Socialist Challenge No. 62, 7 September 1978
The scan: sc-n62-sep-7-1978.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.
Page 1 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge Support free collective bargaining
The Wester powers should not try to sidestep the basic problem: political power is the due of the
Degiven the necessary mean Tammand
police.
Interview with Robert Mugabe page 10
WHY THE MOSCOW OLYMPICS
SHOULD NOT BE BOYCOTTED!
By Martin Meteyard page 11
SOCIALIST UNITY PREPARES
FOR THE ELECTION page 3
The closure of Tress:
A Fairey Story from Tyneside
By Hilary Wainwright page 7
Zimbabwe
D
1am the hooded man
of the National
Stadium
121
No 62 7 September 1978 15p
Support the toolroom
workers-page
Confessions of a Chilean agent pages 8 & 9
Page 2 scan of this page
The case of the non-
OUR POLICIES 2
EDITORIAL
Societal 038l0 Distribution Advertising 01-389 8371. Socialist 328/9 Upper
Conclave at Camp
David
THREE WORRIED politicians went into secret conclave at Camp David near Washington yesterday. No one is seriously expecting a puft of white smoke announcing the culmination of the Sadat Initiative by way of a joint declaration of principles setting out the terms of a future setlement on the Middle East conflict. However the smoke signals could be black or, more likely, a murky shade of sAi three leaders - Sadat, Begin, and Carterfrom a complete breakdown of the Cump David summit. Carter. as the bost, has his credibility and prestige which even without the Middie East is barely hobbling along. Regin has his reputation as the first Israeli leader to have had within his grasp the prospect of an enduring settlement with Egopt and the Arab regimes. To let relatioes not only with the American administration but with this slip by would isolate israel American and Israeli public opinion. the most to lose from a total breakdown of the peace initiative which he personally launched last November. By now he must be painfully leadership's willingness to make territortal concessions.
It look around sovereignty over Sinai to be conceded by the Israelis. The Bank is another story. For this, In Begin's view, is the Biblical lund of Judes and Samaria, and therefore an inalienable part of modern srael. On this issue the Begin leudership has not prepared any dramatic policy changes for Camp David, Without movement on the thorny question of the West Rank, it is not possible for Sudat to call his November initiative even a qualified success. So where does that leave him" regimes and particularly with his bankers, Saudis -after consultation with Egypt and the American Secretary of State-reversed their former opposition to any further face-to-face negotiations with the Isruelis. They have backed Sadul in his decision to ultend the present summit meeting. It is therefore possible that Sudat, with Saudi support, is viewing the Camp David discussions as a platform from which to maximise the public relations gains of his November initiative by placing the blame for failure on the isruelin:
Begin, the Americans will be able to cobble together a few
for given the position of the Begin Government, which has become
Egyptians, marking time,
ailments, and a number of other
from the point of view of the parties involved.
TUC
the Government's policy or its effect on wage leveb.
paid. Thes got the pay restraint but not the rest.
Words and resolutions are simply not enough.
actions to ensure that these policies are carried out.
phrases.
Support for the toolmakers would he a good start.
It you agree with these principles and want
to be involved in activities by Socialist
Chailenge supporters in your area, ill in
the form below and sand it to us.
* 1 am interested in more information
bout activities in my area.
* I would like additional iterature and
enclose 50p to cover costb.
Delete it not applicable]
NAME
ADDRESS
Send to Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper
St, London N1.
Socialist Challenge 7 September 197H Page 7
-have a lot to lose
and further damage Begin's
Sadat is the one unpredictable ingredient at the summit. He hus
aware that he seriously miscalculated the Begin it to be conceded be he braels. Teen
This depends in part on Sadat's relations with the other Arab
Arubia. The
On the other hand it is likely that by curbing Sadat and egging on formulas that will give the summit the appearance of making progress, This is the best that the Carter administration can hope an embarrassment to the Americans, For Sadat to be content with such an outcome and emerge uncompromised in the eyes of at least wome of the more important Arab regimes, it will probably be necessary for the Americans to further distance themselves from the Israeli position on withdrawal from the occupied territories.
However, Carter has the Congressional elections looming sp soon. Best from his point of view is the option of curbing the
SHERODInS for some sort of breakthrough, such as the early demise of Begin through natural cuuses. He Is after all rumoured to have a heart condition, liver
Such a the neup or be other David conclave. Rarely has such high summitry coincided with such a low probahility of soccess
DENIS HEALEY confidently predicted on the weekend that the TUC would reject another round of pay restraint. Confident because, as he went on to say, it wouldn't make any difference to
For the past four years the Social Contract has made the working class and the TUC the losers. Initially the union leaders accepted puy restraint In return for: reflationary measures, an end to public expenditure cuts, and lower income tax for the less well
Last yeur they rejecled pay cutting. But the main strikes for more, by the FBU and the power workers, were defeated — with a lot of help from the union generals on the TUC General Council.
The TUC this year may reject the 5 per cent wages offer, and they may demand a 35-hour week and increased public speedingBut this has to be backed by sapporting, encouraging and building
Delegates at the TUC should he aware that motions are eusily ignored by the bureancrats. They should be ready now to ensure that a defeat like that of the firelighters must not occur again, und that all trade unionists are prepared to back up militant words with militant action - forcing the TUC leaders to fight for their fine
SHERLOCK HOLMES was staring intently at a couple from his bay window. He began to chuckle as he slowly re-filled his pipe. No doubt about it, he muttered softly to himself. No doubt at all. They're nom-sectarian sectarians, It's a new and fashionable breed."
He was speechless, inquiringly.
man, 'All you have to do is observe the halo above their heads. Then study the blank badge. If denotes a pride in not having any coherent set of ideas. The copy of the Leveller sticking out of their pockets gives the game away.
stuttered. "You're a genius. the sad saga.
Don tget it wrong. Wearen't about to go on a sectarian hinge else. Bur the element of truth in Holmes observation cannot be denied. Far better then to bring all our doubts into the open and discuss them.
There are tens of thousands
non-aligned Britain. In different degrees, they regard themselves revolutionary socialists. They reject evolutionary 'Eurocommunism" and social demo-
Owever, they are genuinely repulsed by the inability of the major currents of the far left to ofter a unified and cohesive socialist alternative to Lahourist.
They observe that no ceedible arganisation exists to the left of Labour, and draw trom this Le mistaken conclusion that they should postpone the thought of joining a revolutionary organisation. Mistakenly, they re
main aloof.
LEARNING
Their work is consoc tO
self-defined arenas of trade
political
activity. With these comrades a
fraternal debate and dialogue is
both possible and producting
We have a lot to learn from
their varied experiences.
There is, however, another
category of the non-aligned, X
IS 0 typical example.
bostile to any form of left
organisation. She sneers at the
bulk of the left press, mocks the
activities of major lefi groups.
X can only contribute venom
and spite.
Ils/he is at a meeting where a
member of a left group is also
present, s/he will almost always
disagree with what be or she is
*I by some accident of fate
this is not possible, she will
speculate aloud on the theme
that there must be a catch in it
somewhere. It is a suspicion
revellens socialists ars:
1
Sack people, pays cassan, wicam the pomer of the capitalist state.
THE FIRST WORD
sectarian sectarian
His old comrade-in-arms stared at the master in
but his eyes looked
•Elementary, my dear Walson, replied the great Wered! Won steadered TARIO ALl continues word Holmes', he
that borders on paranola.
What is bizarre is that chis holier than thou approach is dignified by the necessity lo fight sectarianism. What really amounts so is a virulen sectarianism towards those who belong to left groups. The aim is to ntake the latter feel guilty.
PECULIAR Some do. Others react in an even more sectarium fashion The last must be avoided from being counter2100 productive, it only enables Xto
polish his/her badge and put an extra shine on the bato, Mhich of the comment on the activities of the far lell groups 16 the Leveller has tended to
ian strain, Instead of anilising the magazine to aligned and aligned activists by making it into a genuine forum the Leveller b increasingly becoming Ideological locus for sectarian" sectarians All this is done in the name o the broad movement'. The only problem is that no sucl movement exists in this country and attempts to artificially create one are likely to fail. it Is true that there are n ments — women's liberation. say liberation, black groups. and these continually come up against the operation of the bourgoois political system. Any penuine anti-capitalist current will later face the question of the prevatling forms of bourgeois political power This comprises a super structure of governments and parties which rest on the consent of the masses, and a state apparatus which rests on armed bodies of men and women. The latter is the lynchpin of all bourgeois social relations.
Capiralism is in crish, The leaders of the Lahour Party and the trodes unions offer salutions that are in the interests, hot nd the murkers, hai of the capitalis Sectali Challege believes hat the to wat sachs confroning To build tread-bed case stengale lendencies a appration to das-collaboraticsiem in the isboer musement. Three dote be mum exclusiv in characier grouping logether molitants holding a wide range of political views 5 To begin In ticht for the iralion of a reified and democratic relutionary ancinter organisation which cas, through an application of united front taelics begin to be sern as an abernative by thousands nf workers engaged in simmukes
Such an organisation should be heed on the understanding tot;
The surged: Tor socialism snids to unile the fight of the workers again the bossy with that of ather oppressed lagers of society women struggling for their liberation. This socialism can only best lacked by eneating new organe of pnucrsm defeating will all
callios be cobtested. an Jefeated by even the larges "movement".
Hence the extience
groups Hence the global contestation of bour
ideology, politics, and stife power.
X isciot interessed in all these
"Typical left-wine sargon Irrelevant real needs,' And so the dinlogue o! the deaf continues.
There are other forms of the disense. There Is the militant who functions in a broad united fram alliance. S/he individual not aligned to any group. Most of the people in The said alhance are in the same situation. However the largest organised force is a left wing Broug, LMN.
I follows that LMN will be the dominant political influence in the alliance. That 25 unless all the individuals aimply unite on an anti LMN DasIs. This rardly happens.
So individual Y can develop
ultra-sectarian attitude Lowards the LMN essentially Because its supporters are organised TOIL political understanding of what
America, Alrice and Aola
From Inhaid and belling the irish people deleralse their nun futury
The Communist Parties in toropr are in ensi Faro-communis aor ihe arn Maso
understandal Excusable For whit i leaves our of accoubt is the power and primacy of politic Socialist Challenge has no finched in the pas from making sharp criticisms of the weaknesses of the revolutionary lefi country. If has printed many letters and articles criticising the International Marxist Croup without long or eved short replies)
Westate this to indicate that weare awareof the problems of the far left. That is why we find the "non sectarian" secturian approach both crude counter-productive. banner is Apainst Organisa
Torers no political solutions, not even a glimpscor the way forward. I canpot provide the answers because 1 is not even sure what questions should he caned.
We certainly do pot have the solution to all our problems.
intatible and have answers. But we, at the very least, are certainly posing the correct questions, Of this we are sure.
In the rossef the millions if workers throngmut the world, We are apped in them and will offer full sapport to all inose Fatting for socialie demmerins
The imerels at worker and caplialide are irreroscilable un a would sol. This units will in the long run he decisie in defeating both thie impertalist regimes in the West and the brutat desaturios shes seesain in Eatin In Fritain it Implics demonding the immediate wthdraw at of Brind arep
Neither sh wings lane any meaningtu perated for the overtirin of the capidis sinle New resinionar socialise periles are more norware than ene befre, Cnidions Ha are more faymurable than aver ihe pas ding the desales betan pune 1%1 unty be haikr lis rejecting secterianion and sering internal demer me fo lenary but as a sent novelts, thiembre the ront it organie taction-
Page 3 scan of this page
SOCIALIST UNITY selected its election candidates at | this week. PAT CROSS reports from Hull and ANDY
HOME NEWS
in
SOCIALIST UNITY, Southall
-known as SUS-decided last month to run a candidate and a selection meeting was held last Sunday: It was attended by 45 peopic. mainly local trades unionists, as well as several local observers from Socialist Workers Party.
Two members of the New Communist Party expressed their apposition to standini candidates against Lahour, and left the meeting. Tariq All, a Icading member Intereational Marxist Group and editor Socialist Challenge, was selected as the candidate.
Oliver New from SUS had earlier explained the DELEIIET Bidwell, Tariq said that it was an olDer disgrace that a cental Buther of the Select Committer Report on Immigration should represent Southall.
The report was so way out that even the Labour Govern ment-no softies question —was forced to reject is more controversial sugeestions, such as pass laws foc blacks in Britain.
A comrade from the SWP, speaking on behaif of its district committee. explained the position of his organisa-
Selecting our candidates
meetings in Hull and Southall, West London, last LILLEY from Southall. week. Selection meetings are planned in other areas
Tariq All
Southall
prepared to Pilate to S005 While they they would call for a vote for Socialist Unity and support the SES activists explained that the campaign in Southail would the take place in isolation.
Building campaigns such as the Anti Nazi League, Right to Work would be an integral part of our activity An election steering committee was elected, and two the members of the SWP agreed to attend as observers.
Feeling at the end of the meeting was that this was the first important manifestation of left uniry we had seen in vital Southall for many years. It was agreed that the position of the local Communist Party and the Indian Workers Association would be ascertained as soon as An appeal for E1,000 was launched at the meeting to help caitpaign. donations will be titis received and should be sent to the election agent.
Election Agent: Andy Elley, 10 Hamilton Road Middlesex. Tel. 01-571 5370.
Next week: Introducing the Sociulist Unity candidates in Leeds and Nottingham.
EXTENDED STEERING COMMITTEE
9Sepiember, 11 um
St Matthews's Church Hall. Brixien Hill, London SW2.
All SU supporters welcome
VE
MARTIN SHAW, a member of the International Socialist Alliance, will be the Socialist Unity caedidate for the Central Hull constituency General Election. He has been politically active in the area for six years, lectures at Hull University, and is a member of the Hull Trades executive committee.
The seat is présently held by Kevin MeNamarn, a rebr-wing 'Tribunite who sat Sciour Committee on Abortion and is strongly opposed to a ALl wotan's right to choose. gratefully
nounced that he is sending his McNamara son to the well-known Catholic Southall, publicschool, Ampleforth, and
15 allempting to ger the local education authority to foot the bill on the grounds of his son's musical Hollities.
Martin
Shaw
in Hull
sive system'!
the
seems to Council Socialist
on the cuts, and racism
recently
the dole queue scandal. as attempted as See tom
SOCIALIST ENITY IN EAST LONDON
selection meeting lo choose a candidate fo Sethnal Green and Bov
Salurias, 9 September, 7-9 pm All SU supporters welcome Details: Tel. 01-247-2717
of war.
paper Norwegian nort South.
humber parties.
got t scal
direct
"extension of the comprehen-
Ever since McNamara was COALE. elecled in a hy-election in 1966, displayed by he has supported the Govern-
The fact that Hull has an 11 proportions. per cent unemployment total
have made little impact on this illustrious MP It wil be the centrai issue in Unity's campaigil, Which
togerher with women's rights, tbe House.
