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11-1985 CIDSA Update, No. 12 Coalition for Illinois Divestment from South Africa

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Custom Citation Coalition for Illinois Divestment from South Africa. "CIDSA Update, No. 12" (November/December 1985). Cheryl Johnson-Odim Collection, College Archives & Special Collections, Columbia College Chicago.

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Cheryl Johnson-Odim Collection at Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. It has been accepted for inclusion in Coalition for Illinois Divestment from South Africa (CIDSA) Documents by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER #12 254 CIDSA UPDATE Coalition for Illinois' Divestment from South Africa 343 S. Dearborn, Suite 919, Chicago, IL 60604 312-922-3915 Stop U.S. Aid to South Africa-THEANGOLA CONNECTION By Prexy Nesb iu but UNITA and the South African up the Gulf Oil installations in Wh at do the Heritage Found ati on, government have recent ly admitted northern . Thus, U.S. aid to Adolph Coors, the Wall Street Jour­ anxiety over the much better planes, UN IT A would be a violation of the nal , the Coll ege Republican National missiles and anti-aircraft weaponry UN arms embargo against South Committee, the Free the Eagle group, wh ich Angola has received in recent Africa. the Conservative Caucus Founda­ ye ars in order to repel South Africa's Why is aid to UN ITA so high on tion. the American Security Council repeated invasion s. lncidently, con­ our diminutive minute man ·s agenda? and the Cuban American National se rvati ve estimates indicate that Why at this particular point? Foundation all have in common? South Africa raids have caused Aid to UNITA is not new. As early Angola twelve billion dollars damage as his 1979 pres identi al campaign All are joining together to "fight since its independence in 1975. Reagan and another of his freedom­ for freedom" in Africa, especia ll y in An important point which the loving colleagues, Jesse Helms (R­ Angola. If that sounds a trine bi zarre American Com mittee on Africa high­ N orth Carolina) pushed for Congress simply add to their ranks Ronald lighted in a November 12 open letter, to repeal the Clark Amendment, the Reagan who too has decid ed he is entitled "AID TO UN ITA IS AID Congressional legislation which in fir mly committed to the struggle fo r TO SOUTH AFRICA", is that 1975 had prohibited U.S. assistance freedom not onl y in Angola, but UN ITA and its leader Savimbi have for military or covert operations throughout Southern Africa. So no bank in the bush. Any aid which against Angola. For years Reagan comm itted, in fact , is our leader that the Reagan ad ministration is ei ther and others (like Freedom House) on Friday, November 23, 1985 Rea­ proposing (or facilitating) necessarily have loved their brutal black giant gan announced that he favored a. has to go via the Pretoria regime. who has been their covert aid operation to UN ITA Moreover, UN ITA 's operations are perfect "Crown" from Porgy and (National Union for the Total Inde­ often coordinated and planned by Bess. For years Reagan has been pendence of Angola, the South South Africa. Not too long ago close to South Africa and its policies. African-backed rebel group fighting, UN ITA and South Africa forces But this is not the fu ll story. the Angolan government) as it would were caught together trying to blow Co ntinued on page 2 be "more useful" and "have more chance of success" than the various federal legislative bills calling for open military or humanitarian ass is­ TheKairosDocument tance. In the late fall of this year an Kairos has a specific purpose. Ju st as What is the secret covert ass istance ecume nical group of more than one Dietrich Bonhoffer wrote a specific program which Ronald Reagan and hundred black and white South piece, with a specific audience in his legions are openly promoting? African church leaders meeting in mind i.e. , the German people in the The November I, 1985 Washington Soweto released a dramatically pro­ midst of escalating fascism and war, Post quoted US intelligence sources found statement and challenge to the so too does Kairos target a specific as saying that the Pentagon, CIA apartheid state. At long last the text group. It is written by Christian and Defense Department want to see of this historic document has reached church people for other church a two to three hundred million dollars the USA. people; by South Africans- black covert military program initiated in It is the Kairos Document and it is and white- for other South Africans. Angola. It would probably be largely described as a "theological comment Despite this (and maybe because of arms and equipment (at least initially) on the political crisis in South Africa." continued on page 6

