JULY 31, 1981 75 CENTS VOLUME 45/NUMBER 29

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY /PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE

New revolutionary steps in Nicaragua By Arnie Weissberg Matilde Zimmermann MANAGUA-An estimated half million Nica­ raguans shouted their approval of stiff new laws establishing greater government control over the· economy at a rally here July 19. The demonstration marked the second anni­ versary of the Nicaraguan r·evolution, as well as . the twentieth of the founding of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). The new laws were adopted in response to a series of demonstrations by the trade unions and other mass organizations. They make it easier for the government to intervene to halt "decapi­ talization" (removal of capital from the country by industrialists and wealthy farmers). The new Alo "10 crnes laws will also make more land available to land­ CcJTS less peasants. Even before dawn on July 19, the huge throng began converging on the July 19 Plaza here in the capital. Some people traveled two days to reach Managua. At 1 a.m., July 19, radio reports Build AFL-CIO Sept. 19 rally! from around the country carried the news of de­ parting contingents: 40,000 from the city ofChi­ nandega, for instance. One participant estimat­ ed that 700 trucks had come from Matagalpa. Reagan budget Roads near the plaza were lined with vehicles of every imaginable description and vintage. Anything that could move under its own power • had been pressed into service: fro·m jeeps and buses to dump trucks and trucks normally used means m1sery to haul cotton or cattle. In the plaza, wind-whipped flags of black and red (the FSLN colors), and blue and white (the · national colors) mingled with homemade ban­ ners and signs and the blue flags of the new or­ for millions ganization of small farmers. At the back of the plaza hung a banner from -PAGES Continued on page 7

Israeli Reagan's bombs threat to kill prosecute hundreds draft in Lebanon resisters -PAGE 5 -PAGE2 In Our Opinion VOLUME 45/NUMBER 29 JULY 31, 1981 CLOSING NEWS DATE~UL Y 22

ment claims that registration is proceeding bureaucrats have made significant concessions. smoothly. So do the latest official-and very in­ And the unity of the Polish people has sent a flated-figures. They claim that 97 percent of message to the Kremlin that the cost of military the first group-those born in 1961-registered, intervention would be incalculably high. A new step while 87 percent of the next group signed up, The party congress reflected the changed rela­ and only 70 percent of the latest-those born in tionship of forces. The party officialdom felt the toward war 1963-have registered. need to present itself as a force for "democratic The Reagan administration took another step The National Executive Committee of the renewal." This was manifested in the need to toward war July 20. Young Socialist Alliance issued a statement · change the personnel of the leadership and ad­ The Selective Service System sent a list of 134 that said in part: just its methods of functioning. names to the Justice Department "for investiga­ "The move to begiri prosecuting non-regis­ For the first time since the party bureaucrats tion and possible prosecution." trants is an attempt to intimidate opponents of took command of the country, ordinary workers the draft and U.S. intervention in El Salvador. These 134 are a fraction of the hundreds of . contested for delegates and many were elected. thousands who have not registered for the draft. "According to the New York Times, 'Reagan At the convention, a central committee of 270 The names, now secret, are being sent to local believes that resuming the draft . . . would lead members was elected. Of these, some 90 percent federal prosecutors. to public unrest comparable to that in the 60s were reported to have been elected for the first Like Carter before him, Reagan knows that to and 70s.' We must make it clear that even simply announce a new draft would risk an ex­ moves such as this one, to prosecute non-regis­ Notice to our readers plosion of opposition. The registration maneu­ trants, will be met with public unrest. We must Next week's 'Militant' will be the last issue before ver is an attempt to get around this-to condi­ demand: our vacation break. We will not publish for the fol­ tion public opinion to more readily accept a draft "No prosecution of non-registrants! No regis­ lowing two weeks. The first issue after the break by inching into it a step at a time. tration! No draft! No U.S. intervention in El Sal­ will be dated August 28. This latest action is another move in that di­ vador!" rection. One way to press these demands will be by time. This was no doubt jarring to a lot of bu­ Before he was elected, Reagan told voters he supporting local actions against the draft Octob­ reaucrats who had long assumed they had sine­ was opposed to draft registration. So much for er 5-11, which have been called for by the Com­ cure. campaign rhetoric. mittee Against Registration and the Draft. Stanislaw Kania was reelected as first secre­ The ruling class needs the draft. It is part and tary of the party. But he was forced to submit to parcel of their war preparations. a secret ballot of all the delegates. According to the New York Times, top Penta­ Polish CP feels Moscow was not -pleased by the absence of an gon officials are pushing now to resume the iron bureaucratic grip at the congress. Accord­ draft as part of"the Administration's plans for a workers' pressure ing to New York Times correspondent John military buildup, and to display the national The congress of the Polish Communist Party, Darnton, the Kremlin sent Kania a "frosty" will." which ended July 20, was one more measure of message of congratulations. The war drive is key to Reagan's budget. Con­ the historic impact of the Solidarity movement But, more decisive, there were no indications trary to administration claims, there is no cut in on Polish society. ·that the Kremlin was moving confidently to­ total spending in this budget. What is involved ward military intervention in Poland. is taking billions from programs for human Solidarity has fought tenaciously to defend Not because the Polish masses have retreat­ needs and turning them over to the Pentagon to the interests of the workers and farmers against ed. Precisely the opposite. Solidarity has put buy more weapons of destruction. the bureaucrats and pressed for the right of working people to participate in the nation's de­ aside the advice of those--including U.S. offi­ What's behind this insanity? cision-making process. The shock waves created cials and media-who counsel, "Don't make The American rulers are in trouble. They by this movement for social progress were clear­ trouble. Don't push." It was by making it clear watched helplessly as workers and peasants ly registered at the congress. how determined they were to achieve their goals threw out their hired hands in Nicaragua, Gren­ that the workers forced the Polish bureaucrats, ada, and Iran. They know it will not end there. From the time it took command in Poland, at . as well as the ones in Moscow, to retreat. Already, they see a revolution under way in El the end of World War II, the Communist Party In his report on the party congress, John Salvador. has acted as an association of jobholders ready Darnton describes the director of a collective They can't afford this. Their profits depend on to defend their privileged positions by any farm speaking to the delegates about the ineffi­ their ability to hold down peoples the world means necessary. The party tops shaped the ciency of the state agricultural apparatus. over. ruinous governmental policies that brought Po­ He won applause when he declared: "There The economic crisis that U.S. big business fa­ land to its present economic and social crisis. can be no democracy without food, and there can ces means that Reagan must seek to squeeze The views and sentiments of working people be no food without democracy." workers and farmers in Asia, Africa, and Latin were suppressed and their needs ignored. He could well have added, and no democracy . America even harder than he is squeezing Solidarity has been working a profound without organizations like Solidarity to organ­ workers here. Revolutionary explosions are change in that way of life. It has effectively ize the masses to fight for it. built into this situation. Reagan needs the draft united workers and farmers in militant struggle For a direct report on the Polish Communist to try to crush them, as earlier administrations against the bureaucrats in Warsaw, and their Party congress, see our next issue. We'll have a tried to do in Vietnam. big brothers in Moscow. dispatch from Ernest Harsch, who is in Poland Reagan's prosecution threat belies govern- In the face of this movement, the governing for Intercontinental Press.

