------. AUSTRALIA $2.00 . BELGIUM BF60 • CANADA $2.00 • FRANCE FF10 • ICELAND Kr150 • NEW ZEALAND $2.50 • SWEDEN Kr12 • UK E1.00 • U.S. $1.50 INSIDE U.S troops provoke incident at Guantanamo — PAGE 9

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE | VOL. 58/NO. 32 SEPTEMBER 19, 1994 COSATU Cuba: 70,000 youth rally convention opens in in defense of revolution South A fric a Students, young workers protest U.S. aggression BY JAMES HARRIS AND GREG ROSENBERG BY MARTIN KOPPEL SOWETO, South Africa — Under a AND LAURA GARZA banner reading “ Reconstruction for W ork­ H A V A N A — Tens o f thousands o f chanting, jumping, ing Class Power!” more than 1,700 dele­ clapping, and dancing youth jammed the steps of the Uni­ gates gathered at Vista University here versity o f Havana and spilled onto the streets here Septem­ September 7 for the opening o f the 5th ber 7 in a rally to mobilize mass support for the Cuban congress o f the Congress o f South African revolution. Trade Unions (COSATU). Tens o f thousands o f other students and young workers A major topic o f the meeting is the fight marched and rallied in cities across the country, including being waged by the working class and rural toilers to eradicate all forms of discrimina­ tion against Blacks after decades of Eyewitness report apartheid rule and to forge a South African nation. Since May, more than 100,000 the eastern cities o f Bayamo and Santiago, where a sizable workers have participated in strikes. Most march took place. The Federation o f University Students of the major walkouts are over for now. (FEU) and the Federation o f High School Students The day delegates convened, some (FEEM) called the actions. CNN reported that more than Continued on page 14 70,000 students and others participated in the demonstra­ tions. “ W e’re in a battle o f ideas, and we have no doubt we’re Prison officials going to win,” FEU president Otto Rivero told the enthusi­ astic crowd. “ Revolutionaries are the majority here, and we must make sure they see us.” file charges The demonstrations occurred at a moment when the U.S. government has been stepping up its aggressive moves against Curtis against Cuba, and a time of growing social polarization in­ side Cuba between the broad majority who defend the rev­ BY JOHN STUDER olution and those who oppose or give up on it. The latter is FORT MADISON, Iowa — After hold­ reflected in the tens o f thousands of people who have been ing political and union activist Mark Cur­ leaving the island by raft or boat in an attempt to reach the tis in “ investigative segregation” lockup United States. for more than a week, officials at the Iowa “ For every Cuban without dignity, there are 100 more State Penitentiary filed charges against with dignity” was the slogan of the student mobilization. him on September 2, accusing him of “ assault, threats and intimidation, damage Clinton not popular to property, and obstructive/disruptive Students boisterously chanted throughout the rally. conduct.” “ Long live free Cuba, down with the Yankees” was one Curtis, who continues to be held in popular chant. Whenever Cuban president Fidel Castro’s lockup, has been in prison in Iowa for six name was mentioned, waves o f “ Fidel, Fidel” would erupt years, framed up on charges o f rape and among the youthful demonstrators. burglary. He was arrested and brutally U.S. president B ill Clinton was not popular in this beaten by Des Moines cops in the middle crowd. Groups o f youth shouted inventive and humorous o f a defense campaign for 17 coworkers chants denouncing Clinton for his anti-Cuba policies. AP W ide W orld Photos who had been seized in an immigration The students, like many Cuban working people, were Tens of thousands of university students and young workers rallied raid at the Swift packinghouse plant where Continued on page 8 September 7 in Havana to support Cuba’s socialist course. they worked. He was thrown in lockup by prison au­ thorities just as his supporters around the world launched an ambitious campaign to Clinton threatens invasion o f Haiti press the Iowa State Board o f Parole to free him. Curtis, who is due for a parole hearing in November, is more than eligible BY PAUL MAILHOT the 13-nation Caribbean Community and to provide 266 soldiers to an invasion force for release. "The time for action has arrived,” Common Market (Caricom) in Jamaica. that w ill likely number almost 15,000, the Curtis was given a report summarizing Deputy Defense Secretary John Deutch “ There can be no doubt in anybody’s mind Clinton administration is acting as if all its Continued on page 12 stated following the late August meeting of that the multinational force is going to ducks are in a row and m ilitary interven­ Haiti.” tion against Haiti is not only likely, but in­ Deutch along with Deputy Secretary of evitable. The record of Washington’s State Strobe Talbott attended the Caricom preparations demonstrates that the threat is meeting to secure political support and deadly serious. military backing for an invasion of Haiti In May and June Washington secured from the assembly of Caribbean countries. the agreement o f the United Nations to Although only four of the seven Caricom tighten an economic embargo on Haiti with nations that possess m ilitary forces decided comprehensive trade sanctions, a ban on to commit troops to the effort, U.S. o ffi­ flights in and out o f the country, and re­ cials touted the decisions of the meeting as strictions on financial payments between broad regional support for an invasion of Haiti and the United States. neighboring Haiti. In July, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for “ all necessary Clinton flexes military muscle means,” to bring Aristide back to power, at u nder the guise or trying to reinstall ex­ the same time indicating that all diplomatic iled president Jean-Bertrand Aristide and avenues were being exhausted. Adminis­ reestablish “ democracy” in Haiti, the Clin­ tration officials view the Security Coun­ ton administration has begun campaigning cil’s action as legal justification for an in­ with a new urgency to flex its military vasion. might in the Caribbean and assert U.S. domination in the hemisphere. Washington Washington stages provocation is taking these steps as it has escalated ag­ In a provocative action shortly before gressive actions against socialist Cuba. the Caricom meeting, a 183-foot U.S. With the recent decision o f Barbados, Navy patrol boat zoomed across the edge Belize, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago Continued on page 4

5,000 rally in Decatur, Illinois, on Labor Day — page 10 IN BRIEF

Women in Seoul protest many energy companies to pay their Japan war reparation plan workers over the past few months Korean women angrily demonstrated could provoke mass action by coal in front o f the Japanese Embassy in miners, as well as oil and gas workers. Seoul August 31. Th ey denounced a $ 1 billion plan from Tokyo to finance cul­ Athens deports immigrants tural and student exchanges throughout The Papandreou government in Asia as atonement for forcing as many Greece has begun one o f the biggest as 200,000 women to be sex slaves for purges of Albanian immigrants in re­ Japanese soldiers during World War II. cent history. Since August 15, more No actual victim o f the Japanese atroci­ than 20,000 Albanians have been ties w ill receive compensation. driven to the border and forced back Many o f the women who were into Albania. The deportees are pri­ forced from their homes, often at gun­ marily young immigrant workers who point, and herded into huge brothels sought jobs in Greece. Nearly all en­ came from South Korea. The Japanese tered the country after trekking for government also forced Chinese and days across mountains that divide the Filipino women to serve in the brothels two countries. for Japanese soldiers. After many years Albanians being sent back are al­ of silence about this chapter of their lowed few of their personal belong­ lives, Korean and Filipino women have ings, and have had to leave furniture, begun to organize and demand direct rent deposits, and bank savings behind. compensation for being forced to serve Landlords and employers, many of as “comfort women” for Japanese sol­ whom benefit enormously from the sit­ diers. uation, have been asked by the govern­ The Japanese also conscripted tens Some 1,000 people marched in Hilton Head, South Carolina, September 3 to protest the ment to hand over all Albanian immi­ o f thousands o f Koreans and used them flying of the confederate flag over the state capitol. The NAACP called the demonstration. grants for screening. as forced labor in lands Japan con­ quered during the second world war. Selloffs in Argentina Japan has avoided all individual payments The Argentine government is prepar­ o f compensation for fear that it would en­ years. W hile only half o f the 6.1 percent escorting relief convoys, and training a ing another round of privatizations aimed courage massive accumulated demands unemployment figure for the United States, new Somali police force. However, the UN at completely selling o ff federal enterprises from the many victims o f Japanese colonial the long-held belief by Japanese workers force has for some time now largely re­ to private businessmen. Economy minister aggressions across Asia before and during o f job security and stability is fading with mained inside their compound in order to Domingo Cavallo said the remaining state World War II. the constantly rising jobless rate. Corpo­ duck the fighting taking place in the coun­ enterprises to be sold included all airports, rate heads in Japan are shifting more and try. UN soldiers from India were recently Japan airline workers forced three nuclear power plants, the post office, more production to other countries ambushed by Somali m ilitia members. the federal mint, and the country’s largest to wear Mickey Mouse ears throughout southeast Asia to take advan­ Seven Indian soldiers were killed in the petrochemicals plant. Japan Airlines’ (JAL) latest gimmick to tage of cheaper labor and drive down costs battle. Cavallo also assured Argentina’s raise its profits includes forcing its flight in their own country. bankers that the government would keep a attendants to don Mickey Mouse ears on its As a solution to the jobs crisis, govern­ Russian farmers: higher prices tight reign on government spending. There “Dream Express” flights. The airline has ment ministers called for the creation of For the first time in decades farmers in w ill be a hiring freeze in the public sector painted three o f its jets with huge Mickey more temporary jobs, which would have Russia are being forced to sell their pro­ and spending on social programs w ill be Mouse and Donald Duck characters and fewer restrictions on employers and mean duce at market rates rather than at a gov­ cut by 10 percent. spent $3.5 m illion on its Disney campaign. worse conditions for workers. ernment determined price set in the spring, JAL tried to get all flight attendants to before planting begins. Russian farmers Ruling halts discharge of gay wear the ears but the union balked. In re­ Last U.S. troops leave Somalia complain that regional food distributors A Federal appeals court ruling in San sponse to the union’s protest against the By mid-September the last 80 marines and processors have monopoly control o f Francisco August 31 halted the discharge degrading uniform, company spokesperson w ill leave Somalia, according to U.S. State the market and are offering such low grain of a homosexual flight instructor who had Geoffrey Tudor said, “ Travel is part o f the Department officials. The departing sol­ prices that it w ill impoverish many o f them told a television interviewer, “ Yes, in fact, entertainment industry and the sooner diers are the final contingent of a military and put in jeopardy this year’s harvest. I am gay.” some people understand that, the better.” force that at its peak involved 26,000 Nikolai Rybakov, a manager at Roskhle- The judges’ ruling on the case o f Keith troops on Somali soil. produkt, the state grain purchasing agency Unemployment rises in Japan Meinhold, an officer with 13 years in the Some 18,000 United Nations troops re­ that was transformed into a jo in t stock military, did not challenge the navy’s con­ Unemployment in Japan rose to 3 per­ main in Somalia. Their responsibilities in­ company last year, is not sympathetic. “ We tention that homosexual conduct “ seriously cent in July, the highest level in seven clude overall security for UN personnel, look at the rates in regional commodities impairs the accomplishment o f the military markets and then we decide what price to mission.” But the court rejected the idea pay farmers,” he stated. “ We cannot pay that a soldier simply stating that he or she farmers more than the world prices.” is a homosexual is grounds enough for dis­ charge. THE MILITANT Russian workers demand wages “From the government’s standpoint,” After being unable to pay its workers for Eugene Fidell, an expert in m ilitary law, two months, Russia’s Tula arms factory said, “ a test like this is a nightmare.” Under stopped production September 2 for the a Clinton administration policy, gay men first time in its 300-year history. Cus­ and women can supposedly serve in the The facts about South Africa tomers, including the government, have not armed forces as long as they don’t engage been paying the factory for their orders and in any homosexual acts. a last ditch effort to produce hunting rifles U.S. president B ill Clinton’s Justice De­ The historic elections that buried and save the factory flopped. partment, however, has mounted several apartheid registered a new stage in the Oleg Soskovets, Russia’s first deputy vigorous challenges in court against gay prime minister, has warned that the coun­ soldiers who have fought to remain in the South African revolution. From the try’s late payments crisis could soon spark military after being discharged because of industrial centers to the rural areas, social unrest. He recently told a group of their sexual orientation. working people are fighting to win rapid bankers and industrialists that the failure of —PAUL MAILHOT economic and social justice after decades o f white minority rule. Only the ‘M ilitant’ brings you the in-depth coverage you need, every week. Don’t miss a single issue!

2 The Militant September 19,1994 UN meeting pushes overpopulation fiction

BY SARA LOBMAN “cultural imperialism.” The United Nations Confer­ Following a church-organized ence on Population and Develop­ rally of 200,000 in the Philip­ ment convened in Cairo, Egypt, pines to protest the conference, on September 5. The govern­ the government in Manila ments o f 180 countries sent dele­ dropped two women’s rights ad­ gations to participate in the 10- vocates from its official delega­ day meeting, which has the stated tion to the conference and agreed goal of limiting growth of the to a joint position paper that re­ world’s population. jects the right to abortion. The main document submitted Cairo’s A1 Azhar Univer­ to the conference for approval s ity — considered to be among was prepared by the United Na­ the most authoritative voices of tions Population Fund (UNFPA). Islam — condemned the UN doc­ It projects a population of from ument as implicitly condoning 7.8 to 12.5 billion people by the homosexuality, abortion, and adolescent sex. One organization, the Moslem Brotherhood, ac­ Excerpt from :‘Too cused the conference o f attempt­ ing to curb population growth Many Babies? The among Muslims. Another, the Is­ Myth of the Population lamic Group, threatened to attack Explosion’ people attending what they called a “ licentiousness” conference. — see page 13 Egyptian gov’t cracks down Many participants at United Nations Conference on Population and Development present abortion and Using these threats as an ex­ sterilization as methods of population control, not rights women must have to be able to control their own year 2050, up from 5.7 billion to­ cuse, Cairo has rounded up and bodies. Above: women in Pakistan are paid 50 rupees ($1.60) for agreeing to be sterilized. day. The highest increases in pop­ jailed scores o f people in the cap­ ulation, the report says, w ill be in ital city and in southern Egypt, Africa, followed by Asia and Latin Amer­ vigor with which the environment is pro­ in a fight to limit population growth. It extended by 45 days the detention o f the ica. The industrialized countries, including tected.” The article noted that Holland, calls for the right of women to “ safe, effec­ Islamic Group’s principal attorney, and the United States, Britain, Western Eu­ with a relatively high population density of tive, affordable, and acceptable methods o f prohibited street demonstrations. rope, and the former Soviet Union, con­ 4,500 people per 1,000 hectares (2,470 fertility regulation of their choice,” and in­ Massive battalions o f cops and security tinue to have a relatively slow rate o f popu­ acres), has a better-than-average record of cludes “ pregnancy termination” as part o f forces have been instructed to monitor “ all lation growth. land preservation, while Brazil, with a pop­ the “ reproductive services” that should be suspicious activities aimed at stirring up According to the UNFPA report, an in­ ulation o f 170 people per 1,000 hectares, available. popular opinion.” crease in life expectancy from 41 years to has a poor record. The Clinton administration, which ini­ 61 years over the past four decades has The UN report rejects concerns that the Debate on abortion rights tially spoke in favor o f including the clause compounded the so-called population food supply w ill not keep pace with popu­ This has provoked a debate. Six on abortion in the UN document, shifted its problem. lation growth, noting that “ during the past governments — those o f Saudi Arabia, position after the papal protests. A State The UN document perpetuates the myth 10 years, the world’s food production has Lebanon, Sudan, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Department cable in March 1994 said that that “overpopulation” — not capitalist ex­ increased by 24 percent, outpacing the rate and Iraq — are boycotting the conference Washington “ believes that access to safe, ploitation and imperialist domination of o f population growth.” This argument has around the abortion issue. legal, and voluntary abortion is a funda­ working people in the semicolonial long been the stock-in-trade of population The Pope, in a statement issued by the mental right o f all women.” world — is to blame for economic and so­ control advocates. However, the report directory o f the Holy See press office in Just days before the conference opened, cial crises, hunger and spread o f pre­ also notes that food production is uneven. Rome, stated that “ an entire culture that however, U.S. vice president A1 Gore as­ ventable diseases, as well as destruction of In Africa, for example, it fell by 5 percent, held that the right to life was ‘self-evident’ sured the Vatican that “ the United States the environment. It claims that population while the population grew by a third. now wants to reject this fundamental prin­ has not sought, does not seek, and w ill not growth o f the size anticipated w ill put huge The UN paper also points to big shifts in ciple in every sphere o f life.” Abortion, the seek to establish any international right to strains on the supply o f natural resources, population distribution as millions of rural Pope’s statement said, is “ an evil as an abortion.” such as forests, fish, and clean air. toilers move to large cities to look for heinous as killing any other human being.” “ The confluence o f our interests with the Most o f those attending the conference work. The report estimates that the work­ In June, a conference o f 114 o f the Vatican’s is strong,” said Katie McGinty, accept these false premises. But even a few forces of Asia, Africa, and Latin America Catholic church’s 139 cardinals unani­ director o f the White House environment articles on the event in the big-business w ill increase by 1.3 billion people between mously endorsed an appeal by Cardinal office and an aide to Gore. “ The fact is that press have provided facts refuting such ar­ 1995 and 2020. By the end o f the century, John O ’Connor o f New York to condemn the church is taking a strong leadership guments. The September 3 London it anticipates, more than half the world’s any measures that would legitimize role on women’s health, on the health o f Economist, for example, said that environ­ population will live in cities. “ abortion on demand, sexual promiscuity, children, and on the role o f the fam ily,” she mental damage has “ tended to be a func­ Supporters of the UNFPA document and distorted notions o f the fam ily.” added. tion less o f population density than o f the present sterilization and abortion as tools O’Connor also described abortion as Various compromise proposals have been submitted to the conference by Wash­ ington and governments in Europe. One says that policy on reproductive matters is New Zealand ruling party barely escapes loss “ the sovereign right o f each nation, consis­ tent with the national laws and in confor­ BY PATRICK BROWN The Labour Party, which for some six fused to back the attacks. The resulting set­ mity with international human rights stan­ CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — decades has been the sole alternative to the tlement was described as a “ stalemate.” dards.” It would also delete a phrase in the The ruling National Party narrowly es­ National Party and had long claimed the al­ The government’s failure to confidently original UNFPA paper that says couples caped defeat in an August by-election in legiance of the majority o f working people, open a new assault on working people’s “ have the right to the enjoyment o f the the Christchurch electorate o f Selwyn. The was the big loser in the elections. As the rights has given fuel to a growing number highest attainable standard o f sexual and election was organized after Ruth Richard­ ruling party from 1984 to 1990, it led a ma­ o f right-wing voices. reproductive health.” The Canadian gov­ son, the local Member o f Parliament (MP) jor restructuring of the New Zealand econ­ ernment wants to include language de­ and former finance minister in the National omy in the interests o f the capitalist class, New right-wing organizations manding parental consent before young government, resigned her seat. deregulating investment, privatizing state During the Selwyn election a new right­ people can have access to contraceptives The National Party won the seat by just industries, and reducing spending on social ist political formation called the Associa­ and information on sex. 418 votes. The three-year-old Alliance, a services. While capitalist firms that sur­ tion o f Consumers and Taxpayers (ACT) coalition of five different groups domi­ vived are now enjoying increased profits, began campaigning more aggressively. A l­ nated by former Labour Party activists, the standard o f living o f working people though it did not stand a candidate, ACT came in second. The Labour Party itself has been driven down. opened an office in the electorate, declar­ came in a distant third. The election results The Alliance, is now number two behind ing that it would keep the other candidates illustrate the growing political instability in the National Party in nationwide opinion “ honest.” New Zealand. polls. Its election manifesto last year AC T’s most prominent leader is Roger The electoral contest at Selwyn was na­ promised higher taxes, increased social Douglas, the former Labour Party finance tional news, since the fate o f the National spending, universal ‘free’ public education minister who was knighted for his part in Party government was in the balance. The and health care, and a $1 billion public restructuring the economy. ACT proposes general election in November last year works program. carrying through to the end the privatiza­ slashed the National Party’s large majority tion o f health and education services. won in 1990, leaving it with 50 seats — a Working-class resistance Douglas nails the National and Labour mere one-seat majority — compared to 45 While the unions continue to retreat be­ parties for failing to do this. AC T’s mani­ for the Labour Party. fore the government’s and employers’ of­ festo is his recently published book, Unfin­ The Alliance and the rightist New fensive, there have been significant ished Business. He proposes slashing both Zealand First Party each hold two seats in protests against health and education cut­ government expenditure and income taxes Parliament. National’s wafer-thin majority backs, forcing the rulers to back peddle on to give consumers and taxpayers more slowed somewhat the momentum o f the some o f their attacks. “ choice.” cuts on social services and other attacks on For example, community protest meet­ During the by-election ACT also re­ working people by the employers. The ings and rallies against the closure o f rural leased a “ law and order” policy which, sacking of Richardson as finance minister hospital services were a feature of politics among other reactionary measures, pro­ follow ing that election symbolized the in the Selwyn electorate during the by- posed tougher prison sentences and ending government’s weakened position. election. the right o f the accused to silence. It called With its victory at Selwyn, the National When New Zealand Rail, the operator o f for compulsory work schemes under m ili­ Party maintains its one-seat m ajority in the key ferry link between the North and tary discipline for all those aged under 25 Parliament. But the narrow win is particu­ South islands, prepared for a major con­ who have been unemployed for three larly striking since the party has claimed frontation with Seafarers Union members months or more. credit for the economic recovery that has on the inter-island ferries in been under way in New Zealand since June — proposing massive job losses and Patrick Brown is a member o f the Engi­ 1992, follow ing a decade o f economic threatening the very existence o f the neers Union in Christchurch, New stagnation. union — the government and courts re­ Zealand.

