15 LSM NEWS Winter /1978 QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF LIBERATION SUPPORT MOVEMENT

Contents

LEADING EDGE l

HURRICANE IN THE HORN 2

ANGOLA IS INDEPENDENT (song) ...... 24

LEFT PROFILE - GLAD DAY PRESS ...... 26

LSM SECOND CONGRESS ...... 32

LSM NOTES ...... 39

BOX 2077 ...... 46

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Like many North Americans, groups active in anti-imperi­ LSM views events in the Horn alist work on the North Ameri­ of Africa - Eritrea, Ethiopia, can continent. Our aim is not Somalia, and Djibouti - with a to create heroes and heroines mixture of concern and hope. but to show that, on the con­ In trying to get a clearer trary, hard work, application view of the present conflict, of skills, and political com­ we sifted through stacks of mitment by ordinary people is written material from many what makes it possible for the sources, met with liberation anti-imperialist movement to movement representatives from carry out its tasks. Our Oman and Eritrea, and dis­ first installment brings you cussed the intertwined ques­ to meet one of those groups tions facing the Horn of that do the most necessary, Africa inside LSM and with though least glamorous, of friends. We believe an in­ these tasks: the Glad Day dependent stance on the Horn Press printing collective. of Africa is necessary for Our next installment will be anti-imperialists. No single a profile of radical journa­ "side" or "camp" takes a posi­ list Wilfred Burchett. tion which we can enthusias­ LSM's October 1977 Congress tically support. But we do reconsidered many aspects of support the Eritrean struggle our theoretical position, for national liberation and strategy, practice, and struc­ oppose the Ethiopian colonial ture. While we have not sub­ occupation of Eritrea. We stantially shifted course, we hope "Hurricane in the Horn," did clarify and cut back some which presents our views, will areas. For instance, the Con­ help other socialists and anti­ gress updated our theoretical imperialists find a clear per­ position in 16 points around spective to shape their own which LSM members unite. views and actions. These points appear here along This issue also carries our with summaries of other deci­ first effort in a series of sions. "Left Profiles," in which we We hope LSM NEWS readers hope to demystify for our also read other LSM publica­ readers some of the people and tions. For some time, we have continued on last page -- ..- -.- . - - . ------A -•------. -- - - -= - -: --- .------. ------

.....- -- -- . --=- - -- : --- --·-- -- .. Nationalism, Social Revolution, and International Maneuvering in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia In 1977 the Horn of Africa - little unchanged in its wake. Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Fierce nationalism, class and Somalia - stormed with struggle, and international crisis. The Eritrean libera­ maneuvering converge to create tion movement recorded great the present conflict and pro­ military advances; Somali duce paradoxes that are as yet rebels and the regular Somali impossible to clearly analyze. army carved huge chunks from The genuine liberation move­ Ethiopia's southeastern flank. ment in Eritrea is supported Within the rest of Ethiopia on the international level both radical and reactionary mainly by reactionary states groups as well as regionally and denied support by many based movements attacked the progressive governments. The country's military regime with colonial power, Ethiopia, re­ arms. And in the middle of it portedly receives support at all Djibouti opted for indepen­ once from Israel, Libya, Cuba, dence from France but kept and the USSR. The USSR is now 6,000 French troops ~o guard rapidly arming the Ethiopian its new freedom. junta to beat back an attack Each of these events was of by Somalia, also armed with major importance. When they Soviet weapons. As Ethiopians all occurred simultaneously, fight Eritreans, Somalis, and the resulting storm swept each other, the revolutionary across the terrain, leaving forces throughout the region

2 become further divided. and the newly-formed empire of Behind the confusing front Ethiopian King Menelik who took stage melee we see an emerging forty years to assert control social revolution. As this over his. new possessions. process unfolds, US-led imperi­ Italy also took Eritrea, but alism will do all it can to both this country and the resume control over the H9rn. Italian part of Somalia fell It is for this reason that under British control during progressive North Americans World War II. Throughout the need to understand develop­ colonial period, European in';;. ments in the region. vestment in the area remained Though the focus of LSM's small; colonial settlement was work remains on Southern limited to the port cities and Africa, th-e importance of the a few inland trading towns. struggles in the Horn per­ The entire region remained suaded us to make the follow­ largely under imperialist con­ ing effort at analysis. In trol until ten years ago. The doing so, we stress our lack British left Aden only in 1967. of firsthand knowledge. Using Somalia, independent since 1960, instead a wide range of unpub­ for years fell under the mis­ lished and published - and rule of a corrupt a~d complete­ often contradictory - material ly inefficient regime. In our objective is to make enough Ethiopia, as in Saudi Arabia, sense of the situation to know British influence ceded how to act to support revolu­ ------to American in the tionary tendencies. 1950's, and the rapidly built up EGYPT Regional Strategy: ~ its presence in ~ both countries Imperialism vs. Liberation ~ Eritrea, The Horn of Africa borders .., though it Sudan and Kenya to the North had no and West. In the other direc­ his- tion, across the Red Sea, lie Khartoum• Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of (North) Yemen, and the Peo­ SUDAN ple's Democratic Republic of (South) Yemen. The Horn juts out into the crowded oil ship­ ping lanes of the Indian Ocean. In the late 19th century, European powers carved up the region along with the rest of Africa. The area inhabited by the Somali people was parceled out to France, Britain, Italy -

3 toric ties to Ethiopia, was the country's nomadic popula­ federated with that country by tion, end illiteracy, reduce a UN decision in 1950. The social inequalities, and com­ move was sponsored by Britain bat the traditional discrimina­ and the US, but the Eritrean tion against women. Inter­ people were not consulted. In nationally, the regime defined 1962 Ethiopian Emperor Haile itself as non-aligned and anti­ Selassie annexed Eritrea, An imperialist and received aid Eritrean national liberation from China and the USSR. The movement had been formed the latter built up the Somali previous year, but for several armed forces and was granted years to come was relatively the use of Somali port facili­ ineffective under conservative ties for its navy. leadership. Only to the North In Eritrea the lack of prog­ did things look different. ress and internal contradic­ Sudan and its neighbor Egypt tions of the Eritrean Libera­ were ruled by Arab nationalist tion Front (ELF) split the governments which cooled to the nationalist movement in 1970. West and built close relations Some of the militants who left with the Soviet Union. the ELF to form the Eritrean In the late 1960's the region People's Liberation Forces began to change considerably. (EPLF) had been trained in Cuba A people's war in South Yemen and China. They criticized the led to the formation of an in­ ELF leadership for its lack of dependent government in 1967. politicization of the masses Within two years, a new and and narrow nationalism. In re­ more radical regime came to turn ELF leaders called EPLF power, declared itself in founders tribal "splitters." favor of socialism, and began Meanwhile the Ethiopian em­ the protracted struggle to pire was rotting from within. transform backward Yemeni so­ Economic problems and a famine ciety. (This government also in the early 1970's left mil­ provided crucial support to lions of people impoverished the Marxist People's Front for and starving. Military losses the Liberation of Oman which is in Eritrea and related and struggling to topple the growing international pressure British-controlled sultan of also contributed to the col­ neighboring Oman). lapse of the regime in 1974. Also in 1969, an "official An army mutiny and a wave of revolution" took place in strikes toppled the ruling al­ Somalia where the military, liance of the traditional led by General Siad Barre, re­ landowning aristocracy and the solved a parliamentary crisis growing bureaucratic bourgeoi­ by taking power. Within five sie and paved the way for a years, Barre's government had military takeover in September initiated programs to settle of that year. Emperor Haile

4 r

Selassie was overthrown and unsettled American oil execu­ power assumed by a council of tives and Pentagon officials, lower-ranking military offi­ they could still find solace cers - the Dergue. This junta in their own accomplishments. was deeply influenced by the Over the past decade, oil-rich popular upsurge. Within a few Iran and Saudi Arabia have be­ months it nationalized a large come reliable caretakers for part of the modern sector of imperialism in this part of Ethiopia's economy. Then fol­ the world. (Iran even sent lowed the nationalization of troops to Oman in an attempt all village land and finally, to crush the liberation move­ in July 1975, of urban land. ment there.) During the same Students carried out rural period, Egypt and Sudan turned literacy campaigns and worked their backs on the Soviet to improve village conditions. Union and accepted US and Saudi These efforts broke the power aid in return. Egyptian Presi­ of the feudal aristocracy, dent Sadat's recent meetings many of whom were killed by with Israeli Prime Minister the Dergue or rebellious Begin are only the latest ex­ peasants. pression of an imperialist But the Dergue, in order to strategy which applies equally retain its power in the un­ to the Horn of Africa: encir­ stable situation, resorted to cle progressive states and greater and greater coercion liberation movements, then of the democratic and radical strangle them economically movement as well. Power strug­ and politically, one by one. gles within the military So far this strategy has spilled the blood 0£ soldiers not been countered at the and civilians alike and con­ regional level. A proposal - tinue after the emergence in backed by several African February 1977 of Mengistu countries, Cuba, and the Haile Mariam as Ethiopia's Soviet Union~ for the pro­ undisputed leader. Despite gressive forces of the Horn tremendous military setbacks, to collaborate within a Mengistu continues the war in federation or confederation Eritrea. He has all but bro­ has so far been rejected by ken ties with the US - declar­ Mengistu, Barre, and the ing his government to be Marx­ Eritreans. Nationalism, ist-Leninist - and received chauvinism, and religion massive support from the USSR, among real and proclaimed Cuba, and most East European socialists continue to block countries on the grounds that regional cooperation. Where a progressive government mass-based revolutions are finally controls Ethiopia. indeed developing, the organi­ If these trend£ in Yemen, zational forms may still be Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia lacking. Broad international

