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A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEK L Y PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORK ING PEOPLE VOL. 59/NO. 22 JUNE 5, 1995 Brazil oil workers strike, Thousands turn out say 'no' to privatization for Tehran Cardoso gov't calls out troops to occupy refineries book fair BY MARTIN KOPPEL AND ARGIRIS MALAPANIS BY MARCELLA FITZGERALD MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay - TEHRAN, Iran- Despite the soon-to The government of Brazilian be-implemented U.S. embargo against president Fernando Henrique Iran, the Eighth Tehran International Book Cardoso responded to a three Fair opened here May 16 with 470 foreign week-old strike of nearly 50,000 publishers from 38 countries participating. oil workers by sending army Publishers from Cuba are participating in units to occupy four refineries the book fair for the first time since 1990. May 24. The strike, reinforced The book fair is a major cultural, educa by work stoppages by thousands tional, and commercial event in Iran and of rail workers and truckers, has the whole region. Tens of thousands of become the first big political cri people flocked to it on the first day. Open sis for Cardoso, who took office ing the fair, President Hashemi Rafsanjani in January. The oil workers are explained, "We believe it is beneficial to protesting the government's pri attract knowledge from abroad and that a vatization and layoff plans and cultural exchange of books will have a are demanding wage improve positive effect in the long run." ments. The government here has allocated 50 Delegates arriving here from billion rials this year for subsidizing the Brazil to attend the fifth meeting purchase of books from abroad, most of of .the Sao Paulo Forum, a gath which will be used by people buying ering of political parties from books at the 10-day book fair at govern around Latin America and the ment-subsidized prices. Individual Irani Caribbean, reported on the battle ans can get a card giving them permission taking shape there. One refinery Continued on Page 12 Oil workers rally against privatization outside Petrobras offices in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. to buy books up to a certain limit at subsi dized prices, by showing their drivers li cense or similar identification. At the exchange rate that operated three 'Best opportunity for peace in years' weeks ago (4,000 rials to US$1) the sub sidy for books would be equivalent to $12.5 million. However, uncertainty over Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams gets good response on U.S. tour being able to complete trading contracts BY BARBARA BOWMAN Collins, 30, moved to this Midwestern Rockhurst College here May 15. The and over the strength of the Iranian econ KANSAS CITY, Missouri- "I city from Dublin, Ireland, a year and half Kansas City chapter of Irish Northern Aid omy in the face of Washington's proposed thought Gerry Adams was very encourag ago. He now heads up Celtic Fringe, a and a number of other Irish-American or sanctions sent the rial plummeting in the ing and positive. He has gained the respect group that deals with the problems of re ganizations from Kansas City and St. foreign exchange markets. At its lowest of a lot of Irish who might not have agreed cent Irish immigrants to Kansas City. He Louis sponsored the meeting. level two weeks ago - 7,500 rials to the with his views prior to the cease-fire," was part of a crowd of 220 who heard Sinn Asked whether the Irish Republican dollar- the purchasing power of the stated Ronan Collins. Fein president Gerry Adams speak at Army (IRA) should tum in its arms to fur book budget would have been reduced ther the "peace process" as the British considerably. The government has re government has demanded, Adams re cently imposed a fixed rate of 3,000 rials Western Ininers win contract sponded, ''There are five armed groups in to the dollar for all foreign exchange trans Northern Ireland and the IRA is only one actions. of them. By far the largest armed force is Many publishers here oppose the U.S. preserving eight-hour day the British government. There are 30,000 Continued on Page 12 BY DAN FEIN eight-hour day was a safety issue, as well British troops, state police, and RUC WINDOW ROCK, Arizona - After as a question of having a life outside of [Royal Ulster Constabulary) forces in an eight days on strike, union coal miners work. "Many of our members operate area the size of Rhode Island. here won a victory, gaining a new contract heavy earth-moving equipment and will "Sinn Fein wants all the guns taken out Help sell with Pittsburgh and Midway (P&M) Coal experience more back injuries by working of Irish politics and will move with the Mining Co. that preserves the eight-hour longer hours," he said. others to advance the process until disar day and makes other gains. Members of The new five-year contract allows the mament is brought to a reality," he said. 1,500 more United Mine Workers of America company to ask for volunteers for week Another man asked Adams how the (UMW A) Local I 332, most of whom are end work. With business booming, P&M's "Catholic ethos," would be preserved in subscriptions Navajos, began the strike at midnight May McKinley mine began running coal on the unified Ireland of the future. "No church should have to depend on the state 5 after voting 214-55 to reject a company some Saturdays over the past year by ask Dear 'Militant' readers and distributors, offer. The new contract was approved by ing for volunteers who get time-and-a-half to enforce its doctrine," responded a vote of 199 to 13. pay. No coal was run on Sundays. The Adams. "We need to be building an Ire Supporters of the socialist press have a Miners at P&M's McKinley surface new contract allows volunteer overtime on land where people have total religious challenge and an opportunity between mine here extracted more than 8 million the weekends with time-and-a-half for fre.edom. And it's fundamental that we now and June 11 to sign up new readers to tons of coal from the 27,000-acre mine Saturday work and double-time for. Sun have civil liberties. It's not a religious war the Militant and the Spanish-language last year. Half of the mine is located on the day work. in Ireland. The cause of the division of the Perspectiva Mundial, and sell the New In Navajo Nation. ''The unions fought hard for the eight people in Ireland is the British govern ternational magazine. With less than three P&M wanted to introduce a new work hour day," Oliver commented. "Anything ment, not religion," the Sinn Fein presi- weeks left in the 10-week campaign, we schedule of four 10-hour days Monday more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a dent emphasized. · have sold just under half of the interna through Thursday at straight time; and week must be at premium pay. We refuse Adams reported that since he has been tional sales goals. To complete the circula force some "weekend warriors" to work to go back to the 1930s." allowed to travel to the United States and tion campaign on time and in full, support for 10 hours on Friday, 12 hours on Satur The other main issue in the strike was speak publicly in this country, the British ers need to sell 1,518 subscriptions to the day, and 12 hours on Sunday at 50 hours' over pensions. The new contract increases government has lifted the Broadcast Act, Militant, 346 to Perspectiva Mundilll, and pay. No one crossed the picket line during pension payments 30 percent for retired which banned his voice and those of other 633 copies of New International. The po the strike. miners. Before, some miners in their 70s Sinn Fein leaders from British radio and litical opportunities to do so are there for Lawrence Oliver, president of Local remained on the job because the pension television. "Up until now when you were the taking. 1332, told the Militant in an interview that was so small. Oliver said the new contract in RUC custody you had to speak, but you Workers and farmers across Latin "the 80 percent rejection of the company's will allow them and others over 65 years couldn't speak on the BBC," he said. America are striking and demonstrating alternative work schedule was motivated old to now retire with dignity. One questioner, noting empty seats in against government austerity measures by members wanting to keep the eight The new contract also includes an the theater, asked if the bombing of the and assaults by the employers on their hour day with weekends off. However, across-the-board 30-cents-per-hour raise U.S. federal building in Oklahoma City wages and Jiving standards. Young com munists in Cuba are reaching out for soli- some miners liked the idea of three or four per year and a reduction in the probation had made it more difficult for Sinn Fein days off work." Oliver explained the Continued on Page 3 . Continued on Page 6 Continued on Page S
I New Je~sey rally condemns police brutality- page 4 I IN BRIEF------Clinton breaks Korea oil deal turned the cards. Clinton administration officials told the N.Y. officials rig housing lottery government of North Korea May 18 that Washington will delay oil shipments Officials of a New York suburb violated agreed to last October, accusing Py the Fair Housing Act when they rigged a ongyang of "diverting" the fuel. In talks lottery for subsidized housing to exclude last year, the U.S. government promised Blacks and ensure homes went to well more than $4 billion in new nuclear tech connected individuals, a judge ruled. For nology and oil supplies to North Korea if mer village clerk Harold Scully testified Pyongyang froze its nuclear program, that Republican senator Alfonse D' Amato which Washington contended was aimed ordered him to add his cousin to the list of at developing nuclear weapons. The U.S. people eligible to purchase one of the 44 government sent 50,000 tons of oil earlier financed houses. Officials tipped off this year. Representatives of the United politically-connected residents to get their States and North Korea began a new names on the top of ·the list before others round oftalks on the nuclear program May had the opportunity to apply. 20. The judge found Island Park, Long Is land, liable for millions of dollars in dam U.S. soldiers beat man in Seoul ages. A U.S. magistrate will determine the South Korean police detained 12 U.S. exact amount at a later hearing. No Blacks soldiers in Seoul for beating a Korean received any of the homes. man. According to police, the drunken Bill would outlaw anti-gay bias soldiers dragged Cho Chung-koo, 28, out of a subway car and beat him May 19. Cho Rhode Island may soon become the said the soldiers attacked him after he ninth state to outlaw discrimination protested their sexual harassment of a Ko against gays. Gov. Lincoln Almond said rean woman. About 60 protesters gathered he will sign the bill, which the Senate in front of the police station demanding passed May 19 and the House approved punishment for the soldiers. Washington last March. The measure forbids discrimi maintains 37,000 troops in South Korea. nation on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, credit, housing, and public U.S. gov't seizes Japanese boats accommodation, except by religious orga nizations. An amendment allowing the The U.S. Coast Guard seized two Boy Scouts to refuse to hire homosexuals Japanese fishing boats in mid-May for al was defeated. legedly fishing in Pacific waters con trolled by the United States. The two House votes to ease water control ships' captains admit casting their nets in side the U.S. fishing zone around the Some S,OOO workers marched in San Salvador, El Salvador May lS to protest The U.S. House.of Representatives ap Northern Mariana Islands, a group of is a proposed hike in the value-added tax and government privatization plans. proved legislation May 16 to ease pollu lands south of Japan. U.S. troops occupied The telecommunications and hydroelectric workers also demanded a raise tion controls contained in dozens of pro the islands in 1944 to use as bases for a grams under the Clean Water Act of 1972. direct attack on Japan. The bipartisan vote would rewrite major sections of environmental law. The bill communities. ons, claims its position is that all nuclear would give more authority to state govern Protest says U.S. out of Okinawa weapons should be destroyed. "The indef More than 13,000 demonstrators New Delhi condemns atomic pact ments, and more weight to the considera inite extension of the nonproliferation tions of corporations, in setting water formed a nearly nine-mile-long human New Delhi rejected the indefinite exten treaty means that the international com chain around a U.S. military base in Oki sion of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty quality standards. President Bill Clinton munity has accepted the institutionaliza threatened to veto the measure. nawa May 14 demanding the return of by the 17 4-member governments that tion of nuclear double standards," an In land. The Pentagon keeps some 40 U.S. signed the agreement in early May. The dian government spokesperson said. Court to reconsider vote ban military bases and facilities on Okinawa, pact maintains the status quo by allowing Jaswant Singh of the rightist Bharatiya A three-judge appeals panel recently or scene of heavy fighting in World War II. Washington, Beijing, Moscow, London, Janata Party, the largest opposition party, Washington maintained miJitary control of and Paris to keep nuclear weapons while has called on· the government to develop dered a federal court ro reconsider a law the island until 1972 when it was turned other governments must promise not to ac its nuclear arsenal. The party vowed to suit by Black and Latino inmates in New York who challenged a state Jaw that pro over to Tokyo. The protesters say the U.S. quire them. build atomic weapons if it wins power. bases can lead to more war, and that the The Indian government, which did not hibits them from voting. Nine prisoners air bases especially are a hazard to nearby sign the treaty and stocks nuclear weap- Truckers from Mexico protest filed suit last year arguing that forbidding inmates convicted of felonies from voting Truckers from Mexico blocked .the in dilutes Black and Hispanic voting power ternational bridges between Mexico and in New York City, in violation of the Vot Laredo, Texas, May 8, to protest a drop in ing Rights Act. The plaintiffs noted that import traffic and tough new inspections 75 percent of people in state prisons are by U.S. Customs agents of northbound members of oppressed nationalities from goods. The rigorous inspections, part of New York City and that Blacks are statis "Operation Hardline," have cut down the tically more likely to be imprisoned than number of trips a day a trucker can make whites for the same felonies. from four to two. The court must decide if the state law The truckers also shut down the Laredo violates the Voting Rights Act, which pro bridges - the busiest border point in hibits any practices that disenfranchise U.S.-Mexico long-haul trucking- in late voters because of race. Plaintiffs are not April to oppose Immigration and Natural required to prove that discrimination was ization Service (INS) crackdowns. INS of intentional, only that it occurred. Thirty ficials conceded they were lifting border states bar inmates convicted of felonies crossing cards of truckers returning to from voting. Mexico with empty trailers. After the April shutdown the INS backed off and re- -PAT SMITH
bank, to above address. By first-class (airmail), send $80. Asia: send $80 drawn on a U.S. bank The Militant to 410 West St., New York. NY 10014. Vol. 59/No. 22 Canada: Send Canadian $75 for one-year sub Closing news date: May 25, 1995 scription to Militant, 4581 St. Denis, Montreal, Editor: STEVE CLARK Quebec H2J 2L4. Britain, Ireland: £36 for one Business Manager: NAOMI CRAINE year by check or international money order Editorial Staff: Naomi Craine, Hilcla Cuzco. made out to Militant Distribution, 47 The Cut, Laura Garza. Martin Koppel, Paul Mailhot, London, SEI 8LL. England. Continental Eu Greg Rose11berg, Pat Smith, and Maurice rope, Africa, Middle East: £40 for one year by Williams. check or international money order made out to Published weekly except for one week in De Militant Distribution at above address. France: NAME cember and biweekly from mid-June to mid Send FF300 for one-year subscription to Mi.li August by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 tant, 8 allee Berlioz, 94800 Villejuif cheque West St., New York, NY 10014. Telephone: postale: 25-465-01-S. Paris. Belgium: BF 1,900 ADDRESS (2 12) 243-6392; Fax (212) 924-6040. for one year on account no. 000- 1543112-36 of The Militant can be reached via CompuServe I Mei Fonds/Fonds du I mai. 2140 Antwerp. at: 733 I 1,2720 or via Peacenet at: themilitant lceland:Send 5.000 Icelandic kronur for one Internet: 7331 [email protected] year subscription to Militant, P.O. Box 233, 121 or: themilitant@ igc.apc.org Reykjavik. Sweden, Finland, Norway, Den Correspondence concerning subscriptions or mark: 500 Swedish kronor for one year. Pay to CITY STATE ZIP changes of address should be addressed to The Militant Swedish giro no. 451-32-09-9. New D $27 for 6 months Militant Business Office, 410 West St., New Zealand: Send New Zealand $90 to P.O. Box York, NY 10014. 3025, Auckland, New Zealand. Australia: UNION/SCHOOUORGANIZATION PHONE Second-class postage paid at New York, NY, Send Australian $75 to P.O. Box K879, Hay and at additional mailing offices. POSTMAS· D $45 for 1 year CLIP AND MAIL TO THE MILITANT, 410 WEST ST., market, NSW 2000, Australia. Paciftc Islands: NEW YORK, NY 10014. TER: Send address changes to the Militant, 410 Send Australian $75 or New Zealand $100 to West St.. New York. NY 10014. Subscriptions: P.O. Box 3025, Auckland, New Zealand. U.S.: for one-year subscription send $45 to Signed articles by contributors do not neces above address. Latin America, Caribbean: for sarily represent the Militant's views. These are one-year subscription send $65, drawn on a U.S. expressed in editorials.
