The African Forum in Norway writes to MAHA

"We very much appreciate your solidarity... in support of the stand our organisation has taken against the official stigmatisation of Africans in Norway.

"Norway is a rich country with a world-wide reputation for solidarity with oppressed peoples. This makes it extremely difficult to expect any reasonable degree of self-criticism [...] The world must no longer continue to allow Norwegian society to treat us, from the so-called Third World, as second-class human beings.

"Prejudice is quite natural. We are all free to like and dislike, but it is not natural to accept the bad consequences this has for others, and is totally unacceptable when this is the result of power misuse by state institutions.

"It is not within the scope of Norwegian law to deport people because they are affected by HIV/AIDS, but... this has been taking place, and [we] expect the facts will come out subsequently...

"The needs of Africans affected by HIV/AIDS have been highlighted in the stand we have taken. The Norwegian authorities now seem to be willing to offer more money... However, we expect and already see that such funds are to be readily given... in a way that would tend to ignore our demands and to divide the African community..."

Sincerely,

Dr. med O.W. Bright-Taylor
and Margaret Matenge