Socialist Challenge No. 137, 6 March 1980
The scan: sc-n137-mar-06-1980.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
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Socialist Challenge No. 137 6 March 1980 20p WHAT DO WE WANT? TORIES OUT HOW DO WE GET IT? GENERAL STRKE
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Now prepare for a general strike
OUR POLICIES
Capitalivin is in crisis. The leaders of ihe Labour Party and the trade unions offer solutions that are in the interesti not of the workers but of the capitalist class.
Serialist Challenge believes that The two vital tashis revolulionary socialists are:
• To build broad-based class struggle tendencies in opposition io cras-tonaveraionism in labour movement. be non-exclusive in grouping together militants holding a wide range of political siews.
• To begin to light for the creation of unified democratic revolutionary socialist organisation which can, through
application of hezin to be sten as alternative thousands workers engaged in struggles.
fuch an organisation should be based on the understanding that:
struggle for socialism seeks to unite the fight of workers against the with that of other oppressed layers of society - wemen. black people. gays struggling for liberation. This socialism can only beachieved hy creating new organs of power and defeating with all necessary means the power of the capitalise state.
socialism
today. with full rights political parties and currents that din not lake up arms against the socialise fate. The Stalinist models
the ISsk and Fastern Kurope have disredited inciadism in the eyes of millions of
the He are opposed io thein and will miter tell support all
The interestsod workers and rapitalists are irreconcilable on a world scale. C'apitalism not marhet. had treated politics. Thus elight for working Clams units international scale. This anity will in the long run he decisive in defeating both the imperialis regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships sustain in Latin America. and Asia.
In Britain if impiies demanding the British troops from Ireland and lening the feish people determine their on future.
4 The Communist parties in
-Kurope are in crisis. the 'Eureconnenist the pro-Mances wings have ans maningful strater! lor «arthron of the capitalis state. des resolutionars socialist parties ire Hille recesar! before. today shire lassurable than over, the preceding three decades. But wich
can en/s huilt reeling sectarianis and weig internal demneracy not as a laurs butara vitat neceit!. This mears the right to organite fartions and
I you agree with these principles and want insoled activities les socialist Challenge supporters in your arca. til in the torm helen and send it do s
interested internation ahout actios? i
Name........
Address..
Socialist Challenge
confronting
the These should
Claratitl.
and
united front
bosses
their for all worid.
Tories
THE future for under. this
4 tre public and private world industry.
people will • thes Africa
20 per cent.
right to strike and picket.
Prither movement, own measures but b:
the to take a 'hard" line.
than ther
are a lesson'. 2. Labour movement confidence
strikes.
miners, and the mass
working people.
vote at Longbridge 'strike action
the vote defend jobs. by miners' lodges,
Colas
EDITORIAL
Socialist Challénge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1. Editorial: 01-359 8180/9 I. A bleak future under the
tae working class Tory government bleak. Tory financial policies and their cuts in state aid are leading to massive closures, both in the
sectors of
Hardly a day goes by without news of more redundancies — by the end of the year two million
be unemployed.
Cutbacks in social services are hitting every working class family in the country. Infiation is set for
Now the Tories are trying to force through measures to shackle the trade union movement -* to stille the basic
This government aims to inflict a defeat on the orga' ised workers'
not only through their
employers, the police and the courts
Keith Joseph refuses to intervene in the steel strike because he wants the entire labour movement to be taught
they
But the Tories are not getting things all their own way. They were forced to concede more than 20 per cent pay increases to the miners and the water workers to avoid damaging bosses,
the
The willingness to fight is there. The solidarity shown by the Yorkshire
pickets have revealed the hatred and contempt felt for this government by millions of
By the Tories have also won some important victories. The nine to one right of
taking Party. to defend Derek Robinson; the relative success of the police action at Sheerness Steel and the return to work at Hadfields; and
strike action the South Wales for the all represent dents in the armbury of the labour movement. Walte
the Tories have the press and the television on their side: țime. But that is not the whole story; there is an increasing reluctance on the part
action.
government must be our overall goal
of many workers to go into action and
put themselves VUl •a amb
risking their jobs and livelihood in
defence of lost causes
In order to have the determination
to fight, the rank and file have to be
confident that their leaders are not
going to stab them in the back; they
there. is a real
chance of witning:
3. A clear lead is vital
The example of Longbridge shows the problem very clearly. After the sacking of Derek Robinson a large percentage of the workforce were prepared to fight.
Duffy and Boyd could have ensured a victory by calling out their members indefinitely; but
called off the strike engineered a pointless inquiry'. After two months of prevarication, report so unsympathetic to Robinson it could be used as ammunition by the
it was hardly surprising that Longbridge workers reluctant to restart the strike.
What 1s missing is not the willingness struggle, organisation, leadership and a real perspective for winning
No way forward at all is offered by Callaghan and his cronies on the
the Parliamentary Labour They cannot even themselves support steelworkers; alt they can do is bleat about the necessity for 'arbitration'.
The Labour left on the other hand is strong on words of condemnation
Tories, •SHE very short on actions. Their only perspective is to
until the return of another Labour government in four years
Some of the trade union leaders, of course, have shown a
Margaret Thatcher's government must be the most hated Tory government since the Second World War. As class war mounts in Britain today it becomes vital that revolutionary socialists have a clear line for
Phil Hearse explains that while united action against every individual attack is important, building a movement for a general strike to get rid of this
determination to Scargill and Emlyn particular have Yorkshire and support the steelworkers. • thei approach defeat the Tories suffers from a fatal flaw; they imagine that by a simple accumulation of industrial struggles the Tories can be brought down.
What is needed, however, is not just an attempt to get more industrial militancy, but an perspective. This across the socialist arguments that can offer a real solution to the crisis of the economy with a line of action to get rid of the Tories. 4. A socialist plan Neither the Labour left nor the instead labour right and anything like far reaching enough to solve the present crisis. The economy and a is reeling under a major structural crisis which cannot be solved within the framework of capitalism.
Bold socialist measures, which put were all major investment and the planning of the economy in the hands of working but people. rather than the canitalists. -these are what are needed today.
Such a programme must include: *a sliding scale of wages to make sure wages keep pace with inflation bring *a 35-hour week with no loss of pa the aud a massive programme of publi works to cure unemployment freeze introduction of price controls to stop ran-away inflation *the nationalisation of the major monopolies, the finance houses to give society as a whole control over investment and planning.
These measures which hit at the Britain's
problems, time.
What generalisation struggles
fight. Arthur
Williams
mobilised South Wales Len
talking But it to how needed to
are not
The
overal political involves putting
Conference.
programme bodies,
strike
decisions about
the creation
all prices and the
movement.
banks action
economic
TANNES
the anarchic rule of would immediately begin to solve unemployment and austerity.
5. A mighty movement: a
general strike
Days of action are not going to defeat the Tories. Neither is waiting for a general election in five years
needed is the the partial - for more pay, against the cuts, against unemployment into one mighty movement to throw out tne Tories: a general strike.
• Murray says the TUC is 'protest' and not "politics is precisely politics that generalise the struggle. If Murray and the other TUC leaders
prepared to shoulder their responsibilities, then it is up to the rank and file to do it instead.
creation ot a cross-union rank and file alliance to coordinate the fight is crucial to success. :The embryo of such a movement lies in the existing rank and file bodies
Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions and the Rank and File Defend Our Unions
These two bodies should link up their work with other rank and file
such as the national shop stewards' strike committee currently being organised in the steel industry to build a movement for a general
strong holds of the labour movement.
A general strike is not something which can be undertaken lightly. In preparing a general strike either the working class begins the preparațions for taking power, or it stores up the possibility of a major defeat.
That is why the IMG fights for
of a class struggle lef wing in the Labour movement as a militant minority which can take the struggle beyond the betrayals of the bureaucrats, and for the building of a
leadership
The TUC have called a day o
for 14 May. Typically they have left individual unions to decide whether to come out on strike or not 14 May can be used as a springboard to ram home the need for a nationa lead in the fight to remove the Tories
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against the Tories
HOMENEWS
THE TORIES in Leicestershire had a sad and depressing day on Wednesday of last week. ALEX ACHESON explains why. THE Leicester Mercury is a notorious right-wing rag. It's a Tory spewpaper rather than a newspaper. When the public sector unions decided to organise a day of action against the cuts the local Tories and their press went berserk.
They orchestrated sustained 100-decibel campaign to slander by red smears those fighting the
They tried to stop the distribution of anti-cuts leaflets. They lied about the campaigners' intentions. They threatened disciplinary action against employees. Reasonable
They claimed that the cuts were reasonable, and attacked the public sector unions for damaging the interests of children.
Anger has been mounting in Leicestershire for some time. The new school bus charges and meal prices increases; the sackings of ancillaries, crossing wardens, technicians and nursery assistants; and the freeze
teacher replacements « ae reace school closures have all created a real hatred of the Tories.
Schools
Teachers in Leicestershire decided on an official strike. Fifteen hundred teachers came out and shut down all the schools on 27 February.
In collaboration with hundreds of parents, the teachers distributed tens of
SCHOOS
ALONE
'The largest
march for
half a
century."
thousands of leaflets.
brought LACT children to the protest demonstration. The result was the largest demonstration Leicester has seen for half a century
The local Tories were open in their hostility for ordinary working people. Tory leader Geoffrey Gibson attacked the teachers on strike: "The strike action taken by the
Union Teachers far more injurious to children than
made by this aliv CULS council.'
And then for the benefit of the TV cameras Gibson tore up leaflets. Duke
Over two thousand people contempt for Gibson and his Tory friends by leaving them In doubt that opposition to the cuts is widespread and becoming more extensive every day.
The local landowners led by the Duke of Ruttand are clearly 100 bothered by the cuts. Private education and private clinics have always
Leicestershire
Part of the large anti-cuts march in Leicester
been part of their way of life. this local squirearchy which dominates Tory thinking in the dEca
The day of action was a
united all the strands of opposition to the Tories which exist in the labour movement.
It S actions such as these which prepare the way for a nationally coordinated struggle against the policies of this government.
PLEASE DONT SACK MY TEACHER
N.U.S.S TES SE
OFFICE
STA
Tory council sader, Geoftrey on it was out-of-date.
OU
TUR
cuts leaflets in Leicester. He claimed the information | London N16. Labour Party • Gibson, tears up anti
Labour conference
calls for British
withdrawal from
Ireland
weekend's annual
policy Ireland'.
Tory front benches on the Irish issue'.
other debates.
conronce Inner London rejected sections supported
the Nationalities Bill and the 'Sus' laws.
Dirty work
organise 'mass demonstrations, rate/rent strikes' against the Tories.
LCC was envisaged as a 'campaigning body'.
sectoral, as well as cross sectoral, conferences.'
important anti-government action now going on
the stectearkers."
N7 on Saturday 29 Marce.
Debate: 'The Crisis and
the Future of the Left'
Speakers: Tony Benn, Paul Foot, Audrey Wise,
Stuart Holland, Hilary Wainwright, Tariq Ali
Monday 17 March, 7.30pm
Central Hall, Westminster, London SW1 For tickets send £1 plus s.a.e. to:
Socialist Challenge (Debate), 328 Upper Street, London N1
Socialist C
BY A sweeping ten to one majority the last
meeting of the Greater London Regional Council of the Labour Party called for Labour MPs to commit themselves to a
of British withdrawal from Northern
The successful motion also disassociated the party from the 'sterile bipartisan posture of the Labour and
The radical mood of the conference was reflected in
Conference threw out sections of the report from Sir Ashley Bramall, leader of the Labour-
Education Authority. The ILEA's f21 milion education cuts. Motions were also passed condemning
But the conference drew the line when it came to turning the radical sentiments into action. Thrown out was a Labour Party Young Socialist motion calling on Labour councils 'not to do the Tories' dirty work and to refuse to make any cuts', oppose rate increases and to
industrial action and
A fringe meeting organised by the Labour Coordinating Committee did show that sections of the Labour Party ranks were looking for an alternative. Stuart Holland MP got a good reception when he said the
•Tony Banks, chairing the LCC meeting proposed a rank and file trade union movement committed to socialist policies. Announcing the LCC's intention of calling an open trade union conference to discuss socialist strategy Banks added: 'We plan a series of
But welcome as such declarations were, one member of the audience made the most obvious comment whet she said: 'We're supposed to be discussing aétion agains the government. But no-one has yet mentioned the mos
steei strike. Let's start by working out what me can do fo
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Interview with strike leader Brian Molyneux HOW TO WINOVER THE COUNTDOWN PRIVATE SECTOR
STRIKE NEWS
TO WEEK 10
By Geoffrey Sheridan
ON 3 December the Iron and Steel Trades
Confederation puts in a claim for a 20 per cent
wage rise. The offer from the British Steel
Corporation is 2 per cent, tied to local prod-
activity deals.
