·.PAY ·. NO POLL TAX As We Go to Press, Another Crisis Has Hit the " Thatcher Government, with the Resignation Of

.·.PAY ·. NO POLL TAX As we go to press, another crisis has hit the " Thatcher government, with the resignation of . Geoffrey Howe,". over · the issue of European unity. This ·process of building a united Europe is one of the main aspects of the changes going on in the world today. . The old pattern of a world dominated by two superpowers, the -USA and the Soviet Union, is . no longer true. In. the coming period, the world will be dominated by three blocs of Eu.rope, Japan and the USA competing for world market~ and control. · Three issues covered in this 'Class Struggle' reflect different but connected aspects of this changing world. The expulsion of communists from the German engineering union is an important issue- for all ·of . us.. The Social-Democrats, who have ' . done ·a complete abou't-turn on Europe, promise us benefits in the form of the contents Social Charter and increased. employment . rights. But, at the same time, they expel those most .committed to the defence of the Defend Sonia Malhi ••••• 3 interests of the working class· in the unions. Labour Party ••••••.••••• 4

The role of the EEC in the Gulf reflects Rich and Poor ••• ~ •••••• 5 the external aspect of European unity. The USA is no longer strong enough to act as Germany •••••••••••••••• 6 sole policeman for the interests· of west-ertr Mandy's Diary •••••••••• 7 imperialism, in the Middle East or other parts of the world. While upholding the Poll Tax.~ ••••••••• B & 9 right of the people of Kuwait to self Palestine •••••••• lO & 11 determination and demanding Iraqi troops out, · out main -emphasis is to\ oppose the The Gulf •••••••••••••• l2 growing threat of .an imperiali~t war in the Dessie Ellis •••••••••• 13 Middle East. The · threated deportation of Sonia :Malhi is one more example of the internal aspect of European racism and national oppression. While this is nothing new in Britain, there is increased coordination within · the EEC of immigration controls, internal policing and surveillance of black people. While opposing all these aspects of European unity, we do not support· the Thatcher anti-European position. The Thatcher posititin can only repres~nt a little Englander stand which has no place in the world today or subordination to the ·usA rather than Europe. The only solution is to build solidarity .with peo.ple both in Europe and in the · Third World, in the immediat_e struggles for workers' rights, against deportations and against imperialist war, as .well as in the long-term . struggle to destroy the imperialist system 'itself.

P~ge 2 Class Strttggle November 1990 HOME NEWS SONIA ·· IS ·HERE In the October 'issue of 'Class Since that meeting local ·Lightbown, . who had publicly Struggle • , we reported . on support has grown. 1he resisted the efforts to help three campaigns against Tamworth Council (Sonia's Sonia stay, critici~ing the. deportation in the West local council) passed a Tamworth Council, the campaign Midlands. For one of the unanimous resolution in and her solicitor~ changed his women fighting deportat~on, support of her right to stay, line when he ·found how strong Sonia Malhi, events in October on compassionate grbunds. the support for her was. In moved fast; At the beginning However, . nationally the · meeting, he agreed he of the month, Sonia was served deportations are increasing would put a stop to any plans with a deportation order. and a recent House of Lords for deportation until .he spoke After a cliff-hanging three decision has affirmed the to the Minister. weeks, Sonia was finally 'given power of immigration officers the hope . ~f a possible to order deportations with reprieve. only minimal investigations. THE BACKGROUND As a ·recent Joint Council ·for the Welfare of Immigrants Sonia came to Britain seven report said, the government is years ago to visit her family, pursuing a policy . of 'Shoot her · sister arid brother, who First, ask questions later' in were settled in the West relat~o~ to deportations. Midlands. After three years, she got married to a British · On Saturday, 6th cictober, just citizen. Subsequently, this as Sonia's relatives were marriage broke down as a thinking of closing up their result of her husband's shop, . three immigration cruelty and physical violence officers arrived. They took towards her. After enduring Sonia to the' farrifly flat and this situation for a long served the official notice of time, Sonia ~ctually tried to deportation. · This order was kill herself out of iigned by an immigration desperatiori and was officer as long ago as October hospitalised. It was only 1989. They threatened Sonia after this that she admit ted that legally they could send that the marriage was at an he'r back any time. When her end and left her husband. solicitor c~ntacted them later, they suggested t.hab-She For tbe last four years, · s~nia had a fortnight to sort out has been living with her her affairs. sister who has been supporting her. ' ' For the next two weeks, · Sonia, her family and members of the Like many other black women, West Midlands Anti-Deportation Sonia found herself t~reatened Campaign have been visiting Despite his promise, the with deportation because, local community and religious Immigration officers decided according to· the Home Office, organisations . to build up three days after the meeting she has lost her right to stay support for Sonia. with Lightbown~ to send Soriia here because this was back on 31st October. dependent on her marriage. Because of the lack of right Lightbown had done nothing to to appeal, the role of a local bl6ck the deportation. Over the last · three years; MP in intervening to stop Sonia has gone through all the dep6rtatiort, can be crucial ai It was not until the · day legal piocedures t~ apply for this stage. Sonia's- MP, David ,before the , ·deportation was the right to stay. · In Lightbown · had said publicly due, . 30th October, that particular, ~ince she came to that she should go home. Immigration · officers were England both her parents in However, widespread publicity eventually told to hold off India have died and she has no in the local press supporting while the Home Office close . relations . with other Sonia's right to stay, he considered a medical report family members to whom she provided by her MP. could return. agreed to a meeting. He made promises to Sonia at this Now Sonia waits again for the The Home Office however meeting that he would assist decision which could destroy insisted that Sonia must go her. her lif~ or save it. back. They said tha~ they have reached their decision after fully considering her c~se. But, in fact, they have not even bothered to interview her. DEFENCE CAMPAIGN As the right of black people to appeal against decisions of immigration officers has been progressively eroded, Sonia began a public campaign for her right to stay one year ago. At a meeting held in ;september (see last month's 'Class Struggle), Sonia appealed for public . support alongside other black w?men.

