^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^™ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ FLAG ORGAN |£J, OF THE ANARCHIST BLACK CROSS VOL V No. 7 20p WHO ARE THE REAL CONSPIRATORS? In the "Persons Unknown" conspiracy case — to which we refer on another page — a blanket of silence has surrounded the charges which are being swapped around all the time. Many of our friends have been bewildered by the events and asked for an explanation which nobody outsi the police (or at least, a sinister section of it) has been able to give. We are able now to expose the bizarre trutr, behind the alleged conspiracy to cause explosions that never existed outside the minds of the "Anti" Terrorist Sqoati or which (as Insp. Bradbury said in court) were "unfortunately — I mean fortunately" prevented by too early an arrest. There have been no terrorist-type crimes in England, or anything which could conceivably have been described as such, within the lasi five years other than Iris Mills (Black Box Photos) specifically I.R.A. or Arab nationalist These attacks include the bomb at the courts. To save tace, certain charges arc attacks, the perpetrators of which have Conservative Party headquarters (proved quietly being dropped and other more been clearly defined, or the attacks made long since to be an obvious dummy and a plausible ones substituted, like robberies by fascist organisations upon leftist harmless hoax and probably for publicity) which apparently no-one saw happening. premises and persons, which the Anti- the burning down of the Socialist Workers On this we can't comment. But who are Terrorist Squad have previously denied was Party headquarters by fascist elements, the the conspirators moving in secret, who their responsibility and on which the arson and damage do;ie to various trade tried to get the fascists off the hook, who police force as a whole have not acted. union and Communist Party premises, the are part and parcel of the effective It may seem incredible but it seems the parcel bomb at Peace News, and maybe government of t.iis country? While Mi's Anti-Terrorist Squad were contemplating other attacks of a racial nature (tho.igh and bishops protest against racialism, has trying the trick of the Italian secret police these have not been mentioned by the the National Front walked into the halls in the case of Valpreda. Certain elements police) might have been brought in. of government - in classical fascist thought it would get the fascists off the The political police, Special Branch, fashion — by the back door? hook if tney could pin tie blame for these did not agree with this line. Politically This is not to play at 'cops and fascist attacks upon anarchists. The lies wiser they refused to give support to the robbers' despite the detractors. It is part and political contortions of the prostitute "Anti" Terrorist squad in such a frame-up. of a 'game' of Anarchists and Fascists press make it certain that a large part of Individual statements by SB officers in that has been going on now for sixty years, the public would be conditioned to accept private suggests that they are highly a 'game' that is being played by the so- automatically that libertarian socialists called security services everywhere and a embarrassed by the antics of the would be capable of any crime. The 'game' in which no holds are barred on brute-force and ignorance squad. But , absence of motive doesn't matter when their siile. they're the dreaded anarchists! the case has already gone forward to the