Hall Trades Council, which this week voted to support the Right to Work march, decided
busy lo call a public meeting durin the election period, which al Labour and socialist candidates in the city will be asviled to address, particularly to discuss
Election Agent: Pat Cross, 6
Street, Hall. Tel
TOCO LENS
Singapore
opponents
News
nowhere
Norway's ABC trial
WING paper Norway, Ny Tid, published a story exactly a sear ugo related ably
i proved thai the Norwegian CIA to haild a long-range navigation system [Loran C] on Norwegian territory For military purposes. Furthermore it showed that the Norwegian people had been deliberately misled und argued that these buses made Norway a legitimule Suiet target in the event
same [circulation 20,000g carried 9 slory reveans non Norwegian military intelligence had trained Finnish Nazis and Enfiltrated them into the Sovies Lost in 3933.Once "guin, CIA involvenient was demonangrily denied by the Government. It talked of left-wing
Ny Tid bit back by inter-
intelligence Philip Agec]. sumerous other RElegations. He was prompel: arrested and charged. Two Ny Tid reporters were also charged and could be sentenced to 15 yeurs. Protests are under way [as ure the trials]. We await more information from Oslo Stockport follies CALLAGHAN'S polical ad
meer, one Tom McNally, wa Focently chusen as praspective Labour candidate for Stock-
This was aller McNally had been rejected by a
bf other Labour
Now 1 emerges that four proMeNally delegates жегс
Wirbout them Jim's man would not have
So a fierce war is raging in Stockpert South.
The Labour Party organi sation sub-committee is inves. tigating the matter under the
leadership of Reg Underhill. Reg is a hack of the old order. He was a leading right-winger ju the 50s and 605 abd and is hound to back McNally If he does, seven of the eight ward secretaries have pledeed that they will have nothing to
fact the sectarianism warring socialdonsocrats in inter-party rival.
Callaghan will probably resolve the issue by
sub-committee antious nets ta get cal in show how
Equally surprising" is that Tribune, quick off the mark in attacking Troeskyist sects, is
fanning the fires Stockport. Geoffrey Sinclair (a pseudonyat For Dick Clements bas a sectarian piece ou page 2 of last acck's issue. Tbai will put him off the Honours List For a fen decades.
Dirty Harry LEE KUAN YEW is the Prime Minister of Singupore. He used to he the darling of right-wing British social democrats. They eloquence of "Hurry" Lee, as he wan called, to hammer the left.
model Imperia Deo cool Broat unions are banned, political
CHICKEN withont trial. the press
-there are inmumerable other hencfits for
from
foreiga companies
Harry Lee learned these dirty habits imperialist spousers
from Gaitskellite Campaign Socialisan in Ibe British Labo Party, My had some le Want gambie These peopl I probe over the lust decale a trifle repugnant, but if se they have a curioss way of making thei
heard. The Doctor Owen has wot uttered a word on the sirocities Singupee: Lin Chii Siong, Dirty Hurry's extremet popular rival, a still is prisai He is led with drugs, БОТЕГ? СУМНЕНСОИСТНЯ allowed reading MastEras. nationni has publicised m other cases of torture.
But from Owen, Healcy, and their frieads we simply have deufening silence. As for the fusher righti Carter. there is a serioes possibility that he believes that• Singapore the national anthem of Afghanistan, Top secret briefcase THE TOP people's paper carried an interesting ad early last month. The RU Trading Company of Pack Lane, London Wi, was advertising a micro-recording unit conceale ZIRZDNCTERACESAANTESSILIH wrote and asked for delails, which were prompily received These included:
(a) Voice activated recor i When brielcase is locked it can be controlled by exterior touch. Placing the fingers on one part of briefcase to start and on another part to stop recarding.
*(e) The briefcase picks u quiet sounds or voice in any normal size room and because microphone is totally invisible case...
Rumours that T. Benn, Esq.
currently using such a brielcase at Cabinet meeting
conferences with civil OLLEGELS ARE BOOl STORE denied. For the average Sc reader there is at least a bit of 800d it costs only E638.00 plus VAT Twisted arrow of fate A NEW book i already in
entitled Margare Thatcher: Prime Minister. Its author is Patrick Coegrave and the publishers are Amow. If the Tories win book will he in the shops within u muller of doss rather tis weele.
And if they lose? We have a suggestion: given the poserty stricken condition of Socialis Challenge we are conslantly appealing for scrap puper of ul sorts. We would be quite happy to use discarded copies in thi toilets at Upper Street for wo extru cust...
Press Council blues THE PRESS Council has wrillen to us in connection with our story Popes against the REAL U (17 August), Apparently a complaint has been rocoved from ane Catherine Jones of Ashion-under-Lyme
-ше anicie pointed our that Pope Paul VI was Doce 30-charge ou 1R Vatican department which supplied papers to Nazis feeing to South America.
Socialist Challenge 7 September 1978 page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
The internationalism which impresses no-one
Rising to meet the Challenge
HOME NEWS
solidarity, reports GEOFF BELL,
The declaration followed a
takcaver of Chrysler by Peugeot-Citroen.
It threatened international solidarity action up to and including industrial action' if
sarantees over the future of jobs are not forthcoming
Peugeor-Citroen
The
TEWAS CIS attitude. Referring specifically to Britain, Jean-Paul Parayre, chairperson of the company, salid he could offer no 'absolule guarantee on cmployment.
He added that the mainten ance of ail jobs at Chrysler UK was dependent considerations produc-
At first sight this contemp tuous dismissal of the union declaration Soems to be inviting
Our newspaper
sales in the autumn months.
increased, writes DODIE WEPPLER.
A pre condition for the success of Socialist Challenge's sales drive, the National Policy
regular functioning of sup-
Problems the groups have inel. as well es the successes they have achieved, will be discussed in a series of regional meetings planned to be held during the next three weeks:
Organisers of Socialist Challenge Groups in the London area are being invited to a
Pheta: G.M. COOKSON [Socieliet Challenge]
Socialist Challenge 7 September 197# page 4
Chrysler takeover
THE SWISS city of Geneva was the unlikely location on 30 August for a ringing declaration of trade union
trouble from the Spanish, and Australan trade union cadcrs who were at the Leneyn mocting:
But when the make-up of the personnel Geneva considered, Parayre's attitude is understandable Representing Britain werc:
Terry Duffy, president-elect of Jenkins of the white collar Hamiey, national secretary of ASTMS; STANSDOrE: UniOn White of the from and Steel Trades Confederation, Jolin Wood of the Mechanics, The abilicy of these gentlemen to summon up internanonal working class solidarity is, to pur it kindly, questionSOCIALIST CHALLENGE supporters will he called upon to put lots of energy into increasing the paper's
The paper's National Policy Committee, at its second meeting last weekend, discussed ways in which both subscriptions and sales could be dramatically
meeting on Monday, September, Meetings in orber regions will be announced next week.
These meetings will discuss activity for the autumn, draw up targets for the sales drive. The NPC will be asking
sales days during the clection period. On chese three days, to be promoted in the paper, every supporter will be called on to take part in mass sales.
If you live in a lown where Members of the paper's stuff on the stall at Carnival 1
leading advocates of impor control.
introduction of such controls. British, HIST American committee meeting, the AUEW
did the same For Contederation therbanne of scel imports from this country 15 about the only policy it has on offer for solving the massive crisis in the steel industry. last week's declaration seems a break from this British workers first and damn the rest tradition, then it THE TEE
The meeting in Switzerland ESTHELLE
and sai and is these the Metal
proposed car giant is nose
Herman Rebhan, secretary of the International Metalworkers Federation Jenkins i one of Britain's who convened the meeting.
there are presently no paper sellers. distribution office and we will arrange tor a smal punge Di papers to be posted to you for
return basis.
If you live where there are sellers, but
11 affered your help in selling. we
will he announcing supporters will be meeting so that the areas to be covered in sales can be allocated
and
NEW SUBS
Part of the sales drive = by which we hope to incrense sales by 50 per cent, and keep them there! — will be a major effort SUE SE BY MOONS The National Policy Com-
At its last conference,
called for the workers
national into hewers of drawers of water." the Iron and Steel
Genera tional solidarity
by union
(com Britain
especially Britain
in the it saves British jobs.
general
they to our
do much better than that
drive
you have never bankers
aiming al. where and
Of course goals we paper. Much SUCCESSIE. was
can he
posals for
the meeting by Tarig All
spelt this out when he said; action.
We are concerned that the
Spunish plants will... be turned
wood and
The workers at the French unionisation. plants will be unlikely to be sympathetic to this approach.
Given the history of the leadership of the British trade
union they could hardly he blamed for assuming That the new found promotion links for such solidarity is hased on
ATTALIS Lie same, narrow chauvinistic countries. concerts which, for Instance, have led a number of British unions to demand controls on
ESET IT the import of Japanese cars.
In short, international soli- conectned darily is a great thing as long as
Even if French union leaders were sympathetic to calls for solidarity with British workers,
will have difficulty turning such sympathy into mittee felt that cach supporters" group should aim 1o win at least maximum 10 new subscribers to the paper
If we can achieve the 12,500
in the the E450 in orders that we are sons by percent, the peppi dossestic subcrip- Socialist will be on the way to consider sponsor expansion and improvements:
to meet these Mad a pond in COILEEELUILE NºC devoted discussing how our standard supplemented
maintained and acaklesses itoned out. Pro-
coverage of the General Election were put to
Socialist For unholy TITOUSE
Only ten per ceul of the workers at Pougeor-Citroen are
past Citroen management has used missical Silence 10 smash
This does not mean that international solidarity among the workers in the new car giant is not possible or desirable. But the approach taken by the
leaderships not cocourage such solidarity.
The best way is to establish
between the actual
Specifically, Jinks between the shop sewards in Britain and thee cquivalents
tween the rank and file in all the countries
Once established, such links could prepare plans for strike action in one country if lobs were threatened elsewhere
Al the moment the establish- save ment of such rank and file international solidacity is far
He said there should be
local reporting during the election, and to help achieve this a correspondents' school is to be held.
The NPC also agreed that a follow-up from the Socialist Challenge Trade Union conference was both necessary and
Foice Big Flame will be approsched to
the school and be involved in the pleoning puper
The NPC considered that a
assess the situation following пета the General Election should he
by one day schools on industrial and union topics. Sugeestions Tar topics will be welcomed.
To prepare the conference, a
Challenge TERCE
Import controls
Don't put your
shirt on them
THE REACTIONARY nature
demands import CondEnis, usuy coming IrOW trude union bureaucrats and the Communist Party, has just heen revealed again.
some time DOW An alliance officials and ciothing manufocturers his been pressing the Labour Government to restrict imports of cheap cletbug.
As a result of this pressure
on the quantities of clothing
The BEC tha companes сал зарогт.
1979 birt prices will rise by 2: per cent. anoraks by 25-30 pe cent, and knitwear praduers by 15-20 per cent. Tesco's say thar
Bose JEAN-PAUL PARAYRE ou; certamly the trade Union leaderships will do nothing so словигадс ів
Necertheless the building of
will achieve somerbing Terry Duffy and bis Friends at Geneva have shown Building i rent campsign to intention or daing
jahs at the Barest car-melinational to enter the big league.
bulletin will be pub
Socialist Challenge
Correspondents" School
Do you fancy becoming an on-the-spot journalist for Socialist Challenpe? Why get delegated from your local supporters group to attend on COTES NOSES: MACHIE
The editorial team of tbr
will explain what thes think is needed fora serious yet lively presentation of polemic.
and aualysls...and bear your views.
Saturday 23 September 1lamt-bpm, London. [Location to he announced next week.) Pooled fure, to be paid In supporters" Soups sending cheap clotbes will rise the most, while British Home Stores is planning for an average tise of
10-20 percent:
The retail outlets will ose dus opportunity - TO make protits, no doubt. But nonetheless import quotas are. a real factor in producing a price rise in a baste working class need — clothing.
Not only do import controls hir fellow workers in other
simply transferring unemployment abroad. At the end of the day they hit the British working
Import controls this cannot form any bart of a socialisi alternative to the crisis.
Page 5 scan of this page
toolroom workers!
HOME NEWS
Tuesday by the following comment:
Leyland's record of disruption.
no mystery.
CONNOR reads the entrails.
The remarks are from an editorial in the right wing Daily Telegraph, which obviously sees the disgraceful treatment of the tooiroom workers by the leadership of the Engineering Union as a way of discreditine the Labour Government/TUC
Suddenly the fight of 32 wotkersat SU Carburettors for Implementation of wage parity agreed as far back as 1974 ha become a potential vote winner
Yet on Turday. the day the Telegraph published it oditorial, the TUC overwhelmingly passed a motion calling for an immediate return to free
Prosecution of
SPUC
Election
law
n recent by-election.
SPUC distributed leaflets detailing the views on abortion of all ihe candidates in the election at Ilford North, which was won by the Tory Vivian Bondall.
35.000 leaflers were handed ouf, encouraging TUTEl support those carididates who your vote count for those who CSABOL VULL.
The society then produced a circular to their members on elections, claiming a micasure of responsibility for The. Tory victory in Ilford North
The Representation of the People Act, which specifies election procedures, maker it
For free collective bargaining
Support the
THE POLITICAL importance of the strike of the 32 tooroom toolroom workers at Leyland was amply illustrated on
*Last weekend Mr Michel Edwardes expressed doubts about the motives of the "tiny minority" of his labour force to whom he attributed responsibility for
"But in the case of the toolroom men at least, there is
"They are skilled men who studied to achieve their skills, and now they find their differentials destroyed. They have lost confidence in the willingness of the AUEW to represent their interests.' THERESA
sition lo government interference in Day nepotations The bands of Terry Dully and Hugh Scanlen, Incoming and outgoing presidents of the AUEW, were raised high in support of that motion, just as hey had been heid up when they confiritied toolmakers would be thrown out of the unson for daring tc strike
Over the weckend, AUEW leadership sought to
days by saying they and summoned them meeting wien mne district commitlee.
But the threa to expel the
threatens
campaigns
PHYLLIS BOWMAN, director of the anti-abortion Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child, is facing prosecution for distributing leaflets during
JUDE WOODWARD untangles the election laws.
illegal for independent groups put out dates which might affect the cutcome of the election.
It also secks to candidates using "front" gabisations to circumvent the Limitation on election expendicure.
In 1976, election campaign was succesifully prosecured under the same SEINO DE TAE NTEC C large A further case anti-lascie s mendie 3D. t00. isa case against the Manchester Federation of plosers, which callod for votes agains candidates tbar were ib favour of nationalisation.
OCHIC TACIULS
AUEW': — paper mocion of sunoort for bargaining.
Collective bareeine Co0s 91 the gates of British Leyland"
SU Carburetiors plant
Fortunately, the championing of the strikers case has not been Telegruph. The socialist case Jor tue toolrooi workers tas been explained in a leaflet Charter, the paper of rank and CIST BUE BE CagnenE MOrAeS.
