WfJ/iIlE/iS ,,1N'O,1,, 25¢ No. 271 :~~~ )(-523 2 January 1981

Wide World Baltimore, September 1980-10,000 people apply for•70 jobs. Reagan's "Honelmoon": · Inflation, Recession, Austerity

As Ronald Reagan, the consum­ situation since FOR took office in most prestigious economic adviser, White House, economic policy is mate Cold War brinksman, moves into 1933, but talk of a national "economic former Federal Reserve head Arthur firmly in the hands of Wall Street, not the White House. the economy is on emergency" program was dispelled as Burns, warned that there is no sense the Orange County Chamber of the brink, Central America is on the soon as it was mentioned by a Reagan talking now about an economic Commerce. The New Right is under­ brink, and, of course, the permanent aide. Reagan did not plan to take emergency when a "real one" is on the standably upset that the new treasury hostage crisis undulates to the brink "extra-legal" steps, assured Edwin way. secretary is Donald Regan, chair­ and back. It has become a cliche that Meese III, big shot of the transition While right-wing true believers may man of Merill, Lynch stockbrokers, Reagan.~~~e~_ the worst economic team. And on December 24, Reagan's have thought they put their man in the continued on oaf!e 8 For Sit-Down Strikes! Restore Parity With Ford and GM! No Concession to Chrysler Blackmaill Once again snapping the whip of any pretense of negotiating, he lectured threatened company bankruptcy, about the workers' "binge" and warned Chrysler in league with the federal that the freeze plan was "rigid." As for government is leading an assault on a the 45,000 Chrysler workers on indefi­ basic principle of trade unionism­ nite layoff, lacocca had nothing to say equal pay for equal work. Sensing the (Detroit News and Detroit Free Press, UAW leadership's timidity, now Ford 18 December 1980). Thus, the Chrysler too has stated it will follow Chrysler in a chairman unilaterally ripped up the wage-cutting, benefit-slashing offensive sweetheart contract negotiated last year. the likes of which the UAW has never It just wasn't sweet enough for him. yet seen. As we warned a year ago, the But for auto workers, it was a sellout Chrysler bailout was the opening wedge of sellouts. As we wrote at the time: of a capitalist drive to gut the union. "In the old days before unions, when a company lost money it turned to the This is not just a matter of solidarity workers and told them: take a wage cut with the brothers in Chrysler now under or you're out on the street. Eliminating the gun; it is a matter of life and death this cutthroat practice was one of the for the United Automobile Workers. main goals of the great CIO organizing Beat back the Chrysler/bankersj drive in the 1930s. Equal pay for equal work. regardless of profits or losses ofa government attack-restore parity with particular capitalist employer, was and Ford and GM! is a basic principle of industrial union­ "At Chrysler, at least, no more ism. But with Chrysler facing bank­ ruptcy, the Fraser bureaucracy ... has automatic wage increases tied to infla­ brought back the 'pay cut or walk' era." tion," chairman Lee lacocca decreed on -"Chrysler Bailout Bleeds December 17. and he went on from Workers." WV No. 246. arrogance to insult: "Boys, you've been 28 December 1979 the highest paid group of guys in the About half the workers got a pay cut, world.... It's freeze time, boys. Chrys­ the other half got their pink slips. ler's got good jobs available at $17.50. Since the company continues to lose Workers must not pay for unsold Chryslers. Wedon't have 'em at $20." Tossingaside continued on page 8 •

~~_ .... 'I!.:.....~ ...._-=-----_ Letters

So long as the economy was on the upswing, the and that is why Berlinguer & Co. went into panicky bourgeoisie could tolerate-against its will-far­ retreat. Italy: Struggle for reaching union power'at the factory level. But caught Nowhere is the need more evident for the Trotskyist in the throes of a deepening international depression, Transitional Program of proletari?n revolution. The Power FIAT & Co. went on the warpath against the gains of FIAT strike begins as a trade-union struggle, but in '69, demanding that the laws of capitalist economic order to succeed class-struggle policies are urgently Milano rationality finally be applied. To win this crucial strike needed pointing to a working-class seizure of power. 22 December 1980 . it was necessary to mobilize the working class, Against galloping inflation and looming mass layoffs, l'0 the editor: throwing Italy into a pre-revolutionary crisis and the present wage "indexation" and unemployment Would you bring to your readers' attention the pointing with a series of transitional demands toward insurance are wholly inadequate. What is needed is a , article on the FIAT strike appearing in Le Bolchevik the proletarian rule in which socialist economic genuine sliding scale ofwages and hours, extended to [paper of the French section of the international rationality would prevent massive unemployment and cover previously non-unionized wage earners as well. Spartacist tendency]. Though most of the article huge pay cuts. But since the present misleaders of the Rather than the contradictory "factory council duplicates "Italian CP Knifes FIAT Strike," WV No. workers movement oppose the overthrow of the unions" (sindicati dei consigli), the hybrid synthesis of 270, 12 December 1980, the longer Le Bolchevik article bottomlessly corrupt, bankrupt Italian ruling class, the "conquests of '69," communists must demand the includes additional political material emphasizing the they went the other road, sabotaging the FIAT strike imposition of workers control, i.e., dual power at the centrality of the Transitional Program in leading the and leading it down to defeat. The consequences of factory level. And instead of calls for PCI "participa­ class struggles of the militant Italian proletariat to their treachery will be felt by workers throughout West tion" in the government, reinforcing. the rickety decisive victory. Europe.... bourgeois state with the "clean hands" of a popular The inability to answer Agnelli's frontal attack on front, there must be a workers government ofsoviets. Parodi the gains of the workers movement revealed again the That is what it will take to expropriate FIAT,--rfle for the Lega Trotskista d'ltalia glaring crisis of revolutionary leadership. Against the bellwether of Italian private capital. ... economic chaos and destruction being wrought by The combativity repeatedly displayed by the Italian WV replies: See below for material from Le Bolchevik moribund capitalism, in Italy today the need is posed working class over the last dozen years has not yielded No. 21. pointblank for a planned economy based on collectiv­ a leadership to match this quality. Nor will more ized property. Yet once again, as during the Torino militant struggle alone produce such a leadership. Yet factory occupations of 1920 and the "Hot Autumn" of the conditions are present for the rapid building of a EXCERPTS FROM LE BOLCHEVIK, JANUARY 1981 1969, the workers movement has failed to transcend a Bolshevik-Leninist, Trotskyist party. As a result ofthe syndicalist form of militant reformism and assert its 1969 upsurge Italy saw the largest growth of centrist ... In Italy [capitalist "austerity"] meant a direct will to rule. Endlessly demanding "more" amounts to groups in all West Europe, embracing tens of attack on the conquests of the "Hot Autumn" of 1969 declaring a permanent strike while the workers thousands of militants seeking to break with the dead­ when the bosses conceded demands going to the limits continue receiving pay and the petty bourgeoisie grows end reformism of the PCI. Here also was the home of of militant trade unionism, and beyond, in order to cut increasingly desperate. Continuing this impossible "proletarian" urban guerrillaism a la Red Brigades, short a mushrooming pre-revolutionary situation that situation will simply produce a big fascist movement as also growing out of leftist frustration with the phony was spreading down the peninsula from the huge FIAT the capitalists insist on the iron necessity of smashing communism of Berlinguer & Co. The Trotskyist works in Torino. These concessions had placed Italian the bourgeois-democratic framework in order to Transitional Program is crucial to break through capitalism in an excruciating contradiction, impossible restore "profitability." Clearly this is what the ominous the impasse of popular frontism and terrorist to maintain over the long run. anti-union back-to-work march at FIAT could lead to, despair. ...•

