Cuban economist visiting U.S. TH£ condemns TV Marti Page 13

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKIN(; PEOPLE VOL. 54/NO. 15 APRIL 13, 1990 $1.25 Cuba.defends sovereignty as Washington gears up TV war U.S. hands Castro off Cuba! denounces Stop TV TV Marti as aggression! 'adventure' BY SETH GALINSKY Every day I am in danger ofgiving my life HAVANA, Cuba - Calling the U.S. for my country and for my duty- because I government's transmission of TV Marti an am aware of this duty and have the spirit to "adventure," Cuban President Fidel Castro carry it out-in order to prevent the United announced at an April 3 .press conference, States, in time, with the independence of "We are going to defend the sovereignty of Cuba, from spreading over the West Indies our country no matter what the conse­ and falling with that added might on the quences." lands ofOur America. All/ have done to this Cuba is not fighting just for itself, but for day and shall do hereafter is to that end. Latin America and the Third World, Castro -Written in I895 by Cuban national hero said. Many governments have condemned Jose Marti, a leader of Cuba's struggle for the United States because they see the broad­ independence from Spain. casts as a precedent that could be used against them. In an outrageous and provocative attack One hundred and ten reporters flew to on the sovereignty of Cuba, the rest of Latin Havana from many countries to cover the America, and the entire Third World, Wash- news conference, including 53 U.S. reporters from 22 publications and broadcast stations. They were joined by I26 Cuban and foreign EDITORIAL journalists stationed here. The news confer­ Militant/Margrethe Siem ence was broadcast on Tele Rebelde the fol­ The African National Congress is fighting for a government that guarantees ''to every ington began illegal broadcasts of "TV lowing night. individual, irrespective of color, creed, sex, religion, or class, certain basic human Marti'" into Cuba on March 27. TV Martf, a U.S.-government financed rights," ANC leader \\alter Sisulu told a rally in Lenasia, South Africa. See page 10. A The project is the latest in a series of station whose purpose is to promote opposi­ youth group (above) provided entertainment at the rally. provocations by Washington aimed at creat­ tion to the Cuban revolution, began broad­ ing confrontations with Cuba, whose deter­ casting on March 27. It uses the same fre­ mination to go forward in constructing a quency as Cuban Channel I3. socialist society and defending revolutionary Reporters were given a tour of the facilities ANC calls off gov't talks principles stands as an example for the toil­ near Havana that have blocked the illegal ers of the entire world. The commitment of broadcasts since they began. On April 2 the Cuba's working people and government to Cubans succeeded in jamming the transmis­ to protest killings by cops communism sticks in the craw of the U.S. sion after just 35 seconds from its start. Com­ rulers. munications minister Manuel Castillo Ra­ BY GREG McCARTAN Mandela told the I 00,000 gathered for the On TV Martf broadcasts, Washington's bosa calls the attempted broadcasts the U.S. AND RICH PALSER April I rally, "Yesterday I spoke with [South version of the "news" will be padded with government's electronic Bay of Pigs, recall­ BISHO, Ciskei, South Africa - Deputy African] President de Klerk and told him that rock videos, game shows, reruns of U.S. TV ing the failed U.S.-sponsored invasion of President of the African National Congress the National Executive Committee of the shows, and recycled sports programs. A Cuba in I96l. Nelson Mandela announced to a mass rally African National Congress has instructed me three-month trial run is now underway at a When asked by a reporter from the Spanish here that the ANC had suspended talks with to tell him" the meeting had been "suspended Continued on Page 18 Continued on Page 12 the apartheid regime planned for April II. in protest of the killing of our people in Sebokeng." Six days earlier, police armed with shot­ guns, tear-gas guns, and pistols blockaded the Eastern strikers keep up pressure march route of 50,000 residents of Sebokeng and Evaton townships. The peaceful demon­ stration was held to protest high rents and BY SUSAN LaMONT begun to demand payment in cash. about the air carrier's condition have gotten poor housing in the group of townships south A new stage in strikebound Eastern Many of the 8,200 International Associa­ gloomier by the day. of Johannesburg called the Vaal Triangle. Airlines' long slide downhill was reached tion of Machinists (lAM) members who have "Now is the time to keep the pressure on," April 3, when its unsecured creditors voted been on strike at Eastern for 13 months were said the lAM's March 28 strike bulletin. "Our Suddenly and without warning, the police unanimously to reject the airline's latest offer pleased by the news of Eastern's deepening strike, the worldwide solidarity of labor, and opened ftre on the township residents, killing to repay its $980 million debt at a rate of 25 financial crisis. Since the March 27 an­ the widespread support from the conscience eight and wounding hundreds more. cents on the dollar. The creditors committee nouncement by Bakes that the airline ex­ of caring people have put Lorenzo on the In his speech, Mandela said he told de also voted to ask the bankruptcy court over­ pected to lose $330 million in I990, reports Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 17 seeing Eastern's financial affairs to appoint a trustee to run the airline until the sale of its Latin American routes is completed, and then to sell the airline. Cops attack British poll tax march of 100,000 In addition, the committee recommended that no more funds to keep Eastern operating BY BRIAN GROGAN tives of the All-Britain Anti- Poll Tax Feder­ March organizers asserted that the responsi­ be released from the escrow account where LONOON - More than IOO,OOO people ation, the coalition that organized the protest. bility lay with "anarchist groups" and then proceeds from sales of the airline's assets are marched through central London March 31 At the end of the rally police, concerned police "over-reaction." The London Sunday held, until a trustee is appointed. The com­ to protest the introduction of the poll tax into at the number and determination of the Times, however, placed responsibility for the pany is planning to seek $80 million more England and Wales. The Community Charge, marchers, launched a violent assault. The initial violence on the police. "It started as from the fund. as it is officially termed, is a regressive head ensuing battle turned into a full-scale riot that mounted police tried to clear a small crowd," All these proposals must be approved by tax that will replace the previous method of lasted well into the evening, moving into the the paper reported, "some sitting in the road the bankruptcy court in order to be imple­ funding local government. nearby theater and shopping district of near the gates of Downing Street [the prime mented. The demonstration was broadly based, London's West End. Scores of storefronts minister's residence]. Police, hemmed in On March 30 Eastern President Philip largely youthful, and attracted a layer of were shattered and cars overturned and de­ against shop fronts by demonstrators, were Bakes, seeking to dissuade the creditors from Britain's growing army of homeless people stroyed. Cops arrested 339 people, 227 of forced to withdraw, but regrouped and taking such action, warned that the airline - all of whom are required to pay the tax. them demonstrators who were from the ages charged back into the crowd." was in a "meltdown" situation. Thousands of The demonstration overflowed Trafalgar of I7 to 25. The organizers have revealed that the po­ travelers had canceled reservations in the past Square at a rally addressed by Labour mem­ Police blamed the violence on what they lice reneged on an agreement that if any week, he said. and the airline's vendors had bers of Parliament (MP's) and representa- tenned a "small group of troublemakers." Continued on Page 8 Socialists to launch 1990 campaigns in 23 states

The Socialist Worl<.ers Party will Cuba from the governor's mansion rights and against racist attacks. those inspired by the Cuban revolu­ schools who had participated in a field candidates in 23 states and and the White House are a crime To these struggles, socialist cam­ tion and the advances in southern walkout by 500 students from Washington, D.C., during 1990. against us," Floyd explained at a paigners bring a program of action Africa, will be more receptive to the seven schools earlier in the week. They will be running for U.S. House Miami Militant Labor Forum. Her for the working class, aimed at uni­ program of the socialist candidates The students are protesting newly of Representatives and Senate as Republican opponent, Gov. Robert fying worl<.ing people internation­ today than ever before. The Action announced cuts in education ally to fight for their common Program, along with the Militant funding and the lack of Black, interests. The Action Program to and other socialist publications, will Latino, and Asian studies pro­ Confront the Coming &onomic Cri­ be an even more effective weapon grams. CAMPAIGNING sis explains the catastrophic conse­ in their hands. Senate candidate Mackie, a gar­ quences for worl<.ing people around To get a copy of the Action Pro­ ment worker, joined in the discus­ FOR the globe of the drive for profits by gram to Confront the Coming Eco­ sion with these fighters and with a the employers. nomic Crisis, send $1 (English or Continental Airlines flight atten­ The Action Program proposes -Spanish edition) or $2 (French edi­ dant, who signed a petition after SOCIALISM three campaigns for worl<.ing people tion) to Pathfmder, 410 West St., stopping to discuss the fight against to help forge unity in the face of this New Yorl<., N.Y. 10014. racism. Mackie also joined a picket deepening crisis: line of Greyhound strikers. He well as a number of state and local Martinez, is the architect of a com­ • for a shorter workweek with • pointed out that "more and more, we offices. So far, candidates have an­ mission headed by right-wing no loss in pay to create jobs and In Alabama, New Jersey, Utah, all face a 'reign of terror' like the nounced in Alabama, Florida, Min­ Cuban exiles to study the impact on a sliding scale of wages to protect and West VIrginia, socialist cam­ one Frank Lorenzo unleashed nesota, New Jersey, Utah, and West Florida of an overturn of the Cuban working people from inflation; paign supporters are currently peti­ against Eastern Airlines worl<.ers, VIrginia. revolution. • for enforcement of affirmative tioning to get the SWP candidates not just here but around the world." At the center of these campaigns "The lies against Cuba are in­ action and other measures to bridge on the ballot. On March 24 the New­ The Action Program helps to explain will be the defense of revolutionary tended to keep the truth from us, to the gap between Black and white, ad<., New Jersey, SWP headquarters where these attacks come from and Cuba, getting the word out about the hamper our ability to learn from our and female and male worl<.ers; was alive with activity as campaign outlines a course for fighting back, battle for socialism being waged brothers and sisters there," Floyd • and for cancellation of the Third supporters launched their drive to Mackie said. there. Candidates will get this mes­ said She pledged her campaign to World debt, which spells disaster for sign up new readers of the socialist Campaigning in East Orange, one sage out to fighters on the Eastern get out the truth about the advances millions in the sernico1onial coun­ press and to get 3,000 signatures for team netted 150 signatures and sold picket lines, in the coalfields, in of the Cuban revolution and to ex­ tries. the party's candidates - Don two copies of Nouvelle lnternatio­ worKing-class communities, and on plain the stake of all worl<.ing people The Action Program was issued Mackie for U.S. Senate, and Georges nale, two subscriptions to Lutte the campuses. in defending those gains. as a response by socialists to the Mehrabian and Jane Harris for Con­ ouvriere and one to theMilitant, and October 1987 stock marl<.et crash. gress. The New Jersey ticket also several copies of the Action Pro­ • • Since then, evidence has continued includes David Hurst who is running gram. "Our literature table focused "We have a special responsibil­ SWP candidates will be cam­ to mount that what capitalism holds a write-in campaign for mayor of on the socialist press and a few ity," Florida SWP gubernatorial can­ paigning in support of the unfold­ in store for worKing people is a Newarl<.. books and pamphlets on Cuba, didateJackie Floyd said, "to defend ing revolution in South Africa and devastating depression in the years Several campaigners rode South Africa, and Malcolm X," one those who are the furthest down the against U.S. intervention in Cen­ ahead. buses to Washington, D.C., to team member explained. road in dealing with the problems tral America, helping deepen sol­ In the past year more worl<.ing take part in the demonstration li\at the worldwide capitalist system idarity with the Eastern Airlines people in the United States have against U.S. intervention in Cen­ • rains on working people - and and Greyhound strikes, along become involved in fights. Eastern tral America. Others, campaign­ Mike Italie from Newark, New Jer­ that's Cuba. with other labor battles. They will strikers, coal miners, Greyhound ing in downtown Newark, met sey, and Kathryn Crowder from "The avalanche of lies against join in the fights for abortion workers and other unionists, and students from the city's high Miami contributed to this column. W. Virginia socialists appeal ballot law to high court

BY LINDA JOYCE VIrginia's undemocratic provision that said The suit demands that the court allow peti­ signatures and the socialists plan to tum in CHARLESTON, W.Va.- Robert that signers of our nominating petitions in­ tioning to be done after the primary election, well over that amount by the May 7 filing Bastress, an American Civil Liberties Union tended to vote for our candidates. as it is in other states. deadline. lawyer and counsel for the Socialist Worl<.ers ''This was an important victory," McBride McBride, who is challenging incumbent Another 3,650 signanu_-es are needed by Party, announced March 28 the filing of an said. "But it is not enough." The circuitcourt Jay Rockefeller in the election, emphasized, April 9 to waive the filing fee, and the SWP appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court challenging also upheld some important obstacles to win­ "I want the chance to bring worKing-class candidates plan to tum in as many signatures West VIrginia's restrictive election laws. ning ballot status, he said. ideas to worl<.ers - the idea that we can rely as possible toward that requirement. on ourselves, not just on a union level, but At anews conference here, Bastress ex­ In the Supreme Court appeal, the SWP is So far 4,500 signatures have been collected fighting to end the requirements that signa­ on ·a political level." plained, "West VIrginia is one of the most on the nominating petitions and 3,600 on the tures be gathered on two separate petitions: difficult states in the union to get on the ballot. The socialist candidate will be participat­ waiver petitions through the efforts of cam­ one to get on the ballot, and one to waive This appeal marks a new stage in the 10-year­ ing in the April 7 protest in New Yorl<. de­ paigners in coal-mining areas, at plant gates, long effort to break the Republican and Dem­ hundreds of dollars in filing fees. manding "U.S. hands off Cuba." The prog­ door-to-door, on the job, and at shopping ocratic stranglehold on the elections." The suit also challenges the undemocratic ress made over the 31 years of the Cuban centers. The SWP candidate for U.S. Senate, Dick provision that requires petitioners for inde­ revolution, McBride explains, is confirma­ Campaign supporters are introducing ev­ McBride, said that his party, "along with pendent candidates to advise potential signers tion of the successes that can be registered eryone they meet to the Militant and other other supporters for an open ballot, have that they lose the right to vote in the Demo­ when worl<.ers and farmers rely on their own socialist publications, the best place to get an chipped away at the state's burdensome re­ cratic or Republican party primary elections power. understanding of the program of the SWP strictions since 1980. Every time we fight, if they sign the petitions. As the law currently candidates. On Saturday, March 31, 12 peo­ we win. We've beaten back some of the most stands, anyone signing the independent nom­ Petition drive on ple who met campaign supporters decided to restrictive regulations. inating petition i s disenfranchised. They are He explained that campaign supporters in subscribe to the Militant. In addittion, 10 "Last November," he said, "the Fourth barred from voting for the hundreds of other West VIrginia are currently petitioning for a copies of An Action Program to Confront the Circuit Court of Appeals struck down West candidates for other offices in the primary. spot on the ballot. The requirement is 6,400 Continued on Page 9 The Militant Closing news date: April 4, 1990 Fighting for the future ••• Get the Editor: DOUG JENNESS Circulation Director: RONI McCANN Nicaragua Bureau Director: LARRY SEIGLE Business Manager: JIM WHITE Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein (Nicaragua), Seth Galinsky MILITANT (Nicaragua), Yvonne Hayes, Arthur Hughes, Susan LaMont, Weekly news and analysis on the Roni McCann, Greg McCartan, Selva Nebbia, PeterThierjung. Published weekly except the last two weeks of December by struggles of working people worldwide the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Building April 7 'U.S. Hands Off Cuba' action Fax 727-0150; Telex, 497-4278; Business Office, (212) 929- Eastern & Greyhound strike news • Eyewitness 3486. Nicaragua Bureau, Apartado 2222, Managua. Tele­ reports from South Africa and Panama. phone 24845. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes INTRODUCTORY OFFER FOR of address should be addressed to The Militant Business Office, 410 West St., New York, N.Y.10014. NEW READERS Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y., and at addi­ tional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Militant, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Sub­ scriptions: U.S., Latin America: for one-year subscription 121SSUES $7 send $37, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above address. By fll'St­ r~------, class (airmail), send $70. Canada: send Canadian $50 for : D $7 for 12 issues D $37 for a year D $70 for 2 years one-year subscription to Societe d'Editions AGPP, C.P. 340, : Name ______succ. R, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3M2. Britain, Ireland, Af­ : Address ______rica: £28 for one year by check or international money order made out to Militant Distribution, 47 The Cut, London, SEI : City------8lL, England. Continental Europe: £35 for one year by : State Zip ______check or international money order made out to Militant Dis­ : Phone ------tribution at above address. Australia, Asia, Pacific: send · Australian $60 to Pathfmder Press, P.O. Box 259, Glebe, • Union/School/Organization ______Sydney, NSW 2037, Australia. : Send to the Militant. 410 West St .. New York, N.Y. 10014. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent L------~ the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant Aprill3, 1990 Cuban diplomat speaks in New York 'I am convinced that socialism in Cuba is there to stay,' says Adlum

BY SELVA NEBBIA as well as free health care, Adlurn noted. guarantee your retirement, health care." But NEW YORK - TV Marti, the fight Contrary to what existed in the past, today in Cuba these things are provided for by against racism in Cuba, the rectification pro­ there are no whites-only beaches or clubs in society, he said, and money is not the moving cess, and Cuba-U.S. relations were some of Cuba. Jobs are open to all regardless of race. force. the topics taken up by Clinton Adlum, the Discrimination is prohibited by law, he "In Cuba there is a profound conviction of first secretary of the Cuban Interests Section added. the importance of society as a whole," Adlum in Washington, D.C., during two talks he gave "What we still have is prejudice," Adlurn said. "And therefore man in his everyday here on March 30 and 31. said. "And with regards to prejudice, many activity .is capable of doing that which he Sponsored by the solidarity organizations, things are being done today." You cannot just does not do just because he is going to get the Venceremos Brigade, Casa de las change from being a racist today to not being so many dollars, or cruzeiros, or pesos. He Americas, and the Antonio Maceo Brigade, one tomorrow. It takes education and per­ does it for the satisfaction of contributing to the meetings took place at the Harriet Tub­ sonal efforts to accomplish this, he said. the well-being of society." man school in Harlem and at Casa de las A lot has also been said about the rela­ This is, for example, what motivates thou­ Americas. tively fewer number of Blacks occupying sands in Cuba to volunteer for internationalist "It is quite clear that today there is a leadership positions in the Cuban Commu­ missions, he said. concerted effort to say the worst things about nist Party, Adlurn pointed out. Adlum pointed to the "strong ideological Cuba," said Adlurn during his presentation formation" necessary to create a "new man" in Harlem. "One of the means by which the "In 1986, at the third congress [of the capable of building socialism. Emesto Che Cuban revolution has been attacked viciously Communist Party], when Fidel Castro read Guevara was very clear on this question, is with regards to race relations in Cuba." the report to the participants," Adlurn noted, Adlum explained. "Che was convinced of the "he said that efforts have to be made to need of this ideological work. Che would not Legacy of racism guarantee an adequate representation in lead­ propose something he was not capable of The Cuban diplomat pointed to the legacy ership bodies to reflect the ethnic composi­ doing. He would not call on others to do of racism that exists in Cuba and the steps tion of the country. things that he would not do himself." that have been taken by the revolutionary "From then on, every time there is an government since 1959 to overcome it. "One election, political work is done to assure that Restoration of voluntary work of the first measures taken by the revolution gradually these inconsistencies are elimi­ Through the rectification process "we have was to stamp out discrimination due to gender nated," said the Cuban diplomat. As a result, successfully restored voluntary work," and to race," Adlum noted. "we have made gains but we still have further Adlum said. "Cuba has eliminated each and every in­ to go on this." Voluntary work is being done not only in Militant/Janet Post stitution, each and every condition that made Clinton Adlum construction of new, badly needed housing, racism prosper in the past," said Adlum. TV Marti but in other industries and in agriculture as "When we attacked illiteracy, for example," At the Casa de las Americas meeting, well, the Cuban diplomat explained. he explained, "we eliminated one of the fac­ attended by 130 people, Adlum read the successfully jammed by Cuban technicians During the process of rectification, Adlum tors used very successfully to discriminate statement by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign on March 27. stated, "We discovered some horrible against Blacks, because their economic situ­ Affairs condemning Washington's violation "Based on the traditional arrogance of the things." There were people whose life-styles ation was such that the majority of illiterates of Cuban sovereignty through the broadcasts U.S. government towards the nations of the had nothing to do with socialism, he said, were Black." ofTVMarti. Third World," Adlum pointed out, "can there some of whom are in jail today. Today, regardless of your color or gender The statement was published immediately be any doubt that there is a possibility of ''There were times, for example," Adlum you have access to free education in Cuba, after the first transmissions of TV Marti were aggression?" explained, "in the midst of our transportation Cuba "cannot run the risk of expecting crisis, with bus stops full of working people anything other than this. We will not be trying to get home from work and having a another Panama." hard time getting a bus, the son or daughter "Should we wait until one morning we see of some high government or party official 'Hands Off Cuba' protest the planes corning down and the ships, and would be passing by in a nice car. There is they invade us?" said Adlum. "No, we are nothing wrong with having a nice car, but very well prepared and are taking on all the under our circumstances this was an offense on April 7 gains support necessary measures to guarantee them [U.S. against our society." troops] an adequate reception should they Adlum was asked his opinion on the come." BY JON HILLSON ers, along with striking members of the In­ changes taking place in Eastern Europe. Many of the questions asked during the "Some are saying that socialism has NEW YORK -Hundreds of New ternational Association of Machinists at East­ discussion period focused on Cuba's rectifi­ Yorkers, joined by delegations from across em Airlines at La Guardia Airport. failed," he responded. "The ones who have cation process, which Adlum had mentioned These forces will be augmented by South failed are those who have embarked on the the country, are set to march here to protest in his talk. African youth and members of the Mrican construction of socialism and have not con­ Washington's escalating provocations "Socialism cannot be constructed with the National Congress- a contingent of whom structed it correctly." against Cuba. The most recent is the start-up same mentality with which you construct will be leading the march, Latin Americans, "I am absolutely sure that the cause of of test broadcasts of TV Marti. capitalism," said Adlum. "It requires a new In response to the "U.S. hands off Cuba" Palestinians, and Afro-American, peace, and socialism is going to triumph," he continued. way of thinking. It requires each person to protest, ultra-right Cuban exile organizations political activists who are assuming respon­ "If I were not sure, I would not be sure of be in permanent solidarity with the people our socialism. And I am profoundly con­ plan a counterdemonstration the same day. sibility for security. with whom he interacts." They have received permits allowing them Campus meetings building the protest vinced that socialism in Cuba is there to stay. to assemble two blocks north of the protest have been held at Hunter College and Hofstra But "the construction of socialism has a "I am convinced that what we are con­ march departure point at 43rd Street and University, along with student organizing ef­ serious problem," he pointed out. "You de­ structing is a higher form of democracy, a cide to construct this new society with a man Broadway. forts at City, Brooklyn, and Hostos colleges society where human values are much higher The confrontationist aims of the rightists and the New School for Social Research. who comes from a capitalist society who has than the values which prevail in the societies were captured in the front-page, banner head­ a different mentality." where what prevails is exploitation," Adlum line of the April 2 Noticias del Mundo, ''The Harlem feeder march In capitalist societies, "the moving force said. "Since I am absolutely sure of this, I am is the need to get money," said Adlum, "be­ affront will not be permitted," with the sub­ A feeder march from Harlem has been built absolutely sure of the future of socialism in heading,"A call to stop the Castroists." Under by leafleting more than two dozen high cause everything you need you have to get my country and the success of socialism in a photograph, taken during one of the anti­ schools in the Black community. with money: educate your child, a house, the world, despite all that is being said." Cuba demonstrations here in February, show­ Listener-financed radio station WBAI has ing an effigy of Cuban President Fidel Castro regularly broadcast news of the march. NEW YORK being jabbed with sticks, the caption read, Cuba solidarity activists in Washington are "Scenes like this will be repeated next Sat­ mobilizing supporters to come to New York. urday." They held a picket line of 40 people outside SOCIALIST OPEN HOUSE The "U.S. hands off Cuba" demonstration, TV Marti offices April 3, receiving national called by the 60-group coalition of the same and local media coverage. name, will end up in front of the Cuban Protests and forums in support of the April Followin~ "U.S. Hands Off Cuba" march & mission to the United Nations at 38th Street 7 action are being held in many cities. rally, stop by for literature & discussion, and Lexington Avenue. In Seattle, an April 7 protest against TV Marti called by a dozen local organizations food & refreshments National message campaign is being built by activists from Portland, A national message campaign has urged Oregon, to Vancouver, Canada. MEET: New York Mayor David Dinkins to insure A delegation from Miami ofprorevolution the right of demonstrators defending Cuba's Cubans, Cubans who support normalized re­ • Dick McBride and Don Mackie, Socialist Wor~­ sovereignty to hold their action peacefully lations between Washington and Havana, and ers Party candidates for U.S. Senate in West Vir­ and to deter the rightists from their stated trade unionists, is flying in for the New York ~inia and New Jersey aim. protest. Among those sending messages to the Sentiment among working people who are • Activists from Cuba solidarity ~roups, African Na­ mayor were David Dyson of the Amalga­ Cuban in northern New Jersey has been one tional Con~ress, student and union movements mated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, of "general opposition" to U.S. intervention, Miriam Thompson of United Auto Workers says Rich Ariza. a U.S. Hands Off Cuba Sat., April 7, 6:30 p.m. Local259, Rev. Herbert Daughtry, Jeff Perry Coalition activist who works in the Post of the Mailhandlers Union, and numerous Office. Pathfinder Bookstore political activists across the country. About 400.of Ariza's 2, I 00 coworkers are A news conference to announce the protest from Cuba. He has widely distributed leaflets 191 7th A•e., 2nd floor and reject the confrontationist threats of the for the April 7 march. This has been received Cuban exiles was held on City Hall steps by "mostly friendly reactions, leading to dis­ Sponsors: April5. cussion," says Ariza, who has worked as a Yount Socialist Alliance, Socialist Workers Party Coalition organizers plan to mobilize 300 mailhandler there for five years. This re­ marshals for march security, among them sponse "has been a surprise," he says. "There Donation $3. for more information call (21 2) 727-8421 unionized hospital, telephone, andcity work- have been no threats."

