Fidel Castro opens UN congress THE on crime prevention Page4

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 54/NO. 35 SEPTEMBER 14, 1990 $1.50 U.S. gov't widens military Canadian coal miners deployment in Arab East on strike BY SELVA NEBBIA some of the other states along the fringes of desbUction, and much of the world's energy As the massive deployment of U.S. war the Persian Gulf," said U.S. Secretary ofState supplies makes the Middle East particularly keep picket materiel and troops to Saudi Arabia and its James Baker to reporters September 4 about combustible." The permanent presence of surrounding waters continued this week, the extensive deployment of troops and air­ U.S. military forces in the region, Baker Washington widened the scope of its pres­ craft. noted, "can foster a future gulf environment ence and stationed troops in other Arab coun­ Even if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that will protect our interests and help us lines solid tries in the area. were to withdraw his country's troops from avoid having to make this kind of massive diplomatic and military effort again." BYALCAPPE U.S. warplanes have now been sent to Kuwait, Baker stated, the U.S. military pres­ GLACE BAY, Nova Scotia- ''The men The aim of the U.S. military operation in Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab ence in the area would continue. Speaking felt cheated; they felt lied to and said, 'We the Arab East is to reinstate the oil-rich mon­ Emirates. before the House Foreign Affairs Committee can't goon."' the same day, Baker reviewed Washington's arch of Kuwait, Sheik Jaber al-Ahrnad al­ Washington began its movement of troops That is how Sheldon MacNeil, District 26 "long-run interests in the gulf and beyond," Sabah, and to overthrow Hussein. Iraqis into the region on August 2 at the "request" board member of the United Mine Worlcers asserting there is a need to the consider Kuwait part of their country, force­ of Kuwait's ruler after the monarchy was recognize of America (UMWA), described the anger of "emerging dangers that are lurking before" fully separated by the imperialist powers to deposed following the incursion of Iraqi 2,300 coal miners on strike here in eastern imperialist domination of the region. exploit its natural resources and to give them troops into the country. The Kuwaiti rulers Canada since August 15 against the Cape a foothold in the region. fled to Saudi Arabia, which borders both Iraq Breton Development Corporation 'Unresolved regional conflicts' and Kuwait. Under the name of operation Desert (DEVtO). Shield, Washington has so far sent 100,000 "We are of the view that our commitment ''The combination of unresolved regional The worlcers have maintained solid picket troops- 40,000 still on their way - 45 is one to preserve stability and security of the conflicts, turbulent social and political lines despite a Nova Scotia Supreme Court gulf, and that of necessity would involve changes," Baker said, "weapons of mass Continued on Page 11 injunction prohibiting picketing at DEVCO's Prince mine and a Canadian Lab­ our Relations Board back-to-work order. Hundreds of workers are on the lines early each morning, determined to win their fight. Labor Day events back strike at The sbUggle began August 13 when four UMWA officials picketed the Prince mine to prevent the entry of private trucks contracted to transport coal to the preparation plant. Eastern, airline hits new low DEVCO had sold its own bUcks, despite union opposition to the move, and had taken advantage of a vacation period to move the trucks out. Twenty-four union jobs were eliminated as a result. On August 15 DEVCO responded to the picket by locking out the workers at the Prince mine. That evening miners at the two other DEVCO mines, Lingan and Phelan, walked out and set up picket lines. Soon all of the company's operations in the area were halted. Workers saw the company move as a step to cut back union jobs and toward privatiza­ tion ofDEVCO, which is now owned by the federal government. The trucking jobs often had been given to miners no longer able to work underground.

'In for a long fight' "DEVCO has not gotten out of the truck­ ing business; they've just subcontracted. And now they want nonunionized personnel to haul unionized coal," MacNeil explained. Militant/Kathryn- Crowder ''There's no labor movement in the world Eastern strikers at Broward County, Florida, Labor Day parade. Over 300 strikers from Miami participated. that would go along with those tactics. Unless some reason comes to DEVCO's mind, we're in for a long hard fight." BY JAMES HARRIS Susan Wmsten, an Eastern striker from strike materials and signed up to attend. The contracting out "was the straw that Eastern Airlines strikers and their support­ Washington, D.C., addressed the crowd. She Miners and their families gathered at a broke the camel's back and sparked the pres­ ers led marches, spoke at rallies, helped keep got an ovation when she explained: "At Labor Day picnic and rally of 150 in Brook­ ent dispute, "MacNeil said. "But other things picket lines going, and participated in picnics Eastern we have successfully drawn the line. wood, Alabama, sponsored by UMWA Dis­ have led to the frustrations of the men. You and others events throughout the country on There will be no nonunion airline at Eastern." trict 20. UMWA International President wonder every day whether you 'II be fired or Labor Day weekend. Richard Trumka was the featured speaker. A contingent of 50 Eastern strikers and whether your work: site will close down." The strikers' activities highlighted their their supporters joined the tens of thousands Referring to the sb\lggles of worlting peo­ DEVCO has been scaling down opera- victories against union-busting and won new in the New \brk City Labor Day Parade. To Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 13 support for their 18-month fight for a contract rousing cheers from participants and onlook­ and jobs. ers, strikers marched under a banner declar­ More than 300 members of the Interna­ ing "Solidarity with the Eastern, Greyhound, tional Association of Machinists participated and DOrnsey strikers." Garment workers in Thousands of North Koreans greet in the annual Broward County, Florida, Brooklyn, New York, are striking against AFL-CIO Labor Day Parade. The lAM con­ DOrnsey Trading Corp. for union recogni­ U.S.-Canadian delegation in Kaesong tingent was the largest and most militant in tion. Eastern strikers got out information on the parade. The strikers' lead banner read, their September 15 expanded picket line at BY DOUG JENNESS government, stressed the withdrawal of "No contract, No peace! Solidarity with the La Guardia Airport. Eastern and Greyhound strikes." KAESONG, North Korea- Thousands nearly 40,000 U.S. troops, as well as U.S. In Racine, ~ Virginia, a town just nuclear weapons, from the Korean Peninsula. "We're here for an exchange of ideas, to of people turned out here September 2 to south of Charleston, United Mine Workers A large banner in the crowd demanded in support Labor Day in the Miami-Ft. Lauder­ welcome a delegation of 19 political activists of America (UMWA) District 17 hosted a both Korean and English: "Let us remove the dale area, and to give our support for workers from the UniWd States and one from Canada. Labor Day rally attended by 2,000 miners. barrier of division and effect free travel and at Eastern, Continental, and all the other Some 15,000 people assembled in the city Eastern strikers were warmly welcomed. a full-scale open door policy between the unions," Thomas Bastian, president of the square to hear an opening speech by Han North and the South!" Hotel Workers, Caterers, and Allied Workers Nancy Brown, an Eastern striker from Gwang Rim, chairman of the executive com­ Union of the Bahamas, explained. Bastian Washington, D.C., told the rally of the impor­ mittee of the Kaesong City People's Com­ The North American delegation, which headed the participation of a delegation from tant ties forged between the Eastern strikers mittee, and presentations by eight members includes representatives from diverse politi­ his union in the parade. and the miners during the miners' strike of the U.S.- Canada delegation. cal and peace groups, is in North Korea as Eastern strikers and supporters in Coving­ against Pittston Coal Group. Brown encour­ Thousands more lined each side of the part of the U.S.-Korea People-to-People ton, Virginia, were prominent in the Labor aged miners to mobilize for a rally slated for street, chanting "Korea is one!" and "Reuni­ Study Tour and Peace Seminar. The tour is Day parade and rally hosted by United September 15 in Roanoke, Virginia. The rally fication!" as the North American guests led . being hosted by the Korea Anti-Nuclear Paperworkers International Union Local will protest the September6 start upofEastern a march through the city. Committee. 675. flights from the Roanoke airport. DOzens took The welcome, organized by the municipal Continued on Page 10 'Militant' gets around at Labor Day activities BY RONI McCANN copies of Perspectiva Mundial. in Sheridan, Wyoming. Several participants had seen the Militant in Hundreds of thousands of union members In the Boston area 10,000 union members The miners were in town petitioning for Vrrginia during the Pittston strike and bought and other worlcing people in cities across the and worlcing people from the city and region support and protesting the Detroit Edison copies again. A couple of Militant subscrib­ United States and Canada took advantage of marlced Labor Day by attending the annual electric company's purchase of Decker coal. ers from the area also participated. Labor Day activities during the frrst weekend Bread and Roses Festival in nearby Law­ The strikers stopped by a Pathfmder literature In Belleville, Illinois, at a march and rally in September to show support for their rence. The event commemorated the 1912 table at the march and several bought copies that drew Eastern strikers and others, eight unions. At the events many participants textile worlcers strike to end child labor. of the Militant. participants bought copies of the paper. Sev­ bought copies of theMilitant, which featured A 26-year-old dock worker who belongs Militant supporters in St. Louis attended eral were area union coal miners interested news on the Eastern Airlines strike and the to the Teamsters union was one of the 42 four Labor Day activities by traveling in a in the paper's coverage of the U.S. war drive U.S. aggression in the Arab East. worlcers who bought copies of the Militant. 180-mile radius of the city. They sold 38 and the latest news in the Eastern strike. At the head of several marches and present A hundred dollars worth of Pathfmder litera­ copies of the Militant. Twenty participants In Salt Lake City 1,500 people turned out at rallies and picket lines were members of ture was sold from a table at the event. - including coal miners, rail worlcers, and for commemorative event for Joe Hill, aS we­ the Machinists union on strike against East­ In Detroit Militant supporters organized sheet metal worlcers - bought copies of the de who immigrated to the United States in em. Other workers on strike or battling for to get a couple dozen papers after the weekiy paper during the weekend of Labor Day 190 1 and became a song writer and organizer a contract were also present at Labor Day bundle was held up in the mail. They sold activities in Princeton, Indiana. for the Industrial Workers of the World. Hill events - from garment worlcers and coal all of them at the Labor Day march. Eastern A southern Indiana union solidarity com­ was framed and executed in Utah in 1915. miners to bus drivers and newspaper printers. and Greyhound strikers were prominent in mittee- whose members were active dur­ Some $150 in literature was purchased by In New York 50,000 unionists and others the action, which drew 250,000 people. The ing the 1989-90 Pittston Coal strike, the participants from the Pathfinder table and 20 marched down Fifth Avenue with banners, strikers were joined by, among others, a Eastern strike, and many local labor struggles people bought the Militant, including three who signs, and floats in the annual Labor Day handful of union miners from Decker Coal - sponsored one of the events in Princeton. signed up to get the paper for 12 weeks. parade September 3. Machinists striking Eastern Airlines joined Greyhound strikers, garment workers, and members of hundreds of other unions that marched in the parade. August 24 actions back Greyhound strikers Militant supporters participated in union contingents, staffed Pathfmder Press book tables, and canvassed the crowd, selling 95 copies of the paper, three copies of the Span­ ish-language Perspectiva Mundial, and two copies of Lutte ouvriere in French. Daily News workers fighting for a decent contract from one of the largest dailies in New Yorlc bought copies of theMilitant . One pointed out he had read the paper before and said, as he purchased another copy, "It's important to unite with the Eastern strikers." Another called to aMi litant salesperson, "Let me have one of those!" Many participants were interested in the Militant's coverage on the U.S. war moves in the Mideast. A Daily News worker who bought a copy of the paper agreed the troops should be brought home now. A Lebanese worker bought a Militant explaining, · "Saddam Hussein, was bad when he invaded Greyhound pickets at Birmingham, Alabama, bus station September 3. Iran but he's good to overthrow the emirates," referring to the monarchies of the Persian Gulf. He held the view that Arab peoples are BY JAMES HARRIS Service Employees International Union, nance work, eliminates seniority, and under­ now justified in overthrowing "another emir­ Support rallies and expanded picket lines United Auto Worlcers, and the Socialist mines the grievance procedure. The company ate" - Saudi Arabia - because the regime to back the strike against Greyhound bus Worlcers Party candidate for governor of also proposes to reduce sick leave, vacations, let Washington onto Arab soil. lines were held in cities across the country Georgia, Elizabeth Ziers. holiday pay, and other benefits. An Afghan worlcer attending the Labor on August 24. The events were in response In New York City a rally of ISO was held In 1987 Greyhound worlcers had their Day event bought a Militant and said, "We to a call for united actions supporting the at the Port Authority bus terminal. The rally wages cut 30 percent after a leveraged buyout used to have kings in my country and I know strike by members of the Amalgamated Tran­ was addressed by ATU Local 1202 President of the company by Fred Currey, who is now how bad they are." sit Union. The strikers have been walking Harold Mendlowitz; Edgar Romney, the ex­ Greyhound 'schairman. Their wages and ben­ At a march and rally in Philadelphia East­ the picket line for seven months. ecutive vice-president of the International Lad­ efits were also cut in 1983 after a hard-fought em strikers joined 5,500 unionists and others, In Washington, D.C., more than 100 union­ ies' Garment Worlcers' Union; and Susan seven week strike. Greyhound strikers see the including members of the Philadelphia Un­ ists joined a picket line at the Greyhound bus Anmuth, a member of International Associa­ demands of the company and their refusal to employment Project. Participants bought a station. Among them were members of the tion of Machinists on strike at Eastern Airlines. negotiate as a move to break their union. dozen copies of the Militant and four sub­ Carpenters Union, the Seafarers, Machinists More than 8,000 Greyhound worlcers In June Greyhound, the only nationwide scribed to the paper for 12 weeks. A Path­ on strike against Eastern airlines, the president struck the bus company March 2. ATU mem­ bus company, filed for bankruptcy. Since the finder literature table at the event took in $60 of the Metro Washington AFL-CIO, and re­ bers had rejected Greyhound's contract offer beginning of the strike the company has been in sales of books and pamphlets. gional representatives ofthe national AFL-CIO. by a more than 90 percent margin. Grey­ sighted fornumerous safety violations result­ In Toronto 30,000 participated in a Labor In Atlanta 70 people participated in a rally. hound has since refused to engage in serious ing from untrained scab drivers and poor Day parade, many thousands ofthem wearing They heard speakers from the state AFL­ negotiations with the union. maintenance of their buses. red armbands to show solidarity with the CIO, Atlanta Central Labor Council, Com­ The company's proposal includes no wage Susan Winstenfrom Washington, D.C., and embattled Mohawk Indians of Oka, Quebec. munications Worlcers of America, Interna­ increases, gives the company unrestricted Jeff Jones from Atlanta contributed to this Militant supporters sold 32 papers and two tional Brotherhood of Electrical Worlcers, rights to subcontract out routes and mainte- article. The Militant Bet the truth • •• get the Closing news date: September 5, 1990 Editor: DOUG JENNESS Circulation Director: RONI McCANN Nicaragua Bureau Director: CINDY JAQUITH Business Manager: JANET POST MILITANT Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein (Nicaragua), Seth Galinsky (Nicaragua), James Harris, Yvonne Hayes, Arthur Hughes, Weekly news and analysis on the Roni McCann, Greg McCartan, Selva Nebbia, Judy Stranahan, struggles of working people worldwide Peter Thierjung. Published weekly except the last two weeks of December by News on Eastern Airlines strike • Reports on U.S. war the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 West St., New York, moves in Arab East and antiwar protests • Special N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; feature on erosion of toilers' gov't in Nicaragua Fax 727-0150; Telex, 497-4278; Business Office, (212) 929- 3486. Nicaragua Bureau, Apartado 2222, Managua. Tele­ phone 24845. SUBSCRIPTION RUNNING OUT? Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Militant Business RENEW TODAY Office, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y., and at addi­ tional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes 12 ISSUES FOR $15 to the Militant, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Sub­ scriptions: U.S., Latin America: for one-year subscription •r~------0 $10 for introductory------12 weeks-- 0 ---$45 for-- a------~ year send $45, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above address. By first­ Name ______class (airmail), send $80. Canada: send Canadian $50 for one-year subscription to Societe d'Editions AGPP, C.P. 340, Address ______succ. R, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3M2. Britain, Ireland, Af­ City ______rica: £28 for one year by check or international money order State Zip _ _ _ _ _ made out to Militant Distribution, 47 The Cut, London, SE1 8LL, England. Continental Europe: £35 for one year by Phone ------check or international money order made out to Militant Dis­ Union/School/Organization ______tribution at above address. Australia, Asia, Pacific: send Australian $60 to Pathfinder Press, P.O. Box 79, Railway Send to the Militant, 410 West St . New York, NY 10014. Square Post Office, Railway Square, Sydney 2000, Australia. ------~ Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant September 14, 1990 North Sea offshore oil workers backed by Scotland rally