Sunday, J anuary 5, February 9, and March 2 Next CIDSAMeeti.ngs: U.E. Hall, 37 S. Ashland, Chicago, 6 p.m. Anti-Apartheid Calendar----Page2~ Every Thursday-Free South Africa Movement (FSAM) January 8-John Camaroff, Unive rsi ty orC hicago professor,speaks Demonstration-South African Consu late, 444 N. Michigan, on history of liberation struggles in Southern Africa, 8 p.m., Ida Chicago, 12 Noon. Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St. , Un iversity of Chicago. Sponsored by Every Wednesday- FSAM Meeting-700 E. Oakwood. Chicago, Third World Political Forum. 6:30 p.m. J anuary 15- FSAM Demonstration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther January 5- CIDSA General Membership Meeting, U.E. Hall, 37 S. King's birthday. Everyone is urged to attend. Ashland . Chicago, 6 p.m. January 25 - Anti-apartheid films co-sponsored by Chicago Film­ *Panel discussion by 3 leading Afro-American scholars on Resistance makers. '"Woza Albert" and "Allan Boesak: Choosing for Justice," 8 in South Africa. FormerCIDSA co-chai r Cheryl Johnson-Odim will p.m .. 6 W. Hubbard. $3.50; $2.50 fo r members and senior. For more moderate this ed ucational forum. information call 329-0854. February 8- A conference on direct support for liberation move­ ments. 8:30- 5, Chicago State University, 95th and King Drive, TheAngola Connection Chicago. For further information contact M. Malloy, P.O. Box 6770, continued f rom page I Chicago, IL 60680. Reagan and his associates see the world in very simple February 9- CIDSA General Membership Meeting, U.E. Hall , 37 S. Ashland, Chicago, 6 p.m. child-like terms. They are incapable of anything other •Note this is not the first Sunday in February. than a highly rhetorical, polarized world view which sees March 2- CIDSA General Membersh ip Meeting, U.E. Hall, 37 S. only blacks against whites, the East ve rsus the West. Add Ashland, Chicago, 6 p.m. to this world view their post Grenada beliefs that the American people are past the Vi etnam syndrome and are read y to "'start wi nning again" and then a ful ler understanding begin s. This momentum to aid UNITA is a dangerous, well Why Divest? organized and we ll-funded development. It cannot be U.S. in vestments strengthen the apartheid economy, separated from the issue of apartheid. The fi ght by the thereby increasing the ability of the white government to people of South Africa against apartheid and the long preserve its power. The past twenty-five years disprove combat by the Angolan people (who si nce 1975 have not the claim that investments can be an agent for change been able to lay down their arms) against South Africa because the apartheid government's repressive power and its vicious puppet army, UNITA, is one and the same has onl y increased during this time. Yet even if every struggle. The children throwing stones against the hippos U.S. firm in South Africa practiced commendable labor and the tanks are brother and sister to the refugee policies, apartheid would still not be threatened. Nambian and Angolan children defiantly Oeeing South The companies must comply with South African law African bombing raids. Both si tuations need and deserve and coexist with dise nfranchisement, population control, our full attention and support. and forced removals, as well as detentions and bannings. The black community, from 1959 Nobel Peace Laureate Albert Luthuli to 1984 No bel Peace Laureate Bishop Who is CIDSA? Des mond Tutu, has continually said "we don't want our The Coalition for Illinois' Divestment from South chains polished, we want them removed. "The divestment Africa was founded in June 1983 to push for the passage of publicly controlled Illinois fund s from South Africa of a dives tment bill in the Illinois State Legislature. Over will be a significant contribution to the wo rld-wid e anti­ 65 organizations and 300 concerned individuals from apartheid move ment and will help create circumstances across the state now comprise C IVSA 's growin g for the South African people to forge fundamental membership. change in their country.

