*----------------------------------------------------------* | | | x x x x x x x xx xxx xxx xxx | | xx xx x xx xx xx x x x x x x Issue #2 | | 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 10/10/84 | | x x x x x x x xx x xxx xxx | | | |----------------------------------------------------------| | Newspaper of the Maoist Internationalist Movement | *----------------------------------------------------------* SOUTH AFRICA: ARMY CALLED OUT AGAINST PEOPLE On October 7th, the world's police state par excellence called on its army to quell the rebellion of Blacks against apartheid. The forces were deployed in Soweto where defiance of white colonial rule is running strong despite the infamous police massacre of over 1,000 schoolchildren there in 1976. Once again schoolchildren are at the forefront of the action with 150,000 boycotting the oppressors' schools which grind out unskilled Black laborers for South Africa's gold and diamond mines. The separate Black schools are funded one-tenth per capita of what the white schools receive. The recent wave of protest of white settler rule in South Africa has involved rent struggles, bus fares and school conditions and union struggles, but above all recent changes in the apartheid Constitution. Riots broke out when elections to an advisory Parliament were held for the country's so-called Colored peoples which are any minority in South Africa which is not purely white or purely African in background. The so-called Colored people are a smaller fraction of the population than the 15.5% white settler fraction. The 73% African population was excluded from even any so-called democratic rights and the Constitution emphasizes increased separation of the Africans into the "homelands." The Colored peoples, however, did not jump at the chance to a seemingly second class citizenship over the Africans. Less than 20% of the "Coloureds" voted in the elections for the segregated Parliament. The boycott of the elections demonstrated on a national level the farce of white settler rule and provided a single national opportunity for protest. At a time when the whole world was supposed to see a repeat of the Central America election farce, the whole world saw rebellion and hatred for imperialism. At a time when the Western media was cultivating South Africa's "mellow" image by pointing to agreements with Angola and Mozambique, the oppressed masses made it clear that the South African army would have to be used at home. The South African ruling class itself knows it must "reform or die" as in the words of its prime minister. The Constitution in enhancing executive powers acknowledges that apartheid will have to move fast to multi-racial capitalism or see capitalism go under with the liberation of the African Azanian nation called South Africa. The apartheid rulers want to keep the lid on protest while they move to coopt a Black middle class. The white capitalists need Black technicians and managers because of a white labor shortage, but they have to improve education to get them. They need housing for their workers in the cities because it is easier to be established in the white cities than in the undeveloped homelands where the Blacks live. This requires desegregated residency (as opposed to the pass-law system which mandates that Africans live in restricted areas) or government efforts to develop the reservations called "Bantustans." In other words, the capitalists need to drop parts of their segregation and national oppression apparatus, but this will provide opportunities for Black empowerment and liberation. In the end though, only the Blacks themselves have the will, capability and desire to set right the injustice and exploitation that is even now holding back the development of the white-dominated economy. For example, all whites are required to spend two years in the armed forces and a lifetime of reserve duty. Also, the increase of the police force by 45% to 68,000 brought on by the recent riots is a further drain on the white labor force, so the whites have stepped up recruitment of Blacks into the army and security forces. The question is whether the Blacks will be loyal in the advent of revolution. As it is, only a third of white youth say they are willing to die in a war to defend apartheid. What will this figure be for the Blacks recruited? How long will the bourgeoisified white working class agree to serve more army time? How long will these same white workers agree to abolition of the privileges that made them "bought off"--better paid and higher ranking by law--relative to the Black workers? The white capitalists can not easily ease the national oppression they designed without endangering the class distinctions they seek to maintain. South Africa is already in a state of war against its people. By their own admission 80 people have died in the violence--police violence against the masses. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reagan and Mondale all deplore "the violence," but they do not say who and what system is responsible. The U.S. government is only willing to criticize South Africa to the point that reforms seem necessary to save capitalism and a U.S. ally. For example, the U.S. and England were unwilling to provide sanctuary for six "Coloured" fugitives who were ordered into indefinite detention for unspecified reasons amidst the recent "Coloured" boycott of the sham elections. Nor did the arrest of 600 Blacks at a time when all indoor meetings by Blacks are prohibited provoke outcries from Mondale or Reagan even in this election season. The U.S. has obvious commercial interests in South Africa, but it is also lining up South Africa to go to war against the Soviet bloc. That is why neither Reagan nor Mondale are very critical lately of the only remaining white colony in Africa. Yet, the U.S. can not count on a stable ally in time of war. Even in the most perfectly designed police states like South Africa, the people resist. As South Africa's army is committed more and more abroad, the people of South Africa will gain the opportunity to overthrow apartheid. SOURCES: The New York Times, 9/24/84, 10/7/84, 10/8/84. International Defense and Aid Fund for Southern Africa, Apartheid:The Facts, 1983. "The Limitations of Economic Analysis of Social Change: The Cases of the American South and South Africa." _____________________________________________________________ THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE OF MIM NOTES For the real thing, twelve to sixteen pages of tabloid newsprint, including revolutionary art and photos with professional lay-out, subscribe to MIM Notes now. Back- issues also available in original release for most issues. Subscriptions: Send US$12 for 12 issues of MIM Notes sent via US Mail MIM Distributors PO Box 3576 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-3576 USA Make checks out to "ABS" or send cash.