Socialist Challenge No. 53, 6 July 1978
The scan: sc-n53-jul-6-1978.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
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Socialist Challenge GUILTY!
Our asmelsonly kept in the news by gaags of
bully boys who rumpage through the Fast End of London beating up Asians. Despite our butred of multi-racialism, such disgraceful acts of illegality and brutality cannot be tolerated
The mindless morons must be brought t book and in default of a statement condemnation by the party leadership and expulsion of lawires elements, we som unilaterally turn over a list of troublemakers to the police and inform the newspapers of our
- NF internal document — see P.3
@Activists have told me they wouldn'
repatriate Immigrants became it would b heaper to kill chem here, like Hitler killed the
Abore the desk of one party official I spok to was a map covered with cromes which be sal were the sites of proposed concentration
Special Branch informer, Grunada TV's World in Action
they
No 53 6 July 1978 Price 15p In Germany they didn't talk about the camps
HEARD ABOUT
H BLOCK
'The walls, ceiling and door are all practically covered with decaying food, piles of it around the wall and heaped against the door and all black with live moss over it. We have to eat away from the door because that's where the majority of maggots gather. There is that many of them that
are crawling under the doors, some drop from the walls. I'm bouncing at times because of the heat and the stench of urine, exrement and decaying food.
All Northern Ireland calls for (political) status yet we rot until we are no more, for there can be no return for us. lt is victory or death." - Letter from H Block (See pages 8 and 9)
All Out for the Irish Prisoners: London 9 July. Assemble. Marble Arch 2pm. Called by the Prisoners Aid Committee
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'The socialism which Marx and Engels foresaw, and global catastrophe for civilisation. But it is evident Bahro is in prison for 8 years
EDITORIAL
Socialist Challenge,
ANL in action
Front. it indicted the
Jews.
people. Few who watched the period. set in motion. both is vital for the ANL's future.
THE PROBLEM of Chile's disappeared That's alicial -
behind her and you have only 32 sean. The Interior Minister last week denied
probable that the hueger sirikes government "investigation'
Orlando Letelier.
deul.
step towards finding the disappeared.
If you agree with these principles and want
to be involved in activities by Socialist
Challenge supporters in your area, fill in
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* 1am interested in more Intormation
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Send to Socialist Challenge, 32819 Upper
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SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 2
328/9 Upper Street, Editorial 01-359 8180/9. Distribution/ Advertising 01-359 8371-
THE PROGRAMME screened by Granadu's World in Action last Monday couldn't have come at a better time. It detriled the crimes committed by the British Nazis and interviewed the black, white and Jewish victims of fascist terror. Esing the sworn testimony of a Special Branch informer active in the National
instigating and co-ordinating a campaign of harassment, The informer stated: *Activists have told me that they wonld not repatriate immigrants because it would be cheaper to kill them here like Hitler killed the
None ef these revelations will come as a surprise to readers of the left press. Their importance lies in the fact that what we have been saying for many yeurs is now being accepted by a broad range of
World in Action' programme would be left in any doubt that the NE is a Nazi front.
This makes the campaign conference of the Anti Nazi League this weekend even more important. For if there was one thing which the TV programme demonstrated, it was the need for the broadest possible opposition to the NF. This already exists in th form of the ANL. What we have to map out at this conference i how to build on the excellent work already done by the League.
For if the ANt is to be built as a long-terin rather than an 'emergency" operation, it will need local and national structures which con effectively service such a campaign. The growi attacks on black people in the ghettoes have already seen the ANT responding with demonstrations and pickets of support. Activities on this front will have to be further developed in the coming
With an autumn general election in the offing, the nest major activity of the ANL must be to organise meetings and actions in all the major industrial centres of Britain. The NF are standing 318 candidates and their propaganda will have to be combatted in an
adacious way, If, however, the elections are postponed until nex
aring, the ANE shouid plun a massive intervention at the Labou Party Conference, An Anti Nazi Camp should be organised outside and a massive rally, carnival and demonstration should be
The ANL has both to maintain its broad character and adopt • perspective of mass actions against fascism and racist attacks.
There might on occasion be some tension between the two, but
sey are not fundamentally counterposed. For the success of 1
NI has been due to its ability to mobilise tens of thousands young people. This must continue. However, for building in the Inhour movement, an equally important task is to cement the alliance with members of the Labour Party. A combination of
Chile's 'disappeared"
prisoners i boring • It's what the president of the Chilean Supreme Court told a delegation of visiting West German MPS. He also took the occasion to lecture them about democracy: Don 1 come and tell us about democratic standards. You have a lot to learn from us. Chile has more than 160 years of democratic history
The arrogance ef government spokespeople goes even furthe prisoners existed: The Government has carried out all relevant
nvestigations and established that these disappeared persons do not exist as such'. The relatives of the disappeared have replied to this rubbish in the only way fit they have accused the security services of responsibility for the disappearances, and it now seems
postponed pending a will be resumed.
Government responsibility for these human rights violations in not in question. What is less publicised is imperialist complicity in maintaining the military regime. Look at any catastrophe for the Chileun working class and you will find the sticky fingers of the LS state somewhere nearby. From the coup Itself to the murder of
Recent token diplomatic protests cannot compensate for this complicity. Jimmy Carter has a notoriously uneven approach fo humun rights. A sermon on the evils of the Soviet Linion is likets to be followed by a Cold War onslaught, If the topic is Iran or Chile if is just as likely to be the prelade for a multi-million dollar arms
Only international solidarity by the workers morement will locate the disappeared, In Britain Merlyn Rees has refused to step up visu programmes for Latin American refugees. If the sulidarity
movement can reverse that decision, that would be an important
N1.
After the uprising of 17th June The Secretary of the Writers' Union
government
To dissolve the people
ON Saturday 1 July. Times told its readers Rudelf sentenced imprisonment by CRET LILALI court. beadliac Economist jailed" the tiny news item was tucked away as the bottom of a column on an inside page. reader must have missed the Most of the report (though no other daily sentence). And why not? What possible interes
Pete is helier nami Market
ideologue nor a religious freak. He certainly does not wish to emigrate to Israel.
SALVATION
Nor. for that matter, does he insist that the road to salvation for the East German workers lies through a restoration of junker militarism
He i a communis. anti-Stalinist and a left critic of the Honecker sympathies Be
Eurocommunice trend within the worki must MOVe developent of ment. And which encouraged him to write his book The submit it for
Bahro is a direct reflection of Eurocommunism inside Eastern Europe months will show whether the Eurocommunists wage a campaign to defend him We shall continue to argue that should, so that the impact is tel inside the German Democratic Republic:
NO MENTION
Barto Remains a MarxIst. There are
Dally Mail, no mention
television, no colum Levin, nO Tharcher, in the statement from Office.
The Guardian will publish an article or Jobe Pilger will arite something in the Mirror. Till then the Large
people will not know who
revaluttonary soristic are:
INTERNATIONAL
which Lenin and his comrades undoubtedly hoped for also in Russia, will come. It must be the goal of our struggle, as it is more than ever the sole alternative to a Hud leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee Stating that the people had forfeited the confidence of the
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier
BERTOLT BRECHT: The Solution (1953)
The Bahro is or why lie has been STRI jailed. had been years *an Bader
DILEMMA
could top attracted by Havemann in the West an Encounter regime. His WELE the
was the this current
Alternutive and publication.
The next few
the! therefore DO headlines in the
(rom questions Trom House, по the Foreign
Possibly in a few weeks time
majority of
Capilalism Win erisk. The leuders of the Tahour Part and the trades union:
offer solutions that are in the inserests, not of the workers, but ne the capitalis!
Socialis Challenge belleves that the ton shed tasks confranting
• To balld broad-laved dass strugek sendences im
class-collaborationise in the lahour movement. These should be non-euchal
in character grouping legaler millants holding a wide range of political viens
•To hegin in Light-for the coration of a saified und demneralle reybludionary
socialist orankation which ran, through an application of vailed Treat theike
begin in be seei as an ellerative hy thousands of workers gaged is srugsle
Such an enganisation should be haved on the understanding that:
The strugale for socialismn seeks to unite ile fight of the murkers pains biacs. peuple, gave - struagling for their sheration. This socalism car hall be schleved be mating dew organs of power and defeating with all perimary micins the power of the capitalist sace.
incompatible
For thoughts like these
regime. agony West
Est earthe tere Increasingly they remain loyal to the ideas of Marxism, while Rudolt Bahro,
the powers and privileges of the bureaucracy.
The latest issue of Encounter expelled sumsupthe dilemma of the cold (Biermann) and imprisoned its
18-year-old Max (Bahro)! escapee from East Berlin writes youth in Fast Germany are
the and Biermann. communis and now a lending dissident, The second is Fast Germany's Bob Dylan, whose outspoken lyrics are a Marxist critique of the bureaucracy:
Havemann is still in the East though under constant Western veillance. Biermann is in exile charge
serously.
Our young contributor to
Sunset by the popularity of both these men.
And he explains the reason for this: they are the only ones who i German state intends to deport
3
enough that Soviet and East European society as
with the goals sel by RUDOLF BAHRO.
actively
Encounter s 30 longer subsidised by the CIA, bur this has not affected its ideological stance. It remains the unofficial voice of an intelligentsia much loved by the British Foreign Office and the State Department in Washington. So Its and
columns retlect the anxieties of officialdom in the
Naturally we can only rejoice that Hascmann apd Bieriann
Fas German youth. A third ligure can now be added to the list:
A member of the East German establishment recently told a French journalist (off the recordi that East Germany had
Mayakovsky they
For Biermann and Bahro have been communists since their yourh. Both are staunch opponents of capitalism. to the East rather that live in capitalist West Germany.
INTELLIGENCE
Rudoll Babre is accused of being a see t
intelligence not
No-one believes it in East Germany and even loyal party hacks know it is a barefaced lie.
It is possible that the East
Our socialiem will be intinlich mur demomile than what eten ha . Heimin today, with full rights for all policicut parties and currents th nelson in the USSR and Lastern Demope have decrodied yesun
Is the ese of the milions of workres thronghout she wurld. We are opposed to
them and will ofter tull suppurt an all those nahcing for scialet democracy
The interests of workers kid copitaliste are irreconcilable un a world scale. Capitalism has not only crated a world market, it has erealed wurkd politics. Thus we Fighs for working clace salty on an internation sale. This unity will in the long ren be dectise in defeating both the
Imperialist regimes is he West and ihe brutal dictatorships Ches snothis in Latin
America, Africa and Asia.
In Britain it impiles demanding ic inmediate wiharama of Britsh troops
from Ireland and ling the trish people determine their own Tutere
The Communist Parties in Euru-communis* sor the pro-Misens aings have any scaniastil ] strategy for the overthrow of the capitalist sinte. New mesolutinnan socialist parties are more secessary than anet before. Conditions toile
are more fas durable than aver the proceding three decades. Bet such parties cant
only he built by rejecting sectarianism and sering internat democracy not we s
luxury but as a vital necessity. This means the right in eranse tections an
Marxism.' opposing the Bahro forcibly or even propose that he is exchanged for some East German spy in the West.
In any event, a vigorous defence campaign is needed
Bahro's arrest. Imposonment, secret trial and sentence i a sap in the face of the Eurocommunists in the West
ether
SENTENCE
Bahro's sentence coincided
complete rehabilitation of the late Stalinist boss
sary of whose death wis recently commemorated o the bureaucratic establishment and its press
The Communist Parties in Western Europe must answer Honecker's challenge. For it
not capeble of defending *their Fastern Europe their credibility will be seriousty affected on their own hense ground
Many CP intellectuals have associated themselves with appeals being circulated thr oughout Western Europe, but
officially taken up such a CEILIE
A number of actions are
planned in Britain. Socialist Chullenge has initia-
'Open Letter Honecker which circilating within the labour movement. Wewill presensit to the East German when SENTES published in this county in October.
At the same time the Rudolf Bahro Defence Committee has been plannine a number ol more active and immediate
The Committee is supported by the Bertrand Russell Peac
the National Organisation of Labour Students and various well-knowr socialists
They have called Bahro's arrest socialism. They are calleesh German embassy with tele grains and resolutions
All protests should be sent to the Embass of the German Democratic Republic Belgrave Squure, London SWIX 8QB. the Delence Committee c/a Min nerup, 14 Folkestone Road, Copnor, Portsmuth, Hante The 'Open Letler' is available
Bahro Defence socialist Challenge, PO Bas
50, London NI: -Europe ure in crisis Netther the
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Socialist Challenge Trade Union Conference
HOME NEWS
resounding No to Phase Four! DENNY FITZPATRICK, tional Union Teachers, minster:
Although there have been big.
political defeats. these defeat:
have not heen organisarional in education we ve seen very large numbers involved campaigns against cuts closures.
To build this campaign in Westminster we had to put forward a political alternative to the authority's policies — for
class size of 25, keeping schools open, maintaining
levels with pupils.
Then we had to fight for these policies, which meant longe committee, setting up an inter-union action parent-
body. getting trades council hacking.
We've also directed the light at the union leadership, which NAS DOCT SEEI C 215 00S. C campaign for an alternative behind the Socialist Teachers CHULBILE 3 open organisation, bocau the Il's vital that the STA is an
involve hroad forces. We've canipaigned against raciste, and weekend we have a women's conference with a wide policical spectrum involved.
STEPHEN MARKS, Natiomal Union of Journalists, Maga-
No Phase 4 -
lobby the TUC
THE SOCIALIST CHALLENGE Trade Union ConTerence in Birmingham on Saturday voted overwhelmingly to support a lobby of the TUC when it meets in Brighton in September. And the main demand trade unionists want to raise with TUC leaders is for a
"Socialist Challenge' supporter Viv Lacey, an csecutive member of the Civil and Public Services Association, successfully moved an amendment at an
The conference resolution is
Broad Left and Hank and File on the same footing equally to be written off.
Comrades must be sensitive and not organisations which in some arcas still have an important role to play. Some RAF groups not operate as a Sociulist Workers Party different political groups work together. for example atalists Charter Dominie Costa was right when he distinguished between regrooping socialist militants NaWest- committees.
But people will consistent orientution towards rank and file organisation are those with a consistent socialist perspective.
As far as SWP comrudes are and concerned, the best comrades in the best groups know thut, despite fine speeches, when it comes down to it all the hard work will be done by members of political groups.
fewer PHIL GILLAT, Sandersons strike committee:
We have 36 people who have been on strike for 14 months over reinstatement and union recognition. Our strike pay is f6 a week.
