«Positive Action», Memorandum Ghana Delegation e «Manifesto»

POSITIVE ACTION

MEMORANDUM

TO: AFRO-ASIAN SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE

FROM: GHANA DELEGATION

The Ghana delegation would like to propose that in addition to the formal resolutions adopted by the Plenary session a manifesto should be prepared expressing the most important conclusions on which the Conference has been able to achieve agreement the form of a call to action which would then be communicated to all member States of the U.N., Switzerland, Federal Germany, China, North and South Korea through diplomatic channels. It should also be sent to political organisations, religious bodies such as the World council of Churches, Vatican, leaders of Islam, etc., and trade union federations. The attached draft delas with a number of points on which it seems likely that agreement may be reached and is intended only as a example for what the Ghana delegation has in mind as a manifesto which could be issued by the plenary session at the conclusion of the conference.

We have reached a point in history when we in Africa who are struggling for and achieving independence after hundreds of years of oppression face, with the rest of mankind, a common danger of annihilation through nuclear warfare. To deliver ourselves from old forms of oppression and terror only to live under the perpetual threat of extinction would be a destiny tragic beyond description.

We in Africa may, in giving reality to our hard won freedom, now become a new force on the world scene by Positive Action and by giving leadership in the fight to end the new barbarism of nuclear war.

True independence for Africa requires that all military bases of foreign powers on African soil be abandoned without delay.

The action of France in developing its main base for nuclear and missile warfare in the Sahara, at the very time when colonialism and imperialism are being liquidated by the struggles of Africans for liberation and independence is an affront to the peoples of this entire Continent. It represents an effort by an overwhelming display of power to establish a new nuclear imperialism which will be a constant massive threat to African unity and independence, as well as a constant menace to all Africa’s peoples who will be the chief sufferers and victims in any major war in which France may become involved.

The facts that the French Government has deliberately exploded two nuclear devices in the face of all protests, official and otherwise, should not blind us to the tremendous effect that these protests have had in uniting the African peoples confronted with a common danger, in gaining world support, not only for oppositions to the Sahara tests, but for the freedom of the African Continent, in deepening world concern against nuclear warfare in general, and in creating with France itself a growing opposition to their government’s policy by the French people themselves.

Hence this Conference resolves that greatly intensified positive non-violent action against French military activity in the Sahara shall be mounted in order to strengthen the campaign to avert the threat of nuclear war from our people and carry that struggle to a victorious conclusion.

The new mass non-violent movement, if it is to be successful, must be based at two points, France and Africa. It must enlist those people in France who oppose the nuclear policy of the De Gaulle Government, along with the people of Africa in common struggle against that policy. That policy is a menace to both peoples and there are already elements in France who have staged protests in Paris, and at French nuclear establishments and who are confident that large numbers of their follow citizens can be inspired to join them. Thus the attack now becomes two-pronged.

In France, demonstrations will take place not only at Government offices in Paris, but especially before French nuclear establishments, non-violent efforts to enter these establishments peacefully and refusal to leave until action is taken, may be made.

In these demonstrations Africans living in France and in nearby countries such as Great Britain may join, so that Africans and Frenchmen standing shoulder to shoulder will appeal to the conscience of the French people and their traditional humanitarianism to compel change in Government policy. Volunteers from Africa itself may also go to France to take part in such peaceful action.

One special project already envisaged is that a group including both French and Africans should engage in a fast against the Bomb. 

In Africa we call for at least 1,000 volunteers for a new Sahara protest movement. These volunteers should come from all parts of Africa. However, a strong initial effort should be made to enroll volunteers from among the people in the states belonging to the French Community and we urgently appeal to our fellow Africans in these countries who are indeed most directly menaced by the tests and other French military developments in the Sahara. By joining with the Africans from other parts of our Continent in positive non-violent action against the new nuclear imperialism they can make a decisive contribution to the liberation of all Africa, including themselves.

When preparations have been made, new marches on Reggan from both north and south shall be undertaken. As the volunteers move forward, they can enlist the support of the peoples in the country through which they pass. France can be confronted with thousands of Africans on the Sahara border demanding that the tests be stopped and the French base in the Sahara abandoned.

A fund for the defence of those who may suffer in these mass protest shall be established. Localities from which volunteers come shall assume responsibility for the welfare of their families.

As the move to Reggan proceeds, a Call shall go forth for supporting rallies and demonstrations throughout the Continent.

Experience in India, in the great struggles of Americans of African descent in the Southern part of the United States and in other non-violent actions, as well as in the Sahara Protest Teams projects, demonstrates that careful attention must be given to the training of volunteers and responsibility for this shall be assumed by those who are appointed to carry out the decisions and directives of this Conference.