September 19,1994 The Militant 3 Pathfinder Fund off to enthusiastic start BY LUIS MADRID the Pathfinder book To Speak the Truth: The $125,000 Pathfinder Fund has got­ Why Washington’s 'Cold War’ against ten o ff to a good start. Hundreds o f partici­ Cuba Doesn't End. “The government of pants in an international socialist educa­ the United States cannot be on the side of tional conference at Oberlin, Ohio, in early the peasants because it is an ally o f the August, met the fund challenge with enthu­ landowners. It cannot be on the side of siastic donations. Pledges to date total workers anywhere in the world because it $101,000. More than $5,400 has been col­ is an ally o f the monopolies. It cannot be lected. on the side o f colonies because it is an ally Pathfinder publishes books that recount o f the colonizing powers,” the Cuban the struggles o f working people around the leader said. world from the point o f view o f the revolu­ tionaries participating in and leading those Answer to Washington’s lies battles. The purpose o f the fund is to help Today, as Washington and its big- implement the New York-based pub­ business media friends escalate their bar­ lisher’s decision to keep in print its entire rage o f lies against Cuba, this and other list of some 300 titles, as well as continu­ Pathfinder books on Cuba acquire a height­ ing to produce new ones in a timely fash­ ened importance. ion. Another key title available is Socialism Pathfinder’s backlist includes important and Man in Cuba. In this pamphlet, Er­ books such as The Communist Manifesto, nesto Che Guevara, a leader of the Cuban by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels; In De­ revolution, explains the political tasks and fense of Marxism, by Leon Trotsky; and challenges in leading the transition from Cosmetics, Fashions, and the Exploitation capitalism to socialism. Guevara’s docu­ o f Women, by Joseph Hansen, Evelyn ment is one of nearly 40 titles on Cuba or Reed, and Mary-AIice Waters. by Cuban revolutionaries published by “It is a very ambitious program for a Pathfinder. Plans are also underway for the publishing house our size to decide to keep fifth printing in September of The Second a ll of our titles in print,” Pathfinder sales Declaration of Havana by Fidel Castro. director Rich Stuart explained. “ Since this is not necessarily a ‘profitable’ perspec­ Fund-raising events tive, most publishers opt to let their older Michael Tucker reports from New titles go out of print. But politically, we Zealand that Pathfinder supporters there can’t afford to do this.” arc organizing fund rallies in Auckland and From Cuba to New Zealand and from Christchurch for September 10, and two Iran to the United States, working people weeks later in Wellington. Planning such and a new generation o f youth arc fighting events early in the drive in other cities to defend themselves from the ravages o f around the world w ill help get momentum capitalism. The lessons o f a century and a going as we head toward making the goals half of working-class struggle, told through in full and on time by the November 15 the speeches and writings o f Marx, Engels, deadline. V.I. Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg, Trotsky, Fi­ The scoreboard that appears on this del Castro, and others, are in more demand page, points to the challenge that remains and are more precious than ever before. to reach out broadly to insure pledges, meet and surpass the overall goal, and to Defense of Cuba’s socialist revolution step up the collection and prompt remit­ “ The time to speak the truth has come,” tance o f pledges into Pathfinder. To be in­ Fidel Castro said in a 1960 speech to the cluded on the weekly scoreboard, money United Nations, explaining imperialism’s must arrive at the Pathfinder office, 410 implacable hatred of Cuba’s socialist revo­ West St., New York, NY 10014, no later lution. Castro’s entire speech appears in than Tuesday, 12 noon, E.D.T. Washington gears up for brutal invasion of Haiti

Continued from front page port o f Congress for military intervention. diana Republican on the Foreign Relations sional Black Caucus, said, “ It’s no longer of Port-au-Prince harbor and navy surveil­ Representative Lee Hamilton, chairman of Committee. “ If we do invade, it w ill be a a question o f whether or not it’s inevitable. lance planes hovered o ff shore. the House Foreign Relations Committee, historical mistake.” It’s a larger question of whether or not we In spite o f the cover that Washington se­ has informed the Clinton administration The New York Times has sounded an find ourselves with reasons as to why we cured through the UN, the commitment of that congressional approval is not required alarm against invasion as ill-timed and ill- should not invade." Jamaica, Barbados, Belize, and Trinidad before sending troops into Haiti.“I think prepared. In an editorial September 2 titled and Tobago to send a few troops as part of we’re right at the point of invasion,” said “Still a U.S. Invasion. Still Wrong,” the 2,000 at funeral of slain priest an invasion force is especially dear to the Hamilton. “ I don’t think you can send two Times argues that strong action against the W hile the Clinton administration is Clinton administration because it tics other high-ranking officials to the Caribbean Haiti regime is justified. But the political working overtime to lay the groundwork governments in the region into the war making the kinds of comments that they support is not strong enough to sustain the for military action, more than 2,000 plans. “ Administration officials said it is made yesterday without following type o f m ilitary action that Washington Haitians turned out to mourn the death of important that this sensitive job [military through.” w ill likely be mired in. Rev. Jean-Marie Vincent, a Catholic priest invasion of Haiti] not be done solely by “ The UN charter only permits such au­ who led a peasant movement in the 1980s. U.S. troops, which could project an image Some are nervous over invasion thorization when there is a threat to inter­ Vincent was the first priest ever assassi­ of Yankee imperialism,” explained an arti­ W hile President B ill Clinton is moving national peace,” noted the Times. “ There­ nated in Haiti. cle in the Washington Post after the decla­ ahead, some in capitalist circles are ner­ fore, a threat was duly declared, founded in Vincent was shot to death August 28 by ration o f Caricom leaders. vous. “ If we don’t invade now, the admin­ large part on the supposedly destabilizing thugs undoubtedly connected with the m ili­ Another key element o f the Clinton ad­ istration w ill be accused o f being wishy- dangers o f a continuing flow o f refugees tary. The police, a hearse, and a Justice of ministration’s plans is the at least tacit sup­ washy,” said Senator Richard Lugar, an In­ throughout the region.” the Peace appeared at the scene o f the Likewise the Times pointed out how killing only moments after the shooting, weak of a cover the Caricom commitment even though no one had called them. really is. “ Appending 266 soldiers from The large crowd at Vincent’s funeral Barbados, Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad to September 2 gathered more to express an American army o f at least 10,000 can­ anger than sorrow for the slain priest. not hide the fact that an invasion, if it "They have never gone so far with their comes, would be a foolish and unnecessary work o f destruction," said Rev. Quesnel act driven solely by the Clinton Adminis­ Alphonse. “ He was one more victim of tration,” the editorial stated. state terrorism.” The 266 soldiers coming from Because o f death threats and harassment Caribbean nations will be equipped, from Haiti’s military rulers, the Creole- trained, and transported to Haiti by the language Libete newspaper was forced to United States. Underlining the reality that halt publication September 5. This was the this is an entirely U.S. operation, the third time in four years that this under­ Caribbean troops will not enter into the ground weekly has been shut down. country until seven to 10 days after the One indication o f the U.S. government’s U.S. Marines have begun the invasion. professed but hypocritical concern for the The likely invasion of Haiti has met with Haitian people is seen by the treatment be­ some opposition from editorial writers and ing afforded the nearly 15,000 Haitian mostly Republican Party politicians. Sup­ refugees who arc being incarcerated at the port for C linton’s course has come from Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba. The many liberal forces in the Democratic U.S. m ilitary recently subdued another re­ Party. Randall Robinson, leader o f Trans- bellion by the refugees protesting wretched Africa, has demanded that Clinton give living conditions and Clinton’s refusal to Haiti’s military rulers 48 hours notice or grant them political asylum. Reuters news face being ousted by U.S. forces. reports that in the latest protest at least one Some 250 people marched September 4 in M iam i to protest the murder of Jean- Representative Kweisi Mfume, a Mary­ Haitian was seriously injured and six U.S. Marie Vincent, a leader of the peasant movement in Haiti. land Democrat who heads the Congres­ soldiers suffered minor injuries.

4 The Militant September 19,1994 H i b e r n a t i o n a l c a m p a i g n t o w i n n e w r e a d e r s I ■I * : „ /¿ » V - ‘ Í- * ' I I

WHERE WE STAND start of week one ‘M ilitant’ takes to the streets SOLD 0% SHOULD BE 0% BY SARA LOBMAN Firestone tire plant in Decatur and Supporters in Salt Lake City, From Labor Day events and pro­ their allies kept scabs from ente­ Utah, didn’t waste a minute o f the tests against U.S.-government ag­ ring the factory. Five o f the rail international drive. On the first gression against Cuba to college workers bought subscriptions to morning a team of five headed out campuses and working-class the paper and four purchased sin­ to a couple o f large apartment neighborhoods, supporters of the gle copies. complexes in nearby West Valley M ilitant newspaper in cities “ The focus on our sales has been City. They sold four subscriptions around the world took to the streets getting out the truth about the Cu­ to the M ilitant and one copy of the September 3-5, for the opening ban revolution,” Janet Roth repor­ book To Speak the Truth. In addi­ weekend o f a 10-week circulation ted from Auckland, New Zealand. tion, seven people said they were campaign. The goal is to sell 3,300 “ We sold one renewal subscription interested in the paper and indica­ subscriptions to new readers ted they could pay later in o f the M ilita n t, 700 subs­ the week. Distributor Dan criptions to the paper’s Fein noted that these “ call­ Spanish-language sister pu­ backs” often become new blication, Perspectiva Mun­ readers. Supporters o f the dial, and 1,250 copies o f the socialist press in Salt Lake Marxist magazine New In ­ City plan to keep an accu­ ternational by November rate record o f everyone who 13. Already, supporters are says they are considering getting a good response subscribing so they can get among fighting workers and back to them in a timely youth. way.

‘How do I sign up?’ Sales on campus “ Is that the M ilita n t!” a In Houston, distributors striking rubber worker in also got o ff to a good start Decatur, Illinois, asked a by taking advantage o f the distributor.' When she res­ beginning o f a new school ponded affirmatively he year. Young people snapped continued, “ How do 1 sign up a M ilitant subscription, up? 1 don’t think we’re get­ two subscriptions to Pers­ ting the whole truth about pectiva Mundial, one copy Cuba.” He purchased an in­ Militant o f To Speak the Truth, and troductory subscription on Distributors in Detroit discussed the U.S. war several other pamphlets the spot. drive against Cuba with students at M ichi­ from a table at the Univer­ Betsy Farley reports that gan State University in East Lansing. sity o f Houston. Reader more than 5,500 people par­ Robbie Scheer reports that ticipated in a Labor Day solidarity to the Militant and four single co­ another Perspectiva Mundial subs­ parade in Decatur to support stri­ pies at a picket against the U.S. cription and two M ilitant subscrip­ king autoworkers and rubber wor­ war moves. In addition, one man tions were sold to people coming kers, as well as locked-out mem­ bought a copy of To Speak the by the local Pathfinder bookstore, bers of the United Paper Workers Truth: Why Washington’s ‘Cold while a participant in an emer­ International Union. Five people War’ against Cuba Doesn't End gency protest to oppose the U.S. got subscriptions to the M ilita n t and asked us to get back to him war moves against Cuba bought a and more than 30 people bought about a subscription. M ilitant subscription. single copies o f the socialist paper. “ A student came by the books­ Starting next week we’ll print a United Transportation Union tore looking for information for a scoreboard to help readers mark member Jon Hillson wrote in from school project,” Roth said. “ But the progress o f the international St. Paul, Minnesota, to say that his she ended up getting a subscription campaign to win new readers. To coworkers on the Canadian to the M ilitant to follow the fight to be included on the chart each Pacific-owned Soo Line — who defend abortion rights.” Suppor­ week, subscriptions, as well as re­ recently returned to work after a ters in New Zealand have sold 17 ports o f New International sales, 46-day strike — were particularly subscriptions so far: 9 in Auck­ need to arrive in the M ilitant busi­ interested in the recent M ilitant ar­ land, 7 in Christchurch, and 1 in ness office no later than Tuesday at ticle on how striking workers at the Wellington. 12 noon, E.D.T. Unionists seek out truth on Cuba BY MAURICE WILLIAMS it over night to get a different view who works in an oil refinery, re­ More working people today are point. ports that a coworker recently thinking about and open to discus­ The next day the coworker ap­ bought a copy of To Speak the sions on the socialist revolution in proached M ille r and explained Truth. He was “ concerned that the Cuba. Washington’s war drive how much he liked the M ilitant's U.S. might go in to smash the Cuba against Cuba has sparked an inte­ coverage. The coworker pointed to revolution,” Reid said. rest among workers in the United the ad promoting the book and said A member o f the United Auto States in what the leaders o f the he wanted to buy one. M iller just Workers in Cleveland, who is also Cuban revolution have to say. That happened to have a copy handy a veteran o f the G ulf war, asked is what promoters o f the Pathfinder and sold it to the coworker on the M ilitant supporters about events in book To Speak the Truth: Why spot. Cuba. He has a subscription to the Washington’s Cold War Against M iller reports that a Haitian co- paper and was eager to discuss the Cuba Doesn’t End by Fidel Castro worker who has read the M ilitant coverage. He was shown a copy of and Che Guevara have found in for many years borrowed a copy of To Speak the Truth and said, “ This factories across the country. Wide the book recently and purchased is just what I need to understand distribution o f the book is an im­ his own after reading it. what’s happening there.” portant counter to the constant In Houston, Willie Mae Reid, James Warren, a steelworker in slanders by the U.S. government Chicago, said he has had many dis­ against Cuba. cussions with coworkers about Betsy Farley reports that a coal Cuba. Since Warren recently retur­ miner bought the book at a recent ned from a trip to Cuba his cowor­ Labor Day event in Decatur, I lli­ kers know him as a supporter of nois. Many o f the participants at the Cuban revolution. the rally, who are strikers at nearby Warren said that based on a plants, were interested in discus­ number of wide-ranging discus­ sing their views of the Cuban revo­ sions he has sold one copy o f To ACTWU-Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union; AEEU-Amalgamated lution and what Washington is rea­ Speak the Truth along with other Engineering and Electrical Workers Union; AFMEU-Automotive, Food, Metals and lly up to. Pathfinder titles. The coworker Engineering Union; CAW-Canadian Auto Workers; EU-Engineers Union; FPU-Food Bob M iller, a supporter o f the who bought the book said, “ Fidel Preservers’ Union; IAM-International Assocciation of Machinists; ILGWU- M ilitant who works at the Ford as­ really makes sense.” lnternational Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union; MWU-Meat Workers Union; NUM- sembly plant in Edison, New Jer­ Another coworker whose wife National Union of Mineworkers; NUW-National Union of Workers; OCAW-Oil, sey, said that a young Black co­ heard Castro on CNN said he made Chemical and Atomic Workers; RMT-National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Trans­ worker started up a conversation very good points and asked if the port Workers; TGWU-Transport and General Workers Union; UAW-United Auto about Cuba during one o f their bre­ book was available in Spanish. He Workers; UFBGWU-United Food, Beverage and General Workers Union; UFCW- aks. M iller, who was reading the bought a number of Pathfinder ti­ United Food and Commercial Workers; UMWA-United Mine Workers of America; M ilitant at the time, said the co- tles including issue no. 8 o f the USWA-United Steelworkers of America; UTU-United Transportation Union. worker told him that Castro was Marxist magazine New Internatio­ the problem. M ille r lent him the nal, featuring “ Cuba and the Road paper and encouraged him to read to Socialism.”