!November 1990 Struggle .page 3 HOME. NEWS CAN LABOUR BRING by Joe Ste~l Whatever the pros and cons of · the policies adopted at their conference, the Labour Party .CHANGE? is rapidly becoming openly wh'at it has always been in practice: another bosses' party competing for the chance to run the imperialist system. This. change in appearance is a good thing. By claiming in the past to be a socialist altern~tiv~, it diverted people . away from the necessary struggle · to overthrow imp~rialism and devalued the real nature of socialism. An increasing number of people are disillusioned with the Labour Party. But there are still those within the Labour Party, in the trade unions and in left-wing organisations, who peddle . the line that the only hope for real change must come from the Labour Party. This is a false view. FALSE ARGUMENTS The argument - is used that Lenin was in favour of. the Labour Party. It is true that, 70 years ago, he favoured working .in and with the Labour Party, but only as a tactic· because workers .had ·· no experience of a Labour __ __.... ·A DIFFERENT STRATEGY government. Lenin was clear There is still much to do to that from the outset Labour bloody, in. ·their furthering of expo~e the Labour Party and to was a capital is.t party." Britain's interests as the. convince the majority of Secondly, it is argued that Tories have. Their role in peopl~ that their only hope is people have forgotten, or the Malvinas' invasion, to overthrow the imperialist never knew, what a Labour military occupa~ion . of I~eland · system. government was like. They and their position on the Gulf are but three recent examples. A different type of politics need, it is said, to has to be bui 1 t, independent experience one for themselves. At home, they favour of parliamenta~y politics. It Of course people have to learn incorporating the trade union is not just a matter of political lessons from their movement into the state. developing an all-round own experience. But the point Nationalisation has bailed out criticism of the nature of is ~o s~m up those experiences failing capitalist indus tries imp@rialism, although that is and provide real political at the workers' and tax important. A clear break has leadership. There is a vast payers' expense. They try .and to be made from the type of history of political lessons minimise and contain the just so-called left-wing politics to be learned from past Labour demartds of the peace movement that domin~te today. governments. If combined with and women's struggle. They Re~l links have to be made . the ongoing experience of were responsible for drafting with people in their · everyday people in struggle, ~hey will and implementing the racist ' struggles and the slow, see for themselves the true nationality and immigration painstaking work has to be nature of the imperi~list ).aws. done to help them learn f _rom system and see that Labour has Labour ~rovides a useful their own experience. They no real answers. safety valve for imperialism have · much that we can learn Labour must be attacked. It to divert real opposition into from. ' does not serve the people's the narrow ~afe · confines of pailiamentary p6litics. It is wrong to concentrate on interests to spread illusions winning positions in in Labour and its false Whichever party wins the committees. Or flitting from promises. We have . more than election, what decides the one campaign to ariothei trying · half a . century'~ experience of . outcome 6f its policies is to boost newspaper sales or Labou·r governments. They have whether it· meets the needs of membership figures. All show got us nowhere. the system of that time. Real an arrogant attitude to the THE LESSER EVIL power, class-based power, lies· people and c~use outside parliament. disillusionment and confusion · The third argument is that Sometimes, Labour puts forwar~ in the 'struggle. when compared with the Tories, policies which meet the The .new politics must be based ·Labour· is t h. lesser . of two strategic needs of the evils. An examination of dominant section of the ~uling on ·true internationalism, be . history shows that this is not class and their system. anti-racist and non-sexist and true. Internationally, Labour Sometimes, · the · Tories meet ' be based among the people. It is the only formul'a which can . governments ~ay~ ~een just as these needs better. beat imperialism •

. Page 4 Class Struggle November 1990 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::=:=:=:=:=:=:=:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::1, HOME NEWS hi~hlighted in them is an explanation of how the present day rich ·· come to be so rich. Inheritance is usually trotted out as one answer, although how the wealth . and the possession of land . ~nd property firs't came into the family is usually ignored. Reference is often made to those who started with nothing and became millionaires. Def~nders . of the capitalist system, and others who know no better, often put this down to the individual's Th~ Rich get richer ..... personal drive and ambition, CHANGING FORTUNES to initiative and enterprise Last month in the article or sheer haid w6rk. · 'Jobs Galore in the City'~ . we According to the author of the I referred to a recent study, Peter Beresford, the The real answer is, of cours~, investigation into who. owns list . is by no means a static something quite different. most of the wealth in this one. . In these days of high The source of the wealth of 1 country. This investigation interest rates, currency today's rich in . Britain, involved nearly ten years' fluctuations and wheeling and however it is handed on or work by the former associat.e dealing on the Stock Exchange, shared betw~en them, in the business editor of the 'Sunday .some have e~perienced great · final analysis comes ,from the Times'. This month we look in change in their fortunes. dual exploitation on the one a little more detail at what ,- A.lan Sugar, the man behind the hand of the peoplis of the he discovered·. Amstrad electronics company, Third World, over the centuriei and on the other Over £54 .billion is the saw his accumulated wealth go down in 1989 by over £300 hand from the working class combined wealth of the top 400 million. However, there is no within ,Britain. · richest people in Britain. Fundamentally, that is the One third of the country's need to feel so~ry for hi~~ he still has around £118 million only ~ai to understand . just wealth is still held by the left. why the rich are so rich. large landowners, althougl-t it is not necessarily in the form Few women ~ccupy positions . THE POOREST of land. among the top 400. A.fter the A study that ought to b~ OLD BRITAIN Queen, number one ~n the list, · carried out would be to there are only 22 others, discover who are the country~s Many of those in this group including A.nita Roddick,. poorest 400. One problem, could be described as founder of Body. Shop; Vivien however,_ would be ihat so many representing Old Britain, Duffield, 'daughter of Charlie feel . that · they qualify. An aristocratic families who have Clore and the singer Sheena idea of just how widespread been able to hand down their Easton. J-_. pove~ty is in Briiain today is riches to their children. One · other interesting feature reflected ·in a recent study by They include people such as is the absence of most the Institute for Fistal the tiuke of West~inster, rated . destendants ~f the . large Studies. · number three in the Top Fifty industrial families who had and worth £4,200 million; Earl From their investigations for . their fortunes made for them Cadogan ( £4 mi.ll ion); the years 1979 to 1987·, they 50 during the 19th century in the Viscount Portman (£400 discovered that over six aftermath of the Industrial mil Lion); the Duke of million families were living Revolution. Only Anthony Buccl~uch and Queensbury (£300 on or below the :pov·erty line. million) and the Marquess of Pilkington, whose family In 1987, 4.3 million were on Bath (£200 million). started the largest glass social · security and a further making tompany in the world in 1~9 million were living on The next biggest group is ma~e ' St Helens, is listed. There income lower thary the safe.J:y up of property developers and are no Arkwrights, net social security level, builders, 66 out of the top Stephensons, Brunels, Dunlops many of these fai 1 ing to 400, and retailers, 32 in or Colmans. The riearest obtain the state benefits to number . . · Best known names in equivalent to . an in~ustrial which they were entitled. this lot include Lord millionaire would appe~r to be Sainsbury, rated number seven Lord Arnold Weinstock ~~ made Since 1987, the situation has and worth £1; 568 million and thousands redundant · i~ the only got · worse. There is John t1oores with extensive process of merging GEC, indeed . a link between . the income from the Littlewoods English Electric. and AEI. riches of the to~ 400 ~nd the Pools and his retailing poverty of the bottom . twenty business. THE SOURCE OF WEALTH million. If only tbe latter ·There have been many studies knew justwhy this was so, and Among the top fifty are seven over the years into how the were prepared to change it. who have interests in hotels wealth of the country is and property, including Gerald divided up. What is rare.ly Ronson, currently detained at the Ford open prison for his Low Income Families role in the Guinness affair. There are five from the, field On Benefit On an Equivalent Total of . banking and finance, Year · Income or Less including Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, three publishers 1979 2,590 1,420 4,010 and two international traders. 1983 · 3,010 1,610 4,620 Also in the li* is John Paul 1985 4,110 1,830 5,940 Getty II~ who in the column 1987 4,330 1,910 6,240 : 'What They Do' is described as a philanthropist and the ex Figures_are in thousands. Until 1983 the figures were .based on Beatle, Paul McCartney, at government . statistics. After that, the . publication of · number 24. statistics. was scrapped as it was becoming too embarrassing.