\jr~~' State of Play as at Nov. 11 1978 (Anarchist Day) VOL V No. 7 20p We now hope to open a bookshop and Printing & typesetting 250.01 centre before the end of the year. This Postage 60.00 Published by Black Flag, Over the Water, will cost us £1,300, we have already Stationery 3.00 Sanday, Orkney KW17 2BL. raised £520 within the group but we need 313.00 Printed by Anarchy Collective, London. £510 by the end of January We are Sales & subs 211.00 asking the international anarchist move- Donations* 15.00 226.80 '*'•".. - • We're still having trouble over our mail ment for aid. If you or your organisation deficit on issue 86.20 (yes, the address in Orkney is right; no can help us, please do so. Please make all brought forward 1473.42 we don't all come from there), some monies payable to: total deficit - £1559.62 mail going to long since abandoned Alan MacSimoin, 49a Leinster Road, addresses, to Anarchy Collective, Centro Rathmines, Dublin 6, Ireland. Donations* JG (Woolwich) £5: MS (HMP) £3; R.McG Iberico etc. •^..:..^ Our apologies for the delay in getting (Orkney) £2; TM (Devon) £5. Total £15. NEWS FROM CIENFUEGOS this issue out. but we having trouble once Prisoners/Resistance Fund again with the Cienfuegos typesetting Would all Cienfuegos subscribers please SB (Cosham) £6; SS (Guam) £4.08; machine which looks like it's now going note that the latest issue of the CPAR Total £10.08. i/h £30.72, Total £40.80 down the road for the last time. It's (Nov . 4) is due to be mailed out to them British L ibertarian Prisoners trial £94 - going to set us back a few bob to replace during'the first fortnigllt of December. We ^£8_3 Austrahan ABC, £11 Dublin) passed must apologise for the lengthy delay in it - approximately £8000 - with one ANARCHO-QUIZ whi:h will do the work efficiently and getting this issue out, but we assure you we.i. so if you have any spare cash which that it has been due to circumstances way 1. The tale of Dick Whittington (and his \ ; think would be well spent by anar- beyond our control. We are sure, however cat) has delighted generations of children. chists acquiring a word-processing that when you see it you'll feel the wait But the real Sir Richard Whittington machine please send your donation to was worthwhile. Every attempt is being (while "thrice Lord Mayor of London") Over the Water. Sanday,.Orkney marking made to make sure that the next issue left a far more sinister legacy. What? 'Typesetting Fund' — all contribu comes out by March 1979, and quarterly 2. We all know about Anarchists who will be acknowledged. after that. With your continued help tried to kill off the Tsars in the struggle and solidairty this should be less of a against terror in Russia but was there November 11th as Anarchist Day - atfer problem than it was last year. (just possibly) one Romanov whom an so many years of neglect - got off to a Forthcoming Titles: We had hoped to Anarchist saved from death? quiet start. But the idea should spread have a further three titles out before Xmas. 3. As there is a religious maxim that the for next year. Some comrades had, we but. again due to problems beyond our Church does not shed blood (Ecclesia nan learn from one regional bulletin "quite control, this is unlikely to be the case. novit sanguinem) how did Pope Innocent a heated discussion about whether we A New World In Our Hearts : Tl.e Faces II get over it. and how (as shown in should celebrate Nov. 11th instead of Of Spanish Anarchism, edited by Albert the Bayeux Tapestry) did Bishop Otho May Day." This is a misunderstanding. Meltzer (£1.75 + 25p p+p) is in fact printed get over it? One is not a substitute for the other. but bound copies will not be avilable 4. Which English novelist is more than May Day is traditionally workers' day, until late January. Towards A Fresh anyone responsible for the newspaper the day of the red flag. November 11th Revolution, The Friends Of Durruti (75p caricature of the Anarchist - and for was (from 1886 until it died out when it + 20p p+p) and An Anti-Statist Communist which contrasted stereo-typed caricature coincided with Armistice Day) the day Manifesto, Joseph Lane (75p + 20p), the was he later responsible? of the Anarchists, the day of the black first two titles in our New Anarchist 5. The first Chief of the Cheka and flag. The two are complementary not Library series, are being printed during later head of Ogpu was not originally a opposites. December and should be sent out to Bolshevik. From which party did he come There is always a conflict about having subsciibers together wth A New World and why was he chosen by the Bolshevisk? an anarchist demonstration on May Day In Our Hearts at the beginning of February. 6. Why, if Fagin is supposed to be a anyway — usually one wants to go off The Guillotine At Work by Gregory Jew, did Charles Dickens give him a on a union procession and propagandise, Maximoff: Zapata of Mexico by Peter typically Irish name? it's the one day one doesn't want to hive Newell; Charlotte Wilson On Anarchism, Subscription rates for one year: £12.00/ off — though the lead given by London 1886; An Anarchist Manifesto by Anselm Anarchists on the idea of a social May $24.00. Bellegarrigue; Scientific Socialism and Remember that we can only continue our Day is a good one. There are no such Anarchism by Bukharin, Fabbri and publication programme with your direct clashes on November 11th. We will give Rocker; The Red and the Black: Anar- support, commitment and solidarity. If earlier notice about November 1 llh chism Against Fascism In Italy, 1920-45; you are not already a CP subscriber please 1979. Next year it will be internath> lal. and hopefully Facerias, Anarchist send off for a subscription today. Or why Once again. Extraordinary by Antonio Tellez will all DUBLIN ANARCHIST GROUP not take out a subscription to Cienfuegos be ready and out to subscribers by the for a friend as a Xmas present U;is year - Anarchism has litt!; or no tradition in middle of summer 1979. it beats a pair of socks or a Marks & Sparks Ireland. However sin ,e the beginning Badges: FRIENDS OF CIENFUEGOS jumper again! of this year groups have been formed in badges, with our new logo of a multi- Cienfuegos Press, Over the Water, Sanday Belfast. Dundalk and Dublin. dimensional A with the indestructible and Orkney KW17 2BL. In Dublin we have been active on a ubiquitous eye of horus peeping over the Cienfuegos Press Bookservice Now number of issues including H-Block. the top (guess who that symbolises!!) in eye- available: Libero International (No.5), anti-nuclear campaign and the defence catching red and black will be mailed out 35p + 15p p+p). of the IRSP 4. Members are also active to subscribers and supporters only during Rengo: The Japanese Peoples Movement in their trade unions, the women's mvoe- the course of December. Subscription and the 1900's 35p (+15p), Namazu, No.2 ment and within the Trade Union cards should follow soon after. 20p (+10p p+p); Open Road , No. 8 45p Campaign Against Repression (TUCAR). (+1 Op p+p). ASTKII>PROLL~the case agains*»—' t her extradition -. The arrest of Astrid Proll gave the media The charges against her Trial and prison conditions the opportunity to play their usual ideo- At her trial, Astrid was charged If returned, Astrid is likely to spend logical game. She was described as 'a another long period on remand before masculine type woman said to have with two attempted murders arising out of an incident in Frankfurt in 1971 she is brought to trial. There are sub- lesbian tendencies' - purely guesswork by stantial grounds for believing that she will a reporter chosen for the sole purpose of At the time of writing these are the not receive a fair trial, given the recent grounds on which the West German defining her as different from the normal, interference in the legal rights of defend- as defined by them. authorities will try to extradite her, ants. Special courts have been set up though they may also press other "Terrorists" of course could not be to hear "political cases", which are run charges in connection with bank "normal" because unless there is some- by carefully selected judges. The robbery. In the Frankfurt incident, thing wrong with them, there might be prosecution can now compel defendants it is alleged that shots were exchanged something wrong with what they were and witnesses to make statements with- when the police recognised and gave attacking. out a lawyer present and letters between chase to two suspects in the street. No The manager of the garage at which lawyers and client can be intercepted one was either hit or hurt. It should she was employed, who had ample time and examined at the prosecutions oe noted that the German police are to observe her - unlike the reporter who discretion. Police have raided lawyers' had never met her, but summed her up very ready to claim attempted murder offices and seized defence documents, charges. The Chief Attorney from a court appearance - is reported to Defence lawyers have been banned for have said, "I'm absolutely shattered. Ste remarked in 1967, "If someone is protesting at the treatment of their was a quiet, Jce person." And how hit with a truncheon by a police clients in prison, and replacement could a "quiet, nice person" be a officer and disarms the officer and lawyers refused an adjournment to "terrorist."? hits him back, they should prepare prepare their case. Why she fled from Germany themselves for a charge of attempted We fear that, if convicted, Astrid murder." (Source - Verboten 1). Astrid PrDll was brought up in Kassel, will receive a heavy and vindictive Germany, the daughter of an architect. ; sentence which will reflect the recent After leaving school she went to Art College escalation of terrorism, and the current in Berlin to study photography. She became • political atmosphere in West Germany, involveu in left wing politics through the rather than anything she is alleged to 1968 Students Movement, the activity have done. -gainst the Vietnam war, and through She will also be returned to the same working with young people from approved inhuman prison conditions which were schools in Frankfurt. It was during this nearly fatal to her in 1974. Her period in Berlin that she met other . circulatory condition is still poor and members of the subsequent Baader-Meinhof liable to deteriorate rapidly, as has already become apparent during her Her Imprisonment few weeks in Brixton Prison. In Astrid was arrested in Hamburg in . addition, the new 1977 Contact Ban May 1971. She was then held for 2& Law allows the German authorities "after years until her trial eventually started in the proper assessment" to deny a prisoner September 1973, in Frankfurt. During any contact with family, friends,.or this time she was subjected to two periodi even a lawyer. Prison visits now take of sensory deprivation and social isolation place through a thick glass screen so in the 'silent wing'.of Koln-Ossendorf that no touch or natural sound contact orison (November 1971-January 1972 and is possible. Auril 1972-June 1972, a total of 4^ months). WHAT SHE FACES IF SHE IS RETURNED When not in this wing, she was held in TO GERMANY solitary confinement, for a total of two years Although the charges against Astrid date Public support for Astrid will be — all before any conviction. from seven years ago, and bear no difficult The "silent wing" she describes as being comparison with recent acts of "terror- In West Germany today there has buried alive. She was the only prisoner in ism" in Germany, she will still be been in increasing erosion of civil the wing (it had 6 cells) and absolutely no branded as a "top terrorist" and her liberties so that any protest can be - sound could penetrate into her cell. Her new life here is likely to be ignored. She termed "anti-constitutional" and people cnly human contact was the warders who will be linked in the public eye with can bs prosecuted for example, for brought her food three times E day. The violent crimes with which she has no drawing attention to prison conditions. only daylight was what could filter through connection, and in the current atmos- In 1975 two people who distributed a tightly-meshed wire over a window too phere of fear and reaction in Germany, leaflets describing the solitary confine- high to see out of. The cell and its there is serious concern about how she ment of Baader-Meinhof suspects were contents were painted in white oil paint, will be treated if she returns. sent to prison for six .-jnt! nine months and the bare neon light was often left on C o A"td. on ' for 24 hours. Kurt Groenewold, a defence lawyer who attempted to descrioe his clients' prison conditions, was also brought to trial in a manner that was internationally condemned (by, amongst others, the Haldane Society and the New York Centre for Constitutional Rights). Members of the public who might be SLAVES sympathetic to Astrid's case will be inhibited by the fear of losing their own jobs. Under the Berufsverbote (job bans) l'/i million people have been investigated and thousands banned from public service jobs of any kind (includ- the camp. Once these facts have been ing postmen, teachers, train drivers, Forced labour continues to be used in established, the information is regarded as local government officials) because their the production of raw materials and accurate. "loyalty to the constitution" is in manufactured products destined for A Brief Historical Sketch. question. ':export. Political prisoners are also The growing repression and waves of When arrested in London, Astrid said: employed in the lumber industry and all arrests in the Stalinist era (1918, 1929-1938. "I do not expect to survive if I am returnee isorts of unhealthy dangerous work done 1948 - note the 10 year intervals) carried to Germany." Of the early members of • in inhuman conditions. millions of prisoners off to the forced the Baader-Meinhof group with whom At present we know of t!>e existence labour camps. The official figure given by she is associated, eight have met their of some 730 camps, jails or asylums used the soviet authorities is for 15 million death in prison. The others who are as detention centres for soviet dissidents. people deported up to 1956. now free are living ordinary and Investigators employ a number of Regrettably, it has been shown that peaceful lives; we want Astrid to have techniques to ferret out such well-guarded this figure falls far short of the real one. that opportunity rather than the threat secrets. Every factory under construction The White Sea. Volga-Don. Moscow-Volga, of illness and death in prison. is sen/iced by trains with steam locomotives Krymsky, Kazakhsky, etc., canals were "Friends of Astrid Proll" oppose her These trains are controlled by a technical built by this army of deportees. Beyond extradition to West Germany for the service known as Kotlonadzor. Political the Artie circle, they dug iron and coal following reasons: prisoners are always used in these new mines (Vorkuta, Inta and Pechora in - She has spent the last four years industries so it is possible for Kotlonadzor Kazakhstan; Karaganda, Dzhezkazgan in Britain leading a legal and construc- workers to ascertain where the camps are and Kengir in Norilsk, plus Kemero'.o and tive life, and has made many friends located, at least in the area of their own lots of other places). They laid down an who do not want to lose her. operations, as well as the approximate immense number of kilometres of railways - There are many grounds for numbers of detainees. This is one source and roads. Goldmining was expanded at believing that she will not receive a of information. But the only information Kolyma. Altai and Bodaibo. Detainees fair trial in Germany, given thecurrent; accepted is that which has been verified. built new cities in the steppe regions and operation of the legal system there, Generally speaking, a first source gives beyond the Artie Circle .... Norlisk. as well as events since 1971, in which the geographical location of a new camp. Solikhard. Vorkuta. Inta. Igarka, Magada . she has had no part. A second supplies details of the number and so on. During tins period the transport - Without being convicted, she has of detainees and a third source details of and felling of lumber for export and for already spent nearly three years in the number of KGB officials in charge of home requirements was a job for deportees. prison, including two years of solitary confinement and four months of From 10 to 12 Million Deportees. sensory deprivation. This experience Today, following the recent wave of nearly killed her. We are frightened You can help by: — •arrests it is estimated that Soviet political for her life should she be sent affiliating to the campaign, either prisoners number between a millions and back to Germany. as an individual or as an organisation a million and a half. Non-political making public statements of prisoners are estimated to number between support for Astrid, passing union 8 and 10 millions. As in the past, this - Extradition of Astri.l Proll would resolutions. vast pool of free labour is utilised for amount to an endorsement by sending donations for campaign industry and for construction. the British Government of the costs to "Friends of Astrid Proll" Recently these forces were redistributed. continuing erosion of civil liber- writing to newspapers, MPs, etc., The bulk of the prisoners are employed in ties in West Germany. speaking on radio phone-in programmes felling trees, building hydro-electric plants Astrid Proll will be fighting her collecting signatures for our petition .and thermal plants, in furniture manufacture extradition by legal means through the putting up posters in your phce of in the diamond mines, and in jobs which courts.and, if necessary, by appeal work. are dangerous to the health, like uranium to the Home Secretary. "Friends of mining and silicate mining. Astrid Proll" wish to publicise her FRIENDS OF ASTRID PROLL, 109 The Detainees Work in the Export Field: case as widely as possible. We also Backchurch Lane, London E.I. Cheques Tnere are over 100 known concentration wish in the event of her being exrra- to F.A.P. Acct. No.' 50062315 Coop Bank camps, specialising in lumber which are dited, to create a campaign of inter- Leman St., E.I. profitable concerns. Mikhail Neiburger, a national concern and support for her Letters of support and solidarity to former Red Army trooper who was a guard in Germany. We welcome the broadest Anna Puttick (Astrid Proll), H.M.P. at a camp in the Kemerovsk district, claims possible support. Brixton, Jebb Avenue, London SW2. that in 1967 his unit was standing guard at the city of Ukhta. As a geological I the prisoners to ease the harshness of this researcher first, then, later in four produc- 'arid land. The director of mines, however. 19 camps. Each camp held 400 to 800 tion wells. There were over 3000 Grigorian, was of the opinion that barbed prisoners engaged in the lumber business. detainees working under the harshest wire is the most fitting v .-oration for Neiburger's statement confirms the testi- conditions. The same witness claims that these places. Zealous c nuade Grigorian mony of Tina Brodestkaya who was these moern day slaves built the oil pipe- ' must stand in favour with the Party: it deported for her Zionist sympathies and line of Chibiu and a refinery for military is hurdly likely he will t-nd his days in a for having expressed her wish to emigrate use. Amalgor worked in the export field .camp. to Israel. In 1960, she was sent to various sicne the drums he used to be filling camps in the Irkutsk and Kemerovsk D."tth Camps bore the stamp USSR export. Next, he districts to fell trees. She joined 500 Launches ferry groups of prisoners was sent to a plant which produced heavy women who were forced to carry out this from Astrakh?n and GUIiev. The con- water, again for export. Prisoners in the exacting work in harsh conditions. centration camps amid uranium mines are Mordovia camps work on the production Several female prisoners died beneath the -no isolated phenomenon. Since no one of components for Moskvich and Chaika snow or were frozen by the cold of the can survive beyond one year, there is a cars which are also sold on the foreign icy steppes. We used to work on rudimen- constant demand for manpower. Some market. Detainees in Camp No. 24 in tary skis, says Tina Brodestkaya. This of these camps are located near the the district of Voroshilovsgradskaya make situation has remained unchanged and Ukrainian city of Zheltye Vody. There boxed candies for export. unimproved over the last years. According .are another 1C in Vologodskaya district, Finally, prisoners from Guriev camp >o the testimony of another former near C'ernovet in the centre of the USSR. on the Caspian Sea prepare the caviar deportee (Valeri Kukui) made in 1975. It is there that prisoners sentenced to which enlivens society parties. The same political prisoners were used to fell death are sent. Radiation from the prisoners built the outbuildings which iumber for export. Brigades of prisoners uranium is so strong that only a few were called after Lenin. The factory's would work around the clock - 8 hours ^survive more than 6 months. In each of current expansion is the work of for each brigade. The work was carried these regions there is a total of 9000 prisoners. out in the vicinity of the Novayce Lyalya prisoners at any given time. Railway station. Women in the Concentration Camps: I.i Dubrular- (Moldavia) camp number The network of concentration camps The female detainees currently 10 is dist'npuishcd by is severe special functions still. Another witness, Khain employed on the island of Shikotan, (part regime. In point of fact, it is not a camp Golan, was not regarded as a prisoner. of the Kuril archipelago) number 6000; 'but a jail since the prisoners are kept in He was merely exiled to Siktivkar in the they prepare fish and shellfish for export. cells, inside the prison, there is a glass- north of the USSR for his beliefs. There - These products, highly prized in the works. The an is thick with glass dust e tells us — the law is in the hands of the West, are unobtainable inside the USSR: and there is no ventilation. Political ars. The deportee's group to which he they can onlv be purchased with foreign prisoners work there 10 hours a day. 10 belonged came to Sflctivkar by boat: their currency. At the moment it is not hours during which they breathe the only food was raw flour.(350 grammes possible to assess the number of female tainted, killing air which surrounds (hem. daily) mixed with river water. The exiles prisoners in the USSR. We only know After their work is finished (hey return lived in cabins without beds, mattresses that they are employed for very exacting, to their cells near the glassworks, cells or blankets; lacking any medical assistance unhealthy work like the chemical treat- which are also impregnated with the or medicines; with no opportunity to ment of electronic components, of same dust. taste meat or green vegetables. They which they have to produce an unattain- Prisoners Working on Missiles workeu and they died. All this has been able quantity each day. All for the Nuclear submarines are built on iho confirmed by another witness who was an benefit of the Soviet electronics.industry. ,'Baliii:. neat Leningrad, in the Kolnimo internee from 1953 to 1963. It may be Like the male prisoner?, the women are 'shipyards on the Black Sea -- in the city noted how on more than one occasion, also deployed in other tasks which are .of Zhdanov - and the Vladivostock yards detainees chose to allow themselves to die. highly profitable to the State. Two on the Pacific coast. Bases for these Anyone who moaned about the work site camps on the outskirts of the city of isubmarines encircle the USSR, from the was shot by the guards: this was an easy Solikhard in the Tryumenskaya region, Wrangcl Islands in the Artie Circle to the way to commit suicide. This camp survivor specialise in working with diamonds. health resorts on the Black Sea. The explains how some prisoners, in despair Female prisoners in Bodaibo. Altai, submarines put in there for periodical used to send out macabre messages to Kolyma and elsewhere are employed in checks, repairs or to have their missile the outside world by cutting off their :he extraction of gold. tubes cleaned out. Who is it that risks fingers with an axe and lipping them Forced Labour and Top Military Secrets: his life doing just that'.' Why the political among the chopped lumber. In 1974, Prisoners are even used for top ' prisoner of course. Thus there are two some representatives of the Centre for the secret military activities. In the south camps in Bukhta Rakuskha south of Investigation of Jails, Asylums and Con- of European Russia, along the Caspian, is Vladivostock, a camp at Tayra (Kanrich- centration Camps in the USSR visited Mangyshlak, a peninsula situated in the atka), two in the north, in the Soverod- the United States to make enquiries bay of Kara Bogaz. The region is a vinsk naval base, another in the bay of with the chief wood importers. These desolate one, a desert surrounded by Paldiski, in Estonia and so on. However. confirmed that they had, in fact, come salt marshes, in the middle of the steppes. we arc nowhere near knowing all the sites across a severed hand or fingers in the No one enters the area which is very where the victims of the soviet regime wood shipments they had received. And rich in uranium deposits. Only concen- suffer and die. when asked by the investigators why tration camps have prospered amid the Prioners in the Petroleum Industry they had not made this fact public, the land surrounded by mines. Thousands reply was: Business is business. In 1975, thousands upon thousands of prisoners have met a slow death from of slave-prisoners were involved in the Every single export industry uses handling uranium without the proper this type of labour. I. Amalgor admits petroleum industry. A witness spent 10 equipment. An engineer who worked in • to having worked in the oil fields near J years in the camps. He worked in different t!,;se camps recalls the futile efforts of establishments in lite Omsk and Irkutsk The Death Railroad districts. As weU as in the districts of But the Soviet propaganda does not draw Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semipalamsk, etc. In 1945. right after the Second World the line at such ignominious procedures. Then he travelled throughout the USSR, iWar, the Soviet Union started to build a There is also a lot of talk about the to Siberia, to South Asia, the Caspian railway of some 4-5,000 kilometres in smiling children of the USSR, and their Sea, the Caucusus and Transcarpathia. length, starting in Tashkent in the Irkutsk grinning pictures adorn the papers and Along with thousands of prisoners, A region, skirting the Bodaibo goldfields, north to 1 ikn R.,i^i 7,i 7 appear in manifestosmaimcMoe,. . Meanwhilivieanwiiilee thertnete arc Witness built the Omsk platform with his to Lake Baikal and on to Vladivostock. children in that country suffering and own hands. Almost 100.000 detainees This railroalllroad iIsS oOff greaCI eatt importanceimnnrts,,™ , dyinA..!. g in th,. e concentration camps. were employed in its construction. strategically and militarily; it runs parallel 35 years have passed since the survivors A witness, also had the sad privilege to the border with China, although some- ot the Nazi extermination camps were of working on the Arsarsk platform in what set back from it. While it was under liberated. How long before the ,-,ates of which 10,000 prisor ;rs had a hand, wqrkin^ iconstructioJ n the Soviet press never the Soviet camps are flung open? in temperatures of up to 40° and 50° athed a word about the work which (An extract from a report by the Centre below zero i xns of prisoners died of was done by prisoners. Today, part of 101 Investigation of the Jails, Asylums and exhaustion or malnutrition. i he railroad has been completed, and Concentration Camps in the USSR). the sleepers rest upon the boncs'of Nobody Has Lived Longer Than 6 Months thousands upon thousands of prisoners Russia: One Big Concentration Camp. In 1975, civilian workers took over from Another political prisoner, I. Amalgor the prisoners and it was announced that Camps in the region of o work in the Ukhta petroleum this work had been done bv Komsomol- \ Azerbaijan (Caucasus) is along with 3000 other political the authorities were so proud that they Khabarovsk etainees. The work there is so dangerous showed part of it to delegations from Kazakhstan 1ms longer that,^months. fraternal parties coming to applaud the Irkutsk * *£j vv' "pM'ULiU tilt Latei he helped build an oil pipeli,v marvellous achievements of the Soviet Krasnoyarsk between Ukhta and Chibiu where the Union. Krasnodai crude is refined into petrol at a platform Thus on the steppes and in hundreds Sverdlovsk erected by other prisoenrs. of camps, work continues on the death Perm M.K., an engineer who worked in the railroad and the building of several cities. 20 Latvia 17 Moldavia Guriev area on the Caspian for a while. Amid blizzards, at least 40° the prisoners relates the Guriev district is a huge island are sent out to work; women too, have in the Gulag Archipelago. He gives a this hardship inflicted on them. description of the Guriev camps and the The atrocities borne are still being on the Mangyshlak peninsula where borne by the victims of the Soviet State it is prisoners who do all the hard work, employed in the accomplishment of this In the area around Krasnodarsky. an great labour know no bounds Hunger ' important ^troleumdMlttek the USSR, 'cold att* softs of torture and oppression there are 35 wells extracting the petroleum, may be seen daily in the construe ion of Adding to one witness. D. Bidzel an ex- the death railroad. Amid such desperation BENEFIT prisoner who spent 8 years n the camps some detainees tattoo their foreheads or tor the five there are something in the region of 30 vheeks with slogans like Slave of the USSR. camps in the area, holding at least Brezhnev's slave, death to communism, 'PERSONS 30,000 people. slave of the KGB and so on. Siberia: Hell 60° Below Zero The Soviet press never misses an UNKNOWN1 Finally there is Siberia, where there opportunity to sing the praises of this are hundreds of camps where the prisoners great achievement. We quote from the i\O extract petroleum and where oil pipelines magazine Rabotnika No. 3 from 1976: have been and continue to be built. "In the construction of the B.A.M. These areas include the Yenisei river, and from Bashkir, across the Urals, over the the territories of Turkhansky and Tyumen. turbulent rivers of Mount Inzar, we are going to lay down a railroad from Chismi Prisoners also extract petroleum in the and Belotersh - a women's brigade Yakutskaya region where the temperature working on the route. They are Raisa in winter reaches 60° below zero and Stepura from the Ukraine. Masha Markelova where the winters begin in September from Moravia. Tania Igosheva from Rudia, THE SOFT BOYS and last until June. Pipelines in the Amina Ibatulina from Bashk and their region carry oil vards the fuel-hungry free they nor the icy winds have prevented the world. The link is somehow incomplete: women's biigade from finishing their petroleum is extracted elsewhere like work before the date set out in the 5 year the Tunguska river: the names of these plan." places are self-explanatory: DiavoTskoye, It would be hard to be more cynical. which is Russian for the Devil's place. Poorly clothed, hungry women are building All these islands are part of the Gulag a railroad under the close supervision of archipelago where innumerable prisoners the KGB and Soviet propaganda describes labour. it as construction by a communist vanguard. THE MYTH OF THE REVOLUTIONARY