5 designs could lead some for­ control the state alone. The eign countries to sacrifice old ruling alliances crumbled support for one struggle in under the pressure of the 1974 order to ensure some per­ upsurge, but the democratic ceived advance in the region and left opposition was large­ as a whole. A closer look ly unorganized and had no at each main piece in the strategy by which it could puzzle will tell us more seize the initiative. In the about the forces at work. vacuum that resulted, power passed to the military which Ethiopia's Dergue: in the meantime had purged it­ self of its feudal-dominated Revolutionary or Fascist? higher ranks. The empire that Haile Selas­ The Dergue inherited an sie ruled was a conglomeration empire built on national op­ of a dozen different ethnic pression. The economy was in and language groups. Most of a state of disaster following these never completely recon­ a long drought and the ciled themselves to the chau­ country's political life vinism of the ruling Amharic was in upheaval. It is group and local revolts against this background against the Addis Ababa l:."' that we must judge its regime have been a constant ·~ subsequent actions. f~ature of Ethiopian history. "---, What , then , is These revolts grew stronger \ the nature of the as the emperor's power start­ ~, new Ethiopian ed to slip in the years ~+.., \ regime? Is it before his overthrow. ~(/~~. petty-hour- Ethiopia in the 1970's , geois national- is a country in trans­ ist, fascist, or ition. An expanding revolutionary? capitalism had already The answer to this question weaken. ed the land-~•.· owning aristocracy is a key before the 1974 ~ ingredient revel t, and the .· to aristocracy had to cede power to the growing bourgeoisie. L I The latter was also part of the anti-feudal opposition movement which included democratic and socialist elements. Ethnic groups No single class or political current was strong enough to

6 any analysis of the situation opposition - and their suppor­ in the Horn. Three different ters. Here in the US, 'this interpretations are worth view has also been advanced by summarizing. the Guardian newspaper. Some progressive governments A third "school" views the and liberation movements argue Dergue as a contradictory that the Dergue is a "revolu­ phenomenon. An unsigned tionary government. 111 * The article in Monthly Review evidence for this statement states that lies in the junta's accomplish­ ments of ending feudal rule Ethiopia is in the midst of a and launching numerous "demo­ complex and profound revolution cratic advances ••• to the in which violent struggle is benefit of the Ethiopian mas­ inevitable. The revolution ses - land reforms, ••• expresses cultural, economic, special educationj ~ .• and and political tensions which industrial organization. 112 have their roots deep in This is the public position of Ethiopia's history. 3 among others, Cuba, the Demo­ cratic Front for the Libera­ The article goes on to say that tion of Palestine, and, in this in the "unfolding tragedy" of country, of the Communist Party "no heroes and too many martyrs" USA and the Worker's World Par­ there is little room for clear­ ty. Part of this position is cut moralisms. This view makes to call on the Eritrean libera­ sense to us but fails to pro­ tion movements to lay down its vide a course of action. arms and seek a peaceful solu­ Another way to approach the tion with Ethiopian colonial­ question is to ask who can re­ ism. place the Dergue. Let us look A second grouping views the at the opposition within the Dergue as a fascist phenomenon, country. holding back a revolutionary The Left is dominated by two solution in the region. They organizations, the Ethiopian cite the escalation of the war People's Revolutionary Party in Eritrea, Mengistu's denial (EPRP) and the Meison (All­ of democratic rights to na­ Ethiopian Socialist Movement). tional minorities, and the Both have their roots in the brutal repression of ··the demo­ student movement, though the cratic and radical opposition EPRP in particular seems to as proof that, in action, the have expanded its base both new regime does not differ in the countryside and towns from the old. This view is over the past couple of years. held, understandably, by those Its existence was announced in who face the Dergue's ferocity August 1975. The EPRP repres­ - both of the Eritrean libera_. ented that part of the radical tion fronts and Ethiopian left movement which opposed the *Notes at end of article

7 Dergue from early on and called power. In 1975-76 the Dergue for civilian rule. From the created the so-called Polit­ start the organization supported bureau staffed by Meison mem­ self-determination for Eritrea. bers and given the task of Its tactics of confrontation mass politicization and mobi­ with the regime soon led the lization. This body, how­ latter to declare a state of ever, remained politically siege in Addis Ababa. Student isolated and called on the and worker demonstrations met Dergue in its struggle against bloody suppression and by mid- political enemies. Toward the 1976, the Dergue and some of end of 1976, Meison controlled its civilian supporters had the "militias" made up of lum­ systematically organized an pens with license to kill any­ extermination campaign against one suspected of "counter­ EPRP militants. revolutionary activities." Since late 1976 the. EPRP has Soon the Meison, too, was been involved in a life-and­ fighting against the EPRP. death struggle against the The Meison's political in­ Dergue and its allies. By now fluence limited Mengistu's and well-organized with a clandes­ the Dergue's freedom of action tine structure the EPRP re­ and during this period - late sponds with counter-violence 1976 - Mengistu began to set to massacres by the regime. up a political organization of Though thousands of its actual his own. The growing involve­ and suspected members and ment of the Soviet Union seems sympathizers have been slaugh­ to have added a point of fric­ tered, it remains a force in tion and in August 1977, the most of Ethiopia's towns and Meison broke with the Dergue over larwe parts of the coun­ and joined the underground tryside. opposition. 5 The Meison did not share the The EPRP and the Meison are EPRP's view of the Dergue. not the only left organizations Since Fall of 1974, this or­ in Ethiopia. A few smaller ganization advocated "critical groups supported the Dergue and support" for the military. As the Politbureau for a period its collaboration with the of time, while others have con­ Dergue increased, this support sistently refused any collabor­ became less and less "criti­ ation. Given the present di­ cal," and its differences with rection of Mengistu's regime, the EPRP became a major preoc­ support from the Ethiopian cupation. The Meison was more left has virtually dried up. isolated from the population A second form of opposition than its rival on the Left, to the Dergue comes from the but in acting as advisers to right. The Ethiopian Demo­ the regime, its leaders came cratic Union (EDU) is led by to exercise a great deal of former landlords and members

8 of the imperial family who at the helm of the Ethiopian organize its activities from state. The regional movements London. The EDU professes to have only local influence and be "progressive" though with­ can at best make it 'impossible out "ideological affinity, 11 6 for any. government to rule but other Ethiopian organiza­ without respecting their peo­ tions and the Eritrean libera­ ples' democratic rights. For tion fronts denounce it as any left-democratic coalition reactionary. EDU forces are to take over, much work must based in Sudan, but have had be done to heal the bitter little military success schisms of the past. While against the Dergue. Its. po­ left forces have fought the litical capability, on the Dergue and each other, the other hand, may still be EDU's political capacity re­ great considering that feudal mains untested. The class structures and mentality still forces it represents have remain strong throughout much been set back, but have by no of rural Ethiopia. The EDU is means been crushed yet. An an obvious tool for a poten­ alliance between these ele­ tial pro-imperialist takeover ments and more tTaditionally in the country. conservative elements within The third main form of anti­ the army is still a possibil­ Dergue opposition comes from a ity. In short, a change of variety of "liberation fronts" regime in this period is tha.t have sprung up in prov­ likely to provide an opening inces such as Tigre and Ogaden. by which US and Western in­ Some of these organizations fluence could stage a come~ resorted to armed struggle to back in the country. win democratic rights for their people within Ethiopia. While In the struggle to rout the this represents a legitimate landowning class - carried out objective, it is difficult to primarily by the peasants say much about the social and themselves - the Dergue no political basis of the various doubt played a progressive fronts. But the profound role. By launching reforms social struggles that are in the rural and urban areas, sweeping the country today make the Dergue also set in motion it unlikely that the peasants tremendous social forces that will quietly accept a return sharpened the revolutionary to the exploitation and humili­ situation in Ethiopia but are ation of the. past, whether by too vast to be controlled by a military regime or by return­ any one organization. Today ing landowners. the presence of the Dergue Neither left organization is still prevents a comeback by today strong or well-organized feudal, bourgeois, and pro­ enough to relieve the Dergue imperialist forces.

9 Kommentar Ethiopian workers

The above accomplishments, preservation. Political however, must be measured "deviations" were suppressed, against other actions of the the trade union movement was Dergue. At the outset - back forced into line, and peas­ in 1974 - the junta was deep­ ants were forced to back down ly influenced by the popular on demands that went beyond upsurge and attentive to the Dergue/Meison objectives. Ag­ demands of the Left. But ricultural and industrial pro­ within a few months, as the duction plummeted as the for­ turmoil and "chaos" of revo­ mer ruling classes were up­ lution spread throughout the rooted and, faced with an eco­ country, it became increas­ nomic crisis, "law and order" ingly preoccupied with self- became a chief concern of the

10 military. cialist advance within The Dergue is indeed a con­ Ethiopia and to a progiessive tradictory phenomenon. Soci­ solution to the conflict in alist rhetoric cannot mask its the Horn. many anti-socialist actions. We question hbw respbnsible The Eritrean Nation revolutionaries can justify the incredible brutality with Th€) Eritreans' view of their which the Dergue asserts its situation is summarized in the rule. The Dergue's three following statement by Kahsai.. years in power, make it clear that a revolution in Ethiopia The Eritrean question is a co­ cannot be imposed from above, lonial question because Eritrea by laws and coercion. The existed as a separate political Dergue's widely documented entity within its present violence is not the revolu­ boundaries from the time it was tionary discipline of a occupied by the Italians, and socialist government distorted it was during this period that by bourgeois propaganda, but Ethiopia as we know it today more of a reign of terror which was formed with the support of strikes at more than just the the Italian government to then reactionary classes. The King Menelik. 8 forces at play within the junta are surely complex (too complex Eritrea meets all criteria for us to attempt an analysis necessar~ to define it as a at the present time), but as nation. Although the country a body the Dergue is not has been invaded several moving Ethiopia toward social­ times, no invader was able to ism. stay for long until the All the Dergue's contradic­ Italians arrived at the end of tions come together on the the nineteenth century. question of colonialism and Therefore Eritrea's history is the rights of national minor­ distinct from that of Ethiopia, iti~s within Ethiopia. "All and when the country was "fed­ the wealth that has been erated" with Ethiopia through nationalized," EPLF Central a UN resolution in 1952, the Committee member Amdemichael population continued to resist Kahsai told LSM recently, foreign occupation just as "is being used in the war they had done for decades. At against Eritrea instead of no time did they willingly being used for the develop­ accept rule from the palace ment of Ethiopia." 7 Mengistu's in Addis Ababa. continuation of imperial colo­ Popular resistance to Ethi­ nialism and oppression of opian colonialism was first national minorities has become organized by the Eritrean the main obstruction to so- Liberation Front (ELF) which