November 1990 Class Struggle page 5 Who is hostile to this unity We print on thi's page a r.======CONDEMNED FOR DEEDS NOT COMMITTED! statement from the MLPD - the Marxist-Leninist Party of Scandalous verdict of German Federal Supreme Court: Stefan Germany, about the expulsion Engel expelled from the union of metalworkers! of Stefan ~ngel from the main 1 Stefan Engel is a trained mechanic and chairman of the Marxist engineering union in Germany. Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD). In 1.986, after 12 years of It . is clear that the Single membership, he was expelled by . the board of the union of European Market of 1992 is metalworkers (IGM), which claimed that he was taking part in essentially a process of unity "activities hostile t;o the union". Stefan Engel went to court between European capitalists for his self-evident, democratic right as a worker . to be in order that they . can compete organised in a union; he demanded proof of h"is alleged . more effectively with the USA ' hostility to the union. This, however, could not be proved. and Japan for world .markets. · On the contrary, the courts emphasised that they could "not be On the company level, this blamed at all for any specific hostile action". proc~ss is taking the form of In spite of that, the Federal Supreme Court passed a judgement · mergers and takeovers, leaving against . Stefan Engel on October 16th, and confirmed his the European economy expulsion from the IGM. This is a clear case of political !dominated by an even smaller justice. number of g~_ant companies. · What crime was Stefan Engel ' found guilti of by the high cou~t? The programme of the MLPD, in which the party declares its faith in socialism, is said to be a "danger for the future". ~35" :::IOIIem.. ~~:~. For this· reason', the IGM board is being allowed "to defend Lolln· IUSIIelcll itself against enemies". Whose future is being spoken of? · Stefan Engel is being puni.shed because · he does not recognise the alleged "superiority. of capitalism" but stands up for the abolition of the capitalist system of exploitation. Now what ·~ is anti-union about this? Indeed, the question must be asked the other way round: who is ~~ - it who is hostile to the unity of the German unions. in reality? Steinkuhler, chairman of the German metalworkers' union, complains in words that "the national union of the two MLPD. · Germanies was followed by a social division" . . In practice, the In manufacturLng, German IGM leadership is taking an active part in the in~roduction of compani(;:!s lead the field. Of different wage agreements foi West and East Germany. the top 25 companies in , Obviously, the unions are to be rid -of Harxist-Leninists as Europe, nine are German with well as active colleagues because they are definite enemies of Daimler Benz being · the . any politics o,f divi~ $-Jhe workers against each other. biggest. Among the. other This scandalous verdict ~gainst Stefan Engel conc~rns everyone! eight a~e Volkswagen, Thyssen and Mannesmann, all important According to this logic, anybody who fights capi ta 1 i.sm can engineering _companies. arbitrarily be deprive~ of the~r basic rights. In whose interests is it, in this country, to turn every cri tic of the The Ge~man erigineering union, syste~ .into fair game? IGM~ can play an important role in defending workers' The workers' movement fought for the right to have their own interests. . They won a 38 and unions against the capitalists, not to submit. to the intetests a half . hour week after a of capital but to organise the struggle for the im~rovement of strike in 1985. Within IGM, working and living conditions. In the i nterests of the the MLPD has actively workers' unity, Marxist-Leninist workers should be just as much supported the fight for a part ofthem as Social-democrats, Christians and independent shorter working hours with the workers. The Federal Supreme Court's judgement is a judgement slogan '35 hour week now! With. against . the unity of the working class and against united no Loss of Earnings' . . unions. It follows the will of the employers' feder~tions, who have long · been demanding the "cleanup" of the unions. · They We can see from this the intend to realise their offensive for profit and power without ·importance of solidarity any resistance- or so th~y would like! . between workers and between Marxist-Leninists in Europe, ·No witcb~hunting in the unions! both at the level of our Solidarity in the struggle against the Supreme Court decision! organi:;;ations and in work in ,Abolish the de.cree against radicals in the metalworkers' union! the unions. Contribute the_ the legal aid fund! .

