Socialist Action No. 35, 25 November 1983
The scan: 035-nov-25-1983-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.
Page 1 scan of this page
Police protecting cruise missiles at Greenham
ACTION No. 35 SOCiAlist 25 November 1983 Thatcher's
30p
racist police
IF YOU want to know what Britain is really like look no further than last week's report on the Metropolitan Police.
Commissioned by the police themselves it showed: • Rampant racism among the police • Flagrant and probably illegal violation of the Sex Discrimination Act • Widespread bribery • Physical threats and intimidation of those arrested.
This is the real face of Britain's police. Not an invention of 'red moles' but the official facts on the defenders of law and order.
SOUND AROUND
GREENHAM!
Come to USAF Greenham
Common on 11 December
Think about that next time you see the boys in blue arresting women Greenham Common. Or attack picket line. Think about it next time you see the cops and black people on the street. Racism
Naturally Tory Party think the police are wonderful. They should do. They share the same values. t is the racism o the Tory Party's Immigrauon Acis unal reeds and covers the racism of the police.
It's and Tory support for mass nuclear weapons that creates the atmosphere for the police to wade in and beat up CND and Greenham demonstrators. And it's Tebbit and King's anti-union laws that provide the respectable excuse for
the police to intimidate and pickets and trade unionists.
A police force is a good mirror of a society and a government.
Ours is a sewer.
MODERN
TIMES
haOe
I can't understand why Mary Whitehouse wants The Day After banned there can't be a lot of sex in a film about the aftermath of the bomb, surely?
Page 2 scan of this page
Greenham Common: concentration camp
ACTION SOCiA IS!
Nasty One Nigel
That was the Daily Mail's headline on Nigel Lawson's autumn financial statement last week. The Sun, the Express, the Times and all the other normal backers of Thatcher's government tack on the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The reason was not hard to find. A Tory rovernment elected in 1979 on a pledge to cut axes has now systematically increased them since taking another de facto tax increase last week in the form of an increase in government determined as and electricity prices. In this situation even int by the Chancellor of the taxes might go budget was enough to send roof. The whole row was attributed to the supposed "bad luck' now government.
Only the Financial Times, which considers itself above vulgar political considerations expressed quiet satisfaction, support, for Lawson's measures.
The reasons for the row are now hara to tina. Probably more significant than Lawson's state ment itself was a little reported story which came out three days later. longer term leading economic indicator - the index which predicts the performance of the economy in twelve months time - has now moved downwards for the third successive month. Britain is now having a small economic upturn based on consumer spending. douds are already gathering on the economic horizon and threatening to burst in a year's time.
Lawson's claims because of a prediction of three per cent growth this year - are laughable. They ignore the small fact that this three pears - from 1979 to Even if the 'optimistic' Treasury predictions are realised this year the British economy will have grown at an
veen 1979 and 1984.
west rate of growth for any period since the Se cond World War and one of the worst in British history. The results of that stagnation in terms of unemployment, decline of the welfare state, and the crisis of the cities can be seen all around.
Far from being a government's disaster for Britain and its people.
It was a nasty one Nigel, with much worse to come.
The revolt of the cities NO PART of British society has taken a greater pounding from
the highest levels of bie is. Ment. are
worst and most vicious racist police forces. They have suffered the biggest cut backs in their finances from central government.
This situation is still getting worse. Next year Tate capping will be introduced to stop councils maintaining their services by increasing rates. The metropolitan councils and the GLC are to be abolished - which among other things will make London the only capital city in Western Europe without a democratically elected local government.
What is also happening however is that the simmering anger in the big cities against these policies is pushing forward quite different types of Labour Parties than have been seen for a long time It is also helping create a new type of support for socialist ideas and policies.
It is not an accident that Ken Livingstone and David Blunkett - two of the most popular leftving Labour Party figures in the last twenty
ars - came out of the local government of the
perty defy the government. ok is continuing to take place between left and
Got over control of the manchester Labour far.
The back ghetto's of the big cities exploded
before in 1981.
The tot re of the big
Socialist Action 25 November 1983
joined in a ferocious public at-
slipped through
Exchequer that up yet again in next springs a rocket through the
affecting the Thatcher
and unequivocable
The government's
But darkening
economic success
per cent growth is after two 1981 when the declined uninterruptedly.
average of only half a per cent a year
This is easily the
'success the Thatcher
record has been an economic
the Thatcher Liverpool is now the first council to mat
A huge
Anger still rider layers of the population. cities is now evers for socialist ad
Ing for a mass campaign ery me need look no furlanchester and
ONE WEEK after the arrival of cruise missiles Greenham Common airbase now looks like a concentration camp. The perimeter of the base is covered with huge bales of barbed wire. As you drive round the base you see small piles of sand bags placed to protect soldiers who wish to lie down and fire.
Spotted along the route every 20 yards or so stands a cop or a paratrooper. watch towers have been built, just in case someone slips through unseen.
It's amazing to see just how far the process
defence has gone. No expense has been
the American forces with adequate security to protect the missiles from the terrible Greenham women.
By Valerie Coultas
When 141 women were arrested gates last Tuesday there were hundreds of police on hand including women constables. "The were in use. Paratroopers
soldiers watched from inside the tence as van load atter van load of women were driven away to Newbury to be charged.
Common
fence surrounding the
At various points
On Saturday 29 October when the Greenham perimeter fence had been
cut down scores
arrested
taken inside the base to the special detention centre.
I
spoke to told me that
women had been asked to
strip before they were sear-
ched.
The Newbury magistrates are getting more and more disillusioned with the view that the
protests will stop now
cruise has arrived.
Woman after woman
comes up before the bench
and says she will refuse to pay the fine for obstruction or criminal damage.
The fines for criminal
damage for cutting down
The Greenham message spreads
R.A.F Greenham
the fence vary enormous v and arbitrari-
. One woman was fined £25 while the woman on her shoulders was fined €1500.
Harassment is also being stepped up. Publicans and taxi Newbury area
their services from any woman who TOOKS like a Greenham woman — one taxi driver had a notice on his car say-
'No lesbians or drop outs'. Missiles
The cruise missiles may have still have to become operational and they still have to be taken out on the roads
trial runs
When the missiles come out of the base their road-wide lorries the ingenuity of the Greenham women will once again be given full reign blockade and protest.
Greenham is going to continue to dominate the anti-missiles movement or weeks to cone
COME TO
mal THE LEADING ROLE in the campaign against cruise played by the Greenham women has been recognised by many people in CND. The demonstrations outside the Houses of Parliament. and against Michael Heseltine, sHOw that the Greenham message is spreading.
But Greenham women still have the edge on im-
On Sunday 11 arilallull December they plan once again to surround the cruise missile base It will be to mark the fourth NATO livelsal y the
News
photo. IENNY MATTHEWS (Format)
USAF GREENHAM COMMON
DECEMBER 11th 1983
NO CRUISE NO!
I hear devery woman to
33701228-385
decision to install a new generation nuclear weapons in Europe
This year women are being asked to bring pots, pans and whistles to make as much noise as possible Incy are diso being askca to bring mirrors to reflect' what's happening outside the base where the trees and land are still untouched by the military preparations within
On Monday 12 December CND plan to 'commemorate the precise anniversary of the
NATO decision by a day of lobbying and action to 'refuse cruise'
CND will have leaflets and posters available for the Greenham women's action by Friday.
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Crisis in El Salvador as US prepares Nicaragua war
US fleet for Iran attack?
International
Salvador's army is in a state of collapse long and bloody war with Iraq.
been brought down.
The immediate danger for the West is that if the Iraqis attack the Iranian sland, then the Khomein Khari regime has threatened to close the straits of Hormuz. Over 40 per cent of Japan's oil and a similar
oil go through the Straits.
The threat to the Iranian installations comes from the Exocet
Super-Etendard
planes recentle supplied o
France. Diplomatic observers claim that France fully consulted the United States before making these sales.
Iran is in a much better situation to ngnt a prolonged war than Iraqhas three times the population and its economy has not been so hard hit by the war. Iraq therefore needs a rapid strike in order to
THE HUGE build up of American military might off the coast of Lebanon may not just be for use against Syria and the Palestinians. There is increasing evidence of an attempt to put military pressure on the Iranian government, deeply embroiled in its
So far at least a quarter of a million people have been killed in this war. Yet neither government has
strengthen its position in any settlement.
By Paul Lawson
The United States and the other Western powers have probably given up the hope of bringing down the Islamic overact Iran — in the short term.
Trade between many Western states and Iran is expanding rapidly, as the
recover. But the West does want to stop the war and force Iran to negotiate.
Iran is a powerful ally of Syria, itself a strong ally of the Soviet Union. So the West certanly does not want to allow a crushing Iranian victory, which would strengthen the Syrian-Iranian axis.
Moreover, the West sees the whole war as a fac-
the invasion of Nicaragua.
defeat on the
the whole region by invading Nicaragua.
Throughout this year Us-backed 'contras' have stepped up their attacks on
and Costa Rica. At the Salluc 'pacification' he san via.
the San cente province of El Salva-
planned by the US.
