Socialist Challenge No. 205, 9 July 1981
The scan: sc-no205.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Challenge COPS OUT TORIES CUT
No. 205 9 July 1981 25p Unemployed and strikers 10p
'WE WANT JOBS, NOT RIOT
Socialist
Riot police, CS gas, rubber bullets and Ine army — inal s une lories solution to the events in Liverpool and Southall.
But it is their policies and their crisis wnich provokea tre yourn rebenion.
Bankrupt British capitalism offers young people nothing but the dole queues, racist discrimination and police harassment. More repression will not stop the youth riots of anger and despair.
The labour movement should oppose 'law and order' solutions and defend the youth from the Tories repression. It should offer a political alternative by fighting the symptoms of capitalist crisis - unemployment, police harassment and fascist violence - and by fighting to bring down this hated Tory government once one torer
POLICE'
Working class unity
against racism!
Don't trust the law — Self defence is the only way!
DEMONSTRATE
IN SOUTHALL Sunday 19 July 1pm Featherstone Road Car Park, Southall,
Midd
Page 2 scan of this page
Se A shorter working week with no loss of pay'
and Socialist importance of united action to defeat the Tories.
In the second part of the interview, field talks about the jobs fight in the dustry.
What about the f300m the Tories have pean rorceo to cie following the miners' strike?
We've been given to understand that it's nearer to £500m. the detals vet. It is obviously insutticient — - that's why it has to be pursued.
It may cover the short-term situation, but it does not affect the longterm developments, new pits. It's not simply a matter of withdrawing the closure list.
Without investment you keep evitable contra We will see the in-
contraction alone if there are policies. We want more money to reep present pits live pits and for expansion.
We are concerned that the government will try again to go ahead with closure plans, but we are not worried
Cosures being because we've declared our intention to tight them.
Some people think that Morlais pit has gone out of the back door. The closure of Morlais was not a defeat, although government would like to put on that inference.
It's never been our intention to nreserve a ou a ne cost o aivore s health. Men were literally not WILl drippers wiLl pouring through the roof; Diace there were holes feet. No way will we let them use back door methods to close the pits.
By Tessa van Gelderen LAST Saturday's magnificent demonstration for jobs in Cardiff, showed once again that the labour movement is prepared to take on the Tories. But it also showed, yet again, that the leaders of our movement are not prepared to take action that will finally get rid of Thatcher and Co.
convenor at Rover, hull said 'The speakers at the rally are very long on rhetoric, but very short on DolCes. truc, Ine pial-
at greal length about detence spending, the Common Market
thing was said about action.
Indeed, the platform was notable tor the absence of any representa-
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Socialist Challenge 9 July 1981 Page 2
Des Dut-
mining inWe don't know
Shakie ol
can't
exhaustion no replacement
US LU
tion to support them.
The Board has Board and the
again that 1t you threat OI don't get anywhere
working, waldl Gormley, .E. some as big as 50
retreat.
We want action for jobs
tion from those sections of workers who are fighting against the Tories.
Laurence Scott workers
who are occupying against closure were not allowed on the platform.
Instead, Alex Kitson, acting general secretary of the Union, made a pious statement on their behalf. Ambulance WOLACIS trom ocollallu. who are leading the struggle nationally over their If you would like to be put in touch with Socialist
your area or would like
Arthur Scargill was here last week ana ne nienighted attempts to close Orgreave pit in Yorkshire. I told him that if a call comes, it is incumbent on
explain to members that we should carry out our mandate for ac-
now dropped the closure threat on Orgreave. It shows
don't include a but industrial action - you
They' ve had all this time for talk.
Ut course our national president. Joe
has claimed the February victory as his own. that he's done it by his own prowess, but it was the action not the talk that made the Tories
pay claim were similarly barred. a shop steward from ainoulalic WOLKCIS *socialist
Challenge, it would have been very embarrassing to have an ambulance worker speaking on the same platform Alan Fisher, general secretary of the public service union, NUPE. 'In his speech, John Deery pointed out, 'Fisher never once mentioned one person who's in dispute.
And no wonder. OS JON explained, 'He's sitting on
Fisher is just not backing We're sick oi coming out on partial stoppages.
To win we have to have an
SOCIALIST Challenge supporters in South W/ales organised a meeting to provide a platform for those who are fighting back.
Tommy Lyons, branch secretary from the Electricians union at British Steel, Margam, , drew on the lessons of the fight for jobs in the steel industry. 'We have seen closures, rundowns slimlines, cutbacks; you name it, steel's had it!' Tommy explained. time we're left in splendid isolation to
What was needed, said Tommy, was a lead from the national leaders, national strike to remove Thatcher and her bunch of bandits. It has to be done now.'
Elsie Broad from the Royal Pride strike and Dennis Barry from Laurence Scott spoke about their disputes. They both reiterated Tommy Lyons' point that they had received very little sup-
Welsh News
You've talked money for investment. What
scarolll has said that a tour-dav week coula create 20, 000 jobs.
The four-day week has been a longstanding national policy of our union. We'd also like to cut out overtime,
unfortunately this policy is not applied rigidly.
There are a small number workers, for example on safety, who are expected to do certain hours. But it would certainly be feasible for an overtime ban on other jobs.
When we talk of a shorter working week, this should be with no loss of wages. It is not the same thing as short
all-out strike. If get
will the
nurses and the fire-
fighters.' Foot and Aiex Kilson are Fisher Michael
full of empty promises.
The cheers given for Benn
when his name was men-
tioned showed where the
labour movement's
allegiance lies.
It was left to the only
wolllall platform, Dilys Hardacre, socaKe. on the
to point any way forward.
'We're fed with
tokenism, ' she said. 'I'm a
woman and a worker.
would have been far better
it we hadn't had to put up
with chauvinism both on
and off the platform.
And Dilys ended her
right of women to work by fighting speech ine
making a call for the
labour movement to sup-
port 'positive discrimina-
'You have to fight your own battles'
your own battles.
spoke on the same theme.
against Michael Edwardes. went on,
'And each
government to the last one.
for a ficial rally and in the Socialist
class.
full of rhetoric and no action.
time working.
There's another confusion, too. A lot of people think that early retirement is the same as voluntary reaundancy. If they put all the money from redundancies there would be school leavers.
What about the policies in the Wales TUC plan, which are put forward as a sociar conract win we noxt Labour covernment We don't agree with this. You can't really talk about that sort of set-up until you've got which we haven't.
Do you mean set-ups like planning agreements?
Y ec table, if what you are saying is being taken notice of. You may plan certain strategies. For instance, I don't think nurses and ambulance drivers should be forced to strike. There should be a Dian (TOT adequate wages. can't go into the sort of policies the Wales TUC is proposing in the system we've got in this country.
At the Wales TUC
of President) has
NUM will pull TUC. Do you agree:
The frustration has built up to such a
nels open. I'd like to see a fight from within, but if the
lon, so we can go on lo win socialism.'
There Was no doubt that Dilys Hardacre struck a vital cora, judging by the applause she received. especially from the women at the rally. But did our leaders really understand?
Not a bit if Alex Kitson's comments were anything to go by: 'Isn't the girl great', he patronised.
The demonstration
Thatcher's coffin. And the Labour Party is planning another one in September in Birmingham.
But more and more militants are looking to the Jeans and . Laurence Scotts of this world and more and more they want know why the trade and Labour Part leaderships are nowhere to , seen wer une croct Cle.
port from their union leaderships.
'In the long term', said Dennis Barry from LSE, 'you have to fight
And Pat Hickey, deputy convenor from Rover Solihull,
'In BL the leadership of the unions nationally has not backed the workers
And Pat 'When the working class say they want the Tories out, they are also saying they want a different Labour
On the demonstration, on the of-
Challenge meeting itself, that was the message. Kicking out the Tories means putting in a Labour government that will work in the interests of the working
That's why our present leadership is
55, at comocal
opportunities for
change
TUCY
socialist state,
You can certainly get round a
you the surateges
validity.
Conference there
Wales
stated that if the
, then the
out of the Wales
fetters. • seems no other chan-
Wales TÙC goes Socialist Challenge mood of the Cardiff demo
ahead with it, one way or another I can see us leaving.
Isn't that a problem? In many right
militants been banging their heads against a wall fo
Many are tempted to set , or rank amere oroanisarons oursice me union. argue they should stay and fight to
the leadership. Isn't this the same with your position in the Wales
Yes, in a way it is. But we are talking of the Wales TUC, not the nationa TUC. The Wales TUC is subservient to the national TUC
People hide behind the national TUC for not calling action. Nationally they can't use this excuse.
Tua ver yon right-wing thaha.
ao camaro une last yeart That argument is certainly open. All Emlyn has rightly done is to indicate
possibilities these types б.
are developed. On all the points you say, I cannot deny their
The Wales TUC could be tremendous. It could still save jobs and services if it had the guts. Organised militant force is needed. It's a pity our leaders aren't as loyal to theirs as the Tories are to theirs. The TUC should be the chains of organisation not the
Fragmented we cannot do it, but united in action we could get rid of Thatcher in three weeks.
RIGH I
NOI
placards sum up the
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Labour should pay the tube workers
Ken Livingstone and the tube strike Mass action-the only
By Martin Eady, President NUR London. Transport District Council - personal capacity THE National Union of Railwaymen's executive have called an all-out indefinite strike on the London underground starting 20 July, in support of a pay claim for nothing less than the rate of inflation.
The irony is that this first strike since 1926 would be against the most left-wing administration the Greater London Council (GLC) has ever had.
Labour's election manifesto
clearly stated their commitment to improving the lot of London Transport workers, including progress towards a 35 hour week. Livingstone, leader of the Labour GLC, has publicly stated that he will underwrite any settlement.
Yet the offer from management is for 8 per cent towards the cost of living (currently rising at nearly 13 By Tessa van Gelderen THE Labour Greater London Council has been in office for barely two months and already it's under attack from the right - both inside and outside the labour movement.
Sid Weighell,
the National Union of Railwaymen, has sericlary ul announced that there will be an all-out tube strike, because London Transport refuses to pay what Tone union is asking for. Yet Ken Livingstone, Labour GLC leader, has stated quite clearly that the GLC 'will underwrite any
Halaccacul and the unions come to"
what's Weighell's game? Ken Livingstone told Socialist Challenge: 'Weighell has taken this position for his own ends.
He's attacking the Labour GLC and he wants to get at the Benn campaign. As soon as the NUR conterence is out of the way, he'll change his position. Settle
There is no doubt that Weighell manoeuvring against the GLC Ken Liv-
ly that 'whatever comes of the current British Rail in
pay, the London Transport CAccuLIve will more than match it.
NO London transpon WOrKer will be worse off Than tharker? British Rail
TOAST THE ROYAL COUPLE Red and black on white 20г each plus sae. 15p for orders of 10 or more (post paid)
Birmingham DOORSON, B5 137 6DR. Digbeth, Bir-
payable Birmingham's
Other Bookshop.
of unuy.
for a reduction in hours.
Undermine . Ken
tivity strings. may Weighell
Inal LORCON Transport does not settle before the underground workers recieved a wage increase in line with inflation, Weighell would certainly be put on the spot. It's a spot Ken Livingstone should put Weighell on.
In the short time Livingstone has taken control GLC has already notched London, the Labour up a Tew gave marvellous hospitaliiy to the People's March, London Transport fares
be cut by 25 per and hopefully, the price of school meals will also be reduced.
Livingstone personally
has been on picket lines, openly supported the Irish hunger strikers and the Polish workers and has now announced that the Asians arrested in Southall,
per cent), plus a number of divisive sectoral productivity deals which could only lead to job loss and lack
Most startling, there is an offer of ½ per cent in return for a commitment not to progress any claim
Ken Livingstone, on behalf of the Labour GLC has to call the London Transport Executive to order. He has to state publicly that not only will he underwrite any offer but the increase should be in line with inflation without produc-
Such a move will completely undermine the wheelings and dealings of Sid Weighell, NUR general secretary, and lay the basis for a
= way to win
should be wilnoul charge' because they were 'defending their community'.
