Socialist Action No. 131, 14 February 1986

Socialist Action (IMG / Socialist League) · 14 February 1986 · 12 pages, 15,809 words read by machine

The scan: 131-feb-14-1986-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)

Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Page 1 scan of this page

Defend the NGA

MONDAY'S COURT decision to seize the funds of SOGAT shows just what a terrible price labour movement is now paying for the failure of the TUC to defend the NGA over Warrington and the NUM during the miners strike. It also shows 'moderation' is no safeguard from Tory laws whatever.

Brenda Dean and the SOGAT leadership are no Arthur Scargill and the miners. They attempted to comply with une union law on ballots. but une point is, as Brenda Dean pointed out, there is no way an effective trade union dispute can be run and remain within Tory laws.

Human beings now being treated like cattle by Thatcher.

SoCiAlist

ACTION

BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM

MURDOCH'S LAW

Detend

SUGAT

makes no difference if they want to work or not, show solidarity or not. une No, they are just objects to be ordered around under a slaves charter.

The writs are already spreading out to the other unions. The NGA is coming up after SOGAT - and the last legal attack on the NGA, over the dispute with Eddie Shah at Warrington, cost the union £2 million. The UCW has already had a writ issued against it. The TGWU is also in the firing line. And lest we forget it the entire assets of the NUM are still held by a receiver.

It now appears that judges, and lawyers, hot their members, are to be the people who determine the policies and activities of trade unions. The retreats which have been made since Warrington have not safeguarded the

ting legal attacks.

Wapping, solidarity elsewhere.

News International

Jobs of print

the

bring the press barons to heel.

рб

trade unions one bit from the moun-

questration flying

Confronted with the determination of the bosses, backed up by their courts, the labour movement has no other option than to step up the action. That means massive pickets at

and deepening industrial

First and foremost, the basis for this must be laid by the print unions themselves. Confining the strike to which

titles disasterous strategy for protecting the

workers. Other newspapers such as the Express and

Financial Times have already made clear that they too intend to travel the Wapping road. An all-out TUC directive. Fleet Street strike is the only way to

INSIDE: Tony Benn on the left in 1986

TUC surrenders to Hammond Wapping war p3 Baby Doc flees p9 Livingstone in Ireland ps

Above all, with the threats of se-

all around, the TUC cannot attord to maintain the of 'remain within the law' position it has adopted - and which it intends to deepen. Last Wednesday it ducked the issue with Hammond and the electricians: that of stopping EETPU scabs from crossing the picket lines. ped.

The general council voted down the resolution from Knapp and Buckton

would have instructed the EETPU to tell its members to do just that. Instead it directed the union to ...let its members know that they were taking other union members jobs!

No wonder Eric Hammond has agreed to abide by the terms of the

it is a directive without any teeth. That means one which capitulates to the EETPU's laws.

No. 131 14 February 1986 30p own brand of union-busting and drags the TUC further down the road

accepting the Tory anti-union legislation. At the coming special TUC conference it is proposed to go further down the road of complying with the law by accepting government cash for ballots. This must be stop-

Murdoch and the courts have shown their readiness to go all the wa in their battle to destroy the print unions. Now the labour movement must show it is prepared to go just as far in defending them. The response to the use of the Tory courts against the NGA and SOGAT must be to step up all solidarity action with the print workers and for the TUC to take national action against the anti-union

Page 2 scan of this page

TUC surrenders

2 Socialist Action 14 February 1986

ACTiON

Thatcher's Blues

PROBLEMS FOR Thatcher from within the ruling class are now coming thick and fast.

Is Young Conservative Thatcher herself has continued to slide down the

'amazing' it is that only three years after her 1,983 landslide Thatcher should find herself

discover the reasons for the sudden outburst of questioning of Thatcher's leadership.

First Thatcher did not win a popular mandate in 1983. Her vote, at 42 per cent, was the lowest real percentage of support for a prime minister history. It was the freaks of the British electoral system, not popular support for the Tories, that produced Thatcher's overwhelming majority in

Second Thatcher's own immediate economic base is slipping away by the day in the North

The entire policies of Thatcherism were made possible by the tax revenue and exports of North Sea oil. With the price of oil having fallen by almost half in the four months Nigel Lawson projected tax cutting budget for March is already

The falling oil price interrelates with another

Despite the enormous suffered by the trade unions since 1979, Thatcher has not imposed anything like the defeat on the working class which she required for her

The theory of Thatcherism was simple. While the oil revenues flowed in the exchange rate of the pound soared and exchange controls were lifted. A flood of money poured out of the country as British capitalism enormously expanded its

coloniu remorseless international competition.

The theory went that as the oil ran out the exchange rate of the pound would decline again and manufacturing exports revitalised manufacturing sector would 'fill domestic sectors of the economy would be reviv-

on domestic manufacturing surviving to "fill the gap' and on a truly crushing defeat being suf-

lower exchange rate of the pound means that the

pound declines and inflation ac-

celerates. A devaluation only works for capital if the working class can be prevented from fighting back against its effects. Now both the survival of

enough of the domestic manufacturing base,

and the ability to impose a truly devastating

defeat on the working class have come into ques-

For any other major imperialist country It

would be inconceivable that the sale of the sole

even be contemplated. US, Japanese,

French, and Italian capitalism are literally con-

structed around their car manufacturers.

only British capital that could even contemplate

couldn't get away with it at present.

British, pro-BL lobby turned out to be able to get

its way even when the pro-European Westland

But more seriously Thatcher has not been

able to impose the scale of defeat on the working

class that is needed. Throughout the Thatcher

years wages in manufacturing have continued

torise at a far faster rate than inflation. Average

wages for those inwork have risen by over 10

relation of forces this shows does not allow the

succiss of the economic policies needed when

the oil price falls and the pound declines.

policies on at least some issues are now being

editorial last week the Times stated that the question of in-

comes policy had to be looked at again. Appeals

from the government to industry to keep down

real wages are becoming increasingly strident.

No section of the ruling class wants a break

with the fundamental policies of Thatcherism.

Thatcher is by far the most powerful section of

of the Westland fight. But at least some changes

in policy on secondary question are now being

Thatcher's mess is going to get worse and not

WOrK

one which in reality poses no threat to Hammond's

OI Financial Times, was able

directions on how to handle its approach to

unless and until an agreement is reached between

raunch.

recruitment, directly or inUnions in particular by the

Many

Inere

directive whatever for the

executive which met

SILBERMAN and BILL ADLER.

YOU vE gol lo look al lit

tion of the Wembley con-

Rally

Dilall

That gave the govern-

uch and acprive ten

of their trade union and

to Hammond

AFTER A 13½-HOUR meeting last week, the 51

leadership of the EETPU guilty of five of the seven charges brought against the union as a result of its conduct at the News International plant. But the crucial move by the NUR and ASLEF to toughen-up the TUC's directive to the electricians was lost by a

This would have instructed the EETPU to tell its members to 'refrain from undertaking work normally done by other print unions', in other words to stop crossing picket lines — a directive certain to have been considered 'unlawful' by the Tory thon verall paper al

would reluse to accol all

which contravened That-

DO IT

"This dispute has got to be won'

JOHN TOCHER is the left's candidate in the for-

thcoming AUEW presidential election and AUEW

divisional organiser for Greater Manchester. He has

taken a strong stand in support of the striking print

SaCK

deal. Claiming part of the

are hard for even the most

fices, he claims, acted on

OWI

an assertion which TUC found incredible Graham of the CPSA and

Roy Grantham of APEX has been entered into, and

fathers before them

Murdoch has taken ad-

ac-

cumulated weaknesses of

the TUC but I would be in You simply can't have one

is this: in this country we

the crime the EETPU have is a multinational in that

laVO

use

Analysis

final decision arrived at by

necessary to call a halt te legislation will be backing Rupert Murdoch's bid to

ment. Staying within those

distance or the unity of the trade

is potion at a dance

represents a further step down the road of ac-

Din: MORNING STAR

The will be dictating

dispute hasgot ta be won. should bi

message 'Murdoch's got to

Inel

• weakened further still The other connotation

reachonar

should be brushed aside

Page 3 scan of this page

War at Wapping: Week 3

Politics Today

AS THE PRINT workers dispute with Rupert Murdoch's News International entered its fourth week, SOGAT found its f17 million-worth of assets sequestrated. And anyone who thought that all-or-nothing demands to step up the action were exaggerated was sadly disabused. Now more than ever is the time to build mass action in support of striking print workers.

Thousands of angry women began to show how last Saturday, with the first mass • demonstration of the strike. Led by women from the print unions and joined by a vociferous contingent of Women Against Pit Closures, it was a big success. Speaking at a meting in Kent the

Women lead the way

what Thatcher and MacGregor tried on us.

It magnificent tribute to the power of the Women Against Pit Closures movement that the first mass demonstration against Murdoch organised last weekend was a march of women from Tower Hill to the Wapping plant. Over 3000 took part in a mass picket that held up deliveries of the scab papers for over an hour while police plotted all alternative avoid demonstrators.

