SACP Condemns US Government Representatives for Refusing to take Memorandum

5 March 2001

The South African Communist Party (SACP) condemns the action by the representative of the Embassy of the United States of America in South Africa (Pretoria) to refuse receiving a memorandum from protesters who were calling on the US government not to support drug companies over the right to life, dignity and health care of people in poor countries and to withdraw its complaint laid at the World Trade Organisation against Brazil's patent legislation which ensures access to affordable medicines.

This was part of the march held in Pretoria today against 42 drug companies which have taken the South African government to court over legislation on affordable medicines. The memorandum was finally submitted to the US Embassy through the South African Police Services.

This refusal to accept the memorandum represents the arrogance and disdain with which the US government treats developing countries and their interests.

It reminds us of the undue pressure the US government put on the South African attempting to withdraw the Medicines and Related Substances Act. The US government acted on the pressure of the pharmaceutical lobby and even placed South Africa on a sanctions watch-list and threatened to withdraw 30 million in aid.

All these actions belie the oft-stated commitment of the US government to development and social progress in developing countries. Instead, they confirm the continued imperialist and profit-driven agenda of the US government and its ruling class which is meeting with increasing resistance from poor and working people of the world.

These actions, once more, re-affirm the need for continuing and heightened struggles for fundamental transformation of the world's political economy away from dominance by the major capitalist countries and multi-nationals towards a world which is based on the needs of poor and working people in one word, towards socialism.

We call on the US government to heed the legitimate demands submitted today by 12 March 2001 as demanded. Finally, the SACP expresses its full support to the demands that the US government must:

• Withdraw the US complaint to the WTO against Brazil
• Issue an unequivocal statement that Brazil and all countries in accordance with the TRIPS agreement have the right to use parallel importation and compulsory licensing to protect public health and
• Negotiate a settlement in the current dispute with Brazil without resorting to the WTO.

CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity South African Communist Party
Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2
Fax: 27 11 339-4244
Cell: 083 651 0271
Email: sacp1@wn.apc.org