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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol 36 No. 12. 6 June 1973

Paranoid Whites in a Corner

Paranoid Whites in a Corner

The recent guerrilla actions have helped to push the white minority that rules Rhodesia further into a corner. The attempt at silencing the journalist Peter Niesewand was directly related to the guerrilla campaign because Niesewand's 'offence' was to publish a story of an attack on a railway line in Mozambique, which had been leaked from military sources within hours after the attack.

Details of Niesewand's secret trial, which were published by John Borrell in the Nation Review of April 19, revelaed the paranoia and stupidity of the Smith regime.

"When the Rhodesian Secretary for Law and Order, Mr Andrew Fleming, was called to give evidence, Niesewand's lawyer asked him whether the story Niesewand had filed contained classified information and was in fact a danger to the state.

"'Yes, yes,' Fleming flustered, 'Highly secret information which could endanger the security of our country if it got into the wrong hands'.

"'Well', said Niesewand's lawyer, 'what about this story?' He read a 300—400 word piece.

"'Yes, that's top secret too', replied Fleming.

"'That's strange Mr Fleming', said the lawyer. 'What I've just read was an extract from a speech made recently by the Prime Minister'".

The guerrilla operations are also hitting the Smith regime economically by scaring off tourists. Tourism is not only important for earning foreign exchange, but is also vital for maintaining contact with the outside world. Tourists see only Rhodesia's best face, go away again as (often unwittingly) promoters of the country. This has undeniably been a help to Smith over the years.