Page 6 Class Struggle November 1990 ' Mandy's' Diary' ~~---~October 19th: There is a new contraceptive for men. They get it in the for~ of an inject ion once a week. 15 7 of __.,....,..__.,__ the 2 71 men · on whom it was tested stopped sperm product 1on 'Within six months, and in only on case was there a pregnancy. The study claims 1 ~....---.... 1 a high success rate. But I m . not so sure. As with other ·forms of contraceptibn, the assumption seems to be that as ~1(U.---.· long as it prevents pregnancy, other aspects are unimportant. · As many as 2 7 men dropped out because of medical side -l'"--..- effects (including increased l_...... ___,_, aggression). That still ·leaves a substantial number who did not stop producing sperm. In & study, there is a _...lU.J--..- high motivation to test them ~----' · for sperm production. But if this method of contraception becomes widely available, will because it is beneficial to pregnancies, half of which men know · wh~ther they are would end in abortions. -lW..-...e. producing sperm or not? And the development of pre~school ~:::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~ how ~any men would be children". motivated ·enough to be Our government hasn't e~en October 24th: I'm g61ng to be inj~cted every week if it was begun to care about w~at is in £1 a · wee~ bett¢r off. Wowee! six months . before the children's interests. When Still, it's better than a kick -...~iLL---. injections had any effect? it's a que~tion of saving in the teeth. It's quite money, children's interests go amazing to see the Tory 1::::::::::;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::1 out of the window every time. government scurrying .like October 22nd: r1y little son they have the nerve to ask why rabbits trying to improve -~~...... ~-.started nursery today. He's there is so much truancy from their - image after the '----?f~. three years olri and it's time school and so much juvenile Eastbourne bye-election. he starting mixing ·with other crime. \vell, iS'Ti+r "' it Pathetic, isn't it? They children. He were lucl{y to obvious? If society doesn't really think that they can buy · get a . place. . It's a private give a damn for its children, 6 million women's , votes with ~::::J..L-..~,.nursery, of course. · In order why should children give a £1 a week, after all tJl.ey hav·e. ~~~~' to qualify for a Social damn for society? done! Well, the writing is on the wall. No longer can Services nur~ery, you have to Children are being short be a one-parent family or your Thatche~ t~ll us to eat cake. changed all along th~ line: If they. want our vo.tes, they · children have to be at r~sk of free school meals restricted abuse. will have to start throwing to those on Income Support; crumbs. Who · know's? Perhaps ~::::::J.JL...... -,• There ·was · a good art ic.le Child Benefit frozen; school the IRA will kill off some yesterday on childcare in the leaving age raised in o.rder to more of them, and we'll have a 'Telegraph' magazine, of all make the unemployment figures few more pounds · in our places. It- stated what . we look better than they are; pockets·.- Seriously, I think .-::::u.__-•women have been saying fbr benefit · stopped to 16 ' and 17 · that's what saved Child ~~~~~ years - but isn't it nice to year olds; newborn babies Benefit. The Only benefit see someone taking notice! - dying unnecessarily because· automatically paid to . mothers, that . childcare is the m~in maternity services aren't good . all mothers. The only income obstacle preventing some women enough. some women can be certain of. ~::::::J.JL---•going out to work, and mothers It goes on even before birth: .Not all · men spend their wages going out to work. is on their wives and children. · beneficial both for women, and there·· ha·s been a rise in the number of abort ions as a Many spend it on drink, or for their children, provided gambling, or drtigs. the children are well cared direct result of cut's in r-~~.-..~...~....-.--... for. But, . while other family planning services. · The Af3 for the hypocritical Family Planning Associatt6n is European countries have take~ suggestion that the Tories this on board, and see calling for an end to the want to restrict Child Benefit' childcare as a state cuts, wh.ich it· fears could · in order to target the poorest responsibility, in Britain' it intensify under the NHS families, · are- they so out of reforms. How short-sighted touch that they don't even is seen as a purely private can the government get? In .matter. kno~ th~t people on Income financial terms alone, family Support don't get . _Child The .,__ article describe the · planning does not cost money, _ Benefit? Well, they· get it • situation in three European . it saves money. Evidence from But then it is taken away from countries where "childcare is · the United States shows that their Income Support, What ~~"""'1!!!1 · seen as the right of working family planning servic~s 'there the ~overnment gives with one mothers and their children. save tax-payers 1.8 billion hand, it takes with the other. That right is underlined by dollars a year in terms of Since when did the Tories have public funding which gives medical, welfare and poor people's interests at families access to quality nutritional services required heart? I suppose that's why childcare regardless of their by law for poor women who have they made the Social Security income - not just as a ·carrot unplanned births. They cuts in 1988. Pull the other to get women back to work, but prevent 1.2 million uniritended· one!

November 1990 Class Struggle page 7 HOME NEWS ANTI-POLL TAX lOth~ Each Wedn~sday since There is mass opposition. to the Poll Tax. then, around 250 people have . been summonsed. But I that is not to say that · there is a · Reports of . what actually happened in the courts are not campaign ot mass opposition. easy to get hold of. This is because veiy few of the public Bradford: ·I However, a sizeable number . can get in to hear the just . decided that going to proceedings. Secondly, ' the October 8th was . t .he day the cou.rt would be a waste of first hundred non-payers of Council's plan seems to be to the poll tax were summonsed to time. Some had been contacted take on people from . the by the local anti-poll ' tax outlying areas of the city; the court in Bradford. Anyone groups who encouraged them to who turned up was allowed to go to the court. But for where the anti'-pol1 tax speak. But only about the campaign is . not as well many, the issue was simple. organised. specific details of their own They were just not going to case. But this did not pay. One · old woman told us TURN UP TO COURT include trying to prove that that if the bailiffs come to you s~mply could not afford to One lesson that is emerging her house, _ th~y would have to pay. As far as the magistrat~ . from th~ first few weeks 1s· get .past her dog. And, with a that if you turn up and defend .was concerned, that was smile, she· went on to say it something to be taken up ~ith yourself, you have a fair the counciL His aim was to was a Rotweiller! chance of getting · an p~ove that you were liable. adjournment. · As · a result, · WHAT RESISTANCE COSTS many will have to re-appear at a hearing scheduled for 21st If you .get a summons in November. Bradford, they add £10 to your bill. But the odds are generally sta~ked against the publit. If you get a liability You are expected . to wait order against you from the around until you are called court, they add a further and this could be a long · time. £19.95 made · up of £10 for .We heard of on~ woman who went the liability order and off to get a drink of' tea, and £9.95 for the council's when . she returned, twenty paper work. minutes later, found that she now "had a liability ord~r. One· well-off fam:i),. y.-- in It is also rumoured that in Bradford likes the poll tax. early November 2, 500 will be From the money they. have saved summonsed to a special in the changeover from · the hearing, and · after that, the rates, they are going to have court will be operating t'wice an extra week's holiday next a week. year. As far as campaigning is concerned, there are pensioners have j.nevitab1y . strong and . weak areas. We talked to one active member from the Hyde An Ally in P~rk ~roup. He spoke of a lot \. of act~vity in the Hyde Park ] the Struggle? and Burley areas: leafletting, regular meetings and other McKenzie's Friend been ringing up the anti-poll events~ But ju~t down the tax campaign hotlfne, telling road at · Belle Vue~ nothing The magistrate indicated right how they are conside~ing seemed to be happening. · from the outset that although cutting back on their hot there could be no objection to meals in ~rder to pay. From his experiences, . things the use of a McKenzie's were quite predictable. One Friend, he would have to In general, it would appear at week there would be a good remain inconspicuous. As a this stage that there is mass response. Next week, nothing. result, he was forced to sit opposition to the poll tax. But generally, he always .found right at the back of the court But that is not to . say that when knocking on doors and room and was able to make there is a campaign of mass talking abou~ the poll tax, little impact on the opposition. people soon ·became very angry. "The funny thing is, I think, proceedings. Thus, . for most How things will change when of the twelve people who a lot of people will just not the council sets in motion its pay the tax. But they will turned up, the :overall setting next move, to issue one of the court room was quite I also not have anything to do thousand sum~onses ori the same with the campaign." intimidating. . Liability . day, is as yet unclear. But orders against them . went ! ' one thing appears sure, When we · asked about the. through quite easily. · judging by what is beirig said, involvement ·of the Labour Of those who did not turn up, there · ~re · a lot of people in Party, the reply we got was sorne had already paid up or the city who are very· short and to the point: "There reached some agreement with determined not to pay the poll is no connection.• tax. the council, who seem quite· One inte~esting point from the keen, even desperate, to get f:(:::::::::::::::::::;:;:;:;:;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::l court hearings 'in Leeds: it some more ~oney in. Some had . would appear that computer their cases thrown out on ~: material cannot be used as technical . grounds (wrong In Leeds, the city's Labour admissable evidence. name, wrong address, ·rebate I Council began its legal action' calculations incorrect). against non-payers on October I

