TH£ Wall Street seven months after crash Page 4 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 52/N0.22 JUNE 3, 1988 $1.00 Nicaragua June 11 rallies to target gov't extends U.S. wars, nuclear arms BY FRED FELDMAN As the U.S. government continues to or­ cease-fire ganize and back wars and acts of war from BY JUDY WHITE Central America to the Persian Gulf, and MANAGUA, Nicaragua- The Nicara­ from Afghanistan to Angola, opponents of guan government has announced a decision these policies are building antiwar, anti­ to unilaterally extend by one month the nuclear weapons protests to be held in New temporary cease-fire with the mercenary York and San Francisco on June II . army Washington has financed over the The actions are part of international past seven years. The cease-fire was sched­ peace protests coinciding with the United uled to expire May 31. "We hope the contra leadership accepts this decision and holds back from carrying Broad tight needed for gov't out any offensive military operations," said aid to Nicaragua- Page 14 President Daniel Ortega at a May 23 news conference here . Ortega also reported that the Nicaraguan Nations Third Special Session on Disarma­ government is willing to accept the propos­ ment. The marches will be preceded by an al of Joao Baena Soares, secretary general international conference June 7-9 in New of the Organization of American States, York, attended by delegations from scores that the Pan American Foundation be the of countries. "neutral agency" authorized to distribute Participants in the New York protest will food and medical supplies to the contra assemble at the UN at 9:00a.m .. At II :30 troops during the cease-fire. A dispute over a.m . the march to Central Park, where the how aid was to be gotten to the contras has rally will be held, will begin. been used by Washington to accuse the Among those who have agreed to speak Sandinistas of trying to starve the mer­ at the New York rally will be Coretta Scott cenaries into signing a peace accord. King; Stanley Hill, executive director of District Council 37 of the American Feder­ With these two decisions by the San­ ation of State, County and Municipal Em­ dinistas, Ortega said, "we are showing that ployees; Thomas Gumbleton, a bishop from we are defending peace and that we do not the Catholic archdiocese of Detroit; Edward want war." Said, a scholar who is a memberofthe Pales­ U.S. supercarrier at sea. U.S. armada in Persian Gulf, and military intervention in The Nicaraguan announcement came on tine National Council; Digna Sanchez, a Angola, Afghanistan, El Salvador, and elsewhere highlight need for June 11 protests. the eve of a scheduled new round of talks prominent activist in the fight for the rights between the Sandinista government and of Puerto Ricans; and Leslie Cagan, co­ contra officials. taly Kobush, an Olympic medalist who is sey. and from other areas," said Susan ordinator of the SSD-111 National Coalition, the vice-president of the Soviet Peace Pines, a staff member of the SSD-III co­ Whatever happens with this round of which is organizing the marches. negotiations, however, the disintegration Committee; Mario Obledo, cochair of the alition in New York. of the contra army as a fighting force is Participants in the San Francisco march National Rainbow Coalition; peace activist The marches will include contingents of proceeding. This process has been ad­ and rally will assemble at UN Plaza at Vivian Hallinan; and Gus Newport, former foes of the contra war demanding that vanced by widespread direct contacts be­ II :00 a.m. At noon, they will march to mayor of Berkeley. California. Washington massively aid Nicaragua, op­ tween contra soldiers and supporters of the Union Square in the heart of the downtown The New York march is being built by ponents of U.S . support to the apartheid re­ Sandinista revolution in the field . area, led by survivors of the U.S. nuclear local coalitions across the eastern half of gime in South Africa, supporters of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. the United States, with busloads of demon­ On the Atlantic Coast, a peace accord Palestinian struggle, and many others. According to Carl Finamore, staff direc­ strators expected from as far away as Min­ with 400 troops of the Miskito organization The marches are organized around four tor of the Mobilization for Peace, Jobs, and nesota. Y AT AMA was signed May 8. The agree­ main demands: to abolish nuclear weap­ Justice in San Francisco, those who are 'There are also trainloads of demonstra­ ment was the latest in a series of peace ac­ ons, to stop military intervention, for eco­ scheduled to address the rally include Vi- cords the Sandinistas have succeeded in tors coming in from every part of New Jer- nomic development, and for social justice. signing with various bands of Miskito fighters. Divisions among Miskitos Big student protests in South Korea Several leading Miskito fighters were upset when Y AT AMA figures Brooklyn BY HARRY RING mand, 8,000 Korean troops were dis­ southern Korea. With Soviet troops in the Rivera and Steadman Fagoth broke off dis­ Huge student-led protests have gripped patched to K wangju to crush the rebellion . north, Washington and Moscow agreed cussions with the Sandinista government South Korea, with a growing focus on de­ They slaughtered 2,000 people. Korea should be divided into two coun­ May 14. mands for the reunification of North and The current demonstrations demanded a For several years Rivera and Fagoth tries. South Korea. U.S . intervention in South full-scale probe of that bloody event. Roh have been regarded as authoritative leaders In 1950. the division led to a civil war in Korea is being denounced, and the with­ Tae Woo, the recently elected president of by many Miskitos. But in recent months, which Washington quickly intervened. De­ drawal of U.S . troops demanded. South Korea, was a general when the upris­ with the signing of peace accords and the spite massive use of napalm and carpet ing was crushed. bombing, U.S. forces were battled to a return of Miskito refugees to Nicaragua, Two developments triggered the pro­ The protests were further galvanized by Rivera and Fagoth have become increas­ tests. One was the May 21 anniversary of a standstill by North Korean and Chinese the suicide of a student. Cho Sung Man , ingly isolated as they have refused to return 1980 uprising in the city of K wangju. With troops. With the war's end in 1953, some 2 24, killed himself May 16. In a note, he de­ Continued on Page 2 the approval of the U.S. military com- million Koreans had been killed and manded the release of political prisoners another 3 million wounded. and the reunification of Korea. He de­ Since the war, Washington has been key nounced Washington's role in his country. in imposing a series of dictators on South Cho' s death touched off demonstrations Korea. State Dept. sets meeting with in 31 cities. In Seoul, the capital, 10,000 But in the past decade, powerful opposi­ joined in a funeral procession. Several tion has developed to authoritarian rule . thousand then tried to march on the U.S . Marroquin on residency fight The K wangju insurrection has become a embassy, but were thwarted by a savage major symbol of this. police attack. In 1980, when Gen. Chun Doo Hwan BY JOHN STUDER In the last year he has scored a series of Cho's body was taken to Kwangju and put all of South Korea under martial law, A crucial turning point has been reached victories that led to the appointment in buried in a cemetery where martyrs of the protest demonstrations in K wangju were in the decade-long fight of Hector Marro­ Canada, including receiving legal work au­ 1980 uprising are interred. quin for the right to live and work in the brutally attacked. On May 21, the people thorization and temporary residence papers Thousands of people took over Kwang­ United States. The State Department has rose up, 200,000 strong, many of them under the government's amnesty program. ju's main square for the funeral. In songs of scheduled an interview for Marroquin on arming themselves. The police and mili­ These gains were won following the fed­ protest, they challenged U.S. interference his application for permanent residence . tary were driven out of the city and, eral court ruling in 1986 that the SWP and in their country. briefly, the people took control. The meeting will take place on July 6 at the Young Socialist Alliance had been the The centrality of Washington's role in 2:30p.m. in Toronto, Canada. target of decades of illegal FBI spying and South Korea is symbolized by the 43 ,000 The U.S . general who headed the joint This gives Marroquin and his supporters disruption, including special efforts to vic­ U.S. troops garrisoned there. military command released 8,000 Korean six weeks to organize to press for a victori­ timize the groups' foreign-born members. Direct U.S. intervention in Korea dates troops from their regular duties to crush the ous outcome. Since 1977 Marroquin has Marroquin gained his temporary residence back to the close of World War II. uprising. been fighting U.S. government efforts to de­ card in April of this year - one month From 1910 until the end of the war A new peak in the struggle came last port him because of his political views and after the Justice Department dropped its ap- Korea had been a Japanese colony. With June. Giant demonstrations compelled membership in the Socialist Workers Party. Continued on Page 13 Japan's defeat, U.S. troops moved into Continued on Page 13 Cease-fire extended by Nicaragua gov't

Continued from front page of the country's economic crisis remain, to the country and abandon the war. but the end of the fighting has made it pos­ "Mr. Rivera's error is to try to ignore the sible for many peasants who had moved to effort that has been made here ," said Uriel the towns to escape the contras to begin re­ Vanegas, a Miskito leader who returned turning to their farms to plant crops. with 400 troops last September. Vanegas Some schools in the countryside that had also rejected a charge by Rivera that the been closed because of contra terrorism are Y AT AMA troops who had signed the being reopened . The regional government peace agreement had been duped. "No­ in Estelf has sent health-care teams out into body deceives anybody here ," Vanegas the mountains for a month, until now too said. risky. "If Mr. Rivera considers it a sin to seek peace, then what is he doing? And if he has Freedom of expression discussed a problem about leadership, let him come Meanwhile, there is growing discussion to Puerto Cabezas and sign a peace agree­ here about how constitutional guarantees ment along with us." Puerto Cabezas is a of freedom of expression are to be inter­ Miskito contras during U.S.-organized war against Nicaragua. Growing number of town on the Atlantic Coast, and is in the preted. The lifting of the state of emergen­ Miskito contra groups have now signed cease-fires with Nicaraguan government. area where most Nicaraguan Miskitos live. cy last January and the cease-fire reached Another Miskito opposition leader who at the end of March have placed this ques­ She cited as an example false reports about In a further step, the MINT banned a returned with his soldiers, Juan Salgado, tion on the agenda in a new way. Workers the alleged death of a striking construction march planned for May 19 by a construc­ pointed out, "It was Fagoth, Rivera, and and peasants pay a price for limitations on worker in police custody. tion workers' union that recently carried democratic rights, even in those instances Wicliff Diego who headed up this war from out a strike. The grounds cited by the when they are necessary, because these re­ Another case cited was a radio broadcast the start. All the suffering of our com­ MINT were that the march was in support on a right-wing station accusing the army, munities is the product of their deceptions. strictions drive the ideas of opponents of of a strike that had been declared illegal according to Barricada , of being made up If this isn't the case, why are the refugees the revolution into various indirect chan­ and that there was a danger of "public dis­ of "thieves, lesbians, and drunks." returning from Honduras?" nel s. This makes it more difficult to answer turbance." Salgado was referring to the sizable them and educate working people about the "If you talk about freedom of expres­ At the time scheduled for the march, the number of Miskitos who have been return­ consequences of the policies proposed by sion, it should be for providing news or in­ union instead held a public meeting at its ing to Nicaragua since the fighting stopped foes of the Sandinista National Liberation formation that is true, that has been ver­ headquarters in Managua. Some 150 on the Atlantic Coast. Front. ified," Torres said. "It cannot be under­ unionists and supporters were present. An average of I ,000 refugees a month, Under the emergency regulations, the stood to be for attacking the government, Union officials announced a May 22 strike most of them Miskitos, have been coming government had virtually unlimited power for offending, and telling lies. " support meeting in Masaya. back to the country under the auspices of to censor the press, ban demonstrations, the United Nations . An additional 3,500 and otherwise limit the right to freedom of Indian refugees are scheduled to return by speech and association. The lifting of these the middle of June. regulations in January meant that guaran­ Felony charges dropped in case In the Pacific and central areas of Nica­ tees in the new constitution protecting ragua, fraternization between troops of the these rights were in effect. This marked a Sandinista People's Army and the contras big opportunity for conducting what the against 17 Iowa workers is increasing. Local peasants are often also FSLN has called a "political-ideological" involved in these discussions. struggle against the revolution's opponents BY NAN BAILEY tiona) amnesty program before the arrests A 50-year-old peasant in Nueva Guinea, and for strengthening the political educa­ DES MOINES, Iowa- Federal pros­ took place. in south-central Nicaragua, Sebastian Ruiz tion and confidence of working people. ecutors here have dropped felony charges The lesser charge against the remaining Martinez, has been one of the participants. With the establishment of the rights to against 17 meat-packers arrested in a raid nine was for "illegally entering the United "I don't know how to read or write," Ruiz strike and demonstrate and the reappear­ by government agents at the Swift plant States." A hearing has been set for May 27 told the Sandinista daily Barricada, "but I ance of more opposition news media, the here nearly three months ago. to determine whether eight of the nine will am aware of things, and here in this town, Sandinista National Liberation Front has Charges against eight of the 17 immi­ be deported. One of the nine has decided everyone wants peace - even the con­ been faced more directly with the question grant workers were completely dropped, not to fight deportation. tras." He said he has been in contact with a of how to respond to demands of sectors of and charges against the others were re­ Alfredo Alvarez, chairman of the Des group of contras who are ready to put down the working class, and to charges and criti­ duced to misdemeanors. The nine were Moines Human Rights Commission, hailed their arms any day now. cisms from opponents of the government. sentenced by U.S . District Judge Harold the victory. He said, the government In the mountains around Quilalf, in the In a number of cases the Sandinistas have Vietor on May 16 to six months probation. "backed off because the Hispanic commu­ north of the country, army troops have had replied with political argument and educa­ Immigration and Naturalization Service nity and others rallied in support" of the 24 meetings with local chiefs, soldiers, and tion. But in others the response has been to agents entered the Swift plant on March I 17 . family members of contras since the cease­ resort to censorship and banning of demon­ and arrested 16 Mexican workers and one fire began. One of the contra commanders strations. Salvadoran after having gone through com­ Political activist Mark Curtis, who is there told Barricada , "We are tired of the In recent weeks the government has em­ pany files to get names of employees sus­ fighting a frame-up and beating by the Des war. We don't want more death. We want ployed police measures in several in­ pected of being "illegal." Moines police, also welcomed the victory. peace, but that doesn't mean we are de­ stances, including in attempting to limit Those arrests sparked a series of protests "This is a tremendous victory, not only for feated." press coverage of a hunger strike by mem­ from the Mexican-American community my 17 arrested coworkers," said Curtis, Although there have been reports of bers of several opposition-led unions. and from other workers here. who also works at the Swift plant. "It's some continuing kidnappings and other More recently, on May 13, the Ministry The original felony charges brought also a help to every worker at Swift and all atrocities carried out by bands of contras of the Interior (MINT) summoned repre­ against the 17 included using phony Social working people. Mexican, Salvadoran, since the cease-fire began, the situation is sentatives of radio news programs in Ma­ Security numbers and possession of coun­ and all immigrant workers have a right to dramatically more peaceful in those parts nagua. According to a subsequent article terfeit alien registration cards. Federal pros­ freely travel to this country and to work of the countryside where the war had been on the meeting in Barricada, Lt. Lisette ecutors claimed charges were dropped here. We must continue to press for no de­ fought. Torres of the MINT warned those present against eight of the workers because they portations for the eight workers who face a The legacy of destruction and the burden about "systematic violations of the law ." had applied for legal status under the na- hearing on May 27." The Militant tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant Closing news date: May 25, 1988 "I look forward to every issue of the Militant for its Coeditors: MARGARET JA YKO and DOUG JENNESS Circulation Director: NORTON SANDLER excellent overall journalism, but in particular for what Nicaragua Bureau Director: LARRY SEIGLE Business Manager: JIM WHITE I consider the best coverage of the Central American Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein, Fred Feldman, Arthur Hughes, Cindy Jaquith , Susan LaMont, Sam Manuel , Harvey McArthur (Nicaragua), Harry Ring, Judy White (Nicaragua) . and Caribbean struggles." Published weekly except one week in August and the last week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 -Don Rojas West St. , New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Of­ former press secretary to Maurice Bishop, fice, (212) 243-6392; Telex, 497-4278; Business Office, (212) murdered prime minister of Grenada. 929-3486. Nicaragua Bureau, Apartado 2222 , Managua. Tele­ phone 24845. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Militant Business Of­ Enclosed is fice, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Second-class postage paid at New York , N.Y . POSTMAS­ D $4.00 for 12 weeks, new readers TER: Send address changes to The Militant, 410 West St., New D $9.00 for 12 weeks, renewals York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S., Canada, Latin 0 $17.00 for six months America: for one-year subscription send $30, drawn on aU .S. D $30.00 for one year D $55.00 for two years bank, to above address. By frrst-class (airmail) , send $65 . Brit­ Name ______ain, Ireland, Continental Europe, Africa: £22 for one year, Addre•• ______£12 for six months, or £6 for three-month renewal. Send check or international money order made out to Pathfinder Press and City------State _____ Zip _____ send to Pathfinder, 47 The Cut, London SEI 8LL, England . Telephone Union/School/Organization ______Australia, Asia, Pacific: send Australian $60 to Pathfinder Press, P.O. Box 37, Leichhardt, Sydney, NSW 2040, Australia. Send to THE MILITANT, 410 West St., New York. N.Y. 10014 Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant June 3, 1988 Framed-up activist wins growing support Mark Curtis urges Des Moines city council to support his defense

