time and have in this House a number of Ministers in Government to listen to the debate carefully. I hope that from this a clear message will go out not only to Nelson Mandela, his wife and the people of South Africa, but to our more immediate neighbours within the EC who have in the past been so reluctant, so slow to take any positive action with regard to the most effective demand upon us, that of sanctions against the South African economy. I hope Dublin City Council will have the opportunity in the very near future to confer on Nelson Mandela, the freedom of the city. I hope the all-party support in the debate here tonight will be followed through with equal unanimity on Dublin City Council.
I ask the Government in listening and taking on the unanimous view of the House tonight to take independent, strong action in regard to sanctions, in particular with regard to the coal industry of South Africa which now represents one of its most expanding and significant international exports. We are unwittingly on a weekly basis allowing their coal to come in under various EC manoeuvres to Ireland. I ask that we take the lead in this and proceed with a total ban on importation from wherever of South African originated coal, and I have no doubt that our partners in the EC will not be in a position to object but will have to take the lead from the Irish Government. I ask that we move to that position without delay. I ask also that the Government circulate the text of tonight's motion to all our EC partners and have it lodged with the General Secretary of the UN for purposes of record there.
Finally, a call must go out from this House tonight re-echoeing the unanimous view that those convicted and facing death who are known as the Sharpeville Six must be given clemency in the face of a ridiculous conviction in the most tenuous of cases and in a situation where the death penalty should never be visited in the circumstances surrounding that case. We say tonight to Nelson Mandela, to all the people of South Africa, your struggle is ours, your victory will be yours. To everyone we say, a Mandela.
Question put and agreed to.