*----------------------------------------------------------* | | | x x x x x x x xx xxx xxx xxx | | xx xx x xx xx xx x x x x x x Issue #24 | | x x x x x x x x xx x x x xx xxx | | x x x x x x x x x x x x 05/20/86 | | x x x x x x x xx x xxx xxx | | | |----------------------------------------------------------| | Newspaper of the Maoist Internationalist Movement | *----------------------------------------------------------* SOUTH AFRICA ON THE OFFENSIVE SOUTH AFRICA DEMONSTRATES REGIONAL POLICEMAN ROLE Monday, May 19th, South African military forces attacked three countries--Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia for having ANC (African National Congress) members within their borders. The ANC is the nationalist, pro-Soviet liberation group in South Africa fighting for one-man one-vote, where 5 million whites currently rule 24 million Blacks. In Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe South African soldiers bombed the ANC office. No one was hurt because the ANC had been tipped off on the raid. Harare is 300 miles from S. African borders. The S. African troops arrived by land. As S. Africa's first public attack on Harare, the S. African venture corroborates accusations that S. Africa assassinates anti-apartheid leaders in Harare and elsewhere in the region. In Botswana, South African troops killed a soccer player and injured three others including one Botswanan soldier. The helicopter-borne attack was on a housing complex in the capital-- Gaborone--the second in less than a year. "In Zambia, two South African warplanes struck a refugee camp near the capital of Lusaka, said President Kenneth Kaunda who condemned the attacks as 'cowardly, criminal and unforgiveable acts of aggression.'" (Associated Press, David Crary, 5/19/86) The warplanes flew almost 1,000 miles from S. Africa. At least one Zambian and one Namibian were killed and nine people injured. (Ibid.) S. African army chief Lt. Gen. A. J. Liebenberg said that "the action taken against the terrorists should be interpreted as indicative of the firm resolve of the Republic of South Africa to use all the means at its disposal against terrorists wherever they may be." (Ibid.) He also said that "responsible South African leaders have repeatedly stated this country's determination to combat terrorism and leaders of various Western countries have recently done so as well." (UPI in Ann Arbor News, 5/19/86, p. 1) The United States and Britain condemned the attacks, but they continued to oppose economic sanctions against S. Africa. (AP, op. cit.) According to State Dept. official Chester Crocker, South Africa faces the greatest risk of revolution when it spreads itself too thin in fighting regional wars. The U.S. does not oppose the S. African raid in principle. It only fears that its war partner will lose if it becomes engaged in too many armed conflicts at once. SAUDIS STOOD UP FOR U.S. AGAINST LIBYA Saudi Arabia opposed Libya's efforts to hold an Arab summit on the U.S. bombing of Tripoli. It also blocked Arab economic and political sanctions against the U.S according to a senior government official. (New York Times, 5/14/86, p. 2) Reagan has cited Saudi Arabia as an American ally. He is attempting to gain Congressional permission to sell $354 million in missiles to the Saudis. Congress voted down the sale to Saudi Arabia two weeks ago. Syria, Iran, Libya and S. Yemen are already on Reagan's public hit list of countries that support terrorism. By denying arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. government is exacerbating contradictions with the Arab states generally. American anti-Arabism will undermine so-called moderate U.S. supporters in the Mid-East by paving the way for pan-Arabist and nationalist sentiments against U.S. backed regimes. The U.S. will not have an easy time lining up Arabs and Israelis alike in the war bloc against the East. CIA LENDING COVERT AID TO ANTI-SOVIET BLOC STRUGGLES WORLDWIDE The CIA is giving $500 million in covert aid to armed groups opposing governments supported by the Soviet Union--in Angola, Nicaragua, Afghanistan and Cambodia. The CIA has the backing of the 208 Committee, which is composed of representatives from the National Security Council (NSC), State Department, Pentagon and CIA. Contrary to common belief, the Congress has never outlawed all aid to the contras or any other pawn of state terrorism. The above organizations of the executive branch receive "discretionary" allocations. For instance, the law states that the CIA may spend money in its multi-million dollar