BY BOB MILLER DES MOINES , Iowa- Accompanied by 15 supporters, Mark Curtis addressed the Des Moines City Council meeting on May 23. "Do the Des Moines police have the right to arrest me on false charges and brutalize me for my political activities?" he asked. Curtis called on the council to join him in demanding the frame-up charges be dropped and for an investigation and pros­ ecution of the police responsible for as­ saulting him . Petitions signed by more than I ,000 antiwar activists, unionists, and students supporting these demands were presented to the council by Curtis. Des Moines police chief William Moulder has already re­ ceived petitions signed by more than 2,000 people. The council, however, chose not to dis­ cuss this police frame-up and victimiza­ tion, saying it would be a conflict of in­ terest since it was a complaint against the city department and a trial date has already been set. Stu Singer, coordinator of the Mark Cur­ Left to right: Kathy Andrade, education director ofLocal23-25, International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; Crispin Beltran, tis Defense Committee, challenged the chairman of the May 1 Movement (KMU) union federation of the Philippines; and Ben Dupuy, editor of Haiti Progres. They are council's position. Singer said that Mayor .among many new supporters of Mark Curtis' defense. John Dorrian has already commented on the case. In fact, Singer said, Curtis has al­ umented." Curtis received 15 stitches enue for Dr. Martin Luther King," Curtis Among them were Kathy Andrade, the ready been "convicted" twice in this case around his left eye, and his left cheekbone continued. "I am the director of the Mili­ education director of Local 23-25 of the In­ before having a trial - by the cops who was shattered. tant Labor Forum series held at Pathfinder ternational Ladies' Garment Workers' beat him and by the mayor, who has re­ Dorrian said that Curtis claimed dis­ Bookstore here in Des Moines. I am an ac­ Union; City Councilman Jose Rivera of the peated as fact the police lies against him. paraging remarks toward Hispanics and tive member of Local 431 of the United Bronx; Ben Dupuy, editor of Haiti Pro­ Blacks were made by arresting officers. Food and Commercial Workers union at gres; and Edith Tiger, director of the Na­ Mayor's letter But, Curtis said, he had already explained the Swift/Monfort meat-packing plant tional Emergency Civil Liberties Union. On April 8 Dorrian sent a letter to Doug that it was the interrogating officers, not where I work . I am the past national chair­ On May 19, at a meeting to kick off aU .S. Womack, president of United Auto Work­ those who arrested him, who made the rac­ person of the Young Socialist Alliance and tour of three Nicaraguan trade unionists, ers Local 893 in Marshalltown, Iowa, get­ ist remarks, calling him a "Mexican-lover, I am a member of the Socialist Workers virtually everyone signed .the Curtis peti­ ting every fact about the case wrong, just like you love those coloreds." Party." tion. The main speaker, one of the Nicara­ Singer said. Womack had raised his con­ Stu Singer told the council meeting that guan trade unionists, urged everyone there cerns with Dorrian about the arrest and The mayor claimed that Curtis attacked this is a political case, and the city council, to oppose the frame-up. treatment of Curtis. the police and injured one while they pre­ which is a political body, should take a Curtis will participate in the June II Although Dorrian was not at the May 23 pared to take his clothes. Curtis responded position . Singer added, "The police claim New York City march to abolish nuclear council meeting, Curtis' written response that the cops tried to interrogate him while they investigated themselves and they weapons and to stop military intervention. to the mayor's letter was distributed to naked, then beat him. found themselves innocent of beating Mark He will speak in Washington, D.C., council members and the press. Dorrian also asserted that Curtis was put Curtis. If the police department claims the New Jersey, Pittsburgh, eastern Ohio, In his letter Curtis explained, "You in a padded cell. Actually, Curtis said, he right to investigate itself, then the city West Virginia, Seattle, Portland, and Van­ wrote that my arrest followed 'officers was thrown in a bare, concrete cell , with council certainly has the right to look into couver, Canada, in June. being summoned to a private residence no blanket, heat, or sanitary facilities. this case." The trial for the first-degree burglary and where Mr. Curtis was attempting to rape a The mayor cited unnamed people in the Julia Terrell, a neighbor of Curtis', also third- degree sexual abuse charges has been 15-year-old female . Charges have been National Council of Christians and Jews, addressed the council. She said his political set for July 6. In the past week, the defense filed and the evidence in the case is quite the Des Moines Human Rights Commis­ activities stem from a deep caring about committee has received $4,100 to help clear.'" sion, and Hispanic leaders who claim Cur­ people - especially those he feels are op­ cover the cost of the defense effort. It is on Curtis pointed out that when Dorrian tis is not a prominent rights leader. pressed or exploited. Instead of the good a campaign to raise $45 ,000 by the trial sent his letter even the charges apparently citizen award that he deserves, he is ar­ date. weren't clear, let alone the evidence. At Activist for more than 10 years rested on false charges and beaten, she The committee is asking that messages the arraignment, five days after the Curtis responded, "I do not claim to be a said. be sent to the Des Moines police demand­ mayor's letter was sent to Womack, the prominent leader. I have been an activist Nan Bailey, the Socialist Workers Party ing that the charges be dropped and the prosecutor changed the charges from sec­ for more than I 0 years in opposition to the candidate for Congress in Iowa's 4th C.D., beating of Curtis by the cops be investi­ ond- to third-degree sexual abuse and added war in Central America, against racism, in also spoke in support of Curtis. gated, with those responsible being prose­ the charge of first -degree burglary. support of women's rights, in defense of cuted. Petitions and a fact sheet are avail­ Dorrian also wrote, "Mr. Curtis suffered immigrants, and in support of unions and Defense steps up campaign able from the committee. an injury to his right eyebrow." Curtis ex­ farmers . The Mark Curtis Defense Committee is Messages should be addressed to Chief plained that the full extent of injuries, "I have protested against the city of Des preparing a I ,000-piece mailing, primarily of Police William Moulder, 25 E. 1st St., "especially to my left eye, are fully doc- Moines refusing to rename University A v- to unions and other organizations in Iowa. Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Copies of mes­ Curtis has been speaking about his case sages and petitions, along with urgently throughout the United States and Canada. needed financial contributions, should be During a brief stopover in New York sent to the Mark Curtis Defense Commit­ Los Angeles rally hears Curtis City recently, he won support for his de­ tee, P.O. Box 1048, Des Moines, Iowa fense from several prominent individuals. 50311. Telephone (515) 246-1630. BY OLGA RODRIGUEZ ILGWU and an endorser of the defense ef­ LOS ANGELES - "They do this be­ fort. cause they are losing in El Salvador and Another frame-up victim, Julie Mungai Nicaragua," said Yanira Corea, referring of the Los Angeles Eight, was present to Filipino union leaders back Curtis to the Des Moines cop frame-up and beat­ extend her solidarity and that of her fellow ing of antiwar and union activist Mark Cur­ defendants, seven Palestinians who are BY PATTI IIY AMA tion of Trade Unions; Serge Cherniguin, tis. Corea is a leader of the Salvadoran fighting false charges of terrorism and face MANILA, Philippines- Participants at vice-president of the National Federation women's union in Los Angeles and was the possible deportation. the International Solidarity Affair spon­ of Sugar Workers - Food and General victim of rape and torture at the hands of The rally also heard from Don White, a sored by the May 1 Movement (KMU) Trades; and Elmer Labong, president of the death squad-style thugs last summer in leading activist of the Committee in Sol­ union federation here readily endorsed the Genuine Labor Organization of Workers in Los Angeles. idarity with the People of El Salvador Mark Curtis Defense Committee. Hotel, Restaurant, and Allied Industries. (CISPES) in Los Angeles. "Tonight we are Filipino unionists understood right away She was one of several speakers who here to speak out on behalf of one of our from their own experience that the charges Of the international guests, signers in­ shared the platform with Curtis at a meet­ own, Mark, an activist in CISPES," White against Curtis were police frame-ups stem­ cluded representatives from the General ing of more than 80 people organized by Confederation of Labor, France; the Char­ declared. ming from his political and union activity. local Curtis defense supporters. Drawing He briefly explained how the FBI had il­ Trade unionists from Australia, New leroi, Belgium, office of the General Fed­ parallels between the death squads in El legally spied on and kept files on CISPES eration of Belgian Workers; Central Or­ Salvador, the attack she suffered, and the Zealand, Japan, France, Belgium, Canada, and dozens of other antiwar, union, and the United States, Britain, and Sweden ganization of Swedish Workers; several victimization of Curtis, Corea explained, solidarity activists and organizations. Cur­ Australian and New Zealand unions; "When they are attacking us in this way, it came to the solidarity event at the invitation tis' name appeared in the CISPES files of the KMU. They joined with Filipino Municipal and Boilermakers Union, Bri­ means they are afraid and that we are doing forced out of the FBI in a Freedom of Infor­ tain; and the United Filipinos in Hong good work." workers in the mass May Day action here mation Act request. (see page 10). Many of these international Kong, an organization of Filipino domestic workers. The speakout against the police frame­ White called upon participants to step up delegates signed petitions demanding that up and beating of Mark Curtis was held at their efforts in defense of Curtis and ended all charges against Curtis be dropped. Members of the American Federation of the International Ladies' Garment Work­ his talk by saying, "The moment will come Among the Filipino endorsers were Cris­ State, County and Municipal Employees, ers' Union union hall here. The meeting when the Des Moines police realize they pin Beltran, KMU chairman; Roberto Or­ Graphic Communications International was opened by a member of the ILGWU, have made a serious mistake in taking on a taliz, KMU secretary-treasurer; Felicisimo Union , and International Association of Ernesto Estupinian. Estupinian read a CISPES activist, a person with ideals." Capullo, president of the National Federa­ Machinists in the United States also en­ statement of support to the Curtis case by More than $2 ,700 was pledged or contrib­ tion of Labor Unions, which organizes gold dorsed the case, as did members of the Jeff Stansbury, political and education di­ uted to the Curtis defense effort by those in and copper miners; Dominador Mamangun, Philippine Support Group in West Ger­ rector of the western states region of the attendance. secretary-general of the National Federa- many who attended the conference.

June 3, 1988 The Militant 3 Wall Street seven months after the crash Sudden drops in stocks, low trading reflect lack of confidence in economy

BY NORTON SANDLER payments on existing loans. What lies ahead for the economy in the A sharp downturn in the United States United States and the rest of the capitalist could quickly lead to a cutoff in those loans world? This question has been much and a default by a country such as Argen­ chewed over in the big-business media in tina, Brazil, or Mexico. This in turn could the seven months since the Oct. 19, 1987, trigger the collapse of major U.S. banks. stock market crash . The burden for this debt plundering falls For millions of working people here and on the backs of the workers and peasants. around the world, the crash has been jar­ Depression-like conditions, with massive ring and has created a sense of uneasiness unemployment and millions driven off the about the future . An increasing number land, already exist in semicolonial coun­ fear that the next downturn could lead to a tries. And world depression would quickly deep international depression with rampant lead to millions more in the semicolonial joblessness and homelessness. world being forced into joblessness and The mounting difficulties the wealthy starvation. ruling-class families are encountering on Wall Street and in the U.S. banking system Failures in Texas are an indication that the concerns of work­ The U.S. banking system is already ers and farmers are well founded. shaky. The stock market not only is an arena for Last year the Federal Deposit Insurance speculation, but is where essential capital Corp. (FDIC), a government agency that exchanges take place for industrial produc­ insures deposits of up to $100,000, put up tion, agriculture, commerce, and transpor­ $3 billion to bail out banks. That was the tation. For this reason, the stock market is largest amount in the history of the FDIC. an essential part of the production and cir­ It is expected that this year's outlays could culation of commodities in capitalist soci­ be three times as large. ety. Much of the money went to banks in Consequently, the rise and fall of stocks Texas, which have been failing at the rate serves as a measure of how the economy as of one a week for a year and a half. In this a whole is faring. Sharp plunges like the most serious banking crisis since the Great one in October show that a deep malaise Crash created sense of uneasiness for working people. Increasing numbers fear next Depression of the 1930s, 175 banks in the exists in the economy. Moreover, the con­ downturn could lead to a depression with rampant joblessness and homelessness. state are now considered high risks for fail­ tinued instability and explosiveness of the ure. stock market confirms this. In March the FDIC put out $1 billion try­ When the stock market opened on Oc­ On Monday, May 23, the market closed brokerage firms, in an attempt to lure in­ ing to forestall the collapse of Texas' tober 19, the Dow Jones industrial average at 1941.48. It was the slowest trading for vestors back to the market, have initiated a biggest bank- First RepublicBank of Dal­ (an index used to chart the rise and fall of any day in 1988. The big-business press ban on program trading (a computerized las . This is the 13th largest U.S. banking stock prices) was at 2246.74. The Dow has been complaining that the market lacks strategy that allows the big brokerage company, with 79 affiliates across the Jones quickly dropped 508 points, the "liquidity"- that is, not enough money of houses to rapidly take advantage of price state. It had suffered staggering losses as a largest drop in Wall Street history . In a buyers and sellers in the market. discrepancies in the stock and futures mar­ result of speculation in oil and real estate. matter of hours $500 billion in stock prices "Confidence is an elusive and ephemeral kets). The FDIC bailout came as withdrawals was lost. The crash quickly spread to the quality, but it is critical to the functioning Among the other proposals being de­ by large investors threatened to topple the Chicago markets and stock exchanges of the financial markets. Without it, inves­ bated is one that would allow a "circuit bank. To try to prevent panic withdrawals around the world. tors feel paralyzed and debilitated, unable breaker" to automatically halt trading in from First RepublicBank, the FDIC agreed, The next day, the entire U.S. financial to make decisions, unwilling to commit certain stocks if they go below or above a for the first time in its history, to insure all system came close to collapsing as banks funds," New York Times correspondent set limit. But an editorial in the May 15 deposits, including those in excess of began to withhold credit to the big broker­ Anise Wallace recently wrote in an article New York Times stated that these proposals $100,000. age houses, which were feverishly buying titled "Death of Investor Confidence." distract attention from two fundamental Two other large banks in the state, Texas up the stocks of their panic-stricken cus­ She stated that what' s at stake is the problems. These, the Times editors say, are Commerce Bancshares and First City Ban­ tomers. This included many large interna­ "well-being of the capital markets that are "the failure of markets driven by specula­ corporation of Houston, are also insolvent. tional investors who had been pouring vast the underpinning of the American eco­ tion to funnel capital to its most efficient On May 13 Sunbelt Savings Association amounts of capital into the U.S. stock mar­ nomy." uses" and "how best to protect the banking of Texas announced that it lost $1.2 billion ket. Wall Street Journal correspondent system from another securities panic." in the first quarter of 1988. This sets the Douglas Sease wrote that many "traders A collapse was averted when the Federal stage for the biggest bailout of a U.S. sav­ and money managers, still deeply shaken Banking system ings and loan institution. Reserve Bank stepped in to purchase bonds by how close the financial system came to and securities and to extend the credit lines The growing vulnerability of the U.S Trying to forestall more failures, the collapse last fall, fear that another series of banking system is becoming increasingly Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corp. of the big banks. surprises could trigger another scary Immediately after the crash, the broker­ apparent. (FSLIC) announced that it was going to plunge." "Never have the Third World nations force 140 Texas S&L's to merge into 30. age firms began laying off thousands of Before the crash, lights on the tele­ employees. been so dependent on the Americans not Last year a third of U.S. savings and loan phones at the brokerage houses would having a recession so that the United States institutions lost money. Their losses were Wall Street today blink feverishly all day. Now, only a third can keep providing the export earnings des­ double the profits of the remaining S&L's. of the lights blink when the market opens Over the last seven months, the Dow perately needed to keep servicing their Bank failures are not restricted to Texas. for the day. "Wait and watch, wait and debts to the major New York banks," Some 9,000 people in Colorado have been Jones average has not come close to return­ watch, that's what you do almost all day ing to pre-crash levels. The stock market stated columnist Robert Reno in New York waiting more than six months to get their now," a stockbroker told Sease. Newsday on March 29. money out of 14 industrial banks that went has been characterized by extreme volatil­ Like many big-business commentators, ity, including several big drops in prices. He is pointing to the fact that semicolo­ under. Sease tried to separate the U.S. economy nial countries are caught in a vicious cycle. It is becoming more and more apparent There has been a substantial slowdown in from what is happening in the market. the level of trading. They have to continually borrow money that safeguard mechanisms, such as the The economy, he says "seems eerily dis­ from the banks in the United States, Japan, FDIC, will be washed away if the banking connected from the markets. Recession and Western Europe to keep up the interest system collapses. fears have all but evaporated, at least for Decision postponed in this year, and most economists expect Pathfinder mural case further moderate growth. Basic indicators continued to gain, with unemployment at a Land bank in South goes under BY CHRIS RAYSON nine-year low and inflation moderate ." NEW YORK - A hearing before the But, Sease continued, "In recent weeks, Federal officials announced on May 20 after failing to find a private institution Environmental Control Board to contest 35 the stock market has reacted oddly, often that they are closing the Federal Land willing to take on the bank's liabilities. citations against the Pathfinder Mural Proj­ falling on bullish news or rising on no news Bank of Jackson, Mississippi. The receiver is going to sell the "good ect was adjourned without a decision May at all . 'It's highly volatile , highly emo­ This bank has 90 outlets in Alabama, loans" to other banks in the land bank sys­ 23 . This allows the mural project time to tional,'" another broker explained. Louisiana, and Mississippi. Some 22,000 tem. prepare additional documentation in its de­ farmers have loans outstanding to it. fense when the hearing reconvenes . The Drops in the market But nearly 9,000 farm families are A former Oklahoma banker has been date for resuming the hearing has not been Those swings reflect the fact that few be­ faced with the prospect of being forced to lieve the economy is stable. appointed as a receiver to manage the restructure their debts or being foreclosed set. bank until its assets can be liquidated. The mural - a six-story work on the on. Many of the same farmers were forced Since October 19 there have been four Land banks are part of the farm credit wall of the Pathfinder Building in Manhat­ to buy stock in the Jackson bank in order drops of more than 100 points in the Dow system established in 1916 to provide tan's Greenwich Village - has involved to secure a loan. The government is trying Jones and two others of more than 75 farmers with loans. Today the system the participation of well-known guest art­ to reassure them that they will be repaid. points. holds more than $50 billion of the $160 ists, including award-winning Nicaraguan On April 14 the market dropped 101 billion debt of U.S. farmers. This is the Farmers who want to get a land bank artist Arnoldo Guillen. points on the news that the U.S. trade def­ first time one of the land banks has gone loan in the three states will now have to The Environmental Control Board cited icit had gone up during February. The next under. appeal to agency banks in South Carolina the mural project for posting 35 leaflets - month the market dropped again after it Officials of the Farm Credit Adminis­ or Texas. with a maximum fine of $100 each. The was reported that the trade deficit had de­ tration say the Jackson bank had become Other lending agencies in the land bank leaflet announced an open house last creased. insolvent when land values plunged in the system are also in trouble. The govern­ November to meet Guillen, who painted Announcements about increases in in­ three states . ment has recently poured tens of millions portraits of Nicaraguan revolutionary lead­ terest rates have also triggered drops in the The Mississippi bank had not made a of dollars into propping up the land banks ers Augusto Cesar Sandino and Carlos market. This has aroused fears of mounting new loan since December. The officials in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Louisville, Fonseca Amador on the mural . inflation that could lead business to curtail claim that 40 percent of the bank's out­ Kentucky. Millions more may soon have Attorney Edward Copeland of the firm investments. standing loans are "bad." They decided to be poured into the Omaha, Nebraska, Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky, Proposals for "safeguarding" the market against attempting a government rescue operation as well. --N.S. and Lieberman is representing the mural from another big crash are being debated project at the board hearings. on Wall Street and in Washington. Some

4 The Militant June 3, 1988 Grenada: 'people more open to what we have to say'

/ ;c Interview with leader of Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement Militant/Holbrook Mahn Terry Marryshow