DISREPUTE
The leafle explains: TE there
unión into disrepute, thien this INSLOE EUCUUTG committee is allowed to pet HAT WIT CEBUSO HIC then Carburettors today will hecome common practice tomorrow The leafler concinues: ployers everywhere
the queueing up
favours at the first problems". For the sake of our union, AUEW everywhere must do all they can to sop the EC carring out its s0 shrel the Leyland toolmakers
come out in support of the 12 SU men, then every engineering A lawyer delence ol one of these case: propaganda considers that the candi- Section 63 are very broad. It is
possible, he believes, prosecution could be successpreven fully brought
Or- propaganda distributed outside
AL CLEU SEROS Such a use of the Act holds CHULI OES COEURS TOT SH aD ants-Fascist independent
and campaigns on the left. It presents a threat to the Anc Nazi League, whose maio aim agasnst an is to make propaganda apainst
NF candidates, during elections, Building Em- Ii will make it very difficult
for the National Campaign to bring abortion to people's attention
workers remains,
out with them. - ENE MIC The CITEECULCUUTE
Toplroom
tion carried out.
Daily SCABS
LACHEBEIS
Such sprcad 10 Leyland
SU out by Duffy and Co.
Suppor 'Emwill
Tor Duffy's
sign their
MACLEO
| and file. dealing with che
Phyllis Bowman lerms or
that a away
STOI politica) OT d ny DUDer ne
Lhe left. policical forces We sbould
MEOCCETIOEE make sure what they are. particularly Anone. counter the Ahartion Road without 01-485 4303.
worker in the country shoald he
strikers HavE also received the backing of their
shop stewards throughout Leyland, who have pledged immediate strike Ro-
if the expulsions are
Most significant of all, on Monday the white-collar union ASTMS pave its support.
ASTMS members at Leyland hase received official instructions not to do work normalls carried out by the strikers and not to supervise or assist any scabs who are brought in to TenLae tEc LoDom wakers
support noods to be and extended to sympatheric strike action if the toolroom workers are bopted
BOW for tooroom strikers means supporting the right to strike; the right of those workers to pursuc
TON GUSTEC increase, free of the shackles of
Il can also ans wer the likes of the Daily Telegraph by showing that the best way the TUC and and Tyneside. Labour çan win an clection is to Fight for the rights of their rank
Tory fury
their work.
The between the bousing lenance
tions being in breach of electoral law.
and her crew in SPUC sbouldn't be allowed to get
with putting out cheir sexist muck during an election
SOGAT
But the way to stop them is not by using laws thar can be employed just as well against succesafully
oppose the of SPUC, and our propaganda shows up the rcactionaries for
seven wishing to help SPUC' offensive election chould contact NAC, at 30 Camden
London NWI. Tel
LABOUR ISK
WORKING,
TORIES NEVER WILL
35 HOUR WEEK NOW
FIGHT FOR
THE RIGHT TO V
AFTER a meeting at the Naz Cinereu in Briek Lane ou Saturday, where Right to Work marchers beard angry speeches, there wus music from CRISIS and then the march to Brixton was on. wus Joined till thén by the Campaign Agninst Youth Unemployment.
Then RTW was on ils own all the way to Brighton, tamest TUC in years was assembling to get a lot of soft talk from TUC leuders and Callaghan.
There they began to pot the heat te the TUC and won a lot of sympathy from several delegates, especially those from Liverpoo]
IN BRIEF
SIX couneil workers on strike
DUSULSLDNC. TMESITE saroured the hospitality of the locad nick last Friday after being arrested for trying to stop seah contractors from doing
confrontation was strikers and 80 cops. But behind the police is a Tory concil that is determined
smash direct Labour organisation in Hasinestoke.
The strike, now in ios tinh POCK, IS TOC TESU OL ERG SOCEE engagement by the local council
private repairs, breaking union agreements. The main-
section immediatel called a strike and were soon joibed by all sections of the manual labour force
Over 30 tours of negotia-
have since) produced norhing, while scabs are being employed to sweep the town centre. The council announoed
More equal TIME OUT, the London news the and culture magazine, has not appeared for the last two weeks COR TR MISDIEEE dispute with the joint NE'J, NGA und
chapel, reports SYLFIA BLISS.
The unions at Time Out have
maintalned an equal-pay-for-all policy so that all staff - from switch-board operators to journalists
ceive the same salary of t4,B0X)
The only agroed exceptions are
jobs, designated as management posts under the
bouse agreerner
Time Oul managemer gets its way, the number exempted posts wall be upped to eight. Mandy Merck. copy Few:
BACKING
UNITE AND
1580
a a u cookes
WIETE LEI Sast woek that contractors were to be brought in to shilt rubbish dumps that have fornied oo the C419
When the cowboys arrived at che dumps on Friday, so did a protection squad of 80 police and 130 strikers, Strikers were kicked and pushed around, and WO SEDe CIneue Seco: tary Peter Drastield comp lainod to the polioe, be wa arrested for using obscene language.
In the struggle that followed, live other concil workers were Thrown into police vans. Four were charged with obstruction and one with assaule Al this point the contractors reconsidered stopped work. A acte had cheir abd
-NECI WE
But the council has nor given in. They have the support of the Toiy Party nationally, which is ony too keea to turn council work over to private enterprise
Money aud
mEAOSL sapport to: Pete Dransfiekl Old Raven House, Hook, a | Resingstoke, Hants.
editor on the magazine, says: 'Paricy has heen the mainstay of chapel unity.
"We've known for years tha
niagazine's owner deterntined to change the old "egalitarian lippy spstem" that we operate
•We are equally determined to defend our agreement.
The last two issues of the weekly magisine were lost as the chapel called mandatory meetings the twc important production days WELEE L Ds BOW BItE! cnod to stop pay if the magazine does Bol abpear Uns wock
It justifies its obstinacy on the grounds that bigh pay is noeded to attract che "right cabbre! person to the new job The staff say they all need to he well paid, not just a privileged
Socialist Chullenge 7 September 1978 page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
HOMENEWS
COLIN TALBOT.
The announcement of an October general election could affect the success of Carnuval 2 schedaled for 24 September, It is up to ANL activists and supporters to ensure that this is nol me Casc bor a supecastul carnival is absolutely vital 10 A DIR SISTE SE TELI fascists are on the run during INCOSTOS
is easy to become complacem because of declining vote of the However that is only one side of the coin. Racist attacks are still occurring regularly in different parts of the country. The racists
maxitum publicity in local papers, radio and possibly television. This means that we must organise to ensure the largest possible turnout.
The platformn at the Camival indicares that the ANL Steering Committee ser the necessity for
Anti-black
from
Bradford's
Tories
group explain.
In May a report on District Trends" called 'Met Plan" was
y its corporate planning team population, housing. pinyment, etc. It was produced by the Tory Council to try 1o cium extra mobey trom central govermmcal.
Hehind misieading titles like Leisure, Prosperiss, and Personal Development, a frightening picture of bad housing, high anemployment and prospects is built up.
Nowhere does the report recognise the Council's contrbution to chis situation. Cits in services, the burlding of lewer council houses, and the lack of opposition to the movement of industry ate seen as 'trends" and not as savage political policies.
There is no analysis of the
Bradford Is in. There
TaCIT breakdown of 'white'
"non-white' figures,
from this kind
pounparisou. Ibe Council waying that Bradford needs more money because Bradford
Socialist Challenge 7 Septersber 1978 page 6
No time for
complacency
THERE'S JUST over a fortnight to go before Carnival 2 gets on the road. The maximum possible mobilisation is vital to ensure its success, writes
involving the broad labour movement, But the point needs to ho made that the abibry of labour moveinent mobilise its base in the struggle against racism is somewhat limited. The evidence stares us in the face.
The bulk of people who attend will come because of the skilful expertise of the Against Racism and dynamism of the ANt, itself.
NF.
Therefore it is important to Tose do e hi. liter which discussed by currently the commitlee is that of a large marquer under which political debates and discussions on a number of themes place. This will only be a small part of the Carnival, bul it could provide an important and
propaganda
ENOCH POWELL commented in a recent speech that, 'in the future, in one particular town, one in every three babies will be black, and that's enough reason to stop immigration and start repatriation .
Powell's comment followed the publication of an official report by the Tory Council in Bradford. The local WOMEN AGAINST RACISM & FASCISM
has a higher number of black ecause black problents.
The way in which the report unem- uses race adds fuel and gives credence the bysterical dimare racist politicians, It has heenwelcomed by these politicians as facing facis"
The truth is that it ignores the real problems facing inner cities and divides black bicak working people lighting them.
One of the trends reported is the ligh level of unemplay ment amongs young people. What the reparl fails to acknowledge is that many of these young people unenpioyed because refusela be pushed into the low paid, dirty jobs with unsocia] bours that their parents mere ora be repor bradore the report Bradford's problems are analysed solel in terms of and white ligures. sand tais report as racist propaganda tautly disguised as statisties. For furher infor
Women's Centre, 266 Luteb Lane, Manningham, Bradford
to
CARNIVAL2
the Mode Park 11am. Marcatol
useful service.
beins Park politic mailable ac Hyde For there is a danger that the Carnival
social-democracy. The Taiure lo include Paul Foot on tbe can take plasform is, in our opinion, a
senious error. It makes it all the Ilowed as Briston
No
hiding
place
ANTI NAZI LEAGUE porters Trom Exeter, Cornwall, and picketed a pub in the Cornist
meeting addressed Dy National - Front leader Martin Webster. The meeting at the White Hart Hotel was the climax of the NF's summer camp which had been going on in secret at Lancorla Farm Just outsade the Iowa. It was part of the Front's continuing pre-election drive in the West Country liespite otice of the meeting, over 30 ANE supporters rushed to th town. Many of them were from Exeter, over 60
chanting throughout most of the meeting. feature of the picket was thus people cause the ANL
Joined hy a number yuuth regulars of the pub where present Several of them houghl ANL created by Tature activiticsurt tradges and expressed interest in
The White the meeting was held bas been used on at least one previous and white occasion meeting». Mores are now afoot fur
lo persuade heycott beer supplies ir NF members
black meelines are held there again.
part of a mujor campaign by they the themscites TOSEISIS
election they will fight at least 6 of the 14 constitecncies in the counties, mouth Devonport represented by De David Owen We conemn The prompt action of the
ANI supporters in gesting to Bodmin the south there shows that esen c/a The
in the most rural areas there is
Nuri Nalional Frent.
will be those of left
*NO PLUGS for NF
stop during the звр- DAN
Camborne NF CASAL Bodmin during 3
putting
the press. "CUSTOM
obligation on the TV five hours broadcasts, and miles awas. beavily out- Some bave already
and the
joined forces to particularly heartensag media
otherwise
supperten were
of local meeting heing held.
Thursday,
pub where DEMANDS The campaign include: major
local ATURDES ments and activities of the TGWU
establish Devon and thie coming
ON
currenily
and the response of BADGES,
no hiding place for the
the same address.
"Oxford Fights Racism and Fascism' the exhibition staged by the Uhuru Collective ia small radical cafe and shop collective in Enst Oxford] at the Carnival against Rucisan on Bank Holiday Monday. The Curaival was enjogon hy large numhers of people, from young lo old, and Oxfond. has given anti-racist uctirity in the uren a real |
chues!"| the slogans on leaflets and badges
sympathetic coverage of the National Front
General blection, GEOFFREY SHERI
While fife will be difficult for
candidates and supportets at the hastings and on the streets, the Front has made no secret of the lact that il
up over 300 candidares in order to capture TV time and colarnm inches In
In fact, there is no legal
companies to provide party political
but doubl practice! will Incline the TV bosses ro put Martin Webster on our screens.
530 2s mouch. The Anti Nazi League
Campaign Agasbst
Racism in the Media hav
cocourage workers to decide
There is to be a public
in London Tuesday, followed by a picker of the BBC's headquarters on
demands ofthe
*No uncritical national or local coverage al NF state-
*Fall suppon for candidates
NAZIS -TV:
in four calours, price 20p from ANL, PU Box
151, London WC2. Reduction oa belk onders, Leufleis Irom
Oxford Fights Racism and Fascism ®
* CARNIAL AGAINST RACISM OXPENS-BANK MOLIDAY MONDAY
-part of oest
No plugs for NF thugs
who refuse to appeat with the Front in constituencies *Fui support Tor tochasciams used by the Nazis
Publie meeting on Toeidus 12 September, 7.30pm at Friends Meeting House, Eusten Road, London NW1.
Speakers: Jonathan Dimhleby, David Edgar, Peter Huin Tom Litterick MP. Plas anti-NF ritm.
NO PLUGS FOR NF THUGS!
Mass picket of BBC HQ Thunday, 14 September, 4.30-6.30pm, Broadcastiog House Portland Place, London W1. [Neurest lube: Oxford Circus)
Advert
COMING SOON
4,000 me 0и
• MATE THE
ARMY ANDA
HATE THEN
AUG
20 This exhibition comprising historical material showing the links hetween the NF and fascisan, as well as contemporary photos, press cuttings and leaflets is available on toan free of charge from John Clark, Uhuro, 35 Corles Re,
Local ANL and anci-racis groups can nep by distributing the leaflets and badges, and by radio. CORTACIS and TV workert lo discuss the isque.
INSIDE: SHAM 69-ANGER ON THE ROAD-RAR-SKAN 10р
Page 7 scan of this page
HOME NEWS
explains.
In actual fact, the NEB is becoming increasingly central to the Govern теп 1 дистося to moorse DEUN
apital. "What to do about the NEE
shop stewards committees in the EAI33CU DUSCLLOr OVOCN months, partiçularly if Labour wins
What is more, many trade unionists still have lingering illisions about the NEB. They feel that NEB control or involvement could tean improvement in job security and working conditions.
In the absence of a clear alternative they put some Faith Lovernmem s commuement ual toe 'NER will be an instrument for direct MInaTTWO BuS GOO RUTIE! of high unemplosment": as weil as in
Iact hat three leading unionists, Hugh Scanion, Basnett, and Harry Urwin, are on its board.
It was with these hopes that shop stewards at Tress Engineering, subsidiary of the Fairey Group on Tyneside, aiong throughour the combine, campasned and cvest Industrial action to get the NEB to take control when the Fairey Groun was declared hankrupt in October 1977.
TRAFALGAR
A bid for F'aitsy Trafalgar House, the notonous asset stripper, unice basher
inst bet of the Faire es assets stripped if Trafalçar wot control.
Tresi had been a low Faurey's corporate plans. It did not fit COLADT CIMAR product range. So most of its profits
weresiphoned off to other parts of the group
Like many the subsidiaries the corporations, Tress was allowed to run down.
The stewards assumed that the purpose of the NEB was precisely to reverse this order of prioritics and AKCUUVESTTCOEDCCISIONS ONTAC ORSIS
social needs. So NEH did take: Fairey over January 1978, they expected things to chanee and snvesiment to sart
Indeed there was much talk of
of new products and job securily: Job security is experience these days on Peoplc began to book holidays, take on hire purchase commitments and so on, on the strength of these changed prospects.
Three months later, while the shop finor were on sinke over n nav calm. the NEB announced that Tress was to be closed immediately.