Please return to: CIDSA, Coalition for Illinois Divestment from South Africa MEMBERSHIPS Suite 9 19,343 S. Dearborn. Chicago. Ill. 60604 Enclosed: Organizational Member Donation $ 15 Membership fee Individual Member Donalion $ 10 includes Amandla Club Donatton $ 100 newsletter and Additional Contribution other benefits NAME ______::~~,-..._ ___._ ..... _.,..,. _____ ~ ORGANIZATION ------ADDRESS ZIP PHONE(~h_o_m_e~) ______;~(o_ffi_ce~)______Coalition for Illinois Divestment from South Africa Page3 CIDSA 343 South Dearborn, Suite 919 • Chicago, IL 60604 • (312) 922-3915 Who Is Jonas Savimbi? What ls ONITA? • Jonas Malheiro Savimbi comes payments during 1974-75. The main Angolan government. South Africa from the Ovimbundu community of anti-apartheid organization in Hol­ air and ground forces regularly Southern Angola. From 1958 to 1962 land, the Holland Committee for provide logistical support and supple­ he was largely a student of political Southern Africa, discovered early in mentary military offensives for science at the University of Lusanne 1971 that UNIT A's representative in UNITA. At times South African in Switzerland. Europe, Jorge Valentim, was on a troops fight with and lead UNIT A • In 1962, Holden Roberto, brother­ CIA payroll operating through the forces. At various points during the in-law to 's notorious and International Students Organization last ten years the South African gov­ corrupt General Mobutu and then based in Prague. ernment has invaded Angola in futile the leader of an exiled Angolan CIA­ • Immediately after the April, 1974 efforts to install UNIT A. Asked in backed organization, FNLA/ GRAE, coup in Portugal, Savimbi who had 1983 how he justified his links to appointed Savimbi as the FNLA/ advocated "a black socialist republic apartheid, Savimbi answered: GRAE Foreign Minister. in Angola" began to project himself • During the 1964-1966 period Sa­ as the moderate alternative, the only "First, I do not get help only vimbi both split with Holden Roberto statesman capable of governing from South Africa. There is and approached the most substantive Angola. He preached "gradual de­ support from many black African and strongly supported liberation colonization because the Angolan (probably Zaire, Senegal, Moroc­ movement, the MPLA, intending to people were not yet ready for inde­ co, Malawi and the Bantustans) join the organization. The M PLA pendence". (See Braganca Aquino, and Middle East states and leadership however, had problems "The Strange Career of Dr. Savimbi," . But I am absolutely with­ with various aspects of Savimbi's AfricAsia, No. I, January, 1984.) out remorse that I have dealings proposals including the fact that he • Savimbi and UNITA's principal with South Africa (emphasis would only join M PLA on the ally, sponsor, amd arms supplier is added). They are the only real condition that he was made a top apartheid South Africa. For years military and economic power in leader. the South African government and the region. " • Thus, in March, 1966 strongly army has provided unlimited assist­ Christian Science Monitor, supported by various Swiss and US ance to UNIT A in its war against the June 5, 1983. chu rch organizations, Jonas Savimbi and sixty-odd others formed the National Union for the Total Inde­ WHAT YOU.CAN DO pendence of Angola(UNIT A). From Much more is at stake in regards Rambo Reagan Administration to the beginning Savimbi and UNIT A to events in Angola today than the stop all efforts to provide aid of any virulently attacked the M PLA alleg­ possibility of Jonas Savimbi and kind to UNITA. ing that it was "nothing but assim­ UNITA overthrowing the MPLA­ • Demand an end to South Africa's ilados and mesticos". From the begin­ led People's Republic of Angola. illegal occupation of Namibia. Call ning UN ITA organized itself on a U.S. aid helping to bring Jonas upon the United States to enter into tribalist basis arguing that only the