Please find below: a.) A report on the 14 February march to parliament; b.) Letter from Zackie Achmat about 14 February March to Parliament; c.) Memorandum to Parliament on 14 February 2003; d.) Memorandum to President Bush and Members of US Congress on 14 February 2003. SOUTH AFRICA: THOUSANDS DEMAND HIV TREATMENT Pambazuka News Thousands marched in Cape Town last Friday in a massive show of support for the demand that the South African government sign and implement a national HIV treatment programme. Estimates on the amount of marchers attending the march organised by AIDS-lobby group the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and taking place on the occasion of the opening of South Africa's Parliament for 2003 ranged from between 10 000 and 30 000. The marchers were drawn from all sectors of society and demonstrated the impressive organisational capacity of the TAC. The TAC has announced that it will give the government until the end of the month to sign a national treatment plan. Failing this, the organisation says it will start a countrywide, peaceful civil disobedience campaign on March 21. Aids campaigner and head of the TAC, Zackie Achmat, reminded the government that everyone present had “shed tears for someone who had died”. A sea of hands was raised when Achmat asked who was prepared to go to jail, if necessary, to secure an HIV/Aids treatment programme for the country. “Unless the government signs the agreement and gives us a clear commitment that the hospitals will have anti-retrovirals to distribute, we will fill up the jails. Our people are dying, treat us now,” Achmat said from the back of a truck parked at the gates of parliament. For the past eight months, various sectors including business, the TAC and the government, have negotiated the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) framework agreement for a national prevention and treatment plan. Issuing a statement in support of the march, MÉdecins Sans FrontiËres (MSF) expressed “profound disappointment” that the South African government had failed to come up with a national HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment plan that included antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for all people in South Africa. “MSF supports people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa and around the world in their fight to have the same opportunity as people in wealthy countries to live longer, healthier lives by having access to ARV treatment.” MSF pointed out that five million South Africans were infected with HIV, and nearly 1,000 were dying every day of AIDS-related complications. “The 600,000 South Africans who clinically require ARV treatment now to stay alive do not have time to wait. Their families do not have time to wait. There can be no excuses for further delays.” At the march, a memorandum was handed over to a low- level government delegation who received a lukewarm response from the assembled crowd. In contrast to the overriding concern for the issue of HIV/AIDS shown by the marchers, South African President Thabo Mbeki only touched on the issue of HIV/AIDS in his state of the nation address to the opening of Parliament, leading to scathing criticism from opposition parties. ENDS Letter from Zackie Achmat about 14 February March to Parliament: Dear All On Friday 14 February 2003, between 15000 and 20000 people in South Africa marched on our Parliament in Cape Town. Our President, Thabo Mbeki said less on HIV/AIDS than George Bush said about peace. Although, he spent less than three minutes on HIV/AIDS, all the marchers spent three hours listening to music, poetry, speeches and then marched. People from every layer of society marched to demand access to treatment -- people living with HIV/AIDS from every part of South Africa, trade unionists, religious leaders, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, employers, nurses, sex workers, doctors, teachers, principals, school, technikon and university students called on government to sign and implement a national treatment and prevention plan. The memoranda below was handed over at Parliament to Ms. Xoliswa Sibeko from President Mbeki's office, Mr. Ebrahim Ebrahim from Deputy President Jacob Zuma's office, Mr James LV Ngculu - Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Ms Barbara Ann Hogan - Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance. A memorandum was also handed over to the US Embassy and TAC called on all people to support the anti-war demonstrations on Saturday. We want to thank everyone who assisted with the march, people who organised, devoted time, travelled long distances, people across the world who wrote letters to the South African government. A fuller report coupled with our plans for the next 6 weeks will be circulated soonest. Regards Zackie Achmat on behalf of the Treatment Action Campaign Executive. Memorandum to Parliament on 14 February 2003: 14 February 2003 MEMORANDUM TO PARLIAMENT President Thabo Mbeki (MP) and Deputy President Jacob Zuma (MP) Minister of Finance: Mr. Trevor Manuel (MP); Minister of Foreign Affairs: Dr. Nkosazana Dhlamini-Zuma (MP) Minister of Health: Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (MP); Minister of Labour: Mr. Membathisi Mdladlana (MP); Minister of Social Development: Dr. Zola Skweyiya (MP); Minister of Trade and Industry: Mr. Alec Erwin (MP); All Members of Cabinet and Parliament. C/O Chairpersons of Portfolio Committees on Health and Finance: Mr. James LV Ngculu and Ms. Barbara Hogan Dear President Mbeki, Deputy-President Jacob Zuma and all members of Parliament IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL HIV/AIDS TREATMENT PLAN We are marching today because the opening of South Africa's Parliament in 2003 should be an important day to signal to the nation and the world the increased determination to prevent and treat HIV infection and to control an epidemic that threatens many parts of our national life. Our march is made by people representing millions of South Africans: We are people with HIV from all provinces of South Africa, members of all the major trade union federations of our country, women's organisations, NGOs, members of medical organisations, representatives