Three hundred and thirty men and women were to join the growing dole queues of the North-East - 330 jobs and apprenticeships gone forever. The same week newspaper headlinea announced tha: 11,000 more school léavers had joined the dole queues of
WHAT'S LEFT
Gp por word. Display 22 per colum
Deadiine: 3pm Salurday balone Honu resen Dronus. *************
TYPSTWANTED Cered m hea otor.12tim
************* URGENT. FUI-IO WCrRer D0030e immec alels lor S0 GUGUNLOT OUD
NORTH LONDON
Diford Hemingtoed Rd, Landon N1. 75p/50p
What the NEB is up to
*THE National Enterprise Board? We all knew from the start it was just another piece of state capitatism." That would probably be the reaction of most readers of "Socialist Challenge". Dismissal of the NEB is in one sense absolutely right. But that cannot be the end of the story, as HILARY WAINWRIGHT
the North.
Culte nncd
Ol lhe big corporaliaas
that Tress could
some r cascs over machinery. a real LOBBYING
in
trade raken it for a ride.
David
day-to-day decisions. lobbied. -threntened
Murphy.
NEB and
was put in by
with the profitability Fumuisturna as a Wh0lE
empire to have profit in thelong tun —
priority it restructure ailing profitable _anto sne taurcy CULECSSNCESYTLT
shareholders.
North-East multi plant ILLUSIONS being
case of- Kearney.
when the McConpell.
WIl 2O the
La rare resistance Tyneside. panies in risky micro-clectronics.
of restructuring.
The experience
Protection Act.
0 2
S TO-DAY IN
N. RELAND....
Work
20p pius Tp postage: andurs en inguesl. Tel Bellas: 25625
At first many of the stewards
Here was the NEB acting like the most profit-conscious
Some of local management and the Tyne and Wear Council leaders wete equally shocked: they were convinced investment to replace the old - in
At first many people thought that it would be just a matler of some strong lobbying, trips to London, pressure on Scanlon, questions to Varley, and the NEB would cole to its senses and realise that Fairey management had
But in the course of a few days' Jobbying the stewards quickly realised that the NEB does not work like thal. Its statutory guidelines make sure that it is not politically accountable for its
Ar every turn the stewards found that the Government has made sure that the NEB acts acoording to the normal practice of any major private financial institution. I iseven header by a former merchant hanker, Leslie
The only difference between the
private institutional sharchelder is that whereas tbe latter is concerned primarily to maximise its own protas, toc NEb is coocema
British
The NEB itself has to show a high
15-20 pet cent by 1980 — but this is only to enure that it sticksto its primary purpose: to
but potentialiy
backed management can apply, and then sell the company back to private
This has already happened in the
Trecker und Marwin, an important machine tool company which was sold to Vickers. More recently, Pitcralt Summir was sold to the multinational Booker
provides
bits), Fairey Holdings, and the otben
the Cover Government (either party) meets no
Establishing new profitahle com
such also for later handing over to private shareholders, is clearly another side of this process
_ Tress, then, shattered a lot of illusions. And not ouly in the NEB. I aiso revealed some of the weaknesses of the Employment
Ai Tress this turned out to be more 01 a managemene reoccuon 2Çr 11 certainiy he ped lo protect manage-
RODT AND BRANCH: a Libertaria
, plus manef 3B for 1 ysdr aub. 12 lor SE75. UBA:
CHITCUE CeniNiMneM an StainiNer bocire, eurocommunism. Alr ca anc Sosiel Fareign Police.
19 Natioral FT
Enterpnse
3 Board
to be set u
Ronin Poteme stewards saw as their only hope
The Act's DEUTESOEE cnabled management to bay out the 90 day consultation period and lock out the workforce. The Act does not make
he 90 days compulsory. it
cash award management don't allow the period.
Furthermore, the Act
redundancics DUETEa •STIRE COTNOR occuerence these days.
Once the 90 days were lost and the workforce locked out, everything depended TaTLULL with membership to carry out a tight. to occupy the plant. That is what the stewards argued.
Bur when the workers had been living on strike pay, and little of that for six weeks there was a lot convineing to For this stewards needed the full hacking of the full Bime ofticals. On this further illusions were shattered.
The Juli-lime officials saw thei priority as being "to ger a
did they
PIUREI BANNENS: Mar
sentry Catival Agains
NO 5 rOW
CANHHINHH, NIR mangemont so sellemt
Ad, Gaspow G12 OPH Septo ter
The closure
of Tress:
A Fairey story
inlesertior challenge manageient's decision lo chose.
LOIS WES DU SUDESUNEUES particularly nasty official. The whole
just oughly management's definition of SC Conum Ea marKC competitiveness) and munagement's priorities (profits, corporate growth) have become part of the normal thinking of officials al a regional as well as national level
the And the support which the officials gol from some quarters indicated that the rot has not stopped at the level of the officials.
On the other hand, a large mumber shop stewards, unionists and Lahour Party members the look a strong stand against the closure of Tress.
Within the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers there are now
good not stronger resistanice Husa testien Inel 5 40-4 Har Saluraay at roen. 5om
TOWER HAMLETS Bocintist Unily a holding a 'mocia (umble sele (tooks.
records, postars, eus.) in ese anything sutabie lo seeks Phone 347 371/50 POCHiA.
TANTE DRAN
Wat Aniinna Manchester. AIl mosement croups n Hommeremith
With Tewr Hall, Kin
,Londun WE spm, Wednescay 30 SPUSIL OE
redundancies shog
IMPACT CELUITE
involvod, political debate sections of the
the interests of
many
OPTEICICS SonEre
other trade Ал
inceling with the same if
to establish Tyneside policy aaulsi
CON COM: INHI AHASIHIMT EECTH
LUDDE TEUIUIUSET
SLINGTON Campa gn againal Facisn
Community Health
London ECI (1 - n Cid S1 n/'cini sunching and upa!
MATURE PERSON (inexperienced;
Scht work •Conia: Here 55 Donningien Garders
Plane NAC" mamiing in 1201 individual suppo-ers of the campaigr
tHINHS Irom NAC ollice 01-485 4303 alter 20 Augusti.
and closures. would attempt to back up the principle that jobs are not for sale with some sort of discipline
Pun Ine labour Party Hicre is growing pressure for an ingury anto TeTE UC CEEUCCIHI there is more thoughtful discussion aboul vest coleres and what lorms of organisation will overcome the Tacalisur with which the majority of workine people are accepting ciosures and redundancies, as if there is co alternative future lo light lor.
It was in order lo strengthen these responses, in order to genernlise some of the lesaoos of Tress, and in order to auswer some of the many questions which are being asked on Tyneside abour the closure, that the former
stewards computiee membere of the Tyneside Socialist Centre, have produced the pamphlet The Closure of Tress: A Fainey Story.
It is a pamphlet which aims to have an impaci among rank-and-file trade unionses far beyond the left. Judging by the mass sales by sempathetic shop stewards committoes (eg. 340 sales mn Two Vickers plamts), bythe debales in Constituency Labour Party meetings, andi hs the camenls in nons. cinhs. and factory foors it is fulfiiling ies
It is perlaps coo early tu say, but it wouldseem that a pampllet on a local instance of a wider problemo, written and produced by or with the workers
Is a way of stimulating among far wider workers movement than ever the lell press or public meetings could do
I's been done before, of course but maybe we should make a hatit of
problem at the moment, however, is that on Tyneside, at least,
rank-and-file organisation in the AUFW able to build on the
SULH pampbler
The Broad Lett has never really bad much presence onl Tyncside and, as elsewhere, is weaker now than ever betore. Engineering Charter is enly beginning to gain respoct
initiative Jike the Tress pamphlet can therefore only help to prepare the ground for the future.
Further information und copies of
he pampilel Iprice 20p plus påp
SENTrUS Socialist Centre, 115 Westeate Road, Newcastle 1.
LONDON Latin American doupie: 485
defend
direct works
NEW BADGE asanable. Derend Diret W son. sc London Nt. Coal: 15p Bach biun To OA Ш U MA IU OIS SITUE
Socialist Challenge 7 September 1978 puze 7
Page 8 scan of this page
manded ot
INTERNATIONAL
WHEN I arrived at the National Stadium of Santiago as a prisoner of war" in October 1973, ooe menth had Hone aser a rascist coup nau acposco Socialist president Salvador Allende.
Like most of the football stadiams in the country, the main Chilean sports coliseum was being esed by the junta as a concentration camp.
Many are the terrors that those of us who were there can recall, too many perhaps. It might be enough to say that all changing rooms hud transtorised by the fascists into torture chambers.
NIGHTMARISH
I will always bear with me the mightmarish image of those thousands of huegry, unshaven and untidy men waiting on the stands under the heat of the sun; the uncertainty and anxiety that consumed our days; the unending ICEI CEnATE loudspeakers of the studium might be switched on again. For these were not giving out football leam formations now, but endless lists of people called out for interrogation.
Everybody knew that sooner or fater their names had to be Included in one of the lists, as well as what it meant: that you would either return after hours. days or weeks of torture, ог, happened with so many acgeaintances, comrades, or friends, that you would never return at all.
However, after miy arrivul there 1 soon had to realise that in spiie of the THEC hardships and prevailed, none of thei was ever lo match the dread Impressed upon my fellow-prisomers appearances of "the booded man'.
BEATING
He was called the hooded man' WE SNUJRNNDAK CRuKe Bornni was knowe about lim, Wearing a sack hond that covered him to his kaces except for the two holes for the eves, he would emerge and begin to stride ulong in front of the prisoners, escorted by anmed soldiers.
Surrounded by the silent awe, the strange mixture of intrigue and panic every one of his appeurunces produced
captives, studsed them curetully and stopped from time to time lo huse a better look at some.
Evers now und then he mould pick oul people by poinling us them.
Socialist Chulßenge 7 September 1978 page H
Confessions of a Chilean agent
1 am the
man...
INTRODUCTION
BY LIBER MOROS
Soldiers took the spotted individuals away by beating them with the butts of their fire-arins, More than a hundred people were selected by "the booded man" in all his incursions. Nose of them was ever seen alive uguin.
Al thal time nobody knew who the man under the hood was. In fact, we had every reason lo assume we never would. ycurs Iairr heen snespectedly enough, both his identity and motives have come to light.
Ir all started in June last year when — by one of those paradosicul ways truth finds its way out — a certain Juam WUnOT SASTCUT appeared "Vicaria de Solidaridad', a Catholic CULCI LuLICa ennsa waIch beips the families of the disuppeared OTOR B HHH HC SEEnOrHC relatives and which has been constantly opposing the junta's repression.
Munoz sald that he was a DINA agent [the junta's fascist secret police, now CNI], and that he feared for his life. He suid he knew too much ubout DINA's activities and that he had lost their confidence, so he wanted te record a statement which should he released in case something happened to hims. as OAIE INFORMER
He added that watil months before the coup he had been a leader in Allende's Sociulist Partý, which be lad terrors betraved to become Inter an informer
CHILE
public
Five years later
for the fascist morenent that marks in his hody. however and
before he was killed. There
in the
both documents.
DRAMATIC
kept them secret for
smuggle the tape quarters or out of the country
THES.
in the National Stadium.
are now going to exceute him.
SHOCKING own tail.
but mever get out'.
plunning the coup. In September 1973. once the junta took over, he had HLo e unucu renownec una tearet "hooded man' af the National Stadiom
The Church Vicaria recorded a tape from Santiago. with his requested statement. Fom TITECE. months Inler (24 October, 1977), in a wasteland in the outskirts of Santiugu, Munoz was found dead with 16 stah
As the coroner requested hy the Comotittee Church was later to report, he showed CUT (Clulcan evident signs of having been tortured helonged to
were Copper Warkers. eigarette burns everywhiere on his body.
The Vicaria approached the Supreine Court of Justice and presented them ADOPTED with a typed transcription of Munoz's stalement, offering to endorse it with the ariginal tape. The Supreme Couri, Socialist working hund in hand with the juntu since the coup and providing cover-ups for any of their ilegalicies, ignored and radio.
The Chureh, with no explanation.
Whether someose took too long to E lOnE tune more
trom the Chuech , the Tuct s that this reached the UN Humun Richt Commission in Genera, which released it to the world press only in
Chilean exiles who unce lost relatives ar comrades, or were just terrorised by the aceusing finger of "the booded man
have now been able to listen to Munoz's own voice spelling out a dramatic testimony-
He is well aware that he is stating his Jast will: he knows that those whom he helped to murder his former comrudes
Seen as the "fate" of one unconscious individual, the account of the hooded mun is tragic. Ethically, it is shockingBut must of all it is a political lesson.
Il shows how those who for any reason support fuscism cannot avoid Decoming in the end ils victims, for fascism develops inio that snake which, in its vicioes fary, ends up hy biting its
As Munoz hirself puts it in the stutement that follows, with fuxcist arganisations in power you con gel in
My name is Juan Reac Alarcob, Identity card No 4.824.557-9,
1 am 32 vears old, ATHA Sargento Menadier 311, Puento Alto, Población
Tam a former leader of the Socialist Party a member of the outh (enirn
La national leader of the and the Confederation of
During 1973 1 resigned from the
Party. left because disngreed ou certain matters. I made my accusations through the press, TV
This happened four or five months before the military coup, and it meaot my persecution and harassment by people in the party. They even set my house on fire, Host my lamily. By that time i was married and had six children.
Right-wing people adopted me
precisely. Carlos Aston.
nowadays the Chulcan Consul-Gore in South Africa. They steltered me. Thau practicaily reached the end of rether. I could not see any alternat but to shoot myself.
Then came the military coup. T u taken to the National Stadiun identify people. I did it voluntarily that tinie because I was in a venge! frame of mind towards those who ha teen my comrades, on account of 1 persecution they had subjected me t
Tam the hooded man of the Natio Stadium, The security services hood moc and walked me around the differe
where prisoners were held identified a lor of people
Many of them died, and l am to t leld responsible for their dearhs just b having identified and accused them having been my former concade either as members of the Centri Comatittee or as members of th security apparatus of the party.
Later on I was asked to go.out to th sursels with some nulitary groups that I could identify people in the ci square 1 unfortunately came acro Miguel Plaza among chem
PIANILE
Page 9 scan of this page
Assemble
Margarita
isgow.
trade
speakers: "disappeared" Rolls Roce (E. Kilbride).
MASS PICKET of
September, 10am-6pm.
al
7.30pm, NW1.
London
He & alive now thanks to me. i
a to sacrily ma, but unlucky
he and appeared together, and just because of this lie 1 was sent to prison for three months.
They treated me just like the other prisoners, 1 mean they did not take into account that 1 did not belong to the party any longer and that I was not involved in anything.
1 was released later on condition that I should cooperate. I was raken to Dignidad Colony (2), inland from Parral, about 40 kilometres from there, There National Training Centre there, it is run by Germans WALI acquired citizenship.