PARTY* Marxism & Christianity commandments - not coveting one's . . neighbours donkeys or asses - or the The revolutionary party is a myth of the study and prayer permitted which to some .bewilderin? variety of dos and do-nots in * twentieth century. It has never existed. The might be, in this day and climate, arduous )euteronoiny, the authoritative tone theory dates from the (imaginary) work, and not the pleasure it was to a previous nted as coming from God himself, i success of the Bolshevik Party in making generation? It is easy to see how the swept away argument without settling any- " the Russian Revolution, since which it has subject affords endless discussion, argu- thing; to create confusion and misunder- dominated Marxist thinking. As a result ment, the possibility of schism, the reliance standing for a thousand years or more. i of (what was in practice) Lenin's counter- upon an educated, professional body of (Since a man is not prohibited to marry revolution, the myth of Marxist Leninism casuitical leaning. (Rabbi, in fact, means his ntice, can he do so? Yet it says has been propagated by a huge and teacher; the teacher is not the equivalent plainly a woman may not marry her growing university industry throughout the ol a priest.) nephew). State Communist countries and overflowed Marxism has appealed to many scholars Christians are not bound by the 'Law' into every university in the rest of the of a Talmudica) bent; Marx himself indeed the last quotation for instance is left to world. It is the subject of theses and came of a line of Talmudists though one the priesthood, though in practice all comment as economics has replaced need not attack too much importance to their hang-ups and inhibitions derive theology as 'Queen of the sciences' and this. The arguments of Marxism follows from it. A practical necessity of the capitalist economics and Marxist-Leninism the establishment of a Law for Marx Jews, Tor instance, was to increase and are reiterated endlessly without any never established a party. Marx's law is multiply b-.'ir.g a small people in the questioning of their main hypotheses. In supposed to be scientific and immutable middle of a highly susceptible country examining the basic tenets of Marxist- and successive generations of Marxist surrounded by enemies, with plenty of Leninism we must fin t however notice scholars have tried to interpret all events room to expand. Hence they banned all that the set of events on which it is based - from beekeeping to trade unionism, practices likely to diminish the population did not happen in the way they are inter- from ping pong to war (as in China — e.g. homosexuality — and increased preted at all. The conclusions drawn today) - in the light of the Law. The respect for the marriage bonds — unlike f ahe and based upon false premises. entific law proclaimed is the inevitable the Greeks who, in a barren country, In this respect we may well compare the transition from feudalism to capitalism to wanted to k.-ep their numbers down and 'old' and the 'new' revelations of Marxism monopoly capitalism to socialism. This took the reverse view. This has dominated and Marxist-Leninism (they are not is Marx's dwn theory, his special contribu- legal thinking to this very day, about identical; and the surprised discovery by tion to science (and not any descriptions 2000 years after it has ceased to matter, philosophers of the essential difference of what socialism is or how it can be and is the essence of the Judaeo- between the two) with the 'old' and achieved). The current trend to find Christian laws that cause the reactionary 'new' testaments of Judaism and Christianit; 'Marxist play and rights," Marxist analysis »-jws of today (and the hyper-reaction to Judaism, like Marxism, claims to be of sport, or laboui organisation, based them too). based on an infallible and unalterable Law on the need to reconcile these different Similarly, in the new revelation of (in the one Divine, Scientific in the other). activities with an immutable Law. Lenin, Leninists are not bound b> the This Law is immutable and has very little This is not to say that the Law is scientific law of Marxism. Russia was relations to current problems. Hence it necessarily wrong - at any rate all the the most reactionary and feudal country encourages a vast degree of comment and time. Marx's analysis of the development hence it could not be the one to have a interpretation - Talmudic on the one of capitalism from feudalism is sound — it revolution according to Marxist laws (and hand, Scientific Marxist philosophy on the was based on hindsight. It does not some sects of Marxists hold that therefore other. follow that his analysis of the development it did not happen). Leninism rejects this The Talmudists will argue endlessly into socialism was right and history is as Christianity rejects the mosaic Law; as to what the Divine Will is on particular still proving him wrong. He thought that but at the same time utilises the law to subjects. They claim no direct connection monopoly capitalism would grow to the buttress its arguments. with the Almighty as Christianity does, and point where - because of increasing , Lenin, as the apostle of the 'new' therefore base themselves on what the poverty among the proletariat — it must • religion, like Jesus (if the comparison is Law says and how previous scholars have inevitably be taken over by the latter. not too startling) begins by rejecting the interpreted it. E.g. a pious Jew might be This has nowhere occurred (the Leninist rule of the scholars and just as Christ concerned if his sons can play football on myth asserts it has). Nor is the Law of rebukes the Pharisees so Lenin castigates Saturdays. The Lord omitted to say any- Moses necessarily wrong. 'Thou shalt not the Social-Democrats with whom he thing explicit. Working is prohibited kill.' t'liat could be a grander injunction? . shared common beginnings and a common which would exclude professional football But the adherents of the Law do not faith.- Both Christianity and Leninism (but could one see it if one did not have to consider it means what it says. A plethora are based on a set of events which are pay to enter?) - and how does this affect of considerations .nakes it practically ' supposed to have happened. If these LIPJ amateur football? Is it 'work' or 'innocent worthless and everyone knows that in historically false, then they are materially pleasure'? Rabbi This might argue one practice such an all-sweeping command- . false. The discussions about whether the ' way and Rabbi That the other. Their ment is incapable of fulfilment though historical events of Christianity really arguments might be finely based on nobody admits it in principle, therefore a happened are well known, the new myt1. • precedent and inevitably tortuous. Is not • multitude of amendments and interpreta- 1 of Leninism less so. Lenin claims to have tiuns surround it. As for the lesser are divisions everyone knows, and this actually carried through the revolution. As was said of the New Testament, itself makes the revolutionary party out- He did it by means of a revolutionary what was new wasn't true; and what moded. Lenin's theory was based on the party arming itself with the historical was true wasn't new. To justify itself, fact that there could only be one working truth. In fact, was this the case? Leninism quoted the old Laws of Marxism class party ... in defiance of tlie palpable The revolution in Russia was carried which they had superseded. The party fact that he had split from the main out while Lenin was sitting in a Zurich had the right to suppress all other parties party (but that had sold out to the cafe. Tsarism regarded as unshakable and because it was the party of the working- bourgeoisie). In Leninist terms, the symptomatic of entrenched reaction was class. Capitalist parties had suppressed one party had the right to suppress all swept away long before any of the the workers; now through the Party the the others because these were bourgeon Bolsheviks saw Russia. They returned workers would suppress the capitalists, parties. But what it there were more than due to the astuteness and doubledealing and while the state was 'young' and one Leninist paity. each able to outbid of Iblphanc! Par/us. Helphand was a surrounded by capitalism, it had to x or undercut the other? Marxist scholar of the old-school whose assume dictatorial powers. The state is The answer to that was in Portugal, connections with the Marxist social- now 'old' but the new laws are seemingly where the Communist Party was within democracy in Poland and Germany were eternal. The 'scholars' were substituted an ace of seizing power. But it was out- intimate: he v\ the chosen associate of by a priesthood. It was no longer a flanked by its rivals, as it is nowadays at Rosa LuxemDurg and Trotsky (who question of interpreting the Law. Some- every turn. Yet not one of them can picked up from him the theory of one had come who was greater than the ever take power because they too will 'permanent world revolution'), as well Law. The priesthood, or the party, had be ouiflmked by yet another. Another as of the reformist section of German the right and duty to interpret what He accommodating Helphand Parvus social-democracy which had entered the would have done in any given circumstance. cannot be found to put one in power and Imperial Government service during the As He lived in a particular time with then let it reason with hindsight an war. But he had previously defected to particular historical events happening, argument needing guns to back it. become a major capitalist entrepreneur these became the point of reference of Granted that the so-called revolution- and so a sought-after commercial adviser everything. To this day the 'Samaritans' ary party has no future in any revolution, of the wartime German Government. (through a misinterpretation of a particular does it have any purpose at all? If il h With a foot in both camps he conceived parable) are assumed to be good: the trying to get power for itself, one can see a brilliant triple stroke - to rescue Pharisees bad. To this day Leninists — its purpose. If it is seeking to nourish Germany from a Russian offensive and basing themselves on Lenin's attitudes certain intellectual leaders and buiid an enable it to concentrate on fighting the to contemporary events, largely dictated artificial leadership that may eventually West: to give a boost to State Communism by the civil war — give the priestly replies hope to be taken seriously by a real to which he still owed ideological support; as to how the Godhead would have reacted, following, then one can see the point: but and to make a fortune out of speculation and judge movements of today on his this does not amount to more than a on the collapse of the Eastern front. This judgment of them fifty years ago. confidence trick. It is undoubtedly true could be done by bringing Lenin back to This question of a revolutionary party that people of a given political (or any Russia and equipping him with the money was dubious. Marx never conceived the other) tendency have the right and the to float a major well organised party idea of a party taking over the role of pleasure to group together in one body, but that would take over the government and salvation like a priesthood. He envisaged why a party? bring Russia out of the war. the scholars controlling the mass party It may well be true that the deficiencies It succeeded brilliantly so far as two but looked on the party itself rather as of the anarchist movement in the past has of the projects Helphand had in mind Lenin looked upon the trade unions. always been in precisely the opposite were concerned, though for the Imperial In the context of today the concept has direction. One writer has ingeniously German government it proved to be only become increasingly ridiculous because argued th- tyranny of structurelessness one more nail in the coffin. It is to of the multiplicity of parties. (though there is a greater danger of Helphand one must give credit for the In the first place the Trotskyist move- tyranny of tyranny). Without a party success of Lenin's counter-revolution. It ment broke from the Communist Party, structure one can have the domination was a counter revolution not a revolution. though basing itself on the same texts. of the loudest voice, the worship of Control was largely in the hands of This was in one sense the split between orator, demagogues or writers, reliance workers, peasants and soldier Soviets. those who clunu to Marxist 'talmudism' upon 'militants' as distinct from all others Lenin's achievement was to make those with Leninist 'priesthood,' and those and so a drift into a situation where Soviets subject to party discipline. who held that the priesthood has the sole hierarchy and bureaucracy having been Other Marxists such as Trotsky only right to determine how matters should be thrown out of the door creep in through came to accept this party idea at the last run thereafter. But this one schism has the window. One is also wide open to moment. They had clung to the older caused others well known and highly penetration by other people who /<> party as long as possible. When they comic to some, a major tragedy (in their have a party when one has a body which saw the well equipped new party carrying ultimate result) to others. The division has no leadership. It is unfortunately all before it — able to buy and subvert is threefold: impossible to say decisively that all P ;lice and soldiers - they joined it and (1) Moscow line: the revised Stalinism problems are solved if one does not 'iave proclaimed the Bolshevik Party as in (2) Maoism: and its many splits and a revolutionary party. But on the positive effect a new religion, that of Leninism, or counter-splits: the old Stalinism sometimes side it has no purpose beyond domination, as they called is misleadingly. Marxist- interlaced with Bolshevik pre-revolution and it should be recognised as an evil. Leninism. dynamism and sometimes with a total Generations of'revolutionary parties' rejection of all Marxist dogmatism as in Britain have achieved only one thing: against Leninist dogmatism (3) Trotskyism. the almost total alienation of the working in its 57 varieties. It is pointless here to class from what was once the working discuss the many divisions. But that there class movement. 8 Albert Meltzer. What comrades who talk like this fail to assess is the heart of the British working Coder's forum class. It is despondent, depressed; it is lost, culturally and politically. In material terms, comnared to the Third World it is The State of the British Worker and he bothers to reply. He is also anti- a great beast that has everything; in capitalism, anti-employer, anti-police, pro spiritual terms it has nothing. The ancient The working class of the worldarj a prisons, pro-hanging, pro-trade unions... antithesis used to be between choosing recognisably large grouping. But not every in an evening's conversation he can be be a happy nig or an unhappy philo- head is turned the same way in a group; trusted to reject communism, accept Social- sooiier Th? BW lacks even these uneasy some are taller than others, some fatter than ism, reject capitalism, acceot property, alternatives - he is a very dismal pig. others. With this said, I want to analyse the state reject fascism, accept restricted immigration The strategy is obvious. A myriad of of mind of the British working class, who and stronger police power .. When these tactics needs devising to make him even are all I can begin to understand. ! cannot possible inconsistencies are pointed out, he more dismal! Only when the BW thinks speak for Dutch, German, French, Spanish becomes bored or aggresM\e, wanting to eat, 'Anything is better than this! can \ve or Italian workers. I am an intellectual, drink, fight, watch TV, passively observe offer something of our own — a cause, university-trained in philosophy; my mother others playing football or lornicating. What precise form that cause will was a cook-housekeeper to the gentry and Not because the BW is a fool. He is take is yet beyond us. "Everyman — my father was a joiner. This is mentioned alive to his own interests hut cannot devise thres acres and a cow" almost cracked both as a credential and as an explanation a safe method of grabbing all the goodies the Iberian Peninsula in 1936. But the of my standpoint. the left and the ridn oroffer him without PW is irreversibly a proletarian, not a land- What is a British worker? Is it the dropping those he is already holding, loving peasant; both want control over drunken oaf who assaulted me in a dad: and without strings being attached to personal life-style, but the life-styles diverge the new ones. He needs to be taught street last month, claiming Iwas a 'bloody The Right to Work campaign is already either that the political goods he holds trouble making Red?' is it the grossly obese sinking without trace after being in aren't good, or that if lie follows a certain unemployable who gazes sadly at me from existence for a year, mainly because the political technique he can inherit the a park bench as I go by? Perhaps the smart employed aren't interested and the political kingdom of plenty which has young gasman who came to check a leak, unemployed have swallowed the State every good possible, or that some goods manipulating complicated gas chromotograph) line that it is the fault of the unemployed are more satisfying than others and we meters to do so? the fat, longhaired cow- that they are so. left know where they are stored. eyed postman? Hairdresser? Depression takes different forms, but not possible to undertake the P?rhaos the BW (British worker) c a fact of working class life subtle prolonged dialectic required to defined negatively, by saying who isn't one. olescents vandalise My doctor is not a BW nor is the policeman guide him to ajcommitmeiit on one of and turnicate indefatigably; adults send these alternatives, in a pub! the nation's bill for alcohol soaring, every nipping past now in his oolice car, nor is my So the BW remains apathetic, which other marriage immediately heads for greengrocer. In the pub the barman is, the is a pessimistic way of saying that the divorce; the irrational in speech, dress landlord isn't. BW doesn't know what to do for the and manner proclaim the animal within '.Viiot about my dentist? He works, man.. . best. And as long as the beer, cigarettes, ihe BW struggling madly to get out and standing on his feet all day like a hairdresser, chips, football and TV flow, there is no working amid bad smells as a sewage worker live! Only the rising crime rate shows incentive to formulate opinions guiding that some class health exists. does, biood as an abattoir attendant does... All that is needed to ignite this social He doesn't earn as much as an oil-rig worker - to the best. What else can one exoect? The only explosive is more of the same, followed and lie's a fervent Communist too. Yet if a opinions the BW has are :he only ones by presentation of a simple cause. k'>79 dentist is to be considered a BW the whole possible, those gleaned from school, is going to be an interesting year on our concept of a grimy working class collapses books, papers, TV, radio .. . and we all island ... almost as interesting as 1980 into fatuity. Only logical fatuity, however. know who ruts the cheese in these will'ie! For the BW is plainly to be seen and heard traps! The BW parrots in 1978 what L.H. and contrasts sharply with the non-BW the Russian worker parroted in January throughout the State. 1917. Whether the BW is to experience Indefinable, like the colour yellow, the an October deuends how feckless the < BW exists as the colour yellow exists; there\t is tempting, being a philosopher, to go rulers become. Those who should know better prattle FRIENDS OF on to argue by analogy that this gives grounds on about the 'reactionary swing' of the CIENFUEGOS for saying the BW is simple and fundamental BW as if it won't turn into a 'progressive as yellow is, and that therefore non-BW shift' when the weather improves. They badge types are complex and derivative. But if exclaim over the obvious tactics of the logic is to survive it must cease to be State Press as it splits the employed Aristotle's Logic and become Asian, from the unemployed by referring to dialectic logic, the pattern of growth, not the 'overtime greediness' of the one and hair splitting. the 'malingering laziness" of the other. What is the present state of the BW? But both drink in the same pubs, side Unemployed (1.7 million); employed (6.3 by side. Hopefully they buiid revolu- million). Housed reasonably; aid above tionary card castles out of arraignments of mere subsistence whether in or out of work. top politicians, inflationary trends, Politically invincibly bourgeois liberal even sporadic bombings in London and Ulster, when socialdemocratic, anti-communist, protracted strikes.. . But the exact anti-fascist. That is, if you bother to isk economy of Britain creaks slowly, steadily on. prisoners

