Socialist Action No. 17, 8 July 1983
The scan: 017-jul-08-1983-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
•Extra-parliamentary action, not talks with the Tories'
Photo: JOHN HARRIS
Arthur Scargill:
ARTHUR SCARGILL; in his presidential address to the miner's union conference, rejected Len Murray's line of 'constructive' talks with the Tories, in favour of extra-parliamentary action to stop the Tory attacks.
lurch to the right by suggesting that now was the time for conciliation with the Thatcher government.
Just at the time when Tebbit is introducing third round of anti-union attacks, Murray wants to
Tebbit's proposals aim to break the financial links between the unions and the Labour Party, attack the closed shop and outlaw ocupations
Scargill responded by saying that talking to the ores wole be uke laking to the Nazis during the Second World War'. In his speech Scargill said: a government ve rech is in- We have re-elected national tensions and in-
No. 17 8 July 1983
SociAlist
ACTION
Len Murray last Thursday signalled yet another
creasing the likelihood of war government
although repring in the cintry, vill represents minority attempt to dismantle our health service, close down our schools, and destroy our basic industries - including coal.
Choices
'We have two choices. we can give in, as many people in Germany did in the 1930s, and allow the worst to happen - we can watch social destruction and repression on a truly
30p horrific scale, and wait for the inevitable holocaust. Or we can fight back ...
'This totally undemocratic Government can now easily push through whatever laws it chooses. Faced with possible parliamentary destruction of all that is good and compassionate VUlN society, extra-parliamentary action will be the O HY working class the labour movement'
Turning to the labour election defeat Scargill argued: We have to face the fact that the hearts and minds oi brilain s trade unionists, among them our members, have been moved by the vision oi a sociallst tuture. t is my contention that we need to put politics back into the centre of trade unon acuviLy.
On nuclear weapons
dole
But
it's not
worrying
them!
Scargill forcefully defended the women of the peace Callos. "The Greenham Common, and the people at the other peace camps have led us into a new awarenacco what is at stake in this race against Lule and the bomb. Lives
"They fight uncompromisingly for what they Dereve m ¡ney put tel lives on the line not just for and friends, but for all of us.
"The trade union and labour MOCHICHL MUSI match their courage and join whole heartedly direct action against the deployment of cruise and Trident missiles in Britain.
*The threat of nuclear war is and the need for workers stronger,
around the world to cam-
Maggie
Thatcher:
snatcher
THE REAL meaning of the Tories' election victory is becoming clearer every day. Now the Tories are talking about cutting the unemployment and supplementary benefit - which is only a meagre £25 plus rent for a single person.
Chancellor Nigel Lawson has indicated that the present level of dole payments will be paign on an international scale is now greater than ever before.
Arthur Scargill's attack on the policy of replying to Tebbit with 'discussions' will open a major debate leading up to the TUC.
Ever since the Tories came to power, Murray has been in the forefron
struggles against them his crowning achievements being the sell-out of the ASLEF train drivers and the debacle of the TUC leadership the healthworkers' strike.
Now he wants to abandon even the pretence of struggle in favour of pally chats with Tebbit.
BOIn the TUC and Labour Party conferences must reject further round of betrayals.
PRIVATISATION
Tories plan to sell off
everything but the
kitchen sink - and
they're closing that
down! See pages 8 & 9
discussed along with a series of other expenditure cuts this autumn.
Already, the real value of social security benefits has fallen by • 2o per cent since the Tories came to JUWC. Now they Wall further cuts at a time when both inflation and unemployment are set to rise again.
-In the Commons whether families on social security benefit could feed
'they should eat cheaper food'. Sick
This is a sick joke Already, nutritional standards are declining, and the consumption of protein-containing foods is well down.
The most outrageous reasoning behind the Tories' proposal IS that with the present level of unemployment benefit 'there no incentive to work'. If there is not much difference in pay between te core and low palu ous it is only graphic evidence
SOLARDISN low level of some wages.
and the rest know full well
unemployed to jobs vacancies is about 20 to 1.
Their new poor-law philosophy amounts unis. Ir you naven l gol a job you're lazy and don't want to work; it you have got a job you're lucky accept any wages on offer; wages are t00 high
miniscule dole pittance will help to keep them down!
The reason we don't have the same kind of misery in Britain today as in the 1930s is because of the social security benetits
which were won by the working class.
Unemplovment in the '30s literally meant not enough to eat - bread and dripping as the standard
and without to feed their kids. hat's exactv what that cher and Lawson
Wall Benefits
The question of unemployment and social security benefits is a question for every worker.
One way or another,
many sections of the work ing class are going to be af. fected by these proposals. First and foremost they must be fought by the unions - and that means the TUC.
The fight for a decent seve benefit has to go together with the light for a na tional minimum wage, and the organisation of the unemployed.
Even the Tory wets are going to oppose tese new moves. So far we haven't had a peep from Len Murray.
MODERN
TIMES
Page 2 scan of this page
Benn and Scargill speak at
2 Socialist Action 8 July 1983
ACTION
CND, the "freeze'
and the 'Russian
threat'.
TONY BENN'S speech to an East London CND rally contains two arguments which need strong reiteration in the peace move ment.
The first is that the accusation that the Soviet Union aims to Europe is a lie.
The second is that the US military build of an attempt to economically and militarily - both nuclear and non-nuclear - is part destabilise the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Without understanding escalation of the arms race is the responsibility of the United States, the peace movement can et politically disorientatec
EP Thompson in particular has been respon sible for strands threaten to undercut all the progress CND has made.
The first is that the Soviet Union has equal responsibility for the arms race. The second is that we should now, after the general election, build an alliance with the SDP/Liberals on the basis of the demand for a nuclear freeze and op position to Trident - thus giving us 'an anti nuclear majority.
Without doubt, these arguments are influential in the CND leadership, and the World Disarmament Campaign is already trying to launch a British freeze movement.
An alliance with the SDP/Liberals would be a major retreat for CND.
NATO, pro-nuclear weapons, missiles. It only opposes Trident on strictly financial grounds.
The demand for a 'nuclear freeze' is a fake and a fraud from beginning to end. It counterposes putting pressure negotiators to the mass movement tor unilateral disarmament which has been built.
Development
After the defeat of unilateralism at the 1961 Labour conference we saw the development. In the document 'Steps Towards CND leadership suggested a new campaigning
The Test Ban Treaty of 1963 defused the disarmament movement because 'real progress' in multilateral talks was effectively counterposed to the fight for unilateral disarmament.
To build a 'freeze' movement in Britain would be to aid the manoeuvres of the SDP/Liberal Alliance in their plan to gain prestige as the 'ge
Once sections of the peace movement start to accept KOe Union, as EP Thompson wants us to, then the arguments for unilateral disarmament and opposition to NATO are undercut.
The only sure to veterine hot der fight to ensure no watering demands, and to force the leaders of the labour movement to mobilise action, ing, mass demonstrations and 'warning' against the missiles.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the last week of December.
Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Socialist Action's views. These are expressed in editorials.
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invade Western that the present
argument which which The Alliance is pro and pro-cruise
the Geneva Stuart Hall, sections of the myths about the Soviet
is to down CND's
including blackstrikes
CND rally
SEVEN HUNDRED people crowded into East Ham Town Hall on Wednesday 29 June to hear Tony Benn and Arthur Scargill speak at
rally organised by East London CND.
By Chris Morris
Tony Benn announced "I shall carry news of this rally to niroshima wuere • 'What the Americans
and Thatcher fear
are not Russian
troops but the
American and
British people' says
Tony Benn
66
looking at international relations solely terms of technology. It is also an issue of policy. We must look at the foreign policy aspect of it, the real political analysis that lies behind the thinking of President Reagan and Mrs Thatcher.
But I want to first to look Ineir official statements. They have two a suncils The first argument is
that if we hadn't had the bomb Since 1945 there would have been a Soviet
Western Europe. This monstrous lie.
having lost 20 million people didn't want another war The Russians were involved in the war even berore the Americans, and fought Ballot
on our side ...
10 May 1941
Rudolf Hess flew to Scotland to persuade Churchill to join with Hitler in attacking Russia.
It is to his eternal credit that Churchill refused to do this (although I've got many other disagreements with Churchill). The liberties that we enjoy in Britain were bought in blood, including sacrifice of Soviet lives and blood.
is that the Soviet Union is ahead of us in technology. which is manifestly un-
and that it 1s heavily armed .which is manifestly untrue. Defence
In 1978 when the an-
nual Defence White Paper
was brought
Cabinet, someone (it
wasn't me) asked why the
French weapons
included in the tables.
were told that this
because the! aren't
members of the military
wing of NATO. As if there
was some doubt whether
would be
fired at Washington or at
hope to speak on August, the anniversary of une mrst use or an atomic bomb.' (Extracts from his speech are reproduced below.)
Arthur Scargill said, '11 is no longer a question of war or negce. but of war or absolute annihiliation.
'Heseltine said that the people of Greenham Common are breaking the law. We should say that we support them breaking the WE SHOULD look at the next step in CND's campaign. There is something too narrow in
in
Moscow in a war! This is
example how the figures are distorted.
Every army mothballs old equipment. When we mothball weapons they are taken out of the balance but every rusty old Russian tank from the battle of Stalingrad is still in the total. They never include the American army America the because it is supposed to they include the whole of be a buropean Lolal. vu LOC Kussian alilly Russia, although threatened by China on the other side.
Lie
to
Of course,
strong position
Acarall hatcher
liall
buttons to
onel
national Tribune
of said: 'The
United must be
Soviet in-
fluence.
'Soviet
influence'?
; to the Lon-
law. All the fundamental rights that were won outside Parlia we have
ment, not inside Parliament. Links
Jenny Edwards, the nationał trade union
for CND, explained why links had to be developed between the fight against ment and cuts and the
an American official said
nee de only Iwo level.