Page 8 Class Struggle November 1990 CAMPAIGN

Clash between police and poll tax; demonstration in Hackney "in March.· l ;...~ Bristol: October. to High Cour·t and will cause embarrassment and cost to the Bristol has. one of the ~est If tba t is true (and council. , - ' organised . campaigns,with information is scarce due to groups organising on a _street the secrecy wiih which the A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE by street ba~is. It also has council shrouds these matters) a broad membership, not then_ the reason for it will be I~ : subsequent weeks, things dominated by any one left · the success with which the have gone from bad to worse. group. courts are steamrollering the. One regular attender on behalf cases through. On the first of the anti-poll tax union The results of this broad~ day, they used -the expedient referred to the proceed~ngs as based organising were apparent of not telling people that a travesty of justice. The on Friday, 26th Octo·ber when their cases were being dealt clerks are refusing to let over 2,000 people demonstrated with. A lot of people had people make representations on against the poll .tax outside turned up intending to defend their own behalf, let alone the courts where non-payers' themselves and most of them through McKenzie friends. And cases wer~ being beard. were waiting outside the court the lists of the names of Three people were arrested as for their names to be called~ defendants 1 which should be the protestors _attempted to The ushers, in league with the displayed publicly in the storm the court room. clerks, simply did not court foyer, 'are nm.r b.eing ·announce the nam~s. Since th~ withheld so no-one knows who Around · 100,000 people ~n d~fendants were hot in court, is in court. Bristol, about one in three of th~ liability orders went those elig~ble to pay the tax, ihrough on the nod. It is unfortunate that the have not paid. 2,300 Birmingham Federation of Anti~ summonses have been issued so The publ~c ·were excluded from Poll Tax Unions -and most of far. the courts. But a few · the local unions are in the defende~ts managed ~o sl{p in hands of the Militant f:::::::;:;:;:;:::;:;:;:;:;:;:::;:;:;:;:;:::::::::::::::::::::::;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:::::::::;:;:;:;:;:::::::::::;:;::::::::!:l and· 1vere there when their Tendency. Most _ of their Birmingham: cases ~ere called. Many were effort appears to ·go into able to make their protests manipulating to retain all the Birmingham City Council'~ and in some cases to obtain positions on the Federation. labour leadership started to adjournments. · But the clerks When it comes to organisation try and force _people to pay r~fused all applications for fo~ defendants~ they are the poll tax on lOth M~Kenzie friends to assist the pathetic. Nor are they September. · Their pl~n was t.o defendants. organised to leaflet the · loc?l take 300 people to court every areas and seek out non~payers week. On the council's o~.rn ·The result o.f the steamrollering tactics was to . give them support and esti~~tes, t~ei2 . nre .44~060 strengthen their resistance. non-payers, so cf~aily there ~that full liability orders for will be a long process. the whole poll tax of £40·6 and The latest from Birmingham's However, we have how heard costs were made against people Labour boss, Sir Richard that they are ste~ping things on Income Support and people Knowles, was a final warning up .and that . 2,000 summonses _ who had · applied for rebates. to non-payers: pay up, or have been issued for 30th These cases have been ~eferred we'll send in the bailiffs!

November 1990 Class Struggle page 9 PALES'F1NE .

by David Evans THE REAL 'TEMPLE

1 17 Palestinians were shot _dead I examined the reports that a group of · Border Guards by Israeli police in Jerusalem prepared by Palestinian .entered the Haram area and on October 8th. No Israelis organisations in Jerusalem· and· began · firing tear gas. 'Al .were killed, or even seriously the West Bank as a whole, and Haq' 's r ~eport says that, most injured. A few reporters found that the reality was probably at 10.45 a.m.; women showed some scepticism vety different from what most gathered at the Dome of the .towards Israeli official reports published here stated Rock were tear-gassed. All accounts of events, the (with two honour~ble Palest}nian accounts suggest bloodiest .. day of Israel's exceptions). that the Israeli action was occupation of the West Bank. unprovoked or was a massive THE REAL STORY But most were only too ready response to a minor incident. to repeat the version of Palestinians came. to the Haram There _was no "howlihg mob" events given out by Israeli ash-Sharif that d~y because ~ttacking t~e Israeli security officials and politicians • . they did indeed believe that · personnel and compelling them They did not take them to task the fanatics of the Temple to open fire in self-defence. over the unbelievable tales Mount Faithful intended to they told. Nor did they go to come and lay a foundation talk to Palestinians who were: stone {or their temple. They on the spot at the time of the knew that an Israeli court had massacre to get their account. issued an orde~ · against the stone-laying ceremony.. But According to the Israeli they also knew that it had government, arid those who give rejected a pol ice request 'to reporters "unofficial" briefings, the day's events ban the Temple Mount Faithful from entering the Haram ash went like this: Sharif that day. Furthermore, THE OFFICIAL VERSION their experience of "Israeli A large crowd of· "Arabs" justice" did riot inspire them (typitally not called with ~ny degree of tonfidence Palestinians), .gathered at the that the court's ruling would mosques of the Dome of the be _enforced. Rock and Al_.Aqsa. . Their Tension built that day <1~ - .the excuse was that they were morning wore on. The Israeli coming to repel an attempt by court had ruled · that th~ a Jewish group 'l

Page 10 Class Struggle November 1990 PALESTINE MOUNT' STORY

Bullet marks on a marble column near the scene of .the killings.

