TSOTSI
FACED WITH DEPORTATION FROM ZAMBIA
The Unity Movement of South Africa has appealed for international solidarity in opposing the projected deportation from Zambia of W.M.Tsotsi, vice-president of the organization.
Tsotsi, a South African attorney long active in the defense of people accused of political offenses, was exiled in 1963.
In Basutoland, where he found refuge, he continued his activities. When Basutoland became the formally independent state of Lesotho in 1966, falling under the domination of South Africa, the police of Lesotho seized him and took him to the border to hand him over to the South African police.
At the border, he managed to escape. With the police in hot pursuit, Tsotsi made his way to Zambia where he has lived since.
Lately the government of Zambia seems to have altered its attitude concerning the right of political asylum for antiapartheid fighters. On October 29 Tsotsi was notified that he must get out of the country within two weeks.
When news arrived of the danger to Tsotsi, the Alexander Defense Committee in New York at once rallied to his defense. Robert H. Langston, executive secretary of the Alexander Defense Committee, sent a cable to President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia urging him to prevent the deportation.
The cable pointed out that Zambia is justifiably known throughout the world as a haven for exiles from the apartheid tyranny and that any such proceedings as those initiated against Tsotsi could only discredit the Zambian government in the eyes of world opinion.
Further, the cable said, such harassment of a leader of any South African liberation organization by the government of an independent African state could only injure the whole African liberation movement and aid all reactionary and racist forces in Africa.
The Alexander Defense Committee has sent out an appeal for similar cables asking President Kaunda to intervene in behalf of Tsotsi. These should be addressed as follows:
Te Honorable Kenneth Kaunda
President, The Republic of Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia
For additional information, the address of the Alexander Defense Committee is 873 Broadway, 2nd floor south, New York, N.Y. 10003.
DEATH OF CHE