Scramble to cover up 'contra' arms affair .. 3 TH£ Meat-packers raise funds for kids' Xmas . . . 5 What's at issue in Meese pornography report . 7

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 50/NO. 48 DECEMBER 19, 1986 75 CENTS Bo01bing raids on Nicaragua: escalation of U.S.-run war BY CINDY JAQUITH MANAGUA, Nicaragua-Five combat planes dispatched from U.S. bases in Hon­ duras bombed northern Nicaragua De­ cember 7. The criminal attack left seven Nicaraguans dead and 14 wounded. The most serious escalation to date of the U.S. -organized aggression against Nic­ aragua, the bombing raids were accom­ ----- panied by U.S. troops ferrying Honduran soldiers to the Nicaraguan border. Gen. John Gavin, head of the U.S. Southern Command base in Panama, flew to Honduras to personally supervise the op­ eration. On December 10, Honduran President Jose Azcona threatened Nicaragua with further bombing attacks and said that he "would not hesitate" to call for direct U.S. military support. In a speech the same day, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega identified the planes used in the December 7 attacks as "A-37 aircraft flying from a U.S. base in Honduran territory." He also reported that Azcona has threatened to bomb artillery emplacements in Nicaragua. Background to attack The bombing followed several weeks of U.S. helicopter over airstrip being built in Honduras. Militarization of Honduras is key piece in Washing(on's aggression U.S. government attempts to provoke an against Nicaragua. incident in the Nicaraguan-Honduran bor­ der area that could be blamed on the San­ dinistas and used to step up the military at­ tack against them. In late November some 1,500 CIA-or­ Emergency antiwar actions called ganized mercenaries based in southern Honduras made a push to penetrate Nicara­ BY MARGARET JA YKO from Baton Rouge are also planning to at­ will gather at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at guan territory. As the Sandinistas began re­ The bombing of two Nicaraguan towns tend. the United Nations. The march will end up pelling them and inflicting heavy losses, by Honduran combat planes has added new at the army recruiting station in Times Honduran troops and the 116th Battalion of Ray Hudson, the mayor of Bluefields, the Florida National Guard began "exer­ urgency to emergency antiwar protests that the main city on Nicaragua's southern At­ Square. In New Paltz, New York, the December cises" close to the scene of the battle. The had already been planned in the wake of re­ lantic Coast, is touring Atlanta. He is velations about secret U.S. government 13 demonstration begins at the army re­ National Guard supplied the beleaguered speaking at a public meeting on December contras with 81- and 85-millimeter artil­ funding of the contras. 13 along with Joseph Lowery, president of cruiting center and then marches to the post office for a rally. lery. In some places where demonstrations the Southern Christian Leadership Confer­ On December 4 Ortega announced that weren't being organized, the air attack on ence. In Boston there was a march on De­ the mercenaries had been smashed and cember 11 from the Boston Common to the Nicaragua prompted activists to pull some­ In New York the Pledge of Resistance, were retreating back to Honduras. CIAheadquarters. . thing together. Nicaragua Network, and others are or­ On December 5 Honduran President Az­ The Washington Area Coalition to Stop The Pledge of Resistance is organizing ganizing a march and rally on Wednesday, cona suddenly claimed that his country was protests on Saturday, December 13, December 17, at 4:30 p.m. Participants Continued on Page 4 being "invaded" by Nicaraguan troops. A against U.S. financing and training of the carefully orchestrated campaign of radio contra terrorists. Fort Walton Beach, broadcasts told the Honduran working Florida, home of Hurlburt Field, where the people that Honduran troops had been at­ CIA is training 70 Nicaraguan mer­ Massive student ntobilizations tacked by the Sandinistas in the Boca El cenaries, is the national focus for the ac­ Espafiol and Las Mieles region. Some sta­ tions. tions called for a declaration of war against Antiwar activists from Miami will be force French gov't t~ retreat Nicaragua, or at least breaking diplomatic going up to Fort Walton Beach, which is in relations. the Florida panhandle. BY ERNEST HARSCH the National Assembly, where the educa­ Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel "Out, out, out, the students are in the tion bill is to be debated. D'Escoto immediately responded to this In Miami there will be a local protest on streets!" has been a common refrain heard • December 4: Between half a million new provocation, explaining that there was December 13 as well, called by the South in Paris and many other French cities over and a million students, teachers, and trade "no proof to the charges." Florida Peace Coalition. The Latin Ameri­ the past several weeks. unionists march through Paris, demanding D'Escoto proposed immediate Hondu­ can and Caribbean Solidarity Association Confronted by hundreds of thousands of the withdrawal of the education bill and the ran-Nicaraguan talks. He. also proposed (LACASA) is having a demonstration in mobilized students, the government of resignation of the minister for higher edu­ that the two nations invite the United Na­ Miami on December 20. Both will be held Jacques Chirac on December 8 dropped the cation, Alain Devaquet (who does resign tions, the Latin American governments at the headquarters of Southern Air Trans­ controversial university reform bill that two days later). The column of marchers that are part of the Contadora Group, and port, the CIA front that employed Eugene had provoked the upsurge. But police bru­ stretches for more than five miles. The the Organization of American States to Hasenfus, the only survivor of the CIA tality and other unpopular government same day, an estimated 300,000 more fill send a commission to the border. plane shot down over Nicaragua in Oc­ measures have continued to fuel student ac­ the streets of many provincial cities. The same day, U.S. troops in Honduras tober. tions. • December 8: Some of the major trade began ferrying Honduran soldiers in On December 8 Patrick Buchanan, Pres­ Not since 1968, when a massive student unions hold a one-hour work stoppage and helicopters from the U.S. base in Pal­ ident Ronald Reagan's communications di­ and worker revolt exploded in the country, 30,000 students march in Paris to protest merola to the Las Trojes area near Nicara­ rector, spoke at a prowar rally in Miami. has France experienced such extensive stu­ the police killing two days earlier of Malik gua's border. Most of those in attendance were older dent protests. Since mid-November there Oussekine, a 22-year-old student of Alge­ On December 7 the Hondurans said that Cuban-Americans. has not been a day without a sizable dem­ rian origin. The government drops its bill. their planes had bombed Sandinista "in­ At an antiwar press conference the same onstration or sit-in by university and high­ • December 10: Several hundred vaders" in Honduran territory. day, LACASA announced the upcoming school students or a strike action by thousand march in Paris yet again to protest But on the same day, three planes from antiwar actions. Speakers included LA­ teachers. This movement has been truly Oussekine's murder, including workers Honduras swooped into Nicaragua and CASA Director Jack Lieberman, Manning massive: who walked off their jobs in solidarity with dropped bombs on Sandinista People's Salazar of the Progressive Student Union at • November 23: Some 300,000 stu­ the students. Army positions in the Congojas Valley lo­ Florida International University, and Bill dents and their supporters march through The bill that Chirac's right-wing govern­ cated 5. 6 miles from the border, near the Loomis of the Unitarian church. They con­ Paris, led by the major teacher and student ment had attempted to push through would town of Murra. Seven soldiers were killed demned the bombing of Nicaragua. organizations. have doubled or tripled tuition at France's and nine wounded. New Orleans opponents of the U.S.-run • November 27: A half million demon­ 72 large state-run universities. Shortly afterwards, two other planes war against Nicaragua plan to take a car strators take to the streets of 50 cities. The It would also have made entrance re­ from Honduras bombed the Nicaraguan caravan to Fort Walton Beach. Students Paris march ends in a mass sit-in outside Continued on Page 11 Continued on Page 13 Pineapple, cane workers in Hawaii like 'Militant' BY SANDRA LEE of militant struggle. checks and had several good dis­ HONOLULU, Hawaii - Driv­ As we were selling to workers cussions, selling a few single ing from the airport after our Mili­ leaving the mill, we were invited copies of the paper. Most of these tant and Perspectiva Mundial to attend the union meeting being workers are Filipinos. We found sales team arrived here in early held on the lawn. Mike Downs, a few were able to read English. November, we first stopped at an member of IL WU Local 13 in Los There's a giant plastic pineapple informational picket line of the In- Angeles, spoke about the team's justoutside Honolulu between the airport and the city. This is a sym­ bol of the domination of the Dole family in agriculture here. You SELLING OUR PRESS can smell the sweet pineapples as you drive down the industrial road AT THE PLANT GATE toward Honolulu. In talking to workers at the plant land Boatmen's Union. When we efforts and described his local's gate of the Dole pineapple pack­ told them we were there to distri­ support for the Austin meat-pack­ inghouse, we found out when the bute the Militant and PM and re­ ers' fight. next day's morning shift began. port on labor struggles, two pick­ After the meeting several union­ They told us that many workers ar­ ets bought subscriptions and single ists stayed around to discuss poli­ rive early to eat breakfast in the copies to the Militant, as well as tics and bought seven Militant cafeteria and hang out. copies of the Pathfinder Press subscriptions and the pamphlet on The next morning, an hour be­ pamphlet The 1985-86 Hormel the meat-packers' struggle. fore work began, our sales team Meat-Packers Strike in Austin, One man who bought a Militant was there. We went to one lot and Minnesota, by Fred Halstead. subscription told me, "At first we talked to workers as they parked This response was typical might not think this [Hormel] their cars and put on work boots. among working people and stu­ strike has to do with us, but our We got a good response and one dents we met as we traveled across contract is coming up soon and we worker urged us to go to a bigger Hawaii for more than two weeks might have to go through what lot around the comer of the build­ distributing the socialist publica­ they're going through. We should ing. tions. During our stay we sold 113 support them. It could be us next." So we divided the team between subscriptions to the Militant and 3 On another afternoon we waited the two lots. to PM, and several hundred dol­ at a parking lot that is the drop-off Several of the workers also in­ Lee lars worth of Pathfinder Press lit­ area for returning pineapple field­ vited us to breakfast in the com­ Team member (right) discusses Militant with pickets from Inland erature. workers. As the company trucks pany's cafeteria. "Just walk up the Boatmen's Union in Hawaii. We visited two sugar mills and carried a couple hundred workers ramp and come into the cafeteria. surrounding communities where to their cars, we looked forward to There's lots more of us to talk to in most of the plantation workers the sale. there," we were told. copies and Hormel meat-packer these picket lines, "Before when I live. Sugar plantation workers in­ The workers were hot and tired In general when we took the strike pamphlets. used to hear that someone was on clude those working in the mills after working in 80 degree heat all time to have a discussion with We also visited several picket strike, sure, I was sympathetic. and those in the canefields. The day. But it was payday, so they workers at their workplaces, and locations of Kaiser-Permanente But now, after what we've been International Longshoremen's and were anxious to drive off to the of­ they had time to talk, we sold health-care workers on strike. We through with Kaiser, next time I Warehousemen's Union (ILWU) fice to pick up their checks. many more papers. We sold five sold a number of subscriptions and hear the word 'strike,' I'll know organizes these 6,000-7,000 We followed them to a local subscriptions to workers at plant­ single copies. what to do: get active and start or­ workers who have a long history store where they cashed' their gate sales as well as many single A woman told me at one of ganizing and finding solidarity." 'I do need the 'Militant.' Would miss it greatly'

BY JIM WHITE couple of renewal notices next time." There is no trend yet for which color price will get six extra weeks on their sub. The best part of getting subscription re­ As her renewal came in after the fourth notice is the most popular, but when it gets Some readers' responses go beyond newals is opening the mail, and the best letter from our office, it's easy to see why down to the final bright yellow letter with minor complaints to expressing broader part of opening the mail is finding out what she is concerned. We're sending out six "0" weeks left at the top, the responses get disagreements with the paper and cancel­ readers think of the Militant. letters urging introductory readers to resub­ more urgent. One today said, "P.S. Sorry ing their subscriptions. Some of their com­ One day, 18 renewals came in. A reader scribe because it's too easy to misplace a this took so long! You're right, I do need ments have appeared in the letters column. from Topanga, California, who first sub­ letter or get it when other bills are due, and the Militant. Would miss it greatly." Quite a few readers have taken advan­ scribed in September, renewed for a year, we do not want to lose any new readers to tage of the free copy of New International ordered a copy of New International, gave chance or bad timing. We also get complaints. The most com­ offered with a six-month or longer sub­ an introductory sub as a gift to a friend, and Stuffing the letters into each paper is mon one is that the mailing label covers scription. There were seven such requests wrote this note: also quite an operation. This week, we put part of the headline and sometimes the text. in the December 8 mail and 18 altogether "We love your newspaper. I especially notices in more than 4,500 papers, making We try very hard to avoid this, but we don't that week. Although the issue of New In­ like articles showing the common interests sure each one got the proper colored leaflet always succeed. For those who are particu­ ternational focusing on South Africa is the of all oppressed peoples: prisoners, Third indicating the number of weeks remaining larly concerned, we will send your sub­ most popular, all of the issues are being or­ World people, homeless people- all have in the subscription. It took a dozen volun­ scription in an envelope for $4.00 extra a dered. Ten people have bought the com­ a stake in working together to ·change the teers a little more than 45 minutes to get it year. plete set of five issues in the last three system. I like Harry Ring's column and done. weeks. cartoons. Humor greases the wheels of the At first the responses to the renewal Another problem relates to our subscrip­ Over the next couple of months, we ex-· coming revolution." notices came in a few at a time. For a tion rates. Many readers noticed that our pect to mail more than 35,000 renewal Another new reader renewed for three while, the rate seemed to settle at about six-month rate was more than twice the notices. If you want to help us cut the months and sent a $4.00 contribution "for five a day. Now, it's beginning to pick up. three-month rate. We adjusted this by low­ number down, renew today, either by the Nicaragua staff." She also offered a bit In the first week of December, we received ering the six-month rate from $15.00 to sending in your letter or by using the of advice on the back of her coupon: 63 renewals, which was up from 52 the $12.00 during this renewal campaign. coupon on this page. And if you have any "Please save paper costs and only send a week before. Everyone who has renewed for the higher ideas for the paper, drop us a line.

The Militant tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant The Militant is written in the Closing news date: December 10, 1986 interests of workers and farm­ Coeditors: MARGARET JA YKO and DOUG JENNESS ers. Every week it tells the truth Circulation Director: MALIK MIAH about the war Washington and Nicaragua Bureau Director: CINDY JAQUITH the employers are waging Business Manager: JIM WHITE against working people at home Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein, Fred Feldman, Ernest and abroad. It provides Harsch, Arthur Hughes, Harvey McArthur (Nicaragua), Ruth Nebbia (Nicaragua), Harry Ring, Norton Sandler. firsthand coverage of important Published weekly except one week in August and the last struggles in other countries, week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 14 such as Haiti, the Philippines, Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial and Nicaragua. Regular on-the­ Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Office, (212) 929-3486. scene reports come from its Nic­ Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Militant Business aragua Bureau. Enclosed is Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Subscribe today. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POST­ D $3.00 for 12 weeks, new readers Ifyou already have a subscrip­ MASTER: Send address changes to The Militant, 14 Charles D $6.00 for 12 weeks, renewals tion, by renewing now for six Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S., D $12.00 for six months Canada, Latin America: for one-year subscription send months or a year you'll receive a D $24.00 for one year $24, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above address. By first-class Name ______free issue of New International (airmail), send $60. Britain, Ireland, Continental Europe, Admen ______(cover price $5.00), a magazine Africa: send £25 check or international money order made of Marxist politics and theory out to Pathfinder Press and send to Pathfinder, 47 The Cut, City------State ____ Zip ____ published inNew York. The cur­ London SEI 8LL, England. Australia, Asia, Pacific: send Telephone _____ Union/School/Organization __ Australian $60 to Pathfinder Press, P .0. Box 37, Leichhardt, rent issue features the article, Sydney, NSW 2040, Australia. New Zealand: Write to Pilot Send to THE MILITANT, 14CharlesLane, New York, N.Y.l0014 "The Coming Revolution in Books, P.O. Box 8730, Auckland for prices. South Africa," by Jack Barnes. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant December 19, 1986 A scramble in Washington to cover up 'contra' arms affair