of religious faiths, academics, students, the lesbian and gay community and many more. We stand here to demonstrate the willingness of our society to rally behind government in confronting the epidemic of HIV and AIDS. In particular we stand here to demonstrate the depth of support there would be for government beginning to treat people with HIV/AIDS. By government estimates, over 600 people die daily as a result of this disease. This daily presence of death, which has touched every person on this march, will become an immense well of anger that that will protest should there be further delays in our national response to halting this carnage in our country. In particular, we come to you with three demands: a.. First, we call on Cabinet to sign and implement the framework agreement on a National Prevention and Treatment Plan, negotiated by mandated representatives of government, business, labour and community at NEDLAC. This agreement was negotiated by all the parties during October and November 2002. It is an expression of a socially responsible and medically and scientifically defensible programme for addressing the HIV and AIDS epidemic. We believe that the time for consultation is over. The time for implementation is now. More than 75 days have passed and thousands of people died. a.. Second, we call on government to urgently announce the start of a treatment programme using antiretroviral medicines. We appreciate government's commitment to treating opportunistic infections, for many people who are sick with TB and pneumonia and other indicators of AIDS - but, this is not enough. For while they may be treated and survive, their immune systems are so weak because of HIV that they soon succumb. Many of these deaths could be avoided with the use of antiretroviral medicine. We consider it unacceptable that hardly any people in South Africa receive antiretrovirals through the public sector. Government policy to withhold these medicines is widening inequalities between the rich and the poor and between the private and public health services. It also increases the inequality between men and women. Our people are increasingly aware that many of the deaths caused by withholding antiretorivals are avoidable. Government inaction is seen as a key factor in this. Government has resources. Government also has the power to stop drug company profiteering. It has failed to use the power won with the support of people internationally to reduce the prices of anti-retrovirals and all medicines. a.. Last, TAC and our allies are alarmed by reports in the international media and from observers that the South African delegates at the World Trade Organisation have submitted to US and drug company pressure to limit the availability of essential medicines in poorest countries. We call on the Cabinet to ensure that the Minister of Trade and Industry stands by government policy that will allow all essential medicines to be available to all countries. Agreeing to US and drug company policy will deny the poorest people in the world access to all essential medicines. If our reasonable demands are met by government, the TAC, its allies and supporters commit to turning all our energies to implementation in all areas of HIV prevention and treatment. Areas for partnership are clearly set up in the NEDLAC framework agreement. However, whilst TAC commits to partnership, we must also say that we cannot, with conscience, wait any longer. Numerous memoranda have been given to government leaders over the last 4 years. Many of these have gone unanswered. Protests, interfaith services, talks, negotiations and pressure have met with promises, and then, equivocation. It is in this light that TAC has made it clear that failure to respond on these issues will lead to the commencement of a peaceful civil disobedience campaign by TAC activists. This is not the preferred route but, in the face of the illness, death and despair that face us daily in our communities, we will have no choice. The organisations gathered here today in solidarity with the Treatment Action Campaign witness this appeal to government to meet its promise on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment that includes universal access to anti-retroviral therapy. This campaign is supported by millions of people in South Africa and the organisations that represent them. Through international solidarity, it is also supported by hundreds of organisations globally. We urge you to make a choice that will reduce social conflict, give hope to our people and our continent, as well as cherish the ideals of freedom, equality, dignity and the right to life for all. Attached to the letter is a list of some of the local and international organizations that support today's march. Yours in the struggle for health and dignity. Thabo Cele (PLWA) Nomfundo Dubula (PLWA) Pholokgolo Ramothtwala (PLWA) Kwa-Zulu Natal Western Cape Gauteng Portia Ngcaba (PLWA) Thembane Shabangu (PLWA) Edward Mabunda (PLWA) Eastern Cape Mpumalanga North-West Zackie Achmat (PLWA) Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane Willie Madisha Treatment Action Campaign Church of the Province of South Africa COSATU President Gretchen Humpries Sharon Ekambaram Rev. Dr. Simphiwe Xaphile FEDUSA AIDS Consortium J.L. Zwane Presbyterian Vuyiseka Dubula Rabbi David Hoffman Moulana Farid Essack Médecins Sans Frontières Temple Israel, Cape Town Positive Muslims Mark Heywood Lu-ann Hatane Dr. Kgosi Letlape AIDS Law Project NACOSA (WC) SA Medical Association SOUTH AFRICAN ORGANISATIONS ACCESS - Alliance for Children's Entitlement to Social Security AIDS Consortium AIDS Law Project All Africa Women For Peace Anglican Church on Southern Africa ATTN SA Basic Income Grant Coalition CARE Children's Rights Centre Combined AIDS Ministry COSATU Durban Lesbian and Gay Community Centre FEDUSA Habonim Dror HOPSERSA Jubilee 2000 Kagiso Anglican YCW Methodist Church of Southern Africa Positive Muslims Positive Wits - HIV/AIDS Campaign RAPCAN SA Academy of Family Practice, SACTWU SA National NGO Coalition South African Medical Association SAMWU SOHACA Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference AIDS Office South African Council of Churches