11 Bruce Parkhurst Eritrean peasant militia

12 began the armed liberation sons and total liberation may struggle in 1961 - one year be only months away. before Haile Selassie uni­ laterally annexed the country. Disunity in the The ELF comprised many dif­ ferent shades of Eritrean Liberation Movement nationalists and was supported The differences within the by many Arab governments which Eritrean movement were further regarded the country as an complicated in 1976 when the extension of the Arab world. EPLF expelled its "foreign Israeli assistance to Haile mission" led by Osman Saleh Selassie was an additional Sabbe. Sabbe's group, the incentive for Arab support ELF-PLF, maintains a well­ to the Eritreans. financed propaganda machinery Despite this foreign assist­ abroad, but has only a small ance and widespread popular presence within Eritrea. The support within the country, group has been denounced as the ELF at first made small "reactionaries" and "traitors" gains against the colonial by the EPLF, but collaborates power. The lack of success with the ELF. accentuated differences In contrast to Sabbe's within the front and resulted group, the ELF and EPLF each in a split that led to the control large areas of Erit­ formation of the Eritrean rea. As the final defeat of People's Liberation Forces the Ethiopian colonial army (today the Eritrean People's looms on the horizon, the Liberation Front, EPLF) in continued differences between 1970. The ELF leadership's the two fronts cast a shadow attempt to eliminate its com­ over the country's future. petitors resulted in a civil It is extremely difficult war that held back the strug­ to assess these differences. gle against the colonial In their propaganda abroad, power. both organizations use a so­ Angry protests by the Erit­ cialist vocabulary. As front­ rean population finally forced type organizations, both em­ the two warring factions to body various class elements conclude a ceasefire in 1975. under a "petty-bourgeois" Coming at a time when turmoil leadership. None receive as­ and confusion seriously sistance from either China or weakened the power of the the Soviet Union; both re­ Ethiopian state, the ceasefire ceive assistance from the enabled the Eritrean liberation anti-communist governments fighters to seize the offen­ of Sudan and Saudi Arabia. sive. Today the colonial pres­ Rhetoric and sources of for­ ence in Eritrea has been re­ eign support are unreliable duced to a few besieged garri- indicators, however. The

13 nature of each movement can of coercion and arbitrariness best be determined by their vis-a-vis the population ap­ practice within Eritrea - pear to have declined. On the by their military success other hand, reports from ELF and, above all, by the way territory are fewer and less they administer the regions detailed than those from under their control. EPLF's regions. Reports from the EPLF-held regions 9 indicate that a deep­ A Difficult Independence cutting social revolution is taking place there. This or­ Many attempts have been made ganization appears to be mak­ to reconcile the two Eritrean ing great efforts to overcome liberation movements. On 20 religious and ethnic differ­ October 1977 they issued a ences among the population joint statement which announced and to open the way for the the establishment of common full and equal participation structures in a number of areas of women at all levels of the and forecast "a unification con­ struggle. Difficult years of gress which will create the isolation and virtually no for­ national democratic front in Eritrea." (Also, Sabbe's people eign support - after the break­ away from ELF and the expulsion were asked to join as indi­ of Sabbe who represented the vidual members of one of the movement abroad - forced the two fronts.) EPLF militants to rely on _Despite this agreement, ten­ their own efforts and adopt an sion between ELF and EPLF pre­ ascetic and self-sacrificing vails throughout the country. lifestyle that may also be of One recent visitor to the EPLF great advantage in independent regions reported that many Eritrea. The very rapid mili­ EPLF militants expect a con­ tary advance of the EPLF indi­ frontation with the ELF when cates that the ideological independence is achieved. And struggle has produced a growing from abroad polemics continue and increasingly strong organi­ in publications and communiques zation. of both organizations. Accounts from the ELF regions Thus it is a likely prospect are in many ways similar, and that Eritrea will be the scene some experienced observers who of a revolutionary conflict have visited both say there are even after the Ethiopian no notable differences. 1 0 ELF, colonizers have been driven too, runs consumer and producer out. The liberation war has cooperatives, constructs unleashed a class struggle clinics for the population and that cannot stop with national uses Marxist vocabulary in independence. Political and their political education even violent confrontations classes. 11 Earlier practices could break out between pro- gressive and conservative powers. The Somali nation - elements across the present sharing a common language, a organizational lines. With common religion (Islam), and the possibility of an ongoing a common culture - was then war with Ethiopia, as well as chopped into pieces and di­ attempts by reactionary "al­ vided between the British, lies" such as Saudi Arabia Italians, French, and the and Sudan to extend their con­ Ethiopian emperor. Today, trol over an independent Erit­ portions of the nation's ter­ rea, the progressive forces ritory lie in parts of Kenya, within the country's libera­ Ethiopia (Ogaden), and Dji­ tion movements are going to bouti. The Somalis have need all the strength they never reconciled themselves can muster. A revolutionary to this division; they refuse victory would be a major set­ to give up their claim to the back for imperialist plans territories beyond the pres­ for the entire Horn of Africa ent borders of Somalia. region. The question of nation-state borders is a sensitive one Somali-Ethiopian War throughout Africa. The colo­ nial power brokers who divided In the summer of 1977 regu­ the continent in 1884 drew lar Somali armed forces joined lines on a map and did not fighters of the Western Somali consider the social reality. Liberation Front (WSLF) to Colonial borders therefore drive the Dergue's representa­ divided traditional tribal tives out of Ogaden, the lands and united under one Somali-inhabited southeastern administration tribes that province of Ethiopia. The previously had little in joint offensive scored early common. The Mandinga people, gains and succeeded in driving for instance, ended up in the Ethiopians out. After a five separate West African few months of war, however, colonies while what is today the Somali advance ground to a Nigeria includes the lands of halt as the Dergue rushed in more than one hundred tribes. fresh troops and newly re­ This kind of division pres­ ceived supplies. As we go to ented an obvious - and poten­ press, the battlelines are tially explosive - problem as drawn beyond the main Somali­ colonial rule faded in Africa. speaking area of Ogaden and In order to prevent destruc­ Ethiopian planes have been tive border wars throughout reportedly bombing towns the continent, the Organiza­ within the Somali republic. tion of African Unity deter­ The roots of this war go mined in its charter that back one hundred years to the colonial borders should remain division of Africa by European in independent Africa.

15 But the lack of sympathy by weakened by internal dissent other African states has and the war in Eritrea, the failed to quell Somali nation­ Somalis seized the opportunity alism. The strategy of the to "recover" part of the "oc­ Barre regime,which came to cupied" territories. power in 1969, was to cool the claims for "reunification" by its policy of social reform Who Gains? and political mobilization. 12 National chauvinism on the Barre and his colleagues made part of successive Ethiopian considerable progress. Re­ regimes, including the Dergue, gional disparities were great­ and Somali nationalism have ly reduced during the early proven stronger than their 1970's. Self-help schemes in socialist inclinations. Who the countryside and projects gains from this war? Ethiopia to settle the nomadic popula­ suffers great devastation. tion - hard hit by the disas­ The Dergue has resorted to trous drought of 1971-74 - even greater coercion than the also reduced the urban-rural feudal regime and has con­ differences. A standardized, scripted a peasant militia. written Somali language made The tremendous resources needed possible wider political par­ to fight this war have made ticipation and clipped the the country completely depend­ wings of the colonially­ ent on its foreign supporters, educated bureaucratic elite. notably the Soviet Union. These reforms gave Barre's With its attack, Somalia has government great prestige set a precedent that can only among the population and benefit expansionist regimes. helped divert attention away Cut off from further military from the dream of a new support from the USSR, its "Greater Somalia." former supplier, the Somali But the dream nevertheless government now has the option remained a forceful factor in of encouraging the mediation Somali politics. "No Somali efforts of friendly countries government. . can survive such as South Yemen and in our country if it abandons Malagasy or accepting mili­ the policy of recovery of the tary assistance from territories that remain occu­ countries like Iran and pied by foreigners," said Egypt - states which Barre Barre in June 1977. 13 "(If until recently assailed as we did that) our revolution tools of American designs in would immediately collapse. the region. (Economic assist­ Nobody can betray the sacred ance has already been obtained rights of his people without from Saudi Arabia.) being punished." Thus when The longer the war goes on, the Ethiopian regime was the more difficult it will be

16 for progressive forces to sur­ Somalia in the 1960's, even vive - let alone consolidate before the Barre government their position. Past pro­ took power. After 1971 the gressive reforms within both US completely cut off Somalia Ethiopia and Somalia are after Somali ships called on threatened by the war situa­ ports in North Vietnam. tion. Some countries and In recent years the US con­ liberation movements find solidated. its influence in the themselves caught in the mid­ region through growing ties dle. South Yemen and the Dem­ with Sudan and oil-rich Saudi ocratic Front for the Libera­ Arabia. The latter has come tion of Palestine, for exam­ to serve as the banker for ple, are in the strange posi­ American interests and fi­ tion of supporting both the nances anti-communist schemes Dergue and the Eritrean lib­ from Jordan to Oman. Neigh­ eration movements. Both boring Iran, with its huge and have also enjoyed friendly well-equipped armed forces, is relations with the Somali willing to act in a corres­ and Ethiopian governments, as ponding military capacity. have many other progressive From these bridgeheads US African states. 14 The war in imperialism has applied tre­ Ogaden is a setback for those mendous pressure on all prog­ who struggle for the genuine ressive forces in the region. independence and non-alignment After the 1974 removal of of African countries. Haile Selassie, American sup­ port to Ethiopia continued as American "Noninvolvement" before until the Dergue, under Mengistu's leadership, Emperor Haile Selassie was decided to turn away from a chief US ally in Africa and "American imperialism." By for a long time Ethiopia re­ this time, however, Ethiopia ceived more American military had become dispensable to the and economic assistance than US; and it was no disaster to any other African country. In American plans when the Dergue return, the US exercised con­ closed most of the US govern­ siderable political influence ment's offices in the country and was permitted to establish in April 1977, and called on an important military communi­ the Soviet Union for aid in­ cations base in Eritrea. To stead. In any case, the the southwest, Kenya, too, State Department may have was a haven for American cor­ thought that the Dergue was porations and a recipient of about to collapse and that military aid. In order not the liberation of Eritrea to alienate these two allies, was inevitable - in which the US turned down requests case a break with Mengistu for similar assistance by would be an investment in