BY BILL LOXTON, PAUL LAYCOCK, work stoppages at the Davy offshore fabri­ AND CLIFF WILLIAMS cation yard in Dundee. Some 200 workers at ABERDEEN, Scotland- Some 500 the St. Fergus gas terminal and 2,000 workers people marched and rallied here September at the McDermott& construction yard in Arde­ 1 in support of thousands of oil workers sier went out for 24 hours. involved in strikes and sit-ins on offshore rigs in the North Sea. The strikers are de­ Fight for union recognition manding reinstatement of over 1,000 sacked The strikes offshore are to win a contract, (fired) workers and a union contract. referred to as the Continental Shelf Agree­ The winning of union recognition for off­ ment, including union recognition and im­ shore workers would be "a 101-gun salute plementation of safety measures. The off­ to the memory of those that died on Piper shore unions are demanding the agreement Alpha two years ago," said a relative of one cover all workers offshore and include guar­ of the victims of the disaster. Piper Alpha anteed overtime payments, holidays, travel was an oil rig in the North Sea that exploded and accommodation allowances, the right to and sank, resulting in the deaths of 167 redundancy (severance) payments, and a A North Sea oil rig. An explosion two years ago that killed 167 workers helped spur workers. pension scheme. the union organizing drive by thousands of offshore oil workers. Since August 2 thousands of offshore The major oil companies, which have the workers have been participating in strikes in oil concessions to the North Sea, subcontract the fll'St national action in the British oilfields construction and cleaning and other service unlike other industries, which are overseen areas in the oil field and a significant number in the North Sea. The initial call to action by work, so most offshore work is carried out by the Health and Safety Executive. The of local trade unions. A message of solidarity the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee by contract labor. department says that the accommodation was received from the union of oil worlcers (Oll...C), although unofficial, was heeded by These workers tend to have poorer wages module at Amoco's Montrose platform has in the Norwegian sector as well as the Trin­ 4,000 contract workers in bQth the northern and working conditions than salaried staff not complied with statutory safety regula­ idad and Tobago Oilftelds Workers' Trade and southern sectors of the British continen­ employed by the oil companies. Many work­ tions for 14 years, but it has granted a further Union. tal shelf. - ers have been killed or seriously injured on, three-year extension on the deadline to bring A significant portion of the demonstration Offshore contractors retaliated by sacking and in transit to and from, the platforms. the facility up to standard. was made up of women, reflecting their role 1,000 workers. North Sea workers responded The maintenance schedule is particularly The continental shelf agreement was won in the dispute. They are either offshore work­ by staging a sit-in on the platforms and the heavy this year. After the Piper Alpha disaster by Norwegian offshore workers in the 1970s. ers themselves or the wives and families of accommodation modules where workers are a law was passed requiring installation of At the rally here one oil worker stated, "It's those involved in the actions. housed. emergency shutdown valves on the rigs by the same sea, the same -oil, and the same oil Gavin Cleland, a relative of a worker By August 9, the eighth day of the dispute, the end of this year. The employers now companies, so why shouldn't we have the killed on Piper Alpha, spoke from the floor 600 workers still occupied the British Petro­ accuse the workers of delaying this safety same agreement?" of the rally. "The reason why the coal miners leum and Shell installations, and another work. One worker commented that these The demonstration, called on Seven days' were able to keep going for 12 months during 24-hour strike was called in support of the valves could . have been installed 10 years notice by the Aberdeen Trades Council, was the 1984-85 strike was because they mobi­ protest. Thousands of workers struck again, ago. headed by a Scottish band. Thousands of lized their better half. That is what the oil affecting 40 platforms. The government's Department of Energy people stopped to watch and show their sup­ companies fear - the mobilization of The strike has now spread onshore with is responsible for enforcing safety on the rigs, port. There were banners representing many women," he said. Ronnie MacDonald, the leader of OILC, spoke last and was given a standing ovation. "There is no more powerful statement than Western coal miners rally in Colorado a worker taking over his place of work," he said. "It changes governments' minds as it did in the '60s, and it changes society as it BY SHERRIE LOVE factor in the UMWA strike victory against Many miners were interested in getting an did in the Lenin shipyard in Poland." HAYDEN, Colorado- Under the theme Pittston, which forced the coal operator to update on the ongoing striKe of the Machin­ of "UMWA: 1890 to 1990-100 Years of settle with the union. ists union against Eastern Airlines from a MacDonald reported to the rally that he Solidarity," more than 200 coal miners, their For these reasons, 'the coal bosses in the strike supporter who sported the "No con­ was working on a rig near Piper Alpha when families, uniori activists, and community sup­ West backed off in the first round of the 1990 tract, no peace" button. A young woman from it exploded. He and the other workers watch­ porters came together here for two days of contracts. the ffiEW interested in getting more infor­ ing swore they would never let such a thing activities at the fourth annual Unity rally. mation on the Eastern strike related how glad happen again. United Mine Workers of America Local Miners ready to resist she was that Frank Lorenzo, the former East­ "There will be no peace in this industry 1385, which organizes miners at the Peabody As the new round of contract expirations ern boss, had been driven out of the airline until every man and woman that has been Seneca coal mine outside Hayden, hosted the begins, miners remain ready to resist if nec­ business. sacked is reinstated," he concluded. events. essary. Some contracts between the UMWA and The rally drew mine workers from the coal bosses in the region are expiring over throughout UMWA District 15. The district, Birmingham Six granted new appeal, the next months, including several in Colo.. located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, represents rado. Negotiations are under way between miners in Montana; New Mexico; North Da­ evidence points to cop frame-up the union and Colorado Yampa Coal Co. The kota; Sheridan, Wyoming; Window Rock, company is demanding concessions on the Arizona; and throughout Colorado. BY ANNE FIANDER Mounting allegations against the West pension plan, which many miners view as In addition to the attendance by UMWA Midlands police, the force responsible for similar to the demands the Pittston Coal LONDON- The case of the Birming­ members, unionists came from the Interna­ ham Six has been referred back to the Court bringing the six to trial, along with increased Group made in 1989, forcing miners to strike tional Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; of Appeal by British Home Secretary David support for the incarcerated Irishmen, forced for eleven months. The Pittston strike was Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers; and from the Home Secretary to announce a new ap­ centered in southwestern VIrginia. Waddington after he received new informa­ unions that represent railroad workers. Min­ tion suggesting the police had falsified evi­ peal and an inquiry into the West Midlands ers and trade unionists came from great dis­ UMWA members at the Cyprus Coal Co. dence in the case. police in 1987. Empire mine near Hayden are preparing now tances, including Salt Lake City and Price, The appeals court at that time rejected the for contract negotiations next spring. Their Utah; Window Rock, Arizona; and Sheridan, The six, all Irish immigrants living in Brit­ ain, were convicted in 1975 of bombing two appeal along with statements by additional Mobilization Team was visible throughout Wyoming. witnesses who either saw the beatings or the the events with T-shirts proclaiming, "Prom­ At the rally Don Wallace, a UMWA Inter­ injuries received by one of the six. ises are fme - a UMWA contract is better." national representative and a former miner For a review of a book on the In 1989 another well-known frame-up Unionists see the activities of these teams as from VIrginia who moved out West during case came apart when the Guildford Four a key way to inform and involve the mem­ the 1987 strikes, spoke: He explained, "The Birmingham Six case, see were released from prison.The three Irish­ bership. seeds of Pittston were planted here in the page 15. men and a British woman were jailed in 1975 As well, the contract for UMWA members West." Wallace called for more ties between on charges of carrying out a bombing similar working at Western Fuels-Utah Deserado eastern and western miners. to the one in Birmingham. Here too the police Mine outside of Rangely, Colorado, will ex­ Calvin Willey, a District 22 UMWAinter­ pubs in Birmingham, England. The prosecu­ built the case against the four out of forced pire next spring. national representative from Kayenta, spoke tionrestedontwopoints- forensic evidence confessions. These revelations added pres­ A large number of miners from the locals as did a representative from the National claiming to confirm the men had handled sure on the government to reopen the case that are involved in upcomitlg contract ne­ Lawyers Guild. The rally was chaired by explosives and their forced confessions. of the Birmingham Six. gotiations turned out for the weekend of Donnie Samms, president of UMWA District Worldwide pressure to free the convicted Allegations against the West ·Midlands events. 15. men compelled the government to disclose police continued and in 1989 thtf unit was In 1986-87, coal operators in many parts One of the events was the unveiling and aspects of the frame-up. In 1985 the forensic disbanded amidst numerous allegations of of the West demanded concessions during dedication of a memorial paying tribute to tests used to "prove" the six had handled fabrication of evidence. The police admitted contract negotiations with the union. Miners the early mining camps of Mt. Harris and explosives were discredited when it was ad­ in 1990 that 2,000 statements on the Bir­ fought back by waging a series of successful VIctor-American and the 34 miners that lost mitted that thC; same results could be achieved mingham Six case were shredded, and the strikes. Three years later, these battles remain their lives in an explosion in 1942. from handling a deck of cards. Five of the Home Secretary announced another inquiry fresh in a lot of miners' minds. Retired miners recalled their experiences six had been playing cards the night before into the West Midlands police covering the Earlier this year, many of the contracts that with the camps that sprung up as tent cities their arrests. period of the Birmingham case. were signed in 1987 expired. A few coal around the mines. One pointed to them "as The confessions of four of the six were the Anita Richards, a spokesperson for the operators made some initial demands for a model of people of all races who lived and pillar of the prosecution's case. All six have Free the Birmingham Six Campaign, said concessions, but the miners held firm. They worked together with no trouble." maintained that the confessions were fabri. that now the appeal was granted there was had drawn lessons from their strike battles in The roadside memorial located near Hay­ cated and a result of beatings, threats, and still a concern that the convicted men would 1987 and prepared to resist again. den was jointly sponsored by the UMWA and psychological damage due to lack of sleep not receive fair treatment because of preju­ At the same time the bosses also had to local service groups. and nutrition while in police custody. diced judges. September 14, 1990 The Militant 3 Workers in Sweden donate funds for delegation Mark Curtis is a unionist and Curtis from your city or country, tunity to participate in the fight for • Cubans in attendance, including political activist from Des Moines, please send them to the Militant. justice and helped collect money The Mark Curtis Defense Com­ Amado Rivera from the Cuban In­ Iowa, who was framed by police among their coworkers. mittee recently won its first endorser stitute of Friendship with the Peo­ on rape and burglary charges. He The Mark Curtis Defense Com­ In the Alfa-Laval plant, organized from Japan. Onogi Yoshiyuki, an ples who is the camp's director, and was convicted in September 1988 mittee launched a $20,000 fund to by. the Metalworkers Union, 16 official of the General Oil Workers members of the Union of Young and is now serving a 25-year sen­ cover the cost of sending an interna­ workers raised more than $100. In Union, learned about the case when Communists, Communist Party, and tence in the John Bennett state tional delegation to the 42nd session the KonsumChark food-processing he met a New Zealand Curtis sup­ of the Jose Marti Organization of prison in Fort Madison, Iowa. of the United Nations Subcommis­ plant, l8 workersraised$160,asum . porter in the Philippines earlier this Young Pioneers were also among Despite harassment by author­ sion on Prevention of Dis­ matched by the union local at the year. Since his return to Japan, the endorsers. ities, he continues to be politically crimination and Protection of plant. Yoshiyuki has signed up 16 fellow So-far supporters in Sweden have unionists as endorsers. • collected more than $750 for the The University of Victoria Stu­ fund from coworkers and union lo­ • dents' Society in Victoria, Canada, cals, at political events, and by call­ Some 100 Scandinavian partici­ recently endorsed the Curtis defense DEFEND ing endorsers of the defense pants in the Nordic Brigade to Cuba effort. committee. along with staff members of the In a message to the defense com­ Julio A. Mella Camp outside Ha­ mittee, Elizabeth Loughran, the MARK CURTIS! , Contributions to cover the ex­ vana viewed the video The Frame­ Students' Society vice-president for penses of the trip to Geneva and the Up of Mark Curtis in early July. academic affairs, wrote: "We see the active in prison and refuses to be Minorities. The meeting was held costs of materials and publicity are Afterward, 23 people became en­ injustice to Mark as an offense to all isolated from the world beyond recently in Geneva, Switzerland. still urgently needed. Donations dorsers of the Mark Curtis Deferise those who are attempting to bring the prison walls. Participants in the delegation should be sent to the Mark Curtis Committee. They included brigade dignity, good working conditions, came from Britain, Canada, France, Defense Committee. Tax-deduct­ The Mark Curtis Defense Com­ participants from Iceland, Denmark, and fair pay to workers throughout Sweden, and the United States. Kate ible contributions should be made mittee, based in Des Moines, is Sweden,- Norway, and the Faeroes, the world. leading an international cam­ Kaku, a leader of the Mark Curtis out to the Political Rights Defense a group of islands between Scotland "We encourage other groups to paign to f"aght for justice for Curtis Defense Committee and Curtis' Fund, Inc. and Iceland. and to defend his rights in prison. wife, addressed the subcommission support you as well, and to stand up Ambjom Thomsen - a leader of for the right of all people to organize More than. 8,000 unionists, de­ meeting, calling on the UN body to • the brigade members from the fenders of democratic rights, po­ take up Curtis' fight for justice. peacefully, without threat of govern­ Juan Villagomez, a _Curtis sup­ Faeroes, a Central Committee mem­ ment or police intervention and bru­ litical activists, prominent Curtis supporters from Sweden, porter from Los Angeles, recently . ber of the Communist Party of the tality. What has occurred to Mark officials, and others -from the one of whom was part of the dele- . visited Ecuador. He met with labor Faeroes, and the editor of the social­ has happened before to other caring Philippines to Sweden, from gation, decided to ask their cowork­ leaders, students, and other activists ist newsweekly Free Faeroes- en­ citizens. We join you in your de­ South Mrica to Canada- have ers and their union locals for to discuss the Curtis defense cam­ dorsed. Others who signed up mand that such coercive practices endorsed the committee's efforts. contributions. Workers in many dif­ paign and spoke at a meeting of included lnge Hoge, president of the against workers attempting to orga­ ferent plants in Stockholm heard For more information about Women for Democracy. The group Denmark-Cuba Friendship Associa-­ nize must stop." the case or how you can help, write about the frame-up of Curtis for the endorsed the Mark Curtis Defense tion; Brit Pedersen, the head of the to the Mark Curtis Defense Com­ first time _when they were ap­ Committee and volunteered to help Norwegian delegation; Anna Greta Maria Hamberg and Lars Erlands­ mittee, Box 1048, Des Moines, proached to help, and many contrib­ distribute The Frame-Up of Mark Wallmark, vice-president of the son from Sweden, Elizabeth Stone Iowa 50311; telephone (515) 246- uted. Curtis, a video documentary pro­ Sweden-Cuba Association; andTero from Los Angeles, and Terry 1695. If you have news or reports Other workers who already sup­ duced by Hollywood difector Nick Tonanen, the head of the Finnish Cogganfrom New Zealand contrib­ on activities in support of Mark port the case saw this as an oppor- Castle. delegation. uted to this week's column. Castro opens UN congress on crime prevention

BYJOHNSTUDER criminology and prison conditions, there are was granted, they came to the congress di­ Third World - does not in itself constitute HAVANA, CUba-On August 27 CUban numerous delegates from UN-recognized rectly from the 42nd Session of the UN a well-defined set of criminal offenses: usury, .President Fidel Castro opened the Eighth nongovernmental organizations and invited Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimi­ extortion, fraud, and who knows how many United Nations Congress on the Prevention human rights activists. nation and Protection of Minorities held in more. That is why the struggle against crime, of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders at Human rights groups represented include Geneva, Switzerland. Kaku addressed the on this plane, necessarily leads to the struggle the International Conference Center here. Amnesty International, the International Geneva meeting on Curtis' fight for justice. for a fairer international economic order." Over 1,400 delegates and observers are in Commission of Jurists, Afro-Asian People's There are significant areas of common Castro also pointed to the dangers in the attendance, making it the largest UN confer­ Solidarity Organization, Arab Lawyers concern between this congress on the treat­ current international situation in the Arab ence held on this topic. Union, Friends World Committee for Con­ ment of prisoners and UN bodies which deal East that form the backdrop for the congress. sultation, International Federation of Human with human rights. For instance, the Standard In his opening speech, Castro told the del­ "Our present dramatic reality is that no egates, "We believe that it is fortunate that the Rights, International Association of Demo­ Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Pris­ cratic Lawyers, Lawyers Committee for oners, one of the central UN documents small nation can feel safe while the mighty organizers of this conference decided to con­ are acknowledged the power to impose their sider the link between crime and development Human Rights, and others. adopted and amended by previous con­ Along with many others, the Curtis sup­ gresses, names numerous provisions aimed dictates and act according to their whims and as the central theme of its deliberations." interests," the Cuban president said. "This is This is the main agenda item being dis­ porters were invited to attend and participate at protecting the human rights ofthose behind by Eduardo Vetere, the executive secretary bars. also a form of international crime - the most cussed in congress plenary sessions. Other serious· and dangerous for all mankind­ for the congress, who is based in Vienna, In his opening remarks, Castro explained issues - including greater attention to juve­ and cannot be ignored in any analysis carried Austria. that to understand the real meaning of crime nile crime, steps toward strengthening UN­ out with a modicum of objectivity." adapted standards on treatment of prisoners, Like all delegates from the United States, in the world today requires an international The first order of business of the delegates and restrictions on abuse of police power - the representatives of the Curtis defense com­ outlook. was the election of Juan Escalona Reguera, are being addressed in committee meetings mittee had to receive a waiver of the U.S. "I ask myself, esteemed delegates," Castro head of the Cuban National Assembly, as the and resolutions for consideration at the con­ government ban on travel to CUba from the said, "if the status of international economic congress chairman. clusion of the congress. U.S. Treasury Department. After the waiver relations - in regards to countries of the Kate Kaku and John Studer, leaders of the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, arrived . here August 30 to participate in the congress. Kaku is married to Curtis, the Des Moines, Photographers fight pornography charges Iowa, unionist and political activist serving a 25-year jail term in state prison on frame-up BY TOBA SINGER Semien was charged with 27 felony counts attorney was forced to suspend the charges rape and burglary charges. AND CURT JAYNE of producing child pornography and 27 mis­ against Semien, provided he "stay away from The U.S. government had conducted an SAN FRANCISCO - "I thought they demeanor counts of possessing it and held young people under the age of 16." international campaign to prevent the con­ were mistaken and were looking for drugs," for $81,000 baiL He requested a public de­ "It has become a hysterical atmosphere in gress from being held in CUba. But the UN explained Joe Semien, describing an early fender four times in the course of his two this country," Semien said, "beginning with Economic and Social Council voted 43-2 to morning FBI and police raid on his home in days in jail. None was provided. The police the criminal Reagan administration and the hold the meeting in Havana. The two oppos­ April. Semien is a 26-year-old Afro-Ameri­ and FBI shut down his business for a month. criminal Meese commission." This commis­ ing votes were cast by representatives from can photographer. On the day of Semien's arrest, police and sion was set up to enforce so-called obscenity the United States and Oman. A few months before the raid Semien FBI agents paid "visits" to two of his asso­ laws. started a business making intemegatives in ciates. A worker at the lab where Semien The U.S. government's frustration with the "They are trying to create fear among worked was told she would have to give them decision was reflected in an August 22 Wall space he rented from local photo laboratories. artists that they are committing child abuse," information on Sturges or face having the lab Street Journal article headlined "UN hands Among his customers was internationally Semien said. "The FBI has succeeded in known photographer Jock Sturges. The inter­ "dismantled." CUba PR coup." To protest the conference creating uncertainty. Artists now think twice being held here, Washington has refused to negatives Semien made for Sturges included Cops also forced their way into Sturges' before doing something." send an official delegation to participate. photographs of the Marin Ballet and of chil­ home the same day after he refused them dren, who were unclothed, on a beach. entry without a search warrant. They de­ In spite of the suspension of the charges Many countries are represented here by "When they rounded up my roommates, stroyed valuable photographs and confis, against him, the FBI has continued to contact their minister of interior or by representatives photographed us in the living room, and cated thousands of prints, camera equipment, Semien through his attorney, demanding to ofpolice agencies. In addition to governmen­ began to question a roommate who writes a computer, business records, books, and question him and urging him to testify against tal delegations and "experts" in the field of for the Berkeley Monthly, I began to realize other items. Sturges. Semien believes the FBI is trying to that they were accusing us of being some Only after scores of calls from local artists, assemble a list of artists who are willing to kind of pornographic ring," Semien said. photographers, and others was Semien fi­ cooperate with the cops as a means of pres­ suring artists and photographers who refuse .How to write Mark Curtis ''They asked me to sign a release allowing nally released from jail. A public defender $:n Address letters to Mark Curtis them to search the lab where I had been was not assigned to the case until two weeks to cooperate. #805338, Box 316 JBC Dorm, Fort N\ad­ working. I refused. They told me I would be after his arrest. "I'm not going to do that. Tm not going ison, lo.va 52627. Sender's full name arrested for not cooperating. They confis­ Several dozen area artists have set up the to testify against Jock. I'm not going to and address must be in upper left of cated my equipment, over 2,000 prints, ac­ Semien-Sturges Defense Fund. It has organ­ cooperate with the FBI," Semien said. envelope. Sign name in full at end of count records, phone numbers, and personal ized to have hundreds of protest letters writ­ The Semien-Sturges Defense Fund can be letter. Greeting cards and photos less notebooks and took me to the police station, ten and a resolution passed by the San contacted at 2660 Third St. No. 205, San than 8~ x 11 inches are permitted. where they handcuffed me to a bench for six Francisco Board of Supervisors protesting Francisco, Calif. 94107, or by telephone at hours." the raids and Semien's arrest. The district (415) 550-0719.