Savimbi and hi s cohorts to power good faith negotiations with Angola Ovimbundus could be the basis of a means ipso facto the movement of over Namibian independence and a truly black Angola. apartheid's tentacles into . Cuban troop withdrawal. Demand • Throughout the late I 960s until Not only would centuries of resist­ that the U.S. end its insistence on the mid 70s Savimbi argued that he ance against Portuguese colonialism linking Namibia's independence to was the only authentic black-African and exploitation be jeopardized, but a withdrawal of Cuban troops. liberation fighter, the only o ne oper­ additionally, Angola would no • Applaud and support the initiative ating solely inside Angola. Various longer be the tincheira firma (the be Con. Ted Weiss (D-NY) aimed at documentation from the Portuguese firm bulwark) for SWAPO, the stopping U.S. covert or overt involve­ colonial government, released after ANC and the general effort to over­ ment in Angola. the 1974 coup in Portugal, however, throw white rule in Africa. • Demand tough new sanctions indicates that Savimbi may have In view of the current situ ation in against South Africa, in light of its been an agent of the and Southern Africa, and stepped up internal crackdown and from I 972 onwards with his main given the growing effort by the external military aggression, includ­ assignment being the destruction of Reagan administration and some of ing a total trade embargo and com­ the MPLA. its racist and reactionary allies to plete disinvestment by U.S. corpora­ • According to ex-CIA agent John topple the sovereign government of tions operating there. Stockwell's book, In Search of Ene­ Angola, CIDSA urges you to: DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. mies, Savimbi was a regular recipient • Call upon Congress and the IT IS AN URGENT MATTER. of over two million dollars in CIA Page4 Angola Fact Sheet*

Angola was under Portuguese control from its colonization in the 15th century until it achieved independence on November 11, 1975. Armed struggle for liberation began in earnest in . Nationalist movements emerged within Angola's three major ethnolinguistic groups: the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) under the leadership of Holden Roberto (Bakongo); the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) led by Dr. (Mbundu); and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNIT A) headed by Jonas Savimbi. In 1973, China became involved in the war as a supplier of the FNLA. The United States also began covert aid to the FNLA in July 1974. Shortly thereafter, the began send ing small arms shipments to the MPLA. On J anuary 15, 1975, all th ree liberation movements signed the Alvor Accord call ing fo r Portuguese­ supervised elections fo llowed by independence on November 11 . On J anuary 26, in an attempt to strengthen the FNLA's position, the CIA sent $300,000 to Roberto and encouraged the FNLA to attack the MPLA. In response to this treachery, the Soviet Union increased arms shipments to the MPLA, and Soviet and Cuban advisors we re sent to Angola. Over the next year, the CIA spent $31.7 million in support of the FNLA and UN IT A, recruited mercenary fo rces, and enlisted the aid of two Zairian battalions and a South African armored column- all in an unsuccessful endeavo r to evict the M PLA from Luanda and prevent Neto from accepting the reins of government fro m the departing Portuguese. The beseiged MPLA in turn solicited the support of , which began to land troops in Angola in October, 1975. In January, 1976, U.S. Congress members, upon learning that they had been systematically deceived by the CIA about the nature and extent of U.S. involvement, voted to block future funding for the Angola program (the "Clark Amendment," repealed 7 / 31 / 85). However, the U.S. refu sed to recognize Angola's new government, and it remains the only country besides South Africa to fail to do so.