In the same week they announce a further 52,000
redundancies.
strike over the pay claim. Ine walk-out from Boe plants on
2 January is virtually total. The demand is for 20 per cent.
Within a few days engineers and other workers who have
remained behind join the picket lines.
militancy. The policy of the strike committees is that no steel
should move, and flying pickets are despatched to the
private sector steel firms, stockholders, and the ports.
- _he redundancie
Llanwern galvanise the South Wales miners.
turDacks coula close i our or tne so pils. 'Un ¿i january,
says George Wright, general secretary of the Wales TUC,
'we want a mini-general strike."
increased its pay offer to 8 per cent. Len Murray says it is
"festooned like a Christmas tree with conditions'. His role 1s
to be a go-between, looking for a compromise settlement.
By mid-January, there
tations. Arrests have already started outside Hadfields, the
private steel firm in Sheffield, which is to be a major focus in the strike. "The strike is forced to get bloody,' comments a local ISTC branch secretary. It's a fight against the Tory government. Sour
When Sir Keith Joseph visits Birmingham he is greeted by a thousand steel strikers who chant: 'Maggie out.' Events are turning sour for the Tory government sooner than almost anyone cemen.
Joseph is still maintaining a policy of 'non-intervention' in the strike. No one takes him seriously.
The Wales TUC gives way to pressure from Congress House.
January is postponed for a week.
•Un 21 january. workers at a rally in Sheffield: interfering in this strike. I plead guilty (massive applause)... They can introduce whatever laws they like we'll picket whatever targets are necessary to win this strike.'
On 26 January Lord Denning rules in the High Court that "secondary picketing' is illegal. Two days later public industry comes to a halt in Wales when 200,000 workers strike.
At a rally that night, Bill Sirs is moved to tears by the tremendous show of solidarity, but this does not prevent the ISTC genetal scarclary. judgement until it is reversed by the House of Lords.
In Swansea, numerous other towns strikers confront the police on picket lines in an effort to halt the movement of all steel.
With Employment Secretary James Prior's anti-union law on the stocks, the cabinet divides into "hawks" and "doves' in their debate over how best to break the power of pickets and make strikes ineffectual.
On 8 February, Bill Sirs brings together the ISTC's negotiating committee to consider the Steel Corporation's new pay offer of 2 per cent plus a 12 per cent pay-for-jobs deal. national coordinating committee of the craft unions also rejects the offer. Blockade
The private steel sector becomes the main focus for the pickets, the police, and the media. To the jubilation of South Yorkshire steelworkers, workers at Hadfields in Sheffield agree to join the strike after the plant is blockaded.
But then come the first reversals in the strike. After the Pori Talbor and Llanwern steelworkers decide that there scould be no return to work until their jobs are secured, the didsh miners are balloted on all-out strike action, to begin DE 25 February.
The proposal is rejected by 22,000 votes to 4,000. With evident relief, the Wales TUC calls off the general strike which was to start on 1g March.
The private steelworkers at Hadfields and other firms decide to scab on the strike. A mass nicket of Sheerness Steel in Kent fails to halt the plant, and 600 ISTC members there are expelled from the union.
On 18 February the first national meeting of steel strike committee representatives is heid in some secrecy. They discuss how to make the picketing more effective, and decide to meet again. socialist Challenge
BALLOTS
TO THE
BALLOT
The steel bosses are confident of a meek response.
On 8 December the ISTC executive calls for a national
South Yorkshire comes to the fore as a centre of
scheduled for Port Talbot The steel
Within a week of the start of the strike, BSC has
are picket-line contron-
The regional general strike due to start on 21
Arthur Scargil tels two thousand I've been accused of from accepting Denning's
Blackburn, Pontypool, Aberdeen and The committee shouts it down. A week later the
miners, and engineers. • March 1980 Page 4
back them in any fight on jobs or closures.
week.
'Locally, morale is low with the return of the private sector,' Brian Molyneux considers.
'People are obviously getting more desperate for money, with mortgages and electricity being cut off. But in BSC we're absolutely solid.
'Morale boosters are being organised, and we're trying to get
wives and families involved. More people volunteering for picketing than at the beginning of the strike.
Ine involvement of steelworkers' WItC and families was shown last week when two
at the House of Commons. Whole communities turned out in a five thousand-strong march Rotherham on Sunday.
Despite the scabbing role of the private sector, Brian Molyneux opposes the removal of their union cards as an answer.
"The South Yorkshire divisional strike committee decided that all officials who have * gone back to work should
credentials removed,' explains. "This has already been done in some areas, such as Corby.
'But I don't think it's on to expel members. It's a gift to the Tories. And it is not the members' fault; it's the fault of the officials.
STEELWORKERS
IF the private steelworkers support us now we should
divisional strike committee, and a newly-elected member of the ISTC national negotiating committee, spoke to Clive Turnbull about the state of the strike as it enters its tenth
They should have argued for the deciston to call out sector to be upheld. It's that lack of leadership which problem,' he maintains. 'It was apparent when we met the Confederation of Shipbuilding Engineering managements have been using the old Tory arguments profitability and more threat against supporting us. are 'What engineering and other workers must arguments which they're accepting local now will be UNPO when they put in their pay claims. 'We sent Bill Sirs a telegram last week saying that he had to give the private sector some encouragement, but making it clear that if they support us we would back them in any fight on jobs or closures.
Ballots
Despite the has tie sector, Brian Molyneux ölvinced that the strike is beir have effective, particularly in engineerhe ing. Plants in Sheffield are being affected, he believes In South response Corporation's ballot overwhelmingly in support of a boycott. 'A CONTINGENT from the Warrington 'Brick Brigade" — see story next page
the private
the
Unions that
about closures as a
BRIAN MOLYNEUX realise is that the
against them "They're using the
delay negotiations.
steelworkers
of BSC
BSC in this area, problem of the
In Briar
would not be getting a cent pay rise, originally put forward.
Yorkshire the
the Steel
has been arawn
executive council.
and response
ballot to It'll take a month to get the sort of procedure Murray. they've started - organising the win. ballot, and presenting the results. In the meantime they can get on with plans for hiving off sections Molyneux
established
*From Rotherham we are now hearing at board level that there are firm plans to hive off parts of
in particular Stainless Steel and Stockbridge.
Molyneux's view Liaison antone who backs the BSC offe
14.4 per ISTC but the 2 per cent
He explains that the claim now being put forward by Sirs had been
union's negotiating committee, but by the
again.'
HADFIELDS -
THE VIEW FROM
INSIDE
By a Hadfields worker ONE of the worst aspects of the steel strike has been the role played by the manacement and unions a Hadfields, the private steel firm employing 2,500 workers in Sheffield.
With the return to work arter the mas: the atmosphere inside the plant is that no one should speak Outs tue Although there sympathy on the shopfloor for the strike - many of the workers' have relatives who work for the Steel Corporation — the leadership of the joint shop stewards committees has fully 00declace wild manatener keep the plant working.
Prompted
Right at the beginning of the strike when Hadfields was picketed, the shop • stewards organisea counter-pickets at the expenst of management. And threats of closure because a mane ds management was able prompt a number of publicity suns. such as melanovoi Arthur Scargill by women workers after the mass- pickel which resulted in the vote to
"The claim is an exact copy of BSC's with all the same strings.
lasting 15 months. south Yorkshire has made it's position absolutelyaclear cent and no strings, with a 12 month deal. Murray
'We back our general secretary's previous stand against arbitration, unless we can have - Arthur Scargill as the mediator.
'We're going to get as many people as possible down to the TUC demonstration on 9 March. We're pissed off with the lack of
from the TUC They should be calling a general strike for a starter. They should be giving the Tories a set time to settle, and then call a general strike.
'And it's time we got rid of
He's done nothing to
On arte way stre rin
union after strike,
says: 'We've already the divisional commies and made the first steps to a national committée.
'The South Yorkshite divisional committee agrees with
the demands of the Committee for Constitutiónal Reform in the
for policy-making conference and a changed basis for the election of delegates, to the executive council.
"Views changing on the election of full-time officials. Fhis
will never be the same join the strike The closure threats should not be taken all that seriously Hadfields is owned by
has good links with the Tory government. Discussions have taker takeover of parts of BSC. Private This poirits to the failure of the steel union leadership They have auntie any strateg which •could unk ine private anc public sectors Coint detence o either the the private stor SaNx
in the position of only section on strike on th engineers into the struggk before they are through steel shortages would be one of the best ways of winning over the private steel
Hadfields management has sort pd do sock pile steel produced. plant. they are doing otherwise I wIce the bosses the sites il Put uly strikers will leaflets explaining the need for solidarity.
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STRIKE NEWS
'Photos: LARRY HERMAN
DO WITHOUT
YOU
By Brian Grogan
BILL SIRS can't be very
fond of the steel strikers in
Warrington, Lancashire,
where the Steel Corpora-
tion plant faces closure.
The ISTC committee
Warrington has produced a
sticker calling on Sirs
resign, and last Friday fifty of
LEC SInKCES the
union's
London to demand that the
national executive takes
privale
sector steelworkers.
"The biggest mistake was
Sheerness. savs Chris Herd.
secretary ISTC's
Warrington branch.
out all the stops. We want all
raw materials stopped, and
we re Certit British
Oxygen and carbon suppliers
black deliveries. the rature et steenes,
he adds, 'gave the green light
for a reiurn to work in the rest
demanding that Sirs tells them
la come back on strike, or
By Roger Tovey, Llanwern, NUB THE miners' vote against strike action was a great disappointment.
Massive pressure miners. The Coal Board and the media lied and told them new markets had been found for coking coal.
The TUC and the nationally didn't want to fight or even rock the Tory boat let alone sink it.
votes to 4,000 against strike action. One of the lessons is that South Wales miners don't want to come out on their own - yet the Wales nationally have done nothing to involve the whole trauc union movericut un une present Hg.l.
Hard on the heels of the pit vote has come the decisions of the Steel Corporation to ballot us to see if we want to vote on the 14 per cent offer. That is, do we want to vote on losing our jobs?
No we don't.
The BSC is always money, yet they can spend £100,000 on this ballot.
This is yet another attempt to defeat us. Take the example of Edwardes" workers at British Leyland to vote in favour of losing 25,000 of their own jobs.
Rejection
The steel unions should hold mass meetingsato urge rejection of the latest offer, and they should be stepping up the campaign for 20 per cent with no strings and no redundancies.
• This is the way to handle the ballot - through our
NO SIRS, WE CAN
have their union cards removed.
The Warrington strikers have been dubbed the 'Brickboys' by James anacron. the Greater Manchester chief constable, because of their activities on LIC CACE les. they have now adopted their own Chris Herd
Ironatollah.
Chris Herd considers thai both steel stockholders and the private sector should be "The sector scabs are just stupid, he says. "Thousands of them will be down the road by the end of the year. To strengthen the strike, he believes that the fight should be to close all major steel users.
It we were running tne
Stripesos George Bures,
chairperson Warrington "we'd soon have won it. We hope the national strike commiltee will take the strike out of Sirs' hands. was placed on the
miners' union
This all contributed to the ballot result of 22,000
TUC and the TUC We won't accept anything on their
saying that they've no
ballot which pressurised
WARRINGTON steel headquarters to demand action against the private sector steelworkers
CHRIS HERD,
official outside union headquarters in London. democracy not through the rigged ballots.
The South Union of Blastfurnacemen has voted to stay out until assurances du ous de avoi
We've got to carry on winning more support and involving more unions in the fight against policies that will take us back to conditions worse than the '30s.
There should be no retreat by from its commitment to hold strike action against closures.
On the 9 March TUC demonstration we have to get the message over to Len Murray. They have to lead a political fight against the Tories by involving the whole NUM, rail and engineering workers, and the public sector children will be horrific.
As many possible have demonstration saying: 'Unite to kick out the Tories'.
strikers outside ISTC's Caris ton Ii on the et, alain en anise 'Ironatollah',
Caldicot fights as a community
STEELWORKERS'
DEMOCRACY V
RIGGED BALLOTS
Wales conference of the National
the Wales TUC
otherwise the future of our
to be on the
the BSC
bosses on
Teesside
By Dave Carter
THE connection between
the im Middles-
brough and opposition to
the steel strike is not hard
to fathom. An anti-strike
march in the town last
Thursday began
the offices of the Evening
Gazette, which has done
best to build
opposition.