GOVERNMENT ACTION

To establish a clear moral base for African protest against not only French but the entire new barbarism represented by the nuclear preparations of the Great Powers, this Conference calls on the Independent African States formally to divorce themselves from this new barbarism by renouncing any intention to build nuclear warfare establishments for themselves. The Conference calls upon the political parties struggling for independence in not yet free states to make a similar declaration to the whole world.

This Conference re-affirms the policy of non-involvement in the deplorable East-West power struggle and arms race. This conference calls upon other nations in all parts of the world to join Africa in similarly renouncing any purpose to build nuclear military establishments and thus becoming accomplices in the suicide of mankind.
 
Furthermore, the huge nuclear military establishments of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union are a most serious menace to themselves, to Africa and to all mankind. They provide the Government of France with the excuse that France is only doing on a small scale what they are doing on a much larger scale.

This Conference, therefore, calls on the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R. each and all to speed up activity not only to put an end permanently to nuclear testing, but to stop the production of nuclear, biological, chemical and other weapons of mass extermination, and to liquidate or convert to peaceful uses all existing stocks of such weapons.

This Conference calls on all nations to join at once in new action through the Security Council of the United Nations to put an end to the French testing programme and its violation of African soil. It will be scandalous if in defiance of previous U.N. resolutions France will be allowed to explode a third atomic bomb and presently perhaps an H-bomb.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ACTION

This Conference cherishes the hope that through their own peaceful but determined mass struggle against French nuclear plans and nuclear imperialism the people of African may provide a new dynamic and inspiration to all movements for peace in the nuclear age throughout the world. We call upon all these movements and all Trade Unions, civic, educational and religious organisations concerned to avert the threat of nuclear war to give moral and financial support to our Positive Action in France and Africa; to provide volunteers for this programme; and to intensify all effort in their own countries and especially in those of the nuclear powers to influence governments to renounce nuclear war unequivocally and to work resolutely for peace in a world governed by law.

The struggle against the French bomb and the whole menace of nuclear annihilation is a part, and an integral part of the African-Asian liberation struggle. The heroic struggle of Alegria for independence, the struggle of the people of South Africa against the barbaric and fascist apartheid policy, and the liberation struggles in other parts of Africa, all will be helped tremendously if we can develop a mass movement such as we now envisage to strike a mortal blow at French nuclear imperialism and banish all foreign bases from our soil. By the same token all these movements are hindered and may be decisively hurt if France is allowed to succeed in asserting its claim to base the implements of its power and nuclear aggression in Africa.

The methods of struggle against the bomb can also be adapted to other struggles and volunteers effectively trained to work on our project can in many cases use their training and experience in other projects. Thus the whole struggle for freedom and justice as well as the struggle for peace, shall be raised to a new level and imbued with new and irresistible purpose and power.

IMPLEMENTATION

I. This Conference directs that a Committee be established to give general direction to the carrying out of this programme of positive action. The Committee shall be composed of representatives of the independent States of Africa and of organisations in countries not yet independent.

II. This General Committee shall designate a small Working Committee of experienced and competent persons who shall immediately set about a practical implementation of the programme.

III. The Working Committee shall contact these persons in France who have signed the National Appeal which calls on the Government of France to renounce all nuclear tests and to ban nuclear weapons, and shall invite them to establish a Working Committee to carry out those portions of the programme adopted by this Conference which are to take place in France. 

  The Working Committee for France shall work in close liaison with the Working Committee and the General Committee in Africa.

IV. A centre shall be established and maintained in Ghana to co-ordinate the day-to-day activities, to provide training for volunteers, and to disseminate throughout Africa material about the project, as well as other literature dealing with the theory of non-violent action and illustrations of its practice in various countries and times.

V. An initial fund of £50,000 shall be provided to finance the planning, training and execution of the mass non-violent actions by the volunteers. The Working Committee is authorized and directed to appeal for this fund to the Governments of independent African States, to trade unions and political organisations, as well as other organisations and individuals, in Africa and elsewhere.

VI.  This conference directs that a Freedom and Justice Fund to be established which shall provide also for aid to refugees from Algeria, to victims of the brutality of the government of South Africa and to others throughout Africa who suffer as a result of their struggle against oppression and war.

ALGERIA

This conference salutes the courage of the Algerian freedom fighters who have fought for so long for independence and a better way of life against cruel and almost overwhelming odds. It condemns vigorously the French Government for initiating this war of repression which has engulfed the entire country in an orgy of atrocities and misery. It believes that resistance in various forms mus t be continued until the whole of Algeria is completely free from foreign domination.

The peoples of Africa must act now to assist their brothers in Algeria by:

1. Calling upon the states of the French African Community to withdraw immediately every single African soldier serving in the French military forces. The french military machine must not be permitted to use Africans directly or indirectly to carry on their war of repression against the Algerian people.