September 19,1994 The Militant £ YOUNG SOCIALISTS AROUND THE WORLD------Generation X and the ‘Communist Manifesto’ The article below is based on a ruling class and abolish their capi­ public talk Ken Riley, a National talist system. This document de­ Committee member of the Young scribes the historic line o f march Socialists has given at M ilitant for the modern working class from Labor Forums in Los Angeles its birth under capitalism towards a and other cities, on campuses, socialist society based on human and elsewhere. Riley, a garment needs and solidarity, instead o f worker and member of the Inter­ profits for the wealthy few. national Ladies’ Garment W ork­ Like many radicalizing youth to­ ers’ Union, is also the Socialist day, Marx and Engels were young Workers candidate for governor political activists when they wrote of California. the Manifesto in 1848. They partic­ ipated in the fights and revolutions BY KEN RILEY that were spreading through Eu­ LOS ANGELES — Who speaks rope. Through these experiences for our generation? What problems they came into contact with revolu­ do we face? Where should we look tionary workers in Germany, for answers? These questions about France, Belgium, and elsewhere. the so-called “ generation X ” are Marx was 29 and Engels was 27 being discussed lately in different when they wrote the Communist bourgeois magazines and newspa­ Manifesto. But as they explained, if pers. These commentators, how­ they had not met an organized ever, discuss what they think about group of experienced revolutionary us, not what we think. They ask workers, there would not have been young people questions such as, “ Is a communist movement in the mid- Kurt Cobain [lead singer o f the nineteenth century or at least these ‘grunge’ band Nirvana who re­ two wouldn’t have been part o f it, cently committed suicide] your and the movement would have been hero?” Or, “ Have you ever suffered weaker. from depression before?” If they Today young fighters have the do ask a question o f some same opportunity. Right now there importance — like, “ Do you think is a strike wave across the United your future is going to be better or States. Workers at Caterpillar and more secure than your par­ other strikers are defending them­ Militant/Eric Simpson Militant photos: Top: Dave Wulp; Bottom: Jon Hillson ents?” — no matter how we answer The Young Socialists organizes youth to participate in working class and revolutionary fights today, selves against the bosses’ attacks they continue to tell us where to go including union battles, struggles for women’s rights, and actions against racism and imperialist war. on their dignity and living condi­ for therapy. tions. They are reaching out for sol­ The problem that is inherent in idarity from other unionists and these types o f articles is that they come As long as capitalism exists, despite cipal Hulond Humphries and the racist youth. There arc demonstrations in defense from a point o f view that defends capital­ ceaseless ups and downs o f the business school board in Wedowee, Alabama. o f abortion rights and gay rights, and coun- ism. This leads them away from addressing cycle, these conditions w ill not be reversed Rightist thugs have murdered a second terdemonstrations against the Ku Klux the real problems and discussing a way for­ unless the capitalist governments o f the doctor who performed abortions in Pen­ Klan, racism, and attacks on immigrants. ward for humanity. world are able to deal major blows to the sacola, Florida, declaring open season on Thousands o f young people and workers The Young Socialists start with explain­ working class and labor movement and de­ all defenders o f abortion rights. A coalition are part o f this resistance. And this is also ing what stage in the world we are in, stroy masses of commodities and capital. o f ultrarightists and fascists are the ruling what the Young Socialists are doing across where the world is headed, and where we To carry out this program they w ill have government in Italy and rightists are the United States — lending solidarity to can get answers to do something about it. to rely on major assaults on our democratic spreading throughout Europe and other the fighters at Caterpillar and other strikes; rights, resorting to the violent extremes of countries. defending the democratic rights of women, Capitalist depression fascism to smash workers and revolution­ gays, Blacks, and immigrants; actively de­ The world capitalist system is in crisis. ary organizations. They w ill move towards Communist Manifesto fending and telling the truth about the This was signaled by the crash o f the New world war to destroy capital and beat back This is what radicalizing youth and Cuban revolution; as well as organizing York stock market on Oct. 19, 1987, the their rivals, if they can inflict crushing workers w ill increasingly face in the fight classes and discussions on the Communist steepest one-day plunge in this century. blows on the working class. for a better world. This is why workers and Manifesto, M alcolm X, the Cuban and We see the effects o f these depression We can already see these developments young fighters should look to the Commu­ South African revolutions, and other top­ conditions with the rise o f unemployment, as ultrarightists and fascist types like Rush nist Manifesto and its authors Karl Marx ics. I urge all young fighters to join us. homelessness, racism, social explosions, Limbaugh, Patrick Buchanan, Louis Far- and Frederick Engels. threats o f war, attacks on women and im­ rakhan, and Ollie North are getting a big­ The Communist Manifesto is the first To join the Young Socialists or fo r more migrants, and nationalist demagogy in the ger hearing. The Ku Klux Klan is more ac­ book of its kind, because it is the weapon information, write to P.O. Box 2396, New United States and around the world. tive, organizing support for the racist prin­ o f working people to take power from the York, NY, 10009, or call (212)475-6482. Frame-up victim denied parole 13 times BY HARRY RING Butler, a fellow Panther who swore that A t the August 29 parole hearing, it was LOS ANGELES — Frame-up victim Pratt had confessed the crime to him. After noted that Pratt had received two disci­ Geronimo Pratt has been denied parole for the trial, it was established that Butler was plinary reports in the past year. One was the 13th time. Railroaded to prison by the an FBI plant in the Panther Party and ear­ for refusing an assignment to work with in­ FBI and Los Angeles police, the former lier had been a Los Angeles County sher­ mates who were members o f the Aryan Black Panther Party leader has served 23 iff’s deputy. Brotherhood, a white-supremacist outfit. years o f a life sentence. He was convicted o f a 1968 Los Angeles murder despite the evidence that at the Nebraska authorities electrocute time he was attending a Black Panther meeting in Oakland, some 400 miles away. Pratt has insisted that logs of FBI wiretaps man in first execution since 1959 would confirm that he talked on the Oak­ BY BILL KALMAN people — both supporters and opponents land Panther phone several times the day DES MOINES, Iowa — On September o f capital punishment — faced o ff against o f the killing. During that time, the FBI 1, Nebraska authorities put a prisoner to each other outside the prison gates in Lin­ was pursuing its secret drive to destroy the death in the electric chair For the first time coln the night o f the execution. Panthers by any means necessary. since 1959. Harold Otey, 43, had spent al­ A t a press conference the day before, Party phones were tapped as a matter of most 16 years on death row at the Ne­ Governor Nelson dismissed the interna­ routine. Curiously, the Oakland tap log for braska State Penitentiary in Lincoln before tional campaign to stop the execution. “ I that week is “ missing.” Wesley Swearin­ his execution. see no reason to change [the death sen­ gen, a retired FBI agent, has come forward He was sentenced to death for the June tence] under all the circumstances I ’ve re­ to state that he saw documents confirming 1977 rape and murder o f a young woman viewed,” he stated. "There comes a point that a tap was in place on the Oakland in Omaha, Nebraska. He was convicted in time that for justice to serve all o f us, it phone at the time. based on a confession that Otey later must be carried out.” Two years ago, several participants in claimed was coerced from him by the po­ Socialist Workers candidate for gover­ the Oakland meeting came forward to con­ lice. He maintained his innocence to the nor of Iowa, Mike Galati, sent a message to firm that Pratt was there. They disclosed end. Nelson demanding that he stop the execu­ that the late Huey Newton, then the party’s Through the years Otey had become one tion. “ The Otey case and your planned exe­ top leader, had barred anyone from testify­ of the most well-known death row inmates cution once again demonstrates the bar­ ing in Pratt’s behalf because Pratt opposed in the United States. Hundreds o f letters baric role o f capital punishment in this so­ him in a bitter factional dispute. from around the world flooded Nebraska ciety as a terror weapon against working At the time, the only one to reject this governor Benjamin Nelson’s office in the people and against workers who are Black was Panther Kathleen Cleaver, who testi­ days prior to the execution demanding that in particular. This weapon has for decades fied at Pratt’s trial that she had participated it be stopped. been used to attack and intimidate union­ in the meeting and that he was also there. Otey’s execution was a flash point for ists and other fighters,” the socialist ex­ At his recent parole hearing, Pratt asked the debate on the death penalty. State o ffi­ plained. that Cleaver, now an attorney, represent cials, both Democrat and Republican, cam­ him. The parole board arbitrarily refused. paigned for his execution. Area physicians, Bill Kalman is a member of United Food At his trial, the principal evidence however, refused to attend the killing and and Commercial Workers Local 431 in against Pratt was the testimony o f Julius pronounce Otey dead. More than 2,000 Des Moines. Iowa.

6 The Militant September 19,1994 RESPONSE TO CLINTON'S CUBA POLICY Rightists emboldened by U.S. war drive Counterrevolutionary Cuban-American organizations go on the offensive

BY SETH GALINSKY groups, and others pulled out. against Cuba from U-S. territory. offices of Replica, a Spanish-language M IA M I — Taking advantage o f U.S. While the police estimate of 15,000 to The same day, some rightists gathered at magazine here that calls for a dialogue with war moves against Cuba, right-wing 20,0000 participants is greatly inflated, the Miami’s Bicentennial park, according to the Cuban government, were firebombed Cuban-American groups here have gone march was still substantial. It was billed as the Miami Herald, “ after hearing rumors September 4. The damage was minimal. on the offensive. In the last few weeks, a funeral procession, with demonstrators that...the pro-Castro Antonio Maceo Bri­ The right-wing groups have been able to they have held a series o f demonstrations, follow ing behind the coffin o f a Cuban gade was going to demonstrate.” use sympathy for the plight o f the raft­ marches, and picket lines. rafter who died in the Florida Straits. ers — and frustration by many in the The largest o f the actions, on August 27, Empty caskets to symbolize others who ‘Less rights than we do’ Cuban-American community with the d if­ drew thousands o f people to downtown have died trying to reach the United States In fact, a coalition of anti-embargo ficult economic crisis their relatives face Miami, including many families. Some of were also carried to a nearby cemetery. groups had initially planned to demonstrate on the island — to win support for step­ the marchers chanted “ Blockade, Block­ On September 4, several actions oppos­ at this site, but had postponed the action ping up the pressure on Cuba. ade! War, War! Freedom, Freedom!” The ing the Cuban revolution were held. One after the cops stalled for several days on The rightists, who have lost significant march, held on Little Havana’s Calle hundred protesters gathered in Hialeah, granting a permit. ground in recent years in the Miami Ocho, was organized by “ Cuban Unity,” a Florida, and then drove to the Bay o f Pigs When asked by a Herald reporter if Cuban-American community, feel embold­ coalition of rightist groups that includes Memorial in Little Havana, the site o f a members o f the Antonio Maceo Brigade ened by Washington’s war drive and are avowed terrorists. It was severely weak­ hunger strike by six right-wing Cubans. have a right to demonstrate, Jose Vic- attempting to get back some o f this ground. ened earlier this year after the Cuban The strikers are calling on Washington to torero, a member of Tactic o f Combat, said W hile the Clinton administration’s war American National Foundation, the best- enforce a total blockade o f Cuba and allow they had “ less right than we do.” moves toward Cuba have given the ultra- known of the rightist anti-revolution paramilitary groups here to launch attacks In the most serious incident so far, the right some steam, the measures have also caused uneasiness among large numbers of Cuban-Americans. Many are uncomfortable with the new Hundreds condemn Clinton’s Cuba policy policies o f refusing entry to refugees, the cancellation of family visitation to Cuba, BY PAT SMITH and the restriction on sending money to Hundreds o f working people and youth family members in Cuba. condemned the Clinton administration’s Outside one union-organized garment attacks against the socialist revolution in factory in Hialeah September 6, five Cuban Cuba at picket lines and public forums workers spent their lunch break discussing around the world. the measures. “The conflict did not start in 1959,” “ It’s worth the sacrifice,” said one o f the Elizardo Sanchez o f the Antonio Maceo men in the group referring to the measures. Brigade told a crowd at a Militant Labor “I just don’t like it,” said a woman Forum in Miam i. “ The U.S. government sewing machine operator whose nephew is has wanted to drive our people into sub­ being held at Guantanamo. “ I see all that mission and make it just another colony. barbed wire. They’re prisoners in a con­ But they definitely have not broken the centration camp.” w ill o f the Cuban people,” Sanchez told It’s worth it “ if it helps bring down Fi­ the 60 participants August 27. del,” said the first man. Cuban-Americans in M iam i have been “ But they’ve been saying that for a long debating, discussing, and arguing about the time,” the woman responded. “ I don’t think Clinton administration’s policy of cutting it’s going to happen. He still has support o ff travel and funds to family members in from a lot of governments.” Cuba, Sanchez explained. “We have to Divisions among right-wing groups lose our fear and speak out and be part of these discussions,” he said. “ We also need The U.S. measures have widened d ivi­ to participate in demonstrations.” sions among the right-wing groups. The Also addressing the meeting were Cuban American National Foundation, for Samedi Florevil, a leader of the Haitian example, has supported Washington’s ne­ Some 100 people rallied at the Cuban Mission in New York September 2 to demand rights organization Veye-Yo; photo­ gotiations with the Cuban regime over the an end to the U.S. embargo and protest the August 30 attack by right-wing thugs journalist Tony Savino, who just returned question of immigration. But other right- from a Cuban-American group who assaulted Cuban diplomatic personnel. from Guantanamo, Cuba; Tony Llanso of wing forces have denounced the discus­ the Miami Coalition to End the Embargo sions as a betrayal. Against Cuba; Cuban-American journalist line held two days later. ing Marcelino Fajardo, Cuba’s consul- Writing in El Diario las Americas, a Marcos Castellon; and Ernie Mailhot, So­ Young people from Ogden to Orem, general in Australia, speak at Canterbury right-wing Spanish-language daily pub­ cialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. Utah, made up the majority of the 35 peo­ University earlier this year. lished in Miami, columnist Juan Abreu Senate in Florida. ple who picketed the Federal Building in More than 50 people chanted, “ U.S., states, “ It ’s sad, but it seems that there are downtown Salt Lake City September 6 to Canada hands o ff Cuba” at an August 26 no signs that in the near future we w ill see ‘Visit Cuba, see for yourself protest Clinton’s moves against Cuba. Ear­ protest at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver, that popular and spontaneous rebellion that “ Visit Cuba, see for yourself,” read one lier in the day, 100 leaflets announcing the British Columbia. The August 26 picket our exile leaders wish for so much.” o f the placards at a lively picket o f almost picket had been distributed to students at was sponsored by Amigos de Cuba, the Abreu complains about the immigration 100 people August 31 at the Federal Build­ East High School by members o f the Coali­ Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association, discussions and “ the fifth column o f sellout ing in Los Angeles. The action was orga­ tion Against War With Cuba, which spon­ Vancouver-Cuba Friendshipment, the Cubans in M iam i” and then adds that “ in nized in a few days by the Coalition in Sol­ sored the picket. Communist League, and the Freedom So­ the middle o f this desolate pano­ idarity with Cuba as a quick response to cialist Party. rama...something positive occurred New Washington’s escalating provocations. A Protests around the world Some 20 people picketed outside the York.” The positive event: A right-wing young worker who heard about the rally “ People may believe there is no longer a U.S. embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, Au­ Cuban protesting outside the Cuban M is­ from a radio announcement said, “It’s problem because talks are taking place,” gust 31 to denounce Washington’s lies and sion in New York "slapped around” a sup­ ridiculous that the United States has been Ken G ill, former general secretary of the aggression against the Cuban revolution. porter o f the Cuban revolution. trying to keep Cuba from sustaining itself Manufacturing, Science and Finance Passersby took leaflets and gestured their “ Patience and c iv ility have a lim it,” just because they disagree with their ideol­ Union and current national chairperson of support to the protesters. Some 25 partici­ Abreu claims. “ We need to be prepared to ogy.” A student at the University o f Cali­ the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, told 150 pants at a Militant Labor Forum in Stock­ give it back...blow for blow, death for fornia at Santa Barbara agreed. “ Who is protesters at the U.S. embassy in London holm September 3 discussed events in death.... An eye for an eye, a tooth for a the U.S. government to tell the Cubans September 6. “ This is not the case.” G ill Cuba with Teresita Vicente from the tooth, there is no other road for Cuba.” what to do with their own country,” he announced a week o f actions in solidarity Cuban embassy in Sweden, a representa­ In spite o f the right-wing offensive, op­ said. with Cuba in October. A message from tive o f the Swedish-Cuban Friendship So­ ponents o f the U.S. embargo o f Cuba and “ I ’m here today to protect the revolu­ Unison, the largest trade union in Britain ciety, and Carl-Erik Isacsson, a leader of supporters o f the Cuban revolution have tion. Cuba represents the hope and inspira­ with 1.4-million-members, called on the Communist League. found more space for discussions and in tion for all of Latin America,” said a mem­ Washington to fulfill its immigration many cases less hostility among Cuban- ber of Youth For Peace in El Salvador. agreement with Cuba, lift the blockade, The follow ing people contributed to this Americans and others when explaining “ I am here as one o f the ‘wretched o f the and end sanctions. Other unionists, solidar­ article: Robert Dees, a member o f the why Washington hates the Cuban revolu­ earth,’ ” Musa Kamara said at an August ity activists, and members o f Parliament at­ Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Wor­ tion and why working people should not 28 Militant Labor Forum in Greensboro, tended the picket. kers Union in Greensboro, North Car­ believe the lies about Cuba. North Carolina. “ Cuba was once a mem­ Shouts o f “ Cuba si, yanqui no, U.S. out olina; Ned Dmytryshyn, a member o f the Sixty people attended a M ilitant Labor ber, but freed itself in 1959 through a o f Guantanamo!” greeted officials at U.S. International Association o f Machinists in Forum in Miami August 27 to hear a panel heroic revolutionary struggle o f its leaders consulates in Auckland and Christchurch, Vancouver, British Columbia; John Even- o f speakers protest the U.S. war moves. and its people.” Kamara, originally from New Zealand, September 2. Fifty demon­ huis, a member o f the Young Socialists and Recent reports in the big business me­ Sierra Leone, was referring to Franz strators withstood the cold and rain in the International Brotherhood of Electri­ dia, such as Channel 4 here, have pointed Fanon’s book Wretched of the Earth, Auckland to demand “ U.S. hands o ff cal Workers in Los Angeles; Seth Galin- to demonstrations in other parts o f the which is about the exploitation o f semi­ Cuba.” The protest, organized on short no­ sky from Miami; Pamela Holmes, a mem­ United States that have opposed the war colonial countries by imperialism. tice by the Cuba Friendship Society, was ber o f the Transport and General Workers drive against Cuba. Channel 4 claims that “Those of us who are familiar with the covered on the Nightline news program Union in London; Geoff Mirelowitz from actions like these could never happen in feudalistic conditions under which women and in Auckland’s New Zealand Herald. Seattle; Anita Ostling from Stockholm, Miami. suffer in most African countries know what A high school student who participated Sweden; Colin Parker, from Auckland, But the Miam i Coalition to End the U.S. the Cuban revolution has meant for in the Christchurch picket helped distribute New Zealand; and Joan Shields a member Embargo o f Cuba and a coalition o f Cu- women,” Kamara continued. “Cuban leaflets earlier in the day to build the event. of the Meat Workers Union in Christ­ ban-American groups are planning to women have come to Africa as soldiers, as Five university students were among the 24 church, New Zealand; Brock Satter, a show, once again, that this is not true. They teachers, as doctors.” Local television sta­ protesters. They first became interested in member o f the Young Socialists in New are planning a public demonstration in M i­ tions covered the forum as well as a picket defending the Cuban revolution after hear- York; and Dan Fein in Salt Lake City. ami for September 10.