The total collapse of the US counter-offensive
has now become apparent. In the
month VILN guerrillas have taken the ottensive in ot the Coully s sixteen pro-
US advisors talking about an imminent collapse LIC Salvadorean army.
facts speak for themselves the
Chall tacts trom Us suul Les Since September more than 60 town garrisons have been attacked. These attacks have opened up a
of the country in which the
so great is their freed or
call move reely.
that Hovelicall say guerrilla colSOULLES umns are now moving by day in trucks, rather than at night by foot.
The most disturbing fact for the United States
s that the 24.000 govern
nent troops and Nationa Guard are showing less and less willingness to actually fight. Two weeks ago the FMLN attacked
TURKEY
* Damascus ISRAEL
JORDA
EGYPT
RED SEA
tor which destabilises the region. For example,
of turkey, NATO, has territorial
has built up links with
The DUSTELL o1 a
WHEN AMERICA'S United Nations delegate Jean Kirkpatrick came back from El Salvador in January she told Reagan that the Salvadorean government was on the verge of collapse. Reagan responded by boosting US forces in El Salvador, and by preparing
The reasoning behind these moves was that in the short term it would be difficult to impose a complete
guerrillas in El Salvador, but a devastating blow could be struck at the revolution in
the garrison at Tejutepeque, 37 miles north of the capital. The 180 soldiers fl ed to nearby Ilobasco and changed into civilian clothes.
By Phil Hearse mented: A 180-mar commented: 180-man unit in defence should be able to hold out if they have their positions and stay and fight'. Two Cold ure the fleeing troop were ambushed on thei way.
The same sort of thing happened the following day in the large town Ciudad Barrios San Miguel The 80 National Guardsmen fled from the town six hours after the attack began, and unwittingly wandered into guerrila-nek terriroty.
Two companies who were sent to relieve Ciudad Barrios 'elite' brigades who had just returned from training in Honduras ambushed In the same way as the relievers in Tejutepeque.
Worst of all is the total collapse of the US project San Vicente which was advertised as a 'make or break' Vietnamstyle operation to create fortified villages, feed the SYRIA
Baghdad + TRAQ
SAUDI ARABIA
E Map by Paul 1. Pugliese Map shows how oil from the Gulf states passes through Straits of Hormuz
NATO power being involved in this was has horrific implications for the United States.
Both the United States and Saudi Arabia have vowed to keep the Straits
population and concen-
trate military fire power to drive out the FMLN. This project •Wak what meant the to El
Salvador army could do' Unfortunately for the US it has done just that. The whole thing said one us just sort
advisor haguerills have
COLl Vicente'.
The frustrations of the army are however creating a new upsurge in the activi. ty of the right wing death squads. Hundreds of people have been found but-
chered in the streets of San Salvador in the last few months.
Last week a new brutal massacre of 180 peasants by. the 'elite' Atlacatl brigade was uncovered in the San Nicolas area. John Carlin reported from the Malici last rriday s Times: 'As our group of journalists approached small house some 30 startl. co vulture - a sight common in El Salvador Tapped out of a hole in the roof
"The floor of the house was coverea in putrinea human remains we counted about 20 skulls among the carpet of wellnicked bones. A guerrilla
automatic not in out,
automatic pistol told me that the slaughter was "a symptom of the army's agony at its inability to defeat us on the battlefield"
A further symptom of the decay in the army and government has been the silent 'coup' carried out by
army. The army has lone
army. army , has long been a battletield for fac tion fights between pro-
otticers and U.S.S.R.
BAHRAIN
of Hormuz open. There is
whatever that Egypt, itself a strong supporter of rag in the war, would happily allow the
Socialist Action 25 November 1983
even more ultra-right
groups many of whom
have direct links with the
fascist ARENA party and
the death squads
Now the pro-American Icade. Casanova
finds himself surrounded
by right wingers, and vir.
tually powerless to contro
the army's actions. San
Salvador has been swept
for a month by rumous of
impending military
coup to overthrow the
government of President
Magana
Obstacle
One response to the
deteriorating military posi-
tion has however been the
massing
Guatemala and Hondura.
the border with
Salvador. They could be
used to invade the
liberated zones in the no to the cone EMIN try-
ing to calch une
guerrillas in a pincer move-
ment
While reeling from
these setbacks, the US has
been pushing ahead with
its plans for the overthrow
the Sandinistas in
Nicargua.. In addition to
its 6000 troops in Hon-
duras and its two bat. Nicarag on eite som
Nicaragua, now plans to send 1000 troops
to Costa Rica — thus com-
pletely surrounaing Nicarag resident The Costa
Rican
declared his country to b
'neutral' and stated he will not allow it to be used in
wars between neighbouring states.
But his government has shown itself powerless to
the activities SLOD ARDE anti-Sandinista guerrillas operating from
U.S.S.R.
GULF OF OMAN
UNITED AR EMIRATES OMAN
attack the Iranian navy if • the Straits were closed.
Socialists of course do not give political support to the Khomeini regime But any would be part of America's attempt
3 their territory for two
The former ARDE commander, Eden Pastora, in surprise development has warned the United States agains! invading Nicaragua and stated that will be resisted by all Nicaraguans'.
Inside Nicar wa preparations American-backed inva. sion are extensive. In addition to the introduction of conscription the local Sandinista Defence Com mittees (CDSs) are organising new civil defence brigades. The civil defence brigades are learning the techniques of fighting, al raa delence and making arrangements for looking after children the old and infirm when an attack comes.
The truth about the defeats being suffered by the US-backed army in Ei Salvador makes an attack
Nicaragua more, and not less, likely. Reagan is thought want Nicaraguan 'provisional government' in place the New Year in a captured Nicarguan town.
The people of Nicaragua can hardly pre. vent thousands
backerosa dreds_ of planes, coming across their borders. But an invasion will meet a people last. • There is no hope at all
Reagan quIck military victory.
Detending Nicaragua is now the key task for all those will support the Central A merica for secial fight for the people justice and progress.
• Oil pipelines Proposedoil pipeline - Tanker routes Recent fighting
AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN to keep the region safe for capitalist domination and imperialist profits should be fought just a much as the UŠ agressio against Lebanon and Grenada.
Page 4 scan of this page
Sinn Fein Ard Fheis
4
THE CAMPAIGN behind the hunger strikers in 1981 raged throughout Ireland's 32 counties and created a new and exciting development inside the Republican novement.
A layer of leaders associated with the gains of the mass struggle and the influence of Marxist politics came to the fore in Sinn Fein. This new leadership, whilst being formed in
traditional mould, nevertheless has actively challenged many of the assumptions of movement particularly in insisting upon the importance of political struggle.
Understanding the need to become identified as a socialist Republican current has not taken Sinn Fein along the same path Stalinist degeneration of the Workers Party.
Recent developments caused Tory minister James Prior to warn of a 'Cuba on Britain's doorstep' casting Gerry Adams in the role of Fidel Castro. From Dublin, MARTIN reports.
SINN FEIN'S Ard (conference)
widespread coverage in both the Irish and British press.
High drama was made of
the transfer of power from
Ruairi O'Bradaigh to the
'Belfast men' led by Gerry
Adams. It was a power tus-
sle which Adams himself
tried hard to play down.
O'Bradaigh and the man most
closely associated with him for
the past 13 years
O'Connaill — allowed the Adams
team to take the reins in an unop-
posed election. In statements to
the conference, both men describ-
ed a two year battle over policies
which had made their position
untenable. In a gesture which
almost certainly had the approval
of the IRA Army Council, the
feared split was averted.
It was a conference of great at-
mosphere alHO enthusiasm.
the absence of openly
tendencies and factions which could
give expression and clarification of
divergent views, the conference was
surprisingly free of the bureaucratic
entanglements that dominate Labour
Party or trade union conferences in
Britain.
Resolutions to conference coming
A PIECE OF THE
HEAR MY CONFESSION, O HOLY FATHER! I POSSESS ENOUGH NUCLEAR WEAPONRY TO DESTROY Ins raANEl
Socialist Action 25 November 1983
younger Republican
that of COLLINS
Fheis
attracted were
(branch)
before conference
reported back afterwards.
delegates.
Daithi
State Fein from TV appearances.
leadership was
Sinn Fein tionalist
ment Despite organised
its constitution and rules. (THAT'S FINE, MY SON! AS LONG AS YOU HAVE NO REAL INTENTION OF USING YOUR WEAPONS (THERE 15 NO J SIN!
FOR A NEW IRELAND
VO
from both branches and leadership
printed in the agenda which is distributed in advance. Each cumanr
had spent two meetings working their way through this agenda, taking an attitude on resolutions
and electing delegates. These delegates, mandated by the branch votes, were free to change their votes according to the
condition that this ties.
Trade union leaders and elected representatives took their place in the queue to speak alongside rank and file
Ine accision-marig process of conference was held openly before the press and TV cameras free of petty restrictions, despite the Free
Constitution which bans Sinn
Although there were no slates, the
elected by secret
Issues however were clear. Was
to re-adopt the tradivision of a decentralised federal Ireland, or go further along the road in deepening its commit-
democratic socialist republic? Conference decisively chose the latter. By a three to one majority, Sinn Fein ruled out what was called a Stalinist ban on further discussion of
It used the opportunity to chart the objectives of the party along the lines of 'socialist Republican', rather than 'Christian' principles. In a symbolic move, conference replaced the
ACTION
ARE YOUCRAZY?!
TO USE THEM?!?
