Free+the+Five+meeting+060707



=Minutes of meeting of preparatory committee for the “Free the Five Campaign”=


 * 7 July 2006, ANC HQ**

//Present//

Cde Manana -ANC Cde Moodley -ANC Cde Carmen Smith-ANC Cde Cyril -ANC Cde Theo –COSATU (on behalf of Cde Mandla) Cde Lucian –SACP (on behalf of Cde Solly) Cde Molantoa- NEHAWU (on behalf of Cde Nomthandazo) Cde Carmen Báez- FOCUS

Cde. Carmen chaired the meeting. The discussion was gearing towards the development of a plan for the campaign. Each organization reported on developments from last week meeting.

ANC had a meeting where a broad range of activities where discussed. They will hold a meeting with the provincial secretaries to develop a plan of activities in each province. The ANC proposed that FOCUS will be the front line organization of the campaign (nobody opposed to the proposal). The main issues suggested by the ANC cdes were:
 * ANC will mediate for former President Mandela to write a letter of support to the Five
 * Parliament to pass a resolution on the Five
 * President Mbeki to also write to them.
 * Law professionals, students need to be engaged
 * Highlight of the campaign during 9/8 celebrations by the Women’s League, looking at Cdes like Winnie, Ma Sisulu, to adhere to the campaign
 * Articles, seminars, SABC programmes, etc.
 * Others (captured on plan of action)

Cde Molantoa explained the bilateral activities of NEHAWU with Cuba’s trade union counterpart and CTC and their commitment for this campaign reflected in a Congress resolution for the last years

Cde Lucian also informed about a national staff meeting where the campaign was already introduced to all provincial officers. He suggested that the campaign need to take a gender orientation during the Women’s day celebration and to prepare a declaration at the International Meeting of Workers.

Cde Theo said that only the following Monday the campaign will be discussed by COSATU leadership. She insisted in looking at integrating this campaign into all the other campaigns that she partially mentioned. She distributed the flyer on the 5 at Mpumalanga Provincial COSATU Congress at the week end but realized that this is not enough to create awareness. Some input from a cde that is passionate and well prepared on the issue will help, as well a stall with more information on Cuba( Carmen B agreed and requested for this point to be discussed later since is vital for the mobilization period before the campaign). Resolutions need to be ready to be passed in all provincial and National Congresses. She expressed that it is important for the working class to be involved in the campaign.

FOCUS in its turn inform about some developments that will be also captured in the plan. Carmen listed the material available for the campaign besides the CD distributed at previous meeting. She said that it has been a concern of FOCUS to establish a Free the Five Committee made of personalities (like in many countries). Some people have already been contacted like Nadine Gordimer, Adv George Bizos, Prof Couto, church leaders but it has not yet concretised. This can be a challenge for this committee to intensify the contacts and try to launch this committee during the Campaign.

The main agreements of the discussions afterward were:

(Venue Carmen Smith, invites Cyril & Lucian, ANC will cater for the meeting, Carmen Baez Video on the 5)
 * The campaign need to involve more stakeholders from other organizations and civil society, all united for a common objective that is express our solidarity for Cuba
 * Each organization can have their own plan but ideally joint activities need to be planned to maximize the impact
 * All suggestions and proposals discussed will be captured in a join plan of action. to be discussed at next meeting (Carmen Baez)
 * Organise a mini-workshop on the 26 July to present the plan of action to the larger group with the objective of ensuring a well organized, co-ordinated, solid campaign that will have the desired impact in the media and society. The occasion will also celebrate the National Day of Cuba.
 * The Campaign will start from the workshop on 26/7, including awareness activities in all meetings, conferences, congresses, articles on individual newsletters, magazines, bulletins, radio inputs, etched.
 * The Campaign will be officially launched on the 12th September with a Press Conference with the presence of leadership to endorse support
 * The Campaign will culminate on 6th October with a massive march at the American Embassy to protest for the terrorist acts against Cuba and their support and to request the release of the 5 Cubans held in their prisons. It was suggested that the march will continue to the Cuban Embassy to present our solidarity and support for the case of the Five.
 * For a Media Committee to be established formed by the media officers of the 4 main organizations (ANC, SACP, COSATU and FOCUS). Its first task should be to produce a speaker’s note and flyer which explains the broad purpose of the campaign, including the terrorist attacks to Cuba and the case of the 5 ( Carmen to facilitate it and get necessary information for it)
 * Women’s League to consider invite one of the family members of the Five that they have already met in Cuba (Moodley) for August celebrations
 * Send Adv. Weinglass’ contacts to ANC to ask for authorization to publish his article (Carmen B)

Next meeting will be at COSATU building on The 20th July from 10am to 13hrs. The media committee members should also attend.

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