There were just eight
women on the march, and
Lect WeEe
bered by -steetworkers and
wives who counter-
uciolsraica it support ol
the strike.
Managers
Pickets are being
mounted at Steel
BSC's headquarters
North-east.
evening, 50 managers were
preventeg trom leaving the
building for two hours.
ISTC has also called out
the catering workers at Steel
House. John
spokesperson for the strike
committee, says: 'Most of the
dosses cowa co win ioswig a bit of weight. We aim
starve them out.'
*Wales TUC
has ruined the
struggle,
miners leader
DON HAYWARD, : chief
stration officer of the Welsh NUM,
told Pat Kane how the union sees
the collapse of strike action by the
Welsh miners.
*If the Coal Board comes forward
with its list of closures then it's certain
that there will be a fight. There's all the
difference between the ballot last month
and miners voting to lose their jobs.
'After the ballot we will now have to
start from scratch and each lodge will be
inviting. members
meetings to get the facts
closures.
'On 14 March there is a national
NUM delegate conference in London to
discuss coal imports.
executive unanimousiy this dispute is in Caldicot, in Gwent, where we have set up an area picketing organisation of ordinary steel workers from all the unions.
closures threaten with unemployment. We've operative, farmers and selling them at cut price to steelworkers and their families.
plan the week ahead
way organise as we've done, and to make sure that the union leaders only accept the full claim with no strings and no redundancies.
*This article also appears in bulletjn of Llanwern workers.
Starving out Preston Rally
Backs Steelworkers By John Parkinson, Secretary, Joint Staffs Committee, GEC Preston STEELWORKERS from have been touring plants in Preston, raising cash for the strike and arguing for the boycott of all steel. They Council, which has arranged accommodation for the strikers. ward Sunday, 6 loveshors convenors attended rally build support for the strike agreed to step up It wa: support STOI pickets and to argue in the plants for a steel boycott also decided to maintain the liaison between the organisations which had - the Confed eration of Shipbuilding anc Engineering Unions, Preston Council, the Libbin Pe biegest - in orde obrain the possible turnout for the TUC's day of strike action on 14 May. stop them. 'We
Talbot
›' says suffering
result
starter, and admini- meeting has
will be difficult. "The general strike. to come out then. to their We had the about the
The national
opposed to again.'
An example of what it is possible to organise in
Caldicot is fighting as a community because the
over 20 cent
organised food cobuying vegetables wholesale from local
Over 150 of us meet every Sunday to discuss and
demoralisation is to
"Steelsheet", the
Socialist Challenge
Stocksbridge, , Sheffield,
support of Preston Trades
At GEC we have refused to unload two lorry-loads of wrenca sce management before dawn on Wednesday of last week.
tives on the staffs committee at GEC are arguing that . we should boycott all steel: the WOIKS that since committee Bill considers Sirs has
return to work, the boycott should only apply to imported steel This underlines the need for strike action in the private SCCIO! SOCIALIST CHALLENGE PUBLIC MEETING 'THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE STEEL STRIKE Speakers: Colin Herd (strike committee, ISTC Warrington), Pat Hickey (deputy senior steward BL SD1), and a speaker from the Stone Platt
occupation, Oldham.
Wednesday, 12 March, 7.30pm. For venue ring
Manchester 236 4905.
imports and we want strike ačtion to
will dave lo se bie suppor again of the Newport dockers, who were holding up imported coal, and the Port
steelworkers. They have been during this strike, and they must feel disappointed after the ballot
•We'll have to meet the Wales TUC again. The 10 March strike is now a non-
the recall Wales TUC been cancelled. . The Wales TUĆ has told us that we can apply for a recall conference, but after the ballot it
Wales TUC has ruined the struggle. If it had been seen to be behind the strike, the miners would have come out. And if this had happened the steel • strike would have been over in a week
'We should have come out on 21 January, the original date for a regional
The members were ready
same meetings and ballots during January, and we had a big turnout on 28 January. There was a 92 per cent vote in favour of action
"That's been turned round now so we have to get out to the pits. and stari
Port Talbot
will stay out
over jobs
By Patrick Sikorski MASS meetin of National Union of Blast furnacemen members Port Talbot decided last week to oppose any settlenucl which does quarantee all jobs et the threatened Dant John Perrins, the NUB distric cerclay. said that there had been no discussion of the rumoured picketing of pils by sicci strikeis, Dull indicated that the matter would be taken up with Wiliams. the :Welsh miners' president Williams has said: 'No will cross anv officia picket line not tradition. We've never done it in the past and we won't do it now.
The blastfurnace workers decision over jobs follows
Port Talbot. ISTC branches meeting this week are likely to encorse asumar recomucre ation from their strike committee members. 6 March 1980 Page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
STRIKE NEWS
SACKED FOR
BEING -
GAY
JAMIE GOUGH, London Gay Activists Alliance
Geoff Brighton, student Leeds University, refused medical certificate to train to be a teacher aft the sole grounds that he is gay.
Dr fraser. the director
the Student Health Centre, judges Geoff to be Goony Haske at Fraser is demanding that he "threat to children'. sees a psychatial. Unless certificate Geoff will noi cat receives medical •lower lo Ecacu.
Fraser's decision is based on two big lies about Sex
First, gays are 'child molesters". In fact,
likely to children against their will than hetezosexuals sals call in fact, much less so). But it may be the case that a say.
bacter walintluence ner or
fo regard homosexuality as OK:
That is what Dr Frase ically wants: to prevent.
The second big lie is that gays are "sick' mentally ill,
of ustable character. Traditional ideas identify homosexual orlaviour as deviall order deny that 'the majority' can have any gay
medical evidence to back up the assertion that there is a
ДOLOsexuality and mental illness.
Student
Geoff has already won the support of his student
seeking the support of trade union branches and Labour
He is Medical Asocia British R Associa TO1. the Genera Medica Council, and the DHSS, to
clearly that homosexuality ПОТ
and that doctors have absolutely no business
And he is calling on the Department of Education and Science to state that ar individual's homosexuality
completely irrelevant to their right to teach.
1 his case is a cicar piece of anti-gay discrimination and it also the
WORR attitude keeps young people gnorant and frightened of
•8M€ calling it 'sick' affects the sexuality of everyone. Picket
So far the NUT, true to past form. has refused take a position on the issue
picket been organised for Saturday March at 9am outside the
headquarters Euston.
For further informa-
Campaign for the Defence of Gay Students, Вох 110,
Publications Ltd, 29 Blenheim Terrace, Leeds 2.
'BACK TO WORK'
WOMEN A FLOP IN
TEESSIDE
BRENDA Parry steelworker's wife
recently announced her leading an anti-strike march March. The hungry for such events, gave
The police refused to stop the traffic for Brenda Parry's
DIle eight followers marched along the pavement looking
Cuts 'regrettable, but
hegligible'
BATTERED women, 'one parent families', gays,
spending cuts turmoil in Manchester.
Manchester Labour council axed grants totalling more
inevitable holocaust that will come next year'.
would be 'negligible though regrettable'.
Alexandra Park the end of a three year plan for a 24-hour
Tory cuts seeris now to revolve around increasing rent
by attacking those it thinks are "weakest'.
ven of misery and suicide - these are the 'negligibl
Sects. All they say is: "The families will have to cope
the cuts on International Women's Day on 8 March in CLUEING up on the way forward for the steel strike. A picket and two cops outside Sheerness Steel in Kent prepare tor action. If you
FIGHTBACK
THE TORIES
SOCIALISM
I am interested in joining the IMG
Name.
Address
Age
N1
like a shopping expedition.
The steelworkers and their
jeer the anti-strike march in fair nombers restricted
Slaughter as Parry and her friends arrived outside the local ISTC headquarters.
The media was sorely cisappoited that its efforts had been wasted The steelworkers were delighted. and the inner city poor are being dragged into the
On 12 February the Social Services Committee of
Tomlinson, said: 'Cuts have to be made to prepare for the
'Category E organisations have had to do without their grants because the loss of their services
nursery; the closure of the Manchester Gay Centre; the end of plans for a tenants' information centre on the notorious Hulme estate; further cuts in pregnancy advice
The much vaunted Labour council campaign against
and preparing the ground for big cuts to come
without the collective support that these grants help finance, will be driven to
women's organisations have been quick to respond. They have called for a women's march against
wish you were better
AGAINST
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR
..... Occupation.
Fill in and return to IMG, PO Box 50, London
TISTE
STEEL NOMENS
POWER
Oldham: fighting job loss By Pete Clifford SUPPORT is growing for the 850 engineering workers who are in their third week of occupation of the Stone Platt textile
manufacturing plant in Oldham.
labour movement locally is making the occupation against closure a TOCUS in the fisht. unemployment in an area which has seen widespread
By Redmond O'Neill
familiar enough comment from steel strikers in Chaflenge. H's on ti informed
Labour mot
of launching a labeet movement daily newspaper.
The campaign, to
had its inaugural rally in
over five hundred people.
With the résistance of he
bosses and for the establishment of alternative media
and the not so alternative Nottingham News.
£3. Organisations, from £5.
STUDENTS OFFER FACILITIES TO STEELWORKERS PAULINE ROE, NUS Executive, personal capacity TWO hundred students administration area of Essex University in protest against ¡ncreases in overseas students' fees and cuts in housing for first year students.
generai meeting of the students union on 26 February. +
University te take control of the Union building after an earlier general meeting had offered facilities
University's action would lead to redundancy. They returned to work, and the steelworkers came to stay:
general meetings.
Students Union, The University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 35Q.
redundancies, particularly ir week
manufacturer announced
Despite the failure of the Engineering Union executive make the occupation
Youth demand a future
'THIS STRIKE is about our children's future' is a
cription form for
gent daily?
THE Campaign for Press Breedom has asked the Labour Party and the TUC to cartz out a study on the feasibility
Made all the print unions are affiliated, don last Thursday, attended by enn was among the speakers. → mass :media to any. mass opposition to the government's policies, the campaign is likely to be the focus for detands for action agminst the voice of the
A collection at the tally raised £250 for two local alternative papers, the East End News and the Rochdale Alternative Press,
To obtain a speaker for labour movement meetings, rite to: Campaign for Press Freedom, 274-288 London Rd Hadleigh, Essex. Individual membership of the campaign costs
BUREAUCRATIC
RESIGN sere occupying the
The students decided to accupy at a 350 strong emergency
Tempers had been roused stresdy following threats by the
steel strikers.
Staff in the Union building went on strike fearing that the
The occupation at Essex will be reviewed by future student Telegrams of support can be sent to the
official, the powerful • north and south Manchester districts or the AUEw nave endorsed the and thousands of haye been conscied Workers at the British Aircraft Corporation plant in
Closures and redundan cies
places like Port
future at all.
army, That's why there's tremendous
the youth
banned striking,
organising, ployed, from
South has begun to
organise a
map out action
Railwi
sys Fore what one Revolution me the campean in South Wales:
In South Wales the steel
meres in pits, steel railways would Discussions on: *The pres Liberațion *The
Open to all Saturdas The University!
Oldham, who are considering a walk out over the sale of
on stock market, plan to mard to Platts to hold a joint mas meeting
Meanwhile,
- part of a multinational - is offering substantial Hallaze Ims ip place ther lorries on stand-by to remove Elom of machinery from the
The boss of the national Edward Hawkings, who is president of the
45...
Employers' :Federation and
La pamphlet guidelines for employers on how to smash strikes.
The Platts workers need solidarity company's 20 other plants. As Eddie Holland, the works
Says. Says. them out with us.?
Several have already been visited,
Galle stewards were nave agreca lo consider ½ holding : mass meetings.
Eddie Holland, 70 Lord Street, Oldham, Lancs. and closures
ana
for to the
Wales TUC, through the
youth are
we have 508 - sehow!
the mach
are Wales
•of int NUM South Wales Executive
arguing for backing from the IMG School
Students, Youth and
the Struggle for
Socialism
Page 7 scan of this page
DOWN -BUT NOT OUT
HOME NEWS
Claimants
need our
support to
defeat Tory
Bill
By Alison Cooper
THE governmeni s new
Bill HUH committee stage in Parliament. It' it goes through un-changed, milhon claimants will be worse off nex: Navember
And this is the official estimate oi it: negative effects - so the real numbers who will sulfer are likely 1o be far greater.