SINN FÊL
'decade of the rosary' at public commemorations by a moment's silence, allowing each individual to remember the dead in their own way.
Adams returned to the theme of
secularism in his first presidential ad-
dress, giving the lie to those that claim
Irish nationalists are only interested in
extending the role of the
hierarchy to the occupied six coun-
*Protestant workers should con-
sider', he said fact that the
Catholic hierarchy has spent more
time warning against us, than they
have against the devil'.
With 30 councillors in the South,
and two in the North as well as five
elected Assembly representatives and
Gerry Adams MP for West Belfast,
this was an occasion to evaluate elec-
toral experiences. The last year has
seen Sinn Fein displacing
laborationist SDLP as the voice of the
nationalist community in the North,
achieving 45 per cent of the vote. Ad-
vice centres and local organisations
were seen to be thriving in those areas
where elections had been contested,
deepening the base in the community.
The longstanding Republican
shibboleth of abstentionism for the
sake of it was further eaten away as
delegates voted overwhelmingly not
only to 'contest the forthcoming EEC
elections 1n Ireland with an
imperialist policy of opposition to the
EEC' but also to carry on that fight
by taking seats if elected. Both Gerry
Adams and Owen Carron made plain
WHY WOULD I HAVE THE BLOODY THINGS IF I WASN'T READY
OF COURSE, YOU HAVE " TO SAY THAT... J
BUT..•
ADAMS
their commitment that this was in no way to be seen as the thin end of the wedge.
Ruairi O'Bradaigh said that even to discuss going into Leinster House. Stormont or 'as alien as the IRA discussing sur render or laying down its arms'. He Catholic did not want to start 'converting a
revolutionary party into a constitutional party. Despite the motion to reaffirm the ban on any discussion of abstentionism being lost, it did not get the two thirds majority required to change the constitution.
On trade union policy there was change For the Republican movement recognised the fact that despite leadership, Irish Trade Unions must be recognised as a mass organisation of the Irish working class. play a role in their unions, fighting for the ICTU to return to the socialist Republican policies of James Connolly if it was to act for working people Conference sent messages of support to the Clondalkin workers in their fight against closure and condemning the patterns of multinational investment that led to 200,000 unemployed in the South.
There was,
anti- pessimism about the significance of
the wave of industrial struggles in the South, fightback against government austerity in Europe and create a
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT EVENGOD WOULD BEND THE RULES TO SUIT NEEDS OF WESTERN
CAPITALISM?
political ( thousands
imperialism than leaders, when the
tion. much
campaign anti-abortion
tant role in left within Sinn
of the
Was
Westminster would be
permanent.
organisatiol
first time, pression
its bureaucratic Congress of
Supporters were urged to
munity
Gerry
however, a note of
which are the most militant
massive wonel.
London 328 Upper St. London NI telephone 01-226 0571 Open - Mon, Thur, Fri, 11-7 Birmingham 137 Digbeth Birmingham B5 telephone (021) 643-5904 Open - Mon-Sat 10-6 Closed Wed.
News
crisis for the coalitionist Labour Party. It would indeed by unfortunate if the Republican movement were to correct past mistakess by beginning to fight for national demands inside union structures, only to ignore the potential for doing the same thing among the hundreds of
of rank and file workers who are in struggle.
This current has a thousand times more of a dynamic towards anti
the trade union talk about partition fighting unemployment and about unemploy ment when workers are fighting parti-
Conference called for the British TUC to stop being transfixed by the Loyalist domination of the Northern Ireland Committee of the ICT and work to end the Unionist veto. Trade unionist should, they said, inform the international trade union movement about the facts of British occupation of the North, trying to get the British TUC to support withdrawal.
Increasing organisation of Sinn Fein's trade union orientation and planned intiatives seem to indicate
scope extending dialogue reached through Ken Livingstone and the Labour Committee on Ireland to militant trade unionists in Ireland and Britain.
Despite the failure of Sinn Fein to
the reactionary Amendment the South, women have played an impor-
the development of the Fein. one achieve ment of the conference was to get rid
myth that because Republicans don't support the Free State Constitution, they have to abstain on amendments to it. In future, it
agreed, assures aile referenda would be assessed on their economic, political or social merit.
• disappointing after that clarification that a motion to remove 'total opposition to abortion' from the programme was not carried. By a two to one majority, the section was amended, deleting the world 'total'.
A number of improvements in the organisation of Sinn Fein make it less likely that this position will remain
The 'Women's Affairs' department changed its name to the 'Women's Department', in recognition of the need for the autonomous
of women inside Sinn Fein to combat all aspects of their op-
The leadership was instructed to
convene a conference of advice centre
workers to draw up guidelines for
dealing with violence against women
in the home. Sinn Fein men especially
were told to get involved with the pro-
vision of childcare both in the com-
and in the party itself as
women had identified childcare as a
major factor inhibiting their political
involvement and development.
• Adams introduced discus-
sion on the need for positive action,
and after full discussion it was not on
ly agreed to avoid sexual typecasting
of women into traditional roles, but
to actively discriminate in favour of
women; to promote women as both
candidates in elections and officers of
the party, and to reserve at least 25 per
of the leadership seats
For Marxist
books, posters,
postcards, badges
Feminist literature
Tues, Sat, 10-6 Wed 12-7
Mail Order Service - Add 20% for P&P
Page 5 scan of this page
REVIEWS
Books
Battle for
PETER TATCHELL's book Battle for Bermondsey deals with the history of that constituency from 1978 to 1983. This is when the South London party went through Liberals winning the seat in the by-election and retaining it again in June this year.
It became a national focus for people fighting the witch hunt after Foot's denunciation of Tatchell and symbolised Ine preparedness of the local
fight for their rights, like selecting their Dani C ulay candidate. The story is both moving and useful. It describes the depths to which the national party, other political parties, dividuals and especially the press were prepared to go to defeat Peter Tatchell.
Reviewed by Jane Kelly
On the other side it tells of the support and solidarity that people both inside and outside the
andour Party gave to him
and Most disgusting of all is the record of the Labour Par
They never replied to the attacks on his sexual orientation In fact Walworth Road seemed determined he should get beaten.
First they refused to endorse his candidature, putting pressure on Ine party to select someone else. During the election campaign they ordered the pulping of his leaflet
ecause it had been Presse On hon te rin. printed the Militant's Then hey threw another WIlC loved that. gift to the press by expelling five members of the Militant editorial board the day before voting.
Despite all these back stads reter nas sun written a positive book. , It tries to inoer ane why unese taudry episodes happened and to come to grips with Labour's decline. The book is tererore NI -terspersed with the
political ideas both on the type of Labour Party that is needed and the policies should have so 'that it can 're-invent' its socialism.
Two issues run through the book. They are the relationship between extra-parlamentary action OOIHATPEPONHD ween sexual politics and public life. The first
TV CHOICE
Flashback
Saturday 26 November
6.30, Channel 4
FOLLOWING last
week's programme on
the early days of CND,
une seres moves to une
'year of protest' Street Fighting Man 1968 ex-
amines the media
coverage ot demonstra-
tions and riots in Britain,
US, hrance and
Ireland making it a must
for those readers active
at the time.
Bermondsey
momentous changes culminating in the
what Foot got so uptight about. Tatchell thinks that it is an essential part of any move toward socialism. He sees it as a process that will complete the unfinish-
democratic revolution..in which the people
HE BATTLE FOR
BERMONDSEY
preface by
have sureme power over the whole of society
He says it would mean 'the transfer of military aveane o. me housı of Commons and remove the monarch's sovereignty over the state'. Unfortunately he is silent on how this can be done because the book does not have an anaiysis o cac •society and class struggle. Does Peter think that the ruling -lass will stand idly by whilst power is taken away millary or whle parla- from them their ment used to vote in socialism?
Despite his protestations about Militant this 'road to socialism' does nave Ssel of Militant's Enabling Act. His lack of a class analysis shows in his attitude to im-
He tries periallst war. differentiate between the war in Vietnam which, as an Australian, he bravely refused to fight in and the last world war which he says he would have done
The programme par-
ticularly concentrates on
the big anti-Vietnam war
demos of 17 March and
27 October in London. It
shows how the i'v com
panies went out of their
wav record
violence they could find,
whilst
the issues behind the
marches.
Struggle
Sunday 27 November
8.45, Channel 4
THIS IS the first of what
'to defend our civil liberties, trade union freedom anu rignl selt determination.
An equally uncomfortable stance is taken
towards his recard UWI sexuality. Feeling that it was not an "ideal' situation, he tried to deflect attacks his sexual preterences by a generalised support of gay rights. This was futile. The press
'guilt by association' USCO anyway had handed the phrase had them. 'a supporter of gay rights'.
He suffered both personally and politically trom innuendo, by graffiti and O'Grady's obscene song. But he also suffered because of his own attempts to avoid a personal confrontation.
This meant he had to accept society's definition of normality. It is an object lesson, not just in how deep-rooted anti-gay attitudes are in society, but of the vital importance to face them head on. Perhaps Peter Tatchell's campaign suffered not so much being too radical, but rather from a umidlly anle SaCK belief in his own convicLulis
However what does come over in the book is the dignity and restraint which is to be admired and even wondered at after the vilification he had to endure.
is called a 'tongue-incheek' comedy series about a group of trendy lefts who take power in a fictional London borough. You oniv have to know that it's written by Peter Jenkins of the Guardian to get what it's all about.
