YUSUF MOHAMED DADOO
Dear Sir/Madam,
The Asiatic
Land Tenure and Indian Representation Bill has become law. The
already so weak and feeble democratic structure of South Africa
has received a further blow and our country's prestige in the
international field has dropped to an even lower level.
250,000 South
Africans are threatened with cultural, moral and economic ruin
because of the fact that their skin is not white. A ghetto life
with all its miseries, hardships and degradation is in store
for them.
In the Union
Parliament - with the honourable exception of the three Native
representatives - everyone, irrespective of party affiliation
- in principle approved of this reactionary piece of legislation
which could easily have been conceived by the former leaders
of fascist Germany.
This further
strengthening of reactionary and pro-fascist elements is of vital
concern to all progressive and democratic forces in our country.
They should realise that the continued enslavement and lowering
of the living conditions of one section of our people is not
only a gross injustice and does not only make a mockery of our
so-called democracy. It also constitutes an immediate threat
to the rights, freedom and economic well-being of all sections
of the people because there is no knowing which one will be attacked
next, should the interests of those who benefit from the colour
bar in this country demand so. Yesterday it was the turn of the
African, today it is the turn of the Indian, tomorrow it will
be the turn of the Coloured, AND IT MIGHT VERY WELL BE THAT THE
TIME WILL COME WHEN THE RIGHTS OF THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT WILL
BE CURTAILED OR WHEN LAWS WILL BE PROMULGATED AGAINST OTHER RACIAL
GROUPS IN OUR MIDST, AS FOR INSTANCE AGAINST THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
However, it
is still time to stop this dangerous development towards fascism
- to sign on the dotted line for or against democracy.
The Indian
community has unanimously decided to oppose this attack on their
already so meagre rights. From the 13th June on, we will have
begun our PASSIVE RESISTANCE CAMPAIGN which will be inaugurated
by a mass meeting of Transvaal Indians on the 13th.
We appeal
to all progressive organisations and individuals, to all trade
unions and anti-fascist bodies, to send us a message of support
for our meeting in order to assure us that we are not alone in
our struggle, to assure us that other sections of the South African
people too have understood the full implications of the attack
which reactionary and anti-democratic forces are hurling at us.
We would also
suggest that you should send a telegram of protest against the
Asiatic Land Tenure and Indian Representation Law to the Acting
Prime Minister, thereby adding your protest to ours.
Trusting that
we will receive your message of support before our meeting on
Thursday, 13th June and thanking you in anticipation.
Yours sincerely,
(sd.) Y.M.
DADOO
For Passive Resistance Council
Transvaal Indian Congress
