Socialist Challenge No. 170, 30 October 1980

Socialist Challenge · 30 October 1980 · 16 pages, 18,879 words read by machine

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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.

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Page 1 scan of this page

Challenge

ALL OUT 15 NOVEMBER

Socialist

Don't Let the Irish prisoners die

SAVE

prisoners-of-war,

we not only

So began another brave but chapter in Ireland's long and history.

The seven prisoners Brendan Hughes, McKearney, Tom McFeely, John Nixon, Ray HeY. Sean McKenna eo "reen to fast until death.

British agrees to the demands of the H Block orsoners, colmn: will be brought out of Long Kesh by Christmas.

statement hunger-strikers unal mie acuoi owes mituence only perpetuation of four long

Yeralised torine ann

precedenter

within H Block and Armagh

That torture has been af-

irmed b thọp

Commissior Rights, Amnesty ,tional, and even the British

THEM!

SMUGGLED announced to the world on Monday:

'We, the undersigned Republican

carcerated in the H Blocks of Long Kesh, firmly declare that from today, 27 October 1980, we shall embark upon a hunger-strike to demand that

treated as political prisoners, also as human beings.'

tragic

troubled

McCarteTTO have pledged Unless government

of the explains the *

barbarity

European Human Interna-

communication

presently

be recognised

government's own Bennett

Report into interrogation of the Republican prisoners

testified pusuucs wcre ucalcu tt

umulan ane cecracins treatment' when they were arrested and interrogated and that victed on the sole basis ol

CORL ESSLOHS acquired by

The prisoners furthe argue tha it's the political

condition.

Irland which have led to tem veing wnere are today

The move announced by the government last week to allow prisoners in the north of Ireland to wear 'civilian-

Cenouği the Torey cin bi

forced to drop their intranSicHt aLuLuue For those in Britain the

mirst major opportunity le exert such pressure comes

Saturday I Nove ber

Committee Withdrawal from Ireland is NO OHIO demonstration in London in

extend the

the

agamat

week. It

special conference.

withdrawal.

in- Blocks.

from

chalns unlre

and

but

and CCmOSL aLC November..

Gen CAIS

assemble

solidarit Downing Street

is strong can be TOM

Hall. 7.30 pm

mccus a

Assemble -nanona

MICHL.

Labour leadership:

no support for Foot

its phoney election of the party leader, cynical disregard for the conference

franchise.

The National Executive Committee took a stand

election last demanded that Labour MPs halt the election and 'suspend normal practice' until the January sapport of fish unitritinh Britist

such a cal is necessarl linked to the issue of the H the statement says: While the Irish nator nunger and at war wih anale covernment. torture in ine risons and oppression o e streets will always exis

hunger strikers, the rest of une mmates or cone cesı Armagh women on 15

Activities School of Eeonomics, October: London stu-

Ipm, October: Central Lon- Old Theatre. union NECCLIL Polytechnic students Cavendish site. 1pm 1 November: East London TOM demo starting at Geifrye Museum, Kingsland Rd at noon. National women's

be Dunh Guldial

Market Place, Durhan 7 November: Two-day fast outside . 6pm Friay to opm sunda November: W Lond

Nelson Room, Balei To an

ing at aviso pbli

Tavistock Rd, NW10. 8pm h ovem ger. Nanondi demonstration for SErITISI Ireland. 1pm, Embank-

No.169 THE Parlamentary Labour Party will go ahead with

likely tions the

call the

Now the aneae taare tendency Tor Ine

go candidate

Tent Callaghan's

eader on th

ment.

right, COlOrOmISO

be de oribe ett

Committee

of the

up.

Prison

liberties

government crisis in caused dustrial prison

them

demns

periods in jail.

porary,

tion

he without béfore

iberties

30 October 1980 20p

showing a decision to

left LESOa to the Nau call Tor susDensio! of the election. But it

that their resoluwill be rejected by Unfortunately the NEC has not begun to organise the party ranks

MPs to ac-

election goes will

'make the best of it' and

Michael Foot to keep out Healey.

This is not a consis

position to take resignation Nas designed to foist

wind be an ceptable to the

bosses and the establish-

Foot, although he is

nigt th is an acept the

an acceptable was Callaghan's main lieute nant, and can in no way

described as a can

the candidate U1 MOS01 S2U HG OU110

Tinte docin Bon har

Both the Campaign for Labour

the Democracy Rank and File Mobilisinc

and the Co-ordinating together with the NEC must campaign tor a continuatior

boycott and against support for Foo

WIUE OF WWOuL FUr the election remains part ot une right wing s surch

eok$*****

decision -

attack on

THE response of the

to Ine the prisons by the inaction of officers, is predictably draconian.

In particular, the new without having to before power to remaro susDect

bring regularly magistrates potentially con-

HULEICLOUS people 100 1200 101 SAPUOIM victed of an offence to long

Whitelaw's Bill is a 'tem-

'emergency" mons te. So wastheprexet-

Terrorism Act

which enabled prisoners to held fbeing

seven days brought - and that Act is still in force six years

INSIDE

POLAND We interview Lech Walesa

on the future of the

pages 8/9

MISSILES How 80,000 came to fight

them page 3

GARDNER'S

Engineering occupatior

Centers sixth week page 4

LABOUR

LEADERSHIP Our assessment of Micahe]

page 6

Page 2 scan of this page

A new stage of the anti-Tory

Jobs Not

Bombs!

- Socialist

Challenge's

big

campaign

THE NEW movement which burst on to London's streets last weekend is a giant slap in the face for the Tories' war plans.

Thatcher has backed

to the hilt the campaign coordinated by the White nouse worlawide to ae fend profits abroad and at

American and European workers to support wars

Middle East and Central

bean. Vast sums are being

nuclear and conventional

perialists are attempting to force through austerity prodrammes ano massive unemployment to jack up

meeting resistance; from the workers and peasants of the third world and from the American, Euro-

the imperialist's defence of their profit system has to be laken acep into tne labour movement by demanding that not a •cums seen on are. ments and instead that the imperialists pay the whole cost ot a brogramme of social expenditure that can meet social need and employ the jobless. Jobs not Bombs!

JOBS NOT BOMBS MEETINGS

Laces 28 Oct Edinburgh 5 Nov East London West London

12 Nov Leicester

JOBS NOT BOMBS East London Socialist Gnaenge PUBLIC MEETING

WIn KEVIN COEN.

PLUS panel discussion

IUCODAY II NOVEMBCA

own Hall

Socialist

London N1 2XP.

the IMG and its activities fill in the box below.

Name....

Adresss..

Union.:

Socialist Challenge 30 October 1980 : Page 2

THIS article is an edited version or te perspec tives resolution adopted Marxist Group's entral International committee meeting in October.

THERE was a decisive development at Labour Party ference at the beginning of this month.

In the eyes of hundreds of thousands of working class militants, a political alternative emerged not only Callaghan and the right wing of the Labour Party, but also to Margaret Thatcher's monetarism.

The name of political alternative Bennism.

Consensus

The reverberations Blackpool will accelerate the breakdown of the social and political consensus established on the spoils of empire between ine brush runng class and the bureaucracy labour movement.

It is possible to view the emergence of Tony Benn as the undisputed leader

Laboul ICIl resumption of a process that reached its last high the winter of 1973-74.

At the October 1973 conference the Labour Party had adopted most manTestO since the 1950s; Benn was the architect of this triumph, and most importantly the trade movement was on ine eve or throwing out the 'lame duck' Tory government headed by Edward Heath.

Recession

The triumphal was interrupted.

Tonowed coreeded the molee Sirests OCCASI political correspondents and the most pessimistic forecasts of the left.

he onset of ine deenest economic recession since the

30s found the working class without an answer.

Benn was removed from the key of Minister. The left as a whole began to suffer reverses in the labour ment, THOSE spectacularly in the Engineering Union.

Real living standards tell dramatically, unemployment doubled under the the recession. The

Challenge

Socialist Challenge is sponsored by the International Marxist Group and published weekly. Correspondence to Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50 Editorial and distribution phone 01-359 8180 or 8189. For further information about

Age....

Phone..

its

the

con-

st Challenge

this

was unanimous in all quarters

absence of a credible political alternative,

of the fight for.

left fought alone.

This sentiment, typical of

of retlected

the pessimism among the bosses that the point in are making now will not get

their lust reward in the future.

The economic policies of the natcher government are left-wing designed to ensure that when

early British industry

the recession it higher productivity,

union profits, rationalised and slim-

med down:

This is the reason for the ferocity of the attacks of the government on the working class. Now the so sure that those attacks will succeed. progress Unity Events that cowball

The bosses' problems are the labour portunities. whole working necessary to take the fight the The theme and the Labour Party uniting in action against the Tories is the firsi element of a strategy Industry against Thatcher's

series or The greatest weakness of

move- the Labour Party conference

was the tendency expressed by Tony Benn in counterpose willing the nght for socialism and democracy blows of to ine use ot industrial muscie diagnosis to get rid of the Tories.

the anti-Tory struggle.

rlans Include

computer time and ensuring reliability.

newspaper.

Home News

200 people attended the IMG's London rally against the war drive

Luce wasn the first year something government.

The revolutionary

not unboardroom opideep the labour movement.

Surprise

'sacrifices' that they

was nicooled perience of

pulls out of will be with higher against the vised nothing less complete

steelworkers took bosses aren' out for 13 weeks.

There The aftermath of

tide But unity of the movement's wasted over class seven months of 1980 Tories forward. of trade unions met at the September figures number of govern- jumped by August. The

little direct

particular deal with Callaghan Under the the Alternative Strategy pledgec

AMBITIOUS new targets were set for the development of the International Marxist Group at its central committee this month. The object of the new party-building plan is to give the organisation a solid basis for expanding its campaigning work in the industrial unions, in the new stage of

Target 1. A development fund drive for the £100,000 to buy and equip a permanent national centre for the organisation.

the development of the press system of the IMG, installation of

equipment saving valuable

apaRt. A 25 percent increase cist.

circulation.

movement EDITORIAL

The absent factor continued to exert an influence in

of the Tory But underneath a more persistent and enduring process was beginning to reassert itselt - the continu ing and growing strength ot

While the working class

by the Sexthe Callaghan government i was not beaten.

Those on the left who, despair of national struggles

government, adinan ine reconstruction the shop stewards movement were taken by surprise as the

Thatcher's challenge and slugged it

were more tests. the steel strike saw closures at Consett and Warrington as part of a

redundancies third of million jobs in the manufac turing sector alone in the first

When the TUC Congress

beginning unemployment revealed jobless had 20 per Ceri TUC leaders, easily intimidated and feeling

pressure from attempted a

'left cloak' of Economic they falteringly themserve.

BUILD THE PARTY

Challenge circulation department is launching an appeal for every supporter to sell one extra paper to meet the target. Target 3. For 500 new subscriptions.

All supporters are subscription to the paper. That way you can ensure you get the paper every week, you pay for your own copy in advance and help the paper by providing a much needed cash boost.

Target 4. A 25 pledges to the IMG was appealed for by* the central committee. which are donations given to the IMG on top of membership dues would meet the new target if every IMG member gave 50p a week extra. * More details of the campaign in next week's Socialist Challenge.

workers fragile are over lie bondie Issues WUL! welcolncu a bracing Chinale,

urged to take a per cent increase in

The pledges

the

There will be no future Labour government, whether of the left or right, unless the struggle to remove the Tory government is taken forward by the whole labour move

In this context preparing for the coming confrontations with the Tories, and in particular for general strike action, has to

cultuous theme of campaigns like those building up to 29 November. he bour movement.