Militant Highlights This Week The Militant Editors: CINDY JAQUITH ANDY ROSE Business Manager: NANCY ROSENSTOCK Editorial Staff: Nan Bailey, Nelson Blackstock, Steve Bride, Fred Feldman, Nelson Gonzalez, Wil­ liam Gottlieb, Sue Hagen, Suzanne Haig, Diane 4 Postal workers keep uncapped COLA Jacobs, Margaret Jayko, Malik Miah, Harry Ring, 5 Free Iranian socialists! Vivian Sahner, Priscilla Schenk, Stu Singer. Published weekly except two weeks in Au­ 8 National rally for socialist suit gust, the last week of December, and the first 9 How niedia covered trial of gov't week of January by the Militant (ISSN 0026- 10 Rallies back political rights Solidarity's program for Poland 3885), 14 Charles Lane, New York, NY 11 GE workers fight sex harassment Workers in the United States are told that only big­ 10014. Telephone: Editorial Office, (212) 15 Cuba: truth about 'imprisoned poet' business executives and government officials know 243-6392; Business Office, (212) 929·3486. Correspondence concerning subscrip­ 19 Mltterrand hits U.S. on Salvador enough to make the important decisions. The Polish tions or changes of address should be 20 Will draft help women win rights? workers know better. The 'Militant' reprints their program addressed to The Militant Business Of­ 21 San Francisco NOW hits red-baiting for solving Poland's economic problems. Page 16. fice, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 22 July 19 actions back Nicaragua 10014. Second-class postage paid at New York, 22 What's Going On N.Y. Subscriptions: U.S. $24.00 a year, out­ 23 Letters side U.S. $30.00. By first-class mail: U.S., If You Like This Paper ... Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air· mail rates to all other countries. Signed articles by contributors do nol necessarily represent the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 THE MI~ITANT JULY 31, 1981 H-Biock: two more near death Prot~~ts rip south of Ireland, gov't in crisis ,l /\l&T~7~~-- B~r~:i:~~n!:~~7gence in Northern Ire- ~~~~~~~~Y to lay a wreath at the British ~:~~d is the future of his own govern- CAlUP .T fRf/ ()f[JJt llrfllll ~~.~~;;~~::0.::~:,::· ~~::,:: ::: :~~l~~:;;::"'~~~~·o,'::~~~~:~ p~· ;:~~~;~:;.~?!{=~~:~:{~~\~~:~~~ SltNDS ' ~~:~: ~~~;~{:~!~~~~~s~[j~l~i~o~:~~ th!~~~~r:~~~!~:~~~nw:~~~:t ·:~~~~di; ~~~~~0~=~~~~~; :o\d;~~~e~:~~:h~o;~: <~ \!'tt ~;~~~~f~f~i~~~~i~ ~Th~~£l~~~i~~;~~~~~~ ::~;("~;;~ "~~~~~:::;~;:;~;~ aid into a crisis. with "obdurate behavior" that was "de- ernment allowed a delegation from the International Red Cross to inspect con- More than 17 000 Protesters marched stabilizing the entire island." ' ditions at Maze Prison on July 16. in Dublin July 18 in support of the H- British refusal to deal with the · Block prisoners' demands. The march hunger strikers, said the official, would Overall conditions at Maze have no­ erupted into violence when police at- place "a question over all aspects of the thing to do with the hunger strikers' de­ tacked demonstrators after allowing na- British-Irish relationship in the future." mands. They denounced the delegation tionalist leader Bernadette Devlin A more immediate question for Fitz- as a "cosmetic gesture." Meeting hits U.S. threats to Indochina By Fred Murphy Since the U.N. still recognizes the presented to the July 10 meeting. On . that we can stop the warmakers." NEW YORK-"We face a really criti­ Khmer Rouge as the government of the one hand were scenes of ruin and de­ . "If the U.S. has not been able to start cal situation at this moment," said Chan Kampuchea, its pretense to neutrality is struction, piles of human bones un­ a 'new Vietnam,"' Feldman continued, Bun Han, a young Kampuchean who hardly very convincing. earthed from mass graves, and the tor­ "it's because of the sacrifices the Viet­ had just returned from a visit to his na­ The original text of the conference ture chambers of Pol Pot's main prison namese, Laotian, and Kampuchean peo­ tive land, where his entire family had resolution included a call for the disar­ on the outskirts of Pnom Penh. ple made and the antiwar sentiment been wiped out during the tyrannical mament of"all factions" in Kampuchea­ The slides showed that legacy is now that they inspired here. reign of Pol Pot between 1975 and 1979. -thus equating the legitimate govern­ being. replaced: there were scenes of "So we have a continued duty of soli­ "The United States is trying to rewrite ment in Pnom Penh with Pol Pot's children in classrooms, football games, darity. What can we do? I think every­ the history of Indochina." murder gangs. But the final draft was dancing, religious festivals, clowns, one here should support the activities of Chan Bun Han was speaking to a soli­ even more favorable to Pol Pot. It failed weddings, Buddhist ceremonies, groups like the CSVNKL and others darity meeting of more than 100 persons to include any call whatsoever for dis­ crowded marketplaces. that are working to get out the truth here on July 10. The Militant Labor Fo­ arming his Khmer Rouge counterrevo­ "In just the past year our country was and to aid Indochina. We have to. de­ rum, sponsored by the Socialist Workers lutionaries. able to produce 1.2 million tons of rice," mand that the embargo be lifted, that Party, hosted the meeting. U.S. diplomats attributed this dele­ Chan Bun Han said. "And now we are all military threats be dropped, and that Other speakers included Abe Weis­ tion to pressure from the Chinese repre- · nearly self-sufficient again." massive food aid be provided. burd of the Committee in Solidarity sentatives, but it was fully in accord But the scars left by Pol Pot's tyranny "Despite great adversity," Feldman With Vietnam, Kampuchea, and Laos with Washington's own objectives. Dur­ are still deep. Among the color slides concluded, "the peoples oflndochina are (CSVNKL); Hung Tran of the Associa­ ing a recent visit to China, U.S. Secre­ were drawings made by children in or­ winning. Arid we must support them, tion of Vietnamese Patriots in the tary of State Alexander Haig "urged phanages that depicted massacres and because every gain they make helps us United States; and Fred Feldman, a China to increase arms deliveries to the 1975 forced evacuation of Pnom in •the United States to make this a member of the SWP National Commit­ anti-Vietnamese resistance forces in Penh by Pol Pot's forces. country where the battle against pover­ tee and staff writer for the Militant. Kampuchea," the June 26 Far Eastern Hung Tran of the Association of Viet­ ty, inequality, and injustice will also be Feldman also pointed to U.S. impe­ Economic Review reported. namese Patriots in the United States won." rialism's efforts to pressure the Viet­ But the U.N. conference had what outlined the progress achieved in the From Intercontinental Press namese government to abandon the even the New York Times called "an air five years since the April 1975 victory Kampuchean people to the murderous of unreality." At the July 10 solidarity over U.S. imperialism and its local Khmer Rouge forces led by Pol Pot and meeting, Fred Feldman had explained puppets, and the problems his country aided by Peking. why this would be so: still faced. Vietnam-"a country at "Washington wants to punish Viet­ "The United States got the United peace but threatened by war"-faces nam for helping to get rid of the Pol Pot Nations to ask the Vietnamese to leave three central tasks, Hung Tran said: to regime in Kampuchea and for working [Kampuchea]. They got the Association strive to build socialism throughout the with a government that the Kampu­ of Southeast Asian Nations to ask the country, to safeguard national inde­ chean people much prefer," Feldman Vietnamese to leave. But their big prob­ pendence, and "to do our international­ said. "They want to make it possible for lem is that they can't get any of the ist duty toward Kampuchea, Laos, and Pol Pot's army to go back into the coun­ Kampucheans to ask the Vietnamese to other peoples fighting for their libera­ try and to restore a government that leave. In fact, the Kampucheans insist tion." Washington thinks would be more ame­ that the Vietnamese stay until the In carrying out these tasks, Tran said, nable to the Reagan administration." danger is over." "we look to our friends, especially those Fresh confirmation of Washington's Abe W eisburd of the CSVNKL report­ in the United States." stance was provided in the week follow­ ed that during a visit to Kampuchea in Earlier, Fred Feldman had pointed to ing the July 10 solidarity meeting, May 1980, he was told repeatedly by the "debt of gratitude humanity owes when the United Nations conference on Kampucheans that "the Vietnamese the revolutions in Indochina": Cambodia was held in New York. The saved our lives." "In this country they inspired Blacks, conference--boycotted by Vietnam, the "I would have been dead" had the Vi­ women, youth, and working people with Soviet Union, and twenty-three other etnamese not.aided in ousting Pol Pot's a new willingness to fight for justice and U.N. member nations-adopted a reso- . regime, one Kampuchean told Weis­ their rights; they showed the peoples of lution calling for "free elections" in burd. the world that change and progress can Kampuchea, withdrawal of Vietnamese The reason for such sentiments was be made and freedom can be won if you troops, and the establishment of a U.N. obvious from the display of color slides are willing to stick it out. Above all, Militant/Lou Howort "peacekeeping force." from Kampuchea that Chan Bun Han they made the American people aware CHAN BUN HAN

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JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 3 Membership vot.e set. Postal service, unions reach tentative pact By Vivian Sahner vice-president, told the Newark Star- . A tentative contract agreement was Ledger. reached July 21 between the U.S. Postal "I'm not too pleased with it," said Jerry Service and leaders of the American Monzillo, president of the New Jersey Postal Workers Union and the National APWU. "These bonuses are not part of Association of Letter Carriers. regular salary or pension. It was announced that the three-year "I'm not going to support ratification settlement includes a wage increase of without studying it further. There are $300 in each year of the contract plus a too many intangibles." yearly productivity bonus of $350. The In Miami, mixed reactions were re­ first year of the contract includes an ad­ ported. ditional $150 bonus. Matthew Rose, president of Letter The agreement maintains the cost-of­ Carriers Local1071, told the Militant, "I living clause without a limit that was in have to withhold determination until I the 1978 contract. read the contract. The COLA and bo­ The Postal Service also would con­ nuses may be alright but I'm more con­ tinue to pay 75 percent of the health in­ cerned about the work rules. surance premiums for the half-million · members of the two unions. 