Women print workers. print workers families, and OIneT women trace unionists marched down The Highway singing 'Here we go' and I'd rather be a picket than a scab'. The impact on the men who lined the route to welcome the march tremendous.

Large contingents of Women Against Pit Closures from up and down the country made explicit the connection that is already being made between the strikes. Speaking al a rally al wapplig alle! the march, Betty Heathfield spelled it out.

Her theme was comDiele sondanily print workers fighting to protect their iobs and their families. Women from the said, had been through a communities, she sag trid so they kha

SOC

'I'M HERE for the print workers' right to fight for their jobs,' Ann Scargill told Socialist Action at the beginning of last Saturday's women's march on Wapping. 'Our door is always open to them just as theirs was to us. Murdoch is trying to do to the print unions

enough is enough. We've got to stand together now.'

what this was all about. Miners already had direct experience of Murdoch and his newspapers used against them during their own strike.

Everything was ranged now against the print workers just as it was rang ed against the miners during the 1984-85 strike. The government was trying to smash the print unions like Ine tried to smash the NUM.

Heathfield raised the possibility of a consumer boycott of the Murdoch titles, identifying it with LEC DOVCOLL South African goods that black workers there called for. It chola become second nature not to buy the The Times. she said. just as it is not to buy South African goods

There will come a time very soon, she explained, when everyone will say 'give up, go back, stop

Bighting a You a Nelson

what Nelson Mandela had given up when people said the same to him? In Africa today people have the pro'So get down-hearted. When you don't have a choice -as we didn't have a choice then you've got to fight'.

To drowning cheers

following day, NUM president Arthur Scargill took up the same theme of total solidarity, demanding that the 'whole might of the trade

doch's union-bashing strategy

lessons Betty Heathfield conclud-

'Mandela "the struggle 1s my late That's what I say and that is what you should say too.

Brenda Dean, speaking from the same platform, related the fact that a ship carrying paper had been turned away from a ScotWorkers, she told the dock. dock

alli dience, were approaching their Belgian counterparts

olzarise a DoCoL ol ink supplies to Murdoch.

Talk solidarity too showed the impact of the strike. Already print workers are adapting the songs of the miners strike to their own dispute.

ANEW

union movement' be brought to bear against Mur-

The lessons of the miners strike are there to be drawn. The bosses and the courts have done that. Other newspaper barons have made it plain that if Murdoch wins they will follow suit in no time flat. Now the labour movement must draw those same

and massively step up the action to defend SOGAT '82 and the NGA. The response of the TUC and other unions has already shown that the basis for extending the strike exists — and the SOGAT • AUEW • NUJ • NGA

MY DAD HELPED MR MURDOCH MAKE MILLIONS. NOW HE WANTS To POT HIM ON THEDOLE.

DONT LET HIM DON'T BUY THE SUN, NEWS OF THE WORLD, TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES At one miners support group, Lambeth, has taken on board that message. They have reconstituted themselves into a print workers support group and, under the auspicies OI the local trades council, have set up shop in Brixton to organise solidarity, including public meeting this Friday with speakers from SOGAT, NUJ, AUEW and others.

• SOGAT strike can be contacted on 01-261 9302; Lambeth group on 01-733 5670. Th Lambeth public meeting starts .7.30pm, at the town hall.

High Court has given the clinching argument.

good continuing the softly-softly strategy off . confining the action to News International must be launched if victory is to be won.

the print workers.

Solidarity

Telecoms

engineers:

ALL telecom engineers in London City, the NCU branch which covers both Fleet Street and Murdoch's new Wapping plant, have been issued with instructions not to cross picket lines.

The circular, dated 24

signed branch secretary Jock Campbell, clear: 'The policy of the TỤC, the National Communications. Union and the London City branch is that members must not cross a picket line.' Confronted with a picket line, telecom engineers are advised to comply, notify their supervisor and seek alternative WOK

Following the NCU instruction could be one sure way to that scab journalists working on the

News International titles are starved of the telephone.

Manchester actions:

PRINT workers on the Express Newspapers group are standing firm on their decision not to print the northern edition of the News of the World at the Ancoats works in Manchester.

This is despite Mur-

Injunchon agalns!

SOGAT and despite threat by local manage. ment to make 600 printers Newspapers lose the Murdoch contract. lonv Dub bins spoke to an NGA meeting there last Friday after which NGA members agreed to continue their Dan

Another Manchester ban affecting Murdoch is the decision by council to ston Manchester librarie taking copies of his four titles during the dispute Meanwhile officers of the City Labour Party will be recommending this weeks party meeling Inal a rally in support of the Tuesday 25 February

Rail workers:

NEWS reports last week claimed rail workers were prepared to ditch their principles and transport Murdoch's scab papers. Not so according to Brian

Socialist Action 14 February 1986 It's up to the print unions to lead the way. No

workers in a mistaken belief that keeping other Fleet Street presses rolling will protect the jobs of other print workers. To make the strike effective, the whole of Fleet Street should be brought out. That would stop Rupert Murdoch and the rest of the press sharks in their tracks. Mass picketting and a campaign of all-out solidarity strike action

CAROL TURNER reports on solidarity with

Whitehead, NEC

member of the NUR.

Whitehead told

Socialist Action that scab

papers won't rail

because the NUR is com guidelines and will respect mitted TUC

all picket lines.

At any rate this work offer the

railways. British Rail has

£27

newspaper

Murdoch's is

million. For us it involves

780 jobs.

'But Murdoch doesn't

care about jobs in the print

or on the railways. He had

a well worked out plan

around Wapping in-

cluding massive in-

vestments In road naulage

The would avoid in-

reckoned rail workers

would take in opposition

union smashing

operation Wapping. Kent miners:

THIS Thursday, 13

february, Kent miners

are holding a rally in

Conway Hall in joint

solidarity the

NUM and striking print

workers.

Originally called to end

a tive-dal "Save liman

stone' march, the trek

from Kent to London has

now been called off

because the Coal Board

has announced a reprieve

for the pit. But the rally,

group MPs Dennis Skin-

ner and Bob Clay on its

platform, will now hear

the case for News Interna-

tional strikers.

Kent secretary Jack

Collins told Socialist Ac-

tion: "The theme will now

be that Kent NUM is on

the verge of a victory

workers can do ikewise. 'Printers poured in

money and food convoys

to us during our dispute

Because they've not yet

asKcu

doesn't mean we should

wait to give it. The TUC

should be compelled to act

defence of the print

workers.'

Bingo card

ban:

THE Union of Com-

munications Workers,

whose members include

postwomen and men,

have taken solidaity ac-

tion with striking print

workers.

The UCW has banned

postal workers from

delivering Rupert Mur-

doch's Sun bingo cards

through your letter box.

This act will encourage

6000 SICKN

Im ne

Sun

lover

SUPPORT

THE PRINT

WORKERS/

the consumer boycott cal ed by print unions again the four newspapel printed the Wapping. After all, whi other good reason coul anyone have for readin that scandal sheet? TGWU:

LEAFLET Fac about the disput issued by the TGWU o the Wapping strike cal for a consumer boyco of the Murdoch titles

Support the TU boycott to protest at Mu doch's dictatori policies,' it says Pointir out that the TGWU ha agreed with the TN management maipienary action will i that

taken against unic members refusing to cro picket lnes, une leaniel e plains why transpo workers can make a di terence

TGWU lorry drive have helped out in rece Fleet Stree battles, says. 'BRS , truck rent drivers refused to •CIO Daily Mirror picket lines i November.

helped brin Robert Maxwell back genuine negotiations don't fall for the line tha your action won't mai any real differences!'

... of a dif-

ferent kind

BEHIND the succe of Rupert Murdoch newspaper road distrib ution service, which ha run the print unions blockade, looms th shadow of Sir Pete Abeles, reports las Sunday's Observer, i an article which oul lines the suspecte mafia connections the TNT boss.

Abeles felle Australian and a big but

of Rupert Murdoi The two jointly Ansett, Australia's leadi: domestic airline

At the end of the 1% Abeles's company began operati in the United States. Ir process, it seems, Abe: made Culllall with mafia-linked Teamste UH3O 1

Now Abeles wants buy Murdoch out Ansett it is rumoured. * the Observer •aptly ments: 'After the ever: Wapping Mr Murde might be more Hiltonite do Sir Peter a favou return.'

Page 4 scan of this page

4 Su

Wales LPYS

conference THE WALES regional LPYS conference took

members in attendance. Despite the success of the school strike and the continuing youth radicalisation in the mining communities, the Wales LPYS has not grown in the past year.