35-hour week.
executive meeting a few days prior to Saturday's conference, attended by 241 trade unionists.
competing groups. We need to L putting the
of the right wing. There's 11 hoth millon in the trade mavement, yet we have to ask for financial belp, write off Take Sandersons with you
when you go. At long last we are now doing what we should have done a long time ago. won't be another Grunwick. front and Thank you for your time and
I would also like to thank you for your thoughts, help us build a real left wing.
DICK HALL, National Union stewards of Mineworkers. Nottinghum-
shire: the only This conference has been a have step in the right direction. It set
itself timited aims and by and lurge it's achieved them. That's always been the problem with Runk and File.
I've been 10 conferences, and they always set theirsights ridiculously high like culling one-day general strikes which no one responds
I see this bringing toperber serious trade unionists to discuss different 01 B0R trying to build a united socialist CHErent in the unions There's no simple schema that will solve this problem. In Nottinghamshire we've set up a roup around The Collier, th Zank and Fik involves members Socialis Workers International Marxist Group and Big Flame.
We are also able to have a working reautionship certuin Party, becouse the Broad Lett really doesn't esist in our area.
We only set up the group = few mombs ago, but alrewly we've done quite a lot of work around racism — helping to set up Anti Nazi League hrunches in Nottingham and Munsfield, for example. taking up the proposed cheere at Tappersall and so on.
agham, conference calling for such action.
The resolution adopted at Birmingham also raised demands for the right to work, particularly that for a 35-hour week with no loss of pay. The resolution was moved by Chris Collins of the Post Office Engineering Union, which is presently taking industrial action for a
Here we publish extracts from speeches at the
many
approach.
which can all their
whole thing, conference here and there.
they're JOHN Union of London:
paper, wlich you pose of Parts. tive as well
SHUBERUL
with figures in the Labour more regular confereoces,
Socialist supporting campaien
idea to Well also
across the unions.
leaked to
branch
Chullenge.
CUTORSU movement. 1LBE
DF THE 202 people who registered fer
1247 Wors
of
organisers, members
and
had been
Directorate
In Yorkshire, it micht be wrong to work in Rank and Fil
coloured work round Yorkshire Forum with the sarilliles. la Scotland, the solid hold of the Broad Left
down in yet another huttle.
bureaucratic
in hiring balls.
The important thing for meis
do in lerms of building a
That SITECT we're fighting for in the unions is a new way of looking at the defeat
and not Just Conflicting adding in a bif more militancy
BANGS National Teachers, East the campsign,
The Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions and Rank and File are defunct.
political alternative, then you have to polilical pose an organisational alternaFaily Cohe or major Socialist Challenge should look al ways of bringing wubtants in ditferent unions togetber on a
than share ex- Instead periences and take decisions. individual
disustrous Challenge
for the 35-bour wock, then it would be a good the
divided, establish that as which From the truth. would need to be co-ordinated
Truth about
NF - official
THIS INTERNAL National
TWEE the anti-fascist
newspaper CARF by an NF
organiser. The com
Tades of CARF, whose next
edition appears in September,
available to Socialist Worker, Workers Achon are Sochs
We have published it in full. Its content will come as na
"ENC
confirms what we have long heen saying
10: Chairman of the National
FROM: Action Committee of London Branch Organisers
We represent a growing section
the National Front TANA-SHA-SCHOOSECIAL seriously concerned at the lack of leadership prevailing at the top of the party this year. As
ordinary party look for poor performunce in thelocal council
We believe that the fuctors
pubbesapport for us were many
conviction that they could have been overcomeif a positive lend
the the Nationul
It is true that we went into the clection with a greater degree of apposition, ranged against us than at any other time in our ten
history it was s challenge we should have taken
successfully given the widespread public antipathy to
Immigration
However a dearth of election
Tween headquarters grussronts and abysmal rela-
must tuke the lion's share of the Hume meant that we were noi equal to the task. We were quite
driven defensive and that is a poor pasition from which to fight any
Many loeul newspapers did not havelists of candidates until five days before the poll and this ful deficiency can be put down to
bumbledom HO. Then there were problems
Tosomeextent chis was due to a more hardline attitude on the part of Luhour-controlled local authorities. Bad this has boen a list constant obstacle which we have police surmounted on previous secu sions and we should not have let
us this time led statements to newspapers From local officers and national spokesmen certainly did not unist mutters.
Altbough me were barred by law from marching in Greater
London for the greater part o
It should har pulle meeting in the capital al DOSSInH 10 organise today some stage to keep the National Front al the centre of the
stage. This neFer happened despite earlier promises from head office that a
aedivity wonld
attempt TY A made centrally to produce literuitire replying do the smears marke
branches with CORSHUCHE each other in public print.
This merely left the public
Impression of warring party: impression not too far removed
An additionn factor was the
starling to say too: that the
SHORETORESS A PTOE!
Thames TV's excellent
World in Arion oroznimme or
Monday and the 'dissident" NF
conticin what the Front's
naliona leadershin have beer
at pains to deny that those
responsible CELIAL
racist thuggery NF
No doubt the NF will shortly
indulge in its Night of the Long
Knives". Continued mass
action and a hard offensive
against all forms of racism can
deal the fatal blow
behuviour party
members who were quite
of British Nationalism. Press TOOTLA nominees and loutish attacks by
- 120 SOUT opponents meetings dragged us, in the public's estimation, down to the level of the Left and probuil prompled walers to cry: 'A Plague on Both Your Houses'.
Alain. none ol this nerd hav happened had there been firm direction from the lap
An поге development management of parts fund Daly a Traction of the mone originally promised to underfunded braeches from HO ever materialised.
In view of the rumours that are rife within the ranks over finuncial mismanagement and subiscriptions moing astray, • full and searching inquiry needs to be undertaken, Conlidencein such anlaquiry would be greatl
National Organiser Were exchided from ail stages of the proceedings
Our overall conclusion is tha unless authority is restored o national level, the National Front will cease to exist by the end of the year. Organisation has all but disuppeared and anarchy reigns at all levels. In
areas, structure exists only on puser and man! of the membership lists contain the masses of people who have long since lapsed.
Our name is only kept in the newsby gangs of bully boys whe rampage through the Hast End of London beating up Asians Despite our melti-racialism, sach disgrace-
acts ef illegality and brutality cannot be tolerated.
The mindless morons must b brought to book and in default of a statement of condemnation by the party leadership and expulsion of lawless elements, we shall onilaterally turn over a
of troublemakers to the and inform the neespapers of our intentions.
The late AX Chesterton whe
party with such distinction in the difficult years of the 1960s once said: ...let us face it, we have an attraction for certain kinds of louts who unless kept in check, can and almost certainly will wreck any movement" His words are being proved tragically
LIBE
We do not as branch otficial: seck to absolve ourselves femin blame for what has happened to our party, bet me feel it oaly right to remind you of the statements JOU made regaining controt of the party in 1976. You said that the success of a movement such as ours derived mainly from the leadership of the few and that the chairman of a political party must espect to carry the can if things go wrong.
We believe we must hold you do your word and request that Fou Convene, at the earliest possible opportunity followin the summer holiday, a specia party conference to discuss ibe future of the party and its leadership.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 3
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Paper Tiger or Pupil power
Cross country carniva......
HOME NEWS
weekend in London.
despite the tremendous wave
reports.
NUSS is in crisis. That was clear from this year's terence. gale, most of them bedecked with ANL and SKAN badzes, stressed the need to organise
slap bang up against the union executive.
A number of motions — for
one callinglot demonstration against school MONUTES blocked the Young Communist League led executive who said the union's problems could be solved by 'getting back to basics' and begging money from charitable
The whole structure of the conference, with discussion dominated by hundreds of minule amendments to inc SCHOOL STUDENTS, teachers and others interested in racism in education met in Manchester on 24 Jur discuss organising on what theme, wriles PAUL WILLIAMS.
The 150 activists heard how
Stockport and school students have caned for wearing Anti Nazi League badges and distributing leallets following instructions from the education authorities.
It was these moves which have been aided by the silence of the leadership National Union af Teachers — coupled the growing willingness of militant schoo students and teachers to oppose the NF which prompted the Manchester Campaign Against Racism in Education to call the Conference. This body affiliared to the Anti Tea uneast Teachers 2) the Socialist Teachers" liance.
UNDERLYING
Retty Hunter from the All
Tesebers Against Racism and Fascism and Sowelp student leader -
speakers sel framework for the discussion which recognised that the fight against the NF in the schools
Against the Nazis, Education.
Organising Centre: NUSS Offices,
Lord Street/Southall Street) 11.00am.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 4
NUSS conference
ONE HUNDRED and five delegates and observers | attended the seventh annual conference of the National Union of School Students held over the
Delegates heard that membership had declined and that a financial crisis in the union was brewing. This,
of militancy in the schools over the past year. REDMOND O'NEIL
union's constitutional policy statement stifled discussion on perspectives. As Leeds delegate Erica Lavedo put it. ence wai too bonzed down in bureaucratic rubbish insignificant detail which was almost impossibic 1o TOLOW
BUREAUCRATIC
Students attending have any incentive to go out and mobilise support for an organisation run by bureaucratic hacks and out of touch with what's going on
On a brighter note a number positive taken. Conference
-. the Northwest
will get nowbere unless the underlying racism in education and society is tackled, Speakers in the workshops took up this theme, and argued to sor turmine ine Are towdeds anti-racism. I was maintained
by building and working inside
School Students Against the Nazis, and so on, as they exist been today.
School students led the way on bow to organise. It was the first time a significant number of students on a Manchesterwide hasis had got together.
Many saw the best way to set up SKAN and NUSS groups was the to organise mass action in the schools. That's why a woek of action has been called leading up to the Northern Carnival.
DEFIANCE Paul O'Sullivan, chairperson of NUSS, put their aim simply Nazi i will be more like a week of defiance' Students wearing badges in deliance o chool leads, leafletting ever:
Manchester racisas, and taking against compulsory uniforms and corporal puni shment.
Brainball High School in both Stockmart has heen ear-marked for a picket on 14 July. It is in
Andrews — the NF caodidate in the Moss Side be-clection
Greater Manchester Week of Action in the Schools
Called by NUSS, various SKAN groups, Teachers
Campaign Against Racism in
10-14 July 178 Place, Oxford Road, Manchester 061-273 2977.
15 July Great Northern Carnival School students and teachers' contingent meet outside the High School of Art (side of Strangeways, corner of
support School Kids Against the Nazis oroviding there were adequate guarantees on inOn sexism, cancies was called durine the conference. motion calling for a women's conference was defeated it is clear that women delegates are beginning to get organised and will be fighting sexism in the future.
At the end of the first day of confer- conference
delegates got together to form
and ant opposition to the executive called Socialist Alternative half of
Socialist delegates were later elected 1o the executive and 43 delegates exchanged agreed to ongoing basis won't
These included members of the Socialist Workers Party, International Marxist and Workers Socialist League.
in
Anyone wishing to contact Socialist Alternative write
voted to PO Box
is a teacher. The NUSS offices have bagang centre for the week been
of action and for the Carnival. Both the conference have appealed for contingents on tbe Carnival march around demands, as well as those acainst fascism.
...Wales
CARNIVALS are definitely the in thing, as socialists politics and fun go well together.
On Saturday 15 July thousands from throughout Wales England will head for Cardiff for a day long Carnival against racism, writes DEREK DAVIES.
Why does Wales
Carnival? Joanne Richards, a Carnival organiser, explained will be 'The National Front attempted
La big increase in its organisation in Wales and intends standing against candidates in the next election action We want a big show of public school opposition to their ideas before
the election starts.
COMPLACENCY
'Cardiffitself has had quite a good record on racial harmony, Herbert
but we leel that there's a certain complacency here.
The organisers stress bowever that it is a Carnival against racise and not just Nazism like the London one. After all, the INFIS SHE DICESS Wales, They could only muster a dozen to picker a Tany Benn meeting in a Cardiff two wocks ago, after chiming that 600 would turn up.
Waterloo
branch can': take all the blame
in the worst housing and highest unemployment, or for
In building the Carnival the armatisers have sued at three groups: youth, trade unions.
woman's
and although
dissatisfied
Alternative
addresses and organise on
for a new
Group
to
50. Upper Street,
conference NUSS and the
out.
061-6527851.
school in
offices
discover that Cacnival.
The response commenities has heen
Hindus are sending and . West stration.
need small in
suburb
small NF
areas of poorest
the continual
the Inner London Education Authority.
Rachen in Forensive ate the Against
going on the offensive after the
and plans for activities both inside the unions atid outside are being mapped
Furiher details about CARE
061-733 6450 or
and black communities. Every Carnival
Cardiff will be leafletted, Elevea district trade
have sent tormation to their branches June, and contingents will be formed KEREVAN. for a march which starts the
from black good For the first time in Wales, the if the
sential com
Sikhs will sage dancing exhibition as well as marching. Reggae bands from that far Cardiff docks will be playing free. The Muslim, Bengall and
STOP RAGIST MURDERS
HE MORE POLICE RABISM
Council, leading a march of over 200 people through Hackney
Pupils at Paddington School in London demonstrate last month againat the threat to close it from
With people coming from the
THE FIRST planning meeting for a Scottish Against the by Nazis was attended by almost 100 activists on 25 writes GEORGE
The organisers expect 10,000 the Carnival sanned on 5 August - mainly from the East of Scotland. And first meeting anything to go by. this estimate may not be far off the mark.
Many felt the meeting was the most fraternal and constructive left activists have atended in the city for a long PATRICK KODAKARA, on right with megaphone, chairperson of Hackney Community Relations protested against racist murders following the death of Ashiq All after an attack in Hackney last week. A meeting before the march was attended by 26 black organisations, If called for a strike of all black and Asian workers in the East End on 17 July and for self-defence against racist allack
OUR
SCHOOL
borth of Wales to Bristol the
Scotland
I was agreed that maximum involvement in butlding for the Carnival would be encouraged
and democratic meetings. Every Sunday, those wishing to help are being asked to accend a general meeting at
pm at the Edinburgh Trade Council, Picardy Place. Al sub-commitices will repor weekly to this meeting.
The Carnival will be beld in Leith, scene of local National Froat activity and atlacks on Asian shops Anyone interested in working towards u successful Carnival contuct: Cily Lyax. C/O 131 Gilmore Place. Edinburgh, Tel. 031-2290480. on Friday 30 Juno
Page 5 scan of this page
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Page 6 scan of this page
Health workers 'celebrate" = with occupations
Stepping up the discipline
HOME NEWS
hospitals — the work-in.
patients
movement to cheque-book medicine.
confront the health cuts.