2 The Militant June 5,1995 S. Africa gov't to set up truth commission BY GREG ROSENBERG by criminals who want to return us to the South Africa's National Assembly on past.. ..The se acts of thuggery have inten May 17 approved the Truth BiJJ, which sified since some senior politicians called will provide for public airing of crimes on their followers in this province to 'rise committed under apartheid rule. The legis and resist the central government. ... lation is expected to be approved by the "I want to warn again: Should they dare Senate and signed into law by South abuse government funds to finance the African president Nelson Mandela. agenda to 'rise and resist' central govern More than 20,000 people have been ment, I will not hesitate to stop the funding killed in political violence over the past and find alternative channels of servicing decade alone in South Africa. The army, the people of this province." police, special hit squads, and political Mandela added that "the ANC is ready parties receiving arms, funding, and train to meet any interested party, including the ing from the white regime- particularly IFP on constitutional matters. But we the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)- were don't believe that the involvement of for responsible for most of these deaths. eigners at this stage will take us any closer The bill would establish an 11 - to 17- to an agreement. Our view is that all par member Truth and Reconciliation Com ties are capable of representing their own mission ·to probe violence, murder, and viewpoints." other abuses committed under apartheid ''More than 20,000 innocent people rule. The commission would be empow have been slaughtered in this senseless vi ered to grant amnesty to those who admit olence since I 984. It is my duty to stop to the details of crimes they committed that cruel slaughter," said Mandela in a prior to Dec. 5, 1993, and to grant com May I 0 interview with the Sowetan. pensation to the victims. "There must be free and fair elections in The bill passed after a five-hour debate the forthcoming local government elec that followed months of intensive public Militani/Greg Rosenberg tions in every pait of our country, includ discussion on its final provisions. Only the Aftermath of rightist bombing near Johannesburg offices of ANC, April 24, 1994. ing KwaZulu-Natal. I am not going to al Freedom Front, a right-wing party cam Freedom Front and National Party want amnesty date extended to May 10, 1994. low a situation where other political par paigning for a volkstaat- an Afrikaner ties are not allowed to contest in homeland- voted against the measure. K waZulu-Natal." The Freedom Front counts several former northern coast. According to a report in temational mediation to advance their de The ANC's stance has brought reproach and current top military and police offi the New Nation newspaper, "Hostels mands for provincial autonomy to pre from the big-business press. The Johan cials in its ranks, and is Jed by former gen around Durban are being turned into serve the wealth and privilege they de nesburg Star wrote that the threat to cut eral Constand Viljoen. armed camps, with residents being forced rived from running the KwaZulu home off funds to the provincial legislature "will Inkatha deputies abstained from the out and Inkatha Freedom Party fighters land under apartheid. inflame rather than cool temperatures." vote stating they favored a judicial inquiry trained at the Mlaba camp in northern Mandela told a May 20 rally in The editors of Business Day described rather than a truth commission. Respond KwaZulu-Natal being deployed to replace KwaMthethwa in KwaZulu-Natal that the Inkatha 's course as a protest against ing to this, Water and Forestry Affairs them." province "is under the dark cloud of a "ANC duplicity on international media Minister Kader Asmal of the African Na Inkatha leaders continue to demand in- reign of fear and destruction perpetrated tion." tional Congress said, "we must make it impossible for those who were part of an evil past to present a sanitized, white washed version to future generations." Tel Aviv suspends seizure of Palestinian land Both the Freedom Front and National Party, led by South African deputy BY PAT SMITH ington's UN veto. families. president F.W. de Klerk, argued that the The Israeli government retreated May Although Palestine Liberation Organi "We inherited this land- it's impor date for the amnesty should be extended to 22 and suspended its plan to usurp more zation (PLO) chairman Yasir Arafat had tant to us," said Mohammed Jadallah, a May I 0, 1994 - the date of ANC presi than 130 acres of Palestinian-owned land said the confiscations would not interfere Palestinian physician whose two acres of dent Mandela's inauguration as president in Jerusalem. Marwan Kanafani, a with talks with the Israeli government, land were scheduled to be seized by the of the republic. This was necessary, said spokesperson for the Palestinian Author others in the PLO leadership warned Tel Israeli government. "Unfortunately, this Freedom Front spokesman Come Mulder, ity, said the administration hoped Tel Aviv that the land issue could spark a new is the last area that we have as a family to prevent "disunjty and further conflict." Aviv's· about~ face ·represented '!an· ulti uprising among Palestinians. "There is a because of other confiscations over the In the parliamentary debate, Mandela mate retreat [from) the whole .policy of serious and continuing attempt to swallow last 25 years." The Israeli government has said he sympathized with the call for ex land confiscation," not simply a domestic Jerusalem land piece by piece," said Nabil refused to grant Jadallah construction per tending the cutoff date, but that those wbo political maneuver. Shaath, a PLO negotiator. "And this mits. Tel Aviv said it planned to build a were promoting this idea would first have Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's gov threatens the whole peace process." police headquarters and housing, includ to cooperate to bring down the level of po ernment was facing mounting criticism in Israeli foreign minjster Shimon Peres ing 440 apartments for Palestinians, on the litical violence inside the country. ternationally and a no-confidence vote in met with Arafat May 22 in Gaza to try to land. "Instead of giving us houses the way Parliament that th reatened to bring down smooth over the situation. In a gesture they want it." Jadallah said, "why don't Rising violence in K waZulu-Natal his government. aimed at keeping the talks going, Peres they Jet us build houses our way?" Opponents of the democratic revolution Officials throughout the Middle East agreed to increase the number of Pales The Israeli government told property are stepping up their violent opposition to and Europe had condemned the proposed tinian laborers allowed to work inside Is owners they would be ·able to appeal the its course, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal land seizures. Many Israelis interviewed rael by several thousand to 35,000. He expropriations or ~pp ly for compensation. province. On November I, nationwide lo by the media also expressed their disap also pledged that Palestinians in the West However, the government never made a cal government elections will take place proval of the proposed government action. Bank may assume authority over electric serious compensation offer. It was also - the first in which citizens will be able Washington stood alone May 17, as it ity, energy, and a few other areas before clear that Palestinians would continue to to cast ballots in a majority-rule election. killed a United Nations Security Council the July 1 deadline agreed to in the 1993 reject payments that amount to legitimiz Registration is picking up. More than resolution asking Tel Aviv "to rescind the Israeli-Palestinian accords. Implementing ing Tel Aviv's "right" to their land. 57 percent of those eligible are now regis expropriation [of land) and to refrain from the next stage in the accords, including Is tered to vote in the November I elections. such action in the future." The mild decree raeli withdrawal from more West Bank Status of Jerusalem Inkatha is resisting the approaching would have laid no sanctions or other pun towns, is already a year behind schedule. The latest land-seizure announcement elections and steps taken toward forging a ishment against Israel if the government Some 400 Palestinians rallied in east propelled the question of the future of nation. Inkatha thugs stormed the provin went through with its plan to take land in Jerusalem May 19 to demand an end to Jerusalem to center stage. Faisal Husseini cial parliament in Ulundi May 9 disrupting the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Beit Sa land seizures. In a leaflet distributed May of the PLO called for immediate talks with government functions. fara or Beit Hanina. 21 in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Tel Aviv on the status of Jerusalem May They have also been implicated in the Representatives of the governments of Bank, rank-and-file activists from Fatah, 18. massacre of more than a dozen ANC Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria the dominant group in the PLO, called on "The battle for Jerusalem has begun," members in May. From May I to 24, at welcomed the reversal and called off a the organization to suspend talks until tl)e Israel's housing minister said. least 66 people were killed in political vio May 27 summit in Rabat, Morocco, to dis~ Israeli government canceled the land Rightists like Jerusalem mayor Ehud lence. On May 9, 1-1 ANC supporters were cuss their response to the Israeli govern seizures. Olmert backed the confiscation plan. killed in three attacks at lsithebe on the ment's planned confiscation and Wash- 'This is a Jewish city. I think that having U.S. veto condemned more Arabs is calling for trouble. I have to Officials in Europe and the Middle East show who is the balabusta," he said, using berated Washington for vetoing the Secu the Yiddish word for master of the house. Miners hold onto eight-hour day rity Council resolution. Legislators in ·Jor He condemned the government's suspen dan proposed suspending that country's sion of the seizures saying, "This is a gov Continued from front page order to avoid the company's proposal. treaty with Tel Aviv. "It is inappropriate ernment of surrenderers, ·a government period for new hires from 45 to 30 days. · Although the strike lasted only nine that a veto be used against a resolution Jacking self-respect and principles, a The union wanted a Training and Edu days, (an article in issue no. 20 of the Mili which aimed to defend the peace process," bunch of cowards." cation Fund whereby the company paid tant mistakenly reported that the union Egypt's foreign minister Amr Moussa Washington's rejection of the Security for schooling for active miners, their de had returned to work after three days on said. "True, the Israeli position is backed Council resolution came only a few weeks pendents, and those laid-off. This was strike) many unions called to offer support by America, but it is rejected by Arabs, after it won indefinite extension of the nu omitted from the·final contract. including Oil, Chemical and Atomic and it is with the Arabs that the peace pro clear nonproliferation treaty despite strong A "Labor-Management Positive Workers locals, nearby UMWA locals and cess is being conducted." opposition from the Egyptian and other Change Program" similar to that included the teachers union in Gallup, New Mex "We are furious with both the Israelis Arab governments, who sought to force in the 1993 National Bituminous Coal ico. and the Americans," a European Union of Israel to sign the agreement. After the U.S. Wage Agreement was incorporated into Train crews at Gallup's Santa Fe facil ficial said after the UN vote. veto at the United Nations, Cairo's foreign the new contract. UMWA International ity were affected by the strike - they usu The Israeli human rights group minister warned, "If things go on like this, Secretary-Treasurer Jeri-y Jones, who ne ally load two trains per day at the P&M B 'Tselem condemned the latest confisca there will be a nuclear race in the region." gotiated for the union, said in the March McKinley mine. One conductor, a mem tions. The group said that since Tel Aviv He said there can never be peace in the April United Mine Workers Journal that ber of the United Transportation Union took control of Jerusalem in the 1967 war region while Israel possesses nuclear this set up "empowers our members and (UTU), told this reporter he was glad to the Israeli government seized one-third of weapons. "In the past we have wasted nu gives them a stronger voice to keep their see the miners stand up to the company. the 17,500 acres that used to be under the merous opportunities to build up a power mines competitive ..." Jordanian government's control. Not one that can stand up to the Israeli nuclear ar Oliver said the union introduced its ver Dan Fein is a member ofUTU Local 14/6 of the more than 38,000 housing units Tel maments program. We cannot afford to do sion of a labor-management committee in in Salt lAke City, Utah. · Aviv constructed there went to Palestinian this any longer." JuneS, 1995 The Militant 3 New Jersey protest: 'We want cop in jail'
BY DAN FURMAN edly kicked in the head by Chiusolo while JERSEY CITY, New Jersey - Some on the ground. 500 people marched through the driving All three were arrested and taken to a rain here May 17 to protest police brutality hospital after the scuffle. There they were and demand justice for Julio Tarquino. examined for head injuries and then re Tarquino, 22, was visiting New Jersey leased back into police custody. Five from Palm Springs, Florida, with his fi hours later, Tarquino was discovered ancee when he was arrested, handcuffed, slumped over in his cell. He died from and brutally beaten by off-duty police offi bleeding on the brain caused by multiple cers May 8. He died five days later from skull fractures. his injuries. The incident provoked particular out The march drew participants and ges rage because Chiusolo has a history of tures of solidarity from nearby apartment brutality. In 1991, he shot and killed Max dwellers as it wound its way from the gas imino Cintr6n Ortiz, a 22-year old from station where Tarquino was attacked to a Puerto Rico who was tinting the car win rally in front of the county administration dows of a friend in Jersey City. Despite building in downtown Jersey City. Tar organized protests, Chiusolo was cleared quino was a Bolivian native, and many by a grand jury three months later. After Militant/Martha Pettit participants carried Bolivian flags, as well Tarquino's arrest, a Puerto Rican man Some 500 demonstrators demand justice for Julio Tarquino, who was killed by Jer as flags from Puerto Rico, Mexico, the came forward to complain about being sey City cops. Ofracer who beat Tarquino had a history of police brutality charges. Dominican Republic and other countries beaten by Chiusolo after he was stopped in Latin America. A soccer team joined on the highway. On May 9, nearly 150 Speakers addressed the May 17 rally for within the police department. "The police the march in uniform. Speakers at the rally protesters stormed into the Jersey City two hours, mostly in Spanish, with are charged with upholding the law," said i'ncluded a broad array of Latino commu Council meeting to demand justice for speeches frequently punctuated by cries of Maynard Banks, president of the Jersey nity leaders, victims of pol ice brutality, Tarquino. "Justice for Julio!" City chapter of the NAACP. "We need to and other activists. Under increasing pressure, Jersey City "I was brutalized myself," said Isabel have an independent civilian review board Tarquino had stopped with Jenny Fial authorities charged Chiusolo with murder. Espinoza, a local activist against police appointed so that we can ensure that they los, his fiancee, and a friend at a gas sta Chiusolo turned himself in and was re brutality. "It is not just abuse- it takes do their job right" tion on the way home from a nightclub. leased on $ 100,000 bail, provoking further away our dignity, our self-·esteem. We De Lacy Davis, an East Orange police- After a confrontation with two men out outrage. ''This is not enough to pay for have to fight back. And it is not just Lati- man and founder of "Black Cops Against side, off-duty cop John Chiusolo ran up Julio's life," said his brother Milton Tar nos who understand this. We are a mixed Police Brutality" stated, "We, as Black and began hitting Tarquino. According to quino, who flew up from Bolivia. The Bo community- whites, Blacks and Latinos and Latino police officers, must stand up witnesses, Tarquino was handcuffed, livian government has asked for an inves must fight this together." and not allow this kind of thing to hap- struck with a blackjack and then repeat- tigation into the death of Julio Tarquino. Others raised that the problem lay pen.'' "We need officers that look like us, understand us, and that come from the same background as us," chimed in a Jer sey City detective who joined him on Girvies Davis is executed in -Illinois stage. Jersey City police organizations have come out in support of Chiusolo. BY RAY PARSONS to block the scheduled execution. made in this case.'' Many in the crowd expressed the view CHICAGO- Early May 17, officials At DePaul University, student activists Even proponents of capital punishment that the arrest of Chiusolo was just the be at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest of Students for a Democratic Society, felt compelled to distance themselves ginning of the struggle. "We want him Hill, Illinois, injected three lethal chemi Amnesty International, and other groups from the Davis execution. Former tried on homicide charges," said Tony cals into the arm of Girvies Davis, killing sponsored a campus forum in defense of Chicago police chief Richard J. Brzeczek Morales. "We don't want him to get a slap him over the course of six minutes. Davis on May II, drawing 30 participants. came forward, worried that "I'm very on the wrist - we want him in jail." The state convicted and sentenced At a May 15 rally outside the State of 111i much in favor of the death penalty, but ''This is a fight for a11 working people," Davis to death in the t 978 murder of nois Building in dow.ntown Chicago, this is the kind of case that gives capital said Robert Miller, Socialist Workers can Charles Biebel. No physical evidence Darby Tillis spoke in defense of Davis. punishment a bad name." didate for Congress in New Jersey's 29th linked him to the murder. The case was Tillis spent nine years in prison on frame In an interview with the Militant, Don District, who spoke at the rally. "As an based mainly on confessions police claim up charges, four of those years on death nelly pointed to the importance of fighting auto worker, I can tell you that this is be Davis offered to make in a written note to row. It took five trials, with three