New Yorkers from any future SWP forums or public hints of this in your press so I thought you might not SWP Scurrying Over events. These individuals included myself, Steve know. Forgione, Kurt Hill, and John Lauritsen. The SWP is WV replies: Reader Gibbs has got a point. Since our rDI Informer really insane. At h::ast now I kno"," I'll have all my analysis ofthe immediate predecessor ofthe"Trend" in Friday nights free. StilI; Ihaven't been to one of their our 1977 article, "The Maoists United Will Never Be forums for more than a year and a half. What are they Repeated" (WVNo. 183,25 November 1977), we have New York, N.Y. afraid of? .. not commented much on this soft Stalinoid milieu. We November IS, 1980 intend to rectify this deficiency. Dear Spartacist League: Yours for freedom and socialism, David Thorstad Enclosed you will find the draft of a position paper I have written for the North American Man/Boy Love Would Sollenberger Association on the topic of man/boy love and feminism. This is for your information.... Kiss the Cross? I also enclose a copy of an introduction I have What About the written to a new publication of internal SWP New York City documents on gay liberation, to be published as a book "Trend"? 4 December 1980 fairly soon by Steve Forgione and Kurt Hill, both l'0 the editor, former SWP members who are gay. Their book will Minneapolis, Minnesota I would like to inform WV readers ofa little-known pick up where the one I put out in 1976 left off-that is, December 6, 1980 incident quite relevant to the article "RWG on from 1974 to 1979, the last discussion on gay lib within Religion and Poland-On the Road to the 'Third SWP for the foreseeable future, no doubt. I don't think Dear Spartacist, Camp'," in WV No. 269, 28 November. Peter they have very many queers left inside the group, which Maybe the incomparable polemicists of the Sparta­ Sollenberger's Revolutionary Workers Group (RWG) is not surprising. My introduction is a bit bitchy, cist League are getting a little rusty or they just choose accuses the Spartacist tendency of wanting to divide perhaps, but entirely accurate, I believe, in assessing to ignore developments in "the Trend," but I urge you the Polish working class along religious lines. On the why the SWP behaved the way it did in implementing to consider some kind of polemics against it. Sad as it contrary. It is the leadership around Walesa which is its "turn" to the "working class." may be, this rump of the new left is about the only seeking to direct the new union movement into an anti­ I thought the Workers Vanguard article (Nov. 14, barely living thing in the Stalinist movement, and is communist religious crusade. 1980 issue) on Ed Heisler was quite good. Having read attempting to establish a new round of Stalinoid/ The West German Der Spiegel (17 November) Seigle's internal "security" report, I think, if anything, Maoid groups. I must quote yourselves in the contains a diary-type account of the Gdansk-centered you could have punched away a little harder. It looks pamphlet, "China's Alliance with U.S. Imperialism": general strike last August by Ewa Milewicz, a member to me like there's a lot of scurrying around going on "Thus the main challenge to Trotskyism will come not of the social-democratic KOR. She describes what from the dwindling band of post-Angola hard-line happened when a delegate to the Interfactory Strike over there at SWP. So far, interestingly enough, they Maoists, but from the critical Maoists, dissident haven't uncovered any FBI informants or pigs Maoists and ex-Maoists. A main orientation of Committee stated he was a member of the local involved in the various internal SWP struggles on gay Trotskyists at present must be to prevent the deep crisis executive of the Communist party: liberation, but here they come up with one who helped of Maoism from dissipating itself in a new layer of "The hall is an uproar, there are shouts: 'Out with him. them to implement their "turn" to the "working class," nationally limited, impressionistic, inherently unstable Out!' Totally confused, the man on the podium attempts Stalinoid formations." to justify himself before the excited delegates. He was which they attempted to use against involvement in gay ready to swear on everything that was sacred and dear to liberation. The key and most interesting question is Couldn't have been said better. The Bukharinite/ him: he was a believing Catholic, had married his wife in why Heisler revealed this information at this time and liberal Maoist TR, the workerist Stalinists of the church; although a party member, he had his children in this way. Maybe he's going to testify as a PWOC-led OCIC, and the slightly more sophisticated baptized. "ideological" Stalinists of the Silberite Line of March "The hall howls: 'We know his sort! Who made him government witness if the SWP trial ever comes up. Or delegate?' The man on the podium turns white with fear. maybe-speculation only, ofcourse-the government journal are battling over what's left of the new left, all 'rhe people in the hall remain implacable. In the end he wants to protect agents it has placed even higher up in trading jabs at Trotskyism, and all trying to prove says: 'I will swear to you on the crucifix that I'm telling the SWP apparatus. I find it hard to believe that the which side of the flip-flop is better. the truth-I'm a party member, but in reality I belong to you.' greatest influence they were able to acquire after You may think I'm some kind of crank to keep on writing these letters but I think you're getting a bit out "The crucifix is hanging too high for the small man. decades of effort was Heisler, but who knows? Someone gets a chair, the man climbs on it, kisses the Anyway, Seigle's report surely fell short of his own of touch with some wings of the left. If you can write figure of Christ." 2-1/2 pages on the RWG, why not "the Trend"? personal capabilities, I believe. It just goes to show Knowing Peter Sollenberger, we have no doubt that in what hacks the SWP leadership have become. Sincerely, a similar situation he would not only kiss the crucifix, Incidentally, you may get a charge out of this. I Gregory Gibbs but wouldn't admit he was a member of the RWG in know I did. In August of this year, I am reliably told P.S. The SWP has changed or is changing their line on the first place. that the New York local of the SWP heard a "security Afghanistan, according to anti-draft ac~ivists in Mpls. Comradely, report" (?!) which was fcllowed by a vote to ban several This came out about 2 months ago. Hadn't seen any J. Seymour 2 WORKERS VANGUARD .- .. JACKIE CLARK G e n e r CI IEx e c'u t i v e Boa r d MIKE KASIAN International Convention Delegate General Executive Board member of the Militant Caucus. I International Convention Delegate helped build the labor-centered mobil­ ization that stopped the Nazis from 1200 people came to "Sweep the "celebrating" Hitler's birthday in San Nazis Off the Streets!" Labor stop­ Francisco in April. I stand for: ped these SCums from "celebrating" .Early strike preparation for 1982 Hitler's birthday. Build labor/minority defense guards against Klan/Nazi vio­ Master Contract to win what we need lence. _ 100% COLA, right to strike, no probation period, shorter work week Assist class brothers and sisters in other Countries. For international with no loss in pay. labor solidarity. •Independence of the union from Carter and Reagan are both whip­ government intervention. Answer fines ping up Cold War hysteria against and injunctions with strong, united Russia. They hate the USSR for the action. Union action, not phoney same reason they hate unions _ both government programs, to fight racial stand in the way of corporate profit. and sexual discrimination. No law­ ~: Soviet leaders are just like our union Our union is under attack. It is the suits against the union. bureaucrats - they are only out for .For organized labor defense­ Employers are on a rampage only thing that stands between us and against union conditions. The Militant themselves. SOViet workers are better the companies in their drive for pro­ against racist KKK/Nazi violence. The Caucus stands for mobiliZing the full off haVing kicked out their capitalists ductivity. The companies haven't government won't stop them - we strength of the ILWU to defend our and organiZing a planned economy. changed much since 1934, but the must. jobs. The port shutdowns in Los But just as we defend our own misled union no longer uses the tactics that .For labor solidarity here and in­ Angeles and Seattle are examples of union against the bosses, we stand built the ILWU. To beat back com­ ternationally. Honor all picket lines. militant action. For mass pickets to with SOviet workers against "open pany attacks (firing stewards, scrap­ Help striking unions with pickets and defend striking houses. Defy Court in­ shop" Carter. Soviet workers will settle scores with their Own mislead­ ping grievance procedures, attendance money. Join actions that aid workers junctions. Eliminate the "no-strike" ers. policies, productivity quotas, runa­ in other countries. clause. ways) we must use the full strength of .No support for Carter or Reagan. I am against suing the union. Inter­ Labor must break its alliance with the union - mass picketing, the right Democrats and Republicans are vention by the bosses' courts will only the Democrats and build a workers to strike, honoring all picket lines, bosses' parties. Both try to whip up weaken us. Fight discrimination with party based on the unions. War, rac­ support from the longshore division reactionary war sentiment against the union action. ism, inflation and unemploYment are and the Teamsters. USSR. We need a workers party that The U.S. economy is a shambles. permanent features of capitalism, and We need a new leadership with a will defend our interests and fight for We must not pay for capitalist bung­ only a planned economy, organized by a workers government will end program to turn the union around, a workers government. ling. Prepare now for the '82 contract. . this once and for all. making it into a fighting union that JACKIE CLARK Fight for a shorter work week at no defend~and improves conditions. loss in pay, 30 for 40. Member Woolworth House Com­ Book #10509 mittee. I am a steward at Heublein and a I helped organize the San Fran­ cisco ANCAN mobilization in April. MIKE KASIAN Book #10462 Electoral statements of victorious Militant Caucus candidates. Two Militants Elected in New

Bay Area ILWU Vote -..,.,~~"...... ,",------_...._------

OAKLAND-A big victory was scored large voter turnout: 1,130 voters in the tract scale paid. To prevent closures, sit­ protect minorities from the Klan is only by the Militant Caucus in December II December II rerun, down only slightly down strikes should be organized well mor~ ludicrous now that Ronald Rea­ elections of the West Bay division of in advance and backed up by whole from 1,342 on November 13. And the union." gan is moving into the White House. International Longshoremen's and militants improved their relative stand­ The Colgate issue is providing an Woolston fought for adoption of this Warehousemen's Union (lLWU) Local ing in the hotly-contested GEB race, in early demonstration of the bankruptcy strategy as a department steward at 6. Militant Caucus (MC) members which 18 candidates competed for nine of the "rank and file coalition," mem­ Thrifty, when the company was prepar­ Jackie Clark and Mike Kasian, both positions. Jackie Clark had placed sixth bers ofwhich make up most ofthe active ing to close the plant down in early 1979. first-time candidates, were elected to the in the earlier vote, but was fifth in the union leadership in the plant. This Due to the Local 6 leadership's do­ General Executive Board (GEB). This rerun with 395 votes. And Kasian went ramshackle opportunist bloc includes nothing policy, Thrifty succeeded in topped the Caucus' excellent showing in from number 13 to number 9 with 320 not only PW supporters, but also running away to Nevada without a the first vote on November 13 in which votes! supporters of Irwin Silber's "Trend," a serious struggle by the union. Clark was elected to the GEB (see "In the new elections we pushed very resting place for homeless ex-Maoists. Now the burning issue of plant "ILWU Local Elects Militant," WVNo. hard on the fact that the policies of Trend supporter Bob Seltzer, a member closures has again shown the need for 269, 28 November 1980). A new election Jimmy Carter and the Democrats got us of the Colgate plant committee, came the Me's program. The Berkeley Col­ was held because the November 13 vote into this situation we're in now and put out openly against strike action at a rally gate plant, one of four Colgate­ in the West Bay was invalidated by the Reagan in the White House," Mike at the Berkeley City Council on Novem­ Palmolive facilities in the United States, local's Balloting Committee. Kasian told wv. "We emphasized the ber 25: "If you strike at this point, is being "studied" for probable closure The militants' gains were made with a need for a workers party, while the Colgate would love it. People would by the company. Even Abba Ramos, the bureaucrats had come out for Carter. lose their severance pay, probably." usually complacent business agent for We also said the Greensboro verdict Strike action, plant sitdowns, appeals ILWU workers at Colgate, commented gave a green light to the Klan. We in the for hot-cargoing are always unwise "at worriedly: Militant Caucus helped organize the this time" for the reformists. Instead, April 19th rally that stopped the Nazis "300 Local 6jobs are at stake. Colgate is WORKERS the largest Local6 house in the East Bay Seltzer advocates the International's in San Francisco. Now there's the racist and has been part of this union for over timeworn impotent strategy of yet VANGIJARD violence in Contra Costa, and a lot of 40 years, Some of the most militant another consumer boycott. Clearly Marxist Working-Class Biweekly members, especially black members, see strikes in the history of the ILWU have these reformists are no alternative to the of the Spartacist League of the U.S. the need for the union to take action. We been waged by brothers and sisters at Berkeley, including an II-month strike present top leadership of the ILWU. EDITOR: Jan Norden call for the I LWU to take the lead in in 1962." Far from proposing any solution to ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Charles Burroughs organizing defense guards of unions and -Local 6 Bulletin. runaways and job losses, incumbent PRODUCTION: Darlene Kamiura (Manager), minorities to stop those attacks." 22 November 1980 Local 6 president Keith Eickman in his Noah Wilner But is Ramos' answer militant union election statement attempted to paint a CIRCULATION MANAGER: Karen Wyatt Militant Action Needed to Stop action? Hardly. "There must be legisla­ glowing picture of rising living stand­ EDITORIAL BOARD: George Foster, Liz Colgate Shutdown tion to curb these monstrous acts," he ards and conditions in the union, utterly Gordon, Mark Kellermann, James Robertson, wails (People's World. 13 December flying in the face of reality. Then he Joseph Seymour, Marjorie Stamberg Another key issue in the ILWU is the 1980). sniped at his opponents: "I ask you to Workers Vanguard (USPS 098-770) published loss of union houses through plant biweekly, skipping an issue in August and a The Communist Party's PW, which reject the attempt to build caucuses" week in December, by the Spartacist Publishing closures and runaways to non-union regularly lauds Ramos, is stumping for (Local 6 Bulletin. November 1980, Co, 41 Warren Street, New York, NY 10007 states, especially Nevada. Militant Telephorle: 732-7862 (Editorial), 732-7861 "a new plant closure bill with strong election edition). Far from taking his Caucus candidate Pete Woolston, from (BusinesS). Address all correspondence to: Box teeth to deal with such things as advice, the membership has given the 1377, GPO, New York. NY 10116. Domestic the East Bay division of Local 6, SUbscriptions: $3.00/24 issues. Second-class restricting runaway shops." The same class-struggle Militant Caucus more postage paid at New York. NY. proposed union action in his official issue ofPW headlines yet another call to electoral support than ever before. Now election statement in the November Opinions expressed in signed articles or letters "ban the Klan." As always these the MC must move forward from its do not necessarily express the editorial Local 6 Bulletin: viewpoint. reformists counsel the workers to rely electoral victory and consolidate this "Fight runaways with real organizing drives plus agreements with Team­ on the government, not the power of support, building the caucus to prepare No. 271 2 January 1981 sters/ Longshoremen to ship nothing labor. The idea that the capitalist a new fighting leadership for the to/from runaways unless Master Con- government will stop plant closures or ILWU.•