4 The Militant September 14, 1990 'Justice- was not served' in New York trial Socialist candidates condemn attack on jogger, violation of rights of accused

The following statement was issued by her right, as a rape victim, to withhold her The public defender lawyers assigned to the they are guilty or not guilty; but this is Craig Gannon, Socialist \\brkers Party name and image. youths were declared incompetent by many immaterial to the political fact that working candidate for governor of New \brk, and Intense pressure came down on the police who observed the trial proceedings. people cannot allow them to be convicted in Derek Bracey, the party's candidate for to fmd her attackers and on the court system Only six young men were charged in the the manner in which they were. New York's attorney general. to convict and imprison those guilty of this rape and beating, although police claim 30 The state had an opportunity to prove the terrible crime. participated in the assault. Three of those youths guilty in a court of law and failed. The night of April 19, 1989, a young . However, justice was not served. The cops charged _:_ Anton McCray, Yusef Salaam, The convictions should be overturned and woman jogging through Central Park was followed their standard operating procedure. and Raymond Santana were convicted Au­ the youths freed. brutally assaulted. She was viciously beaten They rounded up the usual suspects - gust 18 in a jury trial on assault and rape The fact that more than a year has now and raped and was found lying in a puddle ,, ______charges. They were also convicted of assault­ been lost in investigating the brutal violation of mud and blood wearing only a bra. Her ing other joggers in the park but found inno­ of a woman is the full responsibility of the hands were tied with her bloody sweatshirt. cent of attempted murder. government. The chance that evidence link­ When paramedics brought her into the Youths convicted without The trial was not a fair one. No physical ing her attackers to the crime can be found Metropolitan Hospital Center, it seemed al­ physical evidence, only on evidence or witnesses linked the three to the at this point is virtually zero. most certain that she would die. Against all crime. They were convicted solely on the The police investigation and the trial were odds, she lived. After almost a year and a testimony .of cops, testimony of cops and coerced confessions not conducted to combat rape. Like the cam­ half of hospitalization and physical therapy that should not have been admitted as evi­ paign in the big-business press portraying she has been able to return to her job. She without presumption dence. Black and Latino youth as arumals, the case bears life-long injuries -jagged red scars of innocence •.. was simply an opportunity for the employing on her face, no sense of smell, double vision, ______,, Trial by press class to try to divide working people and step and loss of balance. The case was tried in the press. Far from up the drive for more cops who have more This horrendous attack on a young woman young Black and Latino men who had been being "presumed innocent," the youths were latitude to violate our fundamental demo­ was front-page news the next morning and in the park that night. denounced in screaming headlines as a "wolf cratic rights. immediately evoked solidarity. Some 30,000 They took these youths- all but one pack." Real estate and casino speculator On the other hand, the broad solidarity felt women are raped every year in New York under 16 at the time and thus legally minors Donald Trump took out full-page ads calling for the jogger points the way forward toward City and the brutality of this particular attack - down to station houses and interrogated for the reinstatement of the death penalty. As uniting working people - men and women, served to focus opposition to violence against them. At least one cop admits lying to trick the case went to trial and it became clear how Black and white - to defend ourselves from women. one of the youths into confessing. The law little evidence there was against the youths, the racism and sexism fostered by a system As the weeks and months passed, her states that a minor cannot be questioned the press was forced to back off from these based on profit. recovery was closely followed and people except in the presence of a parent or guardian. hysterical attacks. admired her strength of will and drive to This democratic right was trampled on - Suspicion that the youths were being rail­ Solidarity broken return to an active life. She closely guarded defense lawyers charged that the boys were roaded began to mount. This solidarity was broken by some who her privacy and most newspapers accepted questioned in the absence of their parents. No one except the youths know whether claim to be defending the Black and Latino youths accused ofthe crime. Alfred Sharpton, leader of the United Afrikan Movement who is infamous for his role in the TawanaBrawley S. Africa women launch organization debacle, led a group of people protesting out­ side the courtroom. His position is that Blacks have no allies and that the jogger's interests, because she is white, are counterposed to to fight for rights, strengthen ANC those of her accused attackers. Sharpton and his followers went so far as to heckle the BY GREG McCARTAN jogger as she left the courtroom, taunting her A meeting of some 400 delegates, repre­ with chants of "The boyfriend did it!" senting women from anti-apartheid organi­ This counterposition of the demand for zations across South Africa; launched the justice for the victim of a brutal crime to the African National Congress Women's League defense of the democratic rights of those on South African Women's Day, August 9, accused of molesting her was also reflected "as the organized .voice of women in the in an August 25 article that appeared in the liberation struggle." Harlem-based Amsterdam News. The article In a statement released following the meet­ began by asserting "Whites breathed easier ing, the newly formed organization noted the Saturday, August 18 after hearing the verdict struggle of women against apartheid has and possible sentence on three minority youth helped bring "about the unbanning of the convicted of violating a white woman." ANC and other organizations and the release The idea that violence against a woman of our leaders. Relentless resistance over these who is white is of interest only to whites and decades has won admiration and support from that trampling on the democratic rights of governments and peoples the world over" and young people who are members of oppressed has pressured the apartheid regime to "take nationalities is of interest only to others of the first tentative steps in the direction of oppressed nationalities flies in the face of negotiating an end to the apartheid system." reality and is an obstacle to organizing effec­ Women have been in the forefront of the tive protests against either. fight against the implementation of laws by The working-class slogan "An injury to the apartheid government, and the colonizers one is and injury to all" must be applied both before it, that forced Blacks off the land, to the violation of this woman and to the stripped them of civil and democratic rights, denial of the democratic rights of the Black and ensured the continued superexploitation and Latino youth accused of the crime. of their labor by big business. Further trials of youths, also with no or little evidence linking them to the attack on While protests were organized by women Eli Weinberg as far back as 1913, mass protests by women the Central Park jogger, are scheduled. These \\Omen demonstrate in 1958 against laws making them carry passes. Newly formed trials should be protested as a further mis­ defying apartheid laws began in the early \\Omen's League pledged to deepen the struggle against apartheid •. 1950s. By the rnid-1950s the Federation of carriage of justice. South African Women was launched, and protests against the requirement that Black new society will be built on nonsexist foun­ women carry passes, or internal passports, dations," the league's statement said at the Exile youth tneet on S. Africa were initiated in 1955. This culminated in a conclusion of the August 9 meeting. 20,000-strong women's march on govern­ South African women's "common heri­ BY JULIETTE MONTAUK activities in conjunction with the Mass Dem­ ment offices in Pretoria on August 9, now tage of patriarchy" has been compounded by South African Women's Day, of that year. AND PETER LINK ocratic Movement in South Africa. the "racism of settler colonialism and the EAST LANSING, Michigan- Some Women's League leader Frene Ginwala exploitation of apartheid," the statement said. Members of the Young Socialist Alliance, said the new organization would initiate a 350 South African youth living across North an organization of students and young work­ "Throughout the country white women as America participated in a conference here campaign for the adoption of a Charter of well as black women have lower standards ers in the United States, also participated in Women's Rights. "We will go around the entitled "Our Education in the Service of a the conference. YSA members who staffed of education and skills, of wealth, opportu­ Nonracial and Democratic South Africa." country listening to women, hearing what nity, and advancement." a table of Pathfinder Press books received an their problems are, and seeing how many of The August 10-13 meeting was held at Mich­ enthusiastic response to the literature and the these problems are directly attributed to Women's involvement in deci~ion-making igan State University. Militant. bodies of the ANC and other democratic According to the conference's final press apartheid and how many are gender-related," Some $550 worth of Pathfinder titles were she said. organizations is inadequate, the statement release, the meeting brought together South said. Since the ANC is concerned with "the African "youth and students of all races, of purchased by conference participants, in­ "The voice of women in our country must cluding books and pamphlets on South Af­ be raised and heard so as to ensure that our elimination of all forms of oppression and different political persuasions, including .exploitation in our society," it is the only those who are members of the ANC [African rica, Cuba, and Marxism. In the wake of the liberation organization in the country that "is National Congress], PAC [Pan Africanist massive upheaval in Eastern Europe and the committed to facilitating the participation of Congress], and BCM [Black Consciousness Soviet Union there was a special interest in titles by Leon Trotsky, a leader of the Russian Nelson Mandela: women at all levels of the liberation struggle, Movement], dS well as others not affiliated Speeches t 990 to the adoption of a Charter of Women's to any political organization." revolution of 1917. Intensify the Stru\}\}le Rights as a constitutional instrument in a Senti Thobejane, chairperson of the ANC Supporters of the fight by packinghouse to Abolish Apartheid post-apartheid South Africa, and the formu­ Youth Section in the United States, which worker Mark Curtis against his frame-up lation of policies that will encompass the full led the conference, said, "this shows the conviction on rape and burglary charges, Available from Pathfinder emancipation of women," the statement said. possibility of people of all political back­ found many who already backed the struggle boolistores listed on pa~ 12 or from Pathfinder, 410 West St., The organization urged women to grounds to work on a common political pro­ and others who wanted to learn about the New Yorli, N.Y. 10014. 74 pp., $5. "strengthen the ANC as it seeks to expand gram aimed at isolating apartheid." The con­ case. Some participants took packets of Cur­ Please include $1 pos.. and handlinq. the legal space we have conquered at such ference discussed forming a nonpartisan tis literature with them to canvass for support costs." student organization that would coordinate to his case on their own.

September 14, 1990 The Militant 5 'We have achieved a democratic regime' Nicaraguan army head gives major interview on course of government

BY CINDY JAQUITH Ortega's comments in the interview on MANAGUA,Nicaragua-"Agreatgain these and related matters evoked such inter­ of all Nicaraguans and the revolutionary est that the program was rebroadcast in full process is that we have now achieved the several days later. La Prenso, the pro-UNO consolidation of a democratic regime, which daily, featured a front-page story on Ortega's in my opinion will last 20, 30, or 40 years," statements. The two pro-Sandinista dailies stated Gen. Humberto Ortega in a interview. here, El Nuevo Diorio and Bo"icada, gave A longtime central leader ofthe Sandinista the interview brief mention. National Liberation Front (FSLN), Ortega Then in August the entire text of Ortega's was head of the Sandinista People's Army interview was run in La Prenso and El Nuevo and minister of defense under the FSLN-led Diorio, as a supplenient paid for by the public government that came to power in 1979. relations department of the Sandinista When the National Opposition Union (UNO) People's Army. won the elections in February of this year, 'War buried once and for all' Ortega was retained as head of the army by incoming President Violeta Chamorro. He Asked by Ibarra what his view is of de­ formally resigned from the FSLN National mocracy and the place of elections, Ortega Directorate, as part of an agreement between stated that the constitution and laws adopted UNO and FSLN leaders. under the FSLN government exemplified a "clear democratic road" that is "more ad­ Wide interest in interview vanced than that of other processes in Latin The July 27 interview was conducted on American countries." the government-run television program "De­ The 1990 elections were "a substantial mocracy on the Move." Ortega was inter­ component of this democracy," Ortega con­ viewed by Antonio Ibarra, vice-minister of tinued. They were "the decisive element for the presidency. achieving peace in Nicaragua." The "skill and patience of the current government lead~ The questions focused on the tasks of the ers," he said, made it possible to complete capitalist coalition government now in power negotiations the FSLN government had in Nicaragua, the role of the armed forces in begun with the U.S.-backed contras, "so that ®fending the regime, and the prospects for Militant/Seth ~-• u•v ••J "national reconciliation" between conflict­ they were disarmed and war here in Nicara­ gua buried once and for all." Humberto Ortega speaking at a March news conference following a meeting with ing classes in the cities and countryside. Ortega said he subscribed to the formula: UNO figures to organize the transition to the current government. The interview took place amidst a series "Elections equal peace, peace equals eco­ of clashes between small groups of UNO and nomic recovery, and basic economic recov­ Army will never be turned into "a force for Central Bank in the early years of the FSLN FSLN supporters in the countryside. UNO ery equals a firm foundation to begin to murder, a repressive force violating human government. He defected in 1982 and be­ supporters, including landless peasants, had overcome underdevelopment." rights. We are not going to shoot at the people. came a leader of the contras. occupied a few farm cooperatives belonging "How firm is our peace?" asked Ibarra. But it must also be understood that acting In reply to the question, Ortega said that to FSLN supporters. Pro-FSLN farm work­ "Especially after the last strike, where there prudently, responsibly, and with these princi­ in the mid-1970s, "the FSLN was divided ers, meanwhile, staged symbolic seizures of were acts of violence, armed extremist ples does not mean we are going to accept into three tendencies. Each one had a differ­ several large private farms. National FSLN groups, and shooting in the city of Managua? chaos." ent conception of how to take power, how and UNO leaders have since negotiated set­ "Is it possible to achieve national reconcil­ to overthrow Somozaism. I would say these tlements to a number of these disputes. iation, General Ortega, with extremist groups Union leaders 'ready to pitch in' were not simply tactical differences, but Shortly before the interview, the FSLN that can lead us to violence, with armed Ibarra asked Ortega what government rather deep strategic differences concerning had led a strike of several thousand trade groups on farm cooperatives or armed groups measures· are necessary now in order to the overthrow of the dictatorship. unionists centered in Managua. Strike sup­ in neighborhoods that clash with sectors that achieve economic recovery, and the pros­ "But by 1977 it was possible for one sector porters erected barricades on major thor­ are forming brigades and death squads?" pects for concertoci6n, a term ftrst used here of the Sandinista Front, known as the Ter­ oughfares for one day. by FSLN leaders to refer to establishing a cerista or Insurrectional Tendency, to raise·a Small groups of rightists, some armed, 'We would be heading toward anarchy' social pact between workers, peasants, cap­ broader program, and we began to contact were organized out of the offices of Radio Ortega replied that "the army, the police, italist businessmen, large landowners, and different sectors who had not been taken into Corporaci6n to attack the strikers. They were and the Ministry of Governance guarantee the government. account by any of us before, for sectarian publicly encouraged by Vice President order and the security of the citizenry. The Ortega said some "drastic" economic reasons. Virgilio Godoy, who denounced President creation of national salvation brigades won't measures were "inevitable" in order to con- "From this moment on, it was possible to Chamorro for not using the armed forces to be allowed." ______wage a much more powerful struggle. The break up the strike. He called for "brigades ,, Nor will a repetition be permitted, he three Sandinista tendencies were reunited of national salvation" to impose order. · continued, of "the crisis that arose when around a platform of insurrection," Ortega The strike was ended shortly thereafter barricades were put up and the situation I believe the principle explained. when the FSLN negotiated an agreement became even a little more serious around requirement for resolving "There have always existed currents that with Chamorro's office. Radio Corporaci6n. Supposedly, the author­ are more flexible, with less rigid ways of ities of the military, security, and internal the economic situation thinking, less dogmatic about principles, less order did not react actively and clearly orthodox," he said. "That finally made it Bush OKs $16 million enough, and it became legitimate for every­ is political stability ... possible for us as revolutionary leaders who one to exercise their own authority. had matured to develop new approaches quite for permanent TV "Where would we be headed on such a ~------'' specific to the Nicaraguan situation. These broadcast into Cuba road?" Ortega asked. "We would be heading trol Nicaragua's inflation, but they should opened the road to elections in 1984 and 1990 toward anarchy, chaos." not be done in "a cold and insensitive way -despite the war, the difficulties, and the In a statement made public August 27, He stressed the importance of the joint as in other countries like Venezuela, where criticisms by the enemies of that process." President George Bush announced the re­ army-police campaign to disarm civilians - thousands of people rose up, supermarkets lease of $16 million to continue the TV Marti "especially peasants, both Sandinista peas­ were looted, and there was repression that Bush plan for Latin America broadcasts into Cuba. Stating it had passed ants and those of the counterrevolution. Both left hundreds dead." Ibarra asked Ortega in conclusion what a five-month preliminary test, Bush said the have an enormous responsibility to avoid "If sacrifice is being demanded of the his opinion is of the "Bush plan" for Latin TV station would become a permanent op­ violent confrontations '-- whether it be with people," Ortega said, "the government must America. This is a proposal by President eration. machetes, or knives, or guns that are still ftrst of all find a way so that the sacrifice is George Bush to create a free-trade zone in Part of the Voice of America network, the around - to settle their differences. Nicara­ made by all sectors of society and doesn't Latin America, reducing some U.S. trade station began its broadcasts on March 27. guans are very prone to quickly resort to just fall on the shoulders of the worker and barriers to Latin American products, and Transmitted from a huge balloon tethered violence. That's a reflection of the backward­ the most downtrodden. forgiving some ofthe Latin American foreign over the Aorida Keys, 90 miles from Cuba, ness and exploitation we inherited. This must "Today's sacrifice will be well compen­ debt. The countries most eligible to partici­ the signal has been successfully jammed by disappear, since the pacification of the coun­ sated for by the gradual well-being the people pate in the program would be those where Cuban technicians. tryside is vital." will enjoy tomorrow." government regulation of the economy and In a statement released at the president's "I have personally ordered all the com­ Concertaci6n is needed between "the investment has been relaxed and state-owned vacation home in Maine, press secretary Mar­ mand structures of the army to act with workers, the unions, private enterprise, and businesses have been put up for sale. lin Fitzwater said Bush, in a "presidential complete responsibility in this matter," Or­ the government," Ortega added. "I have Ortega replied that he saw a trend of determination," had ordered the broadcasts tega declared, "because as military men we heard union leaders say they are conscious capital moving toward three "poles" interna­ to continue ·"in a manner which is consistent are very conscious of the danger posed by of the critical situation, and in the framework tionally - Western and Eastern Europe and with our international obligations." arms in the hands of civilians in this new of concertaci6n, they are 'ready to pitch in. ' the Soviet Union, the Asian countries, and ''TV Martfis an integral partofU.S. policy situation where there is no war." That's real concertaci6n." the Arab world. to provide information for people who are "If we don't have peace," he warned, "if Ibarra noted that Ortega was a leader of "Latin America is going to be left all denied that right," said Fitzwater. there is uncertainty, then we're not going to the Tercerista Tendency in the FSLN when alone," he predicted. "If Latin America TV Marti broadcasts in Spanish and uses have economic recovery, not to mention in­ it split into three factions in the mid-1970s. doesn't unite to defend itself in the face of the same airspace as Cuban stations. It has vestment of foreign capital. This split occurred prior to the 1979 victory these clearly defined poles, we're going to been labeled by the Cuban government as "I would say that the principal requirement of the Nicaraguan revolution, which over­ be at the bottom of the scale of the underde­ illegal and a violation of its sovereignty. for resolving the economic situation is polit­ threw the U.S.-backed dictatorship of An­ veloped countries. The U.S. Information Agency, which runs ical stability. astasio Somoza. Ibarra asked the general if "I'm not afraid of programs like the one TV Marti, said polls of Cuban emigres indi­ "Anyone who is thinking the task is to he agreed with a recent statement by UNO launched by the United States," Ortega ex­ cated approximately 273,000 households on overthrow this government," he added, leader Alfredo Cesar that the veteran Ter­ plained, "because Nicaragua, Central Amer­ the island "should be able" to receive the "doesn't understand that the constitution cerista supporters who exist in both the FSLN ica, and Latin America must find an programming occasionally despite the states clearly that every six years there are and in UNO were the ones who made pos­ understanding with the United States, find a Cuban government's jamming. elections." sible the 1990 elections and the peaceful relationship of respect. If the [Bush] program The General Accounting Office, however, "Can the people be assured the army won't transition to the new government. offers some solution,. well, we have to find challenged that view in a recent report, stat­ permit violations of the constitutional Cesar, currently secretary of Nicaragua's a dignified solution for Nicaragua, just as we ing Washington had "vastly overestimated ~ ' order?" asked Ibarra. Legislative Assembly, was once a member have to do so with the nations of Europe and the station's audience. Ortega replied that the Sandinista People's of the FSLN and served as president of the every other country in the world."