COMRADES SINGLED OUT FOLLOWING GARTREE RIOT JAKE Some who read our article on Jake No Comment Required Comrade.- PI il Ruff and Malcolm Simpkins Prescott in the last issue of the Flag may The following letter was received by were among two of the prisoners quickly like to contribute to a testimonial to Cienfi'sgos Press from the United States hurried away from Gartree Prison and this outstanding fighter when he eventually Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, singled out for special charges following the comes out of jail. He has lest most ot United States Penitentiary. Illinois 62(>5l> riots at Gartree on October 5th when the possibly all his remission and it will along with returned material sent to inmates of A and B Wings demonstrated probably not be until next year. Some comrade Lorenzo Komboa Ervin. We against the use of depressant drugs on comrades in Leicester have already have had much material returned from inmate Michael Blake. started to collect something as a "coming other prisoners in different parts of the According to the official report of the out" present. US. and it now seems to be Dept. of riot ". . . the desperate plight of eight In the case of others who were tried Justice policy to isolate all anarchist officers trapped in a wing of 85 inmates, and some sentenced at the same time, (all prisoners by refusing them access to including those mentally 'disturbed and but him having been released months anarchist literature. dedicated anarchists, should not be under- since) he had no family to stand by him Dear Sir. estimated." Almost as if it were irrelevant and he will have nothing when he comes the report goes on to say that the staff Enclosed is the booklet The Angry out. It is a fine idea of Leicester's to Brigade" which was received by this were allowed safe conduct out of the block ' • ~'tt' build up a coming out testimonial - institution for Mr. Ervin 18750. an with no personal injury to them despite and we understand others elsewhere are reports of threats to cut one officer's inmate at this institution. The Incoming going to offer him a Voliday and so on. Publications Committee is returning the throat. , Jake has led a struggle inside prison above issue to you for the following The official report goes on " .. a which is something any libertarian could reason. The article on page J has as its confirmed anarchist and dangerous psycho- be proud of. He will almost certainly be main theme organisation and unity of path got hold of two steel bars, used for victimised when he comes out and there inmates against correctional institutions weight lifting, and these were used by are certain elements out to get him. This philosophy guides individual inmates the two men to wreak havoc in the We at Black Cross have some cash in corridors."- into situations which can cause themselves hand which was earmarked for Jake and others problems with the posted Phil Ruff has been transferred to including £5 from two other prisoners. Durham Prison, Durham, where he now regulations of this institution. Additionally Noel and Marie Murray. We are opening this type of material on institutions has a faces four charges arising from the demon- a bank account. stration: "... did not go to his cell when tendency to develop an adversary attitude ordered to do so, (2) was in unauthorised by inmates towards staff which can cause possession of an officer's uniform cap (3) an unhealthy environment in this did attempt to do gross personal violence institution. This type of attitude is to P.O. McCardle by throwing a steel detrimental to the good orderly running dining tray at him (4) did smash windows of this institution. on the ground floor of B wing." If ycu wish an independent review Malcolm Simpkins, with only eight New World of this decision, you may write within more months to go on his sentence (like fifteen days of the above date to: Regional Jake Prescott they have taken away almost Director, North Central Region. K.C.I. all of his remission), has been charged with in our Bank Bldg.. 8800 Northwest I 1 2th St. various offences relating to the demonstra- Kansas City, Missouri 64153. tion, but in addition he faces the extremely Hearts We appreciate your assistance in this serious charge of "incitement to mutiny" matter. and may well be tried by an outside court. • Sincerely. Malcolm is at present in Leicester prison. R.L. Williams. Chairman Should they be victimised as a result Incoming Publications Cmmttee. of their parts in the demonstration we shall consider a campaign to prevent that happening. In the meantime we would ask our readers to drop the two comrades The Faces of Spanish Anarchism. letters of support and solidarity at their respective prisons. We'll try and present £1.75 (+25pp+p). a fuller account of the demonstration The Faces of i Spanish Anarchism Free to C.P. subscribers (available Feb. 1979). in the next issue of Black Klag. ; Edited by Albert Meltzer 10 So we must go further along the road leading to the destruction of the patri- archal nuclear family. In that event it feminism/Italy would effectively cease to be the institution whi:h prop:; up the authoritarian state, as it still is today. If women had refused to lu\ children and shield men from their -ocial anxieties during the fascist ITALY: THE PERPLEXITY OF THE 'Spreading the consciousness that resists eu, fascism woulu never have been able 'HISTORICAL FEMINISTS' oppression.' to make an impact. So today it is important (cont. from last issue). Manuela: "In the present situation in to spread t<> as greater number of women Italy - where we find ourselves caught as possible the consciousness - I won't Roman Diary (II) between terrorism and the authoritarian call it feminist — that resists oppression. state - political separatism threatens to It's a level below that which we as feminists In Italy as in France the women's move- become a consolatory separatism. Foi have already reached, but it does mark an ment finds itself in a period of uncertainty it is impossible to speak about separatism advance on wnat the State and the and self-questioning. How to move if the means to define political autonomy workors' movement continue to demand forward, how to avoid being trapped in are no longer to hand. Separatism from women, wives, and mothers. That o')!itic-il allegiances which may not cannot simply consist >n women uniting is why straggle M the private, family necessarily be in the interests of women, together, that's meaniii,;'jss when what we level is central and revolutionary." svnhout at the same time turning their are looking for is a method of building the Do you think that mother in Milan backs on the political situation? "To political autonomy of the women's move- was ...'iiectir.L, an awaieness that is fight on our own ground" is what many cu,n;non to all women or is she a special Italian feminists want; but they also ment, that is to say, developing our own case'.' know that their hard-w.on terrain is at risk analysis of every aspect of life in Italy. This does not mean that we must imme- Manuela: "I don't think that's the average of disappearing altogether with the emer- diately state a position on the kidnapping position of Italian women, especially not gence of authoritarianism and violence. working-class women. But I think it's This raises a number of questions about of Moro or the terrorism 01 the BR. No, an important symptom of the change the development of the women's move- to my mind the urgent problem facing the that's been brought about by feminism ment as a political force and about its feminist movement consists in understand- in lt?ly. For the last 6 months at leact possible links with other forces. ing that there is one institution where women can either maintain or overthrow the feminists have been at the centre of Having heard from the young autono- authoritarianism, and in understanding attention in Italy because it's the only mists of Gazza Ladra, we turned to the how they can fight against the turn movement to have 'caught on.' That 'historical' feminists, as the 'old hands' in towards authoritarianism taken by the gives women ar identity and makcb them the movement are called. Manuela from State. This institution is the family. What awaie of what's happening in politics and Rome is a member of the women's is the present situation in Italy? On society. Of course that does not mean publishing collective. To her mind the the one hand, the BR, on the other, the that they automatically enter into a present situation demands that the increasing authoritarianism of the State, struggle against the authoritarian family. feminists re-think their methods of with the young people's movement in the Aiid working-class women are probably activity and give pride of place to the middle. Some of them have got killed, :.ue most conservative. But 85% of struggle within the family, even if this as in Milan. 1 The mother of one of the Italian women are confined to the home struggle involves arguing at a level of youths who were killed phoned a free ard the greatest contradiction wiiicli awareness, she says, below that which radio station in Milan. She didn't say, they experience is not that of work but some women 'iave achieved. "Mind and keep your children at home that of maternity and 'invisible work.' Lea does not disclose her point of view. because the fascists are killing them." but At present they have to choose between "Authoritarianism doesn't change our she did say, "We must find these solidarity wit'i the 'emarginati' or snuggle," she says, "it makes it more murderers because young people can't go solidarity with a husband whose image difficult." A return to what she calls the on risking their lives while they're fighting is continually becoming more and more ''old political categories" will not advance for their ideals." That's something very tarnished. To my mind it's highly the struggle of women. Lea is a member different. It means that women tend to unlikely that they would choose soli- of the Via Col di Lana collective from identify themselves moie with the rising darity with their husbands. This isthe Milan, one of the 'oldest' and one which generation and less with their husbands, really big achievement of the movement has done important work on women's even if they aren't explicitly feminist or of '77, 1 don't want to be an optimist sexuality and the unconscious. The conscious of their own oppression, but Fthink there's a lot of evidence to economic process is not decisive, the particularly their sexual oppression. So show that the introduction of an struggle against sexual oppression is just authoritarian state will not pass off as vital. The Via Col di Lana collective, at the moment autonomy for the Women's movement means a more thorough peacefully and with the complicity of incidentally, is the only one to have analysis of the way in which authority is women. And if feminism were to issued a statement on the abduction of handed down in the family via the mother. disappear from our society's political Aldo Moro, which we quoted in the first Society is in a state of tension at present spectrum, women would be threatened ar'icle: "Women do not intend to submit because it's no longer certain that women with no longer having a place to identify either to blackmail, or to terrorism, or to will continue to manufacture the with instinctively, even those of them who the institutions which have constantly patriarchiai consensus within the family. are not feminists or who see feminism as oppressed us." bourgeois, but who nonetheless feel the benefit of its effects. At the present 11 moment the feminist vanguards must and to awaken women's interest in and is of more importance than questioning sustain a discourse which is within the love for other women, analyse relation- the role of other institutions. While political understanding of the greatest ships between women ... So to exist as we're looking for an answer to authoritar- possible number of women, even if that a woman isn't enough to have 'female ianism it's important to keep in mind marks a retreat from the level of conscious- preserves' inside the existing institutions, that the institutions, including the family ness which some of us have attained." for example a few pages in a newspaper or structure themselves on something that Is the movement capable of this? " •"•>••"!<> nf hours on the radio C2Ch 'week. goes deeper, the sexual oppression of "In that it is a movement with a broad 'Women have carved out areas for them- women, the negation of their sexi">l'tv the social base, the answer is no. But on the selves in male preserves but that doesn't man/woman contradiction in a patriarchal other hand I believe that an underground mean that they necessarily use them to socieyt. To accept the family as a basic women's resistance movement is organising express a woman's point of view. When structure means to want to find an institu- itself and fhe magazines, the working- it comes down to it I don't really think tion for women that is equivalent to the groups, th2 spontaneous organisations that this presence alters anything very one workers are in, that's to say, the represent only the visible tip of the iceberg. much. For example, there was an article factory and the struggle against capital. That's wr I am in agreement with written by a woman in connection with 8 I don't agree with this approach. The every collective initiative which gets off March which was addressed to the 'token shift of the State towards authoritarianism the ground, even if I don't always share its woman' in Manifesto, in which she wrote, cannot change our struggle, it simply political line. It has to be added that "Feminism is a wav of lonldno at cnnptv makes it even more difficult. We can't some feminist 'intellectuals' are trying wmch men find disquieting." An article enter into a logic that proposes primary some of their own initiatives in with like that doesn't disquiet anyone, but on and secondary contradictions, since it is existing political or trade union structures the other hand when women have sub- the totality of institutions which we like the '150 hours' campaign.^ This mitted an article on young people and must continue to attack. allows them to reach a considerable drugs v/hich says something different to "What is disturbing and disquieting number of women, and astonishing as it what is normally said, when women tried is not the image of feminism presented by may seem, even to us, the women's to talk about those things as women, the the media or even by some demonstration movement is developing, quantitatively article was turned down. And they would or other, but that women in their every- at least; in the FLM (metal workers' only publish short extracts from the day lives are beginning to alter their union), for example, there is a very consid- article we wrote about terrorism and the , praxis depending on whether they're in erable number of feminist collectives. State." the family or at school in the factory or That's the Italian magic ... ." Do you think that the present political in the union ..." situation has affected women's struggles? Footnotes: "Some people think that with things 1 Ma.iuela is referring to the deaths of as they arc the feminists will have to lay Fausto and laio, two militants belonging aside certain of their analyses and view- to the extreme left who were killed on points. That, I think, is to fall back into the the night of the 19-20 March. 100,000 old categories of vanguard/mass, the old people demonstrated at the funeral. categories of militantism and bolster up 2. '150 hours': period of job training for the educative function. Well, feminism has hoursewives and unemployed women put a question mark against militantism. corresponding to the value of 150 hours the relation of those in the know — the of paid work. vanguard — to those who don't share this knowledge — the mass. There isn't one set Authoritarianism doesn't change our of concerns and problems for the vanguard struggle, it makes it more difficult. and another for the mass. In my collective Lea: "The distinction between separatism we have from the beginning been looking and movement autonomy is an ambiguous at sexuality, it relation to culture, to writing. one. Some comrades think of separatism Some people thought that elitist. Then as a means to attain an end, autonomy. Thisafter several years the ana'ysis of sexuality approach marks a return to an outmoded came to b,e ™™dered central. Women concept of politics, means/ends. It coudl be whoaren t intellectuals can be very good said that in Italy women's separatism has at talking about their sexual oppression, or been in existence for a long time: we about culture; in the '150 hours', which have a long history of organisation by we talked about a lot in the small groups, women, in the political parties and unions I didn't see any contradiction between for instance, but because these women the work on writing I was doi.ig in my have been able to unite with each other women's group and my discussions with for a long time does not necessarily mean women who work as housewives, for that they have a praxis that is specific to instance. women. To me separatism is the possibil- "Women's needs cannot be defined ity to express our diversity for the first from the outside, by saying that question- time, to abandon collusion with men. ing the role of the family as an institution

This series of articles, on In our next issue: CAMBODIA the feminist movement in TODAY: the truth about the Italy, will be concluded in war and revolution in Indochinlocninaa fch"LUae" nexL*''t """issu" e" "of ~—BLAC—K FLAG. THE BRIXTON DISSIDENTS

