Hong Kong Is China!

• AUSTRALIA $2.00 • BELGIUM BF60 • CANADA $2.00 • FRANCE FF1 0 • ICELAND Kr150 • NEW ZEALAND $2.50 • SWEDEN Kr12 • UK £1.00 • U.S. $1.50 INSIDE Report details health impact of U.S. embargo on Cuba THE -PAGE10 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 61,NO. 25 JULY 14, 1997 Brazilian Hong Kong is China! peasant Millions celebrate end of British colonial rule leader starts BY BRIAN TAYLOR For weeks, hundreds of millions of people across China- at the beginning of the U.S. tour school day, on the radio, through the televi sion set, and in the workplace - have BY RAY PEREZ counted down the days to July I. That is the AND MAGGIE TROWE day Hong Kong reverts to Chinese sover DES MOINES, Iowa - Supporters of eignty after more than 150 years of British immigrant rights and family farm activists colonial rule. in central Iowa welcomed the opportunity "Recovering Hong Kong is a time for our to talk with Jose Brito Ribeiro in Iowa June nation to rejoice," said Wang Xiuxhen, a 60- 16-17, during the first stop on his U.S. year-old Shanghai resident. "Chinese people speaking tour. Brito, a leader of the Move will be ruled by Chinese people, not foreign ment of Landless Rural Workers of Brazil ers .... We can't allow colonialism any more." "Everyone I know cares about it because Defend framed-up MST it's a moment in history when China can be proud" for "taking back something that was leader Jose Rainha! forcefully stolen from us," remarked Wang -article p. 11, editorial p. 14 Zhining, a student in China. Lin Ruimin, a 45-year-old electrician in (MST), spoke at a meeting at Trinity United Shanghai said, "Now we can go see Hong Methodist Church in Des Moines, and at St. Kong. I want to go. I certainly want my chil Henry's Catholic Church in Marshalltown. dren to go. After July 1 it will be much easier "The MST emerged in 1984, among those to go." trying to defend their land," against land Even businesses people in Hong Kong are lords and big companies, mainly in the awaiting the transition. Ong Chin Huat, the southeastern region of Brazil, Brito ex society editor for Hong Kong Tatler maga Soldiers in Beijing rehearse for June 30 ceremony celebrating return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty. London had held the territory as a colony since 1841. plained. "Our perspective is not to wait for zine said, "Everyone I know is doing a party the government to carry out agrarian reform of some sort." as they promise, but to do whatever is nec Hong Kong is a small island-city of 6.3 the Hong Kong government for the next five sentially normal trade relations- sparked essary to get it." million people. At the end of June its last years. another round in what has become an an With the deepening of the social and eco British governor, Christopher Patten, will be British prime minister Anthony Blair and nual debate about what approach to take to nomic crisis of Brazil in the 1990s, Brito leaving for good. Ten thousand Chinese U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright, Beijing. said, the MST grew into a nationwide move troops will move into Hong Kong to secure both of whom will be in Hong Kong June In 1949, Chinese workers and peasants ment that puts forward agrarian reform as a the transition. The region is to be granted a 30, say they will boycott the midnight swear overthrew the imperialist-backed regime of solution to the crisis working people face in high degree of autonomy, but with Beijing ing in ceremony for the new government. Chiang Kai-shek, wrested control from the both the city and rural areas. "We always in charge of defense and foreign affairs. Meanwhile, U.S. president William landlords and capitalists, and opened the direct our actions toward the cities," he said. Tung Chee-hwa, from one of Hong Kong's Clinton's decision to renew China's "most door to the establishment of a workers state "Our struggle begins in the rural areas but - richest shipping families, is slated to head favored nation" (MFN) trade status - es- Continued on Page 12 our victories happen in the cities." Through land occupations the MST has organized I ,200 peasant settlements throughout Brazil. As a result, 140,000 fami lies have won title to over 6 million acres of Tens of thousands march in solidarity land, Brito said. He described the land oc cupations the MST has organized to achieve with newspaper workers in Detroit Continued on Page 11 BYJOHNSARGE between 25,000 and 60,000. take years. But newspaper workers see the DETROIT- The chant "Hey, hey, Ho, The march and rally took on an air of cel ruling as a victory and vindication of their SWP holds Ho, Scabs have got to go" and the song ebration because of a National Labor Rela fight. Gary Rushnell, a printer who was fired "Solidarity Forever" rang through the down tions Board (NLRB) judge ruled two days during the strike, described the judge's rul town streets here June 21 as thousands of earlier that the newspaper bosses had en ing as "the first nail in their coffin. It's a unionists and youth marched in support of gaged in unfair labor practices and had to light at the end of the tunnel. It will help national newspaper workers fighting to regain their rehire the former strikers. The companies people like me because if the newspapers jobs at this city's two daily newspapers. quickly announced that they plan to appeal violated the law how can they claim our Most newspapers estimated the crowd at the finding, and those proceedings could actions were illegal." convention On July 13, 1995, some 2,500 editorial, production and distribution workers struck BY NAOMI CRAINE the Detroit News and Free Press and their OBERLIN, Ohio- More than 500 del joint business agent, the Detroit Newspaper egates, members of the Socialist Workers Agency. They walked out to protect jobs, Party and Young Socialists, and guests from wages, working conditions, and their around the world gathered here June 11- 14 unions' right to negotiate jointly. On Feb for the 39th Constitutional Convention of ruary 14, at the urging of their international the SWP. union presidents, local officials of the six At the heart of the reports and conven striking locals of the Teamsters, Graphics tion discussion were the increased openings Communication International Union, News for socialists to link up with workers and paper Guild and the Communication Work young fighters who are resisting capitalist ers of America, made an unconditional of austerity- from the organizing drives of fer to return to work, formally ending the strawberry pickers in California to the ex strike. plosive struggles by students and workers Since then the newspapers have only al in Argentina and demonstrations for jobs lowed about 200 of the strikers to return to and in defense of social welfare payments work, at lower wages, and then fired at least in France and elsewhere in Europe. two of them. The unions declared the com The delegates discussed how to respond panies' actions a lock-out and went to the to stepped-up war preparations by Washing NLRB requesting a federal court order re ton and its imperialist allies, particularly the turning the strikers to their jobs. occupations of Yugoslavia and Albania and The demonstration and other actions here the drive to expand NATO to the borders of over the weekend attracted workers from Russia. The imperialist powers are carrying across North America. out these war moves from a position of Militant/John Sarge Other strikers from around the country weakness, the delegates concluded, having Unionists from all over the Midwest and beyond joined June 21 Detroit rally Continued on Page 12 Continued on Page 8 European Union summit highlights tensions - page 7 ·

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Peru: 'Down with the dictator' responded by hurling stones at the cops. Two on the jury weeping and reaching for their answered a prison rebellion there. He be In one of the largest protests Lima has other demonstrations were organized dur handkerchiefs," the New York Times com came a leader of the rebellion, was captured, faced in recent years, thousands of Peruvian ing the five-day OAS meeting. plained. McVeigh's mother, Mildred Frazer, and forced to lay naked on a table suspend unionists and students chanted, "Down with who denounced the verdict, explained, "For ing a football under his chin. The prison the dictatorship!" Assembled near the site Jury votes to execute McVeigh two years now, since my son ... the day he guards threatened to castrate or kill him if of the 34-nation Organization of American A federal jury voted June 13 for Timothy was arrested ... he was convicted and sen the ball fell, while they struck his testicles States (OAS) general assembly meeting dur McVeigh to be executed for allegedly bomb tenced to death by the media and the gov with a baton. They also subjected him to ing its closing ceremony June 5, protesters ing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building, ernment." Russian roulette. Smith and other prisoners voiced opposition to President Alberto which killed 168 people and injured 850 were forced to run nude over broken glass, Fujimori 's austerity measures, as well as re others. Me Veigh's conviction and death sen Attica inmate win vindication while correction cops bludgeoned them with cent attacks on democratic rights. tence came after a barrage of media hype After nearly a quarter-century of court night sticks. Police officers deemed these Three constitutional judges, who ruled and daily testimony from survivors and rela battles, ex-prisoner Frank Smith won a $4 actions were necessary to establish control that the law precluded a third term for the tives of those killed in the April 19, 1995, million lawsuit against former deputy war over the inmates. Peruvian president, were removed from of blast, who prosecutors paraded on the wit den Karl Pfeil, which the government must Forty-three people were killed and more fice on charges of exceeding their authority ness stand to tell the jury of their pain and pay. In September 1971, Smith, then an in than 90 were injured in the rebellion, as state and violating the constitution. The regime suffering. mate at Attica Correctional Facility, was troopers and guards bombarded the facility deployed police who fired tear gas in their "Mr. McVeigh never shed a tear during brutally beaten and tortured by cops, during for four days with tear gas and fusillade. attempts to defuse the action, but protesters heart-wrenching testimony that had men and the government -sanctioned slaughter that Smith was the first to win damages in a 1974 civil liability suit. The claims of the other I ,280 prisoners are still pending. Pfeil's at torney said he will appeal the verdict. 70,000 workers demand jobs in France Palestinians protest U.S. BY DEREK JEFFERS resolution on Jerusalem AND NAT LONDON Palestinian youth rallied in the streets and PARIS - Less than one week after the threw rocks at Israeli soldiers in Hebron June formation of the new French government led 16 for the second day of protests against a by the Socialist and Communist Parties, "nonbinding resolution" adopted by the U.S. 70,000 workers rallied on June IO in Paris House of Representatives that called on for jobs, a shorter workweek, and against President William Clinton to affirm that the closing of the Renault plant in Vilvoorde, Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel. Belgium. Thousands of Renault auto work The June 10 resolution also allocated $IOO ers participated in the demonstration, includ million to move the U.S. embassy from Tel ing 600 people from Vilvoorde. Aviv to Jerusalem. The large turnout for this national union Meanwhile, Israeli prime minister Ben organized gathering showed the determina jamin Netanyahu is being confronted with tion of working people to continue to press another crisis over a law proposed by Or forward their demands, which was also re thodox Jews requiring that conversions to flected in their rejection of the Juppe Judaism must be conducted by Orthodox government's austerity policies in the June rabbis to be valid. Jews from the United I legislative elections. Many workers at the States residing in Israeli attacked the bill as rally explained their hopes after the election a humiliating attempt to reduce them to sec results, but also their determination to watch ond-class status in the country. Conversion the new government carefully. to Judaism is one step toward obtaining Is "The financiers will impose their views raeli citizenship and the benefits accrued if the masses don't move," Michel, a par with that status. ticipant in the demonstration, told the na Striking truckers in France, along with other truckers across Europe, participated in tional French daily Liberation. "It was -BY BRIAN TAYLOR "Operation Snail" June 9, to demand higher wages, reduction in the workweek, and proven to us in 198I that voting isn't AND MAURICE WILLIAMS increased health benefits. They organized barricades blocking off traffic on the French enough," he added. Michel is a unionist from borders of Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium and Portugal. In France, dozens of barri the French Democratic Confederation of cades were set up by the International Transport Federation, causing traffic jams in Labor (CFDT) at a SNECMA aerospace Paris and other major cities. plant. The last government led by the SP and CP was formed in I981. Workers bitterly Revised Summer view that government as having betrayed Publication their interests. Today, many people are dis cussing today how to avoid repeating the Schedule THE same experience. MILITANT The demonstration had been planned prior The Militant has adjusted its sum to the election, as part of a series of actions mer publication from the one that ap in European capital cities for jobs. All the peared in issue no. 24. Abolish the death penalty major unions, with the notable exception of This issue, no. 25, was printed and Workers Force (FO), called for the labor mailed Thursday, June 26. The paper From Texas to New York, the drumbeat action. will appear bi-weekly until mid-Au of executions is picking up its pace. The Later on June I 0, under pressure from the gust, with issues printing July I 0, July new government and the protest actions, 24, and August 7. We will resume death penalty is a weapon used by the Renault announced it had asked "an inde weekly publication with issue no. 29, government and its courts to terrrorize pendent expert" to examine all possible al printed August 2I and dated Septem working-classfighters. The 'Militant' ternatives to the closing of the Vilvoorde ber I. brings you the news ofprotests against plant and to report back by the end of June. capital punishment and explains why the capitalist rulers have no right to execute scription send $65, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above anyone. Don't miss a single issue! The Militant address. By first-class (airmail), send $80. Asia: Vol. 61/No. 25 send $80 drawn on a U.S. bank to 410 West St., Closing news date: June 26, 1997 New York, NY 10014. Canada: Send Canadian $75 for one-year sub Editor: NAOMI CRAINE scription to Militant, 4581 St. Denis, Montreal, Business Manager: MAURICE WILLIAMS Quebec H2J 2L4. 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2 The Militant July 14, 1997 London ends talks, N. Ireland heats up BY PETE CLIFFORD dents groups, as well as leaders of the right LONDON - London broke off talks ist Orange Order, to discuss the forthcom June 16 with Sinn Fein, under the pretext ing marches organized by the Orange Or of responding to the Irish Republican Army der through Catholic areas. (IRA) killing of two Royal Ulster Constabu While welcoming these initial talks, lary policemen. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams described Blair's speech as "barren Adams answered London's move saying, of new thinking," in an interview with the ''I'm not going to knee jerk in response to Irish News. "Nationalists felt disturbed to this tragedy. These deaths must act as a huge hear Mr. Blair declare himself a unionist incentive on those of us in political leader with such gusto," the Sinn Fein leader stated. ship to redouble our efforts to get the peace Indicating the questions the Sinn Fein lead process restored." ers have sought from London, Adams said London briefly reopened bilateral talks London "should state clearly that Sinn Fein with Sinn Fein in response to the gains made will join the negotiations immediately fol by the Republicans registered in the recent lowing an unequivocal restoration of the elections. London had continued to exclude IRA cessation of August 1994." Sinn Fein from multiparty talks, however, Adams added that the Sinn Fein will be while admitting all the various unionist and looking for a series of confidence building measures too, including steps towards Sinn Fein WOIJ several electoral races Northern Ireland and the Republic. Above, loyalist parties. This takes place against the Caoimhghin 0 Caolain is carried by Gerry Adams, left, and Martin McGuinness. background of sharpening attacks on Catho equality and democratic rights, steps to de lics in the lead up to the rightist Orange militarize, the release of political prisoners, marches through Catholic areas held tradi and the repeal of emergency legislation. been mirrored by a crisis among the Union Apprentice Boys, including Paisley, clashed tionally on July 12. U.S. president William Clinton, visiting ist (pro-British) parties. This is especially with police May 18 as they tried to march Adams and chief negotiator Martin Britain May 29, told the press, "The goal of fueled in the lead up to the Orange Order through the predominantly Catholic village McGuinness were elected May I to the UK this peace process [in Ireland] is inclusive marches. These supremacist marches cel ofDunloy. On June 1 a policeman who had Parliament. However, both were denied ac talks, because they are the ones most likely ebrate the system of discrimination against been on duty that day at Dunloy was kicked cess to their full rights as Members of Par to succeed. But that can only succeed ifthere Catholics and the Unionist rule over North to death by a loyalist gang. liament. The Speaker of Parliament ruled is an unequivocal cease-fire." ern Ireland. Many of them have in the past Throughout Northern Ireland violent at that they must swear an oath of allegiance The multiparty talks on Ireland, chaired gone provocatively through Catholic areas. tacks and harassment of Catholics have ac to the Queen of England in order to enter by U.S. Senator George Mitchel, resumed In the last few years. though, Catholic and celerated. In Portadown, near the Garvaghy the legislature; both refused to do so. "The at Stormont Castle in Belfast June 3. When nationalist resistance to this has gained the Road, a Catholic man Robert Hamill was ruling is discriminatory and refuses to ac Adams and a Sinn Fein delegation attempted moral high ground. Fearing a boost to Sinn beaten to death May 9, by a gang of 30 loy cept the right of voters in Ireland to elect to enter. the gates were barred to them. Fein, the Orange Order leaders retreated alists shouting, "Die Fenian, Die." The po representatives of their choice," said Adams. Leading up to the elections in the Re from a series of marches planned prior to lice were forced to launch an inquiry after The election of Adams and McGuinness, public of Ireland, opposition leader Bertie the election. widespread reports that the local police as well as the local council elections in Ahem pre-empted both the British and Irish watched as the gang beat Hamill. Crisis of Unionst parties Northern Ireland May 21 and parliamentary premiers' moves by meeting with Adams. In Ballymena loyalists rioted for four ballot in the Republic oflreland June 6, reg An electoral coalition led by Ahem's Fianna The Orange Order leaders announced hours following a picket of a Catholic istered the political gains won by the repub Fail party won a near majority in the Dail June 16 that they would press ahead with church on June 7. Petrol bombs damaged lican movement. The nationalist party won elections, and he is expected to become the their marches through Garvaghy Road af the church, whose membership have been 16.9 percent of the vote in the council elec next prime minister. ter receiving tacit backing from Majorie picketed now for 39 weeks. tions- up slightly from its vote in the UK Reflecting the political gains of the re Mowlam. In response. Garvaghy residents In Bellaghy, Mid Ulster, where election- for a total of 74 seats. publican struggle. British officials finally have announced plans for a festival to McGuinness won his seat, a 62-year-old The two largest parties, the Ulster Union granted bail to Rofsfn McAJiskey June 3, counter the Orange march. Catholic man who was chairman of the lo ist Party (UUP) and Social Democratic and after months of international protests de The crisis of unionism is marked also by cal Gaelic Athletic Club was kidnapped and Labour Party (SDLP), saw their votes de manding her release. The young woman, a shift further to the right by a minority of murdered May 13. Blasting the UK govern cline. Additionally, the Unionist control of who was pregnant during her incarceration, Unionists. In the elections to the UK parlia ment for refusing entry for Sinn Fein to all Belfast city council was ousted for the first was being held without being convicted of ment the most prominent of these figures, party talks while talking with all the fac time. anything, and faced extradition to Germany Ian Paisley, suffered a blow when his Demo tions of Unionism, including those clearly Two major city councils in Northern Ire over accusations of involvement in an IRA cratic Unionist Party (DUP) lost the mid associated with these attacks, McGuinness land - Belfast and Derry - are no longer action there. Ulster seat to Sinn Fein. said, "People can see through this dominated by Unionists, through whom The progress registered by Sinn Fein has More than 200 members of the rightist smokescreen and double standards." London has ruled since the 1921 partition of Ireland. Sinn Fein also won a seat in the Irish parliament, or Dail, for the first time in 16 years. Caoimhghfn 6 Caolain won a Thousands protest Australian fascist seat in Cavan/Monaghan, a district border ing Northern Ireland. Overall, Sinn Fein BY MARNIE KENNEDY Australian steel industry. She proposed "a Court ruled in the Wik decision last Decem received 2.5 percent of the vote, double its AND BOB AIKEN scheme for BHP workers to take over the ber that Aboriginal title may coexist, as a total in the 1992 Irish elections. In the past NEWCASTLE, Australia- Some 4,000 plant, and tariffs on imported steel," and said subordinate right, in some circumstances, Sinn Fein members had refused to take their people gathered outside the Civic Theatre that she wanted "to sit down ... with fair on these leases. seats when elected to the Dail, as a denial and at a cultural festival here to protest a dinkum [white] Aussies and talk about what In response, Aboriginal Land Councils of recognition to the Republic of Ireland. May 30 rally featuring fascist politician can be done." She warned of an economic are leading a campaign against such a "land The party has since changed that policy, and Pauline Hanson. It was the first public event takeover of Australia by international forces, grab," which would further erode Aborigi O'Caolain will take his post. of Hanson's One Nation party in New South and repeated her call to stop immigration to nal land rights. Pastoral leases cover some Wales. end unemployment. 