discretionary fund however it wishes as long as it informs two members of Congress. The amount of "discretionary" funding is not known to the public. Before the Congressional debate on the contras in April, the press revealed that the CIA has aided the contras all along despite a law banning CIA support of the contras. The public had previously thought that a law banning CIA aid to the contras was in effect. The Congress has given the appearance of operating by rules of democracy. In reality though, the Congress obeys the laws of capitalist imperialism before anything else. It appears that the necessity faced by the bourgeoisie to go to war in Central America is greater than the public opinion it has roused for the cause. Hence, aid to the contras is covert. However, periodically the capitalist class tries to rally public opinion for its war effort, so that it may wage a more open and intense war. For instance, the executive branch threatened to cut-off military aid to Honduras if Honduras did not report to the press a phony border war with Nicaragua. Momentarily, this seemed to work and it seemed that the Congress was going to approve aid to the contras to fight Nicaragua. The ruling class is trying to carry out war without affronting public opinion. It creates incidents such as at Honduras and Libya in order to rally the public to a more open and fully-developed WW III. In the meantime, the bourgeoisie donates money and personnel in a covert fashion to its mercenary forces across the globe. The ruling class does not dare declare WW III openly because of public opinion. However, WW III is already on. "The strategy, recommended by CIA Director William Casey and approved by Reagan in January 1985, rests on the premise that the two superpowers are already engaged in a war of sorts using proxy armies, the officials said." (Detroit Free Press, 5/12/86, p. 1, 13a) MIM Notes is happy to report that this is all public knowledge now. MIM has argued that WWIII is already on since MIM started. It is time to rally public opinion against covert and proxy war, not just open war fought with "our boys." CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR PLANT NOT UNLIKE AMERICAN ONES Initial reports on the Chernobyl accident from U.S. and nuclear industry experts were factually inaccurate. After some delay, experts have conceded that Chernobyl did in fact have a containment structure of concrete and steel like those found in the U.S. The structure had one to two feet of steel and six to eight feet of concrete. In addition there were several million gallons of water below the reactor and a layer of nitrogen surrounding the reactor. The nitrogen layer is supposedly non-flammable. The reactor was sealed in a number of layers to prevent explosions like the one that has resulted in the deaths of 13 people so far. The two walls of the containment structure could handle 27 and 57 pounds per square inch respectively. American units need walls that withstand 55 to 65 pounds per square inch. Some that use ice only need to withstand 12 to 15. A number of factors including the volume enclosed by the containment structure vary from plant to plant so that technical comparisons are not easy. With the new information many government, industry and academic experts honestly stepped forward to contradict American chauvinist thinking that American nuclear plants could never have the same problem: "I'm just a little nervous that we have the same design, and it didn't work," said Prof. Richard Wilson of the Physics Dept. at Harvard. Wilson chaired a 1985 study on severe nuclear accidents. (Ann Arbor News, 5/19/86, Stuart Diamond, New York Times) SOUTH AFRICA DEATH TOLL UP TO 1600 The effort to maintain apartheid has cost 1,600 lives since S. Africa announced its new constitution, which continued to give the majority African population fourth class status. (AP, David Crary, 5/19/86) Unfortunately, the bourgeois press has focussed on this overt violence. Likewise, pacifists remain insensitive to institutional violence in S. Africa effected through mass starvation and inadequate health care; even though, institutional violence is far greater than overt political violence and causes political violence. Those who did not grasp that half of the African children in the so-called homelands died before the age of six are surprised now to see so much overt political violence in S. Africa. Those that did not realize that Blacks died in emergencies because white hospitals would not take them in are disgusted when they see video coverage of white police