Soviet Union, military and we can use acallisi the
economic. We do not want to use the military lever unless we have to'. Article
On the same day an article by Professor Martin Schulman, formerly the advisor on Soviet affairs to
Cyrus Vance, spoke of "Right wingers who want
move step by irrevocable step, the aim be ing to set the stage for an ideologicallv driven campaign to force capitulation
American terms or the collapse of the Soviet emDIC. serious economic pro-
blems.
Colin Gray, the new head of the Arms Control
said 'Washington should
identify the
Wallis.
emergence of a post-war
world compatible with western values million American
casualties would represent a compatible level.
If this is true it may be
what we are really facing is
the United States planning
to destabilise the Soviet
Union the way i ly
distabilised Allende
Chile. Perhaps there is a
similarity between what
bomb.
'We have got to take these issues into the
NUrE. the FBU and NALGO have said tha they will have nothing to do with the civil defence charade. Now
ing out against nuclear
We support them.
The rally launched 'Leggin' for Peace'
REACAN/
DONT
CONSIDER
YOURSELF
АТ НОПЕ
ON
OUR
RANCE// Hess offered Churchill in 1941 what the strategic todaking Then America . today. there is a deep divergence
between the American government and the British people
What is the real purpose? What 1S their real fear? What the Americans and Thatcher really fear is
the American and British people.
Battle
The British army is us ing Northern Ireland as a training ground
magazine on 11 September 1972 a British army cap-
tain was quoted as saying:
"The six counties became a testing ground for new
such as rubber bullets and blocking off the centres of towns.
Brigadier-General Kitson said Internal subver-
sion and civil war rather
than international wal
represent the wars of the
Time added,
'he believes that Northern
Ireland is a place to learn.
This is meant to be a
discussion of how we ad
vance from saying "No
Cruise, No Trident, No
Polaris' to get to where we
News
march in East London on
September from Kelveston Hatch Civil Defence HQ to London Fields.
Rob Highley, speaking from East London Youtl CND, said:
It le the statistics hor provide the statistics unemployment and the
fodder for wars We can stop the : bomb. This march is part of the fight.
Photo: COLIN HEADWORTH
Photo: PETE GRANT
need to be. We must keep CND together.
There will be some who say we must tone down our demands, others will say that the direct action must be increased, , but we must keep it together. We must politicise the campaign
with an analysis of the real foreign policy of the West which behind strategy of nuclear rearmament
Suffering
This is not a criticism of the American people.
They are suffering under Reagan as we are suffering
under Thatcher. As we have
heard . 20 million of them
are considered expen.
dable. We free
ourselves from the
domination of the superpowers and develop a non-aligned foreign policy.
Our greatest obstacle
in Britain is not Mrs That-
cher, who wouldn't last
five minutes if it wasn't for
Fleet Street and the BBC,
al c greatest
obstacles.
We have it in our hands
to change the course
world history. We are liv-
ing in the most
and constructive period
those
believe in the
Page 3 scan of this page
News
Party Democracy CLPD supports Eric Heffer for leader because he alone of the four declared candidates identified with most of our aims.
He believes that conference decisions should be in principle binding on all party members, including Labour members of parliament; that policies agreed by conference should be pursued by the PLP in the way laid down in the constitution; and that the constitution itself
should be amended to GM COOKSON
regularise the relationship between the PLP
the Darty in the
Eric Heffer stands firm
party's commit- Photo: on ine
section
of the constitution. He is in favour of a significant extension of public ownership the crucial sec-
of the economy believes that there should be a commitment to this in
next party programme and the manifesto.
Eric Heffer wants the Labour Party to remain a broadly-based party
there room for sociaists of al shades of opinion, and he supports the right of members campaign as a group for LICH vartculal JULIEL of view.
He is opposed to any disciplinary being taken against such groups
members SUCH groups long as their behaviour conforms to the existing party rules.
Eric Heffer supported and helped steer through to merence ult
By Cllr. Alf Holme
(Manchester Wythenshawe CLP)
THE Wythenshawe
Labour Party, in
Manchester, will con-
tinue meeting despite
the Labour Party
NEC's attempts to
suspend it and its of-
ficers at a kangaroo
court inquiry on Fri-
day 1 July.
Russel Tuck, John
Golding and David
NEC's Lue.
three stooges refused
Wythenshawe officer's request to be informed of
the charges against them,
and be given time prepare a defence and to be represented by their solicitor. The same 'in-
By the Campaign for Labour
Why we say
'Vote Heffer'
Eric Heffer two recently gained democratic reforms mandatorv reselection and the electoral college and
defend them. He will work with us
that these reforms are put to the use
were in. tended: namely accondol JalL membership of Labour's elected representatives.
He agrees with CLPD that this will only happen if the operation of the new procedure is kept strictly within Tite normal party channels.
CLP) is concerned at the Party conterence primarily with the composition of the National Executive, for it is this which determines how conterence decisions interpreted and what new policies are adopted in the
Kangaroo court suspends
Manchester Labour Party
quiry' refused similar
demands from the Citr
Labour Party, also under
investigation.
The attempt to close
us is a part of the NEC'
campaign against the Ci
ty Labour try-
chester council Labour
Cane
Labour Party policy. 27
councillors
had the whip withdrawn
on NEC instructions for
vythenshawe
under attack because of
challenges to the decision
by Woodhouse Part
ward select
Booth.
Bakers
absence of firm conference guidelines. views he election of the leader ana deputy redder menlight.
Heffer's record speaks for itself. Unlike
variably supported ference policies major democratic
and obnosed the witch-hunt against the Militant tendency.
His extensive perience of the trade union movement and Tne long service to the party at all its levels have given understanding which will
in good steau lIl the task of healing the partv's present divisions and its rebuilding.
Both are vita conditions which must be met if Jabour is to win the nexi general election. and a supporter of City
as its (suc.
Clay electionidate in the
elections.
We do not yet know the result of this 'inquiry' but we have no intention of folding up
expect 85 percent of the
We attend have been on Manchester Kadio three times and we are willing to debate our accuses any time.
We'll be attending the Labour Party ference to put our case and we want suppon
Olga Maitland confronted by blockader A MASSIVE operation was mounted against the peace women's blockade of Greenham Common last Monday - including hundreds of police, military police and soldiers from the Queens Own Royal Highlanders.
Over 600 women turned up for the blockade, including delegations from the
Claud and New Zealand, as well as several European countries. Two MPs from the German Green Party also came. out of last weekend's Youth Manchester.
It focussed on a resolu-
committing the National Committee to build a 'jobs not bombs' march from Manchester to the TUC in Blackpool.
Delegates from several dozen groups spent Tne weekend discussing how to build on the great success of the 60,000 strong May Youth CND demo and festival order mobilise youth against the introduction of cruise and Trident.
Resolutions were passede Boosin Festivals more Rock the Bomb and gigs, a lobby of Labour Party conterence (with Labour CND and the
For the 2z alloutsupport
for the 22 October т.2r:= in London
Tories call in the
army at Greenham
Hundreds of police escorted military vehicles into the camp carrying
missiles site, while soldiers on observation towers kept a watch on he wide dine perimeter.
The soldiers are apparently being stationed at the camo on a semi-permanent basis to prevent intrusions while the finishing touches are put to the missile silos.
Persistent rumours
launching equipment has already been installed. It seems certain that the
Youth CND meets in conference
MASS ACTION by the labour movement is needed to stop the missiles. This was the message to come
CND conference in
It was agreed that , YCND needs to do more attract black youth.
maintained its existing DOSTON DOSLUIVe discrimination towards women and called on ac tivists support the Greenham blockade this week.
Some of the liveliest debate centred on the international reso uBois.
Among those passed were ones reaffirming YCND's commitment to the demand that Britain should get out of NATO and calling on YCND groups to mobilise for the September march commemorating the coup Chile ten years age
cruise missiles will be brought in by air from the United States, avoiding the embarass ment of having to bring them through crowds of blockaders.
At last Monday's blockade Lady Olga Maitland of Women and (Tory) Families for Peace turned up to read the
thanking the Americans for their nuclear umbrella.
On the same day a: the start of the Greenham blockade the Labour Committee for Transatlantic Understanding held a
Socialist Action 8 July 1983 3 press conference featuring Terry Duffy and Frank Chapple as star speakers.
Duffy called not only for the overturning of unilateralism, but also for the removal of leaders Who tolerate such a policy.
As the date for the arrival of the missiles comes closer, the labour movement must start to take action against the missiles. Every transport union is now unilateralist. We need a campaign to DOycoll all work ol, and all supplies to the missile sites. (see editorial page ?)
(CND
Page 4 scan of this page
LAW Council backs Heffer
4 Socialist Action 8 July 1983
IRELAND
UNFREE:
Behind Sinn
Fein's council
victory
IN A COUNCIL by-election held in West Belfast's Andersontown last week, Sinn Fein scored convincing Maskey elected on second count with over 8000 votes - 49 per cent.
The by-election was called after the resignation of Gerry Kelly, candidates elected at the time of the H-block campaign. Kelly, demoralised by the present demise of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, resigned his seat some time atter resigning trom the party.
In the North of Ireland, it is customary in this situation for the party concerned to nominate an alternative candidate who then gets co-opted onto the council.
When the IRSP failed to do this, the Social Democratic and Labour Party with typical contheir own members. Councillor Fergus O'Hare objected to this
The full results were:
Alex Maskey (Sinn Fein)
McPartland (SDLP)
Mary McMahon (Workers Party)
McGuiness (Alliance)
Jimmy Brown (Anti-informer)
Peoples Democracy councillor John McAnulty described the result Although it was historic in the sense that it was the first time Sinn Fein had been elected onto Belfast city counci, muca bitterness nao been caused D. the attacks made by Sinn Fein on Jimmy Brown of Lie lor.
