t5 _~ -- Volume 5 No.lO October 1981 FREETHE BRADFORD12 A major effort has been launched conspiracy charges is a pulitical by the British state to smash the frame-up aimed at breaking the read-­ fast growing United Black Youth iness of black people to defend them­ League in Br.adford. selves agatnst state racism and fascist attacks a readiner that On July 30th and 31st, Bradford :he people have clearly shown on police arrested 11 black youths, the streets over the last few months. mainly members and sympathisers of the UBYL. A twelfth youth was picked up later. All have · been charged with consp1nng to cause MASSIVE SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY fire and explosions on or about July The response of the · black 11th, and intending to "endanger community in Bradford to the arrests the lives of others". The Conviction carries a maximum penalty of has been overwhelming. 700 people turned out to support the militants life imprisonment. at a recent meeting. "Have we not POLICE CLAIM 'CONFESSIONS' got the right to defend ourselves? Have we not got the right to speak The prosecution claims that police about what we would do if we were had found a cache of petrol bombs in some waste ground around Horton attacked?" they declared. The Hall, Bradford. They claim that British racist state has given its the first 11 youths arrested had answer in advance - the conspiracy given 'voluntary statements' charges. The people will win their admitting responsibility, while they rights - through struggle. And that were held in custody in the Tyrils, they are doing and will continue George Lindo, a West Indian to do. the Bradford Police Headquarters. worker in Bradford, was .~on.-­ victed of a crime he never com­ mitted solely on the basis of a USE OF 'CONSPIRACY' 'voluntary statement' taken from The use of such conspiracy The arrested youths were held him in the Tyrils. His convic­ charges by the state in such polit­ for 2 days without access to tion was later quashed after one ical trials is not new. The con­ solicitors or family during which of the officers involved was spiracy laws are an important time they were subject to racist caught red-handed fabricating weapon in the states armoury against abuse, threats and brutality at statements. revolutionary and progressive move­ · the Tyrils. On Saturday August ments because the evidence need 1st they were brought before only be hearsay and guilt by magistrates where they saw their association. They do not have to solicitors for the first time only BRADFORD 12 ARE ACTIVE DEFENDERS prove ( in this case ) that the briefly before being taken into OF THEIR COMMUNITY militants have actually used petrol court. bombs. They have been among the most 10 of them have been remanded vigorous campaigners for Anwar Ditta In particular, such 'conspiracy' in custody ever since, with the for ]aswinder Kaur, for Nasira Begum trials have been used against Irish order being renewed at weekly and for Gary Pemberton a West people in Britain. This link is deep­ appearances before magistrates. Indian worker from Bradford who ened by the present aim of criminal­ ising the just struggle of national On Sept 3rd five of them was assaulted and framed by West minorities in Britain, in a similar refused to -a.ppear before magis­ Yorkshire police. All these campaigns trates to continue the farce. were victorious. vein to the criminalisation policy against national liberation fighters The same court has given bail On July 11th a gang of skinheads in Ireland. to racists involved in the fire descended on Bradford determined bombing of Asian premises. to carry out further racist attacks. BEAT BACK THE STATE OFFENSIVE Black youth responded. by going on If the racist state succeeds in to the streets to defend their comm­ this repression of the present unity. 68 were arrested. All the defendents deny mak1 ng struggle of national minorities in any voluntary confessions and plead The people intend to defend their Britain, if it successfully convicts NOT GUILTY. communities and they have the right these poEtical prisoners, it will to do so. A number of arson attacks be delivering a message loud and None of the youths have been against black peoples houses and clear to all those fighting the racist seen carrying or handling petrol cafes culminated in the recent fire state. It will be a declaration of bombs. bombing of Textile Hall, a local its intention to break up the growing No petrol bombs were used during West Indian centre and the head­ revolutionary and progressive move­ the street resistance in Bradford quarters of the July 11th Action ments in Britain. on July 11th. Committee whi<;:h was set up to defend The defence of the Bradford 12 the Bradford 12. Yet it is black But all the youths have been must be an important task for all houses that are raided not those progressive people. Our demands active in campaigning against_ de­ of racists. portations, and state racism and are clear: declare their readiness to defend This is the background to the DROP THE CHARGES! their communities against racist framing of charges against the attacks. Bradford 12. The fra!IIe-up on the FREE THE BRADFORD 12! Editorial------.

In September the government announcea Asians in Britain and blaming poor through the pay limit. "It may mean cash limits in the public sector to housing, school, social services etc,. confronting the law on secondary picket­ hold wage rises to a limit of 4% (or on immigration. His appointment repre- ing . If that is the case so be , it," 4p in every £), and the employers in sents an intention to go even further declared Gerald Gillman of SPCS. the engineering industry offered 3%. down the road of direct attacks on This is very fine. But no worker Contrast these figures with inflation. the working class coupled with a pro- can sit back and think that now there' Prices have risen over the last year gramme of stirring up racism "tt even is going to be a big struggle. We must by 11% . If you take just the last 6 greater heights , t o provide a scape- ensure that words become action, and months the rise has been 7%. Spread goat and paralyse class resistance . that action is based on mobilising over a year that would be 14% - 14p - In a phrase, further down the road the initiative and full involvement in the £. towards fascism. of _the rank and file workers. So the government and employers But what of the Trade Union response? But what of the TUC and the Labour are set to . cut real wages by at least What did the TUC decide at its September Party? Delegates almost fell to their lOp in every pound. They know this congress to meet this challenge? knees (a position in which most of is likely to lead to some sharp Firstly, it kept its feet firmly them are very comfortaple) to "pray struggles and the Tory government is on the ground of backing imperialism for the return of a Labour government." getting ready. and firmly opposed any fundamental The TUC is far more inter.ested ·in this The knives ar~ brought out in the challenge to the system of exploitation than mobilising mass struggles. And cabinet. Out go the wets. Or in the and oppression. It refused to uphold what about when a Labour government case of Prior - off to Ireland, where the right to self-determination of is returned? Thatcher hopes he will suffer, at least, Ireland, and even condemned the hunger- Well, the TUC is hardly in a posi tior. a political demise. It is not any basic strikers, and would not even back the to openly declare its support for an­ policy that is being changed. The re- five just demands. Prior can rest easy other 'social contract' . Memories are organisation of the cabinet is designed that he will have TUC friends at his not that short. So it voted overwhelm­ to cut out the growing critic ism, side. However, a resolution was passed ingly for "free collective hargaining". arising from the complaints of important supporting the isolation of the South Don't be fooled because all was made s ections of industry, who are angry African regime {though it was careful clear: at Thatche r 1 s failure even to achieve not to condemn British imperialism "Everything must be down for dis­ the tasks she has set herself, such in the region) . Even this however, cuss ion if we are to reach a genuine as bringing down inflation! serves to show the cynicism of TUC and wide-ranging national understanding The new industry minister, Tebbit, leaders, as Duffy and Sirs fly off between a Labour government and the ha s no diffe r e nce in long-term objective to South Africa. t)1is ,month. unions," declared TUC Gerenral-Secretary from Prior. The difference lies in But at least we could expect some Len Murray, "nobody can claim that tacti cs . Prior 1 s bit by bit approach reaction from the TUC on the level what happens to incomes is totally to bringing in laws aimed at attacking of the economic struggle, and indeed irrelevant to what happens in the rest h ard-won trade union rights is too ther& is. Public sector unions have of the economy". The "left-wing" staunch s l ow. The government is fully aware put in claims ranging from 12-25%. defender of free collective bargaini~g, of the growing contradictions and is At the TUC Congress a resolution was Alan Sapper, who is the newly-elected prep3.ri ng for a big confrontation. overwhelmingly passed, which called TUC Chairman summed it up by 'explaining The p3.ce of anti-worker legislation for a united struggle by public sector that when the Labour government intra­ i s be i ng steppe d up and Tebbi t has workers. The declared intention is duced some reforms, "this would be f i ne crc:dentia ls, and not only in his to coordinate wage struggle, even to reflected in unions 1 bargaining posi­ " xtreme- r ight ideas on economics. In the extent of mutual support and joint tions" · .L972 h e s igne d a letter to Ted Heath, industrial action. NUPE succeeded with So the social contract is alive Lhe prime minister of the time, demand- a demand that the TUC should back strike and well and living under another name i ng t he i1 nmediate deportation of Ugandan action in a coordinated dvive-'to break in the TUC headquarters.

