Showing posts with label Parole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parole. Show all posts

Friday, May 8, 2015

Spooks, Spies, Paranoia and Eugene de Kock !!

The secrecy around the parole of Eugene de Kock and the subsequent events, which remain shaded and in the shadows, has got me thinking that we are in a state of communistic paranoia.  
Inside a story, is another story, and inside that one, is another.  There are circles within circles within ever diminishing circles until only one thing remains, Eugene de Kock.  From the point of Eugene, the events and the circles move outward like the ripples that continuously make rings when you throw a stone into the middle of a large, but still pond. 
I think I have read every non-fiction book and journal ever written on Communism; from the birth of Karl Marx to the life and times of Mao.  My greed for knowledge of communism has stemmed from the part I played in the political history of our country, South Africa.
It is against the background of this knowledge that I have begun to unravel and understand the reasons behind the secrecy and lies, the spies and the double agents and the shadowy world in which people within a secret State Security Agency live. 
What a person is told is very rarely the truth in a communist state where paranoia rules.  Paranoia is only found in sane people who are able to lie and keep secrets, and in people who can divide their personality and essential self into separate compartments and play different roles convincingly.  Secrets, lies and fear lie behind the hide-and-seek game being played out with Eugene de Kock.  And it is not fair and it is not just.
From being the highest decorated police officer ever in South Africa, he became the scapegoat; the common criminal and prisoner of a society that had changed its mind.   The terrorist in prison for treason became the President; the man who put his life at risk for his country became the criminal.  What a terrible price to pay for a few men who changed their minds, and then a media who jumped on the band wagon to demonise a hero?  A hero decorated for bravery thrown into prison and a terrorist applauded and praised!
Yes, I understand now.  Eugene de Kock knows too much about too many important people and the mere mention or rumour spread about previous spies, askaris and double agents is enough to keep him away from society so that his silence can be enforced.  Political careers are made and demolished by mere suggestions or rumours that someone was a collaborator with the Apartheid state.   Is Eugene being ‘protected’ or ‘kept in custody’ by the SSA?   Of course, the normal unthinking person will say “Oh! That is good that they are protecting him.  Why are you worried?”   Another completely ignorant person will say, “Oh! But I thought he was on parole?”  And yet another will say to me, “Why don’t you just let it go now?  Give the man some peace!”  And the most stupid of them all are those who spread lies about me because I have become a threat to the egos of others. 
The question that arises is this: 
Is he being protected or is he still being held in custody by the State Security Agency (SSA) instead of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS)?
Did the Department of Justice and Correctional Services make a blunder when they denied his parole on the basis of not having consulted with the victims?   After that denial for that particular reason, the request for parole could not later be denied after fulfilling the required reason when he was denied parole.  In other words, once the Department of Justice and Correctional Services said, “You can’t get parole because you have not consulted with the victims”, when he applied again, there was no longer a reason to with-hold parole.
If the Department of Justice and Correctional Services made a blunder, the next best thing for the government to do would be to hand him over to another state agency to keep him away from society and to keep him silenced.  This is actually what seems to have happened to Eugene.  He was taken from his cell (without any of his belongings), three days before the Minister of Justice announced his parole to the media, by members of the South African Police Service.  From there he was handed over to the State Security Agency.  Thus, Correctional Services said they did not have him, the South African Police Service said they did not have him and the Minister of Justice continued to state that he was on parole.
Let us not forget that Eugene de Kock pleaded guilty and was sentenced as an ordinary criminal and not as a political prisoner.  That being a fact, he should have been given the exact same rights of any parolee or common criminal, given the same sentence.  It is another fact that this was not done and that his parole has become entwined in a political situation where the agenda is to keep him away from normal society.  Since we now know that he is being held by the SSA, and he is being guarded by many vehicles and agents, and that even a single visit to his family entailed an enormous cloak and dagger state of affairs, should anything untoward happen to him, our fingers will be pointing exactly to those in whose custody he is.  Vlakplaas was just such an entity.  The weaving and ducking being done by the SSA is no different to the ducking and diving that was being done by the previous government’s secret agencies.  
Imagine the enormous amount of money it is taking for this country to keep one man away from society?  To do this, there has got to be an unending supply of money for one or other slush funds...slush funds similar to those funds that kept the previous governments various law and order agencies floating.  How else were askaris and spies paid?  How else where passports, documents and various things forged? How else were borders crossed and air tickets paid for?  It took money, money that was allocated to a particular slush fund for a particular purpose.  And that is what is happening now – Eugene has become an operation or a project.  There needs to be authorisation from somewhere for such an operation or project to come into existence, so who authorised the “Operation Eugene de Kock” or the “Project Eugene de Kock”.   Of course, the operation or project may have any name, such as “Project Honeybadger” or “Operation HKGK”.
The Communists are adept hands at this cloak and dagger stuff – the problem here though is that there are a lot of us who know that one and one does not make two.  Communism is enshrouded in back-stabbing, intelligence and counter-intelligence, false flags and secrets within secrets.   The politics of communism call into effect a society of whisperers, because no one knows who can be trusted and mothers are sold for less than twenty pieces of silver.   The only way to stay at the top is to use fear to silence people.   People are afraid to say anything about anything that is unpopular with the government or the ANC.  And people are afraid to get involved or to speak of Eugene de Kock; even afraid to sign a petition asking that he be given the parole he was given on the 30 January 2015.
Being held by the SSA, whether for protection or for incarceration, allows Eugene a lot more quality of care than when he was in prison.  He can put his own light on and off, he can eat when he wants, he can watch the sunrise and the sunset should he want, he can sleep when he wants, but he has extremely limited (worse than prison) contact with the outside world, including this family.