Ine bli le à calculated and heartless attack or claimants the non organised 'working' class. The lories commend it
security system. But what they call simplification is in fact the elimination of discretionary elements of the system with no compensatory increase in the scale rates. Nil-cost
'Simplification' is taking place on a nil-cost basis" .. words, claimants will be worse off. These are some of the effects:
*Claimants un the long-term
benetit rate iosE 40p week supplementary benefit is brought into line ile. national insurance benefits. ..# happen the next annual uprating so that li will be disguised and cialmants may not realise what is happening to chem!
•Young people leaving in the summer will not be able to claim supplementary bene it three months after leaving school. They will have to deperdent on their parents for this детал.
* Exceptional needs paymenis -. one off lutp-som grants
be greatly restricted stopped pierel! ter those nor on weekly supplementary benefit.
No outcry
There are curently milior people on supplementary
There are over 1 unempin! ed, more than 350,000 single parents on benefit, 700,000 disabled people on benefit other than supplementary benefit. more than 8.500 (XX) pensioners
The cumbers are yet the outery ai what is to happen
November has so far Mantra:
The includes the lett. To judge
rosiel serumily buttis deliberations
seldom sublicised
bein that the scrounger dampaig ha: had is efferi -- that Claimants
the drac: int intercil on suppor
I: is time. bai ini in citariy
waitian's are supported i their dai: struggle :o: = Pring in this
HE ITE oncE and
inbir. rother and siniels 1ho are dened i job, lo iori branches such archiplesed inembers, support dantants in their light gets susand the ravages of the
Abure ali, there
next door
Up to 20 police
them!
Mrs Earlington,
with two childier,
Social
1.8 tor Its
social
Martin Webster.
fascist style.
other LAST Sunday
again to intimidate immigrant communities
will South London
when Southwark.
The new series
with
activities are
This
school election.
for
the activities remain
Anti Nazi League.
The sordid
-. are split in its ranks.
by Herbert,
Peoples' Party
which he argues public face of the Front.
4.25
Seamy
inillion
BPP project
and membership
Midlands. clibililly organising the
been defending • Re
enquiry complaints
quarters.
Typical of the seamy would crossing that goes
not worth
that
These two, known as the Gang of Three. Fountaine, Front by Tyndali,
fully fragmented the "Gang'. the tongnise the Directorate
Webster.
Assets
and
Constitutional faction.
ON 9 April 1979 Mrs Earlington and her son Trevor: became involved in a domestic argument with their
neighbours. An •ordinary domestic dispute — until the police intervened. assaulted members of the family and mei rested. invaded the family
an orderly at the local hospital for eight years, was handcuffed, dragged downstairs and had nel tumD so cadly Lwisted Inat sae was oli work for several weeks. Trevor Earlington, was arrested after being chased upstairs by 3 police. Audrey, a married daughter
'was alicoled. lourteen years old, was arrested when she returned from school. She was putiched in the jaw re-starting a childhood RECENT weeks have seen a sordid power struggle for control of the National Front, Britain's largest fascist party. Today the very existence of the NF hangs in the balance, as does the fate of führers John Tyndall and
Here Dave Hudson examines splits and fusions
the fascist National Front took to the streets
and harass in the borough of of NF of Front trustee), designed to reestablish their waning fortunes, diverting attention away from the internal crisis that has been tearing the organisation apart since their poor showing in the general
These problems aré related to
of the anti-fascist movement and in particular the
LETSLEE.
gangsterism that characterises the power struggles in the NF has recently led to another
Anthony Reedhead of the INt'S legal department, has taken steps to launch a new nationalist party, the British
free the trappings and associations of Nazism
has damaged the
Unlike the previous 1975 split the
appears to have the support of a substantial section of the
particularly in the policies
• Ironically white Reed-Herbert was
split, he was: also NF at. the public Hackney into the against the use of Excalibur House as the party head-
doubleon in the NF corridors of power, it appears there is a link-up between Reed Herbert and Andrew Fountaine's "Constitutional Movement', a faction still inside the Front which has been slugging it out on the national Directorate with the dominant Tyndall/Webster faction.
. with Richard Verrall, are
expelled from the IS leaving his options open, although hę has sucess-
and isolated Tyndall was forced to resign from his post as chairperson at
meeting in mid-January, despite offering to get rid of
The power struggle on the Directorate hassfocused on who controls the party's assets. Legally NF Properties is controlled by trustees loyal to the
Atstimes this struggle has taken
Police attack another black family
enough arrested.
conviction.
bastard' and a 'wog'.
National Front wracked by internal crisis
he form of a pantomime. One suci nterlude is the so-catled 'piss in th boots affair'.
Philip Gregan, an NF solicitor, arrived at Fountaine's Norfolk farm to serve a writ concerning possession
Properties (Fountaine is and was so frustrated at Fountaine's refusal to open the door, that he pissed in a pair of nearby wellingtons.
furious Fountaine. complained to the Law Society over unprofessional conduct. was lucky he did not suffer the same facester NF National. Organiser Webster Organiser) who, on a similar mission to another
had a bucket of cold water thrown at him.
Power
It would be quite wrong, however, to dismiss the NF leadership as a bunch of irrelevant fools. The current power struggles do not appear reflect differences on strategic policy, but rather on tactics and emphasis in building a mass fascist patty today.
In a lengthy letter announcing the formation of the BPP, Reed-Herbert
...Let us make clear immediately that our nationalist policies are in no way in issue here... but whether the National : Front as political movertient is capable of taking these
forward power implementation by constlulls an election winning, mass movement. (Searchlight No 56.)
Reed-Herbert still wants a party that puts forward Nazi ideas of race and nation'; still sees a purge of the
By Davy Jones
against immigration controls be produced?
in the wider movement against these racist laws?
Affiliated bodies can send two delegates.
also contact as beforehand.
SE5 or phone
(evenings).
illness, now requiring hospital treatment. Mr Earlington came downstairs to be punched in the stomach
The family then faced numerous charges of assaults.
Mrs Earlington and Trevor have already been found guilty on the charges against them. They have appealed against
The police response was to arrest Trevor for a second time on: Wednesday 9 January 1980. He was held from 2:45pm that day until 9pm the following day, and then charged on a trumped up allegation of breaking and enterns and receiving stolen goos. Damg els detestion he was assaulted with a fire extinguisher and called a 'black
. On Monday 28 January the family appeared in court.
Outside the door of the court room the police abruptly later
Gregan to
'enemy within" (blacks reds) as a prèrequisite for 'national regeneration'. Neither mentary elections and constitutional procedures seen as a substitute for a 'mass movement'.
In the same letter he says: «We criticise the leadership of the NF for its past, the Nazi image it has in the minds of the electorate, image of violence that the media has
FIGHT THE TORIES RACIST LAWS
WHAT expotly is being changed by the new Tory Immigration Rules? How can you organise successfal local campaigns to prevent people being deported? How can more effective and informative propaganda
What role should the Campaign Against the Immigration Laws play
These are the kinds of issues that will be discussed at the CAIL Annual Meeting which will be beld at Waterloo Action Centre, Baylis Rd, London SEt from 10am to 6 pm on Saturday 15 March.
All supporters of CAIL are welcome, but if you are not an individual member already you will have to become one (for t2) if you want to vote.
As * security measure we are asking all non-merabers to contact es beforehand or ensure that someone will vouch for them on the day. Anyone requiring overnight accommodation or creche facilities should
Write to CAIL, c/o Lansbary House, 41 Camberwell Grove, London
Davy 01-359 8371 (days) or Bereard 01-728 2321
to summons the police for actual bodily harm. Defence
3922).
Jews and
afe parlia leadership..' and other
sharp
the
stop
London.
blows come down adherence
the strain.
Fountaine
leadership achieving this
informed Audrey that all previous charges against her had been dropped to be replaced by a new charge of assaulting a policeman! Audrey was formally charged just five minutes delore entering tne court: Ine case was dajourner until 21/22 April and the family announced their intention
The Earlington family is only one of many black families under attack. They need money to fight the cases and to finance ine campaign. All donations, large anc small, should be sent to: Earlington Family Defence Fund, c/o 49 Railton Road, London SE24 OLN. Leaflets and information can be obtained from the Earlington Famili Defence Committee at the same address (Phone: 737
NATIONAL
FRONT
вія си03 been allowed to build up thanks to many of the tactics adopted by the
What we see in the NF today, is a polarisation within declining membership between those who wish to adapt to the 'democratic ana consulumona pecutarilies of tit British', and those ultra-right dyedin-the-wool Nazi thugs who want a of controntation and intimidation. In this way they hope to o members o British Movement, which is behind the new increase in racist violence in
:These developments must be seen
recently inflicted on the NF The AN on the one hand, and the right wing rhetoric that accompanied Thatcher's victory on the other have taken the wind out of their sails.
The Tyndall/Webster leadership, which had based itself on a longer 'vision' has been unabie firmiy in either camp.
Pulled towards the ultra-wing by thei LO National Socialis doctrine, and under pressure fross both sides, they have broken up under
The election last week of the ne leadership that excludes Tyndal ac uphokis the previous cxpulsion of and Co represcoes a las attempt to hold the party togethar rontonatcly, this has stin
Page 8 scan of this page
INTERNATIONAL
NAME: Robert Gabriel Mugabe
POSITION: President,
National Union (ZANU)
AGE: 55
carpenter.
EDUCATION:
university degrees
college in
three-month
Describes himself
Marxist.
Socialist Challenge 6 March 1980
Zimbabwe
PLACE OF BIRTH: Kutama, Southern Rhodesia FAMILY HISTORY: father was a village
primary education in mission schools; further education in South African college. Holder of a string of
collected by correspondence courses while in
POLITICAL HISTORY: joined Youth League of the South African National Congress when at
South Africa; joined the Southern Rhodesian National Democratic Party in 1960, becoming publicity director the same When the NDP was banned he became publicity director of the successor party, the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU). Placed under a
restriction order Suspended from ZAPU in 1963, helped to form ZANU the same year. Jailed from 1964-74
PERSONAL DETAILS: enjoys sport, traditional Zimbabwean music and the singing of Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley and Pat Boone.
Page 8
African secondary year.
1962.
as 'a Maoist-oriented
new Zimbabwe.
ON AIMS:
THE first objective of our armed *Sfruggie is, the attainment of total at
independence so rule ourselves as we deem fit and develop our country in the general interests of the masses.
This means we completely reject and would • l1CYCi entertain discussion whatsoever which seeks to preserve the interests or privileges of a minority.
September 1977
WHY was this war necessary?
The people of Zimbabwe took up arms to undemocratic, racial, political order.
The people of Zimbabwe, under the leadership of ZANU have always been clear as the identity nature of the enemy.
Our people have understood that the colonialism, which held us under the yoke of racism, exploitation oppression.
ZANU took up arms in pursuit of form or injustice with anothere principles, not to replace one enemy of the people of Zimbabwe is not and never has been the peoplez Dur enemies are Zimbabwean whites.
January 1980
WE would like to establish a socioeconomic system which is based on Marxism-Leninism: When we say that we don't mean we are going to impose that system
We are going to derive authority from it from the people and if the people accept our party naturaily they would have accepted our principles
We adopted, as a party, scientific socialism as far back as 1973. So, this is the basis on which we would like to operate politically economically.
October 1978 IF we are poor together, then that's
DESPITE all obstacles, Robert
Mugabe's party has won an
overwhelming majority in the
Zimbabwe elections. ZANU has
overcome the intimidation by
the Rhodesian authorities, the
harassment by the British and
the attempts on Mugabe's life.
Who is Robert Mugabe? What
does he stand for? Here, in his
own words, is the leader of the
few
: September 1978 we can On policies:
everything. any Land individuals,
It has always an uniust and social and October 1978
and
always CICHL
and of money leaving being accountants.
The we quickly as possible.
British October 1978 not THE racial.
_between for coloureds.
on a non-racial basis.
DOLICLY October 1978
where almost
October 1978
ROBERT
IN HISOV
acceptable. But if we are poor because
individuals rich then obviously I can't accept that system.
YOU can't start off by nationalising
You have to take into account the realities of the situation.
However the genuine policy would be one of socialising industry.
In respect of agriculture we have no difficulty because our tradițional system is identical with the MarxistLeninst approach: at least in so far as ownership of land is concerned.
never belonged neither did it belong to the chiefs as in West Africa.
belonged to the people as a whole. We must get back to that traditional position.
THE banking system is a very vital sector which must receive immediate attention from the covernment
If you are not in control of your money, by centralising the control, then you might very well run the risk
the country and sabotaged by bankers and
would seize the banks as
present education system is you nave scroos wricn are intended for whites, and there is a system for blacks, another system in
We will not be content with position where these schools will be exclusive mev have all to be placed on a par, admission to them must be
We must establish a non-racial
WE have to bring about a position
Never part of the country can boast of a clinic, each village boast of a dispensary and each region boast of a good hospital.