: Aprill3;1~0 :Th~ Militant .3 Curtis fight needs to be promoted, Cuban writes

Mark Curtis is a unionist and at the High Institute of Arts in Ha­ tives of the New Zealand Meat to help Kaku and other supporters to the Mark Curtis Defense Com­ political activist from Des Moines, vana, Cuba, wrote the Mark Curtis Workers Union, Trade Union Edu­ take Curtis' fight to the United Na­ mittee in a collection after the video. Iowa, serving a 25-year prison Defense Committee. "It's very im­ cation Authority (TUEA), Latin tions Human Rights Commission in A few days before the conference, term in the state penitentiary in portant to tell everyone in all the American community, Amnesty In­ Geneva, Switzerland. Curtis supporters in Christchurch re­ Anamosa on frame-up charges of world how the federal agents and the ternational, New Labour Party, Dis­ ceived a $20 (US$12) donation from rape and burglary. U.S. government treat their own cit­ tribution Workers Union, and • Dave Sinel and five other Ocean The Mark Curtis Defense Com­ izens. So, Mark Curtis' case needs Labourers Union. Supporters of Mark Curtis who Beach workers in response to an mittee is leading an international more militant promotion and de­ Roger Middlemass, president of are members of the NZMWU were appeal for funds. campaign to fight for justice for nouncing in all countries. I want to the NZMWU, spoke about how law able to show. The Frame-up ofMark Curtis. For more information offer you my efforts to distribute is viewed in New Zealand. If some­ Curtis February 28 at the union's about the case or how you can information about Mark in the one is arrested, then many people national conference. • help, write to the Mark Curtis Cuban mass media, so my people see them as guilty. If they are con­ The video, shown at lunchtime, Readers who wish to write Curtis victed, then they are defmitely guilty was introduced by union President should address their correspondence in most people's minds. There are Middlemass, an endorser of the Cur­ to Mark S. Curtis #805338, Box B, DEFEND MARK CURTIS! prime examples, he said, of unfair tis campaign. He briefly outlined the Anamosa, Iowa 52205. Prison reg­ trials in New Zealand- the classic case and explained that the cam­ ulations require that the sender's full example being that of Arthur Allan paign for Curtis was a "truly inter­ Defense Committee, Box 1048, know about the violation of human name and address appear on the Thomas. He was convicted of mur­ national one." Des Moines, Iowa 50311 USA; rights inside the United States. I will upper left hand comer of the enve­ der and served time. He was released Among those who viewed the telephone (515) 246-1695. do all the best for Mark. We shall lope and that senders sign their name and pardoned because certain evi­ video were other union officials who If you have news or reports on overcome!" in full at the end of the letter. Only dence was never allowed to be pre­ are also endorsers of Curtis' fight. correspondence from the noted activities in support of Mark Cur­ sented at his trial. They included Paul Wmtringham, tis from your city or country, sender is permitted. Greeting cards • Mike Farrell of the TUEA said an organizer of the West Coast please send them to the Mililnnt. are permitted, but are not to exceed About 20 people saw the video that many unionists in New Zealand branch of the NZMWU; Merv Tay­ 81,.-2" X ll". produced by Hollywood director had strong memories of the visit to lor, president of the Canterbury "Yesterday I got an issue of the Nick Castle, The Frame-Up ofMark New Zealand by Curtis' wife, Kate branch; and Dave Sinel, president of Helen 0' Neill from Christchurch Militant from February 9, and I read Curtis, at a meeting in Palmerston Kaku, and her commitment to cor­ the Ocean Beach Freezing Workers and Dion Martin from Palmerston about the unjustified jailing of Mark North, New Zealand, on February rect the injustices done to Curtis. Union. North, New Zealand, contributed to Curtis," Abelardo Mena, a professor 22. At the meeting were representa- Some $40 was raised at the meeting Some $60 (US$35) was donated this week's column. Interview with Curtis by 'Perspectiva Mundial'

already become an internationally recog­ are exactly the same as on the outside, beyond Luis Madrid is editor of the Spanish­ Curtis is continuing to fight his frame­ nized case." the walls. For example, there are different language monthly, Perspectiva Mundial. up on gambling charges, and the appeal Others in the prison, the activist explained, places where the boss will promote racism His interview with Mark Curtis was pub­ to the Iowa Department of Corrections is "don't just see it as Curtis' thing. They are here. There are shops where there are no lished in the magazine's April 1990 still pending. You can aid in this fight by interested in knowing what's happening and Black workers. Black workers are discour­ issue. It appears here in abridged form. protesting to Paul Grossheim, .Director, they hope the best for my defense campaign aged from working in them." The translation is by the Militant. Department of Corrections, Capitol because in a way it rubs off on them -the Curtis emphasized the importance ofbeing Perspectiva Mundial was earlier Annex, 523 E. 12th St., Des Moines, inspiration, the enthusiasm. They are glad able to get information on world events. The among the publications denied Curtis at Iowa 50309 USA; and to John A. Thalac­ when a reporter talks to me about the circum­ authorities had prohibited him from receiving the Iowa State Men's Reformatory at An­ ker, Warden, Iowa State Men's Reforma­ stances in here, because they don't have that the Spanish-language monthly Perspectiva amosa because of undemocratic restric­ tory, Anamosa, Iowa 52205 USA. chance. Mundial and the French-language magazine tions on literature in languages other Copies of messages and any reply "It's not because they don't want it or Lutte ouvriere, claiming they posed a security than English. from prison authorities should be sent to they're undeserving of it," Curtis explained. risk. Last July, following a broad interna­ Since the .interview was conducted, the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, "It's simply because -like everyone else - tional campaign, Curtis began receiving them Curtis has been moved from Level III to P.O. Box 1048, Des Moines, Iowa 503ll they're workers, poor people, and the system and, a few months ago, began to get Granma Level IV. USA. doesn't care about them." Weekly Review from Cuba. Mandela release Nevertheless, there still exist restrictions on receiving mail in languages other than The release of African National Congress BY LUIS MADRID "The police do not have the right to ques­ English and on the right of prisoners to freely leader Nelson Mandela after 27 years in share information. ANAMOSA, Iowa- Those who govern tion you without your consent if you do not prison was also a topic of discussion at An­ the United States "have sought to block by have a lawyer present. This is your right," The prisoners face other obstacles in ad­ amosa, and cause for celebration. vancing their education. For example, the every means possible any suggestion that in Curtis explained. "I refused to have any dis­ The news of his impending release came this country there could be a frame-up or cussions with them. Martin Luther King, Jr., Organization -a the evening of February l 0, Curtis recalled. vehicle for organizing recreational, cultural, violations of human rights. "They became agitated, angry. One of "Everyone was talking about it in the morn­ "The fact is that there has rarely been any them said, 'You're one of those Mexican-lov­ and political activities that has functioned in ing. People wanted to watch him walk out of the prison for years -bought $50 of books real investigation on human rights in the ers, just like you love those coloreds.'" that prison, but the guards wouldn't allow it. United States by any body, including the a year ago. Among them were the writings Beaten by police "But I did get back to the cell house just of Mandela, Maurice Bishop, and Malcolm United Nations. Any break in that brick wall in time, by luck, to see him give his speech is a big step forward." Then, Curtis said, the police became vio­ X, and some titles on Cuba. at the Cape Town City Hall. There were a Six months elapsed before the books were This is how Mark Curtis put it during an lent, throwing him to the floor and beating number of other inmates watching TV, and interview at the Iowa State Men's Reforma­ him. They shattered his cheekbone. released to the group, and then only for the crowd grew as the speech went on. We restricted use. "We could have the books, but tory here on March 2. Curtis was referring to Curtis was put on trial in September 1988. were just in awe as we watched him speak." the impact of a trip by several leaders of the "I was not allowed to present some very almost no one could read them," Curtis said. Mark Curtis Defense Committee to Geneva, crucial evidence in my defense," he re­ That afternoon, Curtis got together with "There was a ban on the books." Switzerland, to attend the 46th session of the counted. He could not, for example, mention several friends - some Cubans and a It took another half year, and a pressure United Nations Commission on Human the beating by police or present documents Salvadoran. "We had seen everybody danc­ campaign, to have the books placed perma­ Rights. showing that he had been targeted for inves­ ing and cheering in the streets of South M­ nently in the central library. "Now they're UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de tigation by the FBI for his involvement in the rica," he explained. "We can't dance and enjoyed by everyone here," Curtis said. "But Cuellar appointed Maria Francisca Ize­ Committee in Solidarity with the People of cheer here. But we can, and did, go get a it took a year, 12 months." Charrin, a UN human rights officer, to follow El Salvador. pizza and soda pop, and we had a little party." Curtis has written for the Militant on var­ up on an appeal sent to Perez de Cuellar by He was convicted and sentenced to 25 "People talk about politics a lot in here." Continued on next page Curtis about his case. (Curtis' appeal was years in prison. He has been held at Anamosa This occasion gave rise to discussion on the reprinted in the February 23 Militant.) since December 1988. Currently he works role of Cuba in southern Africa- "espe­ "It is a big step forward for the hundreds part time in the prison soap shop. cially about the defeat of the South Mrican and thousands of other individuals and armed forces in Angola by Cuban and Ango­ For Native Americans, Blacks, and other lan troops and the subsequent pullout of groups who have asked the United Nations union and political activists, the UN commis­ to become involved in the issue of human South Africa from Namibia," said Curtis, sion action in his case, Curtis said, "is a very "and the power that a small country like Cuba rights in this country," Curtis said. positive blow." It helps "those people as well "In two more days it will be two years can have in world politics when it takes the to break out of the blockade of information side of the oppressed and the exploited." since my arrest," Curtis pointed out. "But, about their cases." instead of withering away or being forgotten, "Human rights violations in the United "Most people did not realize that this is my case is gaining even more support than States are not just on the individual level. The why Cuban troops were in Mrica. Many did before." rights of whole peoples have been violated not even know they were there," he noted. Curtis, 31, is a packinghouse worker, in this country." "So they were pleased to hear that and were unionist, and political activist from Des interested in finding out more about Cuba." Native Americans, for example, "are seek­ Moines, Iowa. He has been a member of the Curtis explained his views on Cuba. "I was Socialist Workers Party for more than a de­ ing redress from hundreds of years of broken there in 1981 and have read a great deal about treaties," Curtis explained. cade and was national secretary of the Young the Cuban revolution. I think it was a tremen­ Socialist Alliance. Curtis described the response of other in­ dous step forward. He went to work at Swift/Monfort in Des mates to the initiative in Geneva, pointing "Cuba is the first line of defense for work­ Moines, Iowa, at a time when workers in the out that, besides the coverage in the Militant, ing people in this hemisphere," he said. "They meat-packing industry were beginning tore­ there was an article in the Des Moines Reg­ have taken political power there and used it sist attacks by the bosses on union rights and ister. "People were all excited and asked me to move towards socialism, to defend the working conditions. On March 4, 1988, after all kinds of questions about what this means interests of the workers and small farmers in attending a meeting in defense of 16 Mexican and would this lead to an investigation of the that country, and to assist the international coworkers and one Salvadoran who had been prison. working class anywhere they can." arrested at Swift by . the Immigration and "I explained that this didn't just happen. Racism, same as outside Naturalization Service, Curtis was arrested Part of the success is because so many prom­ Militant/Luis Madrid by local police. He was charged with burglary inent individuals have become endorsers of "Racism is another topic that constantly Mark Curtis discussed his continued po­ and the rape of a young Black woman. my defense campaign and because mine has comes up," Curtis said. "Many things here litical activity in prison.

4 The Militant April13, 1990 Mass mobilizations by Quebec students protest tuition hikes

BY MARC-ANDRE ETHIER services. This attack on students comes just AND GARY WATSON months after a confrontation with govern­ MONI'REAL- "Stop the fee hikes! Ed­ ment hospital workers and nurses. The pro­ ucation is a right! Money for schools, not for vincial government is fully backed by the the corporations!" federal government in Ottawa, which in its These are the slogans of a massive prov­ February budget slashed transfer payments ince-wide mobilization of Quebec students to the provinces by millions of dollars. These against government-proposed tuition fee funds were to have gone to education and hikes. other services. Tens of thousands of Quebec's 400,000 The Quebec government admits that the university and CEGEP Gunior college) stu­ rise in fees will mean at least a 5 percent dents are participating in strikes, demonstra­ reduction in the student population. Miitant/Monica Jones tions, mass meetings, and occupations. On The central demand of the students is that March 30 protest in Quebec City drew 4,000 students from across the province. numerous occasions they have been con­ the freeze remain in effect. They have pro­ Students' main demand is for tuition fees to remain frozen, as they have been since fronted by riot-equipped cops. posed that 1 percent tax on the profits of all 1968. "The thaw" - unfreezing the fees - "a d. • • • elitist measure," reads one When 250 students attempted to occupy corporations be levied to pay for education. student's sign. the Montreal Stock Exchange on March 20, Such a tax could raise $800 million while the they were punched, kicked, and hit with new fee scales project only $85 million in sembly in Quebec City. In response to appeals chairs by traders on the floor. One demon­ revenue. tional Assembly. The students responded by strator was hospitalized as a result. The action from the students, motorists honked their pelting the cops with snowballs. Two students A Quebec Employer's Council spokesman horns in support of the demonstration. were arrested. ended when the riot squad arrested more than declared, "We don't have the means to train 180 of the students. Education Minister Claude Ryan, who has 200 philosophers a year. It is better to grad­ threatened to resign if the fee freeze is not Marc-Andre Ethier is a student activist at In response to this attack more students uate managers and technicians who cost less ended, refused to speak to the demonstrators. the University of Montreal. He and other have rallied to the fight. A meeting of more to society." Instead the government responded with 100 students are due to appear in court May 2 than 500 at the CEGEP Vieux Montreal de­ On March 30, 4,000 students from across riot cops who, batons swinging, charged into on charges stemming from their participa­ nounced the "police repression," and called the province marched on the National As- the demonstrators near the doors of the Na- tion in the struggle. for the "dropping of all charges against our comrades." Representatives of faculty and support staff unions expressed their solidar­ ity. Demanding the right to demonstrate 'PM' interviews Mark Curtis in prison "whenever and wherever we wish," students have occupied offices at the Montreal Cham­ Continued from previous page "The newspaper article that contained his About II :00 p.m. that night Curtis was ber of Commerce, demonstrated at Mont­ ious developments in the prison. He ex­ statement listed seven different gangs that accused of having dropped a piece of paper real's City Hall, and have organized rush­ plained that as a result he had just "received were supposedly in the prisons in Iowa, in­ during the search, which was said to prove hour marches and sitdowns at major a letter from the warden, where he alleges cluding the Vicelords, Mexican Mafia, and he had gambled on the Super Bowl football intersections and bridges. During these ac­ that I have quite a number of inaccuracies in others. game. tions thousands of motorists and pedestrians my articles." "This has been greeted with disbelief, out­ "I did not have this piece of paper or any have received leaflets explaining the rage, and derision by inmates here," Curtis other gambling paraphernalia in my posses­ students' demands. Leaflets have also been Censorship in prison said. "Most people believe that this is an sion," Curtis stated. "It's really outrageous. distributed door-to-door in working-class "Yesterday I was brought up to the admin­ attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the And inmates here see it as an attack because neighborhoods. istration office," he continued. "I was told public to justify further limiting our demo­ of my political activities." These actions follow the Quebec govern­ cratic rights, open up more prison space, and that, based on the alleged inaccuracies in the Curtis has appealed the gambling frame-up ment's announcement that tuition fees will impose more restrictive measures against Militant, I would not be allowed to speak at to the state Department of Corrections. His be increased by approximately 130 percent prisoners in general." the MLK Jr. Organization celebration of Af­ flrst appeal was denied by Assistant Warden over the next two years. Curtis pointed out that many of his co­ rican-American History Month on Sunday John Sissel on February 15, resulting in the These hikes aim to roll back an important workers were worried. "There are several unless I submit my speech in written form. move to Level III. victory won in 1968. At that time massive Chicano workers. They are very much con­ "I pointed out that I have spoken many The restrictions placed on prisoners do not student strikes forced the government to cerned that their chances for parole or con­ times without violating any institution rules, represent "an absolute shut door," Curtis said. freeze tuition fees. Tuitions in Quebec - at sideration for some kind of release will be without advocating violence, any illegal ac­ "I and others plan on defending our ability an average of $540 per year- are today jeopardized now by statements like this." tivities, or even using profanity. I explained to exercise our rights. We will not be deterred among· the lowest in Canada. that this was a very dangerous road to begin from that." On several occasions in the past 10 years Gambling frame-up going down, because it concerns constitu­ "The biggest help is informing people out­ the provincial government has attempted, In mid-February Curtis was transferred tional rights that I have not lost since coming side the prison about what the situation is," without success, to "unfreeze" the fees. to prison." from Level V- where he had been for sev­ eral months - to Level III. The transfer he said. The government's drive against the stu­ "They are constantly trying to narrow the meant the loss of certain privileges, such as "I want to ask your readers to continue to dents is part of a broader effort to slash social rights that we do have in here," he said. use of the phone, access to a tape recorder, follow my case, to do whatever they can to The day after our interview, Curtis refused and most importantly, the right to carry out help fight, not just for my democratic rights, to submit a written text of his remarks to the his duties as the elected secretary of the MLK but for the rights of other people in the United How Malcolm X authorities and they prohibited him from Jr. Organization. States- not just as an act of sympathy or speaking at the event. "On January 28 I was asked to give a altruism, but in defense of their own rights, handled anti-Semitism In fact, Curtis said, it was the warden who shakedown," Curtis explained. "When I say which are threatened. at Detroit meeting recently became the center of attention for asked, it's not exactly the same thing as an "An injury to one is an injury to all­ making erroneous statements to the media. ordinary request. You're expected to comply anywhere around the globe," Curtis con­ when you're asked to do something. cluded. The anniversary of the assassination of "He alleged that there was an upsurge in gang "So I was asked to give a shakedown, Before returning to the soap plant, Curtis Malcolm X, shot down in Harlem on Feb. activity in the institution. This could not be which is basically a body search," he said. extended his hand to me, saying confidently, 21, 1965, has sparked a lot of discussion any further from the truth," the imprisoned "After that, I went on my way." "Venceremos!" (We will win!) about the revolutionary leader and his legacy activist emphasized. for today's fighters. Meetings took place in many cities during February- Black His­ tory Month -to honor Malcolm and discuss his ideas. Appeals heard in Puerto Rico activists' case In a February 25 New York Times opinion column, "Young Lions, and Old"- about BY TIM CRAINE seal some of these tapes immediately follow­ starting sometime next fall. the release of Nelson Mandela from prison HARTFORD, Conn. -Within the last ing the expiration of the court order author­ The other appeal, to the Second Circuit -the 25th anniversary of Malcolm's assas­ month, two important appeals have been izing electronic surveillance. Court in New York, by four defendants al­ sination was mentioned. In response, Times heard in the case of the Puerto Rican inde­ For one set of tapes, the delay was 82 days; ready tried and convicted, was heard on reader Richard Rosenthal wrote a letter to the pendence activists known as the Hartford 15. for another, 118 days. Federal District Judge March 15. Leonard Weinglass, attorney for editors published in the March 9 issue of the The government prosecution against the T. Emmet Clarie ruled that these tapes may Juan Segarra Palmer, who was sentenced to paper about "an unknown moment from the Hartford 15 began with their arrests in 1985 not be submitted into evidence. His ruling 65 years in prison, argued that the rule ex­ life of Malcolm X that I think should be and 1986 on charges stemming from a 1983 was upheld by the Second Circuit Court of cluding tapes should be extended to the many entered on the public record." robbery of a Wells Fargo depot in West Hart­ Appeals. The U.S. government has asked the tapes used against his client, which the FBI "In 1963 or 1964, I attended a meeting of ford, Connecticut. Pretrial hearings revealed Supreme Court to overturn that ruling. also failed to seal within the proper time the Young Socialists Club at Wayne State a massive, illegal surveillance operation by In their argument before the Supreme period. University in Detroit at which Malcolm the FBI against the independence movement. Court, attorneys for the Puerto Rican activists spoke," writes Rosenthal. He describes how The two appeals involve the question of explained the stakes in this case. If the gov­ After a seven-month long trial, in which Malcolm dealt with a person in the audience whether illegally obtained evidence may be ernment prevails, the safeguards written into the tainted evidence was admitted, Segarra who launched an anti-Semitic "harangue." used in court against the defendants. the 1968 statute regarding wiretapping will along with Antonio Camacho Negron, Ro­ "Malcolm listened," Rosenthal says, until On February 28 the U.S. Supreme Court be gutted. Government officials will be en­ berto Jose Maldonado Rivera, and Norman the tenor of the remarks was clear and then heard arguments in the case of nine defen­ couraged to flout the sealing requirement, Ramirez Talavera were convicted in April "ambled to the lectern." The writer quotes dants who have not yet been tried. The which was designed to minimize the danger 1989 in Hartford. One defendant, Carlos Ayes Malcolm as saying, "I suspect our moderator prosecution's case against them consists that tapes might be tampered with. Suarez, was acquitted. The 15th defendant, today is Jewish and I won't put him in the largely of tapes of conversations made by the Luz Berrios Berrios pleaded guilty to a lesser position of silencing you. So I will. Now shut FBI during the investigation. Yet, contrary to A decision on this ruling is expected in charge and is still serving a five-year sen­ up and sit down." federal statute, government agents failed to June or July, with a trial for these defendants tence.