A WAR-TORN ECONOMY Although the MPLA government professes socialist principles, the constitution and government policy preserve a mixed economy with state, co-operative and private sectors. Since 1979, the government has encouraged investment through a favorable foreign investment law. U.S. investment presently exceeds $500 million. According the David Rockefeller (in a recent letter to House Africa Subcommittee Chair Howard Wolpe), "Angola is trying to facilitate a larger Western role in its economy through policies promoting greater privatization and reliance on market mechanisms." As a result, Angola's economic ties are overwhelmingly with the west- in particular with the U.S., Angola's largest trading partner. Two-way annual trade between the U.S. and Angola has grown to over$ I billion during the Reagan Administration, a significant portion of which was backed by U.S. Export-Import Bank credits. In October, 1985, the Ex-Im Bank joined with five other U.S. banks to arrange $350 million in new loans for the development of Angola's oil fields. Nevertheless, years of warfare have taken their toll on the Angolan economy, laying waste much infrastructure and causing an exodus of vital Portuguese technical and managerial skills. In the south, the protracted struggle against UNIT A and South Africa forces consumes valuable revenues, inhibits the development of Angola's rich natural resources, and prevents the rehabilitation of economically important installation, such as the cross-country Benguela railway (which earned $100 million annually before the wars). In 198 1, when GDP was $7 million at current prices, it was still about 40% lower than in 1973. *Washington Office on Africa Page5 TASK FORCES REPORT State Task Force Report Steel Task Force Divestment Machinery Gears Up in Illinois The Steel Task Force of CIDSA is very excited about the recent article in the District /033 News & Views, the The call is out and the heat is on for ILLINOIS newspaper of the Steel workers. The article discussed the DIVESTMENT BY JUNE '86. As the State Task Force importation and use of South African steel in the state of gears up to steer this journey, it is only th ose people Illinois. We hope that this will be the beginning of some reading this newsletter who can provide the engine meaningful work between the steel union and CIDSA's power it will take to reach this destination. Steel Task Force. Specifically, we need people to: The Steel Task Force has been working on an I) Act as a distribution point in your area for information informational brochure on the importation of South on this issue; African steel into Illinois. It is anticipated that this 2) attend Campaign Meetings to question candidates on brochure will be ready for publication after the first of their support for divestment in Illinois; the year. The publication of this brochure is especially 3) meet in small groups with your legislators; significant because it will be the first of its kind and it will 4) organize letter writing/ petition campaigns in your include new documented information about importation legislative district; of South African steel. 5) organize a public hearing on the issue. For further information contact Ora Schub at the Below is a summary of the pending bills and our CIDSA office 922-3915. timetable. Contact CIDSA for further information and to indicate your willingness to participate in whatever way you can. One Struggle Forum Due to scheduling difficulties the educational forum linking the issues of U.S. foreign policy in South Africa, At prese nt H B 317 and H B 330 are under consideration Central America and the Caribbean originally planned in the House. These bills would amend the "lllinois for December8 has been reset for Sunday, FEBRUARY Pension Code" and "An Act in relation to State 2, 1986. The forum will be held in Pilsen on Sunday monies" to prohibit investment in or deposits with any afternoon and on the south side on Sunday evening. The corporation or financial institution which invests in , specific times and locations are being finalized . Speakers has any ownership interest in or outstanding loans to: include Dr. Jean Sindab, Executive Director of the a) the Republic of South Africa; Washington Office on Africa; Dr. Charles Clements, b) a corporation organized under the laws of Executive Director of Americans for Peace in the South Africa; Americas and author of Witness to War an American c) any company for the purpose of investment in Doctor in El Salvador; and Dr. John Saul, professor of South Africa; political science at York University who lived in until the certifies that apartheid has Mozambique, worked with FRELIMO and was an been abolished. advisor to the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. These bills call for the divested monies to be reinvested We hope this forum wi ll : I) enable the Latino or deposited as much as is reasonably possible in community and its allies to better appreciate and support