There is no doubt that the Labour adminstration in County Hall is a big boost LOC Sluggis against the Tories. All socialists should recognise that. But we have to say somernme eise besides There have been setbacks the made the election Inalllicslo for London: council housing will still be compulsorily transferred to the London boroughs; the Labour Group did not all vote for a reduction in meals'
SCHOO price. despite the election pledge.
Home News
campaign against the right wing union leadership.
When workers and their trade unions fought for the election of a Labour GLC they expected that their interests would be championed against the attacks of the Tory Government the GLC could be used as a bastion from which to fight for the rapid removal of the Tories from office.
When the Tories move against the Labour controlled GLC, as they certainly will, the GLC will need to call upon the workers of London to mobilise in their defence. The Labour GLC will get such support if it is prepared to defend workers' living standards.
The present offer amounts to a wage cut, something we expected from the Tories but not from Labour.
Unless the GLC instructs management to settle in line with inflation, we will be left wide open
Such setbacks give am-
munition to the right - LO
the likes of Sid Weighell
ano ne condon cvcul:
paper, New Standard
which Conducene
vicious campaign against
LiC Lavoul Icil.
Action
Before the election Ken
Livingstone knew the tasks
confronting him and his
comrades would not be
easy. He thought and
still thinks that the
Labour GLC itself Cal
choose the time and place
HEATHROW+
wing of the Labour Party. underground get above this.
settled. come out, and that the Triple
unions is invoked. to take on the Tories.
But the government is on ne orensve against Labour councils; the evesus in lothian show that. The only way to take on the Tories
- ana will - is through mass action.
The Labour
Lull cillors are very concerned that they may be surcharg-
UVe. Ulic another. Instead discussing how to avoid these threats, they should be discussing how they can build support organised labour movement to defend them from the likely surcharges and jailings
Livingstone and
ken the Labour left across
to attack by NUR general secretary Sid Weighell, who would use the strike to discredit the GLC and its leader Ken Livingstone as part of his campaign against Benn and the left
All Labour Party members should put maximum pressure on the GLC to improve their offer.
Footnote: The London buses have already settled for 8 per cent, but will claim parity with whatever the
. The pay claim on British Rail is not yet
A decent offer from the GLC would put pressure on Brother Weighell to push BR for more, and on BR to grant it. If the strike on London Transport becomes a reality it will be of the greatest importance that the buses and British Rail also
Alliance of rail, coal and steel
power in the local borough elections next May Briefing is holding a conference to prepare elections. Our tasks are twolola.
from the Government.
countable to the Party and lead the struggles req Speakers
Hansen, speaker from Lothian
London has to be able to turn round to the workers of in London and say 'We're with you Are you with us?
We will defend you up to the hilt in your fight better wages and living standards against government. 'And when the GLC is attacked will you support us? Will you use the muscle that you have the only muscle that will bring down this government, to defend us? In so doing you will be defending
SOCIALIST
CHALLENG
200
London Labou g-ef-s
Target 82' Conference
10.30am-5.30pm Following our victory in winning control of the GLC. Left in London must centre its efforts in struggling.
for th
• To ensure that the London Party enters the e tions with manifesto commitments which enable us to: fend and extend our services and stand up to the atta
To select councillors who can be trusted to be
include Ken Livingstone Ted Knigt Bryn Davies, Merle Amory, Jeremy Corbyn, Frat
All Labour Party members are urged to attend tt Conference, delegates credentials are f1 from 1 Thorold Road, Ilford, Essex, or turn up on the da
yourselves.'
Ken Livingstone been on the defensive the Tube pay talks. was a marvellous opp for for him to opt unite with the rank and: this militants of the NUR fight for the full claim a defend the workers' living standar Together they could ha exposed the deviousness Sid Weighell.
United
In so doing would have been far mo united, far stronger would have been a bo for the policies of the ! in London. and a boost the Benn campaign. As whatever the outco: of these present tions, the left is left with bitter taste in IT C mou Ken Livingstone will sei lave bowed pressure from the likes wingers Weighell The leader of the GL committed to 'campai azallisi the must lead that campai — a campaign for mass tion to bring down Tories. We shoi organise in Tne ant Party and the trade unic support gressive measures Labour GLC takes, up and including indust 'hat way not . only get rid of Tories, but we will also the basis for the return Labour government c • •mitted to socialist polic Socialist Challenge 9 July 1981 Pag
Page 4 scan of this page
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Page 5 scan of this page
Socialist policies
workers
By Steve Potter and Peter Clifford
hitting him
caster last Monday.
The mass picket, came
the closure of Manchester
lactory,
Laurence Scott, entered its
11th week.
One hundred pickets
took to Don-
caster, successiv turn-
ing away supplies for the
firm including vital oxygen
from the Rotherham BOC
plant. The picket, which
will now continue on a 24
hour basis, will bring new
pressure on Mining SUD
of both plants, Ar-
thur Snipe.
Snipe was there
greet the pickets his
Rolls Royce with signs By Patrick Sikorski TONY BENN will return to the centre of the political arena when he adresses the Labour Co-ordinating in Central Hall, London on 18 July.
Despite his illness, centre stage. It was his shadow that loomed so large over the latest Labour unemployment march in Cardiff.
Benn's solidarity minute standing ovation and Foot had to intervene to defend hecklers.
The campaign tor the Labour deputy leadership has acted as a focus for all those wanting to get the now. But more important1y, WalL real change. They want the
Labour to advance towards socialism and thev want to get rid of the right wing Labour leadership.
We agree with the 10O ROS 0? erence for 'Joint trade union and abour Party
government committedi to socialisi policies.
Fight
We agree with iaking this fight the Labour Party for fin the fight Lac Laboul accountability, over the leadership and manifesto
The fuit for socialist policies anti left leadership in ti Labour Party goes hand in hand with the fight to kick nut the Tories.
The reason can be summed up in a short sentent - the bitter expenence
Mass picket step by
Laurence Scott
'WE'RE taking the fight home to the boss -where it hurts! That was how Laurence Scott steward Elaine Cross explained the mass picket of Mining Supplies in Don-
and other crude gestures.
He has mauc a Hallic for himself in this dispute through provocative •ano aggressive actions towards in his 2rOuD. A steware le no Doncaster plant said that couldn't speak Socialist Challenge bec'there are spies in the plant.'
These sort of methods Snipe in his other factories reputedly used in Wolverhampton, Norwich and Blantyre.
Snipe making mistakes though. Last week he sent redundancy money to the workers
LCC Conference
and mass action
Committee (LCC) conference
Benn has never left
Party anti-
message got a two
Healey against the
the last Labour government.
The struggle to remove the Heath government led to the Social Contract. much greater political and WIll be needed from the whole rid Thatcher. It's not surprising that before launching such struggles the movement as a whole, not just une rank arerie neeos o be that the fight's worth the candle Taxes The movement need: policies which can unire it nationally and which the Labour 1icAi musi be pledged to impie immediately
alternative the unemployment demo Saturday. He pomised to workers' taxes, massively increase public expenditure and put investmett in the "enonalised industries These measures, if carned would be greatly welcomed by working people. But . carried
occupation who, after taking legal advice, foud that thev could cash it without
their against unemployment through and financed, in
of opposition from the bosses and the
require
HomeNews
SOLIDARITY
WITH
AURENCE
SCOTT'S
Laurence Scott workers on Cardiff demo
tracts Unlike elsewhere, the question of workers losing redundancy money has Foot, Healey and other Labour leaders march
decisive measures to gain control of the banks and the finance houses, and commanulng heights
Laurence Scul NO CLOSUREI
INSEE SITIN
STRIKE
been confronted by the LSE workers stating that their struggle is to keep the plant open and nothing
of industry
A real set of socialist
policies for Labour
government to meet the
less.
The mass picketing of Mining Supplies has meant a retreat by national union officials in their backing of the occupation. However, official support for the picketing was withdrawn when Snipe offered talks 1l it was called off. . The fear Lila the picketing would collide with the Tories anti-union laws was also a factor in their climbdown.
But Laurence Scott workers are prepared confront that question as well. As Denis Barry, an AUEW steward in the plant put it:
'We've got to picket the parent company. Nobody's really about what secondary picketing is. It's not beer properly put to the test. Today we al C picketing more than two to a gate
ly in doubt about enforcing it. What we are doing today is a small test of the law. I don't call it a law its a guideline. And guidelines are made to be moved to the left or right.
The Laurence Scott occupiers are confident .of
With the massiv support that their struggle has received, particulary in
LABOUR
CO-ORDINATING
COMMITTEE
crisis would mean going much further than Foot and the Labour leadership are presently prepared to go.
Michael Foot and Len Murray have been discuss-
'Social Contract'. We know from bitter experience and Laurence Scott shows today, that either workers control industry
For the DOSSC from us the 'blood letting' that Michael Foot wants to stop.
Millions
The bosses say that they can only control and manage maustry now Dy throwing millions out WOIK
We must say that we will occupv those diants to carry forward the fight to bring down the Tories and to nationalise those firms under workers control.
If it was decided that the next Labour
Shouid nationalise such industries this would seno a cold the backs of the bosses and inspire working people to fight " oack Necessary
Michael Foot speaks of the need borrow order to embark on expansion. This obviously necessary.
But it leaves open the question of who controls the credit. . It assumes that the very same people who have got us into , this mess will then De able get even fatter on the interest they will demand
Clearly, any socialist Socialist Challenge
the last week from workers on the march in Cardiff they believe they can crack the resistance Arthur Snipe, despite the backing he is receiving from the Engineering Employer: Federation.
To make sure of it workers from the occupa tion are in Jersey this week scekille suppor: from the miners' union
mie cupation Is alse fast assuming nationa political importance.
Support
John Silkin visited the plant last week, and on the same day Tony Bent phoned from his valescence to renew hi support for the occupa
tio the size of the suppor
which the occupation receiving is due to labour to see Laurence Scott as it front line the batt against redundancies victory for them would b: a victory for all worker fighting the Tories' pol cies.
Messages of suppor and Laurence Scott Stewards
Fryer, 20 Roundcrot Romily, Cheshire.
government worth
name should implem
Labour Party policy
take over the banks. Implemen
should be started nou campa
a 35 hour week and w
with no loss
pay. Are Foot and the
of the Labour leaders
prepared to take up
proposal of the Fre:
socialists, which provec
popular
and pledge to implen
the 35 hour week
There should be
hanging back
fighting for these poli of tron
under the
LICH
Labour government
une bass o celle
ment with the CBI, th
ty or the IMF i nosé
ple are complicit in
cher's 'mad monetar
Thatcher
Unity with the :
can only create
amongst cur clas
brough:
no Worker
this type of un)
contract which ied
election of Thatche
Supporting
the Tories
action to bring
Tories.
fighting for
ponces walch can .:
the next Labour
of the last two
governments.
9 July 1981 Da:
Page 6 scan of this page
Labour inches towards Irish unity
An independent Ulster?
By Geoff Bell
THE pro-Loyalists in the Labour Party
have been forced to make a number of
concessions in the recommendations
to be submitted to the national ex-
ecutive on the future Irish policy of
the party.
The Labour Party study group, which
was set up nearly two years ago, com-
pleted its report last week. It proposes that
the party should commit itselt to a long.
term policy of irish unity.
The study group
against the Labour Party
organisation to the north of Ireland, on the
grounds that this would be seen as an en-
dorsement
presence in Ireland.
