Socialist Challenge No. 210, 27 August 1981
The scan: sc-no210.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.
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US-Hands Off Libya Hands Off Grenada
No. 210 27 August 1981 25p
135
Socialist
Challenge
OVER the past week the true face of American displayed with rogance. coast the huge American sixth fleet Almost within sight of the Libyan imperialism all provoked an air battle byans, declared plan to 'destabilise and over- throw the Libyan regime. ministration's huge arms build up The meaning of the Reagan ad- as part
made events. establish its pre-Vietnam role as world From now on the US is going to re- abundantly
has been tionary allies.
its mighty arwith the Li- engaged in
of the US's openly
Rico.
clear by these of
against
AUEW cop, using its military muscle to cow and intimidate anyone who dares op- pose the United States and its reac in its deadly work off the Libya, the US navy and marines were including practice landings off Puerto While the sixth fleet was engaged Caribbean manoeuvres, evidence to suggest that this exercise was a practice for a possible invasion There is a mass of circumstantial year old revolution is under constant island in the Caribbean whose two- revolutionary Grenada,
Laurence Scott LAST Sunday hundreds of trade unionists in Manchester rallied in support of the Laurence Scott workers, who are continuing their fight
redundancy, despite eviction from the factory by bailiffs last week.
Support has continued to pour in for the Laurence Scott AUEW workers and other trade unionists all over the country. But none of this is due to the
executive who everything possible to sabotage the Laurence Scott jobs fight.
For the full story see page four..
from the United States.
described Grenada,
tion and 'a politico-military problem'.
coast of
defend determination
Grenadian peoples.
their tracks! the tiny to and three.
their forcible
workers from rank and file
have been doing
economic, political and military threat
The admiral in charge of the opera.
and
Nicaragua as 'practically one country' Cuba
The urgent task of the hour is to
mobilise international public opinion
selfright of and the Libyan of the
The international bully boys of the
Reagan regime must be stopped in
Imperial America on the rampage see pațes
Page 2 scan of this page
HAWKEYE
American F-14 NIMITZI
Peter Sullivan
MEDITERRANEAN SEA ed by the Libyans June, the State henceforth it would step up
has made Gaddafi 'enemy number one'.
According to the US, Gaddafi is the 'patron saint' of "terrorism', responsible for sending agents all over the world to assassinate his political ponents. The truth is that dafi antagonises the US bv backing struggles and move ments against many of the US's reactionary allies. Cerned atonut the support concerned about support given by Gaddati to the Chad government President Goukouni Oueddei, waCH composed of the Frolinat (National Liberation Front), who fought against French domination OI Chad since the mid 1960s.
Last year Gaddafi sent troons to detend the government against French and Egyphan backca Icoes. Thanks to the intervention of the Libyans LIne WCIC roundly defeated. Last April, Libya $100m loan, after the Reagan
Socialist Challenge 27 August 1981
Libyan SU-22
'Destabilisation'
The shooting down of two Libyan Sukhoi-22 jets by carrier-based American F.14s is the most open and dramatic indicator so far of the new aggression in American foreign policy. PHIL HEARSE reports.
Only the most naive could believe that the 'incident' in the Gulf of Sirte was an unprovoked attack-
on innocent American warships merrily chugging along on the high seas. The US exercise off the Libyan coast is a carefully calculated step in the American plan to overthrow the Gaddafi Libyan regime. As long ago as last May the New York Daily News revealed a secret White House memo outlining a plan to 'de-stabilise' the Libyan government. On 2
Department announced military aid countries in northern Africa which wanted to resist Libyan 'terrorism' - in other words, it would beef up the armies of the reactionary states bordering Libya
Egypt, Tunisia, and Sudan. The State Department
regime had cut off all aid to Nicaragua in an attempt to starve the revolution there.
Volunteers Nor does the US like Gaddaffi's role in the Middle East.
Libya strongly supports Liberation tion. It has asked the world to send volunteers to the of the Palestinians sid the Palestinians Lebanese leftists. have also been leading critics of David between Israel and Egypt which proposes a 'settlement' of the Arab-Israeli conflict at the expense of the Palestinians.
It not therefore, US chosen Libya as the first nation
manouvring fleet view of the coast reminiscent of the prelude to the US invasion of the Lebanon
Page 2
_ BENGHAZI MISRATAH
TRIPOLI Co O in 1958. Only two days before the shooting down of the Libyan jets, the Tripoli warned that there was a danger of an invasion from the United States.
The American sixth fleet is not Just a lew destroyers alcu Unich, challenging but a huge revolutionary task force composed of dozens of ships, including carners with Inousanas of marines and hundreds of airCall. America's that against Libya demonstration of what the US to those
war drive is all about imperial might to world free for reaction. the Organisa-
Arab
The Libyans surprising,
within Is all too
the kind
aims of imperialism.
us imperialism those who
precise political character.
Libyan
GULF OF SIRTE
FOR
'war drive' by the
OSIRTE'
But the
the United States
economically Above all, the
prestige
economic enjoyed, world's
its allies in reaction.
world conflict America, Reagan
Salvador. government in this year,
military "advisors'
that country. the Soviet wing Duarte junta in power.
bullet Afraid
aggression
graphic
- using keep the
THE American administration the is gunning for Gaddafi because
of Arab nationalist politics he puts forward brings him into sharp conflict with the
There is nothing new in this: tionalist
opposes all challenge its 11 -of their SUCCLIVe
Because Libya is in conflict Nasser. with imperialism, it does not follow that there is anything socialist or revolutionary about
government. In defending Libya's right to sell-
and opposing any Us attempt to de-stabilise imperialism.
the last 18 months Socialist Challenge has argued that the new arms race was the product of a
United States -growth of the colonial revolution, and in defence of the US's imperial interests. This explanation is widely contested by those who consider that the US and the USSR are equally responsible for the new 'cold war'.
events off the coast of Libya speak louder than millions of words of analysis: imperial America is on the rampage again.
During the 1960s and 1970s ly cut off. Former
Rates suffered a and politically become defeat in Vietnam demaged its international
are the us no longer Bas
dominance is still the State, stongest military power. Now it is engaged in a right-wing process of wielding and deploy- Southern Africa ing that power in order to reinforce its position, and that of
Over the past year anc half direct US involvement it
nas increased In Central has moved quickly to prevent the victor of the left-wing insurgents in El
revolutionary offensive in January of
American and hundreds of tons of arms and other military equipment poured into
This aid has been keeping the right
The Reagan regime has also * reversed the uncertain and half-hearted approach of Carter to the Nicaraguan revolution. All aid and loans have been brutal-
Libya-a Bonapartist military
existing government,
socialists should not in any way
attempt to preluly widt tal
government represents.
In fact, Gaddafi is the latest
of a long line of radical na-
military figures in the
Middle East. He explicitly takes
much of his inspiration from
historicalv the most important
Egypt's Colonel Despite the radicalism and
anti-imperialist fla-
vour of Gaddafi's ideology and
foreign policy, Libya remains a
capitalist nation, which has not
broken free from the bonds of
IMPERIAL AMER
aimed at the members of the Nicaraguan national guard are being trained in Florida to
the spearhead of counter-revolutionary force, aimed at overthrowing the Sandinista government.
Reagan and his Secretary of
Alexander Haig, have charted a much more stridently
course over Aid has been resumed to the pro-imperialist UNITA movement in Angola,
The military government came to power through a coup in 1969. Since that time it has taken a number or very radica. measures internally, the most important the
foreigition holdmajority is
holdings measure was followed by policy systematic na tiona lisation not OlEN of the major means of production, but of everything right down to retail shops.
In carrying through these measures Gaddafi registered many important gains for the Libyan masses. 1 ne standard of living of the Libyans has which aims to overthrow the MPLA government, and the State Department has coddled 'up to the South African regime.
Elsewhere, while the Sixth Fleet is currently menacing Libya, other detachments the US navy are carrying out manoeuvres in the region Grenada, raising fears of an invasion.