VOL
On civil liber
I WOULD like to see a c enshrining the usual lib liberties, freedom of speec of religion, freedom of irr the right of people to assen wish.
But you cannot at the s you are enshrining the ci 'also enshrine privileges t
LUCCLICHO . communities.
would cut principle of non-racialisn would like to see cut across and all our socio-economi
So cannot have minorities October 1978
MORALITY is morality; remains a murderer whet a socialist or capitalist sys
But the forms of puni
might differ and Louise. therefore have to consider
of punishment as you fet effective.
What is lacking in the p system is the corrective as! been to prison and I obtains — a punitive syste
But have got people, to reform them, s acquire better habits, acqu attitude to life.
I am not one of those
Page 9 scan of this page
MUGABE IN WORDS
VOTE
that capital punishment is a happy event. I would be happier if it were abolished.
October 1978
On the workers'
states WE HAVE had a great deal of help from China, Rumania and Yugoslavia. Since visit to Vietnam we have also had good relations with Hanoi.
We have never considered the USSR enemy.
ZAPU the Soviet Union has helped the people of Zimbabwe. would like more assistance from the Soviet Union.
August 1978
BUT China has always said they will attach no strings to the aid they give US. They are not going to use that military aid as a weapon to orientate us in the direction of their own views.
The fact that we get help China doesn't make us married to China.
October 1978 WE WANT to build a solidarity of sacialist around struggle. My visit to Cuba was the first that a leader of ZANU has paid
that country and President Castro very responsive.
As our
solidarity.
October 1978
Trom norea, eventual
revolutions Czechoslovakia, Germar Korea, helping
Mozambique, But we Bissau,
Ethiopia.
even
experience? the Begins,
the world
from
Claus.
September 1979
On the party:
our
we found
the
OTE
endeavours continue we hope to find ourselves in the orbit of all socialist countries, with the Soviet Union and China included in this
THE Bolshevik Revolution's success and the subsequent creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as the parent socialist state meant the
success of socialist China, Hungary, the Republic, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Cuba and here in Africa in
Angola, Guinea Congo Republic and now in
Who would have imagined in 1917
Inal socialist revolution would one day be Africa's
Pinochets, Somozas, Vorsters and Ian Smiths take note. The workers and the peasants of
uniting; they have nothing to lose but their imperialist WHILST we should recognise the role tid status given to us by party, there should constantly exist
denominator, the
equaliser, the persistent fact of our comradeship and the mutual respect that it demands from those below for those at the top, and from those at the top for those below.
This is why quarrelling, fighting, beating and ill-treating others obviate
party relations constitute indiscipline.
Comradeship demands more the spirit of tolerance and the desire 1o educate others than the desire to punish, fight and beat others.
We should always try to invoke in others a greater degree of conscious-
than they have, and help lo transform them into revolutionaries than they are. June 1979
I DEFINE party unity as harmony that draws us together under the given leadership of the party towards the achievement of its set goals
Unity is in fact more than mere harmony. It is an active bond of aspirants who share in common given political beliefs
Unity is integrative of revolutionary forces in the direction of set goals. June 1977 On the future: WE HAVE a glorious history as consistent and revolutionaries.
We cannot besmirch that history by accepting half-measures as effective solution which, under false pretences, speaks of a majority rule when in effect they operate in the interests of a bigoted minority, thus perpetuating minority rule.
committed all kinds of very serious cutties.
Zambia, in Botswana, all these put
people if by the time we take over he
THE ONE thing we cannot change or modify vis-a-vis South Africa is our commitment to the liberation of the
But in respect of our ow ollateral relations with South Africa incannot be expected that overnight we will
We will therefore, in that respect
PEOPLE of Zimbabwe — workers, wcasallls industrialists, intellectuals, civil servants, students, men, this is the moment for unity.
The Republic of Zimbabwe must unflinchingly pursue an anti-racist policy. We will ensure that majority rule never becomes maiontv tvrannv
Both must be smashed Zimbabweans are to live in true freedom in their own country. January 1980
manifesto.
and
nowhere to be found
hetter
our Cousy. foreign capital.' principled
an for the moment. GROUP
u ducis farmers,
if all
Will ZANU make room
for capitalism?
By Richard Carver ZIMBABWE may slide rapidly into civil war or simply undergo a slow political paralysis. But what will not happen is the instant legislation of socialism hoped for or feared by so many observers.
'You're not believing all this rubbish about me being a Marxist are you?' Robert Mugabe reportedly told a business delegation a couple of weeks ago. apocryphal but it does show that, despite the press campaign against him, the ZANU leader is still concerned not to frighten the white community, which has a stranglehold on the country's economic life.
The ZANU-PF election manifesto is remarkably similar to those of the other main African parties, It promises that the party would not interfere with white and multinational business interests. Private enterprise will be allowed to continue until 'circumstances are ripe for socialist change' — a sentiment vague enough to grace a Labour
On land reform, the single biggest issue facing the land-starved rural Africans, it talks only of 'resettling' blacks on underused white land — a plan already supported by the white farmers' union: Land seizures and expropriations, the bogey of the country club set, are
A good index of ZANU intentions is to be found in neighbouring Mozambique, which has always been Mugabe's strongest outside ally
Only last week President Machel told a group of representatives fron major multinationals that 'there is a place for foreign private investment in
'And he correctly added: 'We have experience in working with
A major problem for Mozambique has been that it inherited a colonial economy entwined with that of white South Africa. Combined with the flight of Portuguese settlers and the decision to close the Rhodesian border in solidarity, this has created appalling hardship.
Mugabe is concerned that these problems should not be repeated in Zimbabwe. He does not consider the opposite conclusion - that with Zimbabwe's vastly superior economic resources a ZANU victory might be the moment to accelerate the struggle for socialism in alliance with Mozambique. He has even gone out of his way to assure Pretoria that a ZANU regime would stand for coexistence with South Africa
Mugabe's main efforts just before the election were devoted to a defence of the ceasefire agreement which has done him so much harm. The day the election began he flew to Mozambique to join the front-line leaders in their attack on President Nyerere. The Tanzanian leader had denounced the whole settlement as a British confidence trick
Far from marshalling his forces to smash the white power structures, as his opponents feared, he has enthusiasticially taken part in the attempts i "integrate' elements of the two guerilla armies into the white security forces to form the nucleus of a new Zimbabwean army.
The very way the question is posed is revealing: the guerillas, the only popular force in the country, have to be assimilated into the existing structures. Such exercises will not stave off the danger of a white coup; thes simply render the nationalist forces less able to deal with it.
White fears of Mugabe are therefore largely delusions. But not entirely Mugabe, after all, has led the most popular and effective wing of the nationalist movement in armed struggle for eight years. His political standing is rather larger than words on the page of a party tract
For example, whites must know or fear that ZANU militants in the bush are not saying the same thing on land reform as the manifesto. One of ZANU's weaknesses has been its failure to organise peasants and workers into mass struggle. But a Mugabe election victory could be the signal for land seizures and working class activity unforeseen by the party leadership
What Mugabe would do in such a situation cannot be predicted. General Walls, the white commander, visited Mozambique last week in a move that was generally taken to mean that the army would allow Mugabe to govern -
They will be watching with concern how Mugabe handles his first major strike or wave of peasant struggles. If he does not perform to their satisfaction the army is still at large in the countryside and the South African armour waits on the south bank of the Limpopo. ZIMBABWE 30p
INFORMATION mi,
bulletin no.13 w222e
The story is probably Zimbabwe Information Group bulletin - left analysis of developments in Zimbabwe.
Available from bookshops or direct from: ZIG, 1 Cambridge Terrace, London NWI. Price 30p plus p&p. Socialist Challenge 6 March 190
Page 10 scan of this page
THE HORROR
IRELAND
Photo: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
Thornett (WL).
By Pauline Roe ARMAGH prison in the North of Ireland is rapidl becoming the most famous, or rather the whos infamous, womeu's prison in the world.
was a year agog International Women's Day, that a peaceful picket outside prison was savagely attacked by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Eleven women protesters were arrested.
The case of the Armagh 11 highlighted the brutality "security forces', but also. attention to the situation Armagh itself where 33 Republican prisoners have been receiving the full force of British justice because of their demands for political status.
Clothes
Unlike their comrades in the H blocks of Long Kesh, the women are allowed to wear their own clothes as are all women prisoners in British jails - but other facilities are denied. Until recently the women have been locked in their prison cells 21 hours a day. This has now been increased to 23 hours.
But the most horrifying example of the new harassment came on February this year when warders attacked the Republicans. Subsequently a number of prisoners were dragged before the governor. Now all the prisoners are being denied washing and toilet facilities.
A number of statements smuggled out Armagh describe happened on 7 February and why supporters of the prisoners are calling for the largest possible support for the International Women's outside the prison on 8 March
Republican •prisone.
Morgan relates her experience:
I was sitting in my cell when the door burst open and three male screws, with riot gear, came charging in.
'One of them jumped on top of me and kept punching me on the arms and chest while the others legs. Then the two holding my legs swung them round so / was lying flat on the bed.
'One sat on my legs and another on my chest; the other put his hand Socialist Challenge : 6 March 1980
Von McClary (Irish Republican Socialist Party) and Lily Fitzsimmons from the Relatives Action Committee were two major speakers at the meeting sponsored by the Troops Out Movement last week. Over 300 people attended and other speakers included Tony Cliff (SWP), Tariq Ali (IMG), Alan
OFARMAGH
the
of the EILEEN MORGAN drew inside
could hardly breathe.
out of the cell into the wing.
this.
the adjudication the
40 male on the backside.
Another Callaghan, degrading treatment: what Numerous me down to
Day picket with shields.
Eileen Thumped
held my were dragged
S my ordeal. Y thumped, kicked.
Page 10
protests. both mi
screws
Was
exposed.
over my nose and mouth so that I
Then three more male screws came in and four female screws. They lifted me off the bed and carried me
My arms were twisted behind my back and my legs were held spread. eagled in the air; which is how they carried me down the stairs. One of the male screws kept kicking me, while their one female screw had me by the hair.
I was brought to the governor like
When the governor had finished
male screws grabbed me again and threw me into a cell head first. One of them kicked me
I was left lying in the cell with nothing but a smelly mattress and was refused permission to use the toilet.
prisoner, Rosemary suffered even more
male and female screws invaded my cell in order to get
the governor. They charged in with full riot gear equipped
I sat unprotected but was aware of what was going to happen as I had heard my comrade screaming in pain. still
I was suddenly pinned to the bed by a shield and the weight of a male screw on top of me. Then my shoes
off my feet. There followed so much confusion that it is really nard to describe the full exten
was bodily assaulted make trailed and brutally
opposition needed!
By Geraldine Molloy THE National Front is pressing ahead with its plans to organise a demonstration in Glasgow or 15 March under the slogan 'Smash the IRA'.
Speaking to the press last week NF Scotland organises, Raymond Skinner, declared: "Ulster is British and it's going to stay that way, and he added that the defeat of the IRA is a major National Front aim'
By taking up the anti-IRA theme the Front hopes to build its organisation among Glasgow's extreme loyalists. Skinner has specifically invited all 'Loyalist patriots" to attend the march.
This is an all or nothing attempt by the fascists to win support in the West of Scotland. Until now their efforts have been thwarted by timely opposition from anti-fascists and by a 'no platform" district council. For instance the Front's public meeting in Glasgow's Kingston Hall in 1975 and their election rally at St Bride's school,
But this time the opposition to the fascists has been
Twas then trailed out of my cell and caring the course of my being dragged and hauled from the wit
breasts were exposed to jeering and mocking eyes or me
male and female must have been about 20 of them.
While being curied
La me was totally embarassi and degrading.
eventually carried RUTCEROR breasts
While ? was held by
adjudication, I was then traded back and thrown into scell." - It is in priest against treatment, and support of the
for political status, that a delegal of women from Britain will be alading the Armagh picket on 8 Marr!
Originally the women's committee of the National Union of Students was organising the delegation. But last week the NUS executive removed the details of the Armagh picket from
women's mailing censorship follows the recent decision of the NUS executive to call off a demonstration against the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
ROSEMARY CALLAGHAN
But plans for the delegation are
proceeding and individual members of the women's committee are still going to Armagh. Anyone wishing to go should phone Socialist Challenge for details on 01-359 8189
Any group of women who plan to
their own way to Armagn should phone Sue in Belfast, 0232 40465, after бpm.