The highlight of the conference was a debate on

By Paul Davies, Newport East LPYS secretary of Wales Anti Apartheid Movement, adBritish labour movement was permeated with imperialism and racism, and that the YS's refusal to build the AAM was a reflection of this. 'Who are you to tell the South African people what they are fighting for? International solidarity is judged by

The LPYS counterposed the struggle to build a

vote to the struggle to build socialism in South Africa and called only for direct links with South African workers. The Wales AAM secretary explained that if Labour Party youth wanted to build direct links they must do so through the official

through COSATU in South Africa. He called on the YS to join in the campaigning activity of Wales

At the end of the debate the Militant leadership of the LPYS in Wales was forced to concede. It called on all branches with resources to do so, to get in-

In his report from the LPYS national commit-

port the Justice for Mineworkers Campaign. It is most sacked miners have won reinstatement, to aid the national struggle of the NUM and attend the Justice demonstration and rally on 2 March. Only by turning Ys branches out into the mass campaigns of youth in struggle against apartheid and

Photos: CARIRMIAN TIMES against Tory repression can we stop the decline of

Youth Fightback

THE CAMPAIGN in support of Kingsley

LPYS place on the NEC, has posed every section of the LPYS with the question of how the YS can be transformed into a mass campaigning youth organisation. As Kingsley has said, the LPYS can only build and defend itself by beginning to support people in struggle

of the oppressed, and by building an 'alliance for socialism' on this basis. Youth Action, a newspaper supported by a number of LPYS

Fightback, a paper supported by LPYS branches backed by Socialist Organiser and International, voted down, at the initiative of Socialist Organiser, a resolution to back Kingsley Abram's campaign. Youth Fightback at the same conference adopted a draft programme drawn up by Socialist Organiser. Supporters of International voted against both the programme proposed by Socialist Organiser and to

Since the December conference clear signs of tension have appeared in Youth Fightback.

in the Southern region organised a fringe meeting at their regional LYS conference on 8 February in support of Kingsley tion of the paper. Youth Fightback now look likely to reaiscuss next editorial board meeting on 23 February.

But this raises a much more general question. Supporters of International have far more in common with Youth Action than they do with the type Surely they should draw the conclusion from the

should pull out of Youth Fightback, come into Youth Action, and help build a mass campaigning

ist Action 14 February 1986

Labour movement in britain and Wedlake said that the LPYS would sup-

- supporting the self-organisation

despite the national posI-

again at tael

campaign that they d

support Lester Lewis

LOUIS FARRAKHAN, leader of the Black nationalist Nation of Islam Organisation (NOI) was refused entry into Britain by immigration officials. This followed the ruling by the Home Secretary that he be banned from the country. The Hackney Black People's Association (HBPA) had invited him to address a series of meetings in Britain. The grounds for Farrakhan's ban was allegedly his anti-semitic utterances.

But the real target is not any anti-semitic views of Farrakhan but the black community this country. weary. Tory government which openly

apartheid regime in South Africa,

representatihese reflate

representatives the South African govern-

can play no roic In fighting any sort of

including anti-

This offensive has been compounded by tacks on Lester Lewis, the black Labour councillor in Hackney who invited Far-

of the Hackney North GC passee a resolunon opposed the national ban on harrakhan. Dul

with only five votes

him the use of any council

The subsequent assault On Lester came

at the end of January both

COldemned him. The Labour chief whip was quoted as hoping he would be 'ONLY MRS Savage is on trial here, Christopher Beaumont, chair of the Savage enquiry, has declared. But only a week into the four-week enquiry it appears that much more is at stake.

The enquiry is looking

into the handling of five

Charges maternity Case. against Savage are of

mismanagement' and 'bizarre and incompe-

tent practices well outside the accepted range behaviour'

Amongst the issues already raised have been whose patients files (three of the

cases being used are of

No Savage upd r Wese

Savage oppose their cases being used against her) and the rights of patients to be consulted

their own treatment.

wendy's opponents clai that women in the throes

of a difficult labour are not in ally decisions. position She

believes that women are in-

telligent enough to discuss

the options.

More importantly, the

Can y damental raises issues fun- of

obstetrics and the health

End the ban on Farrakhan,

deselected the forthcoming

the attack to the

into *dirtv tricks

was out members him,

selection photoCODICU very

Lewis were circulated.

far more than to

meeting for Lea Bridge ward (which he represents), where around twice the number of members turned up to the previous AGM shortly зетоте

In such an atmosphere,

Wendy Savage on trial

American put the baby than the mother. leads evitably caesardangerous vaginal

head of denartment. Professor

mitments' far

Unlike have Plivals

extend

with the local the Hackney Gazette whipp. ing up feeling against him,

not surprising thạt LeWIs nas failed Will reselection two wards local

agree that Farrakhan that My

the jews is made on religious realise

and who illal

interested in economic

for

99 per of our

means that this is black

people.

Coobc alive bakery,

against the

but argued that

falling into this racist LIC smear Those these. They want to set up a private fertility clinic.

Their commitment to high-tech obstetrics and private medicine are connected in many ways. For example, foetal monitering machines are expensive

Wendy's 'heavy commitments ' were mainly her patients. Unlike any of her other colleagues the London Hospital, she saw all her patients and personally attended the difficult cases. She also ran the oWen Hamiets day. care abortion service, started bv Protessor Hun tingford, as part of her committment to women's choice in fertility.

womer have been campaigning for some years to regain control over Iner noses ano lo nave child birth seen as Nalulal healthy women not an ill- IUnICLIOn

ness. Under the best conditins some babies will be stillborn, others will die or be damaged at birth.

The has already shown that Wendy Savage's record is second

attend Farrakhan's meetings are not right wing but people looking TOI pro posals and d per Pictives to advance Black rights in this country.

Debate and discussion, not bans, are what are required of the labour move.

• no maller wilal is thought of Farrakhan's wrong and Manger us politics.

The deselection as councillor of Lester Lewis for making the invititation to Farrakhan to come and speak in Hackney is an attack on black people. It is 1O U CLU the

Bernie Grant speaks

in Bristol

A MEETING of over 400 people was held on Wednesday. 5 February by the Bristol West Labour Party and St Paul's Community Association. It's theme was •Defending the black communities.'

The meetin was held in the heart of the St Paul' By Peter McGahan, Bristol West LPYS

area the city. The speakers were Bernie

leader of Haringey council, Emerson Webster from the Cherry Groce Support Group, and Kuomba Balogun. chaur of the St Paul's Community

The media gave wide publicity to the meeting, but more important it was widely supported within neck Comma

Kuomba set the tone of the meeting when he said: "It's time for black people

they face themselves, lalner lan always Icacung to events.

emerson Webster out the background to the attack on Cherry Groce ir Brixton — bad housing, 90 Wendy Savage: on trial for giving women an option

to none and that her prac tice is a victory for womencentred medicine and the

• The Savage enquiry is open to the public and is taking place at Addison

News

Lester Lewis: deselected

fight against false perspec tives for fighting racism. It per cent youth unemployment systematic harass ment by the police. He said 'the police are tast becom ing judge, jury, and executioner.'

Bernie Grant received a warm welcome from the St Paul's audience He began by attacking the racism of

pIcs. and establishment over the events in lottenhan

Since 6 October in Tottenham, Grant said: "There has been a virtual state of siege on Broadwater Farm.

'The Broadwater Farm Youth Association's pre-

smashed mises nave beer i2 are being Young kids of 10 and

alicocu all held for up to 72 hour: Files are being kept on ac tivists. Phone tapping is rife Guns are being distributed to the police to intimidate people.

Grant said a public in-

the truth the events in Tottenham.

He called black people to join the Labour Party and organise - linking up with those pro

forces in the toretront of the struggle against the racist system. House, Old Street, Loncor El. Money is still needed for Wendy's cost in ine enouiry una conalon should be sent to: Tower Hamlet. CHC 23 New

Road, El.

Page 5 scan of this page

Livingstone speaks in Derry

News

KEN LIVINGSTONE attended the annual Bloody Sunday rally in Derry at the end of January at Derry Sinn Fein's invitation.

Phoblacht/Republican News reported the visit. AT THE

Ken leader of the

rally Sunday, LIV Jailualy. Was

recentlyendorsed

Call-

visit when

January, almost hour British

allly checkpoint Burntollet Bridge.

the Livingstone

_very Derry city centre Sinn Fein

Martin and

considerable knowledge Derry already, the Labour Party councillor discussed some of the many social problems facing Derry with shoppers and local ROBIN COOK is Labour Party dinator, and prominent in the LCC. His speech at a Socialist Society meeting on 2 February on 'The Next Labour Government' importance. It was the first time that a Labour Party leader, close to Kinnock, had openly proposed a change to the electoral system.

The first interesting aspect was that Cook explicitly attacked the 'softly-softly' approach taken by the party leadership over Westland. particularly attacked the new mar for rodener lo be replaced by Walker, Hurd or Biffen would be a setback because Thatcher was unpopular and would lose votes at the election.

Cook argued *the movement need a victory'.

And even the limited one or gelling I natcner s nicau would encourage Labour

LAST THURSDAY, 6 February, despite

Ene 4000 DIUW responded to call for By Ben Armstrong (Greenwich CND) blockade of Molesworth cruise missile site cessfully closing it for the day.

