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h.·:;; INSIDE , • ~Mllita.nt~. .subscri .ption .dthte ends in success! THE ~- . <·. A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 59 'N0. 45 DECEMBER 4, 1995 Machinists After seven-year fight, turn down Boeing pact Mark Curtis wins parole BY LISA AHLBERG Worldwipe support is key in victory for framed-up unionist AND BOB BRUNEAU SEATILE- Cheers of"Strike! Strike! BY NAOMI CRAINE Strike!" erupted as the tellers marched out FORT MADISON, Iowa of the ballot counting room and into the - "This is a tremendous press conference. International Associa­ victory," said Mark Curtis tion of Machinists District 751 president following the decision by the Bill Johnson announced, "We still have a Iowa Board of Parole to re­ labor dispute going on." lease him from prison. "I al­ The November 21 press conference was ways knew this day would interrupted repeatedly by chants of "As come, but it wouldn't have long as it takes," "Where's our share?" happened without all the and "No more lies." people who wrote letters, Johnson announced the voting tally. showed up for parole hear­ The company's contract proposal was re­ ings, sold pamphlets about jected by 61 percent of the membership. my case, and campaigned for Some 23,000 members of the International my release." Association of Machinists (lAM) voted in Curtis has been impris­ Wichita, Kansas; Portland, Oregon; and oned for more than seven throughout the Puget Sound in Washing- years on frame-up charges of Continued on Page 10 rape and burglary. In a hear­ ing at the Iowa State Peniten­ tiary here November 21, the parole board announced that Washil)gton Curtis will finally be re­ leased. The board set De­ cember 7 to begin the paper­ MiiJitanlt/Naomi Craine gears up to work for his parole; Curtis Supporters celebrate in Ft. Madison, Iowa, after parole board decision to release Mark Curtis. will be released from jail From left, Kitty Loepker, Frankie Travis, Kate Kaku, Suzanne Curtis, Hazel Zimmerman, Jane some weeks later. Curtis, Dannen Vance, John Studer, Norton Sandler, Natalie Bombaro, and Nick Castle. send troops The frame-up of Mark Curtis began in March 1988. In the midst weeks leading up to the hearing, some 500 his behalf," said Mark Curtis Defense of a fight against the arrest of 17 immi­ letters urging the parole board to release Committee coordinator John Studer to a to Bosnia grant workers at the meatpacking plant Curtis poured into the office of the Mark meeting of more than 20 supporters in Des where he worked, Curtis was arrested by Curtis Defense Committee in Des Moines. Moines following the hearing. BY LAURA GARZA the Des Moines, Iowa, police. A longtime The Des Moines Register called the case A small delegation of Curtis's support­ The Clinton administration is gearing union activist and member of the Socialist an "international cause celebre." Excerpts ers was permitted by prison authorities to up a major campaign to justify the largest Workers Party, Curtis was beaten and from a few of the letters appear on page 7. attend the hearing. This included his deployment of U.S. troops overseas since falsely accused of attempting to rape a "This decision by the parole board re­ mother, Jane Curtis; his wife, Kate Kaku, the Gulf War. The massive intervention in Black teenager. He was railroaded to jail flects the pressure generated by the length who works as a steelworker in Chicago; Bosnia of troops from imperialist in a September 1988 trial. of time Mark has served, his continued po­ his attorney William Kutrnus; Hollywood nations- primarily the United Kingdom, Curtis has won broad support during the litical activity behind bars and refusal to director Nick Castle; Kitty Loepker, a France, and the United States - is needed years among unionists, farmers, fighters buckle to the attacks of prison authorities, member of United Steelworkers of Amer- to enforce the "peace," according to for social justice, and many others. In the and the international campaign waged on Continued on Page 6 Washington. An agreement between the warring par­ ties in the former Yugoslavia was reached in Dayton, Ohio, November 21, under U.S., Japan ties under growing strain heavy U.S. pressure. It was initialed at the Wright-Patterson Air Force base by Alija BY GEOFF MIRELOWITZ firmed Washington's determination to where they set up bases abroad. Izetbegovic, president of Bosnia­ SEATTLE - Despite growing protests keep 47,000 U.S. troops stationed in that Macke's statement was clearly unten­ Herzegovina; Croatian president Franjo in Japan demanding "Yankee go home," Asian country. Gore was in the city of Os­ able for Washington at this juncture in its Tudjman; and Serbian president Slobodan U.S. vice-president AI Gore, while on an aka attending the Asia-Pacific Economic relations with Tokyo. By the end of the Continued on Page 3 official visit there November 19, reaf- Cooperation (APEC) forum in place of day, under orders from the White House, President Bill Clinton. he had "resigned." Gore and other U.S. officials were You are invited to ••• nonetheless scrambling to respond to the Washington dumps admiral latest shockwaves from the crisis involv­ Big-business circles in Japan were also ing the U.S. military presence in Japan. wary of the reaction Macke's remarks The latest controversy was sparked by were bound to provoke there. His resigna­ Admiral Richard Macke, commander of tion was initially reported by Japanese New Year's Weekend all U.S military forces in the Pacific, who television without mentioning his com­ Regional Socialist· declared that the three U.S. soldiers who ments about the rape. raped and brutalized a 12-year-old Oki­ Leading U.S. capitalist politicians Educational Conferences nawan girl September 4 should instead openly expressed concern about the im­ have paid for a prostitute. pact of this affair on U.S.-Japanese ties. December JO-January 1 At a breakfast meeting with reporters on "Can you imagine what this does for rela­ the morning of November 18, Macke, a tions between our countries now?" asked four-star admiral, remarked, "I think that it Senator Joseph Biden, a ranking Demo­ was absolutely stupid, I've said several crat. "If they were bad before, what do you Atlanta + Boston times," offered Macke. "For the price they think will happen now?" paid to rent the car they could have had a Biden and other U.S. political figures .Detroit + Seattle girl." had reason to be concerned. Gore's visit The rape has boosted the opposition fell short of Washington's goal of a joint Sponsored by throughout Japan to the U.S. military pres­ reaffirmation with Tokyo of the U.S.­ ence there, especially on the island of Oki­ lapan security treaty that allows U.S. the Young Socialists nawa. The vast majority of U.S. forces in bases to remain there. ~dSocialist Workers Patty Japan are stationed on Okinawa. The ad­ The Japanese government, responding miral's callous justification of sexual ex­ to public pressure and to some doubts in f1onnore information on classes, ploitation of women only reinforced the ruling circles over the arrangements that presentations, and travel to events deep hatred felt by many Japanese toward have been in place for decades, declined see listings on page 12. the U.S. military brass for their role in or­ to issue such a declaration. ganizing centers of prostitution every- Continued on Page 12 Gov't, rail bosses at fault in fatal Chicago crash - page 13 Meanwhile, supporters of Hamas in French gov't to cut welfare Gaza announced they will form a political A number of unions in France have party to participate in the elections. They called a one-day national strike on plan to call the party Salvation, or Na­ November 28 in response to government tional Islamic Party, which will run on a proposals to cut social welfare programs. platform centered on political opposition On November 15 the National Assembly to the Israel-PLO accords. approved measures proposed by Prime Minister Alain Juppe on spending cuts to Egyptian embassy bombed eliminate a $51 billion budget deficit, A suicide bomber drove an explosive­ which capitalist politicians attribute to so­ laden truck into the gate of the Egyptian cial programs. The government has cho­ embassy in Islamabad, the capital of Pak­ sen to attack social benefits as it tries to istan, on November 19. The explosion lower the public deficit below 3 percent of killed 15 people, including an Egyptian the gross domestic product, a precondition diplomat, and wounded 59 others. Three for joining the European Monetary Union, groups claimed responsibility, including planned for 1999. the Islamic Group, which, according to Included in the plans are major cuts in Cairo, has led a three-and-a-half-year social security and health-care spending, campaign of terrorist attacks to overturn taxes and means testing for health insur­ the regime of President Hosni Mubarak. ance, and an increase in the number of Press reports in Pakistan allege that a years workers must make pension contri­ number of Egyptians opposed to the butions. In addition, a one-half percent Mubarak regime live in that country. Last levy on nearly all income was put in place year, the two regimes signed an extradi­ for 13 years to cover previous debts. tion agreement. Since then, Islamabad has In addition to the union-called demon­ deported a number of Egyptian nationals. strations, student sit-ins and protests are occurring in a number of universities to Dock, mine strikes in Australia demand increased government financial A five-day national dockworkers' strike assistance and teachers. One student union began November 17, called by the Aus­ Militant/Martin Anderson has called for a "national day of action" on tralian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). November 21. Chanting "Abacha and Shell murder for oil" and "No blood for oil," some 150 people, mainly Nigerian refugees, rallied at the Nigerian embassy in New York The mining unions, meanwhile, launched a two-day work stoppage at the CRA German union to curb demands November 15. They were protesting the executions of nine activists by Gen. Sani Abacha's military regime, carried out with Shell Oil's complicity. group's coal mines and announced that all The IG Metall union agreed at its an­ the country's coal mines would be shut nual congress to refrain from seeking bet­ down for seven days beginning November ter wages for its members in hopes of cre­ 21. Workers are protesting a push by the ating more jobs. Klaus Zwickel, the November 19, showed that President Lech policy proposals similar to Walesa. His companies to change from union­ Left Democratic Alliance had won control union's president, said IG Metall would Walesa lost his bid for re-election. Alek­ negotiated "award" wage payments to in­ sander Kwasniewski, candidate of the Left of parliament in elections two years ago. only seek to keep wages in line with infla­ In the last 18 months former Communist dividual contracts with workers. A num­ tion. The federation would ask in ex­ Democratic Alliance - successor of the ber of workers said they were being dis­ former ruling Communist Party - ap­ Parties have won parliamentary elections change that employers create 300,000 jobs in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia. criminated against under the new system. in three years and return 30,000 long-term peared to be the winner with 51.4 percent Last-minute meetings between the unemployed to the workplace. of the vote. During his re-election effort, union and the company failed to resolve Walesa campaigned fervently for joining Slovakia bans other languages Joblessness currently stands at 9.4 per­ The Slovak parliament passed a law the conflict. An ACTU spokesperson said the European Union and NATO, acceler­ the issue concerned "basic principles cent in Germany. Investments by German November 15 banning other languages. ating Poland's attempted integration into we've been stressing all along -equal companies outside the country have dou­ The ban will seriously affect Hungarians, bled in the first half of this year compared the world capitalist market, and maintain­ pay for work of equal value and non­ ing the ban on abortion. He irked even who make up more than 10 percent of Slo­ to 1994. Membership in IG Metall has vakia's population of 5.5 million. discrimination among workers." dropped an average of 10,000 members a some of his backers when he told a jour­ nalist who asked him about his opposition The law stipulates that all public ser­ Rob Tae Woo arrested month since 1992, down to 2.9 million. vants must speak Slovak and all public to abortion, "If abortion had been legal, The South Korean government arrested you would probably have gone down the ceremonies except weddings must be done Walesa loses election in Poland in that language. All signs, advertise­ former president Roh Tae Woo November drain." 16 and charged him with accepting Preliminary results from Poland's presi­ Kwasniewski presented himself as a so­ ments, and announcements must be made dential elections, which took place cial democrat with economic and foreign in "the state language." Penalties include multimillion-dollar bribes. In October Roh fines up to $2,000 for individuals and admitted he had amassed a $650 million $20,000 for businesses in a country where slush fund while he was president from the average yearly wage is less than 1988 to 1993. He initially claimed the $4,000. funds came from political contributions, but investigators turned up evidence of Palestinians cheer Israeli pullout widespread bribery involving South Ko­ rea's largest business conglomerates. Thousands of Palestinians turned out to Bourgeois opposition leader Kim Dae celebrate the end of the Israeli military oc­ Jung admitted he received $2.5 million cupation of the city of Jenin in the West from Roh during his unsuccessful 1992 Bank on November 19, a few days after presidential campaign. He claimed Kim the troops pulled out of the city. Palestine Young Sam, who won the election, re­ Liberation Organization (PLO) head Yasir ceived much more money from Roh. The Arafat addressed the cheering crowd. president denied getting funds from Roh. Arafat also chaired a meeting of Jenin's Prosecutors have said a number of busi­ new self-rule council. Five more cities are ness executives may face charges. As he scheduled to be handed over from Israeli was being taken to prison, Roh pleaded for to Palestinian control before late January, leniency for the businessmen, saying he when elections for a Palestinian self-rule accepted full responsibility. authority are scheduled. -DEREK BRACEY

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2 The Militant December 4, 1995 20,000 U.S. troops are readied for Bosnia Continued from front page Bosnian-Croat federation - in addition to made it clear it opposed any new attempt in other countries. Milosevic. The accord is designed to cod­ the NATO occupation force. by either the Bosnian or the Croatian gov­ Moscow agreed to station troops under ify the partition of Bosnia, with 49 percent The agreement leaves towns recently ernment to take territory and that interna­ U.S. command, in an effort not to be tech­ of the territory going to the Belgrade­ overrun by Karadzic's troops under their tional financing, as well as the end of the nically under direct NATO command. backed Serb forces and 51 percent to be control. These cities include Srebenica arms embargo against Bosnia, would de­ The Bosnia deal is heightening the de­ held by the shaky alliance of the Croatian and Zepa, previously United Na­ pend on their agreeing to the federation. bate in U.S. ruling circles over military in­ and Bosnian governments. The parties are tions-designated "safe havens," where Washington initially dangled an offer to tervention in the Balkans, reflecting the set to formally sign the accords in Paris tens of thousands of Muslims were driven even out the military balance of forces in fear of the response that could be pro­ November 29. out in July and thousands of people were the area by giving arms and training to the voked by U.S. casualties and the shaky Washington is now preparing to move murdered. Gorazde, a town controlled by Bosnian government. After strenuous ob­ prospects for making the deal stick. ahead with its plan to impose the imple­ the Bosnian government but surrounded jections by European governments, mentation of the agreement with up to by territory held by Belgrade-supported Nicholas Bums, a State Department Debate among U.S. rulers 60,000 troops, including 20,000 from the Serbs, will remain under Bosnian control spokesperson, explained that the current Clinton released a letter in answer to United States, under NATO command. with an access corridor to Sarajevo. U.S. position is to "build down" toward a questions by Speaker of the House Newt U.S. secretary of state Warren Christo­ The federation of Tudjman and Izetbe­ military balance, presumably by pressur­ Gingrich in which he said it would be a pher touted the accord as "a victory for all govic will continue to control the city of ing the Bosnian Serb forces to rid them­ disaster not to follow through on his com­ those who believe in a multi-ethnic Sarajevo, but some areas on the outskirts selves of some of their heavy arms. The mitment to deploy U.S. ground forces. democracy," asserting that it maintains a of the city will remain under control of difficulty in getting agreement on this They would be sent in only after "we have unified Bosnia. But the agreement is built Karadzic's troops. stems from the divergent interests that created the conditions that would offer the on holding to the current division of Milosevic, ostensibly the authorized Washington, Bonn, Moscow, and other in­ minimum risks to our soldiers," Clinton Bosnia, a recent configuration resulting representative for Karadzic and Mladic, ternational powers have in the region. declared. He added, "It is not possible to from successful offensives by Croatian received a promise that the trade sanctions The agreement bars those indicted for make meaningful casualty predictions and Bosnian government forces to retake against his government would come to an war crimes from holding office in any since casualty models for peace operations land held by the Belgrade-backed Serbs. end if an agreement was reached. Accord­ newly elected posts. Both Karadzic and do not exist." Washington gave tacit support to the of­ ing to reports in the media, the UN Secu­ Mladic have been indicted by a United The president made it clear that while fensives, which followed a NATO bomb­ rity Council is supposed to move quickly Nations war crimes tribunal. But the in­ he would try to convince Congress and ing campaign against Serb-held positions. to suspend the sanctions, and to gradually dictments don't guarantee any action. others to fall in line behind the plan, he Under the accord, Bosnia will have two lift the arms embargo on the six republics During the Ohio negotiations, the chief of would exercise his "constitutional pre­ armies - one under Serb chauvinist lead­ of the former Yugoslavia. staff of the Bosnian Croat militia, Tihomir grogatives" to begin the deployment. Only ers Radovan Karadzic and Gen. Ratko Milosevic also agreed on November 12 Blaskic, was indicted for crimes against the previous week, the House of Repre­ Mladic, and another belonging to the to eventually give up control of Eastern humanity, only to be promoted the next sentatives had voted to bar spending to Slavonia, Croat territory seized by Bel­ day by Tudjman. send U.S. troops to Bosnia. grade's troops in the fall of 1991. The The NATO plan will divide its forces Even as the deal was being forced agreement provides for a transition period into three sectors, with the U.S. forces through, those who are supposed to abide of up to two years before it is completely headquartered in Tuzla; the British at by its provisions made it clear it is far from turned over to the Croatian government, Gomji Vakuf; and the French in Sarajevo. a done deal. The former mayor of Vuko­ which by now has retaken almost all the The overall commander of the so-called var in Eastern Slavonia, Slavko Dok­ territory it had when it declared indepen­ implementation force will be U.S. admiral manovic, predicted the accords would fail dence in 1991. Leighton Smith. and said, "I tell you, Eastern Slavonia is While 20,000 is the number commonly Serbian and will remain Serbian." Reluctant 'allies' cited for U.S. forces, this only counts Recent reports cite ample evidence that The Croatian army now also holds those to be used directly in Bosnia. Thou­ the Yugoslav Army had been moving sup­ many towns in Bosnia, and Tudjman and sands more will be involved in the opera­ plies to Karadzic's troops and technicians Izetbegovic are reluctant allies in the so­ tion from Croatia and Hungary, and from had replaced communications links re­ called federation. The U.S. government air and naval stations offshore and based cently blown up by NATO warplanes.