6 The Militant September 14, 1990 Socialist leader assesses demise of revolution

in Nicaragua Mlllltailt/1\IJ.tcriaer BaumaiUl Peasant woman of Nicaragua's Bonao region with her daughter. Inearly years of the revolu­ tion the government supported initiatives workers and peasants took in land occupations and strikes.

BY JAMES HARRIS ments and national liberation movements expropriation of some capitalist property in was deepened and generalized over time, "In 1979 a victorious insurrection and came to Nicaragua and spoke to the toilers. Nicaragua, capitalist relations of production leading to an erosion of the workers' and sustained mass mobilizations led by the San­ Sam Nujoma, the head of the South West and distribution still predominated. farmers' government, and, fmally, to its de­ dinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) Africa People's Organisation that was fight­ "Those in the international workers' feat. overthrew the capitalist-landlord dictatorship ing to free Namibia from South African co­ movement who claimed that a workers' state "The workers' and farmers' government headed by Anastasio Somoza, the local rep­ lonial rule, spoke to the peasants in Matagal­ was created in Nicaragua," Ruby said, had to mobilize working people to establish resentativeoftheenemyofhwnanity- U.S. pa. Oliver Tambo, the president of the African "pointed the working class and poor peasants a workers' state or the contradictions would imperialism. Out of this revolution a govern­ National Congress, came to Nicaragua, and away from the central challenge they faced: be resolved in the overturn of workers' and ment of the toilers came to power," said the leader of the revolutionary government in moving forward toward the expropriation of peasants' power and the establishment of a Aaron Ruby, in a report to the 35th National Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara, spoke to a the bourgeoisie and beginning the construc­ capitalist government," said Ruby. Every Convention of the Socialist Workers Party rally in 1986. Connecting with the struggles tion of socialism." workers' and farmers' government is inher­ held in Oberlin, Ohio, in August. Ruby, the of people around the world was part of what The second alternative position, that the ently unstable since class confrontations in­ national chairperson of the Young Socialist happened to people every day," he said. government was a radical bourgeois regime, evitably arise that must be resolved in the Alliance and a leader of the SWP, was initi­ was also false, Ruby said. Anticapitalist mea­ interest of either the capitalists or working ating discussion on the resolution "Defend Test of leadership sures in the interests of the workers and peas­ people. As each such conflict arose in Nica­ Revolutionary Nicaragua: The Eroding During this period the government carried ants on the scale carried out by the FSLN-led ragua, the government would either have to Foundations of the Workers' and Farmers' out some policies that were an obstacle to government have never in history been im­ throw its weight to resolving it in a proletar­ Government," which the delegates to the the advance of workers and farmers. The test plemented by a radical bourgeois regime. ian direction -toward socialism -or in a convention adopted. (The. text of the resolu­ of the revolutionary leadership, however, "Furthermore, the workers' and farmers' bourgeois direction - toward reversing the tion was printed in the September Interna­ was its tendency in the opening years of the government did not just respond under pres­ toilers' gains. In the final few years of the tional Socialist Review supplement to the revolution to advance policies in the interests sure," Ruby said. "It led and took initiatives revolution, the government increasingly took Sept. 7, 1990 Militant.) of workers and peasants and correct and in organizing and mobilizing the toilers in the latter course. ''The central theme taken up in the reso­ adjust errors and false starts. their interests,· even when these clashed di­ "Today," said Ruby, "the revolutionary po­ lution is what the workers' and farmers' The FSLN made corrections in the early rectly with capitalist property rights and so­ litical continuity of the FSLN is definitively government in Nicaragua achieved, the chal­ land reform, backing away from administra­ cial privileges. This kind of anticapitalist broken. They have neither the same program lenges it faced, how its foundations were tive policies that organized peasants into dynamic and action stamped the character of nor the same course and have not for some eroded, and how it was overthrown. At the collective farms regardless of whether or not the FSLN government. time -as leaders of the FSLN themselves heart of the resolution is the conviction that they preferred to farm individually. The al­ "Those who advanced the view that the are more and more quick to explain." this was not inevitable," Ruby said. liance between workers and the peasantry FSLN-led government was bourgeois," The FSLN leadership more and more Ruby recently returned from a reporting was also deepened by a step-up in the pace Ruby said, "if they were consistent, called bases its political and economic course on a trip to Nicaragua for the Militant. There he of land distribution. This helped to bolster on the working people of Nicaragua to over­ long-term alliance with the capitalist class. visited places he had lived and worked as a the FSLN's support in the countryside. throw the government as their central task It led workers and peasants away from deep- school teacher from 1983 to 1985. The FSLN leadership also corrected disas­ rather than using it to advance and defend Continued on Page 12 The revolution did more than overthrow a trous policies carried out in relation to the their class interests. dictator, Ruby said. "It aided, organized, and indigenous peoples and Blacks on the Atlan­ "Those who advanced this line," Ruby From Pathfinder responded favorably to mobilizations of the tic Coast. The correction in this case meant said, "also advanced its corollary: that prog­ working people that challenged the property the Nicaraguan government developed, in ress toward the construction of a communist rights and social prerogatives of the capitalist collaboration with the Atlantic Coast peo­ party in Nicaragua could only come outside class. It was a government that arose out of a ples, an autonomy program. By initiating and of, and in opposition to, the FSLN. successful anticapitalist revolution. carrying out the autonomy process, the work­ "The Nicaraguan toilers established a ers' and farmers' government became the Building a communist vanguard workers' and farmers' government," Ruby first government in the world to carry out a "But the opposite was the case. The only said, "the form of government that can be revolutionary course in the struggle of op­ way progress could be made toward the expected to rapidly appear as the result of a pressed nations since the Communist Party essential task of building a communist van­ successful anticapitalist revolution." in Russia under Lenin. guard was in, and through, the FSLN - the Ruby explained that the SWP immediately revolutionary vanguard organization that had Mobilization of toilers embraced the Nicaraguan revolution and its won in struggle the leadership of the workers This government armed the workers and leadership and championed the course of the and peasants." peasants, began a far-reaching land reform, new government. The party threw itself into In leading the revolutionary struggle and codified the rights to speak, assemble, activity in defense of the revolution. The against the dictatorship and in organizing and and organize. A mass militia and locally Militant established a bureau in Nicaragua leading the new workers' and farmers' gov­ based Sandinista Defense Committees were immediately after Somoza's overthrow and ernment forward, the FSLN had followed the organized. has provided weekly coverage since. During line of its 1969 Historic Program. Consistent The government enacted social measures the brutal, U .S.-fmancedcontra war, the SWP mobilization of the workers and peasants to to benefit the toilers - health care programs, campaigned against this assault on the Nic­ carry out that revolutionary democratic pro­ school construction, a literacy crusade, rent araguan people and worked to mobilize gram would have set the Nicaraguan revo­ Sandinistas Speak reductions, and subsidies of basic food items. working people in the United States against lution on a socialist course -a course that Documents, speeches, ''The government expropriated some im­ the aggression. The party explained that was opened for all the Americas by the Cuban interviews. Contains the 1969 portant private holdings in industry, agricul­ working people the world over had a tremen­ revolution. Historic Program of the ture, and finance. The banking system was dous stake in the defense of the revolution. "The FSLN," Ruby said, "was an organi­ Sandinista Front. nationalized. And a significant degree of state zation that came into being inspired by the Published in 1982. 160 pp., control over foreign trade was established," Two alternative views Cuban revolution. The central founder of the $12.95. he said. The SWP recognized that a workers' and FSLN was Carlos Fonseca, who became a In the early years of the revolution the farmers' government had been established in Marxist under the impact of the Cuban rev­ Nicaragua: government supported initiatives on the part Nicaragua by the revolution. In recognizing olution and broke with Stalinist class-collab­ of workers and peasants, backing them in land this fact the party rejected two alternative oration, which had a stranglehold on work­ The Sandinista occupations and strikes. It aided these strug­ positions on the character of the Nicaraguan ing-class politics in Nicaragua. People's Revolution gles, helping to deepen the confidence and government: the first, that a workers' state "The FSLN," he said, "was not a commu­ class consciousness of the toilers. The FSLN had been established in Nicaragua, and the nist party when it took power. But the victory This collection contains more had increasingly sought to involve workers second, that the FSLN-led government was of the revolution that it led opened the door than 40 speeches by leaders of in running and directing every aspect of so­ a radical bourgeois regime. to forging such a party out of the FSLN." the Nicaraguan revolution. 412 ciety, including the production process. A workers' state, Ruby explained, is estab­ The challenge of forging a proletarian com­ pp., $20.95. "In addition, the government organized lished when the capitalist class has been ex­ munist party was not met by the FSLN lead­ Order from Pathfinder bookstores and educated the people of Nicaragua to iden­ propriated, a monopoly of foreign trade es­ ership, however. listed on page 12 or from Pathfinder, tify with the struggle of the people of El tablished, and a planned economy put in place Instead, Ruby said, the direction of the 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Salvador and struggles around the world," on the basis of nationalized property. This had government and of the FSLN during its early Please add $1 postage and handling. Ruby said. "Leaders of revolutionary move- not been carried out in Nicaragua. Despite the years was reversed. This reversal of direction

September 14, 1990 The Militant 7 Miami Machinists fight police ban on T-shirts

Some 8,500 International Asso­ As part of its continued strike The January 1990 memorandum, have been stepping up their attempt Finally, after much discussion by ciation of Machinists (lAM) mem­ building work, lAM Local 702 in entitled "lAM in terminal," justifies to push the strike out of the airport. the union membership, it was de­ bers struck Eastern Airlines Miami has embarked on a campaign the police action by stating that the In August two members were cided to launch a broader fight March 4, 1989, in an effort to to defend free speech by working to cops' legal department staff "ren­ confronted by five cops who stated against the Dade County commis­ block the company's drive to overturn a "memorandum" drawn dered an opinion" that the shirts are that not only did they not have the sioners, who are ultimately respon­ break the union and impose mas- up by the Metro-Dade Police De- in effect picket signs. Wearing the right to wear their shirts in the Con­ sible for the police memorandum. shirts in the terminal, the memo says, stitutional Free Speech Zones - Petitions to the commissioners de­ would be a violation of regulations areas of space set aside for organi­ manding they overturn the order, that make it illegal to picket, march, SUPPORT zations wishing to distribute litera­ entitled "Defend Free Speech," are NO or demonstrate within the airport ture in the terminal - but they also now being circulated to unions and CONTRACT terminal in Miami.. had no right to distribute leaflets. NO EASTERN other organizations. PEACE The "banned" lAM shirt has an Different approaches have been STRIKERS! important history in the local. Years taken by the union to fight the mem­ The AFL-CIO of South Aorida before the strike began, members orandum, including organizing 50 has endorsed the free speech cam­ would protest company attacks by union members to challenge the di­ paign and sent petitions to 500 union sive concessions on workers. partment The memorandum directs wearing red T-shirts bearing the rective by going into the terminal locals in Dade County. lAM mem­ As of the Mililllnt's closing lAM members not to wear their union logo in a show of solidarity. with their T-shirts on to greet an bers, speaking before unions to up­ news date, \\ednesday, Septem­ union T-shirts that read - in En­ In the year prior to the strike, Thurs­ arriving passenger. Though the po­ the ber S, the strike was in its SS1st glish and Spanish - "Machinists days became the traditional day for lice did not arrest anyone on that day date them on strike and encour­ day. on strike; Please don't fly Eastern or showing unity by donning the shirts. due to media coverage of the event, aging participation in a Labor Day Continental" into the airport termi­ march, are bringing the petitions The Eastern workers' right has During the strike the current T-shirt several days later they began a cam­ nal. with them for circulation. The local won broad support from working was added, and it has become re­ paign of harassment and arrests. people in the United States, Puerto A petition recently drawn up by quired uniform on the picket line. Another tactic tried by the union is also planning to bring the issue Rico and the Caribbean, Canada, the local explains that the heart of Instances of harassment of union was to defend one of the arrested before other organizations in south Bermuda, Sweden, New Zealand, the memorandum is an attempt to members include the arrest of a members through the courts. The Florida that support democratic France, and elsewhere in the decrease the visibility of the Eastern striker wearing a T-shirt who took a police, careful to sidestep the T-shirt rights. world. Readers - especially strike by intimidating strikers and break during picket duty and walked issue, said that three cops had wit­ Eastern strikers - are encour­ their supporters from exercising into the terminal to use the restroom. nessed the arrested unionist holding Zena McFadden, an Eastern striker aged to send news of strike soli­ their democratic rights to publicize The cops, emboldened after meeting a picket sign in his hand while wear­ and Local 702 member, contributed darity activities to this column. and explain the strike. minimal resistance to their memo, ing his T-shirt in the terminal. this week's column. Trotsky on the class nature of the Soviet Union Reprinted below are excerpts from the regime gave a mighty impulse to economy. * * * to the world socialist revolution as a tactical third edition of In Defense ofMarxism, by But the source of this impulse was the na­ task is related to a strategic one. A tactic is Leon Trotsky. Published in August by tionalization of the means of production and What do we defend in the USSR? Not that subordinated to a strategic goal and in no Pathfinder, the new edition includes an the planned beginnings, and by no means the in which it resembles the capitalist countries case can be in contradiction to the latter. but precisely that in which it differs from updated preface. Trotsky was a central fact that the bureaucracy usurped command This kind of "defense of the USSR" will them. In Germany also we advocate an up­ leader of the October 1917 Russian revo­ over the economy. On the contrary, bureau­ naturally differ, as heaven does from earth, rising against the ruling bureaucraey, but only lution and of the Communist International cratism, as a system, became the worst brake from the official defense which is now being in order immediately to overthrow capitalist in its early years. on the technical and cultural development of conducted under the slogan: "For Fatherland! property. In the USSR the overthrow of the The articles and letters included in In the country. For Stalin!" Our defense of the USSR is bureaucracy is indispensable for the preser­ Defense ofMarxism were part of a debate This was veiled for a certain time by the carried on under the slogan: "For Socialism! vation of state property. Only in this sense inside the Socialist W.rkers Party during fact that the Soviet economy was occupied For the World Revolution! Against Stalin!" do we stand for the defense of the USSR. the opening stages of V\brld War D. In the for two decades with transplanting and as­ In order that these two varieties of "defense work Trotsky explained why a revolution­ similating the technology and organization of the USSR" do not become confused in the ary party that was part of the working of production in advanced capitalist coun­ The defense of the USSR consciousness of the masses it is necessary class and its struggles needed to be built tries. The period of borrowing and imitation and the class struggle to know clearly and precisely pqwts> formu­ in the United States and other countries still could, for better or for worse, re accom­ late slogans which correspond to the ooncrete and the elass character and contradictions modated to bureaucratic automatism. i.e., the Mistakes on the question of defense of the situation. of the Soviet Union. USSR most frequently flow from an incor­ suffocation of all initiative and all creative But above all it is necessary to establish The excerpts are from the first chapter urge. rect understanding of the methods of "de­ fense." Defense of the USSR does not at all clearly just what we are defending, just how of the book, "The USSR in War." They are But the higher the economy rose, the more mean reapprochement with the Kremlin bu­ we are defending it, against whom we are copyright ©1990 and are reprinted by complex its requirements became, all the reaucracy, the acceptance of its politics, or a defending it. Our slogans will create confu­ permission of Pathrmder. Subheads are more unbearable became the obstacle of the conciliation with the politics of her allies. In sion among the masses only if we ourselves from the original book. bureaucratic regime. The constantly sharp­ this question, as in all others, we remain do not have a clear conception of our tasks. ening contradiction between them leads to completely on the ground of the international We must formulate our slogans in such a Is it a cancerous growth, uninterrupted political convulsions, to sys­ class struggle. way that the workers see clearly just what tematic annihilation of the most outstanding or a new organ? we are defending in the USSR (state property creative elements in all spheres of activity. Our tasks, among them the "defense of the Our critics have more than once argued USSR," we realize not through the medium and planned economy), and against whom Thus, before the bureaucracy could suc­ that the present Soviet bureaucracy bears of bourgeois governments and not even we are conducting a ruthless struggle (the ceed in exuding from itself a "ruling class," very little resemblance to either the bourgeois through the government of the USSR, but parasitic bureaucracy and its Comintern). it came into irreconcilable contradiction with or labor bureaucracy in capitalist society; that exclusively through the education of the the demands of development. The explana­ We must not lose sight for a single moment to a far greater degree than fascist bureau­ masses through agitation, through explaining of the fact that the question of overthrowing tion for this is to be found precisely in the cracy it represents a new and much more to the workers what they should defend and fact that the bureaucracy is not the bearer of the Soviet bureaucracy is for us subordinate powerful social formation. This is quite cor­ what they should overthrow. a new system of economy peculiar to itself to the question of preserving state property rect and we have never closed our eyes to it. The defense of the USSR coincides for us and impossible without itSelf, but is a para­ in the means of production in the USSR; that with the preparation of world revolution. But if we consider the Soviet bureaucracy sitic growth on a workers' state. the question of preserving state property in a "class," then we are compelled to state Only those methods are permissible which the means of production in the USSR is immediately that this class does not at all Totalitarian dictatorship: do not conflict with the interests of the rev­ subordinate for us to the question of the world resemble any of those propertied classes olution. The defense of the USSR is related proletarian revolution. known to us in the past; our gain conse­ A condition of acute crisis quently is not great. We frequently call the and not a stable regime Soviet bureaucracy a caste, underscoring NEW PATHFINDER EDITION----. thereby its shut-in character, its arbitrary rule, The October [1917 Russian] revolution and the haughtiness of the ruling stratum. was not an accident. It was forecast long in Scientifically and politically - and not advance. Events confirmed this forecait. The purely terminologically - the question degeneration does not refute the forecast, poses itself as follows: Does the bureaucracy because Marxists never believed that an iso­ represent a temporary growth on a social lated workers' state in Russia could maintain IN DEFENSE of MARXISM organism or has the growth already become itself indefinitely. True enough, we expected Social & political contradictions of the Soviet Union transformed into a historically indispensable the wrecking of the Soviet state, rather than organ? Social excrescences can be the prod­ its degeneration; to put it more correctly, we uct of an "accidental" (i.e. temporary and did not sharply differentiate between those extraordinary) enmeshing of historical cir­ two possibilities. But they do not at all con­ cumstances. A social organ (and such is every tradict each other. Degeneration must ines­ by LEON TROTSKY class, including an exploiting class) can take capably end at a certain stage in downfall. shape only as a result of the deeply rooted A totalitarian regime, whether of Stalinist inner needs of production itself. If we do not or fascist type, by its very essence can be • The articles and letters in this volume, written 50 years ago, remain an accu­ answer this question, then the entire contro­ only a temporary transitional regime. Naked rate and essential guide to understanding the social character of the states in versy will degenerate into sterile toying with dictatorship in history has generally been the Eastern Europe and USSR and the crisis of Stalinism in those countries today. words. product and the symptom of an especially severe social crisis, and not at all of a stable 221 pages, with a new preface by Doug Jenness. $17.95 Early degeneration of regime. Severe crisis cannot be a permanent the bureaucracy condition of society. A totalitarian state is capable of suppressing social contradictions Available from Pathfinder bookstores listed on page 16 or by mail from Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. Please include $1 postage and handling for each The historical justification for every ruling during a certain period, but it is incapable of class consisted in this - that the system of perpetuating itself. The monstrous purges in book. exploitation it headed raised the development the USSR are most convincing testimony of of the productive forces to a new level. the fact that Soviet society organically tends Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the Soviet toward ejection of the bureaucracy.