At the Cockbrook Lane gate, which building contractors normally use, musicians played ence Ser tune while protestors danced to keep Wall.

The Cambridgeshire police did not try to clear this nime sut before s this time. Just before •clock everyone stood up for three minutes in symbolic silence.

Clearly there is still large NATO's plans to install 64

Molesworth by 1988. CND must continue to oppose

Below we reprint how An

people. He showed a keen interest in the plight of the

of the Rossville TICS UCILS Street Flats when he was shown around the Collplex. The tour of the city over, Livingstone then met several members of Derry Trades Council.

On Saturday night, Livingstone attended local 'community forum',

held in the Creggan Com

the debate was "The Road

Bloody Sunday speakers were Paddy

(Sinn Fein), Bob LUsuC Doyle (a former member of the IRA in the 1930s who fought with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War) anc

(en Livingstone.

Ken Livingstone described the significance of Bloody Sunday in the ending of his misconceived ideas about the role of the British army in Ireland and its impact on public opinion in Britain.

Livingstone pointed out all Irish conalists should be

incredible shift of public opinion in Britain over the

Cook spills the beans

campaigns coor-

was therefore of some

support.

argued that LOOK Thatcherism is unpopular. By Paul Atkin There are popular jorities in support of the welfare state, against the arms race, against Duvasalio. and people believe that the Tories are a threat to civil liberties

But nevertheless Thatcher represents change. become the party of the post-war consensus. It was simply defending the

Molesworth blockaded

last 15 years, especially since Bloody Sunday for there hasn't been an opinion poll in Britain in the last half a decade that hasn't shown the majority of British people in favour of withdrawal

Early on Sunday morning the dav of the com memoration, the leader visited • Creggan Cemetary and saw himself the graves of the Bloody Sunday victims.

Before the march got

status quo without putting forward, for example, positive alternative on the welfare state-based on accountability to those who

Cook used this argue that it was 'oppositionist conservatism demand the restoration of the pre 1979 trade union laws or the industries privatised by Thatcher.

Cook stated that it was necessary for the party to respond to new trends. particularly singled out the ecology movement, castigated the limits of the front bench's vision

Gerald Kaufman, uls. when asked 'What about

the vote?' in the 1983 election had responded 'Fuck the green vote.

Cook argued for a full blooded Labour ecological

paid a short visit to Betty

with Ella O'Dwyer in BrixLOTH

searching in the jail and

ingstone took part in an interview Sinn rein

programme which would

wholesale

110 -

stated and emphasised his

unlikely to be a majority LADO

1n trade union political fund

reported to be joining the

can be measured by the

cillor was instantly recog-

ledge of Irish history and

Dally

The volatility has been bet. elegant vole has

lost 33 seats and gained 37

prospect for Cook place as though it didn't

LOOK

between the

According to Cook all

to parliament — not proportiona Icorecilauol

yod parties in order tes

Despite being Neil Kin-

see eye to eye with his boss. It would theretore be in

Socialist Action 14 February 1986

IRELAND

UNFREE

Maire O'Shea

victory

O'Shea By Phil Rogers, Manchester LCI anyone arrested under the PTA

dressing the rally.

have been convicted of any offence.

5 THE SUCCESSFUL defence of Dr Maire

against charges of conspiracy to cause explosions, and her subsequent acquittal, is indeed a victory. It will cheer the hearts of every socialist fighting against injustice and repression directed at Irish activists. For Dr O'Shea the trial was the culmination of a year-long agony having been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) at

Right up to the start of the trial the prosecution hadn't produced a clear case against her. It became

evident during the past three weeks that what case

O'Shea is a 66 year old psychiatrist, who suffers from a sever hip problem, curvature of the spine and an illness which means she falls asleep at times in public. This is someone who was supposed to be the brains behind a 'mad bombing campaign'

Her arrest however should have come as no surprise. It is no small coincidence that Dr O'Shea is president of the Irish in Britain Representation Group (IBRG), set up during the hunger strike of 1981. It is the first organised grouping of Irish peodemands. If Maire had been convicted, putting the IBRG president out of the way it would have served as a strong deterrent against Irish people

To achieve this conviction the police mounted beginning and end of each day's session James Anderton's boys whisked the defendents in and out of the court in a convoy of siren-screaming

Throughout her year-long struggle against the force of the British state however, Maire O'Shea was not alone. She has worked in this country in the field of medicine and in the labour movement for over 30 years. And she has many friends. In April of last year a defence campaign was set up on her behalf. At its first meetings there were well

The lobbying, petitioning, defence costs fundraising, and demonstrating this committee was to undertake over the next eight months was to turn it into the most prominent campaign in defence of in Birmingham attracted over 2000 people, with MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Christine Crawley ad-

The committee was broad-based. It encomorganisations, Labour Parties, trades councils and port was crucial. Maire is a member of ASTMS Despite the leadership of her own union failing to

ference to support her, considerable rank and file action was organised mainly through Associated Staff for a United Ireland (an ASTMS caucus). Everyday throughout the trial, ASTMS delegates ceedings. Other trade union activity included the leadership of COHSE donating generously to the

because of the flimsy evidence against her. Many themselves imprisoned on such evidence. Maire is free today because of good defence - inside and

This campaign should not now be disbanded. On the contrary it should be deepened and taken right into the heart of the labour movement. Over 6000 people have been arrested under the PTA since it was introduced. Only 0.6 per cent of these

reason for retaining the PTA is to silence all political opposition to British policy in Ireland Trade unions and the Labour Party must actively campaign for the scrapping of this repressive

Page 6 scan of this page

The left in 1986 An interview with Tony Benn

6 Socialist Action 14 February 1986

The state

of the left

SINCE THE end of the miners' strike the left wing of the labour movement has been dividing into a number of currents.

The force that hit the headlines last year was the 'realigned' Kinnockite left. The touchstone of this current was support for Neil Kinnock's leadership of the party.

But as Kinnock moved progressively to the right - abandoning support for the miners, attacking the local councils, HaSS i unemployment, returng to orvartisansmip on Ireland, and launching the witch-hunt - this left has found itself called upon to accept more and more unpalatable politics. Elements of a crisis have now developed among sections of it.

Some have gone along with Kinnock - • Tribune handing progressively more of its columns over to witch-hunts. But others have been forced to take their distance from Kinnock on a number of questions.

By John Ross

The second force developed is a struggie ien, which merged out of support for the miners' strike. This had its strongest bases in the leadership of the NUM in the strike and those who supported it, Women Against Pit Closures. and sec. tions of the PLP. This left is probably most associated with the Campaign group. But since the end of the miners' strike it has widened out.

Support for the black section, for defending the black communities against the police attacks last autumn, supporting the struggle in Nicaragua and El Salvador, opposing the witchhunt, opposing AO-SIC• cord, supporting the campaign of the Women's Action Committee shadow elections to the women's places on the NEC, active involvement in supporting all those engaged in struggle, are the features that have marked this left.

Since the end of last year the different components of this left have been increasingly tending to converge.

It has set out to determine the agenda of the party putting forward positive proposals for action. It has also been notable for linking activity in Parliament to struggle outside it. Campaign group MPs have become relatively familiar figures at picket lines and in leading campaigns like Justice for the Mineworkers. It is a parallel process to

Bernie Grant backed the black community tenham.

The third current which developed is a genuinely ultra-left one. This left takes as its stated goal not the fight against Thatcher but organising an 'anti-Kinnock left'.

Events since the end of the year have clearly moved in favour of the secone oe miese currents

struggle/Campaign left. The Westland

crisis has both shown that Thatcher, and her government, are

and revealed the failure of the Labour

leadership to take advantage of it.

Meanwhile an increasing policy shift to

the right, and dissatistaction in the par-

ty with it, has opened up greater

possibilities for united action on the

left. It gives the possibility to recom-

pose the movement around positive

proposals for action, and policies, not

around 'oppositional activity?

SOCIALIST ACTION

TONY BENN how he saw prospects in

the coming year, after Westland, how

he assessed the present state of the left,

and what he saw as the role of the Cam-

paign group.

clearly has

FORWARD TO FREEDOM IN NAMIBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

for

Building

in Tot-

has

WESTLAND IS a very important turning point. But it's not only Westland. 1985 was a hard year for socialists. You had a period where the setback with the end of the the class miners strike created a great sense

of disappointment and anxiety. vulnerable There was the

what was called around the feeling that the local government battle could not be sustained.

At the Bournemouth conference the main news story was that the Labour leadership intended to eliminate what was known as the 'far left' - although the actual decisions of the delegates were excellent.

At the end of the year there were asked three or four articles by lobby

respondents Hugo Young, Jenkins, Peregrine Worsthorne, Brian Walden - all at the same time in December looking back 'socialism had been defeated.' It was a minority cult, and it was finished.