September 19,-1994 The Militarti 7 EYEWITNESS REPORT FROM CUBA Cuban youth rally

Continued from fro n t page path.” He was hopeful the New York talks angry at the Clinton administration’s between the Cuban and U.S. governments provocative detention of Cuban rafters at on immigration issues would lead to less­ the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, ened conflicts between the two. Cuba. They also opposed the recent moves “ I hope they get rid o f the embargo,” to tighten the U.S. embargo against Cuba said Kirenia, who with a group o f class­ by barring Cuban-Americans from visiting mates from a technical school had brought or sending money to relatives on the island. a big banner with the portrait o f Cuban rev­ olutionary leader Ernesto Che Guevara. August 5 events Half a dozen junior high school stu­ Signs identifying different colleges and dents, 12 and 13 years old, crowded high schools represented at the rally dotted around a reporter to state their views. A the crowd. Hand-painted signs proclaimed few said they knew from their U.S. rela­ slogans such as “ D ignity” and “ Fidel yes.” tives what conditions working people face Students banged on drums, danced on the in the United States. Dafnee Cabrera said steps o f the main campus building, and those jum ping on rafts "think it’s a par­ sang and swayed to the music o f the popu­ adise over there. But there they have to pay lar band Moncada. for their health care, for their house, they The student mobilizations, called a few have to work real hard.” days after schools opened, were organized in response to an unprecedented confronta­ ‘We want this revolution’ tion that took place here August 5. That Her classmate Iracena Garcia, upon be­ day, thousands of workers, joined by many ing asked why she was at the rally, said, youth, had mobilized rapidly to battle sev­ “ For our revolution. We want this revolu­ eral hundred antigovernment rioters near tion because we were born in it. We want Havana’s waterfront who were breaking to defend our homeland.” Tatiana Santos Militant/Cindy Jaquith store windows, looting, and attacking po­ interjected, “They should return our base Demonstrators in Havana in February 1990 protest a U.S. Coast Guard attack on the lice officers. The riot broke out during a in Guantanamo.” The students interrupted Cuban ship Hermann. period o f several armed — and in some the interview to join a new round o f chants. cases deadly — boat hijackings in July and A student from the city o f Matanzas, “ These measures by Clinton are terri­ to a confrontation." There have already August. Magdelys Perez, 23, stated, “ We may not ble,” said Pedro Rolle, 55. “ They put an been protests and disturbances by both “ During the August 5 events, the genera­ have many material things, but we have end to family visits from the United States Cubans and Haitians confined on the base. tion now studying in universities and sec­ ideas. I admire a lot the ideas o f Che.” She and to sending remittances here.” Wash­ ondary schools had a unique opportunity to said she came to the rally on her own from ington, he said, “ hasn’t abided by the 1984 Different views about rafters defend the revolution” by beating back the Matanzas. “ I traveled here straight after immigration accords. In the last 10 years, Workers have various views about the antigovernment riot shoulder to shoulder school. A ll o f us at this event are here vol­ they only gave visas to 11,222 Cubans,” social composition o f the rafters, many of with workers, Rivero noted in an interview untarily.” Rolle added, noting the exact figure. whom are men in their 20s and 30s. " I t’s in the Cuban daily Granma. Angel Cedeno, 26, referring to the Au­ Some workers expressed hopes in the people who don’t work,” said Alexander He added that the student organization gust 5 riot and the combative response to it U.S.-Cuban talks. Modesta Arozarena, 50, Sutil, expressing a common view. “They would begin the semester “ with a different by workers, said, “ We don’t want a minor­ however, said, “ I don’t think the outcome are people who steal and who sell things on kind of curriculum, launching a political ity to crush our ideas. For our generation, w ill be favorable because the United States the black market at excessive prices. Here offensive in the universities with debates, this is the time and place to put up the kind is always opposed to us.” She added that if in Marianao I know several who left.” exchanges o f ideas, clarifying the active o f fight that has a place in history.” Washington carried out further aggressions García added, “ A lot o f those who leave role students must play in society.” against Cuba, “ We are well prepared for are the dregs. But there arc decent people Discussions and opinions abounded at Not all agree anything.” Arozarena had taken part in the too, who believe they’ll find a good life in the rally. “ It’s inhuman to imprison people Not everyone shared the views o f the August 7 rally of 500,000 to repudiate the the United States. You feel sorry for them in Guantanamo and cut o ff family visits,” student demonstrators. The day before the murder of police officer Gabriel Lamoth that they didn’t have the strength to stay.” remarked Itsel Vela Caravia, 22, a medical rally, at an open-air handicrafts bazaar near by boat hijackers. The local union president, Vilma Itur- student. Explaining the wave o f rafters the Habana Libre Hotel, two artisans spoke Rolando Garcia, 30, commented that ralde, explained that since the August 5 leaving Cuba and the August 5 riot, she o f relatives and neighbors who had taken Washington “ at first said Cuba wouldn’t let events, workers throughout the city have said, “ It’s the [U.S.] blockade that influ­ to the rafts. “ I think the rafters are crazy to people leave the country. Now they’re defended their factories. “ We are respond­ ences that situation. If they lift the block­ risk their lives,” one said, “ but if I could complaining that we let people go and that ing by doing revolutionary vigilance in our ade, people’s lives w ill improve. leave by normal means, I would go to the it’s a ‘maneuver by Castro.’ ” factories. W e’ve also gone to protect medi­ In spite o f the economic adversities United States.” He added he had quit a job He was concerned about the detention of cal centers and other facilities against pos­ Cubans face today, “ we as students don’t as a machinist because he could earn more more than 20,000 Cubans at Guantanamo. sible attack.” pay a penny to go to college,” she noted. money making and selling jewelry. “ What’s the United States going to do with Numerous workers, students, and others Ivan, a 26-year-old transportation work­ Of the August 5 rioters, he remarked them? I think it’s a short fuse that’s about have commented that the August 5 battle er, said o f the rafters leaving Cuba, “ They sympathetically, “ Most o f them are just un­ to explode; that could provoke a confronta­ had a big impact on supporters o f the didn’t have the courage to confront what happy because o f economic reasons.” The tion with the United States.” Garcia men­ Cuban revolution. Yuri Diaz, a construc­ we’re confronting.” other artisan, who had quit her computer tioned the 28 Cubans who crossed a mine­ tion worker from Camagiiey, said, technician job to sell jewelry, disagreed, field trying to enter the U.S. base and were “ Revolutionaries were put to the test there. ‘Get rid of blockade’ saying, most o f those involved in the riot turned away by U.S. marines at the base It was training for future struggles. His friend Roberto, a student, com­ “ were common criminals.” Her husband entrance and forced to go back. “ Some o f “ It was like a revolutionary injection,” mented on Washington’s long-standing had just left by raft; she said she would stay them stepped on a mine — that could lead he added. policy o f not granting immigration visas to in Cuba “ as long as I can make it here.” Cubans while encouraging departures by raft, saying, “ I don’t know everything but I Workers at cigar factory know they created that emigration. Those During a visit to the Hetoes o f Moncada U.S. restrictions curtail rafters are unfortunates who were urged on cigar factory in the southern suburb of by the United States. They should just lift Marianao September 7, several workers the blockade. We must continue along our expressed their views. Miami-Havana travel

BY LAURA GARZA pci and I were traveling on journalists’ M IA M I— The impact o f the Clinton visas, one o f the only ways still legally administration’s cutoff of family visits to open for a U.S. citizen to go to Cuba. We Cuba was apparent the minute we arrived showed letters proving we were on assign­ at the ticket counter at the airport here ment as regularly employed journalists. September 5. A small line formed in the The agents asked if we were carrying pack­ early morning, in contrast to the usual large ages or letters for other people. They con­ and lively crowd that always gathered, tinued down the line, stopping and reject­ stretching for several blocks, on Concourse ing one person even before he reached the B in preparation for the day’s fligh t to ticket counter. They later pulled aside at Cuba. Where hundreds were before only a least one other at the door to the plane. few now stood, and the mood was subdued. Behind us in line was a Cuban-American Several customs agents, wearing "Con­ woman from New Jersey accompanying traband and Enforcement Team” T-shirts, her father who was returning to Cuba. scrutinized people and their documents. Most o f those in line are Cubans who were An airport agent went up and down ex­ in the United States visiting and are now plaining to Cubans in line. “ You can’t take going back. “It’s disgusting, it’s not fair. back to Cuba more than you brought,” he They let people going to Vietnam take all said. “ Treasury and Immigration agents the money they want,” she said, “ but we w ill check every passenger. They’ll frisk can’t go to Cuba. How can they tell me I you, even if you have money in your bra. can’t see my family? I’ll go through a third They won’t let you on. You’ll have to re­ country if I have to.” solve it and go another day. If you have When the plane finally took o ff it was money inside letters, they have dogs that mostly empty, with only about 30 people w ill sniff it out. Last week there was a on board. The majority were elderly problem with a gentleman who had money Cubans returning home joined by a few in a letter, and he couldn’t get on the diplomats and journalists. plane.” Passing through customs to enter Cuba Perspectiva Mundial editor Martin Kop- was a brief affair.

8 The Militant September 19, 1994 U.S. PROVOCATIONS AGAINST CUBA U.S. troops provoke incident at Guantánamo

BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS the wishes o f the Cuban people — that Marazul Tours, one o f three travel agen­ U.S. officials at first asked Havana to U.S. troops provoked a serious incident have created an explosive situation. cies that run flights to Havana. block Cubans from leaving by boat, in ex­ at Washington’s naval base in Guanta­ O f the six camps set up for the Cubans, As of mid-September, only two flights change for Washington’s promise to grant namo, Cuba, September 6. Two U.S. sol­ surrounded by barbed wire, only one has per week will go to Cuba from Miami, visas to a minimum of 20,000 Cubans a diers were injured and one was hospital­ running water. Food distribution is irregu­ Guild said. ABC charters, one o f the three year. The Cuban delegation rejected this ized after a confrontation with hundreds of lar. Tents are set up on dusty fields with no companies that flew to Havana, plans to proposal. Cubans detained there. vegetation under the tropical, broiling sun. suspend all flights for now. A t a meeting at the Cuban Mission to the CNN reported September 7 that the dis­ Health care services are scant. In addition to Cuban Americans, the United Nations in New York September 3, turbance at Guantanamo broke out when “ There’s no deodorant, or razor blades new restrictions make travel to Cuba much Alarcon, explained Havana’s position. Marines went after a Cuban chasing a soc­ for the men to shave,” exclaimed Miriam harder for those U.S. citizens who could One of the main reasons for the current cer ball that rolled out o f bounds o f the de­ Escobar, 35, to reporters. She arrived Au­ previously go to Cuba legally. emigration, he said, is Washington’s eco­ tention camp during a mid-day game. gust 22 with her daughter and husband. Specifically, the old regulations granted nomic and information embargo on Cuba. Some 650 Cubans confined at Camps Papa Alarcon, who is the president o f his coun­ and Quebec on the base began throwing try’s National Assembly, Cuba’s parlia­ rocks at the pursuing U.S. soldiers. ment, said the U.S. policies aimed at stran­ The same day, U.S. and Cuban diplo­ gulating Cuba economically exacerbate mats ended six days o f talks in New York hardships for millions of Cubans, thou­ without reaching any agreement on the is­ sands o f whom decide to leave. He blasted sue o f Cubans who are leaving their coun­ the new regulations and said that repealing try by raft seeking to come to the United these measures must be part o f the talks. States. Negotiations are scheduled to re­ Alarcon explained how U.S. policy has sume in a few days after Ricardo Alarcon, encouraged and created the current mas­ who heads up Cuba’s diplomatic team, re­ sive exodus of Cubans by boat. “Since turns from a trip to Havana. 1984, the U.S. government has granted The September 6 incident took place as only 11,222 visas to Cubans applying to U.S. military authorities continue to ex­ emigrate,” he said. “ A t the same time, pand the detention camps set up on the Washington welcomed 14,000 who came Guantanamo base for Cubans being inter­ to the U.S. illegally until July o f this year.” cepted in the Florida Straits. The U.S. The visas granted in this 10-year period Navy has already herded more than 25,000 represent a tiny fraction o f what Washing­ Cubans there, making many o f the deten­ ton pledged in a previous agreement. tion sites — with subhuman living According to an immigration pact be­ conditions — overcrowded. tween the two countries signed in 1984, Pentagon officials said one U.S. soldier Washington promised to grant visas to was hit in the shoulder by rocks and re­ some 20,000 Cubans per year. U.S. immi­ turned to duty later, while a second suf­ gration laws that went into effect in 1990 fered an eye injury and had to be hospital­ actually raised that figure to almost 28,000. ized. During the melee the windows o f a The U.S. government has not only vio­ military police vehicle were broken and a lated the terms o f this agreement, Alarcon fire ignited and burned grass for a while said, "but has turned the other way and before being extinguished by U.S. person­ supported terrorist outfits that operate out nel. Cuban refugees at U.S. base in Guantánamo. Terrible conditions at the camps and of Florida and carry out armed attacks and A Pentagon press release stated, “ The the fact that they are on land stolen from Cuba, have created an explosive situation. other provocations inside Cuba.” He con­ incident occurred at approximately noon demned the use o f the misnamed Radio apparently because the Cuban migrants are Marti, set up by Washington to beam pro- confined to their camp.” U.S. officers told “ There’s no hygiene. You can’t get used to permission to “ persons who are traveling U.S. propaganda into Cuba. He also de­ reporters that there are military rules on the this. We want to know how long we’ll have for the purpose of gathering news, making manded that U.S. authorities prosecute or base the detainees are supposed to abide to stay here.” news or documentary films.” The new return to Cuba Leonel Macias González, by. But one member o f the military brass The Pentagon already evacuated 2,000 rules limit this category to journalists who killed Cuban navy officer Roberto there told CNN that conditions in the family dependents and civilian employees, "regularly employed in that capacity by a Aguilar Reyes when he hijacked a boat camps are causing the friction between the mostly women and children, from the base, news reporting organization.” Filmmakers with ?f> people and fled to the United Cubans and U.S. soldiers. "They are frus­ after military officials stated the situation and freelance writers are no longer allowed States August 9. trated, it’s hot, they are angry,” he said, there was “ too dangerous.” Its garrison has to go. Alarcon stated that the Cuban govern­ speaking o f the Cuban detainees. also been reinforced by 5,000 soldiers, Professional researchers were also given ment w ill not back o ff its policy that allows Pentagon officials refuse to say whether bringing U.S. troop strength to 8,000. fairly blanket exemptions from embargo anyone wishing to leave the country to do any Cubans were injured or disciplined af­ Nearly 15,000 Haitian refugees, who restrictions before. Now they too must ap­ so, but w ill continue to try to persuade ter the confrontation. have fled a repressive military regime, are ply for permission on a case-by-case basis. those who leave by raft or boat to refrain also detained at Guantanamo under the W hile specific travel permits had been from setting off on the risky voyage. On Guantanamo: a ‘tinderbox’ same inhuman conditions as the Cubans. A available “for purposes of public perfor­ August 28, the Cuban government issued a While U.S. planes began transporting second disturbance broke out in the mances, public exhibitions or similar activ­ decree stating that for safety reasons small numbers of Cubans from Guanta­ Haitian camps a few days before the ities," such travel is now prohibited. And Cubans would not be allowed to take chil­ namo to U.S. bases in Panama, some 1,000 September 6 incident as refugees rebelled those hosted by the Cuban government or dren aboard rickety rafts bound for the Cubans on average continue to arrive every against their conditions. U.S. bulldozers other Cuban institutions are not allowed to United States. day at the U.S. naval station, which is built continue to clear land to house more than travel to Cuba any longer. “ We are still open to work out a reason­ on Cuban soil and held by force. 60,000 Cubans on the base indefinitely. According to Guild, the new rules also able compromise on the immigration is­ U.S. Army Col. John Himes told CNN Meanwhile, on September 6 the Pen­ make it illegal for U.S. citizens to travel to sue,” Alarcon stated, “ even if the U.S. does reporter Brian Cabell at Guantanamo that tagon flew nearly 100 Cubans from Guan­ Cuba via third countries, like Canada or not agree to discuss the embargo and the an incident on the base or across the heav­ tanamo to U.S. m ilitary bases in Mexico, if they use Cuban airlines. In addi­ recent stringent travel restrictions.” ily mined border with the Republic o f Panama — the first among thousands to be tion, Washington has put pressure on Mex­ The next day, the Cuban diplomat pre­ Cuba could become “ a point that acts as a transferred there. The government of ican and Canadian airline companies to sented a proposal that Washington grant flashpoint in a tinderbox and it could erupt Ernesto Perez Balladares, who was sworn make it even harder to get tickets to Cuba visas to more than 100,000 Cubans to ease into something much greater.” in as president September 1, has pledged to in the United States. A representative of the backlog o f applicants who wish to emi­ Besides coverage on CNN, the Septem­ accept 10,000 Cubans at U.S. military the New York office of Mexicana airlines, grate to the United States. U.S. officials re­ ber 6 incident received at best scant atten­ bases on Panamanian soil for a period of for example, which operates one flight per jected the proposal but talks continued for tion in the U.S. media. The Wall Street up to six months. Pentagon officials said day to Havana from Mexico City, said in a few days. Negotiations were suspended Journal and the Washington Post barely that no pregnant women w ill be allowed an interview September 7 that she had in­ September 7 when Alarcón flew back to mentioned it. The New York Times ignored out o f Guantanamo Bay, and any Cubans structions from her home office not to Havana for consultations. it altogether. The Pentagon has in fact kept who are found to be pregnant in Panama make reservations for travel to Cuba in the U.S. secretary o f state Warren Christo­ a tight lid on the number o f reporters who w ill be returned to Guantanamo. The rea­ United States. U.S. citizens can purchase pher told reporters he hopes the talks w ill are able to visit the U.S. base at Guanta­ son? U.S. military officials could not de­ tickets only by contacting the company’s resume soon. But Christopher and other namo. Besides the big-business dailies and cide whether infants born in the camps travel agents in Mexico. administration officials insist they w ill not magazines, and the main television net­ would have the right to Panamanian c iti­ "These horrendous restrictions and at­ discuss U.S. economic sanctions and the works, few other news organizations have zenship. tempts at economic strangulation o f Cuba travel ban against Cuba “ unless Castro been given permission by the U.S. Atlantic to this extent represent a policy o f war,” moves toward democratic change.” Command to send journalists there. Tight Treasury regulations enforced said Andres Gomez in an interview. Several columnists in the Ijig-business A t the same time, Washington is floating At the same time, federal agents have Gomez is a leader of the Antonio Maceo press and editors o f major dailies call for outlandish stories in the media that the tegun enforcing new regulations issued Brigade, a Miami-based organization of lifting uie embargo or for placing eco­ Cuban government may be responsible for August 30 by the U.S. Treasury Depart­ Cuban-Americans who support the Cuban nomic sanctions on the negotiating table. the disturbances at Guantanamo. A news ment on orders from the Clinton adminis­ revolution. These commentators, however, have the item in the September 2 Wall Street Jour­ tration. These rules curtail charter flights same goal as those backing Clinton’s mea­ nal, for example, titled “ Inside Agitators?” from Miami to Havana, forbid the sending Washington-Havana negotiations sures: to weaken and eventually overthrow stated, “ Counterintelligence specialists at of money by Cuban-Americans to family While Washington has been implement­ the revolutionary government headed by the Defense Intelligence Agency worry members in Cuba, and ban travel to Cuba ing its aggressive measures against Cuba, Cuban president Fidel Castro. that Castro is sending provocateurs to stir to visit relatives except for emergencies negotiations by diplomats of the two gov­ An editorial in the September 6 Wash­ up the Cuban refugees detained at the U.S. such as terminal illness. ernments were held in New York Septem­ ington Post, for example, which backed Navy base at Guantanamo. Riots at the Some 50,000 people visited Cuba from ber 1-7. The talks were confined to the im­ talks on issues broader than immigration, base ‘will be Castro’s next move,’ predicts the United States last year, mostly Cuban- migration issue, like similar discussions stated, “ The embargo plays into the Cuban one Pentagon official.” Americans. Up until the beginning o f that have been held about twice a year Communist leader’s hands now by handing But it is the conditions at the Guanta­ September, 10 charter flights made the since 1984. The Cuban government insists him a nationalist banner. But in fact the namo camps and the treatment by U.S. of­ Miami-Havana trip every week. “Travel is that the U.S. economic embargo be put on regime is cause, not consequence, o f the ficers o f those incarcerated there — on top now being curtailed by 80-90 percent of the tabic as well, but the Clinton adminis­ embargo. End the regime, and there w ill be o f the illegal occupation o f the bay against previous levels,” said Bob Guild of tration categorically rejects the demand. no embargo.”