They are former Germans who escaped from the here very young. They are of Jewish descent and they garrison in Dignidad containing a hospital with all the modern technological advances none of the Santiago hospitals could ever have; they have ambulance planes there, and mail airplanes, and underground jails.
There I was trained to interrogate people and to carry out counter-intel becace jobs...
1 was later given the job of hunting people. or interrogating, of torturing and killing them. My direct boss for this Affairs of the junta, Alvaro Puga Cox, together with the national coordinator for the Government's Department, Anibal Contreras, who is a relative of DINA SIM DUe 1E see 0 5d the coordinator of TV Channel No 9 of the University of Chile, Jorge Schilling Kojas, a student of university.
CLANDESTINE personather one the cheet
newspaper Cronista, his surname is Zalaquett.
People generally think that DINA : The ones disappear iy. This not ken only organisation There are seven intellipence services operating in this country.
Of course DINA is the biggest one, 70 or 80 per cent of which are miliary and carabineros (armed police). Trs other 20 per cent are some civilians. navy and air-force people.
The last two have little participation
MONSTRATION, Saturday 9 September, in
Blytheswood
for march to Custom House
Buchan MP, Eric Clarke (NUM), Convenor at
Ponce
union leader),
de
Devonshire Street, London W1), Monday
NATIONAL RALLY, Monday 11 September,
Chilean
Alex Kitson (TGWU), Martin Flannery MP, Brian
Friends House,
Nicholson (TGWU).
there. because utograph in which HES 25TC pnaratusc
I have worked with
But later, seeing the which 1 was and Intelligence Chilean
They arrived
Colony, Even at this moment. recognise myscif
unbelievable extremes.
difficult when you do DUCKIN
them is impossible. have
Taxation: Santiago.
Maturgas Colina. They are around 145
law in the бін Поог...
воронан T4U Usucm,
detained,
makes
Aguire Insiend
This name does not appear records, though detained
Square,
Quay
(wife Norman
(12
Embassy 11
Road,
Speakers: Margarita de Ponce,
Euston
they place importance on their own counter-intel-
like SIFA. SICAR,
TENE, DIEFET, and the informatio Department of the Political Police.
all of them, without exception. I reckon I started to do it for revenge, out of hate and with joy at being able to help to achieve
situation In the things 1 was compelled to do, 1 reacted and on
epeated opportunities 1 tried to leav
found impossible, because you can get in but never out...
intention in this deminiciation to look for forgiveness nor to become reconciled with myself, for truly what I have done bears mo
I do not - cannot understand how I could reach such
Though for the satisfaction of my conscience I say that things are very
when the intelligcnice services corner you. To gel free front
taken part in the disappearance of some people who are in Dignidad Colony now, some old leaders of the different parties of the LIVIN UP (S). They keep the rest of them in
and in
All the others are dead. They were dispatched by the execution squad of the DINA led by Fernando Cruzat, their headquarters are in Alameda 312,
There are six detention places and 1 have already named some and the most
where they keep prisoners hidden under a plate'
A plate means that when a man is
when he is canght for sample, if they carch me, Juan Muno, Alarcin, they will make a 'plate' for me, they wil call ine Francisco Lopez court appeals on behalf of the detained
the man is really
They burn up all his idearification papers, the true ones, and they put a "piare on bun. In some cases they make
them appear as having left the country; they have been caken to Argentina and tater flown back by plane.
Or on other occasions, when the man as refused to collahorate, and 1 want to state it very clearly because all of us collaborate, weak and stroop, no doubt about it, they make a 'plate' for a man of DINA who leaves the country under the hame and with documents of the detained Thus the detainee's departure from the country is officially registered and he is later executed...
CAPTURED
Now about the way the works. They (the prisoners) cantured so Santiano and Tobalaba, near the Grimaldi one (6): there in a very large house where they
Dignida
in a matter Et the
abroad
At this iD Venezuela. Colombia.
Cruzet was the an in charge of the assault on the Confederation of State Emplayees, ANEF (7), he did it with the Bandera 121 detachment.
1 want to give information regarding Fernando Cruzat. He isa brother in law of captain Jorge Zuchine, chief of the "labour regiment, sooond department, which is in charge of all the factories in the greater Santiago area. The mentione Diganisation is trained to persecute make disappear, sack and terrorise al the workers in general
He is assisted by the personneloffice oh the meta trees! ЛастЕдса! industry ASA, Tonne Rios Talledo, who is a social worker, and by the personmel manager of CINTAC, Carmen Smith, Both these LISAS SELLS ALIALI This a Probl labour apparatus keeps
veritable arry of informers that allows the intelligence service to delain, interrogale, and torture. and as I have
London: "Leteller Challenges Pino
21
September.
beamington.
Woek, 10-16 September
Bradford: Street
CHOIRT DRI
13 September
repcated it many times, to kill these people for actine against or showing dissatisfiction with the government.
W's enough for the man to say just one word against the government to lose his job. In connection with thus, if you wall lo restore the rule of law in this country again, the most important thing is to clearly government has gone to all extreme: beyond the law, it is totally illegal
There is at this moment a Death Squad in this country. command of captain Rolando Larena, an artillery officer if you want lo identify him laler. This man keeps in contact with the Brazilian, Argentinian and Uruguayan intelligence services which work indiscriminately inside our country. Fifty per cent of the vehicles with Argentinian repistration that get into Chile through frontier posts are let in as tourists, when the trutl in that they are really vehicles of Argentinian intelligence working as a team with our intelligence services,
The task of these services is to catch their man abroad and bring him here and here he is done for. They exchange prisoners, and everything is authorised and backed up by the President of the Republic, the direct boss of all these aftairs, since DINA's how answers directly to him.
Neither the Interior Minister nor the Minister Justice participation in these services.
Another man was forgetting, a very important one, is Daniel Galleguillos, them are the leading Chilean agents of the ClA, their superior bere is James Joha Bisnyton from the US Embassy, and the Chilean Secretary Ambassador, Sheila Fortna, immediate assistant who is a former confideace of the Socialist Party but is a traitor called Hugo Vicencio
He is the man responsible for the official person. captureof Excquiet Ponce and all those who have fallen lately
This 15. SECTENIY Scienny denunciation. I authorise its use in wicnever way seems more convenient regardiess of consequences alTency assuned them when I carter
I do it this way for security because 1 am in danger of death and 1 know that i system ain going to die sooner or later. are As a security measure, 1 repeat, so that it can be used an behalf of so many people that are now suffering and for whom lansto blame, not direcrly if you wish but in the long run, and 1 do it to radio ler the trac be known.
I also want to stipulate, swear it if
BESU (disappeared) prisoners are alive, ir bad phsical conditions but want o them bordering on madness after the trcatinent they have endured, which has been very hard.
refer especially to Carlos Lorca, t Pance, leader of che 'Frente Interior o the Socialist Party civilian General at the moment of his detention They are in Dignidad Colony", second
Talso want to mention Tolosa of the Communist Youth and the Central Committee who has everybody, should also stipulate
Tacna
connection and answerable
O Villa Grimaidi, another Santiago Doncer
OTHER EVENTS
cret trom 1ne Gree 8088k8re and Films on the investigation into the assassination of Oriando Letelier,
September. October
Oxford: Exhibition in City Centre, B Conterence,
Chile/Latin America speaker, exhibition, 9 HoUnSION Newcastle: Rally with CUT speaker, Midd
say that this
under the hands
1'plate"
and the 'plate'
the dit ferent fighting the
oner place
bave any people plus an
The has all the
put, my responsible lo I had
The "submerging
Romo. (10)
Some DE the
do some
and Secretary
sacialist..
PENIS CL D DWn
though on his behalf was tellingthe truth
Iraborreas ides Fiscales:
La wrong about the German setter pol Jowardescend. They have Na.
PASSE Tando Letoier, a former Socialis who was slewn up in his car in
Liverpool: Public meeting to hear Margarita de Parce, 13 September,
Trades Council offices.
Bristol: Trade Union Conference, 28 West London: Trade Union Solidarity
25 Novemder, 12-6pm et 21 Star Stroet, W2. Chile trade
speakers Argentiniar films and social. Do a 15 West CSC, Gardens, Hounslow
terribly and barbarously tortured.
There is a sellow magazine 19) in
which with my own band I ticked it front of every name and its number, I ticked those who are alive and those who are dead. Those alive are not more 1лаn 150 people. I mentioned the exact figure before, they are 140 odd people names at the official archives. I mean
DINA's archoves in Vicuna Mackenna street, in the (other) archive in the
of the General Staff of the Armed Forces they are registered under
all of them. without exception, In their detention place itself they appear with both their true names
At this moment these people baveno certainly at all as to whether they will come out alive, I think they are not going to really. for if their derention is kept unknown It means that they were important people in the undergroyad movement and they are lett alive for the time being so that they can be used to silence the rest of it.
The permanent places, and I repcal theit for it is there that you have to start
are Dignidad Colony, Colma and Penalolen. In no
are you going to find disappeared detainees,
DETAINEES
Occasional detainees you can find in many sites but the disappeared ones are in those three permanent ones only
Women prisoners are held in San Jose de Maipo, where coey treat people with long diseases, it's incredible, but an cecilent site to 'submerge" (hide)
No doubs that in the last days or months more people have been caught, but some of them are alive, as is the case •of Contreras Malule.
It happens that the Supreme Court counselled the immediate freedom of Mir Contreras, but Licurenant Fuente from the counter intelligence service al FACH (Chilean Air Forcel, is the man
the order that Tribunal not having been fulfilled un the sense of setting this man free, it is they who are koeping but.
only capable of and shaichide Brisoner from the DINA is the counter-intelli gence apparatus of the Air. Force. which almost totally destroyed tbe MIR. with the bein of the famous conunander Raul, whose name is Rail
This would be almost everything 1 have to say bit for ratifying that 1 am willing to do it in a legal manner, in front of a notary, or in the tribunals to
good and put an end to injustice in this country, so that when a citizen goes our to the street he can do it feeling assured that he is walking ia a free country and not with fear, scared of being spied on block by block and at every corner, just because a neighbour reported him as a communist
If I aim under any coercion, it comes from the government. I have done all
accord, with pressures, and 1 am left very mach at peace with my conscience, for 1 am
la headqusiors were forcibl woman joumalist, was a
¡unta's paper, El Cronista
after the cup was he discoere? 1 Irator. He lhen plapsed a sey nod in the repre
Human Highis Commission denounced im publicly in arepor becausa of his credibl
Socialist Challenge 7 September 1978 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Leader excluded from talks spells it out No deals with Smith regime!
Workers fight S. Africa computer
LANU leader ROBERT MUGABE
deal
from trade unionists.
Computers Limited Manchester.
The deal to supply a 297 omputer to the South Africar police, which could be worth more than El milbon, completed early this year. But we only found out ahout the news on 1 August.
ICL 35 dEUs South Africa. As far back 1967 it supplied a computer foi the Banru Reference Bureau in Pretoria, whose monitorine ol black people's movements central to the whole Bancustan
Last year its sales leaped by
Socialist Chellenge 7 September 1978 page 10
INTERNATIONAL
THE SALE of a British computer to help enforce South Africa's notorious pass laws is under attack
ANDY BLUNDELL reports from the International
plant at West Gorton
68 per cent lo R47 million. This was largely because rougher US goveronient sanctions on the was export of courent to south Africa reduced competition Britain's Labour menr, though, is happy to belp bolster up the apartbeid repitte in this way. Tougher sanctions would hit the profits of its sibes British business, Alca's number one trading partner. not as it the Goveroment has controver CL. 11 bas a 25 pe
Patriotic
all the parties involved in the
conflict could soon be held. On
what conditions
ugree to tuke part?
concerned we will Denotal
wIth
Britain, which has the respon
sibility of
country,
The other parties can arrend
the conference and submit their
proposals, SOUL
the
Front and the Salisbury regime.
We relect attemmes to draw in
into the orbit of the interna
SELUENICHE
We are therefore ready to
discuss on the basis of the
Anglo-Americun
They covisage the dismantling
of the Salisbury regime
The regime may have been
broadened' hut it remains the
The trinissers are still in office.
•lhe Altican comnonent.has
metely heen
ministers already in office
Therefore discussions only concern the bolding of a constitutional conference, with the aim of working institutions of an independent Zimbabwe
The Western powers should not try to sidestep the basic mrohlem: political cower i the due of the Zimbabwe people
cent stake in the company tough the prise Board,
Bur we aren't taking this deal lying down. Our first step was to produce a bulletin attacking
the deal, for distribution inside the plant channels.
This was General Group Committee of in the TASS white-collar section
of the Amalgamated Union of
representatives Association Technical and Statfs, including myself. American The bulletin endorsed by Govern- stewards from the ALEW and
CRIE clectricians'
EETPU.
It points out that.
South that the South African beeds a computer to enlance such as the pass laws uoder which there are 250,000 arrests direct aycar, are designed to maincain a rast pool of African workers
THE SMITH regime is wriggling desperately as the Zimbabwe guerrillas close in.
The puppet status of the black "leaders" involved in the internal settlement-Muzorewa, Chirau —was dramatically confirmed last week when it emerged that Smith had been having secret talks with
Front leader Joshua Nkomo of the Zimbabwe African People's Union.
would you
Patriotic Front.
Great your strugale? decolonising,
We are objectives: we will not idea of among the people.
We
weakened: proposals.
Dans Since have the
OUT The affairs?
Korea,
without any restrictions. They I we have had good relations /
Nationn) Enter- Tiehts.
they aTe
throupl LIUa excuses! committed signed by the policeman
your job
Scientific Orwell's Managerial
also shap floor colleagues. union, the
. The laws state
within the next week.
must not go through.
Sithole, and
Monde'. must be given the necessary
We therefore demand, first,
tbat the Smith regime and its
poppets gerout; second, that its
third. HAC
thar they are replaced by the
forces of the
10
What is the main objective of
pursuing several weaponry.
enemy, to organise the masses, and the holdsot the Dan
concentrating bur efforts ou the zones where the enemy are strongest, because
Thar's regiotis where they have been inhabined ly six milion 20 or the seven million Zimbabwe
What our stratery is to destroy the enemy, we cannot avoid attempting to win control
Catil now ZAPU tended to
support countries of the socialist hoe. and ZANU of Chinu. Will your visit to Cuba alfer this state of
BUD
It is true that we were largely aided by China, though also by
Кшвалів, and Yuposlavia. Since my tripto Vietnam distinct parties
The with no trade union or politica.
We ask workers to Imacine that on leaving work at ICL
stopped policeman and asked for their
You have
radios for assist-
hack of a van. You end up in prison for two moutis and lose
*It reads like a soenario from
1984 but this, for black Africans, is the sunny republic of South Africa today whereICL is am employer. This could be happening to your
Fab-tube oficials of both invite TASS and ASTMS are now
beeting the on Wednesday company, and there will be a mass meeting of the workforce Many
But we are adamant: this deal
Also kept in the dark, apparently, was the other
main Patriotic Front leader, Robert Mugabe of the
Zimbabwe African National Union.
