Vol. 2, No. 7 The Black American Lobby for Africa and the Caribbean

ABOMINATION IN GRENADA It was only in our last issue that we tion as a rigid process to be carried out extolled the promise which was in preconceived stages, they grew in­ Grenada. Prime Minister Maurice tolerant of any developments which they Bishop had visited Washington and ad­ felt interrupted the progress of those dressed the TransAfrica annual fund­ stages. Thus, Bishop himself became an raising dinner. He had spoken en­ obstacle to progress in their eyes and as thusiastically about the progress of the such, he had to be removed. Conse­ Grenadian revolution. He waxed eager quently, the renegades were shocked at about the future as he invited all those the Cuban reaction to what they had in attendance at the dinner to visit done. They lamented that the Cubans Grenada as soon as the new airport was showed more concern about Bishop completed and opened in March, 1984. than about the Grenadian revolution. Now, in less than five months, he is They were blind to the fact that Fidel dead. Castro and the Cuban people held He was killed after spending nearly a Maurice Bishop in genuine esteem as a week under house arrest. The People's Maurice Bishop 1944-1983 person. Revolutionary Army (PRA) had taken wife, Phyllis, also a member of the Cen­ We at TransAfrica were critical our­ over the government in a coup d'etat on tral Committee, along with Selwyn selves of Maurice Bishop at times. When October 12, and then confined Bishop Strachan, Hudson Austin and other key he visited us he was questioned by to his residence. So popular was the figures. According to some reports, members of the Board of Directors Prime Minister that more than 4,000 Bishop had agreed to power sharing ar­ about political detentions and the ad­ Grenadians stormed Butler Mansion rangements at one time, only to renege ministration of justice in Grenada. He where he was imprisoned to free him. on them later. His retraction was quite knew our concerns about enhancing the They lit~rally carried him on their disturbing for Coard, who stood to gain democratic process in his country. He shoulders to Fort Rupert in the hope tremendously, as well as for those who obviously had to balance those views that he could be reestablished in power. supported him. This faction moved to against those of his opponents at home. That was not to be. He was taken from isolate the Prime Minister within the Some have said that it was Bishop's visit the crowd at gun point. Soldiers fired in­ party and eventually placed him under to the United States that led to his death to the people's midst, causing several house arrest. upon his return home. If this is so, it deaths just in order to break him loose Nothing which comes to light subse­ makes a sad comment on the myopia from them. Then they led him away to quently can change the fact that this was and narrow-mindedness of those who a barracks with his hands folded on top an egregious act carried out by a killed him. It is hard to believe that they of his head. There they executed him in treacherous clique within the New Jewel would label themselves progressive. cold blood. Several members of his Movement. They took it upon them­ The actual extent of the tragedy in Cabinet died along with Bishop, in­ selves to murder the Prime Minister and Grenada did not become known until a cluding: Unison Whiteman, Minister of his colleagues. These people themselves week after the murders occurred. It was Foreign Affairs; Jacqueline Creft, had participated in the 1979 revolution then that the U.S. invaded the island. Minister of Education and Norris Bain, with Bishop and some, including Liam On October 25, American forces de­ Minister of Housing. James, had come to the U.S. as advance scended on the island by land, sea and In Grenada itself, the most serious people for his visit last summer. Their air. They gained control of the two air­ grievances against Bishop sprang from treachery was brewing even then and it ports, moved on the Medical School and his unwillingness to share power with crystallized after the Prime Minister the residence of the Governor-General. other members of the Central Commit­ returned home. They then engaged in house-to-house tee of the ruling 1Jarty. Personal dif­ It is most difficult to understand the fighting in order to subdue the national ferences had come to dominate party af­ coldness of the coup-makers in Gren­ army and round up the leaders of the fairs while the disagreements between ada. Their moves can perhaps be laid to ruling military council. It all took place Bishop and Bernard Coard, the Deputy the excesses inherent in unbridled very suddenly in what the military terms Prime Minister grew increasingly ex­ political ambitions. To the extent that a surgical strike. The entire press corps plosive. Coard was supported by his they conceived of the Grenadian revolu- Continued on page 6 CULTURAL BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY

~bi... Arlists and Athletes Against Aparlheld ~~ TransAfrica has been receiving considerable international attention as a result of the recently launched cultural boycott known as Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid. The magnetic appeal of this campaign is illustrated by the fact that more than eighty leading celebrities have committed themselves to be members of the Executive Committee, with thirty national and inter­ national organizations serving as co-sponsors of the effort. Co-chaired by Harry Belafonte and Arthur Ashe, Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid is clearly destined for tremendous success. Hazel Ross, who is TransAfrica 's Legislative Assistant for Economic and Caribbean Affairs, has been work­ ing incessantly in promotion of the boycott. Here she shares with TransAfrica Arthur Ashe News readers some of her own perspectives on this dynamic drive. Harry Belafonte