2. Calling upon all independent African and Asian states and freedom organisations to contribute liberally in funds or material for aid to the Algerian refugees in Morocco, Tunis, and other North African countries; for ambulances and medical supplies for the wounded; for general assistance to the Algerian war victims.

3. Calling upon the Independent African and Asian States to bring the French Government’s repression of Algeria before the Security Council of the United Nations as a situation which threatens the peace and security of the world.

4. Giving notice that any nation or private interest which supplies France with military equipment or any aid which directly or indirectly assists the French Government in carrying on the Algerian war will be committing an hostile act towards all the people of Africa.

5. Giving notice that any economic interest anywhere in the world which aids France in expliciting the resources of Algeria and increasing the French hold on Algeria economically can expect opposition and non-cooperation in all other parts of the African continent.

6. Encouraging an intensified cooperation between the Algerian freedom fighters and their supporters among the French people in bringing about a successful conclusion to this war of Independence with a minimum of suffering and bloodshed.

SOUTH AFRICA

This Conference has also taken note of the heroic struggle of African people against the brutal oppression of the Nationalist Government of South Africa. We salute them and bow in reverence before those who have laid down their lives.

The South African State is an anachronism. It badly maintains the unscientific doctrine of white supremacy when this doctrine has been abandoned by the rest of the world, with the possible exception of some extreme reactionary elements in the U.S.A. Moreover, it represents an attempt to found a Fascist state and social regime.

We call attention to the fact that the U.S.A., the U.K., France and the U.S.S.R fought World War II, with all the terrific costs in human life and material resources it involved, on the ground that Fascism was an evil which must be destroyed at any cost. We submit that these Governments are now in an utterly untenable position unless they immediately make the strongest representations to the South African Government that the reign of terror must be lifted, elementary civil rights instituted, and all leaders and rank and file members of the non-violent resistance set as liberty, so that they may continue their peaceful and democratic struggle for freedom and justice.

If the South African Government ignores or refuses such representations, then these Governments are clearly obligated to withdraw recognition, economic support and trade in arms, gold, and other commodities, from the South African Government. It is not necessary to wage a bloody war in this instance; it is only necessary to more isolate and withdraw support from this effort to re-introduce Fascism in the nuclear age, to cause it to collapse.

For our part we propose direct measures in support of the South African struggle. We urge the Independent Governments of Africa and Asia to boycott South African goods, and hais the initiative taken in this matter by Nigeria. We commend the economic boycott which has been instituted by private organisations in England and elsewhere and hope that it will be extended.

We suggest steps be taken to establish a Free radio - South Africa to keep South Africans abreast of world news and assist in their activities.

We are prepared to support any initiative which may be taken by to set up a Committee to draft an alternative Constitution and possibly to make preparations for a Constitutional Convention. We pledge financial aid for the work os such a Committee for assistance and relief to refugees and other purposes.

We suggest that Africans in South Africa consider adding new effectiveness to their cause by withdrawing from the South African Army, Police and other Government services if they are at present so employed.

We call upon such organisation as the International Red Cross, the International Labour Organisation, the world Council of Churches and the others to establish a Commission to investigate conditions in South Africa and to make suggestions for just a peaceful solution of the crisis.

OTHER STRUGGLES

In addition to Algeria and the Sahara nuclear base in the North and South Africa in the South, there are many other parts of Africa which are involved in the fight for freedom.

Some are countries which have been ruled by England, France and Belgium and where substancial freedom movements are carrying on devoted and heroic struggles; and others are “silent areas” controlled by the Portuguese, and enclaves held by Spain.

We proclaim that we shall not be deceived into thinking that any part of Africa is truly free until all Africa and all Africans are free. We shall not rest until this glorious goal has been reached.

We pledge financial and other forms of aid such as have already been described to the liberation movements in all these countries and we suggest that the Centre for further Positive Action undertake a careful study of the ways in which these struggles can be effectively carried on, seek to train competent volunteers to aid in the work when called upon by the movements; and prepare popular literature at their request.

CONCLUSION

We urge the governments and peoples of the world to look carefully upon this panorama of oppression, struggle, victory, which we have sketched and to realize that in great part Africa is today the issue and it is on their attitude toward Africa today that they will in large part be judged by Africa tomorrow and by the ultimate verdict of history.

If we lose in our struggle for freedom, well-being and human dignity, all mankind will lose. In this nuclear age it is no longer possible to confine evil to a single nation or a single continent.

On the other hand, the freeing of Africa from old forms of oppression and the new threat of nuclear extermination will mean liberation as well for the people of all the Continents. It will usher in the day when mankind will be able to use constructively the vast energies supplied by the atom; to realize its own intellectual and spiritual capacities; and to build a worldwide brotherhood from which none are excluded and in which none are exploited or oppressed.