Socialist Challenge No. 261, 18 September 1982
The scan: sc-no261.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
No. 261 18 September 1982
25p Unemployed and strikers 10p Socialist
WIN
OUT TO
Frank and Sid share a joke at the TUC. But they didn't get it all their own way...See page 4
on September 22
Grand March:
September 22.
Assemble Jubilee Gardens, (behind County Hall)
London SE1 11.30am.
March to Hyde Park for rally 2-4pm.
SEPTEMBER 22
STRIKE
Back the 24 hour strike
Join the Health workers
Page 2 scan of this page
2,600 against the witch-hunt at Wembley
Editorial
PO Box 50, London N1 2XP Phone 359 8180 (Newsdesk), 359 8371 (distribution)
"The Fire Below'
THE RESULTS of last week's Trade Union Congress reveal two striking features of the labour movement today.
The first is that there is a tremendous fire below in the ranks of the trade unions burning desire to see a fight with the Tories and to score some victories.
Only one trade union leader, Frank Chapple, dared to openly defy the overwhelming desire of the trade union movement to back the healthworkers solence from the Congress platform.
The second cardinal feature is that there is a rumbling crisis of leadership of the unions The vote to change the composition of th General Council to favour the then the vote for 22 September; the rejection of incomes policy followed the same day by the acceptance of the TUC/Labour Party plan which implies that very policy.
The trade union leadership is being forced to face both ways on nearly every single aspect of its policy bittered membership and a ferocious Tory government.
Only one of the trade union leaders Scargill - who dominated the platform of the TUC came near to approaching the type of strategy needed against the Tories.
Arthur Scargill however represents a tiny minority of the trade union leadership who are prepared for a fight with Thatcher. And the odds are that over the next period this section will become even smaller.
The changes in the General Council mean that many of the potential allies for a 'broad left' on the leadership of the TUC have been eliminated. strategy gradually increasing the influence of the left in the high command of the union movement is at the very least an impractical one for the foreseeable future.
No, the eyes have to be on the ranks. The
way the Scargill against the Tory government can be
into reality systematic organisation and mobilisation of these forces in the unions willing to fight.
The potential for such a conference was revealed by the rally called in defence of the Militant at the Wembley last Saturday.
Unfortunately Militant, both by inclination and capacity, were unable to translate the occasion into anything more than an impressive showing of opposition to the witch-hunt.
Both Scargill and Tony Benn do have the ability to call a congress of the left, both to fight the Tories and the right wing of the movement who are acting to obstruct the
This is the next step for the Bennite movement. Al te TUC unveiled his strategy of not challenging the leadership the party
election manoeuvres of the right to dump favour of Shore.
The question that should be asked on the left of the Party is not whether this tactical ploy is correct, but rather how has the left become so weakened that its leadership is forced to support the man who leads the witch-hunt against it.
Similar considerations trade unions. Benn's influence is weaker and weaker in the leadership of the party line, albeit after changes taking place in the trade unions. But Benn's support inside the rank and file of the party remains undiminished.
An intransigent attitude towards the inevitable introduction of the register - namely a refusal to tolerate expulsions on the basis of the register can only be backed up by organisation of the left, starting at the rank and file basis, both in the Labour Party and in the unions. Refusal to organise on this basis has meant that Benn has been forced to retreat.
Both the Militant conference and the conference initiated by Hackney CLP to discuss action against the register are steps in the right direction, but as isolated events they cannot start to turn the tide in the labour movement.
Joint trade union and Labour Party action to force the Tories from office is not a pipe dream, as the support that is building up for 22 September shows. joint action between both arms of the labour movement must be extended towards the principle of organising the left's.
Then the fire below will start to take on an organised expression. And then the Tories will really start to sweat.
Socialist Challenge 11 September 1982 page 2
unrouga nis
right wing;
- caught between an em-
which relies
made by
is through the
Conference Centre conference Tony Benn
before the next dump Foot in apply as in the growing
La lag, with
But the principle of
= strength
'I CAN reveal the source of financing of the Militant,' said Ray Apps WICKING September 12 Labour Movement Conference against the Witch-hunt. 'We are financed by the aims of industry.
British economy they tionalisation of the 250 monopolies.'
Apps' cracks were d wercome reler warwas becoming a ritual denun-
their terrible capitalist system.' Almost speaker selected from the 2,600 strong rally was a supporter of Militant.
Pat Wall, prospective parliamentary candidate for Bradford NE, opened
conference after remarks from the chair, ony Saunois. He reterred
the Paitys witurishing in
Partv. flourishing photocopy of the front page of the Express from June 1950. Thomas Williams of the GMWU had described Foot and the Tribune Group as wicehers and destroyers.
Williams feared for the future electoral prospects of the Party. Dirty
*But the witch-hunt Wall Todae rank and succeed, said far more left and far more
They were i the 1950's.' He 'there are over 50 delegates from Bradford North here today and that is no accident.
Tony Mulhearn, the
platorm speaker; told his audience that was to decent assere Shore was getting his hair
When Foot has done CUL the dirty work he will be cast aside like a squeezed iemon.
two letters he had received
visit to roxtem last year 'Dear Tony' chimed Foot, * hope it is not too long Now he going
Washington URe CPSA elections, drew con-
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SOCIALISM
If you would like to be put in touch with
Socialist Challenge supporters in your area or
would like more information fill in the form below
Name.
Address
Age
Union/CLP (if any)......
Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO Box
50, London N1 2XP.
Militant show of
They are so desperate about the state of the nave come over to the na-
trade Together with another speaker from the Moor Slaw from East Kilbride AUEW
he pointed out that the witch hunt was also underway in the unions. A later speaker the POEU explained that he was
ban not to attend. 'But I'm here, I'm fighting and I'm with friends.
Bans
In later sees m
the Les Huckfield and Ken Livingstone made plain that in their view 'Constituency Labour Parties must commit themselves now not to implement
measures flowing from the register.
This DI COSUIC proved
important, as earlier in the proceedings Militant speakers lad said that it
woue be wrong to nres the struggle to the point of dissafiliation.
Ammendments
put in front of Conference
The original
statement called for
struggle against the Tories to secure the election of a Labour Government committed to socialist policies • 'Campaign opposition to the register at the forthcoming Labour
Conference
Labour pariy for the ideas
troduction or any proscriptions or any other witch-hunting and defend the right of CLP's to select parliamentary
an NEC opposed to witch
Labour Party
for Conference decisions and
22DOUS aspirations as stated in clause 4, part 4, or te party constitution.
cepted to include support for CLPs who refused to implement disciplinary measures, and to expand
completely Militant dominated steering committee. The amendments, from Brent East CLP, included support for Hackney North's Conference which is scheduled for 30 October and backed by 15 other CLPs.
This was opposed by Mulhearn summing for Militant as
premature anc *Too
conference.
This point of the Brent
Was overwhelmingly defeated.
Most of those I spoke to who were not supporters of the Militant agreed that the Conference was a tremendous show of strength, and a real blow to attempts uproot Militant from the Labour Party.
offered On attendence the lunCHUHC DIOSS COHLCICHICCU Tony Saunois were: 1,622 delegates from types OI Labour Party bodies, 412 delegates from trade unions and 042 visitors. But despite many Plea matteres to was
that what assembled *was the real Labour Party,' we saw an alarming lack of ideas and perspectives in the Conference proceedings. Calls
There was much in the way of the need for decent holidays working
the Isle Wight delegate movingly explained but little in the way of a clear cut statement of the battle plan.
Willar! appeared reconciled to some expulsions. Several
explained the The great majori of Militant supporters wi remain inside the Labour Party...if they expel one
will take CECI place...those expelled.. will continue to fight for Labour canardates (Peter Taafe, Militant COLEO from Conference, corleast message coming in the way it was organised, appeared to be that the way to combat the witchhunt was to join Militant.
porters the vasts
porters Y.S. nothing said Theresa Wrack from the YS Na•8012 COME LICE The witch-hunt, it seemed, was
COLECS betweer the Militant and Labour's leadership
But such contest would in the end be no contest at all. Despite the size of the Conference, the witch-hunt in the Labour Party and unions will proocca Ine power to unrov
Ken Livingstone
themselves now not disciplinary measures register.
the Wembley Conference
UNITE AGAINST THE WITCH-HUNT!
deals!
expulsions
on i October 30th at County Hall,
delegates from constituency
branches,
ouce ahmaica orcansanons
Dack to men abour movemen booes and startto cam
together all those who want to fight the witch-hunt
This is not the time to "keep our heads down'
artempts at expuisions, to maintain ine rignt to publisn
to organise and to fight for socialist policies
Hackney North CLP
West CLP
Newnam Nor
Hackney North CLP
Wood Greer CLP
Vauxhall CLP
Norwood eL
Ealing, Southall CLP
Brent South CLP
Richmond, Barnes CLP
•p. Labour parties against the witch-hun Ferndale Rd., London SW
it back is there: but it calls
ches across all the labour ett and bevond to the mass movement now in struggle against the Tories, who have much at stake in the policies of the Labour Party Conference in recent years
One simple measure would go some way to reaching out to the mass movement, and several CLPs have already taken it: the calling by CLPs of rallies of all local affiliated organisations to win supDOLL intransigence in the face of the witch-hunt.
The Militant conference was a very succesful show of force - but has not yet begun to construct that alliance.
A second vital step is to build now for the conference on 30 October in
womens' sections YS's.
Leaflets advertising the rally are now available from. 60 rernadie koad LOndon SW4 or 28 Beatty Road, London NI
'Constituency Labour Parties must commit
to implement any flowing from the
Left wing organises
The following leaflet was widely distributed at
one meet! acuaca on une neca ore oroades possible resnonsi to the attempt to implement a register and force throug
delegates and branches, affiliated trade Orancies, Womens sections and
ORGANISE THE LEFT!
We appeal to everyone attending this rally today to go
paign for a united response throughout the left, to bring
We must clearly fight to defeat the register, to resist any
Sion left must be clear — reject the register! No expul
SUPPORT THE OCTOBER 30TH CONFERENCE!