As long ago as 1958, the African Na­ Although the idea for a cultural boy­ lands. Afrikaner nationalists and their tional Congress attempted to impress cott of South Africa is not new even in collaborators insist on deceitfully pro­ upon the international community the this country, the recently initiated Art­ moting Bophuthatswana abroad as an importance of enforcing the complete ists and Athletes Against Apartheid "independent nation," or an "ancient cultural isolation of South Africa. How­ (AAAA) adds an important and effec­ African kingdom," and no doubt wel­ ever, it took the massacre of hundreds tive dimension to U.S. based efforts. come the frequent confusion between of black South African school children What makes AAAA unique is the fact Bophuthatswana (the South African in the township of Soweto in 1976 to that it represents the first nation-wide homeland) and Botswana, a truly inde­ rivet worldwide attention on the brutal­ mobilization spearheaded by the cele­ pendent African nation which is not ity of apartheid. The Soweto riots brities themselves. Their underlying now and never has been a part of South stimulated international support for the strategy reveals a reliance on profes­ Africa. cultural boycott as an important addi­ sional camaraderie and mutual contacts South Africa's homelands policy has tional means of combatting socio-politi­ to halt the travel of their colleagues to implications far beyond the mere physi­ cal aberrations inside South Africa. South Africa. · cal separation of the races and too few Prior to the Soweto killings, and as Since its origin at a United Nations Americans are aware of the political sig­ early as 1968, the United Nations press conference on September 14, 1983, nificance of these "homelands." Many General Assembly, in its Resolution AAAA has grown to boast an Executive are unaware that the South African gov­ 2396, requested all states and organiza­ Committee comprised of well over ernment has officially allocated 13 per tions to suspend educational, sporting eighty leading figures from the sports cent of the country's land mass for hab­ and other exchanges with the South and entertainment industries. A random itation by the black majority who actu­ • African government and its affiliated selection of participants yields such ally comprise 87 per cent of the national agencies. 'Iri 1972, the General Assembly names as: Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Wil­ population. Neither do they understand recommended the organization of an ac­ ma Rudolph, Tony Bennett, Brock that the land that has been reserved for tual boycott, and in 1980 it made a ". . . Peters, Wilt Chamberlain, Ossie Davis, the black inhabitants, i.e., these home­ direct appeal to writers, artists, musi­ Jane Fonda, Denise Nicholas-Hill, Ruby lands, are the most barren and worthless cians and other personalities to boycott Dee, Sidney Poitier, Tony Randall, Di­ patches of land in South Africa. In addi­ South Africa." The United Nations de­ onne Warwick, Paul Newman, The tion to this, the 13 per cent of land so clared 1982 to be the International Year Commodores and Ben Vereen. reserved does not comprise one self-con­ of Mobilization for Sanctions Against Educating and raising the level of con­ tained land mass, but instead exists as South Africa and this is a theme with sciousness of athletes and performers is numerous disaggregated parcels of land which Artists and Athletes Against a major objective of the Executive Com­ which hold little promise for agricultural Apartheid is firmly aligned. mittee since South Africa and apartheid or other economic development. For many years, community groups are unfortunately such vague political Through the establishment of these and .political activists throughout this realities to many entertainers and sports homelands and the bestowal upon them country have expressed their solidarity figures. This lack of awareness has been of an artificial independence (which no with black South Africans by picketting skillfully exploited by the South African other nation in the world recognizes, the performances of, refusing to pur­ government and its proponents. Recog­ and which the United Nations vehe­ chase any recordings by, or to support nizing that many celebrities eschew per­ mently rejects) the South African gov­ in any way those entertainers who insist formances in South Africa due to the ernment plans to strip black South Afri­ on ignoring the boycott. These activists negative publicity which this often gen­ cans of their national citizenship. If this have been a vital and effective source of erates, South Africa and its supporters odious plan were to succeed it would pressure and there is every indication have devised an ingenious smokescreen permanently deny all social and political that their efforts will not only continue, called Sun City, Bophuthatswana. This rights to black South Africans, who but will also be expanded into a com­ elaborate entertainment and sports com­ would no longer be citizens of South Af­ prehensive national program during the plex is located in the heart of South rica, but instead of "other countries." coming months. Africa, on one of its so-called home- Continued on page 6 2 TRANSAFRICA NEWS • VOL. 2 NO . 7 RASTAFARIANISM: TOWARD A MORE REALISTIC VIEW In two separate articles written over Rastafarianism is an important relig­ say "You and I," for example, but in­ the course of this summer, a renowned ious subculture which surfaced in Ja­ stead, "I and I." He refers to his American reporter launched a nefarious maica during the l 930's. It derived its vegetarian cuisine as "Ital" food. attack against the Rastafarian commu­ origin from the accession of Haile Se­ Yet Rastafarianism exists simultane­ nity. Referring to a secret document cir­ lassie to the throne of the Ethiopian Em­ ously as a culture of resistance. The Ras­ culated within the New York City Police pire in November, 1930. It gained an tas have historically been defiant of col­ Department, the famous investigative even greater thrust during the l 950's onialism and also condemn the mater­ journalist described how dangerous and from the back-to-Africa movement of ialistic principles upon which modern criminally inclined he felt these people Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Rastafarianism society is based. Rastas refer to the are. Beware of them, he warned, and if laid heavy stress on blackness and the establishment as Babylon, and see so­ you should ever happen to see one of perpetual salience of Mother Africa in ciety itself as the source of evil in the them grimacing or screwing up his face, the lives and psyches of the Jamaican world today. Their music, known as reg­ get back, because he is certainly about people. There is in Rastafarianism a gae, is characterized heavily by themes to attack. These people are incorrigible profound emphasis on the bible and true of protest. The songs of Bob Marley, the criminals, he said, and you can bet that Rastafarians will quote chapters and most famous reggae musician, are pep­ if you ever encounter a group of them, verses from it at will. This phenomenon pered with protests of politics, politi­ there are bound to be lethal weapons exists because of the identification of cians, war and the games nations play. nearby. themselves as the real Israelites or the Many Rastafarian so.ngs can be traced The reporter made the disclaimer that chosen people who are referred to in the directly to the bible. "By the Rivers of he was not talking about all Rastafar­ Old Testament. They regard Haile Selas­ Babylon," for example; has been trans­ ians, but only a select group which he sie as a divine personage, a descendant lated into several different- languages referred to as Junglelites. However, this of the union of King Solomon and the and sung in various parts of the world. could not erase the damage which he Queen of Sheba. He is to them a Mes­ An American woman once sang it and was doing since he fed right into the pre­ siah or Christ sent to redeem black peo­ it became #1 in Israel. conceived stereotypes which many peo­ ple from the darkness in which they had ple hold about the Rastafarians because suffered since the reign of the notorious During the 1970's, children from mid­ of their unconventional hair styles and biblical king, Nebuchadnezzar. dle class families in Jamaica began to their refusal to conform to the norms of From its very beginning, Rastafarian­ adopt Rastafarianism in large numbers. wider society. The prevalence of such ism was regarded in Jamaica as a This had a profound effect on society stereotypes in this country was illus­ bizarre, blasphemous cult. Its early because it made the religion impossible trated dramatically in the "Walkman" adherents, such as Leonard Howell, Ar­ for anybody to ignore. It could no controversy last year which eventually chibald Dunkley and Joseph Hibbert longer be considered so strange or alien had to be resolved by a Supreme Court were persecuted and imprisoned for that so-called upstanding people could decision in the case of Lawson v. San their beliefs. Yet the Rastaman has sur­ not have anything to do with it. Even Diego. Edward Lawson, who is not a vived until the present day and the though most of these middle class con­ Rastafarian but does wear his hair in brethren, as Rastafarians are collectively verts eventually jettisoned most aspects dreadlocks, was arrested more than 15 known, can be said to easily exceed of the Rastafarian life style in order to times during a period of eighteen 100,000 in number. They are spread not pursue conventional career paths, many months simply because he was walking only throughout Jamaica, but all of them retained the basic beliefs. At the · the streets. in exclusive San Diego neigh­ around the Caribbean and now in many very least, they continued to respect the borhoods and refused to show police other parts of the world. They are pre­ religion and to hold the brethren in any identification when they demanded sent in many occupational categories esteem. it. He was prejudged to be criminal by and can be found within as well as On the other hand, there are some in residents and the police simply due to his without society's mainstream. They are Jamaica who are more inclined to abuse appearance and was therefore repeated­ lawyers and doctors, airline pilots and Rastafarianism as a means toward their ly arrested. The Court ultimately de­ business people. They span the gamut own selfish ends. They take advantage cided in Lawson's favor. from the sports and entertainment to the of the Rasta community to conceal The articles this summer played right art worlds. Still, the most pristine themselves and their wicked activities. into the prejudices held by many peo­ variants of Rastafarianism thrive in By adopting the appearance of Rasta­ ple against the Rastafarians simply be­ rural rather than urban environs. farians they seek to make themselves in­ cause they are different. The author was It is the nature of the Rastafarian to visible as they trade heavily in marijuana aware that all most people know about derive his life style from interpretation (true Rastas do not sell the weed) and the Rastafarians is that they wear their of the bible. There is a biblical justifica­ carry out other criminal acts. These peo­ hair in dreadlocks, they speak a special tion for wearing dreadlocks. There is ple are violent and commit all manner dialect and they smoke marijuana. In­ another which leads the Rastafarian to of crimes against persons and property. stead of educating people about the real practice vegetarianism. And yes, Rastas And, just as Rastafarianism has spread nature of Rastafarianism, he chose to do smoke marijuana because the bible from Jamaica to the U.S. and elsewhere, capitalize upon the existing mythology makes reference to it as the "weed of so has this criminal chicanery. Thus, no and denigrate the religion as just another wisdom." Peace and Love is a con­ one is denying that such people may ex­ weird cult. So inane were his stories that stantly reiterated theme among the ist in New York. It is just unfortunate it isn't worthwhile to quibble with the brethren. They are, at root, a pacific, that the love for negative sensations in author over their scurrilous details. Let nonviolent people. Their belief in the American journalism should make the us instead take this opportunity to ex­ universal equality of humankind is fakers of Rastafarianism more attractive amine Rastafarianism in a more realistic shown through their emphasis in speech subjects than the true believers. light. on the word "I." The Rasta does not TRANSAFRICA NEWS • VOL. 2 NO. 7 3 AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN NEWS BRIEFS

