LAST MONTH Angola and South Africa entered into a 'disengagement agreement' in Lusaka which provides for the withdrawal of South African troops from southern Angola, where they have been giving aid to the pro-Western, anti-government UNITA guerrillas.
agreement as a prelude to imminent 'independence' from Namibia - the former province of 'South West Africa' which lies between South Africa proper and Angola.
But a closer look at the Angola/South Africa agreement cumstances surrounding it, show that Namibian independence, and indeed ›eace between Angola and south Africa, is still far away. Angola entered into the discussions with South Africa on the basis of four conditions laid down in August last year. These included a). unconditional withdrawal of South African troops Angola b) implementation of UN resolution (1978) for Namibian independence c) the cessation of all South African aggression against Angola Pd) the end of all military and logistical support for UNITA While South Africa has agrees to a four week pullout from Angola, it has given no indication that it will break off support for : These listings are free for all major labour movement and marımum or so words. semi display advertisements cost ip per word and must be paid arvance sene Socialist Action, 328 Upper Sirees, NI 2XP arrive later Thursday, one week prior 1o publication).
Labour Movement • Broad Left Organising Conference Octagon Centre, Western Bank, Sheffield, Sat The western press has been quick to interpret this UNITA, and commitment to implement resolution 435 has not been deed the day after the Lusaka agreement South African foreign minister Pik Botha stated that he did not know whether the resolution could or would be implemented.
(Namibia Support Committee)
For the Namibian liberation movement SWAPO, and the United Nations, the only outstanding issue is what electoral system would be utilised in the elections leading to independence. But the South Africans have consistently on what electoral system should be used, thus showing that they want to avoid LIC 24 March 11-5.30.
Credentials from George Williamson. 11 Sutton Place London E9 6EH.
Defend London democracy. Public meeting, Thur 22 March, 8pm, Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Rd London awo. speakers include Phil Turner, leader Camden Council and John Meonnel. ulc mance chair. Organised by Hampstead and Highgate Labour rarty-niour branch.
• Haringey GLC campaign any z4 March, cvelts al. day. Tottenham Green Town Tall Approach Rd, Londor • Funeral for local democracy starting at LOTOSIO Lanc. Peckham, 9.45am, Friday 23 March.
Ending at County Hall.
Name Address dependence, at least until it can impose its Namibian Pulti-Party Conference organisation, the (MPC) as the government.
A second essential facLO I HOL covered by the Lusaka agreement is the armed struggle within Namibia itself. The Angola-South Africa 'disengagement agreement' has no bearing on the activity of 100,000 South African and allied troops who terrorise Namibia's black population. SWAPO presdent Sam Nujoma has expressed fears that troops withdrawn ITOE ACOa roil be used to bather 11.2 rorise million people, 80 per cent of whom are living under martial law.
Likewise, the People's Liberation Army in Namibia is not bound by any of the conditions the Lusaka agreement. While SWAPO has some refugee settlements other facilities in Angloa, none of its combatants operate from Angola, but within Namibia itself.
Pretoria has however attempted to portray recent SWAPO attacks, for example the one at Blomiontein, as a threat to its own transparent 'peace moves, and perhaps all Anti-cuts campaigns • London Health Service Campaign. 34 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AZ 01-249 8086.
Disarmament • Labour and NATO Labour Briefing discussion conference. Sat 24 March, 10.30-5pm County Hail London.
Youth CND Easter march organised bi Neath and Swansea YCND. April 26-29. Free food and accommodation lor marchers Contact Rachel Burch, 8 Eversley Rd, Swansea. Tel: 0792 ketty.
• Lahour and Ireland day school for budding writers, workshops with trained journalists. London, Feb or excuse for another attack on Angola In Namibia the South African government furiously the MPC. Their brief 1S lC evernment and draw in establish 'interim Pretona ha recently declared that the must be a party to negotiations over Namibia's condition rejected by SWAPO as givfake legitimacy South Africa's stooges.
March, fl. Write to Labour and Ireland, BM Box 5355, London WCIN 3XX.
• Sri Lankan Research & Information Group will provide speakers on the current situation there for meetings. Write to 9 Grays Inn Buildings, , London EC1.
Anti Apartheid Action. Demonstration 24 March, Assemble Hackney Town Hall, Mare St, London, am march to bout Africa House, , Trafalgar Square. 21 March. anniversarv of Sharpville massacre picket SA House Trafalgar Sq. 1-2pm March, lobby of MP's, 12 noon to 8pm. 4 maren lunchtime picket of Barclays Bank Head Office, Lombard El Salvador day of action national day of activities against British government observers to Salvador elections. 24 March Hunger strike in London. St Martin in the Fields, 24 hrs i, a584 informatior 8-24 ADI. Information from NSC, 20-21 Compton To Hands off Grenada , London N1. pudic meeung Thur 22 March, 7.30, Irish Centre, 52 Camden Square, London NW1. Speakers include Jeremy Corbyn MP Tony Gifford, Carol Davis. Sarah Burton. 25 Years of the Cuban Revolution • Britain-Cuba Resource Centre Information about activities suus to damie Britain and the United States although anxious for a Namibian settlement fear the consequences of a SWAPO victory. With massive investeal South Africa, they fear that instability inside apartheid's heartland would be massively increased by such an event.
This explains Thatcher, although not being as open as the US for fear of alienating the Commonwealth lobby, has passively concurred with SWAPO fighters prepare for action Washington's attempts to secure agreement beyond the bounds of the UN resolution.
With Namibian independence still long way off, British capital continues to exploit the country's malver a other resources, defiance of rulings by the UN the Court of Justice. Despite the government's anthat the British electricity industry will end its contract for uranuim from the Rossing after 1984, evidence me as l the Namibia Support committee SUPEESIS that the importation of Nami bian uranium into Britain will continue processing for foreign customers and perhaps for • military use On 29 February Alun Roberts, a British citizen member of the Namibia Support Com mittee who wrote the book The Rossing File exposin Britain's plunder of Nam bian uranium, was rested in Namibia. He was held under special South African legislation whict enables people to be held incommunicado for days For two weeks the Foreign Office refused to take any actions to secure his release: Supporters of Namibian independence are asked to raise the matter of Alun Roberts' arrest in their Party or ounci organisation, and to send telegram the Foreign Office demanding that it calls for his immediate and unconditional release. • For further information contact the Namibia support Leverton St., Londor Telephone 26% 1941/2.
• Labour Movement Lesbians is a new organisation of lesbians in ine about movement support each other and