The backdrop this general increast of direct American intervention is the
rearmament programme proposed by • Defence
Caspar Weinberge Over the next ten years the U
Page 3 scan of this page
ICA ON THE RAMPAGE
dictatorship
dramatically. Virtually
everyone has a decent house to tive in. Irrigation projects have eased the lot of the peasantry,
as have state loans to peasant farmers for development proCULD.
This progress for the Libyan masses has been based on two factors Libya's wealth, and the fact that the Libyan population is very small, only 3 million. Oil revenue has been distributed to improve the well being of the ordinary people. (It should be added that the
ot of Libya's immigrant workers is not nearly so good.) What intends to spend at least an extra $200bn on modernising its nuclear strike force be in addition to the possibly $100bn which will be spent on the huge MX missile project.
on ease reales to ressure is being put on the along with the policy or rearmament and aggression. mon recent examsee -tempt being made by Caspar Weinberger to get the British government to deploy neutron bomb with the British army of the Rhine. Ons: NATO is an allance itself, is full of lessons.
prevents us characterising this regime as socialist?
In the first place,
firmly held Dower military-officer caste.
Iv all state structures have been dissolved, and power lies in the hands of 'people's tees'. But that is a fiction. ICal DOWCI lies oil bureaucratic Cere or which is cardari and structure
the military. The workers have 110 real political power. political parties are 'dissolved'.
Second. economy is nationalised is not in itself definitive proof that a socialist system exists. For exwhose fundamental aims and trajectory are decided by the United States. The decisions on Cruise missiles, Trident and the neutron bomb have been make primarlily by the US, even if the
They have afterwards. made because The alliance whose whole strategy Is based on the use of nuclear weapoe American re-armament programme should salutory lesson for the debate on nuclear weapons in Labour Party. Last Labour Party decided against weapons but for NATO. Yet NATO just gives expression to the American militarisation
The events off the coast of Libya show just who dangerous the new turn of foreign policy is. It should give added stimulus to the CNI demonstrations Labour Party conference on 28 September and in London on 4 October.
political the tionalised but Official-
commitThe in a complex capitalism'.
Gaddifi's
perialism economically.
All the fact that the to other imperialist powers.
with
have been NATO is an
/TUNISIA Claimed by Libya the year's
conference ALGERIA
nuclear
American
outside the
the coast of Cyprus!
ample, in Nasser's Egypt, in the first phase of his rule. the majority of the economy was na-
revenues the from state business went into the pockets of the bureaucracy, Nasser's Egypt was in the real Captaisl class. the
term 'state
Libya, paradoxically, remains tied to im- regimes
Forty per cent of Libya's oil exports go to the United States, the rest
Libya still retains the status of a producer of raw materials.
The limited industrialisation re
Naples ITALY
•MALTA
MEDITERRANEAN SE
Tripoli
Sirte
LIBYA
0 Miles 200
Below map provided by the Libyan government shows in
dark shading the real extent of Libya's claim
imit plus the 'historical waters' of the Gulf of Sirte
together with Western assertions in light shading of what the
Libyan claim is. Above, the 'Economist' goes one stage fur-
ther, claiming that the Libyans even demand sovereignty over
Benghazi
Y A
mains dependent industrialisation, with foreign made parts being assembled in Libya, on
basis of foreign-supplied
Libya therefore depends on
vagaries the world market, and the present world glut of oil will hit the economy
It is a characteristic of such
that their policies can Tuctuate Gaddafi appears radical today. If he is not overunrown, It is not al all ex cluded that he could modify his international nolicies and seek
new relationship with impenansm tomorrow.
TURKEY
Benghazi
EGYPT
American-Libyan
dogfight
- a lz mile G Y P T
Libyan leader Gaddafi THE Peoples Revolutionary Government in Grenada is becoming increasingly disturbed by the mounting evidence that the United States is preparing an invasion of that country.
The US navy is currently carrying out an exer-
Rico chich looks teto
which looks like trial run for an invasion of Grenada.
This exercise involves a simulated coastal invasion, and the country subject invasion is code named Amber', together with subsidiary islands called the 'Amberdines'.
The islands near Grenada are called the Grenadines. There is also an area in Grenada called Amber, which is next to the international airnort on the southern tip of the coast - Just the sort oi area where an invasion would start from.
No U.S. Intervention in
Central America
National Demonstration
Sunday 20 September 81
Assemble 1:00 pm
Clerkenwell Green ECI
March 1o Trafalgar Square
•GRENADA —
UNDER THREAT
in chargear Admira tion Admiral Robert P. McKenzie who has referred to Nicaragua, and Grenada *practically one country' and 'politico-military problem'.
The simulated invasion is taking place on to mountainous country, very similar to That on the southern coast of
This exercise is only the examine American hostility to Grenada. Other examnles have included persistent overflights Grenadiar air space bỳ American
to invade Grenada drawn up within a week of the revolution, and repeated attempts by the US to get international aid for the rebuilding of the airport, and money for develop. ment, cut off. In the light of the events in the Gulf of Sirte, Grenadian fears of invasion look only too realistic.
Solidarity with
the people of
CHILE and
LATIN
AMERICA
No Tory Arms for Chile
Daliv Socialist Challenge 27 August 1981 Page 3
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By Patrick Sikorski 'WE call on every trade unionist here today and every other in the especially those facing redundancy, to support the picket line at Laurence Scott. We are fighting a battle for every worker in Manchester and indeed nationally. Our fight is your fight. It's us today - it could be you tomorrow.'
That was the message from Laurence Scott convenor Dennis Barry at the rallv attenaea Dy over 500 trade unionists last Sunday 'Executive should sup-
port Laurence Scott'
MANY AUEW statements of support for Laurence Scott over the past few weeks. The following from Geoff Stockham, Acting Rover works in Cardiff is typical:
by the Manchester District Committee calling on the National AUEW Executive to continue official backing for Laurence Scott. I raised this as an emergency motion at our district committee under the item minuting the July shop stewards quarterly. speaker from Laurence Scott occupation. support to the resolution. The actions of the AÚÉW executive are doing us no good at all. It's a typical action of the EC.
were left high and dry, and the Derek Robinson issue was the same.
The policy of AUEW executive is doing nothing to save jobs or safeguard living standards. That's why the Laurence Scott workers need defending. Geoff Stockham, works Cardiff.
Socialist Challenge
Laurence Scott
- support the
picket line
Manchester area, in support of the Laurence Scott picket line and protest at the brutal eviccarried out five days earlier by 45 drink-sodden™
members have made
Convenor of the
" received the model resolution sent out
where we heard a
'The District Committee gave unanimous
We've had Rosedale's locally where they
appeasement from the
Acting Convenor, Rover
27 August 1981 Page 4
of pay
BK bailiffs.
Dennis Barry has challenged the AUEW executive to come clean on its attitude to the eviction.
to the open whole of Fleet Street and the labour movement press
coneculicu silence of the executive on this attack on their union members.
Their lack of condemnation or me encion. le says, can only be interpreted as being consent or at least indifference..
In a very real sense, the action of the AUEW executive in witnarawing 01-
icial support and opened the way for the bailiffs to do their dirty work.
But far from being the end of the story the evic-
has hardened the resolve of the Scott's
Breaking in to workers. repossess the factory was one thing, but it will not be nearly So easy TOr the management remove
of motors and masses of machinery and Strip
In normal circumstances it would take Snipe 18 months to strip the factory. 'he workers at Scotts are determined to
prevent a single nut or bolt
being removed.
Bolstering their resolve is the knowledoe that, est
NOTE region TGWU is concerned. the crike is still of. ficial. The Manchester
Home News
By Hazel Macpherson (NUR) WHEN the NUR's Sidney ASLE's Ray Buckton announced the details
the rail settlement presented it in such a way as to make it appear a victory. British Rail had agreed to pay
three cent January, backdated to August, in return for 'discussions' about productivity. reality of the deal became But Sunday the clear: the increase from an eight to an eleven per cent
aware s conditional LICES
union agreement on productivity.
Many of the changes in working practices which
wants involve elmer ticket in working conterions on
working conditions and some of the most important chances have already been agreed in principle by the NUR.
