MIDDLE EAST AFRICA SOUTH ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00865A000700370001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 24, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 15, 1975
• Content Type: NOTES

Approved For Release 2001/07/30 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000700370001-5
Confidential
No Foreign Dir.rem
(~7$71~~ RD
L~
Middle East
Africa
South Asia
Confidential
No. 0656/75
April 15, 1975
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No Foreign Dissem
Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
Classified by 005827
Exempt from general declassification schedule
of E. 0. 11652, exemption category:
? 5B (1), (2), and (3)
Automatically declassified
on: Date Impossible to Determine
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MIDDLE EAST - AFRICA - SOUTH ASIA
This publication is prepared for regional specialists in the Washington com-
munity by the Middle East - Africa Division, Office of Current Intelligence,
with occasional contributions from other offices within the Directorate of
Intelligence. Comments and queries are welcome. They should be directed to
the authors of the individual articles.
CONTENTS
Algeria: Forest Barrier Planted on
Northward Path of Sahara . . . . . . . . . . . 2
India: Election Scheduled in Gujarat . . . . . 3
Pakistan: Urban Protests Over Price
Increases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Apr 15, 1975
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Algeria
)rest Barrier Planted on
;rthward Path of Sahara
The Algerians have begun a 20-year, $2-billion
project aimed at establishing a 10-mile-wide forest
barrier stretching for 950 miles across Algeria from
Morocco to Tunisia. Six billion seedling trees,
mostly pine and eucalyptus, are to be planted in an
effort to halt the northward advance of the Sahara
Desert.
The encroaching desert has been causing periodic
famine and migration from the area affected to Algerian
cities. The ultimate objective of the project is to
reclaim 70,000 square miles of barren steppe for
agricultural purposes.
The "green barrier" is probably the largest
forestation project for land reclamation purposes
ever attempted and may well be overly ambitious for
Algeria. If it works, Algeria will have taken a
significant step toward achieving self-sufficiency
in basic foodstuffs. The country is estimated now
to grow no more than 70 percent of its food needs
even in good harvest years. In recent years, large
food imports have been necessary to prevent starvation.
The Algerians have done considerable preparatory
work, including a four-year pioneer project in desert
regions. Government officials apparently appreciate
the magnitude of the undertaking. They understand
that finding solutions for the technical, material,
financial, and human problems will take many years.
A major land reclamation program is long over-
due in Algeria. Over the years erosion, deforestation
in the mountains, and over-grazing on the steppes have
laid waste to'much of Algeria's formerly fertile land;
in just one decade, Algeria lost some 750,000 acres
of arable land. During French rule, nearly 5 million
acres were reclaimed or otherwise improved and devel-
oped, but since independence the Algerian government
has done little about the problem. (CONFIDENTIAL)
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CONFIDENTIAL
India
Election Scheduled in Gujarat
Prime Minister Gandhi has acceded to former
deputy prime minister Morarji Desai's demands for
an early election in the politically turbulent state
of Gujarat, which has been under direct.rule from
New Delhi for over a year.. The uncharacteristic
reversal of position by Mrs. Gandhi is likely to cause
some damage to her prestige nationally.
The Gujarat poll, to be held "around June 7,"
will be the first major electoral.-test for Mrs.
Gandhi's ruling Congress Party since reform leader
J. P. Narayan began his anti-government campaign
over a year ago. Consequently, the Prime Minister
can be expected to launch an intense effort to win.
The state election will also provide a test for
Narayan, who has pressed for electoral,. economic,
and educational reforms and an end-to government
corruption. After months of agitation, Narayan's
ability to unite disparate opposition parties in
an electoral alliance and to generate broad popular
support for his movement will be on the line.
The Prime Minister's move defuses, at least
temporarily, a potentially explosive situation that
had been developing since the 79-year-old Desai, a
native of Gujarat, began a "fast unto death" on
April 7 with the avowed aim of forcing an early
election. The conciliatory atmosphere will fade
rapidly, however, as the election approaches.
Mrs. Gandhi had tried to avoid an.early elec-
tion in Gujarat because her party is weak there.
She knows that national elections must be held
within the next eleven months and that a defeat in
Desai's home state could seriously affect party
morale throughout the country.
(Continued)
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CONFIDENTIAL
Anumber of pressures influenced the Prime
Minister to change her position:
-- A real possibility for renewed violence in
Gujarat as tensions stimulated by Desai's
fast built up.
-- The potential for a further poisoning of
the already contentious national political at-
mosphere if Desai were to die.
-- Strong pressure from within her party for
compromise.
-- A genuine desire to preserve the life of
a long-time personal associate and a major
participant in India's independence struggle.
(CONFIDENTIAL)
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Pakistan
The government last week decreed substantial
increases in the prices of some subsidized commodities,
specifically wheat, sugar, and edible oil. A number
of labor and student groups, led by rail workers,
responded with several days of protest demonstrations
and strikes in Pakistan's main cities. Several
persons were killed in clashes between demonstrators
and police.
Even before the recent price increases, Pakistan's
urban middle and working classes were unhappy with
the government's failure to stem inflation, which was
about 25 percent last year and is currently running
at 20 percent. Although the government appears
able to contain disruptions from such groups, US
officials in Pakistan believe persistent inflation
may be costing Bhutto some of his widespread popularity.
(CONFIDENTIAL)
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Confidential
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