St Pancras South CLP Newham North West CLP Peckham CLP Croydon North East CLP CLP Dulwich CLP Luton East CLP Greenwich CLF Islington South CLP
UNREGISTERED
SOCIALIST
'Unregistered Socialist'
BADGE Black and white on rec background 25p plus p&p orders over 15p post free. Send your orders in now to PO Box 50, Lon don N1 2XP. Cheques and POS to Brent Readers Group
Page 3 scan of this page
are only awaiting
This is a North West event, but it has attracted marchers from all over the country. Protestors will be arriving from as far apart as Brighton and Glasgow. And large numbers of race factory, Labour Party and CND
backing them. The latest to come include the General Workers branch (who are sponsoring two marchers), Massey Ferguson, Manchester, workplace CND branch
marchers), South Council (1 marcher) and the ASTMS
(ICL) branch two marchers).
The organisers also report that a number of areas in the country are providing erry people to either the Saturday or Sunday leg of the march to boost the mass Labour CND lobby which will provide the cummunating point of the By Brian Grogan
further details of his scheme, which replaces
new concepts'. course, is not new at al. ts The 'new concept' Ca1e0 making quick buck off the backs of young people and undermining trade unions into Lic barea.
Undercut
Tebbit originally billed his new youth scheme as a way of giving youth high quality college and work experience'. But now some bright spark WHO refuses to be named because he is so proud of his new concept has proposed that the youth be to work in sweat shops to undercut Taiwanese and South Korean products. Tebbit has described the scheme as 'super'.
The Tebbit 'idea matches pertectly previous 'idea" Youth are
Tebbit UnCIDIOYCO. opined because in asking for living they price themselves out of the market' Unemployment in Tebbitland is the result of grasping youth and strong trade unions. He should tell this idea to diwanese South
WITH OVER a week still to go before the Jobs not bombs' youth march starts its trek to the Labour Party Conference in Blackpool, 119 marchers have signed up to go. Many others
their sponsorship from a labour movement body to be finalised. Sponsorship has accelerated since the announce. ment of the 22 September day of strike action.
The march begins on 23 September but nearly all the marchers will be down in London in their list blan he mass TUC demonstra jackets for
tion in solidarity with the on Wednesday. The march will be providing transport to take health workers to the lobby of the Labour Party conference. final details for each day are now being Biased On the Friday when the march reaches Preston. the Greyhound stadium has been booked for a welcoming gig. Help force Labour leaders to act. Join us on the march. • Phone or write to:
UMIST, Students Manch Sackville St., Manchester (061-236 9114 ex48) or Jim, 48 Swindon Close, Gorton, Manchester (061-236 9114).
YOUTH
MARCH
jobs not bombs
Manchester sept 23 › Blackpool sept 26.
Slave labour 'super'- Tebbit
NORMAN 'on your bike' Tebbit, Tory minister for creating unemployment has just released
new youth training YOPs next year. 300,000 youth are to be paid f25 per week to produce cheap products for sale in special factories. Tebbit quipped 'l instance this as part of the ingenuity that is being devoted to finding
Korean workers who are aLsO Tacing massive unemployment through something called the world recession. That is, through the inevitable workings of an economy based on production for profit.
What is needed stronger trade unions, which all the youth in schemes STOLE belong. Because stronger unions can increase the confidence of the working class to the point not only acrenea themsleves against slave labour conditons. economy out of the hands of the capitalists and planning production for need instead of profit. In such a situation we would all have a job and a decent standard of living.
Unionise
The message of the North West youth march for 'Jobs not Bombs' will be for the labour leaders to fight to implement their policy for full unionisation of these schemes and also for union rates for the job.
NO CRUISE MISSILEST
BRITAIN OUT OF NATO:
Thatcherite wrecker, Norman Tebbit
Youth.
ON TO BLACKPOOL!
Youth have been in the forefront of protesting the siting of cruise missiles in Britain
On to Blackpnol
BRITAIN OUT OF Labour missile movement, issues).
50, London N1 2XP.
Write for international rates
REVOLUTION
SOCIALIST PAPER FOR YOUTH
NOT
BOMBS
COME TO THE RE 7.3 Conway Hall Re
SUBSCRIBE TO REVOLUTION
Subscribe to REVOLUTION - the best way of finding out about the anti-
the fightback against the Tories, for a campaigning and democratic LPYS, and the strug. gles of youth all over the world Send €3.50 for a year's subscription (at least 9 issues) or £1.75 for six months (5
Send in this completed form with your money to: REVOLUTION (D), PO Box
By Brian Grogan
REVOLUTION
WE WANT JOBS
NOT RIOT COPS
KICK OUT THE TORI
I want to subscribe to REVOLUTION for 1 year/6 months I enclose a postal order/cheque fo E3.50/E1.75
Name ..
Address
Tick if you also want more informa tion about our activities....
Socialist Challenge 18 September 1982 page
Page 4 scan of this page
At the 1982 TUC Congress, miners president Arthur Scargill echoed thousands when he thundered 'We need actions not words. Speaking against the Tebbit bill he declared 'We don't want a debate on the clauses but about mobilising and organising to defeat it.
resolutions. There is only one response we can have and that is to defy the law. If we build strike action for 22 September we will be showing we are not prepared to accept the legislation'.
With other debates at the Congress. this registered a mood of defiance and frustration with the toothless record of the TUC General Council.
Moving the succesful anti-Tebbit resolution that
20B01 Im perative, Tony Dubbin of the cation said rape al Association said had our publicity cam paign. This motion calls for a change of direction in how fight. What disturbs me was the silence
congress mouse over Sean Geraghty. The mov-
expects leadership from you and it deserves Cuts
These sentiments were echoed throughout the
delegate declared 'enough is enough' in the face of redundancies, closures and wage cuts. POEU delgates reported a one day strike of telecommunICaLORs worKers October against privatisation. Mick McGahey nounced We will go into action if necessary to save jobs and I hope the Triple Alliance will stand by us.
'TUC have failed to
Interview with a staff nurse at Nether
Edge hospital, Sheffield.
How much do you take home?
E62-3 per week after reductions.
What has been the
previous actions in Sheffield?
It's been very good. The laundry and sterile sup-
plies have been kept out for some time on full pay.
During the days of action accident and emergency
are the only services which have been maintained
in the major hospitals.
What's been done to build for the 22nd?
In Nether Edge we're having a series of 2-hour
pull-outs with no notice to management. On the
22nd itself everyone will be out. For the national
rally in London we have 1,000 places booked on
Do you think solidarity helps?
It does a lot of good. It shows what we're looking
for. It strengthens morale among health workers,
and makes people see that the rest of the working
class are on our side, and we re not on our own.
Do you think Tebbit's law will have an effect
on solidarity action?
It should be ignored. People expect it to be. If so-
meone were sent to jail it
popularise our cause — and they wouldn't stay in
jail long.
Do you think that the TUC have given good
leadership?
I think it's really useless.
lead - and they
forgotten what it's like to be a worker.
jocialist Challenge 18 September 1982
Voss Evans and Arthur Scargill get great greeting from striking health workers.
the feelings
It means taking direct action not passing
Even the lily-livered
TUC Stee Committee
reflected pressure for ac-
tion by calling an un-
precedented meeting
Sheffield on 6 October of
shop stewards and branch
officials trom every union,
in every steel plant to coor
dinate Count-WIet resistance to the latest
British Steel
Corporation redundancy plans.
Best
The high point for
these fiery speeches was
the General Council call
for sondarity stoppages
with health strikers on 22
September.
VISTOLS
gallery, packed with lob-
bying
and ambulance drivers in-
spired delegates to a new-
found militancy. The emo-
tional scenes, punctuated
by three standing ovations
found even right wingers
talling over temselves Lo
be the health workers' best
defender,
Geoffrey Drain
NALGO General
Secretary announced This
is landmark in the
history of the trade union
movement and we'll do it
It's the
first time since 1926 that
lead'- staff nurse.
level of support for
would immensely
They are looked to for a are failing to give it. They've
page 4
the TUC General Council has given a lead in action of this kind'.
Repeating the slogan of lobbiers 'One hour is a lunch break, we want a one day Arthur Scargill raised plause from delegates when he stated "The only language us government understands is the one they
the language of muscle. We can best support the health workers by coming out on strike for the day and instead of going. rallies going to picket lines'.
Of course the e General Council, who sold out the ASLEF strike and left Sean Geraghty out in the cold, have not had a sudden conversion on the road to Brighton. What the Congress is showing is that working people are
VELCEISTeR by Tories
Pressure is mounting in the trade union leaders to head up the anti-Tory struggle. Frantic efforts by right wing leaders like Murray, to force contentious issues off the agenda,
ed for the record of the right to spotlighted, openly debated and rejected.
port. of middle aged,
Ross om Clydebridge ISTC member from Steel Plant, Scotland:
We're here to show we're going to fight steel closures not only at Clydebridge but in the
Sirs to get the ball rolling. There's no point us going it alone, it needs a national strike with backing the Triple Alliance. On 22 September we'll be out on strike for the day. They're trying to privatise the NHS like they are us. As far as we're concerned we're taking on the Government.
Ethel Edwardes TGWU •nop Steward, Kings College Hospital:
*What the Labour Par-
Trade Unions
Photo: JOHN HARRIS
- By Celia Pugh
The Construction Sec tion of the AUEW refuse to withdraw a resolution which rejected 'any discussion on pay restraint with this or any other Government'. Steel The steel union, ISTC
ment to support the TUC-
Committee Document Which states that earnings and incomes would be emany economic assessment car-OUL and
Government' amendment was rejected over a million and a half votes. Congress later
ment on economic plannbut the support for the resolution
another Social Contract. It IC CCHIOL also repulsed the attempts Chapple wind seighell t Chapple and
policies by raising the spec. tre of a Labour electoral Weighell was howled down when he bellowed
Workers speak
out at Brighton
Throughout the week, tion against the Tories lobbied the TUC for sup.
in contrast to the Congress concentration
male faces vorkers were largely young tere we print just a few of their comments
ty should do is to stop the internal bickering and unite to support must come together like a strong link in a chain. I'm a supporter of Tony Benn because I think his policies will change the tune in the Labour Party. should nave an all out strike tor: days to bring down this Thatcher Government.
She's killing and mugging this country.
Horlet Lewis, Kings
College Hospital:
'When was Jamaica I was earning £5 as an office maid. When I Cal CIC earning €4.50. 1959, 1 was We came
nere because they encouragea immigration then. Now we're still low
A likely pair: Chapple & Weighell
Strike for the Health Workers says TUC.