17 ERRATU1' 1

P.21, second paragraph, first sentence should read~ The best ways open to J:Jorth Americans to contribute to a progressive solution are to support the revolutionary forces in Eritrea; to call on the Soviet Union, CUba, and Ethiopia to do the same ; and to oppose further US inter­ vention in the region. the future. Arabia to the EDU and the With growing Soviet support Eritrean liberation movements for the Dergue, the US reversed and through Saudi Arabia, its view of Somalia, as well. Egypt, and Iran to the In June 1977 President Carter Somalis. But in December 1977, sent a secret emissary to AID suddenly announced plans Mogadishu with offers of mili­ for two projects amounting to tary assistance and reportedly $27 million in Somalia - the let Barre know that the US first since 1971. 16 With the would not oppose a steppinr-up Horn of Africa in upheaval, of the campaign in Ogaden. 5 the us is moving to exploit Somalia subsequently turned any sign of weakness and divi­ the guerrilla war into a full­ sion among the progressive scale attack on Ethiopian po­ forces of this strategically sitions. The Dergue, then important region. desperate for supplies and spares for its American­ Role of Soviet Union & Cuba equipped army, (Soviet support was still in the pipeline) In 1950 the Soviet Union op­ toned down its anti-US rhet­ posed Eritrea's federation with oric. It is not clear whether Ethiopia and proposed the coun­ there were any direct efforts try's independence. After by either the Dergue or the US armed struggle began, however, government to mend the break­ the Soviet Union ignored the down in relations. In any Eritrean cause. Cuba helped case, President Carter reversed train some Eritrean cadres in his position on aid for Somalia the late 1960's and Fidel and announced American "non­ Castro openly supported the involvement" in the Horn. liberation movement as late as So, is the US sitting on the 1972. sidelines watching passively Elsewhere in the region, the while the battles rage? Not Soviet Union was the main at all; "noninvolvement" is backer of the Sudan regime just the US way of keeping it's until 1972, when President options open. The Agency for Numeiry crushed the Sudanese International Development con­ Communist Party. Soviet sup­ tinues to give grants to port has also been crucial to Ethiopia and the International the progressive regime in Monetary Fund gave the Dergue South Yemen and the liberation a loan of $57 million in May movement in Oman. 1977. Even US ally Israel Until 1977, however, Somalia plays a role in providing anti­ was the main recipient of guerrilla training for the Soviet aid in the region, both Dergue's Army. US ties with economic and military. The the Dergue's enemies are indi­ USSR provided large amounts of rect; through Sudan and Saudi assistance, for example, dur-

18 ing the disastrous drought of to arrive in Ethiopia in June 1971-1973. Fuel, arms, and and are now in use in both machinery supplied by the USSR Eritrea and Ogaden. The Cuban must have had an impact on government sent military in­ Somali foreign policy. The structors to help train Men­ Soviet navy also obtained use gistu's conscripted "peasant of the Somali port of Berbera. militia." Both Soviet and Cuba, too, provided techni­ Cuban military involvement cal assistance to Somalia. appear to be rapidly growing. The turning point for the We are sadly reminded of near­ socialist countries came with by Egypt where Soviet weapons Mengistu's coup in Ethiopia in were unable to make up for the February 1977. Under his con­ lack of a genuine popular trol, the Dergue became the movement with real power. instrument to lead Ethiopia Soviet and Cuban support for through its stage of "national the Dergue was initially paral­ democracy'' and toward a social­ leled by diplomatic efforts to ist transformation, in the eyes reconcile the actual and poten­ of the USSR and Cuba. Just as tial anti-imperialist forces in in India and Egypt before, the the region. Both Cuba and the "non-capitalist" road in Soviet Union attempted to ini­ Ethiopia struck a deep chord in tiate a dialog between Barre Soviet strateqy. Somehow, the and Mengistu before the war in Soviet theory-iuns,. underde~el­ Ogaden. During his visit to oped countries can break frgm the region in March 1977 Fidel imperialism without a popular­ Castro brought the two together based revolu±ion; a military regime can make a revolution from "above." Assistance to the Dergue thus became a pri­ ority because it was seen as the bulwark against reaction. All opposition to the Dergue was consequently labeled coun­ terrevolutionary. The Soviet magazine New Times wrote that Eritrea's claim to nationhood is "inconclusive." The Cuban Granma described the Eritrean liberation movement as "separ­ atist elements •.• who op­ pose the policy of change and hamper the progress of the Revolution and the achievement of indis~ensable national unity." 1 Soviet arms began Granma The Cuban view

19 and argued for a regional fed­ order to ensure the genuine eration or confederation of independence of their future progressive regimes, also in­ state. volving South Yemen and pos­ Somalia has abandoned its sibly the Eritreans. But former tie's with socialist this idea, previously aired countries and, unless the war by Guinea and Malagasy, got in Ogaden is called off soon, nowhere. 18 It is possible, will have to turn to US allies however, that this initiative like Iran and .Saudi Arabia for is still being discretely military support.19 pursued. With the Somali of­ Forces of nationalism and fensive in Ogaden the USSR cut national chauvinism on the part off all arms shipments to of the Ethiopian and Somali Somalia and reportedly warned regimes are stronger than their the government against med- "official" socialist interna­ dling in the "internal af­ tionalism and contradict the fairs" of its neighbor. A few revolutionary rhetoric of both. months later Somalia broke Reinforcing these are signifi­ diplomatic relations with Cuba cant material factors such as and the USSR and cancelled its Ethiopia's longstanding econo­ friendship treaty with the mic reliance on Eritrea's -- ' latter. ports. In the region_as ~ whole ethnic a,I)d rel'igious factors are still powerful and The Horn in Transition present obstacles to progres­ The Horn of Africa is an area sive change. in rapid and violent.transition. The United States and its The crumbling of the Ethiopian allies have enormous economic empire began a period of tu­ and strategic interests in the multuous revolutionary change areas surrounding the Horn of within that country. The mili­ Africa. It is crucial for tary regime has played out its them to prevent changes that progressive role and the Ethi­ could undermine their control opian revolutionary forces are over Middle East oil supplies' without unified national lead­ and access to the Indian Ocean. ership. The Soviet Union, protecting The Eritrean liberation what it sees as its state in­ struggle has played the role of terests and assisted by Cuba catalyst in this process. and the German Democratic Re­ Within the liberated areas of public, seeks to counter US Eritrea fundamental social domination in the region. Its change is taking place. The priorities have led the USSR - socialist forces within the and Cuba - to participate in Eritrean liberation movement a genocidal war against the need unity and support in colonized Eritrean people.

20 A Progressive Solution? Resources Despite the depth and com­ Much of the information plexity of the present con­ above has come from discus­ flict, a progressive solution sions with friends and com­ is still possible. Such a rades in the anti-imperialist solution must include genuine movement, including members independence for Eritrea and of the Association of Eritrean the Addis Ababa regime's recog­ Students in North America nition of the democratic rights {AESNA) and the Organization of the national minorities of Arab Students, as well as within Ethiopia. If the Soviet representatives of the EPLF Union can exert influence, it and the PFLO of Oman. Other should be exerted on Ethiopia than the specific material to accept these. The wars referred to in the footnotes that are now making the peo­ below, the following publi­ ples of the region victims of cations are useful to anyone foreign-supplied arms must be interested in a better under­ ended. Collaboration between standing of the conflict in revolutionary and progressive the Horn of Africa. forces throughout the Horn is the best way to protect the Class and Revolution in Ethi­ interests of the peoples who opia by John Markakis and Nega live there. Ayele. To be published in The best ways open to North early 1978 by Spokesman Books Americans to contribute to a and Review oi African Political progressive solution is to Economy (c/o Merlin Press, 2-4 support the revolutionary West Ferry Rd., London E 14, forces in Eritrea, oppose fur­ England). ther US intervention in the region, and call on the Eritrea in Struggle Monthly Soviet Union, Cuba, and Newsletter of AESNA. (Box 1247, Ethiopia to do the same. When New York, NY 10027) AESNA, the present crisis eventually which is linked to the EPLF, subsides in the Horn of has also published a series of ~frica, the real question will pamphlets on the Eritrean lib­ be whether progressive, popu­ eration struggle. lar forces have advanced or whether imperialism resumes The Eritrean Newsletter Biweekly uncontested domination over News Report published by the the region. ELF Foreign Information Center (P. O. Box 14/5385, Beirut, * * * * * Lebanon). · Eritrean Revolution ELF Infor­ mation Bulletin published by