The test~mony ~f these . two Meanwhile, the Border Gtiards to the Palestinian-run young men supported fired off large -amounts of Makassed Hospital: Border Palestinian claims and the teargas and used live Police entered it and fired analysis of events made in a , amm unition to shoot at the off teargas, making · it 'World In Actiori' programme crowds within the area of the necessary to evacuate parts of which · was broadcast on lRtb Magharbeh Gate. Many of the the hospital. 17 Piilestinians: October. No stones were dead were killed over ' the were ki 1led in tne tiaram asn thrown into the Western '\fall twenty minutes after 11 wl;len Sharif that day, the · youngest ·area at the beginning of the the Border Guards had of whom was 14 and the oldest clas~es on October 8th, and ret rea ted t .o safe positions 70\ and the worshippers at the Israeli security forc~s opened Israel and its ap61ogists fire well before any such Western Wall were running for cover or were already should not be allowed to get stotiing took place. away with their version of sheltered. events. Nor should the bulk Stones did ·start to fall into · 1 the Western Wall area at "PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE" of the ·western media be allowed to escape . criticism\ · around 11 o'"clock. Shots had Having brought up · been fired at the men who had . reinforceme'nts, the Border for lending credi~ility to t.hel lies of Israeli leaders. Not driven the Border G~ards Guards stormed the Magharbeh only do these · lies absolve through the Magharbeh Gate Gate. Although the people Israel from blame, but they from a building standing near within ran from their attacK, also serve . to legitimise the top of the Western Wall, they pursued them, shooting at further repression against the and they responded by throwing people as th~y fled and stones at it, many of which beating others, including Palestinians - all in- the name of I~raeli self-defence. Th~y dropped over the wall onto the wounded people ~ho h~d fallen .Jewish holy site · below. Even to the ground. Medical , reinforce the mentality on the television pictures personnel who had rushed to widespread in _Israel, which shown here, of the stones the scene to help the injured allowed one police officer to coming over the top of the were not spared. A nuise was · justify the Border Guards' .wall, · it was quite obvious shot twice in her arm, and sho~ting dead . of 17 Palestinians an£\ wounding . of that the stones were arching another nurse ~nd a .doctor up into the air, not being were also badly injured,. The 150 by saying that it was necessary "in order to protect aimed or dropped deliberately wounded were not ev~n left on worshippers below. alone wh~n they were ~vacuated 'human life" .•

'November 1990 Class Struggle page 11 MIDDLE EAST I. 'while oil is the sole reason for the Western response to contributed Iraq's invasion and annexation. I read with interest October's . of Kuwait, is this · the sole editorial on the Gulf. There factor communists should vas much I agreed with,- but consider in assessing the not the assertion that the issue? Saddam Hussein is not principal contradiction vas moved by Pan-Arab · aspirations •between the Arab masses onr to re-unite the Arab nation the one hand and imperialism under I~aqi leadership. by the United States on the other". WHOSE CLASS INTERESTS? In the absence of armed The Ba'athist national hostility, I think · the . bourgeoisie of Iraq wants situation in the Gulf has not accommodation in the "new yet developed whereby the main world order". Saddam wants issue is opposition to for Iraq the role · af regional imperialist intervention. power in the manner that South That remains, to my thinking, Africa operates in Southern secondary to the defence of Africa. K~waiti sovereignty. Iraq, far from jeopardising For me, the nature of the main the reactionary alliance, contradiction will change in wants to enhance its own role the event of the war · within that ' imperialist preparations being used to imposed settlement. The resolve the dispute by force: J. Western powers want compliant · Uphold the right to there can be no 'international policeman' be it self appointed or UN sanctioned. Without condoning the Self-determination clients, like the feudal hypocrisy and barbarism of the affairs of the Palestini;:ms, intervention in the region, monarchy of Saudi Arabia. On no account should defenders of and, as Noriega was supported the initial reaction of the so long as he toed the line, RCL has not fallen . into the the restoration of Kuwait's independence give a gloss to so was Iraq i n the fight error of other left groups of ·against Iran. calling for imperialist forces · imperialist intentions. The out of . the Gulf without Western powers are there for There have been a number of addressing the issue of their own reasons, not in red herrings used in excusing Kuwait's self-determination. defence . of the rights of a Iraq '.s actions. The two mo st This was, I believe, a more "small, helpless nation". obvious concern firstly the correct position than that The actions of Iraq ca~~ot be historical origins of Kuwait taken in the October editorial . condoned. But the danger of (granted independence in which acknowledges (hut making the issue of 'self 1961). This is not a f'lctor undervalues) the arrogant determination for Kuwait a in whether one defends the militarism and aggression of side issue is pa~t of t~e right of sovereignty. The Iraq, as secondary to the ~shadow text' of the argument vast majority of the world's intentions of the Western that moves the focus to the nation-states have been imperialists now encamped in presence of the American, arbitrarily drawn. Iraq's own the . reg.ion. British and French troops to boundaries emerged after the ln correctly argu1ng tnat the primary position. defeat of Ottoman Turkey at European convenience. imperialism has long so~ght to The argument that while Iraq's suppress the Arab anti action's provided the pretext, Secondly, Kuwait under the imperialist movement, not it is the presence of Western ruling al-Sabah family was a least through the aggression troops (by Saudi invitation)' reactionary entity. lThich · of the expansionist Zionist that should be the main focus, state is not? Is it now a state, the editorial does not · loses sight of the fact that matter of to what degree, point to important changes in the necessary principle of where on the spectrum of the bal~nc~ of power within self-determination is the reaction a state lies, tbat imperialism • . primary · concern, that Iraq's dictates whether it is US imperialism needs to intervention and annexation · of "deserving". of support when orchestrate a show of support Kuwait ought to be oppose·rl in su~ject to aggression. deferice of tbat right. through a multi-national Communist support for the presence because of its own Iraq's leadership may adopt right to self-determination is weakness. The US cannot do it the nationalist mantle against not determined by inte~nal alone. To safeguard the Western . troops, ' without constitutional arrangements. fragile alliance of· forces mentioning the free Kuwait Whilst imperialism may that have ·been constructed in troops, Saudi Arabian, Gulf . cynically use the language of the Gulf, Washington has taken' Co-operation Council, Syrian, self-determination, COIBIDUnists the unpre~edented action of Egyptian, Moroccan, Pakistani should not waver in th~ir criticising its Israeli client and Bangl~deshi contingents. support for national at the UN. This may not be liberation. Formal terribly significant in terms . But their invasion of Kuwait and past actions display naked independence is the beginning of the Palestinian national point for the defeat of liberation struggle. But it regional ambitions at the expense of their fellow Arabs. imposed neo-colonial exacerbates inter-imperialist exploitation. We should also tensions. The US cannot force Iraq's anti-imperialist continue to defend the military action without credentials are threadbare: integrity of Third World consulting those it has long chemical warfare on the nations, even when it is a. regarded as "junior partners", . Kurd ish people; the slaughter neighbouring Third World state specifically Britain and of Iraqi communists; that is the aggressor. · France. intervention in the internal Page 12 Class Struggt'e November 1990 Desmond .Ellis, an active Republican from Dublin, has been on hunger strike in Portlaoise Prison since October lOth. · He is protesting against attempts to SAVE DESSIE extradite him to Britain. A broad campaign is being built surveillance throughout the I now appel;ll with my life to to . stop the extradition and entire period covered . by the rou, the Irish people." extrad~tion warrants. save Dessie Ellis' life. Three days late~, outside In May 1981, Desmond Ellis, "The only explosions that Dublin's GPO, a rally . of over was arrested and charged with occurred in Britain during the 2,000 people demanded that the possession of electronic units period in question were in the Twenty Six County Justice which, ' the prosecution · autumn of 1981 and the summer Minister act to prevent 'Ellis' alleged, were used in IRA of 1982. A~ both thes~ times extradition. timing . devi~es. During his - and inbetween - · Dessie Ellis , One of the speakers was Owe~ trial it became clear that 6e was in prison or reporting to Carron·, who.se own extradition had been under coristant Gardai Gardai as required by his bail to the Six Counties had, last surveillance for some time bond." . April,. been refused by before his arrest. CONSPIRACY CHARGES . _Dublin's Supreme Court. Some months later, he was · I~ Irish prosecution prac~ice, Carron told the rally: .granted bail, 6ne condition the use of conspiracy charges "Friends, at this · moment~ an being that he surrender his . is practically unknown. But . Irishman and a Republican lies passport and report to the to use such charges in a in Portlaoise Prison on hunger poli~e three times a week. British court in ordir to strike. He is not there because be is a thr~at to 'the But in ·early 1982, shortly. conv~ct Irish nationalists has before his trial was due to clear advantage for the state, for he is not. He ~s start, he jumped bail. On authorities. It allows the . not there because he has February 6th, he was arrested prosecution to introduce all broken any .of the laws of this while attempting to cross sorts 6f evidence ·that is ·state or offended any of the statutes of the Constitution. illegally into the United extraneous to th~ case and States from Canada and held in places the onus on the accused IRe is there today simply and custody pending deportation to prove their inn6cence. ·solely on the foot of a proceedings. warrant issued London