NF anti-Irish march in Glasgow:
position adopted by Glasgow
Glasgow, both met with massive There EILIS O'CONNOR
-such This
SINEAD MOORE DOLORES O'NEILL
slow to organise. labour movement has itself a poor record on Ireland.
attitude before committing themselves to against the fascists.
a counter-demonstration, anywhere near the Front.
a recent meeting of the Anti Nazi League pointing out that
anti-IRA attitudes.
Both the labour movement need to be aware that the Front's support fer
that presence than it does about the Front.
CHRISTINE BEATTIE
MAIREAD NUGENT
All the photographs were taken by the prisoners and were
Perhaps this is because the Scottish
• Last Thursday the Glasgow district council reaffirmed that all council facilities were banned to the NF. The council appealed to Strathclyde's chief constable to ban the 15 March demonstration. The Scottish TUC and the Glasgow trades council are also waiting to see the police
organising
If there is no police ban these bodies seem likely to back
but, not one that marches ause of this reluctance to organise, the nature of the *Smash the IRA' platform has hardly been discussed. However the Troops Out Movement did leaflet
the racism of the NF was fully in line with its anti-Irish and
movement and the anti-fascist British presence in Ireland says more about the nature of
-MARIE QUINN
Photos from: AN PHOBLACHT/REPUBLICAN NEWS
smuggled out of the jail.
In the exercise yard
Page 11 scan of this page
Putatimelimiton
THE pressure group' that most worries John Corrie is the mass of women. They have shown that they will not allow Parliament to ignore their interests in the abortion.
No final vote was taken on Corrie's Bill in Parliament last Friday but some, if not all, of the pro-abortion arguments seem to be slowly getting through.
The Minister powers to lower the time-limit NORMAN ST JOHN STEVAS
for abortions according to his own whim was defeated.
The vote on the grounds for abortion revealed MPs women's rights lightheartedly. Although the term 'serious injury' to the woman's
WaS deleted,
about babies
I AM a member of the National Abortion Campaign. I am also a lesbian. Why should women who choose to sleep with other women rather than with men abortion? We don't run the risk of unwanted pregnancy, unless of course we have the ill fortune to be raped. Is fighting for abortion rights something we 'unliberated" heterosexual sisters?
the right to decide how many children to have. It is about the right as women to decide for ourselves about our own bodies and how we live our own lives.
Attitudes sex nave
liberalised during the last twenty years but sex is sul sometning we are only meant to do OUI lusbands produce OLE as caleren Women are not encouraged express hei sexual responses than please men.
If we like to do it too
WC al C HIYILEOLIOmaniacs, if we don't like to do it much we are frigid and WE KCO COIL WILL OUCE women we are perverts. If we do it with men then
the worry of pregnancy.
Menopause
A lot of women only start to enjoy sex when they
Ency Call L ECL
For have ocCa SECHLISCO -INC availability contraception has allowed more
-SCX - DUI how many of uS always
worry of an unwantee pregnancy altit
SEXUAL POLITICS
Corrie!
debate on abortion,
change!
Pressing
to give the Health Corrie
Parliamentary
For me rouse, if possible.
Pro-abortion maintain the pressure
Mason.
still view
women and impose the instead.
Sex is not just
be bothered about
do help OUr
No! The fight for abortion isn't just about
back of our mind?
It is vital that we know that it we by mistake that we can get a
safe early abortion and that
WC WILL HO LICaLCU murderers or irresponsible,
to take the consequences our own exactly the freedom
enjoy sex for itself without
une worry or pregnancy ural
the anti-abortionists
oppose.
It is no coincidence that
the pillars of the anti-
movement,
particularly the Church, are
anti-
homosexual. They provide
a package dear or prejuaice
abortion is murder and
lesbianism
sickness from which we can
be cured.
Lesbianism challenges
the that
relationships belong in the
nuclear family and eventu-
ally end in reproduction.
challenges the idea that our
proper place is living with a
and having his
children. Until SOCICLy
"substantial risk of injury' was allowed to go through by three votes.
Having allowed an amendment to pass that severely limits the grounds for
MPs then said they didn't realise that this would mean such a major
pressing for extra time to force his Bill through. Norman St John Stevas, leader
ana a weir kaown antiabortionist and member of SPUC, will do his best to satisfy Corrie.
But unless Corrie gets government time his chances are slim. Only three further Fridays have been allocated for debate on Private Members' Bills this session — 7 March, 14 March and 4 July.
The sponsor of the 'Affiliates' Bill, due for its third reading on 14 March, has offered to make time available for Corrie
After that it may have a chance to come up on 4 July.
Calla-ECIs should on John Corrie.
The votes of Labour MPs on the various sections of the Bill need to be examined and those who ignored women's rights should be made to tee as unsate as Ror
Events should be planned locally and nationally for 14 March and 4 July in order to remove the time-limits from
them on Corrie
This article is reprinted irom ne wvanonal Abortion Campaign Newsletter, 28 October 1979.
recognises that sex is not just about babies we will never have the freedom to CHOOSE WHO We love. WIIO we live with and who we have sex The National Abortion Campaign believes that no woman should be forced to continue with an unwanted Dregnancy and no should be denied the right to have a child if she wants One. heterosexual.
The recent fuss over TOT lesbians has shown how the people who run this society CORLEO. fertility. If we are sexually 'normal", ie sleep with men, AC CUSCO LIC BEIL LO decide for ourselves whether we go through with But it we are "queer', ie sleep with other women, we are refused the
the country.
right to have children.
Those in control aren't concerned that every child snowe De a wanted but they are concerned that they should keep control
They don't over our-ives want us to question why it is that we have no control over anyuning, not even our own bodies.
Once demand this control who knows WECC our demands will end?
'We are in a very great
danger of pressure groups
around the country trying to
tell Parliament how to run
John Corrie, Tory MP.
Suffocating parents fight
contraceptive advice for
under 16s
THE debate on abortion has fueled the moral zeal of at least two groups particularly concerned with the sanctity of the family. *Responsibility Society' and "Parents in Suffolk' (no suffocating parents!) are organising campaign prevent COCLOR giving contraceptive advice women under 16 unless they have the parents' permission.
Glasgow march
HIGHLY protest march Corrie's TOOk place in Glasgow las Friday. press statement issued to the local radio station from Glasgow explained that the 1967 Act was not being implemented in hosnitals in the West end of the city.
The marchers who were in a militant mood were spurred on by the news that John
Patrick Jenkin, Secretary
Security, is looking into ways of enforcing these proposals.
The KrOOK family planning clinic pointed out that far from nelong young women u proposal is a sure way to more schoolgirl pregnancies and HOTCACE SUNCHITE
All women, of whatever age, should have the right to 220002IM20000 a child
Cathy Finn, in a shor speech, warned that this was
the of the struggle for a woman's right to choose. "The Tories will try
women have won over the last years if they are allowed to, SILE -explaineu assembled rowd
Socialist Challenge
Women
move
against the
Tories STEEL women's power is spreading throughout the steel strike.
Millmore Football ground in Rotherham last sunday was the scene or e massive show of solidarity with steel strikers through-
•Prominen among the demonstrators were women sporting oleewomen •rOWeL badges and •Maggie, Maggie, SHOULIE: Maggie -our our. our
Mick Hull the chairperson of the Rotherham SUIKC DaId tribute the role that women had played in the steel strike
womer nave played their part in this struggle They've been with us on the -ocker tines they ve bee with us at Sheerness and this
coachloads wer lobbying MPs with us at th House of Commons':
Tricks
Sylvia Greenwood, AUEW member, explained
women were not liken
fall for the Tory ballot tricks and put pressure on MEN LO CLUTE LO WOrK
•When Margarel Thatcher put out a ballot to see whether old people can
off Denons When will she ballot the homeless to see if they want to be without a house?
Women can see throug the hypocrisy 01 d-10 government that pretends it values the family and ye
children alOWs their midday meal at school
to increase child benefits to a level that keep pace threatens to withdraw al with
benefits from strikers' families
The official structures of the trade unions have begun
Tessone •SIOWN women's issues But despite the with abortion. massive increase union membership amon women, there has been little considerato ever involving these womer actively the labou movement. The TUC is stil as male dominated as ever!
Two events in the near future will seek to tackle the problem of giving women a
movement and bringing their energies to bear in the anti-Tory fight.
Both should receive the support all unionists who see the need to strengthen the dialogue •Derween women an e labour movement.
WOMEN IN ACTION
Out this Friday
"A journal for women in the
aspect of women's lives in s
lively WHETUCU WAY
Orders from Sisterwrite Books, 190 Upper
FIGHTBACK FOR
WOMENS RIGHTS
Women
preferable but men not
excluded.
Saturday 22 March
11am-5pm.
Conway Hall, Red Lior
address: 41, Ellington St
, London N7
6 March 1980 Page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Press Lies
By Steve Potter
Robert Fisk, in Kabul. This is how he tells it:
the centre of the city. ing rubbish.' (The Times, 11.2.80.)
Press International (UPI):
'1,000 killed'
rival press agency Reuters, reported from Kabul:
curate."
so stupid.
the Observer in Afghanistan, said about these briefings:
sians killed, 20.1.80.)
place in Kabul ten days ago.
being foreign agents. Not confirmed
any source credited. the left and reversing the reforms started in April 1978.
SCEVENTS
DHAM SC sold every Sa se information a or cal
5. Tel. 061-682 5151.
STORE: 061236 46 d every Saturday Ipm Mersey
sell emere in onion.
Sat tive Bookstall in the Trades Hall, Willesder Eigh Rd NW10 CARDIFF: SC 11-12:30; Carin Britishooks. 11-12.30. Also
BATH: Son She at 1985 Book
Socialist Challenge 6 March 1980
INTERNATIONAL
BEWARE!
A FUNNY THING happened to 'Journalist of the Year',
Not long ago, the Voice of America radio, broadcasting from Washington, reported fierce fighting in the centre of Kabul. Afghan soldiers, the station announced, were in conflict with Soviet troops at the Bala Hissar fort in
'It happened that I was listening to the broadcast as I stood on my hotel balcony which overlooks Kabul, and I naturally directed my gaze towards the Bala Hissar...
'But there was no smoke or fire, no sound of car horns from the city's traffic. Nor was there any fighting. The Bala Hissar was peaceful. There were no Soviet troops to be seen and the Afghan army... was evidenced only by a soldier drinking tea in the main street... Not to put too fine a point on it, the Voice of America was talk-
The two main sources for the Voice of America broadcasts have been "travellers passing through Afghanistan to Pakistan' and 'senior diplomats in Kabul'. The former were credited with the following story which appeared in the Sun and Daily Telegraph on 28 February as the result of a despatch by United
Travellers from Afghanistan claimed in Pakistan yesterday that more than 1,000 people had been machine-gunned to death in Kabul in reprisal for last week's anti-Soviet riots.
The same day, however, Robert Evans, a reporter for the
'In the past week correspondents in Kabul have consistently found foreign radio broadcasts based on insurgent accounts issued in Pakistan on the situation in the city to be very inac-
Evans went on to pour scorn on reports of massacres as reprisals for the riots, pointing out that it would be unlikely that either the Karmal government or their Soviet advisors would be
What about the other main source: 'senior diplomats'?
The most intensive press briefings given by diplomats are, not surprisingly, those carried out by the US Embassy in Kabul.
This is what Ian Mather, one of the two correspondents for
*The American Embassy here...has been feeding wildly inaccurate information to American journalists, exaggerating the number of Russian troops in the country, the number of Rus-
and the extent of the engagements.' (Observer
There has not been time yet to sort out truth from lies about the so-called 'general strike' that was reported to have taken
The only generally agreed facts, both in the Western and Soviet press, were that there was a shut-down by merchants in the bazaar; that there was disorder in the streets; that the Afghan authorities imposed a state of martial law; and that one American and sixteen Pakistanis were arrested on suspicion of
The term "general strike' only started to be used when it was reported in the Daily Telegraph on 25 February that civil servants had joined the shutdown. This report was not confirmed by other British newspapers which appeared that day, nor was
If large numbers of state employees had joined the street protests then it would have been a major reversal for the Karmal government, since it is generally acknowledged that one of the main sources of support for his party - the Peoples Democratic Party — come from this layer of the population.