BY ERNEST HARSCH called on Reagan to sack White House Meanwhile, each house of Congress an­ Everyone in Washington, it seems, is Chief of Staff Donald Regan and CIA Di­ nounced that it would set up its own special promising to uncover the "full" truth about rector William Casey. They also urged the committee to look into the arms deal. In how the proceeds from the secret U.S. appointment of a special prosecutor, along part, this is intended to head off the open­ arms sales to Iran ended up being diverted the lines of the Watergate investigation of ing of a multitude of investigations by dif­ to the Nicaraguan contra forces. the early 1970s. ferent, competing congressional commit­ "I will ... make all the facts known," tees, which could make it more difficult to President Reagan pledged in a December 6 Secret investigation put a cap on any new revelations. radio address. Although Reagan has been reluctant, so But that may be difficult in any case. Al­ "Let it all come out in the open," pro­ far, to purge any more of his administra­ ready, reporters have ferreted out new de­ claimed Democratic Sen. Daniel Moyni­ tion, he did agree to the naming of a special tails that contradict aspects of the official Sen. Robert Dole: wants Reagan to "cut han, "with greater than deliberate speed, prosecutor (now officially called an "inde­ White House account. our losses." immediately, regardless." pendent counsel"). This brought a round of In addition, some of those who have But in reality officials are scrambling applause from Democratic and Republican been made scapegoats in the affair are testified, Secretary of State George Shultz over each other trying to find the best way congresspeople alike. starting to tell their stories. Former national defended the provision of aid - including to clamp a lid on the affair. Once a counsel is named, the investiga­ security adviser Robert McFarlane, for ex­ by "private sources"- to the Nicaraguan Those in the administration who may be tions are conducted in strict secrecy and ample, said in testimony before the House contras. "I applaud that," he said. directly implicated in the illegal fund trans­ may drag on for many months. Moreover, Foreign Affairs Committee December 8 Shultz also reminded his questioners that fers are hiding behind denials or pointing according to a report in the December 2 that Reagan had authorized arms shipments backing for the contras "was the policy of fingers at others. Washington Post, the 1978 law under to Iran, via Israel, in August ~ 985, months the United States, put into place by con­ Other officials, particularly in Congress, which the counsel would function "is so earlier than Reagan has admitted. gressional action, signed by the president are seeking to restore the "credibility" of loaded with restrictions and limitations that Other officials, in the meantime, are try­ after due debate." the presidency. They want the furor to sub­ it could actually impede a thorough investi­ ing to salvage Washington's anti-Nicara­ No one on the congressional panel con­ side quickly, lest the growing popular dis­ gation." gua policy. The same day that McFarlane tradicted him. belief and distrust of those who govern fur­ ther damage the administration's ability to implement its domestic and foreign poli­ cies. "The country needs to put this behind it as soon as possible," declared Republi­ How White House ran guns to 'contras' can Sen. David Durenberger. Of particular concern to everyone in the BY HARRY RING White House and Congress is how to res­ When Nicaraguan troops. shot down a cue U.S. policy toward Nicaragua. U.S. plane October 5 and captured the lone Washington's mercenary war against the survivor, Eugene Hasenfus, they triggered Nicaraguan people is not just a White a chain of revelations that bared an illegal House project or the policy of a single gunrunning operation organized from the party. Besides the secret aid funneled to the White House. contras by administration officials, Con­ Put together by national security adviser gress itself has allocated $100 million in Lt. Col. Oliver North, the operation in­ open assistance, approved by a bipartisan volved military and civilian officials, and majority. supposedly retired military officers and CIA agents. 'We ought to cut our losses' On-the-scene organizers of the operation But the immediate problem facing these included Cuban exiles with long records as officials is that hardly anyone believes the terrorist hirelings of the CIA. White House's claims. According to a All of these reactionary forces combined November 30 poll by the New York Times to ferry thousands of tons of weapons and and CBS News, 69 percent of those ques­ other supplies to the Nicaraguan counter­ tioned thought that the administration was revolutionaries, the contras. Congressional "trying to cover up all the facts about the legislation at the time specifically barred Iranian arms deal." arms to the contras. "CIA ... We're looking for new ways to shift arms to the contras." Reagan's initial response only rein­ The spotlight was put on the illegal oper­ forced that view. He handed over main re­ ation when the captured Hasenfus detailed In charge of that deal was Richard Gadd, notorious Cuban counterrevolutionaries - sponsibility for looking into the affair to what he had been doing and named his a retired lieutenant colonel. He was given Luis Posada, Felix Rodriguez, and Rafael Edwin Meese, his own attorney general. superiors. Then came the disclosure that more than $100,000 in State Department Quintero. They are veterans of the failed funds from the secret sale of arms to Iran He also appointed a three-man commission contracts to arrange delivery of food, 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba or­ were siphoned to arm the contras. to investigate the functioning of the Na­ clothes, and other supplies necessary to ganized by the White House under Presi­ In early 1984, anticipating the congres­ tional Security Council; one of the com­ keep the contras going. But he also began dent John Kennedy. mission's members, Brent Scowcroft, had sional cutoff of aid to the contras, the hiring pilots to deliver the guns supposedly The illegal funding for the contras was headed the NSC during Washington's White House assigned Colonel North to put banned by Congress. And he hired U.S. not limited to siphoning income from U.S. 1975-76 covert war in Angola. together an alternative "private" aid net­ personnel to supervise building a secret air­ arms sales to Iran. It was disclosed that on To many, the cover-up nature of these work. strip in Costa Rica used for making the initiative of Elliott Abrams, the assis­ inquiries was transparent. They clearly North arranged for several former mili­ weapons drops to the contras. tant secretary of state for inter-American tary officers and CIA spooks to do the job. would not work. affairs, the bite was put on the Southeast The principal role was played by Richard A more elaborate gunrunning network Delegations of Republican senators, rep­ Asian country of Brunei for a donation. An Secord, a retired air force general and for was then organized by Secord and his resentatives, and governors met with oil-producing country, Brunei deposited many years a CIA operative in Vietnam lieutenants. Reagan to appeal for more vigorous steps. several million dollars in a secret Swiss When Secord left the air force in 1983, "We ought to cut our losses, and do it as and Laos. bank account run by Colonel North. he became president of Stanford Technol­ quickly as possible," declared Robert (Secord had resigned his commission Officials of Saudi Arabia also helped ogy Trading Group International, which Dole, the out-going Senate majority somewhat abruptly in 1983 when it ap­ out. Secord, North, and other former mem­ sells weapons. leader. peared he would be investigated for his ties bers of the National Security Council had with CIA agent Edwin Wilson, now doing The company has several offices in this Senate Foreign Relations Committee extensive ties with Saudi businessman time for unauthorized arms sales to Libya.) country and one in Geneva. The address of Chairman Richard Lugar appealed . to Adnan Khashoggi (who helped broker the Initially, delivery of the "humanitarian" the Swiss branch is the same as that of a fi­ Reagan to "clean house of all the malefac­ Iran arms deal) and Prince Bandar bin Sul­ aid voted by Congress in July 1985 was nancial company used to funnel Iranian tors." tan, the Saudi ambassador in Washington. In particular, these congressmen, along arms sales proceeds to the contras. used as the framework for organizing the Discussions between U.S. and Saudi of­ with their Democratic Party colleagues, Stanford Technology recruited a crew of illegal delivery of arms to the contras. ficials over "private" aid to the contras about 25 U.S. operatives to do the actual began in late 1983, according to a report in gunrunning to the contras. These included the New York Times. "Prince Bandar, who former Green Berets and pilots for Air held numerous discussions with Colonel Break-ins target groups opposed America, an outfit long associated with the North and General Secord during this CIA. Their principal base of operation was time," the Times reported, "told an as­ to U.S. policy in Central America in El Salvador. The air force of that coun­ sociate of General Secord that helping the try issued ID cards describing them as U.S. contras was good for Saudi-American rela­ Rep. Donald Edwards from California was the motive for the break-in. Files were government military advisers. tions, something the Administration sup­ has called on the FBI to investigate a series ransacked, but nothing of monetary value The Central American payroll and vari­ ported, and a source of future private busi­ was taken. ous logistical problems involved in the of recent break-ins at offices of groups op­ ness profits." posed to U.S. policy in Central America One missing item was a confidential weapons ferry were mainly handled by and those providing sanctuary for Central document obtained by the center. This was Robert Dutton, a retired air force colonel. American political refugees. a flight log of Southern Air Transport, the Dutton is employed by Stanford Technol­ Edwards is chairman of the House sub­ company used by the CIA to ferry arms to ogy. 'Militant' Prisoner Fund committee on civil and constitutional the Nicaraguan contras. A spokesperson One revelation belying the fiction that The Militants special pris­ rights. for the center said the document proves the covert supply operation was a "private" oner fund. makes it possible to Southern Air was shipping arms to the con­ The incident that provoked Edwards' ac­ enterprise was the disclosure by Washing­ send reduced-rate subscriptions tion was the break-in at the end of tras at a time when the White House was ton Post reporters that, on orders from the to prisoners who need help pay­ November at the International Center for insisting this was not happening. U.S. embassy in San Salvador, army Col. Development Policy in Washington, D.C. The Movement Support Network, one of James Steele closely monitored the entire ing for the paper. Please send The center is headed by Robert White, a the organizations pressing for action operation and maintained regular contact your contribution to: Militant former ambassador to El Salvador. Its against the break-ins, said that in the past with the crew members. Steele is the senior Prisoner Subscription Fund, 14 studies are generally critical of U.S. gov­ several years, it has received reports of 50 U.S. military adviser in El Salvador. Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. ernment policy in Central America. such incidents against groups critical of Among those retained by Secord and 10014. Officials of the center said that politics Washington's policies in Central America. monitored by Colonel Steele were the three

December 19, 1986 The Militant 3 Unionists win support for rights fight

BY FRED FELDMAN an effort to establish a dairy cooperative in Jim Garrison and Joe Allor were recently Nicaragua. laid off from jobs at the Chrysler plant in The issues in the case touch directly on Fenton, Missouri. Just before the layoff the most basic rights of unionists, antiwar hit, however, they signed up six other activists, fighters for women's rights, and members of United Auto Workers Local DECISIOn others. II 0 as sponsors of the Political Rights De­ In his August 25 decision, Federal Judge fense Fund. Thomas Griesa ruled that it is illegal and The PRDF is rallying support and raising unconstitutional for the FBI and other gov­ funds for the continuing battle to uphold IS ernment agencies to use informers against and extend the landmark federal court deci­ political organizations; that surreptitious sion won August 25 in the suit brought by disruption operations by government agen­ the Socialist Workers Party and Young cies are illegal and unconstitutional; that Socialist Alliance against the government "black bag jobs" carried out by the FBI to and its police agencies. steal documents, copy materials, or plant "What we did," Allor told the Militant, DErmsE eavesdropping equipment are illegal and "was talk to people we knew about what unconstitutional; that tapping the tele­ this case meant for the unions, for the phones of political activists in the name of working class. We talked about the impor­ "national security" is unconstitutional; and tance of political rights in strike situations, that the SWP is entitled to more than and about the way the attacks on these $250,000 in damages for the government's rights increase as the rulers step up their actions. war in Central America. "One thing that most of the people who The Missouri chapter of the National agreed to sign brought up was drug test­ Abortion Rights Action League pointed ing," Allor added. "They thought the pro­ out, in a message to a rally celebrating the posed tests had nothing to do with combat­ decision, that the ruling was "a reinforce­ ing drugs and was just another way to scare ment of the constitutional right to privacy people. They thought the employers and on which the landmark Roe v. Wade deci­ government had no right to make anyone MilitanULarry Lukecart sion is founded." The 1973 Roe v. Wade take a drug test to keep their job." Miami rally for Political Rights Defense Fund. Unionists are signing up brothers and decision ruled that the constitutional right Allor said that "a woman we work with, sisters to defend federal court decision that dealt blow to government violations of po­ of privacy included the right of women to who signed an endorser card, told me that litical rights. decide whether to terminate pregnancy. she thought the issues in the case were par­ The ruling extends the constitutional ticularly important because of the govern­ protection of the people against govern­ ginning to show that this perspective is Twenty-five other participants in the con­ ment meddling in their private affairs and ment's use of spies against the Black realistic. ference also signed sponsor cards. movement." of those associations to which they belong. PRDF supporters have also participated This issue strikes a responsive chord in recent conventions of the United Mine Talking about the issues Don't have to be legal expert among unionists who face stepped up gov­ Workers of America and the International Wendy Bannon, a member of the United "We found that you didn't have to be an ernment-employer harassment and surveil­ expert on the legal details in order to dis­ Union of Electronics Workers, and in the lance in the name of "national security," Transportation Union in New York City, Labor Notes Conference. described selling coworkers two copies of cuss this case with other workers," Allor "combating drugs," and other pretexts. the court ruling by the judge in the case, stated. "Reading the court decision pro­ Meat-packers back fight The court battle is continuing. Attorney Thomas Griesa. vides some basic facts, and then it is a mat­ Leonard Boudin is preparing for hearings ter of talking about the political issues at The recent endorsers also include a in which the Socialist Workers Party and "One was active in the Armenian com­ growing number of the meat-packers who munity here. The other was someone who stake." Young Socialist Alliance will seek the Some workers also make a financial con­ are fighting Hormel' s union-busting ac­ broadest possible injunction to bar the gov­ had helped organize solidarity with the tions. Among them are Lynn Huston and Minnesota meat-packers," Bannon said. tribution to defray the massive costs of this ernment from making any use of the files fight. Skinny Weis, suspended members of the illegally obtained by the FBI and other "From my experience, coworkers didn't United Food and Commercial Workers have any trouble at all understanding the is­ The sentiments of a growing number of police agencies. unionists were well summed up by Betty Local P-9 executive board; Rod Huinker After Gries a rules on this matter, pro­ sues in the case. I just discussed the case in and Merle Evans, charter members of the the light of the employers' offensive Tsang, vice-president of the Miami-area ceedings will begin on government ac­ American Postal Workers Union. She North American Meat Packers Union; and countability for the attorneys fees and legal against the unions." Bob Langemeier, a Hormel worker fired These are examples of the widening sup­ wrote in the Miami Postal Labor News: expenses that have mounted during the 13 "The government has, for too long now, for honoring a union roving picket line at years since the case was filed. port that PRDF is winning among union­ the Fremont, Nebraska, plant. ists, as well as farmers, antiwar activists, used subversive means through the actions And there is the likelihood that the gov­ and others with a stake in the fight for dem­ of the FBI and CIA to harass, disrupt, and Serapio Laureano Molina and Renan ernment will seek to overturn all or part of ocratic rights. spy on all those who oppose big busines­ Soto Soto, president and vice-president of Griesa's ruling in appellate courts. At a meeting in September of 50 PRDF ses, war, the U.S. foreign policies, and so the Federation of Teachers in Puerto Rico, The outcome of these battles, and the sponsors from II unions, PRDF Executive forth. Hopefully, this ruling and similar have also given their support to the PRDF. impact that the court decision will have on Director John Studer had declared, "Our rulings will put an end to government ac­ Among the fighters for farmers' rights the rights of working people, will be deter­ goal is to take this campaign to the labor tions against our democratic rights." who have signed endorser cards are Bobbi mined in part by the depth of support that is movement and make it a campaign of the PRDF supporters have recently signed Polzine, a leader of many Minnesota farm mobilized for this fight in the labor move­ labor movement." The initial efforts of up some prominent unionists from the New protests; Hal Hamilton and George Naylor ment. The key to this is the expanding ef­ PRDF supporters across the country are be- York City area as sponsors. They include: of the board of the North American Farm fort by PRDF supporters to discuss this Edgar Romney, manager-secretary of Alliance; and Virginia dairy farmer Ben case with their coworkers and other union­ Local 23-25 of the International Ladies' Layman, who is playing a leading part in ists, and to sign them up as sponsors. Garment Workers' Union; Kathy Andrade, Emergency antiwar director of education, Local 23-25; Geor­ gianna Johnson, president of hospital protests called workers' Local 1199 of the Retail, . Wholesale, and Department Store Union; Political Rights and Aida Garcia, vice-president of Local Continued from front page II99. the U.S. War on Nicaragua held a picket at Defense Fund the White House on December II. New sponsors A December I3 demonstration at the Joe Swanson, a veteran rail unionist and Help us win more victories for democratic rights Trident nuclear submarine base in New the PRDF's Midwest representative, has London, Connecticut, which had been been touring that region talking to unionists Now that a federal judge has ruled that the FBI's spying against the called a while ago, will include opposition and others about the case. He told the Mil­ Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance was illegal, the to U.S. intervention in Central America, as itant that among those he signed up re­ case is going back to court to determine what will happen to the mil­ well as opposition to nuclear weapons. cently as sponsors are Russell Woodrick, lions of secret files the govemment spies accumulated. In response to the bombing of Nicara­ an International Association of Machinists gua, the St. Louis Pledge of Resistance, business agent from Cedar Falls, Iowa; and Every supporter of democratic rights has a stake in helping bring about Latin America Solidarity Committee, and David Ostendorf, a leader of Prairiefire another victory against the FBI in the upcoming hearings. The Politi­ American Friends Service Committee Rural Action, a fanners' organization. called an indoor rally for noon on De­ cal Rights Defense Fund needs your endorsement and your financial Sam Walker also became a sponsor after help to make the next stage in this battle a success. cember I3 followed by a march to the fed­ discussing the case with Swanson. Walker eral building. is the former president of the Nebraska D I want to be a sponsor of the Political Rights Defense Fund. In Houston the Coalition for Peace and American Civil Liberties Union and a Justice organized a vigil for December I2. member of the ACLU National Board. D Send me a copy of the federal court decision against the FBI. In Chicago there will be a march on De­ In addition to winning new sponsors on Enclosed is $1. cember 20 from the Illinois State Armory the job, PRDF supporters have discussed to the Water Tower. the issues in the suit with activists at na­ D Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution to keep up the fight. Protests are planned for both San Fran­ tional and local union gatherings, and to $500 $100 $50 $10 other cisco and Los Angeles on December I3. local political meetings and demonstrations Name ______The Committee in Solidarity with the in their areas. Address ______People of El Salvador (CISPES), along At the recent national conference of the with other groups, called a march in San Coalition of Labor Union Women, United City ______State ______Zip ______Francisco. It assembles at noon at the Cus­ Steelworkers of America Vice-president Telephone ______Organization ______toms Building, where the CIA headquar­ Leon Lynch became a PRDF sponsor. ters is located, and goes to Union Square Signature ______for a rally at 2:00 p.m. In Los Angeles the action is taking place You won't miss a single Send to: Political Rights Defense Fund, P.O. Box 649, Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. at the Westwood Federal Building at 12:30 issue if you subscribe. 10003. p.m.