Action not words
• At stroke you will destroy
Many chance or win ning the next election OCLaUSC peopic will 2a1O Country wen the COLLILLY. end up
destroying the chances o
he next Government jus like you did with the five percent last time'.
strong applause miners' leader Mick McGahey knocked this on the head. Whatever you call It. WaLC poncy social contract this has been the achilles heel of our movement. has alienated people from a
please address yourself to the creators of unemployment, the Tories and not the workers of the trade union movement. And let's be clear, having carried this resolution. superceded the LP-TUC document'
Lose
There were some signiticant setbacks the slimmest of votes, Congress voted bi jority of 446,000 to change the method of electing the General Council. Left leaders like Buckton, MeGahey and Sapper are likely to lose their seats
these black and female.
paid. It's about time they gave us a good wage. They should support us better on 22 September. One o -EWO hour action IS HOL enough.
Fyruz Darawalla, Chairperson of the Air In dia Strike Committee:
'We're asking the TGWU national executive for a public
appeal sup porting us. We've got to generate a fighting spirit in
leaders though should be the other way
The TGWU have TOURU. promised action and we need support from the Fire Brigades Union. We are also demanding cooperation from the AUEW who are crossing CUT picket line.
next September under the new rules. But for this year
least the balance has shifted to the left with the replacement of the NUM moderate Chadburn by Mick McGahey. Deeds
The Congress also defeated an attempt by the left to withdraw from talks with the Tories in the National Economic Development Council (Neddy)
But even here, over a third
radical break from TUC tactics of concession
Bill Keys of SOGAT argued, 'Let's translate the words into deeds. How much longer are we going to sit around tables with
who have NED, not because I'ma for pulling quitter, but to put ourselves in a position to fight. we have do everything we possibly car to get rid of this Govern ment'.
Fire Brigade Union General Secretary, Ken Cameron CADICSSCO the response of the left to this set back, *This is the beginning of a rank and file
Labour Party Young Socialists END CNEAP LABOUR
DEMONSTRATE LIVERPOOL, OCT. 16 Festival. 10.30 am - 12.30 pm Sefton Park, Liverpool March to Pier Head Speakers include: Dennis Skinner MP, Laurence Coates (LPYS), Kevin Roddy (President, CPSA)
BUILD THE LABOUR PARTY
YOUNG SOCIALISTS Per vetera is Pating Co TU: alance Sre, London t T
Photo: JOHN HARRIS
groundswell against col laboration with the Government'.
The weeks's events show that pressure from the workplaces and union
forcing TUC leaders to act. It is pressing concials to challenge the record of the General Council. These left leaders must now turn their own words into action by driving home the advantage of the TUC call for industrial action to defend the healthworkers.
Bluster
This TUC call has increased expectations that militant and united industrial action against the Government is on the
Within a week, backtracking on this care leaders
The left should now be organising in every union
workplace to make sure that more than words
01 NUPE General Secretary Bickerstaffe's tion, *If Fowler and his bunch don't move after 22 September, then this Congress will say we'll be out
And if they don' move then we'll be out again. And if they don't move then we'll be out again'
The threatened battles of pit closures, privatisa-ton, stce closures and low pay provide other opportunities to make sure that fine and fiery TUC speeches become LUTC than bluster but champion the action needed to defeat the Tories once and for all.
YOUTH
ACAINST THE
TORIES
JOBS
FOR
YOUTH
Page 5 scan of this page
Washington's war
Where you can
buy Socialist
Challenge
Scotland ABERDEEN: SC available at Boo
at Central Stati available at Barretts, Byres Rd; Clyd looks, High St; Glasgow
53 Eliot Cres
Wales
10.30-12. Also available 1-0-8 Books,
ORT: every Sat in town centre PONTYPRIDD: SC every Sat PORT TALBOT * Sat Mam-Ipm SWANSEA: SC sales outside Co-op Oxford St, Llam-Ipm, Saturdays. England SATH: SCR n Road, and Saturday a1. 1983 B00kS 3pm outside the Roman Baths. Phone
details.
Cleveland sale ousside BIRMINGHAM BOLSOVER OnE 643.5904 Ramp.
Keys, every Fri at Fourth Idea Hama kar Moreito Bor 110 Cheltenham
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: SC sales in BANGOR: Holyhead
Fora Book BRiGHT: Te Public House, LitSam o Bisolars, 10 Cheten.BIRMINGHAM: Other Bookshop,
LFORD: South Essex Bookshop, 335 MILTON KEYNES: Oakleaf Books.
EICESTER: Blackth eicester, and V Karia, 33. High St, Lo techapel, Liveron Voyhere. LONDON: Central Books, 37 Gray WC2: Paperback Books. Briton R
Order from SC, PO Box 50, London NI 2XP. What's Left savanes, Phona 138 pamantin SPARE BOOKS! Any books you don't okshop, 328 Upper St, London
ADGES MADE: Glasgow SC orters have a badge-making machin make badges quickly and cheap
struggle for socialism! Write Box 50, London NI 2X (Glasgow), PO
Printshop, 061-236-4905 Socialist Challenge Events SOCIALIST CHALLENGE POEL
Privatisation'. 12 September 11am
rimation Contact
raction C/O Socialist Challenge
Shopping
istle University between 1-2 and
12 levery Mondaytechnic be
1 pom Siab Square For inepy sa uside Mor Shire Bank. High Suree
itside yorkshire Ban office Saturday at Coney Street I-1.
London Vu0783AV0
and IEWHAM: SC sold Sat 1lam t
WEMBLEY: SC sales Fri 6.4Sam at North Wembley BR Station.
OTTINGHAM: MI ishroom Books, SOUTHAMPTON: October Books
Cock Comunily Books, Walm
NO HIGHI TUNN. a 1rna
9 September 12.30-2.00. Winter
S1-526-0204.
Leace de ontra one a ly 26/982 Peace demonstration & rally 455: 11.00am, Metro Hotel, Princess EAST LONDON Troops Ous Nove ord i, and a defendent from Carad
to House: Foco: 30, in wiih
political
talking
. For details of venue contact Alan Ryan on 359-8371.
By Brian Grogan A CORNER of the curtain of lies against revolutionary Cuba was raised last week by Wayne Smith, the top US diplomat in Cuba until last month. According to administration has either rebuffed or failed to respond to at least three initiatives to normalise relations made by Fidel Castro's government.
who resigned
section Havana also blasted
lies about CU021 arms the E FMLN 'evidence on
solid' ed, if guerrillas had
of the arms reported by US in-
have been
that tiny
*aggression
CaliDard size and
But
US has a jective. the US Con *Svmms
may be uccessary. the
Cuba
the threat of force its ag gressive or subversive ac tivities to any part of this
Dissident
Honduras Colonel
confirms
aggression plans
against Nicaragua
Behind hypocritical calls for negotiation, the US is stepping up its war against Nicaragua. One of the main sources of the attacks is Hon-
either mercenaries that are presently being trained by the US there, or even through an offensive by the Honduran army itself.
Commander Daniel Ortega, coordinator Nicaragua's Junta of Nationa Reconstruction recently accused Reagan of trying to provoke war between Honduras and Nicaragua, in an interview in the New York Times There are numerous and conspicuous military preperations presently go-
back up this warning. But
has been given in a news conference in Mexico City on 31 August, ibary top Honduran military
ficetolonel Leonidas Tor-
res Arias, a former head of military intelligence who
•diplomatic exile* May, charged that Honduran armed
of lies exposed
Smith, the Reagan
hemisphere'
Senator Charles Percy, an opponent of the resolution, dubbed this measure a 'Gulf of Tonkin resolu tion for Cuba'. This is an allusion to US contrived incident in the Gulf of Tonkin which gave legal cover for US imperialisms war against Vietnam. Threats
Despite such UUCE threats by the US against a sovereign nation, Cuba's revolutionary government has refused to buckle Chreat ry every US threat
by Deusa mobilisation of the Cuban DeoDle and an extension of their armed militias. It is this intransigence overwhelmingly backed by the Cuban people is
divisions the Reagan camp, evidencea Cuba is prepared t
prepared normalise relations with the US. A lifting of the blockade would have enormous beneficial effects for the Cuban people. Cuba wants peaceful through the thousands
forces chief General Gustavo Alvarez Martinez
Honduras towards tation with Nicaragua
Alvarez planning an 'adventure of madness that Honduras cannot win, Torres said. The general, he said 'threatens to lead the peo ple of Honduras along the road and fratricidal struggle'
Under Alvarez, the exiled officer told the New York limes tor the first time in recent Honduran history, inere nave been cases of disappearences and politica murders.
Clandestine cemeteries have been discovered in the last tive months, Torres said,
Central America
Fidel Castro existence with the US but not at the expense of principles as exhibited by the deals made the bureaucrats 218G Peking. As leading Cuban government foreign minister Kaphae! Rodie Te recent!! explained: US peruld ac epi their idea of perialists peaceful co-existence bet ween themselves and the Soviet Union. This is totally unacceptable. They view peaceful co-existence as an agreement leading to division of 'spheres of influence' or a commitment Fourteen-year-old at border post in Nicaragua
A considerable ammount of evidence has acumulated to demonsrate the truth these admissions: plates have ferred Honduran military transport
-10 a new al Dase alou zuna, just 25 miles from the Nicaraguan border
marine troops landed at the Honduran por of Tela in carly
larger manocuvres ser tor Novembe
obliging people fighting for national independence and for socialism to water down and even end their struggles Such struggles - in which imperialism is the main enemy will not only continue, must continually become more
duty to carry out proletarian, revolutionary internationalism'.
This why Cuba refuses to remove its teacners, doctors and construction workers from Nicaragua in order to get a deal with the US. It is also • During the same period Admiral Harry 1 Train mander of the US Fleet visited Hondura and inspected the port facilities at Tela, Puerto
While Train was in the coun try, Honduran authorities announced plans to build two new naval bases
• US radio facilities on two
Honduran island
Sul orrorseca aine wan in tae carionean - - are being used to disrupt com
Socialist Challenge
why it refuses to place its troops in Angola on the negotiating table. refusal to capitulate to US
BUSG demonstrated by their at titude to the struggle of th PLO in Lebanon.
In a letter to Yasser Arafat, Fidel explained: "The Palestinian combatants are fighting in the same trench as the Central American peoples, who are today threatened by the direct intervention of US troops, and in the same
the African peoples who are under atLaCk 0s the racists from South Africa.
Trench
"It is the same trench as the one occupied by our
bravely confronting US
threats direct aggression.