Years ago, I made an oath that I would do everything in my power to see Eugene de Kock freed, and having been extremely happy with the decision to grant him parole, I find the current situation totally unacceptable. If this is how I feel, someone who has never even met the man, I cannot even begin to try and get my head around how his loved ones must feel.   The more I learn and the more pieces of the puzzle I put together via my different sources, the more despair I feel.  Why are those in power so afraid of what Eugene de Kock knows?    He is not a threat to society, he is not hero worshipped and he has no political aspirations.  He is just an officer and a gentleman.   Put down your paranoia please Mr Minister of Justice and Mr President.  We really don’t care about what you did during the previous government.  In fact, we don’t care about the past at all.  We want to live today to make it better for tomorrow.   NOW … FREE EUGENE DE KOCK !!

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Eugene de Kock's parole - and the FB fallout!



 The fall out from the parole of Eugene de Kock has astounded me.  While thousands of people have rejoiced, there are those who have resorted to vile and hateful speech and threats.  As most of you know, I have championed the cause to see Eugene de Kock freed via social media only because it is the only thing that I can physically do.    I am overjoyed by his release.  However, the fight is far from over.  Parole is half free.  As Mandela himself said, there is no such thing as half-free.  You are either free or you are not.  And that is why he was given an unconditional release.   Since we do not yet know of the conditions of the parole, we must carry the torch to get a Presidential Pardon for Eugene.   Hopefully, he has been unconditionally released, in which case, our job is truly done.  If not, we will continue to lobby for a pardon for him.  

While I am happy to answer inbox messages to the hundreds of people who inbox me about important things, I will NOT respond to inbox messages that contain nasty, untrue bullshit.  Why don't you call the President with your problems?  Don't make me the scapegoat for all your hateful racism or attempt to make me apologise for being white.  