=== from our postbag ======From "Friends of Jaswinder Kaur" would be gratefully received. to speak to the European Court of Human Rights. You may already know that the Fiiends of Jaswinder Kaur Home Office has given ] aswinder in­ P . 0. Box ] . K . They told me of their children cal­ d efinite leave to stay in this coun­ 59 Cook ridge Street, lously shot with plastic bullets when try with her son. We are writing Leeds 2. going to the shops or out walking for to you to thank you for your part daring to be in a republican area; in the campaign to prevent Jaswin­ From a London Reader and of the house searches which find der' s deportation. It is clear to nothing but which are designed to de- us that without the sustained and Dear Editor, moralise and intimidate. I heard how widespread support that was given I recently had the privilege of in these searches teenage girls so generously, ] aswinder and Manjit being able to put up three of the rela­ are degraded as soldiers snigger over would have been deported. tives of prisoners in the H-Blocks letters from their boyfriends and make Jaswinder has given her support when they came to London to lobby in snide comments as they rifle through to other women facing depora tion, support of their just 5 demands. their underwear. One of the families had been raided over 200 times. in particular the campaigns of Cyn­ To meet and speak to these three thia Gordon, Nasir a Beg urn and Nas­ people middle aged, working-class I heard of the son whose eye was r een Akhtar, and Cynthia and Na­ women was quite unforgettable. I damaged in a routine beating in the s i r a have both been recently granted have known of the discrimination in H-Block, who was then refused permis­ leave to stay in the U.K. Nasreen Ireland for many years, but as they sion to see an optician because he is still under threat of deportation told me of their experience living was on the blanket, and now wears a a nd we are writing to ask you to and struggling in Ireland, I felt the pair of his sister's glasses. g i ve your support to her campaign, brutal reality of a system that I can­ I heard them describe "black Febru­ which can be contacted c/o Ashworth not possibly express in words on paper. Street Rochdale Lancashire. ary" when male warders were brought They told me of the years they spent into Armagh Jail to deliver a beating The four campaigns have set up bringiug up children in one room bed­ to the women prisoners in a vain at­ the 'Stop the Deportations Committee' sitters~ the orange state pushed catho- tempt to break their protest, how they along with other anti-racist and 1 ics always to the back of the queue; were stripped naked in front of male black groups to coor-dinate anti-de­ they . told me of the systematic discri­ warders; how one had her fingers broken portation activities and a national mination in jobs, with the consequent when her hands were pulled away as demonstration has been planned for life of poverty. I learnt of the open she tried to cover her breasts; how November, for which there will be state violence against the protests they were dumped bleeding but uncowed further publicity. Information and for democratic rights, and their strug­ back on the stone floors of their cells details of affiliation can be obtained gle for independence. I heard how and how the prison chaplain was refused from 'Stop the Deportations Cam­ their young sons and daughters were permission to see them for two weeks. paign' c/o Box J.K. 59 Cookridge picked up and held for hours and days I heard the truth spoken in the deep­ Street, Leeds 2. As you will under­ for no offence, simply to bring pres­ est sorrow, in bitterness and anger stand the costs incurred in such sure on the mothers who supported their and often, incredibly, in an unstop­ older sons and brothers on the blanket a campaign are large and donations pable humour, that broke through the protest; on one . occasion for daring to 'Stop the Deportations Campaign' C..cnt . o" ;'t (O 2 ~ Birmetals workers ·- whose struggl ~s against factory closures following strike action we featured last year AWORKER'S NOTEBOOK - have just lost their claim for com­ pensation for unfair dismissal. A III Although not widely publicised, III Unemployment causes depression, three week hearing at a Birmingham 1.!!..1 the cut-price labour scheme, Youth l.!!.linsomnia, alchoholism and physical industrial tribunal ruled that both Opportunities Programme, has suffered symptoms such as asthma and backache. those involved in a pay dispute and a recent strike. On the 28th August So concluded a three-year, DHSS-funded, a remainder who refused to switch to there was a three hour protest strike report by Dr. Fagin of Claybury Hospi­ their jobs at that time, were taking by YOP trainees in Eldon Square, New­ tal, Essex. industrial action. They are therefore castle. The protest was organised by legally banned from an unfair dismissal Dr. Fagin expected the report to NUPE. claim. These workers have received be widely available. The DHSS thought the full brunt of anti-union state One of the protesters, 17-year-old otherwise, and only has 200 photocopies power strike breaking by factory Elizabeth Glasgow, made it clear why available for sale at a mere £6 each. closure, long months with no unemploy­ she was protesting: £23.50 for a 40 ment benefit, and now no redundancy hour week was not enough to 1 i ve on. money or compensation of any sort - YOP did not provide real employment. r;ft' Many sick workers will face the and they have united and fought at She had just done three months typing 1.!!..1 sack under new sick pay rules every step. in Consett, 6 months in a Durham publi­ which are likely to come into force city office and was now doing silk­ next year. Others will have to take screen printing in Stanley. a pay cut, says the Low Pay Unit. The Government· has proposed that !!]Police are protecting the scabs employers and not the state should going into the Laurence Scotts fac- r::n Gloucestershire' s Social Services provide sick ·pay for the first 8 weeks tory in Manchester. One scab recently 1.!!..1 Director has warned the Tory County of illness. Bosses will be encouraged attacked a photographer from the "Man­ Council that ~ ts new round of social to fire workers who are sick or chroni­ services cuts will mean that it will chester Evening News" with a 2lb ham­ cally ill. no longer be able to keep its · legal mer. The police said they saw nothing. obligation to provide a service. The In another proposal there is a clear Meanwhile, Manchester North District Director commented that the position incentive for bosses to cut pay rates. Committee of the AUE\11 have unanimously locally was not unusual for local auth­ Bosses paying more than £45 a week agreed to send a resolution to the National Executive demanding they make orities facing further cuts. in wages will have to pay sickness Meanwhile in Cambridgshire a work­ pay of £37. But those paying less the dispute official again. in by staff at an old peoples home ·than £45 need only pay £25. has forced the social services depart­ ment to back down from its plans to cut staffing hours there. The employ­ III All you unemployed bachelors exis- ees argued that to cut the hours would 1.!!..1 ting (are you?) on £20. 65 a week. THE NEW cause the old people to suffer so they don't despair another bachelor who occupied the home until the bosseE 1never worked in his life has just died gave in. TECHNOLOGY <3.nd left £6Yzmillion in estate. All And in Coventry Union leaders have you have to do is be a Mr Whi thread, of the brewing family, who was a share­ put a four-point ultimatum to the City holder without having anything to do Council over planned £2 million spend­ ing cuts. They demand: with running the company, and made (i) no redundancies his money from inheritance, laRd~-pt'O­ perty, and farming interests in Lin­ (ii) no cuts in overtime work colnshire. Being· a generous man he (iii) no increase in school ·meal prices left a whole £2,000 to be distributed (iv) no change in rent allowances CLASS STRUGGLE SUBSCRIPTIONS for caretakers. amongst his present and former employ­ ees ..... sorry, have I made you choke on your pint? INLAND ABROAD