Fund drive: two weeks to L____$_12_5_,_00_0___ _ _ go and $37,000 to collect! End of week eight Goal Paid Percent BY NANCY ROSENSTOCK came a little short of $10,000, Morales re­ Mexico $60 $60 100% BROOKLYN, New York-First of turned to the podium during the meeting Puerto Rico $100 $100 100% all, a word is in order to celebrate the suc­ and elicited the necessary pledges to put Australia $400 $376 94% cess of the campaign to sell subscriptions Los Angeles supporters above their local France $300 $244 81% goal. By the end of the evening they had New Zealand to the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial. Auckland $2,470 $1 ,661 67% These socialist papers are now getting into also raised a whopping $3,300 in cash and Christchurch $650 $759 117% the hands of 2,600 new readers. And to checks. Wellington $80 those readers: welcome! Following a successful fund-raising New Zealand Total $3,200 $2,420 76% Now this victory can be put to good use event in Peoria, Illinois, on November 12, United States by parlaying it into the campaign to raise Militant supporters in that area have raised Philadelphia $6,000 $6,075 101% Twin Cities $7,000 $6,555 94% $125,000 for these two socialist publica­ their goal to $2,400. The three speakers at Los Angeles $10,000 $8,827 88% tions. the fund event there were Reid Craig, a Pittsburgh $5,000 $4,415 88% Atlanta $4,500 $3,742 83% In the past week, readers of the Militant student at Knox College in Galesburg, Illi­ San Francisco $10,000 $8,270 83% and Perspectiva Mundial in many cities nois; Nick Clark, a student at the Univer­ Gncinnati $250 $200 80% shifted into high gear and increased their sity of Missouri in St. Louis and a member Peoria $2,400 $1,879 78% Cleveland $2,100 $1 ,582 75% collection of contributions to the Militant of the Young Socialists; and Norton San­ Birmingham $3,700 $2,727 74% Fund. This is reflected in this week's dler, a socialist from Des Moines, Iowa. Newark $8,000 $5,882 74% chart. We've started to close the gap, The audience included several members Seattle $7,000 $5,115 73% Morgantown $2,600 $1 ,863 72% standing at 76 percent of the international of the United Auto Workers on strike Houston $4,250 $3,030 71% goal - and we should be at 80 percent. against Caterpillar and eight college stu­ Salt Lake City $3,800 $2,662 70% Miami $2,600 $1 ,775 68% Now we're in the final stretch to De­ dents from a number of campuses. New York $7,500 $5,087 68% cember 3. Every day, every dollar, and ev­ The Bradley University Scout, the cam­ Greensboro $2,1 00 $1,400 67% ery contributor counts. pus newspaper of Bradley University in Chicago $7,500 $4,945 66% Brooklyn $8,000 $5,208 65% The campaign got a boost from several Peoria, covered the event with an article Denver $500 $300 60% fund-raising events. One recent highlight titled "Socialist Leader Explains Ideol­ Des Moines $3,200 $1 ,883 59% Boston $5,000 $2,800 56% was Los Angeles, where 65 people at­ ogy." It reports, "'The enemy is capital­ Albuquerque $600 $300 SO% tended a Militant Fund rally. The speakers ism, which puts the profits of wealthy mil­ Detroit $6,750 $3,1 45 47% at the event reflected the breadth of sup­ lionaires over the rights of the working Washington,DC $3,000 $1 ,177 39% Other $620 port for the socialist press. people,' said Sandler, a leader of the So­ U.S. Total $1 23,350 $91,465 74% Joseph Harvey, vice president of the cialist Workers Party." The article also Britain Irish Northern Aid chapter in Los Ange­ quotes Craig, who stressed, "The Militant Manchester $375 $376 100% les, commented on how the Militant doesn't just point fingers. It points to the London $525 $30 6% "opened up my eyes to many things" in­ problem so we can read it and deal with Sheffield $150 $157 105% cluding the Detroit newspaper strike and it." Britain Total $1 ,050 $563 54% the Quebec independence struggle. Ale­ The scoreboard includes several addi­ Canada jandra Rebeles, a new subscriber of the tions this week. Militant promoters in Al­ Vancouver $200 $172 86% Montreal $1 ,050 $89 8% Militant who is a high school student and burquerque, New Mexico, have adopted a Toronto $1 ,500 $5 0% member of the Young Socialists, re­ goal of $600; supporters in Cincinnati a Canada Total $2,750 $266 10% marked that "reading the Militant I found goal of $250; and international support Greece $130 out that I'm not alone. People in Canada, grows with the addition of Mexico and a Sweden $750 Africa, and Mexico are fighting too." goal of $300 from supporters in France. lnfl Other $101 TOTAL $132,090 $95,595 76% Suropan, a Thai student at California State Let's step up the pace and keep the Should Be $125,000 $100,000 80% University in Los Angeles, was introduced money rolling in! If we keep reaching out to the socialist press at a table on his cam­ widely to supporters of the socialist press, pus. "The Militant is one of the magnifi­ by December 3 we can definitely reach ·------·Enclosed is $ _ ___ cent tools I use to train myself in politics," not only the $1 25,000 goal but the I pledge 0$1,000 0$500 0$1 00 OOther_ _ _ he said. "It and New International offer $130,000 in total pledges - which is the Name______workers an alternative." amount actually needed to keep publish­ Jose Morales, a young welder who ex­ ing for the next year. Addre~------·------plained how he relies on Perspectiva City______Zip _ ___Country ______Mundial, gave an unabashedly bold fund Carole Lesnick from Los Angeles and pitch, speaking in Spanish with English Dannen Vance from Peoria contributed to Send contributions to The Militant, 410 West Street, New York, NY 10014. translation. When the total pledges raised this article. ·------· December 4, 1995 The Militant 3 Nelson Mandela gets rousing reception in New Zealand BY BRIGID ROTHERHAM growth, inflation and investment. We have oppression. AUCKLAND, New Zealand- as a nation cemented our unity in the spirit "As a people who have known "South Africans have at last won the of reconciliation." deprivation we do appreciate right to determine their own destiny. To­ Mandela was the guest speaker next day your efforts to redeem a past of gether we have fought the good fight at the 125th anniversary celebrations of dispossession and social disloca­ and won in the streets, in the negotia­ the Parliamentary Press Gallery. "We as a tion that colonization has tions, and in the elections." nation," he said at that event, "are engaged wrought on your community." With these words South African pres­ in ongoing debate in our country on how Two Pacific independence ident Nelson Mandela addressed a meet­ to give freedom of expression real mean­ campaigners, Oscar Temaru ing of anti-apartheid activists on ing. If this is to be the case, people should from Tahiti and Gowecee Moise November 13, at the start of a visit to not only have the right to hear what others from New Caledonia, were this country which saw thousands of say, but also themselves be heard. Only in among those who lunched with people turn out to greet him, evidence of this way can they become active partici­ Mandela on the marae. the enormous respect he commands. pants in changing their lives for the bet­ He also received an enthusias­ The three-day state visit followed Man­ ter." tic welcome when he arrived in dela's attendance at a meeting of British Nelson Mandela described the highlight the capital city of Wellington Commonwealth leaders held in the city. of his trip as the rapturous welcome that November 15 to meet with the More than 450 packed into a church that he received when he visited the Turan­ government and attend a state had been an organizing center against the gawaewae Marae at the invitation of the luncheon. tour of a South African rugby team in Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikahu. Three thousand people gath­ 1981. Another 100 were outside and heard More than 3,000 people crowded into the ered outside the parliament build­ his speech broadcast on a loudspeaker sys­ small North Island town of Ngaruawahia ings where he took time to greet tem. for the day. some of parliament's waiters, se­ Taking the opportunity to thank those The event included hundreds of school curity guards, clerical staff, and South African president Nelson Mandela who had participated in the campaign children lining the streets, many waving journalists as well as legislators. against apartheid, Mandela also outlined palm leaves. Prior to his official tour, 200,000 people tion projects in South Africa. The New the challenges facing South Africa today. Inside the marae people listened in­ attending a fireworks concert on Novem­ Zealand government has since announced "The war against the legacy of tently as Mandela explained that his dele­ ber 12 in Auckland, welcomed Mandela that it will match the $NZ150,000 raised apartheid has just begun," he said. "The gation felt "truely welcome among our with sustained applause when he arrived from individual donations. ascendancy of the democratic forces in brothers and sisters .... Our two countries as guest of honor and briefly addressed the our country has laid bare the mess that have much in common. Both have known crowd. Brigid Rotherham is a member of the apartheid has wrought on our society. the pain of conquest, dispossession, and A collection was taken there for irriga- Meat Workers Union in Auckland. Many of our people have no real homes and they do not know where their next meal will come from. "Within the government the conse­ Nigeria hangings dominate Commonwealth quences of apartheid mismanagement stand out in bold relief in the form of a BY EUGEN LEPOU feat of the apartheid regime (see accompa­ mit, as Nigerian human rights activists, in­ large foreign debt, a bloated bureaucracy AND JANET ROTH nying article). cluding his son, lobbied heads of govern­ and other concerns. AUCKLAND, New Zealand- Two The British Commonwealth consists of 52 ments for a stay of execution. Saro-Wiwa "The ANC-led Government of National political issues dominated the Common­ countries, the overwhelming majority of was a leader of the campaign by the Ogoni Unity," the South African president con­ wealth Heads of Government Meeting which are former colonies of the United people in Nigeria against Shell Oil for its tinued, "has started in earnest to deal with (Chogm) held here November 10-14: the Kingdom. London dominates proceedings, environmental destruction in their region. these problems. We have irreversibly es­ executions of nine political activists in alongside its imperialist cohorts from Aus­ Presenting itself as a force for human tablished a human rights culture and the Nigeria and French nuclear testing in the tralia, Canada, and New Zealand. South rights and democracy, Chogm suspended institutions to ensure that freedom has real Pacific. Africa has just been readmitted, after a 33- Nigeria from the Commonwealth for two meaning for ordinary citizens. The presence of South African presi­ year absence due to the apartheid policies of years. "We have started to tackle the socio­ dent Nelson Mandela at the meeting, and its previous governments. In the days following the meeting, Man­ economic problems facing the majority of his subsequent state visit, was the focus of Ken Saro-Wi wa and eight of his associ­ deJa and New Zealand prime minister Jim the people and our policies have started to popular attention as thousands took the ates were hanged by the Nigerian regime Bolger led calls for Commonwealth coun­ make a positive impact on economic opportunity to celebrate with him the de- in the middle of the Commonwealth sum- tries to impose economic sanctions against Nigeria. The summit also issued a statement condemning nuclear testing that British Cuban youth leaders speak in Montreal prime minister John Major refused to en­ dorse. His stand was the focus of a BY VICTORIA MERCER Canadian Auto Workers union. Dawson cegep meeting, why do so many November 9 anti-nuclear rally by 2,000, AND MICHEL PRAIRIE "We are building socialism," said people want to leave Cuba? as protest organizers called on Major to MONTREAL- "Before coming to Queipo at the November 17 meeting. "If "Many people leave Cuba for the same oppose nuclear tests in the Pacific. this meeting, I didn't understand much you want to know what capitalism would economic reasons as in other third world Among the speakers at the rally were about the Cuban revolution and the U.S. be in Cuba, look at Haiti and the Domini­ countries," answered Barroso. When "the Oscar Temaru, an independence leader in blockade. Here, it was clearly explained. can Republic." The difference can be mea­ economic situation became very difficult, French Polynesia, where the nuclear tests If I had known more, I would have gone to sured by the fact that "Cuba is a third many Cubans were not ready to support are being conducted, and Sam Shilowa of [the October 21 demonstration against the world country. Our imports have been cut that." the Congress of South African Trade embargo in] New York City. Now I want by more than 50 percent. Our raw re­ "But for many years," she added, "the Unions. to get more involved." sources are few. But we continue to de­ U.S. government encouraged people to The Chogm conference venue became This is how Veronique Landry summa­ fend education and health care for all leave Cuba illegally. There are as many the site of other protests around a range of rized her reaction to a November 17 meet­ working people. We even increased the immigrants from Haiti who go to the political issues. Tamils from Sri Lanka ing here of 150 addressed by Joel Queipo budget allocations in these areas." United States. But Washington uses the demonstrated in support of self-determina­ and Maria del Carmen Barroso, two One of the main aspects of their visit emigration from Cuba to create a scandal tion and in opposition to the war being Cuban revolutionary youth on a three­ was explaining and answering questions out of the revolution because we defend conducted by the Sri Lankan government week tour across Canada. about the steps - like increasing tourism our dignity and our socialist revolution." against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ee­ Landry is a student at the Vieux­ and foreign investment, and legalizing the In every meeting there were many ques­ lam. Montreal pre-university college (known as possession and circulation of foreign hard tions about the reappearance of prostitu­ In a counter-protest, members of the a cegep). She is part of Optimonde, a spe­ currency - taken by the Cuban govern­ tion in Cuba. United Sri Lanka Association marched to cial academic project organizing students ment to confront the "special period." This "With the intensification of the special show their support for the government and to visit third world countries where they the name given by the Cubans to the deep period," said Barroso, "we lack things that condemn the Tamil Tigers. share the lives of ordinary families. The economic crisis precipitated five years ago tourists can bring with them or buy with Some 200 Sikhs condemned human next country they will visit is Cuba. In Oc­ by the collapse of the preferential trade re­ dollars in Cuba. These young women do it rights abuses by the Indian government in tober, 20 students from this school made lations that Cuba had with the former So­ to get goods that Cuba is not able to pro­ Punjab and called for the state's indepen­ the 15-hour bus trip to New York to be viet Union and other Eastern European vide. dence. part of a 3,000-strong regional demonstra­ countries. "We are doing an intense ideological The New Zealand Herald reported Oc­ tion against Washington's economic war Queipo described the measures the work to explain that they don't need to tober 10 that Indian human rights groups on Cuba. Cuban government has taken, such as le­ prostitute themselves in order to survive. have accused police in Punjab of secretly Queipo is a member of the National galizing the use of foreign currency and What they obtain is not worth the dignity cremating at least 3,000 people between Secretariat of the Cuban Federation of increasing foreign investments, as neces­ they lose," she added. 1992 and 1994, after torturing and killing University Students and Barroso is a sary to deal with an economic decline trig­ At the end of a wrap-up meeting with them. The Sikh protesters were joined by leader of the Union of Young Commu­ gered by the collapse of aid and trade at the committee organizing the visit, Queipo Kashmiris calling for that state's indepen­ nists. They visited the Montreal area preferential prices from the former Soviet was asked by a tour activist what struck dence. November 12-19, speaking on "Youth and Union. him the most in his first visit to a capitalist Supporters of Irish self-determination the Cuban Revolution Today." At the Kenworth picket line, one striker country. targeted John Major while gay rights ac­ Altogether they spoke to audiences to­ described the daily living conditions of "I was surprised," he answered, "to see tivists focused their fire on Zimbabwe taling more than 400. They addressed five Cubans as deplorable, judging from her that in such a rich country like Canada, president Robert Mugabe, who has de­ public meetings, including at McGill Uni­ own visit there as a tourist. they close hospitals and plants without scribed homosexuals as perverts who have versity and the Dawson, Edouard­ Queipo answered, "Let me use myself any explanation. Coming here has been a no rights. Montpetit and Vieux-Montreal cegeps. as an example. I have a university degree. deeper experience than any book or movie Protests in favor of Maori rights and They met with 30 strikers doing their My family lives in a modest but comfort­ to understand what is capitalism." against the New Zealand government's weekly picket duty at the Kenworth truck able house. I am Black. Before 1959, my economic policies also occurred. assembly plant in Ste.-Therese, north of family lived in very difficult conditions Victoria Mercer is a member of the Young Montreal. And they had dinner with a because of racial discrimination. It is be­ Socialists. Michel Prairie is a coordinator Eugen Lepou is a member of the Meat dozen immigrant workers from Stylecraft, cause of the revolution that everyone has of the Montreal Cuban Youth Tour Com­ Workers Union. Janet Roth is a member of a manufacturer of wristwatch bands. Both the same opportunity to live a decent life." mittee. Monica Jones, a striker at Ken­ the United Food, Beverage and General groups of workers are organized by the If that is the case, asked a student at the worth, contributed to this article. Workers Union.

4 The Militant December 4, 1995 Reach out for new readers! Eno Goals Final Results % tbe Militant Militant 1, 950 1,971 101% of Perspectiva Mundial 525 652 124% subscription Drive New International 7 50 780 104%

