f16\NS + notes

SOUTH AFRICA}T MILITARY REFUGEE AID FUND SEPT-OCT, 1982 #8

"One match in the hands of a fool is enough to set this country on fire. Make no mistake, the alternatives are chaos, conflict and revolution. There are some whites who are a greater threat to the survival of civilisation in South Africa than the tens of thousands of coloured people." (Sunday Express Aug. l~ 1982) This is a quote from the current prime minister of South Africa, Piet Wapen Botha. One always wonders when the leaders of apartheid make such outrageous statements, if they realise how much truth is revealed. Botha, in this instance, was talking about his proposed President's Council, in which a few "Coloured" and Indian politicians would participate in some token effort at integration. Be was referring to the even more racist whites who are attempting to block his so-called "power-sharing solution." For once, Piet Wapen is right. The alternative in South Africa is revolution. If the white minority government and the army continue to rule by brute force, it will continue to be a violent conflict. For the Black majority, there is the daily violence of apartheid and the continual fight "to bestow on South Africa a more human face." (Biko) There are indeed many whites who ar~ an absolute threat to the survival of civilisation in South Africa, Piet Wapen included. All of those whites who continue to defend what apartheid has created, are a threat to future generations both Black and white. Whatever cosmetic concessions the Botha regime is prepared to make, they will never be enough to meet the demands of Black people. While there might be talk of "integration" and "President'S Councils," the army still rolls into Angola, prisoners continue to die in detention, political opponents are continuously harassed, striking workers are forceably subdued, and most importantly Black people continue to be denied voting rights and .all basic human rights. Amidst the continuous waves of violent repression, burns the flame which Piet Wapen warns about and fears so much. Generations of resistance have fought this three headed monster called apartheid, battling against racism, colonialism and fascism. Only its destruction, and the eventual freedom and dignity for all Black people will bring peace to the region. Despite the threat of death sentences, ANC guerrillas continue to attack the enemy on many fronts. Despite military invasions, Angolans and Namibians fight together for the freedom of that entire region from white military dictatorship. And in a smaller way, despite increased call-ups and heavier penalties for draft resistance, more and more young white men are refusing to fight in the army. .

u.S. government support for apart~eid continues and manifests itself in many ways. For instance, the Reagan administration issued an export licence in April for the sale of 2,500 high voltage shock batons to the South African police. These sophisticated cattle prods are similar to those used by U.S. police forces against Black people struggling for civil rights in the u.S. South during the '60's. The U.S. government evidently understood that these horrible weapons would be put to the same kind of use in South Afric~ In an attempt to cover up this blatant act, a Commerce Department spokesperson referred to the export approval as an "honest mistake." It seems the number of "honest mistakes" made over the years by the u.s. government in its support for apartheid is staggering. These "mistakes" reveal a totally dishonest and hypocritical u.s. policy in favor of white domination in South Africa. ' Meanwhile the u.s. State Department refuses to pass judgment on the asylum application of Dominic Holzhaus, a South African war resister, who refuses to be a soldier for apartheid. For us, this is a further example of 0.5. support for the South African militarye This newsletter is produced by whites who are opposed in every way to the architects of apartheid and their supporters internationally. We refute the words of Piet Wapen Botha, who recently said, "Deep in our hearts there is a little of the HNP in all of us." What a sick statement to make; it is like saying there is a little of t,he KKK or the Nazi Party in all of us. Botha can only speak for himself, the generals, and the other supporters of white racist rule. They have such a sick mentality that they are willing to put guns in the hands of every single" white youth, demanding of them the will to kill and die in order to protect the "South African way of life," in which Botha believes the spirit of the HNP is so welcome. We s"ay never. Deep in our hearts, we long for a free South Africa and the death of apartheid. We, as whites, support the total liberation of South Africa and the active freedom struggle that has always been waged by the Black majority.