What is Mugabe's position on the liberation
struggle? The following interview was recently corried
out by Rene Lefort of the French daily paper Le
But we have never considered
the USSR to be our enemy. In
aiding ZAPU it aids the people
of Zimbahwe. Bur we would
LIECIE 10 wider their
Our visit to Cuba was a very
Bood starting point from which
improve oar friendly Lies.
WITHATAA
agreed to maintain close links
and I hone that this wil lent How
Cuba lo furnish material aid to
ZANU: E's not men we lack but
In certain of your publications
you have delined yourselves as
Marxist- Leninist-Macist.
but doesn 't contrada what bave i
said. Wehase borrowed certain Ideas Irem Manism
unification between ZANU and
ZANU was boen in 1963 when we wished to lauuch The anned struggle. There was no-one in
ZAPU at that time who was as
clear as we were on che question Why?
of the armed scruggle. We chink that power bes at the ead of a
Recently ZAPU has started
itseli the context of the armed struggie
pur existence for so long as
difference between country All blacks in South Africu have to curry u pass like this
Glasgow storm
A STORM has arisca over the offer. decision by Glasgow's Lahour Lord Provest, Duvid Hodge, to
the South Africun
6 September, reports CHRIS BAMBERY,
of Hodge's party Cily collescure orombed fo oin s picket ontside. And as we went la press if seemed that Hoder would have little hospitailty to
ZAPU and ZANU has no tribal
reactionary
practice to base one's struggle on ethric groupings.
We are trying to destros such
ORCHA TEN conscioustess
among our cadres, in promo.
unity which can transcend petty
tribalist and regionalist laya
can unificatios
achieved:
We are escotially a comba:
organisation We therefore
want unire to he born our of the
arined strugale
ZAPU, on the contrary wants finst to unify the political parties and only then the armics. But in present circum-
stances it is unthinkable that we
bring together OuT
supporters in a single part
Lei usunite our srmes, light the enemy first, and then
immediately after are
installed in our country we can
apply ourselves to unifying our
Ewo movemenEs
#f sceias, howerer. thut the majority of ZAPU lighters are
THE THA par e mar.
You should ask Nkomo that question. concerned. foroes are
doing bur hest to overcome the
This year is decisive, Tor victory is on the cards inside the
Members of de General & Municipal Workens Union vofed not to cook or serve food to the anhassador, and to stop food heing brought into the
Chambers. The local government workers union,
dions chat no help should be
Page 11 scan of this page
Socialists and the Moscow Olympics
it would be wrong to do so.
BOyCOEL comes predictably from leading igures in the
tion for Freedom such as Lord DC LESIC an su Frank Layou (of Taylor-Woodrow).
But backing for the idea goes wider: Perhaps it isn't
Chappie, the anti-communist BEAUCE of the electricians" union, EETPU, endotsing the call. But figures on the left such as Peter Hain and novelist Alan Silitoe have also taken it up
Even Foreign Secresar David Owen has warned th Russians that they should not take it for granted' thai the лушрь wil lase prace ta Moscow if human
COLD WAR
Now there b no doubt that the majority of those who support boycott Olympics are simply Cold War hypocrites. IE they are. concerned about human rights, why didn't they speak up when the World Cup was held in Atgentina?
dissidents are not hist arrested
long sentences in
kidnapped and murdered in
- every day. with the full security
The double Mandards some of these people are truly staggering. A letter From De
Taylor, Chapple and others in The Times on 22 August said that athletes shouldn't Moscow because "they would be lending their prestige to an oppressive
determination to people living
Dover".
IRELAND
Will they now also demand a boycatt of sports events in Britain, whose regime denies self-determination living a lot less than 500 miles from Dover in Northern EVER SINCE Kissinger Nixon visited Peking in 1972 und 1973, the Soviet Union bas replaced the United States us "Enemy Number One of tbe Chinese Communist Party.
The fact that the Chinese bureaucrat Huu felt it necessury le visit the Butcher of Iran at a time when the faller's throne is shaking under the pressure of the masses indicates the depth to which Chinese foreign policy has sunk.
Hou's visit to Iran must pose same awkwurd duestions li Iranian Mucists both inside and
Muny of them have been
Sleah, bat their seccarlanisms
INTERNATIONAL
Boycott call demands response
A BOYCOTT of the 1980 Moscow Olympics is now being openly canvassed. Should soctalists support such a campaign? MARTIN METEYARD argues that
A lot of the support for a | Ireland, to be exact.
motive of these Cold Warriors
against the Soviet Untion in BUSCH repression at home, labelling all those who struggle for control over their own lives as Fifth Columnists'
EFFECT But whar abour those who, like us, campaigned boycott of the World Cup in
Dr Argentina, but who now want
to extend the tactic to Moscow? Peter Hain (writing in the Daily Telegraph on 9 August) righly points out that rights apposition to participation by
white South Africa is a matter af principle, openly blacks in sport, the
*will such
the advance the
rights or not!
What would be the effect of a campuign boycott Moscow Olympics? My feeling is that its impact on the regime would be comparatively little, while its effect elsewhere would be disastrous.
WHITEWASH
are
Sports boycotts can be most effective where a regime is trying to consolidate its hold through bloody repression, still Tecis insecure, and hopes to ust
of spoct to help overcome this by
whitewashing its image internationally.
That was the situation with the World Cap this year, It was
Olympics organised INATES Moscow Olympics are hardly
the hold the
What a boycott achieve, though, would be the singling out of the Soviet Union as the number one enemy of humanity, the number threat to human rights. people. The imperialists, who have
been responsible for innumerable bloodhaths in every corner
Shah's No.1 fan
und has prevented the development
of a united front of all Iranians oppinco ur Ene present accust Irunian Maoists should ash themselves: Did Hua's visit to Iran serve lie needs of the foiling masses of that country? W'as it a manifestution proletarian internationalism? Does it help to safeguard the goins of the Chinese socialist revolution in ally way?
Hua and the Інтезистясь nave political choice by their refosal TO LADLE TINE LIH twister sip the present reginse. Why? Because It is a bulwark against the Soviet Cinion. Beth they and their apologist will live to regret this decision.
STERICI
for
while
that
the by the
the
Krembo
would
of the plobe, who deny their peoples the basic human right of a job and i decent wage, whose attempt to strangle the infant recolation Chinese
'Then I'm off to Nicaragua 10 greet our old friend Somoza'
the USSR actually a campaign.
NE 2XP.
USSR 422408438
парру
La lew
The Intensational changed
the friendshin'
As for
British allended Pre-Olympic
Broad.'
PRIORITY
priorily now
boycott
adapt now.
created the conditions for the suppression of democracy in
they and they alone would benefif from such
discussion.
Intercontinental Press
combined with
AN INTERVIEW with Hage Blance on the opening days of the Constituent Assembly in Peru is featured in this week's issue of Intercontinental Press/Inprecor [Vol. 16 No. 33], which ulso includes a report on the current miners' strike
Last week's issue included a major article by Alan Jones trucing the faisification of Marcist philosophy by the leadership of the Workers Revolationary Paris and showing how this relates to their abandonment of Marxist politics.
..**
Single Issues cost 30p plus t0p pûp, hat why not take our R subscription: 29 for one sear (48 issues], £5 for six months |24 issues], or t2.50 for an introductory offer of 10 issues.
Cheques: POs shouid be made out to Intercontimental Press' and sent fo: intercontinental Press/Imprecor, PO Box 50, London
Hoe.
An
But this does not mean that we should stand idly by. We do
oppose the repression in chi
and the Moscow Olympics are a good opportunity to home in on it.
The most important thing is the conditions of that repres siop: restrictions on freedont of expression, of movement, of
The World Cup was not a
precedent. -Journalists hostile to the regime were simply relused ontry. Some who were allowed in but uttered
mitd criticisms were confined to their hotels.
KGB TEAM
number visitors was drastically limited
essence a TV spectacular.
tbe Soviet leaders are thinking the
KGB team was sent to Argentina to learn from the organisation of the World Cup, and it appears that they
want Article 49 of che aped Olympic Kules so that they
spirit of Peace and freedom of move the IS BUTE from the yachting team who The recen Baltic Regatta Estonia is bleak.
SLICACE BLESOUTH guards outside our hore all the
the town of Tallinn because there were road blocks on every
It secms to that our
shand he to 90 campaign on these conditions
HECTICANE TILLICT endorsing the blanket call for a
Against any restrictions on entry and movement; for firitations on reporting: for the right to meet freely with al residents of the Soviet Union. Those should be the slogans we
Ally further action should HCCLDSBEREHILE have the chance to assess the TESTS DESCE ACARRISH the • Readers who have different viewpoinis on this question
are invited to contrihate to this
mirecor
IN BRIEF
Brazil arrests IWO Argentinian revolndonaries are among 22 pcople
of the organisation Socialis Convergence am 23 August.
One them, Huge Bressano, b a leader of the Argentinian: PST [Socialist Worker Party]. while the other, Rita Esterberg, is a militant in the same organisa.
There is a real dunger that they will meet a swift death if they ure retarned to Argentina.
international campaign suved Peruvian leader Hugo Blancu waew ne was orponed to Argentina and won him the LUTE SO BE SEAL OUR ATE choice: no less is required lo
Peru miners THE strike by 45,000 Peruvian miners lor the rehiring al militants sacked after previous strikes has reached a crucial stage. The military govertinent has now put seven provinces under a state of emergency and empowered minting companies to dismiss those who do bot return to work
Mining acpoints for more than half of Peru's export carmings, estimated to have COst I32.5 million so far. Twere thousan miners and their families have marched on Lima in support of Their demands and are now carping out in the capital.
Meanwhile the left wins parties in the newly electec Constituent Asembly, whose success undoubtedly
the tbeir struggle, have organised
well as using the Assembly as a triburie to publicise the miners demands
Chile miners IN Chile, too, It in miners at the Chuquicumula copper
are spearheading challenge to the regime. Denied the right to strike for highes wages, they have organised a hoseolt of the works canteens which has proved so effective SETS DOSTOR DECREEI a state of emergency through-
The arrest of 13 militants hus
far load little pro-janta union leaders have
heen booed off the stage at mass meetings for not pursuing the miners' demands strongly enough in negotiations. There is now talk of further action
starvation dictatorship', which -Mould mean a real crisis for the regime.
Nicaragua WELL President Somoza arrest
entire population of Nicaragua? That's what people
asking now that he's
advocating the overthrow of ane bordoment.
After last week's street fightipe, a general strike is now underway to get end of the dictator they call the last of the US Marines left in Nicaragua' US Marines intervened in the country in the 1920s and 1930g to install Somoza's father.
The general strike has the backing of big business, which IS TO SCUTE BRICT LEE TESS upsurge which followed the STACH SESH DEERER ment by the Sandinis: National, Laheratkin Front (PSLN) to win the release of political prisoners, They realise that if they don't distance themselves rapidly from the regime they night well share its fate.
Unfortunately the FLN. despite the impact of its guerilla actions, has so far devoted little attention to the problem of organising tbe masses independently of these tigares. This is the key to finishing off the regime for good.
Socialist Challenge 7 September 1978 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
IRELAND
why she and those thousands of others marched.
He was first arrested on a street in the town in December 1976, The RUC Special Branch held him for three days under Section 10.
They said he had left a hoax bomb ar a petrol station. He would not sign
do it.
They sent for me then, which is not very usual, and the Special Branch gave me this ultimatum bit. They said, if you ask him to say he took the car it will be very easy for him, because he's just sixteen.
I said, 'I can't ask my son to sign for something which he obviously did not do.
The Special Branch man said, 'He's going to go away for a long time
T said. "Better that than to sign a false statement.
He said. Well I'm going to charge him now, and he'll see no more Christmas trees
I said, "That's all right.' It wasn't
So they charged him and they took him away.
-ARGUMENT
They charged him with member. ship anna Eireann and the bomb thing. The next week at the bail court twa policemen starled arguing aboul where he was arrested
The judge took the ugly cirrhosis was probably playing him up. The judge said it was lus court and he wouldn't have arguments in it, and he ga set hail about his business as sal. He vent
nir sixteen
round here war turned. No trepo
just burned. So one morning in April they came for him and they look Him
hus depor
He was in Crumlin Road Jail till he went for trial in Octoher for the first charges. I wass postal so he wouldn'1 recognise the court. He gol two live years to rus concurrent
He went straight to H Block then. We saw bim the next morioe, and he said that was where he wanted to go, because he did not believe he was a criminal — and be is not a criminal.
Five weeks later he was brosight to
recognise that court too.
He sid in court then had berten
Socialist Challenge 7 September 1978 page 12
Why 15,000 marched
Tale
of an
H Block
mother
FIFTEEN THOUSAND people marched from Coalisland to Dungannon in the North of Ireland on Sunday 27 August. They were marking the tepth anniversary of the civil rights campaign. The theme of the march was one of solidarity with the 350 prisoners in the now world famous H Block, Long Kesh. Among those 15,000 was the author of this article, a mother of one of the H Block prisoners. Read the article and understand
him for three dass solidly. He was badly beaten when I saw him in court
He said at bis trial, 'I signed that statement because I couldn't take any more of your beatings, You are the brutalisers. Because we come from an area which is underprivileged, you say. that everything my people say are lies. "YOU men swcar to God you didn' beat us, har youare bie late Bol us. Ni comrader and I are not bars?
So the judge gave him 21 years altogether, I just couldn't cope with the thought of anyone being so cruci Because nine LIVF men were up the same day for murder, murder, robbery possession of weapons, and between the whole lot of them they only got 59 years and he let one off
He was already in away he went. Hut the Incoroorated Law Society asked the judge to amend the sentence, and he changed it to 14 years.
But the lIVe Meats consecutively, witich makes 19 years and now he'seighteen. He's been in H Block ten months now.
When we visited his yesterday, we had to wait a long time. That made me very nervous, because the last time i SEW DUD he Tooking. - his That time he was so undelerred. Far better he would die, he said. accepr mat be was a crunnist Eudo E ask him to stop his blanket protest.
Lasked hun what would habber if went the British Government would not
There in coffins. We would wreck this He said, "We would place. They have beaten us and heaten us anu l doesn't matter 1o me ans more how much ther because I'm a soldier Republic and 1 will criminalised.
STARVING But he couldn't hardly because his voice was conc was obviously starving. He couldn' cal. I senuselest in some sweets and ho only ate two of them, He was white like a ghost.
Because of that 1 was really afraid yesserday. I waited for cwo hours, My friend was with me, She had never been to see anybody in there before, and she knew him from when lie was
HAGANEARE
YEARS born.
doesn'taffect her.
said, "You've turned pure white.
"You've turned really white too.
GHOST
attempted
and cheered
inarticulme, but to join the wonderful. of course. never was eloquent. H Block, and
were going to write tiction.
Be said he was
was really wretched
than cuked with dirt
LIKE PAWS
got two hands like paws.
Jo, Jo, are you there: of the is beat And he says. "Yes, I'm here.
not be And I says, "Who's that"
And he I says, 'Yes, I'm here, Danny.