40 percent of Australia's land area ranging London, Sinn Fein hold talks In a tense confrontation, the 1,200 ticket Protester Neil Willnet, an Aboriginal from small family farms to vast capitalist Since the May 1 election of the Labour holders who attended Hanson's meeting, medical student at Newcastle University, holdings. government in the United Kingdom, Ireland were loudly heckled by a section of the pro said Hanson is "touching a nerve" in her Hanson continues to claim that she is not had been a central question in politics here. testers as they approached the theater in comments against Aborigines. a "racist," telling Parliament May 27 that The first foreign head of state to visit Brit single file behind a line of cops 50 meters Another protester, Fiona Keegan, also a she was sorry for the "terrible things that ain was Irish premier John Bruton. Speak long. The jeering was interspersed with student at Newcastle University, remarked, were done" to Aborigines "in the past." She ing in Belfast May 16, Labour prime min chants, including "Pauline Hanson, you're "It's a time when a lot of people are feeling added, however, "We cannot and must not ister Anthony Blair agreed to hold bilateral a failure! No White Australia!" referring to insecure about where Australia's going. The foster or champion Aboriginal culture as an talks between Sinn Fein and government of the government's racist attacks on immi easy solution is to blame immigrants." She alternative society to our own." ficials. The Irish government made a simi grants and Aborigines, and "Land rights, pointed to BHP's recent announcement that In a radio interview on the same day as lar offer. Previously both governments had yes! Racists, no!" in support of the fight for it will close its Newcastle steel mill in 1999 her Newcastle meeting, Hanson distanced refused any talks with Sinn Fein outside of Aboriginal land rights. cutting the last 2,500 jobs, and said Hanson herself from comments by West Australian an IRA cease-fire. Despite the protest being widely publi will "use the closure to her advantage." Liberal Party Sen. Ross Lightfoot on May Blair's Belfast speech, made during his cized by organizers as peaceful, Sydney's Keegan's classmate, Lucy, expressed sur 28 who asserted that Aborigines were the first trip outside London since being elected, Daily Telef?raph reported that nearly 300 prised by the turnout, "I didn't realize how "lowest colour on the civilization spectrum." was widely heralded by the media as a new police were to be deployed in case "violence much opposition there was in Newcastle." Hanson claimed, "I have never denigrated move toward peace. But while agreeing to erupts." The large turnout was fueled by events the Aboriginal people," adding "I am con preliminary talks with Sinn Fein, Blair still The majority of demonstrators were in the days before the meeting. A parliamen cerned for their well-being ... but we are all maintained that there could be no multiparty youth and local people, and a contingent tary debate began over the recent report on Australians together." talks including Sinn Fein without an IRA from the National Union of Students, who the Aboriginal "stolen generations," which Meanwhile, three prominent rightist poli cease-fire. Blair's speech was shaped by its traveled three hours from Sydney. As the recommends compensation to those who ticians in Tasmania who are associated with pro-unionist stance. He declared, "I believe crowd gathered in front of the police bar were victims of the decades-long policy of Hanson, were defeated in elections for the in the United Kingdom, I value the union." rier, speakers were addressing a rally called forced removal of Aboriginal children from Tasmanian Upper House. Two of the candi Also definitively breaking from Labour's by the Newcastle Anti-Racist Alliance next their families and communities. As many as dates campaigned against the recent repeal previous "unity by consent" framework, he to the theater. I 00,000 Aboriginal children were snatched of antigay laws. stated, "My agenda is not a united Ireland .... In her speech to the Newcastle meeting, from their families between 1910 and the The "message sent out by these elections Let me make one thing absolutely clear. Hanson was reported as saying that Abstudy, early 1970s. The federal government of is that working-class people have rejected Northern Ireland is part ofthe United King the financial assistance program for Aborigi Prime Minister John Howard has refused the politics of minority-bashing," said dom." Blair emphasized, "The government nal students, should be scrapped and the to pay compensation. Rodney Croome. the spokesperson for the will not be persuaders for unity." funds redirected toward job creation in This controversy comes on top of an on Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, Despite protests by the unionist parties, Newcastle. She repeated her statements going political fight over Aboriginal land and one ofthe organizers of a protest against the talks between British officials and Sinn against the ''Asianisation" of Australia. rights, and has deepened a political crisis Hanson in Hobart, May 9. Fein representatives took place May 21, the Hanson also attacked the union move for the Howard government, which faces day ofthe local council elections. The same ment for supporting the Australian Labor enormous pressure from within the govern Marnie Kennedy and Boh Aiken are mem day. London's Northern Ireland minister Party. which she accused of betraying ing Liberal-National party coalition to nul hers ofthe Australian Manufacturing Work Marjorie Mow lam met with nationalist resi- Newcastle workers by not "protecting" the lify native titles on pastoral leases. The High ers Union in Sydney. July 14, 1997 The Militant 3 Sam Stark: a life dedicated to workers party BY DAVID CREED the nationalist awaken LOS ANGELES -A celebration at the ing in the Black com Pathfinder bookstore here June I honored munity. Some of the the life and political contributions of Sam bookstores he serviced Stark, a longtime member of the Socialist WORKERS OF NEW YORK! so consistently with Workers Party who died from complications gratifying results were of a stroke on May 2 at the age of 86. Some in the Black commu 40 people attended the event, including his nity." son Sherman Stark, other relatives, friends, Stop the Fascists Andrea Morell, a and comrades of the SWP and Young So member of the Los An cialists. branch of the SWP from Eli Green, a member of the Oil, Chemi PICKET MADISON SQUARE 1972, sent a message. cal and Atomic Workers, chaired the event. She described this pe- GARDEN, ~ION., FEB. 20, tt P. :\:1.! On display were front pages of the Militant A 50,000-worker strong riod, including the highlighting major world political events mobilization, initiated by bombing of Cambodia and subse The faseists are mobilizing at Madison Square Garden Monday night. that Sam participated in over his six decades the SWP against fascists quent student strike, the Chicano in the communist movement. Messages Hitler's G.,rman-American Bund gang~ters. Pelley's Silnr Shirt seum (left) was one of Sam moratorium, the imposition of the and Coughlin's mob of labor-haters have hurled a brazen challenge at Stark's first political ac War Powers Act in Quebec, from comrades who knew and worked with the workers of New York. Stark over the years were read throughout tivities with the party in firebombings of the offices of the Wrapping themselves in the cloak of patriotism and "Amt'ri•~nnism". 1939. Above, Stark (at Party and YSA by counterrevolu the meeting. the fascists prepare to spew their anti-labor and anti-Jewish ]JOison Laura Anderson, a young airline worker throughout New York City. right) participates in 1972 tionary Cuban exiles, and the open meeting protesting the ing battles to win women's right to and member of the International Associa These gangs ha'l'e already gone too far. They must he stopped. tion of Machinists, gave opening remarks. Vietnam War. choose abortion. Morell wrote, She read a message from Betsy McDonald, "Sam and May were veteran com who worked with Stark as a member of the after the eighth grade to help support the the U.S. war drive, especially after the 1939 munist workers who, by their presence in Los Angeles SWP branch for many years. family, first working at his father's bed re Stalin-Hitler pact. This was reflected in the our movement, were testimony not only to "No assignment was drudgery," McDonald pair and sales store. He began boxing and SWP and led to a split. The party's majority the revolutionary capacity of working said. "Even the simplest tasks were impor had three professional fights. Sam did ex turned to the working class and young mem people but to their ability to construct the tant to Sam .... I think his lighthearted ways perience some difficulty finding work. Some bers began working in basic industry. Sam needed revolutionary instrument." and sense of humor contributed to his pro places made clear that "Christians only need and May were part of this majority. In the mid-1960s Sam supported a posi letarian perseverance and staying power." apply." Finally, he found work as a delivery Following W.W.II the U.S. rulers were tion that the Chinese Communist Party Francisco Picado, a member of the SWP driver in the garment center in New York. unable to stop the struggles of colonial ceased to be Stalinist and became a revolu National Committee who is currently work As the depression deepened, Sam began people for independence or overthrow the tionary party in order to carry out the Chi ing a stint in the printshop that produces to look for answers to the crisis of the 1930's. Russian revolution. Sam welcomed the rise nese Revolution. Most members of the SWP Pathfinder Press titles in New York, also His brother had joined the Communist Party of the colonial revolution, especially the who held this view quit and joined Progres spoke at the event. earlier and explained to Sam that capital Chinese revolution. sive Labor, a Maoist split from the Com "The most important thing that I and oth ism was the source of the crisis and the Rus munist Party (CP). "Sam opposed this, say Victimization by political police ers from my political generation can thank sian revolution pointed the way toward a ing, '" 'They left the CP because it was not Sam for is his contribution to the steady, solution for working people. Sam joined the The rulers began preparations for new Stalinist enough,' " Benson stated. disciplined functioning that is essential to Communist Party in 1934. wars. As part of these preparations the Gale Shangold, a member of the Union build a proletarian vanguard," said Picado. As the Spanish revolution was heading Truman administration began restricting of Needletrades Industrial and Textile Em In a message to the meeting, Betsey Stone toward defeat as a result of the betrayals by democratic rights and attacks on labor's right ployees, and the chairperson of the SWP in and Joel Britton noted that "Sam was a vital the Stalinist, anarchist, and centrist to organize and strike. "Sam had direct ex southern California, also spoke at the event. part of regularizing hours during which you misleaderships, Sam began to disagree with perience with the political police several She made a fund appeal for Pathfinder Press could be sure the bookstore would be open." the Communist Party's policies. He espe times in the 1950s," said Benson. 'They vis in honor of Sam's life, which raised $680 A reminder of the importance of having cially opposed their use of force against ited his home asking questions, but as a for the publisher of the revolutionary books the bookstore open at regular hours occurred those who disagreed with them. He began worker communist he knew that you can't Stark worked so hard to distribute. during the event. Ten people, most of them reading Leon Trotsky's articles in the So talk to the political police of the capitalist Carlos Hernandez, a member of the Los youth, came in, bought $100 worth of revo cialist Appeal, the name of the Militant at class, and refused to cooperate." Angeles chapter of the Young Socialists, lutionary books and stayed for the celebra that time. He was expelled from the CP in At this time Sam was member of the read a message from Diana Newberry, a YS tion. Some attended a Young Socialists class 1938 and soon joined the SWP. United Rubber Workers, working at the leader and member of the SWP National on the Nicaraguan revolution afterward. One of his first activities in the SWP was Firestone tire plant in Los Angeles. At the Committee who worked with Sam in Los a rally in 1939 to protest a meeting of the height of the Korean War, Sam was a com Angeles several years ago. "Comrades like Turn to industry in 1980s German-American Bund and other fascist mitteeman in his local union and was elected Sam and May were like magnets to me," Having radicalized as a youth through organizations at Madison Square Garden. delegate to the 1952 California CIO Con Newberry wrote. "They were talking about experiences in his native Nicaragua, Picado Some 50,000 workers showed up to protest vention. He was fired from this job after the revolution and were inspired by struggles joined the communist movement in Los the fascists, in an action initiated by the FBI visited the plant. Sam would find work taking place in the U.S. and around the Angeles at the height of the Nicaraguan and SWP. Quoting from a Socialist Appeal ar for several weeks or months and then be world. Sam was able to remain a rebel be Grenadian revolutions in the early 1980's. ticle describing the antifascist demonstra fired. Finally he began working as a cabinet cause he had a party and a program. He had '"Sam not only embraced these revolutions, tion, Benson said," 'Surrounded by an un maker and remained in the Carpenters Union a lifetime of experiences to contribute and but many other young immigrant workers breakable phalanx one SWP speaker after until his death. he welcomed the youth that were coming like me who came around thirsty for poli another lifted on the shoulders of huskies Sam's experience with anti-Semitism into the movement. This is what is avail tics," he noted. made terse and militant speeches to the made the fight for Black rights especially able to youth today. A party of equals who Picado was convinced to join the effort workers who cheered so lustily they could important to him. He was a member of the draw on the strengths of each individual to in Los Angeles for some party members to be heard, literally, from blocks away.' Sam NAACP and worked alongside other mem build a movement that wi II lead our class to get into union-organized garment plants to Stark was one of those huskies." bers of SWP to help build the beginnings of the socialist revolution." be able to carry out political work among While in the Bronx branch of the SWP the what became the civil rights movement. Hernandez, a recent graduate at Occiden this layer of the working class, composed Sam was asked to help a new member, In their letter, Stone and Britton said of tal College, added that he had seen and mostly of recent immigrants and members Mamie Ordin (later known as May), study Sam's work in the 1960's, "Sam had been talked with Sam at that school's library, of oppressed nationalities, with lower wages the Socialist Appeal. She became his life inspired to redouble his party-building ef where Sam regularly went to read and study. than many other industrial workers. time companion. Like Sam, May Stark re forts when the Cuban revolution and the "He had a reputation among the students of "There were some folks in the party at mained an active member of the Socialist movement against the Vietnam war led to reading every periodical available." the time who disagreed with the Nicaraguan, Workers Party until her death in 1996. an increase of recruitment of youth in the "Sam considered he had the most fulfill Grenadian, and Cuban revolutions and As the preparations for the imperialist 1960s. One of his weekly tasks in the mid- ing life one could choose, " said Benson in oppossed forming fractions in the industrial slaughter of World War II picked up, many 1960s was to visit several bookstores in the his closing remarks. "He never lost confi unions," Picado noted. "They boycotted and middle class elements who had been at Los Angeles area, which took the Militant dence in his party or the working class. His split from the party in this period. Some of tracted to the U.S.S.R. became panicked, and some of our pamphlets and books on attitude towards the party is best put in his them argued especially against the tum to refused to continue defending the Soviet consignment. He was proud of the Socialist own words: 'The party enriches you. It the needletrade unions, saying it was not Union, and buckled under the pressure of Workers Party's support to Malcolm X and doesn't take from you. It gives to you.' " worthwhile to orient to workers who were illiterate and ignorant. Sam and his compan ion May Stark not only disagreed with these faint-hearts, but would sell the Militant and Texas activists say: Stop executions now Perspectiva Mundi a! in the garment district with me and others. BY ALEJANDRA RINCON in Texas and California. ceived him into signing a confession writ "Neither was proficient in Spanish," he HUNTSVILLE, Texas- Nearly 60 pro Since 1982 when Texas reinstated the ten in English stating that he had commit continued, "but they would give me com testers from cities across Texas rallied on death penalty, the state is leading the nation ted murder, despite the fact that he does not petition selling Perspectiva Mundial. They May 24 against the death penalty outside with nearly 130 inmates executed as of June speak English. Although this was admitted along with the leadership of the branch un the Walls Unit of the Huntsville Prison, 18. About 386 executions have been car as evidence, Montoya was convicted and derstood that even those workers who were which houses the execution chamber of ried out since 1976 when the U.S. Supreme sentenced to death. The Mexican govern illiterate were not ignorant. They couldn't Texas. The protest occurred two days after Court reinstated capital punishment. Vir ment issued a protest against the execution, read a book, but they could organize adem the execution of a seventh inmate in May. ginia and Florida ranked second in legal but Texas governor George Bush rejected onstration or a fight. The intense political On June 17 prison authorities here killed ized murder with 39 each since that year. the request for a delay. Out of the 33 Mexi fight around this issue in the branch and the Eddie Johnson, the 23rd inmate executed The pace of executions has accelerated this can citizens on death row in the United building of these industrial fractions in Los in Texas this year, breaking the 1935 state year through new laws designed to rush the States, I 0 of them have been sentenced to Angeles forged my loyalty to the SWP." record of 19 inmates put to death in a single appeals process of longtime inmates. death in Texas - second only to the state John Benson, a leader of the Los Ange year. There were four executions during the Irineo Montoya, an undocumented Mexi of California where 12 inmates face execu les branch of the SWP and member of the third week of May and the first week in June. can, was put to death June 18, after spend tion. There is a growing campaign in Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers union, "There are many states that don't see four ing nearly a dozen years on death row. Mexico to demand clemency for Mexican spoke about how Sam became a communist executions in 25 years and we have it in one Beatriz Torres, head of "Madres Unidas death row inmates. Protests were held at the and his experiences in the communist move week," said David Atwood, coordinator in Defendiendo Ia Libertad de sus Hijos" U.S. embassy in Mexico during President ment dating back to the 1930s Depression. Houston of the Texas Coalition to Abolish (United Mothers Defending their Children's William Clinton's visit there May 5. Stark was born on March 16, 1911, in the Death Penalty. In Texas at least II ex Freedom), explained Montoya was coerced Opponents of the death penalty are plan New York. His family immigrated to the ecutions are scheduled for June. Some 3,000 into signing a document that he was led to ning a number of activities in the coming United States from Warsaw because his fa people are sitting on death row in the United believe was a deportation order back to weeks. For more information contact therfaced the Czar's draft. Sam left school States, including more than 900 prisoners Mexico. The authorities instead had de- NCADP at (888) 286-2237. 