Socialist Action No. 138, 25 April 1986
The scan: 138-apr-25-1986-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
ALL U.S. BASES
OUT OF BRITAIN
LAST WEEK Neil Kinnock, and the Labour Party NEC, failed to speak for the labour movement. While thousands of people were taking to the streets to totally condemn Reagan's attack on Libya, Neil Kinnock was calling economic sanctions against that country. The people of Libya found they could no more rely on support from Kinnock than could the miners of this country.
OTE organisation, Party Black Section, did for the labour movement. the title US state terrorism egainst Libya' it savaged the US and its British allies, and brought
ut the imperialism and racism of
Socialist Action
SOCALiSS
ACTION
believes this statement should be taken as a model for a response throughout the labour movement. The Labour Party Black Section National Committee condemns the American bombing Libyan cities of Tripoli and Benghazi and the support for this international aggression by Britain's Tory government. Margaret Thatcher cabinet are the accomplices of a blatant act of state terrorism. the Thatcher gave agreement
American use of British air bases she signed the death warrant for scores of innocent Libyan civilians - including many children - and British citizens in Beirut.
The US attack on Libya shows the urgent need to remove US bases from Britain. It also demonstrates why Bri-
tain must withdraw from NATO.
called North Organisation. alliance to defend freedom. It is an alliance against liberation struggles allacks on arne and internationalist socialist govern-
ments in the third world.
might say, the root of the fighting in and her the Middle East lies in the denial by
the forces of imperialism of the land
When rights of the Palestinian people. The
Labour Party Black Section believes there will be no peace in the region until the Palestinians are granted their demand of self-determination.
US has ruthlessly punished Libya for supporting national liberation strug gles like this, not because of acts of 'terror'
It has blown the cover of the so-
Atlantic Treaty NATO is not
Whatever Reagan and his cronies
America's economic
Wing sought
Ronald Reagan has whipped up
Hands off Libya!
Hands off Nicaragua!
anti-Arab racism by making hollow claims that the Libyan government oralisee tenoust attacks aroune une world. But any such 'terrorist' attacks
- and there is no reason to believe US intelligence lies - shrink in puny * Libya. comparison to the bombing of Libya, the US financed terrorism of the contras in Nicaragua, and Israeli terror bean, bombing of Palestinian refuge camps.
demand for tougr sanctions and a blockade of Libya are in stark con- world. trast to pathetic western measures be-
against Botha's racist in South Atrica Western governments pay only lip service to the demand of black people that the fascists in Pretoria should be brought to their knees and black majority rule fully supported. America's puppets stand indicted of gross hypocrisy
No. 138 25 April 1986 30p
We call on black Labour Party activists and porters, trade union activists, and al those who believe in peace and justice to take to the streets in defence of
We must demonstrate our revul sion at acts of violence in the Carib
Central America and the Middle East, the Far East Africa, which have made America the biggest exporter of terrorism in the
We demand: • Hands off Libya • US bases out of Britain • Britain out of NATO • Support for the Palesti Statement by the Labour Part Black Section National Committee
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Thousands demonstrate
2 Socialist Action 25 April 1986
ACTION
No sanctions
against Libya!
NEIL KINNOCK and Labour's front bench have, over the last week, worked hard to head off and deflate the huge wave of opposition which swept Britain in reaction to Reagan's bombing of Libya.
Right from the beginning Kinnock called for economic sanctions against Libya. He has follow ed that up with support for Thatcher's illegal and racist expulsion of twenty-one
crime' of having been born in Libya
For Gerald Kaufman the only problem witt Thatcher's expulsions is that they did not take place earlier.
What kind of lead does this give the tens of thousands of disgusted young people who turned out on the streets this weekend. millions more who opposed Reagan's action? Why have the Labour leadership learned literally nothing from the Malvinas war?
The key lies in the whole approach which Kinnock outlined, right from the beginning of the crisis. He had no opposition campaign against Libya. His criticism was simply that different methods should have been used to attack the country. Economic sanctions and diplomatic boycotts, not bombing, was the way to 'deal with' Qaddafi.
And where did he get those ideas from - for evidently they have nothing to do with the interests of the people of Libya or the children and civilians killed by Reagan's they anything to do with 'fighting terrorism' as it is Reagan who is the number 1 terrorist in the world. Kinnock got his ideas straight from the imperialists some of those in Britain. tificating all week about how different methoas should used attack diplomatic campaign, furthermore, will be used to justify further attacks on Libya.
There is not one ounce of anti-imperialism in Neil Kinnock. Nor could there be from someone who loudly proclaims his British 'patriotism' the patriotism of the country that ruled the most blood stained and long standing empire the world has known.
Take as an example the new Labour party campaign "fairness and freedom' launched with such great fanfare on Tuesday. social reforms and social benefits more police.
And what about the people oppressed by British imperialism and the international allies it chooses to exist with.
Ireland? Will it get rid of the US bases that are used to attack not only Libya but also to threaten every semi-colonial country in the world? Will Britain be pulling every single one of its assets, down to the last penny, out of South Africa? Will Nicaragua be supplied with the economic aid it so desperately needs — and the weapons to defend itself against the Reagan is waging against it? The answer to all of these, naturally, is 'no'.
There is a name for a programme such as Neil Kinnock is advancing at the moment. It is called social imperialism.
It is a debased and rotten programme. One that stands in the way not only of socialism but even of the most elementary justice, democracy, and humanity in Britain itself complicit if not in bombing, if Kinnock gets his way, but in every other attack on Libya.
Fortunately there are others in the labour movement who have been prepared to speak out. The response of the Labour Party Black Sec tion, which we print on our front page is one of the best. Arthur spoken out in real terms against the attack. Dennis Skinner and other Campaign group MPs have called for the closing of all US bases. But then these forces are the ones Neil Kinnock is trying to crush.
Neil Kinnock has shown once again that no-one can rely on him or his policies. Whether you are a miner, a black person, someone waiting for a house in Liverpool, or a child facing American bombs and threats in Libya, you can be sure Neil Kinnock is waiting to undermine you few weasel words about democracy to cover up the fact that in practice he is going to support your enemy and oppressor.
The labour movement should have nothing to do with Neil Kinnock's line whatever. The enemy is not Qaddafi's Libya - a country which is part of the Arab peoples who have been fighting to free themselves from foreign oppression for five centuries. The enemy we and they face is imperialism - in all its forms and national colours.
No bombs against Libya. Reagan and Thatcher and those they serve, are our enemy - not Qaddafi and the people of Libya.
people for the
and the
to the US bombs. Nor have
Europe including They have been pon-
Qaddafi. That It promises us • as well as
Will Britain get out of terrorist campaign _ for Britain is Scargill, and others, have
- with a - and no sanctions eltner -
IN AN ALL-DAY debate in the House of Commons on the Wednesday after the US attack on Libya, Margaret Thatcher and other Tories defended to the hilt the decision to support the US attack and the use of British Labour's front bench miserably. Neil Kinnock called for economic sanctions against Libya in place of military attacks.
In the same debate, the speech by Tony Benn was nOteWOrLEY TOrIES Cedi condemnation of the US aLLaCK and the British we must s complicity.
HUS! HOW consider very carefully,' said Benn, 'whether should not close down all American bases in Britain believe most profoundly that the time has come when Britain should realign its foreign policy?
He went on to debunk the claim that the attack on Libya was a reprisal for Qaddafi's 'terrorism'. He said:
"The official explanation by the prime minister, in very strident statements yesterday and today, is that there were 330,000 American troops western Europe preserving human freedom and that it was inconce ane ba they were needed to kill some Libyans as a reprisal for the she should refuse to consent. l was strongly reminded of the Suez situation 30 years WANTED ago. The language used about Qaddafi now was used about Nasser then.
we must be careful not to mislead ourselves
that is reported outside.
Imperia interests do not
mix with human rights.
when •W C were an empire we invaded
Afghanistan four times;
we governed the whole of India without any form of consent from the Indian people. The most power-
rul country in the world to
day is the United States. I
the American people and
"Terrorism defines the
acts of people we do not like'
bases from which it was launched.
acquitted themselves
their traditions - especially because of the defeat in Congress of Reagan's request for $100 million to pay for the terrorists. have great respect for the American people.
however. the same is not true of the American record - the war in Vietnam, the attack of the Bay of Pigs, the underminins of Allende, the support of Marcos and Papa Doc for many years, the support of the Greek colonels and the Turkish regime, the invasion of Grenada and, currently the positive financing of the killing of the people in Nicaragua.
I hope that the prime minister and the foreign
accept that the United States is in Europe anywhere else to protest
human rights. It is there to protect its UVESUCHL economic HILCICSLS all! trade routes exactly as Britain did when it was an empire. One reason why
the Americans wholeheartedly is that they envy the Americans for be ing able to engage in the sort of gunboat diplomacy that is now beyond our resources
"Terrorism is a word used to define acts violence by people we do not like. Let us be clear about that. I have never
HERE heard the BBC talk about
Afghan terrorists attacking the Russian alilly. never heard the Maquis in France described as terrorists when they were blowing restaurants and cares were une uelman troops were eating.
"The word "terrorists" reflects the view one takes of certain actions. The attack upon people who are troublemakers sometimes they are called terrorists or nationalists — is
who was described
Churchill as a "half-naked
fakir loping up the stairway of the vice-regal lodge
to parley on equal term
vith representatives of th
King emperor." So much for Churchill, the old im-
Gandhi, although anen was nola terronst
*The story of British
empire is that one begins
as a terrorist and ends up
with the by having Queen. The British empire •LCi
ended when the British
government conceded to
force. That is what Conservative members cannot bear. began something beyond
pale, but in the end they
have to come to terms with
'It would be nice to
think that all arguments
could be settled by a public
opinion poll and a quick
chat in the cabinet or
shadow cabinet.
"The reality is that rights have often been won by force, and none have been readier to use force
British governments. When force is used against what we want to hear, we dismiss it
AMERICANS
AGAINST REACAN ASLEF condemns
Libya attack
ON THE recommendation of president Terry Clarke, the ASLEF national executive last week adopted a resolution calling for all US bases to go now.
It says: this executive committee is totally opposed the UK government's ment of the bombing of Libya by the Us armec forces and to ensure there is no reoccurrence of this nature we call for the immediate withdrawal of
Skinner calls for
closure of all US
bases IN response to the attack on Libya, Roland Boyes, supported by many Tribune and Campaign Group MPs, has tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling for 'the removal of all United States nuclear weapons from all bases in Britain'.
Two amendments have also been tabled. The first, from Frank Cook MP, strengthens the resolution by calling for all military bases to be removea. bul the second, from Dennis Skinner, gets it dead right.
Why did the prime minister agree to une use o] British bases? Was because of the Falklands war? I believe that there was a debt to be discharg
We did not win the Falklands war by sending the task force; we won because the Americans had a satellite system that informed the British forces of the Argentine positions They supplied the logistics and weapons, but above all they told us the position of the Belgrano so that the Conqueror could sink it. The prime minister had an overwhelming obligation - she thought - to pay the price for that American support by agreeing to the use of British bases for the bombing of Libya."
DATAN PREMAN
American bases from Great Britain.
In a letter to branches sent on 16 April, genera secretary Ray Buckton draws attention to the CND demonstrations and
out that: 'The
dangers of foreign bases in Great Britain has always been clear are le alo aerated by the USAF en- aggression
dorses, in our view, the CULT CCUICS of • the
ociety's long-held pol
r the closure of all i bases in Britain.'
The resolution as he
amends read:
"That this house deeply dismayed by nited the manner
in which States
bases in Britain have been
used to launch unjustified
bombing attacks on Libya
believes that this raises
serious concern about the Porentia deployment ses
the deployment
nuclear weapons; and safeguard for the British asserts that
people would the
removal of all United
States nuclear weapons a
well as closing down all the
American bases in Bri
Laill.
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against U.S. attack on Libya
PALES TE
SOLIDARIT
Britain: mass protest erupts
MASS PROTEST erupted all over Britain within hours of Reagan's strike against Libya. It was the biggest and most rapid explosion of protest at an American or British action in living memory.
The protests were significant in two respects. They were rapid and large - especially given the time available to respond. There were protests in nearly all major cities on Tuesday evening. Saturday's London demonstration was a remarkable outburst. Over 10,000 people spontaneously combined, on CND's initiative, in a highly militant demonstration which, at one point, successfully blocked off London's main shopping street for over two hours.
Second, the political response represents one of the biggest potential breakthroughs for the left which Britain has seen since Suez. A clear, broad mass current has emerged which wants all US bases out of Britain and wants to end the forty-year partnership between the British and American states which has served as one of the cornerstones of imperialist rule from 1945 onwards. How did this action develop?