2 JANUARY 1981 3 Anti-Union Decision in Anwar Case An arbitrator ruled December 5 In supporting the steel bosses' claim against Keith Anwar's bid for rein­ that they have a ("god-given"?) right to statement at the Inland Steel Com­ fire any worker who respects an pany in East Chicago, Indiana. An­ official union strike picket line, the war, a United Steelworkers of America arbitrator argued, "the no strike-no (USWA) Local 10lO member, was lockout provision of the Collective fired in May 1979 for refusing to cross Bargaining Agreements between the the picket line of another Steelworker parties has appeared in Collective local. The case was supported by steel Bargaining Agreements for a period of workers throughout the Chicago/ approximately 35 years." Northern Indiana district. In October Over the years, the USWA tops have capitulated to management's attempts 1979 Local 10 lO had sponsored a rally (Northern Indiana Public Service at Inland Steel, where McBride/ to tie steel workers' hands through a to defend the right to honor picket Company). Here, company operations Balanoff sent USWA workers across dangerous no-strike clause. But no­ lines at which Anwar was the featured are going on with unionized tradesmen the bricklayers' lines. (Again, it was thing in this clause, or the contract as a speaker. Over $2,000 was donated for crossing Steelworker picket lines. The steel worker militant Keith Anwar whole, prohibits honoring picket lines, the defense, and resolutions in An­ 4,000 workers from USWA Local who refused to cross that picket line.) a right which has been repeatedly war's support were passed by Steel­ 12775 (production) and Local 13796 The key to victory at NIPSCO is recognized by the NLRB. Moreover, worker locals and the USWA District (clerical) struck against massive com­ enforcing the elemental working-class the right to strike and to honor picket 31 Conference. pany "takeaway" contract demands. principle for which Anwar and his lines was not the result of backroom A leaflet issued December 18 by the But local building trades unions have supporters have fought: "Picket lines bargaining, but won through bitter Keith Anwar Defense Committee refused to stop the scabbing, despite mean don't cross!" struggles-such as the Little Steel reported: appeals from the steel workers, includ­ "It took a hell of a fight to get this case Strike of 1937. The arbitrator's cynical ing a personal appeal from Interna­ Despite the setback at arbitration, to arbitration but once there, the attempt to use the union contract to tional President Lloyd McBride. the Keith Anwar case will be pursued union fought hard and shot holes justify the anti-union decision is a through every company argument. The NIPSCO strike can be won­ with the National Labor Relations stinging indictment of how the bu­ But this 'impartial' arbitrator sided and fast-by stopping the scabbing Board. The Defense Committee an­ with the company on every issue. reaucracy has whittled away the and shutting the plant down! But nounced, "we hope the union will "The arbitrator told a union official at fundamental gains on which the CIO USWA District 31 director Jim Balan­ support his effort ... we cannot stand Local 10 10 that although the union was built. .presented a good case he couldn't 'let off and McBride have no intention of by and watch the companies destroy one man stop 19,000.' This comment How the steel union misleaders who defying the state and company and our picket lines and our ability to zeroed in on the real stakes in this negotiated the no-strike Experimental mobilizing for a mass, militant picket defend ourselves." Funds are urgently case-the right to strike and honor Negotiating Agreement (ENA) have line. Indeed, construction union bu­ picket lines. The historic, labor soli­ needed to continue the fight. Contri­ darity tradition of honoring picket eroded labor's basic rights can be seen reaucrats often try to justify their own butions can be sent to: Keith Anwar lines is what built the unions we have in the bitter seven-month USWA members' scabbing by pointing to such Defense Committee, Box 7914, Chica­ today." strike now going on at NIPSCO incidents as the 1978 bricklayers strike go, Illinois 60680. For Labor/Black Defense Against Contra Costa Klan Terror! OAKLAND-Since July an escalating Board member and co-editor of the meeting attended by some 400 people march on Martin Luther King's birth­ series of race-terror attacks, some "Longshore Militant," Presley attended and dominated by union bureaucrats, day "or on a later date." This is the same accompanied by KKK death threats, the Local's Executive Board meeting ministers and reformists (most notably cast of characters who last April 19, has aimed at driving several black December II to ask for the union's aid. the Stalinist Communist Party [CP], because they were afraid of a "confron­ homeowners and families out of Contra ILWU International officials had pre­ and the ex-Tr(,}tskyist Socialist Workers tation," did everything in their power to Costa County. It is the urgent task of pared a statement calling for the Party [SWP]). In its majority, this prevent the successful mobilization of Bay Area trade unions to organize formation of a union committee to coalition opposes the formation oflabor 1,200 unionists, minorities and socialists integrated labor/ minority defense "work with the Contra Costa County defense guards. And it operates in that stopped the Nazis from celebrating guards to protect the homes and stop sheriffs' department." tandem with the social-democratic-led Hitler's birthday in San Francisco. these attacks. However, a collection of Presley quietly demolished this East Bay Organizing Committee, which At the December 23 meeting of the reformists and union bureaucrats have strategy with a brief factual account: is in charge of listing "house-watchers," Coalition's union subcommittee, inter­ formed a "Contra Costa Community three sheriffs sit in their patrol cars every whom they require to sign a pledge to be ventions by Stan Gow and several Coalition" explicitly on the basis of night in the parking lot of Lucky's on an "unarmed nonviolent volunteer Spartacist League supporters from relying on government authorities to supermarket. three miles away. Mean­ watch." various unions succeeded in polarizing stop the attacks. Yet the cops and courts while racists cruise by his house throw­ To make matters worse, Organizing the meeting for-or-against the need for deliberately look the other way as the ing bottles through the windows, and on Committee leader Paul Milne has workers' self-defense. Gow read a cross-burners and night-riders go into November 20 firing a shotgun blast repeatedly been quoted in the local press motion he had raised in the Local 10 action! through his front door. When asked saying that these watchers are "unarmed Exec Board and called for all who stood Among the victims are 51-year-old what he wanted from the union, Presley and nonviolent" and are only there to for self-defense to work to win their black longshore union member Roose­ responded, "a lot of big guys" prepared see that the police do their job! As a unions to organizing defense guards. SL velt Presley and his family. According to for defense. At the meeting Stan Gow direct result of this idiot advertisement, spokesman AI Nelson drew out the Stan Gow, an ILWU Local I0 Executive put forward a motion: the emboldened racists have attacked, conclusions of the debate on the floor: "Be it resolved, that Local 10 organize threatened and chased these sitting­ "It's clear there are two ditTerent defense squads to protect the homes of duck "watchers" (who ran for the positions being put forward here. On brother Presley and other families sheriffs and couldn't find them)! the one side, union officials have made under attack .. .', that ILWU Local 10 it clear from their statements-the WOliKEliS calls on Locals 2, 6, and 34 and the rest At this same December 13 meeting, a motion from AFSCME Local 1695, the of the Bav Area labor movement to couple with "white power" T-shirts SEIU motion and the ILWU officers' VANtil/AliI) organize similar squads and cooperate attempted to gain entrance. They posted official statement-that they are op­ with ILWU Local 10 to put a stop to posed to self-deftnse and instead they Marxist Working-Class Biweekly these outrageous assaults." themselves by the door for two hours, are for calling on everyone from of the Spartacist League Turning their backs on the black until they were finally surrounded by Governor Brown to the sheriffs to the FBI to stop these attacks. Furthermore, 24 Issues-$3 longshoreman facing Klan terror, the some 60 black motorcycle club members Introductory offer (6 Issues) $1 who had heard about the meeting on these pacifists invite trouble by declar­ Exec Board defeated Gow's motion. ing publicly that they are unarmed and International rates: 24 issues-$12 alrmail/ radio and drove up in formation to $3seamail Attempting to cover this betrayal, the unable to defend themselves and in so 6 introductory Issues-$3 airmail officials finally came up with the idea of volunteer their services in stopping the doing are simply inviting attack by the helping Presley by ... hiring a private attacks. As this incident shows, if the Klan and the racists .... -Includes Spar/aclst "Several years ago in UAW Local 6 a security guard! After the meeting, even unions actually took the lead in organi7­ Name _ member named C.B. Dennis was some board members who voted for this ing defense guards against KKK attack, undergoing the same kind of attacks as Address _ plan were wondering aloud, "But what's they could quickly mobilize the neces­ has been happening here. His house was City _ this guard going to do when 20 KKKers sary muscle to stop the fascists! firebombed. His local, UA W Local 6, organized official 24-hour defense come after him?" More to the point, The Contra Costa Coalition's sub­ State Zip __~ guards around his house and those 271 what's fellow unionist Presley supposed committee on unions is a reformist attacks stopped. When local racists Make checks payable/midi to: to do? sandbox with a large component of CP were interviewed in the press, one stated Spartacist Publishing Co. and SWP supporters. It is controlled by that they were afraid of the UA W. He Pacifism Invites Attack said, 'We don't mess with the whole Box 1377 GPO lLWU International loyalists and pre­ UAW!' New York, NY 10116 The Contra Costa Community Coali­ occupied with forming committees to "U nfortunately, given the opposition tion was formed December 13 at a form still more committees to organize a to self-defense manifested in the 4 WORKERS VANGUARD 1~...... 200...... ,;WS...... US__...... tud-...... ents De~ma...... nd: Oust South End Apologists for KKK/Nazi Murder! Students at Wayne State University i i two days to over 800. in Detroit are campaigning to oust the Leftists hinder justice at Greensboro trial Nuttle/Burnett's reactionary, dictato­ editors of the campus newspaper, the "A jury lIlt:mday Jov.ftd !Otf.r Klol Klux are urged to participate, bri"gi1lg their would have been incarcerated already_ The rial policies are nothing new-last June KJan3mtm al'ld two Nazu innocent of 0WI'l swgam aM ball1lers. The time to question was merely who shot fint? South End, for their grotesque apolo­ murder and riot in the deatA" of five act i.'I1lO1O! All out'" Why would the CWP members refuse to they tried to set up the SYL with a commwnut" at a 'Death to The Klan' "Racist justice?" .-, "---.+L I ,.. ..""- rally la3t fall. How can this trial be labe-lled "I gies for racist murder. On November 17, The prote"tor& were killed duriftg a libelous editorial by Nuttle which con/Tontatian at a march "JW1'.'Iored by i~:~.~~::~:;u;:~n:.st~.~t~l~at:/ t~ee:f an all-white jury in Greensboro, North the Communist" Warkery' Party tion? One can't protest "RaCist jus~lce' l'a'"• SO·_·u',.....'-t·"'h End sought to link the organization to some Protct~tors who 3u7Tit'ed Ute hindering the executlon of that justice Carolina acquitted five Klan/Nazi "hootil1g labelled the trial a sham and One can't label a tClal a 'sham' ,an .,,'~ ~ fires set in the Student Center Building. reJlUcd to testi/y /OT the prwecution retort to the trial's outcome by accusmg killers, who had in broad daylight, in This is a partial account of the outcome of the Greensboro triat by Associated Press and dent Carter and President-Elect Rea'••!I!!!l"''''''!!Il!!II!!I!!III!I!..''''!!I!..!I!!!!I..... "Firebug Hits Student Center; Sparta­ fostering a "racist America." O' tac IC otry oequate e anwlt ecourts, United Press International compiled and One can't attack the judicial system as be- or at least imply that the courts'favor the front of TV cameras, slaughtered five printed by the Detroit Free Press, , ing unfair to minorities after failing to aid that klansmen and their racist beliefs. Hence, we cists Cry 'Frame-Up'" was the front­ The following is another account of the same system in prosecuting those accused of arrive at "Carter's/Reagan's racist supporters of the Communist Workers trial's outcome, as it appeared in a leaflet committing ~trocities against minorities, America" as the villians in the flyer page headline for the South End's distributed at a demonstration to "Protest It reeks of hypocrisy. distributed to announce the prote~t of "Racist Party at an anti-Klan demonstration. Racist 'Justice' in Greensboro," It is impossible to say whether or ~ot justice." grossly distorted story. And they re­ "Monday an all'white jury in testimony from memben of the CommUnist Perhaps it's a cruelly manipulative. game, This racist "justice" provoked outraged Greensboro, North Caroll1\(J let su Workers' PaTty would have convicted the whose intentions are to possibly set the Nazi/Klan murderenigo/ree,' This klansmen. However, attorneys for the scenario for even greater attempts at mass fused to print a petition by over 80 WSU amounts to a KKK licetl.!e to kill Blacks, klansmen contended ~t the klansmen had manipulation. editorials in student newspapers around other milWritie", unWni"f" a11d lefti3t1J killed the communists m self-defense because One can only speculate when motives are at students, professors and workers pro­ ,VealIwltile the victims of lIMt ...... ,.n,.,.,rn"nid~ rir..... rird __ . __ ,, __ •• .• _ ~ __ the country-but in the heart of black Na,t'em testing the smear campaign (see "Nasty still up Detroit, long a labor stronghold, South Thi$ is raci

, Cha\JvellSygma Setboun/Sipa-BlaCk Star Bureau/Sygma In the war between Khomeini's theocratic state and Hussein's military dictatorship, the main enemy is at home.

