Botha's Namibian powder keg The reign of terror in Namibia's black townships SHOCK WAVES mupled through white socie down in Angela: Typically: there were to bian and Angolan — troop casualties or of SADEs 230, and claimed to bare destrosed several SADI planes, a helicoprer and 3a sin South Africa when on 17 November last year the SADE was forced to make a fare admissson of the denis in combat go sout thern Angola of 35 white soldics, including a caplin and ton hestemans, 15 wounded. and a hissing pilot, as well three jets shit mosly Nami- On 12 November; the Angolan gover 142 soldicis to the quietly disposed of, asually in their relativas their capture in Angola Such dead reports of the SADP', black ment arited losing disgrace.
shuucule arcidents: Tonly 60 per vent were 29 A lae snidy done on 1985 of the sons cring 850 killed of daease, Lanspon and THE SiDE does not now release any Annual kimetimes months afterwund Much ofen figures out deaths of severe mures, it money 1982 figures, however, showed how great + the SiDe death toll cover up. I admiced 37 sends individual relapses a moncoe form. troops killed in action in the course of 1982. mosily: in Namibia, bar adauced asstoge disguiscs the canse of death The 'Nam syndrome causcd by tor war: By rano ot population. troops to only 15 million people in mpen Jans, norwhelmingly civilians who have died violends at the handsotthe SADF anilit mercenan, this, or the 120,000 Namibians Namihia is the moe catastrophically allecteu country in the regain, not surprising given than there arc coc100,000 SADI-controlled Pretoria s war since 1970. These deuth ratto une much higher It one courts death liough lamitie and disease, especially of istants. caled and 730.000 Anguians cispinced by PLAN, reported a successlut dabush in nor: on 31 Octobm, killing dozens of SAlt troops butants then dove back to Angold in two cit the SADI personnel carriers: and released! *He was completely incineratod and them is no body left, taly shes moumed a hitter whire father in Jo burg's Sunday papers Cl for the Cert Namibig of m SNDI unhuored convov und destroving 11 vehicles. The PIAN com- 20.000 or so Namibians and 60,000 Ango- armoored vehicles over two mischs of fight SOCIALISTOUTLOOK n0.5 January/February 3988 SWAPOs armed course no thatshrs were sparce photographs of them. Morever: ing:
fat the 1975-83 period would show that, as a proporton of the total white population in Soul Africa and Nami- baa, the whire South African death Fate was time tomas the number ol US lives lost in Viernamn Many of these are British citizcos estimates white, SOUTHERNAFRICA
Small wonder then, the numher nf white: war resisters (conscripts tailing to bonour - Iron 1,500 in 1981 to 7,500 in 1985, aer which no Admittedly part of this increase is attribut- able to the deployment of the SADI in the South African black townships in 1985; but posed to ncarly twice thar number in Nami- bis and snurhern Angola (although the north castern: Transvaal has alo become heavily militarised by the SaDl in a replica of Nomi- usual that it was in Angola fighting SWADO in cross-border pursuit, and was hot there to •a tribally based Angolan November Il changed Its stor to thar of claim indignantly denied by Unita leader Actually, 'Unita' isa saDe forward unir, # there were only 35,000 mops there as op: bv mid- trajan borse for Pictoria s imperialist amhi- crying to stop la very ncal threar to Unira" INITIALLY, THE SAD tried to priend However. their call-ups) is rising sharply further figures were relcared. or have relatives in Britain Angolagate unrevealed dissident movenient. protect "Unita'. Savimbi. bia).
nons in Angola. I functions almost iden- rically to one of the growing number of the SADI's Bantustan units, but in dirs casc the mut is located un the most unpopulated part if Angola and protected by the largest cure
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 5 January/Fobruary 1988 NIPLN as well as the Frelimo government ni According to a recent U5 congress report, this equipment a supplied and i pars relarbished Do sources in West European NATO compries tipeludag Francel aul Is- rael, despite a supposed mandatory LN aus Fand coal try to denyi Yer the us is how abo dipost directly involved in supplying the since 1902 the Cia has arranged the supply of arris and other cuipraent to Unita (ie: the SADE) via Saudi Araba for Lie O5 side to Kank Falid ol AWAC surveillance plunes. This prompred setting up a Unita framing programmic in Zaire C14 Invemen In: both of these Centration Of the South Attican air force answhere Over 80 SADE planes, not l0 mention tanks and belicopter gunships, arr Gased In the Namibian Caprivi Strip, the extends like a savonce into central Africa and gives Bothe and his generals air-strike copac- ity nwer Angela, Zambia, Zhahwe ani like Malawi bi Zaire. i Pretoria's popper Banda, or CIA stalwar: plaver in Pretoria% campaign agains the embargo co fact that Thatcher. Koll Miner- Mone by using "kickbark tunds part by Isract to try and outdo the Saucis in 1983 by mose militarised zone in the sourhern hemis This peraliar colonial carving whirh ori Mubitu, are treatened, since they are key ginates from Lie 188+ Berlin confercore SADF In a replica nf contragare" plavers in Pretoria' others I need be Mozambique: shere.
