Demonstrate! AAM's South Africa Freedom March, 28 June THE SOUTH African apartheid regime showed its true face again on Monday when it launched three air and ground attacks on the frontline states of Zimbabwe and Botswana and, also on Zambia which shares no common border with South Africa. It claimed the raids were aimed at African National Congress bases in these countries.
The attacks show the growing crisis of the Botha regime. Despite the massive repression it has proved totally incapable of quelling the unrest in the Black townships, some of which have developed into virtual 'no-go' areas. On Sunday, it uncovered what it claimed to be a major arms cache of the ANC.
These attacks were regarded as an 'embarrassment' by the British government. They judged they would not stabilise th situation in southern Africa. They also raise questions about Reagans attack on Libya and terrorism'. Foreign secretar Geoffrey Howe, was therefore forced to 'condemn' the raids. Commonwealth general secretary Rampal also attacked this abstacle to 'our attempt to end apartheid by peaceful means.' Meanwhile black South Africans have responded to Pretoria's latest barbarities with increased protest and mobilisations in the townships. There have been major demonstrations in the colleges in South Africa in the 24 hours following attacks. But as no effective action is going to come from the British or US governments the movement of international solidarity with South Africa must respond to the latest atrocities of the apartheid regime by stepping up the pressure for full sanctions against South Africa.
In Britain support is already growing for the Freedom March organised by the Anti-Apartheid Movement on Sunday 28 June. The latest attacks make that even more urgent. As part of the lead up to that demonstration, labour movement activists and solidarity campaigners everywhere must step up - and centre this campaign on the demand for total pressure -sanctions now against the apartheid regime.
Socialist Action 23 May 1986 ACtion