4 The Militant July 14, 1997 Book sale is feature at SWP convention BY MEGAN ARNEY struggle in the United States, and titles on AND SARA LOBMAN the fight for women's liberation and the OBERLIN, Ohio -A big feature of the Black struggle. Many conference partici June II - 14 international socialist confer pants already had several months' experi ence here was the book tables that were the ence under their belts, taking advantage of centerpiece of the exhibit and display cen the sale to increase political discussions and ter. The conference was interwoven with sales of revolutionary books to co-workers delegated sessions of the Socialist Workers in the industrial unions and other workers Party convention that took place over the and youth. same four days. During every meal break The sale also opened up possibilities to and late into the night hundreds of confer take a big step forward in the production ence participants - some attending their and distribution of the books from the first socialist convention, others longtime printshop and publishing house in New veterans of the communist movement - York. In the months and weeks leading up could be found pouring over the more than to the convention, volunteers in New York 10,000 books that were available for sale, put in place a clean, uncluttered distribution discussing the lessons for working-class center that makes it possible to pick, pack, struggle they contained, choosing titles to and ship Pathfinder books quickly around Militant/Barbara Graham read and study over the coming weeks and the world. Conference participants packed months, and mapping out plans to help get The successful sale means there is now up box after box of books for more of the books into the hands of other adequate space on the shelves for new titles their own libraries and to sell fighters. coming off the presses and for reprints to be to others. By the end of the convention only a few scheduled whenever stocks get low. Main dozen books remained. More than 5,000 had taining just-in-time inventories and rapid re said Camilo Bossi in a phone in been purchased by individual conference printing of books means transforming all de terview. participants; another 5,000 were taken home partments of the prints hop - from prepress ''I'm really excited about the for sale to workers and youth at factories, to the bindery - and the attention books I got; I don't know which picket lines, demonstrations, working-class Pathfinder's editorial office pays to reprint one to read next," said Jennifer, communities, and college campuses around ing this revolutionary arsenal. who met the Young Socialists the world. All told, the sales totaled $36,971. At a workshop on selling Pathfinder and SWP at the Young Femi Among the biggest sellers were four new books and pamphlets in the trade unions, nist Summit in April. She titles published by Pathfinder and available socialist workers noted the increased oppor worked with others from for the first time at the conference. Pombo: tunities to get the revolutionary literature Morgantown, West Virginia, to A Man ofChe's guerrilla by Harry Villegas into the hands of their co-workers. take advantage of the specials to expand her helped get 12 youth organized to attend the tells the story of the 1966-68 revolutionary Shelia Ostrow, a steelworker from Pitts library. She purchased several titles on World Festival of Youth and Students to be campaign in Bolivia led by Ernesto Che burgh, kicked off the discussion by explain women's liberation, including Women and held in Cuba this summer. She plans on Guevara. Villegas, known by his nom de ing what socialists at LTV steel mill in Pitts the Cuban Revolution: Speeches and Docu making special offers on several titles for guerre, Pombo, was at the time a member burgh have done in solidarity with the ments by Fidel Castro, Vilma Espin, and the Festival participants. In addition, she of Guevara's general staff, a young Cuban Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel strike. She talked others. In addition she got New International plans to set up a literature table at the uni fighter still in his 20s and no. I 0, Teamster Rebellion by Farrell Dobbs, versity with special offers to introduce other already a veteran of a de To Speak the Truth: Why young people to Pathfinder books. cade of struggle around the Washington's 'Cold War' On the final day of the conference, repre world. against Cuba Doesn't End by sentatives of Pathfinder Bookstores from Fidel Castro and Che Gueva around the world met to pack up orders for Conference participants ra, Socialism and Man in Cuba their local bookstore. In addition, other ac purchased 769 copies of the by Guevara, The History of tivists who distribute Pathfinder, but live book and more than 900 American Trotskyism: Report where there is no Pathfinder bookstore were copies of a pamphlet - of a Participant by James P. invited to join in packing up boxes of super published simultaneously Cannon, and The Revolution saver books for future sales. Patrick Jay, a in both Spanish and En Betrayed: What Is the Soviet member of the Young Socialists from Spo glish - that contains recent Union and Where Is It Going? kane filled a box. His selection included a interviews with Villegas, by Leon Trotsky. wide variety of books and enough copies of today a brigadier general in Many conference partici Pombo: A Man of Che's Guerrilla for ev the Revolutionary Armed pants who have sizable librar ery member of the Spokane chapter. Forces of Cuba. ies took advantage of the sale Dozens of people also took advantage of Also available for the to replace titles they have a special sale of bound volumes of the so first time at the conference worn out through use over the cialist periodicals the Militant and was El rostro cambiante de years. Several commented that Perspectiva Mundial. More than 200 of the Ia polftica en Estados they were especially glad to yearly volumes were sold, going back to the Unidos: La polftica obrera get the more durable hard back 1970s. In many cases, these volumes will y los sindicatos, the Span books at such prices. be placed in libraries organized by mem ish-language edition ofThe Leslie Dork from Albu bers of the Young Socialists and Socialist Changing Face of U.S. querque, New Mexico, took Workers Party for collective use in study Politics: Working-Class back three boxes of titles. ing struggles of the last few decades. Politics and the Trade mmmunnn Sarge Book sales at June 2llabor rally to support Detroit newspaper workers Dork is active in defense of the The exhibit center also featured other dis Union by Jack Barnes. This Cuban revolution and was es- plays including a table staffed by the Move book, more than any other, pecially interested in titles that ment of Landless Rural Workers (MST) of about building up solidarity in her plant for is a guide to a new generation of workers would be useful for others involved in this the strike, getting other unionists to the Brazil and an information table staffed by and youth-from Argentina and Albania to activity. The coalition she is a part of has the Young Socialists. the United States and New Zealand-who picket lines, and doing a plantgate collec are looking for a road forward, out of the tion for the strikers at her plant, which along wars, racism, and economic depression cre with selling communist propaganda is part ated by capitalism today. of doing politics on the job. Tobacco bosses offer 'historic' deal At a rally the second day of the conven Sarah Katz, a member of the Oil, Chemi tion, Martin Koppel explained how eagerly cal and Atomic Workers and of the Young BY MAURICE WILLIAMS limiting awards against tobacco companies youngfogoneros (bonfire starters), leading Socialists from St. Paul, Minnesota, talked In what they tout as a "historic settle for the health impact of smoking to $5 bil the fight against government austerity mea about selling the Militant, Perspectiva ment," representatives of the U.S. tobacco lion a year. Current and future class action sures in Argentina, had reached for the book. Mundial, and Pathfinder books at factory industry, attorneys general of 40 states, and lawsuits against them would be barred. Suits Koppel had taken the first 24 copies off the gates. "We've made plant gate sales part of plaintiffs' lawyers announced June 30 that filed by 40 states seeking repayment for presses on a reporting trip to the southern a weekly rhythm. Communicating with so the cigarette bosses would pay $368.5 bil Medicaid costs incurred by smokers would cone country the week before the confer cialists inside the plant is important. We lion over 25 years in an agreement that halt. The tobacco barons are mandated to ence opened. Some 120 copies were sold at were able to change single issues sales into would limit lawsuits and curb tobacco mar pay $50 billion up front in exchange for a the conference. The French edition of the subscriptions, and introduce those interested keting and advertising. prohibition on future punitive damages. book will be available later this year. in communist politics to socialists in the While the tobacco companies profess to Supposedly some of this money would be Giant reproductions of the covers of the plant," Katz explained. be making a concession, they will save large used to pay for health coverage for children. Villegas book and the French and Spanish "But we're not just book vendors," AI chunks of the estimated $600 million a year The deal says cigarette companies will editions ofThe Changing Face of U.S. Poli Duncan, a railworker from New York ex currently paid out in litigation costs, as well have to spend $500 million on anti-smok tics hung behind the stage at the convention plained. "We have the perspective of recruit as cut advertising costs. Diana Temple, an ing campaigns, with goals of reducing the sessions and major conference events. ing our co-workers to communist politics analyst of Salomon Brothers, told the Fi number of teenage smokers by 30 percent and the party." nancial Times of London she expects to in five years, 50 percent in seven years, and A pipeline of communist literature bacco share prices to leap by 20 percent if 60 percent in I 0 years. The industry would The book sale at the socialist conference Young socialists build Marxist libraries the accord is approved by Congress. be required to pay up to $2 billion per year was part of a more than year-long effort by Young Socialists at the conference were Most of the money the tobacco compa if the targets are not met. socialist workers to place the production and among the most enthusiastic participants in nies would have to pay- $10 billion ini The Food and Drug Administration distribution of communist books and pam the book sale. The four YS members who tially, $8.5 billion yearly for five years and (FDA) will be given the power to regulate phlets at the center of their efforts to build attended from Sweden bought more than increased to $15 billion a year afterwards nicotine as a drug, and to ban the substance proletarian parties capable of leading the I 00 books, including a lot of titles on Cuba would be tax-deductible. Tobacco execu after 2009, under the agreement. The FDA fight for socialism. The giant sale at the con and a set of the Marxist magazine New In tives plan to hike cigarette prices by 50 cents recently won a court decision strengthen ference was a culmination of a supersale by ternational. The Young Socialists in Swe to $1 a pack to offset the cost of the deal. ing its jurisdiction over nicotine. The ac Pathfinder Press during which a total of den are now launching a class series based Meanwhile. if sales of cigarettes drop cord also bans cigarette sales from vending some 45,000 books were sold- Marxist on some of these books. "This Sunday we're below 1996 levels, companies would re machines. Human and cartoon figures, in classics, speeches of revolutionary leaders, starting classes on the speeches of Fidel Cas ceive a rebate on their annual settlement cluding Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man, books on the history of the SWP and class tro, starting with In Defense of Socialism," payments. Other aspects of the pact include would be eliminated from advertisements. July 14, 1997 The Militant 5 Young people protest U.S. gov't denial of licenses for travel to world youth festival BY JACK WILLEY as well. case is known where someone has been Hills College near Los Angeles, said the NEW YORK -At its June 22 national The U.S. Organizing Committee, the Na fined that amount or sent to jail so far. In Treasury Department denial was unconsti meeting, the U.S. Organizing Committee for tional Preparatory Committee, and the last two years, the Clinton administra tutional. "They are trying to intimidate the 14th World Festival of Youth and Stu Venceremos Brigade have agreed to mount tion has tightened the restrictions, banned young people from going to Cuba to talk dents launched a protest campaign against a unified protest campaign. So far, several direct flights from Miami to Havana, and about Chicano liberation and other freedom the U.S. Department of Treasury's denial congresspeople have called the Treasury has made it easier to impose administrative struggles with young people from around of licenses for young people planning to Department or issued protest letters. They fines on people the government claims vio the world. But they will not succeed." participate in the gathering. include Reps. Ron Dellums, Jesse Jackson lated its regulations. In addition to launching a protest cam The international conference will take Jr., and Nydia Velazquez. Over the past 18 months, Washington has paign, representatives from local organiz place in Cuba July 28 -August 5. More Activists plan to reach out to other elected levied fines of $1 ,500 - $4,000 on several ing committees in Boston and Los Angeles than 5,000 delegates from 112 countries are officials, academics, civil libertarians, trade dozen people for such alleged infractions, reported that several people in their areas expected to participate. Topics of discus unionists, religious figures, and student and Guild told the June 22 meeting participants. plan to go as journalists. A number of youth sion include anti-imperialist and antiracist other groups and ask them to join in demand In addition, hundreds of people have re going to the festival are regular contribu struggles, women's liberation, protection of ing the government grant the licenses. ceived threatening letters from the Depart tors to campus newspapers or other media the environment, and how to stand up to In early April, Bob Guild of Marazul ment of the Treasury upon their return from and will go on the trip on editorial assign rising fascist movements. Tours submitted the first applications for li Cuba, Guild said, among the estimated ment, which does not require a license. As of June 19, more than 900 people had censes to travel to the conference in Cuba 70,000 who have traveled to the island with Meeting participants concluded the best applied to go from the United States. They on behalf of young people who requested it. out a license since early 1996. way to minimize possible government ha include 435 with the U.S. Organizing Com Nearly two months later, Washington denied Meeting participants from Boston, Chi rassment is to carry out the largest and mittee and 135 with the Venceremos Bri the request. In a letter dated May 30, Stephen cago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, broadest protest campaign possible. gade. The brigade will travel to Cuba a week Pinter, the Chief of Licensing at the Office New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and There was also quite a bit of discussion before the festival for other activities and of Foreign Assets Control of the Department other cities are setting up local festival com on fund-raising over the next several weeks then join the youth gathering. In addition, of the Treasury, turned down granting li mittee meetings and encouraging groups in to maximize the number of people who can the National Preparatory Committee, which censes to the first 50 applicants, stating "the other cities to do the same to discuss the go to the festival. The U.S. Organizing Com was initiated by the Young Communist statements submitted by the individual ap denial of licenses and organize the protest mittee extended the deadline for the full League and the Communist Party, has plicants reflect optional self-directed activi campaign. Ray Harris, from the Chicano $600 payment to July 3. Local committees signed up 311 people. ties which do not fall within the scope of rights group MEChA at the Dominguez are also fund-raising to augment the costs About 60 people are planning to go to clearly defined educational activities." of plane tickets from their cities to Cancun, Havana with the U.S.