M N G u o E T o OZA

STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL

Mozambique's History: In 1964, led by the Front for the libera­ tion of Mozambique (FRELlMO), they Mozambique was a Portuguese colony launched an armed struggle to oust the for more than four hundred years. Portuguese. Ten years later, in 1974, Por­ was a poor country itself, unable and un­ tuguese army officers rebelled against their own government, ending decades of Natala willing to develop Mozambique's economic potential. The Portuguese profited from ex­ fascist rule within Portugal. In the following porting Mozambican labor to the South y~ar , Mozambique won independence, as African mines and exporting agricultural did the other Portuguese colonies of products such as cotton, tea, and cashew Angola and Guinea Bissau. nuts. Mozambican peasants were forced to Mozambique's new Frelimo government grow these crops under brutal conditions. established a nonaligned socialist model of They were forced to work on government development, which included a non-racial projects such as road and railway con­ policy of inclusion, provision of education (J struction under conditions considered to be and health services, and a plan to in­ among the worst in African colonial history. tegrate women equally into the new Mozambique is twice the size of Cali­ society. fornia and strategically located on the TRANSPORT LINKS TO PORTS OF BEIRA Indian Ocean, with a coastline equivalent NACALA AND - MAIN TARGETS ' to that of the United States from Boston to OF SOUTH AFRICAN SABOTAGE Miami. It has been generously endowed POPULATION 15 MILLION with mineral resources.

Resistance, (MNR or Renamo). The Mozambique 1990 Mozambic'ans call them 'bandidos ar­ ~ Life Expectancy at Birth 45 years Mozambique today is caught up in a mados,' (armed bandits), or 'BAs', for devastating war that is killing and maiming short. its people, traumatizing its children, and destroying its economy. The stage for this Mozambique war was set during the 1970s when Schools Destroyed by MNR have left 300,000 Mozambique extended sanctuary to Robert Quality of Life Indicators 1988 children without Mugabe and his forces who were fighting schools a war for independence in what was then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Ian Smith was then the head of the Rhodesia's white • minority government. The Rhodesian n $121,00 per year secret service set up a spy network and Average Income 1 year olds fully vaccinated Measles 46% established bandit groups inside Mozambi­ Polio 32% que to collect information about anti-Smith activities. When Ian Smith lost power in • 1980, the bandit groups came under South n African control. Since that time the South Under 5 Mortality Rate 325-375 per 1,000 African government has continued to sup­ (death rate for infants = 1 infant every 7 minutes) port these armed gangs of terrorists, now Literacy Rate for Women 12% known as the Mozambique National

Mozambique's History Mozambique 1990 The Case for Genocide Prominent Mozambicans

Joaquim Chissano is the current was the first became Graca Machel Samora Machel's president of Mozambique. He leader of Frelimo. He was trained president of Frelimo following the widow, was Minister of Education began his antif- Portuguese as a sociologist in the United assassination of Mondlane. until recently. She continues on activities as a young student in States and worked for the United Trained as a nurse under the the Frelimo Central Committee the 1950s. He was a leader in Nations until he returned to Portuguese, he led Frelimo and and holds many other leadership Frelimo during the armed struggle Mozambique in 1960 to help end the nation to independence and positions. She has been active in in the 1960s, and was the Prime Portuguese colonialism. His book, became the first president of increasing international awareness Minister of the transitional Struggle in Mozambique, was for Mozambique. Widely of Mozambique's current situation, government in 1974. He was many years the only English­ acknowledged as a charismatic especially the plight of the elected President following the language source on modern and dynamic man , his song-filled children. death of Samora Machel in 1986. Mozambique. He was speeches carried in him the love Salome Moiane is the head of the assassinated in 1969 by the and dedication of millions of Mozambican Women's Portuguese secret police. Mozambicans. He was killed in Organization (OMM), which plays October 1986 when his plane a central role in raising issues of crashed in South African territory importance to ' under suspicious circumstances. struggle and development.

