End "appalling" suffering, plead Rhodesians

A last-ditch appeal to Rhodesia's political • leaders to end the war there will be made today by the Rhodesian Justice and Peace Commission,
collies in the form of a detailed report describing the "appalling conditions.' under which hundreds of thousands of people are now living, I he report is for geueral consumption, but it has clearly been drawn up with an eye to the crucial constitutional talks which have been taking place in London for the past two weeks.
After describing at length the "crisis of immensc proportions" now facing Rhodesia, the commission concludes: "Our concern, and the concern of the suffering people of Rhodesia, is that the war be brought to a rapid end.
"The ability to resolve the present situation lies With those who wield political, economic and military power. We hope and pray that in their discussions at the London constitutional conference all parties will keep the suffering
people of Rhodesia in the l'orefront of their deliberations."
The report is a shirk, factual description of the economic and social situation in Rhodesia, but underneath the statistics lies a picture pf a nation engulfed by a war that is out of control. It shows that: • At least 30 people are being killed every day.
• Vast areas of land lie empty with no sign of life.
• Napalm and phosphorous grenades are used Frequently by security forces. Atrocities by the guerillas are also increasing.
• Serious eases of malnutrition are multiplying and increasing the threat posed by potential killer diseases such as measles, scabies and t ube re ulosis.
• Nearly every white family and more and more blacks possess guns.
• More than half the rural hospitals, clinics and saris have closed. • About 235,000 refugees have fled the country and a further 250,000 have sought safety in the towns where they live in "extreme hardship".
• Educated young people, the lifeblood of the nation, are leaving the country in their thousands.
The commission points out that martial law regulations, now covering most of the country, prevent voluntary agencies not only from reaching many areas of need but also from monitoring where the greatest need is.
It gives a warning that food shortages, already common in many places. are likely to spared further in coming months. This is blamed on overpopulation and over-grazing in the Tribal Trust Lands, the widespread destruction of cattle and government policies aimed at "starving the terrorists". ['or example. a recent regulation forbids rural blacks from owning or carrying food beyond the immediate rc4uirernents of their families,
The report also draws attention to the "appalling dilemma" faced by thousands of blacks now being called up to fight. It says: "Many have close relatives, perhaps a brother or sister, with the guerillas. Others fear that they might be ordered into action or take reprisals in an area where parents or relatives are living."
The economic cost of the war. is also shown to he spiralling. The Commission quotes Mr David Smith. the Minister of Finance, as saying in July that this year's budget was "unashamedly a war budget", and that 37 per cent would go directly to the security effort. The total cost of the war this Year will he more than i260 million.
The report follows the Rhodesian bishops' appeal mode at the start of the constitutional talks. The bishops called on their political leaders to put the good of the whole country before personal and party interests.