*By defending their na tional rights, the Palestinians have defended the rights of all the world's revolutionaries, and the blood spilled by their sons is like the blood our own peoples'
Fidel then offered 500 places to refugee Palestinian children in a school in Cuba to be named 'Battle of Beirut school"
It such stance which sends the Us into such paroxyms agains Cuba Wayne Smith lamented, 'works against the best interests of the United States'.
munications betweet Nicaraguan and military unit •nar are comoaung colnter revolutionary terrorists
Nicaragua s served as a radio bas tor the CIA backed Pigs
OlE CUDa 1961.
coast near the main port o Corinto. Anolner destroye the USS Trippe has bee operating the Gulf
•onseca between Nicaragu:
Honduras for SCYCId DOLI warsmp regularly violate Nicaragua' territorial waters. • The CIA gangs of righ wing Nicaraguan terrorist that Southeri Honduras have steadily in creased their attacks.
Typical OT thest gangsters is Jose Fransisc
SUlI as DELICIDIC ficiary of the reported S1 Munon in CIA func that President Picara
Cardenal chiei the SU-CalIC vicaratual Democrati Forces, which slaughtered 1Nicaraguans in the town
Francisco del Norte
You don't win a war b
calking, you win it by killin
DoaSte this democrat Anderson
Compiled from Militant a socilist newspaper publishec in New York.
18 September 1982
Page 6 scan of this page
ISRAEL'S
HOW BOUT
THE KEYS TO
THE F-15?
WHERE GOIN'?
'Peace' plans
people
By Phil Hearse
THE AFTERMATH of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon
president Reagan and from the Arab summit at Fez.
proposes that Isreal accept 'self government', in association with the Jordanians, for the Palestinian people on the West Bank of the Jordan.
the Israelis to the teeth to ensure that they can do just what they like in the region, and then makes an unacceptable proposal to 'expose' them and make the US the moderate' and acceptable ally of the reactionary Arab states.
Israel during the invasion of Lebanon. He failed to do that because Israel remains the best ally of imperialism in the region, and a strong and aggresive Israel remains the best bulwark against revolutionary change in the region.
chips are down Reagan will back the Israelis to the hilt.
goes further then Reagan's. It calls for a withdrawal of Israel to its 1967 borders. It wants a Palestinian state on the West Bank. And it calls for the return of Jerusalem to the PalestiBank during the transitional period. In return the state of Israel is given recognition.
does not mean that it represents the interests of the Palestinian people, or the workers and peasants of the Middle East.
of Saudi Arabia. It was successfully resisted last year by
situation it has been forced through, and the PLO have been pressurised into agreeing to it.
'democratic, secular Palestine'. It is thus a betrayal of the national aspirations of the Palestinians.
While the Zionist state exists, effectively an Isreali-dominated Bantustan. It would be open to Israeli intervention at any time, and most probably economically dominated by Israel as well.
The Palestinians would be denied their right to their own homeland, and herded into a nicely controllable little enclave
want to make their own accord with this domination, and force the Palestinians to be satisfied with a few negotiated
In this arrangement, the workers and peasants of the whole region would continue to be faced with a deadly triangle of enemies - imperialism, the Zionist state, and the reactionary Arab rulers.
Such a proposal comes as no surprise from the pro-imperialist regimes in the region. It is another important
cessful struggle against imperialism and the Zionist state without mobilising against Arab reaction.
ple with the rising struggle of the workers and peasants in
all its allies.
to conflict with imperialism. But the unanimous acceptance
ble.
won through dealing with Arab reaction. It involves a the logic of permanent revolution in the Middle East, which collides head on with the proposals of the Fez peace plan.
Socialist Challenge 18 September 1
betray Palestinian
has seen the proposal of two 'peace' plans - from US
The most hypocritical of plan is that of Reagan. He
He knows full well that this plan is totally unacceptable to the Begin-Sharon regime in Israel, which is determined to incorporate the West Bank as part of the 'Biblical land' of Israel.
Reagan's proposal has no sincerity whatsoever. He arms
If Reagan had been sincere about this kind of solution he would have made some gesture towards effective restraint of
Begin and Reagan may row on the 'phone, but when the
Ine pian proposed by the Arab leaders at the Fez summit
nians, as well as interim US supervision of Gaza and the West
This of course is even more unacceptable to Israel than the Reagan plan. But the fact that it is unacceptable to the Israelis
The originators of this plan are the reactionary feudal rulers
Syria, Lybia, and South Yemen. But in the post-Lebanese war
The plan is a step backwards tromt the PLO position of a
La West Bank statelet will be
By accepting the continued existence of the Zionist state, the reactionary Arab rulers are making a de facto recognition of continued Israeli-US dominance of the whole region. They verification of the lesson that it is impossible to launch a suc-
This means linking up the struggle of the Palestinian peocountries like Eqvot in a unified thrust against imperialism and
This of course does not rule out making partial, tactical alliances with the Arab ruling classes when they too come inof the Fez plan shows that such a strategic alliance is impossi-
The national struggle of the Palestinian people can only be strategic alliance with the Arab workers and peasants. Such is
page 6
terview he explained the
the Hebrew University.
Can you tell us what you think the aims of the Israeli invasion were? Does it amount to an abandonment of the process?
You have to distinguish between the immediate and long-term aims. The snort term aim is the annexation - a first de facto and then de jure the West Bank and the Gaza strip.
ducted because afraid that the PLO was getting more and world and they with it, especially after the PLO's cease fire which has lasted for almost a year in the north and which the PLO kept to scrupulously.
inside the West Bank and the Gaza strip it is the organisation. as basically a Palestinian government and parliament together.
representative of different political trends as any government you can name. So the Israelis tried to reduce the credibility of the PLO by delivering it a fearful blow.
Emmanuel Farjoun is a leader of the Socialist Organisation in Israel (Matzpen). In this in-
character of the latest Israeli offensive in the Middle East, the rise of the Israeli Peace Movement and the role of the United States. Farioun is professor of mathematics at
Leagues.
Camp David organisation.
and West Bank.
• OI
The war against the PLO was con-
the Israelis WCIC
recognition around the felt they had to dea
genocidal operation
The PLO have very wide support Israelis
fighters in only acceptable The PLO is recognised
It is as basically democratic and by mass murder
aims of the war.
The face of Israel: armed confessionalism
Interview
ths.
with
Emmanuel Arab
Farjoun
Once this is done they hope to install their own quislings — the Village
This is the first Palestinian organisation is the armed by the Israelis. They are attempting to make the Village Leagues an administrative
This organisation is charged with the full spectrum of civil administration within the Gaza strip
Ine second aim is much more sinister in my opinion and can only be understood within the context of an attempt to inflict a genocidal blow on the Palestinians in Lebanon. I think that what Israel has done in Lebanon goes tar beyond what was needed to
The level of violence used by Israel the can only be understood only if it is a
The objective is very clear. The
consider the Palestinian Lebanon dangerous to their normal operation of a quisling government in Lebanon itself.
So their idea was to eliminate the Palestinian community in Lebanon,
and CADUISIUL eventually towards Jordan which they consider to be the natural Palesti nain state. So these are the short range
The long range aims of the war
BILSCIE United Israel.
be seen.
have have been discussed very extensively in the Israeli press for six mon
Israel it's called "The Big Thing'.
This involved control of the entire
East meaning Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Jordan. Of course this does not mean in all cases direct control although they would like to have this as well, but lines of control by military threat and direct control for neighbouring countries.
In particular it means turning Lebanon into an ally via a Phalangist dictatorship. They have succeeded in making Lebanon their stooge - what they call "Haddad land', after Major Haddad who controlled the southern strip before the invasion. He was and is a simple stooge of Israel, as is the Phalangist army.
So we see that their aim in Lebanon is very clear. But this is only the first step in a much more ambitious pan to urst turn Jordan into an Israeli puppet state. This is a more complicated because Jordan has for many years been a client of the United States.
They consider that it will be very magnanimous on their part to allow
Palestinians to set up an automonous region on the East Bank of the Jordan- - and in Jordan itself.
This is a much more sinister plan than their Lebanese plan. For them Jordan is the future Palestinain Bantustan for all Palestinians including those Palestinians in Palestine.
So the long range plan is not to allow the existence of a Palestinain community of any substance outside Jordan - which means of course the expulsion of the Palestinians from Lebanon and then from Palestine
What is the meaning of America's new proposals?
This is a difficult question. Up unti this proposal American policy seemed a bit irrational. To allow Israel a complete free hand to do whatever it wants in the Arab East was crazy, because if you know the long term objectives of Zionism, you would know that Israel would go as far as it could go. For the United States it has always been important to retain a credible position in the Middle East. America's other allies cannot func tion if Israel is allowed to go on the
My own feeling was that the
State was giving Israel enought rope to hang itself, to allow the logic of Israel's murderous expansionism to play itself out and then to reap the benefits of it without sharing the full blame.
Nobody in the Middle East can be deceived into thinking that Israel went into this thing without total American consent. The United States could have stopped the war within hours if they had really wanted.
With the Reagan letter, American policy seems to be trying to expos Israel as a supposedly wicked forc over which nobody can have any control. The US president will then have a feer hand to presuade the Senate and the public to give him a license to app ly considerable American pressure to
Now that the PLO is much weaker they hope to force Israel to return to a more rational and more moderate course. So the United States is also using this 'carrot and stick' policy. But whether it will work or not has yet to
Even with huge US pressure established facts cannot be reversed. When you have tens of thousands of Israelis now living in the Occupied •Territories very dense com-
Page 7 scan of this page
NEW EMPIRE
gyptian tanks lie smashed after the 1967 'six day war'. Isreal's policy of trying to dominate the Arab East will ensure further wars in the region.
unities, this is very difficult to verse. The same goes for Israeli omination of Lebanon.
The United States elf if it thinks it can easily control le situation. I think that overall merican policy is quite confused id unpredictable.
/hat is the Peace Now moveent doing against the war?
he Peace Now Movement is not the
peace movement, as up to a year ago. The origin lis movement is the left wing of the abour Party — a real supermarket i ideas. As you know, the Labour arty stretches from extreme right ing politics - even more right wing lan Begin's Likud oderate Zionism.
The Peace Now Movement started ith supporting the peace with Egypt. rengthening the hand jainst the extreme right in Israel for rational policy. They never even had firm line on whether to evacuate the hole of Sinai or part of Sinai, but nerally they supported the idea of changing territory for peace.