4 The Militant December 19, 1986 Hormel workers raise money for childrens' Christmas BY TONY DUTROW cars. AUSTIN, Minn. -The offices of the "Close to 70 bears are done already, but Austin United Support Group are buzzing it's hard to keep up with the demand," with activity as it gears up for the holiday Rogers said. Work begins at about nine in season. The biggest project there is called the morning and continues for several Santa's Workshop. And topping its list are hours into the afternoon. She said it takes a the hundreds of children from families of good six hours per bear. 850 workers not yet recalled by Geo. A. Barbara Collette, another support group Hormel & Co. The workers were on strike activist, was stuffing a bear. She told me for nearly a year. that TWA flight attendants, who are fight­ On any day, up to a dozen men and ing to get their jobs back, bought the Militant/Tony Dutrow women are upstairs, cutting, sewing, and stuffed animals to sell at an event held by Santa's Workshop volunteers make teddy bears to raise money for children of 850 assembling teddy bears. their union, the Independent Federation of workers not yet recalled by Hormel. Carmine Rogers, wife of a retired Hor­ Flight Attendants. Collette said that 16 mel worker who is active in the support bears were sold at the Labor Notes confer­ one thing we want them to understand is Butch Wiedeman, an activist in the sup­ group, heads the project. She stopped work ence in Detroit, and 19 orders were taken at that they will have a Christmas this year." port group, told me a story illustrating that for a few minutes to tell me about it. the recent Coalition of Labor Union the company can't hide the truth from these Last Christmas, Rogers recalled, 270 Women conference in St. Louis. • children. bears were given to the children. The teddy bears can be obtained by United Food and Commercial Workers For six years running, Wiedeman has This year, the teddy bears are being sold sending $25 care of the Austin United Sup­ Local P-6 in Albert Lea, Minnesota, is or­ been the Santa-for-hire at the local shop­ for $25. Proceeds are going to the Santa's port Group, P.O. Box 903, Austin, Min­ ganizing a car caravan to Austin. They are ping mall. Recently, a small child hopped Workshop fund to buy gifts for the chil­ nesota 55912. Delivery before Christmas bringing toys for the children of jobless on his knee to make a wish. "He looked up dren. "We want to make sure every kid cannot be guaranteed. Checks should be Hormel workers. Their arrival December at me and said all he wanted this year was gets a $10 gift for Christmas," she said. made payable to Santa's Workshop. 21 will coincide with a Christmas party for for the Hormel company to put his daddy "So far, 350 of the neediest kids have been • the children. back to work," Wiedeman said. registered by their parents." The support group is on a special cam- Materials have been donated or pur­ paign to raise funds for Santa's Workshop. chased for the project. Imitation wool pile A mailing went out across the country, ad­ and fur coats are washed and then cut up. dressed to trade unionists and support Meat-packers receive holiday food Each "P-9 Proud Teddy Bear," as they're groups. "The almost 1,300 children of nicknamed, is a genuine original. Local P-9 have experienced 15 months of from union supporters After watching the painstaking and slow struggle that involves not only their day-to­ day life, but also their futures," the letter process of cutting patterns, P-9 retiree Ray AUSTIN, Minn.- Unionists and other petition. Nothing of the kind was true. from Jan Butts stated. Arens fashioned dies to ease the work and supporters of the meat-packers' struggle The support group commented in a leaf­ "It's been hard to explain all the com­ tum out more bears. Arens also oversees are lending a hand to make sure plenty of let: "The 840 members of Local P-9 wish plexities of our strike to the children so that production of hand-crafted wooden toys, food will be on the holiday tables of Hor­ to express our deepest thanks to all the they will understand," she wrote. "But the including doll house furniture, trains, and mel workers denied their jobs by the com­ rank and file members of Region 13 for pany. their generous donations. This will be the Accomplishing this requires stepped-up first time our parent union has taken it upon funding and food donations to fill depleted themselves to raise money through other food shelves. unions in Region 13 to feed our United Food and Commercial Workers families .... (UFCW) Local 789 (which organizes Iowa "We hope this gesture of solidarity on Pork workers and grocery clerks) is helping behalf of the UFCW is only the beginning out by organizing a December 21 car cara­ of continuing support . ... " van to bring food and other donations from The Thanksgiving distribution followed the Twin Cities to Austin. a successful benefit concert on November Last month, some 600 workers received 20 in St. Paul that raised $17,000 for the groceries for Thanksgiving dinner. A large food shelf. - T .D. amount of food, including turkey and trim­ mings, was distributed. The UFCW distributed turkeys to Hor­ mel workers from the Austin Labor Center, Felony riot charges where the trustees appointed by Interna­ against meat-packers tional officials to control Local P-9 now occupy offices. dismissed by judge To complement this effort, the Austin United Support Group distributed food BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS from its offices on the same day. Militant/Tony Dutrow ST. PAUL, Minn. - Felony riot Newspapers in the area tried to portray Hormel workers and supporters unload food donations. charges against 18 Austin, Minnesota, the two food distribution§ as a bitter com- meat-packers and their supporters were dismissed December 2 by District Judge William Johnson. The 18 included Jim Guyette, suspended Special offer for 'New International' president of Local P-9 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and Ray if you renew your 'Mili t' subscription Rogers, a leading supporter of the meat­ packers' fight against Geo. A. Hormel & Co. The charges stem from an April 11 pick­ et line outside the Hormel plant in Austin, Please send me: held while Local P-9 was still on strike against the company. 0 One-year Militant renewal The picket line was broken up by cops subscription and free New using tear gas and clubs. International. (Specify NI Vol. __ No.__ de- Ken Tilsen, the attorney for the defen­ sired.) $24. dants, said the judge dismissed all other demonstration-related charges against 0 Six-month renewal and free New Guyette and Rogers. Gross misdemeanor International. (Specify Vol. __ No. __) $12. charges were also thrown out in the cases If you renew your Militant sub­ Position on the Aristocracy of Labor" of 13 of 16 other defendants, although the scription today, you'll receive free an by Steve Clark. D All five issues of New International 16 still face misdemeanor charges of un­ issue of New International, a • Vol. 1, No. 3 - "The Workers' (without Militant renewal). lawful assembly and obstructing the legal magazine of Marxist politics and and Farmers' Government: A Popular $10. process. theory, published in New York. Revolutionary Dictatorship" by Mary­ 0 One issue of New International Tilsen described the decision as "rather a Or for only $10 you can receive all of Alice Waters. "The FSLN and the Nic­ Vol. __ No. __ $3. complete victory." the five issues of New International araguan Revolution" by Tomas Borge. 0 Subscription to New International. Larry Gullickson of the North American that have appeared - a big saving. • Vol. 2, No. 1 - "The Workers' $12 for three issues. Current Meat Packers Union said that the April 11 The following is a partial listing of and Farmers' Alliance in the U.S.," issue sent free. the contents of the issues: articles by Jack Barnes and Doug Jen­ incident was "a police riot and not a work­ Name ______ers' riot." He said the judge dropped the • Vol. 1, No. 1 - "Their Trotsky ness. "Land Reform and Cooperatives in Cuba." Address ______charges because "the evidence was so over­ and Ours: Communist Continuity whelming against" the prosecution's case. Today" by Jack Barnes. "Lenin and • Vol. 2, No. 2-"The Coming Rev­ City ______"Ultimately the truth has prevailed," de­ the Colonial Question" by Carlos olution in South Africa" by Jack State ______Zip _____ clared Jim Guyette. But that such charges Rafael Rodriguez. Barnes. "The Future Belongs to the • Vol. 1, No. 2 -"The Working­ Majority," Speech by Oliver Tambo. Make check payable to the Militant, were even brought against him and the Class. Road to Peace" by Brian Gro­ "Cuba's Internationalist Volunteers and send to 14 Charles Lane, New other defendants, he said, shows that "the gan. "The Development ofthe Marxist in Angola," Speech by Fidel Castro. York, N.Y. 10014. whole legal process has been prejudiced" against the Hormel meat-packers.

December 19, 1986 The Militant 5 DINAMITA YANQUI PARA LOS TERRORISTAS CONTRARREVOLUCIONARIOS-- -,

.:.... k ; r-· ....;;iiiiiiij;= Valladares: dissident I . or bomb plotter? f Former Cuban convict omits some key facts

Against All Hope. By Armando Valla­ But this is a crooked dodge. While the dares. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, U.S. standards of measure were commonly 1986. Translated from the Spanish. 380 used in Cuba prior to the revolution, the pages, cloth. $18.95. Cuban civil service began using the metric system before the tum of the century. BY HARRY RING But despite this brief attempt to discredit (Second of three parts) the charge, Valladares carefully avoids ac­ While reviewers in the capitalist media tually denying he worked for the Batista have applauded Armando Valladares' book police. and his grim account of alleged barbaric torture in Cuban prisons, few have asked Admits working for Batista police the question, who is Armando Valladares? There is good reason for this. Apart from This is curious, since in his book there is the records in Cuban archives, in at least precious little about Valladares, other than one instance after his release, he specific­ his prison experience. ally admitted it. This was in an interview with the Miami The story begins when he was arrested in Cuban counterrevolutionary Armando Valladares and supporters peddle fiction that Herald published Dec. 26, 1982. 1960 and ends with his release from prison he was jailed in Cuba for expressing dissident views. This Dec. 30, 1960, issue of ReY­ The following is from that interview: in 1982. But, while Valladares is a loqua­ oluci6n, then Havana's major daily, reported the arrest of Valladares and 16 other "Q. A magazine in Spain claimed that cious fellow, he tells you nothing of where terrorists. An arsenal of explosives and weapons was seized, including explosives con­ you worked for Batista's secret police. or under what circumstances he grew up, tained in cigarette packages. Court record of trial listed Valladares as ex-member of What were your activities prior to and dur­ Batista police force. ing the Cuban revolution? BOOK REVIEW "A. That is completely false! If that had other prisoners, and actively resisted abid­ ning an attempt on Castro's life, using been the case I would have been in jail the ing by prison regulations. Ramirez' apartment as a base of opera­ day after the overthrow, or shot. Like his school experience, early friendships, In addition they directed organized pres­ tions." many Cubans in government positions sure and intimidation against other prison­ Prisoners of conscience? what work he did before the revolution, under· the Batista government, I went etc. ers who had committed politically moti­ through a vigorous investigative process as vated crimes. They sought to keep the Hates elected committees So scarce is the biographical data that to my past activities. I passed this test. the reader doesn't learn until page 269 that others from participating in a political edu­ One revealing insight on Valladares' po­ Prior to the revolution I served as a test cation and rehabilitation program that suc­ litical outlook is his angry condemnation of Valladares' father has also been jailed and evaluator in mathematics and reading skills sentenced to 20 years. According to Valla­ cessfully integrated many such prisoners democratically elected prisoners' commit­ for people applying for jobs on the police into Cuba's revolutionary process. tees that joined with the staff in organizing dares, he was charged with a "conspiracy" force." committed in 1960. The plantados engaged in a variety of the day-to-day functioning of prison life. In addition to confirming that he was a By secret ballot, Valladares writes, the Valladares devotes three paragraphs to member of Batista's police force, this ad­ acts of defiance of prison regulations, with this. He doesn't even say if his father is in hunger strikes an apparently favored prisoners elected committees called man­ mission confirms that not all members of dancias. He says this is a half-joking argot or out, dead or alive. that force were automatically jailed, only weapon. Valladares engaged in some 15 This oddly minimal information, hunger strikes, one for 36 days. It was the word that might be translated as "board of those convicted of specific crimes against directors." coupled with the scarcity about his own the people. In fact, the new government malnutrition resulting from these actions, background, is not so puzzling when you not imposed deprivation, that resulted in The head of the mandancia, the "major," gave him a job with a postal savings unit. was responsible for appointing those who learn a bit more about Valladares than he or Despite the absence of biographical the temporary loss of the use of his legs. would be in charge of the daily operation his partisans are inclined to tell. data, what emerges clearly from his book is Certainly there has been no scarcity of While insisting on his own innocence, and maintenance of the building cleaning, that Valladares was and is totally commit­ Valladares boasts freely about the reaction­ serving the mess, and other tasks. media coverage of the man. News accounts ted to the ultraright anticommunist politics ary crimes committed by his counterrevo­ A strangely contradictory situation. and editorials have generally agreed that he of the old Batista dictatorship. Indeed, lutionary cellmates. Democratically elected committees to help had been a young Catholic poet and student throughout the book he notes with pride his One of the first plantados, Valladares re­ administer daily life in a situation where, who had opposed the Batista dictatorship, close prison association and friendship ports, was Alfredo Izaguirre, a journalist assertedly, the inmates sat trembling in and was jailed soon after the revolution with various Batista agents and other coun­ under Batista. their dungeon-like cells waiting for daily, simply for criticizing the new government. terrevolutionaries who admittedly engaged In jail, it was initially added, he was "Alfredo," he writes, "had participated savage beatings by guards who, for kicks, in crimes against the new government. in several actions against the Castro regime also regularly flung buckets of excrement treated so brutally he lost the use of both As in all revolutions, the one in Cuba ... he planned an attempt on Raul Castro's and/or ice water on them. legs and was confined to a wheelchair. brought the emergence of a counterrevolu­ life. Why does Valladares object so bitterly tionary movement, aiming to overthrow "Later he planned an attack on the to democratically elected prisoner commit­ Wheelchair gone the new social order. The Cuban counter­ American naval base at Guantiinamo ... tees? Consequently, when he arrived in Paris revolutionaries have never succeeded in es­ which he had hoped would be interpreted He explains: from Havana, well-wishers were admit­ tablishing a viable base among the people as an act of revenge on Castro's part. He "At the beginning of 1959, the ex-sol­ tedly surprised when he got off the plane and survive today almost exclusively in wanted to provoke the armed intervention diers of Batista's army sent to that prison on his own two feet, rather than in a wheel­ exile. If it were not for their powerful U.S. of the United States .... " had to tolerate mandancias made up of chair. sponsorship, they would truly be a relic of To those who were curious about this, And there was Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo, common prisoners .... Those mandancias the past. cooperated with the garrison, of course; Valladares explained that the Cuban re­ Armando Valladares is nothing more assertedly an opponen.t of Batista, but gime had decided a year and a half earlier than a conscious member of that counter­ "when he saw Castro was becoming a ty­ suffice it to say that the common prisoners rant, he fled the country. A while later he had portraits of Fidel Castro in their cells to set him free and at that point embarked revolutionary force. His book is designed came back with a small group of armed and enjoyed the protection of prison head­ on an intensive campaign of nutritional and to advance the cause of the Cuban counter­ men who tried to reach the mountains to quarters." medical therapy to restore the use of his revolution. continue the struggle. But he was trapped, But, he triumphantly adds, "Within a legs. Valladares does little to dress up his ul­ few months . . . the military [prisoners] traright politics. The book bears the stench captured, and sentenced to 30 years in But in his book, Valladares says his hos­ managed to oust common prisoners from of his contempt and hatred for ordinary prison." pital treatment began not a year and a half Another good buddy was Vladimir leadership." working people. before his 1982 release, but in 1978. Ramirez. (Next week: Inmates extract starch from The wheelchair story is only one part of Throughout, he is hardly able to contain his snarling hatred for the "common" pris­ "Ramirez was a psychologist who had macaroni to press prison garb, and other the fraud. As reported previously in the organized an action cell which was plan- tall tales.) Militant and elsewhere, Valladares had not oners. (His principal complaint against been an opponent of the Batista regime. He them is that most seemed to be enthusiastic was a member of Batista's police force. supporters of the revolution.) And prior to being hired by the police, he Okay, it may be argued, he lies about his had been a volunteer in the army reserve. past, he is a stone right-winger, he tells New. • • • from Pathfinder some pretty tall stories. But does that jus­ He was not imprisoned for his ideas. tify abuse so gross that it results in his Fidel Castro Along with 16 others, Valladares was ar­ paralysis? rested Dec. 27, 1960. The group was No, such things would not justify that Nothing charged with planting explosives in public kind of treatment. But that's not what hap­ places. In the home of one of those ar­ pened. The actual story is well documented Can Stop the rested, police found an entire arsenal of and much of it can even be gleaned from a weapons and explosives. careful reading of his narrative. Course of History The group was tried and convicted in a "Undoubtedly the longest and most wide­ 1961 trial prominently reported at the time 'Piantados' ranging interview ever conducted with in the Cuban press. They were sentenced to In prison, by his own account, Valla­ Cuban President Fidel Castro. In it, Cas­ 30 years, but this was later reduced to 25. dares was a leading figure among a group tro speaks directly to the people of the In his book, Valladares doesn't discuss of recalcitrant prisoners convicted of mur­ United States on questions of vital impor­ the question of his being a Batista cop until der, arson, and other crimes against the tance to citizens of both our countries." page 337. There he reproduces a previ­ revolution, and who were known as plan­ ously published police ID card, and argues, From the preface by Rep. Mervyn M. tados. in a caption, underneath that it is a "stupid Dymally, who with Jeffrey M. Elliot con­ forgery." The plantados demanded that because ducted the interview. 276 pages, $7.95 His principal "proof' is that the card they committed their crimes for political Available from Pathfinder Bookstores listed on gives his height and weight in the metric reasons they should be given the status of page 12 or by mail from Pathfinder Press, 4 10 system while, in fact, at that time Cuba political prisoners. West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Please in­ used the U.S. standard of pounds, feet, and They demanded special privileges, re­ clude 75 cents for postage and handling. inches. fused to wear the same uniforms as the

