Prolifers thrown out of parliament
8 May 2002
Parliamentary Oversight Hearings on the Choice of Termination of
Pregnancy Act, 1996 (Abortion) was held at Parliament on the 7th and 8th May 2002. The
hearings were organised by the Reproductive Rights Alliance (pro-abortion lobby group).
Not one pro-life group or person was invited to make an oral submission, yet the
Reproductive Rights Alliance claimed the hearings to be "national".
In response to the undemocratic and one-sided nature of the
hearings, citizens, people of South Africa and pro-lifers held a silent protest at the end
of the second day. They held posters of a newborn baby and a fetus with the captions:
"They can't speak. neither can we" and "They can't speak. Now we are not
allowed to speak for them". The Chairman of the Health Committee lost his
temper, letting out a barrage of words accusing the pro-lifers of breaking the rules of
parliament. When the silent Pro-lifers stood their ground, he called for the police. The
chairman then went a step further and tore-up one of the placards and manhandled an
elderly pro-lifer. The pro-lifers then left peacefully carrying their placards. SATV
cameramen filmed the entire spectacle.
Yesterday, United Christian Action handed the chairman of the
Health Committee an open letter pointing out the undemocratic nature of these so-called
"national" hearings and kindly requested another day for alternative and
pro-life voices to be heard. These rights are up-held in our Constitution.
It became clear by the end of the hearings that the speakers
representing the views of the Reproductive Rights Alliance were in fact pro-abortion.
While claiming to be pro-choice, they made no recommendations on alternatives to abortion
and insisted that all funds go towards abortion (instead of supporting the needy mother,
her family or looking at options of adoption). It became clear that they were offering the
mothers no choice, only abortion.
The question was raised: "Of the 290 designated abortion
sites in South Africa, only 88 are in operation - only 38%. Why?" Findings showed
that the poor levels of implementation of the Termination of Pregnancy Act was due to a
lack of resources and doctors and health workers who object to abortion. Discussion was
then focused on the rights of health workers and the possibility of criminalising
conscientious objectors. Of course no health workers were present, nor were they invited,
to make a submission for the basis of their conscientious objection or to defend their
rights as health workers. It was a case of the few lording it over the many who had been
silenced.
To date no referendum has been held in South Africa to legitimise
the Termination of Pregnancy Act.
The Reproductive Rights Alliance personnel were delighted to
announce that since The Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996, over 220,000 babies have been
legally killed through abortion in South Africa. They were also pleased to announce that
more "abortion midwives" have been trained to speed up access to abortions.
Rob Mc Cafferty
Communications Director
United Christian Action
For further comment, please contact Christine 082 672 3470 |
