• AUSTRALIA $2.00 • BELGIUM BF60 • CANADA $2.00 • FRANCE FF1 0 • ICELAND Kr150 • NEW ZEALAND $2.50 • SWEDEN Kr12 • UK £1.00 • U.S. $1.50 INSIDE Support the Socialist Workers candidates THE -PAGE 10 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 60/NO. 39 NOVEMBER 4, 1996 Yeltsin ousts Millions across France Lebed as strike for social wage tension grows BY NAT LONDON in Moscow AND RAFIK ZAIGOUCHE MAURICE WILLIAMS PARIS -Nearly two million public A fight for political supremacy in workers struck and some 200,000 demon Moscow's ruling caste deepened as ailing strated throughout France against govern Russian president Boris Yeltsin dismissed ment austerity measures on October 17. national security adviser Alexander Lebed Some 35 percent of the nearly 5.5 million on October 17, following accusations that civil servants and public service workers Lebed was plotting a coup. Appearing weak struck that day, according to government and ill a month before scheduled heart by figures. pass surgery, Yeltsin said on national tele Thousands of schools were closed across vision that he "could not tolerate" Lebed, the country as 45 percent of workers in the who "is splitting the team apart." national education system walked out. Yeltsin also fired the deputy commander Between 40 and 45 percent of rail work of airborne forces on October 17 and dis ers were on strike and only one third of the missed Gen. Mikhail Kolesnikov, the armed trains functioned that day. Many workers forces chief of staff, the next day. The moves at Air France and Air France Europe (for were widely viewed as "an attempt to purge merly Air Inter) struck, as did the air traffic the Defense Ministry of any senior person controllers, canceling 85 percent of domes nel loyal to Mr. Lebed," according to the tic flights. The day before the action, news New York Times. Seeking to forestall a pos papers did not appear as journalists struck sible armed mutiny, Russian troops were put against a government tax reform measure on alert in Moscow and other major cities. aimed at them. Three hours after being forced out of the Demonstrations were held in cities Kremlin, Lebed told a news conference, throughout France and drew large contin "I'm going to set up a political structure to Continued on Page 3 prepare for the coming elections." He called on "comrades in arms, my allies and people I probably do not know- do not do any thing abrupt." Lebed was appointed national Socialist: 'reject CIA conspiracy theory' security adviser after he placed a strong third in the first round of the presidential elec BY GALE SHANGOLD Central for cocaine sales to fund the U.S. men, a distribution network, and a market." tions. LOS ANGELES - "Working people dirty war against the Nicaraguan people and Tbe-l].So government also organized That same day, Lebed's bodyguards should totally reject the barrage of con their government.' We also said the CIA funding for the contras from contributions clashed openly with armed plainclothes in spiracy theories that are running rampant contra operation 'opened the floodgates to · from wealthy U.S. capitalists, from the royal terior ministry agents who were carrying now," said Thabo Ntweng, Socialist Work crack addiction, ruining lives of tens of thou family in Saudi Arabia, and from arm sales surveillance equipment. The agents were ers candidate for Congress in the 35th Con sands of Blacks, many of them young.' to Iran, later known as "Contragate." detained, disarmed, and released after Lebed gressional District. In a recent interview, "Rather than a conspiracy or a racist plot," "My campaign attended two public meet gave them a lecture. Ntweng responded to the articles in the San explained Ntweng, "drugs were sold where ings called after the San Jose M ercuryNews Lebed bumped heads frequently with Jose Mercury News alleging that a Nicara money could be made quickly, easily, prof articles appeared, each of which attracted Continued on Page 3 guan drug network with ties to the CIA itably -where there were already middle- Continued on Page 6 opened the first crack cocaine pipeline to the Los Angeles Black community. The newspaper articles by staff writer GMworkers Gary Webb rehash news about Nicaraguan Venezuela cops incinerate inmates "contra" operations to profit from the sell ing of drugs after the U.S. government had BY MEGAN ARNEY jail, including Capt. Osmen Martinez, the end strike in officially cut off aid to these counterrevo A fire killed 25 inmates after prison guards detachment's leader, fired the devices into lutionary forces in the 1980s. launched incendiary devices into a crowded two cells. "My campaign," said Ntweng, "was for jail cell in Caracas, Venezuela, October 22. According to the Associated Press, Canada a period of time dead wrong on this issue. Venezuela's national prisons director, Anto Marval said the fire began after a riot by Our initial campaign statement said, 'Vis nio Marval, admitted October 23 that three prisoners. But Jose Alberto Mejias, one of BY JOANNE W ALLADOR ible united action is key to expose who guards were responsible for the deaths of the five inmates who managed to flee, said the STE-THERESE, Quebec-Members of okayed the racist decision to 'target' South prisoners. He said three guards at La Planta guards locked them in the cell after the 6:00 the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) ap a.m. roll call and fired tear gas canisters at proved a contract with General Motors Oc them. Mejias explained how sparks from the tober 23, ending a 20-day strike by 26,000 TRe. Soc.ia~ist CW'o!lk2e.J!S PaJtt~ a~~.d ~ou~~.g Soc.ia~ists i11.0'ite. ~ou to canisters started the blaze and "everything workers. caught on fire." The agreement, which had already been Regional Socialist ]He denied initial reports from prison of approved by the CAW Bargaining Commit ficials that inmates had rioted and guards tee, gives GM the go-ahead to sell two parts Educational Conferences fired tear gas to restore order. "Everybody plants in Windsor and Oshawa, Ontario. As was calm. Nobody had done anything part of the agreement, workers who go with November 29 - December I wrong," Mejias said. Later, Marval said the the new owner will receive their current guards apparently acted out of"wickedness" wages for the next three years, and current Atlanta •:• Peoria •:• San Francisco •:• Washington, D.C. and "repression." pensions and benefits for the next nine years. Like most prisons, Venezuela jails are According to the contract, GM is not sup + What the 1996 elections revealed severely overcrowded- some 1,700 people posed to outsource to contractors hundreds + Resisting the bipartisan assault on are housed in a facility made for 1,000- of jobs as they had planned. But GM offi social security and democratic rights, and living conditions for inmates are hor cials said the agreement allows the and imperialism's drive toward rendous, many do not even have beds. automaker to reduce the number of workers fascism and war After the fire, the 12-foot-by-12-foot con it employs because of changes in technol crete jail cell was as black as a coal mine. ogy, productivity gains, a market share de + Defending the Cuban revolution Several hundred inmates demonstrated at the cline, or if a certain product line is discon + Building the communist jail entrance for several hours to prevent au tinued. movement today thorities from entering to transport the bod Under the agreement, workers will get an ies. The inmates demanded that reporters annual wage increase of 2 percent in addi Classes • Book sale • Socials and lawyers from the attorney general's of tion to regular cost -of-living increases. They fice enter the burned cell block ahead of the will also receive a $350 signing bonus. National Guard so they could give their side Same-sex partners of CAW members will of the story. be eligible to receive health and other non This is the worst incident in a Venezu pension benefits. Mandatory overtime atthe eh.m penitentiary since 1994, when a blaze remaining Oshawa facilities will be elimi at Sabaneta Prison in Maracaibo killed 108 nated, although the company retains the right inmates. Continued on Page 8 How Washington blew up Cuban airliner in 1976 - page 7 , IN BRIEf------~---- Turkish forces kill Greek ments" would be needed to put Poland in Cypriot EUtrim. "This requires nothing less than a trans Turkish military forces occupying the formation of the economic and administra northern third of the island of Cyprus shot tive landscape of the country - from the and killed a Greek Cypriot October 13. The acceleration of privatization to the reform man was shot dead in a buffer zone occu of public administration," van den Broek pied by United Kingdom military bases that explained. divides the island. Four people have been killed in the buffer area since tensions be Israeli settlers grab Arab land gan to mount in August. The Athens-backed Cypriot government Israeli soldiers restrained angry Palestin called the killing "blatant cold-blooded ians October 17 as they watched Zionist set murder." Costas Smitis, Greece's prime min tlers unwrap and place barbed wire around ister, has pledged military support for the a stretch of land they claimed Palestinians regime in Cyprus, using the tensions between were illegally using. The Palestinian owner Athens and Ankara to advance a massive of the plot, Salem Jaber, together with 30 of militarization program to the tune of $12 his relatives, furiously watched the fence go billion in arms spending. · up. "This land is ours," he said. Zvi Katzover, mayor of Kiryat Arba, Kurdish factions battle in Iraq claimed the Palestinians were illegally liv ing on the plot, but Jaber said he had the The Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), deeds to prove ownership of the land. "There backed by Iraqi government, recaptured the won't be peace between us. There will be town of Koi Sanjaq from the Patriotic Union butchery. It is us or them," concluded Jaber of Kurdistan. (PUK) on October 18. The More than 25,000 students marched in Mexico City, in rememberance of the in frustration. fighting halted a recent offensive by the PUK Tlatelolco massacre 28 years ago. On October 2, 1968, students, workers and to retake northern territory in Iraq, lost in peasants poured into the streets demanding price decreases, an end to persecu Zaire gov't to expel refugees August and September to the KDP. The tion by the Mexican military, and other measures. The Mexican army was sent Zairian prime minister Leon Kengo wa PUK had launched a counteroffensive Oc in, slaughtering over 300 civilian protesters. tober 13 seizing Sulaymaniyah and Koi Dondo announced October 16 plans to close Sanjaq, the second largest city in the region. all refugee camps in eastern Zaire - where more than a million Rwandans have taken U.S. state department spokesman Nicho cal plants on October 13. las Bums warned the Iraqi regime did not Gen. Rashid Dostum and Ahmed Shah refuge. Dondo accused the regime in Massoud, former rivals in Afghanistan, have any "kind of role to play militarily in Rightist wins Nicaragua election Rwanda of "unacceptable behavior." the northern part of Iraq." Under the pretext formed an alliance to oppose of the reac Rwandan and Zaire troops governments Initial results of the October 20 presiden tionary Taliban regime that assumed power have exchanged heavy weapon and mortar of protecting the Kurdish population in tial elections in Nicaragua indicated Liberal northern Iraq, U.S. president William September 27 after 4 years of power fire twice in September, with the Rwandan Alliance candidate Amoldo Aleman won by struggles resulting from the defeat of the foreign ministry charging the Zaire govern Clinton ordered two rounds of cruise mis a nearly 10 percent margin over Daniel sile strikes in southern Iraq in September. Moscow-backed regime in 1992. ment with using the refugee camps as de Ortega, candidate of the Sandinista National Dostum, who had previously abstained facto bases for Hutu attacks on Rwanda. Mexican peso hits 1996 low Liberation Front (FSLN). Ortega was presi from sending troops to fight, sent tanks and dent of the Sandinista-led workers and farm troops to the front lines. Dostum has called Social Security shorts thousands The Mexican peso dropped in value to ers government that came to power in the for a cease-fire and negotiations that would The Social Security Administration 12.7 U.S. cents on October 16-its lowest 1979 revolution. Following the FSLN's re set up a broad based government that in claimed that a computer blunder had cheated level this year. The country's central bank treat from leading the revolution forward in cluded Taliban representation. Abdullah, a 700,000 people of $850 million worth of · has sought to shore up the currency through the late 1980s, capitalist politician Violeta spokesman for Massoud said, "we will have social security benefits. In 1994, the first out the year by buying up pesos to keep the Chamorro won the presidency in 1990. a joint strategy against Tali ban, whether in chunk of mistakes were uncovered with peso valued at 13.3 U.S. cents. Banco de Aleman, the former mayor of the capital talks or in fighting." some 400,000 recipients getting shorted by Mexico sopped up some 40 million pesos Managua, ran on a platform of bringing in $10 - $20 a week for over a decade. While out of circulation October 14-15 buying more foreign investment and 'establishing Ruling party gains in Japan these people were compensated, a further pesos and raising liquidity of the bank. closer relations with Washington. Ortega Japanese prime minister Ryutaro investigation unearthed 300,000 more that According to the New York Times, the called for a recount, alleging "serious irregu Hashimoto's Liberal Party gained in parlia were not given the money due. peso slide was buttressed by investors' larities" in the balloting. mentary elections October 20, going from Nearly 60,000 have died who never re "anxiety" when Mexican president Ernesto 211 seats to 239 in the 500-member lower ceived the money they were owed. Zedillo canceled the sale of 61 petrochemi- War continues in Afghanistan house of parliament. Hashimoto immedi ately turned to forming a new coalition gov Dow inflates to 6000 mark ernment. The Social Democrats, part of the The Dow Jones industrial stock average previous governing coalition, lost half of hit a record 6020 October 16, prompting their seats, going from 30 to 15. optimism among market speculators. "The The Liberal Democrats were Japan's rul fact that we closed above the 6000 level is ing party from 1955 through most of the kind of psychologically important for this postwar era. Following a series of political market. .. and could give us a base for an scandals, the LDP tumbled after a no-confi other upward move," Bob Basel, of listed dence vote in July of 1993. Smith Barney, told the Wall Street Journal. The big business financial daily said that EU demands Poland 'reform' bond investors, nervous about the inflated European Union (EU) officials told the bubble, had to be reassured by a 0.3 percent Polish government that it would have to step rise in the consumer price index. The Dow up capitalist economic reforms to be con Jones dropped nearly 200 points between sidered for membership in the IS-nation for July 4 and July 12, sending Wall Street into mation. EU foreign affairs commissioner a frenzy. Hans van den Broek said "major adjust- -BRIAN TAYLOR
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2 The Militant November 4, 1996 Strikes protest austerity drive in France Continued from front page sures in order to enter the European Mon tion the government of Prime Minister found themselves without jobs as the new gents of teachers, hospital workers and etary Union on par with their German ri Alaine Juppe announced a wage freeze for school year started. This means a work over smaller numbers of rail, gas and electric and vals. all public workers and an attack on their load for the remaining teachers. "Create postal workers. France is in the midst of a worsening eco retirement age. Instead of intimidating 45,000 teaching jobs- it's better than In the days preceding the national day of nomic crisis. Economic activity has declined workers this gave the action momentum. It 800,000 hours of overtime", read the ban action, tens of thousands of defense plant in three of the last five quarters and dropped became the largest one day action in recent ner of one of the demonstrating teachers workers, journalists, doctors and ambulance 0.4 percent in the second quarter of this year. memory and kicked off an explosive move unions. drivers and others engaged in similar ac Official unemployment is 12.5 percent and ment of strikes in November and Decem Three unions called for a strike by the tions. still rising. Unions have pointed out that if ber. 120,000 doctors who are general practitio The International Herald Tribune, an those on temporary government training This year the government announced an ners with private practices to protest Juppe's English-language daily published in Paris programs, early retirement programs to end to the wage freeze and the opening of proposed reforms of the Social Security sys but jointly owned by the New York Times avoid layoffs, and other such schemes are wage negotiations just before the strike day. tem. A fourth union called for applying a and Washington Post, warned U.S. inves added to the 3.3 million officially unem Following the strike, government represen part of the Juppe plan, but also took part in tors to steer clear of France. "U.S. investors ployed, the figure would be 5.7 million or tatives and some newspapers announced tri the day's action. are keen on almost all of Europe" ran their around 20 percent of the workforce. umphantly that the strike wave was declin Medical workers made up large contin front page headline. However, France, they The press is filled with comparisons be ing since participation in this year's strike gents in the demonstrations. "There's too warned, was the "one country in the Euro tween the October 17 action and a National was less than last year's 57 percent. It was, much work in the hospital- there's too pean Union" where "there are so many Day of Action held on October 10 last year. nevertheless, one of the largest such actions much unemployment outside - hire, hire vested interests that resist the kind of re While this year's demonstrations were in France in the last 15 years. the unemployed," shouted the demonstrat structuring which is taking place in other somewhat larger than in 1995, the strikes The government has also announced a ing hospital workers over a loud bullhorn, parts of Europe." The French rulers are un were somewhat smaller. reduction in the number of teaching jobs. while postal workers chanted, "no, no lay der pressure to push through austerity mea- In the days leading up to last year's ac- Many teachers with annual contracts offs, one more postal worker equals one less unemployed." The demonstration in Paris was joined by 50 Air France workers who work at Narita Power fight heats up in Russia Airport in Japan. "Liberty and Human Rights for the Japanese personnel of Air Continued from front page five-month delay in wages," London's Fi lives - mostly civilians. "Everyone is France" read their banner in French. They other government officials, including Prime nancial Times reported. Enterprises watching the events in Moscow with great held up colorful banners written in Japanese. Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and presi throughout the country owe some $6.8 bil alarm," a Chechen fighter remarked. Koki Umeki, a leader of the Association of dential chief of staff Anatoly Chubais. At lion to workers, and the debt is growing by Chechen leaders announced October 19 Japanese Workers at Air France Against all an October 16 news conference, interior $500 million every month, according to plans to hold elections on January 27, ad Discrimination, said they had come to pro minister Anatoly Kulikov accused Lebed of government figures. vancing preparations to form a government. test union busting activity by Air France organizing a 50,000-strong "Russian Le "We had enough for food, we had enough Speaking of the recent events, U.S. am management at Narita Airport in Japan. gion" to launch a coup. Kulikov said Lebed for clothes," Valeri and Galin a Novikov told bassador Thomas Pickering said, "President They were welcomed by a CGT contin planned for the new legion to crush internal the Christian Science Monitor. "Now we are Yeltsin once again made it clear that, when gent of Air France workers from Charles conflicts in the country, including assassi down to just food." Both workers are owed it comes to the crunch, he will act." De Gaulle Airport and demonstrated to nations of leaders of political parties, inde months in back wages from the Ivanovo Yeltsin "remains in control even from his gether. pendence movements, and others viewed as Blended Yarn Mill, Ltd. sick bed," added a news article in the Wall One of the contingents which received threats. Meanwhile, as political instability con Street Journal. the most applause from the sidelines was "Lebed has decided to move ahead using tinues to stalk the Kremlin, leaders in A more realistic assessment of the crisis made up of several hundred undocumented force instead of waiting for the next presi Chechnya expressed fears that the ouster of facing the regime was expressed by the Fi workers and their supporters. They have dential poll," said Kulikov, who heads a Lebed could signal a new Russian offen nancial Times, which asserted that "today's been struggling since March demanding large force of police and paramilitary units. sive. Lebed negotiated a halt to Yeltsin's struggles could prove to be just the dress regular residency papers. Lebed denied the coup allegation, but bloody war to crush the Chechen indepen rehearsal for a far more wrenching show acknowledged he sent documents to the in dence struggle, which cost some 30,000 down." Derek Jeffers contributed to this article. terior and defense ministries proposing spe cial brigades of 3,000 soldiers in each re gion, purportedly to form a national guard. Lebed said he was told it could be done by Tribute to life of Black rights fighter the end of 1999. Shortly before his dismissal, Lebed had We are reprinting below a tribute sent Robert F. Williams. His in us. I recall being struck urged Yeltsin to resign. "There is a presi by Socialist Workers Party National Sec tegrity and courage as a during the discussion dent and at the same time there is no presi retary Jack Barnes to the Robert Will leader of the struggle period by how com dent," he said September 28. "I would pre iams Tribute Committee, which is orga against racism, exploitation, fortable each of the fer to deal with someone who is temporary nizing a meeting to celebrate the life of and oppression set an im speakers was in field yet in charge." Yeltsin had been admitted to civil rights activist Robert F. Williams. portant example for a gen ing questions about the Central Clinical Hospital, where he be The meeting, which will take place No eration becoming active in both the socialist revo gan undergoing tests September 13. The vember 1 in Detroit, was originally politics in the late 1950s and lution unfolding in Russian president has not fully functioned planned to honor Williams while he was early 1960s. The struggles Cuba and the battles in office since his reelection in July. still alive. Williams died on October 15; he helped initiate and lead for Black rights under Lebed, a former general who oversaw the the letter below was written prior to his to desegregate public facili way in this country. violent repression of popular uprisings in death. ties in the Jim Crow South, Working people and Georgia and Moldova, warned of a "hot Williams was born in Monroe, North and to organize self-defense youth today need to autumn" of growing restlessness from an Carolina, in 1925. After working various of the Black community learn and relearn this underpaid and demoralized army. The Oc factory jobs in the north and spending against Ku Klux Klan history, so we can tober 18 Wall Street Journal reported that time in the military during the Korean nightriders, made Monroe, emulate these ex "a group of officers published a letter in a War, Williams returned to Monroe where North Carolina, in those amples. Doing so will Russian daily newspaper yesterday saying he led a fight by Blacks in the late 1950s years an emblem of resis better prepare all of us they were prepared to take radical steps if and early 1960s to defend themselves, tance to bigotry and social to resist probes against back wages aren't paid by October 25." including with guns when necessary, from injustice, not just in the our democratic rights, Minister of Defense Gen. Igor Rodionov violent attacks by the Ku Klux Klan. He United States but around the Robert F. Williams as the bipartisan rulers said hundreds of thousands of soldiers and was framed-up and forced into exile in world. press to take back so their families live below the poverty line and 1961 for his civil rights activity and de In 1958-59 Robert F. Williams came to cial gains won by labor and civil rights more than 110,000 officers do not have fense of the Cuban revolution. After liv the defense of two Monroe schoolboys - struggles earlier in this century. In the course housing. "If things go on like this the situa ing in Cuba and China, he returned to one seven years old, the other nine, both of of such battles, as Malcolm X said, young tion will become intolerable," he asserted. the United States in 1969. them Black- who were arrested and rail fighters will recognize and assert their self Demands for payment of back wages are roaded to jail on charges of "assaulting and worth and transform themselves as they mounting throughout Russia. "Led by mili Dear Friends, molesting a white female." Their "crime?" work to transform society. These militants tant coal miners, most of the city of Vorkuta The Socialist Workers Party welcomes That one of the boys had been kissed by a are and will be the best tribute to those like went on strike [October 1] to protest at a this opportunity to greet and pay tribute to seven-year-old white girl in the presence of Robert F. Williams in whose footsteps they the other boy (the latter was convicted as an tread. "accomplice"). Williams and other fighters Once again, on behalf of the Socialist The History in Monroe launched the Committee to Com Workers Party I send greetings to Robert bat Racial Injustice, in which members of Williams, Mabel Williams, and other par of the the Socialist Workers Party and Young So ticipants in the Detroit meeting your com Russian cialist Alliance participated alongside many mittee is organizing. Revolution others across the country. Many of its sup In solidarity and in fond salute, porters later formed the Committee to Aid Leon Trotsky the Monroe Defendants in 1961, when Wil- The social, economic, s/Jack Barnes liams himself was framed up on kidnapping and political dynamics National Secretary, charges and forced into exile for eight years. of the first socialist Socialist Workers Party I personally met Robert Williams in early revolution. 3 vols. in 1961, when members of the Fair Play for one. $35.95 Cuba Committee and civil rights support Unpaid miners hold demonstration ers at Minnesota's Carleton College orga A·nibute .. to Robert F. williams in Vladivostok in June 1996 nized a meeting at which he was a featured Imperialism's speaker. Along with Ed Shaw, a Midwest Friday,Nov~rnber l, 1996 March Toward Fascism leader of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee 4 p.m.'"'9p.m. Available from bookstores, includ General. Lectures Hall and War ing those listed on page 8, or write who was also a leader of the Detroit branch Pathfinder, 410 West St., New of the SWP at that time, Williams was on a Way-11e State University Jack Barnes York. NY 10014. Tel: (212) 741- nationwide speaking tour in defense of the In New International no. 10 $14.00 0690.Fax:(212)727-0150.When ~tl'oit, :Michigan ordering by mail, please include $3 Cuban revolution and in support of the ris to cover shipping and handling. ing struggle for Black rights. The meeting had an enormous political impact on all of November 4, 1996 The Militant 3 CAMPAIGNING FOR THE SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE IN 1996 'I urge you to struggle' BY JACQUIE HENDERSON dents signed up for more information about AND TOM ALTER campaign activities Campaign supporters ST. PAUL, Minnesota- "I'm not really also handed out a local Socialist Workers interested in your vote," Socialist Workers' campaign brochure. The four-page brochure presidential candidate James Harris told stu highlights the national and local candidates, dents at the University of Minnesota in Min an interview with Tom Fiske, SWP candi neapolis, October 21. "I'm here to urge you date for U.S. Senate, explaining that his to become part of the struggle to change the Democratic opponent, Paul Wellstone, is a world." liberal advocate of imperialism. It also in Later, at Macalester University in St. Paul, cludes information on becoming involved Harris asked a group of students, some of in the SWP campaign and participating in whom had traveled to Washington the week the upcoming Regional Socialist Educa before to demonstrate for immigrant rights, tional Conferences November 29 - Decem "Why do you think the October 12 demon ber 1. stration was so important? Do you think it The campus meetings followed a gather is because it was right - that no human ing of 45 people the night before at the Path being should be considered illegal?" finder bookstore in St. Paul. "Yes," Harris answered. "But also be cause of what it says about workers today. Workers are not supposed to see themselves BY RAY PARSONS Militant/Jacquie Henderson as equals, as united in opposition to those CHICAGO - "We choose representa Tom Fiske (left), Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. Senate, campaigning together who exploit them. Inside that demonstration tives in the elections but they don't end up with Young Socialist Jack Willey (right) at Mankato State University. were the seeds of a movement for real so representing us. Why?" cial change." "Why are socialists always pointing to ing of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En ternational no. 10, with the article The meetings attracted more than 40 stu fighters, and referring to themselves as fight gineers Division 682 in Hammond, Indiana. "Imperialism's March toward Fascism and dents, including some from high schools and ers?'' The local organizes engineers at the In War," as well as two Pathfinder titles, Eu other colleges in the Twin Cities. Students "Who is a worker? Isn't the owner of a diana Harbor Belt, a small railroad that gene Debs Speaks and American Labor crowded round to talk with Harris and mem factory a worker too?" serves the steel mills and connects various Struggles: 1877-1934, by Samuel Yellen. bers of the Young Socialists long after the "Capitalists will try to subvert even a so rail yards around Chicago. Meriam, 28, is a I interviewed Byrom later as he waited meetings ended. cialist leader that rises to power. How do conductor at Norfolk Southern Railroad. for his train at the Burlington Northern yard Several bought copies of the campaign we prevent this corruption?" She was invited to speak before the union where other campaign supporters work. "I'm newspaper, the Militant, and three bought "What is the socialist stand on gun con by Don Byrom, the local's legislative rep glad you came, and that I had the opportu subscriptions. One youth bought a copy of trol?" resentative. Byrom had met the Socialist nity to put together such a lively discussion," the Marxist magazine, New International, These were just some of the questions Workers Campaign during the protests he said. another picked up Teamster Rebellion. Two raised in a spirited and open discussion af around the Democratic National Conven copies of the Young Socialist organizational ter Kristin Meriam, the Socialist Workers tion in August. Several workers stayed af Ray Parsons is a switchman at the pamphlet went rapidly. One student asked candidate for the 4th Congressional district ter the union meeting to continue talking. Burlington Northern Santa Fe yard in to join the Young Socialists. A dozen stu- of Illinois, spoke before the October 1 meet- One bought the Marxist magazine New In- Cicero, Illinois. Fund supporters organize to meet goal in 3 weeks
BY CHRIS REMPLE Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1920 under the lead With a little orientation, they can take a explained,"We know about how long a book With only three weeks left to complete ership of the Bolsheviks in the Soviet Union. printed book, scan the pages, and check the like this will take us. At a little over 180 the 1996 International Pathfinder Fund, sup In Birmingham, Alabama, supporters are scanned manuscript for errors by cross read pages, we can get it ready for the Pathfinder porters around the world will need to accel holding a raffle to raise money for Path ing the book with a partner. The goal is 100 editors in about 28 hours." erate their work in collecting pledges to go finder. The idea is to sell tickets for the raffle percent accuracy. Not all volunteers have Volunteers who want to be part of the in from the $45,638 collected to date to the to co-workers and others interested in sup- .• scahners; some work with a digitized manu ternational effort to keep all the Pathfinder ' $125,000 goal. Over the past week, over porting Pathfinder. The prizes include a gift script done by those having the equipment. arsenal in print should contact Pathfinder in $7,700 was sent in from around the world certificate to the local Pathfinder bookstore You don't need a computer to help. One New York at 410 West Street, New York, and a new country has been added to the and one donated by a local restaurant. They volunteer cross read Che Guevara and the NY 10014. Anyone wishing to contribute chart. Pathfinder supporters in France have are also sponsoring an event at which the Cuban Revolution while recovering from to the 1996 International Pathfinder Fund taken a goal of collecting $750 by the No door prize will be an item donated by a lo surgery. She read a manuscript that had been can send checks to the same address. vember 12 deadline. The fund is making it cal art gallery. scanned and marked corrections possible for Pathfinder to reprint books With greater efforts by Pathfinder sup in the margins for others to enter. without delay as they go out of stock. porters to get these books into the hands of Teams of volunteers in San fighters around the world, sales have gone Francisco, Seattle, and the New Drive ends November 12 up this year and a rate at which Pathfinder York area have organized a divi Careful organization by supporters is books have to be reprinted has also in sion of labor to take advantage CITY GOAL PAID needed to complete contacting all the people creased. A large number of Pathfinder books of the varying skills and interests. Salt Lake City $3,600 $2,700 they think may want to contribute, as well and pamphlets are in the reprint pipeline. Once a manuscript is returned Miami $2,800 $1,730 62% as reminding every person who has made a to Pathfinder, the print shop Detroit $6,000 $2,975 50% pledge that the end of the fund drive is only Volunteers set more readable type workers begin redesigning the Washington DC $3,500 $1,708 49% a few weeks away. With this approach it will Among the titles being reprinted with text, all with an eye to making San Francisco $10,000 $4,827 48o/o be possible to complete the drive in full and newly designed text and, in some cases, a each Pathfinder book as readable Pittsburgh $6,000 $2,825 47% on time. All contributions must be in the new cover, are three of four volumes of the as possible with the ideas easily Cleveland $3,100 $1,450 47% Pathfinder office in New York by noon Teamster series written by Farrell Dobbs: accessible. Currently some two Brooklyn $6,500 $3,030 47% Tuesday, November 12. Teamster Power, Teamster Politics, and dozen volunteers in six cities PhHadelphia $5,000 $2,125 43% Supporters in Detroit sponsored a fund Teamster Bureaucracy. New, higher quality around the world are preparing Chicago $7,500 $3,150 42% raising event that brought in over $600, in type makes book texts more attractive and 15 manuscripts. Seattle* $9,000 $3,230 36% cluding $100 in new pledges and contribu more readable. Los Angeles $12,000 $4,158 35% tions. Ma'mud Shirvani spoke on Sara Lohman, a member of the Pathfinder 'Socialism on Trial' Greensboro $2,400 $815 34% "Capitalism's growing world disorder." editorial staff, explained that volunteers in Socialism on Trial by James P. Peoria $2,750 $710 26% Shirvani is coauthor of the introduction for different cities around the world organize Cannon, one of the titles being Atlanta $2,700 $675 25% To See the Dawn, the record of the Con themselves to take many of the initial steps retypeset, is currently in Morgantown $1,500 $375 25% gress of the People's of the East held in in preparing the manuscripts to be retypeset. Pathfinder's hands. This book Newark $8,500 $1,853 22% tells the story of the courtroom Twin Cities $7,000 $1,315 19% defense of the leaders of the So New York $8,000 $1,473 18% •• ,, ·.<•• ;-.<><··· .• :.·~· •., .. ~... , ·~. :-~ ''· :>.