6 The Militant December 19, 1986 What's at issue in debate on Meese pornography report

BY MARGARET JAYKO eral figures associated with the fight for unequal relationship between the sexes in Attorney General Edwin Meese was as­ women's rights. this class-divided country. signed to initiate the Reagan administra­ The bankers and businessmen who run tion's part in the cover-up of the scandal Smeal: report is 'breakthrough' society profit handsomely from women's over secret funding of the terrorist contras. Eleanor Smeal, president of the National inferior economic, social, and political He was a fitting choice for the job. Organization for Women (NOW), hailed position. And they use their control of the the commission's conclusion "that pornog­ government to maintain and reinforce that Attacks on the Bill of Rights and support· raphy harms women and children." injustice. for strengthening the totalitarian function­ While warning that "NOW does not sup­ Pornographic books, magazines, and ing of the government are Meese's stock­ port the commission's emphasis on films reflect the existence of women's op­ in-trade. obscenity law enforcement," the NOW pression in this society; they don't create it. Meese has been the White House's point statement called the panel's recommenda­ The mass market for pornography, which man in trying to persuade the U.S. popula­ tion that state governments adopt laws allows pornographers to reap billions from tion that we should oppose affirmative ac­ granting civil remedies for harm allegedly their antiwoman wares, results from the ex­ tion for women, Blacks, Puerto Ricans, resulting from pornography a "break­ treme distortion of all sexuality in this soci­ Chicanos, and other victims of racism. through." ety. His Justice Department has led the Other antipornography activists issued In a society where women were truly charge against legalized abortion, busing statements similar to NOW's. equal with men in all facets of life and /;~ to achieve school desegregation, separa­ where human needs, not private profit, ~7:l/ tion of church and state, the rights of or­ were the motor force, the pornographers ganized labor, and a variety of other demo­ would be out of business. r\ There is a link, of course, between por­ n n cratic rights. Meese recently announced his support nography and violence against women. /11\ I I I for extensive employer surveillance of They're both caused by women's inferior workers under the guise of stamping out social status. Pornography is about male uU L_~. L~,.J1 drug abuse. And he opposes the notion that sexual domination and brutalization of Militant/Lou Howort government officials should be bound by women - whether it is of the violent or Censorship in the name of fighting por­ Supreme Court decisions, saying such de­ nonviolent variety. It is harmful, and it nography, as Meese proposes, restricts cisions do "not establish a 'supreme law of should be struggled against and stamped freedoms of those struggling to defend the land.' " out. But censorship laws can't accomplish rights and living conditions of women, that. And they're not designed to. Blacks, working people. The recommendations of the Attorney The reactionary forces who support the General's Commission on Pornography is commission's proposed restrictions on of a piece with Meese's other reactionary democratic rights do so not because they others associated with the fight for activity. The report was released on July 9 oppose pornography as demeaning to women's equality undercuts efforts to de­ and is the topic of a wide-ranging debate women, but because they want their reac­ fend and extend democratic rights, includ­ among supporters of women's equality and tionary political and social views to be the ing the rights of women. civil liberties. only ones heard. For Meese and his ilk, It falsely counterposes the fight for full magazines and films that promote the human rights for women with the fight Censorship equality of women with men are even more against every restriction on free speech by At the press conference where the report distasteful than pornography. the government and all its agencies. was released, Meese stated, "I'm not con­ The degradation and violence that cerned about any censorship being fostered To the degradation of women in pornog­ raphy, the commissioners counterposed a women are subjected to in the United by this document. I can guarantee to you Attorney General Edwin Meese States will not be alleviated by siding with that there will be no censorship ... in vio­ view of women and sexuality that upholds the unequal status quo - the very thing and relying on the most deadly enemies of lation of the First Amendment." women's equality and the rights of all "For the first time in history, women that allows pornography to flourish. Some Despite Meese's assurances, however, working people. have succeeded in convincing a national commission members believe, explains the the report calls for the vigorous enforce­ Women who become convinced that governmental body of the truth women report, "that uncommitted sexual activity is ment of antiobscenity laws, the expansion right-wing spokespeople for the ruling have long known: pornography harms wrong for the individuals involved and of the application of these laws, and vig­ class really do have some solutions to the women and children," said Andrea Dwor­ harmful to society to the extent of its preva­ ilante actions against whatever these self­ violence and degradation women face will kin and Catharine MacKinnon, who were lence." appointed guardians of public morals deem be more open to supporting the anti-work­ the prime movers of an unsuccessful at­ According to a report on the commission objectionable. in the August 2-9 issue of The Nation ing-class program these forces push, a pro­ tempt to get the Minneapolis city govern­ gram dead set against the liberation of ment to pass a pro-censorship ordinance in magazine, "In the end the commission was As would be expected, officials of the women. the name of fighting pornography. unwilling to find any category of sexual Catholic church and groups that advocate Support for censorship in the name of "The Commission's report is flawed, images harmless. They even cast a dubious harsh restrictions on democratic rights, women's rights pits women against union­ however, by recommending extension and eye on nudity. It could be 'dangerous' and such as the Liberty Foundation, National ists fighting for their rights, antiwar activ­ escalated enforcement of obscenity laws," 'provocative,' that is, provoke people to Federation for Decency, and Morality in ists, Black rights fighters, and all those they added, calling them "dangerously dis­ have sex. Statues like David and Aphrodite Media Inc. , praised the commission's con­ who will be the victims of abrogations of cretionary, anti-woman, anti-gay, beside are great works of art, but imagine clusions. free speech. the point and ineffectual." But Dworkin thousands of such statues lining a highway, But the administration has also won in­ The proposals in the commission's re­ and MacKinnon concluded that the com­ one commissioner mused." port will, by and large, not be implemented valuable backing in this effort to promote mission "has recommended to Congress now. The ruling class is not ready to carry censorship from some individuals who are the civil rights legislation women have Not a pro-women's rights document usually its public critics. This includes sev- out such a head-on assault on democratic sought." That the commission majority's final re­ rights today. To do so would provoke mas­ Women Against Pornography represen­ port condemned pornography because it al­ sive struggles. tative Dorchen Leidholdt embraced almost legedly causes violence against women and But the report ofthe commission and the all of the commission's findings in glowing children doesn't prove that the commission publicity around it is part of the offensive Cbsmetics, terms. is pro-women's rights. The decision to use this pitch to win sup­ in the war of ideas that the ruling class is Symptom, not cause port for undermining constitutional free­ waging, part of preparing the ground for mshions,. future attacks. d ndhet The commission justifies its proposal to doms reflects the growing awareness, as a - drastically restrict freedom of speech by result of the education conducted by contending that pornography causes vio­ women's rights fighters, that rape and Exploitation lence against women. other antiwoman abuse are acts of violence Pacific Bell forced of Much of the "evidence" for this claim that victimize women. They are not actions to pay millions for was based on testimony from "witnesses," women encourage and even. secretly enjoy. among whom vice cops, right-wing Bible­ If the final document had simply railed antigay discrimination thumpers, and zealous prosecutors were against the "sinful" and "immoral" results heavily represented. of all sexually explicit literature and called In a victory for the democratic rights of Where scientific studies were cited, re­ for its immediate banning, it would have all working people, Pacific Bell will have &J .k)$4ijlph i"b•"'"l & E~l~l fl~"~~ searchers protested that their work was been dismissed as the ravings of some to pay" up to $5 million to 250 gay men and Wf~h '-'~' ijr!tt~·~tbr,, twisted to fit the commissioners' foregone right-wing fringe group. How much more women that it discriminated against in hir­ b!:J MQ,~;~·Ail(<;l W:::i!l!tiit~~· conclusions. effective to couch demands for sweeping ing and promotions. Commission head Henry Hudson - a restrictions on free speech in the language The National Gay Rights Advocates, vigorous antivice prosecutor from Vir­ of opposition to violence against women who brought the suit against the telephone ginia- told the press, "If we relied exclu­ and support for First Amendment freedoms company in San Francisco in 1975, said the "... provides A 4~ sively on scientific data for every one of - two popular ideas. out-of-court agreement was the largest a lively .1 Y .De our findings, I'm afraid all of our work The commission also pushes the idea single financial settlement of a lawsuit and surprisingly timely histor­ would be inconclusive." Two dissenting that pornography causes violence against charging discrimination against homosexu­ ical lesson in the ever- commissioners explained that "no self-re­ women to take the spotlight off the real als. raging controversy surrounding specting investigator would accept" the cause - the capitalist system itself. Better The gay rights organization, in the women, beauty, and oppression." conclusions of the commission. to point the finger at individual men, indi­ course of its research for the case, disco­ The panelists could not find any scien­ vidual storeowners, or individual pornog­ vered that Pacific Bell had a specific policy - Ann Hornaday, tific evidence because there is none; por­ raphers, then at the whole class of pro­ labeled "code 48 - homosexual." The in the November issue of Ms. nography is not the cause of violence fiteers. code was put on the forms of job applicants against women. Rather, it is one symptom thought to be gay, who were then not $4.95 + $.75 for handling of the second-class status of women in Undercuts equality fight hired. Since 1980, the company has had a Pathfinder Press capitalist society. Rape and wife-beating The pornography commission's en­ written policy prohibiting discrimination 410 West St.. NY. NY 10014 - like pornography - are a result of the dorsement by NOW leader Smeal and based on sexual preference.

December 19, 1986 The Militant 7 What autonomy program will mean on Atlar~ Village elections are pilot projects in Nicaraguan plan to transform region

BY CINDY JAQUITH southern tip of a big lagoon of the same believing they were fighting to protect their ary reputation throughout the area. PEARL LAGOON, Nicaragua - Our name. Like some other towns on the la­ way of life from "'Sandinista genocide." The Orinocoans are Garifonos, a peool-;: motorboat pulled into this small town late goon, Pearl Lagoon is populated mainly by who emigrated from Honduras in the. last in the afternoon of November 15. One of Blacks who speak Creole English. They ~ilitary conflicts subsiding century. Their roots go back to African the first things we noticed was that all the are descendants of slaves brought here by The military conflicts have dramatically slaves in the Caribbean who intermarrit>d roads were overgrown with grass. No the British more than a century ago. subsided in the last two years, however, with Carib Indians, known for their fierce motor vehicles had passed over them for since the Nicaraguan government began a resistance to European colonialists. There years. ~erchantseannen program to establish regional autonomous are about I ,500 Garifonos in Nicaragn There were a few cars and trucks here Traditionally, many workers here have governments on the coast. The formal sta­ today. Their original native tongue has shipped out to the United States as mer­ tutes for autonomy are still being dis­ practically been destroyed by decades of chant seamen. Some still do. We were cussed, but the Sandinistas have decided to U.S. and Somozaist domination. Mr':t joined after dinner by one old-timer who begin putting autonomy into practice in speak English now. brought along his guitar and sang Ameri­ some conununities, at the demand of the Rutildo Estrada, a local teacher and can­ can blues, as well as songs in Spanish. Sip­ communities themselves. didate in the autonomy election, took us ""'l ping from a glass of rum and coke, he told Prior to these elections, all decisions in a walk through town. Most of the houses a story about once being refused a drink in municipalities on the coast were made by were small wooden structures with a Chicago bar because he was Black. appointed FSLN political secretaries or thatched roofs, propped up on stilts. So.~ ..:: We had stopped overnight in Pearl La­ delegates of the central government. The new houses were being built, an indication goon on our way to villages further north goal now is to have those viewed as the that Orinocoans do not intend to let the where important elections were scheduled "natural leaders" in selected communities contras drive them out. the next day. Three villages in the lagoon take over political responsibility. Whether Despite the evident poverty, there were had been selected by the Nicaraguan gov­ or not those elected are closely associated important signs of the social progress ernment to become "pilot autonomy pro­ with the FSLN - and some are not - is Orinocoans have achieved through the jects." In each village, residents were considered secondary. The key is to deepen Sandinista revolution. There are three going to elect a coordinator to be responsi­ the participation of the communities them­ schoolhouses in this village of about 1 ,Ofl" ble for administering economic develop­ selves in governing and developing the rev­ people, providing education through the ment programs, social services, education, olution in the way they best see fit. sixth grade. Most people can read. and supplies of basic goods for the commu­ After spending the night in Pearl La­ There is a health clinic, which existd nity. goon, we set out the next morning by boat before the revolution, but now has a full­ The pilot projects are the latest step in for the village of Orinoco. time nurse. A garment collective has been the autonomy program that is transforming Only a few soldiers accompanied us, tes­ started to provide women with emplc·~­ the whole of Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast. timony to the eased military situation in the ment and make some basic clothing avail­ lagoon over the last year. But just in case of able to the community, which is otherwise Unlike the Spanish-speaking Pacific, the possible contra ambushes from the shore, dependent on boat trips to Bluefield<. Atlantic part of Nicaragua has sizable con­ some of the autonomy commission and There is also a sports field and a center centrations of Blacks and Indians, as well government representatives on the trip built by the local chapter of the Sandinista as residents whose native tongue is brought their rifles. Youth. There are no automobiles, but '1 Spanish. Before the 1979 revolution, this concrete dock has been built, a giant ad­ region was dominated by U.S. fishing, A revolutionary history vance over the rickety wooden wharves in lumber, gold, and banana companies. Orinoco is a smaller and poorer village most of the surrounding villages. They squeezed out every drop of profit than Pearl Lagoon, but it has a revolution- The large number of local residents in they could from the coast's forests, rivers, and mines - and from the workers them­ selves. They didn't lift a finger to build roads, houses, schools, or hospitals. In­ dians and Blacks suffered the most from How Atlantic Coast town of Ku prior to the Sandinista revolution. But their this exploitation. wealthy owners took them and left Nicara­ With the connivance of Nicaraguan dic­ BY HARVEY ~cARTHUR of the state-owned mill, was considered the gua after workers and farmers seized power tator Anastasio Somoza, the U.S. corpora­ KUKRA HILL, Nicaragua- "We have best in the region. in 1979. Today, people get around on foot tions kept all the coastal peoples, known as never had such a massive participation of "I want to point out, in the framework of or on horseback, but mainly by boat. coste nos, isolated from working people on workers in an assembly," Julio Martinez autonomy," Martinez went on, "that Juan The waterways of this region dominate the Pacific side of Nicaragua. There were ·told the 300 men, women, and children Mercado is a Miskito [Indian] brother from everything. They are the main means both no telephones and few areas with electric­ gathered here at the Camilo Ortega sugar the Atlantic Coast. Before, a Miskito coulJ of travel and economic survival. Fishing is ity. mill. "There is a new spirit in the mill," he never have held such a position. Today, the backbone of the economy here, along While the revolution has brought some continued. "The plant is in better condi­ with the revolution and autonomy, we aD·· with some farming. phones and power lines, electricity is still a tion, the workers are more experienced, preciate the worth of everyone." No roads exist connecting the Pearl La­ problem here. We were fortunate during and the union is more consolidated." Besides the city of Bluefields, Kukra goon area with Bluefields, the main city our layover in Pearl Lagoon to have a full Hill is the major center in this region. f• moon that lit most of the paths. The town is Martinez, the ministry of agriculture here in Southern Zelaya Province, about 30 delegate for this part of Nicaragua's Atlan­ grew up around the sugar mill, and today is miles south. Roads simply didn't matter to supplied with a generator, but it was out of also the site of the new African palm agro­ commission the night we arrived. Many tic Coast, was addressing a November 15 the U.S. businessmen who used to run the rally to kick off the 1986-87 sugar harvest industrial project. It has a population of area. All they needed were airplanes and townspeople gathered at the Sandinista here. 7 ,500, mostly Spanish-speaking, with a barges to ship the raw materials they plun­ army outpost, which has a small generator few Blacks who speak Creole English and dered from the coast back to the United -enough to power a movie projector. The Major economic projects such as this Miskito Indians. States. soldiers had tacked a white sheet on a wall mill are important in overcoming the cen­ Kukra Hill can be reached only by boat, The town of Pearl Lagoon is on the and were giving a free showing of The Tak­ turies of neglect and discrimination suf­ . an hour trip north from Bluefields up the ing of Pelham 1-2-3. fered by the Indian, Black, and Spanish­ Escondido and Kukra rivers. It has a tiny speaking peoples of the Atlantic Coast. Evolution of Sandinista policy pier and small wooden boat shelter at the Economic development is a key part of the riverfront, about a mile from the mill. Sev­ One of the early priorities of the San­ program under way here to establish re­ eral new Toyota pickup trucks shuttle p

8 The Militant December 19, 1986 llic Coast

the militia was immediately striking. They hwe constructed their own headquarters and dug trenches around the whole town. Orinoco is the one village in Pearl La­ g0on that the contras have never dared at­ tack. No Orinocoan youth has ever joined the contras either, we were told. But a gcod number have given their lives defend­ ing the revolution. Draft-age youth in Orinoco are in the n~guard of a new program being de­ veloped on the coast as a whole - fulfil­ ling their two-year military service right in tJ:-.a:r home town. They receive their basic training in Orinoco and then carry out their army duties in and around the community. "!'his is a change from previous army pol­ icy, whereby coast youth joining the draft were sent away to military bases for train­ ing and to do their active duty. It was ex­ tremely unpopular among costefios, and to this day, the draft is still voluntary on most or the coast. Melinda Rores, who has one son in the dr~•t now, told us she much prefers the nPw system, whereby her son lives at home with her. She was worried about him going Militant photos by Harvey McArthur drwn to Bluefields for his service, where Garifono people of fishing village of Orinoco voted for local coordinator. One candi­ she wasn't sure he would get proper train­ date summed up significance of autonomy election: "For the first time in history, we ing. are going to be part of the government." Right, an Orinocoan casts ballot. Eiection discussions At 8:00 a.m., the polling place opened. explained that the election campaigning mote from the town. This year, the govern­ north of Pearl Lagoon, at the mouth of the n~re were eight candidates running, all has focused on how to develop the village's ment will have to send in shipments of rice Rfo Grande river, also held pilot autonomy but one of them born in Orinoco. Four fishing and agriculture, as well as how to because not enough will be harvested loc­ elections. The autonomy commission was were teachers, one was a technician, two improve education and health care. ally. pleased with the roughly 70 percent tum­ wr>re leaders of Sandinista mass organiza­ Orinocoans fish in cooperatives and For Lopez, the significance of the auton­ out. Two of those elected were Miskito tions, and one was a minister. have also established some farming omy election was quite simple: "For the farmers, one was a Miskito fisherman, one Frank Lopez, the school director and a cooperatives. Agriculture has suffered over first time in history, we are going to be part a Creole fisherman and minister, and one m~mber of the regional autonomy commis­ the last three years, however, because of of the government." was a teacher who is a Sumo Indian. sion, was one of the candidates. He contra attacks on the fields, which are re- Patricia Hansack, a teacher and the only With the conclusion of the elections in candidate who was female, said she was Pearl Lagoon, no other pilot projects are running because male candidates "won't slated for Southern Zelaya Province until look out for the rights of women." after the autonomy statutes are approved. ,kra Hill produces more sugar "The ladies would like to learn sewing," As the pilot projects develop, word is she said, and young women in town want bound to spread, of course. "The other to get a higher education and job training. communities will be jealous of us," pre-. first time three years ago. It now has a good relations with the administration," Some men in the community oppose this, dieted 53-year-old Leopoldo Flores, an small hospital, opened just three months Pizado said. "They respond to our sugges­ she added. Orinocoan farmer. ago, and has one of the few high schools in tions or problems right away. In fact, they Any Orinoco resident 16 or over was the region. treat us like we own the mill," he said with "Today, we're learning about things eligible to vote. About 80 percent of those we'd never seen or heard about before. Be­ a smile. registered turned out for the election. The 'I".genuity keeps mill running' fore the revolution, everything was just for This year, for the first time, 140 inmates winner, with 96 votes, was Victor Gon­ the rich. They were always trying to keep The Camilo Ortega mill is the smallest from the National Penitentiary System will zalez, who has a standing in the communi­ down progress. But we're all Nicaraguans of .Nicaragua's seven sugar mills. This help cut the cane. They are all from the ty as a Pentecostal minister. Coming in and we should all be treated equally." year's goal, however, is almost enough to Pacific Coast of Nicaragua (where 90 per­ second was Frank Lopez, with 24 votes. meet the demand throughout the Atlantic cent of the country's population lives). He and the technician coming in third will r....,ast. This will save Nicaragua the high They volunteered to help with the harvest work together as a committee with Gon­ cost of bringing sugar from the Pacific and will receive a regular salary for their zalez. Nicaragua gov't exposes Coast by truck and boat. work. The mill used to belong to the dictator Lieutenant Julio Orozco, the Ministry of Other elections Anastasio Somoza and was nationalized the Interior official in charge of the inmate Simultaneously with the Orinoco elec­ contra drug dealers after the 1979 revolution. volunteers, told the assembly that the pris­ tions, voting was also takirrg place in Sugar cane here has always been cut by oners would also help build a baseball park nearby Marshall Point, a fishing town of BLUEFIELDS, Nicaragua The hand and, given its isolation, the mill has and start local music and dance groups, 250 Creoles, and in Pueblo Nuevo, a Reagan administration has frequently suffered from a serious shortage of cane which don't yet exist here. Spanish-speaking farm community of claimed that Nicaraguan officials, particu­ cutters. Women workers are now playing Prisoner Carlos Perkins, who spoke on about 1 ,000. larly in the Ministry of the Interior an increasingly important role in the har­ behalf of the inmates, said their participa­ Militant correspondent Harvey McAr­ (MINT), are guilty of illegal drug traffick­ vests. tion in the harvest was one more way of thur hopped in a boat to go observe their ing. l-ast year, however, the supply of cut "uniting the Pacific with the Atlantic." elections. In Marshall Point, two fisher­ Recently, the MINT in this Atlantic cane did not keep up with the mill's proces­ men and three teachers, one of whom was a Coast city exposed who the real drug deal­ sing capacity. This year, the government U.S. war threatens workers woman, were the candidates. Through the ers are: they uncovered an extensive f&/ provided a mechanical cane harvester. The 1986-87 harvest here was dedicated elections, residents hope to make progress cocaine and marijuana ring run by the con­ ¥ith this machine and 250 hand cutters, to the memory of Wayne Allen, a young on getting a health clinic, a dock, and elec­ tras, the mercenaries paid by the U.S. gov­ he workers hope to keep the mill running worker from the mill who was killed re­ tricity. ernment to wage war on Nicaragua. 4 '10urs a day. Cuban technicians have cently while serving in the Nicaraguan Marshall Point has no militia, but the The MINT arrested several dozen people ]so lent their skills to improving the mill. army. army maintains a small outpost, staffed by involved in bringing the illegal drugs into Master mechanic Salvador Pizado Ruben Lopez, secretary of the San­ Creole and Spanish-speaking youth from Nicaragua via the Atlantic Coast and then 'vic1yorga took us on a tour of the plant. He dinista National Liberation Front at Kukra Bluefields. transporting them to Managua and other tas 17 years in the mill and is a leader of Hill, told the Militant that there are 300 In Pueblo Nuevo, there are 16 full-time cities tlu:ough children, who are not re­ .he "innovators movement" here. This is a men and women organized in the local mi­ militiamen, and others are also armed. The quired to go through official customs nallonal movement of workers who build litia. Some 130 local youths are serving in village wants more guns. It also hopes to checks. new equipment and produce spare parts to the army- all of them volunteers. More get a school building - classes are now According to the MINT, leaders of two increase productivity and keep plants run­ young men were ready to volunteer, he taught in a small storeroom. CIA-organized mercenary groups- MIS­ nillg. said, but could not be spared from their There were five Pueblo Nuevo candi­ URA and the Nicaraguan Democratic Pizado was especially proud of the large jobs. dates- two militiamen, a teacher, a leader Force - brought the drugs into the country mechanical cane feeder they had just in­ About 60 local young men joined the of the National Union of Farmers and Ran­ through the Pearl Lagoon area north of ve;.ted. Previously, all the carts bringing U.S. -backed mercenaries (contras) several chers, and an 80-year-old farmer known Bluefields. The two contra chiefs iden­ cane from the fields were unloaded and fed years ago, Lopez said. But by now, 30 for his education and his participation in tified with the ring were Raddley Waggson into the mill by hand. Now, the new have given up their arms and returned to the Evangelical church. and Peter Wilson. m<.cnine will dump entire cartloads of cane the community, taking advantage of Nica­ About 60 percent of the registered voters Thus far, six of the traffickers involved onto a conveyor that feeds the mill. ragua's amnesty law. turned out there. Quite a few could not read have been sentenced to two years in prison. "Before the revolution, we didn't even Nonetheless, contra bands still come or write. Election officials helped them The minors who were used to transport the know what a union was," Pizado said. "If from outside and pose a danger of am­ make an X next to their preferred candi­ drugs were freed because of their age. you talked about raising wages, the bosses bushes and kidnappings, LOpez warned. In date. The winner was.the 80-year-old farm­ An Anti-Drug Commission has been set labeled you a communist and fired you." the last mercenary attack on Kukra Hill it­ er. up here, composed of church and commu­ In 1980, the Sandinista Workers Federa­ self, in April 1985, the contras killed a nity leaders and representatives from the tion organized the workers at the mill. It technician and a young child before they 'They'll be jealous of us' Sandinista Youth. It is calling on all citi­ has 471 members today. "Now we have were driven away. Earlier, in October, five communities zens to join in combating the drug dealers.