Far from being a vic- fect tory, the union leaderships
shown they are prepared to sell jobs and
WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR
• The factory should
reopen
• No enforced
redundancies
• Compensation for
the workforce in the
form of an ex-gratia
payment for loss of
wages during a
dispute unnecessari-
ly prolonged through
management's
refusal to negotiate
WHAT SNIPE IS OFFERING
• The factory should
reopen for a 3 month
trial period on a 2
day week
• No guarantee on
enforced redundan-
cies
• Any return to
work is conditional
on total repayment
of redundancy
money paid by
management during
dispute
TGWU offices have issued
instructions that
GWU drivers must cross
the picket line.
the meantime the
TGWU is still paying its
members in Scotts official
strike pay. If this situation
is contirmed ar a nanolla.
level during the next week
then carrying the fight to
Snipe by picketing his
Doncaster 'factory
becomes a real possibility
once again.
It was official backing
from the TGWU for the
Productivity strings
threat to rail workers
Weighell and
last Friday, they
increase from
working conditions for a tiny wage increase.
THOSE important changes in working prac-
are the introduction oi open stauons and an end to five-day working. case sador. will involve continental-style on-board
sale and collection on many routes. Jobs
This will have the ef-
Not eliminating TODS both among platform staff and booking office staff, members of the TSSA.
LSE Convenor Dennis Barry
last nicket at joncaster. which was decisive in starving Snipe's parent com-
from the British Oxygen Dally of essential gases Company, that forced him то лесотате The life blood of the dispute is national solidarity both politically and financially.
There is now a straight fight between the AUEW executive ano the Scotts stewards for support from the rank and lA r the engineering unions. moment, the stewards are way anead on points. The number of MPs
supporting the dispute has risen to over 60. Since the beginning of August over 70 AUEW branches have responded to the circular calling for protest resolutions to be forwarded to
Moreover, the train guards will nave burden increased, towards ticket collection and away from ensuring the safety of the train, their nominal first concern. The NUR have in any case already agreed to a seven-month experiment on open stations.
The abandonment five-day working will
the concentr working conditions They will railway workers. now he ernected To work four ten-hour shifts.
Sunday will now be
the concidered working week with no extra payment. Increased 'flexibility' in hours means that drivers and other workers will have to work spill snilts the same day.
other words, the the executive and for financial support. the last week, over £2000 has come into the strike fund, including a cheque for £600 from Clancy Tooling, Sheffield. response Duffy and Boyd have lashed out with a four-page letter to ever one of the 2.400 AUEW branches The country. The stewards have sent out a repiy.
Duffy's letter
opens with a crude and scandalous attack on the first
out by ale steads this
out by the stewards labelled 'misleading material purporting to inform our members of the situation'. The executive letter then claims that the mandate given to keep the factory open was fulfilled.
abandonment of five-day working will mean a considerable in the unsocial nature of the job.
The overall outcome of the deal is that hard-won tain induse have been
industry have been sold for a measly three per cent wage increase.
Rash
However, as these are implemented evitable that there will be a
LOCAL struggles against them. It is this that the Rail Broad Left will have to address itself to to co-ordinate and build support TOT Lae SULLIC against productivity. If the changes are allowed to go through unchallenged, will amount to a defeat for all rail workers.
These actions of the union leadership show also the importance of building the triple alliance between steel, coal and rail workers at a rank and file level, so that when any sections go into struggle against the sell-out policies of the bureaucracy the maximum support can be developed.
But it is clear that the
nationally negotiated agre-
ment only guarantees three months working on a two-day week during which, to the stewards circular, 'the final closure of the factory could be more easily effected'.
As to the claim in the executive's letter that the national guarantees no enforced redundancies, this is even more outlandish.
As the stewards say: 'At no has it been stated that the company will remain open longer than three months, and at no stage has the expected level of employment been stated.'
The protest resolutions must keep rolling in to the executive.
Page 5 scan of this page
Last week, the owners of the Lee Jeans factory in Greenock, the USA based Vanity Fair Corporation, announced their profits for the last six months. They were over 20 per cent up since last year from nine and a half million dollars to nearly eleven and a half million dollars!
Want' about the Lee Jeans occupation, a sorry tale is told of the crass exploitation of women workers in the 'rag trade' and the dirty tricks of companies like V.F. Corporation.
Despite "record' profits, Tune reenock workers were told that the jeans market had collapsed and that closure was the only option for the comDally. transformed thike Pis
Kenavolc Cor- nas AFTER SEVEN MONTHS of occupation of their factory against redundancy the women of Lee Jeans in Greenock have won their fight.
from the US-based VF Corporation.
the workers were determined to back their demands by uncompromising action, hoping to force the firm to retreat.
tion in the labour movement, waiting to see how serious this fight was going to be before committing full support. But soon support was flooding in.
Their example and their presence cominated the Scottish Trades Union Congress in April. Their speakers galvanised May Day rallies throughout Britain. They took pride of place at the highly successful Festival for Women's Rights Tory Attacks and on People's March for Jobs.
The small factory in Greenock became a Mecca or use want o see a serious fightback against the Tories. Labour leaders Foot and Benn visited the factory. Scottish TUC of-
and leading trade unionists throughout Britain 'popped in".
Sustain
But it ordinary trade unionists and other working class people who
Workplace collections, workplace levies and fundraising efforts brought in the massive sums of money required to sustain the occupaton.
For most working class
pe sac the helped it was
sacrifice will worth while. last, workers somewhere were showing that they would no longer accept the continied
Government. They
In a pamphlet produced last month by 'War on
poration into one of the world s icaulla cals ball" Tacturers. Service valuable service 10 the Lee Want
LEE JEANS
The factory has been sold to a split off
When the redundancies were announced
At first, there seemed to be a bit of hesita-
by Des Tierney
were showing the way to fight.
A month ago it looked as if all the efforts of the Greenock workers were about off Although they had been unable to persuade Tne VF Corporation to change
decision close, a London based Jeans retalier. Mr Nigel Wright, owner of Dickie Dirts, offered to buy the plant and employ its workforce in jeans production.
The deal seemed simple Tered to Dickie nd hara enough. Dickie Dirts million pounds for the plant and equipment Greenock and indicatec that they were prepared immediately produce 10,000 pairs of jeans per week. The total workforce would be re-employed.
However, the deal didn't go through.
While the Lee Jeans workers waited patiently, however, they reacted bitterly to the withdrawal of union, the National Union official Their
Tailor Garment
Workers (NTGWU)
The Executive Board of the union, including the
of the Com-
For A Few Dollars More'
to the labour he more or vorooration ana exposine unc way it oocrates.
Accorcing the nam phlet, Lee Jeans was created over the last ten years by V.F Corporation its more traditional, clothes
is part of an empire which includes forty-four fac-
spread throughout the LOTIC UDA anG BuroDe
become an enor mous profit maker in the last
Corporative, eight for the V.F specialising in 'get rich quick' scheme:
investing in areas where government grants are plen-
After 7months, its
VICTORY!
Lee Jeans women victorious munist Party, explained their disgraceful decision by accusing the Lee Jeans worrero ot changing the original demands of the ctrike Aven if this had been true and it wasn't
. it seemed a narticulariv flimsy excuse for their acTiOn
The leadership of the
Home News
tiful and wage rates are low
When it came to Greenocl
receivec enolov ment grants or up to Iz Io. each investment rants, which were as high
cent local authorities. paid for by a government sub sidised loan. Alabama
It's the same in the USA where Lee Jeans concentrates its attention on the Southern Dales, especially Alabama. Its most recent European ex NTGWU, traditionally very right wing leadership has allowed the loss over 100,000 jobs in the textile industry over the past ten years. Worried
It is extremely worried by the success of the oc-
pansion has focussed on Northern Ireland.