United States -~YOUNG SOCIALISTS AROUND THE WORLD Miami 30 16 53% 15 8 12 9 Boston 30 15 50% 15 8 15 6 Los Angeles 85 42 49% 40 27 40 17 Georgia students join Young Socialists Philadelphia 24 9 38% 6 8 6 3 Seattle 45 15 33% 20 13 20 9 This column is written and ed to join the YS? out. Salt Lake City 32 10 31% 12 3 10 0 ited by the Young Socialists (YS), Emily: I decided to join because it deals Andre: People are getting fed-up. Twin Cities, MN 60 15 25% 20 3 25 6 an international organization of with many things I believe in. Something Tom: What would you say to young Tucson, I'J. 5 20% 0 2 0 young workers, students, and must be done. A lot of issues need to be people who are fed-up with the direction Brooklyn 90 17 19% 45 42 60 19 other youth fighting for social brought out that people need to know society is heading? Atlanta 27 5 19% 12 14 12 4 ism. For more information about about. I want to learn more as well. We have Andre: Get involved, get educated, most Newark, NJ 90 16 18% 45 24 45 6 the YS write to: Young Social a class assignment to report on current importantly open your eyes to what's going Houston 40 7 18% 15 8 15 2 ists, P.O. Box 14392, St. Paul, events. I did one on the General Motors strike on like our rights being stripped away by San Francisco 70 12 17% 30 2 35 13 MN 55104. Tel: (612) 644-0051. in Canada. the government, like the same-sex marriage Birmingham, AL 48 8 17% 5 6 18 4 Compuserve: 105162,605 Tom: Why the GM strike? law, the anti-immigrant law. Des Moines 25 4 16% 15 7 15 0 It was two days after my first YS Detroit 50 7 14% 10 6 15 7 Emily: Emily: Educate yourself by reading and Chicago 60 7 12% 30 16 30 6 BY TOMALlER meeting, workers' struggle interests me. talking to people about issues having to do Andre: Joining the YS seems the only way with what's going on like rights being taken New York 100 10 10% 40 32 50 9 ATHENS, Georgia-Recently for young people to get involved, to get out away and interfered with. Peoria, IL 20 2 10% 3 0 10 0 two 17 -year-old high school stu and protest. It's not just about a single is Tom: What are the plans for the YS in Pittsbursh 30 3 10% 3 2 12 0 dents, Andre Gallant and Emily Cleveland 25 2 8% 8 0 15 0 sue. The future seems bleak, I want to tum it Athens in the weeks to come? Aland, joined the Young Social Washington, DC 30 2 7% 20 11 15 9 around. The politics of the YS attracted me. Andre: We are making a flyer and signs to ists in Athens, Georgia. I had the Greensboro, NC 25 1 4% 5 2 9 Tom: What do you think the prospects protest police brutality, especially the An chance to interview them after a Denver 8 0 0% 4 0 2 2 for building the YS are? thony Baez case, to hand out at school and Morsantown, VIN 21 0 0% 4 7 5 YS meeting in Athens where the Andre: I think they're super. For my peers, around town. chapter there voted to meet Total U.S. 1070 227 21% 420 246 495 137 they really dug the ideas. They're scared of Emily: We are going to start meeting as a weekly and carry out a regular the word communism, though, because they chapter and study the Communist Mani lnternationaltotals 1281 294 25% 464 263 666 176 class series. think of Russia. festo. GoaVShould be at 1200 336 28% 425 119 550 154 Tom: How did you meet the Emily: That's something we're trying to IN THE UNIONS Young Socialists? change. Australia Andre: I ran into a book table Andre: Young people need to learn about AMWU-Metal 5 2 40% 0 0 1 0 with books by Che Guevara and the proletariat. We're starting a drive to get AMWU-Food 2 50% 0 0 2 Fidel Castro on it. I've read young people involved. We're putting YS Australia Total 7 3 43% 0 0 3 books by Guevara and Marx. flyers up in our school and trying to get a Canada Revolutionary ideas and change book table up during lunch. lAM 7 3 43% 0 8 0 have been on my mind. This is Emily: The YS is going to grow if we get New zealand what I was looking for. EU 4 0 0% Emily: I ran into the book MWU 5 0 0% table as well and went to a YS UFBGWU 3 0 0% event on immigrant rights where YS FUND DRIVE New zealand Total 12 0 0% a YS member from San Francisco $6000 BY NOVEMBER 15! United States spoke. Karolina, a YS member CIIY GOAL PAID UNITE 15 3 20% 10 10 here in Athens, convinced me to UTU 50 4 8% 5 0 28 0 come to the next meeting. Boston $600 OCAW 27 2 7% 0 1 15 0 Tom: Were you involved in Chicago $400 USWA 40 2 5% 10 2 22 2 politics before joining the YS? Cleveland $150 lAM 0 0 0% 0 2 0 Andre: I've wanted to be in Los Angeles $500 UAW 0 0 0% 0 0 0 0 volved in politics. I tried to get ~ $100 UFCW 4 0 0% 7 2 3 0 involved in school politics but it Peoria $100 UMWA 4 0 0% 0 0 4 0 was all BS. Students have no Philadelphia $200 U.S. Total 140 11 8% 32 8 82 4 rights. I wanted change. Salt Lake City $50 $30 United Kingdom Emily: I've been involved in San Francisco $700 AEEU 6 0 0% 0 4 0 human rights protests, women's Twin Cities $800 $200 TGWU 5 0 0% rights, and gay rights. TOTAL $3600 $235 U.K. Total 6 0 0% 0 0 4 0 Tom: What made you decide November 4, 1996 The Militant 5 Socialist: reject CIA ;conspiracy theory
Continued from front page tims into criminals.' " By presenting well over 1,000 Black community residents. Malcolm X's view in this light, the state My campaign statement painted these meet- ment echoed the liberal approach to work . ings in a positive light rather than describ ing people - that we are victims, first and ing them as Democratic Party get-out-the last, Ntweng argued. vote operations from start to finish," said "Lifting that quote out of its context gives Ntweng. the impression that Malcolm looked at Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of Los Blacks as victims instead of people who Angeles and wealthy businessman Daniel have the capacity to struggle and win. Bakewell of the Brotherhood Crusade or "Malcolm X put forward that workers and . ganized the meetings and encouraged youth cannot blame others for conditions people to reelect President William Clinton. such as drug abuse. He pointed out that we Another public meeting conducted by don't have to accept the alienation and deg Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, another radation that the capitalist system brings us. Democrat, was a "Congressional Inquiry We can fight for our rights and assert our Militant/Jean Armbruster into Alleged Central Intelligence Agency humanity and self-worth in that process. August 11 demonstration for affirmative action in San Diego. Concrete struggles to Involvement in the South Central Los An Blacks are a vanguard section of the work defend gains of working class are key to resisting bipartisan assault by capitalists. geles Crack Cocaine Drug Trade." The Oc ing class that will be in the forefront of the tober 19 hearing was hosted by the Con- . battles that are coming," said Ntweng. resegregation of the Black community, a rise Ntweng campaigned outside of the con · gressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Ntweng explained that it is widely rec in racist police brutality, and high unemploy gressional inquiry and commented, "I got a . Hispanic Caucus, and the House Select ognized and accepted that the CIA has a ment hitting Blacks the hardest," said good response from people attending this Committee on Intelligence. About 800 sordid history of secret actions around the Ntweng. event when I explained that we have to fight people heard day-long testimony from a world· and· is assigned its share of Ntweng maintained that misleaders such against the whole capitalist system. That is parade of professors, writers, lawyers, cops, Washington's ongoing attempts to eliminate as Waters don't point out the real enemy of why I am a socialist. and community activists. threats to U.S. dominance. "But it is dead Blacks: the government and all its agencies, "At the same time we can and must par Ntweng said that "workers and others wrong to say that the CIA poured drugs into the Democratic and Republican parties, and ticipate in the concrete struggles of the day went to these meetings looking for solutions Black community in order to devastate it as the wealthy ruling class.that they represent. that can push the rulers back-like defend to the real problems they face in their com the conspiracy theories do. "It is an election year and no accident that ing affirmative action, calling for equal munities. They were presented with noth "Instead of repeating these stories we liberals in San Jose 'exposed' this issue," rights for immigrants, and opposing U.S. ing but conspiracy theories that are a total need to understand that Blacks face devas Ntweng continued. "They want to get votes war moves against Cuba, Iraq, and else diversion from a real fight for Black rights." tating conditions not because of some plot, for Democrats by painting Republicans as where. And we need to break from relying These so-called theories point workers away but because of the day-to-day workings of a special threat for working people. But it on both the Democratic and Republican par from developing a materialist understand capitalism, which profits off the exploita is Clinton who is leading the charge against ties, which are a major obstacle to all ing the how the social and economic crises tion of Blacks and other oppressed nation immigrant rights, attacking gay rights by struggles of working people." they face are rooted in class-divided soci . ali ties. Racism is also used by the ruling signing the Defense of Marriage Act, cut ety, and how they can be part of organizing class to keep the working class divided. ting the social wage with the Welfare Re Gale Shangold is a member of Union of a movement to change it, the SWP candi "Capitalism is in a crisis. That is why we form Act, and opening the door to attacks Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Em date said. see increased assaults, including the on affirmative action." ployees Loca/482. Ntweng also commented on the demands of the southern California SWP campaign statement which read, "Open all the contra drug files now! Make the CIA, DEA, FBI, National Security Council come clean! Ar Cuban editor wins visa for U.S. tour rest and prosecute the government drug traf fickers!" BY FRANK FORRESTAL bans invited to speak "These demands foster the illusion that CHICAGO - C\!b,an. poet ) 1l'qrbeUq.. .., in,tpe United St~tes. demands around drugs can be realized un Codina, editor of £a 'Gaceta•·di! Cublf, a"· '"· ,,, Codina's speaking der capitalism. In fact, drugs are a major magazine of art and literature, will be speak- engagements are be- capitalist business. The cops and other gov ing at several Chicago-area colleges and ing coordinated by ernment agencies are up to their ears in it; universities November 10-16. Following his Felix Masud-Piloto, we shouldn't act shocked at that," said visit here, Codina will travel to the New director of the Center Ntweng. York region, where he has received anum- for Latino Research at "As capitalism declines alcoholism and ber of speaking invitations. DePaul University. In other social ills proliferate, including drug Codina was recently informed by U.S. this area Codina will abuse." The demands also perpetuate the officials that they are granting him a visa to speak at DePaul, illusion that the CIA and other government visit the United States. He has received in- Northwestern Univer- cop formations can be reformed. "These vitations to speak on the theme of art and sity, Northern Illinois cops exist entirely in order to uphold capi culture in Cuba from professors and student University, University talist rule. There is no way for them to come groups at some 15 universities and colleges of Illinois at Chicago, clean," Ntweng pointed out. in the Chicago and New York areas. Many Waubonsee Commu- "This also leads me to say why it was such of those issuing these invitations regard nity College, and Illi- an error in the campaign statement to quote Codina receiving a visa as a significant vic- nois Benedictine Col- tory for those who want to broaden cultural lege. Academics at Militant/ Janice Lynn from Malcolm X completely out of context, Norberto Codina, editor of La Gaceta de Cuba. thereby giving a wrong impression on what and other exchanges with Cuba and who several other schools Malcolm X had to offer on this topic. want to hear the truth about that Caribbean are also planning to tober 12 demonstration in Washington, The statement read, "The capitalist sys nation. In past months the Clinton adminis- have the Cuban editor speak. D.C., in defense of the rights of immigrants tem, as Malcolm X taught, aims to tum 'vic- tration has denied visas to a number of Cu- Some students who participated in the Oc- are beginning to help out on building Codina's speaking engagements. For the past eight years, Codina has been the editor ofLa Gaceta, a prestigious maga zine published by the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). The July-August issue features a series of articles on Tomas Gutierrez Alea, one of Cuba's best known llolllll· · film directors, who died in Havana earlier no.9 this year. The issue also includes an inter The Condition view with Ernesto Sabato, one of of the Working-Class The Rise Argentina's foremost novelists; and a col in England and Fall lection of contemporary poetry from Written··· .. ·· in of the Holguin, an important cultural center in 1845, t.ltis pioc: eastern Cuba. Nicaraguan .. As a writer and editor, Codina has trav neering work Revolution eled to many parts of the world. He recently ~~~~J&dityg~··~~!!!!!!!!'!!!!!!!!!!!'!!!~~ WashingtOl11 S Coutra War and participated in a conference on "Culture in the Challenge of Forging.· Pro Cuba" held September 27-28 in Montreal. di life c~pi~ah... ·...... ·· .·.. ·...... letarian I.,eadership ·· · Last year Codina spoke at universities in Los is:tni:mp<>ses on the modem work Angeles, Houston, New York, and Wash ington, D.C. Earlier this year Codina was d~YI? il:,\g class will it to fight for given the National Culture Award by the i~p emancipatioJ\. $17.95 · · · · t~il~!i:J~=~~~~ft~!·· Workers and Farhlers Govern- Cuba's Ministry of Culture. La Gaceta is published in Spanish six ment $14;00 times a year and is available through Path on Colonlalsm····=· finder Press ( 410 West Street, New York, Available from bookstores, including N.Y. 10014 ). The publishing house just an Karl Marx, those listed on page 8, or write Pathfinder, nounced a special student subscription rate Frederick Ingels 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. Tel: of $28 a year. The regular individual sub (212) 741-0690. Fax: (212) 727-0150. When scription rate is $40. Those interested in Incl11des articles on Opium ordering by mail, please include $3 to Codina's speaking engagements can contact Wars in China $17.95 cover shipping and handling. Felix Masud-Piloto at (312) 325-7317.