'I want to know our rights' The tentative contract was reached "What's going to happen at work the after a thirty-hour bargaining session. first day of the contact and each day dur­ that went sixteen hours beyond the con­ ing the next three years? The same su­ tract deadline. Union officials, who ex­ pervisors are going to be there-I want tended the contract hour by hour during to know what our rights are." the negotiations, warned that their Rose blasted· Bolger's claim that the members were prepared to walk out if a postal service needed a two-cent hike for satisfactory offer wasn't made. the first-class stamps to pay for the new The government began negotiations contract. by demanding that the postal workers "There is an overflow of management accept a wage freeze, a limit on their in the postal service, one supervisor for cost-of-living (COLA) clause, and a re­ every seven workers . . . they should duction in government payments of get rid of them and quit trying to pin the medical benefits from 75 to 25 percent of cost of postal service onto the backs of the cost. the union membership." In a move aimed at turning public Judy Johnson, president of the APWU opinion against the unions, postal offi­ in Miami, <:ailed the settlement a "sell­ cials claimed that any concessions to the out." The bonus payments, which would workers would result in a forty-five-cent not become part of workers' pay rates, first-class stamp by 1984. she said, were a step back. Reactions at the main pdst office in Last-minute offer Postal union shop steward discusses proposed new contract outside central New York City post office July 22. · Manhattan were also mixed. Going into The postal service, which blocked ne­ work on July 22, most of those who gotiations altogether for seven weeks spoke with Militant reporters said they with appeals to the National Labor Re­ and rejected them. Negotiations re­ The new contract will be voted on by needed to know more before deciding on lations Board, only carne up with a se­ sumed. members of the two unions and mailed the contract. A few commented, "It cond offer a few hours before the con­ At a press conference announcing the ballots will be counted in about thirty stinks." "It's lousy." tract deadline. final tentative agreement in Washing­ days, union officials said. One shop ·steward said that most This was quickly turned down by the workers in her area thought the wage ton, D.C., Moe Biller, president of the At the news conference it was also an­ union leadership. "TheY, carne iri with a increases were weak but that keeping APWU, said that the unions did not get nounced that the 63,000-mernber Rural package that was nothing more than an uncapped COLA was very important. everything they were asking for. "We Carriers Union had reached a tentative rearranging the furniture on the Titan­ She thought the agreement would be didn't ... and that's a fact. However, agreement. No details were given. ic," declared Vincent Sornbrotto, presi­ we got enough for me to say it's a good ratified. dent of the Letter Carriers. "If their atti­ contract, and I recommend approval." The 39,000-member Mail Handlers Harry Edwards agreed. An APWU tude doesn't change, there's no question One of the hottest items of dispute in union announced that they were unable member for ten years, Edwards told the that we'll have a nationwide postal the negotiations was the government's to reach an agreement and would. sub­ Militant "The main thing we wanted to strike." demand for a limit or "cap" on cost-of­ mit to binding arbitration. do was stop Bolger from taking away be­ A few hours later the two unions an­ living payment-a demand they were Reaction by APWU and NALC nefits and wrecking the union. nounced a tentative agreement with the forced to back down on. Sombrotto members to the tentative settlement "When I carne here in 1971 I was told I postal service and told workers to stay brought laughs at the press conference has been cautious. didn't have to join the union. Now we on the job. But when the Postal Service when he put a Letter Carriers cap on "We have to look at the whole pro­ are much stronger. Personally I think gave the unions its proposals in written Postmaster General William Bolger's posed contract . . . the pay package is we should have one big postal union-it form, the union leaders said they were head and quipped "This is the only cap modest but I think it's acceptable," Wil­ would help us win even better contracts different from the verbal agreements in this contract." liam Sainato, APWU regional executive down the road." Postal unions: what's been gained in 11 years By Ken Evenhuis ed a massive attack on working condi­ offered no improvements in work condi­ This year the postal service appeared Postal workers went on strike for the tions. tions. to have decided to see how far they could first time in American history in the They instituted a hiring freeze and a That proposal was soundly defeated push back the ranks of the postal spring of 1970, almost 200 years after speed-up campaign that drastically in­ by a membership vote. The final con­ worke~;s. the founding of the postal system. To­ creased the length of carriers' routes, tract in 1978 was decided by arbitration. Several months ago, when negotia­ day, postal workers are fighting to pre­ developed some of the most mind-dead­ The cost-of-living cap was removed but tions on the new contract were sched­ serve the gains we've made in the past ening keypunch assembly lines imagi­ a clause was included that made new uled to begin, management refused to eleven years. nable for clerks, and dramatically in­ workers subject to layoff until they have even sit down at the same table. They creased the overtime work for every- sought to have the unions decertified Perhaps the most important gain has six years of seniority. body. · through a transparent legal maneuver been in the union consciousness of the Although there has yet been no with the National Labor Relations postal workers themselves. There has been a steady increase in layoffs, this clause showed how danger­ the ratio of non-productive supervisors ous arbitration settlements can be. Board. This was quickly dismissed by Following the explosive wildcat in relation to the active work force in the board, but it was undoubtedly in­ strikes of 1970, postal workers for the order to enforce this campaign. The national leadership of the two tended to be a provocation to the unions. first time won the right to bargain col­ These conditions forced workers to major postal workers unions, the Amer­ Perhaps the un·ions would call an early lectively over the full range of wages, fight back-to enforce what protection ican Postal Workers Union and the Na­ strike with the members unprepared? hours, and conditions of employment. we have in our basic contract. tional Association of Letter Carriers, Or at least carry on a campaign oftheats were already discredited because of Although this provided some improve­ · Shop stewards, who previously car­ and bravado that would make them their hostility to the 1970 strikes. But ment in the basic wages of postal ried out routine union administrative seem a little too radical. they had for the most part been able to workers, the postal service soon mount- tasks, are now leading sometimes bitter Instead the APWU and the N ALC keep their positions with a little chair battles in thousands of postal facilities developed a joint campaign to expose shuffiing. The attempt to sell us the bad around the country. This has produced a the bad faith of the postmaster general contract in 1978 proved to be the last significant turnover of shop stewards and involve the membership in action to Ken Evenhuis is a member of National straw. Association of Letter Carriers Branch -to workers willing to offer leadership force the beginnings of negotiations. 24 in Los Angeles. He has been a in this fight. Shortly after that agreement a This culminated in the Postal Solidarity postal worker for ten years. In 1971 Many workers were hoping that we change of leadership was voted in in Day activities on June 25. would get some relief with improve­ both unions. The Letter Carriers elected Once management was forced to sit at the postal service tried to fire ments in the 1978 contract. However, a slate headed by Vincent Sombrotto. the table, negotiations went nowhere for Evenhuis because of his membership the proposed contract that year put a The APWU elected Moe Biller as presi­ several weeks. The government seemed in the Socialist Workers Party. After cap on our cost-of-living clause that dent. Both of these men were local lead­ d~termined to test the capabilities of the protests, he won back his job with would have been exhausted after only ers in the New York area, which spear­ union officers and the reaction of the back pay. six months of a three-year contract and headed the 1970 strikes. membership.

4 THE MILITANT JULY 31, 1981 Mass murder in Lebanon Israeli regime's criminal raid on Beirut By Janice Lynn · · · · overall rise of the anti-imperialist. In an act of premeditated mass movement in the Mideast. murder, Israeli Prime Minister Mena­ The U.S. government backs this co­ chem Begin ordered his U.S.-supplied lonial regime and its oppression of the warplanes into action over Beirut July Palestinian people. And it uses the Zion­ 17. The Israeli jets rained bombs on ist state for its own purposes-as a per­ heavily populated neighborhoods in the manent military base against the Arab Lebanese capital. At least 300 people revolution. were killed and 800 more wounded. This outrageous action was a sharp Israeli economic crisis escalation of the Zionist regime's milita­ But there is another force also pro­ ristic course, which threatens to plunge pelling the Zionist regime along its mil­ the entire Middle East into a new war. itaristic course. The worldwide capital­ ist crisis has hit Israel hard. The current That same day, Israeli warplanes also inflation rate is 133 percent per year struck at Palestinian refugee camps on and is expected to rise above 300 percent the outskirts of Beirut; attacked the Me­ by the end of the year. The Israeli for­ diterranean port city of Sidon; bombed Many of the hundreds wounded were Lieut. Gen. Rafael Eytan, declared that eign debt has reached a staggering $21 portions of Lebanon's main coastal road; billion. destroyed three bridges in southern children. bridges and roads, even if mainly used The worse hit street, described by by Lebanese civilians, would also be The Israeli rulers, like the imperialist Lebanon; and hit a Palestinian refugee rulers throughout the world, are driven camp outside Tyre. New York Times Beirut correspondent prime Israeli targets. William Farrell, "was a scene of col­ by this crisis to seek new markets, new The Israeli aggression didn't stop The destruction of the Qasmiya sources of raw materials and cheap la­ there. As Israeli Prime Minister Begin lapsed dwellings, eerily listing balco­ Bridge over the Litani River, and the nies and ruptured pavements littered bor, and new areas of investment. They and Reagan's special envoy Philip Hab­ bombing of seven other bridges and· would like to repeat the experience of ib were meeting in Jerusalem July 19, with thousands of household effects­ large portions of the major highway con­ clothing, shoes, children's toys, broken 1967, when their expansion through Israeli ground troops crossed the border necting northern and southern Leb­ war led to a temporary economic boom. "into Lebanon. Paratroop and seaborne stereo equipment--all of it coated with a anon, was intended to strangle the Leb­ commando forces, along with Israeli air­ thin gray layer of dust and dirt." anese economy and prevent the people But precisely when the Israeli rulers craft, attacked in eighteen different from earning a living. need to go to war to solve their economic areas in southern Lebanon. At least a Bombing civilians There is a large volume of farm pro­ crisis, the Israeli workers are showing dozen people were killed in the city of The bombing of Beirut coincided with duce, at the height of the harvest, that greater resistance to having to sacrifice Sidon, and many more elsewhere. a declaration by Begin that Israel's cannot be moved. And a serious shor­ for the war budget. They are growing in­ bombing attacks would be carried out creasingly wary of the government's in­ These criminal acts followed a week of tage of gasoline exists, as northern Leb­ against Palestinian political centers in anon is left without direct access to the tentions. Israeli bombing raids against Palestini­ Lebanon, even if this meant bombing Some 150,000-250,000 workers-in­ an towns and villages along the coast of major fuel supply in the south. This was densely populated