December 19, 1986 The Militant 9 March in Puerto Rico defends El Yunque national forest The following article is taken from the U.S. businesses against the well being of December 1986 issue of Perspectiva the Puerto Rican people. Mundial. It is slightly abridged. The As soon as the scheme was announced, translation from Spanish is by the Mili­ residents of adjacent towns, environmen­ tant. talists, students, members of religious or­ ders, antimilitarists, and proindependence BY PATRICIA SANCHEZ fighters united to protest the plans to ex­ LUQUILLO, Puerto Rico - "We're ploit the forest. climbing, we're climbing, to defend In response to this opposition, Gov. what's ours" and "No military training in Rafael Hernandez Col6n announced an El Yunque!" chanted 8,000 demonstrators agreement with the Forest Service to mod­ during their more than two-mile march ify the plan, eliminating the cutting of near here. timber for commercial purposes. They were climbing the peak of El Yon­ Although the details of the arrangement have not been made public yet, it was seen Eight thousand demonstrators protested U.S. government plans to use forest for que, in the forest of the same name, to de­ commercial and military purposes. Banner reads, "El Yunque is ours-defend it." mand that the forest be turned over to the as a victory for those opposed to the plan. government of Puerto Rico. El Yunque is currently the property of the U.S. govern­ U.S. Army wants forests for training screens. We don't believe them because pants in the march was that despite the ap­ ment. They also demanded an end to all The controversy escalated, however, they've tricked us many times·. They say parent victory, many battles are yet to be military activity in El Yunque and all other when the U.S. Army asked the government they're not going to fell the trees, but use won both on the environmental front and Puerto Rican forests. of Puerto Rico for permission to use the the forest for military work instead. We against militarization of the island. Under the theme "Marchers for Peace," Guavate and Toro Negro forests to train want the forest to be turned over to Puerto In Mayagiiez, for example, protests the demonstration was originally called to 1,000 soldiers in combat techniques for use Rican hands." have been organized against recurrent toxic protest the commercial exploitation of El in tropical forests. The November 15 issue of the Puerto gas leaks. Workers from the Guanajibo in­ Yunque. Hernandez denied the use of the two Rican El Nuevo Dfa quotes Ruben Berrios dustrial complex, a free-trade zone where In September the U.S. Forest Service, forests, which are under Puerto Rican juris­ Martinez, a Puerto Rican Independence corporations pay no taxes, and the adjacent the agency that is supposed to be responsi­ diction, for military training. Party senator, saying, "The time has come communities have suffered 1,300 injuries ble for protecting El Yunque National But the government said that it doesn't for the government of Puerto Rico to prove in the past three years. This is the direct re­ Forest, announced plans to allow lumber have the power to prevent the use of El that it is prepared to safeguard the national sult of contamination in the area. companies to cut down trees in this natural Yunque for such training, since this forest heritage of Puerto Rico and moreover, pre­ The Environmental Protection Agency, sanctuary. Puerto Ricans throughout the is­ is the property of the U.S. government. vent the U.S. Army from using our land to concluding an investigation of this in April land vigorously protested this proposal. Juan Antonio Vera, spokesperson for advance its military escalation in Latin 1985, said the situation had been resolved. The plan would have disastrous conse­ Marchers for Peace, stated, "The amend­ America." However, 12 toxic gas leaks occurred in quences. El Yunque is an ecologically ments they're going to make are smoke The general sentiment among partici- July and August this year. unique tropical rain forest. It includes rare and endemic species that would be en­ dangered. The most important rivers in Puerto Rico Grenada gov't bars Cuba-trained doctors also originate in the area ofEl Yunque, and the forest is one of the main sources of The following article is taken from the graduated from medical school in Cuba and ing in Cuba, which has been vouched for water for the island. English-language edition of the Nov. 23, arrived in their country recently were de­ by prestigious specialists and by interna­ The U.S. Defense Department has also 1986., Granma Weekly Review. nied work in government institutions; nor tional organizations. What they're trying to taken a big interest in this forest. have the doors of the few private facilities do is to keep alive the old, discredited In the 1960s, the U.S. Army carried out BY RAFAEL PEREZ PEREIRA been opened to them. myths about Cuba which were used to try tests there with various chemical de­ Almost all the news coming out of the Of course, this doesn't mean that Gre­ to justify the invasion. foliants. One of them, Agent Orange, tiny Caribbean island of Grenada these nada doesn't need doctors. The problem is The need for public health care is so would later be used to clear jungles in Viet­ days has the same tone, which points to the that they graduated in Cuba. great, so pressing in Grenada that it would nam, causing serious environmental dam­ degrading living conditions there since the have been impossible to ignore it by stating age and human suffering. The measure taken by the regime of Her­ invasion of U.S. joint forces over three bert Blaize (who became prime minister that the island didn't want doctors who As a colony of the United States, control years ago. thanks to the United States and its occupa­ studied in Cuba because they were over the natural resources of Puerto Rico The particular dispatch I have in mind il­ tion forces) is totally discriminatory, says "ideologically contaminated" in medical and over the health of its inhabitants is in lustrates government indifference to the Terry Marryshow, spokesman for the 10 school. That's why the authorities thought the hands of U.S. government agencies. people's pressing needs for medical care doctors who are barred from giving much up the qualifying exams requirements and These support the economic interests of since it says that 10 Grenadians who needed medical care to their people, espe­ put it into effect a few months ago. cially after Maurice Bishop's revolutionary The first victims - in open violation of government's health programs were drasti­ the individual's rights Grenada purports to cally cut back. uphold - are the Grenadians barred from Do you know someone who reads Spanish? exercising the profession they diligently In order to mask the arbitrary and dis­ trained for. However, the victims who will criminatory nature of the measure, the au­ suffer most, of course, are the people of Interview with ANC youth thorities argued that the doctors would Grenada who, by virtue of outrageous dis­ have to do qualifying -exams to test their criminatory practices, will have to con­ Che Ogara is the pseudonym knowledge. This is, in fact, a pretext since tinue taking the consequences of having used by a young member of the Af­ doctors who graduate in other countries - less doctors than they need. rican National Congress, the or­ India and Pakistan, for example - can The obvious conclusion is that the Gre­ ganization leading the fight start practicing right away. nadians' health is not a concern of those against apartheid. In his native NICARAGUA The Grenadian authorities aren't really who came to power and continue there only EUA concerned about the rigor of medical train- to serve the oppressor. language, it's an approximation of Pueblo desafia Urge denundu the name of guerrilla commander Ia guerra mercenaria - nueva ofensiva aJIIinnliBnnte Che Guevara. The young ANC de Estados Unidos fighter adopted this name while MExico Louisiana sheriff threatens to stop Obrerasde taking part in the historic Soweto lacostura interambian uprising. experienc:ias 'suspicious-looking' Blacks "This was one of the many ex­ a.E pressions," explained the young umujer BY LISA POTASH Parish in 1984 over a $12.50 traffic charge. activist, "of how South African enlalucha contra Ia NEW ORLEANS - Jefferson Parish The mother, 64 years old, was punched in youth have been inspired by the dlctadura Sheriff Harry Lee's announcement that his the chest, hit on the head, and kicked on Cuban revolution, in particular deputies were going to stop and question both legs. Her two daughters were also after Cuban internationalist com­ Activistas en EU apoyan marchas "suspicious looking" Blacks traveling badly beaten. The deputies then took them batants, together with the Ango­ antiguerra para el 25 de abril through white neighborhoods provoked an to jail. lan Armed Forces for Popular Lib­ angry response here from civil liberties and When the mother's two sons went to the eration, defeated [apartheid's] ra­ civil rights groups. jail to see about their mother and sisters, cist occupation forces in Angola." Subscriptions: $7 for one year; Lee was forced to apologize, but still in­ they too were beaten. The Clements Fa.m­ The December issue of Perspec­ sisted that "suspects" will be stopped when ily Justice Committee has developed broad $4 for six months; Introductory deputies have probable cause. When asked tiva Mundial features an inter­ offer, $2.00 for five months. support for a lawsuit brought by the family. view with Che Ogara about the by reporters to define "probable cause," The year before, 18-year-old Gerard student movement and the cur­ Lee said, "You'll have to ask a lawyer Glover was shot off the back of a motorcy­ D Begin my sub with current about that." (Lee is a lawyer.) He also rent upsurge in South Africa. issue. cle by Stephen Rosiere, a New Orleans stated that he has conducted similar "selec­ cop. Recently, Rosiere was let off in are­ Name tive" crackdowns in the past. trial, even though his partner testified that Perspectiva M undial is the This admission was no surprise to Rosiere planted a gun near Glover's body Spanish-language socialist maga­ Address ------Blacks and to many whites in the New Or­ to cover up the truth. zine that every month brings you City/State/Zip ______leans area. There is a history here of police In 1979 a white cop was killed in the Al­ the truth about the struggles of attacks on Blacks. giers-Fisher housing project. The New Or­ working people and the oppressed Clip and mail to PM, 408 West St., Some of the victims struggling to win leans cops then conducted a massive sweep in the U.S. and around the world. New York, NY 10014. justice after such an assault are members of of the project and shot four Blacks in cold the Clements family, brutally beaten by blood, one of them a woman in her bath­ Sheriff Charles Foti' s deputies in Orleans tub.

10 The Militant December 19, 1986 Suriname is target of armed attack

.(loRRNADA Charges U.S., Dutch, French gov'ts back rebels Atlanttc Ocean

BY HARRY RING with Cuba, Nicaragua, and the revolution­ TRINIDAD Faced with a mounting attack by reac­ ary government of the late Maurice Bishop & TOBAGO tionary rebel forces, the government of that was in power in Grenada from 1979 to Suriname was compelled to declare a state 1983. At the time, Bouterse and Bishop ex­ of military emergency for part of that South changed official visits. Atlantic Ocean American country December 2. Suriname In 1983, at least in part under pressure charges that the rebels enjoy the backing of from neighboring Brazil, Suriname les­ sened its ties with Cuba. .the U.S., Dutch, and French governments. BRAZIL December 7 the U.S. State Department Earlier, in 1982, hypocritically charging said it was "seriously concerned" about re­ human rights violations, the U.S. and ports that Surinamese government troops Dutch governments cut off military and were killing civilians but conceded it had economic aid programs to Suriname. no independent verification of the charge. These sanctions are still in force. In 1983 A former Dutch colony with a popula­ CIA plans to overthrow Bouterse were tion of about 400,000, Suriname is situated publicly admitted by Reagan officials. on the northeastern coast of South Ameri­ According to broadcasts from ca. It is bordered by Guyana on the west, Paramaribo, capital of Suriname, the- rebel Brazil to the south, and French-ruled force, dubbed the Surinamese Liberation Guyane to the east. Army, has succeeded in dealing some mil­ A reported several hundred right-wing itary blows. guerrillas are using Guyane as a sanctuary One report, November 17, said the town and a base of military operations. The of Albina, situated on the border with fighting erupted some four months ago. French-ruled Guyane, came under fire The rebels are led by Ronny Brunswijk, from Brunswijk's forces across the border, a former soldier in Suriname's army. with the Suriname government troops Brunswijk is said to have been a member of withholding their fire to avoid a confronta­ the personal security force of Lt. Col. Desi tion with the French. People had to be evacuated from Albina. -WORLD NEWS BRIEFS-- An earlier broadcast reported that a large This year alone, dozens of Cuban sci­ part of the work force had been evacuated Hundreds of Palestinians entists and specialists were also denied at the Patamacca Agriculture Co., which killed in Lebanon visas to attend international events held employs 800. The same broadcast said a in the United States. palm-oil plant had been burned down. In more than two months of heavy The November 16 Granma weekly re­ And on November 23 Reuters, the Brit­ fighting between Lebanon's Amal mili­ view described this as an "arbitrary ish news agency, reported from tia and Palestinian guerrilla forces, at measure which violates the most Paramaribo that operations had been sus­ least 550 people have been killed. Some elementary norms of international law." pended at the bauxite mining enterprise of It contrasted this closed-door policy to a U.S. aluminum company, Suralco, some Cuba's own willingness to grant visas to 60 miles from the capital. The shutdown participants in international events held came after a rebel attack. in Cuba, whatever their political views. Suriname's bauxite deposits are among the world's richest. Mining and processing bauxite, alumina, and aluminum are the UN backs New Caledonia backbone of the country's economy. One­ right to independence Desi Bouterse quarter of the bauxite used in U.S. aluminum products comes from Suriname. The United Nations General Assem­ Bouterse, the principal figure in the gov­ Promoted by counterrevolutionary bly passed a resolution December 2 ernment. Surinamese exiles, the Dutch media has placing New Caledonia on its list of Suriname won its independence from been waging a scare campaign around the "non-self-governing territories." It af­ Dutch colonial rule in 1975. In 1980, theme that Libyan "terrorists" are the prin­ firmed New Caledonia's right to inde­ Bouterse and other noncommissioned mili­ cipal mentors of the Suriname government. '1,~, pendence. PLO guerrillas near Sidon, Lebanon, tary officers dislodged an openly proim­ This propaganda theme is now being New Caledonia, a group of islands in perialist government. echoed in the United States. An article in resist attacks by Amal militia and Is­ raelis directed against Palestinian the South Pacific, is currently a French Some of the Bouterse government's pol­ the November 28 Wall Street Journal as­ colony. The French government, how­ camps there. icies have earned it the disfavor of the serted that if the Reagan administration did ever, does not recognize its colonial major imperialist powers. not help crush the Suriname government it character, claiming that it is an exten­ It nationalized several industries, includ­ would "give Libya a beachhead in this 2,000 others have been wounded, and sion of metropolitan France. ing- the Dutch-owned power company, and hemisphere." entire populations have been displaced. The UN resolution was passed by a took some modest steps to improve the lot The United States is now Suriname's The latest round of attacks by Amal vote of 89 to 24, against strong French of working people. biggest trading partner. It provides 30 per­ on the Palestinian refugee camps began objections. It requires the French gov­ Particularly irritating to imperialism, the cent of Suriname's imports and takes 41 in late September in Rashidiye, outside ernment to report to the UN annually on Bouterse regime moved toward closer ties percent of its exports. Tyre. ~hat steps it has taken toward granting Amal is based on those Lebanese who mdependence to New Caledonia. follow the Shiite Muslim faith, and its Protests force French gov't to retreat central leader, N abih ·Berri, is the justice minister in the Lebanese government. Troops to crack down Continued from front page would have lowered the quality of high­ Berri has strongly condemned the efforts in India's Punjab quirements more restrictive. This flew school education and trimmed the number of the Palestine Liberation Organization against the long-standing tradition in of teachers. That added to the discontent. (PLO) to rebuild its presence in Leba­ non, which had been drastically reduced The government of India's Punjab France in which virtually everyone who The protests began in Caen, where the state agreed December 3 to call on fed­ successfully completes high school is as­ following the 1982 Israeli invasion. first student coordinating committee was Amal's drive against the Palestinians eral troops to help crack down on the po­ sured entrance to one of these universities. set up November 15. Very rapidly, similar litical activities of Sikh militants The bill would likewise have taken a step has been backed by the Syrian govern­ elected committees sprang up in Paris and ment, which maintains 25,000 troops in Eight of the state's 12 districts were toward privatizing university funding. other cities, and a national student commit­ declared "disturbed," granting the troops At a time of rising unemployment Lebanon. tee was formed. The Israeli regime has also reacted and regular police emergency powers. among French youth (nearly 12 percent of These include the power to detain, ques­ those aged 16-25 cannot find jobs), the The student strikes were supported from strongly to the resurgence of support for the PLO among Lebanon's Palestinian tion, search, and shoot suspects. By the proposed restrictions provoked considera­ the start by all the major teachers unions. time of the announcement, some 200 ble anger. And they soon won the backing of the two population. Israeli gunboats on De­ cember 4 shelled the Palestinian refugee Sikh activists and leaders had already A parallel measure, pushed by Minister largest union federations, the General Con­ been detained in Punjab. These included of National Education Rene Monory, federation of Labor (CGT) and the French camps of Ain Khilwe and Mieh Mieh. It was the third such Israeli attack in two a former chief minister of the state, a Democratic Confederation of. Labor newly elected Sikh religious leader, and (CFDT), which are politically led by the weeks. In response to these attacks, the dif­ leaders of the main Sikh students' or­ Young Socialists Communist and Socialist parties respec­ ganization. tively. ferent Palestinian groups in Lebanon, in­ back French students cluding those that have opposed PLO India's 16 million people of the Sikh The government, by dropping the uni­ Chairman Yasir Arafat, have joined to­ faith have long suffered from religious The following telegram was sent De­ versity-reform bill, hopes that the protests gether to defend the refugee camps. discrimination. In recent years conflicts cember 9 to the National Student Coor­ will die down. have been sharpening between Sikhs and dinating Committee in France from the But other issues have also been raised those adhering to India's dominant National Executive Committee of the during the mobilizations: the brutality of Cuban scientists denied Hindu religion. · Young Socialist Alliance: the riot police, who attacked peaceful dem­ The justification used for the latest onstrations; the introduction of new repres­ visas by U.S. gov't crackdown was the November 30 mas­ We congratulate you in your victory for sive measures under the guise of combating sacre of 22 bus passengers, most of them the right to an education for all, against the "terrorism" and "drugs"; a five-year pro­ Five Cuban scientists- all specialists Hindus, by a group calling itself the Chirac government's attempt to cut back gram of increased military spending; and, of international standing in their fields Khalistan Liberation Force. Some Sikh higher education. in particular, the regime's growing restric­ -were refused visas by the U.S. gov­ militants demand the formation of a sep­ ernment to attend a congress of the Latin We join you in condemning police vio­ tions against immigrants. arate Sikh state called Khalistan. lence and the brutal killing of Malik Ous­ With several bills pending in the Na­ American Society of Orthopedics and Numerous Sikh leaders, including sekine. We extend our support and solidar­ tional Assembly on these policies, many Traumatology that was held in San Juan, those who reject the Khalistan demand, Puerto Rico, October 26.:.November 1. ity to your struggle. Education is our right! student activists have vowed to fight have condemned the latest crackdown. Justice for Malik Oussekine! against them as well. ·