21 ELF Foreign Information Center, 5other than the Dergue's "pro­ Soviet alignment," Meison charged The Eritrean Review Published the junta with refusing to arm by ELF-PLF (P. 0. Box 14/5404, militias from the Galla nation­ Beirut, Lebanon). ality and arming Amharic landlords, among other things. Eritrean Liberation Bimonthly organ of Revolution (Beirut), l September AESNA. 1977. 6EDU Advocate, Vol. 2, no.2, MERIP Reports Journal of Middle 1977 summarized in Africa Cur­ East Research and Information rents (London), no. 9, 1977. Project (P. o. Box 3122, Colum­ 7LSM Interview, September 1977. bia Heights Station, Washington, 8Ibid. DC 20010). 9Gerard Chaliand: "Erythree, haut mal de L' Ethiopie," Le Monde vanguard The official monthly (Paris), 7, 8-9 May 1977. Jean­ organ of the EPLF. Translated, Claude Guillebaud: "Dans Le reprinted, and distributed in Magnis d'Erythree," Le Monde, 9, North America by AESNA. 10, 12 December 1977. Dan Con­ nell: Guardian (New York), 19 "The Ethiopian Revolution & the and 26 October; 2, 9, and 16 Struggle Against US Imperialism" November; and 7 December 1977. Available from Workers World 10sommer: Kommentar, no. 9, 1977. (46 W. 21 St., New York, NY 11 Fulvio Grimaldi: "Life in 10010). Liberated Eritrea," The Middle East (London), no. 39, January, 1978. Notes 12David Laitin: "Revolutionary Change in Somalia," MERIP Re­ 1Arce: Granma (Havana), 7 ports (Washington), no. 62, August 1977. November 1977. 211 special Issue on the Red Sea 13 Interview with Simon Malley: Region," DFLP Report, no. 16, Afrique-Asie (Paris), no. 137, July 1977. 13-26 June 1977, p. 14. 311 Revolution in Ethiopia," 14Reports in the Western press Monthly Review (New York), July­ claim South Yemeni troops are August 1977, p. 47. now in Ethiopia in support of 4see Markakis and Ayele: "Class the Dergue. and Revolution in Ethiopia," 15Jim Paul: "Struggle in the Review of African Political Horn," MERIP Reports, no. 62. Economy (London), no. 8, Janu­ 16David Ottaway: Washington ary-April 1977 and Sommer: Post, 6 December 1977. "Etiopien: Trear av militaer­ 17Granma, 18 May 1977. diktatur," Kommentar (Stockholm), 18There is an apparent contra­ 5-6, 1977. diction in Cuba's position and

22 actions in the region. In a letter dated 5 October 1977, r NEW Radio Habana Cuba stated "This matter must be settled between the Ethiopian revolutionaries RELEASES- and the Eritrean people, and when we say settled by the people, we mean without any foreign interference." 19According to Western press SOW/NC THE FIRST HARVEST: agencies, such aid is already THE POLITICS OF NATIONAL in the pipeline. RECONSTRUCTION IN GUINEA - BISSAU 100 pp. $1.95

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23 • Angola IS Independent Copyright 1978 Vitoria e Certa Music

•:i¼jJ JD~FlP). LJl 1)~1-~3 ~------____ -E______I.... ______-~-~l Angola is independent ' People's power · is resplendent ifi.. Q1···~·.. 1..~~£~·.~E~~:] There's no road but revolution People's power's the solution ~:~-_,QT J=~LJ 1:·r.it~1=3=J~I1 Angola Angola Cabinda Cabinda ;Er.~g:[{-t.f .l~i~J ··+J J.. ~, . t=A All the way to Cunene Ango la is free

II Ill Movimento Popular Freedom's fight is never ending Libertacao de Angola Vigilance must be unbending MPLA -people's power Enemies are still wrrounding Li be ration now in flower Traitors fight PRA 'sfounding Chorus Chorus Repeat first verse and chorus Left Profile

Glad Day Press

Perhaps it is natural that we start this series of "Left Profiles" with a group that in many ways is close to LSM. Our collaboration dates back to 1973 when the Glad Day col­ lective produced a poster to help us raise funds for a printshop for MPLA of Angola. A similar effort was made last year in making a fundraising poster for SWAPO of Namibia. And if you have ever wondered actually produces some of good books and magazi~es you depend on .•• , well, just read on. In Ithaca, New York, four continued to be done on a vol­ hard-working people quietly untary - and often spontane­ perform a crucial service to ous - basis. "People would the anti-imperialist movement come and go all the time," Al in the United States. From recalls. "Many wanted to con­ their printshop, sandwiched be­ tribute, but few took the tween a laundromat and a gas technical work seriously." He station, publications on Indo­ and Willie, a draft resister china, Africa, Chile, and the who joined the press in 1967, Middle East have reached every struggled to give it some sta­ corner of the North American bility. Both were former sci­ continent. On the back cover ence students who had become of tens of thousands of books outraged by American aggres­ and pamphlets you can find sion in Vietnam, and both were their tiny logo: Glad Day determined to stay and work at Press, IWW Union Shop. With­ least until the war was over. out Glad Day, m'any progressive As the 1960's drew to a groups would have little or no close, Glad Day's work became access to printing. more difficult. SDS disinte­ Glad Day's history began in grated in 1969 and other dif­ the mid-1960's when the anti­ ferences developed within the war movement took root at Cor­ anti-war movement. "Our fund­ nell, the prestigious Ivy ing began to dry up, and dis­ League university that domi­ tribution declined when our nates Ithaca.· The local Peace publications became dated," Center, one of many throughout Willie remembers. The Ameri­ the US, at first had only a can invasion of Cambodia in mimeo machine. 1970 provided a brief resur­ "Every group from the Stu­ gence of activity, but by the dents for a Democratic Society middle of the following year to Quakers Against the War the slack returned. Glad worked out of the office," says Day's collaboration with the Arlene. "Nobody had to pay for Indochina Resource Center in their printing as long as it Washington, a group that ori­ was against the war." Sup­ ginated from Cornell, was not ported financially by local sufficient to keep the print­ liberals, the embryonic press shop going. reprinted articles from such A reorganization was neces­ sources as The Nation, the New sary. First the collective Republic, and the New York Re­ began to take in commercial view of Books. The reprints printing to finance their po­ were distributed by Peace Cen­ litical work. As this re­ ters across the country. quired a higher professional Even when the office later level and better equipment, acquired a small offset print­ it gradually became necessary ing press, most of the work to rely less on volunteers.

27 Al making ink fountain adjustment on Glad Day's biggest press, a Chief 126.

28 It was a difficult period. namese, not with the anti-war "Our skills were minimal, but movement per se," they all there had to be ways to im­ stress. In the same way, "Our prove," Al says. "We estab­ present contributions to lib­ lished contacts with local eration struggles in Africa commercial printers and and the Middle East are simply learned through the mistakes channeled through groups in we made." The hard way - but this country." "Movement these efforts made possible a rates" for the work are deter­ more stable existence. mined by Glad Day's assessment In 1973 the two sides signed of the political value and the the Vietnam peace agreement, group's ability to pay. Com­ US ground troops withdrew, and mercial work is taken in as the anti-war movement fizzled necessary to acquire new out. It was a watershed for equipment and pay the collec­ the Glad Day collective: tive's subsistence salaries. should they disband? But over To achieve their objectives, the years they had come to see the Glad Day people usually the Vietnam war as only one work a fifty to sixty hour aspect of a much broader ques­ week. On top of that, they tion. Exploitation and oppres­ often take time out to help sion continued unabated within other, less experienced, press the United States and in other collectives. Last year, for parts of the world. Glad Day's instance, they handed over one printing services could be put of their older presses to a to good use in the protracted group in Maine and then helped struggle for socialism. the group set up the press at Soon after their decision to its new location. They feel continue, the collective began this is one way to overcome to work with the American In­ the lack of personal contact dian organization that pub­ with comrades doing similar lishes Akwesasne Notes. In work. more recent years they have Still, the members often have also worked with the Middle to struggle to establish a po­ East Research and Information litical relationship with pro­ Project (MERIP), the African gressive groups who sometimes Youth Movement, Palestine Sol­ look at Glad Day as "cheap idarity Committee, and the As­ printers" and do not take the sociation of Eritrean Students time to establish the merit of in North America, among others. their own work. "Sometimes By donating part of their labor they don't even identify them­ to these groups, the Glad Day selves," Arlene says in frus­ members feel that they make a tration. "All they say is direct contribution to the 'How much for 200 posters?' struggles concerned. "Our con­ and 'How soon?'" The Glad Day cern was always with the Viet- workers find this lack of ap-

29 preciation for the human role were more mechanically "in­ alienating. They attribute it clined" and were the ones to to the power of capitalist operate the machines. "The ideas even among progressive skilled nature of the work and people and consider it part of our commitment to getting it the contradiction of having to done made it difficult at first engage in market relations to to combat this artificial divi­ further the struggle for sion of labor," Al concedes. socialism. This division of labor rein­ Over-specialization and divi­ forced sexism within the col­ sion of labor along sexual lective. "It was difficult for lines is a related part of the me to learn new skills from same contradiction. Arlene, someone with a low opinion of who worked as a journalist my innate ability to learn," and "public relations" person says Arlene. "But since my before joining the Glad Day main concern was to work for collective in 1972, is criti­ socialism - and not with my cal when she recalls the past. position as a woman - I put "When I came in, I did the type my frustrations aside though of work I was used to - corres­ I wasn't at all happy with the pondence, answering the phone, way things were." talking to customers. Though The change has been acceler­ I participated in production, ated since Kathy joined the it was always in a very secon­ collective last year. Break­ dary way." The men, of course, ing down the sexual division

LSM photo Arlene & Kathy setting up the bindery equipment LSM photo The Glad Day Crew (Arlene, Wijlie, Kathy & Al) of labor is now p.J.rt of elim­ flection. No, they agree, it inating over-specialization. seems they can better meet the Each member will from now on needs of groups focusing on be trained in several areas internationalist, anti-imperi­ of work; no skill will be ex­ alist work. But they have sup­ clusive to one person or to ported domestic-oriented strug­ one sex. This is also seen gles, as well, and recognize as insurance against sudden the need to work on both fronts. departures; the Salsedo Press On this issue, as on many collective in Chicago almost others, their internal agree­ had to close some time ago ment is loose. What binds them when their main printer sud­ together is a common recognition denly left. "It scared us to of the usefulness of their work. think that this might happen "Our differences are miniscule to us, too," Arlene says. in comparison to the need for Is it an accident that most our services," they explain. of their political printing is "The revolution is still far internationalist in content? enough away for our small dif­ The question causes some re- ferences not to really matter."