But the sub-committee has reiected a
variety of calls for the
granting of political status to
prisoners.
Full details of the 29-page document are
not yet publicly available,
Loyalists have reacted
some of the reported
Molyneux, leader of the Official Unionist
Party,
terrorists to believe that violence paid'.
The membership of the study group
UDA
The masked face of the UDA who support an independent 'Ulster' Reselectors, please note AMONG the issues on which the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy has advised Constituency Labour Parties to check the voting record of their MPs is the Emergency Provisions Act, the main repressive legislation for the north of Ireland.
voted against the EPA last Thursday:
Alton, David; Atkinson, H (H'gey); Barnett, wich crown kon a ouren. Lemn conovan. michael, Neil; Carter-Jones, Cryer, Bob; Cunliffe, Lawrence D'by'sh're); Fitt, Gerard; Flannery, (Darlington); Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald
Heffer, Eric Holland,
John. Howell. Geraint. mond, James; Lyon, Alexander (York)
Marshall, Joun. Meacher, Powell, Raymond (Ogmore); Price, C. (Lewisham W); Racek,. Reg; Richardson, Jo; Roberts, Ernest (Hackney N)
Skinner Derris. Diuliure. (Merioneth); Thomas, Jeffrey /Preston South); Welsh, Sheila: Young lours ano mr ve soev.
Socialist Challenge 9 July 1981 Page 6
emerge.
Roy 'troops has also come out extendina its
British permanent
withdrawal of and it is opposed to the the Irish small
but already hysterically to findings. James
said the policy would 'encourage
Tony
AMD
I ne following is the complete list of MPs who
Guy (Greenpennis. cur Lewis; Cox, T (W'ds'th, Toot'g);
Dixon, Donald; Dobson, Frank; Dubs, Alfred; Ellis, R (NE
Martin; Fletcher, Ted S (L'b'th, Vauxh 'll); Home Kilroy-Silk, Robert; La-
'gow S'ton); Maxton, John; Maynard, Miss
Pavitt, Laurie;
A.W.: 1 Homas. Dafydd (Abertillery); Stan Michael); Wigley, Dafydd; David (Bolton E). Tellers: D N Campbell-
suggested, until very recently, that it was unlikely that a unanimous report would
It includes pro-Loyalists such as Mason and Don Concannon out" supporters such Maynard
Up to three or four weeks ago the pro Loyalists were planning a report whic would have been unequivocai in its support for British presence in Ireland and partition. A majority was also believed to be in favour of the Labour Party organising in the north of ireland. Concessions
They have been forced to make concessions to the 'pro-unity' lobby for a number of reasons. First, the majority of the submissions to the study group from consti tuency parties was in favour of Irish unity. for the withdrawal of troops and against the Labour Party organising in the north. A
majority was also pontical status.
This meant that the bulk of the proposed report would be in direct defiance of the submissions from the CLPs. This was one pressure on the study group to change its proposals. Another was the statements of
Benn, who called withdrawal.
By Tom Marlowe
LABOUR'S ex-Prime Minister James Callaghan
startled the House of Commons on Thursday
when,
Emergency Provisions Act he proposed a new
'solution' for the north of Ireland.
Callaghan advocated
the formation of a 'broadthe six northeastern coun independent State
her rea
This would involve,
said Callaghan, the with-
drawal of the guarantee by
which the north of Ireland
remains within the Uk un-
til the population decides
otherwise; the right of the
new state to make its own
decisions on all policy mat-
ters, including foreign
policy; Westminster
legislate a Bill of Rights for
une north which Britain
would 'pass to' the "fully
independent' state; the
withdrawal British
troops as an 'end result".
Stalemate
The first comment which can be made about Callaghan's speech is that it was made out of a sense of hopelessness. 'I fear we JUSt conclude that Northern Ireland is in almost total stalemate, both politically and militarily. le observed. 'Does anyone that dual policy of direct rule com with firmness will result in Northern Ireland emerging permanently - I utter the word permanently from years torment', he asked.
Every plan or scheme that Britain has but tor ward has been criticised and... ended in the waste paper basket', he noted.
This is very true. and has been the case for some time. What is important is that a politician of Callaghan's high standing in ruling class circles is now prepared to openly come out and admit as much.
Moreover, the Daily Mirror quickly endorsed Callaghan's plan.
That shows how deep the crisis is for Britain in Ireland. For what Callaghan's suggestion
Ireland
It
and and
as Joan
non, during Bobby Sands'
to change its line opposed
tisanship on Ireland.
Nevertheless,
troop during the course of a debate on the
amounts to is that Britain leaves the North Ireland. While he says that such a withdrawal must be planned and orderly', still adds up to an admission that Britain has got nothing, to offer Ireland but the leaving of it.
The one substantial condition that he places on withdrawal is that Britain should hand over the six counties to unfettered
control. This is LOValS what his 'independent Ulster would As Callaghan said, Micall 'the Protestant majority especially would have a great responsibility and a historic opportunity.
Those words are north of Ireland:
that Benn's suggestions found an enthusiastic response in the rank
file of the party, and the study group, while not supporting Benn, felt the need to make some concessions.
Finally the widespread evidence of disgust among the party membership at the pro-Thatcher antics of Don Concan-
Labour's sookesperson on ireland hunger strike, provided another reason for the study group
It remains unclear as to how exactly the study group sees iris unity being achieved. On the one hand there is an apparent emphasis that this should only be 'by consent; yet, it seems the study group is sympathetic to the idea of abolishing the right of the Loyalist majority in the north of Ireland to veto possible unification.
There is no doubt that, in terms of what •the study group seemed likely to come up with just a month ago, substantial progress has been made by those who have fought Tory/Labour pro-Loyalists bipar-
if the commitment to Irish unity remains a vague principle then it will not, in practice, change very much.
That is why the left in Tne party those who support the right of all the Irish to self-determination now need to concen-
enough to send a shudder down the back of every Catholic living in the north of Ireland. The scenario Is not hard to imagine: lan rusy as president with the thugs of the Ulster Defence Association as his army.
Indeed it is instructive to note that the only organisation in the nortn of Ireland which currently gives open support to the dea of an independent six. county state is the UDA which has a record second to none in organising anti-Catholic assassmatol squads. this context, 'solution smacks .of a 'final solution', with the Catholics of the North of Te and replacing the German Jews as the targets. Callaghan Is saying that Britain should leave Ireland, but in such a way as to ensure that the James Callaghan — will his plan bring peace or jobs to th
Joan Maynard: Troops Out supporter trate their
will be put into practice,
ference spell out such a policy.
the supporters
and
ditional support nation and British withdrawal. anti-imperialist movement is wiped out.
Yet it is by no means certain that this is how things would turn out. The north of Ireland is not a natural state. was created undemocratically this is is wily, whetner 1 has had Unionist or British governments, it has been run undemocratically.
It has maintained its ultioccause mately the British have safeguarded that existence by military might. If Britain was no longer prepared to do so, the state would collapse and the Irish maioritv would be li a position to assert itself.
However likely that if Britain were to hand over the north of Ireland to Loyalists, it would try to ensure that the independent state would have the opportunity to survive.
Callaghan said.
PEACE JOBS-FREEDOM
PEACEJUN
attention on winning firm guarantees that the pro-unity sentiment
and that proposals to be debated at the party con-
A small victory has been gained against
of the Loyalists in the Labour Party. That victory should be seen as a reason for pressing forward to uncon-
for Irish self-determi'Dublin's help is needed before this plan can succeed'. This would mean a joint wave of repression prior to Britain leaving, with Britain and the Southern government joining together agains the opponents Loyalism It would mean H Blocks dotted across thi entire country of Ireland. wall dependent Ulster be judg ed as a progressive solunon. it ls just anolner wa. of trying to stop majority rule for all of Ireland.
Nevertheless, the fact and the canadas Daily Mirror are now pro. moting that nan. and tha even Tory spokesperson Michael Alison, agreec Callaghan's speech something to be pondered show how desperate the ruling class in Britain is now becoming when comes to Ireland.
Page 7 scan of this page
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Page 8 scan of this page
SOUTHALL-I
Police refuse to stop the skinhead fascist gangs
By Socialist Challenge supporters in Southall THOUSANDS of local residents strolled up Southall's main street on Saturday morning to look at the charred remains of Tavern.
Despite the presence of the police standing in front of the pub, many of these local sightseers could not resist breaking into big grins when they saw what was left of the previous night's racist watering hole.
The reason for this pleasure was simple - two years after we had been
the murdered Blair Peach in the street, Southall youth had proved that they could take on and beat the police and the racist skinhead gangs.
On Friday night Southall was subjected to an organised invasion of British Movement and National Front skinheads. They had come to Southall What remains of the Hambrough Tavern to see a band - the Foreskins- playing in a local pub, the Hambrough. But in thugs dead in their tracks.
Asians.
ON Friday night
in their way.
They smashed shop dows and beat up an
woman shop assistant. plan was to frighten the people of Southall and
good time
Foreskins that was brough avern.
But local youth
frightened of these bullies.
They came houses as soon as they heard
ed the skinheads off the Broad way into the Hambrough.
Only two of the skinheads did not escape and they were hey are rescued and are
rescued rested) by the police.
Youths use police shields police refused to go and arrest
Socialist Challenge 9 July 1981 Page 8
Hambrough
who had ASIAN youth Southall have given the best possible answer to fascist attacks on their community. They came out onto the streets to stop the right wing
It was obvious' that the police had no intention of protecting them, so they took their defence into their own hands and ended up confronting the police.
The police were shown to be more concerned with protecting the racists who had come into Southall specifically to beat up, harass and intimidate the
The youth had no doubt what the invasion of 200 fascist skinheads would mean. The day before a
Walthamstow, East London, after petrol had been This is the text of a leaflet distributed by Asian, anti Nazi, and socialist organisations in Southall
200 fascist coaches to invade Southall. They marched down the Broadway shouting racist insults, giving out fascist leaflets and abusing and beating anybody who came
Asian
then have a were told to listening to • a skinhead band playing in the HamVOULD were not driving Southall.
and chasing, interested
dian youth. (and But the three
fact the coaches bringing in the 200 or so fascists didn't go to the pub at all. They dropped the fascists in the middle of the Broadway, Southall's main street.
The tascists rampaged down the Broadway smashing the windows of Asian shops and beating up a shop assistant. As soon as it was realised what was happening, the local youth came boiling out of their houses and chased the where they took refuge in the Hambrough pub.
Two fascists weren't fast enough and received a good thrashing at the hands of the local youth before being rescued by the police, who now that the fascists were losing had put in an appearance!
The police put a cordon round the Pakistani woman and her three children died in met by a firm response
Asian and socialist groups say
skinheads came in
any more of the skinheads.
Witnesses who recognise the skinheads who had beaten the shop assistant chil on TV Tho home and watch it on TV' •once tormed ures outside lo Hambrough to stop the local
entering puD the fascists out
From about 8.15 to 9.30pm the police did nothing but protect the fascists. Instead of try-
ucal with the trouble makers they only seemed to be
with local Asian and West In-
This is not unusual. Only
weeks agc skinheads repeatedly gathered
'The youth chased the
fascists up the street,
BLACK SE
grows almost daily. family
forced to
put trough une teller box
could assıstanl In d socialist
an iron bar.
of deal with the fascist thugs?
For over an hour
entering the side the drinking,
the windows.
Lect of they have a
Hambrough to protect the fascists and refused to go in and arrest the fascists who had attacked the shop keeper, in spite of the fact that witnesses of the incident offered to identify the people involved
go home, and refused to do so, attempted to force them back. dated, and fought back with bottles, bricks, and eventually petrol bombs.
