Reagan's 'Project Democracy' • • • ..·. . . . . 5 TH£ Defeat of British printers is big blow . 8 111 What sanctions needed against apartheid? •• 9 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 51/NO. 8 FEBRUARY 27, 1987 75 CENTS

Unionists FBI attempt to disrupt discuss attacks on antiwar·group exposed meat-packers BY JERRY FREIWIRTH WASHINGTON, D.C. -Frank Var­ BY NORTON SANDLER elli, a former FBI undercover agent, has re­ DES MOINES, Iowa-Under sharp at­ vealed he was part of a nationally coordi­ tack from the packinghouse bosses, meat- . nated effort to infiltrate, discredit, and packers across North America are discus­ "break" the Committee in Solidarity with sing how best to fight back. Interest in that the People of El Salvador (CISPES). discussion was reflected in the turnout at a Varelli has also presented potentially ex­ February 14 forum here on "Which Way plosive evidence of FBI complicity with Forward for Meat-Packers." the Salvadoran death squads. Cars of meat-packers, their spouses, and From June 1981 to August 1984. Varelli supporters drove to Des Moines. for the was a secret FBI informer operating in the event from Austin, Minnesota; Fremont, Dallas chapter of CISPES. Nebraska; and Ottumwa, Marshalltown, The secret FBI disruption operation first and Cherokee, Iowa. All are cities where began to unravel in 1984 when V arelli and meat-packers have been involved in impor­ his FBI superiors had a falling out over tant battles against the packinghouse boss­ money and a related money~skimming es' takeback demands. They were joined at scandal. V arelli also claims he became dis­ the meeting by meat-packers from several illusioned with the anti-CISPES campaign. other cities and members of other unions a8 While some details of the case have been well. Sixty people attended the forum. public since a front-page Dallas Morning Forum speakers were Lynn Huston from News expose last April, damaging new in­ Austin, Larry McClurg from Ottumwa, formation has come to light in the last Bob Langemeier from Fremorit, Rita month as part of a lawsuit filed by V arelli Lewis from Marshalltown, and Mac War­ seeking back pay from the FBI. ren, organizer of the Socialist Workers Angela Sanbrano, leader of Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, In the context of the deepgoing gov­ Party's Iowa District. A meat-packer from protests attacks at February 12 press conference outside FBI headquarters. ernmental crisis over the secret funding of Cherokee also participated. the contras, Varelli's revelations received McClurg is one of 350 meat~packers cur­ national attention when the "CBS Evening intervention in Central America . she said, "for governmental attacks on rently working in Hormel's Ottumwa . News" aired a two-part series earlier this The FBI admitted in papers filed in court legitimate political protest." plant. He was frred in early 1986 along month. This was followed by a CISPES last month that it was investigating CISPES V arelli' s own testimony underscores with some 500 other workers in Ottumwa news conference February 12 on the steps under its secret "international terrorism" this. In a deposition filed as part of the for honoring picket lines set up by United of FBI headquarters in Washington. guidelines. Under these guidelines the at­ pending court case, he stated: "I was in­ Food and Commercial Workers union "We were not surprised when the story torney general's office can approve an in­ structed to watch for evidence of arms, Local P-9 during their strike. broke," explained Angela Sanbrano, vestigation if it considers the group an arms shipments, and 'safe houses' for hid­ After an arbitrator 'ruled the company CISPES national coordinator. In the last agent of a foreign power. ing terrorists. had to rehire the ftred workers, Hormel laid few years there has been a pattern of break­ Sanbrano denounced the FBI's use of the "Not once did I find, see, hear, or ob­ off several hundred and announced the ins and other disruptive acts aimed at "terrorist" designation as justification for serve any illegal conduct of any nature. shutdown of its Ottumwa cut-and-kill o~ CISPES and other groups opposing U.S. its illegal acts. ''This is simply a cover," Continued on Page 13 eration. • McClurg said those working have been donating up to $1 .000 each week to those without jobs. He described· the dangerous working U.S. move to isolate Nicaragua fails conditions in the plant, including an inci­ dent in which he was almost run over by a BY HARVEY McARTHUR that make up the European Economic sistance to Nicaragua, which has received fork-lift driver trying to keep up with the MANAGUA, Nicaragua- U.S. gov­ Community (EEC); the five countries of $120 million in aid from the EEC since the company's production demands. ernment efforts to isolate Nicaragua inter­ Central America: Guatemala, Honduras, 1979 Sandinista revolution. The contract between UFCW Local 431 nationally received two more sharp set­ El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica; Nicaragua took the opportunity to pro­ and Hormel expires in April. ''There backs recently. This reflects disagreements and Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, and Col­ pose that the Central American nations sign doesn't seem to be a whole lot of prepara­ with Washington's mercenary war against ombia, whose governments make up the a treaty providing for the withdrawal of all tion yet by the local union leadership to get Nicaragua by most Latin American and Contadora Group. Contadora's stated goal · foreign troops from the region, reducing us ready for a possible strike or a lockout," European governments. is to negotiate an end to the military con­ armaments, and establishing border con­ McClurg said. Foreign ministers of 21 countries met in flict in Central America. Nicaragua has trols to prevent armed attacks from one He questioned the effectiveness of non­ Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 9- supported Contadora as an opening to pur­ country into another. union workers joining in current organiz­ 10, and pledged support for a negotiated sue peace. Five days later, the presidents of the ing drives led by the UFCW . end to the fighting in Central America, and Washington lined up the governments of Tegucigalpa Bloc countries met in San Along with others McClurg is participat­ to continued economic aid to the region, Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador to Jose, Costa Rica, in an attempt to take a ing in a drive to have the UFCW replaced including Nicaragua. get them to politically downplay the impor­ united stand counterposed to Contadora as the bargaining representative at the Ot­ The meeting was attended by representa­ tance of Contadora in the Guatemala City and Nicaragua's peace proposals. · tumwa plant by a new union, Independent tives of the 12 Western European nations meeting. These three countries, known as Costa Rican President Oscar Arias is­ Packing & Meat Cutters Union Local-1. the Tegucigalpa Bloc, are all directly in­ sued the call for the San Jose gathering in A leaflet circulated by backers of the volved in Washington's contra war against Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 2 Firsthand reports Nicaragua. U.S. envoy Philip Habib also toured from Burkina Western Europe shortly before the Philippine army escalates killings Guatemala meeting, seeking to bolster sup­ Beginning ·next issue, the Militant port there for U.S. war policies. will be featuring firsthand reports following collapse of cease-fire from the West African country of Despite these efforts, the 21 foreign Burkina Faso. ministers meeting in Guatemala adopted a BY SAM MANUEL march of 20,000 comprised mostly of Militant staff writer Ernest Harsch resolution stating their willingness to work MANILA - More than 60 people have farmers demanding land reform. has been invited to attend the with Contadora to "find a negotiated, re­ been killed here in the last 10 days, the As a result of this stepped~up violence, Pan-African Film Festival of gional, global, and peaceful solution" in majority civilians. The deaths are a result the NDF issued an open letter to the people Ouagadougou, held in Burkina's Central America. of stepped-up violence by the military and of the Philippines explaining why it would capital every two years. It is Africa's Claude Cheysson, director of the Perma­ rightists in the wake of the breakdown in not continue the cease-ftre beyond the Feb­ foremost showcase for film, televi­ nent Commission of the EEC, told report­ negotiations between the government and ruary 8 deadline. sion, and video, and will drawpar­ ers that Europe rejected any armed aggres­ the National Democratic Front (NDF). The With the collapse of the cease-ftre, chief ticipants from throughout the conti­ sion against Nicaragua. When Belgian For­ NDF is a coalition of 12 national organiza­ government negotiator Teofisto Guingona nent · and from other parts of the eign Minister Leo Tindemans was asked tions, including the Communist Party of announced that the government would seek world as well. about U.S. government pressure, he re­ the Philippines (CPP). to negotiate on a regional basis. "We will Harsch will also report on the plied: "We are not interested in what the The cease·frre began to fall apart in the go to the provinces, the municipalities, to progress of the democratic revolution United States thinks about Contadora." face of armed attacks by sections of the the members of the NDF directly." that began to unfold in Burkina in The EEC nations also said they would army and the government against working NDF negotiator Antonio Zumel re­ 1983 and will interview leaders and increase economic aid to Central America, people in the final weeks prior to the vote sponded, ''These moves of the government activists in the anti,-imperialist strug­ including Nicaragua. Several European on the new constitution held February 2. betray a deep and malicious intent. They gle there. diplomats told the New York Times that For example, 19 people were killed Janu­ are really meant to sow dissension and di- Washington had tried io get them to cut as- ary 22 when the army opened frre on a Continaed on Page 10 Panel discusses attacks On ·meat-packers

Continued from front page "And just last Sunday," he said, "I at­ new union says it is beillg "formed out of tended a meeting in Sioux City of workers the·necesssity for a more democratic union from the John Morrell plant. They wanted that the rank and file of Ottumwa Hormel a $1-an-hour rollback and a starting wage will have full control over." of $6.25 an hour for new hires. ··we are having some success with it," "We have to wonder," he said, "how all McClurg said, "we may be close to the 30 this affects the Hormel plant in Fremont. percent required" by the National Labor IBP is going into the pork processing busi­ Relations Board to get an election called. ness; they have just opened a plant in McClurg said that through the process of Council Bluffs, Iowa, 50 miles away from building the new union · workers in Ot­ us. They are paying $5 an hour to process tumwa could be convinced to link up with pork. That would put a $5 packing plant on the perspective that came out of the Austin one side of us and a $5 plant on the other struggle of building a fighting meat-pack­ side of us. I doubt that they would really ers union. want to pay the workers in the Fremont Rita Lewis, recording secretary for plant $10.25," he said. Local 50 of the National Brotherhood of "A victory in one of the struggles going Packinghouse and Industrial Workers, on," Langemeier said, "will help all other Larry McClurg at podium. Bob Miller, forum chairperson; explained that within three days of the be­ packinghouse workers." Langemeier; and Mac Warren. ginning of their strike last fall, Swift Inde­ pendent Packing Co. in Marshalltown Wilson·bankruptcy brought in replacement workers. The strike After losing a job at an Iowa packing unions could be changed by winning elec­ those trying to build NAMPU are counter­ ended in December after the local agreed to plant several years ago, the meat-packer tions. posed," he said. "It is all part of the process substantial concessions. from Cherokee who spoke at the forum He said that Local P-9 had been demo­ of building a fighting meat-packers union. Lewis said she voted against the contract said he wound up in Texas looking for cratic, "I honestly believe the most demo­ "The challenge before the workers who because the takeback demands are "re­ work. Eventually he found a job in a pack­ cratic union in this country." have gone through the Austin, Ottumwa, petitioll$, over and over at each packing­ ing plant in the panhandle. He described in some detail the experi­ and Fremont struggles is to help lead these house. They don't care if you hurt yourself "I'll never forget how hard people ence the Austin meat-packers had gone other fights," he said. "It is not just show­ or how much pain you are in as long as they worked in that plant," he said. Later here­ through with the top officials of the UFCW .ing solidarity, it is putting yourself in a get that produ~on and get that dollar in turned to Iowa and got hired at the Wilson International. This included having P-9 postion where other workers see what you their pocket," she said. plant in Cherokee. He then thought there placed in trusteeship, stripped of its offi­ have to say, see that you really do have Lewis· thanked the Austin meat-packers was a big difference between working con­ cers, and forced from its union hall. some experiences that are different." and members of the Austin United Support ditions "in the North and South." "We have gone the complete gauntlet," Warren said he wasn't sure whether the Huston said. ••Because of this our people experiences workers had gone through at Group for the help they gave the Mar­ Not any more. Wilson has been on a decided they still needed some sort of di­ the Ottumwa plant had prepared them at shalltown workers during their strike. takeback drive since filing for bankruptcy rection and filed a .recertification petition this time for taking the step of forming an Bob Langemeier told the crowd, "We under Chapter 11 laws in the early 1980s. are facing a · crisis in the meat-packing for a new union in Austin, named the North independent union. Nevertheless, he said, Wages and working conditions at its plants the task remained to win the majority of plants within a 70-rnile raditis of Fremont." have deteriorated greatly. American Meat Packers Union." He intro­ duced Pete Kennedy ·in the. audience, one them to the perspective of building a fight­ He said ConAgra Corporation is threaten­ This meat-packer is involved in aiding a ing to close its Madison, Nebraska, plant of the charter members of NAMPU. ing union. UFCW organizing drive at an unorganized A lively give-and-take discussion fol­ March 27 because the workers there didn't IBP plant. Huston ended by inviting everyone to at­ agree to concessions. And Excel Corpora­ tend a rank-and-file meat-packers confer­ lowed the presentations. tion, owned by Cargill, one of the world's He said he is a staunch advocate of in­ ence in Austin May 1-3. "We are inviting The event was sponsored by the Des largest grain monopolies, is taking over a dustrial unionism. As a result, he doesn't everyone in the industry, organized or un­ Moines Militant Labor Forum and coin­ beef packing plant in Skylar. It is pressing like amalgamated locals that combine organized, UFCW, Teamsters, whatever, cided with the opening of a new Pathfmder for concessions that will bring wages meat-packers with retail clerks and others to come to Austin,'' he said. Bookstore here. below $5 an hour. that have become common in the UFCW Langemeier said he has been to Dakota since the union was formed out of the 1979 Transforming packinghouse union City to talk to some of the 2,800 workers merger between the Retail Clerks Interna­ Warren, organizer of the SWP's Iowa Where is mercenary locked out at the Iowa Beef Processors tional and the Amalgamated Meat Cutters District that was established last fall with (IBP) plant. The company is demanding a and Butcher Workmen. new branches in Des Moines, Omaha, and John Singlaub now? four-year wage freeze. Nevertheless, he thought "an indepen­ Austin, said packinghouse workers are de­ The Washington Post reported February dent union would come ,to naught at this ciding to fight back against the bosses' 15 that former general John Singlaub and a time." takeback demands. team of 37 mercenaries will be providing Kansas civil rights Instead he urged meat-packers to run for "What is needed is a leadership willing counterinsurgency training to Philippine office in their locals as a way of developing to build a fighting packinghouse union. troops. Singlaub, head of the ultra-rightist march draws 500 a fighting leadership in the UFCW. The best place to start is joining with other World Anticommunist League, was a key packinghouse workers in struggle,'' he figure in the U.S. government's arming BY JEFF POWERS Unions have changed said. and funding of the contras attacking Nica­ HUTCHINSON, Kan. - More than "The NAMPU perspective of building a ragua. Lynn Huston was vice-president of 500 people participated in a civil rights fighting North American packing union," The Post report, datelined Manila, cited Local P-9 until it was put into trusteeship march and rally here January 31. The Warren said, "is the most powerful thing as its source an official .. who has close con­ by !QeUFCW's top officialdom. He is one march was called in response tq the spray that emerged from the P-9 experience. But tact with intelligence agents monitoring of the over 800 workers Hormel has re­ painting of the home of Martha Rawlings. it can't be looked at in a narrow organiza­ Singlaub's activities." The mercenaries are fused to allow back at the Austin plant Rawlings, a Black 66-year-old life-long tional way." described as former operatives with the since signing a contract with, the UFCW resident in this central Kansas town, had Warren said workers in the industry will U.S. Special Forces in Indochina. last September. been one of the central organizers of this be won to that perspective only after going "Fourteen of the mercenaries are already year's Martin Luther King activities in the Huston says that what has changed in the through some of the same experiences the in Manila,'' the article stated. "The other town. last eight years hasn't been the company as Austin· meat-packers have been forced to 23 veterans, using false names and travel­ Speaker after speaker expressed appreci­ much as the unions. "The leadership of the go throtigh. ing in twos and threes, will arrive this ation and surprise at the size of the crowd unions just doesn't care about people who "I don't think the efforts of workers try­ week." and its composition. Over 30 percent of the work for a livirig anymore;: he said. ing to organize IBP plants, or those fight­ Top Philippine military men have admit­ participants were white. He agreed with the previous speaker that ing John Morrell's concession demands, or ted meeting with Singlaub.

tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant The Militant is written in the Closing news date: February 18, 1987 Coeditors: MARGARET JA YKO interests of workers and farm­ and DOUG JENNESS ers. Every week it tells the truth Circulation Director: MALIK MIAH about the war Washington and Nicaragua Bureau Director: CINDY JAQUITH the employers are waging Business Manager: JIM WHITE Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein, Fred Feldman, Ernest against working people at home Harsch, Arthur Hughes, Harvey McArthur (Nicaragua), and abroad. We provide first­ Roberto Kopec (Nicaragua), Harry Ring, Norton Sandler. hand coverage of important Published weekly except one week in August and the last struggles in other countries, week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 such as Angola, Haiti, and the West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Of­ fice, (212) 243-6392; Telex, 497-4278; Business Office, Philippines. In addition, regu­ (212) 929-3486. lar on-the-scene reports come Correspondence concerniDg subscriptions or changes Enclosed is from our Nicaragua Bureau. of address should be addresSed to The Militant Business Subscribe today. Office, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. D $3 .. 00 for 12 weeks, new readers Second-class postage paid ·at New York, N.Y. POST­ 0.$6.00 for 12 weeks, renewals If you already have a sub­ MASTER: Send address. changes to The Militant, 410 West scription, by renewing now for 0 $12.00 for six months St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S., Canada, 0 $24.00 for one year six months or a year you'll re­ Latin America: for one-year subscription send $24, drawn Name ______ceive a free issue ofNew I nterna­ on a U.S. bank, to above address. By first-class (airmail), tional (cover price $5.00), a send $60. Britain, Ireland, Continental Europe, Africa: Address magazine of Marxist politics send £25 check or international money order made out to I City------State Zip ______Pathfinder Press and send to Pathfinder, 47 The Cut, London and theory published in New SE1 8LL, England. Australia, Asia, Pacific: send Austra­ Telephone Union/School/Organization __ York. The current issue features lian $60 to Pathfmder Press, P.O. Box 37, Leichhardt, Syd­ Send to THE MILITANT, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014 the article, "The Coming Revo­ ney, NSW 2040, Australia. I Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent lution in South Africa," by Jack the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials. Barnes.