As well" as milking the
purse for its profits. н cornoramon akes to en sure that it has a low wage
pions from organ ping in thi
orallis Convenor
The Greenock workers know well the battle they've na•t acneve iser cosedshop, including strike action
re-instate Helen Monada Converte Shop
oi Lee Jeans throughout the USA The same resister e they don't meet
Suggested tha
were chosen to Make surt liai cupation at Greenock. It is worried that this success will inspire workers in the textile over Britain take similar
This would break up the 'cosy' relationship which they have developed with the textile companies, and expose their strategy
For a few
He The nitimate rip-oft
ror a tew collars more the ultimate rip-ofi
Published by War on Want 467 lian Rd, London
N7. Price £1
they were differentiated along religious lines. fighting redundancies through joint companyunion apeals the government to control imports.
Now victory has been achieved. The workers will maintain a token presence at the factorv until duction is resumed. The.new owners have secured
Socialist Challenge
final tactic guaranter peaceful vorkforce is to make their factories are relatively small. Any industrial actior which does not organise
therefore has title chance of
succos.
Disregard
And it might have worked for the V.F Coordon Greenock. But, like
disregard for their employee led them to underestimate the cetermination working people could display.
Lee
the deal with Dickie Dirts,
jeans chain
based in i London, to supply 10,000 pairs a week.
The Lee Jeans struggle has been a famous victory. The courage and determination of the women workers is a shining example for the whole labour movement. 27 August 1981 Page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
I'm not prepared to go down the Lothian road' Socialist Challenge talks to GLC leader KENLIVINGSTOI
London - Bright lights can't hide the big problems. Insert: Will central government cutbacks have Londoners walking the rai
its election in May of this year.
against the Tory government? on industry and employment.
Now we will start to develop concrete policies.
With the exception of the defeats we suffered around the reduction in the cost of school meals and the transfer estates. the rest or ine OTOgramme has gone through, although with a lot resistance
And it's not surprising that we lost on those issues.
With only a majority eight in the council, there is no prospect in the GLC for a direct surcharge risk. It's restraint that we're locked into.
Unless there is massive pressure and popular support,
councillors will iust not SOle put themselves in such a position.
So how do you see such support developing?
The GLC newspaper has gone off to press. We are planning a series of autumn meetings Lonaon, and national around the attacks local government
le need to organise tha support round a broa gramme of activity.
The GLC is convening conference in autumn of trade unions to discuss the coming controntation with the government and how we can defend oll tourname
How you see the out come of such a confrontation?
Socialist Challenge 27 August 1981
KEN Livingstone, Labour Greater London Council leader is never out of the news royal weddings, hunger strikers, gayrights - you name it and the press has gone to
There's no doubt that both the left and the right have been looking to the GLC since
Has it carried out its pledges in the manifesto? Is it giving a lead to the struggle
Can a local or county council have any real power? These are the questions that are
The experience of the Labour GLC is par-
Heseltine's latest proposals against local authorities are being put into shape in time for the local elections next May. Tessa van Gelderen spoke to Ken Livingstone to find out how he sees the present situation.
crushed into the ground, totally
ment, either by defeating them
pronosals is that thev
›o l1 everyining goes accor ling to the Torie willect next years bugger which will have results for Labour in the local elctions in May.
There has of pressure on the Parliamentary Labour Party — MPs must be forced to stand up and fight.
Then if the legislation does go through, Labour councils should not make any cuts whatsoever. of They have then to be prepared to take quences of such action.
Finally we have to demand that all unions suport such action — not just the public sector unions but also the industrial ones.
Such support has to involve industrial action. If the government gets through all posals and faces London the sort of cuts facing Lothian council, we'll be going into major struggle with hundreds non or long or cołe It's easy to criticise Lothian council. It's heen singled with no real support outside the in Immeaale arca, except verbal support.
It has a majority of one in council and a majority of one pro-. of the left in the Labour group.
Any refusal to make cuts will result in defections.
I'm not prepared to go down the Lothian road. before r'å make any cpos into we need to discuss a lot of these questions out, especially over the leche ni totec Increased.
We should open discussion inside the London Labour Party to sort out our
Page 6
, plans, this devastating
be major the conse-
position over rates in the light
its pro- Heseltine's
vith strategy for local authorities.
of When you first came into office in May this year, did you think it would be such either/or you'll defeat ment or they'll defeat you?
We've been really surprised at the way the media but tinued to attack me.
The Mail, Express, London New Standard, they
opposition propaganda sheets.
stop their obsession and nich our nolitics forward I'didn't expect that from the press. I thought I'd be a nineup day wonder.
I've always assumption that you could get
least proposed
of
an situation? Either the govern-
has conthe left.
are all ust
We have to As
with me
it like Benn Don't worked the
across So we have to ind saye of the message ot preventing the continuation
the thoughts of Ken Liv-
and really start pushing what we're doing. degree.
itself.
How significant do you see the campaign for Benn for cerned
capital, of capital.
The right wing see it as much government more crucial in the GLC than the of ken Livinght one is tinked The right time to to what happens to Benn.
for the policies of the Benn campaign: the alternative economic strategy is a stage the anna move carolyaku
me wrong, I'm it's not critical of Benn. He's an expression of the present move- support,
ment within the DarLY.
I'm opposed to import con-
have to use them to a limited
But it's a minor aspect
not an economic strategy in
We should be more
with the control of preventing the export
But if we did have a Labour
with Benn as Prime minister. would still find itself locked in the same restraints as we are in the GLC at the present time.
If the rail strike goes ahead,
possible London Transport will come out in
which may well
break Prior's law. What would your reaction to that be and what would London Transport do?
If the rail strike goes ahead, neither the London Transport will break that strike. We support their demands.
The reason why British Rail can't pay is because the government has cut the subsidy.
We've offered more money to British Rail to cut fares but we haven't been allowed because of government policy.
You've hit the headlines once again, this time over positive discrimination. Can you say something about
Page 7 scan of this page
ALC policy on this question?
iscrimination' letely misunderstood.
We call for positive action end discrimination.
The first area we've tackled mas been the London Fire Brigade where, out of porkforce of 7,000, only ten re black.
We've stopped advertising
the Home Counties papers nd instead we only advertise in ne ethnic press.
We're overseeing interviews
if the ascrimmadon pesn't end we've informed the
Brigade we'll take ver hiring ourselves.
The Hires Brigade Union as been very supportive.
By Toni Gorton
Described by the
the 'stop Benn' candidate it is
how Silkin's votes
distributed in the second round
that will be the decisive factor
between Healey and Benn.
battle is now on to stop the
reported move by Alex Kitson,
acting general secretary of the
TGWU, to persuade
union's delegates at
Party Conference to abstain in
the second ballot.
According to John Silkin and his supporters, he is a man
the left, 'the
candidate who can help to lead
us into the next election as
party committed to the policies
passed by conference, but com-
to
understanding and radeship within the party'.
So where does this paragon
of virtue stand on the key questions being debated within the
labour movement?
Issues
In a statement in the August issue Luc Post
Engineering Union's Silkin defined four police issues as 'holding the key to our country's future'. These were on industry, the EEC, policy and nuclear arms.
On the industrial front he calls for 'reversing Tory spending cuts; for 'steering British business to re-equip our home base' for manufactured imports'
He argues for from the Common Market in order to get more control over EEC Imports 'which British workers jobs'. not say whether he is in favour of a United Socialist Europe.
Nowhere does he call for a planned programme of public
Cente facilities and jobs that working people need. He does not call or controls on the capital. On the vexed question of incomes policy he complains that it has repeatedly dominated the relationship between the government and the trade unions, instead of constituting a minor part of what he hopes should be 'a broad, constructive dialogue' between them. Waffle
So it seems that he is annoyed at the importance placed on the issue, which is his excuse for dodging it.
In a truly inspired bit of waffle he admits that nuclear missile programme will keep both East and West on the very edge of a nucear flagration that would utterly destror Europe for tions!) Again he fails to say where he stands in regard to the Cruise and Trident systems or unilateral disarmament.