SEPTEMBER 2 3 - N 0 V EMBER 1 9

Sales drive ends in success! FINAL RESULTS- AFTER 8 WEEKS

BY LAURA GARZA previous night's sales came in," Mundial subscriptions with a visit Militant PM PM Nl Nl With a flurry of activity and the reader wrote. "New Interna­ to Oeonta, Alabama, where hun­ City goal sold % goal sold goal sold subscriptions being mailed and tionals were sold to a coworker at dreds of Mexican workers live. New Zealand faxed in up to the last minute we a United Auto Workers-organized Their New International sales total Auckland 18 28 156% 1 1 15 15 reached all the goals in the inter­ plant, a Guatemalan unionist in was boosted by one University of Wellington 2 3 150% 0 1 1 national drive to win new sub­ Canada, and a Palestinian activist. Alabama student in Birmingham Christchurch 8 5 63% 1 3 2 scribers to the socialist press. Then a team brought in two more who bought all 10 issues of the Total 28 36 129% 1 1 19 18 The final tally for Militant sub­ Militant subscriptions from East­ magazine because she wants to scriptions is 1,971 just above 100 em Michigan University in Ypsi­ find out more about the Socialist United States percent of the goal. lanti. Workers Party. Peoria, IL 32 37 116% 2 3 8 9 Sales of Perspectiva Mundial "Soon afterwards another team A South Korean student bought Los Angeles 120 131 109% 75 79 75 81 were higher than ex­ Washington, DC 45 49 109% 15 17 20 17 Birmingham, AL pected from the begin­ 49 53 108% 5 6 15 21 ning in many areas. This Brooklyn 160 172 108% 50 56 50 54 Boston" 45 48 107% 13 13 21 25 trend continued to the Miami 60 64 107% 20 39 30 38 end, resulting in 652 Des Moines 50 53 106% 25 28 20 22 Perspectiva subscrip­ Seattle 70 74 106% 15 15 20 20 tions, or 124 percent of New York 120 126 105% 75 84 50 59 the goal. San Francisco 98 102 104% 30 30 60 60 Distributors also sold Philadelphia 75 78 104% 15 16 15 18 780 copies of New Inter­ Salt Lake City 50 52 104% 15 17 15 16 national in the four lan­ Atlanta 55 57 104% 18 21 15 16 guages the Marxist mag­ Chicago 65 67 103% 20 28 25 29 azine is edited in - 104 Detroit 65 66 102% 10 10 20 16 percent of the goal. Greensboro, NC 55 56 102% 10 11 10 0 Albany 7 7 100% 1 1 5 0 A race to the finish Cleveland 40 40 100% 10 9 15 11 A preliminary tally at Indiana 10 10 100% 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Twin Cities, MN 70 70 100% 12 7 20 10 November 20, put us Morgantown, WV 48 45 94% 2 2 16 7 just 10 subscriptions shy Pittsburgh 65 56 86% 5 1 15 4 of the Militant goal and Newark, NJ 130 101 78% 45 48 40 37 a few dozen short on the Houston 55 39 71 % 20 15 16 3 Denver 7 4 57% 3 5 3 2 New International. Militant/Margrethe Siem New Haven 5 2 40% 1 2 The Militant editor More than 700 participated in a November 18 march called by the Latino Tucson 5 2 40% 2 1 2 1 sent a quick fax to dis­ Coalition for Sociai .Justice in New York City. The march protested police Cincinnati 8 3 38% 2 2 tributors around the brutality, demanded justice for immigrant workers, and opposed cuts in Total U.S. 1664 1664 100% 516 562 605 563 world with the results, social services. Participants bought four Perspectiva Mundial subscriptions which generated a rapid and six copies of the Marxist magazine New International. Canada response. Toronto" 50 54 108% 10 10 25 29 Along with updated totals, sub­ arrived, after a day at Bowling another two issues of the Marxist Vancouver 45 46 102% 6 7 20 15 scriptions were sent in by airline Green State University in Ohio. A magazine, and three workers at a Montreal 50 44 88% 12 12 30 23 workers, rail workers, and others campus organization called UAW-organized plant each Total 145 144 99% 28 29 75 67 just getting off their shifts. By the Womyn for Womyn had invited bought a copy of New Interna­ time we updated totals the next them to display the publications, tional. Britain morning we were over the top. along with Pathfinder Press titles, London 35 38 109% 10 10 25 38 In the last week of the cam­ at a literature table. Members of Mandela visit to New Zealand Sheffield 12 11 92% 1 3 1 paign, socialist workers and youth the group and a professor accom­ In Auckland, New Zealand, so­ Manchester 40 30 75% 1 3 20 17 cast an especially wide net. The panied the sales team all day, call­ cialists took full advantage of the Total 87 79 91% 12 13 48 56 following are some of the high­ ing their friends over to join in po­ visit of South African president lights from sales stories we re­ litical discussions and look over Nelson Mandela. They sold 17 Australia 15 13 87% 5 6 12 10 ceived in the final days of the the books and periodicals. Militant subscriptions in the last France 6 5 83% 5 5 20 16 drive. "Sales results: 3 Militant sub­ week of the drive. Sweden scriptions, 1 PM sub, 2 issues of Three regular supporters in Stockholm 20 18 90% 15 22 20 26 Puerto Rico team's success New International, $50 in Greece report they ended the drive Malmo 2 0 0% 2 1 1 A team to Puerto Rico was Pathfinder books, and a visit to an with daily sales and got four other Total 22 18 82% 17 23 21 26 among the most successful. Mili­ enthusiastic college bookstore people involved in the effort. tant supporters from five cities in manager. Some helped to staff a table at the Greece 5 4 80% 1 4 3 the United States - Brooklyn, annual commemoration of the Iceland 10 6 60% 1 3 2 Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, Detroit strikers subscribe 1973 student uprising at the Poly­ Puerto Rico 2 1 50% 6 13 4 4 and Washington, D.C.-joined "That night another literature technic that marked the end of the Other 1 2 Ron Richards, a reader on the is­ table attracted attention from some military dictatorship then ruling land, and sold 39 subscriptions to of the 800 people at an 'ox roast' Greece. International Total 1,971 101 o/o 652 780 Perspectiva Mundial, 3 to the Mil­ fund-raiser for the Detroit newspa­ During the drive they sold 16 itant, and 12 copies of New Inter­ per strike, where strikers or their copies of the Greek translation of Goal/Should be at 1,950 100% 525 750 national. supporters purchased 2 Militant the article "Imperialism's March Seth Galinsky, a rail worker subscriptions and 4 issues of New Toward Fascism and War," and 18 "' increased goal from Miami, was on the team. He International." copies of the translation of the Thill, ,, ' = " reported they set up a literature In addition to campuses, many Pathfinder book titled The Truth Australia table at the annual festival spon­ of the new subscribers were won About Yugoslavia. AWU-FIME 2 1 50% 0 0 1 sored by the pro-independence through door-to-door teams in Now that the subscription drive Canada newspaper Claridad and at the working-class communities, and is over, readers in many cities are USWA 5 11 220% 0 2 1 University of Puerto Rico. inside factories and mills. organizing to set a measured pace lAM 5 3 60% 2 3 In addition to subscriptions, In Birmingham, for example, for continuing regular sales CEP 4 1 2 1 more than 50 Pathfinder books during the last week of the drive, a through street sales, on the job, Canada total 14 14 100% 3 0 7 2 and pamphlets were sold during team of supporters sold four Mili­ and at political events. New Zealand the four-day festival, which at­ tant subscriptions in an apartment In Des Moines, distributors EU 2 2 100% tracted thousands. Twelve people building in a working-class neigh­ asked to have this week's bundle MWU 2 0 0 attended a house meeting to dis­ borhood, based on the paper's rushed to them so they could get to New Zealand total 4 2 50% 0 0 cuss socialist ideas. coverage of the Million Man plant-gate sales at local meatpack­ Sweden March. ing plants with the coverage on the Metal union 1 1 4 Detroit pulls out all stops Socialists in the United Mine victory in winning parole for Mark United States UAW 65 66 102% 10 5 17 18 Workers of America, United Auto Curtis. A reader from Detroit described UFCW 6 6 100% 10 9 2 10 a typical account of what hap­ Workers, and United Transporta­ In a number of cities, regional UMWA 9 9 100% pened at the end of the subscrip­ tion Union kicked in by selling an­ socialist educational conferences lAM 59 55 93% 9 1 17 8 tion drive. The countdown chart other four subscriptions to co­ are being planned for the New OCAW 20 17 85% 1 3 supporters had put up changed workers. These sales put Birming­ Year's weekend. Many new sub­ UNITE 20 11 55% 19 4 8 1 rapidly over the last few days of ham distributors over the top in scribers may be interested in these USWA 28 15 54% 1 the drive, especially on Friday, their Militant goal. events and are being contacted by UTU 58 30 52% 3 17 6 November 17. They then used the weekend to local distributors about these U.S. Total 265 209 79% 51 20 61 47 That evening "reports of the bring in more Perspectiva meetings. December 4, 1995 The Militant After seven-year fight Curtis wins parole Continued from front page Philadelphia also helped convince a grow­ ica Local 67 in Granite City, Illinois; ing number of people to support Curtis's Frankie Travis, a member of the United fight for parole in recent months. Paperworkers International Union in De­ catur, Illinois, who has been locked out at Continuing defense tasks the A.E. Staley plant there; defense com­ "We're now getting close to the finish mittee coordinator Studer, who is a mem­ line," Studer said to the supporters gath­ ber of United Auto Workers Local 270 in ered in Des Moines. He outlined the heart Des Moines; and Hazel Zimmerman, of the remaining challenges ahead of Cur­ member of the National Treasury Workers tis and his supporters. Union and secretary-treasurer of the de­ "We need to make sure the word rapidly fense committee. gets out about this stage of the case, to the Reporters from the Des Moines Regis­ media and to the thousands of people ter and the Militant also attended the hear­ around the world who have backed ing. Three of the five parole board mem­ Mark's fight over the years," Studer said. bers were present- Robert Jackson, "The aim of the defense effort all along Joanne Lorence, and Walter Saur. For has been to win Mark's release and to ex­ prisoners with good "risk assessment" rat­ onerate him in the court of working-class ings, three members of the board are suffi­ public opinion, including from the plat­ cient to approve parole. form of the court of law." He invited those Curtis began by thanking the board for present to help send a large mailing on the hearing his case, and for taking the time to victory and call other supporters the next read the hundreds of letters supporting his night at the defense committee office. parole request. Studer had presented to Defense committee supporters had a lot Militant/Rebecca Genleman to add to Studer's report. An additional board members another 15 letters that had John Studer of defense committee answers question from TV reporter, at left. come in the two days before the hearing. reason for Curtis's release, Norton Sandler He then introduced the members of the noted, was that "the longer this went on, delegation. Answering a question from not been a problem for the institution." Jamal, to the workers fighting against the more the world changed." He pointed Lorence, Curtis explained that for the last Board member Saur said "the victim's union-busting at Caterpillar," Studer said. to the increasing number of workers from three months he has been working in a vo­ family is no longer adamant" that Curtis around the world who now live throughout cational program in upholstery, one of the remain in prison. Keith and Denise Mor­ ·Parole was not automatic the Midwest. "From the beginning Mark's few programs available in the prison. He ris, the parents of the young woman Curtis "People get paroled all the time. What case was tied to the struggles in meatpack­ told the board, "I've always worked and was accused of attacking, had been at pre­ makes you think his parole reflects some ing, and to the defense of immigrant work­ had steady jobs. I've worked in meatpack­ vious hearings and spoken against Curtis's particular thinking on the part of the ers at the Monfort packinghouse." ing, in aircraft production" and other in­ release. They did not attend this time. board?" one TV reporter asked Studer. Maurice Peret, another Curtis supporter dustries. Curtis noted that he already had Saur specifically noted that Curtis had "This has never been a 'normal' case," from Des Moines and a member of UA W three job offers in Chicago, and asked to served the required time under Iowa law he replied. "It's been political from the Local 270, noted, "They tried to break be paroled to Illinois. on the sentence for sexual abuse. Since the beating he got by the police, who called Mark, but he grew politically in prison. He summer of 1993 he has been in prison him a 'Mexican-lover, like you love those wrote for the Militant and communicated 'Sparkling' record in prison solely on a burglary charge that was coloreds,' to the way the board denied him with other fighters all over the world." "You've been with us [in prison] for tacked on weeks after his arrest. That even a hearing for the last three years." Curtis was elected to the Socialist Work­ seven years," Lorence told Curtis, "and charge raised the mandatory sentence on Previous parole hearings reflected that. ers Party National Committee in 1994 and aside from one incident you have had a Curtis's conviction to 25 years. At hearings in 1991 and 1992, the board has actively served on that body since. sparkling record. What happened there?" "I like that you have a parole plan and argued that Curtis should attend the Iowa Max Exner, a retired professor from In August 1994, Curtis was charged by will be under supervision," Saur said. "I prison system's "Sexual Offenders Treat­ Iowa State University in Ames, said, "The prison authorities with assault on another would recommend that you be paroled to ment Program." This program requires in­ ruling powers think they can use a case inmate. He explained that the incident was Illinois on December 7." The other board mates to "own their crime" - that is ad­ like Mark's to make an example to intimi­ "relatively minor, with no injuries." In a members present concurred. The delega­ mit guilt - which Curtis refused to do. date other workers. But that's been turned prison trial, Curtis was severely sentenced tion who had come to support Curtis broke In 1993 the Iowa legislature changed on them, with the example Mark has set." to 30 days "in the hole"- solitary con­ into smiles and applause. the law so that the board was no longer "When the parole board said the hun­ finement -and a year in lock-up for this. Saur said that it could take up to a cou­ required to give inmates even 20 minutes dreds of letters supporting Mark didn't Lorence noted his time in lock-up was ple of months after December 7 for Curtis a year to present their requests for parole. count, you could see their noses grow reduced slightly for good behavior. After to actually be released, since it involves an Refusing to meet with Curtis in 1993 un­ longer," commented Larry Ginter, a farm being released from lock-up "you had the interstate parole. Curtis asked if there was der stipulation of the new law, the parole activist and longtime Curtis supporter. opportunity to transfer to John Bennett anything he could do to expedite the pro­ board said that Curtis must go to Oakdale, Ginter was part of a delegation who met [medium security prison] but chose not cedure. Gesturing to the delegation of sup­ a special prison facility for psychiatric with the parole board September 7 to re­ to," Lorence said. "Why was that?" porters, Saur replied, "I want to make evaluation, before his parole could be con­ quest that Curtis be granted a parole hear­ Curtis explained he had inquired about something clear. These people are not why sidered. Officials at Oakdale refused to ing. "I think it was the international fight returning to Bennett from the maximum you 're getting out. They've helped, but admit him, however, stating that "no psy­ that won this victory." security prison, but it had not been clear you've done it. Don't count on these peo­ chiatric issues" were involved in his case. "We must above all remain vigilant," when he would be able to. "In the mean­ ple, or more letters, to do anything." In August 1994, two months before his Studer summarized. "Mark is still in time, the upholstery job came up and I Prison guards led Curtis, who gave a case was scheduled to be reviewed by the prison in Fort Madison, and we want to took it to get back to work outside my cell thumbs-up sign, back to his cell without parole board, Curtis was accused of as­ speed the day he walks out." Supporters of with other people." an opportunity to talk with his supporters. saulting another inmate and thrown into the defense effort around the world "need "The issue is whether or not Mark Cur­ On his lunch break a couple hours later, punitive lock-up for 11 months. With Cur­ to make sure any attempt to delay his re­ tis is a good candidate for parole," attor­ however, Curtis was able to speak on the tis in lock-up, the board again refused a lease is met with a response, including ney Kutmus told the board, after review­ phone with most members of the delega­ hearing. By this year it "had become inde­ even more of these letters. ing Curtis's plan for parole in Illinois and tion and others who had been waiting out­ fensible to keep him in prison," Studer "Finally, we will need to raise money to presenting letters he has received offering side the prison to learn the results of the told the reporter. "More people than ever see through the final stage of this fight," jobs. "An important question is how long hearing. Curtis reported "a lot of hugs and were asking, 'Why is he still there?' " he said. This includes covering the ongo­ he has served - over seven years." This handshakes" from other inmates, as word The widely publicized tapes of racist ing legal costs related to initiating Curtis's is nearly a year longer than the average for about his parole quickly spread. Los Angeles cop Mark Fuhrman and the parole, which the state will maximize as a prisoners with similar sentences. Curtis By the time members of the delegation exposure of widespread frame-ups, cor­ final act of vindictiveness and test of Cur­ "has had considerable punishment," Kut­ returned to Des Moines from here, the de­ ruption, and brutality by the police in tis's support. mus continued. "And as you characterized fense committee office was buzzing, with it, his conduct has been 'sparkling.' activists calling the media and contacting "Mark has had community support from supporters of the defense effort to get out the beginning, and once he is released he the good news. Among the first calls was 'I had to stick with him' will be working. He's ready for parole one to the Leonard Peltier Defense Com­ right now," Curtis's attorney said. mittee in Lawrence, Kansas. Native FORT MADISON, Iowa- "I first porters like Zimmerman. Others, such as Kutmus noted that Curtis has the best American activist Peltier has been in jail learned about Mark's case at the rally to Daniel Aguillar, a worker at the Monfort possible "risk assessment" by the prison's on a frame-up conviction stemming from defend the Swift 17 on March 12, 1988," packinghouse in Des Moines, formerly scale. Lorence agreed, and told Curtis, the deaths of two FBI agents in 1975. explained Hazel Zimmerman, secretary­ Swift, had recently learned about the case. "You have put a lot of time in, and have treasurer of the Mark Curtis Defense "I support him because he stood on the 'Put victory at service of others' Committee, as we prepared to attend Mark side of the workers, of the immigrants," That night many local supporters turned Curtis's parole hearing. The Swift 17 were said Aguillar at the support meeting in Des out to a meeting at the Forest Ave. Library meatpackers from Mexico and El Sal­ Moines. "That's what we need." in Des Moines to hear a report on the vic­ vador who had been arrested by the Immi­ Larry Ginter, a hog farmer from tory from defense committee coordinator gration and Naturalization Service in a Rhodes, Iowa, and activist in the Ameri­ Studer. Reporters from two TV stations factory raid. Several had applied for can Agricultural Movement, explained and the local news radio station came as amnesty. "I felt betrayed [by the arrests] that his group supported Curtis from early well. The story received prominent cover­ because as a government worker I had as­ on. "I appreciated that Mark wrote about age on the night-time news broadcasts and sured callers that they would not be prose­ the struggles of working farmers in the in the next day's issue of the daily Des cuted if they applied for amnesty." Militant," Ginter commented. Moines Register. Zimmerman met Curtis, another Swift Dannen Vance, a member of the Inter­ "We view this as a victory," Studer worker who had just been beaten and national Association of Machinists from said. "First of all, a victory for Mark, for framed up by the Des Moines police, at Peoria, Illinois, who waited outside the his perseverance and for the example he that rally. "At first I supported him be­ prison during the hearing, said that like set in continuing to work with others in cause no one deserves to be beaten by the many supporters he first heard about the struggle. This is a victory as well for the cops like he was," she said. "Then I came case from a co-worker. "I was stand-offish thousands who supported Mark, who kept to believe in his innocence, and I had to at first because I thought it was a rape writing letters and telling others about the stick with him. I never believed we would case," he said. "I watched the video The case until this had enough weight, together still be fighting this nearly eight years Frame-up of Mark Curtis and then read with Mark's conduct, to win his release. later." the transcript of the trial. I realized not just "Mark's intent is to put this victory at Many of those who attended Curtis's that Mark was not guilty, but that I needed the service of others fighting for justice, hearing and the celebration meeting in to speak up about it." Mark Curtis at November 21 hearing from Leonard Peltier and Mumia Abu- Des Moines afterward were longtime sup- -N.C. 6 The Militant December 4, 1995 Dozens of people demand: 'Parole Mark Curtis now' The following are excerpts from some and to consider the arguments that have Vivianna of the letters to the Iowa State Board of been brought forth and which continue to Parole urging that political and union be brought forth as far as Mark's value Trujillo activist Mark Curtis be released on pa­ and worth as a human being are con­ Editor, role. They arrived in the last few days cerned. Prisoner section leading up to Curtis's November 21 pa­ I become concerned when looking at in­ 'La Gente de role hearing and were hand-delivered to formation pertaining to the Mark Curtis Aztlan,' UCLA board members at the Iowa State Peni­ case as to whether it is justice or tentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa. vengeance that is currently being served. As a former editor­ The man has certainly done a considerable in-chief and current ed­ Lisa Faruolo amount of time. I would urge you to con­ itor of the prisoner sec­ sider that it is time for him to be paroled. tion of La Gente de Bill May Aztlan, the Chi­ cano/Latino commu­ G.L. Fragin Parents Against Poli~e Leonard Peltier nity newsmagazine at Brutality the University of Cali­ Defense Committee Bronx, New York fornia, Los Angeles, I Lawrence, Kansas have been following Leonard Peltier Defense Committee/Dick Bancroft Sirs, we are writing this letter to support Native American leader Leonard Peltier is serving two life This letter comes to you today to add Mark Curtis's case sentences at Leavenworth federal prison, Kansas, after FBI Mark Curtis on his behalf. We feel that he closely. It has come to our voices to the many others supporting a was unjustly framed and did not get a fair frame-up. His defense committee supports Curtis. favorable decision from the Parole Board my attention that he trial. We would like to see Mark Curtis was granted a long overdue parole hearing for the release of Mark Curtis. Curtis, a paroled and set free. This man was un­ question the original basis for his convic­ man active in the struggle for rights of im­ after having served six and a half years in tion. justly tried and made to serve time. Why, prison. I am writing to express my over­ migrant workers, deserves a fair and im­ because of his political beliefs? partial look by the Board. whelming support that you parole Mark We here in New York are also faced Curtis. Mark Curtis's release is of particu­ Curtis L. Black Curtis has spent much of his life, inside with police brutality. There has been an Member, National Veterans and outside of prison, helping others. We lar interest to us in Los Angeles because of alarming increase, especially in minori­ his work in support of our Latino brothers Advisory Committee, hope that the panel assembled to examine ties, in how the Police Department contin­ his case will consider the work he has and sisters who are immigrants. United Auto Workers Local664 ues to brutalize, and in the name of the law North Tarrytown, New York done in the area of human rights, and eco­ it's justified. We must continue our strug­ nomic and social equity. gle to fight against police brutality and Steve Riley I have been following the Mark Curtis As more and more people are made seek justice for the oppressed. Executive Council Member case since 1988. A flame in me is aware of his situation, much embarrass­ Transport and General Workers reignited when I hear more about it. ment can be avoided by simply doing the Dave Dowling Union Brother Curtis has served his time. With right thing now rather than answering the the revelations of the brutality, racism, and public at a later date. Dagenham, United Kingdom President, frame-ups of our police officers, there United Steelworkers Local 67 I understand that Mark Curtis will be should be some consideration. Barry Wilson Granite City, Illinois appearing before the Board on November Please Jet Brother Curtis go. Vice President, 21st to argue why he should be considered Auckland Council I am writing to join the many others for parole. I would like to lend my support James (J.P.) Jones who call upon the Parole Board to release to his appeal. for Civil Liberties Mark Curtis. State Legislative Director, Auckland, New Zealand Having served seven years Mark Curtis I have followed the case of Mr. Curtis has already spent more time in jail than is United Transportation Union I wish, on behalf of the council, to make from its beginning and was privileged to usual for those convicted of the offences Sacramento, California a strong plea for Mr. Curtis to be granted meet Mark at a past Steelworkers Interna­ of which the court found him guilty. At the tional Union Convention which I attended I am writing you to advise that I support parole and released from custody for good same time his record, the offers of work he your decision to approve an interview for behaviour. He has now been in prison for as a Steelworker Local Union President. I has received, and strong support he has am personally convinced of his innocence. Mark Curtis on November 21, 1995. seven years - a very substantial term. He outside prison leave me in no doubt that if After three (3) years without a hearing, is in no way a threat to individuals or the Regardless of what others' opinions released he will continue to be a socially and over seven years in prison, I urge the community. He has a great deal of support may be of Mark Curtis's guilt or inno­ conscious and responsible member of the Board to grant Mark Curtis a parole. both at local level and overseas. cence of the crime he was charged with, community. Mr. Curtis has his wife, his family, everyone must agree that he has served I am sure that his further incarceration many friends and supporters, and union Ken Stuber more time in prison than one would ordi­ will bring more people to the conclusion brothers and sisters that are waiting to help Presbyterian minister narily expect and that surely the time has that Mark Curtis is being victimised for him find work and get back to a human Des Moines, Iowa come to permit him his freedom. his union and political activities, and to society. After first reviewing a considerable amount of material pertaining to the Mark Curtis case, I have decided to write a letter 'L.A. 8' score gains against frame-up urging that this man be given parole. I am a Presbyterian minister, I have a concern BY HARRY RING filiate of the Palestine Liberation Organi­ edly "kills people" to block these efforts. that Mr. Curtis has more than served his LOS ANGELES - In their ongoing zation. From the outset, the government has ac­ time for anything he may or may not have fight against deportation, the Los Angeles The eight have lived here for years. knowledged it could not prosecute citizens done. 8 have scored two important gains for Two are permanent legal residents, the for supporting the PFLP. The Appeals I would ask the parole board to consider democratic rights. others have visas. Court said this poses the key question: the multitude of voices raised on Mark's Rejecting a government appeal, a panel Earlier in the case, Federal Judge "Whether aliens may be deported because behalf, to consider the efforts of his wife of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Stephen Wilson ruled that the Bill of of their associational activities with partic­ to show that he would have a job and a ruled that noncitizens have the same First Rights applied with equal force to nonciti­ ular groups, or. .. are entitled to the full place to put down roots upon his release, Amendment right to freedom of speech zens. He also barred the government from panoply of First Amendment rights of ex­ and associa­ using "classified" information to thwart pression and association." tion as citi­ two of the eight in their bid for permanent "Guilt by association." they added, vio­ F 0 R F U R T H E R READING zens. It also residence status. The Justice Department lates the First Amendment. ruled that the appealed these rulings to the Ninth Circuit Marc Van Der Hout, one of the attor­ government Court. The court's decision, handed down neys for the L.A. 8, said, "We are over­ cannot use se­ November 8, rejected the government ap­ joyed" by the appeals court ruling. FBI Washington's cret evidence peal on both counts. "At a time when anti-immigrant efforts on trial 50-year that is avail­ The court also upheld a preliminary in­ are at a peak," he added, "the court's deci­ Domestic able to only junction issued by judge Wilson barring sion confirms that the Bill of Rights ap­ THE VIcrORY IN THE one side in a the selective enforcement of immigration plies to all people in the United States, and SOCIAUST WORKERS Contra deportation statutes against six of the eight. our most basic freedoms are not limited to PARTY Surr AGAINST Operation case. And the court ruled that Wilson was citizens." GOVERNMENT SPYING Larry Seigle The govern­ wrong when he held he Jacked the juris­ Currently in the Congressional hopper diction to issue such an injunction on be­ Edited by In ment has been is the Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of Margaret Jayko New International trying to de­ half of Khader Hamide and Michel She­ 1995, introduced by the Clinton adminis­ $17.95 no. 6 $10.00 port the L.A. 8 hadeh, who are permanent U.S. residents. tration. -seven Pal- It's expected he will now extend the pre­ The bill would give the president the estinians and a liminary injunction to cover them as well. power to arbitrarily declare organizations Kenyan-for In oral arguments before the Appeals "terrorist." Noncitziens accused of terror­ Cointelpro: Available at the past eight Court, the government lawyer, Michael ism could be tried by a special court in se­ THE FBI'S SECRET bookstores, years. The Linderman claimed there had been no se­ cret session, and could be convicted on the fDINTELPRO WAR ON POLITICAL including those government lective enforcement. He claimed that basis of secret evidence. FREEDOM listed on page 12, claims that the when the 1984 Olympic Games were held In effect, the Appeals Court decision .t ' Nelson Blackstock or from eight are sup­ here, the government began to investigate brands the measure unconstitutional. ,,_ ? IIIIIW~ PATHFINDER porters of the "terrorism" and found the Popular Front The Justice Department has not yet said , ~ l 'iCIU I • II Ill H\ The FBI's spying and 410 West St., Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine to be very how it will respond to the ruling by the ~.. I'UIII U \1 disruption against •• ·~ 1m 11~,.1 New York, NY for the Libera­ active in the Los Angeles Arab commu­ three-judge panel. It has the option of re­ socialists and ac­ 10014. Fax (212) tion of Pales­ nity. And, he added, they found "these questing a review by the full Ninth Circuit 727-0150, Please tivists in the Black tine (PFLP), people support the PFLP." Court of Appeals, or taking it to the include $3.00 to and antiwar move­ which it Further, he contended, deportations can Supreme Court. ments. Includes FBI cover postage and handling. brands as ter­ be based on foreign policy considerations. documents. $15.95 rorist. The The PFLP, he argued, opposes U.S. Charlene Castle in Los Angeles con­ PFLP is an af- "peace" efforts in the Mideast and assert- tributed to this article, December 4, 1995 The Militant 7 'Socialism on trial,' on eve of World War II

