1.
GV POSTERS FOR MEETING
0.05

2.
INT..AUDIENCE
0.13

3.
SV STYTLER SPEAKING
0.17

4.
GV CUTAWAY AUDIENCE
0.20

5.
CV STYTLER
0.23

6.
GV CUTAWAY AUDIENCE
0.25

7.
GV MRS. SUZMAN RISES TO SPEAK
0.27

8.
GV CUTAWAY - MAN CLAPPING
0.29

9.
GV MRS. SUZMAN SPEAKS. SOF STARTS: "WHAT ARE THE EXCUSES.." SOF ENDS: "...UNDER THE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS".
2.15


TRANSCRIPT: (SEQ. 9): MRS SUZMAN: "WHAT ARE THE EXCUSES OF THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION FOR THIS FEEBLE DISPLAY IN PARLIAMENT LAST WEEK. THEY SAY THAT THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL SECURITY DEMAND THE MEASURES WHICH ARE BEING INTRODUCED BY MR. VORSTER. THEY SAY THAT THE REPORT ON THE PAAR HAS MADE SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS. NONSENSE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NONSENSE. AT NO TIME DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE DID THE MINISTER GIVE US ANY COGENT REASONS WHY HE REQUIRES POWERS LIKE THIS. ALL HE DID WAS HINT DARKLY AT INFORMATION WHICH HE HAD AND WHICH HE COULD NOT DISCLOSE TO PARLIAMENT OR THE COUNTRY. EXACTLY THE SAME LINE TAKEN BY HIS PREDECESSOR TEN YEARS AGO WHEN HE PANICKED THE UNITED PARTY WITH HIS DISCLOSURES OF POISONED WELLS. A THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAY BEING ARRESTED UNDER THE PASS LAWS, GRIEVANCES SUCH AS FORCIBLE REMOVAL UNDER ... CT, GRIEVANCES AS THE BREAK OF FAMILY LIFE, WHICH IS TAKING PLACE TO AN EVER INCREASING DEGREE AS A RESULT OF THE PASS LAWS, THE CORRUPTION OF THE OFFICIALS WHO ADMINISTER THESE LAWS AND, OF COURSE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ALL THESE THINGS ARE SIMPLY BRUSHED ASIDE AS BEING THE MOUTHING OF COMMUNIST AGITATORS. WHEN PASSIVE RESISTANCE EMERGES STAMP IT OUT WITH WHIPPING BILLS, AND WHEN PASSIVE RESISTANCE IS QUITE INEVITABLY REPLACED BY FORCIBLE RESISTANCE, STAMP THAT OUT WITH THE USE OF FORCE ITSELF. AND SO ON AD INFINITUM IN THIS COUNTRY UNTIL AT LAST WE HAVE REACHED THE STAGE WHEN WE ARE LIVING PERMANENTLY UNDER EMERGENCY REGULATIONS."




Initials IT/S/CR/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WHEN THE SOUTH AFRICAN PARLIAMENT PASSED THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW SECURITY BILL ON MONDAY, ONLY ONE MEMBER - A WOMAN - VOTED AGAINST IT.SHE WAS MRS.HELEN SUZMAN, THE LONE PROGRESSIVE MEMBER, WHO HAS PERSISTENTLY FOUGHT THE SWEEPING POWERS OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL CONFERRED BY THE GENERAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL.

YESTERDAY, (WEDNESDAY), AT A PUBLIC MEETING IN JOHANNESBURG, SHE STRONGLY ATTACKED THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION UNITED PARTY FIR SUPPORTING THE BILL.THE UNITED PARTY, WHILST NOT VOTING AGAINST THE BILL, DID GET SOME MODIFICATION TO THE CONTROVERSIAL CLAUSES.THE NEW BILL EMPOWERS THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, MR.VORSTER, TO KEEP IN PRISON PERSONS CONVICTED OF CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE EVEN AFTER THEIR COURT SENTENCES EXPIRE.IT ALSO ENABLES POLICE TO DETAIN SUSPECTS FOR RECURRING PERIODS OF 90 DAYS - WITHOUT TRIAL.

AFTER THE JOHANNESBURG MEETING HAD BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY LEADER, MR.STYTLER, MRS SUZMAN CRITICIZED BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED PARTY.