In London, by Tues paigns. Round the railings day 0O0N crowds of Grosvenor Square proalready gathered outside minant large photographs
US embassy of a Libyan child killed in Downing Street. Several the raid read 'Is this child a hundred mounted a vigil at terrorist?' Placards readnumber 10 by torchlight ing 'Reagan is the real and there were arrests as madman', 'US bases out, police waded in. "Thatcher is the real con-
That same night 27 spirator were everywhere. peace and political organisations met in the At the rally afterwards House of Commons to Benn summed up this form 'Campaign mood two Weagainst the War' as CND pplauded points "There leaflets flooded out sum- wil vill be no peace in th man'in people test. urs world without justice,' he day s mass protest said. "The USA does not bases out — stop Reagan's have troops around international terrorism', world to protect they demanded гасу but to protect its
Saturday's demonstra- pire, just as the British dic tion, with more than many years ago.' three days' notice was not enough to tal huge least 10,000, more, he went on, mainly young Demon- about weapons SLIdLOTS blockaded When F1-11s took ofi Grosvenor Square but from were were kept away tron the embassy by for crash barriers. ban- CND alertend cam
predominated wh ick groups came from student unreater unions, trade unions, from manity, whether nuclear
We have to or convental and Labour Parties. close all American bases.
The LOLCOLCIS came At tour o'clock the because they were shocke protestors moved off and horrified at what they nk up with a rally in Hyd
and Park addressed by CND dangerous act of interna- leaders, Tony Benn,
TerrorISm Haunched Denzil Davies and others by the USA. But it went But en te it passed Ox
They wanted to ford Street: and there it end the relationship which stopped. For over two made it possible Bri- HOURS the demonstrator, tain to be : used for such an blockaded London's main
They wanted thoroughfare traffic aCL.
America's bases backed up for miles oll There and said SO. both directions.
not a trace of anti-L ibya hysteria and
when banners from CND ming]- This was the
freely with Palestinian violence started - but not sondarily, as the media would have it, societies solidarity ntral Central from rampaging demonAincrica surators. Conce cone nor
bring up transport to conduct mass arrests, so clearly decided to clear the peaceful demonstrators by
witnesses saw police haul LUL CO alone. Shocked protestors out by their hair, ears or necks, kicking and punching them to try and intimidate them out ot rejoining the protest.
At 5.30 the police then tried to move buses LIONS the traffic. The driver of the lead bus retused. on the grounds that the streets had not been cleared and it was a danger to public safety to drive forward. A police
cab and drive the bus but could not work the controls. Then, demonstrators jeered, the driver got out, walked to the bonnet. disconnected the plugs and the fuel feed -and walked off.
Manchester: More than 5000 people marched through the city on Saturday. The march was organised by Greater Manchester District CND and followed a successful pro test bv 500 on Tuesdar night, again organised by CND
CND and anti-missile group banners dominated the demonstration with a smattering of Labour Party and trade union contingents. Speakers outside Mancheste Town Hall
epresented a wide variety of organisations including CND, Greenham Women, Palestinian solidarity, SWAPO, and the Nicaragua Solidarity paign. Jean Gittings spoke for Women Against Closures followed by Frank Allaun, HOTO time peace campaigner and chair of Labour Action for Peace. Councillor Ken
for the city Sooke council and Labour Party.
A CND ing called Cruise Action took the initiative for these protests and already won Manchester support such actions by Sunday before the bombing. . After the success of these events and anti-war committee is to be established involving all the different organisations involved in the demonstration.
South Wales: twenty-four NOU vigils were 1N8• mediately set up on Tues
night outside the Weish Office in Cardiff, the Welsh centre of Tor rule, at the Caerwent US
Scenes of protest in London last Saturday PROTESTORS took to the streets across the world against Tuesday's bombing.
Germany saw a gigantic response. Though the police claim 20,000 in total - the figure reported in the British press. But organisers estimate DeL-
base in Gwent and at the US air facility in Brawdy Haverfordwest. In Cardiff 200 people marched from the castle to a rally at the Welsh Office before the vigil began. At the rally speakers from the Labour Party, Plaid Cmru CND Cymru deplored the bombing of Libya and the use of British bases. As Sue Essex, Labour city councillor said, 'Mrs Thatcher has no mandate from the British people to allow the bases to be used in such a way.
ome Friday evening at it
Women Against Closures meeting attended by Arthur Scargill, he took up the US bombing •To allow US airforce planes te
TRIPOLI
4.
this CHILD
TERRORIST ? ween 70,000 and 80,000 took part in Saturday's
which were held throughout Ger manv in over 60 towns
On Tuesday, the day of they took the initiative Green party took calling for demonstrations in all cities. Actions took place in nearly 50 cities and the next day local coalitions, with the Com munist Party and
allal CHISES mally laking the lead, held actions. 10,000 demonstrated in Germant as a whole. The Frankfurt demonstration of about 2,000 heard an American woman peace campaigner working for a peace net relati dealine held with soldier's relatives. day 4,000 people turned out in
Saline CILV aliC thousands in many other citesy now broad coalitions had been formed in all areas and Saturday's huge mobilisation took place The largest demonstrations, in Ham burg and berin, probabl numbered over 10,000 cacil
Socialist Action 25 April 1986 be used to bomb cities and towns in a foreign nation on the pretext that they were challenging state terrorism is the action of someone who is not fit to be Prime Minister of this na tion, ' he said. For years I have warnec that the possession of nuclear weapons and foreign bases leads you into interna tional conflict the Labour Party, within 24 hours of taking office, should tell the United States to take its filthy bases and nuclear weapons back to , their own coun try. US. ne salle referring to the financing ot the contras in Nicar agua, 'are past masters at SLaLC LCITULISHII
On Saturday demonstrations were held in Cardiff and Newport. Uvel 2,000 Cardi at a ralla thered inting broad layers of the South Wales trade unior and labour movement They marched again to the Welsh Office to hear speakers from the Labou
Party, Plaid Cymru, CNI and the Communist Party
Sheffield: by 4pm on Tuesday 300 people ha gathered outside Sheffiel Town Hall, on the initiative of women in the peace movement and Shef field CND. On Tuesda night the trades council executive endorsed the ac tion and backed a joint call for future vigils on Thursday and Friday, and calle a demonstration for Saturday together with the District Labour Party. Hundreds came to -the • vigils and nearly a thou sand to the saturaay rall on the steps of the town hall. 2000 signatures had already been gathered for
pennon Speakers cluded Bob Cryer MEP Richard Caborn MP David Blunkett the Lati Whitty, CND, America Solidarity Forum, and many others.
Nottingham: By Tuesday
CND, a on test mers a tet up
following daying ter
Ovel 100 packed a hall built for 30 coming from CND, the
WORLD SOLIDARITY
In the parliamentary debate both the Christian Democrats and the Socia Democrats backed up Chancellor Kohl's posi tion that the attack was
primarily because threatened the sovereignty of European states. The Greens, •defended Libya, received
very lite the a coverale
on-the-spot showed 80 percent of the population opposed to the attack.
spanish state: aemonstra tions took place on the night the attack Madrid, Barcelona , and in several towns in the Bas
, Valencia and que country Asturias. The spontaneous action outside the US embassy in Madrid was banned by the socialist government but by Wednesday it was forced to all permer demonstrations over the Spanish state at embassies, consulates and any building considered to be associated with the at LaCK SUCHAS Barclays bank offices in several LOWIIS
Nottingham South and East Labour Parties, Women Against Pit Closures, the Trades Council, Cen-
the AAM, the black sec
munity groups. Participants from Notts University Student Union included the president.
Every night from Tues. dav onwards there WCIE demonstrations of 200 or more in the city centre and the newly-formed Hands off Libya campaign sent six buses to London as well
local demonstration which started at 250 but, by the time it had reached the city centre had attracted crowe or several unes unai size.
Scotland: Saturday saw demonstrations Glasgow, at Fasiane nava base, in Edinburgh through the week. Scottish CND called a vigil outside the Scottish Ministry of Defence building which 200 people came to. The biggest Glasgow
Gemon stration, called by Libera. tion and supported by the STUC and the Scottish through the city centre to: rally addressed by and Labour Party ex. ecutive spokespeople. Bot Gillespie of SOGAT and the STUC executive said that SOGAT was sending a moon to me us an that the labour movemen should have responde more strongly to the invasion of Grenada as 1 now learned to its cost
Birmingham: 20-25 pro testors gathered in the Bull Ring at midday and larger demonstration around 4.30 in front of the town hall. The first was called by CND and the se cond mainly attended by trade union and Labour Party aCVSES. WILE strong Pakistani conungent many Sparkbrook. CND held a separate protest at the same time because it did
the demand 'Hands off Libya' raised by these protestors. coaches sa Saturday thres
London had been filled and plans are afoot to set up a joint com. mittee on Tuesday.
Several thousand took part demonstrations and meetings on successive nights in the main cities. including two demonstra tions of 3-4,000 in Madrid
Thursday's combined demonstration in Madrid was against the attack * US Libya and agallis! aggression in Central America.
Embassies, consulates and other buildings were attacked by demonstrators WILE •SLONC and in some areas bar ricades were thrown up There were numerous con frontations with the police and many arrests.
The main initiative
came from a broad sprea of organisations who har nee verore to concue the campaign against entr into NATO, on which the government recently held a referendum which it won with 40 per cent against The Eurocommunist wing of the divided Communist Party, however, also held Wednesday own meeting
night which attracted 1-2,000 Madrid.
Page 4 scan of this page
4 Socialist Action 25 April 1986 Build a
campaigning
student union
NUS CONFERENCE, held Monday 7 - Friday 12 April in Blackpool, was one big contradiction. On the one hand it reflected the outburst of campaigning activity by students in the last year. On the other there was a clear absence of any organised current or leadership capable of drawing together all those struggles into a campaignimg NUS.
By Anne Kane
A growth of campaigning action students dominating the 2 November demonstration against apartheid, organising demos against the Fowler review the backdrop to the most important shift in NUS policy for over a decade: the adoption of a policy in favour of British withdrawal from Ireland. This should now lead to campaigning action by NUS's one million plus members to get Britain out of Ireland.
However, the executive elections showed what Is sull to be cone to form a campaigning leader. ship. In the elections Socialist Students in NOLS (SSIN, organised by Organiser) presented themselves as the Labour left campaigning alternative to NOLS. SSiN won three places on the executive, which is composed of supporters of NOLS, SSiN, the Left Alliance, plus one independent and one SWP member.
But contrary to SSiN's claim, their election is not simply because they are regarded as a broad campaigning wing of NOLS. SSiN has the success it does because NOLS refuses to campaign against certain Left Alliance and other candidates. NOLS explicitly prefers an alliance with the coalitionists than with Labour left candidates in the form of SSiN. In the Vice President Welfare election where SSİN canadate simon NOLS called for a vote for an independent, Linzi Brandt. Opposition to this political alliance of support for non-Labour socialist candidates resulted transterred to SsiN.
Without doubt however SSiN also picked up the votes of political opposition to NOLS by those who identity themselves with the Labour Party, rather than the SWP or RCP type of NUS leadership that was responsible for the fiasco of the Fowler demo where 35,000 students wearily and pointlessly trailed round the streets of London. political support for SSiN.
The fact is that SSiN's policies do not represent ones capable of turning the student movement into a 'radical youth movement orientated to the struggles of the working class'. On Ireland SSiN were to the right of NOLS. In the debate on Zionism, SSiN capitulated to the anti-semitic view that opposition to conism is equal to anu-semiusm. Africa SSiN raise their criticisms of the ANC above calls for NUS to take a lead in the mass student opposition to apartheid.
In reality SSiN are totally selective in the working class struggles they support. Their aims seem to reduce to linking up with FEs, establishing more Labour Clubs and building Anti Fascist Action (AFA) groups.
The way forward to a campaigning NUS has to be through supporting all struggles of the working class and oppressed. This has to be done through building inside the NUS the type of class struggle alliances that have emerged elsewhere in the labour movement. The resolution passed on Ireland is an excellent basis to begin this by NUS reaching out and winning support for broad labour movement action for British withdrawal.
with
occupying colleges and
supporters of Socalls
Pottinger was elected,
candidates against being
- but not with the
Inis is tar irom posiuve
5 NOW!
REAGAN
IS THE REAL MAD MAN THE CAMPAIGN for Nuclear Disarmament is to launch a petition calling for the removal of all US bases from Britain. day's reconvened CND national council meeting, in the light of the 10,000-strong protest outside the American embassy in London the previous day. Simultaneously, dozens of local protests were taking place up and down the country.