PD had called on voters to select the anti-imperialist candidate of their choice. portional representation used in local elections would ensure the split vote would not loose the Scal.
French frame-up
revealed
IN FRA.VCE a major scandal is emerging over the way in which three IRSP members were framed up by the crack GIGN — an elite unit of Presidential guards.
the arrests took nace last summer when the Mitterrand government came under criticism after restaurant in which six people died.
Criticism urged action against terrorism the arrests ternational terrorists were now being held'.
During the news blackout in the next week, speculation was rife that Carlos the 'Jackal' or some rightist group had been pinned down. it was revealed that it was three IRSP members in the net the press
Veither the Dublin nor London governments wanted to move extradition proceedings, the 'evidence against the three is gradually falling ost with crucial exhibits being, mysteriously
What remains is a series of unanswered questions about the links between this secret police unit and Mitterrands' office.
A Piece of the Action
Some mornings
None ord No more politics
win, getting Alex
one of the four anti-imperialisi manoeuvre. causing the election
8163 49% 33.4% 10% 3.J/0 333 2%
'pyrrhic victory'
as the bro. of Goldenberg
mainly from the right wing who
- was deflected by and a statement that important in
When
said it had been duped.
and now I•am fed up with . I will never, I think, altend another political meeting -or march-or read another
THIRTY-FIVE Labour Party members representing Briefing groups or supporters from London, Merseyside, West Midlands, Brighton decided on Sunday 3 July to found a 'National Briefing supplement'
Leading off the discussion Jeremy Corbyn MP said that during the election there had been campaigns': the campaign of the rank and file, which had been enthusiastic and had wanted to win voters to Labour's socialist poncies, ana lal THE CAMPAIGN for Labour Party Democracy Women's Action Committee met on Saturday 25 June. The meeting was dominated by a discussion on what attitude WAC should adopt to the NEC elections in the Labour Party.
Not only did women discover that sections of ine indune lent naa op posed Jo Richardson stanallg TOT deputy leader, because she was a woman, Dul we were a so intormed that Frances Morrell had been chopped off the NEC slate because she was critical CLPD . Veither Judith Hart (above) or Renée Short (right) agree with WAC's policies A PACKED meeting of Labour Against the Witch Hunt's National Council agreed on Saturday 2 July to back Eric Heffer and Veil Kinnock for the leadership and deputy leadership of the party.
The meeting was one of the most representative
cobwess 2111
National Briefing set up
Swansea, Stoke and
of the leadership. which sabotaged those policies.
Now the party had to rebuilt by linking up WIll the extraparliamentary forces that would be resisting Thatcher's attacks.
This was not possible if
Women's Action Committee
decides to go for NEC!
leaders who staged a takeover at their last Annual General Meeting. women that the CLPD have chosen for NEC Slate are Margaret Beckett, , Patricia rewill and Judith Hart Maynard. and
Renee Short.
By Valerie Coultas
The Women's Action Committee decided write to all these women asking them if they supported their campaign to the Women's Section of the NEC elected by the women's conference other specialist sections are elected), and to get five CO BORS automatically
ACTION
SOCIAL
and Meacher
* PAN. The meeting held; nearly sixty meeting identified this year's leadership and NEC elecnons as une election' the party's the disastrous record of John Golding's witch-hunting NEC It endorsed the CamParty Democracy's slate for the
/ But then I shake say, What the hell..
the fudging and
CUlJIpromise with the right wing continued; clear alternative Kinnock had to be built. Neil
The new supplement is intended to be sold inside local Briefings, but to be produced in such a forn
be sold dependently where there is not yet a local Briefing.
The editorial board is open, and delegates can be sent fron ally Broad Lett, Call on the floor of conference from the Women's conference.
The committee didn't expect Hart and Renée Short to comply with these demands because their voting record shows their opposition.
As a contingency plan Le cure the collutice voted to put up its own candidates. Women who ference and who can delegated to con-
nominated by their CLP T
are therefore invited stand as part of a WACC slate.
Invite
The meeting also decided invite the CLPD leaders to attend the next meeting to discuss membership, fees, women's representation on BeTT slates and the CLPD's model resolution
on po reguest from Arone
request from Anne Pettilor, WACC secretary to make sure that womenand Labour left caucuses prioritised the WAC resolutions led to a heated debate. Many women pointed out that the debate about policy particularly when the NEC constituency section, and appromoti - by 23 votes to
— a motion from Mandy Moore not to take a position on the slate for the
grounds that this slate should decided women within the party.
The meeting heard report from councillor Al
Manchester Wythenshawe Labour
bay bormac #17
nything's better
paigning body or consti-
left group which sells the supplement.
Women
An initial editorial board of nine was elected including only three women. The chair dismisseric Cortess to set upa suggestion from board of six, with positive discrimination tavou
women. Instead ịt agreed to leave three furhad backtracked on abortion • was relevant to the position of women in the party.
Party on the actions taken against the Manchester
by the NEC and agreed to campaign nationally against them. Ballot
LAW further agreed to oppose the use of the postal ballot in the leadership elections, to call a fringe meeting on Saturday
Wythenshawe
resolution
WF.. • are appalled at the
procedurt adopted
the enquiry into Manenester
wwthenshawe ghour paris
and the decision to suspend
the be call
on the NEC: 10 Wythenshawe im-
Tellsial
mediaev ano in luure o
act by the laws of natural
in dealing with
allegations Constitutions
azall.
Lanour artie. ViZ:
CP's Mars
know xhat the accusations
who is making them allowed 1r question
those who are making them
ther places open for women.
The new supplement is a crucial step forwara Tol the left; a rank and file Dasca, broad lell Journa with national circulation and the clear rebuild the Labour Party as a mass. campaigning party.
Socialist Action urges all readers to support the
warmest wishes for its suc
LABOUR
BRIEFING
To affiliate to WAC write Caldervate oad, London Anne Pettifor SW4. night before the Labour Party conference, to seek speakers on the platform
large September rallies being organised b Tribune in support of Heffer and Meacher, to further its campaign for the Greenwich amendment to the party constitution and Tor reinstatement expelled editors of • Mili. lant. given and if should be up 1o 19€ allegations, not the CLP 10 accuser the
disprove it We super the action Wethenshawe in rechester Manchester attend the NEt: after their request for an adjournment to permit them io hear charges and prepar
defence, and Mancheste
sion to remise smuary ale their request for a solicitor
represent them was denied
This. agrees to invite a hear Man socake Ches ras
Page 5 scan of this page
Bringing back the rope?
WHEN THE judge put on his black cap he intoned the words 'to be hanged by the neck until dead' but the word 'until' had a chilling aptness. often anything minutes.
1919 took 71 minutes.
As a surgeon writing in the British Medical Jour. nal in 1927 explained: •Dislocation of the neck is the ideal aimed at, but out of all my post-mortem tindings that has proved an exception, while in the majority of instances the cause death was strangulation and asphxla.'
Sometimes even
would have been a merciful end compared to what happened
On 10 January 1946 at the Oakells Prison in Vancouver Bruce Potter, 47-year old US • service man, was hanged.
The shock caused blood to spurt from
his ears and they adjusted the rope
again. By then he had regained consciousness."
As usual the prisoner mounted the gallows and the was fastened round his neck, trap was opened so the body could fall into space But the hand that had tied the either
LOUC was unsteady or lacked training for the job. As a result Potter was decapitated when he fell and his head was torn from his body.
After Patrick Harnet was nume us boov cane to a standstill and the blood
Photo: CARLOS AUGUSTO GUARITA (Photoni
Womens
Hospital
Women
MAL
ORDE
LIFE prosecution
HARD on the heels of
the large anti-abortion
rally and SPUC
newspaper advertise-
ments comes more bad
news.
anti-abortion
pregnancy advisory ser-
vice, LIFE, alleged nine
months ago that consul-
gynaecologist An-
thony Hamilton per-
formed an abortion on a
who was 8½ Now
the Director of Public
Prosecutions
Has
the go-ahead for the test
case prosecution.
, 'Until' was from three to 15 pain wracked
The hanging of Antonio Sprecage in Canada in
poured down in torrents
the floor below.
When they lifted the cap from him, his head was hanging to the body only by a small piece of skin at the back.
At the of John Goffey the rope broke and his body fell to the ground. Although his neck was not broken, the shock caused the blood to spurt from his ears and they adjusted Ine горс again. By then he had regamca consciousness.
However the rope snapped a second time and once again the unfor-
man's body lifted up and held in place. To make sure third hanging succeeded someone held the rope in place, and after 12 minutes Coffey died of strangulation.
But the horror and barbarism of legalised murder doesn't just affect the victim.
To order a hanging, to sanction an execution or to
• perior mance in any way 1s de-
VE
Wandsworth District Health Authority voted to close the South London Hospital for Women last week as angry campaigners protested at the meeting
The charge is being
brought under the
Criminal Attempts Act,
and Dr Hamilton is due
appear court
Luton on 8 September.
1L S
that this prosecution is
taking place now, or that
the press have chosen
this moment to report it.
Every time the anti-
abortionists make a new
reverse the 1967
Abortion Act, horror
aborted
foetuses left crying in
rubbish bins
emerge from the pens of
Fleet Street hacks.
meaning and inhuman. Constant familiarity with execution breeds contempt for life and debases the human personality.
claimed
because that hanging must be seen as a delerrent Il nas to oc clothed in a macabre ritual
By Bob Pennington
that is institutionalised like some religious rite.
Viscount
This Is why Templewood wrote 1951 that: 'Executions are
history that it is almost im-
These stories usually
prove
substantiated, but the
and the
damage has been done.
There
doubt now that there will
soon to reverse the
Act. pro-choice
movement should be on
red alert.
In particular, effort should be made, starting now, biggest possible turn out of women and the labour LOYCHICHE for the National Abortion Campaign conference this autumn. (Socialist Action next week will include more delated look at tne latest anti-abortion of-
of news on the fight for a woman's right to choose from around the world.