military. Some 5,000 to 6,000 white soldiers and some blacks left ACTS OF SABOTAGE AGAINST FRONT Zimbabwe and were actively recruit­ LINE STATES ed by the SADF when the Mugabe government came to power in inde­ Three countries--Mozambique, ' pendent Zimbabwe in April, 1980. Zimbabwe and Angola--have experi­ The majority of the troops had been enced significant direct attacks in the three main terror branches, from South African military forces --- the Selous Scouts, Special Air in the past two months. The Sunday Services and the Rhodesian Light Mail from the Zimbabwean capital of Infantry, all of which specialised Harare carried a very significant in commando raids on villages and article in its September 5th edi­ guerrilla bases in both Zimbabwe tion. The article quotes several and Mozambique. " dissatisfied soldiers of the South These veteran fighters for African Defense Force (SADF). white supremacy are bitter because The background to the story the SADF has maintained that the " is, of course, the SADF commando fateful final raid for the three raid which was intercepted 20 miles white officers was unauthorised, inside Zimbabwe. On August 18th, thus depriving their families of the Zimbabwean government announced insurance or survivor's pension that its troops killed three SADF benefits. "They were on an author­ soldiers and claimed that an entire ised mission and now they're being unit was taking part in a sabotage disowned," said one angry soldier. operation, part of an overall mili­ "We're being treated as cannon tary destabilisation campaign. The fodder. " military high command in Pretoria South African reporters first initially dismissed these charges, developed this story, but when they but then had to admit that the asked the SADF for comment they slain men, 3 white sergeants, were were told that publication of the SADF officers leading what they story in South African would con­ termed "an unauthorised mission." stitute a punishable violation of Now a number ofASADF members strict national security laws. Con­ are angry at the disavowal of their sequently, the story was written in dead comrades. They have told South Africa and published in Zim­ journalists in South Africa that babwe. The soldiers revealed that they are regularly deployed in they had been used by South Africa raids on neighbouring independent on other clandestine commando nations. The South Afri~an sol­ raids. "We know the ropes." one diers speaking out are said to be said. "We operate in Zimbabwe former members of the Rhodesian because we obviously know the coun- -;2,- try well. We also go into Mozam­ 1979, Afonso Dhlakama became the bique because we used to raid there major black front-man for the MNR. during the war. But we're fed up The South African/MNR rel~­ with the SADF for turning around tionship was exposed in detail and dissociating themselves from after documents were captured from the gyys killed in Zimbabwe." a military base of the MNR. The documents included minutes of meetings between Dhlakama and his South African advisor, Col. Charles van Niekerk of Military Intell­ igence. The main theme revealed by the minutes is that although the Rhodesians had used the loosely organised MNR troops for intelli­ gence gathering on ZANU bases and other military targets, the South Africans pushed greater military organisation in order to sabotage stra"tegic economic and transport facilities. The SADF has projected the MNR as more than "bandits" com­ mitting atrocities against civi­ lians which is their primary funct"ion. The South Africans have instead seen the MNR as a true rival army capable of significant The disaffected soldiers are' destabilisation operations. also quoted as saying that South " The 9-nation Southern African Africa has established a special Development Coordination Conference "destabilisation center" inside (SADCC), made up of independent SADF headquarters in Pretoria, Black states in the region, seeks working t9 weaken the independFnt to develop projects that are eco­ Black countries now surrounding the nomically independent of South apartheid regime. This report fur­ African control. They have empha­ ther confirms what President Samora sised the importance of transpor­ Machel has been saying about South tation and communications projects. African backing for the massive Together, SADF commandoes and ~1NR destabilisation operations which saboteurs have carried out major have been carried out in Mozam­ attacks on installations such as bique. The soldiers admit taking bridges, railroad links, oil pipe­ part in operations such as re­ lines, and electricity lines. supplying the rebel movement MNR South Africa, by disrupting these with weapons, food and medical crucial supply lines, has been able supplies. to promote economic weakness and In fact, South Africa has been dependence. This is an important thoroughly involved in building weapon in apartheid's arsenal, used this "Mozambique National Resis­ as leverage against its political tance" for many years. The MNR was and military isolation in the originally organised by the Rhode­ region. sian Central Intelligence Organisa­ Another function of the MNR is tion, recruiting primarily among to operate against ANC freedom Mozambicans who had served in spe­ fighters in Mozambique. In Janu­ cial forces of the colonial Portu­ ary, 1981, South African commandoes guese army and the hated PIDE, the attacked an ANC house in Maputo, Portuguese secret police and terror murdering 12 ANC members. Raids squad . Financial backing was initi­ such as this could only occur with ally from wealthy Portuguese colon­ the assistance of rebel groups such ialists who had made thei~ fortunes as the MNR. in Mozambique and had lost power A similar strategy is at work and prestige under the independent in Angola where UNITA performs the