As the Iran-Iraq border war drags into its fourth is possible to see where the more significant tendencies month, Khomeini's "Islamic Republic" is as chaotic DOWN WITH line up on the key issue of the Iran-Iraq war. and unstable as ever. The Kurdish insurgency in the northwest has tied down more than a quarter of THE COLONELS! Social Chauvinism Teheran's armed forces, leaving the fighting on the Although Khomeini endlessly curses "godless Iraqi front in the hands ofa motley collection ofarmy Communism," the pro-Moscow Tudeh party has regulars, fanatical pasdaran ("revolutionary guards"), rushed to the defense of the "Iranian Revolution." mullahs and assorted leftists. Meanwhile, the political DOWN WITH Tudeh party members have been instructed to report to tug of war between the "ties" and "turbans"-the more the mosques to sign up for military duty under the Westernized and conservative camp followers of THE AYATOLLAHS! pasdaran. The Stalinists are capable ofincredible feats President Bani Sadr versus the Persian equivalent of of opportunism, but they've really outdone themselves the Moral Majority-has sparked riots around the on this one. TheTudeh party is defending arms in hand country. TURN THE GUNS one of the -most crazed anti-Soviet, anti-communist When the shah of Iran was overthrown almost two regimes in the world from the very government that years ago by a popular uprising led by the Persian Moscow for years has promoted as one of the Shi'ite clergy, th~ entire left with the exception of the THE OTHER WAY! vanguards of the "Arab revolution"! international Spartacist tendency came out in support The othermain tendency in Iran taking a defensist of the "Islamic Revolution." Khomeini was hailed as a position is the Fedayeen Majority. In contrast to the "progressive," even though he had already declared a Stalinists, the Fedayeen haven't been simply faithful holy war on communism, democratic rights, followers of"the Imam" all along. Fedayeen guerrillas unveiled women, booze and sex. To the left apologists of either side in this squalid border war to determine played a courageous role in defending Kurdish areas for "the Imam," Khomeini's cUrses against America as which anti-working-class gang of chauvinists controls under attack by the army and pasdaran last year. But "the Great Satan" were proof enough that he was the ShaH ai-Arab." under the pressure of the wave of popular patriotism, leading an "anti-imperialist' revolution." However, our position is not one of above-the-battle these radical-populist nationalists made common However, it didn't take too long fol' the popular cause with "their nation." euphoria over the "Islamic Revolution" to begin to neutralism or pacifism: "But war is also the mother of revolution. And the Iraqi­ With the outbreak of the war, the Fedayeen dissipate. Workers and the poor got endless sermons Majority instructed its members and sympathizers to about martyrdom but few jobs and little to eat. Kurds Iranian conflict lays bare their real 'border problem': the oppressed nationalities that are divided by the artificial sign up for military duty. However, Khomeini branded and other oppressed national minorities had their border separating Iran and Iraq, especially the Kurds the Fedayeen as being "the same as Sactdam Hussein" villages bombed to rubble. Arab oil workers had their cthn,~c and the Arabs who compose a majority of and these would-be "soldiers of Islam" were rebuffed. strikes smashed by the Persian-chauvinist pasdaran. KhuZistan.... . When they were finally allowed to consummate their "Immoral" women were viciously assaulted and even -"Iranflraq Blood Feud," Workers Vanguard betrayal and join the units under the control of stoned to death, "deviants" were put up against the No. 265, 3 October 1980 pasdaran, the Fedayeen Central Committee sent wall and shot. The left increasingly came under attack A defeat for either side could open revolutionary Khomeini a telegram vowing that "the blood of the by armed gangs of Muslim fanatics whose bloody work possibilities for the Iranian and Iraqi proletariat not Fedayee and the Pasdaran would flow in the same was blessed by "the Imam." seen in years. Given the Communists' historic strength stream while defending the Islamic Republic." Now the reactionary war between the Ba'athist among the strategic Iraq oil workers, a humiliating Bani Sadr had already made it clear what "defending colonels in Baghdad and the Teheran regime has posed outcome for Hussein's great military gamble could well an acid test for the entire Iranian left. For Leninists it's the Islamic Rcpublic" means: "First of all. we must produce a proletarian-centered popular explosion. As purge Kurdistan of armed political groups in ordcr to perfectly clear that neither side in this wretched war for Iran. a military defe.at would give a revolutionary deserves support. The bonapartist Ba'ath regime, be able to face the Ba'ath regime." Obedient to the proletarian vanguard an exceptional opportunity to bourgeoisie. the Fedayeen Majority purged itself from which has terrorized Iraqi Kurdistan and driven the break the laboring masses from the chauvinism and mass-based Iraqi Communist Party underground to Kurdistan and declared that it would "not participate obscurantism of the Shi'ite clergy. This is why in any military operation against the forces of the preserve its shaky rule, is fighting to grab oil-rich revolutionary defeatism is not simply an international­ Khuzistan, cripple its historic Persian rival and emerge Iranian Islamic Republic" (KA R supplement, October ist obligation but the key to the liberation of the 1980). Meanwhile, in the first week of the war the a~ the new dominant power in the Gulf. Teheran is Iranian and Iraqi masses. govcrnment bomhed Mahabad, a key center of the figt.tin~ to preserve Iran's "territorial integrity"-that Kurdish insurgency. is, to keep the Kurds, Arabs of Khuzistan and other Tragically, none of the major left tendencies in Iran national minorities captive in this prisonhouse of has adopted a revolutionary perspective of struggling Of all the defensists, perhaps the most despicable are peoples. to transform the reactionary nationalist war into civil the so-called "Trotskyists": the utterly craven HKE In such a conflict, Marx sts must adopt a position of wars against the Ba'athist colonels and the Persian allicd with the American Socialist Workers Party revolutionary defeatism for both sides. As we wrote Shi'ite ruling caste. Publications of the various Iranian (SWP) and the gyrating HKS aligned with the shortly after the war began: left groups are often hard to come by and sometimes Mandelite wing of the United Secretariat (USec). The "Clearly the working people and oppressed of the even harder to interpret. But from the materials that HKE in particular has done just about everything Middle East and the world have no interest in the victory have recently been available in Europe and the U.S., it possible to make Trotskyism synonymous with 6 WORKERS VANGUARD opportunism, cowardice and treachery in the minds of nationalist-populist (i.e., non-Leninist) nature of the regimes, both resting on a relatively narrow social base Iranian militants. The HKE hailed the veil as Ashraf group is that it has nothing to say to the Iraqi and both beset by considerable domestic social a "symbol of resistance," denied the right of self­ proletariat; indeed, the Iraqi working class is not even disaffection, that have been locked in a military determination to the oppressed minorities, referred to mentioned in its basic statement on the war. And a stalemate. On each side there is a real proletariat, the bloody pasdaran as their "brothers," cheered the leaflet distributed by Ashraf supporters in Germany, concentrated in the oil industry and having traditions Islamic thugs' "purification" of the universities that left "Autonomie fUr Kurdistan," amid much talk about not of militant, even insurrectionary, struggles under mass 20 Fedayeen dead at Teheran University alone, and forgetting about the oppressed Kurds, refuses to call Stalinist parties. And straddling the borders of both condemned the leftists who resisted the clergy's for the right of self-determination for the Kurds. belligerents are the Kurds, whose struggle for an stormtroopers. independent state has periodically destabilized both Todav both HKE and HKS want to be known as the Peykar: Stalinists Caught in Contradiction the Iranian and Iraqi bourgeois regimes. "best b~ilders of a pro-war mass movement for the But for the Stalinists and the Fedayeen Majority, Islamic theocracy. In its 30 September issue the HKE's Surprisingly, the closest approximation to a "defense of the Iranian Revolution" means the Kurds' Kargar carried a five-point "action program" for the revolutionary line on the war has come from the hard just struggle for self-determination must be put on the war effort. By endlessly repeating the phrase "Iranian Stalinist-Maoist Peykar (Struggle) group. Originally a back burner. Ghani Boulourian, leader of one of the Revolution," the HKE hopes to obscure the fact that it split from the Mujahedin Khalq, Peykar had a splinters of the Kurdish Democratic Party (Iran) who is calling on the oppressed to be cannon fodder for a reputation as "super" Maoists, enemies of "Soviet is close to the Tudeh, recently stated, "The Islamic clerical-reactionary, Persian-chauvinist regime ruling social-imperialism" and the like. It is also insanely, Republic is engaged in an anti-imperialist struggle that a capitalist state. As for the H KS, it rationalizes its violently anti-Trotskyist. For example, last January must be sustained as a priority" (Le Monde, 13 defensist line by portraying the Iraqi attack as Peykar supporters in Frankfurt endorsed a murderous December). Meanwhile, despite Peykar's formally imperialist; its statement on the war in Kargaran-e­ assault on the German section of the international correct position on the war, it too avoids calling for the Spartacist tendency, which nearly cost the life ofone of Sosialist of 2 October babbles about "a united right of self-determination for the Kurds and other our comrades, in a meeting on Afghanistan. And on mobilization against the counterrevolution," "militant national minorities. Neither its main position paper on October 25 in Paris Peykar members stood by while a resistance to imperialism," and "the imperialists' the war nor the two pamphlets on the Kurdish ques­ pack of mullah lovers attacked comrades of our military intrigues against the revolution." tion by its Kurdish co-thinkers, the KOMAlA group, French section selling Le Bolchevik. Several hours A defensist line for Irc~n in this war is so patently even touch upon the question of Kurdish self-. later, as a reward for their sectarian stance, Peykar anti-leninist that even inthe USee there's opposition. determination! But for Trotskyists, as long as the militants who had been criticizing the Fedayeen for A war of words has been going on in the pages of the Kurdish struggle is not decisively subordinated to one selling out to Khomeini were themselves attacked by British section's Socialist Challenge, and the Japanese or another side in the squalid Iran/Iraq border war, an alliance of Fedayeen and Muslim fanatics. and lebanese sections have submitted oppositional it merits military support from Trotskyists, who un­ Peykar adheres to the "two-stage revolution" (first resolutions calling for a defeatist position on both like the Stalinists and radical-populist nationalists the bourgeois-democratic, then the proletarian revolu­ sides. The lebanese section's resolution correctly are defenders of the democratic right of self­ tion). This is, of course, a central defining feature for a states, "Any position on the left supporting one of the determination. Stalinist organization, especially in backward coun­ two camps in the current war in its present form is Just as the Iranian Stalinists hide class betrayals tries. However, on paper at least, the group has taken a incompatible with the most elementary international­ behind rhetoric about the "Iranian Revolution," their revolutionary defeatist position on the war: ist duty" ("On the Curn;:nt War Between Iraq and Iraqi counterparts use empty phrases about the "Arab HThe proletariat of Iran and Iraq should aim their guns Iran," in Arabic). Quite correct, but what about the towards their own governments. They should continue revolution" to cover their class collaborationism, USee's support to the Arab states in the 1967 and 1973 their revolutionary policy in their own revolutionary When the Iraqi CP was participating in the bourgeois Arab-israeli wars, its siding with Algeria in its 1963 war-i.e., the overthrow of the reactionary regimes and government of General Abdul Karim Kassem after the border War with Morocco, etc.? The USee's rotten establishment of the rule [of] workers. peasants and overthrow of the Hashemite monarchy in 1958, the revisionism didn't begin yesterday. other toilers." Stalinists denounced the Ba'athists as "fascists." When -Peykar No. 73, 24 September 1980 the Ba'ath regime of Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr let the CP "Independent" Defense of the Fatherland? (This is not, however, the position of Peykar's Iranian into the government in 1972, these "fascists" had supporters in West Germany, who are propagating the With the Tudeh party and the Fedayeen Majority become "socialists." Today the Iraqi CP leadership in usual "defend the fatherland" line.) exile in Syria is calling for a popular front with the solidly (though not too comfortably) in Khomeini's We do not know what Peykar's paper defeatist line camp, the most significant semi-opposition, in a genuinely fascistic Shi'ite terrorist group Al Dawa to means in terms ofthe real life ofthe organization. Is it a oust the "reactionary" Ba'athists. numerical as well as military sense, to the Iranian conjunctural, even accidental, position or does it regime comes from the Mujahedin Khalq. At the From the national-defensist social-patriotism of the represent significant motion within the organization? Fedayeen Majority to the "defend the masses" beginning of the war the Mujahedin reportedly The'rest of the Iranian left is predictably accusing announced that it was mobilizing its militias but was Guevarism ofthe Ashrafgroup and the social-patriotic Peykar of having gone "Trotskyist." But there is no tailism of the Fedayeen Minority, there are only keeping them independent of the control of the reason to believe the group has broken fundamentally pasdaran and army (Guardian [New York], 26 differences of nuance over the Iran/Iraq war. And a with Stalinism. It is virulently anti-Soviet, supporting "pox on both your houses" neutrality sometimes November). According to Le Monde (16 October) in the feudalist Islamic counterrevolutionary guerrillas in Khurramshahr and Abadan, Mujahedin Khalq mili­ expressed by the Fedayeen Minority is only the Afghanistan. If, however, Peykar is seriously carrying beginning of wisdom. What is necessary is the forging tants fought alongside the pasdaran and Fedayeen. out a defeatist line in Iran, this places this arch­ in both Iran and Iraq ofTrotskyist parties that can win The Mujahedin certainly have no principled Stalinist group in an insoluble contradiction. the working classes and oppressed minorities to a objection to defending the "Islamic Republic" against common internationalist struggle. As Trotsky wrote in Iraq. leninist principles are alien to these radical Join with Kurdish, Iraqi Workers! "War and the Fourth International" (1934): "modern populist Muslims, who base their vision of a classless war between capitalist nations carries with it a war of society on the Koran, not Das Kapital. Their Unlike petty-bourgeois nationalists, Marxists have p~ifistic classes within each of the nations ... the task of the independent stance and critical attitude toward the no reason to take a pessimistic, passive or revolutionary party consists in preparing in this latter government have much more to do with the fact that attitude toward the revolutionary possibilities posed war the victory of the proletariat.". their organization has suffered particularly intense by the Iran-Iraq war. Here we have two bonapartist repression. like the Mujahedin, the Fedayeen Minority has kept its military forces independent of the pasdaran. But the Minority has adopted at best a vaguely neutralist pOlitical line on the war. In a policy statement entitled "We Condemn Iraq's Military Intervention" (23 September) the Minority asserts that "the recent war has a reactionary content" and "while the outcome can be anything for the Iranian and Iraqi governments, the result for the oppressed masses of both countries can only be ruin and misery." The Fedayeen Minority concludes that "the principal task is to organize and lead independently the mass resistance movement in the occupied territories" (KA R [Minority version], No. 81). Clearly the Fedayeen Minority does not call for resistance in the unoccupied territories against the reactionary, chau­ vinist Khomeiniite regime. And this is made fairly explicit: H... if. in Iraq. the objective conditions are prepared, the task of communists and other Iraqi revolutionary forces is to transform this war into a civil war against the regime. But in Iran the masses are not conscious and han: confidence in the government. One cannot have thi~; slogan.....· In other words. these Iranian leftists call for the overthrow of the Iraqi state. which happens to be fighting their "fatherland," but refuse to call for the overthrow of their "own" bourgeois government. A line somewhat similar to. the Fedayeen Minority is that of the Ashraf Deghani group, which split from the Fedayeen upholding that organization's earlier guerrillaist orientation. The Ashraf group's position on the war can best be characterized as abstentionist: "Communists will never participate in a war that has an unjust character" (Uber den Krieg der heiden Staaten Iran und Irak, September 1980). Over and above such statements the group's propaganda consists of vague rhetoric about "defending the AP masses," a formulation which could in the future open February 1979, leftist-populist Fedayeen rally behind "Islamic Revolution." Soon Khomeini reac­ the door to defensism. The clearest indication of the . tionary fanatics terrorized left, national minorities. 2 JANUARY 1981 7 modest, increase in production immedi­ head of the Office of Management and downturn was exceptionally sharp, it Reagan ately drives up prices, triggers even Budget David Stockman, concede: was also highly concentrated in Mid­ greater inflationary expectations and "The vigorous tax-cut package required west heavy industry, especially auto and involves massive borrowing by capital­ to spur the supply side of the economy steel, and in housing construction. "Honeymoon':.. ists, consumers and government alike. could raise the total fiscal \98\ deficit to the $60 billion to $80 billion range. Thus, the large majority of workers are (continued from page 1) Although production has increased Thus, unless the tax-cut program is being killed by inflation, while not sometime backer of Democrats, and since July, the real volume of retail sales accompanied by a credible and severe immediately afraid of pricing them­ Eastern Establishment figure par excel­ (corrected for price hikes) has remained program to curtail fiscal 1981-1982 selves out of a job. For that reason, the lence. Oh well, they can at least take flat. Thus, the mini-recovery from the outlays. future sper;ding authority, American ruling class is worried about roller coaster slide last spring/early and overall Federal credit absorption. heart in the appointment of the secre­ financial market worries about a .Rea­ determined catch-up wage fights by its tary of agriculture, John R. Block, a summer was in effect an inventory gan inflation' will be confirmed." [our workers in the coming period. "Unions former paratrooper who believes "food buildup, especially in consumer dur­ emphasis] are expected to drive some hard bar­ is now the greatest weapon we have" and abies. One of the reasons for business -"Memo to Reagan: 'Avoiding gains next year to try to defend their intends to make foreign countries beg borrowing, up 9 percent since July, has an Economic Dunkirk'," IVe"..· members' real take-home pay," observes for their wheat!. been to finance unexpected and unwant­ York Times, 14 December 1980 the conservative London Economist (13 Amid all the speculation and com­ ed inventory accumulation. Messrs. Kemp and Stockman demand December 1980) writing on the U.S. parison with the outgoing Carter ad­ At the same time real take-home pay that Reagan call "an economic state of economic scene. Moreover, the three big ministration, one thing not in doubt is for the average worker has continued to emergency" to enact a few "modest unions with contracts commg up in the the steadily rising Cold War buildup of fall. So many people can try to maintain proposals": reduce social-welfare pro­ first half of 198 I-coal, railroad, U.S. imperialism's arsenal. In addition their standard of living only via the grams such as unemployment compen­ postal-are in a strong economic to the massive increases in the military credit card, installment purchase, bank sation, Medicaid, food stamps, school position even in the face of a recession. budget established by the Carter In at least two of these three situations a "human rights" anti-Soviet crusaders, full cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is the Reagan "nuclear superiority" anti­ the key issue. Soviet crusaders are pushing for anoth­ As workers and blacks begin to fight, er $20 billion for fiscal year 1981, black misleaders and labor fakers will including money for the once-rejected start winding up the ~'fight the right" B-1 bomber and a mobile version of the rhetoric in the attempt to lead workers Minuteman ICBM. back into the Democratic Party in But (most of) the American voters opposition. The Democrats' ace in the who brought in the Reagan gang didn't hole is that they know that the problems do it to start a nuclear holocaust. They which defined the Carter years can only were fed up with Carter's economic ,get worse under Reagan. Their first policies and threw him out. Traditional­ response, therefore, after the Reagan/ ly Democrats and Republicans place Republican election victory was to say, before the American people a rather "Go ahead, drastically increase the different menu of rhetoric, but very military arsenal, cut taxes, balance the much the same plate of policies. The budget and end inflation." The Demo­ Democrats preach a brand of phony crats know that what angered people populism and pork-barrel politics while against Jimmy Carter will soon enough the Republicans rely on a more ideologi­ be directed at Ronald Reagan and the cal appeal to the "good old" verities of Republicans. Democratic leaders like free-market capitalism. How many Kennedy can be more easily sold as an actually believe in the Republican Party opposition by the reformists who long rhetoric about "getting U.S. capitalism for a class-collaborationist anti-Reagan going again" is another question. But movement, remembering nostalgically anybody who bought Reagan's snake oil the "good old days" of FDR and the about unleashing a revitalized U.S. popularfront. But the real "fight against capitalism will find out in a short time the right" nrust be a fight against both that Reagan has only more of the same Solidarity parties of the ruling class. It must and worse: inflation, recession, austeri­ Ford Mahwah, N.J. gate closes shut behind 3,500 jobless auto workers. be a political fight to mobilize the work­ ty, and ultimately economic crisis and ers as a class contending for power, war. loan and so forth, although consumer lunches by 20 percent; cut back con­ and behind their leadership the black indebtedness was already at an historic struction of highways, mass transit, ghetto poor, in the fight for a workers Double-Dip Trouble high when the bottom dropped out of sewage facilities by 20 percent, etc. This government and socialist economic the economy last spring. Then, too, they is all they want to do! abundance.• Interest rates at an all-time high, figure they will be paying back these Even the new, more right-wing accelerating inflation, 7.5 percent loans in worthless dollars. But the Congress is unlikely to risk the popular unemployment-and things are going bankers don't intend to let that happen, furor this volume of cutbacks would to get worse. We are about to be hit by so they have jacked up interest rates well unleash. After all the budget squabbling Chrysler the second half of a double-dip reces­ above the present rate of inflation. is over, Reagan will get his big military sion. Arthur Burns admits the economy spending hikes and his constituency will Blackmail ... "could be on the brink of another Reaganomics: Spell It pressure him into some kind of tax cut. downturn" (New York Times, 25 I-N-F-L-A-T-I-O-N Since it is politically impossible to push (continued from page 1) December 1980). Business Week (29 through non-military cutbacks in the December 1980), which is pretty conser­ Whatever big business is saying about money hand over fist, it is now threaten­ Kemp-Stockman range (smaller ones vative in its predictions, states categori­ Reagan, they are acting like he won't be ing an even bigger pay cut. The new plan there will be), the coming budget deficits cally in its year-end issue: "The point is able to do a damn thing about the would drain as much as $600 million out will be very large indeed. So, spell that the business upswing is over, no economy and what he does do will feed of the UAW contract in addition to the Reaganomics i-n-f-l-a-t-i-o-n. matter what the numbers show over the the inflation. That too is why interest $450 million in special concessions rates took off from the day after the made last year. It involves a 21-month next several weeks. The year 1981 will Hard Times for Labor, Blacks begin in recession." election. And the money market boys freeze on the base wage and abolition of It's common in business circles to are certainly right. Reagan can't do anything to speak of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). blame this second dip of the 1980-81 Insofar as Reagan's economic pro­ about inflation and unemployment, but This means that each worker would slump on' the high interest rates. This is gram is not just campaign rhetoric, he he can punish the so-called welfare surrender $2,000 per year in COLA in confusing cause and effect. What the presented himself as the great tax cutter. bums, dump the CETA program, close addition to the $8,000 already given up! All the problems of the economy, jump in the prime rate from 11 percent ghetto hospitals, dismantle inner city How Much Will Fraser Give Up? in July to 20-plus percent now shows is indeed, of declining American power, schools, scrap the minimum wage for that at the present time any, however were to be exorcised by the simple black youth. Axing these programs will, The Solidarity House gang surrend­ formula: cut taxes. All this tax-cutting of course, do next to nothing to bring ered last year and is ready to do so again. talk was associated with the new­ Spartacist LeagueI' down the massive federal budget. But it "I don't see any other choice," moans fangled "supply-side" economics. In its will serve as a racist gesture from a Fraser, "the Chrysler Corp. is in real Spartacus Youth League unadulterated form, "supply siders" like government whose electoral platform trouble." And Chrysler division vice Public Offices Arthur Laffer argued that a big enough the KKK said could have been written president Marc Stepp echoed the -MARXIST LlTERATURE­ tax cut would stimulate such a vast by a Klansman. Many blacks see the outpouring of work effort that national connection between the rise of racist Bay Area income would increase enough to ~ Friday: 500,8:00 p.m Saturday. 300-600 p.m terror across the country and the 1634 Telegraph. 3rd Floor (near 17th Street) restore the old total tax revenue. This occupation of the White House by a ~~= Oakland. California Phone (415) 835-1535 Alice-in-Wonderland "theory" was the certified right-winger. And we can ~-= Chicago rationale behind the famous Kemp­ expect black struggles ahead over the AWorkers ~ ,_. ~.• Tuesday 530-900 pm Saturday 200-530pm. Roth tax bill, which proposed to cut tax cutbacks in social programs, as witness Poland 523 S Plymouth Court. 3rd Floor rates by 30 percent over three years Chicago, illinoIS Phone (312) 427-0003 the 2,000 people who came out to Yes I without touching government expendi­ protest the closing of Harlem's Syden­ 8 The POpe's New York City tures. The American big bourgeoisie ham Hospital last fall. Tuesday: 6:00-9:00 p.m. Saturday 100-500 p.m Poland 41 Warren St. were not amused. They regarded Kemp­ What does it all mean for the working (one block below Chambers St. near Church St.) Roth (rightly) as inflationary fiscal class? Since the fall of 1978 (when Carter Nol New York, NY Phone (212) 267-1025 crackpotism. and the union tops agreed to wage-price ...., llemllCtac~ lvrutr04lrisl And now that they have won govern­ guidelines), the real take-home pay of oI ~Io Trotskyist League All the Popes '''''VOIUDon,nE.'~1OI'l' lt1ca! M3rlIda"s. of Canada mental power, even the Reaganite the average worker fell 11 percent (U .S. Oisslderr1s 6, f.ur_ 10 Morerll) Toronto "populists" are singing a different tune. Bureau of Labor Statistics press re­ Saturday 100-500 pm The two leading "supply siders" in lease, 23 November). That is one of the 299 Queen St. W, SUite 502 Toronto. Ontario Phone (416) 5'l3-4138 Reagan's entourage, Congressman main reasons the Democrats lost the Kemp of tax-bill fame, and designated election. While the spring/early summer