These white people that walk around being ashamed of being white, hanging their heads in shame about things that they had no power over, things that were done by their grandparents (well those in government), or asking forgiveness for their ancestors coming to this land, apologising profusely for apartheid as though they brought it into being (for those who do not know - apartheid was just an adaptation of the British colour bar laws) and who believe that they are inferior and that they must beg to live in the country of their birth ... go read Steve Biko's philosophy and put yourself into those shoes.  You will see that you are doing no one any favours by your pathetic, apologetic stance.  There is no greater weapon in an oppressors hand than the mind of an oppressed people.  You white apologetists (don't even know if that is a word) are oppressed in your own minds.  It is time that you caught a wake up, and started walking with your head held high.   Start taking responsibility for shaping and making our country work for all of us.   No one is going to respect you while you hang your head in shame. 

You are not white, you are not black, YOU ARE A SOUTH AFRICAN.   Behave like one please.   We are one family.  We are one another's keeper.  

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The wings of a prayer for Eugene de Kock

Eugene de Kock 
Three nights and three days to go until the final decision regarding Eugene's parole!  

It has been a long struggle, with excitement interspersed with great disappointment, with emotions raging within our souls from anger to compassion, from impatience to feelings of hopelessness, but always we have stood up one more time than we fell down.  
This has been the longest and most emotionally challenging cause I have taken on in my life.  I started out on this journey alone, because I could not find a single person who would run with such an unpopular subject.  

I now find myself amongst the most compassionate group of people on earth.   I find myself witnessing a miracle, being in a group that has not been equalled in terms of being apolitical and non-racist - a group that is so diverse and yet stands together with a single voice and one single goal; to free Eugene de Kock.  If it were not for Eugene, I would not have experienced being part of this miracle.  

My wish for Eugene is that he experiences freedom in all its forms, and that he has enough of everything he needs when he comes out.  May his life be filled with enough love, laughter, food, shelter, human companionship, sunshine, nature and, may he learn to trust again.   I would like to take this opportunity to thank Eugene for his life, for the sacrifices he made to ensure our safety during those years.  I want to thank him for his integrity, for telling the truth and for showing us the characteristics of a real warrior and a true gentleman.   And finally, I want to thank him for his life ... it is his life that gave me my passion back when I got sick.  It is his life that gave my life purpose.  It is his life that has made me fight as hard as I have for mine.  

The final answer to Eugene’s freedom will be given by the Minister of Justice at 09h30 on Friday 20th January 2015.  While we all live with cautious optimism that his answer will be the right one, there is still many a slip between the cup and the lip
If the answer is NO, I will continue to fight.  But if the answer is YES, then my job is done.  A good leader knows when to step down.  I hope that I have been a good leader.  It will be time for someone else to pick up the baton and run with it for a Presidential Pardon.  I will continue to do what I can to make the pardon a reality, but some new blood, someone with more energy, someone who is not restricted by illness and who can travel and do what is needed, needs to take the lead.

Eugene, may your life continue to inspire.  As one of the many supporters of your freedom, Sydney Mhlongo told me, “A free de Kock may become the greatest ambassador of peace across the world, teaching people about hatred and how dangerous it is. This is the man who went through it all. Jail will never give him an opportunity to change a world suffering from racism.  Free him to teach us to free ourselves from racism”.  


May your life be forever blessed, Eugene.  My gratitude and love always, Dianne 

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Open letter to President Zuma to pardon Eugene de Kock

Sunday, 25 January 2015
For Attention:  President Jacob Zuma
The Presidency
Pretoria
Email:  presidentRSA@po.gov.za

Your Excellency

REQUEST FOR PRESIDENTIAL PAROLE FOR EUGENE DE KOCK

We beg for a Presidential Pardon for Eugene de Kock, solely on humanitarian grounds. We are not excusing his actions, nor do we use it as motivation for a pardon. De Kock pleaded guilty on all the charges against him. He showed remorse and begged the affected families for their forgiveness, which he received from all but one. He accepted his punishment like a man of integrity and is not a danger to anyone in society.  We believe that a pardon will not only allow de Kock to live  his old age as a free man, but will also be able to contribute positively to the healing process of all South Africans which is absolutely necessary  for the prosperity of all who call SA home.  We further believe that such a pardon from the President will cement his prestige as world statesman.    This would be an act of humanity, from the heart of a great man and warrior.
While due process is taking place regarding Eugene de Kock’s parole, you are the only person who can set him truly free with a Presidential Pardon.   As Mandela himself said, there is no such thing as half-free.  You are either free or you are not.  Parole with conditions is half-free.
For the love of justice, compassion, forgiveness and for reconciliation of our land, I beg you to consider a Presidential Pardon for him.
Yours truly,