FRELIMO government. By 1978, South destabilising role for South Afri­ African authorities had focussed on ca. The blueprint is the same with a leader of the MNR known as "Com­ continuous attacks against tran­ mander Andre" portraying him as a sport convoys and the mining of national hero. After his death in highways, thus insuring that food -.3- supply is a constant problem. A blocks in the ideological stru~ture large percentage of Angola's food supporting the military machine comes from the central highland among South Africa's white mino~ity provinces. With war raging not far population. For those of us bu~ld­ from this region, Angola's ability ing a wedge of white resist~nce, to provide food for its people is there must be an understand1ng that in serious jeopardy. UNITA is sup­ for peace to dawn and bring stabi­ plied, trained and supported by the lity to the region requires the SADF, and the two forces operate total dismantling of all the struc­ jointly in attacks on civilians as tures of white South African domin­ well as economic targets in south- ation whether it be in the indepen­ ern Angola. _ dent nations or Namibia or South All three countries--Angola, Africa itself. Mozambique and Zimbabwe--are under the threat of increasing South African sabotage operations. Ango­ IMPASSE ON-NAMIBIA SETTLEMEN~ la has been the primary target, SADF INVADES ANGOLA bearing the brunt of massive mili­ tary incursions on a regular basis. Since the June 6th invasion of Presently, the Angolan press ser­ Lebanon, world attention has been ~ice is reporting a major build-up focussed on the war being fought in of approximately 30,000 South the Middle East. The Israeli war African troops along its border machine blitzkrieged northward with occupied Namibia. Like Ango­ through Lebanon to Beruit using , la, Zimbabwe is warning that the United States and NATO weaponry 1n three South African officers killed a military action which horrified during the recent raid were leading people throughout the worlde The a force sent in to prepare the way ' Israeli Defense Force clearly in­ for an invasion. Increased terror tended to destroy the Palestinian actions by the MNR rebels and peri­ movement led by the PLO and to odic cross-border raids by South establish ~ friendly Lebanese gov­ African troops into Mozambique ernment. indicate the same threat dn that . On June 11th the South African front as well. military began another large-scale The South African military invasion of Angola. In contrast to machine constantly reiterates cer­ the highly publicised situation in tain themes which supposedly form Lebanon, th.eSouth African attack the basis of its operations: 1) received absolutely no publicity. that it doesn't support or provide On August 10th Defense Force Head­ bases for terrorists to act against quarters in Pretoria announced that neighbouring states1 2) that it is SWAPO guerrillas had shot down a not interested in territorial ex­ Puma assault helicopter over Angola pansion; and 3) that it doesn't killing 15 South African soldiers. want to interfere in the domestic It was not until August 12th that policies of other countries the way they admitted these casualties were everyone else wants to interfere part of a 5,500 man invasion force. with the internal apartheid poli­ By that time the SADF had advanced cies of South Africa. All of these 175 miles north of the Angola­ themes can obviously be disproved; Namibia border spearheaded by 300 they are, in fact, total bullshit. armoured vehicles and mirage jet Yet, they are important building fighters. The news blackout was , reminiscent of the 1975 Angolan In­ vasion, although then the news was reported everywhere except South Africa. . There has been a great deal of publicity surrounding the p~ogress in negotiations concerning the future of Namibia. The August 15th target date for a ceasefire in the l6-year war between SWAPO and South Africa passed with not so much as a pause in the fighting. Negotiations continued, but under the shadow of major military actions by the SADF . -If- The timing of South Africa's latest invasion of Angola has made it even Although ~linkage" of a Cuban with­ ~ess likely that a ceasefire and drawal to the Namibia settlement international settlement will occur has been rejected by Angola, ~WAPO in the foreseeable future. And, and the Frontline States, the Ango­ onc.e again, it has been proven that lan government has stated that Cu­ the South Africans are not negoti­ ban troops would be withdrawn if ating in good faith, but rather are there was no threat to Angolan-­ buying time. Their preferred sovereignty from South African in~ solution has been and still is some vaders. This entire SADF operation sort of internal election process obviously highlights South Africa's which would exclude SWAPO, not a total disregard for Angola's sover­ United Nations supervised election. eignty. In light ot the increased SWAPO reports that there are South African aggression against other serious issues still to be Angola and SWAPO bases in Angola, resolved prior to a Namibian set­ SWAPO has stated its position by tlement. The liberation movement declaring ~this offensive is a would undoubtedly win a free and clear demonstration that Pretoria fair election. The peoples of is not yet ready to end its illegal Namibia and Angola deserve as much and oppressive occupation of our support as we can give from the country. Moreover, the so-called United States, especially as the consultative talks which have been U.S. government increases its sup­ going on in New York have to date port to the apartheid government not moved beyond the state of pub­ and military forces. Our work of lic relations exercises. They building white military resistance remain, indeed, a diplomatic cha­ will certainly continue, and we rade, orchestrated