Becau~e he faced charges in Dublin, ~e fought deportation and lodged ari application for political asylum. His battle against his deportation lasted over a year during which he re~ained in custody. Eventually he was deported and, on arrival at Dublin Airport o~ March 3rd 1983~ was re-arrested. · He was subseque~tly convlcted at the Special Criminal Court and sentenced to eight years' . i~prisonment. TWO EXTRADITION WARRANTS On 27th April 1989, · just . twenty four hours before Dessie Ellis was due to ·be released, he was inform~d that he was to be re-arrested on the basis of two extraditio.n signed by the British Attorney w~rrants issued by a London Dessie Ell is · is now in grave magistrate's court. They danger of being the first General, and . which as an I alleged that (1) he had citizen of the Twenty Six indicator of its intent, be.ars. conttol of explosive Counties to be extraditE!d to the worlds "God Save the substances within Britain England on political charges. Queen", . . showing without during the period from January .Although . he was never in equivocation that . the Queen's writ still runs in . the Twenty 1st 1981 to October 27th 1983 ~ritain at all ~uring the time Six Counties, seventy · years and (2) that he had con~pir~d under question, conspiracy · after people like Sean Treacy with others ·to cause charg~s are by their very fought and died in this city." explosions in Bri~ain during nature impossible to dis~rove. the same .34 month period. Moreover, with the experience Carron went on ·to · say that These warrants were similar to of what happened .to the Dessie Ellis' extradition the ·vague charges made against "Birmingham Six, Guildford .Four would not only be a betrayal Father Ryan for his and the Maguire Seven, he· · of national arid political . knows he would never s.tand a . rights bu~ would he· one .of the extradition which both the chance. greatest acts of immorality Belgian and Irish governments HUNGER STRIKE ever perpetrated on a ·citiien refused to grant~ by his owri government. As a leaflet from the · Irish On October lOth', Dessie Ellis Anti-Extradition Committee has issued a statement frob "People must act now arid act argued: "It is actually Portlao.ise Prison in which he ~uickly for. soon it may be too physically impossible · for Mr stated:· "I am going on . hunger ·l~te, too late f~r ·. Dessie Ellis to have had control of strike to the death, if 'Ellis, too late perha~s for explosives in Britain, or to necessary, to prevent my .others who may follow." have conspired to cause extradition to Britain. The explosions in Britain, because government has it in its power Information from 'An he was in custody, or to stQp my extradition and Phoblacht/Republican News' and :otherwise . · under · Gardai only the . Irish people can the .Irish Anti~Extradition for~e the government to act. Commit tee. · ·

November 1990 Class .struggle page 13 Trial and Error

First .· published in 1986, it dubious methods of police describes how the police used ·interrogators are all too force to get eonfessions from familiar to Irfsh and other the Four; how circumstantial national minority peoples in . evidence against them was very this country. Much like .the thin; how \ unlikely a continuing cases 6f the previously unconnected group Birmingham 7 Six and the of ~ small~time crooks, Tottenham ~hree, the cases of squatters and drug users could . .the Guildford Four and the ca~ry out the bombings; ~nd Maguire Seven illustrate that question~ why, after two the British system of justice imprisoned IRA members l is neither systematic nor On 19 October 1989, the admitted the bombings and said just. Guildford Four, wrongly the Four were riot involved, convicted of the pub bombings the tase was not re-opened. ·in Guildford in October 1974, were released · after fifteen Kee also demonstr~tes ·how flimsy the forensic "evid~ncs -years imprisonment~ which · convicted the Maguire Driring their trial in · 1975, Seven ( ·who supposedly handled · Sir Michael He:·wers, Crown explosives, and assisted in Pro~ecutor, stated: the bombings ) really was. Accusations . of t~~ most The story Kee uncovers is made appalling kind have been made all the more ' devastating by against the police during this the fact that · Kee is a trial. If true, ther~ h~s been respected 'Establishment' a really gigantic · conspiracy journ~list, and . not a between two police forces suppo1rter of, the Nationalist the Surrey police and the Bomb cause., Squad through officers of all ranks If the Overall, 'Trial and Error' illustrates how the British · alle~at;i.ons are true there has · State was able to push through been a . most appalling convictions which do not even _perversion of just~ce." ~tand up · to a common sense Robert Kee's precise and appraisal. Th~ collusion of tightly argued book uncovers state agencies, the· selective this "perversion of justice". conclu"li.OI)_S of judges and the

Saturday, 1st December,

National Demonstration

Joint Committee for Palestine 3rd Anniversary of Intifada BlACK WOMEN Assemble 12 Noon, Malet Street, FIGHT BACK . LONDON Sunday, 11th November,