The following are excerpts from Social­ A: In 1919, at the foundation of the and unions, and the country generally. order, and we on our part obligated our­ ism on Trial by James P. Cannon. The Communist Party, I was one of the origi­ This struggle against what Trotsky - and selves to observe discipline in the daily book, published by Pathfinder, is the offi­ nal members, and a member of the Na­ I agree with him- characterized as an in­ work and common action of the party. cial record of testimony by Cannon, na­ tional Committee since 1920. creasing bureaucratization of the whole Q: How long did your group remain in tional secretary of the Socialist Workers Q: How long a period did you remain in regime, this controversy originating over the Socialist Party? Party, at one of the most important politi­ the Communist Party? this point, gradually developed in the A: Just about a year. cal trials in U.S. history. A: Until October 1928. course of years into fundamental conflicts Q: And what happened then? On the eve of Washington's entry into A: Well, the Socialist Party began to im­ World War II, 18 leaders of the SWP and pose upon us the same kind of bureau­ the Minneapolis Teamsters union were cratism that we had suffered from in the tried and found guilty of "conspiring to Communist Party. There were great ques­ advocate the overthrow of the U.S. gov­ tions disturbing the minds of socialists in ernment." These were the first convictions that period, particularly the problems of under the notorious Smith "Gag" Act. the Spanish Civil War. The defendants were campaigning Q: And that was in what year? against Washington's drive to drag work­ A: That was in the year 1936, but it be­ ers and farmers in the United States into came very acute in the spring of 1937. We the slaughter of World War II. Many of had a definite position on the Spanish the 18 were central leaders of the 1934 question. We studied it attentively and we Minneapolis Teamsters strikes and subse­ wanted to make our views known to the quent organizing drives in the Midwest. other party members. This was permitted Despite the wartime atmosphere, the for some time, and then the National Ex­ defense effort gained nationwide publicity ecutive Committee issued an order pro­ and support. Tens of thousands backed the hibiting any further discussion, prohibit­ defendant's civil liberties; unions repre­ ing even the adoption of resolutions by senting over two million workers en­ branches on the subject, and we revolted dorsed the defense committee. against that provision and insisted on our The 18 were convicted on December 8, rights. 1941, the same day Washington declared At the same time, a big dispute arose in war on Tokyo, and served 12- to 18-month New York over the election campaign sentences in prison during 1944-45. - this was the second campaign of La Cannon gave his testimony exactly 54 Guardia, and the Socialist Party officially years ago. Yet it remains highly relevant decided to support the candidacy of La today. Six of 18 SWP and Teamsters leaders meet to plan defense efforts after hearing their Guardia. We opposed it on the ground that The portions below are from the first conviction. From left to right seated are Albert Goldman, Grace Holmes Carlson, it was a violation of socialist principles to two sessions of Cannon's court appear­ Felix Morrow; standing are Farrell Dobbs, James P. Cannon, and Vincent R. Dunne. support the candidate of a capitalist party. ance, which began on November 18, La Guardia was a candidate of the Repub­ 1941, and ended three days later. Albert lican and Fusion parties as well as of the Goldman, who is questioning Cannon, Q: Now, will you tell the court and jury over virtually all the basic principles of so­ Labor Party. was the chief defense attorney and one of the extent of your knowledge of Marxian cialist theory and practice. We also insisted on making our views the defendants. theory? Q: And as a result of this controversy, on this question known and this led to the These excerpts are copyright 1970 A: I am familiar with the most impor­ the expulsion took place? wholesale expulsion of our people. Pathfinder Press and are reprinted by per­ tant writings of the Marxist teachers - A: As a result of that, the expulsion of mission. Subheadings are by the Militant. Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky, and the our group took place here in the United Founding of SWP commentators on their works. States, as was the case also in Russia. Q: When was the Socialist Workers Q: Have you ever read any books Q: In what year was that? Party organized? Testimony by James P. Cannon against the Marxian theory? A: 1928. A: The last days of December 1937 and District Court of the United States, A: Yes. In general I am familiar with Q: Tell us what happened to the group the first day or two of January 1938. District of Minnesota, Fourth Division. the literature against Marxism, particularly that was expelled. Q: Who participated in its organization? Tuesday, November 18, 1941 the most important book. A: We organized ourselves as a group A: The branches of the Socialist Party Afternoon Session Q: Which one is the most important and began to publish a paper called The which had been expelled - these were JAMES P. CANNON was called as a book? Militant. banded together under a committee of the witness on behalf of the defendants, hav­ A: Hitler's Mein Kampf Q: And give us some idea of the size of expelled branches and this committee was ing been first duly sworn, testified as fol­ Q: Have you ever edited any labor pa­ that group, Mr. Cannon. instructed by a conference to arrange a lows: pers, Mr. Cannon? A: Well, there were only three of us to convention, prepare it, and the expelled DIRECT EXAMINATION A: Yes, a number of them. In fact, I start with. Eventually we got supporters in branches of the Socialist Party sent dele­ By MR. GOLDMAN: have been more or less a working journal­ other cities. Six months later, when we gates to the foundation convention of the ist in the movement for about twenty-five had our first conference, we had about one Socialist Workers Party. Q: Will you please state your name for years. hundred members in the country. Q: Did this committee of the expelled the reporter? Q: Do you recollect the names of any of Q: And subsequent to that, was there branches publish any paper? A: James P. Cannon. the papers that you edited? any party organized by this group? A: Yes, it published a paper following Q: Where do you live, Mr. Cannon? A: The Workers' World in Kansas City. the expulsions, which began in May or A: New York. The Toiler, published in Cleveland, Ohio. Communist League of America June 1937. We published the Socialist Ap­ Q: And your present occupation? I was at one time editor of The Militant. I A: Yes, this group called itself origi­ peal, and that became the official organ of A: National secretary of the Socialist was editor of the paper called Labor Ac­ nally the Communist League of America, the party after the convention. Later, about Workers Party. tion published in San Francisco, and I and considered itself still a faction of the a year ago, we changed the name back to Q: How old are you, Mr. Cannon? have been on the editorial board of numer­ Communist Party, attempting to get rein­ our original name, The Militant. A: Fifty-one. ous other papers and magazines published stated into the party, with the provision Q: To the best of your recollection, how Q: Where were you born? in the movement. that we would have a right to hold our many delegates were present at the found­ A: Rosedale, Kansas. Q: Have you ever delivered lectures on views and discuss them in the party. This ing convention of the Socialist Workers Q: How long a period is it since you be­ the theory of socialism and other aspects proposal of ours was rejected by the party, Party? gan your career in the Marxist movement, of the Marxist movement? so we developed as an independent orga­ A: I think about a hundred. Mr. Cannon? A: Yes, I have done that continuously nization. Q: And they came from all over the A: Thirty years. for about thirty years. In 1934 we came to an agreement with country, did they? Q: What organization did you first join another organization, which had never A: Yes, from about thirty cities, I that was part of the working-class move­ Expulsion from Communist Party been connected with the Communist think- twenty-five or thirty cities. ment? Q: Tell us the reasons why you severed movement, which had grown out of the Q: Now, what did that convention do? A: The IWW, Industrial Workers of the your connection with the Communist trade unions. This organization, originally A: The most important decisions of the World. Party, Mr. Cannon. known as the Conference for Progressive convention were to set up its organization, Q: And did you join any other organiza­ A: Well, at the time of the controversy Labor Action, took the name of the Ameri­ adopt a Declaration of Principles, and tion subsequent to that one? that developed in the Russian party be­ can Workers Party. In 1934, in the fall of some collateral resolutions on current A: The Socialist Party. tween Trotsky on the one side, and Stalin that year, we had a joint convention with questions, and elect a National Committee Q: And after that? and his group on the other, a controversy them and formed a common organization to direct the work of the party on the basis that touched many of the most which we called the Workers Party of the of the Declaration of Principles ... . FROM PATHFINDER fundamental principles of so­ United States. Q: What did the convention, the found­ cialism, this controversy gradu­ Q: And how long did this Workers Party ing convention of the Socialist Workers ally became extended in the exist? Party, adopt as the fundamental aim of the Communist International, and A. From the fall of 1934 until the spring party? became the subject of concern of 1936. A: I would say that the fundamental aim SOG~altsm in the other parties of the Com­ Q: And what happened then? of the party then and now is to popularize munist International. I and some A: At that time our party joined the So­ the doctrines of Marxian socialism and to on Yrtal others here took a position in cialist Party as a body. The Socialist Party aid and lead in the work of transforming support of Trotsky and that led had had an internal discussion and contro­ society from a capitalist to a communist to our expulsion from the Com­ versy, which culminated in the last month basis. James P. Cannon munist Party of the United of 1935 in a split, in the withdrawal of the States. more conservative elements. The Socialist What is socialism? The basic ideas of socialism, explained in testti­ Q: Can you give us in brief an Party had then issued an invitation for un­ Q: Give us the meaning of the term so­ mony during the frame-up trial of 18 leaders of idea of the nature of the contro­ affiliated radical individuals and groups to cialism. the Minneapolis Teamsters union and the So­ versy? join the Socialist Party. A: Socialism can have two meanings, cialist Workers .Pary charged with sedition dur­ A: It began over the question We accepted the invitation and joined and usually does among us. That is, so­ ing World War IL $15.95 of bureaucracy in the govern­ the party in 1936, again with the express cialism is a name applied to a projected mental apparatus of the Soviet provision which we had originally con­ new form of society, and it is a name also Available at bookstores, including those listed on Union and in the staffs of the tended for in the Communist Party, that applied to the movement working in that page 12, or write Pathfinder, 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. Fax (212) 727-0150. Please include party in Russia. Trotsky began a we should have the right to maintain our direction. $3 to cover postage and handling. struggle for more democracy in particular views and to discuss them in the Q: What is the nature of that projected the party, in the government party - that is, when discussion was in society?

8 The Militant December 4, 1995 A: We visualize a social order that it is impossible to prevent wars without this country. We do not would be based on the common ownership abolishing the capitalist system which give them any support be­ of the means of production, the elimina­ breeds war. It may be possible to delay a cause we do not think they tion of private profit in the means of pro­ war for a while, but eventually it is impos­ can or will solve the funda­ duction, the abolition of the wage system, sible to prevent wars while this system, mental social problems the abolition of the division of society into and its conflicts of imperialist nations, re­ which must be solved in classes. mains. order to save civilization Q: With reference to any government Q: Then is it true that the party is of the from shipwreck. for the purpose of instituting such a soci­ opinion that wars are caused by interna­ We believe that the nec­ ety, what would you say is the purpose of tional economic conflicts, and not by the essary social transition the Socialist Workers Party? good will or bad will of some people? from the present system of A: We have set as our aim the establish­ A: Yes. That does not eliminate the pos­ capitalism to the far more ment of a workers' and farmers' govern­ sibility of incidental attacks being caused efficient order of socialism ment, in place of the existing government by the acts of this or that ruling group of can only be brought about which we term a capitalist government. one country or another; but fundamentally under a leadership of the The task of this government would be to wars are caused by the efforts of all the workers. The workers must arrange and control the transition of soci­ capitalist powers to expand into other organize themselves inde­ ety from the basis of capitalism to the ba­ fields. The only way they can get them is pendently of the capitalist sis of socialism. by taking them away from some other political parties. They must Q: When you say "capitalist govern­ power, because the whole world has been organize a great party of ment," what do you mean? divided up among a small group of imperi­ their own, develop an inde­ A: We mean a government that arises alist powers. That is what leads to war, re­ pendent working-class from a society that is based on the private gardless of the will of the people. party of their own, and op­ ownership of the wealth of the country and We do not maintain that the ruling pose the policy of the capi­ the means of production by the capitalists, groups of any of the imperialist powers talist parties, regardless of and which in general represents the inter­ now at war really desired the war. We whether they are called the Teamsters union members confront the police during ests of that class. have stated many times that they would Democratic or Republican, 1934 strike in Minnepolis, Minnesota. Q: And in contradistinction to this gov­ have been glad to have avoided it; but they or anything else .... ernment you propose to establish a work­ could not avoid it and maintain the capital­ ment I spoke of, if the workers' form of ers' and farmers' government? ist system in their country. How to fight Hitlerism government were in power, we would pro­ A: Yes, we propose in place of the capi­ Q: What is the attitude of the party to­ Q: What is the party's position on the pose two things: talists' a workers' and farmers' govern­ wards a war which it designates as an im­ claim that the war against Hitler is a war One, that we issue a declaration to the ment, which will frankly represent the perialist war? of democracy against fascism? German people, a solemn promise, that we economic and social interests of the work­ A: Our party is unalterably opposed to A: We say that is a subterfuge, that the are not going to impose another Versailles ers and the producing farmers. all imperialist wars. conflict between American imperialism peace on them; that we are not going to Q: Well, what would happen to the cap­ Q: And what is meant by opposition to and German imperialism is for the domi­ cripple the German people, or take away italists? imperialist wars? nation of the world. It is absolutely true their shipping facilities, or take away their A: Under the workers' and farmers' A: By that we mean that we do not give that Hitler wants to dominate the world, milk cows, as was done in the horrible government, the main task of the govern­ any support to any imperialist war. We do but we think it is equally true that the rul­ Treaty of Versailles, starving German ba­ ment will be to carry out the transfer of the not vote for it; we do not vote for any per­ ing group of American capitalists has the bies at their mothers' breasts, and filling most important means of production from son that promotes it; we do not speak for same idea, and we are not in favor of ei­ the German people with such hatred and private ownership to the common owner­ it; we do not write for it. We are in opposi­ ther of them. such demand for revenge that it made it ship of the people. tion to it. We do not think that the Sixty Families possible for a monster like Hitler to rally Q: Well, what would happen to the indi­ Q: How does the Socialist Workers who own America want to wage this war them with the slogan of revenge against vidual capitalists who would lose their Party oppose the idea of the United States for some sacred principle of democracy. this terrible Treaty of Versailles. We wealth? entering into the war? We think they are the greatest enemies of would say to them: A: What do you mean, "happen to A: We do it as every other political democracy here at home. We think they "We promise you that we will not im­ them," in what way? party promotes its ideas on any foreign would only use the opportunity of a war to pose any of those things upon the German Q: Would you kill them or put them to policy. We write against it in the paper; we eliminate all civil liberties at home, to get people. On the contrary, we propose to work or what? speak against it; we try to create sentiment the best imitation of fascism they can pos­ you a reorganization of the world on a fair A: Well, under our theory, citizenship in any organization we can approach, to sibly get.... socialist basis, where the German people, participation in the benefits of society adopt resolutions against the war. If we Q: Is it true then that the party is as with all their recognized ability and their would be open to everybody on a basis of had members in Congress, they would equally opposed to Hitler as it is to the genius and labor, can participate equally equality. This would apply to former capi­ speak in Congress, in the Senate, against capitalist claims of the United States? with us." That would be our party's first talists as well as to workers and farmers. it. In general we carry on public political A: That is uncontestable. We consider proposal to them. Q: When you use the term "productive agitation against the entry of the United Hitler and Hitlerism the greatest enemy of Second, we would also say to them, wealth," do you mean any property that an States into war, and against all measures mankind. We want to wipe it off the face "On the other hand, we are going to build individual owns? taken either by the Executive or by of the earth. The reason we do not support the biggest army and navy and air force in A: No - when we speak of the means Congress which in our opinion lead to­ a declaration of war by American arms is the world, to put at your disposal, to help of production, the wealth of the country, wards active participation in the war.... because we do not believe the American smash Hitler by force of arms on one we mean that wealth which is necessary capitalists can defeat Hitler and fascism. front, while you revolt against him on the for the production of the necessities of the Opposition to imperialist war We think Hitlerism can be destroyed only home front." I think that would be the pro­ people. The industries, the railroads, Q: If the United States should enter into by way of conducting a war under the gram, in essence, of our party, which the mines, and so on. We don't propose- at the European conflict, what form would leadership of the workers. workers' and farmers' government of least, Marxist socialists have never pro­ the opposition of the party take to the war? Q: What method does the party propose America would advance so far as Hitler is posed anywhere that I know- the elimi­ A: We would maintain our position. for the defeat of Hitler? concerned, and we believe that is the only nation of private property in personal ef­ Q: And that is what? A: If the workers formed the govern- way Hitlerism will be destroyed. fects. We speak of those things which are A: That is, we would not become sup­ necessary for the production of the peo­ porters of the war, even after the war was ple's needs. They shall be owned in com­ declared. That is, we would remain an op­ mon by all the people .... position political party on the war ques­ Celebrate the life and political,. tion, as on others. Wednesday, November 19, 1941 Q: You would not support the war? contdbtttions of ·Ed ·Shaw Morning Session A: That is what I mean, we would not EdShaw.(1923-t995).was a.longtime leader ofth~·swP ..Hewas a union militant as JAMES P. CANNON support the war, in a political sense. a seamim in thf3 .rperchant marinE! when he joined the party in 1944. Elected to the DIRECT EXAMINATION The Court: May I ask you to develop SWP's NationalCommittee in 1959,.•.he·servedon it until 1981; Shaw was a leader of (Continued) the significance of that last statement? th.e Fair Play for CU~a Co01mittee inthe early 1960s andJhe~Wf? candkiate forU.$. Mr. Goldman: Yes. vice ptesideritin 1964. ,He \yas also th~ party's organization secretary in the late '60s. Causes of modern war Q: When you say, "nonsupport of the Q: (By Mr. Goldman): Mr. Cannon, will war," just exactly what would the party do you tell us the position of the Socialist during a war, which would indicate its · · MIA~I··· ~ Workers Party on the causes of modem nonsupport of the war? Sun .., Dec. 3, 1 :00 p.m. Sun., Dec. tO~ 1:00 p;m~ war? A: Insofar as we are permitted our A: Modem wars, in the opinion of our rights, we would speak against the war as 137 N.E. 54th St. Speakers: party, are caused by the conflict of imperi­ a false policy that should be changed, in Jack Barnes , alist nations for markets, colonies, sources the same sense, from our point of view, Speakers: Joel Britton, SWP'national trade union- of raw material, fields for investment, and that other parties might oppose the foreign director , spheres of influence. policy of the government in time of war, Jack Barnes, SWP national secretary Q: What do you mean by "imperialist," just as Lloyd George, for example, op­ VIrginia Garza, longtime socialiSt Mr. Cannon? posed the Boer War in public addresses Tom Leonard, longtime SWP Tom Leonard A: Those capitalist nations which di­ and speeches. Ramsay MacDonald, who leader and former seaman Olga Rodriguez, editor of Pdiitics ot. rectly or indirectly exploit other countries. later became prime minister of England, I Ernie Ma.il~ot , co~author of Chicano Liberation · Q: What is the party's position on the opposed the war policy of England during • Eastern Airlmes Strike inevitability of wars under the capitalist the World War of 1914-1918. We hold our TonyThomas · Veronica Poses; coordinator, l system? I Mary-Alice Waters own point of view, which is different from Miami Young Socialists A: As long as the capitalist system re­ the point of view of the two political fig­ ~ Leader of New York Young Socialists mains, and with it those conditions which ures I have just mentioned, and so far as Tony Thomas, member, I have mentioned, which flow automati­ we are permitted to exercise our right, we Transport Workers Union For mdre information call the New York branch of cally from the operation of the capitalist would continue to write and speak for a Local 291 in Miami the SWP. Tel: (212) 388-9475 and imperialist system, wars, recurring different foreign policy for America.... Maty-Aiice Waters, editor, wars, are inevitable. Q: Will you state the reasons why the New International SAtfFRA~OISCO ' ' ' Q: And can anybody's opposition, in­ party would not support a war conducted cluding the opposition of the Socialist by the present government of the United .· Sun~, Dec. 17 For more information call the Miami bmore informatiof? eat/ tfle San Fra/1cisco branch Workers Party to war, prevent wars under States? 1 branch of the $WP. Tel: (305) 756- of the SWP. .Tei: (4J5) :?82-62$5.•· the capitalist system? A: In general, we do not put any confi­ 1020. A: No. Our party has always stated that dence in the ruling capitalist group in