SEAGA SETS EARLY ELECTIONS in the Ciskei entitled "Ruling with the Whip," author Prime Minister Edward Seaga of Jamaica suddenly and Nicholas Haysom detailed how vigilantes loyal to the unexpectedly announced that national elections were to President roamed the streets of Mdantsane during the be held on December 15, a date only three weeks away boycott, assaulting or arresting residents at will. Many from the actual time of his announcement. Seaga's gam­ residents were herded into a local soccer stadium where bit came as a response to criticism in the national parlia­ they were systematically tortured and beaten. Others were ment that he had deliberately misrepresented the state of confronted on the streets where the vigilantes demanded the Jamaican economy. In particular, critics charged that documents from them which the law does not require any­ he had attempted to mislead the public into believing that one to carry and then assaulted or arrested them when Jamaica had satisfied the stringent lending requirements they could not produce the documents. The vigilantes in­ of the IMF when in reality nothing could have been fur­ vented one practice called the ''helicopter,'' whereby they ther from the truth. The People's National Party under suspended their victims on a rod between two tables and the leadership of Michael Manley has refused to partici­ then beat them while they were swinging there. The whites pate in the elections, saying for one thing that Seaga's in power in South Africa have got little to fear from black announcement contravened an agreement between parties activists in the homelands as long as they've got rulers that electoral reform should take place before the next like Chief Sebe to do their bidding for them. elections were held. That agreement stipulated that there UPPER VOLTAN MINISTER should be a new enumeration or census as well as a fresh compilation of the voting lists. After that had been done, STATES CASE there should then have been time allowed for the voters Foreign Minister Arba Diallo of Upper Volta recently to react to the published lists. In this way, genuine visited the national offices of TransAfrica to extend salu­ legitimacy could be restored to the electoral process and tations from President Thomas Sankara and to clarify violence such as that which occurred the first time na­ the purposes and significance of the August 4 change in tional elections were held could be avoided. From a prac­ government in his country. Mr. Diallo explained that the tical poiµt of view as well, it was impossible for the PNP people of Upper Volta have been independent for the last to even field candidates for the sixty seats in the national quarter century and have virtually nothing to show for parliament within the short period of time which the it. There have been successive regimes, both military and Prime Minister's announcement permitted. Seaga made civilian, which purportedly have made some contributions his announcement on Saturday night and the period for but the problems of the country remain the same. The the nomination of candidates ended officially on Tues­ current government is very proud of the situation which day. Since Sunday is not a working day, the opposition progressive forces have now been able to create in the had only 48 hours in which to field candidates for the country and looks forward to the future with optimism. sixty seats in parliament. The party constitution of the Mr. Diallo maintained that what took place last August PNP does not even allow for nominations to be made 4 was not a military coup but a takeover by progressive that quickly. The results of the elections as they are now forces which include both military and civilian person­ planned by Seaga will have to be fifty-four uncontested nel in their numbers. There are four military people and seats going to the ruling party, with the remaining six to twelve civilians in the cabinet now. be contested by independents. In regard to foreign relations, President Sankara very Seaga·has also recently published a list of names of much resents the misconception that the government owes Jamaican nationals whom he claimed had visited the its existence to Libya. Mr. Diallo pointed out that there Soviet Union, Cuba or Grenada since January of the cur­ is a mistaken assumption in some quarters that if one is rent year. He made the point that such people were sub­ not a declared enemy of Libya then he must be a surro­ versives and should be regarded as enemies of the state. gate. There is no hostility toward Colonel Qaddafi in Up­ In reality, many of the people had never visited those per Volta but that does not mean that Qaddafi is con­ countries at all and some who did had actually gone on trolling the government in Ouagadougou. The indepen­ legitimate business. The Prime Minister has thus been at­ dence of the country remains finnly intact and the govern­ tempting to change the contour of Jamaican politics such ment has sought to cultivate good relations with all of that there are only two categories into which people may its neighbors. Most indicative of this policy has been the fit, i.e., pro-American or pro-Russian. Of course, being repairing of ties with Mali after a border conflict had pro-Russian equilibrates to being subversive. None of this stirred ill will for many years. Upper Volta is anxious to a~gurs well for Jamaica in the very near future. It is easily have friendly ties with the West as well but this must be predictable that there will be an upsurge of violence as without the imposition of any preconditions such as the the new elections approach. demand that the country sever relations with the Soviets or the Eastern Bloc. AFRIKANERS OUTDONE MINORITY SET-ASIDE Pretoria's racist rulers could well take notes on how On November 14, President Reagan signed a continu­ to restrain political freedom through persecution from ing resolution which includes a provision introduced by their black surrogates in the so-called homelands. In the Rep. William H. Gray, III (D-PA) to increase the par­ Ciskei, for example, President Chief Lennox Sebe set new ticipation of economically and socially disadvantaged standards for brutality as he took the administration of businesses and individuals in bilateral development justice into his own hands in order to crush a three month assistance programs. The provision raises such participa­ long bus boycott by residents of the township of Mdant­ tion by $135 million during fiscal year 1984 and poten­ sane. In a special report of the violation of human rights tially by $1 billion over the next six years. 