hung ju the use of capital punishment. "This strug ing discussed in every 'language among his jailers, then freely read and signed. But ries, before Tillis was acquitted. gle is becoming more central to the strug workers across the state. A victory is pos Davis was illiterate at the time of his ar U.S. Congressman Donald Payne, rep gle for human rights," he said. Promotion sible in this case - we can win the con rest, a fact not made known to trial jurors. resenting the Congressional Black Cau of the death penalty "is one of the primary viction of Chiusolo- but only if we keep The confessions were produced after cus, wrote to Edgar, "There are just too tools used by politicians to divert attention organizing and reaching out to draw more police took Davis on a late night ride many inconsistencies in the beyond-a from the real source of the problems of so people into the struggle against police bru "looking for evidence." Davis explained reasonable-doubt decisions that were ciety." tality." that he had been taken to an isolated spot, his handcuffs removed, and the offer made: try running away, or sign the papers presented before him. Toronto meeting exposes frame-up cases "I signed everything they had," Davis said. "I was fearful for my life. I found out BY MARGARET MANWARING Several speakers answered those who A documentary about his innocence aired later I had signed statements for I 0 mur TORONTO -"If you want to know would argue that the fact these victims of on a prime-time news program. The re ders and 10 attempted murders and my who this happens to, look in the mirror," wrongful conviction are free today proves quest for a new trial was filed with the Miranda rights.'' Included were confes explained Kirk Bloodsworth. He was ad that "the system works." Kirk Makin, au Minister of Justice. In March 1995 Young sions to nine other murders. The prosecu dressing the conference of the Association thor of Redrum the Innocent that docu was murdered in prison trying to protect a tion now acknowledges that three of these in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted ments the case of Guy Paul Morin, ex fellow inmate from thugs. murders were committed by other people. (AIDWYC) held in Toronto May 5-6. plained that his story is rather "a saga of Among those participating in the con During the trial against Davis, who is Bloodsworth was one of several victims the miscarriage of justice." ference were supporters of the campaign Black, the prosecution used preemptory of wrongful convictions who spoke at the Both James McCloskey, founder of to defend Mark Curtis, a unionist and po challenges to exclude all Blacks from the conference. He was released from prison Centurion Ministries, a U.S. organization litical activist sentenced to 25 years in jury. This practice was later held to be un in 1993, nine years after he was framed for dedicated to freeing the wrongly con Iowa on frame-up charges of rape and bur constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl victed, and James Lockyer, one of glary. John Cox, a member of the steering The ruling did not apply retroactively. in Maryland. DNA testing of the evidence Morin's lawyers, pointed to the similari committee for the defense campaign, re The Girvies Davis Clemency commit led to his release. ties between different cases of unjust con ported that many new supporters were tee led a campaign for justice in Davis' " It Could Happen to You" was the title viction. Prosecutorial and police miscon won at the conference. Ten copies of the case that involved a wide array of death of the final session of the conference duct are common, involving the suppres new Pathfinder pamphlet, Why is Mark penalty abolitionists, religious figures, where Bloodsworth spoke. He 'Yas joined sion or manipulation of evidence, the will Curtis Still in Prison? were sold and 20 civil liberties activists, and youth from on the panel by Guy Paul Morin, Marshall ful use of jailhouse informants, and the conference participants signed up to re area colleges and high schools. Several Thompson, David Milgaard and Thomas wringing of false confessions through gru ceive more information about Mark's fight street protests were organized including Sophonow. All of them had done time in eling and confusing interrogations. for freedom and justice. one of 300 people May 6. The case re Canada's prisons for murders they did not "We should be concerned about those "This is outrageous!" said Joyce Mil ceived wide attention in the media in Illi commit, up to 22 years in the case of Mil who are sworn to uphold the law and who gaard after getting information about the nois and around the world. Lawyers for gaard. Joyce Milgaard, David's mother knowingly send innocent persons to Curtis case. She pledged to write to Curtis Davis put defense information on the In and untiring activist in the campaign for prison. What else is this but a crime? They in prison and send a letter to the Iowa pa ternet, and I11inois Governor Jim Edgar's his release, chaired the session. kidnap an innocent person, there's force role board demanding that he be released. office received some 1,200 e-mail mes Their testimony provided a moving ful confinement, torture and in the case of Cox noted that many people involved in sages of protest from around the world. conclusion to the conference of about 130 the death penalty, conspiracy to commit defense campaigns, such as those repre The lllinois Coalition Against the Death participants which also heard from murder," Carter said. sented at the conference, are fighters who Penalty has campaigned tirelessly against lawyers, judges, a forensic scientist, repre One of the powerful indictments of the readily understand the nature of Curtis's Davis's death sentence. Seth Donnelly, sentatives of the media and activists in "justice" system presented at the confer frame up. "This conference provided a the group's executive director, said the ob volved in defense campaigns. ence was the case of Donze! Young, a vivid illustration of the injustice that the vious frame-up nature of this case was re The Executive Director of AIDWYC, Black youth who did six and a half years so-called criminal justice system metes sponsible for bringing together a broad op Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, also spoke. in Ontario's prisons for a murder he did out every day to working people in the position. Carter, who spent 19 years in U.S. prisons not commit. Young was known to his United States and Canada," Cox said. Prnf. David Protess and a team of grad for a 1966 murder he did not commit, friends as "the peacemaker." Despite am Demands raised by conference partici uate students at Northwestern University's drew out some lessons about the fight for ple evidence that Young was not the mur pants included the need to ban the use of school of journalism worked extensively justice in the United States and elsewhere. derer, he never received proper legal rep jailhouse informants, the formation of a to uncover the trial inconsistencies key to "Once you become a suspect, once you resentation before his conviction. public body responsible for inquiries into Davis' appeal for clemency. Protess was become a target of the police, you're in In 1994 AIDWYC decided to take up a wrongful convictions, and provisions for joined by eight area law professors at a trouble. Forget about innocent until public campaign to win Young's freedom. speedy retribution for those freed from press conference May 14 to call on Edgar proven guilty," he said. Key eyewitness te·stimony was unearthed. prison. 4 The Militant JuneS, 1995 Sales drive enters final weeks Sweden• 28 40 70% 10 15 41 45 Continued from front page during Sinn Fein president Gerry and in the articles on the struggle Greece 7 10 70% 0 1 4 4 darity around the world and build Adams's tour of the United States, for land by Maoris in New Iceland 9 15 60% 0 1 1 3 ing the August "Cuba Lives" In activities in defense of the Cuban Zealand. Canada ternational Youth Festival. Sup revolution, picket lines, rallies The team also went to the Santa Vancouver 40 70 57% 5 8 14 20 porters of self-determination for against police brutality, and many Fe railyard in Gallup, New Mex Toronto 47 85 55% 8 15 9 45 Ireland - in Northern Ireland, other events, supporters have sold ico, just a short distance from the Montreal 32 75 43% 4 25 25 45 Total 119 230 52"4 17 110 Ireland, England, the United hundreds of single copies of the mine, and sold one subscription 48 48 Puerto Rico 1 2 50% 3 8 3 5 States, and elsewhere- are tak Militant and Perspectiva Mundial. and six single issues of the Mili twwZealand ing the initiative in the fight to end Now is the time to follow up with tant to brakemen and engineers. Wellington 8 10 80% 0 0 2 4 the British occupation and divi these readers to sign them up for a •!• Auckland 38 80 48% 1 6 7 20 Christchurch 17 40 43% 4 10 sion of Ireland. Mine workers subscription. Supporters of the Militant in 2 2 Total 63 130 48% 3 8 10 34 from Window Rock, Arizona, to The items that follow give an Greensboro, North Carolina, re Mt. ]sa, Australia, have pushed idea of some of the sales experi port that one activist bought a sub back attacks by the bosses on their ences Militant supporters have United States scription to the Militant after par Atlanta• 66 90 73% 17 27 unions. had over the last week. If you 25 25 ticipating in a recent picket line Greensboro 47 70 67% 5 8 10 20 Thinking workers, young peo would like to help with the inter protesting former British prime Seattle 58 90 64% 11 15 20 25 ple, and others who want to stand national effort to get out the pa minister Margaret Thatcher's visit los Angeles 114 180 63% 60 90 58 90 up against the effects of the world pers that tell the truth about work to the state. Miami 61 105 58% 19 45 34 60 wide crisis of the market system ing people's struggles, please get Supporters cite new opportuni Salt lake City 61 105 58% 12 20 13 35 need to know about these strug in touch with the nearest .distribu Washington. DC 45 80 56% 16 30 17 35 ties for selling subscriptions to the Boston 56 1,00 56% 9 30 17 35 gles and need to know how they tor listed on page 12, or contact Spanish-language magazine Per can be part of the fight to get rid the Militant at (212) 243-6392. Houston 44 80 55% 6 15 13 20 spectiva Mundial. Hundreds of Morgantown 30 55 55% 6 20 of capitalism and build a new so 1 2 workers from Mexico and Central Peoria 27 50 54% 2 2 11 20 ciety. They need to read the Mili ~:::J~a:.;«Y America have recently moved to Twin Cities· 58 120 48% 20 17 12 35 tant and other socialist publica Paul Mailhot the area. A sales team is being or Philadelphia 50 115 43% 7 30 18 45 tions. Acting Editor ganized to visit Morganton, where Pittsburgh 45 105 43% 6 12 9 30 Son Francisco 63 150 42% 9 49 Over the next few weeks, the Guatemalan workers recently 45 75 Des Moines 34 85 40% 12 36 7 30 Militant will feature first-hand re struck a poultry processing plant. ports by correspondents traveling Detroit 37 95 39% 2 10 15 28 to Argentina, Cuba, Haiti, and A sales team of Militant sup Brooklyn 48 130 37% 14 40 32 65 Uruguay. It will also feature cov porters traveled to Window Rock, Supporters of the socialist press Chicago 45 130 35% 8 30 1 20 New York 45 135 33% 14 30 27 75 Arizona, on the Navajo reserva in Atlanta are contacting 21 youth erage on how defenders of the Cleveland 19 65 29% 10 12 4 50 Cuban revolution and other young tion May 18-19 to talk to miners who subscribe to the Militant to Birmingham 20 70 29% 5 5 1 20 people are building the Cuba at the P&M surface mine whore consider buying the Marxist mag Newark 37 130 28% 14 35 14 60 Lives festival, which begins Au cently returned to work following azine New International. A sales Tucson 7 10 10% 1 2 2 5 gust 1 in Havana. This gives an a successful nine-day strike. Team team, which will include a mem Cincinnati 0 12 0% 0 2 0 3 adde~ incentive not to miss a sin- members ~old 32 single copies _of ber of the Young Socialists, will "' New Hoven 0 15 0% 0 3 0 3 gle issue. · the Militant and two ·subscriptions also travel to the coal fields in Al Total u.s. 1117 2372 47% 280 591 417 929 Successfully reaching the goals at three shift changes at the mine abama for several days. Australia 17 40 43% 6 8 15 in the circulation campaign is a gate. The team also interviewed Militant supporters will partici 8rlloln big job, but it is completely possi local union officers, one of whom pate in the national 'Rainbow Sheffield• 8 15 53% 1 1 0 10 ble. It means making maximum purchased the Pathfinder pam Coalition conference in Atlanta London· 34 70 49% 7 8 21 30 use of the international target phlet Genocide Against the Indi May 24-27, a youth concert and a Manchester 10 60 17% 4 6 25 week announced in last week's ans by George Novack. Caribbean festival over the Total 52 145 . 36% 8 13 21 65 Militant, which will run from May Miners expressed particular in Memorial Day weekend, a meet France 2 10 20% 2 5 14 20 27 through June 4. Supporters of terest in the fight to free Canadian ing protesting the U.S. Army Belgium 0 3 0% 0 4 0 10 other 17 2 the socialist press internationally gold miner and union. activist School of the Americas, and a need to use that week to gain mo Roger Warren, who is serving a meeting with garment workers in lntematlonal 1432 2997 49% 329 700 567 1240 mentum in the drive. At meetings prison term on frame-up charges, Union Point, Georgia. Should be 2065 2950 70% 472 675 840 1200
AUSTRALIA Help the 'Militant' provide AMWU (Metal) 0 1 0% 0 1 0 0 AWU-FIME 0 2 0% 1 1 0 0 eyewitness reports from Argentina to Cuba Total 0 3 0% 0 2 0 0 CANADA CAW 1 0 0% 1 0 0 0 CEP 2 7 0% 0 1 0 1 lAM 7 11 0% 1 5 2 5 Dear Reader, USWA 1 0 0% 0 0 0 0 During the next few weeks, Total l1 18 61% 2 6 2 6 Militant reporting teams will NEW ZEALAND EU 3 0 1 2 bring our readers on-the-spot 5 60% l MWU 0 4 0% 0 0 0 1 coverage of the impact of the Total 3 9 33% 0 1 1 3 capitalist economic crisis in Latin SWEDEN America and the Caribbean and spend two weeks in Cuba in throughout the Americas. The Foodworkers 0 2 0% 0 0 3 4 wor1
Lenin's Final Fight-Speeches and tillers. It freed oppressed peoples who had because we are not always able to tell ene one of the major conquests of the October Writings: 1922-23. 320 pp. New York: been under the tsarist boot of Russian op mies from friends," he points out in the 1917 revolution: the right of oppressed Pathfinder Press, 1995.$19.95 pression from Ukraine to Mongolia, and March 1922 speech. peoples to national self-determination. guaranteed their right to national self Calling for a halt to aspects of the re The appendix to the book includes sev BY MARTiN KOPPEL determination - the first government in treat once its purpose had been achieved, eral 1921 letters by Lenin on the national "I think that a few dozen workers, the world to do so. Lenin says, "We now have a different ob question. One, of particular interest today added to the CC [Central Committee], can The Bolshevik leadership organized jective, that of regrouping our forces." given events in the former Soviet Union, deal better than anybody else with check workers to expropriate capitalist property One of the measures advocated by the is addressed to communists in the Soviet ing, improving, and remodeling our state in industry, banking, and wholesale trade, communist leader along these lines is republics of the Caucasus- including the apparatus." and established a state monopoly of for dealt with in a later article, "On Coopera Mountaineer Republic, which included This proposal, made by V.I. Lenin in eign trade. It fought to draw workers into tion," written in January 1923. There what is now Chechnya. December 1922 to the approaching 12th taking increasing control of industry and Lenin argues forcefully for encouraging Through the efforts of Lenin and other on that basis advance toward workers' peasants - most of whom tilled small Bolshevik leaders, the Union of Soviet So management, making it possible to begin family plots - to form cooperatives under cialist Republics was founded as a federa economic planning to meet social needs. the leadership of the working class to ad tion of equals at the end of 1922. But IN REVIEW The Bolsheviks .also launched an inter vance the building of socialism. Lenin felt compelled to "declare war to the national communist movement to aid fel In his November 1922 speech to dele death on dominant nation chauvinism," as low workers and farmers around the world gates at the fourth congress of the Com he put it in an October 6 memo to the congress of the Communist Party in Rus in emulating their struggle. munist International, Lenin explains the party's Political Bureau. sia, captures the essence of the last politi broader relevance that the NEP experience In a series of notes addressed in Decem cal struggle waged by the central leader of New Economic Policy in Russia has for the worldwide struggle to ber 1922 to the upcoming 12th party the Russian revolution and the Soviet gov Lenin's Final Fight opens with a speech overthrow capitalist rule and begin the congress, Lenin makes some of his ernment in its early years. to the 11 th Communist Party congress in transition to socialism. sharpest and most concise statements on Lenin's Final Fight, just published by March 1922, where Lenin takes up the the national question. Referring to the ar Pathfinder, presents the record of that bat main challenges facing the Soviet govern Dispute over Georgia gument by some Russian Communist tle in Lenin's own words. In it, fighting ment. In refreshingly clear class terms and In September 1922, just a few months leaders that a single government is needed workers, farmers, and youth will discover mincing no words, he evaluates the results before the stroke that finally debilitated to rule over all the Soviet republics, he a gold mine of revolutionary politics and of the past year under the New Economic him, Lenin launched a political fight states, "Where did that assurance come the real political legacy of the Bol~hevik Policy (NEP). around the question of the Georgian re from? Did ·it not come from that same led revolution. Lenin describes the NEP, dictated in public and of the voluntary union of So Russian apparatus which . .. we took over Five years after the victory of the Octo large part by the economic and social dev viet republics. from tsarism and slightly anointed with ber 1917 revolution in Russia, Lenin was astation caused by the 1918-20 civil war In a letter to the party's Political Bureau Soviet oil?" fighting to maintain the communist course along which the Bolshevik party had led Opposes Great Russian chauvinism millions of workers and peasants to take He adds that without a conscious ap power over the landlords and capitalists, proach of preferential treatment toward defeat invading imperialist armies, and be the historically oppressed nations - an gin to build a workers state. affirmative action policy -all talk of a This Pathfinder edition makes available voluntary federation "will be a mere scrap the speeches, articles, letters, and other of