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JOHANNESBURG,
Aug 6 (IPS) - While the U.S. government may be prevaricating
on whether it will attend the UN World Conference Against Racism
later this month, progressive American civil society is not. About
2,000 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from the United States
have registered for the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Forum
of the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) to be held in Durban,
South Africa, from Aug 28.
The
U.S. administration, and some European governments, are considering
staying away from the UN conference, or sending junior delegations,
because of definitions of racism and reparations.
There
are attempts to have the conference declare Zionism a form of racist
state and demands that former colonial powers - and other parties
- pay reparations to victims of slavery.
Asked
if the U.S. NGOs reflected their government's concerns, an advisor
to the Forum secretariat, Thandiwe January-McLean, says: "No,
they want to participate in the conference and it is shown by them
coming in such large numbers. They say the issues are part of the
process."
The
Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU) will protest at the
American Embassy on Aug 16 against U.S. government attempts to ''blackmail''
the conference.
"The
attempt by the United States to blackmail the World Conference arises
from the emergence of a unipolar world, dominated by the United
States," the 1.8-million-member-strong union federation said
in a statement.
About
7000 delegates from all over the world are expected at the Forum,
which will be held in Durban between Aug 28-30 - just ahead of WCAR.
About
1000 South African NGOs have registered so far. "We have also
had a great response from countries of the former USSR, Africa and
Asia-Pacific, where they have real human rights issues to deal with,"
says the director for the Forum's secretariat, Moshe More.
More
says NGOs need to hold their Forum ahead of the conference because
they are free of many of the restrictions that bound governments
and they could speak out more freely and sharply on issues that
concerned them. The Forum's declaration will be forwarded to WCAR
for consideration by the conference.
The
final draft declaration of the Forum, released at a press conference
in Johannesburg, on Aug 2, attacked Israel and demanded reparations
for slavery from former colonial countries and "other parties".
"We
call for the declaration of Israel as an apartheid, racist and fascist
state, as it has continued to violate the rights of civilians in
its quest to build a Jewish settler state. And, impose punitive
measure to stop the expansion of the barbaric and inhumane project
that has the potential to disturb world peace and stability within
societies," reads the declaration.
The
South African National Youth Summit Against Racism, presently being
held as part of the preparations for WCAR, is expected to back the
declaration.
Groups
from South Africa's Muslim and Jewish communities, as well as non-religious
Palestinian solidarity organisations, have been lobbying the conference
around the issue. But, reports a delegate, because of the support
the Palestinians gave to South Africans while they were fighting
against apartheid, the summit is likely to come-out firmly in support
of the declaration on Israel.
On
slavery, the draft declaration says: "Former colonial powers
and other parties involved in such criminal acts, have a moral duty
and responsibility to grant reparations to victims of slavery -
and colonialism. And, such reparations may take the form of restitution,
compensation, rehabilitation and satisfaction as well as measure
that guarantee non-repetition."
More
insists the discussion about reparations for slavery will not only
focus on the former colonial powers and the United States, but that
the Africa caucus at the conference will also look at the involvement
of Arab and African states in slavery.
More
also notes that even if countries and governments disagree with
the draft declaration on slavery and Israel, it is important that
they be put on the conference agenda.
"If
we ignore them, we will be denying our history. These are difficult
issues, but we would be failing if we did not deal with them now.
Otherwise they will simply find their way onto the agenda of future
UN meetings and will be raised in trade and other negotiations,"
he explains.
The
South Africa government supports open debates on reparations and
Zionism -- in this it is supported by civil society.
The
35-page draft declaration and its accompanying 43-page programme
of action also tackles ''globalisation, militarisation, poverty
and the environment, religious intolerance, ethnic cleansing and
the rights of indigenous people'', among others.
The
South African Non-governmental Organisation Coalition (Sangoco)
and other civil society organisations in the country, also have
announced that they expect 20,000 South Africans to march on the
WCAR gathering to present their demands, on Sep 1.(END/IPS/AF/HD/AS/MN/01)
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