by the Wester 5 believe contribute to weakening and to mislead world opinion that pro­ disarming the Sou~h African war gress is being made toward a peace­ machine. ful solution." General Charles Lloyd, SADF commander1of forces in Namibia, held a maj'or news briefing on O~POSE APARTHEID AND ZIONISM August 12th in Windhoek in which he acknowledged that an invasion of The University of the Witwa­ Angola was in progress. He sought tersrand in Johannesburg . was the to offset the damage to morale scene of a clash between Black stu­ caused by the heavy South African dents and white students on August casualties (44 dead according to 4th. The issue was the recent Is­ Lloyd). He made wild claims about raeli military invasion of Lebanon. the success of the "hot pursuit" Simultaneous lunchtime meetings operations. He announced that SADF were called by the Black Students' troops will remain in southern Society and the South African Union Angola until a Namibian ceasefire of Jewish Students. About 1,000 is arranged. This forces Angola to pro-Zionist white students left rely.on Cuban troops for support, their meeting and surrounded the thus giving South Africa an excuse gathering of Black students and to continue both its occupation of loudly chanted "No to PLO terror­ Namibia and its war of destabili­ ism." Some Black students left sation against Angola. In fact, their meeting wearing signs which SADF specialist units such as the read "I am a Palestinian, I have Recces and 32 Battalion, made up of nowhere to live~" They were report­ mercenaries, have been continuously edly attacked by the whites, fist occupying parts of southern Angola fights broke out, and university since last year's major invasion security police intervened. Twelve codenamed ~Operatiori Protea.~ students were suspended and the With South African troops university banned all meetings. remaining in a large section of A member of the Black Stu­ Angola and threatening major cities dents' Society was quoted as saying such as Lubango, the Botha regime "Some of the Zionist students are has effectively halted the Namibian threatening us and we have the negotiations. According to press security police on our backs. We information put out by the U.S. identify with the PLO because we government, the only remaining find them in the same position as obstacle to a settlement is the us--Iandless, uprooted, and fight­ presence of Cuban troops in Angola. -.5- ing for the simple right to live in peace with natural human rights." violation of the international arms He went on to emphasise that one embargo on South Africa. could be against Zionist aggression South Africa: and Israel have without being anti-semitic. both developed sophisticated mili­ We totally agree with these t .ary-industrial establishments. sentiments. The identification The technology that Israel can between Black South Africans and openly import (largely from the Palestinians is based on the com­ U.S.) is consciously being trans­ monality of their struggles and the ferred to the South African Arma~ conditions of their oppression. ments·Corporation, ARMSCOR. The The outlaw regimes of Israel and SAOF claims to develop new weapons South African certainly have much systems, but they are mere modifica­ in common as well. Both have tions of Israeli weapons or some­ seized land and expanded their set- times exact duplicates under differ­ , tlements using military force to ent names. Economic collaboration remove the indigenous peoples. is also very significant. Both Israelis and white South Afri­ cans have developed national identi­ ties fundamentally based on racist ideology, denying the oppressed peoples their right to self deter­ mination. Feverish anti-communism and overly broad use of the ~terrorist~ lab~l to include even school­ children who throw stones--for both governments are sufficient justifi­ cation for criminal polices. Both governments perceive their security threatened by neighbouring states as well as by the national libera­ tion struggles which are being waged. Thus, there are numerous attacks on refugee settlements and on the Frontline states that sup­ port the guerrilla forces. Militar­ ily, both governments are threats Perhaps the most devastating to regional and world peace. They aspect of this military alliance is operate boldly because they have the genocidal treatment of refu­ the backing of Western imperialism, gees. The recent slaughter of over receiving U.S. and NATO weapons 1,000 Palestinian civilians in two with little or no criticism of even Beirut refugee camps closely paral­ the most vile military actions. lels the horrible Cassinga massacre Both nations avoid international carried out by the SAOF on Namibian sanctions only because of protec­ refugees in Angola. Over 700 civi­ tive vetos in the United Nations lians were murdered in that 1978 Security Council delivered by the attack, and many more have been United States, British or French killed since then. governments. Both the ruling Nationalist The Wits Black students also Party in South Africa and the Pha­ used the tight military relation­ langist Party in Lebanon have ship between Israel and South historical connections to the Ger­ African as an effective way of man Nazis responsible for the expressing their support for the slaughter of 6 million Jews. Now PLO and their anger at Israel. The the cruel irony is that Israel, particulars of military collabora­ supposedly acting on the impera­ tion between the two governments is tives of Jewish survival, is very well documented. There is a uniting with pro-Nazi forces and continuous flow of military person­ collaborating in genocidal atro­ nel between the two countries. The cities which can only be compared top generals shuttle back and forth to the holocaust and Hitler's reign for regular consultations •. At the