CUst une

Labour Carly the policies of class struggle rather than the class col laboration policies of the traditional left is necessary to win these battles

Industry

To achieve these victories that lett wing has to be based within those sectors of industry which do decide. the big industrial concentrations of Britain

This is why any revolu-

which wants to relate to these

British political life and plas its part in resolving them wi be an organisation based in

industrial unions, the organisation walch ine. Ivie is fighting to build today.

Page 3 scan of this page

80,000 AGAINST

TYNESIDE CO FORE EUROPEAN

All pictures by Pete Grant (Socialist Challenge)

Edward Thompson

Thousands of young people

turned out

heard from the platform...

By Phil Hearse

movement.

paigning.

From every part of the country, thronged

tail of the march was still leaving Hyde Park. Prominent among strators were CND groups, Labour Party arge women's comicent and groups of every kind • estimate of oper so, an Even the police une march. 10050. Many to the mea

occupation, militants from Taller SIDDORI engineering for jobs.

the was an undoubted and overwhelming success ingboard for a truly huge

campaign that in the coming months. but weren't

Socialist Challenge

CRUISE

WITH three years to stop the Cruise missiles, the campaign against them is already a mass

Sunday's through Central London of over 80,000 people showed the immense response that has been gained in the past nine months of cam-

: demonstrators future of the campaign, and while the the possibility of Inal it can

demon- tors who march (and branches, ing), and rally and peace tney sald).

One noticeable positive feature of the composition of of the demonstration was the hug роротоп or young peo Many of the mar ple. walle many veterans …ot the

Manchester there, contingents of Youth TOI workers' fight porters life to the march. demonstration A new come into the fight against — a spr- Ine bomb. unions were all but absent can be built - the big battalions of tr organise labour MUES

Stop the missiles

Lande SATCHES

THE MISSILES

mobilised. demonstration

This weakness. and -assue campaigners

But the problems of the

win unis ume lor une new ycal The was on shown by as om is. speakers on who was on Diallorin cana wild

the home. rel one Ronn than 20.

The

VASSICs SUD speakers, contributed some Brigadier Harbottle World generation has Campaign (which

Laot tion, and sonalities.

PIMLICO

A SCHOOLKIDS

AGAINST

AGAVNOISE

0837-137

ment, the forces who can acmay we cal cansi the missiles, had not been

march Conference rom tae Dator

of the future was grave lo overcome the

Manchester nave taken tne

organising alone in he missess If it had done

day's

weakness sort of mobilising the platform.

Challenge Tony Benn was there, right-

using the supposed threat of THONG

We proposed that

there Wat Will y SocaKcI.

Todd, out of more CND organisers preferred to give a platform

the movement is run.

To TrOM Disarmament unilateralist), a Liberal MP

labour the United Nations Associa-

pero e TURNOUL

The composition of the conference

platform and the wooliness • me speeches were an in. sult to the tens of thousands of youth who had made the

so massive not a

of the cam

forthcoming conterence. Will CND make a easive one anon to me trade unions and the youth?

last Sun demonstration could

of the committee for march, supporters strongly urged that the tradi

…ne more Involved Arthur Scargill be invited to speak This we believe down.

believe CND has to make a shift in direcuon. and tales saructure. must be onened our so that affiliated organisations can have more of a say in how

capitalise on the suc

tion we have to ensure the

of the movement con-

TOT • the speaker.

FOLLOWED COVERN EN INSTRUCHONS Ron Todd (TGWU) - sole trade union ::Șocialist Challenge: 30 October 1980 Page 3

Page 4 scan of this page

GARDNER'S OCCUPATIC

Support

across the

By Pete Clifford

THE Gardner's strikers are

working hard to

UcL oue

oorc. inay ve sont cereda.

Tons Liverpool, Hud-

dersfield,

Accrington _ondón

lasgow Edinburgh, and

Invitations are flooding in for Gardner's speakers

They alroady visited

local factories like Adam.

, LanKEO

nioriae, Massoy's and GEC. Support

Convenor Tom MacafSocialist TA8 ToHo

Challenge: 'I'm expecting tremendous support

decause people call S68 wat Thany said "Enough is enough" and taken some action

sent [æ from the Joint Shop Stewards Com. MILOe :no wi oe reviewing their donation weekly. Lambeth Trades Council who sponsoring week 's conference against uie wowy cuts, nave backed ue occuoaton , along with other local unions.

The from Huddersfield been Grbal. I V0 local CouncH •acker the

strik er amd se Prer up.

NICOLIVES colecalod collected f50 for the occupa-

At the bus garage, the TGWU has organised sup-

collections: huddersiero •ranch sent a teleoram ano donation, and the AUW district committee given its support

Fifty-five JOU IE tended Socialist Challen t. MonCHeSe

last week organise solidarity shop from the lant captaliod the Gardner s WOrKerS CASe.I Ron Thompson convenor from JS Neils ii Sheffield political significance of the arauc s occupation

Page 5 scan of this page

JN - 6 WEEKS AND

'A determined fightback can change the situation. The committee is pledged to wage a sustained campaign ingham labour movement to support the Gardner's occupation'.

The statement is signed by eight members of the Engineering Union's south district committee, three Labour coun-

engineering district committee chairperson of the Lucas Birmingham area senior shop stewards, Larry Connolly.

Committee

At a public meeting on Monday called by the Communist Party to build solidarity for Gardner's, it was agreed to unite behind the newly-established Birmingham support commitee.

To obtain speakers, publicity material, or collection forms, contact: Gardner's Support Committee, c/o 107 dington, Birmingham 23. Tel. or 021-384 4322.

The committee is asking all Birmingham trade union branches, shop stewards etc to affiliate.

All photo's _ Gardners

the Birm-

Birmingham

of the Transport Union ers

huge and the stration

the Missiles labour

Page 6 scan of this page

Foot-no friend of the left

By Vanessa Wiseman

CUTS in public spending

£2,000m; the probable

thousands of public sector jobs, and

complete ban

building are the grim background to

the Local Government in Crisis con-

ference to be held this Saturday.

It has been called by the Labour group,

LOWI hall unions, and trades council,

constituency Labour Party in Lambeth, and

will take place at Camden Town Hall.

Delegations are coming from trade unions

and CLPs across the country,

most of the

councils.

The organising committee will present a

joint plan of action for Labour councils and

trade unions. Unions are being asked to take

industrial action next January,

crunch is likely to come for those councils

which refuse to make cuts.

Councils are being asked to play their part

in the action by refusing to make supplemen-

tarv rates and rent increases this vear. by mak-

ing no cuts in jobs or services, and by refusing

to run down direct labour

houses.

The organising committee feels strongly

that it is only by councils taking a stand and

letting trade unions see that they're not ex-

pected to carry out a fight on their own that

there can be the sort of joint action which was

supported overwhelmingly at the Labour ParBy Dave Hudson LABOUR MPs will decide this week to trample the decisions of the party conference in Blackpool and proceed with the election of a new leader before the January special conference decides on a new procedure to broaden the franchise.

Michael Foot's belated decision to stand, after much arm twisting, is mainly due to divisions among trade union leaders.

Many union leaders feel under pressure to take public stand on the direction of a future government and party leadership that will distance them from the record of the last one.

They are concerned, too, to have a Labour leadership with whom they can col laborate in a new 'social contract'.

For many of them Denis Healey is no such candidate.

He was the

Harrap most responsible for the 5 per

cent pay norm which put the lorry drivers and the public sector workers on the picket lines in the winter of 1978-79.

The union leaders knew that after sion not to call a general elecLOE in the of 1978, the flood tide could not be contamed. The resuit was the so-called 'winter discontent'. Courage

Foot's attraction is that he

an avowed compromiser with close links with the trade umons. He would be more responsive to their problems.

What are Foot's real politics? government of 19749, he was the Leader of the House of Commons, an important position in the cabinet. leading advocate of the Social Con-trick, Foot moved rapidly to the right.

There is no evidence that he ever opposed the rightwing politics of Callaghan and Heale It was Foot who

aldly told his constituents i

Socialist Challenge 30 October 1980 Page 6.

of over

loss of

on council house

and

together with Labour groups from big city

when the or sell council Ebbw Vale, who were faced with massive jobs-loss and the closure of the local plant, that they had to show 'courage' rather than back.

It was Michael Foot who was put up at Labour Party conferences defend Social Contract, and dress up defence of right-wing policies with talk of the 'red flame of socialist courage'. In Foot acted as a creature of the Callaghan-Healey leadership, defending their every move.

In office he sold his left credentials.

should be no prise. Despite his announcement on the weekend to oppose Cruise missiles, wno reads rool s wrilings or hears him speak will preciate complete tification of socialism namentary his slavish respect for onusa consutuuon

Michael Foot remains the choice of many centre-Labour MPs they think he will be a candidate who can unite the party and marginalise Benn. believe that Healey provocation to the left, and more trouble than he's worth. Giant

Since they also know that Benn would be utterly unacceptable to the bourgeoisie and precipitate

political crisis if elected to the Labour leadership, of tion mat Foot rather than tion that Healey presents the best line of defence against Benn and

militants him.

The pundits still mainly support Foot. Healey is more ruthless than the indecisive Callaghan, and the most ready to impose his will on the party and pur-

a tiready the media

policies. are building him up as some michellal glan ana stales• man.

Leaving aside the stitutional issues this fraudulent PLP election, Foot cannot beseen as a can-

the special conference.

ty conference.

As Lambeth council leader Ted Knight said recently: "The options open to us have so narrowed that the onlv alternative is controntation with this government to break its policy or oust it.'

He went on to sav: it mav be necessarv for the labour movement to contravene legal instructions given by Heseltine. I don't think we can consider a law designed to punish the working class movement as sacrosant and always to be obeyed.' Conflict

Unfortunately Ted Knight's actions don't

quite live up to his words. has decided stil council nouses presently in conflict with the local NALGO branch, which is refusing to co-operate with the sales and has won national backıng from the union.

Socialist Challenge supporters at November CULCICIE will be councils not to continue this back-sliding, but to reverse their decision to sell council homes. Heseltine's moratorium building adds to the urgency of banning sales.

Socialist Challenge supporters will also be supporting Liverpool NALGO's demand for

steel THE UN

fight

FOOT

the

short,

SULT

alluse

apidenwith sovereignty;

the

'moderate',

because

They

will be a

huge

many

rather than

support

rather than

class

coninvolved in

This

that the left, must not makę:..' role in the last Labour government

Labour Party

Local government conference to

consider call for industrial action

ments,

from Lambeth

Lambeth council is penalised.

the 1 arguing for living standards'.

on council house

00+7

Michael.Foot: a comment on his

no rent or rate rises to compensate for government cuts. We have consistently argued that huge rate rises are just a different way of passing on the cuts to working people.

Ted Knight now says: 'Even if we raise rates again we cannot protect certain services. such as direct labour or engineering depart-

and it would impose burden on working class families.'

We shall also be supporting amendments

Trades Council, NUT, and Lambeth NALGO, all of which strengthen the calls for action.

They call for a systematic campaign after the conference to win support in the labour movement for the plan of action, including a canvan o a -our sakes an occumaons of workplaces as soon as any Labour council

Barnsley CLP, which has the active participation of South Yorkshire miners, has put in an amendment urging the TUC General Council 'to prepare a plan for a general strike in protection of working class interests and

The conference gives us a chance to build a strong movement of Labour councils and unions to fight the government's policies.

The best movements are built with strong leadership and we must fight for Lambeth

CEPTABLE

00+3

MALGU

Lambeth

and every other

stand alone

*Vanessa Lambeth Trades

For rates rises,

Taranti his

Labour council to be prepared to offer it, even if it means taking a

Wiseman is president of

Council and will be speaking at a fringe meeting on 'No rent and No Cuts' during the lunch break at the 1 November con

Rodgers

faces

"clarification'

of his

views

By Dave Carter

BILL Rodgers once said

that he had received little criticism from his constituents over his stand against unilateral disarmament and in

of Cruise missiles.