April13, 1990 Tbe Militant s lAM leader urges strikers to seek AFL-CIO aid

Some 8,500 International Asso­ can arrange to speak before union in Fort CoUins, Colorado. "We did meetings and strike picket lines in members at the Auckland airport ciation of Machinists members meetings and ask locals to adopt one not feel it appropriate to support the Portland area. They spoke to that explained the issues in the East­ struck Eastern Airlines March 4, or more of the striking Machinists your company given the actions of several hundred workers at meetings em fight and urged members to give 1989, in an effort to block the by pledging a regular, monthly con­ Mr. Lorenzo with respect to the East­ and rallies of seven different unions, generously to a collection for the company's drive to break the tribution until the strike is over, em Airlines strike," the ABA wrote. including striking Greyhound work­ strikers' food bank. He also called union and impose massive conces­ Bryan explained. The March 1990 issue of the ers, the Machinists'local represent­ on workers to support the boycott of sions on workers. Such regular "adopt a striker" lAM's paper, the Machinist, reports ing United and Northwest airlines Continental Airlines, which flies to that the March of Dimes charity has workers, and Boilermakers on strike New Zealand. "It is essential," the also canceled a matketing deal with against Northwest Pipe & Casing letter said, "that we try to support Continental. Co. for arbitrary firing of workers our American brothers/sisters in SUPPORT Frank Lorenzo, the head of for union activity and refusal to sub­ their battle." Eastern's parent company Texas Air, mit to drug testing. EASTERN has been trying to polish his image "We must make a strong stand on • by having Continental - also the picket line," Kerekes told 35 lAM Local 796 from Alexandria, STRIKERS! owned by Texas Air-become the Pulp and Paper Workers union mem­ Vrrginia, at Washington National "official airline" of all sorts of pro­ bers at a meeting in St. Helens. Airport, recently started a strike out­ As of the Militant's closing news contributions can help sustain strik­ jects and groups. Some 35 workers from nine reach bulletin to keep strikers and date, \\ednesday, April 4, the ers, now heading into their 14th The Board of Directors of the unions picketed the Eastern and supporters informed about the strike was in its 397th day. month on the picket line, and make YWCA of Greater Atlanta informed Continental ticket counters at the local's activities, including solidar­ The Eastern workers' f'tght has it possible for locals to budget for Eastern on March 14 that they would Portland airport March 17 from 6:30 ity with the striking Greyhound won broad support from working ongoing strike operations. not use Eastern to fly or send mail a.m. to 7:30a.m., when Eastern has workers. people in the United States, Puerto Such an "adopt a striker" program until the strike is resolved. an outgoing flight. Unionists plan to Rico and the Caribbean, Canada, has already been tested successfully The Department of Pediatrics of hold biweekly Saturday morning • Bermuda, Sweden, France, and in Miami, Bryan said. The AFL-CIO East Tennessee State University has airport picket lines. lAM Local 712 at Bombardier­ elsewhere in the world. Readers Executive Council's February 22 also canceled all flight reservations Canadair in Montreal, passed a res­ - especiaUy Eastern strikers - statement urging all affiliates to give on Eastern. Festus Adebonojo, • olution in solidarity with the Eastern are encouraged to send news of added fmancial assistance to the chairman of the department, wrote In New Zealand, where support strikers on the occasion of the year's strike solidarity activities to this Eastern strikers was attached to to Lorenzo to inform him of the for the Eastern strike is growing, the armiversary of the strike. "Like thou­ column. Bryan's letter. department's decision, made "in sol­ National Council of the Engineers sands of unionists, we support your idarity with the employees of East­ Union - the counterpart to the determination to stand up to lAM District 100 President • em and Continental Airlines and lAM in that country -has voted to Lorenzo," the resolution said. Local Charles Bryan recently sent a let­ Almost every day, the lAM's with concern about the safety of send NZ$10,000 (US$5,000) to the 712 organizes 3,000 production ter to all Eastern strike coordina­ strike bulletin reports support for the equipment and competence of per­ Eastern strikers. The Engineers workers at the Bombardier-Canad­ tors, urging striking locals to union's fight from some new quar­ sonnel." Union has a membership of 53,000, air airplane factory. contact AFL-CIO central labor ter. which includes mechanics, baggage bodies in their areas to begin or­ The March 16 bulletin notes that • handlers, and ramp workers at the Brian Williams from Portland, Ore­ ganizing regular monthly contri­ the American Birding Association Two Eastern strikers - Skipp airports. gon; Annette Kouri from Montreal; butions from AFL-CIO-affiliated had rejected Continental's offer to Kerekes from Seattle and Jack Kill Engineers Union District Secre­ and Peter Bradley from Auckland, union locals. become the "official airline" of the from Portland, Oregon- recently tary Jim Butterworth, from the New Zealand, contributed to this Representatives of striking locals ABA's 1990 convention, to be held teamed up to visit several union Auckland branch, sent a circular to column. Workers at United discuss union-backed buyout

BY MAUREEN COLETT A ber 13, triggering the sell-off of United stock divided on whether the union should go along Some of the deepest divisions over the deal AND PATTI IIYAMA and the second largest one-day drop in stock with it. As one cleaner in Philadelphia ex­ are between A-scale and B-scale workers. Some 25,000 members of the International prices in Wall Street's history. plained, ''I'm against concessions. But we Most A-scale workers at Kennedy, whether Association of Machinists (lAM) at United don't have a choice. We'lllose everything if mechanics, ramp workers, or cleaners, are Despite the deal's collapse, however, Airlines are expecting to vote soon on the a financier like Davis buys the company and against the proposed contract. With the cost ALPA's lawyers and advisers received $58.7 multimillion-dollar concession contract sells off assets." At least with this plan, "the of living rising 4 percent or more every year, million in fees from the UAL board. being proposed by the lAM officialdom in unions will own the company," he said. Spec­ their wages will drop at least 24 percent over In the previous buyout bid, lAM Vice­ exchange for an employee buyout plan for ulator Marvin Davis made an earlier bid for the life of the contract. president John Peterpaul said the union the airline. the airline. B- and C-scale employees are more favor­ would fight for significant wage increases Officials of the Association of Flight At­ able to the contract because of the wage rather than accept "the most ludicrous trans­ Mechanics at New York'sJohnF. Kennedy tendants, representing 12,700 workers, and increases they are to receive and the contin­ action we have ever seen." Although financ­ International Airport, however, point out that the Air Line Pilots Association, with ·6,300 ued provision that they will reach A-scale in ing for the current buyout plan remains un­ the three unions will have only four repre­ members at United, are also backing the plan. five years. Some A-scale mechanics at JFK certain, lAM officials have been pushing this sentatives out of 15 on the board of directors lAM, AFA; and ALPA officials are pro­ have mounted a campaign to convince the contract as "the lesser of two evils." and will therefore not control much. "And posing five-year contracts with no-strike until we pay off the debt, the banks will really B-scale mechanics that they should also vote clauses and wage cuts, as opposed to the Talks are continuing with the VAL's boaro own United and decide what to do," said one no on the contract. normal three-year contracts at United. Alto­ of directors, who have threatened to sell off mechanic. Many Machinists at Kennedy are also op­ gether, concessions from Machinists, flight posed to the deal because of the six-year assets such as gates, equipment, and the lAM members at Kennedy are also ques­ attendants, and pilots would total $2 billion highly profitable Pacific routes unless the no-strike clause. "It's crazy. We won't have over five years. tioning whether they really want to "own" any teeth at all," said one cleaner. Machinists, flight attendants, and pilots ac­ the company. Some of the most outspoken The proposed pact between the lAM and cept the plan. Many workers see this as a the company includes: a six-year no-strike opponents of the proposed ESOP are workers JAM Local 1776 member Maureen Coletta choice between accepting the concessions in who were already forced to participate in is a cleaner at United Airlines in Philadel­ clause, continuing the year after the contract the buyout plan or losing their jobs. expires; a 3.7 percent wage decrease in the ESOPs at Eastern or Pan American airlines, phia. Patti Iiyama, also a cleaner at United, first year for A-scale (top wage) employees, Most lAM members at United don't like where individual workers lost thousands of is a member of JAM Local I 322 in New which will "snap back" to current rates in the the proposed contract, although opinions are dollars. York. remaining four years, resulting in no wage increase over the life of the contract; an increase of 2.~ percent the first year and 4 percent the second year for B- and C-scale California Eastern strikers welcome miners employees with a more even increase in the pay progression from B and C scale to A BY JOEL BRITTON hound strikers' picket lines a number of times Nelson joined the picket line at La Mode, scale; a more favorable policy of transfers LOS ANGELES- Eastern Airlines strik­ during their visit. where workers are on strike, fighting for between job classifications; an increase in ers in California got a boost recently with the Activists from the Oil, Chemical and recognition of the International Ladies' Gar­ pension benefits; and a "guarantee" of no visit by two United Mine Workers of America Atomic Workers also helped organize the ment Workers' Union. He also met with layoffs due to subcontracting. In exchange, representatives to Los Angeles and the San miners' tours. Collins and Nelson spoke to a ILGWU fighters at Sea Fashions, where a the lAM, AFA, and ALPA, through an em­ Francisco Bay Area. large meeting of the Chevron refmery unit of recent strike had ended in success for the ployee stock ownership plan (ESOP), would Roger Nelson, director of Logan County OCAW Locall-547 near Los Angeles, along union. own 75 percent of United's stock. Camp Solidarity in West Virginia, teamed up with Eastern strike leader Eddie Croft. Many Nelson also spoke to a meeting of the Los The buyout plan is virtually identical to with Eastern strike leaders in Los Angeles Chevron workers -preparing for the expi­ the collapsed ALPA-management buyout Angeles Student Coalition, a leading organi­ during the week-long tour in early March. ration of their contract - wore camouflage zation in the city's anti-apartheid movement. deal of last October. Since the debt the com­ Dave Collins, president of UMWA Local T-shirts with "OCAW /UMWA, No Re­ pany will incur with the new deal is less than Nelson and Croft spoke to the "Welcome 1971 at a Logan-area Pittston mine, did the treat/No Surrender" on the back. Wearing horne, Nelson Mandela" rally March 11. the earlier plan- $3.8 billion, as compared same in the Bay Area. camouflage was a symbol of the Pittston to $6.8 billion - the concessions being Striking Machinists from San Francisco Nelson and Collins participated in the strike and it is now emulated by other union­ International Airport, Bob Stellato and Jeff pressed on United employees are somewhat March 3 activities in Los Angeles and San ists. Dozens of OCAW members joined the less drastic: $2 billion over five years, as Betancourt, joined Collins at many of the Francisco marking the year's anniversary of March 3 Eastern strike rally at Los Angeles miner's Bay Area meetings. opposed to $1.5 billion over three years. the strike at Eastern. "We learned we couldn't International Airport. do it alone," Collins told the San Francisco Collins and an Eastern striker met with The UMWA leaders also met with anum­ lAM officials oppose 1st plan Eastern strike rally, referring to the broad United Auto Workers Local 2244 members Last fall the banks, the ALPA-led buyout support won by the Pittston miners during ber of OCAW district and local officials and from the NUMMI assembly plant in Fremont. union activists. Interest in meeting the miners group, and the U AL directors were surprised their 11-month strike, which ended in mid­ UAW members there recently sold 700 "No was heightened by recent moves to revive by the deep-going opposition of lAM mem­ February. Lorenzo" buttons. efforts to merge these two energy industry bers to concessions and the lAM's campaign Collins spoke on behalf of the UMWA at At a large meeting of Longshore union unions. to stop the buyout. Seeing that a major source the memorial meeting held in Redding, Cal­ delegates in San Francisco, Collins received of funds to repay the loans needed to buy the ifornia, March 7 for a Greyhound striker who Eastern strike leaders Joe Mos and Eddie a standing ovation. "I'm not a professional airline - concessions from the Machinists was killed a few days earlier on the picket Croft of Los Angeles shared the platform with speaker, but when someone sets out to destroy - was unlikely to materialize, the bankers line in that Northern California town. Nelson at many of the union meetings he my union, I become a professional fighter," withdrew backing. The deal collapsed Octo- Both Collins and Nelson walked the Grey- spoke to. Collins told them.

6 The Militant April 13, 1990 Strikers keep up pressure

Continued from front page had "borrowed" $180 million of Eastern's and other unionists turned out for the frrst ropes and we must keep him there. Hold that pension funds for other purposes. "Stand Up to Lorenzo" weekly expanded line and don't give him an inch." picket line on March 30. Strikers covered the Eastern has recorded a damage rate for Frank Lorenzo, chairman of Eastern's par­ employee entrances and parking lot gates January 1990 that was 150 percent higher· ent company Texas Air Corp., spearheaded where scabs enter and leave work. A dozen than the rate for the same month last year,. the union-busting drive at Eastern that forced striking Greyhound workers were also on costing the airline millions. Damage by main­ the Machinists to take strike action on March hand, along with other unionists. Three postal tenance and engineering scabs jumped 700 4, 1989. workers unions will be guests at the next percent. An internal Eastern memorandum Eastern filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy expanded picket line April 6. obtained by the lAM points to the poor train­ five days later. The airline's operations were ing and high turnover of scabs hired to do On March 31 some 200 strikers and sup­ virtually paralyzed for the next four months ramp work as a big factor in the jump. In porters from other unions held a "walk­ by the Machinists strike, backed at that time Atlanta, for example, 3,500 people have been through" at New York's La Guardia Airport, by Eastern pilots and flight attendants. The trained for 900 ramp jobs in the last six the first time such an action has been held airline began increasing its flights in July and months. inside the terminal there. Despite a heavy has been trying to rebuild as a smaller, non­ police presence, strikers walked through the union carrier. Confidence in Eastern's safety practices terminal, drawing interested stares from pas­ Although Eastern has been able to attract was also not helped by the April 1 reports sengers and smiles and waves from other passengers with its rock-bottom fares, sup­ that a pilot who tested positive for cocaine airline workers. The walk -through started port for the strike and concern over safety use last July was kept flying. "Itwas a clerical quietly, but as the line neared the Eastern problems have kept many passengers away, error," said an Eastern spokeswoman. The ticket counters, chants of "Union yes, Lo­ including the business travelers needed to pilot was frred March 20. renzo no!" grew louder and louder. generate sufficient income. Travel agents - The April 3 lAM strike bulletin reported Expanded picket lines are planned by strik­ nervous about selling tickets that might not that Continental, also owned by Texas Air, is ers in Philadelphia and Detroit for April 14. be honored if Eastern goes under- have getting deeper in debt and selling more assets On April3 Frank Lorenzo- traveling un­ also been steering passengers to other carri­ in order to stay solvent. Eastern's creditors accompanied- arrived at Boston's airport ers. agreed to the airline's February 22 reorgani­ to catch the Trump Shuttle to New York. Having lost a record $852 million in 1989, zation plan only after $180 million in Conti­ Eight strikers - who had received a tip that Eastern has been living off proceeds from the nental assets was put up to back the plan. Lorenzo would be there -confronted the sale of its assets, including the Northeast Texas Air boss as he sought to scurry into the 'Stand up to Lorenzo' corridor shuttle, gates and equipment in Phil­ terminal. adelphia, and more. It is currently trying to Strikers in many cities have continued to "You're going down," the strikers shouted. Militant/Mark finalize sale of its Latin American routes and reach out for support, following the success­ "We're going to bury you." March 31 "walk-through" at New York's other assets to American Airlines for $471 ful anniversary picket lines and rallies that La Guardia Airport drew 200 strikers, million. The sale was approved by the bank­ took place around the country to celebrate Striking Eastern Machinists J elfMiller from supporters. Other airline workers inside ruptcy court on March 29; approval from the one year on the picket line March 3-4. Miami and Maggi Pucci from Boston con­ terminal were glad to see strike remains U.S. Deparbnent of Transportation is still In Miami more than 150 Eastern strikers tributed to this article. strong. needed. Mter presenting a bankruptcy reorganiza­ tion plan on February 22 that called for repaying its creditors at a rate of 50 cents on the dollar, Eastern announced a month later Machinists dealt blow at Trump that it could not meet that commitment. After Eastern lowered its offer to 25 cents for every BY SUSAN LaMONT "Workers in fleet service were disap­ On June 7, 1989, the pilots and flight dollar, the creditors committee decided to In a blow to the International Association pointed with the outcome of the vote," said attendants who had been hired from Eastern's seek appointment of a trustee to sell the of Machinists, the Aircraft Mechanics Fra­ Trump Machinist Yvonne Perez-Grajales, work force reported to work at Trump. As­ airline. ternal Association has won a union represen­ who works at New York's La Guardia Air­ suring strikers that Trump was a "friend" of The unsecured creditors include jet engine tation election among mechanics at the port. She explained that the Transport Work­ the unions, lAM officials ordered the Eastern manufacturer General Electric, Boeing Com­ Trump Shuttle. Results of the voting, which ers Union, representing flight attendants, had strikers' picket line taken down at the shuttle pany and Airbus lndustrie - which make took place earlier in March, were announced begun negotiations with Trump for a new and told lAM members who had been hired planes, Eastern bondholders, the lAM, Air March 29. The vote was 68 for AMFA, 18 contract, and the lAM would d() so shortly. to report for work that day"- despite the lack Line Pilots Association, and Transport Work­ for the lAM. Mechanics at Trump's opera­ AMFA will now be bargaining for mechan­ of a signed contract with Trump. It took ers Union, which represents flight attendants. tions in New York, Boston, and Washington, ics. several weeks for a new contract to be final­ ALPA and TWU officials ended backing for D.C., took part in the election. "This is a bad time to be divided," Perez­ ized, one that ended up including a number the Machinists strike last November. AMFA, which currently has no union con­ Grajales noted. "Borman, Lorenzo, and of union-weakening provisions. tracts with any airline, is a company-minded Trump- they all tried to divide us up." An aspect of AMFA's approach to Trump Pension fund short outfit that specializes in raiding operations Frank Borman headed up Eastern Airlines mechanics is to attack the Eastern strike, Other fmancial problems are also haunting against the lAM. Their stock-in-trade is to before Frank Lorenzo bought the carrier in reports La Guardia Eastern strike leader Ernie Eastern. The Pension Benefit Guaranty promote AMFA as an association for 1986. Mailhot. AMFA could have gotten the me­ Corp., the federal agency that oversees pen­ "skilled" aircraft mechanics who, they say, The New York-Boston-Washington, shut­ chanics out of the strike by cutting a separate sion plans, has filed a $1.1 billion claim in could do better for themselves by not being tle was bought from Eastern last spring by deal with Lorenzo, AMFA supporters say. bankruptcy court due to a shortfall in the in the same organization as unskilled ramp gambling and real estate speculator Donald carrier's pension fund, the lAM reports. On workers and cleaners. Trump. Until the shuttle restarted operations 'Least active' voted AMFA March 26 lAM Airline Coordinator Bill Aeet service workers at Trump, who do under Trump, the workers who went to work Jerry Oliveira, a Trump aircraft mechanic Scheri testified in Congress that Texas Air ramp and cleaning work, remain in the lAM. at Trump were on strike at Eastern. at Washington National Airport, was angered by the vote. "AMFA was brought in by one or two guys soon after Trump restarted the shuttle. It's a con-artist operation -all they Greyhound blocks talks with strikers have is associate members. They don't have any dues-paying members anywhere. "The people who voted for AMFA were assed and injured by scabs and cops on picket On March 26 seven students from the BY SUSAN LaMONT the least active in the union," he continued, lines around the country. One striker, Bob Black Student Union at Miami Dade Com­ As the strike by 9,000 workers against "those who never went to a union meeting Waterhouse, was killed March 3 in Redding, munity College-Wolfson campus -located Greyhound Lines Inc. entered its second or walked the picket line. 'You're a profes­ California, by a scab-driven bus. In New across the street from the bus station - month, the company continued to block ne­ sional, • the AMFA supporters told the me­ York, striker Mack Watts was seriously in­ joined the strikers' picket line in Miami. The gotiations with the Amalgamated Transit chanics." Union. jured on the Port Authority bus terminal BSU is encouraging students- who fre­ Branding the striking drivers, cleaners, picket line March 29. Another striker was quently ride Greyhound -to support the The Machinists "assumed there wasn't mechanics, and clerks as "terrorists," the arrested there March 31 after being chased strike, explained BSU President Joseph going to be a vote," said Oliveira, and so they company charges that the ATU is to blame by a scab driver armed with a knife. The scab Shafey. dido 't campaign to convince the mechanics for incidents in which shots have been frred was also arrested. Striking Eastern Airlines Machinists to remain in the lAM. Oliveira is vice-pres­ at scab-driven buses. On March 31 the driver ''The sheriffs escort the scabs in over here," joined Greyhound strikers in Washington, ident of lAM Local 796, which also includes of a Southeastern Trailways bus taking a explained striking driver Gordon Rawlings D.C., at their picket line March 29 and 30. A Washington, D.C., Eastern strikers. Greyhound route was shot and wounded near recently while on picket duty at the Philadel­ March 29 rally for the Greyhound workers, "Trump is ecstatic that AMFA won the Nashville, Tennessee. Three days later an­ phia Greyhound terminal. "I was hit twice cosponsored by the Metro Washington, D.C., vote," Oliveira added. other Southeastern Trailways bus was shot at when I was on the line. One time, as a bus AFL-CIO, drew 100 unionists, including Hugh Brady, an Eastern striker at La Guar­ near Louisville, Kentucky. was pulling in, the sheriffs decided to take a Teamsters and Seafarers. dia airport, explained that leaving the lAM Greyhound chairman Fred Currey says the break. The driver hit me and forced me back, In Louisville, Kentucky, members of the would hurt the Trump mechanics. "This is a company will not reopen talks until a week then hit me two more times, while the cops pipefitters, electrical workers, auto workers, bad move for them,"·he said. "Now they're has gone by without a shooting. Last week, watched in their Bronco." and Teamsters unions swelled the Greyhound very small. They don't have a large organi­ the company put up a $100,000 bounty for In Kansas City, Missouri, striker Larry strikers • picket line April 1. Members of zation like the lAM, and they'll be under the information leading to the conviction of those Butler was arrested for "disobeying a direct ADAPT, a group advocating rights for the control of Trump. After what they've done, allegedly responsible for the shootings. Ne­ order" while picketing the bus station with disabled, were also on hand. "Our group has who in the labor movement will support gotiations broke off March 18. 100 other unionists March 30. The next day been supporting the strikers around the coun­ them? Trump could ask them for a 50 percent ATU leaders have repeatedly explained striker Brent Cole was arrested, along with try because the ATU supports the Americans pay cut, and what could they do? If they that the union opposes violence and is not Butler ~d his wife Judy after they were with Disabilities Act in Congress," said refused, they could easily be replaced." responsible for the shootings. ATU Local assaulted by the manager of the bus station ADAPT member Anne Sautel. Some 30 dis­ "This vote hurts the Eastern strike too. Not 1613 Executive Board member Joe Semmes, restaurant. Judy Butler was roughed up by abled people also picketed the Greyhound only have the mechanics left the strike - said after the March 31 incident in Nashville, the cops and had to be hospitalized for six ticket counter in New York April 1. they've left the union. It's like a slap in the "Tins shooting last night leads me to believe hours. face to the strikers," said Boston Eastern it is outside work and not related to any of Richard Gaeta from Philadelphia, Bronson striker Maggie Pucci. ''This outcome wasn't our unions whatsoever." The driver who was Strike support grows Rozier from Louisville, Michele Yellin from inevitable. We need to begin working now to shot, Semmes added, "is a member of the Support for the walkout, which began Miami, Kevin Shay from Kansas City, and convince the Trump mechanics that their same labor organization we are." Mach 2, is growing. Rallies are set for April Susie Winstenfrom Washington, D.C., con­ future lies with other airline workers and they Meanwhile, strikers continue to be har- 6 at bus terminals around the country. tributed to this article. should be part of the lAM."