For almost two hours police made no attempt deal criminals, who were sitting in the Hambrough listening to music and getting tanked-up
broke out, they had been threatening to arrest Asian and West Indian youth under the Public Order Act. As soon put through her letterbox and set fire to
Two weeks ago an Asian doctor in Covent murdered in a racist attack, and in Peckham : youth was stabbed to death. The racist murd
On Saturday, skinheads set fire to the Ealin munity Relation Council about four miles awa the Southall confrontation and beat up a blind munity relations worker, Kevin Glover.
Vicious racist attacks on innocent indivi have been going on for some time, but the r developments show a new boldness and les organisation on the part of the fascists. They mı
The police are part of the problem - they ar outside the house of an Asian
South Ealing and broke their windows. The famiThurssay in East London three move. young Asian children and their mother were burned to death in their own home after petrol was
Two weeks ago a white shop
North London bookshop had her skull fractured by a fascist with
The police have very little enthusiasm for stopping these attacks because they
Why did the police not gu into the Hambrough pub and
they did noning but stop anyoouy nor
Hambrougl Inpub the young Nazis listening music and drawing NF signs on
Do the police normally pro-
criminals to make good time? The Yes, the
Instead, the police told the youth
when the youth
The youth refused to be intimi-
with the real
In the period before the fighting criminals are racists. E the black youth try back, that is a differer in the eyes of the la more than one hour crazy situation it was il that a light started be black youth and the p
This must have be the police were wa: because they immedia duced riot shields and s violently drive us bai the Broadway
The police got the the tight • Hails of sto broken bricks were thi Well bombs. A police car wa over, and lit up. Unti vones were ason excited youth at a fir
soon stopped by other
Later on the fasci
tot the pud. They will armed with many w
petrol bor they must have broug Inel on ine coacne. they could not have m
Page 9 scan of this page
VICTORY FOR
ascists...
as police had succeeded in provoking a riot they whipped out rot shields which they had waiting, and tried to drive the youth down the Broadway.
Behind them the fascists charged out of the pub carrving weapons and petrol bombs which they'd brought to Southall to burn down black houses and businesses.
But the police got the worst of the fight, and were forced to retreat back to the pub under a hail of stones.
A highjacked police van was used as a tirelenter to set alight the Ham. brough Tavern, which won't be holding any more racist gigs for a while.
With the pub burning well and the skinheads forced out of Southall back towards Hayes, the situation began to
But despite the damage. everybody realises that it was only the was lack list
om-
community.
As rising от-
be found. uals cent i of tbe
of Tory capitalism. not when fight Halici After if this vitable CI LIC ce. what
for v Drorted to
orst of s ana wn, as
urned Uliale' wn by engine inside the pub.
This proves that the fascists came intending to burn down came shops and nouses in Southall larged in tact i was ony the grick pons, action of local suing
that which stopped massive damage
with
people in Southall. The damage : these that happened in the fight with
prompt
on local people.
of crisis like Friday night.
victory despite these leaders. une next
in a few days.
tion which base themselves on from the factories.
Anti-racists
the only way!
F-DEFENCE
the solution. All the evidence - from Blair Peach's death, to all the unsolved racist crimes, to the use of the 'sus' laws by the police, to their provocations in operations like Swamp 80 in Brixton -the cops cannot be considered allies of the black
unemployment impels more jobless white youth into the fascist gangs, answers have to
Ultimately only a planned economy under working class control can answer the economic wasteland
In the meantime the trade unions, and the Labour
the police was very little compared to what could have happened if the
skinhead invaders. people But Was youth that the police provoked place to thi a fight. should be thanked by Sewhole
of the Southall youth to the invasion that prevented far more damage and volent attacks
The old community leadership has proved itself to be irrelevant at times
When the word flew around that the fascists were coming they stayed in their houses. This was another nail in their cottin - southall naa won a
step national demonstration to be held in Southall
It has been called by the Indian Workers Front, the Indian Workers Association, Great Britain Southall Branch, the Indian Youth Associa-
and other local organisations support
from over the country will march through Southall to celebrate our victory and to push forward the message — self-defence is
shows that
paigns
matter how small. voutn had not deal with late. munity wine local fascists without any Southall so-called leaders
'If skinheads come in and beat up women, and the police aren't going to do anything about it, then we have to defend ourselves.
In April '79 we had 6,000 police chaperoning the Nazis. It was the same on Friday. The cordon was to protect the skinheads.'
RAM SINGH, Southall resident
Maurice Ludmer Memorial Sat 11 July 1981, 2.30pm-5pm Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham All anti-fascists are invited to appreciate the life and work of Maurice Ludme Party should follow the lead of the organisations of the Asian and Afro-Caribbean black people and come forward with plans to beat back the racist attacks.
These plans should include organised self-defence of the black communities, labour movement cam-
among the unemployed youth mobilisations in response to every racist incident no
When Ken Livingstone, leader of the GLC, calls for the 15 Asians who were arrested in Southall on Friday to be released because they were 'fighting for their liberty this should receive the backing of the labour movement. And when the Tory leader of Ealing Council claims that Livingstone is fight', we should say: 'Right on!'
their Dremises munity Inal
of what
unions organisations
told the truth.
These from Friday: working
The police have shown that they will not stop Southall the fascist gangs until far too
But where were the com leaders? The youth Asian Youth
deal with need the Southall
guidance from the Southall
These people did not even
THE
The Bashing"
Asians. and mass encouraging people to
comecause ves. but hid in
houses and business
The newspapers did not put the blame where it belonged They had headlines like RACE RIOT FURY and FIREBOMB RAMPAGE. Their reports put equal blame on the local youth and the fascist thugs! In this way self-defence of the com
Is not described as heroic but as criminal.
The only victims, according to the press, are the police. Ir inis wav the mass media cove up what really happened and help prevent unity of black and white people against the racists. White people are led to believe
black are troublemakers, instead of victims of fascist violence.
It is important that the truth
happened on Friday night in Southall is told. Trade
and community report of that really happened should write so that working people can be
are the conclusions We must have class unity fight racism and we cannot trust the law — self-defence is the only way to stop the fascist gangs.
IWA (GB) Southall Indian Youth Association
National Association for
International Marxist Group
Socialist Workers Party
Anti Nazi League Southall
The racists behind
the Hambrough gig
coaches brought the skinheads to Southall on Friday were organised by a racist who runs the Last Resort music shop in Aldgate, East London.
shop prides itself on being available there and the comments of its owner, Mickey French, it scarcely disdains links with the fascist British Movement.
French, who is also the manager of the group which sup ported the 'Foreskins' at the Hambrough Tavern, told a London New Standard reporter on Monday: 'If an Englishman can't go and hear music in a part of England then what's it coming to? Our fathers all fought in the last war and we're proud of being British.
'Look, if you can't fly the Union Jack in London where
On Monday, leaflets about skinheads being handed out in the Last Resort said: 'Racism was channelled towards the Pakistani population who unlike the West Indians did not in. tegrate with the whites. Instead they kept themselves in
Leaflets distributed in the Hambrough during the gig were a little less circumspect. One publicised a 'White Nationalist Crusade for Race and Nation' with a march to be
It said: 'We Nationalists give clear notice and warning that this will be the last passive public display of our anger and disgust with the race traitors of Westminster.
The manager of the 'Foreskins', Gary Hitchcock, told the
heard somebody had fired shots at the Queen. cried. ' He does not seem to shed any tears over attacks on
Protest against the Walthamstow murders! Demonstrate, this Saturday, 11 July
Depart, Bakers Arms, Leyton. Assemble, Stanley Rd,
10.30am Called by CHAM Massacre Action Committee
Funeral procession will depart from Town Hall in the after-
noon. Those attending are asked to behave with dignity. Islington MP to join anti-fascist march By Davy Jones ANTI-FASCISTS from across London will be marching against fascist violence in Islington this SunOver the past weeks there have been a series of vicious attacks by fascists on left wing and com. munity centres in the area which were on a local The fascists first struck at The Other Bookshop, which is run in conjuction with Socialist Challenge
turing her skull. Eight days later a community cenPress and other groups was burned down. The local Islington Gazette reported last week that an armed gang of skinheads had invaded a
local squat and stabbed a man repeatedly. A few
days before the police reported that a group of 60 armed skinheads in Finsbury had dispersed on see-
Despite this obvious evidence of a series of fascist terror attacks the police comment on the burning down of Community Press was: 'There is not one iota of evidence to suggest a political Local labour movement activists have taken a I ne
numerous Labour Party branches have backed the
call from the local Anti Nazi League for this Sun
ingham has agreed to join the demonstration
across London are urged to attend this
march to stop fascist violence against The Other Bookshop and other labour movement/community centres.
Rally against
fascist violence
Sunday 12 July, 10am Islington Green to Chapel Market
decked with Nazi slogans which
In the forefront of the and to judoe bv the literatur areas were targets for Skins who went "Paki
'I'm a patriot, I was close to tears when / attacking Sheila Malone and fracFace?
Page 10 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge:
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every Sat SWAN A S or sly llars pui, saturdays.
England London Sad and a a ps
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in Haras 1 creen am , More into Rox SURNLEY: Ser, Bristol 6.
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By Alan Freeman PICK up the Sun, Mirror or Star tomorrow. You'll miss quite a few things you find in Socialist Challenge: You backing Benn. You won't find support for the hunger strikers, or arguments for socialist policies.
There's a reason: the media are backed by millionaire press. •arous. and dance to their tune. we speak for ordinary working people, for black people, TOI women. for youth. We don't carry ine press barons ponies. and we don't have their monev ether.
Why? Because we are revoltondry socialists. We know that only the ex ploited and oppressed of the world have the power to change it. So we place our trust in them.
But, because rest preach. set. we con just preach. and our supporters, build Benn's campaign in the unions, fight for women's rights, build the anti-missiles movement, struggle against unemployment. Socialist Challenge puts socialist ideas JILO practice.
Centre
Thousands of people read Socialist Challenge. We're very pleased about that and we've tried to change our paper to make
more popular. But conian t you do more 1o1 socialism than read about
Every week we carry a form which you can fill in to be put in touch with Socialist Challenge supporters in your area. You
sullalist ideas. You can help make Socialist Challenge a more effective organiser.
Malone in the bookshop on thugs.
itself.
Donations, some
Press and many Socialist
Bob Pennington, the manager
an organiser
for the left
won't find them
There's a second way you can help: with cash!
We have been overwhelm
ed be for stood to buy
paper. think we're within reach of this goal drive will open until March 1982 to slay
But we are still desperately lacking in funds for our political campaigning work and for the weekly costs of our paper.
That's why we are launching this quarter an ambitious drive for £16,500 from OUr Sud porters, for our paper and Ils CalliDalzils
Unions
Where will this money go? First of all, our paper has to be heavily subsidised. It needs a £500 subsidy every week. But secondly our political campaigns themselves cost thousands of pounds.
Let's take a typical example: our fight for socialist policies the Last . quarter we organised two major solidarity tours:
Jeans and Laurence Scott workers. We organised active caucuses of supporters In seven major umons, anu we held conference rial industrial workers' 250 people.
This is only part of the work we did. The staffing costs alone came £2,550. Rent and rates for office space came to t430;
Other-
Bookshop
Appeal Fund
WELL over three hundred pounds has so far been raised for the Other Bookshop Appeal Fund. The fund was launched following the attack on Sheila
20 June by fascist
The £500 fund target was set for Sheila's convalescence and to step up security in the shop
of which have been specifically earmarked for Sheila, have come from Islington Trades Council, local Labour parties, a post office engineers' branch, the Islington Gutter
Challenge supporters from around the country. The biggest of all came from 'a Socialist Worker reader' who sent £100.
of The Other Bookshop, appeals to Socialist Challenge readers to continue the campaign to reach the £500 fund
Socialist Challenge News
and the phone to Costs of leaflets, placards and transport came £220, and office costs to
£3,800.