8 The Militant September 14,1990 Books on socialism, Cuba, South Africa are top sellers at annual Manila fair BY GEORGE TUCKER the Pathfinder team was in Manila for the AUCKLAND, New Zealand- Between bookfair, the Supreme Court delivered a July 21 and 29 the Ninth Manila Bookfair major blow against civil liberties by ruling was held in the Philippines capital. Among that the military authorities may arrest and the participants was Pathfmder, the New hold anyone 'suspected' of being 'sub­ Yorlc-based publisher of speeches and worlcs versive' at any time without a warrant, and by Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, and without court review." Ernesto Che Guevara; V.I. Lenin, Leon Despite such efforts to intimidate political Trotsky, and other leaders of the Russian activists, the response to Pathfmder at the revolution; and leaders of the socialist and 1990 bookfair showed that interest in revo­ working-class movements in the United lutionary ideas remains high, especially States and elsewhere. Hundreds of titles by among young people. Pathfinder's top sellers these and other leaders in the worldwide this year included The Communist Manifesto struggle for national liberation and socialism by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Social­ were sold by Pathfinder during the course of ism and Man in Cuba by Guevara, and In the fair. Defense of Socialism by Castro. In an interview here Russell Johnson, a Another popular title was Nelson Man­ director ofPathfmder in New Zealand, spoke de/a: Speeches 1990, of which more than 40 about Pathfmder 's participation in the Manila copies were sold "Many visitors to the book­ Militant fair. Jane Roth from Wellington, New Zea- fair were drawn to the Pathfmder booth to Pathfinder book stan at Ninth Annual Manila Bookfair, which publisher has attended watch a video of an interview with Mandela every year since fair was relaunched in 1987 after fall of dictator Marcos. during his June tour of the United States." Women's Liberation and the African Free­ International event is parties and regimes has also sparlced a deep­ of the tourist hotels in the mountain resort dom Struggle was the focus of the intense ening interest in the Cuban revolution, John­ city of Baguio, many of whom were govern­ one of democratic rights interest in Pathfmder's comprehensive range son said. The communist leaders of that rev­ ment officials, their relatives, or other upper­ of titles on revolution and women's libera­ olution have been posing a different political class Filipinos," explained Johnson. gained in struggle. tion. The centerpiece of the pamphlet is a course to that of increased reliance on capi­ At least 1,500 persons died in the tragedy. speech by Thomas Sankara, the West African talist marlcet methods and integration into the "Most of the victims were students and worlc­ revolutionary leader, who was executed in a land, and Lisa Ahlberg from Los Angeles world capitalist marlcet, which is being fol­ ers buried in the rubble of their classrooms 1987 counterrevolutionary coup in Burlcina were also part of the Pathfmder team. lowed in Eastern Europe and the Soviet and factories." Until a few years ago, Johnson explained, Faso. "The interest in women's liberation is Union. The earthquake pushed political demon­ political conditions in the Philippines had intense -especially among the younger fe­ This was reflected in the interest shown in strations and other events aside for weeks in barred the widespread distribution of worlc­ male activists," Johnson said. "Sometimes Pathfinder's launching, together with the Manila. Scheduled protests over student tu­ ing-class and revolutionary literature there. they would start debates with their male Cuban embassy, of In Defense of Socialism. ition fee hikes and the U.S. bases, for in­ "But in 1986 the two-decade-long represSive companions even before they left our booth." In this book, Castro reaffirms the communist stance, were canceled. Student and union rule of President Ferdinand Marcos was There was also strong interest in Path­ perspective of placing the education and mo­ activists, responding to government incom­ brought to an abrupt end by a broad popular finder's series on the Communist Interna­ bilization of the worlcers and peasants, in­ petence and corruption in face of the disaster, struggle. Corazon Aquino assumed the pres­ tional in Lenin's time and in the worlcs of the cluding unstinting solidarity with the world­ began organizing independent relief efforts idency of the country." communist opposition led by Trotsky that resisted the rise of Stalinism in the Soviet wide fight against imperialism, a~ the center for their compatriots. This popular movement enabled worlcing of the Cuban revolution. people and students to more openly organize Union after Lenin's death. "The early August U.S. aggression in the to fight for their demands as well as read and Despite a five-day monsoon storm that hit Arab East thrust world politics back into discuss alternative political viewpoints. It Impact of world events Manila, which peaked on the day of the event, Manila newspapers," Johnson said. also made possible the relaunching of the "The events of the past year - from the some 70 people waded through the torrential Many threads tie the Philippines to the Manila Bookfair in February 1987· as an Tiananmen Square massacre to the crum­ rains and knee-high floodwaters to join the Middle East. "Forty percent of the govern­ annual international event. Pathfmder has bling of the Stalinist parties and some re­ discussion at the book launching. ment budget goes to payments on its $30 participated each· year since then, Johnson gimes in Eastern Europe through popular Overall attendance and sales at the book­ billion foreign debt. The main way that Ma­ said, selling thousands of books and pam­ upsurges- has had a big impact among fair this year, however, were adversely af­ nila meets these is by exporting its labor phlets. anti-imperialist fighters, as has the demise of fected by the monsoon storms and a devas­ power. The oil tankers that ply the Gulf are Since Marcos' demise, Johnson continued, the workers' and farmers' government in tating earthquake that struck the northern crewed by Filipinos," he said. "There have been six or seven armed at­ Nicaragua," Johnson said "Twenty subscrip­ Philippines a few days before the fair opened, "In addition there have been up to 300,000 tempts by rightists within the military to tions to the Militant were sold, mostly on the Johnson continued. Filipinos - construction worlcers, domestic overthrow the parliamentary regime headed strength of the paper's ongoing coverage and helpers, and professionals - working in Ku­ by Aquino and close off the political space analysis of these events." Effects of earthquake wait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the other gulf won by the toilers. While not toppling More than 80 copies of the New Interna­ The government was not equipped to cope oil states. Thousands of Palestinian, Iranian, Aquino, these coup attempts have succeeded tional magazine, which discusses in depth with a disaster of the magnitude caused by and other Middle Eastern ·students study in in pressuring the government to chip away many of the political questions that have been the quake. Servicemen from the U.S. military the Philippines' extensive college system. at the democratic and political rights of the posed anew by the events of the past year, bases were sent to join the few international toilers." were also snapped up. rescue teams that arrived. "The rescue efforts Oil prices will devastate economy "For instance," Johnson continued, "while The worldwide disintegration of Stalinist were concentrated on pulling survivors out "Skyrocketing world oil prices in the wake of the Mideast confrontation will devastate the Philippine economy. The Philippines is one of the largest importers of oil in the Third Ecuador meeting on indigenous people held World. It depends on Mideast oil to generate more than 40 percent of its electricity, for its BY ELIZABETH STONE server organizations also attended from debt; opposition to U.S. President George transportation system, for cooking, and for other needs. LOS ANGELES - This summer Juan Spain, the Soviet Union, and Sweden, along Bush's economic plan for the Americas; and Villagomez, candidate of the Socialist Worlc­ with a delegation of indigenous people from opposition to the U.S. military presence in The impact of Middle East politics in the ers Party for treasurer of California, took a New Zealand. Latin America on the pretext of fighting the Philippines, even before the latest crisis, was trip to his native land of Ecuador to attend A major theme of the conference, Villa­ drug cartels. highlighted by the fact that Pathfmder sold the First Continental Conference of Indige­ gomez said, was building the campaign Many of these issues were raised in the out its fifty copies of the pamphlet Palestine nous Peoples. called "500 Years of Indian Resistance," uprising in Ecuador, Villagomez explained, and the Arabs' Fight for Liberation. In early July, two weeks before the con­ which is being organized in opposition to the which mobilized hundreds of thousands of "But perhaps the main impact on the Phil­ ference opened in the capital city of Quito, 500th anniversary celebration of Columbus's people. The protest began in Quito when 200 ippines of a major war or prolonged U.S. there was a massive uprising of indigenous "discovery" of America sponsored by the Indians peacefully took over the Santo Do­ occupation of the Arab East will flow from peoples in the highlands and Amazon region governments of Spain, the United States, and mingo Church, and then spread to other parts the huge U.S. military facilities north of of Ecuador. Villagomez visited areas where many Latin American countries. of the country. The Pan American Highway Manila. the uprising was strongest and talked with Documents discussed at the conference was blocked, and huge demonstrations were "Subic Bay Naval Station," he said, "in fighters in CONAIE, the Confederation of described the arrival of Europeans in Amer­ held in many cities. particular, is the forward base for U.S. naval Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, which ica not as a discovery but an invasion, which The protesters called on Ecuadoran Pres­ operations in the Indian Ocean and Arabian organized the uprising. began the years of colonialism, plunder, op­ ident Rodrigo Borja to address the problems gulf. Furthermore, these bases are the last "The trip made clearer to me the incredible pression, and denial of self-determination for of land reform, water rights, high prices, and imperialist outposts in the region where tens strength and importance of the movements indigenous peoples that continue to this day. respect for Indian territories and rights. They of thousands of Gls on active duty in Saudi of indigenous peoples throughout the conti­ Worlcshops took up many of the big ques­ also demanded a change in the Ecuadoran Arabia can be sent for R and R. nent," Villagomez explained. "I am raising tions facing indigenous people and other constitution to make Ecuador legally a mul­ "The devastating social impact of such an this in the election campaign because these workers and peasants throughout the conti­ tinational country. influx on the Philippines," Johnson said, "at are struggles worlcing people in the United nent: the need for indigenous peoples to The government responded by refusing to a time when Washington is trying to reimpose States should know about and support." control their traditional territories; protection negotiate and deploying the National Police on the Philippine government a treaty to The conference, held on July 17-21, was of the land and natural resources from the and the army. One adult was gunned down retain the bases after their September 1991 attended by indigenous, peasant, and small abuses of oil companies and other corpora­ by an army helicopter, and several children expiration date, can only accelerate an al­ farmer groups from every country in North, tions; land reform; bilingual education and died from the effects of police tear gas. ready widespread opposition to these instru­ Central, and South America as well as some respect for the culture and religion of indig­ Negotiations with the government are still ments of national humiliation and oppres­ Caribbean countries, including Cuba. Ob- enous peoples; no payment of the foreign under way. sion."

September 14, 1990 The Militant 9 Arab-Americans hit racist attacks; actions protest U.S. gov't war moves