31 Liberation Support Movement held its Second Congress in October 1977. Since 1973, our structure, leadership, and po­ LSM litical direction have been set at a biannual meeting (Congress) of all LSM members. The main task of the Second Congress was to redefine our Second unity. and strategy in light of changes that have occurred over the past two years. Preparations began in late Spring when three groups were Congress set up to prepare discussions on LSM's history, North Amer­ ica, and the imperialist sys­ LSM Political Platform tem. As the Congress ap­ proached, we also evaluated 1. LIBERATION SUPPORT MOVE­ our relations with liberation MENT (LSM) is an independent movements, our economics, and anti-imperialist organiza­ other aspects of our past tion. We use scientific so­ practice. cialism - the method of anal­ Aside from electing new ysis pioneered by Marx and leadership, the Congress Engels - to understand the drafted three documents. Here world around us. Our prac­ we print our political plat­ tice centers on informational form in full and summarize the and material support for rev­ essential points from our de­ olutionary liberation move­ cisions on strategic and prac­ ments and governments in Af­ tical priorities and struc­ rica, Asia, and Latin America. ture. We hope LSM NEWS readers 2. Located in North America, will have comments and criti­ we find ourselves in the cen­ cisms to send us on the re­ ter of a vast social system sults of LSM's Second Con­ which economically, politi­ gress. We have also pub­ cally, and culturally domi­ lished a new pamphlet: nates more than half of the Liberation Support Movement: world's population. The basis Our Unity and Practice, of this CAPITALIST SYSTEM is which includes a brief his­ the exploitation of human tory of LSM in addition to labor as a commodity - result­ the documents and summaries ing in the enrichment of a printed below. small minority and the emis­ * * * * * eration of the vast majority - and the irrational squandering

32 of natural resources. colonial expansion fueled further accumulation of cap­ 3. THE FUNDAMENTAL CONTRADIC­ ital and industrialization in TION OF OUR ERA opposes the Europe. As a result, the cap­ international systems of cap­ italist world became struc­ italism and so'cialism. Capi­ tured into a dominant imper­ talism remains the dominant ialist center (North America, aspect of this contradiction. Western Europe, Japan, Aus­ Socialism is a stage on the tralia, and New Zealand) and road toward a classless soci­ a dominated colonial/neocolo­ ety, economic and social nial periphery. This struc­ equality, and the fullest pos­ ture has come to color nearly sible development of humani­ every aspect of life within ty's creative potential. The both sectors of the increas­ transition to socialism on a ingly integ~ated and cohesive world scale is a complex and imperialist system. Any class often violent process which analysis of contemporary cap­ meets with setbacks as well as italism must use this entire advances on its revolutionary system as its basic unit of course. Still in its early analysis. stages, this process is not likely to be completed in our 5. IMPERIALISM HAS EXTENDED lifetime. In the broadest CAPITALISM'S LEASE ON LIFE. sense, LSM's objective is to While the exploitation of the contribute to the advance of periphery's people and natu­ socialism at the inte~0ational ral resources grew increasing­ level. ly important to capital, the growth of trade unions and or­ 4. CAPITALISM IS ESSENTIALLY ganized class action strength­ AN EXPANSIONIST SYSTEM which ened the working class of the from its inception extended center. As intensified im­ beyond national borders. The perialist expansion in this pillage of Africa, Asia, and century enabled capitalism to the Americas by European mer­ weather its domestic crises, chants and the aristocracy the flow of value from peri­ signalled the rise to power phery to center became a tor­ of a new class, the bourgeoi­ rent. An important aspect of sie. The growing economic and this process has been the ma­ military subjugation of these terial and ideological co­ continents and their peoples optation of the large majority accompanied capitalism's con­ of European and North American solidation in Europe. As workers by "their" bourgeoi­ monopoly capitalism, or im­ sies. Established trade unions perialism, became dominant in and working-class political the closing decades of the parties, originally instruments nineteenth century, a wave of for radical change, now work

33 to reform rather than replace ISM MEANS UNDERDEVELOPMENT. capitalism. The convergence The international bourgeoi­ of immediate interest between sie's grip on economic power the different classes and seg­ blocks the underdeveloped ments of the population in the countries' road to genuine in­ center is now greater than the dependence. Industrialization conflicts which separate them. in the periphery, largely con­ trolled by the multinational 6. THE UNITED STATES is today corporations, serves more to by far the strongest of the entrench structural distor­ states of the center: econom­ tions than to create viable ically, militarily, and poli­ national economies. The local tically. The other imperial­ bourgeoisie, where it exists, ist states are in part domi­ is generally a dependent ally nated by the United States of imperialism. Increasingly, but also participate in the the struggle of workers and plunder of the periphery. peasants in the "Third World" Rivalry between various fac­ is against their own ruling tions of the international class as well as imperialism, bourgeoisie still produces strategically one and the same conflicts which weaken the enemy. overall strength of this class. On the whole, however, their 9. ONLY SOCIALISM CAN DEVELOP unity is now the dominant THE PERIPHERY. To break im­ ·feature. perialist domination, trans­ form property relations, and 7. IN THE PERIPHERY imperi­ retain the surplus for produc­ alist expansion gradually re­ tive use by each country have duced the indigenous peoples become indispensable to the to slaves and servants of a advancement of "the wretched system controlled from afar. of the earth." The process of underdevelop­ ment has completely distorted 10. THE PRINCIPAL CONTRADIC­ the economies of the peri­ TION WITHIN THE CAPITALIST phery countries and reduced SYSTEM thus pits the super-ex­ the exchange value of their ploited laboring masses of peoples' labor power. To the the periphery against the vast masses of African, Asian, international bourgeoisie, and Latin American peasants represented by multinational and workers, imperialism corporations and imperialist means emiseration. Their states. The struggle for na­ super-exploitation serves to tional liberation in the neo­ reinforce the basic divisions colonies and colonies, as well within the imperialist system. as the struggles of the newly independent countries for eco­ 8. IN THE PERIPHERY, CAPITAL- nomic independence, are con-

34 crete manifestations of this standing of the internal dy­ contradiction and constitute namics of each country and of today the main force of change socialist development in gen­ within the system. (We note eral presently limits our that all socialist revolutions ability to analyze their dif­ since World War II have taken ferences. place in the periphery.) The Other socialist and progres­ initial nationalist objectives sive states must also be evalu­ of most liberation movements ated on the basis of their in­ are often transcended by anti­ ternal achievements and their imperialism and socialism in contributions to the libera­ the course of the conflict. tion of other peoples around China, Vietnam, Cuba, Mozam­ the world. Advances in each bique, and Angola exemplify of these areas contribute to this process. the weakening of imperialism. While we are not blind to 11 . A GROW.ING NUMBER OF THE shortcomings and mistakes on WORLD'S PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED the part of socialist coun­ CAPITALISM and since 1917 be­ tries, it is important also gun the transition toward so­ to understand the problems in­ cialism. However, the history herent in building socialism. of the two largest countries Criticism of progressive and which began this transition, socialist states must never the Soviet Union and China, obscure imperialism as the shows that there is no principal enemy of the world's straight line in the revolu­ people. tionary process; even with state power in the hands of 12. IN NORTH AMERICA there the revolutionary party, in­ are currently no classes or ternal contradictions and large strata ready to rise in class struggle persist. revolt against the capitalist We support both the USSR and system. Two contradictory as­ China as progressive social pects characterize the position formations compared to capital­ of the working class. On the ism but recognize that each one hand, this class is ex­ also has weaknesses. Our po­ ploited by capital, and its sition regarding the Sino­ long-range interests are in Soviet differences is one of fundamental opposition to those critical non-alignment. We of the bourgeoisie. Some are independent but not neu­ elements within it also have tral; we believe that each immediate interests that lead country has made significant to conflict with the bourgeoi­ contributions in improving the sie, and their actions against lives of its population and in racism, sexism, and national advancing socialism interna­ chauvinism contribute to the tionally. Our sketchy under- anti-imperialist struggle.

35 On the other hand, North The struggles of national American workers have gained minorities and oppressed na­ materially from imperialist tionalities against discrimi­ expansion. This contributes nation and for democratic to the relatively low level rights and self-determination of social consciousness and will increasingly come to test militancy within the class. the strength of monopoly capi­ The lack of a strong socialist talism. These struggles will tradition makes progressive be crucial in the development action within the workers' of a revolutionary force on movement still more difficult. our continent. The trend While capitalism's capacity to which looks at only the racial absorb discontent and divert or national aspect of these movements of protest may be on struggles, however, obscures the decline, it still remains the class aspect and may open great. the door to opportunism and The present state of affairs class collaboration. It is neither stable nor perma­ therefore becomes important to nent. As revolutionary forces distinguish between the strug­ in the periphery slowly force gles which advance the cause the contraction of the imperi­ of the whole national group or alist system, the crises of minority and those which serve capitalism will deepen, and only a privileged elite. objective conditions within North America will make pos­ 14. THE OPPRESSION OF WOMEN sible the rise of a revolu­ is integral to capitalist so­ tionary socialist mass move­ ciety where women's primary ment. role has been to reproduce the labor force. In the work 13. THE EXISTENCE OF NATIONAL force, women are generally MINORITIES AND OPPRESSED NA­ channeled into the lower eche­ TIONALITIES complements class lons, doing much of the menial divisions within North Ameri­ and stultifying work. While ca. Each of the oppressed na­ all women are subject to sexist tionalities has a particular discrimination, conditions vary historical relationship to a great deal according to United States imperialism, and class, race, and nationality, each will reveal its nature with "Third World" women gen­ through a growing struggle to erally occupying the least advance its interests. (Our wanted positions. The pro­ limited understanding of "the gressive elements of the North national question" leaves us American women's movement thus unable to define the criteria link the question of sexism to for each of these national capitalism and national op­ groups to form a self-deter­ pression. The liberation of mining nation.) women is an integral aspect of