Our work building the anti-missile campaign
£950. Our fight Callic for socialist policies in the Labour Party similarly
And our fight women's rights cost £1,900.
We spent £2,400 in support of revolutionaries abroad, and on our other
including support for Irish freedom HARICES
Our total costs:
Socialist policies in the UNLONS £3,800 Women's liberation 1,900 Socialist policies the Labour Party Anti-missile campaign 950 Other campaigns 2,400 Subsidy to the paper 6,500 Total £16,500
Pledge
How did we raise this? From you, our readers; and particularly from the donations of members of the Interntional Marxist Group which sponsors Socialist Challenge Every IMG member, in addition
membership dues for the IMG, makes a voluntary monthly pledge to the paper and its work: this raised £10,000 the £16,500 we needed last quarter.
Unity
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Page 11 scan of this page
By Kumar Sen and Vanessa Wiseman
possibilities for an alternative inquiry.
Although there was no
agreement about setting
up an alternative to Scar-
man they did agree to col-
laborate in a broad cm-
paign for the derence ot
Brixton.
Represented were the
Brixton Defence Cam-
South East
Region TUC,
Relations Committee, the
London _Labour
Party, the Labour Com-
mittee for the Defence of
Labour Parties.
This initiative is likely
to be supported by the
Letter!
ISLINGTON Central Labour Party has just submitted a motion to the annual Labour Party conference which calls on the next Labour government to immediately begin a process military withdrawal from Ireland.
motion also sels out what would have to be
socialist Darl strategy. of withdrawal ie
of the DipUne abolition lock courts; the repeal of the Preventior of Terrorism Act; and the rever-
previous British governments' legitimation of the Ulster Detence Association.
There one glaring omission from this motion
Ine political status for political orisoneis I Allaga anc H Block.
The story behind this omission contains imporlant lessons ior une icil l the Labour Party.
On the day that Bobby Sands died, the Labour Committee on Ireland (a body set up to campaign for a Labour Party policy
withdrawal trom land and whose aims include political status) issued its model resolution for Labour Party conference.
There are two major criticisms to be made, the first being that its unfortunate wording.
nicalis that, if passed, would still fail to give the Labour Party a positive policy on Ireland; the second, that
the reintroduction political speical category) status.
At the June meeting of Highbury ward Labour Party, a member of the LCI this resolution. And repeal of the PrA and Amendments reintroduction of political
The LCI member accepted the first amendment and argued against the second.
In doing this, he implied that ihe important thing was to get a motion
Brixton defence goes forward
SEVERAL organisations met on 2 July at the invitation of the Lambeth Trades Union Council to discuss the defence of the arrested youths after the Brixton uprising. the opposition to the Scarman inquiry and to explore the
and the Lambeth
Council.
It was agreed that there
was a need to tackle the
issues or bonce
tability, unemployment,
the poor housing and the
social service cuts caused
Dy lory culs in Lamocill
services.
The Labour Commit-
tee argued that an alter-
native inquirv should be
organised to run parallel to
scarman order
mobilise support for the
Brixton community and
also to expose the vicious
policing methods used in
Letters ATterS TTERS
Criticisms of the Labour =
Committee on Ireland
full pontical and
on reland to and that the demand for political status would jeopardise this.
Many members of the ward considered him to be
'expert' on ireland and in the subsequent confused voting, elther abstained or voted against.
Ironically, he to prepolitical purity, serve his voted in favour of political status but the vote was lost Dy 19 10 10
Meanwhile another ward which did not suffer the handicap of having an LCI member present, successfully amended the
model LCI motion to include political status and a demand for the Labour Party to affiliate to the National H Blocks Campaign.
Mildmay ward rejected
the format of the LCI motion and passed the following: "This Conference recognises the evidence over number of years that the clear popular wish of the Irish people tavours British withdrawal from
progres. towards a united Ireland.
we recognise that the election of Bobby Sands and of the People's Demoсгасу councillors is the most recent expression of a significant section of the
population of the north of
Ireland for Britain's
withdrawal from the north
of Ireland and for a united
Ireland
Conference therefore: 1. rejects the current bi-
partisan policies of the
PI P leadership; 2 :adates the policies
'tressive British governuents which have effectively guaranteed the right of veto the Unionist minority in ireland, ensur-
the blowe cor mue Boc
However
argued that such in-
quiry wouldn't help the
youths arrested and that it
not NO C the previously
published report prepared
by Lambeth Council into
police-community rela-
tions.
In addition they felt
that such an inquiry would
be prejudicial to the forth-
conning court proceedings.
The spokespeople felt
that the major tasks are to
legally defend the arrested,
to counter the publicity
ne meda de to lackie ine
wider issues. This would
De te bass ol ar oncone
campaign on behalf of the
Brixton community.
Jack Dromey for SERing that the present disastrous situation mains unresolved tion by the British govern- condemns the legitimament of the UDA and calls for the disarming of the UDA. 4. calls for the abolition of the Diplock courts. 5. calls for the reintroduction of political status for prisoners in H Block and Armagh. 6. calls on the next Labour government to immediate Iv begin a process oI lul. political and military withdrawal from Ireland.
At the General Man-
Committee meeting, hecause pressure of time, the ward
withdrew favour of the above
However, the majority of Highbury delegates are firm believers in accoun-
Conference of
Socialist Economists 1981
On the theme of
Exploitation and
Oppression -Rethinking
Socialist Strategy
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TUC spoke about the need for the labour movement to be self-critical about the
failure to take up racism in
ine past, out leil Inal Il wa
premature ahead
because of the lack of sup-
black DON Varlou.
organisations.
However, he said, there was need for
positive action to raise
arrested youth, to consider the broader
present a counter report to
Scarman
He said that a cam-
paign for greater police accountability was needed
Everyone felt that was necessary to broaden the campaign especially among the youth of BrixLULI
Letters
tability and felt obliged to
an amendment demand political status.
This amendment passed by 25 votes to 24 with the majority of the Highbury ward's seven delegates voting reluctantly for it.
The amended motion was then passed by 34 votes to 14.
There are four lessons to be learnt from this ex. perience:
strength about Ireland in the Labour Parti and the extent to which the argument that the LCI has been waging has been won. 2. The LCI's assumption that there Is a need to water down politics make them acceptable is indefensible on both political and pragmatic grounds. 3. The LCI's reluctance to even engage in the political argument about political status - at a time when the hunger strikers are dyolitical cowardice. is the height of 4. Political status is not an isolated 'extremist' mand in the way that the LCI is treating it (nor is it just a civil rights issue).
Dall oi the socialist attitude that the British labour must develop on Ireland. To see political status in! isolation distorts an. understanding of the fact that it is an imperialist war which is going on in the north of Ireland
We are worried that our local experience is being repeated in wards and General Management Committees throughout the country with the result that the Labour Party leadership will not be forc. ed to adopt a demand which is vital not only in its urgency but also in its immediate relevance to the republican movement Ireland.
JANE ANDREWS JENNY MORRIS London PS Were now irving :: put an amendmen: :0 0u own Conference motion. calling for political status.
On the Frontline Brixton
A picket of Scarman is to be called.
For primer ormallor contact the Brixton Defence
of history
I MUST confess astonishment on read ing the article on Iran in socialist Challenge of 25 June. (Islamic reaction threatens gains of Iranian revolution).
The very headline is totally misleading and confirms my opinion that SC has completely TATICO understand the nature of events in Iran since the overthrow of the Shah.
Islamic reaction began almost immediately after the initial revolutionary impulse which toppled the Pahlevi lynasty. Steadily and consistently the most reactionary tenets of Shi-ite Islamism was imposed on the masses
summary executions; Genin penalties for prostitutes and nomosextas Tine vell for women; the chopp ing OTT fingers of thieves the list almost endless
have asked before and repeat: what are the gains which are now being threatened? Khomeini and the Islamic Revolutionary Party represented the count.
•• = falec 0 0 = ¿ ¿
fall into the cr?
Campaign c/o Abeng Centre
London
Donations to the legal.
Road to dustbin
the Sallle full-blooded support to Bani-Sadr we viously gave to Kho meini the point of defending him in the war against Iraq instead of the correct Leninist that the main enemy capitalist country is our
THE first ever strike by Youth Opportunity Programme trainees occur-
week appropriate in Consett, the town with the highest unemployment in Britain.
It ended in a demo at Con sett Job Centre, where there is just one job on offer for hunareas oi senool icavers
250 CasI voul
trainees stonneo work on t June in protest at the miserly £23.50 per week they are paid
their 'work experience',
full week's work for this pittance for six months
They then make way for
school leaver, depriving one the
che area of a jot ai normal :ases oi pay
defence can be sent to Brixton Legal Defence Campaign c/o
Brixton Road, SW. tel 01-733 4245. Lenire
own ruling class and calling on the workers in both iraq and Iran to turn the war into a civil war. Besentative wiss the representative the
of the bazaaris and the Iranian petty-bourgeoisie.
Surely porters of permanent revolution cannot sub scribe to the theses that either the Islamic fundamentalists or the Iranian (or more precisely the Parsee bourgeoisie) can carry forward the struggle for democratic demands.
can only be achieved by the work. ing leadership of a Leninist
There are short cuts
The policy, pursued by SC till now is nothing else but somewhat distorted version of the Stalinist stagist theory of the revolution Khomeini (or Bani-Sadr) then us
That is the road to the dustbin of history.
Incidentally, the arti-
strangely silent about the Iran/Iraq war.
NOV that aven SC recognises the reac
of the Khomeini regime do we still support him against the equally repulsive
CHARLIE VAN GELDEREN, London
YOPS youth go on strike
SUDOOT for the strikers poured in from other YOr
schemes throughout the coun-
La national
ol pay iney recelve
The abuse and cynica
'work experience senemes s becoming a na tional scandal, , and nowhere
in where there are 20.00 voung Deodle or s: monin courses with no so? of theo striking d
striking Consett have given a leas : CADOS IlE
union movement respos
there is after
scneme leaders,
Page 12 scan of this page
people in struggle
By Anibal Yanez FOR the first half of the 20th century, Guatemala was the fiefdom of the United Fruit Company. The United Fruit Company grew to virtually own Guatemala. By the time of the second world war it controlled transport the United States through its Great White Fleet.
It monopolised railroad transport within Guatemala, as well as the ma-
Atlantic port Puerto Barrios, through BILS subsidlary, the Interna-
Railroads of Central America (IRCA): and
OCHE Guatemalan lands on which it grew chiefly bananas.
United Company through its board of directors and its DallACIs brought together LIC {OD families of the American ruling class - the Rockefellers, the Morgans and others.
The struggles of the Guatemalan people against imperialist domination culminated in the election in 1950, of Jacabo Arbenz with the support of organised labour, peasants, the more radical bourgeoisie, and the not yet legalised sectors the
Communist Party.
Transform
When he took office in 1951, Arbenz clearly stated his objectives: ... first, to convert (Guatemala) from
dependent Hallull with a colonial economy to an economically independent second, transform our nation from a backward nation with a predominantly feudal modern capitalist country; and third, to accomplish inis transtormaton in manner that brings the greatest possible elevation of the living standard of the great masses of the people.
But to carry out Arbenz's modest programme, er an conning he much further confronting. United Fruit Companv and the land. ed oligarchy, left intact by Arévalo.
Arbenz tried. He promoted the construction of a government-run hydroelectric plant, a highway to the Atlantic, and an Atlantic port, proJects almed al breaking ine loreign monopolies' control of energy, transportation, and exports.
Compensation
In 1952, the Arbenz goverment passed the Agrarian Reform Law.
Approximately 100,000 peasant families land wel credit and technical assistance from new state agencies. As rural social services were improved, the Indians for the first time since the Spanish conques beneficiares of governe
beneficiaries government policies.