2 The Militant February 27, 1987 Union support grows for meat-packers on strike·in Wis .. BY BILL BREIHAN destroyed. Despite efforts in recent years CUDAHY, Wis.- Members of Local by the UFCW, none of .the packinghouses P-40 of the United Food and Commercial have been reorganized. Workers (UFCW) here have stepped up Local P-40 at Patrick Cudahy was not their appeal for support in their strike part of the 1975-76 strike. It successfully against the Patrick Cudahy Co. fought efforts to drive down wages and At a support coriuni.ttee meeting Feb­ working conditions for several years fol­ ruary 11, some 80 unionists, strikers, and lowing the defeat of Local 248. That community residents met to plan a leaflet­ t:hanged in 1982, when a first round of ing campaign urging a boycott of Patrick concessions was forced on Cudahy work­ Cudahy products at local supermarket. ers. The base rate was slashed from $10.55 Plans were also announced for a demon­ an hour to $9.26. Benefits were also cut. stration, tentatively set for the end of In 1984, under the threat of a plant clo­ March, demanding justice for the Cudahy sure, the union membership approved - workers. by a small margin and after several votes Unionists and many others from the Mil­ - a second concession contract. This time waukee area and around the country con­ the base rate dropped to $7.31 an hour, tinue to walk the picket line regularly with with further benefit cuts. Under this 1984 the strikers. contract wages climbed back up to about The strike is now in its second month. $9.00 an hour by the time of the current Local P-40 voted January 3 to strike the strike. plant after rejecting a new round of major Rather than put up with a third set of dras­ concessions. The company's "final offer'' tic cuts in less than five years, the Cudahy would have slashed wages from an average workers voted 636 to 38 to strike. of $9.00 ijil hour to between $6.25 and Militant/Sandi Sherman $8.65 an hour, and made working condi­ Bill Breihan is a member of USWA Local Students support United Food and Commercial Workers Local P-40, which is on tions intolerable. 1343, on layofffrom Bucyrus-Erie. strike against Cudahy's demand for takebacks. A federal mediator was brought in to reopen negotiations January 20. But this new round of talks collapsed immediately when the company refused to discuss any Midwest farmers testify· at hearings modifications in its last offer. Instead, Pat­ rick Cudahy has driven forward with its union-busting plan. After accepting over BY JOE SWANSON terest. He said the government-backed Pro­ an acre." 2,500 applications, it has hired nearly 300 OMAHA, Neb. - The U.S. Senate duction Credit Association owns over After the hearing, Hansen told this re~ strikebreakers and restarted its hog kill op­ Committee on Agriculture held hearings 400,000 acres, almost all in Iowa. porter, "We have to bring farmers into the eration, although on a greatly reduced February 10 here and in Underwood, Iowa. Steve Halloran, a young farmer from winners' column. So far only grain traders scale. The hearings were attended by about 500 Hastings, Nebraska, told the committee have been winning. The traders control the The strike of Local P-40 remains firm. farmers and ranchers in Omaha and by government credit is available only to legislation and the price of grain." Fewer than 30 union members have re­ more than 300 farmers and a dozen small "worthy farmers, ~stablished farmers," and Most of the farmers who attended the turned to work, and labor solidarity with businessmen in Underwood. not to farmers who are in trouble or to hearings were members of farm organiza­ the strike has stayed at a high level. The new head of the committee, Demo­ young farmers trying to get started. tions like the American Agriculture Move­ Dozens of unionists turn out daily to aid cratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, John Hansen of Newman Grove, Neb­ ment, Farm Crisis Committee, North the strikers, and every week union locals in said the committee had come to hear the raska, told the committee, "I have had to American Farm Alliance, National Farm­ the area have mobilized their members to "farmers' story."_ get outside-the-farm income to stay in ers Organization, and the National Farmers walk picket lines. This includes 350 from Dorothy Lau of Murdoch, Nebraslca, farming. I have become an agricultural len- Union. There were also about 45 high two United Auto Workers locals, 200 from said her family now owned only 10 acres of . der myself. I sell seed com and crop insur­ school and college agriculture students, a United Electrical Workers local, 100 a 600-acre farm the family had worked for ance, and many of those bills are now on­ most of them members of local chapters of from an Allied Industrial Workers (AIW) four generations. Her husband and sons collectable. Future Farmers of America. local, and another 100· from the Smith now work in town. "In my area of the state we have had Senator Leahy told the audience; "I am Steelworkers. three good years of crops but we are still not here with the answers in my pocket to "We tried . to borrow ourselves out of Financial donations have also been sig­ losing farmers to the banks. My land value farmers' problems. If I had a magic wand I debt. That's what happens when farmers nificant. Workers at the big Briggs & Strat­ was $1,300 an acre in 1982. It is now $400 wouldn't know what to ask for." don't receive a fair price for their crops." ton plant in Milwaukee help set the exam­ ple, donating more than $5,000 in a shop A disease hit the hog herd, she con­ floor collection organized by AIW Local tinued, and early frost killed the soybeans. 232. On top of that came the loan officers who Israen government raids office The battle against concessions in the were "too eager to lend in good times and meatpacking industry here has a history too eager to foreclose in bad times." of newspaper in Jerusalelll going back over a decade. In 1975, 750 Eugene Severens of the Center for members of Local 248 of the old Amalga­ Rural Affairs in-Walthill, Nebraska, urged BY MALIK MIAH then arranged for the television cameras to mated Meatcutters union struck nine pack­ the committee to investigate the sale of Charged with "rendering services" to the be present when the office was raided and inghouses in the Milwaukee area. land by the Farmers Home Administration Popular Front for the Liberation of Pales­ · The bosses, organized in the Milwaukee the workers arrested. It was major news (FmHA). tine, an outlawed organization, the Alter­ that evening. And all files and equipment Independent Meatpackers Association, en­ He said the government agency was now native Information Centre in . West were confiscated. listed the services of the same notorious offering 18 Nebraska farms to the highest Jerusalem was raided by Israeli police Feb­ union-busting· law firm - Thomas While it is not uncommon for the Israeli bidder rather than to working farm ruary 16. Four workers at the Centre were Krukowski and Associates - involved in government to close down Palestinian-run families. The agency introduced new regu­ arrested, including two Palestinian · information and press agencies in the oc­ the 1985-86 Hormel strike in Austin, Min­ lations that allow it to sell land in one year. women. The police ordered the premises nesota, and now in the strike at Patrick cupied territories, this is not normally the Previous regulations barred the sale of land closed for six months. case in Israel. "The Jerusalem Post," re­ Cudahy. The Krukowski strategy has been before three years were up. consistent: provocation, scab-herding, and In a telephone interview with the Mili­ ported the February 17 New York Times, violence. Severens said this violates the law, tant February 18, Lea Tsemel, a prominent "described the closing of the Alternative Local 248 put up a determined fight. which requires the secretary of agriculture lawyer and political activist in Jerusalem, Information Centre and arrest of the Jewish They maintained militant picket lines for "to the extent practicable sell or lease farm­ said three of the four workers were freed and Arab staff on Monday as the first such 16 months, battling the cops, the courts, land to operators of not larger than family­ after . protests. But the director of the crackdown in Jerusalem." and several hundred strikebreakers re­ farm size." Centre, Michel Warschawski, who is mar­ But this attack, Tsemel said, isn't sitting cruited by the employers' association. He pointed out farmers are required to ried to Tsemel, remains in prison. His case well with many Israelis. "Since Monday Union solidarity was widespread. Buflii make a 50 percent down payment on land, will not be reviewed for seven days, she there have been daily protests outside the the end the union was defeated, Local 248 and that lenders charge 8 to 12 percent in- said. prison from 5 to 6. Petitions are being cir­ culated in the press against the attack. A ''The Centre," Tsemel explained, "pro­ number of organizations have protested the vides information on the human rights con­ police action." ditions of Palestinians living in the oc­ Tsemel urged supporters of democratic cupied territories. It reports on government and human rights in the United States to Malcolm X Today abuse of Palestinians." send telegrams of protest to the Ministry of She emphasized that the Centre does not Justice or Chief of Police, Jerusalem, Is­ Jack Barnes render services to the Popular Front or to rael. Copies should be sen' to the Israeli any Palestinian organization. Nor does it Consulate, 800 2nd Ave., New York, National Secretary, Socialist Workers Party check on those who use its services. N.Y. 10017. Editor and author of Malcolm X Talks to Young People, interviewed Malcolm X in Jan. 1965. For the past three years the Centre has published a fortnightly English-language Attention readers New York City, Sat., Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. newsletter, News From Within, providing at 79 Leonard St. (5 blocks south of readers with a wide range of information The Militant wiH be taking a one-week and analysis on the Palestinian struggle not break next week iD order to carry out a Canal), Manhattan available in the daily press in Israel or other major reorgBIIization of our offices that Donation: $2. Sponsored by Militant Labor Forum. For more informa­ countries. wiH mcrease our etficieiJCy Blld ellective­ tion call(212) 226-8445. The police raid was well orchestrated. ness. We wiH resume publication with _The chief of police announced the closing, the issue dated March 13.

February 27, 1987 The Militant 3 More unionists, .farmers support fight against gov't spying Joe Swanson interviewed about Midwest tour for rights fund

BY NORTON SANDLER Nebraska, who Swanson had spoken to in "I tell them there is valuable information NEW YORK - Joe Swanson has been November, helped arrimge for him to make on the scope of the government's illegal ac­ on the road since the end of October talking a presentation to a districtwidt; meeting of tivity in the PRDF booklet containing the to unionists and farmers about the current officers from that union. He has also spo­ decision," Swanson said. ''That's why the stage of the lawsuit filed by the Socialist ken to leadership bodies of the United Auto booklet is such a good educational tool." Workers Party and the Young Socialist Al­ Workers and the National BrotherhOod of He has sold about 65 copies of the decision liance against _government spying and dis­ Packinghouse and Industrial Workers in since the frrst of the year. Marshalltown, Iowa. ruption. Swanson said most unionists expect the "Most unionists recognize that the em­ Swanson is the Midwest field represen­ attacks by the employers to continue. ployers' offensive against the working tative for the Political Rights Defense Fund ''They generally agree with me when I say class has had an effect," Swanson said. (PRDF), an .organization formed in 1973 to the bosses and the government will work ''They have stories to tell· about some publicize and raise funds for that·lawsuit. hand in hand in attacking workers and period in their life as a union member or a "I am covering eastern Nebraska, all of farmers who fight back," he said. union leader when the bosses, or the local, Iowa, and southern Minnesota," Swanson state, ·or federal police agencies got in­ "I tell them this decision will help in that explained during a recent inteview here. volved in harassment or intimidation fight," Swanson explained. "It's a door Swanson worked on the railroad and was against them." opener for democratic rights and can be a member of the United Transportation used by everyone. That's why sponsorship Union for 25 years. Most of the time he "One representative from the Machinists Militant/Holbrook Mahn union told me a sheriff showed up unex­ for the lawsuit is so important," he said. "It worked out of Lincoln, Nebraska. Joe Swanson pectedly to serve an . injuction while the helps makes this decision stand for people "I've had pretty close to a 100 meetings union's executive board was meeting dur­ in the labor movement, in the farm move­ now," he said, "including the follow-up ing astrike. He thinks the sheriff found out ment. It will make the judge's injunction PRDF sponsor and made a fmancial contri­ discussions." about the meeting through a. phone tap." against segregating the illegally obtained bution. · files that much stronger," Swanson em­ ''They have resulted in several dozen Recently Swanson made a presentation Questions raised by unionists phasized. new sponsors for the PRDF," he added. to 45 members of the American Agricul­ Swanson said the unionists raise a few ture Movement at their statewide meeting Historic decision different questions with him about the law­ Support among farmers in Tekamah, Nebraska. Six copies of the Last August, Federal Judge Thomas suit. ''They want to know why the suit was Swanson said he hadn't met with as decision were sold there. Griesa ruled "the FBI's disruption activ­ originally filed. They also ask how much many farmers as unionists, but many of the the FBI was involved in harassing · the ities, surreptitious entries, and use of infor­ farmers he has met with have been very Response from meat-packers mants" violated the constitutional rights of plaintiffs, the SWP and YSA. open about the case. "They aren't necessar­ the SWP and its members. Griesa is ex­ "I explain that the SWP and YSA had ily more aware of the case, but l think the The quickest to respond, Swanson says, pected to issue an injunt:tion soon, limiting known for many years about the role of the severe hardships that so many have gone have been some of the meat-packers in­ the government's ability to use the tens of political police agencies; particularly the through contributes to their interest." volved in battle against Hormel in Austin, Ot­ thousands of pages of illegally obtained FBI. In the early 1970s, near the end of the Minnesota; Fremont; Nebraska; and He pointed out that in some cases local tumwa, Iowa. files on SWP and YSA members. Vietnam War, more information came to and state cops have worked with the FBI to Swanson has focused his discussions on light. That includes information about the attack the farmers' movement. ''The meat-packers who have been that historic decision. Winter road condi­ FBI's Cointelpro operation that was di­ through that struggle are among the best tions make it difficult to set-precise times rected against the civil rights movement, One farmer told Swanson that an FBI fighters around today," he said. "And they for meetings. "Generally I walk into a the women's movement, and the antiwar agent had asked if he could join his farm want to know more about the suit so they · union office and ask if I can have 5 or 10 movement, as well as against political or­ organization as an undercover agent to can explain it to other working people. minutes of someone's time. I think just ganizations such as the Communist Party keep an eye on so-called right-wing farm­ They want members of their own union and about every union official has given me and the SWP and YSA." ers. This particular farmenigned tip as a farmers to get the facts about the case." that much. Once the discussion begins, ·~ many want to talk a little longer." "What I found," Swanson said, "is'·that the majority of people have not heard about Unions at Eastern Airlines under fire the suit, let alone the victory. So I begin by out by the union instead. They have re­ talking about what this victory means to all BY ERNEST MAILHOT their contract, which is supposed to run MIAMI - "I'd like to see Frank until the end of this year, and immediately ceived support for a court challenge along working people and encourage them to these lines from the other unions at East­ read material about it. Particularly helpful Lorenzo get inside the bin of a 727 and load give up 47 percent of their wages and ben­ a few thousand pounds of bags." That's efits. The lAM organizes cleaners, ramp em. Most workers now agree that this ap­ is the booklet published by the PRDF that proach has reached a dead end. includes the full text of Griesa' s decision." how a baggage handler at Eastern Airlines workers (baggage and freight handlers and responded to management's latest attack. fuelers), stock clerks, and mechanics. The union's main strength lies in the fact He has met with steelworkers, auto Flight attendants and pilots, organized by that its members are opposed to taking pay Lorenzo is the president of Texas Air, workers, garment workers, machinists, rail other unions, are being told they have to cuts. workers and meat-packers. Sometimes he which recently purchased Eastern. On Jan­ make new concessions after having already Eastern management is trying to make it has bad up to three meetings with the same uary 22 Lorenzo's poirit man and Eastern's been forced to grant concessions last year. as difficult as possible for the union to fight · person. "It does take some persistence," he newly installed president, Philip Bakes, back. On Janaury 8 when members of said. announced that labor costs at Eastern had The company sponsored a public meet­ Local 702 invited Charlie Bryan, the pres­ A few of the meetings have led to addi­ to be slashed 29 percent. ing on January 28 where Bakes explained ident of lAM District 100, to come to our tional invitations. Recently, for example, a International Association of Machinists · that new cuts wer:e necessary because the worksite during lunch break to receive a Steelworkers union official in Omaha, (lAM) members are being told to reopen unionized workers were being paid above plaque, management tried to have him for­ "market .value." cibly removed from the property. Several Lorenzo led the union busting at Conti­ hundred union members stood between nental Airlines in 1983. He is now con­ Bryan and the company security guards. solidating People Express and New York Dm Political Rights Air into Continental. He says Eastern will Bryan has since beeri barred from com­ remain separate for now but will be dis­ pany property and stripped of flight mantled if he doesn't get what he is de- privileges. 11l1 Defense Fund manding. · The airlines were deregulated by James Last fall 500 lAM members were laid Carter's administration in 1978. This has Help us 'win more victories for democratic rights off. More we~ laid off in January. At led to fewer companies, increased danger Miami International Airport it is almost im­ in the skies, and lower pay and worse Now that a federal judge has ruled that the FBI's spying against the possible to fmd.a ramp worker who has not working conditions throughout the indus­ Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance was illegal, the case been called into the "performance office," try. is going back to court to detennine what will happen to the millions of secret where verbal reprimands, letters of warn­ In 1981 the Professional Air. Traffic files the government spies accumulated. ing, and days off without pay are given Controllers Organization (PATCO) was out. broken. Workers ·at Continental were Every supporter ·of democratic rights has a stake in helping bring about Frank DeMaria, chief lAM steward at forced on strike in 1983 and 1984. lnstead another victory against the FBI in the upcoming hearings. The Political the Newark airport, told the press that of organizing widespread solidarity for Rights Defense Fund needs' your endorsement and your financial help to while one or two union members are usu­ them, the top officials of the lAM watched make the next stage in this battle a success. ally suspended in a year, last month 19 as these brothers and sisters went down to were suspended. defeat. Now this nonunion battering ram is D l want to be a sponsor of the Political Rights Defense Fund. According to Falcon, Eastern's tabloid, being used against the workers at Eastern. D Send me a copy of the booklet with the federal court decision against the 708 workers were fired in 1986, more than But the attacks by the airlines can be FBI. Enclosed is $1. double those frred the previous year. fought. At least 800 union members came Eastern has been trymg to split the lAM D Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution to keep up the fight. to the afternoon. meeting of Local 702 the $500 __ $100 __ $50 __ $10 __ other --·_ mechanics away from the cleaners, ramp day Eastern announced its takeback de­ workers, and stock clerks. Company prop­ Name ______mands. This showed the potential for aganda has focused on the pay-of the less mobilizing against the attacks. Address ______skilled workers. The big-business press has quoted management, saying ramp workers A strong coalition can be built between City------State _____ Zip ------average $43,000 a year, and that with over­ the unions at Eastern and those in the rest Telephone ------Organization ------time some make as much as $70,000. of the industry, and solidarity can be won These figtKes are absurd. from other unionists. A fight is also needed Signature------­ to raise the pay at the nonunion airlines. Send to: Political Rights Defense Furid, P.O. Box 649, Cooper Station, Union response New York, N.Y. 10003. The lAM leadership's initial response to Ernest Mailhot is a baggage handler and the Texas Air buyout was to propose a buy- member ofJAM Loeal 702 in Miami.