6 The Militant November 4, 1996 CIA blew up Cuban airliner in 1976
The following article is reprinted from abominable deeds? That was the question the October 9, 1996, issue of the Cuban on the lips of many sensible people who, newsweekly Granma International. It was personal beliefs and political positions aside, originally published under the headline, found such methods totally unacceptable. "Time doesn't erase the pain." Clearly, the explosion wasn't the result of some desperate act, but part of a plan and BY JOAQUIN ORAMAS method initiated immediately following the Twenty years of history go by in a flash. triumph of the Cuban Revolution. Counter However, the inexorable passage of time revolutionary bands organized by the CIA hasn't been able to erase from the hearts and and sponsored by the U.S. government, af minds of Cubans the pain and indignation ter failing in their attempts to instigate frat that shook our people's sensibility on learn ricidal warfare on the island, tried to unleash ing of the terrible consequences of the sabo terror on Cuba. Prior to the explosion, Cu tage of a Cubana airliner, perpetrated by the ban counterrevolutionary elements had car U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). ried out dozens of attacks on Cuban offices Minutes after taking off from the Barba and installations as well as entities related Prensa Latina dos airport on October 6, 1976, a Cubana to Cuba. A million people demonstrate in Havana's Plaza de Ia Revolucion, May 1, 1981. Mobi airliner with 73 people on board exploded Shortly after mounting attacks on the lizations like this show Cuban people's unshaking determination to remain sovereign. in midair over the Caribbean Sea. All the Cuban embassy and the Air Panama offices in Colombia, CORU, a CIA organization of passengers (57 Cubans, 11 North Koreans ity those criminals who carried out this act, squads, always at the service of the CIA. Cuban counterrevolutionaries, claimed re and five Guyanese) perished. Subsequent so that the sanction would correspond to the sponsibility for those and other acts of ag During these 20 years, the U.S. govern investigations confirmed that the explosion magnitude of the crime and constitute a de gression and stated: "Very soon, we're go ment and even the ICAO have maintained a was the result of a sabotage perpetrated by terrent to future sabotage. counterrevolutionary elements who placed ing to attack aircraft in flight." wall of silence over the criminal sabotage a bomb in the aircraft. Echoing the Cuban government's accu What did the U.S. government do? It at of the Cuban passenger flight transporting Venezuelans Freddy Lugo and Heman sations against those responsible for the tempted to silence the international reper young athletes, students and workers. They Ricardo were charged with direct responsi crime, in October 1976 the Montreal daily cussions provoked by the sabotage. Raul did not even recall it during the recent con bility for the crime, and counterrevolution La Pre sse recalled that Orlando Bosch and Roa, Cuba's foreign minister, made this clear troversy over the downing of the two light ary Cubans Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Luis Posada Carriles had both been trained during a conference held in Trinidad and aircraft piloted by counterrevolutionary el Carriles were accused of masterminding the by the CIA to assassinate Cuban leaders. It Tobago to discuss the steps to be taken in ements that violated Cuban airspace. sabotage and providing the means for Lugo also revealed that they were linked to the relation to the investigation and evidence It didn't suit their purposes to talk about and Ricardo to carry it out. murder of Orlando Letelier, former foreign that had come to light concerning the Bar the Barbados sabotage, nor about the thou The Venezuelans' confessions and sup minister of Chile's Popular Unity govern bados sabotage. The conference was at sands of attacks on Cubans, Cuban proper porting evidence stunned and angered mil ment. tended by the host country, Cuba, Barba ties and friends of Cuba. lions of people. Photographs of more than Cuba revealed the facts surrounding the dos, Guyana and Venezuela. Nevertheless, time has not erased the one million people filling Revolution Square Barbados sabotage at the 5th Regional Navi Today Orlando Bosch flaunts his impu memory of the profound pain that shook the to express their repudiation, supported by gation Conference, held in Lima in Octo nity on the streets of Miami, protected by Cuban people when that event occurred, nor condemnation of the horrific crime in ev ber 1976, and U.S. pressure was unable to the U.S. authorities. Posada Carriles escaped has it diminished one iota the validity of ery Cuban city and town, are tremendously deter the International Civil Aviation Orga from prison, with the aid of Venezuelan el what Fidel said to the over one million Cu moving. nization (ICAO) from condemning it at its ements and the CIA, to work subsequently bans who filled Revolution Square to honor How could some individuals' hatred for general assembly. The ICAO resolution as one of the instigators of the U.S. dirty the martyrs of that terrible explosion: 'When the efforts of an entire people to develop exhorted any state with the means to do so war against the Sandinista government. He an energetic and virile people weep, injus and defend its sovereignty lead to such to pursue and punish with the utmost sever- was also linked with the Salvadoran death tice trembles." New4"-~:~les·a~·L.A. cops to set up 'red' squads BY HARRY RING deemed "impractical" and will no longer be The ATD was created in 1984, replacing abuses of democratic rights. LOS ANGELES -Taking its cue from required. the Public Disorder and Intelligence Divi But the leopard hasn't changed its spots. Washington's "antiterrorist" drive, the Los The revision of the rules won early en sion. The PDID had been crippled by rev For example, in February 1995 the city Angeles Police Department has shrunk the dorsement from Police Commission presi elations of wholesale trampling on civil lib abruptly dropped its prosecution of 20 guidelines that are supposed to ensure dent Raymond Fisher. The Los Angeles erties. members of the Revolutionary Communist against illegal activity by its Anti-Terrorist Times touts him as "a trusted member of the Like the earlier "red" squads, the PDID Party rather than provide information about Division (ATD). city's civil rights community." Fisher says was charged with policing "subversion." It ATD involvement in the case. The rule changes were approved Octo he will personally monitor police compli was found to have spied on, infiltrated, and The defendants were charged with hurl ber 15 by the Police Commission, which is ance. disrupted unions, left-wing organizations, ing rocks and bottles at cops during several supposed to be a civilian oversight panel, Police Chief Willie Williams was asked groups opposed to the Vietnam war, civil protests. They responded they had been but is in fact a rubber stamp and window if the new rules would safeguard people rights groups, and others it took a dim view clubbed by the cops. dressing for the cops. from police spying. He replied, ''I'm confi of. Then Mayor Thomas Bradley and mem On learning of the role of the ATD - The new rules authorize the ATD to en dent that under my leadership they will." bers of the Police Commission were among which supposedly limits its activity to deal gage in secret surveillance and infiltration The American Civil Liberties Union and those spied on. ing with terrorism -they made a motion on the basis of "reasonable suspicion" of others urged that the present rules be main With the disclosure of some of these facts, for specific information. When the judge criminal activity, not the "probable cause," tained. ACLU spokesman Allan Parachini the ACLU and others filed a court suit, but ordered the prosecution to comply, the case currently stipulated. told the Times that while he did not ques then settled out of court. The PDID was re was dropped. The new rules are subject to ATD cops will now be authorized to be tion the motivations of Williams, Fisher, and placed by the more up-to-date Anti-Terror review by the city council. The Police Com gin a probe with electronic spying and other the commission, he was concerned about ist Division and the guidelines were mission said there was no indication that the techniques. Presently, they're supposed to those who might come after them. adopted, supposedly to ensure against council intends to exercise that option. conduct a preliminary investigation to de termine if such measures are justified. Authorization by the ATD commander to put someone under surveillance is now Judge declares mistrial, Gammage's killer walks
BY EDWIN FRUIT fendants are presumed to be innocent and the coalition meeting that evening express PITTSBURGH- On October 18 Judge don't have to take the witness stand tore ing outrage at the decision of the judge. David Cashman declared a mistrial in the ply to any accusations made against them. Pete Shell, an activist with the Campus case of two cops charged with involuntary The previous day, a surprise witness had Coalition for Peace and Justice, said in a manslaughter in the beating death of Jonny been called- a tow truck driver who was phone interview that it is now more impor Gammage one year ago. The pretext was a at the scene at the time of Gammage's con tant than ever to make an October 26 rally Journal in statement by county coroner Cyril Wecht, frontation with the cops. The driver, Frank in downtown Pittsburgh a big action. This Spanish pub who was testifying for the prosecution on Belajac, said the cops were the aggressors, had been planned for several weeks to coin lished six times a the cause of Gammage's death. The repeatedly hitting and kicking Gammage cide with the trial to keep the public pro year by the coroner's report said the 31-year-old busi after stopping his car. This contradicted the tests visible. Union of Writers nessman, who was Black, died of suffoca earlier testimony of one of the cops. The judge said he would reschedule a new and Artists of tion through compression of his neck and Opponents of police brutality had been trial date within 120 days. The jurors, cho Cuba. A forum chest. attending the trial and organizing the pub sen from Chester County near Philadelphia, for discussion on One of the cops' lawyers demanded of lic protest actions demanding the cops be were dismissed and a new jury will be i'oeta~ culture, politics, !.'nlfvlgnin Wecht, "You tell me what my client did. Tell brought to justice. picked from another county to be deter and the chal me what my client did from A to Z." Dee Hart, a leader of the Coalition of mined by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. R~ill<> 1•ooro~u: lenges facing the papelesolvidados The coroner replied, "No. It's not for me African Americans for Justice, said she was It has not yet been determined whether the not surprised by Cashman's ruling. "This trial of a third cop charged in the case will Cuban revolution Unp~ntorl~ to tell you what your client did. It's for the today. f:rne~tu SHimro client to tell me, the ladies and gentlemen whole thing was a mistrial from the begin be held before or after the rescheduling of of the jury, what he did, what he was doing ning. The fact that all five officers are not this one. there, and why he was participating in this." on trial, that they are being charged with Regular subscription for one year: $40 At this point the defense asked for a mis involuntary manslaughter instead of first Edwin Fruit is a member of International -Institutional rate: $75 trial and got it from the judge. The justifi degree murder, and that an all-white jury Association of Machinists Local /976 and Send a check or money order (payable ln.u.s. cation was that the suggestion by the wit was obtained from the other end of the state is the Socialist Workers Party candidate for dollars and made out to Pathfinder Press} to makes this whole case a mistrial." She told the 22nd district for Representative in the Pathfinder, 41 0 West Street, New York, NY 10014. ness that one of the defendants had to take Tel: (212} 741-0690. Fax: (212} 727-0150. the stand contravened the law that says de- this reporter that about 75 people came to Gooeral Assembly. ·
November 4, 1996 The Militant 7 GM strike The Teamster Continued from front page Series to assign workers at one plant to voluntary Lessons from the labor battles of the overtime at a second plant. 1930s. The stakes for GM in this strike were high. Farrell Dobbs While GM's profits for the third quarter of Four books on the 1930s strikes and 1996 were $1.27 billion, up from $642 mil organizing drive that transformed the lion for the same period last year, they only Teamsters union in Minnesota and earn $200 per vehicle produced in North much of the Midwest Trade Unions in the Epoch America as compared to Chrysler's $1,000, into a fighting indus of Imperialist Decay according to one analyst. In preparation for trial union movement. Leon Trotsky the walkout, GM amassed a $13 billion cash Written by a leader of reserve and stockpiled parts to keep its U.S. Featuring "Trade Unions: Their Past, Present, and the communist move Future" assembly operations going. ment in the U.S. and The strike, which idled all of GM's op Karl Marx organizer of the Team "Apart from their original purposes, the trades erations in Canada and nearly 20,000 GM sters union during the workers in the United States and Mexico, is unions must now learn to act deliberately as orga rise of the CIO. Indis nizing centers of the working class in the broad in expected to reduce the company's fourth pensable tools for ad- quarter earnings by about 60 cents a share terest of its complete emancipation .... They must . vancing revolutionary convince the world at large that their and result in 90,000 units in lost production. politics, organization, But analysts say GM will probably be able efforts, far from being narrow and self and trade union strat ish, aim at the emancipation of the to make up for most of the lost production egy. Labor's Giant over the coming months. "This is not going downtrodden millions." Step to keep us from being able to perform," Dean -Karl Marx, 1866. Munger, GM's chief Canadian negotiator, Teamster Rebellion $16.95 In this book, two central leaders of the The First Twenty Years said. GM shares on the New York Stock modem communist workers movement of the CIO: 1936-55 Exchange rose 7 5 cents on news of the settle Teamster Power $17.95 outline the fight for this revolutionary Art Preis ment. perspective. $14.95 The story of the explo Teamster Politics $17.95 sive labor struggles and "Temporary workers with low wages" Teamster Bureaucracy ,....llilil*- political battles in the "GM doesn't want to have thirty-year $18.95 1930s that built the in people any more. They want temporary dustrial unions. And workers who they can pay lower wages," how those unions be- said striker Francois Poire, a 17-year vet came the vanguard of a mass so eran with GM, who has been laid off from The Eastern Airlines Strike cial movement that began trans four different GM plants in Canada and has Accomplishments of the Rank-and-File Machinists forming U.S. society. $26.95 already received his layoff notice from the Ernie Mailhot, Judy Stranahan, and Jack Barnes giant Oshawa complex. Strikers totally The story of the 686-day strike in which a rank-and Available from bookstores, including those listed on . blocked access to the South Oshawa com file resistance by Machinists prevented Eastern's an page 8, or write Pathfinder, 410 West St., New York, plex on October 16 after hearing of GM's tiunion onslaught from becoming the road to a profit NY 10014. Tel: (212) 741-0690. Fax: (212) 727-0150. strong third quarter earnings. GM was able nonunion airline. $9.95 When ordering by mail, please include $3 to cover ship obliged to use helicopters to bring mainte ping and handling. nance workers into the plant. Meanwhile, workers occupied the North Oshawa plant to prevent the company from moving dies out of the plant in order to move production -MILITANT LABOR FORUMS------elsewhere. At the Ste-Therese plant here which CALIFORNIA Congress and Senate from Massachusetts. Fri., Speaker: Edwin Fruit, Socialist Workers candi makes the Camaro and Firebird sports cars, Los Angeles November 1, 8:00p.m. 780 Tremont St. (corner date for State Representative, 22nd District. Fri., Mass. Ave.) Donation: $4. Tel: (617) 247-6772. half of the 2,900 CAW members have been The Socialist Alternative in 1996: Hear James November 1, 6:30 reception, 7:30p.m. program. laid off for the past year with only one shift Harris, Socialist Workers Party presidential 1103 E. CarsonSt.Donation$4. Tel: (412)381- operating. Obligatory overtime of up to 50 candidate. Sat., November 2. Buffet dinner, 6 PENNSYLVANIA 9785. hours a week has helped GM ~void calling p.m. Program, 7:30p.m. 2546 W. Pico !J.lvd. l)p~; Philadelphia · · '· · :-·. .. .