BY SAM MANUEL of the headquarters of Julien Fedon, leader which it can assume sweeping powers over them up into fi ve-acre holdings. These are NEW YORK- During his visit here in of the slave rebellion on the island in 1795. the economy and over the right to travel leased to farmers with no plan for overall March, I spoke with Terry Marry show, a At the summit a talk was given on the his­ and demonstrate. It also provides for arbi­ production. "This has actually led to the de­ leader of the Maurice Bishop Patriotic tory of the slave revolt. trary detention and deportation of persons struction of agriculture," Marryshow said. Movement (MBPM) of Grenada about the Youth organized around sports groups deemed undesirable. State-owned companies, such as the activities of his organization and the cur­ include basketball and soccer teams. One Einstein Louison, another leader of the telephone company and the national bank, rent political situation in that eastern Carib­ of the teams, the Maurice Bishop Triple MBPM, had his passport taken away three are being sold to private investors by the bean island. The MBPM is holding its first Pumpers, won the championship in the St. government. years ago. A special passport law was congress in Grenada May 27-29. Andrews parish league. Many of the idle lands that were put into adopted, which allowed the government to Marry show is also a leader of the Maurice crop production under the revolutionary confiscate Louison 's passport on the Bishop Youth Organisation (MBYO). Both Opposition to apartheid grounds of national security. The MBPM government have been returned to their organizations take their name from the late owners, often with substantial compensa­ Another example of the change in the leader received the largest vote of all the Grenadian revolutionary and prime minis­ political situation in Grenada is a new party's candidates in the last elections. tion in cash payments. "A lot of the cash ter Maurice Bishop. openness to international issues. Mar­ payments have come from the sale of the Marryshow explained that today there is ryshow pointed to the formation last US. military presence telephone company," added Marryshow. increasing interest in the ideas of the November of an anti-apartheid committee The U.S. military presence on the island Measures aimed at shifting the burden of MBPM. Dissatisfaction with the New Na­ in Grenada as a "significant development." has been substantially reduced, Marryshow taxes onto the backs of working people tional Party government has grown as the The formation of the committee was a told me. However, under the guise of car­ have added to the dissatisfaction with the economic difficulties facing working peo­ direct result of the servile adherence of the rying out maneuvers with the Grenadian government. Among these measures are a ple in the country deepen. NNP government to U.S. policy. "Many "This crisis has created a situation where coast guard to combat "drug trafficking," 20 percent value-added tax, a form of sales people were outraged when the govern­ more U.S. soldiers have been reintroduced. people are now more open to listening to tax that applies to almost all items except ment voted in the United Nations along The troops are based on the carrier ship basic foodstuffs. The government also im­ what we have to say ," Marry show ex­ with the U.S. to oppose sanctions against Taurus. posed a I 0 percent surcharge on all prod­ plained. He pointed to the larger turnouts South Africa," Marryshow explained. "It ucts produced outside the Caribbean re­ for two events organized by the MBPM. reall y caused an uproar in the country." "Their real purpose," said Marry show. gion. One was held October 19- 25 of last "The committee is broad based," said "is to be a physical reminder of the inva­ year, marking four years since the assassi­ Marryshow, "including not only progres­ sion that took place in 1983, and to keep Marryshow explained that the latter nation of Bishop and the U.S. invasion. In sives and members of our party, but also the Grenadian people in check." measure, which is falsely presented as pro­ October 1983 supporters of Deputy Prime church groups, cultural and sporting The maneuver is scheduled to conclude tection for Grenadian farmers, also hits Minister Bernard Coard overthrew the groups, individual trade unions, and other at the end of May, but the agreement also wage workers hard because it primarily popular government headed by Bishop. political parties." provides for extending the presence of covers goods such as cheese, eggs, milk, They executed him and several of his The committee has organized several Taurus if needed. and other staples. Many businesses in the cabinet officers. Shortly afterward, U.S. events. Most recently it held a film show­ country added this cost to products they troops invaded the island. Under U.S. oc­ ing and discussion. Marryshow said that Economic and social crisis had stockpiled before the surcharge went cupation, elections were held in which the aim of the group is to educate the Gre­ Marryshow noted that "the economic into effect. NNP leader Herbert Blaize was elected nadian people, especially the youth, on the crisis has affected people in the rural areas Unemployment in the country is nearly prime minister. issue of apartheid. differently than in the towns. That is be­ 50 percent, reported Marryshow, with an The other activity organized by the cause the majority of the poor people come even higher level for the youth. The cost of MBPM was the commemoration on March Attacks on democratic rights from the countryside, and feel it differently living has risen 20 percent over the last 13 of the eighth anniversary of the revolt Faced with increasing dissatisfaction as when they go to the shops. They feel more year. that brought the revolutionary government a result of worsening economic conditions, of the strain on their pockets," he said. Differences within the NNP on driving to power. Both events were attended by the NNP government has moved to curtail "This is why we have concentrated a lot through these measures, including a pro­ several thousand people. the democratic rights of working people in of our work in the countryside. Because posal last year to dismiss one-quarter of the Modest but important gains have also Grenada. this is where you get a genuine feel for the civil service workers, led to a split in the been made in efforts to build the MBPM, Leaders of the MBPM are a special suffering the people are undergoing on a government. Several key NNP ministers reported Marryshow. "We have been suc­ target of these attacks. Marryshow is one daily basis," Marryshow explained. have since formed an opposition capitalist cessful in publishing the party's newspaper of 10 Grenadians who graduated with med­ The government has also started a prog­ party called the National Democratic Con­ [Indies Times] with more regularity. Since ical degrees from the University of Havana ram of taking the large estates and breaking gress. the beginning of the year, following a lapse in Cuba in 1986. Upon their return to Gre­ at the end of last year, the paper has come nada that same year, all were denied the out every week," Marryshow noted. right to practice their profession . They Meetings of the MBPM are being held in were forced to go through another two-year Iceland parliament bans trade all of the parishes in the country . "Our ai m internship program. is to be able to meet and discuss with peo­ Two of the doctors finally left the coun­ with South Africa and Namibia ple one on one," said Marryshow. "We try. Seven others were taken into the prog­ have been sending out the message that it ram with the promise of positions after its BY SIGURLAUG GUNNLAUGSOOTTIR out a joint proposal for ending trade. The doesn't matter the number of people who completion. Marryshow, who was also REYKJAVIK, Iceland - The parlia­ following day five of the six members of want to start a group of the party. It can be scheduled to join the program, has been ment in this North Atlantic island country the commission, representing fi ve political two or three people and build from there. told that he would not be permitted to do voted on May I 0 to ban all trade with South parties, presented a proposal that has now Since the collapse of the revolution we so. Africa and apartheid-ruled Namibia. The become law. have learned to be more patient," Mar­ After several months of stalling by the ban on trade registers a big victory for anti­ Albert Guomundsson, a leader of the Ci­ ryshow emphasized. government, Marry show was informed that apartheid forces in Iceland. vilians ' Party, opposed the law. Guo­ Based on the increased receptivity to the his exclusion was based on criticisms he On April 22 Iceland's foreign minister, mundsson is one of the largest wholesale MBPM's ideas, Marryshow said, "we had made of the government while on a Steingrfmur Hermannsson, met with the traders in the country. want to invite not just party members but speaking tour in the United States in 1987 . African National Congress representative A section of the law emphasizing the ordinary working people to the convention. The MBPM is fighting this attack and to Denmark, Pritz Dullay. The foreign need for the ban explains, "E:tperience We want them to see the party at work , in plans to take Marry show's case to Gre­ minister told Dullay that he expected legis­ demonstrates that a statement of opinion by action, so that they can decide to join the nada's Supreme Court. A nationwide peti­ lation banning trade with South Africa to parliament is not adequate to halt trade party." tion campaign for his admission to the in­ be presented to parliament by the fall . with South Africa, but a law is needed." ternship program has been launched. Plans Dullay met with the foreign minister As a percentage of Iceland's total trade, Winning youth are also under way to submit the case, while visiting Reykjavik to participate in a trade with Sou,:l Africa has been declining Marryshow said that part1c1pating in along with other violations of human rights meeting to promote the book Che Guevara since 1984. Most recently, imports from sports and cultural activities has played an in the country , to the UN Human Rights and the Cuban Revolution, published by South Africa were valued at 20 to 30 mil­ important role in building the MBYO. The Commission and Amnesty International. Pathfinder/Pacific and Asia. lion Icelandic kronas ($460,000 to youth organization, for example, orga­ In June 1987 Blaize's government But action on the ban was taken faster $700,000). Last year imports from South nized several hiking clubs to participate in pushed the Emergency Powers Act through than Hermannsson expected. On April 28 Africa amounted to .05 percent of Ice­ last year's October 19 activities. The teams parliament. The bill allows the government the government asked the Parliamentary land's overall imports. Exports have re­ climbed the mountain that had been the site to impose a state of emergency, during Commission on Foreign Affairs to work mained at .01 percent.

June 3, 1988 The Militant 5 Target week gets ofT to a strong start Powerful finish during June 4-15 countdown days key to making 9,000 goal

BY NORTON SANDLER Gainesville sold 16 Militant subscriptions, paigning in Weeping Water, Nebraska, a Montreal supporters are ahead of AND JIM WHITE along With one PM subscription and $91 farming and limestone mining town some schedule on their Militant and Perspectiva Boosted by a strong start during the May worth of literature from a Pathfinder table. 40 miles from Omaha. They got 13 Mili­ Mundial goals. Distributors of the revolu­ 21-27 target week, our distributors in the Newark campaign supporters also had a tant subscribers and sold three copies of tionary press set up tables at the public United States and around the world are successful start, selling 14 Militant and 12 New International. market and at a large subway station every mapping out a course to make the 9,000 PM subscriptions on May 21 . That evening Linda Joyce told us that a team from Saturday. Paul Kouri, who is coordinating goal for our international circulation drive two copies of New International were Miami traveled to Sebring, Florida, to at­ the campaign in Canada, said that "there­ by the June 15 deadline. purchased by participants at the Militant tend the state convention of the United Farm sponse to the Militant by workers whose Especially important will be organizing Labor Forum. The next day distributors Workers of America. Seven subscriptions to first language is French is better than the a final 12-day "countdown" effort begin­ sold 23 Militant and PM subscriptions and PM and the Militant were sold. most optimistic expectations. Because of ning Saturday, June 4. three copies of Nouvelle lnternationale, In Canada, plans are being finalized for the weekly coverage and its wide variety, Fighting to make the goals adopted in the French-language sister publication of a big effort between May 29 and June 4. workers are willing to try to read as much each local area will be key to winning New International. Distributors of the publications in To­ of the paper as they can." 6,000 subscribers to the Militant and I ,500 In addition, a team to southern New Jer­ ronto sold 25 subscriptions in April. Sev­ to the Spanish-language monthly Perspec­ sey that was a joint effort between cam­ eral were sold at demonstrations in solidar­ The push in Canada will culminate with tiva Mundial, as well as I ,500 readers for paign supporters in Newark and Philadel­ ity with the Palestinian struggle and in sup­ wrap-up rallies for the Pathfinder Book­ store fund campaign. A rally in Montreal the Marxist magazine New International. phia sold 12 subscriptions to Perspectiva port of abortion rights. will be held on June 3, and in Toronto on Local distributors will be setting specific Mundial. Since then, they have continued to take goals for each of the 12 countdown days. Jose Alvarado reports that the tally in Los June 4. The purpose of the $8,000 the press to actions, while also organizing Angeles on May 21 was 22 Militant and 26 (US$6,400) fund is to strengthen the Path­ We strongly encourage that a special ef­ regular teams to contact subscribers of the PM subs, and six copies of New Interna­ finder bookstores in those two cities. fort be put into fielding full-time teams for Militant and the Canadian biweekly Social­ tional. Alvarado says campaign teams sold several days during that period. These ist Voice to ask them to renew. More than If you want to help us on the interna­ teams can campaign in working-class areas most of the subscriptions going door to half of the 60 subscribers contacted have de­ tional circulation drive, look us up on page and on campuses in cities where dis­ door in working-class neighborhoods in cided to renew or purchase an additional 12 or call the Militant business office at tributors live, or travel to outlying areas. In Compton, Long Beach, and East and West subscription. (212) 929-3486. some cases, a couple of local areas may Los Angeles. want to work together to field teams. Dave Cahalane reports from Boston that The international campaign has lagged I 0 Militant and 12 PM subscriptions, along behind schedule from the beginning, but with seven copies of New International Sales Drive Progress early reports confirm that the target week is were sold the first two days of the target helping us get in position to make the goal. week. Boston campaigners sold three Mili­ Drive New Perspectiva New York supporters of the Socialist tant subscriptions and two copies of New Totals Militant International Mundial Workers Party presidential ticket of James International in Jay, Maine. Seven PM subscriptions single copies subscriptions Warren and Kathleen Mickells report that subs were sold in the Dominican communi­ after four days of the target week, they ty in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Area Goal Sold %Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold have sold a combined total of 173 Militant Miami 225 155 69 145 112 40 14 40 29 and PM subscriptions and individual Regional sales copies of New International. During the drive, many local areas have Los Angeles 600 365 61 340 218 100 72 160 75 In Miami, backers of the SWP campaign had good success in fielding teams to re­ Boston 350 206 59 240 152 50 20 60 34 set themselves a combined goal of 40 for gional campuses, plant gates, and farming Binningham. ""· 175 99 S7 140 70 25 'l7 10 2 the target week . After two days they had communities. New YOlk 1.200 674 56 (ill 362 300 186 300 126 already sold 29 . A regional team that Miesa Patterson reports that Omaha sup­ Omaha, ..... 125 70 56 80 S7 25 II 20 2 traveled to the University of Florida in porters recently spent two weekends cam- Seattle 275 149 54 200 fJ7 25 16 50 36

Newark. NJ 4ff) 249 54 275 144 85 42 100 63 Milwaukee 150 *' 53 100 63 25 10 25 7 London bookstore will boost Greensboro ,NC 125 60 48 100 56 15 2 10 2 Twin Cities. Mrno 285 131 46 230 107 35 14 20 10 Pathfinder's internat'l sales San Francisco 350 157 45 200 105 75 17 75 35 Portland, o" 140 62 44 100 39 25 18 15 5 BY NORTON SANDLER more than two decades. Detroit 250 110 44 185 98 40 4 25 8 "The new bookshop will carry Pathfind­ The international circulation of revolu·­ Austin ,""" 90 38 42 65 31 15 5 10 2 tionary literature will get a boost this com­ er's full range of titles ," Harris said. "This Chicago 350 146 42 ing summer with the opening of a new includes writings of Fidel Castro, Che 215 107 60 21 75 18 Pathfinder bookstore in London. Guevara, Maurice Bishop, leaders of the Phoenix 240 95 40 135 48 30 18 75 29 The bookshop will be located at 4 7 The Sandinista revolution, Malcolm X, Leon Atlanta 205 81 40 150 66 40 8 15 7 Cut, near the busy Waterloo subway stop. Trotsky, Farrell Dobbs and James P. Can­ Pittsburgh 250 96 38 185 83 45 9 20 4 non. It will have books on the fight for This is where Pathfinder's London sales Kansas City 130 49 38 90 39 20 2 20 8 and distribution office has been located for women's liberation and on trade union Philadelphia 210 74 35 140 55 a number of years. The space is being re­ struggles." 30 8 40 II Oakland, c.~or 265 90 34 150 62 50 16 65 12 modeled by an international team of volun­ "We will also have an ample stock of Houston 215 71 33 teers that will include several supporters of Spanish and French titles, so the bookshop 140 55 30 4 45 12 Pathfinder from the United States and Can­ will be accessible to the many working Morgantown, wv 135 44 33 115 37 15 5 5 2 ada. people here who speak these languages and Des Moines, """ 195 63 32 140 53 30 6 25 4 "Pathfinder Books will carry material to many visitors to this city from around Cleveland 145 46 32 110 41 20 3 15 2 from the historic arsenal of the working­ the world," said Harris. "Pathfinder Books Washington, oc 250 77 31 170 50 50 10 30 17 class movement," Jonathan Silberman ex­ will be a place workers and youth will be Baltimore 185 54 29 150 plained in a telephone interview. Silber­ able to hold political discussions." 50 30 0 5 4 man is a national coordinator of a newly es­ Price, uw. 60 17 28 40 14 10 10 2 "The £15,000 Pathfinder Bookshop tablished Pathfinder Bookshop Fund. The St.Louis 250 61 24 190 49 50 II 10 I goal for the fund, which will run until June Fund will help meet the costs of renting the Salt Lake City 150 32 21 115 26 20 3 15 3 25, is £15,000 ($28,000). Nearly £2,000 space and refurbishing it," Silberman said, has been collected so far. "as well as stocking the shop and making Charleston, wv 120 24 20 100 17 15 7 5 0 sure that it has enough funds to operate "The Pathfinder bookstore will make National* Team 58 47 2 9 available the writings of the founders of sci­ until it is established." Cincinnati 18 10 56 18 10 entific socialism, Karl Marx and Frederick A series of rallies promoting the fund Engels, the leaders of the Communist In­ have been held throughout Britain. Speak­ Louisville 5 5 ternational in Lenin's time; and of contem­ ers at events held in South Wales and Shef­ Other U.S. 23 22 porary revolutionary leaders in Cuba, Nic­ field included George Johannes of the Afri­ U.S. totals 8,178 3,816 47 5,358 2,642 I ,425 592 I ,395 582 aragua, South Africa, and elsewhere," Sil­ can National Congress (ANC) of South Af­ berman said. rica; Jaime Lopez of the Farabundo Martf London 62 33 53 45 29 8 2 9 2 "Working people are interested in find­ National Liberation Front-Revolutionary South Wales 40 17 43 27 16 10 0 I Democratic Front of El Salvador; ltula ing books that address the major questions South Yorks 45 IS 33 30 13 5 0 10 2 Panduleni of the South West Africa Peo­ of our time," he continued. "This interest Manchester 34 7 21 24 6 5 0 5 has grown following the stock market crash ple's Organisation of Namibia; and South Nottingham 39 last October. More and more people are be­ Wales coal miner Phil Cullen. 8 21 24 6 12 2 3 0 coming convinced that capitalism offers in­ A successful event was also held in Other Britain 19 5 14 creasing joblessness, hunger, and misery ." Manchester. Another is planned for Notting­ Britain totals 220 99 45 150 75 40 18 30 6 "The new shop meets a need. There is ham. really nothing like it in London," Silber­ Kathleen Mickells, Socialist Workers Canada 340 225 66 200 142 100 43 40 40 man emphasized. Party candidate for U.S. vice-president; a Iceland 15 5 33 15 5 Connie Harris is the other coordinator of representative of the ANC and Silberman New Zealand 220 175 80 180 ISO 30 18 10 7 will speak at a May 28 rally in London. the Pathfinder Bookshop Fund. Harris has * worked on sales and distribution of Path­ Harris and Silberman stressed that they Puerto Rico 14 3 I 10 finder books and pamphlets in Britain for are getting an enthusiastic response to their Other Internal 'I 43 18 22 3 recent fund appeal letter. One supporter has already sent in a check for £750. "Big This publication is available or small, all donations are important," Sil­ in microform from University Totals 8,973 4~ 49% 5,