September 19,1994 The Militant 9 5,000 unionists march in Decatur, Illinois, Labor Day to build solidarity with strikes

BY JIM GARRISON Striking rubber worker Tom Welsh said, AND ANGEL LARISCY “The figures reported are a million and a DECATUR, Illino is - A sea o f red T- half dollars in lost revenue for the city. The shirts engulfed downtown as more than city council refuses to talk to us and the 5,500 striking United Auto Workers, media doesn’t want to write the real stuff.” United Rubber Workers, and locked-out Despite the efforts to smear striking work­ United Paper Workers International Union ers as the problem, he thought “ the mood is (UPIU) members, along with other trade good" among strikers. unionists and their families and supporters, Some workers have expressed concern paraded through the streets on Labor Day that they might never get their jobs back. in solidarity with the union struggles taking But Richard Brummett, a member of the place here. UPIU on strike against Staley, stated his The Decatur parade was led by members opinion openly. "Even if they close down, o f the UPIU who have been engaged in a it’s a win for us. I ’d rather see it close than battle for almost two years against the A.E. us go back with the company’s offer, he Staley Manufacturing Co., a producer of said.” Brummett compared this struggle to corn sweeteners. They carried a banner the fight o f Eastern Airline workers who reading “ Decatur: Pride of the Prairie or fought to keep the airline from running as Company Town,” followed by “Fight Cor­ a nonunion carrier. porate Thugs at Firestone/Bridgestone, Workers from the three unions on strike Staley/Tate and Lyle, Caterpillar.” are building a solidarity action for October The UPIU contingent was followed by 1 to commemorate the third anniversary members o f the United Rubber Workers that Caterpillar workers have been without (URW ) union on strike against Firestone a contract and the second anniversary of and the United Auto Workers (U AW ) on the lockout o f Staley workers. strike against Caterpillar. Each o f the unions has adopted the color red for their Workers push solidarity on Labor Day union T-shirts in a show of unity. Thou­ The Decatur events were the highlight o f sands of other unionists filled out the a weekend o f activities in central Illinois crowd. where thousands of workers are on strike. Braving chilly temperatures and occa­ ‘Strike has reinvigorated everyone’ sional showers, some 300 union members Militant/Chester Wilson Strikers received cheers from people lin­ and their families gathered for the 13th An­ Labor Day march in Decatur, Illinois, September 5 brought together thousands of ing the streets as they chanted, "W e nual Labor Day Solidarity Picnic spon­ unionists locked out by A.E. Staley and on strike against Caterpillar and Bridge­ are — Union!” and “ Scabs out! Union in!” sored by the Labor Council o f West Cen­ stone/Firestone. The marchers were cheered by people lining the streets. The parade stretched over a mile, winding tral Illinois. The majority of those union­ through city streets and ending up in a rally ists present were members o f UAW Local in front o f the Macon County courthouse. 974 on strike against Caterpillar. voked a strike,” Roberts said. strikers broke out in their trademark chant, Commenting on the mood in the city, a The gathering afforded members and Roberts, who was never disciplined for “ We are — union!” member of the UAW noted, "The Fire­ families an opportunity to reflect on the activities on the job in 29 years, was sus­ As the Labor Day action in Decatur stone strike has reinvigorated everyone.” conditions at Caterpillar that had led them pended twice this year — the first time for ended, Jessie Bunch, a member o f the The U AW has been on strike against to walk out as well as to share experiences eight days and then for two months. UPIU expressed the sentiment o f many that Caterpillar since June 20 after waging a from the past two months of the strike. Roberts was written up for drinking coffee day when he said, “ It seems like things are two-year battle inside plants across the Mack Street, a striker with 37 years se­ for five minutes and snacking on the job. getting worse — every time a contract country for a decent contract and against niority in the plant, said, “ Caterpillar’s "Because I wore a red T-shirt and I ’m a lit­ comes up the company goes after the company harassment. URW members strategy has been to divide and conquer. tle mouthy,” Roberts said, he became one union. But I think we’ ll all win if we keep walked o ff the job on July 12, refusing to They’ve sent o ff a scries o f mailings to the o f the many targets for company harass­ sticking together and that’s the reason accept a concession contract that included membership. In one letter they threaten us ment during the first part o f this year. there are a lot o f people out here today. two tier wages, 12-hour shifts, and pay with the loss o f our jobs and then in the Labor Day celebrations were also held W e’ve just got to keep doing what we’re cuts. A ll three o f the union locals on strike next they present themselves as being on in surrounding communities. Toluca, Illi­ doing.” in the city are organizing activities to­ our side." nois, a town o f only 1,500 residents, hosted gether. Weekly meetings consistently at­ Don Roberts, another Caterpillar striker a Labor Day festival — as it has for the Jim Garrison is a member of United Auto tract 200 or more strikers and their fami­ attending the picnic with his family, ex­ past 46 years. This year the parade in­ Workers Local 110 in St. Louis. Angel Lar- lies. pressed the anger felt by strikers toward cluded some 300 members o f U AW Local iscy is a member o f United Auto Workers Many strikers were still talking about a the company’s actions. “Caterpillar pro- 974. Near the end o f the parade route, the Local 270 in Clive, Iowa. protest held on August 31. On that day, workers from all three unions gathered at the UPIU union hall for civil disobedience training, then rallied at one o f the Caterpil­ Unionists rally against scabs at Caterpillar lar plant gates. BY BRIAN PUGH rary workers, and some union members Journal Star has run numerous articles on Cops issue citations PEORIA, Illinois — Some 500 United who have crossed the picket line, these of­ Caterpillar’s plans to shift production from fice workers have been victims o f serious its struck UAW-organized plants in Illinois When it was reported that the police Auto Workers (U AW ) strikers and sup­ injuries. Severe burns, broken bones, and to nonunion facilities around the country were planning to issue citations to workers porters rallied at Caterpillar headquarters even amputations have been documented and to the plants organized by the Interna­ who were hit by a scab pick-up truck Au­ here September 1 to protest the company’s by the Occupational Safety and Health Ad­ tional Association of Machinists in Joliet, gust 29 at the Firestone plant gate, more refusal to settle 95 unfair labor practice ministration, as well as by the union. Illinois. Striker B ill Shrode, who works at than 150 workers marched into the police charges. Pickets filed in front of the main the tire plant, stated, “ These moves arc not station demanding they deliver the notices doors chanting, “ We are union!” and "Hey Union appeals for solidarity caused by the strike. They are part o f the in front o f everyone. When the police re­ hey, ho ho, Donald Fites has got to go!” reason for the strike.” fused to come out the workers started The action was part o f the weekly picket As office workers left for lunch Septem­ Some 161 jobs are to be cut at the struck chanting, “ Cops out!” line organized by Families in Solidarity — ber 1, strikers and supporters handed out Decatur plant and 112 new jobs started up Finally, the two workers who were hit by spouses, children, and supporters o f the leaflets explaining how “ white collar and at the Joliet plant. “ The ones out here now the pick-up and two others who had come UAW strike. Caterpillar, the world’s lead­ inexperienced workers are being sacri­ are used to C aterpillar’s tactics,” added forward to volunteer as witnesses were is­ ing earthmoving equipment manufacturer, ficed.” The leaflet explains that Caterpillar striker Larry Harris, referring to his fellow sued tickets for “ impeding traffic." continues its drive to break the union. continues to deny these injuries are taking union members on the line. “ The ones they Many workers explained that their fights Caterpillar has forced hundreds o f office place, but that the union w ill continue to can scare arc in there,” pointing to workers aren’t being portrayed fairly by the city ad­ workers to cross picket lines and perform document them. “ After all, we are a union, who have crossed. ministration and the media, which blames struck work during the 11-week strike. which means we arc for the workers and workers for the strife. Along with permanent new hires, tempo- for the community,” it states. Since the beginning o f the strike. Cater­ During the rally, union leaders passed pillar has used several agencies to recruit out copies o f an article by U.S. News and temporary workers to scab on the strike. World Report on Vance security, the Strom Engineering is a Minneapolis firm strike-breaking outfit hired by Caterpillar. that has recently moved to Peoria to herd Titled, “ Calling all strike busters, the new scabs. News reports state that hundreds of lions who guard the gates,” it states, people lined up during the past couple of “These 'rent a mercenaries’ offer belea­ weeks to apply for jobs. During an unfair guered managers a way to keep their strife- labor practice strike it is supposedly illegal torn shops open.” for the company to hire permanent replace­ The union is being forced to respond to ment workers. the company’s violence-baiting of the John Smith, a striker with 25 years at UAW . Caterpillar has accused strikers of Caterpillar, asked mockingly, "How long is throwing tire-damaging “jack-rocks," and temporary? You know how that goes. If picket-line intimidation. In response, the they can train me they can train somebody union leaflet pointed to the well-known else." provocative tactics used by Vance security. Caterpillar continues to claim produc­ “ A Virginia state trooper reported see­ tion is at normal levels. “They say they’ve ing Vance throwing jack-rocks out during got production going out the door,” said the U M W A strike against Pittston Coal,” Harris. “ Down the road from here is the explained one unionist to the rally. Dennis Bork scrap yard. They haul all o f Caterpil­ Weaver, a striker from the Mapleton lar’s scrap. Bork has a mountain of foundry, said, “ I knew it was a strike-break scrapped engine blocks and other engine deal when they brought Vance in.” parts out there. So it’s going out the door Over the past several weeks the Peoria all right — out the back door to Bork.”