It is not the leaders of the health service trade unions who are fighting the staff shortages, the cuts, and the closures.
All of the actions in defence of the NHS have been taken from the shopfioor, while the union burcaucracies have led us up to the top of the hill and down the other side.
And it is not exclusively the branch official and shop stewards inside the hospitals who are taking the lead. Health workers from unions have become militant over ine curbacks.
CONSUMERS
That militancy has had to look for support beyond the public sector unions. Once the Hounslow staff resolved on resistance to the closure. look the issue to the trades council.
It also meant linking up with the consumers of the health
The Greet, Weir, EGA. Bethnal Green Plaistow hospital campaigns — to name only those in LOGGOn - have all depended on outside support not tessi because of
lack of backing from the unions.
This is whar shaped HOLES UW Campaig! welcomed and encouraged davone who wanted to come in bu Be Campai
of political groups, and local
LINK UP
But it's impossible to save one hospital in isolation. The moment you get into struggle you find there are lots of other people in all parts of the country who are doing the same
RICH PALSER.
Afer turning up on the first day with a proposal for an ERD minimum basic wage, the anion leadership blocked
which have EL CAUCT elementary trade union rights
Ibe call for this minimum wage is largely blutt. Faced with nine motions on pay troin branches, acted wace restraint. the
leadership decided on the eve ot
conference to go one beller.
While the branch proposals
ranged from 155 to 172, the
executive called for ERD.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 6
30th anniversary of NHS
AT THE Bethnal Green Hospital in East London they aren't celebrating the 30th anniversary of the NHS with champagne. Workers there have just adopted a tactic which barely a year ago was unheard of in the
It is one of the weapons now being employed against the scalpel that the Government has taken to health care: the multi-million pound cuts which are closing hospitals, placing nurses on the dole queue, and killing
on the ever-lengthening waiting
That is the state of the NHS, which was formed in 1948 out of the fierce opposition of the workers"
Below CARL BRECKER, chairperson of the Hounslow Occupation Committee, describes the lessons of that battle and the measures necessary to
thing.
You begin to link up and draw support from them, Yet a campaign can't exist on thin air. You are forced to build up your base inside the hospital, and at the same time strengthen the campaign at district and area level.
This is what led us to linking up with shop stewards at these levels of the multi-bier NHS.
The stage consolidate of" health industrial workers, beth community coate because It's impossible health workers alone to take on such a huge task as defending the NHS, The Fightback bulletin grew of ibese devclopments,
organisers based Hounslow occupation.
POLICIES Health workers have come to a clearer understanding of the policies needed to defend the and NHS. We have to detine what kind of health service we need, and that brings everything into SUCCEE The campaigns have forood us to raise issues that have never emerged before: challenging the the hierarchical structure of the We NHS, fighting for democracy. defining bealth maintaining that it must be those needs which determine expenditure.
Fightback is available Iron be Hounslow Haspital Occu pation, Staines Road, Harrow.
Middx. Highly recommended is Fightback's 24-page pamphlet seeping Hospitals detailing the experience of the work-ins ut the EGA, Plaistow and Hounslow, Price 10p plas p&p.
COHSE confererence
"FROM the sublime to the ridiculous" would be the best way to sum ap the annual conference of the Confederation of Health Service Employees, reports
Little was said abour how to win it
workers in the health service would against wage limits; no mention of building a fighting fund.
BICA Instead the exccutive argued for rejection of a motion from East Birmingham lor a specia national delegate conterence to decide on what action to take if the claim it turned which negotiations.
The executive's verbal militancy is useful for ridiculine the left: and boosting COHSE'S "image" "against demand for a 160 minimum
lists. area-wide WAS
and logether in THERE. 15 a new siga up in tbi casualty department at Bethna
Green Hospital Lonion, FREEDMAN. It says, 'Open under stuff control.
There hus been & splendid response authority's attempt to further decimule health care in an ureu of desperate already seen the closure of two Bosps In almost 2s many
needs and
NEWHAM
SUPPORT PLAISTOW MATERNITY
Open", WORK-IN
wage. Bur it is hardly likely to increase the confidence of the rank and file.
I's up to the left in the union to call the executive's bluff, and however. begin nOW
membership for a fight around The CHI Al September's TUC, He leadership will be asking for a return to responsible collective TOTEELIE When it comes to defending elementary defence of COHSE members ar the Emergency Bed Service in down in London should have been the
first itea at the conference.
These workers refused stop referring patients to the EGA when Ennals decided it NUPE's had to close. For this they were
disciplined
Hospital open!
CAROLINE HOLE Five
the health
keep the
need that has working-in.
smith Hospital.
Hospital in In cifect, management
prepare The
that.
agenci unian righs, the
certainly
10
in general-
Keep Bethnal Green
On Friday, worken at five have hospitals in East Loadon went on strike against the plan lo In line close Bethuni Green's casually
hundrels dead end" demonstration, und at a mass Muny meeting on Friday night staff at the hospital voled unanimously
open hy committee
Doctors, murses, and ancillary workers have pledged to maintain a 24-hour service, und
Get together
A HEALTH dispute in West forthe past two weeks because London highlights the necessity to link hospitals uguinst the clocking in. cuts, argues ROS BUTLER, a NUPE deward at Hammer-
At the West London
Hammersmith try ancillary workers have had 10 per cent of their pay deducter
Western
this allows discipline members carrying out normal trade union practice by refusing. be to scab on an official dispute.
emergency of proposed by left-wing delegates bospital called for the union to demand
these disciplinary mensures he rescinded. But the motion was not allowed on the
The COHSE Icadership is
corcerned abour discipline. I won acceprance ol new union rules which wil allow the general secretary to discipline branch officers who "act it a manner detrimental to the welfare of his (sic) own or any other branch, or the union
UK
elected all-stall committee to run the bospital.
with local dockworkers, they hase taken up the slogun "The East End is not a
local people were among the 200-strong picket on Friday night, and the action
hoping maintain a daily picket from Ram lo midnight to prevent the removal of equipment. Delmils from: 01-080 3413.
parters, cooks and sunilar stait at orber hospital, have been caken of the clock, management at the West London is acting illegally
makine deductions for CENTLE REISS
The hospital bosses will clearly stop at nothine In their frenzy to slice budgets.
The ancillaries have already taker two days strike action, and management has said that if there is any furtber action it will move patients to the nearby
Hospital, which scheduled for closure
This dispute highlights the
to Link hospital against the cuts, because sadly the National Union of Public Employees members at the Western have said they would
willing to accept the
No doubt they see it as a way
defending their own
SANDTHE NER
HOUNSLOW HOSPITAL STAYS
FLIC
ECA
STAYS
HAH KOH HUNGON OK
Axe
sharpens
IT'S NOT only on small hospitals that the health axe is falling.
As JANET MAGUIRE from Guy's Hospital reports, lumps are also being chopped off teaching hospitals.
The Lamheth, Lewisham and Southwark Arca Health Authority
has been instructed to slashits bodeer by E2.5 million.
In January and Fehruary tus rear, Kines College Hospita. i SHED WEEK TEETO CUSAM its casualty department because
waiting list AT RISK
Nursing sisters on a recal television programme bluntly stated that the situation is bow so desperate that people's Jives are threatened.
The intensive SETTE •unit where seriously ill people who need constant care are taken, is being staffed at night with nurses who have not gor ICU experience and have not been trained to use highly sophisticated equipasent such a unit neets.
Doctors have confirmed that unsale staffing level and that Loween T210 24 antents lave died in the last year whist
heart surgery, If these people could have gone into bospital they would have bad a per percen chance of' survival.
Down the road at Guy's Hospital, six wards have been closed because the celings are collapsing due to lack of proper maintenance.
The AHA report mentions that facilities for the mentally handicapped and the geriaric are woetully deficient and in some cases "non-existent'. ACTION
At last the ARIA is beginning to take a stand against the Government's cuts and they sug they will not carry them out and will go on spending. The alternative, they claim. is to make something bke 3,000 health workers redundant.
At a public meeting called by Southwark, Lambeth, and Lewishans trades councils several speakers proposed the setting up of a joint shop sewards committee covering all the hospitals in the arca
the anti-cuts campaign levolve health workers in a light to defend the HS.
If this wave of cuts is to be fought then health workers in South cast London have 10 TAKC BITELL OLIOS
Page 7 scan of this page
Bilston execution delayed
HOME NEWS
One of BSC's smaller
Several weeks ago. furnace Elizabeth was closed down at Bilston. Although BSC made ment it was then that workers ar Bibston began to suspect they were next u line after. the SHELD DOOL UT COSUTE
Shelton i another victim of
massive, highly capital intenve nants near the coast and phasing out existing plants.
The Bilston plant USESLUTIN since nationulisation, and this. STOWE a profit
without any major investment. But the Joint Action Committee set up by the unions at the works bad their worst fears ppennei childeare need fundumental changes in society.
of the struggle, we haven't won EAST HAM town hall was: the scene of 300-strong meeting on 28 June, called to discuss the proposed closure of the Fast London Upper Docks. Dockers from Liverpool and swelled the numbers, and added to the militant mood.
TONY BROWNE герогія.
The closure plans from the Por of london Anthony have already provoked an outraged
dockers who stand to lose their
community as well.
The dockers appreciate that the strugele in the area mist
As steelworkers call strike
THE BRITISH Steel Corporation's plant at Bilston lies between Wolverhampton and the Black Country.
plants, its 2,000 workforce was threatened with ciosure last week.
From Wolverhampton DAVE ASHCROFT reports.
blast Corporation admitted intended to close down the plant.
Not only were the 2,000 jobs al Bibton threatened, but Were: direcily dependent on the steel plant for work. The closure announcement the TUC stcel committee, and as tar as HoL was concerned 1f was also badly timed. has STRIKE It was made as the time of the
and Steel Trades Contederconfirmed last week when the | Denis: Turner, chairperson of to save Biston.
SUPPOR
*SAPPHO SISTER
CASTRATE WASTE MALE POMERSI
Emmeline Pankhurst's statue near the Houses of Parliament where a bouquet of Mowers was laid on Sundas to commemorate fifty yearssince women won the vote. Thesmall group including some veteran suffragettes gathered to hear an orgs of self-congratulation from
The sisters pictured above represent only one current of opinion among the feminists who disrupted the festivities. Orbers present were more prepared to acknowledee the value of winnine the vote for women — while recognising its limitations. Their statement read: Fifty years after we were given the vote, women are still not free, Eight years aller the Equal Pay Act 'the verage male wage is €78.60, the average female wage is E51', and this is something that the law — the vote to be able to change. An end to images of women as perfect mother, servant, sex symbol; women s freedom to live without violence und harassment; to share the responsibilities of housework and
'We want to make it clear that no feminist fifty years ago thought that getting the vote was the end
we've only just begun!!
Put the PLA
in the dock
Hull
as it will be affected. The fist 1978 and Deceniber 1979 will be at the cost of 4,250 jobs. But jobs in the docks pencrate the elsew licie. closures will probably mean thie local loss ol 20-30,000 Jobs in 110 East End an a whole.
The dockers are demanding that the goveruneur pays to involve the whole community, keep jahs and the docks open
Bilston Action Committee won ISTC support strike action to prevent closure. strong BSC retreated immediately
blaming the announcement on an anonymous manager effectively they confrontation until after the
general election.
Wolverhampton and Bilston Trades Comelt, in addition to mecting the committee and dustry minister Eric Varley, are calling a meeting herween its made
, ратЕсе local full time union officiais to organise support of Histon plant. lo-one should assume the threat hanging over the plant
militants words from the ISTC have secured execution, but the hangmen are still hovering, Next time it will need more than militant words MALE MEM
DONT VOTE THE VOTE ISA OPPRESS WOMEN
Shirley Williams and Sally and that the mones should be controlled by the people whis WE HEAR MOIS
dion by all those who want to Keep the docks open on 15 Juls. The march will assemble 12.30pm a1 Central Park, East Ham, Further information and
lands Forum, 309 Barking Rd. - London Fa.
for nationa
and postponing any
LICE lobbying in
all
strike
bfred. The
of CAMPAIGNERS
last week when abortionist Live.
PLER reports.
Tee
Campasen concerned
prepnant WELSH WOMEN'S
women
Newport on around w pinen sissics
her concibution pr
Enda
mined the
ANNUAL L
Industry Minister Eric Varley speaks at ISTC conferenco
for Rose women's abortion rights scored a modest victory
Hack- Than ney's Labour Council in East London rescinded its previous decision to turn over all temporary short-term housing to the anti-
group Let DODIE WEP.
The Arti-Let Live Commit-
supported by a large number of local communit and la bour morement bodies as well as the National Abortion is.oought to
was especiall that turiner Droisson for single hamelec
had esablishing
despite its pledges to carry out MERE
appression
CONFERENCE aimed. FOLLOWING the suecessful conference of 100
the Wales Women's Liberation and the Socialism Conference in
24 June, plans are already underway for regular forums,
The conference opened with
Wusser's liberation and the
dem ind movement by Jenon Lyna from Swansea Women's Aid. Pam Resolde of TASS. the whic OF cola section of the Engineerin. Utese, outlined the nood
within made unions to figh
Dr. Berry Beaumont took up and women's right to abortion on the Nationa Heath Service in
Women and the Welfare Scale, winke
Dossels, Ihe Houn-
links betweer when sacrame a clas
IRON AND STEEL THAUCO
CONFEDERATION
GATE CON
Anti-abortion
housing plan foiled
Commined', deputation to the
experience: group would nor keep to their
from counselling women who came to them for accommodation. 'Counselling should be avail able to single pregnant women, on request, she argued.
VICTORIAN
such counselling service which belos a woman decide TATE RECOUR ATOn trees provided by to council'. Lei Live, in her view
INDIEAEETCSLEE the Victorian
would only make young women
USE LEILS
With this framework. The conference formed into workshops to discuss issues raised
The conference primarily
Lnk up socials feminiss throughout Wales.
Bur with the amendance of women new to the feminist movement. it shows another untapped source of support for
WLM in Wales. The Socialist Feminist Forutes cow plarmed will hopefuls encourage debare and build the movement throughout Wales
which said he an advantage lor mersone
LANGUAGE
CONSPIRACY RHORDRI WILLIAMS
Wyafford James.