December 19, 1986 The Militant 11 -CALENDAR- ARIZONA Socialist Regional Educational Conferences Phoenix "The Truth Must Not Only Be the Truth, It GEORGIA for conference; $2 for classes. Ausp: Socialist Events held at 767 S State. Translation to Must Be Told." Speakers: representative of Af­ Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance. Spanish provided. Donation: $5. Ausp: SWP rican National Congress of South Africa; Fred Atlanta For more information caJI (816) 753-0404. and Young Socialist Alliance. For more infor­ Halstead, Socialist Workers Party, leader of Forum. Why We Need a Revolution in the mation caJI (801) 355-1124. movement against Vietnam War; Francisca United States. Speaker: Thabo Ntweng, NEW YORK Cavasos, Arizona Farm Workers Union, re­ Socialist Workers Party National Committee. Manhattan cently returned from the Philippines; Pablo Sun., Dec. 14, 10 a.m. Two-class series: The State of U.S. Trade WASHINGTON Two classes on Roots of U.S. War Drive Otero, Young Socialist Alliance; Dawn Noggle, Unions Today. Sat., Dec. 13, II a.m. and Seattle Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. in Central America. Sat., Dec. 13, 2 p.m. 2:30p.m. The Coming Revolution in South Two-part class: The State of the U.S. and Sun., noon. Sat., Dec. 13. Reception, 6 p.m.; rally, 7 p.m. Africa. Sat. II a.m. and 2:30p.m. Trade Unions Today. Speaker: Chris Events held at 132 Cone St. Ausp: Socialist 1809 W Indian School Rd. Donation: $3. Ausp: Forum: The U.S. Political Situation Homer, chairperson, Seattle Socialist Work­ Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance. Young Socialist Alliance and Pathfinder Books. Today. Discussion to follow. Speaker: Larry ers Party, member International Union of For more information call (404) 577-4065. For more information call (602) 279-5850. Seigle, national leader of Socialist Workers Electronic Workers Local I 002. Sat., Dec. The Fighting Potential of the U.S. Working Party. Sat., Dec. 13,7:30 p.m. Party to fol­ 20, 3 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 21, II a.m. Class. Class by Fred Halstead. Sun., Dec. 14, ILLINOIS low. Forum: The U.S. Political Situation noon. 1809 W Indian School Rd. Ausp: Young Chicago Two classes: The Roots of the Imperialist Today. Speaker: Mark Severs, Socialist Workers Party National Committee. Sat., Socialist Alliance and Pathfinder Books. Dona­ Workers, Farmers, and Students Need to War in Central America and The U.S. Dec. 20, 7:30p.m. tion: $2. For more information call (602) 279- Discuss How We Can Stop the U.S. War on Farm Crisis. Sun., Dec. 14. Both at I :30 All events at 5517 Rainier Ave. S. Dona­ 5850. Nicaragua and Defend Workers and Farm­ p.m. tion: $5 for conference or $2 per event. Ausp: ers at Home. Conference events translated to Spanish. SWP and Young Socialist Alliance. For more CALIFORNIA Class series begins Sat., Dec. 13, 12 noon, Registration Sat., 10 to II a.m. Young information call (206) 723-5330. San Francisco ends Sun., Dec. 14, 2 p.m. Socialist Alliance reception Sat., 5)0 to 7:30 A Tribute to Nelson Mandela: A Celebration Keynote address: War and Crisis in the p.m. All events at 79 Leonard St. Donation: of the U.S. Publication of His Writings. Fea­ Americas. Speaker: Mac Warren, Socialist $6 for conference; or $1.50 per class; $3 for WASHINGTON, D.C. tured speaker Neo Mnumzana, chief UN dele­ Workers Party National Committee. Sat., forum. Ausp: YSA and Socialist Workers Party. For more information call (212) 226- Forum: Prospects for Socialism in the gate of the African National Congress of South Dec. 13, 7 p.m. United States. Speaker: John Studer, 8445. Africa. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Dec. 13, 7 All events at McCormick Center Hotel. Socialist Workers Party. Sat., Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. ILWU Local 34, 4 Berry St. (at Embar­ Translation to Spanish provided. Donation: p.m. cadero). Donation: $2. Ausp: Pathfinder $6 for conference. Ausp: Young Socialist Al­ UTAH Two-class series: 1. The Freedom Strug­ Bookstore. For more information call (415) liance. For more information call (312) 326- Salt Lake City gle in South Africa. Speaker to be an­ 282-6255. 5853. Decline of the American Empire and the nounced. Sat., 3 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 14, San Jose Role of the Working Class. 12:30 p.m. 2. War and Revolution in Cen­ Crisis in the Philippines. Workers and Farm­ MISSOURI Two-part class: I. Lockouts, Union-bust­ tral America. Speaker: Jerry Freiwirth, ers Press Their Demands. Speaker: Joel Kansas City ing, and Concession Contracts: How Can Socialist Workers Party National Committee. Rocamora, director Philippine Resource Cen­ Forum. Why We Need a Revolution in the Our Unions Fight Back. Speaker: Joel Brit­ Sat., 3 p.m. and Sun., 12:30 p.m. Forum and ter. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Dec. 20, 7:30 United States. Sat., Dec. 13, 8 p.m. ton, Socialist Workers Party National Com­ classes translated to Spanish. p.m. 461f2 Race St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Mili­ Two classes: U.S. Farm Crisis and Why mittee. Sat., Dec. 20, I p.m. and 3:30p.m. Events held at Antioch School of Law, tant Labor Forum. For more information call Workers and Farmers Have a Stake in Forum. Contragate: A Glimpse of How 2633 16th St. NW. Donation: $5 for confer­ (408) 998-4007. Ending It. Sat., Dec. 13, 1 p.m.; Sun., Dec. the Capitalists Rule America. Speaker: John ence or $2 per event. Ausp: Young Socialist 14, I p.m. Gaige, SWP National Committee. Sat., Dec. Alliance and Socialist Workers Party. For MARYLAND Events held at 4725 Troost. Donation: $5 20, 7:30p.m. more information call (202) 797-7699. Baltimore Immigration Laws: Attack on Workers' Rights. Speakers: Felipe Amoldo Dfaz, Sal­ vadoran refugee who recently won four-year mation call (314) 361-0250. tive American Rights Under Attack. Speak­ fight for political asylum; Hector Marroquin, ers: representative from Columbia River De­ An excellent member of Socialist Workers Party facing de­ NEW YORK fense Project, Northwest Big Mountain Support portation for his political ideas. Sat., Dec. 20, Group, and Socialist Workers Party. Sat. , Dec. introduction 7:30 p.m. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Donation: Manhattan 13, 7:30p.m. 2732 NE Union. Donation: $2. to Marxism ... $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in­ Holiday Benefit Dance for Independent Fed­ Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ formation call (301) 235-0013. eration of Flight Attendants (TWA workers). mation call (503) 287-7416. Sat., Dec. 13,9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Localll99, 310 W 43rd St. Donation: $10. Ausp: IFFA. For Socialism: MICHIGAN more information call (718) 520-0996. TEXAS Detroit Open House and Reception for Dr. Jeffrey Houston Utopian and Stop Union-Busting, Save Jobs. Speakers: Elliot. Dr. Elliot interviewed Fidel Castro for Behind the U.S.-Iran 'Contra' Arms Deal. Merle Krueger, member Original Local P-9, the recently published book Fidel Castro: Noth­ Panel discussion. Speakers to be announced. Scientific Austin, Minnesota; Joe Wilson, president ing Can Stop the Course of History. Fri., Dec. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Dec. 13, 7:30 United Auto Workers Local 15; Joe Yeiser, 19, 4:30-7:30 p.m. 79 Leonard St. Ausp: Path­ p.m. 4806 Almeda Rd. Donation: $2. Ausp: by Frederick Engels United Steelworkers of America District 29 or­ finder Books. For more information call (212) Militant Forum. For more information call ganizer. Sat., Dec. 13, 3 p.m. 2441 W Grand 226-8445. (713) 522-8054. Blvd. Ausp: International Association of Celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the Cuban Pamphlet tells how so­ Machinists Local 82. For more information call Revolution. Grand year-end dance. Wed., cialist movement began (313) 898-9163. Dec. 31, 9 p.m. Casa de las Americas, 104 W UTAH and describes its scien­ GM Plant Closings: How to Fight Them. 14th St. Donation: $12. tific approach to philoso­ Speaker: Andrew Pulley, Socialist Workers Salt Lake City Crisis in the Philippines: Workers and Farm­ phy, history, and eco­ Party, member United Auto Workers Local OHIO 5960. Film showing: Poletown Lives. Sat., ers Press Their Demands. Speaker: Scott nomics. Pamphlet ex­ Dec. 13, 8 p.m. 2135 Woodward Ave. Dona­ Cleveland Breen, Socialist Workers Party. Translation to plains why a revolution tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more The Fight Against the Perry Nuclear Power Spanish. Sat., Dec. 13, 7:30p.m. 767 S State. by workers is necessary information call (313) 961-0395. Plant. Speakers: Jim Wright, structural en­ Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more gineer; Kim Hill, Sierra Club; Betty Long, information call (801) 355-1124. to end the devastation MISSOURI Western Reserve Alliance; Diana Dickson, caused by capitalism; a American Federation of State, County and revolution that can open St. Louis Municipal Employees; Bill Brotzman, Lake WASHINGTON . up the productive capac­ Protest U.S. War in Nicaragua. Indoor rally County Farm Bureau. Sat., Dec. 13, 7:30p.m. ity of society and end ex­ at Christ in the City Church, 9th and Biddle. Seattle 2521 Market Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant ploitation. 64 pp., $1 .25 March to Federal Building. Sat., Dec. 13, Forum. For more information call (216) 861- New Immigration Laws: An Attack on Immi­ noon. Ausp: St. Louis Pledge of Resistance. 6150. grant Workers, the Effect of Initiative 30. For more information call (314) 727-4466. Panel: Jose Bocanegra, representative from Available from Pathfinder bookstores Behind the Secret Arms Deal: U.S. Escalates Committee in Defense of Immigrant Rights; listed on page 12, or by mail from War Against Nicaragua. A panel discussion. Socialist Workers Party; others. Sat., Dec. 13, Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New Sat., Dec. 20, 7 p.m. 4907 Martin Luther King OREGON 7:30p.m. 5517 Rainier Ave. S. Donation: $2. York, N.Y. 10014. Please include 75 Dr. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum Portland Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ cents for postage and handling. and Young Socialist Alliance. For more infor- From Big Mountain to Columbia River: Na- mation call (206) 723-5330. -If YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132 Cone NEBRASKA: Omaha: SWP, YSA, 140 S. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder St. NW, 2nd Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577- 40th St. Zip: 68131. Tel: (402) 553-0245. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 336 W. Jefferson. Zip: bookstores. 4065. NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 75208. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S. Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326- NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): 522-8054. 1306 1st Ave. N. Zip: 35203. Tel: (205) 323- 5853 or 326-5453. SWP, YSA, 114E Quail St. Zip: 12206. Tel: UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon 3079. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, YSA, 79 Ave., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1809 W. E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. Leonard St. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) 219-3679 or (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, Indian School Rd. Zip: 85015. Tel: (602) 279- LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 925-1668. Socialist Books, 226-8445. 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) 5850. 3640 Magazine St. Zip: 70115. Tel: (504) 895- NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, 355-1124. CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, 1961. YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport YSA, 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 272-5996. News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave. Zip (213) 380-9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 2913 Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) OIDO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 4945 Pad­ 23605. Tel: (804) 380-0133. 3808 E 14th St. Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261- 235-0013. dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. WASIDNGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 3014. San Diego: SWP, YSA, 2803 B St. MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP, YSA, Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2521 Market Ave. Zip: Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) Zip: 92102. Tel: (619) 234-4630. San Fran­ 107 Brighton Ave., 2nd floor, Allston. Zip: 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Columbus: YSA, 797-7699, 797-7021. cisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: 02134. Tel: (617) 787-0275. P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Toledo: SWP, WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. San Jose: MICIDGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 YSA, 1701 W Bancroft St. Zip: 43606. Tel: 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Tel: SWP, YSA, 461f2 Race St. Zip: 95126. Tel: Woodward Ave. Zip:48201. Tel: (313)961-0395. (419) 536-0383. (206) 723-5330. (408) 998-4007. MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 25 W. 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. YSA, 116 McFarland St. Zip: 25301. Tel: (304) 3rd Ave. Zip: 80223. Tel: (303) 698-2550. (612) 644-6325. PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 221 FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: 19133. Tel: Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296- 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753- (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 402 0055. Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin N. Highland Ave. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362- WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, YSA, P.O~ Box 20715. Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) Luther King Dr. Zip: 63113. Tel: (314) 361- 6767. 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 222-4434. 0250. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 445-2076.