• NAC. national conterence is on the & 2
October. Details from
NAC 374 Grays Inn Road, London WCI 01-278 0153.
possible cellent people to think or for many
the future without them.
rrom the time a person was sentenced until their death on the gallows they became good copy' for the tabloids.
First there was the drama of the trial, then the sentence, then the appeals and finally the appeal to the Home Secretary, the nrisoner's last resort. bach
heart-rending detail of the concence person's agony and fragile hopes
for reprieve were seized on by the press. Science
fiction?
We've had films like Android and The Stepford Wives where men have made realistic robots of the 'perfect woman'
Now here's a report, from the Daily Mirror of pioneering experi ment in this direction.
Not normal
'Clara Lindner made her husband's life a misery for 12 years by chasing every speck of dust «uner nome Frankfurt ... he decided
suaded her to specialist.
'Professor Rolf Hessler told her that her entire personality had to be changed and in a comDucated operation removed a tiny section of
NOW Clara is different wolfall.
Perhaps this new innovalidl will CuL the escalating divorce rate?
Men will be able to send their wives for a lobotomy if they annoy them in any way and get a nice, compliant personally what they . mean by health cuts! (Jenny Davenport)
Compiled HILARY DRIVER. MAna contributions to Order' Socialist Action, 328 Uppe Street, London N1 2XP to arrive not later than Thursday a week prior to publication.
The pain and sorrow of their relatives Was a suD ject for a titillating story, and the response of the public a matter for repor- laze
This most sensational of all sensational events the legalised murder of another human being could sell newspapers.
so the aci of hanging seeps into all society like some poison corrupting everything it touches.
remember talking to two dockers who had both been in jail when a man was hanged. They told me
MUHAMMED Idrish has won his right to appeal against Home Office deportation order in the High Court in London.
By Bob Smith
The judgement 17 June came in the same week that the National and Local Government Officers Association decided to support his case, passing an emergency motion at their Isle of Man conference.
The motion called on NALGO to build and sup-
day or acuon l Muhammed is deported, and to support a national demonstration on his behalf in September in Birmingham.
Idrish is a Bengali social worker who worked in in-
DAVINDER and Bikar Singh set out to visit relatives from their Handsworth home on 3 April. As they arrived in the Highgate area of Birmingham a gang of 20 racist thugs attacked.
By Bob Smith
Their car was kicked and stoned, they were spat on and Davinder was hit in the face with a broken bot-
how, as the time ap proached, the whole prison was wreathed silence and even the worst of the 'screws would look disconsolate and shaken. Pain struck eight the hour of Then the clock execution — a great noise would the cell
SWEET block the inmates roared their rage and as one said to me, it was the release of our fear at what had happened.
Idrish wins right to appeal
ner city areas in St. Pauls,
in Birmingham.
Barnardo's in West Brom-
His legal advisors have told him that without the
on his cemmit he would
almost certainly have been
The Home Office have alleged his marriage was
check two years Inen went on nolday n
It also appears that in. stead of earlier extension he should have been given the right to stay.
The defence campaign on his behalf has been built in Bristol and Birmingham. Birmingham Trades Council filiated along with more than 20 NALGO branches
Defend the Singh brothers
But they bravely fought the racists off using a car steering lock.
The police then arrived, but arrested the two brothers and only one of the racists. Abused
The police then racially abused and punched the
keeping . them DOLICIS overnight in the cells
to solicitor.
In the sober light of morning the police then realised their error. The
Only the barbarians want to return to the rope
Only those who care nothing for humanity would want to bring back
ceremony that defiles everything it touches:
The pro-hangers seek revenge which primaevil reaction to the problems of society.
Brutality and intimidation can never bring social
SOCHISES must do everything in our
death penalty never comes . back
and over 20 Labour Parties.
Support has also come from and ex-MPs like Clare Short, Ernie Roberts Benn Denis Canavan. Tony and Alex Lyon.
Unfortunately Ros Hattersley, candidate in
Cede ons campaign, , was not so keen saving. wil not take un any cases outside my con stituency. People should see that abour their own MP. But ment is returned I will look at his case sympathetically, if I am still at the Home
• Affiliate your organisation, ask for a campaign speaker, sena protest let ters to the Home
For Decretur HOrt details about the defence campaign and the national demonstration phone Barry 021 523 8923, Ahsan 021 551 1846, Muhammed 021 523 7618 (Birmingham) or Aloke Roy 0272 570534.
police have since offered a deal and forget the case.
But the brothers refusin midate not in robe intimidated. result they will appear at Birm ingham magistrates • court on 15 August with the use of an offensive weapon and threatening
behaviour.
further details donations and messages o! sunport contact the singi Brothers Defence Cam
Hand worth Lan Centre, 220 Soho Road Birmingham 19.
Page 6 scan of this page
PRIVATISATIC WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO FIGI
THE TORIES have begun to unveil their secret manifesto. It amounts
a declaration of British labour movement.
Its three key components are: • the introduction of new trade union legislation to render trade unions ineffective • the attack on the political levy to strangle the Labour Party • the restructuring of capital through privatisation
In the next session of Parliament the government they will sell off 51 per cent of British Telecom and the Royal Ordnance armaments factories.
In addition, without need for further legislation, a further 25 per cent of government britoil British Gas's North Sea oil exploration interests will be sold off.
Energy Secretary again considering the sale of British Gas showrooms, previously called off because of the threat of industrial ac-
tio The three aspects of government
privatisation is policy together.
not just a workers' jobs and living conditions but also to trade union organisation.
UNIVe privatisation is the prolonged recession of British caulals. Capital drive for new sources of profit is forced to regain control over profitable parts of public services and a greater share of the work in supplying services and nationalised industries.
Such policies did not Thatcher. Under the right wing leadership of Callaghan the Labour government of 1974-79 presided over the sale of £750m-worth of shares in KeTOCHl. alowcu councils to continue selling off council honses and made savace cuts in public expenditure.
function which privatisation will play in Thatcher's anti-union plans was spelled out by the Economist at the end of last year's rail strike by ASLEF:
'Britain's unions are cowed,
nOL OrOKel . The manner of the train
driver's defeat should also temper any
train
pretty solid. It was left to
ner cabinet to bring ASLEF to heel.
but ruc intema bonucs are away
The TUC is not a reliable the struggle against
union power The union grip
SLTORECSL the DuOlIC 6 Socialist Action 8 July 1983
this slalc war on the
the of information probacanda However effective British
this respect) they and
Peter Walker is
FOR behind
In
start with
Bury fight against privatisation won victory ns cuse ute British Tory-controlled
quacies and public services.
through industrial action. here titudes. The but Arthur Scargill's
rie sain
tion should start
its ip vin
SCLIVI da campaign in the first place. Stock exchange has harvested millions from privatisation deals
monopolies. The most effective way to
reduce public sector union power is to
molo Dory ricar
monopoly in the service they provide.
So privatisation is a political attack. Party
So far the trade union leadership has large v contined itselt to campaiens
and counteragainst the Tories. these Canibalel have been in media terms (NALGÖ's £1m campaign being very prominent in
have little impact in terms of actually defeating the Tories.
BINS
the Tories' myths (see below) have credibility for many people because of the perceived inade-
of the nationalised industries SLOeS These myths can only smashed if te governmenl s poncies are rougul vUull.
change in atfight to defend the nationalised industries has begun under the new left leadership of the POEU.
speech to the NUM conference similarily indicates a new drive by miners to fight closures. This strategy is correct. Industrial ac-
before privatisation begins in order to defend the public sector from the cuts which made them targets for the government's propagan-
are
Bai cas
Unity between all enose fighting against privatisation, could be the start OI a generalised fightback against the Tories.
United andahom
action is likewise fundamental to the fight against privatisation.
The Labour Party's current policy is to 'return to public ownership the public assets and rights hived-off by the Tories, with compensation of no more than that received when the assets were denationalised.'
This contrasts with 1981 conference policy which called for renationalisation without compensation. Obviously the greater the potential penalty paid by prospective buyers the more disincentive for those buying public assets.
A future Labour government must be committed to a plan with the trade unions which ends the attack on jobs. living standards and the public Tonalisation under woraes contror ot means programme
commanding heights economy, starting with the nationalisation of the five major clearing banks. Socialist
But the importance of joint trade union and Labour Party action doesn't CIUWI UCIU socialist policies, important though this is. In order to win
battle against privatisation there has to be a unity developed between workers at the point of production and consumers.
In the workplace, particularly in the public services. rank and fle oreanisa. tion through shop stewards committees
CeHieICu Icaluui lu the problems posed by the Tory govern-
The Labour Party has to rebuild itself on the basis on forging links with all those who will bear the brunt of the organisations, black organisations and aulacks. . Lelanls women's
In this context joint action between the Labour Party and the trade unions should be the key to working class unity in struggle.
Only the left wing of the labour movement has the capacity to rebuiild the iabour movement in this wav.
Broad lefts have to be constructed inside the unions committed to this type of perspective. They must link up with Consulucil lefts, fighting for Labour Party to become a mass campaigning party, based on its links with ihose in struggle.
PRIVATISATION is a multifaceted policy. It extends from the sale of public corporations to the whole spectrum of state-provided services.
Contracting out INCREASINGLY the public services
becoming supervisory overseeing work done by private con-
For while the present leve o contracting out is lów, the scale of ser-
manual to technical and adminstrative
Architectural design, school meals, crematoria recreation and sports centres have already beer privatised or threatened.
In the NHS, hosnita's have beer directed to increase contracting out of cleaning, launarics, calerng anu nonlemergency ambulances.
Among the nationalised industries British Rail is considering: contracting out track maintenance Private owner. ship of goods wagons has meant the threatened closure of Horwich Shildon rail engineering workshops.
sector.
the
Britain's bosses back privatisation
In government departments a wide variety of cleaning jobs, vices and catering facilities have either already been taken out or will be.