Dianne Lang 

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Open Letter to Eugene de Kock

Dear Eugene

I don’t know for sure how long it has been that I have been yelling for you from your corner.  I have not even met you, but I have done an enormous amount of research and reading about the events and circumstances that put you in prison.   I have also heard many good stories about you from people who have met you, who have worked with you, and who know you.  There are also many comments that have been written by members of our group which show me the kind of man you are.  You certainly are a dignified man who has integrity and I envy those who have had the honour of meeting you in person.  
There are also a lot of stories that I have been told in private about the conditions and the situations that surrounded the events that led up to your imprisonment.  These stories will remain a secret in my heart until the day I die.   It is from all of these sources that I have got to know the kind of person you are.  It is from these sources that I keep motivated and determined to see that you get, not only a parole, but a Presidential Pardon.  A Presidential Pardon is the only fitting thing that should happen for you.
Eugene, do you know that you have given me many, many hours of reflection and many times, the sole reason why I force myself out of bed to get to my computer is you.  You have often given me the reason to keep fighting my own battle.  I want to see you free, even if it is only on television.  You see, Eugene,  my bucket list is not very long anymore, as I have done them all, but your name is still there and under your name is the attendance at the MFP (Moerse fokken party) when you get out of that prison.
I often feel discouraged, disappointed and impatient that your release is being hampered by red tape and reasons that seem to be political.  And when I feel like that, I can only imagine how you must feel…a thousand times worse.  That is when I pull myself together and begin to fight again and that fight gives me life and another reason to live.
I write this letter to you so that you know how much I care.  There are also hundreds of other people, of all skin colours, all creeds and all cultures that also want to see you released, so we can finally put the lid on the old South Africa.  It is my opinion that the only right thing that our government and our President can do, is to release you.
I also am in a kind of prison – I am trapped in the prison of a sick body and that stops me from having the freedom of choice to do what I want.  However, my spirit and my mind are not in prison and therefore I also soar free in my soul, heart, mind and spirit.   All I can offer you in way of comfort; is that no one, not one person, can take away the freedom of your mind and your spirit.
Be comforted by the fact that you are not forgotten.  You never will be, as long as there are the few stalwarts on our group who will champion your cause until their dying breath.   You are also in our prayers constantly.
May God surround you in His love.  May He give your heart contentment, your mind hope and your spirit freedom.

Have courage, my friend.  With love, Dianne 

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Should Eugene de Kock be pardoned? I say YES !!!!!



Should the apartheid regime’s “Prime Evil” be released?

Ten years ago psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela wrote a book about the encounters she had with Eugene de Kock, head of apartheid South Africa’s death squad, when in Pretoria prison. She thinks he should be pardoned. 