April 13, 1990 The Militant 7 New coalfield reader: 'We're a Scargill family'

BY PETE CLIFFORD Mineworkers President Arthur of workers on a given job operation) teams they felt stronger from the working-class communities and SHEFFIELD, England- Since Scargill for slain NUM members at the Hatfield mine near Doncaster. fight. shopping areas. "We're a Scargill the seven-week circulation cam- David Gareth Jones and Joe Green, They had attempted this at two other family here," declared a miner's paign began March 17 to win 7,500 killed during the 1984-85 strike. He mines as well but were beaten back NUM under attack wife near the Bentley mine as she new readers to the socialist press, told the team he considered the by strikes. Dave Douglass, NUM Another highlight was the dis- signed up for a subscription. sales teams · have been traveling paper a serious one and would urge lodge delegate at the Hatfield mine, cussion in the coalfields around In a housing community near the told team members, "it was apparent the attacks the NUM is under Sunnyside mine, outside Roth- that the whole purpose was to avoid today. Media allegations charge erham, a miner bought a copy, say- GETTING the union." that the union received money ing he had seen it earlier in the day Union members at Hatfield called from Libya during the 1984-85 at the union office and liked the look THE a meeting and 700 miners turned out strike and that NUM leader of it. and voted to strike. "Traditionally in Scargill and others misused union MILITANT the Doncaster area," Douglass ex- funds. The team prepared a leaflet Three of the new subscribers, in- plained, "if a strike is not resolved with an article on the slander cam- eluding the NUM branch at the Hat- AROUND in a week, miners at the other paign reprinted from the Militant, field mine, took advantage of a Doncaster mines will strike in soli- which was well received. special offer: a Militant subscrip- tion, New International No. 5 fea- through Britain's coalfields to intro- his union lodge to get it. darity." He said the Doncaster area Alan Bailey, NUM branch sec- had supplied the biggest number of turing "The Coming Revolution in duce the Militant to coal miners. At the Treeton mine near here a retary at Armthorpe told the Mil- South Africa" by Jack Barnes, and pickets during the 1984-85 strike that his union had sent a letter The teams spent the first two young miner stopped to buy a copy, itant The Struggle Is My Life by Nelson weeks in the South Yorkshire area telling team members he had been but that the government had tried to to the national headquarters as a break the unity since then. Mandela for £10. where its 17 mines were at the jailed for six weeks for picketing "vote of confidence in the union center of the national 1984-85 during the 1984-85 strike. He was After a week on strike rank-and- leaders." During the strike he said The Yorkshire Miner, published miners' strike. Militant supporters interested in coverage on the Pittston file pickets began visiting the other he would have "collected money by the NUM in the area, carried a - rail workers, engineering coal strike. While on vacation in six Doncaster mines and won imme- from anywhere to alleviate the three-page supplement in the workers, and a U.S. steelworker Florida last year he had traveled to diate strike solidarity action. The hardship." March issue featuring an inter- -visited 16 pitheads (portals) as Pittston miners' Camp Solidarity in government responded by issuing He believes the union is under view with a South African mine well as working-class neighbor- VIrginia and wanted to follow the court injunctions immediately. "The attack because of British Prime Min- union leader. Pete Naylor, NUM hoods and shopping areas in the fight of U.S. miners. irony," said Douglass, "is that the ister Margaret Thatcher's "problems branch secretary from Manton, region. Miners and their families government and employers are with the economy and the poll tax." told the team he was organizing purchased 154 copies of the Mili- Recent wave of struggle gloating over strikes and protests in He reported a contingent of 30 min- support in his mine for South Af- tant and nine subscriptions. The At each mine team members vis- Eastern Europe but here one judge ers from Armthorpe planned to join rican miner "Lucky" Momn- biggest pithead sale was at the ited the NUM offices to meet and can outvote 700 men." a London demonstration against the ganga, who is on death row. Bentley mine near Doncaster- talk with union leaders. Many NUM In the end, miners in all 17 mines poll tax. The sales teams have also met 11 miners picked up a copy of the officers discussed the recent strike in South Yorkshire stayed off the job The Militant sales teams ran into workers from other industries at paper at three shift changes. wave through the South Yorkshire and, although plans were in the similar stories of support for poll tax plant gates and in communities. In Among the first to get a copy of coalfields. works to end the strike, British Coal protests in many mining villages. the next few weeks teams will visit the Militant was a miner who had In early March, without union backed off their demands at Hat- Near Doncaster in Askem 150 min- the coalfields of Lancashire, Our- seen the paper the previous weekend agreement, the government's British field. ers had joined a protest picket line ham, South Wales, Staffordshire, at a memorial rally in South Kirkby Coal tried to impose a change of Throughout South Yorkshire the previous week. North Yorkshire, and Nottingham- addressed by National Union of manning (a reduction in the number miners' union activists told the sales The highest sales have been from shire. Bougainville rebels win cease-fire in S. Pacific

BY BOB ANDREWS been a source of resentment for the indige­ sures have been introduced in PNG since the Since the cease-fire came into effect, PNG SYDNEY, Australia- A cease-fire be­ nous people of the island. In recent years mine was closed. troops and police have been withdrawn from tween the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces traditional landowners, led by Frances Ona, The Australian government, in response to the island, leaving police functions in the and the fighters for the Bougainville Revo­ a former employee of the mine, have raised the threat to both CRA's investment and the hands of the BRA forces. lutionary Army went into effect early last the demand for the equivalent of US$10 stability of its neocolony, has provided grow­ month, ceasing hostilities in what had be­ billion in compensation for the mine's impact ing military support to Papua New Guinea come the deepest military conflict in the on the environment and subsistence economy on top of its regular training of the PNG Cops attack poll tax South Pacific. of the region. They seek a renegotiation of armed forces. Four Australian army Iroquois Bougainville, an island with a population the Bougainville Copper Agreement under helicopters were sent to Bougainville where protesters in Britain of 150,000, is part of Papua New Guinea, a which landowner trustees receive a mere they were flown by "civilian" pilots from former colony of Australia granted indepen­ one-quarter of 1 percent of the mine's reve­ Australia and New Zealand. An Australian Continued from front page dence in 1975. It is the site of the largest nue. army rapid deployment force was kept on open-cut copper mine in the world, the major In November 1988, after their demands for alert at Townsville in northern Australia, os­ sitdown occurred, other marchers would be share of which is owned by the Australia­ compensation were rejected, the landowners tensibly to help evacuate Australian civilians allowed to pass by them. Instead, the police based mining multinational Conzinc Riotinto began to wage a war of sabotage to close the if the conflict had escalated. prevented this, sending in cops on horseback Australia (CRA). mine. As police and military action by the Some 700 PNG troops were sent to Bou­ who flayed demonstrators indiscriminately. The mine was opened in 1972 under the PNG government escalated, the rebels re­ gainville to impose a state of emergency At another point, police vans were simply former colonial administration and has long vived old demands from the time of indepen­ during which 4,000 people were placed in driven into the crowds. When demonstrators dence - for secession form Papua New interment camps and more than 13,000 more responded, "25ers," cops in full riot gear, Guinea, and possible incorporation into the displaced, fleeing into the jungle. The troops charged into the crowds. New York 'Daily News' neighboring Solompn Islands. In 15 months have been widely condemned for brutalizing Home Secretary David Waddington (the of armed conflict more than 100 people have prisoners. Church leaders in Bougainville minister of the interior) endorsed the police contract negotiations been killed, with the most serious clashes began to speak out against human rights account and mainly blamed the Labour Party continue past deadline taking place in January this year. abuses by the army. for refusing to discipline the 30 MP's who Production at the mine ceased last May, In January the Bougainville Revolutionary have publicly stated their refusal to pay the NEW YORK- Talks between the New hitting not only CRA's profits, but the PNG Army was able to launch some of its biggest tax. Labour MP Roy Hattersley denounced York Daily News and the Allied Printing government's revenues as well. Bougainville actions of the war in response to an offensive the home secretary for bringing in what he Trades Council, representing the 10 unions copper provided up to 50 percent of PNG 's by PNG troops. And the use of Australian termed "party politics." At the same time he at the paper, continued as contracts expired export revenue and up to 20 percent of the army helicopters in the offensive began to called for unity between what he termed "all at midnight March 30. government's budget. Severe austerity mea- draw protests and opposition in Australia. democratic forces" and called for "stiff and exemplary punishment" for those arrested. The Daily News, owned by the Tribune The new poll tax, which went into effect Co. of Chicago, is pressing the unions for in England and Wales on April 1, was intro­ major cuts in wages, pensions, and vacations, Pacific duced in Scotland a year ago. It replaces the as well as work-rule changes and work-force \PHILIPPINES M I C A· . ·' '·:·' .:. Ocean previous system that taxed households on the reductions. Daily News publisher James /~ . .• . .. 0 fil f ·.:· : ., : ·:: ... ·. 8/\ · •. basis of the value of their property with a Hoge has said that payroll expenses must be ..., np .: PALAU head tax on all adults 18 years of age and reduced by 25 percent. ,., .. over. Everyone in a local area will be charged The News has set up a scab newspaper site ...... ::;;;::;--..--...... --- Equator- BOUGAINVILLE""'.. ,..---=-----l the same amount regardless of their income. ~ in Secaucus, New Jersey, for use in the event - J SOLOMON The size of the demonstration and the furor of a strike, and begun advertising for scab «,-ISLANDS that it caused reflects not only deep-seated drivers, mailers, pressmen, and reporters...... opposition to the inequity of the poll tax but ~, ~ · Six of the 10 unions in the council have • a more general stiffening of resistance against authorized strikes. Leaders of the Interna­ GUINEA . ' • the attacks of the government on working tional Typographical Union, which has a no­ ~VANUATU .. people, especially the deep cuts in social • • <: strike pledge as part of the "lifetime" job • FIJI;. benefits. guarantees negotiated in earlier contracts, The demonstrators demanded "Don't pay! have said ITU members will cross picket lines ).:· Don't collect!"- the latter demand aimed at in a strike. NEW CALEDONIA urging local government bodies controlled by On March 28 the mailers' union proposed the Labour Party not to collect the poll tax . a six-year contract with 6 percent annual • Labour MP, Tony Benn, speaking at the wage increases. In January the News had rally, called for "unity between payers and proposed a one-year contract with a wage nonpayers alike." The poll tax, he added "is Tasman Sea freeze and no-strike pledge. unjust, undemocratic and unacceptable. The While union officials have reiterated that opposition to it is so powerful that we can they want to avoid a strike, many union defeat it if we stick together." He added that members fear the company will declare an Selle of miles the demonstration would have been a million impasse in negotiations and lock out the 0 500 strong if it had been supported by the Trades unions. Union Congress and the Labour Party.

8 The Militant April13,;l990 Target week to give drive needed push

BY RONI McCANN Militant subscriptions at the center of the With four weeks left in the seven-week campaign. This has helped lead to more sub­ international circulation campaign to win scriptions. Petitioners sold 16 Militant sub­ 7,500 new readers to the socialist press, sup­ scriptions in the last four days. porters around the world face the challenge Pittsburgh supporters spent the last week of getting on schedule and in position to getting the word out on the tour of Cuban achieve the goals of the drive by May 5. economist and author Carlos Tablada. Sales Preparations are being made now for a at the University of Pittsburgh, a miners' day special target week, called for April 14-21. parade, a festival on Central America and the During a target week supporters of the so­ Caribbean, and a forum protesting racist at­ cialist press redouble their efforts to win new tacks on campuses netted 18 new subscribers. readers. Four people attending meetings to hear A sales team will hit the road in Iowa and Tablada signed up to subscribe to the Militant. South Dakota April14, introducing the Mil­ In Miami at a meeting to hear one of the itant to working people at packinghouse daughters of South African freedom fighter Militant/Jane Roland gates, airports, Greyhound picket lines, in Nelson Mandela, seven persons decided to Greensboro, North Carolina, Eastern Airlines strike event March 4. Sales to strikers farming communities, and on campuses. In subscribe to the Militant, one to Lutte are part of action plan needed to reach out, win new readers. Canada supporters will be traveling in the ouvriere, and another purchased a copy of eastern region, selling the press to workers New International. strike activities, supporters of the Militant are Mailhot explained he will be stepping up his in the timber and paper industries, in the The best results in Miami are from sales expanding their efforts. efforts to win new subscribers. Already sev­ fishing and fish-processing industries on the on the job. Two supporters at a plant in Coral "The Militant is the only place strikers can eral fellow strikers have renewed subscrip­ Atlantic Coast, and in the coal mining area Springs have sold four Militant subscriptions, get a discussion on our fight," said Ernie tions on their own, underscoring for Mailhot of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. exceeding their goal. Seventeen workers in Mailhot, a Machinists Local 1018 strike the increased opportunities to circulate the Supporters in West VIrginia reorganized the Machinists and steelworkers unions have leader from New York's La Guardia airport. paper. their petitioning effort to place socialist can­ purchased subscriptions or magazines so far. didates on the ballot in order to put selling On Eastern Airlines picket lines and at Subscription Drive Farm meet calls for fight SCOREBOARD BY PRISCILLA SCHENK land ownership in this country, when Blacks Perspectlva Lutte BLOOMINGTON, Minn.-More than owned over 15 million acres," he said. "De­ DRIVE GOALS Total Militant New lnt'l Mundis/ ouvrtere 100 farmers, students, Native Americans, and spite other progress our nation has made in union and political activists from across the civil rights, today the remaining 50,000 Black Goal Total % Areas Sold Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold United States and Canada gathered in this landowners possess less than 4 million suburb of Minneapolis on March 9-11 to acres." Zippert estimated land loss for Black UllllfWD STATD discuss the crisis facing working farmers and farmers at 300,000 to 500,000 acres per year. Miami 200 54 27% 110 37 40 13 30 1 20 3 the next steps in the farmers' fight. Sponsors of the bill hope to have it discussed Newark, NJ 385 93 24% 210 33 95 40 65 13 15 7 Des Moines, Iowa 160 36 23% 123 27 15 9 20 0 2 0 The leadership meeting was called by the as part of the 1990 Farm Bill. Los Angeles 400 87 22% 210 39 75 9 110 39 5 0 North American Farm Alliance (NAFA) and Ideas for an action campaign were dis­ Boston 190 38 20% 125 26 25 2 30 9 10 1 marked the beginning of the organization's cussed at several workshops and conference efforts to organize a membership base in rural Brooklyn 340 67 20% 200 38 60 18 60 9 20 2 sessions. Daryl Ringer, a farm activist from Philadelphia 160 31 19% 108 11 25 17 25 2 2 1 areas. Kansas, proposed setting up a speakers' bu­ Seattle 140 27 19% 108 17 15 0 15 10 2 0 'They've created an atmosphere in this reau and joining with other organizations on New York 500 93 19% 280 42 95 25 110 23 15 3 country that there is no farm crisis," Merle key local issues. Omaha, Neb. 110 21 19% 80 16 15 1 13 r; 4 2 0 Hansen, president of NAFA told the confer­ An April 7 concert in Indianapolis called ence. "We have to make a national issue of Greensboro, NC 115 21 18% 90 18 15 1 8 2 2 0 Farm Aid was pointed to as an opportunity Pittsburgh 140 25 18% 113 20 20 1 5 4 2 0 this." Since 1945 more than 4 million family to bring the farm crisis to national attention. Chicago 280 45 16% 185 17 45 23 45 3 5 2 farmers have lost their land. Hansen proposed that NAFA call for the Washington, DC 145 22 15% 100 14 20 0 20 8 5 0 Ed Marks, executive director of NAFA, Twin Cities, Minn. 210 31 resignation of Secretary of Agriculture Clay­ 15% 162 18 30 11 15 1 3 reported that the national board adopted three ton Veutter and to "greet him with picket goals for 1990. The first is to participate in San Francisco 220 31 14% 150 21 30 2 35 8 5 0 signs wherever he goes." Atlanta 165 21 13% 117 10 30 11 15 0 3 0 introducing a bill before Congress supporting Houston 145 18 12% 98 13 20 3 25 2 2 0 the rights of Black farmers; second, to launch Plenary sessions discussed the involvement Kansas City 105 13 12% 78 6 15 7 10 0 2 0 an action campaign of speaking, demonstra­ of rural women, the environment and agricul­ Baltimore 150 17 11% 112 13 25 10 3 3 0 tions, rallies, and other activities to draw ture, and building coalitions and alliances with Portland, Ore. attention to the farm crisis; and third, to build workers and organizations in the cities. 100 11 11% 75 11 13 0 10 0 2 0 Oakland, Calif. 185 20 11% 120 19 25 0 35 1 5 0 and develop membership groups in local An International Association of Machin­ Austin, Minn. 75 8 11% 53 6 10 0 10 2 2 0 areas. ists member on strike at Eastern Airlines Detroit 250 20 8% 200 18 30 0 15 2 5 0 John Zippert from the Federation ofSouth­ addressed a session of the conference. The Price, Utah 75 6 8% 53 4 10 0 10 2 2 0 em Cooperatives reported on the Minority striker was well received by participants, who Birmingham, Ala. 150 11 7% 123 10 . 20 1 5 0 2 0 Farmers' Rights Bill. "The Federation/Land saw the importance of connecting the strug­ Cleveland 110 8 7% 78 8 20 0 10 0 2 0 Assistance Fund and other groups have been gles of workers and farmers. Salt Lake City 190 13 7% 138 12 30 0 20 1 2 0 working on a legislative strategy to provide Other organizations with members at the St. Louis 200 9 5% 162 7 25 1 10 1 3 0 affirmative action and more equitable treat­ meeting included the Missouri Rural Crisis Charleston, WV 115 5 4% 88 3 20 2 5 0 2 0 ment of Black and other minority farmers Center, Rural Vermont, Minnesota Farm Ad­ Phoenix 85 3 4% 53 3 10 0 20 0 2 0 and landowners." The bill seeks to "stem the vocates Program, Wisconsin Farm Unity Al­ Morgantown, WV 150 5 3% 113 4 30 1 5 0 2 0 tide of Black land loss," Zippert explained. liance, and the National Farmers Union of Cincinnati 7 0 0% 7 0 "The year 1910 was the high point of Black Canada. Las Vegas, Nev. 12 1 8% 12 1 Other U.S. 19 18 1 U.S. TOTAL 5,964 930 16% 4,034 560 953 199 821 151 156 20 AUSTRALIA 50 9 18% 25 9 8 0 15 0 2 0 W. Virginia ballot fight appealed BRITAIN Manchester 74 18 24% 50 8 20 10 3 0 1 0 Continued from Page 2 Dennison spoke. He said that the "laws of London 162 34 21% 105 26 30 7 25 1 2 0 Coming Economic Crisis were sold. West Vrrginia are used against working peo­ Sheffield 107 13 12% 65 11 30 2 10 0 2 0 ple and the unions. My experiences in the Cardiff 59 7 12% 40 7 10 0 7 0 2 0 Speaking inside the cavernous state capitol Other Britain 6 6 rotunda, McBride told reporters that un­ fights of the United Mine Workers are that BRITAIN TOTAL 402 78 19% 260 58 90 19 45 7 0 democratic election laws like those in West working people need to get into politics." CANADA VIrginia "demonstrate the hypocrisy of the ACLU attorney Bastress again fielded Vancouver 115 36 31% 75 30 2Q 1 15 2 5 3 current U.S. government. The Bush admin­ dozens of questions about the suit, and Wilbur Montreal 170 52 31% 65 16 20 7 45 8 40 21 istration and Congress send thousands of Jenkins, West VIrginia University professor, Toronto 190 38 20% 120 25 30 6 30 6 10 1 people, like Jimmy Carter, to meddle in the lent his support. CANADA TOTAL 475 126 27% 260 71 70 14 90 16 55 25 elections of sovereign countries like Nicara­ There was broad media coverage of the FRANCIE 35 21 60% 5 2 5 10 5 2 20 7 gua. But we can't have a free and democratic two press conferences: four TV stations, sev­ #ClELAND 41 11 27% 35 8 3 2 2 0 election in West VIrginia!" eral radio stations, both wire services, and N.WDALAND Ed Cabbell, a historian and civil rights the major dailies in Charleston and Morgan­ Christchurch 55 22 40% 45 21 6 1 3 0 0 activist from Morgantown, West VIrginia, town covered the conferences. Wellington 70 28 40% 54 27 11 0 4 1 0 added his support at the news conference as John Anderson, former member of Con­ Auckland 100 22 22% 80 19 15 3 4 0 0 a person interested in democratic rights for gress and a 1980 independent presidential OtherN. Z. 14 0 0% 10 0 4 0 N.Z. TOTAL 239 72 30% 189 67 36 4 11 1 3 all. candidate, seht a message. 0 After the conference, McBride and SWP The Rainbow Lobby, an independent non­ 81111/ED/EN 76 12 16% 45 6 5 0 25 6 0 candidate for state treasurer Maggie McCraw partisan citizens'lobby, also sent a statement PU/EifTORICO 20 5 25% 2 3 1 0 16 2 1 0 presented West VIrginia Secretary of State of support. lnt'l teams 155 0 0% 75 0 25 0 50 0 5 0 Ken Hechler with a copy of the U.S. Supreme SWP candidates urge that support and Other lnt'l 5 5 Court lawsuit against him. funds for the appeal to the Supreme Court be TOTAL 7,457 1,269 17% 4,930 784 1,196 248 1,080 185 251 52 The next day, a news conference was held sent to Fair Ballot Appeal Fund, c/o West DRIVE GOALS 7,500 4,950 1,200 1,100 250 in Morgantown where coal miner and SWP Vrrginia Civil Liberties Union, Box 1509, TO BE ON SCHEDULE 2,143 29% 1,414 343 314 71 candidate for state attorney general Oay Charleston, W.Va. 25323.