Selling state owned companies HALF the shares „Dode British Aerospace, Cable and Wireless.
Amersham Associated British Ports have been sold off to private shareholders. for t his British Telecom catering nuaNteH HIC ICKLSASSOIeoausi Shipbuilders and British Airways sales
Farc blaniicu Selling publie land and property COUNCIL house sales head the list under this category. have been sold at a discount of f2bn. Entire housing estates have been sold to companies like Barratts.
and In addition the NHS has been com-
Spelled to sell hospitals
HOW THEY DO IT
, secretarial ser-
of companies like
vices International and
gone the privatisation of going through
the
own services.
Nearly 400,000 lakıng conluk
cluding une. and
and nursing
homes to private medicine interests and property developers.
acres of Forestry Commission land has been sold along with land and propertles owned by th
Property Services Agency, itself sold off into private hands.
Exploitațion of public ser-
IN SOME cases the government has not
whole way 1n selling off strategic industries like the transport and energy systems.
There was ; some debate about the wisdom of selling-off British Telecom
Instead they allow companies to use
publicly provided network of routes, cables and pipelines to sell their
already announced of London Transport away from the GLC. Privatising parts of the system is now possible, even in
the hiving-off of whole tub allowing private coach operators to take over bus routes.
NHS hospitals are now allowed a
Page 7 scan of this page
N:
IT IT
greater number of pay beds.
Private firms can generate and sell electricity via the national grid.
Project Mercury, the business-only inter-city telephone British Rail facilities in competing with British Telecom.
universities and cademic staff are increasingly setting up tell own companies to expiolt new products developed in publicly-funded escalei projeces.
Expanding private services THE GOVERNMENT the provision of private health, educa tion and transport.
Thirteen private hospitals are under construction and 45 more are planned. Health insurance now covers 4 million people
Voucher schemes in education will be introduced to stimulate the founda-
Not new private schools. public spending throw more health provision and other forms of caring the home with the main burden being born by women.
compared
firms.
industry was nationalised
Secondly,
tionalised
business, particularly.
profit.. This has
dustry.
Thirdly, most
rather than
Cultuallics
boosting ine
dustry.
past,
pension funds.
So the
they would be profitable.
profits to the private business.
Freed of
which nationalised
operate,
Cable and 1981, has shown a 47
in profits over the last two years.
following its sale.
in 1981 • British Airways,
for Drivalisallull.
Photo:
Times as being because:
British Airways
(probably the
privatised) are £77m.
'Privatisation increases
freedom of choice
network will use
with state provided services, colleges
benefit.
the
works out in practise. xpandin Take the
BACTE strategy
lucant unc
commercial
which they operate:
Cuts in
which are continually changing. into 'Commercial
selective about
treatment that they
The Tory's
privatisation
myths
'Privatisation saves money'
IT'S TRUE that nationalised industries often show a trading loss
with private compendix. panies. But they are subject to factors which do not impede private
Loe
Nationalised industries have share-holders. They rely on loans from the government. The interest charged 1s far higher than for a private company popular and is paid from pre-tax profits. In many cases these loans are the result of compensation that was paid when the
services provided by naindustries to private energy, are kept low so Inal privale maustry can make a
particularly been the case in the electricity and gas supply in-
nationalised industries use a depreciation policy that makes allowance tor intlation. Moner is set aside to replace worn-out assets back on the basis of their replacement cost
actual cost. Few private do this. again apparently had private firm's profits as compared with those of nationalised in-
months
Finally, because of mismanagement
several than 60 dustries have now had to set aside very
shares. large sums for the adiustment of their
nationalised industries were judged by private sector standards
ths later. selling them the government has handed over
the constraints under industry has privatised companies do turn made. in record profits for their new owners.
Wireless, privatised in per cent increase shares
• British Sugar Corporation produced DCI recora pronts ana alvidenas in lne ycal
• British Aerospace immediately produced pre-tax profits 34 per cent higher
its privatisation next in the queue had 1982's record £544m losses explained by the Financial
'management hest tieh one resule that future
result future depreciation will be lower and profits in any prospectus forecast thus enhanced'
bound profits this year last before being
THE TORIES argue that by allowing private companies to compete
the consumers are offered a freedom of choice from which they can only
This view finds an echo among right wing Labour politicans who argue that
'mixed economy' provides the best of both worlds. But this is not how it
health service. Governallow private medicine to coexist alongside the NHS.
growill ot small hospitals The Investors Chronicle explained the principles on
Like rears on the seats in theatres, its bodies in the beds that count for a 10O.i private hospital and preferably bodies
hospitals have to be the sort oI meaical offer. Long-stav
patients such as the elderly, mentally ill and those convalescing do not usuall
What does is the make good us co. short-stay surgical operation such as hernia repair, varicose vein treatment, removal of tonsils, gall bladder and ap-
Tory strategy is to cut back on NHS services precisely to allow the growth of
private SCCLOT the idea freedom of choice is a myth.
The state sector has to shoulder the burden of the unprofitable and the un-
while the private develops its own new monopoly assisted by the government.
'Privatisation is the route to a property-owning democracy'
THE TORIES have made great play of the opportunities for more people to buy shares and benefit from the capitalist system. say firms sold off are being 'given
to the people'. But people? • British Aerospace after privatisation
158,000 shareholders of
later the number shareholders had fallen to 27,000 and 143 large shareholders owned more
per •cent of non-government
• Cable and Wireless had 157,000 shareholders when its shares were sold. Only 26,000 still owned shares 11 mon-
As most shares have appeared on the market their prices have rocketed. Large companies with the resources to do so then buy out small shareholders attracted by the initial profit to
Even when employees are given
the company this amounts to a marginal number — thre
Coll Last ot Britist Aerospace.
from privatisation amounting to these companies and services being given back to the people they end up in the pockets of the ruling rich.
'Privatisation eliminates waste.
NATIONALISED industries public service are often accused of having bloated bureaucracies and being
lil balaly cases this is true but are the privatised industries any better!
The Health Service in particular is cited as an example where the number of 'non-medical' staff could be pruned backed by privatisation. But in the US adminstration costs their health sector were 5.3 per cent of the total budget. In the UK administration costs were 2.6 per cent.
Savings made by reducing workforce, in the case privatisation of refuse collection and sircel cicaling, diso do not neto lo save money. Those made redundant have to claim muen larger sums in te form or benefits, and in the loss of tax contributions to the ireasury
Neither does it necessarily produce a better service. Wandsworth, Pritchards' STITSI six months cleaning were the subject of a special report to the council.
In one three week period over 1000 penalty notices were served on the firm
or failing to do the job they were paid
The situation had not improved three months later 12 per cent of the streets were not being properly cleaned Finally Tory Wandsworth Council had to suspend the penalty system and introduce penalty-free zones.
sector
They
which
whom Fifteen
of be
rarely
and private
the
the
cellent sources.
useful facts and
allalyst.
tion victory in 1979 Dexter street- much of the same ground,
fight
alternative in an citing way.
tion Newsletter, Publications,
GRAND MET
28
PRIVATISATION
WWO MORIS
Making it
public Evidence
andaction against
privatisation
Dexter Whitfield
Pluto 4A Press
Getting the Knowledge
MOST of the material on these pages is taken from these two ex-
members
The LRD pamphlet is a mine of
slalistics uvualille million LRD's previous Public or Private. tion
• tne tate ot 14 malor state undertakings sold since the Tory elec- and can
Whitfield's book covers but then goes right discuss he sarion d TURC,
against privatisation suggess me clements or a socialisi
informed and ex-
Further aids to fighting privatisa-
Anti-privatisation field. produced by SCAT Clerkenwell Close.
London ECI (01-253 3627) and two videos produced by the Birmingham
Fonis Boyle
Arguments for
Trade Union Resource Centre.
The videos are designed to show
of the public and union members respectively.
They were made for NALGO's £1
campaign against privalisa but are useful They are available on VHS for any
be hired separately for £5 each or brought for £15 each or £20 for both, cash in advance
Further details trom Birmingham
Victoria Works 7 Frederick Street, Birmingham 1 (021-236 8323).
Making it public. Evidence and action against privatisation.
Arguments for Socialism series, Pluto Press, £2.50.
Privatisation. Who loses. Who Profits. Labour Research Department, 85p.
Socialist Action 8 July 1983 7
Page 8 scan of this page
Christian Democrats lose out
Central America: war just weeks away
8 Socialist Action 8 July 1983
WORLD
Stop Turkish
executions!
SEVEN Turkish revolu-
sentenced to death hv the
The seven are Ahmet
Erhan, Sadettin Guven,
lavtun Ozkok.
Aslan Sener Yildirim and
members of the DEV-
•all
have been accused of be-
assassination of former
government ministers. Amanisations, entiding Turkey.
Hunger strike victory
IRANIAN refugees in Pakistan ended a hunger strike victoriously on 17 May.
50 refugees had oc cupied the jN building
Karachi protest against the agreement signed between Iran and Pakistan for Iranian refugees to nanted
the Iran authorities.
After more than two
Honduras changes
journalists story MUCH publicity has
Urs to the dises hoof the
Honduras-Nicaragua Doraer.
At first Hondurans claimed they were Rios Montt in trouble RUMOURS of a coup allcliol Guatemala's eccentric president General RIOS Montt swept the country last week.
Montt, a born-again Christian who is deter-
the influence of the
the influence Catholic Church, has been a big embarrassMeHI In e United States.
Right-wing politicans have. been pushing for elections in order to get a snare of power they were denied by Montt's 1981 coup.