¡10 .The M ilitant ^September 19,1994 CP-Soo bosses take aim at track workers BY JON HILLSON among the most stalwart o f the 3,000 CP longest rail strike since 1978. Union mem­ rize such action if the carrier took bids on ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Negotiations workers in 16 railroad craft unions who bers took down picket lines that day. contract work. between the Brotherhood o f Maintenance honored UTU picket lines during the 46- The UTU members are working under Track workers from Mason City, Iowa, of Way Employees (BM W E) and the Soo day strike. the old agreement in a 60-day “ cooling to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, St. Paul, M in­ Line Railroad, the US subsidiary o f the On August 26, perceiving an apparent o f f ’ period as a newly named Presidential nesota, and Chicago met, rallied, helped Canadian Pacific Ltd. (CP) business em­ bargaining deadlock with CP bosses, UTU Emergency Board comes up with contract strengthen U TU picket lines, and set a pire, resumed here September 6, with the officials informed Department of Trans­ proposals. powerful example of solidarity. This effec­ rail bosses continuing to press its effort to portation Secretary Frederico Pena and the tively shattered the CP’s antiworker fan­ farm out BM W E track building and repair Federal Mediation Service that they Attempt to bar solidarity pickets tasy that decades o f boss-organized “ craft” work to nonunion contractors. “ might” attempt to expand the UTU strike Clinton’s order coincided with a sched­ divisions would splinter labor unity, and The CP announced this aim in early Au­ to other railroads. The intended outcome uled hearing in federal district court here, wreck the strike from the start. gust, claiming it would take bids on 200 transpired, with President B ill Clinton in­ prompted by the CP’s push to get an in­ Instead o f a hearing August 29, the track jobs, in the midst o f a strike by 1,100 voking the antiunion Railroad Labor Act, junction to bar the BMWE from solidarity BM W E and the company agreed to a determined members o f the United Trans­ suspending the strike, and ordering union picketing with the UTU strikers, as well as moratorium until September 19 to settle portation Union (UTU) in 11 midwestem members to return to work. to prevent a track workers strike against the dispute. states against the Soo Line, the ninth UTU officials affirmed compliance with the rail bosses’ attempts to hire scabs. De­ The UTU’s return to work under presi­ largest U.S. railroad. the edict hours in advance o f the presi­ fying the CP’s union-busting probe, dential order “ changes the situation” in The BMWE’s 900 members were dent’s signature on August 29, halting the BM W E ranks had earlier voted to autho- which the BM W E had faced the railroad, said Wade Birnbaum, a BM W E general chairman. “We’re going from a ‘replace­ ment worker’ issue, to a ‘supplemental Workers walk out at Eagle Electric worker’ issue.” CP seeks to punish strike supporters BY FRED FELDMAN The CP is seeking “to punish people NEW YORK — “ What do we want? who honored the UTU strike line. They’re More money! When do we want it? N ow !” saying, ‘ if you wouldn’t have stayed out, and “ No money, no work!” were the chants this wouldn’t have happened,” ’ he noted. that rose time and again during two days o f A t least 50 laborers in the Tw in Cities area mass picketing September 1 and 2 by 800 were told not to report to work until striking workers at four Eagle Electric September 6, Birnbaum explained. Manufacturing Company plants in the Initial talks with the CP since the UTU Long Island C ity section o f Queens. strike was suspended, Birnbaum said, The strike began after an August 31 “ didn’t go very well.” The rail bosses still union meeting of 850 workers voted over­ seek to contract out labor to temporary whelmingly to reject the company’s final workers based on meeting priorities, he contract proposal. Only 78 voted in favor. said, “ but to them, everything is a priority.” Eagle Electric workers are members of The B M W E ’s 1991 contract comes up United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 365, for negotiation on Jan. 1, 1995, along with an amalgamated local. The company pro­ those o f all the other CP rail unions, coin­ duces consumer electrical equip­ ciding with the expiration o f the U T U ’s na­ m ent— fuses, light switches, wall plates tional rail contract. for switches, cable, and extension cords. The great bulk o f the workforce make be­ Track gang denied work tween $5.50 and $7.90 per hour. A small Dave Lorendo, a BMWE track work layer of employees in designated skilled extra-gang lead man, explained that nine of trades are paid considerably more. The big his 11 crew members were refused work by majority of workers are immigrants from i 4ta aP CP supervisors when they came back on South America, the Caribbean, China, Militant/Nancy Rosenstock the job. When the unionist explained to Africa, the former Soviet Union, and East­ Rejecting a concession contract, hundreds of union members at Eagle Electric set up one boss that BM W E members were com­ ern European countries. A majority o f the a picket line at the plant chanting, “No money, no work!” plying with a presidential order, he was workers are women. told, “ You’re kind of forgetting who pays The proposal from company president year o f the three-year pact and 2 percent two years and 1.5 percent in the third year. you around here.” Neal Kluger essentially maintained the for the semiskilled. But for the “ un­ The union negotiating committee rec­ Track workers, explained Lorendo, a re­ contract terms that have been in force for skilled” — overwhelmingly women on ommended rejection. At the August 31 cently elected local chairman of BMWE the last six years and widened slightly the piece rate who make up the majority o f the union meeting the ranks were in a fighting Local 928, are “ a little bummed at the com­ wage gap between skilled trades and most workforce and are the most harassed by su­ mood. Many workers greeted the com­ pany. And we’re not sure if everybody is production workers. The company’s offer pervisors enforcing speed-up — the com­ pany’s offer with hoots, shouts o f anger, coming back yet. But we know what the provided for a 2.5 percent increase in each pany offered a 2 percent raise for the first and groans. Several described the proposal consequences were if we lost [the UTU as “ ridiculous” and “ insulting.” Groups of strike]. I f the U TU went out again we’d union members chanted “ Strike!” in En­ walk out again as quick as the first time. glish and Spanish. “ It’s about time,” one And [the UTU dispute] isn’t over. We’ve Rubber workers strike remains solid fuse department assembler said. got to stay together. O f the 900 [BM W E BY BARBARA BOWMAN want concessions, they’re out to break the A t a September 2 meeting o f hundreds members], we hear just five crossed the DES MOINES, Iowa — “We’re very union. W e’re at the point that all the unions o f pickets outside two o f the struck plants, picket line. We’re ready to do it all over solid. There was some concern on the have to stick together. If we lose, everyone a top company official, introduced by again without hesitating.” picket line that the younger workers would loses. You better believe John Deere is union president Sam M ieli, said that nego­ cross. But I think the opinion now is that watching us.” (The contract between the tiations had not broken down and that the Jon Hillson is a CP rail switchman in St. no one is going in,” said Debbie Owens in United Auto Workers union and John company was preparing a new offer. Paul, a member of UTU Local ¡882, and describing the strike by 1,300 members of Deere expires September 30.) the Socialist Workers candidate fo r gover­ the United Rubber Workers at the Bridge­ Upon exiting the race track, URW Local Fred Feldman is a member o f UAW Local nor o f Minnesota. stone/Firestone plant here. 310 president Bernie Sinclair told the 365 at Eagle Electric. Owens and other union members spoke press, “ Our members are as solid today as to the M ilitant coming out o f the Prairie when we went out.” Some workers with Meadows race track here Aug. 31, where fists in the air shouted, “ Hang together hundreds o f Firestone workers joined in a boys, hang together. Others shouted, “ Soli­ video hookup with their union brothers and darity forever, no way we are going back.” sisters also on strike at the company’s “ What they are trying to do is scare peo­ plants in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; ple into concessions,” said shop steward Akron, Ohio.; Noblesville, Indiana; and Darrell Lawrence, a moulder with 25 years Decatur, Illinois. The hookup was called in the plant. “ W e’re in this for all rubber by United Rubber Workers union (URW) workers. They say they can’t compete with officials to answer claims made by man­ Goodyear so they need concessions. I f we agement about the company’s need for give in then the next round it w ill be deep concessions. Goodyear saying it can’t compete without A couple o f weeks earlier, management concessions. had mailed a video tape to the homes o f the “We produced more pounds per man 4,200 Firestone strikers across the country hour than in any time in the history o f Fire­ that attempted to explain why accepting the stone,” continued Lawrence. “ It’s not only company’s “ best and final offer” is in the a matter o f money — it’s job security, se­ interest o f union members. niority, and job combinations. Under their new contract there would be no such thing ‘They’re out to break the union’ as a warranted absence form work,” he ex­ Owens is a single mother of five chil­ plained. “ What they want is a nonunion dren with seven years seniority. Respond­ shop. It doesn’t work that way. Our plant ing to Firestone’s demands for conces­ has been union for years and years. Take sions, which include mandatory 12-hour away the benefits and decent wages, and shifts, increased workers’ payments for you’ve got a packinghouse. medical coverage, and 30 percent pay cuts “ They are trying to scare the younger for new hires, Owens said, “ You wonder workers by saying they’re planning to hire how often you have to start over. If they 200 [replacement workers] at a time. But win, it’s like we’ll have to start over these guys come from $7 or $8 an hour again.” jobs,” Lawrence said in reference to the "We went out of our way to give our younger union members at Firestone here. best,” emphasized Owens. “ We thought if “ They don’t want to go back to that. No, the company makes money, we’d have se­ it’s not over yet. I see us coming out victo­ cure jobs. Now,” she said, “ they don’t just rious.”

September >19,1994 The Militant <11 Mark Curtis -MILITANT LABOR FORUMS Tel: (215)546-8218. Continued from front page The Militant Labor Forum is a weekly Judith Ward; Anne Howie, Communist League, Defending Women’s Rights Today. Speakers, member of Amalgamated Engineering Union. the charges against him signed by Louis free-speech meeting for workers, farmers, Mary-Elise Haug, Mid-Atlantic regional direc­ Sat., Sept. 21,6 p.m. 60 Shudehill, Manchester. Galloway, a guard from the prison’s Inter­ youth, and others. All those seeking to ad­ tor of the National Organization for Women; Donation £2. Tel: 061 -839-1766. nal Affairs department, which conducts in­ vance the fight against injustice and ex­ representative, Socialist Workers Party. Sat., vestigations against prisoners. In the re­ ploitation are welcome to attend and par­ Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. 1906 South Street. Dona­ port, Galloway claims that officials are ticipate in these discussions on issues of im­ tion $3. Tel: (215) 546-8218. FRANCE prepared to present the follow ing portance to working people. Paris “ evidence” against Curtis: At the Militant Labor Forum you can WASHINGTON, D.C. Stop the Lies about Cuba! Speaker: Jacques • A statement from a nurse in the prison express your opinion, listen to the views of No U.S. Troops to Haiti! Speakers: Jean Marie Malfati, representative. Communist Organizing hospital, where Curtis had been working fellow fighters, and exchange ideas on how Gabriel, member of national board of Federa­ Committee. Sat., Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m. Salle de on a “ gate pass,” claiming that she heard best to advance the interests of workers tion of Haitian Students in Haiti; representa­ I’ AG ECA, 177 rue de Charonne (métro Alexandre Dumas). him threaten and saw him assault another and farmers the world over. tive, Quixote Center’s Haiti Reborn Campaign. inmate; Sat., Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. 1802 Belmont Rd., • A statement from a guard claiming that CALIFORNIA NW (in Adams Morgan). Donation: $4. Tel: Curtis told him he had slapped an inmate; (202) 387-2185. • A statement from a “ confidential infor­ Los Angeles Defend a Woman’s Right to Choose! Defend mant,” an inmate, who “substantially U.S. Hands Off Cuba! Defend the Socialist Abortion Clinics! Discussion on how to de­ -CALENDAR Revolution. Socialist Workers Campaign agrees” with the two other statements; and fend women’s rights. Sat., Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. Rally. Speaker: Ken Riley, Socialist Workers 1802 Belmont Rd., NW (in Adams Morgan). • A photograph that appears to be of candidate for governor o f California. Sat., Sept. Donation: $4. Tel: (202) 387-2185. chipped lenses in a pair o f glasses. CALIFORNIA 18, 5 p.m. 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Donation $5. The New ‘Clinton Crime Bill’: an Attack on San Francisco The report concludes that these four Tel: (213) 380-9460. Working People. Panel discussion. Sat., Oct. items, and the fact that Curtis refused to re­ 1, 7:30 p.m. 1802 Belmont Rd., NW (in Adams Parole Now for Mark Curtis! Speakers: spond to the guards’ interrogation when PENNSYLVANIA Morgan). Donation: $4. Tel: (202) 387-2185. Nell Wheeler, Mark Curtis Defense Committee, they told him they were considering filing member, UFCW Local 431, Des Moines, Iowa; Philadelphia a report against him, lead to the presump­ others. Sat., Sept. 24, 7 p.m. ILW U #6, 255 9th Stop U.S. Threats Against Cuba! Speaker: tion that he is guilty. BRITAIN Street (between Harrison and Folsom). Aaron Ruby, Socialist Workers candidate for Under prison regulations a hearing be­ mayor o f Washington, D.C.; others. Sat., Sept. Manchester Donation: $5. For more information, call (510) fore an Administrative Law Judge is to be 17, 7:30 p.m. 1906 South Street. Donation $3. Troops Out of Northern Ireland. Speakers: 530-2577. convened to rule on the charges against Curtis. W hile he is permitted to present witnesses on his own behalf, Curtis is not allowed to question the guard’s witnesses against him. The guards, however, are al­ Cops attack striking rubber workers lowed to question Curtis. Curtis has requested adequate time from BY TIM MAILHOT to leave. When strikers did not respond, sign that the company is backing o ff from prison officials in order to prepare his de­ HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — More than the tactical squad began to move forward its plans to establish working conditions on fense. He and his attorney, W illiam Kut- 1,000 members o f United Rubber Workers in a line stretching across the street. The its terms. The Dunlop tire plant was pur­ mus, have requested that Kutmus be al­ (URW ) Local 915 and their supporters picket line rapidly dispersed when tear gas chased by Sumitomo Rubber Industries lowed to represent Curtis at the hearing. were teargassed in the early hours of was lobbed into it. (SRI) in 1986. Since then, the union says Meanwhile, supporters of Curtis’s fight September 6, while holding a mass picket that there have been continual run-ins with for freedom and defenders o f political line to discourage scabs from entering the Unionists rejected company offer management over efforts to increase prof­ rights have been sending faxes, telegrams, Dunlop Tire Corp. plant. Police used riot These events came after union members itability and implement work-rule changes and letters to Acting Warden Paul sticks against the strikers and arrested four voted down a tentative offer by a 719-712 and production methods. On July 7, com­ Hedgepath at the penitentiary, urging that members and supporters o f the union. margin on September 1. The proposed pany officials announced that the plant the charges be dropped and Curtis be re­ The police fired tear gas “ in front o f us agreement was negotiated in a three-day would be closed if “major structural leased from segregation. and behind us,” said Dan Knoch, bargaining session and was recommended changes” were not agreed to by the union. spokesperson for URW Local 915. “ They by URW officials. Strikers on the picket Miscarriage of justice Dunlop claims that they have lost money fired it in the direction they told us to go. line indicated that the offer was no differ­ at the plant every year since 1987, includ­ “ I believe there to be considerable evi­ They were not trying to disperse the ent than what they had previously rejected. dence that [Mark Curtis’s] incarceration is ing $10 m illion in 1982 and $4.4 m illion in crowd — they were trying to hurt people.” The company originally demanded ma­ 1983. Projected losses for 1994 before the a miscarriage o f justice,” faxed Joe Straley, A t least three strikers were beaten by the jo r changes in work schedules, weekend professor emeritus at the University o f strike were $9.5 million, according to the cops as they sat blocking a road in defiance work without premium pay, the right to company. SRI also claims to have invested North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and chair of o f the police’s orders to disperse. Two contract out work, gutting o f the seniority the Peace and Justice Committee o f the $250 million in capital improvements in scabs were injured when objects were system, and a giveback of one week o f va­ the plant since 1986. Community Church o f Chapel H ill. thrown through their windshields. cation and a cost of living escalator won in “I am sending you this letter by fax to Hundreds o f strikers and supporters a previous 13-week strike. These terms are A union fact sheet points out that the urge that you drop your effort to victimize were at the road leading up to the entrance similar to what Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. majority o f this money was spent buying Mark Curtis,” wrote Harold Ruggless, to the Dunlop plant, some as early as 4:00 has demanded o f URW members, who are equipment from Sumitomo-owned tire president of United Auto Workers Local a.m. As scabs began to report for work, on strike in other cities. Union literature plants in Japan. Some o f the equipment 270 in Des Moines. “ Far from being a URW members tried to wave them off, points out that if these concessions arc was old and worn out, most was purchased ‘criminal,’ Mark Curtis is an activist in the telling them not to go in. Some o f the cars taken, it would have a ripple effect, en­ at inflated prices. The union, for its part, movement to better the conditions o f work­ were pelted with rocks and bricks as they abling other tire manufacturers to demand has made concessions in previous contracts ing people. He is an excellent candidate for proceeded down the road to the plant. similar contract terms. to help put the company on its feet. parole and I would be happy to have him About 50 police from Huntsville and In spite o f the close vote, a striker on the In response to the latest events, the com­ working next to me, living next to me, and Madison, Alabama, and the Madison picket line said that the local discussed the pany promptly obtained a temporary in­ helping to build my union. County Sheriff’s Department were on outcome, and everyone agreed to stay out. junction that allows only six pickets at the “ After reviewing the charges you have hand, as was the Huntsville SW AT team Only 42 members have crossed the picket main gate, standing 12 feet apart. Dunlop leveled against M r. Curtis, I believe that dressed in riot gear and gas masks. line. The company claims that there are also announced that it w ill be presenting they are nothing but an attempt to smear A t one point police blocked further en­ now 500 replacement workers in the plant. another tentative agreement to the union him in order to derail his effort to win his trance to the plant and ordered the pickets The strike is in its 12th week with no for a vote. release on parole. I urge you to reverse this course. Let Mark Curtis out of lockup now,” Ruggless said. Thirteen workers from the Goman meat­ IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER; LOOK US UP packing plant in Sweden, led by the chair­ man o f the Union Club, faxed a letter to the acting warden, noting, “ We have sent let­ ters protesting other prison authorities’ treatment of Mark Curtis. We have dis­ cussed his case at several union meetings. We have sent money to his defense cam­ paign.” Seven garment workers from St. Louis, Missouri, headed by Rom Burris and Dorothy Jones, the president and secretary o f Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union Local 1104, wrote, “ Mark has been a model prisoner. He should be paroled, not put in lockup!” Numerous letters were sent from partici­ pants at a Labor Day march in Decatur, Illinois. Among those to write were Ray Rogers, president o f Corporate Campaign; David Yard from United Mine Workers of America Local 1969 in Virden, Illinois; and Ronald Van Scyoc, recording secre­ tary, and Frankie Travis, one o f the “ road warriors” o f the paper workers local locked-out for more than a year by the A.E. Staley Manufacturing company in Decatur. Messages protesting the lockup o f Mark Curtis can be sent to Paul Hedgepath, Act­ ing Warden, Iowa State Penitentiary, High­ way 61, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627, or fax to (319) 372-6967. Copies should be sent to the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, Box 1048, Des Moines, Iowa 50311, or fax to(515)243-9869. fl- ■ GREAT SOCIETY

Take your choice — Res­ have been denied the right to re­ to make it in the new one too. A make the hormone a prescription missing. Officials speculate that ponding to Republican allegations ceive candy. Officials said too ‘holier-than-though’ attitude can drug. He just happens to own some the recently resigned director ei­ that he’s soft on the death penalty, much of the stuff has been coming get in the way of development.” $6 million worth of stock in a com­ ther misplaced the files or walked Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, run­ in. pany that has the inside track on off with them. ning for reelection, points out that Nothing sacred? — “W e’re in patenting melatonin as a prescrip­ T ry exercising the guards — a dogfight. Some of the competi­ tion drug. We could offer Newark water Wisconsin has also barred the use tion has gotten down to a level I — Billed as “the champagne of of barbells in prison gyms, re­ would never want to see at Cadil­ Where else but the good ol’ bottled water,” Niagara water is sponding to an asserted public con­ lac.” — A GM honcho, distressed USA? — You don’t need to be a Harry actually tap water from Irvine, Cal­ cern that inmates are getting too by the fact that a slump in luxury millionaire to own a million-dollar ifornia. How come the name? The muscular. Also, prison tennis car sales has led to ads bad- home. All it takes is an income of company founder comes from Nia­ Ring courts are being destroyed or mouthing rivals and, even worse, $4,000 a week, a $300,000 bundle gara Falls, New York. turned into shuffleboard decks. some price-trimming. for down payment, and coughing up $6,039 a month on a 30-year eight people have been executed They’ve got what it takes — Sleep on it — M IT neuroscien­ mortgage. Includes Niagara water — during his administration, only one Responding to criticism that form­ tist Richard Wurtman got wide me­ With the fashion world now push­ less than under his Republican pre­ er Stalinist bureaucrats are clean­ dia coverage with the finding that Who watches the watchdog? ing athletic themes, stylish water decessor. ing up in the East European free melatonin, a hormone tablet sold — San Francisco’s Office of Citi­ pouches are in for in-city hikers. market, Alison Flint, an economic mainly in health food stores, may zen Complaints, an asserted police Like, a Chanel water bottle en­ Too many cavities? — Inmates specialist, observed: “People who be a good sleeping pill. Wurtman watchdog agency, disclosed that cased in gold and leather mesh, of Wisconsin state prison system made it in the old regime are going is also vigorously campaigning to the files for 25 of its cases are $1,125. Booklet lays bare myth of population explosion