THE ARRESTS

Iris Mills and Ronan Bennett were arrested Trevor Dawton, was arrested. Both he and on petty charges such as obstruction. Bail in their flat in Bayswater on 24th May. Vince were charged with C.T.C.E. continued to be refused for the six and News broke almost immediately with Although the police said in court that there were protests by the five men about 'shock' headlines in all the papers of they were looking for more suspects, no Iris's prison conditions. This led to 'bomb factories', 'anarchist cells' and other arrests, other than the regulation scuftles in the dock and assaults on them the emergence of the 'new Angry Brigade.' holding of people who were raided unrier by the polkv both in court and down in On Saturday 27th May Iris and Ronan the PTA, took place after this. Raids the cells. appeared in Marylebone Magistrates however, did continue. The intention of A good example of the police's harrass- Court where they were charged with the police being to collect as much informa- ment of the Support Group members 'Conspiracy to Cause Explosions' and tion as possible on the libertarian left and happened outside the court when one remanded in Brixton prison. In the the anarchists. woman was taken away to a local police meantime more 'shock-horror' headlines The weekly appearance at Lambeth station and asked for her name and appeared in the press of 'cars fill of Court were extremely melodramatic with address. When she refused to give it she bombs' and 'booby-traps.' This hysteria the defendants appearing in handcuffs, and was threatened with detention under the was deliberately created by the police Iris being escorted by two policewomen, PTA and gave in. When the police learned to prepare the public for the raids to but it soon became a complete farce; a kind her name they realised they had made a follow. of 'court theatre.' Armed police surround- mistake - she wasn't even the person The instant publicity given to the e\*\*d thniev v\sucouri tL whilrviiJ.iev inoiv*Vinside,j A.T.S/^. x tkJ.. 1me1 n were they wanted. They t.'ien let her go and arrests was in complete contrast to the present in the public gallery while picked up a German woman and held hoi usual police pattern when a person is searches of the public attending the court for several hours. They said she was being held undei the Prevention of Terrorism took place. Defence lawyers bad their held because of an un-paid fine from the Act (PTA), normally people are held private papers examined when coming to previous year. She was released when incommunicao for anything up to a court, and the magistrate refused to do another member of ihe Support Group week. anything about it. Harrassment of Support -paid the fine for her. This arrest happened In a later raid on a house in North Group members took palce outside the court London ')afydd 'Taff Ladd was arrested. each week, with members being arrested The other occupants of the house were also arrested and taken to the local police station and held under the PTA. They were questioned, photographed and finger- printed, and had all 'rights' denied to them while at the station. The questioning revolved around how they knew the people who had already been arrested, bat concentrated mainly on anarchist ideas and why they held them. Taff appeared at Marylebone Magistrates Court on the following Monday when he was additionally charged with 'Conspiracy to Cause Explosions.' The reason for charging him was due to the fact that his finger- prints were found in Iris and Ronan's flat. A whole series of raids then followed, both in London and elsewhere. The next person arrested was Stuart Carr, a friend of Taff's who was also charged with 'C.T. C.E.' In the meantime, a Support Group had been formed, Persons Unknown, and Vince Stevenson was arrested on 4th July on his way to a Support Group meeting. In the midst of even more s'.ock headlines, this time of 'anarchist cell hit in arms raid' another comrade, despite the fact that she had already been the evening papers about a gun being grounds tor charges other than those he raided and heM, and the warrant for her found in Brixton and the prison was already faced. On 26th October Iris arrest 'iad never been served at her home closed to visitors that day. No gun was was given bail. In court on 9th address. found, of course, but it meant stricter November the charge of 'Conspiracy to The six were all arrested through - security, cutting ^own on the "ood Cause Explosions' was dropped for association. The fact that the ATS was • allowed in for prisoners and cutting down Vince and Trevor. cut in January from 200 down to 30 on books. Association time for the men The police attempt to establish a officers meant they required some arrests Cat. A (top security) prisoners was cut to terrorist group in Enlgand and to make ID show that they were doing their job, 2"? fimiThoursQ , anHd IriTriCs \I/QwaCs ctrir\_C»iQr^«Vi£»/-strip-searched1 turi/^twicea the six an exapiple to the particularly as there has been no IRA 1 on that one day. These measures were left is wearing very thin with these activity in this country for some time now.. later relaxed after a protest by some latest events. In fact, one wonders if Their slogan seems to be: if you J.on't of the prisoners. the IRA had a campaign on in England have any terro ists •'•,; - vou must create On 15th September Astrid Proll if the six would have been arrested some. This is what the police are deliber- was put in Brixton with the other two at all! Northern Ireland i:; always a ateiy trying to do with the six. As England women. This led to more attempts to testing ground for measures later to be has no RAF , 1 ic police want to make one induce paranoia by the prison authori- introduced to the U.K. The treatment and the anarchists are usually the first ties and was used to maximise security reserved for the six workers is usual scapegoats. when visiting any of the three women. only for Irish prisoners. The extensive The fact that no evidence is produced • The prison authorities seem to do use of the PTA, originally brought in in court each week and no explosions . things by whim rather than by rule. to combat the IRA, is now used against have taken place, except by the fascists. They bring in security measures one the left generally - not for any genuine seems unimportant to the police (and to week, then take them away the next desire to bring 'culprits' to 'justice,' the various magistrates). No one has been and think of even more ludicrous ones but to gather information. As Britain arrested in connection with the fascist for the futu -e. Apart from the routine doesn't have a constitution, laws are bomb attacks. The only evidence rpoduced of the metal detector and leaving your made by precedent, and when confronted b\e police has been two cans of weed- belongings in a locker, once Proll was by something like the PTA, we can see killer and two packets of flour and sugar admitted visitors were searched and a only too clearly that we don't have (wholewheat flour) found in Iris and book was produced which had to be any rights at all. The police are using Ronan's flat. The bags of sugar and the Conspiracy Laws to extend their flour were returned to Iris when she got powers. Their demand to have the bail. Reasons given by the police for right to hold suspects for up to 72 hours refusing bail each week were that there would only legalise what they already were more people at large, that the practice. Since the PTA was brought defendants would interfere with witnesses in about 3.000 people have been (to what?,) and there were also dark arrested under it but only i I have been inutterings about armed robberies. ID charged! parades were staged at Paddington Green All the police questioning when police station on 19th and 20th September. people were raided and when Iris and but these parades failed to establish any Ronan were arrested, related to their grounds for new charges and the police's ideas, about anarchist groups and case was looking thinner and thinner. signed by the visitor when coming in anarchism in general. Iris was told that and again when leaving, in addition to the case against them was a political PRISON CONDITIONS the usual forms. Now there were three case and the police would use their While the six all have 'Category A' status. women in Brixton. conditions became ideas. The fact of whether any of the Iris was the only female in an all-male worse. Because only 2 of the 3 were 6 are innocent or guilty is irrelevant. prison. This meant that she was even allowed out together at the one time The case will be fought and won or worse off than the men. Her conditions one of the prisoners had to remain in lost not on guilt or innocence but on amounted to solitary confinement and her cell. Time out of the cell was cut their political ideas and how much women screws were brought in from from 8 to 5 hours when Khloud came hysteria can be generated in time for Holloway to look after her. The police and then down to 2 hours per day when the trial. On 6th November the Privy claimed that Iris was too dangerous to go Astrid Proll arrived. Iris commented Council granted the courts the new to Holloway. Her visits were monitored that she hoped no-one else would come power to remand prisoners in custody with almost paranoic intensity. All visits or they might as well throw away the in their absence in Northern Ireland took place in a small room while two key.' Just when all these conditions because of the prison officers' dispute. women screws remained in the room for seemed to be causing a strain on Iris, The comments of Roy Mason that the du/ation of the visit and censored her she was given bail, and is now allowed those lawyers angered by the new conversations, particularly when Iris talked to visit Ronan. As Iris is not the power were representing the IRA - about prison conditions. A table was put dangerous person the police have tried which shows the attitude of the State between Iris and the visitor to ensure to make out. it seems so incredible to and its ministers to the continual there was little physical contact and no think that she suffered such terrible erosion of 'civil liberties.' If the 6 privacy at all. conditions because of the police's are convicted the State will have the Khloud al Mugrabi, a Palestinian activist, , power to convince magistrates and the perfect excuse to push through all the joined Iris in Brixton after Iris had spent Home Secretary" that she was. repressive legislation it's got in store several months in solitary. The disadvantage for us without even suffering the of this was that the time allowed out of her PRESENT TIME inconvenience of a 'real' terrorist group cell was cut from 8 hours a Jay to 5 hours. On 28th September Trevor was given On 15th August there were reports in bail after ID parades failed to establish V AVX V\, n 14 BOON 1BOOT

AN ISOLATED CASE CHANT A SLOGAN Wlicn Frederick Challis was convicted of criticism ('petty bourgeois' deviation, An article in World Revolution (No.20) the manslaughter of a tramp - 55 year utopianism) and rewrite it, hence the sets out a "democratic repression in old Alfred Shaftoe - he told of 300 cliche 'the gentle anarchists.' In reviewing Britain" analysis, basing itself upon the other offences in which his victims wer° John Quail's book in the Sunday Times, •facts revealed in the "Persons Unknown" "stabbed, razored, clubbed, punched or Julian Symons predictably talks of the case. It fully sets out the facts in a kicked." Defenceless alcoholic Shaftoe was 'gentle warriors of British Anarchism.' _ manner designed to attract maximum battered with "bottles and brick, 'put the But how about current affairs? The publicity for itself, as apparently giving boot in' and finished off with a heavy news editor will seek sensation and turn siuwrot, while drawing a smug conclusion: cylinder" by Challis and his accomplice to the Fascist criticism of Anarchism as a • 'The anarchist/libertarian milieu is so John Burke - both 19 years old. When dangerous conspiracy consisting of weak it has been unable to mobilise much they had done for their victim "Challis criminals. So in the case of the five support lor the defence campaign set up used a rag covered in the dead man's anarchists arrested recently we have been in support of the Persons Unknown. This blood to scrawl a National Front slogan treated in the press to 'ceils,' 'Conspiracy,' is not only a numerical weakness; it is an on a nearby wall." (East Ender, 14. 10. 78). 'about to raid London,' and all the rest .indication of the political weakness of This received little or no publicity in of it. the anarchist milieu. It is one thing to the national press. Challis was only a Yet sometimes journalists, especially help your friends if they are in jaii — psychopath, wasn't he? But it was not •travelling far from home and seeing workers do this all th; time. It is another an isolated case. Asians have been killed; novelty in what they might have found to mount a single issue political campaign bookshops fire bombed; negro families under their noses, and trying to write for their release: such campaigns are attacked or their windows of their paradox; and turn from cliche to truth. instantly recuperated by the left of capital. homes broken, or their homes entered Peregrine Worsthorne in the Sunday The defence campaign around the Persons and ransacked while they were absent; Telegraph (Sept. 3) writes from California: •Unknown has been unable to break out thugs rushed out from the new National "The builders arrived at my friend's of the logic reformism and front ism on Front headquarters with pickaxes to house at 7.40 a.m., 20 minutes ahead this issue. ' attack the public outside. But that isn't of schedule, interrupting the family break- The implication is clear. Had the "terrorism" according to our national press. fast. By way of explanation the young foic • wise, sagacious, and popularly backed (! I These people aren't "fascists" or even man boasted, almost aggressively, that he World Revolution people been involved "racialists", they are just (at the most) was, of all things, an anarchist. 'I sure up for grabs, they would hvae been freed hoodlums or psychopaths and the fact of hate to keep to the rules.' Happy is the immediately. How? their being members of the National Front country, thought I, where anarchy takes . "Jailed revolutionaries such as John or similar organisations quite irrelevant — by such a literally constructive form. If MacLean were freed from prison by the the standards of our prostitute press. .only British workers could be persuaded •action of thousands of striking workers, Just compare this treatment by the to demonstrate their bloody-minded who demanded his release as part of the press, to say nothing of the police (let contempt for the boss by turning up for autonomous struggle of the working alon; the Anti-Terrorist Squad which is work early rather than late!' 'class." T'iat's what they would have not in the least concerned with this There are two attitudes prevalent done. Unlike the support group which activity), with the attitude towards a imong Anarchists in California or any- .ha? been "unable to break out of the libertarian found with some flour, some where else in the world including under logic of reformism and frontism" not sugar and a small tin of weedkiller. By Mr. Worsthorne's nose. The one is to realising that any other course of action virtue of the fact that they are libertarian :ake full advantage of anything given out 'than that in the (not exactly accurate) case and not authoritarian they are automatic- )y the State, to drop out, to strike, to of John MacLean "boils down to demanding ally held to be criminals and moreover abotage the system; the other in fact .that the bourgeois state should stop using the whole libertarian movement is under more common, is to be the most conscien- state terror, the very raison d'etre of the attack. tious and thus not only make it difficult state in capitalist society." for the employer to sack them (how else The Harold Wilson Prize for Sincerity "CONSTRUCTIVE ANARCHY?" did the CNT manage under the pre-Franco to Writer M. Hayes, and let us see what The journalist works in cliches because dictatorship?) but, especially in a craft he does if ever the State manages to working under orders to produce the industry, to show the employer is the penetrate those baffling series of post box appropriate description for an occasion thief, not the worker, by a conscientious- numbers that make up the "international" their minds run in a regular groove. ness on a job to the benefit of the consumer , that he represents. Any literary journalist reviewing a book on Anarchism will seek the Marxist 15 Evening News. Referring to his student Three members of the Tsui Fong Black Glasshouse People days he said he was in France and "lived Society were jailed in London for black- John Junor in the Sunday Express is through their student revolution. There mailing a fellow Chinese for £3,000 and lassies thrQBwi flow£rys at £,, _ b(jt It fed my hostility to the Establishment running a gambling club and had been why are there 'no rallies in Trafalgar and at one level was very exciting. But pressed for money "by members of a Square?' He suggests that it might be when I saw the brutality unleashed more powerful gang, the Wo Shing Wo." that they are holding back until it is against students by the French riot That may well be; but what Mr. Robbins established whether or no Astrid 'in true police, I began feeling somewhat did not explai i to the court was that, sceptical about left-wing extremism. however one interprets the word "gang", Teutonic fashion' kept a book 'containing Up to that time I'd been more anarchist the Wo Shing Wo is a -lolitical organisation anarchist contact in Britain.' (Sunday than Marxist..." (Nov. 14, Laidon with identical aims •> '.I.e English Conser- Express 5th Nov.) Evening News). vative Party. It does indeed function in England as a criminal conspiracy, but The case of John Junor fascinates me. Doesn't it occur to you as passing Can people be less readily identified its links with tne Conservatives were not strange that Ministers evidently know throwing flowers from the public gallery mentioned. what Anarchism means — the Foreign in Bow Street than meeting in Trafalgar When you think of how much shit is Minister Dr. Owen claiming one day Square (a very rare event for libertarians)? thrown at libertarians with the "sinister that the Labour Party owed a little to links with foreign anarchists" that auto- Junor has den onstrated frequently he anarchism and much to Methodism — matically (in police eyes) means a does not know — nad in correspondence the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a criminal conspiracy even where r.othing has admitted he does not care to know - position to learn from his son — a former Home Secretary (the late Herbert criminal exists, this story is as revealing the difference between anarchists and any Morrison) claiming to have been as the "police battle" at the headquarters brand of marxists. But what is the danger converted to socialism by Kropotkin's of the National Front. After ten thugs hadhe sees for others in anarchists' telephone rushed out with axes and iron bars and numbers being in the hands of the police? Appeal to the Young — and even a Conservative Home Secretary grnating attacked people in the street, the police Could John Junor be transposing his a patent of nobility to the late Herbert actually took notice. They finally decided own fears ~ which are justified - that Read without considering him auto- to break in and founds weapons including Ws associations with fascism might be matically a criminal.... yet the word a pitchfork, a pickaxe handle and "how to vf!1 known /rom hj? Phone calls thtriee MI5thI iand tnereforc ''-ust be 'guilty' should largest American corporation, in annual '( bear in "11lld The Black Liberation Army in the United production .... R.M. The charge . of conspiracy to cause States is a mixed ideological bag like Another issue, that must be considered explosion against the six comrades The resistance movement in Germany: is the fact since the end of the civil have now been dropped by the prose- its dominating politics are Maixist- rights movement in this country, the cution as the Attorney General has Leninism and it considers itself an political repression has tripled with the refused his fin for them to proceed. uTned force for the national liberation initiation of the (Cointelpro) counter- However, in its place the police are of African people in America. It also intelligence-program operations of the now bringing charges of conspiracy to comprises Revolutionary Muslims and • local police departments Federal Bureau rob against all six accused, and it is on Anarchists — though for the most part of Investigation, Central intelligence tne ,iieii:Mli of Hiese cliaiyes that it is "revolutionary nationalists and Agency etc., all of which operate to the case will go to court, probably- internationalist" as one protagonist of ' neutralise subversives or dissidents. Since late next year sometime.. Mean- the B.L.A. put it to us. 1968, thousands of political activists We cannot take the same sectarian have been imprisoned, because of time four of our comrades remain attitude to some movements as to others. Cointelpro operations .... The IS locked in Brirton Prison, and :t is u •> Normally we would reject having ;my prison system is seething with revolution- to us to publicise their plight, try to truck either with Leninists or with ( aries, and political activists. get them out on 'bail, and to ensure Nationalists, and Muslims too for that Briefly this indicates the political that the political motivation of the matter (with other authoritarian religions). foundation from whic'.i an Amnesty Anti-Terrorist Squad be exposed for But this would be a sterile position to mvoement can be developed. Here in what it is. take in regard to the Black movement in this country, we a<-e establishing a For up to date information on the America. In the twenties and thirties • national prisoners organisation, and to there was a Black Anarchist movement once I receive all the necessary documents that took a classical anarchist stand. The\d ,1an0 attentiod information to nationan I will l initiatoriginse .a Inen w I Street, London N.I. national campaign in the prison movemen the main one only found after years of which WM! have three primary issues to correspondence that they were of African forge. '•) Repeal the 13th Amendment of origin because one happened to see a US constitution; 2) Unionisation of photograph. They took no account of Prisoners Labour; 3) General Amnesty racial and national struggles which was an for all political prisoners. anarchistic attitude but which unfortunately I would appreciate your assistance isolated them from the majority of in your cou. try to propagate our cause Blacks, though they were composed of in Revolutionary' Internationalist sincere hard workers for the cause who Solidarity, thereby broadening our suffered much for it. base of operation, in concentrating The Black people in America are a pressure on the US in our drive for people robbed of an identity and if thos Amnesty .... The US ir.ust be indicte identity is supplied by Black Muslims or Rastafarians or any other brand of nationalism, this must be progressive in that it takes them further in recognising their position and role in society as a whole. It is this thinking that brings Anarchists into organisations like the B.L.A. though as a minority. Members of the B L.A. now in prison are developing a programme, just as are members of the German resistance. A B.L.A. correspondent writes:, "The Third World nations, who (neo) colonised in this country has suffered centuries of imperialist domination of socio-economic and political-cultural genocides. Because prisons in the US are PETROL unions were legalised, they were not THE WORKERS STRIKES returned their property. Nor did they get The oetrol station workers have been SPAIN back their old status. The UGT Labour movement. Communist-controlled. "social contract.") What do you think of that fellow trade With the so-called demoralisation, The CNT has declined to take part in unionists? After years of labour spouting the fascist syndicates (which had taken these elections and advised a boycott, ft about "the Spanish workers" calling an over from the Catholic ones; were holds, in accordance with its traditional emotive response for the "help given our dissolved. They had been centralised libertarian views, that the workers have Spanish brothers" . . . this is what it was and incorporated in the State machinery. the right to represent themselves and that all about. Importing a blackleg movement Much, one may say, like the way the the union is merely there to co-ordinate to smash the workers' struggle. With TUC is aoin;>. Though the non-fascist efforts of factory councils. added zest because it was opposing a union that notoriously hated communist dictatorship as well as fascist. Never again allow a British labour or trade union leader to declaim about Spain with- out throwing in his or her face what the labour and trade union movement really does for Spain. Petrol workers could help by stopping petrol supplies to Spain. They should do so. but first all workers must get their priorities right: demand of their unions that they stop all subsidies to fie blackleg unions of Sain.