Last week Montt dismissed six senior army officers, cancelled an army parade and lelevision programmes.
himself brought by
powel
Iran executions
59 PEOPLE between the age of 14 and 20 were executed on 2 May in the Kurdish
LOWEL Mahabad by Khomeini's
Originally the 59 were sentenced between three and ten years imprisonment, but later the authorities changed their minds and decided to excure mem.
The executions are
and the French Socialist
Party have protested
against the planned ex-
have mem-
bers of the US Con-
gress and the Europear
parliament.
Whether the execu-
tions
pend in good measure on
pressure is kept up.
• Messages protest
should be sent to: Presi-
dent Kenan Evran. Head
State, Ankara,
weeks of sit-in and
hunger strike they
managed to force the UN
High Commission
Refugees (UNHCR) to
negotiate their
demanes
UNHCR have
agreed to provide inter-
protection for
Araman refugees Pakistan and to provide
them will meaical and financial support.
killed by rocketpropelled grenade from the Nicaraguan side of the border.
Now the Hondurans
sand my eere planted of
land mine planted
by the Nicaraguans.
WE SENT THEM ALL
TO HEAVEN junior army officers who wanted 'stability, to step up the war against left wing guerrillas.
With his base in the military disappearing Montt should soon join the ever-growing clan of ex-dictators in Miami.
part of Khomeini's continuing
wal analist Kurdish people. Komala,
journal of Kurdish
CAiles, reports that a film was made of the executions and shown on Kurdish TV.
Large numbers of people turned out in the
Mahabad, LOWIN ot Sanadaj and kokan to mark a day of mourning declared by the Kurdish opposition.
ITALIAN ELECTIONS THE GENERAL ELECTION held the weekend before last in Italy was a setback for the Christian
ruled Italy for 30 years.
1979 to under 33 per cent, and their parliamentary representation from 262 to 225 seats.
reflects a protest against the corruption and inertia Democrat coalitions.
unemployment Democrats have been in- Cell
by another series of Mafia scandals in which both national and local Christian Democratic politicians have been implicated section of the electorate is fed up with the continual
CO HOOT under Christian Democrat rule But Italy's main op-
WAR between weeks away. Honduran troops are now openly helping the counter-revolutionary 'Somocistas' in their cross-border raids.
Clashes have taken place between Honduran and Nicaraguan troops, as the Honduran army has carried out cross border raids.
The Nicaraguans, who beginning of the fighting relied
on militias
detend their northern border, have now moved regular area. Heavy weapons and lanks are beine dug in and
network of trenches established.
On 25 June Honduran IrooDs calle border to destroy the Nicaraguan minefields and defensive emplacements. Eye-witnesses have seen Honduran troops unloading ammunition for
counter-revolutionary forces.
There can now be little doubt that the activity the 'contras' has been a softening-up operation for
scale war. The military build up in Honduras has of course been masterminded by the United stales.
General Gustavo Alvarez, of the Honduras armed forces, spent three days in
rolelarial
Militants of the Democratzia Proletaria and the Trotskyist LCR protest against austerity measures
Italy's Tories - who have effectively
Their vote fell from more than 38 per cent in
been able to gain at the ex-
of the DC vote towards a series of smaller parties.
party of Craxi's Socialists the neo-
couple of percentage JUILILD. that Nicaragua and Honduras is just
earlier this month. there. he
services to United States. of US
The country. than 50
ning station 15
US
the of the military ayaguela. has taken
from The _Hon.
metalled the Nicaraguan border, for
build up the Puerto
where
arrived for the
COCADDEL
azia
complicated and
parties they schnaus. Concoc
coalition fall,
another
it has not gained in seats, the specific weight of the PCI has increased in the parliament. It means that the Communists will be able to ex-
parliamentary pressure, and be better placed to defeat any ruling coalition in parliamentary
The alternative governmental project, that put forward by PCI leader Enrico Berlinguer, unlikely to come off. He proposes a coalition led by the Communists and the (very right wing) Socialists. Such Coallion would also include number of small bourgeois
US's airforce base in
duras.
• ef-
deed going solution Central America. with
MwaI preparations , the US
rillas all'
week.
Reagan made another warmongering speech denoun cing those who would allow Central America to become a string of Marxist dictatorships' In defence of the real dictatorships in the region the bloody right wing mili ary tatorships Reagan spending millions of dollars.
in ne nextew moth the people of Nicaragua will face their sternest test since the 1979 revolution. International solidarity will be a vital weapon in the struggle defeat Reagan's efforts.
4)
parties.
But Socialist leader Craxi who wants emulate chulalt SuCCes success of Spain's Socialist leader Gonzalez, is reluctant to make the party the hostage of a PCI-dominated coali ton. instead ne is content to wait for better times ahead.
Features
One of the more remarkable features of the contest was the election of left-wing theoretician Toni Negri on the slate of the Radical Party. Negri has been accused of being the "intellectual leader' of the Red Brigades In fact Negri was the main theoretican of the ultra left Autonomia movement
actively hostile to the workers movemell, with an anarchist bent
Negri has been on tria for several years in one of the most infamous frame-up trials in recent times No scious cvacuce o an' senous cviacnce or any association with the Red Brigades was brought forward. Only his "intellectual responsibility' was on cutell.
Rain dampens the spirits of counter-revolutionaries on the border
International
In order to protest at this outrage, the Radicals made Negri one of their stal canadates. putting him on TV nearly every day. As a result of his elec tion. he now gets parliamentary immunity, etfective v wrecking the frame-up.
The far left slate ro elana Democracy supported by the Italiar trolskvist movement wor 1.5 per cent of the votes and SVOI Scal Chamber of Deputies, including long time leader of the far-left Massimo Gorla, elected in Milan Eighty Trotskyists were among the 500-plus candidates who stood for DP
The tragedy the Italian elections despite its few hopeful points, was this. The old ruling party, the Christian Democrats, suffered a reverse. But the workers parties. in particular the PCI, were not able to capitalise on it.
Today the PCI is a par ty of order, a party which supports capitalism. It has no serious ideas about how to solve the crisis - and the voters know it.
Page 9 scan of this page
The novels of B. Traven
REVIEWS / Letters
LETTERS
Where we
stand on
Labour's
NEC slate
WHAT a lucky paper Socialist Action is to have Sarah Roelofs writing for it.
Not only is she clairvoyant report meetings yet to happen, in the past tense
but also can report on secret meetings of the London left, which the party in the country Is meant to follow.
Unfortunately though, there was some interterence on her crystal ball, and her account of the Labour Coordinating Committee's attitude to the National Executive Commiliee state Is quite wrong.
Traditionally, the LCC has been extremely wary of the NEC slates as it has always been unclear on what basis, and by whom, they are drawn up. mountain passes, cattle rustlers, indian traders facing the perils of steaming jungles, scenes in gambling houses and rowdy bars,
high adventure.
His stories, though, are also about revolution,
turmoil and hope, about an ache 10I freedom desperate peasant hunger for land.
Reviewed by Tim Wright
His characters range from yankee drifters living
their wits, Mexican unsCruDulOus traders providing slave labour for jungle timber camps, impoverished Indians being led ever Closel their struggle for survival.
Pickers, LOTION Traven's earliest book, Cera is
Pacitall Gales, who
wallucis through Mexico from job
soon after the 1910-1917 revolution.
works first as a cotten-picker, then in a bakery in a busy port, and finally as a cattle drover. He ends up, the cattle safe ly delivered, with plenty of
and grateful employer - a classical ending to an adventure story.
employer's gratitude, however, is mixed, has heard rumours of Gale's past.
In both his earlier jobs Gerard Gales has been held responsible for causing strikes. my fault, cattle ranching employer. 'if men get dissatisficd and
something better.
of workers to act against
Livingstone
- politically
acute
KEN Livingstone's speech on the next steps for the abouren corally deserved its full page spread in SA 14, as it was a lot more politically acute than many or the paper's pre-election articles and analyses some
ALAN THEASBY, Middlesbrough
In particular we have never been sure whether we are supporting a list of CODIC wiosc DolLics are OK, or merely people. able to win and better than hard right wingers.
This year it seemed possible that a consensus could be reached around this latter approach and macca Il nas workea Ior the trade union section. But the women's section presents real dilemmas, as il is cical lnal wiere Is nu consensus as to whether OX-CART DRIVERS risking bandit attack on high drovers outwitting wily
Ben Traven's novels are full of the components of
their employers is the
book.
During worker's strike, the sinkers burst mio a song taught to them by the
"The words were as the breath of life and the song welded them together as into a block or sicer. first dim awareness of the
and Su CUSC DOWCI strength of the working people united in a common purpose was awakened in them.
Drifters
In this early tale of Traven's police side with picketers and employers are orce o compensae strikers for wages lost durIng sinkes.
He shows a sad naivete about a revolution which was hijacked from the lilasses murder and di Bretano Zapata, the killing
Emiliano the betrayal of Pancho Villa. He also shows a huge igloralce ol elves ol Drostitutes and women general ridden Mexico.
The red-light district is
place of blisstul pleasure where prostitutes safety and are thanked courteously by their clients. The imperfections. though, of this first book
hardly there in Traven's later works, particularly in the series titled the Jungle Novels'.
Ken Livingstone
to support principled feminists or candidates who can win.
The LCC has therefore only backed four candidates - Hart, Beckett, Maynard and
clearly no consensus on the last place.
Attitudes to the "boycott the register'
into it, as we have backed candidates with ditterent attitudes to this in the the Monteria
These stories,, sel • In Mexico prior to the revoluHOT. witer ane Porfirio Diaz ruled over a count or corruodon aro of huge oppression, show a deep knowledge of the country and display a finely developed story teller's technique.
Ingenious
Through an ingenious interweaving or ine plot. and through the use of two Central Canals. and Andres, Indians who flavo DIORCH their past of subordination lo the tyranny of church and state, Traven develops a real sense of the growing
other sections and incidently Peter Hain wasn't at any of the meetings where discussions took place.
