The mailing expresses alarm at changes being made by the Reagan administration to U.S. policies toward the racist government of South Africa. The new Administration seems willing to side with any rightist regime, including South Africa, to counter what it perceives to be a Soviet bid to control mineral-rich, strategically located countries. In so doing, the U.S. policymakers ignore the South African internal political timebomb. By advocating behind-the-scenes persuasion, the U.S. coddles the privileged white minority, allows the Soviets to preempt the right side of the issue, and antagonizes all other African nations upon whom this country is growing increasingly dependent for vital imports,...
The mailing expresses alarm at changes being made by the Reagan administration to U.S. policies toward the racist government of South Africa. The new Administration seems willing to side with any rightist regime, including South Africa, to counter what it perceives to be a Soviet bid to control mineral-rich, strategically located countries. In so doing, the U.S. policymakers ignore the South African internal political timebomb. By advocating behind-the-scenes persuasion, the U.S. coddles the privileged white minority, allows the Soviets to preempt the right side of the issue, and antagonizes all other African nations upon whom this country is growing increasingly dependent for vital imports, especially Nigeria which supplies the second largest amount of imported oil. The Reagan administration has moved the U.S. toward a de facto alliance with South Africa and has relaxed pressure on South Africa to agree to UN supervised elections in its illegal territory of Namibia. The Administration has proposed that Congress lift restrictions on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) activities in Angola in order to presumably assist the South Africa backed insurgent faction, UNITA. As a candidate, Reagan proposed arming UNITA, and, as President, he has sanctioned surreptitious meetings between his staff and UNITA representatives in Morocco. The Administration is considering lifting restrictions on exports of nuclear fuels, computers, and other high technology to the South African government and especially its Defense Force. Violating a policy in effect since 1963 to deny visas and meetings with high ranking South African military/intelligence officers, UN Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick met with the chief of South African military intelligence, three days after the officials were positively identified by the State Department as military officers and not "foreign affairs officials" as they claimed to be. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa-designate, Chester Crocker, attended a luncheon for Dirk Mudge of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), a white dominated and South African supported political party in Namibia, another break from previous policy. In light of this growing complicity with the South African government, an insensitivity that replicates domestic policy stances, TransAfrica calls all members to condemn the Administration's recent gestures. The mailing mentions SWAPO (South West African People's Organization).
