Page 3704 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 October 1990
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poured into the tyre and then set alight with the goal of incinerating the person alive. Perhaps we should recall a quotation from Mandela's wife, Winnie Mandela. She said:
Together, hand in hand, with our boxes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country -
as reported in Agence France-Presse.
The ANC claims to represent blacks in South Africa, but this claim has never been tested in terms of who it represents. Indeed, the membership of the ANC is not known. What is known, as was reported earlier, is that a majority of the executive members of the ANC are indeed also members of the communist party.
I support totally free speech. I support the right of people to say things that are not true; in other words, we well know that many people say things that are not true. I think the problem is that quite often we have free speech for only one side of an argument but not for another side of the argument. I would certainly allow Mr Mandela to say the things he believes in, to express support for the violent overthrow of a government. I would support anybody having their say. I do not support his views in the matter at all. Indeed, I would support Chief Buthelezi's views that advocate peaceful change in South Africa. I think we should support that. I move:
Omit all words after "That the ACT Legislative Assembly -" and substitute:
(1) supports the right of free speech to all people, including that of Mr Nelson Mandela, Vice-President of the African National Congress of South Africa.
(2) condemns Mr Mandela's long-standing support and calls for sabotage and the violent overthrow of the South African Government.
(3) notes that a majority of the executive members of the ANC are also members of the Communist Party.
(4) commends Zulu Chief Buthelezi for his courage and untiring work in calling for similar reforms to those advocated by Mr Mandela but through peaceful and democratic means.
MR BERRY (11.32): I will move that the amendment proposed by Mr Stevenson be put forthwith without debate. I move:
That the question be now put.
Mr Kaine: Mr Speaker, I do not want to say a great deal about this debate, except to say that I think that it is a great pity that - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, before we go further, I would like to just clear up something. I thought you were going to speak on Mr Stevenson's amendment.
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