Only backing four may not be entirely satisfactory, but until some political clarity is brought to the discussion of slates, muddied compromise is bound to be the order of the day.
NIGEL STANLEY,
Organising Secretary LCC.
Diego Rivera's Emiliano Zapata from the front cover of March to
restlessness and revolu-
of angel population.
The relevance of his stories, though, " ando es beyond Mexico, is about the need for revolutionary socialism on an internanonal scall
The price of cotton and the predicament or ine col ton growers is shown to be something the great stock exchanges of the world.
The desperate conditions of Indians felling manogany bees deeD the fever infested jungles
Mexico al Ci caused merely by HOL unscrupulous Mexicans
I WOULD like to make some criticisms of Socialist Action's
orientation to the Labour Party leadership elections.
The issue cannot be approached from the point of view of which is the lesser of two evils, but
are the tasks of the left over tue coming period.
The general election defeat is not simpis reducible to the sabotage of the right WILL leadership. The essential
GRANT fact is that the
concealsness dine
working class, in the
mass struggles, has lagged behind the reality of the polarisation of polities, and resulted in the fact that the only major party to increase their proportion of the vote was the Alliance.
The polarisation of - politics was most strikingly revealed inside the Labour Party, Techno BAoroont contradictory manifesto of left wing character being fought for by a half hearted right wing leadership
This situation persists and is not reflected in the leadership battle.
Socialists should approach the coming Labour Party conference from the principled
existing left wing policies. but by a whole set of world conditions.
World revolution is Traven's answer.
Informed
To read Traven is both to enjoy a good book and to gain an informed insight into the conditions which take the desperate beyond despair to a revolutionary hope for a new future. His books touch your heart and inspire you. • Ben Traven's novels are published by Allison and Busby and available
The Other BOOK shop, 329 Upper Street, 13/8I0r
No lesser evil for leadership election
Neil Kinnock at the 1976 Labour conference
In doing so, a balance sheet of the past experience of the strategy of the left must be made. Here two points stand
electoral fetishism and tactical compromises have resulted in abject failure.
Second, that the election of Foot did nothing to prevent the launching of a witch hunt or the fudging of policies, but simply provided the leadership with a left cover to more effectively Carry liese out
These points indicate the need for a bold new
Write to: Letters,
UV CHOICE
The Front Line
Saturday 9 July, 7.30,
Channel 4
MAJOR event
week is this 90 minute
aocumental y
Salvador. But
prepared.
, you support the
struggle of
Salvadoran people your
anger the disservice
done by this film could
place your television
screen at risk.
The press blurb
claims a balanced for
mat' — one camera team
with the right wing and
the army, another 'with
But it's
ine gueltilas.
clear where the sym-
pathies of the production
team lie.
The civilian popula-
tion are presented as in-
nocent bystanders
caught between two
sides, in a film which fits
Real t US im-
perialism's campaign of
«so naton
The EI Salvador
Solidarity Campaign has
campaigned
cessfully to
OTHER BOOKSHOP THE
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Telephone 01 226 0571
service provided.
Socialist Action 8 July 1983 9
transigent defence of lefi wine bolty calls as ult basis of extraparliamentary mass action.
Support for Kinnock however renteen don• tinuation of past strategy those vacillating elements WIU policies for a leadership with a more acceptable political colouration.
It is exactly an adap tion to that which tends to lag behind.
M.WONGSAM, Manchester
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(Tel: 01-359 8180) the FMLN radio operator screening of this documentary, or at least a reply Worth watching so yourself up against any that can gear Sing at peak Satur damage done day evening time.
The Best of CLR •James Monday II July, 11.30, Channel 4 Last week's all-embracing look at America was a bit disappointing This week he talks about cricket and its history. Mike Brearley is among the cricketing audience.
For red books, black books. peace books.
labour
feminist books, left books, story books.
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Page 10 scan of this page
10
DIARY
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July, County Hall, London sel. Admission free. Organised by Palestine Solidarity. • Release Nelson Mandela! victory to the ANC. weekly picket of South Africa House Trafalgar Square
called Dv City Anti-Apartheid Group. • Oppose police racism! rubuc meeune organisco Dv Stoke Newington & Hackney Defence Wed 20 Julv. 7.30pm Hackney lown Hall. E8 • Herence organised by the Has socialism a future? *anour co-orolnang Committee. July 22-24, Manchester Poly SU Details from LCC 9 Poland St, London W1. • Lahour Movement Conference on Ireland 16 July, Conway Hall, Red Lon DoudIC • Lonaon WC1 starts I0.4>am Delegates £3, observers Further details: LMCI, Box ivor Place, London NwI. • Liberation network - for people with disabilities. weene to organise a steering group to set up a London wide resource centre
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THE front page of the Daily Mail last week was rocked by the news that the people were about to force a government U-turn over a crucial issué.
So what was the cam-
aign that shook them?
Greenhan Common women stopping cruise missiles? Trade unionists dumping Tebbit laws? Getting the troops out of Ireland? NO None these.
Oil was inal tney were calling a 'campaign MaSS Consume! resistance'. And what WCIC resisting. The poor old £1.00 coin.
The coins are being 'boycotted droves' People only ask for them to our in money boxes.
They are the most 'uncircurated ColTs yet produced.
But now here is the point of all this. Looking
the map. with this
running total of £13,686, was wondering. As there only one more week to go before we have to meet the £19,500
target any of our readers leading the campaign against the £1.00 coin or can they put us in touch with the ring leaders?
It won't do yuu all good. comrades! • Their
value is not going to go up. would much better to put them in the bank and send us a cheque.
Remember, only one
more week to go!
UNDER АГТАСК
"SOUTH AFRICA'S UNDECLARED WAR") discussion on ways of counterina media disinformation about events
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T & G decides for Kinnock
THE
Union Biennial
Delegate
Labour leadership election.
But was
of using block vote.
• lne personalities not discussed. of Eric can-
on the EEC.
The debate polarised around the question of democracy. from Tyneside General
PICKET
LINE
London Transport
strike
ON TUESDAY 28 June,
2500 London bus drivers
and conductors walked
out on strike.
The action began
when London Transport
management tried
have garage inspectors
doing the traditional
work of seniol
tors at the Tottenham
salast The Transport Union
at Tottenham brought all
their buses off the road
and appealed for support from other garages.
By late afternoon all buses 15 Centra
London garages were off the Management rapidly saw their error and agreed to norma
Unit Superheaters
battle on LAST WEEK workers from Unit Superheaters in Swansea picketed their own union offices.
They are all members
Union and are protesting Engineering
at the failure of the union
give real backing to their ten week strike.
The workers original. ly occupied their factory,
is owned by the Steel Corporation, against forced redundancies.
They claimed that the aim of BSC was to smash ine union in ine plan and allow management to operate on a hire and fire basis. Order books
BSC got High Court iniunction to end the occupation and then announcel closure. They refused to
• redundancy monev. claiming that the workers had broken their contracts.
Diary| In the Unions
argued MOS that cost
£800,000 in-
argument spurious
ballots by
would
this
The determined to prevent
vote
reiected + s
for
betweet
the leadership elections question steam-
There
discussion the
campaign. working procedures at Tottenham.
This is the kind of fighting unity we will need to defeat the cuts proposed in the LT three .to year plan.
This proposes a five per cent cut in operated mileage, 700 less drivers
increase number arivel only buses with the loss of 1500 conductors and new work . procedures for garage inside staff.
In a divide and rule ploy, LT have told the public that fares will only be held down if these economies are carried through (An LT worker)
Twenty four hour pickets are kept up and support is growing tionally. There have been factory tours in Sheffield
Scotland and the Broad Left journal, Engineering Gazette, organising • series meetings in port.
The workers are now campaigning. in South West Wale AUEW to put on a local levy
BSC have told loca MP's that they intend te make an example or un workers. It is vital that
movement also make an example in their support for Unit Superheater's members. (Graham Altwell)
word reports hy Thursday before publication. Longer
Editorial Board by Monday, the week before punnication
Page 11 scan of this page
Behind the left turn of
In the Unions
LAST WEEK the capitalist press screamed 'National Union of Railwaymen lurch left'.
the union certainly changing.
union's previous multilateral policy was overturned.
Ine and general Jimmy
posed the
change of policy be followed the
'permit encourage branches
Register
Throughout the conference the influence of the new general secretary, Jimmy was clear.
The left is still unable to carry votes against the opposition of general secretary and there block of delegates who will do whatever the platform tells them.
Although Knapp said he opposed witch hunts in the Labour Party, he defended the infamous register for organisations inside the Labour Party.
This meant that resolution on Labour Party unity, which backed the Greenwich Labour Party amendment to the Labour Party constitution, was defeated by 27 votes to 49. This Greenwich amendment seeks to make legitimate the istence of various groupings within the Labour Party and the floor discus-
WORM'S
EYE
VIEW
Never too late to learn
WHEN Prince Philip
toured an industrial
training centre in Sweden
he was greeted by cries of
•The
rail conference
MARTIN EADY, a London delegate to the con-
sion that the
ried.
intervention secured loyalty vote
such political
Despite position,
stood against an
fox. of 'the
Militant Cancel tendency' from the
The 4 to
shows that
the witch the union.
general came WILl opposi
: But Calcua 'planned between
Party.
Peter Parker
It was an insult to the conference that Sir Peter Parker, chairperson of British Rail, was invited to speak. His address came just before the debate on the job cutting Serpell report.
Members anger and opposition spilled over with a demonstration that halted Parker's speech for
with SeVeral chants of 'Serpell, Serpell'.
Prince Philip insisted
on discussel locu and
again against Serpell.
This effectively crushed the conciliationists in the WIld
"reactionary' Serpell and Goldstein, who could replace Parker as head of the BRB.