12 The Militant December 19, 1986 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------

Ask the expert - "WASH­ demands, an Austin, Texas, en­ was translated for the Thailand balist got a call too. Mile Island, it includes contain­ INGTON (AP) President trepreneur offers drug-free urine at market as "Pepsi brings your an­ ment building, cooling tower, and Reagan, trying to resolve the most $49.95 a bag. Presumably to as­ cestors back from the dead." But St. Sade? -The Catholic Dio­ generator station. serious crisis of his administra­ sure the purity of his product, he our guess is that the Thai people cese of Monterey, California, has tion, has conferred twice recently explains he gets it through a deal simply assumed this was just one retained a PR person to deal with Devilish stuff - On behalf of with members of a local Bible more American advertising claim. opponents of its drive to win saint­ himself, minors, and Jesus Christ, study group. hood for Father Junipero Serra, Ralph Forbes filed suit to bar Ar­ That'll trim you down - A founder of California missions. kansas schools from observing American dream machine - New York boutique is offering lo­ Critics note that the saintly father Halloween, Satan's day. Named "I don't mean to gloat. I'm as em­ cal chocolates at $18 a half-pound. was heavily into beating and en­ defendants included various offi­ barrassed as anyone else about slaving Native Americans. cials and Satan. In response, it Harry what's going on in the govern­ When the need is sorest - was proposed that Satan be Ring ment. But I'm glad I'm in this Hollywood PR person Ruth Marsh No heat in apartment? - A dropped as a defendant since it business right now." - Stanley was flabbergasted. She's never New York boutique is offering a could not be proved he does busi­ Greenwald, paper shredder sales­ met the prez, but dropped him a cashmere pullover with rolled col­ ness or owns property in Arkan­ man. note assuring that she and other lar, $675. And/or a cashmere sas. with former President Richard M. filmland Republicans, like right­ robe, $1,150. Nixon, whose own problems led winger Efrem Zimbalist, support­ He's like with it- "I am very to his resignation in 197 4." Also cures carbuncles - The ed him in his hour of travail. A For the anxiety-prone young­ interested in modem contempo­ folk at Pepsi-Cola were chagrined few days later, she received a per­ ster - An ad in Popular Science rary music. Also in so-called - Don't leave home without it when their slogan, "Come alive, sonal thank-you call from Ron, offers a kit for a scale model nu­ what is the name? - rock." - - To deal with unanticipated test you're in the Pepsi generation," who chatted for 10 minutes. Zim- clear power plant. Based on Three Pope John Paul II. Nicaragua bombing: escalation ofU.S.-run war

Continued from front page tion that could justify an even bigger attack announced a national campaign to step up peasant community of Wiwili, 15 miles on Nicaragua. organized block-by-block vigilance. The from the border. They fired eight or nine Carrion explained that in Wiwili there is Sandinista union federation reported that rockets and dropped 12 to 16 bombs. They no army base and no antiaircraft weapons, factory militia teams were on alert. destroyed one peasant's home, killing just a territorial militia base with two In a major editorial December 9 Bar­ livestock and wounding five people. helicopters. They are used to transport ci­ ricada pointed out that "in contrast to the A four-year-old and an 11-year-old suf­ vilians being evacuated from areas of con­ war-mongering hysteria that prevails in the fered shrapnel wounds. Three Sandinista tra attacks. The raiders were targeting the governing circles of the United States and soldiers were wounded as they fired at the small airstrip but failed to destroy the two Honduras, the government and people of attacking planes. One of the explosions left helicopters. Nicaragua are displaying reasoned calm, a 12-foot crater in the ground. The U.S. "The operation's goal was to hit San­ showing their firmness in not letting them­ markings "2. 75 inch rocket Motor MK 4 dinista forces, who have been dealing selves be provoked but not renouncing ... " were still visible on a fragment of one harsh blows to the mercenaries in the last their duties to defend themselves." rocket. few days," he said. On December 8 Sandinista television A total of 81 contras were killed and 80 broadcast footage of the damage done in Peasants organize defense wounded by the Nicaraguans, he said, Wiwili and reported some of the initial de­ The Wiwili residents had no prior warn­ while 16 Sandinistas were killed and 35 nunciations of the attack from around the ing of the attack and were about to start a wounded. world. The remainder of the news covered celebration of Purfsima, the chief religious With the failure of the mercenaries to get Purfsima celebrations, which proceeded event held here before Christmas. When larger units across the border, the contra normally in the rest of the country the day the planes were spotted, community lead­ forces inside northern Nicaragua are rela­ after the bombing raids, with workers get­ ers immediately began implementing civil tively small groups of 40 to 60 men at this ting the day off. time, Carrion said. Across the border in defense procedures that residents had prac­ A special film followed the news, show­ ticed before. Honduras they have no more than 3,000 ing the recent military parade in Cuba cel­ Some people took up arms and began fir­ troops. ebrating the 30th anniversary of the Revo­ ing at the planes. Others rushed to shelters. The main danger is the presence of U.S. lutionary Armed Forces there. Some of those wounded were hit by shrap­ and Honduran troops in the border area. Gen. Humberto Ortega, head of the San­ nel before they could reach safe cover. The contras are being used as pawns to pro­ vide an opening for these more powerful dinista Army, was a special guest at the MilitanUNelson Blackstock Lt. Col. Javier Carrion, assistant chief of forces to intervene. parade. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega the Joint Staff of the Sandinista People's Army, told reporters that the bombs and U.S. media cover-up rockets could only have been launched by During the most recent weeks of the -10 AND 25 YEARS AGO--- powerful combat aircraft - planes more U.S. escalation, new revelations surfaced sophisticated than those belonging to the in Washington that top Reagan aides were mercenaries. secretly funding the contras behind · the He also said that army intelligence has THE MILITANT THE backs of the U.S. people. A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLYIPUBUSHED IN THE INTERESTS Of THE WORKING PEOPLE 25e determined that the planes departed from As the revelations began to unfold, the U.S. bases in Honduras and were in radio Nicaraguan government sounded the alarm December 17, 1976 MILITANT Published in the Interests of the Working People contact with U.S. military personnel dur­ on the U.S. military escalation taking place December 18, 1961 Price 10c ing their raids. along Nicaragua's borders. The Sandinis­ CLEVELAND - Speaking before a While the Sandinistas have not pre­ tas warned that Reagan was seeking some rally of more than 300 steelworkers here sented any other information on these kind of provocation. November 30, Ed Sadlowski hit hard Dec. 13 - The fourth AFL-CIO con­ planes, such as who piloted them, the against the steel corporations' attempt to vention, which began December 7, turned events clearly point to a U.S.-Honduran As the Sandinista daily Barricada noted, blame layoffs on steel imports. out to be unexpectedly mild, with President conspiracy to carry out the raids in the these warnings received "superficial and "Foreign imports do not have the impact George Meany having things pretty much hopes of provoking a Nicaraguan retalia- light treatment" by the major U.S. media, the American steel industry says they do," his own way. But the differences among which focused instead on proposals for the insurgent candidate for union president the top union leaders that Meany patched how to patch up the crisis in Washington. maintained. over in the sunshine of Bal Harbour, They are "asking for the heads of the little "You can't attribute a Japanese worker Florida, are still there. And the falling out A fish in order to leave intact the demented for taking an American worker's job. among the easy-living bureaucrats has pro­ pamphlet on head of Reagan along with his policy of That's the boss's game. He'd like you to found causes - in colder climes and death and extermination," Barricada think that." among harder lives - that are not to be meat-packers' stated. With thousands of ·steelworkers being eliminated by soft talk and a little quick The Nicaraguan government has re­ laid off across the country, this emotion­ work with the gavel. struggle sponded to the latest events, culminating in charged issue points up the fundamental The problem of jurisdictional disputes the bombings, by calling for an emergency difference between Sadlowski's approach was heavily emphasized by United Auto The 1985--86 Har­ session of the United Nations Security and that of the present United Steelworkers Workers President Walter Reuther and his mel Meat-Packers' Council. The Nicaraguan government has of America leadership. Industrial Union Department- and soft­ Strike in Austin, also met with as many representatives of Current President I. W. Abel and his pedaled by Meany. It was "resolved" by a Minnesota presents Latin American governments as possible, handpicked successor Lloyd McBride are compromise that cut the heart out of the facts about the including Honduran officials, in an attempt flag-waving partisans of the anti-import Reuther's proposed solution- an enforce­ Geo. A. Hormel & to slow down Washington's push toward a drive, absolving the steel profiteers of all able ban on raiding- and left the Building Co.'s union-bust­ wider war. responsibility for layoffs. Trades craft unions free to continue or­ ing attack on the In a December 8 letter to the foreign Abel and McBride call for import quotas ganizing at the expense of industrial workers at its Aus­ minister of Honduras, Miguel D'Escoto and tariffs to protect "our" industry, and unions. tin plant, and strongly protested the use of Honduran ter­ for joint labor-management efforts to in­ about how the One reason Reuther is sensitive on this ritory to bomb Nicaragua. He pointed to crease productivity so "our" corporations issue is because the relative position of the Hormel workers the only solution to the escalating conflict will be more competitive. have fought back industrial workers has so deteriorated between the two countries - remove the Sadlowski puts the blame for unemploy­ L-______j and won support under his leadership that the raiding moves from unionists and farmers across the contras from Honduras. ment squarely on the bosses. And he re­ of craft unions have some attraction for country. He repeated the proposal to invite an in­ jects union cooperation with productivity certain sections of his own rank and file. A Every unionist facing takeback de­ ternational commission to inspect the bor­ drives that eliminate jobs and endanger UA W carpenter or electrician makes a dol­ mands and other attacks will want to der area and make recommendations on workers' lives through speedup. lar or two an hour less than a craft-union read this story. 44 pp. $1.00 how to relieve the tension there. "For every American worker whose job member of the same trade in the same area. Available from Pathfinder bookstores has been lost by foreign importation," Sad­ The proper solution, of course, is not to listed on page 12, or by mail from Path­ Factory and neighborhood mobilizations lowski told the Cleveland rally, "five tum the plants over to fractionalized job finder Press, 410 West St., New York, Meanwhile, Nicaragua's Sandinista De­ American workers' jobs have been lost be­ trusts by yielding to the raiding, but to lead N.Y. 10014. Please add $.75 handling. fense Committees, which are organized to cause of BOF [basic oxygen furnace] the industrial unions in a militant struggle provide civilian defense of neighborhoods, shops." for higher wages and better conditions.

December 19, 1986 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS------Is home ownership the solution to No justice in Grenada the housing problem?

A court in Grenada has imposed sentences of death by Under the revolutionary government, democratic BY DOUG JENNESS hanging on Bernard Coarct and 13 others. Terms of up to rights were vastly expanded as the workers and farmers At the tail end of a mid-November news conference, a 45 years were given three other defendants. took command of their destinies for the first time. Union reporter asked President Reagan when he was going to The trial and sentencing are an attack on democratic membership soared. Mass organizations of youth, develop a federally coordinated program for the home­ rights in Grenada and throughout the Caribbean. They women, and farmers were created. The working people less. are a consequence of the overthrow of the revolutionary participated in shaping government policy. The president replied that the government was "spend­ Grenadian government in a coup carried out by Coarct ing more than has ever been spent before" to help the and his followers in October 1983; the U.S. invasion and Many mass organizations have now been dissolved, needy. But he'd "look into" the matter. occupation of the country that followed; and the imposi­ and the labor movement faces union-busting attacks When pressed by the journalist, Reagan hinted that tion by the occupiers of a government that takes its orders backed by the Grenadian government and Washington. more than enough is being spent locally. He cited the from Washington. Political harassment of those who identify with the gains case of a homeless family in New York being put up in a The sentences were imposed December 4, after the won under the Bishop government continues to rise. hotel by the city welfare department for $37,000 a year. court found the 17 guilty of the murder of Prime Minister Police brutality against working people, eliminated "I wonder why somebody doesn't build them a house for Maurice Bishop and other leaders of the revolution. under the Bishop government, has become an everyday $37 ,000," he chided. Bishop had led the Grenadian revolutionary government event again. The president's cynical remark underlines his callous from the time it came to power in March 1979 until the The trial and sentencing of Coarct and the others was an disregard for the hardships of the homeless. But it also 1983 counterrevolution. He and other revolutionary lead­ effort to legitimize the cops, courts, and repressive prac­ ers were executed by the Coard gang as it crushed popu­ tices of the U.S.-dominated regime. lar resistance to the coup. By falsely portraying the defendants as Marxists and LEARNING ABOUT But the trial and sentences imposed on the 17 have imposing heavy sentences on 17 of them, the U.S. rulers nothing to do with justice for these martyrs or with the and the Grenadian government are preparing increased SOCIALISM goals to which Bishop and the revolutionary government repression against Marxists and other opponents of U.S. were committed. domination not only in Grenada, but throughout the On the contrary, the U.S. rulers and their handpicked Caribbean. carries an interesting implication. Is the solution to government are determined to root out every trace of the The U.S. rulers and the Grenadian government also homelessness and high-cost, low-quality housing that gains won by working people between March 1979 and hope that the death sentences in this case will make it everybody should own their own house? October 1983. easier for them to use the brutal weapon of capital punish­ This has been a prominent theme promoted by the em­ The U.S. and Grenadian governments used the trial as ment in future cases. ploying class in this country, especially since the end of part of their campaign to discredit the revolution - Coarct and his gang are guilty of a heinous crime. They World War II. We've been pounded with the virtues of which is still looked to by many workers and farmers destroyed the revolutionary government, the greatest po­ settling into our own house with a yard and maybe a gar­ throughout the Caribbean as a high point in their struggle litical and social conquest that the people of Grenada den. This is all part of the "American dream." for freedom from imperialist domination and exploita­ have ever achieved. Their coup, followed by their gun­ And the relative economic prosperity of the postwar tion. ning down of protesters and the assassination of Bishop period made this dream seem realizable for growing The U.S.-imposed government has systematically de­ and other leaders, dealt such blows to the Grenadian numbers of working people. By 1983 nearly 65 percent stroyed the political, social, and economic conquests of people that the U.S. invaders met little resistance. The of all housing units were owner-occupied, compared to the revolution. Under Bishop, Grenada had an indepen­ Coarct clique handed Grenada to Washington on a platter. 44 percent in 1940. dent government that spoke for the interests of the op­ In last week's column, I promised to take up socialist pressed and exploited. The current regime grovels before But the counterrevolutionary government that rules proposals for solving the housing problem. But I'm going Washington to such an extent that it is among the few re­ Grenada today in the interests of U.S. imperialism has no to postpone that another week in order to discuss why gimes that votes with U.S. representatives in the United moral or political right to try, imprison, or hang Coarct or home ownership isn't part of the solution. Nations against imposing sanctions on apartheid South any other defendant in this case. The sentences handed For one thing, purchasing a house is out of reach for Africa. down against the 17 should be strongly opposed. most low-income people and for an increasing number in the middle-income range, too. Reagan notwithstanding, $37,000 wouldn't go very far toward building a house. A standard new house today costs more than $75,000, a big jump from $23,400 in 1970. And that doesn't include in­ Bilingual programs under attack terest on monthly payments. Close to two-thirds of all homeowners are paying off Antilabor forces are stepping up their campaign to parties are chiming in behind the English-only cam­ mortgages at high rates of interest. And their total have English proclaimed the official language of the paign. monthly payments are generally higher than rents of United States. In the November 4 election in California, Idaho Republican Senator Steven Symms denounced apartment dwellers. In addition to mortgage payments, an amendment to the state constitution was adopted to "policies that challenge the uniqueness of English in our homeowners' costs include real estate taxes, property in­ this effect. Seven states and about 40 cities and counties national life." surance, utilities, fuel, water, garbage collection, andre­ have adopted such laws, and similar bills are pending in "We should be color blind, but not linguistically deaf," pairs. 15 states. declared Democrat Richard Lamm, former governor of In 1981, over one-half the homeowners with a Following the passage of the California amendment, Colorado. "We should welcome different people, but not mortgage were paying out more than $400 per month. backers began preparing bills to abolish bilingual educa­ adopt different languages." And for recent home buyers, the amount was considera­ tion in the state. They also announced that they would According to these hypocrites, discrimination against bly higher. The average monthly mortgage payment for press the state legislature to require that drivers' tests, Latinos, Chinese, Haitians, and others on the basis of those purchasing a house in 1981 was $694, on average welfare applications, state university student aid forms, their skin color would be wrong. But discrimination 35.5 percent of their income. and other services be provided only in English. against them on the basis of language should be the law By comparison, the same year, 18 percent of tenants U.S. English, an outfit founded in 1983 by former of the land. paid more than $400 for rent (excluding utilities). U.S. Senator S.I. Hayakawa and John Tanton, has been Contrary to the pretensions of Lamm and Symms, the The average mortgage is between 25 and 30 years, campaigning for such laws across the country. United States has always been a multilingual country. which means that homeowners keep paying for most of their working lives. Bilingual education programs, which are a prime The "uniqueness of English in our national life" has target of the English-only campaigns, are gains won by been a pretext for discrimination against these working The notion that making house payments, instead of Black, Chicano, Puerto Rican, and Chinese rights strug­ people on the job, in schools, in social services, and in paying rent, can lead to cheaper housing in the long run is gles of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1974 a Supreme Court every other aspect of life. an illusion. ruling barred the practice of Jetting children who spoke Language discrimination has long been used to divide One of the benefits of home ownership hailed by its other languages "sink or swim" in classes conducted in and weaken the union movement by stirring hostility to­ promoters is that it offers escape from the hassle of deal­ English. That same year, the Bilingual Education Act ward immigrants and other workers who don't speak ing with cold-hearted landlords and the threat of eviction. was expanded to offer instruction in students' own lan­ English. But this promise of security is a con. Whenever are­ guages. The beneficiary has been big business, which has cession occurs, tens of thousands of mortgage-holders According to the U.S. Department of Education, raked in untold billions from the super-exploitation of are kicked out of their homes. Cuts in pay or the loss of nearly 1.2 million children are enrolled in such pro­ these workers. To keep these profits pouring in, workers a breadwinner's job, of a spouse's second income, or of grams. who speak Spanish, Chinese, Creole, and other lan­ unemployment benefits make it impossible for many to These programs should not only be continued, but guages must be kept at the bottom of the heap. afford monthly payments. massively expanded to provide bilingual education for The drive for English-only legislation is antilabor, dis­ The massive increase in home ownership has given the many millions of children and adults who need and criminatory, and chauvinist. The union movement real estate speculators, construction companies, loan want it. should join the effort to mobilize wide opposition to these sharks, and bankers a profit bonanza. But the employing Politicians from both the Republican and Democratic bills. class has an additional motive in pressing workers to buy a home. It figures that the more workers look at them­ selves as private property owners, with interests in com­ mon with other property owners, the harder it will be for them to recognize their common interests as wage work­ Defend Palestinian journalist ers. The-employers hope this will encourage workers to put The Israeli government's attempt to deport Akram The next day, 300 Palestinians and Israelis, including their individual, private interests ahead of collective, so­ Haniyeh, a Palestinian journalist and poet living in the Is­ two members of parliament, attended a public meeting cial action against the employers. raeli-occupied West Bank, has sparked growing protest. demanding an end to the actions against Haniyeh. The employers expect that workers who feel responsi­ Haniyeh was arrested November 5 and issued a military Twenty-nine Israeli journalists also signed a petition pro­ ble for their small plot of land and the house that sits on order expelling him from Israeli-held land. He has been testing the expulsion order and his imprisonment. it, and who can't, on short notice, pick up and move to held in solitary confinement ever since. In Britain, the National Journalists Association sent a another location for work, will be less inclined to take Haniyeh was the chief editor of Al-Sha' ab, an Arabic­ letter of protest to the Israeli government. risks - such as going out on strike. And they will be language daily published on the West Bank. Felicia Langer and Avigdor Feldman, Haniyeh's attor­ more receptive to settling for less in disputes with the em­ Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin claimed neys, point out that the expulsion order is intended to ployers. November 10 that Haniyeh was being deported "because "deter all those who oppose the Israeli occupation." While these conservatizing factors have undoubtedly of his activities within the PLO [Palestine Liberation Or­ Haniyeh is being held in solitary confinement and hindered the workers' movement, they will be unable to ganization] specifically, and as part of Israel's war threatened with expulsion because he opposes the crimes prevent workers in the long run from seeing the interests against terrorism in general." Even top Israeli security of­ of the Israeli rulers. Supporters of democratic rights of the working class as a whole. ficials have conceded that there is no evidence that around the world should join in demanding his release But one thing is clear. Home ownership is no guaran­ Haniyeh has engaged in any "terrorist" acts. and the rescinding of the expulsion order. tee of affordable and secure housing.

