Why Tanzanian students were expelled

why tanzanian students This cartoon is taken from a Ianranian students! leaflet 16 Readers will be aware that approximately one fifth of the students at the University of Dar es Salaam were expelled after a demonstration held on March 5 this year in protest at the upping of the MPs' salaries and perks by about 100%. We have printed below the text of was distributed after the demonstratwhich ion and explains the thinking of the students. We have added the text of a resolution passed on the subject by Bradford Trades Council. we would urge all our readers to similar resolutions to students' propose unions, trades union bodies eto.. March 5, 1978 TO ALL CITIZENS This morning, Sundey the 5th March, 1978, we, the students of the University of Dar es Salaam organised a demonstration from the University to the city. The purpore of the demonstration itself will be exolained further down, but we would first like to point out that in this demonstration we were confronted with ruthless and concentrated police brutality. As soon as we arrived at Manzese we met a contingent of police who threw tear gas at üs and started to baton us indiscriminately. Our demonstration was peaceful and none of us had a weapon of any sort. Me did not even throw a stone, but the police attacked us in the most brutal fashion. Many of us including women were seriously injured as a result of the police ruthlessness. Neveran increase in salaries. 15 only, justified by an increase in labor productivity we have increased our drinking... theless, we were not discouraged and continur d with our demonstration after regrouping ourselves. Our aim was to go to the offices of the Government newspaper, Daily News, or Maktamba street where we planned to read out our memorandum in front of reporters. Instead, as soon as we arrived there we were surrounded by the police amid intimiaation and threats of more brutality. Because our intentions were peaceful we sat down in order to avoid any disturbance. Just then, we saw police vehicles arriving at the scene and starting to load the students into the vehicles. A large group of our comrades is now, without any offence, under the police custody. We condemn this police ruthlessness. We know that the oräer to round us up was issued by high authority, and the ordinary policemen was simply used as a club to oppress his comrades. This incident has made it clear to us that the state is an instrument of oppression of the downtrodof this country. Now why did we demonstrate? We had organised this demonstration in order to oppose the step taken by parliament in its recent sitting in Pemba where the selaries and fringe benefits were increased substantially. Now they will be paid bigger salaries, and in addition to getting a variety of other benefits, they will be paid fat gratuities after serving the parliamentary term of office. our whoring. were expelled This step has been taken at a time when workers and peasants are in great suffering and misery: their real income continues to decrease, the cost of commodities continues various commodities are not available, essential services conținue to deteriorate, cholera continues to spread in the country, and a host of other tribulations. At a time when we are facing all these prob lems, the honourable members of parliament sit down to increase their salaries fringe benefits! Why wouldn't they increase the salary of the lowest paid? Why wouldn't they reduce the price of essential commodities which are needed by the citizens? These are the questions which we ourselves failed to answer and that is why we decided to organise a demonstration in order to express our opinions hoping that they vill be listened to and reflected upon by those concerned. But our expectations were not correct. Instead of being listened to ve were beațen up and arrested by the police - in a country which boasts of the building of Ujamaa! After today's incident, we now think we have an answer to our questions. We believe that the action of the parliament is in conformity with its obligation to our class ridden society. The parliament is a state instrument whose function iș to enact laws which promote the interests of the exploiters and which suppress the interests of the workers and peasents. The parliament is not an instrument of the downtrodden, it is only a part of the State whose major function is to suppress the downtrodden. The police too is an instrument for oppressing the downtrodden and for protecting the interests of the exploiters. That is why it vas necessary to be beaten up when we ventured to raire the questions concerning the incomes of the big-shots. our repression of workers, peasants & students.... Therefore, this is what we should know from today: the interests of the workers and peasants can never be championed by the Parliament in this country. The job of the parliamentarians is to champion their own interests together with the interests of their fellow exploiters. The peasants and workers have no choice but to fight themselves for their own interests. He, the students, earnestly implore all the peasants and workers to join us in opposing the action taken by the parliament and we thank the students of the Mater Institute, Ardhn Institute, various workers, and all citizens who have come forward to join hands with us in today's demonstration. WORKERS, PEASANTS, PROGRESSIVE STUDENTS, AND ALL CITIZINS WHO OPPOSE EXPLOITATICN: UNITE Tent of a resolution passed by Bradford Prades Council, Yorkshire, England, larch. "This irades Council wishes to express its solidarity with the 350 students from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and related institutions, expelled from the university after a peaceful cemonstration on March 5,1978. The demonstration wes directed against salary rises of almost 100% for MPs, Government Ministers, and Party Officials. We assert the right of workers, teachers, and students in every country and every educational institution to express their views on such matters without fear of intimidation and call on the Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, President Julius Nyerere, to 'the expelled students forthwith. " reinstate Addressed to: Tanzanian High Commissioner, London, Mr Amon Nsekela; Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, President Julius Nyerere, State House, Dar es Salaam; Editor, Times Educational Supplement; Ministry of Education, Der es Salaam. •... that is Why our salaries viere increased!