36 any socialist revolution. Congress decided that we con­ tinue to focus our practice 15. INTERNATIONALISM - IN on Southern Africa. Our past DEED AS WELL AS IN WORDS - IS experience and current rela­ INDISPENSABLE for all prog­ tions with revolutionary forces ressive people. The inter­ in Namibia and Angola prepare nationalism of the bourgeoi­ us to work most effectively sie - its ability to move raw in this region. We recognize, material, machinery, and per­ too, the strong interconnec­ sonnel throughout six conti­ tions among the struggles in nents - is an important part the different nations of of its strength. The growing Southern Africa - and the cru­ pressure from periphery na­ cial role of South Africa tionalism and revolution throughout - and so note the forces the bourgeoisie to need for flexibility in de­ propagate reactionary and fining our priorities within chauvinist sentiments in the the subcontinent. center. In this situation The Gulf/Red Sea area is North American progressives rapidly becoming the arena for must actively counter such a growing confrontation between propaganda and work to forge imperialism and the forces of stronger links with revolu­ national liberation and social­ tionary forces overseas. ism. We chose to make this area a secondary focus of our 16. WE SUPPORT THE DEVELOP­ practice, preparing for pos­ MENT OF A NON-SECTARIAN, NON­ sible greater efforts later. DOGMATIC LEFT within North The core of LSM's practice America. The lack of a mass will continue to be written base currently leaves the propaganda and information. progressive movement numeri­ By concentrating our efforts cally small and fragmented. on such work we can make our While the realization of a strongest contribution to strong socialist movement will revolutionary struggle. We require a change in objective aim to develop a more coor­ conditions, we believe that ef­ dinated publication strategy forts to increase mutual ef­ which takes into account both fectiveness and unity through political needs and the need practical collaboration and for our Information Center to theoretical exchange are become economically self­ necessary. sufficient. Our work has always been supported financially by our Program of Work members who have had to seek The above platform will outside sources of income to guide LSM's practical work cover their own subsistence. over the next few years. The Mounting economic pressures.

37 make it difficult to improve portment, and political de­ the quality of our work. We velopment and to struggle aim to make our informational against values which impede work self-supporting and to the achievement of our objec­ reach a wider audience with tives. LSM members are always our materials. Contributions accountable for the responsi­ from friends and supporters bilities they have taken on. will therefore be of great Criticism and self-criticism help. regarding the performance of We will complete our current our tasks are vital tools of project to supply SWAPO of democratic centralism. Namibia with a printshop, but Respect for leadership and consider that similar large­ its directives is basic to scale support projects are be­ democratic centralism. Lead­ yond our present capabilities, ers are elected for their po­ We will, however, take on litical and practical under­ small, specific projects and standing and experience. collaborate with other North While leaders are responsible Americans in raising concrete to make decisions based on support for liberation move­ discussion and consultation, ments. To avoid overstraining all of us must strive to be our capacity, we have to limit innovative in our particular our participation in coali­ areas of work. Members must tions and conferences to those be self-motivated as well as which directly advance our concerned about the progress priorities and informational of their comrades. work. LSM members are, how­ Our Annual Meeting to re­ ever, free to work in other view questions of theory, committees and coalitions on strategy, and structure; plan their own initiative. our practice; and elect lead­ ership i~ LSM's supreme body. Basic Structure and To underline their commitment, members are required to sub­ Methods of Work mit written projections for Our organizational methods their work over a one-year are based on the application period. Between Annual meet­ of democratic centralism to ings our Chairperson, in con­ our conditions of work. sultation with the Steering Democratic centralism rests Committee, leads the work of on the responsibility of all the organization. Other than members to help set LSM's po­ the Chairperson, the Steering litical direction through the Committee consists of the In­ appropriate channels. We ex­ formation Center Manager, and pect each member to contri­ the leaders of our work units bute to regular evaluation of - Writing/Research, Produc­ our collective practice, com- tion, and Distribution/Out- continued on last page

38 LSM Notes

Printshop Project Enters New Stage skills. Your contributions will see them through their We are pleased to report that technical training of two SWAPO training. We encourage groups to organize fund-raising events militants will begin soon. At like those which have been press time, travel arrangements successful in the past. near completion. Once our SWAPO comrades have the know­ how to run the printshop on White Lines of Apartheid their own, the project will be Our friend, Dennis Brutus, successfully launched; and President of the South African SWAPO will be on its way to Non-Racial Olympic Committee, publishing for itself. alerts us to a Davis Cup tennis We reported in the last LSM match scheduled between the NEWS that we had reached our United States and South Africa. minimum fundraising goal which The match is to take place covered supplying the Luanda March 17-19 at Vanderbilt Uni­ shop with all the basic equip­ versity in Nashville, Tennesee. ment. We now require addi­ Protests like those at last tional funds for the trainees' year's Los Angeles match are subsistence and supplies. Our expected to challenge the white projected goal is another lines of apartheid. Dennis is $5,000. We will supply more also the Chairman of the Inter­ details in the coming months; national Campaign Against but, in the meantime, checks Racism in Sport (ICARIS), which can be made payable to SWAPO plans an international confer­ Printshop Project. ence for mid-March at either The solidarity contributions Nashville or Northwestern Uni­ from individuals and organiza­ versity in Evanston, Illinois. tions have put the project Contact Dennis for more infor­ where it is now, with two mation on these events: SWAPO comrades serious and SANROC eager to learn the techniques 624 Clark Street of design, litho camera, Evanston, IL 60201 printing, and other graphic (312) 328-9154

39 New Trial for Eaglin! Two long-time friends of LSM were recently informed by Amnesty International that it is considering adopting their cases as "prisoners of con­ science." Ray Eaglin and Eva Kutas were convicted in May 1975 of conspiracy and harbor­ ing a man who had escaped from Oregon State Penitentiary. Several appeals were turned down, and in November 1976 Eva began serving a two-year sen­ tence. Ray was sentenced to four years in prison to begin in April of this year. Ray Eaglin Eva and Ray were charged with aiding a prisoner who es­ caped while doing time for murder and kidnaping and who killed an elderly couple before being recaptured. The circum­ stances of the escape caused the authorities acute embar­ rassment. To deflect wide­ spread public criticism, the government investigated a number of Oregon political activists in connection with the escape, using it as a convenient cover to get its "enemies." Eva and Ray were members of the Eugene Coalition which for several years had been active Eva Kutas around prisoners' rights, com­ women where she challenged the munity projects, and anti­ myth of the official prisoner imperialist work. For this, rehabilitation programs. Both the Coalition had been the had shown they could stand up subject of police persecution to police intimidation and and Ray had been arrested would carry on with their po­ several times previously. At litical work in spite of it. the time of the escape, Eva Thus they became prime candl­ worked at a half-way house for dates for the witchhunt.

40 The conviction of Eva and program. Ray is trying to win Ray rested on the testimony of a new trial before his bond ex­ a single state witness who pires in April. For more in­ changed her story a number of formation on how to support his times before and during the efforts, we urge our readers to trial and who was given immu­ write to: nity from prosecution in re­ Eaglin/Kutas Defense Comm. turn for her cooperation. The 215 S.E. 9th Ave. defense, on the other hand, Portland, OR 97214 was disorganized and refused to challenge the rationale and purpose of the prosecution. Cross-Continental Collaboration None of the defendants were As a postscript to the profile called to take the stand be­ of Glad Day Press, elsewhere in cause the defense lawyers felt this issue, Al Ferrari of Glad their political views would Day visited LSM at the end of increase the likelihood of the year to help us rebuild an conviction. A member of the old printing press. Al took defense team, for instance, out two weeks to work day and felt Ray was "too big and too night on the project. For Glad black" to testify. Day such solidarity is part of Having served one year of "putting the technology of an her sentence, Eva has been imperialist nation at the ser­ released on a work furlough vice of anti-imperialism."

Eritrea on the Air The Association of Eritrean Students in North America (AESNA) and the Association of Eritrean Women in North Ameri­ ca (AE"WNA) recently launched a campaign to raise $50,000 for a radio station in EPLF-held liberated regions of Eritrea. Imagine how this could facili­ tate the mobilization of the people in the armed struggle and through independence. Contributions can be sent to: AESNA P.O. Box 1247 New York, NY 10027

41 ANC Visits Bay Area As a first result of Thami Mhlambiso's visit, a coalition Thami Mhlambiso, UN and North of anti-imperialist organiza­ American representative of the tions is sponsoring a fund­ African National Congress of raising event for the ANC at South Africa visited the San the People's Cultural Center Francisco Bay Area at the end on February 4. We hope this of November last year. His event signals greater efforts stay, sponsored by LSM, was on the part of Bay Area groups the first here by an ANC rep­ to support the fight against resentative in recent years apartheid. and was important in clarify­ ing many of the questions sur­ rounding the South African West Coast Solidarity Activity liberation struggle. One result of the advance of liberation struggles in South­ ern Africa is the growth of a support movement here in the United States. In the North­ west, for instance, several new groups and coalitions have

(J) sprung up over the past year. ·r; Ill In Seattle, the American -IJ -IJ Friends Service Committee­ sponsored African Liberation r:::i~ Study Group organized a series ::i of six film and discussion pro­ 3 grams which brought South Afri­ 0 can, Zimbabwean, and Namibian '-IJ 0 liberation movement representa­ i tives to the city. The group Thami Mhlambiso is now setting up a permanent resource center on African In his speech at the People's liberation struggles~ Cultural Center in San Francis­ A number of groups such as co and in radio and newspaper AFSC, the Coalition of Citi­ interviews Comrade Mhlambiso zens Against Racism, and Peo­ stressed the importance of ple for a Free Southern Africa North Americans campaigning have also been active in Ore­ against US corporate support gon. After an intensive cam­ for the apartheid regime. He paign last fall, the Oregon pointed to actions against the State Board of Higher Educa­ sale of the Krugerrand and tion decided to withdraw its against bank loans to South investments from corporations Africa as positive contribu­ with interests in South Africa. tions to his people's struggle. Another campaign resulted in