paper, unable to defend the non writings in which Lenin took up the battle Russians from the onslaught of that really inside the Bolshevik party that opened in Russian man, the Great Russian chauvin September 1922. lt.compiles everything ist, in substance a rascal and a tyrant, such Lenin is known to have written from Dec. as the typical Russian bureaucrat is." 21, 1922, until his last letter of March 6, Lenin condemns Stalin for his "spite 192~. addressed to Georgian communist against the notorious 'nationalist social leaders. ism.' " Stalin had accused the Central Committee of the Georgian Communist Previously scattered documents Party of "nationalist deviations," saying While much of this material was al these should be "burned out with a red-hot ready available in the English-language iron." edition of Lenin's Collected Works pub Lenin's concern about Great Russian lished in Moscow in the 1960s, it was chauvinism was weiJ-founded. Stalin and scattered among several volumes. By Grigory Ordzhonikidze, another Central putting all these documents together and Committee member, resorted to strong in chronological order, including a few arm tactics to try to ram through their poli published for the first time, Lenin's Final cies on the national question. In protest, Fight makes for powerful reading. the Georgian CC resigned. The conflict Readers will find it hard to put down flared up in late November when Or this book as they follow Lenin's struggle dzhonikidze struck one of the dissident week by week, sometimes day by day, Georgian communists during a verbal taking up political issues that remain vi confrontation. This fact came to light tally relevant today. The chronology, de through an investigation by a Political Bu- tailed index, explanatory notes, and de . reau-appointed commission, headed by scriptive chapter divisions are a valuable Russian CC member Feliks Dzerzhinsky. aid to the reader. Over the final months of 1922, Lenin's Lenin discusses some of the burning doubts about the conduct of Stalin and his questions of that day, including the need Bolshevik leader V.I. Lenin with delegates to lOth party congress in May, 1921. Bol allies around the Georgian question to forge a union of workers and peasants shevik leadership organized workers to expropriate capitalist property in industry, mounted. Lenin organized three of his per republics, to defend the rights of op banking, and wholesale trade and establish first dictatorship of the proletariat. sonal secretaries to carry out a separate in pressed nationalities and combat Great vestigation in February and March 1923 to Russian chauvinism, and to strengthen the verify the Dzerzhinsky commission's ac alliance between the working class and the and imperialist intervention, as a retreat and addressed to Bolshevik leader Lev count. They reported to Lenin that Dz Kamenev, Lenin criticizes the proposal by peasantry. He takes up the New ~conomic aimed above all at preserving the worker erzhinsky had basically whitewashed the Policy and its place in the world struggle peasant alliance - the backbone of the Joseph Stalin, the CP's general secretary, abusive policies of Ordzhonikidze and for socialism, and defends the state revolution. to incorporate five independent Soviet Stalin. monopoly of foreign trade. Under the NEP, among other measures, republics- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Be This report - kept secret by Moscow These questions, as the book's intro the Soviet government ended the requisi lorussia, Georgia, and Ukraine - into the until the collapse of the Stalinist apparatus duction notes, "deal with the most deci tioning of peasants' grain surpluses and Russian Federation as "autonomous re in the former USSR in 1991 - appears in sive piece of unfinished business in front replaced it with a tax in kind, based on a publics." The book reprints the text of this volume for the first time in any lan of those who produce the wealth of the sliding scale favoring small peasants and Stalin's initial plan. guage. world and make possible culture: they those producing most efficiently. A pri Lenin proposes a completely different The book also includes two letters deal with the worldwide struggle, opened vate agricultural market was authorized approach: that Russia join with the other Lenin sent in the last days of his political by the Bolshevik-led ·revolution nearly and foreign capitalists were encouraged to repub1ics "on an equal basis into a new life. One, to Leon Trotsky, asked the Bol eighty years ago, to replace the dictator invest in nationalized factories under strict union, a new federation, the Union of the shevik leader "that you should undertake ship of a tiny minority of exploiting capi government control. Soviet Republics of Europe and Asia." the defense of the Georgian case in the talists families with the dictatorship of the In the first year, modest advances were This stance was crucial, given the party CC. This case is now under proletariat," that is, a workers state. To made in regaining the confidence of the strong pro-independence sentiments of 'persecution' by Stalin and Dzerzhinsky, day, these questions are especially rele peasants and reviving industry. working people in Georgia and other So and I cannot rely on their impartiality." vant to the socialist revolution in In several speeches and letters in this viet republics in the Caucasus because of Trotsky immediately agreed to defend Cuba- the first since the Bolsheviks to collection, Lenin emphasizes the proletar Russian tsarist domination in the past The their shared views on this question. be led by a proletarian leadership. ian foundations of the revolution that Georgian Communist Party had rejected The last letter Lenin is known to have The revolutionary government that made the retreat possible and the limits Stalin's "autonomization" plan and fa written, dated March 6, is addressed to Po came to power in October 1917 was based that must be placed on this retreat in face vored remaining independent as part of a likarp Mdivani and other Georgian com on councils of workers', peasants', and of the inevitable strengthening of capitalist Soviet federation. munist leaders. In it he pledges his full soldiers' delegates called soviets, the Rus and capitalist-minded layers of society, in Lenin's Final Fight documents how support to their fight. sian word for council. cluding among thousands of functionaries Lenin waged a· political debate to win It mobilized peasants to expropriate the in the state and party apparatus. 'The fight other members of the Bolshevik leader Fight for the foreign trade monopoly big landlords' estates and distribute the against capitalist society has become a ship to a proletarian internationalist stance Lenin •s Final Fight also recounts the nationalized land to be worked by the hundred times more fierce and perilous, on this question. This fight was based on political battle the Bolshevik leader waged
8 TheMiHtant JuneS, 1995 •
around another life-and-death question for organizational methods from the workers and fanners government: the the capitalist world. foreign trade monopoly, under which all One of Lenin's many pro exporting and importing activity was cen posals, reflecting this political tralized in the hands of a state agency. approach, is his recommenda Several party leaders had made propos tion that the Russian navy be als to relax the state monopoly. Nikolai cut back and that the freed-up Bukharin, Gregory Zinoviev, Kamenev, funds be used to expand the and Stalin raised various arguments, in school system. cluding that the People's Commissariat of Tied to the fight for culture Foreign Trade and other state agencies and working-class leadership were inefficient and contributing to in the Soviet Union is Lenin's "incalculable losses." emphasis on the international In an Oct. 13, 1922, letter addressed to prospects· for socialist revolu Stalin, published in this volume, Lenin tion. vigorously opposes the Central Commit This theme runs throughout tee's adoption of a package of measures the speeches in this volume, - in his absence - that "wrecks the for from his address to the eign trade monopoly" by giving foreign Moscow soviet to his speech capitalists greater leeway to export and to the fourth congress of the import products without control by the So Communist International in Factory workers in Petrograd Red Guard patrol in 1917. Lenin caUed for bringing more revolu viet government. November 1922. tionary workers into the central leadership of the Bolshevik party and for drawing workers into In the articles, letters, and Such a move, he argues, would allow taking increasing control ofindustry, and on that basis advance toward workers' managemenL Nepmen (the disparaging term for petty speeches in this book, readers traders and swindlers who took advantage can see how Lenin functioned of the NEP for their enrichment) to flour as part of a broader Bolshevik leadership general secretary, was not qualified for workers and peasants. ish, diverting funds away from the revolu team, a team he had assembled over a such central leadership responsibility in Trotsky and others led the communist tionary government. Even worse, it would quarter century of party-building and five the party and state, especially under the in opposition to return to the proletarian increase the political influence of the Nep years of the world's first dictatorship of tensifying class pressures confronting the course charted under Lenin's leadership. men over the small peasants. the proletariat. revolution. The caste, however, consolidated its rule, Lenin points to the foreign trade Among these were leaders like Zi In his Letter to the Congress, Lenin with Stalin emerging as its dictatorial ar monopoly and the peasant cooperatives as noviev, Bukharin, Trotsky, and Karl states, "Stalin is too rude and this defect, biter. His brutal regime · murdered thou important pillars of the fledgling workers Radek, who together with Lenin are por although quite tolerable in our midst and sands of communist workers and much of state and the fight to maintain the alliance trayed on the book's cover (taken from a in dealings among us Communists, be the central leadership of the Bolshevik between peasants and the working class. painting, by Malcolm McAllister of New comes intolerable in a general secretary." party. In a December 13 letter to Stalin, Lenin Zealand, that is part of the Pathfinder Mu He proposes removing Stalin from that The bureaucratic regime also sup rejects Bukharin's arguments for weaken ral in New York). These five leaders, who post. pressed many of the writings contained in ing the state monopoly and partially re all served on the Executive Committee of Lenin was permanently incapacitated this book. Most of these were not pub placing it with a system of protective tar the Communist International, held a range by a stroke on March 10, 1923, that ended lished in the Soviet Union until after iffs. "No tariff system can be effective in of views on the various disputed issues his political life. His recommendation to Stalin's death in 1953. the epoch of imperialism when there are covered in Lenin's Final Fight. remove Stalin and other proposals were monstrous contrasts between pauper coun not taken up. A book for the new generation tries and immensely rich countries," he Lenin's conclusions about Stalin Instead, a political struggle developed For today's new generation of workers writes. At that time, Stalin did not figure quali within the leadership of the Communist and other fighters, Lenin's Final Fight "In practice, Bukharin is acting as an tatively more prominently in these dis Party over whether the course charted un comes alive with rich political lessons. advocate of the· profiteer, of the petty putes .than many other Gentral Committee der Lenin WOtid be' maintained or eroded Among the· growing numbers of youth bourgeois, and of the upper stratum of the members. In the course of his fight, how and eventually reversed. Over the years, who are repelled by the prospect of fas peasantry in opposition to the industrial ever, Lenin drew very damning conclu an increasingly pnvileged bureaucratic cism and war that capitalism offers, Lenin proletariat, which will be totally unable to sions about Stalin's character and capacity caste established its hold on the state and presents a convincing case - through ar reconstruct its own industry and make for political integrity~ party apparatuses. gument and practice- for the perspective Russia an industrial country unless it has Experiences like the Georgian conflict This petty-bourgeois caste carried out a of joining the worldwide struggle for a the protection, not of tariffs, but of the convinced him that Stalin, as the party's political counterrevolution against the communist future. monopoly of foreign trade." In several letters to Trotsky, Lenin pro poses that "at the forthcoming [CC] plenum you should undertake the defense of our common standpoint on the uncondi tional need to maintain and consolidate NEVV FROM PATHFINDER the foreign trade monopoly." Trotsky agrees. After the December 18 CC meeting re Lenin's Final Fight scinds its previous decision and reaffirms SPEECHES AND WRITINGS, 1922-23 the state monopoly, Lenin sends a con V. I. Lenin gratulatory message to Trotsky and pro poses they "continue the offensive" at the The record of Lenin's last battle to maintain the communist course upcoming congresses of the party and the with which the Bolshevik Party had led the workers and peasants to soviets. power over the landlords and capitalists of the former tsarist empire. Drawing workers into administration· Includes several items appearing in English for the first time. In waging these struggles, Lenin keeps Paper $19.95 SPECIAL OFFER $14.95 pressing to draw more workers into the Cloth $50.00 SPECIAL OFFER $25.00 leaders,hip of the party and the govern ment, and to cut down on bureaucracy. In his December 1922 Letter to the Congress, he proposes increasing the party CC to 100. "The enlistment of many workers to the CC will help the workers to improve our administrative machinery, which is pretty bad," he states. · As part of this campaign, Lenin calls for The Changing Face The Bolivian Diary of reorganizing the Workers and Peasants In of U .S. Politics Ernesto Che Guevara spection, which had become poorly orga WORKING·CLASS POLillCS AND THE Guevara's account, newly translated, of nized and ineffective. This body had been TRADE UNIONS jack Barnes the 1966-67 guerrilla struggle in Bolivia. initiated in 1920 to involve both party and A day-by-day chronicle by one of the A handbook for workers coming into the nonparty workers and peasants into central leaders of the Cuban revolution of factories, mines, and mills, as they react to greater inspection and control of the state the campaign to forge a continent-wide the uncertain life, ceaseless turmoil, and and party apparatus. revolutionary movement of workers and brutality of capitalism in the closing years Lenin takes up this question in his peasants capable of contending for power. March 2, 1923, article titled "Better of the twentieth century. It shows how millions of workers, as political resistance Includes excerpts from the diaries and Fewer, But Better," He proposes to recruit accounts of other combatants. grows, will revolutionize themselves, their carefully selected communist workers into Introduction by Mary-Alice Waters. unions, and all of society. the Workers and Peasants Inspectorate $21.95. SPECIAL OFFER $16.50 and other bodies. $19.95. SPECIAL OFFER $14.95 Available from your local These vanguard workers, he states, Pathfinder bookstore must lead a fight for millions of workers The History of the or write and peasants to increase their training and Russian Revolution To See the Dawn Pathfinder education in order to learn, slowly but Leon Trotsky BAKU, 192~FIRST CONGRESS OF THE 410 West Strut, New Yorlt. NY 10014 surely. how to run the government and Also available in Russian PEOPLES OF THE EAST Telephone (212) 741-0690. economy. This includes, Lenin stresses, $35.95. SPECIAL OFFER $26.95 $19.95. SPECIAL OFFER $14.95_ Fax (212) 727-0150 learning to apply the best techniques and
JuneS, 1995 The Militant 9 Pathfinder: 'beacon of revolutionary light' 'L.A. WEEKLY' article highlights activities at bookstore in Los Angeles The following article, "Reading the selection of his material) and lesser Revolution: Hanging out in a Pico store -- WVRATE known agitators such as Grenadian Revo front with Malcolm, Che and Karl," is lution leader Maurice Bishop. excerpted from the May 12-18 issue of H~LP REBUILD Fully a third of the stock is Spanish LA WEEKLY, a free paper that is widely language. Mindful of its potential clien distributed in the Los Angeles area. tele, Pathfinder has filled one section with Sub-headings are by the Militont. HhNDill elementary-level primers on Marxism, feminism and other topics for Spanish BY ERIN AUBRY ' ' - speaking adults with low literacy skills. A It is early Saturday evening. As twilight P~OIIE.._ reproduction of the New York Pathfinder deepens into darkness, the city seems to building, painted on one side with a grand, take in a breath as it transitions into the sweeping mural of working-class heroes, hours of drink, dance and revelry, hours hangs above the entrance to a large back that will serve to efface the drudgery of area that encompasses a library, a kitchen yet another work week. and a generous-size room where the store A~ong mostly shuttered Pico Boulevard hosts weekly Saturday forums. near Vermont, one shop window is bright, its doors tinkling open as people file in. Impressive and efficient operation Hardly would-be revelers, the;y come It is an impressively efficient operation, seeking satisfaction of a radically different though not quite back to its usual strength, sort. They thread their ways through the says volunteer Eli Green.... neatly appointed bookstore, past the Green, 43, says that the riot-related fires shelves into a backroom set with folding in 1992 decimated the store's inventory, metal chairs and a podium where a thin, including a collection of out-of-print serious-looking man prepares to update books and newspapers dating back to the the audience of about 25 on the so-called 1930s. Uninsured but undaunted, Green Militant/Argiri s Malapanis nuclear threat in North Korea, framing it Pathfinder bookstore under reconstruction after 1992 Los Angeles riots. LA and fellow Pathfinder volunteers set ~p a in background history about the country WEEKLY reports "palpable hunger for information" at a recent forum there. table outside the charred remains of the and its fateful post-World War II split. A store three days after the riots to sell what handful of Spanish speakers adjust head few books were left, to begin raising phones so they can listen to the simultane X, Cbe Guevara, Rigoberta MenchU, are, that we're a political center and we do money and also to administer to the burn ous translation the bookstore unfailingly W.E.B. Du Bois, Karl Marx. things." Jungers recalls a neighborhood ing souls of the dispossessed. provides. There is no mood music, no _Here is that rare secular place in L.A. gang called the Playboys that used to hang Their efforts did not go unrewarded. mingling. A table spread with coffee and where age, skin color, gender and country around and at one time seemed poised for "Before the embers quit smoldering, we Cremora is the only concession to social of origin- in a word, image -matter far trouble. ''But," he says with a shrug, "they had relocated two doors west of here in a niceties. less than a common spirit and fiery ideol moved on." storefront church that had just vacated," But there is a palpable hunger for infor ogy. Here, a '90s newspeak word like His voice has a hint of pride. 