The petition will make three demands: US bases out, the publication of all secret treaties, and opposi non to me Keasan sola Wars programme. Local groups will be asked ti organise activity around
Saturday 5 July. These will
davs
Disarmament for Tuesday
Black section
IN OUR previous two issues we published two position papers on South Africa which were discussed by the national Labour Party black section at its recent AGM. Below we print the resolution carried by the AGM which features the black section's action pro-
unflinching resolve to give
importance to black people wore Azanian black masses sense ves Wate ment mar me bate tor freedom in Azania is purely an issue of class. This is
Part of the 10,000-strong protest at Grosnover Square last weekend
CND launches 'U.S.
bases out' campaign
That was the decision of Sun-
we portamly l present the CND petition to MPs.
Meanwhile, Labour CND has been organising By Carol Turner support within the Labour Party Salie COCT
all Labour Party organisations and campaigns O moting repo sals a resolution on Azania
prisoners. 3. Seek to organise active
conference in October this year calling for a commitment by the party that all US bases will be closed under a Labour govern ment. At present the par disarmament policy unilateral nuclear
com BOULS nuclear bases, but leaves
such as the com munications bases and those where Us troops are stationed, in tact. • For more information on CND's netition ano other activities contact:
CND, 22-24 Underwoo
activities of Labour CND,
Comes Estale LOndOn SW9 6HH (phone: 01-254 the black sections national
national actions organised
Lour movemen support for the black arm-
La calla Sanctions alone will not bring freedom.
self organisation
THE NUJ Annual Delegate Meeting (conference) last week, took a major step forward by voting unanimously in favour of black self organisation in the union. It also elected a black vice president, Lionel Morrison.
Taken under a debate on equal opportunities the resolution passed stated 'Chapels should be encouraged to give support
black members organising in caucuses in line with TUC policy.' The
VOLCO positive action on training, oD unterviews ana oue areas.
The resolution wal moved by Marc Wadsworth, national chair of the - Labour Party Black Sec tion, from the National
LCLGR sets
manifesto target
ference.
In 1985, Labour's conterence overturice tional executive committee opposition and carried a comprehensive lesbian and gay rights policy. 'But', warned -campaign COOrdinator Peter Purton, 'unless we win a two-thirds majority we won't even be considered for the Labour manifesto. So in 1986 we are going back with resolu tions insisting that the existing policy implemented, and that the
ment that the next Labour
will legislate to decriminalise homosexuality and all discrimination against les. bians and gay men
In 1985, LCLGR won the support of wide sec. tions of the labour move. ment. Alliances were built with the Women's Action Committee, the black sec LOR. umons such as CERE NUM, and much of the labour left. 'We are determined to continue these links,' Purton stated. 'If lesbian and gay activists women, black people and
WeTT work together rather than compete, we will all be much stronger. But of course the trade unions with their block Gay pride marchers in London last year
News
NUJ votes for black
Race Relations Working Party. It was seconded by London East and sup. ported by the executive.
Lionel Morrison spoke in favour of the resolution.
Following the per cent vote at the NUT con ference in favour of black self organisation — a vote taken against the recom medation of the exécutive
conference this year to show a maior step forward
for blank setthe demise
self Ur causa GOL.
The Labour Party Black Section has prioritised a drive in the trade unions to gain self organisation in the unions and support for the demands of the Black Section in the Labour Party.
AN ELECTION manifesto' commitment to lesbian and gay rights: that is the target of Labour's lesbian and gay activists. Meeting in London 12/13 April, the Annual General Meeting of the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights (LCLGR) decided on a major campaign to consolidate and deepen the victory won on this issue at the 1985 Labour con-
votes are vital. From now on, LCLGR will be work. ing. persuade unions which supported us lasi year to support us again and the others to change their minds.'
The AGM assessed that the need for a new campaig! Wall clea Despite party policy, authorities Nottinghamshire Count!
Council are still excluding lesbian and gay rights from their equal opportunities policies and party headquarters have dragg. ed their feet in implementing the 1985 resolution. 'Paper policy on its own is worthless' continued Pete Purton. demands firm and public the Comment Labour leadership to lesbian and gay rights. Pre judice is never challenged by staying silent. Our campaign in 1986 will be far from silent and we call upon all socialists and trade unionists to help bring aDOl MERE _DU! commitment that lesbians
• For more information contact Peter Purton. con. ference 01-574 2420 г coor dinator 01-561 9400.
on Sightseeing Tours
Page 5 scan of this page
NEC moves the goalposts
News
intended to facilitate
within the party.
The vote to revise standing orders was carried by 30.4. with abstentions. Only Joan Maynard, Dennis Skinner, Frances Curran and myself
Chainst thesia diat orders
change; STIC Richardson and Margaret HeckeT Ge not vole
However, in-
was teresting to note that party last week unions, the
ment.
This latter has now culminated in the historic decision of the National Union of Students to call for unconditional British withdrawal from Ireland and rejection the
LAST FRIDAY, 18 April, the national executive committee of the Labour Party met. It voted to revise the standing orders for NEC meetings — a change
taking disciplinary action against the 12 Liverpool party members, of course — and to call Pat Wall, selected as Labour parliamentary candidate by Bradford North, for questioning by the executive before his candidature is ratified. Both decisions represent a setback for democracy
secretary Larry Whitty proposed changes in the procedure whereby the charges
By Eric Heffer
Liverpool 12 will be heard.
After legal advice, he said, he will now be submitting a revised procedure when Benn, Heffer and Maynard, three of the seven who stopped the March NEC 'trials'.
Whitty recommended the NEC adopt the procedures the seven had demanded
LCI Conference
THE LABOUR Committee on Ireland holds its annual conference over the weekend 26-27 April in London. Niall Power's secretary's report to the conference registers some of the progress made by the LCI over the past year: the LCI's vigorous response to the Anglo-Irish Accord, its work in the trade
activity of the Labour Women for Ireland and LCI's agitation in the student move-
Anglo-Irish Accord. Over the past three years the By Redmond O'Neill LCI and its journal Labour and Ireland have
Gorton LPYS Public meeting HANDS OFF LIBYA - NO US BASES Speakers:
Jacquie Greenfield, Greater Manchester CND Bob Trublood, Central America Campaign Yome Mombo, Khan Moghul, prospective councillors Monday 28th April, 7.30pm, Longsight Library
Nottingham Hands off Libya Campaign PUBLIC RALLY Speakers:
Sharon Atkin, prospective parliamentary candidate, Notts East CLP Mick McGinty, vice-president, Notts NUM Representatives from local Pakistan and Afro-Caribbean communities and from Nottingham CND Friday 25th April, Pakistan Centre, Woodborough Road.
the 12 appear before the NEC meeting.
In fact, Whitty has acooted une VerV that the seven who walked
CACCuLIVe meeting were demanding:
DICCISC charges presenteu alle that the NEC is given the judge's decision in writing.
Raise apocals that charges against one of the 12 will be dropped
The date for this hearing has not been set. The executive decided that will take place during May, after the local government elecons. BOL •WICH As Dennis Skinner pointed out at the meeting, the ma played a decisive role in creaung a minonty current in the labour movement which Labour's traditional total subservience to the interests of BrITISH imperialism Ireland
worked with inaividuals like Ken Livingstone to dialogue with Sinn Fein. It has toured Irish Unionists for Irish Unity
neeDencence campaign has succeeded in opening up the debate on an alternative anti-imperialist policy to forge an alliance between British labour and the people of pera core risis selfport Irish celermialon
This is a decisive contribution to the struggle for socialism in Britain and an indespensible part of the 'alliance for socialism' which the British working class must create to break the power
KrITISh imperialism. The LCI annual conference will be an ODDOr tunity to map out how to
towards a mass movement
British withdrawal from Ireland.
Unfortunately, it
pers likely that the will have to fight off an attempi by a minority change its political course,
tion leadership
tion leadership bodies and bv journal in the hands of an exclusively London-based, and therefore unrepresen-
editorial group.
jority want to hold the meeting after they find out when their supporters can attend
At least the walk-out at the last executive has forced the leadership to adopt the procedures which we argued at that time were demanded natural justice. Nonetheless, it is quite clear that the overwhelming majority have already made up their minds on this issue. The May hearing will be anything but a fair one. on Pat recall tronation The
BOLTO HU orgainisation sub-
had already been referred back IC them. In effect that was a decision not STO support their recommendation that he appear before the NEC
But at last Friday's meeting the organisation sub-committee brought
Concannon under
Mansfield Labour Party's AGM represented a huge step forward for the organisation of a left wing to combat * Don Concanon and his right wing mafia.
Centered around the delegates from the NUM and members of WAPC, the left came within a few votes of winning the ma" jority. NUM member were elected to the execu tive committee and the post of political education officer. Attempt to expel
Organisations like the Labour Women's Action Committee have recently had to fight off similar attempts by Labour Briefing sup porters to impose their wil on majorities by organisatonal manoeuvring.
It will, no doubt, be
NE LABOUR
• Anglo Irish Accu
• Peter Hain internew • Frogressive Democrats
Labour and Ireland, No 11, out now, price 50p for
single copies
L&I, LCI, BM Box 5355, London WCIN 3XX.
back the same proposal -and this time 11 through by 13 votes to 10. Those who voted against were: Margaret Becket. David Blunkett, Eric Eric Heffer, trances Curran, Eard Mere Man, Eric Joan Richardson, Tom Sawyer, Dennis Skinner. answer to the NEC bet te Wall will he is endorsed as a can-
that could well mean that he won't be endorsed
The decisions of last Friday's national executive committee are regrettable. By continuing with the ex-
pulsions of comrades fron
Liverpool we are going to do untold harm to the par ty. Throwing people out of
Me DarLy. orreusue to eu dorse their candidature because of their politica positions is simply wrong.
attack in Mansfield
Militant supporters have also been sucessfully been resisted.
This victory resulted from a long drawn out struggle against forces
support breakaway UDM. wno have maintainer sustained attack on constitutional rights of the party's members. It is the
first major challenge that Concannon has ever had to face on his own home ground should
welcomed and supported by the whole of the left in the Labour Party.
firmly rejected by LCI ac tivists because the work the LCI has done is too important to allow it to be squandered tarianism. Socialist Action urges its readers to support
attend what promises to be
very important conference.
&IRELAND
SIX MONTHS AFTER
THE ACCORD • Loyalist Reaction • Extradition
• GLC • O'Shea Trial • Namibia • Reviews • Windscale • Letters
Subscrintions (t3 for 5 issues). write to:
Anti-apartheid
News got
June 7966).
Make your area an
apartheid-free zone
paign was set up,
shopkeepers followed by a delegation.' would have a hard time persuading them. has
Jagun for and brought by environment officers.
the
docks. which are crucial.
freedom would be great step forward?
labour Southern Africa on
Obstruct the NUM in its
Africa.
bing raids on Libya.
African withdrawal from
mass rally against Reagan's war in Libya. The largest workshop
(including South Africa.
with the north west TUC and the AAM.
and set up a liason committee.
Socialist Action 25 April 1986 5 March for Freedom 28
• PREPARATIONS are well under way for the
Saturday 28 June march for freedom, which is likely to be the biggest anti-apartheid march Bri tain has ever seen. It starts at 12 noon in Hyde Park and marches via Whitehall to Clapham Com mon. A2 black and red posters and A4 black and white leaflets are already available from AAM at 13 Mandela Street, London NW1 ODW (01-387
| SOCIALIST ACTION spoke with JAGUN
AKINSHEGUN who is chair of St Pauls, Bristol Apartheid-free zone campaign, one of the first such campaigns in the country. "The cam-
The said to persuade local shopkeepers or businesspeople to stop selling or trading with the South African regime. We wanted to implement sanctions in our community because the Tory government doesn't have the moral or common sense to implement. We wrote to local
But lobbying was not the only activity. 'We've also picketted Barclays,' he told us. 'And we have been leafletting and petitioning to get the message across. This is more important than persuading a few shopkeepers.' However it also get a good reponse from the shopkeepers: 'they exist to make money and if people didn't go in and ask abou South African goods and refuse to buy them, we
Media coverage is bad, as could be expected but the message is getting across. Police also tried to discredit the campaign, bringing charges against
Noise ronunon, a charge usually
Bristol council has passed resolutions but, says Jagun 'in terms of doing something concrete they've been slow, as the ban doesn't extend to the
The campaign now plans to petition for a statue in honour of Nelson Mandela: 'Bristol is full of statues in honour of capitalists who exploited African people for profit — to have one in honour of someone who stands for peace and
North West conference
TWO HUNDRED delegates came to Manchester Town Hall for the north movement conference Saturday. The con ference was opened by Peter Heathfield who explained how the judiciary was used to
long battle to withdraw pension fund assets from South
Diane Abbott received prolonged applause when she exposed the hypocrisy of British and American governments who refused to impose sanctions on South Africa while carrying out bom-
Mwahafar Ndilula of SWAPO condemned the US government for attempting to link South
Namibia to Cuhan And Simon Sapper, AAM trade union organiser, reported on the growing support for the movement among trade unionists. The conference organisers extended the lunch break to allow delegates to take part in the
A well-attended NUM workshop decided to use the broadsheet to help improve awareness on the issue among miners in the north west. NUT delegates took the opportunity to set up an anti-apartheid teachers' group, and engineers decided to organise a speakers' tour of district committees.
