First a special Socialist Party congress called to tighten up party discipline had to be abandoned without completing its work, even though a total of 1,200 militants had already been expelled from the party in the months beforehand. The latest casualties include two parliamentary deputies expelled amidst familiar cries of Trotskyist infiltration' after having had the temerity to vote against the Government's austerity plan at the end of December.
FIGHT When the congress however, soares tirst discovered that only 600 of the 900 delegates had bothered to turn up, and then that a third of those present, led by former Agriculture Minister Lopes Cardoso, were prepared to mount a vigorous fight against the leadership's proposals for revising the Dary statutes.
The conference finally had to be suspendea witness mannato! the 85 articles approved after a walk-out by some delegates mean that a quorum could no longer be reached. Was -DUSTICO through to allow national committee to approve the remaining articles without a further congress, but enforcing them may be a different matter if the left is able to consolidate its base on the field of struggle against the Government's austerity plan.
This is the nub of the problem for Soares: the fact that the opincreased willingness to struggle against the Government's attacks was also shown at the recent conference of Portuguese trade unions called by the Party dominated Delegates from 269 unions including 70 unions not previously affiliated to Intersindical — attended the conference, 1.7 million workers (85 per cent of the unionisee worktorce.
The only unions not represented were mose or me en group set up last year by Socialist Carly memocrs. as imuay wor some support from workers Justoncu by une burcaucrauc prac tices of Intersindical, but the SP 'democrats soon showed their true colours.
It rapidly became plain that the leaders of 'Open Letter' were more interested in establishing a privilveterates ar ine conterence or cortueuese trade umors denounce tre corer matches uusterty DEdi than 20 unions pulled out, and others remained only because of the most incredible bureaucratic manoeuvres by their leaders.
The conference sponsored by Intersindical. Intersindical was not democraticRally prepared either. Comparatively few general assemblies were held to discuss proposals for representing ane even inese were caree nast with low participation by Workers.
Nevertheless, such is the feeling senten amone me workine class azalms the Government's attacks that at disil- organisers withdrew their original vaguely-worded favour of one coordination basis of stoppages of work, strikes and demonstrations'.
For the Communist Party this is nothing more than a tactical manthe government abstained in parliament austerity measures, the action, But good intentions ment's attacks strike. cucial calling could -TOE ot struggles on the Cwi now pidl old basket by WorKine Class will continue become secretary general of the new confederation) and put the heat on Soares to include the CP in party workers, Having merely on THEO Will made sure that the successful res- •Demostenes outon neuded a communent to "respect the Constitution' as a turner carnest or as good inten aren't always enough. Although the conference resolution falls a long way Invading short of the kind of action which could really challenge the GovernChinese 24-hour for well provide BICH At the outbreak of workers' struggles Already the country's 30,000 fishermen are out on strike against Government attempts to restric troops and -Ine norn-castel reD ace inE many and those who have deserted to the side of Eri heAncreot Government. ha another measures with the supDUTHHEUTEIS Party An aereement between Int unions and Confindustria payments, absenteeism and pub he noldays. rroducuvity clauses Tied wage • All this is done and the need for a 'Government of Not even there union eneers were able to manage a sell-out on the first stage the austerity announced las rhody greatly increased тахатог on items not included in the 'thresh wage rises are calculated The PCI supports this attack on Hivine standards -TO abstan ine Chamber of Deputies to allow the Governmen to carry on. In a speech in Milar ceneral - secretary benneuel solo ine austenty oan to re uctan Learning the praise iceronian fluency combof a -Une mICHSILY An independent investigation b an Australian diplomat has reveal ea war cumes o une inconesial cas James Dunn reports mass execu tions, particularly directed at population, About murder and rape naT une eninese - DODuaTIOn. 7,000 people, have been killed gains. Eighty-five percent of the is estated to DE UnCel have number It explains the need to increase DINA elsonnell bassies neutranse oppositionisis. Peru is a barticula I sections item of DINA officers anti-guerilla techniques at a training camp in Brazil * Iran Chrysler snor stewards come up with a good idea to I redundancies. No, not a sliding scale of hours but a deal with the Shah of Iran's own motor manuracturers Snoo stewares rom oke visI ted Teheran and came back full of admiration torth yan see.
political Cames -as une covent Evening Telegraph put it, discovered that there is a which Begulatos yay conditions.
apparently the visitors from Stoke, who were impressed with deal to sel Il engines and transmissions to me Han Nanonal maus Inal Manuacturine company stock the Teheran taxi fleet. Thi:
Shah's sumption, while avoiding the real orobiems or moustausalon and chronic urban and rural poverty.
One of the shop stewards sumnow have a far better managemen!
Inan we nave ever nac Detore. No doubt the Iranian working class
JOHN MAGEE reports from Belfast during a previous Army raid.
when the soldiers entered the house nas descroco non The had had similar attacks in the past, including an attack Mrs Moyna explained that the soldiers would not allow her to get help and a number of times had pulled her away from the window when she tried to summon help. This has been confirmed by seven loca who told a press conference the following day how Mrs Moyna had been would not be 'widgeried No unit of the British Army is welcome in nationalist distri North of Ireland. In all these districts you will find walls and gab adorned with slogans demanding "Brits Out". Whatever th comolaints are the same: beatinas. kickings, nouses tom apan, and women humiliated, people forced to take off their shoes and sock and to stand for long periods in puddles of water, illegal detentions. Bu when the Paras come to town you can rely on the volume of complaint
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round of
same time the FRETILIN making
object of spending, with bribes to navy officers and
of conspicuous