The law expropriated idle lands, with compensation to former owners. The intention was 'develop capitanst mernoas or proaucuon agriculture ... and to prepare the path TOR Unused lands were to be a major target of the reform. United Fruit had
more than 15 per Coll of its holdings under cultivation.
The agrarian reform polarised the country into supporters and
UUponents of the October Revolution.
Confidence
The United Fruit Corapany led the
Increasingly the bourgeoisie mov
into opposition fearing both Washington's anger and the found confidence of the workers and larmers.
It was the beginning of a civil war which rages in Guatemala to this day
o oust me aroeri coverament the US sent to Central America a team ot operatives made up of ClA agents, experts ir: covert. anticommunist oocralols. stake in Guatemala
On 18 June, 1954. Castillo Armas invaded Guatemala with this mercenarv force of some 200 men. while CIA planes flown by American pilots bombarded the capital
allu
Socialist Challenge 9 July 1981 - Page 12
Poverty is the lot of Guatemalan peasants
other cities. Militarily, the Castillo Armas invasion would have been a fiasco had it not been for the CIA's aerial operations.
Arbenz wavered and then resigned, turning the government over three loyal' military officers. US
Ambassador John Peurifoy refused to accept Arbenz's replacements. and insisted on the installation of Castillo Armas. the CIA's chosen bberator On Julv 1954. Castillo Armas entered Guatemala City on Peunfoy s US Embassy plane.
Arbenz had relied on his military colleagues rather than on the masses to protect ine revolution. Ine government proved unable to defend the conquests or ine masses 1l lle iace ol the imperialist onslaught. It became demoralised bv the lack of support from the military, and the prospect of deep-going civil war between conten ding social classes.
Armas proceeded to l quidate the revolution. By conservative estimates 9,000 political and labour leaders were jailed or tortured, the special laincis being.
International.
Guatemala- a
Gult of
Mexico
Quezaltenanyo GUATEMALA
organisers on UFCo's plantations, and Indian leaders. Scores of peasants were murdered.
The US Embassy provided lists of communists to be eliminated. Peasant and labour unions were disbanded.
Belize
Honduras
*Salvado
Social and economic measures that Tavoured ine workers peasants were uprooted. The United Fruit Company got its land back
But between 1963 and 1966 left wing guerrilla organisations launched a struggle to overthrow the dictatorship.
Looking to Cuba — a number of guerrilla leaders travelled there in the mid- 1960's these Guatemalan
agreed that armed struggle was the only way of waging the fight against the misery and oppression of the vast majority of Guatemalans.
Valuable
Guatemala had provided the Cubans with valuable lessons as to the limitations of a democratic revolution which stopped halt-way. Cuba now offered Guatemalans the example of the first successful socialist revolution in the Americas
important section of the Guatemalan revolutionary leadership
assimilated the lessons Arévalo/Arbenz period. They saw it
bourgeois democratic revolution with neithe the capacity nor the desire to defenc itself. They concluded that what was needed was an armed struggle aimed at developing
and peasants Thev were convincec that to tight against imperialism in Latin America meant to fight for socialism.
Washington responded with bruta counter-insurgenev campaigr in the middle and late 1960s
guidance of US Ambassador Mein, the
occupied village and executed peasant leaders. Tactics develoned in Vietnam. including thi designation of target areas for bomb. ing and the use of US Special Forces (Green Berets) as advisers to
forces, were rapidly implemented.
Entire villages were obliterated by bombing and napalm. US Air Force planes based in Panama participatec in tnese operations
It was in this period that the in famous death squads appeared Guatemala
Guatemala became in the 1960s the laboratory for the use of paramilitary insurgency tactic. It would ConHer be
employed later like Argentina and Brazil, and is today being employed in El Salvador.
The guerrila movement of the 1960s was crushed, Turcios Lima anc Yon Sosa killed. But it was not gone forever. The surviving cadre and the masses assimilated lessons, and the movement would soon reappear stronger and with even greater political clarity.
Alliance
But today, after each blow by the repressive forces, the Guatemalan
respond by broadening the Leaders
tre Killea almost every day. but ne ones step forward from the ranks of the working class and the oppressed. Terror has failed to stop them.
A workers and peasants' alliance is being forged by revolutionary mass organisations the Guatemalan tolers Nationa Trade Union Unity Committee (CNUS) and the Peasant Unity Committee (CUC)
1976 virtually the entire Guatemalan trade union movement which had managed to rebuild itsel after near annihilation in 1954, came together to form the CNUS. A determining event in its formation was a militant strike for union recognition bv Coca-Cola workers which began in Guatemala City and won broad labour solidarity in Guatemala and internationally,
HOW political-military organisations lead the mass movement today
recognise inal in cuatemala armed struggle in conjunction with the mass movement of the toilers is the only road for the oppressed to take power and win freedom
They are the Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP), the Rebel Armed Forces (FAR), the Organisation of the People in Arms (ORPA), and the Leadership Nucleus the Guatemalan Workers Party (a split from the reformist PGT.) Reported. ly, the leader of the EGP is César Montes.
Prepare
The ary of communist menace in Guatemala is intended ro prepare the people of the i nited States for more Us intervention in Central America incluaing possibie use of US troops.
times nave changed. One American official is reported co have
Whal we'd give to have an Arben/ now?'
people in the United States aiso have stake Guatemalan people's tight misery oppression, murder, and ex ploitation Like and peasants in El Salva or, !he; are rais. ing the banner of freedom for all of us against the Wail Street billir ires
The struggle of the pouple uf Guatemala should become a call ti action for millions of working people in the United states to oppose a nev Vietnam in Central America.
Page 13 scan of this page
Grenada- USA uptodirty tricks again
From a correspondent
ON the night of 31 May,
the police and army of Sri
Lanka launched
of terror on the Tamil city
of Jaffna.
The state forces carried out
both ponnically
specific murders, destroyed
and
centres and burnt and looted
large parts of the city.
Sri Lanka's present United
National Party regime is essen-
tially a right wing dictatorship
nue trace
union dismantled
LIC wollare Slale
previous
governments,
away LEC bowe the
Lankan parliament; and runs
Luc conomy. on me avice ol
the World Bank, to the benefit
of the multinationals from the
US, South Korea, Japan and of
course Britain.
It is now planning to give
the US navy rest and recreation
facilities.
It has also developed a unihired thlegs and ressed plain style repression Bank.
This reflects a growing sensitivity the handedness of the US government as it tries to contain the developing revolutionary ferment in the Caribbean.
It's now thirty months since the revolution which overthrew the corrupt, pro-West regime of Eric Gairy, and established the People's Revolutionary overcal led Dy Maurice Bishop.
The 'dirty tricks' of the US government against Grenada include economic sanctions against the building of desperately needed International Airport; the rundown of the island's electricity generating plant; the couragement counterrevolutionary activity within LOC country; and ICCCILV revelations have been made about US backing for an invasion by American Ku Klux Klan mercenaries.
Revealed
The KKK plan was discovered April when ten heavily armed mercenaries were arrested by the FBI in New Orleans on their way Dominica to overthrow government. They were later charged with preparing a 'naval expedition'.
It was revealed that the atlack on Dominica was aeciaca on when the Klan failed to agree with deposed dictator Gairy on the logistics of vading Grenada.
Gairy wanted them to pose as tourists while the klan, best Hollywood tradition, wanted to sail right up to the island and invade it.
Ine rbi alan llake any action until it was clear that Dominica not Grenada was the
Last year two young women do when one exocen an attempt to assassinate the leadership of the PRG during a political rally. Control
But it is the economic plots ot imperialism that threaten the forward march of the Grenadian revolution.
The international airport, wich is to cost £35m. is central
the plans of the PRC achieve political indeendence
reign clothes police who attack civil
rights demonstrators, trade unionists and parliamen tary opponents the government. with all this it has also proved be Cultud
chauvinist against sri Lanka's Tamil minority.
Franchise
It has consistentiv chauvinism (started by British divide and rule policies) which taken has kept the tea
workers. who al c isolated from workle Class This year 50 years of universal franchise celebrated, though hundreds of thousands of Sri workers, Tamils from the plantations, have been divested of the right to vote.
Meanwhile the Tamils in the with north and east of Sri Lanka -
Tamil majority areas SEVERAL Caribbean governments have rejected the USA's proposal to bar Grenada from its share of a $4m American grant to the Caribbean Development to its in-
in
majority of the broad masses. and control ovel It is needed to enColly. courage tourism which could become a major source of in-
Washington claims that the airport used militarv base tor the Cubans When Grenada approached the British government and others for development ald they were •crated.
Seiwyn Strachan, Minister for Communications PRG, told a British Grenada Friendship Society meeting last week london that
State terrorism in SriLanka
faced systematic pickets, and have been made scapegoats
for economic failure.
They have faced discrimination in education and jobs, and addition blatantly recognised
language. The government has also imposed 'colonisation' settling Sinhala Tamil areas.
fanned In 1979
emergency was declared in Jaffna, sparked off, it was said, by plantation the murder of a policeman but
Tamils; governmene campaigy of Tamil preceded the rest of the
harassment Anti-Terrorism Act Within days being alu
Lankan to 'eliminate the menace of ter-
rorism'. followed, torture and security forces were common occurrences.
The Tamils have in the last have Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, 'We're opposed to a press which refuses to print the views of the overwhelming
their
Luvans naa no neea lor a stopping point when they dispatched troops to our brothers and The of the US is an
as isolate our revolution.
Big business has also been trying to interfere in the internal stability of the country.
The island's power station had been deliberately run down by its owners-Grenlec, in the
La subsidiary of the Commonwealth Development Corporathe
International,
harassment back through political
ding secession Tamil not
official tionary
policy of parliamentary which involves the amul
families in
won month north.
sion of Pretext draconian was passed tions
In the six months that indiscriminate ar- Jafina.
murder by sent to the town the elections.
Grenada its monopoly to do all cla call y sisters in scaremongering
attempt to Ine comesc
OCCI carried previous five years.
LOOK ILO , which is report capitalist Grenlec.
bank arrogan fier ne
organisations almost all of which are now deman-
These range from revoluyouth and student leagues who reject Sri Lankan
democracy United Liberation Front which has contested and
most of the seats in the
The TULF sees the provi-
District Development ing of Tamils. Councils by the government as a worthwhile compromise. what
selves
Ironically it was the elec-
which provided the pretext for last month's police invasion of
policemen were officially, to tinued. maintain law and order during
The police in Sri Lanka are
create PRG.
outstanding Banned
debts business men.
similar light'
Minister try.'
whelming produ masses 'We
For years Grenlec has used
played by extract vast
Yet last year Grenlec asked ment in Chile. for an increase of £160,000 in
iariff to cover repair work which should have
That had OUl over
The
The PRG reacted by setting up a Commission of Enquiry to
company. ownership. condemned the proof of the
Since then Grenlec has used
Snow
Bat of INDIA Rengal
TRINCOMALEE
COLOMBI
Sri Lanka
mainly Sinhalese with a sprinkl-
In many ways an they act like a colonial force but
sparked off the state violence on 31 May was a shoot out among the police them-
On 2 June the government declared a state of emergency in Jaffna. A curfew was imposed and through it all the police arson, looting and assaults con-
There were at least three murders by security forces, one of a worker on his way home its control of the electricity supply to disrupt the country and
discontent with the
On 21 May, the Esso Standard Oil Company which sup-. plies fuel for the power station,
an ultimatum that debts owed by Grenlec must be paid before the island's oil would be unloaded.
Grenlec set up this situation by failing to collect outstanding
due said, 'breakdowns' in the office.