Mobile picket of Garners Saturday, 8 July, 6pm
Assemble at 29 Cockspur St, London W1
then march round the other steak houses!
suring them sup continu
The Hackney Ani-Let Live Committee has drawn up with the bels of local cousel and social workers hensive policies ta pronide metter housine facilities for homeless, pregnant women. These include measutes to allow youne women to take our tenancies even if they are under 28 In TiRLEOn WITH Services: for educational if they would like to chare similar situations, and so cu. revered. Part took an atten beer campagn locally force Councilors. It shows what is needed in omner areas wrere tot pro-choice mosement hasn't been so ccick off the mark
two members of Cymde ithas yr laith Ithe Welsh Language Society) will appear in court to face conspiracy charges on 10 July, reports HUW PHILLIPS
month it Abersioses. Wil
bad been brousht against him and JAmes To tience
launched by the sociels, including its support for a fair television service for Wales on the fourth chanel
This use of conspiracy laws to silence protestors provoked the confercoce, organised by Cymdeithas and Wales National Licion or Stadcats, to demand an eaquire inro their walled mar picke has been called for Jaty Carmarihen, Des Warren, the Shrewsburg building worke
conspiracy laws, will be the SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
IRELAND
Relatives Action Committee in London and Liverpool.
While they were O'CALLAGHAN, International Marxist
Committee interviewed them.
Bernie began by explaining the role of the Relatives' Action Committee, It was established nearly two years ago WA TETE the SLEEOU LEOVCEIAACE announced the abolition of political status for prisoners CREVEICE crimes" connected with the Irish liberation struggie.
"ll was formed by the prisoners" relatives, althouah invhody els wid was interested in the prisoners" welfare was welcome to come and help. So it started in a small way, and now it has DUIL UP IOto a very DrE CaRre Relatives" Action Committees all over the Six Counties-
•We even have one as far away as America. Our ais, first and lorenost 1s volitical status for political prisoner YE SSD WI COI auuIc CUdd political prisoners. we want withdrawal from Northern Ireland and the right of the Irish people to rule their own country.
STATUS
The twa women west on to speak of the history and signiticanoe of political status. It was originally in 1972 after a hunger strike by Provisional Republicans in Bellast's Crumlin Road jail received m125S support from Catholic ghettos. *They refused 1o be treated as crininals becauise there war a war of liberation going on", explained Cathy.
Political status meant that the prisoners were segregated according to
heir politics. Left alone by the prison guards they TOTDICd company and
sattalion staffs and elected officers to negotiate with the prison authorities The prisoners did no menial prison work and were allowed to wear thei own clotbes:
On 1 March 1976 she Labour Government abolished politicel status for all prisoners convicted of offenses after that date. Thereafter political prisoners were co betreared as criminals and the concrete cellc ar blocks, KnOwn ax "H bocks" because of the shape of the buildings, were built to incarcerate the prisoners.
Carhy explained what happened
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Pape B •
SUPPORT
HBLOCK
PRISONERS
LONG KESH
JULY 9™
The struggle for
political status
MEMBERS OF the Belfast-based Central Relatives' Action Committee recently toured Britain and spoke at meetings arranged, in the main, by the United Troops Out Movement. The two women concerned, CATHY who comes from Twinbrook and BERNIE from the Falls Road, were interviewed on local radio
in London Irish organiser for Group, and CAMPBELL from the Crimes Against Irish Women
URASİ
MLJIAYL
British next: "The first man to be sentenced under the new system Neugent in September 1976. He told them that if they wanted him to wear the prison uniform they would have to nail it to his back. 'So he was the firsl man to olankel protest. That was all he had i his cell to wear. As the mien came in they joined him in the protest — the Lovalist and Official Republicans (Loyalists have Proici. •Being trcared as criminals', said Caths, meant chat besides the ane visit per montli, one letter per month, hall hour CHETEIN day remission was sete loe third of sentenice sentence for membership of the IRA was doubled from five to tea years. *The men on the blanket have no privileges whatsoever. Kieran Neugent got one letter our afler four montas, If was to his mother and said, "Dear
blanket for a year.
My dear My nane's
miuch as 1 can.
on my promunciations: lot of about 150 song Irish rebel tunes. memorise. every couple of days.
SOLIA USUCES
The walls are, or were.
AILEAN scrape on to it to
the aguin. They
RUTH
pieces cach.
always write to me once a month-
WE
JOE
WATSON/
(LIFE)
AND HIS COMRADES
was Kieran
Bernse SUIELS
go on thi Nasing "Thes he pred ma
Wash"
•except lor to slop oul
joined the
are over the ape of 25
'privileges the 24 women in Armagh Jal
altbough different abuse,
IT IS very difficult to get news out of H block, Long Kesh. The isolation of the prisoners, their barbaric treatment and the mental and physical conditions of the prisoners make it difficult.
So 'Socialist Challenge' is fortunate to have received a letter written within the last twe weeks from inside H Block. The letter was sent to us by a supporter who received it from a friend who has been 'on the
The letter was written on a paper hanky and smuggled out. It does not make pleasant reading.
forgot (ha ha). Well honey I'm an the Just in case you always a chance. blanket a year this month. This can't be a long letter because it will be difficul: to get out. But I will try and tell you as
I'm well ahead with my Ciaelic, I'm now taking two classes a day, one for beuinners and a more advanced one. 1 know more Irish grammar than I do English, I have songs written in Gaelic tables, lockers.
blanket.
OTTSLaESOS heside them another pop. folk which I've learned and I just sing a few now and then to
I've also started a scrial which I write
Just beside my head whiere I sicep I've drawn an island, sea and sunset, bits of romantic Gaelic phrases with a hearl and ap arrow — cure. This is how some places
whtite ] food down. write. This (paper bankyj isa luxury which I may never get
won't give us any toilet paper, when they do we get two or three
We never get parcels and anly one letter a mooth. Imighen't ger yours, bur
MORT
*mmme
Mom... Your loving son Kierar". That completely and otaly blacked ou" DOILIES
Affer being un the blanker for more than a year the prisoners raised the
elaborated: *The •No -refused wash of age themselves at all or shave. They refused
which meant emptying ceeir foot and chanoer pors fran the
attempting
Of the 360 on this protest onls three
Eighty per cent are between 16 and 20 years old. The potential Relatives Acrion women explained that internationally.
The women staging a differen: protest and suffering
was 50
They are permitied to wear their own distortions of clathes but with the exception of time allowed to empty their chamber pors they are locked op 24 hoars a day
When emprying the pots they bave to undergo strip searches: You are held
INSIDE I
haven't got one from you in over three months, but don'i stop trying. there's
E gor moved the other wock into a new wing. My cell is empty but for a mattress and ihree blankeis. When 1 go Dn-CC Ane Ine pradaeE ba pwasiy for three days every fortaighr by the bears remnoval of Turniture from their cells) there is nothing at all: we cat off ihe floor, we have no beds. no chairs
Notting at all, only a
The food is never warm, no salt or distinctive tuste, the potatoes are hard andblack. The food is really uncacable
The wall, celing and door are all practically covered with decaying lood Piles of it, around the wall and heapeu are all black, with live mies over They had the popes on full and it's like a jungle, trickles of water running down thenugh the decaying lood, groen ib
hath.
I's geling harder to cat and keep
We have to cat away from CODE EUS that's where the majority of mageots gather. It's a bit sekcalle thore is that many ot them that they are crawling under the door and all over the (prison) wing - they re rouch; some drop from the walls.
They' ve opened a special hospital
block to keep us physically down on your bed and your
legs are separated and you go through a
troni passace scalch
"You are then turned over and you go through a back passage search, which you know to all women is degrading
Some of theie women are 16, 17 years
Cathy and Bernie were clear a0 explaining the importanoe of the issue
The [abour Government, they said, is
ENTA TESISE -LLIE anti-imperialist struggle in Ireland so as • foisolate the trecdom fighters fromt the
support which SEXISES
explained • TAilT
importance of tlicir coming to England
overcomme some the mass media. As
Hernicsaid, 'Wchave come over here to
demand that the British troops. take thein to hell our of our country and let
is run our own affairs".
SEрaeIEDI the TTN51 priso population. We have washed neariw three Nontls, Cas Bougelte times because of the hear and stench o urine exercmient and decavine 1o0d
Ir's hard to breathe and with ct
burning. There's a pipe at the windou There's Jittle air. The blanker I have use in an effort ta contain the beat fro
DEPRESSION
Everyone goes to mass on Sunda except a lew. Men just drop tound vo like Thies. They're that weak. 1 wen down on one knee bur came arour okay. Others have been caken out o trolleys. One still hasn't come hack
These are fully grown men. Man suifer from menta depression, one E bad that they had to ger a specialist wh then ordered him to he taken out. He in another block and munted by it
(prisor guards), Tunati Jonatic"
Most of us have lost weight, son drastically. Oving as we were we rotte slowly, Now as hum an beings we deca much quicker in an atlempt to ha people help us.
SPIRIT
All Northern Irelant calls (political) status, yet we rot and we w rot until we are no more for there cant no return for us. It is victors or dear Any who come throuch will be scarre for life mentally or physically. mayt
We are being drained day by das. Just don't know why someone hast Ceea sertrom sometnEng- EL s rumouR
the guy mentioned carli ESUETA TE TOCI TETEL UC CAOUEY Just Tade away. He will never break
Our bodies and minds touched, bet not the spirit of bur caust li's just because we are what we are
Let the world know this, we here ar
The Sta
shine or
WITHIN the last week t editorials on microelectr scientific research. It se that the rapidly deterior found no space in the W "Star'.
Neither has the Communist Party
Gireat Britain made алу offici
statement on bostical Catus albol
their Irish counterparts finally plucke
up courage two weeks apo to cabl tor
watered down version.
HSUELIESE asked Ch
Myant of the Star and the Politic
Commitlee of the CP 10 explai th
silence. Myant said that on the issue
sulus balt the tr gd the
'haven't taken a position, one was
the other — Lle Irish comEndes on 1
ground have taken their decision'
Because Irish CORDUDISE ha
made their views known and th
British Communists are free of a
responsibility seenis a peculiar attico
to adopl, For instance, the
indeed the CPCB las carried editor
comments and made otficia. statemer
on Chilean prisoners in the Inst coun
of weeks. Why it's pertectly neceprat
to voice opinions en these prisoners b
not un Irish ones is difficult
appreciale.
CAREFUL
Chris Myant, when selling bf 1
Irish CP's demand for political stats
was caretul to poie put that chis m
Page 9 scan of this page
I BLOCK
aldiets of the republic. This is not for
Gota go now, make something foe
your pupers out of this. Would Hke to
say soft quiet words. It's difficult but
after so long it's still in my hear and
soul. Just hidden untif it's safe to show
again, Some day soon.
I'l never compromise, love my
language, Take care.'
r doesn't
H Block
"Morning Star" has carried nies and on the priorities in ms a peculiar priority then ing situation in H Block has Say' editorial column of the
not the same demand as those of the
themselves. These
demands said Myant. 'Have been used
as a basis for the usual paramilitary
organisations to impose discipline. This
is not a good thing".
DEMONSTRATION
The conversation then turned to the 9
July demonstration. Would
Communist Party, OT EnC
supporting the protest?
Eikely to make any statement, There are
few demonstrations we actualiy urge
support for in the Star you know
Frue or not, one demonstration th
Star did build for was the 'Better Life
For All Campaign' march in London in
February, This campaign, which asks
Britain to pass fairer laws for the Trish
was described at the time by the British
Government 'non-controversial,
non-partisan", It attracted the support
of 200 demonstrators.
Bur if the CP was not backing 9 Tuly
or officially supporting political status
C nant tink ere powo 0с ws
member of the CPB on the 9 Tuly
demonstration.
I haven't a cluc', said Myanı. Many
in Long Kesh would second that.
protest.
Two weeks after the banning of This Week more than 80 TV programme makers directors, producers, and reporters political censorship" of programmes about the Nordh of reland by both the IBA and the BBC. They demanded to Know the real reasons for the bannings, postponements and forced cuts to he made public.
By itself the meeting is unlikely to make the censors lose much sleep. But the information the meeting asked the
LEITE HEIS assemble about the different forms of HEIS censorship latter explosive.
One example was give by BBC producer Philip Donellan who told of ms ta am DoRLans зuouлову the trish Way" series. The cersoring of MUS SCIE ICL TO USC FOSSOMBIC DE producer Clive Thomas. meBu, Bmiost a possuis. Eodt colc Army's main pre-condition the filmine them was that the KUC should Star be be shown to be taking an equal part in •We're not scuny soch c MicrocE or dos tocy really were
The bolstering up of the RUC is cratery of Ulstersatioe Government's
The problem for the TV authorities and Roy Mason is that many of the programme makers enough of their programmes being butchered whether
an Sapper, General Secretary
ready Perecly. Speaking of the blacking our confront this
of Thames television by technicians furious ar the IBA's decision, Sapper applanded their action,
End the silence
WHEN three weeks ago the Independent Broadcasting Authority banned the showing of the "This Week' programme on the Amnesty exposure of Britsh torture of prisoners in Ireland it could hardly have guessed at the storm it was starting.
JOHN HACKERA reports on the growth of the
Immediately and absolutely met to protest al the
apainst political SOrENCE HEENT
againsı censorship potentially
Northern Ireland,
Donellan of his
THE ANNUAL.
Jamboree, oberwise known as current "Royal Tournament Court. until 29 Juls:
have now had directly 'or tournament throaghout. they
mobilisation,
North of treland.
Meel 12
*If this sor of thing happens in the entrance to Farb Court tube:
state, plant.
forces
"hot pursuir"
BUYSEL They are
police? They
SECURITY
fature", le said, "I hope our memlers will take that action (puling the plugs)
. It seems that one union capable of al leas partially resisting IBA edicts is now ready to sanction industrial action
censorship
A commitment by the media unions to detend nor ony individua members facing victimisation, bur also the right have a dramatic effect in this context of free spooch for all on ireland, would them. their Sapper's support for industrial action
extremely important; it can be used to puil the National Union of Journalists behind a similar nolicy, and could well provoke a file past crisis in the media's whole attitude to
observation, Picket the Royal shift."