BY PETERTHIERJUNG tests be sent to the Commanding General, (212) 741-0633 for additional information. weeks. A September 1 march organized by The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination First Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Kaneo­ Protests have also taken place or have been the British Socialist Workers Party and joined Committee (ADC), the largest Arab-Ameri­ he Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, called in other U.S. cities. More than 150 by other labor and peace groups attracted can civil rights group in the United States, Hawaii 96863-5501. Copies should be sent people turned out in Greensboro, North more than 2,000 people. held a press conference in \\ashington, D.C., to Paterson's attorney, Eric Seitz, at 820 Mili­ Carolina, for a picket September I. A call August 29 to protest threats and incidents of lani Street, Suite 714, Honolulu, Hawaii for a September 13 protest at the U.S. Army A front-page article in Blow Out, the pub­ physical violence against Arab-Americans. 96813. and Air Force recruiting station in downtown lication of striking British oil workers in the Racist attacks against Arab-Americans Larsen spoke at a press conference in San Portland, Oregon, has been issued by the North Sea, said big oil corporations and Iraqi have increased sharply since the U.S. gov­ Francisco August 28 announcing his refusal local Coalition Against U.S. Military Inter­ President Hussein were equally to blame for ernment began its campaign against Iraqi to be shipped to Saudi Arabia. "I hope to God vention in the Middle East. the war threat in the Middle East. The article President Saddarn Hussein a month ago, rep­ that it won't take a row of body bags to finally concluded, however, that the oil companies resentatives for the group said. wake people up," he said. "I hope that my Response in other countries were a worse threat to working people be­ ADC President Abdeen Jabara said state­ statement today and my refusal to support An overflow crowd of more than 350 cause of the more than 600 oil workers who ments by U.S. President George Bush di­ the war may in some way help end U.S. people turned out at an August 31 antiwar had lost their lives in industrial accidents. rected at Iraq's president helped make "anti­ intervention in the Middle East." meeting in London. Tony Benn, a Labour A coalition of Third World organizations, Party member of British Parliament, and Arab sentiment in this country more kosher, Ramsey Clark, a former U.S. attorney gen­ peace groups, and left political groups organ­ several others addressed the meeting. so to speak." eral, will speak at a September 13 protest ized a march of 500 in Frankfurt, 'W!st The organization released a representative "Britain should immediately withdraw its meeting in New \brk. Clark will be joined by Germany, on September I to oppose war list of 19 anti-Arab incidents in August. These land and air forces, and throw its full weight Wilhelm Joseph, the UN delegate of the Na­ moves in the Persian Gulf. included phone death threats, hate mail, racist tional Conference of Black Lawyers, and behind the United Nations in implementing remarks and commercial promotions by disc Anan Ameri, president of the Palestine Aid the sanctions," Benn said. He announced his Chanting "U.S., Canada out of the Persian jockeys on popular radio stations, beatings Society. support for British involvement in a naval Gulf!" more than 350 people, including many of Arabs in several cities, landlord harass­ Sponsored by the Coalition to Stop U.S. blockade of Iraq that has not been "hijacked" Arabs, marched to the U.S. consulate in ment, and vandalism. Intervention in the Middle East, the meeting's by Washington. Toronto August 26. The action was met by Jabara sent a letter to FBI Chief William demands are "No Vietnam War in the Middle Organizers of the meeting initiated the a counterprotest of some 50 Iraqi students Sessions August 22 calling on him to assist East" and "Bring the troops home now." The Campaign Against War in the Gulf. The group who focused their fire on the human rights in "safeguarding our community from a rise program will begin at 7:00p.m. at Cooper has called for a September 15 march that will record of Iraq's government. Police moved in anti-Arab discrimination and violence." Union Great Hall, 41 Cooper Square (near stop at the U.S. embassy. Benn will speak at to keep counterprotesters apart from the an­ The ADC also announced that it would Astor Place, 8th Street and 3rd Avenue). Call the protest. The action will be the third in three tiwar march. begin a national petitioning campaign aimed at President Hussein in an attempt to win "the release of all foreign nationals held against their will in Iraq." Record of imperialist intervention U.S. Marines refuse to serve At least two U.S. Marines have spoken out publicly against the U.S. government's drive in Middle East since World War II toward war in the Middle East and have refused to serve there. They are Jeff Paterson In the decades of the 1930s and 1940s stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and Erik many of the Arab countries in the Middle Larsen stationed in Hayward, California. East won their independence from On August 30 Marine Corps brass backed France and Britain, including Iraq, off threats to deploy Paterson to Saudi Ara­ Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Ex­ bia. He had refused to board the plane and cept for Lebanon and Syria - which is now in the custody of military police. were republics - these new states were Where he is being detained is unknown. landlord-dominated monarchies. Paterson's supporters have asked that pro- From Egypt and Jordan in the west to Iraq and Saudi Arabia and Iran on the Gulf, these monarchies defended the im­ perialist domination of the region, espe­ Thousands greet cially the oil companies' interests. As the peoples in these countries rose to assert U.S.-Canada group their national sovereignty and self-deter­ at Korea conference mination, imperialist forces were sent in attempts to put them down. Continued from front page Kaesong is located only a few miles from • In 1948 the Arab masses were dealt a the Military Demarcation Line that has sep­ devastating defeat when their resistance was arated the Korean people since the end of the crushed by Zionist settlers backed by the Korean War nearly 40 years ago. "Kaesong United States and Britain and the state of citizens, with the Military Demarcation Line Israel was proclaimed. Some 200,000 Pal­ under their very noses," Han explained, "ex­ estinians were driven from their homes and perience more than any others the tragedy of land, out of Israeli territory. Israeli armor crowds highway to Lebanon's capital in summer of 1982. First few the national split and long for the reunification • In the early 1950s, following a popular months of invasion cost 27,000 Lebanese and Palestinians their lives. of the country." uprising in Iran that resulted in the election Denouncing the 140-mile concrete wall the of Mohammad Mossadegh and the nation­ U.S.-backed South Korean regime has built alization of the country's oil, British forces Kuwait was an integral part of the Iraqi Palestinian refugee camps. Air raids over across the Demilitarized Zone from the east­ organized a blockade of Iranian oil. In 1953 Republic. Beirut June 10 were estimated to have killed em coast to the west, Han said the wall "across the United States organized a coup that • On June 5, 1967, confident of Wash­ 1,000 people. the waist of the Korean Peninsula is a symbol deposed Mossadegh and returned to power ington's backing, Israel launched massive • On Sept. 15, 1982, Israeli tanks sur­ of the national division and confrontation and the regime of the Shah Mohammad Reza bombings and invasions of Syria, Jordan, rounded th!! Palestinian refugee camps of is a shame to both the Korean nation and the Pahlavi. and Egypt. The surprise attack succeeded Sabra and Shatila in West Beirut, making it current times. • In 1955 a nationalist movement in in virtually wiping out the air forces of those possible for Lebanese rightists to go in and "Because of the barrier, separated families Oman was crushed by invading British countries in the first hours of the war. Over massacre thousands of refugees. in Kaesong and the entire people," the mu­ troops. the next six days, Israeli troops seized the The first months of the Israeli invasion nicipal leader continued, "cannot even ex­ • Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, a Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, of Lebanon cost the lives of 27,000 Leba­ change letters, to say nothing of meeting their dominant piece in imperialism's control of East Jerusalem and the West Bank from nese and Palestinians, and rendered at least parents and brothers in the South." During the region, in July of 1956. In October, Israel Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. 400,000 homeless. the parade marchers smashed through a sym­ invaded Sinai. In November British and In 1979, Israel withdrew from the Sinai • In September 1983 as Israeli forces bolic cardboard concrete wall and U.S. nu­ French forces invaded the Canal Zone. A Peninsula after signing a treaty with the were pulling out of the Shuf Mountains near clear missiles amid cheers and chants. cease-fire was reached a few days later. Egyptian government. Beirut - due to resistance in Lebanon and The speakers from the United States em­ After suffering more than 1,600 killed and • In March 1978 some 25,000 Israeli opposition inside Israel - U.S. warships phasized the importance of U.S. troops get­ 5,000 wounded, Egypt was able to retain troops invaded and occupied southern Leb­ off the Lebanese coast moved to prop up ting out of Korea, and they solidarized with control of the canal. anon, driving 265,000 people from their the Lebanese regime to prevent a rout of the struggle for reunification. They included: • On July 15, 1958, Washington sent -homes. government forces in the area. Washington Wilhelm Joseph, National Conference of 15,000 U.S. troops to Lebanon after an Arab • In 1979 U.S. and world imperialism stationed more than 14,000 troops in Leb­ Black Lawyers; Ruth Cadwallader, chairper­ nationalist rebellion broke out in that coun­ took a massive blow in the region when a anon and offshore and shelled positions held son of the Asia-Pacific Committee of the try. On July 18 British paratroopers landed popular upheaval swept away the Iranian by the antigovernment forces. The British, Women's International League for Peace and in Amman, Jordan, to secure the monarchy's monarchy. In an attempt to contain and, if Italian, and French governments had Freedom, USA; Robert Knight, WBAI Pacif­ position there. possible, roll back the Iranian revolution, smaller forces, and Israeli troops still occu­ ica Radio; Bill Roundtree, Jobs Is a Right • In July of 1961 , British troops landed Washington covertly backed the invasion of pied large areas. Campaign; Heather Randle, national secre­ in Kuwait to maintain their domination over Iran launched by Iraqi President Saddarn • On Aug. 2, 1990, Washington began a tary of the Young Socialist Alliance; Pramilla the kingdom. A month earlier, under the Hussein in 1980. massive military build-up in the Arab Pen­ Srivasta, New School Students and Staff impact of the upsurge in the region, Britain • In June of 1982 Israel launched an insula, threatening to unleash a war to place Against Racism; and Andrew Jones, Maver­ had decided to make Kuwait an independent all-out invasion of Lebanon. Tens of thou­ a proimperialist monarchy back in power in ick Media. kingdom - over the objections of the Iraqi sands of Israeli troops swept into Lebanon, Kuwait and to topple the government of Sue Baily, co-chairperson of the U.S. Out regime that was established following a backed by massive bombing raids and ar­ Iraq. This has been the biggest military of Korea Committee read a brief message on popular revolution in 1958. Iraq claimed tillery barrages against villages, cities, and mobilization since the Vietnam War. behalf of the delegation as a whole.

10 The Militant September 14, 1990 U.S. government widens scope of military deployment in Arab East US. Marines with TOW antitank missile launchers near Kuwaiti border in Saudi Arabia. Washington continues to amass troops and military hardware aimed at Iraq.

Continued from front page the region that fail to condemn the invasion growing conflict with the working people of including dams and petrochemical plants that major battle ships, and 170 combat aircraft of Kuwait. their countries. rely heavily on Western machinery, are being to the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding The Saudi monarchs are also preparing to Protests broke out in several towns across mothballed. Oil fields are closing. waters. fund covert operations in Iraq by the CIA, Syria August 30 against the deployment of While holding fum in his position that "More equipment, personnel, and supplies reported the U.S. magazine Newsweek. Pres­ Syrian troops in Saudi Arabia. Syrian army Kuwait will remain part of Iraq, President have been moved in the first three weeks of ident Bush had earlier signed a directive units reportedly killed dozens of people as Hussein has repeatedly appealed to Washing­ Desert Shield than in the first three months okaying covert operations to overthrow Hus­ demonstrators carried large posters of Hus­ ton for dialogue. On August 28 the Iraqi of the Korean War," said a Navy official. The sein, reported the magazine, but because of sein and chanted pro-Iraq slogans. As many president said he "was ready and prepared Pentagon has estimated that U.S. operations budget cuts, "outside funding for these ex­ as 50,000 troops were sent to the area to put for direct talks and dialogue with Mr. Bush through September 30 in the Persian Gulf pensive operations is necessary." down the protests. and with Mrs. Thatcher immediately." Hus­ will cost $2.5 billion. On August 28 the Pentagon announced it Demonstrations against imperialist war sein invited them to debate with him on As the cost for its military operations was selling the Saudi government an emer­ moves in the Arab East also took place in television "for the whole world to see." mount Washington has been appealing to its gency package of $6 billion in sophisticated Jordan and India this past week. Seeing the imperialist allies in Western Europe and weaponry. U.S. deployment of troops in the region as A State Department spokeswoman said Japan to take on more of the burden for Expressing his appreciation for the leading an attack on the Arab people as a whole, Hussein's proposal for a debate was "sick, policing the area. So far, the countries in the role played by anotherproimperialist regime protests and demonstrations have taken place and it doesn't deserve a response." Thatcher European Economic Community have sent over the past month in and Bush responded to previous suggestions 7,000 troops, 15 battleships, and 40 aircraft Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, from Iraq for negotiations with statements to augment the U.S. forces and to help en­ Lebanon,Sudan,Yemen, that rejected any talks as long as Iraq refused force the blockade imposed by the imperialist Mauritania, Iraq, and the to withdraw from Kuwait. powers against Iraq. Israeli-occupied Arab U.S. officials arrived in Paris on Septem­ territories. No enemy of U.S. people ber 4 to seek international fmancial support Imposed by Washing­ Latif Nasaif-Jasim, the Iraqi Minister of for the U.S. military force in the region as ton through a United Na­ Information and Culture, said Iraq has sent well as to raise funds to reduce the political tions resolution, the "many signals" to Washington indicating its cost of the operation by making commit­ blockade against trade desire for dialogue aimed at avoiding a war. ments for $10 billion or more to subsidize with Iraq has been tight- "Iraq is not an enemy of the American peo­ the governments of Turkey, Jordan, and IRAN ening. On September 4 ple," he said. But any solution "must be on Egypt, which are being squeezed by the the U.S. State Depart­ the basis that Kuwait is part of Iraq." blockade of Iraq. mentannounced the U.S. The U.S. war drive in the Arab East con­ Navy had intercepted, Defending imperialist interests tinues to enjoy bipartisan support in Wash­ boarded, and seized an ington. "Let no one at home doubt my Ready to defend imperialist interests in the EGYPT Iraqi freighter in the Per­ commitment to work with Congress, and let region, Britain, Italy, and Portugal offered to sian Gulf. The Pentagon no one abroad doubt our unity or our staying lend Washington ships and aircraft to help said the ship was carry­ power," said Bush at an August 28 meeting transport troops and equipment. Amid chants SAUDIA ing tea from Sri Lanka. with more than 170 members of Congress. by some 200 protesters of "Spanish soldiers ARABIA This was the first seizure are not for war!" a group of 136 Spanish of Iraqi-bound cargo "There is a sense of awe at how brilliantly sailors took off for the Persian Gulf. under the blockade. Bush has handled this," said Representative Newt Gingrich, a Republican from Georgia. While stopping short of military partici­ SUDAN The government of pation, Japan announced a $1 billion aid Libya stated it will not A dozen members of the Senate returning package towards the U.S. war effort in the abide by the embargo from a fact-finding mission to the Persian Arab East.Japan Air Lines and Nippon Cargo against Iraq but will sup­ Gulf unanimously endorsed Washington's Airlines also agreed to provide up to five ply Baghdad with free actions in the region. flights a week to ferry supplies to the region. food and.fuel. Reflecting the pressures of the strong sen­ Japan's aid package falls short of "It is not possible for timents among U.S. working people against Washington's request for $2.3 billion, plus us to participate in an ac­ another Vietnam, William Gray, a congres­ $60 million in monthly payments for the tion designed to starve sional Democrat from Pennsylvania, asserted upkeep of the military forces. in the region, Bush announced September 4 people and children in Iraq," said Libyan Bush's war moves were politically sustain­ "Despite public pressure from Washington that Washington would forgive $7 billion leader Muammar el-Qaddaft. able "provided we do not get into a protracted to do more than simply underwrite the mili­ Egypt owes the United States for military Despite the blockade's noose, the Wall struggle with loss of life and no prospect for tary efforts undertaken by others," reported aid. Street Journal reported that the Iraqi capital victory." the August 31 New York Times, "Prime Min­ of Baghdad, a city of 4 million, "seems ister Toshiki Kaifu said it would violate Split in Arab League determined to revel on the gallows." Japan's constitution for the country to trans­ Reflecting the split among the region's While there are bread lines and rationing port any military personnel or equipment to rulers over Iraq's toppling of the Kuwaiti of staples such as rice, there are still goods F a region of potential combat." The West monarchy, Chedli Klibi resigned as Secre­ in stores. R German government also stated it cannot tary-General of the Arab League September "America cannot scare us with its guns 0 take part in the blockade without changing I. Klibi had been forced to resign by Saudi and sanctions," said an Iraqi engineer. "We M its constitution. Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and know about war, we are ready. Is America?" Critical of West Germany's failure to Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa, While Iraq imports three-quarters of its p shoulder more of the economic and political reported theNew York Times, for "lagging in food, a bumper crop of fruit, vegetables, and A weight of the war drive, British Prime Min­ pressing" Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait and grain in the country this year is easing the T ister Margaret Thatcher termed talk about a "getting more Arab countries to send troops shortfall. The Iraqi diet already is deteriorat­ H common security policy as part of the Euro­ to join the American-led force in Saudi Ara­ ing, said an Iraqi diplomat, but "the notion pean Community political union as little bia." that people here will be starved into submis­ F more than "rhetoric." Only France and Brit­ sion is wishful Western thinking." I ain have done more than the bare minimum, Under enormous pressure from the U.S. N she said. "It is sad that, at this critical time, government, the 21-member Arab League Mobilizing support of women 0 Europe has not fully measured up to expec­ voted at a recent meeting to send troops as Manal Yunis Abdul Razak al-Alussi, di­ E tations."· part of the military build-up, helping to pro­ rector of the Federation of Iraqi Women, said R vide the cover of a united Arab-stand against it was easy to mobilize women in support of Saudi Arabia expands armed forces Iraq. the Hussein government's rationing mea­ In a move to get the Saudi people on a war So far Egypt, Morocco, and Syria have sures "because enthusiasm is very high." She footing, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia ordered sent troops. Libya also attended the meeting, said women often chant slogans of solidarity, Palestine and the Arabs' the expansion of the Saudi armed forces and voting against the resolution adopted by the including, "We are going to eat dates and Fight for Liberation called for wider participation of women in 12, which also demanded Hussein pay war drink water." Iraq is the world's largest date the labor force. reparations to Kuwait. producer. a pamphlet by Fred Feldman and Georges Sayad_. 62 pp., $3.00 A massive propaganda campaign has been Sanctioning the massive U.S. military de­ As a result of the embargo, Iraq's small Order from Pathfinder, 410 West St., New York, taking place in the Saudi media to rally public ployment and threats against Iraq has brought industrial base is shutting down quickly for N.Y. 10014. Include $1 for postage. sentiment against Iraq and those countries in many of the governments in the region into lack of spare parts. Major capital projects,