Interestingly what began explicitly last May in a New Socialist hirog leffi,

FURNARD TU FREENOM N NAMIBIS AND SOUTH AFRICA!

from below

thought.

Anyone would

beginning of 'realignment'

and spirit up

lusion.

quickly at the turn of the year

now just 'campaigning'

CUL- paigning meant Peter lustrative arguments, There alacks.

and saying vacuum Decame exacl Secondly

move to undertake. article osed end of the old replaced by a new

wwed quickly

hammered.

SOLIDARITY

to the constituencies. analysis. vacuum. cherism' which been runnng by the analysis, after Bournemouth, that in fact it was socialism that had disappeared, not a particular stream of to one side.

have been excused last year for feeling that it was a very hard grind and that we had to face a long period perhaps in the wilderness what I mean. - before there was any prospect of a change. It was difficult to keep morale na CO suLuCCV

But I think that pessimism was an il- are working in

Things were happening simultaneously that come to a head quite

First it became apparent to a large right number of people in the movement that quadruples. policy in the Labour Party had been things you downgraded to the point where we were

and campolling, charts, iland us la-k oof was a serious lack analysis, a lack of criticism. The policy

people began to realise that the witch-hunt was a desperate

You could no tee. doubt made criticisms of anybody. But once you start to go for witch-hunts you go deeper and deeper into the mire.

The Liverpool concillors were rac- special

ed with the possibility of personal surcharge, bankruptcy, and disqualification. To add to that, just as they were going to court, a Labour commission of enquiry — with the possibility of expulsion and regular public denuncia tions - really mobilised a lot of people who were far from Militant in their thinking. They were not prepared to see good comrades vilified.

I think the attack on Bernie Grant, like the attack on cargill, was seen as a signal by the movement. They thought 'this can't be right.' Here are comrades in a difficult situation and they re being

It became apparent that there was no end to it. The threat of expulsions goes far beyond the Militant tendency. There are now many constituencies and individuals around the country who are being witch-hunted by the right.

Devon Labour Briefing are under attack by the Exeter party. Walsall party has been suspended. St Helen's has been suspended and so on. You've seen the list in Labour Witch Hunt News. This created a great deal of unease

The fact that the left did not respond personally in counter attack was very wise. It was very important that these events - the vacuum in policy the witch-hunting of the left - should be allowed to be conducted without the normal press comment that this was really the left attacking the right. It was manifestly seen to be the right attacking the left. And the message got through

Over and above that there was this mounting crisis which became known as the Westland affair. This was really a crisis with very deep roots, the nature of which has hardly been reported. I think all these things have combined to • underlne mne neca ror le sociansi

How do we fill this vacuum? A crisis in the system, a break up of the establishment between Europeans and Americans, a perception of parliamen-

democracy aS n a covel for meet something quite different (which it is), a vacuum of policy, and a right wing attack upon the left. That is part of a big

I think that the filling of that vacuum, by the left, is what needs to be done. Not attacking the leadership, not putting up a candidate, not splitting the party. Not to be drawn into this super ficial idea that it's all against "That

Marxism Today have

That fills no gap at all because Thatcher may well be replaced. If things go wrong for her all these old analyses fall

The task is to fill the vacuum in the political system, that must be our prime task. Perhaps I can give examples of

One area where I am working now is

You take one area You are not organising a new sect. You

geographical area which happens to be the one I represent, and you work there

What do you find when you develop that? You find that if you are doing the

things your membership You find there are a lot of should have been doing wien vol naven eocen cole

We've started an international com- that mittee in Chesterfield. The Russian and American ambassadors have written to say they're prepared to supply senior officials for a sort of Chesterfield summit. There we will have a discussion about East-West relations under the auspices of the international commit-

Then we had the immensely impor-

tant "Aims and Objectives" discussion.

There were four months of work, ten

meetings the wards, LWU

special general councils, forty nin amendments, a hundred and sixty fiv speeches. This is a declaration we a sending to every constituency in tl country saying 'you might like to co sider doing the same'.

We're not trying to organise peop around us. We say 'we found this sati fying, you might like it. Here's ou draft which you might find is a trigger That is vacuum filling in a way that entirely non-personal. voDooy tal aDoul anybody, or putting anybody on expelling anybody, auackı

peacsldl

It is saying to people 'this is what happening, this is what we believe ir this is what we can do.' It is an attem -то тестеае me socaus udu uo! will the party, which is there and which h got to be rediscovered. Its like excav: tion, and a whole generation has lear ed its relevance through the mine strike.

The miners strike and the extent t which, by its nature, the decisions ha to be decentralised during it, was ama ing. Not just in terms of the picketin but in terms of organisation

The Kent miners were in Lond for a year. Terry French was one ( them. Terry Harrison was anothe They, and many others - especially th women - became political organise on a formidable scale.

People like that went back and yo

-everywhere The discovered skills and capacities th: they never thought they had. That

For the moment it is held back in th case of the miners by the awful setbac of March 1985. But they are still ther The women's organisations develop what the movement was capable of d ing in an enormous way.

Militancy also spreadir up the salary scale to include tł teachers and the nurses. What is ha pening is that trade unionism, and tt structure of trade unionism, is chan ing in the light of people's experienc

Hobsbawm is right of course, whe he says there are tewer people overalls - in the classic manufacturi working class. . But there are more ar more people who are becoming depe dent upon collective strength to prote themselves. -As there is the compa merger movement, as you get the n technology coming into area banking, there will be revitalisation of trade unionism. W it will come the new waves of bla representation and pressure women's demands to be met.

Nothing happens automatica We must be explicit in supporting it. the Labour Party it is very importa

we are absolute uncompromising in our support black sections and women's rights and similarly in the trade union mor ment. nis s desote some tully ] ups, with some left groups in the pa

Thn knauna this is a diversion 1

liberal direction away from

towaras sex ana colour, or tow

Irish nationalism.

I disagree with this. I thin

demands of the Women's Action C

mittee must be strongly supporte

Page 7 scan of this page

SOLIDARM

MEND SWAPO WITH APARTHE TRADE SWAP

KEEP FIGHTING

Defend

NUM The

LAMON ET 5 DEFEND TU.

DIALITA

wait for anybody. Do it yourself.

portant scale. al any noucable lever

only come to life when

short term results.

point of the ballots.

political trade devastating.

philosophy.

trouted to workers and other unions.

USOS

tually provide political education.

Wilson

an embar assment.

an embarassment for him —

-do trade unions were all party.

happened.

That, without recreate the

courageous, it was respected.

never have

unionists.

political.

DEFEND

TU.

RIGHTS

through.

is fighting,

Manpower Service and the Youth Scheme.

forces.

particularly support its campaign of shadow elections at the women's conference for women's places on the national executive. I think the black section and its demands must be supported. The Labour Campaign for Lesnian ane as so use be laker forward. Women Against Pit Closures showed the way for everybody. Don't

I think all these are an investment in a future change in Britain on a very im-

There has also been a renewal of political trade unionism linked to this.

The campaigns that went on quietly about the political ballot were extremely important. There has been a renewal down the line which hasn't penetrated

the TUC general council. It is waiting, but it will

people think that there is a prospect of it producing

This is important because. there was a headlong retreat always among many trade unions up to the

You can go back to 1959. Then the emphasis was on Gaitskell and Clause 4 being abandoned. But actually non-

unionism was

The argument was that we didn't want any connection between politics and trade unionism. If there is an industrial dispute keep out, that was the

We don't want Members of Parliament, Labour people, interfer- Wapping. ing in our disputes. In the end that con-

the defeat of the steel

In the end I fear some of the trade

leaders did become generals without troops because they didn't ac-

With In Place of Strife Wilson tried to separate Labour and the unions. Woodcock both felt that the other was and Tue general secretary orities,

Wilson felt the trade union link was

mer. as he was now the leader of the 'natural party of government'. Woodcock regarded the Labour Party as nothing whatever to

unionism, the trade

That philosophy of trade unionism has been exposed and found wanting. So the TUC general council have been

hundreds of meetings, weakened - automaticity in election to the general council weakened them still further politically. But then two things

First you had the miners strike.

Many doubt, began to old trade unionism. It didn't extend to everybody but you could see what it meant and there was a non-sectarian. real example of it. This consolidated other groups. It was political, it was

Then you had the political ballots. all the left. The outcome was staggering. I would

thought a year back that there would have been the prospects of the results we have seen. Underneath SU VIA there is a new awareness among trade

Look at the teachers - who are not They are affiliated to the Labour Party. They're fighting a very tough and successful battle, and there is a realisation that it is

Then in the trade unions there are the broad lefts. Of course they represent different groups. But I do see a new wave of political leadership coming through the trade union movement which is more democratic in character, which is more radical in thought. I think that wave has to work its way

We have to work with everyone who

and the party has to be built up from the bottom. It cannot trickle down from the top any longer. There is a vacuum at the top of the general council as, for example with their ex- ed. traordinarily uncritical support for the

Training Scheme. demands

You've got to do it from the bottom up - and working with the new social

The Campaign

The second area of my work is Socialism' in the Campaign group. The Campaign group is not sectarian, nor is it trying to line people up according to one ideology. We are based on ing. the idea that the Labour Party has

believed there parliamentary aspect of its work, and we are trying to do that.