Women delegates heard a report by Jean Gittings of Women Against Pit Closures and agreed to establish a women's network to build solidarity among women in the north west. The black activists' workshop discussed ways of increasing the profile of black people in the anti apartheid move-
at conference was that on the Labour Party and Southern Africa.
The workshop agreed to mount a campaign to secure a manifesto commitment to break all links
diplomatic links) with apartheid in Several delegates also stressed the importance of implementing existing regional party conference policy, which includes a pledge to organise a regional demonstration in co-operation
The final plenary session pledged full support to the AAM and its ten-point programme of action
Page 6 scan of this page
IMPERIALISM AND THE
THE BUSINES OF AHEAD TERROR
Socialist Action WHEN PEOPLE woke up Tuesday morning to find that US planes had attacked Libya British bases a visible shudder went through the through British political life.
The rapid demonstrations took place in almost every major city during the week were the tip iceberg. The first opinion polls, taken for the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian, showed 69 percent against the bombing raid on Libya and only 29 per cent in favour. More strikingly still the poll for Channel 4's 'News at Seven' showed 40 percent now favouring the removal of all US bases.
Tribune, which has recently been devoting itself almost exclusively to being the house journal of Kinnockite witch hunting, was forced to break with its master and call on its front page for the removal of all US bases 'nuclear and non nuclear'.
CND mobilised within hours of the attack, called Saturday's extremely successful London demonstration, headlined its leaflets mobilising for the demonstration with the demand for the ending of all US bases in Britain. In the week following the attack CND has received a flood of membership applications and donations.
One area were ine pontical almosphere did not penetrate of course, was the new style NEC of the Labour Party. It seems that only two members present, Eric Heffer and Dennis Skinner, were prepared to vote for a resolution demanding withdrawal of all US bases as well as condemning the attack - Tony Benn, who supports this call, was at another meeting.
Neil Kinnock made another of his predictably feeble and lamentable displays in the House of Commons Kinnock is increasingly only surring when attacking Militant not Reagan or the Tories. He led the way in calling for economic sanctions to be taken against Libya for terrorism 'instead of military аспоп.
Kinnock, in his supposed zeal for the fight against "terrorism, needless to say did not call for economic sanctions against the United States - which is at present preparing and arming Nicaraguan contra terrorists as well as
THEMBERS OFOCIETY / EXE TER
EQUITY FOR
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
NOT ALL
ACTORS
L DE BAA
25 April 1986
The lessons of Libya
last having carried out direct terrorist acts
against Nicaragua such as mining the from gulf of Corinto.
But despite Kinnock and the NEC's and best efforts it is clear that the reaction
to Reagan's attack on Libya is going to be a turning point in British politics. It which can also be a major turning point for
the left. It is therefore vital that what is ot the taking place is understood.
The first and most urgent task is to stop the attack on Libya itself. Some sections of the left, ferences which emerged United States and the Western Euro pean capitalist powers, have first and foremost concentrated on this inter-imperialist clash - notably the obvious difference in approach between the US and Europe.
But this is wrong. No matter what weight is given to exploiting the contradictions between the which is important and which we deal and with later, the first aspect of the situa-
tion is the defence of a semi-colonial country, Libya, perialism. 'Hands off Libya' is the very first demand that must be raised by the
That becomes all the more important because of the decision by the ÉEC states for actions against Libya such as restrictions of Libyan diplomats. The ett must be against these sanctions against Libya as well. The source of problems in the world, and Middle East, is imperialism There must be no fudging on this whatever.
The diplomatic sanctions used by the EEC states can, and will be, used to whip up an atmosphere military and other attacks United States and its allies on Libya will be claimed to be justified.
United Nations Security
France, together with Australia, joined with the United States and Britain to veto condemnation of the US raid on Libya - which is another reason why sections of the left are wrong to tie condemnation of the attac: on Libya to support for, or illusions in, the United the Nations.
From the practical and political point of view of defending Libya, and the future of world politics, however, the conflicts between the imperialists THE BUSINESS VE PHERCA shown over Libva - tant the relation of forces between the
working class and capital that underlies these conflicts - is important.
From the point of view of practically defending the Libyan people the dif-
BRITA
ference between the US air strikes and the present diplomatic actions taken by the EEC states is importan though the lett must oppose both.
into the light of day for a large number of people a key part of the structure of world imperialism - that is the relation between the United States. and the real nature of that alliance. noting the difbetween the
world imperialist system has been the
western Europe. NATO is the core American military policy. countries have an economic weight, and military capacity, rivalled by any of the United States' other allies. Break that link of western Europe and the United States and imimperialists, perialism would
weakened. alliance, threatened by two enormous pressures under attack by im- which combine to aid any working class
sturggle in western Europe against it.
Firstly NATO
Alliance was against the USSR — a force with which the west European working class has neither any interest nor any desire to have a war. Secondly is directly Alance struggle or revolution in the third world. - not Qaddafi.
world countries, came to the fore during the American war in Vietnam. The threat of war with the USSR, and the threats against where new resources for attacks on semi-colonial
by une countries, dominated the anti-missiles movement. The attack on Libya directAt the ly poses the threat to third world conCouncil tries from the NATO.
developments struggle against imperialism in the "third world' countries and the strength of the USSR - combine to reinforce west European working class opposi-
BUSINESS
and more impor-
RAMBO" REAGAN
even
For the attack on Libya brought out
Britain, western Europe and
Since 1945 the central pillar of the
relation between the United States and
The EEC
not even remotely
enormous!)
furthermore,
and the Atlantic directly constructed
the Atlantic aimed against
That last aspect, of attacks on third
it to free up US
States imperialism.
But the long term reality is that both
- both any upsurge of
forward purely
their territory mobilising
Cuba
LOQLIDGE
law of politics.
the differences ing classes.
classes are relatively real independence
the ruling class
of western Europe.
THE WEEK since the United States attack on Libya has seen rapid development in politics. First thousands of people took to the streets to oppose Reagan's attack and Thatcher's complicity. Opinion polls showed massive opposition to the raid. Then Kinnock, and the Labour leadership, threw themselves into attempting to break
EAL
00
tion to support for links with United
That opposition is of direct aid to those fighting imperialism throughout the world. The fact that the EEC put
diplomatic sanctions against Libya, and France and Spain refused to allow US planes to overfly
to attack it, aided action against Reagan's assault. The fact that the EEC, unlike the United States, has refused economic sanctions directly aids that country just as the west European trade with
directly aids both it Nicaragua. 'When the enemy is divided we are strengthened' is an elementary
Nicaragua, with its skillful use of
between the 'Conradora' group of Latin American countries and the United States - and its playing off of western European trade versus US economic boycotts - has shown once more the practical importance of exploiting the conflicts between the capitalist states and their rul- against
But in western Europe the most important conflict is not between the wes European ruling classes and the Unite States. The west European capitalist
incapable of any from the United States. The decisive conflict question is the conflict ot the west European work. ing class both with US imperialism and its own ruling classes. The decisive feature of the political situation is not
contlicts the United States, but the rise of anti-imperialism among the working classes
U.S.
RESPONSIB FOR THE CONTINUIN *r NUCLE ARN RF
The rise
anti-im
SINCE THE mid-1960s three great waves of what the press likes to refer to as 'anti-Americanism' but which in reality have as their most fundamental feature a struggle of the working class and its allies against imperialism - have developed in Europe.
The first such wave was the struggle against the Vietnam war in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The second was the struggle against the Cruise and Per shing missiles starting in 1979. The third, which started with the reaction to the attack on Libva. we profoundly believe is the opposition to the attacks
Jaune semi-colonial countries which the United States and its allies are preparing.
Each of these waves of opposition has gone politically and socially deeper than the one before. Active opposition to the Vietnam war only touched in a mass way students, and a significant layer of young people. The second wave of struggle, that against Cruise and Pershing missiles, deeply touched the working class movement but it still only questioned a particular, extremely central, weapons system.
Page 7 scan of this page
LEFT
Thatcher's expulsions of Libyans, and Kinnock's call for economic sanctions.
= of an
perialist left
What is notable about the reaction. to the attack on Libya is that it has questioned, for the first time, the entire military basis of the alliance with the United States. The demand for the withdrawal of all US bases has been turned in one stroke from a fringe issue into a minority but extremely serious view in the labour movement. It has also openly blown to pieces Neil Kinnock's sophistical distinction between nuclear and non-nuclear. US Thousands of people who had mobilised against nuclear weapons made the
leap to directly demonstrating as well against a military attack on a semi-colonial country.
These facts are of profound importance for the people of Libya, course of British politics, and for every
other semi-colonial country threatened by imperialism. Because the prescence of these American bases in Britain is not only a threat to the USSR and Libya, our a alrect munary unreal te every semi-colonial country - as last week's attack showed.
The struggle to remove these bases
from Britain directly
imperialist struggle. It is one in which
victory would aid the struggle of the
up the developing movement against the
US. They threw all Labour's weight behind
the EEC's diplomatic actions against Libya,
JOHN ROSS looks at the reasons for the huge outburst of protest and the frantic drive of Labour's leadership to head it off.
people of the entire world. It also shows - as does the way in which CND and its base mobilised against both the Malvinas war and the attack on Libya - the anti-imperialist dynamic of the anti-missiles movement.
This deepening struggle has with social deepening radicalisation in the working class. In the United States it is naturally not surbases. prising to find that the only section of the population which in its majority opposed the US attack on Libya is the black communit port among whites for Reagan's attack running at over 70 percent.
the
In Britain what is occuring is that the deepening OT struggle is, logically, being combined with the remaking of the composition ot the working class inselt - notabi an enormous increase in the proportion of women and black people in the working class.
As Trotsky once wrote: 'Opportunist organisations by nature concentrate their attention on anti- the top layers of the working class.?
The struggle against imperialism, and every working class struggle, has pro-
gressively brought into action more and more oppressed layers of the working class and the working class
leading role in every struggle of the last period -strike and at Wapping as well as for
equal rights, other manifestation has been role of women, Greenham women,
Greenham women naturally formed links and alliances in their struggles. Demands for, and the reality of, organistion in the Labour Party and trade unions has continued to deepen.
with the creation of the black section in the Labour Party. By turning into the Labour movement the black section has created the first nationally structured movement of black people
Britain. The development is necessarily directly linked to the struggle against imperialism throughout the world because the virulent racism of British society is itself a product of the imperialist past and present of our society. The black section necessarily has , to defend not only black people in this country the black communities in Handswor th, Brixton, Tottenham, and Southall
- but those subject to racist rule in South Africa and imperialist terror in Libya and Palestine.
the black section shows that deepening political course and its development as a major anti-imperialist force in the British labour movement.
the black community in turn has added its weight to what is the oldest struggle against imperialism which takes place both within and outside the boundaries of the British state - that against the British occupation of the north of Ireland.
itself penetrated more deeply into the British labour radicalisation of Sinn Fein in Ireland linking itself to a dialogue and support from the left wing of the Labour Party. That struggle in Ireland has received particular support from the black community, from miners, and from the women's Labour Party conference. This year
from Ireland.
This deepening the working class in history anti-imperialist been combined the drawing, of OT the
population.
polls show sup. anti-imperialist
during the 1960s -
NUT In 1970.
culminated in
collar trade unionism in Britain.
The same their very
with the decision,
political funds
La political fund already.
Women, of course, have played a
NUT for including in the miners
and every demand of women. Another the leading 'professional' outlook. above all the in the anti-
political funds
Women Against Pit Closures and
logically and ment - is clear.
women's se - S••E
A further step forward was taken
black sections — as in the police attacks on
nationally.