• ""' ;.... ,,.r· t'.,' ·'•·! ,IJI' -i---~ •I •.:....f f-...-i ...,,.,.~...,r·.-4- ~···-~· back workers. The Ste-Therese plant is the nation: $5 for dinner, $5 for program: Tel: (21 3) The Russian Revolution: Its meaning for to NEW ZEALAND only auto assembly plant in Quebec. The 380-9460. day. Following presentation and discussion, film Christchurch Quebec government granted GM a $220- showing of Ten Days that Shook the World. Fri., million interest free loan to keep the plant MASSACHUSETTS November 1, 7:30p.m. 1906 South St. Dona Elections in Bosnia and the Deepening Crisis tion $4. Tel: (215) 546-8218. in Yugoslavia: An Eyewitness Report from the open in 1987. The car maker has also ben Boston Balkans. Speaker: James Robb, Communist efited from tax breaks estimated at more than The Socialist Alternative in the 1996 Elections. Pittsburgh League. Sat., November 2, 7:30 p.m. 199 High $100 million. Speakers: Socialist Workers candidates for U.S. The 1996 Elections: Capitalism in Crisis. St. Donation $3: Tel: (3) 365-6055. ; Since 1992, GM has slashed the number of its money-lo~ing parts plants from fifty to fourteen. An article in the June 3 Wall -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP----~: Street Journal said GM is preparing to cut deeper by "spinning off' its Delphi parts Where to find Pathfinder books and dis sity Ave. W., St. Paul. Zip: 55114. Tel: (612) 70543,1637 division. tributors of the Militant, Perspectiva 644-6325. Compuserve: 103014,3261 AUSTRALIA Mundial, New International, Nouvelle NEW JERSEY: Newark: 87 A Halsey. Sydney: 19 Terry St., Surry Hills 2010. Workers offer solidarity Internationale,NuevainternacionalandNy Mailing address: 1188 Raymond Blvd., Suite Mailing address: P.O. Box K879, Haymarket, Eight carloads of striking newspaper International. 222. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. NSW 2000. Tel: 02-281-3297. Compuserve: workers from the Detroit Free Press and Compuserve: 104216,2703 102174,1243 Detroit News, as well as four vans ofUAW NEW YORK: Albany: P. 0. Box 2357, BRITAIN members and a truckload of food and sup UNITED STATES E.S.P. Zip: 12220. Tel: (518) 465-0585. plies descended on the picket lines at the Brooklyn: 59 4th Avenue (comer of Bergen) London: 47 The Cut. Postal code: SEl 8LL. Tel: 0171-928-7993. Compuserve: GM Windsor facilities in Windsor on Cana ALABAMA: Birmingham: 111 21st St. Zip: 11217. Tel: (718) 399-7257. Compuserve: 101515,2702 dian Thanksgiving Day in mid-October. South. Mailing address: Suite 252, 267 West 102064,2642. New York: 214-16 Avenue A. Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. Postal Lambert Roy, one of 120 employees laid Valley Avenue Zip 35209. Tel: (205) 323- Mailing address: P.O. Box 2652. Zip: 10009. code: M4 4AA. Tel: 0161-839-1766. off from the Mackie company in Quebec as 3079. Compuserve: 73712,3561 Tel: (212) 328-1501. Compuserve: 104075,35 a result of the GM strike, told the Montreal CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2546 W. ; 167 Charles St. Zip: 10014. Tel: (212) 366- CANADA daily, La Pre sse, "If I was in the same situ Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460, 1973. Montreal: 4581 Saint-Denis. Postal code: ation, I would fight as well." 380-9640. Compuserve: 74642,326San Fran NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: H2J 2L4. Tel: (514) 284-7369. Compuserve: cisco: 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 2000-C S. Elm-Eugene St. Zip 27406. Tel: 104614,2606 Katy LeRougetel, a member of CAW Local 282-6255, 285-5323. Compuserve: 75604,556 (910) 272-5996. Compuserve: 103475,672. Toronto: 827 Bloor St. West. Postal code: 187 in Montreal, Marie-Claire David in CONNECTICUT: New Haven: Mailing OHIO: Cincinnati: P.O. Box 19484. Zip: M6G lMl. Tel: (416) 533-4324. Compuserve: Montreal, and Mitra Sharma in Toronto address: P.O. Box 16751, Baybrook Station, 45219. Tel: (513) 662-1931.Cleveland: 1832 103474,13 contributed to this article. West Haven. Zip: 06516. Euclid. Zip: 44115. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Vancouver: 3967 Main St. Postal code: Compuserve: 103253,1111 V5V 3P3. Tel: (604) 872-8343. Compuserve: FLORIDA: Miami: 137 N.E. 54th St. Zip: 103430,1552 . 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Compuserve: PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 1906 103171,1674 South St. Zip: 19146. Tel: (215) 546-8218. FRANCE -CALENDAR- GEORGIA: Atlanta: 803 Peachtree St. Compuserve: 104502,1757 Pittsburgh: 1103 Paris: MBE 201,208 rue de la Convention. NE. Zip: 30308. Tel: (404) 724-9759. E. Carson St. Zip 15203. Tel: (412) 381-9785. Postal code: 75015. Tel: (1) 47-26-58-21. cALIFoRNIA Compuserve: 104226,1245 · Compuserve: 103122,720 Compuserve: 73504,442 Los Angeles ILLINOIS: Chicago: 1223 N. Milwaukee TEXAS: Houston: 3260 South Loop West. ICELAND Election Night Open House. Join James Harris Ave. Zip: 60622. Tel: (773) 342-1780. Zip: 77025. Tel: (713) 349-0090. Compuserve: Reykjavik: Klapparstfg 26. Mailing ad and Southern California Socialist Workers can Compuserve: 104077,511 Peoria: 915 N. 102527,2271 dress: P. Box 233, 121 Reykjavik. Tel: 552 didates to discuss continuing to campaign for a Western. Zip: 61650-0302. Mailing address: UTAH: Salt Lake City: 209 E. 300 S. Zip: 5502. INTERNET:[email protected] socialist alternative. Tues., Nov. 5, 7 p.m. 2546 P.O. Box 302. Tel: (309) 676-2472. 84111. Tel: (801) 355-1124. Compuserve: W. Pico Blvd. Tel: (213) 380-9460. Compuserve: 104612,147 NEW ZEALAND 76714,1545 Auckland: La Gonda Arcade, 203 IOWA: Des Moines: 2724 Douglas Ave. WASHINGTON, D.C.: 1930 18thSt.N.W. Karangahape Road. Postal address: P.O. Box Zip: 50310. Tel: (515) 277-4600. Compuserve: Suite #3 (Entrance on Florida Av.). Zip: 20009. 3025. Tel: (9) 379-3075. Compuserve: 104107,1412 Tel: (202) 387-2185. Compuserve: 100035,3205 MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 780 Tre 75407,3345. Christchurch: 199 High St. Postal address: mont St. Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) 247-6772. WASHINGTON: Seattle: 1405 E. Madi P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3) 365-6055. Compuserve: 103426,3430 son. Zip: 98122. Tel: (206) 323-1755. Compw~erve: 100250,1511 MICHIGAN: Detroit: 7414 Woodward Compuserve: 74461,2544. SWEDEN Ave. Zip: 48202. Compuserve: 104127,3505 WEST VIRGINIA: Morgantown: 242 )Stockholm: Vikingagatan 10 (T-bana St Tel: (313) 875-0100. Walnut. Mailing address: P.O. Box 203. Zip: Eriksplan). Postal code: S-113 42. Tel: (08) MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: 2490 Univer- 26507. Tel: (304) 296-0055. Compuserve: 31 69 33. Compuserve: 100416,2362 8 The Militant November 4, 1996 -GR~TSOODY------Ssh - One stock market analyst Hutchins, director of international ground up and dumped back into the headed for the Arctic, don't leave three years ago. Administrators had burbles that in the current buyers' services at Baltimore's Johns sea. Steps to maximize output had without a North Face Apogee-24 her dismissed for "laughing too market, stock "values" have soared Hopkins Medical Center. And, he been more successful than needed. tent. Will take winds up to 90 mph. loudly." to a height exceeded only by the adds, "casualty patients" are a new, Food banks wanted in on the huge $850. And pack a Magellan Sys- record years of 1923-29. Which lucrative "marketing niche." Like surplus but couldn't come up with terns Micro Com-M satellite phone. Best of both worlds - Catalog item: "Jesus Night-Light. .. casts a the 45 Ecuadorians wounded in last the necessary cash, "It's not some- The phone $12,800. Rates, $4.25 a year's war with Peru, who are be- thing we're proud of," said an em- minute. warm, serene glow - makes it ing fitted with artificial limbs at barrassed fish and game official. safer to get up at night! Sturdy plas- Johns Hopkins at $35,000 apiece. Nothing's perfect - As the re- tic ... $3.99." Harry Moral dilemma- "If a 17- sult of a computer system foul-up, So what can you do?- "It's year-old gives information on a very thousands of angry customers of Greetings- If you're one of ·~Ring difficult to impose a moral code, if large drug job, do we give him [£] British Gas received shutoff warn- our new subscribers, this is to let you will, on retailers."- Jim 20,000 ($US12,600)? Do we give ings before they got their bills. The you know that, in good measure, Miller of the U.S. Agriculture Dept. an informer a mountain bike, and company denied the mess had been clippings sent in by readers keep brings to mind the Russian adage trying to explain why L.A. super- how does he explain that to his par- worsened by staff cuts. this column [and the writer] going. that one doesn't speak of the rope market chains charge a lot more for ents? Do we tell his parent?" -An If you see an item you think will fit, in the house of the condemned man. milk than mom n' pop groceries. English cop who sees minuses as Woke them up? -With an as- send it to: well as pluses in recruiting teen-age sist from the Indiana State Teach- Great Society, c/o Pathfinder A growth industry-"There are The system that works-In the informers. ers Association, Willarrose Parsons Bookstore, 2546 W. Pico Blvd., Los wars all over the world, bombs all past three months, 2.5 million was reinstated, with back pay, to the Angeles, CA. 90006. (fax: (213) over the world," notes John pounds of Alaska salmon have been Camping tip- If you're teaching position she was fired from 380-1268. Thanks. 'Communist theories are guiding line for action' Reprinted below are excerpts of James P. project, thus applies now to the formally in the attempt to conceal or Cannon's introduction to thefrrst book ever adopted program of the Comintern on all es justify these errors in the produced by the forerunner of Pathfmder sential questions, and his challenge to many adopted program. Press. Appearing in January 1929, the book of its formulations and conclusions acquires In the Chinese revolution was titled The Draft Program of the Com thereby all the greater seriousness. in 1926-27 the Opposition munist International-A Criticism of Fun The question of the program of the Com led by Trotsky proposed the damentals by Leon Trotsky. It was later in munist International, and the criticism brought slogan of soviets uniting the cluded as part of a larger work entitled The against it by one of the foremost leaders of workers and the peasants, Leon Trotsky Third International after Lenin. A new edi the Russian revolution and the international under the leadership of the Trotsky's alternative to Stalin's tion of the latter book has just been pub communist movement, confronts the commu former against the bourgeoi course toward gutting the revolu lished by Pathfinder. nist proletariat now as a theoretical and po sie. They wanted to warn the tionary program of the Communist Leon Trotsky was part of the central lead litical question of the greatest magnitude with workers and peasants not to International. Addressed to del ership team of the Bolshevik Party from the which all practical issues of strategy and tac trust the leaders of the egates attending the 1928 con tics are connected. Kuomintang or of the Left gress of the International in Mos Communist theories are not abstractions Kuomintang. They wanted cow, Trotsky's critique was banned but the guiding line for action. False tactics the workers and the van in the Soviet Union. But its publi BOOK OF in the struggle proceed from false program guard of the peasants to arm cation in other countries helped matic formulations. This axiom of Marxism themselves. They wanted gather together the forces that has been given a fresh and tragic proof, as complete independence for would continue to fight for an international communist THE WEEK Trotsky points out, in the enormous blunders the Communist Party and in perspective. $25.95 committed in recent years since the death of general a course toward the Available from bookstores. including those listed on page 8, or write Path time of the October 1917 revolution in Rus Lenin. Programmatic questions are questions establishment of a demo finder. 