14 The MUitant December 19, 1986 N. Carolina garment workers fight for a union

BY MICHAEL FITZSIMMONS tiunion movies and given antiunion lectures by the plant another election was called for September. In September workers at Bates Nitewear's five facili­ manager. Antiunion posters and newspaper clippings Over the next months, many more workers saw ties in Greensboro, Troy, and Yadkinville, North plastered the walls. through the company's lies and decided a union would Carolina, voted 384 to 321 to be represented by the The employer asserted that unions are run as busines­ put us in a better position to deal with the company. Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. This ses, looking for more people to collect dues from, and Some workers who had voted no in March got involved that they are undemocratic and use violence. in the organizing drive. The company tried to convince workers that it would Home visits by ACTWU representatives and Bates be forced to close the plants if the union won. Workers workers made it possible to answer questions about what UNION TALK were warned about the growth of low-wage garment having a union would mean. manufacturing in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and other places. During the last four weeks of the campaign, momen­ To save U.S. jobs, one poster claimed, we need tore­ victory followed votes earlier this year for ACTWU rep­ tum for a union built. Workers asked questions and made resentation at Reeve Brothers in Cornelius, and at Armi­ strict imports and do away with unions. Many prounion workers were hounded, ·arbitrarily statements during meetings set up by management an_d in tage Shanks in Mooresville. shop-floor discussions, challenging the bosses' antiunion Bates Nitewear, the country's largest manufacturer of given days off, or fired for breaking work rules. Workers of entire departments were ordered not to talk to cowork­ stand. The company was unable to establish an antiunion baby and young children's night clothes, was bought out committee among the workers. ers or risk dismissal. Bathroom and phone use were fur­ by Gerber Products in 1984. The buyout brought no ben­ Following the September 19 vote in favor of a union, efits to Bates workers. ther restricted. Union or no union, company officials said, they would the company appealed the election to the NLRB's region­ There was no system of seniority or job classification. al office. The employers charged that the union had Favoritism was rampant. Women workers, who make up not give us any more than we were already getting. If we wanted changes, we would have to strike, management created an atmosphere of violence and intimidation. The the majority of employees, are often treated with disre­ regional office dismissed the charges as unsubstantiated. spect. Pay is low and has decreased in recent years for insisted. And they even pointed to the use of the National Guard against Hormel meat-packers in Minnesota as an On October 28 the company filed a brief with the many workers. NLRB in Washington, D.C., asking that the election re­ Many Bates workers have worked in, or have family or example of what could happen here. The message was, "If you fight, you will lose." sults be set aside. The board has until the beginning of friends working at, some of the ACTWU-organized tex­ February to rule on the election. tile mills or other unionized factories in the area. From We were told that we were one big family at Bates, and August to October 1985, ACTWU got a lot of publicity that we dido 't need "third-party intruders." The NLRB's delay enables Bates to buy time and because of its unsuccessful organizing drive at Cannon The Bates' general manager claimed he was in the search for ways to defeat the union. Many workers' Mills in Kannapolis. same boat we were. He had no pension and was just try­ charges of unfair labor practices are tied up in appeals In· August 1985 several Bates workers contacted ing "to put some food on the table." and other red tape. ACTWU's local office. The vast majority of the workers The first vote, on March 9, went 380-334 against the The big issue for Bates workers now is how to force signed cards asking for union representation. Well-at­ union. Most who voted no feared the plant would close the company to quit stalling, recognize the union, and tended organizing meetings were held. In the fall of down if the union won. negotiate a decent contract. 1985, ACTWU filed with the National Labor Relations ACTWU filed objections with the NLRB, citing 20 Board (NLRB) for a representation election. different unfair labor practice violations by the company Michael Fitzsimmons works at Bates Nitewear in The company responded to the workers' organizing ef­ during the election period. Forty workers testified against Greensboro, North Carolina, and is a participant in the forts with intimidation and lies. Workers were shown an- the company. The NLRB ruled the first vote invalid and union organizing drive. -LEII"ERS------Indians For this purpose, using the Sure, there are those at home in the capitalist USA who are unsup­ I thought your readers might be existing democratic institutions, interested in this article published the people will begin a struggle for portive of the war. But a majority? No. I ask you to stop trying to con­ by the National Indian Youth its true liberation. vince your 11 ,000 subscribers that Council. Richardson Narcisse, spokesper­ the U.S. doesn't support President "The Smithsonian Institution son for Patriot's Mission Reagan. Rather, it is the socialists has released a state-by-state inven­ Reginald Volny, secretary-general tory of the remains of 14,000 In­ Port-au-Prince, Haiti that are grieving about the war. dian bodies in its collection. It in­ Must you be so biased that you stop making sense? vited Indian tribes to apply for Feminist calendar them if the tribes can make a prop­ Jerry Moped An Irish feminist calendar for Lewiston, Idaho er identification. 1987 on the theme of "women "So if you know what the skele­ fight back" is now available, ton of your relative looks like or which your readers may be inter­ The Bohemian feeling you can tell Kiowa bones from ested in. Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Sioux bones you can make an ap­ Copies may be ordered from Caspar Weinberger, George plication for their return. Women Fight Back Action Group, Shultz, and other members of the "When asked if they had any re­ 30 Fonteroy St., Dublin 7, Ireland 114-year-old Bohemian Club have mains of Anglos in their general at $5 each, which will include lost an appeals court decision. collection they replied that they prompt packaging and receipt. They will no longer be able to did not think so. When asked why We are not a publishing house wander naked around the posh not, they said they did not know." or anything like that, but a group grounds of the 2, 700-acre club in E.C. that grew out of the Campaign Northern California exclusively Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Against the Kerry Tribunal Re­ under the eyes of male-only em­ port. ployees. Haiti Mary O'Connell The court ordered the club to I am wntmg to inform you for Women Fight Back Action hire women, rejecting claims that about my country. I take the occa­ Group the presence of female employees sion to salute you in the name of Dublin, Ireland "would change the spirit of the or­ the world socialist revolution. ganization" and "destroy the Throughout the land, demands and 'Contras' Bohemian feeling." demonstrations are being carried A lower-court decision that In response to the editorial titled exempted the club from federal out-not for fun, but for the well­ "Reagan's secret aid to contras" in being of all. fair-employment laws was over­ the December 5 Militant, I am turned. The justice ruled that the Given that the National Council skeptical about a few points men­ club's own prohibition of fraterni­ of Government (CNG) is the exact tioned. zation by employees with mem­ replica of the Jean-Claude I will develop two of them. The bers makes irrelevant the argu­ Barricada [Duvalier] government; first refers to the paragraph: ment that hiring females would "We have a right to know what And given that the criminals deny members their constitutional of its treatment of all the various conflagration. who killed Jean Robert Cius, other operations have been carried right of association. issues shunned by the establish­ out by North and other U.S. offi­ Even now, the pharmaceutical Mackenson Michel, and Daniel­ Howard Mayhew ment papers and other media. manufacturers are talking of the son lsmael were never brought to cials to fund or supply the con­ Whitin, New Jersey Keep up the good work. tras." billions of dollars to be made from justice; given that the victims of the introduction of an effective Martissant have never gotten jus-­ Who is "we"? If you are includ­ Privacy On the question of the disease ing yourself in "we," why do you AIDS, does the Militant or any of vaccine against AIDS. tice; The government's prosecution have the "right" to have the infor­ your readers have any information This suggests to me waiting And given that the CNG pro­ of Pamela Rae Monson for her pri­ until the "war" has killed off mation you ask for? as to its origins? I ask this question tects the Tontons Macoutes and vate behavior during pregnancy enough of the world's population Maybe you meant to write, because Radio Moscow World commits acts and actions contrary seriously threatens women's pri­ "The Sandinistas would love to Service, which I listen to regu­ to make consumer markets once to the basic principles of the Dec­ vacy and reproductive rights. again attractive to capitalist pro­ know. . .. " "We have the right" is larly, broadcast an item recently in laration of the Rights of Man and Whatever caused the death of far-fetched. A war is being fought. which it was claimed that AIDS is ducers. Then a suitable vaccine of the Citizen; given that the CNG Monson's baby, it is exceedingly Do I have the right to know the a man-made ailment. The program will be miraculously discovered to continues to lie to the people; doubtful that marijuana had much Sandinistas' game plan? I hardly quoted an Irish newspaper and a bring about the corresponding And given that the CNG is to do with it. Marijuana is a non­ think so. The conflict between the French scientist as sources for re­ equivalent of peace. working with the Haitian people's addictive herb with much lower Sandinistas and contras is reality ports that AIDS was cultured in Harry Turnbull number one enemy, the USA, in toxicity than most legal drugs, and League City, Texas -not a game of show and tell. U.S.laboratories and that convicts order to tolerate Yankee im­ it does not cause fetal deformities I also disagree with the sen­ were used as guinea pigs in return perialism in the country; given that or "fetal distress syndrome." the CNG is resorting to deception, tence, "The primary reason for the for early release from prison. The letters column is an open secrecy of this war is its unpopu­ R.B. Wilk treason, and crime to preserve the Bloomfield, New Jersey Could AIDS indeed be the prod­ forum for all viewpoints on sub­ Duvalierist government; given larity at home and abroad." uct of some government agency's jects of general interest to our that certain disappearances were Thank goodness these words mad Dr. Moreau, deliberately de­ readers. Please keep your letters the work of the CNG; were written under the title "edito­ AIDS signed as the equivalent of a brief. Where necessary they will It follows that the CNG is no rial," because it is definitely your As a new subscriber, I would capitalist war without the expense be abridged. Please indicate if longer recognized as the govern­ personal socialist opinion, Mr. like to express my admiration for of weapons or the risk of global you prefer that your initials be ment of the people. Editor. the Militant and my appreciation destruction as a result of a nuclear used rather than your full name.

December 19, l986 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Human cost of war against Angola S. Africa troops, U.S.-armed terrorists kill, matm,• destroy

BY SAM MANUEL thatched roofs, the walls were made of arms or legs as a result of the war. The di­ HUAMBO, Angola - Ever since it adobe brick, an improvement over the stick rector explained that they get an average of overthrew Portuguese colonial rule II frames of colonial times. Two young men 1 ,000 cases per year. This hospital has years ago, Angola has been at war. The ages 14 and 15 stood guard with AK-47 as­ been functioning since 1981. It is the only war is carried out against the Angolan sault rifles. one of its kind in all of Angola, so possibly people by the apartheid regime of South thousands of others never receive treat­ Africa, in collaboration with the counter­ Changes since independence ment. Many die as a result. revolutionary bands of the so-called Na­ The village elder explained what had One by one the patients told me their tional Union for the Total Independence of changed since colonial times. "Before, we stories. All of them were peasants. Angola (UNIT A) led by Jonas Savimbi. worked the land but also had to seek work Catarina Tchilombo, 42 years old, is crip­ Washington, which has always opposed in the city in order to get money to pay the pled in both legs. She was shot when the government of the People's Movement taxes," he said. "Now we don't pay the UNITA forces carried out a midnight at­ for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), has taxes. We work the land and get help from tack on her village of Bailundo, 40 miles stepped up its political and military aid to the MPLA." north of here. UNIT A. This area has historically been a bread­ Candida Katanga, 17, lost both legs in The harsh reality of the war is driven basket of Angola. Now, there is a shortage an antipersonnel mine explosion while home upon arrival at the airport in of food due largely to the war and the rapid working in the fields. Huambo. Antiaircraft guns and bunkers are flight of peasants from the countryside into Magdelena Jambela, 19, lost one leg. prominent, and security is much tighter the city. She was carrying her child on her back at than in Luanda, the capital. Over the last few months the Angolan the time. The child survived only because Huambo, a city of nearly 1.5 million, is army has been conducting extensive opera­ the mother's body blocked the force of the located in the central highlands of Angola. tions against South African and UNIT A explosion. Hiyifiyo Lunge, 9, stepped on a The meager social services the government forces here. This campaign has resulted in mine on his way to the toilet. Each story re­ can provide are further strained as the loss of many UNIT A troops, prisoners vealed a conscious pattern of terror against thousands of people flee the areas just to taken, and large amounts of weapons cap­ civilians. the east of here where UNIT A and South tured. South African and UNIT A troops African troops operate extensively. Some are largely confined to the country's ex­ 'Beat and raped women' 600,000 of these displaced people live in treme southeastern comer. Fifty-six-year-old Gabriel Kassange, a constant need of emergency assistance for Unable to mount any sort of offensive village elder in Bailundo, lost his legs on food, clothing, and shelter. against the Angolan army, UNIT A has August 29. He described the attack on the The vast majority of Angolans live by more and more turned to terrorist acts village: "First they started shooting. Many subsistence farming of potatoes, beans, against the population. of us attempted to gather some things and com, peanuts, and a variety of fruits. In the rich agricultural farmlands sur­ run. The shooting forced us to run through The cooperative village of Cassege No. rounding Huambo, they plant antiperson­ the fields. Then the mines started to ex­ 1 some 10 miles from here is typical of nel mines in the fields to prevent the peas­ plode. I stepped on one. I looked down and thousands throughout the countryside here. ants from farming the land. The result is in­ saw that I had lost my legs. They beat and The men were away in the fields when we discriminate killing and maiming of civil­ raped the women, including my daughter. arrived. Some young women were working ian men, women, and children. They took everything we had - clothes, smaller plots of land near the village dwell­ I was taken to an emergency Red Cross food, chickens, and other animals." ings. Though many of the homes had hospital that treats people who have lost Bailundo is an area of the Ovimbundo­ Militant/Sam Manuel speaking people whom UNIT A has histor­ Angolan amputee, victim of U.S.­ ically claimed as a base of support. backed war. Another reporter asked Kassange his feel­ S. Africa cops arrest 13 ings toward Savimbi. He answered, shak­ Some children arrive traumatized, yet the ing, "If I could stand I would go and finish orphanage cannot provide professional him and the others." psychiatric care. She explained, "We sim­ From there we were taken to see another ply rely on the companionship of the older white foes of apartheid example of how UNIT A is fighting for the children to bring the newer ones through." hearts and minds of the Angolan people. The U.S. government and the media We visited an orphanage. It housed chil­ portray Savimbi and his band as freedom According to official figures, 7,589 BY ERNEST HARSCH dren from infancy up to I2 years old. fighters against communism in Angola. Alarmed by the spread of anti-apartheid whites failed to respond to draft call-up or­ The director, Maria Lucia, explained But etched upon the bodies of the people activism among sectors of South Africa's ders in 1985, compared to 1,600 the year that most of the children had lost their par­ here is the true nature of the dirty war con­ before. white population, security police detained ents in attacks by UNIT A and South Afri­ ducted by South Africa and UNITA, with Some whites have taken their opposition 13 people over the night of December 2-3. can soldiers on the villages in the area. increasing support from Washington. All were young white antidraft campaign­ to apartheid a step further. On November 6 ers. a 28-year-old white guerrilla fighter, Mar­ ion Monica Sparg, was convicted and sen­ In coordinated raids, the police picked tenced to 25 years in prison. Namibia freedom fighter murdered up nine activists of the End Conscription Sparg was accused of planting bombs at Campaign (ECC) in Cape Town and four three police stations this year - two of BY SAM MANUEL toria for trial, where he received a life sen­ ECC members at a meeting in Johannes­ which exploded, causing considerable LUANDA, Angola- Emanuel Shifidi, tence. burg. Twelve others present at the Johan­ damage. She admitted openly in court that a veteran fighter against the occupation of He spent 20 years behind bars, 18 of nesburg meeting were served with restric­ she had planted the bombs as a member of Namibia by the armed forces of the apart­ them on the notorious Robben Island. tion orders banning them from any further Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), heid regime in South Africa, was recently Early this year, he was released, along with participation in the antidraft campaign. the military wing of the outlawed African killed in Windhoek, the capital of several other prisoners. The South African In South Africa, all able-bodied white National Congress (ANC). Namibia. regime claimed to have released them as males are obliged to serve two years in the "I regard myself as a patriot," Sparg part of preparations for the interim govern­ South African Defence Force (SADF), fol­ said, responding to the charge of treason. He was murdered during an armed attack ment in Namibia. It had hoped that Shifidi lowed by periodic call-ups and reserve "Even as a white South African I do not on a November 30 rally of thousands of and others would participate in this farce, duty. They might be sent to fight against owe any loyalty to a government which is members and supporters of the South West thus legitimizing it. the Namibian independence forces or to clearly not based on the will of the people." Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO). Upon his return to Namibia, Shifidi con­ patrol the Black townships within South In her testimony, Sparg explained, "I Thugs from a military unit called Koevoet tinued to struggle against the apartheid oc­ Africa, alongside the regular police. felt basically that if there was to be any fu­ were responsible. cupiers. He denounced the so-called inter­ But under the impact of the massive ture chance for reconciliation between In Afrikaans, the language of part of im government and helped to organize ral­ Black mobilizations over the past two years Blacks and whites in this country, then South Africa's white population, Koevoet lies for the immediate independence of and the growing crisis of the apartheid sys­ those whites who sympathized, who means crowbar. This group is composed of Namibia. tem, some whites have begun to openly op­ agreed with the aims or the ideas for which South African provocateurs, Namibian Hidipo Hamutenya, secretary of infor­ pose the regime's policies. Black South Africans were fighting, and puppet supporters of the so-called interim mation for SWAPO, explained, "Shifidi The ECC was launched in I984 by more for which they have indicated that they are government installed by South Africa, and was a veteran of political imprisonment. than 40 church, student, and civil rights preparing to fight to the death, then it is former members of the Rhodesian military. Now he has died in the struggle against the groups to organize opposition to military also necessary for those whites who agree A two-year-old child was also killed in apartheid racists. We have every reason to conscription. It has held rallies of several with them to also be seen to be acting at Koevoet's attack. Twenty-two others are believe that this was a selective murder. thousand. that level." listed in critical condition at the Windhoek For days leading up to the rally, there had The ECC's strongest base has been on Sparg said that in Umkhonto we Sizwe Central Hospital. been a campaign of terror organized the white, English-speaking campuses, but and the ANC, "we believe that apartheid Shifidi was a pioneer guerrilla of the against SW APO supporters. Homes were in recent months its support has grown on has to be destroyed, that the only way to do People's Liberation Army of Namibia burned, and vehicles were destroyed. Hav­ some of the Afrikaans-speaking univer­ it is by going to war. My motives, I feel, (PLAN). On Aug. 26, 1966, he partici­ ing just released these comrades, the re­ sities as well. This has included the univer­ are not those of a murderer or a killer or pated in the first armed attack by PLAN gime could not afford to rearrest them and sities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch, which even of a saboteur. Ultimately my motive units against the South African Defence return them to prison. It therefore now at­ up to now have been strongholds of support is that of a soldier - a volunteer soldier, Force in Namibia. During the battle, tempts to intimidate them through mur­ for the governing National Party. not one who is conscripted." Shifidi was captured. He was sent to Pre- der."

16 The Militant December 19, 1986