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23 April 1998 Edition

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Television: Apartheid lives

by Sean O Donaile

Apartheid Did Not Die UTV
After listening to the inspirational speech of the ANC activist, Thenjiwe Mtintso, at the Ard Fheis and delegates' cries of ``Amandla'', it is difficult to criticise the ``new'' South Africa and the dismantling of Apartheid. The ANC claimed ``our country belongs to everyone and the wealth will be shared equally''..

The reowned journalist and human rights activist John Pilger presented a very different picture on UTV on Tuesday night, claiming the change of government means little, with economic apartheid still rife and little chance of change under the current administration who gave in to pressure from the Anglo-Americam Corporation and the small minority who control the wealth of the nation (though, in fairness, Mtintso did say that the struggle was not yet won).

According to Pilger, De Klerk was a pragmatist who seized the initative, giving the vote to the masses but maintaining control of the economy. Five companies control three quarters of the stock market and the big businesses have been reinforced in favour of the ANC ``Freedom Charter''. Inequailties have increased as has unemployment and a black elite has emerged including the ANC executive member millionaire Cyril Ramaphosa. Pilger challenges Mandela in the programme, and his reply that there are now blacks involved in big business does not alter the fact that the old power structure has not changed.

The most glaring mistake of Mandela's has been his statement that ``we will deal with any nation regardless of internal structure'', the same argument used by Thatcher to justify trade with the Apartheid regime. Mandela has gone as far as giving South Africa's highest honour to General Suharto, who has been responsible for the slaughter of 300,000 East Timorese. The new regime has made little difference to the mining companies, who continue to exploit the 70,000 miners. Many thousands have died in the last ten years from accidents and lung cancer and the situation has not changed. 80% of the land is still controlled by the whites and under the Claims Court less than 0.5% has been returned.

The Reconstruction and Development Programme has been discontinued in favour of ``cautious Thatcherism''. One million have been given access to water but there are a further fourteen million in need of such change. There has been little change in lifestyle and many are now becoming disillusioned with the lack of change. 5% of the nation control 88% of the wealth and are no longer international pariahs, and they seem to be the real beneficiaries of the system.

In fairness to Mandela he has a mammoth job on his hands but the ANC have failed from the start to face up to the old economic order which has remained the same, and wthout this change the new ``democracy'' will entrench economic apartheid further. Pilger finishes with the harsh comment ``how many times have the liberators betrayed the people?'' The jury is out on the new South Africa.

TV Previews


I gCillin an Bhais TnaG, 28 April & 5 May
Hidden Treasures, RTE 1, 27 April
The Hunger Strikes continue to be an emotive subject for republicans and anyone who attempts to capture it on screen or in print is sure to come in for close scrutiny. ``Ten Men Dead'' and ``Nor Meekly Serve My Time'' set a high standard but ``I gCillin an Bhais'' is a brave effort from Teilifis na Gaeilge.

Produced by Sonia Nic Giolla Easbaig, the tale is told by ex-hunger strikers Laurence McKeown, Jackie McMullan, Leo Greene and Bik McFarlane.

McFarlane tells of his reluctance to take up the post of O/C, until persuaded to do so by Bobby Sands. He talks for the first time of his shock at meeting the dying Bobby Sands who warned him of the tricks of Thatcher and Haughey and the order from Joe McDonnell to ``keep them all together''. The ``greatest day of my life'' (Jackie McMullan) is replaced by the despair at Sands's death, and the refusal of the Brits to negotiate, particularly with Danny Morrison or Gerry Adams.

As with Sands, Joe McDonnell, made a death bed plea-''this is the crack - I don't know how long I've left... I'll do my best to last as long as possible but don't accept anything less than the five demands''.

Laurence McKeown talks of the pressure hunger strikers' families were put under by the Brits, and gradually mothers began to take their unconscious sons off the protest until it was no longer feasible.

Bik speaks of 1981 as the worst year of his life and the huge personal effect it has made on him. Similarly with most ex-Blanketmen, some of whom still, understandably, won't openly discuss those events which in time gave birth to the rising of the republican communities in education and politics, the language and culture and far beyond. One only has to spend a few days in a republican community to see the spirit of the hunger strikers still alive and thriving.

It is impossible to describe the hunger strikes in a few lines and equally so in one hour of TV, but this is a very strong effort and deserves to be highly commended, for tackling an issue that more established stations have avoided.

Tune in!.

 


Hidden Treasures is the apt name of a new television series which unveils the untold and increasingly forgotten story of Ireland's folk life. Starting next Monday 27 April on RTE 1 Hidden Treasures mixes archive and contemporary material of farmers, craftworkers and fishermen, boat builders, basket makers, weavers and thatchers all at work.

Filmed across 22 counties the series shows the making of a range of agricultural and cultural equipment including straw granaries, bog deal ropes, hen's nests and wicker traps. The first episode titled Cot, Coracle and Currach shows the making of skin boats on Ireland's lakes and seas.

Three years in the making, the series was made by Loopline Films using contemporary material as well as footage taken by the late Director of the National Museum Dr AT Lucas. Lucas travelled Ireland with cameraman Brendan Doyle. Together they filmed the disappearing traditions, crafts and way of life of rural Irish people. The series is superbly put together offering viewers a rare view of the stamina, resourcefulness and skills Irish communities once possessed.

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