Labour's • notorious shadow spokesperson on defence and member of the Gang of Three can no longer use that excuse for his defiance of Labour Party conference decisions.

Cleveland Peace Campaign

organised a meeting on Peace and

Disarmament in Rodger tuency DALU Unico last Fridav. with Rodgers as the main speaker. Over a hundred people trone de hood there was demote

there was almost universal hostility views on cerence

SHif was criticised for dishonesty in not out that his Case for

commullet meers ang was directly financed by NATO

He was attacked for stating

essential 'democratic' way of life, when in fact MPs Were onesile decision consulted over the

NOURCIS be

only because it was too expensive and not a lot of use to NATO in his opany floor speakers called on Rodgers Labour

concent unilateralism International Marxist Group demanded the withdrawal of Bri tain from NATO and the removal

Labour Party

Hopefully with special general • Ville

Stocktor

views on everything from defence to the election of the his renoval oh race ty leader

Page 7 scan of this page

25,000 DEMONSTRATE IN BELFAST

By Geoff Bell MAURA McKearney told a packed press conference at the Commons on Monday:

'My son is a victim of desperate circumstances in our country. I suppose they have existed for 800 years, but certainly for the last ten years.

'He is a well-educated young man. Someone: who has no right in our country. him to where he is today. i'm proud that ne has the guts to be prepared to die for his beliefs and his country.'

Obstinacy

Maura is the mother McKearney, one of the prisoners in the H Blocks of Long Kesh in the North of Ireland who started their hunger strike for political status on Monday.

When Maura was asked at the press conference whether she was willing to 'appeal to your son to stop this action', she made clear that the only call she was going to make would be to the British government.

A statement from her and relatives of the other obstinacy of the British authorities in Ireland' for the hunger strike.

It continued: solved. All that is required is for the British government to end its stupid and illogical attitude.'

Maura was speaking in London the day after the streets of Belfast had echoed to the chants of the largest demonstration seen so far on the issue of the Irish political prisoners.

The organisers of the demonstration, the National H Block Committee, estimated that 25,000 took part in the show of solidarity with the hunger strikers — underlining the massive popular feeling that is building up behind the hunger strikers in Ireland. Stunts

The large turn-out also showed that few in Ireland were fooled by the propaganda stunt announced by the Tory Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Humphrey Atkins, days before the start of the hunger strike.

This allowed all male north of to clothing' This offer was described by the National H Block Committee as 'a calculated and callous deceit'. It did not even meet the first demand of the prisoners — to be allowed to wear their own clothes.

All that was on offer was a change to a more 'civilian style' uniform and possibly a more extensive choice of shirts.

The reaction of the prisoners to this 'concession' was furious. decision to go on hunger strike a statement

By Tom Marlowe

arrests under

the Prevention of Ter-

or arrests tor criminal

donald Cars Stored

and searched and an in-

demonstrations

London's heavily

district

Kilburn the

catalogue

end of solidarity in Lon

don with We n DIOCH

nunger strikers.

Highspot

But such harass-

TOUL did not damper

hundreds took

part in series

the week.

which the

from

coralet reminist con

ference who demons-

trated outside Dowr

street and

Rochester Road police

STON

evening.

Other events includ-

House of drove of Tommy

seven political

blamed 'the

"The hunger strike can be

widespread four

prisoners in the

'civilian-style homes.

using

in London.

Reaffirming the H Block at CND demo

ed demonstrations and

Lon On. North London

Birmingham BY

male token

the Belfast-based Relativer

side Downing St on the

hunger

smuggled out of the H Blocks the following day declared:

It is quite clear that the British are engaged in a cruel piece of teasing, and, to defuse the momentum of growing support for the Blanketmen, hopes to

criticism from concerned Irish people, and give an erroneous impression that it is taking positive steps to solve the problem.

'It knows that the resolution of certain issues will end the H Block crisis, but it continues to avoid them. and to us it remains suspect. It is more concerned with the loss of British face than with the loss of Irish lives.'

Neither the Atkins 'confidence trick', as the National H Block committee described

'concession' nor DAN previous weekend on organisers for the committee in West Belfast's Twinbrook estate, have shaken the resolve of either the prisoners or their supporters.

On the contrary the SAS attack on two

when a zu-strong gang wide variety of non-regulation firearms and

sitage- nammers. spread variety of terror, once again emphasised who the real terrorists are prisoners, but the British Army and the bosses

hunger strike proceeds all the evidence is that tens of thousands of people in Ireland will now willingly confront that army and its backers with more determination than at any time in the past ten years.

Cops swoop on Irish campaigners

strike. Belfast.

One of those taking the fast, Rose London sne victim the

Prevention

held at H eathrow arrests

airport Boyle

Awad …to tly

Ireland

deflect the

THE Irish dominated socialist

last weekend.

and Maire the MenDers

to the conference.

wielding a

arrests,

their

go to not the H Block ine

400-strong

women were being held

PTA'

Maire was

hours; being held Road

walll lu oress

weekend

Saturday were

allowed trate During short The time Rose had been in

constant obser- of various parts

Anne and Maire v nare, guests or die DIOCK.

*AVEL

British Women take

a stand on Ireland

By Sarah Roelofs and Valerie Coultas

question the third ing on feminist conference held in London

Two women, Anne Boyle

O'Hare, both A CLOU une broken Women Against Imperialism, north

UNCCI Prevention of Terrorism Act

men on Friday night on their way strike.

OCATPIIATO AANANTOTITA TITT sion was held to discuss the

, and it was decided to Downing St to protest. result was march Pauline Rochester Rd police station, despite where, it was suspected, the kidney

refused

The protestors. chanted: "Free our sisters — smash the

Half the women at the for

demand for

socialist feminist con

They were hunger strike

held the minute they ar-

rived at Heathrow. member

Arrests

Te eased

arter being neld tor 7t

Anne was I at Rochester SUNEAS Challenge Other victims of the harass

ticipants in a Sinn Pain included

demonstration held on

by f Kilburn marching and

were told by a chief in.

in Kilburn you won't be

demons-

arrests for

criminal damage were

a result of the spraying

of Lon

Foreign Saur. wit including

slogan. 'Smash H

conference attended a meet-

Ireland where three woes non Ireland talked about women's lives in the 32

Ginny, from the Relative

the rash of protests that had

out throughout the following the nouncement that the H Block

were going hunger

Abuse

She also drew attention to the plight of Armagh prisoner

McLaughlin, who, suffering trON disease has been medical a calmicill and now weighs 4.5 stone.

Ar Irish woman from the floor made a passionate plea

women regardless of their political views', to unite around the

the release of Pauline. It was suggested that if Pauline died the women in Armach might also decide to

Mulholland. of the Provisional Feminists outside Downing St.

Photos. Joenne O'Brian

Socialist feminists

outside Rochester

Road police station

protesting against

arrests under the PTA.

Sinn Fein and Women Against Imperialism, gave ar account of the physical and sexual abuse to which women are subjected at Castlereagh detention centre.

Abortion

Anne Speed, from People's Democracy and the Contraception Action Proi lill. spoke more general effects of Irish partition bolstering Lammond hierarchy in the south and encouraging repression of the Catholic minority in the north.

She said that the best thing British women could do was 'to get your army off ou streets.

The debate has only just begun earnest 1n the women's movement What was most heartening for the Irish women who came was,

Anne Speed said, that British women seemed prepared to do something

the demonstation and picket the night before had shown. Socialist Challenge 30 October 1900 Page 7'

Page 8 scan of this page

It is not true

that the

strikes are

Interview with Wojciech Gruszecki,

Solidarnosc Praesidium

struggles and last what vol unink are your first tasks?

Within framework of socialism in Poland, must blal calle gain is the democralisalon ol our lic. today ine problem is union

union members covociale Willl the

The economv.

We must take care of the levelling the great disproportions

SULICL especially the housing and agricultural life.

with the aucooperes is

the authorities possible?

the whole government. Some members the

don't understand the changes but the struggle there is still open. ¿nances nave been allnounced and there will be

the December plenum. They are beginning to deal with thefts ano corrubuon le me communist Party.

The Polish economy ransomedro une westers banks, how do you view these debts?

Poland rich

especially materials. Industries coal. we consider. should be

We can pro-

cery at into distress.

industries in some places. we is tally e nave cubit who want WOrK organisation the

and incorrect listributio the Gross National Product Wher The economy organised, we can expect an economic miracle like Japan in the next three years.

and overanor will cure lue us. u am convinced the move-

ficulties, but we will not, fo une ume vene. be mvolvca

ruling ine country despite requests.

The role of Solidarnosc is to point out the weak spots, Ine role of une government is to deal with Socialist Challenge

anti-socialist'

Polytechnic lecturer and member of the

them

The money invested in Poland brings many advan tages to the West. It means thems will at material o- that the west has no

The meat is nere but Itis being expor! to pay vil lic Hallulla Al une samne terest on ine loans is erow ing and capitalism is gaining

Lublin, Lne workers discovered

Lans labelled paint destined to: Kussia. That was the main reason for the strikes there.

In 1956, the independent unions created Tolowine the struggles were destroyed two ths. movement today different Trom inose oreviousive

•took nart in these olne struggles. Today it is dif

The Solidarnos movement classes. In 1956. the move-

uncoordlatca we were demanoing mone and improved living condi

• 1968 was a struggle of intellectuals without the support of the workme class

Conversely, in 1970, the workers in struggle without the support of the intellectuals. was ill Willly. 1976. tricle wert The Irs! Sions • or v ger ween the working class and

fruits of which can be seen today.

What role has the KOR played in the strikes?

The KOR was formed ir 1976 as a protest against the intimidation of the working class as an organisanion lo help the workers. They have played no role in the coordination of the movement,

nice as violas strike bulletin was printed by them and they ve been tant Ir talking to Western

The role of the nor des in une awakening or use consciousness dune working class.

The Western press have portrayed the strikes

Do VOU OOK at tnem in tne same light?

If this is the case, it is the same as the Polish press. We

matchloll. our luis mol true 30 October 1980 Page 8

Gdynia Gdansk

Szczecin

GERM/ Poznan

Whalubin Mroclaw Rudina

Walbrzych HOW long Polish tolerate the new

Poland workers.to

and

By Kay Carter, Socialist Challenge reporter just returned from Poland POLISH workers know the big tests are still to come. They have dent trade unions. Millions

workers them and the unions have collapsed.

BuI the threat military intervention remains. The Polish bureaucrats are roll back the gains the victorious strike wave. stalled WeeK registration of the biggest union, sondarniuse port of millions of workers.

I asked Lech Walesa, the best-known strike leader, what were the

problems had to deal with serious faults in the building and agricultural areas, ' he said.

•We must look at these areas carefully and solve them quickly. We have receve u from the government in relation to Leona rouses.

Many of the official unions maintain their old structures call themselves 'independent'.

"There is no other

Id unions must be destroyed

first ill then Walesa remarked

The tormer strike leaders are less clear on the next steps. They hope that the elections in the new unions will bring readers - politicians to lead the

WARSAW AN

will the authorities in-

dependent unions? Will

the Soviet Union invade

halt the revolt? KAY CARTER returns from Poland with interviews

pictures from

Gdansk and Gdynia, the

heart of the struggle.

won indepen-

have joined state-run

Soviet trying to made through They

which has the sup-

that Solidarnosc gles.

"There

kind COT

the shipyard.'

Lech Walesa but drawn U11 alternative

The dies,' threat? about this.

forward Mell

workers through the next strug-

One Gdansk shipyard worker told me: 'All the unions are at present working side by side, but in the future we plan to organise a

workers' parliament representing all the unions within

would not be 'political questions.