of terror. beginning of this year General SAMRAF believes that the cri­ Sharon, the butcher of Beirut, minal actions of both the Israeli spent time with the SAOF touring and South African governments the war zones of Namibia. Israeli should be seen in a similar con­ weapons sales have continued in -6-· text. Apartheid and Zionism have allied with one another. For sta­ symbolic. Ernest's mother Lizzie bility in either region, the Dipale told South African news­ demands of Black people in Southern papers that her son and his friend Africa and Palestinian people in Oupa Koopeng were ~avelling from the Middle East have to be recog­ Soweto to Dobsonville when they nised. The primary demand is for noticed they were being followed by self determination. This" together a combi. At an intersection their with the dismantling of the racist car was approached by a white man ideology of both states and their who jumped from the' van. He lethal military machinery, will pointed a gun at the young Blacks finally pave the way for peace. and said, "Ja julIe skelms (hey, Both progressive Jews and progres- you delinquents]." Ernest swurig , sive whites need to combat the the car around and drove off as two criminal actions and policies of shots were fired. The incident was the Zionist and apartheid regimes reported to poli'ce at the Meadow­ while supporting the aspirations of lands Station. Police visited the the liberation movements. Dipale home to gather information, but the Commissioner of Police later told newspapers that "no such . OUTRAGE AT LATEST DEATH IN DETENTION incident was ever reported to the Meadowlands Police." The following Ernest Maobi Dipale, a Soweto morning, three days before his student of auto mechanics, has death in detention, Ernest was ar­ become the 53rd person to die in rested without charges. His mother detention in South Africa since said he was not involved in poli­ 1953. Only the following day, tics, but police said he was, to be Louis Ie Grange, Minister of Law charged under the new Internal and Order, explained to foreign Security Act with furthering the, journalists, "You don't get much aims of the ANC. information if you keep a detainee The Rabie Commission has in as-star riotel, or with f~iends." reported that funerals were being Jill Berger, sister of Neil used to further the aims of banned I Aggett, the first white to die in organisations. So new legal re­ ' detention, reminded her audience of strictions were written into the Jimmy Kruger's similarly callous 1982 Internal Security Act. Where­ statement when she said of the as the Act's safeguards for detain­ entire apartheid government that ees did nothing to protect Ernest the deaths "leave them cold." She was speaking at a highly emotional protest meeting attended by 1,000 people and called by the Detainee's Parents Support Committee. Mrs. Amanda Kwadi of the Federation of South African Women also spoke and declared, "Ernest died for the truth. He is a casualty in the struggle, a hero and a martyr. The masses will pursue the course he pursued while he was alive." The Rabie Commission and the Internal Security Act which re­ from torture, the Act was strictly sulted from it this year~ suppo­ enforced at his funeral. Ernest's sedly established safeguards for parents refused to sign the magi­ detainees such as fortnightly strate's order prohibiting poli­ visits by a magistrate, surgeons tical speeches at the funeral. and inspectors, and a review after Police were everywhere at the sub­ six months~ These didn't apply, dued funeral, but sao mourners however, for 21-year-old Dipale defied the authorities by singing because he had only been detained freedom songs and raising clenched for three days. Other detainees fists insalutes. Pamphlets denounc­ have testified that the worst ing the apartheid government were torture occurs in the first few distributed the night before rather days. than at the funeral itself. Police Actually, the incident immedi­ arrested two people and escorted ately preceding his detention makes away white journalists who arrived this story even more tragic and to cover the funeral. The journal- ists' permits were confiscated and slap in the face of apartheid's a BBC television" crew was not survival strategists. Draft resis­ allowed to film. This funeral was tance weakens white unity with more solemn due to the new restric­ apartheid and can be a significant tions legislated by the Internal step toward eventual support for Security Act. No longer will the the liberation struggle· of the police permit marchers to carry the Black maiority. coffin to the cemetery and the Many of us in SAMRAF have s~en green~ black and gold flag of the this occur through our own exper~ ~ ANC was riot hoisted. There were no ences. We have all wound up sup­ political prayers or speechese But porting the very movements we were the oppressed people know that supposed to fight against. The another hero was buried and that refusal to fight for an unjust and his blood is on the hands of the inhuman cause can and should deve­ apartheid regime. lop into a recognition of legiti­ mate struggles taking place throughout the world. In South IMPORTANCE OF DRAFT RESISTANCE Africa the legitimate st~uggle is, IN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE U.S. of course, being waged by our fellow South Africans, the Black The prosecution and conviction majority. of young draft resisters in the Resistance is growing within United States clearly indicate the the ranks of white South African potential threat that all forms of society. The apartheid regime is military resistance pose to the responding with harsher prison u.S. military machine. The Vietnam sentences, longer periods of com­ era has not been forgotten by pulsory military service, and by either the resisters or the U.S. making it