December 4, 1995 The Militant 9 Boeing pact rejected

Continued from front page could consider at its discretion. ton state. A total of 32,000 riveters, The company also offered to provide painters, crane operators, and other pro­ laid-off workers a severance package duction workers are on strike. equaling one week of pay for every year of "By rejecting this contract offer you service up to 26 years. sent a message to the Boeing company," Also at issue was pensions. Workers re­ Johnson said. "Now it's time to go back tiring under the terms of the latest offer out on the line, to stay united, and we will would receive $40 a month per year of ser­ get a good contract. The fight has just be­ vice, up from $35 in the old contract and gun." up from $37 in Boeing's October offer. Many strikers were glad the proposed The proposed contract included an contract had been turned down. "There agreement not to increase costs of medical should have been a 'No' and a 'Hell no' benefits for retirees. Boeing's recent an­ box," Jim Rice told reporters. nouncement that it would unilaterally raise However, Pete, a worker at Boeing for health-care costs for the 10,000 retirees 16 years, said, "I voted for the contract. It particularly angered many strikers. In was enough for me. But I have to stay with 1995 some 3,000 Machinists accepted an the membership. I'm staying out." early retirement package. The company On the picket line the morning after the promised that their benefits would not vote, John and Mary Corbett, both striking change and that they would receive a lump Members of the United Farm Workers of Washington State joined a November 12 Machinists, were out making up their sum payment based on their hours worked rally in support of the 32,000 workers out on strike against Boeing. missed picket assignment. John said, in 1995 prior to retirement. The second "When we were being sent out this morn­ contract proposal reneged on the lump ing the picket captain asked us what it was sum payment. This attack was denounced ing the strike." garini, a seven-year Boeing worker at the we wanted from the negotiations team. I at a November 20 action organized by re­ Several workers pointed to the similar­ Renton plant explained his "no" vote. "I told him we've been telling you for seven tiree groups that drew 100 workers. ity of the new offer to the initial proposal. dido 't strike for seven weeks for nothing. weeks now: no givebacks." On the question of wages, which has Bob Kemmer, a Boeing worker for 23 Boeing can do better than this. They When asked what he thought about the never been a central issue in the strike, the years, said, "It's just switching numbers should do better than this." vote against the contract, John replied, proposed package registered no real around. It's not acceptable." Adding insult to injury was an an­ ''I'm so proud of the members. Now it's progress. Lump sum payments of 5 per­ Unionists stressed the fact that Boeing nouncement that five Boeing executives, our strike, not Boeing's game anymore." cent in the first year and 3 percent the sec­ is highly profitable and doing well. On including chairman and chief executive The picketers reported more passersby ond substituted for any general wage in­ November 14 the aircraft giant announced Frank Shrontz, were eligible for $2.5 mil­ were beeping their horns and waving at crease. A 3 percent general wage increase that Singapore Airlines will buy 34 of lion bonuses because of rising stock them this morning. A Seattle rail worker was included in the contract's final year. Boeing's new 777 model planes, with op­ prices. reported that while working the previous The lAM negotiation team had unani­ tions for 43 more. The mammoth deal is In response, strikers greeted the an­ night his co-workers were discussing the mously recommended the contract pro­ valued at $12.7 billion. nouncement of the contract rejection with Machinists' rejection of Boeing's contract posal. In a flyer distributed to workers to Several said that by continuing the boisterous chants of "It's our tum now!" offer. "I'm so proud of the Boeing work­ explain the proposal, the negotiators ex­ strike they could wrest more of what they ers," one commented. "We should be do­ plained, "Are we thrilled about this? No, deserve. "Boeing's not a struggling com­ Lisa Ahlberg is a member of JAM Local ing just what they're doing." but. . .in the best judgment of your Com­ pany," Cecil Johnson said. "They could 289. Bob Bruneau, a member of JAM Lo­ A central issue in the strike has been mittee, this was the most we could get out spread the wealth around a little bit." cal 75 I -A at Boeing's Renton plant, is on Boeing's demand that workers pay sub­ of Boeing at this time - short of continu- "Not good enough" is how John Mal- strike. stantially more for health care. The con­ tract proposed establishing monthly co­ payments for the first time and called for higher deductible payments. News strikers refuse to give up fight Workers remaining in the Boeing Medi­ cal Plan would be forced to pay from $10 BY HOLLY HARKNESS strength of shared belief and sacrifice, The next night, several hundred people to $30 per month, depending on their fam­ DETROIT - Striking newspaper we've got some news for the union­ joined the regular Saturday all-night pick­ ily status. Deductibles would range from workers here opened a new front in their busting folks at Gannett and Knight­ ets at distribution centers to delay the Sun­ $125 to $375. battle with the bosses when 300,000 Ridder: This strike is far from over." day edition of the scab paper. "Medical is a big thing for me," Vickie copies of their own weekly newspaper The appearance of the paper capped a The unions have scheduled mass Drysdale, a shop steward at the Auburn were delivered to homes, stores, plant weekend of strike activities. A November leafleting at stores still advertising in plant, told the Militant the day before the gates, and union halls in this area. 18 fundraising dinner drew 800 strikers the struck papers during the Thanksgiv­ vote at the lAM hall. "This year it's this A front page article entitled "Welcome to and their supporters. The event, sponsored ing weekend. The Metropolitan Council much .. .. next year it's more," she ex­ the Journal" informed readers that the De­ by the Metropolitan Council of Newspa­ of Newspaper Unions, the Metro Detroit plained, referring to the medical insurance troit Sunday Journal is "an interim newspa­ per Unions and the Labor/Com­ Central Labor Council, and a commu­ co-payments. per. . . for the duration of the current labor munity/Religious Coalition in Support of nity strike- support coalition have "It's a mistake to give in on this," dispute at the Detroit Free Press, Detroit the Newspaper Strike, was held at United scheduled a concert and bazaar to bene­ echoed Steve Howarth several blocks News, and Detroit Newspapers, Inc. The Food and Commercial Workers Local fit the strike on December 3 at IBEW away on the picket line. "It's just opening Journal will cease publication when the 876. International Brotherhood of Electri­ Local 58 in Detroit. the door. They just want to stick it to the members of the six striking unions reach cal Workers (IBEW) Local 58 took charge A daily on-line strike paper, The Detroit working man and make him pay for it. contract agreements with the companies. of the menu of roast ox and "Cajun-fried Journal, is available on the World Wide They want to pass on the increased costs "This is a weekly publication produced turkeys." The dinner and party raised Web at: to the little guy." by the more than 2,000 striking workers. It $6,700. http://www .rust.net/workers/strike.htrnl For many workers another key issue is is for the hundred of thousands of people the threat of layoffs. The latest proposal throughout southeastern Michigan who contained vague language intended to ap­ have supported us during this grueling pease that concern. Boeing agreed to give four-month strike." Cat strikers Inay get offer the union 90-day advance notice of its in­ The 48-page tabloid, complete with tent to subcontract work that would elimi­ state and local news, sports, recipes, enter­ BY ANGEL LARISCY with union line-crossers, office and man­ nate 50 or more jobs in the Puget Sound tainment reviews, TV listings, classified PEORIA, Illinois - For the first time agerial employees, and new hires. The area and 30 or more in Spokane, Washing­ ads, and even a crossword puzzle, was a since April 1992, members of the United company has maintained that the strike ton, and Portland, Oregon. The union welcome sight. Many working people dis­ Auto Workers (UA W) are about to hear a has had no impact on its operations, but it would then have the opportunity to pro­ playing lawn signs saying, "No scab pa­ new contract offer from Caterpillar Inc., has not succeeded in wining either union pose alternatives, which the company pers" found a copy of the strike paper on the world's largest producer of h'eavy members or financial analysts to this view. their front doorstep Sunday morning. earth-moving and construction equipment. "After a while, keeping a jury-rigged The paper included advertisements The fight by union members for a con­ work force has got to cause problems that FROM PATHFINDER from supporting unions and some busi­ tract with the company has lasted for more will ultimately have some long-term im­ nesses that have not bought ads in the scab than four years. The UA W has been on pact on the company," said Frank Man­ The Changing Face of newspapers. strike for the past 17 months against the fredi, an industry analyst. U.S. Politics In a press conference announcing the company. Likewise, most workers are not expect­ new paper, Lou Mleczko, president of The union and the company both issued ing that once a contract offer is signed the Working-Class Politics Newspaper Guild Local 22, said, "We statements noting progress in negotiations strife will end. and the Trade Unions hope this adds more pressure for the other on November 17 . Caterpillar's statement Louis Hall, an assembly line worker • • " • • • • • • • A handbook for side to return to the bargaining table. It's said that "few issues are yet to be re­ from Cat's Mossville plant north of Peoria ~~~E workers coming solved" and announced the company will said he had only been back to work three ...... ,.._ ___...... _ into the factories, one more piece of our arsenal." The Teamsters, Communication Work­ have a new proposal for the union "in the weeks after a lengthy layoff when the mines, and mills, ers of America, press operators' union, near future." strike was called in June 1994. as they react to VA W officials said the company will In those three short weeks, Hall said, he the uncertain life, and United Auto Workers helped to raise almost $500,000 to launch the paper. It announce a new offer on November 28. saw "a lot of people fired for things like ceaseless turmoil, "We will promptly take the proposal to chanting or just standing up for them­ and brutality of was printed at a union shop near Flint, capitalism in the Michigan, and has opened an office and our members for their action," said the selves." closing years of newsroom near downtown Detroit. union statement, issued after its bargain­ While there is much speculation about the twentieth Striking members of Teamsters Local ing committee met in Chicago. how returning workers and scabs will get century. It shows 372, who drove delivery trucks and over­ Caterpillar officials said that when an along when they begin to work together, how millions of saw carriers before the strike, are handling agreement is ratified and strikers return to Hall said, "I'm sure some of the replace­ workers, as political resistance grows, will the distribution of the new paper. work they will participate in a three-week ments [who weren't in the union before] revolutionize themselves, their unions, and In its first editorial, entitled "Notice is phase-in training period. Union members can be won to the union." all of society. $19.95 served," the Detroit Journal made clear will also be required to abide by a "code of Hall acknowledged he and many other the unionists' determination to continue conduct" the company has implemented, union members have suffered serious which bans "offensive" T-shirts, bumper hardships because of the nearly one-and­ A\al rlb le 1t tocKS'\l'>- s clu: r•(, t~ JSf' their fight. "As long as there are journal­ r ,ted 0'' page 12 H f·oro f' 1tnf •1der 1' 0 ists in Detroit who care about the integrity stickers, and language. Included in this a-half-year strike. But despite the difficul­ WestSt Nev,York NY'OU'1 -p 11'/1 of newspapers, as long as there are readers ban are union slogans and use of the word ties, Hall, who has been working part time 14 · 059r~ Pease r'C u1c Sl CO for '.ll•O who hunger for a paper they can believe "scab." in an area restaurant, said he never thought prnq ili•O I illlOirl•l in, as long as there are workers who stand Throughout the recent strike, Caterpil­ of crossing the picket line. "I stayed out together in dignity and fellowship and the lar has continued production in its plants because I'm union," he said.