What did he think of the reforms in the Polish Communist Party? - I am not a party member Soviet military intervention still a

We don't question Can say allyll

What will the government do if it fails to block the development of Solidarnosc? - 'Ask the govern-

The face of despair:

Minister Jablonski concedes defeat to the Gdansk Soviet and workers leader, Lech Walesa

"Every morning w GDYNIA workers see no contradiction between Catholicis

out of the windo

are no tanks we

Probably 95 per Polish people are Catholic. They see no contradiction between this and fighting for their rights in this world. contraception and abortion all go on; the people merely go and confess.

Some look to the West and see that we have material things they don't. They feel they are fighting 'Russian communism' socialism. The queues and shortages are blunders government, HOL evil

Some of the shortages unbelievable. Poland is one of the biggest producers of sugar, yet it has been on ration for three vears! There were queues everywhere for meat, e wearing is for aces.- and potatoes.

waiting modation is eight to ten years. There has been no renovation of old houses — and it shows!

Books are also limited. , According to the statistics Polish people read on average just four books a year.

The tight censorship bv the authorities over culture is being challenged. Jerzy Lapinski, leader of the actors' union , told me: "The last congress of SPATIF (the actors' union within Solidarnosc passed two demands. The first was to allow the performance of all plays and tilms independent political orientation.

second stated registration in Solidarnosc more important than reactivating the official actors' union. The official press at first reported neither of these demands. When we complained distorted our demands completely

Access to the mass media and information SULLIC Since the strike wave there have OCCL televised SESSIULN of Polish parliament. But they have been edited by the authorities

Polish workers want our support. Lech Walesa's closing words to me were: 'We are sure of our friends abroad. They know that solidarity is what we need.'

not the

are

Collection for

The ne

STAGE two workers' revol way, following success of th wave which for fr ment.

The bureau‹ desperately tryi these gains. Incr workers are COI with the govern

plementation of that demands. was This conflict!

hour general stri may well lead t over the statutes biggest independ The Gdansk which brought to mittees across th ed an end to tr police, security the members', A 'dri

tion in governm munist Party ha rulers trying to fir to head off the before it strikes bureaucratic priv

Page 9 scan of this page

nd fighting for their rights in this world

ejoice!'

kers powers.

i step

the Polish

now under-

tremendous ugust strike nuge political

the govern- tions

the are undermine gly the Polish

into conflict

over tne i

strikers' 21

sion, ehind the one1 6 October. ther struggles blidarnosc, the inion.

the body er strike comantry, demandvileges of the

and party gainst corrupand the Comgun, with the aw scapegoats caridal

heart of their

Poland.

en we look

and there

The 21 demands included 'public circulation of all the facts socio-economic situation in Poland, and the granting to all social layers and currents of opinion the possibility to take part in discussions on a programme of reform.

The new indevendent workers' organisations will begin to formulate overall alternative economic plans the more they are allowed to participate in such discussions.

The OUTCOCC will detend to the last their exclusive right to such information and decision-making

At every step the need for overall political solutions becomes more ob. vious, and it is clear that the Polish workers have started down the road to political revolution to overthrow their bureaucratic rulers.

Solidarity

The Polish workers now face the twin tasks of strengthening and centralising the new workers' organisa-

independent of the state and Communist Party, and building of a mass revolutionary party fighting for their interests.

The Soviet and Eastern bloc rulers

still watching the developments, terrified of the extension of the revolt. A military inva-

as in Hungary 1956 Czechoslovakia in 1968, by means excluded. Workers country should step up solidarity with the Polish workers.

Letters to Poland MESSAGES of support and solidarity with Solidarnosc should be sent to:

Krajowa Komisja porozumiewawcza NSZZ Solidarnosc Gdansk-Wrzeszcz ul. Grunwaldzka 103.

informacie o

Aktualaie How did you become involved in the strikes? anae been on noneav lo Czechosiovakia. been on for three went to the shipyard to see now lt was colne it made a great impression while I was outside the and I felt I ought to be especially wa. terested relating women I met a friend who worked inside and asked if I could nc as i all a Quick typist.

Besides increased materIL T and rettrement the demands women, and what the women in the strikes? inere were demanos tor higher payments with especially for women bringing up children alone. were many women accrales from cutterent tactories ane

food, women, epiThere

typing, the many

in tie neain service.

Are women in Poland still treated group or truly do a nal o ine population. l Started a Job shipyard days

terences in the treatment of men and women in mausury Ur course, urere are speciai branches of industry which

my section, there are a lot of

Poland who get other accommodation I live quite a long way outside Gdansk and would aso like to uve nearer se the

Polish

and no this

Mieszkańcy Trójmiasta !!!

trwaja

strajki

pro, nie ma zedaych incydentór: morecte

WYTRZYMAMY !!

KOMITET

KLADOWY

MIEDZYZS RAIKOWS

• Stoczni GDYNIA

Wolna drukameso r

When

days.

demanes

and

cartel

were

was

for

with

single

centre. So I asked for more minority money to get some accom-

modation. I was told it wa: impossible Inere

in the more than

- mars The men

ditional payment for a flat

What is the position for contraception and abor tion in Poland?

Over flats or

myself personally, for religious Education is still too weak Poland. was starleu ACCESS to the mass media is a major struggle -

workplaces.

worry about.

STOCZNIA GDANSKA IM. LENINA

Interview with

Jadwiga Piatkowska,

woman worker at the

Lenin shipyard

some years ago but now is There are many posters and signs were al une sureenes ana cunics.

women mutts are to ask enrec

and direct There difference betweet ana coull y lit tric coul try there degree of ignorance.

We know there is a great

not ong to do in the secrecy over

going rate of inflation for the

Workers of the Three Cities!!!

Regarding the mass 'disinformation', we're giving you information on the real state of the strike. The Strikes go on!

At the moment workers of about 400 factories in the Three Cities are on strike, occupying their plants. An Interfactory Strike Committee has been formed with its headquarters at the Lenin shipyards, Gdansk, and it is our sole representative in negotiations with the government.

The Factory Strike Committees are maintaining order in the

Rest assured that everything is in order and there is nothing to WE WILL HOLD OUT!!!

Interfactory Strike Committee

THE leaflet above was decisive in the outcome of the August strike wave. The Polish bureaucrats spread rumours that the strikes had been called off. leaflet corrected this 'information' and kept the strike solid. The three cities referred to are Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot on the Baltic Coast.

sliding scale when it would be so easy the authorities A group of experts wett organised under the control of neither unions. was formed on the insistence of both sides governmenl workers Additional payments for children shidas holidays for children things

and tokens or sucarare 10 given until you have worked in the factor y for three mon I don't think that this but until then.

This

is right.

How do Ho do you feel about

now thusiastic and optimistic as I was curne une sunke is no more in the shops now than there was afraid that government inave done ll greets, 'we have deal, con't expec any more it-

Kitti the basic problems still remain example, for people with the right connections to arrange things like avoidance or mintary ser-

To corrupt people is easy, to repair the damag lakes longe. and is much

Everyone living hope things will im-

One main thing the consciousless

Ine wall berween ine wirec tor and the workers is much lower.

Do most women un tre

When started work woman represented or the

olica umon waica amon waiter to ol 'The new

of course, I said. She replied that she felt as if she was strike nothing to do

Walesa said to us that strikes solve nothing.

What is our attitude

effective • we have is still the sunke. ll usea to be deuca.

War you must wait t while wearing a bit thin now The people who • Or Шe

nothing them. selves Socialist Challenge 30 October 1980 Page 9

Page 10 scan of this page

142,000 votes for Trotskyist

Socialist Challenge Events BRENT Socialist

nie/Revolution lebrate sand Bonfire raising social, Sat

NwiO. Food

MANencorEn socialst Cnallengi

adilly Station, Fairield si, ar Pic SOUTHAMPTON

essary. Contact Penny on 01-359 8371.

SC Sales

AbeRDeEN: Se sold saturdays out-

20298 For etre Rein Baths Phone

Bookshop, British 11-12.30.

Bookshop.

day 4.155.15pms Bus Station, St. Anday 4.15-5.15pm Bus Station

3ooks, Forrest Rd. For more info or

HACKNEY supporters Sature y morning at Ridley coa

Sar. outside Sounty a as Almada

• ourside county

REVOLUTION

FOR A UNITED REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH ORGANISATION

Novembe Highfields

should be arranged as soon as possi

Other

Peter Taylor Beating the Terrorists?

Penguin, €1.50

Using dramatic new evidence this Penguin special

documents the story of interrogation by the Royal

Ulster Constabulary from 1976 to 1979 and ex-

poses the accompanying political cover-up.

Dale Spender and Elisabeth Sarah Learning to Lose - Sexism and Education Womens Press, £3.25

A collection of essays which sets out to account for

the underachievement of girl students and begins

to construct a feminist model of teaching and lear-

ning.

CLR James, George Breitman, Edgar Keemer and others Fighting Racism in World War Two Pathfinder Press, £3.45

This book tells the story of the struggle of black

people during the war years in the USA through

contemporary articles,

from the press of the Socialist Workers Party.

Socialisi Chattentge '30 October 13604 Page 10

info contact Paul butsac salewa

Clyde View or John at 54 Eliot St,

HUDDERSFIELD:

Saturday

KILBURN: SC sales every Sat, 10am

Creathan

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Pd Thur mor-

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Book hop. Tal: 001226

5 Bookshor 1 5 galerie made.

OLDHAM: Port more tention bou aute

supporters sell ever

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: 11-1 every 88188 column.

International Marxist Group notices

FRACTION S ACcuse:

tives; Labour Party; women's libera-

Details

Sat 13 Dec.

LIBERATION

Turn day school the same weekend. Cdes involved in the work and from IMG WOMEN LIBERATION Nom every week? NOTES: branch

not write

cach week

COT: 359 321, 8579) 0, streamie

LONDON ACCREGATE: 9 NoV.

at UCL Students Union genaa: suraing 1 mov Irisa aci Very important meeting for all Lon-

don cdes.

National Centre.

THE /BOOKSHOP

letters and resolutions

UNIDG

to the British working class.

the offensive.

It can be rolled back united class action. But that call

leaders of the traditional

but WOrker from the Trotskyists of DALLICS.

the Fourth International.

An example is the role of the Portuguese

the Revolu-

section,

Socialist Party (PSR), in the recent elections there.

An increased parliamentary

was won by the right-

Democratic

Willg

Alliance (AD) although the workers' parties a whole still

scraped a bare majority of the votes with 50.2 per CCIEL.

Happy

But as the French daireported: AD arent the paper Monde only ones who are happy about their results; the Trotskyists are too. eight months the votes of the Workers Party Socialist Unity (POUS) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (PSR)

Socialist Challenge

sales hit new peak

out to local supporters groups.

This was 2,500 more than the previous week and 500 hiaher than our all-time record. A few thousand other copies were sold in shops sent out on subscrip. LIOT Birmingham

organised their sales like a military operation Thei comrades sold COdCA coming down massive CND Altogethei some copies were sold. Many

subscriptions were sold and slips fillod in requesting information about. the.

Socialist Challenge News

VENCEREMOS

'United we shall win' was the main election slogan of the Portuguese 7! AUSTERITY is not just Thatcher's message

Governments throughout Western Europe have taken up

News from the

Fourth

International

In have risen from 48,000 to 142,000, which of represents 2.4 per cent ot the voters.

The other main far left organisation, the WE broke our record! Over 6,800 copies of last week's Socialist Challenge were sent

demonstraOn L tion itself our sellers seen Wore

page supplement the missiles madness Other Socialist Cond 3,00 1 supporters won't die for Thatcher 'badges!

Now is the time for IMG branches and local supportere to bolon success week's Send your extra soon as posssible to the circulation department the thousands of new allu missiles campaign.

candidates in Portugal

centrist UDP saw its vote fall to 1.4 per cent - although its one deputy was re-elected.

