BRAZIL: MORE GUNS MORE AS PEASANTS STARVE

The Foreign Minister of Brazil, Mario Gibson Barbosa, has just returned from a diplomatic tour of Africa in which he consolidated the progress already made in the creation of a joint task force in the South Atlantic.

Operated by Portugal, and South Africa, this will defend the interests of imperialism in general and three police-states in particular.

One role for Brazil, sketched out by Barbosa, is the protection of the Portuguese 'overseas provinces' in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

Barbosa stated more than once that Brazil would be more than willing to serve as mediator between Portugal and these African countries to find a 'peaceful solution' to the colonial problem.

He claims he believes that Portugal should grant them formal independence, thus placating the national liberation movements, while retaining real control.

Such formulations are in keeping with a particular aim the government Garrastazu Medici-to inherit the African colonies of Portugal.

Many other good reasons for a South Atlantic 'peacekeeping' force have been found in recent months.

In August, Colonel Hermes Araujo, on a visit to Brazil from Portugal, stated: "The West is unaware of the danger to the South Atlantic, concerning itselt only with the defence of the North Atlantic.' This followed an earlier warning from Foreign Minister of South Atrica, Edgar Muller, that the General Stafis of the armed forces of Brazil and South Africa should urgently get together to study the defence of the South Atlantic.

Only a fortnight ago, Captain Gerard de Castel Baja INSURANCE PARAGUAYAN STYLE Employees of the state-run Port and Navigation firm in Paraguay have accused the management of making discounts from their wages in order to pay for insurance policies.

The President of the navigation service has apparently signed a contract with the Alliance Insurance Co under which all the employees of the state agency will take out lifeinsurance policies.

But they were not informed of the agreement until they spotted the extra deductions made from their wage packets.

The policies are in fact useless, given that no one knows what the benefits are and no receipts have been issued for 'premiums' paid.

The contract was eventually signed by a small number of men which grew when threats ommander of a French fleet ›hose flagship is the heliopter-carrier 'Jeanne d'Arc'— ngaged currently in joint maneuvres with the Brazilian avy—stressed the strategic nportance of Brazil:

"The closing of the suez 'anal has turned the Soyth atlantic into a vital area for he transport of petroleum and nus the Brazilian • navy is an nportant element in the proection of the new interational route.' To fulfil its new military were issued by head of personnel relations To mas Gimenez.

Gimenez holds office in the ruling Colorado Party which has an infamous reputation for graft and corruption in the service of United States corporations and their local patron, Alfredo Stroessner.

Another favourite source of income are the compulsory subscriptions to official publications paid by state employees. Stroessner boasts that sales of government literature show that his regime is Anyone who thinks such malpractices are the preserve of distant 'banana' republics has only to await the numerous special taxes which will appear after Britain's entry into the EEC, apart from the compulsory donations British workers already pay to the Monarchy and other wellstocked funds. le country—many live in sub-human conditions.

areas in me nortn east or requirements, the Brazilian government intends to spend $250m revamping its navy.

That sum is part of a $1,100m budget for the three branches of the armed forces: an outlay which is equivalent of the foot. to an $ll per capita outlay in military spending while less of leprosy were recorded. than $3 go to education and $2 to public health.

In some Brazilian states, 400 children out of every 1,000 die before they reach their first BUY A BOOK FOR XMAS mains ca Writings of LEDTAKRDTSHY Leon Tratsky 1832-1 (1838-8)

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New Park Publications, 186a Claph According to government and live in sub-human statistics 23 million Brazilians ditions. suffer from a disease known as The naval re-equipment pro'amarelao', caused by worms gramme includes the purchase which live near excrement and of six Vosper Thornycroft penetrate into the human body frigates and 25 minesweepers. through contact with the sole Well beyond the budget set out in Brasilia, it is thought In 1971, some 250,000 cases that NATO member-countries are offering 'extra-official' aid.

It is completely in keeping The Heath and Pompidou govwith the parasitic nature of ernments particularly have world imperialism and its expressed the need to include puppet-state in Brazil that Brazil in discussions on the military expenditure is in- extension of the Treaty into creased while millions starve the South Atlantic.

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fluence, I pity the old. For example, an The supermarket the hand that old girl can come in the shop alters the price tag is invisible. and you can help her to get Above left: Danny Doolan, small what she wants ane! advise by the huge food combines. Frida 22, 1972 investigates tl cost of living this Christmas. 0425 1972