-Cuba Labor Exchange Guild subsequently appealed the decision, Mexico or Nassau, Bahamas, the two meet to attend the International Workers Confer pointing out that government regulations on ing points for U.S. participants. ence Confronting Neoliberalism and the travel to Cuba state U.S. residents will be Global Economy. The trade union meeting, licensed if they show an established interest sponsored by the Central Organization of in participating in an international confer Farm workers win a Cuban Workers, will take place August 6- ence in Cuba "organized by an international 8, immediately after the festival. A good institution or association that regularly spon victory in California number of those traveling with the Labor sors meetings or conferences in other coun Exchange plan to participate in the festival tries." The World Federation of Democratic BY OMARI MUSA Youth (WFDY), one of the initiators of the WATSONVILLE, California-The festival, has sponsored 13 previous such fes United Farm Workers (UFW) union scored tivals in other countries. a victory in its year-long effort to organize Where to write to As part of its 37-year-old economic war the state's 20,000 strawberry field workers protest denial of against the Cuban people, Washington has when Gargiulo Inc.'s new owners agreed imposed severe restrictions on travel to June 17 to stay neutral in the drive. Straw travel licenses Cuba. The Trading with the Enemy Act does berry production is a $600 million industry Protest letters can be sent to: not allow U.S. residents to spend money in in California. Steven Pinter, Chief of Licensing, Cuba except under a few restricted catego Gargiulo, (now renamed Coastal Berry Office of Foreign Assets Control, ries such as full-time journalists, in effect, Company), is one of the nations largest U.S. Department of the Treasury, imposing a travel ban. According to the law, strawberry employers in the Pajaro Valley 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, the government can seek prison sentences and had vehemently opposed the UFW's 2nd ANX, Washington, DC 20220. of up to 10 years and fines up to $50,000 efforts to unionize the workers there. Tel: (202) 622-2480. against people it accuses of violating its re Gargiulo's former owner was chemical gi strictions. According to Guild, not a single ant Monsanto. At peak season about 1,500 workers were employed in its fields. UFW president Arturo Rodriguez told the media the agreement means that "Strawberry YS fund drive needs a final push workers at Gargiulo are now free to orga nize for a union of their choice, without fear BY VERONICA POSES Berg reports that the event, held at the working with the local branch of the SWP of intimidation." Pathfinder bookstore in Newark, was a suc to make this event a success. In Chicago, Gargiulo's offices here has been the site "The money raised through this fund cess, raising about $150 toward the chapter's of protests organized by UFW supporters drive will help sustain activities of the YS, the YS chapter is wrapping up the fund drive goal of $600 for the fund drive. The YS against the company's refusal to rehire ex it will enable us to reach out to political with a dinner held prior to a forum celebrat "Benefit Slam" included poetry, music and ing the reunification of Hong Kong with perienced workers who supported the union events happening in the United States and politics, with Brock Satter, a member of the China. ization drive. The largest action in support around the world, and maintain a national of the farmworkers fight was an April 13 office," said David Berg, organizer of the Newark chapter as master of ceremonies. As part of broader fundraising efforts, the Money was collected from a $3 door dona rally of 20,000 in Watsonville that drew Newark chapter of the Young Socialist at Young Socialists held a raffle at the educa tion and the sale of refreshments. In addi tional conference that took place alongside unionists and others from all over the west an event organized to raise money towards tion, several individuals also made contri coast and beyond. the YS national fund drive. the SWP convention in Oberlin, Ohio. Af butions. ter selling tickets for four days, the YS had Intimidation, firings and refusal to rehire Young people involved in the fight to raised $1,870 out of the goal of $2,000. union supporters has been the stock in trade build support for strawberry farm workers When this figure was announced, prior to of the growers for many years. Between YOUNG SOCIALISTS in California who are trying to organize a the drawing, the approximately 200 partici 1989 and 1995 the UFW won three repre NATIONAL FUND DRIVE union sent greetings to the event and ex pants began to chant "Buy more tickets! Buy sentation elections. The response of the May 15 - June 30 pressed interest in attending other events or more tickets!" and people surrounded the growers was to plow under the berries and ganized by the Young Socialists. This fund table set up by the YS with the raffle prizes lay off the workers. The UFW has filed CITY GOAL SENT IN % raiser, combined with the pledges by chap to purchase tickets. After about 10 minutes, many charges with the state's Agricultural LOS ANGELES SIOO s162 62% ter members, puts the Newark chapter within the Young Socialists had raised more than Labor Relations board against the growers' striking distance of making their goal. amount needed for a total of $2,060. refusal to recognize the union or allow free NEW YORK S400 S232 58% In Los Angeles, YS members went over Some ofthe prizes included T-shirts, but access to the work force in the fields. their projected goal of $100 by organizing a tons, a set of the collected works of Russian Supporters of the growers have made it DES MOINES S400 s166 42% dinner and the showing of a movie on the revolution leader V.I. Lenin, and bound vol clear that the agreement between the UFW Spanish revolution. Walter Lopez from the umes of the socialist magazine Interconti and Coastal doesn't mean everybody will CHICAGO ssoo S199 40% Los Angeles chapter reports that an interna nental Press. Grand prizes included 8-foot join in. Naturipe Berry Growers vice presi HOUSTON S600 SIJS 19% tional dinner was organized beforehand, with book covers used to display new titles from dent Nick Pasculli noted, "The entire agri a brief discussion on the theme of the movie. Pathfinder Press such as "Pombo: A Man of cultural industry is paying close attention NEWARK S600 SilO 18% Participants continued their discussion af Che's guerrilla" and banners representing to developments at Coastal. But anyone who ter the showing of the video. different struggles around the world: from speculates as to whether what happens is the ATLANTA S200 so 0% With a week to go on the drive, YS chap fighting peasants in Brazil to thefogoneros start of an industry trend is acting impru dently." Workers at the Naturipe facility are BIRMINGHAM S75 so 0% ters around the country have planned sev in Argentina, to a banner celebrating eral fundraising activities in order to meet Geronimo Pratt's release from prison after organized by the Teamsters union. MIAMI s100 so 0% the goals set locally toward the national fund 25 five years. The last item to be raffled off Several workers said that while they think drive. In Miami, YS members organized a was a banner that read "Hong Kong is the agreement is a step forward, the union's MORGANTOWN 5300 so 0% dinner and party June 21 and took advan China, 15 days left- Enter the Dragon, work is just really beginning. One worker tage of the tour by Movement of the Land Exit the Bulldog," referring to the July 1 said, "I told my friends and coworkers we SAN FRANCISCO SIOO so 0% less Rural Workers leader Jose Brito to build transfer of Chinese sovereignty over Hong need to sign up workers and win them to the union. That's still ahead of us. We will TWIN CITIES S400 so 0% the event among those who participated in Kong from British imperialism. the meetings held to spread the truth about Chapters of the Young Socialists have one win, but it will be a battle." WASHINGTON DC S400 so 0% the fight of the landless peasants in Brazil. week to organize fundraising events and The UFW filed a Notice to Organize with In Atlanta, YS members are part of orga collect pledges by members and supporters the National Labor Relations Board June 2 Other S20 nizing a reportback from the Socialist Work before the end of the fund drive, scheduled to begin signing up workers at Gargiulo. ers Party convention held in Oberlin, Ohio, to end June 30. Contributions towards the According to Rodriguez, elections for union June 11 - 14. The event will include a din national fund drive can be sent to the Young representation could be held in September ner and raffle and YS members there are Socialists at the above address. or October. 6 The Militant July 14, 1997 EU meeting shows Hundreds protest cop killing in New Jersey interim perialist conflicts, tensions BY CARL-ERIK ISACSSON a budget deficit of no more than 3 percent STOCKHOLM, Sweden- The June this year. Speaking in a radio interview 16-17 European Union (EU) summit in France's European affairs minister Pierre Amsterdam highlighted the competing in Moscovici declared, "We need to see what terests and divisions among the imperialist the situation of our public finances is and governments in Europe over plans for a it's in regards to that public-finances situa European Monetary Union (EMU) and the tion that we will decide, or not, to partici structuring of the EU. pate in the euro." The heads of state gathered at the sum French officials quickly disavowed mit failed to reach an agreement on EU vot Moscovici, saying his statement reflects ing procedures that was supposed to pave "neither a political will nor a strategy" by the way for the enlargement of the EU into the French government. At a press confer Eastern and Central Europe. Paris, Bonn, ence with President Jacques Chirac, Jospin and other large powers want greater voting reaffirmed Paris's "profound attachment to power in the EU, especially as more states achieving the common currency on the join. German chancellor Helmut Kohl agreed date"- though he didn't mention A protester condemns Newark, New Jersey, cops for the June 7 fatal shooting of blocked an expected change in the treaty to meeting the required criteria. Returning to young Black woman, Danette Daniels. Hundreds of angry protesters marched have more majority votes, arguing that the Paris, Jospin decided to delay any major on City Hall June 9 chanting, "No Justice, No Peace!" and "Arrest Leaks!" Pro state governments in Germany could not budgetary decisions until autumn. tests were organized every Monday for three weeks. Robert Leaks, the police accept it. The summit put off any restruc Bonn is not in a strong position to insist officer who shot Daniels, was suspended without pay and is under investigation. turing of the EU voting until after a deci that the EMU criteria be strictly met, espe sion is made to admit several new members. cially after Kohl and Finance Minister At least ten governments have applied for Theodor Waigel recently attempted to juggle to wait until the convergence criteria is ful rivals who are not able to meet the criteria membership in the Union, ranging from their books by revaluing Germany's gold filled, according to Svenska Daghladet. for the monetary union. A June 4 article in Estonia in the north to Cyprus in the south. reserves to meet the 3 percent deficit target. The social democratic government in Svenska Daghladet described Britain, Nor For London. Stockholm, Helsinki, and A recent report by the Organization for Eco Sweden decided June 3 that Stockholm will way, Sweden, and Switzerland as a dollar Washington, this enlargement of the Union nomic Cooperation and Development stated not participate in EMU in the first round, pound area. These countries earlier consti is a high-priority question that intersects that Bonn, Paris, and Rome may all fail to set for Jan. I, 1999, although Stockholm will tuted the European Free Trade Association with the expansion of NATO toward the meet the criteria for 1997. meet the main criteria in 1997. Copenhagen (EFTA), a trade bloc that in the 1960s was borders of the Russian workers state. As it While press coverage in Britain, also meets the criteria but has negotiated an led by London with a special relationship became obvious that none of the Baltic Scandinavia, and the United States centered exemption from EMU. London will not join to Washington. EFTA has since disinte states will become members of NATO in largely on the failure to reform the EU treaty EMU in the first round either, and Blair has grated and regrouped in and around the the first round, the governments of Sweden on power-sharing, the German media stated that the convergence criteria should European Union. and Finland began pushing the EU to take mostly worried over a soft euro. With elec be strictly met by those who join EMU. He The article inSvenska Daghladetstressed in at least Estonia, the Baltic state they say tions coming up next year in Germany, the is trying to take the lead in Europe to de that the pound, the Swiss franc, and the Nor has come the furthest on the road to meet question of the strength of the currency has mand "labor flexibility'' as a road toward wegian krona all have surged on a higher European Union standards. already become a central issue. Gerhard capitalist prosperity. dollar, and raised the hope that the Swedish Both Stockholm and Helsinki advocate SchrOder, the most likely social democratic London and Stockholm are trying to krona will follow suit. Much of the trade taking a further step by having the Euro candidate for chancellor, said the EMU has make a strong showing in relation to their from these countries is in dollars or pounds. pean Union guarantee the military defense of Baltic states that are members of the EU if threatened by Moscow. They propose that the military decisions be made by the EU Jujuy workers fight for jobs, battle cops and carried out by the Western European Union (WEU), the military organization Continued from Page 16 and firing rubber bullets. walked out of classes and held sit-ins. composed of the NATO members in Europe. disappeared. He was taken away from our "The people in the San Lorenzo and San The committee of piqueteros rejected the Swedish and Finnish troops could partici home in a company truck." Francisco neighborhoods fought back. Some government's initial offer of several hun pate under the WEU's command, they say, The popular rebellion that exploded in 200 youth stood at the front and threw rocks dred temporary jobs and miserly unemploy although Stockholm and Helsinki remain April in the depressed oil town of Cutrai with their slingshots. The honderos [sling ment benefits. The government finally outside NATO. This course has been backed C6, in Neuquen province, was the detona shot shooters] and the rest of us pushed back pledged to create 12,000 jobs. by Washington and by the new British prime tor of the revolts in Jujuy and other cities the cops." The roadblocks went down and thousands minister, Anthony Blair. throughout Argentina. Several piqueteros proudly showed Mili of workers in Jujuy province began to line A different proposal by Paris to merge "When we saw the methods thefogoneros tant reporters a police water tank they had up to register for the promised jobs. The the WEU with the EU was blocked by Lon [bonfire starters] used in Cutral-C6, that's captured and burned. piqueteros demand concrete proposals to don, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Vienna at the when we decided to block Highway 34," Dozens of demonstrators were arrested, build factories, schools, clinics, and other Amsterdam summit. The Swedish paper said Ramon Sarmiento, 29, a piquetero in and 120 people were injured. One man lost projects that will create jobs. "Many of the Svenska Daghladet reported that the final Libertador who does odd jobs. "The deci an eye during the cop assault. Marquez de 12,000 jobs will be temporary. The solution pact referred to the "possible integration of sion was made at a meeting of unemployed Aredez noted that the police carted off dem must be permanent jobs," said Sarmiento. the WEU, if the European Council so de workers and the first roadblock went up here onstrators using Ledesma company trucks. [At a June 22 rally the piqueteros in cides." The European Council makes its May 19. Our main demands were 5,000 jobs "That evening the government gave the Libertador decided to put up roadblocks decisions by unanimous vote. in this area and unemployment benefits." order to withdraw the border police. We won again as long as the government did not ful Juan Segovia, 37, a self-employed welder the battle, although we haven't yet won the fill the agreement, particularly the elimina Debate over EMU criteria and one of the piqueteros' three elected del war," commented Segovia. tion of the coupons and rapid implementa Another point of debate was the "stabil egates, was one of the first to join the barri On May 25, a national holiday com tion of the jobs program.] ity pact" negotiated last year in Dublin, cades. "When I heard the gendarmerfa [na memorating Argentina's independence, the Many of the young piqueteros com which sets limits on inflation and budget tional border police] had been sent in to re townspeople boycotted the official cer mented on the changes in attitudes reflected deficits that EU members are supposed to press the sugar workers, I went straight emony, which was attended only by the de in the recent revolt. "For me it began with meet in order to enter the monetary union. home, changed clothes, and came here." spised mayor and his entourage. Instead, the Santiagazo," said Antonio, 23, who like When the newly elected French government Why? "Because as individuals we can never 20,000 people joined a holiday celebration many did not want to give his last name to asked on June I 0 for a "time-out" to think get jobs. Once we came together, the gov called by the protesting workers right on the avoid victimization by the police. over the pact, which was to be signed in ernment had to sit down and talk to us blocked highway. "It was a real popular fes The Santiagazo was the December 1993 Amsterdam, the focus of the summit they had never done that before." tival," Segovia remarked. A group of young uprising in Santiago del Estero, where thou changed from the reform of the treaty to how On May 20, "at 12:30 p.m., the police piqueteros led off the parade carrying their sands of unpaid state employees and unem to negotiate the monetary union back on came," Sarmiento recounted. "A group of bloodstained "war flag." ployed workers occupied and burned down track. 20 women placed themselves at the front of The government entered negotiations several government buildings. French prime minister Lionel Jospin said the piqueteros. We carried a big Argentine with a committee of unemployed workers Mariano, 28, a teacher and piquetero on he needed promises of jobs from the Euro flag and sang the national anthem, thinking that included three elected delegates from Highway 9, explained that for years since pean Union before signing the stability pact. the police would stop out of respect for the each of 17 picket sites. Within days the road the military regime, there had been an at During his election campaign, the Socialist anthem. But instead, they threw tear gas blocks had spread to other towns: San Pedro, mosphere of fear among workers. "In Jujuy Party leader had pledged to renegotiate the grenades and sprayed us with water cannon. Palpala, La Mendieta, Abra Pampa, Alto the most combative unions -the sugar stability pact. The police even stepped on the flag, which Comedero, Carmen, Tilcara, Rfo Blanco, workers, miners, teachers -were hit hard This didn't go over well with Bonn. In was left stained with the blood of the dem Humahuaca, and La Quiaca on the Boliv by repression. The most combative leaders Dublin, the German government already onstrators they clubbed." ian border. were disappeared and now these unions are had to back off some of its conditions for The protesters ranged from laid-off steel weak and bureaucratic. After all this, the the shaping of a strong euro - as the EMU Running battle with cops workers from the Zapla blast furnaces to Santiagazo showed it was possible to fight." currency is called - such as demanding At that point, Sarmiento reported, "the youth who have never had a job. They Some of the youth have drawn inspira heavy fines on the governments that do not whole town joined in." A running battle pressed an array of demands, such as higher tion from struggles abroad. Cufiado said he meet the EMU fiscal criteria. The French ensued for three days. Union officials in the unemployment benefits, housing, health and two friends had spent a month in Brazil proposal would lead to a further weakening city of Jujuy condemned the police brutal care for poor families, cafeterias in the el last January visiting camps organized by the of the euro, relative to the dollar and yen. ity but advised the workers to clear the road. ementary and high schools, and payment in Movement of Rural Landless Workers In the end, Jospin accepted what the Fi Large groups of youth, however, ignored pesos instead of the hated "coupons" that (MST), which has taken over idle lands in a nancial Times of London described as a "fig that advice and fiercely battled the cops. are used to pay state employees. The cou fight for agrarian reform and social rights. leaf'- a toothless pledge to promote em "The worst repression came down on pons are worth Jess than pesos and cannot 'The MST movement- they know how ployment and economic growth- in ex Thursday, May 22," Sarmiento continued. be used outside the province. to fight. We need something like that here," change for the stability pact. "Some I ,200 cops in riot gear occupied the Meanwhile, the state employees unions Cufiado said. "None of the political parties But French government officials have highway and confronted a crowd of 3,000. in the province called a one-day solidarity here have any solutions to the deep prob made it plain they don't consider themselves The police chased people through the strike and several marches in solidarity with lems in our society. And we need far-reach bound by its criteria, which include having nearby neighborhoods, throwing tear gas the piqueteros. High school students in Jujuy ing solutions." July 14, 1997 The Militant 7 SWP discusses openings for revolutionists Working people say 'no' to capitalist rulers' demands for sacrifice