8 WORKERS VANGUARD it is hard to have tears for those who ship in the country club, move out of must pay more for luxury automo­ his mansion into an apartment house? biles, furniture, housing, attire, or entertainment." Don't bet on it. He and his fellow shareholders will simply vote to raise Galbraith evidently assumes the rich dividend payments or take money Anti-Galbraith have no powers of economic resist­ from the firm in other, less obvious The latest NeH/ York Review of Reagan). The frustrated liberal emi­ ance, that they arc passive objects at ways. In addition to executive salaries, Books (22 January 1981) contains an nence is reduced to scapegoating the hands of the IRS. In his Iiberal­ dividends, interest payments, every populist sociology, classes are not essay by the doyen of liberal econo­ Carter's economic advisers for blow­ corporation enhances the affluence of mists. John Kenneth Galbraith, on ing the election: determined by the relation to the its principal owners in innumerable "The Conservative Onslaught." This is "Much. if not most. of Mr. Reagan's means of production (capitalists and non-taxable ways. Increase sales taxes a good example of the intellectual success must be attributed to Presi­ workers), but by the level of consump­ on Cadillacs and Mercedes, and more dent Carter's economists-to the tion (rich and poor). Thus, Galbraith bankruptcy of New Deal liberalism, will be purchased by businesses as macroeconomic management that writes archly: even in the hands of its most sophisti­ combined a severe recession with a "tax-deductible expenses." cated representatives. As a polemic severe inflation, with a drastic slump "We hesitate in these careful days to against Milton Friedman and the in the housing industry, with particu­ suggest an opposition of interest In general an increase in between the rich and the poor. One government expenditure, regardless of other ideologues of the Old and New lar economic distress in the traditional should not stir the embers of the class Right, it is pathetic and evasive. While Democratic industrial states-and all struggle." the mechanisms by which it is fi­ these in the year of an election." tilting at such straw men as the "ro­ nanced, will be offset by a reduction qf private capitalist investment. That is mantic" belief in "the free market," But this does not explain why the Reading his essay one would think the why Japan, which has a very small Galbraith does not deal with the main liberal wing ofthe Democratic Party in rich get their money off trees in their military budget and a relatively small economic argument of the big capital­ Congress was routed by the Republi­ backyards or are simply highly-paid non-military budget, has by far the ists like Chase Manhattan's David can right. And it certainly doesn't employees of impersonal corpora­ highest rate of industrial investment of Rockefeller and Citibank's Walter explain why (as Galbraith himself likes tions. We must inform the distin­ any advanced capitalist country. Wriston. These plutocrats, the real to point out) Carter's own economic guished Harvard professor that the powers behind "the conservative on­ policies were more Friedmanite than affluent of this society are rich because For decades liberals like Galbraith It slaught," maintain that the present lev­ Keynesian. Recall in 1976 the farmer they own the means ofproduction. is have maintained that capitalism could el of government expenditure, taxa­ from Plains, Ga. campaigned against they who decide what fraction of be made to work better-be more tion and borrowing depresses business "big government." corporate profit is expended on productive, more egalitarian­ investment and so has caused the executive salaries, dividends, internal through this or that fiscal or monetary progressive collapse of industrial If Galbraith's analysis of the conser­ loan repayments, "perks" and the like, policy. Back in the 1930s John May­ productivity. vative onslaught is worthless, so is his and what fraction is reinvested in nard Keynes argued that capitalists Galbraith cannot explain why alternative to it. To the right-wing plant, equipment and hiring more could be induced to "play the game," Friedmanite economics (once general­ demagogue's cry, "Slash taxes!" he labor. i.e., reinvest their wealth in increasing ly ridiculed) has won increasing answers with the traditional Iiberal­ Let us take a major shareholder ofa production, for lower stakes. Experi­ support on Wall Street and in Fortune populist refrain of "Tax the rich": big corporation, whose personal in­ ence since has shown him wrong. That 500 boardrooms. Nor can he account "When demand presses on resources, come largely derives from its dividend is the underlying basis behind "the for the' new-found appeal of the there must be increased taxes and payments. What will he do if the conservative onslaught." What the these must be primarily on the Republicans among blue-collar, even affluent. ... 1would urge increased use income tax rate for his bracket is working class has to do is to change unionized workers (44 percent ofthose of indirect taxation on objects of sharply increased? Will he manfully both the game and the players. This is who voted pushed the lever for upper-income or luxury consumption; tighten his belt, give up his member- called socialist revolution.