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. Tel: (212) 741-0690. Fax: (212) 727-0150. When on:lering by mail, please include $3 to cover shipping and sia and of the Communist International in of life and death for the international prole cratic dictatorship through handling. its early years. Following the death of V.I. tarian revolution. the workers and peasants so Lenin in 1924, Trotsky became the princi Trotsky's Criticism of the Draft Program viets. pal leader of the Left Opposition, formed to comes to grips with the principal theoretical The Stalin-Bukharin leadership rejected The underlying falsity of the whole idea of wage a battle against the petty-bourgeois error which sums up and motivates the op all these proposals of the Leninist Opposi a "two-class" party is analyzed from the social forces led by Joseph Stalin, and to portunist tactics pursued in recent years in-the tion in favor of the Menshevik policy of theoretical· standpoint of Marxism and the defend the communist perspectives the Bol internal questions of the Soviet Union as well union with the liberal bourgeoisie which history of the Russian revolutionary move shevik Party had fought for. as in the international movement: the revi in actual practice gave the hegemony to the ment, and is condemned in principle-for Written from exile in Soviet Central Asia sionist theory of socialism in one country. bourgeoisie, prevented the real develop the West as well as for the East.... It was his in 1928, The Third International after Lenin Basing himself on the fundamental teachings ment of the independent Communist Party initiative which brought the assistance of the is a defense of the proletarian course that of Marx and Lenin, Trotsky turns all his guns and led to the defeat of the working class. Communist International in 1922 to the task had guided the Communist (or Third) Inter on this new revisionism which has been The bourgeois "allies" of the proletariat be of liberating the Communist Party of national in its early years. Its main compo smuggled into the Communist International came the hangmen of the revolution just as America from the straightjacket of illegal nent is a criticism of the draft program pre since Lenin died, to its great detriment. He the Opposition foretold .... ity in which it had bound itself. And now it sented by Nikolai Bukharin and Joseph attacks it from all sides, tearing away the cov The formation of "Farmer-Labor" par is he, above all others, who is showing the Stalin to the International's Sixth World ering of falsely applied quotations from Lenin ties-that source of such exaggerated hopes party, and the whole Comintem, the way Congress, held that year in Moscow. and reveals its non-Leninist essence, batter and unbounded mistakes in the American back to Leninism on the great world prob One of those attending the congress was ing down the whole structure of falsification party-is reviewed at length in this volume. lems of the present period. James P. Cannon, a founder and central and scholasticism upon which it is built. leader of the Communist Party in the United Trotsky not only annihilates the new revi States. He subsequently was the founding sionism with the hammer blows of Marxism AND AGO--- leader of the Socialist Workers Party, and and Leninism. He also exposes down to their -25 50 YEARS was its national chairman emeritus at the roots the tactical errors connected with it and time of his death in 1974. points the way for their avoidance in the fu A member of the congress's program ture. His criticism is a searchlight in the fog commission, Cannon was one of a handful of official propaganda, scholasticism, and THE THE MILITANT of delegates given a copy of Trotsky's docu administrative decree which has been substi PU.USHID IN THIINTIIUII OJ tHI WOIKING PIOPLI ment through an evident slipup in the bu tuted for the ideological leadership of the NEW YORK, N.Y. FIVE (5) CENTS reaucratic cracks. Another delegate receiv Executive Committee of the Communist In MILITANT Published in the Interest of the Working People November 2, 1946 ing a copy was Maurice Spector, a leader of ternational in earlier years .... Price 10¢ the Communist Party of Canada. The criticism deals with the role of Ameri Headed by the organized labor movement, Cannon and Spector both became con can imperialism and with the prospect of new November 5, 1971 the masses in the American-controlled sec vinced of the correctness of Trotsky's argu revolutionary situations arising from its he tion of Korea are fighting back with power ments, and smuggled copies of the document gemony and growing aggression. The section SAN FRANCISCO-A new wave of ful demonstrations against the oppressive back to North America. Passing it from hand on the Chinese revolution and its lessons elu antiwar opposition is sweeping the armed rule of the American Military Government. to hand, the two communist leaders won cidates the problems of the Chinese revolu forces today, manifesting itself in action News of successive waves of revolt by over a nucleus of supporters. Within several tion and enables the American reader, for the more often than in the past. One example striking workers in the American zone of weeks Cannon was expelled from the party, first time, to glimpse the actualities of this of this new burst of antiwar activity is the Korea broke through the iron curtain of cen together with other leading working-class world historical event. The theses, articles, petition signed by more than 1,000 crew sorship last week. The Koreans demand the members. They then began a public fight for and speeches of Trotsky and the other lead members of the aircraft carrier U .S.S. Coral independence they were promised at Cairo the communist perspective. ers of the Russian Opposition on the prob Sea, asking Congress the halt the ship's by Roosevelt in 1944, as well as freedom of The Third International after Lenin is lems and tasks of the Chinese revolution, scheduled return to Vietnam Nov. 12. trade union activity and an end to the terror copyright © Pathfinder Press. The item be which estimated the whole course of events Seaman Larry Harris, a former Coral Sea regime, which is depriving them of elemen low is reprinted with permission. with the most remarkable_precision, were sup crew member now stationed at the Trea tary democratic rights. pressed and concealed from the parties of the sure Island Navy base here, told the Mili The demand of the Koreans for greater entire International. tant how he and others began circulating distribution of food to the starving masses BY JAMES P. CANNON This unbelievable and absolutely unprec the petition after hearing about the drive in was answered by the calling out of troops of The Communist International, which was edented procedure becomes all the more mon San Diego by members of the crew of the the Sixth Infantry Division, after AMG au organized in 1919, first adopted its program strous in the light of the subsequent develop U.S.S. Constellation and the San Diego thorities appealed for assistance at several at the Sixth World Congress held in July ments which wholly confirmed the correct antiwar movement to keep that aircraft car points in the Division area. Bloody struggles August 1928, after having previously con ness of the position of Trotsky and his col rier from sailing to Vietnam. followed in many centers. sidered drafts at the Fourth Congress in 1922 leagues and revealed the Menshevist tactics Harris and several others typed up a pe At Taegu, police casualties included 50 and at the Fifth Congress in 1924. The docu of Stalin and Bukharin as the source of the tition and circulated it shortly before the killed and 30 seriously injured. At ment published here is a commentary by cruel defeats of the Chinese proletariat. Coral Sea docked at the Naval Air Station Kongehen, some 10,000 Koreans disarmed L.D. Trotsky on the draft program drawn up Trotsky's Criticism of the Program draws the at Alameda, Calif., in September. They and kidnapped the local police, burning by Bukharin and Stalin before the Sixth lessons of the period of the Chinese revolu gathered more than 300 signatures in a few down the post-office and ,..~•:~o stations. Congress and which was subsequently tion which culminated with the Canton up days. They expected to get many more sig According to an Oct. ::_ 1 AP disiJatch from adopted without any important changes. The rising, lays bare the errors of the leadership natures from the 4,500~man crew, but the Seoul, the capital, Koreans attacked a po criticism of Trotsky, written before the Sixth with all their tragic consequences and the in executive officer and two chief petty offic licJ station a few yards south of the border Congress and directed at the Bukharin-Stalin calculable menace for the future contained ers seized the petition. of Russian-occupied North Korea. November 4, 1996 The Militant 9 -EDITORIALS------Get the facts right The masthead of the Militant reads, "A socialist newsweekly pub lished in the interests of working people." The Militant makes a promise to working people - we tell the truth. We stand behind what we write Vote Socialist Workers and have the facts to prove it. This is the paper's political responsibility. We encourage readers to send the Militant articles about political de There is an alternative for working people and and to proclaim that no human being is illegal. velopments and struggles by working people and the oppressed all over their allies to the two parties of economic depres They point to the road taken by auto workers in the world. The Militant couldn't exist without its worker-correspondents. sion, racism, and war in the U.S. elections Novem Canada and public service workers in France who To help make sure these articles meet our high standards of accuracy, we ber 5. It is to vote Socialist Workers-James Har refuse to surrender hard-won gains without a are taking this opportunity to reaffirm and publish our sourcing policy. ris for president, Laura Garza for vice-president, fight. Socialist Workers candidates hold up the The Militant editorial staff needs to verify the facts in every article and for the local candidates listed on this page. example of the Cuban revolution, where workers that appears in the paper. Sourcing starts with interviews, as well as facts The two-party system in the United States is used and farmers kicked out a U.S.-backed dictator from other newspapers, television, and radio. No article will be consid to hook workers and youth into thinking we have a ship 37 years ago, overthrew the capitalist class, ered for publication without source materials. stake in supporting the capitalist rulers' moves began reorganizing society in their own interests, It's important to get the names of those quoted in the Militant. This against us. After all, if we don't like Tweedledum, and have been defending their socialist revolu paper's policy is not to use anonymous quotes, or just individuals' first we can always vote for Tweedledee. By mid-Octo tion, arms in hand, ever since. "We can do that names. When a correspondent asks, "May I quote you for an article in ber Clinton had pretty much wrapped up the presi here," they explain. the Militant?" they should ask for the full name. It's often useful to find dential election. He has demonstrated his willing The socialist candidates know the struggle out the person's union affiliation and age as well. Verify that you've ness to go to war to defend U.S. imperialism doesn't stop on election day. On November 6 written down the correct spelling of the person's name while you're at it. war moves in the last year alone include Iraq, Yu they'll be back on the streets joining in these Many people like to see their name in the paper, but only if it's accu goslavia, Liberia, the Korean Peninsula, the Tai fights and looking for those who can be won to rately spelled and identified. wan Straits, Haiti, and Cuba. This, coupled with the communist movement. The Militant urges our When the source is an interview it should be noted in the article sub his support for the Welfare Reform Act, anti-im readers to join them in these important activities: mitted. Be prepared to fax your notes to the Militant if there's any ques migrant legislation, the Defense of Marriage Act, • YS Recruitment Drive. The Young Social tion that needs to be verified. Leaflets for the spelling of names and and laws restricting democratic rights gives the ists have pledged to win 80 new members by De clippings from newspapers for quotations are other examples of source rulers confidence that Clinton is ready, able, and cember 1. So far, 36 young people have joined materials. If you use portions of an article previously published in the willing to lead the charge against working people the organization. Supporters of the socialist cam Militant, be sure to cite that as a source, and when possible include the in the United States and around the world. paign can invite YS members to speak at their clipping. Dole is still favored by the majority of business schools, work places, and house meetings. One common mistake is the misspelling of names and places. Be sure executives, many of whom think: why not push • Campaign to win new readers to socialist to double-check with the person or check a map or dictionary. Other harder and faster against workers' wages and so press. Take a goal in the campaign to win new common mistakes are numbers, dates, accents on names, and the exact cial gains? The Republican contender tried to take readers to the Militant and its Spanish-language names of political parties and unions. A source is needed for all of the advantage of the economic stagnation that is real sister publicationPerspectiva Mundial, and to sell above mentioned; it's easy to misremember such details. ity for millions of working and middle-class people copies of the Marxist magazine New Interna Judge the sources you are using from a political standpoint. Not every to run on a program of economic growth. But this tional. These periodicals tell the truth about the "fact" that appears in a bourgeois newspaper is true. Working-class cor effort has largely fizzled. crisis of capitalism and the struggles of working respondents need to judge: Who is saying this, why do they say it, and is The capitalist class as a whole has decided that people. this accurate? Supposedly neutral descriptions, terms, or wording used their best option for now is a Clinton White House • Sell Pathfinder books and pamphlets. They by the capitalist press often slip in their own class bias. It's better to with a Republican Congress. That would make it are the tools working people need to understand report it in your own words. easiest to sidetrack workers' anger and frustration and fight in the world today and to learn the les Each source submitted with an article to the Militant should be labeled at the bosses' offensive onto blaming one or the sons of 150 years of struggle. with letters, from A to Z. Use numbers to indicate the source in each other party. • Attend and build the Socialist Educational particular lettered source. For example, take a fact ( 1) from an article in But no matter how the details shake out, one Conferences scheduled for November 29 through the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (letter A). The source for that fact would be thing's for sure: workers will be the central target December 1 in Atlanta; Peoria, Illinois; San Fran Al -and so on. Marking these source references for each paragraph of of their attacks either way. cisco; and Washington, D.C. For more informa your article will make it possible for the Militant editors and copy edi The Socialist Workers candidates offer a. differ tion see the advertisement on the front page. tors to do an accurate job. ent answer. They point to the road taken by thou So vote for the socialist candidates November Working people want to be armed with the facts. By sticking to these sands of workers and youth from around the world 5 and then, like them, role up your sleeves and guidelines, all Militant correspondents can help make their paper an ef who poured into the streets of Washington, D.C., join the worldwide fight against capitalism and fective, powerful weapon in discussing and acting in the political struggles October 12 to demand equal rights for immigrants for socialism. of the international working class. SWP candidates in the November 5 election Listed below are the Socialist Workers Party candi ILLlNOIS Karen Kopperud, UTU, U.S. Senate* dates for national, state, and local office. The socialist Frank Forrestal, 41, UAW, U.S. Senate* presidential and vice-presidential candidates-James Kristin Meriam, 28, UTU, U.S. Congress, 4th CD* OHIO Harris and Laura Garza - are on the ballot in seven Tami Peterson, 19, USWA, U.S. Congress, 5th CD*t Roni McCann, 35, UNITE, U.S. Congress, lOth CD* states, and socialist candidates for other offices are Reyes Gaona, 36, U.S. Congress, 7th CD* running in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Due Kibwe Diarra, 49, UAW, U.S. Congress, 11th CD* Aislinn Pulley, 17, U.S. Congress, 9th CD*t Ryan Lewis, 23, U.S. Congress, 14th CD*t to undemocratic election laws designed to keep work Angela Lariscy, 31, OCAW, U.S. Congress, 18th CD* ing-class candidates off the ballot, most of the Social ist Workers candidates will not appear on the ballot. PENNSYLVANIA In such cases, the candidates are running as write-ins IOWA Edwin Fruit, 50, lAM, State Representative 22nd Dis and their names have been indicated with an aster Shirley Pefia, 40, UAW, U.S. Senate trict isk(*). Included here are the candidates' ages and union Richard McBride, 53, UFCW, U.S. Congress, 4th CD Malcolm Jarrett, 