III Women who want to keep up with the III Another 3, 000 ICI workers are to 6 ISSUES £1.75 £2.50 l.!!.llatest fashions are now being urged l.!!.llose their jobs by Christmas. 6,000 12 ISSUES £3.50 £5.00 by the Daily Mirror to buy a dress have already gone this year, while that 'says it all about dressing sexy'. 5,000 went in 1980. ICI, Britain's From NEW ERA BOOKS, 203, Seven The dress is backless, sideless and most successful company, also closed Sistel;'s road, London N.4. nearly frontless. The cost? A mere two factories this year after making £118 from Selfridges. its first ever loss. Union leaders back imperialism in Azania Doubtless Sirs and Duffy have not "We have black affiliates who desper­ forgotten TUC investments in South ately need our assistance. The objec­ "The receipt of high monopoly Africa and Sirs will be bearing British tive is to pull them out of the dark profits by the capitalists •.• makes Steel's interests in mind, while Duffy ages and provide the sort of training it economically possible for them will be concerned with British Ley­ shop stewards have here." to bribe certain sections of the land's factory in South Africa. After workers, and for a time a fairly These were the words of Bill Sirs, all, these nationali sed industries considerable minority of them, and general secretary of the Iron and Steel are the cornerstone uf British 'social­ win them to the side of the bourge­ Trades Federation as he prepared for ism' - or rather what passes for 'soci­ oisie of a ••• given nation against his official trip to South Africa this alism' in imperialist minds. month. all the others And so there is created that bond between imperi­ But we shouldn't be surprised at It may surprise Sirs to know that alism and opportunism, which reve­ Duffy and Sirs. The International the black people of Azania are not aled itself first and most clearly Metalworkers Federation has frequently interested in his patronising contempt. in England." shown how 'internationalist' it is It may also surprise his to discover by vociferously opposing sanctions (Lenin - "Imperialism, the Highest that what the Azanian people need is against South Afric~. within the Tra de Stage of Capitalism.") not "Shop Stewards courses" but soli­ 'union movement. It is to be note d darity with their struggle for libera­ that the visit takes place during Anti­ Duffy and Sirs seem to have forgotten tion. Apartheid's trade union week of action. already the resolution passed at the Alongside his position in the Steel TUC congress in September supporting We invite Trade Unionists in Britain, Workers Union, Sirs is secretary of the "total isolation" of the South particularly those in the AUE\11 and the British section of the Internati­ African regime. Or maybe it is just IS1 , to express their disgust in their onal Metalworkers Federation. It is that they are aware that resolutions branches, condemn their imperialist in that capacity that he is making alone are just so many pieces of paper union leaders, and resolutely support his grotesque visit, arm-in-arm of which may provide a screen for the the struggle for complete sanctions course with the President, Terry Duffy. real imperialist essence of the TUC. against South Africa. 3 FORD CONVENOR CARVES UP SHOP FLOOR UNITY outside the ·plant for the meeting. On Wednesday 9th September, wor­ One militant group of workers arri­ kers on the 'A' shift in the Paint, 11 11 ved with. a placard displaying the How did the 0ne out, All out policy work? Trim and Assembly Plant (PTA) at 11 slogan 0ne out All out". Two Fords, Halewood factory met to decide A dispute would arise on one section resulting long speeches were given, one by upon a proposal from the Shop Stew­ in those workers walking off the job. The com­ the plant convenor W. Maguire who ards Committee to scrap the shift pany would then attempt to use the selective policy of "One out, all out". With attacked the policy, at times sound­ lay-off. The on-line workers would be first probably the most blatant example ing more like a hysterical Tory or to go. Others would be kept on. The "One out, of opportunism seen at Halewood for a disgruntled company boss, than All out" policy prevented Fords from doing this. years, the three-years-old policy a leader of the shop floor workers. When one group of workers were laid-off , all was overturned. He said that small minorities can others in the plant would lay themselves off walk out, bringing the plant to a (or strike) in sympathy. This policy only ap- · Around 2,000 workers gathered halt, to fight for their own selfish plied to the one shift in the PTA. The body plant at Halewood retains the policy on both BENN MAN SETS IT UP shifts. Both disputes resulted in layoffs All production workers at Halewood ends. He kept repeating that "cer­ in the PTA, and the "One out, All out" struck for two weeks last May, forcing tain sections are losing you money." came into effect. Significantly, there Fords to withdraw their notorious 'dou­ Then he called for the vote, with were no layoffs in the Body plant, ble-dosing' disciplinary code. As no speeches against. despite- the fact that no work could part of the settlement of that dipute, be done for those two days. The mee­ the trade unions agreed that Ron Todd, first the hands went up in favour ting to throw out the "One out, All an official of the T&GWU and one of (of scrapping the policy), then the (Jut" took place the following morning. Tony Benn's main backers, would meet nands went up against. Spontaneou s all Ford workers in Britain to tell c-h~ering and applause broke out There is now justifiable suspicion them that they must stick to the com­ amongst the massed workers . But around Halewood that Fords waited for pany's proceedure and not take 'unof­ it quickly turned to conhsion a n d Todd to come around to whip the workers ficial' strike action. Todd met· the disbelief when Maguire declared t he into line (they were all given two 'A' shift of the Body and PTA plants motion carried. hours off during work-time, with pay, on Tuesday 1st September. The follow­ Workers with a good view of the to, hear him J Disputes in the PTA were ing Monday and Tuesday (7th and 8th) then provoked, enabling the sell-out assembled crowd were convinced the two separate disputes arose in the vote had gone the other way. Yet convenor to move in with his proposals Paint Shop (in the PTA) to prevent united struggle. the convenor gave his decision, and STANDING UPTO RUSSIA ' of\.t.. o fL 1'. ' . Solidarity calls for Free Unions in Eastern Bloc

The emergence and growth oi: Solidarity The Polish free trade union, Soli­ the not-too-distant future, our repre­ in Poland is inspiring workers in the darity, held the first stage of its sentatives will be able to meet and Soviet Union and the other revisionist Congress in Gdansk from September 5 exchange trade union exper:j,enG-eS." countries in Eastern Europe to step to 10. up their struggles. Here are just a A number of foreign trade unions ·few examples: It demanded that workers have the sent delegates to the Congress, inclu­ right to elect and remove managers, ding a delegat)on from Yugoslavia. SOVIET UNION free elections and 'social control' SOVIET THREAT At the beginning of April workers of the mass media. A final declaration staged several stikes in Kiev, capi- described the overriding goal of Soli­ Solidarity's fine example is already tal of Ukraine. Two strikes, lasting darity as "decent conditions for eco­ insp1r1ng the working people of the 1a total of a day and a half took place nomic and political life in a sover­ Soviet Union and its satellites. So in an agriculture machinery factory eign Poland", and "a democratically the Kremlin bosses are not merely wor­ in protest against intensified exploi­ organised and self-governed society." ried about Poland .slipping frc>m t:heir tatioP through production speed uo. It called for public control of food grasp - they are frightened that the The v orkers won their demands and the production, freedom for political pri­ Polish disease might become contagious. factory manager was removed. A suc­ soners and for the right of workers Stage managed meetings have been held cessful strike was also held in an to make the major decisions concerning by dragooned Soviet workers to condemn engineering factory. their workplaces. It described the Solidarity all too reminiscent of present industrial management system Kremlin moves shortly before the inva­ * In the Soviet Union's Baltic Repub­ as "actually meant to preserve the sion of Czechoslovakia (see box on lics a copy of Solidarity's weekly selfish interests of the bureaucratic this page). newspaper sells for 150 roubles - more apparatus of the Party." than the average monthly wage. In on insolent and threatening state­ GREETINGS TO SOVIET WORKERS ment the Soviet leaders say that "an­ * A group of Russian trade unionists ti-Sovietism" in Poland "has reached have declared support for solidarity One of the most significant decisions dangerous limits". It demands to know and expressed a wish to build relations of the Congress was to adopt the "Ad­ · "why the official Polish authorities with them. dress to all workers of Eastern Eur­ have not taken any resolute steps so ope": * A 63-year-old Latvian engineer has f3.r to clamp down on the hostile cam­ been sentenced to 15 years hard labour "The delegates send greetings p3.ign 3.gainst the USSR." It demanded for spreading information on Solidarity to the workers of Albania, Bulgaria, th3.t the Polish authorities "immedia­ Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Ger­ tely take determined and radic3.l steps" EAST GERMANY man Democratic Republic, and all the to bring · the country back into line Seven workers from big factories nations of the Soviet Union. As the with Soviet dictates. And, in an act have beer. arrested for discussing the first independent trade union of our of undisguised military intimidation, formation of a free trade union. post-war history we feel, profoundly, the Soviets have recently held manoeu­ that we hold our aspirations in common. vres close to the Polish border invol­ * Leaflets circulating in East Berlin ving 100,000 troops and including a in support of Solidarity list 19 social Despite the fo.bricated news circulated landing exercise of marines only a and political demands. in your countries, we assure you we short distance from Gdansk. are an authentic representative body * An East German worker has been im­ of workers, with ten million members, prisoned for ten months for saying The heroic efforts of the Polish born out of workers' strikes. Our that workers in his country shoulq workers are an inspiration throughout aim is the struggle to improve all do as Polish workers have · done. the Soviet empire. The peoples of workers' conditions of life. We sup­ the world must be on guard against CZECHOSLOVAKIA port those among you who have chosen the threat of Soviet military aggres­ the difficult struggle for a free trade Supporters of Charter 77 formed sion. union movement. We believe that, in an independent trade union in June. 4 BENN'S ((ARGUMENTS FOR SOCIAL ISM,,=

