African Activist Archive

Contents: Recent Developments • Direct Action • Training Center • The report says at the Brumana Conference, which established the World Peace Brigade for Nonviolent Action in January 1962, concern was expressed about the struggle for freedom in Central and South Africa. Sidharaj Daddha, an Indian delegate, went to Africa and met with Kenneth Kaunda, head of UNIP (United National Independence Party of Northern Rhodesia), Julius Nyerere of Tanganyika, and others. In February, Michael Scott, Bill Sutherland, and Bayard Rustin also went to Africa on behalf of the Brigade. All four attended the Addis Ababa conference of PAFMECA (now Pan African Freedom Movement for East, Central and Southern Africa) on February 2-10, 1962. They found that many delegates were disposed to advocate a resort to violence, growing out of frustration over the postponement of independence, the seeming failure on nonviolence to cope with the apartheid regime in South Africa, and bitterness over the terrorism practices by vested political and economic interests in many parts of Africa. They were made aware of projects for training refugees from various countries in sabotage and guerilla warfare. Kaunda, President of PADMECSA, is committed to nonviolence and has already done a good deal to spread Gandhian ideas among his followers. The Federation of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland is an instrument for slowing down the African independence movement and keeping the mineral resources of Northern Rhodesia in foreign hands. Sir Roy Wilensky stationed hundreds of troops on the Tanganyika-Northern Rhodesia border, showing the seriousness with which he regarded the Brigade's role. Though Welensky had gone to London threatening to use force to maintain the status quo, the British government acceded to a number of UNIP's demands which could lead to an African majority. The report mentions Africa Freedom Action, TANU (Tanganyika African National Union), A. J. Muste, Jayaprakash Narayen, Suresh Ram, Randhi Thaker, Swahili, M. Koinange, Asia, Germany, Italy, Norway, France, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Israel.

African Activist Archive

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORLD PEACE BRIGADE FOR NONVIOLENT ACTION

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