12 October 1981
I should like, on behalf of the citizens of Glasgow, to convey my warmest wishes to the Special Committee on this Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners. Today in Glasgow and throughout the United Kingdom, this day is being recognized by rallies and meetings and by the lighting of candles to political prisoners of conscience, little enough when compared with the sacrifice of the prisoners themselves, but an important gesture of solidarity none the less.
Earlier this year Glasgow had the privilege of honouring Nelson Mandela by creating him a Freeman of the city, both in his own right and as a symbol of political prisoners of conscience throughout the world.
Sixteen Commonwealth countries were represented in Glasgow for the ceremony at which Nigeria accepted the Freedom on behalf of Mandela, who, of course, was unable to be present personally. The Vice-President of Nigeria, representing his President, said on that occasion that no one could understand the rationale of the indefinite imprisonment of a nationalist leader who has committed no offence other than working for the realization of the yearnings and aspirations of his people to attain freedom from oppression and exploitation by a racist minority regime that makes them victims of its evil political system. The Vice-President went on:
“We shall continue to give our full support, both moral and material, for the pursuit of the just claims of the majority of the freedom-loving people of South Africa, who have been deprived of their birthright of land, liberty and peace by a form of Government founded on injustice and inequality.
“We firmly believe that the entire people of South Africa will not be prosperous or free in the true sense of the words until they are all able to live in brotherhood, enjoying the equal rights opportunities that derive from a true democratic State”.
I wish now, as I did then, to associate the people of Glasgow with these remarks and appeal to the South African Government to make a start in dismantling its present political structure so that eventually that country can be accepted back into the family of nations.
Releasing Nelson Mandela from his cruel imprisonment would be a magnificent gesture of good faith, and without an indication of good faith there is little prospect of peaceful change in South Africa. I therefore appeal once again, as I did before, to the Government of South Africa to award Nelson Mandela his personal and political freedom.
In addressing the Committee today, I can assure members that the fight against apartheid in South Africa continues in my city. Glasgow has a long history of liberal traditions. from supporting the nineteenth century political reformers Cobden and Bright to the present day. Discrimination on the grounds of colour or race are abhorrent to us. We believe that it must be at the grassroots level that the fight against apartheid is carried on to change the attitudes of our own Governments so that they will indicate unequivocally to South Africa that its policies will no longer be tolerated. I shall therefore continue to press the Government of the United Kingdom to persuade the South African Government to change and urge it to comply with the clearly stated policy of the United Nations. But if Governments are unwilling to move quickly enough to persuade South Africa to make radical political changes, then individual citizens must give their Governments the lead. To this end, I intend, as a follow-up to today's meeting, to organize a petition to be signed by mayors of cities not only in the United Kingdom but throughout the world on behalf of the millions of ordinary people that they represent, a petition reaffirming our belief in self-evident basic liberties, a petition calling for the release of political prisoners of conscience throughout the world, a petition supporting that most illustrious of Glasgow's citizens, Nelson Mandela.
I will continue, as will my Council, to attack violations of human rights whenever they occur. South Africa is the worst example of racial discrimination but Member States will know that similar aberrations occur elsewhere. I will therefore continue my protest on behalf of political prisoners of conscience everywhere. But my special concern must be Mandela. He is a citizen of Glasgow. He is my brother. He is the brother of everyone who cherishes the concepts of human rights and basic political freedoms.
After his trial, Mandela said:
"During my lifetime, I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all people live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”.
It was for this great idealism, which Mandela continues to show, that we awarded him the Freedom of our city, a humble gesture of solidarity. The citizens of Glasgow support him in his struggle. We recognize him as a symbol of all other South African political prisoners of conscience unjustly punished for their beliefs. His struggles and his heroism will inspire us to ensure that their cruel fate is not forgotten.