MNR when they blew up a train travelling The MNR from Ressano Garcia to Maputo. While the Eyewitness to the There is ample evidence that the MNR train was disabled they used bayonets and is not interested in overthrowing the guns to kill some of the passengers. Homoine Massacre Buses, trains, and truck convoys bringing Frelimo government. Its major aim is to All of them wore new uniforms , shiny spread terror and destruction. In one of its famine relief are routinely assaulted and burned. boots and carried new weapons. It also most horrific attacks in July 1987 MNR appeared that they were well organized. entered the peaceful southern town of One man led the group and directed Homoine at dawn and massacred 424 peo­ the others into three smaller sections. ple, including children and hospital pa- As the bandits turned the corner under tients. MNR targeted Homoine because my windows, they fired a volley of the town had been recovering from the ef­ bullets at the buildings on the main fects of the recent drought that has af- street. I stood stunned as I saW seven fected most of southern Africa. Not only women , who were huddled on the had Homoine been feeding itself, but it sidewalk, shot down. Some of the had begun to supply food to the surround­ women carried babies wrapped in cloth ing region . It's ability to survive and pro- t:: around their bodies .. .. the final death toll duce made Homoine a valuable target for )Jl in Hoimoine: 424 dead, 44 children. destruction. While Homoine was perhaps ~ Another 298 people were taken captive the single blooctiest incident, similar q;' by the bandits (MNR). massacres have been repeated all over the 2 Mark Van Kovering , MCC , Agronomist country. In February of 1990, there were ~ 66 Civilian killed and 50 wounded by the School bound children in

Mozambique 1990 The Case for Genocide Children As Victims It happened at night, as it always does. Like owls or hyenas, the bandits The hardest hit victims are the children swooped down on a village in the area of Mozambique. A United Nations study in of Tanainga. They stole kidnapped and 1989 'the economic cost of frontline then forced their victims to carry their resistance to apartheid' revealed that in food, radios, batteries, the sweat of Mozambique, nearly 494,000 children died their labor in the fields or in the mines between 1980 and 1988 as a result of the of Jo'burg where many of those war. If Mozambique could live in peace, possessions had come from . such conditions could be improved. Those Among the kidnapped were pregnant children who survive face diminished lives women and little children. Among the as a result of the destabilization of their little ones was a small girl of nearly society. Many children have been maimed, eight. .. . have seen family members tortured and To demonstrate the fate of the girls to killed, have been kidnapped by the MNR t~ose who were going back, the bandit and forced to murder others, or have been chief of the group picked out one, the forced to flee their homes and live in small girl who was less than eight. In refugee camps. The long term costs of front of everyone, he tried to rape her. having the next generation traumatized by The child's vagina was small and he these experiences cannot be calculated. could not penetrate. On a whim , he took a whetted pocketknife and opened her with a violent stroke. He took her in Blood . The child died.

These ctlildren were attacked with an axe by Mozambican Writer Lina Magaia, excerpts from MNR bandits in Province the " Little Girl Who Never Learned to Dream"

31 doctors worked in rural areas, and the Health Care Under Attack ratio had fallen to one doctor for every The health care system has been 396,000 people. Added to this decline is the decline in health caused by the war's especially targeted by the MNR. A recent 494,000 war-related child deaths 1980-1988 report states that by the end of 1986, 213 impact on food supplies and sanitation. outlying health posts had been destroyed, and a further 382 had been looted or forced to close. This represents nearly South Africa's War one-third of Mozambique's health post net­ Against Mozambique work. These posts were designed to be the 900,000 War-related total deaths 1980-1988 primary source of health care for the The Impact millions of rural peasants who make up the majority of Mozambique's population. ~, By the end of 1987, Mozambican health 1983-84 war-induced famine reduced available officials estimate two million people had grain to 2 million tons lost access to health care. This was caused by the destruction of many 250,000 orphaned children centers, the increased difficulty in getting 4 Z supplies to centers that remain open , and 1.5 million deaths have resulted from South the problems of travelling to those centers Africa's war against its neighbors when roads are not safe. In 1982, 72 doctors were working in rural areas, with a ratio of one doctor for every 161,000 people. By 1986, just four years later, only 5 million no access to health care