CNT hold a mass meeting of the petrol CO *\1" station workers. International Libertarian Camp SUN AND ANARCHY In view of the fact that anarchists from . On the 12tii October some 2,000 all over the world are making the trek to camp is being negotiated in Valencia, c veterans demonstrate'.1 in Barcelona Catalonia these days - Barcelona is the beach of El Cabanah. A comrade for their pension rights They included becoming somewhat of a 'libertarian running a beach kiosk is negotiating for wounded of the civil w.n. Resistance world capital' we thought it opportune to a camp eight months in the year to serve veterans deprived o»' tl.eir pensions for launch permanent international holiday the various federations of the CNT and ha\int! been imprisoned, widows ad camps. Expenses can be at a minimum cater for international visitors too. Tlie others who were depnvcd of their just other than the actual journey itself, and language problem may be more acute here dues for the crii ••• •_•! having opposed a:i • Y;'0'-tunity given for a real mingling • (j-,ut anyone ingenious can usualK find fascism when it wai in rebellion. of anarchists of different tongues. . ways of communicating). The demonstration, consisting entirely For information only about the: -. 3fli| organiser is*- Ann of wounded, widows and other veteran?, C-iita Brava, contact Enric Tremps, Mas (whom supporters of the Black Cross will maiched on ''alace Square and Paseo uc Trempat, San Feliu de Guixols, nr. remember as a prisoner under Franco) - Colon, to d "iiand of the Government the U-rona, (Spain) - telephone 32-08-46. address, Francisco Eximenis 19, Valencia. modest dfMiand that the allotment of i i-. polish spoken). That way if you're (This is a shop, his home address is No. 56 pension* be accorded to all irrespective of makil&jforthe beach or one <*f th| cities jn t|,e s;inic -,trcet. fourth floor). Telephone the fact that they fought on the defeated you won't be ripped off (the service is 371 3947 (Spanish onlypf1 (and then legitimate) side. , roc I and he can give addresses in the ,,. , _ Costa Brava where one can stay cheaply, - • ••'•..' nguc if that's what you're after.

On Jinn 4th of this year the allegedly iascisi "Warriors of Christ the Km'/" visited the workshops and offices of the Basque Anarchist paper "Aokatasuna." We say "allegedly fascist" because in fact the "Warriors" are not really a political unit but the rearguard of Franco's secret political police, and it is the regular police forces that contain this fascist element. The words 'First Warning" were painted on the windows. During the Festival of Bilbao (the 'great week"), on August 24th, the entire premises were burned down by incendiarists. All archives, workshops, editorial premises, wen! up in llamcs. The destruction ol The first camp is in Vicii (in Catalan, "Askatasuna" was the first of a series of Vic), which is about 30 miles from violent attacks by the rightist-police Barcelona. Vich is noted for its priests elements against the Basque popular organ- (more than anywhere else is Spain) and isaiio'is. While the Basque people weie for the best salami in the world; but the Jancing and celebrating in the s'leets, there was one act after another of these provocations (which will not be described ^^rr^^eSland a couple of km from it). It is ma forme r :^S^S^™rfACl°™*\Rl^™* Navc' N as "terrorist" by the world's press because sheep farm, being rented by young comrades '2 ' 2a- VALENCIA 2, SPAIN. 80 pesetas of the links between fascists ami police!) who are at present cleaning and decorating The "commando" also set other build- (any help appreciated). It is in the mountains Thls IS our slstei Publication m Spam, and ings on fire including the THE (Labour wiih clean air and very suitable for u who can read Spanish Party of Spain, a Marxist body) where families and also for the athletic. There ^Ijp-take out a subscrip- one of them was badly burned by the bla/c are all conveniences including electricity forlffs extremely well produced caused - named Ramon Dalmascs. Here but it is a long way from the seaside (by informative am! imaginative anarchist the Civil Guard detained lour others ol car one could make a day trip). (Address journal. Write now with 50p for a sample the "commando", Javier Irastor/.a (of to be givne). copy to the above address. Bilbao). Carlos Pcrc/. (of Barcelona), Arcso Portell (ol'Tu lelajand Jose Antonio Oliver (of Sabadell). The niateria' losses of the Askatasuna collective are high but the destruction of the archives containing publication* of the CNT since 1(.M I a major and irreplacable loss. 10.000 volumes perished including the only copies of volumes on the workers movement in the Basque country and on anarchism. Z-0 19

- C. N.T. A. I.T.

LIBERTARIAN PRISONERS IN SPAIN AS AT 16. 10.78. (All previous lists are superseded). Modelo - Barcelona Andres Mira Barnes (Awaits trial: member autonomous group). Vincente Doming.ic/ Medina(ditto) Bernard Pensiot (French-awaits judgement) Francisco Ja1 ier Canadas Gascon (ERAT and CNT) Jose Ramon Sanchez Ramos (CNT; arrested in Sciaa incident) Alberto Henarejo (Petrol workers strike committee; CNT) 1 rinidad - Barcelona The warning. GCR(Guerrilleros Ma Fernanda Fernandez Rodino (auton. Christo Rey - Warriors of Christ the King). groups) it is known that one of those who Concepcion Martinez Senor (ditto; awaits attacked .' skatasuna, cut his hand. One of As can be seen most belong to the judgement) hose arrested following the PTE fire- autonomous groups 01 the CNT. jombing had a similar cut. Two of those Yeserias - Madrid arrested in 1978, between Janua; arrested following the PTE attack fit Virginia Cativiela Alfos (Auton. grps). now. None has yet gone to trial. Specific :he descriptions of people seen lurking Ma Teresa Fabres Oliveras (CNT; Sclaa details are given where known to us. iuspiciously near Askatasuna premis incident). How to send aid direct: Write to us (A.B. urs before the firebombing. C, Over the Water, etc) for de Segovia Askatasuna see the attack as i Antonio Cativiela Alfos (Auton.grps). o silence themselves and other irritatir Guillermo Gonzalez Garcia (ditto) eftist groups. Much of what has been Jose Luis Martin Diez (CNT. Scala incident) destroyed can never be replaced. The Luis Guillardini Gonzalez September issue of Askatasuna is five Ignacio Sebastian de Erice (auton.grps) imes (he usual run; the group hope that Jose Cuevas Casado (CNT; Sclaa incident) AC* FLAG egular subscribers will help sell the Arturo Palma Segura (ditto) organ", f of the surplus so that they can rebuild and Luis Munoz Garcia (ditto) \NAPCHISr~QLAfK CROSS continue. Mislata — Valencia Foreign subscriptions which should Rafael Simon Gomez be addressed to Askatasuna, Apdo 1682. Fernando Garcia Morales Bilbao, cost 1 200 pesetas a year. Anastasio Rubio Bravo Zaragoza Jose Ma Cerezo Valladolid Martin Viruega Rodriguez Inocencio Jota Onechea Martinez Pedro Charrero Martinez Moises Magdaleno Alonso Fernando Mena del Rio Angel Antonio Busnadiego AJonso Morales Calvo Jose Ramon Cotera Diez Migeui Angel Munoz Monies Alcala de Henares - Madrid Victor Simal (French) Ocana Eugenio Asensio Nogues Cordoba Fidel Manrique Gerona Francisco Asensio Garcia Nicolas de la Heras Angel Moreno Patino The editoria outside the burned premises ' Answers to Quiz 1. In 1422 he founded the notorious • Newgate prison, which lasted for 500 years of misery and oppression. On its site in the Old Bailey is n. en maintained (at leati fairly convincingly) she was the last of the Romano' /rinccsses, Anastasia, who had survive'" execution in a series of spectacular court cases until the present day. 3. Innocent III established the Inquisition which punished heretics by fire and Bishop Otho 's shown wielding a mace (burning people or breaking their bones doesn't shed blood).1 4. William le Queux, who later steico- typed the Prussian junker image dun ig World War I as the "typical" German. 5. Dzerzhinsky was a member of Un- social-Democratic Party of Poland and Lithuania who entered the Bolsheviks by invitation in 1°17. Lenin realised lu was also capable of being quite ruthless; and coming from the upper class of Poland he had contacts witli the existing political police. 6. Fagin is modelled on a contemporary fence, but while "Oliver Twist" was being written DidcenFquSrSsfeJfwSfi the-flae*'' wardens at the lloundsditch C'laircli !>e attended (bier he ceased lo be an Anglican and became a Unitarian). . . one of them was Fagin, the other William Sykes!

Don't forget to get a copy of the Anarcho- Qui7 Book, the handiest compact give- away of light-hearted information since SEAT Workers go out in solidarity with Chairman Mao's Little Red Book the petrol workers.