The series of statements issued by
The radicalisation of women and
it constitutes the
That Irish struggle for freedom has
movement with the imperialism.
from students
the National Union of Students voted to become the first mass organisation in Britain to explicitly call for total British withdrawal
process of radicalisation and proletarianisation is extending into wider sections of the population. The popular and 'serious' press has written about the disappearance of the working class and that everyone is becoming 'middle class'. In reality the exact opposite process is
The period since World War II has ing class. seen one of the greatest expansions of
- above all women into the workforce and the creation of an entire new black community. This is showing tions of the up in a radicalisation of quite new and previously 'conservative sections of the
The white collar unions have not only grown enormously in the post-war period but changed their relation to the labour movement. Prior to the 1960s key white collar unions, for example their 'own' NALGO and the NUT, refused to af- interests. filiate to the TUC. They however joined
- in the case of the Increasing militanc 1985-86 in a teachers strike which was unparalleled in its for example, militancy in the entire history of white
process is now being taken through in a more institutional
with considerable chance of success, of white movement collar unions to ballot on establishing
- the CPSA and NU.
having already decided to hold ballots, and the IRSF having voted to establish
Another symptom of the same process is the struggle taking place in the
unification with the NAS/UWT and the creation of one single TUC affiliated teachers union -a fight also for the teachers unions to rid themselves of the last vestiges of a
Of course it will take a long process of development before the main white collar unions move from establishing
Labour Party. But the direction of mo. tion - first affiliation to the TUC, then the establishment of political funds and deeper involvment in the labour move-
Finally, of course, it was the miners being strike, the historical vanguard of the entire British working class, that first gelled and centralised this entire process —
symbolised the profound developments taking place. Scargill and the NUM leadership in the strike showed not only the miners but the entire labour movement how to bring together war. and ally all these developing forces.
The miners consciously allied with women, the black community, gays and lesbians, the Irish people, and anyone who was prepared to support them. They also reached out directly for inter-
rational support. They themselves hav
ecome the backbone of supporting a those in struggle nationally and inter-
The NUM in the strike became the most advanced mass force ever seen in the British labour movement. One that combined resolute class struggle with the social alliances that are necessary for the labour movement.
The process which is taking place in Britain, and on a lower level in other west European imperialist countries, is clear. A profound social recomposition of the working class — a break with a male white dominated labour movement, and the massive entry of women and black people into the workforce — is being combined with a growing anti-imperialist political development. As this process is still only at its beginning.
most important developing force for socialism in Britain for six decades - indeed the most important in the history of the labour movement since the rise of British
The political dynamics of this process are clear both in Britain and western Europe. Naturally the last place to which the mass of the working class turn is a direct onslaught on their own imperialist ruling class. If that were occuring today we would be talking about an immediate struggle for socialism in Europe. Only the most advanced sections understand the need for a total struggle with their own ruling class. Instead the mass of the working class and oppressed first turn to partial expres- class sions of struggle against imperialism But each progressively bring the working class successively closer to a full scale clash with its own imperialist rul-
The most general development since
the 1960s is the wholescale clash of sec-
west European working
class with US imperialism. This grow-
ing opposition in the working class to
US imperialism explains a considerable
amount of hesitancy of the European
capitalist states in supporting the US -
they fear not only for their own interna-
tional interests but for political stability
in their own countries. For clashes with
US imperialism bring the west Euro-
pean working class into conflict with speeds.
ruling classes and their
First the general radicalisation of
the struggle against US imperialism
spills over into opposition to direct west
European imperialist interests. Thus,
the movement against
Cruise and Pershing missiles spilled
over in Britain into increased support
for British unilateral nuclear disarma-
ment. In west Germany, for the first
time since the 1950s, the anti-missiles
produced party,
Greens, which is opposed to west Ger
man membership of NATO - against
Socialist Action 25 April 1986
the core of west German foreign policy.
Secondly the west European im. perialist ruling classes are not capable in present conditions or historically of any thorough going break with the United States Since 1914 most of western Europe has had no economic social, or political equilibrium outside its relations with the US. 'Opposition to US imperialist actions is weak and vacillating by the ruling classes whereas the opposition of the working class is thorough going and decisive.
The west European ruling classe cannot today break with NATO, canno remove US bases, cannot utterly oppose the attacks on semi-colonial countries - in short cannot do any of the things that would represent a real break with US imperialism and its policies The west European ruling classes, particularly the British, cannot grant the types of demands on this field that are
generated in their labour movements. The opposition of the west European working classes to US imperialism leads them to outflank, and directly clash, with their own ruling classes — a process we have been seeing in Europe ever since the beginning of opposition to the Vietnam
There are, of course, major forces in western Europe which are attempting to utilise the clashes with the United States for their own reactionary imperialis purposes. One of them, Neil Kinnock. leads the Labour Party. Their aim is to drag the working classes of western Europe behind west European imperialist interests instead of the direct ones of the US. Mitterrand's policies in France, Gonzalez in Spain, or Soares in Portugal show exactly that develop ment, and also the way they fail to really oppose the United States policie
Kinnock opposes the bombing o Libya not because he is against imperialist attacks on-semi-colonial coun tries — he supported the Malvinas war fully for example — but because, from the point of view of the west European imperialists, he prefers other forms of attacks on Libya than direct military assault or economic sanctions.
But Kinnock, or Gonzalez, cannot prevement pro sections of the sin prevent a
sections of the work. ing class into conflict with imperialism. West Germany with the anti-missiles movement, Spain with the anti-NATO movement, and Britain with CND were the countries where there were the big. gest protests against the US attack or Libya - that is against direct military assaults on a semi-colonial country.
This process is the most importan development in British and west Euro pean politics - the most decisive in its implications for the future. Out of the miners strike, for the first time since the 1920s, real class struggle forces emerged in Britain - forces that, in Arthur Scargill's words, 'stand and fight'. That left was itself rooted in the huge postwar transformations of the working
and the international developments that accompanied it. The really decisive task was to link that left, and new forces that develop, to the international struggle against perialism. That is directly what is taking place under the pressure of the class struggle — as the reaction to the attacks on Libya shows.
There are still many confusions an
mystifications in that left. Tony Beni
or example, in the very same speech i
vhich he savagely attacked Reagan bombing of Libya, could state that he stood both for the existence of Israel as a Jewish state and for a state for the Palestinians — as if the two were not completely contradictory. Confusions about detente, the role of the Soviet bureaucracy, and similar themes still exist. Different forces develop at different
But the deep opposition to the attack on Libya has given yet another boost to the convergence of forces which emerged out of the miners strike and out of the transformations within the labour movement, with the interna. tional struggle against imperialism. That is the most important and fateful development in British politics. The most important to push forward in every way.
Page 8 scan of this page
Why the U.S. hates Qaddafi
Socialist Action THE UNITED States prepared its attack on Libya with one of the greatest campaigns of vilification and 'disinformation' in recent history. Qaddafi was declared a "mad dog' by Reagan. Libya was portrayed as d gigantic and powerful terror state.
In reality Libya has a population of only 3.6 million - marginally bigger than Nicaragua. Its economy is only one fifteenth the size of Britain's
- and one hundredth the size of the United States. Britain spends fifty times as much on arms as Libya, and the United States three hundred times 20 MUCH
The US and British ruling classes hate Oaddati not because of any military or 'terrorist' threat he or Libya pose to them, but because Qaddafi's is one of the remaining Arab nationalist states in the Middle East - one which continues to oppose US and British policies.
JOHN ROSS looks at the nature of the Qaddafi regime against the background of the rise of the struggle for Arab liberation.
THE modern history of the 'Middle East' can only be understood against the background of the long struggle
the Arab peoples LO hemselves from the direct and indirect rule of foreign powers - first European, then the United States and Israel in combination with the European powers.
The long permanent European rule of the Arab states began in 1830 with the French invasion of Algeria. In 1839 the British seized Aden at the tip of the Arabian peninsular. In 1860, for the first time, a French army was sent into Lebanon - although this time it withdrew.
Generalised European conquest of the African Arab states started in the 1880s. In 1881 France seized Tunisia. In 1882 Britain took effective control of Egypt. In 1898 Kitchener undertook a full scale invasion of the Sudan. In 1912 Morocco was made a French protectorate. In 1911 the Italians had invaded Libya. Revolt
Penetration into the eastern Arab world by the European powers was initially held back by the Turkish empire. The defeat of Turkey as a German ally in World War I — a defeat under the pressure of Arab revolt -was used by Britain and France to expand their rule in the Arab East.
Britain had directly instigated Arab risings against Turkish rule. These started with Husein, Sherif of Mecca, rising in revolt against Turkey on 5 June 1916 — the campaign being referred to in racist British legend as the activity of 'Lawrence of Arabia. Saudi Arabia was the state created by this struggle.
By 1919 Turkish rule had been
25 April 1986 overthrown. The Syrian National Congress, meeting in Damascus in July 1919, proclaimed independence for a united Arab Syrian state covering what is now Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel.
But the British and French had no intention dependence. Already in 1917 Britain of allowing
had issued the 'Balfour Declaration' tavouring the establishment of a Jewish settler state in Palestine - the nucleus of the future state of Israel. The French and British proceeded to seize and divide the liberated Arab territory.
France took control of Syria and artificially partitioned it poses of 'divide and rule' — into Syria and a christian dominated Lebanon. The British seized Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine - and establised de facto domination over what became Saudi Arabia.
Everywhere the European powers established or maintained reactionary local rulers — notably the monarchies in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and Libya. These regimes were based on the large landowners. This was coupled to the consolidation of Zionist settement in raresune resisted by intense Arab struggles.
World War II shook European rule in the Middle East to its foundafree tions. The British seized the oppor- tunity of France's defeat by Germany in 1940 to push the French out of Syria and Lebanon in 1943. But the anti-French movement the British had themselves encouraged turned into pressure for Britain to get out which it was forced to do in 194.. Nationalism
The decisive event in the rise of modern Arab nationalism came on 23 July 1952 with the overthrow of the Egypuan monarchy - and
establisment of a government whose main figure became Nasser.
Britain and the United States had the aim both of encircling the USSR and confronting the radical Arab
challenge. By 1955 they had organised the Baghdad pact
members were Britain, Turkey, Iraq,
Iran and Pakistan. Nasser
played a key role in establishing the
non-aligned movement
from China, and
Yugoslavia.
On 26 September 1955 the Egyp
tian government announced it was
agreement
Czechoslovakia to purchase arms
the first arms agreement signed with
an East European state by an Arab
country. This decision was followed
by mass demonstrations in its support
in Egypt.
In July 1056 Nasser announced
nationalisation of the Suez canal. In
October and November 1956 Israel,
France, and Britain invaded Egypt.
Amid massive opposition from the
Arab world, and direct pressure from
Carriers America and Coral Sea with combat and auxiliary vessels
LIBYAN TERRITORIAL WATERS Misurata®
LIBYA
La United States which feared the consequences of the British action, the British, French and Israeli forces were forced to leave Egypt. It was a gigantic victory for Nasser making him the dominant figure of the Arab world.
Two years earlier, in 1954, revolt Arab against French rule in Algeria had
started. In 1956, confronted with this threat, the French were forced to concede independence to Morocco and Tunisia. dependence the same year. After a further six years of struggle Algeria gained independence from France in 1962 — one of the great revolutions of modern history. for pur- In 1958, the Iraqi monarchy was
overthrown. Armed struggle for the liberation of Aden from British rule started in 1965.
Independence
government in Libya represented part of this massive upsurge of struggle against European, US, and reac tionary Arab rule. Libya formally gained independence in 1951. In reality however the British, and then the - which was United States,
domination over the country. Libya was ruled through the reactionary monarchy of king Idris. The US constructed the giant Wheelus airbase -the largest outside the United States
Mediterranean. to transform the Libyan economy. From 1960 to 1977 Libya had one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world - an average of 17 per cent a year. In 1969, under the impact of these economic transformations, and radicalisation produced in the Arab world by Israeli aggression in the 196 Six Day War', Idris was overthrowr
undertook 700,000 hectares distributed to small landholders and two million hectares brought under cultivation. A minimum wage of €100 whose direct medical care was established. month Was
In turn support for the Qaddafi. The govern-
ment presented itself as following a at the Ban. "third way' between capitalism and - together socialism
Green Book.
PILO
International
with lafi utilised the rapid growth of th
West European economies during the late 1960s and early 1970s, to achieve a special economic relationship with western Europe and secure relative economic independence United States. By 1982 66 per cent of Libya's exports went to Europe with 19 percent going to France an another 18 per cent to Italy. In tur Libya became a significant market for European goods. Italy supplies 29 per cent of Libya's imports and West
& Benghazi Gulf of Sirte were not
week. Weakness
Sudan gained its which had
itself.
The establishment of the Qaddafi
maintained tota
which commanded the eastern
In 1960 the discovery of oil began
Syria
Opposition
The new regime under Qaddafi position
rapid social reforms.
OT WCIC
The introduced. Free
These major reforms created mass
the only one -summarised in Qaddati's
1950s and 1960s.
On the international front Qad
their economy.
from the
With the
CRETE
Mediterranean Sea
TobrukGermany per percent. With these economic features it can be seen there
simply political economic considerations which held back the European countries from endorsing the US attacks on Libya last
Wal.