The POUS's share of the Trotskyist : vote was higher than that of the PSR (mainly because of

lachacaliv with Socialist Party dissidents), spread right across the

The PSR. however, got votes where it is most known for its role in building mass action: in the working class areas. Indeed, in Lisbon a PSR deputy was almost elected.

Original

Le Monde explained the high Trotskyist vote

"The POUS as well as the PSR

presented original message to the

which undoubtedly found res bouse. They called for

SP-CP government and for a civilian didate suboulicu u united left the December presidential elections.

In other words, the Trotskyists said that the working class had to wage a united fight for its

*kyists.

Socialist leader Soares lost another election

own class solutions to the crisis.

The PSR campaign was a model of its kind More than 80 per cent of its 300 candidates were workers, with 45 of them holding positions in the

FORIES

unions or workers' com missions. of them were women - a far higher percentage than in any other party

Slots in its broadcasting allocation were given to the leaders workers' struggles, to the

tion campaign, and to CHRIS

FRETILIN the libera-

movement in the former Portuguese coiony of East Timor (now under Indonesian military occupation).

Unity

The PSR stood as 'the party of those who struggle under the slogan of Beat AD, kick out the bosses and the generals'

AD's victory was setback — a result of the refusal of the SP and CP

for workers' unity in the

and unions.

But a workers' candidate in the presidential

backed by the SP and CP, could be an important sten in beginn ing to turn the tide of

That is what the PSR is fighting for today.

TORIES

OUT

HOW DO WE CE

GENER

Page 11 scan of this page

The money bags behind the screen

By Don Slater

THE first-ever

ference of socialist

graphy is to be held

month.

It aims to draw together the

many different practices that

socialist photographers

working in

community and worker photo-

graphy, photography in educa-

tion, socialists

bourgeois media.

Over the past decade militants have

become increasingly

portance or pollical struggles over the

media and ideology.

Whether it be strikers slandered by

Ene mainstream Dress

casting, women daily insulted by sexist

images themselves.

minorities Turned anTo

types - all have faced the necessity of

carryle their political work into

cultural front.

The conference has been called in

response to the critical state of photo-

grapny. we now lace one of tne most

reactionary media onslaughts in recen

memory. hrough the

commerciar buousune ane une arl

market, photography is thoroughly in-

volved in this campaign.

At the same time

interest ano

socialist photography faces crises

match the times: the funding of comBy Dave Carter A CRUCIAL decision affecting the lives millions of working class people will have been taken by the end of the year after lengthy process of 'consultation' at public meetings up and down the country.

The Independent Television Authority will have awarded the franchises to run commercial television for the next eight years.

The charade of the boardroom bickerings at Westward TV has deminated coverage of this media event. But from my experience in the Northeast, the wheeling and dealing is by no means confined to South-west England.

Appalling

The North-east franchise is currently held by Tyne Tees Television. Most people agree talls an aboare slaton and that whatever takes its place could hardly be worse.

A recent excellent supplement to Durham Street highlighted the fact that the board of Tyne Tees hold no less than 70 directorships be tween them.

president of ince North east include Sir Ralph

former

Conservative Association, Viscount Ridley, brother of Tory MP. Nicholas, and Robert Dickinson. Establish

Dickinson alone holds 22 directorships, including Gosforth Industrial Holdings Liu, te nrm formea out or the old Swan Hunter shipounders lo invest une ziom handed to them by the government in compensation for nationalisation.

Tyne Tees very much the voice of the North-east es-What et. its rivals? TV.

"What of

Don't say cheese

threat. national con-

tional photovIsUals next

are the left press,

working in the

strucere

in aware of the im- WorKers ideology

resources we've got. ano The next time

ethnic

racist stereo

DOX -the And

Leeds on

press, rress rreedom

despite growing

left photography. in photography,

North in its application makes much of the fact that it has cavy Illancia backing and superior equipment to lees.

This affluence comes as no surprise when its consortium includes Sir Monty Finniston, former chairperson of

Guest, Keen and Nettlefords, one ol lne largest single contributors to Tory Party funds; will Tory baroness, and like-minded layabouts.

It's obvious that motley collection of worthies can in no sense pretend people or ine Vorth-east, an area dominat ed Labour trade union influence third consortium

munity photography is under constant

the use or onotocranov in ne left press is still inadequate and conven-

no competition for the deluge churned OUT In e bourgeoisie; photography in education is still minimal; the distribution of images is solidly monopolised by capital; and all suffer from isolation and lack of

We hope that the conference will help to create an understanding and awareness or onotocdony store it te machinery of ideology, and to find ways of using it most effectively in the class

T we as onoto•raoners or socialisi

Many of culture and are get our 1110000869 noven ano ousmanue me reacuionar ideologies which now oppress us, we

of working together and fighting back with all the

La poster makes you want to burn down the hoarding or ar advert makes you want to kick in the

think of where the power lies. now struggle against the bourgeois media.

The weekend conference, to be held in

8-9 November, includes workshops introduced by the campaign Jor

'East End News', the Campaign for Free Speech in Ireland, and a film

the Campaign Against Racism in the Menta. nere are mam sessons on curren. photographic practices and the history of

Details from: NCSP, 1 Rosslyn House, Rushcrof! Road, London SW2.

ITV

Tyne

franchise

battle

pretending to be completely aver game Norseman which die wil tell vou is the name of Tory earl, a popular brand of lager sold in pubs and clubs throughout this the area.

to member is Paul happens managing and breweries .and hotels in the region. For.. good measure, Nicholson is

Under Review

story did they have to tell?

E also

land Newspapers,

, union-bashing plans.

something Somen board different. Its title Norseman

away any Georregiona TGWU and

Paul Nicholson, board director of vaux Lne and owner of pubs announced,

cher. that

Not the Northern CBI. His colleagues on the consortium include Sir Richard Storey, chairperson of Portsmouth and Sunder.

who was recently exposed in the New sonally Statesman for his provocative

also on the are Tom Of the CMWU and JeeMills secretary

elected ecutive secretary the the media's favourite trade union supersla Mills recently distinguish-

Ty he Tees Ty he day that

that two million unemployed was

warning Thatunless she was 'anonymous 'careful the 'extremists' would •leader

TONS - literally - of lenses lined up at the Iranian embassey siege. But whose

take over from responsible union leaders like himself and encourage redundant workers to burp their fareer press

Durham Street quotes Mills as saying: "I per-

don't represent the TGWU on the board. I repre sent the labour movement. On behalf of the Cleveland Association of Trades Councils I asked at the last meeting of the regional TUC who has

Not it to join a bunch of capitalists, and to whom they were accountable

I received no reply, which

perhaps not surprising given that the regional TUC president George Arnold is widely rumoured to be the

union 'TY North has signed

up.

At a recent IBA public meeting in Middlesbrough, after attacking Tyne Tees pathetic Fairerage oI trade union affairs, made the point that there was nothing being offered by the other consortia which was likely to change this. Furious Norseman supporters pointed to the presence of Mills and Burlison on their board.

In other words, leading trade unionists in the area are acting as cover for ruthless would-be TV moguls who are hoping to win rich advertising pickings.

The arguments used justify trade unionists sitting on these consortia have been heard before in another context. "They have the region's interests at heart... They are not sitting back and criticising but are getting stuck in Blue eins to use their in fluence' sort of nonsense we keep hearing.

It must be familiar sound to old 'Mr Newcastle. himself, T Dan Smith.

'Durham Street Press' is available from: Folkus, Al ington House, 4 North Baley Durham.

The Tory Press

How To Fight I

CHAOS

TO WORI

PHL LEAVES

ww Geomer onenod of Socialist Challengese fory NOW OUT • the 2nd edition •ooular samenet 'The Press and How To Fight It'.

If you gritted your teeth at the coverage the Party conference, and thrilled

the TUC media workers snould ensure the right of reply... this pam phlet is for you

Single copies 10p plus 10 p&p; multiple orders at 8p a

from: Socialist Challenge, Upper St, London N1

Socialist Challonge 30 October 1980 : Page 11

Page 12 scan of this page

NATO'S hand behind Turkish

Around the World

United States

unofficial military

Washington has revealed that the US has now developed 'a tiny 12 inch

device which can destroy a satellite in space.

The weapon apparently, will be able to 'home in' on enemy satellites and destroy them 'by high speed impact.

If the report is true the weapon marks a new stage in the space arms race. Until now, the chief means developed for destroying satellites has been laser weapons. Last year the government's

Research Projects Agency was given $200m for work in this field.

The main problem the military scientists have come up against with such weapons is that are very vulnerable to counter attack. Ihis is because the nature of laser beams means that the weapon which projects them

relatively exposed, simply destroyed.

If the new weapon overcomes these problems, Star Wars may not be fiction for much longer. Mr Spock, where are you now when we need vour

Saudi Arabia The reason for the loss of life after the crash of a jumbo jet at Riyadh airport, August has now been established, according to broad hints being dropped all over the place.

The story goes that when the jumbo crashlanded the emergency services were prevented from getting to the aircraft because a royal jet carrying King Khaled was about to take-off. It was felt preferable that the king's uninterrupted. whatever

The king flew passengers in the jumbo died.

Holland APPROXIMATELY 8,000 blocked access roads to a nuclear power station at Dodewaard, Holland, last Sunday.

When the anti-nuclear power protesters arrived at the outer fence of the 50 megawatt experimental plant they dreds of riot police with dogs and water cannons.

South Africa THE racisi regime in South Africa launched a new raid into Angola last week. The incursion was the first reported incident since July when a two-week long invasion took place.

The latest raid, Angolans, coincided with the opening of talks in South Africa between the South African authorities and a delegation from the United Nations on the issue of Namibian independence.

The raid into Angola was launched by South African forces in Namibia.

United States NEW revelations concerning the FBl's 'dirty tricks' were made in New York last week. These came with the release of documents dealing with the FBI's campaign of subversion against the Black Panthers in the late 60s and the early 70s.

A favourite ruse was for the FBI to send off spoof letters allegations to Panther sympathisers. For example, someone posing as a member of the US Communist Party headquarters: that the Black Panthers are a Maoist antiSemitic gang'.

More sinister, when Angela Davis was arrested in October 1970 on charges of murder, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy, the FBl's New York and Chicago offices sent letters to Ebony Magazine and Village Voice signed by 'A Friend of Sister Angela' and 'Concerned Brother'.

The letters stated that Huey supreme commander of the Black Panther Party, was the 'fingerman' responsible for the capture of Davis.

Socialist Challenge 30 October 1980 Page 12

study group

by 13 inch Defence Advance easily located, and Saudi Arabia, last take-off should go risk to the jumbo oft in time• 301

demonstrators

were met by hun

which killed at least 30 containing all manner of

wrote to the party's 'I don't have to prove to you

Newton,

who had been

HUNGARY

YUGOSLAVIA

ALBANIA

GREECE

1 NATO's electronic surveillance bases

THERE has been little news lately in the

national press of the European country

where the military

month - Turkey. Below we reprint excerpts from a statement issued by the

United Secretariat of the Fourth Interna-

tional on the military coup and its after-

math.

The 12

September military

coup was a major

blow to the working

people in Turkey. It

inspired and supported by imperialism and coor-

dinated by NATO.

Its aim Impose social the expense of the working class

and its mass organisations

wave of

been launched againsi WOrKINK and the economic screws are being

tightene extent oh eNATO

Laliculs manoeuvres being ducted in Turkey at the time. Crisis

The reason for the heavy involvement the octanses des in une mcter ingly severe social and political crisis in Turkey and

countries demonstrated by the Iraniar revolution. ITal Wal against Iran, The class struggles in Syria, the struggle the people for their right to selldeterminatio

The imperialists pretend

the new has

Despite its camouflage of a governmell Condoser civilians and retired military

ak of the pros al

to deepen the at tacks musualion on nvine slanCarus are democre none

repressive military methods. preceded the coup involved

International

RUNAN BULGAI

Istanbul 4o Izmir

CRETE

military coup

took power last

the failure of governments

led successively by the big bourgeois Dal LieS It Is even deeper economic and villy the social crisis.