4 The Militant February 27, 1987 White House ran massive covert operation 'Project Democracy' set up by Reagan as secret foreign policy network

BY MARGARET JAYKO "Project Democracy was shorthand for In a speech before the British Parliament everything Ollie was doing in Central on June 8, 1982, President Ronald Reagan America," said one government official re­ called for a "crusade for freedom" that ferring to former National Security Council would promote "democratic development" (NSC) staff member Lt. Col. Oliver North. throughout the world. "Project Democracy" was set up "to fos­ The White House panel investigating the ter the infrastructure of democracy - the NSC has found that a broad range of aetiv­ system of a free press, unions, political ities were carried out under the heading of parties, universities - which allows a Project Democracy, most of which have people to choose their own way, develop not yet been reported publicly. It was out their own culture, to reconcile their own of this program that the network for the differences through peaceful means," ac­ clandestine arms sales to Iran and the inter­ cording to Reagan. national web of illicit aid to the contras was organized. Recent revelations show that what was actually set in motion four years ago was a In setting up Project Democracy, the massive covert operation, run directly out White House issued a memorandum in of the White House, which "grew into a early August 1982 saying "we need to parallel foreign policy apparatus - com­ examine how law and executive order can plete with its own communications sys­ be made more liberal to pennit covert ac­ tems, secret envoys, leased ships and air­ tion on a broad scale." planes, offshore bank accounts and corpo­ The NSC, which is under the direct con­ rations," according to a report in the Feb- trol of the White House, became the vehi­ . ruary 15 New York Times. cle for carrying out the secret operations, including aiding the U.S. -run mercenaries The purpose of the secret network was to Retired Gen. John Singlaub With contras last year. Operation run from White House waging war against Nicaragua. included secret envoys and leased ships and airplanes. allow the administration to act - quickly The CIA was rejected officially as the and covertly - in the international arena police agency for the job because its sordid behind the backs of the U.S. people and history of assassination, overthrowing gov­ Stone. Lawrence Walsh, the special federal without regard for the Constitution, Con­ ernments, and bankrolling mercenary ar­ A slew of "Project Democracy com­ prosecutor charged with probing the cur­ gress, or the law. mies had become public knowledge during panies" were set up to carry out the deci­ rent scandal, has expanded his scope by as­ National Endowment for Democracy the 1970s. The White House felt that sions of the president and NSC staff. suming control of the Miami and Georgia openly tainting Project Democracy with Now that ·the existence of Project De­ cases. Project Democracy included .an overt the CIA brush would make it harder to get mocracy has been revealed, new and more • There's a criminal investigation of side: the National Endowment for Democ­ Congressional approval. damaging facts about its operations will no what happened to the $27 million in so­ racy, headed by right-wing social democrat But the recent rash of revelations about doubt be forced out into the open as the called non-military aid Congress gave the Carl Gershman. AFL-CIO President Lane illegal funding of the Nicaraguan contras host of Congressional and administration mercenaries in 1985. Kirkland and American Federation of show that the CIA has been involved in the investigations get under way in the "contra­ • The General Accounting Office is in­ Teachers President Albert Shanker are both thing up to its eyebrows. gate" crisis. vestigating the Iran arms case. directors of the group. • There's a federal investigation of Its activities include funding right-wing Billionaires do their bit Everyone investigating contras charges that U.S. residents who dropped newspapers and trade unions in other coun­ To help fund the misnamed project,· a Another source of new revelations about arms to the contras also smuggled drugs. tries. meeting was arranged at the White House U.S. backing for the contras will be the • And there's an FBI investigation of a Associates of the National Endowment in March 1983 with several billionaires. seven criminal investigations of the mer­ burglary at the offices of the International for Democracy, inCluding Kirkland and Among those attending were press baron cenaries and their U.S. backers: Center for Development Policy in Wash­ Shanker, have responded to the expose by Rupert Murdoch; Sir James Goldsmith, • The U.S. Attorney's office in Miami ington, D.C. The centeris a critic of U.S. denying any knowledge of the covert side publisher of the French magazine L'Ex­ is looking into charges that weapons were government policy in Central America. of the program. press; and Chicago businessman Clement smuggled to the contras from a Florida air­ Antiwar activists have called on the FBI ' '~ :::- port in 1985. to expand its inquiry to include dozens of • The same office is checking up on similar incidents which have taken place Southern Air Transport, which has been in­ around the country in the past two years. Dell1onstrators dellJand end volved in the Iran arms sales and the contra In addition, the CIA has just announced supply operation. an internal inquiry as to whether its covert • In Georgia there's an investigation of actions in support of the Nicaraguan mer­ to Nevada nuclear boll1b tests a 1985 sale of a plane to the contras. cenaries violated any laws. BY BOB HOYLE protest the detonation and to learn about MERCURY, Nev. - Some 2,000 plans for the demonstration on the next people, many of them high schoo1 stu­ day. Antiwar coalition formed in Boston dents, came here from 10 states to protest a In response to this pressure, six con­ scheduled nuclear bomb test. The February gressmen spoke at the test-site rally. BY JON HILLSON agreed to take responsibilities on the coali­ 5 action occurred at the Nevada Test Site The demonstration .was or-ganized by · BOSTON - "Without getting into a tion steering committee. 1 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Four American Peace Test, a nationwide group numbers game," said Leslie Cagan, "we An earlier student outreach meeting of hundred and thirty-eight demonstrators formed a year ago to fight against nuclear are talking about a major march, in capital representatives from seven colleges and were arrested, including astonomer Carl testing. letters." Cagan is national coordinator of high schools began plans for local building Sagan, peace activist Daniel Ellsberg, and Protests have been held at the test site the April 25 antiwar, anti-apartheid dem­ events for April 25. actors Martin Sheen, Kris Kristofferson, since 1957, but have increased since the onstration in Washington, D.C. She was The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Pol­ and Robert Blake. Soviet Union unilaterally stopped testing speaking to 130 activists who launched the icy and the Central America Solidarity As­ The protest had been planned to take nuclear weapons on Aug. 6, 1985. Boston-area coalition for the upcoming sociation have hired full-time staff people place the same day that the first nuclear Students in particular have been expres­ protest. to coordinate and organize transportation bomb test of 1987 was scheduled. But sing opposition to U.S. nuclear testing. On Cagan told the assembled group of stu­ to Washington. Washington detonated the bomb two days Friday, February 6, for example, 150 stu­ dent, labor, Central America, anti-apart­ A fund pitch by Boston Democratic before. Government officials acknowl­ dents at the John F. Kennedy Junior High heid, religious, and disarmament activists Socialists of America leader Joe Schwartz edged the test was done early to avoid pro­ School in Salt Lake City held a sit-in to de­ who jammed the Service Employees' Inter­ raised more than $750 from the floor. testers. mand an end to nuclear tests. When school national Union (SEIU) Local 285 hall Feb­ The next general meeting of the coalition But instead of dam_pening protests, the officials convinced the students to return to ruary 12 that there have been some 60 coa­ is Saturday, March 7, at the Arlington early test fueled the already called action. class and hold the rally when school wasn't lition meetings like this across the country Street Church in Boston. The day after the test, 1,000 people at­ in session, 100 students returned on Satur­ to initiate building for the San Francisco tended a news conference in Las Vegas to day to protest. and Washington marches. Other protests in the nation's capital are scheduled for April 24 and 27. Students: Cagan, a leader of the Mobilization for Survival, told the gathering, "because of an Get your April 25 accident of history ----' the contragate scan­ dal - the march is especially timely." It mobilization makes peOple, "who are saying 'enough is packets now! enough' begin to realize that now is the time to get into the streets." Antiwar, anti-apartheid demonstra­ The Boston meeting was the broadest tion kits can be gotten for $1 each by antiwar planning meeting in a long time. A contacting: number of union presidents, vice-presi­ dents, and other officials attended the Tom Reifer, c/o Mobilization event. Representatives from the Amalga­ for Justice and Peace in Central mated Clothing and Textile Workers; America and Southern Africa · American Federation of State, County and 712 G St. SE Municipal Employees; American Federa­ Washington, D.C. 20003 tion of Government Employees; Hotel Em­ Phone: (202) 547-0061 ployees and Restaurant Employees; Mas­ or: sachusetts Teachers Association; SEIU; CISPES and United Electrical Workers union, P.O. Box 10256 along with the Massachusetts Labor Com­ Washington, D;c. 20005 Militant/Bob Hoyle mittee for Democracy, Human Rights, and Phone: (202) 265-0890 Nuclear test site was $CeDe of February 5 protest Nonintervention in Central America all

February 27, 1987 The Militant 5 Selling to rail workers at Penn Station in N.Y• .

BY MARTIN KOPPEL schedules, we haven't run into added. Our t3Iking to him was ap­ at this rail yard, the hardest part of paper. More workers stopped to NEW YORK-A regular team the8Cf two workers since then, but parently the extra nudge it took to selling the Militant and PM there see what the paper had to say, and of Militant and Perspectiva Mun­ thanks to their subscriptions, they convince him to renew his sub­ is being seen by rail workers in the several expressed their outrage at dial supporters has been selling to are still able .to read the paper scription. He said he would be midst of the rush-hour throng of the company's attitude. rail workers at Pennsylvania Sta­ every week. sending in his coupon and money passengers. Thus sales have. been Also, additional teams of Mili­ tion here since last fall's national Now the subscriptions bought right away. quite modest. This makes estab­ tant-PM supporters have sold at After the holiday season, it was lishing a regular and more visible the rail yard for a couple of weeks, a little difficult to get the team presence there our main goal. and additional papers were sold. SELLING OUR PRESS started back on a regular weekly After the Amtrak-Conrail train The main result, though, was that sale. Then we found a third Mili­ crash a few weeks ago, manage­ more workers took a serious look AT THE PLANT GATE tant-PM supporter who wanted to ment, the government, and the at the Militant for the first time, join us. This has helped us main­ media went on a campaign to pin which will pay off over the long ·subscription. drive. during the fall drive are running tain our regular presence at Penn the blame on the workers, instead run if regular sales are maintained. During that drive, two rail out and it's time to renew. Re­ Station, since we can now always of focusing on how to improve the Our next step will be to put out a workers, one who works for Am­ cently we met another NIT worker count on a two-person team. Pre­ hazardous conditions on the rail­ leaflet introducing the Militant and trak and the other for New Jersey who told us that one of his co­ viously, the sale would often not road. Perspectiva Mundial to rail work­ Transit, bought Militant subscrip­ workers had sold him a Militant take place if one of us was tied up The sales team utilized the ers, following the suggestion tions frOm our team. Because of subscription. "In fact, I just got due to work or other activities. prominent Militant coverage to en­ made by a previous contributor to rail workers' constantly changing my renewal notice in the mail," he Because no "plant gate" exists courage rail workers to buy the this column. 'I wish mainstream media would print the truth'

BY MALIK MIAH tan. Keep up the great work!" weeks ago," Watson added. "The response "We've also found," Wagner said, "that As we· head into the fmal week of the Another subscriber, in Portland, Maine, has been good. Four PM subscriptions it is important to call back people who say, eight-week renewal .campaign, 881 Mili­ wrote: "I read the Militant primarily for the have been extended. And when we go out 'call me in a week or two.' Many of these . tant readers have extended their subscrip­ Nicaragua coverage." He added, "I would to pick up the money, we've also sold back subscribers have extended their subscrip­ tions. Some 67 renewals came into the like to see more coverage of Vietnam, and issues of PM, the Pathfinder Press book tions on the second or third call back.;, · business office this past week. an ongoing analysis of what that country is Hab/a Nelson Mande/a [Nelson Mandela doing to reconstruct itself after the savage Speaks], and other literature. One person After my interview with Wagner and In addition, renewals to the Spanish-lan­ Watson, I ran into Hector Marroquin, guage monthly Perspectiva Mundial are American war." not only renewed his PM subscription but While all the letters and comments the bought a Militant subscription when he another distributor of Perspectiva Mundial just beginning to come in. New PM sub­ and the Militant in New Jersey. Marroquin scribers began receiving renewal notices business office receives are not always fa­ learned there is an ~nglish PM." vorable, the overall response is positive. "That's not uncommon," said Wagner. has done some of the phone calling to PM frOm New York with the February issue, subscribers. and distributors around the country only This is also true around the country. "Because the PM comes out monthly, many PM readers also decide to subscribe I asked him what the response has been. began contacting subscribers a couple In a recent discussion with Candace to the Militant." "Great," he said. "80 percent of the people weeks ago. Twenty-four renewals came in Wagner and Leroy Watson of Newark, Watson stressed the value of home visits I've talked to said they will renew their PM this past week, with 11 for one-year sub­ New Jersey, that's what they reported. I scriptions. to subscribers. "People like to see the subscription." So far, Marroquin has last talked to Newark distributors nearly human face. They want to talk politics." talked to 20 readers. Of the 881 Militant renewals, 221 are for five weeks ago when the renewal effqrt six-month extensions and 246 are for one­ frrst kicked off. One month later the results year extensions. Those ordering a six­ are impressive. month or one-year renewal also receive a "Not only have 20 people renewed their Verdict due in Bumpurs ldHing free issue of the Marxist magazine New In­ subscriptions," Wagner said, "but another ternational. 18 people have bought frrst-time subscrip­ BY HARRY RING the slain woman, had lied from the witness Readers extending their subscriptions tions. That's been one of the benefits of or­ NEW YORK - A judge's verdict is stand. · often include a brief comment on their re­ ganizing the renewal campaign - every­ now awaited in ·the manslaughter trial of The defense argued Sullivan had slain newal-form. After extending her subscrip- one is more aware of selling subscriptions Stephen Sullivan, the city cop who shot the elderly woman to prevent her from at­ - tion for three months, a reader in Ventura, in general." and killed Eleanor Bumpurs, a 66-year-old tacking another cop with a kitchen knife. California, wrote: "I wish the 'mainstream' During February, Newark Militant sup­ Black woman. Sullivan was one of a team Sullivan's frrst shot ripped off part of Bum­ media would print the truth. Perhaps then porters are organizing phone calling to the of cops who broke into . Bumpurs' city purs' hand. He then fired the shot that . people would no longer have such blind subscriber lists three times a week. In addi­ housing apartment to evict her for' owing killed her. fai~ in their leaders and realize the at­ tion, Watson explained, sales are or­ four months on her $98 rent. A doctor testifying for the defense as­ rocities that their 'leaders' are directly and ganized at Black History Month events. - The nonjury trial ended February 17 serted sh~ might have been able to continue indirectly committing against our people." They also sell at other political events and with prosecution and defense summations. wielding the knife with her fourth and fifth "Coverage of Irangate has been out­ meetings. Sullivan's lawyer sparked an angry out­ fingers, after the remainder were shot off. standing," wrote a Baltimore reader. "[I] "We only began organizing regular burst from the courtroom spectators when He acknowledged he was paid $750 for his would like to see more on events in Pakis- phone calling of PM subscribers a couple he suggested Mary Bumpurs, daughter of testimony. Meanwhile, a new case of police brutal­ ity has created enough of a stench for Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward to announce a ban on the police practice of ' . pecial offer for 'New International' hog-tying victims. Wajid · Abdul-Salaam, a city transit · if you renew your 'Militant' subscription worker, died February 12 after being sub­ jected to this. Victims of hog-tying have their shackled hands and feet trussed behind their backs. Abdul-Salaam was arrested as a burglary suspect after knocking on the door of a home and pleading for water, complaining of chest pains . . Eight cops descended on him, hog-tied him and took him away. In a police holding cell, Abdul-Salaam lapsed into a coma and was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. The lawyer for his family, C. Vernon · Mason, charged Abdul-Salaam had been beaten by the cops and this was the cause of his death. Mason is also attorney for Timothy Grimes, a survivor of the Howard Beach attack. ~o\:2, No· 2 Police claim an autopsy showed a high level of cocaine in Abdul-Salaam's blood. If you renew your Militant International. (Specify NI No. $3. Mason responded he had received anony­ subscription today, you'll re­ Vol. No. de­ D Subscription to New Inter­ mous information frOm a nurse at the hos­ ceive free an issue of New 1n­ sired.) $24. national. $12 for three is­ pital where Abdul-Salaam died. She s~d a ternational, a magazine of sues. Current issue sent blood test condUcted by the hospital found D Six-month renewal and no evidence of cocaine. She gave Mason Marxist politics and theory, free New International. free. published in New York. the name of an attending doctor who could (Specify Vol. __ Name------'------confirm this. So far, the doctor has not Or for only $10 you can re­ No. ) $12. been available to reporters. ceive all of the five issues of Address------D All five issues of New Inter­ City_...... ;..._...._._ _ ___ Mason also said that when Abdul­ New International that have national (without Militant appeared - a big saving. Stete Zip---­ Salaam's widow saw the body there were renewal). . $10. bruise marks on his face. She was not per­ Please send me: Make check payable to the Mili­ mitted to view the rest of the body. D One-year Militant renewal D One issue of New Interna­ tant, and send to 410 West St., Police conceded there were. bruises on subscription and free New tional. Vol. __ New York, N.Y. 10014. his face and "extremities," but argued this was the result of a scuffle, not a beating . ' The Militant . February 27, 1987 . . . ~-· Cuba hosts - ~ Third World art festival f --- Challenges imperialist legacy Antonio Dairy Development by Cuban artist Jose Bedia, exhibited with art from 58 countries at Biennial.

