Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 00:03:55 +0100
From: James Heartfield <James-AT-heartfield.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: M-I: Marxism  vs. Maoism & nationalist "socialism"


In message <Pine.SUN.3.95L.970923091433.4278B-100000-AT-ahnnyong.cc.columbi
a.edu>, Louis N Proyect <lnp3-AT-columbia.edu> writes

On Louis' specific questions:

1. I deplore the Nigerian Govt's execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa, and the
persecution of the Ogoni. I only note that their grievance was cynically
manipulated by the British govt. amongst others to facilitate great
power intervention in Nigeria.

2. I do not support the 'hutu cause' in Rwanda, Burundi or Zaire. I do
not take sides in the conflict between hutu and tutsi. I note that the
RPF was backed by the US, just as the previous regime had been backed by
imperialism of the French and Belgian varieties.

3. I condemn the slaughter of Tutsis undertaken by the interahmwe when
they had the upper hand. I do not think, however, that the reverse of
the coin, ethnic slaughter of hutus contributes to progress in the
region. I do not think there is anything to be gained in a numbers game
of who slaughtered the most - not because I wish to minimise tutsi
deaths, but because indiscriminate killing on ethnic grounds is a
disaster for any progressive political movement.

Louis pushes the question to one of my supposed support for 'hutus'.
Well, I am not opposed to hutus, or to any racial or ethnic group. But I
do not support nor did I ever say that I supported the Interahamwe. This
exchange started not over who supports the Interahmwe, but whether
Laurent Kabila's takeover in Zaire was a progressive change. I
questioned that interpretation because of Kabila's involvement in the
slaughter of hutu refugees.

So to return the challenge, Louis, do you support the slaughter of hutu
refugees at the hands of Laurent Kabila's army?

Fraternally
-- 
James Heartfield


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