4 TRANSAFRICA NEWS• VOL. 2 NO. 7 LEGISLATION AND POLICY UPDATE DILUTED IMF BILL PASSED REFORM POSTPONED Members of Congress left the Simpson-Mazzoli pro­ A watered down version of the IMF bill emerged after posals for immigration reform laying in abeyance as they House and Senate conferees met just before recess to con­ broke for holiday recess. House Speaker Tip O'Neil unof­ sider possible compromises between the two versions of ficially decided not to consider the Immigration Reform the law passed by their respective chambers. The original and Control Bill (HR 1510) before the Congressional House version of the bill (HR 3231) contained the amend­ recess, indicating that the chief sponsors of the House ment proposed by Black Caucus Chairman Julian Dixon Judiciary Committee bill were unable to arrange a com­ (D-CA) which would have required the American Exec­ promise with members of the other committees to which utive Director to the IMF to oppose loans made through the bill was also referred. The House Committees on: that facility to "any country which practices apartheid." Education and Labor; Energy and Commerce; and Agri­ TransAfrica supported compromise language for the culture each filed several amendments to the original bill. conference which would have given the same instructions They expressed an array of concerns including: a) possi­ to the American Executive Director unless South Africa ble discrimination against Americans and documented eliminated all racially based restrictions on the geo­ workers on racial and ethnic grounds (e.g., Haitians); b) graphical mobility of labor. As actually passed, the law the verification of eligible workers; c) legalization criteria; now enumerates four new conditions which South Africa d) enforcement; and e) provisions facilitating temporary must meet before qualifying for American support for foreign worker programs. All of these issues remain any future IMF loans. In addition, the Secretary of the sources of disturbance to TransAfrica, and with the Treasury must notify the Congress at least twenty-one holding of the Mazzoli bill (HR 1510) by the House days in advance of a vote on any loan drawing by South Speaker, more attention may be paid to proposals that Africa that these conditions have actually been met. For devote greater sensitivity to human and civil rights issues . this reason, the new IMF bill may rightfully be considered Congressional Black Caucus member John Conyers (D­ a partial victory for those who favor sanctions against MI) is planning to reintroduce his own bill when the Con­ South Africa. Still, the next time the IMF bill resurfaces gressional session resumes next year. for Congressional consideration there will likely be a bat­ tle to put more teeth into this particular provision. U.S. TO QUASH IDA 7 The Reagan administration is adamantly insisting that the American contribution to the seventh replenishment EXPORT ACT of the International Development Association (IDA), the CONFERENCE PENDING soft loan window of the World Bank through which most It is very likely that similar compromises might be pro- · African nations receive development assistance, will posed when other anti-apartheid legislation passed by the under no circumstances exceed $750 million. The admin­ House of Representatives comes before a joint House­ istration has taken this position despite the well reasoned Senate conference for consideration sometime after Con­ arguments by IDA management that a minimum of SOR gress reconvenes in January. The Export Administration 16 billion ($17-18 billion) will be necessary in order to Act (HR 3231) passed the House of Representatives on maintain a reasonable balance between a constrained October 27, 1983, with all of its anti-apartheid provisions supply environment and the basic economic needs of IDA fully inta~t. The Gray, Solarz, Berman and Wolpe meas­ recipients. If the U.S. contribution remains only $750 ures all gained the approval of the full House and thereby million, the size of IDA 7 will be no more than SOR 9 generated a tremendous sense of satisfaction among all billion, those who worked so hard to promote their passage. Any There are several reasons why a major increase in the modifications at all are unacceptable to supporters of this size of IDA 7 is necessary. First, there has been a substan­ legislation since these bills already allow tremendous con­ tial deterioration in the economic conditions of many sideration of and latitude toward American investors who IDA recipient countries following the recession of do business with South Africa. TransAfrica encourages 1980-82. This is especially true in the case of recipients the formation of delegations to visit the ljkely members in Sub-Saharan Africa. Second, the needs of IDA, as a of this pending conference while they are at home on holi­ result of having to accommodate the entry of China as day recess. Individuals also are encouraged to write, an IDA-eligible recipient, have vastly expanded. Yet a phone or visit the district offices of the conferees during third need arises from the expanded needs of IDA to fi­ the break. All lobbying efforts will be intensified during nance projects which would reduce the external energy the period between January 1-23, 1984. The following is dependence of many African and other Third World a list of the likely conferees: nations. None of this is sufficient to dissuade the administra­ SENATORS: Jake Garn (R-UT); John Heinz (R-PA); tion from its traditional philosophy that the road to Mack Mattingly (D-GA); Slade Gorton (D-W A); Alfonse economic health for Third World nations is not through D' Amato (D-NY); William Armstrong O?-CO); Jim international assistance but rather through pulling them­ Sasser (D-TE); Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ); William Prox­ selves up by their own bootstraps. It is impossible to mire (D-WI). understand this argument unless the real explanation is that the government would prefer the needy countries to REPRESENTATIVES: Steve Solarz (D-NY)*; How­ seek bilateral assistance from the U.S. Then, this coun­ ard Wolpe (D-MN)*; Howard Berman (D-CA)*; Olym­ try might exercise greater political leverage over the recip­ pia Snow (R-ME); Toby Roth (R-WI); Don Bonker (O­ ient countries than is possible through the multilateral W A) (*bill sponsor). lending institutions. TRANSAFRICA NEWS • VOL. 2 NO. 7 5 GRENADA (Cont'd from page 1) onialism. He had no appreciation for lums (D-CA) and Louis Stokes (D-OH), the New Jewel Movement and the social have rejected the conclusions of the was shut out without any view of the and economic progress which it had group as a whole and have gone on operations. The only information which achieved under Bishop. Mr. Reagan record in opposition to the invasion. became available to the public emerged simply could not conceive of democracy One other member, Congressman Don via the occupying forces themselves. In as being possible under any other cir­ Bonker (D-W A), has said that he does essence, the operation was a blitzkrieg. cumstances than a model derived from not fully subscribe either to the conclu­ Grenada had played right into Amer­ that in Westminster or Washington. sions reached by the group as a whole. ica's hands. President Reagan.reveled in In conclusion, it can only be said that the invasion. He appearJ!d before the Reagan's blindness had led him to re­ responsibility for the demise of the New press here with