6 The Militant June 3, 1988 Ohio petitioners find broad interest in Warren-Micke lis program

BY PETE SEIDMAN our campaign's analysis that the economy CLEVELAND - In the first II days of is heading toward a new depression. petitioning in Ohio. supporters of James "A significant number of workers see Warren and Kathleen Mickells have that the Democratic and Republican candi­ gathered 7,205 names to put the Socialist dates are arguing only over what solutions Workers Party presidential ticket on the to this crisis would best serve the interests Ohio ballot. Their goal is 10,000 signa­ of large corporations. They respond with tures by June 4. The state requires 5,000. genuine interest to the SWP campaign pro­ "But the big news from Ohio," says posal for how to fight for jobs." David Marshall, the SWP candidate for "Discussions on these points," Marshall U.S. Senate, "is the large number of sub­ said, "are the basis for the success we've scriptions and individual copies of the Mil­ had in building the circulation of the social­ ist press." Militant/ Argiris Malapanis itant and Perspectiva Mundial that have James Warren (left) talks with Minnesota auto worker about working-class program been sold while gathering such an impres­ Petitioners in Lorain, near the sight of a large USX steel plant west of Cleveland, to deal with impending economic crisis. Widespread concern about the future leads sive number of signatures." working people to look closely at Warren-Mickells proposals. So far, 79 subscriptions and 390 indi- found lots of interest in a feature article in a recent Militant that focused on develop­ ments in Cuba. A woman told campaign supporter Joan Radin that she'd "like to read about that." Calif. socialists field ticket Radin also met a Puerto Rican who was pleased to meet another revolutionary-mind­ BY MATILDE ZIMMERMANN In his statement to the media, Fuchs ed worker. She bought a Militant subscrip­ MARTINEZ, Calif. - The Socialist proposed a program to deal with the depres­ tion for herself and a single copy of PM to Workers Party announced two candidates sion he said was approaching for working show her Spanish-speaking coworkers. for U.S. Congress at a news conference people in the United States and around the here May 12. world. The socialist campaign is also getting a Steven Fuchs, chairperson of the San The article in the Contra Costa Times good response on campus. Petitioners sold Francisco SWP and well known as a leader the next day focused on Kennedy's propos­ 15 subscriptions to the Militant and numer­ in the Bay Area of the movement against als for how workers could defend them­ ous Pathfinder pamphlets at Cleveland U.S. intervention in Central America, is selves against health and safety violations State University. running in the 5th C.D. in San Francisco. and other attacks. "No one should go to Members of the Young Socialist Al­ She Ilia Kennedy, a national leader of the work and be killed because of speedups, liance are organizing a discussion on Cuba Young Socialist Alliance and a steel­ cutbacks, or the drive for bigger profits," for these new subscribers at the Cleveland worker, is the candidate in the 7th C.D. in the article quoted Kennedy as saying. Two campaign headquarters. Contra Costa County. workers have been killed at U.S.S. Posco Campaigners have also been collecting Martinez, 35 miles northeast of San in the last year and several others seriously signatures and selling subscriptions in Cin­ Francisco, is the county seat for Contra injured. Kennedy also blasted the owners cinnati, Columbus, Coshocton, Toledo, Costa. The county is an important industri­ of the Shell Oil refinery located in Mar­ Akron, Sandusky, Dayton, and in Belmont al area, with oil refineries, shipyards, and tinez for allowing hundreds of thousands of County - the center of Ohio's coalfields. steel and chemical plants. There are also gallons of oil to be spilled into the Car­ Throughout the state petitioners have some-agricultural areas. quinez Straits. been able to hold good discussions on the Kennedy is a laborer at one of the largest The socialist campaign already has sup­ case of Mark Curtis, a young political ac­ industrial plants in the county - the porters in a number of plants and refineries tivist framed up by cops in Des Moines, sprawling U.S.S. Posco (formerly U.S. throughout Contra Costa County and ex­ Iowa. Steel) steel mill in Pittsburg. Kennedy is pects that the program Kennedy and Fuchs More than 100 new subscribers and the first Socialist Workers candidate to run are presenting will get a good response other interested working people have in Contra Costa County. from workers in the county. added their names to petitions demanding Petitioning in streets of Cleveland. Peo­ that the charges against Curtis be dropped. ple not only signed, but picked up or On May 28, SWP candidate David Mar­ subscribed to campaign's newspapers. shall will speak at a campaign barbecue. It Your help is needed . .. will be held at 3900 Whitman A venue in vidual copies of the Militant have been Cleveland at 6:30p.m. For more informa­ sold , along with 14 subscriptions and 18 tion call (216) 861 -6150. 1988 Socialist Workers Party single copies of PM. Two copies of the Ohio is one of 18 states, along with Marxist magazine New International have Washington , D.C. , where the SWP is $50,000 campaign fund drive also been sold. The Militant and Perspecti­ seeking ballot status in 1988. So far, War­ va Mundial are actively campaigning in ren and Mickells have been officially cer­ May 21- July 9 support of the Socialist Workers ticket. tified to be on the ballot in Utah and New "These sales are higher than most of us Jersey. This year. the Socialist Workers .Morgantown. W.Va. 1,150 initially thought we could do while peti­ A major national effort to get the ticket Party is running James Warren for New York 7,000 tioning," Marshall explained. "But we on the ballot in Alabama will begin in mid­ U.S. president, and Kathleen .Mickells Newark. N.J. 3,000 found that there was broad agreement with June and in New York on July 12. for vice-president. Oakland. Calif. 1.700 Your help is needed in a seven­ Omaha, Neb. 1,100 week drive to raise $50,000 for the Philadelphia 1,650 campaign. This fund will help cover Phoenix 1.150 15,000 unionists at D.C. rally the cost of tens of thousands of Pittsburgh 1.600 pieces of literature. travel around the Portland, Ore 900 country and several international Price, Utah 600 demand gov't aid to families trips. and national petitioning teams Salt Lake City 800 to help obtain ballot status in several San Francisco 2,000 BY EDWIN FRUIT hundreds of others traveled by train, car, states. Seattle 1.250 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Thousands of van, or plane from as far away as Seattle. trade unionists converged here May 14 as Crowd estimates were from 15,000 to Supporters of the socialist ticket in St. Louis 1.600 part of the American Family Day celebra­ 25,000, and people were still coming to the 32 cities have set goals to make the Twin Cities . .Minn. 1.900 tion sponsored by the Coalition of Labor rally site late into the afternoon. fund a success. Below are the figures Washington. D.C. 1,750 Union Women. The gathering called for for each area. The demonstration was endorsed by To make a contribution. please fill "government action now for a national every major union, as well as numerous Atlanta 1.450 out the coupon below, and mail to family policy," urging that all families civil rights, women's, and other organiza­ Austin, .Minn. 500 Socialist Workers 1988 National Cam­ must have affordable quality support. This tions. More than 150 buses came from the Baltimore 1.150 paign Committee. 79 Leonard St., includes jobs, health care, child- and elder­ New York-New Jersey area, one of the Birmingham, Ala. 950 New York, N.Y. 10013. care, family leaves, equal pay for work of largest contingents being from the Interna­ Boston 1.750 Enclosed is a check or money order equal value, and other measures. tional Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Charleston. W.Va. 1.000 for: _ _ $200 _ _ $100 __ $50 As part of the building for the demon­ Buses of Chinese- and Spanish-speaking Chicago 2,200 __ $10 __ other stration, a booklet was put out on the de­ workers reflected the diversity of this Cleveland 1.150 teriorating conditions in these areas. It ex­ 0 I endorse the Warren-Mickells union. plained the effects of the loss of millions of Des Moines, Iowa 750 ticket. jobs, the Jack of medical care and child­ Speakers at the rally included Lane Kirk­ Detroit 1,350 Name Greensboro, N.C. 800 care, and the devastation this has had, land, president of the AFL-CIO; William Address------­ especially on working women. Wino, president of the United Food and Houston 1,150 City State _ Zip __ Among the specific measures proposed Commercial Workers union; members of Kansas City 750 Phone ______was an increase in the minimum wage. Congress; Claude Pepper, ex-congressman Los Angeles 3.250 .Miami 1.450 School/Organization ______The Baltimore Council of the AFL-CIO from Florida and an advocate for senior This ad has been paid for by the Socialist Woli

June 3, 1988 The Militant 7 Palestinian struggle and Arab peoples' li§. Perspective of winning democratic, secular Palestine advances struggle to top]

BY FRED FELDMAN After nearly six months of bloody re­ its use by Palestinians, and assures control perialist powers - created a powerful oh­ (Last of eight articles) pression, the Israeli authorities have failed of it by the ruling capitalist class. stacle to this movement for nationallibeiu· The current Palestinian struggle, which to achieve their goal - which one Israeli Palestinians within the green line face tion. began in December, is the most massive commentator summed up as "erasing the pervasive legal and extra legal segregation But it did not put a stop to these strug­ and sustained since Israel was established smile from the face of Palestinian youth." and dis(;rimination in housing, education, gles. Advances in winning independence on Palestinian land in 1948. It is the most employment, and in other arenas. from imperialism were scored over the fol­ The battle waged by the Palestinians has massive popular revolt in Palestine since This was highlighted recently when lowing decades in countries ranging from strengthened solidarity with their struggle the 1936-39 uprising against British colo­ Ariel Sharon, who helped engineer the Egypt and Algeria to Yemen and Iran. In around the world, including in the United nial rule. massacres of Palestinians in the Sabra and this context, the expulsion of the bulk of States where the portrayal of Israel as a Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon, took an The Israeli regime has responded with a "progressive democracy" has been further savage escalation of the violence and at­ apartment in a Palestinian neighborhood in ,, ______exposed. tacks on democratic rights that have always East Jerusalem which is formally annexed In December prominent Palestinian lead­ to Israel. The move was a provocative one, Since 1967, a large and characterized its rule over the Palestinians. ers put forward 14 immediate demands. More than 170 people have been killed. implying expanded Israeli settlement and They tell a lot about the oppression Pales­ growing Palestinian confiscation of Palestinian land. Thousands more are held in prison. tinians suffer, the character of the Israeli Thousands have had their bones broken, or regime, and the goals Palestinians are But Palestinians are barred by the courts working class has been from living in Jerusalem's Jewish quarter. been subjected to other forms of beatings fighting for. and torture. created. It forms most Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin They include: Roots of uprising has called on troops to answer the protests • The "release of all prisoners who were The demands being raised by the Pales­ combative layer in with "force, might, and beatings." arrested during the recent uprising and tinian protesters are for equality before the working class in "Our task," explained Prime Minister foremost among them our children;" law and for other basic democratic rights. Yitzhak Shamir, "is to ... once again put • "Cancellation of the policy of expul­ The Palestinian people are asserting their Israel. . . . the fear of death in the Arabs." sion and allowing all exiled Palestinians to right to live and be treated as human be­ ______,, return to their homes;" Yet, the uprising has not been broken. ings. These democratic demands pose a Strikes and protests in the West Bank and • "The immediate lifting of the siege of fundamental challenge to the Israeli the Palestinians in the late 1940s failed • Gaza Strip continue. On national strike the refugee camps in the West Bank and capitalist rulers, whose wealth and power end the development of the Palestinian na­ days, tens of thousands of Palestinian Gaza and withdrawal of the army from all are based on denying these rights above all tional movement. Although the over­ workers from the West Bank and Gaza population centers;" to the Palestinian people and also to other whelming majority had been dispersed in Strip who work across what in Israel is • "The cancellation of all restrictions on workers and farmers in Israel. refugee camps or in Palestinian com­ political freedoms, including the restric­ known as the "green line," and sometimes The roots of the current uprising lie in munities in other countries, they never tions on meetings and conventions, and also many of the 750,000 Palestinians who the struggle against colonial domination gave up the fight to regain their homeland. live within that line, stay home from work. making provisions for free municipal elec­ that began among the Arab peoples more (The "green line" separates the parts of tions under the supervision of a neutral au­ than 70 years ago, with the revolt against 1967: turning point Palestine that have been formally incorpo­ thority." the domination of the Ottoman Empire The Israeli conquest in 1967 of Ea"' rated into Israel from the West Bank and • Legalizing "political contacts between based in what is today Turkey. The revolt Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip, inhabitants of the occupied territories and Gaza Strip, which are under Israeli military deepened with the struggles against British the parts of Palestine that it had not seized the Palestine Liberation Organization, in rule.) and French imperialism, which moved in in 1948, marked a turning point in this such a way as to allow for the participation During this fight, thousands of young to take over after the Ottoman Empire col­ struggle. Instead of expelling the great of Palestinians from the territories in the fighters are gaining experience through lapsed in World War I. majority of the Palestinian population, as proceedings of the Palestine National participating in and leading mass struggles. The Arab revolt sought to end colonial was done in the areas Israel took over in Council," the leading body of the PLO. These youth, and other Palestinians, have rule and foreign occupation and oppres­ 1948, the Israeli rulers initiated a process formed a network of organizations through­ Another set of demands touches on the sion. They sought to establish independent of stripping the Palestinians on the Wt . . out the West Bank and Gaza Strip. measures the Israeli regime has taken to governments that could reclaim the land Bank and Gaza of their land and tools so strip Palestinians in the West Bank and and resources of the region. they would be forced to work for Israeli One example is the Shabibeh, or Youth Gaza of their land and tools in order to Committees for Social Action. Hundreds As the struggle deepened, the people of employers at low wages. force them to work at low wages across the the Arab countries became conscious of Although East Jerusalem was annexed, of such organizations now function across green line. the West Bank and Gaza Strip. themselves as a people suffering and seek­ the West Bank and Gaza remained under These demands include: ing to end their oppression. Anti-im­ military rule . This enabled the regime to • "A cessation of all settlement activity perialist battles began to forge national deny all political rights to the Palestinians and land confiscation and the release of consciousness among Syrians, Egyptians, there, facilitating the policy of expropri lands already confiscated." About half the Palestinians, and others. ing them of their land. The rulers also land in the West Bank has been plundered The establishment in 1948 of the Israeli hoped military rule would seal off the peo­ from the Palestinians, as has 30 percent of state and the expropriation and expulsion ple of these territories from contact and the land in the Gaza Strip. of the Palestinian people from their home­ collaboration with working people in the • Removing "restrictions on building land, backed by Washington and other im- rest of Israeli-held Palestine. permits and licenses for industrial projects and artesian wells, as well as agricultural development programs in the occupied ter­ ritories." SOVIET UNION • "Rescinding all measures taken to de­ prive the territories of their water re­ sources." • "Terminating the policy of discrimi­ nation being practiced against industrial and agricultural produce from the occupied territories." • Return the hundreds of millions of dollars that the Israeli government deducts from the wages of workers from the West Bank and Gaza. Although they do not re­ ceive social benefits provided to workers Israel's War who live across the green line, deductions for these benefits are taken from the Pales­ Against the tinians' wages by the government. Palestinian These demands have also won wide sup­ port among Palestinians living within the areas that are incorporated into Israel. This *Riyadh People reflects their outrage at the treatment they By David Frankel and receive, as well as their solidarity with Pal­ SAUDI ARABIA Will Reissner estinians in the West Bank and Gaza. When hundreds of thousands of Pales­ Written following Israel's 1982 inva­ tinians were driven from their homes at the sion of Lebanon, this pamphlet ex­ time Israel was being established 40 years SUDAN plains why the Israeli state is perpetu­ ago, 150,000 managed to remain. The new ally at war with the Arab peoples, and regime confiscated the land and goods of why Palestinians are struggling for those who had been expelled, and 40 per­ freedom. cent of the property of those Arabs who re­ mained. The seizure of the land of Palestin­ *Khortovm $1 .25. Available from Pathfinder book­ ians within the green line has continued stores listed on page 12 or by mail from Pathfinder, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. into the 1980s. 10014. Please include 75 cents for han­ About 93 percent of the land within the dling. green line is owned outright by the Israeli government and administered for it by the Also available from Pathfinder/Pacific and Israel Land Authority and the Jewish Na­ *Addis Ababa Asia, P.O. Box 37, Leichhardt, Sydney tional Fund, which was set up in the early NSW 2040, Australia, or Pathfinder, 47 The Cut, London SE1 8LL, England. 1900s to help finance the colonization of Palestine. This ownership effectively bars

8 The Militant June 3, 1988 ,~t lor liberation 1le Israeli rulers This marked a change from the goal the imperialist countries for decades. ~.Iginally proclaimed by the founders of Is­ Israel's capitalist economy, already shak­ rael, which was to populate Palestine al­ en and dependent on billions in annual aid most exclusively with Jewish colonizers from the United States, will be extremely from other countries, settling them on land vulnerable to this crisis. seized from Palestinians. The increased de­ This will impel workers in Israel to at­ mand of the Israeli employers for cheap tempt to forge their own independent or­ labor, and the decline in immigration to Is­ ganizations to fight for their interests. rael, lay behind this shift. The West Bank Today, the main union federation in Israel, d Gaza Strip have also served as a cap­ the Histadrut, is actually one of the coun­ tive market for Israeli-made goods. try's biggest businesses, and the so-called This has been highly profitable for the Labor Party is controlled top to bottom by Israeli capitalists. But as a result, they no big business. longer face only Palestinia_ns exiled in vari­ To fight back in the coming crisis, Is­ ous countries, but also more than 2.2 mil­ raeli workers will have to join forces with lion Palestinians living in Israeli-held Palestinians who have been leading the Palestine. (There are approximately 1.5 way in forging unions and other indepen­ 'Ilion Palestinians living in the West dent organizations to combat the Israeli re­ Bank and Gaza, and 750,000 living in the gime. rest of the country.) Israeli working farmers are already Prior to 1948, the Palestinian Arabs had being strangled by growing debts to the been mostly farmers, artisans, and small government and bankers. Moves to reduce traders. The wage workers had been their living standards and take away their primarily employed in agriculture. land will drive them to fight. To get out of Since the 1967 war, a large and growing the bind they're in, they will have to battle n ~ testinian working class has been created. alongside the Palestinian farmers, who More than 49 percent of the West Bank have been fighting confiscation and debt labor force is employed across the green slavery on both sides of the green line for line, as is more than 65 percent of the Gaza many years. Strip work force. These workers form the Israeli workers and farmers will be Palestinian youths wave national flag. Thousands of young fighters have gained experience most combative, battle-tested, and anti-im­ forced to fight for the most basic demo­ in carrying out, organizing, and leading struggles. perialist layer in the working class in Is­ cratic rights. As class polarization and rael. ,, ______and discrimination against the Palestinians. knell for this regime and open up the possi­ This change in the class composition of That means recognizing the right of the bility that the people there could choose to , .•e Palestinian people, imposed by the Is­ In coming battles, 2.8 million Palestinians forced to live become part of a democratic Palestine. raeli capitalists' plunder and superexploi­ abroad, many in refugee camps, to return In the coming battles, the Palestinian tation, has created tens of thousands more Palestinian people will be and reclaim their rights as citizens. people fighting for their national rights will future gravediggers to bury Israeli capitalist It means putting an end to the dis­ be joined by hundreds of thousands of rule. The growing social weight of Palestin­ joined by hundreds of criminatory " law of return." This law al­ workers and farmers fighting to overturn ian workers and their integration into the Is­ thousands of workers and lows anyone whose mother is Jewish or the rule of the Israeli capitalist class. raeli economy has been highlighted in the who converts to Judaism to settle in Israel current revolt. farmers fighting to with the rights of citizens, but bars millions Road to workers' and farmers' rule In addition to greatly increasing the po­ of Palestinians, who were born there in The changes in the composition of the tential power of the Palestinian struggle , it overturn Israeli capitalist many cases and whose families had lived Palestinian people, greatly increasing the has strengthened all workers - Palestinian class. there for many generations. percentage who are workers, have rein­ and Jewi sh - throughout Israeli-ruled ______Radical hmd reform is imperative to en­ forced the social weight of the exploited Palestine. ,, able returning Palestinians whose families classes among the Palestinians, and in Is­ All workers under Israeli rule are were stripped of their land to resume farm­ raeli-held Palestine as a whole. This places exploited and oppressed by the Israeli clashes intensify, the Israeli rulers will take ing if they wish, and to provide sufficient workers and farmers in a stronger position capitalist rulers. All are victimized by the steps toward extending over the whole land to those on the West Bank and Gaza to take the lead in the democratic revolu­ lers ' restrictions on democratic rights, country the regime of "force, might, and who have been victimized by the regime's tion that will put an end to oppression by massive military spending, and attempts to beatings" they have been trying to impose policies of confiscation and discrimination. the Israeli regime . make workers and working farmers pay for on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestin­ A secular state is one that promulgates Every advance in this direction will the wrenching cycle of inflation and defl a­ ian workers and farmers will be in the no particular religious belief and gives no place the workers and farmers of Palestine tion that has characteri zed Israel's unstable forefront of the resistance to these moves. special privileges to any religious body. in a more advantageous position to advance capitalist economy. The struggle around demands for basic Establishing such a state means abolishing to the establishment of a workers' and While the Israeli rulers repress and dis­ democratic rights is bringing Palestinians the privileged position held by the Jewish farmers' government in Palestine. The criminate against Palestinian workers and into an intensifying confrontation with the religion and religious hierarchy in Israel democratic revolution in Palestine will f~ 'lllers , they also have attempted to use Israeli government. The ruling rich in Is­ today. Instead , unfettered freedom of reli­ open the road to putting an end to capitalist uon-Palestinian working people as cannon rael are fiercely resisting making any con­ gious belief or nonbelief must be won for oppression and exploitation in Palestine, as fodder for their wars of expansion against cessions to these demands, which threaten Jews, Christians, Muslims, and others. part of the worldwide battle of workers and neighboring countries, and their civil war both the superprofits the capitalists gain farmers to forge a communist future . against the Palestinians. Among the work­ from exploiting Palestinian workers and Future of Jordan ers who are Jewish, those whose families the rulers' grip on the land and resources The struggle of the Palestinians today is came to Israel from other Middle East or that were stolen from the Palestinian peo­ having a profound impact on Jordan, where North African countries face racial dis­ ple . most of the population is Palestinian. Tear gas producer crimination. Most are dark-skinned and a The massive mobilizations of the Pales­ When the British imperialists first took pressured to halt sales 1-- · Jportionately higher number are wage tinians may force the Israeli rulers to yield over Jordan, or Transjordan as it was workers than those of European or North ground on some of these demands, but they called, after World War I, it had a common to Israeli government American backgrounds. will never stop trying to roll back any gains administration with Palestine . In 1921 the the Palestinians make. Bowing to pressure, a U.S . manufac­ Coming economic crisis British set up a separate colonial adminis­ The struggle of the Palestinian people to tration for Transjordan. turer of tear gas said that it will stop selling A revolutionary struggle that can over­ end military rule and achieve and secure A monarchy was established under Ab­ its product to Israel. throw the Israeli regime, which represents political rights, land , self-determination, dullah, a member of the Hashemite clan, Tear gas is supposed to be nonlethal , but the interests of only a small superwealthy and other basic democratic rights, ulti­ one of the ruling clans of the Arabian Israeli troops have been using it to kill Pal­ :1ority of the people living in Palestine, mately leads toward a struggle to topple the peninsula. In 1946 the British government estinian protesters. Correspondents have is the key to progress for the Palestinian Israeli regime . conceded formal independence to Trans­ reported numerous cases of soldiers throw­ people and for all the workers and farmers To put an end to the bloody wars waged jordan and the name was changed to Jordan ing grenades into enclosed areas. The of the country. by the Israeli rulers and to defend them­ three years later. canisters specifically warn that this is le­ This fact will become apparent to many selves from the devastation that the de­ Because the Jordanian monarchy is un­ thal. more workers and farmers as the political veloping capitalist economic crisis will democratic and completely dependent on TransTechnology, the manufacturer, and economic problems of Israeli and threaten them with , the workers and farm­ imperialism, it has little popular support. said it had come under "tremendous pres­ world capitalism deepen. The October ers - Jewish and Palestinian - need to The Hashemite kings from Abdullah to sure" from the U.S . Arab-American com­ ' 87 stock market crash signaled the ap­ overturn this capitalist regime. Hussein have always feared the Palestinian munity. proach of a world capitali st economic de­ The key to victory for the workers and national movement and other liberation In April , several hundred people pro­ pression. This will lead to social and polit­ farmers in the coming battles against the struggles in the Middle East. tested outside the company laboratory in ical crises in the imperialist countries - rule of the Israeli capitalists and their gov­ Their hostility was expressed in their an­ Saltsburg , Pennsylvania. The American­ not just in the semicolonial countries of ernment is unity . nexation of the West Bank after Israel con­ Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee played Asia, Africa, and Latin America that have The call for a democratic , secular Pales­ quered most of Palestine in 1948, and their a leading role in the fight to halt the sale of been reeling from the devastating effects of tine, where Christians, Jews, and Muslims attempts to suppress the Palestinian strug­ the tear gas . the mountain of foreign debts heaped on will live together in freedom and equality, gle there; in the bloody Black September The demand was supported by Physi­ • '- ~ m by the bankers in New York, Lon­ advances the perspecti ve of such a united bloodbath against the Palestinians in Jor­ cians for Human Rights, which recently aon, Paris, Tokyo, and other imperialist struggle. dan in 1970; and in King Hussein's unsuc­ had a team of medical workers in the West centers. This perspective was put fo rward by cessful effort to force the people of the Bank and Gaza Strip studying the violence The efforts of the capitalists on one side Fatah, the leading organization in the PLO , West Bank to back him against the PLO in directed against Palestinian protesters. and the workers and farmers on the other to in 1970 and later adopted by the PLO as a 1986. Since the Palestinian uprising began in protect their interests in the crisis. and find whole . The overturn of the Israeli government December, Israel has bought 120 ,000 tear a way out of it, will lead to huge class con­ Establishing a democratic state means and the conquest of the den ocratic revolu­ gas grenades and projectiles. These are fi­ frontations such as have not been seen in first and foremost ending the oppression tion in Palestine would sound the death nanced by a U.S. government subsidy.

