/~, American Committee On Africa l\)) 198 Broadway, New York, N,Y, 10038[(212) 962-1210 [Cable AMCOMMAF \ ~ Winter 1985-1986

\ AID TO UNITA IS AID TO

We are on the brink' of direct U.S. mil itary intervention in southern Africa. This past summer President Reagan was forced by Congressional pressure to impose very limited sanctions on apartheid South Africa. Before the ink was dry the Administration was back on its old policy track supporting South Africa in its war against . The Reagan Administration has expressed its support for millions in covert military aid to the anti-government rebels in Angola known as UNITA. This covert aid approach is sinister for there is no formal way for Congress to veto the covert program which is subject only to 1I0vers;ghtll by Congressional Inte11jgence committees. Only our immediate pressure forcing major public Congressional opposition can halt this dangerous move. We must act now to make such aid politically unfeasab1e. BACKGROUND Since the collapse of Portuguese colonialism and the establishment of an independent government in Angola in 1975, South Africa has been using UNITA in its war to undermine Angolan independence. The Angolan government has been a strong supporter of independence for and freedom for South Africa. As such it is a threat to South Africa's continued illegal occupation of Namibia. South Africa's army first invaded Angola at the time of independence. It was only driven back from the capital by the combined efforts of the Angolan army and Cuban troups, who came to Angola after South Africa's invasion was well under way. In addition to its own repeated invasions the South Africans have found a useful ~urrogate in UNITA, headed by . UNITA has been armed, trained and supplied by the South African Defence Force. Only the direct intervention of South African troops prevented Savimbi from losing his base in southeast Angola in September. The Reagan Administration is fully aware that overt legislation would not pass Congress which is why it is pushing for the covert aid program to UNITA. Where would the aid go? Savimbi has no bank in the bush. The answer is South Africa. Such funds would join the millions of rands the Pretoria regime is spending to supply UNITA. Military aid would be a direct violation of the arms embargo that even the Reagan Administration claims to support. Aid to UNITA is aid to South Africa. ***WHAT YOU CAN DO: l)Call the White House citizen IIhot1ine"immediate1y and express opposition to any aid to UNITA: #202-456-7639 2)Immediate1y call and telegram your Congressional Rep to publicly oppose such aid and to back Congressman Weiss ' bill HR 3690 barring covert aid to UNITA a Address: Congress switchboard #202-224-3121. US House of Reps 'DC 20515

(*key) Friday March 21, 1986: PROTEST DAY AGAINST U.S. POLICY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA FOCUS: u.S. FUNDING FOR UNITA IN ANGOLA

-On March 21, 1960 the South African police killed 69 unarmed demonstrators protesting against the pass laws in Sharpeville. - The worldwide outcry against apartheid following that massacre, led to a large outflow of foreign capital that threatened to undermine white minority rule until U.S. banks stepped in with millions in loans. -26 years later, the Reagan Administration is helping to sustain apartheid in South Africa and Namibia through its policy of "constructive engagement" with the white minority regime. -While escalating protest in South Africa and the has made it more difficult to openly embrace the Botha regime, the Reagan Administration is in fact moving to cement military ties with apartheid. - This strengthening of the U.S.-South African military alliance is going forward under the guise of "combatting com­ munism" in southern Africa-specifically in Angola. The Reagan Administration is planning to provide millions in covert aid to UNITA-South Africa's "contra" surrogates in Angola headed by Jonas Savimbi.

Since 1975 South Africa has waged a war of destabilization against Angola through direct invasions and by providing military and financial support for UNITA. With South African backing, UNITA has helped destroy billions worth of Angolan infrastructure, and waged a war of terror against the Angolan population. This ongoing war ensures Pretoria's continued control over Namibia and delays economic reconstruction in resource-rich Angola, thus frustrating efforts of the to alter economic relations in the region. UNITA's activities also en­ courage perception of the war as a civil war, obscuring its fundamental nature as a South African war of aggression. As it struggles to suppress growing domestic unrest, South Africa's minority regime is having great difficulty financing its war of destabilization against Angola. By funding UNITA in Angola, the Reagan Administration will enable South Africa to put more resources into maintaining its illegal occupation of Namibia and apartheid in South Africa. All funding and ma­ terial would pass through the South African military. AID TO UNITA IS AID TO SOUTH AFRICA.

The time has arrived for coordinated action against this dangerous-and underreported-U.S. escalation in southern Africa. -March 21, as the kick-off day for the National Weeks of Anti-Apartheid Action and the Sharpeville Anniversary, is a strategic time for action on this critical issue. While covert aid cannot be formally vetoed by Congress, strong public pres­ sure can make such aid politically untenable. BELOW ARE ORGANIZING SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY AND STUDENT GROUPS: 1) Morning Press Conference: would announce a) Opposition to Reagan's policy of constructive engagement and the March 21 demonstration focusing on aid to UNITA b) General plans for March 21-April 6 National Weeks of Action. 2) Noon time or late afternoon march to a U.S. government building to protest U.S. backing for UNITA. -Federal buildings in major cities are good sites, while pickets outside post offices are fitting in smaller towns. Mock funeral march could conclude by leaving black coffins at government building. -In addition to rallies some groups are considering also engaging in civil disobedience actions. -At some places protests will jointly target aid to UNITA and aid to the Nicaraguan . 3) In addition to a public rally pressure your Congressional representative and senators to oppose any aid to UNITA. a) Immediately write and call your Congressional representative and senators: Call: #202-224-3121 (general congressional switchboard) Write: U.S. House of Representatives Wash DC 20515 and U.S. Senate, Wash DC 20510 4) On March 21 and throughout the Weeks of Action set-up a phone bank to call the White House citizen "hotline" expressing opposition to any aid to UNITA: 202-456-7639. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: American Committee on Africa - 198 Broadway, NYC 10038 - 212·962·1210 SEE BACK. ..