Guerrilla warfare, as fought by the Boers one century ago, is recognized internationally as the honourable defence by disciplined fighters against a superior, armed enemy. The Boers attacked classical military targets, even though outnumbered most of the time by overwhelming numbers. The so-called 'freedom fighters' of Southern Africa, however, be they Frelimo, Zanu, Swapo or the ANC/Communist Mkonto e Sizwe (MK), very seldom attacked anything resembling a military target, - on the contrary, they specialized in the callous bombing of Wimpy Bars, the cowardly laying of landmines on farm roads, the barbarian 'necklacing' of defenceless township dwellers, and even the brutal torture of their own dissident comrades. What makes these atrocities more despicable is that some of the organizations actually signed the Geneva Protocols, which explicitly forbid this kind of terror and cruel intimidation. Serious students who wish to get an unbiased and balanced picture of the kind of terrorist 'war' fought by terrorist organisations like the ANC/SACP, the PAC and others should read the book "The Other Side of the Story" by Herman Stadtler, Sigma Press, ISBN 0-620-21100-8.
Here follow a few graphic images of atrocities committed by the so-called 'Freedom Fighters' of Southern Africa. !Warning : The pictures may offend some readers' sensitivities.
(images - Click on thumbnails for larger version)
[image 1] The remains of a civilian bakkie [small truck], which detonated a landmine on the road between Ulundi and Nkongo in Eastern Ovamboland. Because many of the local people are poor and do not own a vehicle, locals used to hitch rides on the back of these vehicles to the nearest town to buy their daily needs. These "soft target" vehicles offered no protection against the Swapo mines, often boosted by placing two mines on top of each other.
[ image 2] To deliver rations to remote bases, 'rat run' trucks had to cover long distances over untarred roads. Ahead of them, the hardy 'sappers' walked these dusty dirt roads on foot, mile after mile under the blazing African sun, 'sweeping' the two well-defined tracks with their mine detectors.
[image 3] Another landmine statistic : More innocent locals and their vehicle. Note the crater made by the explosion [foreground] and the distance the vehicle was flung. Those not dead were usually badly mutulated, for life. In his incident many black locals were killed.[photo - near Ulundi]
[image 4 & 5] One of two pieces of a "Wit Olifant" [White elephant] after it struck a landmine. The name 'Wit olifant' was given to the big white Mercedes Benz Trucks transporting goods to remote outposts throughout the old South West Africa (now Naminbia). In this instance the driver was on his way to Ruacana when he detonated a landmine. Because it was a civilian vehicle which detonated the mine, a police task force in a 'Hippo' was sent out to investigate. The Hippo was a mine-protected personnel-carrying vehicle built on the chassis of the old 'vasbyt" Bedford. In this incident, the area was swept thoroughly for further landmines, declared "clear" and....WOOM, the Hippo went up as well, just as it was about to leave the scene. Actual figures of people killed or injured in this incident are not known. As in most cases it all happened near a local kraal [village]. The local people, although not hostile to the police and army forces, refused to say who planted the mines for fear of the brutal intimidation and savage methods of the terrorist. It was not uncommon for an "informant" (real or not) or simply the headman to have his tongue cut out, his child or wife killed, or, as in recent South Africa, to be tied up, soaked in petrol and then be burnt alive with a tyre round his neck For civilized soldiers anywhere this type of intimidation and situation was totally alien, and it is no wonder they were at wit's end.
[image 6] This civilian truck detonated a landmine near Nkongo in Northern South West Africa. The logistical wing of the army lend a hand to tow it to Oshakati. It is not known whether the driver was killed in the incident.
Here follow a few graphic images of atrocities committed by the so-called 'Freedom Fighters' of Southern Africa. !Warning : The pictures may offend some readers' sensitivities.
(images - Click on thumbnails for larger version)
[image 1] The remains of a civilian bakkie [small truck], which detonated a landmine on the road between Ulundi and Nkongo in Eastern Ovamboland. Because many of the local people are poor and do not own a vehicle, locals used to hitch rides on the back of these vehicles to the nearest town to buy their daily needs. These "soft target" vehicles offered no protection against the Swapo mines, often boosted by placing two mines on top of each other.[ image 2] To deliver rations to remote bases, 'rat run' trucks had to cover long distances over untarred roads. Ahead of them, the hardy 'sappers' walked these dusty dirt roads on foot, mile after mile under the blazing African sun, 'sweeping' the two well-defined tracks with their mine detectors.
[image 3] Another landmine statistic : More innocent locals and their vehicle. Note the crater made by the explosion [foreground] and the distance the vehicle was flung. Those not dead were usually badly mutulated, for life. In his incident many black locals were killed.[photo - near Ulundi]
[image 4 & 5] One of two pieces of a "Wit Olifant" [White elephant] after it struck a landmine. The name 'Wit olifant' was given to the big white Mercedes Benz Trucks transporting goods to remote outposts throughout the old South West Africa (now Naminbia). In this instance the driver was on his way to Ruacana when he detonated a landmine. Because it was a civilian vehicle which detonated the mine, a police task force in a 'Hippo' was sent out to investigate. The Hippo was a mine-protected personnel-carrying vehicle built on the chassis of the old 'vasbyt" Bedford. In this incident, the area was swept thoroughly for further landmines, declared "clear" and....WOOM, the Hippo went up as well, just as it was about to leave the scene. Actual figures of people killed or injured in this incident are not known. As in most cases it all happened near a local kraal [village]. The local people, although not hostile to the police and army forces, refused to say who planted the mines for fear of the brutal intimidation and savage methods of the terrorist. It was not uncommon for an "informant" (real or not) or simply the headman to have his tongue cut out, his child or wife killed, or, as in recent South Africa, to be tied up, soaked in petrol and then be burnt alive with a tyre round his neck For civilized soldiers anywhere this type of intimidation and situation was totally alien, and it is no wonder they were at wit's end.
[image 6] This civilian truck detonated a landmine near Nkongo in Northern South West Africa. The logistical wing of the army lend a hand to tow it to Oshakati. It is not known whether the driver was killed in the incident.
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