New face of justice: along with many black South Africans, Pumla Godobo-Madikizela thinks Eugene de Kock should be freed. Photo: Bloomberg
New face of justice: along with many black South Africans, Pumla Godobo-Madikizela thinks Eugene de Kock should be freed. Photo: Bloomberg
Two South African men. Both white. Each played a significant role in upholding apartheid. Each intimately involved in killing other human beings in support of white supremacy. One I knew. One I didn’t.
Craig Williamson was a high-ranking officer of the much-feared Bureau of State Security (“Boss”). In 1977, in the guise of an anti-apartheid activist, he led me across the border from South Africa to Botswana when I escaped from house arrest. He then became one of the most successful double agents in history and badly undermined the assassinated Swedish prime minister Olof Palme’s efforts to assist anti-apartheid activity.
In 1980, after Williamson had been unmasked as an apartheid spy, he returned home a hero and went on to even higher office in South Africa as a member of the State President’s Council. He was also the hands-on architect of the killing by parcel bomb of two people I knew. Two heroes of the apartheid struggle. Both white. Both women.
One, a best friend, Jeanette Schoon (and her six-year-old daughter), splattered against the walls of their home in exile in Angola. The other, Ruth First, blown up in Mozambique. There were many others whose blood is on his hands who I didn’t know.
Williamson went before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 2000 and confessed to his role in these killings but little else, claiming that they were “legitimate acts of war”. He offered no remorse. He offered no information that could ease the pain of those whose loved ones he’d killed. He received a full amnesty and resumed a normal life in South Africa as a security consultant. In his case, the TRC achieved neither truth nor justice for the victims and their families.
The other man is Eugene de Kock, alias “Prime Evil”, who was the head of the apartheid regime’s death squad, which tortured and killed opponents with impunity. In 1996 he was sentenced to 212 years in jail for crimes against humanity. He went before the TRC, said he was truly sorry and offered comprehensive information on his victims to the families, how they died and where they were buried. He was granted amnesty for some crimes but his prison sentence stood. He was set to rot in prison for ever.
The two men are connected. In 1996 de Kock testified that Williamson had been involved in the assassination of Olof Palme. In his testimony, de Kock said that the murder, by a lone gunman who shot Palme in the back of the head, had been the work of Operation Long Reach – a secret apartheid-era programme, set up to harass, silence and gather information about opponents of the South African government abroad.
Ten years ago Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a psychologist, wrote a book about the encounters she had with de Kock when, at the personal invitation of Nelson Mandela, she served on the TRC. Their meetings happened in the maximum-security section of Pretoria Central Prison. She is elegant, highly intelligent and black. He a baby-faced white killer. He in orange prison overalls, feet chained. She seated in a chair with wheels so she could scoot out of danger should the need arise. Her subject is the nature and origins of evil, the power forgiveness bestows on the victims and their relatives and the conditions for perpetrators’ readmission to the human community. It serves no former repressive society well to ring-fence evil in a few individuals and absolve the rest. The capacity for evil and good resides in us all.
Gobodo-Madikizela firmly believes that de Kock should be pardoned and allowed back into society. He accepts full responsibility for what he did and has asked forgiveness from his victims’ families. De Kock is the only apartheid police official still imprisoned and his latest application for parole is pending. None of his colleagues or superiors was imprisoned.
I read Gobodo-Madikizela’s book, A Human Being Died That Night, and optioned the rights to produce a play. Shortly afterwards, her 40 hours of taped interviews with de Kock were stolen from her assistant on a Cape Town train while en route to make copies for me. The professor was understandably distraught. I arranged for a reward for their return to be offered through radio announcements and posters at railway stations.
If the tapes had been taken by South African intelligence agents or ex-agents we stood no chance of getting them back. But the reward would be attractive to a petty criminal. Three months later Professor Madikizela received a telephone call. A priest in a black township said a local gangster had some audiotapes. Victory? Kind of. He had only four tapes out of 40.
I commissioned the South African-born Nicholas Wright to write a play based on her book and the remaining tapes. When the production opened at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town in February (it’s now running in London at the Hampstead Theatre Downstairs until 21 June) the reaction was profound. Most black people who saw it felt de Kock should be released: Archbishop Tutu voiced the same opinion. White viewers were less certain.
The play deals with horrific officially sanctioned apartheid-era murders and the physical and emotional pain of victims and survivors, but it is bathed in the overwhelming humanity and intelligence of the black character, Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela.
Eric Abraham was a foreign correspondent in South Africa in the mid-1970s
Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela’s “A Human Being Died That Night” is published by Portobello Books (£3.99)
ARTICLE IN THE NEW STATESMAN