June 3, 1988 The Militant 9 May Day in Philippines: 100,000 workers march Demand government action in face of continuing economic crisis

BY PATTI IIYAMA which even now is being ignored by many MANILA, Philippines- In the largest employers. May Day demonstration in recent years, Labor leaders had expected a 5 to 7.5 100,000 workers waving red banners and cents per liter rollback in gas prices in view chanting militant slogans marched to a of the increased prices of basic goods and rally at Rizal Park here. the decreasing price of oil on the world Marchers converged on the park from at market. President Aquino herself had rec­ least five feeder points throughout the city . ommended last October the reduction of Contingents of workers and students joined the prices of petroleum products to pre-Au­ up along the route. All along the way, peo­ gust 1987 levels. ple stopped to watch. Many smiled and waved or gave the thumbs-up sign to ex­ Aquino's package press their solidarity with the demonstra­ Instead, Aquino announced on May 1 a tors. package of worker benefits that included A small group of protesters with scarf cuts in housing loan interest rates, expan­ masks on their faces and with paint brushes sion of the government's social services, and buckets in hand rushed to put slogans and the meager 6 percent reduction in fuel on buildings . prices. Aquino rejected all demands for Although the demonstration here was wage increases and a 13 to 20 percent cut in peaceful, other May Day actions in the fuel prices. country ·were attacked by the military. In The May Day demonstration in Manila Calamba, Laguna Province, 30 miles south drew workers from almost all industries and of Manila, five people were injured and I 0 was sponsored by the Labor Advisory Con­ missing after the Police Constabulary sultative Council. The LACC includes all opened fire on 5,000 peaceful marchers. unions except the conservative Trade Union On Mindanao Island, where 20,000 Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), which workers demonstrated, 40 workers were was founded in 1977 and collaborated reported arrested. In Bacalod, Negros Is­ closely with Ferdinand Marcos' regime. Workers in Manila march for civil liberties earlier this year. May Day demonstration drew unionists from almost all industries, demanding wage increases. Minimum land, the marchers were blocked by the The largest union federations in the wage is $3.35 a day and 60 percent of Filipino families live below poverty line. military, which prevented them from hold­ LACC include the Government Employees ing their rally. And in Cebu, the military Coordinating Council (GECC), the largest harassed some 3,000 marchers, confiscat­ coalition of public sector employees, and ers do not use premium gasoline. Diesel and • An armed forces of the people. ing their banners. the left wing May 1 Movement (KMU), kerosene, which are used by most workers, • A comprehensive scientific and na­ The labor day demonstrations focused which represents 750,000 workers and were reduced only 1.5 cents per liter. Fur­ tionalist education and culture. on two demands: a 10 peso per day (50 more than 100 independent unions. thermore, only a few workers can afford to • Rejection of all forms of foreign dom­ U.S. cents) across-the-board increase in In a rare show of unity with the KMU , buy their homes and therefore benefit from ination and imperialism. wages; and a greater reduction in the prices the Social Democratic Party joined the the government's reduction of mortgage After the rally, 30,000 people joined a of gasoline and other petroleum products demonstration. Greetings were also read rates. torchlight parade through the city to the than the one announced that day by the from the underground Revolutionary Mendiola Bridge, which leads to the Mala­ government. The Manila rally denounced Council of Trade Unions of the National Even the conservative Trade Union Con­ gress of the Philippines, which held a much cafiang Palace, symbolic seat of the Philip­ President Corazon Aquino's 50 centavos a Democratic Front and from the Regional pine government. The procession was led liter (2 .5 cents) rollback in gasoline prices Command of the Alex Boncayao Brigade, smaller separate rally on May Day, de­ nounced the government's rollback in fuel by unionists from Japan, Australia, New as "insufficient for most workers." the urban guerrilla unit in Manila of the Zealand, Canada, the United States, After a protest strike in the Philippines Communist Party-led New People's Army. prices as inadequate. Prior to the May Day actions, the KMU France, Belgium, Sweden, and Britain. last October, the government raised the All of the labor union leaders joined in They had been invited to the Philippines to minimum wage in December from 57 rejecting Aquino's announced package. and TUCP agreed to raise three demands on the government: the 50-cents-a-day pay participate in the KMU-sponsored Interna­ pesos (US$2 .85) a day to the equivalent of LACC leader Greg del Prado told the tional Solidarity Affair. $3 .35. According to the Philippine Depart­ workers' rally that the government's re­ raise, 5 cents reduction in fuel price, and repeal of repressive labor laws. At the bridge, demonstrators were con­ ment of Labor, however, the average fam­ fusal to implement a wage hike made the fronted by barbed wire, water cannon, ily of six needs at least $7 .34 to live de­ union federation even more determined to KMU President Crispin Beltran in his spotlights, and security forces blocking the cently . push for its wage demands, "even if we May Day speech also raised a national road to the palace. The Mendiola Bridge is A national survey by three governmental have to stage another general strike." democratic agenda for labor, based on the the site of the January 1987 massacre of departments in 1985 found that nearly 60 Raul Segovia, a GECC leader, pledged "principles of socialism." He included in unarmed peasants who marched demand­ percent of all Filipino families live below that government employees would coordi­ this agenda: ing land reform. the poverty line. And the continuing eco­ nate with other labor groups for a united • A program of industrialization that This time after a half-hour rally , the nomic crisis has further eroded workers' stand on a further reduction in fuel prices. was not export oriented, import dependent, demonstrators dispersed without incident. standard of living. The unions, therefore, KMU Vice-chairman Leto Villar pointed nor controlled by multinational corpora­ are pressing to increase wages by I 0 pesos out that only a handful of workers benefit tions . Patti liyama was a delegate to the KMU In­ and to enforce the minimum wage law, from the price rollback, because most work- • Genuine land reform that would give ternational Solidarity Affair in Manila and land free to those who till it. is a member of International Association of • A democratic state that would uphold Machinists Lodge 1759 at Washington, Subscribe to 'Perspectiva Mundial' civil liberties and democratic rights . D.C.'s Dulles Airport. Report from El Salvador Australia: opening of Expo 88 As a reader of the Militant you are familiar with our week­ greeted by Aborigines protests ly coverage of the struggles of working people around the BY JULIE WALKINGTON The march was the high point of a week­ world. BRISBANE, Australia- With national long cultural festival and protest activities If you can read or are study­ and international media attention focused organized by the Foundation for Aborigi­ EL SALVADOR on the opening of World Expo 88 here, nal and Islander Research Association ing Spanish, there is a com­ 60 mil sindicalistas more than 2,000 Aborigines and their sup­ (FAIRA) and the Justice 88 Committee. plementary monthly magazine marchan el Primero de Mayo porters held a spirited march from down­ The events were planned to coincide with for you: Perspectiva Mundial. town Brisbane. They spoke out against the the opening of the international exhibition. PM is a Spanish-language so­ oppression of Aboriginal people, the indi­ The Justice 88 Committee is a non-Aborig­ cialist magazine that carries genous Black inhabitants of Australia, and inal coalition that supports sovereignty for many of the same articles you showed the world they have their own cul­ the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander read in the Militant. ture and identity. people. Before setting off on the April 30 pro­ Led by traditional tribal dancers, the The June issue of PM fea­ test, the marchers observed a minute of si­ march set out from the center of the city to tures an article on the demon­ lence for the thousands of Black people the gates of Expo. There, everyone sat stration of 60,000 held on May who have been killed since their land was down in the road, clapping and chanting NUEVA CALEDONIA NICARAGUA Day by workers and peasants Francia masacra El fin de Ia guerra invaded by Europeans 200 years ago, and "Land rights now! " while the dancers per­ in San Salvador, capital of El independentistas mercenari

10 The Militant June 3, 1988 Democratic rights meetings unite activists in Canada Canadian immigration policies, secret police condemned Tony Savino James Warren, socialist candidate for U.S. president, spoke in Toronto and Montreal. BY JOHN STEELE spected," Warren said. "From the point of against Blacks and native people is on the context of the coming worldwide social MONTREAL- The working-class slo­ view of the fight for democratic rights, if rise. He condemned the recent acquittal of and economic crisis announced by the Oc­ gan "an injury to one is an injury to all" immigrants and communists have rights, the Montreal cop who murdered Anthony tober 1987 stock market crash. was the central theme at two broadly spon­ then that strengthens the rights of all work­ Griffin, a Black teenager. Michel Dugre , who spoke at the sored rallies in defense of democratic rights ing people in society. That's why this vic­ American Indian Movement speaker Jay Montreal rally, and Margaret Manwaring, held in Toronto and Montreal April 29 and tory is so important." Mason told the Toronto gathering that "we who spoke in Toronto, outlined the scope 30. Seventy activists attended the Montreal know from historical precedent that any of the worldwide fightback in defense of meeting, held in the headquarters of the Turkish refugees: an example for all country in economic crisis reverts to fas­ democratic rights. One of the most power­ Confederation of National Trade Unions. At both meetings, Turkish refugees cism. This is what we are dealing with. We ful recent examples in Canada, they A similar number turned out in Toronto. fighting deportation by the Canadian gov­ live in the belly of the beast and the beast is pointed out, was the April 17 Montreal The keynote speaker at the two rallies ernment were a significant portion of the dying, and when a beast dies it gets danger­ demonstration of 25 ,000 in defense of the was James Warren, the presidential candi­ audience. ous. We have to stand up and refuse to be right of the Quebecois majority in Quebec date of the U.S. Socialist Workers Party. Atanas Katrapani , speaking for the intimidated." to speak French. Warren spoke on the significance of there­ Coordinating Committee in Solidarity with The billionaire families that rule the im­ cent historic victory in the SWP and the the Turkish Refugees, explained that the Secret police in Canada perialist powers are "driving against our Young Socialist Alliance's 15-year lawsuit 2,000 Turkish-born workers who came to Many of the speakers dealt with the dis­ democratic rights because they are tools we against the FBI and other federal police Canada over the past couple of years "were ruptive activities of CSIS agents within the use in our fightback ," explained Manwar­ agencies. being manipulated as scapegoats to get the labor movement. ing . "They try to divide us in every possi­ Last September Warren, who is Black, new immigration law passed. Bill C-55 Claudette Carbonneau, secretary general ble way to make sure we don't use those was subjected to racist treatment by Cana­ violates basic human rights, human dig­ of the Montreal Council of the Confedera­ democratic rights to fight back. dian and U.S. immigration cops at nity, and the Canadian Charter of Rights tion of National Trade Unions (CSN), de­ "In fighting back we get a clearer idea Montreal's Dorval Airport. He was de- and Freedoms," he said. scribed how CSIS agent provocateur Marc who we are," said Manwaring. "We are Boivin was used to disrupt the union feder­ Black, white, men, women, those born ation as part of the effort of the cops and here and those born elsewhere. We are the the Quebec government to crush the strug­ workers who don't own factories or prop­ gle of 300 hotel workers for union rights . erty and have nothing to lose by defending As a result of the secret police operation human rights and everything to gain.'' four CSN staff workers were framed up on 'The conclusion we have to draw from criminal charges and jailed. this meeting," said Dugre, "is that to face "The parliamentary committee that the attacks that are coming we need more looked into the question concluded that the unity . This is the perspective advanced CSIS lost control of Boivin," she said. here tonight. And united we will win ." "They said he had strict instructions only to spy on the communists inside the CSN. This rationale is used to whitewash the acts Spanish-language school of provocation and destabilization by this agent inside a democratic organization." in Esteli, Nicaragua, Mark Curtis, a member of the United launches fund appeal Sociali st Voice/John Steele Food and Commercial Workers union and Turkish immigrants protest threat of deportation at march on Canada's Parliament. the SWP in Des Moines, Iowa, told the The New Institute for Central America Toronto and Montreal rallies heard Turks denounce new immigration law. story of his frame-up and beating at the (NICA) in Estell, Nicaragua, has an­ hands of the Des Moines cops last March. nounced a fund-raising campaign to help FBI files show that Curtis had already been cover the school's costs . tained, strip-searched, and denied entry At the Toronto meeting, Turkish Cana­ targeted by the police agency for hi s The NICA school offers an intensive into the country. His exclusion generated dian Democratic Society representative "leadership role" in the antiwar movement. Spanish-language course in a unique envi­ broad protests. Banu Kerestecioglu, stressed that the He faces the possibility of 25 years in ronment: revolutionary Nicaragua. Stu­ "I want to thank you for the work you 've "problem of the Turkish refugees is no dif­ prison. dents live with Nicaraguan families in the done here to guarantee me the right to be ferent from those of the other 48,000 refu­ "My fight is one we can and have to win. northern town of Estel f. learning firsthand able to travel to this country," Warren told gees in Canada. Their aim is to intimidate my coworkers about the revolutionary process in that the participants. "Without the support and "Immigration Minister Barbara Mc­ and intimidate you from becoming in­ country. They participate in voluntary protests from Canada, they would have Dougal says she can't give us special treat­ volved in politics," the 29-year-old politi­ work brigades- in construction, on an ag­ continued to deny me entry into the coun­ ment," Kerestecioglu explained. "But we cal activist said. ricultural cooperative, or other work. try." don't want special treatment. All we want Giuseppe Sciortino, vice-president of Spanish is taught for four hours a day, is to be treated equal! y." five days a week, and the program includes Victory against the FBI the Quebec New Democratic Party, ac­ Rashad Saleh, chairman of the Canada­ cused the CSIS of trying to prop up the cur­ a series of lectures given by members of Last January the U.S. government, the Palestine Association, told the Toronto rent political system. "We salute the vic­ the government, Sandinista National Lib­ FBI, and a host of other police agencies de­ meeting that trainees for Canada's secret tory of our friends in the United States eration Front, unions, and by represen­ cided not to appeal a 1986 decision by a police, the Canadian Security Intelligence against the American police," he said. tatives of women's, farmers', and other federal court judge making it illegal for the Service (CSIS), and the Royal Canadian mass organizations. government and its cops to continue their Mounted Police are taught that all Palestin­ Speaking for the Quebec civil liberties organization Ia Ligue des Droits et Since its first session in 1983, nearly 900 decades-long program of infiltration and ians are terrorists. He also reported that students from the United States, Canada, disruption of the SWP and YSA . The court tear gas made in Canada was being used by Libertes, Stuart Istvanffy explained that the tendency toward police states in all and Europe, have studied at the school. decision was the result of a suit launched the Israeli government against Palestin­ Dozens of Blacks, Latinos, Vietnam vet­ by the two communist organizations in ians. "western countries" is being carried out not only through agencies like the CSIS but erans, and solidarity activists have partici­ 1973. Tom Holzinger from the Montreal Free pated through the scholarship program. The judge also ruled that it was illegal South Africa Committee, whose members through the campaign against drugs and the rights of immigrants and refugees. The school's costs have increased at for the government to use the 10 million have been harassed by CSIS agents, urged least five-fold because of recent currency pages of files illegally gathered by the FBI renewed efforts to fight for sanctions Communist Party of Quebec (PCQ) leader Marianne Roy said she was "glad and economic reforms made by the Nicara­ through informers, wiretaps, and bur­ against the apartheid regime. He pointed gua government. These economic mea­ glaries. He also awarded the SWP$264,000 out that "a victory won anywhere is in the efforts to ensure James Warren's right to travel have been successful ." The PCQ sures were taken to stop the severe inflation in damages. some sense a victory won everywhere." caused by the U.S. -sponsored contra war "This victory is important first and The SWP victory was hailed in a mes­ participated in the campaign against War­ ren's exclusion. and embargo. They are aimed at increasing foremost because the judge ruled that sage from Dr. Nikky Colodny, an activist the purchasing power of Nicaragua's work­ spies, disrupters, and agent provocateurs in the movement for women's right to Other greetings and messages of solidar­ ity were received from Andre Kolompar, ers. NICA supports the measures, noting, are not neutral information gatherers," said abortion and a member of the staff of the however, that their impact on the school re­ Warren. "They function to violate the right Morgentaler abortion clinic in Toronto. A president of the Toronto local of the Cana­ dian Union of Postal Workers; Local 510 quires redoubled efforts to raise funds so to privacy and freedom of association of January Supreme Court ruling arising from that the project can continue. the members of the organizations they are criminal charges against Dr. Henry of the Canadian Auto Workers in Longeuil, near Montreal; the Montreal-Nicaragua The program is currently operating on sent into. The judge ruled that's illegal, Morgentaler struck down Canada's anti­ the basis of successful fall fund-raising . and it's now the Jaw of the land." abortion law . Solidarity Committee; Mohammed Ghieh, vice-president of the Quebec-Palestine As­ But the school needs an additional $6,000 Warren also explained that the court rul­ "It is winning cases like this [the SWP to cover costs through May. ing made no distinction between members court suit] and the case of Dr. Morgentaler sociation; and Jennifer Ramsey of the Popular Summit Facilitation Committee. The Estell staff has volunteered to work of the SWP who are citizens and those who that puts powerful tools in the hands of all without salary in April and part of May. "If are not citizens of the United States. of us," she said . our offer to work without salary (worth "The governments of the imperialist Social and economic crisis $9,000 at the new rates) is matched by your countries try to convince working people Fighting racism Spokespersons for the Revolutionary contributions, we ' ll be in good shape," the and defenders of democratic rights that Dudley Laws from the Albert Johnson Workers League wound up the meetings in school's staff notes. people who are immigrants and com­ Committee Against Police Brutality told both cities, explaining the importance of Please send contributions toNICA, P.O. munists have no rights that should be re- the Toronto rally that police violence the fight to defend democratic rights in the Box 1409, Cambridge, Mass. 02238.