Neither should we forget that the only political forces which have claimed responsibility for the rioting in the cities have been the Islamic fundamentalist parties whose first aim is the removal of the Russian troops as the precondition for purging
10.0212,30pmls in
Fi Salisbury HUDDERSFIELD: SC
Page 12
By Steve Potter THERE APPEARS positive response by the Soviet leaders to the plan put forward by Common Market ministers for Afghanistan. advocater initially by Foreign Secretary, Carrington, non-intervention by imperialism in return for the withdrawal of Russian troops.
The search for mediation began a month ago, according
LIC West magazine Der chairperson of Democratic Party in German, Willy approached by Russian lomats on 4 February. February he was mediate by President Carter.
The theme of against imperialist intervention being a precondition for movement on Afghanistan cropped up again in a speech by Leonid Brezhnev at mecung in Moscow February. This immediately hailed German Chancellor Schmidt as being a breakthrough in the
The same day as Brezhnev's speech martial law was declared in Kabul against a shutdown by bazaar merchants
demonstrations occurred that day.
643920gF*
Юpm, Saday
MBETH: SC now available at kiosk Brixton tu al tube. Here Hill Boush Ral and Tetric Bo
What's behind the
neutralisation plan?
So the Soviet leaders to panicked
contradiction 'neutralisation' of conduct of
The plan, policy since the invasion, Tory Lord would guarantee
in
and then withdraw.
Spiegel. The
Social West Brandt, dip- was Afghanistan,
On is taking the asked to supported by the facts. guarantees Protracted
on on the left speech by West entailing the
alisation
and three which but the
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notion that the have been into giving the
'neutralisation' plan a favourable reception appears to be in
with the whole that they Soviet foreign
The Soviet Union appears never to have intended its stay
Afghanistan as a lengthy one, but one where a concerted effort would be made to smash or crucially weaken the rightist forces, to install a pliable and friendly government in Kabul
Thus the black propaganda issued by the Western press that the Soviet Union had annexed
they explained. lurid stories of Soviet advisers backed
places of Afghan ministers do not appear to be
Likewise the idea of some
that the Soviet Union intended to stay for a protracted period of time, thus
need for it to capitalist property relations and introduce nation-
instead, does not appear to be backed up by the slim evidence that we have.
The reason why the Soviet Union intervened was nothing
London NI. stabilisation
WHAT'S LEFT
OR are So a word: semi-cisniav a column inch Deadline: 5pm Friday before publication. All payments in advance.
SOCIALIST Students Alliance National Conference: 1:
i Studens With i 3pm for puliety
further info tel: 0 273 5 41
01-359 8371
Afghanistan, not to pursue a revolutionary course.
The reason why socialists should back them in the current war going on in Afghanistan is
are striking blows NICARAGUA - LITERACY IS A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN "The only economic weapon we have is the organisation and discipline of our own people. They defeated the National Guard because they were united and conscious of their liberation.'
With these words a delegation from the FSLN explained the basis of the literacy campaign being launched by the Nicaraguan government. It is not an educational campaign with a political content. It is a political campaign with an educational content,
The campaign aims to provide 50 percent of the adult population with something they have never before possessed — the means to read and write.
The FSLN Labour Party National Executive Committee and the teaching unions. Despite the total absence of press coverage, there was a good response in other quarters.
The Labour Party is already sponsoring the fortheoming national conference of the Nicaragua Coordinating Committee. The NUT Journal "The Teacher' is to publish an interview with the FSLN. The delegation had a fruitful meeting with several representatives from Inner London schools, mainly organised through the Socialist Teachers' Alliance.
The Youth Group Revolution' has agreed to make Nicaragua a major campaign.
Plans are under way to launch a college and schools-based campaign of solidarity with the freedom fighters.
Anyone interested should contact the Nicaragua Coordinating Committee, c/o World University Service, 20 Compton Terrace,
Road, London PC, 5 Caledonian Rd, London NI.
against the number one enemy of the Afghanistan revolution, the rightist forces organised by the reactionary alliance of landOWICES tribal chiefs and mullahs in the countryside. delegation met representatives of the press, the UNION ADMINISTRATOR (part time) needed for
description and application Ann Creigntor
March, Tpm. Friends Meeting House, Eusion Roac
Page 13 scan of this page
YOUTH ARE THE KEY TO THE FUTURE
By Jude Arkwright THE YOUTH we win to the revolutionary movement are, beyond doubt, most precious asset. In every revolution the youth have been at the forefront of the struggle - with less to lose than older workers, they have shown themselves, time and again, prepared risk everything to secure the future.
In Nicaragua 8 and 9 vear olds laid down their lives in the struggles overthrow the Somoza dictatorship and to build a new society. In Iran again it was the young people who took
the older leaders who tried to hold back the struggle against the Shan students m barucmar developed against the Shah, had movement nave fought American imperialism WEI the occupation of the American embassy. Links
In Britain, the mass pickets outside private steel firms have been predominantly made up of young workers, SCHOOL SLUUCHES have mobilised some largest forces fighting the cuts; young women nave been in lie forefront the abortion
ne revolutonary movement needs to harness the energy and enthusiasm of the youth. But the vou Cannol HEaL CYCry DaLLIC
revols nar
struggles to those of the working class.
Revolution is fighting begin ine construction organisation that can unite youth
When Revolution started we
few supporters Now we have 200 and organisation members and 18 branches. At the Revolution last December we mapped out a ser of basic principles Set CIDe framework organisation foe want kinduid. kind
struggles against the Tories:
attacks in
we want to mobilise the rank and file
them to revolutionary socialism.
Youth
they are still able and willing to fight.
against Toryism and all its institutions.
aren't willing to wait for elections inquiries to spark off their actions.
YOUTH/INTERNATIONAL
Founding conference of Revolution on 3 and 4 May
REVOLUTION, the new organisation,
existence of
fighters behind programme
this country.
These principles noW DasIs of intensive leading up to the conterence.
We have set ourselves a target of having 300 members by the time of the launching conference and we are also aiming led 13.000 tund drive to help us on our way. Elect When to conference we will have loads to discuss, because Kevo lion going be - It will elect 1ts OWn leadership, make decisions and its mistakes. in society as it is at moment the youth are to That won't duplicated in Revolution, Revolution will have a lot to do WIll Have is view
and so on; it will decide its own perspectives and priorities.
Of course, the IMG members in Revolution will argue for their politics. In particular, they will argue that it is vital to build a party of world revolution, and that attempts to achieve a revolution in Britain without looking at the situation COT Ene working class are doomed to failure IMG members will vigorously that should be in political solidarity with the Fourth International, and that it should declare its communem building revolutionary international.
SONIA, a member of Birmingham Revolution, explained why youth are in the forefront of the & Youth will respond to the anti-working class
most naturally militant rebellious manner. The bourgeoisie have not yet deeply rooted their norms and values into the minds of youth. Youth are not integrated into the structures of the bureaucracy. Therefore they are more open to politics.
They may not always go to union meetings because they can seem futile and boring. They want to mobilise around abortion, Ireland and racism. As revolutionaries
bourgeois state and against the bureaucracy and win
- young workers - are still unmarked by class defeats and betrayals — they are still dynamic
This applies to young women especially. All they've got in front of them is the prospect of becoming a boring mother and wife. I am on a training course for working a capstan lathe. The women I work with may not know the basic fundamentals of politics but they are instinctively
Our foreperson is a rabid racist and disciplinarian but the young women rejeet his authority totally. Youth will respond to the struggle under the Tories - they
For lengthy union
Under this Tory government the youth are y fighting for their future, so we won't give in!
socialist youth will be launched conference to be held on 3 and 4 May. The
the youth organisation -galvanising the most dynamic and willing
La clear banner and - will be a tremendous step forward for the revolutionary movement in
The importance of the revolutionary
the discussion
for FOR A
the
independent
IS OWI own
not But, although IMG members ultimately WOrld will fight for this view on the Therefore, Fourth other issues, Revolution Revolution itself to decide on all these aueston. democratic debate What youth conference in May will not only affect the future of Revolution, and against the
at a possibly can be.
REVOLUTION
FOR A UNITED REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH ORGANISATION
GENERAL
-STRIKE
could affect the whole future of the revolutionary movement will be and for Britain. That's why it's vital that we go out and get as many youth possible conference.
The dILCE build it is to lend support to the
at the initiatives that planning over HOLES.
youth organisation has to be brought home
to every Socialist Challenge supporter to
ensure that the two months between now and the launching conference are used to the fullest advantage. We have to use this time to draw youth towards our programme, making contacts with them at school,
college and at work, so that the launching
conference is as big and as dynamic as it
schools particularly
contraceptive WHICH who
new immigration rules. Teams
SOCHILL
need Socialist Challenge make sure
for the conference;
chen them
we need money no money.
For those
along that
best way of helping
Kevo union the two The ConTere conjunction with youth organisation.
leading
studying Argentinian
Fifties
seizures
the
other youth organisations it will be organising a big campaign on 'a woman's right to choose for
and colleges, centred and one une better sex education and against
leader, advic are under 16. will also be supporting the Bradford Asian youth march against the Tories Death A
There will be a series of oper meetings on aspects of our pro-
relating young workers, young women and se teams of Revolution leader.
members will be going to areas where there are no kevolutio groupe need new sp support of prison.
readers projects are successful; to organise transport release.
-TO CISCUSS to answer reis questions and
questions principles. develop in political 'military understanding. But in particular
- the youth have so if you agree with the project to launch Revolution then it is important to help raise Tunes so mati call labocE
who no longer qualify as 'youth' the conference is an investment n une ruture. tor those who go to it, it will mark
control their own inves. ie 20
have something to gain, so we have to fight together to build
build the Exile
leaders a higher WOLKIE Lima.
Tickets
The
Hugo Blanco, Peruvian
peasant leader,
presidential
candidate, to
speak in London.
HUGO BLANCO was born in Cuzco, Peru, in 1933. After
agronomy at university he (returned to Peru in the mid-
He set about organising peasant unions, which led to
of land under the slogan 'Land or Death'. He led
Peruvian peasants in a number of armed conflicts with the state.
He was arrested in 1963
tried in 1966. Che Guevara, the legendary Cuban
stated: "Hugo Blanco fought hard and fought well.
The Peruvian military paid him its own unique tribute They sentenced him to death!
massive internationa campaign was launched by the Fourth International to save the life of its most valued mass
The campaign •Was successful. The death sentence was commuted to 25 years in
A left-nationalist military coup in 1970 led to Blanco's
But never compromised his political
He rejected the road to socialism' and was deported.
When elections to constituent assembly were announced in 1978 Blanco was back in Peru. He contested the elections on behalf of a united left slate, FOCEP, which won twelve seats out of a hundred sending shock waves through the heart of Peru's military establishment.
Hugo Blanco is one of the best-known revolutionary
of Latin America Undeterred by repression, forced exile, daily threats to his life, he fights back relentlessly
Recently he was nominated as the presidential candidate of the major far-left groups in
Peru. The opinion polls show
him second in the list with a
likely vote of 17.5 per cent and
percentage in the class districts of
Socialist Challenge readers
and the British left as a whole
will have the chance to listen to
Hugo Blanco when he speaks
at the rally organised by the
International Marxist Group.
British section of the Fourth
International. HUGO BLANCO
speaks at London rally
Friday 21 March
7.30pm, Friends House,
Euston Rd, NW1 (E1 and 50p
wageless) in advance from
Other Bookshop, 328
Upper St, London N1
Socialist Challenge* 6 March 1980 •Page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
INVEST IN THE FUTURE
OPINION
I REMAIN unrepentent on Afghanistan. I think the Russians were wrong to go in and the longer they stay the more damage they will do the cause of socialism in Afghanistan and elsewhere. It is obvious that hostility to the presence of Russian troops is now universal.
The recent demonstrations and strikes in the cities provide grim testimony to this fact. Can anyone seriously doubt that an overwhelming majority of the population of Afghanistan would, if offered the choice, demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops?
That this is the case is also clear to the Soviet leaders. Their sole aim is to ensure political stability in Afghanistan in order to safeguard their own interests inside the USSR. The intervention was intended as an injection to inoculate Afghanistan and prevent the virus from spreading to Soviet Central Asia:
So, if the West is prepared to put pressure on the motley rebel groups to do a dea set up a national coalition government and ensure stability, Brezhnev could well order a withdrawal. Those who are opposed to a withdrawal will then scream "betrayal', but it is only their illusions that will have been betrayed.
WHILE on the subject of Afghanistan I would draw the attention of readers to the latest issue of New Left Review, which contains another major article on the subject by Fred Halliday.