We work with people outside, we have people in, we operate with them.

We've got the miners to start with. There will be a huge miners meeting held in the Albert Hall on 2 March. We're doing all we can there. . We're helping the tin miners. We're helping the Murdoch workers fight the struggle at Wapping for example.

Campaign group members went to about

We've had Sean Geraghty come to talk to us about it.

We are also preparing a series of Bills. Later this year there will be a book published called Legislating for Socialism containing the texts of the Bills we've been working on.

We've done one on nuclear bases, we've done one on justice for the miners, we've got one on local auth- thought.

we've got one on the land ve ve got one on sexual equality, ther is the Reform Bill introduced last sum

These are all Bills which show simply and modestly, without oversimplication, what structural changes would be needed if the labour movement was to have a Commons majority.

I think that work is useful. The annual report of the Campaign group, which will be published shortly, lists

hundreds of delegations, all of which we've been at.

Local Campaign groups are grow. ing. The annual report will publish the CISt *Aims and Objectives' of the Campaign

which will be very similar to those of the Chesterfield ones.

We're saying two things about these groups. We want them to be open and

We don't want one group to capture a Campaign group in a particular area and use it for its own purpose. It must be genuinely open to

Secondly they must be genuinely democratic with proper elections and

On that basis, local Campaign groups as an open and democratic part of the network of the left, will grow.

growing. They are non-sectarian. They are active. They do fill the gap and the vacuum. I think anyone who does those things has got a potential audience - I don't think there is any group that can do it by itself

You can see the way things grow at the bottom, are expressed in some way actively at the parliamentary level, and are spreading out into the trade unions.

It's not just that the Labour Party failed, the left failed too. The left went off in its own way with some of its sectarian excesses. It failed to do the work. It thought perhaps it was all too easy. It thought it could all be dealt with by disposing of individuals and replacing them with other individuals. There was a vacuum in the left that had to be fill-

When you look ahead to this years conference we ought to be beginning to put forward with determination the

we make, not focussing everything on what we can persuade the leadership to put into the manifesto

when i came to your Allance Tol

Socialist Action 14 February 1986 71

group

conference I emphasised that we shouldn't be too worried about the promises made. What we should be clear about is the demands we are mak.

Promises depend tWisting somebody else's arm to get them to say what you want them to say. Demands are what we want and those who make them not working by proxy. We are doing it ourselves. I think these demands will be building by conference

Though I have never played any part in what is loosely termed sectarianism',

espect for people who sit and thin about socialism, because I think the future belongs to socialism. Therefore anybody who's got anything to

socialism, a principled position, I'm interested in.

The so-called realignment of 1985 was painful personally because a lot of people I'd worked with closely were explicitly involved with it.

But when I looked very hard at what it was about, and at the people who were declaring for that, I found that there wasn't as much substance in it as I

First of all they tended to justify it on the grounds that you had to relate to the new eader. he whole thine wa about your atitude to the new leader.

But I've never thought that that was what politics was about. Once you start positioning yourself politically in relaHot to somerouy eise who Havucus u occupy a particular position, you have in some deep and fundamental sense abandoned real analysis.

You say 'well I'm more critical than he or she is', 'he or she is more critical than I am', but despite my criticism I stand in this relationship to someone

That is really lining up in a sup porting actor's role, which I don't think is what we're about.

Also, having seen all this happen before over many years, I came to the COnCUSIOl inal people who realign themselves on that basis tend ver quickly to find that they haven't got a lot to say. I can't say that out of th so-called realigned left of 1985 I've seen much substance emerging

I've seen a lot of substance from Chesterfield, I ve seen SOE substance from the Campaign group I've seen a lot of work going on by teachers, hospital workers, miners and so on but I haven't seen a lot come out of the realigned left. Inal was, their part, a false step.

Some may want to think/again. I don't think that personal rows at any stage have got anything whatever to do with creating a winning alliance. If you want an alliance you've got to work with all sorts of people and I believe that you should.

At the same time there will have to be some rethinking. Because I don't believe that the so called realigned left has actually been in a position to offer very much except pages of evidence against Militant. If that's what they want that's up to them but I don't think its a very positive contribution per-

Remember that at the moment the major factor in British politics is fear and hopelessness. It is encouraged by Thatcher and by some of the left who argue that Labour will always betray.

The only way LU defeat these arguments is to present some real vision of the future and fight for it consistent-

Page 8 scan of this page

position on South Africa

THE STRUGGLE in Africa given rise wide ranging debate, and taking of positions, throughout the entire international labour ment.

One organisation which has taken a position on this struggle is international organisation founded by Leon Trotsky. We are printing below the resolution adopted by the United Secretariat of the Fourth International on Africa. Articles by Party, the ANC, COSATU, and other organisations have been carried in previous issues Socialist Action.

1. The new rise in struggles in South Africa falls into the framework of the general crisis of imperialist domination, opening a new front which could increase the difficulties of the imperialist counter offensive including

Central America. The African mass movement had already been stimulated by the defeat of Portuguese colonialism in Mozambique. 1 oday une against apartheid constitute the most advanced form of the anti-imperialist struggles the whole of Africa. The new wave of mobilisations in South Atrica stitute an element of first importance for all anti-imperialist throughout the world. The imperialist governments and big capital have all recognised the danger and are each seeking to close the breach that is opening in South Africa.

The place of South Africa in the counter-revolutionary system of imperialism is considerable, as are imperialism's economic interests in this

The South African regime coull y remains the strong arm of imperialism in Southern Africa, and has even contributed to arming the dictatorships in Latin America. The important place that a revolutionary upsurge in South Africa could hold in the future is the product of all these factors.

2. There has been an change in the political situation in South Africa with the explosion of the

over a year ago, with first the educa- SI CoCull revolt. ine process tion boycotts by high-school and university students, the boycott of the sham elections proposed by Botha for the Indian and Coloured munities, the miners September 1984, and stayaway (general strike)

Transvaal in November 1984.

This period has been marked by workplace conflicts, workers going into struggle on wage

demands, demands for improvement in working conditions or in defence of trade-union rights against ings.

The present upsurge of activity and radicalisation

Page 9 scan of this page

International

— long term associates of the Duvalier dictatorship.

By Alan Freeman

Meanwhile Haitians are extracting long awaited justice from the Tontons Macoutes Duvalier's personal militia, UNTOUCHI whose indiscriminate and vicious Dardany he and his father have clung to power SInCe 1957. Members of the Tontons Macoutes were reported to be fleeing and abandoning Baby Doc Duvalier

By the time the news spread Friday unde Baby Doc' Duvalier had fled, he had already surfaced with 50 of his en-

the Talloires al holiday resort on the boundaries of France and Switzerland. Throughout last week he had been discreetly seeking 'asylum' in at least 20 countries including Argentina, Greece, Paraguay, and Nigeria. Hait: immediately went into a delirium of celebra-

"The whole nation LULL appeared erupt with

reported journalist joy, Simon Hoggart. 'The peo ple poured through the streets, waving, chanting, singing, embracing one anowiel and waving branches of greenery

had become the symbol of their hberation.'

Violent retribution began rapidly against the Tontons. law unto

ARTICLES

ment.

The Barricada articles began in wovem ner

year, exposing

women

suffering jury. Most are class women: only those with money

safe private clinics.

Since the articles ap-

peared there been discussion in Barricada, in the two other dailies

Nuevo Diario and La

rrensu — ana In lany ul the mass organisations. Policy

Arguing in favour of

legal abortion the

December issue Bar-

racada Commander Doris

Tijerino, FSLN leader

and national police chiet,

said the current law

restricted women's civil

rights. 'As a woman,

think Ine law making

abortion a crime ought to

Haiti: Baby Doc flees

THE DUVALIER family, for 30 years dictators of Haiti, has fled the country, driven out by its people. Power now lies uneasily in the hands of General Henri Namphy and a five-member military council

the Tontons were the Duvalier family's terror machine.

Drivalc They alC closely tied in

with local business interests wno use them as a cross between the mad and personal goon squad. Attack Crowds rapidly attacked any Tontons in sight and began looting and sacking stores and supermarkets belonging to business people associated with them. The Tontons nave been retaliating, and the army has declared a curfew. But if the army defends them too vigorously such small popularity as it possesses will soon evaporate. The Unitea slates is pusning forward the army as the guarantors of the tion. Troops moved rapidprotect the

Tontons, and acts of violence by the army against the people are increasing.

General Nampy has chosen ex-Tontons head as Interior Minister and rules out election for five years.

Poorest Haiti, with six million inhabitants. is said ca be the poorest country in the hemisphere.