4.6 million homeless Mozambicans

The Case for Genocide The Gersony Report "New evidence compiled by an experienced refugee expert working for In March 1988, a U.S. State Department the U.S. Department of State ... com missioned-researcher interviewed two provide factual evidence of what so hundred refugees in camps scattered many of us knew in our hearts that for throughout Mozambique and its neighbors. whatever misguided reasons Renamo His report clearly stated that the refugees has been waging a systematic and blamed the MNR for their troubles, and brutal war of terror against innocent continued to support the Mozambican Mozambican civilians through forced government. Each refugee had a story to labor, starvations, physical abuse and relate of forced labor for the MNR, wanton killing. Condemn as we all do, beatings, rapes, looting, burnings, condemnation of these acts is not abductions, and mutilations. The report enough. What has emerged in concludes 'that the accounts are so Mozambique is one of the most brutal strikingly similar by refugees who have fled holocausts against ordinary human from northern, central and southern beings since World War II; and the Mozambique suggests that the violence is supporters of Renamo, wherever they War victims in Maputo, November 1987 systemic and coordinated and not a series may be, cannot wash the blood fron: of spontaneous, isolated incidents by their hands unless all support for thiS undisciplined combatants.' unconscionable violence is stopped "It (MNR) has not succeeded in gaining immediately" . legitimacy or accepta.nce anywhere (Statement by U.S. Deputy Assistant outside Mozambique, and it can't hold Secretary of State for African Affairs, major towns inside Mozambique, so it's Roy Stacey) just a killing machine, sitting out there in the country." Chester Crocker, Former assistant Secretary for African Affairs

Struggle and Hope: The South African It is important to catalog the poverty and Connection destruction, but it is equally important to note the continued resilience of the The evidence is clear that South Africa Mozambican people and their Frelimo is funding the MNR. Even the Reagan government. The Front Line states have State Department had to admit that the formed the Southern African Development pattern of destruction rules out random Coordination Council, or SADCC, which violence by uncoordinated groups. MNR works to decrease regional dependence on terrorists who have been captured or South Africa. The port of Beira, in central turned themselves in tell of night time Mozambique, has been increasing its parachute drops of equipment and food. A capacity annually for the past few years. It captured diary found in 1986 in the MNR is a major outlet for Zimbabwe, Zambia, base at Gorongosa documented specific and Malawi, and has received international 10th independence celebration in Maputo visits by named South African government attention and investment through the Beira and military officials. Corridor Authority. "I left Mozambique because of the war. The Mozambican government has Renamo arrived in our village taking cattle, "Mozambicans, it is a challenge, which we established a centralized bureau to deal stealing food, burning houses and killing have already begun to meet, to turn with the national emergency. Emergency some of the villagers. They stole all my sorrow into new strength." projects include careful -management of cattle. I fled to Malawi with my wife and (Joaquim Chissano, 1986, upon being elected agricultural production to avert famine, seven children. I was in the refugee center president following the death of President organized distribution of foreign donations, of Biri Biri. But the conditions were too Mache/.) and a long term rehabilitation project for difficult. I could not come back last year. families that have been displaced by the But this year the security situation is more war. stable. We want to return to our land." (Statement by Augusto Arichi in Tete Province, quoted in Southern Africa Report, October 1988). In Angola, even after the three party When Lesotho provided refuge for South Destabilization Campaign agreement in December of 1988, South African dissidents forced into exile, South South Africa is bordered by Black nations. Africa has continued its undeclared war Africa mounted military raids on Maseru, As these countries have achieved inde­ against Angola. In late January, 1990, its capitol. After exiles continued to find pendence, South Africa has reacted by SADF flew 2300 troops from Walvis Bay refuge there, the apartheid regime began exerting economic pressure, by arming into Cuando Cuabango province where an economic blockade of this tiny country and training insurgency movements, and they aided Unita in efforts against the which is surrounded by South Africa. As a by undertaking direct military actions to Angolan government. In November 1989, result, the Lesotho government was de­ undermine their newly formed govern­ an American CIA plane was downed in posed in favor of local officials who agreed ments and developing economies. The Southern Angola, underscoring growing to deport all dissident refugees. following examples are only a few of the U.S. involvement. South African and U.S. many ways in which the regime has acted collaborative efforts make a mockery of the Namibia, having gained its independence to undermine the political stability of its Bush administration denouncements of from South Africa in March of 1990, after a neighbors and to hold them as economic Apartheid . U.S. aid to Unita has been protracted and bloody guerrilla war, still hostages. Within South Africa, most reported to be as much as 80 million finds itself ensnared in a maze of observers have concluded that White dollars. economic dependency. South Africa's South African leaders have not yet made adamant refusal to turn over Namibia's the decision to begin negotiations about only deep water port, Walvis Bay, to the one person one vote. Instead they seem new SWAPO government highlights the determined to avoid internal and external economic choke hold they continue to pressure, and to continue their domestic have on that country. Reports continue to oppression and regional destabilization surface concerning MNR/UNITA like forces activities. that are being readied to wreak the same kind of havoc in Namibia that they have in Mozambique and Angola.