Continued from front page ing of a Renault auto plant in Belgium. The alist countries, the election results are an within the ruling classes in Britain, France, failed either to restore the domination of last few years, workers in France have re important indication of the working-class Germany, and other imperialist powers are capitalism anywhere in Eastern Europe or peatedly rallied in the streets, including a resistance that is welling up across Europe never between nationalists and the Soviet Union or to break the working wave of strikes and protests against govern and North America. The June parliamentary "Europeanists," as is generally portrayed, class and its unions in the capitalist world. ment austerity plans at the end of 1995. vote in Canada, where the union-based New Barnes noted. None of them want a com In response, delegates reaffirmed the Unemployment in France today exceeds Democratic Party more than doubled its mon currency that would replace the French course of building a revolutionary workers 12 percent. In his first policy speech to the seats and the right-wing Reform Party also franc or the German mark or the British party more deeply rooted in the industrial pound in a unified, border-free Europe. Each unions, one capable of convincing greater bourgeoisie has as its starting point the de numbers of young workers and other rebels sire to gain the best position for its own na to join the communist movement and be tional capital, denominated in its own na come more effective fighters as a result. tional currency, and defended by its own na The convention is the party's highest de tional army against its competitors. To ad cision-making body, held at least every two vance these aims, they form various shift years. Fifty-five voting delegates were ing blocs against their rivals in Washington elected by party branches across the United and Tokyo, and against each other. They States, following three months of written fetishize economic institutions like the EU and oral discussion on proposed resolutions to draw the working class into defending and platforms. Participating in the conven "national interests," in reality, the interests tion deliberations as fraternal delegates were of the home bourgeoisie. And each ruling members of the outgoing National Commit class is using the criteria for the monetary tee, a representative chosen by the Young union as a pretext to demand much deeper Socialists, and representatives of sister com sacrifices from working people. munist leagues in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, No to imperialist blocs! and supporters in Iceland. Both Barnes and Argiris One sign of the weakening of imperial Malapanis, who presented a ism that delegates and guests celebrated report on "Europe, NATO, throughout the convention was the July 1 and U.S. imperialism," return of Hong Kong -a British colony for stressed that communists more than 150 years - to Chinese sover have an obligation to oppose eignty. Participants from the United King Militant/Dave Wulp entry into and demand with dom painted a banner that was hung in the Delegates discussed how imperialist war drawal not only from all im convention hall the second day of the gath drive against workers states in Eastern perialist military alliances, ering, declaring, "Hong Kong is China." It Europe and Russia comes out of weakness such NATO, but also eco pictured a Chinese dragon chasing away a of imperialism, which has failed to get work nomic and trade blocs such cowering bulldog, a symbol of British im ers there or in the capitalist countries to as the European Union. A perialism, and counted down the days to the accept sacrifice. At right, Albanian rebels delegate from Britain argued end of colonial rule. with army tank they seized in March. that communists should not Above, SWP national secretary Jack Barnes campaign for withdrawal Workers say 'no' to more sacrifice gives summary remarks at end of conven from the EU by the govern SWP national secretary Jack Barnes tion. On stage are members of newly elected ments in their countries, opened the convention with a welcome and National Committee. Banner on top left since most capitalist politi world political report to the delegates and reads Mariciweu! (we will win a thousand cians and petty-bourgeois guests. He also presented a summary the fold) - a cry by rebellious workers in Ar socialists who campaign final night of the convention. The results of gentina in language of Mapuche Indians. around this today do so from the recent elections in France and the United a nationalist "Britain first" or Kingdom, Barnes said, show the rulers have "France first" perspective. been unable to convince working people to French parliament, the new prime minister This question had been accept the bosses' demands for greater sac Lionel Jospin said the 700,000 jobs he made gains, was part of this phenomena, as posed in a May 8 statement issued by the rifice today, supposedly for the common pledged in his election campaign could not were the recent elections in Iran to a degree. Communist League in Sweden that took a good tomorrow. In both countries, the con be created soon, the promised lowering of The fissures and competition among the position of abstaining on a proposed refer servative parties were voted out of office, the workweek from 39 to 35 hours would various capitalist powers are also clearly endum for Swedish withdrawal from the ushering in social democratic-led regimes. not take place for five years, and announced visible in the conflict within the European European Union. The statement, which the When the government says, "If you don't a mere 4 percent raise in the minimum wage. Union over the "euro," the proposed com Militant ran as an editorial in its May 26 tighten your belt the national currency will Two political forces recognize the signifi mon currency. As the SWP convention was issue, pointed out that those campaigning go down the drain," workers in growing cance of these events, Barnes said, commu meeting, top officials of the capitalist pow both for and against Swedish participation numbers respond, "So what- that's your nists and the ultrarightists such as Jean ers in Western Europe were headed to in the EU and European Monetary Union problem not ours." Marie Le Pen in France and Patrick Amsterdam for a conference where they (EMU) did so from the standpoint of ad Workers in France, where the conserva Buchanan in the United States. The SWP were supposed to negotiate the next steps vancing the "national interest." tive president miscalculated and called snap leader noted Buchanan's commentary on the toward European monetary union and Socialist workers do need to explain there elections, have made clear they will con French elections, which the rightist politi greater coordination of immigration and is nothing progressive in campaigns against tinue to press their demands under the new cian celebrated as "part of the baptismal foreign policies (see article on page 7). They the EMU centered on how best to protect Socialist Party-Communist Party govern ritual of a more coherent French party of could reach no substantial agreement, how "British," "Swedish," or "French" jobs, con ment. The day before the convention the right," instead of the weak leadership of ever, and the prospect of a strong, stable vention delegates concluded. At the same opened, 70,000 people marched in Paris French president Jacques Chirac. European currency that can challenge the time, revolutionaries must take a clear po demanding jobs and a shorter workweek While there are not yet large-scale battles U.S. dollar seems further away than ever. sition rejecting all imperialist trade and eco with no cut in pay, and protesting the clos- in the labor movement in any of the imperi- The debates over the European Union nomic pacts. In fact, doing so is among the most important political preparations revo lutionary-minded workers can organize to day to counter the rulers' attempts to soften 'There's nothing better to do with your life' up the working class for war by getting workers to think in terms of "we" the na BY JONATHAN CORAL rums," Lupercio said. "I think this is a party more. I went to the Young Feminist Sum tion- "our currency," "our industry," and AND ANGEL LARISCY that doesn't have borders or languages." mit in Washington D.C.; it was my first ac "our exports,"- instead of"we" the work OBERLIN, Ohio- Forty-four of the Lupercio decided to join the Young So tivity like that. Now I'm going to read the ers versus "they" the employers, two classes people who came here for the Socialist cialists at the conference. "I am going to Communist Manifesto. I bought that and with diametrically opposed interests. Workers Party convention were attending return to work to explain what I have learned Cuba for Beginners. I'm interested in learn Malapanis said that class-conscious their first socialist convention or conference. here and show other workers Pathfinder ing more about Che, Fidel, and Marx. I think workers in the United States take a similar Here's what just a few of them toldMilitant books," he remarked. that's a good start." stance of opposing the North American Free reporters about why they came and what Heather Wood, 24, met members of the As a member of the Young Socialists in Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which is aimed they got out of the event. Young Socialists and Socialist Workers Spokane, Washington, Alaric Dirmeyer has at consolidating U.S. dominance over its Jaime Lupercio, 19, of Detroit is a mem Party in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minne regularly set up tables to sell the Militant weaker imperialist rival in Canada and in ber of the United Food and Commercial sota, through work they had been doing to newspaper and Pathfinder books, as well as tensifying the exploitation of Mexican la Workers union. He first met socialist work gether on building a delegation to the 14th helped organize regular Militant Labor Fo bor and resources by U.S. capital. At the ers at the meatpacking plant were he works. World Festival of Students and Youth, which rums. Attending the convention and confer same time, socialists explain why the chau He explained that one day at work a super will be taking place in Havana, Cuba this ence helped him to get a better understand vinist campaigns against NAFTA waged in visor was attempting to punish a worker who summer. She especially liked the opening ing of the fact that U.S. imperialism's ef the United States and Canada by the trade was unable to do a job properly since the report by SWP national secretary Jack forts to expand NATO are in fact war moves union officialdom, a minority of business instructions were only in English and the Barnes. She explained, "These are all things against the Russian workers state. Dirmeyer interests, and capitalist politicians of both worker only read Spanish. I had been thinking about. I had been look said "I liked listening to the discussion on liberal and ultrarightist stripes damage in Lupercio recalls that a woman co-worker ing for someone to say them." When asked the political resolution. It was a real honest ternational working-class solidarity and the was standing up for this worker's rights. He if she had thought about joining the Young appraisal of some successes, as well as big labor movement. says he wanted to get to know her right Socialists, she responded, "That's what I challenges ahead. But there was no falsifi Increasing trade wars and currency wars away, since he admired what she had done. came here for. I'm not a member yet, but I cation or blaming each other." Dirmeyer, 19, among rival capitalist powers lay the basis The worker, Rosa Garmendia, began talk want to join." recently decided to move to Seattle to join for full-scale shooting wars, Barnes said. ing to him about the fight for solidarity on Emily Jewson, a 23 year-old student at the Socialist Workers Party. "I want to be Workers at home and abroad are the victims the job and socialist politics. "I went to the West Virginia University, said she had just involved in decision making and the every every step along the way, and have a stake Pathfinder bookstore to look at the books attended the class on the origins of women's day life of the SWP," he said, "I think there in joining together across borders to orga and began attending Militant Labor Fo- oppression. "I've been encouraged to read is nothing better to do with your life." nize unions to defend their interests and to

8 The Militant July 14, 1997 forge revolutionary organizations to com ing the first sustained bomb bat capitalist rule. ing raids over Europe since Malapanis, who led a Militant reporting World War II, and repeatedly trip to Albania and Yugoslavia earlier this humbling its imperialist ri year, took up the problems imperialism faces vals, the White House dictated in attempting to restore capitalist property a set of accords at the Militant/Walter LOpez relations in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. At right, Geronimo Pratt other workers states. He described the daily These accords spelled out the partition of walks out of jail June 10 af protests in Serbia from late 1996 to early Bosnia and its occupation by 60,000 NATO ter more than 25 years in 1997 that forced the Stalinist regime there troops, a third of them U.S. soldiers. prison, as cop frame-up to restore election results it had overturned, The Dayton accord was a "symbol of the against him crumbles. and won other demands. new level of U.S. hegemony in Europe," Above, convention partici Malapanis said. It coincided with the pants paint a banner cel Resistance to 'market reforms' Clinton administration's announcement in ebrating this victory. As the demonstrations in Serbia were still 1994 of the plan to expand NATO, bring and social turbulence that in unfolding, working people in Albania took ing imperialist forces closer to the border creasingly marks capitalist up arms against the openly procapitalist re of Russia. "Since its founding in 1949, society today. They are saying gime of Sali Berisha. "They were, and still NATO's purpose was to defeat the Soviet 'no' to imperialist preroga are, resisting the disastrous results of the Union," Malapanis noted. "Today that is still tives. They are standing up to 'shock therapy' prescribed by the wizards NATO's purpose." the employer class and its gov from Harvard, not only in Albania but But NATO, at the same time, has been ernment. They are not afraid of the cops with throughout Eastern Europe at the opening weakened by the deepening conflicts among their billy clubs, tear gas, and rubber bul David Corona, a member of the Oil, of this decade," Malapanis said. its members and between them and Mos lets." Chemical and Atomic Workers union, talked The working class and their conquests in cow. That is why Washington is reposition The working class in Latin America, in about workers' resistance to speedup and overturning capitalist rule in these countries ing its military forces on a stronger footing cluding the industrial working class, "has union busting in Cordoba, the main auto and aerospace manufacturing center in Argen is the target of the occupation of Yugosla vis-a-vis Russia, and is strengthening its shown its revolutionary potential before and tina. Ford, Chrysler, Fiat, Volkswagen, and via and Albania, and the expansion of place as the dominant "European power." will again," said Koppel, "especially in eco Renault all have factories there. NATO being pressed by Washington. The problem for Washington is that with nomically more advanced countries like Malapanis pointed to a June 5 speech by thousands of troops on the ground it has re Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico." Corona described marches and a recent highway blockade in front of the Fiat plant U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright mained unable to overturn noncapitalist For communist workers in North by unionists resisting company attempts to at Harvard's commencement. "Albright said property relations in Yugoslavia, or even America, he continued, "these developments impose wage cuts and firings of union mili that Washington is today trying to bring the stomp out the desire among layers of work are not a matter of solidarity - they are tants. Workers at this Fiat plant were at the entire world under 'an international system ing people and youth of various nationali portents of things to come here, too, and are heart oftheCordobazo,a 1969 uprising cen based on democracy and open markets' - ties to restore the Yugoslav federation. integrally tied to building a proletarian party in other words world capitalism." He quoted tered among industrial workers that coin Albright's remark, "We know not every na cided with a similar revolt in the Argentine tion is yet willing or able to play its full part city of Rosario. "This uprising is now a per in this system. One group is still in transi manent part of the living history of the work tion from centralized planning and totalitar ing-class movement in Argentina- many ian rule. Another has only begun to dip its workers in Cordoba told us about it with toes into economic and political reform." pride," Corona said. Albright's message is clear, Malapanis said, Fiat owners have recently hired about "Washington will use force to try to make 1,800 workers - many in their late teens that happen, through its military might." and early twenties- as part of a work force Washington's projected enlargement of of 3,500, Corona said. The employers hope NATO, he said, was prepared on the blood these younger workers will not only hold and bones of the toilers of Yugoslavia. In up better under brutally intensified produc the early 1990s, as rival European govern tion lines but will be less combative and ments fanned the flames of war between union conscious. "From what we saw, that competing layers of the Stalinist bureau is not what the bosses are going to get." cracy in Yugoslavia, the U.S. rulers put on a Many Fiat workers wanted to know the show of pious concern for the Bosnian Mus conditions industrial workers face in the lims. All the while, Washington actually United States, Corona noted. He described worked behind the scenes to make sure how a number of them grabbed copies of El enough weapons got in to keep the slaugh rostro cambiante. ter going, without resolution. The U.S. rul "Most of the unionists did not know our ers urged their French and British counter party," Corona said. "But one of them asked, 'Are you members of the SWP?' When we parts to intervene under the United Nations An increase in struggles by Latino and Chicano youth over immigration and other flag, while sabotaging every accord pro said yes, he explained how he had met SWP questions intersects with tights by farm workers and other labor battles. Above, youth leaders like Joseph Hansen during the work posed by powers in the European Union join April13 rally to support strawberry pickers in Watsonville, California. between 1992 and 1995. ing-class upsurge in Argentina 25 years ago. I realized then that our party has a real his Meanwhile, Washington built a military That's why NATO forces are less and less and an international communist movement." tory and continuity in the struggles in Ar ring in and around Yugoslavia - with hun likely to be withdrawn from Bosnia as That's why when communists went to gentina and other parts of the world." dreds of soldiers on the ground in planned next year. Argentina to provide firsthand coverage of The new developments in Argentina are Macedonia, agreements to deploy U.S. When Washington sent its troops into the social explosion they took with them a as important for revolutionists in Cuba as forces from Albania and Hungary, covert Yugoslavia, Malapanis said, socialist work suitcase full of copies of the newly released they are for us in the United States, Mary links with the regime in Croatia, and the U.S. ers in the United States "deepened work in El rostra cambiante de Ia politica en Estados Alice Waters said in her remarks. They are Sixth Fleet off the Yugoslav coast in the the trade unions," campaigning among fel U nidos, the Spanish-language edition of The a concrete example of how the conditions Adriatic. Finally, after letting the people of low workers and others to explain the im Changing Face of U.S. Politics: Working capitalism generates can propel millions to Yugoslavia bleed for three years, organiz- perialist war drive and why working people Class Politics and the Trade Unions by Jack ward emulating the Cuban road - the road should oppose it. Barnes, and other revolutionary literature. of socialist revolution. This was in sharp contrast to the big ma This book, Koppel said, "is an irreplaceable Waters spoke about the publication by jority of organizations on the "left," he political weapon for building a revolution A sampling of Pathfinder of Pombo: A Man ofChe's 'guer noted, who either bowed to imperialism and ary party in the United States. But it is also rilla' by Cuban brigadier general Harry backed the NATO intervention or apolo what working-class fighters need in Argen Marxist classes Villegas (see ad on page 10). The book tells Below is a listing of some of the 17 gized for the Stalinist regime of Slobodan tina and other countries to chart a course that Milosevic in Belgrade. Since 1993, sales of the story of the 1966-68 guerrilla campaign classes held as part of conference ac can lead workers and farmers to power." Continued on Page 12 tivities surrounding SWP convention: the Pathfinder book The Truth about Yugo slavia: Why Working People Should Oppose • EbQnics, the 'culture War,' and van Intervention total some 6,700 copies, here guard role ofthe Black nationality in the ported. SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY soeialist revolution in the United States NATIONAL COMMITTEE • The Communist Manifesto: found- Argentina and the Cuban revolution Elected June 14, 1997 ing declaration of scientific socialism The second evening of the convention • The orientation to basic industry and was turned over to a special program, "The Alternate members transformation of the unions Growing Explosion in Argentina, the Cu Regular members • The place of Chicano liberation in ban Revolution, and the Changing Face of Jack Barnes Luis Madrid I. Nan Bailey 9. Tom Alter the coming socialist revolution in the U.S. Politics." The speakers included Martin Joel Britton Ernie Mailhot 2. Ver6nica Poses I 0. Juliette Montauk United States Koppel and David Corona, just returned Steve Clark Paul Mailhot 3. Gale Shangold II. Meg Novak • The fight against fascism and the from a Militant reporting trip to Argentina Naomi Craine Argiris Malapanis 4. Sheila Ostrow 12. Diana Newberry strugglefor workers power in france in (see articles on page 16), and longtime SWP Mark Curtis Sam Manuel 5. Brock Satter 13. Joshua Carroll the 1930s; lessons fortoday leader Mary-Alice Waters. Betsy Farley Greg McCartan 6. Olga Rodriguez 14. Anna Schell e Socialism and the fight of women's "The working-class revolts that have Laura Garza equality: lessons from the Russian, swept through several cities in Argentina in Francisco Picado 7. Ved Dookhun IS. Jose Aravena Nicaraguan, and Cuban revolutions dicate something new that's happening in Rollande Girard Dave Prince 8. Brian Taylor • Europe and America in the 20th that country," said Koppel, who is the edi James Harris Dennis Richter century:. The conflict between imperi tor of Perspectiva Mundial. "It's a sign of John Hawkins Norton Sandler alist rivals what is coming in the rest of Latin America. Chris Hoeppner Ma'mud Shirvani • Anarchism: A counterrevolutionary "A new generation in Argentina is begin Martin Koppel Mary-Alice Waters current ill the workers movement from ning to react to the brutality, to the economic Bakunin to the Spanish revolution Angel Lariscy Jack Willey