Politically Qaddafi initially pursued a course which combined opposition to Israel with virulent anti-communism. Libya was one of the chief backers of the reactionary coup in the Sudan in 1970 which smashed the Sudanese Communist Party and the Sudanese trade unions. In this Qaddafi followed the Nasser path —
combined a foreign alliance with the USSR with ruthless suppression of the workers movement and Communist Party in Egypt
Internally Libya is ruled officially by the direct democracy of peoples committees. In fact such committees are specifically excluded. from the police, the army, the oil industry, banking, and insurance - that is all the decisive areas of the economy and
Jordan the state apparatus. Libya has in fact a dictatorial regime — which nevertheless achieved major reforms for the masses compared to the previously existing state of affairs.
In foreign policy Qaddafi has pursued a radical brand of Arab nationalism - Nasser being Qaddafi's openly acknowledged hero. Libya nas proposed at various times political union to Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan and
following the path of Nasser's union of Egypt and Syria.
trade,
Libya pursues a total policy of op-
Israel. provides economic aid to Nicaragua. It has also supported the IRA. Interna- Libya tionally Libya has become increasingly aligned with the foreign policy of the Use United States attacks
on Libya have grown precisely as the Nasserite wave of Arab nationalism has run its course. The most important success in US foreign policy during the 1970s — indeed one might say
was precisely in exploiting the weakness of the Arab nationalist regimes which emerged in the
States such as Egypt, Syria and Iraq nationalised massive sections of paratuses remained firmly capitalist. Nasser's army for example was in direct continuity with that left by the monarchy. The Nasserite, Iraqi, and Syrian regimes deliberately went out of their way to crush independent working class organisation.
onset of the economic crisis of the late 1960s and early 1970s the old 'nonaligned' path followed by Nasser was blocked. The 'radical' Arab states, above all Egypt,
In Depth
Missile sites
Libyan airbases Refineries Oil fields began to turn to varying degrees back to stronger links with imperialism. This process rapidly accelerated after Nasser's death in 1970.
In 1972 Nasser's successor Sadat ordered all Soviet military advisers to leave Egypt. In 1973 Egypt allied with Syria to launch the 'Yom Kippur'
The aim of the war was to establish a better bargaining position for the Egyptian bourgeoisie with the United States. The same year Egypt was opened up to foreign investment
Agreements
The treaty of friendship between Egypt and the USSR was ended. In November 1977 Sadat made his visit to Jerusalem to become the first Arab leader to recognise Israel. This opened up the process which led to the Camp David agreement and full ecognition of Israel by Egypt
The Camp David agreements 1 turn heightened the aggression of the Israelis who in 1982 invaded Lebanon to attempt to impose a further client state on their northern border. Sinc then Israel has been attempting to pull
into negotiations on its recognition.
With Egypt now directly allied to the United States Libya became a direct target for the United States. In 1977 Egypt, backed by the Us, provoked a war with Libya in which Egyptian planes bombed and strafed targets within Libya.
In 1981 US naval and air forces carrying out 'manoeuvres' in the Gulf of Sirte shot down two Libyan aircraft. In 1982 Washington banned the import of Libyan crude oil into the
States In January 1986 Reagan ordered a total ban on all
commercial contracts, and other transactions with Libyan assets in the United States. Reagan ordered that all US citizens should leave
On 24 and 25 March 1986 US ships penetrated into the Bay of Sirte and began attacking Libyan targets. also emerged at that time that in July 1985 the United States had urged Egypt to invade Libya. Struggles
The regime of Qaddafi is not socialist. It suppresses independent organisation of the working class in
Libya. While it supports highly pr gressive struggles - against Israel, o the Irish people for independence, of Nicaragua — it has sold out other for its own purposes - for example the Polisario Front fighting for the independence of the Western Sahara from Morocco.
But Qaddafi's regime has brought real gains for the Libyan people. It is infinitely superior to anthing im perialism has to propose for Libya. Socialists should have no hesitation in fighting alongside it against the assault launched on Libya by the United States and Britain.
Page 9 scan of this page
Reagan's state terrorists
South Africa's illegal trial
International
organisation of the
operation which blew
Six MORLES ago
Chamorro Suomited
sworn evidence to the In-
ternational Court
Justice in the Hague that
the whole operation was
carried carployed directly ag agents
the
CIA and operating from
CIA mother ships.
Chamorro was unable
to submit his evidence in
person because, since he
has broken with the FDN
and spoken out against US
policy, immigration of-
ficials will not let him leave
the USA where he now lives.
This damning evidence from the horse's mouth
and much OLner will
uNs highnet togal body. / lead the
the UN's highest legal
find in tavour against the USA's Magrant Nicaragua's act of terrorism.
The USA, however. pay attention.
Earlier in 1985 Reagan an-
June - USA would not recognise the court on Central American matt on 1°O tober, ears. matters two years. ahead anyway, the USA the court decided to announced it would no
Namibia
SEVEN Namibians have been found guilty of 'ter-
rorism' in an illegal trial in South African occupied Namibia.
on 27 February on some 70 counts under South Africa's Terrorism charges of propagating communism under the Intermal Security Act were dropped.
The seven face the prospect of lengthy imprisonmenT when The trial resumes for evidence mitigation of sentencing
NAMIBIA
ON 5 JANUARY 1984 Edgar Chamorro was woken in his home in Tegucigalpa, Honuras by a CIA 'advisor'. Chamorro was at that time a leader of the Frente Democratico Nacional (FDN), the leading
'contras' who are fighting to overturn the Nicaraguan government. He was told to read out a statement on the FDN radio claiming responsibility for mining Nicaragua's ports - an
up a Dutch dredger, Panamanian tanker, a Liberian ship with British crew, a soviet tanker and a Japanese cargo vessel.
longer accept the court's jurisdiction except for 'mutually submitted' cases - that is, cases it thinks it can win.
The USA has thus effectively abandoned any pretence legality, threatened with a judgement which could not but find it guilty of overt and flagrant state-tinanced ter. rorism.
Nothing could make clearer what the contras actually are: straight creaton USA.
Originally they drew in a BULOCE figures such as Chamorro himself. and the tamous 'Comandante Cero', who were involved in the overthrow of Somoza.
They also succeeded in drawing In forces from among the North Atlantic Coast population of Nicaragua, particularly the Miskito Indians, who were alienated by early mustakes orune revoniton But the overwhelming bulk of the FDN's cadres were drawn from former Somocista guards, more or less ourecu subore nate Lo the 900 or so 'CIA advisers now with them in Honduras. Comandante
The seven accused changed their pleas to 'guilty'
Act - after 108 counts and
on 16 April. The convictions of the seven were obtained the basis of evidence from detained state witnesses held incom.
POLITICAL PRISONERS REPRESSION THE FATE OF THE NAMIBIAN POPULATION
Cero was taken out of ac-
tion by a bomb widely con-
sidered have been
planted by the CIA itself,
because of his opposition
to these ex-Somicistas.
The FDN is very little
more man an anor te
US government with no in-
aependence. financed,
directed, and run by the
CIA and the US military.
It is for this reason that
they have
support within Nicaragua
and this in turn is the root
cause of their military
reverses, not - as Reagan
tries to maintain
because of their lack of
weaponry
But this in turn drives
them LO lacucs or very
brutal and destructive ter
Reports abound of
kidnappings, mass shoot-
ings, assassinations, rape, and torture
Their initial strategy, municado for over a year.
Only 26 of the 154 witnesses had appeared in court so tar, out evidence was already coming forward of assault and torture. One of those detained, Thomas Nikanor, died in the notorious Osire detention centre, allegedly after hanging himself by his socks from a nail.
The seven accused are: Frans Angula 28, Norbert Ankome 25, Elkan Shoombe Simon 21, (all are general workers); Bernardinus Petrus Shikongo 47, Desiderius Ankome 26, (both teachers); Erastus Uutoni 28, (an insurance broker) and Volho Kashilulu 22 (a scholar)
The South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) has called for a major campaign to stop this trial and secure the release both of the seven accused and the large number of state witnesses.
The courts in Namibia are imposed on the Namibian people against internatonal law and are con demned world-wide. The position the British Government has COR -sistanty taken over such trials is 'to refuse to consider intervention until the judicial process is completed.' This in effect constitutes a recognition by -Ine Government that these courts are in some way legitimate and offer a fair legal process.
revealed in 1983, was to seize border settlements and 'liberated
, creating a corridor
through which Honduran and US forces would
enter
Operation 'Big Pine',
which was held in Hon
duras in May 1983 when the plan was supposed to take effect, involved 1,600
soldiers and 4,000 Honduran troops in a simulated maritime invasion of a foreign territory by Honduras with backing from US marines anc paratroopers.
The plan failed because the - 1.200 troops who entered Nicaragua from Honduras immediately after Big Pine were isolated and defeated by the FSLN and had to retreat. Thereafter the contra tactics increasingly turned to terror, the purpose of which was essen-
The seven pleaded guilty to undergoing military training, and espis of
explosives, reconnaissance of security forces and sabotage within Namibia.
When the trial began proceedings stopped afte he defence stated that th South African laws being applied were in contravention of the 'Bill of Rights' endorsed by President Botha as the platform of his puppet 'transitional government' last June But Justice Strydom ruled Unlal no competent auth ority' had been established
Statement for the
release of the
I the undersigned:
NOTING the illegality of South Africa's
considers the 'Interim Government' established
acknowledge that South Africa has no legal
jurisdiction in Namibia;
conviction in Windhoek where the accused are
including the Terrorism Act;
Urge HM Government to intervene and call for
the immediate release of the seven and reaffirm
its commitment to the implementation of UN
security Council resolution 435 for the
independence of Namibia.
tially to sabolage ine
Nicaraguan economy
By August 1984 a
report to the.UN showed
that Nicaraguan casualties
stood at 4,038 civilians of
whom 854 were murdered 3,031 dednapped and 153
wounded. children
under 12 had been killed
and 37 maimed. In addi-
tion 3,353 members of the
been
killed total
casualties to 7,391. Tennes as had Brilled
someone had
100,000 civilians, kidnap.
ed hal a million, and
killed off a number
soldiers equal to the entire armca rorces. nis is real state terrorism on the grand scale his is what
president Reagan
the future Reagan wants to offer the world. Don't let to overturn the laws.
The South African occupation of Namibia is illegal in international law, and the United Nations has recognised the right of the Namibian people, led by SWAPO, to wage an armed struggle in order to end the illegal occupation and bring about the independence of Namibia. The Namibia Support Committee has organised a picket on 15 April and is circulating a statement. • For more information contact: Namibian Short, On I-482 3885. Committee, Terry
Namibian prisoners
presence in Namibia and that HM Government
by South Africa in Namibia as 'Null and Void,
Condemn the trial of seven Namibians and their
charged under South African imposed legislation
South Korea chosen by an electoral college. This was
Wacking members placed under house arrest.
it is heavily dependent.
Haiti of
masks, and bulletproof vests resort to infantry weapons'
security'
Duvalier.
France the Communists.
to be made to their left.
called for an extraordinary party congress.
Holland
with four years ago.
areas, also lost votes.
PvDA is the only big party to oppose cruise
cent and 87 per cent voted for the PvDA.
Socialist Action 25 April 1986
WORLD
More than 50,000 people demonstrated against the government in Kwangju on 30 March in response to a call from the New Korea Democratic Party to demand constitutional revisions to provide for direct popular election of the president. Under the present constitution he is established by the present incumbent, dictator Chun Doo Hwan who took power in 1980 with US
Opposition to Chun Doo Hwan has been rising since the fall of Marcos. The day after he was ousted the NKDP issued a statement saying *We are all watching the Philippines because there are striking similarities to South Korea'. A wave of vicious police attacks on NKDP members followed its decision to launch a petition, for which they seek 10,000,000 signatures, demanding the constitutional changes. The police announced that the petition violated the present constitution and anyone who signed it was liable to be jailed for up to seven years. The NKDP's offices were raided and temporarily closed, and 300 NKDP
There are 40,000 US troops in South Korea, one of the USA's most vital Pacific military bases After a period of hectic economic growth it has suddenly been hit by the gathering economic storms over Japan and the USA, on whose custom
Since Duvalier was overthrown the USA has sent $384,000 worth of riot gear to the Haitian army including 150 shotguns, 10,000 rounds of birdshot, 5,000 teargas cannisters, gas
Haitian youth attacked during an anti-government protest on 21 March also claim that the US supplied rubber truncheons used to beat them by the police. The US embassy issued a statement saying the army was being given riot gear so it would have 'the capacity to confront internal security emergencies without having to
The New York Times of 4 April also said that the USA was considering sending a number of military advisers to "teach techniques for internal
The biggest security problem facing the new "democratic government is a rising wave of protests demanding elections to replace the military ruling council who took over from
The Socialist Party's left' opposition CERES has voluntarily dissolved itself and the party leadership has decided to make a drive to capture the 'right-wing? voters. The leadership regards the election, in which the fascists for the first time entered parliament and the right wing parties took over the government, as a success because their party rebuilt itself at the expense of
The Communist vote fell to 10 per cent and the Socialist Party vote rose slightly to 30 per cent. The Socialists now feel there are no further gains
The Communist Party, meantime, has entered a very deep crisis and is racked with internal debate and criticism. A number of regions have
Municipal elections on 19 March registered sharp gains for the PvDA (Partij van de Arbeid, the Labour Party). In the big towns its vote rose by up to 12 percentage points compared
Main losers were the Liberals and their partners in Holland's coalition government, the Christian Democrats. But the smaller left-wing parties, who presented common slates in many
National elections take place on 21 May. The missiles and attacks on the social security system.