Peace Initiative For Information Contact: Presidents Moi of Kenya, Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Kaunda of Zambia have American Committee on Africa agreed to act as brokers between the 198 Broadway Ave. Mozambican government and the MNR . New York, NY 10038 212/962-1210 President Kaunda has urged the American Friends Service Committee Mozambican government to talk to 1501 Cherry St. Renamo's leaders 'and find out what they Phila., PA 19102 215/241-7169 think they are dOing to themselves and to their brothers and sisters and on whose Lawyers Committee/Southern Africa command they are doing it.' This request 1401 I. St. , NW #400 was followed by a Mozambican Washington , DC 20005 202/371-1212 government announcement of their Mozambique Support Network willingness to engage in dialogue with Room 314 Renamo. Subsequently, Renamo chose 343 S. Dearborn not to honor a request by Mozambican Chicago, IL 60604 312/922-3286 church leaders to meet on July 19th, 1989. Nevertheless, Mozambique's President TransAfrica Chissano maintains that the time is right to 545 8th St., SE advance, and " to hear more closely from Washington , DC 20003 202/547-2550 those Mozambicans who attack the people United Nations Centre Against Apartheid and the People's Republic of New York, NY 10017 212/963-6674 Mozambique." In January of 1990, President Chissano reported that Renamo Washington Office on Africa rejected direct talks with the government 110 Maryland Ave . NE of Mozambique. He said, " . . . they don't Washington, DC 20002 202/546-7961 recognize the People's Republic of Elisa Pedro learns to walk again, her legs were amputated after she was hit by a mine in Mozambique of the Mozambican Inhambane Province, in 1989. constitution.' , South African War of Destabilization

~ AMERICAN FRIENDS "-If!!!' SERVICE COMMITTEE SOUTHERN AFRICA PROGRAM National Office: 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 (215) 241-7000 AFSC Regional Offices: Southeastern Region Atlanta, Georgia 30303, 92 Piedmont Avenue, NE • Middle Atlantic Region Baltimore, Maryland 21218, 317 E. 25th Street. New England Region Cambridge Massachusetts, 2161 MassachusettsAvenue. Great Lakes Region Chicago,llIinois 60605,59 E. Van Buren Street Suite 1400 • North Central Region Des MOines, Iowa 50312, 4211 Grand Avenue • New York Metropolitan Region New York, New York 10003, 15 Rutherford Place • Pacific Southwest Region Pasadena, California 91103,980 N. Fair Oaks Avenue • Northern California Region San Francisco, California 94121 , 2160 Lake Street • Pacific Northwest Region Seattle, Washington 98105, 814 N.E. 40th Street

President Chissano leads (R) mourners at the funeral of Samora Machel