Tournament
British Army the Generating begins ut Eurbs London on 12 July and runs
The London branch of the United Troepe Out Mosement, together with the British Withdruwul from Northere powet dusty Treland cumpuign hope to leuflet the
trafierting sessioe for Satarday iS Saly culling a special when they ure appeuling for un all-out consader to be
The leaflets will be aired ut showing what the British Army is doing in the
observation. now ul Warwick Rd The
The atomic police
A LITTLE bit of plutonium goes a long way. Fifty millionths of a gram is probably enough to cause lung cancer and death; 8kg. could make a bomb big enough to demolish the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and half of Whitehall.
Fast breeder reactors generate a potential 'terrorist" threat, and the establishment of the atomic police
writes STATE RESEARCH, a group of journalists looking into the operations of the State.
The construction of fast breeder reactors nas Drooga Ine arane pole state, now officially sanctioned by the BELSIT DECUM OES LUNIS the new Windscale nuclear reprocessing
The protectors of the plutonium Authority (AEA) Constabulary: THEEEI ready 400 strong, they recruit fron the police and occasionally from the armed
Their sweeping powers, laid down by an Act of Parament in 1976, include carryine arms at all times, engaging in
of thieves or attempied theis of nuclear materials, and the right to enter any premises at will and
UT SUSOUNUE also responsible for guarding nuclear material in transit.
Who will protect us from the atomic
are accountable to the AEA, an unclecied body responsible to the Secretary of State For Energy, who is in turn answerable to Parliament — hut not for theis day-to-day activities. vetting.
S/he can intervene in their detailed operations. under ibe 1954 Atomic BIeTeN ACE Ony where tie nationa interest so requires: MPS asking Parlamcotary questions about meico movements of plutonium bave been told that it is 'not in the publie interest' for their queries to be answered.
So who decides when Parliament or the Secretary of State should intervene to control the AFA Constabulary7
Workers in the nuclear industry will be automatic targets of surveillance and security measures. The security service, MIS, will be responsible for velling
f'amilies, and "KOOWn associates" in a procodure similar to that usod in the Civil Servioe and the defence contract industries.
According to a report publisbed in Jastice: "Employees may be required to
armoed suards, micht required so change uniform while under
CATLE subject temporary derention whenever material was unaccounted for at the end of a
OBSERVATION
If MIS regards it as necessary surveillance could also be extended lc employees of the Central Electricity
Board public corporation which owns and operates all existing commercial nuclear power stations→ if they are in contact with information about plutoniu
Eren private contractors to the
could be affected
Surveillance will oot stop at the gate of nuclear installations. beyond th industry, M1S and the Special Branch will keep records ou those whom the!
"potentia terrorists Dorine the Windscale Inquiry, the Department of Enerpy was asked to define exactly who mighr be put under
reply wes: 'Bodies and individuais opposed to the develop-
ment of nuclea power would not be
reason to believe that cheir activities WELG SUOCESESC VLOICOE CE AIRCE WESE unlawful.'
The Deparment's definition of "subversive was based on a speech by Lord Harris, Minister of Scale al the Home Ofsce: "Subversion is delincd as activities threatening the safety or well-
undermine or overthrow parliamentary democracy by political, industrial on wuCH DICA CATCH-ALL
The Special Branch and MI5, who collect infuratioo an flie basis of chis catch-al denaion. are not accountable to Partiament: questions abour them are also oot in the public interest"
The Windscale Report deliberately excluded discussion of existing physioal
seung Preet od specifie
refers to (unspecified) "people with evil purpose' who want to sweep away the system of governmen and the rule of law, and concluded:
The problem is casy to scale, bui there is no easy solution. . Indeed, 1 can se no silation ut ull. I the sort or activities under consideration (terror ism] are to be checked, innocent people are certain to be subject to surveillance il osly to tibd our whetber they are
SIMPLE conducted the inquiry and Paillamen Lord Parker, look al it, there is no option co an alontic police state, domicated by the activities of unacoountable police and secret serviees.
of course, an clegantly simple solution. Theatomic police state can berelegared to the realms of science fiction - bur only by preventing the building of the plutonium economy
State Research, 9 Poland Street, London WI. Bulletin No. 5, oul now contains information about the atomi police. Price 35p. Subscriptions: B3 p.a. [individuals] ;£6 p.a. [instilutions).
BRENT
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE BARREQUE
Good Food
Drink
Disco
5 St Mary's Road.
London NW10
Spo onward [] (50g wageless) or ii price without food
Come along -whatever the weatbee!
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Pape 9
Page 10 scan of this page
What is democratic
OPEN FORUM
political practice of the party.
published in the French Trotskyist daily ERNEST MANDEL argues
building a democratic centralist party. THE MOST remarkable part of
unmasks and denounces the structure
Althusser does not call it by is name. but we know it well, It is necessary to spell it out: burenucratic centralism, the vety opposite democratic centralium.
There are two sorts of remedies for
disease. The first is developed by Altuse and or an eishtalls political nature, It calls for a political
- BEACHC diametrically opposed to those of the Stalinist and
which are based on distrust and fear of the broad workine masses
VANGUARD
The emancipation of the working class can only be achieved hy the workers themselves. The vanguard tevolutionary party is a necessary
3, but can in no way substrute
elf for the working cla
It's a certainty that in the course of a long political struggle it will learn as: much frand hee conmentary of the
elementary struggle as it will educate them in • more general pontical concentions.
Obviously this does not mean an opportunist adaptation to whatever the working class 15 currently thinking. which In any case can change rapidly. But it means lending an allentive car to what the masses are thinking, and ignoring or distorting it.
The second sort of remedy against the burcaucratic disease is strictly organisational, It concerns the rules of functioning of the workers. organisations themselves, that is, the guarantees of workers democracy, TIMID
Here Louis Alhusser's approach is very timid, to say the least, Having denounced a deep and institutionalised disease, he concludes with two very modest proposals: discussion forums in the Communist press; the right to a horiontal Now information, contradictory manner, in order to objain a really democratic discussion.
We obviously agree with these proposals, which are applied as a maller otecourse all the organisations of the International But if they necessary to assure a minimum of workers бетостасу, they insufficient to give it a solid and taste soundston
What makes democratic centralism the opposse centralism is the guarantee practice of the right of tendency. As a matter of fact, it is not possible to nbave effectively centralised organisation without the leadership
and all the more so a leadership resting on a solid apparatus enjoying inevitable advantages from this centralisation.
PRIVILEGED
It centralises the information and expericnees of the party's activity. It transmits centralised instructions to all the organs of the party. Its draft resolutions or tieses are circulated throughoul the party before the CORBIESS OT MALICHIE conferences
They have a privileged status as the
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 10
Responding to Althusser
centralism?
A FEW weeks ago we published extracts from a series of articles by French Communist Party member Louis Althusser criticising the leadership, structures and
Below, in an extract from a four-part series
that proposals do not come to grips with the problem of
basis of all the discussions.
All that is not bad in itsell. It is even good, a necessary characteristic of the functioning of any orpanic structure. To grasp the objective function of this centralisation is to understand that what's at of Corpanisationa. phenomenon — and still less an administrative one - but a social and political necessity What this centralisation expresses the effort communists, overcome fragmentation working experience into isolated experiences, Lactory D industry. •ach is different oma arca
group or sectoral interest, can only be drawn out of this centratisation of experience and activity in the class STUNIS But only if one clings to the absurd Stalinist thesis of the infallibility of the leadership can one believe that it is possible to operate the mechanisms of centralisation to the sole benefit and through the sole leadership of the apparatus while maintaining: the objective cilicient functioning centralisation from the point of view of the class struggle.
FALSE Louis Althusser rightly rejects this 1dca as a incoreticar mesarcanon The entire concrete history of the
False.
Once it is no longer assumed that the leadership will
more
basis information at its disposal. the last argument in favour of hureaucratic centralim- that o elicience - 0sappears.
Once one admits that the majority can be wrong, thai the minority can be right, then it is uscful for the party if the minority has the same possibility of influencing the members as the Jeadership — if it has the same acoess to information, the same right to draw up resolutions for voting on at
In this was the party stands a better chance either of avoiding mistakes or of rapidly correcting establishing their deeper causes.
The procodure that we have just Fourth described is essentially the right of
tendency. It means the right members jointly to are
and
"Rouge'
Althusser's
not
Marxists,
the class
by
area.... Class
platforms, political proposab, alterTAYLOTECULES DOUSE HE LAC leadership.
channel of the districts, or areas. It means the right to submit them to the membership for
discussion and to the vole al congress by means of their distribution to all of this members of the party.
vertical compartmentalsation and the existence of discussion forums will remain largely academic. not give rank-and-file militants and minprities the possibilicy of drawing up alternative proposal: to those o the leadership
drawing up political proposals, whsch automatically is senseless if it does not have
monopoly over wisdom and truth.
centralised Bureaucratic centralism reproduces
itself more or less automatically The members is not secured because they do not have the right to consult political line. anly for members of the leadership.
OBJECTIONS
to the right that it would be contrary to Leninsam, since, at Leni's iliative. the t0ch Congress of the CPSU ruled out the establishesent of factions. In reality
them and this episode proves the opposite of
what is claimed by those who cite it eighteen years after the creation of the
draw were tolerated, and their banning can Dissident selling Althusser's book outside PCF youth tastival
JACO tendencies,
right of tendency.
DIFFERENT Without this right, the ending of
They will
The latter Keeps a monopoly on
members
equality of rights of the DI.
The This right is reserved congress,
question like. say Several obiections have been raised
al tendency. Some say
(Riazanor:
WETI hanned
should give
only be explained by exceptional
of the circuntances In realy the whol history of Bolshevism is punctuated
groupings,
should add that the loth Congress only banned factions, and not the
At this congress Lenin vigorously defended the right of tendency. He was replying to an amendment put forward by Riazanow, which wanted to ban tendencies as well — that is. to prevent common political platforms irom being submitted to congress by members of different cells, sections, or regions of the party, including have
We cannot deprive the party and the
TICI Conmitice of the right to appeal to the party in the event of disagreement
fundamental issues. imauine how we can do such a think!
present congress cannot in ans wAN bind the elections to she nex
Supposing we are faced with a
the conclusion of the Brest peace? Can you guarante that so such question will arise? No,
In the circumstances, the clections may have to be based on platiorms.
On оле question. "9 Certainly. But your resolation says: No elections according to platforms.
*1 do not think we have the power to probibit this.. if the circumstances
MISC 10 fundamental disagreements, can we prohibir theni capsta
from being Jedpensent ofthe whole party / No, we Cannot us is ancesse desire which is impracticable, and 1 move that we reject it. (Collecied Works, Vol. 32. p. 260) OUTGOING
Lenin had aLready previously reminded the leaders of the Workers Opposition in the course of the sae
The platform of the Workers COSIn Bas central organ of the party in 250,000 conies. We have weinted E eD tron all'sides, we have clected delegates on I basis. convened this congress. which,
up political discussion. (Collected Works. Vot. 12. p. 256)
Isn't that the essence of what we're talking about in relation to the right of tendency: the right of party members who disagree with leadership to draw ep alternative political positions freely withou
regard to compartmentalisation
To see then submitter to all
al the party through internal bulletias or in the public press? To see them discussed hefore and during the congresses on the same
outgoing majority leadership!
Generally speaking, a tendency is established belore a congress or when therets an important tenin, point of the class struggle It dissolves inself
allowing the majority time to test out
re-establishing itself before the next corterence and neam takin up the debare on the basis of the newly псишей exD Tince
UNHEALTHY
That allows for the full blossoming in a positive way of the dialectic
discussion to determine the line re-examination of the line in the ligh
experience that has acquired
Permanent tendencies are eviden of an unhealthy situation. The right
Our movement is proud of having TOPSIC THE TREME DE BHOCHAS SO LIS most exemplary manner. On This
wackers mosemeat
The recent dissolution of the two major tendencies which existed inside the Fourt loccrnational broves tha we are capable of grasping all aspects of the broblem
Weare not saying that we alwaysdo so in an ideal fashion, nor that we
all the solutions, We prepared to discuss this frankly with
comrades of the Communist opposition, with all the currents of the workers movement.
But of one thing we are convinced The denial or suppression of the right of tendency is it every way a thousand times more dangerous and harmful than any abuse in its application. OBSTINATE
Who will dare to say that, with the
been possible to avoid the obatinere
fascism' for lice years in the Cierman CP which contributed Hitler's victory in 1933?
Who will dare to say that, if there had been the right of tendency in the
years to an agriculteral police which
producticu animal and vegetable products was lower than in 1916?
Burenucratic ceneralism, the mani palation of workers organisations by the apparatus of tumme officials the stifling of free discussion and Initiative by the militants which would allow then to Chose • between alternative lines these are Bls wuch need to be mercilessly fought.
If they are not overcoine, neither the rise of the class stupple nor the
achieved. On this conclusion In any case, we apree with Louis Alrisser For us the right of tendency is a necessary precondition to be able to mount this strusale succossfully
The full text of Althosser's articles. logether with a polemical Intro duction written alter the ICE Centrul Committee meeting in April, is now availahile in New Left Review
Page 11 scan of this page
The test of Democratic Socialism'
In exchange for 15240m, the las include matin pere clause. That SCARS economy will be reviewed every: month for the next year with the
rospect of further adjustment
fread effects of the devaluation can be seen in steep price rises. Milk, cooking oil, marzarine. detereent. beer and cigarettes are all up by nearly one third.
Combined with the past one and a half years of restraint and more than 25 per cent unemployment, this holds out the prospect of enormous hardship for the majority of Jamaicans.
SWALLOW
In January fast year, newly
lected Prime Minister Michael Manley went on television and radio to announce that the
for an IMF loan because are not for Sale and "We are Misters of our own House'.
In January this year, he had swallowed his retoric so far as to say: The IMt is the only orpanisation in the Western events themselves.
communal life.
well done.
Communists.
Populur Government and the Communist Party.
and 1973, just a tragic glorification.
INTERNATIONAL
Crisis in Jamaica
"IMF Shocker" shouted the headlines in Jamaica in oil prices and the decline of the May. They were announcing the fourth currency devaluation in 13 months. Each one has been in exchange for an International Monetary Fund or World Bank loan. SHEILA MALONE reports.
world that can make it possible for a country in our kind of difficulty to get hold of the foreign currency thal we need in order to keep things going.
BALANCE
'Democratic which won the PNP is clection petrol, victory, was a declared attempt to balance onivale and buDg interests within economy healthy wage land, housing, education and through badly, needed
employment programmes This did not allow for the J5200 million trade deficit and the minus IS170 million foreign exchange reserve facing the new
unworkable because Jamaica's economic problems directly 10. 1 dependence on and especially to fluctuations in *We prices on the world market.