AN ANSWER allies. The power of the Prime Min­ ister is not accidental, for it is vital to insulate the real state of The ruling class do not merely talism that capitalists themselves army, police, prisons, ministries tell workers how to conform, or what recognise: the totally irresponsible etc. fr0m the parliamentary veil. to do if they agree with the present and criminal behaviour which ev en Benn is being deliberately stupid situation. To a great extent they Heath called "the unacceptable face when he says that closed government also tell workers how to rebel, pro­ of capitalism". What troubles a makes more mistakes, for the one ducing through their media a bogey socialist is not what capitalists do mistake they avoid be keeping things figure, and so convincing many wor­ that is illegal, but what they do secret is spilling the beans on just kers that because the top people that is perfectly legal - exploiting how oppressive the state is, an.me as define~ by 109, and he puts the defects down them. Marxism to Benn is simply vices), Benn would push it to the to -- technology! In 1920 an air­ extreme - a corporate state. militant liberalism, and he quotes craft only flew at 100 miles an hour, a definition by Laski of Marxism whereas now a spaceship flies at The book is full of chauvinism. as "the preservation of individua~­ 25,000 mph! But this is an insult Th~ British are 100 years ahead ity" and the meaning of that IS to the reader, for of course from the right of the rich to go in for so we are told - of the French the point of view of Tony Benn' s any crazy bloody fad the workers and German workers in democratic liberalism 1920 was even worse than can be made to pay for. experience (page 169) . Let's not today. Lloyd George was Prime Min­ tell Tony about the Paris Commune. DENIAL OF CLASSES AND CLASS ister in 1920, and he sold peerages STRUGGLE to finance the Liberal Party. 1920 Britain is now "a colony" of the is the year of the establishment of EEC/the USA/the IMF or all three, On page 43 of the book Benn shows the Black and Tans, and the war he says. Let's not tell Tony about exactly what his socialism adds up in Ireland then was even more hor­ the £200 billion investments this to when he actually writes: "Inves­ rible than it is now. 1920 was the "colony" holds abroad. tors there will always be ... " So year of the Jolly George incident, All Benn gives us is the same capital and Labour will still ~e when a ship of that name was stop­ separate from each other in Benn s old stale Labour buns of boring old ped from taking guns to attack so­ wonderful world of libertarian 'so­ plans to run capitalism differently cialist Russia, not by parliamentary cialism' and coffee-cream Marxism. and an attempt to revive the credi­ questions, but by class struggle. bility of bourgeois democracy and Benn is a petty-bourgeois, outside WHOSE STATE reinvigorate British imperialism. the class struggle and regarding it as unreal and wrong-headed, to Benn does not begin to expose What we have to do is to develop be a voided by clever handling. the real reason why bourgeois demo­ independent working class politics, and we can start by recognising The class struggle is conspicuous cracy doesn't live up to its adver­ tising. In all cases the defects that whatever Tony Benn is, he is by its absence from th~ book, Benn he points to are the product of the not a socialist. For the essence referring cor1stantly to that abstrac­ ci socialism is the transfer of state tion "The People", without recogni­ class war. The secret service spies mostly on the working class. The the work in class, and sing that this "People" is divided details that are actually on compu­ even the s ig test int o that is into antagonistic classes. ters are details of the personal lives absent from Benn' s tedious, slovenly Benn can only see wrongs in capi- of class-conscious workers and their and stupid little book. 5 ANGELITA LANDAYAN Angelita Landayan, a Filipino migrant worker, has just won her STOP THE DEPORTATIONS case. She has lived and worked The attempts to depo;t' Nasira Be­ PHILIPPOS AND KATERINA ISAIAS in Britain for nine years, and is gum, Jaswinder Kaur and Cynthia a single parent, supporting two chil­ Gordon were beaten back; beaten Dr. Nicos Isaias is fighting th~ dren. When Angelita applied for by mass struggle. But deportations attempt to deport his parents, Phili­ her visa to work in Britain, she continue on a mass scale. Here ppos and Katerina. They came to was not told· that, as she was sepa­ we print just three of the recent live in Britain quite legally as refu­ rated from her - husband, but not cases, and call on our readers to gees when Turkey invaded Cyprus divorced, she could not be classi­ give support as strongly as before. in 1974. fied a·s single. She was not asked if she had any children, nor to lei MUNTAZ KIANI The Home Office has now decided that the situation in Cyprus has that her application would be dis­ Mrs Muntaz Kiani came to Britain "become stable" and has a long list qualified if she did have any. in 1975 as a visitor. A year after of Cypriots it intends to deport. Suddenly, she was informed that marrying Mohamed Younis Kiani in having children made her an "illegal April 1977 she was granted indefinite The Cyprus Embassy has another view. It points out that, while immigrant". She was not the only leave to stay in the UK by the Home one. Her case was just part of Office. In 1980 the Home Office al­ the Turkish government has made proposals for negotiations; nothing a . vicious clampdown on Filipino mig­ leged that Mr Kiani was a seaman rant workers. deserter and deported him. Now has yet been settled. they claim that Mrs Kiani has been For Dr. Isaias' parents "stability" What then made the Home · Office here illegally since 1977! in Cyprus will mean living in a grant her appeal at the beginning of September? A spokesperson for Muntaz Kiani and her two daughters refugee camp. His grandparents, who are 75 and 80 years old, live the London Immigration Action Group Attia ( 18 months old) and Nadia explained to "Class Struggle": (2 months old) have nowhere to go. in a wooden shack in a refugee camp Her husband has nowhere to live and it took them two years to get "Angelita was one of th. ee .Filipino in Pakistan, and has written saying that instead of a tent. workers who agreed to a mass cam­ he does not want her back. Her Nicos is a British citizen. . His paign to fight the case. All three only relatives live in Britain - and sister, with whom the parents are cases were won hardly before a real she has already been granted the staying in London, is a permanent campaign got going, just the inten­ right to stay. resident and a civil servant. All tion had its effect. But the Home Office has avoided setting up prece­ The Home Office attempt to deport this makes not a whit of difference dents in these test cases by granting her is racist, inhuman and unjust. to the racist state. The state is set on a programme of racist depor­ appeals solely on "humanitarian" The Bradford Asian Youth Movement tations. grounds. So most of the Filipinos as still being quietly deported." ~::_ence-est~-~~i_~~t~-~e._the-(c/-~u;_~~:_th _Kf~e_n~ -Books hop, 14 Southgate, Bradford. I UNITE AGAINSTII (Reprinted from a l~aflet by the London Immigration Act1on Group)· RACIST OPPRESSION OF BLACK COMMUNITIES STATE RACISM The racist British state is ever The British state actively promoted immigration from the Black Commonwealth The 1971 Act finally brought an end increasingly trying to shift the burden after World War II in order to r~cons­ to any settlement at all ancrPut all of its crisis onto the backs of working truct its war-torn economy and settlers Commonwealth Citizens on a par with people, black and white. Black people came to take up the worst paid, dirti­ aliens. However, the economy still are fighting back - WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH! est and most dangerous jobs unfilled needed a labour force whose cost and We have suffered Immigration raids by white British workers. But 1958 mobility it could control - without on our homes and places of work. Fami­ saw the first recession since the war the right to change jobs, to move at lies are split with mothers, fathers and the Netting Hill and Nottingham will, to bring families - a labour and children w9iting many years for 'riots' in response. All immigration force kept under constant threat of entry clearance, too often unsuccess­ legislation from 1962 to 1971, and immediate removal. In 1980 the govern­ fully. Nasreen Akhtar, Tajinder Jit more recently the Nationality Bill, ment further tightened the immigra-cion Singh and 2 children, Mala and Sanjay has been designed not to cut down num­ rules, severely restricting the cate­ Sing Darbar all face unjustifiable bers but to reduce the rights of set­ gories under which people were allowed depcrtation. Our communi ties have t lement, citizenship and permanency. to enter Britain to work. suffered policing operations like 'Swamp 81' in Brixton, fascist mob violence in Southall and Brick Lane, C.0\1\.b • C"'O- f', "t- • arrogantly ignoring the protests ot meeting broke up, workers in the. fire-bombings in New Paint Shop and on the trim-lines the workers, turned away, packed fire-bombings in New Cross and Waltham­ up the public-._•_ udress equipment stood around in their work areas, too angry to begin work again. stow, murders, shootings, beatings, and walked back into the plant. unemployment and urban decay. We are tiundreds of angrj workers stood It was only after assurances from sympathetic stewards that production threatened with the Nationa~ity Bill around, refusin'; to return to work and repatriation. We are harassed in the face of such blatant dishones­ was able to get underway. A few stewards demanded of the convenor and arrested in Lewisham,' Bristol, ty and opportunism. But they recei­ Toxteth, Coventry and Bradford when ved only abuse from the convenor that a stewards committee meeting we resist and fight back . against the and his supporting stewards. be called for the afternoon. Eventu­ provocations of the racist state, its ally, one was held at 2 p.m. A Afterwards, angry trim-line wor­ thugs, the police and the open fascist proposal was put that a secret ballot organisations. Recently 40 youths, kers gave their reaction: "I'm dis­ be held (the stewards proposing this gusted! There's no way that vote mainly black, were arrested in Finsbury did not generally prefer ballots to Park and 72 in Wood Green. Raids on was carried" was most typical. a show of hands at a mass meeting. "I just couldn't believe what was homes followed. The police said "We're But they felt the convenor couldn't getting you back for Brixton". happening. I could clearly see be trusted at another shift meeting, that the vote was against, by around that the- same thing was likely to The media tries to tell us that im­ 1 migration and racist attacks are prob­ 60-40 I d say." The general opinion happen again. This proposal was lems for Asians; that unemployment, was that the vote had been 3-2 ag­ defeated 13-8. It was agreed that poor schooling and confrontation with ainst, though some said it was near- the situation would be reviewed in er 3-1. "The lads on the line are three months time. Here the convenor the police is a West Indian problen. angry. They're saying we're fight- is banking on workers forgetting But this is just another attempt t< ing two bosses: Fords and the Uni­ the whole affair. The workers in keep our communities divided and weaken ons! Even some fellers who voted the PTA must ensure it's not forgot­ our fight. The struggle is the same for it are beginning to have second ten. This issue must be kept alive -AGAINST RACISM IN THIS SOCIETY. thoughts after the way it was done. 1 and maximum pressure brought to They re wondering what lies behind restore the only policy that can en­ The London Immigration Action Group it," I was told. sure maximum unity .:... "One out, All can be contacted at: LIAG, c/o 146, Kentish Town Road, London NW1. For a full half-hour after the out." 6 REMEMBER MANJITKAUR MEMOldAL MEETING Over 150 people attended a meeting organised by the Birmingham branch of the Indian Workers' Association GB (IWA) in memory of Manjit Kaur, Atribute by Shirley Joshi wife of Avtar Jouhl - General Secretary of the IWA. Speakers included Tej a Sahota, President IWA, representatives of the various branches, Shirley Joshi, Joshi memorial committee and a represen­ factory in order to prep are food for Manjit Kaur was born in Barapind tative of the Revolutionary Communist League. in 1938 in a village in the Jullundur people travelling to London on what district -of Punjab. She attended was to be the biggest contingent of Teja spoke . first and expressed his sorrow primary school for a few years· and th~ largest black peoples demonstration at th.e loss, and extended his condolences to later married Avtar Jouhl before coming ever held in this country. the family. He quoted Mao - 1 women hold up half the heaven', and pointed out that the IWA' s to England in 1960. On a visit to India Manj it Kaur never forgot her roots re~ord on mobilising women is weak. Manjit in 1981 she tragically ·died ofi a heart in India and played a full part in was one of the few people who did work amongst atttack at the age of 43 in the same the fight to support the struggle of Indian women, thus her . loss iS' doubly felt. village in which she was horn. the workers and peasants in India for Manj it Kaur was a remarKable woman.. their rights. She was on the 1965 Avtar spoke at the end: As well as being a wife and mother demonst~ations to protest at violation she was an act~e worker in the Indian of civil rights in India and later "Death causes pain and suffering. In the Workers Association, an industrial supported the Alliance Against Fascist last two or three years we have lost co11rades worker and a trade unionist. Qictatorship i~ India in the mid 1970's like: Neher Singh Rai, Jag1ohan Joshi, Dev Sa­ when the Indian ruling class led by In the early 1960's, after coming hota, A.D. Kataria, Nauric:e Lud1er and now Nanjit Indira Gandhi made a massive attack to Britain, she immediately recognised Kaur. Whilst the death of co1rades causes set­ on the workers and peasants there. the importance of the work being done backs, if it is a genuine people's 11ovnent these setbacks can be overco1e. We can 1ake by the Indi~n Workers Association(Great Manjit Kaur respected and kept alive up for the loss with 1ore deter1ination and Brita~n) and supported that work not in her own family the customs and pro­ work." only by encouragi~g and assisting in gressive aspects of her culture. Recog­ the work done in the organisation by nising the very important role of lang­ He went on to add one or two things about her husband Avtar Jouhl but also by uage in keeping an oppressed peoples ~anjit. He described how bold and steadfast direct participation in meetings and culture alive she insisted that Punjabi she was and that this came from a1 understanding demonstrations and above all by famili­ was spoken in the home and that her of Marxism-Leninism• Mao Zedong Thought. She arising Indian women with the work children learnt their own language. understood the wider commitment which even exten­ of the Indian ·Workers Association and But Manj it Kaur who was a worker and ded beyond her own family. When her son was winning their support for it. That trade unionist also recognised the injured in an anti-racist demonstration in 1976, work was of crucial importance for importance of playing a part in the she remained in the demonstration saying that not only did it mean that there was wider working class movement. She other comrades had gone with him. Other women 'a growing number of Indian women who therefore ensured that the children were urging her to go to the hasp i tal. She felt they had an ally in their fight not only respected and valued their was not unconcerned, but felt it more correct against racial discrimination and in Indian cultural heritage but were fully to stay. She always maintained that it was turn were prepared to support the IWJl. prepared for playing their role in correct to take the children to demonstrations, in their work but it also meant that the struggle of the wider working class saying that we should give an example to others. the second generation of the Indians movement in Britain. She felt that the children should• know where in this country were being brought they came from and not forget their cultural Avtar Jouhl and his children have up to recognise the importance of the roots, and ensured that they had the opportunity lost a beloved wife and mother. The fight against racial oppression and to visit India. When relations commented that Indian Workers Association · have lost in particular the role that the Indian the Indian authorities and police sometimes a valued and hard working member. We ·Workers Association was playing in harrassed people from England, saying they are have all lost a greatly respected this struggle . · Naxalites, s>.e said tha:t there are hundreds comrade and friend. Her life and work of thousands of people already in prison so Manjit Kaur was present on many were an inspiration and example to why should I be concerned about myself • of the early demonstrations against us all. Therefore the tribute we ·in ~mmigration controls in the 1960's the Indian Workers Association pay Avtar concluded by saying that the best way together with the many women that she to Manjit Kaur is to continue the to follow her example is to give more time to had mobilised. She played a vital role strugg-le in which she played such 3. the struggle. in encouraging women to use their vote valued part. in the 1964 general election in Smeth­ wick when Peter Griffiths campaigned ·on an overtly racialist platform. The victory of Peter Griffiths in Smethwick and the growing strength of overtly racialist organisations meant that Smethwick became a symbol· of the fight against racialism throughout the world. Manjit Kaur never allowed her­ self to be intimidated by threats of racialists against her husband and family and always insisted that no matter what the personal costs and strains that the work should continue. Right through the late 1960's and the emergence of the Black Peoples Alliance and into the 1970's, Manjit continued to play a role in the mobil­ isation of women in the campaigns, demonstrations and meetings against the growth of institutionalised racial­ ism and the growing racial violence Literature on Marxiu-Leninis1-Nao Zedong * lie Live in Our Areas, Our People Kn ow Us. which the black people in Britain were Thought, British working-class 1ovnent, Ireland Interviews with Provisional Sinn Fein. 95p experiencing. The last two demonstra­ and other national liberation struggles. + 15tp postage. tions which Manjit Kaur participated * REVOLUTION Theoretical Journal of the RCLB * The Creation of World Poverty - An Alternative irt were in April of this year to pro­ Vol. 4 No 3 - "The New Technology" 60p + 15p test against the Nationality Bill and View to the Brandt ~eport - Teresa Hayter £2.50 + 19p for postage. the demonstration in ·Coventry in June 203 Seven Sisters Road to protest at the killing of an Indian * Na.ibia - SWAPO Fights for Freedo1. - Libera­ London N4 Tel: 01-272 5B94 student. Before the April demonstration tion Support Novuent. £1.70 + 24p postage Manj it Kaur not only canvassed support Open Non-Sat 10 to 6. (7. 30 Thursday). Nearest for the demonstration b•1t took the * Naaibia - The Facts - International Defence tube - Finsbury Park. initiative to collect ·1ney in her and Aid Fund. £1.50 + 24p postage 7 liThe enemy (SWAPO) moves in civilian clothes and operates at night quite effectively. The fact is they are HANDS OFF ANGOLA getting to the people who feed and protect them." SWAPO is committed to a national democratic programme that would eventu­ Solidarity with SWAPO! ally take Namibia onto the socialist road. Not only would Namibia no longer be an imperialist paradise, but South The South African Army is cont~~ing with: Africa itself would stand completely to occupy large areas in southern An­ alone as the last bastion of colonial­ British Centurion Tanks and saracens; gola, which it occupied after its all­ ism in Africa. That is why, despite British Bucaneer bombers; a few hypocritical words of 'criticism' out invasion of August 15. This in­ British powered impala jets; British imperialism is one of the real VGsion was itself preceded by two and British supplied oil (via BP and a half months of steadily escalating arch criminals that aims not only to Shell); destroy SWAPO, but also to destabilise ~ggression and provocation. British finance (Barclays and Standard the Angolan government that has gener­ Chartered Banks and revenues from Rio Penetrating 250 mile s into the terri­ ously supported SWAPO, in spite of Tinto Zinc). tory of the People's Republic of Ango­ its own immense problems that are a lG, the racist troops killed, burnt So, whilst British imperialism con­ result of its own long colonial histo­ :md destroyed everything in their way. demns South African aggression in words ry. With air cover they destroyed whole it refuses to vote for any meaningful villages, attacked hospitals, schools resolution in the United Nations Secu­ :md homes and left hundreds dead and rity Council. injured. The full extent of the damage SOLIDARITY is not yet known but already the Ango­ RECKONING WITH SWAPO While the petit bourgeo is socialists lan government has declared its four South Africa is so discredited in of the British left are bu. y campaig­ southern provinces to be a disaster the world that the western imperialists ning for Namibian uranium thief Benn are a. would like to replace South African to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Par­ ty, Communists in Britain will be look­ The attack on Angola is not just occupation with a neo-colonial settle­ ing to the ~ost oppressed sections an act of aggression against that coun­ ment that would grant flag 'indepen­ of the working class, those who this try and its people. It is also direc­ dence' to its stooges. But to do this summer in Brixton, Toxteth, Moss Side ted at the people of Namibia - ille­ they must first of all deal with SWAPO, and elsewhere showed themselves recep­ gally occupied by South Africa - and the increasingly effective leadership tive to revolutionary forms of strug­ in particular at the bases of the South of the Namibian revolution. gle, to form the solid foundation for West African People's Organisation SWAPO's military wing, the People's a movement of genuine and resolute (SWAPO), Namibia's liberation movement. Liberation Army of Namibia, now has solidarity with the liberation move­ 15,000 operational troops in Namibia PLUNDER OF NAMIBIA ments in southern Africa. A movement and semi-liberated zones in the north built on this foundation will be solid Using the illegal South African occu­ of the country. Since April this year because it will be based on those who pation of Namibia, the imperialist they have killed 180 occupation troops, have absolutely no interest in keeping countries, in particular British imper­ knocked out 15 troop carriers and the imperilalist system alive, those ial ism, carry out the plunder of its trucks, shot down 2 helicopters and for whom the liberation of southern diamonds, uranium, copper, iron, lead, destroyed military complexes. Even Africa is in their own direct and imme­ lithium, manganese, sulphur, tin, vana­ the South Africans have to admit: dium, tungsten, silver, zinc, cadmium diate class interests. and many semi-precious stones. It has the greatest diamond reserves in the world and holds second and third place respectively for lead and uran­ ium. Yet despite this immense wealth, the people of Namibia exist in condit­ ions of the most grinding poverty. A few statistics tell the story: * only 1% of black Namibian children ever reach secondary school;