April-13, ·1990 The Militant 9 Indian Congress rallies in Sout

BY GREG McCARTAN "Lenasia was forced upon the people as a demand the Group Areas Act and other such minority or group rights. LEN ASIA, South Africa- "This is a his­ result of the evil policies of apartheid, a legislation be scrapped. "It is surprising that when we do not even toric day. This is the first time the organiza­ diabolical policy of apartheid which sought Government figures have repeatedly de­ enjoy the most basic democratic rights today, tion that is going to lead our people to free­ to crush the economic life of the Indian fended maintaining "group rights" in the we are asked to give certain guarantees to dom is being introduced to us here. And that community," Kathrada said in his address. country. In an interview with the Sowetan, those who rule over us." is the African National Congress!" said a The ANC leader explained that the Indian de Klerk rejected one-person, one-vote be­ The ANC "rejects forthrightly the notion leader of the Transvaal Indian Congress in people residing in Lenasia had been forcibly cause "it would not protect the rights of of group rights," Sisulu said. He explained opening a rally of 10,000 here. removed from Johannesburg and that "under minorities," meaning whites. He stressed that that de Klerk advances these proposals in The day-long event in this Indian commu­ the Group Areas Act the government has each group had to keep its "own history, order to "prevent the full democratization of nity began with performances of traditional destroyed many, many established commu­ tradition, and origins." our society. They talk about 'group rights' so African and Indian dance and song. nities in South Africa." In addition, the government recently an­ that some of their economic and social priv­ In an interview prior to the rally, Firoz The Group Areas Act was adopted in 1950. nounced with great fanfare a new budget in ileges could be left intact." Cachalia, press officer of the Transvaal In­ One of the cornerstones of the apartheid which more funds are made available for The ANC is fighting for a government t1 t dian Congress, said the day's events and the system, it is still in force today. The legislation education and housing for Blacks. A South guarantees "to every individual, irrespective speeches by the ANC leaders are important set up segregated areas in cities, towns, and African fmance minister said, "Yes, we are of color, creed, sex, religion, or class, certain because "the unbanning of the ANC makes the countryside for residential living, com­ taking from the rich to give to the poor." He basic human rights." These include, he ex­ it possible for us to start to rebuild the legal mercial activity, and industry. Lenasia is just added, 'That is the only way to fight the plained, the rights to "freedom of speech, structures of the ANC within the country." one example of how residential areas across African National Congress and socialism." association, expression, organization, and Banned by the apartheid regime in 1960, the country are divided into "white" cities, movement." These rights are denied the vast the ANC has had to function as an under­ and separate Indian, Coloured, and African Sisulu argued against both of these gov­ majority in South Africa today. ground and exile organization. Other anti­ towns. ernment initiatives. "It is strange," he said, "We are talking about bringing under str~ apartheid organizations and coalitions arose, While those classified by the apartheid that those who have persistently failed to control the major monopolies, fmancial in­ which support the ANC and the Freedom regime as Indian and Coloured enjoy some satisfy the rights of the majority for centuries stitutions, and mines." Only in this way will Charter, the guiding document of the libera­ rights not held by those classified as Africans, are the first to call for the protection of enough resources be generated to "cater for tion struggle. together all three groups constitute the op­ The Transvaal Indian Congress, for exam­ pressed Black population. Blacks make up ple, is an affiliate of the anti-apartheid coali­ 85 percent of all people in South Africa. tion, the United Democratic Front. There are 1 million Indians. Many are With the ANC now unbanned, these orga­ descendants of indentured laborers brought Sharpeville massacr nizations are discussing the best way to re­ from the Indian subcontinent to work on the organize the liberation movement ~side sugar plantations. BY GREG McCARTAN Located on the outskirts of the "whites only" South Africa. The mass rally here was organ­ While Lenasia is economically better off THABONG TOWNSHIP, South Africa­ city of Welcom, the area is in the heart of the ized so activists could hear the thinking of than most African townships, every Indian, Heavily armed South African police blocked mining industry in the Orange Free State. the ANC leadership on such questions. like most of the Black population, has a social this township's main road with yellow security Gold mines, in which tens of thousands of The membership of the Lenasia Youth and legal status that denies them equality with vans and trucks, halting a march of several miners work, surround the city. League, Women's Congress, and Student any white person - no matter how rich or hundred trade unionists. Congress is primarily Indian, "but this is an poor. The members of the South African Com­ Thabong Youth Congress unfortunate result of apartheid," Cachalia ex­ "One of the aims of apartheid," Kathrada mercial, Catering, and Allied Workers Union The rally, organized by the Thabong You111 plained. "The policy of these organizations told the rally, "was to keep the different had marched from a nearby industrial park Congress, was addressed by student, union, is clearly nonracial and open to all." sections of the people in South Africa apart to participate in the local commemoration of and community leaders. The students, on Two high school students, both members from one another, so that they do not know the Sharpeville massacre. On March 21, strike at the seven local schools, participated of the Lenasia Student Congress, were ex­ each other." The regime "went out of its way 1960, 69 peaceful demonstrators were killed in large numbers. The strike was organized cited about the day's events. "We have been to sow suspicion and hatred of one another." to press for the release of 11 anti-apartheid fighting for the ANC to be able to have an Scoring the regime's attempt to pin the activists detained by the local police nearly office and operate openly," said Mohammed blame on the ANC for unrest throughout the two weeks ago. Most are student activists and Vally. Sunta Nlego agreed and added, "We country, Kathrada explained the unrest "is a members of the Youth Congress. Hundre_.; need to educate people more and let them direct result of the policies of apartheid. Until of other activists have also been detained know about the Freedom Charter." apartheid is abolished," he said, "this type of around the country after a crackdown an­ unrest will continue." nounced by the minister of law and order, Longtime leader Adriaan Vlok. Ahmed Kathrada, one of the main speakers 'Join the ANC' at the rally, was welcomed by cheers and The rally also marked the first day of a The ANC stalwart concluded by encour­ boycott of white-owned businesses, an acfion chants of "Viva!" A longtime leader of the aging "people who are present here and all aimed at freeing the detainees. Normally bu~v Indian Congress and the ANC, Kathrada was over South Africa to join the ANC in their stores stood nearly empty in shopping cente. s released from prison with Walter Sisulu and thousands to strengthen this organization be­ other ANC leaders late last year. around the city. The decision to begin the cause this is the only one that will lead our boycott was taken by a committee made up country to a free, nonracial South Africa." of students, unionists, and community leaders The United Democratic Front's publicity after the students began their strike. The secretary, Patrick Lekota, told the rally, "crisis committee" also called a two-day "Since before 1910 the masses of our people work stoppage for the following week if the demanded of the whites in South Africa that detainees were not released. there could never be a future unless that future was a common one, guided by a government Millions strike on 30th anniversary that represented Black and white alike." The 1960 Sharpeville massacre marked a The decision by the regime to take steps line drawn in blood by the regime in its toward such a future represents a victory of attempts to consolidate the apartheid system. the struggle against apartheid, he said. "We Following the massacre, 22,000 people were are still ready to say to white South Africans, detained and the Unlawful Organisations Act •We have not lost confidence in your capacity was passed. The act was used to outlaw the to search for a common future,"' he said to African National Congress and the P 1 loud cheers. Africanist Congress. The ANC launched the Lekota challenged the anti-apartheid fight­ armed struggle against the apartheid govern­ ers at the rally to "not wear the colors of the ment shortly thereafter. movement like a crown but to strengthen the On the 30th anniversary of the massacre, movement on a daily basis by winning new millions of workers in major cities such as men and women to it." Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban did not This issue of New International focuses report for work. Press reports indicate the on the revolutionary struggle in South Sisulu addresses rally cities were virtually shut down. Africa, its impact throughout southern The Lenasia rally was one of the many In a township near Johannesburg the ANC Africa and worldwide, and the tasks of such mass meetings being held across the held a rally of 50,000. Addressing the event, opponents of apartheid in the labor country. Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, ANC leader Walter Sisulu paid tribute to "our movement internationally. Kathrada, and other ANC leaders released heroes who paid a heavy price for freedom." The feature article, The Coming Militant/Margrethe Siem March 21 is "a day we will never forget, from jail have addressed hundreds of thou­ Students rally in Thabong township to Revolution in South Africa by Jack when our people were killed in cold blood," sands at such events over the past few months. press for release of 11 anti-apartheid ac­ Barnes, discusses the national, democratic he said. "We should insure that this massacre Sisulu told the Lenasia rally, "You, like the tivists detained by local police. never happens again." revolution to overthrow the South African vast majority of Africans and so-called Col­ apartheid regime and establish a nonracial oureds, have been subjected to one of the In some areas police fired on crowds at democratic republic. most inhuman systems of oppression and by police in Sharpeville, near Johannesburg, commemoration events. In one city 49 were Also included: exploitation. And it is our common experi­ during a protest against pass laws. The laws injured when police used bird shot, tear gas, • The Freedom Charter ence of inequality, poverty, race discrimina­ controlled the movement of Africans in the and rubber bullets to disperse a rally. • The Future Belongs to the Majority, a tion, humiliation, exploitation, and violence country. Here a member of the National Union of message by African National Congress that have brought our people and their polit­ In this year's observance, the unionists Mineworkers was killed by racists who at­ President Oliver Tambo ical organs into fighting unity." were allowed to proceed following negotia­ tacked Blacks outside a shopping area. 1be • Why Cuban Volunteers Are in The Freedom Charter, adopted by a broad tions between the police and union represen­ miner, Mnikelo Ldamse, lived in a hostel ; Angola, three speeches by Cuban conference in 1955 and championed by the tatives. a local mine. When he and his follow hostel President Fidel Castro · ANC, declares, "South Africa belongs to all Arriving at the community center here, the dwellers and union members learned of an who live in it, Black and white, and that no union members packed in the hall, which was attack taking place they marched to the union Send $5 to New lntemational, 410 West Street, government can justly claim authority unless already filled with 2,000 singing students and office. Upon their return to the hostel, the New York, N.Y. 10014 it is based on the will of the people." The other township residents. The rally was the union steward said, "other Blacks at the shop ANC and other anti-apartheid organizations start of an eventful day in the township. there were beaten and punched and kicked.

10 The Militant April13, 1990 h Africa

the most basic needs of the oppressed, work­ ing people," Sisulu said. Blacks need housing, as hundreds of thou­ r.,nds are homeless and are forced "to live in squatter camps," he pointed out. Sisulu said nationalization was also needed to provide education, medical attention, and other social welfare facilities for all. "We must unite to build one nation, in one South Africa," he added. To press forward its demands and to es­ t,.blish a publicly functioning mass organiza­ uun inside the country, the ANC has begun to open regional offices. These offices will accept membership applications and begin organizing local ANC branches. Sisulu called on "South Africans of Indian origin - as I do to all oppressed people - to join the ranks of the ANC. "I say without fear of contradiction," he concluded, "that the ANC is the voice of the Militant/Margrethe Siem oppressed. It is the strength of the exploited. Transvaal Indian Congress and African National Congress rally of 10,000 in Lenasia, South Africa. Longtime leader of Indian Congress It is the future of all South Africans." and ANC, Ahmed Kathrada, called on all to "join the ANC" in their thousands. e marked, detentions protested in Thabong Unfortunately, this comrade of ours was ised the detainees would be released and be assessed. The meeting agreed not to ask with the Militant. caught by the thugs and killed." allowed to return home. Upon hearing the the students to end their strike until then. ''Two weeks ago the security police carne news, some in the meeting urged the students The committee then pledged to support by our homes and told us we were being taken The steward said Ldamse was a loyal and to go back to school. Since the victory had any union action calling for the arrest of those under the security regulations. No reason was disciplined member of the NUM who dedi­ been won, they said, the students must now responsible for the killing of Ldamse. given for our arrests," said Erant Tsimatsirna, cated his life to the struggle of the African return to their classes in order to continue . a Thabong Youth Congress member. people. The miner was from the Transkei their education . A victory scored In prison the detainees went on a hunger .omeland." The student leaders explained that when At the end of the meeting an announce­ strike demanding their freedom. One had to Later that evening the crisis committee met they decided to strike they pledged they ment was made that the detainees had arrived be taken to a hospital. to hear a report from a delegation sent to Cape would not return to their classes until "we in the township. A cheer went up and the Another of the detainees said the boycott Town to speak with Vlok. The delegation's had seen the detainees with our own eyes." meeting was concluded. was effective "because some whites were purpose was to "secure the unconditional While they could ask the students to return The next morning students from all seven against our detentions. The boycott helped release of our comrades," said Pakarnisa to school, most would refuse, they said. township schools carne together and held a pressure others to see that we were released." Mafuna, who was part of the delegation. The A representative of the NUM suggested mass victory march. They circled the police The victory "is due to the support of the meeting also assessed the next stage in the that another meeting be held the following station and went up and down the township's people of Thabong" concluded another de­ l-..mpaign to free the detainees. day to see if the detainees were in fact re­ streets. At an impromptu press conference, tainee. The released leaders then went to greet The delegation reported that Vlok prom- leased, at which point the student strike could the detainees gathered at a church and spoke and address the student celebration. i. Township leader: 'Mass organizations on offensive'

. Y RICH PALSER dation," Mayekiso said. "A whole family of block and then street committees. formed. Yard, block, street, and area commit­ ALEXANDRA TOWNSHIP, South Af­ 12 may live in one room." "We were prompted to have these grass­ tees feed into the executive committee. The rica -Residents of this Black township in Like other Black townships scattered roots structures by problems that were expe­ leadership body also includes delegates from northern Johannesburg are supporting 400 around the major cities, Alexandra carne into rienced by our people," Mayekiso said. "First the large men's and women's hostels located striking workers of the PUTCO bus company. being as a result of Africans being forced off of all, people had problems paying the rents in the township. A Women's Congress, Youth The workers struck demanding the dismissal the land into rural areas by the apartheid and, secondly, with high unemployment in Congress, and Student Congress have also of the bus depot's divisional manager because regime. Deprived of any means of making a the township and the crime rate." More than been formed, and all four organizations are of his racist remarks and antiunion attitude. living, many moved to urban centers seeking half the residents are today unemployed. affiliated to the UDF. ' 1though the manager has now resigned, the work. There they were housed in barrack -like "Our target was to form the ACOin August strike continues. Workers are demanding they single-sex hostels, sleeping in bunks eight or 1986, but unfortunately all our activists were Back on the offensive be paid for the time they were on strike. 10 to a room. "The people said: We can't live detained, including ourselves, under the state The people's organizations are now back Residents of Alexandra township rely al­ like animals; we have to stay with our fam­ of emergency that was declared in June on the offensive. They are fighting govern­ most entirely on bus and minivan taxis for ilies," Mayekiso said. "Most of them erected 1986." ment plans to privatize houses, hostels, and transportation to and from work. The strike shacks. At that time it was a challenge to the Mayekiso spent two years in prison during flats. The ACO is waging a campaign for means they must rise early for work, wait in white government. That is how the townships the state of emergency. He, along with other "affordable housing for all." The community long lines for taxis, and run the risk of notice carne into being." leaders of the Action Committee, was is also demanding that those serving in the ~ing served for arriving late to work. Despite Under laws such as the Group Areas Act, charged with treason, subversion, and sedi­ Black local authority town council resign. t111s inconvenience, support for the strike is the apartheid regime has created white-only tion. The allegations centered on the estab­ Mayekiso believes that building strong solid. cities surrounded by Black, Coloured, and lishment of "organs of people's power"­ community organizations is an important part "We had a meeting of the residents and the Indian townships throughout the country. popular mass organizations in the township of combating agents of the regime who workers," community leaders Mzwanele Today the influx continues from the rural through which the community was organ­ spread rumors and instigate fighting in the Mayekiso and Paul Tshabalala explained. areas, including immigrant workers from as ized. townships. In nearby Katlehong a war be­ "The workers explained their problems to the far away as Mozambique. tween rival taxi associations has erupted, community. The community said: Your prob­ "There are people coming from the rural Challenge to authorities resulting in the death of scores of people. lems are our problems." areas who don't have residency rights," May­ "The government felt it was a challenge Fighting has also broken out in several other A petition was drafted and handed to man­ ekiso said. "The Black local authorities [the to its authority, that the setting up of these townships. agement and a boycott of PUTCO buses township governing bodies set up by the organs actually undermined the government. "At first the violence wasn't politically called. To try and undermine that support, apartheid regime] see them as aliens who are To a certain extent it was true, because the motivated. But of late we feel that there is a management took out a half-page advertise­ not supposed to stay in the townships. But government wasn't addressing the people's motive behind it -to undermine steps taken ment in the March 16 Johannesburg Star. they have to, so they erect shacks." problems." by our movement, the African National Con­ Mayekiso and Tshabalala are both execu­ There are now two types of shacks in During that period the police repression in gress, to have a political settlement that is tive members of the Alexandra Civic Or­ Alexandra: official corrugated iron "houses" the township grew. "There were massacres, negotiated with the regime," Mayekiso ex­ ganisation (ACO), which is part of the anti­ and the unofficial makeshift shacks built by· police killing our people here in Alexandra. plained. c..-artheid coalition, the United Democratic the people themselves. In one "unofficial" We had two mass funerals in 1986," May­ Often rumors are spread by agent-provo­ Front (UDF). yard we were introduced to Joseph, a member ekiso said. cateurs that hostel dwellers are about to attack of the yard committee. He told us that when Those on trial for treason were acquitted other township residents. When this hap­ Lack of accommodation they first built their shacks, there were no in April1989. They saw the trial as an attempt pened in Alexandra last week, the ACO or­ Alexandra township has a population of toilets and only one tap. They organized and to intimidate and isolate the leadership from ganized meetings with the residents and then around 200,000 living in an area of just over won hessian-screened bucket toilets and now the people of the township. While the com­ with the hostel dwellers and made it clear two square miles. No electricity, hot water, have three taps on either side of the yard. The munity leaders were in prison, the regime that no such attack had been planned. The or flush toilets have been provided for most drainage, however, still consists of an open built some new housing. "But the ordinary ACO is also working towards having a single ( lhe residents. The government also refuses gutter nmning through the yard. workers can't afford it," Mayekiso explained. taxi association in the township. to provide other basic services. Walking The ACO, although officially launched in The authorities "built flats but wouldn't rent "The release of our leaders and the un­ around the dirt streets and yards - a com­ December 1989, first carne into being as the them. They made people buy them. Their banning of the organizations has mobilized mon open area shared by a group of shacks Alexandra Action Committee in 1986. The strategy hasn't solved anything. After our our people very much. Many people felt that -we carne across piles of uncollected gar­ group began organizing committees of resi­ release the people said: Now you are back, the release of Mandela meant freedom to bage and pools of stagnant water. "The basic dents in each yard (consisting of around 15 the struggle must continue." them," Mayekiso said. "But it doesn't mean complaint of our people is lack of accommo- families), who in turn elected delegates to a In December 1989 the ACO was fmally freedom. We still have a long ways to go.

April 13, 1990 The Militant 11 Fidel Castro denounces TV Marti Continued from front page dated." continue and can be heard throughout the not only capital, but capitalists, business­ news agency ACAN-EFE if the dispute could This is not the first time the U.S. govern­ island. men." Castro pointed to Poland and described turn into an anned conflict, Castro replied, ment has illegally broadcast over Cuban air­ In response to questions about what actions the strong disagreements between Solidarity "Anything can happen. When we look at how waves. In 1985 the Reagan administration Cuba plans to take, Castro stated, "We reserve leader Lech Walesa and Prime Minister absurd all of this is, we have thought pethaps began Radio Marti, an AM station. In protest the right to respond if the broadcasts con­ Tadeusz Mazowiecki as "almost a war." At the United States is seeking a pretext for a the Cuban government suspended an immi­ tinue," referring to both Radio and TV Marti. the same time, he said, resistance to their military confrontation. gration agreement with the United States If the U. S. government transmits over policies is breaking out, noting a strike at the "We are not looking for a fight," the Cuban signed a few months earlier, but has not Cuban airwaves, then Cuba has "the right to Gdansk shipyard. "Now there is a new soli­ leader stressed. "But we will not be intimi- interfered with the broadcasts, which still also broadcast to all of the territory of the darity, Solidarity-SO," he said, "which ac­ United States," he said. cuses Walesa and the government of carrying "We have no desire to disrupt U.S. radio out an austerity program that the people will stations," Castro added. "But we did not not stand for." create this problem. We cannot allow the "This is a very interesting phenomenon," United States to broadcast to us forever, while Castro noted. The imperialist "first world" we do not broadcast to them." has made building capitalism in the socialist Reporters raised wide-ranging questions. countries their number one priority, he stated. The correspondent from the Mexican daily "We will see what comes out of all of this." Excelsior said that "progressive forces in Castro predicted that the "triumphalism" Mexico" were concluding that Castro was of imperialism will be short-lived. losing prestige and was retrograde. She asked He pointed to uncontrollable inflation in him to comment. Latin America, malnutrition, rising illiteracy, "Does the empire exist or not?" Castro high rates of infant mortality, and the millions replied. "What do these progressive Mexi­ of abandoned children roaming the streets. cans say? Against whom does the U.S. empire "Capitalism is not going to solve these focus all its force, all its hostility, all its problems. It has no future," he stated. threats, all its machinery? There is no need for pessimism, Castro "Against Cuba and no one else," Castro concluded. The underdeveloped nations are stated. "If at any time in all of its history Cuba a seething volcano. "The people are going to deserves respect, recognition, and admira­ respond to all the problems they face," he tion, it is now more than ever." said. "Once again the revolutionary and pro­ Referring to the Mexican journalist's com­ gressive movements will raise their heads and ment that Castro appeared "tired and disap­ their morale." pointed," he replied, "Those who are disap­ pointed or tired out are those who at one time considered themselves progressives. Meeting in Iceland "What does it mean to be progressive today?" he asked. "To be on the side ofCuba? celebrates book Or on the side of the United States?'' Those who criticize Cuba would be better off "deepening their own ideology and rec­ by Fidel Castro ognizing the contribution Cuba is making to the revolution at this special moment." BY OTT6 MASSON REYKJAViK, Iceland- Cuban leader 'Cuba is a symbol' Fidel Castro's writings were celebrated here In the midst of a difficult situation in the last month at a meeting sponsored by the world, "today Cuba is the symbol of resis­ Pathfinder bookstore and the Cuba-Iceland tance, revolutionary principles, and the de­ Friendship Association. fense of socialism," Castro continued. Pathfmder Press in New York has pub­ "There are confused people," he added. lished a collection of four speeches Castro "But you have to ask yourself: What is pro­ gave at the time of the 30th anniversary gressive that is left in these people?" . celebration of . the 1959 Cuban revolution. . Trabajadores/Jorge Paez Under the title In Defense of Socialism, the Demonstration in Havana on February 1 to protest US. attack on Cuban ship A West German TV reporter asked what connection existed between Washington's at­ book takes up central questions faced by the titude towards Cuba and the events in Nica­ Cuban revolution now, including the tasks of ragua and Panama. improving, developing, and defending so­ "The government of the United States is cialism in the face of new challenges. Panama after U.S. invasion euphoric, not just because of what has taken It was to discuss Castro's ideas that 50 place in Eastern Europe," Castro said. "They people - industrial workers, students, a Continued from Page 15 nomic interests of the U.S. empire. They want feel like they own the world." group of child-care workers planning a study "Here we are letting the oppressor come into to use Panama as platform from which they tour to Cuba, and supporters and readers of The "dirty" war against Nicaragua, the our country and congratulating them for in­ can dominate and control the area of Central theMilitant - attended the event, which was vading us." America and the Caribbean." invasion of Panama, and the events in Eastern addressed by five speakers. Europe have all served to strengthen the "I think the invasion was a necessary evil." Blandon is the vice-president of the Oil Amado Rivero, head of the Havana-based Cuban people's consciousness, he said. "We "Maybe the means were not the best, but the Workers Union in Colon. The union orga­ Nordic section of the Cuban Institute for have learned that a revolution cannot make end was good." "Now the U.S. forces will nizes the workers at the Panama Refinery, Friendship Among the Peoples, emphasized concessions to its enemies, because that is have to stay to fmish what they have begun." the only enterprise in the country dedicated one of Castro's themes in the book. The the road to surrender. "It. was the only way to normalize things in to the processing and sale of oil products. rectification process going on in Cuba since "For a revolution to strong and invin­ this country." These were some of the com­ The oil is refined for Texaco. There are 500 be 1986 shows, Rivero said, "how it is possible cible it must be authentic," the Cuban presi­ ments made by other students. workers at the plant; 306 are members of the within our system to better the conditions of union. Blandon is an operator at the plant. dent continued. "Nobody gave us the revo­ the people without resorting to the methods • While there have been no firings at the lution. Nobody loaned it to us, nor was it and style of capitalism." He pointed out that "We have to admit that many people here refinery, oil workers have joined others to imported. We made it ourselves. That's why the book contains the key texts in the struggle saw the invasion as a good thing," said Luis protest the unfair firings of public workers you shouldn't mix us up with any other today to build socialism in Cuba. Amaya, general secretary of the labor feder­ and of the workers at the Port of Cristobal. political process." Central to the rectification process is deep­ ation CfRP in Colon. "Under the old regime, Sixteen workers were unjustly fired from the Castro went into more detail on Panama. ening the role of Cuba's working people in for example, state workers were not paid on port following the invasion. There did not exist a revolution in Panama, the revolution and the reestablishment of time, sometimes 20 or 30 days would go by "We expect firings to take place here as he noted. "It was a nationalist struggle. They voluntary labor as a means to overcome ur­ before they got their paychecks. Anyone who well," Blandon said, "because we understand were demanding their right to the canal and gent social needs like day care and housing. spoke against the government would get a that while yesterday's government was not to remove the U.S. troops." Bjartrnar Jonsson, a young Icelandic worker call and would be threatened." for the workers, today's government is less The leaders in Panama were professional who had participated in a Cuban voluntary Amaya and a group of trade unionists from so. This government follows the orders of the military men, Castro explained. They had a work brigade last year, expressed his admi­ Colon gathered at the CfRP hall on March United States to a greater degree and will "totally mistaken strategy. If they had had a ration for the Cuban revolution, telling the 9 to discuss the current situation facing work­ attempt to break those unions that have main­ revolutionary philosophy and experience, audience, "Every politically conscious per­ ing people there and their opinions on the tained a fighting and independent position." combat would still be occurring there." son in the world has to know about Cuba." invasion. "What we face here is a confused people," Revolutions change things, Castro said. Pritz Dullay of the African National Con­ "I believe that is the reason why on De­ explained the oil workers' union leader, "but "And the deeper the revolution, the stronger gress office in Copenhagen, Denmark, spoke cember 20, people did not take to the streets we are filled with optimism, because the it becomes." of the role of the Cuban revolution in helping like they did on January 9," continued Panamanian people who applauded the inva­ Near the end of the press conference, Cas­ bring about the current advances in the free­ Amaya. "Though people were armed they sion for reasons of confusion and frustration, tro was asked by a Spanish reporter if Cuba's dom struggle in southern Africa. "The Cuban did not use their arms against the U.S. invad­ tomorrow will be demanding that their prob­ policy of resistance to imperialism at all costs people," he said, "have extended material, ers because they were resentful of the gov­ lems be solved. And I see no way that these was "suicidal?" Wouldn't it be better to be financial, and moral support to our struggle." ernment." On Jan. 9, 1964, massive protests problems will be resolved." "flexible?" he asked. He pointed to the thousands of young Afri­ favoring Panamanian sovereignty took place Panama faces the same problems that are cans who have been educated in Cuba, many in the Canal Zone. U.S. troops killed 23 faced by the rest of the world, said Blandon, 'Wave of pessimism'? of them from the now independent country Panamanians on that date. "the same problem faced by Guatemala, by A reporter from Mexico spoke of a "wave of Namibia. "But by now many are lamenting the in­ Nicaragua, by El Salvador. We have a noose of pessimism" and a certain "political earth­ Also speaking at the event were Reykjavik vasion," said Amaya. "Because all that was around our necks: the foreign debt." quake" in reference to Eastern Europe and Pathfinder bookstore representative Gretar accomplished was the replacement of a social "People in Panama asked for a change and the defeats in Panama and Nicaragua. "Who Kristjansson and Catharina Trrsen, a repre­ layer that was governing the country with an they got it," Blandon pointed out. "But given will be left standing after all of this?" she sentative of the publisher's outlet in Sweden. elite that represents the privileged classes the arrests, the firings, and what is coming asked. Tirsen related how the most recent work here." ahead, they will rise up again. And if on "With the changes in Eastern Europe," brigade of Swedes to Cuba had invited a "I believe that the end of the invasion was December 20 they only bombed some neigh­ Castro replied, the imperialists "hope to young Cuban woman to conduct a speaking a political one," explained Humberto Blan­ borhoods like El Chorrillo, next time they transform the socialist countries into new tour of Sweden. Hundreds turned out to hear d6n. ''They wanted to impose on us a docile will have to bomb the whole city, the whole capitalist countries. This will not be easy." Rosita Gonzliles, convincing her that the government that would answer to the eco- country, and kill us all." "To create capitalism," he said, "you need Cuban revolution was not isolated.