There is little point of contact between policies adopted
Labour conferences Silkin's programme. He makes no mention of democracy, accountability, of
LABOUR CONFERENCE 81
horse for the right
Although no one seriously expects John Silkin to be elected deputy leader of the Labour Party, some 70 MPs led by Stan Orme, Judith Hart, Don Concannon and Frank Field have pledged their support. committed are the Transport & General Workers Union's one and a quarter million votes as well as those of the seamen and agricultural workers unions.
press as orities, of womens rights or of are shifting the balance of wealth and power in favour of working people. He is A stand on the record of the last Labour governeal policies are those of Callaghan and Healey. that Labour divisions in the party as his supporters claim? His and comradeliness' are scarcely evident when he says that the supporters of only or discussing here or ble discussing the terms other than that of a pantomime in which their own idol tolerance, always plays Cinderella.'
Led by people like Don Concannon, the sadistic ghoul who
Office Journal,
incomes
controlling withdrawal
LOSI He does
services,
export of the
con-
genera-
missile
and
min- Silkin
John Silkin-stalking
Also the right wing.
haven't
'proud' to too
and his
ty of swinging Will he be able to mend the
"tolerance control.
The Benn alr get out role the leadership in and to stop
the role of
John Silkin is recommend-
to socialist policies. of the left'
went to Bobby Sands death bed to tell him that the Labour Party wouldn't support the hunger strikers' just demands.
Silkin is a stalking horse for
He draws left support from those who can't stomach bully-boy Healey with his record and policies but who
got the bottle to go down the road Benn has open ed. He gives left cover for those
embarassed endorse
Silkin's candidacy gives the union leaderships the possibili-
their members' votes behind Healey on the second ballot, a possibility which the membership cannot easily
task of Benn supporters in the next few weeks is
the truth about Silkin's record and programme
the trade unions Silkin from ferring their votes to Healey or abstaining. A victory for Benn would be an immeasurable important step towards a future Labour government committed
This
Conceili
and
movements.
Sine
Mclaren.
Thrille
abortion
include
to choose.
manifesto' dropped
manifesto.
Even for
Campaigning at the LP NEC in 78
Abortion and the
next Labour
government
By Joan Twelves, Lambeth Vauxhall CLP delegate to Labour Party conference 'WE, the undersigned, believe should have the right to decide when and if she should bear children. We therefore call upon the National Executive Committee and the Shadow Cabinet to ensure that the Labour Party acts upon its commitment to a woman's right to choose about abortion and that an undertaking to liberalise the abortion law and improve NHS abortion services is written into the next manifesto to become part of the programme of the next Labour Government.'
petition will be presented to the Labour Party
lobby Brighton on 29 September. The National Abortion Campaign
the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign drew up the
spon-
its 1977 conference, the Labour Party has had a clear and comprehensive policy in favour of a woman's right to choose whether or not to bear
But, in spite of winning the required two-thirds majority of
Come ence on two separate card votes, and in spite
support for rights inside the Parliamentary there is still no guarantee that Labour Party, tral. the next election manifesto will
legislation for a woman's right
The policy in favour of a woman's right to choose contained in the current 'rolling
could easily al the "Clause 5' meeting between the NEC and
Cabinet which determines the final form of the
if a future Labour government were to introduce legislation, the free vote for
NAG/LARC LOBBY OF LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE FOR ABORTION RIGHTS 29 SEPTEMBER 12 TO 2
LARC FRINGE MEETING 29 SEPTEMBER 5.15 ROYAL ALBION HOTEL Speakers will include Jo Richardson MP
Both NAC and LARC are desperately short of money.
Are you and your CLP/union branch affiliated?
LARC, PO Box 110, London SE2I 8ND £2 for individuals £s
• CLP/TU. NAC 374 Grays Inn Road,
(waged) £5 unwaged for individuals £15 for organisations
NOMANS RIGH
minnet that every woman Labour MPs - condoned by past conterences with the support of the trade union block vote — would permit MPs to vote against it. Thirty four Labour MPs joined the Tories to defeat Jo Ríchardson's abortion facilities bill in July.
Some Labour Party members argue that the problem of the Labour Party's contradictory policies in favour of abortion rights but against forcing MPs to toe the line on this question - will be resolved through the reselection of MPs.
However, there is no indication that anti-abortion MPs are being rejected, Kevin McNamara, for example, was recently reselected at Hull Cen-
Of the five resolutions on abortion on the conference agenda, some take up the principles involved, others the question of the free vote.
Conference will be asked, yet again, to affirm its commitment to abortion rights, so that pressure is kept up for its inclusion in the manifesto.
A large and vociferous lobby on 29 September will be important in showing the strength of feeling in support of the motions and to ensure that time is allocated for their discussion. Socialist Challenge 27 August 1981 Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
Grunwicks — a struggle of black women workers Black Workers Conference Saturday 12 September Digbeth Civic Hall Birmingham OUT of 1.9 million blacks, the majority are in manual jobs. 62 per cent of them are organised in the unions as compared to 48 per cent white workers.
Blacks have led prominent strikes at Grunwicks, Imperial Typewriters Steakhouse. Why then • are there very few black full time officers in unions? • is the number of blacks on leading elected bodies minimal? • were there very few trade union banners at the last demonstration against immigration laws and the Nationality Bill despite official backing by the TUC and the Labour Party? • is so little material carried in trade union journals about black history? • do union courses scarcely cover racism?
These are some of the problems which the Black Workers Conference will discuss.
On Saturday 7 February 1981 a meeting was held in the offices of the Commission for Racial Equality. It was attended by 80 black trade unionists. After discussion they decided, unanimously, to set up a steering committee with a view to organising a conference of black workers, as well as establishing black
As British capitalism is restructured, more and more blacks are thrown out of work. The problems these ferent to those of other workers.
More and more black women are forced to take up paid. It is difficult to organise them without a black dimension.
As the economic crisis grows so does the oppression of black workers. Harassment increases, as well as violent attacks on blacks.
It is in the light of these developments that a conference of black workers has been called on 12 September, at Digbeth Civic Hall. If you are interested, fill in the slip and post it to us as quickly as possible. of speakers will be sent later.
I shall be attending the workers, on September 12th at Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham.
Name...
Address...
Union (if any).
iccupation (If an) end to: Steering Committee for Black Worker Conference, 177, Antrobus Rd, Handsworth, Birmingham 21.
Socialist Challenge 27 August 1981 Page 8
Garners workers confront are dif
'home work' which is very poorly
An agenda and list
conference of black
THE youth rebellions earlier this year have
bodies to step up their discussions on the role of the police and how to control them.'
annual conference and as local Labour parties start to draft their manifestos for next May's
some of the ideas put forward.
That there is a serious Troopen was reconsenny
the London Labour Party during the GLC elections in May. It pledged to campaen Ior the democratic accountability of the Metropolitan Police under
committee consisting solely of elected members
and the London boroughs.
The Labour group ine ul seeks to give this committee the
over all officers rank of Chief Superintendent, work for the extension of trade union rights to police orticers and the disbandment of the Special Patrol Group, the Special Branch and the Illegal Immigration Intelligence Unit.
Object
The objective is to create an authority which
power to scrutinise the day to day
allocate resources various police functions to that Londoners will be given a say In how the
ed in earshichy raise
rates Metropolitan Police is to be spent.
Meanwhile the GLC Police Conimittee will investigate complaints against the police.
This committee will act as an advocate on major law and order issues which give rise questions about police attitudes and
The Labour Campaign for Criminal Justice, chaired by Alex Lyon MP: advocates Labour councils should set of elected members of tes police subcommittee council.
Monitor
would These monitor willilees police policy and practice in the borough: ask the views about the kind of policing people Well. local views onto the GLC Police Committee; encourage the
THERE have Socialist Challenges' ordered neutron bombs and shot down two Libyan planes and Michael unilateral disarmament shouldn't be in Labour's manifesto.
Socialist Challenge won't be giving up the fight against Reagan's madness. We're already gearing up for the big demo in October.
But this fight needs
cy drives wours us in
·1861.80 br drive brought
La very good response to our appeal
4 WU supporters, to
Home News
collaboration?
labour movement
As this issue may be debated at Labour's
GORTON
police to be.
ocal needs and wishes by
discuss what
Torm or statutory contro.
and accountability should
established for Lon-
don's police; and en-
courage victim's support
schemes.