2546 Pico says Green, a Georgia native with a hint of mation that propels people slightly for multicultural is rendered embarrassingly Blvd. is hardly considered a prime com a drawl and an easy smile. "There was a ward in their seats, some scribbling notes, simplistic and beside the point. mercial spot, but Pathfinder would have it genuine outpouring.... People brought back as the speaker delivers the goods in plain no other way. The bookstore, a retail out books they had just bought. Folks came by wrap fashion. So much for aesthetics at Vibrant socialist optimism let of Pathfinder Press in New YQrk and a to give $I, $5, said they were so sorry. Pathfinder Bookstore, a.k.a. Libreria Yet Pathfinder's vibrant socialist opti gathering place for local ranks of the So And they have no money. Not around Pathfinders, for 20-plus years a beacon of mism seems at distressing odds with its cialist Workers Party, has a history of lo here, anyway." revolutionary light in the grittier Central neighborhood: a corridor of the Pico cating in decidedly working-class neigh With local aid and donations from sev Los Angeles cityscapes that don't show up Union district crammed with storefronts borhoods. eral publishers, Pathfinder was able to re on ~st cards. that beckon pedestrians with faded pinatas Pathfinder moved from North Broad cover from its $20,000 loss and reopen in CANCEL THE THIRD WORLD DEBT! and 98-cent goods, while men and women way to Pico-Union 13 years ago, and, in December of 1993 at its new location, with too much time to kill linger outside the heart of a Central American commu which was designed and built largely by a SHORTEN THE WORKWEEK! minimarkets and liquor stores, modem nity populated by Nicaraguans, Salvado core group of about 50 volunteers .... ENFORCE AFARMATIVE ACTION! outposts for the unemployed and other rans and Guatemalans familiar with the Emblazoned with yellow, the Socialist dwellers on society's ragged fringe. ravaging effects of war, it seems to have Devoted to change Party pamphlet covers read like a wish list Drug users and pushers often wander in found its niche. Alvaro Maldonado, head of the Pro for the growing denizens of America's off the street, refugees from police Sandwiched between an abandoned Immigrant Mobilization Coalition, says economically oppressed. In Pathfinder's patrolled MacArthur Park to the east. But electronics outlet and a discount store, Pathfinder is as relevant today as it was airy confines, these and a wealth of other bookstore volunteer William Jungers says Pathfinder is a well-lighted respite from when he discovered it in the early '70s, materials trumpet hope of imminent politi he has a mutual understanding with such the boulevard's smalltime capitalist hustle during its heyday at the fore of the antiwar cal change, of a long-awaited, monumen visitors; they always leave without inci and bustle. The space is small but dense, movement and his formative years as an tal shift of power to the working class and dent. "They pretty much respect our the walls filled with reprinted speeches activist. "They're devoted to change. socially subjugated ethnic groups. wishes," says Jungers, a fluent Spanish and essays by political figures as high They're very good about involving them Faces on the covers of other books raise speaker and like many volunteers a mem profile as Mandela and Malcolm selves in issues and not relying on politi a silent choral voice of popular revolution: ber of the Socialist Workers Party. (Pathfinder owns the copyright to many of cians," says Maldonado, who frequents Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, Malcolm "Everyone around here knows who we his speeches and carries the city's largest the forums and drops by the store to pick up literature on one of his heroes, Leon Trotsky. 'They always base themselves in communities of color, working-class com Get all of 1994 'Militant' in bound volume munities." But he says also that Pathfinder volun BY NAOMI CRAINE that appeared in the Militant in 1994. All The 1994 bound volume is packed· with teers, reaching out to an American popula "Birth of new South Africa: a victory 46 issues will soon be available in a bound coverage on: tion more disaffected than at any other for humanity -Millions celebrate re volume, together with a complete index •The strike wave that rolled across the time in history, have their consciousness sounding vote for ANC." "Nationwide listing all articles by country, subject, and United States, with the United Auto Work raising work cut out for them. "Move strike shuts eight Caterpillar plants author. This collection is a valuable refer ers strike at Caterpillar at the center; ments now are hard to get going," he says. -Workers demand end to victimization ence for workers, youth, and others who •Struggles against police brutality and "People are more automated, more demor of union militants." "500,000 Cubans mo want to fight against the ravages capital the death penalty; alized. They're not getting help in facili bilize in defense of revolution - Work ism imposes on working people every day. •Campaigns to defend framed-up work tating solutions." ers, youth battle antigovernment rioters." It makes easily accessible the wealth of ers apd political fighters, from the Mark Which is exactly why 24-year-old "70,000 march in L.A. for immigrant news and analysis featured in the Militant Curtis case to that of gold miner Roger Vanessa Knapton sacrificed a Saturday rights." over the entire last year, so readers can Warren in Northwest Territories, Canada; night to attend the North Korea forum. These are just a few of the top headlines draw lessons from workers' struggles and •The fight to defend women's right to Knapton is a study in the kind of new revolutionary movements worldwide. abortion from right-wing assaults on clin blood Pathfinder is seeking: young, disen Last year Militant correspondents trav ics and doctors; chanted with government, a recent college eled to South Africa before and after the •Developments in Ireland, as 25 years graduate and former union organizer im 1994 Militant first-ever nonracial, democratic elections of British occupation and centuries of op patient with bleak job prospects. Knapton bound volumes and there; they wrote about how workers and pression failed to crush the resistance of started subscribing to the weekly socialist farmers began seizing the political space working people in the north or the south; newspaper The Militant back in March; index now available they have won to bring down apartheid •The fight against the anti-immigrant she joined the Young Socialist Organizing and advance their interests. Proposition 187 in California; Committee shortly after. Reporters made several trips to Cuba, •The building of young socialists' "Young people are coming into the Record of working-class providing in-depth coverage on how the groups internationally; and much more. world with no future," says Knapton, tak working class there is confronting the The analysis in these issues of the Mili ing a drag on a cigarette during a post struggles arouna the "special period" of economic challenges. tant will help readers understand better the forum discussion break. She is standing worla·-index $1.50 Militant correspondents traveled there im crisis of world capitalism today and the outside the store, dressed down, her blond mediately after the "rafters crisis" in Au possibilities open to working people to hair pinned up carelessly. Latin music gust, as hundreds of thousands of Cuban build a revolutionary movement to put an pumping from sidewalk speakers at a store Bound volumes for 1994 workers and youth mobilized against end to the economic devastation, rightist down the .block fills the night air. "Me and $75 Washington's stepped-up provocations. movements, and wars that this system my friends, we have no benefits, no secu The socialist weekly also carried exten breeds. Readers can order the 1994 bound rity, nothing. Wages are low. We don'tsee 1993 and 1994: only $125 sive coverage of actions in the United volume for just $75. The 1994 Militant in hope. We need to hear what people are do States and elsewhere in defense of Cuba's dex alone is $I .50. Both the 1994 and ing, from their own perspective, which To order write: 1993 bound volumes can be purchased to you don't get in the media. But when I The Militant sovereignty and the socialist revolution. 41 0 West Street, Over the course of the year the Militant gether for $125; some previous years are hear that, when I think about what we can New York, NY 10014 ran several speeches by Fidel Castro, Nel also available for $75 each. Orders should do collectively ... Well, I start thinking Fax(212)92~0 son Mandela, and other leaders of the be prepaid to the Militant, 410 West St, things might happen. Things might Cuban and South African revolutions. New York, NY 10014. change." 10 The Militant June 5,1995 Warden cuts 14 days off Curtis lock-up, ignores other proposals BY JOHN COX concerning his status reviewed his situa mended a total of 134 days - more than DES MOINES, Iowa-Paul Hedgepath, tion at a meeting with him on May 3. four months - in sentence reductions. acting warden of the Iowa State Peniten Nikola Brown, the prison psychologist as The warden vetoed all of them, claiming tiary, granted political activist Mark Curtis signed to Curtis, wrote in the "Time Re there was a new prison policy that barred a two-week reduction in his one-year sen duction Classification Review" foon filed time cuts for those charged with assault. tence to lock-up inside the maximum se after the meeting, "He has good eye con Even the classification committee form curity prison May II. This is the first ap tact and is polite. He did request a time cut describes Curtis's alleged crime as virtu proved reduction since Curtis was victim and the recommendation for a 14-day cut ally undetectable. Under the heading ized and thrown into segregation last Au is made." "Segregation reason," it reads "There gust, where he is sequestered in a five-by The committee as a whole, comprised were no injuries because of this and no seven-foot cell 23 hours a day. of the psychologist, Curtis's Correctional one required medical treatment" Curtis was victimized on charges of as Counselor and the Unit Manager of the "If the prison followed its own rules," saulting another inmate and convicted in a lock-up cell block he is confined in, wrote commented John Studer, coordinator of prison hearing on September 12. He was "Committee is recommending that inmate the Mark Curtis Defense Committee. kept shackled during the hearing, refused Curtis be afforded a 14-day time reduction "Mark would be out of lock-up today. The the ri ght to confront the witnesses against in his disciplinary sanctions. It is noted time cuts recommended for him total five him, and denied an attorney. that he has remained report free for the months. Curtis continues to protest the convic past 30 days, his personal hygiene and cell "We are certainly glad that this time re Curti~ and supporters are campaigning tion, arguing that prison authorities are at cleanliness is far above average. His over duction has been awarded. It is a step for to reduce one-year lock-up sentence. tempting to break him because he remains all cellhouse demeanor is above average." ward, coming on the heels of our victory politically active and works with support Then they added, "This will be this in in getting prison authorities to relent and will be to step up our efforts to get Mark ers to win his release on parole. He has dividuals ftrst time reduction recommen grant Curtis the pamphlet Why Is Mark released from lock-up as soon as possible, filed a lawsuit challenging the kangaroo dation." Curtis Still in Prison?, which they had and to turn our attention to pressing the court hearing in Iowa state court in Lee This final statement of the committee is originally refused to give him. Iowa State Board of Parole to grant his re County, where the prison is located. false. In four consecutive meetings at the "But the authorities are p~tend ing that lease," Studer added. The prison committee assigned to meet end of last year and beginning of this year four months of previous time cut recom Curtis will next meet with the prison with Curtis and make recommendations Cu'rtis's classification committee recom- mendations never existed. Our response classification committee in early June. Framed-up unionist wins international support BYJOHNSTUDER glary and sent to prison, sentenced to 25 respect and wish you (and Mark of her house. Curtis is over six-feet tall, does "I am free from prison. I was wrongly years. He was arrested and brutally beaten course!) good luck in your important work not smoke, and was in a restaurant with a convicted and I'm also now going to try by the cops shortly after speaking out in to support Mark and by that - all dozen ~ther people at the specified time of and help Mark Curtis," David Milgaard, Spanish at a public protest meeting called mankind." the rape. After Curtis was convicted on the the victim of a frame-up in Saskatchewan, to defend 17 of his co-workers at the Mon Another supporter who recently wrote testimony of one police officer, a juror Canada, wrote to the Mark Curtis Defense fort meatpacking plant who had been the defense committee was Michael Par presented an affidavit indicating that she Committee May 10. Milgaard served 22 seized by the immigration police in a raid. enti, a well-known author and professor of believed Mark Curtis was not guilty and years in prison before winning his free When the cops beat Curtis, they called social and political science. Parenti noted that she was one of four who voted for dom. him a "Mexican lover, just like you love in his letter that he wrote a section on Cur conviction even though they had grave Milgaard's letter is one of a number of those coloreds." tis's fight in the most recent edition of his doubts about the case. Curtis was sen recent messages supporting Mark Curtis's The committee also received a letter book Democracy for the Few, published tenced to twenty-five years for 'sexual fight to win freedom and justice. Curtis from L. Verstraete in Brussels, Belgium, by St. Martin's Press. abuse' and 'burglary.' was framed up by Des Moines, Iowa, po pledging support. "I have carefully read "Mark Curtis, packinghouse worker, la "As I write this six years later," Parenti lice in 1988 on charges of rape and bur- the documentation and I am dismayed that bor unionist. and a leader in the Socialist adds in a footnote, "Curtis is still in jail, lock-up conditions were imposed upon Workers Party, was arrested in Des having been repeatedly denied parole." Mark Curtis," he wrote, adding, "I cer Moines, lowa,"and charged with having The defense committee is aggressively tainly do endorse the Mark Curtis defense sexually assaulted a fifteen-year old,'' Par distributing a new pamphlet on the case action. I will act, whenever possible and at enti writes in a chapter titled "Political Re published by Pathfinder Press, entitled my level, to inform people about the real pression and National Insecurity." Curtis Why Is Mark Curtis Still in Prison? For a ity of such a flagrant injustice." "was severely beaten and knocked uncon copy of the pamphlet or to volunteer to A post card from Tommy Nilsson in scious by police. The alleged victim said help, contact the Mark Curtis Defense Malmo, Sweden, sent to the defense com her attacker was five-feet six-inches tall, Committee, P.O. Box I 048, Des Moines, mittee stated, "I just want to give you my had smoke on his breath, and broke into lA, 50311. Nation of Islam ·'guards' accused of abuse patrolling Washington, D.C., housing project BY SAM MANUEL the city's public housing. Residents and with abusive conduct. The day following AND BRIAN TAYLOR visitors are now required to show identifi the confrontations two young women who WASHINGTON, D.C. - City authori cation to guards when entering the hous live at Potomac Gardens described the sit ties have stepped up police presence at the ing grounds. Several of the complexes uation. "They instigate conflicts all the Potomac Gardens public housing complex have been surrounded by eight-foot iron time," said one of the women. "Sometimes recently following a series of confronta fences, which also divide the interior it is with drug users; but also with people tions between members of the Nation of grounds, preventing free movement from just walking around." Islam (NOI) Security Agency and some one section of the complex to another. "When they start fights no one is here to residents. A series of confrontations on May 1 I expose it," said the other Potomac resi Under the guise of fighting drug traf ended with an NOI guard being rushed to dent. David Mllgaard, framed up for 22 years ficking, police and city officials have im the hospital with a stab wound in the The two women also complained that in Canada, wrote his support for Curtis. posed restrictive measures on residents of chest. the eight-foot iron fence put up around the The confrontations began when a mem complex three years ago is dangerous. " If ber of the patrols was struck by an object someone is being t hased or there is a fire said to have been thrown by a resident. they can get trapped in the gate and can't f'IJ Available in Spanish About 40 mostly young people jeered and get out," one explained and told the story yelled at the guards. of an elderly resident who died of a heart Hours later a young man had to be hos attack when doctors were delayed in get Why Is Mark Curtis pitalized for a gash on the back of his head ting to her apartment because they had to after members of an NOI patrol attempted go around the fence. Still in Prison? to "question" him and a friend about the During a press conference outside the The Political Frame-Up of a Unionist and Socialist earlier incident. Nation of Islam housing complex Abdul Arif Muhammad, spokespersons said one of the men drew a general council for the NOI, charged that and the Campaign to Free Him gun, but no weapon was reported confis the housing complex was a "major distri by Naomi Craine cated. bution and manufacturing point for drugs Police and city officials claim the con in the city." He said this information had Mark Curtis is a union activist and socialist who was frontations