company's not-very-subtle threat: "I'm bosses' government! capitalist system (production for profit firmly convinced the workers will do Making some pretense at being not use) except unemployment for ~-~C, what they have to do to survive" unionists, the Chrysler Council came up workers in other countries. Instead of (Detroit News, 17 December 1980). If with a few oftheir own demands, such as fighting the class struggle here and Fraser was upset with lacocca, it was additional "profit-sharing"-truly a abroad, Fraser & Co. agitate for trade not for wanting to cut the ranks' wages, sick joke! But then there's no sign that war against the Japanese and West 5If~UJ~ but because the Chrysler Corp. chief Fraser opposed the Chrysler plan in his Europeans. And at a certain point trade , infuriated auto workers by his insulting role as a member of the board of war escalates into a different order of tone. "You make this process extremely directors (another "gain" ofthe bailout). war. AG.Al~Sr difficult for the union with such off-the­ And he reportedly absented himself cuff remarks," Fraser advised lacocca from a recent board meeting which No Bailout, No Concessions, Restore Parity! in an official union letter. discussed labor issues. Meanwhile the t,.Ai~S\ Indeed, the "process" of gouging the Detroit Free Press (16 December 1980) Chrysler has already drawn down rs VA W ranks did not sit well with the 250 reports Fraser is angling for a seat on the $800 million of the $1.5 billion in ,rf\ertiber I: delegates to the Chrysler Council which Ford board of directors as well! federally guaranteed loans authorized a ~~C~ H AW~ ~ met in Detroit on December 22. The This role as a director of the Ameri­ year ago, while in 1980 the firm ran $1.7 u .. , ! Council did vote by a show of hands to can auto industry is increasingly fitting billion in the red, the largest loss ever for re-open the contract, but Fraser admit­ for Fraser, whose only long-term an American corporation. These losses ted there was a "pronounced minority" "strategy" for mounting unemployment are not simply a result of the present c:: recession. Chrysler failed to retool in the :::J late 1970s and so cannot supply (even to the extent GM and Ford can) the 1 d 11 demand for smaller, fuel-efficient cars. 11n~ i~t What will the incoming Reagan WV Photo administration do about the Chrysler Detroit, July 1979-Militant auto lemon? A strictly "free market" policy workers demonstrate for sit-down strikes over Chrysler closing. would dictate no loan guarantee. But a Chrysler boss Chrysler bankruptcy would create is lL' seize them. Not piracy but mutiny. lacocca's (left) tremendous financial chaos, and Rea­ What then') Either Chrysler is broke or arrogance gan's is nothing if not a Wall Street it isn't. If it is broke then the workers ought to democratically elect a board to makes it harder administration. At any rate, what is liquidate Chrysler. But not a cent to the for Fraser clear is that the government, no less than Wall Street shareholders of Chrysler! (right) to sell the company, will make the workers Let the stocks, bonds and bank debts go sellout to the pay. down the tubes. All the money from the workers. sale of assets should go to the Chrys­ What is also clear is that the new ler workforce including the foreign scheme will not "save jobs" any more workers." than the last round of concessions did. -"Whatever Chrysler's Worth­ in opposition, and the initial New York is a chauvinist campaign against foreign When Chrysler first called for a govern­ Give It to the Workers," WV Times report said the Council had cars. The VAW has reportedly spent ment bailout in 1979, indefinite layoffs No. 238, 17 August 1979 rejected a freeze. VAW spokesman Don $200,000 of its members' money to place from Chrysler numbered about 25,000; Now Chrysler (with Ford right Stillman made a point of refuting this ads for slogans such as "Paying for they now number 45,000. At least one behind) is threatening the workers: report: "It is inaccurate to say that we Imports With Our Jobs Is a Price We plant (in Warren, Michigan) was recent­ either a massive pay cut or massive rejected the Chrysler plea." But many of Can't Afford." But what working people ly sold with millions in cash going to the layoffs. But auto workers are not the ranks have a rather different attitude here as well as in other countries cannot bosses. And the Mack Avenue stamping powerless. The sit-down strike was key toward "the Chrysler plea." Said one: afford is national economic protection­ plant is scheduled for closing June 20. to creating the VAW in the 1930s. The "They can take that wage freeze and ism. Freed from any competition GM When the VAW bureaucracy cam­ same weapons can defeat the auto stick it. You're goddamned right I'm and Ford would profit-gouge like there paigned for the Chrysler bailout over a bosses now. upset. We can't make a living the way it was no tomorrow. Americans, including year ago, the reformist left quickly fell -No concessions to Chrysler­ is, with prices always going up." blue-collar workers, buy Toyotas, Dat­ in behind, sometimes tacking on a call Restore parity with GM and Ford! Trying to make the sellout easier to suns and Volkswagens because they for "nationalization" as a socialist­ -Prepare for strike sit-down action! sell, Solidarity House says it is awaiting save a lot of money not only on the car sounding cover. We warned that such Workers to get all money from any a verdict by the government Loan but also on $1.40-a-gallon gas. And with reformist schemes to prop up inefficient Chrysler liquidation! Guarantee Board that the concessions real wages having fallen more than 10 firms would come out of the workers' -For guaranteed unlimited sub/ are a "true necessity." But whose percent in the past few years, this is no hides. And we put forward a c1ass­ unemployment pay and welfare government is it, anyway? Reagan's small saving. struggle alternative striking at the heart benefits! appointed cabinet of corporate execu­ The VA W bureaucracy, vaguely of capitalist property rights: -Oust the bureaucrats-Fora work­ tives only underscores what is no less social-democratic in outlook, has no "The only way workers can hope to ers party to fight for a workers true of Democrat Carter's-it is the solution to the irrationality of the salvage this situation ofsunk companies government! •