June 3, 1988 The Militant 11 -CAlENDAR------CALIFORNIA in the Frontline of Battle." Sun., June 5, 3 p.m. dean emeritus, Maryland College Institute of Oakland Classes by Fred Feldman, Militant staff writer. Art, visited Nicaragua in 1987; Leslie Salgado, Environmental All events held at 137 NE 54th St. Translation Howard County Friends of Central America; Creationism versus Science. How every scien­ to Spanish. Donation: $2 per event, or $5 for Glen Swanson, Socialist Workers Party, mem­ tific advance for last 100 years contradicted weekend. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For ber United Auto Workers; Morgan State Uni­ brigades myth of creationism. Speaker: Jeff Hamill , So­ more information call (305) 756-1020. versity student who participated in Martin cialist Workers Party , member Oil , Chemical Luther King Brigade to Nicaragua's Atlantic to Nicaragua and Atomic Workers union Local 1-5 , Chevron Coast. Sat., June 4. Dinner, 6 p.m. ; program, Oil. Translation to Spanish. Sat. , May 28 , 7:30 GEORGIA Atlanta 7:30 p.m. 2913 Greenmount Ave . Donation: Help replant the rain forest! p.m.; dinner, 6 p.m. 3702 Telegraph Ave. Do­ dinner, $3 , forum $2 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Eyewitness Report: the Current Stage of the nation: $2, dinner; $3 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more information call (301) 235- Nicaraguan Revolution. Speaker: Roberto Forum. For more information call (415) 420- 0013 . Three brigades: 1165. Kopec, Managua Bureau correspondent of Mil­ Gala Socialist Campaign Picnic. Sun., May itant and Perspectiva Mundial. Translation to July 2-July 30 29, lO a.m. to 6 p.m. Lake Pemescal (Big Rock Spanish. 132 Cone St. NW, 2nd floor. Dona­ MASSACHUSETTS campsite off Broadway Terrace entrance). Do­ tion: $2.50 Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For Boston July 30-Aug. 27 nation: $5 . Sponsor: Socialist Workers Party more information call (404) 577-4065. Spring Party: Barbecue and Picnic. Meet Sept. 3-0ct. 1 campaign. For more information call (415) 420- Elizabeth Soares, Socialist Workers Party can­ 1165. ILLINOIS didate for Congress in 9th C. D. Sun ., May 29, See and learn about Nicaragua San Francisco Chicago 12 noon . Houghton Pond in the Blue Hills Res­ Support the Socialist Workers Campaign. ervation. Donation: $5. Sponsor: Young Social­ firsthand while helping plant The Socialist Campaign Presents a Program trees for 4 weeks. Partial schol­ to Fight for Jobs, RaciaiJustice, Peace. Speak­ Sat., June 4, 10-11 a.m., join in distributing ist Alliance. For more information call (617) er: Steven Fuchs, Socialist Workers candidate the campaign newspapers, the Militant and Per­ 247-6772 or 524-2465 . arships available. for U.S. Congress, 5th C.D. Translation to spec/iva Mundia/ . 1 p.m., march with cam­ Spanish. Sat. , May 28,7:30 p.m. 3284 23rd St. paign supporters at Palestinian rights demon­ MINNESOTA For more information write or call: Donation: $2. Sponsor: Socialist Workers Cam­ stration, Daley Plaza. 3-5 p.m. , campaign St. Paul headquarters open house to launch Socialist Nicaragua Information Center paign Committee. For more information call Young Socialist Alliance Holiday Cookout. 2103 Woolsey Street (415) 282-6255 . Workers campaign of Omari Musa for mayor, Sun ., May 29. For rides, information, and di­ Support the Palestinian Uprising! An evening 6826 S Stony Island Ave . 6 p.m. forum , "An rections call (612) 645-1674. Berkeley, Calif. 94705 in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Action Program to Fight for Jobs and Justice ." (415) 549-1387 Speakers: Ibrahim Abu Lughod, Palestine Na­ Speaker: Omari Musa. Translation to Spanish. NEBRASKA tional Council member, author, professor, Forum donation: $3. Sponsor: Illinois Socialist Workers Campaign Committee. For more infor­ Omaha Northwestern University; Barbara Lubin , mem­ The Case Against Surrogate Motherhood. Pittsburgh ber of delegation to West Bank and Gaza. Fri ., mation call (312) 363-7322 or 363-7136. Why Cuban Troops Are In Angola. Speaker: National Day of Protest Against Israeli Occu­ Speakers: representatives of Socialist Workers June 3, 7:30p.m. First Unitarian Church ( 1187 Party and Young Socialist Alliance. Translation AI Duncan, Socialist Workers Party , member pation. Sat. , June 4, 1 p.m. Daley Plaza (Dear­ Franklin at Geary) . Donation: $3-5 . Sponsor: to Spanish. Sat. , June II, 7:30p.m. 140 S 40th United Mine Workers of America Local 2350. born and Washington) . Sponsor: Palestine Sol­ Coalition to Support the Palestinian Uprising. St. Donation: $2 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Sun., June 5, 4 p.m. 4905 Penn Ave . Donation: For more information call (415) 861-1552. idarity Committee. For more information call $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum . For more (312) 342-2986. Forum. For more information call (402) 553- National Day of Protest to End Israeli Occu­ 0245 . information call (412) 362-6767. pation. March and rally. Sat., June 4. Assem­ IOWA ble 11:30 a.m. at United Nations Plaza, march NEW YORK TEXAS at noon, 1 p.m. rally at Union Square. For more Des Moines Manhattan information call Palestine Solidarity Committee Seven Months After the Stock Market Houston Spring Picnic and Softball Game. Sun., May (415) 861-1552. Crash: What Lies Ahead for Working Peo­ Report from Nicaragua. Slide presentation by 29, 2 p.m. Van Cortland Park, 233rd St. and Peace Day. West Coast march and rally for ple? Speaker: Norton Sandler, Militant circula­ activist recently returned from Nicaragua. Sat., Jerome Ave. (last stop on the No.4 train) . Do­ Peace, Jobs, Justice at home and abroad to mark tion director. Sat., May 28, 8 p.m. 2105 Forest May 28 , 7:30 p.m. 4806 Almeda. Donation: nation: $5. Sponsor: New York Young Socialist the United Nations Third Special Session on Ave . Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor $2 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more Alliance. For more information call (212) 219- Disarmament. Sat., June II . Assemble II a.m. Forum. For more information call (515) 246- information call (713) 522-8054. 3679. at UN Plaza (near Civic Center BART), march 1695. National Day of Protest to End Israeli Occu­ AIDS Candlelight Vigil. Union Square, Broad­ 12 noon, rally 1 p.m. at Union Square. Sponsor: U.S. Politics Today: New Openings Emerg­ pation. Sat. , June 4. Assemble 12:30 p.m. at way atE 17th St. Mon., May 30,7 p.m. Spon­ Mobilization for Peace, Jobs and Justice. For ing for Workers and Farmers. Class by Nor­ Our Park (Live Oak and Alabama) . Sponsored sor: AIDS Resource Center. For more informa­ more information call (415) 626-8053 . ton Sandler. Sun., May 29 , 10:30 a.m. 2125 by Palestine Solidarity Committee. For more in­ tion call (212) 481-1270. Juneteenth Sale of Malcolm X Books. 20% Forest Ave . Donation: $2 . Sponsored by Social­ formation call (713) 668-2145 . off through June 19 at Pathfinder Books, 3284 ist Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance. National Day of Protest to End Israeli Occu­ 23rd St. (near Mission) . For more information For more information call (515) 246-1695. pation. Demonstrate, Sat. , June 4. Assemble UTAH 12 noon at army recruiting station (43rd and call (415) 282-6255 . Cookout and Fund-raiser for Mark Curtis .. Broadway); march I p.m. down Broadway past Salt Lake City Sun., May 29, I p.m. To be held at nearby Nicaragua Today After the Contra War. FLORIDA farm . Meet at Pathfinder Books, 2105 Forest. Israeli government offices; rally 3 p.m. Union Square. Sponsor: Palestine Solidarity Commit­ Speakers: Regula Burke, visited Ni caragua in Sponsored by Mark Curtis Defense Committee. Miami tee. For more information call (212) 964-7299. May; Scott Breen, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Educational Weekend. "Rally in For more information call (515) 246-1695 . member Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers. Support of Self-determination for Palestine ." NORTH CAROLINA Translation to Spanish. Sat. , June 4, 7:30p.m. Sat., June 4, 7:30 p.m. Speakers to be an­ MARYLAND 147 E 900 S. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant nounced. History of the Palestinian Liberation Baltimore Greensboro Labor Forum. For more infom1ation call (801) Legalized Murder: Stop the Death Penalty. Struggle. Two classes. "Roots of the Crisis." The Defeat of the Contras: Reconstructing 355-1124. Panel discussion with representative of Prison Sun., June 5, I p.m.; "Current Upsurge: Youth the New Nicaragua. Speakers: Ted Klitzke, and Jail Project. Sun ., June 5. 7 p.m. 2219 E WASHINGTON, D.C. Market. Donation: $2 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Rally and Gala for Nicaraguan Trade Union­ Forum. For more information call (919) 272- ists. Sat., May 28 , 7 p.m. Machinists' Hall, South Africa loses Angola battle 5996. 1300 Connecticut Ave. NW. Donation: $5. OHIO Sponsor: Washington Area Labor Committee Continued from back page Che Guevara of the third rank and the on Central America and the Caribbean. For stant danger. She disagreed with him and Medal of Internationalist Fighter of the first Cleveland more information call (202) 234-9286. demanded to go, saying, "I came to Angola class. Celebrate Wind-up of Socialist Petitioning The Drug Trade: a Highly Profitable Cap­ Drive. Hear Militant editor Margaret Jayko on: italist Business. Speakers: representatives of to work wherever necessary." Upon arriv­ On May 3 representatives from the gov­ "The Defeat of the Contras: Reconstructing the the Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialist ing in the town, Camejo threw herself into ernments of the United States, South Af­ New Nicaragua. " Sat., June 4, 7 p.m. 2521 Alliance. Translation to Spanish. Sat ., June 4, helping dig trenches and other fortifica­ rica, Angola, and Cuba began discussions Market Ave. Donation: $2 . Sponsor: Ohio So­ 7:30p.m. 3165 Mt. Pleasant NW. Donation: tions despite the heavy and constant bom­ on an Angolan-Cuban proposal to end the cialist Workers Campaign Committee. For $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more bardment by South African artillery and war in Angola. The proposal offers a more information call (216) 861-6150. information call (202) 797-7699. aircraft. schedule for the gradual withdrawal of Asked why she ~ug the trenches, Cuban troops from Angola, in exchange PENNSYLVANIA Camejo answered, "My primary work is as for independence for Namibia and a with­ Philadelphia an anesthetist, but I considered construct­ drawal of South African troops from that The Current Stage of the Nicaraguan Revo­ Subscribe to ing fortifications to be a moral obligation, a country, the withdrawal of South African lution. Sat. , June 4, 7 p.m. 2744 Germantown way to encourage the fighters. " Camejo troops from Angola, and an end to U.S . Ave . Donation: $2 . Sponsor: Militant Forum. the Militant was decorated with the Order of Ernesto and South African aid to UNJTA . For more information call (215) 225-0213 . -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 6826 S. St. Louis: SWP, YSA , 4907 Martin Luther 16412. Tel: (814) 398-2754. Philadelphia: SWP, Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder Stony Island Ave. Zip: 60649. Tel: (312) 363- King Dr. Zip: 63113 . Tel: (314) 361-0250. YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave . Zip: 19133. Tel : bookstores. 7322. NEBRASKA: Omaha: SWP, YSA , 140 S. (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 4905 INDIANA: Muncie: YSA, c/o Brian 40th St. Zip: 68131. Tel : (402) 553-0245 . Penn Ave . Zip: 15224. Tel : (412) 362-6767. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, Johnson, 619 112 N. Dill St. Zip: 47303 . Tel: NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 1306 lst Ave. N. Zip: 35203. Tel: (205) 323- (317) 747-8543. Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. New Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. 3079. IOWA: Des Moines: SWP, YSA , 2105 For­ Brunswick: YSA, c/o Keith Jordan, 149 Somer­ Houston: SWP, YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1809 W. est Ave. Zip: 50311. Tel: (515) 246-1695 . set St. Zip: 08903 . Tel: (201) 828-1874. Tel : (713) 522-8054. Indian School Rd . Zip: 85015. Tel: (602) 279- LOUISIANA: New Orleans: YSA, P.O. NEW YORK: Albany: YSA, c/o Usa Sand­ UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA , 255 E. Main St., 5850. Tucson: YSA, c/o Ursula Kolb, P.O. Box 53224. Zip: 70153 . Tel: (504) 484-6418. berg, 120 Lark St. Zip: 12210. Tel: (518)463- No. I . Mailing address: P.O. Box 758. Zip: Box 853. Zip: 85702-0852. Tel: (602) 795- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 8001 . Mid-Hudson: YSA , Box 1042, Annan­ 84501. Tel: (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: 2146. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218 . Tel: (301) dale. Zip: 12504. Tel: (914) 758-0408 . New SWP, YSA, 147 E. 900 South. Zip: 84111 . Tel : CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 235-0013. York: SWP, YSA, 79 Leonard St. Zip: (801) 355-1124. 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, c/o 10013 . Tel: (212) 219-3679 or 925-;v68. VIRGINIA: Portsmouth: YSA , P.O. Box 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3702 Telegraph David Warshawshky, P.O. Box 1383, Hamp­ Pathfinder Books , 226-8445 . Stony Brook: 6538, Churchland Station. Zip: 23707 . Ave. Zip: 94609. Tel: (415) 420-1165. San shire College. Zip: 01002. Tel: (413) 549-4843. YSA , P.O. Box 1384, Patchogue, N.Y. Zip: WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA , Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: Boston: SWP, YSA, 605 Massachusetts Ave . 11772. 3165 Mt. Pleasant St. NW . Zip: 20010. Tel : 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. Seaside: YSA, c/o Zip: 02118 . Tel: (617) 247-6772. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, (202) 797-7699, 797-7021. Brian Olewude, 1790 Havana St. Zip: 93955 . MICHIGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA , 5019 112 YSA , 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, Tel: (408) 394-7948. Woodward Ave . Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 831- 272-5996. 5517 Rainier Ave . South. Zip: 98118. Tel : FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE 1177 . OHIO: Cleveland: SWP, YSA , 2521 Mar­ (206) 723-5330. 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. MINNESOTA: Austin: SWP, YSA , 407 112 ket Ave. Zip: 44113. Tel : (216) 861-6150. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: N. Main Zip: 55912. Tel: (507) 433-3461. Columbus: YSA , P.O. Box 02097 . Zip: YSA, 116 McFarland St. Zip: 25301. Tel: (304) YSA, P.O. Box 20715 . Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) Twin Cities: SWP, YSA , 508 N. Snelling 43202. 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA , 221 877-9338. Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) 644- OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296-0055 . GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132Cone 6325. Union . Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, St. NW, 2nd Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404)577- MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, c/o 4707 W. Lisbon Ave . Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 4065. 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0224. Mark Mateja, Edinboro University of Pa. Zip: 445-2076.