BY MIKE ALEWITZ modernist and postniodernist movements She showed how he combined the influ­ month-long Latin American ftlm festival HAVANA - "What we have is a giant stemming from Europe and the United ences of his African, Asian, and European began. In just a few weeks, between 400 festival of Third World art," said Gerardo States have been held up as the only real descent, as well as the Afro-Cuban influ­ and 500 new ftlms from throughout Latin Mosquera, one of the central organizers of contemporary art. · ences that surrounded him. America were shown. Like the Biennial, the Havana Biennial. The vast arts exhibi­ · Because of the legacy of imperialism, Gerardo Mosquera and others discussed the ftlm festival is an international effort tion opened November 26 and concluded many countries are unable to maintain arts slavery and African traditions in Cuban art. hosted by Cuba and sponsored by a wide December 31 . institutions and a layer of working artists. And Robert Ferris Thompson of Yale Uni­ spectrum of individuals and institutions. The first Havana Biennial was held in Even in revolutionary countries like Cuba, versity gave a presentation on the African A special program of African films ran 1984. More than 800 artists from Latin the process of building the arts is a dec­ roots of much of the cultural heritage of the concurrently with the festival. Film-mak­ America and the Caribbean participated in ades-long process. Americas. ers from the West African nation of Bur­ that event, and 200,000 people viewed All these factors made the organizers' These talks related to a wider discussion kina Faso participated. Gaston Kabore, some 2,000 works of art. task difficult. The selection process varied. throughout Cuban society. The importance president of the Film Center there, de­ That show's success encouraged or­ from country to country. In some cases art­ of African culture for Cuba is being redis­ scribed the African ftlm festival to be held ganizers to expand the 1986 exhibition to istS were invited by the biennial organizers. covered as part of the country's heritage, in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, include art from Asia, Africa, and the Mid­ In others arts organizations or government along with Spanish and indigenous culture in late February. . dle East. More than 2,400 works by artists institutions made the selections. Many and traditions. · At the November 26 opening ceremony from 58 countries were represented in the Third World countries were not represen­ One of the participants was Malangatana of the Biennial, Cuban Minister of Culture show at the National Museum of Fine Arts. ted at all. The works themselves ranged Ngwenya, one of the foremost Mozambi­ Armando Hart addressed an audience of "The Biennial is not just the activities in from tourist-oriented "primitives" to works can artists. He had a one-person show at thousands. "In bringing your work from Havana," Mosquera explained, "but takes reflecting strong European influence to the Casa de Ia Africa as part of the Bien­ such far off places," he said, "you have place throughout the entire country." Spe­ those with indigenously based styles and nial. shown great trust in Cuba, and this moves cial exhibitions and workshops were held subject matter. Malangatana told me how he became an and commits us. Visual arts in the so-called throughout December, including one-per­ Prizes were awarded to artists from artist. Under the influence of his mother, Third World date back thousands of years. son shows by Amalia Palaez of Cuba, Uruguay, Mozambique. India, Mexico, who practiced the traditional art of tattoo Their history is sacred because it expresses Herve Telemaque of Haiti, Nja Mahdaoui Argentina, the Philippines, Angola, Peru, decoration in their jungle home, he began what we are. Those who don't seek of Tunisia, and others. and Cuba. Prize-winner Marta Palau· do­ to make drawings. Later he became a nourishment from the past cannot build a Artists from Nicaragua played a promi­ nated her prize money to revolutionary painter. After the overthrow of Portuguese constructive present or future. In the last nent part in the month's events. That coun­ Nicaragua and her award-winning work to colonial rule in 1974, he continued paint­ few decades the visual arts of many of our try's revolutionary government is fostering Cuba. ing and began developing an art program in peoples were influenced by the so-called art programs, schools, workshops, and The Biennial gave a strong impulse to a country where none had existed. European avant-garde; but now we have centers. the work of the Wilfredo Lam Center, While the Biennial was going on, a broken on the scene with our own force." Th.~ lively and popular character of Nic­ which documents and exhibits artistic araguan art \vas indicated by the group works of the oppressed peoples who are a showing of the work of primativist (un­ majority of the world's population. The trained) painters from the islands of Solen-_ center also played a major role in the 'Platoon' makes you think twice tiname, located in Lake Nicaragua in the November 27-29 International Conference southern part of the country. The Solen­ on Visual Arts in the Caribbean. about fighting another Vietnam tiname artists' project was organized by African culture in Cuba Minister of Culture Ernesto Cardenal. Platoon. Written and directed by Oliver The story begins with a group of Gls Llilian Llanes, director of the Wilfredo More than a dozen Nicaraguan artists Stone. Produced by Arnold Kopelson. who have just landed in Vietnam. The first Lam center, opened the conference. She submitted works to the central show. Distributed by Orion Pictures. thing they see are body bags being shipped "Beyond the blockade" was a show of 60 placed the meeting in the context of the back to the States. That's when their look works by North American artists displayed struggles in Latin America today and the BY MICHAEL BROWN of determination turns into fear. I am sure a in the Casa de las Americas during the legacy of the nineteenth-century Cubari Platoon is a movie about a group of Gls lot of vets could relate to that particular revolutionary Jose Marti. Marti was not Biennial. The show included work by such in Vietnam who at first thought they were scene. notable artists as Vito Acconci, Judy only a political organizer, but a literary and Chris Taylor, who plays the patriotic Chicago, Leon Golub, Keith Haring, Claes artistic critic who attempted to forge links college student, comes to realize who is .. Oldenburg, Jacob Lawrence, and Miriam between all of the oppressed of the Western fighting the war __;__ workers, farmers, and Shapiro. At the opening ceremonies the Hemisphere - "our America," as he called FILM· REVIEW poor people. One of the Gls asks him, exhibit was donated to the people of Cuba. it. "What are you doing here? You're a rich The organizing committee for this show in­ Suzanne Garriques of Morgan State Uni­ college kid who quit school to·comebere. cluded critics Dore Ashton and Lucy Lip­ versity in Baltimore spoke on the early fighting for democratic rights but later You must be crazy." After the first battle, pard and artists Eva Cockcroft and Juan works of Lam, an outstanding Cuban artist. realized they were fighting to survive. he begins to feel a little crazy. Sanchez. Fear becomes the only emotion through­ out the movie: the fear of being killed, the Suppression of Third World art Speeches of Bishop now out in Spanish fear of not making it home. This is what Much of contemporary Third World art really makes the movie realistic. is undocumented. The major art institu­ The Cuban publishing house Casa de las of the Grenada revolution. In orie segment of the movie the platoon tions and media of the imperialist countries Americas has put out for the first time in The volume, Maurice Bishop: Selected comes upona small village. The Gls come tend to ignore, condemn as irrelevant, or Spanish an extensive collection of the writ­ Speeches, 1979-1983, traces the history of face to face with peasants who are support­ patronize as primitive Third World art. The ings of Maurice Bishop, murdered leader the Grenada revolution through more than ers of the revolution. Sergeant Barnes, a 30 speeches by Bishop. gung-ho lifer who controls a small clique This is . a "major publishing event for of Gls, begins to ransack the village. They Cuba, and for the many eventual readers beat and kill a youilg retarded peasant, rape ••• from Pathfinder: throughout Latin America," declared are­ children, and end up killing an old woman port on the new book in the January 25 who stood up and complained about the Fidel Castro issue of the Havana newspaper Granma Gls doing this. That's when the other Gls Weekly Review. · step iD to stop a potential massacre. At that Nothing "Casa de las Americas always planned to moment the Gls don't know who the provide Spanish-speaking readers in Cuba enemy is, or why they are there. All Can Stop the and Latin America with the chance to read throughout the movie . the only thing the the thinking of a man who became a bul­ Gls can think about is going home. and Course of History wark of revolutionary honesty and integ­ counting the days they have left. ' "Undoubtedly the longest and most wide­ rity, ·and this has now materialized" with -This movie is a powerful and accrirate ranging interview ever .conducted with the Spanish edition of Selected Speeches. description of the Vietnam War; Ali of us Cuban President Fidel Castro. In it, Cas­ The book updates a collection of who served in Vietnam can rehite in·one tro speaks directly to the people of the Bishop's speeches . originally printed in way or another to Platoon. I would like to United States on questions of vital impor­ English by Casa de las Americas in 1982. recommend that everyone, especially tance to citizens of both our countries." Added are a number ·of important docu­ young people and the Rambo stereotypes, From the preface by Rep. Mervyn M. ments, inCluding the text of Bishop's see Platoon. speech to U.S. working people at Hunter Dymally, who with Jeffrey M. Elliot con­ The deep message and strong impact of ducted the interview. 276 pages, $7.95 College in New York City June 5, 1983. this mo\rie will make you think twice about Also added to the Spanish-language edi­ fighting another Vietnam. Think Central Available from Pathfmder Bookstores listed on tion are three interviews with Bishop, two America... · page 12 or by mail from Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Please in­ taken from Granma and a third that first clude 75 cents for postage and handling. appeared in the U.S, news magazine Inter­ Michael Brown was in the U.S. Navy's continental Press in 1980. Riverine Patrol Forces in Vietnam in 1971.

February 27, 1987 The Militant 7 Defeat of printers' strike is big blow to British workers BY BRIAN GROGAN Labour Party verbally suppOrted the strike. LONDON - At a meeting here Feb­ Their orientation, however, was to end ruary 10, printers called off their 13- mass picketing, which they considered month-long strike against two plants harmful to.their electoral chances. owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Inter­ national. The "Wapping Dispute," as it be­ Solidarity from the miners came known, was the most important labor There was some important support, battle in Britain since the 1984-1985 min- . nonetheless. For example the coal miners ers' strike. The defeat of this struggle is a and the Women Against Pit Closures big setback for the working class in Brit­ mobilized to aid the strikers. ain. Arthur Scargill, the leader of the Na­ A week before the strike was called off, tional Union of Mineworkers, addressed the leadership of the two major printers' mass rallies outside Wapping on a number unions, the Society of Graphical and Allied of occasions. Early in the dispute Scargill Trades (SOGAT-82) and the National had declared, "Miners will respond in their Graphical Association (NGA) had with­ thousands if the print workers ask them." drawn official backing for the strike. This No official call came, however. Tony Savino was done under the threat of court action Support for the printers also came from Workers picket Wapping plant owned by Rupert Murdoch's News International by Murdoch. The newspaper tycoon Women Against Murdoch (WAM), which tlrm. British cops helped break strike against fuing of 5,500 unionists. claimed damages of £250,000 ($400,000) organized ·the women family members of from each union for failing to end mass the printers in the dispute. W AM had been your job. And over the years printers had demonstrations and mass picketing outside inspired by the Women .Against Pit Clo­ win the workers at Demrose in Liverpool, demonstrated solidarity with other fights. the News International plants at Wapping sures that had organized similar support who produce the News International color But in the last few years the composition in East London and Kinning Park in Glas" during the miners' strike. supplement. Consequently, they refused to of the print unions has changed. The print join the fight. · gow. Support groups were formed in most The decision by the top officials of the major cities. This network collected much union SOGAT-82 had been formed in 1982 Then, in tum, all the other newspaper from a fusion between printers in the main two unions to end support for the strike was needed finances and helped mobilize for publishers demanded new conditions, print centers such as Fleet Street in London made without consulting the strikers. the mass pickets and demonstrations. wage cuts, and layoffs. Each one of these The strikers' goal was to win the Residents in the local area regularly and those who organized distribution in an­ deals was negotiated by the union leader­ cillary industries as well as printers in reinstatement of the 5,500 printers fired by mobilized to show their support and to ship without trying to link up with the smaller plants. The printers from the main News International in January 1985 at the demonstrate their hostility to the existence Wapping fight. centers were a minority in the new union. time the new Wapping plant was opened, in their community of "Fortress W apping." The only exception to this bleak picture The divisions during the strike tended to and to win recognition at Wapping and The leaders of the SOGAT-82 and the in the print industry were the London fall along those lines. wholesale distribution workers who re­ Kinning Park. NGA, however, never developed a strate­ The failure to win these aims has sub­ gy for mobilizing the strength of their own The militancy and determination of the fused to handle News International titles. stantially weakened these two hitherto unions or building solidarity with the rest fired printers deepened the polarization in The leader of this action, Mike Hicks, was powerful printing unions. · of the labor movement. From the begin­ the print unions and in the broader labor jailed for 12 months on a trumped-up Moreover, it is a sharp setback to the ning, they counterposed their alternative of movement. On three separate occasions the charge. fight against Prime Minister Margaret "moderation" to that of the still-fresh ex­ fired printers rejected sellout deals in secret Without mobilizing print workers, it was Thatcher's antiunion laws, which were perience of mass picketing and mass action ballots. The demonstrations and mass pick­ difficult. to get action from the rest of the used to their fullest extent against this during the coal miners' strike. eting of W apping were carried on in direct labor movement. The handwriting was on strike. Accordingly, they .insisted any · action defiance of the court injunction granted the wall when, early this year, the SOGAT Among other things, these laws greatly they organized stay within the · Tories' News International and acceded to by the membership narrowly turned down a pro­ curtail picketing. draconian antiunion laws. They focused on union leaderships in May. posed 88-cents-a-week assessment for the New work rules in the Wapping plant it­ campaigning for a consumer boycott of This bold stance enabled the printers in strike. The police riot and the court actions self establish a new trend in conditions of News International titles rather than Wapping and Kinning Park to win their added the coup de grace. employment; The scab work force, re­ mobilizing support from other trade union to support their strike and demands. This fight will leave an indelible mark cruited by the electricians' union, has ac­ unions. At the biennial delegate conference last on the labor movement. The lessons of this July, clear aims of full reinstatement and historic struggle will be debated for a long cepted a legally enforceable no-strike Polarization in print unions agreement and complete job flexibility. As union recogniiion were won for the first time. The experience has deepened the po­ a result, jobs in the News International ·This contradictory stance reflected the time. Until then the leadership had em­ litical understanding of those who support­ print room have been cut from 2,000 when polarized situation among print workers. phasized increasing unemployment pay­ ed the fight in the support committees, in it operated at Fleet Street to 500 at its Wap­ The printers have enjoyed some of the ments. the NUM, and in Women Against Pit Clo­ ping location. highest paid jobs in British industry. Union Other opportunities to extend the strug­ sures. This is also true of such left Labour strength had been such that if you lost your gle and deepen support were missed. For Party figures as . Tony Benn who fully backed the struggle. Determined struggle union membership, you would also lose example, no campaign was organized to The fu:ed News International print work­ ers put up a determined fight. They main­ tained a round-the-clock picket of the plant New Zealand socialists hold nat'l conference and mobilized twice-weekly demonstra­ tions of several thousand. From time to The following article is abridged islands held by France as a colony); Nica­ is especially true of activities opposing time, the Saturday demonstrations became from the January 30 issue of Socialist ragua Must Survive; Philippines Solidarity U.S. imperialism's war against Nicaragua a major focus for the labor movement. At Action, a biweekly newspaper pub­ Network; Auckland Trades Council Peace and in solidarity with the struggle against one of these :mobilizations, on January 24, lished in Auckland, New Zealand. Office; and the Cuba Friendship Society. the apartheid regime in South Africa. police waded into 20,000 demonstrators, Mike Tucker, editor of Socialist Action, The conference featured talks, class causing a number of injuries. BY JOAN PHILLIPS reported on the new openings for spreading series, panel discussions, and other events. The plant was surrounded by razor wire. AUCKLAND - How can socialist socialist ideas in the labor movement in Topics ranged from women's liberation, to Police on horseback as well as on foot, car­ workers most effectively participate in po­ New Zealand. · the freedom struggle in the Pacific, to the rying shields and wielding riot sticks, were litical movements and in the struggles of Growing numbers of union members are program for .farmers put forward by the routine outside Wapping during the strike. workers and their unions? How can looking for effective ways to fight the boss­ New Zealand Labour Party in its early Nearly 1 ,500 printers and their supporters socialists help other working-class fighters es' attacks, Tucker said. He cited the fight years. were arrested in 1986. gain a broader class perspective? of the pulp and paper workers at Kawerau Yet the strike remained essentially iso­ These questions were the heart of discus­ Workshops brought together SAL mem­ last August and September. lated from the rest of the labor movement. sions at the five-day Socialist Educational bers involved in different struggles and Harold Appleton, assistant secretary of The Trades Union Congress (TUC) general and Activists Conference held by the campaigns to discuss perspectives for the Pulp and Paper Workers Union at council refused to mobilize any of its Socialist Action League and Young 1987. Kawerau, was a special guest at the confer­ nearly 10 million members in support. Socialists at the end of 1986. Other workshops discussed strengthen­ ence. He took part in a panel discussion on TUC General Secretary Norman Willis ar­ International guests included Dave ing SAL finances, literature sales, socialist the situation facing the unions. gued that Thatcher's antiunion laws would Deutschmann, a representative of Path­ forums, and other institutions. He described the participation of the be used against the TUC if it took action. finder Press/Pacific and Asia based in Syd­ League and YS members who belong to union ranks in all decisions made during The general council's position was in de­ ney, Australia; a delegatiort from the the two meat workers' unions - the the battle. He stressed that a union's fiance of the 1986 TUC' s Congress, which Socialist League, a group of Australian United Food and Chemical Workers Union strength is its membership, and that work­ voted to back the print workers' struggle supporters of the Fourth International; and and the Engineers Union - met sepa­ ers need unity and union solidarity to con­ and demanded the general council discip­ Sam Manuel, a member of the National rately. front common problems. "Every fight is line the electricians' union for organizing Committee of the Socialist Workers Party everyone's fight," he said. the scab work force. in the United States. A rally raised money for Socialist Ac­ The second theme was the challenge be­ Leaderships of other unions made sym­ Members of other left groups in New tion. Three international guests spoke­ fore New Zealand communists to deepen pathetic noises, but with the exception of Zealand also attended, including members Deutschmann, Manuel, and Lee Wal­ our understanding of our revolutionary kington (the latter representing the the miners li~e action was taken. The of the Workers Communist League, a rep­ heritage and continuity. ·Socialist Action Transport Union failed to discipline its resentative of the Revolutionary Com­ Socialist League of Australia). Jurriaan League National Secretary Russell Johnson members who nightly drove Murdoch's munist League in Christchurch, and mem­ Bendien presented greetings on behalf of spoke on "Communist Continuity .and transport trucks through the picket lines. bers of the Socialist Alliance from Auck­ the Revolutionary Communist League. Prospects for a Socialist Revolution in New Murdoch had acquired his own transport land and Wellington, Two Socialist Action supporters, attend­ Zealand." Many classes dealt with aspects company to distribute his papers nation­ The conference was addressed by repre­ ing their first conference, also spoke. of this theme. ally, thereby sidestepping solidarity action sentatives of an anti-apartheid organiza­ Two themes dominated the conference. A total of $3,380 [US$1 ,825] worth of by rail workers who previously had distri­ tion, Hart; Kanak Solidarity (Kanaks are The first was the new opportunities that literature was sold by Pilot Books, a New buted the papers. the indigenous people fighting for the inde­ exist to draw workers, their unions, and Zealand distributor of books published by Neil Kinnock and the leadership of the pendence of New Caledonia, South Pacific young fighters into political activity. This Pathfuider Press.