12 The Militant April13, 1990 'All I could see of TV Marti were gray lines,' Tablada says

BY SELVA NEBBIA launching TV Marti is to better inform the NEW YORK- When Cuban economist people of Cuba, the Cuban economist ex­ Carlos Tablada arrived from Havana at the plained. "In fact, Cuban television broadcasts Miami airport at midnight March 30, he and more foreign programs than are shown on other passengers from Cuba were immedi­ U.S. television," he noted. We show pro­ ately approached by seven or eight reporters. grams from 26 different countries. Almost 70 "They wanted to know if I had seen TV percent of our programming is foreign. Marti." Tablada explained in an interview in "Last year alone, we showed 288 U.S. New York on April 1. TV Marti, the anti­ films," Tablada explained. If they want to, he Cuban U.S. station, attempted to broadcast said, "Cubans can even watch Walt Disney for the first time on March 27. cartoons." 'Press was bewildered' Cuban television has been open to signing "I told them yes I had turned on my TV at contracts with U.S. television networks for dawn, because I usually get up very early in further programming, said Tablada. "We al­ the morning," explained the Cuban econo­ ready have signed a contract with CNN net­ Militant/Monica Jones mist, who is in the United States for a 12-city work. I watch a CNN news program, for Cuban economist and author Carlos Thblada speaking in lbronto, 1989. tour. "Then they asked me what it was that I example, called 'World Reports."' saw on the screen. Much to their bewilder­ "Another cause for indignation," Tablada ment I told them that all you could see were continued, "is that they have used the name horizontal gray lines and there was no of our national hero Jose Marti to name the Eastern striker welcomes sound." "I explained to them that, from what I had read in the Cuban press, on the first day that 'TV Marti is deplorable Cuban author to Pittsburgh the United States began sending the TV Marti because no country signal, it took the Cuban engineers only 10 BY STEVE MARSHALL and a daily paper from nearby Erie covered minutes to focus in and jam the transmis­ has the right to PITTSBURGH- A Machinists union of­ Tablada's visit. sion," Tablada pointed out. "On the second ficial on strike against Eastern Airlines gave Participants in the two meetings bought day it took only six minutes, and on the fourth occupy the broadcast Carlos Tablada "a wann welcome to this eight copies of Tablada's book on Guevara. day - the day before my departure - it airspace of another.' country" on the first day of his speaking tour The next stop on the Cuban author's tour took only three. The third day - from what of the United States. will be Washington, D.C. There the tour will I have heard- the United States had prob­ Tablada, a Cuban economist and author, open with a breakfast briefing on Capitol Hill lems with the balloon and did not transmit at station. You see, Marti was the ftrst of the launched his six-week tour April3 with pub­ April 5 with congressional aides and staff. all. anti-imperialists the world has known. In his lic forums at colleges in Pittsburgh and Later on that day he will give a talk at the writings he stated that one of the reasons he Edinboro, Pennsylvania. He is the author of Institute for Policy Studies. TV Marti is deplorable was fighting for Cuba's independence against Che Guevara: Economics and Politics in the On April 6, following a talk at American "I think that this transmission of TV Marti Spain was to prevent the United States from Transition to Socialism, published in English University, there will be a reception and a is truly deplorable," he said. "It goes against taking over Cuba and the rest of Latin Amer­ by Pathfinder. public meeting for Tablada at the Washington all the concepts of human rights because no ica." country has the right to occupy the broadcast Frank Planinac, president of the Interna­ Peace Center. 250,000 thousand books tional Association of Machinists Local Lodge Tablada will then head for Los Angeles airspace of another." (April 8-14); Price (April16) and Salt Lake Tablada explained that Cuba has 13 chan­ Tablada is the author of Che Guevara: 1044, told the crowd of 140 at the University Economics and Politics in the Transition to of Pittsburgh that he has "learned some things City (April ,17), Utah; San Francisco-Oak­ nels, .and .the channel used by TV Marti is Socialism, published in English by Pathfinder about Cuba." He gave examples of Cuba's land Bay Area (April 18-22); Greensboro, already taken up by Tele Rebelde, one of North Carolina (April 24); Chicago (April Cuba's. two national television networks. last year. First published in Havana in 1987, emphasis on health and education, which 250,000 copies of the book have been sold demonstrate "the respect they have for their 26); Boston (April27-May 1); western Mas­ Cuba Vision is the other national network. sachusetts (May 2); and New York (May Washington says one of the reasons for so far in Cuba. Editions of the book have also people." been published in Spanish in Argentina and 'These are people who believe in and 6-13). Mexico and in Italian. Editions of the book practice solidarity with other people," said in Portuguese, Russian, and French are to be the unionist. "And Cuba's role in Angola, Special offer published soon, Tablada said. And there are defeating the racist South African anny, is plans to put out the book in Czech, Bulgarian, something other people should support and and German. learn from." Books on Cuba from Pathfinder Planinac closed his greetings with a dual Tablada explained that when he ftrst wrote appeal that drew loud applause: "End the the book on Guevara's economic thought, the blockade of Cuba!" and "don't fly Eastern or Che Guevara: Economics and audience he had in mind were the people of Continental!" Planinac was one of five East­ Politics in the Transition to Cuba and its youth. "I felt that perhaps the em strikers at the meeting. book would also be valuable in other socialist Socialism • by Carlos Tablada. countries as well," he said. Tablada's appearance in Pittsburgh was A comprehensive look at the contri­ But given the popularity the book has had hosted by a dozen organizations, including butions to building socialism by Che in Latin America, Tablada pointed out, "I the Democratic Socialists of America, Na­ Guevara from 1959 to 1966, when realized that Che 's ideas are very relevant for tional Lawyers Guild, Pathfmder Bookstore, he played a central role in reorganiz­ Latin America, and also for the world as a Thomas Merton Center, and several campus ing Cuba's industry and economy. whole." groups and departments. $16.95 Dennis Brutus, a South African poet who Special offer until May 15: $14.95 "I think that the book will be of great chairs the university's Black studies depart­ interest in the United States as well," said ment, opened the meeting with a welcome to Che Guevara and the Cuban Tablada. "It will help people here - not only the school. Greetings were read from city Revolution • by Ernesto Che in the academic circles, but among workers council member James Ferlo. Mark Gins­ Guevara. also -to understand the reality of the Cuban burg, director of the Institute for International revolution. Features his speeches and writings on Studies in Education, introduced the Cuban "I think this is especially important given economic development and creation speaker. the defamation campaign that is being pro­ of new social consciousness, and on After his talk on Guevara and the fight for moted against Cuba today," explained Cuba's commitment to freedom strug­ socialism in Cuba today, Tablada fielded Tablada. "For instance, the U.S. media has gles in Asia, Mrica, and the Ameri­ questions from the audience. said little about Fidel Castro's recent visit to cas. $13.95 Save uver 20o/o Have the events in Eastern Europe made Brazil. There he received a great welcome Three-book and was interviewed by all the TV networks. Cuba more vulnerable and isolated? he was In Defense of Socialism • by asked. Tablada explained that Cuba's princi­ package Fidel Castro. "Fidel even had to stay in Brazil longer pled internationalism has earned it respect $38.9& value Key to understanding the stakes in than planned because of the many invitations throughout the world, from the Soviet Union Cuba's rectification process. Is eco­ he received to speak from religious groups, and Africa to the United Nations, where Cuba nomic progress possible without the now only trade unions, and other organizations. He was was recently elected to the Security Council invited to visit Rio de Janeiro by the governor by the largest vote in UN history. dog-eat-dog methods of capitalism? $7.95 $29.95 of the state and by business organizations. Yet the people of the United States heard Other discussion topics included Cuban nothing of this. immigration to the United States, Cuban Lihros en Espaiiol Until May 15 President Fidel Castro's tenure and the nature "Washington says Cuba is isolated in the of democracy in Cuba, the extent of Cuba's El pensamiento economico de world, but that is not so," continued Tablada. dependence on trade with the Soviet Union, Ernesto Che Guevara por "They don't want the people of the United last summer's trial of corrupt military and Carlos Tablada. $11.95 States to see what is really happening in Cuba. government officials, and the current rectifi­ Precio especial: $9.95 luuta el 15 de Available from Pathfinder book­ That is why my tour and the book on cation process taking place in the country. mayo. stores listed on page 1 6, or by mail Guevara's economic thought can help the Earlier in the day Max Azicri, a Cuban­ from Pathfinder, 410 West St., New people here to understand how we think and born professor at Edinboro University of El socialismo y el hombre por York, N.Y. 10014. Please include what we are doing." Pennsylvania, introduced Tablada to 70 peo­ Ernesto Che Guevara. $2.50 $1 per book postage and handling. Tablada's tour opened in Pittsburgh on ple at a meeting there. Two television stations April 2 and will continue until May 13.

April 13, 1990 The Militant 13 Millions challenge bureaucratic rule demanding justice, democratic rights

BY PETER THIERJUNG have gained ground. Parties and organiza­ (First in a series) tions independent of the Stalinist parties' grip Unleashing decades of pent-up anger and have been legalized. The formidable political frustration, millions across Eastern Europe police apparatuses that pervaded everyday took to the streets in the closing months of life have been dealt blows. the 1980s. Under the banners oflittle-known In Bulgaria the government was forced to opposition coalitions and fronts, they defied reverse policies that denied the Turkish mi­ decrees, truncheons, and bullets. nority their customs and religious rites and They demanded justice and democratic required Turks to take Slavic names. In Ro­ Hundreds of thousands of Czechoslovaks joined marches to demand democratic rights and asserted their dignity. Each protest mania, barbarous laws criminalizing abortion rights. Millions participated in a countrywide protest strike November 27. revealed greater determination and confi­ and birth control have been lifted. dence. Demonstrators laid siege to the re­ As censorship and border restrictions have gimes of the Stalinist parties that had lorded been loosened, the Stalinist-led regimes' en­ sive use of capitalist market mechanisms in and opposition groups won decisive victories over them through bureaucratic decree and forced isolation of working people from the the nationalized economies as the solution to in the Soviet republics of Byelorussia and the totalitarian rule since the 1940s. world has begun to break down. Freedom for the failure of bureaucratic planning and eco­ Ukraine. A coalition called Rukh captured The 1980s began with the massive worker­ artistic, academic, and political expression nomic management. about a third of the seats in the Ukrainian led revolt in Poland which involved farmers, has opened up. Numerous crimes of the CP­ Despite the attempts to refurbish their parliament and was swept into office in a students, and many other sectors of society. led regimes - from their forced collectiviza­ image, these political parties have been over­ number of key cities. More than 52 million It was answered with repression and martial tion of agriculture to their larceny and cor­ whelmingly rejected by voters in Hungary people live in the Ukraine, a fifth of the Soviet law. But by early 1989 the Polish government ruption - are being brought to light and and East Germany. In the March 25 elections Union's population. A fifth of Soviet industry was forced to retreat and draconian restric­ condemned. the Socialist Party of Hungary only mustered is located there as well. tions on democratic rights were lifted. This The protests in Eastern Europe have in­ I 0 percent of the vote. It was formerly known Opponents of the CP also swept into office action showed that the crackdown had failed volved a broad front of social forces, includ­ as the Socialist Workers Party, which was in municipal bodies in Moscow, the Soviet to break the militancy of the working class ing significant support from working people. closely aligned with Communist Parties in Union's capital, and in Leningrad. In March and that the Communist Party-led regime The leadership of the actions has come from other countries. The East German Socialist the Soviet legislature voted to drop Article 6 could no longer rule as before. among professionals, artists, writers, reli­ Unity Party, now called the Party of Demo­ of the Soviet constitution, repealing the CP's A few months later in October, protests of gious groups, and other middle-class layers, cratic Socialism, had received about 16 per­ political monopoly. hundreds of thousands emerged across East including Communist Party dissidents. cent of the vote in March 18 elections. In The capitalist media and imperialist poli­ Germany, shattering the domination of the While working people have not generally both cases the former ruling parties were ticians euphorically hail the blows working Socialist Unity Party and toppling the party's played a leading role in these actions, for the trounced by procapitalist parties. people have dealt Stalinism in Eastern Eu­ rope and developments in the Soviet Union upper echelons. Within weeks the momen­ first time in decades they have the opportu­ Shunted aside in parliamentary elections tum spread to Czechoslovakia, where daily nity to begin to engage in political activity in as the collapse of communism and the tri­ last June by Solidarity representatives, the umph of capitalism. This would only be true marches culminated in a November country­ defense of their own interests and to begin Polish United Workers Party was dissolved wide protest strike and quickly forced CP establishing links with working-class fighters if the Stalinist "Communist" parties had any­ at a January congress. Afterward delegates thing to do with communism. But they do bosses from office. in other countries. split and formed competing parties along By the end of December, an armed popular not, and the popular protest movements that Claims to communism a fraud social democratic lines. Polls taken show that have swept Eastern Europe have dealt a blow uprising answered the bloody and fierce re­ even the larger group would receive less than pression of the hated Ceausescu regime in For decades the Stalinist parties of Eastern to that illusion. 5 percent of the vote if elections were held In the next few issues of the Militant, we Romania. The revolt won support in the army, Europe claimed to be building communism. today. split the army's high command, smashed the But the struggle in those countries to conquer will take a closer look at these important feared political police - the Securitate, and rights already won by working people in New parties, coalitions events, the history behind them, and their shattered the Communist Party. Once cap­ many capitalist "democracies" has exposed The shattering of the CPs means the priv­ meaning for working people around the tured by rebel forces, the tyrant and his wife world. this fraud. The subsequent actions by the ileged bureaucratic castes that economically Next week we will examine the October were swiftly tried and executed. various Communist Parties to recoup lost and politically dominate these countries are 1917 Russian revolution, where a genuine Today, in five Eastern European countries having to maintain their position through new ground and members has confirmed this. communist party unified and led working where capitalism was uprooted after World Across Eastern Europe these parties, or parties, coalitions, and governmental forms. people to power, established the first govern­ War IT-Poland, East Germany, Czechoslo­ Developments similar to these have begun important sections of them, are shedding their ment of workers and farmers in history, over­ vakia, Hungary, and Romania, the Stalinist to unfold in other countries where capitalism pretense to being communist. Instead they turned capitalist property relations, and laid parties' monopoly on power has been broken. now tend to present themselves as social has been abolished and Stalinist parties have the foundation to build a socialist society. We Hundreds of thousands of members have left democratic-like parties, tracing their conti­ dominated. will take a look at who the communists were, the CPs. The League of Communists, which is com­ nuity to the history and traditions of the what they stood for, and what policies the In Bulgaria, where the CP retains power, posed of Communist Parties from six con­ European socialist movement prior to World new soviet government followed. mass protests have forced important conces­ War I, the October 1917 Russian revolution, · stituent republics and has dominated Yugo­ (To be continued.) sions for democratic rights from the regime. and the founding of the Communist Interna­ slavia for more than 40 years, splintered in AcroSs Eastern Europe the rights to speak, tional. Many of them renounce communism January. With elections slated in some repub­ from Pathfinder associate, organize, protest, and travel freely as utopian. They advocate much more exten- lics this month, opposition groups are ex­ pected to displace some of the CPs. To shore up the central government and combat na­ tionalist ferment, the prime minister has ap­ The Daughters of Mother Jones remain propriated emergency executive powers. In Mongolia, where a socialist revolution Revolution active supporting miners' union overturned capitalism in the early 1920s, top CP officials have been forced from office. Betrayed BY JEANNE FITZMAURICE CLUW named Jackie Stump, UMWA Dis­ On March 23, after four continuous months MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- Members of trict 28 International Executive Board Mem­ of protests, the Mongolian parliament abol­ the Daughters of Mother Jones, an auxiliary ber, as labor leader of the year, for men; the ished constitutional provisions which had By Leon Trotsky of the United Mine Workers of America set award for women went to the Daughters of guaranteed the CP a monopoly hold on up during the recent strike against Pittston Mother Jones. Recently, some members went power. • How a parasitic caste Coal Group, have remained active since the to a CLUW event in Illinois and while there arose in the Soviet Union Pittston strike ended February 19. picketed at the Greyhound terminal in Chi­ Nationalist revolts in the USSR They are an integral part of the Southwest cago. Growing popular discontent and national­ in 1920s and '30s Virginia Support Group, which is hosting the Sauls also discussed the recent frame-up ist revolts have erupted in many of the Soviet • How communist leader­ 12th National Conference of Women Miners, Union's 15 republics. Spurred by mushroom­ attacks on the National Union of Mine­ ship was overturned to be held in Norton, Virginia, on the weekend workers and its leaders in Britain. She will ing support for independence-minded nation­ of June 22-24. be sending a message of support to the NUM. alists, Soviet troops occupied Azerbaijan at • The bureaucracy's reac­ In a telephone interview, Edna Sauls, a the beginning of the year. At the end of Sauls had been part of a delegation from the tionary domestic and for­ member of the group, outlined some recent UMWA to the NUM's IOOth anniversary March, Mikhail Gorbachev, exercising activities. celebration in June 1989. A delegation from greatly increased presidential powers, turned eign policies On March 24 a group of 20 members went Women Against Pit Closures, an auxiliary of his fire against proindependence forces in the to Roanoke, Virginia, to picket with Grey­ the NUM, had visited the Pittston miners two Baltic republics. Using economic, political, hound strikers. Bus union members were and miJitary pressure, Gorbachev has tried to $11.95. Available from Pathfinder years ago, at the beginning of the Pittston bookstores listed on page 16, or quoted on local TV that the visit by the fight. get Lithuanian nationalists to retract their Daughters of Mother Jones really picked up declaration of independence. Estonia's par­ by moil from Pathfinder, 4 10 West their spirits. Jeanne Fitzmaurice is an underground liament has voted in favor of independence, St. , New York, N.Y. 10014. On March 31 the whole group went back. miner at a Peabody mine near Blacksville, and Latvia has petitioned the Kremlin to open Please include $1 postage and to Roanoke for an awards banquet sponsored West Virginia, and a member of UMWA talks on independence. handling. by the Coalition of Labor Union Women. Local1570. In local elections March 18, nationalists