Eugenia Charles, Prime ject Bishop. The administration wanted Jewel Movement must rest primarily Minister of Dominica at his side. Mrs. nothing to do with the Prime Minister with the reprehensible group of rene­ Charles explained that Dominica and when he came here. They refused to gades who overthrew Maurice Bishop. several other members of the two year meet with him in any acceptable way. Even though the administration longed old Organization of Eastern Caribbean Almost as an afterthought, they ar­ to turn things around on the island, it States (OECS) had requested American ranged a meeting for him with National would have never been able to do so ex­ intervention in this instance. They had Security Advisor William Clark just cept for their stupidity. Their actions are done so, she said, out of a concern over before he left the country. Clark therefore unforgivable and their names the eruption on the island which led delivered a very paternalistic lecture will live forever in ignominy. them all to believe that democracy was designed to get Bishop to conform his becoming an impossible dream on program or else. If anything was made clear in this meeting it was that Wash­ Grenada. The OECS members had di­ BOYCOTT (Cont'd from page 2) minutive military establishments at best ington did not like Grenada under Bishop and it would do whatever it Bophuthatswana is one such homeland, and so feared that they would become and one such future "country." easy game for the predatory clique that could to isolate him. They detested his had overthrown Bishop. The mere pre­ association with Cuba in particular and AAAA educates American sports and sence of American students on the island intended to show him that there would entertainment personalities on the arti­ gave President Reagan the perfect jus­ be a tremendous cost to Grenada if he ficial distinction between Bophuthat­ tification for intervention. Eugenia did not do more to curry America's swana and South Africa. Its members Charles, along with Tom Adams of Bar­ favor. refuse to be used directly or indirectly bados and Edward Seaga of Jamaica Plans for the invasion of Grenada had in legitimizing South Africa's apartheid furnished him with even greater been laid as early as two years ago. In policies. Instead, they attempt to im­ stimulus. 1981, the military rehearsed the invasion press upon their colleagues that playing under the code name: Amber and the or performing there provides the The timing of the operation was very strongest symbolism of such legitimacy. good from the administration's perspec­ Amberdines which was intelligence tive. Just prior to the invasion, hundreds shorthand for Grenada and the Grena­ AAAA will be hosting symposia of marines had been wiped out in Beirut. dines. The forces which participated in across the country on the realities of Many Americans were dismayed that this simulation exercise were the same apartheid. The first such symposium their soldiers were sitting ducks. The soldiers who launched the actual inva­ was held in Los Angeles on October 10, marines themselves were more than a lit­ sion. Evidence now indicates that this 1983 and was hosted by the Media .tie restless. 'Either bring us home or cut particular invasion had actually been Forum. Some eleven hundred persons us loose,'· they had said, referring to planned as early as two weeks before the were in attendance, helping to make the their frustration at their role as a peace­ October 19 military coup. All of this event a tremendous success. It is ex­ keeping force. They were just itching to creates the heavy suggestion of a US. pected that future symposia will be just get into some action. Their commander­ covert role in the overthrow of Maurice as productive. in-chief knew that and he decided that Bishop. Artists and Athletes Against Apart­ Grenada provided him just the oppor­ None of this however, does anything heid represents a major new thrust tunity to give them a dose of what they to diminish the widespread support within the sports and entertainment wanted. which the intervention presently enjoys worlds. The sense of purpose and degree The American intervention in here. People are by and large convinced of involvement displayed by members of Grenada was favorably received by the of the legitimacy of Reagan's fear of a the Executive Committee have been overwhelming majority of Americans. Cuban-Soviet threat on Grenada. The most encouraging. Some celebrities who This held true despite the mockery Chancellor of the Medical School subse­ had formerly gone to South Africa now which it made of international law. The quently retracted his original statement express their genuine desire to set things President simply ignored the sovereign­ that there was no danger to the students aright. Others who were until recently ty of this country and used the oppor­ on the island. After meeting with of­ considering contract offers are now tunity to create a government there ficials of the State Department, he seriously re-thinking their decisions. Sun which would be more suitable to our lik­ decided that the students actually were City itself has even now begun to feel ing. On the one hand, he said that we in jeopardy. A Congressional delegation the reverberations of AAAA. According went to Grenada to rescue the medical has now visited Grenada and concluded to the General Manager of Entertain­ students at St. George's University that the invasion was justified. This was ment for Sun City, Hazel Feldman, School of Medicine. At the same time a bipartisan group, so it is not likely that " . . . the threatened boycott has already however, he said that we went into Reagan is going to come under any real had some effect on booking commit­ Grenada to restore democracy. He made fire soon for his action. It is noteworthy ments in Bophuthatswana . . . " (See it clear that he was referring to however, that two members of the dele­ Los Angeles Times, October 6, 1983). democracy as shaped by British col- gation, i.e., Congressmen Ronald Del- Continued on page 8 6 TRANSAFRICA NEWS• VOL. 2 NO. 7 INTERVIEW: critical issue in U .S.