This stimulated a polarisation that has been concretised on the one side

very nare TOUR OT workers' o stroles and mobilisations students and radicalised bourgeoisie, allu OCUL other side in the emergence of a fascist current with con siderable mass influence.

Paralysis

In carrying out the coup after a series of warnings.

arminked which is close v economic structures

the paralysis institutions political leadership

Its spokespeople declare that a new constitution will be adonted create the illusion that they

ready to enforce respect constitutional norms. It they were sincere

Coming Next Week....

JAMAICA and the United States both go

to the polls in the next two weeks. The

outcome of these elections will have a

major impact on the shape of world

politics,

bean and the Americas in particular.

terview

vonness

American Socialist Workers Party, in next week's

issue. We will also look in depth at the Jamaican

elections, incrucine

socialists active in Britain.

Order your copy of next week's issue now!

Sevastopol

Black Sea • ANKARA CYPRUS in this they would only have to prepare elections to a true consuluen ae cemocrati assembl which would

espect the popular will

Their objective is, on the contrary. lo unpose an ever more conser vauve consulu. tion than the

This would both an instrument for

legitimacy systematic

prolonging what has already ised Turkey for many years, particularly since Suleyman

callic DOWCI peopl were prison for political reasons before the September coup).

Repression

The decision of Turkish chief General Kenan Evren and company to proceed in this direction

already been confirmed by the fact that much harsh

repression has been directed Bulent

Republican People's Party than agains Dernirel's. While the trad unions, and in particular the

procapitalist

federation) Cal functior normany and is leader side has become a minister

Besides Evren has drawn

WINCH recom mends the 'functioning the economy within and the situation in the Carib.

Interviews witn Jamaican

TURKEY

Adana

SYRIA

General Kenan

Evren fa is cork natural i me

is clear that the new

lines dictated by the Inter-

national Monetary Fund

The basic cause of the

chromic crisis or the countr has been, and remains, the

catastrophic

economic situation whict

the

and uprooting of larger and

larger layers of the peasan-

working population,

alil the blocking of any future Hor une young generation coming out secondary and university education

Rights

The policy that thi military wants to impose could bring at most a partial 'rationalisation - small in

however

Cast WOle alenlever

• brutal aggrava explora the par he grad

great workers already suller.

In addition, an eventual reestablishment order can only imply a greater opDression or unc auros. wal will continue to be deprived of their most elementary na tional and democratic rights and submitted to the mos severe redression

Internationally, a solidarity must launched The involvement

the ments in the coup must be

IRAN IRAQ

support dord the muntary

suppos halted lililital achill cam paign must be developed by Trace unions in Wester, t particularly

Western europe where

Lunarca thousane. Turkish workers. slical prisoners in right demand The campaign should

polical oardes ane un

functior freely, and the right of self determination the : орpressed nationalities.

The trade unions in the

their govern. ments cut military diplo

and economic link with the military regime

The coup also demons irates once again that NATO is not only a vehicle for imperialist war, but an

to repres

must withdraw from Turkey. Dowr with the military regime! Full port to the Turkish worker: in the struggle against reac tion!

Mandel's

translator

jailed

SADI OZANSU trans lator of Ernest Mandel'

Introduction alee The Iskanbul martial ars. vears tribunal has ordered the

and of all copies

Ozansu was

Article 142 of the

taken over Denal wholesale code

Mussolini's penal code of the witt макте vooaodada то Tin& domination of one social over another'

Presumably Turkey's militarv rulers

the class which Mandel suggested should do the dominating.

Page 13 scan of this page

arguments I FOUND Brian Grogan's attempt to defend Socialist Challenge's line the Iran/Iraq war (16 October) even less convincing than his onoma arace

It an tas was mere. stated not argued for, Iranian victory

Baathist uluciillllc L11C colmaton masses, Lne simplistic logic wouldn't an

undermine the the mullahs in

SU. how does Krian Grogan orooose choose? He argues that 'in a choice death at the hands Iraq ana loc lals ul ulc SiUW poisoning oncrca DV AnO-

CONGRATULATIONS Socialist Challenge on its clear stand against Iraqi aggression, against Thatcher's and Carter's warmongering, and NATO.

The Iraqi aggression serves the purposes of US, and French imperialisms. August agreement the Saudi Arabian regime, a US client state if ever there was one. ano tre uraoi redime was d clear indication of US hopes and plans. No to

Khomeini,

for a

workers'

army

CRITICS of your support

Iran have been accused ov oras ToaE O UCE OI defeatism and IncitTerence to the horrors of an Iraqi victory.

my letter Oct), however. I spoke of how weeks before the UCoDCL Revolution, ho snevik

defended the ap(erm ant Petrogri the with lives" allu how the Iranian people STOuGOC likewise against Iraq. This is

revolutionary defencism

licalis Lilal Iranian sociaI19 SnolQ Dule workers' army, independent

Brian Grogan replies: whether the Yes or No? THE crucial question TOT

support the victory of Iran in tue war.

Socialist Challenge has consistentiv argued …that the Iranian have people Iraq and world. Such a victory revo utionarv process to ceeden. dereat would mean the bloody crushing of the

gains of the.

criticator othe rise

Su l • meini and Bani-sadr svstematcanv tor me neeo to exteno țe

The revolution workers' militias based on the workers shorahs; for rank and file the for

alllly, organisalioll, alu lit etosalluft memt saremors to disarm ine nuros

Komeinı and •an ›aor are ooooseo

to suich foo ages d them ill ave to be

fought against them 180 U lead to a ovérvv ve d nv dcve vàc ve overthrow of Khomeini by Iraq would aid the Iranian revolution.

capitalist CoveraC lasN masses ano tor une adorooniate uime

LeT S Take a oractica examoe battles which have been raging in Khorramshahr and

IRAQ/IRAN WAR

Iraq/Iran war: unconvincing

meini and Bani-Sadr

makes sellsc to choose the

atter whom? Why pose the ques- Makes sense

this

dichotomous

allalysis is provided

to suostanmae une nonca

tion that the interests

and

that an outright

victory

liau WOUld afford

American t Deransmn ies.

foothold than

balance of power in the area

was morc orccarlous

Faso wonder wnat bolnu

comrade Grogan is trying to

make *the

Icuguus bigotry the

Iraq/Iran war: well done!

to And the ment's

from against

failed rescue

British,

The Iran or to work for peace! •erwee

jectively, fighting imperialism;

Not ine Ayatolan.

of Ayatollah Khomeini and

dexulne wiln tae ivader or

its own methods and under

Jnder the banner socialist revoluta

ust ane cemocratıc peace,

it would, for example,

cite

Huulccu Khomeini's

TOICCS coaol 'Arab scum') to mutiny,

together cuilll duc. surlaisill.

WOUiC

namona minorities Iran

against Khomeini.

inevitably lead to between

socialists and the Ayatollah,

WIIU wauls uciuc! socialisl

revolunon nor to lose ms

grip on the oppressed

consistent

alternative

flalllall

SOCaISLS • 1011| KnO

and do

nothing to the

Buvci cal 'detending

Khomeini.

socialsts ne• ov une mousanas

Mulenaceen overdillas.

popular masses nave

tuallv absent whole NO. we the regular army. would allow the

push forward workers solulers we giver TIant

Nave arcuco

for mass ultimately lead

maton a ho-

Again,

Khomeini's we think that the

Party with them The overthrow of aert Ine

Sadi towards

Lile Iranian 'Revolutionary

Ine Jilcall auy taliily

the past few leaders

mull diferent from ine from islall lt allall masses'? woo e ol the Iraqi masses? Is he suggesting that the Islam of the unbigotted?

Dureiy it is noe corrcel lo al tribute tne progressive and positive aspects of the Irathe particular of Islam, all) 11010 would be correct to attribut‹ the mintancy oi ine rolsn their Catholicism.

JACKIE BHABHA, London

British WVCIE withdrawal in early September of its embassy staff

iran is proot of its advance knowledge of Carter's

attempt.

Needless to say, Thatcher did not use this knowledge to warn

The Iranian masses are, ob-

against US socialists MUSu not weaken that struggle by calling now for the overthrow

Contrary Brian's cain. revonmora ceren esperapplies not solely cism like Russia in 1917 but also scul-corolal Ulcs wars wiln eacn olne alo even in wars with imperialist aggressors for example, aooauace •c blal rerusing war

im1914. oculalsl

Kai-shek and fought Japanese

colonia ou even l imperialist troops invade

for 1U1 workers

but do

Lullalisl the

weeks. The burden of this has been car-

oi rcuaycell aliu , mne rasdars. ana the masses themselves who have set up

The Iranian regular army has been vir-

Are we satisfied with this? •emano une invovemenr We use such a cal te

militias, rank and commitees, and the need for a purge fight angsie

•aonesice Khomeini but through our own independent methods

This may ito a clash with Khomeini but this is a different matter from turning •vr cuns on tne recular urooos wnen wey arrive in Abaaan. It is coiaisn to counterpose a 'workers' army' that has still to be

we that Khomeini/Bani-Sadr will call of1 atack on me aures oruner own oioane

Kurdisn bemocratic was correct to try to bloc For, this is the best way to masses une Ted! atuuac: 'national defence' exhibited by ; of Bani-Sadr/Khomeini if it is to means tha' are the vest derenaers or tan, not une capitalis!

Letters,

Rehabilitating Keir

Hardie

IN HIS article o 16 Ou)

Pian® democracy (16 lacalal makes reference to Keir ODDOsug Ben ltle over the accountabilty of Labour MPs to conference decisions. rrccman unen goes on u State that, whe the Labour Party conference declared for women's suf frage, Hardie said he would ratner resign unan carry oul the decision'.

Keir Hardie threatened resign from the Party if the conference ulu not susport ms mouon women's suffrage.

Although Hardie did out that threat (Labour sup portea votes for 1912), ¡culanca alla Wa.

Terarece s н oreą Sylvia Pankhurst aș a committed suporter for the women's side.

The importance here lies nol so muca wite lne rac a error but in the connection

Similarly socialists must defend the military capacity of the Soviet Union, and oppose the calls for the dissolution the Warsaw Pact and for the TentaC CLen of nucicdl weapons by the Soviet Union.

For truly, as Brian Grogan wrote on 9 October, those calls 'prepare a massive victory for Imperialism', and in effect aid the warmongering of Thatcher and Carter.

WILL PODMORE, London

Wrong

again!

PAUL SMITH (Editorial, 23 October) writes that, UCISUl week will be soent each year for the next fifteen

missiles' If vou taki the population Britain, that makes a tota i exoen • ture tco.Sonl As l understand it, the cost Trident estimated De esbn.

Cruise, as missiles stationed in Bri tain, oreskmcolv COSTIS nothing. where does the extra £143.3bn come from?

MARTIN METEYARD, London E5.

It should have read per week on all military spending.

TURKEY

KURDS

IRAQ BAHRAIN

SAUDI ARABIA

Alan appears to be trying to suggesl ora antanı bro gressive left wing against a reactionary right-wing lead ership then and now

nrortunately him. casc such nanla y Donu ea aber simply not stick. Keir Hardie sup

despite conference decisons

his oponcuts lnere inCuced supposedly more militant, i eres eai ionary trade unionists such as Tillet alle Harry Quelch

were navo COl demn the women's suffrage movement as divisive to the

and

buclallsts aliu revoluLonanes nonan co rol have a very proud record of fighting for women's libera-

ius pres to

that present

struge will do this better if

we recoonuse dast errors to' what they were rather than

history to fit preconceived notions.