8 The Militant February 27, 1987 What sanctions work against apartheid?

BY ERNEST HARSCH The company that is taking. over the International Business Machines, Gen­ General Motors plants will continue to pro­ eral Motors, Exxon, General Electric, duce GM cars and trucks, and the GM par­ Coca-Cola, and some 70 other U.S. com­ ent company in the United States will sell it panies have announced over the past two the parts to do so. A former GM executive years that they are pulling out of South Af­ will head the new firm. rica. General Electric claims that it was "out Are these "withdrawals" effective sanc­ of South Mrica as of Jan. 1, 1986," but it tions? Are these companies really cutting maintains licensing and other arrangements their ties to apartheid? Is this what anti­ for the sale of its products in South Africa. apartheid activists have been campaigning "These companies are not withdrawing for? from South Africa," Duncan Innes, a Many opponents of apartheid don't think prominent anti-apartheid figure who so. teaches at the University of the Witwaters­ "It is fake divestment," Tim Webb, a rand, wrote in the October 24-30 Johan­ British trade union leader, said of ffiM's nesburg Weekly Mail. "They are simply announced withdrawal. He was speaking at changing the form of their involvement in a mid-January conference in London of this country." British and U.S. union leaders called to And in many cases, Innes pointed out, discuss an international organizing drive these new arrangements will be lucrative to for IBM workers. the parent companies, which will draw sig­ Morton Bahr, president of the Com­ nificant earnings from sales, royalty pay­ munications Workers of America, said that ments, and licensing fees. ffiM's announcement was "hypocritical," Since the new_ "South African-owned" designed to . -"deceive the American companies will not be bound by the same people." General Motors plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. GM says it has pulled out of U.S. laws that prohibit their parent firms Several days later, on January 19, five South Africa, but ''new" owners will produce GM cars and trucks with parts supplied from selling to the South African govern­ U.S. anti-apartheid organizations issued a by GM in United States. . ·ment, military, and police, new markets statement declaring that "companies like may even open up. GM's new buyers, for General Motors, ffiM, and Coca-Cola example, have already said they will "not have announced withdrawals but continue ing profit rate of their South African oper­ versities have adopted measures at least preclude" sales of GM trucks to the police to provide vital economic support to South ations. partially divesting funds from companies and military. · Africa through ongoing licensing, distribu­ The U.S. government and companies operating in South Mrica. Protests needed tion, marketing, and service agreements. have likewise come under intense pressure Confronted with this situation, about a from the anti-apartheid movement in this quarter of all U.S. companies with direct The way these companies are continuing ffiM, for example, has granted an exclu­ country. their operations in South Africa through sive ffiM franchise to the new company subsidiaries in South Africa have made "di­ As part of the fight for sanctions, the de­ vestment" announcements. other means shows the need for more pro­ that has bought up its former subsidiary. mand for state and city governments and tests demanding a halt to all U.S. econom­ The full range of mM products and ser­ universities to withdraw their funds from ' ic, political, and military ties with the vices will continue to be available in South companies doing business in South Africa 'Not withdrawing from South Africa' apartheid regime. Africa. has served to educate about U.S. corporate But rather than pulling out entirely, Pressure should be put especially on the "Such companies have not ended their links with apartheid. And. it has served to . these companies are selling their sub- U.S. government, demanding it impose links to apartheid," the Statement said . . help mobilize tens of thousands in action sidiaries to local South African full sanctions in order to help politically The five groups are the American Com­ against apartheid, particularly students. · businessmen and corporations -..,. with and economically isolate the South African mittee on Africa, American Friends Ser­ So far, 15 states, 49 cities, and 120 uni- whom they then maintain close ties. government in the world today. vice Committee, Interfaith Center on Cor­ porate Responsibility, . TransAfrica, and Washington Office on Africa. Meanwhile, the economic sanctions that Asian-Americans hit racist attacks the U.S. government has proclaimed against South Africa are very limited. BY BOBBIS MISAILIDES . • Ly Yung Cheung, a Chinese-Ameri­ make English the official language of the Contained in the Comprehensive Anti­ NEW YORK - "Just like other people can garment worker, was pushed to her United States. Apartheid Act of 1986 approved by Con­ of color," Mini Liu said in a meeting here death in front of a subway train two years The coalition condemns the. scapegoat­ gress, these measures prohibit most new recently, "Asian-Americans face racist at­ ago. The assailant said he had a "phobia ing of Asian countries, hence all Asian­ U.S. investments in South Africa and im­ tacks. Asian-Americans are presented as a about Asians." looking people, for unemployment in this ports of South African steel, iron, uranium, 'model minority' which is then used to jus­ The coalition of organizations that came country, and opposes the "Buy American" coal, and textiles. These trade restrictions tify their exclusion from affirmative action together looking for a way to respond to the campaign and the calls for trade protec­ affect $350 million worth of South African and other programs." racist attacks includes Japanese-, Chinese-, tionism that are pressed by the labor union exports to the United States -only a tenth . Liu is chairperson of the Coalition and Korean-American groups, as well as officialdom. · of the $3.4 billion yearly trade between the Against Anti-Asian Violence. In a state­ the Coalition of Labor Union Women and The coalition has been participating in two countries. ment of purpose adopted by the coalition the International Ladies' Garment Work­ the protest movement against the murder of last August, some of the attacks against ers' Union Local23-25, which hasa predo­ Michael Griffith, the Black construction Companies feel the heat Asian-Americans were described: minantly Chinese membership. worker killed in the Howard Beach attack. "It's time to unite," Mini Liu said, "and de­ Limited though they are, such measures • Gary Moy, a Chinese-American teen­ Contributing to anti-Asian violence, the mand justice." by Washington and by many U.S. corpora­ ager, was stabbed in Brooklyn last June by statement points out, are the whipping up tions reflect the pressure they are under. a youth who said, "These Chinks don't be­ of anti-alien sentiment, proposals to re­ Bobbis Misailides is a member of ILGWU For a long time they resisted any reduction long in this neighborhood." strict immigration, and the campaign to Loca/23-25. in their direct ties with South Africa. • Charles Pyo, a Korean cab driver, But the massive growth of the South Af­ was severely beaten last March by Queens, rican freedom struggle has shaken the con­ New York police shouting racial slurs. Oliver Tambo speaks in Atlanta· fidence of many foreign investors. • Bun Vong, a Kampuchean refugee, . . So has South Africa's severe economic was chased and beaten to death by two men recession. Most of the firms that have said in Medford, Massachusetts, in August BY HELEN LOWENTHAL "It has its allies here .... South Africa is a they are pulling out have cited the declin- 1985. ATLANTA - Oliver Tambo, president hothouse of racist ideas for racists in the of the African National Congress (ANC}, United States." He reiterated the program received a standing ovation from 2,500 stu­ of the ANC for a united, democratic South dents and guests at a Morehouse College Africa with equal rights for all. Haitian protesters in Miami call assembly, where he was awarded an honor­ ary degree on February 5, the last day of his U.S. tour. Many of the students at the for ouster of U.S.-backed regime Black college had demonstrated two weeks earlier to protest the exclusion of Blacks BY LINDA JOYCE Their "celebration" of "democracy" in from Forsyth County, Georgia, and several MIAMI - Over 500 people took to the Haiti since Duvalier's fall was a flop. speakers alluded to the racism of apartheid streets here February 7 to express their dis­ Many Haitians said there was nothing to and racism in the United States. satisfaction with the National Council of celebrate. Nothing has been done to change Government (CNG), Haiti's caretaker gov­ the gross poverty and horrendous working Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young made ernment since Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" conditions of Haiti's workersand peasants. welcoming remarks for the program. H~ Duvalier was toppled one year ago. Referring to the Haitians that organized criticized the Reagan administration's sup­ port for the apartheid regime and compared The crowd chanted, "Down with the "celebration," a representativve of the it with its support for the contras in Nicara­ CNG--'Long live Charlemagne Peralte" Committee Against CNG Propaganda said gua. and "Death to imperialism-..,.blow by blow. at the rally after the march, "Feb. 7, 1987, Down with the CIA!" as they marched shows us clearly who is ready to fight for Tambo traced. the history of the ANC, through downtown to the Haitian consu­ radical change in Haiti and who is not, and which is observing its 75th anniversary this late. Peralte was the head of the national further why we can't participate in any cel­ year. For its first 50 years, it was commit­ liberation movement in Haiti during the ebration. Feb. 7 should be a moment of re­ ted to nonviolent forms of protest, Tambo U.S. occupation, 1915-1934. flection for the masses to find new forms of said. But in 1961 it took up arms. Like Gerard Jean-Juste, director of the Hai­ struggle that will lead to radical changes." General Washington and the 5,000 Black tian Refugee Center in Miami, delivered a Other speakers included a representative soldiers who fought as part of the Conti­ letter to the Haitian consulate demanding of the Latin American Solidarity Commit­ nental Army for the independence of the 13 that the $50 passport fees for Haitians tee. colonies, "we also know- in the face of wanting to return be reduced. Groups organizing the march included tyranny - to rise up in defense of the op­ The Miami city government put up the Veye Yo Committee,. Ad Hoc Commit­ pressed." $10,000 to put on a street festival in the tee of Solidarity With Haiti, and the Com­ ''The apartheid regime is the fountain­ Oliver Tambo, president of African Na­ Haitian community to try to deflect protest. mittee Against CNG Propaganda. head of international raCism," Tambo said .. tional Congress of South Africa.

February 27, 1987 The Militant 9 . . . . Argentine revolutionary Nahuel Moreno dies

BY MARTIN KOPPEL ties, was forced underground and suffered Hugo Bressano, better known as Nahuel heavy blows. Nevertheless, its considera­ Moreno, an Argentine leader of the revolu­ ble roots in the workers' movement ena­ tionary workers' movement for four and a u-- bled it to survive the harsh repression. half decades, died of a heart attack January However, the PST under Moreno's 25 at the age of 62. leadership· began to ·develop an increas­ Moreno became politically active in the ingly sectarian and adventurous course that Argentine Trotskyist movement when he eventually led it to break from the Fourth was 15 years old. In 1941 he was a found­ International. The first clear indication of ing member of the Workers Party of the this outside Argentina was its ultraleft Socialist Revolution (PORS), which was stand on what working people should do in recognized as the Argentine section of the Portugal following the 1974 overthrow of Fourth International. the dictatorship there and the subsequent During the labor upsurge that swept popular upsurge in that country. Argentina after World War II, Moreno par­ From 1975 on, Moreno also bitterly op­ ticipated in the battles that forged two of posed the dissolution of the two factions the country's most powerful unions- the within the Fourth International. In 1977 the packinghouse and textile unions. He was factions dissolved, and Moreno established especially active in the important 1945 his own Bolshevik Faction. This was meat-packers' strike against the British­ accompanied by an increasingly harsh and owned Anglo and CIABASA plants. Hugo Bressano, better known as Nabuel Moreno, was longtime leader of revolution­ factional internal regime. In 1956, he also was centrally involved ary workers' movement. in a major political strike· of the metal­ Provocation workers protesting the military coup that nent. Much of the discussion centered on repression unleashed by tbe military re­ Moreno's break with revolutionary overthrew the government of Juan Per6n . how to repeat in other Latin American gime. The party moved away from the Marxism culminated with a provocation di­ the previous year. countries the overturn of capitalist rule that Fourth International and finally left it in rected against the victorious Sandinista The postwar period saw two Trotskyist the workers and peasants had carried out in 1973. revolution in 1979. groups develop in Argentina - the Fourth Cuba. The role of guerrilla warfare and the The other group, led by Moreno, was In the final months of the revolutionary International group, led by Juan Posadas, kind of revolutionary organization needed called the PRT (La Verdad). It rejected the struggle for power in Nicaragua, Moreno's and the Revolutionary Workers Party were hotly disputed. orientation advocated by the IMT, and su~ supporters organized an armed interna­ (POR), led by Moreno. These developments were reflected in­ ported the LTF . · tional contingent called the Sim6n Bolivar In 1953 the Fourth International split side the whole workers' vanguard, includ­ Brigade. It entered Nicaragua in the last into two public wings, the International ing in the Fourth International. In the early 1969 workers' upsurge days of the country's civil war. Secretariat and the International Commit­ 1970s, two factions emerged- the Inter­ In 1969 a huge workers' upsurge began Using the name and banners of the San­ tee. The IS recognized the group led by national Majority Tendency (IMT) and the in Argentina, continuing for several years. dinista National Liberation Front, the Posadas, who headed its Latin American Leninist-Trotskyist Faction (LTF), divid­ Massive strikes and popular rebellions brigade refused to submit to the Sandinis­ Bureau; the Moreno-led organization su~ ing the Fourth International into two virtu­ shook industrial centers such as C6rdoba, tas' discipline and carried out provocative ported the IC. ally equal parts. Rosario, and other Argentine cities. The actions that led to the expulsion from the When the Cuban revolution triumphed The IMT presented guerrilla warfare as a PRT (La Verdad) was able to test its per­ country of its non-Nicaraguan members. in 1959, a large majority in both wings of general strategic orientation for the revolu­ spectives in practice. It succeeded in win­ The Sim6n Bolivar Brigade played a par­ the Fourth International responded en­ tionary movement in all of Latin America. ning many workers and expanding its influ­ ticularly destructive role in the Atlantic thusiastically to this historic ·advance for The L TF, while seeing guerrilla struggle as ence in the unions. Coast city of Bluefields. workers and peasants the world over. This an important and correct tactic in certain When the military regime was forced to Moreno's course was condemned by the and other developments paved the way for concrete situations, argued that no single hold elections in 1973, the PRT (La Ver­ Fourth International as a "criminal adven­ reunification of the majority of the forces tactic could be successful if raised to the dad) - which had joined with the Argen­ ture." In response, Moreno and his follow­ in the International in 1963. level of a strategy. It insisted on the per­ tine Socialist Party to form the Socialist ers formally broke with the Fourth Interna­ The Posadas current, however, viewed spective of building revolutionary parties Workers Party (PST) - took advantage of tional. Cuba's revolutionary leaders as com­ based on the struggles, experiences, and this opening to present its revolutionary At the time of his death, Moreno was the petitors in Latin America and set out to mass organizations of ·the workers and views to millions of Argentine working central leader of the Movement Toward contest for leadership throughout the conti­ farmers. Only parties capable of winning people. The party ran Juan Carlos Coral for Socialism in Argentina, and of an interna­ nent. Its sectarian political course led it to leadership on all fronts could stand at the president and Nora Ciapponi for vice-pres­ tional Trotskyist grouping called ~e ln(er­ break with the Fourth International in head of a mass struggle for power. ident, as well as a slate of 2,200 candi­ national Workers League. 1962, refusing to take part in the reunifica- dates, including many well-known militant A memorial meeting and funeral proces- . In Argentina, where a mass upsurge was tion. · unionists. sion of several thousand was held for developing against the military dictator­ With the 1976 military coup in Argen­ The party led by Moreno was not recog­ Nahuel Moreno on January 27 in Buenos ship, the PRT split in 1968 over the guer­ tina, the PST, like all other workers' par- Aires. nized as the Argentine section of the Fourth rilla strategy. International until 1965. The same year, it merged. with another group to form the One group, called the PRT (Com­ Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT). batiente), was led by Roberto Santucho. It launched a guerrilla organization, the Rev­ Killings by Philippine military During the 1960s, revolutionists all over olutionary People's Army, and sought to Latin America were inspired by the Cuban carry out the guerrilla warfare strategy. Continued from front page revolution and debated its lessons for the Santucho and many other courageous and vision within the NDF ranks." workers and farmers. struggles developing throughout the conti- dedicated revolutionaries were killed in the The government has gone to great The target of the counterinsurgency lengths to present the NDF as solely re­ drive is the workers' and peasants' organi­ sponsible for ending the talks and itself as zations. According to an article in the Feb­ willing to continue negotiations. At the ruary 5 issue of the Manila Malaya, ''Top Do you know someone who reads Spanish? same time, President Corazon Aquino took military officials met in Manila to map out a tough stance toward the guerrilla fighters. a coordinated campaign against the urban The fight for political rights On February 11 Aquino spoJce before wing of the NPA. Maj. Gen. Salvador some 400 middle level officers of the Mison said that the NPA has infiltrated 159 The court case brought by the Persptqlva Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at labor unions, 107 schools and universities, Socialist Workers Party and the Camp Aguinaldo. She told officers to and 98 squatter areas in the city." Young Socialist Alliance against MUndlal "renew their battle with the rebels so that Since the end of the cease-fire, military the FBI and other U.S. spy agen­ we shall have law and order throughout the attacks in the villages throughout the coun­ cies "is a contribution to constitu­ Protestas dicen 'basta' country and so that our people can work in try have increased. The most brutal oc­ tional law, extending important a los ataques racistas peace." curred February 10 in Lupao, which is lo­ cated in the province of Nueva Ecija, north new protection to the rights of Plden drcel para matones de Howard Beach She continued, 'The truce is over. Send all," said leading constitutional this message to all our troops so that none of Manila: rights attorney· Leonard Boudin, will be misled to relax their vigilance to Initially the army reported that 14 people their peril and that of the people they are - 11 NPA combatants, Qne army officer, who represents the SWP and charged to protect." and two civilians - had been killed in a YSA. In the same speech Aquino announced battle between government troops and the In an extensive interiiew fea­ formation of a special committee to investi­ NPA. The two civilians were reported to tured in the February issue of Per­ gate human rights abuses by nonmilitary have been killed in a crossfire. spectiva M undial, Boudin. discus­ personnel, possibly including the CPP-led The bitter truth was revealed on Feb­ ses this lawsuit and the broader Comoc:an a marchas New People's Army guerrilla organization. ruary 13 when George Castaneda, the fight for democratic rightS today. · nadonales antiguen'a The action is to be taken upon the recom­ mayor of Lupao, reported that 15 people The interview also describes his para el 25 de abrl mendation of Armed Forces Chief of Staff ha9 been killed, all of them civilians. invol~ement in the defense of.Vic­ Fidel Ramos. Among those killed were six children, tims of the McCarthyite witch­ Aquino has also begun a series of discus­ an 82-year-old blind woman, and her hus­ hunt, and more recently the fight Subscriptions: $7 for one year; sions with the army. On February I 0 she band. for the right. to bail for Puerto $4 for six months; Introductory met with 20 officers of the AFP. Among Though the army claimed that 12 of Rican nationalists. framed up by offer, $2.00 for five months. them were Col. Gregorio Honasan, former those killed were NPA guerrillas; no the U.S. govetnment on charges of 0 Begin my sub with current chief of security; Juan Ponce Enrile, weapons were recovered from the victims ''terrorism." issue. former defense minister; and Maj. Efren or their homes. Name ______Aroyata, commander of a faction of the The massacre was confirmed by the act­ Perspectiva Mundial is the AFP known as the Guardians. ing governor of Nueva Ecija, Emmanuel Spanish-language socialist maga­ It was reported that the officers assured Santos, in a February 17 report to President Address ------Aquino of their loyalty to her as comman­ Aquino. zine that every·lllonth brings you City/State/Zip ______der in chief and that they are at one with the A survivor, Jovita Lacasandile, told the the truth about the struggles of government in excising the "communist Manila Chronicle, "The soldiers fired on working people and the oppresSed Clip and mail to PM, 410 West St., threat." the people like sitting ducks. They herded in the U.S. and around the world. New York, NY 10014. Though there have been some clashes them into their houses and ordered them to between the NPA and government forces, sit. Then the soldiers opened fire with their the bulk of those killed have been civilian rifles."