September 14, 1990 The Militant 11 ·cALENDAR CALIFORNIA Snelling Ave. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant WASHINGTON League; member Amalgamated Engineering Forum. Tel: (612) 644-6325. Union. Fri., Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m. Unit 4, 60 Los Angeles Seattle Shudehill. Donation: £1. Sponsor: Militant Fo­ Peru and Ecuador: Examples of the Eco­ Stop Terror Against Mohawk Indians! De­ rums. Tel: ()61-839 "1766. nomic and Political Crisis Facing Latin MISSOURI fend Native Rights in North America. Speak­ America. Video on the peasant struggles in Kansas City er: Ron George, president United Native Na­ Peru. Speakers: AI Twiss, representative of the U.S. Troops Out of the Arab East! Hands OtT tions in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sat., CANADA Human Rights Association of Peru; Juan Iraq! Sat., Sept. 8, 7 p.m. 5534 Troost. Dona­ Sept. 8, 7:30p.m. 1405 E Madison. Donation: Montreal Villag6mez, Socialist Workers Party candidate tion: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Tel: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. 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Sponsor: Militant mobilization of workers and peasants as the coalition regime," Ruby said. _ American Empire. Speaker: Lucille Robbins, Labor Forum. Tel: (718) 398-6983. only road to resolving the contradictions "The FSLN has become a bourgeois elec­ Socialist Workers Party, member International Manhattan faced by the revolution in favor of the toral party. The current government in Nic­ Union of Electronics Workers Localll99. Sat., country's toilers. aragua is not a rightist one. The Chamorro­ Sept. 8, 7 p.m. 545 W Roosevelt Rd. Donation: Support the Eastern Strike. Speaker: Susan $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Tel: (312) Anmuth, Socialist Workers Party candidate for The leadership increasingly allowed the FSLN coalition government is a liberal cap­ 829-6815 or 829-7018. lieutenant governor, member International As­ weight of the capitalist economic and social italist regime," Ruby said. Out of Control!- How Corporate Drive for sociation of Machinists Local 1018 on strike crisis to bear down on the backs of the toilers. The FSLN leadership rationalizes its Profits Is Destroying Job Safety. Video pre­ against Eastern Airlines. Sat., Sept. 8, 7:30p.m. For instance, attempts by unionized work­ course by explaining that an anticapitalist pared by the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Work­ 191 7th Ave. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant ers to gain a measure of control over deci­ road is not possible in Nicaragua, and that ers Union. Speaker: Sara Johnston, Socialist Labor Forum. Tel: (212) 675-6740. sions on production and conditions of work its political program was too radical for the Workers Party, member United Food and Com­ were stalled and then pushed back. The fail­ peasant majority of the country, Ruby said. mercial Workers Union LocallOOA. Sat., Sept. OHIO ure to eliminate capitalist·domination of the "However," he said, "the Nicaraguan rev­ 15, 7 p.m. 545 W Roosevelt Rd. Donation: $3. Cleveland economy meant that the peasants -even olution demonstrated just the opposite con­ Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Tel: (312) 829- The Eastern Strike: CloSer Than Ever to Vic­ those who had received land under the land clusions about the capacity of the toilers in 6815 or 829-7018. tory. Speakers: Ed Braden, Machinists Local reform - remained condemned to be vic­ Nicaragua and around the world than those 1731 shop steward, on strike against Eastern tims of the workings of the capitalist market. now being drawn by the FSLN. The workers MICHIGAN Airlines; David Marshall, Socialist Workers The FSLN retreated from leading the fight and farmers were capable of making a rev­ Party, member United Steelworkers Local olution, forging their own government, and Detroit 1157. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Sept. 8, 7:30 for women's rights, including the right to U.S. TroopsOutofthe Arab East! Hands OtT p.m. 2521 Market Ave. Donation: $2.50. Spon­ abortion. using it to defeat the counterrevolution and Iraq! Speakers: Larnya Shihadeh, Detroit coor­ sor: Militant Forum. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Working people have been increasingly initiate profound social transformations. dinator of American-Arab Anti-Discrimination pushed out ofpolitics. The mass organizations "Today," Ruby said, "we have the task of Committee; Mark Friedman, Socialist Workers PENNSYLVANIA - such as the unions, Sandinista Defense joining with and defending the toilers in Party candidate for Congress, 16th C.D. Sat., Committees, the women's organization Nicaragua. We defend Nicaragua's sover­ Sept. 8, 7:30p.m. 5019V2 Woodward Ave. Do­ Pittsburgh AMNLAE, and the Sandinista Youth - no eignty as U.S. imperialism will seek to rees~ nation: $3. Tel: (313) 831 -1177. Defend the Mohawks in Canada. Speakers: Colin McKay, national secretary of Young So­ longer educate, organize, and mobilize work­ tablish its dominance in all spheres of Nica­ cialists of Canada. Sun., Sept. 9, 2 p.m. 4905 ing people to defend and advance the social raguan society. We defend the political space MINNESOTA Penn Ave. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant goals of the revolution. Instead these organi­ for toilers to fight to defend important con­ Austin Labor Forum. Tel: (412) 362-6767. zations have become staff operations and quests of the revolution not yet lost. · The Grounding of Frank Lorenzo: The administrative bodies to promote the FSLN "Out of the coming class battles in Nica­ Meaning of the Eastern Strike and Other leadership's line of "national unity" with ragua, workers and peasants will fight their Labor Battles. Speakers: Will Reissner, airline TEXAS Houston bourgeois forces. way back into politics," Ruby said. worker and member Machinists union; Dean "The change in the class character of the Peoples, Socialist Workers Party, member Socialist Workers Campaign Barbeque. Sun., "And as they do so, and draw revolutionary government took place prior to the February United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Sept. 16, 4 p.m. Call (713) 522-8054 for loca­ conclusions, they will fmd their way back to Sat., Sept. 15, 7:30p.m. 407Y2 N Main St. Do­ tion. 1990 elections," said Ruby. "However, there Fonseca and the Historic Program," he con­ nation: $2.50. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. was no immediate change in the regime, that cluded. "They will find their way to the les­ Tel: (507) 433-3461. WASHINGTON, D.C. is, the personnel in the government. That was sons and example of the Cuban revolution. St. Paul U.S. Troops Out of the Arab East! Hands Off held off until the elections. And they will fmd their way through that to The Grounding of Frank Lorenzo: The Iraq! Sat., .Sept. 15, 7:30p.m. 3165 Mt. Pleas­ "The goal of the FSLN leadership through­ reestablishing their revolutionary political Meaning of the Eastern Strike and Other ant NW. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor out the election period was to establish a continuity, and to the building ofa communist Labor Battles. Sat., Sept. 15, 7:30p.m. 508 N Forum. Tel: (202) 797-7699. coalition government with capitalist forces. party.;. -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP Where to find Pathfinder books and dis­ MARYLAND: Baltimore: 2913 Green-. Pittsburgh: 4905 Penn Ave. Zip 15224. Tel: Sheffield: 2A Waverley House,lOJoinerSt., tributors of the Militant, Perspectil'a Mundial, mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. (41 2) 362-6767. Sheffield S3 8GW. Tel: 0742-729469. New International, NouyeUe lnternationak, MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 605 Massa- • TEXAS: Houston: 4806 Almeda. Zip: and Lutte oul'riere. chusetts Ave. Zip: 02II8. Tel: (617) 247-6772. 77004. Tel: (713) 522-8054. CANADA MICHIGAN: Detroit: 5019J,-2 Woodward Montreal: 6566, boul. St-Laurent. Postal UTAH: Price: 253 E. Main St. Mailing ad­ code: H2S 3C6. Tel: (514) 273-2503. UNITED STATES Ave. Zip: 48202. 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12 The Militant September 14, 1990 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------What else is new? -Gulf Crisis denomination. A rate hike is ex­ tor of Intersex, a new Warsaw shop had received care in the state's child Free-market morality- U.S. Bodes Well for Defense Contractors pected in early '91 and a lettered doing a brisk business in peekaboo welfare system died during the first . regulations provide that any country -News item headline. stamp is ready, but this one has a panties, rubber handcuffs, aphrodis­ six months of 1990, a record pace which discriminates against a non­ name. Apparently sensitive officials iacs, and life-size inflatable Wonder that revealed major gaps in social harmful U.S. product can be penal­ want it called a "flower stamp," not Wanda dolls. services, officials said." - Cape ized. So, each year Washington de­ the "F-stamp." Cod Times. clares tobacco a harmless product. Check it out- In New York, Which means that any imports from Nothing's perfect -"Fiscally, Bergdorf Goodman's new men's countries that ban cigarette ads can Capital gains? - Tax officials Medicare Cuts Called a Success: store will feature ready-to-wear be barred from the U.S. market. Harry But Some Are Worried About the suits at up to $1,800. Asked if this of the Israeli military notified Majed Ring Patients" -News headline. wasn't dicey in an uncertain econ­ al-Batran that he owes $26,500 in­ omy, a Bergdorf honcho frostily re­ come tax for last year. He's a student A nice place to shop -The Cultural revolution - "If we sponded, "We expect to serve an at a Gaza City nursing school. And manager of a Ft. Lauderdale conve­ Flowered again? - It began want to keep pace with Europe and exclusive clientele with high dispos­ Muhammad Abu Yousef was or­ nience store was arrested for waving with the "A-stamp." When a postal the world, we should offer these able income." dered to pay $16,000 income tax for a .357 Magnum pistol in the faces rate hike of a yet to be determined services to Poland. In this aspect of the past two years. A refugee camp of some children when they offered amount is expected, stamps are out culture, we have always been The caring system - "BOS­ resident, Abu Yousef has been job­ him three cents for what he felt was printed bearing a letter instead of a backward."- Jacek Baran, opera- TON- More than 50 children who less for nine years. a nickel's worth of gum. Labor events back strike as Eastern hits new low Continued from front page Several hundred unionists, their families, at the United Farm Workers national conven­ airline's creditors. ple in the United States, Trumka said, "It is and supporters rallied in Helper, Utah, Sep­ tion. Strikers also spoke at the annual County Airline industry analysts estimate that not the war in Saudi Arabia, but it is a class tember 3 following a parade through town, Federation of Labor picnic. Eastern has lost over $1 million a day even war - the kind of a war that is being fought which featured contingents from the These actions took place against the back­ during the peak summer season. In June at Eastern Airlines and Greyhound. It is a UMWA, the International Ladies' Garment ground of the continued disintegration of Eastern's flight loads averaged 20 percent class war against corporate America, and the Workers' Union and strikers from the lAM, Eastern Airlines. The sense of insecurity below the break-even point, despite super­ strikers at Eastern and Greyhound are in the ATIJ and UMWA Local 1972 in Sheridan, among those working for the airline contin­ cheap fares and special package deals. The front lines of this war." Wyoming. The rally, celebrated the tOOth ues to grow - and for good reason. In an losses are likely to double as the peak travel The UMWA in the area has been backing anniversary of the founding of the miners' Eastern Airlines TV commercial a scab months of summer come to an end. the strike. Bob Taylor, general chairman of union and capped a weekend of activities worker is shown asking Martin Shugrue, the The August 29 lAM strike bulletin cites lAM District 100, has spoken at union locals sponsored by UMWA District 22. court-appointed trustee of the airline, how one industry analyst who said, "We would in the Birmingham area recently. He has also Eastern strikers Gerald Watson from long she can expect to be employed, and be surprised if it [Eastern] were still operating received invitations to speak at union meet­ Phoenix lAM Local 2559 and Tom Scofield scab-hiring sessions are growing smaller as by the end of September. Delaying the shut­ ings from eight UMWA local presidents from Los Angeles Local 1932 explained the potential scabs face the probability of their down 60 days past Labor Day would cause about the strike and the "Adopt-a-Lodge · importance of their fight to stop union-bust­ jobs being quickly eliminated. the company to incur losses that would con­ Program," the Eastern strike support fund. ing at Eastern to the crowd. Already, 76 of the company's 190 top sume almost half the airline's remaining as­ Some 50 unionists and supporters gath­ More than 350 pic(ets turned out at the managers have quit. Attempting to slow the sets." ered in front of the Eastern gate at the Bir­ Los Angeles airport August 31 for one of the desertion rate, Shugrue has requested that the The pressures on Eastern continue to grow. mingham, Alabama, airport. They yelled most spirited actions yet in support of the bankruptcy court grant Eastern permission On September 15 Eastern is scheduled to union chants and listened to speeches by Eastern strike and other labor struggles in the to pay 168 of the company's top executives make a $95 million payment to the compa­ striking members of lAM Local 1690 and area. The event was sponsored by the County a bonus of one year's salary if they stay with ny's pension fund in order to prevent the Greyhound strikers' Amalgamated Transit Federation of Labor. Several dozen unions the company until it is reorganized, or sold, termination of the fund. Union (ATIJ) Local 1493. About 30 Grey­ were represented as were striking Greyhound and a smaller bonus if the airline is liquidated. The steady pressure of the strike has put hound strikers were on hand, along with workers. The demonstrators marched Shugrue also proposed guaranteeing Eastern on the ropes. Eastern strikers recog­ union activists and supporters from the through the airport and held an impromptu 7,300 nonunion employees severance pay of nize this and intend to keep the pressure on. UMWA, United Steelworkers of America, rally with speakers from the Greyhound up to four weeks if their jobs are eliminated. They are urging supporters to tum out at United Transportation UniGibraltar and around on into It is for both the victories scored and the challenges still battle today. England. And they need it. They need access through the Suez. When [Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel] Nasser took over the Suez, they almost died in Europe. It scared them to death - why? Because Egypt is in Africa, in fact, Egypt is in Defend Mohawks' rights both Africa and Asia.. . . Before the Suez Canal was built, it was all one, you couldn't really make a distinction between Africa and Asia. The continuation of the Canadian and Quebec govern­ The ruling rich across Canada recently failed to force the It was all one. When President Nasser took the Suez Canal, ments' racist campaign of terror against the working people people of Quebec to submit to a constitution that would that meant that for the first time the Suez Canal was under of the Mohawk reserves should be met with further protest have denied them full rights as an oppressed nation. Oppo­ the complete jurisdiction of an African nation, and it meant and condemnation by unions, defenders of democratic sition to a last-ditch effort to win ratification of the consti­ that other nations had to cater to this African nation if they rights, and all working people. tution, known as the Meech Lake accord, ran especially wanted to survive, if they didn't want their oil and other The Mohawks have won widespread solidarity for both deep among Natives, who actively opposed the measure sources of supply cut off. their immediate fight and for the decades-long struggle and were excluded from the negotiations altogether. against encroachment on their land and rights by the gov­ The stakes in the current battle for working people, Immediately this had an effect on European attitudes and ernment, greedy land-grabbers, and the ruling rich in Can­ antiracist fighters, and all supporters of democratic rights European economic measures. They began to try and devise ada. This support should continue to be mobilized to demand are enormous. new means, new routes, to get the things they needed. Dec. the army, police, and racist mobs end their victimization of There are one million Native people in Canada. A sub­ 20,1964 speechatOAAU meeting from Malcolm X Speaks. the Mohawks. stantial number are part of the working-class and labor Since the Mohawks first set up their barricades to stop movement. But a change has come about. In us. And what from? their land from being turned into an exclusive golf course, Their land has been stolen and they are victims of Back in '55 in lndone~ia, at Bandung, they had a conference the governments have sought to tum the victims into the institutionalized discrimination and oppression. TheSe pol­ ofdark -skinned people. The people of Africa and Asia came criminals. They have attempted to sow divisions within the icies are a major source of superprofits for the big mining, together for the first time in centuries. They had no nuclear Native people and have given a green light to racist mobi­ oil, forest, construction, food, and fishing industries. And weapons, they had no air fleets, no navy. But they discussed lizations against the Natives. they are powerful tools to foster national divisions among their plight and they found that there was one thing that all The occupation of the reserves is the most brutal assault working people. of us had in common - oppression, exploitation, suffering. on democratic rights in Canada since 1970, when the federal The Mohawk struggle has galvanized unprecedented And we had a common oppressor, a common exploiter. government imposed the War Measures Act, ordering a Native unity and widened the struggle across Canada for If a brother came from Kenya and called his oppressor military occupation of Quebec in an attempt to crush a rise Native national and land rights. Through this fight millions an Englishman; .and another came from the Congo, he called of national and labor struggles. It is a major threat to the of working people have learned the truth about the condi­ his oppressor a Belgian; another came from Guinea, he democratic rights of Natives and all working people. tions Native peoples have been subjected to and why the called his oppressor French. But when you brought the By responding with massive military force, refusing to portrayal of Natives as less than human is a lie through and oppressors together there's one thing they all had in com­ negotiate seriously, and fmally occupying the reserves, the through. mon, they were all from Europe. And this European was employers and their government have made it clear that The examples of the Toronto' Labour Day Parade­ oppressing the people of Africa and Asia. they consider Canada their land- not the land of Native where red ribbons were worn by participants in solidarity And since we could see that we had oppression in peoples, farm families, the oppressed people of Quebec, or with their Mohawk brothers and sisters - and the state­ common and exploitation in common, sorrow and sadness working people as a whole. For example, through the banks, ments by other unions and trade union federations point the and grief in common, our people began to get together and grain monopolies, and government policies, thousands of way forward in staying the hand of further victimization. determined at the Bandung Conference that it was time for farmers have been driven into debt slavery or off the land This gain in consciousness is a powerful basis for the us to foiget our differences. completely. unions and all supporters of the Mohawk struggle to de­ We had differences. Some were Buddhists, some were Through their assault on the Mohawks, the ruling class mand: Withdraw the army and police from the reserves! Hindus, some were Christians, some were Muslim, some aims to break the powerful example they gave to the struggle Drop all charges against Mohawks! Recognize the demands didn't have any religion at all. Some were socialists, some of Native people across Canada for their rights, the fight of the Mohawks for their land and sovereignty! Arrest and were capitalists, some were communists, and some didn't for the rights of all the oppressed, and to struggles of working prosecute all those guilty of racist terror - in and out of have any economy at all. But with all of the differences that people. uniform! · existed, they agreed on one thing, the spirit of Bandung was, from there on in, to de-emphasize the areas of differ­ ence and emphasize the areas that we had in common. And it was the spirit of Bandung that fed the flames of nationalism and freedom not only in Asia, but especially on the African continent. Feb. 16, 1965, speech in Rochester, New York, from Malcolm X: The Last Speeches.