The destruction of "Askatasuna" 21 Dear Comrades, attempts have had little success - what's LETTERS I just received my first 'Review' (No.3) so different now? Will it help to dispel the from Fifth Estate and am finding it fog of apathy? Is it proposed that we set very good, as so many have written out on recruiting campaigns? already. Best wishes to all. R.E. Feminism OK, Anarchism Zero I didn't know until I read it on the masthead that you send it free to prisoners. Comrades Zero magazine calls itself Anarchist/ So if that offer includes us prisoners over The Black Flag article dealing with Anarcha-feminist. In many ways it has seas I would like to request a copy of "Computer Rip-offs" was brilliant. been a vigorous, exciting paper - we've No. 4. If not, let me know, because I For many years I have recognised the had seven issues and I've enjoyed most can get together the price over a period guerrilla potential in computer "crime." of all of them - especially the little bits of time, but prefer to use what money Computer warfare would be most effec- I wrote! I get to buy literature that is not offered tive in the industrialised world, because Yet was it comradely to print an free. the State, Corporations, even the secret attack on Anarchy collective in issue No. Also I would very much like to get police and military, depend so heavily 7. I would say the item concerned was Nos. 1 and 2. But No. 4 is my first upon computers for records storage and harmful to anarchism to anarchism in choice. retrieval. The computer is not secure, and Britain - why couldn't internal petty Strong Arm Prisoners Collective has can be penetrated. Now we can find out squabbles be settled out of print? recently been publishing a newsletter called who those Government spies and informers "We think other anarchists should Antikrat". Our distribution is extremely are and put the State on the defensive. know about these incidents," says Zero small at this point, but when we get our about events that must clearly have outside help and money together, we may Lorenzo Komboa Ervin. another side to them. The actions as be able to fulfil part of the need in the reported were not libertarian of those U.S. for a prisoner-oriented revolutionar Greetings Comrades, said to be Anarchy collective members anarchist newspaper. So far we have I was indeed glad to receive a reply - but nor was Zero libertarian when put out a Feb., March and April/May om you. Although it was indirect - it called for longer prison Sentences for issue averaging about 12 pages (one tter yet intercepted by the administration rapists. Which would be more destruc- side only because its xeroxed). I was - and all I received was a letter from the tive — having a 'punch up' or locking rather surprised to find that many of admin, saying that I couldn't have it probably imbalanced individuals in a the people we managed to get it to really because its contents would be detrimental orison cell? Zero's not gone pacifist has liked it a lot. (Fifth Estate is distributing to the security of the institution. ft? the March and April/May issues in their Many thanks to you for a reply though. I like feminism. I'm all for the women's bookstore). So we will likely continue it. And toO, I hope that you all measure movement. They'll say it's lip service — Also I wonder if you are familiar with this reactionary act as a means of but I'm not sure whether a few members the pamphlet quoted later in the article confirmation of positive minds ace of Zero collective couldn't be paying only ("Unions against Revolution"), and if plishing positive things. lip service to anarchism. not maybe someone would want to review I remain, They'll print an atrociously ageist letter it. I found that pamphlet extremely struggling, attacking comrades because they have 'long enlightening — likewise John Zerzan's Louis Mayo. 9912 gray beards' and aren't with the latest "Creation and its Enemies: The Revolt P.S. Although I can't receive your fashion in trendy politics — Zero will, but no against Work," which was reviewed in literature any correspondence is desired. way will they conduct a real debate on the "shorts" section of No. 3 Review. Louis Mayo 9912, P.O. Box PMB, sexual politics - I know, I've tried - but John Jesse Russo (AKA Chepito Atlanta, Ga. USA. even though I may be an anarchist, 1 ain't Garcia) and I are each serving a ten-year a woman, so .... only arse-licking men sentence on explosive charges. They are allowed it seems, a few gays and that's claim that we were blowing up Safeway fucking it. Stores, and "conspired to blow up certain I think sexual politics needs to be government buildings and installations," •£fc-S5- '•'.••. £ between men and women - I don't go though they have proved neither charge. Louie Smith is still doing battle for along with mens groups at all, I like They also claim that we were members human dignity while "in the box" in female company! I like gays as well, but of the Emiliano Zapata Unit. prison in the USA. He has been heteros still need to express a preference. Thank you for the Anarchist Review repeatedly and systematically beaten up So 'Zero', I know you won't believe and all the hard work it entails. by the prison officers because of his me but deep in your hearts i think you Larry Kisinger. constant and principled struggle for know that if we're going to get anarchy solidarity and common decency. we've got to be comrades, anarchist women Dear Black Flag, Recently after a set to among some and anarchist men. What comes first, the I have long had the impression that prisoners he was singled out by the fact that a person is a comrade or that B.F. opposed specifically anarchist officers and worked over in the isolation they're male or female? You ask: "What organisations. So it came as something units. Word has come out from him does the anarchy mean in 'Anarchy'?" It of a surprise to read that BF/ABC intends since then and his spirit remains unbroken. means without authority - male or female, form a more specific membership (No. He greatly appreciates letters of support without hierarchy - feminist or male , p.4). What is in store? Personally and is interested in what is being done chauvinist. But 'Zero' - what's become doubt that the formation of yet another in the struggle on this side of the prison ithe anarcha in anarcha-feminism? organisation will do much to remove the bars. Letters of support and solidarity problems which surround us. Previous to Louie J. Smith, 75A2297, 135 State Jerry Westall. -•'••-'•• •• Street, Auburn, N.Y.I 3021, USA. EL SALVADOR GREECE Sporadic guerrilla warfare has erupted in Meanwhile in San Jose, Costa Rica, Nikos Balis (see last issue) prison El Salvador. At the end of August, the Committee of Solidarity with the address:- Nikos Balis, Ward 7, Cell 31, guerrillas of F ARN kidnapped a repre- People or Guatemala accused paramilitary Korydallos Prison, Korydallos, Piraeus, sentative of the Swedish firm, Ericsson. bands of being responsible for the death Greece. During September there were a series • of at least 20 people during the recent It is sometimes claimed by Anarchists that of bomb attacks, including one directed incidents. The committee revealed that no vote is a vote for anarchism. It's against the offices of the National individuals belonging to the conservative usually a bit optimistic, to say the least, Coalition party, which forms the govern- National Liberation Movement and to but what can one say about the Greek ment, carried out in support of the , a group known as the White Hand (a .municipal elections in October? Prior to Saiidinista guerrillas in Nicaragua. Two : paramilitary group comprised of police- the elections being held the Minister of the days later several police stations were men; had fired on the demonstrators. Interior warned that voting was compul- bombed and a number of policemen Dramatic scenes of the murder and sory, and abstentions from the ballot injured, by the Peoples' Revolutionary subsequent funeral of the Guatemalan would be punished with terms of prison Army, who also claimed the shooting of trade union leader, Arnulfo Cisfuentes ranging from one month to one year Judge Ricardo Avila Moreira, in November. Diaz, and of the police repression were (presumably according to the degree of Moreira was in charge of all "terrorist" shown on Costa Rican television. political intent) and that offenders could trials in El Salvador. Cisfuentes Dia/, leader of the telegraph be deprived of their car driving licence, workers union, was murdered in a car GUATEMALA their work permit and also refused a pass- outside his house by individuals in civilian Paramilitary bands fire on crowds. port to travel abroad. (Another example dress. The General Strike begun on October 2 of government misuse of documents Costa Rican viewers saw the trade in Guatemala city in protest over the rise supposed to be for the protection of unionist's eldest son accuse the para- in bus fares managed to paralyse about people, used instead to oppress them). military bands - controlled by Guate- 60% of the city's economic activity, Yet nevertheless the percentage of mala's conservative political groups - of spreading to other parts of the country those abstaining was heavy, ranging from murdering his father. and developing into a movement with -';> per cent in Athens to 4U per cent in They also saw large numbers of police political and social demands. some provincial cities. While numerous Demands included the resignation of 1 aimed with automatic weapons firing on others, unwilling to risk the draconian the capital's police chief, Colonel German a group of young demonstrators in one penalties imposed on non-participants in Chupins, the release of political prisoners, of the poor districts of Guitemala City. the democratic farce, either spoiled their the settlement of a number of labour At least 12 people including a child, papers or put in blank votes (up to 7,00 disputes in various light industries and in Athens and 2,000 in the port of have been killed and 300 injured in the the withdrawal of the police from state course of demonstrations which have Piraeus). sector offices. resulted in hundreds of arrests. This surely must be some sort of vote They called for an investigation into of confidence in anarchism? There have been attacks on luxury the deaths that occurred during anti- residential districts. In addition, a business ECUADOR government demonstrations and for the 'belonging to the Nicaraguan dictator Three children choked to death as police punishment of those responsible. Anastasio Somoza was set on fire, and an evicted residents of a community housing armed action took place in the town of project in a Guayaquil suburb. The Fraijanes. police attacked the residents and burned some 30 homes in the Pain Piloto housing cooperative. The three children died as a result of asphyxiation caused by tear gas bombs thrown by the police into their home where they were alone at the -time. COLOMBIA Two rival guerrilla groups have claimed responsibility for the shooting of former Minister of the Interior, Rafael Pardo Buclvas, in his home in September. A marxist-leninist group, the Committee of Worker Self-Defence, which has usually confined itself to propaganda activities, claimed the shooting in a communique, but so did the urban guerrilla group M 19. M 19 has carried out a series of lorry hijackings, distributing the produce to the population of Bogota shantv towns. Armed police in Bogota According to information received in Italy has rejetced Switzerland's request Angelika Speitel once worked in the Costa Rica, the town hall and the garrison for the extradition of Petra Krause (38) Stuttgart office of lawyer Klaus Croissant of Fraij,;nes were set on fire by citizens because she is too ill to travel. Krause, and was active in the Committee against outraged over the rise in bus fares. They who is under house arrest in Naples, was the torture of political prisoners. Police were supported by some 15 members of to have gone on trial in Zurich on Novem- claim that she was involved in the prepara- the Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP). ber 27 on charges of bank robbery and tions prior to the killing of Ponto, Buback Two policemen were killed and three raids on Swiss Army arms depots. and Schleyer. Michael was the brother seriously injured in the action. Slogans In spite of her ill health, Italian of 2nd June Movement member, Peter calling for a people's war "against the authorities have scheduled the start of Knoll, and according to the police partici lascist governmen!" were painted on the her trial for a 1974 fire-bomb attack in pated in the killing of the President of walls of the town. Milan, that was subsequently claimed by the Dortmund Court of Appeal. NAP. ITALY Milan police arrested 8 people at the start Silvana Innocenzi, considered by police '.1 of October, including Antonio Savino to be one of the most wanted members of (28) who they claim is an active member NAP, escaped from the Isle of Ponza at of the Armed Proletarian Nucleii (NAP). the end of September. She had been Last year he escaped from the Forli Prison sentenced to 3 years for the possession and was tried in absenria. and was sentenced of arms, and was suspected of having helped to 4 years. Police claim that Savino was 5 other NAP members to escape from the connected with the shooting of Genoa's Lecce prison. public prosecutor. The arrest came just a few days after a muriny by political prisoners at Asmara jail, in Sardiania, during which all the political cells were virtually destroyed. Corrado Alunni. \ 10 police claim was involved in the Moro kidnap, has received a 12 year prison sentence for "possession Angelika Speite' of arms and ammunition." Petra Krause Three days later Karin Aalbers (24) Police have variously claimed him as a was arrested by the police in the West- leader of the Red Brigades, and as a WEST GERMANY phalian town of Bielefeld, accused by member of Prima Linea. which on the Only weeks after German police shot down police of having contact with Willi Stoll. evidence available seems to be a figment Willi Peter Stoll while he sat with his and of "supporting a criminal organisation." of official imagination, used as an excuse hands raised above his head. 26 year old Frankfurt police have arrested Christian to arrest people active in a number of An8ellka Speitel was wounded after a autonomous groups who are unconnected *oot-out on the edge of Dortmund. Gauger (40) a high school lecturer, and his friend Sonia Suder. charging that they with the urban guerrillas. P»ri"£ tl\ *h°oting °™ P°uh~ *" killed, and 27 year old Michael Knoll are members of the clandestine revolution- was seriously injured. He subsequently ary cells. underwent an operation for severe stomach Dutch authorities extradited Christoph wounds but died two weeks later. Wackernagel (26). Cert Schneider (29) and Knut Folkerts to Germany where Willi Peter Stoll they face charges of complicity in the "I say yes to the democratic state but Schleyer and Buback affairs. As Folkerts this society is without conscience. I is currently serving a 20 year prison sen- want a life of social peace, socialist, tence in Holland for shooting a policeman, without authoritarianism." his extradition is "only temporary!" The extradition took place 5 days after a group called "Opposition Rouge" occupied Amnesty International offices in Amsterdam in protest at Al's slow response to the conditions of isolation that the cnnco Iriaca three West Germans were subjected to The Red Brigades suspect Enrico Triaca WELCOME TO AstbTHFc") while in Dutch jails. was sentenced in Rome yesterday (7/11) * ( SHADY MONEV-MAKINto J In November 11 people were arrested t'>r sl.ind.Ting police and possession of \. REAPER*; / by German police after a crowd of 20 burst arms. ! riaca's sentence was immediately into the Frankfurt offices of the DPA suspended, however, and police sources press agency, in an attempt to telex a said they would continue to question the statement around the world on the 30 year old printer about his connections conditions of Werner Hoppe and Karl- with the B.R. Heinz Dellwo, who have both been on hunger strike in German jails for over 6 weeks. The 11 arrested protesters who Subs. £-1.00 per 12 issues (home). were charged with belonging to a terrorist C*jada Australia/NZ (airmail) £7.25, organisation and other offences, included US$14 50. Wolfgang Beer, who has already served a Black Flag, Over The Water, Sanday, 4-year sentence on charges connected to Orknev KW17 2BL. 24 membership of the RAF. Le Monde Libertaire recently reported ARGENTINA on the plight of Werner Hoppe - In A number of reports from Argentina tell DUBLIN July 1971 he was arrested during a police of a series of police raids over the last 3 An amazing prosecution in Dublin led operation that resulted in the death of months which have been directed at the to a last-minute withdrawal of charges by Petra Schelm. In July 1972 he was anarchist movement. In Buenos Aires the Gardai (police) and a victory for sentenced to 10 years. During the 7 about 15 members of an anarchist-marxist women's rights. years of detention he has spent 4te years group 'Libertarian Resistance' have been Marie McMahon is a founder member in almost total isolation. He is normally arrested, and several more have "disappeared " of the Irish Women's Liberation move- exercised inside the prison building and Some militants have since been released, ment (and will be known to many of our is not allowed to speak to anyone. after torture. readers for her work on the Murray During the second part of his detention Argentine anarchist groups have issued defence). She was charged with 'loitering • he has been allowed contact with one an international appeal for solidarity, as a prostitute,' and described the prosecu- prisoner, for one hour a day. reporting the arrest of two carpenters, tion as 'mental rape.' Even the conserva- As a result of this strict regime his Pablo Daniel Tello and Rafael Arnoldo tive Irish Times pointed out that 'to bring physical and mental health has seriously Tello, on May 31st. Their arrest triggered a first charge of prostitution against any deteriorated and he was moved to the a series of raids, resulting in the detention woman is to throw a very nasty slice of prison hospital at Altona on September of about 20 militants, mostly workers: mud in her direction. To do so, bring the 4th. A solidarity movement has now Claudia Almeyda, Oscar Elichadde matter to court, ask for a postponement been formed, to force the authorities to Urriol, Raul Olivera, Fernando Diaz, and then withdraw the charge is little take the humane step of saving his life, "Herman Ramirez, Oscar Cantero, Elsa short of unforgivable.' Why, it asks (as if by setting him free. Marinez Rufino Almeyda, were among one did not know the answer) did the On the hopeful side, a new daily paper tliose detained. Gardai bring 'such damaging charges is being published by the "undogmatic against a woman who, it appears, was alread> left" (a loose libertarian movement BULGARIA 4 known to the gardai in a completely involving the non-party, extra-parliamen- Earlier this year, the State released 6 different and wholly respectable context?' tary left). Die Tageszeitung, which is very anarchists from prison, and lifted the (Irish Times, Sept. 15). similar to the French Liberation, produced regime of internal exile to which Kristo Marie McMahon was arrested in the a trial issue of 50,000 copies early in Kolev Jordanov (67) has been subjected company of a 'known prostitute' whom October. for 5 years. This action, however, has she was helping to escape from a wife- Incidentally two workers on Liberation proved too liberal for the hardened arteries battering husband. A gardai approached who were taking 800 copies of a special of the Bulgarian authorities, who have them in the street and was told to go away; issue on the "German Affair" about the now re-arrested Kristo, while he was the only evidence brought to 'substantiate' Schleyer suicide and the Stammheim recovering from a spell in hospital in Sofia. the charge was that she was alleged to deaths, to the Frankfurt book fair, never His flat there was raided, and books and _ have told him to 'fuck off which was got there. German border police detained papers were seized by police, who have denied. (Imagine a man being arrested them en-route. again forced him to live in the remote as a prostitute on that evidence! - even in URUGUAY village of Balvan. Dublin). The Supreme Military Court of Uruguay SPAIN USA sentenced seven persons charged with ' Emily and Bill Harris were sentenced to being members of the Tupamaros National The building occupied by the anarcho- communist paper Askatasuna was attacked life imprisonment in October for partici- Liberation Movement to prison terms pation in the kidnap of Patricia Hearst of three to 30 years. The president of and badly damaged by right-wingers during the last week of August. Several in 1974. On the a.lvice of lawyers, and the tribunal. Colonel Federico Silva as part of a deal negotiated to prevent Ledesma, said that Ismael Bassini Campi^- times since the attack slogans of the notorious Guerrillas of Christ the King, «. obstacles to their eventual parole, both lia and Nestor Sclave were sentenced to Bill and Emily pleaded guilty to the 30 years in prison. have been daubed on the walls. kidnapping charge. Conrado Fernandez and Romulo The attack, which was not unexpected in view of the enormous popular appeal With parole they could both be Rodiguez Nassan: were sentenced to released in 1983. Parole is also being 1 5 years imprisonment. of the paper, caused an estimated 5 sought by Patricia Hearst herself, who Felipe Sclave, who was on parole million pesetas damage. Donations to is in prison following a conviction for was returned to prison for three more Askatasuna can be sent via Black Flag. participating in an armed robbery that years. Gloria Etcheveste de Sclave and SCOTLAND ' netted her a 7 year sentence. She has Juan Serna were sentenced to 12 and 10 The inhuman and controversial cages • so far spent 18 months in prison, and is years respectively. at Inverness Prison will not be closed due for parole next July. The Hearst down after all, and may well be in use newspaper chain has been swung sharply PERU again soon. The carefully designed behind a carefully orchestrated campaign Peruvian newspapers have reported the isolation cells are supposed to be used for her release - a campaign that has not existence of an armed murder squad, for short periods only, and are designed only resulted in a lengthy article in the composed of members of the Peruvian to wear down the prisoners resistance - Guardian, but also caused an unprecedentec army and police force, who under the physically and mentally. (If you want to editorial in Rolling Stone, favourable to pretext of combatting "subversion", know more read Jimmy Boyle's "A Sense her parole, — something only to be kidnap, torture and kill. The latest of Freedom.") As transfer to the expected after the treatment they gave victim of this vigilante force was a "segregation unit" are expected to start the capture and early trials of SLA Colombian journalist, Roverto Fanjul, soon letters of protest should be sent a.s.a.p members. who was kidnapped on September 12th. to either the Secretary for Scotland, or Roverto was comparatively lucky, he was the Home Secretary. Letters from other released after 8 days, although he had countries will probably be very effective. Ov been savagely tortured. 25 statement by bill & etTllIy

