YUSUF MOHAMED DADOO
The completion
of five months of our historic struggle coincides with the release
of our national leaders, Dr. G. M. Naicker and Mr. M. D. Naidoo after serving
six months hard labour (with 45 days remission) - the longest sentence yet
served by passive resisters in the present struggle.
This pamphlet attempts to give you an account of the epic story
of our struggle against the Ghetto Act; the heroism and endurance
of our resisters against the organised attacks of European hooligans;
the heart-stirring courage of our sister-resisters; and some facts
about the united support of the entire Indian community.
Five months in the struggle of a people for fundamental human
rights is too brief a period in which to pass a verdict on it.
A proper evaluation can only be made when it is reviewed in historical
perspective. We leave that task to history. But in reviewing the
events of the last five months we are in a position to judge whether
or not we have reached the first objectives in our battle for full
rights of citizenship.
Fateful Beginning
The first few weeks were fateful. There were groups of people
who were hesitant and uncertain. Scepticism prevailed in certain
quarters. How will the struggle fare? How will the people react?
- were questions uppermost in the minds of not uninfluential bodies
of people. It was an acid test for the leadership. It demanded
courage and endurance from the resisters.
To make matters worse,
organised squads of European hooligans began attacking the camp
of resisters. Tents were pulled down and
burned. Resisters, both men and women, were brutally assaulted.
Taunts, sneers and insults were hurled at them. The European hooligans
did not show a trace of "civilisation" - they behaved
like wild beasts pouncing on their prey. The resisters` patience
and endurance were taxed to the utmost but they proved their quality
as brave fighters for freedom - non-violent and persevering, unafraid
and manly. From night to night, the attacks grew more violent,
the resisters becoming more determined. In this trying period of
uncertainty, the heroism of the resisters and the undaunted leadership
of men like Dr. Naicker and Mr. M. D. Naidoo shone like a beacon
of hope.
The Government invoked the Riotous Assemblies Act, arrests were
made, resisters were sent to prison and the struggle passed into
a decisive phase.
The magnificent response of the people made it possible for us
to record achievements of which the Indian people can well be proud.
Indian Community United as Never Before
The struggle has rallied the entire community in total opposition
to the Ghetto Act. There is a complete boycott of the Land Tenure
Advisory Board. The sham form of communal representation has been
wholly rejected. Hundreds of men and women of all ages have responded
to the call of duty by enlisting as volunteers. A new spirit of
freedom pervades the Indian people.
South Africa's Racial Policy Laid Bare
General Smuts and the Union Government find themselves in the
dock at the United Nations Assembly. The Union Government stands
condemned in the eyes of the democratic people of the world for
its fascist racial laws against the non-European population, and
for the violation of the United Nations Charter. The United Nations
Organisation itself is being confronted with an important test:
whether it will justify its existence for the maintenance of world
peace and assurance of basic human rights and freedom to all people
irrespective of race, religion or sex, or whether by failing to
stand up to this task it will let the world slip into international
and race conflict.
We look forward to the outcome of the present discussion with
confidence; the stern and determined stand taken by the Indian
Government's delegation, together with the wholehearted support
of the Soviet Union, China and other member States, makes the situation
very hopeful indeed.
We have succeeded in rallying international democratic opinion
to our side in our just struggle. Whatever the outcome we shall
continue to expose South Africa's fascist policy to the outside
world and pursue our struggle within the Union.
Towards the Struggle of all Non-European Peoples
We are not unmindful of the fact that our passive resistance
movement is a part and parcel of the larger struggle of all the
non-European peoples against segregation and discrimination and
for full democratic rights in the land of their birth and adoption.
The African and Coloured peoples are supporting our movement in
full measure and, indeed, not a few have already enlisted as passive
resisters and have served terms in prison. We, for our part, have
declared our full support to them in the recent great African miners`
strike and in the campaign against the pass laws and other inhuman
and racialist measures.
We hope for and expect a progressive unfurling of a great resistance
movement on their part so that unity of action can be welded on
the anvil of struggle.
White supremacy and herrenvolkism cannot and will not be able
to withstand the torrent of simultaneous and united action.
India and Trade Sanctions
The Interim Government's uncompromising stand and the united
support of India's leaders and national and political organisations
of all shades of opinion and the stringent application of trade
sanctions, have not only brought about a rupture in the trade relations
between the two countries but have also hit hard the European farmers
and consumers in this country. The acute shortage of grain bags,
soap, essential oils, textiles and other commodities has caused
a crisis of the first order.
This will, we hope, drive home to the European people the hard
lesson that their rulers cannot carry on with impunity, and this
with their consent, the policy of racial and colour oppression.
The higher law of peoples` will and human conscience must in the
end prevail.
Europeans and the Struggle
Our struggle is forcing the Europeans in no uncertain manner
to decide whether they are for or against democracy. Democracy
cannot be maintained for the Europeans themselves whilst they deny
it to others. Denial of democracy to one section leads surely and
inevitably to fascism and all its attendant evils.
The setting up of bodies like the Council for Asiatic Rights
in the Transvaal and the Council for Human Rights in Natal, the
resolutions of the Church and progressive bodies, and the active
participation and heroic sacrifice in the present struggle of such
courageous European Christian stalwarts as the Reverend Michael
Scott and the Reverend Satchell, and private citizens like Miss
Mary Barr and Max Itzkin, are an indication of the fact that democratic-minded
Europeans are beginning to realise the true implications of the
fascist policy of their Government towards the non-European population.
We Welcome Dr. Naicker and M. D. Naidoo
Thus it is with a sense
of pride and self-vindication that we welcome back in our midst
our national leaders. We say to them: "Your
sacrifices and those of the hundreds of passive resisters have
not been in vain. We have taken a step forward."
On their release, we reaffirm our pledge to continue the struggle
with sober confidence and calm resolve.
We shall not bend our knee to the oppressor. We shall not rest
as long as the Ghetto Act is on the Statute Book. We shall fight
on until the rights of man are ours.
WE SHALL RESIST! LONG LIVE RESISTANCE!
