African Activist Archive

Minutes of a meeting on November 14, 1979 with Dumisani Kumalo (Campaign to Oppose Bank Loans to South Africa -COBLSA), George Houser and Paul Irish (American Committee on Africa, ACOA), Ted Lockwood (Washington Office on Africa, WOA), Beth Perry (Friends Peace Committee), Wilfred Grey and Ken Carsens (International Defense and Aid Fund), Jerry Herman, Bill Sutherland, Ginny Hill, David Sogge, Jim Bristol, Mary Wade, and Ron Young (American Friends Service Committee, AFSC). Topics include: Overview of Current Situation • What issues/strategies in 1980 are likely to be the most productive? • Refugees • South African War Resisters • Idea of AFSC Visit to South Africa • Western Sahara. Bill Sutherland, AFSC's Southern Africa Representative, just returned from the frontline states, reported that there is a sense of intensification of the war, including in Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, with increased destruction and economic hardships. Western countries talk about negotiations, but they continue to provide arms in spite of the UN arms embargo and to train South African personnel who play a role in the military confrontation. There is some improvement in Mozambique’s defenses, but South Africa still controls the air. South Africa has changed tactics since 1974, when it seemed to be attempting to woo neighboring countries, while tightening repression internally to a situation. Now, it has stepped up military attacks on neighboring states, while making minor changes at home. Paul Irish reported on a conference in London and said there will be a series of conferences by nongovernmental organizations on sanctions leading up to a United Nations/ Organization of African Unity Conference in September 1980. George Houser urged giving more attention to the Western Sahara. The U.S. commitment to Morocco, including supplying counter insurgency weapons, threatens the decolonization process. Houser believes that Polasario is a very effective liberation movement similar in character to the PAIGC. There is a demand being offered through the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU) for a referendum. Congress will soon consider a new U.S. commitment of arms to Morocco. The minutes also mention Bantustans, Sharpeville, Soweto, political prisoners, the Freedom Charter, the United Nations Decade for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the White House Conference on Africa, Congressman Solarz, divestment, NARMIC, nuclear developments in South Africa, Randall Robinson, the Sullivan Principles, the Mennonite Central Committee, and Robert Mossman.

African Activist Archive

Report on Southern Africa Meeting

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Coverage Africa

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Rights Management