civilian areas. compounded by an Israeli gunboat at­ cluding ·many Arab workers-poured southern Lebanon and further inland. "We shall ... continue to attack ter­ out on May 1, 1980, to protest against Almost sixty people were killed in these tack on the Sidon oil refinery. rorist bases and headquarters, even if "If others suffer," Eytan callously de­ inflation and cutbacks. This demonstra­ raids; five bridges destroyed; and nu­ they are purposefully located in the vic­ tion, called by the Israeli Labor Party, merous dwellings leveled. clared, "they should press the terrorists inity of or within civilian concentra­ to stop their attacks on us." He was ref­ turned into a massive display of the tions," Begin warned July 17, as his erring to Palestinian attacks in retalia­ workers' anger and dissatisfaction. Shoes and toys bombers hammered away in Beirut. This sentiment was also reflected dur­ In the Beirut raid, the first air strike tion for the Israeli bombing raids. On Of course, the victims oflsrael's indis­ July 15, Palestinian rockets were fired ing the crisis provoked by Begin "in May there ·since 1974, Israeli bombs totally criminate bombing raids, which have over the presence of Syrian missiles in flattened one seven-story apartment into northern Israeli towns, in which gone on for more than fifteen years, three persons were killed. This was the Lebanon. Despite Begin's attempt to building and seriously damaged other have consistently been Palestinian and whip up a war fever, there were strikes buildings near the crowded downtown first time any Israeli was killed in a Pal­ Lebanese civilians. The Zionist regime estinian rocket attack since 1978. by teachers, and other public workers in area and Arab University. defines any mass of Palestinians as a defiance of the government. The Israeli leaders, taking their cue The Israeli military command terrorist concentration, any Palestinian from the Reagan administration's anti­ claimed its attacks were aimed at de­ farm or factory or meeting hall as a mil­ Washington denounced Soviet propaganda, claim they are at­ stroying the headquarters of Palestine itary target. The Israeli bombing of Beirut came tempting to stop "an endless stream" of Liberation Organization (PLO) leader O;n July 12, for example, Israeli plan­ only four days after U.S. State Depart­ weapons they say are pouring in for the Yasir Arafat and the offices of the De­ es bombed the town of Damur, twelve ment representative Robert McFarlane Palestinian liberation fighters from the mocratic Front for the Liberation of Pal­ miles south of Beirut. It is an area had been in Jerusalem meeting with Soviet Union and Libya. estine. crowded with Palestinian refugees. Prime Minister Begin. But it is the Israeli regime that is But reporters touring the area con­ A visitor to the bomb-pitted and bat­ As a result of his meetings, on July 13 armed to the teeth. And Washington is firmed that it had been apartment tered town several days later noted the the U.S. and Israel had issued a state­ its prime military supplier. houses that had been bombed. One still smoldering ruins of a refrigerator ment saying that "any misunderstand­ In fact, the very day of the air attack building had completely collapsed, kill­ factory that had been hit. ing" that might have arisen over Israel's on Beirut, the Reagan administration ing most of the families who resided "Israel always says they attack mil­ raid on the Iraqi nuclear r~actor had had been planning to announce it was there. The vast majority of the dead itary positions," one sixty-year old Pal­ been "clarified to the satisfaction of both resuming delivery of F-16 fighter were women and children of Palestinian estinian farmer pointed out. "Go and see sides," thus paving the way for resum­ bombers to Israel. and Lebanese families living in the pre­ the refrigerator factory." ing delivery of the U.S. fighter-bombers. With the new bombings, Reagan was dominantly Muslim neighborhood. On July 16, Israel's chief of staff, obliged to again temporarily postpone This statement and the meetings with delivery. Begin took place when Israel had al­ ready resumed its bombing raids in 'We will go on resisting' southern Lebanon. Release Iranian socialists! Meanwhile, Reagan's special envoy Supporters of the Iranian revolu­ because of his support of the right of "We will survive no matter what Be­ gin or Reagan want," declared PLO spo­ Philip Habib, who has been shuttling tion are urgently requested to send the Puerto Rican people to inde­ kesperson Mahmoud Labadi from Bei­ back and forth between Tel Aviv, Bei­ telegrams to Iranian Prime Minister pendence. rut, and Syria, ostensibly to seek a Mohammed Ali Rajai calling for the More than a dozen public trans­ rut, following the bombing raid. "We will go on resisting no matter what kind peaceful solution to problems in the Mid­ release from prison of two anti-im­ portation workers in New York City east, was also meeting with Begin. perialist fighters and an end to all and several railroad workers in the of sophisticated weapons they use." "Maybe they can preak our hearts The U.S. State Department issued a executions of revolutionary youth in New York-New Jersey region have statement July 17 that pointedly con­ Iran. sent telegrams calling for the two so­ with our dead women and children, but they will never break our determination tained no condemnation of Israel. Faranak Zahraie and Monavar cialists' release. and our will." "The Habib mission has given the Is­ Shir Ali-two young women Activists in the Irish independ­ With the setting up of the Zionist raelis the green light for this," com­ workers at the Ray-0-Vac battery ence struggle have also been send­ state of Israel in 1948, the Palestinian mented a Democratic Front spokesper­ factory in Tehran and members of ing telegrams. Recalling the act of people were driven from their home­ son as he stood before the smoldering the Revolutionary Workers Party solidarity with the Irish struggle land. Today there are some 400,000 to ruins in Beirut. (HKE)-were arrested on July 4 and against British imperialism when 500,000 Palestinians who live as desti­ Palestinian and Lebanese representa­ taken to Evin prison. Churchill Street in Tehran was re­ tives have indicated they hold the U.S. They have been falsely accused of named Bobby Sands Street, these Ir­ tute refugees in camps and makeshift dwellings in Lebanon. Those Palestini­ government, as Israel's arms supplier, starting a strike in the factory and ish activists called for the release of ans who remain in Israel live as second­ responsible for the bombing raids into with being members of a Maoist pol­ the two anti-imperialist women. Lebanon. itical group. Among those signing this state­ class citizens, discriminated against both economically and socially. The Syrian newspaper Tishrin de­ Hundreds of participants in a July ment was Belfast City Council clared, "The Arab states must confront 19 demonstration in New York in member Fergus O'Hare, also a As long as this situation prevails, the the United States in kind, by taking solidarity with the revolutionary member of the National H-Block/Ar­ Palestinian people will continue to fight measures against it and by holding it re­ struggles in Central America and magh Committee. against their oppression. And Israel, sponsible as a partner in this aggres­ the Caribbean signed a petition call­ Messages can be sent to Prime surrounded by people it has expelled sion." ing for the release of the Iranian so­ Minister Rajai at the Majlis Build­ and oppressed, will continually lash out The Israeli bombing was also con­ cialists and a halt to the executions. ing, Tehran, Iran, with copies to at its victims as the Palestinians carry demned in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Among the signers were Puerto Ri­ Kargar, Box #43/174, Post Area 14, on their struggle for their liberation. Egypt. can liberation fighter Rafael Cancel Tehran, Iran and Jomhuri-e-Esla­ Thus, a perpetual state of war is built The course of the U.S.-backed Israeli Miranda, who spent more than mi, Saadi Jonubi Street, Tehran, into the foundations of the Zionist state. regime threatens to lead to new wars twenty-five years in a U.S. prison Iran. The conflict between Israel and the Pal­ that endanger all humanity. estinians has sharpened along with the From Intercontinental Press

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 5 ·Food, housing, health care, jobs Millions will suffer under 1982 budget By Stu Singer sick when their access to medical care is The 1982 federal budget will go into cut. effect in OCtober. This budget has two features. It includes the largest amount Black lung of military spending of any ·budget in The Black Lung Benefits Program history, and it represents the biggest was set up under the Coal Mine Health cutbacks in social spending programs and Safety Act of 1969. Winning this ever imposed. program required a giant fight by min­ The extent of the cutbacks has not ers against the coal operators and their been made clear by the news media or politicians. The mouthpieces for the op­ the government. The Social Security erators ?.re starting up their barrage of cuts, for example, the first in the history lies claiming that black lung disease of the program, are posed as an unavoid­ doesn't exist, that miners' lungs are able choice between lower benefits or ruined because they smoke cigarettes. higher taxes. Public opinion polls ask When the Reagan budget cuts against only which of these two losses people black lung benefits were first an" prefer. nounced, the United Mine Workers or­ The devastating scope of the cuts is ganized a two-day nationwide walkout rarely spelled out in one place so th~ vic­ and a demonstration of 8,000 miners in tims can evaluate it. Divisions among Washington in protest. workers, between those employed and But the cuts were not withdrawn. unemployed, working and retired, male In the June issue of the United Mine and female, Black and white, with and Workers Journal, UMWA President without children, are played to the max­ Sam Church wrote that the administra­ imum. tion proposal will virtually eliminate Divisions that existed in the past the Black Lung program. He said, "We within the U.S. ruling class over how to cannot allow a group of government offi­ proceed with the cuts have largely been cials to undercut the mining victims. resolved. The budget is supported by . . . We can't stop the fight. We'll never both capitalist political parties. stop the fight!" The budget cuts will wipe out gains that generations of workers have consi­ Jobs dered to be rights. The AFL-CIO estimates the 1982 Some real 'Save our The weakest will suffer the most. budget will eliminate 1,260,000 jobs. Children and old people will take-the These include 340,000 cut from the jobless figures security' biggest blows. The targets are fo9d and Comprehensive Employment and The Bureau of Labor Statistics By Lester Dolphy Training Act (CETA). These workers education, medical care and safety, civil employment figures for the second WASHINGTON-From 3,000 to will not be eligible for unemployment rights and jobs, retirement and unem­ quarter of 1981 (April, May, June) 4,000 people demonstrated in front pay. ployment benefits. give a picture of some of the targets of the U.S. Capitol Building July 21 Hundreds of thousands of other jobs The cuts multiply. Workers will lose of the budget attacks on unemployed· to protest the attacks on Social Se­ will be lost by cutting federal spending jobs from cuts in one program and will workers. curity benefits. on housing, transportation, mass tran­ be excluded from unemployment pay, The demonstrators, mostly retired sit, and federal civilian employment in Out of a civilian labor force of 106 and food, medical, and housing pay­ workers who receive Social Secm;ity, general. million, 7.9 million are out of work ments by other cuts. carried signs reading, "Save our Se­ But the government is creating some and looking for jobs. Necessities of life will be taken away curity," "Save our COLA," "Don't new jobs: cannon fodder. It plans to add The unemployment rate for all from millions of people. Mess with Medicaid." hundreds of thousands to the "volun­ teenagers is 19.2 -percent and for The protest was organized by the teer" army while taking new steps to­ Black workers .13. 