26, U.S. Congress, 14th CD*t affiliations, where applicable. For an explanation of the union acronyms, see the end of this list. MASSACHUSETTS TEXAS Andrew Buchanan, 38, UAW, U.S. Senate* Jerry Freiwirth, 45, OCAW, U.S. Congress, 25th CD Mary Nell Bockman, 37, lAM, U.S. Congress, 9th CD* Lea Sherman, 47, lAM, U.S. Senate* Ryan Kelly, 22, lAM, U.S. Congress, 5th CD*t LieffGutthuidaschmitt, 25, U.S. Congress, 29th CD*t PRESIDENT: James Harris, 48, UFCW Douglas Hord, 44, UTU, U.S. Congress, 8th CD* UTAH VICE PRESIDENT: Laura Garza, 37 MICHIGAN Dan Fein, 51, USWA, Governor* Willie Reid, UAW, U.S. Congress, 14th CD Janine Dukes, 24, Lt. Governor*t Mark Gilsdorf, 23, UAW, U.S. Senate*t John Langford, 42, USWA, U.S. Congress, 3rd CD ALABAMA Douglas Douthat, UAW, U.S. Congress, 12th CD* John Hawkins, 48, UMWA, U.S. Senate* Cynthia Jaquith, USWA, U.S. Congress, 15th CD* WASHINGTON, D.C. Kari J. Sachs, 31, USWA, U.S. Congress, 4th CD* Rosa Garmendia, U.S. Congress, 11th CD* Tim Mailhot, 43, USWA, U.S. Congress, 6th CD* Sam Manuel, 47, UTU, Delegate to House George Williams, 45, UAW, U.S. Congress, 7th CD* MINNESOTA Brian Williams, 44, USWA, City Council at Large* Jeanne FitzMaurice, 50, USWA, Public Service Com- Mary Martin, 44, lAM, U.S. Senate* Thomas Fiske, 52, lAM, U.S. Senate missioner* Jennifer Benton, 27, lAM, U.S. Congress, 5th CD WASHINGTON Doug Nelson, 21, State House of Representatives Dis- CALIFORNIA trict 63A*t Jeff Powers, 52, UTU, Governor* Melissa Harris, 27, U.S. Congress, 7th CD* Susan Zarate, 40, San Francisco County Board of Su- Tony Lane, 44, lAM, U.S. Congress, 4th CD* pervisors Marklyn Wilson, 48, UTU, U.S. Congress, 7th CD* NEW JERSEY WEST VIRGINIA Steve Gordon, 25, U.S. Congress, 8th CD* Olga Rodriguez, 48, lAM, U.S. Senate Dennis Richter, 48, UTU, Governor* Omari Musa, 52, OCAW, U.S. Congress, 9th CD* William Estrada, 29, U.S. Congress, 13th CD David Salner, 52, OCAW, U.S. Senate* Vanessa Knapton, 26, UTU, U.S. Congress, 29th CD*t Toni Jackson, 29, U.S. Congress, lOth CD John Benson, OCAW, U.S. Congress, 32nd CD* Stefanie Trice, 25, UTU, U.S. Congress, 6th CDt *indicates candidate is write-in ballot status; all others Virginia Garza, U.S. Congress, 33rd CD* Robert Robertson, 37, OCAW, U.S. Congress, 7th CD are on the ballot Thabo Ntweng, 49, lAM, U.S. Congress, 35th CD* Unions: Laura Anderson, State Assembly District 46* lAM - International Association of Machinists NEW YORK OCAW - Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers FLORIDA Eleanor Garcia, 43, U.S. Congress, 12th CD UAW- United Auto Workers Martin Koppel, 39, U.S. Congress, lOth CD* UFCW - United Food and Commercial Workers Seth Galinsky, 39, UTU, U.S. Congress, 21st CD* David Berg, 25, U.S. Congress, 11th CD*t UMWA- United Mine Workers of America Janet Post, 46, lAM, U.S. Congress, 17th CD* Abby Tilsner, 30, U.S. Congress, 14th CD* UNITE - Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Brock Satter, 25, U.S. Congress, 15th CD*t Employees GEORGIA USWA- United Steel Workers of America Arlene Rubinstein, 46, UNITE, U.S. Senate* NORTH CAROLINA UTU - Uniled Transportation Union Dorothy Kolis, 45, UAW, U.S. Congress, 5th CD* Jim Rogers, UNITE, Governor* :j:- Young Socialists 10 The Militant November 4, 1996 Uno-Ven oil workers fight lockout in Illinois This column is devoted to re After negotiations broke down, ber noted that porting the resistance by work Uno-Yen locked out the union to prior to the lock ing people to the employers' as prevent a strike and hired replace out, it wasn't un sault on their living standards, ment workers to keep the refinery common for op working conditions, and unions. running. They have also employed erators to work We invite you to contribute the Assets Protection Team of 16 hours a day, 6 short items to this column as a Vance Security, a well-known strike or 7 days in a way for other fighting workers breaking outfit, to videotape and row. around the world to read about observe pickets at the three gates in Nick Kozak, a and learn from these important an attempt to intimidate workers. 14-year veteran ofUno-Ven, said that since the ON THE PICKET LINE lock-out began he's thought struggles. Jot down a few lines Uno-Yen's insistence on a new about why the about what is happening in your multi tiered wage system that would company does union, at your workplace, or pay new hires $4 to $5 an hour less not hire more Militant{fim Rigby other workplaces in your area, provoked the collapse of the most people. "We'd Women of the Waterfront group join September 28 march of 6,000 in Liverpool, En including interesting political dis recent negotiations between the work 700 or 800 gland to support 500 dockers who were fired from the Seaforth container terminal. cussions. union and company. hours of over- When asked what was the most time a year," he commented, "Some Workers participated from through movement of ACL containers was LEMONT, Illinois -Two hun important issue facing the union, of these kids graduating from high out the United Kingdom. There imposed. ACL is the Liverpool Port dred trade unionists gathered at the Pam Pryzbyto, a Local 7-517 mem school who need jobs should get a were delegations from Ireland, in Authority's main customer. In an gates of the Uno-Yen refinery here ber with 10 years at Uno-Yen, com chance and the company should hire cluding the Irish Seaman's Union, action to protest the privatization of on September 28 to protest the mented, "Well of course we're look some more people." and Derry Trades Council. Six Australia's state-owned shipping company's lock-out of 450 mem ing for a reasonable dollar, but Locked-out unionists commented coaches of Turkish and Kurdish line, dockers in that country also bers of the Oil, Chemical, and safety is the major aspect for us." that while they don't like being immigrant workers, members of the pledged solidarity with the Atomic Workers Union (OCAW) In 1984, 17 workers were killed locked-out, they don't see any al Transport and General Workers Liverpool dockers. Dockers in Local 7-517. More than a dozen in an explosion at the plant. Two ternative to fighting short of accept Union (the TGWU is the same Salerno, Italy imposed an overtime locals from nine different unions more were killed in the rebuilding ing the company's concessions. union that represent the dockers), ban on ships to or from Liverpool. participated, including 15 members and in December 1995, another "I know the issues we confront and their families came from Lon Spanish dockers planned to stopped of the United Auto Workers in Peo worker was killed on the job. here are the same ones workers face don. They had linked up with the work for one hour on October 28 in ria who work for Caterpillar Inc., "Safety is a big problem," noted everywhere," remarked Pryzbyto. dockers through struggles waged in solidarity. and members of the United Jim Ashton, an operator in the their own workplaces. The TGWU Liverpool dockers voted at mass Paperworkers International Inc. at Catlytic Reforming Unit and an 11- which has not recognized the dis meetings to tum down a series of Trailmobile who recently returned year employee of the company. Police attack mass picket pute, claims it is in breach of restric company offers to end the dispute. to work after being locked out. "The work orders for equipment of Liverpool dockers tive UK laws. These have promised up to £25,000 The rally was the second such repair build up; there aren't enough LIVERPOOL, England- Cops The dockers, UNISON ( a pub ($US37,500) to most sacked em event since the OCAW members maintenance people to handle them. attacked a mass picket of sacked lic sector workers union) and oth ployees 0f the Mersey Docks and were locked-out of the plant on Now the company wants us to do dockers at Liverpool's Seaforth ers, with assistance from some Harbor Company, and ancillary jobs March 24. our jobs, as well as the jobs of the container terminal September 28. Labour Party MP's, are demanding for the remainder. Meanwhile, Uno-Yen is a joint venture be 'safeties' who issue hot work per Following the peaceful ending of an an independent inquiry into the con dockers working for Torside, whose tween Los Angeles-based Unocal mits and are trained in all aspects occupation of the dock company's duct of the police Operational Sup picket lines the majority of dockers Corporation's Union Oil Co. and the of plant safety. headquarters and three port gan port Division. A video shot on the were sacked for honoring, have Venezuelan state-owned oil com "Pay is a big issue for us too," tries, police squads seized at least day shows the unprovoked and vio been offered nothing. pany, Petroleos de Venezuela SA. said Ashton, "because they want to 41 dockers and their supporters. lent nature of the police attacks. Union officials reported that at take away our seniority rights, mak The arrests totaled more than all of In Denmark, Copenhagen dock the time of contract negotiations ing it impossible to move from one the others the cops made during this ers struck for 24 hours, and in Arhus Angel Lariscy, member of OCAW earlier this year, Uno-Yen balked at job to another without losing year-long struggle. and Hosens dockers stopped work Loca/7-807 in Mapleton, Illinois. following the national contract pat money. This is especially hard for The mass picket followed a for the day after mass meetings were and Sandra Nelson, member of tern. The company instead stated it workers who have held physically march of 6,000 people in called to explain the Liverpool OCAW Local7-507 in Summit, Il had to cut costs to remain competi demanding jobs for many years and Liverpool's city center to support . dockers fight. In Odense, a three- linois; Tim Rigby and Ian Grant, tive and needed concessions from could work safer in another depart 500 dockers who were fired after hour strike was organized. In the members of the TGWU in United the union on pay and work prac ment as they get older." refusing to cross a picket line set up Swedish ports of Gothenburg and Kingdom contributed to this col tices. One OCAW Local 7-517 mem- by contract workers at the docks. Stockholm, a 24-hour ban on the umn. -LETTERS------Is rap revolutionary? U.S. society. While I myself do not terrogation that lasted 25 hours, I have been a reader of The Mili think that rappers like Shakur have the police presented Patterson tantfor fifteen years and believe that a message which will do much to with a confession that he did not your excellent paper has only one train and inspire potential revolu sign. This was the evidence pre important flaw- its analysis (or tionaries among their listeners, sented to convict him. He has lack of it) on ideological questions that means little to the youth who been on death row for about ten in regard to cultural production and listen to them. We study the years currently and has the Aaron transmission. There is a tendency to speeches of Malcolm X in my Patterson Defense Committee oversimplify the complexities of classroom, not the lyrics ofTupac fighting for a new trial and to raise criticism to the point of economic Shakur, but that doesn't mean I consciousness about police bru determinism. have the luxurious arrogance to tality, among other demands. A The most recent example of this dismiss what I perceive as an ob member of the committee and oversimplification turned up in stacle to my students' adoption of Aaron's mother, JoAnn Patterson, Brian Taylor's article on Tupac revolutionary ideas like was a strong supporter of Mark Shakur. He explains well enough the Malcolm's- that is, the lumpen Curtis's fight for freedom. She ridiculousness of both the right proletarian desperation and lack of also attended the press conference wing and bourgeois views on class consciousness in most rap with Rolando Cruz. For more in Shakur's lyrics, but then Taylor lyrics. Dismissing rappers like formation on the Aaron Patterson completely dismisses the impor Tupac does nothing to explain to Defense Committee call: (312) tance of rap music in the last two youth why his politics were mal 663-5392. paragraphs. formed. Tami Peterson It is true that Tupac didn't come The best examples, I think, of Chicago, Illinois as far in his political evolution as how rap lyrics can be read are in niently ignore it, assuming it is some Rolando Cruz, who was released Malcolm did, but that has every regard to the debate within the hip passive captive of a monolithic from prison while on death row Addicted to the truth thing to do with something Taylor hop world on issues from purpose bourgeois culture. I have wanted to about one year ago, spoke at a press Please, please! continue my sub never mentions, however- capi ful misspelling to women's rights, live in a socialist world since high conference here to give his support scription to the Militant. If I had talism always and necessarily ap gay rights, violent crime of rapper school myself, but that day will not to another current framed-up fighter more, I swear I'd send it! Do not propriates forms of subversive cul "thugs" against other oppressed be tomorrow. on death row, Aaron Patterson. throw me to the CNN's, CBS's, tural expression to increase its prof nationalities, the futility of killing Musicians today often attempt to Rolando Cruz was framed up on NBC's of this world. I'm addicted its. On the ideological plane, the every cop in East LA. ("Fuck the address the concerns of disenfran charges that he raped and murdered to the truth that I have discovered capitalists get a fringe benefit- the Police"- NWA), and calling one chised youth, flawed as those at a ten-year-old girl in 1983. Despite in your paper. A revolutionary with buying out of potentially revolution self a "nigga." tempts seem to Marxist-Leninists the likely killer's confession and no out the proper political training is ary young fighters before they make Taylor ignores the fissures in like ourselves. I believe, however, evidence, physically or otherwise, as deadly as a stray bullet. the quantum political leap that bourgeois culture when he implies that the subversiveness of rock-and Cruz spent close to 12 years on A prisoner Malcolm, for example, made. that music can only be a tool of ex roll and rap can serve sometimes as death row. At the press conference Graterford, Pennsylvania I am an English teacher at a high pression that reflects bourgeois cul an impetus to revolutionary politics while speaking on Patterson's case, school with a student body prima ture today. I suppose Taylor would in youth- I graduated from Black Cruz maintained "I've studied his The letters column is an open rily comprised of Mexican-Ameri write the same thing about all rock Sabbath's "War Pigs" to The Com transcripts, I believe 100 percent forum for all viewpoints on sub can, African-American, Haitian, and-roll, all punk music of the '70's, munist Manifesto! that he's innocent." jects of general interest to our ~nd working-class white students in perhaps Woody Guthrie songs, and Ian Harvey Aaron Patterson was sentenced to readers. Please keep your letters a migrant community. The students even strike songs and other forms Naples, Florida death in 1986 for the supposed kill brief. Where necessary they will listen to Tupac's music and know of working-class music. We must ing of a couple during a home inva be abridged. Please indicate if you that he shared their experience on engage and analyze the art produced Fight police frame-ups sion and. burglary. After beidg prefer that your initials be used the street and in the institutions of in bourgeois society, not conve- On Friday the 11th of October beaten by the police during an in- rather than your full name.