resulted from the effectiveness been obtained by " undercover NOI framed up by police on false charges of rape and burglary of the patrols in reducing drug use and dis agents." in March 1 988. At the time be was involved in a struggle tribution in the housing complex. "They Muhammad added that while they have to defend 1 7 Mexican and Salvadoran co-workers &JTeSted have just about stopped the drug sales," gotten "good" support from police tops, in an immigration raid at the packinghouse where he declared police inspector Clarence Dick local cops on the scene were hampering worked in Des Moines, Iowa. . erson. their efforts. This new pamphlet explains what happened to Curtis, Some residents also support the rent-a Guards from the NOI Security Agency and the stakes for workers, fanners, youth, and other cop patrols. About 20 mostly elderly resi began patrols in the complex early this democratic-minded people in demanding his release. dents recently held a march around the month under a 30-day, $30,000 emer building complex in support of the NOI gency contract. City public housing offi guards, saying they had significantly re cials have extended the contract through ,AMiii~;at"bo()kstOre;;:Tn:cfuciing those listed on page 12, or write Plthfinder, 410 West St. duced drug-dealing. mid-June. Muhammad said the security New York, NY 10014. Tel: (212) 741 -0690. Fax (212) 727-0150. Or contact the Marte Curtis But a number of young people at the Defense Committee, P.O. Box 1048, Des Moines, Iowa, 50311. Tel: (515) 246-1695. agency will vigorously bid for a perma housing complex charge the NOI guards nent contract at that time. J une 5,1995 The Militant 11 Tehran fair -MILITANT LABOR FORUMS The Militant Labor Forum is a weekly Dunne, Socialist Workers Party. Fri., June 2, 7 and Union Activists. Fri., June 2, 7:30 p.m. Continued from front page free-speech meeting for workers, farmers, p.m. Bradley University, Room 253 Baker Hall 214 Ave. A (between 13th and 14th). Donation: moves and see their presence at the book youth, and others. All those seeking to ad (off Main St.). Donation: $4. Tel: (309) 674- $4. Tel: (212) 388-9346. fair as an indication of that opposition. vance the fight against injustice and ex 3242. The largest publisher at the fair is the ploitation are welcome to attend and par U.S. company McGraw-Hill, which has PENNSYLVANIA ticipate in these discussions on issues of MASSACHUSETTS Pittsburgh brought 60,000 books on medicine, engi importance to working people. Boston neering, chemistry, and other sciences to FBI Spying: P'ast and Present Threat to At the Militant Labor Forum you can Why Is Mark Curtis StiU in Prison? Video Democratic Rights. Speakers: Marketa Sims, sell. Their representative, Behruz Neirami, express your opinion, listen to the views of presentation of the documentary The Frame president, Pittsburgh chapter of the American said he believes the sanctions are unpopu fellow fighters, and exchange ideas on bow Up of Mark Curtis filmed by director Nick Civil Liberties Union; Malcolm Jarrett, Social lar among U.S. citizens as well as Irani best to advance the interests of workers Castle. Fri., June 2, 7:30 p.m. 780 Tremont ist Workers Party. Fri., June 2, 7 p.m. 1103 E. ans. "Nobody should be allowed to pre and farmers the world over. Street. Donation: $4. Tel: (617) 247-6772. Carson St. Donation: $4. Tel: (412) 381-9785. vent the transfer of knowledge and cul tural achievements to any part of the MINNESOTA world," he told the English-language daily St. Paul BRITAIN Tehran Times May 24. ILLINOIS Chicago Cuba Today: A Panel Discussion. Sat., June London The May 23 Tehran Times quoted 3, 7:30p.m. 2490 University Ave. (East side of Cuba Today. Slide show and reportback from Pathfinder representative Oygen Lepou, Why Is Mark Curtis Still in Prison? Fri., recent two-wee.k study tour of Cuba organized June 2, 7:00p.m. 545 W. Roosevelt Road. Do Hwy 280, on J6A bus line.) Donation: $4. Tel: who also attended the Havana Interna (612) 644-6325. by the Sheffield Cuba Solidarity Campaign. nation: $4. Tel: (312) 829-6815. tional Book Fair last year, as saying, Speakers: Jo O'Brien; Danyl Hillgrove, mem "Cuban and Iranian people are very simi Peoria ber of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Work Ireland: New Openings in the Fight for Self NEW YORK lar, they are both open minded, intelligent ers Union; Mati Marti Insa, Young Socialists. Determination. Speakers: Robert Shannon, Manhattan Fri., June 2, 7 p.m. 47 The Cut. Donation: £2. and confident people who get harsh treat ~rish American Student Association; Martin Protest FBI Spying on New York Political Tel: 0171 401 2409. ment from the U.S ....We are told there is a Jot of chaos in countries like Iran, but when we come to Iran we see that people are just trying to make a living, which makes you think what all this propaganda Brazil oil workers strike for jobs, pay is for." Last year, more than 1 million people Continued from front page media, flashing pictures of long gas lines, the United States when he vowed to con attended the book fair. Estimates so far are the troops have occupied is in the state of has launched a propaganda blitz to portray tinue opening up Brazil's economy to in that at least as many will attend this year, Parana, and the others - in MauA, Sao the unionists as causing hardships for the ternational capital. coming from all parts of the country - Jose dos Campos, and Campinas - are in rest of the population. He also took pains to assure capitalist Turkmens from the northeast, Azerbajanis the state of Sao Paulo, the country's main The media has accompanied news on investors that Brazil is immune to the fi from the northwest, industrial workers industrial center. Television news in Mon the strike with articles about the 50,000 nancial volatility that led to the plunge of from Esfehan and Arak, and students from tevideo showed military helicopters back tr9()ps that have been deployed in impov the Mexican economy following the de as far afield as Tabriz and Shiraz. ing up the army deployment. erished working-class neighborhoods of valuation of that country's currency in De Sao Paulo Forum organizers reported Rio de Janeiro under the pretext of fight cember. Cardoso offered rosy prospects that Luis Inacio "Lula" da Silva, a central ing drugs and violence. The implied target for businessmen, domestic and foreign. leader of Brazil's Workers Party, is not of the troop mobilization is unmistak Many working people in Brazil have coming to the conference here in order to able-the government's message is that expressed a different view. In the last sev help respond to the government's escala social protests will be met with repression. eral weeks, up to 300,000 workers have tion of the conflict. He was originally Making clear the political stakes in this gone on strike to demand wage increases scheduled to be one of the speakers at the confrontation, Petrobras financial director as well as to oppose the government's meeting's May 25 inauguration. The Orlando Galvao declared, "The issue now plans for mass layoffs in state-owned in Workers Party bas ties to the United is not the cost, but the principles in dustries. Shipyard workers, university em Workers Federation (CUT), whose affili volved." ployees, rail workers, truckers, and social ates are involved in the strike. According to the newspaper F olha de security workers have struck. Striking oil workers have virtually shut Siio Paulo, Cardoso stated his government The strikes in Brazil coincide with simi down Brazil's major refineries, which be would make no concessions to the strikers lar struggles by workers elsewhere in long to the state-owned Petrobras com because otherwise he would remain South America. On May 23, mine workers pany. After three weeks, the work stop "hostage" to public employees and state in Rio Turbio, in southern Argentina, oc page has begun to cause fuel shortages in own~d enterprises for the rest pf his te~. cupied their coal mine to press demands urban centers. The government began to Capitalist politicians have urged Cardoso for increasing wages and benefits·. A wave ration bottled liquid gas in most of the to follow the union-busting stance taken of strikes and labor demonstrations has hit country. The press has reported that the by British prime minister Margaret That provinces throughout Argentina in recent lack of fuel has begun to affect industrial cher during the 1984-85 coal miriers months in response to government auster production. In Sao Paulo, many gas sta strike. ity moves. tions and several bus lines have shut down. Brazil immune to volatility? The Brazilian government has launched Capitalist rulers alarmed a campaign to sell off shares to a number The capitalist rulers of Brazil, alarmed of major state-owned companies. In that the oil workers' struggle is setting an February it passed a Jaw allowing pri example for other working people devas vate-including foreign-investment in tated by the economic crisis, has mobi the oil industry, mining, and telecommuni lized all its political resources against the cations. strikers. The Supreme Labor Tribunal U.S. businessmen enthusiastically ap ruled the strike illegal. The big-business plauded Cardoso during his recent trip to -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP--- Where to find Pathfinder books and (612) 644-6325. AUSTRALIA distributors of the Militant, Perspectiva NEW JERSEY: Newark: 141 Halsey. Sydney: 19 Terry St., Surry Hills 2010. Mundial, New International, Nouvelle In· Mailing address: 1188 Raymond Blvd., Suite Mailing address: P.O. Box K879, Hay ternaJionale, Nueva lnternacional, and Ny 222. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. market, NSW 2000. Tel: 02-281-3297. International. NEW YORK: Albany: P. 0 . Box 2357, E.S.P. Zip: 12220. Tel: (518) 465-0585. BRITAIN Brooklyn: 59 4th Avenue (comer of Bergen) London: 47 The Cut. Postal code: SE I UNITED STATES 8LL. Tel: 071-928-7993. Zip: 11217. Tel: (718) 399-7257. New ALABAMA: Birmingham: I I I 21st St. Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. Postal York: 214-16 Avenue A. Mailing address: South. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323-3079. P.O. Box 2652. Zip: 10009. Tel: (212) 388- code: M4 4AA. Tel: 061-839-1766. CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2546 W. 9346; 167 Charles St. Zip: 10014. Tel: (212) CANADA Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460, 366-1973. Montreal: 4581 Saint-Denis. Postal code: 380-9640. Compuserve: 74642,326. Inter NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: H2J 2L4. Tel: (514) 284-7369. net: [email protected] San 2000-C Elm-Eugene St. Zip 27406. Tel: Toronto: 827 Bloor St. West. Postal code: Francisco: 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: s. (910) 272-5996. Compuserve: 75127,2153. M6G !MI. Tel: (416) 533-4324. (415) 285-5323. Compuserve: 75604,556. OHIO: Cincinnati: P.O. Box 19484. Zip: Vancouver: 3967 Main St. Postal code: CONNECTICUT: New Haven: Mailing 45219. Tel: (513) 662-1931. Cleveland: V5V 3P3. Tel: (604) 872-8343. -CALENDAR- address: P.O. Box 16751 .• Saybrook Station, 1832 Euclid. Zip: 44115. Tel: (216) 861- WestHaven. Zip: 06516. FRANCE NEwvoRK 6150. FLORIDA: Miami: 137 N.E. 54th St. Paris: MBE 20 I, 208 rue de Ia Conven Manhattan PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 1906 Zip: 33 I 37. Tel: (305) 756-1020. tion. Postal code: 75015. Tel: (1) 47-26-58- Rally to Free Irish Political Prisoners in U.S. South St. Zip: 19146. Tel: (215) 546-8218. 21. Jails. Stop Government Harassment or Irish GEORGIA: Atlanta: 803 Peachtree NE. Pittsburgh: II 03 E. Carson St. Zip 15203. Activists. Speaker: Geny Conlon of the Guild Zip: 30308. Tel: (404) 724-9759. Tel: (412) 381-9785. ICELAND Reykjavik: Klapparstig 26. Mailing ad ford Four. Sat., June 3, 1-3 p.m. Federal Plaza. ILLINOIS: Chicago: 545 W. Roosevelt TEXAS: Houston: 6969 Gulf Freeway, dress: P. Box 233, 121 Reykjavik. Tel: 552 Broadway & Worth Streets. Sponsored by Irish Rd. Zip: 60607. Tel: (312) 829-6815, 829- Suite 250. Zip: 77087. Tel: (713) 644-9066. Political Prisoners Amnesty Coalition. For 5502. 7018. Peoria: P.O. Box 302. Zip: 61650- UTAH: Salt Lake City: 147 E. 900 S. more information, call (718) 436-4770. 0302. Tel: (309) 674-9441. Zip: 84111. Tel: (80 I) 355-1124. NEW ZEALAND IOWA: Des Moines: 2105 Forest Ave. WASHINGTON, D.C.: 1802 Bel~ont Auckland: La Gonda Arcade, 203 Karan GREECE Zip: 50311. Tel: (515) 246-8249. Rd. N.W. Zip: 20009. Tel: (202) 387-2185. gahape Road. Postal address: P.O. Box 3025. MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 780 Tre Tel: (9) 379-3075. Athens Compuserve: 75407,3345. mont St. Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) 247-6772. WASHINGTON: Seattle: 1405 E. Madi Christchurch: 199 High St. Postal ad Mark Curtis.: The Frame-up or an American dress: P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3) 365-6055. Trade Unionist. Video showing and panel dis MICHIGAN: Detroit: 7414 Woodward son. Zip: 98122. Tel: (206) 323-1755. Com cussion. Sat., June 17, 6 p.m. Pan African As Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 875-0100. E puserve: 7 4461,2544. SWEDEN sociation offices, 171 Alkamenos/Thiras mail: 7 4767 .I [email protected]. WEST VIRGINIA: Morgantown: 242 Stockholm: Vikingagatan 10 (T-bana St (Piatia Attikis). Sponsored by the International MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: 2490 Uni Walnut. Mailing address: P.O. Box 203. Zip: Eriksplan). Postal code: S-113 42. Tel: (08) Forum. versity Ave. W., St. Paul. Zip: 55114. Tel: 26507. Tel: (304) 296-0055. 31 69 33. 12 The Militant June 5,1995 -GRMTSOODY------Crisis, what crisis? drunk as the proverbial skunk and front-page news for the Greens Sheer coincidence - In 1971, hot dog." -Alexander Trotman, who turned a Hyatt hotel upside down. boro, North Carolina, News & Congress barred tobacco advertis heads the Ford company's opera Women were groped and hun Record. ing on TV and radio. In the adver The system that works - In a tion in Mexico, received total dreds of people had to be evacu Three of the city's five country tising switch that followed, maga recent survey, the World Health compensation last year of $8.1 ated because of the smoke and clubs now have members who are zines lined their pockets. And, Organization found that more than million. That's more than 2,000 fumes from discharged fired extin Black and a fourth may be about since then, coverage of smoking two billion people - about 40 guishers. to. Officials at the fifth club said related health issues has dropped percent of the world About 20 cops stripped and they don't discriminate, but have 65 percent in magazines accepting population- are sick at any one Harry took turns sliding down the center never had an application from a cigarette ads. time, and that much of the illness strip of the lobby escalator. Black person. and disease is preventable but The changing face - The stymied by the widening rich-poor Ring 'Professional courtesy' - Have the baby on the way Brooklyn Bagel Factory (in L.A. gap. Hyatt workers called the D.C. natch) is now featuring jalapeno home - From 1970 to 1992, the Thought for the week - "For cops to the hotel but no one was time spent in the hospital by bagels. times as much as the average wage busted. A news report said, "Some many millions of people for whom women giving birth was cut al Meets gov't standards - survival is a daily battle, the of a Mexican Ford worker. guests and hotel workers ques most 50 percent. tioned whether D.C. police gave Comedy writer Paul Ryan's com prospect of a longer life may seem Mourning their loss - At a special treatment to their out-of A Center for Disease Control ment on scientists developing a more like a punishment than a Washington ceremony to salute town colleagues." and Prevention report shrewdly vaccine that dissolves fat in pigs: prize." - Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima, cops killed while on duty, a bunch notes the role of insurance compa "All that's left are hoofs, lips and World Health Organization direc of police from New York got Progress report - It was nies' pressure. ears - barely enough to make a tor. New Zealand meat bosses force long workweek BY JAMES ROBB The only limit to the working week is AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Some what the· working class imposes. Where members of the meat workers' unions in there are laws that limit the workweek, this city have been working very long they exist because the labor movement hours recently. At Astleys tannery, some fought for them in the past, and they pro work " teams" put in 76-hour weeks in vide little protection unless the unions March. This overtime was not compul fight to defend them. Workers are paying sory; it is sought by most workers. One in a heavy price in overwork and injuries for dividual worked one day from 6 a.m. to 3 the default of the union officialdom on this a.m., then came back in to start again after question in recent years. just three hours break. The clause in the contract that provides for a minimum of Protect health and safety nine hours' rest between shifts is fre Resistance to the employers • constant quently waived. efforts to lengthen the working day is vital Since the anti-union Employment Con to protect our health and safety. Besides tracts Act was passed in 1990, a major resisting compulsory overtime clauses in employment contracts, we need to build a union-led political movement to shorten the working week by law. UNION TALK As long as unemployment remains high, employers will try to use it to tum • ..i A- , • \ goal of the employers' offensive against worker against worker, "casual" against Meatpacking workers from the United States to New Zealand have faced an offen "permanent," unemployed against em working people in New Zealand has been sive by the bosses to extend the workday, speed up the lines, and lessen job safety. the removal of premium rates of pay for ployed, sapping union strength. overtime. In many workplaces, including A fight to shorten the workweek can union-organized ones, they have been suc workweek in most of the plant. ery hour of the day. We still have human help combat the crippling effects of unem cessful. But Astleys workers pushed back A long working week is also compul rights." ployment on working-class solidarity by an attempt by the company to get rid of sory at the Auckland Abattoirs packing "There are no laws like that any more. uniting employed and unemployed in a overtime rates, in a strike in early 1993. house. A September 1993 contract con That's what went out the window when common fight to force the bosses to create Time-and-a-half or double time is still tained major concessions, including end the Employment Contracts Act came in," more jobs. paid for aJI hours in excess of 40 per week. ing premium overtime pay and allowing replied his co-worker. "We need more Despite this, the employers prefer to have the boss to use more casual workers. This union meetings, so we can discuss what James Robb is a member of the Meat workers put in long