7 percent. · $37.1 billion in cuts National Council of Senior Citizens ward the draft. This is what the budget cuts approved Of the almost 8 million wqrkers and was backed by many trade by the ·Bouse of Representatives will do: actively seekingjobs, in June over 1 Take food from children unions. Signs indicated the partici­ • take away transportation and million had been out of work more pation of the Garment Workers health care services for 250,000 aged, Food stamps and programs to improve than twenty-seven weeks. Most of (ILGWU), Auto Workers (UA W dis­ blind, and disabled; stop "meals-on­ child nutrition through school lunches them will be cut ofT from unemploy­ tricts 8 and 9), Service Employees wheels" for 80,000 aged and disabled and breakfasts and meals at day-care ment benefits when the budget goes (SEIU), United Electrical, and Hos­ people; end day-care services for centers are being cut to the bone. into effect in October. pital Workers 1199. 120,000 children; These are some of the cruelest cuts in The rally included speeches oppos­ • drop three million students from the budget. They literally condemn chil­ Buried in the labor statistics is another figure indicating that in ad­ ing the cuts by politicians and a school lunch programs; dren and poor people to undernourish­ statement of support from the Na­ • deny college loans to 1.35 million ment and real hunger in the richest dition to those workers listed as un­ employed, there are another 5.9 mil­ tional Organization for Women. college students; agricultural country in the world. AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland • cut Social Security benefits to 1.2 The AFL-CIO estimates the cuts in lion workers who want jobs but have given up looking for them. spoke, and urged participation in million college students; child nutrition amount to $2 billion. the September 19 Solidarity Day The new food stamp program raises • raise rents 20 percent for 10 million In other words, a more accurate demonstration. residents of public housing; eligibility requirements and denies food picture of U.S. unemployment is The union movement is opposing • cut 500,000 women and their chil­ stamps to strikers and their families. that there is a work· force of about both cuts in Social Security benefits dren from maternal nutrition programs; In Puerto Rico, where a majority of 112 million people ready to work; and increases in Social Security the population gets food stamps, the ef­ • deprive 322,000 disabled people 13.8 million of them cannot get jobs. taxes. from rehabilitation services; fect of the cuts will be devastating. • take 2 million families ofT food stamps; Unemployment benefits • eliminate hundreds of thousands of Extended unemployment benefits are government-funded jobs. being cut. TRA funds (Trade Adjust­ Build Sept. 19 protest These cruel attacks on American ment Assistance), which have gone se­ The AFL-CIO is getting a very en­ Across the country, union locals working people will cut about $37 bil­ lectively to workers certified by the gov­ thusiastic response to its call for the and districts, and county federations lion from the federal budget. ernment as out of work because of im- - "Solidarity Day" protest set for Sep­ of labor have reserved buses and Almost that entire amount will be ports, are being virtually eliminated. tember 19 in Washington. printed leaflets for the action. added to the already swollen military Payments will be no higher than unem­ Top AFL-CIO officials including Unionists from a number of differ­ budget. ployment compensation and paid only President Lane Kirkland have been ent areas report a positive attitude after regular unemployment has run Health care urging support for the action at talks among labor bodies, extending right out. and meetings around the country. up to the AFL-CIO headquarters in Medicare and Medicaid will be cut Funds to state unemployment agen­ Almost every union newspaper has Washington, toward building the pro­ sharply. These programs started in cies are being cut back. The AFL-CIO test. Initiatives from rank and file 1966. Medicaid covers mostly children estimates that 5,000 of the people who had articles about the action. Kirk­ land has asked each affiliated union union members have been welcomed. and Medicare, old people. Both were li­ are supposed to help others findjobs will The importance of the action is also mited to start with, far worse than the be pounding the pavement themselvs. to name a co-ordinator to "ensure a maximum turnout." cutting across differences between op­ socialized medical care in other impe­ Members of the armed services will posing currents within the union rialist countries. not be eligible for unemployment pay The allies of labor are being urged movement. But winning these programs resulted when they leave the military. This is to participate including "Leading civ­ In Steelworkers District 31 in the in dramatic health improvements in the supposed to encourage cannon fodder to il rights and women's organizations, Chicago-Gary area, for example, U.S. They are credited with reducing reenlist. senior citizens groups, church groups there was just a bitterly fought con­ the infant mortality rate from twenty­ and scores of public interest organiza­ test for the office of district director. five to fifteen per 1,000 live births be­ Safety tions concerned over the severity of But at the recent district convention, tween 1965 and 1976. Medicare is partly Workers' safety on the job is threa­ the administration's proposed cut­ incumbent Director Jim BalanofT and responsible for extending average life tened. Funding for the National Insti­ backs," reports the July issue of incoming Director Jack Parton joined expectancy from seventy-nine to eighty­ tute of Occupational Safety and Health Steelabor. together in vowing to put the dis­ one years from 1960 to 1977. will be slashed. Nine percent of the Significantly, both the NAACP and trict's resources into building a big About 22 million people now receive OSHA inspectors, 250 people, will be Rev. Jesse Jackson of Operation turnout for September 19. Medicaid. Millions more are covered un­ eliminated. The staff of the Mine Safety PUSH have endorsed the action. -S.S. der Medicare. They won't stop getting Continued on next page

6 THE MILITANT JULY 31, 1981 ... new revolutionary steps in Nicaragua Continued from front page Nicaraguan peasant in four could quali- with the counterrevolution was not by paigns?" the Sandinista Workers Federation fy for land under the new law, and that instituting the death penalty, but by "The bourgeoisie!"-louder than be- (CST). It read: "After twenty years of the government would continue to en- "organizing everyone here, anyone who fore. struggle, the working class swears to courage the formation of peasant coop- can fire a rifle, into the Sandinista Peo- "Who grabbed up the peasants' land? advance toward socialism." eratives. pie's Militias." Who has kept the workers under the Noting that there had been more than Summing up, Ortega said, "From this yoke of oppression? Who called our New laws 400 land takeovers in the past few day on, the FSLN, the government, and wonderful literacy campaign 'indoctri- Explaining that the leadership of the months, Wheelock said the government all the people of Nicaragua are deciding nation'?" revolution "could not continue to turn a hoped the new law wouldlead to greater the rules of the game. The crowd shouted back after every deaf ear" to the demands of the workers stability and higher levels of production "We are not going to permit them to question, "The bourgeoisie!" and peasants, Commander of the Revo­ in the countryside by giving peasants an keep on playing around with our revolu- lution Daniel Ortega, coordinator of the orderly way to get land. tion: playing with the blood of our mar­ Against bureaucracy Junta of National Reconstruction, read tyrs, playing with the sweat of our But the capitalists are not the only off the proposed measures. 'People decide the rules' workers." ones to blame for Nicaragua's problems, He first announced a new law against A series of other revolutionary meas­ Borge acknowledged. The crowd appar­ decapitalization, which enables the gov­ ures were proposed by Ortega at the Ju­ Result of struggles ently agreed with him, because they ernment to intervene upon a complaint ly 19 rally and adopted by acclamation: The other speaker at the rally was cheered him when he declared"a war to by the workers, placing the enterprise • Government controls on foreign Commander of the Revolution Tomas the death against bureaucracy." under government control while the trade were strengthened. Products to­ Borge, the only surviving founder of the He listed some abuses for which there charges that capital is being removed taling $40 milliQn a year in sales were FSLN. When he got up to speak, the was no excuse: "I even heard of a case of from the country are investigated. In added to the list of items that can be ex­ crowd began shouting, "Tomas! Tomas!" a comrade who went to ask for time off addition, the workers making the ported only by the government. and thousands of banners waved. when she was seven months pregnant, charge are to be protected against repri­ • The government will completely He said the revolutionary measures and they told her ·she had to come back sals. The new law also adds to the list of take over domestic distribution of sugar. were "a step forward in the process of with an affidavit swearing she was real­ practices that will be considered decapi­ Sugar supplies have been subjected to transforming society in the way de­ ly pregnant." talizing. price manipulation and hoarding, thus manded by working people." "I think it is an unpostponable obliga­ Ortega then read a list of fourteen en­ causing shortages. Borge lashed out at those who did not tion to confront bureaucratism," Borge terprises to be nationalized, expropriat­ • Ownership titles will be granted to want the revolution to go forward. went on. "But how do we confront bu­ ed, immediately. All had already been tenants in intervened housing projects. "Who are these people who ship their reaucratism? By joining ourselves with intervened following charges of decapi­ Over the past six weeks, popular de­ money out of the country? Who mur­ the masses." talization. Cheers greeted each name. mands around the country against de­ dered Sandino and then celebrated in an One of the reasons so many people As Ortega reached the end of the list, capitalization and against a wave of orgy of champagne and blood?" turned out July 19 was to show support the crowd began chanting, "La Prensa!" counterrevolutionary terror have often "The bourgeoisie!" answered the huge for their revolution and government in and calling for the confiscation of the ca:lled for mana dura-a "firm hand"­ crowd. the face of a series of hostile actions on right-wing daily that is the mouthpiece against the counterrevolution, includ­ "Who made fabulous deals with the the part of the U.S. government-such of Nicaraguan capitalism. The night be­ ing institution of the death penalty. tyranny? Who gave contributions under as cutting off economic aid and allowing fore, bonfires around Managua had been Ortega explained that the way to deal the table to Somoza's election cam- armed Nicaraguan counterrevolution­ fueled by copies of La Prensa, with bar­ aries to set up training camps in Flori­ rio residents contributing the issues da. Borge got the biggest applause of the they considered most outrageous or dis­ day when he said that the revolution honest. SWP greetings to FSLN had arms to defend itself, and, "We don't The following message was sent July 13 to the Sandinista National have to explain to anyone where these Land reform Liberation Front by the Political Committee of the U.S. Socialist arms, these guns, these cannons . come Ortega also proposed a decree autho­ Workers Party. from. They are for defending our revolu­ rizing the confiscation of all properties tion and our people." of Nicaraguans out of the country for six Sandinista National Liberation Front months. Department of International Relations Moral authority At this, people within the crowd be­ Managua, Nicaragua Libre Borge noted the immense moral au­ gan calling for wealthy industrialist thority the Nicaraguan revolution has and anti-Sandinista leader Alfonso Dear Comrades: throughout the world : Robelo to go on a six-month foreign va­ On the second anniversary of the Sandinista People's Revolution, the Social­ "All the revolutionaries and all the cation. ist Workers Party of the United States sends our warmest greetings to the peoples of Latin America especially "Does this gathering agree with this FSLN and to all of the people of Nicaragua. At the same time we want to ex­ know that the hearts of our people are measure?" Ortega asked. press our firm confidence in the unstoppable advance of the revolutionary pro­ with them.... This doesn't mean, "Yes!" and "People's powQr!" came the cess, benefitting the workers and campesinos and all the oppressed and exploit­ however, that we export our revolution. reply from hundreds of thousands of ed of Nicaragua. It is enough-and we can't do otherwise mouths. The Reagan administration is continuing its campaign of blackmail and -that we export an example: the exam­ Peasants and agricultural workers threats against the Sandinista People's Revolution and against all the progres­ ple of courage, generosity, and dedica­ have also been vigorously protesting de­ sive forces of Central America-above all, against the combative people of El tion of our people." capitalization in the countryside and de­ Salvador, organized in the Revolutionary Democratic Front and led by their Forty-two governments or sister par­ manding confiscation of affected proper­ vanguard, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. In this situation, ties of the FSLN sent representatives to ties. the Socialist Workers Party pledges to redouble our efforts to build the solidar­ the gathering. As people poured out of the plaza after In response, Ortega read out a pro­ ity movement in the United States. posed new land-reform measure that the rally, Paulita Gutierrez, a resident We pledge to stand firm in defense of the Cuban Revolution, a beacon ofhope subjects large landholdings to confisca­ of the barrio of Ciudad Sandino, ex­ for all the oppressed of Latin America. And we also pledge to continue publiciz­ tion if they are left idle or underutilized. pressed what seemed to be the senti- ing the achievements of the Sandinista People's Revolution in meeting the The law affects farms of more than 500 ment of many. · manzanas (863 acres) in the Pacific needs and aspirations of the workers and campesinos of Nicaragua. "These new laws are going to mean Zone, and double that size in the Atlan­ Yankee hands off Central America! big changes that will help the workers tic. Land will be turned over to peasants Unconditional material aid for Nicaragua! and peasants," she said. who are landless or without sufficient Long live the Sandinista People's Revolution! Teenager Ricardo Jaimes added that land to support their families. Long live international solidarity! the rally had "taught a lesson to the Minister of Agricultural Develop­ Political Committee, Socialist Workers Party reactionaries, who still haven't figured ment Jaime Wheelock explained at a of the United States out that this revQlution is not going to July 20 news conference that about one be turned around." ·... millions to suffer under budget Continued from preceding page These include cutting the Legal Servi­ Social Security taxes, and how much to round. They set the stage for gutting all and Health Administration will be cut ces Corporation, which provides assist­ cut benefits. these and other programs in succeeding by 6.6 percent and the Employment ance to people who can't afford pri:vate The politicians seem to be moving to­ budgets. Standards Administration, which is attorneys; cuts in school aid, bilingual ward the plan of raising the retirement But seeing how serious and cruel supposed to investigate employers' com­ education, programs for small busi- age from sixty-five to sixty-eight and these budget cuts are should not make pli<'mce with minimum wage, child la­ ~nesses, housing, health care, CETA, and eliminating or reducing the cost-of-liv­ you cynicaL Ronald Reagan, David bor, and working hours laws, will be cut anti-poverty programs. ing escalator in benefits. Stockman, the budget director, and the by 6.1 percent. The report concludes: "Reducing allo­ Rail workers are .not covered by Social Democrats and Republicans in Congress These cuts are part of a government cations for specific civil rights enforce­ Security. But their Railroad Retirement are not without some social concern. policy of ignoring violations of regula­ ment activities will mean that millions Fund is threatened with the same sort of This was shown recently on the ques­ tions that help workers. Construction of Americans will continue to be victims cutbacks. tion of taxes. On one particular tax prop­ company boss Raymond Donovan, now of discrimination in e-ducation, employ­ Education programs on every level osal the Reagan administration pro­ S.ecretary of Labor, is in charge of en­ ment, housing, and government servi- will be hurt. Everything from federal po~ed a cut of $12.9 billion over five forcing laws his company violated. ces." aid to public schools to loans for stu­ years, a generous amount for the worthy The cuts are a green light to employ­ The Social Security program, the gov­ dents to go to college are being cut. people who would benefit. ers to raise the price of producing profits ernment-run insurance scheme that Aid to Families of Dependent Chil­ But the Democratic Party has a repu­ with the lives and blood of workers. stands between tens of millions of dren (AFDC) will be reduced by about tation for compassion. So the House The United States Commission on workers and abject poverty, is being cut. one-sixth. About 10.7 million people, in­ Ways and Means Committee, run by the Civil Rights issued a report June 25 The exact cuts have not been worked out cluding 7.4 million children, are covered Democrats, increased the cut so those blasting the federal budget. The com­ yet. The discussion in Congress does not by this welfare program now. involved would save $15.6 billion. mission described it as a historic set­ even include the possibility of funding Many people who will lose CETA jobs These generous cuts are in inheritance back in the fight for civil rights. Social Security out of general revenue. will be forced to compete for the AFDC taxes. They concern people who are The report singles out budget cuts The only questions are how high to raise funds. worth more than $600,000. that will damage the civil rights effort. the retirement age, how much to raise These budget cuts are only the first Just folks, like you and me.

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 7 POLITICAL POLICE ON TRIAl PROF nat' I rally set for Cleveland, Aug. 7 The Political Rights Defense Fund has announced plans for "An Evening to Defend the Bill of Rights" in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 7. PRDF is organizing support for the Socialist Workers Party and Young So­ cialist Alliance lawsuit against govern­ ment spying and harassment. Trade union leaders, leaders of Black rights movement, and others from across the country are scheduled to speak. The rally is part of a growing response to the government's attack on democrat­ ic rights. Included on the initial speakers list is Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Con­ Howort ference. Shuttlesworth was the central Set to speak at national rally, from left: Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh, Afeni Shakur, Rafael Cancel Miranda, and Tom Pontolillo. Black leader in Birmingham during the rise of the civil rights movement. He be­ came the target of police and right-wing erties case to come down the pike in a Within the labor movement, an injury against the New York City Red Squad. terror-both his home and church were long while," he said. It comes at a "cru­ to one is an injury to all." Other rally speakers include Mojgan bombed. cial moment, when the Reagan adminis­ Rodney Johnson, one of the NASSCO Hariri-Vijeh, an Iranian student and Rafael Cancel Miranda, one of five tration and far too many members of Three frame-up victims, will also speak. member of the YSA who is being threa­ Puerto Rican nationalists who spent a Congress want to turn the clock on civil So will Afeni Shakur, who spent more tened with deportation because of her quarter century in prison, will also ad­ rights back to at least the post-World than a year in jail because of her partici­ ideas, and Malik Miah, a national co­ dress the rally. War II days. pation in the Black rights movement. chairperson of the SWP, who will out­ Another speaker is Tom Pontolillo, "It is for this reason that I feel that line the upcoming steps in the socialist the president of Brotherhood of Locomo­ every trade unionist and every trade Shakur was one of the Panther lawsuit. tive Engineers Division 501. Pontilillo union official has a vital stake in the Twenty-one, members of the New York The PRDF rally will be held in the explained why he supported the SWP outcome of this suit. Regardless of one's Black Panther Party who were-framed Masonic Temple Auditorium at Thirty­ lawsuit at a New York meeting earlier personal view of the SWP and YSA, I on bombing conspiracy charges. Today Sixth Street and Euclid A venue in this year. think a statement by another rail­ slie is helping to lead the opposition to a Cleveland at 8:00 p.m. For more infw-­ "This is the most important civil lib- worker, Eugene Debs, still applies. proposed sell-out settlement of a lawsuit mation call (216) 579-9369. Civil rights leaders pay tribute to socialist suit By Charles Peterson and have watched in gratitude to all of across Kentucky, we offer our encour­ Other speakers at the rally included LOUISVILLE-Civil rights leaders you as the litigation has revealed more agement to the suit of the Socialist Martha Pickering, a representative of here closed ranks June 28 at a rally for and more about the war waged by the Workers Party and Young Socialist Jefferson County National Organiza­ the Socialist Workers Party lawsuit U.S. government against its own peo­ Alliance.... tion for Women; Geneva Perry of the sponsored by the Political Rights De­ ple.. .. Keep up the fight." "Every American has the right to Kentucky ACLU; and Bill Allison, fense Fund. And, from John T. Johnson: "On basic constitutional liberties such as attorney for the Louisville Black "We are a country apprised of hav­ behalf of the Kentucky Conference of free speech, which includes free politi­ Panther 7. ing freedom of speech, freedom of NAACP Branches, representing some cal expression without fear of harass­ The Louisville Anti-Klan Coalition; assembly, freedom of expression," said 12,000 members in sixty-seven cities ment from their government. We com· the Marble Hill Task Force, an antinu­ former Louisville NAACP