Alexander case. An appeal against the conviction was recently rejected by the South African courts, The eleven, including four young women, are serving sentences of up to ten years for their "crime" of political opposition to the apartheid system. The men are in the notorious Robben Island prison where more than 1,000 political prisoners have been put behind bars. Contributions to help the prisoners and their families can be sent to Mrs. C, Kirkby, 27 Thursley House, Holmewood Gardens, London, S.W.2.]
The judge arose and read the charge; The victims strained their ears. "We accuse you all of sabotage; - And each sentence will be ten years."
"But we're not guilty," Alexander said;
"Segregation mustn't be."
The judge said, "Now you're as good as dead;
In South Africa no man's free."
The quiet life is grand because | There's no call to stand and fight; ' But how many here would oppose the laws If he thought that the laws weren't right?
Dr. Neville Alexander is such a man;
And as his life is tried,
You'll see how just such a man can stand
When his cause is justified.
The African coppers are hissed and feared Among the Southern downtrod,. When eleven people simply disappeared There was no one who thought it odd.
For ninety days they were confined to cells;
They were beaten and tortured and defiled,
Who could know of their private hells
Till the day when they came to trial?
The judge arose and read the charge; The victims strained their ears. "We accuse you all of sabotage; And each sentence will be ten years."
"But we're not guilty," Alexander said;
Segregation mustn't be."
The judge said, "Now you're as good as ‘dead
In South Africa no man's free." So the eleven were led off in single file, Another split in Freedom's Bell, To serve their terms out on Robben's Isle Ten years of a living hell.
LQ. ae
Ten years of their life those people gave
To freedom for you and- me
Because so long as one man in this world s a slave
Then none of us are free,
GOOD DEAL FOR ALUMINUM KINGS
One of the reasons for the keen interest of the British and American imperialists in turning the Cheddi Jagan government out of office in British Guiana now seems to be fairly clear. The Reynolds Metals Company has just signed a very advantageous contract with the coalition government now in’ power, The con= tract is to run for twenty-five years.
In addition Reynolds has been granted exclusive exploration rights over 1,279,000 acres, If the company wishes, this can be converted into a lease running for seventy-five years.
The coalition government agreed to dredge the Berbice River to help the company double its present yearly production of bauxite,
On top of this, the coalition agreed to freeze the rate of income tax levied on the company for the next twenty-five years.
There is to be, in addition, a fixed rate on export duties for the next twenty-five and possibly seventy-five years, In return Reynolds agreed to pay British Guiana $500,000 in advance taxes,
Even an outright gift of this size would amount to small change for this big aluminum outfit. As an advance, they lose only the interest the money could have drawn in the bank or as a loan,
Commenting on this deal, Mortgaging Guyana writes in the | March issue of Thunder, the official, publication of the Peoplets .
Progressive party:
"Reynolds is a mighty Company. They have struck a mighty good bargain from their point of view. If they can be treated in this way, the other bauxite Company -~ Demba -- will soon be making similar demands, and so will the other sharks -- those fishing for oil and base metals,
"A half million dollar advance tax payment is good consideration for the concessions won, It is a gift to the country for being so generous with its resources. No wonder these Companies are singing praises to the coalitiont"
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Directeur-Gérant: Pierre FRANK. —— 1'6diteur). —