42 the Portland City Council Don Barnett's Principles of passing a resolution against LSM's Anti-imperialist Work investment in apartheid. In and our recent article, ttSino­ both Portland and Eugene, Soviet Split" which is being groups picketed sales outlets discussed by Danish study for the Krugerrand. groups. In the Bay Area, several * * * * * groups are working together We were also pleased to find on the Zimbabwe Medical Drive, one of our interviews with a six-month campaign to raise SWAPO President Sam Nujoma funds and medical supplies for turn up in the Luanda newspaper, Zimbabwean refugees in Mozam­ Jornal de Angola. We continue bique. This project follows­ to encourage publications to up a successful clothing drive reprint and credit LSM NEWS. which last year mobilized a wide range of progressive peo­ ple to aid the Zimbabweans. Resources The Medical Drive is paralleled The first issue of SWAPO's by frequent film and discussion new publication, Namibia, ap­ programs in the cities around peared in 1977. Number 1 ex­ the Bay. poses Vorster's choice of war All these efforts indicate a in Namibia, reports on mili­ growing awareness and concern tary activity inside, and about the global importance of analyzes imperialism in gene­ the liberation struggles in ral and as applied to Namibia. Southern Africa. As these LSM Information Center wi]l struggles advance, the need for supply subscriptions to Namibia united action here in the US for $5 per year (3 issues in can only grow. 1977, 6 thereafter). Please indicate 1977 or 1978 subscrip­ tion. Farand Wide * * * * * For years LSM has enjoyed Mozambique-Zimbabwe One close ties with two anti­ struggle is a 27-page pamphlet imperialist groups in Denmark: by Mozambique Solidarity Ac­ the Communist Working Circle tion in England and available (KAK) and the Committee for from LSM Information Center the Revolution in Oman and for 40¢ per copy (add 50¢ the Arabian Gulf (KROAG). The postage and handling). The basis of our relations is a pamphlet has articles on Rho­ similar theoretical perspec­ desia's war against Mozambique, tive and common practice in Zimbabwean refugees in Mozam­ support of liberation movements. bique, and more. Various Danish comrades recent­ * * * * ly translated more LSM publi­ Workers' Struggle for Free­ cations into Danish. These are dom (50¢) and Economic Crisis

43 in South Africa The Workers' Burden (40¢) are each 22-page pamphlets from the South Afri­ can Congress of Trade Unions and available from LSM (add 50¢ postage and handling). Workers' Struggle contains SACTU's principles, the Free- dom Charter, and SACTU demands. Economic Crisis reports on the worsening economic conditions for South Africa's workers in 1977 and presents demands to employers in South Africa. * * * * * In the last LSM NEWS we re­ ported that subscriptions to Workers' Unity, the organ of the South African Congress of Trad~ Unions, were £5 per year. We have since learned this is the price for organi­ zations. Individual subscrip­ tions to Workers' Unity are bl ($1.95) per year from: SACTU 49 Rathbone St. London WlA 4NL ENGLAND ·* * * * * Peoples Press recently pub­ lished two attractively de­ signed and politically valu­ able books. our Roots Are Still Alive is a political history of the Palestinian people and their struggle for self-determination in their homeland against colonialism, Zionism, and imperialism. This book should fill a big gap in the knowledge and understanding of people in the us. Available from LSM ($3.50 plus 50¢ postage and handling) • The other new book, Puerto Rico: the Flame of Resistance,

44 also $3.50, could play a simi­ tured by the Iranian police. lar role in acquainting many Deghani describes her prison people with the Puerto Rican experience in graphic detail independence struggle. At a and explains how she survived time when the drive for state­ torture and humiliation to hood is likely to be acceler­ eventually escape. Armed ated, we would do well to arm Struggle in Iran: the Road ourselves with this factual to Mobilization of the Masses history. Available from: by Bizhan Jazani is another Peoples Press theoretical piece on the P. O. Box 40130 Iranian armed movement (143 San Francisco, CA 94110 pages, $1.70). Women and the * * * * * Revolution in Oman (60¢, 43 The Support Committee for pages) is a collection of ar­ the Iranian People's Struggle ticles and interviews on the has published two pamphlets role of women in Omani society in a series entitled Iran the and their participation in the Struggle Within. The first is revolution. Available from: a new edition of the essay, Gulf Committee "On the Necessity of Armed 6 Endsleigh St. Struggle & Refutation of the London WCl ENGLAND Theory of 'Survival'" by mar­ * * * * * tyred guerrilla leader Amir Pouyan, with an introduction by George Habash of the Popu­ lar Front for the Liberation of Palestine (42 pages, $1.25). The second is entitled "Armed Struggle: Both a Strategy and gqtw~ a Tactic" by Massoud Ahmad­ zadeh (74 pages, $1.50). Both are key summations of the theoretical lessons of guer­ rilla struggle in Iran. Available from: 1r~ SCIPS P.O. Box 671 New York, NY 10011 * * * * * A number of other books on ~~~ Iran and Oman are available from the Gulf Committee in England. Torture & Resistance in Iran (153 pages, $2) by Ashraf Deghani is the moving life story of a guerrilla cap- 1118!

45 BOX 2077

do medical and midwifery work Revolution and Religion as well as agricultural work Thank you very much indeed in the Bijagos Islands and in for sending me the new calen­ the North. The PAIGC is always dar. I think it is a great most helpful and encourages us improvement on last year's and in our work. We have always I congratulate you on its sought to help the people in presentation. I trust it will their struggle. help to stir many people to Before the war I was engaged help Africa. in leprosy work with an Ameri­ Guinea-Bissau is passing can doctor and his wife, but through a difficult period when the war was at its height because of the rice shortage the Portuguese made us leave owing to lack of rain this the interior and come to Bissau. year. A short while ago a Our houses were burnt down. boat load of rice was sent However, just last year we from America and this met a were able to start rebuilding great need. So many coun­ in Lendene, near Bissora, and tries sent aid. A boat is a British couple is there doing expected on the 20th (of De­ agricultural work and helping cember) bringing rice. the Balanta people to improve You ask what kind of work I their crops. A nurse from am doing. Maybe you will be Finland is learning Portuguese surprised to hear that I am a and will be coming to restart missionary. We are about 20 the leprosy work. We work in in all, mostly British, but conjunction with the Govern­ several Americans, one Dutch, ment medical services and they and one Brazilian. We are help to supply our medicine, evangelists and the only group although we do buy a great working here. deal ourselves from Britain. I have been here since 1951, Our aim (is) that the returning to England every 4 African should take over, and or 5 years, so I have been it is rewarding work. here through the armed strug­ A Luta Continua gle. We rejoice with the peo­ CS, Guinea-Bissau ple at their Independence. We

46 More Information! gaps in this regard. Vitoria e Certa The people definitely need PJ, Tempo Magazine, Mozam­ to be made aware of the various bique liberation struggles going on around the world and also the LSM has been supplying clip­ fact that such struggles still pings on southern Africa to exist. The imperialist media Tempo at their request. Read­ tend to downplay such strug­ ers can help by sending news gles or write them off as "ter­ clippings to include in our rorist" activities. packets. Especially needed Also, certain elements of are items from the New York the Amerikan left seem to have Times and Washington Post. attached a connotation of shame Tempo also wants to follow or counter-revolution to armed progressive activities in North struggles and this attitude America. Left organizations must definitely be overcome. can send their publications to: A luta continua! C. P. 2917 JWP, W. Virginia Maputo People's Republic of Mozam­ Across the Great Divide bique. Your analysis of the Sino­ Send by air, as surface mail Soviet split was sorely needed. is unreliable. Teo often rigid, doctrinal positions cause schisms among The People the people who should be allied against a common enemy, who in Power should be working together in­ stead of fighting among them­ selves. SC, New York Clippings for Mozambique Thanks for your letter and package of clippings .... The clippings have proved to be very useful, especially for our section "Jornais e Revis­ tas." Also I'm starting a file on western journalists who cover Africa, as, when a journalist applies to come here we often know nothing about the sort of reporting he/she does - your cuttings have already filled in some

47 Leading Edge continued from p. 1 not published any new books, in part because we are re­ printing old ones consumed by the recent surge of interest in Southern Africa. Now, how­ ever, some new books near com­ pletion and are advertised in this issue, such as Sowing the First Harvest, on reconstruc­ tion in Guinea-Bissau and Liberation Support Movement: Our Unity and Practice. LSM NEWS 11-12, our special issue on SWAPO, is out-of-print and we will soon publish an up­ dated version titled SWAPO: the Namibian People in Arms. Other books in the prepara­ tory stage include the life history of John ya Otto, SWAPO's Secretary of Labor, and a collection of short life histories from Guinea-Bissau. We also plan books on women in African liberation movements and on South Africa.

L SM Second Congress continued from page 38 reach. We expect our members to agree with and be able to ar­ ticulate LSM's theoretical and strategic views. People who want to participate in our work and get to know our or­ ganization better, can join as trial members or become sympathizers.

48 • The Patriotic Front: Aims & Objectives • SWAPO on World Anti-imperialist Struggle

• ANC's Underground Work in South Africa ~ • People's War Combat Diary '9-i>~ • Imperialist Strategy in So;;~ffi';, , O~~ ~G't ~~ ~~~ 0 ~~~ ...... ~ \J SUBSCRIBE D NAMIBIA - Journal of South West Africa People's Organization. (SWAPO) $5.00 □ZIMBABWE REVIEW Zimbabwe African People's Union (Patriotic Front) $3.00 ~ D SECHABA - African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) $6.00 -• ENCLOSE TOTAL _$_ -:, NAME ------LSM Press, Box 2077, ------: ADDRESS Oakland, CA 94604 :------Make1978 a Year of Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa Beautiful, 11 color, 11" x 17" calendar with photos, quotes, poems, draw­ ings and dates from the African revolution. Dual themes of liberation struggle and socialist reconstruction. A great way to start (and finish) the year! ~ ~ now only .$2.00

LSM INFORMATION CENTER, P.O. BOX 2077, Bulk Rate OAKLAND, CA 94604, USA U.S. Postage PAID Oakland, CA Permit No. 3925

PRINTED MATTER