-Somali relations? Somali Ambassador Muhammed Haji Nur A. First, it is not correct to say that military assistance used to be greater. In our last TA News interview, we featured Mr. Tesfaye Demeke, That is simply a mistaken assumption. the Ethiopian Charge d'Affaires in Washin~to~. Altho~gh t~e su~­ Second, I don't think that there is any ject of that interview was the famine in Eth1op1a, the d1scuss10n_d1d refer also to conflicts in the Horn of Africa. Given the contentious problem in the U.S. Congress with nature of the latter subject, there were some protests that our newsletter military aid per se, but rather the con­ may have presented an unbalanced view. In order_to qu_ell an-?' such cern is with the entire foreign aid misguided suspicions, we are presenting here an interview with the package. Somali Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Muhammed Haji Nur. Once again, we treat other subjects than the conflict in the Q. Somalia has long attracted concern Horn that are pertinent to Somali affairs. because of the teeming thousands of refugees who inhabit the country. What are the circumstances of the refugees Q. Mr. Ambassador, please tell us what Somalia or accusing Somalia of this, there now? prompted your concern and led you to that or the other transgression. Somalia A. Well, in 1979-80 there were floods request this interview. is prepared to enter into a dialogue with of refugees from the Ogaden and other A. First, I would like to thank TA News Ethiopia in order to find a peaceful solu­ parts of Ethiopia who ran away from for this opportunity, not to respond but tion to the problem in the Horn of Afri­ the atrocities of the Ethiopian regime to set the record straight on certain mat­ ca anywhere, at any time. Our only con­ and came to Somalia for safety and ters that have been brought up by the dition for such a dialogue is the with­ protection. The number of refugees at Ethiopian Charged' Affaires in the last drawal of Ethiopia from the Somali na­ one stage reached 1.5 million. About interview. I would like to address one tional territory which it occupies. 700,000 of these refugees are now in camps and another 700,000 are scattered major point on which he tends to con­ Q. Some observers are still amazed at fuse American public opinion, i.e., throughout the country and living with the complete reversal in alliances be­ families. Somalia's position in Western Somali­ tween Ethiopia and Somalia on the one land or the Ogaden as it is called. Somalia had no choice when it con­ hand and the superpowers on the other fronted this situation but to welcome Somalia has made it abundantly clear to during the 1970s. Please comment on the world at large that it has no terri­ these refugees and do whatever it could, the thinking in Somali foreign policy within its power to help. However, the torial ambitions anywhere. So, the ques­ decision-making circles that has led your tion of Somalia wanting to annex the magnitude of the problem was far country to sever its links with the greater than Somalia's capacity to ad­ Ogaden has no basis. However, the peo­ Soviets. ple of Western Somaliland or the Oga­ dress it. As a consequence, we had to A. As far as Somalia is concerned, it is call on the international community to den are the people who are asking for true that we did have close relations with a simple, basic human right, which is to help. The response was very good and the Soviet Union and it is when two at least the phase of dire starvation, be allowed to exercise self-determination countries have close relations that they or to decide their own destiny. These sickness and disease is more or less con­ learn whether their interests are actual­ tained now. The burden on both our people feel that they are under Ethiopi­ ly complementary or parallel. In 1977, an colonialism by virtue of treaties economy and our society is still great. there was a fight between the Western At the same time, we feel that keeping drawn between the Western colonial Somali Liberation Front (WSLF) and powers . and Ethiopia without their these refugees in camps indefinitely is Ethiopia. When the WSLF liberated not possible. A solution must be found knowledge or consent. So Ethiopia, in­ almost 90% of that region from Ethio­ stead of aiding the resolution of this for these refugees. The best solution, we pian colonialism, Ethiopia called upon feel, is to enable them to go back to their issue, makes Somalia a scapegoat in or­ the Soviet Union to help it fight against der to confuse international public opin­ homeland voluntarily. So, the situation the WSLF. The Soviet Union brought that has caused them to flee must be ion. The policy of the Somali govern­ 20 000 Cuban mercenaries, 5,000 East ment towards the problem of the Horn changed. The Government of Somalia G;rmans, and 5,000 Russian experts in­ is prepared to help any refugee who of Africa holds that it requires a political to Ethiopia in order to crush the libera­ solution rather than a military solution wants to go back to his homeland with tion movement. When that situation assured security. Also, those who want as is advocated by Ethiopia and it has developed, Somalia was invited by the made genuine proposals to all parties to stay in Somalia are welcome. So, we WSLF to help them and, of course, that feel that the international community concerned to come and sit at the nego­ brought about a conflict of interests be­ tiating table and solve this problem should help in finding a lasting solution tween us and the Soviet Union. From to the plight of these refugees. peacefully. Ethiopia, instead of re­ then on, they have been arming Ethi?pia sponding to our call for peace, opted to against us. That is how our relations Q. The five pointed star on the Somali attack Somalia and accuse countries with the Soviet Union cooled. friendly toward Somalia of supplying flag is said to symbolize the dream of arms to it. At the same time, Ethiopia Q. The Pentagon has recently requested incorporating all the areas of the Horn itself has been seeking and receiving $30 million in military assistance for that are inhabited by people of Somali armaments from the Soviet Union worth Somalia during this fiscal year and $40 ethnic origin into the national territory. more than $3 billion, which is far greater million for 1984. The Congress appears Of course, this is a threat to the Ogaden, than that country's needs for defensive to be balking at this request and may the Northern Frontier District of Kenya purposes. We said to Ethiopia that it is likely reduce the actual appropriation. and the independent state of Djibouti. high time that they addressed themselves Given the fact that American military Kenya and Ethiopia have an agreement to the people of Western Somaliland or aid to your country used to be much to prevent this occurrence and thls leads the Ogaden instead of talking about higher, how would you analyze this Continued on page 8 TRANSAFRICA NEWS • VOL. 2 NO. 7 7 NUR (Cont'd