Temple Israel The Caring Network The Southern African HIV Clinicians Society Themba HIV/AIDS Project Triangle Project WC-NACOSA Western Province Council of Churches, Wits HIV/AIDS Education and Support Project Wits Perinatal HIV Research Unit Women on Farms Project and many others Youth Against AIDS Network INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS ACT UP/ Atlanta, Atlanta, GA ACT UP/ Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio ACT UP/ East Bay, Oakland, CA ACT UP/ Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA ACT UP/ New York, New York, NY ACT UP/ Paris, Paris, France ACT UP/ Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA AIDES, Pantin, France AIDS In Africa Committee, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL AIDS Interfaith Network, Inc., New Haven, CT AIDSETI (AIDS Empowerment and Treatment International), Washington, D.C. Africa Action, Washington, D.C. African Services Committee, New York, NY All Africa Women for Peace, Pretoria, South Africa Amahoro Association, Jersey City, NJ American Jewish World Service, New York, NY American Medical Student Association, Reston, Virginia Amnesty International, London, England Artists Against AIDS Worldwide, New York, NY Artists for a New South Africa, Los Angeles, CA Black AIDS Institute, Los Angeles, CA Boston Global Action Network, Boston, MA Canadian Treatment Action Council, Toronto, Canada Canadian AIDS Legal Network DanceSafe, Sacramento, CA European AIDS Treatment Group, Germany Exponents Inc., New York, NY Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research, Brooklyn, NY Gay Men's Health Crisis, New York, NY German Institute for Medical Mission, Germany Global AIDS Alliance, Washington, D.C. Global Alliance for Justice Education, AIDS Working Group, International Global Exchange, San Francisco, CA Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Greek Committee for International Democratic Solidarity, Athens, Greece Hatter Support Society for Gays and Lesbians in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary Health GAP, San Francisco, CA Health Rights Action Group, Kampala, Uganda Hepatitis C Outreach Project, Portland, OR International AIDS Empowerment, El Paso, Texas International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission,San Francisco, CA International Labor Rights Fund, Washington, D.C. INTERSECT-Worldwide, New York, NY James S. Coleman African Studies Center, University ofCalifornia Los Angeles Jubilee Northwest Coalition, Seattle, WA Maryknoll AIDS Task Force, Maryknoll, NY Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, Royal Oak, MI Middle East Children's Alliance, Berkeley, CA Mobilization Against AIDS International, San Francisco, CA NextAid, Los Angeles, CA Northeastern Law School Global AIDS Campaign, Boston, MA Northwest Coalition for AIDS Treatment in Africa, Seattle, WA Operation USA, Los Angeles, CA Physicians for Human Rights, Boston, MA Planet Poz, Albuquerque, NM Project Inform, San Francisco, CA Saint Michael's College Student Global AIDS Campaign, Colchester, VT Shanti, San Francisco, CA South Africa Development Fund, Boston, MA Student Global AIDS Campaign, Cambridge, MA Survive AIDS, San Francisco, CA Sydafrika Kontakt, Denmark TransAfrica Forum, Washington, D.C. Test Positive Aware Network, Chicago, IL Universities for Access to Essential Medicine, University of Minnesota Washington State Africa Network, Seattle, WA Yale AIDS Network, New Haven, CT Memorandum to President Bush and Members of US Congress on 14 February 2003: 14 February 2003 MEMORANDUM TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS Dear President Bush and Members of Congress INVEST IN HEALTH-CARE AND SIGN THE DOHA AGREEMENT UNCONDITIONALLY The HIV/AIDS epidemic throughout our world claims thousands of deaths daily. These deaths are premature, predictable, avoidable and the result of the HIV virus. We are marching today because the opening of South Africa's Parliament in 2003 should be an important day to signal to the nation and the world the increased determination to prevent and treat HIV infection. Our march is made by people representing millions of South Africans: We are people with HIV from all over South Africa, members of all the trade unions of our country, women's organisations, NGOs, medical organisations, representatives of all faiths, academics, students, the lesbian and gay community and many more. We urge our government to sign a national HIV prevention and treatment plan. We are also delivering this memorandum to your government for two reasons: 1.. We note your increased financial commitment to HIV prevention and treatment. This will be a critical adjunct to worldwide effort if the money really becomes available for this purpose. We note with concern, regret and anger that your government has failed in its commitments to the Global Fund Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This fund is the only hope that people globally have that no ideologically or economically motivated restrictions will be placed on HIV prevention and treatment programmes. Further, we urge your government in the strongest terms to reconsider its global priorities to invest in peace and development, as well as to strengthen multilateral institutions. Specifically, we demand that you contribute $2.5billion dollars to the Global Fund this year. 1.. The United States government remains as the only government world-wide that undermines any meaningful agreement on access to essential medicines for all public health issues and all countries at the World Trade Organisation. Your intransigence will destroy faith in multilateral trade negotiations as people in poor countries will only see unnecessary deaths as a consequence of negotiations that protect the profiteering of pharmaceutical companies. We urge you to allow all poor countries to import generic medicines for all illnesses including HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, cancer, diabetes and asthma. The Treatment Action Campaign and all our allies globally and locally insist that we will get a formal response from your government. Yours faithfully Zackie Achmat Sipho Mthathi Mark Heywood On behalf of the Treatment Action Campaign