The idea goes back to 1967 su should exchange occupied tertory for concessions from the Arab orld. Today they are not even callg for withdrawal from the West ank and the Gaza Strip, but they indemned the occupation
is deluding The Peace
thus been able siderable forces. Initially they
operation. they
Orw act Beirut itself.
although it
they were of of which was quite strong
quite including East Jerusalem, opposition to the war in Lebanon. result of Begin
by 50,000 or SO.
ment in Israel.
- that
nian forces
as im- nians.
moral and said something should be done' - some form of autonomy for the Pace inace Nor Movement has
mobilise conSLID ported, half-heartedly, the first thrust of Israel into Lebanon as a 'necessary politics?
came out against the massive bombardment and invasion
They were afraid during the first six weeks of the war to come out onto the streets.
forced to by the appearance of smaller movements, one
- the Committee against the War in Lebanon.
This originates from the Bir Zeit Solidarity Committee. This had a very exist. clear policy, namely that Israel should withdraw from all occupied territories
and total in Israel?
successful demonstration of 15,000 people called by the Committee against the War, the Peace Now Movement eventually called its own demonstration attended
All this brought about a flourishing of anti-war senti- strictly
This is the first war which has directly pitted Israel against Palesti- report on
- In the previous wars they fought Arab armies. It brought to the consciousness of many people that the central problem is the Palesti-
I would say the anti-war sentiment among the Israeli people encompasses perhaps 25-30 per cent of the population, which is quite considerable
Is this a long term change in Israeli
It depends if the government succeeds in its lone term aims. It it encounters considerable resistance from United States, the Arab world and the Palestinians then this opposition will not be short lived.
In fact I suspect it's not going to be so easy to carry it through, then the conditions for continuing opposition
What has the censorship been like
This war has brought a very considerable increase in the attempts of the government to censor the Israeli and foreign press. For example in Lebanon journalists have been very
controlled. They have not been allowed to circulate freely, to report the plight of the refugees, or to
Line concentration camos established in the south for the male Palestinian population.
So a whole range of issues are off limits for the press. This is a new development, and a similar situation
exists on the West Bank. They purging very systematically the Israeli radio and television of any critical. objective - what they call leftist' view
The self-censorship of the private media has also increased tremendously.
How can Israel survive, with only
population of the without the Palestinians who live there. Can they really be expelled?
I didn't mean to suggest that the overall Israeli plan will be possible to easily carry through. But I outlined it to show that it is a real plan which determines Israeli policy.
The course depends greatly labour. It cannot function without 250,000 Arab labourers. But there are other aspects policy which will beneficial.
For example Lebanon is a tremendous "gate'
Arab East. Already Israeli control of Lebanon is aiding their attempts to penetrate Arab Lebanese workers now work within the Israeli economy, and they can replace Palestinians expelled.
They can turn another "West Bank'. The same holds true if they extend their control wider
are 3½ million
completely Zionist
This
Israeli economy today of
on Arab
their aggressive be economically of influence.
for trade to the whole some markets
recovered
markets. Many
The Iranian Lebanon into
in the Middle East. Amman today has partially replaced Beirut as the commercial capital of the Arab world, so if they have more control over Jordan this will aid them economically. How does the overall plan work itself out in relation to Iraq? Has Israeli policy remained constant towards the Iran-Irag war?
The Israeli policy has been to turn a
blind eye to the antidemagogue of Khomeini. Israel rightly sees the Iranian regime
an ally against the Arab world.
regime has collaborated with Israel from its first year.
But here Israel is in contradiction with American policy in the Middle East. They don't mind that, because it
interesting in diversifying its sources of support and power
Israel has nothing to fear from Iran, whereas Iraq is considered by Israel to be within its ultimate sphere
Of course at first the Israelis lost
in Iran, but they rather quickly using military exports to Iran.
I don't think the anti-imperialist verbiage of the Iranians has much meaning in the Palestinian context
state has its own interests, and if they are to ally itself with Israel, then it will do just that. Interview by RK, PH and SP
Socialist Challenge 18 Septe
Page 8 scan of this page
'At the Phalange rally they played tapes by Hitler. They said when the PLO had gone they would "purge" West Beirut. Eyewitness in the Lebanon
CHRISTINE PLATT was a British nurse working in a refugee camp when the Israelis invaded Lebanon. She remarkable story of atrocities and herioc resistance to Ros Kaplan and Phil Hearse. When she came into our office her arm was covered with cigarette burns put there by Israeli paratroopers.
'I was in the middle of Sabra when the first planes came at 3.15 on 5 June. Nobody knew what was happening. I could hear the planes and buildings start to fall down around me. Everyone ran screaming and shouting. Women gathered up the children in the streets. Troops were moving and anti-aircraft firing started.
By this time the sirens were going in all the refugee camps. Fateh Arafat, Yasser's brother who commands the Palestinian Red Cross Society (PRCS), came into the hospital. Everyone had been evacuated down ground floor and all the men were in military uniform by this time. I looked over to the refugee camp at Sabra and just saw a huge column of black smoke, it was horrible.
Someone shouted the hospital's on fire that's where I worked. • got into one of the jeeps and went back there and stayed there. I couldn't get into my room - it had been destroyed in the bombing. We lived and slept and worked in the same underground.
The hospital was evacuated -we had mortar shells fired directly at the hospital from Israeli tanks
28 June. That's when PRCS decided to evacuate most of the hospital. I stayed with about five male nurses, mainly Iraqi and Palestinian - and all the others were commandos. All the people from the refugee camp at Sabra lett - many of them had relatives in the mountains.
Water at the hospital started to be a problem. The sanitary conditions were very bad. Eventually even the bottled water ran out. own generator but could only use it at Socialist Challenge 18 September 1982
Palestinian
told her
Israeli
CLO the
certain times of the day or night
juries, phosperous burns,
place down completely.
the they had bombed Acca completely.
Theology and
was very hospital in the PRCS ambulances.
'I saw Israeli troops
in their homes'
We had our
First Trident victory
Patient in a ward hit by a shell. He lay in the debris for two days.
We got in victims from bombing
parts napalm ina lot of traumatic amputations. Gradually we ran out of basis medical supplies. So it was decided to close the hospital
We took over a hotel called the Triomphe hotel which is just down the road from the Britsol hotel. The TOCKeTS.
tanks had occupied the airport road
occupied Acca, they'd
The we took over the College of
turned that into a makeshift hospital. Because of all the tanks traps built by the Palestinians it were
difficult to get the victims to
tims.
bayonetting Palestinians
My husband, who is a fighter in the
International.
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, took me out one night and we saw the Israeli paratroopers going into each house with their bayonets fixed and bringing out the Palestinians and just killing them. This was house by house. The only thing which the Palestinians had to fight back with in that area were B-7 anti-tank
At the College of Theology we worked underground again. We were in West Beirut itself which was now completely encircled. Then my husband said it would be better if I left.
Just about then I went out to a place called St. Michel where there
DOTE victims. couldn't get the equipment to get the blocks of cement away from the vic-
The people still alive underneath these blocks of cement.
We could hear them, we could hear children crying. I went out in an ambulance to get more help, just me and a driver. We were stopped by Israeli paratroopers. They killed my driver, they shot him, and then they
By Martin Meteyard
coming to Scotland.
Coulport naval base to service the missiles
saving of £500 million. The decision takes away the government's only selling point for Trident that it would provide jobs the people of Scotland. The obvious ain Is to remove property and environmental concern.
But it does reduce the threat of nuclear destruction which
took me away to one of their offices and took my Kalashnikov and saw who I was working for — it was obfor a while.
They did some cigarette burns on my arm. passport they let me go and I had to walk back to Beirut. And my husband said that it was too dangerous to stay.
Eventually I got over to East Beirut.
'They begged me for my husband's name'
I was staying with a Phalangist we family. armed forces but Phalangist and his bedroom was just plastered with pictures of Hitler and swastikas all along the wall.
They took Phalangist headquarters and they had tape recordings of Hitler, and fascist songs and gave Nazi salutes They talked about purging West Beirut when the PLO had gone. As
A FIRST victory has been won in the campaign to stop the Trident nuclear weapons system
Faced with growing public opposition - including a policy of non-cooperation by the local authorities - the government has scrapped plans for a massive development of the
The maintenance programmme will now be switched to the United States, at an estimated
Trident poses.
It seems that the Clyde will stil be used as an an. chorage for the subHEATICS with repairs the subs carried out at Faslane. The Triden warheads will still be dismantled al Coulport before being taken to the US for servicing.
move
fighter.
Nasserite parly
girl. across,
safe. was old children.
and fooled around with me
When they saw I had a UK lieutenants Their son was in the Lebanese really he was a
meetings at tients in the
cut it off.
Certainly the campaign
to stop Trident altogether
will
Ian Leitch. chairperson of
the SCOLLISI Campaign
Against Trident pledged
'SCAT will not stor
until the whole Trident
project has been aban-
doned'.
Strathclyde Regional
Council also going
ahead with plans to hold
its UW! public enquiry
since the Minister of
Defence refuses to do so.
*The full implications of
having Trident on our
doorstep must
made public', said deputy
leader next focus For the
The next focus
campaign will be the week
soon as the Israelis had finished with the Palestinians they were going to make it a pure Phalangist state.
The son of the family who took me to the meetings begged me for the name of my husband. He said "Well, if you give me his name, when we
into West Beirut we'll spare him." He knew my husband was a Marxist and that he was a PFLP
My escape to East Beirut was arranged via one of the leaders of a
who was owed a favour by this Phalangist family they took me because I was an English
After the Israelis had caught the ambulance I was in I was a patient myself for two days. I was told to cross into East Beirut at the National Museum area. Each time the Israelis told me my papers weren't in order Eventually I got through. I had to run
I just had a bag on my shoulder and a pair of jeans.
Iran and the Israelis started firing I knew I was looking for a mustard. coloured Mini-Cooper on the other side. Fortunately I got to it and was 'Some of the children who came in were limbless
After five days in East Beirut I went by boat to Larnica in Cyprus The boat was stopped five times by Israeli gunboats.
During the whole time I was nuring casualties of the war there were very few guerrilla casualties. Mostly it
HICH and MY UHHICH and
Some of the children who came in were limbless. A lot of the casualties were just Lebanese citizens. Why I liked working for the PRCS was that they would admit anybody. I'll never forget one night when two Israeli
came into the casualty department one night.
