Washington - The US house of representatives voted on Thursday to remove apartheid-era travel restrictions and terrorist designations from Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress (ANC) members for fighting against their country's white minority rule. "Despite recognising two decades ago that America's place was on the side of those oppressed by apartheid, Congress has never resolved the inconsistency in our immigration code that treats many of those who actively opposed apartheid in South Africa as terrorists and criminals," said Howard Berman, a Democrat and chairperson of the house foreign affairs committee.
The house approved by voice vote legislation to give the state department and homeland security wide latitude to disregard the ANC's anti-apartheid activities when determining whether to allow members and former members into the United States. The bill also adds the ANC to a list of groups that should not be considered terrorist organisations.
"Despite his legacy as a hero of the anti-apartheid movement, despite the fact that he is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient...despite his election as president, we still require Nelson Mandela to apply for a visa waiver to enter into the United States just for a visit. This is just plain wrong," said Barbara Lee, a democrat.
The ANC is the ruling party in the democratic, post-apartheid South Africa, but was considered a terrorist organisation by the apartheid white minority government.
"The ANC is not a terrorist organisation now," said Lamar Smith, a Republican.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked Congress last month to pass the legislation.
She called it "embarrassing" that she still has to waive travel restrictions when Mandela and other ANC leaders visit the United States.
Other ANC members have been refused entry into the United States. For example, Barbara Masekela, the former South African ambassador to the United States, was denied a visa to visit a dying cousin in the United States in 2007, lawmakers said.
A similar bill is moving through the Senate. - Sapa-AP
Poster's comment: notice the Republican BS I bold-typed above. Expect the three stooges in the Senate to fight over who loves Nelson Mandela more.