amongst the Ovambos, one o~ the main nationalities, average life ex­ pectancy is 33 years for women and 31 for men; * In Windhoek - the capital city - 163 out of every 1000 children die in their infancy. This huge gap between the wealth of the country and the poverty of the people exists for one reason alone. That is, that the South African occupa­ tion is simply the cover for the real slave owners the western imperial­ ists, chiefly Britain. LABOUR, TORY BOTH THE SAME British imperialism has plundered Namibia under both the Labour and Tory KAMPUCHEA _united front governments. Rio Tin to Zinc has the Froi•l the 2nd to the 4th of September, biggest share (46%) in the Rossing In a statement on arrival in Sing­ in Singapore. the leaders of the three mine, the largest Uranium mine in the apore, Comrade Khieu Samphan said that resistance movements in Kampuchea met world. Until he became Foreign Secre­ Democratic Kampuchea stood for a "union together to discuss forming a united tary two years ago, Lord Carrington of all Kampuchean national forces with­ front. This meeting between Samdech was a Director of Rio Tinto · Zinc. out any exclusion and discrimination." Norodom Sihanouk, Son Sann and Khieu This company made £453 million in pro­ This union should be based on a minimum Samphan was the fruit of two years fits in 1979 and £507 million in 1980. political programme with each party patient work by the main resistance ~Jhen he was Minister for Energy, maintaining its independence. movement, the Democratic Kampuchea it was none other than Tony Benn, the Government. The three parties signed At the United Nations General pink charlatan, who signed the agree­ an agreement to work towards forming, Assembly, Democratic Kampuchea again ment authorising the UK Atomic Energy "a coalition government of Democratic retained its seat, despite an expulsion Authority to buy Uranium from the Kampuchea with a view to continuing move by the Soviets and Vietnamese Rossing mine. the struggle in all forms for the lib­ Three more countries voted for Demo­ So it is not surprising that South eration of Cambodia from the Vietnamese cratic Kampuchea this year as compared Africa fights SWAPO and invades Angola aggressors." to last. 8 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNIST MOVEMENT More greetings to RCL second congress