through the grows of the power of the black capital, the irrerocable split in Afrikaaner nanonalism, On the orher hand. it arose: The Thots nf rhis "Bothapartier" disraror- ship lay, on the nor hand, in Pretoria's internal Class contradiction and, specifically, with the coming of age of Alrikuaner financr from the growing need to expon capital by working ciass compared to white labour ahrl, bin in 1975. However, a 1978 palace coup" in Pretoria open all this. PW Batha, then minister of defence, and his generals, anderstood that, if the election was remotely fair, SWAPO would win hands down, and dus wouki mean another SAfF retreat and a white sell out to u toop reinlotements, the Sower reunirs of kaaner seteler colony Atter their previous small guerrilla campaign in a primarili Adi- retreat from Angola in thr face of Cuban repealed by Reagan Why this stepped op operations was covert until Tuly 1985 when the 1976 Clarke amendment prhihiring US military Support to Angolan dissiders was Reagan and Botha officials bad stalled the planned deco- - and hence the FROM MID 1982 antil now: Namibian power vacuum Hansatiun of Namibi interest in Unir?
region. Namubia was at the very decart of all monupoly hance cupitilism in the 1970%. and therefore the South African ruling class ambition to develop the stace mite a punor imperialist power in its own right in the face of growing anti-colorind scruggles in the subs- 1971 upsurge of guerrilla warfare following The 1971-2 general strike and the post of these contradictions The 1971-2 be an even bigger powder keg. Botba and his sappores managed in cust Vorster before the UN plan (known woridwide as UN secur- ity council resolution 335) could be imple- 1976 had followed A SWAPO victory would mented This signalled the smart of rho gone- sake-over under the ideology of chr Bothapartism and Namibia total strategy rals withdrawal of the SADl and denise of Unira - by delaying rhe pervinas Angio-American led by Vance hoped to woo the Meen gra- dually trough economic dependenes, since Angola's main cyport, oil, wits to the Dis and was virtually run hy Gulf The fast sep was diplomacy devised in 1977. Carter's officials ro snaire the gradual withdrawal of Lie Cuban reinforcements braughr in to stone the to snuite the
Namibia's minerals, Sslung and agriculture in which Afrikaaner threat to Buer hegemous* powcrcd by sWA: POs escalating struggle, carac in the form pE the Vaner-Owen plan, itscif a response to the Portuguese collapye had threatened the could enter through its pavileged political position in the colonial srate — Sourh Wes Atrina eir in still called. The wider imperialist consideration. taws in plotidering capital borate national security managoment system apparatus A licrarche of secret committee. was set up at local provincial and national created the Soulli African state socuriry conncil as a de facto inner cabinet for his generals and an cla- to control the Afrikanner National Party last made up of trusted white business. professional, polirical and other experts had BY 1987- BOTHA menting a Vanec-Owen (that is. Labour 1975/6 South African invasion, by imple- goverument sponsored-) decolonisation plan for Namibia: This would get she SADE out ol Namibia, extep: for a Temporary hoki on The plan was sporsored by the five We- stern power m the LN — che 1'S. Brimain. Franer. Went Germany and Canada (who also happened to be the largese intestors ini Namilia's only port. Walvis Bay
IDA- plan — Owco and co. obliged by dirhering In response. Bodia first delaced che UN over whether to lakc suctions mraniten: Botha planned to boild up the client pardes StAPO and is emerging umion wine — the Workers. Thatcher's Election in 1979 was a fillin. She wit posused that the Cuhans would be invited in to Nambia by SWAPD because. severely crackdown Natatal Umon ol in Namibin and Natitsal within a sume. Copying the Same sexpe- level with a xiew to crearing black puppet who were owled by military and police chiefs on all political decisions — a stag be in place to co-ope select black collaboralers armed forces-such as those started in Nami- dence in ruling Namilia, where the whine ive, this white scrunity umbrella" could then at the formal parliamentar and mancipel National Party had split and become ineffect agreed UN trusteeslip role oer Namihia: Namibia) — because of the universally deriving from is old Teague of Nations mandate as an ex-German colony. Vorter and the SWAPO Tradership agreed 11, bur Varsir naively thoughr thar his tribal pup- pets could defeat SWAPO In the propnend scably, surd tas the 5001 could then renam UN-supervised clechons to a comeritoent ae- Irginimatcly in Namibiai