violence against Black demonstrators. Political violence in S. Africa is only the tip of the iceburg of the white ruling class's violence against Blacks. The violence of the oppressed--labelled "terrorism" by the oppressors--is in no way comparable. It is the violence of the ruling class which is the root cause of violence in S. Africa and elsewhere. WEINBERGER THINKS BOYCOTTS WORK People as "diverse" as Harvard President Derek Bok and Ronald Reagan believe that to pull business out of S. Africa would be to run away from problems instead of working to reform apartheid. The opposite is the case for Libya, which own a mere 15% of a FIAT subsidiary that recently won a Pentagon bidding competition for a contract. "Defense" Secretary Caspar Weinberger cancelled the contract through a national security clause. Weinberger cited fear of Libya's profiting from the contract as the reason for disqualifying FIAT's contract bid. (New York Times, 5/15/86) INDONESIA BANS AUSTRALIAN PRESS The Australian press remains banned from Indonesia and Indonesia temporarily gave Australian tourists visa difficulties in reaction to an Australian article about Indonesian president Sukharto. Sukharto is worth $2 to 3 billion. (New York Times, 4/28/86, p. 8) The New York Times itself is banned from East Timor in a blackout of Indonesia's genocide against the Timorese. Still, so-called Second World country Australia, which has front row seats for the genocide by its neighbor Indonesia, recognizes Indonesia as having sovereignty in East Timor. Australia is ruled by the so-called Labor Party. (Ibid.) Indonesia has killed over 100,000 Timorese through occupation according to conservative Congressional estimates. Also, the Indonesian military killed 500,000 Maoists and alleged Maoists, mostly Chinese in a slaughter in Indonesia itself in 1965. (Time, 5/12/86) Australia's relations with Indonesia may appear strained, but they are certainly far from supportive of Timorese self- determination. Australia's foreign policy proves once again that so-called Second World countries (advanced non- superpower countries) are not allies of the oppressed. Instead, even people of the supposed "left," such as Prime Minister Bob Hawke, in the Second World represent the interests of the Australian bourgeoisie. For more information on East Timor, write to MIM. DON'T FORGET OUR OTHER CHINA A former American serviceman wrote a letter to the Free China Journal, which is a Taiwanese propaganda paper aimed at Americans. "I say 'Our ROC' because I was stationed for Uncle Sam in Taipei for almost 5 years from early 1954 to late 1958 and the love affair that developed then is still in bloom today." The Free China Journal corrected the author in one way. "(Editor's note: ROC is now sixth largest trading partner to the USA since 1985.)" (Free China Journal, 5/5/86) The serviceman had thought that Taiwan was still eighth. PERUVIAN SOCIAL DEMOCRAT ADVISES NICARAGUA TO LAY DOWN ARMS The Contadora Peace Plan, long hailed by American moderates as a solution to the conflict in Central America would have Nicaragua cut its armed forces and agree to a moratorium on weapons purchases. Apparently, certain circles in the U.S. government are giving Contadora the green light. The American press reported that Dan Habib and influential Congressmen were on the verge of getting Reagan to back Contadora. Peru's president Alan Garcia supports the Contadora process and publicly advised Nicaragua to sign Contadora even if the United States does not agree to honor its terms. (New York Times, 5/12/86) In other words, Garcia wants Nicaragua to lay down its arms even if the U.S. continues to aid the contras. Garcia alluded to regional troubles. He clearly has the Sendero insurgency in his own country in mind. Perhaps if the U.S. cooled off the Central America conflict for awhile, Garcia reasons, Peru's own conflagration would appear more isolated. PAKISTAN SHOOTS DOWN SOVIET PLANES FROM AFGHANISTAN Armed with U.S.