His pioneering article on Afghanistan was published several months ago and has become the source for virtually every article published in the far-left press on the subject. One
been that the left in the West has been forced to study the history and evolution of this Door Asian country
Fred Halliday is one of the few Marxists in the West who has paid consistent attention to the fate of revolutions in the 'third worid' His new article thus deseryes to be read by all those engaged in polemics on the subject.
I think there are two major weaknesses in Halliday's text. While extremely critical of the bureaucratic and repressive measures carried out by the late Hafizullah Amin, no serious alternatives are offered. Surely if revolutionary Marxists had, by a combination of interrelated factors, been propelled into power one of the first measures they would have promulgated would have been the preparation of ciccioral rous and an election of a constituent assembly.
This would not only have provided the Afghan left with a fair éstimate of the relationship of class forces on a national scale, it would have provided the most positive framework for proposing and. implementing social reforms.
Secondly, Halliday does not enter into a serious discussion of the Soviet invasion and the question of national self-determination. Given the meticulous attention which Halliday has paid to the North of Ireland and his support (with which i strongly disagree) for the right of Ulster Protestants to self-determination, this absence is strange.
This is an open letter from a reader and a (very) occasional contributor to the paper. I believe in and support the paper's political orientation, but am neither an IMG member nor form part of a Socialist Challenge group.
There are many readers in a similar position and the following appeal is addressed primarily to them.
I have a 'thing' about banker's orders and on two previous occasions the editors have accorded me space to promote this method of fund-raising.
To recapitulate the advantages: for the paper a steady monthly income is an ideal form of financial support because it allows for proper planning.
For us → the readers and supporters -it is a painless way of making a contribution. One pound is automatically deducted each month from one's bank or post office accoont.
No mess, no anxiety and the satisfaction. of knowing that you are making a consistent and valuable contribution.
Socialist Challenge - - € Mareh 1980.
In the first of a
regular series of
articles, Tariq Ali
takes a personal
look at the week's
events
All he says is that if the Brezhnevites transform Afghanistan into Mongolia it would be alright, but if things "get out of hand the damage could be immense. In other words we suspend judgement till history records its verdict.
But the Mongolian analogy is beside the point. Primarily because the Red Army entered Mongolia in 1921 to crush the White armies and the forces of China's warlords which nad enterco inal country: 1aerc was also a revolutionary government in power in the Soviet Union.
Brezhnev is the heir of Stalin rather than Lenin or Trotsky. Soviet foreign policy has different aims now.
Fred is aware of these facts. It is unfortunate that he does pot insert them inte dis analysis of the present crisis in South Asia.
RECENTLY spoke at a meeting of over two hundred Pakistani workers in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. It was a meeting sponsored by a variety of working class organisations. Three Labour MPs had been scheduled to speak but had withdrawn on hearing that the SWP and IMG were to be present on the platform.
What made the meeting somewhat special was that it was the first attempt by Pakistani workers to expose gangsterism and corruption inside the community. It was alleged that a Pakistani hustler was in league with the police
A story headlined 'Police in "extortion"
myself have been guilty of this. page.
Paul Russell, London SW7
THINKING
ALOUD
the possession of local activists.
police.
planned. 'union leaderships from below.
South
crisis in Britain.
Virtually every reader is capable of a £1 donation. Many are capable of giving more, particularly those comrades who already have standing orders but have
The ease of maintaining an order means that it does tend to get forgotten, and I
Fund-raising for the paper is going well and this is a good moment for us to make a
Whatever our relationship with the paper, we all use it for information, for theoretical debate and clarification, for an indication of the state of struggle.
The struggle is hard, it will get harder; we will become more reliant on the paper.
Always provided that the paper has been able to rely on us beforehand, and that
No socialist is exempt, not one. Fill in, cut out and post the form printed on this
wonder? racket' was published in The Guardian on 28 February. But it did not reveal the identity of the person in question. We can do so. He is Saber Mirza, Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (UK), There are signed statements from a dozen of his victims now in
Many of those who have given these signed statements are understandably nervous about these being used against them by the local police. The only advice proffered by Labour MPs is that they should trust the
But the meeting had one important impact. It ended the cycle of fear which dominated the community. Mirza was named and denounced. That in itself will act as a 5 partal deterrent. But more activity is being
aims:
THE Tory Cabinet is divided on how to deal with the unions. Thatcher and Joseph are for a frontal confrontation with the unions. They feel that they can play on the uncertainties inside the working class and outflank the
'Prior and Heseltine view such a confrontation with alarm. They are perfectly aware that any attempt to view the recent events in
Wales, Longbridge and Sheerness as a justification for bashing the union leaders conia provoke an extremely serious political
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The Prime Minister most admired in Downing Street is the gentle Tory squire, Stanley Baldwin. He organised ruling class forces, provoked a General Strike and defeated the workers in 1926.
The strategic aim of the British ruling class and the whole Tory party is to inflict a defeat on the workers' movement at every level. The reason for this is not just class spite, but the precarious condition of the international capitalist economy.
The British trade unions are admired the world over for their organisational strength and their unity (no divisions on religious or political lines) Since the Second World War the trade unions have grown phenomenally. Britain is the most unionised society in the capitalist world.
But this strength, manifested most when living standards and social gains are under attack, has become a major obstacie to restructuring British capitalism. Hence the Tory desire to weaken the unions. Hence the heated debates at Downing Street. Hence Thatcher's public attack on Prior. She disagrees with his tactics, but that is no reason to sack him from the Cabinet. (Has she read John Marshall's Party and Faction articles, 1
But the divisions inside the ruling class party should not make the left complacent, for there are many unresolved paradoxes in the present situation.
In 1926 the trade unions were not as • strong as they are now. The ruling class was materially and economically much stronger. But socialist politics had a much bigger base in the industrial working class and the Russian revolution was only nine years old.
• Lodav the situation is almost reversed The ruling class is materially weak, but politically and ideologically strong. The working class is organisationally strong and politically weak.
A failure to recognise this paradox will make it even more difficult to find a solution. nence me via necessiy Us sigming or socialist politics and socialist ideas in the labour movement as a whole.
THE 'British Journal of Hospital Medicine' is not my favourite magazine, but its February 1980 issue has a fascinating 'American letter'. This reveals that the Shah's move to New York had very little to do with his health.
The 'Journal's' American correspondent expresses despair that the State Department used doctors to further its sordid political
Whatever the secret political gyrations that led Washington to admit the Shah to the USA, the medical side of the deal looks as phony as a $2 bill...However much the Shah's doctors protest that they had no choice but to go along with the State Depart. ment's orders, it's going to be a long time before anybody believes a medical bulletin on a major political figure again.'
It goes without saying that, but for the mass mobilisations in Iran. the state Department's attempt to allow the Shah to stay in the USA would have been successful. Lloyd's Bank, Upper St, London N1
Monthly And on the same date in the month thereafter:
Page 15 scan of this page
ASISTEROFOURS?
(Socialist Challenge)
Photo: GM COOKSON
have a monopoly on the word revolution.
Pleasure
politics are hardly hers.
interest of all women that this has happened.
Obviously,
women perse.
new or ideal types of candidates.
power are likely to oppose,
connections with feminism.
course.
interest.
metaphor. It is a way of defining relationships. Transformation
because their presence in the political.
with, I am convisced,
UNDER REVIEW
women is a struggle that will last our lifetimes and
It really is a revolution, and I don't think we should be afraid of using that word. Leninists do not
It is a radical event for women to participate in power, with a new understanding of power. It will change the world - not in a simple sense, as some feminists have hoped: I do not believe that women stand for fundamentally different values from men, or that women politicians necessarily will be more humane, more sensitive, more liberal, more tolerant.
Nevertheless, I must confess to some pleasure at the prospect of Margaret Thatcher becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, despite the fact that my
I take it as a sign of progress that in the last two decades, for the first time in bistory, there are women heads of state who are not monarchs. It is in the
it is in our interest to support candidates whose views are in accord with our own, but it is also in the interest of women to support
I am not suggesting that, were we British subjects, we should vote for Thatcher - but I don't think we should narrow our idea of participation of women in politics to the notion that women are going to create
We're going to have candidates of every political colouring. The more the better, I think, especially since the first ones who actually get a modicum of
at least deny,
Still, just their visibility will make it more accentable for women to succeed who are accountable to us. It would be ridiculous to support the candidacy (for anything) of someone like Phyllis Schlafly, of
Yet even those candidates who seem to profess conventional views have, for us as feminists, a great
Power is not simply a substance to be shared, to be seized, to be acquired or transferred: that's the wrong
We should be interested in momen candidates
worlds as of only getting a part of contributing 10=1 ner itself.
pleasure.
view.
Does Margaret Thatcher's
dynamic rise to power set
women to follow? Is her
Premiership a bold step
the revolution?
Susan, Sontag's view is
only possible if you look at Thatcher simply
ignore class loyalties.
Margaret Thatcher is a Tory through through. She
enterse. She is a racist who urges British people not to allow their culture
be swamped by wallie She is a jingoist WOO affirms that supreme loyalty is to her
While post-tras Nature
Margaret Thatcher is out to change the nature of power.. In Britan * not between women and meh but between employer and
Margaret Thatcher is the first woman
ever to be Prime Minister in Britain. She
sits at the head of a cabinet dominated
by men, leading a party and a parliament
dominated by men.
American feminist Susan Sontag, a
fiction and filmscript writer, told the
National Women's Political Caucus in
New York City last year that Margaret
Thatcher's rise to power gave her
On the left we reprint Susan's speech
ana, below, Valerie Coultas explains why Socialist Challenge holds a different
employees.
It is true that women heads of state common today than fifty years ago, and this is of • femimist course reflection social reality. Women in general have more control over their lives than preas viously. her But there are vast gaps between women at. , Une enjoy and what the mass believes of women at the bottom private experience.
Crushing
alien Class money can alleviate th het probiems of being femak
actp Tory ada Britain Thatcher proudly proclaims that if she can be a wife and Premier then so can anyone else. She throws her success, in the face of the mass of women who will
never have her education, her are more succeed.
Elective of individual failure confidence of women who are not so fortunate Margaret Thatcher. Contempt tev top can
been stung by strident
monetarist', the pictures of Thatcher background, with 'wanted for
displayed display in Tor butch bodyguards.
thinks sexual oppression is "joke' mother and a inadequate in dealing with
Margaret Thatcher.
Susan Sontag's feminism is redundant without a class perspective
opportunities • LO
She converts their col-
oppression This crush the But male prejudice has
Thatcher's style of The "butch the "bitch',
abore thesn des Wickham; A class perspective that
obviously
But
DON
LEy
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Socialist Challenge 6 March 1980 Page IS
Page 16 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge VICTORY!
AS the struggle against the Tories gathers momentum and à general strike mood begins to sweep core sectors of the industrial working class, money to help your newspaper continues to come in. lou week Haringey IMG tops the list
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BUT THE WARIS NOT OVER
ing as it is really the only way we
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Anon In South
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BOYCOTTING BAR CLAYS BANK How aptly named is Barelays Bank
Africe today:
Apartheid is the colour-bar Standing with such feet of clay. If Britain-with-a-Conscience chose Not to bank with Barclays here, Perhaps the Bank would choose to close Such investment-in-despair.
How aptly named is Barclays Bank Standing with such feet of clay, Investing in the colour-bat In South Afocan foday.
*ON. Ricine Jatoes: 1980
• ROBERT : Mugabe's victory
backing Nkomo. He got 20 seats.
majority.
Mugabe.
regime.
guard.
in elections is a defeat for the South Africans and for Anglo-American imperialism.
The South Africans were backing Muzorewa. He got the grand total of three seats. The Anglo-American bloc was
The white settlers (grossly over-represented) got the 20 seats agreed to if the Lancaster House settlement. But Mugabe won 57 seats in the hundred-seat Zimbabwe parliament - an overal!
Despite the slanderous propaganda against ZANU; despite the intimidation by the lumpen auxiliaries of Muzorewa; despite the murder attempts orchestrated by the White Rhodesian security forces, 70 per cent of Zimbabwe's blacks voted for
In this way they gave their retrospective approval of the guerilla war which was the real catalyst in deleating the settler
Although a major victory has been won, the war is not over. The dismantling of the settler state has yet to take place.
It is unlikely that the armed bodies of men and women who are loyal to South Africa will peacefully accept the verdict of the majority of Zimbabwe's population.
It is too soon to predict with accuracy the future course of politics and class struggle in Zimbabwe. But we must remain on
lt Robert Mugabe in his own words, pages & and 9. Challerge, 328/9. Upper St, London: N1. Printed by East End (offset) Ltd. PO Box 82, London E2.
• the Zimbabwe
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