YUSUF MOHAMED DADOO
Dr. Dadoo held a well attended press conference in London on Tuesday,
the 25th of January 1949, at which he dealt with the features and
causes of the recent Durban massacre, and placed primary and main
responsibility for the pogrom on the shoulders of the extremely reactionary
and fascist Government of Dr. Malan and the Nationalist Party.
Warning the United Nations
he said: "The Durban massacre underlines
in boldest manner the urgency for immediate action by the United
Nations, if further and more dangerous calamities are to be averted."
Referring to the basic
causes of grinding poverty, starvation, racial discrimination and
the apartheid policy of the Malan Government,
he stated "one cannot escape the conclusion that the outbreak
here has the resemblance of organised attack that it was premeditated,
although something went wrong with the timing, that a hidden hand
of instigators lurks behind the events, that such events eminently
suited the Government in order to weaken the growing opposition to
the Government policy, that it may be used as a weapon to impose
further repression on both Indian and African people, that the activities
of the South African Protection League are calculated to foster and
inspire, and get extended to other areas repetitions of what happened
in Durban.
"The hands of the
Malan Government are stained with the blood of innocent men, women
and children. The Government and their racialistic
supporters cannot escape their responsibilities."
He congratulated the
leaders of the Natal and Transvaal Indian Congresses and the African
organisations for haying acted jointly
together with commendable courage and despatch, to quieten the situation
and afford relief to victims. He also paid tribute to sympathetic
Europeans and the Red Cross for rendering yeoman services in supplying
medical aid and foodstuff. "They have earned the deepest gratitude
of non-white and all democracy-loving people," he said. Pointing
out the task before South African people Dr. Dadoo said:
"I make this urgent
appeal to national organisations of African and Indian people to
conduct an intensive organised drive and explain
to the people the now situation, and to strengthen their organisational
ties with the masses and to forge maximum unity for the struggle
against apartheid and racial oppression and for full democratic rights.
This united struggle must embrace all sections of South African people
including all those Europeans who are against the policies of the
present Government.
"While we welcome
the announcement of the Government to appoint a judicial commission,
we demand inclusion of African and Indian
representatives. If we succeed in carrying out these tasks, we shall
not only defeat fascist aims of the herrenvolk, but we shall also
perform the historic role of transforming racialist-ridden South
Africa into a fully democratic state with equal rights and opportunities
for all."
Dr. Dadoo expressed gratitude to the Government and people of India
for their deep concern and anxiety and their powerful expression
of sympathy with victims and their readiness to help in every possible
way.
He announced that many enquiries have been made by British sympathisers
at the South African Committee of the India League, as to the way
in which they could morally and materially help and support.
"In response to
their requests, a fund-raising committee is in process of being
formed, and we have no doubt that the British
people will respond generously. While all relief should be afforded
victims, both African and Indian, it is equally important that every
possible step should be taken to remove the basic causes which make
such calamities possible. We therefore make earnest appeals to people
and organisations in Britain to ask the British Government to support
India's case against South Africa at the United Nations so as to
bring to book the Government of South Africa for its racial and fascist
policies."