Everybody wanted to kill them -they had their thumbs ready to pull the pins out of the grenades and their index fingers on the triggers of their sun hey were from a captured tank. with just superficial shrapnel wounds We treated them and sent them back Fateh Arafat came to the hospital and stopped them being killed. He said we should send them back
During the whole time we were treating victims I can't remember going to bed for a month. The conditons were appalling. There were pa
corridors, with their families under their beds. All the time the patients cried out for water, but there was no water — the Israelis had
of action against Trident which SCAT is organising at the end of October. This will culminate in 'Stop Tri dent Day' on Saturday 30 October, when it is hoped that events will take place town and village in Scotland - with support from England and Wales.
A particular emphasis in the week of action will labour movement support. Plans for further developing the campaign in this area will be discussed at the trade union conference SCAT is organising on 13 November.
Further information from: SCAT, Third Floor, 420 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2.
Page 9 scan of this page
A
historic
day
Wednesday 22
September is a
historic day for
the labour
movement. Just
56 years, and
four months
after the general
strike of 1926,
the workers are
once again
downing tools.
The Tory government is going to lesson from gladden the heart of every socialist and militant
All those cynics in the media and those time-servers the believe that people can only act from narrow self interest
are going shock. They will see, with their own unbelieving eyes that working people care for the important things in life, like the right of the low ly paid to a decent wage and the right of all us to have a health service that puts people before profit.
The 22 September is going to be an inspirine retreate in carsh at th failures in fight,
retreats cars, closures and the betrayal of ASLEF have not squashed the fighting spirit of the working people. It can herald a great fight back.
We know that everyone of our supporters will be out on the streets from the begining of that day, until the last demonstrator has arrived at their destination and the last picket line ends. To be anywhere else would be to miss out on the greatest fight back yet organised against the Tories.
At the same time they should be out there selling their copies because the most advanced and class conscious of their brothers and sisters will want to know how to take September forward In socialism.
We are therefore paper next week. It will be a paper which points the way towards not just a victory for the health workers, but towards socialism. On this day which brings out all the best in the workers' movement, our supporters should show that they are worthy of the workers' response.
We can do that by being with our fellow trade union members on the picket lines and on the demonstrations and by fighting to win as many of them as possible to the socialist ideas of Socialist Challenge.
March, the sales of your paper on Wedesday 22 September.
get a organised Labour that should
bureaucracies WIO
of
to fight of Socialist Challenge
the strike of 22 the interests of
producing a 16-page
charts demonstrate, picket and double
world
This week John Ross shows how the theory of permanent revolution is a guide to understanding what is happening in the colonial and third world countries.
The view that the capitalist class is no longer capable of playing a revolutionary role is one of the most crucial aspects of the revolution. But what exactly does it mean?
Does it mean that no capitalist force can ever take anv progressive sten at all? That would fly in the face of meini in Iran, the Shah, or the regime in Ethiopia which destroyed the monarchy of Haile Selassie? This is a frequent accusation made against the theory of permanent revolution -munitst Parties. We will look at this point through the career of one of the greatest capitalist figures of me twentern century -
The achievements of Nasser as President of Egypt in terms of anti-imperialist struggle make a contemporary figure such as Khomein
Tran appear pathetic. Nasser seized not an American embassy but the then greatest symbol of imperialist domination
Arab world the Suez Canal.
He twice fought wars with Israel. In 1956, in the Suez Invasion. Nasser engaged in a direct military struggle with British and French imperialism. made ine irst great arm. agreements between an Arab state and the Soviet 0101 ne nationalised the majority of big industry in Egypt.
Bloody
For these actions Nasser enjoyed a popularity among the Arab people, and an influence extendin outside them, unequalle by any other figure. His death in September 1970 ica to tne biggest runeral in history. Around 5 million of the poor of Cairo lined the streets at his death in unrestrained grief
Yet today the Egyptian State bequeathed by acceT has signed the Camisrael. id the second David agreement largest receiver of US military and economic aid in the world. These Camp David direct prelude and precondition for Israel's bloody invasion of the Lebanon.
What is more this turn around in Egyptian policy was prepared Nasser's
Nasser announced tance of the United States' 'Roger's Plan' for the Middle East
— the direct DI CUCCESSUE of Reagan's
atest anti-Arab initiative.
What is the relationship between these two siacs or vasser. wnal altitude therefore did International
Viewpoint
First autumn issue now out
Contains a major article by Ernest Mandel on
The threat of World War and the Struggle for
Socialism'. Also an interview with Bernadette
McAliskey and leaders of Peoples Democracy on
the present stage of the struggle in Ireland.
Subscriptions: Six months, 95 French francs or £9: one
year 175 French francs or £16. Send money orders
made out to 'PEC" to International Viewpoint; 2 rue
Richard-Lenoir, 93108 Montreuil. France.
What is Trotskyism?
The capitalists in the colonial
By John Ross
theory of permanent
anywhere
evidence of people such as Khowho led a struggle which overthrew
in particular by members of the Com
Gamal Abdel Nasser. revolutionaries have to take to him and his regime?
The way to understand the apparent contradiction of the policies of Nasser is faithful representatives of that he was the interests of his class the Egyptian bourgeoisie.
the ruling class of a semi-colonial country this enemies. The first were the IWO enemies. bourgeoisies of the impperialist countires which systematically looted Egypt and prevented even its own capitalist class tak-
profits that were available. The second cnemy was Its own working class and peasantry which the Egyptian ruling class exploited
Both these forces were obstacles to the interests of the Egyptian bourgeoisie but they were not at all equivalent enemies. The sian ruling class and the tian ruling class and imperialists was over how to divide the cake of the exploitation of the Egyp tian workers and peasants.
the bourgeoisie tried to larger slice for wanted the profits from the Suez canal instead of them going to the British and French capitalists.
Spoils
The clash of interests betweenthe Ed the iming class the peal one culminatag ery real one culminating war. But the question how to divide up the spoils of exploitation in genera was an issue which could
decided between the Egyptian bourgeoisie and imperialism on a commor basis.
Both had a common interest in the exploitation
of the Egyptian workers and peasants. The Egyp tian bourgeoisie wanted the largest possible slice of
Egypt's former president Nasser the cake for itself but it could still get by with a smaller one.
INTER
VIEN
MAL
FRANCE BELGIUM ITALY SPAIN
Bevan speaking at mass Labour Party demonstration against Suez War, 1956
The contradiction between the Egyptian ruling class and its working class and peasantry was and is
an entirely different the hoperaris viens of
imperialists means a Smaller slice of the cake
Egyptian bourgeoisie But a victory of the working class and peasants would mean its total destruction.
From this flowed the different attitudes of the Herefore bore si and therefore Nasser regime, to its different opponents. To imperialism i could engage in struggles like Suez. But it could also arrive at a compromise a capitulation - as with
the Rogers plan
Towards the workers
ina peasants it was a wi
o the death. Particular concessions could be made fundamentally esse tabr fundamentally the tian bourgeoisie hac control and destroy the Cass aims of the over whelming majority of the Egyptian people
Using terms which I will explain in detail later, the Egyptian bourgeoisie had
relative contradiction with the interests of imperialism but an absolute contradiction with the interests of the Egyptian workers and peasant
Next weel I will show how this worked out in practice.
Socialist Challenge 18 September 1982 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
The crisis after the election
POLAND
"The underground create favourable conditions for social agreement through
conquering positions through which it car social and political rights. The movement should be decentralised.
This extract from the draft programme e end of July Solidarity's provicommittee. shows the moderates are gain ing ground. No mentio general strike appeared in the view nas been dominant in the recent clandestine
•We must defeat the myth of the "big coup'
I the illusion 1980 can be repeated and 0454-
MEXICO
For the last month the financial world has
been rocked by anxiety as to the conse-
quences of Mexico being unable to repay its international debt.
ment to stem the crisis have taken the form of a combined package of austerity and nationalisation of the banks.
PRT Revolutionary Workers Party, Mexican section of the Fourth International), now the country's fourth largest party, explain what has happened since the July elections and their party's attitude to the government's latest measures.
THE ELECTIONS showed a massive increase in the overall COEL OT votes COSL This surprised everybody.
The increase did not to the
Revolutionary Party), but to the opposition.
The main reason was the economic crisis and the crisis in the PRI. this year was of gigantic The CCONCHC crisis proportions even before the spectacular results of the international crisis of this month.
ion rade or icted in-
flation FaLC 100 cent. Probably a million people will be fired this year, making unemployed and underemployed rate 65 percent of the workforce.
In March this year there was an eight per cent cut public which followed six years of austerity. This cut includ-
construction that was not directly linked to producuon, which means there beft halic ampled roads
On the other hand the PRI has failed to pacify the rank and file of the union and peasant movement and a new movement in Mexico - the shanty-
These movements have escaDed PR control and have formed a national coalition.
Socialist Challenge...18 September.1982, page.10.
As information filters out of Poland, the size of the 31 August confrontations is becoming clearer. It now seems that as many as 250,000 braved armed police and tanks to take the streets. Solidarity is discussing its tactics. An argument is developing between a 'moderate' current, dominated by the intellectuals, which seeks reform through decentralised resistance, and a radical current that wants a centralised movement to prepare a general strike. Here Jacqueline Allio reports on these debates and the aftermath of 31 August.
must those in power forced to sign a new agreement...Even a strike, together with active defence the Tactones. cannot change what has happened on 13 December. There will only be more victims. The general
with the support of a majority of factories But Z. Romaszewski arrestedi and Frasyniuk, who lead a radical
didn'
OCLaUSC Solidarity's leaderfrontationot prepare for confrontation. ticles in clandestine bulletins.
the best way to fight, provid- He general strike seems Measures taken by the Mexican govern-
Heather and Raquel, two militants of the
The PRI was looking for a mandate, and not just a majority vote. Their tallure meant they had to commit fraud.
Fraud is very normal in Mexican elections. But it was very blatant this time.
But the PPS and the PST - the former an old the latter 'Marxist-L Leninist'
SUU* porters of the PRI - were given' votes.
Lopez Portillo This raised the amount or minority votes particular raised the votes of those minority DC LIC supported the PRI and therefore in proportion lowered ours.
They also lowered the PRT's votes so that we only had 1.47 percent of votes, not enough to any members ment even though we got more than 2 per cent .on the presidential election Call 0021 - enough to get registered.
