Jists Back Invasion

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The People's Republic of Angola, established on November 11th, is continuing its struggle for survival against the armed intervention of world imperialism.

With military aid only from the Soviet Union, the army of the republic, the MPLA, has been fighting over the last few days to halt the advance along its coast line of the forces of the FNLA/UNITA coalition, which declared a rival "Popular and democratic republic" in Huambo amid scenes of drunken rampages by UNITA "troops".

The arms for the FNLA/UNITA coalition are being supplied by the United States through military aid to the neighbouring right wing regime of Mobutu in Zaire. The US aim is to prevent Angola's strategically important coastline falling under a regime hostile to imperialism. The US are aided by, reasons of their own, the Chinese Stalinist regime.

In addition, FNLA/UNITA are backed by Zambia, which cynically supports whichever regime controls the Benguela railway, vital outlet to the sea for Zambain exports, and South Africa, whose rulers are determined to prevent a regime in Angola which would be sympathetic to the liberation struggle in Namibia (South West Africa) against South Africa's illegal occupation of this territory.

mercenary-led FNLA forces in the south of Angola have pushed rapidly up the coast as far as Novo Redondo while in the north the capital of the People's Republic, Luanda has come under artillery fire.

Latest reports indicate that the columns moving up from the south has split into three in obrious preparation for an attack on the left flank of the MPLA's position.

- SOUTH AFRICAN These outflanking movements (which have been the tactic deployed by the FNLA in its rapid move up the coast) are only possible by means of the South Africani supplied and operated fleet of Panhard armoured cars.

The Western press continues to talk of a conflict between rival factions and to argue for international action among the imperialist powers to' "work out a new solution even if this means a troops from Zaire.

The FNLA forces in the south are clearly dominated by South African mercenaries. The armoured car brigade is driven, according to reporters on the spot, by whites who refuse to disclose their nationalities but speak with strong South African accents.

CENSORSHIP

This clandestine South African military intervention in Angola is covered up by strict press censorship. A number of leading South African newspapers, including the Rand Daily Mail have been appearing with blank spaces in palce of reports from Angola.

In this situation of outright invasion of Angola, the US decision on November 18th to cut off all military aid to Zaire is a calculated cover up. The CIA now judges that a victory of the mercenary armies is now reasonably certain.

It therefore in the interests of East-West detente now puts on a front of acting to defuse the situation hoping that the Soviet Union will do the same and cease military aid to the MPLA.

There must be no compromise. Aid to the MPLA must be increas ed. There msut be a campaign in the labour movement for aid to the People's Republic of Angala and its immediate recognition by the Labour government. Drive the imperialist invaders out of Angola!

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Wednesday

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