Immigrants were entitled to vote for the first time. In Rotterdam and Utrecht between 83 per
Page 10 scan of this page
10
Reviews
Chapter House Dune
THE FIFTH volume of the Dune series, Chapter House Dune, Author Frank Herbert died recently, so one of the best known - - and best time has ended unfinished.
Reviewed by Alan Freeman
Dune popularised 'sword and sorcery' fiction. Instead of death rays and rocketships, writers
with wizards, emperors and gladiators. A flimsy scientific veneer may put them in the distant future, but in fact they flee the horrors of the modern world into the paus to create Dune.
Herbert stope Dune Arab history. is a dead ringer for ninth century North Africa. For the spice trade, read the gold trade. For the Fremen, the 'free tribes of Arrakis read the desert nomads.
Paul Maud-dib Mohammed, combining mystic prophet, revolutionary leader and founder of a new imperial dynasty.
Why SUCH popular? Fantasy fiction is an escape from the world of money and from the world of machines.
Money degrades and depersonalises. It converts relations between people HutU relations between things. Human values are sacrificed on the altar of Mammon by the universal priests of corruption.
Machines the ultimate in inhumanity. they not only stand apart from humans but they rule over them. With the first *Dark, satanic mill, they became symbols of slavery.
In pre-industrial myths and fairy stories, the horri-
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Socialist Action 25 April 1986
has just appeared in paperback.
— science fiction sagas of all
Able and inhuman is beast-
Humanity fights its own creator. age it fights its creations. ne innuman snow are tificial. It is no. longer salutal Violalol humanity but a human violation of nature. Evil is no longer the Beast but the machine.
Science fiction, with precious few exceptions, misses the connection. he menace is not just money or machinery, but their fusion as capital, once our liberator, now threatening to destroy all nature, humans included.
Science fiction therefore divides in two. The Star Wars solution owes its origin to Samuel Colt and Henry Ford. It Is the gadget the personal machine. Han Solo's disguised Ford Mustang. rocketship. badly The raygun is a thirtieth revolver. These imder individual, personas images machines control. The car, the washing machine, the personal hi-fi give birth to the personal neutron bomb the WIle West salvation. Single handed uke kvwalker destroy. the ultimate Big Machine - the Death Star - with a coupé and a sixgun.
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backward to the feudal virtues of personal loyalty and honour. The genre is both anticapitalist and profoundly reactionary.
In the third volume of the sa, a erbert God Emperor of Dune, LaKeS this to its limit with the three thousand-year rule of the emperor to end emperors: all-seeing, allknowing, a fusion of god human, prophet and beast, the ultimate tyrant
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Islamic-style revolution, a desperately DCSS USUC comment on the struggle
It is to Herbert's credit that he spent the next two volumes trying to lead his fantasy humans out of this dead-end. God IS over thrown by Love. The gift of propecy is withdrawn. all-female Bene Gesserit change from an ambiguous, sinister and manipulative cult into the guardians of the universe
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Escape to the Islamic Hollye ad Wild Weste middle Neither solves our problems here on the real ear th, choice between Han Sola but if faced with or Darwi Odrade, I know what I would opt for.
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deploring the (personal capacity)
A tew motions call
with calls for a Scottish Assembly.
Council, congratulate the
important lobby
still goes on. support tor the Southern Board's nuclear development programme.
is made.
Apartheid Movement,
calling for
provisions at trade union meetings.
would be elected by the whole Congress.
dancy
On
from
drawn up
against witch hunts and prescriptions.
UNIONS
STUC Conference
THE 89th Annual Conference of the Scottish Trades Union Congress is being held in Aberdeen from 21 Monday to 26 Friday April. The final agenda consists mainly of motions
continuing decline Scotland's industrial base, condemnation of current government legislation in all areas, and many strong statements opposing Tory policy in both the private and public sectors. By Jim McGrory, NUR Delegation Member
positively for mass mobilisations of the Labour Movement against the Tories and Composite E from the NUM commits the STUC to this, linking opposition to the Tories
Other motions, such as that from Ayr Trades
NUM on its heroic struggle and commit Congress to campaigning for reinstatement of the sacked miners — urging atfiliates to provide maximum financial support. An
of the Conference is to be mounted by sacked Scottish miners, linked to a fringe meeting sponsored by the National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign — a reminder to Congress that for some the struggle to defend mining jobs
Two EETPU motions are likely to be strongly opposed; one on trade union recruitment which has provoked an amendment from AUEW-TASS criticising the 'one union, no strike' deals, and another motion on energy policy urging uncritical
Scottish Electricity Only one motion on the North of Ireland ap-
pears, pledging opposition to plastic bullets, to the
PTA, and to the Emergency Provisions Acts. No mention of the Anglo-Irish accords, removal of British troops or the Anti-Strip Search Campaign
A comprehensive motion on South Africa includes calls for increased support for the Anti
active support for COSATU, and an investigation (which is long overdue) into alternative areas of investment for Trade Union pension schemes. A motion from Aberdeen and Paisley Trades Council reflects the concerns of the STUC Womens Conference, by
resolutions from the WOLICIS COL ference to be taken at Congress, and for creche
The STUC General Council are moving a constitutional ammendment which will give the womens section an extra seat on the General Council, although this
The year Congress takes place against the background of a steadily declining industrial situation. Gartcosh steelworks has closed, Springburn railway workshop is halfway through its redun-
and Dalzell steelworks (another part of the Ravenscraig complex) looks to be next on the chopping block. By the end of the year transport chaos is imminent in Scotland as the consequences of the Transport Act begin to bite.
transport policy there is a joint motion ASLEF and the NUR which is sharply
critical of Strathclyde Regional Council's policy
regarding public funding of the ever-decreasing
rail network. Several lines face grant withdrawal
(ie, closure) after the Regional Council elections in
May, when a further transport budget will be
The current print strike does not get a mention, though it will undoubtedly appear in emergency motions. Neil Kinnock will address the conterence on Wednesday afternoon. The last item on the agenda also promises to be the most controversial
- it is a motion from Edinburgh Trades Council
Page 11 scan of this page
News
OVER 500 activists from the mining communities, and the support movement, heard Arthur Scargill at a meeting organised by the South Wales Women's Support Groups (SWWSG) at Caerphilly in the Rhymney valley last Friday. It was a real platform of struggle.
The Rhymney valley had 12 collieries in 1952 There is only one left now. The secretary of Penallte Lodge told us in openins the meeting that it is stil fighting for its existence. The support of women was one of the great things to come out of the strike, he said. It was on the role of women that the meeting largely concentrated.
Sian Chairperson of SWWSG, made contribution that Arthur Scargill was later to describe as 'brilliant'. Sian pointed out not only the role of women in the strike, but that the Justice for Mineworkers Canpaign is now the most important campaign and the defence of the sacked and jailed miners was the most
important message we had
To give in now, and not to defend the union, would be to leave nothing.
called on all miners think again
are currently being
GMWU, TWU and the AUEW
dustrial unions in the power industry
expected to produce a big majority for action.
Many rank and file
power workers have felt
that they have been a soft
touch in negotiations over
recent years. They feel that
the showdown over pay
By Ray Sinfield,
EETPU Power-
Distribution shop
steward
(personal capacity)
and single staff
should have been fought
two years ago when the
miners were on strike vic-
tory would have been cer-
tain.
The fight for equal
holidays and allowances
leading single staff
status, would destroy the
double standards in the in-
dustry between manual
workers and the manage-
ment union, the Electrical
Power Association (EPA),
led by John Lyons.
The combination bet-
ween the management and
the EPA works at the ex-
pense industry's
manual workers. The
struggle between the EET-
PU and the EPA, who
have been political bed-
partners in recent years.
increasingly
bitter, with the EPA con-
stantly frustrating the
demands of the manual
WOLKCIS
The UK electricity sup-
ply industry has been ac-
claimea as ine
cient in the world. This ef-
nclency nas been achieved
at the expense of manual
workers, who have seen
their numbers drop from
142,000 in 1967 to 78,000
Wales pit women rally
about redundancies, and talked about the tragedy of the open cast sites scarring the environment when the deep mines were being
By Maggie Simpson closed. Sian had joined the DOur Party SUCC the strike believing in the need
Brenda Thomas spoke about the striking printworkers. Women have played a major role in the strike naving learnt
from the miners dispute
Heather smiln from Silentnight spoke of their 10 montn surike Tor reinstatement of sacked workers. After 10 months on strike life is hard in-
the Silentnight deed for strikers. She appealed for continued financal support from the aouT movement, support for their picket the any the port for une rally Silentnight strikers are organising on 17 May in
Power workers
ballot on action
POWER AND Electricity Board manual workers balloted by the EETPU,
- the four in- over this year's pay and conditions claim. All four unions are campaigning for a vote for industrial action in response to a 5½ per cent offer. The ballot is widely tod Flexibility and increas-
ed productivity for manual
workers has been seen bi
the Tories as a green light
to prepare for privalsd
Both management
LIUL and the EPA have
cooperated to undermine
pay and conditions
manual workers in the in-
dustry.
The difference in con-
ditions and holidays bet-
the EPA members
ana ine manual workers Is
constant source of The EPA is
not threatened by the use
outside contractors.
But contractors are
creasingly being used in
manual areas Will scall
regard agreed pro-
cedures.
The EETPU is still
reeling because of criticism
by its own members over
its role in Wapping.
The union's leadership
is trying to win back the
confidence of Power Elec-
tricity Board workers who
had previously been its
base within the union. But
amongst the rank and file
there is tear of a sellout or
a repeat of the ballot a few
years ago when a large ma-
jority was registered for
strike action but which the
Chapple leadership called
off without reballoting the
members, and with barely
any improvement in wages
and conditions. and the
Hammond
EETPU. executive would
dearly love to pursue this
course ONCe The
rank and file must build up
tne pressure to ensure tnal
this does not happen.
Keithley.
Linda Pengu Ffestiniog from the haenau support group that campaigned TOI the slate quarry workers in their seven month dispute, acknowledged the inspiration of the miners strike. She also argued that there must be a fight against attempts to divide Wales along either North/South lines or on the question of language. We must fight for one Wales that will fight for justice and the working class.
In opening his speech Arthur Scargill described this platform of those in struggle as a testiment to the miners strike. Acidly he pointed out to intellectuals like Eric Hobsbawm that the NUM did not pick the timing of the strike — but that the government and the NCB had chosen it with their pit closure programme. He went on to explain the gains and lessons
dithe stricensiderhi ha
consider SHOU defeat.
Twenty four pits have been closed, not the seventy that the
wanted. That is a gain of the strike. The generated a political movement in the working class
takeover
ing the election in a
critical time
members employed in British Telecom and the Post Office. Bosses are demanding CUts of between 30 and 50 percent among NCU represented
engineers who have voted on industrial action to defend their jobs.
At the same time BT's
breaking of union agreements on job security
and working practices
actions in recent months.
In Glasgow 3½ thousand
engineers walked out after
management tried
disciplining workers carry-
ing out an overtime ban.
Despite BT's massive pro-
fits last year Glasgow had
declared 146 jobs 'surplus
due
to requirements:
an arbitrary cut in the
wages budget.
The union's Broad
Strategy, - a blueprint
an industry run for
CDAL
SOSPAN
NOT
DOLE
GILFACH COCH MONSTERS
that can be witnessed in the struggles of Silentnight, the printers, the slate quarry workers, and Women Against Pit CLOSUTeS The only crime of the
NUM to fight for jobs. In Was doing so the miners union challenged the right of the employers
cut livelihoods, challenged the heart of the system, and asserted the miners rights to determine their own futures.
NUM lost In asserting right
As
incitment riot. All
In
the police COldemned.
once again called NUM Closures associate
'people profit'
the
ineffective weapon
fighting against
jobs.
in the
this
The John
Golding
their around
chestrated anti-Militant
executive members has
Through the strike the miners had learnt of the suffering of black men and women, and received the support of many black communities.