10 The Militant December 4, 1995 -YOUNG SOCIALISTS AROUND THE WORLD New members explain why they join This column is written and edited by He was there, he said, because "I wanted she said in an interview. the Young Socialists, an international to help my people, the working class, and "It's active in that it goes organization of young workers, stu­ defend their rights and defend my rights as out into the streets and par­ dents, and other youth fighting for so­ an immigrant worker." ticipates in protests, sells cialism. For more information about the With Spanish-speaking members like socialist literature, does YS or to join, write P.O. Box 2396, New Ahmet Ali, the Young Socialists chapter politics on the job and at York, NY 10009. Tel: (212) 475-6482, there holds all its meetings with complete school. We are always Fax: (212) 388-1659. translation. learning, studying, pro­ Alex Rebeles, a 16-year-old high school cessing, and evaluating po­ BY MEGAN ARNEY student, sees her participation as "part of litical events." MINNEAPOLIS - Young people the movement. As more people join the Step by step the YS is around the country have experienced the movement it becomes stronger. I truly be­ building a communist crisis of capitalism and all the irreconcil­ lieve the working class can dominate the youth organization. Most able divisions and hatred it perpetuates. U.S. As we see in Cuba, it is possible for YS chapters are relatively Small layers of young fighters are at­ youth and the working class to do it." small, but members are tracted to the Young Socialists, a revolu­ growing politically very tionary youth organization. Throughout Seattle, Washington fast through experiences. the country YS chapters have been recruit­ In Seattle two new members became in­ "It's exciting to be part of ing new members. terested in socialist politics around the So­ an organization that is new, The Young Socialists have been build­ cialist Workers campaign of Meg Novak, because you can play a part ing study groups and becoming known as a leader of the Young Socialists in Seattle in shaping it. Through activists in fights in their area. Throughout who ran for City Council, Position 1. working with the YS in or­ the country people are joining the YS be­ Two other new members, who moved ganizing ourselves for the cause of its politics not just one issue. to Seattle from Oregon to be part of a Cuba Lives youth festival They are being recruited to communism warehouse union organizing campaign by last August, I saw how the and are actively engaging in learning the Teamsters, were recruited through organization functions, and those politics. classes organized by the YS. I decided to join," Geller explained. Bloomington, Indiana The YS has studied The Second Decla­ ration of Havana, Trotsky's "A Strategy Another new member, Young Socialist member Tom Alter is for Revolutionary Youth" in The Transi­ Sarah Katz, 24, was building a YS chapter at the University of tional Program for Socialist Revolution, "attracted to the YS be­ Indiana at Bloomington. "Students here and Socialism on Trial by James P. Can­ cause it's fighting to Militant/Lisa Ahlberg are interested in 'what is socialism?' So non. The Seattle chapter has also been in­ change the world, not con­ Young supporters of the Boeing strike in Seattle attend we've had two classes on the Communist volved in actions, including the rally for centrating on just one issue. November 12 rally. YS members have joined picket Manifesto," said Alter. They have also striking Boeing workers on November 12 I wanted to get involved in lines in Seattle, Peoria, Detroit and elsewhere. traveled to Chicago to participate in Mili­ as well as a rally for framed-up Native politics, and I was for Black tant Labor Forums, to pickets lines in De­ American fighter Leonard Peltier. rights, pro-choice, and antiwar- but I Young Socialists. troit supporting the striking workers at the didn't know there was an organization that Critics of the Nigerian military regime Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News, Twin Cities, Minnesota fought for all of these things." say Royal Dutch Shell, a corporation that and to New York to protest the U.S. em­ Here in the Twin Cities the Young So­ has caused massive environmental pollu­ bargo against Cuba. cialists have recruited two new members. Megan Arney is a member of the Young tion in the Niger Delta, fingered Ken Saro­ The Young Socialists is a recognized Victor A vis, 26, first met the YS at a re­ Socialists in the Twin Cities. Young So­ Wiwa to the cops and then offered two key student organization on campus. It has portback on the Cuba Lives international cialists members Joya Lonsdale in New witnesses bribes to testify against the ac­ gained a reputation as a student political youth festival in his Spanish class at Nor­ York and Vanessa Knapton in Los Angeles tivist. Ken Searcy, an Indiana University group that is "doing something." "Most mandate Community College in Bloom­ contributed to this article. graduate student and demonstrator, said, people are attracted to the activism. We ington, Minnesota. "I've been interested "Shell believes in people over profits. don't just talk, we act," Alter explained. in socialist politics for a long time, but Capitalism is not a system concerned with Every week supporters of the Militant and didn't know there was an organization," BY HILARY JURETIC human rights. It is out to make a buck. It Pathfinder books set up tables on campus A vis explained. AND TOM ALTER will exploit people; that's what I think to sell socialist literature. Cindy Deichman, 22, first heard YS BLOOMINGTON, Indiana- About capitalism is about." members speak at another Cuba Lives re­ 25 people demonstrated here in protest of During the demonstration, flyers were Atlanta, Georgia portback at the Resource Center for the the executions of Ken Saro-Wiwa and distributed to passing cars, and the Salm Kolis, a supporter of the Militant Americas in Minneapolis. Both traveled to eight other environmental and human protesters were met with waves, smiles, and member of the United Auto Workers Chicago October 14 for a protest against rights activists in Nigeria. and honks of approval. After the demon­ and the Socialist Workers Party in Atlanta, the U.S. embargo against Cuba with the The demonstration was held at a local stration, nine protesters met and a commit­ reports on their success in attracting Twin Cities Cuba Network (TCCN). The Shell Oil gas station located at the comer of tee was formed to unify diverse organiza­ young people to the Militant Labor Forum TCCN has organized 10 reportbacks in the one of the busiest intersections in Blooming­ tions across the country in protest of Shell there. "Last week four students from the area. Deichman then participated in a Mil­ ton.lt was organized by the Indiana Univer­ Oil and the Nigerian military regime. University of Georgia at Athens, three stu­ itant sales team to her school, Mankato sity student groups Conscious Oppressed For more information send E-mail to: dents from Georgia Tech, as well as two State University. She explained why she Unified People (COUP) and African Griot. [email protected] or write to P.O. Box other young people came to a forum on was attracted to socialism this way: "I Participating in the demonstration were Indi­ 1304, Bloomington, IN 47402. Youth in Cuba," she said. "And over 20 of want everyone to have a fair chance, and ana University students and faculty, mem­ Hilary Juretic and Tom Alter are members the 50 new subscriptions to the Militant with capitalism it's impossible. So I want bers of the Bloomington community, the of the Young Socialists and students at In­ sold by the supporters in Atlanta have to fight for socialism. It's an alternative, African Students Association, and the diana University. been to young people." there is hope." The YS here holds educationals at Los Angeles, California weekly chapter meetings, reading Lenin's In Los Angeles the Young Socialists Final Fight and State and Revolution. Cuban editor visits Miami have been a part of the fights against Manhattan, New York BY ERNIE MAILHOT pression. Codina explained that in his Proposition 187 and other anti-immigrant MIAMI - Some 50 people attended a opinion in no part of the world are peo­ legislature. Ahmet Ali, who recently Two people have joined the New York November 5 poetry reading and discus­ ple satisfied with the level of free ex­ joined the YS there, is a young worker YS since July. Mara Geller, 24, explained sion with Norberto Codina and Jan Sebon pression but that in Cuba you can see from Chiapas, Mexico. He met the YS at why she became a member. "It's an active at the Tap Tap Restaurant in Miami more openings for expression, as repre­ an immigration rights march October 15. organization and a thinking organization," Beach. sented in the pages of La Gaceta. Codina, an award winning poet from When asked about ties between Haiti Cuba and editor of La Gaceta de Cuba, and Cuba, Sebon noted that Haiti is one of Read James P. Cannon, a founder of the had stopped in Miami following a speak­ the poorest countries in the world and that co1nmunist movement in the U.S. ing tour to several cities in the United many Haitians look to the example of States. Sebon, a Haitian poet, painter, and Cuba today. Cuban revolutionary leader musician, is a founder of the Haitian cul­ Ernesto Che Guevara is a hero to many History of American Trotskyism tural group Koleksyon Kazak and is well Haitians, he said. "This is because Haiti is JAMES P. CANNON known here as a supporter of the fight for still in struggle." Origins of the communist movement and Socialist Workers democracy in Haiti and in defense of Codina discussed the rich cultural ties Party in the United States, from World War I and the im­ Haitian refugees. that have existed over the years between pact of the Russian revolution to the fight against Stalinism The Tap Tap Restaurant is known as a the United States and Cuba and how the and the big labor battles that built the industrial unions. center for activists in defense of Haitian economic blockade of the island had de­ rights and a number of them attended the nied the people of the United States access $18.95 poetry reading along with Cuban­ to Cuban culture. Speeches to the Party Americans and others who oppose the While in Miami, Codina also spoke to a economic blockade of Cuba. Some stu­ meeting of Veye Yo, the main Haitian JAMES P. CANNON dents and unionists attended as well. rights organization in the Miami area. Writing in the early 1950s, Cannon discusses how a Throughout the hour-long poetry read­ More than a hundred people cheered Cod­ proletarian party can resist conservatizing pressures of ing, warm applause was given as each ina's presentation. A discussion period af­ the emerging capitalist expansion and anticommunist poet alternated reading their works. The ter the talk went much longer than had witch-hunt. He discusses Washington's failure to reading was followed by a lively discus­ been originally scheduled. achieve its goals in the Korean War, why the rulers sion on culture and politics in Cuba and One participant in the meeting started reigned in McCarthyism, and how class-conscious Haiti today. Except for a disruptive re­ his comments by saying, "Thank you to workers under these conditions carried out effective porter from Spanish-language TV Chan­ Cuba and our Cuban friend because Cuba union work and political activity to build a communist nel 51 , the event went smoothly after the is the only country that I know where there workers party. $21.95 chairperson and audience told him to stop is no discrimination against Haitian peo­ his outbursts. ple. In all the other countries - the Do­ Available from bookstores, including those listed on page 12, or write to Pathfinder, 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. FAX (212) 727-0150. If ordering by mail, please add $3 to Before his disruptions, the reporter minican Republic, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, cover postage and handling for the first book and $.50 for each additional item. had claimed that there is a form of and the United States- we're discrimi­ apartheid in Cuba and no freedom of ex- nated against, but not in Cuba."

December 4, 1995 The Militant 11 U.S., Japan ties under growing strains Continued from front page tion has no enforcement methods. next year. China has been under growing Beijing's move received modest praise Any such announcement was post­ Progress toward a "free trade zone" in pressure from Washington and Tokyo to from vice-president Gore. "That was a poned until a Japan visit by Clinton is Asia would rely on voluntary action and open its market further to the penetration positive step," said Gore. "There are oth­ rescheduled. Signaling Tokyo's concern "peer pressure." of goods and capital from abroad. ers." about the issue of U.S. troops, Prime Min­ The problem facing Washington, its ister Tomiichi Murayama called a Clinton major rivals in Tokyo, and their junior visit "a matter or urgency." The U.S. pres­ partners throughout the region is anything -CALENDAR ident cancelled his trip to Osaka at the last but unique. Each government is striving to minute to deal with another debate unfold­ protect the interests of the wealthy fami­ NEW YORK Curtis. Sun., Dec. 3,. Sponsored by Supporters ing in Washington- how much to cut lies in its respective country and improve of the Mark Curtis Defense Committee. For its economic and political position at the Manhattan more information, call (201) 643-3341 . Medicare and other social programs. Ending 20 Years of Occupation East Timor expense of its rivals. and U.S. Foreign Policy. Speakers: Noam Cooperation or competition? The capitalist markets in Asia are Chomsky; Constancio Pinto (U.S. Representa­ • Washington faced difficult enough booming and each capitalist class wants a tive, East Timorese resistance); Amy Goodman problems heading into the 18-nation bigger share of it. The "Issues" page in the (News Director, WBAI Radio). Sponsored by BRITAIN Asian-Pacific summit before the latest November 19 Seattle Times captured the East Timor Action Network and Modem London crisis erupted. In fact, the Osaka underlying problem. "In conflict: U.S. and Times. Sat., Dec. 9, 2:30 p.m. Miller Theater, Come and hear prominent Cuban artist Jose "economic cooperation forum" revealed Japanese interests," read the headline. Columbia University (Broadway at 116th St.). Delarra speak on "Art, Culture and the more about rivalry in the Asian-Pacific re­ "Powerful forces indicate deeper tensions Tickets: $12. For more information, call (718) Cuban Revolution." Delarra is a member of 788-6071 . the Union of Writers and Artists in Cuba, of gion than cooperation. lie ahead." which he was a founder member. Tue., Dec. The forum was established with great One of the noteworthy developments at 12, 7:30. Exhibition of Delarra's art from 6 fanfare in 1993 at a meeting on Blake Is­ the Osaka forum was China's announce­ NEW JERSEY p.m. Praxis in Pott Street (United Reform land near Seattle at which Clinton ment that it would cut tariffs on 4,000 Newark Church hall) (Just off Bethnal Green Rd.) presided. A 1994 meeting took place in In­ items by an average of at least 30 percent Rally to Celebrate Parole Victory of Mark Nearest tube: Bethnal Green. donesia. This year's gathering was in­ tended to arrive at mutually agreed-on ground rules for achieving "free trade." -. MILITANT LABOR FORUMS The progress made was less than daz­ zling. The document adopted by the sum­ The Militant Labor Forum is a weekly GEORGIA UTAH mit "does not even define what is meant free-speech meeting for workers, farmers, Atlanta Salt Lake City by 'free and open trade,' " reported the youth, and others. All those seeking to ad­ Celebrate 67 years of the Militant. An event The Boeing Strike: Eyewitness Reports from New York Times. A principal issue is tar­ vance the fight against injustice and ex­ to raise money for the Militant Fund. Speakers the Picket Lines. Speakers: Nelson Gonzalez, iffs on products entering various Asian ploitation are welcome to attend and par­ include Betsey Farley who reported on the 17- Socialist Workers Party, member, United countries. Washington is eager to remove ticipate in these discussions on issues of month-long strike at Caterpillar; others to be Steelworkers of America Local 4347; Dan barriers to the goods produced by compa­ importance to working people. announced. Sun., Dec. 3, 4:00 p.m. 803 Fein, Socialist Workers Party, member, United nies owned by wealthy U.S. families. At the Militant Labor Forum you can Peachtree, N.W. Donation: $5 program, $3 Transportation Union Local 1416; Brent Ford, The forum's stated goal is to reduce tar­ express your opinion, listen to the views dinner. Tel: (404) 724-9759. Young Socialists, Salt Lake City chapter. Fri., iffs, not eliminate them. Trying to put the of fellow fighters, and exchange ideas on Dec. l, 7:30p.m. 147 East 900 South. Dona­ best possible face on it, a U.S. official re­ how best to advance the interests of ILLINOIS tion: $3 . Tel: (801) 355-1124. marked, "That could mean zero. It could workers and farmers the world over. Chicago WEST VIRGINIA mean something more than zero." Oppose The Executions in Nigeria. Fri., Dec. China's assistant minister for foreign Morgantown ALABAMA l, 7:30p.m. Fund-raising Dinner To Celebrate 67 Years trade and economic cooperation ex­ Birmingham Working-Class Resistance to Capitalist At­ plained, "I believe there will be several of the Militant. Sat., Dec. 2, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Fidel Castro Speaks in Harlem. A video of tacks on Social Gains. Speaker: John Votava, Dinner will be followed by a program. 1449 different interpretations of what has been Cuban president Fidel Castro's October speech Socialist Workers Party, member, Amalga­ Andmore St. agreed." at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York mated Transit Union Local 308. Fri., Dec. 8, Class on George Novak's article "In Defense In the end, vague language reaffirming City. Sat., Dec. 2, 7:30p.m. 7:30p.m. of Frederick Engels" published in the Novem­ the goal of free trade by the year 20 10 for A First-Hand Report from the UN Women's Both events held at 545 W. Roosevelt Rd. Do­ ber 20 of the Militant. Fri., Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m. industrialized and semi-industrialized Conference Held in China. A slide-show pre­ nation:$4. Tel: (312) 829-6815. 242 Walnut. Tel: (304) 296-0055. sentation by Dr. Martha Morgan, professor at countries and by 2020 for underdeveloped MASSACHUSETS nations was approved. Again trying to the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, who BRITAIN convey the impression of progress in attended the conference. Sat., Dec. 9, 7:30p.m. Boston Both events held at 111 21st St. South. Dona­ Behind Welfare Reform Hoax and Budget London achieving Washington's goals, top U.S. tion: $3. Tel: (205) 323-3079. Ireland After the Divorce Referendum. trade official Mickey Kantor announced, Crisis: Bipartisan Attack on Working Peo­ ple. Speaker: Mary Nell Bockman, Socialist Speaker: Marcella FitzGerald, Communist "The train is gaining speed. No derailment CALIFORNIA Workers Party. Fri., Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m. 780 League, recently returned from Ireland. Fri.; at all- in fact just the opposite. We have Tremont St. Donation: $4. Tel: (617) 247- Dec. l, 7 p.m. 47 The Cut. (opposite Young Vic made a step forward here at Osaka." San Francisco 6772. theater; nearest tube Waterloo). Donation: £2. Support Boeing Strikers. Speakers: Bob Tel: 0171-401-2409. Agreement not binding Bruneau, striking member of International As­ sociation of Machinists Local 751A at Boeing PENNSYLVANIA A more apt analogy might suggest that Philadelphia CANADA Washington's train was stuck on a siding. in Seattle; Ved Dookhum, Socialist Workers Party, member, United Auto Workers Local South Africa's First Nonracial Local Gov­ Vancouver Despite Murayama's claim that the Osaka 2244, who attended November 12 rally. Fri., ernment Elections. Panel discussion. Fri., Celebrate 67 Years of the Militant. Sat., Dec. meetings were "of historic significance in Dec. l, 7:30p.m. 3284 23rd St. Donation: $4 Dec. 1, 7:30p.m. 1906 South St. Donation: $4. 2, 7:30 p.m. Supper 6 p.m. 3967 Main St. Do­ that they moved APEC from vision to ac­ Tel: (415) 285-5323. Tel: (215) 546-8218. nation: $4. Supper $10. Tel: (604) 872-8343. tion," the actual agreement reached in Os­ aka is binding on no one and the organiza- -If YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP--- Where to find Pathfinder books and (612) 644-6325. E-mail: Compuserve Walnut. Mailing address: P.O. Box 203. Zip: distributors of the Militant, Perspectiva 103014,3261. 26507. Tel: (304) 296-0055. Mundial, New International, Nouvelle ln­ NEW JERSEY: Newark: 141 Halsey. AUSTRALIA temationale, Nueva lnternacional and Ny Mailing address: 1188 Raymond Blvd., Suite Sydney: 19 Terry St., Surry Hills 2010. I ntemational. 222. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. NEW YORK: Albany: P. 0. Box 2357, Mailing address: P.O. Box K879, Hay­ market, NSW 2000. Tel: 02-281-3297. UNITED STATES E.S.P. Zip: 12220. Tel: (518) 465-0585. Brooklyn: 59 4th A venue (comer of Bergen) ALABAMA: Birmingham: Ill 21st St. BRITAIN Zip: 11217. Tel: (718) 399-7257. Com­ London: 47 The Cut. Postal code: SEI South. Mailing address: P.O. Box 11252, Zip puserve: 102064,2642. New York: 214-16 35202. Tel: (205) 323-3079. 8LL. Tel: 0171-928-7993. Avenue A. Mailing address: P.O. Box 2652. Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. Postal CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2546 W. Zip: 10009. Tel: (212) 388-9346; 167 code: M4 4AA. Tel: 0161-839-1766. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460, Charles St. Zip: 10014. Tel: (212) 366-1973. 380-9640. E-mail: Compuserve 74642,326. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: CANADA San Francisco: 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. 2000-C S. Elm-Eugene St. Zip 27406. Tel: Montreal: 4581 Saint-Denis. Postal code: Tel: (415) 285-5323. E-mail: Compuserve (910) 272-5996. E-mail: Compuserve H2J 2L4. Tel: (514) 284-7369. 75604,556. 75127,2153. Toronto: 827 Bloor St. West. Postal code: M6G IMI. Tel: (416) 533-4324. CONNECTICUT: New Haven: Mailing OHIO: Cincinnati: P.O. Box 19484. Zip: address: P.O. Box 16751, Baybrook Station, Vancouver: 3967 Main St. Postal code: 45219. Tel: (513) 662-1931. Cleveland: VSV 3P3. Tel: (604) 872-8343. West Haven. Zip: 06516. 1832 Euclid. Zip: 44115. Tel: (216) 861- FLORIDA: Miami: 137 N.E. 54th St. 6150. FRANCE Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 1906 Paris: MBE 201 , 208 rue de Ia Conven­ GEORGIA: Atlanta: 803 Peachtree NE. South St. Zip: 19146. Tel: (215) 546-8218. tion. Postal code: 75015. Tel: (l) 47-26-58- Zip: 30308. Tel: (404) 724-9759. E-mail: [email protected] Pittsburgh: 21. ILLINOIS: Chicago: 545 W. Roosevelt 1103 E. Carson St. Zip 15203. Tel: (412) Rd. Zip: 60607. Tel: (312) 829-6815, 829- 381-9785. ICELAND 7018. Peoria: P.O. Box 302. Zip: 61650- TEXAS: Houston: 3260 South Loop Reykjavik: Klapparstfg 26. Mailing ad­ 0302. Tel: (309) 674-9441. West. Zip: 77025. Tel: (713) 349-0090. E­ dress: P. Box 233, 121 Reykjavik. Tel: 552 INDIANA: Bloomington: P.O. Box 1304. mail: Compuserve 102527,2271. 5502. Zip: 47402. (812) 333-6859. UTAH: Salt Lake City: 147 E. 900 S. NEW ZEALAND IOWA: Des Moines: 2105 Forest Ave. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) 355-1124. Auckland: La Gonda Arcade, 203 Karan­ Zip: 50311. Tel: (515) 246-8249. WASHINGTON, D.C.: 1930 18th St. gahape Road. Postal address: P.O. Box 3025. MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 780 Tre­ N.W. Suite #3 (Entrance on Florida Av.). Tel: (9) 379-3075. mont St. Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) 247-6772. Zip: 20009. Tel: (202) 387-2185. E-mail: Christchurch: 199 High St. Postal ad­ MICHIGAN: Detroit: 7414 Woodward Compuserve 75407,3345. dress: P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3) 365-6055. Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 875-0100. E­ WASHINGTON: Seattle: 1405 E. Madi­ SWEDEN mail: Compuserve 74767.1050. son. Zip: 98122. Tel : (206) 323-1755. E­ Stockholm: Vikingagatan 10 (T-bana St MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: 2490 Uni­ mail: Compuserve 74461,2544. Eriksplan). Postal code: S-113 42. Tel: (08) versity Ave. W., St. Paul. Zip: 55114. Tel: WEST VIRGINIA: Morgantown: 242 31 69 33. 12 The Militant December 4, 1995 -GREAT SOCIETY------

