WHITE POWER IN ANGOLA

A vast scheme to harness the waters of the Cunene river which runs through the Portuguese colony of Angola and the South African-heid territoro of Namibia is being undertaken by the governments of the two coun tries.

It is intended to generate hydro-electric power and to provide water from the river for irrigation purposes at a cost of over £250m. The scheme Will require the construction of a total of 27 dams and power siduons, logener witn MATATAN atatinno tarentlana ...iAL canals, pipelines, powerlines, roads and towns.

It will complement the better-known Cabora Bassa project on the eastern side of southern Africa in Mozambique.

The aim of these schemes is to consolidate imperialist control and exploitation over the whole region. They will enable agricultural and mineral resources to be plundered more effectively and attract international capital with the JAPANESE BUSINESS IN 'DISREPUTE' The aggressive Japanese sales Japanese drive is creating an unfavour- querors. able image for her businessmen overseas and has brought mic policies and the behaviour the country into disrepute bewails a report issued by the Japan Economic Research Institute.

It says that 'the rate of increase in Japanese trade, twice that of the world average, had brought a flood of Japanese goods to external markets, which in many cases have been seriously disrupted'.

Businessmen have marched in droves into one market after another aiming at conquest and they have had a good deal of success. The report noted that there was a growing wave of anti-Japanese criticism around the world but particularly in South East Asia which has already known the prospects of cheap high profits.

The Cunene River Scheme is planned exclusively for the benefit of white farming and industrial interests and is part of the strategy to bolster up Portuguese colonialism and the apartheid regime of South Thanks to the power and irrigation made available by the Cunene River Scheme Portuguese hope to open new land for settlement by white farmers. The Afri :ans will be forced to end t heir traditional way of life and work on the farms or in mines and industries of area.

South Africa intends to exLena the apartnela policy of 11 _ :1 - - 1: -so-called African Homelands to the territory of Namibia, or South West Africa, which it controls illegally. Africans will be confined to certain areas. They will only be permitted to leave to work under contract in the mines.

The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has opposed the scheme from the start and says: 'It is in no way aimed at the economic promotion of the people of Angola, but at the as military It admitted that 'our econoof many individuals, corporations and other private groups leave much to be desired and should be thoroughly re-examined and modified' • The report recommended improved public relations and called on businessmen abroad to pay more attention to the reactions of people in the host country.

Japan is now poised for an even more intensive trade drive, especially in European markets, but Japanese trade activities are world-wide. Wool buyers have forced up Australian wool prices to unheard of levels. A fierce bid is now being made for the Latin American market Past successes in trade have endowed the big corporations with large liquid reserves.

Angol *GOVE MATALA MATUNTO Cune! CALUEQUE RUACANA FALLS Nambia Top: Mamtara of the People's buttressing of white power and, . consequently, of imperialism in Africa.

"The project must be fought with every means. All participants will be held as enemies of the Angolan people, and MPLA will know how to fight them with arms.' As planned at present the scheme will take many years to complete. The first phase of construction will not be completed until 1978 and involves investment estimated at £40m. Half of this sum is being provided by South Africa, the rest is being lent to Portugal by the South African Industrial Development Corporation.

In Angola the local African population is already being regrouped in order to provide land for white farmers and cut them off from the guerrilla movement. When electric con- These are now being used to set up branch plants abroad and undertake other forms of investment. As has happened with wool, Japanese business can buy up stocks of vital raw materials.

Whatever may be said about the Japanese behind their backs there are many businessmen in foreign countries who welcome them for their money. Agencies for Japanese products are much sought after.

It is the firms-British, German and American-concerned with the export trade which are feeling the relentless pressure of Japanese sales methods as the trade war hots up. Whatever their image may be, Japanese businessmen are determined to dominate the world market and open up new investment fields for Japanese finance capital. It is a life and death question.

ibia DAMS POWER STATIONS Morement for the Liber 'ation of Angola. power becomes available, the exploitation of Angola's mineral resources will begin in earnest.

The ambitious schemes of Portugal and South Africa, of which the Cunene River Scheme is a part, will require a big injection of international capital, notably for the exploitation ot the mineral resources of Angola and Namibia.

Firms from Britain, the United States and western Europe, as well as from South Africa, will be concerned with this development. In return for access to mineral wealth and the use of cheap contract labour they will be expected to support the policy of white hegemony in southern Africa. This means assistance in combating the national liberation movement.

ES

he ‹ 20 1973