-made F-16 fighters, Pakistan shot down a Soviet made MiG-21 from the Soviet Union. The MiG crashed in Pakistan. It is unclear if Soviet flyers manned the jet. The Soviets are trying to finish off resistance to its colonial adminstration of Afghanistan. (Christian Science Monitor, 5/19/86, p. 2) GOV'T RIDES ANTI-LIBYA, CHAUVINIST WAVE Secretary of State George P. Schultz told CBS "Face the Nation" that the United States needs to use its covert options against Libya more. He had said at news conferences that the goal of the bombing of Colonel Qaddafi's headquarters was to cause "'considerable dissidence'" within Qaddafi's military. "Mr. Schultz said a coup would be 'all to the good.'" (New York Times, 4/28/86, p. 7) Other government officials said that Reagan had authorized at least two covert programs to oust Qaddafi and that his death in the American bombings would have been "'serendipitous.'" Not surprisingly, the U.S. failed for lack of finding a credible opposition. Any American support for an opposition in Libya would be the kiss of death for that group. It stands to reason that Libyan nationalists would protest against anybody's receiving U.S. aid. Thus, Schultz did not name anyone that the U.S. is trying to support in Libya. However, Schultz is building public opinion for CIA covert action against Libya while there is a chauvinistic wind in the air. That which the public did not know about before is now made public knowledge in order to push for open aggression. "ZOMBIE" AGENTS INFILTRATED NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY A Catholic newspaper in Manila reported that the thousands of insurgents laying down their arms to the Aquino government are in reality agents of the military placed in the New People's Army (NPA) over the years by the Marcos regime. A number of "zombies" have confessed to working for pay under Marcos to undermine the NPA from within. One zombie--Vicente Libora-- under detention in Mindanao said, "the NPA structure has been duplicated by the zombies. The zombies have penetrated all rungs in the structure. The structure is really the same. We also do not know who is on top, who is in the central committee." (Veritas, "The 'Zombies': 'Veritas' Reporter Discovers That Many NPA Surrenderees Are in Reality Deep Penetration Agents," 4/3/86) Libora had been paid a salary and more importantly, given medicine for an illness not otherwise available for infiltrating the NPA with the assignment to "kill the Commanding Officer and surrender the entire unit by December, 1985." (Ibid.) Zombie Carlos Balacwet admitted to killing his NPA team leader and extorting money from innocent civilians. His Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) superiors had commanded him to violate every rule of discipline in the NPA. A zombie in Carlos's collective killed Carlos's brother, who was a ranking guerrilla in the NPA. Another zombie was actually a Major in the AFP. She killed those who did not turn over extortion money. According to an NPA leader named Nilo Nabong, "'once inside the organizations, the DPA [zombie] starts violating codes of discipline like stealing from the people, destroying people's property, sowing intrigues and in-fighting among members of the community; spreading anti-social vices like gambling and drinking, and even engaging in prostitution.'" (Ibid.) Another leader said, "'it was really very difficult to accept. Here we were fighting the enemy only to find out that there was an enemy within our ranks.'" (Ibid.) Nabong had this to say for the zombies: "They are the best extensions of the military in the barrios; more effective and potent because they are discreetly hidden behind the cloak of the people's mass organizations in the barrio." (Ibid.) The NPA has rightly purged these zombies. Some of them convert to be revolutionaries because of unfulfilled promises of pay from the AFP. Others are detained. After investigation and trial within the NPA most zombies are eventually released. The zombies teach communists everywhere two valuable lessons. First, it is impossible to avoid infiltration by agents of the bourgeoisie. Secondly, it is vital to have channels to the non-party and non-army masses. People who step forward to identify abuses by the cadres of revolution are extremely valuable and courageous. Says Nabong, "we have been accused of deception, brigandry, and terrorism. We have been accused of killing several persons who did not even commit any crime against the people. We have been accused of launching ambuscades and extortions, and worse, of killing innocent civilians in the process. For a time, we could not understand what was going on." (Ibid.) Only genuine revolutionaries with an ear to the ground and a will to investigate can claim the mantle of liberator of the people. AQUINO IN BIND, SUPPORTERS CALL FOR END OF U.S. AID TO MILITARY President Aquino of the Philippines told visiting "Defense" Secretary Caspar Weinberger "that her new government needs American economic assistance more than military assistance." (Washington Post, 4/8/86) Weinberger replied that military assistance is "essential." (Ibid.) The U.S. government