When the 1974-75 crisis led to drastic drops in the price of bauxite, sugar and bananas, economy suffered heavily: and similarly through the tripling of ALFREDO Galvez — Twelve Shifts of Cear seeks to portray the tensions on a collective farm during the Allende years in Chile. The author is Juan Vera, a Chilean exile, writes RIC SISSONS,
The play is sbowing at the Hulf Moon Theatre in London until 15 Au live actors remain on stage broughout its 80 minutes giving a Feeling of community life. The strongest aspect of the play is the acting, while it remuins at its weakest in dealing with the political
The central charucter, Alfredo, is a wife-beating mechanic who cannot come to terms with the owners' eviction and the new
le reveals himself a brute and a male chauvanist because h
icks self confidence. The denunciation of wonen's oppression
All is notlost for Alfredo. He makes a messianie transformation after one particularly trugic event... rather too simplistic.
The consmune is led by Party" militants. Although it is never explicitly staled it is obvious that the Party in question ure the
The Party members implore the rest of the commune 'no adventures" and "don't you understand this is our government".
The dramatic ending. as British-made Hunter jeis strufe the commune, is never really explained. But this is not surprising in a play which adopts an uncritical stance to Allende, the Linidad
No critical ussessment is made of those three yeurs helween 1970
couns any previousey#
Nock for mean to industry exacerbated nloyment, with manu acturers using it as an excuse to lay of! workers. close down businesse: and take their capital abroad. se conservative oppositiol Jamaica Labour Party seizod the opportunity to attack the Socialism', Government, and were bebind
women) against rising prices, unemployment and govern ment mismanagement of the mixed enough to CLUBULLS
STRIKES
A lot of the JP's success 439 becaUse of the failure aFth. left wing within the government
"Democratic Socialism" was Government.
There was also the spectacle relate the largest CHICHIE organisation, imperialism, Workers Liberation League,
asking workers to accept price increases, offs as necessary sacrifices, and denpuncing any criticism of Manley as playing into the Jamaica's main, exporis, the hands of unperialism'.
There has been a wave of
Bakke-
setback
for
US
blacks
BLACK rights in United States received a setback last week with the Supreme Court ruling in the "Bakke' case. Five of the nine judges decided that California School's quota for black and Chicano violated the Constitution.
100 places each "disadvantaged studenes" in a state that is more than a rhird Lnicano, Native American AJAn Bakke, engineer who failed to gain entrance, took the court on the grounds that he was being gainst.
Some moderate civil rights leaders were last week trying to get socre milenge aut ambiguity" of the decision of the Supreme Court, the highest court of appeal in the give the appearance that th criaciple of affirmative act jon' (that is positive discrimina-
of foreign
materials
Government's
Amount
schools.
Jeft-wing been harsh.
the Stalinist-lec
the Labour
cutbacks and lay-
strikes.
When
refusing strikes un opposition to the seamen, they were taken off at
afbet the effect of
groups.
has been zero.
the struggles,
there were
in black colleges.
too happy the University of
Medical
erinds on. students
year extra!
CARTER Asian and The white
school to
discriminated
Supreme
Lo? the nothits about quotas.
LS
the line = CORE •AFFIRMATIVE ACTO
After the 17 April ghetto rebel
policies in particular to the JSIO wage order! limit, the most recent being the teachers", which closed all the
Government response has
In the oil and fireworkers" disputes they used action
Relations and policies.
Industrial Disputes Act (model- Recently, led on the British Tory Act) to call in the military to smash the
dockers bocupied ships trading in Jamaica hur were shot dead.
hire Jamaican
But affirmative action hinges an the provision of quotas lo
inferior
Tests wuch handicap blacks women and other oppressed
As civil rights leader Jesse Jackson put it: There has
blacks, Historically, that quot.
The introduction of quotas in the late 60s and early 70s wa a direct result of the growing strength of black and women's
There are twice as many black students now as
ten hough about half of them an
But colleges have been only
10 drop their affirmative action programmes in light of the initial Bakke decision. As the cconomic crisis
colleges feel they haveto cut back and, of course education for women and racial mincrities is just an optional
administration has Caved a balefultole in the case Conscious of the black vote.
coming out in favour of Hakke.
mel filed a briel to The
Shaank its support for minority-sensitive
saying
left General Griffin Bell to scare the administration's real position the new There is a line between goals TALLICUNN and aces and waen sol cros
would •oppose EXPAND whose
IN J09S riot shields.
Ches arrest.
point by
Thirteen unions, including ail the major ones, have signed a position paper opposing th wape limit, but have not bee willing to translate this into
against gorerument the military unbushed some alleged gunrunners at Green Bay. In fact. these turned out to be unarmed ghetto youths, five of whom
The Government has been forced to admit responsibility government attacks.
Japanese
Trotskyist
killed
NIIYAMA Yokio, a member if the Japanese section of the Fourli inlerational. bis died of wounds received during the
Tokyo the
Comrade Niiyana was one of a group of militants who drove an armoured truck into the control cower compound of the airport on 26 March. The truck caught fire and Nujama and the oiser comrades were engulfed in flamies.
Eyewitnesses say that che police ser upon the comrade:
clothes were stil burning, kicked and baroned them, and pounded them with the edges of their heavy metal
The militants were arresteo and refused medical treatment. Niyama received no attention until more than six hours after
conte under heavy fire abou LEE CALCHE OF DOSIC HER DETER powers and their abuses
The issue shows signs of becoming one around which the discontent and mistanc wittin the ghettos, especially of the youth, could focus
If the new mood for unity in struggle between the ghetto gangs escapes efforts to destros
could develop into
Niiyama's was surprise — it seenied that be was making a full recovery and it is reckoned that be would not have died if be bad had prompt treatment.
Niiyama, who was 24, had been active in the Sanrizuka strugle for a long time, He had been part of the volunteer foro which built the Yokobori
the Steel. and concrete tower chat was used to divert police and lacillare the destruction of the control tower on 26 March.
The construction of the new
tercely resisted for years hy local ISNIBLE. backed hy workers and students.
Niiyana jouled the Trotskyist student organisation Cakusel Inta io 1973. In 1975 he was a founder member of the youth organisation Kroseido 2nc later became a full member of
Revolutionary Communist League.
CONTINUE
The JRCL stated its aint to continue the struggie against the airport: Weare determined that al this sutfering and expecially the death ol this heroic young militant, will not have been in vain.
"We are determined to carry on the fight against Narita airport, to struggle until it 1s closed down, dismantled, and removed without trace from the fertile land of Sanrizuka. This is the only way to carry on his last wish, and the only way to respond to the tragedy of his death."
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Widening gap in Yemen
Gays under attack - world wide
complex, as RICHARD CARVER explains.
president of conservative North Yemen, closely followed by the
peninsula, are the culmination
Isolate this Little bastion of hope in the middle of reactionary Arabia.
North Yemeni leader Almad ai-Ghashmi was blown up by a parcel bomb on the ove of a visit to South Yemen Ny carne hom til sppare ently came from his Yemeni counterpart, the most likely suspect is Saudi Arabia This most reactionary of Arab tates has been waging a ter rear campaign to crush Soutt Yemen — a campaign which al-Ghashmi threalened andermine with his diplomatic svertures.
VICTIM
He was the second North Yemeni leader to die in nine months. His predecessor, IbraDum anam0l, was killed in London last October, At the tirbe Socialist Challenge specufrenzied ideological onslaught.
in solidarity with gays under attack, international fight examines why this is necessary.
Since last summer. when Anita Bryant's Save Children
WUH much publicity, und won the repeal of anti-discrimination legislation in Miami, other US mtles- have taken WLAUECN
In Eugene, Oregon, a Baptist minister persuaded the populaLion that being a pervert is like being a thiel".
OFFENSIVE
In Greece a particularly alienswve law reminiscent oE the days of the coloneis, B
30ok. PODBE SO CE CHEEE TEIC SERULL This establishes harsh sentences for importuning and 'acts against nature", justifying 83SP linking bomosexuality with VD and prostitution, on 10p of moral censure.
The press has willingly opened sts pages to the moral campaign againsr gays. All the oid slanders have heen raked up.
In Canada, the press led a campaiga linking homosexuality with violent crime. They ROW CAPITALISM hus been done away with in Vietnam und how this reinies to the present dispute with China the subject of a major feature by Fred Feldman in shis week's Intercontinental Imprecor.
Abe in this issue (Vol. 16, No. 26): Jong-time Trotskybt leader Pierre Frank looks al the crisis in the French Communise Party; an analysis of the left's advance in the Peru elections; ten years of the international women's movemest: after the
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 12
INTERNATIONAL
LAST week's crisis in South Yemen came like a gift to the British press, Here surely was further evidence of the Soviet master plan for world — or at least African domination. The facts, as usual, are a little more ide conservative orte fatad eat the kiler wa d
al-Hamdi's brutal regime.
Recent events suggest that he too was guilty of expessive. diplomatic friendliness with his southern neighbour-
CRISIS Then came the coup attempt
South Yemen. odrtes claim that President Salim Robaya Ali had ased the Nonh Yemeni crisis to try to oust rivals in the governinent.
Whalever the details, a day of fighting ended with Ali dead and the faction led by Abdel Factah Ismail in control :10 Ismail is generally presented as pro-Moscow, in contrast to lhe moderate Al (thouun 1 fairness to Ali, it should be added that the Western press only dubbed him moderate in death).
Ismail is pro-Moscow to the extent that any radical World leader guaranlee misary and e00 DEOLCCEADIL IN THE LAST year gays have found themselves subject to increasing abuse and physical attack. In many countries they have been in the frontline of a
Gays in San Francisco put out an international call that this year's "Christopher Street' marches should be
building back. JUDE WOODWARD
were not making the point that Our gays. usually 50 receiving end of violent crime ANGUISH The 'danper to children" has been the cutting edge linking Anita Bryant type campaigns against gay teachers and lesbian mothers in the US eisewhere with atracks paedophiles in Canada and Europe, *After all, al gays potential child rapists"
Gays are preverts and breed perverted CnslaTen intended conclusions.
The anguish of paedophiles, adready completely ostracised ONS DUER ITCTERSAN Paedophiha also ine perex tor anacks on me gay press; the prosecutior DE EMERT DNUSRND0 Palitic, for example.
SETBACK
In France, the decision to ban the disnigy or Gale Presse and Dialogues represents a
Intercontinental Press
combined wah Imprecor
second war in Shabp how the left reacted to the French interrention. is Single copies ure 30p P&p. huit why WIEE advuntage of the favooruhle salseription rules: £9 for one peur (4H issues), £5 menths (24 issues), or £2.50 for un introductory offer of 10 issues Write now nental Press/Inprecor PO Box 50, London NI cheques/POs should he made out to Intercontinental Press.
Government
impertalism.
AIF VECIOd TIl
direction: towards reliance on
Thind China which in turn. has to be to fulling in with Peking foreign
PORCY-
against No wonder Ali won admirers
:Ebe and
major serback, equivalent to are the prosecution of Guy News here and its barning from W H and 5mith. are the The
hundreds in Montreal in raids
provides
LIMA (IPS): Genaro:
Ledesmu, a founder member ind-leader oi the Workers Peasants", Proble's-Front which won 12 per cent of the vote in the recent Constituent Assembls electious in THEL Argentinn days and polls, has told a local paper that ine eritinets omerted plus submitted te take ATEH THI.
The FOCEP leader said that the treatment received after he
for six
and his comrades were arrested WT UCI TATUCUUS "For several days,' he said, *our to Interconti- relations did not know
we were, because thes beld us 2XP. All
Later, on 24 May, those who MCTELD
ANOLE office.
BILAE! and Arabin,
imperialism'. have arrested new proportions.
prisoners of war'
de chosen. 'So.
Students*
La plane waiting for us... "There we exiled before the
They were
physicul ill
mistreated.
else - brutally:'
going to
and abusive.
Everyone/ where Argentina
impunity.
deported were board the plane.
Salin Robaya All, pro-Chinese South Yemeni President bafore his assassination, with chairman
in the Daily Telegraph oditorial
The Chinese leaders pro-Chipese maintain that Iran is the chict progressive force in the Gulf
since bulwark against Soviet "social спету-
I COULD KiSS You! on gay bars. Everywhere raids on gay bars, clubs and saunas. Danger and coupled with the harassment of individual gays, have reacbed
Over 600 gays are in Spanish
Peru: 'from now on you are
without any previous left-wing warning, we were taken off ui 11 at night in sereral vans to the Grupo Aereo Number 8 (a military aerodrome). There was
physical ines Admirals Jose Arce and Guillermo Faura (both retired, foruer ministers ef the Yelasco govermment and members of the leftist PSR)
wearing their dress uniforms to avold being
But they mere irealed the same as everyonc
*They told us that we were
Argentina, which produced our handest protest.
knew tnat they kidnap and murder left-wing leaders with **From
-So we definitively retused to
In the Horn of Africa a
South Yemen would have opposed Ethiopia, but on the principle that my friend's enemy's friend is my
The Ismail faction, on the orher Jabs under the laws on 'Socia
enaplaiun Egged on by the repressive climare encourageu by the state and the press, extreme right I groups have scarted to aulack
According to Ledesma the
leaders Put resistance: They dragged us into the plane, hitting us, le the most brutal manner.
"Those who pet ap the mest
resistance were Ricardo Lelts, Hugo Blanco hud and Ricardo Naupari. Once we were in the plane they tled us to our seuts and treuled us like the
•Wearrived in Jujuy at 10 In the morning.. The treatment they gave as in Peru seemed almost geatle compared with what we got in Argentina..
"In Jujuy a detachment of the Argentinian army was waiting for us. Before putting in in lorries their officer told os that:
on consider yourselres prisoners of wur.
'We were held incommunicado in Jujuy and under heary
hand, has a more internationalist line. it has dentitied itself with the Cuban line in the Horn: support for the Ethiogian military regime a. the same une es truiss ro dissuade it from a military solution the Eritrean question and to establish a civilian political structure.
Most importantly, Ismail favours a resumption of the guerilin, strugele apainst tbe Briish-backed Sultanate of Oman.
UNSAVOURY
Britain has tried to use Oman as a curting edec against South Yemen ever since it was forced TO BaRE macpCOoCDcC Ne former colony.