more difficult for young government. The government has whites to leave South Africa for taken over two years to initiate , any reason. the recent prosecutions which have Just as South · African military led to the felony convictions for resisters are a thorn in the side at least three young men so far. of apartheid's generals and master­ Reagan is using a strategy of selec­ planners, draft resisters here in tive prosecutions in order to frigh­ the u.S. are a thorn in the side of ten other resisters into register­ the hawks and warmongers at the ing for the draft. The level of Pentagon. The U.S. military ma­ draft resistance is higher now than chine is cranking up once again. during the Vietnam War: 700,000 The Green Berets and other Special resisters now compared to 570,000 Forces are being revived and taught during the entire period of U.Se the latest counterinsurgency aggression in Vietnam. tricks. The Rapid Deployment Force For the Vietnam generation of and NATO forces have held enormous young people, the wounds are still military exercises to practice all raw and fresh. Over 56,000 of our youth lost their lives and some 250,000 were wounded. This repre­ sents only a mere fraction of the number of Vietnamese wounded and/or killed. No wonder military resis­ tance became so widespread, and the positive effect it had on the con­ sciousness of many people is still alive. Now a n'ew generation faces a similar dilemma, knowing that draft registration . will only lead to an eventual draft for another U.S. war of intervention such as Vietnam. SAMRAF firmly believ~ that draft resistance is often a crucial step in a young man's life toward becoming able to contribute to social charge. In the South Afri­ can context, all forms of resis­ tance to apartheid militarism are a sorts of scenarios for global war. BOOK REVIEW: A CHAIN OF VOICES The military budget has skyrocketed while social services which meet Andre Brink, the dissident human needs have been drastically Afrikaner novelist, has produced a cut back. It's as though Reagan powerful portrayal of oppression in and the generals around him are South Africa through his latest dogs chasing the scent of blood. book, A Chain of Voices. It opens Today's military advisors and with an historical document detail-. the youth who sign up at the Post ing the charges brought against ten Office for the draft can become Black slaves following a slave re­ tomorrow's Marines and Army infan­ bellion in the Cape. The year is trymen in the jungles of Central 1825, and the scene is the Cape America or the oil fields of the interior around a farm called Hou­ Middle east. We heartily agree den-bek (shut your trap). with Ben Sasway, one of the out­ Brink proceeds to explain the spoken draft resisters selected by circumstances leading up to the the U.S. government for prosecu­ revolt by developing the individual tion, when he pointed out that characters, both slaves and slave­ after the war in Vietnam, he owners. He delves deeply into couldn't possibly cooperate with their perceptions of the life which rising U.S. militarism and find surrounds them. Through sensitive himself sent to El Salvador. development of his characters, Brink is able to expose the funda­ mental problem and conflict: owner­ ship and bondage. SAMRAF FORm1 ON DRAFT RESISTANCE The conditions facing the slaves are those still facing all SAMRAF is holding a forum on Black South Africans under apar­ draft resistance in South Africa theid. The slaves express a con­ and the United States. The forum stant longing for freedom despite will be held on Friday, October 29, an ability to withstand an enormous 7:30 P.M. at the Grace United Methodist Church, 33 7th Avenue, :~~~~: O~h~~y~~~:!s:n~ ~~~;i~~~! Brooklyn (between Sterling Place that they must act dramatically and and St. Johns Place). they must act for themselves if We hope to link the issues of they are to be free. military resistance in both coun­ The voices of the whites tries and spark a lively discussion display an inability to comprehend which could lead to greater support slaves as equal human beings. for our work. Also participating Their consciousness as whites al­ will be a representative from Black lows them to act not only as bar­ Veterans for Social Justice, an baric overseers, but also justi­ activist from our community to draw fies these actions by relying some of the connections between the heavily on Calvinistic religious U.S. and South Africa, and a U.S. principles. The white farmers use draft resister. A leaflet publi­ such arguments as "Where would the cising the event will soon be slaves go if they were freed? available. If you would like more Surely they would die of hunger. information, please contact us at We look after them." The same sort the SAMRAF Brooklyn office. of justifications are commonly heard today in South Africa when apartheid is the topic of conv~r­ sation among whites. Fired by the brutality of the Boer farmers and the rumours that the British government of the Cape was prepared to abolish slavery, the slaves were driven by hopes for emancipation. The English were unable, at this time, to legislate the abolition of slavery because the Boers refused to accept the slightest notion of such a move. How similar thii is to the current proposals for peace in Namibia with elections and independence. The the enemy which Black people face, United Nations and five powerful and in so doing we move closer to Western countries can pass resolu­ our own liberation. tions and develop plans, but the We highly recommend this book. Boers only invent new obstacles. Its setting is South Africa, but Since the oppressed people them­ the insights of Brink's chain of selves are rarely consulted, they voices are very important for South have no choice except to continue Africans and Americans. The set~ fighting. The slaves couldn't wait ting, of course, could have been for the English to free them, j ust the cotton plantations of the as the Namibians cannot wait for southern United States or wherever the South African or United States racial oppression has shaped rela­ governments to free them. They tions between whites and Blacks. have to free themselves. The spirit that sparked this parti­ Left with no other alterna­ cular rebellion, and the genera­ tive, the slaves unite and rise up, tions of resistance which have killing two white farmers and followed, will never die. This seriously wounding a white woman. books explains why. They are · hunted down, brought to trial, found guilty, and the leaders executed. APARTHEID IN MISSISSIPPI One of those charged is Joseph Campher, a white overseer who, The following is an account of throughout the novel, identifies a current struggle occurring in with the slaves and their struggle. Mississippi. We believe it is very Campher, a poor working class relevant because it speaks of the European, finds himself in the Cape real conditions facing Black people as a result of harsh conditions in in their struggle for self deter­ Europe during that period. Yet, in mination here in the U.S.A. It is spite of verbal support for the comparable to what occurs constant­ rebellion, he compromises and is ly in South Africa. Racism is not unable to deliver at a crucial peculiar to that part of the world. moment. The conflict at the heart It is part of an international of Campher's consciousness reflects system designed to enforce white a conflict for all of white So~th supremacy. Africa. There are many whites who Former Tchula Mississippi don't want to be racists, don't see Mayor Eddie Carthan was refused themselves as racists, and may even bond and jailed for three years in speak against racism at cocktail Lexington, Mississippi last month. parties. Still they are enmeshed The charge was "assault of a law in certain blind spots inherent in enforcement officer." This trumped their dominant position. Campher up charge was one of several false epitomises this. His identifica­ charges laid against the first tion with the slaves flows from his Black person since Reconstruction ability to see himself in rela­ to be elected in the Mississippi tively the same position in Europe. Delta region. This sentence is In South Africa, however, the part of a racist plot contrived by privileges bestowed by virtue of former elected white officials in his skin color outweigh his class the Black majority town of Tchula. identification. Six other defendants in the case, The way in which the conflict also Black officials driven from in Campher's consciousness develops office by fraud and at gunpoint, in the novel is very interesting received fines and ~uspended sen­ and revealing. His mistake pro­ tences on the same charge. vides important lessons for whites At a July 26th press confer­ today. Like Campher, we have to ence in Jackson, Mississippi; two come to terms with the reality that of the jurors who convicted the the Black majority holds the key to Tchula 7, publically recanted their the future and the solution to verdicts, saying they were tricked South Africa's nightmare.. Progres­ and misled by Judge Webb Franklin. sive whites need to learn from and In October, Carthan faces the follow the general direction of most serious fabricated charge Black people who are struggling for against him: murder, for which the liberation. ~'le must contril!>ute death penalty may be imposed. whatever we can toward weakening Eddie Carthan has maintained his -)(J - fighting spirit in jail. He writes carried out by security forces of "allover the globe men and women the apartheid ~ilitary regime. are revolting against old systems Over 3,000 mourners attended her of exploitation and oppression, and funeral in Maputo, where she was out of the womb of a frail world buried next to the graves of 12 new systems of justice and equality Black South Africans killed 18 are being born. The poor and meek months ago when the South African are rising up as never before." military attacked an ANC house also From all around the U.S cA. in Mozambique. people, groups, churches and poli­ tical organisations have been cam­ * .. * paigning for Eddie's release. The The Ivory Coasters, a British National Campaign is mobilising for rock band, have produced a record a week of support activities in which should give the South African Mississippi before the murder trial Board of Censors a cadenza or two. begins. Actions include a state­ It's called "The Bongo that ate Pik wide march from Tchula to Lexing­ Botha," and it's selling pretty ton, culminating in a national well in England. Apparently, if march int·o the city of Jackson,­ you hold the record up to the light, Mississippi on Saturday, October inscribed on the ·vinyLis the slogan, 16th. For more information con­ "Free Nelson Mandela." Let's hear tact: it for the Ivory. Coasters. Arnett Lewis c/o United League of Holmes County Route 4, Box 18 Lexington, MI 39095 Sam Hayakawa, the Reagan clone (601) 834-3080 from California, has recently visited South Africa. Hayakawa, a The Eddie Carthan campaign member of the Senate's Foreign needs your financial support. If Relations Committee and Africa sub­ you can, please send a donation to committee, met with a number of the above address. important South African government officials. He was quoted as saying, -r am -impressed- with the President's NEWS ITEMS Council report. It is a step in the right direction." There's no Ruth First, 59-year-old South need for us to emphasise the close African author . and political acti­ and allied relationship South Africa vist was murdered on August 17. has with the current U.S. government. She was killed by a letter bomb Senator Hayakawa just did it for