10 The Militant February 27, 1987 Protest by workers in Philippine export zone

BY RUSSELL JOHNSON ter of the BEPZ toward Mariveles, some of MARNELES, Philippines - Some these workers outlined to the Militant con­ 3,000 singing, chanting workers marched ditions that led them to form the Bataan from the Bataan Export Processing Zone Labor Alliance. (BEPZ) February 5 over the narrow bridge At the Lotus factory making Nike run­ that separates the zone from their homes in ning shoes, workers receive 52 pesos this city. ($2.60) for an eight-hour day. Some com­ Most of the marchers had walked off panies pay even less. their jobs to participate in the funeral of 24- At the United Hong Kong underwear year-old Alberto Gonzales. Gonzales was factory, workers receive the equivalent of shot dead January 31 when Philippine only $1 a day, less than half the legal min­ marines fired without warning into a crowd imum wage. The starting rate there is just of 1 ,000 workers stationed on a barricade 60 cents. The company got away with this, across the bridge. it was explained to this reporter, by bribing The barricade had been erected January inspectors from the Ministry of Labor and 27 as part of a "welgan bayan" or people's Employment. strike organized by BEPZ unions and Many of the workers are women as Mariveles community groups. The strikers young as 12 years old. Filipino garment workers in Bataan Export Processing Zone protested the January 22 massacre of peas­ ants marching on the Malacafiang presi­ Garment workers, mostly women, were a large part of the march. They were or­ dential palace in Manila demanding land ganized in contingents identified by the reform. The BEPZ unions, organized as the Ba­ company logos imprinted on their T -shirts -WORLD NEWS BRIEFS-- and blouses. taan Labor Alliance, also demanded a 25 percent wage increase and union rights The chants of the marchers were loudest and most defiant as they passed the military British gov't promotes The students are demanding open ad­ consistent with promises made by Presi- missions to the universities - that is, . dent Corazon Aquino. She made these ' post during their approach to the bridge. emigration to Malvinas The marines had been pulled off the bridge the admission of anyone who wishes to pledges at ·a union-organized May Day attend. rally over nine months ago, but none of the and kept in thebackground, in line with the To tighten its colonial grip on the rights have yet been made law. Aquino government's promise to keep the Malvinas Islands, the British govern­ The Socialist Party government of The BEPZ authorities admitted that 31 military out ofMariveles during the march. ment is promoting emigration to the is­ Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez has taken the posture of avoiding a confron­ of the 32 factories in the zone were affected Funeral procession lands, long a part of Argentina's na­ by the strike, with fewer than 6,000 of the tional territory. tation with the students. But scores of 18,000-strong work force reporting for Crowds of onlookers lined the streets as Applicants will be given free one-way young people have been arrested or in­ work before the military broke the protest the march wound its way through the city. plane fares, assistance in selling their jured by the cops. In Madrid, a 14-year­ action. Nearing the church w}\ere Gonzales' funer­ homes, and the cost of shipping their old was shot. Along with Gonzales, Raul Hilapil, a al was to be held, the demonstrators fell si­ possessions. The government has refused to accept lent. They were honoring a union commit­ 10-year-old bystander, was also shot dead. They will also be given priority in ob­ the demand to end the entrance examina­ Thirty-four others were injured, two criti­ ment to their dead comrade's parents to tion, offering instead to include students hold a silent funeral procession. taining housing. This has created anger cally. among the present 1 ,902 residents who in a revision of the entry system, an offer There was standing-room only inside the they rejected. January 31 attack big concrete-floored church. BEPZ work­ The government also offered to in­ Before the February 5 protest march, the ers, in their T-shirts and denims, predomi- crease school spending by $150 million, Militant interviewed Aimando Romero and nated. · with most of it for scholarships. Lucy Salao about the January 31 attack. Alberto Gonzales' father addressed the congregation. A lifelong resident of ATlANTlC The students have demanded more Romero is coordinator of the Mariveles ~AN scholarships, as well as stipends for the Young Christian Workers (YCW), whose Mariveles, he condemned the establish­ poorest of students. members include leaders of the union at In­ ment of the export zone. He said it had de­ tercontinental Garment Manufacturing stroyed the rice lands and fishing grounds The relevance of such demands is un­ Corp., the British-owned company that of Mariveles, bringing only poverty and derlined by government figures, accord­ employs 1 ,300 people in its plant produc~ oppression. His son had given his life to ing to which the unemployment rate is ing sweatsuits. fight this, he said. 21 percent, the highest in Western Salao is the president of the union at Gonzales graduated from engineering Europe. For youth between the ages of IGMC. school in Manila last October. There he 16 and 24, the jobless figure is a thump­ On the morning of January 31 , they said, had become involved in the Anti-im­ ing 45 percent. about 200 military and police and 10 fire perialist League of Filipino Students. He trucks were mobilized in front of the had returned to Mariveles to see his parents bridge, the main entrance to Mariveles. before looking for a job. Industries continue They demanded admission into the town to Following the procession to the ceme­ poisoning the Rhine "protect" the people, who they claimed tery, more than 500 workers returned to the are coping with a housing shortage. In were tired of the strikers. center of town for a rally. Speakers in­ good measure the shortage is due to the The catastrophic spill of 30 tons of When the workers responded with such cluded Primo Ampara, chairman of the Ba­ presence of 3,000 British troops, plus mercury and other poisons intO the chants as, "Implement the Cory [May Day] taan Labor Alliance; Elmer Labog, deputy workers brought in to build barracks for pronouncements!" the barricades were at­ Rhine River last November did little to general secretary of the May 1 Movement the troops and a new airport. motivate the governments of the area to tacked with high-pressure hoses. (KMU) union federation; and a national In 1982, Argentina moved to reclaim At 1 p.m. a new group of marines was enforce meaningful environmental representative of the Young Christian the Malvinas Islands. With U.S. cooper­ safety standards. deployed along the river bank. Unknown to Workers. · ation, the British government responded That spill at the Sandoz Chemical the protesters, snipers had been placed on a with a savage assault by a fleet of ships, low hill overlooking the bridge. One KMU speaker drew much applause company in Switzerland was one in a planes, and troops. This aggression was series of accidents along the river, a key The workers were told to disperse, and from the crowd when he contrasted the condemried internationally by anticolo­ government's kid-glove treatment of right­ artery for Switzerland, France, West the police then attacked the barricades. In nial forces. response, Romero and Salao explained, ist military mutineers with its attacks on Germany, and the Netherlands. nearby squatters began dismantling their unarmed peasant and worker protesters. In January, two barges collided, . re­ makeshift homes and passing the walls to According to KMU leader Labog, some leasing 540 tons of nitrogen fertilizer the workers at the barricade for use as 7,000 people participated in a province­ Spanish students into the river. Then a barge rammed a shields. wide protest rally in Mariveles the next urge open admissions tanker, spilling 10 tons of an explosive The marines began firing bursts, first day. benzene compound. air Two Spanish student organizations The big chemical and pharmaceutical into the and then directly into the flee­ Company shutdowns and threats ing crowd across the river. Gonzales was were reported calling on their members plants along the river draw out vast shot in the chest as he pleaded with soldiers In the wake of the strike and military re­ to return to classes temporarily while ,amounts of water for production and to stop shooting. . pression in the Bataan Export Processing continuing street protest actions. pour back waste. The water dumped into The murderous attack was unexpected, Zone, the Lotus Export Specialist, Inc. re­ Massive student actions largely shut the river ~s supposed to be treated, but the YCW leader said. Only the day before, portedly announced February 10 that it will down the country's universities and high present treatment methods don't filter in a meeting with the unions, Jaime Guer­ shut down its plant in the zone. About schools after the Christmas break. out such lethal chemicals as mercury, rero, head of the government's authority in 1,200 workers will lose 1Qeir jobs. Com­ In the face of attacks by the police, cadmium, and lead. To improve the charge of all the export zones, and BEPZ pany officials blame labor unrest and in­ tens of thousands have marched in Mad­ treatment process, it's said, would be manager Vic Banzon had assured workers adequate facilities in the zone for the deci­ rid and other cities across Spain. On "prohibitive." that they recognized the justice of the union sion. February 13, high school students con­ Seven nuclear power plants are now demands. The officials promised that mili­ verged on Madrid for a march estimated operating along the Rhine, with two In an interview with the Militant, Elmer by student leaders at 150,000. more planned. tary force would not be used. Labog said that in the aftermath of the five­ Most of the injured were garment work­ Preceded by the massive student dem­ They discharge huge amounts of day strike, BEPZ employers are threaten­ onstrations in France last December, the heated water into the river, raising its ers employed in sweatshops owned by for­ ing to shut down all KMU-organized plants eign corporations in the zone. Spanish . demonstrations are aimed at temperature. This spurs the growth of in the zone for an extended period in a con- ending a system of college admission bacteria, which reduces the. amount of Conditions in the export zone tinuing bid to break the unions. · based on a single examination. High oxygen, making it even more impossible As the march protesting the killings This would affect 70 percent of the school grades do not count. for fish and plant life to survive. wound its way from the administrative cen- 18,000 BEPZ workers, he said.

February ,27 ~. 1987. The Militallt 11 ~cALENDAR~------~------~ .CALIFORNIA omon Mahlangu Freedom College of the Afri­ mation call (313) 961-0395. American Revolution. Translation to Spanish. can National Congress in Tanzania. Translation Sat., Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. 2744 Germantown Los Angeles to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. 3455 S MINNESOTA Ave. Donation $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Women and the Cuban Revolution. Michigan Ave. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant St. Paul Forum. For more information call (215) 225- Slideshow and presentation by Elizabeth Stone Labor ForunL For more information call (312) The Legacy of Malcolm X and the Struggle 0213. Socialist Workers Party. Tue., Feb. 24, 6 p.m: 326-5853. for Black Liberation Today. Speaker: Mac Dodd 154, UCLA campus. Sponsor: Young The Fight for Black Politic81 Power in Warren, member of Socialist Workers Party TEXAS Socialist Alliance. For more information call Chicago: How Working People Could Win National Committee and longtime Black rights Dallas (213) 380-9460. It. A discussion of the alliances of Black and activist. Sat., Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. 508 N Snel­ Demonstration Against Deportations. Sat., Latino communities and the labor movement. ling Ave. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Feb. 28, 10 a.m. City Hall Plaza. Sponsor: Oakland Speakers: _Pedro Vasquez, Socialist Workers Raclsm on the Rise? Speakers: Ahmed J. An­ Forum. For more information call (612) 644- Proyecto Adelante. Party candidate for mayor; Kovak C. William­ 6325. El Salvador: An Eyewitness Report. Slide­ derson, vice-president of National Association son, co-convenor, Anti-Apartheid Student Al­ for the Advancement of Colored People, show and presentation on the In Search of Peace liance. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 28, MISSOURI conference in San Salvador. Speaker: Don Richmond, participated in Georgia antiracist 7:30 p.m. 3455 S Michigan. Donation: $2. march; Georges Sayad, chairperson of Oakland Kansas City Gurewitz, Socialist Workers Party, member of Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ International Union of Electronic Workers Socialist Workers Party. Translation to mation call (312) 326-5853. Malcolm X. A 90-minute documentary on the life of Malcolm X narrated by James Earl Jones. Local 201. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. Spanish. Sat., Feb. 28, 7:30p.m. 3808 E 14th Cosmetics, Fashion, and the Exploitation of St. Donatj.on: $2. Sponsor: Militant Forum. For Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 21, 7 p.m. 28, 7:30 p.m. 336 W Jefferson. Donation $3. Women. A video Killing Vs Softly, on at:Um, $2. Sponsor: Mil­ Commemorate Augusto C&ar Sandino. D.C. United Black Fund, former director Mal­ The Philippines in Crisis: An Update. Speak­ itant Labor Forum. For more information call Video festival. Sat., Feb. 21, 2-7 p.m. P.S. 41 colm X Re800rce CCriter; Jim Slade, executive ers: Diana Galindo; Julie Wolinski, Young (301) 235.-0013. on W 11th St. off 6th Ave. Donation: $5. Spon­ board, D.C. Coalition of Black Trade Union­ Socialist Alliance. Translation to Spanish. sor: Casa Nicaragua. For more information call ists; Rashaad Ali, Sociali!!t Workers Party Na­ Sun., Feb. 22,7:30 p.m. 137 NE 54th St. Do­ MASSACHUSETTS (212) 769-4293. tional Committee. Translation to Spanish. Sat., nation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For Boston Feb. 28, 7:30p.m. 3106 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. more information call (305) 756-1020. A Tribute to Malcolm X. Speaker: Betsy NORTH CAROLINA Donation:_ $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Films: Sun City and Mandela. To be followed Soares, chairperson Boston Socialist Workers Greensboro For more information call (202) 797-7699. by discussion of future anti-apartheid activities. Party. Film: Tribute to Malcolm X. Translation The PoUtical Legacy of Malcolm X. Video Sat., Feb. 28, 7:30p.m. 137 NE 54th St. Dona­ to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 28, 7:30p.m. 107 Bright­ showing and presentation. Sun., Feb. 22, 5 WEST VIRGINIA tion: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For on Ave., Allston. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Mili­ p.m. 2219 E Market St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Morgantown more information call (305) 756-1020. tant Labor Forum. For more information call Militant Labor Forum. For more information "Amerika": Fact or Fantasy? Speakers: Doug (617) 787-0275. call (919) 272-5996. Hord, Socialist Workers Party, member Ameri­ GEORGIA Celebrate International Women's Day. A can Flint Glassworkers Union Local 5; others. Atlanta panel discussion. · Film: Winnie Mandela. omo Sat., Feb. 28, 7:30p.m. 221 Pleasant St., Do­ Malcolm X: His Life and Its Meaning for Translation to Spanish. Sat., March 7, 7:30 Toledo nation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For Today. Showing of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, p.m. 107 Brighton Ave., Allston. _Donation: $3. Nicaragua: Eyewitness Account. Speaker: more information call (304) 296-0055. a film on the life of Malcolm X. Speaker: Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infbr­ Chip Thomas, medical doctor attended the Maceo Dixon, Socialist Workers Party, mem­ mation call (617) 787-0275. fourth International North American Health ber United Auto Workers Local tO. Translation Conference, Managua; Dean Peoples, partici­ WISCONSIN to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 21, 7:30p.m. 132 Cone MICIDGAN pated in coffee harvest with a North American Milwaukee St. Donation: $2.50. Sponsor: Militant Labor Detroit brigade. Sat., Feb. 21, 7 p.m. 1701 W Ban­ Report From-Student Delegation to El Sal­ croft. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Forum Forum. For more information call (404) 577- Pia~: Lessons of Vietnam for Today's vador. Slideshow and presentations by Judi 4065. . Series. For. more information call (419) 536- Youth. Speakers: Curtis Hunter, activist, De­ Kinch and Chris Waraksa, members of the troit-Area Nuclear Weapons Freeze; Shelton 0383. Latin America Solidarity Committee at Univer­ ILLINOIS McCrainey, Socialist Workers Party, member sity of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Translation to Chicago United Auto Workers Local 1200. Sat., Feb. PENNSYLVANIA Spanish. Sat., Feb. 21,7:30 p.m. 4707 W Lis­ The Struggle Against Apartheid Today. 28, 8 p.m. 2135 Woodward Ave. Donation: $2. Philadelphia bon Ave. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For Speakers: Sahotra Sarkar, former teacher at Sol- Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor- The CivU War: Real Story of the Second more information call (414) 445-2076. -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Sociatm Workers Party, 4065. NEBRASKA: Omaha: SWP, YSA, 140 S. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S. 40th St. Zip: 68131. Tel: (402) 553-0245. . Dallas: SWP, YSA, 336 W. Jefferson. Zip: bookstores. Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326- NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 75208. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Hooston: SWP, 5853 or 326-5453. Halsey. Zip: 07102: Tel: (201) 643-3341. YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 1306 lOWA: Des Moines: SWP, YSA, 2105 For- . NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): 522-8054. 1st Ave. N. Zip: 35203. Tel: (205) 323-3079. est Ave. Zip: 50311. Tel: (515) 246-1695. SWP, YSA, 114E Quail St. Zip: 12206. Tel: UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1809 W. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, YSA, 79 Ave., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: Indian School Rd. Zip~ 85015. Tel: (602) 279- E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502)587-8418. Leonard St. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) 219-3679 or (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 5850. LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 925-1668. Pathfinder Books, 226-8445. 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 841 11. Tel: (801) CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 3640 Magazine St. Zip: 70115. Tel: (504) 895- NORTH CAROLINA:-Greensboro: SWP, 355-1124. 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- 1961. YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3808 E.14th St. MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 272-5996. News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave. Zip Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: 2913 Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) OIDO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 4945 Pad­ 23605. Tel: (804) 380-0133. SWP, YSA, 2803 B St. Zip: 92102. Tel: (619) 235-0013. dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 MASSACHUSE'ITS: Boston: SWP, YSA, Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2521 Market Ave. Zip: Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. San 107 Brighton Ave., 2nd floor, Allston. Zip: 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Columbus: YSA, 797-7699, 797-7021. Jose: SWP, YSA, 461h Race St. Zip: 95126. 02134. Tel: (617) 787-0275. P.O. Box 02o97. Zip: 43202. Toledo: SWP, WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, Tel: (408) 998-4007. MICIDGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 YSA, 1701 W Bancroft St. Zip: 43606. Tel: 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Tel: COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 25 W. Woodward Ave. Zip: 48201. Tel: (313) 961- (419) 536-0383. (206) 723-5330. 3rd Ave. Zip: 80223. Tel: (303) 698-2550. 0395. OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE WEST - VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, Union ~ Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. YSA, 116 McFarland St. Zip: 25301. Tel: (304) 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486, 508 N. Snelling _Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. PENNSYLVANIA: Plilladelpbia: SWP, 345~3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 221 Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: Tel: (612) 644-6325. YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: 19133. Tel: Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296- YSA, P.O. Box 20715. Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 402 0055. 222-4434. 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. N. Highland Ave. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362- WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132 Cone St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin Luther 6767. 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) St. NW, 2nd l"loor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577- King Dr. Zip: 63113. Tel: (314) 361-0250. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 445-2076.