It may as well have come straight from the SDP Central Office. Nor do you have to be genius to realise that it's Islington council that's being pilloried. Still, socialists aren't afraid of a guva Joke,. vul ll lc mains to be seen whether the seres will turn out remotely funny.
British racism: the
road to 1984
MANY so-called socialists seem to be embarrassed to use the word 'racism' in case they sound too extreme and upset somebody. Instead of talking about racism, they talk about *the disadvantages suffered by ethnic minorities'.
But it's not just SocIalISIs who beceme pre-ocupied mite 'the rights. ethnic minorities' over the last tew years. After the inner city riots of 1981 the signal
given man that ethnic minorities were a valo area ot concern for sections of the police and even the Tory establishment.
But all this 'ethnic' stuff is not just a product of cowardice by 'socialists
Records
IT'S THURSDAY, it's op of the Pops and it's 40 minutes of reheated moozak armchair groovers. If you were at a meeting then maybe this is lost on you, but can anyone tell me what Billy Joel is doing dressed in greasy overalls singing into a spanner?
What is all this sexist Uptown Girl junk? And this guy is number one in the charts. Some people think Billy Joel's music is self-indulgent crap, but think they are just being soft on him.
By lan Hawkins gramme desn't hold a lot The rest of the more hope. Still, just when you thought the British charts were in a depression the oh-so-iwee Jonathan King pops up each week from the States and tries to persuade wnltt American rock isn't dead watn allouy cansce ula rigor mortis set in years
Luckily for Mr King no
notices his morbid musical taste because we all are blinded by his rather lively anorak chic inflatable number that presumably sleeps four.
Happily there are some exceptions to the rule: Culture Cub Now thought Karma Chamelion was annoying.
RACE:
CLASS
who are afraid of tackling racism the volved is class. What is involved an attempt to reduce social tensions and integrate
society. The attempt fo
society. attempt create g back middle clas by setting up Community Relations Councils and other such set-ups is now boosted by 'ethnic TV' and various projects of local councils.
By Ivor Evans
This is the theme of A. Sivanandan in the main ar. ucle la lals special Issue ol Race and Class. Sivanandan TCLDI ethnicity anti-racism and socialism to Labour'. He thinks the main strategy for the anti-racist struggle now is campaigning over individual cases of Boy George ly catchy but Boy George has played the music
their own game. He has teased the tabloids' NUA Ea stereotypes and smiled his way through each cleverly arranged song. The album Colour by Nümbers shows a range and subtlety of his voice and will sell crate loads.
Where Boy George treads s gentle, Annie Len-
•Tt f Eurythmics confronts a startled audience, one moment as a
Socialist Action 25 November 1983
Race and
Class
racism by the state - 'the turning of cases into issues' . -txamnies are the Bradford 12 trial, the murder of Blair Peach, the New Cross Massacre and the cise Co fn Roach.
While all this needs to be said, it doesn't get us very far. Turning cases into issues is certainly the stage which the anti-racist strugge is going through This is l pecause
CANCi be used to highlight racism and bring it into the open, and because black people
in diicelto contrond
difficult
COLOl racism in general. The days of anti-racist committess and even the Anti-Nazi League are gone for the time being,
But the campaigns over
and the activity canc around 'ethnic rights' have something in
former are usually militant
• black people and the latter are usually beral and run by a mix ture of whites and black bureaucrats. Both types of
That's entertainment?
man then next as a woman and rips anyone who doubts her to shreds.
Eurythmics has let Annie Lennox show the world that she is the most power. ful British singer for decades,
LUWCLLA OVel every note, making you lauch one minute. bring. ing a lump to your throat the next. Right t by your
breaks all preChristmas rules, single that only she could bring
Game, set and matc) to Ms Lennox.
5 activity raise demands fo democratic rights to be es tended to black people and in doing so they make it more difficult for racisa to be used to divide the WUTKIL CAS
While some of the ethnic programmes are au attempt to head off black militancy, others are concession to it grims won by black militancy. To reject them altogether is to hand them over to th black bureaucrats HE.H race relations industry who are paid by the state
As usual the curreat issue of Race and Clas suffers from too much rhetoric but the articles on police strategy are important for people who are opposing the Police Bill However it is unfortunate that many of the accounts and insights into state racism are spoilt by the hopeless attitude that the
Rela Insutute tions, publishers of Rece and. Class, has towards th working class struggle. Race and Class ss speace issue, Institute Race kelanons, tz
Finally by way of contrast some second-hand CERKE warm gossip The Rolling Stones
new record Undercover has been released with a video demed to be too violent for TV. one Mick Jagger said reflects the situation in E Salvador'
'But,' asks the astute interviewer: 'How much of the royalties are going to the Salvadorians? Mick just never got round to answering that.
Page 6 scan of this page
R.A.F Greenham
AS THE DEBATE Commons over the installation of Cruise missiles has reached its crescendo, both Owen of the Labour's Denis Healey have advocated a 'dual key' for the missiles. The argument is that Britain and the United States should share physical control of the missiles — two parallel systems would have to be activated before the missiles could be launched.
By Phil Hearse
What Denis Healey is doing advocating joint control of missiles that the Labour Party is opposed to anyway
somewhat obscure. that 'you demand different things the Tories than what you do yourself in government'. He obviously didn't quite understand the irony contained in those words.
At any rate, he had no business doing anything other than opposing the missiles lock, stock and barrel.
Even some Tory backbenchers indined towards a 'dual key'. problem with their position is that in reality, the United States always have control of its own nuclear weapons. and they are never subject to anyone ose's veto.
It isn't just the use of cruise missiles which could land Britain in a nuclear war. The United States has say on whether the hundreds of nuclear weapons on board US bombers stationed in Britain will be used. It has exdusive say on whether the missiles on US submarines based at Holv Loch will be used. And it has exclusive say on whether the hundreds
6 Socialist Action
in the
position, SDP and
Editions shows that.
key
argues of without
economic
But the project
exclusive
attack.
of nuclear
25 November 1983
Common
Dual key fraud
weapons in West Germany will be used, dragging Britain into a nuclear war.
Exclusive control of all its military forces has always been an American
and there is no reason at all why it will change over cruise missiles.
The problem with the dual key demand is that it begins to establish con-
in which the missiles somehow be acceptable. In any case, there are important technical doubts about whether a dual key could work at all. The speed with which a nuclear war could develop, given the eight minutes flight time of Pershing missiles from West Germany to the Soviet Union
And the British ment could never sure United States could not find a way of launching the missiles anyway.
The motivations behind
proposal are nevertheless teresting. David Owen proposes dua. key as part of the co-called 'dual track' view of the Western Alliance. The pro-
of dual track argue banding together, dividual European states will always be overruled by the US in matters of policy and strategy. Dual track means keeping the alliance with the USA, but building a powerful European political
unity to oppose American colussus.
To carry through such a dual track
would require European military liason than is now the case. But there are interesting signs that this is now the thinking of political leaders in several European countries.
Last winter the French government floated the idea that its missiles, rather than United States' Pershings, could protect West Germany against Soviet
German CSU leader Franz-Joseph Strauss supports the dual key demand - but as a firgt step towards Germany itself having nuclear Gaullist leader Chirac has himself come out in favour of West Germany even-
00999
tually
independence capitalist powers.
maintaining its will
sists on defending without bothering else.
governthat the Henry Kissinger
bothering to allies aboul unis the dual
in-
that Japan received the in-
Strip of Peking.
United States North Vietnam resulted in and
United States' allies.
closer
oppose
Drier.
And
being given its own nuclear part process ot
indepehenice the political and mitary
European
Against all these developments, the United States will of course insist on
military superiority, and its complete freedom of action History shows that the US first of all in-
its own interests to consult anyone
When the 1973 Yon Kippur war
out in the Middle East, the United States put its forces world-wide on the highest stage of military alert.
went to bed without tell America's NATO small develocu which could have landed them all in a
When Kissinger and Nixon decided to make a big turn towards diplomatic relations with China, the US's close ally
precisely 24-hours notice of the announcement of Nixon's
In 1964, whẹn the began the bombing of which eventually the bombing of Russian ships in Haiphong harbour — there was
whatever with the
The demand for a dual key is one which should be opposed by the peace movement. It is quite right of course to
turned into the United States unsinkable aircraft car-
But dual key won't change that one bit, so long as Britain has 102 US bases dozens of US nuclear bombers and US submarines in Scotland.
Dual key is not a "lesser evil' demand. It is a position which allows for the inestimable and unqualified evil of cruise missiles being in Britain. Neither socialists nor the peace movement as a whole can ever accept that. Reagan plus Thatcher's finger on the trigger equals war — not nuclear disarmament.
Page 7 scan of this page
the
THE ANNUAL conference of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in December will be its biggest yet with
more than 2000 delegates.
But will it be its last before
CND's support begins decline?
A large section of the leadership of the peace move-
ment is preparing for retreat, or the 'long haul'. DICK WITHECOMBE, leading activist from Manchester Area CND, looks at the debates within CND and argues that such a retreat must be resisted at this year's conference.