He i says, you?'
Lsays, Yes, son, He says,"
And he you there?:
Were and up the Republic
go down ro him
COD LIT GERALD ADLEY DUDDY DEERY I6 YEARS SLAND
IZOn
are be
On the march from Coalisland to Dunganson
She makes speeches and pretends it
Wich we went to go in she turned really pure white, and
And tac youse girl scho was in front screws said. of us going in to see Peter said to me,
the Cardinal!
The door opened and the two of them came in. A felow came first with a massive beard and thin like a years to go ghost. Hewarwhile was recheere! him. He said, 1 don*t know you, but thaiks.' And we just clapped and
HESITE water over them
Then Jo and Peter came Jo was
very spiritually He's only young and he
A Patrick Pearse he'd never be: used to say. But now, mayhe he would be. Because I've keen Tetters Trom them. In siotple wordsthey write what you couldn't make up to write if you
PRINCIPLE
He took some cignretter back for he hoys. He doesn't smoke himself Be there i Peda, any and the shi Northern Ireland
wanted to see
His face was white and his bands aere white and his mails... But the rest of him was filth and dirt. He showed me. His feet were so dirty that they had gone green. And his body was all priest.
If you were dying.
Hesald, 'My friend down there has
anybody.
Then we heard this great big shout,
Is your ma there?! the forgetting It's Danay. Gaelic laside there *Is your wee Sean with night,
'Send mim down to se. says. "Clara, Clara, are
And she says, "Yes, Danus, son.
He says, 'It's me, Danny, and Tr I thoaght it was the most touching thing. Bar they wouldn't let wee Sear
Jo and Peter were next to each WHIC
other, so we were able to kiss them and hug them and kiss them and hug
And we said could we see Danny for
No. you can't were angry because we really thonght they were so wonderful, that they could suffer so much for so long
He said, What do you think about
I said I thought his slatement covered everything. but I didn't appreciale that he waited for two
> Ivere.
Tsaid, How are your hands clean.
sor?
They didn't throw any water over for it Danny's so he has got, like, paws.
Myson was clean all of his life, and, when he was younger, a Rod Stewart fun. And he had Tone hair down te here, auburn, all shiny. Now it nail matted and dirty and grey.
His father is sick, and be sent to the
Office that he his son. He doesn't understand H Block, becaus he left a long time ago. He doesn't understand that they wan't see anytady.
Traid. 'Son, if anything happens 1o him l1l let you know through
Hesaid, That'salright. Because If it micans going off the blanket, ! people HoldE teven go to see you, Mummy,
1said. :And 1 wouldn't ask you son. Don't break your principle for
wilt said, No, 1 won't, and never
because he speaks in
He said, We had a singsong last
Trom.
Traid, What were you singing?"
Hesaid, I did my Rod Stewart, and
WE BESUS But it's cold because there isn't any
Isaid, Are you lying on the floor?
Hesaid, "Yes, [haven't anything to He os about six months now since he has washed himself. They were being beaten constansly. They felt that they just couldn't bruralise them any
26 YEARS
TOM
RS
MFEELY
COLM SCULLION
AGEd 19yass
And therefore they would do somethug which is abhorrent to any Republican soldier. Their first principic b to be honourable and clean and well-mannered lo their visitors, and an example to their own
But it has come co the point now
cut, it gets poisoned. His focnail has grown in, and it's all festered, and his
foor was all dirt.
Roy Mason says it's self-inflicted punishment. I say Roy, Mason
wrong. The reason for this protest is
because the punishment which was
being iaflicted on those men was our
of all propsation for anything the
had done, and they had no comebaci
A British prisoner decan't expect to be constantly beaten for norhing. And this was what was actually happening
They are inflicting it on Roy Mason
Gavernment surely
waste, excreta, srine
And l'so sure a very, vers highly educated governor doesn't like pertine urine throwi round bite every Line he goes to speak by ordinary they hight be famous now, is a proup, but individually they're only boys that sas, "Yes, ma', and "That'
Roy Mason's wrong. and hell always be wrong, and the Britist, will always be wrong as long as they set their feet here and put shackles on ty
I hate them, for they haven't tho right to he here. They came here, to a Gaelic land we never went to LUnBULI enybody слез destroyed it.
But they can't destroy these three hundred and fifts men. Since 1916 ae've never had men in a group that we could think so much of. Not hecause my son sone of them I don't care if he's from Cork. OT the Bogside, or Andoyne, or where he's
CHANGE
I's made an awful change in this house. This was always a Republican bouse, a socialist house. But now... Everybods in the house is really proud of him, really proud
And l'm his mother, I raised him a Republican, I'd want him to be brave. Bet I'm afraid now, that something is going to happen to him. I think every
Page 13 scan of this page
Some recollections on its 40th anniversary Founding the Fourth International
OPEN FORUM
was there and describes the experience.
The Founding Conference of the Fdurth International described as having taken 'somewhere in Switzerland'. This was for security reasons, In actual fact,
International WILS formally lauoched in a small room near the Gare du Nord in Paris towards the end of August 1938.
Iwas privileged to be among those -no more than forty people — who attended this His OTIC gathering, representing the Fourth International
South (FIOSA). As this
International Communist League, I OCTOR DRAGO LEEKS TA delegate.
The founding of the Fourth International took place under vastly different conditions from those in which is three predecessors were
CHRYSALIS
When Marx and Enge founded
class in the advanced capitalist states was emerging from is chrysalis and beginning 10 itself as an independent political foroe challengung the hea class.
TRiC tHons and Working class parties were springing up everywhere
penetrate its ranks, giving direction and historical perspective to what had hitherto been only aspirations of the new class
The Second International was built on the foundations of the mass social democratic parties which had
Britain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and other countries. Formally it was based on an acceptance of Marxist theory, but the insidious poison of reformism was already seeping into its veins, leading to the ultimale betrayal in August 1914.
The Third (Communist) interna
and Trotsky in the wake of the first victorious proletarian revolution the Russian October — on the crest of reflected the growing sterneti and these three Internationals self-confidence of the working class.
The Fourth International, in stark contrast, was born in the trough of world reaction. In the first workers state, the Soviet Union, Stalinism had decimated the Bolshevik Party, Its leaders murdered in the frame-up Moscow Trials
Leon Trotsky, the outstanding leader of the October Revolution
stairs Fe Year Plans scre
Statin's Year Plans accompanied by MAINST T lowering of the living standards and suppression of the working masses; the Soviets existed on 10 name
In Spain, fascism had unleashed a
and defeat. Japan had embarked on it invasion of Manchuria mass noventent in France (June 1936 which brought the Popular Front government of Leon Blum to office was betrayed by the Stalinist and
eformist leaderships
Above all, in Germany, Hider' sowerful working class movement in Nazis destroyed the capitalist world. All seemed doom and forehoding!
But there was no despondency among the handful of people who met
THE FOUNDING Conference of the Fourth International took place forty years ago this month. CHARLIE VAN GELDEREN
In Paris that August of 1938. They usually sw themscives as the commuatOrs of place the movement which had begun with
Max and Engels. Bo cares oT history, the vanguard of the future.
dominating the conference, was Leon Trotsky. With literally only a handful of followers, he had set himself the carrying Bolshevik beritage, despite the elfort» of the rule class. Lhe stainists. and the reformists to stop him.
Africa And what blows he suffered: The
physical destruction of his family and the group of comrades in the Sovie Union he had done so much to bring into being; the murder of his ciosest companions in exile, Erwin Wolle, Rudolf Klement, Ignace Reiss — mention only some of the many who fell victim to Stalin's murder squads, determined to strangle the infant new International in it womb.
The then was the atmosphere 1r which we met. Rotthe mood, as I have
For we believed firmly that ours was the future.
Some of the participants have not stayed the course. A recital of name would be pointless. nature of their work har
International internationally organised revolutionaries, growing in strength despite serbacks and shil 3s conden in the future of humanity as the founders of 1938.
HEROIC That first conference many Issues. First there was the safute France, to our living martyrs and heroic dead;
greetings to the anti-fascist fighters in Spain and to Leon Trotsky.
Of course the conference dealt with the current issues which contronted the working class in chose days
American imperialism; the tasks of
problem of trying to heal the splits among British Trotskyists.
We discussed the Canadian, Circek and Mexican sections and problems which confronted thent; the organisation for the defence and relief of persecuted revolutionaries; and a resolation on youth which called for the formation International. (The Founding Conference of the new Youth International took place a lew days later and 1 was clected, as Beitish representative, on the crocutive. ALlas, L owing to the imminence of war.)
The coming imperialist war twelve monthsahead — played a large were
task of the conference was to discuss
Gramme (later published as The Death
For us in the Fourth International. the unportance or the transiona Proprantme bas been fundamental. Ir The great *How can humanity be
questions: extricated from the nightmare of crises, of world wars, of continuou: chaos in which it has been flounderiog for some forty years. How can the transition to socialism be assured? (Pierre Frank, The Fourth Intermost nutional).
The wen nt a programme had heen raised at the Third Congress of the Conmonist International — a programme which
• to
butlived
the
body
of the Second International The Transitional
Comintern.
Programme is not
Tole of -the needs of the 1970s and not 1938
perennial the
need for
thie masses and to development of the class strugele.
ADAPTED
Youth
workers government,
first goverument formulation was shorl-ive to be
class consciousness
transitional programme libid).
foundation onl International, the Socialist Revolucion', is built.
the crucial
apart from
the accoda
transitional
ILITAN
would organise the workers in the scrusale for power combined with a programme to be put into operation of their machismo immediately after the workers took power. This was in contrast to the old of homosexuals
minority, educated in straggle.
Programme
therefore emphasised the continuity of the Fourth International with th
congresses of Lenin'
The importance of the Transitional British section. demandsil contains, though many af the actual them are still very relevant today. It
be adapted to the 1938, is
What is important is the method of
Transitional Programme, the programme which combines a series of slogais fo democratic and transitional demands CENTULISE corresponding to the hoods of tbe
the logic of the against this theory
where the workers
It culminates in the call for a
which 15. not synonymous with the dictatorship of the proletariat but is a transitionni.
which has organisational situation and degree of adapted to the masses moment. A programe lacking any perspective for a workers governtent taking anti-capitalist measures is not a
The Transitional Prograntue is the
which the Fourth *The World Parry of
Looking back to that conference in Nives Poslames Sun 1938, the oc thing thar strikes me as significant is that I cannot recall any wotan delegate being present. Also
the passages in the Transitional Programme, the issue of Blackburn women's oppression was not even on Scollide Nationsem
That is something which cannot happen today in our International. und we are all deeply in debt to our women comrades who through their Struggles have raised our conscious-
process — alas, by no means complete each — of educating the men comrades out
In 1938,too, we did not even think
oppressod Here, ma, we have been
Apari from myself, there were po representatives from the imperialist colonies. The only black delegate present was CLR James who, though born in Trinidad, represented the
Today, forty years on, the capitalist world is in mortal crisis, Stalinism, a seemingly indestructible monolith in
Driven with contradictions The Stalinist theory of socialism in one country! has proved, as Trotsky predicted, to he a deadly poisun whicl saps the very fibre of the socialis
History has demonstrated only too tragically that the Trotskyist struggle
was no mere academic exercise. As a direct result of this Stalinist theory we see state
have conquered power, the USSR, China, Yugoslavia Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, etc., a
15,16817 September. The dates to remember for the second
MARXIST
SYMPOSIUM
Revelution
The Paris Beene Revolution - Pan Cles Analyas and Political Straber — Rabin
Ten Nairs, Neil
The Pariy wad The Women's Movemen Sheila Rowbothem, CP. SWP. and IMC
Name..
Address Camcommunia" - Ernes. Mandel
other's throats instead combining 1o finally -crush the HE POT BOISE CUCILI Similarly: Stalin's theory of the
deselopment revolution through the successive stages of bourgeois-democratic to the socialist phase, or ones to Trotsky's theory permanent revolution, has distorted the resoliction in the 'underdeveloped countries of Africa, Asia and South America into hideous caricature reflections of the deformed revolution in the Sovier Union itself.
Everywhere Stalinism, whether in its Muscovite or Maoist forn, has become a brake on the advance of the world revolution, a counter-revolu tionary foroe which must be destroyed and replaced by the соловів incernationalism which is the sur foundacion on which the Fourth International was founded.
flag of the Fourth International flies bravely. ETONITEL Internationalism and the same firi faith in humanis's future whic Inspired that small gathering in 1936 cost: 15 for all lace day
Any single session El
Make Cheques sod Pistal Oners and ta
Fill in the fore below and seed tec Sympestur 338 Lipper Si., Toedne N.t.
Socialist Challenge T September 1978 page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
COMMENT
Far left
in Europe
THE ARTICLE by John Ross or
The Crisis of the Far Left in Europe (24 August) was very interesting and will need to be carefully read and thought about, particularly by thos of us on the 'non-Trotskyis' left. But I have a couple of initial comments.
First, in his specific arguments against the line of some 3 European far left organisations, he makes some pretty starting claims. For enstance he says that the PRP and MES in Portugal used the slogan "social-democracy is fascist'.
If they did, then of course they made a terrible blunder. But this is the first time I've heard anything of it, including from the IMG. It doesn't tally with anything I've ever read from the PRP or MES, even though in general it does seem that they had an ultra-left line on the Socialist Party and bourgeois democracy. Can this be
Secondly, in his section on Italy there are some extremely dubious comments on Lotta Continua. tays that they failed to distinguish between the class base of the CP
Democracy on the other*.
CP, failing to rule out a compromise
, failing to rule out a compromise with Christian perce or they delored the
formed SULTANE goverument was irrelevant".
Comrades: Lotta Continua be lieved that the question government was extremely relevant. From the elections of Spring 1977 they wanted an overall majority for
revolutionary left) precisely because they, wanted to government, exciuding the parties of
The whole thrust of theit political compromise and they wanted the
be able to put before the CP and SP masses a credible alternative to the compromise. You cannot understand the utter demoralisation semi-collapse of Lotla unless you see this: it is because the workers parties in general did not win the clection, and because the far left
LC has since declined and so many
Thirdly, a more general comment. Comrade Ross's article is fair enough in itself; but it would help if the forces basing themselves on Marxism" (i.e. the Fourth International, I assume) also made public some self-criticisms; showed whether or not they are able to learn from other organisations and traditions.
For instance, in Italy, where the forces basing themselves on Lenin Because tearing cast and because the students are bloody-mindedly anti-Trotskyist, but presumably hecause the Fi has made bad mistakes. 20D this goes for all the countries in one way or another.
STEVE SKAITH (Kirkby)
NORTH WEST
or Sie 138 4 7, 0279, 0-10
or Sl0s 1228 4297.
