Democratic Palestine : 12 (ص 26)
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- Democratic Palestine : 12 (ص 26)
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Gulf monarchies seem to have nightmares of the possibility of
an Iranian victory that might overthrow the Saddam Hussein
regime and bring radical pro-lranian forces to power.
Also the US fears such a development. In the past,
Washington characterized Iraq as «the terrorist government
no.1» inthe Middle East. The recent reestablishment of full dip-
lomatic relations between the two countries reflects new
alliances and the strengthening of reactionary factions within
the Iraqi regime.
For the US the war has provided a convenient opportunity
to enlarge its military expansion in the area. More than 60
American warships are waiting outside the Gulf to intervene if
necessary. To bring the Rapid Deployment Force into action
the US is dependent on access to their local military bases. In
order to manifest the «self-reliance» of the Gulf regimes,
Washington has stressed that they will use the bases if they get
an Official invitation from the countries concerned. However,
there is not much doubt they will get it. Following the visit of
Assistant Secretary of State Richard Murphy in the Gulf in April
1984, he declared that: «The Arab Gulf states gave the impre-
ssion that they wanted US intervention, but they were not yet
prepared to say so» (9)!!
The progressive forces
The Gulf area is for sure «a vital zone». There is wide-
spread feeling in the rich capitalist countries that in the Gulf the
right of sovereignty has to be limited for the sake of their own
economies. Military bases, sophisticatedly equipped interven-
tion forces, large-scale military maneuvers - more than ever
imperialist power policy is conducted in this way.
But in Oman, as in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, this policy
stands against the popular desire for independence and demo-
cracy. Therefore it is of essential importance that the progres-
sive forces, the national liberation movements, are streng-
thened as an alternative to the ruling dynasties.
All over the Gulf the revolutionary struggle takes place
under very difficult circumstances due to lack of democracy
and the huge military build-up. However, the example of Iran
proves that even the strongest and most brutal regime can be
overthrown when the masses rise in revolt.
In the long run, the reactionary Gulf monarchies are
doomed and their desperate efforts to stay in power through
their alliance with imperialism could very well become the
spark that lights the fire. A progressive development in the Gulf
would be a big leap forward in the struggle of the whole Arab
liberation movement against imperialism, Zionism and reac-
tion.
1. The Middle East, November 1983, p.13
2. Saut al-Thawra, No. 16, March 1962, p.4
3. Ibid, p.5
4. The Middle East, November 1983, p.14
5. Merip Reports, No. 125-26, July 1984, p.47
6. The Middle East, September 1984, p.18
7. Amnesty International: Report 1984, p.345
8. Merip Reports, No. 125-26, July 1984, p.46
9. Middle East Economic Digest, June 1st, 1984, p.20 @
Solidarity with the Prisoners of Apartheid
The Story of Nelson Mandela
October 11th is the day of solidarity with political prisoners in South
Africa. On this day, the voices of millions in the African continent and
worldwide are raised, demanding the release of those imprisoned in
the horrible jails of the racist white minority regime in Pretoria.
As part of the campaign to release
the political prisoners of South Africa,
Democratic Palestine publishes the
story of the most prominent of them: Nel-
son Mandela, who has served 20 years
of a life sentence. Even from behind the
bars, he is a challenge to the apartheid
regime and a leader of his people's
struggle in the face of bloody oppression
and state terror. We present Nelson
Mandela’s experience in the context of
the struggle of the African National Con-
gress (ANC), benefitting from the les-
sons of this struggle and its develop-
ment from non-violent resistance to
revolutionary violence.
Nelson Mandela was born in 1918.
His father was chief of a tribe, which
26
gave him the privilege of being one of the
few South African Blacks to get a higher
education and earn a degree in law.
After this, he joined the ANC and helped
form its youth organization. Through the
influence of Mandela and his comrades,
the ANC in 1943 adopted a more radical,
non-violent program. Mandela was
elected vice-president of the ANC,
which made him increasingly popular.
This worried the racist regime, and in
retaliation it prohibited him from meet-
ings, deprived him of his civil rights, and
ordered him out of Johannesburg.
The popularity of the ANC
increased; it received support from the
Indian Congress of South Africa, the
Congress of South African Trade
Unions, the Organization of Colored
People and the Democratic Congress.
On this basis, a decision was taken to
hold a congress of the people of South
Africa. On the 26th of June 1955, in - هو جزء من
- Democratic Palestine : 12
- تاريخ
- نوفمبر ١٩٨٥
- المنشئ
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
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