The Revolutionary Communist League of Britain has re­ of ..• repressionn of the British ruling _l~ 3s Gnd State. ceived some more messages of greetings on the occasion of "We wish to the League and their new Central Committee its Second Congress held in July. (See articles in August successes in their work and struggle. issue of 'Class Struggle'.) . "At the same time, we wish our two organisations will The letter from the ~ommunist League of Iceland'. strengthen further collaboration in our common struggles says, "We can see that you are determined to continue your against common enemies." · party-building process in accordance with Marxism-Leninism. The Internation Liaison Committee of the Workers Communist We wish you success in your work." Party (Marxist-Leninist) in Canada sent a letter of warm The letter from the Central Committee of the Communist congratulations~ Party of Peru states, "We are very happy for the successful "We firmly support your struggle to rebuild the revolu­ holding of the Second Congress of the Revolutionary Communist tionary party of the working class in Britain by integrating League of Britain. On this occasion, the Central Committee the universal principles of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong of the Communist Party of Peru express to you and the.entire Thought with the concrete practice of the British revolution. membership of the League their. warmest greetings. "We hold in high esteem the work you are doing to support "Our two organisations struggle in countries on separate the struggle of the Irish people for its liberation from continents in the world. The basic conditions are very diff­ British. immperialism. You are tpking up the important task erent for revolutionary work. But we have a revolutionary of doing education on this issue among the British working theory in common: Marxism-Leninism ... Now, when the communist class and people. novement in the advanced capitalist countries are facing "In the present . internation situation, marked by the great difficulties and a liquidationist trend, the firm acceleration of war preparations by the two superpowers, decision of the League to continue integrating the fundament­ and as well by a strong offensive of revisionism worldwide, al principles of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought to your firm stand in defending Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong the British revolution and their ·reaffirmation to rebuild Thought plays a valuable role for the future of revolution the revolutionary working class party in Britain are of both in Britain and throughout the world." tremendous importance and will give stimulus to the Marxist­ Leninists of other countries. GREETINGS TO KOREA "Your Second Congress has occurred at a time when there is a growing danger of a new world war and the growing menace of aggression of Soviet social-imperialism, the most dangerous enemy of the peoples of the world. Our two organ­ September 9 was the 33rd anniversary of the founding of isations have great tasks against the two superpowers and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a genuine social­ for unyielding defence of national independence, democracy ist country. The RCLB sent a message of congratulations and working class and r-opular interests in our two countries. to the Workers Party of Korea (WPK) highly appraising the "Recent struggles in Bri ·cain, mainly of the oppressed Korean peoples efforts to build socialism, achieve national nat-ional minorities, attract attention of all. . . peoples. reunification, oppose imperial ism and strengthen the non­ We express full support to the Irish peoples struggle against aligned movement. It expressed the wish that the friendship British imperialism and the struggle of East Indian, Black between the RCLB and the WPK would be strengthened in the peoples and other national minorities against the policy years. to come. MEXICO SUMMIT Third World Demands Economic Justice