hours rather than hire removed an important economic restraint we're going to do about it. This is a health Workers Union of Aotearoa, at the Auck additional people. "We want you guys to on the company to keep the normal work and safety issue." land Abattoirs. have the first chance to earn a bit extra," ing day down to eight hours. All new hir the foremen say. ing since that time has been of casual In fact, it is in the company's interest workers, on whom the pressure to do all -25 AND 50 YMRS AGO--- - not the workers' - to organize pro the hours demanded is higher. duction this way. The typical workweek at the height of gent of close to 100 Black workers. While Astleys, a tannery employing about 200 the beef season is now about I 2 hours several had come from Charleston, S.C., production staff, hired 70 new workers in Monday to Friday, with an additional six THE the majority included workers from the early 1993 in response to booming sales. or eight hours on Saturday. Genesco Shoe Factory and sisters from But when orders slumped a few months The long working day is a frequent Georgia Baptist Hospital, both Atlanta in later, 20 of these workers were laid off, topic of conversation here. "Too damned MILITANT stitutions. costing the company $2,000 each in re long if you ask me," one older beef Published in the In terest of the Working People dundancy (severance) payments. Price: 10 f butcher told me. ''The old body can only June 5,1970 No increase in real wages take so much. But no one gives a damn about the worker these days. The only -THE MILITANT ATLANTA, May 23 - Over I 0,000 ..,.....,. .. TM,.,....n, .,,....,...... ~ On the other hand, workers' overtime thing that matters is the dollar." hours can be cut at no cost to the employer people attended an anti-repression, anti NBWYOIJ: KY. PIW (5) CI>ITS It's not only the older workers who feel war rally here today on the Morehouse if sales slump. Moreover, lengthening the the pressure. "I'll be an old man by the workweek reduces the pressure on the College Mall. Every speaker linked the June 2,1945 time I'm forty at this rate," a worker in his stifling of political dissent at home company to increase wages in a period of twenties told me. Others point to examples Japan's critical military situation, com economic upturn. Despite three years of -Kent, Augusta, Jackson State-to the bined with steadily worsening economic of accidents and muscular injuries caused continuation and deepening of the war in economic growth, there has been almost by overwork. Absenteeism is high, as conditions caused by virtual blockade and no increase in real wages in New Zealand. Southeast Asia. The rally, called by the devastating air raids, has led to renewed workers individually try to cope with the Southern Christian Leadership Confer Unemployment has remained high long hours by taking a day off now and peace agitation by the terribly oppressed throughout the upturn. The uncertainty ence, was supported by several unions as Japanese masses. then. well as the. Atlanta antiwar movement. and fragility of the current economic situa "They treat us like machines that they A high Tokyo judiciary official, tion reinforces the bosses' desire to use can switch on and off whenever they like," The crowd, predominantly Black and Procurator-General Namisuki Nakano, overtime instead of hiring whenever they said another. "They forget we are human militant, booed Atlanta mayor Sam Mas last week warned of the "danger" of such can get away with it. beings. I've got a family, children that I sell off the platform. "We just finished a peace agitation and threatened arrest of Uncertainty about what the future holds like to see now and then before they're garbage strike in Atlanta, Georgia, a strike any person making speeches that might also puts workers under pressure to agree asleep. It all becomes impossible with where the mayor of Atlanta called out the disrupt "national unity." to longer hours. One worker expressed these hours." riot squad. Atlanta is showing off today. This renewed agitation against the war amazement that anyone should tum down Along with removing the premium p~,ty Five weeks ago the city was ready to crush gives the lie once again to the assertions of voluntary overtime. "You need to do all rates, the company is imposing more us,'' remarked Hosea Williams in explana the capitalist press in this country that the the overtime you can get now, because in forced overtime. The contract obliges tion later on. At Ebenezer [Baptist Japanese people are united behind their a few months they may not be offering any workers to work "reasonable hours of Church], Black people from all over the rulers, that they are a warlike nation which more," he said. overtime." In response to an inquiry from Ec:~st Coast and Midwest gathered. A three revels in violence and bloodshed. In March, a group of Astleys workers the union about what was considered car liberation train brought Black students Capitalist press liars who say the led a spontaneous walkout when the boss "reasonable," the company stated that af from Federal City College and Teachers' Japanese people "wanted" war and that lowered their overtime hours without con ter completeing 50 hours in any week, College in Washington, D.C. There were they glory in bloodletting, never point out sulting 'them. Cuts to overtime hours have workers could refuse further work. How over 200 students from Florida A & M and that the people were thrust into the war by been an issue in several recent strikes in ever, on at least one occasion this has been Florida State University in Tallahassee. their rulers. An iron totalitarian regime New Zealand. Waterside workers recently ignored. Recently several workers who The administration had helped mobilize (with which the Anglo-American imperi struck the Port of Auckland to protest the had each put in more than 60 hours by Fri students at A & M; the Black Student alists maintained the friendliest of rela hiring of casual workerS, which would day were threatened with disciplinary ac Union and the Student Mobilization Com tions before Pearl Harbor) stifled all have reduced their overtime hours. tion if they refused Saturday work. mittee were the principal organizers at voices of protest. The truth is that the In April, Astleys hired additional work "It must be illegal what they are doing," FSU. Japanese people no more wanted war than ers to meet a rise in production. and at the one worker insisted. "There are laws The National Council of Distributive did the masses of Germany, Italy, Britain same time imposed a compulsory 50-hour which say they can't force us to work ev- Workers of America put together a contin- or any other country. June 5,1995 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS------National rubber workers strike Build 'Cuba Lives' festival called off after In Boston, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles and else price being paid by the working masses in country after where opponents of U.S. policy against Cuba are mov country as austerity measures are imposed that translate ing into high gear to build participation in the "Cuba· into massive unemployment.. wage cuts, and attacks on ten months Lives" festival planned for August 1-7. Coalitions in democratic rights. More and more of those nation's re these cities are setting an example for what can be done sources are being put on the auction block for the highest BY NORTON SANDLER in every urban cehter in the United States. bidders from imperialist countries. This makes the ex DES MOINES, Iowa -The rubber workers union A sizable delegation from the United States, joining ample of Cuba more powerful every day. has taken down its picket lines at Bridgestone/Firestone with those who will go to Cuba from around the world, Two months remain to get young people and others plants, ending the union's 10-month strike, the longest will be an important and visible act of solidarity with the who have expressed interest and signed up on lists in United Rubber Workers (URW) history at a major tire fight of the Cuban people to defend their sovereign turned into confirmed participants in the "Cuba Lives" manufacturer. rights. In addition to many local Cuba coalitions festival - with money raised and travel plans set. Meeting in Pittsburgh May 19, the union's Policy throughout the United States the festival has been en Speaking to groups and gathering support for fund rais Committee for Bridgestone plants voted by a three-to dorsed by the National Network on Cuba. ing events now will be crucial to putting together the two margin to end the strike. Union officials from the "Cuba Lives" is the theme of the event and this fact is largest delegation possible. Des· Moines and Noblesville, Indiana, locals were the what irks many of those who appeared at recent hearings Many participants will want to take advantage of their two holdouts, with officers from Akron, Ohio; Decatur, on the proposed Helms-Burton bill in Congress. That bill trip to Cuba to travel on assignment for a local newspa Illinois; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, out-voting aims to further tighten the screws against Cuba's work per or radio program. The work to get media outlets to therri. Jeff Doomenbal. a spokesperson for Local 310 in ing people, even strong arming other nations to go along agree to these assignments will help provide a wider fo Des Moines, told the press that the Policy Committee with the latest dictates from Washington. rum for report-backs about Cuba today and the fight for was advised to terminate the strike by top URW officials But in spite of the harsh impact of decades of em the right to travel there. and a lawyer for the United Steelworkers of America bargo, the illegal occupation of a piece of Cuban terri Building the "Cuba Lives" festival will also help (USWA). Officials from the URW and the USWA are in tory at Guantanamo, and constant attempts to break the make the upcoming international days of actions in sup the process of consummating a merger of the two will of Cuba's revolutionary people- "Cuba Lives." port of Cuba in October a bigger success. Regional unions. Cuba faces deep economic problems, but the working demonstrations set for October 14 in Atlanta, Chicago, class there has a decisive say in the measures that will be New York, and San Francisco to oppose U.S. policy Tried to prevent take back contract taken to deal with that crisis and they don't intend to against Cuba will get a boost from hundreds of young The five URW locals went on strike July 12, 1994, in give up their country to the imperialists. people and others coming back from Cuba and telling an attempt to prevent the company from imposing its This stands in stark contrast to what is happening in the truth about what the working people of Cuba are last and final offer, which included pay cuts, mandatory the rest of the world. Throughout Latin America a wave fighting for and why Washington's efforts to destroy the 12-hour shifts, and slashed medical coverage and vaca of protests and strikes is bringing into focus the terrible revolution should be opposed. tions. Bridgestone began hiring strikebreakers soon after the dispute began. On January 4, the company an nounced that the union members were being perma nently replaced. A few days later the local at the com pany's technical center in Akron voted to end its strike FBI: enemy of social progress and return to work. The strike was ended uncondition ally in Decatur on May 7. So far the company has al Documents recently obtained by the Center for Con and supporters of Irish self-determination have all been lowed 60 of that local's 700 members to return to work. stitutional Rights reveal that the FBI spied on AIDS ac targets of FBI disruption programs. The list goes on and Hundreds of Local 310 members in Des Moines were tivists and gay rights groups. The cop agency tried to on and on. informed of the Policy Committee's decision at their justify itself with the baseless and slanderous cJaim that Today the U.S. rulers are probing ways to broaden the May 20 union meeting. No membership vote was al it feared demonstrators demanding more government powers of the FBI and other government cop agencies to lowed on the decision to terminate the strike. funding for AIDS research might throw infected blood at brush aside democratic safeguards working people have The next day the union sent the company a letter say people. won in struggle. The Clinton administration and ing that it was unconditionally ending the strike and of Protests organized by the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Congress jumped on the April bombing of the Oklahoma fering to return to work. The company has five days to Power (ACT-UP), Gay Men's Health Crisis, and other City federal building as a golden opportunity to cam respond. Union activists expect Bridgestone/Firestone groups are legal political actions, yet the FBI insists it paign for a "counterterrorism" package that would in to organize strikebreakers to petition the National Labor must keep most of the files secret as part of "ongoing clude more police powers to tap telephone lines and Relations Board (NLRB) to allow union decertification law enforcement activity." The FBI also targeted the snoop into credit, hotel, travel, and other records of indi votes at the plants. The URW is pursuing several unfair Center for Immigrants' Rights and Haiti Progres, a viduals branded as "suspected terrorists." It would allow labor practice charges against the company through the Brooklyn-based newspaper that for years opposed a permanent detention of immigrants convicted of no NLRB, which could affect how rapidly a decertification string of U.S.-backed military dictatorships in Haiti, crime - something several Irish activists are already vote can take place. among others. suffering in U.S. jails-as well as deportation for exer Local 310 president Bernie Sinclair said the strike is This should come as no surprise. It is simply one more cising basic political rights of free speech and associa over but the labor dispute is not and that resources from reminder of what the FBI is, and has always been- a tion. the Steelworkers will be put into strengthening the spying and disruption apparatus directed against work Working people have a big stake in fighting every union's boycott of Bridgestone/Firestone products and ing people and fighters for social change. government probe at curtailing democratic rights. As the in supporting the union's unfair labor practice charges. Over several decades. FBI targets have included capitalist system becomes more crisis ridden and work Sinclair also said the union will organize as best it can groups supporting independence for Puerto Rico, the So ers, farmers, and others begin to mobilize to defend our under difficult conditions to represent Local 310 mem cialist Workers Party, the Black Panther party, the Com selves, the rulers will tum more to cop agencies like the bers who are recalled to work in the plant. mittee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, FBI to infiltrate, disrupt, and intimidate those entering unions, and many other organizations. Thousands of in the struggle. 'We showed solidarity' dividuals have been spied on, harassed, and even assas The labor movement and all democratic-minded peo "Nobody wants to go back. Nobody, even the tire sinated by Washington's political police. Prominent fig ple should join in denouncing the latest examples of FBI builders, who have the best chance of being recalled," ures like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., antiwar spying and help expose Washington's war against politi union member Bob Peters explained following a heated activists, civil rights fighters, striking trade unionists, cal freedom. union meeting. "The tire builders have been the strength of the strike. They know the company wants us back to train the scabs on how to operate the equipment and then we face the possibility of them firing us with no union protection," Peters stated. "When I go back across the street into that plant, I'm Keep pushing Curtis fight going to do it with my head held high," Dave Menden hall, who has more than 20 years in the plant, told the Prison authorities have finally granted political ac case. media. ''I'm an honorable person and I've stuck with it tivist Mark Curtis a small reduction from his one-year From the March for Women's Lives on April 9 in to the end." lockup sentence inside the maximum security unit of the Washington, D.C., to the Labor Notes conference in De Larry Lewis, who along with his two brothers would Iowa State Penitentiary. The committee that approved troit April 28-29, to the recent conference in Toronto on not cross the picket lines, said, "Every person here has the reduction cited Curtis's "overall cellhouse de the defense of the wrongly convicted, activists for social shown the company our solidarity. We've shown that meanor" as "above average." justice are attracted to Curtis's fight. Today, more youth, we are not just bodies. We deserve respect." Curtis's classification committee had recommended workers, and others recognize the injustice that the so sentence reduction in four consecutive meetings called criminal justice system dishes out every day to amounting to a total of 134 days, meeting the same basic working people and fighters like Mark Curtis. criteria. However, the acting warden vetoed these rec Prison authorities are looking for ways to make life ommendations. more and more harsh for working people behind bars. Supporters of Mark Curtis should take advantage of From the chain gang slave system of prison labor in Al the recent decision by prison authorities in Iowa by step abama to the denial of voting rights to inmates in New ping up the campaign to get him out of lockup and to York and other states, prisoners are attempting to resist. fight for his parole from prison. Curtis's fight is a part of that struggle too. Prison authorities have a hard time dealing with the Supporters of Curtis should take the small concession fact that Curtis -continues to be a political person in granted by the acting warden and push for more. Curtis's prison and his supporters continue the fight for justice. recent victory in getting prison officials to grant him the Every act in Curtis's favor by prison officials is granted pamphlet Why is Mark Curtis Still in Prison? shows that grudgingly and bares the political nature of keeping the Iowa prison authorities can be pushed back, and that Mark Curtis in jail. Defenders of Curtis should use every Curtis's freedom can eventually be won as more work opportunity to expose the political victimization in ing people move into action and are won to demand jus Correction: volved in his imprisonment and win more support for his tice for Marl< Curtis. The article "Hundreds attend 'Labor Notes' conference" last week misidentified speakers as representatives of the South African Chemical Workers Union. Officials from the South African Chemical Workers Industrial Union addressed the conference.