us. which was sent to her office at the Eduardo Mondlane Univ. in Maputo, * .. .. r10zambique. Prof. First was widely respected for her commitment to the The banning order restricting liberation struggle in South Africa. Helen Joseph expired June 30th, and She was arrested for high treason she has not yet been served with a in 1956 along with over 100 other new banning. The 77-year-old Mrs. people. This epic treason trial Joseph has been speaking frequently dragged on for over two years at protest meetings and other occa­ before the charges were dismissed. sions allover the country. She She was banned in 1962, and then has been able to resume an active arrested in 1963. At that time she political life despite her age and was held in solitary confinement, threats on her life. Over 1,500 an experience written about in her Wits students recently gave her a book, 117 Days. Also among the standing ovation, recognising her several books which she authored many years of committed struggle. was a biography of the South Afri­ She still cannot be quoted in the ca.n feminist, 'Olive Schreiner. press, however, due to the absurd Prof. First was a leading member of tangle of South African security the South African Communist Party laws. Helen Joseph was also one of and the African National Congress. the speakers at a gathering to com­ Immediately following her murder, memorate August 9th--South African there was widespread outrage Women's Day. It was held to remem­ expressed around the world at yet ber the march on the Union Build­ another assassination obviously ings in Pretoria 26 years ago. On August 9, 1956, 20,000 women gath­ ing all branches of the security ered to protest extension of the forces, including the security hated pass laws to further oppress police. Since numerous instances African women. They tried to pre­ of torture have recently been sent petitions containing one mil­ brought to public attention and lion signatures collected by the conclusively proven, the role of Federation of South African women. security police is being slandered, ·according to the Committee. Inter= . .... 11 estingly, one of the three found i ng members formed his views that pub­ A new organisation has been lic exposure of torture undermines formed in South Africa called the state security while he was on a Security Forces Support Committee. lengthy Nvisit" to Chile in 1973 at Currently it has three members. the height of mass murders by that It is dedicated to keeping people country's security forces.- informed about the NonslaughtN against South Africa and support- -It .. -It

SAMRAF is a political organisation and still small, but is growing in importance. a network of supporters. It is composed of whi te South African exiles, especially We have established a base of support mili tary resisters, as well as Ameri can for this work in the USA. For those mili­ activists. We began organising work in the tary resisters who are exiled i n this coun­ USA in late 1977 , the first overseas group try, we can help with legal counsel, espe­ to form in support of the war resistance cially for those seeking political asylum. movement inside South Africa. We also provide genernl guidance and orien­ tation for re-settlement. We have found SAMRAF believes that it is a neces­ that we can be particularly helpful in New sity to build support among white South York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Africar.s and white Americans for the nation­ and Boston. We also campaign for U.S. gov- al liberntion struggle which will free . - .ernment. acceptance of the right to poli tcal... _ South Africa and bring the destructi on of asylum in the case of genuine South African the apartheid system. Since the South military resisters and political exiles. African military has become the dominant force wi thin the whi tes-only regime of SAMRAF is investigating the moves by Botha, Malan & Co . , and because a thorough­ the apartheid regime toward greater mobil­ ly militarised Total Strategy has been de­ isation of white women in support of the veloped to preserve apartheid, SAMRAF be­ mili tary. This is done through research, lieves that we can and should foster white active recruitment of women to our work, resistance through encouraging military and fostering the development of a women resistance. and war project designed to counter the enemy's propaganda toward white w'Ctnen. SAMRAF publishes "an uncensored re­ Educating the American public about sistance magazine for white South African the South African military as a threat to soldiers and draftees," called Omkeer (in world peace, a nuclear menace, and a English, the military command: about face). festering sore of violent racism against This call for resistance is distributed to Black people is one of our primary goals . white youth currently facing military obli­ SAMRAF partiCipates in the broader U.S. gations. Inside South Africa, military re­ movement to support the liberation sis,tance takes many forms. Some active­ struggles of Southern Africa. In this we duty soldiers distribute Omkeer . Some have have raised fUnds and other material aid organised mass walk-outs from base. Some for SWAPO, the liberation movement of conscientious objectors to apartheid mili­ Namibia. We also participate in other pro­ tary service are l ocked up in Detention . gressive movements in this country and take Barracks, often under solitary confinement. part in numerous coali tions. Some draft resisters and deserters dis­ appear within South Africa, wr~le others SAMRAF CONTACTS take a big step into forced exile. Resis­ San Francisco tance has even reached into the high SChools 29 Seventh Ave. (415) 61.11-9055 where white students are forced to undergo Brooklyn, NY 11217 Chicago military training. This entire movement is (212) 638-0417 (312) 252-2849