12 The Militant June 3, 1988 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------

How humane can they get? - ation, always gave him headroom. be left behind - unless, of sing at religious services - voted for some helicopters. A spokes­ As a "good will" gesture, Israel re­ "Marc," dad said, "You don't have course, they're on the payroll. to reject a proposal to admit cer­ person hastened to add, "There leased 281 of some 5,000 Palestin­ to ask me every time you do a tified women cantors. was no attempt to defraud." ian prisoners. Maj. Gen. Amram trade. If you want to do anything In a twisted sense, he's right up to $10 million without asking -According to Sen. Orrin Hatch, The march of science - In 20 Mitzna said that now there are no Under capitalism, for sure - me, you can do that." the death penalty is "our society's minutes, a computer can produce "Lying is as much a part of normal an astrology chart that would take recognition of the sanctity of hu­ growth and development as telling man life." five hours by hand. Scout's honor - Robert Di­ the truth. The ability to lie is a lanni, a Boston money manager, human achievement, one of those That is democratic- In Scot­ will avoid jail by returning $3.7 Makes it an even money bet abilities that tends to set them land, a family named their new million to clients. An order was - Thirty-eight nuke plants were apart from all other species." - Harry daughter Princess Dulcima Rosetta also issued barring him from the told to check out piping material Arnold Goldberg, a psychiatry and were officially instructed, no Ring investment business, but it was supplied - along with phony test prof. lifted when he signed an agree­ good - the name is reserved for reports - by two New Jersey ment not to defraud customers. royalty. Finally, the queen 's sec­ companies. A spokesperson for retary advised that the name would International note - Mostly, prisoners under 14 years old in the the two companies said only one have to be removed from the birth of them had falsified its reports. this column has been about the detention camps. Head for the hole! -A "disas­ certificate, but it would be OK for United States. But that's only be­ ter-proof" shelter will accommo­ family and friends to call her Prin­ cause that's where most of the Son, you do the junk bonds­ date top Alabama officials at a mo­ cess. Don't be so touchy- Sikorsky clippings from readers have come A while back, Marc Belzberg, a ment of emergency. If they make it Aircraft said it voluntarily re­ from. Our growing number of Canadian corporate raider, was in there in time, it will protect them Lack the necessities? - The turned $75 million to the Penta­ readers abroad are hereby in­ U.S. courts for stock swindling. He from a radiation blast as close as professional association of Con­ gon, explaining that, due to a formed we welcome contributions says his father, who heads the oper- seven miles away. Relatives will servative Jewish cantors - they computer error, it had overcharged from all lands. Court forced to grant bail to Hartford defendant

BY TIM CRAINE Even then, the bail was set at $1 million, Judge Lawrence Pierce questioned Har­ HARTFORD, Conn.- A major victory and Segarra Palmer's movement is se­ vey as to how the court could release Ojeda for the Puerto Rico/Hartford 15 occurred verely restricted. He is required to live with Rios when he "doesn't recognize the juris­ here May 20 when independence fighter his attorney, not to leave the city of diction of the United States" over Puerto Filiberto Ojeda Rlos was released on bail. Hartford, and to wear an electronic bracelet Rico. Ojeda Rlos had been held in pretrial de­ that allows federal marshals to monitor his "Nor do any of the others," replied Har­ tention ever since his arrest in Puerto Rico activity. vey, "yet they have fulfilled the terms of in August 1985. He was one of the 15 District Court Judge Emmet Clarie has their bail restrictions." Puerto Ricans arrested on charges of con­ repeatedly denied bail to Ojeda Rlos on the Referring to the electronic bracelet the spiracy to rob a Hartford, Connecticut, grounds that he is at "risk of flight" and a district court had ordered for Segarra Wells Fargo depot in 1983 . Ojeda Rios' "danger to the community." This is part of Palmer, Pierce commented, "Twenty years 32-month detention is the longest for any a government campaign to portray the de­ ago that would have been considered offen­ prisoner in the United States since World fendants as "terrorists." Although they are sive." War II . Bail was set at $1 million. charged with conspiracy to commit a bank Harvey replied, "And it is equally offen­ robbery, the government alleges that they sive today, but my client is willing to stoop On May 12, defense attorneys presented belong to a clandestine group the Ma­ to that offense because his pretrial deten­ arguments before a panel of three judges of cheteros, involved in an armed struggle to tion of 32 months constitutes an even great­ the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in liberate Puerto Rico. er offense." New York City, the sixth time such an ap­ Militant/Selva Nebbia In spite of this claim and mounds of Filiberto Ojeda Rios Judge Frank Altimari expressed the sen­ peal has been heard. After this type of "evidence," including thousands of items timent reflected in the final decision. "The hearing the judges usually take about two seized from the defendants' homes and entire judicial system is embarrassed" by weeks to decide a case. The speed with 1 ,500 hours of taped electronic surveil­ reasoning, suggesting that the defense was Ojeda Rlos' unprecedented detention, he which they reached a decision this time lance, none of the defendants has been in­ responsible for the long process of pretrial indicated. He urged his colleagues to "take surprised everyone, including the defense dicted for a single act of violence. hearings that have delayed the start of the the bull by the horns" and intervene in the attorneys. On the morning the judges heard Ojeda trial . In these proceedings the defense has case. Most countries place strict limits on the Rlos' appeal, 75 supporters of the Puerto questioned the constitutionality of the Although the decision evidently was amount of time a defendant may be held Rico/Hartford 15 picketed in front of the searches and seizures, the admissibility of made to avoid "embarrassment" rather than before going to trial. The constitution of U.S. Courthouse at Foley Square in down­ the wiretap evidence, and the credibility of to ensure justice, it nevertheless represents Puerto Rico, for example, requires a limit town Manhattan. Supporters then filled the FBI agents who have been caught in cover­ a victory for supporters of democratic of six months . courtroom to standing-room-only capacity ups and outright lies. rights. In the United States, however, the Bail to hear defense attorney Richard Harvey Reform Act of 1984 makes it easier for the present the appeal on behalf of Ojeda Rlos. government to deny bail . Most of the Harvey argued that the unprecedented -10 AND 25 YEARS AGO--- Puerto Rico/Hartford 15 were held for 16 length of Ojeda Rios' detention overrides months prior to release. Another defen­ all other justifications that had been used in between Attorney General Robert Kennedy dant, Juan Segarra Palmer, was held for 30 the past to deny his right to bail. THE MILITANT and a group of Negroes invited by novelist months before winning bail in March. The judges at first questioned this A ..:::wJIT MIWMfHkl Y~ tj~ THE MBIIUTSOII THE WONCIGP'EOPU Zk James Baldwin had thrown a scare into the June 2,1978 Kennedy administration . The meeting was designed as part of the attempt of the Ken­ The bloody imperialist operation in nedys to head off and control the struggle Marroquin interview set Zaire shows the need for an immediate out­ for Negro equality and keep it within the cry against the maneuvers of President bounds of gradualism. But it did not work the delegation are Angela Sanbrano, James Carter's administration against Afri­ out that way . Continued from front page can liberation struggles. executive director of the Committee in Sol­ peal in the SWP-YSA case. On the day Washington announced its The Negroes present gave Kennedy a idarity with the People of El Salvador The July 6 appointment will result in a airlift operation to Zaire, State Department glimpse of the real mood of the country's (CISPES); Tomas Villanueva, president of ruling on Marroquin's application for per­ official Tom Reston charged that "Cuba black masses and the attorney general's the United Farm Workers Union of Wash­ manent residence, which he filed based on had trained the Katangan rebels who in­ reaction exposed his prejudice, arrogance, his marriage to a U.S. citizen, Priscilla ington State; and Guillermo Chavez, direc­ and ignorance, as well as his unwillingness tor of the Committee on Human and Polit­ vaded Zaire from Angola and equipped Schenk-Marroquin. This application has them with Soviet weapons ." to commit the government to the necessary been pending for five years. ical Rights for the Board of Church and So­ The Carter administration made this fundamental changes. The meeting report­ This appointment is now the focus for ciety of the Methodist Church. charge despite explicit Cuban denials and edly ended with a young Negro Freedom activity in defense of Marroquin's rights. The committee has also launched a drive without producing a shred of evidence. Rider shaking his finger angrily in Ken­ The Hector Marroquin Defense Commit­ to raise the substantial funds that will be When the fighting began in Shaba Prov­ nedy's face. tee, which organizes publicity and finan­ needed to meet the expenses of organizing ince (Katanga) in mid-May, the press began cial support for the case, has begun to or­ The gathering had been arranged by such a delegation. a hypocritical chorus of concern for the ganize a broad delegation to accompany Baldwin on Robert Kennedy's suggestion Supporters are being urged to become safety ofU. S. and European nationals living Marroquin to Canada. This delegation will after the novelist had written Kennedy endorsers of the committee and to send in the province. This laid the basis to portray demonstrate the wide support for his appli­ criticizing the administration's lack of contributions and statements of support any imperialist intervention as a "mission of cation for residence, and can help assure forthright action in Birmingham, Ala­ that Marroquin can present to the consular mercy" to "rescue" whites in the area. that he has no interference from the gov­ bama. officials. These should be sent to the de­ Then Washington and its European allies ernment in returning to the United States. fense committee at Box 761, Church Street carried out a joint intervention. The Belgian Baldwin later told the press that the plan Those who have agreed to participate in Station, New York, N.Y., 10007. government, the former colonial masters of was to discuss the situation in the North, Zaire, provided an estimated I ,750 parat­ and that he tried to impress on the attorney roops; France provided 1, 000 Foreign general that northern as well as southern Big protests by S. Korean students Legion troops; Britain supplied planes and Negroes are fed up. The federal govern­ other logistical support. And Carter pro­ ment, said Baldwin, must take an "un­ Continued from front page first time lost control of the national assem­ vided 18 planes and released $20 million in equivocal moral stand" against segregation Chun to agree to direct presidential elec­ bly. Opposition parties won a majority of military aid to Zaire's Mobutu regime. and take "radical and forceful" action if a tions. the seats. possibly bloody racial collision is to be In the election that followed, Chun's Meanwhile, students are projecting a avoided. But, said Baldwin, "We couldn't nominee, Gen. Roh Tae Woo, was de­ June 10 march to the border village of Pan­ THE get through." clared the winner. munjom in order to meet with North Ko­ Baldwin said that when it was proposed Despite massive fraud, Washington was rean students. MILITANT that President Kennedy personally escort quick to put its stamp of approval on the They are also supporting the demand Publi1hed in the lntere1h of the Wor.in9 People Negro students into the University of Ala­ outcome, deepening popular anger. that North Korea cohost the Olympic June 3, 1963 Price 10e bama the attorney general "just laughed." Then, in a stunning upset this past April, games slated to open in Seoul in Sep­ "He didn't get the point at all ," said the ruling Democratic Justice Party for the tember. The meeting in New York on May 24 Baldwin.

June 3, 1988 The Militant 13 -EDITORIAlS------How the 'Militant' Aid needed for Nicaragua! was born DOUG JENNESS The people of Nicaragua have defeated the contra war and getting out the truth about the revolution, that we can This year the Militant is celebrating its 60th anniver­ that Washington organized against them, but they have best lay the groundwork for organizing opposition to any sary. Officially our birthday is November 15, the date paid a high price . About 25,000 Nicaraguans were killed attempt to militarily intervene in Nicaragua." when our first issue appeared in 1928 . -out of a population of 3.5 million- and thousands of The editorial proposed "a stepped-up effort to involve The paper was launched by the communist fighters I others maimed. Schools, medical facilities, and farms the trade unions in the campaign to get Washington to described last week, who had been expelled from the bu­ have been destroyed. The living standards of working provide assistance, as well as to making their own re­ reaucratized Communist Party for continuing to carry on people have declined. sources available to our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters." their political activity as Marxists. They were committed Nicaragua today urgently needs massive assistance The tasks are similar today, under conditions that have from the U.S. and other governments to rebuild the coun­ been worsened in many respects by the U.S.-organized try . Organizing a broad united campaign to demand such warfare . aid should now be the number one priority for the forces When Washington initiated the contra war in 1981 , the LEARNING ABOUT around the world who spoke out and marched against focus of solidarity with Nicaragua shifted to opposition to U.S. support to the contras. Solidarity organizations, U.S. support to the contras. That was the key way that SOCIALISM unions, farmers' groups, and others should begin discuss­ working people internationally could help the workers ing how to achieve this demand. and farmers . The seven-year contra war worsened the immense dev­ Today, it's the economic difficulties and pressure that to the same goal that had led them to join, and in some in­ astation that had already struck Nicaragua before 1981 . most gravely threaten Nicaraguan working people. stances help found, the Communist Party- advancing Much of the capital city of Managua had been destroyed In the United States, Britain, France, Canada, Aus­ the fight for a workers' and farmers' government as part in 1972 by an earthquake. The U.S.-backed tyranny of tralia, and other countries, opponents of U.S. aggression of the worldwide struggle for communism. Anastasio Somoza did virtually nothing to repair the should insist that the governments of these countries send The Militant first started coming out every two weeks damage. food, medical supplies, construction equipment, and and went weekly at the end of its first year. Its first editor The civil war that ended in July 1979 with a popular in­ other badly needed help to Nicaragua. was James P. Cannon, a veteran fighter of the workers' movement, who had held many prominent positions in surrection that toppled the capitalist government brought Efforts by religious organizations, unionists, farmers' the Communist Party. even more devastation. Up to 50,000 people, 2 percent of groups, and many others throughout the world to aid Nic­ The editorial board also included Maurice Spector, the population, were killed. Somoza's planes bombed aragua have shown the widespread sentiment that can be who had been chairman of the Communist Party in Can­ neighborhoods, factories, and schools in the cities as the tapped for such a campaign. They have struck a respon­ ada, and editor of the Canadian Worker and the Cana­ insurrection gained ground. sive chord among working people, many of whom iden­ dian Labour Monthly . The impact of the civil war and the earthquake rein­ tify with the problems facing the Nicaraguan people and Spector's inclusion on the board reflected the role the forced the effects of decades of U.S. imperialist domina­ recognize the need for solidarity. tion of Nicaragua. With U.S. backing, big landowners Militant served as the voice for communist fighters in All kinds of groups have organized volunteers to go to had stripped peasants of their land. Poverty, disease, and both Canada and the United States. And each issue of the Nicaragu~ to participate in harvest and construction illiteracy had stalked rural areas and urban barrios. Nica­ paper published the addresses of distributors in both brigades, and to provide medical care and other help. ragua was an underdeveloped country, with little indus­ countries. Last November the Washington-based Quest for Peace try . The Atlantic Coast, where the majority of the coun­ But from the outset, the Militant was circulated more project completed a drive to raise $100 million in aid for try's Black and Indian populations lived, was even more widely internationally and attempted to link up with rev­ Nicaragua, a figure intended to match the $100 million olutionary forces in the world. Its first issues carried re­ backward. Congress had voted the contras in 1986. Now Quest for As in other countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin ports from other working-class fighters, who, like those Peace is seeking to raise another $100 million in hu­ America, imperialist banks and financial institutions in North America, had been purged from the Communist manitarian aid. were using Nicaragua's debt to siphon ever-more wealth parties in their countries. out of the country's economy. The support for helping Nicaragua became more wide­ The Militant uncompromisingly spoke in the interests When the workers' and farmers' government that came spread in response to the contras' murder in April 1987 of of working people throughout the world and conducted to power adopted the name "Government of National Re­ Benjamin Linder, aU. S. volunteer who was helping con­ special drives to increase the circulation of the paper construction," it was accurately describing its tasks. One struct power plants for the villages of northern Nicara­ among working-class fighters and activists in social pro­ of its first requests was for international aid . gua. test movements. Along with many others, the Militant campaigned for But the scope of the aid that is necessary can only For awhile it was the only regular communist publica­ massive assistance to Nicaragua. A Nov . 2, 1979, Mili­ come from the vast resources of governments. A broad tion in English and served to help win, educate, and tant editorial declared, "For all supporters of democratic campaign that mobilizes as many people as possible to orient working-class vanguard forces in many countries. and human rights ... there is no more important task at demand massive government aid to Nicaragua will draw From its first issue the Militant began serializing major this time than organizing the broadest possible campaign strength from and reinforce nongovernmental efforts to articles and documents by international communist lead­ for emergency material aid to the Nicaraguan people. help Nicaragua. ers . Many of these appeared in English for the first time "The Nicaraguan revolution needs the active political Our job now is getting out the truth about the Nicara­ in the Militant. Especially important were the contribu­ and material solidarity of working people throughout the guan revolution, the economic problems the country tions from Leon Trotsky, who had been purged from the world in order to survive. This can be decisive in the out­ faces, and the vital need for the governments of the world leadership of the Communist International and the Soviet come of the revolutionary process now unfolding. And it to assist the workers and farmers in their reconstruction Communist Party by the bureaucratic faction headed by is precisely by campaigning for and obtaining this aid, efforts. Joseph Stalin. It also reprinted articles and speeches by V.I. Lenin, the central leader of the October 1917 Rus­ sian revolution and of the Communist International be­ fore he died in 1924. Even before supporters of the Militant in North America formed an organization, the Communist League A fake fight against drugs of America, in May 1929, they published their first pam­ phlet. Less than two months after the paper began com­ With strong bipartisan support, the House of Repre­ Adopting this amendment would reinforce the federal ing off the press, the Militant put out The Draft Program sentatives and the Senate approved legislation in the be­ government's use of the death penalty. Currently, federal of the Communist International. ginning of May to beef up the military's role in trying to statutes adopted in the last 15 years provide for this sen­ This document presented a thorough evaluation by prevent entry of illegal drugs into the United States. The tence in cases of air piracy and peace time espionage by Trotsky of how the program supported by the Stalin fac­ bill was passed 385 to 23 in the House and 83 to 6 in the military personnel. tion at the Sixth Congress of the Communist International Senate. It would also give greater encouragement to the use of in 1928 reversed the Marxist positions of the first four The legislation has nothing to do with fighting drugs or the death penalty in the 37 states where it's legal. congresses of the International under Lenin's leadership. aiding the hundreds of thousands of victims of drug ad­ The Senate legislation comes on the heels of similar This work is still available in the book, The Third Inter­ diction. Under the guise of getting tough on illegal drugs, moves by other federal and state agencies. The Coast national After Lenin (Pathfinder: New York, 1970) and the legislators increased military spending, took further Guard and the U.S. Customs Service have approved remains an excellent source for studying the struggle to steps against democratic rights, and opened a new front guidelines for a "zero tolerance" drugs policy. Under the defend the continuity of Marxism. in the drive for increased use of the death penalty. guidelines the Coast Guard may board and seize any boat By 1931 Militant supporters had gained sufficient strength The legislation was adopted as an amendment to a bill that has any amount of illegal drugs. Customs officials and resources to launch Pioneer Publishers (later renamed that provides $300 billion for the military next year. may not only arrest individuals entering the country with Pathfinder Press). In the 57 years since, this has remained The House version of the bill requires the president to any amount of illegal drugs, but may also confiscate the principal publisher and distributor of books and pam­ order the military - including the National Guard and passports and other travel documents. In both cases, the phlets in English by revolutionary fighters of our time. reserves - to begin blanket nighttime radar coverage of latitude for cop frame-up is greatly increased. The policy of the Militant from the beginning was to be the southern border of the country, to seize any planes or On April 27 New York City officials took advantage of a paper that is part of the fight of working people, not a boats carrying narcotics, and to arrest the crews. The a 1984 federal law which allows authorities to confiscate journal that merely comments on events or struggles. Its House earmarked $475 million for the program. The Sen­ the property of people accused or charged with drug traf­ aim was to be a fighting paper integrated with the build­ ate version would set aside $30 million for the National ing of a revolutionary workers' party with a communist ficking to revoke the leases of two residents of public program. Guard alone. housing. Only small amounts of drugs were found. In at The bill sets the ominous precedent of using the mili­ was the voice of the Communist League least one reported case, a single-family home was taken The Militant tary to enforce the law against civilians. The navy would of America, which attempted to link up with all serious even though no arrests were made. be given limited powers of arrest under the supervision of forces moving in a revolutionary direction or engaging in U.S. Coast Guard personnel. The capitalist profiteers who deal in illegal drugs are class struggle. In 1934 the Communist League fused with The president would be required within 30 days of intertwined with the cops at every level. Doling out more the American Workers Party to form the Workers Party. passage of the legislation to designate a lead agency for funds to various police agencies will only spawn more In 1936 the members of this formation entered the Social­ detection and monitoring of drug trafficking in the coun­ corruption. ist Party to influence and win leftward-moving forces in­ try. Supporters of the bill have pressed for designation of Moreover, the result of giving more funds and powers side that organization. When that left wing was expelled the Pentagon as that agency. to the police and military apparatuses will be to clamp at the end of 1937, it established the Socialist Workers Taking advantage of the momentum, New York Sen. down on democratic rights of working people. Party at a Dec. 31, 1937-Jan. I, 1938 convention. Alfonse D' Amato also proposed an amendment that The U.S. rulers and their cop agencies are not in­ For an account by a participant of the process that Jed would impose a federal death penalty law for drug-re­ terested in solving the monstrous problem of addictive up to this, I suggest reading the History of American lated killings. On May 16 the Senate by a vote of 68 to 27 drugs, which especially victimizes working people. As Trotskyism by James P. Cannon (Pathfinder: New York. refused to block the death penalty amendment. In debate they vote more money for the military and cops under the 1972). on the amendment, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah described guise of fighting drugs, they cut spending for rehabilita­ Next week, I'll take up how the Militant covered the the death penalty as "our society's recognition of the tion programs, medical care, and clinics that aim to help 1929 stock market crash and the onset of the Great De­ sanctity of life." the victims of drugs. pression of the 1930s.