Do these various proposals lead to control of the police or collaboration with them?
The police force is a institution wrince role is to detend property and more importantly property rights. The police are
not here to 'serve us' as the LCCJ claims.
Non to the sc i ch that
won to the side of working class, ethnic minorities and youth is a dangerous delusion.
Defence Campaign in its latest bulletin takes up the much touted solution of munity policing'
They describe how works in Handsworth Birmingham. It started in the mid-70s with the target of winning the old-style black community leaders and the smashing up of the youth and nationalist organisations.
The community police carried a campaign against the Rastafarian youth and gained control of the ganja trade to buy information, informers and to set people up.
Liberties
Community policing
the opinion the defence committee
'the subtlest techniques spying Vil manipulation of civilian populations.
necessary change the Dalance forces against the police To do this is to be alert to the erosion of civil liberties which taking place under the Tory government
The evidence is before
been three recent reminders of importance. Reagan has
root has decided that
Canada, sent us £200 and their best wishes. They'll
carrylng on line fight slightly nearer Reagan's home territory, through the Canadian section of the Fourth International.
Police-control or
us. The demonstrations have been used several times In the
past year especially in Lon-
don and new legislation is being drafted to give the police greater powers of arrest and use ot arms.
The police cannot be permitted to conduct their own investigations as they
are doing in the Liverpool
case of David More who
was run down and killed by a police vehicle.
Emphasis
Investigations of possible police malpractice should be conducted by independent bodies CUllstructed from representatives of local councils, trade unions and community organisations with the statutory requirement or the police to co-operate.
The emphasis in discussions on the police must be on inhibiting the use of power to
and violate the rights of individuals and munities.
The proposals being discussed in the London Labour Party are a useful sidil.
Contributions are invited from their view of the issues.
For further information conLOCA Hriyton Defence Campaign, tel 01-274 7696
Campaign Criminal Justice, windermere avenue London NW6, tel 01-278 4575
ondon Labour Briefing, 15
horold Rd, Ilford Esse
Gearing up for the fight
Oxford send us f106 and we have had several other lump Dullis. The biggest boost,
however, has come from our regular monthly pledges, ot of now come in through standing order.
This is the best way to give us a come. quickly mount up.
Exeter comrades have increased their regular
Police Commissioner McNee in Brixton earlier this year Southall demo AS SUPPORT builds up for the national demonstration in Southall on 20 September, there have been more contlicts between the local community and fascists.
Last Saturday a few dozen racist skinheads pickc a ligne with black youth in nearby Greenford.
One elderly white woman who lived in the road said: "There were about 60 skinheads. They were chanting 'come out'. One said "the blacks live some windows a The col
The coloured youths were throwing bottles at the skinheads and the skinheads were intowing inem back. happens regularly here, we get used to it.
16-year-old Asian woman said: "The black kids were throwing bottles
Notting Hill Carnival
THE NATIONAL FRONT are expected to
get their biggest turnou
or years at a march or ral i planned or the Notting
area over the weekend bank holiday. I nell alm Is to get this famous annual carnival stopped by getting il bullawcul under a state ban The ANI all processions.
aims to sure that the fascists don't get anywhere near the carpledge to £29 from among three them, and Southampton are now sending minimum of f46 every month.
Target
Repeated this level of support would take us over our target by €3000.
But with only five
ANTI RACIST NEWS
back. There were only about 5 black kids. They
off when they had nothing else to throw.
Meanwhile the Southall Anti-Fascist Committee, the local alliance which has called the demonstration has been mainly targetting the local factories to build up support.
Asian shop stewards and residents Have distributed thousands of leaflets in all the big local workplaces. Thousands of people from the area are expected to attend.
Southall Demo: Drop the charges - self defence
no offence! Unity against racism and unemployment.
Sunday 20 September. Assemble 1pm Dominion Cinema, Car park Southall.
nival. Along with the
Hammersmith and Fulham trades council the ANL has called a rally in Fulham. Anti-racists should make an effort to come along. Let's see the back of the Nazis before spending the afternoon at the carnival.
Assemble: 11am Sunday 30 August Fulham Broadway Station.
Oliver New
weeks left in this quarter, we've totalled only £6,691 towards our target of £15,000
willi means that if we continue at the short by £3,500 we tane
A pound extra from every reader in September would see in the black. please think if you can send us
So, and make sure hat
and make sure that fundraising activity is organised in every area.
Page 9 scan of this page
Just a normal week in Ireland
a by-election was
ed and politicians
made statements.
there was gunfire.
GEOFF BELL takes
week in Ireland.
Sunday 16
August
Margaret Thatcher is verbally attacked, and not for the first ume, by a number or irisn politicians. Most prominent is Jarret FitzGerald. the Southern premier. FitzGerald calls for British politicians to
favour of a united Ireland. On the hunger strikers he states 'There is, among a segment of our opinion. a very billical altitude to the British government and its inflexibility'
Another critic is Cardinal Tomas •'Fiaich. Recen a meeting he had with Thatcher the previous montn. 'rialch says, 'I wasn't so terribly, terribly impressed by her knowledge of Irish history, by her interpretation of events
101 by her understanding of the present nunger-strike.
in Belfast, the Social Democratic and Labour Party says it will have no part in the
political 'initiative' - a proposal to set up an advisory council in the North. SDLP leader John Hume says, 'It was ridiculous to ask the SDLP to participate when publicly he (Humphrey Atkins) has been ignoring our advice on the hunger strike issue'
In London, the Sunday Times in a malor editorial. insists, "There is only one
It is that Britan should declare its intention of renouncing its sovereignty over Northern Ireland' newspaper goes on to advocale an maepenaen six ounte H Blocks another political prisoner, Jackle McMullan, joins the hunger
that has to come
Even .
A hunger striker died,
held, bombs explod-
There were riots and
note of just a normal
Monday, 17
August
The British Catholic magazine the Tablet joins the attack on Britain's H Block policy. The journal says, 'The hunger slnike will continue, I ls plaln, until some agreement is made as to the conditions in which the IRA prisoners are held... here is no hope ot agreement without a measure of compromise. However much one may dislike the Provisional IRA and condemn
one may regard the hunger strikers as allowing their delusions to lead them to the grave sin of suicide, it cannot truthfully be said there has been no measure of comtherefore must be for the government to make a gesture of conciliation which the world will recognise as such.'
The Guardian calls for the sacking of Northern Ireland secretary of state, Humphrey Atkins. It disagrees with the Sunday Times but acknowledges, 'It is a sure thern Ireland independence should sudden v become so attractive. Anything to be shot of the place. Tuesday, 18 August
Michael Devine enters his 59th day without food in the H Blocks of Long Kesh. given the last rites and, according to a statement from the
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Ireland: the change
mate smal teturn tor eru tan te in
South. Under this plan,
National H Block/Armagh Committee, he is within 'twenty four hours of death'.
In London, the British government. in a ratner pathetic effort in the 'propaganda war', issues what it calls 'fact files' on the H Block prisoners. One on Michael Devine complains, 'he has refused to wear prison clothing since going to prison.
The 'fact file' neglects to mention that if behaved like a 'normal' prisoner he would have been due for release on parole next year. His political beliefs exrelatively easy option.
Wednesday,
19 August
It is the eve of the crucial by-election in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, the seat held by Bobby Sands. of Provisional Sinn Fein pinpoints what the election is about. 'What says, "is for the prisoners to get their five demands".
The official unionist in the election declares he Is 'ODtimistic'. The Workers Party Republican Club candidate, 1om Moore says my idea for job creation'.
In Dublin, an Italian Member of the European Parliament, Mario Capanna, says the hunger strikers are Irish patriots and not terIUlIsis.
Ireland
priest Austin Eustace
Cher 'will cause a stench in
ten."
Devine had
He ends,
the greatest crime? You should.
August
Belfast and in Derry.
set on fire.
Gerry Adams
bullets.
we want,' he
near an army barracks.