2 JANUARY 1981 9 Indian Left Chauvinism Over Assam Violence

That did not satisfy a section of the of the British Socialist Workers Party of to live in East Pakistan. They fled to Bengali leadership. Maulana Bhasani Tony Cliff and Michael Kidron]. The Assam from East Pakistan.... Respon­ by Umesh Sharma migrated to Assam in 1928 and de­ Communist Party (Marxist), the major sibility for rehabditation anywhere in India lies with the government of India, manded the abolition of the Line Stalinist party in India (which wields not with the people of Assam, as these WEST BENGAL-It is more than a System, putting forward the idea of a power in state governments of West foreigners have entered forcibly." year since a chauvinist movement began united "Bangassam" as a solution to Bengal and Kerala), in contrast, de­ -Krantiyug, 29 July 1980 in [the northeastern Indian state of] East Bengal's landlessness. Then came nounced the Assam agitation as "seces­ The editorial calls upon the government Assam to drive out the non-Assamese. the Muslim League ministry in Assam in sionist." The CPI soon followed suit, to "rehabilitate" the Bihari Muslims What began with the slogan "Ali, coolie, 1937, which carried out the policy of sermonising about the sacred nature of elsewhere. Nepali, Bengali, uaal jao" ("Muslims, "sponsored immigration" of Muslims national unity. The CPI(M) seems to It is not the case that the unfortunate imported Indian laborers, Nepalis and from East Bengal. After partition in have forgotten that Stalin (their hero) Bihari Muslims were admitted to India. Bengalis, get out!") has now become a 1947, and again in 1950 and 1964, there had discovered 800 nationalities in Mrs. Indira Gandhi, who allowed one matter of the formal legal status of the were Hindu-Muslim riots which led to India, and to be sure, the Assamese were million Bengali refugees to stay in India immigrants from Bangladesh. Pogroms further immigration of Bengali Hindus one of them. in 1971 and armed and fed the forces against these so-called "foreigners" have into Assam. After the 1971 civil war The CPI(M) defends the Bengali­ loyal to the Awami League [which on spread to Tripura and neighboring which led to the creation of Bangladesh, speaking minority of Assam, which is Indian bayonets became the leadership states, leaving hundreds dead and tens persecuted Bihari Muslims fled to not unexpected as the majority of that of Bangladesh], has shown consistent of thousands homeless. Assam, and many Bengali-speaking party belongs to West Bengal. But they hostility toward the [mainly Muslim] New Delhi became especially alarmed Muslims also immigrated to escape the forget about the legitimate national Urdu-speaking population of Bangla­ when the Assamese chauvinists stopped famine in Bangladesh. rights of Assamese-speaking people. desh. It was not without support from the flow of oil out of the state, which is So the problem in Assam is that After opposing deployment of central Indira Gandhi and "progressives" of the source of most of India's domestic although the Assamese-speaking people government troops in other states, after India that the Awami League killed and production. But after denouncing the constitute the largest linguistic group in denouncing central interference in the maimed Bihari Muslims as "collabora­ agitation as a conspiracy inspired and the state, they are not an absolute affairs of West Bengal, CPI(M) leader tors" of the Pakistani regime and financed by the CIA, China, Bangladesh majority. The Assamese elite and ruling Jyoti Basu did not hesitate to appeal to forcibly occupied their houses and and Pakistan, the government of Indira class consider the big non-Assamese Mrs. Gandhi to intervene in Assam. She property. Gandhi has started discussions with the groups to be a threat to their political did indeed, dissolving the CPI(M) Pakistan today feeds no fewer than leaders of the agitation in hopes of power. More serious is the problem of governments of Assam and Tripura, 700,000 Afghan refugees on "grounds of finding a way out. A strange way of unemployment and pressure on the while the killings go on and on. humanitarian and Islamic brother­ dealing with conspiracies! land. Even workers of the tea planta­ Though the majority of the so-called hood," but showed no such considera­ In order to understand the reality tions and their kin, faced with unem­ "Naxalite" (i.e., Maoist) groupings have tion for the 350,000 Bihari Muslims they behind these developments, we should ployment, have reverted to agriculture. denounced the agitation as chauvinist, left stranded since 1972 in 66 camps in first remember the fact that 99.4 percent The Assamese petty bourgeoisie has to there are some even in West Bengal (e.g., Bangladesh, living "in unbearable, of the Assamese-speaking people of face fierce competiton from the non­ the group that published Aneek in inhuman conditions, surrounded by India live in their home state of Assam. Assamese in business and also in white­ Bengali) who support it as a "popular filth and misery" (Sunday [Calcutta], 14 The Assamese have been historically the collar jobs. Thus they have tried to movement" and invoke the principle of September 1980). In 1979 the Stranded least mobile section of Indians. It is also disenfranchise many of the non­ the right of self-determination. What is Pakistanis' General Repatriation Com­ a fact that Assam remains underdevel­ Assamese immigrants. missed in their arguments is that mittee gave a call to 50,000 Bihari oped. In the tea plantations, the labor In 1950, just before the 1951 census, Marxism is opposed to national oppres­ Muslims in Bangladesh to undertake a has always been drawn from other parts riots broke out in Assam that in effect sion of all kinds. Unlike the fake long march to Pakistan through India. of India, including Nepali-speaking allowed the Bengali Muslims only two "socialists" and "communist" compan­ Both Prime Minister Charan Singh and people from West Bengal and Nepal, alternatives: death and depredation, or ions of Jyoti Basu, Bolshevik revolu­ Jyoti Basu, head of the CPI(M)­ and also workers from U.P. [Uttar repudiating their real identity in the tionaries believe that the Assamese have dominated "Left Front" government of Pradesh], Bihar and other Hindi­ census and declaring themselves non­ a right to secede, but they have no right West Bengal, were prompt in sealing the speaking areas. The latter are called Assamese. Riots broke out against to oppress non-Assamese. Moreover, borders. "coolies" by the Assamese gentry. Bengali Hindus before the census of the interests of the revolution are the The sad plight of the Bihari Muslims Finally there are the Bengali-speaking 1961 and again in 1971, with the result supreme law to a Bolshevik, and that has been called "processed genocide." people in Assam who for decades have that they too had to disown their demands unity of the working masses. To Indian followers of Stalin and Tony been the main victims of Assamese. identity. Most of the Bengali-language The worst position on Assam is, Cliff, that is okay because the victims chauvinism. They constitute the second­ institutions in Assam were closed however, that of the state-capitalist happen to be "staunch enemies of largest linguistic group in Assam. forever. And now a new census is RSPI(ML). This group, which borrows Indian and Bangladesh nationalism." When the British hoisted their flag imminent in 1981 and we have the everything from Cliff and Kidron while Most of these, however, were poor over Assam in 1826, they adopted a present agitation, which despite claims presenting it as the original contribution people from U.P. and Biharwho went to of their leaders K.P. Sharma and D.O. policy of appointing mainly Bengali to the contrary has meant barbarous East Pakistan either as a result of the Brahma, blames the whole problem in Hindus to the lower rungs of adminis­ attacks, arson and torture of the anti-Muslim pogroms after 1947 in Assam on "Bihari Muslims, the staunch tration (the upper were reserved for minorities. About 5,000 people have India or due to abject poverty. It is enemies of Indian nationalism and white men). Then the British sought to had to seek refuge in West Bengal, while criminal to exterminate, deport or even newly emerged Bangladesh national­ increase agrarian revenue and adopted others have fled to Bangladesh. disperse a people against their will in ism," who were allowed "to enter the policy of importing lakhs [hundreds That is the real nature of the agitation order to ensure a majority for a given of thousands] of Bengali peasants to which was characterised as a "popular northeast India without authorisation group. True Bolshevik revolutionaries and live there" (Krantiyug, 5 August settle in the uncultivated riverine tracts movement" not only by the Bharatiya defend the right to national self­ 1980). The RSPI(ML) observed "Assam along the Brahmaputra. The British, Janata Party, the Janata Party and Lok determination while opposing all forms however, did not like to annoy the tribal Dal [all fragments of the former Desai! People's Movement Day" on August 15, of national oppression. Fake Marxists population of Assam, and to that end in Singh governments], but also initially and wrote in a verbose editorial: like Basu and "Leninists" like Sharma! "When the popular movement of Brahma reveal their true colours by the 1920s they instituted the Line by the pro-Moscow Communist Party Bangladesh was built and led against System, which excluded certain tribal of India (CPl) and by the "Marxist­ the domination of West Pakistan. it worshipping the deities of bourgeois areas from the new settlers. Leninist" RSPI(ML) [Indian associates became difficult for the Bihari Muslims nationalism.•