Illinois bu sinesses in order to stimulate economic the struggle in South Africa and Namibia; 2) enable the development and em ployment opportunities in Illin ois. black community to better understand and support the struggle in Central America; 3) help strengthen and H B 3 I 7 provides for a 3 year period to phase out deepen the ties between the black and Latino commu­ current investments in such firms ; HB 330 provides a 5 nities in Chicago. ye ar period. CIDSA favors 317. For more information call Zeva Schub at 461-0543 or These bills are currently in Interim Study in the Urban CIDSA at 922-3915. Redevelopment Committee chaired by Rep. Yvetter Younge of East St. Louis. A Legislative Hearing must City Task Force be held by March 2, before the Gove rnor's Budget To date, at least 50 cities have divested from South Meeting. These bills must pass out of comittee before Africa. Unfortunately Chicago is not among them. Gus May 4 and- in order to go to the Senate- must pass Newport, Mayor of Berkeley, California, is sending out of the House by May 26. The Senate will vote by Mayor Washington a letter asking him to join those June 27 if they pass out of committee by the 14th. cities in divestment. At this point approximately 3 I Representatives favor The C IDSA C ity Task Force is also planning to meet the bills and 45 oppose them. The remaining 42 are with the Mayor to ask why the divestment ordinance uncommitted either way and thus need to hear from us. supported by the Administration has not been actively Call the CI DSA office to find out where your repre­ pursued. All CIDSA members should call the Mayor's sentative stands. office and get family, friends and organizations to also call. Page6 South African Update Nov. 2 A news black-out was imposed by the South Trade Unions (COSATU). They have openly African government. Still photographers and call ed for sanctions and disinvestments from TV camerapersons are banned from news South Africa. COSATU has also warned the coverage of events occurring in South Africa. South African government that if changes in the apartheid system do not occur within 6 Nov. 13 The South African government announced months, action will be taken, e.g. passbook temporary halting of the production of the burnings or a call for a nationwide st rike. Krugerrand gold coin. Dec. 3 State of Emergency was li fted in 8 rural areas mid- A South African court recogni zed the National but remains in force in 30 areas of South Nov. Union of Mineworkers as a legal bargaining Africa. unit. The court ordered that workers from this union who struck earli er this year and were Dec. 3 Wi nni e Mandela. wife of ANC leader Nelson fired be reinstated. The court decision also Mandela, made a defiant and courageous prevented South Africa from repatriating speech in vio lation of her banning order in African workers from neighboring countries. which she said , "The country [So uth Africa] is ours." This was her first public speech in o ve r Nov. 23 ANC leader Nelson Mandela returned to 25 ye ars. prison after his release from a hospital stay for Dec. 10 The sOuth African gove rnment withdrew a successful prostate operation. There had charges against 12 of the 16 defendants in the been much speculation and hope that tile UDF Treason Tria l. The 4 who still face trial South African regime would take the oppor­ a re all members of the South African Allied tunity to release Mandela and send him to Workers Un io n. o ne of the most milita nt ANC headquarters in Zambia. unions in the country. After the withdrawal of Nov. 30 Delegates from 36 trade unions, including charges. it was said that the trial had bee n an FOSATU, met on November 29 and formed attempt to "criminalize and immo bili ze the the largest trade union fed eration in South opponents of apartheid ... a device to sto p African history, the Congress of South African people resisting apartheid." growing numbers of people inside Africa- Christians, atheists. Mus­ TheKairosDocument South Africa have reached that point, lims and J ews- who ye t are asking: continued from page I common to so many people's strug­ But docs it concern me? Why should it) Kairos is an inspiring and coura­ gles where they are ready and willing I care? South Africa and Soweto are geous statement for anybody any­ to die, if need be, in order to funda­ way over there. where. It thus becomes indispensable mentally change South Africa. Copies of the Kairos Document reading for anyone who wants to Kairos is a message- not whis­ are available from: the Theology in a better understand the depth and pered as in earlier days when people Global Conrext Office. Stony Poinr breadth of the resistance going on feared more repression and retalia­ Center, Crickettown Road , Stony today in South Africa. It enables us tion- trumpeting a response to all Point, NY 10983 or from the CIDSA to better comprehend the fact that those inside and outside South office.

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