14 The Militant June 3, 1988 -l.ETTERS----- Deportation case victory from the age of 10. In the United THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT POLICE MAY SEARCH GARBAGE CANS In your issue of March 25 you States, this is considered child carried an article on the attempt of molestation and is punishable by the British Home Office to deport law. In the Philippines, this does one of my coworkers at a rail depot not apply, which makes me ask in London. The victim, Asafu Ad­ why. Is the child in the United jaye, was arrested at the London States different from the child in Bridge depot under the racist im­ the Philippines? migration legislation. Lastly, the Philippines does not A petition was organized among need the bases. We don't have rail workers demanding that the enemies. case against our brother be dropped. Concerned citizen I'm glad to report that the petition Portland, Oregon received wide support, and was supported by members of the Jobless informer Executive Committee of the Na­ There was a scandal in Montreal tional Union of Railwaymen and a while back about a staff or­ by several Labour Party members ganizer for the National Confeder­ of Parliament. ation of Trade Unions (CSN) who The result is that the Home Of­ was a paid informer-provocateur fice has dropped all proceedings for the Quebec Provincial Police against our brother. His passport for 13 years. This stool pigeon, who goes by has been returned to him, and he is the name of Marc Boivin, has now free to remain and work in this dragged the CSN in front of a Labor country. Tribunal because the union that or­ Thanks to all who helped to take ganizes CSN staffers refuses to de­ a modest step toward a world fend him in his fight to get his old without boundaries. A . Stewart union job back. He claims the London, England CSN has no right to fire him! It now turns out that since he Homeless children truth about what's going on. reported that the tapes were of Well done "lost" his job, he's been collecting About 20 percent of Georgia's D.B. meetings and discussions of strike $249 a week in unemployment, homeless are children, half under Jackson~·ille, Florida strategies that are protected by Enclosed is a check for a $30 plus $540 a week from the Quebec federal law from the concept of contribution for your outstanding the age of six . In metro Atlanta cops, who signed an agreement alone, there are an estimated Which country? legal discovery. The union has coverage on FBI lawsuit. Thank guaranteeing him protection and a stopped taking minutes of its you for a job well done. 2,000 homeless children. Here's I enjoyed reading the article by financial sustainer. an example of what the authorities Susan LaMont about Cuba's vol­ meetings because it fears these E.M. I think you 'II agree that Cana­ would be ruled discoverable by Brookline, Massachusetts are doing about this problem: unteer work brigades in the May dian $800 a week clear (the equiv­ D'Oiivia Swain, a 31-year-old 27 Militant and was impressed by Decker. Also there is no appeal on alent of US$645) is not a bad in­ Black woman who earns $13,000 the fine photos. But I was puzzled this ruling, but the article didn't AIDS come for a jobless informer. a year as a tax examiner, was as to where they came from. say why. There were between 9,000 and Sylvie Charbin forced to move from her apart­ Two of the photos are credited If the union members don't 10,000 people in Sacramento, Montreal, Canada ment. In order to keep her children to Socialist Action/Terry Coggan. have the right to speak freely and California, on May 7 demanding enrolled in their school, she I know there is more than one pub­ confidentially, then their political gay rights and funding for health Farm workers moved in with a friend . When the lication named Socialist Action in rights as well as their right to strike care for AIDS victims. While The agricultural workers' sec­ school authorities began to ques­ the United States and other En­ is abused. Jesse Jackson promised support tion of the government's amnesty tion her about her address, she glish-speaking countries and was Frank Pavelko for gay rights at the march, Mayor program has a deadline of Novem­ showed them a letter from her curious which one it was. Price. Utah Arthur Agnos of San Francisco, ber 30 for obtaining work permits, friend stating she was living with T.B. who promised the same thing last which result in six months tempo­ her in Gwinnett County. But New York, New York 'Real rehabilitation' fall, has decided to cut spending rary legalization. The permits for school officials weren't satisfied I recently helped set up a Path­ for AIDS in a time of growing which farm workers are applying with the letter, so she applied for a Editor's reply: The two photo­ finder literature table at the Uni­ need. here in Oregon are the equivalent voter's card. When the resident graphs you refer to were provided versity of California in Berkeley. The lack of government support of the "proof of application" under manager of the apartment building to us courtesy of Socialist Action, A Black student, about 35 years of in this advanced capitalist country the amnesty program. wouldn't verify her address, the published biweekly in New Zea­ age, came running over and be­ is in startling contrast to the sup­ I was told by the Immigration school notified the police. The land. Terry Coggan, a reporter for came quite excited to find a large port given by the Sandinista gov­ and Naturalization Service office police arrested her and threw her Socialist Action, visited Cuba in selection of Malcolm X literature. ernment of revolutionary Nicara­ in Oregon that in addition to the in jail, where she had to post $225 January 1988. The student explained that he gua, where there are no cases of mandatory physicals and finger­ bond, the money she had been had served a jail term of 10 years AIDS. In a couple of different gay printing, photographs are also re­ saving for a new apartment. in San Quentin, where he received newspapers, I read articles about quired for the applications. The Ellen Berman Decker mine strike a complimentary sub to the Mili­ the AIDS prevention work led by dates of verifiable employment in Atlanta, Georgia I've been subscribing to the tant. the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health. the United States must be from Sheridan Press in order to follow It was through the Militant that During the press conference to May l , 1985 to May 1, 1986. the strike of United Mine Workers he became acquainted with Mal­ kick off the campaign in the sum­ The Oregon Employment Secu­ What it really is of America locals 1972 and 2055 colm and he also received some of mer of 1987, Minister of Health rity offices have established an I recently subscribed to the against Decker and Big Horn coal Malcolm's writings. Learning from Dora Marfa Tellez said, "It used to "immigration hot line" to answer Militant. Thanks for printing the companies. There is a continuing Malcolm, he took advantage of a be a stigma to have tuberculosis. questions from immigrant farm real truth. I'm glad someone wants story in this newspaper about a schooling program and when he We don't want this to happen with workers. I called to ask whether to expose capitalism for what it re­ violation of these Wyoming lo­ was released he soon graduated AIDS. We don't want people to farm workers can be hired without ally is. cals' political rights. from law school. feel ashamed." showing they have applied for the James Guilfoyle On February 4 sheriff's deputies He bought a subscription and six Also Nicaragua is the first coun­ permits. And what happens if a Indiana, Pennsylvania went to Don Daniel's home with a books by or about Malcolm, and try to include gay people in the "qualified" farm worker doesn't search warrant for a videotape thanked us for making those 10 planning and execution of the gov­ have the $300 necessary to apply? 'Oliver Tambo Speaks' "depicting a rock-throwing inci­ years a period of learning and "real ernment program. dent on Dec. 10, 1987." But they I was told it is "too bad" that A new book has just been pub­ rehabilitation. " Sonja Franeta many of the farm workers don't told Dixie Daniels that they needed Paul Montauk San Francisco, California lished entitled Oliver Tambo Speaks: have the application money and Preparing for Power. Tambo has every videotape they had. The dep­ Oakland, California that hopefully various churches in been the president of the African uties took II video tapes, all of Regular reader the state will provide some funds. which were labeled, though only Correction As a regular reader and a sub­ National Congress since 1967. I was told that unless the Im­ one videotape had the date given The first paragraph of the article scriber to the Militant I have been The book collects speeches and migration Reform and Control Act writings from the early 1950s on the warrant. "London meeting of 200 hears re­ a dedicated socialist all my life. is expanded to include farm work­ At a hearing to determine if port on South Africa struggle" in Originally, I am from Jamaica, through 1987. Topics include an ers not eligible for the temporary these tapes were illegally seized, the May 27 Militant was inadver­ West Indies. You would be sur­ explanation of the basic goals of agricultural amnesty program, Judge James Wolfe decided to tently dropped and another para­ prised to know that with each issue the ANC and documents its strug­ they cannot legally be hired with­ view all of them to determine if graph substituted for it. It should of the Militant, I have got a line of gles. Twen ~y -one photographs are out demonstrating that they have included. they were relevant to and discov­ have read: about 25 brothers who read it. And at least applied. erable by Decker. Decker mining "LONDON - More than 200 we all take time out to talk about Oliver Tambo Speaks is pub­ Rumor has it titat growers will has a lawsuit against the miners' people turned out for a meeting various subjects. lished by George Braziller, Inc., not be fined or otherwise penal­ 60 Madison Ave., New York, union alleging vandalism, al­ here to mark the ninth anniversary A prisoner ized this year for hiring undoc­ thol.lgh no UMW A members have of the execution of African Na­ Dannemora, New York N.Y. 10010, and retails for umented workers . This was also $19.95 (cloth only). Pathfi nder yet been arrested or charged with tional Congress member Solomon true last year since the amnesty vandalism. Philippines Books in St. Paul, Minnesota, is Mahlangu by South Africa's apart­ program was initiated in 1986. making a special offer on the book On April 18 Judge Wolfe issued heid regime. Mahlangu was a I appreciate the recent Militant I'm not sure why farm workers for $14.95 (for mail orders add $2 the decision that six of these tapes member of Umkhonto we Sizwe articles concerning the political feel qualitatively more pressure for postage and handling). were both relevant and discover­ (Spear of the Nation), the armed turmoil in the Philippines, espe­ this year to arrive early for the per­ Mike Maggi able by Decker and turned them wing of the African National Con­ cially about the U.S. bases. mits and get jobs. Perhaps it is a St. Paul, Minnesota over to the company's attorneys. gress. The April 18 meeting was The life of the Filipino, espe­ combination of factors, including One tape was of conversations be­ organized by the ANC Youth Sec­ cially in the cities, particularly in the fact that the economic crisis in tween union members and their tion in London. Angeles and Olongapo, shows how Mexico is becoming more severe. Plenty of people defense attorney and was ruled not Filipinos are deprived of living a Also, it may be last year's rumor The Militant is the only true to be discoverable. The other tapes The letters column is an open good, happy way of life. This is in of a "labor shortage" in Oregon, source of information I can count were copies. forum for all viewpoints on sub­ contrast to the U.S. bases installed which was a campaign by the state on to get news and information as The defense attorney is quoted jects of general interest to our next door, occupying vast tracts of government and growers to con­ it concerns the average person. as saying that he isn't concerned readers. Please keep your letters land supposedly used for food pro­ vince farm workers to work for Even though there is no Socialist about the content of the tapes but brief. Where necessary they will duction. lower wages. Workers Party-Young Socialist Al­ that he is concerned about the be abridged. Please indicate if The U.S. bases also cater to the Janet Post liance in my town, there are plenty abuse of the process. you prefer that your initials be rampant prostitution, which ranges Portland, Oregon of people who like to know the In one earlier news story , it was used rather than your full name.

June 3, 1988 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT South Africa loses key Angola battle BY SAM MANUEL The May 2 Granma Weekly Review re­ "South Africa has shattered its teeth on ported that Angolan and Cuban units were the iron resistance at Cuito Cuanavale," joined in the drive by troops of the South concluded a March 17 statement from the West Africa People's Organisation. SWAPO Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed is leading the fight against South African ZAIRE Forces of Cuba. The statement was carried colonial rule in Namibia. South Africa's in the March 27 English-language Granma United Nations mandate to administer Weekly Review, newspaper of the Cuban Namibia was revoked in 1966, but 100,000 Communist Party. South African troops remain in the coun­ On March 23 the apartheid forces suf­ try . fered a decisive defeat by Angolan and Cuban troops in the strategic battle for the Cuban troops reinforced town of Cuito Cuanavale in southeastern The push toward the Namibian border Angola. was combined with a strong reinforcement A May 18 New York Times headline of Cuban troops in Angola. read: "Angolans Besting South Africa in a "After assessing the seriousness of the Remote Battle." The story reported that situation [the Angolan and Cuban govern­ South African gunners were now firing ments] decided to reinforce the Cuban in­ only 40 shells a day into the town. In Janu­ ternationalist contingent stationed in south­ ATLANTIC ary South African artillery began pounding ern Angola with a few dozen advisers, OCEAN Cuito Cuanavale, reaching an average of pilots, and experienced military specialists 200 to 300 shells per day in March. The provided with the necessary forces and Times placed the total strength of the South combat equipment to further guarantee the Moxico African forces at the peak of the battle at territorial integrity of the sister nation and 10,000 soldiers, with 300 tanks and ar­ the security of Cuba's troops," reported mored vehicles, and 400 artillery pieces. Granma Weekly Review. Cuito Cuanavale is located in the south­ (Thousands of Cuban troops are now eastern province of Cuando Cubango, a ZAMBIA serving in Angola. In a May 6 Miami Her­ stronghold of the Angolan counterrevolu­ ald report, Jorge Risquet, a member of the tionary National Union for the Total Inde­ • political bureau of the Cuban Communist pendence of Angola (UNIT A) . The Ango­ Mavinga 0 Party, said that 300,000 Cubans have lan contras control six of the nine served in military and civilian positions in municipalities in the province. Cuando Cubango Angola since 1975.) UNITA has collaborated with South Af­ The additional troops made possible the rican government forces in a war that strong deployment of Angolan and Cuban began in 1975. Their aim is to overthrow forces in northeastern Angola. According the ruling People's Mc.vement for the Lib­ to the May 2 Granma Weekly Review, eration of Angola (MPLA). UNITA has these moves create "the most favorable also received an average of $15 million a Gen. Magnus Malan claimed that they had defensive positions. The March 17 state­ conditions ever to confront the South Afri­ never intended to capture Cuito Cuanavale. ment by the Cuban armed forces called the year from Washington in the last two can aggression. years. "In this type of war, one does not take air strikes decisive. The northeastern provinces have been meaningless villages which are. further­ A decisive battle the site of recent military activity by more, weakly situated from a tactical point Besieged town According to a March 31 report from the UNIT A with the aid of the regime of of view ," Malan asserted. Subsequent reports from journalists de­ Luanda Domestic Service, the March 23 Mobutu Sese Seko in neighboring Zaire. But the March 23 battle was the third scribe the devastation caused in the town battle began at 3:00 a.m. Heavy artillery The May 16 London Guardian reported South African offensive against Cuito by the shelling. Granma Weekly Review and tank fire from the Angolan and Cuban that UNIT A commandos blew up electric­ Cuanavale. The town had been under siege May 27: "The holes blown everywhere­ forces halted the South African advance at ity pylons in the northeast of the country. since January 13 by a combined force of sometimes with a diameter of several me­ the first defensive lines of the town. After Washington supplies UNIT A with mili­ South African troops, units of UNITA , and ters and three or four meters deep - and 15 hours of fierce fighting, the South Afri­ tary hardware flown from the Kamina air Black Namibian conscripts. The invaders the destroyed homes, schools, hospital and can forces retreated in disarray, their tanks base in Zaire. were so confident of victory that an airport buildings . ... " New York Times running over some of their infantry troops May 18: "Cuito Cuanavale is now in South Africa downplays involvement UNIT A spokesperson in Paris announced in the escape. the capture of Cuito Cuanavale on January ruins." Johannesburg Sunday Times March South African forces invaded Angola in 22. 6: "The roadside is pocked with bomb cra­ Just two weeks before this battle, Ango­ October 1987 to prevent the defeat of ters and littered with the burnt-out wreckage lan and Cuban forces began a bold flanking UNIT A troops in Mavinga, about ISO In a January 28 report carried by the of oil tankers and supply trucks. The paved move against the invaders in southwestern kilometers southeast of Cuito Cuanavale. British Broadcast Corp., Angolan Maj. airstrip is intact only because the Angolans Angola. On March II , Angolan and Cuban The South African invasion forced Ango­ Domingo Baptista said that his forces were quickly patch it up each time it is bombed." troops stationed near the 15th parallel ad­ lan troops to retreat to Cuito Cuanavale. forced to retreat from some positions after vanced from their positions against an esti­ heavy fighting the first week of January. Contrary to Malan's assertion about its mated 3,000 South African troops . They Throughout the invasion South African But on January 14 and 15 planes piloted by tactical insignificance, Cuito Cuanavale is drove to within six miles of the Namibian officials attempted to downplay the extent Angolans and Cubans pounded South Afri­ the forward-most base from which Ango­ border in the Angolan southwestern prov­ of their involvement. In the wake of their can positions, stopping their advance and lan and Cuban troops conduct operations inces of Namibe and Cunene. defeat South African Defense Minister allowing the Angolan forces to reestablish against UNITA and South African forces in their strongholds in Cuando Cubango Prov­ ince. The rout of the apartheid forces at Cuito Cuanavale and the drive of Angolan, Cuban, and SW APO troops in southwest­ Protest Israeli repression June 4 ern Angola toward the Namibian border al­ ters the relationship of forces in the war to BY BRIAN WILLIAMS Committee, told the Militant that 10 bus­ director Mike Farrell; the Guardian news­ South Africa's disadvantage. AND FRED FELDMAN loads of participants are expected to attend paper; American-Arab Anti-Discrimina­ NEW YORK - The Israeli govern­ the New York City action from ~oston ; tion Committee; Committee in Solidarity Heroic defense ment's actions in the West Bank and Gaza Washington, D.C. ; Pittsburgh; New Ha­ with the People of El Salvador; Gerald News of the hard-fought victory at Cui to Strip and U.S. aid to Israel will be the ven, Connedicut; Rhode Island; and other Horne, counsel to Local 1199, Hospital Cuanavale was widely reported throughout targets of a national day of protest in cities areas. Workers Union; Gary Ward, president of Angola and Cuba. The governments of both countries issued special medals for the across the United States June 4. The demonstrations mark the 21st an­ Local 3118 American Federation of Teach­ defense of the town. The medals were, Regional demonstrations will be held in niversary of the June 1967 Israeli war ers; U.S . Peace Council; Patrice Lumumba from Cuba, "Medal for the Defense of Chicago, Houston, New York, and San against Jordan, Syria, and Egypt, in which Coalition; Young Koreans United of New Cui to Cuanavale," and from Angola, "Merit Francisco. Local demonstrations will take the invaders seized East Jerusalem, the York; Coalition Against Anti-Asian Vio­ for Services Given in Defense of the Coun­ place in Seattle; Tuscon, Arizona; and oth­ West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, lence; civil liberties attorney Leonard try." er cities. and Sinai Peninsula. (The Israeli regime Weinglass; David Cortright of SANE/ Participants in the New York City pro­ withdrew from Sinai in exchange for the Freeze; Mike Gimbel, president of Amer­ Among the Cuban internationalists who test will assemble at II :00 a.m. at the army Egyptian government's diplomatic recog­ ican Federation of State, County and received medals were several women. One Municipal Employees Local 375; Rabbi recruiting station at 43rd Street and Broad­ nition and acceptance of the other Israeli of them was Barbara Camejo Prieto, an way, marching down Broadway past Is­ conquests in a 1979 treaty.) Elmer Berger, and many others. anesthetist. Camejo's actions at Cui to raeli government offices to Union Square, The call for the actions demand: "Stop Cuanavale were reported in the April 5 Initiated by the Palestine Solidarity where a rally will be held at 3:00p.m. the killing, beating, imprisonment, and ex­ Bastion, newspaper of the Cuban armed Among those who have agreed to speak Committee, the protests have won scores pulsion of Palestinians; end the Israeli oc­ forces . The story illustrates the courage of sponsors. Endorsers of the New York at the rally are Felicia Langer, an Israeli at­ cupation of the West Bank and Gaza; stop and determination of the defenders of the action include the African National Con­ U.S. funding of the occupation." torney who has defended many Palestinian town. political prisoners, and Tawfiq Zayad, a gress; Leslie Cagan, national coordinator Further information about the protests member of Israel's parliament and mayor of the SSD-III National Coalition building can be obtained by contacting the Palestine Ac;cording to Bastion, Camejo had been of Nazareth. the June 11 anti war, antinuclear protests in Solidarity Committee in New York at (212) told by her commander that she could not Yasmin Adib, coordinator of the New New York City; Women's International 964-7299 and in San Francisco at ( 415) go to Cuito Cuanavale because of the con­ York chapter of the Palestine Solidarity League for Peace and Freedom; actor and 861-1552. Continued on Page 13

16 The Militant June 3, 1988