from page 7) lot of fora within the party in which to this line of reasoning. Every country has many people to believe that there must discuss issues of national interest. Thus, its own sovereignty and economic policy be some credibility to the suspicion it does not hold that it is not possible is a sovereign right. It is not what these because those two countries disagree on for people to discuss matters of mutual institutions want that is important, it's so many other issues. interest. What is important is that the what the nations want themselves. Any­ A. As has been said before, Somalia work should be done. way, this is how we approach things in doesn't want any territory from any­ Somalia and we have no difficulties with Q. I'd like to turn now to the Somali the multilateral institutions. body and now we have excellent rela­ economy and economic development. tions with Kenya and Djibouti. It's Please describe, in your own words, the purely Ethiopian propaganda when it is state of the Somali economy. BOYCOTT (Cont'd from page 6) said that Somalia wants other territories. A. The Somali economy, as far as its The financial and other inducements In regard to the star on our flag, I think problems or difficulties are concerned, proposed by South African entre­ all stars are with five points. So, you are is no different from others in the Third preneurs to American celebrities are ex­ referring to an Ethiopian interpretation World. We have been trying to put the traordinary. For example, tennis star with no basis. economy of the country on a better Jimmy Connors made more than Q. President Siad Barre came to power footing. We have now launched a recov­ $400,000 for less than three days work in 1969, the same year Gaafar Numeiry ery program with the emphasis on in­ in South Africa. On the other hand, took over in Sudan and Muammar Qad­ creasing production and the Govern­ John McEnroe, who regularly inspires dafy in Libya. All of these leaders ment has taken great steps towards that negative publicity for his court behavior, ascended to power by virtue of coups goal. They have been having discussions has shown principled sensitivity to the d'etat. What is your opinion of military with the World Bank and the IMF re­ struggle of black South Africans by rule? garding the recovery. refusing similar inducements. Million A. I think that every national citizen in Somalia has a lot of potential in agri­ dollar golf matches and other challenge acountry, regardless of his profession, culture, in livestock, in fisheries, and in tournaments are also promoted on a has the right to rule. What is important mineral resources which needs to be ex­ regular basis as enticements for Ameri­ is what the government is doing for the ploited. That is why we are calling upon can celebrities. people, regardless of the occupational our friends to help us to exploit these re­ The excessive contracts offered by background of the leader. It doesn't sources. The other area which we are South African interests to international hold that all military governments are now emphasizing is the attraction of celebrities to come and show their bad and all civilian governments are foreign investment, especially private in­ talents are extraordinarily tempting. good. The important thing is that the vestment in Somalia. Such investment is Those artists and athletes who express government is doing something good for to be accompanied by the participation their genuine support for black social its country. of both the private sector and the public and political aspirations in South Africa sector within Somalia. A group of So­ by refusing to go are therefore to be Q. In 1979, Ghana and Nigeria returned mali businessmen recently visited the commended. The Director of the United to civilian rule. Ghana now is back U.S. to explore the possibility of Amer­ Nations Special Committee on Apart­ under a military government again. Is ican private investors coming to So­ heid has already sent his own personal there any prospect of a shift to civilian malia. The Government now has taken expression of appreciation to all rule in Somalia? giant strides toward encouraging greater members of the Executive Committee of A. I have no comment to make about participation by the domestic private AAAA. All of us, both within and out­ those gQv.ernments which decided to sector in economic growth. side of the arts and athletic com­ return to civilian rule. However, our munities, have a role to play in making government is a civilian one. Although Q. Is desertification still a major prob­ the cultural boycott of South Africa ef­ our president was a member of the lem in Somalia today? fective. Those of us who are supporters military when he came to power, that is A. It is, but we are fighting very hard, of, rather than professionals in these in­ no longer so. Members of his staff also especially along the areas of the coast. dustries can play a meaningful role by previously belonged to the militarv. but Somalia has devised a new method of impressing upon celebrities the impor­ that is no longer the case either. We have containment and we are continuing to tance of staying away. all the institutions of a democratic gov­ fight very hard against the problem. ernment in Somalia. There is a parlia­ We are very fortunate in that the area TRANSAFRICA NEWS ment, the party, and a judiciary. of the country where the livestock are grazing does not have the desertification Vol. 2, No. 7 1983 Q. How is political opposition ex­ problem. We are also fortunate to have pressed in the country and how is it of­ the help of the U.S. and the Government ficially received. 545 8th Street NE of Kuwait. We have a program of range Suite 200 A. There is a general tendency toward management and also a program of the one party state in Africa and sand destabilization. Both are working Washington, D.C. 20003 Somalia fits this pattern. Our constitu­ very well. 202/54 7·2550 tion allows anyone to freely express his opinions. Q. The IMF has frequently been Editor: James E. Sulton, Jr. maligned for the austerity which it im­ Q. Do you believe that democracy is poses on countries as a condition for Contributing Writer: possible in a single party system and if economic recovery. Critics feel that this Hazel Ross so, how? is only a way of crystallizing Western Research Assistant: A. What is policy but the expression of control of the nations' economies. David Scott the interests of the people? There are a A. I don't think there is any basis for 8 TRANSAFRICA NEWS • VOL 2 NO. 7