12 The Militant February 27, 1987 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------:--:---

''Ollie sent me"-"MIAMI­ action. Every president has used reelected to the House had cam­ while 54 percent . responded, Eau de brine - The Donzi People indicted on drug charges private individuals for that ... . It paign surpluses of more than "somewhat." Among Blacks, 21 company, makers of fast boats, is are increasingly arguing as a de­ is unwise to make undue use of $250,000. Election law permits percent were optimistic about the ·branching out into fragrances, and . fense that they have been supply- government channels to make those who were in Congress be­ dream. will offer a $40 bottle of Donzi government . policy." - Rep. fore 1980 to convert the surplus cologne. "It's a good extension of Dante Fascell (D-Fla.), member of into personal funds. Forty-six Be grateful for small favors­ our marketing," the company prez qualify to pocket the leftovers. the House committee probing con­ With the expanded use of fees at explained. "Not only will people tragate. national parks, it now costs a buck be able to go fast in a Donzi, March of American culture­ to visit the Statue of Liberty. But they'Ube able to smell good while Sorry about that - After William Quinn offers New York­ you can still check out the Liberty doing it." Harry spending nine years on death row, ers a course in artspeak- what to Bell in Philadelphia for free - so Ring Percy Cobb and Darby Williams say about paintings. Said a grad, far. Sounds reasonable-"I fmd it won release when, in a retrial, an 'The course teaches you how to difficult to believe that a church Illinois judge found them inno­ sound halfway intelligent about art that blesses dogs in a Virginia fox The sane society - What with hunt can't find a way to bless life­ ing arms to the Nicaraguan rebels cent. when you're not. It's great." the influx of yuppies into Brook­ giving, lasting relationships be~ with the knowledge of federal lyn's Park Slope district, parking tween human beings." - Epis­ agents, according to law-enforce­ "Thanks for your support"­ Alive, but not kicking - A space is at a premium. So, one ·copal Bishop John Spong urging ment officers." - News item. In addition to those sorely needed survey found that the "American chap is doing nicely selling spaces the church to recognize nonmarital wage increases, a number of Con­ dream" of a better life is still alive. in a parking garage as condos - relations between homosexuals, This week's civics lesson - gress members gained a modest According to the poll, 32 percent $30,000 plus $147 a month young adults, the divorced, and "Every government needs covert fringe benefit. Fifty-four of those thought it was very .much alive, maintenance and taxes. widowed. FBI campaign to disrupt antiwar group exposed

Continued from front page CISPES investigation. this was supposed to include "a collection "With V arelli' s assertions we are entering a The CISPES organization was peaceful, According to his deposition, he was sent of the individuals who were active or inter­ new phase of our inquiry," Edwards told nonviolent; and devoted to changing the by the FBI to El Salvador to establish ties ested in Central American policies who the Washington Post. policies of the United States towards Cen­ with the Salvadoran National Guard. might have terrorist tendencies. In reality, CISPES announced that it is cooperating tral America by persuasion and education." "While there," he says, "the National the 'Terrorist Photograph Album' con­ with these hearings, and is calling on In this deposition V arelli explained he Guard gave me a copy of their 'death tained persons who really just opposed others to work with them to mount a cam­ was born into a wealthy and powerful Sal­ squad' list. The National Guard, in con­ Reagan's Central American policy." paign against the FBI disruption opera­ vadoran family. He emigrated to the junction with others, had drafted a list of Nearly 700 individual names, photo­ tions. United States in 1980 and was recruited to persons marked for assassination. While graphs, and descriptions were eventually "This is not the first case in which the the FBI in March 1981 to help with the op­ there, I observed members of the National entered in the album. Included were at least U.S. government has attempted through il­ erations against Central America solidarity Guard add several names to the death two U.S. senators, Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) legal means to suppress dissent against an groups. squad list." and Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), then­ immoral war," said Sanbrano on the FBI A few months later, V arelli was given According to Varelli, he gave this infor­ Congressman Michael Barnes (D-Md.) and steps. "During the 1960s, the FBI and false identification papers in the name of mation, along with a copy of the death former U.S. ambassador to El Salvador other agencies used such practices fre­ Gilberto Mendoza and instructed to infil­ squad list, to the FBI on his return to the Robert White. quently against the movement to stop the trate the local chapter of CISPES . United States. V arelli' s revelations will be examined at war in Vietnam. The Dallas FBI office, he explained, had Varelli also says he reported to the FBI a hearing of the House Judiciary subcom­ "We will continue our work to change become the "center or hub" of the national that Col. Mario Denis Moran and other mittee on civil and constitutional rights, what is an unjust and immoral U.S. policy leaders of· the National Guard were in­ headed .by Representative Don Edwards toward centi'al America. We delJland the volved in the murders of three nuns from (D-Calif.). The hearings will focus on the FBI and other government and private the United States and a lay missionary in El break-ins over the past few years at the of­ agencies stop the harassment and illegal ac­ Salvador Dec. 2, 1980. fices of CISPES and other groups opposing tions against CISPES and other organiza­ Moran "admitted to me," Varelli said, u.s. intervention in central America. tions." "that. he participated in the murders of American citizens Michael Hammer and Mark Pearlman at . the Sheraton llotel . in -10 AND 25 YEARS AGO--- San Salvador in January 1981." Hammer and Pearlman were members of the Amer­ ican Institute for Free Labor Development. THE MILITANT TH~ The FBI, which was supposedly con­ ducting an investigation of these murders February 25, 1977 MILITANT · because of the widespread outrage they Publi•hed in the lnteresh of the W orkin9 People evoked, apparently took no action after re­ February 26, 1962 Price 10c ceiving Varelli'sdarnning information. In­ In the first week of Jar.uary, Czech and stead Varelli was simply instructed to Slovak defenders of civil liberties attemp­ maintain his contacts with the National ted to deliver a petition to the Prague gov­ ' Last month Rev. Martin Luther King an­ Guard. ernment calling for respect for the demo­ nounc;:ed a campaign to register Negro vot­ Specifically, V arelli was told to regu­ cratic rights guaranteed by the Czechos­ ers in the South. The campaign will include larly report to the Guard the names of Sal­ lovak constitution. Despite a campaign of speaking tours of Southern states,. includ,. vadorans who had been deported from the government harassment against the nearly ing Mississippi, by Reverend King, urging United States. Many such deportees have 300 people who originally signed· Charter Negroes to register. been kidnapped upon their arrival in El Sal­ 77, another 200 names have been added to Our readers can get an idea of the impor­ vador, often being tortured and killed. the petition since it first became known in tance and difficulties of such a campaign No action was ever taken against Moran. Czechoslovakia. The following are ex- . from Travis Britt, who participated last On the contrary, he is reported to be cur­ cerpts: summer in a voter-registration drive in the rently serving aS the military attache to the area around McComb in the Delta area of Salvadoran embassy in Washmgton, D.C. Law No. 120 of the CzechoslovakCol­ Mississippi. The drive was organized by lection of Laws includes the text of the In­ the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Com­ Varelli also said he compiled an FBI ternational Covenant on Civil and Political mittee, Militant/Lou Howort ''Terrorist Photograph Album." He said Rights, and the International Covenant on A native of North Carolina and a veteran Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, of the Jack&on Freedom Ride andJail-in, both signed in behalf of our Republic in Brittis28yearsold, tall, with a calm, engag­ 1968 and confmned at the 1975 Helsinki ing manner. To a question on how he got in­ Blows to anti-Nicaragua drive Conference. These pacts went into effect in volved in the drive in McComb, he replied: our country on March 23, 1976; since that "I spent over a month in the Mississippi state Continued from front page tionist policies of the U.S. government." date our citizens have had the right, and the prison with other Freedom Riders and there late January. saying that he had a new Arias' maneuver also met with opposi­ State has had the duty, to abide by them. was a lot of discussion there about how the "peace plan" to present to the meeting. tion within Costa Rica itself. The San­ struggle should be carried on when we got Arias invited Guatemala to join Costa dinista daily Barricada reported from Their publication, however, is at the out. Then, in the middle of August 1961 , Rica, Honduras, and· El Salvador at the Costa Rica February 15 that several organi­ same time an urgent reminder of the many after most of us had been released on bail, meeting, but excluded Nicaragua, claiming zations planned protest meetings condemn­ fundamental human rights that, regretta~ about 180 of us had to return to Jackson at it was not a "democratic nation." ing the exclusion of Nicaragua. A group of bly, exist in our country only on paper. The one time for arraignment in court. Missis­ Guatemalan President Vinicio Cerezo prominent Costa Rican professionals an­ right of free expression guaranteed by Arti­ sippi was trying to make it very expensive, announced that he would attend the San nounced they would present the presidents cle 19 of the frrst pact, for example, is quite which it did, but it also gave usthe opportu­ Jose meeting "to listen to any proposals with a statement denouncing "the covert illusory. Tens of thousands of citizens have nity to meet each other and talk things over, without taking sides." war that the U.S. government maintains been prevented from working in their pro­ face to face, instead of through ventilators U.S. officials Frank Carlucci and Elliott against our sister country." fessions for the sole reason that their views and around walls. Abrams met with Arias in Costa 'Rica on differ from the official ones. "[SNCC leader] Bob Moses had already January 31 and announced their "total sup­ The San Jose meeting itself failed to pro­ duce a united bloc against Nicaragua. been arrested when I arrived. He had taken port" for the San Jose meeting and Arias' Hundreds of thousands of other citizens three local Negroes to the registrar's office peace plan. Details of the plan were kept Cerezo and El Salvador's President Jose have been denied the "freedom from fear" Napole6n Duarte said publicly afterwards in Liberty, in the adjoining county, and secret, but reports in the press here indi~ cited in the Preamble to the frrst pact; they was stopped on the road by police. They cated that it included demands for Nicara­ there could be no agreements without Nic­ live in constant peril of losing their jobs or aragua's participation. asked him if he was 'the nigger that came gua to recognize and negotiate with the other benefits if they express their opin­ down from New York to stir up a lot of U.S. -organized contras. Instead, the four presidents issued a call ions. trouble.' He answered, 'I'm the Negro who Nicaragua's Foreign Ministry issued a for a meeting of all Central American pres­ came down from New York to instruct sharp statement denouncing the San Jose idents to be held within 90 days in Freedom of speech is suppressed by the people in voter registration.' So they took meeting as "a clear act of sabotage of the Guatemala. Arias was commissioned to government's management of all mass him in and fmed him $50 for 'interfering Contadora negotiating process" and "the formally invite Nicaraguan President media, including the publishing and cul­ with an officer'. or some such thing. He most recent manifestation of the interven- Daniel Ortega to that meeting. tural il;lstitutions. stayed in jail rather than pay the fine."

Februacy 27, 1987 The :.Militant 13 -EDITORIALS------Lenin's last 'Contra' leaders in disarray and unf"mished The disarray in the top public leadership ofthe,United This effort has failed miserably. political fight Nicaraguan Opposition (UNO) is a fruit of what the Nic­ "UNO is a myth. The guys running the shop are the araguan government calls the "strategic defeat" of those ones who sat at Somoza's knee," explained a U.S. con­ BY DOUG JENNESS U.S.-run mercenaries by the Sandinista People's Army. gressional aide. There "should be no forgotten names or blanks, either The failure of the contras to spark a civil war inside Washington has never been successful in transforming in history or in literature." Soviet leader Mikhail Gor­ Nicaragua, after more than five years of trying, has pro­ the contras from a cut-throat band of mercenaries into a bachev expressed this opinion to a meeting February 13 voked disagreements in Washington about how to best professional army with a significant base of support in of leading officials of the Soviet Union's media. pursue the U.S. rulers' goal of ousting the Sandinista Nicaragua. And it never will. On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the October 1917 government. The contras were not the advance guard of mass op­ Russian revolution, Gorbachev continued, "those who The infighting among the contras - who are or­ position to the Sandinista revolution bur remnants of the made that revolutimi must not be pushed into the back­ ganized, trained, supplied, clothed, fed, paid, and led by praetorian guard of the old dictatorship. And while, ground, people must be educated on the example of those the CIA - reflects the political divisions that exist through lies and terror, they've recruited some Nicara­ who laid down their lives for the revolution and among their U.S. masters. guan peasants to their ranks, more and more of them are socialism." deserting the contras and returning to their homes and The White House is doing its utmost to patch things up families. in order to put the best possible face on the contra opera­ "We are simply seen as mercenaries," admitted Cal­ tion as the fight over continued U.S. government funding ero. "We have to project ourselves as winners if we are to LEARNING ABOUT of these terrorist bands goes into its next round. have more success." The first move was to get rid of the UNO leader most Without direct aid from Washington, the contras' fu­ SOCIALISM associated with the pro-Somoza commanders who are the ture is "dim and grim" said UNO spokesperson Ernesto backbone of the contra military operation. Palacios. "We have to win the political war in the United Gorbachev's speech, in the context of the measures re­ On February 16 Adolfo Calero announced he was re­ States and then the military war comes later," he cently taken to lift restrictions on the press and the freeing signing from the triumvirate that runs UNO. Calero is the explained. head of the Nicaraguan Democratic Force (FDN), the Another contra adviser explained, "With the need at of political prisoners, raises questions about how far his main armed contra grouping. the moment to win U.S. opinion and Congress, the Nic­ regime is going to go in reviewing and making public Calero explained he was resigning so as "not to be an araguan people are secondary. No one is thinking about some facts about Soviet history and the men and women who made it. obstacle" to efforts to win more political and material the masses right now." One sign of the changes that might be in the offing was support for the contras within the United States and from Those are .quite damning admissions coming from other countries. people tliat Reagan has dubbed "freedom fighters." an article that appeared last month in Moscow News, a Washington organized UNO in 1985 in an attempt to The demoralization of the contra leaders should serve weekly published in English, French, and German .. unite the different armed factions fighting against the as an inspiration for U.S. opponents of this dirty war. The article, by the paper's editor-in-chief, Yegor Yakovlev, discussed some of Lenin's proposals at Nicaraguan government. The goal was to create an image We should redouble our efforts to build the national V.I. of the contras as both an effective military force and a April 25 antiwar protests in Washington, D.C., and San the end of his political life in 1922 and early 1923 for dealing with pressing problems facing the workers' and serious political alternative to the popular Sandinista gov­ Francisco as well as other actions this spring to demand peasants' republic. ernment. an end to all U.S. aid tothe contras. Yakovlev quoted from some letters of Lenin's written in December 1922, where the revolutionary leader urged the next congress of the Soviet Communist Party to take some major steps to reorganize the leadership structures Union support for April 25 of the party and the government. Among those Yakovlev cited was Lenin's proposal The national antiwar protests being held in Washing­ 25 by union officers is a challenge to antiwar unionists to that Joseph Stalin be removed as general secretary of the ton, D.C., and San Francisco on April 25 are winning start now to translate this endorsement into concrete ef­ party. He quoted from Lenin, "Stalin is too rude and this support from top union officials. Presidents of 19 na­ forts to mobilize union members on April 25. This will defect, although quite tolerable in our midst and in deal­ tional and international unions signed the call for· the not happen automatically as a consequence of the initial ings among us Communists, becomes intolerable in a march and rally in Washington. endorsements of union officials. general secretary. That is why I suggest that the com­ Walter Johnson, secretary-treasurer of the San Fran­ Antiwar fighters in the unions must begin now, in the rades think about a way of removing Stalin from that post cisco AFL-CIO Labor Council, and Albert Lannon, pres­ 10 weeks before the marches, to publicize the actions and appointing another man in his stead who in all other ident of Local 6 of the International Longshoremen's and among ·their coworkers and other unionists, and to dis­ respects differs from Comrade Stalin in having only one Warehousemen's Union, are among the co-chairs of the cuss the importance of April 25 at local meetings and advantage, namely, that of being more tolerant, more Mobilization for Peace, Jobs, and Justice, the coalition other union events. loyal, more polite, and more considerate to the com­ building the San Francisco action. The coalition has its Union locals that endorSe April 25 should begin to rades, less capricious, etc." office in the ILWU Local6 headquarters. charter buses to bring unionists to the marches. Union Lenin said these flaws may appear to be a "negligible In New York and Chicago, union officials were l~ad­ funds should be used to help assure that any union mem­ detail." But "it is not a detail, or it is a detail which can ing participants in. the initial meetings of local coalitions. ber who wants to join the march in San Francisco and assume decisive importance." In New York; Local 1199 of the Hospital and Health Washington can do so. . Y akovlev wrote, "Lenin was right, tragically right." Care Employees union has donated space to the coalition. Articles in local union newspapers and union commit­ tee newsletters are needed to help publicize·the April 25 Not since the days of Nikita Khrushchev in the 1950s The endorsements and other support .coming at an actions. and early 1960s has such sharp criticism of Stalin been early stage in the process of organizing the action offer an Unions that back April25 should send representatives heard from high levels of the Soviet officialdom. At a opportunity to win substantial participation in the Wash­ to local coalition meetings and participate in activities to closed session of the Soviet Communist Party's congress ington and San Francisco actions by union members reach out to other unions in their area, as well as help in 1956, Khrushchev, then the leading official in the throughout the country. draw in farmers, students, and others; party and the government, sharply criticized many of Sta­ In the past few years thousands of union members have Now is the time for antiwar unionists to seize the initia­ lin's repressive policies. visited Nicaragua to see for themselves what is going on tive in building April 25. This is the road to making the Lenin's 1922 letters and some related documents, there. They have participated in actions or actively op­ union contingents in San Francisco and Washington, which had never been published in the Soviet Union, posed the war in other ways. The endorsement of April D.C. , marches and rallies as big as possible. were made available to delegates at the 1956 Congress. Lenin's letters were subsequently included in the fourth Russian edition of Lenin's collected works and published in 1961. But even before Khrushchev was forced out in 1964, Protest INS move to deport nine the easing of restrictions on literary expression and prob­ ing into the past that had followed his revelations about The U.S. government's arrest and proposed deporta­ Walter Act, adopted in 1952 at the height of the McCar­ Stalin, was reversed. tion of nine immigrants - eight Palestinians and a Ken­ thy-era witch-hunt. Its many reactionary features include In the past two decades, not only discussion of the Sta­ yan married to one of the eight-is an attack on the dem­ a provision allowing the government to exclude immi­ lin era but of Khrushchev himself has been virtually ocratic rights of all immigrants and visitors in this coun­ grants or visitors who are alleged to belong to an organi­ nonexistent. This makes all the more significant there­ try. zation that "advocates world communism." cent article by Yakovlev in Moscow News. Seven of the nine were arrested at gunpoint early on A government document recently made public re­ Much has changed in the Soviet Union since 1922-23. the morning of January 26. While in prison, they were vealed the Reagan administration was discussing "con­ But opening some pages of this early chapter of Soviet shackled hand and foot during visits with attorneys and tingency plans" for using this antidemocratic law to jus­ history is salutary. It will stimulate many people inside relatives. tify "removal of selected aliens and sealing of the bor­ the Soviet Union and in other countries to go back and der." The document advocates expulsion of "activists" study closely Lenin's final political struggle. They are charged with being supporters of the Popular Lenin was concerned about such dangers to the young Front for the Liberation of Palestine. under the pretext of fighting terrorism. The Los Angeles arrests are aimed at intimidating all Soviet republic as the breakup of the alliance between To back up their case, the U.S. Immigration and workers and peasants; the growth of new exploiting Naturalization Service (INS) accuse them of possessing supporters of Palestinian rights- and not them alone. It is also aimed at South African supporters of the African layers in the countryside; the pressures to abandon the "certain magazines" such as Democratic Palestine, the state monopoly of foreign trade; the revival of Russian Palestine Bulletin, and Palestine Focus. National Congress; Libyans and Iranians who Washing­ ton smears as terrorist; Salvadorans, Nicaraguans, and national chauvinism in the party and the state; and the In addition to .attacking the right of immigrants to emergence of a careerist, bureaucratic layer in the party speak their minds and read what they wish, the move other immigrants in this country who oppose Washing­ ton's war in Central America; immigrant workers who and government leadership. against the eight escalates the broader campaign against And the fight Lenin began to wage against what was to Arab-Americans. join unions or stand up for their rights in other ways; and many others. become a privileged bureaucratic caste-one that finally New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis reported Protests against the attack on the nine in Los Angeles usurped political power from the workers and peasants in February 10 on the harrowing experience of a Palestine­ are having an impact. The February 17 New York Times the Soviet Union - has great relevance fQr today: It of­ born woman, a U.S. citizen, who was seized by cops in quoted John Shaw, an assistant immigration official in fers the essential political foundation for those seeking to San Diego, two days after the Los Angeles arrests. They Washington, as worrying that attempts to enforce provi­ return the Soviet workers' state to a revolutionary course handcuffed her and took her to a house where she was in­ sions of the McCarran-Walter Act today "could result in based on the workers and farmers both there and around terrogated about another person. The men then cuffed her situations unacceptable to the American public at large." the world. to a pole for more than three hours. After threats and at­ And on the same day an immigration judge in Los Pathfinder Press has announced plans to collect into a tempted bribery failed to win her cooperation, she was Angeles ordered the release of eight of the jailed immi­ single volume Lenin's last speeches, articles; released, with the warning, "We'll always be around." grants. memoranda, and letters and the notebooks of his sec­ Government officials claim that the move against the Picket lines, public meetings, and other actions in de­ retaries - that is, the documents of Lenin's last and un­ nine in Los Angeles is justified, under the McCarran- fense of the Los Angeles victims deserve broad support. finished battle. This is a most timely publishing project.