'voters like by the British media,
SDLP in attacking
exerase. but positively counterDIUUULLIYC
In County Tyrone, parish
polls. publishes an 'open letter' to Margaret Thatcher. Eustace has a record of repeated condemnations of the IRA, but now he turns his fire on That-
'Your name' he writes
Elguish, trish relatons long after you have been forgot-
Eustace condemns Thatcher's 'sole, pathetic, abortive attempt at a solution viz. is a crime, isa crime"?
'Do you ever ask yourself who has committed Thursday, 20 Gerry
Michael Devine becomes the tenth hunger stiker to die. His death leads to rioting in
Dozens of vehicles are hijacked and
The RUC fire round after round of plastic
tion
In Belfast a British soldier is shot in the leg. In the centre
hunger of the city a bomb explodes
The Alliance Party, the 'moderate Unionists' so loved and
join the VOUT
copy. advisory council. Alliance dismiss it as la mere cosmetic 16
not only worthiess Price p&tp).
The voters in Fermanagah
and South Tyrone go to the
Friday, 21
August
Owen Carron, the anti-H Block candidate wins the Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election. He receives 31,278 votes and defeats his main Unionist opponent by
UVCI 2,000. The margin of victory s greater than that achieved by Bobby Sands.
on the result, Adams of Provisional Sinn Fein declares, "The election of Owen Carron is more phe Bretsh go a remen s death
British government's death policy in the H Blocks of
The latest ediction of
Socialist Republic,
newspaper of the Irish
revolutonary organisa-
Peoples Demo-
cracy is just out. Includ-
eo are artices on the
strikers, the
campaign in support of
the prisoners, the Irish
women's movement,
much local Socialist
Challenge
seller tor order direct
from Plough Bookshop.
Capel St, Dublin
40p includes
Anti-I-Block/Armagh candidate
Vote CarronX
Long Kesh. It is a reassertion, once again. ov nationalist neople, of our right to a future free from British interference.'
Adams says that the high vote, "is the progressive voice of those who wish to see an end to discrimination and British terrorism and an end to poverty and inequality.'
John Hume of the SDLP again attacks Thatcher over the hunger strikes. 'Political varialis. if not compassion, demanded that the British government should act to end the prison protest', he says.
Saturday, 22
August
Two huge car bombs explode in the centre of Belfast and the seaside town of Bangor. Three policemen are injured.
The Guardian runs an editorial on the victory of Owen Carron. It begins: "This time, the result bears only one interpretation. The nationalist people of Fermanagah and South Tyrone had ways, if wey chusc lo lake laell, of dodging the question at the heart ot the h Block crisis They chose not to dodge it, and the massive note for Mr Owen Carron... is the climax of a series of political victories by the Provisional IRA. No matter what the facts are, the belief among nationalists in the constituency is that the men inside the gaol are justified...
The Guardian calls for concessions to be granted to the hunger strikers and observes, 'The vote obliges the major parties in Britain to make a searching examination of their policies.
Michael Devine is buried.
D- SOCLALIST REPUBLIC
low More Than Ever Support the Prisoners Socialist Challenge 27 August 1981 Page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Sri Lanka another state of emergency
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Nat me bina ches in ocal des ce i3 September IMG/RY branche Birmingham centre on . Hwal acicikt
MORE than 1,000 black people, many of them women and children were forcibly removed from Nyanga camp, week by the South African authorities.
They were deemed to be 'aliens', despite the fact that thev born in South Africa, and were transported, under guard to what the racist government claims is their proper 'homeland' - the poverty stricken area of Transkei.
On Wednesday, in a dawn raid on the black SulaLics the South African police used dogs
The media inelcal gas. was prohibited from witnessing the attack on the squatters' camp, but afterwards the entire area with
SRI LANKA president Junius Jayewardene has declared a state of emergency — the second in three months.
It is part of the regime's campaign repression against the Tamil minority -number four million out of Sri Lanka's population of 15 million.
The previous state of
on 3 June after a police officer had been killed in the northeastern town of Jaffpartinity to e in te portunity to go rampage against the town's Tamil population.
Establish
A statement issued by trade Bala Tampoe and Keerthi Seneviratne described wiltal happened: 'There availenough testimonv able to establish beyond doubt the grouns of police personnel, in uniform and
civilan clothes. Collmitted acts of assault, arson and pillage on a terri-
South Africa
deports 'aliens'
near Cape Town, last
its flimsy shelters in which 2,000 people had lived had been completely flattened. Sick
Within 24 hours of the raid 414 men, .4/0 women and 175 children were being forcibly transported to Transkei. All had been living in Nyanga camp. In a «ck csmmci vulc las arrests and deportations. the minister responsible, Piet Koornhof declared, am too cent people were shot and kalten
tacks on the Tamily comiutILy. considerable ternational attention was turnea *the Jayewardene regime in Sri Lanka. For instance, although was unreported the British media, in London, Tamil youth demonstrated on the Royal wedding day.
Intimidate
The latest state of
and the violence against the Tamils which has accompanied it, appears to be an attempt ov tne covernment to. by intimidation, halt such
International
humane, that's the problem'.
In the last two decades, at least two million blacks have been forced to move
'homelands' such Transkei, which are unable to provide either jobs or adequate land for the people living there.
This forced emigration is an essential part of the apartheid VOLCIl which regulates there be "sepa-
development'
Palc blacks and whites — in effect this ulccll luldily blacks as possible should be kept out of the richer areas of Southern Africa. It means that blacks have Tive and work in tas se peo noid speclai
protests. Tamil leader Appapillai Amirthalingam said last week that tour more Tamils had recently been killed.
Amirthalingam
general of the ocuiclal' Tamil United Liberation
NTOHU whes une urcesi opposition party in parlia ment, and which seeks independence for the country's Tamils. Amirthalingam was among those arrested and detailed during the June emergency.
Root
The statement issued by Tampoe and Seneviratne summed the background to the Tamil question this way: The OOl O InC problem and the ever-present danger of M OULDCA UE violence lies in racist
oppression of Tamils and Tamil-speaking people in
cent of South Africa desigHalca as lne wille area.
The contrast between these 'white' areas and the 'homelands' such Transkei and Ciskei, has recently been documented In a report drawn up by Jan Lange. Lange former vice-president of a South African chamber of Conic le so ne is lol ex actly friendly to the black majonty. Better
Lange has recorded that blacks can be between three and eight times better off living Illegally' in 'white' areas the Northern and Eastern provinces, and in the plantation areas, especially: This cannot be eliminated
By Tom Marlowe
than if they stay in 'homelands'
Even if a black is jailed tor nine months in a vea for contravening South Africa's pass
laws. litu. she can still be 230 per cent better off with only three months' work, than a person in the 'homeland'
Risk
This explains why blacks are prepared to risk JoasoCul a occu deportation in order to live I1 wilile aleas, wnele at least there may be some chance of work. Often, the only "homelands' option available is starvation:
Last week's mass arrests marked a stepping up by the South Africa regime
their campaign discrimination and represSIon against native VIdlKo. IL WaN CoL uIt that immigration and alien LcWs nave been against people born South Africa.
Return
But there little chance of the latest victims of apartheid meekly acepting •ebonaco Last August, on a particu-
aistre da co-oratirs
and Develooment launch ed a previous attack on the DULaLLcIS DuTull! down their shelters and
seizing their food
But the
squallcis stayed put, and the siens are that many who were deportea last week will quickly return.
'These people seek confrontation said Piet Koornhof The truth of the matter is that they have little choice but confrontaLOU. alc lilal LINS frontation will get bigger and bigger as times goe Uil, without the establishment of a genuine democracy in
country with equal rights for all its people.
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An impossible choice
EVERY day, babies are born malformations requiring a life or death decision. The British Medical Association in their handbook of medical ethics, advises doctors that in such cases, parents must ultimately decide.
case, the court overruled a parental decision not to allow doctors to operate to save their baby's life.
drome and also had an intestinal blockage which would lead to death unless treated by
David Plank, the mersmith court, where the baby was made a ward.