JAMES J SMYTH, Glasgow

Teaching granny

to suck eggs?

opposing Russian

MYECr

nome v coer nàs ovoce ve

response in your columns,

whole article by Brian Grogan criticising

me Dy wawre

• Ray Sirotkin writes (16 October): 'Our

primary aim must therefore be to disarm

own imperialists, and not to equate

Washington with Moscow

your granny to suck eggs. My original let- come orl

ter starts: 'Ine oresent thred

comes from the adventures of a declining

imperial

Kremlin's atomic

defence of the

The wav oTtE

perialism.

Some embartassing gustols Defence through internationalism

ACCORDING Brian TOCaI octoDerr cholcn't call for the dissolution of' the Warsay Pact as it is the USA which is the aggressor and because the Warsaw Pact is essentia for the defence of the gains Revolution. the October Russian That the USA is the aggressor true ane we

RUSSIA

AZERBAIJAN TURKS

•Teheran Qom

IRAN LARABS

PERSIANS Abadan

The Gult

QATAR

{OMAN

'Rock Week' -

not that

bad

I TOO saw some of the 1 Week t Ho mede made

UnuKe Mike Simpson

8 ove• pro-

gramme and Cream's

concert. Rock

embodies the contradic-

uous or caritaust sociel

TOANTe

could have been brought

out better in 'Where was

the fun'?

Fi can recall Cream's

*war simeed berd.

the inevitable . •: atomic Europear

inc ucine

3. Brian says

it comrades! Don't teach nucicdi

paying Tor tAeM Wal

My point is that the s do not aid the

and get in by having the Lask ol ooouoilrg nul perialist pollution?

for should encourage people in une anu-nucicar movelieil

with our aranents nal

support that assertion. But

saying we should argue for the retention of in e • "red bomb'

missing the central impor-

Stance of internationalism the anti-nuclear move1U1 ment

0 Miles 200

TURKOMANS

NASINE

BALUCHIS

concert and saw the film maluy (yedrs ago arune cinema •oon atrerwaro J8CH bruce benefits , Tor the Upper clydee Xpe dl wgrak The Programme showed the that Sucing their music. To ducing their music record 'Towers Lor is more with the people who built man une Cacg the day and so me. quit progressive ,some of the reCOra trie. "Te-Create sound building implements but tho pe chat the articles futurechricles purthhgs Rock tne rignt perspective By the way, I thought the article Come ton Time French on the same page was very goo0 STEVE ROSE South London Big Flame

Brian Grogan to answer:

way are atomic bombs defensive? At best, Soviet missiles dete

but as Brian says, war is Armageddon support

•ocialisl naneny the trino ot kussian missiies‹ now doe the extermination of the American and

working class 'defend' the

'the vast defence spending of the USSR is totally unjustified Has ne discovered a cheap way or mak

io nim iolttor suio osr

Russian you have to support wcayulls

the SUDOOSI recent

musi orien to perfect s data er

in order to perfect its 'deterrent"? O

ane temnina to cais coinin

temerity to think poilution is no more progressive than im

GEORGE KEREVAN, Edinburgh

Trotskv said that the main defence of the Soviet Union was the unwillingnes of the working classes in th unlberlalsi ock noramers el strategic points or weapons tion for the West's retentios ul lucical • weapons is that mue uooc is ine ageressol 1o prove inis is wrong ll 1 essential that wher tne masses in the : West force la reduction in their countries armaments they should see a

East.

In other words, in order to prove that 'red bombs are defensive you have show that their numbers ar related to the size of the capitalist threat. Therefore unless the Soviet bureau automatically scales caly cowiEs ammoav une oeooi of Eastern Europe will neec anti-nuclear movement

Now, due to the law of mineven Cononc deve onment that exist all international upturns should recognise that any mass in the East Ilialive courages and lavs the basi for mass initiatives in the West, and vice vers:

Whethe the West will need to see the dismantling of the Warsa Pact belore they make ine final NATO ore whithe smashing

pens ne or her way rit hais

uIKlUWIl at the municul waa we muse do is ensure that when one happens the other follows The is nurning into vement into most dramatic argument to internationallsi Lnal 'ordinary person has ever - it's a matter of ic aliu ucal Brian undermines one oi our strongest planks of sup. port; his arguments reduce the role of the Eastern Eur pean working class to one 01 passivity.

LES HARTOP, Coventry

Socialist Challenge . 30 October 1980 Page 13

Page 14 scan of this page

Abortion rights: time to

'Sadistic, barbarous, and savage

By Judy Watson

THIS Tory government

is trying to take away

many of the

which women in

country have made

the last ten years.

Unemployment

soaring; nurseries

hospitals alc being

and women are expected

to bear the brunt. The con-

stant threat to abortion

rights is a way of ensuring

that women are tied to the

home with little

about wnen, and how

many children they

tend with, •O WIV , and with the possibility with all this to con-

anotlicr resuacuve Dıll

ovemnDer. are women deman-

ding a law on abortion to allow

the right to urestricted

Is it demanding jam on the bread

while the bread is being stolen? Ruin

Un the contrary: it's not a lux-

ury to call for improved laws -

it's a necessity

the table printed the 1967 Abortion

Daze slows.

Act is going to rack and ruin.

cuts in the NHS mean tha

mised

planning cunes Icsincica. waltng ana arow ane ne

exstng abortion services

practically unable to cope

tors continue to refuse to perform orereanve staring is provaded. abortions, and no

Photo: Report

FOUR black youths were jailed for six years on 21 October. Their crime? Not murder or armed robbery, but possession of petrol bombs.

This was enough for the Recorder, GA MacDonald,

conclude that the defendants had intended to 'start guerrilla war' Il Cne sureets oi London. It is my duty to impose severe sentences to deter others',

black youths found guilty of conspiracy WClC

Lalse ureyel bodily harm on 20 April this after National Front march through Lewisham

Rudi Narayan. the West Indian Standing Conterence, summed disgust of

The sentences as sadistic, bar-

Socialist Chatlenge

gains

this

CULL

choice

women prepared to

will hey have achieved a lot in the last

uclauc Through the victorious campaign against John Corrie's anti-abortion bill women up and made their Large of settilis Huelllcal HaVe choice? ackiuwicase mat

Ine right control bodies and lives. organising within women's sub. committees, wulel s women's caucuses, and so on.

In the Labour debates democracy raise the who e issue of accountability on this MPs. For bornon Reng

Abortion

,The Labour Abortion

Paign have been abour rally to throw salllt 'tree vote' in parliament on abor-

tion

ISTS Those Labour already who voted for the Corrie

be challenged in their constiDoc.

Luciicica In the Labour Partv na. tunaly SMOUlO according policy of women's

The ugly face of state racism:

barous. and savare.

sentence will be seen in the

black communities

courts of law siding

National Front and

the black communities abalisi

Mohammed Zamir from w est visands

another black person suffer-

ing at the hands

Racism. He has vc vici cu cocull HiSCL 10]

acoorlaliol following

Law Lords' judgment rejec

ting his writ of habeas cor

pus the Wel are of Cmanigrants Joint .Council for

(JWChvhas been fighting 3 :

rearguard battle to prevent

30 October 1980 Page 14

all this, not

Year

stood voices heard.

laDour been forced to women have Women

sections,

Party the

«bordon The should be a pledge in the Labour manifesto to turn thi:

Natior law

CamureIne LIC Positive legislation describes

out ine all kinds of laws which

pr ove wc s aortor Labour MPS

bill vampaign s ousnin

Point plan which will be put for

aad Lorur pary ir anae union

and Labour

abortion *For

derımınall party tion is still illegal in Britain unless choice

it is carried out as specified in the his deportation. Lan Martin, head of the JCWI, sees it as

H omse ofice is delibera tey

belleve

vine o exten• une cerinıtion of illegal immigrant in a way the inten ded overment never

Marriage

Zamir entered Britain legally 1976 as a dener dant of his father. He was never asked if he was mar-

edre orto ae nor

was needed declare his Illarrlace. The Kone Office claims that he waş shown, leaflet when he first applied

•to come heré ai' the age of.

Home News

go on the oftensive

Table: Abortions Since 1968

Number

22,332 49,829 75,962 94,570 108,565 110,56{ 108.441 100.444

102,677. 112,055 1979 (provisional) 119,028

NHS. There 1967 Act.

ovucy unto to enact positive legisla- mandatory

Authorities

positive right to choose would im TenLS ADOTUON

for a three- other proposals Parlamentar

branches: short

IsaLul. door Chalzes It admits however that he signed his application at the time with a thumbnrint ne was illiterate. They have failed to explain how have 1 cau leaflet cuntalile unc rule he is alleged to have breachBecause he lalec to declare his marriage Zamir the lalisus Tuics.

Therefore the LaW Lords ruleo ne was 'an illegal'

And therefore he has to go.

This is the salic vicdas logic that has led the Home Office to harass Anwar Ditta for the last : four years, preventins thrẹe children from joining her in this couniry. "Anwar * Ditta Delence Committee have

Proportion done in N.H.S. Hospitals (%)

open to women groups, 50. 51.2 groups, 48.0 WC 49.6 gOl CO

46.1

*For legislation to make NHS

kind of bill provision ol aborton tacihties

on Health ward.

*For a bill giving a woman a could involve a proposal for a bill un menstrual extracton up to si› weeks after conception, as well as ference taking

end end in temselves; the kind activities pising anu 1012 term araneyed beetryg the mass be necessary will only people to actively support them. that legislation.

called for national demonstration in Rochdale Lanlasilie lor Dalurady INOVCHLLOCT

Whitelaw's

victims

speak out

ANWAR Ditta and Nasira Begum are both speaking in Sundav November. Other speakers iciuae oraotord Asian YOUTO movement • The Southall Black Sisters. g starts at 2pm at the a Centre, 38 Kings St

.the NAC women's forum and the Labour movement conference on positive legislation organised by NAC and LÄRC for 14 March are so important.

The women's forum will be

from women' student schools, and onto discuss commusl nunlor a women's choose', to prepare the ground for a campaign with the stress on a woman's choice and a woman's control.

The labour movement conference will discuss the details of what

should be put forsoSud be burlt hise nin local

built In local umons ana Labour barties It is also worth preparing a resolution for next year's Labour P up the call for an

Slice va ore mcasures outlned ir HAC s mee Dol nar

Ever since the 1967 Act was passed women have been forced

the gains Iow Is ine lime

ANL to launch

new offensive

By Paul Winston

new series of

tober.

revival of ANL activities was

of fascist marches.

dent, for example, at football matches.

representatives from Italy, Germany. * An anti-fascist youth conference;

of the ANL Over &1 ington conference, tatives from all the main areas and anti-racist organisations.

HERE TO

STAY!

TORY NATIONALITY PL.

HERE TO STAY!

FIRST issue of the newsletter of the Campaign Agains Racist Laws with articies on the " ortesi Nationality plans, recent police raids in

to go onto the oftensive; to de mand the unqualified right of all women to choose whether or not unev wish their pregnancies terminated. Trent

Conference

A STEP forward in the campaign for positive legislation and outpatient abortion cinics wil take place in : Notungham • OVE ‹ yo vemuer. An eaucanona con verence bein! organised by Leicester, Nottingham, and Shef field Nationa Abortion Cam-

paigning in the Trent Region. paigr groups discus. Cull The conference will be an op portunity for people who suppor a woman's right to choose to find The conference cumbusen will provide in formation useful for people who want to take up the campaign for abortion rights their ,Labour Party branches womens groups, colleges or schools Sponsorship has already beer obtained movemeni bodies, including Not several laboui

Councils and Region 5 of the LUNO

discussed in the plenaries and in a Positive will !. be workshop at the conference.

apert oD

sussurters

hrel neron although porters trom elsewhere welcome. will be sent ou Registration advance) cost (paper:

£1.50 (unwaged 75p). Send cheucal pusl oruers DavaDe Nottingham NAC, to Ms B Alexander, Templeoak Drive, Wollaton, Nottingham THE Anti Nazi League is planning a

national initiatives.