The cruise missiles have now started arriving, the general election brought back the Tories and Reagan seems hell-bent on getting back to the good old days of Vietnam. No wonder there is now a raging debate in CND - what do we do now?
Thompson started the rounds of this debate, with his pamphlet Defence of the Nation, published mid-way through the general election. In his most pessimistic mood he urged a new direction on the peace movement: cast off fundamentalist unilateralism, distance ourselves from the Labour Party and embrace a new anti-nuclear re-armament coalition with Liberals, SDP and wet Tories.
Since then the popular expression of this has been the freeze campaign. Countless articles have explained this • position in Sanity, CND's -i slogans on the 22 October demonstra- and it was one of the main tion.
These retreats are out of tune with O the committment being shown by the 2 thousands of activists in the ≤ movement over the last weeks in opposition to cruis The demonstration of 10.000 on 22 Octob was doubtedly a highpoint of history. During the same week more
million people through Europe; in Germany
Don't
freeze
move
Holland hundreds of thousands of workers took 'warning strike' action.
Smith, writing in Sanity, has pointed to the need to prepare for a long haul'
steps to disarmament that take up,
to the short term, 'achievable demands'.
No, not a clear cut demand to get rid of cruise and cancel Trident. Rather the agreeable to our friends in the SDP et
around the freeze demand.
demands for a dual key, negotiations
Cox, has pointed out in Sanity that this type of approach was a disaster in the 1960's. CND went behind the demand when the Americans signed
slogan will be the main debate at CND conference. A ballot of CND groups
first put the Scottish CND pro-freeze cam-
debate over all other issues. The freeze, it is argued, is a very mand • United Nations have adopted this position, after all. The problem is that two months later the passed the budget for the first ten MX
the
Hitle after the arrival of cruise, would be tantamount to saying that the campaign to get rid of cruise has to be postponed to another future stage. Try saying that to the hundreds of people arrested in actions against the arrival of cruise over the last iwo weeks, to the Greenham movement and to the mass of CND activists whose hard work built 22 Oc peace
amendment to this resolution. In effect this deletes all reference to the freeze, CND's leaving a number of excellent proposals
for CND to step up its campaigning marched
and District CND has also submitted an
CND's swan-song.
events at Greenham. discussion about the freeze
tees. even the Contress and Be
US Congress then non-nuclear NATO.
Greater Manchester
emergency resolution calling for the freeze to be dropped as a campaigning slogan. This is already supported by a growing number of CND groups, areas
tions to this year's CND conference are the lack of proposals on how to campaign to get rid of cruise now that it has
The fact that resolutions had to be submitted by June no doubt con-
The tendency towards increasingly national very strong next year. The grass roots base and imagination of the movement has always been one of the strengths of
together as a mass movement by major actions such as the October demonstrations, 6 June last year, and the 'em-
leadership of CND to water down our demands and to change our campaign-
politics, so as not to alienate a potential broad base (the SDP, Liberals and wet Tories), is a dangerous attack on the
reflected by the increasing central control of the movement by the CND Ex- October. ecutive which has led to the closure of Youth CND and Labour CND commit-
Emergency resolutions to CND conference against these closures will provide CND activists with an opportunity to call a halt to these attacks on the democracy of the peace movement. Sanity also attempts to reverse its use as a mouthpiece for the new thinking of the leadership, by opening it up to grass roots debate and give it a more popular, NATO, criticise the leadership tor on failure to implement the proposals to increase the campaigning for CND's position on NATO which was passed
resolution attempts to change CND withdrawal to the dissolution of the plus Warsaw pact. Amendments attempt to introduce the strategy previously urged by Don Smith and Mary Kaldor, of s
Socialists in CND should be to the building fore in arguing for and building the Greenham
Socialist Action.
maximum unity in the movement. This means- defending CND's programme and campaigning methods. Unilatera nuclear disarmament nas proved lo the bed-rock for the existence of CND for the last 20 years. Our campaigning slogans against cruise and Trident have seen us grow to a mass movement in the last four years.
This also means arguing for overwhelming support demonstration of women at Greenham on 11 December, for support for the
anti-Trident convention February and for another mass CND demonstration June next year to coincide with the European elections and the many disarmament actions be ing planned throughout Europe. Labour
The composite resolution on thi labour movement, calls on CND t organise such a mass demonstration jointly with the TUC, Labour Party and the National Union of Students early next year. Both this resolution and one of the two amendments also call for the development of strike c tion in the form of 'warning strikes' of the sort that took place in Europe in
"the other amendment, from TUND, puts back such action until more education work has been done amongst union members. This tends to evade the real question: six million trade unionists are affiliated to CND and the LP and TUC conferences las year both called for a labour movement day of action in 1983. When are the bureaucrats in the labour movement going to put paper policy into the type of action that will get rid of cruise?
The CND leadership commands tremendous respect in the peace move. ment. For four years the movement has grown massively, and achieved many
It is therefore difficult to predict to what extend CND conference will call a halt to their retreats. Bal what is clear is that the left wing of th movement • the activists in the 1000
groups, Greenkar movement and the youth - now Beet to start to organised to defend the unit: of the movement and its programme slogans and campaigning methods. We
December
25 November 1983
Page 8 scan of this page
8
Men's committee
IN AN angry letter to last
week's issue of Tribune
Auarey wise reveriee
that the first meeting of
the NEC 'women's com-
mittee' had to be aban-
doned.
DIARY
nese nomes tre weeorau major labour movement and campaign activities maximum of 50 words. semidisplay advertisements cost Sp per word and must be paid aarvance Send 10. Diary, Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street, London NI 2XP to arrive later than Thursday, one week prior to publication).
International • Yolocamba I-Ta (direct from El Salvador) and High Lute Internanonai. Centra America and Africa meet in oncert at Friends House Euston Rd. London NW1 or Fri 25 November, 7pm. Tickets £3/£2 unwaged from ELSSOC, 29 Islington Park Si, London N1, 01-359 3976. Benefit for El Salvador and Lalle sondanity Lallpalgis
Far a Reagar-free
Reagan Free Caribbean
badges in yellow black
and red. 25p each (plus
postage); bulk orders 20p
each. with orders
со РО Вох 36, 136
Kingsland High St,
London , E8. Cheques/POs
payable to Hackney Book
Club.
Calvador Sun An Evening for El
4 Dec, Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank, - 30pm. A cabaret with Julie Christie, The Flying Pickets, ihe joeys, Leon Rosseisol, Peggy Seeger & Ewan MacColl, Emma Thompson, ¡ orocamoa I-la, Alluy ur ia
Tickets £4 or £6 from ELSSOC (see above).
ACTiON
Join the
fight for
socialism
Socialist Action. 25 November 1983
MALE
ORDER
Why? Because both Renee Richardson and
Short WCLC
nominated for chair and
tied with six votes each.
Doug Hoyle proposed
that Audrey should take
• No Intervention in Central America and the CAnbeem INCAG s a broad based coalition of solidarity groups, human rights orgs, aid agencies and political parties. More details from NICAC 20/2 comoion lerrace. London N1 01-226 6747. • Hounslow Socialist Forum series of meetings on the interna onanoc the world economy and of confliet: 27 Nov The crisis in cree snaus erecs on tre Middle East introduced by Moshe Machover (member oI knamsin eartorlal boara), 11 Dec The orchestration of violence and repression with speakers from Southern Africa, Latin America &
All meetings ralcsullc sundays, 1.15pm, George IV wb (Tur Cam Green tuh R). 185 Chiswick High Rd,
ANDORS BAC&I -week of action on Central America, 27 Nov to 3 Dec. rur aclalis WIILC LU Noboay s васкуага, 4 Keouonam ko. London SW18. • e Noood s backyaru Party with Latin American food, drink, disco and music with Barricada. . Sat 26 Nov,
St Matthews Hall o-Loll.
Brixton Hill. £1.50. • Memorial Assembly to Day tribute to the Cuban and krenga consucon workers killed by US forces. Sun 27 Nov, , 6.30pm, Countv Hall. London SE1. Organised by the Political Citee of CRS London Region. • From War in the Third World to the Third World War new pamphlet published by El Salvador •oneanly (allalsil, Order from ELSSOC, 29 Islington Park St, London NI 01-359 3976. ELSSOC have also produced a 1984 calendar trom lite in the liberated zones ts trom same
• Labour Group for Human Rights in Sri Lanka public meeting with Tony
Benn, Jeremy Corbyn MP Kates balasubrallalllyall (Labour Group/Tamil Women's League) John Chowcal (AN Voi d speaker from EELAM
Solidarity Campaign. Thur 1 Dec, 7pm, Hampstead Town Hall, Haverstock Hill, NW3
Name
Address
Age . Union/CLP (if any)
If roe -zai more information about Socialist Action or to be put in touch
with local sapporters send this form to Socialist Action,
Street, London N1.
J2 L DOCT
the chair for that meeting
only, oul manola declt
Davia kughes disag reell
Backed
'Unity' Kinnock well
known by readers of this
column as a principled
defender of women's
liberation mugnes
declared that the
wolders ComILice
had to be abandoned and
report made to the
NEC
And if you're
wondering why the
women's committee ap-
pears quotation
marks, it's because there
are eight men and seven
women on it! Mind you,
inal s improvement
on the original proposals
TOH membership which
would have resulted in a
committee of thirteen
nine men and four
wullc !