He does create jobs - It rise in workplace alienation, dis­ were towed or recovered after be­ 'If you can't beat them •.• '­ Carefully managed care - A caused a flap in Canada's Ontario content, and frustration. One con­ ing stolen. Notification letters to "For microchips, for oven chips, California jury awarded damages province when Social Services sulting group that did a survey owners were deliberately misad­ computer chips, we thank you to the husband and son of cancer Minister David Tsubouchi as­ said they were "so amazed at the dressed so they would come back Lord/For ocean waves, for mi­ victim Joyce Ching. For three sured that the impoverished could vehemence of workers that we undeliverable. A car not claimed crowaves, for radio waves, we months she had complained to her eat well on $90 a month. The flap wondered if we had in some way in 30 days becomes city property. thank you Lord/For floppy discs, doctors of stomach pain but they got louder when it was disclosed contaminated the study." A sec­ Sixty of the cars were auctioned to for compact discs, computer discs, didn't send her to a specialist until ond consulting outfit came in. It cops at rigged prices. we thank you Lord" - From the her husband refused to leave their found the study and findings Pushers Inti.-R.J. Reynolds Big Blue Planet songbook issued office without a referral. A spe­ "sound and reliable." Tobacco agreed to supply Bucha­ by the United Kingdom's cialist found she had cancer. Why Harry rest, Romania's cash-strapped Methodist church to make wor­ did the doctors balk? Because the Being a lawyer isn't good ship more relevant for the under­ HMO they work with requires enough? - A student about to capital, with traffic light bulbs for Ring a year. The yellow lights bore the eight audience. them to pay the first $5,000 of the graduate from Hastings College of cost of such referrals. the Law in San Francisco was Camel logo. Don't leave home without it busted as a suspect in as many as Enthused the operator who set -As cited in the New York Times Thought for the week - "This a dozen area bank robberies. up the 1993 deal, "It was really Sunday travel section: The Pedi­ sends a clear message that when that he had hired an image consul­ fantastic at night when only the tant at $1,200 a day. pocket, a battery-powered mani­ you mix incentives and money 'A few bad apples'- Jersey yellow lights were on and you'd cure and pedicure device that can with medicine it equals death." It ain't the messenger- Cor­ City cops failed to return to their just see the camel everywhere, polish and trim nails. $44.95, plus - Mark Helper, attorney for the porate studies are finding a steady owners more than 100 cars that blinking on and off." $5 shipping. Ching family. Gov't, rail bosses at fault in fatal Chicago crash BY RAY PARSONS the same main track, at speeds up to 69 CHICAGO - Seven high school stu­ mph. More than 1,000 street-level cross­ dents were killed October 25 when a high ings exist in the Chicago area. speed commuter train crashed into their The October 25 tragedy has put a spot­ school bus at a railroad crossing in Fox River light on the criminal lack of rail safety that Grove, 40 miles northwest of Chicago. More exists in the United States. In this instance, than 25 others were injured. the railroad and state are both to blame for The bus driver had started over the two poorly designed and poorly maintained Union-Pacific Railroad tracks after check­ warning equipment. ing for oncoming trains. The crossing For many years, "train whistle bans" lights, bells, and gates were off. Less than have been in effect in the city and in 35 50 feet beyond, however, the bus was towns and villages in surrounding coun­ stopped by a traffic light governing the ties. With these prohibitions, commuter four lane highway running parallel to the trains racing at high speed and freight rail line, and the rear of the school bus did trains weighing as much as 15,000 tons not clear the tracks. Seconds later, a seven approach crossings at odds with car traffic car Metra express headed for downtown and with pedestrians, but do not blow the Chicago appeared. locomotive's loud hom or whistle. Nearby The teenagers in the rear of the bus real­ residents complain of the noise. ized they were going to be hit. Passing But numerous studies have shown that motorists yelled for the bus to move clear crashes triple at crossings where whistle of the tracks. But the bus driver was wait­ bans are in effect; the frequency of colli­ ing for the light to tum green and did not sions at crossing where horns are not hear the hom of the oncoming train, nor blown is 84 percent higher than at those understand the shouts of the students in where they are sounded. Crossings with time. The train engineer threw the brakes whistle bans are equipped with gates and in full emergency application, but struck warning lights, but crash rates are still the bus at an estimated 60 mph. lower where the locomotive sounds the Witnesses ran to help the injured. Helen hom. In 1996, however, a new federal law Getchell, a registered nurse, was buying comes into effect, overriding local bans. coffee nearby when she heard and felt the Most rail workers welcome this. impact. She tended to the most seriously Rail safety has emerged as a major is­ hurt, including a 14-year-old boy who sue in the media since the bus tragedy. Picket at Soo Line railroad near St. Paul, Minnesota, 1994. Politicians showed little died in her arms. The mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, for concern for railroad safety during that strike, where jobs and safety were key issues. Investigators from the National Trans­ example, ordered a review of crossings in portation Safety Board found serious the city, and noted, "The rail industry is a flaws in the warning signals at this cross­ huge industry in America, and they have ing. The lights and gates are designed to to talk about safety ... they have a responsi­ -25 AND 50 YEARS AGO--- work together with the traffic signal at the bility to people in the communities." The 225,000 members of the CIO United Au­ nearby intersection so that traffic backed Democratic Party politician did not, how­ tomobile Workers poured out of 102 Gen­ ever, voice such concern during the strike up over the railroad tracks are given a THE eral Motors plants from coast to coast, to green light as a train approaches and al­ by United Transportation Union against fight for a 30 per cent wage increase. lowed to clear the rail line quickly. the Soo Line Railroad in the summer of This strike is a culmination of unsuc­ 1994, when freight trains operated by Testing of the system after the crash MILITANT cessful negotiations begun with the Published in the Interest of the Working People confirmed that, in some instances, drivers management were involved in a number world's largest industrial corporation three of accidents and nearly crashed into com­ Price 10¢ had no more than two seconds to move off December 4, 1970 months ago in an attempt to bring take­ muter trains on two occasions. the crossing, and that the equipment was home pay more nearly in line with the cost inadequate for use with high speed trains. Thousands of crossings around the SASKATOON, Canada- Over the in line with the cost of living. A similar accident involving a pickup United States have no warning signals of Nov. 20-21 weekend between 200 and Angered by the refusal of the corpora­ truck had occurred five weeks before. Af­ any kind, especially in the countryside. 300 women converged on the University tion to negotiate in good faith and goaded Others have lights, bells, and gates. We terwards, a repairman urged that the tim­ of Saskatoon for the first national confer­ byeond enduranne by company provoca­ ing of the signals be examined, but his must demand that the railroads and gov­ ence of the Canadian women's liberation tions in the plants, the GM workers have warning was ignored. Police officials were ernment install more such protection, but movement. The attendance and breadth of met the corporation's arrogant, insulting, investigating more recent complaints also that better systems are needed that the conference were considered a great union-busting tactics with the grim deter­ about the signal system and were at the give more warning of oncoming trains and success by conference participants. mination to fight it out on the picket lines. crossing when the school bus was hit. more securely close off the crossing. The The conference was dominated by a de­ Precisely at 11 a.m., as whistles blew in October 25 collision and many others that bate over the nature and strategy of the Little regard for life the distance and gongs rang out inside the have occurred show that current systems women's movement, with some of the plants, those waiting outside the gates Officials of the Union Pacific railroad are inadequate and unreliable. participants condemning the whole shouted "Here they come!'' The strikers and of the Illinois Transportation Depart­ The only way to reduce accidents to women's movement as it exists now as began pouring out, first in tens, then hun­ zero is to eliminate crossings. This is what ment have sought to put blame on one an­ "middle-class" and "liberal." dreds, then thousands. other, asserting that the components of the is immediately posed in hundreds of loca­ Toward the end of the conference, how­ Although most of the GM plants here system each are responsible for were in tions around Chicago and other urban ar­ ever, when it became clear that the confer­ working order. "There's no problem with eas. We cannot accept railroad and gov­ have laid off women workers, and hired ence was in essence split, a workshop was men to take their places in violation of se­ that signaling from the railroad's point of ernment assertions that there is no money held by women who were concerned that view," said UP spokesman Mark Davis. to build the bridges or tunnels needed. The niority rights, Temstedt, a unit of West some coordinated, common action should Side Local174, proved to be an exception. There are 115 crossings with similar railroad barons have made record profits. come out of the conference. The workshop layouts in the Chicago area and as many Railworkers, through our unions, are in This was evident from the many women accepted a proposal for a campaign of ac­ workers on the picket lines, and con­ as 3,000 nationwide. The state of lllinois the best position to lead the fight for rail tivities on the issue of free abortion on de­ ranks second, behind Texas, in railroad crossing safety. We can speak with au­ formed by a conversation with picket cap­ mand, culminating in a day of protests tain Robert Walker. crossing fatalities. In the last four years, thority about the horrors that have oc­ across Canada on Feb. 14. This was the nearly 200 people have been killed when curred and what must be done to end He reported that the women, compris­ only action proposal to come out of the ing about half the Temstedt employees, struck by trains at crossings in the state. them. We can bring union power to bear in conference. Half have been in the Chicago area, and in forcing our employers and the government were "very solid" and ready to fight the the last two years these casualty rates have to correct these dangers. And as we do wage issue through to the finish. "They been increasing. In 1994 alone, 610 peo­ this, we will win new support and solidar­ THE MILITANT would holler their heads off," he said, "at ple were killed at rail crossings in the ity from a broad layer of workers for fu­ PUILIIHID IN THIIN1'181stl Of' THI WORKING PIOPLI any proposal from the company to accept United States and 1,923 were injured. ture fights in defense of safety and jobs. NEW YORK, N.Y. f iVE (5) CENTS the union's arbitration offer at this late date. They're out and they're going to stay Chicago is a center of the railroad in­ December 1, 1945 dustry in North America. More than 18 Ray Parsons is a member of United Trans­ out." Attractive picket hats, designed in different railroads converge on and criss­ portation Union Local 620 and is a DETROIT, Nov. 21-The biggest in­ beret style especially for women and bear­ cross the city. On top of this is an exten­ switchman at Burlington Northern Santa dustrial strike in the nation's history ing the Local 174 insignia, were being is­ sive commuter service run by Metra over Fe Railroad, in Cicero, Illinois. started at 11 o'clock this morning when sued to the women pickets. December 4, 1995 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS------The Irish question