comonic compensation agaust some of the plunder the territory. Foo example, the lasr stopped cargoes of suspected Namihian ura- South Atrican prtphery and the heartlands makes Namilia' independenre a pornorial European and Japanese ninear industries war reparations and Labour governmene could have impounded the hugs yem dinond stocks of the de Beers cartel in London but this was tiever dis- achilles beel lor the Bocha regime and tha Thus solidarity work workers blockades of Namibian produce The dialectic beeween struggles (ppermanitics also exist. instance: the dockers in www tuperlise right in this dreads urgent AFRICA and interim and police force, as well as other state struc- bian Workers (NUXW) and theo the consoli- of strikes and worker demonstrations aeross projects. Moreoser, of more During this period of stalemate in impe- dramațic has been ties creatu during 1906 Namibia, and sw xo's stong worked ind consolidalt cutical importance. Botta's new local army Hepartments in Pretoria and local white rialist straregy. SWARO was further cutenu- the banner of the National Union of Nami- ¡Sation of these in foor militant indusrrial unions in late 1980 and 19H7 amider a wave the rory. Obviously, this was pot unre- laced to smile developments in South Afri rors, were starly dependent on the SAti AFR of numerhus workplace committees ing its support inside the country were unablr 1o rheir multi parry conference" OUTHERN prasant bisc: / ince die saDE let there would be a power Botha pleaded for time to stare build. The Unlike in Kbodesi which had a local army, police forre, judiciary, central bank and so forth, Namibia did not postess the Namibis plan was pur on ice as amention can economy in serious recession (including a gold price slumpy and the overturow of chie Slub meaning more expensive oil supplies. Botha cooperated wirh Carringion in a deal! allowing the Lancaster House plan in return. ing for a Muzorewa wili, the Mugabe elec- cion victory merely confirmed Bolla's suspi- BY THEN. HOWEVER, hope was on the hurt- trappings of a local state un which the natin talise movement leadors could be grafted. formssed on Zimbabwe. With the South Airi for British ppposion to any sanctions, Hop cion shour Namibia. Enter Reagan
IN THE RECENT fighring in nuth caster Angela and north Namilia the sace Bee received sume severe setbacks When incom- • to mecing TAPLA brad in the SADE appeari to push its black troops to die front This cocently arnvoked a dramand mutiny To Batabon i Noveraber, 360 being sent from the front to Walve Bay military prison in Namibia as well as another protest in 102 Batrabion A salt poor adanted to the London Gada Trigope that 'Inu vous ago, the Angolin» would Ire avoid no in al Now diey re spoiling lor a hebt The new Mig-259. superios to thie SADF Mirages anal updared Irarli-designer. Cher- timed prom to sac massle sortime Sodes, have made deep cross border vaulE Ov conventional SADE forces increasingly risky. The only cuumer so is new weapenny is the supply of the LS Sanger anti aircraft and Tonawk at- monk missiles roccady delivered be the CTA to Cuita. Bor then, B to evidence that this epipment hac spped the balance againsti FAPLA although it Should De reenbernd huss many more resourecs the South Afrus base as their disponal — copecially it rhe gold words of Sourb African general Malan, 10 however su lar this has tailed. Bur be 16 misconlonales art tram our Cuban fends: SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 5 January/February 1988 Angola by over J00 blark Namibians in 101 more sophisticaned Lue ament the MADF thenrsish was. in the December — despite imhanimous bur Malin's forres had increased in numbers. sprend wiseward along the Cundo Cabange province and into Cunene prove aud were attarking 12 towne. Angalan prosident don Santos, was threatening to agam resolt no paign". Cuban troops were srady in thove south it the Mocamedes railwas line and op to 17 Cuban generals, many veterans of the 1975/6 wall, Were reporeals arriving from Token, IN Security Cuuned call for the SADI and alics ma renewal if the 1976 cam- tallet a once and for all defeat on tAriA to withdraw from Angule by 10) December and coen lasag abusdes dor our pilits. tado, and the Angolans" Another 1976 coming? price coonues awards Katralion. A Sabr supplicd bi Lie • Havala The Nomibion NCC1 Workers Lain, Coanny the uther workery By the end of 1987, dee unions lead over +D:00D members in the Mueworkers Union ol Namibia, the Namibian Food and Aller Workery Unsun and tae Namubian Public committers, NWARO had areansed abant 20. per crEt of the waged workfore in juer over torv directly soder 128 sovercion jurisdic- Women food workers in the National Lniun, tie Mewl and Allied Samiian have been sucked in he the mt SWAPO Fourgris international law (che only terri- U00le pardcular