Seventy-seven Sern less evan sio a year. cent

But it has a long tradition.

In 1808 it threw off the Slave-owlillig colonial French yoke and established the modern world's first independent black republic. The long struggle for independence was organised L'Ouverture. rall has been

Nicaragua debates abortion

newspaper, have sparked off an intense debate on abortion in Nicaragua. Abortion is still illegal. The only exception is a 'therapeutic' abortion for which the women must get approval from a three-doctor ethics committee and permission from her husband or parent. The law dates back to the Somoza govern-

The catholic church, which is very influential and still has a large following, released a statement in mid-December titled Thou shalt no kill'. It accused women wno have abortions of murder, and supported the existing law

The statement also committed the archidiocese against birth control, which is legal. The abortion plague, it said, begins Will letting USC contraceptives. Featured prominently the capitalist-controlled La Prensa. which also ran a series on the 'abortion is

playground of the USA since the beginning of this century. Papa Doc took power with heir blessin nd when he died in 197 they sent a war ship, the Guadalcanal, to Port of Frince lust to make sure this guardian of western democracy could pass the succession safely on to his son 'Baby Doc.

Salted

Since then US aid had risen to $54 million a year. The US government was fully aware that most of this was salted away foreign bank accounts and foreign property holdings by Duvalier. In a country wnere Illelacy Is around 90 per cent, and where

and disease is rife, Duvalier spent $3 million on his wedding and his wife Michele chartered concorde lo EVLO for shopping expeditions for furs.

Unrest

The United States only

bre meson and oppres

and oppression of the Duvalier regime when widespread unrest against began to rise over the last few years. By the end of last year it had developed into rioting and mass demonstrations Duvalier. The US then decided step 1n and remove the dictator in an attempt to keep opposition

murder' theme.

More sophisticated or confused arguments against abortion included

column in Nuevo

by Gaspar Calderon. Calderon argued the Sandinistas should not legalise abornon because mecca came from the capitalist world along with other extreme feminisms'.

'If we establish

Nicaragua an abortion law like those in countries that are davancea and pro gressive" and also

bourgeois and oppressive, the column said, "then there's no need tor a san-

dinista revolution

shouldn't bourgeois

countries dictate the

of revolu-

tionaries.

Barricada staff writer, Elsa Gomez, also

lall column on the

paper s editorial pages

which called massive

resources to be put into

housing, child care, educa-

tion and services as

alternative to legal abor-

tion.

Other writers have

echoed the view that abor-

within pro-capitalist channels, rather than risk the type of upheaval which took place in Nicaragua

Grenada, or which is developing in the Philip pines. Stability in Central

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N1 2XP. Price £4.95 plus 52p p&p. Comandante Tijerino, pro-abortion police chief

tion is primarily the consequence of poverty, and not an issue of women's rights.

Both Calderon's views and Gomez's arguments have attracted considerable opposition. One of the several women who wrote to El Nuevo Diario

contradict Calderor pointed out that in North America, Wan under vicious attack from

right wing, with Reagan's support.

True

Arguing against Gomez and other OD• ponents legalisation who support the revolution, a group of nurses, interviewed in Barricada. In

America and the Caribbean has become a decisive goal of US foreign policy.

Initially there al Ci reports of popular support for the United States role. But the US has nothing to offer Haiti.. While Duvalier has gone, those who surrounded him dominate the government which remals. The lontons Macoutes are being dismantled bv the people but those who had links with them remain rulers of Haiti. But Hai-

have quered an invaluable ex-

of their right begin organise and fight.

The flight of Duvalier is likely to be the beginning of the drama in Haiti. nol its end.

CLR James masterpiece on Haiti's struggle for independence: How the slaves of France created

Available from Other Books, PO Box 50, London

insisted that abortion was an issue of political right

of the revolution,' said Sagrario Carvajal, a head nurse at a clinic 'women have won the right to work, to be in combat, and in addition,

bring up the children. Why are we denied right to decide about our own bodies? We're ones who want to decide how many children want to have.'

Row

The issue is clearly deeply divisive including within the working class

which is one of the reasons

the Sandinista leadership has refrained from raising it frontally AMNLAE has

still not taken a DION

position. However Maria

Lourdes holanos

member of its legal office,

gave an interview to Bar-

which she said:

made. The more general

problems of the revolution

were always pushed to the

tore. and the problem

abortion was oul ol

back burner

always said that the laws of

the past were class-biased aside absiract generalities out ow were bullie

ana laking up a concicle

problem.

Socialist Action 14 February 1986

butter Congress opposition, to raise aid to the

minimum $10 million covert aid.

anti-NATO protest

the

Madrid anti-NATO commission.

to recent poll in El Pais, a left liberal daily

only 21 per cent in favour.

right-wing parties' decision to call on its

decided the issue in 1982. joint protest halted

including 60 from Austria

oppose, but last November the Austriar

£350 million to continue.

of Vienna.

the

the Justice for sale

sold off.

private hospital chain. Saying of the week

of the We've

role in the Philippines Solarz, interviewed on World at One.

WORLD

US Budget: guns not

President Reagan's proposed 1987 budget, which is about to be submitted to Congress, calls for an increase in military spending from $286.1 billion to $320.3 billion. Overall spending is projected to fall from $994 billion to $850.4 billion. Proposed cuts include food stamps, welfare, agricultural spending and tederal assistance to states for health care, pollution controls, rail services and highway maintenance

Reagan is fighting, against Senate and

Nicaraguan contras to $100 million, and to increase backing for South African-backed anti-government guerrillas in Angola. Jonas Savimbi, their leader, has just returned from a red-carpet reception in Washington with a promise of a Spain: Benn to address

Tony Benn is to address a series of meetings in the Spanish state organised by the

The socialist government, according to a

newspaper, is in danger of losing its referendum on NATO which is scheduled for 12 March. 39 per cent said they were against staying in NATO and

A further problem for the government is the supporters to boycott the referendum. The right is in favour of NATO but against holding a referendum because, they say, parliament already Hungarian, Austrian

Hungarian police have broken up a joint Austrian-Hungarian protest against the Gabcikovo Nagymaros dam complex in Northern • Hungary. The protest was one of the first to involve activists from both sides of the Austro-Hungarian border. About 100 people took part

The Hungarian government had ceased work on the dam, which environmentalists and Greens government announced it would lend Hungary

Earlier last year mass protests of up to 40,000 people swept Austria against a proposed new hydroelectric power installation in some of the country's most beautiful natural forest areas east

Privatisation in the USA is being taken to its ultimate extreme. Its prisons are being

Correction Corp. of America was formed in 1983, in close association with Jack Massey who built the Kentucky Fried Chicken empire, and Hospital Corp of America, the USA's largest

CCA already runs three detention centres for illegal immigrants in Tennessee, and a workhouse in Chattanooga. It now wants to build another work group and a maximum-security prison.

One objection from Tennessee's pinko liberals is that the owners of private prisons have a vested interest in increasing the number of criminals.

The US played a constructive role in providing transportation so that Baby Doc and his retinue could leave with him. I think we could play a could play a comparable constructive

- Congressman Steven

Page 10 scan of this page

Nelson Mandela

ICUCHl

UWII ceraued evidence ar ooln

evolvllg pontical

stature and authoritv in-

Disull.

TOT

Because the royal

Socialist Action 14 February 1986

Reviews

eventuany deciae to Jom

SOlCUHd their comrades were callOT

ponucal vews during the successtul work

Headers saw It wasn't an easv conDOWe unes suruclure obouln AICaI

caolullallvl

NELSON*

MANDELA

Con-

sowetg ot Nicaragua wa

iclll culcaly COnCuCTOrs of the

of a whole new generation of leaders that developed from the Soweto struggles. Steve Biko's decision join the ANC before untimely death at Ine hands of the apartheid state pre-dated the more recent decision by the ANted ale bElO Ii leadership new young Headers orawn trom LOES stage of the struggle.

But the evolution ot

rorustance.

the rreedom Charter has

CLO

and there is a considerable

get readers actively com-

where Dertormacer rz! (t concessions) BOX

to his

iustifv the use of balots ever since Department

UNTONS

• as well as winning the our intamou: lamivducu an arecncu umousu ressurt

Page 11 scan of this page

Justice for Miners launched in Notts

News

all their supporters in Notts.

meeting in Sheffield. Now tinghamshire WAPC have followed suit.

Wellbeck amnesty group was already a of the campaign, Saturday the Notts sacked miners group voted to affiliate.

From comments from individual NUM bers, there is every reason to "ROM branches will that Notts also de Joining une canpaign.

For the Notts WAPC,

natural developthis 1s a ment of their campaign in support of sacked and jailed miners, and against the UDM Once more WAPC has seized the initiative in defending the NUM.

Teachers (NUT),

ed for weeks on end.

At the same time the

leadership of the National

Association of School-

masters/Union of Women

Teachers (NAS/UWT) balloting its membership recommending acceptance

of the deal. Opposition to the inside

NAS/UWT is appearing

ail over une courty.