When Parker finally got to. speak he blamed railworkers for the Serpell report, claiming that the 6 months of strikes last year had affected the parlia-
committee decisions on job loss and line ClusuI co
Strength
The conference responded with a resolution opposing Serpell and outlining a programme of nato sane the transport industry and in. vestment for 'integrated socialist transport system'.
unanimous vote came benna une sureneum: ening of the Triple Alliance of rail, steel and coal unions to fight attácks on the nationalised industries.
This included the call for national delegate conference of the Triple Alliance although Knapp considered that a The real thing AN interesting thing happened Jeremy Corbyn, the new Labour MP for Islington North, oll llls way to lne com mons on the first day of the pallamellary SeS
Proceeding in an easterly direction he was accosted by policemen at the Commons entrance who refused believe Inal ne was an ir because
Kings Cross station was deserted during last year's strike. Action like this is needed
twice yearly meeting of union national executives covered this point.
conference backed a campaign agains
producuvily measures and privatisation on london transport.
There was enthusiastic Support lo opposing the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill. Martin Eady
Support for the unification of Ireland by consent was agreca, will 13 votes against, despite a such consent was impossible.
But the conference did reject a Militant-inspired amendment calling for the Labour Party to organise in the North of Ireland -totally reactionary and divisive suggestion WalC accepts British claims on
Peers THE dispute over Michael Foot's list of 27 new peers has revealed
• believes new Labour Peers (plus only gove house or or s Eh? At the last count the
Free gifts
LABOUR Research-has done a break down of the pro and anti-Labour coverage in the popular dailies during the election. editorials they found that the anti-Labour coverage was thousands of inche
3200
Ireland and denies the na-
unification of Ireland. Activity
Delegates agreed that
the fruits of new tech-
nology should be passed to
working people, with a
shorter working week and
expansion of services and
full employment.
The resolution carried states correctly that 'any
introduction of such
techhology not be at the
expense of earnings or Livelyne resoleo the
fectively rescinded
1982 special genera
meeting decision by op-
posing any further talks on
productivity, including
driver-only trains.
This lays a good base
for the future, but Knapp
opposed this last resolu-
tion by accepting driver-
only operation on the Bed-
ford to St Pancras line,
open stations and the
'trainman' concept.
A major campaign will
be needed to make sure that the good decisions of
conterence are carried out
We can't rely on the sup-
posedly left leadership to
achieve this.
Foot —
of class privilege doing nominating peers anyway?
election. calculated of £1,520,305 worth of space in the Sun, Ex press, Mail, and Daily SlaThis calculation does not include the acres of newspaper space devoted
'unbiased' opinion polls
The Tories admit to £1.3m paid 12223
Socialist Action 8 July 1983
Post Office
Engineers
take action
against privatisation this week, dispute was not over.
By Jenny Davenport and Marcella FitzGerald, London North Central Internal branch of the POEU
privatisa-
response 1o
Project
privatised
independent
and subsidise ser vice. They engineers to
When engineers refused
suspended pay.
BT held meetings every
paganda to mem-
This assault on workers
That three members higher
into
until
taken competent culice lu than three hours.
3,000 in
[RE
L OF THE PETRIPLITAN MORTH NEST BRANCH, P.O.E.U.
• 11 LONDON telephone engineers ended their strike
but said that the
ssion of data on comcalled out by the Post
North Central area agreed back those suspended and passed unanimously a proposition from Dougie Rice, secretary of the internal branch, calling for support for the union ac. tion.
POEU NEC member Phil Holt Phil Holt, a member of the new, Broad Left dominated, national executive committee of the POEU told the meeting that the union now had a leadership that was about fighting privatisation'.
Jock Campbell, secretary of the City branch got resounding ap plause when he explained that there is no room for half measures and that the POEU 'had to go for the jugular Sented interests at are vein' out to destroy our industry in the name of private profit.
The new executive has already instituted a f1 per week levy of members to build up a strike fund and is approaching other public sector unions for an alliance for a concerted fightback against Tory at tacks on the nationalised industries and welfare state. April - May.'83.
Parliament,
Whitehall
8 Bank of
England
Hit By Strike
As POEU Says
NO
Page 12 scan of this page
AT A MASS. meeting at the BL Cowley plant on Monday 4 July the workforce voted by a margin of 3-1 to accept management's proposals which included the withdrawal of the three minutes washing-up time at the end of each shift.
over the threatened removal of washing-up time and only returned to work on the basis of continued negotiations between management and unions at a national level.
The workers reaffirm-
were non-negotiable by an
vote at Hometer, since then te However, since then sation do tons the broken with management adamant on the withdrawal of the three
The blame for the turnabout in the attitude of the work force lies almost entirely with leadership of the TGWU and the AUEW.
Towards the end of the April strike Moss Evans and Terry Duffy were in continual negotiation with BL management to bring
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ACTiON
Wash-out at Cowley
In April the workers had struck for 4½ weeks
an end to the dispute.
They were responsible for the return to work formula which effectively curbed
workers to the manage-
By a BL worker
The withdrawal of the three minutes is only the beginning of the management's drive to increase productivity. Once it was clear in tne negolations that the management would not budge from the three minutes, the union leaderships 'washed their hands' of the issue.
The body plant
subscribe
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workers accepted the withdrawal of washing-up time last week, only when the plant union officials failed to provide leadership. This obviously had its effects on the assembly plant.
Despite the lack of national suppert the shop stewards committee in the assembly plant consistently showed a lead by recomaction as the only way of defending Lile washing-un protecting working conditions.
In spite of this set-back the Cowley workforce has demonstrated willingness stand up to management's attacks only to be betrayed by leadership. Dutiy considered it a 'tragedy' if Cowley were strike again • a clear indication of his desire to line up with BL management.
The remains continue the fight for leaderships which will defend the interests of their members. SPECIAL
OFFER
book in the 'Arguments for Socialism' series by Bob Sutéliffe. The book normally costs $2.50.
Alternatively we are offering Alan Freeman's book, The Benn Heresy. For new readers there is our special introductory offer of 8 issues for S2.
All subscriptions are posted first class on day of pubncation.
IN A BLAZE of publicity Kenneth Newman, head of the Metropolitan Police and ex-RUC chief, has hit out at what he called a campaign of dedicated denigration' against the police.
on the far political climate in the capital which he saw as in. imical to progress in policing and in particular the growing demand for police accountability and peo. ple campaigning tor it.
While it is tempting to dismiss this gibberish as a maniac outburst we would be doing so át a cost to what existing civil liberties we have at present.
By Unmesh Desai (Newham 8 Campaign)
Newman and his strategy for policing London (and this applies
other parts of the countr
well) deserves more serious consideration if we are to develop new forms of resistance to the increasingly aculc authoritarianism
In particular one of the points of Newman's first annual reports where activists are termed destabilising influence and
merits particular atten. tion as well as the new style of community policing now being developed.
The sort of thinking prevalent in this type of policing sounds quite impressive with talk of 'multi-agency' approach corporate management and other high sounding phrases.
insight InTO their real meaning given by Newman himselt when in a foreward to an unpublicised conference at the National Police Staff College at Bramshill in July 1982 he wrote the need *seek new strategies for dealing with inner city problems not
all agencies of social control'.
This form of policing sets out to penetrate the community in a number of ways and consists of much more than the return of
Lashing out at what he called 'activists' groups left' Newman went on to attack the
more officers to the beat. •Penetrating the community' can take the form of close coordination and
between the police and other agencies
such as the social and welfare agencies, education departments and housing departments and other areas of local government.
The implications this are all too obvious: exchange of information and getting police policy to in-
luence decisions made b
government agencies
One effect of this can be seen in attempts being nauc In Sult London boroughs to get youth WUIKCIS LO DasS orIOr mation on kids they work with to the police. An extension this form of policing is the neighbourhood watch schemes now in the process of being set up. Action
The other aspect of community policing which HEs necessar to draw ou is the input and gathering
intelligence • Dy Ill sidious placement of notice otticers in schools and other community in-
and through 'home beat' officers who are expected to gather informanion on ten palcn.
Part of this intelligence Cene Cuss or wila has been called the 'diagnostic' approach of finding out attitudes of the public and local groups to the police.
Community policing is too often seen by many on the left as an alternative to hardline policing But once the gimmicks rounding it have been exposed it is nothing more
Police chief's
outburst means
new attacks
than a double-edged tool to penetrate the communi-
- through professional agencies and gathering intelligence
What is particularly interesting that people who question this type of policing are deemed to be either 'misinformed' or
SUBLES hatred against the police.
It IS in this light that Newman's outburst should be seen -delegitimising protests to ground these 11CW schemes and
for police one mabiny
accountability 'an activist- who is a threat to public order
As the economic crisis
creasingly acute authoritarianism it is more impor tant than ever before that socialists and labour movement activists take the 'law and order' issue
seen as the domain of the Tory Party — seriously and politicise it.
COLIN ROACH
speakers: Roach rami
MIKE MANSFIELI
(Family Barrister at the Inques
(Father of Helen Smith
The systematic removal of civil liberties is to be seen as a necessary Port of the Troles' strategy unemployed controlling . and jobless the youth It is in the light of this strategy that acts like the Criminal Justice Act and the Police Bill have to be Seei One way of fighting these im mediate and practical level Is by campaigning in the widest possible way against the Police Bill due Parliament be 'introduced into 1983 and Meking campaigns like the Newham and COll Roach a central focus of such a campaign. • The Newham 8 trial is expected to start in October. Plans are being made for a national march rally and a conference. can be contacted at:
Box 273 Forest Gate, London, E7 9JN.
ROACH FAMILY SUPPORT COMMITTEE PUBLIC MEETING WHY THERE MUST BE AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE DEATH OF
COLIN ROACH NO COVER U
Friday 8 July 7.30pm HACKNEY TOWN HAL MARE STREET LONDON-E8
← Socialist Action No. 16, 1 July 1983Socialist Action No. 18, 15 July 1983 →