November 4, 1996 The Militant 11 THE MILITANT Greek gov't calls for belt tightening BY BOBBIS MISAILIDES. third with 5.6 percent of the vote, and the ATHENS, Greece- "After the vote: Left Coalition, a regroupment of social Tighten your belts for guns and Maastricht," democrats and Stalinists who split from read a headline in the October 15 Athens KKE, which got 5.1 percent. News. The English-language daily published "Trillions of drachmas [billions of dol here pointed out that the social democratic lars] will be invested in the next five years government of Prime Minister Constantinos to safeguard our national sovereignty," De Simitis is about to launch a new wave of fense Minister Akis Tsochadz6poulos told austerity measures and a huge armaments the October 15 Athens News. Defense min program, istry officials said the new armaments pro Simftis swept the early elections he called gram could cost as much as $1 0 billion with for September 22 - a year ahead of sched F-16 fighters, missiles, and attack helicop ule. Simftis replaced Andreas Papandreou · ters. Athens already spends 4.6 percent of after the former prime minister died in June. the country's Gross Domestic Product on the His party, the Panhellenic Socialist Move military budget, more than most other ment (PASOK), won 162 seats in the 300- NATO members. member parliament with 41.5 percent of the vote. The conservative New Democracy Attacks by fascist groups (ND), the main bourgeois opposition party, The rulers' war drive and nationalist cam came in second with 38 percent. paign is putting wind in the sails of fascist Simitis won a confidence vote in parlia forces. In September 1995 the mayor of the ment October 12, as he outlined the first cuts city of Fl6rina led a group of 30-40 fascists, in social programs his government intends Militant/Georges Mehrabian with the collaboration of the police, to bum to introduce over the next month, and its Over 3,000 farmers protested at the Ministry of Agriculture in Athens, March 19. the offices of the Rainbow, an organization militarization campaign in preparation for Cops have arrested scores of farmers in protests demanding higher pay for their prod of Macedonians based in that city near the further confrontations with Thrkey. Accord ucts and hundreds of youth during student protests last fall. border with the Yugoslav republic of ing to Athens News, the belt tightening in Macedonia. clude a halt in public sector hiring and the eigners." He blamed immigrants for an "in Sea and over Cyprus. Earlier this year Greek In recent months, fascist organizations abolition of tax breaks for millions of house crease in crime" and said, "We face the prob and Turkish naval ships came within min such as the Chrisi Avgi (Golden Dawn) and holds. The government is also planning to lem of providing jobs for young people, utes of opening fire on each other. St6hos (Aim) have stepped up attacks on curtail social security and sell off shares of while at the same time there are 400,000 The rulers. of Greece are whipping up immigrants, anti-racist fighters, and on the state-owned monopolies in telecommunica illegals in the country, about the same as the nationalist and anti-Turkish sentiment in oppressed Turkish-speaking workers living tions, oil refining, and other industries to Greek unemployment level." Simitis, while their attempts to rally working people in the slums of Athens. The Rainbow ran in private investors, laying off thousands of taking some distance from these chauvinist around their militarization and austerity pro the elections in a block with the Reconstruc workers. statements, ordered the police to carry out gram. At a September 12 news conference, tion of the Communist Movement of Greece The PASOK regime claims the austerity "Operation Broom" prior to the September Simftis clearly outlined his central foreign (OAKKE) on a platform that included de measures are necessary to bring the budget elections- arresting and expelling 5,000 policy priority. "On the road towards the mands for the "immediate unconditional deficit down from 7.6 percent of Gross Do undocumented workers, most from Albania. year 2000, we face one threat: Turkish ag recognition of the Republic of Macedonia" mestic Product (GDP) to the 3 percent re Evert and other candidates of New De gression in the Aegean, Thrace, and and against "nationalist hysteria and national quired for joining the so-called European mocracy campaigned for proposals they said Cyprus," he said. Evert accused PASOK of oppression." Its election center in Athens Monetary Union by the year 2000. To join would result in economic growth much "retreating on our national interests," and was burned by fascist thugs in September in the European Union (EU) "common" cur higher than the current 2.2 percent annual proposed a more aggressive policy to ex of this year. rency, the government is also required to rate. "Only through massive privatizations, pand the terri~oriallimits around the Greek Resistance to the attacks on immigrants slash inflation, now at an annual rate of 8.5 with the abolition of state monopolies, can islands in the Aegean sea from 6 to 12 is also on the rise. In mid-July, over 4,000 percent -three times higher than the EU av Greece repeat its economic miracle of 1953- miles - a measure that could provoke mili participated at an anti-racist festival orga erage. 73 and begin again to grow at a pace of 5 tary retaliation from Ankara. nized by some 30 immigrant rights and other percent to 6 percent annually," said Stamatis Most of the smaller opposition groups organizations. They demanded an end to the Bipartisan shift to right Manos, a central leader of New Democracy. pushed their own nationalist tirades against deportations of immigrant workers and full Turkey during the election campaign. Four The elections registered a further shift to Faced with stiffening competition in ex legalization with equal rights. This was the of these parties joined PASOK and ND in the right of the bipartisan framework of ports of food and other commodities by capi biggest such event ever in Athens. having their representatives be the godfa bourgeois politics. During the election cam talists in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, Reflecting the worries in ruling circles thers of the daughter of Greek-Cypriot paign, PASOK leader Georgios Pashalides Greek capitalists are on a drive to expand over the social tremors the austerity mea Tassos Isaak, who was beaten to death in accused Miltiades Evert, New Democracy's investment and trade in the Balkans, the sures of the Simitis regime may cause, Cyprus in August by supporters of the Gray candidate for prime minister, of "being ca Caucasus, and the Middle East. In its at former Minister of Transportation Ge6rgios Wolves, a Turkish fascist outfit. Isaak took pable of proclaiming ND a socialist party" tempts at economic expansion, Athens Daskalakis said, "PASOK will be walking part in a protest organized by Greek right in order to win the elections. Evert, in tum, comes up not only against its imperialist ri into a mine-field .... People have reached the wing groups on the line dividing Cyprus denounced Simftis for "following a terribly vals, but also the capitalist rulers of Turkey. limits of their endurance." between Greek- and Turkish-speaking areas. conservative monetarist view that touches Tensions have sharpened between Ath These opposition parties include the Com the limits of neoliberalism." ens and Ankara over a territorial dispute Bobbis Misailides is a member ofthe Union munist Party of Greece (KKE), which came Since the fall of the military regime in involving mineral deposits in the Aegean ofForeign Airline Employees in Athens. 1974, New Democracy and PASOK have alternated in government, leading the assault on the standard of living of working people. The average real wage in 1995 was 3 per 'Return Chinese islands to China' say protesters cent lower than the 1982 level. Today, 23 percent to 35 percent of working people live BY BEVERLY BERNARDO ing for Chinese sovereignty over the islands, explained Jack Ho, a member of the Union below the official poverty level in four of VANCOUVER- Chanting "Defend and the ethnic pride and dignity of all Chi of Needletrades Industrial and Textile Em the country's seven regions on the mainland. Diaoyutai from Japanese Militarism" in both nese people. ployees Union at Aero Garment, "Kill ev This is especially true in northern provinces Chinese and English, 4,000 people -many On September 18 more than 8,000people eryone, bum everything, and take every such as Thrace, where a high percentage of of Chinese descent, marched through the marched through the streets of Hong Kong thing." the working class is composed of oppressed streets here September 22. The protesters to protest the building of the lighthouse. In The Japanese rulers have stepped-up their nationalities - Turks, Macedonians, and were angry over a July decision by the Japa the first week of October, the governing Lib military drive. It's reflected, demonstrators others. Half a million retired workers, in a nese government to assert a zone of 200 eral Democratic Party of Japan released an say, by examples like the Japanese Sea Pa population of 10 million, get a state pen nautical miles around its territory that in election manifesto asserting Tokyo's claim trol chasing away Chinese fishing boats, as sion of Dr. 80,000 (US$330) per month, cludes Diaoyutai. Beijing claims sover to the Diaoyutai. well as the conflict over the Diaoyutai Is which is below the poverty level. Over the eignty over the islands. While the Chinese government has dis lands. They point to the fact that Japanese last decade, 300,000 working farmers have Following this decision, the Japan Youth couraged protest demonstrations in China, prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto recently been forced off their land, moving to the Federation, a right-wing group, built a light protests involving thousands of people have paid tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine, a me cities for other jobs. house on one island and adorned it with a also taken place in Taiwan, which has been morial to Japanese war criminals - despite The decline of real wages and social ben Japanese flag. On October 5 Japanese for ruled by a U.S.-backed government opposed protests from other Asian governments. An efits is continuing in the middle of a two eign minister Yukihiko Ikeda emphasized to the Chinese revolution. In Macao - a article in the Wall Street Journal reported year-long economic recovery. Industrial pro that Japan was not giving up ownership. Portuguese colony scheduled to be returned how "right-wing groups dressed in storm duction has risen 1.6 percent so far this year, The Chinese ambassador to Tokyo, Xu to China in 1999- some 20,000 students trooper outfits, regularly stroll unchecked for example. Joblessness, however, has con Duxin, condemned this action at a meeting rallied for "special lessons on 'Japanese through Japan's cities in armored trucks tinued to climb- reaching 10.2 percent in of the Japanese foreign ministry in early militarism and expansion,"' according to blaring slogans and nationalistic songs." September- as the employers "downsize" September. "Chinese people are outraged The Toronto Globe and Mail. Before the Sino-Japanese War in 1895 to cut costs. and want to issue a strong protest," he de The actions by Tokyo to establish its claim China's sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Is At the same time, the PASOK adminis clared. to the uninhabited islands coincided with the lands had been under the jurisdiction of the tration has unleashed attacks on democratic According to the New York Times, "the 65th anniversary of the Japanese military Taiwan province. After China lost the war, rights. In the last two years, the police have main reason the islands have suddenly be invasion of Manchuria in Northeastern the Qing dynasty government ceded Taiwan assaulted striking shipyard workers, other come the focus of such attention is that sur China. During Tokyo's colonial war against and the Diaoyutai to Japan in an unequal unionists resisting layoffs, and retirees de veys have suggested there may be huge pe the Chinese people, more than 30 million treaty. After Japan's defeat in World War II, manding higher pensions. troleum reserves in nearby waters." people died. Within just six weeks during Taiwan was returned to China. But in 1972, During the election campaign, Evert pro The action's organizers- Vancouver the Nanking massacre, 300,000 people were the U.S. government handed over the posed that regions of Greece hardest hit with Alliance Against Japanese Invasion of brutally slaughtered. Diaoyutai to Japan. China has never ac unemployment "should not have any for- Diaoyutai Islands- have been demonstrat- "The Japanese military had three rules," depted this action by Washington.
12 The Militant November 4, 1996