15 million children die of mal­ from the colonies. It created a tend- set up during the colonial era nutrition each year. And that is ency towards uneven development, and they shew it. On the powerful only those children under 5. and that tendency · has been inten- International Monetary Fund Britain sified under imperialism. That is the sort of mind-numbing still has the power to outvote China, fact that charities like Oxfam hold So the people of ] am a ica, for India, Bangladesh and Pakistan all in front of us at Christmas to get example, are faced witn hard facts put together nearly half of the world's peoples! donations. It seems too horrific to like these. In 1960 if they sweateci. understand. ~ o produce 20 tons of sugar they For the first time in Mexico Yet this truth is not just a bit could exchange it on the world in October there is to be an inter­ of propaganda by the charities. It market for 1 tractor. But now they national summit of heads of state is a hard fact of political economy. have to hack down 40 tons of sugar of rich and poor countries. At this For the 15 million children who die cane to buy the same tractor. What conference the US and Britain will before they reach their fifth birthday chance do they have of developing be foremost in trying to sidetrack are third world children; the polit­ their economy when the dice are and block the demands of the Third ical economy that does this to them loaded against them like this? World. The Soviet Umon will play is the political economy of the im­ a more deceptive and disruptive These are the sort of facts that role. perialist economic system. are leading the people of the third How can it be otherwise when world to demand a "New Inter­ Frankly big changes cannot be over 1 billion people, 1,000 million, national Economic Order". They want expected in Mexico, partly because each live on the equivalent of £45 to be free of the money lenders of the Third World still has to develop a year? Inevitably a proportion of the rich countries to whom they have its political unity and strength. their children will die with swollen to give £20 billion a year. They But whether its peoples raise their bellies of chronic starvation, or want freer opportunities to use the demands in a reformist way or in with tongues parched dry from labour-saving technology that should a revolutionary way, these demands diarrhoea because simple. remedies be the property of the human race for a New International Economic are too expensive. How can it be but which is monopolised by the Order are entirely just. They are otherwise when 75% of the worlds imperialist countries. a fundamental part of the struggle against imperialism and for the people get only 17% of the worlds The third world wants inter­ income? victory of socialism throughout the national bodies re-organised on a world. Workers and all revolutionary For capitalism was not only fair and democratic basis. For in­ people in Brita in must support the launched on the riches plundered stance many of these bodies were campaign as fully as we are able. 9 INTERNATIONAL IRELAND_ SOLIDARITY ARM ED STRUGGLE WITH THE In the June issue of "Class Strug­ gle", after the murder of the first HUNGER STRIKERS four hunger strikers Bobby Sands MP, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O'Hara - we wrote: Leading H-Block campaigner Berna­ "The revolutionary armed struggle ag­ dette McAliskey visited · Catalonia ainst British imperialism in Ireland recently. (The Catalans are an opp­ is vigorously developing... The armed ressed minority in Spain. ) Having been actions so far are just a small taste denied: entry into Spain she was . un­ of the price British imperialism will deterred and entered the country secret­ surely be made to pay for its cruel ly, appearing to speak at a major rally· and cynical murder of Irish patriots. for Catalan national day and meeting Blood debts shall be paid . in blood!" the President of the Regional Parlia­ ment. Now, ten hunger strikers have been * Sean Sands, Bobby's brother, visited murdered and seven of their comrades Eu.zkadi (the Basque country) where are continuing the campaign. In res­ he spoke on the hunger ~ trike at a ponse to the barbarism of BritiSh imp- 50, 000-strong anti-nuclear rally in . erialism, the IRA have vigorously and Bilbao. He also spoke at a conference successfully stepped up the armed str­ "An Phoblacht/ Republican News" on the oppressed nations of Europe. uggle in recent weeks. (In addition, commented, "Now more than ever British * In Brittany, the town of Lorient during the first seven months of this soldiers must be aware that the watch­ has decided to ename a street after year the patriotic forces carried out ful eyes of the IRA are everywhere Bobby Sands. more than 300 armed actions, killing and that · they will not be allowed to A week-long international neeting 26 imperialist troops and police.) relax, anytime, anywhere." attended by 12,000 anti-imperialists In the last full week of August 8 sold­ On Sunday, 6th September in Armagh, from around the world in Lart.ac, France iers, 1 UDR paramilitary and 2 police­ the IRA shot and critically wounded observed a one-minute silence for men were injured many seriously - an RUC detective believed to have been Volunteer Micky Devine. A token fast in a variety of IRA operations though­ involved in the jailing of murdered was held. out the six counties. hunger striker, Martin Hurson. An IRA * A leading newspaper in Nigeria, spokesman had earlier promised that the "Sunday Standard" wrote, "These In a coolly executed and well-planned the IRA would, "pay the British govern-, brave young men have sacrificed life 1 operation on September 4th, two British ment in kind for the deaths of comrades. itself to smash a tyranny that others soldiers were "chatted up" by two women might be free and in doing so have IRA volunteers in a Lisburn pub. · At won the respect of the whole world." closing time the Brits drove the volun­ "The Herald", Zimbabwe's leading teers to a flat in Belfast, that had newspaper carried a strong editorial been rented by the IRA some time pre­ entitled "The Iron Lady" in which it viously. Shortly aft~r midnight , min­ condemned Thatcher. Earlier the paper utes after th12ir arrival, other IRA had carried . an article analysing the volunteers burst in and fired bursts road to a united Ireland. of automatic gunfire killing one sol­ dier and . seriously injuring the other. ********

oppression, and the suffering. And I know that nothing will stop their struggle. They have been through it all. Yes they are often frightened, and that is what makes their determin- · ation to fight on nevertheless all the more heroic. I know they want peace . I know they want to live in friendship with Pro­ testants in Ireland. But I also know that they will never bow down and ac­ The next day, two fledgling RUC con­ cept it as second class citizens down­ stables were blasted to their deaths trodden in a British-backed orange by an IRA landmine, less than 2 miles fascist state. from the home of the late Martin Hurson. Between the 12th-16th September, one I have had a small taste, a second­ UDR paramilitary was killed and three hand hint at what the struggle in Ire­ police were injured and one killed The IRA have now explicitly stated land is really about. I want to know in IRA attacks. On September 22, two that the imperialists will be made more. In Britain we have been blind­ British soldiers were seriously injured to "pay in kind" for the murder of folded by the most systematic propa­ in a Belfast ambush. hunger-strikers. Reports indicate a ganda campaign, by censorship and by In addi~ion to the attacks on troops ·steady stream of new recruits of high deliberate misinformation. I hope and police, the IRA have displayed tal ibre into the IRA. By all accounts, this letter will encourage readers ~ great deal of flexibility in a variety support for the revolutionary republican of your paper to find out more. To of other operations, mostly against movement is higher now than ·at any make their own contacts with people eco ~ omic targets, across the six time since the 1920's. Far from being in the north of Ireland, to read about counties. All these operations have defeated by Thatcher's brutality, the the situation, and to take up the been preceded by proper warnings, in struggle is bound to intensify. As struggle here in Britain immediately order to ensure the safety of civilians. Comrade Mao Zedong once said, "'Lifting in support of the 5 demands, but also The republican movement has also 9 rock to drop it QJ\ one' s own feet' for the goal of an independent Irish explicitly said that RUC and UDR men 1s a Chinese saying to describe the republic. The bulk of the so-called are not attacked because of their behaviour of certain · fools. The· left in Britain is passive. I did religion but because they are "part reactionaries of all countries are not see them on the relatives' protests of the British occupation forces, which fools of this kind. In the final and vigils in London. I did not see in turn guarantee with military support analysis their persecution of the them helping the visit in any way. the continuation of partition against revolutionary peopl~ only serves to I hope that some of their members the wishes of the great majority of ·accelerate tHe people's revolution