- havertisemen Critique public meetings Simon Clarke, Ben Fine
Friday 2 March THE LIMITS OF LOCAL COUNCIL SOCIALISM Robin Murray, Scott Meikle and other: Friday 6 April
All metiestit :30pm C/. Malet Street, London
Critique: 31 Cleveden Rd, Glasgow G12 OPH
• Labour Committee on Palestine annual national conference Sat 26 Nov, Lambeth Town Hall.
Speakers from PLO and Lebanese National Movement. For details contact Penny 01-274 8775 • Grenada and Central America public meeting Wed Town Hall. Speakers: Fennis AclUk.
Augustine (Grenadan High columussuuci, allu Ilull.
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign plus film 'El Dalvadur Alullc.
Vietnam?'. Organised by Ealing-Acton Labour Party.
Ireland • Exhibition on plastic bullets at Islington libraries: Manor Mdns 4-lo Nov'
Finsbury 28 Nov-10 Dec Organised by Islington TOM wilk santon connel Conerene oo trehand Labour Movement peace inrouen Democracy Sat 26 Nov. Speakers include Tony Benn, Ken Livingstone, and Clive
Lesley
Party from
complain sexist
pains.
allegations harass-
delegates ICroCllY
from Hackney complained peet and dearie...'
In The Guardian Heather
MARXISM AND NATIONALISM Baruch Hirson, Alan Freeman, Duncan Hallas
Friday 2 December DECLINE OF BRITAIN: THE END OF THE LABOUR PARTY?
James Hinton, Andrew Glynn, GAE Smith
Friday 6 January HAS THE WORKING CLASS ANY
FUTURE?
Michael Kidron, Barry Hindess, Richard Hyman,
Hillel Ticktin
Friday 3 February WHAT IS MARXIST ABOUT MARXIST POLITICAL ECONOMY?
, Sue Himmelweit, Hillel Ticktin
chaired by Ahmad Ghotbi
• Fighting for Irish freedom Liverpool Irish Freedom Movement conference, 26 Nov.
Speakers from Ireland and Britain on show trials, PTA, solidarity work etc Transport available. kegıstration t1.00/kl unwaged. For details phone 01-274 3951 or write to IFM, BM IFM, WCIn 3XX.
Disarmament • National CND Conference in Sheffield 15/4 DeC For details contact CND 01-272 8896.
Women against cruise hearing begins in US Federal Court - 21 Nov actions in USA and Britain. For details phone 01-720 1374.
Youth CND national day of action, 26 Nov. For
GoOWl ou 3HQ 01-272 0101.
'Sound around Greenham' 11 Dec. National action at Greenham Common, women only. For ceras me vancacoc 061-225 7352 or 236 3112 or
London 01-251 3133/226
Lesbian & Gay Liberation • London Lesbian & Gay Young Socialists meet ever! four weeks on Sundays a: 6pm, ,"arenmon
Mahmont St, W Cl. Next
Marchmont St, meeting 11 Dec. Further details from Martin 01-263 9484. • London Labour Campaign for Gay Rights Further details from Mike 01-659 2983 or Bob 01-341 0666.
Gay NUR group forming. For details of inaugural meeting write to
Downs and Colleen Ryan wrote:
Michael White's horrendOur Brichton Sketch may we, as members of
Hackner North and Stoke Newington Labour Party women's section, trouble you to point out that our deeere coterence Lesley Courcouf, was not selected on the basis of her physical apvcaralc
"The persistent trivialisation of the issues of sexism would seem to be in direct conflict with your alleged position as demonstrated in, for example, Nakel Ape. Could this be tokenism we wonder?'
White's reply was written direct to Heather and Colleen and is most illuminating
Gay NUR c/o 119 Southwvck. coloaarooui Lane, London SW9. • Lesbians in the Labour vartv ano trade umons nexı national meeting Sat 26 Nov, 2pm, A Woman's Place vicora codank achil. London WC1 (Embankment tube). Creche available. Further details from Sarah Roelofs c/o Gays the Word
Marchmont St, London WC! • Nottingnam Labour Campaign for Gay Right meets monthly Next meetin Z1 Dec, opm, salutanon Ill, Maid Marion Way. Details: Chris Richardson, 21 Devonshire Promenade, Lenton 0602 780124.
Women's Liberation womer and Unemployment conference for unemployed women & women workers a Centres for the Unemployed
: Russel St. London Wl. With Jo Richardson MP theatre, and workshops. Full ceaus wrom ccld Minoughan, Guildford Unemployed Peoples Centre, ine uia ronce slanon, sa Leapale Rd, Guildford, Surrey 0483-33942.
Civil Rights • Southall Campaign against the Police Bill public meeting. Speakers: Pau Boateng (Chair GLC Police Uttee); Jim MCAlsIel (Silll Fein); Baldev Gill (Southall Campaign against the Police
Mangat Hal, Viliers Rd,
Southall. Contact the campaign at 01-843 0343. • Affront to public decency? Come to the Gays against the Police Bill launch meeting at County Hall, 30 Novellei, opil. Contact for detals "av acon r onco Monitoring Groups on 01-278 6215
Miscellaneous • Camden Labour Briefing Xmas social Sat 10 Dec The Cock Tavern, Charlton St, London NW1. 7pm to mionionl t
The political crisis in Britain Camden Socialist A Cuon Torun wIll socakeI John Ross. Wed 7 Dec, 8pm Camden Labour Club, Carol
Anti-cuts campaigns • London Health Service
34 Dalston Lane, London to SAL Vl-L4>
Hayes Cottage Hospital uccupeon curee urane
, Hayes, Middx 01-573 5593 • Defend our public services! Defend the GLC
Public meeting Wed 30 Nov, 7.45pm, Heathlands School, Wellington Rd Sth,
Hounslow. Speakers: Ken
, Alf King, Joan Livinestonc, Oxley and reler ritt Organised by Feltham &
Heston CLP
'Having read your wel-meant but horren dous letter today's Guardian I plead guilty to having written
he offending paragraph with the express purpose of trying signal
other thar yourselves that not everyone has completely lost their sense of proportion about women's issues on The Guardian, though without subjecting your friend Lesley Courcouf to ridicule....
'As for the Naked Ape, well I am increasine sivers wsich now
adverts which now aoucaraıme coumae
pecifically designed to Why pay for an ad in Exchange and Mart when you can get it into The
free folks! Certainly many of
US Embassy,
Eastern Caribbean Embassy,
24 hour picher
FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER 5.30pm-
SATURDAV 3 DUE TAMBER 530m
• South Africa House, Trafalgar Square
Outside
A unique package
tion, are really
the women
through thick and
thin. the only
to what's
behind interna-
tional games of
is from Grenada,
Bolivia Ireland,
say
this we don't
news and
But to
good inten.
tions.
The 'nightmare'
Diary
the items included were obviously intended seif-parody in the first place.
Tokenism tokenism: I can't speak 'And finally Editor Women's Editor (is Naked Ape still edited by a man?) but I do know that half the stories of social deprivation in your part of London are true, then to have wasted time complaining about being called or "darling" at Labour conterence is what I cal real tokenism. I hope the VOLCh. Hackney forgive you. I am in no hurry to. (Heather Downs and Colleen Ryan) Hands off Grenada!
The New Jewel Movement and the Grenada Solidarity Campaign appeal for support on pickets every Tuesday and Thursday. 5-7pm. These will take place at:
, Grosvenor Square, London W1 10 Kensington Ct.
London W8 Barbados Embassy, 6 Upper Belgrave St
London SW1
Advertiseme
RELEASE NELSON
MANDELA!
"SOUTH
Release all Polítical Prisoners
in South African Jails!
This Picket marks the anniversary of the 86-day Picket and we would like all those whe took part to come along and join those who have since participated in our activities ALL WELCOME!
MUSIC GROUPS - STREET THEATRE -SPEAKERS - SINGERS - DANGER:
Gome and join us!
Show your support 'and back us by selling Socialist Action and helping our finances. Put a cheque in the post to-
$3.00 R Woolve
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Total £2886.00
Page 9 scan of this page
International
world in September 1982 shows the power that lies in
Fund. It is the last resort for
who have been deliberately
imperialist masters.
It can and does impose the most stringent and
assistance — countries like
population. The burden of these astronomical debts falls on the poorest sectors
The rich get richer and IMF policies make sure that the multinationals and
bonanza. The IMF perpetuates and makes
in the first place. A valuable
Poverty Brokers: the IMF
examines the analysis and conclusions of this
'SOME ROB YOU with a sixgun, some with a fountain pen.' So runs the Ballad of Pretty Boy Floyd, popularised fifteen years ago by Joan Baez. The America Bureau's excellent book shows how the fountain pen has served the grey-flanne! cowboys of the Monetary Fund - and why they are now reaching for the six-gun.
The book is the latest from the non-profit making Bureau, set up in 1977. Other titles include
Citicorp bank Amenica Chase Manhattan Man. Hanover Morgan Guaranty
Chile
1983).
Barclays Westminster Midland Lloyds
in tne rmanciar runes, simay 1yosr.
How the IMF robs
Latin America
Argentina Brazil
Mexico
Total Chile
Perator
Total ( countries the Malvinas war.
investment
them are going bankrupt.
foreign investors.
of the maintaining profits.