July 14, 1997 The Militant 9 U.S. embargo hurts health care in Cuba BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS ping medical imports from Asia, Europe, "After a year-long investigation, the and South America," the report states. American Association for World Health The misnamed Cuban Liberty and Demo [AAWH] has determined that the U.S. em cratic Solidarity Act of 1996, also referred bargo of Cuba has dramatically harmed the to as Helms-Burton law, has added to the health and nutrition of large numbers of or "chilling effect, further discouraging Ameri dinary Cuban citizens.... It is our expert can suppliers in the health care industry from medical opinion that the U.S. embargo has even contemplating trade with Cuba." caused a significant rise in suffering - and even deaths- in Cuba." That's how the Disastrous results on health summary of findings of a 300-page-long As a result of these draconian sanctions, AAWH report, which was released in the study found that physicians now have March, begins. regular access to on! y 889 of the 1,297 medi The report continues, "A humanitarian cines that were available in Cuba in 1991. catastrophe has been averted only because "U.S. dominance of the international phar the Cuban government has maintained a maceutical industry as a result of a wave of Militant/Seth Galinsky high level of budgetary support for a health mergers in the early 1990s has severely ex Pharmacy in Havana, 1996. U.S. embargo has cut available medicines by 31 percent. care system designed to deliver primary and acerbated the problem," said Robert White, preventive health care to all its citizens." Professor of Neurosurgery at Case Western tricular arrhythmia. He required an implant stuffs has also contributed to serious nutri The American Association for World Reserve University in Cleveland, who was able defibrillator to survive. Though the U.S. tional deficits, particularly among pregnant Health is the U.S. Committee for the World part of the AAWH delegation to Cuba. firm CPI, which held a virtual monopoly on women, leading to an increase in low birth Health Organization and the Pan American "In 1995, for instance," the AAWH re the device, expressed a willingness to make weight babies, the AAWH report notes. Health Organization. It includes a number port says, "Upjohn, a major U.S. pharma the sale, the U.S. government denied ali of well-known doctors and other medical ceutical company, merged with a Swedish cense for it. Two months later the patient Response by Cuban government professionals on its staff. Former U.S. presi concern, Pharmacia, which since 1970 has died. The AAWH study found that heart dis "Such a stringent embargo, if applied to dent James Carter is honorary chairman of logged multimillion dollar sales to Cuba for ease is the number one cause of death in most other countries in the developing its board. AAWH conducted its study over protein purifying equipment, reagents for Cuba. Mortality rates for men and women world, would have had catastrophic effects a 12-month period between 1995 and 1996. clinical laboratories and production plants, increased from 189 deaths per l 00,000 in on the public health system," the study says. chemotherapy drugs, and growth hor 1989 to nearly 200 per 100,000 in 1995. Such results have been averted in Cuba Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 mones." Upjohn ended Pharmacia's sales Washington has also actively tried to pre because of the attention and resources the Washington's embargo has been in place and closed down its Havana office within vent Cuba from manufacturing its own revolutionary government in Havana has since October 1960. But its recent tighten three months of the merger. "Cuba suddenly drugs. In 1993, for example, the U.S. Trea invested in limiting erosion of health care. ing since the early 1990s, after Cuba lost lost another supplier of plates for HIV tests sury Department denied a license to the "The Cuban constitution makes health aid and trade in favorable terms with the and other diagnosis kits to screen for hepa German subsidiary of Pfizer to sell Cuba one care a right of every citizen and the respon former Soviet bloc countries, has exacer titis B and C, when Sybron International of pound of the active ingredient methotrextate sibility of the government," the report says. bated the effect. The study, titled "The Im Wisconsin bought out Nunc of Germany." for trials of an anti-cancer drug. "The system is based on universal coverage pact of the U.S. Embargo on Health and Today it is difficult to find any state-of Breast cancer, a primary cause of death and comprehensive care, essentially free of Nutrition in Cuba," points to several factors the-art machinery that does not have some for women worldwide, is often preventable charge to the population. Over the years, the adversely affecting the availability of food U.S.-built component, said Dr. Peter with early detection and treatment. Until central government has placed a top prior and medicines in Cuba, stemming from Bourne, chairman of the AAWH board. 1990 all women over 35 in Cuba received ity on public health expenditures in the na "little-understood provisions of the U.S. "Cuba cannot get spare parts for the U.S. mammograms on a regular basis at no cost. tional budget. ... Consequently in the 1990s Congress' 1992 Cuban Democracy Act." equipment it has. We witnessed kidney di Today mammograms are no longer em Cuba's health statistics more closely ap The Cuban Democracy Act (CDA) alysis, x-ray, respirators, incubators and ployed as a routine preventive procedure and proximated those of the nations of Europe banned trade with Cuba of U.S. subsidiar other life-saving equipment standing idle for are used only for women considered to be and North America than of developing coun ies in third countries. The ban applies to all want ofU.S.-produced spare parts." at high risk. "The embargo prevents the tries, with 195 inhabitants per physician, and foodstuffs and medicines. Prior to the cut Surgeries have dropped from nearly Eastman Kodak company or any subsidiary 95 percent of the population attended by off, more than 90 percent of U.S. subsidiary 886,000 in 1990 to about 536,500 in 1995, from selling the U.S. -produced Kodak Mini family doctors living in the communities trade with Cuba was in foods and medicines. the AAWH study found - "a glaring indi R film- a product specifically recom they serve." Under the CDA, the U.S. Treasury and cator of the decline in hospital resources." mended by the World Health Organization Life expectancy in Cuba in 1994 was 75 Commerce Departments are allowed in prin AAWH surveyed 12 U.S. pharmaceuti because it exposes women to less radiation," years, compared to an average of 68 in Latin ciple to license individual sales of medicines cal and medical supply companies. Ten the study says. America, and infant mortality was 9.4 per and medical supplies, ostensibly for humani stated that licensing red tape kept them from Cuba's water supply system is built with 1,000 live births, compared to 38 in Latin tarian reasons. The licensing provisions are fulfilling requests from Cuba to purchase U.S. manufactured parts. Since 1992, Cuba America. To counter the impact of so restrictive, however, that the number of goods. When the Canadian subsidiary of can no longer purchase parts for the chlori Washington's intensified economic war, the licenses granted - or even applied for since Cleveland-based Picker International ap nation systems that treat 72 percent of Cuban government has increased health 1992 - are minuscule. plied for permission to sell x-ray parts for Cuba's drinking water because parts are only care spending by more than 30 percent be The CDA also prohibited ships docking 20-year-old machines earmarked for use in available from the U.S. firm Wallace and tween 1989 and 1996, the study says. The in Cuba from entering U.S. ports for six maternity and pediatric hospitals in Cuba, Tieman. This single embargo-related pro problem is that imports of medical supplies months, severely curtailing the ability of the the U.S. Department of Commerce denied a hibition jeopardizes safe drinking water for and food have to be purchased in hard cur Cuban government to secure shipping of license, writing that exports would be "det over 4 million people. Morbidity rates from rency now, which is scarce. medical equipment and increasing import rimental to U.S. foreign policy." water-borne diseases have doubled since The report can be obtained from AAWH costs. "From 1993 to 1996, Cuban compa In one instance Cuban cardiologists di 1989, particularly affecting elderly Cubans. at 1825 K St., NW, Suite 1208, Washing nies spent an additional $8.7 million on ship- agnosed a heart attack patient with a ven- The outright ban on the sale of U.S. food- ton, DC 20006. Tel: (202) 466-5883.

·Betty Shabazz dies Bill would ease embargo on food, medicine Betty Shabazz, widow· of Black BY GREG ROSENBERG the moral authority of the humanitarian restrict exports offood, medicines, or medi revolutionary leader Malcolm X; died WASHINGTON, D.C.- "We are intro message many Americans wish to commu cal supplies to Cuba. Exceptions would be June 23 of complications caused by ducing the Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act nicate," stated New York Democratic Rep. made if the president decided these goods bum~ related injuries; At the time of of 1997 because we believe that the current Jerrold Nadler. would be used for "human rights abuses," her death Shabazz was

We reprint here an excerpt from "Ar the urban petty bourgeoisie, and even a few gentina and Bolivia - the Balance sectors of the peasantry. These mass actions Sheet," from The Leninist Strategy of were sufficient to enable the COB to resume Party Building: The Debate on Guerrilla open activity. In campus demonstrations, the Warfare in Latin America by Joseph students went so far as to take over universi Hansen (see ad on page 16). The selec ties. tion below gives a picture of explosive The ruling class faced a growing crisis struggles by workers, peasants, and stu since they were unable to either suppress the dents that broke out in Bolivia in the years mass movement for the time being or to grant following the late 1960s and early 1970s. economic concessions on the scale required to soften the class struggle .... BY JOSEPH HANSEN During August and September Ovando Even while they were developing their twisted and turned as the masses pressed for theory of a repression so severe as to admit concessions and a sector of the ruling class of no other recourse except guerrilla war in countered by insisting on a crackdown. In the struggle against General Rene August a battle over control of the Univer Barrientos, the leading figure in the military sity of San Marcos precipitated a national junta that toppled the Paz Estenssoro regime crisis. On October 6 Ovando resigned, turn on November 4, 1964, our comrades of the ing the reins of government over to l Gen. Rogelio] Miranda. The consequence was an immediate mass explosion of the classic variety. Students and BOOK OF workers poured into the streets to block the attempted ultrarightist take-over. ... THE WEEK The October 8 Le Monde reported: Miners, carrying dynamite, demonstrated in La Paz, Bolivia, to protest the 1971 coup d'etat. They were the main force in the 1960s and '70s mobilizations for social gains. Students began to build barricades in the streets Partido Obrero Revolucionario [Revolution of the capital in order to block any movements by most significant step. As a workers' par quiring similar action, was the absence of ary Workers Party, Bolivia] reported hap forces favorable to General Rogelio Miranda. In penings that actually showed other possibili Catavi the powerful tin-miners' unions denounced liament, the People's Assembly had the po local supporting bodies. These began to be ties. Here is an example: the "fascist coup d'etat of the right-wing officers" tentiality of becoming a soviet. The devel formed only on the eve of the coup that over and decided to offer "conditional support" to Gen opment offered incontrovertible evidence threw Torres. On May I [ 1968], a militant, anti-imperialist, eral Juan Jose Torres. that in the main the Bolivian revolution was In the following months, the proletariat and anti-military mass meeting was held under The miners' federation called for arms "to de following the "classical" pattern of the marked time. What was lacking was a revo vigorous radical slogans. It openly condemned fend our social gains" and posed as conditions for Russian revolution. lutionary leadership to set goals and tasks the Barrientos dictatorship. In the major cities their support "the establishment of democratic lib The project testified to the deep urge of and to block out a line of action. The Boliv Oruro, Cochabamba, Potosi, Santa Cruz- there erties and release of the political prisoners, repeal were similar demonstrations. In Cochabamba, the the working class to form a common fight ian workers thus faced a crisis in leadership. of the antistrike decrees, nationalization of the ing front in which its allies- the students, To offer the popular masses no alternative district prefect, General Reque Ter{ '· ... appeared foreign banks and all American interests, expul peasants, and urban petty bourgeoisie - but supporting Torres signified a default in at the demonstration backed up by force. He tried sion of all imperialist bodies, and the establish to speak to the crowd, but they did not let him. ment of a people's government." The COB has could participate. Nevertheless the absence political guidance. This led to a weakening There was a violent reaction from the workers, already issued a call for a general strike through of representation of the army rank and file of the forces that could have been mobilized who shouted: "You murdered Che [Guevara]!" out the country. and most of the peasantry pointed to grave behind the working class in a bid for power. "Imperialist lackey!" "Gorilla!" He had to retreat weaknesses that a revolutionary party As a result, the counterrevolution began, to in the face of the general clamor. The COB also ordered its members to would have put high on its agenda for re regain confidence and to spin new plots with Besides the militant slogans indicated, there block the streets and prevent troop move medial action. Another grave weakness, re- increasing boldness. were shouts of acclaim for Che and the guerril ments within La Paz. las in these urban demonstrations. The govern ment massed all its forces, police, the national Armed detachments of peasants joined in guard, the army, the air force (Mustangs buzzed the action. Armed civilians freed political -25AND50YEARSAGO~----- the demonstrations in La Paz to frighten the dem prisoners. The homes of ultrarightist military onstrators), but it did not dare break them up. men and civilians were assaulted. The build cated was Cuba. Fine also stated that The junta was cowed and retreated. It is clear ings of three leading newspapers were occu Feliciano is a member of the MIRA that more than expressing the new ascent and pied. Jubilant tin miners seized police stations (Movimiento Independentista Revolucio militant spirit of the masses, the May Day dem and announced they would demand quick THE MILITANT onstrations were a victory against the govern nario Armado -Armed Revolutionary In wage increases. dependence Movement), an underground ment.. .. The New York Times reported that on Oc July 7, 1972 Puerto Rican independence group with an Of similar significance was the nature of tober 8: urban guerrilla orientation. the struggle carried on by the masses. The armed students took over the headquarters of NEW YORK -An important victory report continues: the criminal division of the national police. Ap was scored on June 22 in the ongoing ef parently unopposed, they were reportedly looting fort to defend Puerto Rican nationalist A general movement is in progress for in TH£ MILITANT the offices and destroying the files .... PU8LISHED IN THE INTUISTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE creased wages and salaries. The miners are pro Carlos Feliciano from the complex maze Students have also begun attacks on United of legal charges that have been brought NEW YORK, N_Y FIVE {'5) C:ENT~ posing restoration of the old wages and return of States property. They entered the Bolivia-Ameri all trade-union property. The immediate conflict against him. A Bronx Supreme Court jury can Binational Center yesterday, hauling down an of nine men and three women acquitted is over the teachers' demand for a salary increase American flag and announcing that they were an July 5, 1947 from 4 70 to 900 pesos. The government rejected Feliciano of all charges of attempted arson nexing the building to the university .... this request. The teachers met in a national con and bomb possession. JULY 1 -"Let the Senators dig the vention and approved various tactics of struggle On January 10, 1971, the counterrevolu The prosecution had attempted to prove coal!" was the embittered war-cry of leading by stages to a general strike. Among these tionary forces attempted another coup. Again that Feliciano was planning to bomb a U.S. 250,000 soft coal miners who angrily quit were work stoppages graduated by districts, light they were beaten back by mass mobilizations. Army recruiting station on May 16, 1970. the pits last week in a spontaneous strike ning meetings, blocking streets, etc .... This time the masses were better organized, A pipe bomb, supposedly found in against the venomous Taft-Hartley Slave Barrientos, killed in a helicopter crash reflecting the gains they had made since the Feliciano's car by the police, was the main Labor Act. April 27, 1969, was succeeded by Vice mobilizations that had defeated General evidence offered by the prosecution. The By the week-end all mines were down as President Adolfo Siles Salinas. Hardly more Miranda three months earlier. Thousands of defense contended that the bombed was the strike continued directly into the sched than an ornamental piece for the