IVERPOOL Speli Socialat Chal-
STER Socialial
BETE
Socialist Chullenge 7 September 1978 page 14
BAD
TASTE
"CORMAC
of the
Painting
out
sexism 1
He and
Therefore that the
against Allen 'totalitarian"
'censorship'
protest is more of
and In context BOUTSIELS form a workers
Bist Realist refusabi cultural field.
historic
point of the oppressed. and if fem nists Continua Jones's work
end our
would oppose.
classical THE BASH
2
class and •PETTY-BOURGEOIS
No SIE
wowd heart 'critics
a Manchester Sellar Chalenge
Come oro 4 Penally Manchester Manchester Socialist with & wiew to toming a Sallord
catalls ring Roy on Alherson do 2890
понів азі
Bocialial
HIDDLESBROUGH inglen. Socialist
Ham sons (newsagents in Linthorpe
PAUL TICKELL (24 August) makes
COLLUSION the bourgeois press socks to make when he says that calling for the banning or picketing of Allen Jones's work" is lo side with perty-bourgeois radical moralism and not Marxism". That is.
feminists in making a demonstration
Jones s WHEN and an exercise of
Censorship is something that the state operates. A picket or political
likely be an expression of indignation by tise working class or its allies — in this
Paul Tickell's reaction is explicable
of his entirely desire to distance himself from Mao-Stalinoid/Socia
complexities and ambiguities in the
But 10s relect this doesn't mean that we should ascept the inviolability of aestheticism (the
from political actions or outrages
the standcase, protest, SIDE call for the closing of the exhibition by the ICA, deface his work, or even tear his Minouranhis to shreds. that is acion we should be prepared to defend and
This 15 completely different from calling on the state to ban Jones's work, which would be censorship, and which we
STREET KIDS moralist?
A CONSOr INO BILL woman? Yes. Bur not a woman "strong and menacing as in Allen Jones's stereotypes. A woman strong and menacing about petty liberal,
You, Paul Tickell (24 August).
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS
POWER HAMLES lenge supporters sell the papor depr • Brick Lane.
Nazrul Restaurant al 10.30am
Group' s 7.30D-. Clapnam Library.
TOWER HAMLETS
Chailenge forums in Tower Hamiets
GOODBYE VELLOW have reduced, at a stroke. thr women's movement's consistent
moralism, Such crassness can only betray the fact that you have no understanding feminism ar, indeed, of sexism.
The work of Allen Jones has been seen by many woman (many of them artists) as no more than soft morn hung on the walls of a gallery. i5, al you say, uncritical of the Imagery that insults women. His
perpetuates the history of as passive sexual objects only taking oe the appearance ol power 10 encourage a male wank
His work is degradation of women clevated by the excuses of so-called intellectuals like yourself to the ranks of art, That, Mr Lickell, does not make it a 'comment
It is not the left which has called for the banning and picketing of Jones's work. women
claims, I don't know much about art. But I do know a lot shout isn
Your excuses for Jonca, Your Bine phrases, have put you firmly on the side of art" for art's sake and, in this
on side of oppressive kind of sexism ANN BOND (London]
Racism
benefits
some
TARIQ ALI concludes his article on racism (20 July) by saying: "For there is no real muterial basis for working class racist in Britain. It is today the accumulated ideological product of Britain's past. My own view is that this scatement is both Factually ibcorrect and has dangerous tactical implications,
It is Factually incorrect for (wo seEs of reasans. First, the working class of
CAMDEN Socialist Chaflenge
HELP SOMALISI
Socialist Chal
SOUTH WEST
coquiar Socialiss
Socialiat
advanced capitalist countries like Britain has partner in the explostation of the "Third World by its capitalists — this through International division of manipulation of the terms of trade. etc.
Secondly, the cxistence of racism in Jone factories, schools, housing estates in this country has benefited the white
working class. They have found that reserved for them are the hest jobs, the better schools, the hetter estates,
*be beretie that these whate
workers some of when are members of the labour aristocracy) bave got from racism are ideological and
A recent book, One Hand Tied Behind Cor Hacks makes clenr hon sexisin in the texcile industry henefits male textile workers programme showed how racism is to theadvantage of white workers in the textile industry It showed how, in Neison, Asian workers don't become over-lookers. The management isn't against this happening it is the over-lookers - union that operates a closed shop that
dn WOLFE ACCURL DIECE WOCKerS. If racism were only ideological, it
would follow LEHE propaganda to fight it. But since it la also embedded in the labour process, we need to fight it with a programme that includes (what in the US is called affirmative -And When we fisht for coatin discrimination, we must realise the with some established principles of
out, union-controlled schemes. Conflict will be necessary where these schemes are operated on racist lines.
My point is thar working class racism not only has a pust material basis, it also has a present one. The same is true for working claus sexism, though it operates differently because of the doubleshift" which also affects
PETER ANDERSON (Manchester Big Flame)
On the
buses
CONGRATULATIONS anticle 'A Red on the Buses" (6 July). l'alike to add my observations from
TOASTHE
CANCAN 12-0C IN MIES SCROL MI
CHALLENUE amenwich and Lew sham supporters are arganising a jumble and.. in the Pazza.
officed at 32819 SEpara the paper's
MULANE.
PORTSMOUTH Socialist Challange
SOUTHEAST Challenes COLCHESTER Hole in the round, Harmarket
DOCK LANE DO been a fusually tacit)
unequal exchange, the queue
labour,
the bureaucracy general want.
The next bus.
person
everyday life
passengers,
disnederis apprentice
working class.
sway. the MULL DUCHE SUCH 0.0010
Hea-out and help tulld the pape HUDDERSFIELD Socialist Challenge
regular y Balordays 11am-Ipm
He Satist Challenge onesia
College enti Pher
Challeng Socialist Challe still one Bieve on Wienhae
the position of a passenger.
One thing which has boome increasingly apparent, in London anyway, is the collapse of the orderly
Jor public transport particularly buses. The reasons for LUS ATE DOLL LIG
Trobky binsell pointed out that
CLUC rests ulimately in To paraphrase him general social want leads to queues queues need policemen lo keep them in order, and policemen need a burcaucracy to keep them in order.
gucue Britain was traditionally patient and ordered because it knew that uhimately everyane would get the commodity in question. Will the massive cut-hacks
in particular pable transport, this is no longer so - people know that they might have to wait another 45 minutes for the
So the queue disintegrales → every
tor themscines. Such development isa very spocific index of the depth of the social crisis in our
Now the writer of A Red on the Buses' points our the racism of whice
generally blame black people in the queue for the
buses and the necessity to fight for a place are taken as 'natural'.
This is a very concrete example of the way that general want and shortage crealor a situation which tal allows confused members of the working his sco or evapona Front, to offer false explanations for
and (o) in the process heightens more generalised
We can't just stop at anti-racis
as that meht be Racism isn't stupidity or foolishness
it's a Renuine. but_misraken antempt ro grapple with real social problems afflicting the whole of the
We base to show low the cuts and racisms are intimarely connectod. We have to offer alternative explanations. Otherwise the 'explanations' and "solutions' of the rucists will hold
LARE GARDNER (London NW6)
THE LENGTH of letters printed will usually he kept down to 400 words in order to encourage as wide un runge of contributions (DOSSIN All letters may be cul at the Editor's
normally he published, althougit we
waltes from pubtication on request.
BRIGHTON Societier Challenge
Matel: Landos Fas
SAUTLANI
For into marion about the papor or its
Open Miles tan
Challeng supoorters group Phone Linorge.
Page 15 scan of this page
Every band is political"
FIST right off target
march on its way last Saturday.
rhythm guitar, vocals;
bits weliked. Here they are.
How long have you been together?
Frazer: Since April 1977-
Were you in any other bands before?
Lester: Tony and Doug were.
they weren't committed ough.
songs?
Frazer: We write all our songs.
Doug: Iggy Pop wrote a song called "Search and Destroy and we have a song of the same
The title really is based on Leasham, because we had a contingent there and during the fighting it got so we had been fighting for five hours, and af the end were around, linked arms, chanting Search and Destroy'; as soon as we saw the nolice of inc National Front it was: 'Scarch and Destroy"
Were then Socialet Worken Party:
Doug: Tony Binthe SWP. 1am in the International Marxist Group. Likethe Clash say, they write about life as they see it through their eye.
So you would say that the group is a political bund? Doug: We are pleased to be a
Tony: Every band is political. The Bay City Rollers political in a sense that they don't want to change anything If you are not against it, you are for it. on the American film FIST',
shortly go on general release.
But 'FIST'
the rise of the Teamsters.
history has been rewritten.
FIST is apparently meant to
be a working class American
Cavitatier, about the rise ated sorl CHELSLEE
tragic fall of Johnny Kovak
(Sylvester Stallone).
Kovak, you see, is a leader of
men and an all-around good
guy. He is caught in a web of
corruption that drags
inexorably to his doom despite
his better intentions and
final, desperate efforts
The possibilities for cliches
are endless. Few are overlooked
ACCURACY
Kovak and the Federation of
Inter-State Truckers are sup-
posed to be based
way — on linny Hoffa and
UNDER REVIEW
CRISIS are the band who launched the Right to Work
Their line-up is: Tone Deaf, bass; Frazer Razor, vocals; Lester Pick-it, lead guitar; Doug Pearce,
Insect Robin.
They sent us an interview they did with the American 'Slash' magazine and asked us to print the
-but enare IT ISN'T OFTEN that Hollywood looks at the labour movement. That in itself is enough reason to comment
which opened at London's Leicester Square Theatre last week and will
also deals with a chapter of labour history in which revolutionaries were deeply involved
ANDY ROSE of the American Socialist Workers Party explains how that
the Teamsters It would he absurd to insist on that account that FIST bo accurate sn Considerable could he allowed cither for ignorance or dramatic licence.
PAINFUL him What really makes FIST 2 his painful екретіелсе through is that che entire film is conceived around one outragcous falsitication.
The fondantental point of the film is that the power that built the union i to organise lie unorpanised and defeat the bosses Matin muscle. in some Kovak. after ineffectual work stoppage in
come up with a solution, they always said, 'Oh, Front, they're really nasty, or "I don't like the Labour Party, drums. Tories or Liberals", but they
haven't come up solution to solve this problem. They go to tbe National Front because it soems like a lEs warchouse fired, is recruited to be a union organiser. Comes the first big erike, and the historical driven unleashed by the employers and back
Kovak is desperate. He rurns to and become a successtul smail-time gangster. He despises the mab's methods hul, as be tells anether to sit
"Wenced push!, Then gasoline bombs, picked off by mob snipers, the -that enabled srike is won, and Kovak and
the Teasisters are on the road to sUCUSS.
The rest of the dreat ly predictable. The union
union comes under congress-
Doug: No bands have acually solution torne
National
we see the solution. with "any
CORT immigration control of demos.
mules and hieh rise
in their dads" cars at 16.
Soul there.
there.
E1,000 apiece saying,
goes poody-spouy-
Hollywood looks
at the unions
and peltine lonal scrutiny:
workers are by with the pangsters. Jobney
happened that way. didn't The Abe Belkin),
- a few well-pinced The Malia played
La few cops WErE capicalists
movie is ers.
The mah grows. The
WIS
people
I know that we haven't got the answers to everything under the sun but we are going to pour forward a socialist principle basically because that is the way
We're not going to tell the kids to join up bere, just tel them to bloody start reading sume papers and get educated themselves because West Ger many has got it bow, and we
with Bander Meinhof methods and all that
but Heavy Manners, to usc a nice cliche. is going to come to this country
What they have done Ireland they are going to apply bere, they are already practis ing it. Despite all the crap tha the Labour Party will hall on, they won't, the Tories will get hack in and they will have harsh
control, harsh
The origins of English pank seems to be me to be dole
flats, social pressures which I don' think are so apparent in the LIS. Doug: They're driving around
I's nothing to do with money
just boredom. And they have got a lot to be bored alout when pon think that Peter Frampton und
Doug: I saw a progranune with Rod Steward and Brit Ekland in Paris and he went into a shop and bought two candlesticks al
The was -Just think, in three years they'll be worth three times us much". And everyone
Tony: He was Ok when be
started, but now he is a shit.
And then there's Elton John.
ILTY
Honest Abe decides to help
expose the corruption. Bye-bye
Ahe. Jobnny decides to breas
Bye-bye all
Mavbe Stallone and co-
writer Joe Eszterhaus think it
but it ZERO
organisaticn of the
Teamsters, like the rest of the
major industrial muous, came
out of immense class bartles.
FIST.
TOIL
hecause Malia push' ic a piffle
compared to the forces that
contending the SOTTIN the mass
epsurge of rank-and-file work The
leader
In Stalione's mylitical ver-
sion, the union ranks are
Doug: The only good thing about Elton Joln was that he came out and admitled that he
Bisexual, and when someone tamous admits it, it always makes it far casier for
Tony: Like David Bowie Doug: But he denied it since. Tony: But he denies everything.
Tom: It
for the Their
ale is to cheer for Johnny
The leaders in building the
Tearusters union in the 19305
were not the likes of Jimmy
Holla. They were revolution-
socialists such as Farrell
Dubbs, V.R. Donne, and Carl
Contrary to the paternalistic
and elitist attitude shown in
FIST. (They've all got to jour
up — it's for their own good,
says Kovak), the revolutonary
Teamster strategists aimed at
times ALIC
mobilise the ranks and to
develop new leaders.
The real sery of how the
Teamsters union was built is
told in four books by Farrell
Dobbs. It is not only accurare
but also more interesting than
FIST deserves low ratings on
its politics, since it tries to make
a poltical statement. It is also a
zero artisticallv-
Kovak character
teals so anythin as
anything more
complex than a • small-lown
sueet rumble, He is inarticu
even thai Britain needs a fascis
When he last came to Eagland he sald England was reads for a fascist government, bot on the radio the other day he said it just uppeared that way aries he dheee travelling Doug: I coed a fascist dictator aster this trin.? He did say on the radio that it is the last thing we want and probably the last ching we would ger. I don't know about that, though.
really dangerous when people Eke that say things like that. someone like Elton Jolt got urg and said he was pro-NE it really would get big.
Some people are doing sig
Liberal Party cos the Liberal Party has promised to lower the rux race, and if you keep going in that dirootion...
late, shows no hint of inten
gence, and is hopelessly inept in
strategy and tactics. Maybe
Stallone is simply playing
himself, as he is sand to have
done in Rocky.
He shows he is 'militant" by
growling at the bosses, We're
going to cut your balls off
He shows he in a leader by
petting the
chant Fis! Fist! Fist!
Ta doesnt come close lo
Hoffa, much less Dobbs.
Rod Steiger does a beller job
in his short time on scroen,
playing the senator who bring
thout Johnny's downfall, H
reveals the 'crusader! against
union corruption be
something of a weasel as well
FIST has no sex and neg
enough violence to attract the
Charles Broson crowd. May
be it will be a commercial op.
le deserves it
*The four books by Farrell
Dobbs are Teamster Rehellion
1E1.00) Teamster Power
(62.45). TEster Public
[E2.45) , and Teanister Bureau
racy (L2.50). All ure aailable
fros The Other Bookshop, 328
Lipper Street, London NI AQ.
Please add 10% for postage.
Three or wore tilles post free-
Socialist Challenge 7 September 1978 page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
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