The mailing says resolutions have been introduced by Representative John Conyers (D-MI) and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) condemning the massacres of Mozambican by the Mozambican National Resistance, known as Renamo. House Concurrent Resolution 189 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 91 also call on the President to maintain good relations with the government of Mozambique. In 1975, Portugal ceded power to Mozambique's single overwhelmingly popular independence movement, the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo). The new Frelimo government soon agreed to allow the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) to operate from bases in Mozambique. In 1976, Ken Flower, Director General of Rhodesia's...
The mailing says resolutions have been introduced by Representative John Conyers (D-MI) and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) condemning the massacres of Mozambican by the Mozambican National Resistance, known as Renamo. House Concurrent Resolution 189 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 91 also call on the President to maintain good relations with the government of Mozambique. In 1975, Portugal ceded power to Mozambique's single overwhelmingly popular independence movement, the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo). The new Frelimo government soon agreed to allow the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) to operate from bases in Mozambique. In 1976, Ken Flower, Director General of Rhodesia's Central Intelligence Organization, formed the Mozambique National Resistance, known as Renamo or the MNR, to "provide the opportunity for Rhodesia to deal with Zanla (ZANU's military wing) in Mozambique without doing so directly, and to perpetuate or create instability in areas of Mozambique." In 1980, Zimbabwe's new President Robert Mugabe gave Renamo 72 hours to leave the country. In a desperate effort to stop Renamo's South African-backed destruction, Mozambique signed the Nkomati Accord with South Africa on March 16, 1984, stating neither country would allow groups to use their territories to launch attacks against each other. South Africa has violated the treaty many times. Many conservative members of Congress and the Administration would like Renamo to be given the same "freedom fighter" status enjoyed by the Nicaraguan contras and the UNITA rebels in Angola. People are asked to urge their Senators and Representative to co-sponsor and support H.Con.Res. 189/S.Con.Res. 91. Tell them of the atrocities being committed by Renamo and express your support for good relations between the Mozambican and U.S. governments. The mailing asks people to write to the chairmen of the House am Senate Africa Subcommittees (Rep. Howard Wolpe and Senator Paul Simon) asking them to schedule hearings on the U.S. response to the situation in Mozambique. The mailing mentions South African military intelligence, a campaign of bombings to cripple Mozambique's ports and railways, Senators Jesse Helms and Robert Dole, and President Joaquim Chissano.