Strenuous
Foreign spent according Western accounting
When he left.
worldwide boycott.
Latin returns, and gave
suited International ing the Malvinas war,
Jenny
OUTSTANDING BANK LOANS TO LATIN AMERICA
Brazil Mexico venezuela Utners+ Total 4.4 3.3 2.0 10
2.0 0.0 4.1 + Includes disclosed exposure of more than 1% to Argentina, Yugoslavia and
Source: The American Banker (quoted in The New York Times, 18 March
BRITISH BANKS (€ billion)
¡otal Loans l( Equity Latin America Reserved
3.0 2.0
Source: Published Accounts and International Bank Credit Analysis (quoted
DEBT FIGURES, RESCHEDULING & IMF ASSISTANCE — 1982/3
I exports 38.5 19.0
84.0
80.0 31.0
202.51 69.02 29.9 17.0 3.4
28.5 13.0
282.8 1U1.I 51.0
Pearce's Under the Eagle and her joint book with Martin Honeywell on
Between 1970 and 1978, foreign
the Less Developed Countries (LDCs) earned $2.3m for and every million invested. This explains why they stay underdeveloped, why they can't pay their debts, and why the banks who staked all on exploiting
Vicious dictators like Nicaragua's Somoza and Chile's Pinochet offered sky high profits with no strings to
The West propped them up provided they imposed 'sensible' economic policies on the poor
countries concerned, thus
The
wasn't always SCENESI standards. 1ry bomoza was lent coum despite strenuous representations from the Sandinistas just before his overthrow.
The cleaned banks and took the cash with him.
really Ente however, who demanded repayment from the new government on pain of
This kind of approach got high high the illusion of 5000 growth and even stability in countries like Brazil and Argentina, said to be escaping underdevelopment and catching up with the West. Indeed, dur-
several British socialists 'discovered' Argentina had become an 'imperialist country' in its own right. The example of Jamaica to which the authors devote a chapter,
tom
Total a:
Equity down. 203 148 222 243 150
be which
Total 1 as 7o or Banks' Equity
The
IMF Assistance fUss billion may 1985
1.6 (standby - 15 months) * 0.5 Compensatory Financing Facility 4.9 Extended Fund Facility * 0.5 Compensatory 3.8 Extended Fund Facility
U.S standby " z years)*0.3 Compensatory
0.1 (standby) rinancing racity
0.2 (sandby - 1 year)
0.4 (standby - 2 years)
11.S
shows how such growth was often built - almost literally - on sand
Foreign investment in the LDCs is
exports, which yield foreign currency
during the boom returns. Local industrial production, usually in branch plants of multinationals or under foreign license, could not expand beyond the narrow limits set by the poverty and low purchasing power of populations living on starvation wages.
Spectacular
Video tape recorders, for example, are not exactly the coming thing in the shanty towns of Buenos Aires.
spectacular growth of many LDCs did not stem from the balanced development of a local economy, but from the greed of western multinationals to exploit cheap labour scarce resources in the production of goods for western markets
Jamaica went through a 'boom' in the sixties based on soaring world demand for aluminium. The bulk of Jamaica's 6.7 per cent growth came from bauxite, into which went 57 per cent of all foreign investment. Bauxite (the raw stuff of aluminium) brought foreign currency, high tax returns and
profits. But it employed only workers. Farming stagnated. Bauxite workers averaged J$9326 per year while agricultural workers got an average J$219. Agriculture grew by only 2-3 per cent per year, so Jamaics had to import food to live. onset of wokid stumpin 1t4t which The reckoning slashed western demand commodity prices to tall indicator of a fullblown cyclical slump of the type analysed by Marx. Bauxite prices dropped 30
fell out of the Jamaican economy. Popular resistance propelled the radical government of Michael Manley into office, but the CIA and multinationals set about bringing him
Conditions
And this is where the IMF comes in. Strictly speaking, the IMF applies 'impartial' conditions to its loans. But these impartial conditions turn out to
viciously hostile to any
interfere with the profits of foreign investors.
Manley did not, mobilise popular support among the poor, and rejected socialist these attacks and the IMF's demands, claiming a 'third way' existed. IMF imposed a draconian package.
Jamaican dollar was sharply devalued. The price of imported food shot up by up to 50 per cent each year.
The Poverty Brokers high
Areentina Brazil Mexico Bahamas
Bova Chile Colombia Costa Rica
acuador El Salvador Guatemala Guyana Halti Honduras Jamaica Icalarus
panama or Paraguay
Peru
Urugua Venezuela Average
RoDol 1904
1. 1980 population figures used
The IMF's prescriptions for financial solvency did not explain how to persuade foreign investors to put money into making food in Jamaica which no-one could Unemployment rose to 31 per cent.
causing Results
Manley summed up the results in 1979: conditions demanded, worked to mobilise the nation to rise to the central challenge of production, we continued stagnate ...It was as if the medicine could arrest the disease, but the diet could not provide the foundation for recovery?
Yet the IMF doctors were also digging their own squeeze more blood from a body than it's got. The underdeveloped moves tries now owe so much that they can't
hope to pay their debts. Three Latin American countries his Brazil and Mexico — owe more than
$200bn of total against estimated
billion dollars. This approaches S150 for every person "Imperialist' for inhabitant. would require 154 per cent of its exports.
Socialist Action
THE POVERTY BROKERS
The IMF and Latin America
Latin American Bureau £3.25
DEBT PER CAPITA: 1960, 1970, 1980, 1982
1960 19/0
In.a n.a
270
133 Dominican KeDuolic
5mm
бо = 165 12 1590 n.a.
202
Foo=
Trinidad and Tobago 133
Sources: Table 2 and 3 for total debt figures. Population figures from IDB Annual
reserves. A afford buy.
Plug system
'having met all the terms and
and having
nevertheless to conquistadores 'Aztec Gold'
You
coun-
Argentina,
world debt powerful at around one thousand
world.
Argentina owes $1500
Repayment
this book.
25 November 1983 9
1900 1982 1,392 575 707 557 1,144 357 •n.a 536 893 1,552 269 394 1,118 1,578
460 813 192 312 126 214 944 n.a n.a. 513 540 752 П1.c 1,032 1,497
660 /UN n.a. 621 1,209 800 2,044 911
The entire banking system is embroiled. US banks lend out up to $28 of non-existent money for every $1 of
• major LDC default -now being contemplated by Brazil -could trigger a world run on the banks and a near total collapse of the bank-
Proposals
The book finishes by looking al proposals for 'reform' of the IMF as a larger-scale lender to help out the banks. This would simply send 'bad money after good'. The underlying problem is that the productive capacity and markets corresponding to the existing debt simply don't exist, or ex
• mind of city slickers who think of the third world as the
treated of the new world four hundred years ago.
Poverty Brokers finishes by saying "There is a fundamental conflict of in. terest between the vast majority of people living in the LDCs and the
Cele which control the western nations'.
If you want to understand why this conflict is now exploding into a war across three continents - read
Page 10 scan of this page
Decisive action PAY UP NALGO
10
THE PROPOSED ra-
tionalisation of the
Land Rover group in
British Leyland, with
the loss of 1560 jobs,
is yet another move
towards privatisation
in BL.
When Land Rover
was organised as
separate group within
BL, the workforce
was reduced from
14,500 and 9000.
Productivity in the
last year alone rose by 14
per cent. The latest
is to
centralise Land Rover
production at the Birm-
wigh the closure of six
the closure of six
Midlands plants and a
major component plant
in Cardiff.
This plan is to be
phased over eighteen
months and completed
by 1985. In Cardiff, an ALMOST 1200 NALGO residental social workers are on all-out strike and a further 24,000 are taking selective action in support of a national claim for improved pay and working conditions. slogan of 'be fair to those who care' they are demanding parity with most other public sector workers -a 35 hour week payments.
takes home no more than £60 a week while an officer-in-charge of a medium size children's home takes home no more than £80.
onsas from ever dil. responses from the ferent local authorities, and the different strengths of the action locally, the old negotiations' has recently
local settlement hạs
OCCU made Wolverhampton against the policy of the union.
Some strong 'left wing' branches London argue. as they did in the 19:8-9 dispute, that strong branches should negotiate *cally. They good local settlements would push ouTe employers settle tionally or locally. dispute the rejection the But during Jocal settlement' tactic by ciner sections of the left was vindicated by the out-
settlements and or tal
settlements the disastrous drawn-out strike in Tower Hamlets.
Only a good national settement benett lne bulk of the members.
Despite the support for local settlements from
leaderships, the 17 November National Delegate Meeting of residential workers and branch officers ruled out local settlements. The
Socialist Action 25 November 1983
Rover battle begins
area of high unemploy-
ment, 600 more jobs will go with the BL closure.
By an AUEW member, Cardiff
Privatisation in Land Rover British Leyland has so far taken fie Torin. plants and purchase of OHIONS side sources.
But wịth separate
accountin ltered
the
through riant status, cannot rule out the sale
SOCIOT private industry at some stage in the future.
Management has
been up to dodgy tricks already. After the closure on 11 November, the Cardiff plant was leafletted by management tell-
Residential social workers
needed t
Under the
and unsocial hours and shift
At present the average residential social worker
neeting responded to the
all from the 'Shire' coun ties not to leave weaker areas to fight alone.