begin to fight that passivity. the Irish people." On a broader an<_i . more intense Stale o II 10 MASS MOVEMENT NEEDED Ch1,1rch figures, Lord Brockway Ccn..l::. [raW\ b o.c.k p~e... and Lord Longford. They ex­ Both Owen and Maura McCrory plaine<:l the prisoners 5 demands, who spoke for the H-Bock/Armagh They said he wasn't ill. He was OK. that th~ relatives supported the Committee in Ireland, stressed prisoners and called for pressure When he died, there wa s n 't e ven a the need to build a broad mass doctor there. Two hours we had to wait. to be placed ~m Thatcher. movement both to save the lives That's how much they think of our men. of the hunger strikers and to Relatives also visited foreign So, I 'm asking everyone t o get up .... Embassies and High Commissions Don't take a poster or a badge and force British withdrawal. This movement must be based amongst to deliver letters and make sure hoard it. Get up an8 do something. the ordinary people - workers, that the international . community If you're Irish , be proud of it and women, youth and students. knew the true situation. Those be counted . " of Sweden, Iraq, Iran, Algeria EITHER WITH THE PRISONERS A speaker from the Pan and Cuba held meetings with OR WITH THATCHER. 1\fricanist Congress of Azania the delegation. Some offered In his speech , Owen Carron (South Africa) gave his greetings their help and hoped to meet MP described the hunger strike to the delegation, in particular prisoners relatives again in the as an event t hat has changed to relatives of the hunger future. The Political Consul the course of I rish history. stikers, on behalf of, "all the of the Tanzanian High Commission Oppressed people of Azartia". He met a group of the relatives. "For us there is no goir.g noted that the struggles in He expressed hi$ sympathy and back. Whatever right or whatever Azania ans Ireland were both support and promised to forward claim Britain may claim to have against British imperialism. their letter to President Nyerere had over Ireland , t ha t right h as "The aims that we have and who would probably raise it at now diminished because she the forthcoming Commonwealth (Thatcher) let die Bobby Sands t he way that we fight are the same. You are fighting a national Conference. He said he would and nine of his comrades. Our welcome any future delegation. message to Thatcher is that democratic struggle for independ­ although she styles herself the ence and self determination. We Relatives also held a meeting I ron Lady of British politics, and are als·o ... " with representatives of the Pan though she portrays herself as The speaker was himself seven Africanist Congress, the Indian a hard woman, that no matter years a prisoner on Robben Workers' Association, Iranian how hard she is and no rn a tter Island. Also sending greetings and Malaysian and Singaporean how hard iron can be, it can be to the meeting were Bishop Colin stucients, a Basque journalist bent or broken." Winter of Namibia and Basque and Mary Tyler, a former politi­ "For 12 years, the British prisoners, held in spain. cal prisoner in India. Expres­ government said to us Republica ns sing sympathy and support over - you have no elected represent­ ~ • the weekend were the Namibian n • •• · ~· liberation movement SWAPO, the atives and we cannot speak to you. Yet when the people of ;~~·~"""""''····· n·_..... , _ _.,,.,,.. Nicaraguan Embassy and the High Fermanagh South Tyrone elected Commission of Grenada. Bobby Sands... they allowed t he On the Sunday, before leaving elected MP for that area to die for home, the relatives mounted of hunger." a vigH outside Westminster Ca­ "The situation is very clear. thedral. You either stand with the prison­ l(ay Walsh, mother of a protes­ ers or you stand with Thatcher •. ting prisoner, summed up the When the political cost to feeling of the relatives: "We are Thatcher is high enough she will pleased by the many warm recep­ grant the five demands." tions we had. We feel we g<:>t "It is no shame to fight for through to a lot of people. It your rights as an Irishman. helps to know we have friends in Britain, and we are returning Whether that be on the streets heartened." of Belfast or the H-Blocks of Long VIGIL OUTSIDE WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL Kesh.. . Those men would not be Members of the Revolt,1tionary in prison today were it not for Communist League, who had the the 12 years of troubles... The honour and privilege of providing reason why those troubles came INTENSIVE LOBBYING hospitality to the relatives, lear­ upon us in 1969, is because in ned much from them a bout the 1921 the British government forced On Friday and Saturday, the struggle in Ireland and from a settlement upon Ireland which r elatives attended vigils outside their indomitable revolutionary was unacceptable to the mass of Downing street, street meetings spirit in the face of all diffi­ the majority of the Irish people. i n Kilburn and Camden Town and culties and hardship. British And so Britain has no right in socia l s . They lobbied organis­ imperialism can never defeat a our country; never had and never ations such as Amnesty Inter­ nation that can pro

PAT SHEEHAN. JACKIE McMULLAN. GERRY CARVILLE, JOHN PICKERING. GERARD HODGINS. IM DEVINE.

e PAT SHEEHAN e JACKIE McMULLAN e GERRY CARVILLE e JOHN PICKERING

THE PRISONERS' DEMANDS: TliE RIGHT NOT TO WEAR PRISON UNIFOHM · 1 Hf:: AIGHT ,NOT TO DO PRISON WORK* THE RIGHT OF FREE ASSOCIAliON WITH OTHE.R PRISONE.RS *THE RIGHT TO ORGANISE THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND TO RECEIVE ONE VISIT, ONE LETTER AND ONf: PARCEL PER WEEK* FULL REMISSION OF SENTENCE. GERARD HODGINS 11 'WE SUPPORT OUR PRISONERS' On Thursday 17 September, 92 rela­ tives of Irish patriotic political prisoners arrived in London, together with Owen Carron MP, for four days of intensive lobbying and public activ­ ities. They came to London to put their case directly to the British people and to the international community. In particular, they came to show in a dignified way that the relatives of hunger strikers and protesting prisoners were united in support of the prison struggle, contrary to the lies and deceit put out by the British government. Among those visiting Britain were Francis Hurson the brother of murdered hunger striker Martin Hurson, Goretti McDonnell, widow of Joe McDonnell and Raymond McCreesh's sister Teresa.

Harassment at Heathrow the Irish are of no importance .... How come she builds special interroga­ On arrival at Heathrow, three of tion centres, special Diplock courts, the relatives, including two brothers special sentences, but yet she says of hunger strikers, were detained. our men and our women are not special? They were released after protests by They're very, very special. My husband .------FORTHCOMING EVENTS------... other relatives and sympathetic lawyers. got 14 years, along with five of his IRELAND SOLIDARITY That evening 700 people packed the comrades, one of whom was Bobby Sands Irish Centre in Camden for a public MP ... He would have been out in 2 years The courageous meeting. Labour Member of the European struggle of the Irish people if he had worn a criminal uniform. continues. Parliament, Richard Balfe, said that To be informed of events around Why should he wear a crimjn~niform? the country, Ireland was Britain's Vietnam. Partition 'phone the Troops Out Movement He's never been a criminal . I never on 01-267 2004. In the event of any more hunger strikers being murdered by the British state. there will be a vigil in Kilburn

from 7.30 to 10.00 p.m. on three consecutive nights. Thurdsday October 15 VICTORY TO THE HUNGER STRIKERS! POLITIC AL STATUS NOll! Meeting organised by South London Hunger Strike Action Committee 7. 30 p.m. Lambeth Town Hall, Br ixton Road Saturday October 17 TRADE UNIONS, SELF-MANAGEMENT AND SOCIALISM - THE POLISH EXPERIENCE Conference organised by Eastern European Soli­ darity Campaign and Socialist Environment and Resources Association. Working groups include:- Workers' Self-Management - Mike Cooley, Lucas Aerospace Combine; Economic Planning - II. Brus, Polish economist; Environ­ ment, Health and Safety - British Society for had never been accepted and never will married one and :ny kid's father was Social Responsibility in Science •• be. Engljshmen · ~buld not solve Ireland's never one. . . Someone said tonight that Ruskin College, Oxford Fee - £3.50 (unwaged £1.50) proble~Sj he said. there was a split in the relatives. But when 92 people can leave behind Details from: Mike Johnson, SERA, g Poland Street "HE'S NEVER, BEEN A CRIMINAL. I NEVER their children, their families, I can London W1V 3DG Tel. 01-439 3749 MARRIED ONE.,, see no split at all." "My husband went 63 days without Saturday October 17 In a most moving speech, Goretti food. He was 15 stone. He deteriorated SMliRSE - IRISH FREEDOM FESTIVAL "the very, very proud widow" of down to 7 stone. . . Martin Hurson died All-day event of cultural resistance to Britain's war in Ireland. Exhibitions, films, videos, murdered hunger-striker Joe McDonnel~, five days after Joe. But it wasn't told the audience; because of any rapid deterioration. slides, theatre, music, poetry, etc. Caxton House, Archway, London . "We are the outcome of the situation Martin Hurso~ got such a bad kicking ... forced upon us by the British. I would The screws pulled every hair in his Orgnised by Committee for Withdrawal from Ireland never be here · tod<;ly, . only the British head out. That's why Martin Hurson (CWI), 1, North End Road, London 1114 SST Army moved in and havassed us. . . I 'm died so quick ... A week before Joe married 12 years and · out of those 12 died, I pleaded with them to let me Saturday, October 17 years, I've had about 6 years with my stay in, because I knew he needed water VICTORY TO THE HUNGER STRIKERS - POLITICAL STATUS NOll! husbanC!,.. The rest has been spent in and they would not give it to him. gaol. Four years on ~he dl. .~ty protest. • In fact, the prison authorities make Demonstration organised by South London Hunger It makes me very; . very angry when ;r: . everything as hard as they can for us. Strike Action Committee hear peole like. Mrs Thatcher saying_ Details from them at BM Box 4853, WC1N 3XX. ~\-. o"' P-11·