For almost two centuries theoreticians about people we’re talking about the six These have made him, in distinction and governments have blamed “too hundred thousand Cubans without work; to all other animals, a food producer. many babies” for the hardships faced by the five hundred thousand farm laborers This is the secret of mankind’s con­ the working class. Population growth, who live in miserable shacks, who work quest of the earth, a conquest that they’ve argued, is the cause of underde­ four months of the year and starve the would remain an impenetrable mys­ velopment of the Third World, destruc­ rest; the four hundred thousand indus­ tery if we were to confine ourselves tion of the environment, hunger, and trial workers and laborers whose salaries to Malthusian concepts. (Where did war. In his pamphlet Too Many Babies? pass from the hands of the boss to those these expanding numbers get their The Myth of the Population Explosion, of the moneylender, whose life is endless food?) excerpted below, Joseph Hansen coun­ work and whose only rest is the tomb; The truth is that the world now has ters these arguments, first raised by the the one hundred thousand small farmers at its disposal more than sufficient Rev. Thomas Malthus in 1798. Copy­ who live and die working land that is not means to rapidly eliminate the hunger right © Pathfinder Press. Reprinted by theirs; the thirty thousand teachers and and poverty inherited from past ages. permission. professors who are so badly treated and The same means, rationally devel­ paid; the twenty thousand small business oped, could soon assure everyone on BY JOSEPH HANSEN men weighed down by debts, ruined by this planet a decent living. Luxury for Marxist analysis has shown us that when the crisis and harangued by a plague of all, including abundant leisure time, we speak of “overpopulation” in capitalist grafting and venal officials; the ten thou­ could be realized within a relatively society we must add a most important quali­ sand young professional people who fin­ few years. fication. It is “relative.” Not relative to the ish school with their degrees anxious to If you really stop to think about it, food supply, as the naive Reverend work and full of hope, only to find them­ considerations as powerful as these [Thomas] Malthus believed, but relative to selves at a dead end, all doors closed to are not needed to show that we have the part of the investment that goes by the them, and where no ear hears their the means to end poverty quite attractive name of “payroll.” The size of the clamor or supplication. These are the rapidly. Simply consider where we payroll, as everyone knows, is only partially people, the ones who know misfortune would be today had all the factories determined by common human needs. The and, therefore, are capable of fighting that were closed down in depressions capitalist, a devoutly religious man, leaves with limitless courage! and recessions in the past half century the final say on payroll matters to his god. been run at top capacity. Or consider Militant/Harry Ring To round out the picture, we should of Profits, the Moloch to whom he piously of­ how much farther ahead we would be Agricultural workers in Cuban cooperative, course take into consideration the fact that fers the flesh and bone of his workers. if we had eliminated the useless du­ 1968. Revolution destroyed system that em­ this large “overpopulation” of Cuba was a That is why an “overpopulation” of mil­ plication and appalling waste due to ployed peasants four months out of the year great convenience to the American sugar lions can appear in a few short months in a blind competition. and let them starve the other eight months. interests. They paid four months wages to country as wealthy as the United States, Or if the billions of dollars spent in a skilled and highly industrious labor force flooding the employment offices, and just idiotic advertisements were put to useful government bureaucracies trimmed down, and then put those hundreds of thousands as suddenly disappear when the economic purpose. Consider how much more pro­ and the millions of people wasting their of workers into mothballs for the next eight cycle enters a period of boom. ductive our economy would be if the stand­ lives in these pursuits were given worth­ months. During those months, the “dead The real meaning of “overpopulation" ing armies were eliminated, the swollen while occupations. time,” the Cubans could not even work at can be seen with exceptional clarity in colo­ their crops, for they were denied access to nial or semicolonial countries whose the land although much of it was unculti­ economies have been molded by imperialist vated. So they starved. And this on a fertile interests. Cuba offers a good example. -2 5 AND 50 YEARS AGO tropical island easily capable of feeding a When he was tried for leading an unsuc­ population many times larger! Williams’ release from prison, and cessful revolt against the Batista dictator­ Williams remains firm in his determination ship in 1953, just before his 27th birthday, Hunger disappears in future THE to return to the U.S. As news of the actions Dr. Fidel Castro gave the following elo­ Cuba is not exceptional. Ours is a hun­ against Williams spreads, more and more quent description of the Cubans whom he gry planet. Imperialism has plundered our voices of protest are being heard on both sought to arouse. It is worth studying for the planet, annihilated entire populations, con­ MILITANT sides of the ocean. picture it offers of the kind of people the demned hundreds of millions of human be­ Published in the Interest of the Working People Malthusians are talking about when they ings to death by starvation, and doomed advocate an intensive campaign to persuade September 19, 1969 the majority of mankind today to chronic the world's “overpopulation” to get them­ hunger. Not even the American people THE MILITANT selves sterilized. PUtUSHie IN THI INTIMISTI O f TNI WOIKIN« PlOni with the highest standard of living in the The American Civil Liberties Union is NEW YORK. NY. rrv E (5) c e v t s When we speak of the people we world have escaped the ravages of this considering legal action against Trans are not talking about those who live in ruthless economic system. World Airlines for their refusal to carry September 16,1944 comfort, the conservative elements of the The Malthusian theory reduces man to Robert F. Williams from London to Latest dispatches report that workers’ nation, who welcome any oppressive little more than a gullet and a set of repro­ Detroit. Williams was on his way back to committees have been organized and have regime, any dictatorship, any despotism, ductive organs. Marxists take a decidedly the U.S. after eight years of exile when, taken over control of many large industrial prostrating themselves before the masters different view of humanity. They note that upon changing planes in London, he found establishments in Paris, particularly in the of the moment. man has hands and a brain, the capacity to that TW A and other airlines flying to the “Red Belt” to the north and west. In terms of struggle, when we talk use tools and an inclination for teamwork. U.S. refused to honor his ticket. At the “Committees manned by the rank and same time, British authorities took him into file...arc growing in strength daily,” writes custody and have imprisoned him in the N. Y . Times correspondent in the London’s Pentonville Prison. September 11 issue. The Times corres­ TW A claims that its decision not to fly pondent describes his interview with one Williams was based on information from such workers’ committee at the Hispano- the FBI that “a civil disturbance could be Suiza plant where 1,500 workers were anticipated on his arrival in Detroit.” employed. Robert Williams was one of the first The spokesmen for the workers stated black leaders in this country to advocate that the company’s regular management self-defense for Afro-Americans. He was had decamped on August 18, on the day forced to flee the country in 1961 after the General Confederation had called out a being framed up in his home town of million workers on strike. Monroe, North Carolina, on a kidnapping “The heads of many French firms charge. During his exile he has lived in deemed it wise to remain away from their Cuba, China, North Vietnam, and most plants,” observes the correspondent, “until recently, Tanzania. Some time ago, the fever of excitement over liberation had Williams decided to return to the U.S. and died down and they could explain why fight the frame up charges against him. valuable aid had been given to the Lawyers in London are seeking to obtain Germans."

September 19,1994 TTie Militant 13 —EDITORIALS------COSATU Convention Continued from front page 25,000 members o f the National Union o f Metalwork­ ers o f South Africa (NUM SA) began returning to work after nearly six weeks on strike. They scored a decisive Oppose U.S. invasion of Haiti victory over the employers, winning a 10.5 percent wage increase. The union also won nonwage demands, Working people should not be fooled by Washington’s by the monopolies.... [that] exercise economic control over including forcing the employers to agree to upgrade lit­ pretenses o f trying to “ restore democracy” in Haiti. the most important industries o f the country,” he said. eracy levels in the industry. Negotiations on other de­ Clinton’s preparations to invade that country are aimed at W hile the U.S. government talks o f reestablishing mands w ill continue. asserting the U.S. rulers’ “right” to flex their military “democracy” in Haiti, it incarcerates Haitians under Workers have won wage increases in strikes and ne­ muscles in the Caribbean, especially as it escalates its miserable concentration camp conditions at the gotiations averaging nearly 10 percent over the past aggression against socialist Cuba. Washington also hopes to Guantanamo naval base in Cuba, along with thousands of two months, outpacing a 7.5 percent average rate o f maintain stability in the region and halt the mass exodus of Cubans also seeking entry into the United States. Clinton inflation. This is a sharp break from the past several Haitians fleeing from the brutal regime there. Far from a administration officials talk about the brutality of Haiti’s years, during which wages have declined. concern for democracy, the U.S. government has backed military rulers, which cannot be denied, yet thousands of Opening day speakers pointed to several issues un­ successive m ilitary dictatorships in Haiti for decades. Haitian workers who risk their lives to flee that brutality der nationwide debate. These include the pace o f im­ In fact, Washington has supported dictatorships can’t get the slightest help from Washington. U.S. policy plementation of the African National Congress’s Re­ throughout Latin America and the rest o f the continues to deny Haitian refugees political asylum. construction and Development Program (RDP). The underdeveloped world for most of this century. U.S. “The multinational force is going to Haiti,” says Deputy RDP incorporates the demands for land, housing, and military might has never been used to advance the interests Defense Secretary John Deutch. But this w ill be a U.S. jobs that are at the heart o f the democratic revolution o f working people. Profits have always been the driving invasion in spite o f UN authorization and a token force of unfolding here. Other themes included the role of force of U.S military intervention. 266 troops from four Caribbean nations. Nothing good w ill strikes in achieving workers’ demands, and the attitude Wealthy U.S. bosses back repressive regimes in order to come o f it. o f the labor movement toward the government. The extract the natural wealth and exploit cheap labor in the Castro spoke the truth when in 1960 he told the UN ANC holds a majority of seats in South Africa’s consti­ underdeveloped world. Whatever fills the capitalist coffers General Assembly, “ Our countries can at any moment tutional assembly. What is referred to as the Govern­ is what is important: It may be zinc in Peru; oil in become the victim o f the use o f such forces against the ment o f National Unity also includes the National Party Venezuela; or the control o f commercial sales o f products rights of our peoples.” led by F.W. de Klerk and the Inkatha Freedom Party of like coffee from Brazil, Colombia or Costa Rica; or the W orking people around the world should side with Mangosuthu Buthelezi. marketing and transportation o f bananas from Guatemala workers and peasants in Haiti and demand: and Honduras. Open the U.S. borders to Haitian and Cuban refugees! Mandela addresses congress Cuban president Fidel Castro aptly described the No U.S. invasion o f Haiti! Welcomed enthusiastically by delegates, ANC and situation to the United Nations General Assembly back in Stop the war moves against Cuba! South African president Nelson Mandela addressed the 1960. “ Latin America’s economic resources are controlled U.S. troops out o f Guantanamo! congress. “The ideal of a nonracial, nonsexist, and democratic South Africa in which there is social equity is the mission the ANC set itself over the decades,” stated Mandela. “ This is the mission o f our alliance. It is a mission that should continue to guide us, no matter how steep the road and how rugged the terrain in Defend Mark Curtis which we have to operate.” He called on the union movement “ to play the role By placing Mark Curtis in so-called Investigative continue to hold him is an affront to growing numbers of of a critical extraparliamentary force. But today you Segregation and filing trumped-up charges against him just class-conscious trade unionists, fighting youth, and also have to take active part in determining and imple­ five weeks before they must decide whether to grant him a defenders o f democratic rights everywhere. menting government policy,” using what he called “ the parole hearing, prison officials hope to smear him and his The stakes in getting Curtis released from lockup are elements o f political power that we have together record, push back his parole effort, and keep Curtis locked high. When the prison authorities decided to put him there, achieved in struggle.” up. This is part o f the long-term perspective o f the they made it clear they knew exactly who he was. You’re Big business has complained loudly about the recent authorities to keep Curtis in prison until he breaks. In this backed by your “friends in Des Moines” they told him, strikes, demanding ANC action against them. “ We way they want to set an example that rebellious working- referring to the international defense effort on his behalf. need to challenge the notion that strikes are, as a rule, class fighters w ill face severe punishment if they challenge Curtis supporters must answer this challenge immediately. inimical to the task o f reconstruction and develop­ the billionaire ruling-class families and their bosses and Now is the time to reach out as broadly as possible with ment,” the ANC president said. “ We fully support the politicians. this case. Curtis’s fight can be taken to workers on strike workers in their struggle to improve their conditions.” Mark Curtis is a political activist who was involved in a against Caterpillar, Firestone, and General Electric, and to Pointing out that there are at least 5 m illion unem­ fight to defend immigrant workers when he was arrested, unionists across the country; to young people on high ployed workers in South Africa, and that 7 m illion peo­ beaten, and framed up on rape and burglary charges in school and college campuses; to activists in defense of ple live in squatter camps, Mandela argued, “ The tàsk 1988. He remains politically active in prison, helping to Cuba and a woman’s right to choose abortion; and others. of mobilized people to become masters of their own organize an event celebrating the life o f Malcolm X earlier Supporters o f Curtis need to act rapidly to send faxes, destiny remains. This is a task that falls squarely on the this year, writing articles for the M ilitant on world politics telegrams, and letters to Paul Hedgepath, the acting warden, shoulders o f the political as well as the mass demo­ and prison matters, and extending his solidarity to working- demanding: cratic organizations.” He added that it is necessary to class fighters around the world. Drop the charges. Release Mark Curtis from lockup! strengthen all these organizations. Curtis is overdue for parole. The fact that the authorities Parole Mark Curtis Now! “ In striking, don’t just look at your interests, the in­ terests o f your union,” said Mandela. “ In the final anal­ ysis, the strength o f organized labor depends on its ability to articulate and promote the interests o f work­ ers as a whole.” Mandela said that “ the higher the cost o f production, The overpopulation sham the more business wants to retrench,” instead o f hiring. “ Bear that in mind.... I know it’s unpopular to you, but without us tightening our belts it’s going to be very dif­ The United Nations-organized Conference on Popula­ like Exxon and Union Carbide are the culprits. ficult to solve economic problems in this country.” tion and Development is a sham. It seeks to perpetuate In one sense, o f course, there is overpopulation under Urging delegates not to pull any punches when ques­ the racist, anti-working-class myth that “ overpop­ capitalism. The owners of the mines, mills, and factories tioning ANC ministers at the meeting, Mandela said, “ I ulation” — not capitalist exploitation and imperialist depend on a vast army o f unemployed “ surplus labor” to want to warn you that you are in power. It is no longer domination — is to blame for economic and social crises, keep wages low and working people in their place. But sufficient to criticize. You have to build.” hunger, and the spread o f preventable diseases, and de­ this is a phenomena o f the market system, not the natural struction o f the environment. The goal is to convince the state o f the world. Representatives from Cuba toilers that these problems are their fault; that there is no In this context, the attempt to link the fight for abortion In one o f several departures from his prepared other solution but to keep the birthrate down to the bare rights with those who advocate population control deliv­ speech, Mandela made special mention o f the presence minimum. ers an especially hard blow to the right o f women to con­ of delegates from Cuba, who were attending a But the population control advocates turn things on trol their own bodies. It identifies the abortion rights fight COSATU congress for the first time. their heads. The reason for the grinding poverty in much with the reactionary goals of social engineers who try to Delegates roared their approval when two represen­ of the world is not “ too many people” but the unequal control peoples lives, especially the poor. Population tatives o f the Central Organization o f Cuban Workers relationships between the owners o f the wealth and the control advocates are as damaging to the fight for (CTC), Ramón Cardona Nuevo and Salvador Valdes working class; between the imperialist countries such as women’s rights as those who attempt to make women Mesa, were introduced along with Marcos Rodriguez the United States, Britain, Germany, France, and Japan, have more children in order to increase the population of Costa, chargé d ’affaires o f the new Cuban embassy in and the semicolonial countries o f Africa, Asia, and Latin a certain nationality. In both cases women are encour­ Pretoria. America. As Joseph Hansen points out in a pamphlet ti­ aged, pressured, or forced to subordinate their reproduc­ Washington’s war drive against Cuba came up sev­ tled Too Many Babies? The Myth o f the Population Ex­ tive lives to the population schemes o f a higher body. The eral times. “We must say to America — Hands off plosion, “ Capitalism dooms people to starvation in the results are a disaster for women. In India desperately Cuba!” said COSATU president John Gomomo in his shadow o f bursting granaries and warehouses.” poor women are paid little more than a dollar to be steril­ address to the meeting. This explains the predictable selectivity o f the imperi­ ized, and in China forced abortions are common. Mean­ Gomomo told delegates that “ the immediate goal of alists and their spin doctors in passing out the “ too many while, in many countries, women are denied access to the South African working class led by its vanguard babies” tag. Somalia, India, Mexico, and China are over- contraceptives or the right to have an abortion. party and its giant mass trade union movement is to populated, they say. But Belgium, with a population den­ There is a road forward in the fight against poverty, liberate the South African nation. It is the working sity seven times that o f Mexico or the United States with war, and environmental destruction. It is the international class actively taking part in the current phase o f a three times more people per square mile than Somalia, fight o f working people and their allies against capitalism movement from apartheid to a state o f national democ­ are not! and for a socialist society that can rationally organize the racy.” It’s equally incorrect to blame environmental destruc­ use of the world’s resources in the interest o f humanity. “ We realize,” he said, “ that even though the popular tion on the supposedly too-rapid propagation o f the In that fight, the untold millions o f toilers who, in the vote for a peoples government was wonderfully suc­ species. It’s not hordes o f “ extra” people who ravage the words o f Fidel Castro, “ know misfortune and, therefore, cessful, we are saddled with a government o f national rain forests o f Brazil or dump toxic waste into oceans and are capable o f fighting with limitless courage,” are not a unity for the next five years.” He called for COSATU rivers. Capitalist ranchers and corporations with names burden but our greatest asset. members to actively support the Reconstruction and Development Program. Fraternal guests included delegations from the ANC and other organizations in the democratic movement, COSATU’s farm workers organizing project, National Council o f Trade Unions, and the South African Com­ munist Party.