14 The Militant April 13, 1990 Panama three months after U.S. invasion A reporter's notebook on recent discussions with unionists, students BY SELVA NEBBIA layoffs of workers in the public sector being and in Col6n explained that the U.S.-installed think it was a big success," said Simpson. PANAMA CITY, Panama - Several promoted by the current government," con­ government headed by Guillermo Endara is months after the December 20 U.S. invasion tinued Aleman, "the situation is chaotic, with making moves to "decapitate" the country's • of Panama. working people here are still growing insecurity for Panamanians. So far, trade unions. Located on the Caribbean coast, On March 5 the University of Pana11la talking about it and how it affects their lives. opened its doors after being closed and oc­ While several thousand of the more than cupied by U.S. troops following the invasion. 27,000 U.S. troops that participated in the Young people milled around the campus let­ invasion have left. the 12,000 U.S. military ting ready to restart classes. forces stationed permanently in Panama re­ "U.S. troops out of Panama" and similar main, as well as some of those brought in messages condemning the invasion were especially for the attack. painted on the walls and on signs around the Panama remains an occupied country. By campus, signed by a number of different midnight the streets of Panama City are de­ student associations and groups. There is no serted until 5 a.m. the next morning when the one student organization that encompasses nightly curfew ends. U.S. Hormer armored representatives from the different groups. vehicles manned by members of the Pana­ Students seemed willing and open to dis­ manian Public Forces and U.S. soldiers roam cuss what they thought about the U.S. inva­ the city streets. sion of their country. One of the TV channels you can tune in "I was really scared by the invasion," is the English-language U.S. armed forces explained Marielos, a 20-year-old journalism channel. Messages for the U.S. troops sta­ student. "But I think that it was a good thing tioned in Panama flash across the screen. that they got rid of Noriega," she added. Following a March 3 bomb attack on a city "The country has been totally destroyed," nightspot frequented by U.S. soldiers where Marielos said, "but we trust that the govern­ one U.S. soldier was killed and several ment and the Yankees will pay for what they wounded, the message that regularly came damaged. It is their responsibility." on the screen warned military personnel not "I think that the responsibility for what to congregate in groups and to stay away happened belongs to both the Yankees and from night clubs. to the military," interrupted Fernando, a his­ ''Things aren't so bad as they were during tory student. "They are to blame but the only the first few weeks after the invasion," ex­ party that was hurt is the people. I agree we plained a young woman working at a beauty had to get rid of Noriega. but I think the price salon. "Back then you would see groups of we paid was too high." five or six armed U.S. soldiers marching up "After all it is the United States that is and down the street all day long," she said, responsible for creating the dictatorships in pointing to Avenida Europa, one of the city's Latin America in the first place," added Fer­ main avenues. nando. On March 9, 230 U.S. troops joined 486 "I feel very hopeful with the new govern­ Panamanian troops and police in a five­ ment," said Marielos. ''Things are going to neighborhood raid, arresting 736 people in get better for us. Fernando is a pessimist." what was called the "Rescue of tranquility "You know I support this government." under democracy." Armored vehicles Fernando interrupted. "But I just don't think blocked neighborhood streets and passersby that things are all that simple. I doubt. for were searched. "Every U.S. soldier that par­ example, the aid for reconstruction the U.S. ticipated in the operation," reported the is promising will ever come true." March lO issue of the Panamanian daily La "I think the invasion was the best way to Prensa, "was protected with bullet-proof get rid of the dictator," said a young high vests, while the Panamanian soldiers lacked school teacher. His friend, next to him, also such protection." a teacher agreed and added. ,"Now what we A country of 2.3 million people, burdened need is economic aid." Militant/Selva Nebbia by a foreign debt of $3.8 billion and more Francisco, a student of economics, did not recently by an economic blockade imposed A typical Colon street. On March 8 some 700 marched in this city to demand an end to unjust firings and compensation for loss of homes during invasion. think the invasion was good. "I don't think by the United States in 1988, Panama faces the invasion was the best way to get rid of added economic hardships as a result of the the dictatorship. I think Panamanians our­ destruction caused by the military attack and some 4,000 public employees have been fired Col6n is Panama's second largest city. selves should have gotten rid of him, as was by the economic dislocation. from their jobs." FENASEP with 100,000 "As trade unionists we are worried about done in Chile, in Nicaragua." members is the largest labor federation in the fact that while boasting of being for Thousands mPanama City, for example, "I can imagine what people in Latin Amer­ Panama. justice, democracy, and freedom the current were left homeless after their dwellings were ica must think of us," continued Francisco. flattened by U.S. bombs on the eve of the The firings are carried out in violation government is attempting not only to take Continued on Page 12 invasion here. Three months after the inva­ of existing labor rights, explained the back the gains workers in Panama have won sion, final figures on the death toll have not FENASEP leader, with no respect to senior­ throughout years of struggle," said Carlisle been made public. ity, no severance pay, or respect for rights of Simpson, "but to also smash the unions alto­ From Pathfinder ------, "Since December 20, human life here has maternity. Under the Panamanian Labor gether." Simpson is a leader of SUNTRACS, no value," said Celia Sanjur during a March Code, women workers are entitled to six the construction workers union. 5 interview in Panama City. "And it continues weeks paid maternity leave prior to and after "In the case of our union," Simpson said, to be that way." Sanjur is the editor of the the date of childbirth, and cannot be fired "the minister of labor has named a new union Panama monthly magazine Dialogo Social. during their pregnancy or up to a year after executive committee that it hopes will better The Truth About A wave of land occupations have taken giving birth. be able to carry out its policies against the place in thecountry'smajorcities. U.S. troops workers. This was done undemocratically the U.S. Invasion Public workers have carried out actions over the heads of the membership." and Panamanian forces have been sent in to protesting the firings. On March 8 some 30 remove homeless families who have taken public employees staged a sit-in at a Panama Simpson explained that the bosses organ­ over empty lots in Panama City and Col6n. City church. "We are here to protest against ized in the Panamanian Construction Cham­ "We don't want demagogic and fictitious the persecution of state workers," said Anel ber plan to slash wages for construction housing plans," said Damian Perez Gonzalez. Rodriguez. "We are demanding an end to the workers. If they succeed in carrying out their "We want immediate and short-term solu­ firings and that those who have been dis­ plans, skilled workers, such as carpenters, tions to our problems." Perez is a leader of missed be rehired." plumbers, and electricians, would have their those occupying land. "It's been more than two months since the wages reduced from $2.15 an hour to $1.25, Refugees of El Chorrillo, the neighbor­ invasion," said Rodriguez, "and many who while laborers would be cut down from $1.60 hood hardest hit by the U.S. bombings where thought the invasion was the solution to our to $1.10 an hour. There are 4,000 unionized some 13,000 were left homeless, have staged problems are now having second thoughts." construction workers in the province of several protests - including two marches ''There is ~ of privatizing several state Col6n, he pointed out. blocking the Bridge of the Americas -de­ enterprises," Aleman pointed out. OnJanuary "We are not going to allow the government manding housing and compensation for their 22 the state-owned Air Panama, for example, to play around with what we have conquered losses. was shut down pending the signing of a sale with so much mourning and pain," explained agreement with a private concern. Two U.S. the SUNTRACS leader. • companies have made offers to buy the gov­ On March 8 some 700 people participated On March 5 several unions and union ernment airline. in a march in Col6n to demand the rehiring federations called a press conference to pro­ Since the closing of their workplace, the of all those who have been unjustly fired, an test the effects of the U.S. invasion on the 319 Air Panama workers have been staging end to the firings, compensation to the war labor movement. Hector Aleman, president protests demanding operations be resumed. refugees for the loss of their homes during • Articles from the Militant by of the public workers federation FENASEP, In the days following the invasion, hun­ the invasion, and publication of the exact Cindy Jaquith and Don Rojas explained, "Back in 1987 unemployment dreds of Panamanians took to the streets and figures on the number of dead and disap­ • Fidel Castro's speech the here stood at around 8 percent, but after the went through stores, taking with them appli­ peared victims of the bombing of the former day after the invasion U.S.-imposed economic sanctions against us ances, food, clothing, and other merchandise. Coco Solo garrison in Col6n. • Panamanian leader Nils in 1988, it went up to 15 percent. Most of the businesses closed their operations The march was organized by community, Castro on the U.S. "And after the invasion unemployment for several weeks, laying off hundreds of student, religious, and human rights organi­ anti-Panama campaign In shot up to over 35 percent. places such as store workers. Many stores were damaged zations, as well as the committees of those 48 pp., $2.50. Order from Pathfinder, Panama City, the capital, and the province of and have still not opened for business. fired in the private and public sectors and 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Col6n, there are areas where unemployment several trade unions, including FENASEP. Please include 75 cents for postage stands at 50 percent to 55 percent." • ''This was the first time people have dared to and handling. "If we add to this the policy of massive Many trade unionists both in Panama City take to the streets here since the invasion. We

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16 The Militant April 13, 1998 ..· -THE GREAT SOCIETY------Army vs. Major Houlihan - Order in the orders- The Vat­ affected by acid rain in a third of the. dated, taxpayers forlced over $7 bil­ Right-to-survive movement­ Army recruiters are using a 12- ican directed religious orders to put lakes and rivers in Scotland and lion they didn't owe, according to In Congress, 41 House members are minute video to cope with the novices through psychological tests neighboring British areas. That's ac­ Money magazine. reported switching to support Med­ shortage of military nurses. Col. to screen out those who haven 'tcon­ cording to a study by the Central icaid funding of abortions for low­ John Blake complained, "Televi­ quered their homosexual tenden­ Electricity Generating Board and Nothing sacred? - Manische­ income victims of rape and incest. sion programs like M*A*S*H* cies, reports the British Guardian. British Coal, which are responsible witz, the matzoh biggie, was in­ One of those who jumped ship, Rep. And novices who attended coed­ for 70 percent of the sulphur dioxide dicted, along with unnamed George Hochbrueckner (D-N.Y.), ucational schools are to get heavier emissions that cause acid rain. coconspirators, for acting in concert explained, "I've become more sen­ teaching on "perfect chastity." each year to hike matzoh prices on sitive to the issue." Tax reform - Ninety percent of the eve of the Passover holiday. Safety first - In the year since U.S. taxpayers are shelling out more They're into both green move­ Harry the Exxon Valdez poured 11 million than they did before 1978. But the ments- New York's Chemical gallons of oil on the Alaskan coast, richest 1 percent is paying an aver­ Sushi, anyone?- Sewage­ Bank is recycling some 600 tons of Ring there have been I 0,000 other spills age of $82,000 a year less. contaminated sea water is a grow­ its waste paper. (It uses 4,000 tons with a total volume that may be twice ing health menace, according to a of high-grade paper a year, the as great, reports the Wilderness So­ Helps balance the budget - recent UN study on the state of the equivalent of 60,000 trees.) Besides have mistakenly given people the ciety. Last year nearly 18 million taxpay­ world's oceans. In one extreme helping to save the planet, an official impression that an army nurse's ers got IRS letters erroneously de­ case, a harmful virus survived for explained, the bank saves on carting job is very hard and possibly dan­ Self-indicated - Trout and sal­ manding added payments and 17 months in sewage-polluted ma­ bills and makes money selling the gerous." mon have been wiped out or severely penalties. Confused and intimi- rine sediments. waste to recyclers. ANC calls off gov't talks to protest killings by cops

Continued from front page claimed that divisions within the ANC lead­ right to assemble and demonstrate in support Klerlc "the action of the police against de­ ership, not the Sebokeng killings, were be­ of their demands," said a statement released fenseless people was a situation we would hind Mandela's announcement. "The ANC by the ANC leadership body. "We claim this not tolerate." is just not ready for talks," one senior gov­ as an inalienable right, not as a favor con­ "If the government talks about negotia­ ernment spokesman told the Johannesburg ceded by the regime at its discretion." tions on the one hand, and then massacres Citizen. The ANC called upon the South African our people on the other - that we can never In a speech to the ruling National party authorities to "make an explicit and open accept," he added, to cheers and cries of youth, de Klerlc said, "The loss of life is commitment to peace in the country by taking "Viva!" regretted." He added that the massacre demonstrative action to bring the perpetrators The talks between the ANC and the gov­ "should not stand in the way of discussions." of this violence to justice with all deliberate ernment were to have discussed steps the speed." government must take to "create a climate Attacking the protest actions around the country, he said, "Large masses of people At the Bisho rally Mandela said, "We have for negotiations," in which top government noted President de Klerk's sincerity" about ministers, central leaders of the ANC, and a proclaiming extreme positions in our streets promote polarization and violence. What we negotiations and promoting fundamental range of other prominent political figures change in South Africa. Given the conditions were slated to participate. need is reconciliation and good will." Threatening the liberation movement, he in the country, he called for "the anti-apart­ heid struggle to intensify." 'Threshold of liberation' added, "If certain elements on the left and on "Your heroic struggles have fundamen­ the right continue their present course of "We call on the international community tally changed the face of South Africa," violence and lawlessness, the government to apply all possible pressure for the disman­ Mandela told the enthusiastic crowd. "We will be obliged to use the full weight of its tling of apartheid," he stressed. The fight to stand at the threshold of our liberation." power to restore law and order in an unprej­ bring an end to apartheid "through negotia­ udiced manner." tions and other forms of struggle must involve Millitrull~vtar·grethe Siem Mandela pointed to the struggle in the A leader of the liberal Democratic Party the ordinary masses of our people. Every man Nelson Mandela addresses a ohannes­ nominally independent "homeland" of Ciskei backed de Klerlc's condemnation of the sus­ and woman must shape the future of a non­ burg concert that celebrated his release as an example of the important battles taking pension of the talks. Zach de Beer said, racial, democratic South Africa." from prison. place today against central aspects of apart­ "While the shooting at Sebokeng was a de­ Mandela explained, "Increased repression heid. Many iJ1 the crowd had participated in plorable episode, it can be no excuse for can only increase the crisis of the apartheid mass mobilizations in recent months against police assault. By evening the council build­ breaking off talks." government. The ANC is committed to peace. the autocratic rule of Chief Lennox Sebe. A ings at Sebokeng and Lekoa were ablaze. The We have made our commitment clear to the Right to assemble, demonstrate coup, led by Brig. Gen. Oupa Johua Gqozo, police barred reporters from Sebokeng, stat­ regime and to the world through the Harare toppled Sebe in late February. ing that emergency regulations prevent re­ The ANC National Executive Committee declaration," which "offers the only genuine Mandela said, however, that the "harsh porters from entering areas of"police action." said that it would review the suspension of road to negotiations and peace" by calling on realities of apartheid" are still part of the By the following evening the death toll had talks within five days. ''The people have the de Klerlc to "meet our reasonable demands." everyday life of Blacks in South Africa. "The risen to 14 and those injured to nearly 2,000. state of emergency is still in force. State The march was part of a day of action, violence continues against our people in including a mass stayaway from work and -10AND25 YEARSAGO-­ many parts of the country." Death squads and schools, demanding rent reductions, an end "vigilantes are still running rampant through­ to evictions, an end to the private sale of out our country. Political prisoners are still houses, and the building of new and better TH£ MILITANT THE in jail." housing. At Sebokeng, the residents were demanding the township council resign. April11, 1980 Noting that political meetings - "both in­ MILITANT Published in the Interests of the Working People doors and outdoors"- had been banned, he Soweto march attacked added, "There is no free political activity in Omega 7 [the terrorist arm of publicly April12, 1965 "''~ '" Just two days before the Sebokeng massa­ the face of violence against our people." The functioning ultraright Cuban exiles] has de­ cre, the police attacked a march of 10,000 in situation does not "create the conditions for clared it still intends to murder Raul Roa, The following is from a statement by Jack Soweto, organized by the Soweto Civic As­ negotiations." Cuban ambassador to the United Nations. Barnes, then national chairman of the Young sociation. The protest demanded the unifica­ Roa escaped death March 25 when a Socialist Alliance, on the eve ofthe first mass The brutality of the police action in tion of the Soweto township and Johannes­ bomb planted under his car fell off before demonstration against the war in Vietnam. Sebokeng was reported by various march burg City councils, better housing, and an detonating. According to New Yorlc police it participants to the Johannesburg Star. end to the privatization of council services. was powerful enough to blow up a city If you feel the urgency of stopping the "There was a volley of shots," one witness As they marched to present their demands at block. U.S. war of atrocity in Vietnam, you should said, "then silence. The police started laugh­ the Soweto town council buildings, the police The April 1 New York El Diario re­ join and build the April 17 March on Wash­ ing. The crowd seemed frozen for a second; opened fire with tear gas and bird shot, in­ ported it had received a "communique" ington to End the War in Vietnam. Young then they started screaming. They turned and juring 100. Similar police attacks took place from Omega 7 declaring it had "sentenced and old, student and nonstudent, are being ran." in Witbank, Klerksdorp, and Potchefstroom to death the ambassador of Communist urged by the organizers of the march to pitch One of the injured was Mkhulu Katledebe the previous week. Cuba." in to make this the largest and most effective of the Vaal Student Congress. "I was in the Responding to the events at Sebokeng, demonstration possible. front of the crowd," he explained. "We were Ronnie Mamoepa, Transvaal publicity sec­ * * * Growing numbers of Americans are ex­ listening to the report back from our leaders. retary for the United Democratic Front- a MANAGUA, Nicaragua- The death pressing doubts about the war and desire a Suddenly we heard shots and the next thing broad anti-apartheid coalition - said he be­ toll from the "Palm Sunday Massacre" in peaceful solution. A powerful march on I was running. Then I fell. I woke up later in lieved that some members of the police force San Salvador is still rising. Reports reach­ Washington demanding an end to this war the hospital." He said the police treated the were "trying to derail the negotiating pro­ ing here indicate that from 50 to I 00 per­ now will help mobilize that sentiment into demonstrators "like animals." cess" by attacking peaceful protest actions. sons were killed when elements of the a movement that, if it becomes powerful As the marchers fled, police went into About the government's claim that the ANC Salvadoran armed forces and right-wing enough, can stay President Johnson's hand. Sebokeng township. More residents were cannot control its supporters Mamoepa said, paramilitary groups attacked a crowd of Students for a Democratic Society, the or­ wounded as police continued the attack. "It is difficult for us to convince people to half a million persons who had gathered ganizers of the march, report that thousands In neighboring Boipatong, a similar march act peacefully when they are being attacked outside the Metropolitan Cathedral on of students are planning to converge on Wash­ was stopped by police from leaving the town­ by police who do not respect their right to March 30 for the funeral of slain Arch­ ington from every major campus in the East ship. "We decided to go back into the town­ protest." bishop Oscar Romero. and Midwest. Women Strike for Peace and ship and hold a meeting in the Dutch Re­ In an interview with the British Broadcast­ The massacre began at 11 :40 a.m. when other peace organizations have endorsed the formed Church," explained marcher Jo­ ing Corporation, Minister of Law and Order a grenade or bomb was thrown from a march and are worlcing to build it. hannes Mohlokoane. "Before we reached the Adriaan Vlok said, "The police are really balcony of the National Palace, adjacent to The fact that SDS is calling for an imme­ church, police fired tear gas at us. Our mar­ trying their level best not to kill people." the large plaza outside the cathedral. Snip­ diate end to U.S. aggression in Vietnam shals went to tell them that we were not Saying the government "is not responsible ers in uniform or civilian dress fired from assures that the action will be in heartening fighting. It looked like they understood, but for the violence," Vlok called the Sebokeng the upper floors of the Palace. Panic swept contrast to many previous peace demon­ a few meters away all hell broke loose. They police massacre "an unfortunate incident. I the crowd, which was made up mostly of strations which were weakened because the started firing." Mohlokoane was injured in am sorry it happened." workers and peasants who had traveled leaders proceeded on the mistaken notion the thigh, hip, and hand. In an attempt to shift the blame for the from all parts of El Salvador to pay their that if they watered down the purpose of the As the day wore on, residents in the Vaal police violence and the suspension of the last respects to the religious leader who had action they would win broader support for townships began to fight back against the talks onto the ANC, government officials given voice to their demands. it.

April 13, 1990 The Militant 17 -EDITORIALS------Cuba's future: 'An eternal Hands off Cuba! No TV Marti! Baragua!'

Continued from front page Radio Marti and TV Marti. The Washington Post and New BY DOUG JENNESS cost of $7.5 million. The two-year cost of the project is $40 York Times in recent editorials voiced concern that the two On March 15 Cuban leader Raul Castro publicly pre­ million. projects - instead of maintaining a facade of "objectivity" sented the call for the Fourth Congress of the Cuban Washington is attempting to broadcast TV Marti over and thus some credibility - were becoming more and Communist Party to be held in the first part of next year. one ofCuba's two national television stations, Tele Rebelde. more closely identified with Mas Canosa 's wing of the The date chosen for making the announcement was the The transmissions are sent from a huge U.S. Air Force Cuban anticommunist groups based in the United States. 112th anniversary of the "Baragua Protest," and the theme balloon, floating 10,000 feet above the Florida Keys. The National Association of Broadcasters also opposes for the Congress and its preparations is, "The future of our In defending itself against Washington's electronic ag­ TV Marti on the grounds that it cannot be made to work country will be an eternal Baraguii!" gression, the Cuban government points out that the TV technically, is taking money away from other projects, and The Baragwi Protest is one of the moments in Cuban Marti project violates a raft of international laws and trea­ invites retaliation from Cuba, which can respond to TV history that most symbolizes the will not to surrender under ties. By moving ahead with transmissions, Washington Marti's continued broadcasts by interfering with U.S. radio difficult, even seemingly impossible, conditions. It refers back tramples on United Nations treaties and conventions, the frequencies in 30 states. "We think TV Marti is a dumb to Cuba's first war of independence, which began in 1868. Organization of American States charter, and the Interna­ idea," said Michael Rau, an association vice-president. In that struggle a broad range of social forces - peas­ tional Telecommunication Union Convention. In 1982 both As a result, U.S. President George Bush went to the ants, slaves, artisans, and landowners, including slavehold­ the Cuban and U.S. governments signed an international broadcasters' convention in Atlanta on April 2 to reiterate ers - united to get rid of Spanish colonial rule and estab­ treaty that stipulated normal TV transmission wavelengths his support for TV Marti and urge the broadcasters to "stand lish an independent republic. Under the command of are for domestic use only. for freedom" by doing the same. Cuban communications minister Manuel Castillo To cover up TV Marti's patent illegality, Washington Rabosa has aptly labeled TV Marti an electronic Bay of claims it is needed to better inform the Cuban people about Pigs, comparing it to the 1961 U.S.-backed invasion that world events. Although Washington has worked overtime LEARNING ABOUT was crushed by the Cubans in 72 hours. for more than 30 years to spread lies and slanders about In taking steps to block TV Marti broadcasts, Cuba is not Cuba, it arrogantly claims that its TV Marti will be "objec­ SOCIALISM just fighting for itself, President Fidel Castro explains, but tive." for all Third World countries. If the U.S. government gets Cuba already gets all kinds of programming from other Maximo Gomez, an army was assembled that scored some away with TV Marti, it will set a precedent to be used countries, including from the United States, and the gov­ impressive military victories against the numerically supe­ against other countries and peoples struggling against im­ ernment is looking to expand ties with U.S. television rior Spanish forces. perialist domination. networks. That is not the question. One of the outstanding military leaders was Antonio The seriousness of CUba's commitment to force an end Washington is violating Cuba's right to regulate its own Maceo, who was 23 years old when the war began. to Wasbington's interference in Cuban internal affairs was telecommunications in order to prove such an attack can be "Maceo, born of a poor family," Cuban President Fidel underscored by Castro's April 3 Havana news conference carried out - and to try to set up an incident that could lead Castro noted in a speech on the lOOth anniversary of the and the tour given reporters of the equipment to jam TV to further attacks, including a possible "surgical strike" on Baragwi Protest, "and, moreover, a black at a time when Marti. "We are not looking for a fight," Castro explained. Cuba's transmitters. racial prejudice was very strong in our country, began to "But we will not be intimidated." distinguish himself, in spite of the difficulties resulting from • his background and the circumstances that prevailed in our • The sovereignty of Latin America was dealt a heavy society." The use of Cuban national hero Jose Marti's name for blow with the U.S. invasion of Panama and the recent As the independence war neared its 1Oth year without this vile project is a special affront to the Cuban people. election of a pro-U.S. government in Nicaragua. This has victory, the human toll was mounting, supplies were run­ But it is not the first time Marti's name has been so smeared emboldened Washington to press ahead with its campaign ning out, and the fight was internationally isolated. by Washington. to isolate and attack Cuba, including the decision to start Moreover, sharp class divisions got in the way of carry­ up TV Marti. Also encouraging the U.S. ruling families is ing out the war, including launching an effective invasion Ftrst came Radio Marti, a U.S.-government propaganda the international clamor for "capitalism" and "democracy" of western Cuba, which was decisive for victory. project begun in 1985 under the United States Information corning out of the break-up of the Communist Party-dom­ An invasion from the Eastern provinces where the guer­ Agency. In response to "this downright act of provocation," inated regimes in Eastern Europe. rilla fighters were strongest was vigorously pressed by as the Cuban government termed it at the time, Cuba made But U.S. imperialism's triumphalism is built on sand. Far Gomez. He also proposed placing Maceo in a key role in the difficult decision to suspend the accord on immigration from opening a future of stable development, capitalism has this military offensive. it had concluded with Washington a few months earlier. already dragged hundreds of millions of people in Latin But the proposals assumed that thousands of slaves in Despite unflagging support from the Reagan and Busb America. Asia. and Africa into misery. With the inevitable the western provinces would join the struggle and seek administrations and bipartisan fmancing from Congress for economic downturn that lies ahead, conditions for a major­ liberation. The slave-owning landlords supporting the inde­ both projects, there are some in U.S. ruling circles and ity of humanity will only worsen. pendence movement strongly opposed this and blocked elsewhere who are raising questions - both political and Unionists and other working people, students, political effective backing for a serious invasion. practical-about TV Marti. activists, supporters of democratic rights, and all those who In February 1878 virtually all the political and military Radio Marti director Emesto Betancourt recently re­ defend the right of countries under the thumb of Washing­ leaders in the independence struggle agreed to surrender to signed over a dispute with Jorge Mas Canosa, who envis­ ton to control their own affairs have a big role to play - the Spanish authorities. In exchange all slaves in the insur­ ages himself as an architect of a "post-Castro" CUba. Mas especially in the United States - in calling a halt to TV gent ranks were freed and an amnesty was granted for those Canosa heads the anticommunist CUban-American Na­ Marti. The April 7 "Hands Off Cuba" demonstration in charged with political offenses during the 10-year war. tional Foundation, which has close ties to the U.S. Repub­ New York shows the growing potential to build such a lican Party, and is chairman of the advisory board to both movement in defense of Cuba's sovereignty. Maceo was not consulted about this pact, which was agreed to in Zanj6n. At the time it was being negotiated, he was scoring a couple of his most impressive military vic­ tories of the war. When the Spanish commander came to Maceo's camp in Baragua in March to discuss the pact, the young freedom Join our drive for new readers! fighter rejected it because it did not grant independence to CUba. Then one of Maceo's aides asked the Spaniard, The international seven-week circulation campaign to have brought readers news reports from struggles around "Since you claim that you can't grant independence, why win thousands of first-time readers to the Militant, Per­ the country and internationally. From Eastern picket lines in don't you promise to free the slaves?" spectiva Mundial, Lune ouvriere, New International, and Florida to the British coalfields, from Panama and El Salva­ 'This gives the [Baragwi] Protest an importance that Nouvelle lnternationale is behind schedule. A big effort is dor to South Africa. our reporters have been there, getting quite possibly the bourgeoisie did not put enough emphasis needed over the next several weeks to reach our goals by the facts. on in the past," Castro noted in 1978, "limiting themselves May S. Over the next weeks readers can expect equally impor­ to the question of independence and disregarding the polit­ Preparations are being made to take full advantage of the tant and attractive coverage including reports on the prog­ ical aspect of the Protest, in spite of the fact that slavery special April 14-21 target week. During the eight-day ef­ ress and momentum of the "Hands Off CUba" campaign, was the most important social problem of that time." fort, supporters of the Militant will be hitting the road on firsthand reporting from Cuba, and statements and speeches After an eight-day truce, Maceo issued a proclamation sales teams and stepping up the circulation of the paper. of leaders of the Cuban revolution. calling on the people in Oriente Province to continue sup­ Hundreds of packinghouse workers, students, and others Featured will be eyewitness coverage from South Africa porting the struggle for independence and abolition of in the Midwest will be introduced to the Militant at their as correspondents Greg McCartan and Rich Palser and slavery. The armed struggle was resumed. plant gates, in the countryside, and on college campuses by photographer Margrethe Siem continue to be on the scene Maceo was soon forced into exile and the war ended. a team of supporters set to travel through Iowa and South in the bantustans and at the factory gates. But he later returned to fight in the war of independence Dakota. Militant supporters will be crossing eastern Canada launched in 1895. He was killed in battle the following The will have needed news and analysis from selling the paper to fishing-industry workers, miners, and Militant year. the strike centers and picket lines of the Eastern Airlines students. Throughout Cuba's revolutionary history the inspiring and Greyhound strikes and other labor fights, reports from A successful target week can generate momentum for the example of Maceo's refusal to surrender has been a rallying our Managua bureau on the new Nicaraguan government sales drive so we can take advantage of every opportunity cry at many difficult moments. and the unfolding struggles of working people in the cities to sell subscriptions and win new readers. Supporters can Today, the country's communist leadership is again call­ and countryside, and a special weekly series on the crisis in get on a real campaign footing and put a sales operation into ing on this heritage. "Nowadays~ imperialists are plot­ Eastern Europe. gear that includes: ting a worldwide Zanj6n Pact," the call to the Fourth • big Saturday sales every weekend - fanning out to Thousands of new readers will want to sign up in the next Congress states. 'They think they are witnessing the final working-class communities, picket lines, subway stops, and few weeks to subscribe to the Militant. We know there is and irreversible crisis of socialism. Blinded by their street comers; heightened interest in the paper today by the warm response triumphalist euphoria, they assume that Cuba, apparently • widely circulating the Militant at actions in solidarity it gets from strikers and other workers in struggle, miners isolated in its geographical proximity to the United States, with the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and in involved in·the coalfield resistance sparked by the Pittston will not be able to resist and will have to surrender." defense of Cuba; fight, students at high schools and colleges, and activists "They are lying in ambush," the call states," waiting for • selling Militant subscriptions while collecting signa­ fighting in solidarity with the masses in South Africa and the slightest crack to move against our nation and thereby tures to get socialist candidates on the ballot; Cuba. bring to fruition one of their dearest imperial dreams: • winning new readers among workers, youth, and oth­ The January-February renewal effort saw better-than­ crushing the Cuban revolution, liquidating its example, and ers interested in fmding out more about Cuba as part of usual results - half of all renewals came directly from dominating forever the people who dared to challenge publicizing meetings of touring Cuban economist and au­ readers. This is reflected this week in our letters column. them. thor Carlos Tablada; We think this bodes well for winning thousands of new "This is the moment to take a stand," the declaration • signing up coworkers who need the Militant as they subscribers to the Militant and we urge all supporters of the stresses, "like Antonio Maceo in Baraguii, to say 'No! ' We discuss the big political questions facing our class. paper to join in the campaign to make the international will not renounce the revolution, socialism, Leninism, and Over the past couple of months the pages of the Militant circulation goals on time. internationalism."