We feel, of course, that we got the same amount on the votes for members
Solidarnosc debates tactics
CYCl
ed it is meticulously organis-
ed: the form of strike must be
factory It will be worth it takes MONUS Through the church
we must set up a network to
medicines, so that people are of parliament were denied them because of this juggling.
We are the only party which nationally registered but does
10 I any members of parliament.
cannot risk having revolutionary members of parliament to expose it. On the day the fraud was announced prices of bread, tortillas and gasoline and cooking gas and of electricity were increased by 100 per cent
On the same day the government announced that they have contracted a $400 million loan from the
PRT Aims
We asked Heather
and Raquel what the
PRT is doing now.
We think it is much
more difficult for the PRI
nationalist basd than in the 1930s when
they nationalised the oil
industry. We therefore
want, first, to consolidate
the gain of the election.
We have doubled our membership, to 1,600, and we want to triple the sales
of our paper which are still low.
We also have expanded the number of states where
we have members. Before the campaign we existed in 19 states and now we exist
29 OLE 32 states, which obviously means we
tional problems. also aim to expand our an paratus: we have added more professionals,
WYC now own a headquarters and press, and VY C alc stabilising regional centres.
But it's also important to become a pole of attrac-
ton to other revolutionar organisations who came around us in the cam-
International
Solidarnosc, 31 August. This is part of the Warsaw action
not at the generals mer-
cy..And to make
propoganda in the army and
Days one ariCe SiEned
'the trade unionist'
Would this worker have
changed his mind after
August? Many moderates
have become more defeatist USA and that they will sell
te amount of ol to the USA at the old fixed price.
This of course was the price of the loan.
This whole period was summed up by President Lopez Portillo in his state of the union address on 1 September when he announced the tion of private banks with their debts.
This was accompanied
by a move to get a mass base decreeing the unionisation 140,000 bank workers
This nationalisation of the banks is a progressive
Peasants at a PRT rally
There is a small DalEH. group of about 100 members with expect to fuse soon; and there are larger organisations of a Maoist tradition
Riot police used massive repression to break up nationwide demonstrations marking the birth o
than ever: on 4 September the
rreneu bondarnosc represen-
tative LOld Liberation
Solidarnose
only
moderation to solve the pro-
blems.
The evidence suggests that step of course, but it was also a ploy.
Its objectives are to control the financial situation. But the devaluation
WILOWel the cost labour and investment will
much for foreign capital. thus speeding up the 'dollarisation' of our economy - in spite of control of dollar exchange.
Portillo says that nationa isation will prevent the flow of dollars out of LIC DUL THOSE the dollars that leave the COULLY dICH DaylCHE OI the national debt.
Nationalisations AI C who have now, for the first time, been forced to take us into account, work with us, and discuss with us.
The third thing we want to do is expand our
workers are becoming more exasperated and radicalisation is growing. The
situation e cost of living ha rot per cent in si months. And no-one believes the government's will end the
emergency after the completely tied up with a policy smashing dependent organisations despite the working class
the unionisation decree among bank workers.
netimalso have firings,
sometimes workers in a single factory from one day to the next; and we say that there is a danger yet crystallised -
For a certa conservatism if the bosses are forcing choose: either we fire you or you go on short time working.
There have been some arcacuoss tiere are tree
Photo: TIM WRIGHT
mass work. In the peasant movement we have an organisation which have been building since 1976, mass peasant organisation with
wave of repression of 31 August.
The danger is that withou a centralised and collective TOS DOnSC reDressIO! WIL escalate against solidarnos
Four-year are being hande out to leaflet distributors.
The of perspectives meet repression is aggravating differences, and even leadin number of impatient militants Solidarity with part Com Dave
of the It emphasise appy increase the disoris taLU or many orner workers unless the national leadership
Cans of today sent mr
blems of today. understanding is impossible.
be eace we make concer sions, and as we have nothine to concede, then they would But these muse ce toes ions. make concessions. them agreeme must not be a nanona auree.
the people power which against them.
anti-austerity coalitions
but they organise only the
vanguard of the vanguard
of the working class. Our
policy to unify these
three coalitions.
Portillo also called for
"political austerity'. This is
a new term, but not a new
policy. It means and im-
mediate increase in repres
sion which began straight
after the electoral fraud
OUT comrades have
been harassed, picked up
and terrorised particularly
where they play a leading
role in struggles - and this
is obviously not confined
to us.
16-25.000 people which
now says that it recognise. the PRT as its party. We
want also to expand mas: work amongst women and amongst shanty town dwellers, We WANT to
organise the turn to in although this is difficult CUSLI much better. during a recession; but it includes organising national fractions for workers who have joined during the campaign DeLici workers auto workers, electricit workers, and so on.
. Lastly, our major cam paigns are expand There will be local elec toral campaigns, but our major national campaign will wil be cat austeri against austerity 5 programme of anticapitalist measures such as ; nationalisation, Lax reforms to tax profits and cancelling the national debt; the basic campaign, nowever, will be to fight attacks on our standard of
second national campaign is SO02E with the Salvadorian revolution; and we have a finance campaign to raise 15,000,000 cluding a raffle of a house
and car!
Page 11 scan of this page
Jobs for the boys
The frame up that bodes ill for the Paradise Island
When they voted at the TUC to support the health workers taking sondanty amke acuon, mi Frank Chapple, president elect of the TUC could hardly get his hand in the air. Not that he was suffering from arthritis. He and his union just could not bring themselves to break the law.
The fact that the NHS is being. bled oment did more come re government Chapple, but then he has taken out insurance against the health
thusiastic supporter welfare state he has members private scheme.
So obviously some of his union executive can't understand what al te russ is about naving a tree health service for all. Surely that's just a romantic notion held by daft
For a woman's
right to benefit
By Jude Arkwright THE TORY ATTACKS on womens rights to go out to work are being extendea to attacks on
reported on une starting
prove they are available for work.
But how many of us CLIC CYCLe of the daily misery which single mothers claiming benefit
have been battered by their
- have been going through since another
of proposals WCIC sneaked through by the government in November 1980?
Wandsworth Womens Aid have just published a pamphlet which tells the truth about women driven out of their homes by violent men.
Single mothers, especially women who nave been forcea to leave home because of batterme, are depenaent on sup plementary benefit their main source of in CULLIC. When they leave home because of violence, they are able to take very little with them. They are afraid to go back for their belongings. Because of this they need Emergency Payments and other lump sum benetits to help them start off a new life.
Under a new law, pass-
Air-India official
strike
Eleventh week
WE HAVE recently lobbied the 1982 TUC Con-
and publicity for our cause.
Labour Movement to assist us in our struggle,
Union rights.
Air-India's UK management has launched
flagrant attack upon trade unionism within our company and seeks to create the repressive work-
are currently in force in India.
our members having succumb-
through management's propaganda and intimidation al C being actively encouraged to provide blackleg labour force within the
by Geraghty.
trade union solidarity. else happes the
As one the TUC
The leaders know
gOT CRIS free health health
low paid workers
how they think fit.
happen to them? women claiming benefit. Two weeks ago Socialist Challenge proposals the Rayner report whereby women will lose benefit if they don't
ed in November 1980, such payments are being
drastically reduced Payments are no longer
made at the discretion of
the officers but according to a new set of rules which
and to whom. Clothing and fuel allowances in particular are now expected to come out of the regular benefit payment.
For these women this means a choice between food or clothing since the paltry benefit payment will not stretch to both
This is typical punitive behaviour a ment which wants every woman to be a patient and long suffering wife looking atter hearth and home
and seeks to introduce DCLLY DULES HeRE women who don't do as they
WallL.
These vicious, mean and spiteful attacks must be brought out into the open and fought against.
womans Right Benefit. Available from Womens 374 Grays Inn Road, WC1 gress with the aim of generating wider support
To this end, we are now calling upon the
the issues of which are fundamental to the principle of workers unity and erosion of Trade
company. The remaining
hundred of us, who reruse to be forcea back te work until the dispute is fairly settled, have now been sacked.
Despite the adverse political and economic
climate, we are committed to continuing the battle for justice, fair treatment and
rights of working people in this country.
It now more imperative then ever that we
socialists and militants like Sean
Anyhow he was in a very small minority, and some naive people even thought that his action could 0c. But they did not nade of tha of the
Whatever brothers stick together through thick and thin.
dutifully next day voted him into the presidency.
that jobs, prestige ana positon are tar more important than principles. What's
WaGe claim involving over one million
CON DOTCOT their right to run the TUC as and
If they start giving people like Chapple the heave ho, what could
Paradise Island. However, like
unemployment, naton ano wieesoreco mainuteon Besides this the policies ments nave
Sinhala political parties.
Even the leaders of the
by the lamils was based cal ana acco re wevance discrimination have suffered in the spheres o University of land in North
were i convene an wer would convene Parte conference problems. WYCLIHICH na: disregarded this pledge aster encouragee am.
Tamil racısm and increased repression.
i pol of the seen:
escalation of state repression ana 1amm resistance has Ict to une rame up ortwo 1ami vouths, who have sentenced death for allegedly killing a policeman This sentence is entirely based on une conessions made o Lese you wise being nerd in custody by the Army and the Police, them exacted by means of tor ure. If carried out, it can only WULSCH LIC LOSIONS OCLWCCE te tams and sinnalese have the full backing of OLI SEABONE and •Trade Union colleagues if we are to resist the actions of management inspired by the devisive policies of the present Tory Government.
Below is a brief outline of
• Managemen breake greement signed on 29th 2nd Junc
time Ban called on 7th June
News
See no Health Strike
The glossy brochures of the government seeking to attract foreign tourists portrays Sri Lanka as the
most other underdeveloped countries Sri Lanka is wracked by high
massive external debts, unbridled
of successive governalienated the Tamil community and driven them to the conclusion that they will never get equal rights of justice in a state dominated by the
These two youths - KutLiman ana setan • Were suD Dorters one movement which calls for a state for Tamils in
the Nation hom Landern
After the Sinhalese judge passed dearn sentence on nu timani and Jegan both youths again reiterated inthat killing BOCCHICO
Eelam movement. own words, "i am not guilty of any
fertile manure ana an encouragement for mu establishment of Tamil will not be the Tamil se There will be othe will be brough OCLOIC this court on silla.