14 The Militant J une 5,1995 Kmart workers fight bosses' attendance plan This column is devoted to re Greensboro are not giving up. porting the resistance by work During warm-up exercises and as ing people to the employers' as they leave at the end of second sault on their living standards, shift, workers chant slogans. working conditions, and unions. Break-room meetings have been We invite you to contribute held to explain the issue to the en short items to this column as a tire workforce, and many workers way for other fighting workers wear "Stand up for 80/40" stick around the world to read about ers. A public plant gate rally is and learn from these important planned for May 24. struggles. Jot down a few lines AC1WU members are also be about what is happening in your ginning to discuss how to reach
ON THE PICKET LINE
union, at your workplace, or out to a new layer of temporary other workplaces in your area, workers from Mexico who have including interesting political recently begun to work at the cen discussions. ter. The company is pushing them to work at a much faster pace than Chanting ''No Justice, No the norm. A recent meeting of the Peace," a dozen workers picketed union Justice Committee decided the offices and cafeteria at the to put out some stickers in Span Militant/Robert Dees Greensboro, North Carolina, ish and to include Spanish picket K-mart workers on strike in November 1994 against low pay and poor working conditions. Kmart distribution center May 18, signs at the May 24 rally . as more than 70 workers met with They also staged two marches in leaders associated with the a threat to national security. The management in the cafeteria. The the capital to press their demands. protest, and to prevent further strike threat was a response to members of Amalgamated Cloth Protest in El Salvador The prime minister, Jozef Oleksy, demonstrations against the com punitive measures taken against ing and Textile Workers Union Some 5,000 state workers said the government refused to ne pany and government. union leaders. (ACTWU) Local 2603 are de marched in San Salvador May 15 gotiate in an atmosphere of "ten South Korean president Kim manding equal paid time off with to protest a proposed hike in the sion and aggression." Young Sam also warned workers Diane Shur and M.J. Rahn, mem workers at most other Kmart dis value-added tax, oppose govern at the state telecommunications bers of AC7WU Local 2603 from tribution centers. ment privatization plans, and de company that a planned strike Greensboro contributed to this Kmart's draconian attendance mand pay raises. The demonstra South Korea riot cops would be met harshly, citing it as column. policy, or 'bank of hours' as it is tors came primarily from the state arrest Hyundai strikers called, has led to 100 firings in the telecommunications and hydro The South Korean government past 18 months. Other workers felt electric companies. The govern dispatched I,000 riot police to halt compelled to quit when their bank ment's proposal also includes a a sit-down strike at the Hyundai of hours ran out. After one year, tax increase on alcoholic bever Motor factory in Ulsan - the workers receive a bank of 40 paid ages and cigarettes. largest car factory in the country and 40 unpaid hours that they can - on May 19. The cops arrested Labor's Giant Step miss. Workers with less than a 12,000 tractor workers about 280 workers who were year receive only 40 paid hours. If strike in Poland camping out at the plant. The The First Twenty Years of the anyone, for any reason, exceeds workers were protesting a com CIO: 1936-- 1955 Art Preis their bank, they are dismissed. Some 12,000 workers at the Ur pany decision to shut down some After surveying the other sus tractor factory went on strike production lines indefinitely. The story of the explosive labor struggles May 8. The workers are demand Kmart centers, ACTWU discov The Federation of Hyundai La and political battles in the 1930s that built ered ·that workers at all but one ing a monthly pay increase of $70 bor Unions announced a rally to ,. other one received 80 paid hours to make up for inflation, running protest the government's action the industrial unions. And how those unions after one year. So, "Stand up for at 30 percent annually, as well as for May 22. The union alliance became the vanguard of a mass social 80/40" has become the slogan of low-interest loans for the plant. represents 50,000 workers at 25 movement that began transforming U.S. the day, and workers are demand The workers are facing layoffs as Hyundai companies, though nei society. $26.95 ing that it be implemented imme the government nioves to cut back ther the company nor the govern diately, not dragged through con at many state-owned enterprises. ment officially recognizes the tract negotiations. On May 19, the strikers blocked union. Seoul has deployed 7,000 Available from bookstores, including those listed on page 12, or from Pathfinder, Kmart has refused to settle the a main railway line out of War police in Ulsan to search for and 410 West St., New York, NY L0014. Tel (212) 741-0690. Fax (212) 727.0150. issue immediately, but workers in saw, forcing trains to be re-routed. arrest other workers and union --LETTERS------Why U.S. hates Iran that the name of Churchill Street ate few good jobs and generally . As an old reader and supporter was changed to Bobby Sands hire non-union workers. More of the Militant. I would like to - Irish freedom fighter and mar over, they destroy other busi mention a couple of points which tyr. nesses and introduce more crime I've noticed during my participa Those mentioned are just some and prostitution. I am convinced tion in the Militant sales teams in of the reasons why the U.S. impe gambling casinos are an exploita the past few months. rialists hate Iran. They hate the tion of the working class and consciousness and the sense of should be viewed that way. Sometimes its good to spice up solidarity that the 1979 revolution Maurice Geary the articles a little bit. I shall refer gave birth to. That's why they Fern.tkJle, Michigan to the article " Washington esca have to tackle this problem if they lates assault on Iran" dated May want to rule like the past when I 5, 1995, as an example. I believe they had a crowned cannibal un Notes from our readers a "Why" could be added to the der their thumb. Your newspaper is very infor title as well. Ali Yousefi mative unlike the regular estab Why? A) To mention the top Toronto, Canada lished papers around the country, pling of the Shah who was more like dirt sheets. brought to power in a CIA A reader organized coup in 1953. B) To On gun control Atlanta, Georgia mention the solidarity the oil and In the aftermath of the Okla steelworkers of America rendered homa City bombing and the way The Militant receives many to their brothers and sisters in the Big Business mass media is requests from readers behind 1978-79 against the brutal regime attempting to demonize and mar bars. The Militant Prisoner of the· Shah. C) To mention the ginalize 2nd and 4th Amendment Subscription Fund makes it pos occupation of the U.S. embassy in advocates, I was wondering what tempting to break down the myths nos in Michigan is reaching sible to send reduced-rate sub I 979 by the revolutionary youth the Militant's position is on gun and generalizations that many fevered .proportions as the lure of scrlptions to prisoners who that further exposed the role of control .vs. the 2nd Amendment. working people, especially in ru quick and easy profits cause gam- can't afford to pay for them. To such embassies in the Third I am active in a group that is ral areas, have toward the political bling rip off artists to drool with help us respond to requests for World countries- that is to spy opposed to all gun control mea left wing and in the process build excitement. Not content with ex- subscriptions please send your on, sabotage, and attempt to mur sures and advocates strongly in fa bridges and educate. tracting the surplus value pro- contribution to the Militant der and overthrow governments vor of 2nd Amendment rights. I would appreciate an article on duced by workers, they now want Prisoner Subscription Fund, that are not all the way through Most right-wingers have a ten the gun control issue as well as an a percentage of their wages. The 410 West St., New York, NY subservient to the imperialists. dency to paint all gun-control ad analysis of the campaign being most persuasive argument given 10014. D) To mention the solidarity of vocates and politicians proposing waged currently in the mass me for casinos is envy of Windsor, · The letters column is an open millions of Iranian masses with legislation that infringes on our dia and in legislation to curtail our Ontario, just across the Detroit forum for aU viewpoints on sub the fight of the Palestinians for a Constitutional rights as 'Liberals' Constitutional rights. River where millions are being. jects of general interest to our secular state and against Zionism. and 'Communists.' Ed Meredith made from Detroit workers that readers. Please keep your letters E) And to let the readers know of I consider myself to be a Social Caneyville, Kentucky could be made by Detroit bosses. br{ef. Where necessary they will the consciousness achieved ist and am definitely opposed to Opposition to this is growing, be abridged. thanks to the revolution that the any infringement on our Constitu but the majority would appear to Please indicate if you prefer masses expressed in their solidar tional rights and liberties. By be Gambling rip otT favor it if you can trust press re- that your initials be used rather ity with Irish freedom fighters. So ing a part of this group I am at- The clamor for gambling casi- ports and politicians. Casinos ere- than your full name. June 5, 1995 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Australian miners hold off bosses BY DOUG COOPER The series of job actions began after tives of all five unions, led the three Martin Ferguson, the president of the SYDNEY, Australia - More than workers rejected a second company offer month. campaign. The unions demanded a Australian Council of Trade Unions, and 2,700 miners returned to work at a huge at a February mass meeting. They rejected wage increase greater than 10 percent, re Laurie Brereton, the minister for industrial Queensland copper, lead, zinc, and silver an initial offer December I994. Both deals instatement of annual free round-trip air relations in the federal Labor government, mine May 23 after being laid off May. 8 had been negotiated with the MlM bosses fares for miners and their families to stepped into the MIM dispute, brokering a and then locked out by Mt. lsa Mines by state officials from the Australian Brisbane - the capital of Queensland, two-week cooling off period to be fol Holdings Ltd. (MIM) four days later. Workers' Union (AWU) and the Aus restoration of the right to accrue sick days, lowed by new negotiations. They returned with heads high as they tralian Manufacturing Workers Union and subsidized medical payments to make Memories of a militant seven-month prepare for the next stage in the fight. The (AMWU). up the difference between doctors' actual strike at the mine in 1964-65, which elec Mt. lsa mine, with boundaries equal in The A WU and the AMWU represent bills and the standard fee paid for by trified the labor movement here, were un size to Switzerland, is one of the world 's the majority of workers at the site. Three Medicare. Workers also demanded to be doubtedly high on the list of motivations largest and most isolated, with annual pro other unions, the Construction, Forestry, allowed to join the union of their choice. for their intervention. Also high on the list duction valued at $Al.26 billion [$Al - Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), the Wright has vowed to quit if the airfares was the looming specter of a national coal U.S. $0.73]. The mine is closer to Indone Electrical Trades Union (ETU), and the are restored. During the lockout, he also strike in solidarity with the MIM miners. sia than it is to Sydney. Federated Clerks' Union (FCU), also rep demanded the unions call a mass meeting, Australia, the world's largest coal ex Determined resistance by the miners resent workers at the Mt. lsa mine. which he claimed would vote to accept his porter, controls 36 percent of world coal forced MIM to back down from its intran Philip Wright. MIM general manager at final offer. The demand was ignored. In trade. Last year the industry produced a sigent "final offer" stance and allow work the mine, played a divide-and-conquer stead the unions organized daily open fo record 180 million tons of coal with ex ers to return to their jobs. Unionists held game before and during the lockout. rums. ports of I 32 million tons. mass pickets focused on MIM 's Mica He insisted he would not negotiate with Many miners, working underground in Those figures are expected to be Creek power station, where they cut off theCFMEU, ETU, or FCU, using as a pre 12-hour shifts, don't earn much more than eclipsed this year by exports of close to electricity to the mine but maintained it for text a 1994 Queensland Industrial Rela the base rate of $A28,000 a year and have 14Q million tons and earnings in excess of the town of Mt. lsa, with its population of tions Tribunal ruling granting coverage of not had a wage rise since 1991. A$8 billion, making coal once again the 23,000. Shopkeepers arrived daily with the site to the A WU and AMWU. The rul single largest contributor to Australia's food donations for the locked-out workers. ing was the result of a jurisdictional dis Bosses bump into workers' solidarity foreign exchange earnings. A solidarity strike by coal miners at pute between the A WU and CFMEU in Wright and Nick Stump, a notorious Under the plan approved by the miners, three MIM mines and a coal loading facil particular. union buster and MIM's newly appointed the Combined Unions Disputes Commit ity in central Queensland and the threat of Wright and big-business media pundits chief executi~e officer, ran head on into tee wiiJ be replaced by a "single bargain a national coal strike put additional pres insist the dispute has been caused by a the unity and solidarity of rank-and-file ing unit" of MIM management, state sure on the company. MIM stock suffered power struggle among the five unions. In miners and their supporters. union officials, and local union represen a steep drop in value on both the Aus fact, the conflict flows from concessions Some I ,200 Queensland CFMEU mem tatives chosen by the workers. tralian and London stock exchanges. wrung from the miners in 1993 when bers at MIM's Oakey Creek, Newlands, As miners voted May 22 on the frame MIM claimed to be operating at a loss. and Collinsville mines, as well as its Ab work agreement to return to work, Roy Three months of protest actions The company's final offer consisted of bott Point coastal coal loading facility, Harris, co-chair of the Combined Unions The 15-day lockout, which cost ~IM a I 0 percent wage increase over 18 walked off the job May 12. The workers, Dispute Committee, said of Wright, 'The some $A3-5 million a day, was preceded months and an $A800 annual remote area who voted unanimously to ignore a Coal man that doesn't blink, blinked." by three months of rolling strikes and travel allowance. Industry Tribunal back-to-work order dur overtime bans at the mine aimed at forcing The Combined Unions Disputes Com ing their strike, began returning to work Doug Cooper is a member of the Aus MlM to restore benefits conceded in I993. mittee, c·onsisting of elected representa- May 18. tralian Workers Union at A/can in Sydney. Maori protesters end 79-day land occupation BY MICHAEL TUCKER to enable its use as holding cells. The po AUCKLAND, New Zealand - "We lice eviction preparations were code are going out the way we want to go out named "Operation Exodus". and the way our people came in ... with in A week earlier; on May I 0, up to 70 tegrity and under our own custom," Henry cops in riot gear had raided the land occu Bennett, a leader of the Whanganui River pation in the middle of the night, claiming Maori tribes, told reporters May I 7. The the protest had become a haven for next morning, before dawn, 250 Maori "criminals and stolen property" and ''drug land protesters marched out of Moutoa users." Ten people were arrested on minor Gardens in Wanganui, ending their 79-day charges including "breach of the peace" land occupation. and "assault." Throughout the occupation Maoris and supporters occupied the there has been a strict policy of no drugs gardens February 28 to press their demand or alcohol on the site. for the return of the two-and-a-half-acre Protest leaders denounced the raid as a public park area near the center of the city. dress rehearsal for their forced eviction The demonstrators erected tents and build and an attempt to provoke, intimidate, and ings, built a wooden fence, and renamed discredit the hmd occupants. the site Pakaitore, the original Maori name "They actually got one of our young Militant/Malcolm McAllister for the area. men and were very rough with him," oc Maori land occupation in Wanganui, New Zealand. Protest leaders vowed to con The land fight has dominated politics in cupation leader Niko Tangaroa told re tinue fight. Land fights by Maoris have dominated politics in recent months. this country and inspired Maori occupa porters. "His face was rubbed into the tions and protests in other centers. ground, and he was abused, and a gun was The decision to end the occupation fol put to his head. They said, 'Don't move former commander of the police riot occupations. "As long as the Crown lowed a High Court injunction declaring nigger, or I'll blow you away.' That was squad, denounced Maori rights fighters as [government] buries its head in the sand the Wanganui District Council to be the witnessed by others who were around." "self-serving and malicious." and pretends that issues of sovereignty owner of the gardens and ordering the Throughout the 79-day occupation, the The decision to end the Maori occupa and our land grievances are going to go land occupants to leave. The injunction land protesters faced almost nightly ha tion of Moutoa Gardens was debated by away ... we are going to stand up and fight had been sought by the District Council rassment and racist abuse by the cops. A participants at a three-hour meeting May for what is rightfully ours," Ken Mair de with the support of the government. Wanganui church minister announced I7. At 3:45 the next morning the occu clared. Three leaders of the protest were named May 22 that he intends to file a formal pants gathered and began dismantling The chairman of the Whanganui River as defendants in the case. They declined to complaint unless police acknowledge tents and buildings and the surrounding Maori Trust Board, Archie Tairoa, re be represented in court, explaining that the claims made against them. He said he had fence. Bonfires burned across the site. ported that local sub-tribes had already land claim is a political matter to be settled witnessed police circling their cars outside At 4:50 a.m., the same time they had given full support for the "reoccupation of by the government, not a legal issue. the gardens and abusing occupants as entered the gardens 79 days earlier, the those areas of land wrongfully taken from The injunction was served on the pro "niggers" and "black bastards." protesters began their march to a meeting them." Moutoa Gardens, he said, "is but a testers May 17. The police have also Jed a propaganda 'place several miles away. Over the next small part of some of those areas." "We were forced to leave, and it barrage against the land occupants, por few days, a team continued to dismantle Whanganui River sub-tribes have shouldn't be lost on anybody that we up traying a large section of them as the meeting house and other buildings that claims for the return of I 86,000 acres of held our dignity," protest leader Ken Mair "criminals" and "gang members." This had been erected during the occupation. land before the Waitangi Tribunal, a judi told a press conference in Wanganui May has been echoed by the Wanganui District "Every step of the way has been worth cial body that hears Maori claims on land I8 following the end of the occupation. "ln Council and politicians. while as far as we are concerned," Niko and other resources unjustly taken away. no way were we going to allow the state A meeting to demand eviction of the Tangaroa told the May 18 press confer A number of other Maori occupations the opportunity to put the handcuffs on us protesters was held in Wanganui May 14. ence in Wanganui. "Pakaitore is our land. that began in the wake of the Moutoa Gar and lock us away." It was addressed by Ross Meurant, a It will remain our land, and we will con dens occupation are continuing. The police were reported to have up to member of parliament and leader of the tinue to assert that right irrespective of the 1,000 reinforcements ready to evict the Right of Centre Party. The meeting at courts." Michael Tucker is a member ofthe United land occupants. Wanganui's Kaitoke tracted 300 people, well short of the 1,000 The protest leaders vowed to continue Food & Beverage Workers Union in prison had been gazetted as a "police jail" expected by the organizers. Meurant, a their fight, including through further land Auckland.
16 The Militant June 5,1995