junta, Siles armed miners paraded through La Paz. The planted by the prosecution's star witness, uled 10-day vacation period for 400,000 was ousted in a coup d'etat that put General mass movement began to openly proclaim its Andrew Gutierrez, a police detective who members of the AFL United Mine Workers. Alfredo Ovando in power September 26, goal of a socialist transformation in Bolivia. had been following Feliciano's movements All the savage blows of the government 1969. Under this mounting pressure, the Torres for about a year. In summarizing the case against the miners- the injunction and fine Ovando permitted the trade unions to regime granted further concessions. The In for the defense, [William] Kunstler asked levied by a Federal District Judge, the Su function. Traditional trade union activities ternational Metal Processing Corporation was the jury to find Feliciano not-guilty only if preme Court decision against the UMW and were resumed and the Central Obrera nationalized. In February, Torres conceded they agreed that Feliciano was being John L. Lewis, the Taft-Hartley Act directed Boliviana [Bolivian Workers Federation] wage increases to the miners. framed-up; none of the essential facts of most immediately against the mine work began to rebuild its structure. Throughout At the time of the October struggle against the case were in dispute except for who put ers -all these have failed to curb the min April, May, and June of 1970 the proletariat General Miranda, the COB and all the politi the bomb in Feliciano's car. ers' fighting spirits. took advantage of the semilegal opening cal parties of the left had set up a "Political In pretrial publicity, prosecutor John Their latest action is an expression of the conceded by Ovando and engaged in con Command" to coordinate their struggle. In Fine contended that Feliciano is an agent American workers' wrath against the new tinual mass mobilizations. Other sectors be mid-February it was decided to convert this of "an alien government outside the limits union-busting law. This is but the beginning came involved - students, teachers, part of body into a "People's Assembly." This was a of the United States," which he later indi- of wholesale defiance. July 14, 1997 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS-- Socialist Workers convention Continued from Page 12 tral role. In discussing that experience, one of the del Justice for in many countries. Today "imperialism suffers a deep egates challenged Willey's reference to the "anticapitalist wound, which is Cuba," he said, "and I guarantee that rhetoric" of these groups, saying the anarchists "aren't between you and us, we're going to give them another really anticapitalist." heart attack." In a message sent to the Central Committee In his summary, Willey pointed to this as an example Jose Rainha of the Communist Party of Cuba, the SWP convention of why it's crucial to be accurate in politics. "Anarchists delegates stated, "The rejection by Cuban working are anticapitalist," he said. "They're also antistate and Jose Rainha, Jr., a central leader of the Movement of people- including the men and women of the Revolu anticommunist. As the class struggle heats up, their lead Landless Rural Workers (MST) in Brazil, has been framed tionary Armed Forces -of the Yankee empire's latest ers will use their radical demagogy to divert the working up on trumped-up charges of killing a landlord and a mili attempts to divide their ranks and revolutionary leader class from fighting to take state power," thus betraying tary police officer. He was condemned in a split vote by a ship through bribes and threats stands as an example to all workers, as they did in the Spanish revolution in the 1930s. jury that included relatives of the cop and the landowner. those around the world who want to stand up against op Willey responded to a couple of delegates who referred He was framed for political reasons: because he has been pression and exploitation." to right-wing organizations such as HLI as "Catholic" or leading the struggle for land by millions of landless peas The convention also heard greetings sent by the Work "religious," saying, "The shift to the right comes out of ants and rural workers against the landlords and capital ers Party of Korea. In a reply, the delegates condemned the trajectory of bourgeois politics, not religion. It's im ists of Brazil. "Washington and Seoul's systematic effort to block much portant to explain this clearly. We will unnecessarily iso Now is the time for class-conscious workers in the needed international food assistance" to north Korea as late ourselves from a lot of working-class fighters if we United States and around the world to join our brothers part of the U.S. war drive against the workers states. The mush together rightist groups with religion." and sisters of the MST in waging the broadest possible message concluded, "Together working people the world Willey also answered a delegate who said that in build campaign demanding Rainha's conviction be overturned over will get the imperialist occupiers out of Korea and ing for the upcoming World Festival of Youth and Stu and the charges against him dropped. Now is the time to every other comer of the world." dents in Havana, members and supporters of the Com organize public meetings, press coverage, and distribu munist Party had "come out of a slumber, a slumber they tion of informational materials to tell the truth about the Struggle for a proletarian party today would prefer to inactivity." frame-up and the fight for agrarian reform in Brazil. Now Leading up to the convention, party branches discussed "Whenever we fall into the self-defeating notion that is the time to reach out to trade unionists, working farm a draft political resolution titled, "The struggle for a pro our political opponents prefer inactivity to activity," Willey ers, farm workers, antiracist fighters, defenders of women's letarian party today." It pointed to the opportunities to said, "you can be sure these currents are influencing and rights, supporters of immigrant rights, students and other take another step in "building a communist party rooted recruiting young fighters who revolutionists could have youth, elected officials, religious figures, and all advo in the industrial unions, one with the proletarian norms, won had we been on our toes politically." cates of democratic rights and ask them to send messages methods of functioning, and habits of discipline capable Following the discussion on Willey's report, the del of support to Rainha 's struggle for justice. of winning a new generation to Bolshevism." egates adopted the resolution. The tour of MST leader Jose Brito in the United States The resolution cites the words of founding SWP leader In the final convention session, the delegates elected has already generated interest and publicity in this fight. James P. Cannon in 1940, during the buildup toward U.S. the National Committee that will be responsible to imple Those who took part in the tour can take the initiative to entry into World War II. "Preparation for war means, for ment the convention decisions and guide the work of the form ad-hoc committees to help spread the word for the us, not some esoteric special task," Cannon wrote. "It organization until the next convention (see page 9). defense campaign. means turning the face of the party to the workers, pen Thousands of workers, youth, and others in the United etrating deeper into the trade unions [and proletarianiz Conference activities States know the distinctive stench of a police frame-up ing] the composition of the party membership." In addition to the convention sessions, all those in at from their own experiences - from fighting to free trade A convention report by Jack Willey introduced the dis tendance had the opportunity to participate in classes on unionist and socialist Mark Curtis from prison and now cussion on the resolution. Willey is a member of the SWP a wide range of Marxist topics, as well as workshops on end his parole, to demanding the release of imprisoned National Committee, the party's National Trade Union practical day-to-day political campaigns and activity, and Native American leader Leonard Peltier, to the 27-year Committee, and the National Executive Committee of the a huge book sale. fight against the frame-up of Geronimo Pratt, to pressing Young Socialists. He reviewed some of the openings to Members of the party and YS who are active in the for the freedom of Puerto Rican political prisoners. The strengthen the party's trade union fractions and increase International Association of Machinists; Oil, Chemical MST has a proud record of fighting for others; that's why the sales of revolutionary literature in a way that advances and Atomic Workers; Union of Needletrades, Industrial they can wage an effective fight to defend themselves. the construction of a disciplined, proletarian party. and Textile Employees; and United Food and Commer The MST's unstinting international solidarity with Curtis's An example of how these elements can come together cial Workers met during the gathering to discuss recent fight for freedom, for example, was important to winning has been the experience of the strike at Wheeling-Pitts experiences in these unions and elect national steering his release from jail last year. burgh Steel Corp. Socialist steelworkers in several cities committees to guide their work over the coming period. The MST's strugglefor the right of the tillers to the have been part of strike solidarity work together with their The delegates and guests took note of five veteran com land they work, and to cancel the imperialist imposed for co-workers. They also regularly visit the picket lines, munist fighters who had died since the last party conven eign debt of more than $180 million in Brazil alone - is where they've been able to sell books and the Militant to tion in 1995 - Robert Des Verney, Lois Remple, Ed Shaw, part of the worldwide resistance by working people to the strikers. Willey described how on one occasion socialists May Stark, and Sam Stark. demands of the capitalists and landowners to "sacrifice" helped lead in discussions among strike activists and sup Participants left the convention on a better footing to for the false promise of a better tomorrow. Any victory in porters about why anti-Semitism is damaging to the union. carry out ongoing political activity, including building the battles of Brazilian peasants and rural workers is a successful delegations to the upcoming World Festival of victory for all working people. Protests by Chicanos, Blacks, women Youth and Students and the International Workers Con Join the fight to end the frame-up of Jose Rainha! Willey and several delegates pointed to growing pro ference Confronting Neoliberalism and the Global tests by Chicanos and Latinos over the last two years Economy. Delegates voted to join others in fighting to around immigrant rights and other issues. This is inter oppose Washington's undemocratic and unconstitutional secting with struggles by strawberry pickers fighting for efforts to prevent young people from the United States Tobacco deal a union in the Watsonville, California, area and apple pack from attending the international gathering (see page 6). ers in Washington State. There are growing possibilities The resolution adopted by the delegates pointed to other to participate in these fights along with fellow unionists. examples of assaults on democratic rights, including the Jim Gotesky, a delegate from San Francisco who is a surge in the use of the death penalty and the tightened hurts workers member of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers, de policing of airports across the United States on the pre scribed several recent strikes by mostly immigrant work text of fighting terrorism. In order to advance their as The $368 billion "historic settlement" recently negoti ers in the Bay Area. Another delegate from Houston de sault on the wages and social gains of working people, ated by the tobacco bosses and government lawyers has scribed how Mexicans have been in the forefront of pro the resolution says, the capitalist rulers are "compelled to nothing to do with advancing the health of working testing the surge in executions by the state of Texas. The make strides in curtailing democratic rights - rights that people. The cigarette bosses plan to pocket handsome celebrations on both sides of the border in response to the must be severely restricted if the ruling class is to have profits by raising the price of a pack of smokes by 50 freeing of Ricardo Aldape Guerra, a Mexican worker who any hope of defeating the workers and their allies in the cents to $1 to offset the cost of the deal - a regressive spent 11 years on death row for a murder he did not com coming decisive battles." tax that like other so-called sin taxes will be felt most by mit, showed what a deep nerve this issue touches. At the same time, as pointed out in the reports by both working people. Willey also pointed to examples of resistance by the Jack Barnes and Jack Willey, increased political polar While President Clinton and other bourgeois politicians Black nationality in the United States to racist discrimi ization is leading to a growth in ultrarightist groupings - intone concern about the dangers of cigarette smoking on nation and police brutality. Delegates had joined in pro in the United States and other imperialist countries - that the "nation's public health," the Senate voted June 24 to test actions around these questions in recent weeks, from will be used in the future to attack workers' meetings. increase eligibility age for Medicare recipients from 65 New Jersey to Atlanta. Convention participants painted "We are living in a political period that requires us to view to 67 as they ponder a cut of $115 billion from this en a banner celebrating the release of Geronimo Pratt, a Black security in a much more serious and disciplined way," the titlement program. Panther leader who spent more than a quarter-century in SWP resolution states. In accordance with this judgment, What hypocrisy! They even have the gall to present prison because of an FBI frame-up. And delegates sent a confirmed by experience over the past year, the delegates their current plans for the Medicaid program as a "major message of congratulations to Pratt, drafted by Mark discussed a report on convention security at their first ses expansion" that will cover only 500,000 uninsured chil Curtis, a party leader in Chicago. Curtis, who faces pa sion and organized the defense of the gathering in a more dren, while acknowledging this will fall far short of the role restrictions stemming from his own frame-up con systematic way than had been the case in recent years. 10.5 million children who have no health insurance. At viction nearly lO years ago at the hands of the cops in the same time, this bipartisan Medicaid plan will cut $14 Des Moines, Iowa, did not attend the convention. Frame-up in Brazil billion from hospitals in working-class neighborhoods. Willey also described opportunities to link up with Delegates also pledged to work in defense of Jose A trademark of the Clinton administration is to launch young people fighting for women's rights. Several of those Rainha, a leader of the Movement of Landless Rural Work its attacks on the social benefits or democratic rights of attending their first socialist convention came in contact ers (MST) in Brazil. MST leader Jose Brito Ribeiro, who working people under the veneer of "protecting" children. with the SWP and Young Socialists around the national was a guest at the convention, began a two-week U.S. Right-wing politicians like Patrick Buchanan exploit Young Feminist Summit that took place in April. A couple speaking tour the day after the gathering ended. Brito gave the transparent hypocritical nature of these bourgeois of these activists from Morgantown, West Virginia, initi greetings on behalf of the MST, and also gave a class to measures to justify their reactionary ideology in the "cul ated the painting of a banner advocating women's equal conference participants on the struggle for land in Brazil. ture war." "Big Gov't or Godfather?" roared the headline ity and gay rights, which they plan to use at a protest out Being among hundreds of revolutionaries who are com of Buchanan's June 25 column in the New York Post, at side an all-male rally of the right-wing Promise Keepers mitted to the fight for socialism in the United States and tacking government "extortion" in the tobacco pact. group in Pittsburgh in July. around the world, Brito told the convention, "makes me Buchanan's demagogy against "Big Government" has think that imperialism is not as strong as it seems." nothing in common with the need for the labor move Discussion on anarchism The greetings sent to the MST from the convention del ment to reject giving the Food and Drug Administration "Other currents in the workers movement also see egates noted that the organization's staunch support for the power to regulate nicotine as a drug. This jurisdiction what's happening, and are actively recruiting," Willey said. Mark Curtis's fight for justice, and pledged that the fight will only give cops and other government agencies greater This includes Stalinist, social democratic, and anarchist against Rainha's frame-up "will further transcend the bor realm to victimize workers who smoke. political forces. ders of Brazil, as we join with others here and around the That's why working people should reject this "historic He described how members of the party and YS in world in getting out the truth." public health achievement" as a victory for healthy or Minneapolis-St. Paul had to go back to the books to learn The final evening of the convention, participants "sick smokers." We should demand free universal health and relearn the history and politics of anarchism, after launched a fund drive, to run September 1 to November care for all with no restrictions and an end to taxes on building protests against the anti-abortion group Human 1, to raise $125,000 for publishing Pathfinder books. More cigarettes. Life International (HLI) in which anarchists played a cen- than $83,000 in initial pledges was raised at the meeting. 14 The Militant July 14, 1997 Electric workers rally for jobs in Massachusetts

