By Kristian Whittaker
CANBERRA — Long-time anti-apartheid activist Kerry Browning, after two-and-a-half years of court hearings, will go to trial on May 27.
Browning was originally arrested on charges of firebombing cars belonging to the South African and US embassies in early 1988. The chief magistrate of the ACT dismissed the major charges against her a year ago, but the prosecution is pursuing four accusations that she was "knowingly concerned" and one charge related to a threatening letter received by the US ambassador.
Events surrounding the case, including foreign spies, ASIO spooks, massive police surveillance and raids, international diplomatic outcries and an ongoing "house arrest" scenario, would make the twists and turns involved in a David Lynch film of a John Le Carre script seem bland by comparison.
The Coalition Against Apartheid, an anti-racist grouping campaigning on this and related issues, can be contacted through PO Box A691, Sydney South NSW 2000. In Canberra, a public meeting on Kerry Browning's case and its implications will be held on Wednesday, May 8 at 7.30 p.m. at Olim's Hotel, Ainslie.
The next issue of Green Left will present the background to this political trial and an interview with Kerry Browning.