Tase energe ReDBRISE. ment imposed will encourag the liberation of Tamils' com these defiant words ElIC war CE of hun dreds of Tamil youth and Kuttimani and Jegan will become their re policy racial
FAIR-IN
WESTRIKE
FOR JUSTICE
4. Union invi ACAS. Management to ment retuse 5. Shop Steward is sacked at end of June. Branch vote to take strike action 6. Management calls strike "unauthorised' as per Indian law. 7. All workers told in future ment will bets of employ. new con
disciplinary and work DOCCUUICS — I01 lustrial action or strike
followed by the UNP govern ment is one Dar me aLack on me slancan workers peasants and other oppressed
I Set the Sin bal he
and peasants
That is why the Revolu tionary Marxist Party (SLFI) has opposed the racist policies
Lankan class and stands for the self
* SACKED 100E
least 20 strikers would be . Union told at
dismissed even if we did
capitulate and return to
dion sale
would be fo
taking 'illegal strike ac8. Certain other airlines at
Heathrow form strike
support group as the
workers arains
repressive managements 9. 100 strikers sacked on 4th
August.
Right wing organises
branches in the Oldham area. TO: MEMBERS IN OLDHAM AREA Dear Colleague,
even in those local gecuons.
be agains he Conserve doe
interesting the only done well was in cicate was a macionai cabour moderate There is obviously widespread concern tional Labour Party
tary crisis. There is,
that
would nike to get invorved and neip une rignt back.
like to assist the Union in the battle to restore
Yours fraternally, F.J. Chapple General Secretary
CAMPAIEN FOR THE RELEASE OF
EELAM POLITICAL PRISONERS IN SRI LANKA
determination of Tamil Belam • Including SCCeSSIOn
mand the real or he
demands
repeal Prevention of Terrorism Ac wich encourages torture and
Lanka formed and seeking to bulld a 1 0 Marcit on Indian High
Took bace on ou
would ask you
specifically assist us
following ways:
support and conSADIESS COTT -DUDUC VI news media and by writing to the Prime Minister of India Mrs. i Chandi the High
and India's Regional Director in Concon Trade on Movemen. dispute Trade Movement,
The following letter has been circulating EETPI
At the local elections in May, Labour performed bett against the SDP/Liberal Alliance than expected. Howeve
elections and in the opinion polls, Labour, whilst still r
by-election Coatbridge and Airdrie where our car
amongst trac supporters at the activities of the F
leadershio and the British Forces in the Falklan
, therefore, a major task to be undertaken t Labour Parties voters who do n
It should be clear that this does not involve attendin
broad based movement to • Stop the execution of Kul timani and Jeganathan : release of a other politica • Repeal OL CITORSILAC
Telegrams calling release of these prisone Sayawardene, The Pres Jayawardene, Presi dent, President's House Colombo 1, Sri Lanka.
October Banquet
East London Socialist Challenge
Splendid food, auction, Disco and bar.
Guest speakers from Central America
Tickets from M Martin PO Box 36 136 Kingsland High Road, E8 (986 6439) Cheques to Hackney Book Club
baruculary witn workers a bodies associated with Civ Air Transport Help us with fund raisin and financial support For fur ther information and dona tions to the Strike Fund nleas contact the Air-India Sho Stewards/Strike Committe Tel 01-673-7922 01-674-8874 01-848-343 or c/o Transport and Gener:
Branci 1/1305 Transport House South Southall Middlesex
Socialist Challenge - 18 September 1982 page 1
Page 12 scan of this page
Fight the witch-hunt
Last chance
to help
Red Trotter
SUNDAY 19 September will see another
glorious page written in the annals of
socialist history. That's the day when the
Red Trotter, porter Steve Faulkner, runs a total of 26 miles 385 yards to raise money for your paper.
You may have
weekend the women's and men's marathons at the European Athletics Championships:
the sweat and tears of more than two and a
quarter hours' running. Well, our Steve has
been running sixty miles a week in training
paced by Revolution
bicycles just to get fit for this fundraiser.
So while you're noshing lunch just think of the Red Trotter pounding mile after mile, think of those blisters all in the aid of filling our coffers!
Better still, think of how you can feel less guilty by rushing your sponsorship for Steve to the address below. Remember, just 10p per mile will bring Socialist Challenge E2.60. If Steve can run 26 miles for us, surely you can afford the paltry effort of sponsoring him. Write to Marathon
Challenge, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP. Renew your sellers' sub now!
Many of our regular readers and sellers took out subscriptions six months ago. Many of these are now falling due for renewal. Next week's Socialist Challenge will be 16 pages packed with articles and interviews on the healthworkers' day of action and the battle at Labour Party conference against the witchhunt. If you don't want to miss your copy of this crucial issue of the paper, then rush your renewal subscription to us immediately.
Rally round the
paper!
WITH A FRONT PAGE that will proclaim the need to kick out the Tories and to win a Labour government pledged to socialist policies, we are expecting big sales of the paper and subscriptions in the week of the National Strike. * On the big day itself, teams of Socialist Chailenge sellers will be travelling up to London on Wednesday, distributing ment, selling the paper and subscriptions.
If you want to join your local team phone Distribution on 01-359 8371 and we'll put you in touch.
In London, sellers will be meeting at the Belvedere Road entrance to County Hall at 10.30am to sell along the route. All supporters welcomed. * On the Young CND 'Jobs not Bombs' march Socialist Challenge oit reston and ton
Salford, Bolton, arrival in Blackpool itselt. With its interviews with marchers, conference and a look-back at the Malvinas missiso acivist Contaet2 4905 h nou missile activist. Contact 061-236 can help with sales. * At Labour Party Challenge will be alongside those delegates fighting the witch-hunt.
With an issue-by-issue guide to the conand with Ron Brown issues at the conference, Socialist Challenge will be indispensible reading for this crossroads conference. 01-359 8371 if you want to join our sales team at Blackpool.
Let's raily round the paper!
Megistered as a newspaper with tne Post Utrice Fubiisneo.ov Cerainai enterprises. ro box su. London Ni Pnnteo by cast eno UttsettTu) Lto. London-ez.
Socialist
Challenge
Socialist Challenge sup-
watched on TV last
comrades
your sunday sponsorship Socialist our statePreston
the review of this year's CND
conference Socialist
previewing
Contact Brian Smith or
MICHAEL FOOT and the labour leadership have made their plans for the witch-hunt abundantly clear. First the register of organisations
cither ehee bod then hel edersep bre te
conference, and then Militant tendency will be expelled.
tary candidates who support Militant, other named leaders of Militant will be expelled - anywhere between 20 and 70 people.
Last Sunday Foot said that he expected local con. situency parties to "deal with' the Militant candidates. The organisation sub-committee last Monday agreed that in future prospective candidates will be expected to publicly renounce Militant in order to ger Nec approva.
There should be Ilusion that the witchhunt will be limited to a small group of Militant supporters. If the expulsion of the Militant leaders
accepted, the ground will be prepared to take the CYDUSOIS -TuLieE OmeI groups ne right wen g wer
The right wing not be satisfied with a few token scalps.
At the present time the Militant itself seems prepared to roll with the punches' to accept BmUTeC expulsions return for the opportunity to build up their support.
This is a foolish policy which allows the Labour leadership to get away with murder in return for a proSulse future compromise. But if witch hunter-in-chief Foot comes for the Militant leadership today, he will be back for the rest of their supporters and other left-
THE BEN HERES
ALAN FREEMAN
HERES
Speakers:
Leadership prepares expulsions
the leadership
The first targets will be the eight parliamen-
then
WHIECIS LOHHOILUV That's why the left
needs a policy of total opposition to all expuisions, Foot; will not stop at Militant leaders
SUBSCRIB&
ALAN FREEMAN
ALAN FREEMAN
THE BENT
MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER - 8pm BRIXTON TOWN HALL JO RICHARDSON TERESA WRACK (MILITANT) total opposition to the register and refusal to implement or co-operate with either The decision oi tne Labour leadership to lunge ancad wiw inis run scale witch hunt is a devastating BIO W the struggle against the Tories and the prospects of a Labour victory at the next general election. Michael Foot said at the weekend that they key thing for the Labour Party is to get over
CONFORENCE
THE BENN
HERESY
Public Meeting
NO WITCHUNT! NO REGISTER!
DEFEND THE RIGHT TO ORGANISE IN THE LABOUR PARTY
PETER TATCHEL JOAN MAYNARD AUEW AND EETPU SPEAKERS Sponsored by Lambeth Central and Norwood Labour Parties Organised by Lambeth Labour Campaign against the Witchunt
its internal differences and 'direct its attention to the fundamental of unemployment' and the fight against the Tories.
But their action in trying expel Militant supporters has ensured that this is impossible After the Labour conference battle against constituency parties who refuse to accept the dropping of their parliamentary candidates and the expulsion of SPECIAL OFFER
For readers who take out a year's inland subscription we are offering a free copy of Alan Freeman's new book THE BENN HERESY. The book normally costs £3.50
Alteratively we are offering Henri Weber's book NICARAGUA - THE SANDINIST REVOLUTION (Usual price £2.95).
Subscription Rates:
Inland: 12 months £14.00/6 months 27.00/ 10 issues 22.00 Overseas: 12 months only Surface & Europe £17.00/Air mail £24.00 (Please delete as appropriate)
Name...
Address..
Special Offer Please send me....
For multi-reader institutions double the above rates Send to Socialist Challenge, P.O. Box 50, London N1 2XQ
TED KNIGHT members. It is on the cards that local parties will be dis-affiliated. No internal peace is possible while the Pa dememned leadership
determined expel socialists from the party.
It is now very obvious that Labour's leaders have given up any hope of winning the election. The prospect forming the government while the left in the party and the unions
very strong terTes them. . They want to blame the ett. and the Bennite torain dereaular, hey for electoral defeat. prepared to plunge the party into disarray in order to defeat the left once and for all
hypocrisy and betrayal involved in these acuesHeCSICrOOE
Healey and comhave no combunction whatever in walking over the aspirations millions of working people to ensure that Labour is made sate — 0г me ruiing class. If the conse GUCHIC is another five years of Thatcher, or five SYCCLS of Tory/Alliance _government, then so be it.
L To prepare all-out opposition to the witch • hunt, Hackney North
DAVIES CLP with the support of
15 other constituencies orge for 3g October- conference for
labour movement : bodies should
For details ö write to: Labour Parties oagainst the witch hunt,
60 Ferndale Rd., London SW4.
← Socialist Challenge No. 260, 11 September 1982Socialist Challenge No. 262, 25 September 1982 →