“Genocide bomb with Canadian content’ APARTHEID UNDER SIEGE AS STRUGGLE GROWS Following an attack, May 20, on the ’ Pretoria headquarters of the South Afri- can airforce and military intelligence and the escalating struggle against the racist regime, the Tribune spoke with Yusuf Saloogee, Chief Representative to Canada of the African National Con- gress (South Africa) about the sig- nificance of these events. * * * It appears that western governments have become deeply concerned and ex- cited about events in South and Southern Africa in the past few days. Their sudden concem surprises us because the ANC has repeatedly warned that the situation in Southern Africa is explosive, directly as a result of increased repression inside South Africa and Pretoria’s aggression against the independent front line states and the continued determination of, the South African and Namibian people to challenge the apartheid regime. The maneouvres of the western coun- tries, especially those of U.S. imperial- ism, can only result in burning fires. It has not been our choice that war and ~ violence should rage in the region. It is the western countries and the South African regime which can choose _ between peace and war. The ANC has repeatedly said it chooses the peaceful option for the solutions of the problems in South Africa. But our efforts at peaceful change have been long exhausted because of State terrorism. If today the western na- tions were to understand and recognize the danger of escalating war in the region they could seriously resort to the only possible solution — complete and total economic sanctions and severing all links with the racist South African regime. Such actions would bring the regime to its knees. It could not survive such an economic and military embargo. But our experience shows that not only the western states refused such a course of action, but have increased the ability of the regime to survive and con- tinue ts oppression. Th . responsibility for the fires raging in Sc ithern Africa falls squarely on the west m states and, at this juncture, par- ticu’ uly with the Reagan administration for its publicly declared friendship and alli ince with that regime. No nation can forever remain oppres- sed or endure suffering be it on the basis of racism or class. A time must come when the masses shift from submission to defiance using whatever means possi- ble. Escalating Struggle At the beginning of 1983 the ANC is- sued a clear warning to the international community of the extremely dangerous situation that prevails in South Africa’ and the Southern African region. It de- clared that the “‘reforms’’ and cosmetic changes were unacceptable to our people and did not address the fundamental is- sues. We gave an assurance that we would escalate the war inside South Af- rica — both political war launched by the determined masses of our people and by armed actions by our people’s army, Umkhonto we Sizwe. This was not an idle declaration. Since January our Black workers continue to engage in militant strike actions against both South African and foreign plants. Religious leaders continue to speak out loudly against new constitutional re- form which would be unacceptable in any democratic society. Students con- tineu to defy apartheid education. Wo- men’s committees throughout the land continue to protest civic matters closely related to the political system such as rent increases. The ANC can not sit idle and permit the army and police to circumvent these mass protests by force, by jailings, and killings. We have the responsibility to continue to lead our people in the politics of protest and to weaken the force of the regime by military actions. For this reason our attacks are increas- ing — against rail lines in Port Elizabeth, against the naval base in Durban and our three attacks on the Pietermartizburg court, a court which has sentenced mil- tants of the ANC to death. Civilian Casualties The ANC has been accused of civilian deaths in the most recent attack against the military intelligence headquarters in — World Peace Council condemns raid May 23. Congress. regime and its allies.” ‘Apartheid brutality’ HELSINKI — The World Peace Council, representing hundreds of millions of people in 137 countries has strongly condemned the air raid carried out by the South African regime against a suburb of the Mozambican capital of Maputo, In this latest act of apartheid brutality, the WPC said, five Mozambicans, including two women, two children and a factory worker as well as one South Africa refugee were killed. Forty other civilians were injured. ‘This arbitrary act of terrorism against a sovereign and independent state proves the desperation into which the apartheid regime has been thrown by the growing struggle of the people of South Africa led by the African National ‘The WPC gives its whole-hearted support to the valiant struggle being waged by the ANC for freedom and national independence. Responsibility for the loss of life both in South Africa and in neighboring states rests squarely with the apartheid The WPC repeated its call for the complete isolation of the South African regime by the world community and reaffirmed its solidarity with the front line states in the region and _all forces fighting for justice. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JUNE 3, 1983—Page 8 THE WORLD 4 ff al rt D UJ re dagt Men at | ' Mati, ver Hy ———— Pretoria. Our sources indicate the major- ity of killed and wounded were air force and military intelligence personnel. Weare questioned as to whether this is a shift in ANC policy. The ANC states there is no policy shift. We will maintain our targets as being economic and milit- ary. We are at war, and in this situation cannot guarantee, particularly during at- tacks on military targets, against the loss of civilian life. The concern seems to be greater in the western states perhaps because for the first time white lives are involved and therefore may carry aracial connotation. May we ask a question of Canadians? Did not Canadian troops who fought with the British during the Anglo-Boer war kill not only Afrikaner soldiers but also civilans? Were not Canadian and allied troops during World War Two also re- sponsible for civilian deaths caused by a war situation? The attack by the South African air- force against Mozambique May 23 on what Pretoria called ‘military targets’’ is based on a lie. The ANC repeats: there are no ANC bases in the front line states. Our army, Umkhonto we Sizwe, has and will continue to operate from inside South Africa. Its bases are inside South Africa. It is inconceivable and illogical that anyone from Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Zambia or Zimbabwe could go from these countries all the way to Pretoria to carry out an attack. But more importantly, the South African govern- ment and the western countries should realize that every Black household, every Black worker and student; every progressive white person is an ANC base — either political or military. Therefore such military ventures as the air attack against Mozambique are futile. South Africa’s claim that 41 ANC guerrilla were killed is a myth.. ANC headquarters confirmed the Mozam- bique report that the raid destroyed ajam factory. This was verified by western re- porters on the scene. The total casualty list was six persons, including a pregnant woman and a child. Five were Mozambiquans, one a South African refugee. If South African were to launch a full- scale attack simultaneously against every front line state, the war ins South Africa and Namibia would er tinue to escalate and the ANC’s ability confront the apartheid regime mill . would remain firm. War or peace in Southern Africa ® once again a topic of vital importa® te The grave concern over events of past days in western capitals is not ov oppression and exploitation of © people, but concern about vested nomic interests. the _ War or peace is a choice facing w western nations today. They can deliv peace, but economic greed prevents th fo! War is the option they have chosen us. vel Se Canadian Contents Apartheid is a genicide bomb wil Canadian content. PY The operations of Canadian co panies and their collaboration with owt South African military is well k#° of Ford, Alcan, Massey-FerguS) Falconbridge are all ingredients in i apartheid bomb. In a war situation cannot be isolated from the stru, granted immunity from our attacks. The ANC fully realizes the a the past days and the escalating st inside South Africa may make it ‘ difficult for progressive, sym Canadians and institutions to ext their support which they have rend! afl in the past out of their concert | ao understanding that apartheid is 4 © nal system and must be abolished. — The ANC assures such forces Canada that have supported us ov s years that it will continue to act res sibly, not only in the name of our but in the name of all peoples fight injustice be it in El Salvador, Nic Palestine, Chile or elsewhere. a The South African army is the I we! on the continent, modern ane equipped. But it cannot and will me crush the hearts and minds of our pe opk df Ours is a bigger army. It is eo fort! 22 million determined people. NO ch? on earth is capable of crushing SU army. Today we are more cone ever not only that victory is certaly getting closer each day.