The Chartists, the Tolpuddle HalLyls the Suffragettes and the Greenham women were not defeated declared Scargill. As far as the achievements of the strike miners strike 'the can't be measured in days and weeks but will be numbered in years.
Scargill said there had been a decimation of the South Wales coalfield when there should have been 12 new pits. Labour rarty poncy Is to stop nuclear power stations an LOUS shoul be plemented.
On Libya Scargill con sidered that Thatcher's support for Reagan's attack to be the act of someone unfit to govern The Labour Party should not be pursuing a policy o witch hunts but the figh the government. Within 24 hours of the Labour Part
Power neu
ases should be out of th country.
It was the first time Arthur Scargill had spoken in the South Wales coalfield since the strike. would get them kicked off. In reality EC candidates
the BL slate have always been reluctant to identify too closely with the BL, hut in addition
alls are bein made from
vithin the B away from Militant supporters, up alternative left' organisato What will really deter-
mine the fate of the cur-
rent left on the EC will be
it's failure to launch any
fight throughout the
miners strike on pay or
defense of jobs.
It's call now for sup-
port for the Post Office
workers, and for a na
tional overtime ban in BT
represents its first attempt
to lead a struggle against
management attacks since
it split over obeying the
courts the anti-
privatisation fight three
years ago.
Socialist Action
porters in the NCU are in
favour of maintaining the
WUCST possible unity of
the left in the union
against Golding and the
right, and are campaigning
for members to vote for
the united left slate in the
EC elections.
Socialist Action 25 April 1986
Anti-victimisation
strike at Ford
light.
The form is designed to obtain information on BT workers' union and Dollical activities The Ford Central branch of the TGWU (1/1107) has published it (See box). Ford deny any collusion between themselves and
They say the first woman wa. sacked for bad references (but refuse to disclose the reasons) and the second for not declaring her university degree.
Originally, Ford maintained it did not employ graduates on line produc tion work. KiLDecause that is so evidently false (the union's district official, Steve Hart, has a Cambridge degree and worked on the line for eight years) they changed their story.
They now say it is the failure to disclose the information which they ob-
Correctly, the union maintain there is no obligation to reveal qualifications which have no bearing on the work performed.
If there were any doubts before about the sackings, the evidence of the BT form clearly reveals
systematic political vetting by the BT bosses and col lusion by Ford. The company, however, claims it discovered the woman's degree by telephoning around the universities.
The union does not believe management's story and a 'failure to agree' was officially registered with the com pany at the woman's final appeal on Monday.
official recognition has not been easy to
achieve. It required the combined effort of the
PTA Shop Stewards Com
mitte to guarantee the rea
issue of blacklisting woulc
be raised in the final ap-
peal. Ana aespile huge
suspport for the strike, of-
ficial backing was dropped
the next day under pres-
sure from the company.
Shop stewards are furious
with the union official.
Ford bosses are ex-
tremely unhappy about
being caught with their
fingers in the till.
that in effect it
11 'A' AND 'B' SHIFTS in the sealer deck in the paint, trim and assembly plant at Ford, Dagenham voted to stop work on Monday 21 April against the victimisation of a woman new starter. The strike reinforces the position of the branch leadership who maintained that the woman, and another woman sacked earlier, were dismissed for their previous union activities in British Telecom (BT). As a result of the union campaign a secret BT form has come to
reopens the case of the first woman sacked by the - conbally.
They will use anything they can and anyone they can to help them reverse the gains made by the union. The PTA Shop Stewards Bulletin has already warned the workforce that Fords may use the red-baiting trick.
Ford bosses obscure the real nature of the sackings and the kind of blacklist they operate.
University degrees, lateHICSS. HICSS. records, red-baiting, bad undisclosed prison
references - these are the excuses they use. It is all a smokescreen. In fighting to defend the rights of its new members the TGWU branch has performed a service to the whole labour MOVCHICHL Had they lay down and played dead not only would they have created a precedent for Ford bosses to weed out union ac tivists, but the scale of organised victimisation b BT and Ford would have lain buried. This is now a national political issue based on concrete evidence of collusion bet ween two major com paniews to vet thei employees' union and political activities Whatever information is held by the BT unions should now be brought out into the open, and a campaign waged to defend the right of workers to be ac tive in their union.
Of course, such a cam paign will meet fierce resistanci from Our bosses. It will generate red-baiting reaction in the national press which will be backed by the govern. ment. Its aim will be to establish the right 01 employers to control wha groups workers can join what newspapers magazines we car subscribe to, what idea we can express and who we can associate with. And like every bully the bosse will pick on the weakest That is just what Ford tried to do with new starts But they didn't reckon or a fight from the unior branch continuing.
VICTORY TO THE PRINTWORKERS
The Lessons of the Miners Strike Speakers:
JOHN LANG
(Deputy FoC, SOGAT Times Clerical)
MARK HUNTER (Sacked Miner from Notts)
DOREEN WEPPLER
(NUR member, Socialist Action Supporter)
KINGSLEY ABRAMS (Labour Party Black Section)
Wednesday 30th April 7.30pm St Bride Foundation Institute Bride Lane (off Fleet Street)
Page 12 scan of this page
Wapping stop the
What printworkers
demand
PAUL HARRIS deputy FOC at the Sun was at the lobby of the SOGAT Socialist Action about the threat to the dispute. THE problem with even talk about purging our contempt of court is that it. gives the impression to our members not alrecuy mvolved, and the rest of the
MOvement.
Tn2TE we have lost. It is good that the NEC didn't go along with the demands
purge but 'keeping under reyew do damage to our fight to win support irom une rest of Fleet Street and the rest of
There is no doubt that we are hurting Murdoch and that there is a huge amount of sympathy for our cause. But this will only by tapped by stepping up action. Without a clear and militant lead, the rest of the membership has no sense of direction. SHIS IS why the ballots at Benrose
Watford went against us.
The reason Brenda (Dean) gave for even callin ballot — which she had no need to do was that Murdoch was looking for any old excuse to close these two enterprises. But if we lose the national fight they'll their jobs anyway. We are all in it together and this is what the leadership needs to ex-
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SoCiAlist
ACTiON
executive and spoke to
plain.
What Brenda has to take on board is that it is only because of our action so tar inal Murdoch ha: been forced to make any oiler al al. Ine preseni
SOGAT proposals
News International
capitulate to every single one of Murdoch's original
demand Murdochs
Dirty Dozen'
highlighted in all our
leaflets right at the beginn-
ing.
No serious appeal has
been made to the rest of
traue MOVE.
ment. I was up a Askern
collerv in Doncaster lasi
weekend and they told me
that they are still waiting
for a direct appeal from
our NEC for financial and
physical support.
But we are not taking
the leaderships faint-
heartedness lying down.
The rank and file leader-
ship is fanning out across
the country calling for
support on May Day and
in barucular for tne mass
picket on 3 May. The joint
clerical chapels nave waue
a demand that the leader-
calls and campaigns
for total stoppage of
Fleet Street on that day.
We have still got
everything to win. Free Book Offer! ake out a years inland subscription and
ill send you free one of these book JUSTICE: The Miners Strike 1984-86
by the Campaign Group of Labour
On Afro American History b Malcom
Ok me outcole 1s My Life by Nelson Mandela
retreat
The Wapping dispute is now in a critical period. Figures just published for the News International titles show that the boycott campaign mounted by the print union leaderships as their main tactic is having little or no effect on their distribution and sales.
with the urgent need to review their tactics and consider new ways of stepping up the action. But instead the national executive committee of SOGAT at its meeting on Monday discused ways of retreating from the fight with Murdoch. Although it decided, for the time being, not to purge the contempt of court imposed for its instruction to its members in the wholesalers not to handle News International titles. But this was simply a postponement.
By Brian Grogan
Meanwhile SOGAT's leadership has put to Murdoch proposals for ending the dispute which capitulate every key point Murdoch's demands. They would
• No recognition of chapels or branches and
level. Instead, the SOGAT LAST SUNDAY saw the Festival Hall in Kirby-in-
thur Scargill and Tony Benn headed the platform.
success for the Notts NUM.
'We want a world free from Ward world free from world in which this union, and the men and women who form Peaders of making a better ot it. become the
in which to live.
SUCICLY Scargill's words up the last Sundanis Justice tone OTTASt Rally, which had been in
Against Pit NULLS VY OLLIC Closures, in HeS DORSC to escalating Coal Board attacks on the NUM in Notts.
The response was tremendous. Over 650 people packed the hall and included several delegations from other
NUM and Women
Pit Closure:
(WAPC) areas from as far away as South Wales and Durham. Many others
SATURDAY
The unions and printworkers are therefore faced
leadership proposed single joint union body with sole negotiating
montre cognition ace tine
non-recognition unions and, needless add, abandonment of the closed shop. • No minimum staffing levels, no union rights over hiring, and complete flexibility of working with no demarcation lines.
Justice Campaign success in Notts
Ashfield packed to capacity at a rally in which Ar-
The mood of the meeting, organised by the local Notts Justice for Mineworkers Committee, was confidently jubilant. ANN HOWIE reports on this big
were turned away by the venue manacecal. The
ammand and deane
milia no fight as long
mination to and as hard as necessary to 1CLIC VI imised miners, and fo justice for vic-
one united union again in the mining industry.
As well as defence of the NUM a strong feeling
ty ran through the rally. It was typified by the roaring which greeted Scargill's announcement that one of the guest speakers invited to this year's NUM conference is the Honorary President of the South African NUM Nelson Mandela.
Once again, WAPC was at the centre of the ac TWeE -MacLeoe
SOGAT• NGA • AUEW • NUJ • SERTUC
PRINTWORKERS
MARCH FOR JOBS
GLASGOW/NEWCASTLE TO WAPPING
DAY 3° MAY
IN LONDON AT 7-30 ON THE EMBANKMENT
An EEPTU-type no-strike deal In this framework, the SOGAT leadership are considering the stunt offer Murdoch's former Grays Inn Road premisses to produce a "labour movement paper.
A similar weak-kneed response has come from the executive of the National Union of Jourpledged the commitment of the women's groups to continue for the
you don't want us to, we'll still be there, occausc wo know the job that needs to be done.
the Notts steadily improving With COSA the white collar sec. tion, the NUM now has 8,000 members, and the UDM faces a collapse as its leadership and functior are aiscreaited. Speaker after speaker highlighted BEne need tor the whole labour movement to campaign arallist threats of breakaways But also speaker described the role of political leadership which the NUM still plays in the British working classs.
The NUM must be a the forefront of the nex general election cam' said both Benn and Scargill. And this senti
SOUTH EAST REGION TUC IN COOPERATION *WITH THE JOINT MAY DAY COMMITTEE* Announce a major march and
* DEWAPPATION *
AT WAPPING
MAY DAY
Thursday May Ist 1986 Assemble Tower Hill from 8-pm nalists. After the national NUJ conference had repudiated the executives failure to institute disciplinary proceeding against those of its members working at Wap ping, the executive still refused to act in defiance of conference deci-
The retreat the union leaderships does not reflect the mood and
epresentative Lambeth
OGAT 8.
Council and Silentnight strikers on the platform.
They all explained the wa that the miners' strike had shown the way for these present battles, providing
nspiration to workers her and the world ove
As Tony Benn said, the political issues raised dur ing the strike helped to clarify all of Thatcher's policy: linking attacks on trades unions and on local coverineil back oopies sion and the Irish struggle
policy, the arms race and Namibia.
Renn went on to ex plain that the strength gained from these lessons. and the Justice Campaign in parncular, must be usec to build unity in the labour
- not only to moversen win the next election, but then to force the Labour leaders to • carry out Labour's policy Sharon Atkin, mem-
ment was echoed by the ber of the black section
militancy of the rank and file. The sacked Murdoch workers are still organising regular mass pickets down at Wapping and have put out a call for support from the rest of the labour movement Day and Saturday 3 May In response to news of th leaderships retreat, they called a lobby of their ex ecutive meeting. and newly selected to fight Nottingham HaST for Labour, gave her commit
the miners' struggle in her
Callag 'Labour owes the miners a lot,' she said, 'and it must repay the debt.
The message from the rally was clear: : no compromises, no delays, no
Scargill put it, CACUSCS but action. *Labour As must be as ruthless with mer cass as natcherna been with ours.'
This meeting showed a
porting it in Notts. marker significant remobilisation force which had receded for a while after une strike's end. It also showed the depth of political awareness which goes on developing among miners and their allies One thing is certain: Nott: NUM is alive and kickin to fight on in the name o justice for mineworkers.
← Socialist Action No. 137, 18 April 1986Socialist Action No. 139, 2 May 1986 →