MANCHESTER, England-Tami Peterson's letter raises a number of important questions in understanding the fight for Irish self-determination. Ireland is one coun­ Curtis parole: victory for workers try subject to two governments, artificially partitioned since 1921. The question of self-determination has to do The November 21 decision by the Iowa Board of Pa­ to, he battled for prisoners' rights. He fought along with with the entire Irish nation- all 32 counties. role to release Mark Curtis from prison registers a hard­ other inmates -often successfully- to establish pris­ As the letter indicates, there was a mass, democratic fought victory for fighting workers, youth, and many oners' ability to receive materials in languages other revolution in Ireland in 1920 that made substantial head­ others around the world. The decision to parole Curtis than English, to ensure they can participate in political way in establishing Irish independence. This, by the after more than seven years of incarceration on frame-up activities inside jail, and to maximize his and others con­ way, is what led to the independence of Eire, not the for­ rape and burglary charges was by no means a given. tact with the class struggle beyond prison bars. mal withdrawal from the British Commonwealth. But The frame-up of Mark Curtis was designed to punish The determined effort by Curtis supporters to explain this revolution was met by a ferocious capitalist-led him severely and to break him as a political person, the facts of his case and to work for his release also paid counterrevolution, and stopped short of completing the branding him as a rapist in the process. The authorities off. Nearly 500 people wrote the parole board since July sought to make their punishment of Curtis an example asking, "Why is Mark Curtis still in prison?" An addi­ that could be used to intimidate workers from defending tional 5,000 letters from peasants in Brazil who were at­ their rights. They also hoped to tar the Socialist Workers tending the convention of the Movement of Landless DISCUSSION WITH Party, Curtis's party, in the eyes of fighting workers and Rural Workers were sent in this summer. to demoralize Curtis supporters everywhere. The length of time Mark Curtis served in jail, now OUR READERS Instead Curtis will leave prison in several weeks with more than 86 months, and the support he received for his his head high. He is today held in esteem by a layer of request for parole, which was measurably growing with fighters not only in the United States but around the each passing month, were factors that contributed to the struggle for independence. Instead, while a weak capital­ globe- from South Africa to Cuba, from New Zealand parole board's November 21 decision. ist state was established in the South, the six northeast­ to Brazil. Supporters of this fight for justice must remain vigi­ ern counties were separated and remained directly under Iowa officials threw repeated obstacles in the path of lant over the next several weeks and be prepared to re­ the colonial boot of Westminster within the UK. parole for the union militant. Parole board members ar­ spond immediately to any further attempts by the Iowa The aim of partition, however, was to divide the work­ gued for several years that Curtis should attend the or prison authorities to delay Curtis's release from ing class of Ireland as a whole, and thereby to salvage prison system's Sexual Offenders Treatment Program prison. for continued exploitation the whole of Ireland by (SOTP). Curtis maintained his innocence throughout and Curtis supporters should make their top priority to in­ British imperialism, along with its junior capitalist part­ refused to let his dignity be dragged into the SOTP mud, form those who wrote the board about the victory they ner in Dublin. To this day the republic in the South re­ where inmates are pressured to "admit their guilt." helped win. mains economically dominated by London, just like In 1993, after Curtis had served out the frame-up rape The Mark Curtis Defense Committee also needs funds other semicolonial nations oppressed by imperialism. charge, the board declined to grant him a hearing and for the legal costs of the parole effort as Curtis works In other words, there was not a separate democratic ordered that he be sent to a psychiatric prison. But offi­ with his attorneys to organize and make secure his con­ revolution in the 26 counties. The republic came into be­ cials at that prison refused to accept him, saying no psy­ ditions of release to parole within two months. ing as the result of the frustration and interruption of the chiatric issues were involved in his case. Supporters of Mark Curtis everywhere should press revolution in Ireland as a whole. In August 1994, shortly after he received a "gate­ forward along these lines, continuing above all to sell the Every fight for democratic and social rights, in both pass" and was working in the prison hospital, the author­ pamphlet Why is Mark Curtis Still in Prison?, discussing North and South, is hindered by the division of Ireland. ities used a minor incident to throw Curtis into punitive the case with fighters on the picket lines from Detroit to Divorce today is still illegal in Eire (although this might lockup for the next eleven months, claiming he assaulted Sydney and Belfast, and reaching out to youth attracted change with the November 24 referendum). Homosexu­ another inmate. to defending the Cuban revolution and involved in other ality was decriminalized only in 1993. An important le­ At his parole hearing this year, parole board member political activities. gal precedent was set in 1992 for the right to travel to Joanne Lorence warned Curtis, "If you stub your toe, This kind of consistent effort over the next several seek abortion, but the procedure remains illegal in Ire­ you're going to be back in here." weeks and beyond will ensure the best possible condi­ land in most cases. But these efforts to break Mark Curtis as a political tions for Curtis when he leaves the Iowa State Peniten­ So long as the national question remains unresolved person with his integrity intact and to demoralize his tiary. and the Irish nation remains divided, progress even on supporters failed. In the meantime, the Militant joins the celebrations these questions will be limited. In that sense working Curtis's intransigence and continuing political activity with intransigent communist militant Mark Curtis and people in the North and the South face the same tasks behind prison walls stand as an example for working­ the thousands of other fighters around the world who today. Likewise, the victory of the struggle against class fighters the world over. No matter what peniten­ made possible this victory for working people world­ British rule and for a united republic will help open the tiary prison authorities transferred the political activist wide. road to a socialist revolution in Ireland as a whole. The letter asks if "apartheid" and "police state" are accurate descriptions of what exists in Northern Ireland today. While similarities can be drawn, it's important to recognize that apartheid South Africa was the product of unique historic conditions. Firstly, Northern Ireland is not an independent state but constitutionally part of the United Kingdom. Lon­ don's rule has been maintained through the force and vi­ olence of the British army and the local cops of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, as well as pro-British paramilitary outfits. It is built on systematic discrimina­ tion against workers who are Catholic. But it is not the same as apartheid South Africa, where the entire state structure institutionalized and enforced the relegation of Africans to the condition of a caste, with no rights of citizenship. For example, every citizen in Northern Ire­ land has the right to vote - a gain of the mass civil rights struggles of the 1960s and early 1970s. In South Africa it was impossible to win this right without abol­ ishing apartheid itself. Unlike South Africa, what is Paris in cahoots with Algeria army posed in Ireland is ending colonial rule. Similarly, if what is meant by a police state is one The governments in France and Algeria hope the tion of government opponents. The police killing of one where the pretense of bourgeois democracy has been November 16 election of former general Liamine Algerian immigrant was broadcast on television completely replaced with rule by executive order and Zeroual will provide for a more stable regime to protect Paris and its junior partner in Algiers justify their re­ naked state violence, such a label is not accurate for capitalist interests in Algeria. The ballot excluded the Is­ pressive measures as necessary to prevent "terrorism" Northern Ireland. It would also imply that the working lamic Salvation Front (FIS), which together with other and stop "Islamic fanatics" from taking control in that class has suffered shattering defeats, whereas in reality opposition parties called for a boycott. The election, car­ North African country. But the French capitalists simply Northern Ireland is marked by the unbroken resistance ried out under the watchful eye of tens of thousands of want to maintain a trustworthy client and not lose an im­ of working people to British rule. - ANNE HOWIE government troops, is unlikely to produce the desired ef­ portant market they have in Africa. fect, as workers and youth in Algeria continue to fight The capitalist rulers in Paris are also concerned about for their rights. the impact of the struggle in Algeria on immigrant work­ Algerian elections A civil war has been raging in Algeria over the past ers in France. Immigrants from North Africa and other four years - in large part due to the foreign policy of predominantly Muslim countries make up about 5 per­ Continued from back page the imperialist rulers of France, Algeria's former colo­ cent of the country's population; there are 1 million resi­ wounded 200, as a pretext for a massive campaign of nial overlord. Some 40,000 people have been killed in dents of Algerian descent. They are an important per­ harassment, intimidation, and deportations. the war, nearly two thirds the number of U.S. soldiers centage of the industrial working class. Paris has continued to back the zeroual regime in its killed in Vietnam. For workers in other parts of the world, the events in battle to block the fundamentalist Muslims from estab­ The Socialist Party government of then-president Algeria and the treatment of Algerian workers in France lishing a government and in the process to keep in check Francyois Mitterrand collaborated with the Algerian mili­ are important questions. The French government is resistance by working people to government austerity tary in 1992 to block the FIS's election victory. The cracking down on the rights of immigrants as it increas­ policies. Paris gives the Algerian government $1.2 bil­ French government has been especially generous in se­ ingly attempts to put the squeeze on the working class lion a year in aid and has arranged for more money curing arms and money for the regime's ongoing war across the board. through the World Bank and International Monetary against the FIS. In Paris's eyes the bourgeois FIS is not The anti-Arab campaign has paved the way for wider Fund. The French government hopes the elections will controllable enough to be counted on. attacks on workers in France, with selective bans on give zeroual and other capitalist politicians in Algiers The current French government of president Jacques demonstrations for "public security" and book bannings. leverage to negotiate the setting of parliamentary elec­ Chirac continues to aid the military junta in Algeria and The government is keeping its eyes open for other op­ tions that would involve all political parties- allowing has launched an anti-Arab campaign of harassment and portunities to expand repressive measures. for the FIS to participate but setting conditions to pre­ intimidation against the large North African population Working people around the world need to champion vent it from winning again. in France under the so-called Vigipirate plan. This un­ the fight for the rights of immigrants in France as well as Not all big-business commentators believe this is pos­ democratic series of measures allows large-scale the struggles by workers in Algeria against repression sible. An October 26 Wall Street Journal editorial said it searches and arrests of North Africans, and the deporta- and economic austerity. is a significant problem that "the army and the deadly Armed Islamic Group both still seem to think they can win the war.. .. The only chance for ending Algeria's war, seems to be one that essentially rolls the clock back to the period in 1992 when the popular will was sup­ pressed." 14 The Militant December 4,1995 Pathfinder is an attraction at Swedish bookfair Pathfinder, located in New York with Doesn't End. Ny International, a Swedish­ her husband as well as Ny International faculty to order," wrote Hunt. Among the distributors in Australia, Canada, and language magazine of Marxist politics and no. 2 in Swedish. titles were The Changing Face of U.S. the United Kingdom, publishes books theory, carries many articles also pub­ A young woman who had organized an Politics by Jack Barnes, The Bolivian Di­ and pamphlets by revolutionary and lished in New International. antiracist group in Hjo, a small village in ary of Ernesto Che Guevara, and The His­ working-class leaders. Pathfinder book­ Among the 12 people who purchased the south of Sweden, was interested in ar­ tory of American Trotskyism by James P. stores are listed in the directory on page Ny International no. 2, published this past ranging a time when volunteers from the Cannon. The manager of the bookshop at 12. spring, were two teachers from Svali:iv, a Pathfinder bookshop in Stockholm could Roskilde University placed a small order, small community in southern Sweden. bring a selection of the books to her vil­ including To See the Dawn, and asked for In cooperation with the Swedish PEN­ "This is exactly what we need to get some lage. She picked up a copy of Fascism: some catalogs to show to teachers at the club, the Salman Rushdie Committee, discussions going about the world we are What It Is and How to Fight It by Leon university. Reporters Without Borders, and the or­ living in today," said one teacher. Trotsky. A young Kurd from the north of ganization Article 19 in London, the Interest was high in titles on the origins of Iraq bought the pamphlet Too Many Ba­ theme of the 1 1th Gothenburg bookfair women's oppression and the road to libera­ bies? The Myth of the Population Explo­ A review by Jtirgen Tampke of To See was freedom of expression. About tion. Five books and one pamphlet by Eve- sion by Joseph Hansen and Socialism and the Dawn: Baku, 1920-First Congress Man in Cuba by Che Guevara in Swedish. of the Peoples of the East appeared in an Thirty-nine books and 23 pamphlets issue of International Scientific Corre­ were sold, totaling $760. spondence of the History of the German PATHFINDER Workers Movement earlier this year. To See the Dawn is the fifth volume in AROUND THE WORLD Tony Hunt from London recently vis­ the series The Communist International in By Maggie Pucci ited three university towns in Denmark, Lenin's Time. This series presents docu­ placing 71 books and pamphlets in book­ ments and proceedings of the congresses shops, academic departments, and with of the Communist International held under I 00,000 people- more than any previous lyn Reed were sold. "A young man saw the book distributors in Aarhus, Odense, and the leadership of Lenin and the Bolshe­ year- visited the fair, which is a big cul­ display of Sexism and Science," Isaccson Roskilde. "You haven't changed your viks. The volumes published to date cover tural event in Sweden every year. Orga­ wrote, "but since it was already sold out he publishing policy; that's good," com­ the preparatory years from 1907 to 1918, nizers of the fair estimate that 70 percent bought Problems of Women's Liberation in­ mented a bookseller in Aarhus who or­ and the first and second congresses in 1919 of the visitors were women. stead so as to, as he said, 'get more knowl­ dered 25 books from Hunt. and 1920. The historic meeting in Baku was For the fourth year in a row, a team of edge about women's liberation.' " The buyer at the university bookshop in the first congress of the peoples of the East. Pathfinder supporters from Sweden and Many young people wanted to discuss Aarhus ordered 16 books, including The "The congress opened on August 31 the United Kingdom set up a booth from the differences in political perspectives of Origins of Materialism by George No­ [ 1920] and closed September 7. The mood October 26-29. "The social crisis in Swe­ Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan, resulting vack, Woman's Evolution by Reed, and was buoyant and most speakers called for den and international events like Cuban in sales of 12 items by Malcolm X, includ­ Problems of Everyday Life by Trotsky. He the end of imperialism and for the consoli­ leader Fidel Castro's visit to New York ing three copies of the book Malcolm X placed this order after explaining he dation or establishment of soviet power," were on people's minds," reported Brigitta Talks to Young People. thought there was a reluctance to read the Tampke said in the review. "As history Isaccson from Stockholm. "That explains The growing number of immigrant writings and speeches of working-class was to show the optimism of the congress the impact the big displays had on people workers in Sweden was reflected in sales leaders since Marxists had once domi­ was unwarranted. Stalin and Stalin­ passing by." of titles in Farsi. Opening Guns of World nated Denmark's university departments. ism ... killed the spirit of Baku. It is only The booth featured displays on Ny In­ War III in Farsi sold out in the first hours "A book distributor in Aarhus who sup­ now, according to [editors] John Riddell ternational no. 2, containing the article of the fair. This book contains the lead ar­ plies the Political Science department at and Ma'mud Shirvani- with the Soviet "Imperialism's March toward Fascism and ticle in issue no. 7 of New International, the university placed an order for 18 Empire gone, that the struggle of the ex­ War," and To Speak the Truth: Why Wash­ published after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in books and pamphlets, which will be ex­ ploited people of the earth will recom­ ington's 'Cold War' against Cuba 1991. One woman bought this book for hibited at the department for students and mence, as current events show." LETTERS------Revolution in Ireland working class in the whole of Ire­ police corruption and In an editorial in issue no. 36 of land, remains the situation in brutality; isn't that the Militant, entitled "Help Ad­ Northern Ireland alone. worth getting mad vance Irish Struggle," you men­ Hopefully, the Militant can help about? tion that "the momentum is on the to clarify this political question. Roy Inglee side of the democratic revolution Also, please keep up the coverage Wilmington, Delaware in Ireland." I am wondering of the Irish struggle, it is helpful in whether or not the struggle in the understanding and thinking out whole 32 counties of Ireland is a these questions and many others. Japan, Australia "democratic revolution." Tami Peterson Doug Cooper is Around 1948, the 26 counties San Francisco, California · quite right when he of Ireland left the Common­ ; .::~ points out the error in wealth and won that small gain ~ my review of two of independence, while the six Class politics, 'gun rights' books on the bombing counties- Northern Ireland­ The letter below was written of Hiroshima. remained British property be­ in response to a letter by Ed The review reads cause of the partition of that Meredith that appeared in this that "By the spring of statelet in 1921. Therefore isn't column in the September 25, 1942 ... [Japanese] the system in Northern Ireland 1995, Militant, under title "On troops were at the today different than the system gun control, militias"- Editor. threshold of invading in the rest of Ireland, namely the Australia." The origi­ 26 counties? Dear Ed, nal statement in the re­ And what exactly is the system In the Militant of September 25 view read: "By 1942 ... that Ireland is currently under in you criticize the Militant and the [Japanese] troops were the 26 counties? Semi-colonial, or [Socialist Workers] Party for "not at the threshold of In­ an underdeveloped capitalist sys­ addressing the issues succinctly dia and also controlled tem? and clearly and by not stating our signs is a more serious threat than to all this is power. Who holds most of eastern China." I know many who would char­ position on the issues." O.K. Ed. any move against "gun rights." power, the big landowners, the Somehow it was changed during acterize the system in Northern Let's really talk about politics. Real politics, for our class, be­ bourgeoisie, the wealthy?... All the course of editing and was not Ireland as nothing less than In the Delaware area, the high­ gins with the fact that most of land is in the hands of the Cuban caught before it was printed. "apartheid" or a "police state" be­ est price a dairy farmer gets for his what we produce ends up in some­ campesinos (farmers) and agricul­ I'm glad that Doug was so alert cause of the continued forced sep­ milk is $14 per hundred-weight, one else's pocket. The problem tural workers ... Not one hospital, and wrote to correct the mistake. aration along religious and class about $1.20 per gallon. Milk pro­ that we have with government is not one school has been privatized The truth is that Japanese imperi­ lines there. Are these correct char­ cessing costs about eight cents per not that it exists, but that it be­ and the country owns the over­ alism was not strong enough to acterizations of the system there? gallon. At ACME, the working longs to someone else. whelming majority of its wealth." attack, let alone occupy, Aus­ It would seem to be the case. farmer gets to purchase milk at That can be changed only Wish we could say as much tralia. By understanding this, we can $2.80 per gallon. Get the picture through a political struggle. The here. Which side are you on Ed; a Their primary interest in south­ correctly identify what exactly is Ed? Those who do the work and kind of political fight the SWP is socialist future where our class ern Asia was in obtaining the raw taking place in Ireland today. It is produce the food are paid $1.28 waging out in Iowa; a fight for an rules, no kid goes hungry and no materials, essentially oil but also undoubted that the fight there is to per gallon and those who do no end to farm foreclosures, a fight to farmer has to fear foreclosure, or including rubber, nickel, tin and gain democracy and is a step for­ work and produce nothing are open the books of the agribiz mo­ a society of poverty and greed, bauxite that were abundant in the ward for the working class, but paid $1.52 per gallon and that's nopolies. Go back four issues and with World War III around the Netherlands East Indies aren't the 26 counties of Ireland the way it is under capitalism. read the Iowa program and read comer? The choice is a clear one, (Indonesia) and Malaysia. Their already under a capitalist system, The function of the state is to Doug Jenness's two pamphlets, either the socialist movement or military strategy flowed from this which would mean that the trans­ preserve the economic relations An Action Program to Confront the Rush Limbaugh fan club, with perspective and consequently at formation through a "democratic that permit the capitalist class to the Coming Economic Crisis and assault rifles and funny uniforms. no time did Tokyo contemplate an revolution" and that evolutionary go on looting the rest of us. What Farmers Face the Crisis of the I don't think we need to talk invasion of Australia. step has already occurred? happens when the newspaper 1990's; these will give you some about "gun rights" again. The Patti Ilyama I have often heard the compari­ workers go on strike in Detroit? political ideas to try on the neigh­ SWP is against the "Omnibus Houston, Texas son of Ireland to South Africa. The cops are sent to make sure the bors. Crime Bill," every bit of it, includ­ scab truck drivers get through the Anyone who says that M15s or ing "gun control." Though the struggles are similar The letters column is an open in many ways, what happened in picket line. explosives will get you higher If you want to get mad, get mad forum for all viewpoints on sub­ South Africa was in fact a demo­ When the family farmers in milk prices, or save your farm about something real. Mark Curtis jects of general interest to our cratic revolution where apartheid Iowa protest against the impact of from foreclosure, is either plain has spent more than seven years in readers. was abolished. I believe that there giant hog farming operations and nuts, or a cynical liar. The good prison, just because he is a social­ is in fact a process of "democratic their multimillion-gallon waste la­ ole boys in Caneyville need a ist and a unionist who stood up for Please keep your letters brief. revolution" taking place in North­ goons, the cops (the state) inter­ good dose of truth, not someone to immigrant workers, that's worth Where necessary they will be em Ireland because of the system vene to defend the polluters. I echo their illusions. getting mad about. How about the abridged. Please indicate if you which exists in the six counties. think that the State of Iowa order­ In the September 18 Militant case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a re­ prefer that your initials be used But this, while being a boost to the ing farmers to take down protest Fidel Castro is quoted " ... the key porter on death row for exposing rather than your full name.

December 4, 1995 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT 'Stop anti-Arab campaign in France!'

The following is a statement issued scale attack against social security, pen­ November 15 by the Communist Orga­ sions, and many other social gains. Cur­ nizing Committee in Paris on the wave tailing workers' democratic rights and cre­ of attacks against Algerian and other ating divisions between native-born and immigrants by the French government. immigrant workers are part of this arsenal The statement was titled "Don't let the used by the capitalists against us. government attack our democratic rights!" The translation from French French imperialism in Algeria and subheadings are by the Militant. The French government is also openly using the present attacks to take an active Since July 1995 the government has part in the civil war in Algeria. French im­ carried out an offensive against demo­ perialism has considerable interests in that cratic rights. Terrorist attacks are the pre­ country. text. The Communist Organizing Commit­ Algeria's payments on its FF50 billion tee calls on workers and all their political [$1 0 billion] foreign debt continue to fill and union organizations, on the antiracist the coffers of several big capitalist banks, groups and partisans of democratic rights, especially the French banks. to defend these rights won at such great Recently, International Monetary Fund cost through decades of struggle. The po­ president Michel Camdessus congratu­ lice, in carrying out "probes and investiga­ lated the government of Algeria for imple­ tions," are trampling on rights such as the menting a draconian austerity plan and presumption of innocence, the right to a making regular interest payments on its fair trial, protection against illegal search foreign debt. And it is the Algerian people and seizure, freedom of association with­ who foot the bill: privatizations, freeing of out police infiltration, and the right to prices, massive unemployment. move about freely. Militant/Nat London To contain the resistance by Algerian The terrorist attacks that have taken Communist Organizing Committee member Jean-Louis Salfati (center) talks with workers and peasants to this policy, the place, killing and wounding dozens of high school students in Paris, where some were expelled for wearing scarves. Algerian government called off the elec­ men, women, and children, have nothing tions in 1993, installed the army in power, whatever to do with the fight against ex­ during the 1954-62 Algerian war. We people to seeing the army patrol the and carried out three years of terrible re­ ploitation and oppression - no matter must remember that 1 million Algerians streets. In Strasbourg, the army has been pression against the entire population. who carried them out. These methods are were killed during that dirty war. used in working-class neighborhoods and Forty thousand men and women have categorically rejected by revolutionaries It was the French state that killed in the mass transit system for "maintaining been killed in Algeria in the last four and class-conscious workers. cold blood, using a rifle with telescopic order." After many protests from the pop­ years! Since the "Vigipirate" plan was first im­ sights, Eloi Machoro, the pro-indepen­ ulation, the prefect had to rescind this The French government is organizing plemented on Sept. 7, 1995, nearly 2 mil­ dence leader in New Caledonia, in 1985. measure. roundups and deportations of members of lion identity checks have been carried out It was the French secret service, carry­ A new antiterrorist bill, proposed by the the Algerian opposition milieu living in against youth and workers. Hundreds of ing out orders from Paris, that sank the government in October, would extend the France. The big French banks are trying to workers from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior in powers of the police: nighttime searches prop up the military junta of Liamine Europe have been deported by charter 1985, killing one person. will now be legal; the list of offenses con­ Zeroual, whom they see as the best guar­ plane or other means, with no organized Using the terrorist attacks as a pretext, sidered acts of terrorism under the penal antor of their interests. response. the "antiterrorist" prosecutors now have, code is longer. For instance, abetting the The terrorist attacks have even been through the adoption of the antiterrorist entry or irregular stay by a foreigner, "in Stop the deportations! used as a pretext for striking a blow at the laws in 198§ and the Pasqua laws ip1993, relation tp an individual or collective un­ For all these reasons the Communist right to demonstrate. In September the a legal arsenal that allows them to take a dertaking aimed at seriously disturbing Organizing Committee affirms that all government banned a Greenpeace demon­ series of extraordinary measures: car public order through intimidation or ter­ measures taken by the government, in­ stration against nuclear tests for "reasons searches, identity checks, prolonged de­ ror," now falls under the antiterrorist law, cluding the Vigipirate plan, are directed of public security." tention at police stations, raids and its extraordinary procedures, and its heav­ against the workers- all workers. Two books have been banned by the searches anywhere, anytime, special trials ier sentences. The main aims of this hysterical cam­ government and withdrawn from book­ before professional magistrates, and so on. This new legislation furthermore con­ paign by the government - echoed by all stores under the pretext that they are a tains provisions to "strengthen the repres­ political parties of the right and left - are "threat to public order." One of them, Le Vigipirate plan unleashes army sion of attacks committed against law en­ to restrict our democratic rights, intimidate Livre Blanc sur Ia Repression en Algerie The Vigipirate plan, previously used forcement officials, public authorities, French and immigrant workers, create (1991-1994) [White Book on Repression during the Persian Gulf War in January and, in particular, members and officers of scapegoats, and provide support to the in Algeria] is a compilation of testimony 1991, consists of using the army in the the national police, the customs depart­ military junta in Algeria. on arbitrary arrests and use of torture and tasks of controling and carrying out ment, and the prison system." That is why unions, student organiza­ executions by the Algerian army and cops. surveillance of the population. For example, a violent act against a cop tions, and antiracist and democratic orga­ Today almost 32,000 soldiers, riot police, causing permanent injury is to be pun­ nizations must demand: Cops consider all Muslims suspects regular cops, and customs police are mo­ ished with 20 years imprisonment, if car~ Stop the anti-Arab, anti-Islamic cam­ For months every Muslim worker and bilized in this way. The plan includes ried out by several persons. All sorts of paign! youth has been considered a suspect by stepped-up surveillance of public estab­ provocations and frame-ups are possible No to the deportation of undocumented the police. Young workers living in the lishments and schools and prohibits gath­ against workers who occupy factories and workers! housing projects on the outskirts of erings in front of high schools. students who go on strike. Halt the "Vigipirate" plan! Paris - the first victims of unemploy­ The government is seeking to accustom The government is preparing a full- Repeal the antiterrorist laws! ment, racism, and cop violence - are ac­ cused by the government of being poten­ tial terrorists. Police spying and infiltration in youth Algerian president elected amid war and neighborhood organizations have be­ for "Islamic fundamentalists." come common. Police provocations and BY DEREK BRACEY help the government resolve .the conflict. acts of racist cop violence are everyday Algerians voted in presidential elec­ The Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), "What is the meaning of a political exer­ occurrences. In Laval, Marseilles, Vaulx­ tions November 16 under the watchful eye which is banned and whose top leaders are cise from which the main political forces imprisoned, called the boycott along with en-Velin, and elsewhere the list of youth of 200,000 army troops and police. The in the country are excluded?" Louisa Ha­ of Arab origin who are killed or brutalized armed presence sought to prevent protests the National Liberation Front (FLN), the noun, a secular opponent of the govern­ by the police grows every day. and counter possible attacks by the Armed ruling party before the military takeover; ment, asked a reporter. Islamic Group (GIA) and other organiza­ the Socialist Forces Front; and the GIA. We are witnessing a veritable anti­ Press reports indicated that many Alge­ Islamic and anti-Arab campaign on televi­ tions that pressed for a boycott. Govern­ These groups called the elections a cha­ rians were intimidated into voting by the sion and in the press, singling out and ment officials claimed a turnout of 12 mil­ rade because the FIS was legally ex­ massive show of military force and that scapegoating a category of workers. Being lion in the country of 25 million, about 75 cluded. some were required to produce voter reg­ These parties won 80 percent of the a Muslim and having a beard makes any percent of eligible voters. istration cards to obtain other official doc­ Liamine Zeroual, a former general, was vote in the first round of parliamentary uments they needed. worker suspect! announced the winner. Zeroual had been elections in December 1991. The FIS, a Many told the press they voted hoping French state is greatest terrorist appointed president in January 1994 by party whose stated goal is an Islamic re­ a way would be found to end the war. Workers must never lose sight of the the army, which has run the country since public, won a majority of the seats with 40 Large numbers of people are frustrated fact that it is the French state that is one of 1992. percent of the vote. with the clashes and the acts of terror by the greatest terrorists in the world. According to official results, he took The military then staged a coup and the army and the GIA, including among It is the French capitalist state that more than 61 percent of the vote, easily canceled the election before the second those who voted for the FIS in 1991. waves the threat of nuclear terror in the defeating three other candidates approved round was due to occur in January 1992. Authorities reported a heavy turnout face of the world, 50 years after the mas­ by the military. Paris, the former colonial power, backed among the 5 million Algerians living in sacres in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The government hopes to use the elec­ the takeover fearing that an FIS adminis­ France, Germany, and Belgium. It is the French state that armed, fi­ tions to legitimize itself in the eyes of tration would not be as subservient to Algerian immigrants in France have nanced, and backed to the hilt the previous working people, establish stability, and French imperialist interests. been particularly affected in recent regime in Rwanda, which was responsible end the four-year-old civil war that has Thousands of FIS members were killed months by a crackdown on democratic for the massacre of 500,000 people in claimed the lives of 40,000 people. or jailed, and the army attacked protests rights, following a series of bombings 1994. Zeroual supporters argue that the voter against the coup. The clashes eventually there. The government has used the explo­ It is the French capitalist state that prac­ turnout is a victory over the boycott and broke into a civil war. sions, which have killed seven people and ticed torture and terrorism on a mass scale represents the end of widespread backing There is no indication the elections will Continued on Page 14

16 The Militant December 4, 1995