President mend the Socialist Workers Party and clear power group; and the Louisville Lyman T. Johnson. "But when we the Young Socialist Alliance in their Committee in Solidarity with the Peo­ allow our elected officials to supervise efforts to make sure that such injusti­ ple of El Salvador sent greetings. our private associations, contacts, and ces are stopped." individual opinions-we've become a Adlene Abstain, financial secretary Fred Halstead, a member of the police state." · of the Kentucky Southern Christian Socialist Workers Party National Com­ In 1948, Johnson waged a successful Leadership Conference, gave a fund mittee, reported on the political issues struggle to become the first Black appeal at the rally that raised over coming to the fore in the trial and the student admitted to the University of $700. stakes for all working people. Kentucky. Mattie Jones, acting chairperson of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, said the rally PRDF needs your help was a way of "putting the government on notice" that it must bring a halt to Testimony in the trial of the govern­ D Enclosed is $ to help attacks on political rights. ment's snoops is over, but the bills are defray legal and publicity costs of "We're fired up, and we won't take it still pouring in to the offices of the Pol­ socialist suit. no more," she said. "We're having our itical Rights Defense Fund. In order to Name ______day in court now. So watch it!" meet the enormous costs of this trial, Statements of supQort were read at PRDF needs to go substantially over Signature ______the rally from Anne Braden, national its goal of raising $125,000. Address ______cochairperson of the National Alliance Thus far, $111,526 has been col­ City ______Against Racist and Political Repres­ lected. Another $28,633 has been State ______sion; and John T. Johnson, president pledged. of the Kentucky Conference of NAACP Union/Organization Branches. Why not make your contribution to­ Send to Political Rights Defense Braden's message said, "I've been a day to the fight to stop government Fund, Box 649 Cooper Station, New supporter of the SWP suit, I believe, Militant'Nelson Blackstock spying? York, New York 10003. from just about the minute it.was filed, ANNE BRADEN Machinist official links.suit to labor fights fight The following letter is by Charles against governmental abuses. The Nix­ I can remember my days in the middle worker from that day forward. F. Williams, legislative coordinator on Administration, CIA, FBI break ins 50's, working in a defense plant where President Kennedy saw the executive in the office of the general vice-pres­ should be enough to tell anyone that il­ the executive order of President Eisen­ order for what it was and it was there­ ident of the International Associa­ legal government spying should not be however (influenced by Senator Mc­ fore rescinded when he took office. tion of Machinists in Illinois. tolerated. Carthy) allowed an employer to dis­ I am for a strong National defense at The letter was sent to the Political Labor Unions are often the prime charge any employee suspected of being the same time I am for the U.S. Consti: Rights Defense Fund in Chicago. It target of illegal spying by government a communist without redress of the tution and the bill of rights which pro­ was released by PRPF to the 'Mil­ agencies. The Reagan Administration issue or his or her firing except in the tects us from bastards who want the itant.' will, if within their power, bring about courts. Of course the management took right to ignore our rights in the pursuit the re-birth of Senator Joseph McCar­ full advantage of that executive order to of their investigations (many of which Dear Political Rights Defenders: thy's witch hunt investigations. If we get rid of whomever they pleased. Un­ are illegal to begin with). So here is my I am proud to lend my name with that are not prepared to fight that re-birth fortunately, for those affected, the ac­ contribution and best wishes for success. of Ed Asner, Douglas Fraser, Congress­ and expose the enemies of freedom for cuser was never challenged except Sincerely, man Dellums and others who have ·what they are, we deserve what we sure­ through expensive court proceedings Charles F. Williams joined you in the struggle for justice ly will get. and that awful blight followed the fired Legislative Coordinator

8 THE MILITANT JULY 31, 1981 How nation's press saw socialist suit By Harry Ring torney, Margaret Winter said in her op­ Hunt, a professor of economics at the Changes, the magazine of the Interna­ When the Socialist Workers Party ening statement, 'that the SWP and University of Utah, the paper wrote: tional Socialists, covered the trial in its suit against the government came to YSA . . . do not mask their real inten­ ". . . the professor said he and others can July-August issue. trial, it encountered a near blackout by tions from the public."' fight 'a government that doesn't respect The article noted that the American the major media. . the Bill of Rights,' by contributing to the Civil Liberties Union, the American The trial-with its revelations of a 'New York Times' lawsuit fund." Friends Service Committee, Jane Fon­ go~rnment policy going back decades - A June 28 New York Times article on The Dominion-Post in Morgantown, da, and other victims of government of committing crimes against opponents the end of testimony in the case reported West Virginia, reported June 28 on a spying had filed suits but later settled of its policies-contradicted claims that in part: PRDF rally held there, and quoted ex­ out of court. the FBI has cleaned up its act and must "In the trial, the party presented ex­ tensively from a speech by Militant re­ now be given more leeway by legitimiz­ tensive testimony and documents to porter Nelson Blackstock on the politi­ 'One political victory' ing its dirty tricks. support charges that the Federal Bu­ cal significance of the suit. "The SWP,'' Changes said, "feeling The top national dailies limited them­ reau of Investigation had used numer­ that these settlements rested on empty Similarly, the June 16 Portland Oreg­ selves to one or a few stories each, ous informers, warrantless wiretaps, government promises which tended to onian reported on a meeting in that city enough to make the record. burglaries of the party's headquarters whitewash the image of the 'new' FBI where Socialist Workers Party leader But the blackout was not total. In a and other tactics that violated constitu­ and CIA rather than restrain them, Andrew Pulley was a principal speaker. number of- cities, local papers carried tional rights. . . . pressed on to bring its suit to trial." stories on the trial, or on area meetings "A major witness for the government Left press Writer David Finkel concluded, "The in support of the suit. was Herbert Brownell Jr., who was the SWP's suit has already resulted in at Among left-wing publications, the With but a few unfortunate excep­ Attorney General in the Eisenhower least one political victory. It has forced most extensive coverage of the suit ap­ tions, the left-wing press covered the Administration. He sa_id the bureau had the government to put forth its real posi­ peared in the Guardian, with In These case and registered solidarity. used electronic surveillance and surrep­ tion: that it claims the right to act illegal­ Times a runner-up. A number of Black and Latino publi­ titious entries to obtain information in ly against any political opponents whose John Trinkl's article 1n the July 8 cations saw the relationship of the suit intelligence cases since the Roosevelt ideas it decides (on totally arbitrary Guardian was headlined, "Testimony to the fight of oppressed nationalities. Administration in World War II. grounds) are undesirable. That fact, all ends in historic SWP case." The following is a sampling of recent "Mr. Brownell testified that several by itself, would be enough to make this coverage. Presidents had authorized the bureau to Reviewing key points in the trial, the most important civil liberties case in continue the intelligence operations. Trinkl concluded that any verdict many years." (Emphasis in original.) 'National Law Journal' 'The methods,' he added, 'were left to the handed down is likely to be appealed, A roundup on the trial also appared in The June 15 issueoftheNationalLaw discretion of the FBI.'" and added, "The ultimate verdict will the July 1-15 issue of Plain Speaking, Journal had an extensive article on the have far-reaching implications for left published in San Francisco by the De­ case. It described government cross-ex­ Charleston 'Gazette' and progressive groups. A victory mocratic Workers Party. amination of former SWP National Se­ The Charleston, West Virginia, against the government will not stop re­ Polly Thomas wrote, "Have you ever cretary Farrell Dobbs, in which Dobbs Gazette, published an editorial July 11 pression and spying, but can place re­ wished that the FBI and CIA would be refuted defense contentions that the in support of the suit. strictions on the state's investigative put on trial for all the times they have Russian revolution had been imposed by It declared: "For decades federal cloak apparatus. A victory by the government violated someone's civil and political a conspiratorial minority. and dagger and law enforcement agen­ would be an attack not only on the left, rights with illegal wiretaps, political The Journal commented, "Such is the cies broke innumerable laws spying on a but also on fundamental civil liberties." spying and dirty tricks? Well, they are stuffofthe Socialist Workers Party. . . . political party that has every right un­ Elizabeth Weiner wrote in the July 14 on trial right now in New York .. .. Debates about the nature of Marxism der the Constitution to seek support, In These Times on the conclusion of the "Clearly the importance of this case is and the SWP's relationship with the members and power. SWP's presentation of its case. not limited to the SWP and the Fourth International. . . . "Finally, the Socialist Workers Party She said, "While much testimony YSA. ... "Even Judge Thomas P. Griesa has tired of the illegal surveillance. After spoke to the damages aspect of the suit, "The government's position is that the joined the dissection of socialist ideol­ assembling through judicious use of the documenting a 35-year history of the bill of rights does not extend to socialists ogy .... Freedom of Information Act a mass of disruption of the Trotskyist party, other or those who fight for revolutionary "The cross-examination on Marxist evidence to support a suit, the SWP sued testimony was aimed at delving into the changes-no matter how legal their revolutionary thinking was actually the government for $40 million." nature of'thought' control laws .. . and methods of struggle. welcomed by the party. In fact, SWP The June 1 Salt Lake City Tribune re­ immigration regulations that restrict "The logical end to the government's leaders have testified in great detail ported on what speakers had to say at a political activity. In the end, the con­ arguments would be to outlaw thoughts, about their advocacy of a nonviolent so­ Political Rights Defense Fund rally in cepts of subversion, national -security not actions. Who, we then ask, is really cialist revolution in America. They hope support of the suit. and 'inherent power' of the president al­ subverting the Constitution? Is it not to demonstrate, as the party's lead _at- Reporting the remarks of Dr. E.K. so emerged as defendants in this trial." really the government itself?" 'Workers Viewpoint' May Quan wrote on the case in the May 4-10 Workers Viewpoint, voice of the Communist Workers Party. She VlJISEliiS said, "At certain points in history, sym­ Other NAACP Leaders Join In Supf?_ort Of Action bols emerge which become lightning DAMAGE SUIT ----- rods of resistance. The SWP's suit is one Bertjcgm[n liool:s Enda·rses such symbol. The suit has great poten­ Witnesses 'anger tial to expose government spying and terrorism just at the time when the gov­ Social \'Vorkers Par\Jy Lavb'su~t judge in SWP case ernment needs to expand such activi­ Dapitc Manchao'• , , arwh1anchna •uh tM ~terf'taff • clavit,th~ Hllllat"nt •oc­ ties.... " NEW YORK - BeujLillin L ct"nkd, tn t•o cJ•flt"fc-nt appt:.ar11n.:n, to Hook.s. the u:ecut.ive cfire.ct..or of cnfunatt"Grlftll. Durmathl' fu\ln•m­ The May 14 Louisville Defender, a the National A.uociation for the mliiiOft, the JUdJl' &'kC'd M•ndc,o, •" WI'Iat would you bC' loolr.mJ for~ WO\IId Black weekly, headlined support to the Advancement of Colored People. you br lookcn1 for an~ •JIIC'CtfiC •~u 11 ' haa joino ·"'" rf'r.a: t ruJ 1~ 1 "'>. wrlt11111by l.A-11111 in of the suit; that of Rev. Joseph Lowery, •CTl' mwt'd .o. -.hoat' I"ve asked pclirical right>. The NAACP .,.. h,,.., h ~ a t &t t'd th l t ht' . Lr nl n. "" o uld 11 01 '""'If you n"e umn and you •on 't ans•CT, •· holds a profound rupect for the a !tu, dht'r drn~ that a rt'volu11on co..,,d bt" atartt'd president of the Southern Christian IM Juclll' ~naPPfd A morwh btrr, ~11nJoao kd 1M Voor ­ tm Ac"lto 111 f1n11l rnuna pla<:t' 11111 INIJOr Leadership Conference; and a statement