These were outlined by Pete Alexander, national organiser of the ANL at an anti-racist and anti-fascist con. ference held in Leamington on 18 Oc-

Pete gave a number of reasons why a

necessary.

He pointed to the rise of the British Move. ment, its increasing support among white, 'skinhead' youth, and the growing number

He also explained that there was a new edge of violence in the fascist movement and the growth of a fascist 'culture' evi-

To counter this the ANL is planning:

*An international anti-fascist rally, with

France, and

*A new series of anti-fascist leaflets;

*A national policy-making conference

people attended the Leamincluding represengeographical

" WITHOUTUS!

London, ivanchester s cam paigns round Anwar Ditt and Nasira Begum Just 10p, available from CARL et Cambervel Lansbury House, Grove; London SE5

Page 15 scan of this page

FOR SALE SUNDAY TIMES Its time the bottom people

By Brian Grogan

'GRIN and bear it -

it'lI get rougher yet,'

said Geoffrey Howe

at the Tory

kOn-

ference, referring to

the planned new

round of Tory spen-

ding cuts. A further

€2,000m cuts are

now in the pipeline.

Heseltine has shown that

me nanceror orine wxcne.

quer wasn't joking. He has

banned council house

bulding

Figleaf

Days been inele more than has altas benle le mare taa

controlllle une moncy sud

ply is only a figleaf to cover

this polic

massive welfare hat coksi the to gey su Thy

nas contaueo lo grow.

main borrower of money is

not the government, but big

business. Company borrowAnother

hospital

threatened

ST COLUMBA'S hospital in North London treats the terminauy ii, is patents are mostly cancer sufferers. Now the Tories

hospital to want. une die.

St Columba's is situated on Hampstead Heath and is

Ire Kersington.

Chelsea and Westminster Area Health Authority

want to sell the Ihey perty lo privale developers.

Staff

The staff, members of NUPE. have started a cam paign to save the nosnitar.

have refused to move any of the zo patents currentiy

Losdilal. Mebta A UnOrI[V have already moved three by mini-cab.

i ne workers want the hospital to be taken over bv me negaoourno cameer and Islington Health Authority.

Messages of upport and solidarity hould be sent to Alice Barstow NUPE DISITICI Sereta Londo2 Walterton Rd.

W9. 01-289 4884. Welsh steelworkers

organise action group

By Celia Pugh PORT Talbot steelworkers last week took a lead from their sisters.

ISTC, EEPTU, and AUEW members from the Port Talbot works voted to set up a steel action group to oppose redundancies closures.

the meeting. steel strike against steel closures and the steel

anots

felr own broacsheet insite the olanı was weicome• ov the Llanwern The dever elsh steelwor

and Liverm Erge meting ar the iste confarence or

22 November. All other steelworkers will be welcome at che meti ot ae and it is closures and redundancy.

Monetarism — it's a fraud

bỉ this for the first six month year was at a recorc billion The Tories have kept inTeresi rales TOTC( companies to shed stock and staff. This. was generate cash ithin budgets. coniyally De-stockme and unemoioy. ment are now record

Even with these policies the credit squeeze is creatins navoc with company cash positions, and ine privale

ment the highest ever ICUrCu

whlle borrowing is on the increase companies have less ash in hand pared their ucULs

THE TIMES

Will it be Rupert Murdoch, the Dirty Digger' who has doled out a diet of nudes to build the Sun into the biggest-selling Tory hymn sh Or how about Lord Matthews, chairperson of Exoress Newspavers. look Ine prinl unions court over the TUC's Day and is presently trying to jetison the crews of cunara s canopean-paser Iners!i There againir the buyer could James Goldsmith, UWIICI Cilt cavennam ooo char ane NOW! HIS latest contribution to press freedom the colourful pages Hazarılt CALUl LIlC virtue. ol ine generals wno rin ente Another contender Robert Maxwell, i he form or MP owner Pergamon Press, Llanwern brothers and A meting attended by over a dozen

and

Members of te Lanwern Action Groud attenceo They have been campaigning since the

The decision bv the Port Talbot workers to produce

that has been Llanwern plant will the basis for a call lay

hoped to able need for national strike action against

had a fall on io industry has

lad a lall of ) per cent in

uncu vucoul ll tue bası yedl.

ane oronis ane uves meni

are falling.

The effect of this on the

moner SUDD Y was nigder

the operation the

ciling on bank borrowing.

iv pcl rouna cus une com-

Danes cor toreiner wilh ine

banks and underwrote

Arguments for Socialism

system of borrowing from

each other. When the multi

Hallonais necceo aocluona

cash, they simply went to

the Euro-currency market.

in i ms corsel was remnovee June The following

month there was a signifi-

cant increase m une more!

had a paper

WHICH tycoon will fork out for The Times, the Sunday Times, or the three supplements?

business dealings Havucucu lo oc exposce

vares or une sunaay Times.

One other pop hat nt

That into the ring: Lord Rothermere UUS. Assucialcu Ivewsoavers. WElCI responsible for the sicken-

diatribe known

was this which led ficwsuauc Wav m smo e Her be Ine 1930S (The Times was close behind). Lockout

Lord Thomson would be glad of Times

vcwsuaucis Lid Wiulc or van. lo arv or mese ruing class neroes They turn would be pleased to add TNL's titles to their em pire, provided thes a few thousand of the comDally s 4.50v CmDOYCCS

"homson's did its hesi to break the print unions locking workers for 11 months and

£40m IOSle SOllIC process. degree solidarity was established

the half unions at TNL which ulul CucucHlcu newsoaver IndUSLIy MaRanagement gained little.

Maybe there is a multi-millionaire willing to have a

mili auttik IC Wi alle LOusaneODs MaV DG Rees-Mogg will pull off his scabbing

ol tre dimes outldlsls minıs printw orkers some financier.

Freedom

And

lavDe walen carenson W1 il close its newspapers. That's the price of the bosses? press freedom in' the 1980s.

Home News

Thatcher - puzzled by monetarism?

There is an alternative. ine new tecnnology coulc be used to expand

and retain job by io the over facilities WU1 AIlE class movement. Occupy

In alt!

TUC time Int ane Labour Party hit back at the barons newspaper, perhaps starting with a Sunday paper...

TE IMES

TNL - soon to be RIP?

back hunger

strikers

ca-aa.- orao

"35 =5: ="

= = -= 3:

sunike unu dedts I an STarna a:

tais conterence ConcAmm

treatment of the prisomes

denied poíitical status

acnieve

dependence.

Welsh nationalists

PLAID Cymru national conference voted on 24 Octobe: to back the H Block arisoners

st3:us ==-90

Socialist Challenge

upply of 5 per cent, and a turther rise ot 3 per cent il August happened despite the imposition

Fading only in creased September. Lis ligan Gocsl inciuae DOrTOWIle Wen to is ree Euro-currency market. it will show us the overall ef fect on the money supply

Between rebruarv and September the money supp ly grew • by 16 per cent

above the fo per cent. targe : of 7. per cent Even in their own terms, the connepouc Thatcher and Josenh has failed

The continuing increase in the money supply

I reasury mandarins demanding more culs in une buonc secior. lu only by securing these cuts that employers demands for a lowering i the interes! t rates can be met

All this sound reasonable in the Cabine office but reality shows that it doesn't work

Monetarism is an experiment in Torv theorv. Unfor tunately the guinea pigs are

il wil b dered popl

hospitals, and eventually be urw or tre core

No cuts

for the

Queen

THE Merton, Sutton,

and Wandsworth Area

Health has a reputa.

tion for showing

hospitals patients the

A steady stream of them

has passed through the exits

of the Cumberland, Putney

Nenelar colec s. niyu

Park. and beneclct c

hospitals - all closed by the

Authority to save f6m.

So workers at the other

Toring, George's muspa

surprised

waen accoratols starlca li

paint and rehang doors ir

the entrance to a wing open-

ed only last year no: Ine place if beang sprel. change : of heart? Well.

visal oy tllc

Queen

Her Majesty arrives at S

Nic hp to o prog imh

up to give her a warm recep-

tion.

What's Left

prior to publication. Payment in

Rusle taily and rim show Wi i

• Thur e 30 Octaber 1980 Page 15

Page 16 scan of this page

As Tory attacks

mount...

DISMISSAL have now been issued to 590 workers at the occupied Gardner's tory in Eccles near Manchester. Predictably the workers to be sacked include many of stewards and the convenor, Tom Macafee.

The workers are continuing their occupation of the plant, and many of the demonstrators on last Sunday's. anti-misiles contributed money to their cause aspects Britain autumn of 1980.

Intentions

In the past week the government has announced that double the cuts in public spending in the coming year, including a ban on all house building, swingeing cuts in education every other aspect ding.

For the first time, threat of compulsory redundancies in the public sector. ment has also signalled its intentions over public sector pay will be under 9 per cent when inflation is around 17 per cent.

During October Only -

12 months £12.50

Beginners

10 issues for £1 only.

Britain: months f6.50

12 months - Surface Mail

Multi-reader institutions: Double the above rate

Name

Address

I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of

Published by Cardinal Enterprises, P.O. Box 50, London N1 Printed by East End Offaet (TUl. London E2

Socialist

Challenge

KEEP UP

GARDNER'S

SOLIDARITY

notices

to the miners.

fac- the response

NUM the the membership!

Urgent

and unemployment demonstration place this Saturday -conference ment cuts,

Leeds.

More than fightback threat of redundancy

it intends to Gardner's so vital.

At the

and and of social spen- November

there is the

The governTories' - pay awards turning the at a time che.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Special Offer! (Britain only) plus FREE copy of Trotsky for

Airmail Comptato ane cour Nectata Cholane da per to eat hailer

: Street, LondonN1

This is the reason for the Coal Board's derisory offer of 9 per cent

The message to the leaders of

to these attacks was clearly given by Arthur Scargill in his speech addressed to the

leadership... Stop apologising and start fighting for

The Tory attacks through cuts

give added the conferences takin: the Lambeth arainst local and the Labour Coordinating Committee conference in

Never a successful against the is needed.

That's what makes the struggle at

same time as building solidarity with Gardner's, all trade unionists should be building the national demonstration called for 29 Labour Party national executive. Liverpool

This demonstration needs to be a huge rebuff to the

policies which are cascade of redundancies into an avalan-

£12.50 £18.00

THE

aspect

the.

By Judith Arkwright

Labour TEST demonstration on November against unemployment, backed

the TUC will be massive. But

of the fight against unemployment cannot be forgotten

struggle woman's right to work.

rUC. said. earlier

NO QUISI MISS LEC IN PRITAIN

Work-it's a woman's right, too

this year that unemployment was rising twice as

among worner men. In the last five years. female unem ployment has gone up by 62 per cent.

unemployment often

down under the

retext that for 'pin money'. This is not

work and have.as

huge. increase • female unemployment-and

Youth

lead

against

the

missiles

80,000 on anti-missiles

demo - for more

pictures and

story, see page 3

a failure to fight it can only result in pushing

wolfel D8CK IlLe • nome alla alviding ine worktorce

sponsors has come

right work' contingent in the 2 November demonstration, which held in Liverpoo

The sponsors include:

MPs Jo Richardson Reg

• Wise and Women in Action and Women's Fightback.

Photo: PETE GRANT (Socialist Challenge)

The say: 'Within the against unemployment 5 cessary • the speciTic plignt or women workers, fightin! for

impleme tion o the TUC

TOI and training

time workers...

'We pledge our support for

one around The cemeno dra wonders right to work.'

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