14 The Militant September 14, 1990 A book on the frame-up of the Birmingham Six

Error of Judgement: Tlu! Truth About the BirmingluJm never made it to Ireland. As they were aboard the train, The judge ruled in favor of the police, blaming the men's Bombing. By Chris Mullin. Dublin: Poolbeg Press, 1990. bombs exploded in two Birmingham pubs, killing 21 people injuries on the prison guards. The guards in tum blamed 322 pp. and injuring 62. the police. And when the six later sued the prison guards, Now, instead of five friends on their way to a funeral, they lost this suit as well. No one, therefore, was held BY MARK CURTIS they became - in the eyes of the British police - Irishmen responsible for the knocked out teeth, cigarette bums, black Error ofJudgement is a book on the biggest frame-up in fleeing the city after a bombing. The five and Callaghan ' eyes, and bruises of all colors found on the men, which are recent British history. Written by Chris Mullin, a member were taken into custody. The cops were determined to prove documented in photos in the book. of the British Parliament, it details how six men were they had captured their suspected "bombers." By writing Error of Judgement, Mullin has made an wrongly convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the From the time the six men were taken down to the important contribution to the defense of the Birmingham 1974 bombings of two taverns in Birmingham, England. Morecambe police station, two completely different ac­ Six. I have one major criticism of his book, however. By telling their story, Mullin's book has had a big impact counts of what happened began. According to the police, Not content with destroying the government's case, Mul­ most of the men willingly signed confessions to planting lin believes it necessary to "solve the case" and blame those the bombs. A forensic scientist was called in and claimed who he believes are in fact responsible for placing the bombs IN REVIEW he found traces of nitroglycerin on the hands of three of the in the pubs. He describes secret meetings with unnamed men. sources who helped him track down alleged IRA members on keeping the fight going to free the innocent men. First But the six men told a very different story, one of brutal he says are really guilty. published in 1986, Mullins has updated it for this new beatings by the police, mock executions, cigarette bums, Although his unidentified accused are given less chance edition. punches, slaps, and kicks to their testicles. Under this torture, to defend themselves than the Birmingham Six did, Mullin Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Hill, Gerald Hunter, Richard five of them signed police-written "confessions," never complains that they are "walking around free today." This Mcllkenny, Billy Power, and John Walker were working believing these would hold up in court. sleuthing and blaming of the IRA members distracts from men in Birmingham. Immigrants from Ireland, five of them A year later all the men were found guilty of murder and and hurts the honest defense the rest of the book does so were originally from a Catholic section of Belfast known sentenced to life imprisonment. well. most recent edition is very timely. as Ardoyne. The six had left Ireland because of the high Step by step and in much detail, Error of Judgement Error ofJudgement's unemployment rate, searching for jobs and a better life for gradually smashes the government's case against those who After immense public pressure, four other victims of a their families. are now known as the Birmingham Six - the conflicting government frame-up -known as the Guildford Four­ very similar to the Birmingham Six case, were released last The Irish people have struggled for centuries against facts and impossibilities of the confessions; the evidence of year. Mullin's preface begins with this fact and what it British oppression. In Jan. 30, 1972, a demonstration in the police beatings; the bogus "scientific" evidence of the means for our six men: "When Gerry Conlon, the first of Derry, Northern Ireland, for civil rights and against British forensic expert (much of which later disappeared); the the Guildford Four to be released, emerged blinking into occupation was attacked by British troops. Thirteen people rewriting of the sequence and timing of events; and the the daylight outside the Old Bailey [courthouse] on Oct. were killed. This has been known as Bloody Sunday ever cover-up. 19, 1989, almost the first words he uttered in public were, since. The description of the trial and appeals is a real indictment 'Let's hope the Birmingham Six are soon freed."' In response to this violence, the Irish Republican Army of the British "justice" system. The six men were presumed Let's all hope so too, and join in solidarity and in the (IRA) began a military campaign to bomb unoccupied to be guilty and the word of the police was taken as the fight more than ever to free the six. buildings in England. Three years later, an IRA volunteer truth. Error of Judgement is available from the Pathfmder named James McDade was killed by a bomb he was planting Nor did the Birmingham Six receive justice for the brutal Bookshop, 47 The Cut, London SEl 8LL, England. Price outside a Birmingham telephone exchange. McDade's body beatings they suffered at the hands of both the police and is £4.99 plus 75p. for postage and handling. Money order was flown back to Belfast for a soldier's burial. the guards in the prison they were later transferred to. Trying or check must be in pounds sterling. The six men had known McDade, who was also from unsuccessfully to keep the forced confessions from being Ardoyne. They decided to go to his funeral, and raised admitted into evidence at the trial, the defense attorneys Mark Curtis, a unionist and political activist, is serving a money for the trip home. Callaghan did not go, but saw the called for a hearing during the trial to rule on charges of 25-year sentence on frame-up charges ofrape and burglary other five off from the Birmingham train station. The five police brutality. in the state prison at Fort Madison , Iowa. -LETTERS- Old news? even as the layoffs continue and extensive coverage the Militant these former Soviet ("Stalinist" if gives to South American revolu­ As a longtime reader of the Mil­ you must) states are being reduced tions, especially Cuba and Nicara­ itant, I felt compelled to write con­ to impoverished Third World status. gua, and now to South Africa and cerning your seemingly endless You would have difficulty con­ the African National Congress. avalanche of union news. vincing workers in Eastern Europe Much of this material cannot be read The Eastern strike was an inspir­ who are getting laid off and Cubans any other place in English. ing and important struggle for all who are more isolated as a result of The third item I follow is the workers and farmers. But weekly events that this is a great victory. prisoner section, which I find very front page "updates" on how the You need to learn the difference interesting and important. I'm sure remaining strikers have "advanced" between revolution and counterrev­ many prisoners appreciate the Mil­ so far is old and very misleading. olution. itant in jail. Frank Lorenzo and his class have Because of this I do not think your Go on with the good work! walked away from grounded Texas paper is worth the rather high sub­ Roni Ben Efrat Air with millions of dollars stolen scription rate, so I will not renew. Jerusalem, Israel from the workers' pockets. The rul­ Rich Richardson ers have moved on, as should the Brooklyn, New York Welfare cuts Militant, to the next step. As the economic crisis deepens Start introducing socialism to our German unification in our cities and states, our "repre­ class. Packing your pages with this I am very apprehensive about the sentatives" in government seek new long-dead strike not only uses up reunification of East and West Ger­ ways to balance the budget on the space that could have covered the many. They have gone too fast, and backs of working people. recent Brazilian elections, the dan­ it is too fragmented. I don't see the I read with disbelief a Philadel­ gerous reunification of Germany, workers very much involved, if at phia Daily News report on a new more on Eastern Europe, and the all, in the whole matter. bill quietly introduced by two of the crisis in South Korea or Liberia. I city's state senators. The measure suggest a series on Leon Trotsky, The capitalist press, at least some would require poor children to make V.I. Lenin, Karl Marx, or the twisted of the commentators, are telling us that capitalism has returned to East "reasonable educational progress" brand of socialism China touts. Germany, and they say it with much in school or be dropped from the The Militant is important to all vote on Iraq, not voting in opposi­ from other Hands Off Cuba coali­ tion. elation. I don't know if they know Aid to Families with Dependent workers and farmers. Introducing tions around the United States. it or not, but the workers of the world Children program. socialism should be the catalyst of I support the idea of unity. Should Please write to Colorado Hands Off are in motion; can they not see the While the Democrats and Repub­ the paper, not endless analysis of the working people of the Middle Cuba Coalition, P.O. Box 13202, mess our planet is in? licans debate how to starve youth one strike at one airline by one small East rise up, seize power, and form Denver, Colo. 80201. Let us hear It has been said and should be and balance the budget, the Socialist section of our beseiged class. the United States of Arabia- more from everybody around the country. power to 'em. But you've got a ways We have "Hands off Cuba" buttons kept in mind, "There will be no Workers Party candidates here are David Alan Johnson peace until the workers make it." explaining that the $1.2 billion per Kansas City, Missouri to go to prove to me that Hussein of available. Iraq is the redemption of the Arabian E.C. Grady Vandiver month spent on the U.S. interven­ tion in the Arab East should go to working class or the champion of Arvada, Colorado Rialto, California Saddam Hussein any working class. meet human needs. Maureen Coletta The Militant's August 24 editorial Joe Geiser Relies on 'Militant' Eastern Europe Philadelphia, Pennsylvania dealing with the plundering by the Price, Utah The case of the four jailed editors oil monopolies mentions "the ma­ I am impressed by your drive and of Derech Hanitzotz, myself being jority of toilers" in the Mideast as Hands off Cuba dedication and applaud your active one of them, was covered inten­ The Mililllnt special prisoner opposing the U.S.-orchestrated mil­ support of the Eastern Airlines sively in the Israeli press. In the fund makes it possible to send re­ itary build-up in Saudi Arabia. Is the The Colorado Hands Off Cuba strike. But your insistence on seeing United States, I understand it got a duced-rate subscriptions to pris­ Militant suggesting that Saddam Coalition was formed on May 19 the events in Eastern Europe as a small response. oners who can't pay for them.'Ib Hussein, who used military force following the war games by the great victory convinces me that you The Militant was the only maga­ help this important cause, send first against Iran and then Kuwait, United States to practice the inva­ are schizophrenic. zine that took a real interest in the your contribution to Militant Pris­ is on the cutting edge of the workers' sion of Cuba - Ocean Venture, With these countries and the So­ case and followed it throughout the oner Subscription Fund, 410 ~ struggle? Defex, and Global Shield. These viet Union openly moving in leaps trial, and then went on writing about St., New \brk, N.Y. 10014. I oppose military intervention. I maneuvers went unreported by the and bounds toward capitalism, cutt­ our harsh conditions in jail. opposed Hussein when he butch­ U.S. establishment media. ing off liberation movements, and For me, after coming out of The letters column is an open ered hundreds of thousands in his We are calling for a hands off siding with imperialism against prison, it is a pleasure working with forum for all viewpoints on sub­ territory-grabbing war with Iran. I policy by the U.S. government to­ Cuba, your attempt to fit the facts the Militant because I rely on the jects of general interest to our oppose his invasion of Kuwait. ward Cuba, an end to the blockade to your theory becomes more ridic­ accuracy and detailed articles that readers. Please keep your letters Might does not make right for either against Cuba, and the removal of the ulous daily. The idea that the work­ are still written about our case and brief. Where necessary they will side. Even heroic Cuba, which U.S. ban on travel by its own citi­ ers are going to be angry at the the question of the freedom of the be abridged. Please indicate if yo, hasn't backed down from anybody zens to that island. disaster as they see its effects is press in Israel in general. prefer that your initials be used I know of, abstained from the UN Our coalition would like to hear presented as a great step forward Personally I enjoy reading the rather than your full name.

September 14, 1990 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Heavily armed Canadian troops invade Mohawks' settlement BY BEVERLY BERNARDO Mohawks would be a central theme of the MONTREAL-On September I, after parade. dismantling the bairicades set up by Mo­ Unionists cheered and honked when they hawks to protect themselves from a military saw the contingent of 150 supporters of the assault on their community, more than 400 Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with Native heavily anned soldiers from three Canadian Peoples (CASNP) with placards calling for anny companies-equipped with machine troops out of Oka and respect for Native guns, annored personnel carriers, tanks, and sovereignty. rocket launchers - invaded the Mohawk At the international convention of the settlement of Kanesatake. The community is United Steelworkers of America, held in To­ 20 miles west of here. ronto the last week of August, more than 75 After surrounding the settlement with a delegates signed a CASNP petition call­ baJbed wire fence, the anny encircled a de­ ing on the government to negotiate with the toxification center where a group of 50 Na­ Mohawks. Several delegates participated in tive men, women, and children continue to a lunch-hour protest. After a discussion on resist the assault on their land. Another 100 the convention floor, International President Mohawks are taking refuge in a community Lynn Williams also called on Mulroney to center. The village ofOka, where Kanesatake negotiate with the Mohawks. is situated, is surrounded by a force from On August 30 about 100-125 unionists set SOrere du Quebec (SQ- the Quebec pro­ up a solidarity picket at Standard Products vincial police). where 400 members of the Canadian Auto­ Another 2,500 troops occupy the MOhawk mobile Workers Local 1285 were on strike. reserve at Kahnawake, which is across the The unionists built symbolic barricades at St. Lawrence River from Montreal. On Sep­ plant entrances saying they had learned this tember 3 some 200 Canadian anny troops from the Mohawks. The next day scabs re­ sutrounded the longhouse there where 30 fused to come to work and the company Mohawk women were meeting while SQ settled. Striking steelworkers at Reynolds in forces conducted a "weapons search." Sev­ Militant/Cheryl Pruitt eral women were injured, some hit with rifle Canadian army armored personnel carrier, provincial police squad car, and roDs of Montreal dressed up as Warriors to show their butts, and at least one was hospitalized. The barbed wire in the village of Oka, Quebec, as cops and troops prepared to surround determination to fight. assault was followed by armored patrols the nearby Mohawk settlement of Kanesatake. every half hour. Solidarity protests These actions mark an escalation of the Protests swept across the country after the campaign of terror against the Mohawks that In Chateauguay, scene of most of the racist tacle of"stone throwing thugs" on the federal August 27 announcement to send the anny began July 11 when 100 SQ cops attacked a mobilizations, the Catholic School Commis­ and Quebec governments' refusal to negoti­ against the Mohawks. In Montreal two dem­ peaceful Mohawk barricade at Kanesatake sion voted to bar Native children from the ate. onstrations of more than I ,000 people each set up to stop expansion of an exclusive golf schools. Mulroney felt compelled to denounce the took place on August 28 and 29. At the course onto their land. An SQ officer was On August 28 hundreds of racists in La­ racist violence and demanded an inquiry. August 29 action Lorraine Page, president of killed in the gunfire begun by the cops. The Salle stoned a car caravan of 150 Mohawk Only three racists have been charged for the the Quebec Teachers Union, explained that SQ then set up their own barricades, cutting women, children, and elderly being evacu­ LaSalle riot. The charges ofcriminal mischief partisans of Quebec's sovereignty must also off food and medication to the Mohawks. ated from Kahnawake. Cops and soldiers carry a maximum penalty of six months. respect the sovereign rights of Native peo­ In solidarity, Mohawks at the Kahnawake watched with arms folded. Twelve Mohawks The courageous fight of the Mohawks has ples. reserve immediately blocked the Mercier were injured. Joe Armstrong, a 71-year-old led to unprecedented unity among Canada's Three hundred Maliseet and Micmac In­ Bridge, a major traffic artery into Montreal. Mohawk, died on September 2 from a heart 1 million Native people and growing support dians from New Brunswick travelled to Oka On August 27, after suspending negotia­ attack suffered after passing through the rac­ from non-Natives -including the trade in a peace caravan. In Sault Ste. Marie, tions with the Mohawks, the Quebec govern­ ist mob. Alwyn Morris, the Mohawk who union movement. Ontario, 200 Ojibway Indians and Metis ment asked the federal government to send organized the convoy, said they had received On September 3 thousands of the 15,000-- marched August 29. in the anny to take down the Mohawk bar­ assurances of police protection. 20,000 unionists participating in the annual In Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sep­ ricades. Under public pressure, negotiations This racist mob violence and cop and anny Toronto Labour Day Parade wore red tember 2 more than 300 people, including resumed. When Mohawks at Kahnawake complicity with it has sparked outrage annbands to express their solidarity with the Haida and Lilloet Indians and members of began taking down their barricades as a ges­ throughout Canada. Canadian Labour Con­ Mohawks. The Metro Toronto Labour Coun­ the Chinese community, protested the army ture of goodwill to stave off an anny attack, gress President Shirley Carr blamed the spec- cil had announced that solidarity with the occupation of Kanesatake. the Quebec government broke off negotia­ tions again and demanded the anny begin the assault. The anny atOka has announced that food Support for British miners' leaders grows will not be allowed into the reserve. They have also refused entry to other Native lead­ BY PETE CLIFFORD Gavin Lightman cleared the two of any a miner from Hatfield after Scargill's presen­ ers. SHEFFIELD, England-Support for the wrongdoing. The report went on to argue that tation. "The perpetual bombardment of ac­ defense of National Union of Mineworkers the officials defied the law by organizing to cusations, innuendos, and half truths has an No immunity from prosecution (NUM) leaders Arthur Scargill and Peter prevent monies raised for strikers from being effect. Even my 10-year-old boy asked me As of September 4 the SQ had arrested 24 Heathfield against an antiunion slander cam­ handed over to a trustee appointed by the before I came to the meeting why I wanted Mohawks. Dozens of MOhawks have been paign is broadening in the labor movement, government to oversee the union during the to see a man who'd pinched the miners' held for interrogation, many of them beaten, said Scargill to a meeting of 70 miners and strike. money. Now I believe Scargill is being vili­ and several tortured. Denise Maurais of their supporters. Joining Scargill on the platform of the fied completely," he said. Kanesatake said SQ officers beat her son for The event, organized by the Hatfield NUM Hatfield meeting was Jake Boyle, a repre­ "[Prime Minister Margaret] Thatcher can't three hours and burned him on the stomach branch in Doncaster, Yorkshire, is one among sentative of the Oil Industry Liaison Com­ forgive him and us for standing up and fight­ with cigarettes. There are rumors of massive a number of rallies and meetings held in the mittee, an organization of oil workers. "I'm ing. Now others, such as the oil workers, numbers of arrest warrants waiting to be coalfields since late August. Scargill is the proud to be here addressing the miners' want to do the same," he added. served union," Boyle said, "because your union has president and Heathfield the secretary-gen­ A retired miner from Hatfield believed the Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa and Ca­ eral of the coal miners' union. a tremendous historical background that we antiunion campaign was "all about check­ nadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney re­ In addition to public messages of support, continue to need today." book journalism, going for a union leader fuSe to grant immunity from prosecution to Scargill reported to the Hatfield miners that Hundreds of oil workers in the North Sea whose members trust him." the Natives. unions have begun ordering a pamphlet, Re­ were recently sacked (fired) after engaging Mulroney, Bourassa, and Parti Quebecois sponse to the Lightman Inquiry. The pam­ in one-day strikes for union recognition. The branch delegate from Hatfield took leader Jacques Parizeau have all smeared the phlet, written by Scargill, answers the The employers and the government have 50 copies of the pamphlet for miners in embattled Mohawks-especially those be­ charges against the union leaders. The Fire launched the campaign against the NUM the area. Mine union leaders from the longing to the Warrior Society - as violent Brigades Union has ordered 1,000 copies. because "our struggle in 1984-85 was an North East have taken 3,000 copies of the criminals. Their actions and declarations The Transport and General Workers Union, inspiration," Scargill told the miners. At a pamphlet and orders have also been placed have given the green light to violent racist along with unions of rail workers and train rally of 700 in Sheffield the previous week, from Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lanca­ mob attacks. drivers, are also ordering copies of the pam­ the NUM president said the £4.5 million shire, and Midlands. Mohawk leader Joe Norton has explained phlet for their members. spent defending the union as a result of the Reflecting the massive media barrage that they are not criminals but are waging a The attacks on the union leaders began in slander campaign could have been better against the union and its leadership, some political struggle to defend their land and March of this year when articles in the big­ spent on victimized mine workers and in officials refuse to back the defense effort. their rights. business press charged that a portion of the support of the oil workers' battle. The South Wales union president, according For the last four weeks there have been £6.5 million ($US12 million) raised by sup­ The officials faced "trial by media-I'm to the Guardian newspaper, said, "The Light­ sustained racist mobilizations of thousands portersoftheyear-long 1984-85NUM strike guilty until proven innocent," Scargill said. man report says quite·clearly in nice terms of people at the Mercier Bridge. Racists have against mine closures was used by the union "The jury that counts is you -the members that lies were told. Anyone with a shred of beaten Mohawks, Blacks, and harassed some officials for personal gain. of the NUM," he added. integrity would step down, but we are not of the international human rights observers. A union-sponsored inquiry by lawyer "I had doubts before tonight," said Mike, dealing with men of integrity."

16 The Militant September 14, 1990