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14 The Militant September 19,1994 Rail workers in Britain organize more strikes

This column is devoted to re­ against Britannia Airways, which Restaurant Workers Union are in porting the resistance by work­ is the United Kingdom ’s second the fifth month o f a bitter strike ing people to the employers' as­ largest airline. In terms o f volume, against the Harvard Club in New sault on their living standards, it is the biggest charter airline in York. “They forced us to strike,” working conditions, and unions. the world. Some 87 percent o f the said Alfred di Gioia, a 38-year-old We invite you to contribute 700 members who cast a ballot houseman. He explained that the short items to this column as a supported a strike, according to club insisted workers share the way for other fighting workers the union. costs of medical insurance without around the world to read about The union, which is part of the offering any wage increases. None and learn from these important Transportation and General W ork­ o f the 118 strikers have broken struggles. Jot down a few lines ers Union, had rejected a pay hike ranks. Management at the club has fo l­ lowed a long-established practice o f paying workers bonuses to per­ ON THE PICKET LINE form specific tasks, instead o f hir­ ing additional employees. For shoveling snow, for example, about what is happening in your offer o f 3 percent o f basic wages workers were paid $10, the same union, at your workplace, or with an extra 2 percent lump sum amount they received for cleaning other workplaces in your area, payment. Britannia is preparing re­ up after sick or drunken members. including interesting political placement workers and said it has The company’s latest offer was discussions. secured more than the 400 scabs to a $6 a week pay raise in addition replace the cabin staff in the event to demanding the workers split the cost o f medical insurance. A simi­ Signal workers at the British o f a strike. Some 900 o f the air­ Militant/Julie Crawford Railtrack are organizing further line’s 1,460 cabin crew belong to lar company, the Yale Club , set­ Activists join picket line in London August 22 to show support for one- and two-day strikes in re­ the union. □ tled a contract with the union that railroad signal workers on strike against Railtrack. sponse to the company’s plans to included pay hikes of $95 a week fire employees. Leaders o f the Na­ over five years and improvements tional Union of Rail, Maritime, Cockpit crews strand in medical coverage. □ Union of Electrical Workers. The cery chain has the power to grant and Transport Workers (RM T) an­ thousands in Beirut agreement offers a wage increase workers as many or as few hours nounced plans for a 48-hour work A 24-hour warning strike that Workers at Westinghouse of 13 percent over a four-year pe­ as they wish. stoppage for September 14 and 15. stranded thousands o f travelers at riod and includes a managed Workers claim that the award­ A 24-hour strike is also planned Beirut International Airport, ended begin voting on contract health care plan for most employ­ ing o f hours is being used by the for September 23. These actions September 3 when cockpit crews Workers at Westinghouse Elec­ ees, according to Westinghouse. D company as a tool to obtain obedi­ are to follow a 24-hour walkout at Middle East Airlines (M EA) re­ tric Corp. are expected to vote on ence. Employees’ health benefits, called for September 8. sumed normal flights.The walkout, a contract offer over the first three Grocery workers strike in vacation, sick leave, and holidays Reports o f Railtrack’s plans to which involved 300 pilots and weeks in September. A proposed arc dependent on the number o f dismiss striking workers and offer flight engineers grounded at least tentative settlement was an­ Oregon and Washington hours they work. The Teamsters them a new contract drew an angry 10 M EA planes scheduled to fly to nounced by union officials hours United Food and Commercial are also asking that Fred Meyer reaction from Jimmy Knapp, RMT Europe, the G ulf, and North after pickets were set up August 29 Workers (UFCW) Local 555 and give them full-time work and re­ general secretary. He asserted that Africa. The strike came at the in Baltimore; Abingdon, Virginia; Teamsters Local 206 are currently frain assigning their routes to part- a Railtrack policy of hoping to height o f Lebanon’s annual sum­ Buffalo, New York; and the Penn­ on strike in Portland, Oregon, time hires.The company has re­ scare people back to work was mer travel rush, when thousands of sylvania towns of Trafford, New Vancouver, Washington, and other fused to talk with the unions until “ doomed to failure.” Knapp said, people who fled the 1975-90 civil Kensington, Bedford, Manor, areas in southwest Washington. they drop their demand for a guar­ “Railtrack should abandon their war to live abroad return to visit Cheswick, and Blairsville. The walkout began August 18. antee o f hours. The strikers, how­ macho management stance and get relatives. The crews have de­ Officials o f three unions repre­ About 7,900 retail clerks, stock ever, are standing in solidarity back to genuine negotiations on manded pay increases to cope with senting about 5,400 workers rec­ persons, meat cutters, truck against the demands o f the bosses R M T’s claim. That is the only way the soaring cost o f living. The air­ ommended approving the contract. drivers, and others have been af­ and have refused negotiations until this dispute is going to be re­ line, primarily owned by the state, “ Compared to the nature of things, fected by the strike. They are ask­ their demands are addressed. □ solved.” □ asserts it cannot afford to increase it’s the best contract,” said Robert ing for language in their contract salaries. □ Killim et o f the International Bro­ that w ill guarantee full-tim e hours Meg Novak, member o f the Young therhood of Electrical Workers, a for a certain percentage o f workers Socialists in Seattle, Washington, Airline workers in member o f the negotiating com­ who have seniority, and a guaran­ and Paul Freeman, member o f As­ B ritain vote to strike sociation o f Western Pulp and Pa­ Strike still solid against mittee. Health benefits had been a tee o f 20 hours a week for part- British Airlines Stewards and major stumbling block in the nego­ time workers, enabling them to re­ per Workers Local 78 in Portland, Stewardesses Association mem­ New York Harvard Club tiations, said Heather Albright, a ceive benefits. Oregon, contributed to this col­ bers voted in favor o f strike action Members o f the Hotel and spokeswoman for the International Currently, the Fred Meyer gro­ umn.

— LETTERS ~ Learning labor history are doing time for crimes they did ver area. When the abortion clinic not commit,” writes Cannon. “ This run by Dr. Henry Morgentaler — a In High School I never learned is not to say they didn’t have po­ longtime fighter for abortion rights about Labor Day or labor history. lice records in most cases, and for women in Canada — was Labor’s struggle is only one aspect hadn’t committed some crime or bombed to the ground in Toronto o f our past that does not mesh with other — the most important one in 1991, Watson appeared at the the fairy-tale American History the crime o f being broke when Vancouver demonstration protest­ taught by public schools. So like they were arrested. ing the bombing with a sign that me you may not have learned that “ That’s just about the worst fix said “ boom.” President Grover Cleveland made a man can get himself into in this Watson also is known in the Labor Day a national holiday on country — to have a bad record, Vancouver area as a violent indi­ June 28, 1894, or that six days and no money or influence, and to vidual who harasses and menaces later he sent federal troops into get picked up by the police when abortion providers, women seek­ Chicago to crush one o f the largest they need some convictions. ing abortions, and workers who and best organized efforts by labor “ Many a man is doing time in happen to work in the same build­ to redress grievances, the Pullman prison for some specific crime to ing where abortion clinics are lo­ strike. which he falsely confessed under cated. In the midst o f the 1893 depres­ duress; or pleaded guilty to in a On August 23, special prosecu­ sion the Pullman Company had deal with the prosecuting attorney tor Don Sorochan announced that laid o ff 2,200 workers in the past and the police who ‘had something Watson will be charged with as­ year, cut wages by a quarter, and on him ’; or for which he was sault and contempt o f court for the otherwise exploited the workers in framed.” August 3 incident at Every- the company town. And yet after The busting of Jackson- woman’s Health Centre. paying the usual 8 percent d ivi­ other parents and with teachers in 1988 and a new trial was or­ Knight’s frame-up helps expose In another development, Dr. dend to stockholders, the Pullman and demand a change! If we orga­ dered after it was revealed that the anti-working-class nature o f Morgentaler is pressing the gov­ Company still had a surplus o f $4 nize ourselves properly, as Debs crucial evidence pointing to capitalist justice and helps tip the ernment to pay for abortions per­ m illion. said, “ the people can have any­ Jackson-Knight’s innocence was scales in the favor of other frame- formed outside the Prince Edward After federal troops enforced thing they want.” We could make withheld by the Brooklyn district up victims like Mark Curtis. Island (PEI) province. the destruction o f the strike, the history. attorney’s office. Kevin Dwire According TO PEI law, the gov­ railroads blacklisted Eugene Debs Chuck Heffernan Upon hearing the hidden evi­ New York, New York ernment will only pay for abor­ and the other strike leaders, and Boston, Massachusetts dence at a hearing, the judge who tions when they are performed in a the most powerful union in the sentenced Jackson-Knight turned hospital. The catch-22 is that no U.S. was thus destroyed. W hile the to the former prosecutor, who is Antiabortionist thug hospitals in PEI perform abor­ government gave the sop o f a holi­ Capitalist injustice now an acting State Supreme Representatives o f the Every- tions. day to the workers, the govern­ A New York man’s 14-year Court Justice, and said, “ I sent a woman’s Health Centre have Ned Dmytryshyn ment gave troops in support o f the fight against frame-up charges of man away for 158 years and you called for charges to be laid Vancouver, Canada railroads’ merciless drive to main­ arson and murder ended with his knew he wasn’t guilty.” against Gordon Watson, for as­ tain profits irrespective of the con­ acquittal August 16. In his book Notebook o f an Agi­ saulting a clinic worker on August The letters column is an open sequences for labor. Eric Jackson-Knight was sen­ tator, communist fighter James 3. Watson shoved a video camera forum for all viewpoints on sub­ We should ask our children if tenced to 158 years in prison in Cannon lays bare the true face of in the face o f a clinic worker who jects of general interest to our they’re learning about labor and 1980 after being found guilty of the “justice” system in the United was film ing him. readers. Please keep your letters other neglected aspects o f our his­ setting a Brooklyn grocery store States. “ It is well-known among Watson is an avowed antiabor­ brief. Where necessary they will tory. If they’re being fed fairy ablaze in 1978. Six New York fire­ convicts, prison wardens, prose­ tionist and thug with a history of be abridged. Please indicate if tales, we should take a lesson from fighters died in the fire. cuting attorneys and policemen violence and provocative behavior you prefer that your initials be labor and organize, organize with That conviction was overturned that a large percentage o f prisoners at abortion clinics in the Vancou­ used rather than your full name.

September 19,1994 The Militant 15 The MILITANT IRA cease-fire in N. Ireland shows weakness of British imperialism

BY TONY HUNT The John Major government in London SHEFFIELD, England — The Irish Re­ has been cautious, calling on the IRA to publican Army (IRA), which for the past declare a “ permanent” end to their cam­ 25 years has been waging a military cam­ paign. This wariness reflects the weakness paign against the British occupation o f o f the British rulers and their need to feel Northern Ireland, announced “ a complete firm ground under their feet before procee­ cessation of military operations” August ding. Several politicians o f the ruling Con­ 31. The announcement marks a significant servative Party and right-wing Unionist move towards the involvement o f the na­ parties in Northern Ireland, who support tionalist party Sinn Fein in constitutional the link with Britain, oppose any conces­ sions to Sinn Fein or any tampering with the constitution o f the United Kingdom (UK). NEWS ANALYSIS The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the right-wing capitalist party that ruled Nort­ hern Ireland until 1972, has so far fo llo ­ talks on the future o f Northern Ireland. wed London’s guarded line. But the ultra­ Sinn Fein has supported the IR A cam­ right Democratic Unionist Party, led by paign and is seen by many working people Ian Paisley has accused Major o f “ caving as the political leadership o f the resistance in” to the IRA. to British imperialist domination. The IRA Washington played a significant role in cease-fire stems primarily from the weak­ the cease-fire negotiations. A delegation ness of Britain’s rulers and their inability, led by Bruce Morrison, which included despite massive repression and crippling U.S. capitalists with Irish connections, met divisions among working people, to crush with Sinn Fein leaders August 25. White the resistance to the British presence. They House national security adviser Tony Lake cannot stabilize the political situation in was also involved in “ direct contacts with the north o f Ireland while excluding Sinn UUP leader James Molyneaux to assure Fein from the talks. him o f Washington’s even-handed appro­ Militant/Naomi Craine Thousands demanded British troops leave Ireland at August 14 protest in Belfast In West Belfast and other working-class ach. Catholic areas of Northern Ireland many sive laws and, at the time, the only regu­ fits. Ireland’s bankers have called for a were jubilant following the IRA announce­ Rightist terror gangs continue attacks larly armed police force in the United “ growth corridor” o f improved rail and ment. In Belfast, participants in a 50-car Right-wing Loyalist thugs have conti­ Kingdom. road links between Belfast and Dublin. cavalcade waved Irish tricolors and chan­ nued with their terror campaign. On Au­ The IRA campaign began in 1969 after U.S. capitalists are also licking their ted, “ It’s victory all right, it’s victory! gust 31 they assassinated John O ’Hanlon, thousands o f Catholic working people and chops at the new possibilities for invest­ “ No-one was winning. The time had a Catholic worker. Four days later a car youth took to the streets to demand an end ment and exploitation in Ireland. They come for something to be done and the bomb attack was executed against the Sinn to discrimination. The demonstrations would like to develop it further as a pro­ IRA was courageous enough to do it,” Bel­ Fein headquarters. Strong evidence exists were met with brutal repression by the po­ duction platform within the European fast taxi driver John Murphy told the Daily o f collusion between these gangs, the Bri­ lice force. Armed assaults on Catholics Union. Morgan Stanley, a U.S. investment M irror. One young person in Belfast poin­ tish army, and the Northern Ireland police were organized by rightist gangs, led by bank, recently described the Republic of ted to the continued harassment o f Catho­ force called the Royal Ulster Constabulary part-time policemen. Thousands were dri­ Ireland as the “ Celtic Tiger,” comparing it lics by the police and the army. “ They are (RUC). Today, however, London is con­ ven from their homes. The IR A ’s military to the robust economies o f Southeast Asia. still stopping and searching workers going cerned that the rightists w ill hinder its operations began in response to these at­ Among the attractions for U.S. capital are to work,” he said. plans. Major has called on the terror gangs tacks. prospective privatization of state sharehol­ to “ put a permanent end to their violence.” The IRA campaign was also a response dings in major companies, including the Call for withdrawal of troops He also staged a walkout o f a meeting with to the deployment o f British troops in airline Aer Lingus where workers have Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, ad­ Paisley September 6. Northern Ireland to break the resistance o f been involved in a m ilitant battle against dressing a rally of thousands August 31, The violence in Northern Ireland, which Irish Catholics. Initially hailed as defen­ the government to defend jobs. said that the struggle had entered “ a new has resulted in 3,170 deaths during the last ders o f Catholics, the British troops real W hile Britain and the United States phase." A t a later press conference Adams 25 years, is not the product o f “ centuries- role soon became clear as an occupying have common interests in stabilizing the demanded the withdrawal o f troops and old conflicts,” but stems from the efforts force in Catholic areas. In 1972, 13 wor­ situation in Ireland, they will be fierce ri­ police from Catholic areas and an end to o f the ruling rich o f Britain and Ireland to kers were gunned down by troops during a vals in making the most o f the profit- raids, searches, and arrests. “ A ll forms o f maintain both national oppression and ca­ civil rights march. In the absence o f a making opportunities. This is another rea­ repressive legislation should be scrapped,” pitalist exploitation. Above all, Ireland has working-class leadership basing itself on son for London’s slow and more cautious Adams said, and "Irish political prisoners been a source o f cheap labor for Britain’s the mobilization and increasing self- approach to talks with Sinn Fein. UK offi­ in Britain should be transferred home im­ capitalists. The bosses have also kept wor­ confidence of working people, many wor­ cials have been much cooler than their mediately.” kers in Britain weak by systematically fos­ kers and youth who were Catholic looked Irish counterparts in describing Washing­ Irish prime minister Albert Reynolds re­ tering divisions between those born in Ire­ to the IRA and its military campaign as the ton’s behind-the-scenes role. acted enthusiastically to the IRA announ­ land and those born in Britain. London’s only way to answer the repression and the Whatever new arrangements are nego­ cement and met with Gerry Adams and domination o f Ireland is the linchpin of ca­ denial o f their civil and national rights. tiated for capitalism in Ireland, they w ill be John Hume, leader o f the Social Democra­ pitalist rule throughout the British Isles. The IRA’s military campaign, however, designed not to further self-determination tic and Labour Party (SDLP) in Northern Northern Ireland, established in 1921, left the majority o f workers and farmers in for Ireland but to create better opportuni­ Ireland. A ll three signed a statement com­ entrenched crippling divisions, along reli­ Ireland on the sidelines. At the same time ties for big business to exploit cheap Irish mitting them to “ democratic and peaceful gious lines between workers and farmers it was workers in Britain and Ireland who labor — Catholic and Protestant alike. methods.” It was the first time a Sinn Fein who are Protestant and those who are Cat­ were frequently killed or maimed. The ru­ However, the weakness o f British impe­ leader met the Irish prime minister since holic. This was done through systematic lers used this fact to bolster the divisions rialism and the ending o f the m ilitary cam­ the beginning o f the IRA armed campaign discrimination in housing and employment between Irish-born and English-born wor­ paign o f the IRA, which was an obstacle to in 1969. against Catholics — backed up by repres­ kers and win acceptance for attacks on de­ the mobilization of workers and youth and mocratic rights such as the Prevention of the fight for unity, docs open up opportu­ Terrorism Act. nities to fight for self-determination and solidarity among workers in Ireland and British rulers tire of costs Great Britain. It places responsibilities on Today, London sees the ending o f the fighters worldwide to campaign for British IR A m ilitary campaign and the involve­ troops — which are the real source o f the ment o f Sinn Fein in talks as necessary to violence — to get out of Ireland, not just reorganize capitalist rule in Ireland. The from some areas; repeal o f the broadcas­ worldwide economic depression, the shar­ ting ban on the voice o f Sinn Fein leaders; pening competition with their imperialist repeal o f the Prevention o f Terrorism Act; rivals, the huge cost o f subsidizing Nort positive action for Catholic workers who hern Ireland and maintaining troops there, have been discriminated against for deca­ and their failure to crush the resistance, des; freeing o f the political prisoners; and have forced Britain’s rulers to look for a the pulling down o f the so-called peaceli- new and more effective way to ensure that nes, which are just Berlin walls across Ireland remains a source of cheap labor working-class neighborhoods in Northern and profits. Britain’s capitalists also want Ireland. to make sure the divisions among workers remain in place in Ireland and Britain. Tony Hunt is a member of the Bakers, Capitalists on both sides o f the border Food and Allied Workers' Union in Shef­ have been pressing for a stabilization o f field. the military and political situation to im­ prove their opportunities for making pro­

16 The Militant September 19,1994