The court's decision comes at a time when Dr Leonard Arthur, Derbyshire pediatrician,
alleged anderal r
allegedly murdering Down's syndrome child.
arrested last wAd year when hospital worker told Life, the anti-
that the baby had died after being given a pain killing injection by Arthur.
Clear
Life also claimed that the Director of Public ProCecutors considering four cases in which babies have heen allowed to die.
For Life, the issue clear. All life is sacred and failure to do everything nossible to preserve life is equivalent to murder.
Supporters who work in hospitals have been asked
details Life where they suspect babies are being allowed to die.
For HOSL uS, the questions involved are not so simply resolved.
Tony Smithe, Director of MIND (tne National Association for Mental Health), told Socialist Challenge, "These wretched Life people have clouded the ISSUC. Tony Smithe
personally agrees with the ON Sunday 16 August, BBC2 showed Judge Horton and the specially made Fielder Cook. of the notorious case of nine black youths convicted in the 1930s of the rape of two white women, in Alabama.
Charlie van Gelderen socialist at the time and reviewed the film for Socialist Challenge.
The film showed vividly the background against which the trial was held -the deeply racist
The women in the case in the eves of the 'WASPs' (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants).. woula normally have been regarded
waite trash by these upholders of true American manhood.
WASPs
But for a white woman, any white woman, be ohysically assaulted hv a black man
with severe
Now, the law has taken a hand. In a recent
The baby was a victim of Down's syn-
Director of HamSocial Services took the case to
decision of Hammersmith's Social Services Director to take the recent case to court, he is opposed to Life's view that it's possible to apply any absolute principle similar cases.
He told US. 'Many situations exist where life would be truly unsuppor-
where constant operations and medical tention are necaed to keep life going beyond reason. the recent court however, • he thinks little of the argument that the chia's ne would be unsupportable. "The operation that was needed was not exceptional and the baby should have been treated like any other.
Interest
He is in favour of an independent mechanism cas scrutinising individnd. kind. *Parents should have considerable choice but. at the
terests of parents. end of the day, , children the THE -and professionals don't always coincide.
He agrees that parents face a hard choice though.
If I were a new parent in 10 V knowledge, and if I were well heeled I would be
Judge Horton and
the Scottsboro boys
Scottsboro boys, film for television, directed by The film was a reconstruction
was an active
anything of nine black men - that was more than their lily-white flesh could stand.
Frame
Of course, as is evident from the trial - and this was onlv one of manv the whole case against the VOTES was gigantic frame-up.
The film clearly depicts the brutal racism of the prosecution, the crowded court room and the irv twelve good men and true, all white and all male.
The
able to cope with the help I could buy.'
For those who are not well Smithe described the sort of local provisions they could expect from the authorities
LUSS-UN.
Where there are good services — life is hard but still supportable. Where there
life services, bloody difficult.'
Carol, a London social worker talked to Socialist tornev shows his racism not only against the black accused but "smart Jew. lawyers from New York' who were defending them.
Sentence
Despite the efforts of Judge Horton, who knew that the whole prosecution case was a colossal fraud, the jury found eight of the accused and sentenced them to the electric chair.
The youngest; only 13 years old, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
But, defying the mob, the ludoe nroered trial and all the death sentences were eventually commuted various terms of imprisonment. The last Scottshoro victim was only released in the
What the film did not show was the role played
Review
Many severely handicapped children and their parents could lead easier, pleasanter lives
Challenge about the provision made in her area for severely handicapped children and those caring for them. Cope
During the first few
years, shetold us bedren
handicanned children are not such a tremendous burden. It's at the age of three to four, when they
City By James published by price £1.95 WHEN the Persian poet something like 'a flask of wine, a book and thou! feel sure he was
looking forward to his holidays. For the teetotal and vacationally celibate here's a good long read.
James Plunkett's eponymous city is Dublin during seven up to the First World War. time the conditions of the working class of that city were among the worst in Europe.
The death-rate diseases of poverty in Dublin were nigner than Czarist
hahour movement. in the States and internadoubtedly was instrumen- tionally, which Wa -tal in saving the men from the electric chair. Labour
I recall picketing the A mercan consulate Cape Town in
Save the Scottsboro Boys' (we subconsciously adopted the language ot our
life becomes harder. not developing, that
Local medical social
workers can help out by
referring children
special play groups and
lay schools. Many specia
day schools are owned and
run and by charities. Area
Social Services Depart-
holidays and home helps.
A small amount of finan-
cial help will also be pro-
vided for special needs.
Holiday Reading
Colin Smith reviews Strumpet higher even than in Calcutta. Plunkett, However this Arrow Books,
Ine novernronicas working class struggle. wrote Transport
were ones growing trade
strikes in Western Eurone. years
Led to resign unions.
Strikes from the
Moscow Plunkett retells
masters in those days) en 'The First Years of American Communism', James P Cannon talks of the crucial of the Communist role Party - then not yet comwarped by its weev
It was the Communist Party, and no other, tha made the Herndor Scottsboro cases national and world-wide issues, and put the Dixiecrat legallynch mobs on the defen-
It's when severely handicapped children adolescence that parents begin to find it extremely arnicult to code witn tnem at home. But facilities in of homes for the LOLLIS handicapped can be very
Abuse
The social worker we spoke to told us, 'Com-
class
is not a catalogue of oppression and distress
the elation, times
Irish a sporkind ded tral
General Workers Union and the following A
of strikes and justice ninione ting in one of the first generalised
telling
The employers' response was to lock-out all workers who refus-
from The
and lock-outs paralysed Dublin for six months between August and Christmas 1913.
the story of
sive for the first time since collapse of Reconstruction. 'By such and similar actions and donaton the thirties, the party shook un all the more less liberal and progressive circles onine walte mada and began to bring about a radical change of attitude on the Negro question. At the same time the party became a real factor among the Negroes, and the Negroes Socialist Challenge
munity integration prorecreave best eradiscu for handicapped people in my area. None has worked so far. The client to staff is very high and so Talle the handicapped people are practically hospitalised. Abuse these cumstances is no big surprise. Afraid Even for the severely handicapped who grow to their twenties and thirties nome become more uncertain.
Smithe told us that MIND frequently from who are a aid receives enter old are afraid for their handicapped child's future.
Today, the bulk of the responsibility for n211dicapped children is placed Ull parents, the particularly chosens the
mother, and alternatives to home vary widely. Small wonder then that some parents feel they should allow their children to die when a choice presented, rather subject child and family alike to a living dom.
Choice
But while it's impossible to condemn parents for making such a decision, today's options, surely it would be totally wrong to advocate choose
Life or death for their han dicapped children in the WHere that choice arises. Children are salale human beings with rights, not their parents' property.
Many severely han dicapped children and their families cond lead easier, pleasanter lives, if only the necessary support were freely available. And if only popular attitudes to the handicapped did not assign them to sub human species.
Today, there are no simple answers. The onl certain thing is that hadicapped people out all round.
these events through the eyes of
characters: working families, Catholic priests, and employers the far from eternal triangle of Irish society..
Ne eavesdrop on the cynica nachinations of boardrooms, fe
strength and some panic of mass demonstrations and discover that the only priest with a glimmer of humanity is a drunk.
short review cannot do to this panorama of a novel. It is a fine piece of story-
those friends who feel the need to begin
other with 'basically') and it is a relief to get
from the tortured egos of most fictional heroes.
Plunkett's hero is the working people of Dublin 1913. Take it with you on holiday and get the sand between its pages.
themselves advanced status and self-confidence partly as a result of the Communist Party's aggressive agitation on the issue'.
There is a lesson here for today when the hlack minorities this are confronted the same Ku-KluxWitt Klan mentality which tried to railroad the Scottsboro men and youth to the elec tric chair. The legal-lynch mobs are still among us. 27 August 1981 Page 11
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Challenge H Blockelection Socialist
victory
31,278
REASONS TO GRANT THE FIVE DEMANDS
13 Free association •4 Educational and recreation 11 No prison work •2 No prison uniform facilities •5 Full remission of sentence Offsex (TU) Ltd, London EZ
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