18 The Militant April 13, 1990 New tax rip-off of workers in Canada and Britain BY ROBERT SIMMS workers, unemployed workers, and working fanners and of interest payments, to the war industries, to the police, the TORONTO -January 1 the Canadian government will increase the profits going to themselves. courts, and prisons that enforce and protect the capitalist begin collecting a new 7 percent federal sales tax, called the Cuts in real wages have come in the form of wage property system, and to giant subsidies to big business. goods and services tax (GST). It will jump the cost of just concessions and speed-up over the last decade. But they Whether taxes come from the obvious deductions from about every purchase, from a Big Mac to a haircut to a pair have also come in the form of "tax reforms" that lower the our paychecks, or arbitrary price increases in the form of of shoes. Only basic· groceries, prescription drugs, and rent purchasing power of workers and farmers. sales taxes, or a cut of corporate profits - they all originate will be exempted. This tax comes on top of sales taxes in the In the imperialist countries, the so-called tax reforms have in the value workers and working fanners produce and are country's 10 provinces thataverage about the same as the raised the tax burden on working people and lowered it for all part of the surplus that the capitalist class takes from us. new federal tax. the wealthy. Union officials in Canada are calling the anti-GST tax Workers and working farmers will be hit more severly A favored form of this tax assault has been a shift away movement the Campaign for Fair Taxes. But a campaign for than the wealthy by the new tax and are up in arms against from income taxes, whose rates rise progressively with "fair taxes," just like a campaign for "fair wages," assumes higher incomes, toward consumption taxes. These include that the capitalist profit system can be reasonable and fair. It sales taxes; excise taxes on gasoline, tobacco products, and would mean that workers would be helping to maintain the AS I SEE IT liquor; customs duties; bridge and highway tolls; and in social and economic power ofa class that not only oppresses Europe, so-called value-added taxes. and exploits them, but which plays no productive or neces­ it. The Canadian Labour Congress and the New Democratic VIrtually all of the wages or farm income of working sary role in society. Working people produce the wealth. Party are part of a broad campaign that demands "Ax the people is spent on items that can be taxed, while the What's fair about a handful of ruling rich appropriating tax, kill the GST." wealthy owners of industry can save, invest, and protect a much of it to live in obscene luxury or control economic In Britain, huge demonstrations are rocking the ruling big chunk of their income from such taxes. The net effect, growth while most struggle just to survive? Conservative Party of Margaret Thatcher, which has just unless we fight to win cost-of-living adjustments in wages Every class-conscious worker in Canada or Britain imposed a poll tax for municipal services. Every adult person and benefits in order to maintain our income in the face of should be part of the fight to abolish the GST and the poll on the voter rolls will be taxed a flat rate by each municipal rising costs, is lowered living standards for our class and its tax. Especially important is to fight against the effects of government. This replaces a property tax that varied accord­ allies. It means greater social and economic power for the procapitalist "tax reforms" by demanding wage increases. ing to the assessed value of houses or other property. capitalists. This should include increasing the minimum wage, unem­ This head tax may be upward of £350 (US$570). A Only a minor and diminishing part of tax revenues are ployment insurance, and welfare payments to the level of working-class family with two parents and a couple of returned to working people in the form of education, health, union rates, and for full cost-of-living protection of wages children over 18 still living at home in a tiny house may be and other social services, a "social wage" that benefits the as well as pensions and other benefits. Such demands can forced to pay well over $2,200 with this new tax. On the working class and its allies. These are the items in govern­ unify the working class in the fight to defend its living other hand, a fabulously wealthy couple with a huge man­ ment spending that the capitalists have targeted first. standards. sion with no children would pay considerably less. Some reactionary business forces attempting to capitalize In the course of such battles there can be discussions on Both these tax schemes have a common thread. They are on the opposition against higher taxes organize a "taxpayers' the need to abolish all consumption taxes like the GST and efforts by the ruling capitalist families to use their hired revolt" to demand bigger cuts in social spending. the poll tax, and on property taxes that especially hit working politicians and the government to redistribute social wealth. The lion's share of government expenditures go to the farmers. All taxes on working people should be eliminated They aim to decrease the real wages and living standards of banks and other wealthy holders of federal bonds in the form and the taxes on the capitalist exploiters increased. -LEITERS Need youth column As a member of the Young So­ Readers send in contntents with renewals \ cialist Alliance, I would like to see Every week the Militant sends is the United States doing? What a page or column in the Militant letters to readers whose subscrip­ are the Panamanians doing? What dedicated to youth. Many young tions are about to expire urging is going on down there? people are exposed to the revolu­ them to renew. The letters offer Keep up the wonderful work. tionary ideas of the paper. subscribers special discounts on S.G. I know the Militant expresses the the Marxist magazine New Inter­ Corvallis, Oregon views of rebel youth in the United national and advertise the Path­ States. But young people who pur­ finder pamphlet An Actiott Pro­ How about an article about East chase subscriptions or single copies gram to Confront the Coming St. Louis - the corruption in gov­ of the paper see little or no reference Economic Crisis. ernment and the racist attacks - to the YSA. Contacting every reader by mail and what it would take for a small I believe a column or "youth is one way the Militant appeals to Black city to survi ve? page" is necessary in the coming those who took advantage of the Love your coverage of Eastern tumultuous period. The Militant is paper's introductory offer, inviting Europe and especially loved your the only weapon we have now. them to become long-tenn readers. analysis of the fall of the workers' D. J. During the nine-week interna­ and farmers' government in Nica­ Chicago, Illinois tional circulation campaign that ragua. ended Nov. 12, 1989, supporters Keep up the good work! · of the socialist press won 7, 163 D.R.C. Mariel Cubans new readers to the Militant. Since St. Louis, Missouri I am a Mariel Cuban. I came to then, 503 have decided to renew · this country in the 1980 boatlift at their subScriptions. I am a Black working-class the invitation of the U.S. govern­ Often when readers send in their woman and I find your coverage ment. I was granted immigration renewals, they enclose a brief note Militant/Arthur Hughes of weekly events to be indispens­ Sales at the national abortion rights demonstration in 'Wlshington, parole by the U.S. government. or jot down comments and sugges­ able. I am especially looking for­ D.C. November 1989. During the fall international circulation drive tions in the space provided on the ward to your reports from South Through an error I committed in that ended November 12, supporters of the socialist press sold 7,163 back of the renewal letter. Below Africa and on the domestic Black this country that resulted in a crim­ subscriptions· to the Mililllnt. Of those, 503 have renewed their are some of their recent comments. liberation struggle. inal conviction, I lost my immigra­ subscriptions. Many readers send in comments and suggestions D.M. tion parole. I have paid for my mis­ * * * with their renewals. take and am now paying for it again Berkeley, California as an Immigration and Naturaliza­ Thank you for the Militant. It's into rivers. Let's hear more! dered by the collapse of these re­ tion Service detainee. objective, informative, and a plea­ Class solidarity sure to read. Keep on going strong! G.L. gimes, many people might fmd I cannot be deported to Cuba be­ Sutherlin, Oregon such a series informative. I, for This weekly stands four-square HA. for international working-class cause of U.S.-Cuban relations. The Pasadena, California one, feel that there is a gap in my INS says it has to detain me because knowledge concerning the subject. solidarity; and whether it's miners I might commit another crime in the Eastern Europe in West VIrginia, railroad workers Good work! My husband and I J.S. future. The Militant does an excellent in South Africa, or ambulance appreciate so much your commit­ Chicago, Illinois The review procedures set up by job. I would like to see more in­ drivers in England, you folks cover ment. depth articles on the political the INS are unfair. Those detainees c.w. Consider a story on ... the beat. who were in detention during the forces in the USSR and Eastern One suggestion - what about Philadelphia, Pennsylvania I like the Militant. Before my Oakdale/Atlanta riots in 1987 have Europe, especially within the covering job actions and organiz­ been promised a one-time review of working class. Also, more news very eyes I can see and suppose ing drives for pink-collar working their cases by the Justice Depart­ Environment and analysis of social and eco­ there are millions of dollars being people like nurses, teachers, sec­ spent from the earthquake fund ment. Close to 50 percent of the INS I really enjoy reading the Mili­ nomic problems here in the United retaries, etc.? These sisters are here in Santa Cruz. There are a lot decisions in those cases are being tant. It's the only paper I've seen States with a lot of factual back­ often on the lowest rung of the of holes in the stories I read in the overturned. But those who came into that gives in depth reporting on ground. income and status ladder in the detention after 1987 will not get this important labor battles. I would A.K. local rag (Sentinel). Someone United States and deserve atten­ should do a story here in Santa review. like to see more stories done on Berlin, Connecticut tion because of the exploitation I beg you to take a close look at important environmental con­ Cruz: "Capitalist ripoff of the and abuse they are subject to as a the INS detention policy of Mariel flicts. More analysis of the events in poor." result of their class affiliation and Cubans and do what you can to Profit motive capitalism and the the USSR and Eastern Europe. The L.E. their gender. change it. environmental well-being of this revolution in Romania deserves Santa Cruz, California You do a wonderful job. I am A prisoner planet have irreconcilable differ­ particular attention. Thanks. thinking of canceling my Chicago El Reno, Oklahoma ences - differences that must be T.Q. I first got the Militant for the Tribune subscription; only the addressed because of the ozone Kodiak, Alaska coverage of Pittston. I would ap­ baseball scores hold me captive! depletion, greenhouse effect, rape preciate follow up on how miners R.F. The letters column is an open and plunder of the world's ancient and families are adapting to their Rolling Meadows, Illinois forum for all viewpoints on sub­ Please consider a series of arti­ forests, and outright poisoning of changing situation. jects of general interest to our cles detailing in depth the histori­ the rivers and oceans. S.L. The Militant is a very enlight­ readers. Please keep your letters cal circumstances that led to the Brunswick, Maine ening paper. I shall continue sub­ brief. Where necessary they will I am an environmentalist wood creation of the Stalinist regimes in scribing to it. be abridged. Please indicate if worker and I see a great deal of Eastern Europe shortly after World you prefer that your initials conflict building up over the tim­ War II. At this time of heightened Would like more coverage on P.W. be used rather than your full ber issue and releases of dioxin interest in Eastern Europe, engen- Panama after the invasion. What Jamaica, New York name.

April 13, 1990 The Militant 19 THE MILITANT Nicaragua Coke workers strike, voice resentments over privilege

BY SETH GALINSKY "How is it possible that MANAGUA, Nicaragua- Workers at the company buys materi­ the state-owned Coca-Cola bottling plant als, then loans them to the here went on strike for a day to win back the director, and lets him pay job of a well-liked supervisor. The successful months later, but workers job action also allowed worlcers to express can't get a loan to take their built-up resentment at privileges enjoyed by child to a hospital? management. "And while you're an­ On March 21 production supervisor swering these questions, Mauricio Blanco was fired by the plant man­ why don't you tell us about ager for being "disrespectful." Blanco called the birthday parties the di­ together a meeting of worlcers in his depart­ rectors celebrate at the best ment. He said he was being axed for raising restaurants and hotels?" charges of corruption and misappropriation Corea asked, to loud ap­ of goods. Production worlcers shut down the plause. bottling line and called on their coworkers to "We are exploited," an­ also stop worlc and demand that Blanco be other worker said. "It's not rehired. right that the directors have Workers locked the factory gates and put all kinds of privileges." up signs protesting "the unjust ftring of After two hours of dis­ compafiero Mauricio Blanco." The plant cussion, Mauricio Blanco manager, Carlos Vega, was not allowed in. took the floor and called for "Vega is a dictator," mechanic Manuel an end to the job action. Velazquez said. "We're going to stay out until "Let's go back to work and Mauricio is reinstated and Vega is fired." set a new record for pro­ duction," he said. 'Lot of opportunists' Militant/Larry Seigle One worker continued to Assembly of striking Coca-Cola workers. In one-day action they won reinstatement of well-liked Francisco Ruiz, a 22-year-old war veteran demand the removal of supervisor who was fired by management known for its corruption. and member of the Sandinista Youth, added, Vega and a complete "Vega says he's a Sandinista. The problem is change in the administra- that there are a lot of opportunists who have tion. CST leader Gutierrez responded, "Many office. We can't disrupt things now." back Mauricio's job," Roberto Martinez taken advantage of the revolution to enrich criticisms have been raised here that must be As soon as the meeting was over, workers stated. "We're quite satisfied. As for the themselves." taken seriously. But Vega has to give an went back to their jobs. rest of our demands, we'll have to see as One worlcer, who supported the pro-Wash­ accounting when the new government takes "We achieved our objective of winning we go." ington National Opposition Union (UNO) in the recent elections, stated, "This is not a political question. It's a labor matter. Mau­ ricio is honest and hardworking and then they Teachers strike before UNO takes office just go and fire him for no good reason." During an assembly attended by most of BY SETH GALINSKY "What we want is a fair wage," Ruiz said. posed the strike and strike supporters, some the factory's 650 employees, local union of­ MANAGUA, Nicaragua- Forty-five "We are tired of promises that are not carried of whom support the FSLN, and some of ficials, representatives of the Sandinista teachers at the Ramiro Goyena high school out." whom do not. Worlcers Federation (CST), and Blanco all here staged a three-day strike they hoped On March 21 several hundred teachers and One teacher objected to accusations that tried to convince the worlcers to end the strike. would spark: similar actions at other schools. school administrators from Managua, includ­ the teachers at Goyena were reactionaries Daniel Reyes, union president and super­ The strike was ended when it did not spread. ing those on strike at Goyena, attended a because they were on strike. "Our stomachs visor of mechanics at Coca-Cola, told the During the partial stoppage, teachers on demonstration organized by ANDEN. Many are not right or left," he said, "just hungry." worlcers, "This union is not going to support two of three shifts at the school taught classes of those present were members of the FSLN. Julio Madrigal, an FSLN supporter, criti­ an illegal strike. Besides, we have already for half the regularly scheduled times. They Guillermo Martinez, ANDEN national cized the strike for hurting the students. lost a day of production. Who does this hurt were demanding higher wages. president, presented the teachers' complaints "Right now we are in a transition period," he the most? The worlcers." Teachers are poorly paid relative to some in writing to Education Minister Fernando stated. "We have to tum over the country to "The Ministry of Labor has declared that other sectors of the working class. In May Cardenal. "We have fought for many just the new government and guarantee stability. this strike is illegal," added CST representa­ 1989 several thousand members of the demands and they have not been totally sat­ We need to continue to worlc to insure the tive Manuel Gutierrez. teachers' union, ANDEN, went on strike to isfied," Martinez told Cardenal. "We under­ demobilization of the contras and to help win From the crowd someone shouted out, "So· demand wage increases and improved bene­ stand the difficulties the government has had international economic aid for the new gov­ what can they do to us even if it is illegal?" fits. While most teachers did not join the with the contra aggression and the U.S. eco­ ernment. Gutierrez responded, "That means the leaders action, it received widespread sympathy. nomic blockade." "We can't ask for an excessive pay in­ can be ftred. Both sides need to be flexible." Leaders of the teachers' union, and of the Martinez said teachers were demanding a crease," Madrigal added. "We have to realize "What are they going to do, ftre us all?" Sandinista Workers Federation, and the substantial wage increase, improved retire­ that the contra aggression and the economic someone asked. Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) ment benefits, and approval of a law regulat­ blockade caused these problems and we can't "We're staying here until Mauricio is accused participants in last year's strike of ing the teaching profession. The teachers solve them overnight. Everybody suffered back," another worker added. being counterrevolutionaries or being manip­ wanted the measures adopted before April because of the war." ulated by right-wing parties. After a week 25. "We know that on February 25 a new "We want Vega to explain his actions," Yadira Cisneros disagreed. "It is false to most of the strikers were back at work:. stage was opened and that we must be pre­ several said. say that everybody suffered equally from the President Daniel Ortega granted some im­ pared," he added. The assembly ended with the agreement effects of the war," she told the meeting. provements in wages and benefits at that time "You can be confident that President Or­ that Vega would come to the factory the next "Many people did quite well. Doctors make tega will take these proposals and immedi­ morning to answer questions from the work­ and promised to consider further wage in­ over 20 million cordobas a month plus all the creases. ately study them," Cardenal told the crowd. ers. little perks. The army was granted a 100 As Cardenal started leaving, Ruiz and Teachers at Goyena explained why they percent pay increase last month, We are also Reinstated other teachers from Goyena attempted to decided to go on strike now even though they professionals who deserve a raise .. did not join in the stoppage last May. hand him a petition listing their demands. At a packed meeting on March 23, Vega "We have exhausted every means of strug­ Referring to the victory of the National Cardenal said he had another appointment announced that even though firing Blanco gle," she stated. "It's time they paid attention Opposition Union (UNO), a pro-U.S. capi­ and had to leave. But Ruiz demanded an had been justified, he wowd be reinstated "in to us." the interest of maintaining the unity of the talist coalition, over the FSLN in the February immediate answer. workers." 25 elections, Yadira Cisneros said, "We don't Other participants viewed the action by the Martinez, while saying that the decision Vega defended himself against charges of know what's going to happen with the new teachers from Goyena as a disruption. They on the strike was up to the teachers, asserted, corruption. While admitting to using com­ government. If we don't win some improve­ began yelling at Ruiz, accusing him of being "Strikes by teachers and health worlcers never pany carpenters and electricians, as well as ments now, who knows what's going to hap­ with UNO and of trying to form a parallel get public support anywhere in the world." company paint, to fix up his home, he stated pen when Dofia Violeta takes office? We have union. After everyone had a chance to speak, Ruiz he had paid 11 million cordobas for the to establish a precedent." She was referring proposed that the teachers at Goyena and the services and materials and would soon pay to Violeta Chamorro, who becomes president 'We are for ANDEN' national leadership of ANDEN "maintain another 11 million. on April 25. Ruiz stood his ground and tried to argue better communication to avoid incidents like "There is nothing wrong with this," the his point with the other teachers. "We are for the one the day before." director said. "My actions were authorized 'Tired of promises' ANDEN," he said. "We are against an inde­ He also proposed that teachers at Goyena and an accepted practice. I did not steal Edgard Ruiz, a leader of the action who pendent union." reaffirm their support for ANDEN and that a anything. Everything was paid for." supports the FSLN, stated, "This is a histor­ Concerned that their actions had been mis­ statement clarifying that participants in the Vega's explanation did not satisfy the work­ ical problem that goes back to the times of understood, Ruiz invited ANDEN leader strike were not counterrevolutionaries be is­ ers. Tomas Corea took the floor to object. "If Somoza." Anastasio Somoza was the dictator Martinez to visit Goyena the following day. sued. a truck driver here loses an empty bottle, he overthrown by the FSLN-led revolution in The meeting turned into a debate between By an overwhelming majority those pres­ gets charged for it, plus a 17 percent fine. 1979. members of the Sandinista Front who op- ent voted to end the strike.

20 The Militant Apri113, 1990