opportonibes ant open: t0 ban the trude in Namibia's natural resunces. but not absolutely essentil Jor Us. West crusade promoted be Pretorias lavishly London, Ronn and Paris In Britain, for example, over 100 Tory Mis have egularly lerred cleme paeroment in Namitea. By Berause of Namihia's unique status in — of which its uranium is the most regis, ganite politicians, and now toller at kohl. funded front organisations in Washingion, INLIRFASINGIN THATCHERITE and Rea signed motions mpporting Pretoria Cube contrast social democratic and later moye campaigning for Namibian independence. ment leaders remain vidually inactive Union of Namibian Workers one and a hall years. Silent socialists with a Crocker was able to force the MPEA inte zon in the farm of a Reagan election win and Pretoria ser about to exploir to the maximum the new righe's pos-Vietam relurn to the cold war. Even belore the indugeration. Ricagan was calling South Atres 'a tricnly countes and was hinting that Angola norded a Lancaster House Setlement thar would lonicarion with a bogus demilirarised zone proposal to the T'N in 1930, Borha was able to scupper any, Hopes of early unplementarion conferener and hegin a nash proglamime of tag a series of serTet 123-Smith Africa talks on Namibia, in was made clear thar, first, 4 ery and minority right would have to he Constituent assembls and second. the Cu- an agreement that the Namiban constimuchr assembly woold Have to make decisions in a for thirds majority baser This latter dral build up an enmi sware hior of client par- of the UX election plan at a last cich 1961 constitution guaranteeing large private prop- agreed (chus pre-cmpting the proposed UN bans would have to stare pulling our bore this drawal and force So Ar0 to agree to same constitutional principles guaranteemy pri- vate propelty. bur nor minority rights, änd was to water for Bricha's renewed efforts to nes, Thus transforming the orignal EN plan Into a virtual Lamaster House deal, vet with Pretoria still able to bold on no Walvis Bay to choke a SPO governear inny submission THF BUILDING blocks for the new Crocker- Fire, strong popolat anti-colonial upport in Angola, esprunily Tor LAPLA and a high Cuban and Soviet mathtary commitment, was con, despite the cnormous humian coss in the south Secondly: Borha's black pappor politicians in Namibia, berause of an x- remely low develpment of an indigenous petry bourgens and middle cass stroma in include Savinbu. By stalling Namibian deco With the Reaganite Cheer C rocker load talks on the possibality of a Cuban wide Borha plan would bot take shage, however able to hold off scrious military destabilisa: state builing in Namibia starting Tocal arms and police firer. ON alan could he activated. Class hasc #need be. 32
OUTLOOK OCTALIS
Cora Kaplan, Marc Wadsworth, V.I. Clockwise: Tariq Ali and Ken John Pilger, and some of the event's younger participants pictured in Ken Loach, (seated),: Lenin and Livingstone the creche.
33 EssR gid the beltback in local atter only four issues of Songin abul Irish self-determination in magazine as a serious worec on The enr was addressed by Coming only seych months Wadsworth. Valerie Cholas. Toho Pilger. Jeremy Carbyn. aher the fusion of Teeneronal Caist. the event marked te Irish liberation, Gorbachies, leonora Eloyd. Ken Louch. Speakers from the British glasnost and pereirake in Lie Thida Kean, Sharon Arkin. 400 at Outlook aced fur Britsste withdrawal Wright who reaffirmed the movement included Ernest Porrer, Cora Kanlan, Ken and Sealer Trappen, and underscarting of the tasks movement: derermined to and internanional socalist: Mandel, Tarin Ali, Cathy lacinu Brirish sucialists • Sinn Fein councillor Par Mat Donald and Mothe Man Thanwn, Oliver appearince of the now for Socialism Fronskilien tragedy: the Jets of the labour lic aftermath of the Livingstone, Marr desalop a marxist goverment. Machover: SOCIALIST OUTLOOK #05 Jimubry/Februnry 1988 Tuture for Britam cirft Ampons workshops and plenary sessions to the seycorich anniversary of anti semitist, the Hock market the 100 people who packed peo difficult political situation. Thr the wirkshop- were dis tarns oprimistic estimates do not pur alternatives were discussed hy: covered a wide range of bores. plenary sessions wore devoted very good would be the short future of leninist, a socutlist 13 15 November to lake part response of the leaderdrip of policy for the mcdo and the London's Casion House on the labour movemen? Not But Kinnock/Wills-style the Rustian resolution. the socialism on the immediate crash, Britishi socialists und WHAT Is is the vullock for agenda in British politics: onslaugh and the techie deleatsu is nor the only Organised by Sarialent and debaucs. The mair possible response to thr