AGAINST Demonst.ration DEPORTATIONS. Anti-Fascist Action Remembrance Sunday Saturday, 24th November~ Assemble 2 p.m. National Demonstration Parliament Square, Lo.ndon SWl • Stop -Deportations Now! Stop Race Attacks! Assemble 12 Noon,. Handsworth Park, Holly Rd, Handsworth, . Saturday, lOth November, BIRMINGHAM DEMONSTRATE Sheila, Sonia and Prake.sh, three black women in US AND BRITISH TROOPS ·Birmingham are currently OUT OF '!HE GULF fighting · against their deportations. .Assemble 11.30 a.m. Sparkhill Park Stratford Road BIRMINGHAM

STOP RACIST ATTACKS

DEFEND BLACK COMMUNITIES

Page 14 Class Struggle November 1990 Why settlefQra new book when _you can have_a whole

If any of our regular readers political ' thought, political are thinking about Christmas struggles and philosophy. presents, then for some gifts; Under this heading, is the they can do no better than whole range of Marxist call in to see what is classics, starting with the Handicrafts availabl~ at New ~ra Books, in famous '.Communist Manifesto'...... •...... London . Most ~f the books in this range are in paperback and are In addition to the books, Situated· in Fins bury Park, very · cheap. For example, there is also a wide selection five minutes walk. from the Lenin's 'State and Revolution' of goods in our handicraft underground . station, directly will cost you only 80 pence; section. Best known . are the qpposi te the Rainbow Theatre 'Five Essays on Philosophy', Chinese papercuts and the (once known as the Astoria), in which Mao Zedong explains greetings cards. New Era Books is more than the theory of contradiction, just another radical bookshop. The shop is open on Tuesdays will leave you with change out Beca.use of the rna terial it of a pound. to Fridays, from 11 to 5.30, carries, it is perhaps unique, and on Saturdays, from 11. 30 for many of the books in the MANY FAMOUS NAMES to 4.30. If you are shop are not readily available travelling any distance, it is elsewhere. Similarly, there There are many well-known, and always safer to ring and check are magazines and newspapers less-known writers to that someone will be there. from many national liberation demonstrate the choice before Just in case. movements and other fOU. To name but a few, there For those who live outside progressive organisations, 1s Gramsci, Amin, Frank, London, it will probably be informing r.eaders here of what Fanorr, Upward, Angela Davis, easier to · make contact first is going on in other parts of A.L.Morton, Adams, Harrison by phone. Books can be sent the world. Salisbury, Wal Mannington~ Cauldwell, Cornforth and Hoang to you through the post. The The range of progressive books phone number is: 071-272-5894. Van Hoan, the Vietnamese is · broad. It covers the revolutionary. You can also ask the person fields of ecology, history, from whom you buy your copy of women's liberation, Ireland, There is also a small section 'Class Struggle'. peace and the anti-war for children of all ages: movement, language, art, 'Weighing An Elephant', 'The geography, music etc. In Seven Clam Sisters' and 'The Journals addition, there are the Magic Deer' are three typical obvious areas of politics, titles. · Frontline Worker, Journal for a Socialist Movement in Azania (South Africa). By Engels: People's Voice, Organ of the The World Labour Market: A Tigray People's Liberation ~Socialism: Utopian and His tory of the Migration of · Front. Scientific' - 50p. Labour, £9.95. TAPOL, Campaign magazine of 'Ludwig Feuerbach and the End the Indonesia Human Rights of Classical German ReconJnJended Campaign. Philosophy' - 70p...... •...... Inqila!J South Asia Solidarity By Lenin: Origin of African Civilisation Group quarterly magazine. 'Imperialism, the Highest by C.Diop, £8.95. You can buy a range of other Stage 'of Capitalism'- 70p Staying Power: History of journals from the shop, 'The Three· Sources and Three Black People in Britain, by ' including 'An Component Parts of Marxism' - Peter Fryer, £9.95. Phoblacht/Republican News', 30p 'Troops Out' , Palestine By Any Means Necessary, Solidarity. 'What Is To Be Done' - 90p Malcolm X, £7.95. By Mao Zedong: Common Fate, Common. Bond : Women in the Global Economy, Marxist Classics 'Selected Writings' .__ Volumes by Swasti Mitter, £4.95...... 1 to 5. Each £3.50 in 'Wage Labour and Capital', hardback. · Lowest of the Low, by Gunter Wallraff - the daily reality 'Wages, Price and Profit', (A ·of a Turkish worker in what basic exposition of Marx's was West. Ge~many, £4.99, economic theory, 50p each). Latest Additions ...... The Monocled Mutineer by 'The Poverty of Philosophy' India's Simmering Revolution : Allison and Farley, £2.50. Marx's polemic with Proudhon _The -Naxalite Uprising, by A Fate Worse than Debt, by on political economy - £1. Sumanta Bannerjee, £7.95. I, Susan George, £4.50.

November .1990 Class Struggle pagel5 In the new 'October, we . are pleased to repr1nt an Englishj summary of a book by a leadiri~ comrade in the Norwegian Marxist Leninist-Party (AKP ML). The AKP(ML) has for manyj years · been active in · the: Women's Front in Norway. The contribution by this comrade, Kjersti Ericsson, is therefore based firmly in a combination of theory and practice. The article on Feminism and the Left · in India and Sri Lanka also shows how active women have been. The article makes it clear that the role · of women and the women's movement is being ·debated and discussed at many different levels within the Left. The basic position of the RCL is that we have to apply the scientific method of Marxism to the question of women but that many of the positions held by the Left on women are a crude economist version of Marxism. In this issue of 'October', we try to take this debate forward by looking at some of the arguments around the basis . of women' s oppression, an important question if we aim to build a society which removes the basis for oppression as a pre-condition for moving to full ·liberation. We look at the question of reproductive rights, a key aspect of women's oppression. And we try to put the struggle for women's liberation within the context of the · overall struggle -against imperialism. We hope that this journal will take the debate forward. We look forward to hearing the views of our readers and receiving contributions from ·you.

'Class Struggle' is the political paper of the Revolutionary Communist League.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Inland: 6 months: £3.00 12 months: £4.50 Oversea·s: 6 months: £5. 50 12 months: £8.50 AVAILABLE FROM: . ('Class Struggle' is dispatched second class post .new era books or surface post unsealed. If you would like a subscription 203 SEVEN SISTERS RD for •ore than one copy, or. would like to receive the LONDON, N4 3NG paper by first class inland post or airmail sealed, then please wr.~te for a quote.)·