The government responded by taking control of Grenlec
another the PRG to head off the destabilisation plans of big business they suspended publication of the newspaper The Grenadan Voice which was initiated by local landowners, lawyers and
The previous year when a
paper called "Torchwas banned, Prime Maurice Bishop outlined the government's position in a radio broadcast.
He said. ' The PRG wants to ma to minority create of pose ed to minority control vIes. we cooposcu wo a ores. which fabricates and distorts, w. odoscu lo a Dress wack refuses to publish the reality of what is happening in our coun
He went on, 'We're opposed to a press which refuses to publish the views of the over-
majority
remember the role the newspaper El Mercurio in the criminal overthrow of the Allende govern.
'We're not going to let the same thing happen in Grenada
better sink home because it's a fact!'
suspension will hold until the PRG has elaborated a policy on the press and private
Each new development has been met by mass mobilisations
Grenadian people support for the Socialist Challenge
and two of TULF activists.
14 June - the day of the DDC elections of TULF leaders including Mr A Amirthalingam the Parliamentary Opposition Leader
They were later released without being charged.
As for the elections, polling booths were often closed dur ing voting time and some ballot boxes never reached the counting stations
The TULF is now boycotting parliament demanding the withdrawal of Sinhalese police from Tamil areas, the removal of the army from Jaffna, and
international enquiry into
In Sri Lanka, anti-Tamil chauvinism has served the inTeress ol ine ruling class for years by dividing the : workers, out the events in Jaffna show that as imperialism tightens its grip the regime is setting out to
communily • because
represents group solidarity and resistance which is a potental threat to the pro-imperialist dictatorship.
Guadeloupe Dominica d
Martinique 15
St. Lucia 0 a St. Vincent o • Barba dos Grenada d Trinidad and Tobago ro
GRENADA is one of the
most the
Caribbean spice islands
It's all year round warmth
and sun and its tropical
vegetation makes
everyone's dream of
exotic tropical paradise.
And they've had a revolu-
The British Grenada
Friendship Society
encouraging activists
from this country to visit
They are
organising a special
chartel plane to par
ticipate in the third an-
niversary celebrations in
March next year.
They are also appeal-
ing for volunteers to
work in Grenada Any
skills can help advance
their revolution. Several
Socialist Challenge sup-
porters are hoping to
travel in November to
work for six weeks
either
revolution and their govern-
ment's acts.
The PRG has appealed for
international solidarity and
have taken steps to strengthen
their links with Cuba and the
revolutionary movements in
Africa and Central America.
Solidarity , is urgently need-
ed to detend Grenada and to
ensure that the next Labour
government is committed to a
policy of aid
The recently launched Britis!
Grenada Friendship Society airs Cre spre spread information abou:
It has slide shows
commentary booklet abou
education. and is organising pubit
meetings.
Individual membership costs :. a year (students, claimants
pensioners fl. Trade union nrar
ches and other organisations is-
affiliate for f3 to f10 accordire :
size
Fo Mr further information Marsland Gir:
Secretary Great:="
Walk, London V?!
9 Juiv 198° Page "3
Page 14 scan of this page
Abortion facilities
By Joan Tweives POSITIVE LEGISLATION on abortion was introduced into Parliament last week when Jo Richardson attempted to NHS Act so that abortion facilities would be provided freely on the NHS.
The vote was 139 for, 215 against, OUT was significant. In 1979, only 98 MPs voted against the Corrie Bill.
Now, TWO vens alel on 10-minute-rule bill which would usualy not get parliamentary time to proceed, a majority of the Parliamentary Labour Party to extend vno lacuues oRaoor tion.
Ot course. some MPs voted for the bill because it aimed to extend the NHS, and not because they have suddenly become pIoaucllull y frent bench disap- while Tory front ocalcu the ullliule Jo Richardson started speak-
Margaret KanOuen Thatcher came back in time to vote against it!), the majority of the Shadow Cabinet telt oblig. ed not only to stay and Hsicl Wilal was being said, but also to vote for it. Step
Putting forward the facilities bill was an important first step in the camDalZII 101 Dusilive Ickisiation on abortion. As Reg Race said at the press conference immediately following the vote This is the beginning of the fightback against those inside Parliament who seek to restrict abortion facilities.
wole the anti-abortionists may have won the vote, clear Irom their response that they could not cope with the debate taking place on our
Jill Knight's resLelIlIs • Jo Richardson vulse lu was that allowing women access to abortion facilities was tantamount to abortion on demana.
A 10-minute-rule bill in Parliament is a limited tac.
But it had the desired effect.
Local DaDels and down the country carried articles on it.
Some unions, cinoda bly NALGO, publicised throughout their membership. MPs were written to and lobbied. Motions were put through constituency sabour parties mandating their MP's to vote for it. Sees
Jo Richardson made it clear how she sees the camvaigil going forward. First, if the facilities bill Is presented members bill, there proule private
be a better opportunity of bulaing campaign around it.
Secondly she felt that
prop rias no rebilet aor
subject DIODilalc private members legisla-
but should be dealt Livll, wiln by government Icgislation in other words,
Labour LNCI UCXI soverichl
Abortion campaigners specifically' .Ghose TO. Socialist Challenge
bill-the first step
amend the 1977
highlight the need for abortion facilities now, despite Tory cutbacks. As the saying goes: ine best form of defence is attack.
Labour MPs are clearly open to pressure on this issue. We hope that at the next Private Members •alots l November they will not be contemplating Lurucl I COLEICLIOlIs abortion, but will be look-
how they can improve the situation.
We have to ensure tha all representatives of the cabour movement supporl a woman's right to choose
By Janice McGhie, NALGO shop steward A MAGNIFICENT day! Fifteen thousand paraded the length of Edinburgh's Princes'
June shouting:
Maggie Maggie, in protest at the Scottish Secretary of State's threat to cut £53m from Region's budget.
Speakers from Lothian Labour Party, the STUC, and officials of
9 July 198?. Page 14
on abortion. This means not just Labour MPs, but ColACHHOrS mem bers of
commulll) health counciis. school governors and so
A petition will soon be circulating witnill the labour movement. This will demand that woman's right to choose on abortion is included in the next Labour Party manifesto. It will also ask for an end to the conscience vote by MPs
U1. aDor on.
It will be handed in to Labour Party conference in Brighton at the end of September, where a lobby is being organised by the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign (LARC) and the National Abortion
WORI OFEL VALGO gbers
Lothian workers march against the cuts
Derween (wo halls to address workers whose strikers
Street on 30 Lothian Labour 'Maggie against the Tories. out out out'
Younger, Lothian Lothian
sperlullig pledges.
HomeNews
Campaign (NAC)
Local NAC groups will also be out on the streets with petitions aimed highlighting the need for Tac mes mie dcd The NAC conference Iasi organise a health service Lollu agreed
colici cule so that those working in hospitals and the culllillllt y could discuss what we are fighting for and how to take it up.
They will also be organising national forum on facilities. This will be open to unions, Labour Parties. communıty and women's groups. It would monitor the attacks on abortion facilities and draw up a clear and detailed plan for what facilities we need and the role of legislation in achieving it. the public sector unions shuttled
of the city's largest thousands of S OSOUCE the 'realistic largest in the city since the war showed their full support for the
Group's stand
In a document replying to the Scottish Secretary of State George
Labour Group the cltllrt justifies its £4g0m expenditure, saying it was elected to provide decent services and in fact needs to increase basis
fulfil its election
up the struggle AFTER a thirty week unionisation dispute, pickets at paper mill have called for trade union picket of the works on 14 July at 7am.
Bill Conway, a cutterman at the mill, told Socialist unionists in the north west and elsewhere have got to help us shut the mill down this time and bring the management to its knees. "This is the second attempt in three years to get the place unionised. Conditions inside are appalling. All health and satetv regulations are ignored no set meal times or tea breaks. Workers often worked couole breaks. down OUL necks minute late back from the toilet.
•Wages prior to unbelievable. I took working 12 days on and two off. You had to agree to the management, with no union we had no choice.'
There are seven Asian comrades on the picket line. Mohammed Fazal from Preston took home £57 for 12 days on:
By Richard Rozanski, Revolution Youth CND
meeting on 20 June.
stop
CUTS
nalga
However sections of the Labour Group are clearly willing to come to a compromise around some sort of
Jigure perhaps package involving natural wastage and voluntary redundancies.
Socialist Challenge supporters will be trying to build a campaign to ensure the Labour Group refuses to put through any cuts and defends
budget. The Labour Group should use the massive support which 30 June expressed as the
for national against the Tories' expenditure cuts.
Roach Bridge: pickets step By John Shuet
Roach Bridge win,
La mass another winter
oil supplies Challenge: "Trade
lacking and caoltaust bress We had Sun about
shifts willd no nothing trom Management used to breathe
for being one
the dispute
were
home f66 after
July'
Preston
Youth CND under attack
national council set its face against youth and the labour movement at its recent
The decisions of last April's Youth CND national conference in Birmingham were reported to the council. After a paltry five minutes' 'discussion the council refused ratify the youth conference's overwhelming vote to raise their age limit from 21 to 25 CND national organiser Sally Davidson explained that stake was 'whether CND national council should be dictated to by a bunch of people who happened to be meeting in Birmingham In other words CND national council will block any democratically decidco cons taken by sec tions of CND if it feels threaten the CND leadership's 'people's movement' approach.
Revolution Youth supporters, a leading force in Youth CND, have consis tently opposed this approach, a zule instead for mass action involving youth and the aDoul movement in the fight for Thaeraso Revolution Youth has called on Youth Lu groups to detv the bullying of CND national council and HVO VO youth over 21 in the cam'Jobs not Bombs'
T-shirts.
VV88Ki
'We are determined to stick it out till we
but we don't want to go through We need support to get supplies cut off. Already this week four loads of pulp have gone in together with
"This is another Grunwicks, but we are only just hitting the headlines. appeal to the Asian community to come down on the picket line and support us.'
Mick warshaw teeis thai Otaalisa tional support from SOGAT has been
expressed disgust at the
'I wrote to the Daily Mirror and The
our sackings. I ve nearo The Sun, and the Daily Mirror editor rang me up and told me there was no story in it! Before this dispute I thought the Mirror was supposed to support the working class.
"The only thing left now is to mobilise the power of the trade union and labour movement. We urge all trade unionists in the north to come and support us on 14
For further details contact: Paul Fox,
Trades Council, Whitb) Avenue, Preston. Tel 0772-731089
paigns till the decision is overturned Later sancal jonal council meeting re lected Youth CND's re quest for a speaker at next October's demonstratior on the grounds that there wasn't 'big name'. They went on to argue over whether or not have a trade union speaker! council voted against having Tony Benn as a speaker at the rally on the grounds that it woulc tie CND too closely SLADOU wing. stead Michael Foot was proposed the man who appointed multilateralist, Brynmor John, as his shadow spokesperson on detence Dangerous The decisons of this national council are very dangerous for the disarmament movement.
CND's misleaders have turned their guns agains the only force in capable of defeating the Tories' war plans: youth and the labour movement Over the summer Socialist Challenge and Revolution Youth should all . the more inside CND for an orientation to youth and the labour movement to stoD Crulse and Trident missiles and 101 unilateral disarmalilcill
- the T-shirt to be seen in Ideal for all LNv ane nembovment marcaes n tasuv reo aneoack on yellow. Medium and large sizes, £2.99 each. Orders to
Box 50, London N1. Cheques to 'The
Northern Carnival
Against the Missiles
Alexandra Park, Manchester Sat 8 Aug, 1-10pm Bands include: Hawkwind, Damned, John Cooper Clark and Harlem Spirit
Page 15 scan of this page
GREGORY
teenage disaster
area. In the first
eleven, he displays
the sort of ball con-
trol you'd about ex-
pect from a teenage
giraffe.
And persuading
the elusive ball into
the back of the net is
not his only problem.