14 The Militant February 27, 1987 A company prescribes·firing for injured workers

BY ELOISE LINGER nurse and the security and safety director as "Doctor Ruth spine. AVENEL, N.J. -Picture an old but not antiquated and Dirty Harry" because they believed they were telling By then the company had sharply stepped up the at­ plant with about 300 production workers. It's a small unit doctors how to practice medicine. My experience lent tack. On January 5- before the CAT scan- I was of General Dynamics, the big military contractor. support to that belief. mailed a letter of suspension due to ~·serious doubt re­ Feel the onset of cold weather, bringing October and The first time I was sent to the orthopedic doctor, garding the validity of your alleged physical disability." November days with little or no heat in the plant. nearly all injured workers from my plant were discharged A few days later company officials claimed to have a Suddenly there is a rash of accidents. A hand is man­ by the doctor the same day and sent back to work - videotape of me carrying "things." They also claimed gled in a machine. Fingers are ripped and bones broken whether they had been hurt weeks ago or just recently that their investigators had verified only one reference on like me. But my body was not ready. Driving the car set my job application. . off back and leg pains. So did lifting, pushing, or being On the day I went into the hospital, the company sent on my feet more than a few minutes. me a notice of termination. They now claimed I had not UNION TALK Coworkers were alarmed and angry, especially when obeyed doctor's orders and that they could not verify my my body jerked or I would yell involuntarily due to sud­ job application. By now, rumors were flying on the plant between steel plates. There are watery, swollen joints den jabbing pains. One union brother suggested a brand floor about what had happened to me. from bumping accidents; tom muscles; and a run of back of liniment, but many suggested a lawyer. Some thought To dispel the rumors, I wrote a short letter that was dis­ injuries. that the company was trying to get rid of me because of tributed by cc;>workers at the plant. The letter answered What is management's response? An attempt to intimi­ my opposition to racism and my attempts to involve co­ company claims with facts. date or even ftre injured workers. That's what has been workers in anti-apartheid actions. In a second letter a few days later, I said that the flimsy happening to me and others in United Auto Workers While working on December 19, I suffered another in­ charges against me were part of an effort to intimidate us Local1035. jury involving both the lower and upper back. The doctor into not reporting injuries, unsafe equipment, or other In Octobe"r I began operating a coil-winding machine, ordered me back to work but also ordered a CAT scan. dangerous job conditions. which required pulling wires while standing off balance On December 24 company officials told me not to re­ "Our health is more important than dollars," I wrote. with one foot on a power pedal. One morning, I felt pain turn to work until after the CAT scan. ''The union is us. The union is fighting these firings." frOm my lower back and hip down to my toes. By 11:00 The company withheld disability checks, leaving me Something about that letter struck a raw nerve. When a.m. it was hard to take a step. - the main breadwinner in my family - without in­ management found copies in the bathrooms, cafeteria, The industrial clinic doctor told me to rest over the come. and elsewhere, a foreman warned one worker that he bet­ weekend and then come back for therapy. About this I wondered. with a laugh whether General Dynamics ter not get caught giving them out. After this threat, he time, the company began a push to get the injured back to director Lester Crown, whose family owns 23 percent of was written up on outlandish charges. The union grieved work - or fired. the company plus other holdings, had ever been unable to the ticket and won the case two weeks later. The upshot was that I got flied. "Isn't it against the law get proper medical treatment for a painful injury, or had Coworkers have given me a lot of moral support and to fire a worker who has been hurt on the job?" you may ever experienced a lean Christmas because of layoff or encouragement. Some have sai4 there is no way the com­ ask. Yes, but for the employers money is a mote power­ injury. pany can get away with this kind of meanness. Others say ful incentive than law, ethics, or decency. The CAT scan showed a possible herniated disc and I they're sorry this happened to me, but they're glad I'm Workers at my plant began jokingly to refer to the entered the hospital January 15 for a further test on my standing up for my rights. -LETTERS------More facts, less steam The u.s. invasion stopped all corporate criminal and his corpo­ Congratulations for using less those gains, she said, "b~t m~y rate rapers of the American work­ diatribe and rhetoric, and more ac- _ of the fmest cadre are still altve er. curate reporting and presentation and functioning." Mark Kneffler of t~e facts so the r~ader can co~e The question period focused on member United Food and to hts own. ~onclustons. ReiJ?rtt~g the Bernard Coard grouping and Commercial Workers Local 17A on the IJ?Sttlve effects of anttractst whether they were, as Fidel Castro Canton, Ohio p~otest m Fo_rsyth County, Geor- has said, responsible for "handing gta, was particularly good. the revolution over to imperialism Copies to share P.L.B. on a silver platter." I found your paper to be very in­ Madison, Connecticut formative. I would like you to Gibbs said, "It is unclear to me . send me a few copies to share with whether Coard gave the orders to the rest of the prisoners here. Cumming, Georgia shoot them [Bishop and the other I want to congratulate the Mili­ We're confined to our cells 23 New Jewel Movement leaders hours a day and need all the read­ tant on its coverage of the two who were executed], but if anyone Cumming, Georgia, demonstra­ ing material we can get. could have saved them it was A prisoner tions. The ftrst article expressed Coard, and he did not." the courage of the demonstrators . Marion, Illinois and the reporter. Following the meeting there The article on the second dem­ were brisk sales of Fidel Castro's Second invasion Nothing Can Stop the Course of onstration oelebrated a victory. I In reference to the article "Why History and the Militant with the was especially impressed with the the Soviet Union is not capitalist," interview by Don Rojas, former get copies of Fidel Castro's book report of the many local residents in the January 23 issue, you say: · some money to the Militant, press secretary to Maurice Bishop. Nothing Can Siop the Course of who took part. The size and "Not even with the help of two im­ which will in some way make up breadth of the action showed that M.F. · History and Nelson Mandela's The for your help. Keep up the good perialist military invasions (1918- Struggle Is My Life? . many thing_s h~lVe changed. Detroit, Michigan work. 20 and 1941-45).. . . " I know A prisoner about the first invasion. Send me A prisoner I was particularly struck by the Represa, California Auburn, New York difference between the coverage in information about the second. the Militant and the bourgeois Until print falls off Never heard of it before. Inmates in this Texas prison Consistent voice media. The big-business press Also, please send me the ad­ Subscription request spent most of its time covering the camp are probably the most im­ Every day the news gets worse. I have been advised that the dress of the African National Con­ However, movements are growing racists, not the demonstrators. I poverished in the nation - .no gress so I can donate. Militant is very informative in re­ think the major media are only too pay, total slave labor. But if you in support of liberation struggles, gards to the political arena the P.C. against racism and apartheid, and happy to report an upsurge of ra­ can send a complimentary sub­ Colorado Springs, Colorado world over. I am an indigent pris­ cism. What they are incapable of scription, you can bet your paper resisting U.S. intervention. oner. I therefore respectfully re­ wiii be appreciated and passed showing is a successful fightback. Editor replies: The second im­ It's more important than ever quest you to furnish me with some throughout the camp until the print perialist invasion began in June for activists and progressive issues of the Militant without fi­ Just as the newspapers can falls off. 1941 when German troops in­ people to connect on a regular nancial obligation. I hope this re­ never say that workers won a A prisoner vaded the Soviet Union. The ad­ basis. And I'm glad you have been quest is not an inconvenience, but strike, they can never portray how Lovelady, Texas dress of the African National Con­ consistent as a voice for anti-im­ rather a sign that there are indi­ people's collective power can gress is 801 Second Ave., Suite perialist politics. viduals as well as organizations overwhelm the racists. In short, 405, New York, N.Y. 10017. who both recognize the need and they deal in despair; the Militant . Great rag I'm now a prisoner and no · are searching for the truth. deals in hope. You guys have a great rag, but I longer have the money to sub­ A prisoner Seth Widgerson can't handle a subscription at this What's important scribe. But if you have any old Attica, New York Ann Arbor, M_ichigan time- hopefully later. I'm writi(lg to renew my sub­ copies you can send, or a few B.S. scription to the Militant, and also complimentary issues, they'll be well used. . The Militant' spec:ial .prisoner Concord, California to let you know I think it's one of fund makes it possible · to send . Grenada solidarity P.S. Later is now. Enclosed is a A .prisoner the best newspapers in this coun- reduced-rate subscriptions to A recent community forum check for $15. try. Dallas, Pennsywania sponsored by the Midwest Labor· prisoners . who can't. p~y for You have some good writers them. Where po8sible the fund Institute in Detroit heard a ·report Renewal from former Free West Indian Corporate criminal who tell it like it is. They try very also tries to fill prisoners' re­ staff writer Michelle Gibbs. Gibbs I'm writing about a rally sched­ hard to seek the truth. That's I am an inmate at the Auburn quests for other literature. To Correctional Facility and I'm writ­ lived and worked in Grenada for uled for February 28 in Massiiion, what's important. help this important cause, .send ing in request of renewing my sub­ three years when the revolutionary Ohio, to enlighten people about K.S. your contribution . to: Militant government headed by Maurice the shutdown of Superior Brand San Diego, California scription. My present subscription Prisoner Subscription Fund, 14 Bishop was in power. Meats, a packinghouse owned by will be up shortly. I had paid $3 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. Neil Genshaft. He also owns Castro and Mandela for 12 weeks because I was a new 10014. . Gibbs traced the gains of the another plant in Canton, Ohio, reader. revolution, pointing out that I'm particularly impressed with called Guyandoll Foods, and two The letters column is an open women gained maternity leave, your coverage of struggles in other plants- Worthington Pack­ However, I was hoping you forum for all viewpoints on sub~ joined trade unions, won child Third World countries, which are would be kind enough to let ·me ing in Worthington, Indiana; and jeds .of general interest to our­ care and equal pay for equal work. directly related to ours domesti­ have an additional weeks for Carriage Hiii Foods in Salem, 12 readers. Please keep your letters Real wages went up, and small cally whether we care to admit it $3. Things are hard. in prison, and Ohio. All are unionized except brief. Where necessary they wiD farmers benefited from govern­ or not. I don't want to miss any of your be if Carriage Hiii. abridged. Please indicate ment aid. Unemployment dropped If you have any contact with paper. Hopefully in the very near you prefer that your initials be from 49 percent to 14 percent. We need some coverage of this Pathfinder Press, can you help me future I wiii be able to donate used rather than your full name.

February 27, 1987 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Palestinian caiDps under siege Lebanese Amal troops try to cut growing support for PLO

BY HARRY RING ian camps, however, growing unity in ac­ Bowing to public pressure, a Lebanese tion has been reported among the various militia force has permitted some food to PLO affiliates, along with a lessening of enter two of the Palestinian refugee camps Syrian influence among the anti-Arafat dis­ it has held under siege. Conditions of near­ sidents. starvation have developed at the camps, Meanwhile, the assault on the camps has with reports that people are eating dogs and sparked protest demonstrations among Pal­ cats, and even rats. estinian residents of the Israeli-occupied About 35,000 homeless Palestinians West Bankofthe Jordan River. The Israeli have been under siege, some for nearly five military, as customary, responded with months. They have been subjected to rifle brutal repression. and mortar fire by Amal, a Shiite Muslim On .February 9, at least 11 Palestinian militia led by Nabih Berri. Lebanon's youth were wounded, when occupation minister of justice, Berri is a close col­ troops opened fire on protesters and used laborator with the neighboring government tear gas against them. of Syria. The Syrian regime has troops sta­ tioned in areas of Lebanon and has played The Israeli attack was directed against an increasing role in Lebanese politics.· students at AI Najah University in the city of Nablus, and·other protesters at Balata, a The aim of Amal' s bloody siege is to refugee center near Nablus. prevent a resurgence of the guerrilla forces Officials said troops were obliged to of the Palestine Liberation Organization. shoot in "self-defense." They ordered the The Lebanese refugee camps have been a university shut down for 30 days. major source of strength for the PLO. But the repression has not stemmed a ris­ Driven out of Lebanon by Israeli invad­ ing wave of Palestinian protest throughout Food truck destroyed by Amal militia. More than 30,000 homeless Palestinians have ers in 1982, the PLO liberation fighters the West Bank. been·cut off from UN food deliveries for nearly five months. have been making a steady comeback there. Syria and Amal have tried to justify the war against the PLO with the claim that a resurgence of the guerrilla force will invite Who is ''labor's friend" in Chicago? a new Israeli invasion . . On February 15, Amal troops held their BY OMARI MUSA ness on concepts for long-range municipal and to roll back the victories of the civil fire while 16 tons of foodstuffs were truck­ CHICAGO - In what is being hailed finance. Implementation will depend on rights movement, like affirmative action ed into the Burj al Brajneh camp in Beirut. here as a major victory for Mayor Harold city hall's skills in marketing the city and and school desegregation. And we face the At the Rashidiye camp at Tyre, south of Washington, the Chicago Federation of controlling payroll figures.' threat of being sent to fight a war in Central Beirut, food was also brought in and Amal Labor February 5 endorsed his bid to be the America that is in the interests of big busi­ Democratic Party standardbearer in the pri­ "The Chicago Tribune said the same ness, not us. The job of liberals like Wash­ declared a five-hour lifting of the siege to thing in clearer language," Vasquez noted. mary election. ington," Vasquez said, "is to lull us into permit camp dwellers to search for food "It said, 'He has made impressive cuts in and medicine inTyre. · The vote was 231 for Washington to 115 believing they can solve the problems we for neutrality in the February 24 primary. the city work force without denting the face. What they don't want us to do is to There were no reports of food being per­ police or fire departments."' Lou Montenegro, president of the Mid­ mobilize through our unions and other or­ mitted into Shatila, also in Beirut and the Vasquez also pointed out that Washing­ west Region of the International Ladies' ganizations to fight against concessions, third camp under siege. ton was nowhere to be found during the at­ Garment Workers' Union and labor coordi­ against attacks on our rights; and against A Canadian doctor at the Shatila camp tacks on Chicago meat-packers and steel- . · nator for Washington's reelection cam­ war. Their slogan is out of the street, into told reporters by radio that while the situa­ workers. · tion there was not yet as "catastrophic" as paign, claimed the endorsement "says that the voting booth. Harold Washington for 17 years has been a "For six months Washington did nothing "What · we need is a different kind of in Burj al Brajneh, the 5,000 Shatila dwell· to rally support for Chicago steelworkers ers were not "far away" from the same kind friend of labor. It also says that labor does party," the socialist candidate explained. of desperate hunger. reward its friends." while they were locked out of their jobs by "A labor party that puts the interests of Pedro Vasquez, the Socialist Workers USX. The same can be said in relation to workers, farmers, youth, Blacks, women, From Burj al Brajneh, a British surgeon Party candidate for mayor in the April elec­ Oscar Mayer's lockout of more than 600 and Latinos first. A party based on the also spoke to reporters by radio. She said tions, responded, "The CFL endorsement workers last year. unions that we can use to organize a fight the food brought in would not last very is not an advance for unionists, nor a blow "If this is what so called 'friends of against the employers, against the racist long and people were already dying "di­ to racial discrimination against Blacks and labor' are about, we'd better find other mobs like in Forsyth County, Georgia, and rectly and indirectly from malnutrition." Latinos. friends," he declared. Howard Beach, New York. A party that "What the endorsement tells workers, "Working people and our unions are fac­ will fight for decent low-cost housing, Some of the food reaching the camps Blacks, Latinos, and women," Vasquez ing a crisis," Vasquez emphasized. "Em­ force an end to segregated housing and had frrst been shifted from the United Na­ said, "is to subordinate their struggles ployers and the government keep trying to education. One that opposes U.S. interven­ tions relief agency trucks to trucks belong­ against the bosses, to forget about the U.S. force more concessions down our throats tion in Central America." ing to the Iranian embassy. government's war against the people of When the frrst convoy attempted to enter Nicaragua, to put aside their mobilizations Burj al Brajneh, ltmal troops fired on it, against government and corporate support killing a member of the embassy staff. The for the racist regime in South Africa. San Francisco auto worker Iranian government has been trying to "It says to working people who live in negotiate a cease-fire that would end the substandard housing not to fight for better Amal siege. housing," Vasquez added, "but to simply opens cmnpaign for Congress vote for Washington and miraculously As its key condition for a cease-fire, things will get better somehow." BY JANICE LYNN Petitioners report that working people Amal has demanded PLO fighters with­ Many workers favor Washington be­ SAN FRANCISCO - Cathy Sedwick, are glad to sign to put a socialist candidate draw from the village of Maghdusheh, cause he signed the law that ·gave city an auto worker and leader of the Socialist on the ballot as they read her stands cin which they won in a fierce battle last workers the right to collective bargaining Workers Party, has announced her cam­ these important issues. They also report an November. A hilltop town overlooking the early in his administration. "Doesn't this paign for U.S. Congress here. A special increased receptivity and interest in pur­ Rashidiye camp, it is of strategic value to mean the mayor is a friend and labor election was called for the seat previously chasing the Militant. Many signers want to. the PLO since it permits a response to the should back him?" the Militant asked Vas­ held by Congresswoman Fala Burton, who have political discusions about the kind of Amal force besieging the camp. quez. died in early February. government we need. According to a February 14 Washington "Winning recognition and bargaining Supporters of Sedwick have begun fan~ Sedwick and her supporters are urging Post dispatch, the increasingly critical situ­ rights is a gain for public service unions," ning out in the 5th Congressional District people to participate in the April 25 dem­ ation in the camps prompted PLO forces to Vasquez said. "But that doesn't change the in San Francisco to gather signatures to onstration against U.S. policy in Central withdraw from the village, retrenching on fact that the wages and union rights of pub­ place her name on the ballot. They are aim­ America and South Africa. She is actively · nearby slopes. Amal is demanding they re­ lic workers are under attack here under ing to collect 3,000 signatures in the one­ building this action in her union, the turn to the camps. Washington's administration, just as they week deadline. The election is scheduled United Auto Workers. The action in San are around the. country." April 7 and a runoff for June 2. Francisco is one of two national demon­ At the time the PLO was driven out of Vasquez pointed out that both Chicago Sedwick explains, "I'm a working per­ strations to be held on that day. Lebanon by the Israeli military, the Syrian big business dailies have also endorsed son running for Congress because I think "When working people mobilize in ac­ regime helped promote divisions wihin the Washington and list among his achieve­ we have to do something about the political tion we learn that our real power is our­ movement. It succeeded in turning a ments attacks ·on city workers and his tight and social crisis we face." selves," Sedwick stated in her campaign· number of PLO affiliates against AI Fatah, relationship with big business. Her campaign platform boldly states, flier. "But we need our own political party which is led by Yassir Arafat and is the ''The Chicago Sun Times," Vasquez "No contra aid! Stop racist attacks; break - a labor party - to represent us, and not leading force within the PLO. said, "notes in its endorsement, 'Washing­ all ties with South Africa! Money for jobs, the rich as the Democrats and Republicans Since the brutal assault on the Palestin- ton has forged a solid alliance with busi- not for war." do."

16 The Militant February 27, 1987