This column is devoted to re GE, and those who will work here sions of community support. The porting the resistance by work in the future." Many workers ech Allied plant is located in an Italian ing people to the employers' as oed this view. Teddy Weyhrauch, a CSX train crashes in Florida neighborhood of St. Louis known sault on their living standards, turbine blade polisher at the as "The Hill." A nearby bakery working conditions, and unions. Schenectady plant, said "job secu brought over fresh bread to the We invite you to contribute rity is the issue, not wages. It's about picket line on the first day of the strike. Another passerby brought a pizza to the picketers. ON THE PICKET LINE 3M workers reject forced overtime in Minnesota short items to this column as a having a job." Weyhrauch pointed ST. PAUL, Minnesota- The way for other fighting workers out that the workforce at the week of May 11-18 was "Work around the world to read about Schenectady plant has been slashed Smart" week at the 3M Tape Plant and learn from these important from 13,000 to 2,000 over the last here. Members of Oil, Chemical and struggles. Jot down a few lines 15 years. In the United States, GE's Atomic Workers (OCAW) local6- about what is happening in your personnel has been nearly halved 75 organized the campaign in the union, at your workplace, or since 1987. tape coating and "6-Maker" depart other workplaces in your area, GE bosses have adopted a bel ments to let the company know they including interesting political dis ligerent stance leading-up to the will not accept mandatory overtime cussions. contract talks. Rejecting union de as part of contract negotiations. The mands to guarantee a set number of union broke off negotiations the LYNN, Massachusetts- More union jobs, Robert Risch, a top GE week before, because the company than 2,000 General Electric Co. manager in New England, has stated refused to discuss pensions, wage (GE) workers and their supporters "job security is not won at the bar increases, or subcontracting. Work rallied here May 31 to demand that gaining table. It is won in the mar ers in the two departments refused guarantees of job security and full ketplace." A video featuring a talk to work the voluntary 12-hour days pensions after 30 years be included by CEO Jack Welch has been shown or weekend overtime. The union in the contract now under discus in all GE plants. In it Welch claims, scored a victory in forcing the com sion between GE management and "We are the best prepared company pany to cancel weekend production. unions representing some 46,000 in the world to take a strike." The success of the campaign pro workers. The current contract ex vided a boost in morale for the union pires June 29. and showed the workers their The International Union of Elec Machinists strike Allied strength in solidarity. trical Workers Local201, the union Healthcare in St. Louis Many people in the tape coating which represents the majority of ST. LOUIS -Voting 209 to 35, Rail cars were scattered near Cypress, Florida - about 50 department and "6-Maker" work the workers at GE's jet engine plant members of the International Asso miles west of Tallahassee, after a CSX freight train from New voluntary weekend overtime, but here, organized the demonstration ciation of Machinists (lAM) Lodge Orleans derailed early June 4. One rider suffered injuries. A have said they will not allow the that included contingents of work 1345 rejected the company's con hydrogen peroxide leak was also found in one of the cars. CSX company to tell them they have to ers from GE plants across the east tract proposal and went on strike has recently been pushing to cut rail crews, and even forcing work 12-hour days and the week em United States. More than 150 against Allied Healthcare Products new hires to pay more than $3,700 for their own training. ends. workers traveled from GE's power here June 1. Allied is a producer of Sue Walther, a young woman generation plant in Schenectady, gas equipment for medical pur hired in January of this year said, "I New York, while others came from poses. about," Echeazu added. ing bonus" of $150. It also called want to have control of whether or Louisville, Cleveland, and Philadel In the first days following the During negotiations, the com for a raise in co-payments for health not I work overtime. I think the phia. A delegation of union leaders strike call, most delivery trucks are pany proposed that the union accept coverage for employees with depen "Work Smart " week is a way to from GE plants in Brazil and Ar honoring the pickets and no lAM an extension of the previous con dents. show the company that we do have gentina was welcomed with a stand member has crossed the line. tract, including a one-year wage "The company ignored all of our solidarity here." ing ovation. The Lynn rally is one "It feels good to be fighting back freeze. Assemblers, who make up proposals such as more money to of a series that concludes in Erie, and seeing us all sticking together," most of the workforce, currently compensate members who have to Andy Buchanan, member of United Pennsylvania on June 21. said Modess Echeazu, an assembler make $7.35 an hour. This proposal wear respirators on the job," said Auto Workers Local 1596 in Bos Addressing the rally, Local 201 at Allied for the past eight years. was also soundly defeated in a Lynn Brunne, a member of the plant ton; Jim Garrison, UAW member, president Jeffrey Crosby stated that "We're made up of a lot of differ membership vote May 10. safety committee. "We risk our and Angy Folkes, member of lAM the key issue in the contract nego ent nationalities: Russian, Indian, In the latest contract proposal that health on the job and they want us Lodge 1345 on strike at Allied tiations is "not economic .. .it is Iraqi, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Chil was rejected prior to the strike, Al to pay more out of our pockets for Healthcare Products, in St. Louis; about whether GE will provide any ean, Italian, Vietnamese, Black, and lied offered wage increases of 25 health insurance." and Jenny Benton, member of hope or future for those who have white. None of us have crossed the cents per hour for each of the three In the first days of the walkout, OCAW Loca/6-75 in St. Paul con retired, those who will retire from line. That's what solidarity is all years of the contract, plus a "sign- strikers have experienced expres- tributed to this week's column. -LETTERS------From a subscriber suit filed by Gammage's parents. Workers will not spontaneously vative government's attacks. It Britain. I bought my first Militant 26 Their lawsuit claims that their son's come to a clear class consciousness opens up the prospect of a mass S. Cholewka years ago. I'll take a two-year paid death was caused by lax municipal the tasks needed for the proletarian movement placing demands upon Brecon, Wales subscription of the Militant over a and police supervision, which fos revolution when each time they en the new Labour government, putting free lifetime subscription to the At tered a racist environment that led ter class battles they are blocked by the treacherous politics of the lead lanta Constitution. to the traffic stop and the subsequent their own conservative bureaucratic ership who have ditched even so The letters column is an open The stuff about Cuba and inter fatal confrontation. machines like the British Labour cial-democratic perspectives to the forum for all viewpoints on sub views with Fidel are my favorite Finally, a factual error occurred Party, which depoliticize, dissipate, test. This will pose massive conflict jects of general interest to our parts. The Militant's support of in the June 2 issue of the Militant and demobilize the revolutionary that a new generation of revolution readers. Please keep your letters Cuba since 1959 has been proven with the story on the May 16 march edge of working class struggle and ary leaders can be created and opens brief. Where necessary they will to be correct. and demonstration around the case. tailors workers' demands to the po up the possibility of building a revo be abridged. Please indicate if Please accept my donations to An officer from Brentwood tailed litical line of the bourgeoisie. lutionary socialist party with deep you prefer that your initials be further the struggle. Gammage through that borough, but Jonathan Silberman was right in roots within the working class in used rather than your full name. David Bouffard didn't pull him over until he had his analysis and response to a letter Lithonia, Georgia entered the Pittsburgh city limits, questioning why workers should where the murder occurred. vote Labour. The general election Gammage update Edwin Fruit provided workers and small farm Celebrate 20 Years of the I thought readers would like to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ers throughout Britain with the be updated on the struggle to get chance to kick out the Conserva Socialist Worken Party In Again on Labour Party tives by voting Labour. It was our justice for Jonny Gammage here in West Vlrt~lnla Pittsburgh. In reply to Ciaran Farrell's letter chance to drive out the Tories who On May 24 over 50 protesters ("Wrong to vote Labour"- Mili have attacked us for 18 long years. Working-Class Politics in the 21st Century picketed and chanted outside the tant June 9, 1997) I would like to We know from previous experi Featured speaker: Paul Mailhot graduation exercises of the Univer make a number of observations. ence that electing a Labour govern member of SWP National Committee sity of Pittsburgh Law School where An organization or a class does ment is not an end of the matter. Janet Reno, the attorney General not as the liberal concept of history This is why we need a system of This special meeting will mark the beginning of a was the keynote speaker. The pro teaches, get a leadership that it de transitional demands and slogans reorganization of the work of the Socailist Workers serves. In reality, leaderships are which connect worker-militants in testers demanded that the Justice Part;y in the coalfields of northern West Virginia/ Department prosecute all five cops shaped in the course of the class the present period and bridges the who were responsible for the death struggle and not at all a product of minimum program of Blair and the southwestern Pennsylvania, and the closing of the of Jonny Gammage. its own free will or a mere reflec maximum program which promises SWP branch and Pathfinder bookstore in On May 27 close to 200 people tion of a class. A class or an organi the substitution of socialism for marched and rallied in a local zation may tolerate for a long time capitalism. Morgantown. church in Brentwood, a suburb of a leadership that has suffered a com A vote for Labour in Britain is a Pittsburgh. This is the borough plete inner degeneration; great his class vote. It is a means through Saturday, .June 28 where two of the cops who killed torical shocks are required to reveal which the working class can battle Gammage are from and which re the contradiction between the lead on an electoral level against the Program: 7 p.m. cently promoted one of them to ser ership and the class. This is why it capitalist class and their direct rep Reception & Dinner 5:30 p.m. geant. is necessary to find a bridge be resentatives, the Conservative Party. And on May 29, a federal judge tween present demands and the so The return of a Labour government Pathfinder Bookstore 242walnut St. ruled that three of the officers can cialist program of revolution. This is the best outcome for the working Morgantown, West Virginia no longer delay their sworn pretrial was the reason for the founding pro class to defend itself and in which for more information call: {304} 296-0055 statements in a wrongful death law- gram of the FI [First International]. to fight to reverse the past Conser- July 14, 1997 The Militant 15 TH£ MILITANT Revolt in an Argentine farming town BY DAVID CORONA cials on it," said Ortega. He went down the AND MARTiN KOPPEL list of the new members: a farm worker, a CRUZ DEL EJE, Cordoba province, Ar small farmer, a baker, an accountant, a gentina - In late May, this quiet farming housewife, a teacher, a bank employee, a town, 100 miles northwest of the city of hotel owner, and a nurse, among others. Cordoba, exploded. Avila, as leader of the unemployed workers In response to high unemployment and organization, was also elected. intolerable social conditions, thousands of Ortega continued, "When we elected a workers and farmers blocked the national new committee, we drew up a list of de highway, cutting off traffic between mands. Then we organized commissions to Cordoba and La Rioja provinces. Shoving come up with concrete proposals on how to aside local authorities and traditional lead create jobs, such as building a pipeline to ers, they organized daily mass meetings to bring in natural gas from the town of Dean press their demands for jobs and social Funes. About 50 farm workers took part in rights. The provincial government was these commissions." forced to meet with them, negotiate, and The government claims there is no money promise to fulfill their main demands. to pay for such job-creating projects. "But Similar conditions have sparked rebel they keep making payments on Argentina's lions since April in cities across Argen foreign debt, which is now $100 billion. tina- from Cutral-Co in the southern prov That debt is not only immoral, it's ince of Neuquen to Salta in the north. In unpayble," Avila remarked. these and other cities, unemployed workers Over the course of three days, there were and youth- known as thepiqueteros (pick meetings of up to I 0,000 people to discuss ets)- have blocked highways to demand how to proceed. The population of Cruz del Eje is 27,000. "These meetings were some jobs from the government. Fearlessly fight Left: Militant/Martin Koppel ing back police assaults, they have won Youth in Argentine town of Libertador thing totally new. Everyone raised their broad support in the working class. uses slingshot in battle against May 22 opinions, then we voted," Avila noted. cop assault on unemployed workers. In Cruz del Eje the authorities decided Revolt of the farm workers Similar revolts have swept Argentina. not to assault the piqueteros, in light of the On a June 6 visit, Militant reporters in Left: workers in Cruz del Eje describe fie:-ce resistance and public outrage sparked terviewed a group of five workers who told uprising there. From left: Sergio Avila, by such attacks in other cities. Avila said, the story of the uprising here. German Baigorri, and Claudio Ortega. "The government didn't unleash the police "Cotton, olives, tomatoes, and garlic are as in Cutral-Co or Jujuy because they could the main crops grown in this area," ex barely last a week. The food bags would if we did not block the highway." not agree among themselves on what to do. plained Claudio Mauricio Ortega, a 21-year show up especially around election time. We On the morning of May 27, the It's hard to repress a whole town!" old piquetero and farm worker, now jobless. were sick of all that. People want jobs." Multisectoral Committee held a public Representatives of the provincial govern "I've been working in the fields since I was "Both parties have become discredited," meeting to propose accepting the ment finally met with the protesters on May 11. I've worked alongside my father, said German Baigorri, a teacher and accoun government's offer. About I ,000 people 30 and promised to come up with a plan to mother, brothers, and sisters." The cotton tant, referring to Menem 's Justicialist participated and many workplaces closed create jobs. At a large meeting the piqueteros farms pay 10 cents a kilo, and the owners (Peronist) Party and the Radical Party, down. "In my hospital almost nobody went decided to take down the roadblocks and of the olive groves pay $1.50 per box. which rules Cordoba province. Baigorri, like to work," said Carolina Tello. give the government a deadline of June 17. "You have to work 10- 12 hours a day Avila, is one of the elected leaders of the "The people saw this committee had The people of Cruz del Eje will hold a meet to make 10 pesos [1 peso equals I dollar] protesters. struck a deal behind our backs. They re ing that day to decide what to do next. and after the harvest is over, there's usually The Peronist movement, which has held jected the offer and voted to block the high 2-4 months of dead time," he said. The ma sway in the working class and the labor way," said Avila. "Everyone marched down In a June 23 phone interview, Baigorrf jority of the population of Cruz del Eje are movement for five decades, was founded to Highway 38, at the entrance to the city, reported that on June 17, a mass meeting in farm workers. by Juan Peron, a bourgeois nationalist fig and set up the barricades. There we orga Cruz del Eje voted to protest the Over the years local factories have shut ure who was president in 1946-55, and nized ourselves: we decided which high government's inaction and block Highway down, and official promises of new indus then in 1973-74. In the postwar labor up ways to block, the picket schedules, and 38. A caravan of 300 traveled to Cordoba, trial sites never materialized. Meanwhile, surge that occurred during his rule, the work how to organize food provisions." where they were met by cheering crowds of social conditions have deteriorated. ing class organized powerful industrial "By 1:00 p.m., there were 3,000 of us," unionists and other working people. There, "The other day Menem claimed no one unions and won substantial social conces said Ortega. "I joined the revolt because we members of the Group of 15 met with the is starving in Argentina," said Carolina sions. want jobs and because I can't stand to see provincial and national cabinets, and signed Tello, 28, who works in a local hospital, In early May, working people in Cruz del the malnourishment. There are dozens of an accord that was approved at a June 21 referring to President Carlos Menem. "But Eje, encouraged by the popular revolts else kids in my neighborhood who go hungry." meeting of I ,500 Cruz del Eje residents. as a nurse, I see malnutrition and disease where, began to raise their voices demand The government committed itself to fa every day. There is a growing number of ing jobs and threatening to block the high Highway shut down for three days cilitate the construction of a gas pipeline, cases of tuberculosis in this area." way. A Multisectoral Committee was The piqueteros blocked a total of eight irrigation canals, and public works; increase "In 1996, when the new provincial gov formed by union officials, local capitalist highways and roads. "By 5:00p.m. that day, funding for the hospital; and provide 400 ernment of Ramon Mestre took over they politicians, the president of the Chamber of not even a dog could get past our roadblock temporary jobs to be distributed by the decided to cut back more sharply on educa Commerce, and other businessmen to ne without our approval," said Carolina Tello Group of 15. The accord recognizes the au tion," said Maria Alejandra Tello, 25, a gotiate with the provincial authorities. with a grin. thority of the Group of 15, bypassing the teacher. "They got rid of the seventh grade A local congressman showed up with the In addition to voting to block the roads, municipal government. Implementation will and laid off many of the teachers, so my job government's offer. "It was based on more those at the public meeting decided to re be supervised by a joint commission includ was eliminated." of the same- welfarism," said Avila, who place the discredited leadership body and ing members of the elected Cruz del Eje is also the secretary of the local Coordinat elected a new one, known as the Group of representatives. "Now the struggle contin Sick of 'welfarism' ing Committee of the Unemployed. "They 15. "The one thing we decided was there ues to make the government implement the Sergio Avila, 34, a public employee and offered more subsidies and easier credit - would be no politicians and no union offi- agreement," Baigorrf emphasized. member of the Sanitation Workers Union, explained that "the government has always followed a policy of asistencialismo [welfarism], which is degrading and doesn't provide lasting solutions." Tello pointed out that "they used to try to Jujuy workers fight for jobs, battle cops keep us quiet by giving families a bag of BY MARTiN KOPPEL town of Libertador General San Martfn, also I went to Buenos Aires and worked 10 years groceries every 45 days, although it would AND DAVID CORONA known by the name of the Ledesma sugar in a shoe factory." Unemployment in Jujuy JUJUY PROVINCE, Argentina -"First mill, had signed an accord with the govern runs at 35 percent- twice the national av the authorities pretended we didn't exist. ment to provide 12,579 jobs in the region. erage. e.,.·~ P~tte.:....J.H Then they told people to be grateful to those The protesters lifted the highway barricades "The owners of Ledesma also own the in power for the few jobs and benefits they they had erected all over the province and surrounding 380,000 hectares of farmland, The Leninist The Leninist....,, of '-ty lluilclins offered. After that they sent in the cops, gave the authorities two weeks to come up although they only use 80,000 hectares [I ·n-eDro.ll: Stre~tegyof CX"l(~Warlw with a concrete jobs plan. They remained hectare= 2.47 acres]," said Olga Marquez nlalnAmeli::-3 thinking repression would work as in the Party BuJI~Ing past. But things have changed. The people on the roadside, ready to block the roads de Aredez, a member of the human rights -- have lost their fear and they won't listen to again if necessary. group Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. "They The Debate on the old leaders." . Libertador, 80 miles northeast of the city also own the local paper mill, bagasse-pro Guerrilla Warfare Gaston Cufiado was talking to two Mili of Jujuy, is a company town. "The Blacquier cessing plant, citrus products factory, alco in Latin America tant reporters on the night of June 4 near a family owns the Ledesma sugar mill, which hol plant, and fruit-packing plant." is the main employer," said Ignacio Marquez de Aredez explained that her by Joseph Hansen bright bonfire warming a dozen young pick ets stationed by Highway 9, at the entrance Fernandez, a piquetero who had worked six late husband had been mayor of Libertador $26.95 to San Salvador de Jujuy, the capital of this years there before being laid off. "Out of in the mid-1970s. "He was the first mayor northern province. Cufiado, 20, who does 12,000 jobs in the sugar industry, only 3,000 to dare to ask the owners of the sugar mill Available from bookstores. including those llsted what temporary work he can find in plumb are left because of mechanization." The to pay taxes. So in 1974 the provincial au on page 12. or write Pathfinder. 4 r0 West St., New ing and construction, said he "joined the population of Libertador is 60,000. thorities sent in the police and removed him York. NY 10014. Tel: (212)741-0690. Fax: (212)727- Fernandez added, "People work here six from office. When the 1976 military coup 0 ISO. When ordering by mail. please include S3 to pickets because of the brutal repression cover shipping and handling. against the sugar workers in Ledesma." months during the sugar harvest, but the · took place, "my husband was kidnapped and On May 31 thepiqueteros (pickets) in the other six months they have to go elsewhere. Continued on Page 7

16 The Militant July 14, 1997