Date: 1986-06-18
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise to commend the gentleman from California for an eloquent statement. I think all of us on this House floor today have been moved by his eloquence. I also would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his position on this issue. I urge acceptance by the House of the Dellums amendment. Mr. Chairman. the time has come! The time is now! The time has come for the United States of America to take a firm and positive stand to end the abhorrent system of apartheid in South Africa. That is why. as an original cosponsor. I rise in strong support of the Dellums amendment to ban all United States investment in South Africa. as contained in H.R. President Reagan continues to oppose strong economic sanctions. accepting the South African Governments contention that such measures would hurt those who most need our help. Our State Department has taken the position that such sanctions would not promote United States goals in South Africa and would serve only to encourage intransigence. rather than moderation. by white and black leaders. Let us look. then. at what has been happening in South Africa while we have followed the administrations policy. so mistakenly called constructive engagement. The past year has seen a rising tide of violence in which more than 600 South Africans. nearly all of them black. have lost their lives. The white majority government last year imposed a state of emergency and has now once again taken even more human rights away from a population that even President Reagan describes as being caught in the throes of a civil war. Freedom of the press has all but disappeared and the most evil deeds of the security forces are hidden from international scrutiny. The chances for a peaceful transition to a democratic majority government are steadily diminishing. If events continue to unfold as they have over the past year. Chaos lies ahead. The administrations policy. far from being constructive. has allowed the South African Government to pursue its destructive course with what certainty seems to be tlhe tacit support of the United States. The beleaguered majority of the South African people know what is at stake. They have called on us for help. They have asked us again and again to use our economic strength to put pressure on the oppressive minority government. They have told us that they are willing to suffer now. in the short run. so that their children may have a chance for freedom as full citizens of a new South Africa. Mr. Chairman. we have an obligation to help these people. It is an obligation born of our own national commitment to freedom. Let us no longer hide behind the pretext that we are saving the black majority from the consequences of putting economic pressure on their government. As the Rev. Allan Boesaktold us recently: "When we the South African people have had enough we will let you know." But. untif then. let us answer their cries for the assistance they know may cause them pain but which they also know will help them to emerge from their long night of bondage. The time has come. It is now. Tomorrow may well be too late. Mr. Chairman. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. Let this be the day when we say to the oppressive South African regime. enough is enough. The time has come for a change. and we will not rest until! apartheid ends and democracy is born in. South Africa.