barricades has forgotten it, and today Three different guerrilla "armies" to unravel. However, several points can EI salvador... 1932 is still the watchword of hardliners arose, each with its own mass-based be made. First, the main left groups are (continued from page 12) in the ruling class and army. When the coalition. The first, the FPL, was based on mass organizations of work­ FDR leaders were assassinated, the founded by Salvador Cayetano, a ers, peasants and the urban poor, aristocracy came to a crashing end in crime was attributed to a "Maximiliano former leader of the Communist Party counting tens of thousands of support­ 1929. As the bottom fell out of the world Hernandez Martinez Brigade." And a who split from the PCS over its supine ers. This contrasts with Nicaragua market, Salvadoran farm laborers were spokesman of the growers association support for EI Salvador in the 1969 where the strategy of the bonapartist hit with mass unemployment. Mean­ recently remarked, "Coffee growers "football war" with Honduras. The FPL Sandinista armed forces was to conquer while, the oligarchy moved to oust an should not anguish over the situation is linked to the People's Revolutionary the main urban centers from without. elected "reform" government. In Janu­ today; there was a similar one in 1932, Block (BPR), the largest and originally This mass mobilization is one reason ary 1932, the newly formed Salvadoran and if it was solved then, it can be solved most radical of the coalitions, which why the imperialists are more worried Communist Party (PCS) planned an now" (NACLA Report, March-April grouped most of the organized rural about the Salvadoran left taking power insurrection after a putsch by General 1980). Only this time the "solution" they laborers and the teachers union. The than they were at the prospect of a Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez. are talking about is 100,000 dead. second guerrilla outfit is the ERP, Sandinista victory in 1979. Second, the Although the PCS leadership was originally a Guevarist group which had political differences are at most tactical rounded up (and later executed), coffee Bullets Replace Ballots roots in the left wing of the Christian and even then murky. Furthermore they estate workers in western EI Salvador The roots ofthe current political crisis Democrats. Its "popular organization" are extremely fluid, so that groups pass rose and were brutally repressed. In the can be traced most directly to the heavy­ is the February 28th People's Leagues easily from one coalition to another, following weeks Hernandez drove home handed vote fraud which stole two (LP-28), strong among high school and yesterday's left wing today stands this bloody "lesson" to the working elections, in 1972 and 1977, from students and market vendors. The third on the right. And while today "unity" is masses, teaching them to "stay in their Christian Democratic (PDC) winners group, the FARN, is a front for the the watchword, Salvadoran factional place" by slaughtering 30,000 people, and continued the succession of repres­ United People's Action Front (FAPU), pOlitics can be deadly: when the ERP's roughly 3-4 percent of the country's sive army governments under military which controls the largest union federa­ most prominent member, well-known entire population. hardliner General Carlos Romero. With tion, including the combative electrical leftist poet Roque Dalton, opposed its This was la matanza, the Salvadoran liberal reform efforts consistently stym­ workers. "militarist" line in 1975 he was executed bourgeoisie's response to the first ied, a radical left opposition grew The incredible number of fronts, by his "comrades." Above all, even Communist-led uprising in the Ameri­ rapidly both in the cities and armies, parties, coalitions, etc. makes EI before their general rightward turn since cas. No one on either side of the class countryside. Salvador left politics extremely difficult 1979, none of the "guerrilla left" groups 10 WORKERS VANGUARD had a program and strategy for proletar­ ian revolution in Central America; all He also expressed his pious "hope" were based on an eclectic mishmash of that the government would cancel the radical nationalism and various brands shipments rather than risk the work­ of Stalinist "revolution by stages" ILWU Boycotts Military ers' pay. reformism. Longtime ILWU Local 10 Exec During the early and mid-'70s the Shipments to EI Salvador! Board member Howard Keylor, co­ guerrilla groups engaged in a series of editor of the "Longshore Militant" kidnappings, radio station takeovers, newsletter, told Workers Vanguard: embassy occupations and assassinations SAN FRANCISCO-ILWU Interna­ supremely hypocritical and low-eost tional president Jimmy Herman an­ "This boycott is long overdue. It's the of hated military figures and capitalists. attempt to clean up the image of the first ongoing boycott in 40 years that The kidnappings proved highly nounced here on December 22 a Democratic Party for a future elector­ the International has called for more profitable-the ransom for coffee baron boycott action by the union's 18,000 al comeback. The outgoing Jimmy than one day or one shipment. An Jaime Hill was $8 million, and the longshoremen at 30 ports on the U,S. Carter cut off aid only after American ongoing boycott could be effective if West Coast, British Columbia' and nuns were killed, and Jimmy Herman it's carried through, but it's being FARN alone gathered roughly $40 carried out in such a way as to leave us million between 1975 and 1979 (Harald Hawaii against American military acted only after Jimmy Carter gave the open to reprisals and retreats. If Jung, "Class Struggles in EI Salvador," goods to the junta in EI Salvador. A green light. Herman were serious about this New Left Review, July-August 1980). Delta Lines shipment of batteries and The shallowness of the Internation­ boycott he'd back it up with the threat of union-wide strike action to defend Meanwhile, falling coffee prices and a vehicle parts designated as riot-eontrol al's concern is shown by their unwil­ equipment was immediately stopped our PGP. bad harvest in 1978 led to unrest in the lingness to back up the boycott with a "It took two years for the Internation­ countryside, while strikes increased in on San Francisco's Pier 30. defense of the union members against al officers to consent to a one-

2 JANUARY 1981 11 • W'ltNEltS VIINfJlJlllt1J

~p'ular Frontism Disarms Masses Before White Terror For Workers Revolution in EI Salvador! DECEMBER 28-El Salvador, Central America is on the brink offull-scale civil war. Profoundly soci~lly polarized, wracked by almost indescribably bloody right-wing repression, the coun­ try is locked in a battle to the death. On one side is a discredited U. S.-backed .regime defending the privileged rule ofa tightly knit oligarchy. On the other are the impoverished worker and peasant masses who have suffered for half a century under Latin America's longest continuous military dictatorship. The Carter plan to defuse the explosive situation in El Salvador with a "human rights junta," implementing a few cosmetic reforms, has failed. Now it is a confrontation that can end only with the overthrow of the murderous generals or in a massive reactionary bloodbath, possibly assisted by the direct interven­ tion of Yankee imperialism. Victory depends on mobilizing the energies and determination of the masses to sweep away the uniformed butchers forever, through workers revolution, rather than simply replacing them with a new gang of "democratic" bourgeois rulers. As Jimmy Carter's lame-duck presidency limps to the end, tiny El NACLA Salvador, a country offewer than five Salvadoran masses protest junta terror. Only workers revolution throughout Central America can sweep away million people, is being posed as the first the bloody oligarchs and their butcher generals. foreign policy "test" for the incoming Republican administration. The Sandi­ temala and Honduras. Or from the The battle cannot be limited to little El ous policy of popular frontism has nista victory in Nicaragua and a more presentable Venezuela, Colombia Salvador, however-the "pulgarcito blocked mass struggles against the growing guerrilla insurgency in Gua­ and Costa Rica, whose troops report­ (Tom Thumb) of the Americas." To generals' terror, and as the showdown temala have given U.S. rulers cause to edly took part in joint military stop the torturing, murdering Salvador­ approaches it stands in the way of the fear that the fall of El Salvador's bloody maneuvers-code named Operation an gorilas and their Yankee godfathers, key task: splitting the army, not between junta would, in the words ofa Christmas Centaur-with the U.S. on the Puerto the whole Central American isthmus "democratic" and "fascist" officers, but Eve New York Times editorial, "tip the Rican island of Vieques. As revealed by must be set aflame with proletarian between the proletarian/peasant ranks balance of forces in all Central America a recently leaked official "Dissent Paper revolution. This will force the petty­ and an officer corps committed (even its and threaten evell Mexico." Thus, on El Salvador and Central America," bourgeois bonapartist Sandinista re­ most liberal elements) to the preserva­ anxious to create an "irreversible already under the Carter administration gime in Managua to confront head-on tion of capitalist rule. Here the program situation" before Reagan takes office, plans are far advanced for such imperial­ the dilemma it has sought to escape: of agrarian revolution-expropriate the the Salvadoran Unified Revolutionary ist "peacekeeping" action. either breaking sharply with the bour­ latifundistas and coffee barons-is key Directorate (DRU) announced on Guerrilla leaders have warned that geoisie and arming Salvadoran leftists, to winning the peasant youth conscript­ December 13 that orders had been U.S. intervention would turn El Salva­ or capitulating to the imperialist pres­ ed into the army. issued calling left-wing militants to dor into "another Vietnam and the tomb suresand likely sealing its own doom. It The Salvadoran left drew inspiration "take up combat positions" throughout of the Yankee marines." Given the also means linking up, just as the from the July 1979 overthrow of the country. "The situation will be red­ junta's superiorityin firepower, the lack imperialists fear, with the potentially Nicaragua's bloody patriarch, Anasta­ hot by the time Mr. Reagan arrives," of geographical conditions for guerrilla powerful Mexican proletariat. And it sio Somoza, by the radical petty­ declared DRU member Ferman Cien­ war, the sizeable military forces of the requires"militant acts of labor solidarity bourgeois Sandinista guerrillas. They fuegos in Mexico City (New York dictatorship and the (so far) bitter-end from the workers movement through­ have even modeled their joint military Times, 27 December 1980). At press resistance of an entrenched bourgeoisie, out the hemisphere, especially in the command on the !'icaraguan FSLN, time a major guerrilla offensive has this will be nO' easy task. But the U.S.The West Coast longshore union's baptizing it the "Farabundo Marti reportedly been launched in the north­ Salvadoran masses have no choice­ ban on military cargo to El Salvador­ National Liberation Front" (FMLN) ern province of Chalatenango. passivity has not stopped the escalating though so far only on paper-points in after a Salvadoran militant who served Meanwhile, the anti-communist massacre. And if the working masses the right direction (see box). with Augusto Sandino in Nicaragua in killers are in high gear with their rise up in an all-round insurrection, "El Salvador is more sharply divided the 1920s and later was the martyred crescendo of mass terror. The spectre of from the coffee-growing hills of the than Nicaragua between left and right," Communist leader of a 1932 uprising in "another Cuba" in "America's back west to the San Salvador slums and editorialized the New York Times (24 El Salvador. But unlike the Sandinistas, yard" has led the Republicans to signal factories, they can defeat the white December 1980). And they were right. the Salvadoran workers and peasants the Salvadoran military that they will terror. Just look at the first days of the Here the battle was not against a single do not face the tottering power of a have free rein, and whatever military aid Spanish Civil War when nearly un­ tyrant opposed even by important hated strongman who alienated the is needed, to drown the left in blood. armed workers successfully stormed sectors of the bourgeoisie, but a much traditional bourgeoisie and transformed Askerl during his election campaign Francoist fortresses. Even if the Salva­ clearer struggle pitting the exploited the National Guard into his personal whether he would send the Marines into doran proletariat does not fight its way masses against their capitalist exploit­ bodyguard. In El Salvador the ruling Central America, "Big Stick" Reagan through to establishing its own class ers. Yet repeatedly the Salvadoran left class is centered on a landed oligarchy, replied coyly, "Never say never." There rule, at least a radical plebeian uprising has tried to paper over the abyss the so-called" 14 Families," which for at is a very real danger that El Salvador against the murderous junta will enable .between the opposing class forces by least ha(fa century has solidly support­ could become the victim of a Santo them to avenge-ifonly minimally-the proclaiming a "national" and "patriot­ ed naked military rule to prop up their Domingo-style U.S. intervention, possi­ grotesque crimes of these butchers and ic" fight for "democracy," not socialism, economic domination. bly with "inter-American" support from their dollar-crazed oligarch and tying the workers to "progressive" The "golden age" of the coffee the neighboring dictatorships in Gua- benefactors! bourgeois forces. Already this treacher- continued on page 10 12 2 JANUARY 1981