'Scoring' off the pitch is
harder than looks,
too. But at the end of
the day, mough
Gregory has failed to
keep his place the
team or to get the girl,
he remains undaunted
by the trials and tribula-
tions of adolescence.
Gentle
Gregory's Girl, writ-
en ane directed by Bill
Forsyth, is gentle,
humorous look at grow-
ing up. It says a great By Paula, for the Shocking Pink Collective Shocking Pink is described by the collective that produces it
aged from 12-21 alternative magazine young women. Why?
First, the people who produce the established magazines young women are older women, siling in plusn ornices, cur off from the young women they are trying to reach by their sociely, which also affords them ac cess to skills, equipment, and money that young women are denied.
Editors of these magazınes they are giving us what we want, when there are no readily nauves lorus to caoose urom
They regard the young women in their stories as 'sinners' keep the rest of us in line, following
already well-rodden female respectability children, and perhaps a job to provide us with pin money.
Negative
Secondly, the sort of material that they produce are stories where the 'victim' doesn't report the attack to the police, with no analysis
why this might be; racism, when the majority 'models' are white and the magazine pushes a totally white culture.
Occasionally, a bright spot shows through the dark clouds, like a spread in Boy about now to ourselves when attacked by a man. In the same issue. however, woman writes in saving she tinks she is a lesbian and the ashti receives is negative, uninforma:te, and condescending.
We and others felt the need for an alternative magazine because the existing ones do not give • pression of our lives: These are some
-Bill Forsyth's boy
By Yvonne Taylor
Niar i things about youth and adulthood that are true, although it creates society anew in order to do it.
In Gregory's world, the problems and cares created by school and home aosume new proportion. Adults are all-powerful here.
It's the youth who are in control. Adults occasionally pop up generally with as little reason the lost penguin wandering the school corridors, and usual/v proving to be eccentric.
Agonise
It's not simply the youth are given greater authority; even the roles which men and women normally play gol reversea.
The superstar of the football first eleven is a woman, while the school's supercook is a
We want to
decide for
ourselves!
of the comments made to us:
consider many of, for face life with a realistic attitude.
designed for made the
men and
which is forced down my throat
position in last,
say Alternative available alter-
to be used to
ucoCIucl as voule wolicu
path somebody
marriage
up).
intelligence.
interested
of rape, man:
articles
the tion.
presented. For defend
La youne comfort purposes, too
snor us wao are agest.
"relisiie in- and older women.
bloke. The brand new science laboratory has wurch Student presiding OVen the new technology, and it's two male students who agonise over their lack of women-appeal.
Compared to the stark, brutality of Ken Loden Garnett's depiction school life Kes, Gregory's Girl is practically dreamlike. Forsyth's youth are often worldiy wise but their wisdom is matter of fact, not bitter.
Gregory's Girl is about the way our own youth should have been but wasn't. Like Kes, it's a small budget film and is only showing at a tew cinemas in London.
But from the approval it has received PCLeVeO the hands of the press, looks like it may find a greater showing in the The film tainly deserves it. CarAlthough I am guilty of buying a well-established magazine for girls, 1
their attitudes absoule rooisn ana iney never seem lo
•.. Thank god someone has at last move to get out a real magazine for people of my age (16).'
T'm sick to death of all the crap ...At someone has realised that we don't want the mythical female 'role' of mother, wife, or lover pushed upon us — we want to decide for ourselves.
None of the established magazines encourages us to teel complete or in-
Thev encourage us to feel that we have to lean
(usually boy) something (usually clothes and make-
They don't give us any credit for Like the rest of the media, they presume that we are only
clothes, cooking, the home and family, and getting our
I am sick to death of being told just what make-up to plaster myself in and instructed on exactly how to wear my clothes to attract the most atten-
We are interested in some of these things, but not in the way they are
example, we don't necessarily wear "fashionable' clothes to catch a boy's eye, but we like dressing for ourselves and for practical and
T'here are many issues which par ticularly concern younger women. It
We are forced into certain situations because of our ings,
We have fewer rights than men
Our social and everytlay lives are »•• the subject-by editing the artieles:
Under Review
'The existing magazines do not give a realistic impression of
controlled by laws and attitudes
which presume that we have to
"protected', but in fact stop us from
choosing what we want to do.
The very real alternative that
Shocking Pink offers is the chance for
the readers of the magazine to control
the contents, because it allows young
women to express their opinions,
and experiences OI loc lume
that really affect us, without an editor
expressing his/her own opinion about
The Romans trial
Enter the moral
centurions
By Geoffrey Sheridan
Lord Chamberlain
and went to work with a blue pencil.
Dialogue about sex, or still worse any
chatuch thereof, stood little chance of gaining the Lord Chamberlain's avoroval Pol suc ear d bke the e Royal and subjects like Family were taboo
What the Lord Chamberlain said had. to go, went some case. whole plays. His censorship provided the backdrop for the sterile drawing-room charades which were passed off as British drama until a couple of decades ago
Whitehouse, apostle of Victorian-age morality, wants WIlC the clock back. Her immediate Lal zet Ine Romans in Britain, which was performed at the Na.
GRIS
It has also given women a chance to work collectively producing a and practising skills that we have had little or no perience of before and to prove to the grown-ups' that we are capable of doing these things on our own. feel- • Shocking
desperate need of financial aid. Please take out a founding trust to enable us to continue production onty " £10 for
NOT so long ago a gentleman known as the
sat through every play before it was publicly performed in Britain
tional Theatre in London. The theme of the play was politica it combarca luc Konar lavaso of Britain with the role of the British tOlos Ireland. Whitehouse has gone for a scene which snow ine nomosexual raDe of a Roman soldier. Druid procol by
the words of the theatre's director, Peter Hall, it is 'a precise and inevitable melapnol aDOU the brutality of colonialism'.
Obscene
Theatre censorship was abolished by the Theatres Act 13 years ago. But Whitehouse sute stepped this legislation, ir lives.
some (voune For magazine, learning send
Shockin opportunity to gain
welcome!
Press
Pink
paign, from: CPF the' •next three
which prohibits a prosecu tion being brought contue au oosccuc o indecent act on stage.
Her private DOSCCU tion under the Sexual Of fences Act charges the blav s director with 'procuring an act t of gross mucccnly Having won the backing of Iag-sllales une case now goes to the Old Bailey.
Homosexual rape might well be more disturbing to the judiciary than heterosexual rape, which real life offen meets dith waer ll IS .committed nothing more than judge's mild disapproval.
Mary Whitehouse's waron counterpart in history Germany under the Nazi was subjected to the same 'purity', with the CALCI mination of gays and the elevation of • WUlCil le the heroic breeders of the Herrenvolk.
Thatcher's Britain would hardly be complete without a legal march back to the "sanctity' of the family. Socialists should join with Equity, the ac tors' in wholly op posing this prosecution fabulous issues of Shocking Pink!
individual copies please 34p (includes p&+p) to Pink, Essex Road London W3. Any donations als
oruce. reprinted from Free bi-monthly maguzine of the Cam paign for Press Freedom
One test iesu micruuts u quare suodemen oresenuing . muccu broeremme ro chanoe rr
Details of the magazine and the cam
274-288 London Roac •••Hadleigh, Essex. Tel. 0702 553131 Sóčialiśt 'Challenge 9 Júly 1981' ' Page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Miners' leaders scuttle democracy
CLIMAX
McDonnell's life hung by a thread.
Ireland.
He, and the now dead hunger strikers, MP, Frankie Hughes, kaymond Creesh and Patsy O Hara had waited three long tortuous months for the Tory government of Margaret hatcher to make move to Irish political prisonels would not die.
Reaction
Now, long Thatcher has entered into negotiations with strikers. At point Socialist Challenge has no way ot knowing how sincere the cover lucil In negotiations, what been offered prisoners, or what reaction of the prisoners will De.
But a number of things are obvious. The British government has been forced to at least appear to be
because of the world-wide disgust at Thatcher's transigence over the Block issue, and by mass support for prisoners in both parts of divided Ireland. Waited Also, by negotiating FOR months the right wing of the Labour Party, their friends in former buddies in the Social Democratic Party have moaned and groaned about the decisive role the trade union bloc vote plays at Labour Party conferences.
'Undemocratic', they all shout. Decisions made
filled
SMOKe they cry. *Union leaders have too much power', they insist
Well, this Monday, these super democrats were given the opportunity to display their wrath.
*At the conference of the of:
Miners a proposal was put
Socialist
Challenge
H BLOCK
STRUGGLE
REACHES
AS Socialist Challenge went to press Joe
By Tuesday, Joe had been on hunger strike 59 days in the prison camp of Long Kesh in the north of
with the prisoners through Bobby the Irish Commission for Peace and Justice, Mc- government have acknowledged that the H Block inare indeed llales 'special category. has any British governsome ment ever negotiated with 'mere criminals' in ton, Strangeways or Dartmoor prisons?
Thirdly, that British have waited so long last, GUCC underlines the callousness the of Thatcher and this Incy demanded their pounds of dead flesh snaoe British Sands and the before they would agree to LINC has talk. the the Heroic
Whatever those talks produce it is up prisoners themselves decide their attitude. It is uncy wie nave borne the brunt of the suffering, the pain and the death of these last four months.
H have earned the right to the say what is a satisfactory the outcome to their heroic struggle.
The best, most longlasting and just settlement would be Britain to Fleet Street and their
forward that the delegates should have the right to decide who the party should vote for in the contest for the deputyleadership of the Labour Party.
That proposal was defeated. Instead it will be left to the union's mational executive to decide who to support ine • of Labour's conference.
the
of the prisoners their When clothes, associate freely
work, have full remission Brix- sentences.
Dignity
the If Thatcher had made
those concessions the dreadful perience the prisoners and her
their relatives fust laye gone through in the recent — of hopes being HOLLEN BOODY raised, dashed and raised others needed not have
happened. And the deaths which Thatcher's brutal obstinacy has caused would not have occurred. Whatever happens by the time these words are read, whatever the out-
to come of the negotiations,
whether. Joe McDonnell lives or dies, there are two conclusions stand the test of time.
They
Through Then ordeal the prisoners have usplaycu dignity. And whether the British to finally settle or not there will be no honour, or glory allalicu LICI actions they have taken.
Were there any screaming neadines complaining
this manoeuvre not to allow lc Hallullal ference of the NUM vote on the issue, a body Walk! tative than the national executive?
Press
No, there was not a single such headline, there was no press Statement from Denis Healey complaining about 'left wing wreckers' even Roy Jenkins failed to use the ., occasion to attaçk the con-
the
and
weeks will
long
This graphic is taken from The H Blocks -An indictment of British prison policy in the North of Ireland, an excellent new pamphlet from Information on Ireland, 1 North End Rd, London W1. Price 40p plus 25p for p&p.
cept of the union bloc vote.
The reason if simple.
Had the conference of the
miners been allowed to
vote, they would have en-
dorsed Tony Benn. Just as
had the conference of the
Transport and General
Workers Union been.
allowed to take a similar
vole couple • weeks Arsed tony blah. ago, would have en-
And Tony Benn being
deputy leader Tne
Labour Party is, for the
Labour right, too high a
price to pay for democracy
TRADE UNIONS AND SOCIALISM
18 July, Central Hall Westminster
Information from LCC (TU conference), 9 Poland St, London WI
either in the party or in the unions.
Fight
Whatever the effect of the decision at the miners'
COnCrete on Benn's bid to become deputy leauel, one lessons clear: the fight for democracy in the Labour Party and the trade unions is one and the same struggle.
And it is the left in the party and unions who are the chief exponents, • as well as ine main benetr •ciaries, of that struggle,
a conference for trade unionists
Tony Benn, Bernard Dix, Audrey Wise
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