The Yemenis have responded liberationh backing the Omani
MO CICnE SAMS the Sultan's unsavoury regime and the British SAS troops sent to prop it up
The situation got so seriou: for the Sultan that in 1974 the Shah of Iran invaded the Omani province of Dhofar to shatch back rom rete. handi. This dealt a serious blow to the guerillas, but with South Yemeni help they would be capable EOLIEIEI the | strugele gays more vigorously
FASCISTS
The Paris Cay Fili Festival wa1 bombed t South London lesbians leaving discos
HAULE organising their own defence from artacks
Gays bave shown themiscives
ever before.
A 2,000 scrong demonstration in Montreal so shocked the Quehec narhorities thar if led ro protective legislation The young Spanish gay movement sweiled on to the streets of Caralonia in outrage and anger SUPPORT
The gay movemem has been Linding a new strength to stand LDCLELLCEK CEHELEI back. I I building alliances CLSSNUEDENand secking support from the guerd. Then they handed. us over to the police who took us lo Buenos Aices. There they put us in horrible cells such as har neter been seen in Perg.
You could see muny truces of hlood of the prisoners who
been murdered unel tortured. Laler we could see nothing hecause they totally cut oftour light. We didn't know if it was night or duy?
Dr Genaro Ledesmu alsa announced that the elected FOCEP members would retarn lo Peru to luke up their seats, without wailing lor government authorisation.
'Why need any authorisation? We have an irevocable mandale. By going back we are ondy carrying out the popular mandale.
The fiest week of July, we will acrive in Lima come what may.
Page 13 scan of this page
SURPLUS VALUE
DO ENIOY the job, I mean, it kills me; it really wears me down. shiftwork doesn't do you any good at all. But at its best moments 1 enjoy it. It's one of the few jobs where you
OCTULE responsibility and you can also talk to people: learn from them. You mect an incredible number of people every day.
There's a young girl, for example, 1 used to talk to when she was at school. lt started a couple of years ago; T don't know how but we got chating. It was a general friendship kind of thing, but we were also taik ing politics quite a lot. 1 used to carry leallets for various campaigns and keep Cem in my locker or in my pocket.
remember one time we discussed InE atnarA DOnn C ampa0 -11
ucmonstranons. nayway, suc was al Christian at the time, and we used to arpuc abour icuyon bur soc was
hecome interested in
slight influen
things like tha DULME SIC ESCO LO UE SE DE BRE
Then she got on the bus just aller the May Day demo aas yenr and she'd been absolately knocked our by it- thoupht if was really fantastic The next time I saw her on the hus she said: "Oh, l've given up all that religious crap, by the way. I'm a SOLISUN HOM
"Td go insane!'
The last cime 1 saw her, she'd left school and poes to a tech, and appears to be really active. She was wearing a Cays against Fascism badae. Feltina ting way I micht have helped in that process more uportaots nat e m ta touch with her, and she's said she'll he going along to Socialist Challenge
hall-hour journcy you can pet in a
how you handle the job, If I were to
zombic, l'd so insane.
Passengers are surprised, first of all, that any conductor is politica! Unti recentiy there WETE VerY ICH political conductors. The far left and the Communist Party have minimal forces on London Transport
The hadge revolution has helped; go d tenn senid, F Three years badge people would inmedsateiy sec you as a loonie leftie. I've worn all kinds of badges on the bus: Rock Against Racism, Fight Racism, the Anti Nazi League, badges against the
Ive consciously never wor an Ireland badge, which is a cop out, or a gay badge - not so much because I don't consider myself TELSEL NETLE BH BEE on. I used to feel very tervous about displaying an anti-racist badge, but that's changed now. The rise of the anti-racism movement and the ANI has changed things very much.
"You get the lot'
You really see what is going on in our society working on the buses. What the right-wing calls erosion of salues but for different reasons. The bus queue is the place where you soe it most. Nearly all the situations of near
white.
If everyone is pushing and a black person hi ust sedine there thally
pople middle-aged woren becanse it's that time of day — who wheel round and say: 'Doer, look at im, they always
push in." That's very mild. Then il's:
'Out of the way, fucking sambo." You get the lot.
Sonetimes during the tush hour you'll see that repeated at maybe five or six stops, and you begin to think: christ what's happening. You have to intervene, whatever kind of person you are. If you're political and you're conducting a bus you can't just watch everytime.
That's the nearest I've ever been lo
being assaulied on a number af occasions: T've directly contronted racists and said: You either shut your
lucking mouth or you're off my bus.
big *If everyone is
pushing in the queue and a black person is just standing there, they'l! wheel round and say: *Ooer, look at 'im THEY always push in". Then it's "Out of the way, fucking sambo"
*You have to intervene. If you're political and you're conducting a bus you just can't just watch every time.' bur them pleasant).
it very loudly, so that anyone else can cither stand up and be counted...Sc that at least the black people know they've got some kind of solidarity.
As a white bus conductor you per people come up to you and say the most revolting racist, often insane black- things. They 'l repeas fansasies to you abour blacks and they expect you to agrec with them.
A oman came up to me the otlier usually day: it was very -bot crowded on the downstaits deck Three black women had got on at the stop before, and this woman as she was getting off came up lo me and
there's a lot of smelly pople in there.
I hought, no, she can'1 mean those black wamen.
about people iweating in ihe heal, Sh
BOL DEl, anu saa ED mean", and walked off down the siteel. A very biller woman in her fitties.
The week before 1 was ralking to a moman abour the cuts in the services. anerhil since they come on. Andil dosesill since they come on asked, who. She repeated it again. still whispering in my ear.
Socialists at work
A Red on
the Buses
D, a bus conductor in North London, describes his
encounters with racists and other experiences (some of
blacks.
then.
"You come home tired' and fairly
The able to sursive.
You canse She must be joking
LOT BIBE1 aboul troops cut demonstration, or whalever..
sererin m cat ade who fatu c ommie bastards and 1
do olacks:" So 1 realy lunaw.
•I really CULKE denunced hes in front of the whole ol the bottom dock; acreamed at her about the "30s and christ knows what else. She got off, and she's been very priviege of quiet every time she's been on since Bluckpool Gazelte,
That can be depressine. If you have ten people comsing up to you ano saving that in a conidential way during the day, you've pot to have a lot of confidence in hunan aature te always rejected
hanse very tired sometimes, particularly if you've also been doing agitacion for a campuign.
Everybody you know you tilk 1o;
Ireland, a
E've taken up Ireland with people ar Bic I've begun to know fairly closely. 1 used to scrawi "Frce Frank Stage" all over the bus and ended up wotins "Avenge Frank Stage" after the British murdered ham. The nigh-wing in che garage used to write underneath it:
garage.
London political myseit. elecied
Il'sastonishing that 've never been reported to management. When I was on the buses in Blackpool for six months. I had very long hair. I was reported regularly. 1 even had the
complaint in the describing. this long-haired conductor who looks like a golliwog. An alderman wrote that-
Yer I've put myself on the dine a lor more in the last three and a half years and I'venever had a sinçle complaint. If you run your bus to the satisfaction of your passengers as much as you can, then the few hostile people are
by the other passengers. If anyone starts going al me then I've usually gor a few people who know me who will stand up for been mic, and that really does heln
ASITS
One tbing about the job is that most
SOLaCE Bus: WOTkers and management don't know what you do on the back of your bus; that's the somewhal illusory fredom of the job. That's the reason why a lot of people are ont at. in fact, becuuse they feel they re their own boss on the bus.
R's also a compensation fot a
militant. If you're in a garage where it's very difficule to be involved in trade union an: political work, you've still got this tremendous propaganda forum on the back af Vouc hus. and aso a means for personal survival. l was in thai situation before l came to my present
But there is constant aggravation on the bus, because it's a shilly servise with immense culs being implemented, combined with the chaotic traffic system in London And that's the hardest thing abou working on the bus. That's obe of the biggest reasors, even bipeer than assaults → just simple aneravation -that'sdriven many people off our job
The statling on the bus section oi
Transport is Just under MiNatibe moment. in Aprilainne 280 left. which is a considerable percentage.
"I just go mental' *
The jab is becoming harder all the time. You've gos to have the patience of a fucking saint, and anyone who hasn't por a hear of poli or ist
can't undersland going on, They just can't put up witl it, which is why you meet so many conductors who will blow up at the slightest thing. There are needling comments all through the day, plus outright ahuse when people iwear at
(blow up about every two montts l just go mental; l can't control
That's one side of the picture, yer ILEN CURET HIROS AAINDE their bus and they're really enjoging it. It's the only time in their life wher they've got a chance to really use their
in talking to people; in naking the bus less horing to be hi. The familiar sort of very humorous London bus conductors: there's fow of them left
The relationship with the driver B very important, just in terms of getting through the day. My driver b In the Socialist Workers Party, so we base a very good realionship, to communicale what's going on at cach end of the bus. Il I hare peopic o) who I think are Tascises and might glass and be keeps his eyes open. And we've worked closely together in the branch where he's now chairperson.
The present branch leadership wa:
the basis of unton •and a militant light against racism. Over half the garage i: black or Asian, some Cypriots. Wi affiliated to che Anti Nazi League and attended the ANL Cartival, and supported the demonstration over the killing of Altah Ali
'Their faces cracked"
Eiglu of us in the garage — the main branch committoe militants ATe WCREinG AVE badges and it's
causing tension, but good politicn tension. We've argued for an oper fight on racism, on the joh as well as le che union. We supporsed the Right to Work campaign
One of the key events which led to us winniag leadersbip was Grunwick Al that timte branch mectings used to be sight or ten people five ripht wing, five lefl wing, and most of the metings weren't even quorate
We mobilised over Grunwick and
we had 40 people down there, over half of them, Asian. There was a de
faco Asian caucus before hand. They had a discussion belore the teeting and they all came in topetlier. The faces of the right wing cracked
Wewere the only garage in the fleet to send a delegation to Grunwick 11 was a major victory. The righr-wing union rep resigned the nesr wock.
The Asians had Telt they weren't wanted at branch meetines.
committee of whites mainly in their fifties and carly sixties, all right-wins racist Labour supporters. But if has
SUTCULI
momentum. Two or three of the
are how tuvolved on the
branch committes. But there's so
much to do after 20 years ol inactivity
and lack of democracy
This contribution by D is taken from
conrersation with GEOFFREX
SHERIDAN. I is the first in a series
on socialists (und others) at work. I
you know someone perhups
yourself! - who would make a good sabject, do let us kaow
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS
COMMENT
SNP is not
dead yet
I WAS surprised by the editorial on "After Hamilton" (8 June). method of your approach seemed more akin to bourgeois sociology than Marxism.
How is it possible to assess the significance the by clection result and the prospects for the Scottish Nationalists without any reference to (a) the Labour Government's strictly ahility to claim that it is on top of the economic situation, forthcoming referendum Assembly and the forces this will set in motion?
Labour will be unable to come up with anything which appears half as convincing as the SNP'S rhetoric once inflation starts to creep up again and the debate about the powers of the Assembly gets into full
Far from being "set to stabilise itself with around 25:30 national vote She SPF will mov tim
without much trouble to fill this vacuum — unless socialists can start so pose a credible alternative based on workers" solution lo the (because yes, we too are a small part of this situation, though you might not have guessed it editorial].
TOM MARTIN (East London)
It's not so
simple!
THE alicie wrillen by Richard Carver the Cuban Ethiopian connect 22 June was diandoml. ing. I'd like to point out what he
First, Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the word lE has more than 80 different ethnic groups and also dozens of different languages.
These divisions in the population
the racist policies of Haile Selassic which the Eritreans rightfully fought against.
Secondly. Richard lenores the changes that the Ethiopian government has instituted in its short and troubled period of rule.
These include a fireracy campaign In which students have gone to the country to teach nationalisation land, education and most of industry; the organisation peasants cooperatives and the re-appropriation of land; the setting up of a women's organisation, unions, people's organisations in the towns.
The complexity of the Eritrean situation is also ignored. There are at least three Eritrean groups fighting against the Ethiopian governmen and they HELLLE reactionary Arab regimes, especially Saudi Arabia.
NORTH WEST WARRINGTON Secialist Challeng
oftices nor cetails. 061-298 2352.
Sociallet
(dart me:
sing, or write to Marchester 30
Brate Picadilly:
PRESTON Sopals Chenge 5.
be concacied by ringin; UVERPOOL Spoke Socialist
SOUTH MANCHESTER Sociallet Challenge graup meet every alte Thurstar
Re Hoo sell Socalis Chanenge Celwcon 11.30am 0r0 1pm
Side: shopping centre trom C01-230
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 July 1978 Page 14
The
Hamilton
and (b) the government.
the that are
even
Who will independence democratic organisations?
Instead of cent of the
and Soviets,
of international Ethiopia and crisis Eritrea.
from The
Ifs and
buts
Nari League
paper
two very different things
Nazis.
September!).
see whether Against • Racism
conference. the members and
hanks,
into details of the conference.
FINESE
and used, we believe. undermine the
should be support the ANL or you don't backing from
LONDON ARROW Socialist Challen regulary London GREENWICH/LEWISHAM helenge arcu talle tom Pay on 01.520 116
WHAM S00II55030000
Bas 50. Lenden N1 WALTHAM FOREST onery Baturday, Tram
Chai-
ampathetic 1o Socialist Challange's arile zo London SC organis ra PO Bor 50. Lenden N1 tACKNEY Sociest Challenge su Per the Bet means a CAMDEN Socialist Challenge porters sell papers every Sacurday as
But behind the scenes is the sapport of the USA, which has strategic bases in Eritrea and badly wants to see the
Le Ethiopian
Before pledging support to groups
receiving aid from and
capitalist and imperialist forces, the relevant cuestions to ash are How much popular support have they got?
the of Eritrea? How SUCHE
attacking the Cubans Richard Carver would have produced a more useful article if he had concentrated on the interests
capitalism involvement in
ANNE PICKARD (South London) WE in East London Rank & File Teachers have been very happy to soc in several issuesof Socialist Chullenge the support you have given to the Anti
However, beginning to think that what you say
and what the * Socialist Unity E Socialis Teachers Alliance do in practice are
At the last meeting of East London Teachers Associalion (FLTA) YOUT members and supporters argued that subDon sEould nol he even to thi conference of Teachers Against the
September, sponsorship should be considered at
mccung some tune
The reasoning behind this was that we should reserve judgement until we
All-London Teachers and Fascism (ALTARF) and TAN organise one
The fact is, as YoUr 38 COOTECES KDOW ELTA will now not appear as a sponsor of the TAN conference nor will schools in East London be seat members and supporter are being ifs and buts by
to attack and ANL and its various sections, eg. TAN. We believe you
more honest; either you
If vou think that this is an isolated
ELTA still only supports the ANL as a national body
tetalls ing
Socianst TURER HAMLETS incay in Brick
HACKNEY Socalist Challenge sail the paper sales SUNOTOR Socalis!
