POLITICAL EENSORSHIP has been reintroduced in Portugal. This is the effective meaning of a measure adopted by the Portuguese Government last Friday (21 June), While newspapers will not be subject to official scrutiny before publication, any violation by the press, radio or television of this new Government decree is punishable by a fine of up to t80.000 and suspension of publication for up to two months. Offending journalists or editors may also be subject to charges under military law.
OFFENCES
Among the offences set out in the new law are: incitement, even indirectiy, to disobedience of military commands or the violation of military AW and TeRmations insuits to the President of tle Republic, his Council of State or the Government; insults to the heads of state of foreign contries, or their accredited diplomatic representatives in Portugal; the publication of any reference to confidenrial military operations without the authorisation of the military high command: incicement to strikz. to stop work, or the promotion of demonstrations that are not authorisod by existing laws.
This comes on too ol 1 decision hi the Governincht on 14 June to rake ever strike-breaking direct cobtrol of the radio and television services.
The new censorship law has received the full backine of the Gorrement including the Portugucse Communist and Socialist Parties - -and its enforcement will he the immediate responsibility of a Socialist ininister, Raul Rego.
The law nas been Jusana under a provision in the progromme of the armed forces that action might be taken against disturbances caused by the aperession ol the most reactionary ideological circles* Hower it is clear That the new low will be applied against the left and workers' movement. Already the oditor of a Maoist paber has been arrested under military authority becouse of the propaganda his paper was conducting among soidiers against the colanial wars.
This also makes it perfectly char Lat the Portugues CP's much-vaunted poet one wo the armed toroes means unity with the top military hruss, not with the rank-and-file. For the new lu isa big obstacle to carrying out effoctive political propaganda within the unny. After all, who made the military law and repalations" und who do chay sorro: And how is it passible to build effoctive rank-and-file organisations in the army without even infireer "acitetical to disobey military commands"
STRIKE-BREAKING
This latest crack down comes at a time when the Government is turning to strikebreaking with a veneeance, nain with the full backing of the Communist and Socialist FATUES.
A strike by the country s 30,000 postal vention. A joint statement issued by the Prime Minister and the commander-in-chief of the army laid out a plan for a massive military scabbing operation to begin on Thursday afternoon fluougbout In response the leaders of the postal workers" union called olt the strike, blaming its defeat on "the divisive manoeuvres of the Communist Party and its allies'.
overtime and holiday pay, a guarantee of AD WALC FISCS DRSCO DO TOO OCIORES OI the trade unions for a minimum wage of 6000 escados per month (about 123 pet to meet some of these demands, but had only offered a revised wage scale with a minimum wage of 4300 escudos per monte (about £16.50 per week).
the country, and the strike was supported by virtually the entire workforce, except for the techoicians who were split down the middle.
syndical" trade union federation, under CP influence, opposed the strike.
Government has placed the striking crews of four Portupaese of tankers in the Persing Gull under martial low, and w ordered them to resume work under threat of court-martial. The crews ate taking industrial action as part of a movement for better pay aid conditions throughout the Portuguese Merchant Marine. and relecommunications workers ended last week under threat of massive mulitary interSpanish workers from all over Speaking simply and directly this seemingly frail old woman succeeded BOB WILLIAMS