By Carolyn Sikorski (Newham Nalgo, personal capacity)
Delegates also called for ballots for national escalation of the action for social hours only' working and a day of action on 7 December.
The meeting also agreed that the action would continue until steward in the Kent County branch, sacked for supporting strike, is reinstated.
Problem
The problem faced by the residential social workers is the same as that faced by the health workers last year and the POEU now. Can selective
Tones?
The experience of other
de.
The residentiai social of WORKERS BOrE 700,000 strong union. Bụt
NALGO leadership has abstained from bring-
ing the workforce that any resistance to closure would DUEL redundancy payments at risk.
To date no details of the closure schedule have been given to the trade unions.
Oppositior the
with the workforce fully supporting plant leadership. An initial response Dy une steward: to the closure announce-
press for support from Labour MPs and the Cardiff City and County Council.
Jim Callaghan for spoken out against the closure and pleaged me support. Plant and
WIll Labour leader Neil Kinnock, Jim Callaghan and Tony Benn are being discussed as part of defence campaign.
A plant defence com-
NA
NALGC
NOW!
Residential workers demand better pay and conditions behind the claim. the whole WHOS
The dispute will be difficult to win. Despite the fact that the claim is five ycals ola. the emplovers are refusing to negotiate nationally and are no
nuce dr sioo steward and local AUEV members has been set up, which met on November in Cardiff.
For Cardiff to win, opposition will be need
across all the Land Rover Group. Resistance is being coordinated with the Midlands plants to prevent isolation.
The stewards see a simiaritv between their struggle and the anti-
battles privalsalon the National Health Service, British Telecom and other areas of the public sector. liance acros lie all They ferent public sector
Resistance to the Carditt closure is to be taken right across South Wales the AUEW and the Labour Party. doubt weighing the cost of
national SCLICHICH both in financial terms and
terms 01 Conscoutl strengthening of union organisation.
The local authorities will try to make public sec-
RIP.
wir
SAYS
PAY
NO
tor workers , pay for the cuts by covering for vacant posts and cooperating with closures and compulsory redeployment The dispute will be won by giving the residential workers the support
CRIP
THE ROVER WILLINOI
Rover workers in the Midlands have already lost jobs in plant closures
Up
they need from the rest of NALGO and the rest of the labour movement to build towards an all-out strike Ironically this year's NALGO national pay claim will almost certainly
In the Unions
STIC
TODAY (Notwork
include a £99 per week minimum wage, but this is not being linked to the social workers' fight.
Unfortunately in many Case SUDOOr from local Labour councillors has been at best lukewarm Even left-wing Labour councillors have denounced the claim as 'excessive' and put themselves into a position acting 'tough' employers. At wo some Labour Coul cils have used disgraceful laches to bican bie actiol
Police
amples are the 'left' Labour councils Southwark and Lambeth In Southwark police called to be on duty for se
hours to enforce the closure of children's home. The Instant Response Unit (SPG for PION TO Notwork short) was s used to remove chlaren from the home and management then vandalised the premises.
It not at all clear wad Comrade these local councils think they are doing by attack ing s his Fashimon is cute
fashion It is tain, however, that when the time comes they will •alscover inal ine Only was they can protect their services from destruction by the Tories is a joint campaign with the public sector unions.
going to • be dit ficult for the left in NALGO to convince the membership of the need for this, after their claim was attacked by 'socialist' councillors.
Page 11 scan of this page
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Page 12 scan of this page
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Newham 8
trial
* Bloody
alliance to
THE BITTER BATTLE now raging on the northern suburbs of Tripoli and the Palestinian camp refugee camp at Baddawi threatens the very existence of the PLO as an independent organisation. The hundreds of people killed in the battle have not died in pursuit of a simple inter-Palestinian dispute. What is at stake is whether the PLO will be brought under total Syrian control.
The fighting, which has already lasted more than two weeks, started with the 'rebel' attack on Narh elBarid refugee camp Tripoli — a stronghold of pro-Arafat forces. PLO fightersin the Bek'aa While many
have gone over to Masa, the mass of Palesti TeDes Abu nian civiians both in the Lebanon and on the West
remain tried They understand
well that the Arafat- •Wil led PLO is the only significant Palestinian force that
remet control by ne Arab
statese dispute in the PLO The developed od the defeat sue- conse-
again fered at the hands of the
last year. Many Palestinian fighters criticised the decision by Arafat to abandon Beirut.
They claimed the PLO was
unprepared for the attack. But Abu Masa
SUDDORCS lave fatal mistake in developing •ar alliance sions with Syria.
Syrian president Assad is not concerned with mak- tively ing the PLO more power- with ful, only with destroying it as an independent fighting organisation. Assad wants to make Syria the decisive
in Middle East the country with united States and Israel have to deal to
Gospel Hall killings
THE KILLING of three people at the Mountain
Lodge Pentecostal church in Darkley, Armagh, is a
provocation against the struggle of the nationalist
people of Ireland. Whatever the intentions of its
perpetrators, it can only serve the interests of the
British state
discredit the struggle of the nationalist movement.
A group calling itself
the 'Catholic Reaction
Force' claimed credit for
the shootings. There are
only two possibilities
about the identity of this
group: either it is a lunatic
cover security forces
organisation.
The Provisional IRA
smash the PLO
the seven miles to the north of
make peace in the region. Syria's occupation of part of Lebanon is vital to that project.
After the Israeli withdrawal to the Awali river, Assad systematically
- LO bring all antiIsraeli forces under his for
control. synd nOW arms the Druze militias it is difficult for them to engage in serious fighting without Shi'ite Assad's Muslim assell
militias are more independent politically, but
rely heavily Syrian military assistance.
By Paul Lawson
By making the PLO a Syrian-controlled organisation, Assad can utilise the Palestinians as an important bargaining counter to gain conces-
from the United States and Israel. At thi for Syrian forces were effec Geneva talks the
discussing a deal the United States whereby the Palestinian would launching. attacks against the Israelis, return for recognition of Syria's central role in Lebanon and the ending the LebaneseIsraeli peace agreement
Provocation against
nationalist struggle
to deepen sectarian divides and
was quick to condein the senseless sectarian shootings. Given the increasing mass support which the Republican movement enjoys it is inconceivable that such an action carried out by the active service units of the IRA — and in any case blind sectarian
so-called 'troop withdrawal agreement'. The United States seems for the moment prepared to go along with such an agreement.
With the PLO destroyed as an indepen. dent military factor the Palestinians on the West Bank will be gravely demoralised. Reagan hopes that a new puppet 'moderate' leadership will emerge on the West Bank
the United States and the Israelis — perhaps to agre
'autonomous'
Palestinian region in Jordan, in return for giving up the fight against Israel
Palestinian national self-determination. rayed against the PLO are The forces formidable The Abu Masa rebels are militarily supported by both Syria and Libya. Syria has thrown its most modern tanks into the fighting, and controls the high groun overlooking the PLO positions • a nere Is now a real danger of a
of the Arafat loyalist forces.
The prescill tragic events, with Palestinian fighting Palestinian,
COlL stitutes a major setback
the anti-imperialist struggle in the whole region.
• The Labour Committee on Palestine supported by Socialist Action has sent a telegram of support lesser Araral ana a lenter to the Syrian ambassador
protesting Syria's role.
assassination is not, , and
has never been, the policy
of the IRA.
The role of the security
services in South Armagh
has been a murky one. The
SAS has "taken out'
suspected Republican ac-
tivists; it has carried out
sectarian killings in order
to discredit the IRA
cannot de rulea out : that
the SAS or a similar outfit
had a hand in this atrocity.
The British press. of
course, has all but ignored
the condemnation of the
killings by the Provisionals
UP TO one hundred and fifty striking Newham school students were part of a picket of 4-500 on Monday 14 November outside the Old Bailey, where the trial of the Newham 8 started last week. The Asian students have continued to picket the court all week with other groups of supporters.
Predictably, the Director of Education and the heads of the schools in volved have been trying to victimise and intimidate these students. The police have also been harassing students known to be involved in the campaign.
In the last few weeks there have been further serious racial attacks at Little Ilford School and the only response of the head has been to claim that Asian students are causing. the trouble. Labour Councillors and NUT activists will be taking these issues up.
By a Newham NUT member
On the first day of the trial the defence SuCcessfully challenged the composition of the jury and it now consists of five Afro-Caribbean and
Asian one rose scion
whites. prosecution have dropped the charge
conspiracy, leaving charges of causing an afIray and serious assault
The defence barristers are challenging every scrap of police evidence have begun the detailed process of tearing it to shreds, much to the pleasure of the defendants and their supporters who
filling Lne public gallery.
The pickets have had some problems from racist
the Old Bailey. Pickets will CORLEC from throughou 9-11am and the
1.30-2pm For details your day to picket phone the defence alicals on 01-555 (day) or 01-534 1640 (eves).
— for the press it is an excellent opportunity to attack 'terrorists' without distinctions. they inform their readers,
passing vast majority of the vic tims • ot sectarian murder:
the six counties have
butchered by the "Red Hand Commando' and other Loyalist 8. cups
The self defense of the Catholic community completely justified; blind sectarian atrocity can never be.
← Socialist Action No. 34, 18 November 1983Socialist Action No. 36, 2 December 1983 →