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26 Jan 1995
Dear Sir
In response to your request for
input regarding the new constitution, I consider the following points to be
vitally important:
I . Fundamental human rights, as described in the bill
of rights of the interim constitution should be protected at all
costs.
2. It is absolutely crucial that freedom of the press be defended.
A free press is the bastion of a free society and is the watchdog
that keeps
government honest. Without freedom of the press we will be reverting to the
state control that characterised the apartheid
era.
3. We need to commit
ourselves to democracy as the form of government that this country will follow
ftom here on in. This implies
regular elections and a universal
franchise.
4. We need to make it illegal, and an act of treason against
the citizens of South Africa, for the final constitution to be changed
or
overthrown in any way.
5. We need to enshrine the system of free
enterprise as our chosen economic path.
6@ It is vital that govemi-nent
expenditure and activities be completely transparent, and that ordinary citizens
have the right to
question the government at any time. To this end an easy,
effective mechanism for making oneself heard publicly, without fear of
recrimination, should be established.
7. Detention without trail must be
abolished once and for all.
Sincerely,
S Claire
Densham
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