Today we take full responsibility for our extent of the Hearst's wealth was exposed have come out in a trial but not on our participation in the first political kidnapping through the channels of their own media terms. The arena of the courtroom in this country - the kidnapping of Patricia empire and put in brutal contrast to the wrenches events out of context, makes Hearst. We are entering guilty pleas to poverty of millions of people. some admissible and some not and coveis what the judicial system calls "simple , At one time Patricia Hearst felt the everything with the fog of unreality that kidnapping" buf nothing about our same pride and self-respect as we did passes for justice. actions today or tho^e "f four and a half because all three of us saw the events of But why was the state forced to make years ago has been simple. So it comes as February 1974 as a coming of age - a leap these concessions to us? First, they had no surprise to us that cur feelings today in our understanding and growth. But since very real fears about the credibility of are complex — pride in affirming what her arrest, she has never allowed herself their key witness - Patricia H;arst. our actions accomplished and what we the pride of confronting the truth and learned from them; a very definite pain taking responsibility for actions she made that 6 of our close friends died, Russ and of her own free will. Likewise her family Joe are in prison and the two of us will be and other members of the ruling class will separated from each other by years more never take responsibility for the oppression in prison: a relief that the uncertainty of that the very existence of wealth and privi- They could not separate the truth from the past years is over: and a confidence in lege makes inevitable. the lies and they knew we could. They our combined strength to continue fighting A pica does not represent a bowing were dealing with the unknown and for the principles we believe in — the right down to the state. It does not mean that we had the facts. Second and probably of all people to control their own lives and we have been given any favours. We more important, the State has been to be free no matter what the costs. have not offered them anything. We have aligned with the He trst family all along - We participated in an act which only made the pragmatic choice of accept- the State with its judicial system is in removed Patricia Hearst from her home, ing what they offer because, very simply, fact an arm of those who possess her way of life, the people she knew and its the vehicle by which we have gained wealth and power. We believe the State the privilege which had insulated her from control over the amount of time we will was forced to back off its objectives in the oppression that so many people suffer. do in prison — the means by which we can order to protect Patricia Hearst and the Out of all the lies, distortions, exaggerations be back on the streets the soonest. Hearst family. In defending ourselves that have emanated from the Hearst Being tried on the State's terms accord- against a sentence of life without family in an attempt to fool the public — ing to their distorted sense of justice and possibility of parole, we would have one fact alone has been true. Patricia fairness, we would have been found guilty torn apart the web of lies Patricia Hearst Hearst was kidnapped. She was not brain- of participating in the Hearst kidnapping. has spun ever since her arrest. We would washed, beaten, tortured or raped. She But the State's objective was far greater have exposed how the truth of the was not locked alone in a closet for days than demonstrating our involvement in conditions she lived under and her feelings and weeks on end. She was not coerced that act — they intended to bury us alive about her family all fit together with her into rejecting her family and remaining under 13 charges carrying a penalty of decision to remain with the SLA. The with the people who made up the SLA. life without the possibility of parole - a humiliating and devastating exposure She was kidnapped by a group of 8 sentence that's been called the living death. of the truth would have proved to be a SLA members. Our politics had various Their objective was not grounded in the serious setback for the Hearst campaign to get origins - the prison movement, the anti- acts we were in fact responsible for but Patricia Hearst released from prison war movement, the women's movement - rather a desire to see our ideas — our immediately. Also, we would have pursued but all developed at a time when the Nixon revolutionary committment - locked in the courtroom what the Hearst kid- White House was attempting to crush all away for life. "auping only began - exposure of the forms of legal dissent through infiltration, Today we take responsibility for four Hearst family's Ms'.ory of greed, manipu- surveillance, murder, break-ins, frame-up acts which is translated into four and a lation of pubnc opinion, open advocasy criminal charges. The 8 of us along with half more years in prison - three more of racism and championing of imperialist years beyond our present term. Within others in this country responded by trans- aggression throughout the world. We four-and-a-half years we'll be back on the lating our beliefs into illegal armed actions believe the so-called impartial judicial as a means to attack power and wealth. We streets where we definitely want to be. system was forced to icgotiate with us were fully aware of the risks — death, in this sense we have succeeded in forcing because ruling class interests were at imprisonment, failure - but we all felt the state to back down. stake. Finally, the State "bargained" with totally committed to any and all vehicles Our plea today will allow us to speak us to save the thousands of dollars that :>f change that could propel us closer to our trial would have cost. uprooting oppression and realising a out on our own terms about the kid- free society. napping of Patricia Hean( - we will be Our actions in 1974 forced the Hearst able to share the truth as we know it about family to funnel 2 million dollars worth of the SLA and Patricia Hearst's involve- food into the poor communities of Califor- ment. We will be able to openly analyse nia. The sanctuary of invisibility that the the accomplishments, the failures, the ruling class has so long enjoyed in this history, the context from our personal country was shattered. Tie source and perspective. Many of these facts would 26 gleanings "We approached this trial with only ^ power of our revolutionary commit- ment and we- enter our plea today on An Unexpected Advance the government to make the South that basis. This same commitment by History has many ironies, not all African blacks foreigners in the land of them unpleasant. Recent researches the SLA in 1974 forced concessions from of their birth. Such nationalistic the Hearst family in the form of food together with compelling arguments thinking is unworthy of anarchists aiuj access to the media. In 1977 the have shown the essential identity of and quite opposed to the whole of two of us forced concessions from the the anarchist and feminist movements. our teaching. What a surprise, therefore, to find courts by using their own judicial system Others still will insist that with all to fight for and win appointment of our the South African government of all . the men in hostels and their wives people moving in our direction. They ' own lawyers. Our plea today represents hundreds of miles away cases of rape even further concessions on the part are about to demolish the black will actually increase. But rape of whom? shanty town of Crossroads next of the State. While they are forced to All the black women left in Cape Town ! back off the brutal thrust of their door to Cape Town, put all the will be- servants and so safe indoors by husbands in hostels, and return the objective, they are still in a position to dark, while their white sisters have extract a price - 4& more years in wives and children to the tribal home- long been prepared for such an lands. eventuality. prison for us. Like anyone, we experience At last the long suffering women Man o' the Movement. doubts, pain, sadness and lonliness in and children of Crossroads will have confronting this but our feelings exist some peace. Cases of rape have been within a pervading sense of strength, reported; now these will end since .' knowing that "time" can't destroy the the only men in the tribal homelands The Socialist Book Fair - held in sense of freedom that's within us. are too old. Also, some of the women Camden Town Hall, St. Pancras, London Valuable years of our lives will be have not had their aprons off for up — was a huge success with possibly two defined by the cold reality of separation from to five years; in the homelands they thousand people attending. A stall was each other, our families, our friends; isolation will be able to return to their native organised by Cienfuegos and the anarchist in maximum security (again a penalty for costumes, to the delight no doubt presence made known somewhat to the ni.ir ideas, not the acts we are convicted of), of the tourists. dismay of one of the publishers of learned , degradation of being treated as less than Some romantics will no doubt ioks on politics who felt that from human; violence that spreads like i disease iject. They point to the so-called ir position on the stage we might fcpray from the racist, sexist hatred of reactionary self-help and mutual aid of the shanty the audience with machine guns' for guards and prisoners. For us this will leave town dwellers as some kind of some unaccountable reason. It was a pity permanent scars but its merely a short term anarchist thing and even go so far as that the new Anarchist Reviews and the loss while our gains are long term — the to liken the whole of Crossroads to new books were not ready — missing it historic accomplishments of the Hearst the working class quarters of European by only a matter of weeks - otherwise kidnapping can never be erased and we cities from which their beloved we would have been able to report a will return to the streets as two strong insurrections have been launched, or financially rewarding two days. However, individuals still committed to change. general strikes organised. These numerous contacts were made not least Ironically the State has only the short term people have not learned the lessons with our own scattered but dearly loved gain of locking up our bodies while they of faris, Prague, Gdansk. tribe. extract their price. The long term loss will Others will object on the grounds ' .always be theirs because they cannot that the women and children have destroy us or the revolutionary potential many of them never seen the tribal . of the American people. homelands which, somewhat uncharit- •Ai • :•!.;!* * if* r .. ,.' ably i think, they see as a device of Emily Harris Bill Harris August 31, 1978.

The Cienfuegos Stand at the Socialist Bookfair (Black Box Photos) 27 Pratt. FRANCE ' in Toulouse, the former GARI members, RADIO-TROTTOIR, a libertarian radio and "autonomes» who are facing charges Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, 30 year old Black Panther member, was framed for station operating in the Toulouse region,|on possession Of arrns and attempted robbery was subjected to a series of police raids (see last issug) and who the press chim murder in 1968, still languishes in San . Quentin after spending nearly 7 years at the start of October, with the result are members of "an international conspir- that 5 comrades are now facing prosecu- acy» were sent for trfal Qn October 26, but of his sentence in solitary. Elmer was actually at a Black Panther tion. A defence committee has been ,the accused refused to speak or plead, and meeting in Oakland when a woman was : Gerard Blain, BP 3028]awyers refused to participate in the pro- robbed and murdered 350 miles away in Cedex, France. ceedings in protest against the fact that .Santa Monica, but under the FBI's , they were supposed to be appearing in notorious Cointelpro operation he was 15,000 people held a "dead-in" as part two separate trials at the same time, in deliberately fitted jr. His lawyers and of a large anti-nuclear demonstration different courts, held in Brest at the end of September. •defence group have o^en successful in obtaining ~v:r 2000 official documents under the freedom of Information Act, STOP PRESS/ some of which indicate that he was under We lea.'n't -to our Korror o« Thi,rtdaij December I4t*x thatT the lorrj FBI surveillance at the Black Panther Ca.r<-M''*<) the «"*"> b«lt of th«. Cop'ts oi, the latest- Ci'enfwejor Pr«u meeting. Pressure is being placed on the t AnartKisi Rtvrtew |-ro«n London H Scotland Caught |-i>-4 ol wr>n(j t/he journ«y. authorities for release of other documents which will He finitely pro -e this.,' fl|triou«h bhe dnvor iWp«J i'««eJ'atel') he R-H.T• . s.

Should not there be some recognition by the government of the noble work of the "Anti-'Terrorist Squad such as renaming them the Royal Anti-Terrorist Squad? The name would express the gratitude of the State for such a vigilant body. The initials would express what >

troopers Micliael Mo. rcock -n authoritarian anc1 anarchist ideai in scicn.x1 t'utiun: Trans^.-nde:;ial Meditation The Spintuahty Rjp-ot>. Santiago ( arillo. or Hisi"r> I alsificJ. Class V-i: T!ie NVriUr.es : ( amilK- Berr.-.ri: Monetarism, the "New Liberalism." Anar;hisir. and "he Minimal Sute. Anarchists in the Mexican Revolution '2i Prax'edis Gu«re|C:^Contributions t'1 the Histcrv <•! Anarchism Ru:e and ni;n"i,,-. I 'U'.K- ( i-stanoni Artis: o! \narch'.. Pampas LL'e. The TrafKru Meek i-: 1919. Areentina Two Workers I vpenences in Russia Musnik. . ar.il M.-Uie Sre'mer. C«rcgor> Va.Mmo'l. Origins -.' 'he Ana;thist Movemer,; in China. Asian Anarchism in Htstern Ljn- n Interview with Pa Chin A Strange: to Nothing 1 h« fti) o; Philip Ltrvine. The Stammheim Deaths. Nikola TesLi A on A Utii' Bulb, inside the Belly of the Amenkjr Dreirr.. I rr.iK tlirns. Pimivrnel Howard and the Anarchists. The Donah! T'uck Joseph (joebbcis Prize tor Liberal Objectivity (to Protessor Raymond "... the Cicntuegos Press Anarchist Carr). Also, major review'* of' over 100 recent bi-oks and pamphlets tarian review rx-ing published anywhere ir. t »#* us Icaveniri ol droll anarchist humour. trove of anarchist learning ..." #;Vu make sure of \.nir issue of the Review and all C'.P. titles ior CPAR No 4 ISSN 0309 7285, September. ;Sfpp. 8'.. x II taking out a sustaining subscription today (£12.00,324.00). £:.«0 (*5i P postage l. US 'Canada S6.00 ,-Sl . . ,..„_,._.. a lull list ol all (. .P. titles in print and news or forthcoming books Contents of Issue No. 4: Letters. Fowarj* jn Anarchist Manifesto :e to. Orkney Ramblinps. Anarchist Ciardenmc Hir.ts. Anarchist Stratef;> C^enfuegos Press. Anarchist Publishers. Over The Water. Sanday. c'ivil and Militan , A (lay Vx-iilesto. 1-xproprution. starslup Storm Orknev, K\V17 2BL. t .K Please note that issue No. 3 of the CPAR is now completely sold out. Make sure of issue No. 4 before it goes the same way.