has taken to warning Aquino of the threat from New People's Army guerrillas. Meanwhile, left of center supporters of Aquino in the U.S. are pressuring the Congress not to give military aid to the Philippines. According to the Philippine Human Rights Lobby, "the Reagan administration has recently asked Congress $50 million in supplemental military aid for the Philippines for FY 1986, despite the fact that Cory Aquino has not requested it." Aquino came to power in the Philippines with the help of Marcos's military. The military had feared a cut-off in American aid. Now Aquino is saddled with a military with power somewhat independent of hers. Indeed, Aquino could not have come to power without the support of the American trained and supported military of the Philippines. The irony of Aquino's seizure of power that is extolled in the American press as an example of democracy and non- violence is that it will probably result in an increase in American military control. Aquino may yet end up responsible for more violence than Marcos. COMMUNIST PARTY EXPANDING PAPER; ANC STEPS OUT FOR CPUSA Recent issues of the Daily World hardly mentioned the role of the Communist Party in its publication. However, the Daily World and People's World are combining in an effort to create a national Communist Party daily newspaper--the People's Daily World. In its first issue, the role of the Communist Party is acknowledged relatively prominently, but not on the front page. (People's Daily World, 5/1/86) The Communist Party (CPUSA) is the fraternal party to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). Other parties in the U.S. contest the CP's label of "communist" and argue that the CPUSA is reformist. In part of the activities to raise money for the new revisionist paper, spokespeople from Sechaba will take part. Sechaba is the organ of the youth group of the ANC--African National Congress. (People's Daily World, 5/8/86) While the struggle of the ANC in S. Africa is a just and progressive one, it is necessary to combat its reactionary influence in promoting the Communist Party and its line in the U.S. On May Day, South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU)'s Thozamile Makethe, a member of SACTU's National Executive Committee spoke with CP leader Gus Hall to a rally in Union Square, New York. (People's Daily World, 5/1/86) The benefits of state power in the Soviet Union are many. Among them are the ability to get relatively vibrant liberation groups to support flagging fraternal organizations like the CPUSA. SACTU and the ANC would have no reason to support the insignificant CPUSA if it were not for the Soviet Union. PAT ROBERTSON SUPPORTS U.S./SOUTH AFRICA/ISRAEL/CONTRA AXIS Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson says the "'contras are being supplied by Israel and South Africa,'" according to Sara Diamond and Jane Hunter of the Pacific News Service (AP No. 5921). "Israel has shipped rifles and other weapons to the contras since 1983, according to Reagan administration officials quoted in the New York Times." (Ibid.) Also, Israeli press reports show Israeli advisers working with the contras. The conscious American lackies met in June 1985 in Angola with Jonas Savimbi of UNITA. American pawns from Afghanistan, Laos and Nicaragua attended. Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) is one of the largest private donors to the contras. The "CBN is providing bibles and military chaplains to the FDN." (FDN is the largest contra group.) Robertson has personally visited contra camps in Honduras. The escalating WWIII between the East and West blocs is responsible for the emergence of foreign policies as espoused and funded by people like Pat Robertson. Robertson provides the ideological glue for conscious sections of the bourgeoisie. JACK KEMP RALLIES FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA New Right activists continue to take political risks in order to prop up apartheid. Jack Kemp came out in favor of increasing investment in South Africa. Investment according to Kemp will "'undermine apartheid by more free unions and more free trade in South Africa.'" (Detroit Free Press, 5/11/86, p. 11a) Reminiscent of the Spartacist League position favoring more investment in South Africa, Kemp's position demonstrates that a section of the bourgeoisie is desperate in regard to South Africa. So much is at stake that even candidate Kemp will go out of his way to rally public opinion for more aid to apartheid. Kemp's call for increased investment follows that of Jerry Falwell.