Despite the case being

presented person

Fred Smithies

union's general sericlar

Brent NAS/UWT

members voted to reject

the sell-out. Reports are

NAS/ÜWT branches

Wales, Cheshire,

cashire, LOC

Midlands, and

regions of anger at the line

adopted. by the

leadership.

In teaching, rural areas

tend to have a less militant

reputation recent

survey for ITV's TV Eye 33

cent of NAS/UWT

members in one North

posed to the employers

THE JUSTICE for the Mineworkers campaign has been enthusiastically welcomed by sacked miners, Women Against Pit Closures, NUM members and

The national Women Against Pit Closures committee affiliated to the campaign at its 26 January

Teachers fight ACAS deal

THE MAJORITY of teachers are opposed to the sell-out deal struck at ACAS by five of the teachers organisations. Members of the National Union of have acted quickly to reintroduce the guerilla strike action which has resulted in many schools being clos-

Ine

to constitute a decisive majority of teachers opposed to the deal.

Desperate to hold their members together the NAS/UWT membership are forced to resort to wild statements: It vou decide

COLLI meet une most basic

ITON

DUSIl

U1 Friday

- InC des accy-

negotiating rights

ding over the "problem' of

teacher pay and conditions to ACAS

The task of militants

inside the NUT is to ap-

proach NAS/UW! mem

bers to vote 'no' in their

me iN to ensure lild OHIL strike action.

Ine

FAIR PAY

FOR

TEACHERS

1OCUS

. Win,

ine acterminalon allu au

members

al over vous torme came Skegness Shire leader.

NU 1

•Teachers

Socialist Action 14 February 1986 11

Notts NUM

The fight to reinstate sacked miners goes on, including in the heart of Notts. On

1 UL

in the last week. Thi stores because the!

Church

and Sutton factories i

lularc• rU

Page 12 scan of this page

Action Reform myth

ARE YOU PART OF THE REALIGNMENT?

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PAPER THAT FIGHTS IT!

to power

THE PHILIPPINES elections have been a disaster for the USA. As we go to press Marcos and his cronies, disregarding worldwide exposure of their faked election victory, clearly intend to hang on using whatever deceit, repression and terror may be necessary.

The line pursued by the National Democratic Front and several mass organisation the KMU, the most influential trade federation has been completely vindicated.

The result is also probably the most serious foreign policy crisis Reagan administration has faced. The Philippines, the USA's oldest colony. are 700 miles from Vietnam, and harbour the big. gest base outside America at Subic Bay on Luzon Island

The US pushed Marcos into holding an election in the hope that could pressure him into cleaning up his act'.

wanted the semblance of a clean election, army reform and some human rights concessions backfired and the US rule tactics have ing class itself is now divided and without a clear line.

Marxism

Overseas/Europe E1Z. Airmail £24.

NAME:

ADDRESS:

SoCiAlist

Marcos clings

The underlying problem is that the country's explosive social contradictions can only be contained by ferocious repression. The economy has been bl ed has been in decline for three successive

years, foreign debts s30

between and billion, and unemploy ment is over 20 per cent in the slum areas, as high as 80 per cent.

For this reason Reagan has. world, backed 'the devil he knows'. As he explained in 1984 there are things there in the Philippines that do not look good to us. But what is the alternative? nere is a large munist movement which will take over.

But Marcos' own machine is tragmenting, and his own personal survival — he is verv ill — is in doubt. A reform movement in the armed forces now counts on some 1500 officers, and the previously alvidea bourgeois op position forces managed to coalesce, on the eve of the election, behind the candidacy of Cory Aquino and Laurel.

A large wing of US imperialism has clearly put its weight behind Áquino-

Solar, See Pork

Solarz, Democrat, holdings in the USA, and initial disclosures show they OWil al least 3350 million worth in ManhatSubscription rates: Inland/ 6 months £8. 12 months £15. Double these rates for multi-reader institutions. Just fill in the coupon and return with payment to: Socialist Action. PO Box 50, LONDON NI 2XP.

Postcode.

credit

tan. And TaSI month documents

WCIC 'discovered' US chives disproving Marcos' claim to have led wartime resistance to Japanese occupation.

The White House has been preparing itself for an Aquino victory as an option. Aquino has made some radical noises but has been careful to make no firm commitments to repeal Marcos legislation, nor to kick out US bases.

The difficulty, however, is the complete absence of a serious alternative team around Aquino to take over the state. Marcos

360,000-strong army costs

100 of his budget. She could only take over

power if Marcos could be

forced by US imperialism

relinquish, volutarily, his formidable terror machine and pass it on to Aquino.

This is the reason the US has carefully refrained from using covert pressure to ease Marcos out. Hence the wonderfully guarded

comment from senato

Richard Lugar, in charge

of the US team

observers, which must go

down in history

masterpiece of White

House-speak unaerstale

ment: Clean, in its ab-

solute form, is obviously

not an appropiate word to

Wildl we nave

observed.'

South Africa

FOUR DAYS of in-fighting in apartheid's ruling National Party have assiduously cultivated by President Botha, that the racist regime is about to reform itself from within.

Public clashes between Verligte ('enlightened') foreign minister Pik Botha and hardline minister F. W. de Klerk led to a decisive and open intervention by President

"RLD,

NCTum

of action in March. Events include a day of action to trade union conference on 1 March.

With no apologies to 'Marxism Today'

explodes

blown apart the myth,

Botha in which he backed Klerk, crushed Pik Botha and reaffirmed that apartheid was be modernised, not abolishTo cap off the crisis the Anti-Apartheid's new poster for the forthcoming month commemorate the Langa massacre on 22 March and the

SOCIALSt

AcTioN

leader of South Africa's

ODDOSCOI Dr Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, resigned in disgust. A second prominent Progressive Federal Party member, Dr Alex BOT raine, may follow him.

Complaining that 'Old-style apartheid, is beinge apartheid, Slabber- exchanged said it was futile to continue serving in parliament in which there was no prospect of reform. He denounced the tri-cameral parliament, through which president Botha unsuccessfully black South Africans without any real voting rights, as 'an irrelevancy'

The crisis in the Na tional Party erupted within days of president Botha making a speech,

world bankers Camedal renegotiating the coun-

external debt, in which UVS promised reform. Three days later education minister de Kerk was questioned on presi-

Botha's veiled

change. Terercuces lou Would there be educational educational integration? "Notihile my government remains DOWel replied. In 1983-84 the government spent •SCVCI educating each white child times much as on each black child.

De Klerk spelt out the National Party's other non-negotiable positions: group representation anc segregated residential areas. This means black

Fund Drive

At least some monies continue to come in to our fund drive. Thanks are due to our South London supporters who sent in £70.00; our Cardiff supporters who sent £35.00 and two supporters in Chester

who sent in £8.00. But

what are the rest of you up to? We need £400.00

per week to ensure the

weekly schedule of

Socialist Action.

Everyone can and

should help. Have you yet

donated a week's wages to

Socialist Action? Has your

•SUDOUTECES group

organised a fund raisin

scheme - like our Eas Produced porters mash

produced 'Smash

Apartheid' badge, or our

Manchester supporters

who produced the South

African T-shirts?

This year is the 70th

anniversary of the

Easter rebellion. It is also

the centenary

Connolly's arrival in

Belfast. Looking further

people would not have the

governs them, right VULC but would who only be allowed to vote for separate, subordinate and therefore powerless stooge bodies. It also means they would be kept segregated residential areas to continue serving « cheap mis migrant labour

Africa's rapacious capitalists.

De Klerk's speech pro voked dismay among the minority Verligte wing of

the National Party, which

wants to ensure that an reform package is suitably foreign bankers and, ideal- dressed satisfy ly, to co-opt forces such as Chief Buthelezi's Zulu movement into closer collaboration with the regime.

Shortly after, Foreign Minister Pik Botha put the cat with a speech holding ou aBOS the

the eventual prospect of a black president of South Africa - under white control, of course

President Botha was then obliged to deliver stinging public rebuke tr

Botha and to line himself up behind de Klerk.

The true nature of the National Party's reform

proposals are coming

light. Apartheid cannot b

changed from

Botha's racist regime and

all it stands for must be

removed. The fight to

break all links with South

Africa is more urgent than

ever.

ahead, 1986 is the 50th an. niversary of the Spanish civil war. All these could provide focus for political solidarity and fund raising activity by local supporters.

Our appeal is not simply aimed at our active sup porters. We would als ask you, our regular readers, to consider sending us a donation. Every little help importance

of Socialist Action continues to be underlined by the convulsions in our class.

What could be more inspiring than the mobilisation of the Women Against Closures in support of the print workers last Satur day night? Yet Socialist Action is still the onl weekly paper that is cam-

Women Against Pit Closures, militants in th unions, supporters of the Campaign group, the Black sections and many OUICIS Socialist Action is well

worth your support.

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