Revol-tionary Fegicupment.
YORKSHIRE
The Family:
YORK Socalist Challen at the fork Communily Bootshap,
supUnise ses. Wantros Callsce Salin
DA TAURUEN DREAM conditionally.
Earber in the year your memben and supporters argued that the AND was trying to take over a carnival in
Nee or are by Tita, ha
THMARE, local anti-racist and anti-fascis bod (yes, really!).
The anti-fascist and anti-racis movement is too imporant to wrecked by sectarianism; so come on, make up your minds; you're with the ANL or you're not.
we state unequivocally.
Rank & File Teachers support (and indood are active int all anti-racis bodies. including the ANL, ALTARF BAND FEVIPLESE RANK FILE TEACHERS GROUP (East London)
Benefits
for all
SEVERAL OF US went to a socialist benefit recently which was unfor tunately typical of its kind. It was an anti-racist benefit, yet almost all the musicians and singers were white, and they sane sexist songs.
When a woman went up on stage and tried to say something about the
one oi lk mosician called her a middie-class twat and got the mike turned off so that she couldn't spcak.
We've heard it said that no one will come to benefits if the music isa't popolar, So sexist music is popular
it's sill rubbish. There is no reason why black people should support a campaigo that provides almost all white entertainment, and there is also no reason why women should support any group which entertains us by insulting us.
We're also tired of the way thes evenings are set out. They're meant for couples only. They arranged that single coming on their own, children or older people can comfortably tum up and get to know people and enjoy shernselves,
We get lecture-hall seating, all eyes front and centre. a stage for "Important people*. no audience participation and total darkness so that you can be sure you'll never find your trends. You can't get more anti-social.
Contrast that with a Chilean evening one of us went to recently. It was in an art gallery with several rooms. There was an exhibition; people could move about and meer others: there was food and drink for
• St market in Camden Towr
broduces i regular
per eve
NORTH EAST
There Group Palingion, Duttam DARLINGTON arthern Rector
both adults and children.
Later there were singers, but not on a stags, and with the lights on People sai in groups; kids could play. People felt they wete with each other individuals gasping in the dark at there performers and then going away again. be Er the left wants to give benefits that are for everyone and that are a real altempt to create other social forms Df being together in a more Hunan way than the ones we've got now. there will need to be a lot of CLOUISE We think started happening.
MARGE BERER, FAULKNER,K. FORREST, ESME GLAUERT, C. SHATOM (London)
Iron grip
If we are to go anywhere, achieve anytbing as far as building towards a socialist revolution, then I behieve it is necessary that we first start by looking at the faces and the lessons of the past. The schools, family, law courts, local government, national govern ment. Factories on the resting in the factories relationships forces us to smash them everywhere else in society, freeing all from their oppression. are not people
Koger Protz
the HUDDERSFIELD Bocialist Chillangs inte Platty Saturdays 11am-1pm
Cotlages.
Socialist Chelengs
High Rew.
al chemian bentre
10622 2pebin them, phone Pate or
SOONEST KE OUTCR middle
Isolated taking.
LIKENE
JANE unless
know why,
they are
ever ning vou Destin
And smashing
Pulling
a Fast One
What the brewers have done to your beer Blows the froth off the Big Six brewers who control four-fifths of €1.20 paperback the beer and over half the pubs
Charts the rise of the Campaign for Real Ale Shows - in a specially illustrated "Beer Drinkers" Handbook - what real ale is and where to find it Pluto Press Unit 10 Spencer Court 7 Chalent Telephone 01-722 0141
SOUTH/WEST COu HAMPON Socialst Challen
PORTSMOUTH Socialist Challen
Fi J0sm to 1pr Cammecial Rest Pacine SCOTLAND
allane contasi Socialist Challeng
• Fi ca
EDINBURGH Socialist Challence
DUNDEE: normalien aboul Socialist Challenge actsites tro coQue
outs ce Boots learer of Reinm Sireel: Mach Saturday 11um-2pm.
BH
Our dilficulty here is that in normal times politics are the arena of the
class, indeed
evolutionary politics. Yet we mu
eny them leadership of our partie and of our revolution, precisely because their instincts do not tell then the importance of our relationship with the mode of production.
Take Lenin. Onc person management of factories seemed "natural to him. The factory committee was too slow, too laborious in its decision
Take Trotsky, The militarisation of
the ruling after all the situation called for it class!) seemed natural to Trotsky Weworkers are from the ourset losing
are creating relationships within society modelled on our class needs
At the present moment it seems to me that the middle class control the leaderships of the revolutionary
rouplets with an iron erip, We al
of course, because they
they have carried on the traditions, they are the most talented. Indeed
A successful revolution needs a
class leadership, new lably depenerales into what be nowadays have many examples of staces in which the middie class lead, and one or on in song a thir factories for a boss selling labour for a portion of their labour
DAVE HALISWORTH (Tameside
adan NWI SLH SOUTH/EAST COLCHESTER Socialist Challeng sell the Saturday outside
from
COLCHESTER Socialist
Lenden
MIDLANDS
Challeng:
Centre, 780 Digberh on Sten eas 221.4
Page 15 scan of this page
You've nothing to lose but your kegs
the class analysis, what's in your glass?'
of beer, writes COLIN SMITH.
that preient-day capitalism has to offer to the old village market-place. Commodities ate MNu. among much talk, games, and peneral social intercourse.
Of course pub life" reflocts the unevenness and backwardness of contemporary social life. Good conversation and pleasant conviviality take place alongside chauvinism and
DRUNK
But every day 32 million pints of beer are drunk in has to say about the brewing industry and the state of beer are issues close to the stomachs Да ДУстЬ IC dn LOC 0H005 of the mass of working people.
Proa Cins the marcho late capitalism through Pulling a fast one by Roger Protz is publisted by Pluto Press at £1.20. Available from
WHAT'S LEFT
uppeners GrupIl you want your
sord st Gonions ungently rese
HIS 20.P und.
WC2
FICHT RACISM' sala e afile, anies black
15o mạch pua Tp pấp, cr 11p
T-ahits, e2 wach plua 15o 05o. From
UNDER REVIEW
Drinkers of the world unite
THE THESIS of Roger Protz's book on the brewing industry can be summed up in the phrase Never mind
The subject of his book Pulling a Fast One is that friend of the discontented and misunderstood -
Public houser are the nearest | brewing indusity. Out of your
pints of hilter annual profit of £300m is made and the government takes over but €1,000m in duty and VAT (what the NH5 could do with all those wet 10p pieces!): the the scene
huge
low by the throat Charangton. Allied Watneys.
Scottish and Newcastle and Courage.
These six not ouly produce most of the beer consunied, but control the majority of the pubs and so can dictate what & and what is net sald.
This is where the Campaign for Real Ale, Roger Prot2's emplovers, come in. lt & not capitalisnt monopolist the otherwise — that turrows the
e ling a fast ane
What the brewers
have done to your beer
Roger Protz Badges. PO Box 50 London Nt 2XP A TORY VICTORY in the Gesera Election win De a deteat for the Britis bour movoment. But every worsin lass vole that gaia to Labaur or
aparation for a lightcack agora ight wing Labour pollpes witt etween now ant the Genera Ele
Lise Base
TALING Borou Against
STITUTE of face Peralions me luminolo Cente Me A Siananoon wi
introduce the discussion
- a pint
a combined
brewing
combines
Bass
Whitbread
brows and weakens the cibows of CAMRA devotes: bur the COLICIO BECIEM DECE CIASS What started the furore was the intracucian o socalco key britter. "keg" beer for CAMRA fans is that it is processed, refrigera ted, sterilized, and insipid of IRELL For the breweries it had great advantages. It could be casily
ming prated on poten
major factories, casily stored and handled by unskilled bar staff. It was equivalent of processed pens CAMRA's argument is that the taste, quality, and alcoholic content of most people's beer has disastrously suffered result of the combines thirst for profits, Protz has an easy way with the rechnicalities of
contension is what buthies in the beer. Keg bitter gets its bead" and fizziness from carbonation" - injecting carbon dioxide under pressure. This is anathema to CAMRA (though I has led to farting becoming a minor social art among some of our friends).
328 In opposition to the keg beer
produced by the 'gang of six"
Protz champions the "real ale
BELFAST Werners Resench Unit Bullatir. No 4: De Strachear: Rig-all. Brune invesmen
in o and: tern African sie who the Erilish Arme
VOMEN IN THE
Clut Toen 15
WCHE SHY
difficult to
The trouble with
MANURE
transported is good beer.
the breweries" to the 'grear lager of Beownlf, Bjorn Borg, as a
brewing for the hreweries of puts the keg beer
after driving
Pulling a Fast = Ireisne decide
10th COMMUNIST UNIVERSITY Of LONDON Polytechnic of Central London
Wide range of specialier and general courses, including British Labour Movement, Comtemporary Marxist Theory, British State and British Road to Socialism, as well as City Politics, Papalar Music, Sex and Clasi, Women's Liberation, Student Polities etc. Special one-day Symposium on the Future of Posc-Schoo
Further details from The Organiser, CUL 10, 16.King St., Landon
concern. rapidi
of
mature.
Protz's problems industry
from the many small breweries that it fermented naturally kept in casks, goes olf casily, 15
transport prea distances, and is delivered to they overlooking. the glass by a kind of hand
vengeance
Also it's supposed to laste greal! For CAMRA, small beer
But if amall is beautiful" for beer Protz, 'the lager the better certainly notthe case. From the big bitter disgrace we move o reactionary
scandal'
Lager, supposedly the drink
Brunhilde and apparency never gers closer lo Scandinavia than
plais pine table. Moreover
High in price and low in alcolol, it contalas even mor: of that ahominable CO, thar
So if you are a bit thirst
an excavalor across a patch of sand one sunny day you might as well have a glass of lemonade than the drink of valhalla, and it won't put a chili in your pocker
well reveal how the ordinary pint of biller has been adulterated in
CHARTST INTERNATONAL NOR UNNED
For Evelyn Peeg London so 1 Rond
WOMAN
Development Sub commil ne meetes
#HUAUDIOC E Out now
the name of profit. The quality of consumer products should certainly be of concern to the workers* movement; and the the high price and low alcoolic content of mass produced heer are indountedy 3 c30e 10E
However, portifications on the question of taste are ar best dodgy, and at worst. have the taint of clitisms. After all, one person's elixir is another's
CAMRA has a relatively large following - L115 25.000 members but with a
and engaged in direct actions such world of so-called consumer
But in reality CAMRA is par! and
"health through nostalgia" brigade, along with
Price. bicycles, and over-priced nuts. One can sec them objecting to the interna! combustion engine because its exhaust doesn't caste of horse
solution to the of hrewins and the prdinary that CAMRA doesn't look further shan the bottom of their glass
CAMRA has been successful to a desree t certine the br brewers to re-Introduce "rea ale". Butall they have dome is te show to the breweries that there is a corner of the market which
were danger of Now they are beginning to exploit it with a
Beyond thar, the ideas of Roger Protz et al amount to an Edwardes plan for the brewing industry. He artempts to shom if a litrle coyly, that small breweries not only make belle
but ure much more profitable. That these smal capitalists are among the most unica is of little consequence
Although he has some nice
COURAGE
Light
DOUBLE DIAMOND
ale s
Toby WATNEYS Light PALE Ale
• Discussion and INDUTO OUT Botsh Army, Secinsan
marina to bula p
Fel 14 July, Red Lier
Comece. 25. ta ser tens or house D013 MOBILE
спе 10-822 175- ог 10-720 5395
ANL BENEFI on Tuas 11
AINST RACISM. Regas gran Sca, Fr14 mily, Lace Ba REVOLUTIONARY COMMINIST NO
Te and Imporialism in
Crisin 1 ев-70
Red Publications London SERA CEN
things 10 58V about the estwiile nationalised brewery hi Newcastle since sold net by
Torics, nacionalisation of the brewing the food and wrink manufact urers) that Protz purs forward. The concern for the beer in the glass" cods in the dole quede for Brewery workers
*Although brewIng staff should not be allected by such a shake up (breaking down the hig combines to smal local breweries) sailer distribution areas coud lead to cut backsin sail
*The utions invohed would have to craure that as mans workers as possible would be absorbed in acher departments
Inevitabie ISH. redundancies should be cor
"natural wastage'
British Leyland directors please
A ROUND
Mais production of bee under capitalism may result it gaseous insinid beet, although CAMRA is belpine to shou thai this night DOt be 3 recessary. But mass produc workers wir no conelion 2 ander the control paid to the former owners, s the only way to give beer to almost everyone's taste
Ir may not be achiesable
bur CAMRA should look further than their next pint
Roger Prota has been around a hit and it would be a travesty torsay that he approaches every question with an empty class albeit one made neither Moscow: Washington
He has produced probably the best available book on the brewing industry. But be and CAMRA should be careful that they do not speak in Ruddles or try to remain a bit too Young's at heart.
PUNGERS
CARTAN
WHITBREAD
Paleste
MELAND BOCIOS PENA DO E NOS
lion or inc
SA 1 Dy Ords Marsha 8 E FisT Subarriptions -Lougnborough Ad, London SW
WHY PAUL FOO SHOULD BE A SOCIALIS Socialist orie Par s' Part "A clearly, ingly written contribution to the decate on socialisan ano how to get there. Time Out.
A Communist Workers Movement publication blows the lid off the SWP and altemative 81.20
All good bookshope order from October Books, 42 Temple Court, Liverpool (p8p 20p).
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Some disappeared prisoners:
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THE FINAL total for
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three months mote
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secret and all our efforts, such as
of kidnapping, nod leuers soc
faces with the following answe such us: "He has left the country
by a band of extremises', and so fort
Commitler of the Families of Disappeared Prisoners, Santiago, June 1975
9 July, Assemble Ipm,
Melton St, Euston Station,
March to Chilean Embassy
July commited tot August.
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LENES THEIRE
This week our thanks tot
shop steward
G. Williams BrentIMG K. Jablonska G. Ungar
Firstly:
of receiving Socialist months week during this page. the summer. At that time it may Secondly, be difficeit to obtain the paper
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