THE NEW YORK T IMES, SuNDAY. JUI\'E /B, I9Bl by Black Congressmen John Conyers, Ron Dellums, and Gus Savage. Socialist suit The June issue of El Tecolote, a San R\· SI\IU:'It A.'tt:I\Wt; n nmilll":'. and in th.t wo rk· k.wkt'\.1 ~~ "' the· army fnr Testimony Ends in Trotshyist Party's Harassment Suit Ar~ tS it'rdom Nt'1J.IS St.a/1 pta('(' . I Sli PI-..>r1 tht> rotion;\.1 or ~l.tJX'l' tv tht• Francisco Chicano publication, focused "lHle the t.l2 lllillion SUI I ."lil t , ~~oha · h "til put QUt.~'tJUO · W.tf. !o,.\Jd tMt n.a\·:ll rntt'llr filt>d l"("("('ntly by the 9'2 ablf' O(X'r.\lioriS on trial" gt>llC'E" h:rd folio" Pd htm By AR!'>OLD H. LUBASCH on a move by the Immigration and Nat­ Tesllmony bas ende-d in the 12--w~)( the Ciovemmcnt l\8d wai'C'd a 40-ye.ar j Ole tr1alls wt-:-:-~her ir.~UpOve and d:'-· ~1orntn~tde tenant~ ag <.,:nnt('!pro­ rs. " . i-4ftt. tho.· ~0\"l'Tili"TlPOt After prne-nling dozens of witnt>s!OeS nes.~es and docament.!l su;>ported its c~ is ..-t.e~e r "tl':o:- G~ Thur.r.day' ·in Ff'd~ra~ Prt'.SJ dtntsh~da~thon~edthe~mdof"in- groo.Jps t.ha.t Sava~(' , is-;lK"d a JOint Spa.r1ment has t~nttncd ;~s ~lbv('rsive -.as Party. The Immigration and Naturali­ em I Court. assertro the right to 'im-es-- 11 rut vn l:- ~tlnch., but inchxl· P . Griesa, conductinc the t~al wilhoul ~ ;:r:n'=:=tb~U:-;:~.~ = lia~. ~~r;'~~~a~e~rr;:·d:~y"t. zation Service (INS) is threatening to ~.lrTlf.>d as principal df>fffi· tiga te' Mid . 'k('(1) ii..SlPir f11 ~tu1 in l...uther Kmg and jury, told Jawyen tor bot~ stdes_tc:> submit YO!Vf'mmt with a ro~il" l"t'YYiutionary Stlak, matntain that the Atto~yGent'ral dant is the U.S. Anornev informrd of.' the It- gal poltll· the moTh<>~ in Atl anta tx>­ bnefs to sum_marue_the1r pos1hans. He ore.i..niution called the Founb lntema- cl~ the p.3rty's inve.1tigat1on in 1V7'fi, initiate deportation proceedings against Venera I. -.ith the SNT; cal aC1i\itiC"S of an) group or rnu.se th('y an· org.-tntting aakt the detatlt'd bners should be com- tJonal. Wt the lnYeShgal:lon was proper and lAnes of the lh.'a.sury, [)p... u"'dt\idua\. This p:l'lllon fu1 I~ nghts of mdr\'tdu­ ~=b~~er~!~ec;e;.,~~~=~ A maJor witness for 1M ~mrnent ~:it~~~~i;-a~~m=r~:u~llln&ge foreign-born SWP members. - fens.e, Anny. the Postmastt>r thn·atf'flS the dt"mocratic ;...ls." Pulle\· stttlf-d " Th• N a nosult, • dec:iston ln me cue Will be was. Herbert BI'VW'nle. U Jr. . ..to'".' !ho i ~neral and the Jmmigra· rights or all prople in this fli,H ·k mo\t•Ol('nt is th.r rllO!oo1 put orr for some time. Anomey Geoeral In the !lsenhower A~ "This is a dangerous precedent be­ oon and Naturalization Ser· country" hun b)· tha:--. t )"J)P of tut.lht.ar· mlrustration. He said the bu~au had VlC'f' rs. CorTlE"\han Dick Grt>~ory tan (laflE"rn ... ht" said The Socialist Workers. a small Trot· U!lold electronic su"t'illanc:e Md surn-pt•· cause if the INS can carry out its threat In her opc:.·rur'lg S1alemE"nt sard hi;> "'as "gl.td that the Anotht-r sdto,jult'd ""it~ skyist party that WI.! formN tn 1938 and Uous entr1es 110 obta1n information an i~ I with the blessings of the courts, then plamtiUs' k>ad COUO..<;('I Mar · Somrnent tht end and no1: f.lltt>n.-d , but membE' ~l('("h.-d to a munici· many progressive groups could come un­ I aaalnst Plarassmmt. 1bt' clvtiiUJt wtlttdl President.s had autho_riuft the bureu to I may not pl"f'mise an Lnves has gottE"n strongt>r and ptl C'OUnC'il in tht> nation. wu filed in 1173, produeed lt'Wntli years ~~~ .. ~~~~~=- ,:rrera~~ ~ der their scrutiny. · t1gation on «>t> basts d the !tlironger. We ha\'e a right to \\ltilf" runnin~ fer that olfict> .. ot pretrial proceduns. lbt discrrtion of the F .a.I . ·• SociahS1 WOC'ken Party and kno"'· ~~that t~ go\'t-mrnent last ye - to intimid.-t!ton to make him In the trial the perty p red zt cl~r~a~nlolw~ po,.. "',,,·, - ~.~n~ and••- ' Federal Government with having a 40- 1 political acthities thto S\\'P Malrolm X. and Martin "ilhdft'W. ltvetatimon).a..Sdocu.mt'~~toppo~ · v•u"" I'll: uc- "" o;y -· K'" of onpru party, it.s political and YSA e-ngagt- in... Luthf'r Kane. Jr. for txam- 1lw rni had ma~ a stat~ . charzn that the Fedenl Buna •~ ot the ca~, year 'campaign of disruption and defa­ ... _,__ ,.., ... .o"""'aooine. Die. vestigaUon had U-Sed nume Inform. pei&ft$ and lht taclic:t u.sed aaaiNt it . mt>nt that it ~~tQU)d not lry IO n . warrantless wireram~ ...,, ..... _ ~· -· _,_ ,_.,,._ .... _ ..... '"'~ kev luue in _, ,,...,,N rNo ~WP <'ampaign, !.. mation.' We need to keep a watchful eye ·on this case."

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 9 POLITICAL POLICE ON TRIAL Support grows for socialist case State Representative Tom Gallagher; D.C.: Doug Hostetter from the American Friends Service Committee; Jim Jordan greetings from from the Boston Guardian newspaper bureau; Esther Shefton from the NASS­ CO Three Defense Committee; and civil councilwoman liberties lawyer Max Stern from the By Lester Dolphy Massachusetts Alliance Against Racist WASHINGTON, D.C.-Hilda Mason, and Political Repression. a Black representative on the D.C. City The theme of the rally was best ex­ Council, was among the speakers at a pressed by the banner that decorated rally for political rights here July 11. the wall behind the speakers podium. It The event, sponsored by the Political read, "An injury to one is an injury to Rights Defense Fund, drew more than all." 100 to the Ethical Society of Washing­ ton. Its purpose was to raise support for Speaker after speaker recalled FBI the Socialist Workers Party and Young crimes against their organizations or Socialist Alliance suit against govern­ against themselves. ment spying. The rally raised more than $1,500 to On the scope and depth of government carry on the work of the Political Rights surveillance, Mason said, "It is impor­ Defense Fund. tant to fight it, and it can only be The evening concluded with the chair stopped with a big commitment of time reading a rousing message from Fergus and resources. That is the importance of O'Hare, socialist city council member in our being here tonight." Belfast, Ireland. "On trial in New York are the politi­ cal liberties of all of us," Michael Gaf­ fney of the National Lawyers Guild told the audience. Emerging movements Kansas City: against U.S. intervention in Central America and against the draft, he said, rally hears "stand to face the same kind of infiltra­ tion and harassment that the Socialist IBEW leader Workers have been subjected to for By Izabella Listopad years." KANSAS CITY-Ed Haase said that Hilda Mason, member of D.C. City Council, addresses July 11 rally. Also speaking were Lee Perkins, D.C. anytime anyone seeks to correct the in­ National Organization for Women; Phil justices of this society, they open them­ Wheaton of EPICA, a religious group selves to FBI harassment. concerned with problems of Central like the KKK are subject to become the "We must unite and voice our opposi­ victims of these FBI spying and disrup­ tion to the subversion of democratic lib­ Haase is business manager of Inter­ America; and Rob Duncan, Committee national Brotherhood of Electrical to Defend the NASSCO Workers. tion programs," he continued. erties by the government in this coun­ "It is in the interests of all of us in­ Workers Local 1259 and an activist in Rev. Ben Chavis, director of the Com­ try," Reeves stated in urging support for volved in the fight to build unions in the Latin American Solidarity Commit­ mission for Racial Justice and a leader the socialist suit. this country and end racial discrimina­ tee. of the National Black Independent Pol­ tion to support this important suit," the In addition to raising $400 towar9. the He was speaking at "An Evening for itical Party, had been scheduled to ad­ Black union leader concluded. enormous costs of the legal effort, the Civil Liberties" here July 13. He was dress the rally, but was unable to at­ The forty participants in the rally Atlanta rally sent a message of support · one of fifty who came to the rally. Like tend. Taped messages by Chavis were heard a message from Presbyterian to the three victimized unionists at the many of them, he is an activist in strug­ played on two local radio stations to Church leader Jorge Lara-Braud, a NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. gles for social justice and has good rea­ publicize the gathering. prominent figure in the movement son to be concerned about government David Harrington, a leader of the Also speaking at the rally were Dion against U.S. intervention in El Salva­ spying and harassment. · D.C. Black Party chapter, brought Lerman of Atlantans Concerned about dor. The rally was sponsored by the Politi­ greetings from the newly-formed party. El Salvador and Malik Miah, national cal Rights Defense Fund, the local chap­ "They cannot kill an ideal that is "As a churchman, I am happy to see a co-chairperson of the Socialist Workers ter of the National Lawyers Guild, and based on truth and based on people," growing coalition between churches and Party. individual activists in the labor move­ Harrington . said. "They can't wipe out popular organizations making common menCand Black community. They came Messages of support came from Rick our spirit to struggle. cause in curbing the abuse of govern­ together to support the Socialist Reed, director of the Clearing House on ment power both at home and abroad," Workers Party and Young Socialist Al­ "The FBI can try if they will, but we Georgia Prisons arid Jails, and Pam Lara-Braud declared. liance suit against the FBI and other know we're going to win." Beardsley, co-coordinator of Georgians government agencies. Speaking for the Socialist Workers Continuirrg government harasssment Against Nuclear Energy. Malik Miah, national co-chairperson Party, Doug Jenness, a National Com­ of Americans engaged in legal political of the SWP and an observer at the trial mittee member, outlined the conclusion activities was detailed in remarks by of the testimony phase and the next Andree Kahlmorgan. of the suit in New York, told how the trial fits into the framework of govern­ stage of the trial proceedings in the law­ Kahlmorgan, Socialist Workers Party Boston: suit. candidate for mayor of Atlanta, was one ment attacks against American work­ Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh, a young Iranian of fifteen workers fired by the Lockheed­ many unite ing people. As living standards are cut, student and member of the Young So­ Georgia Corporation in December 1980 Miah said, the government tries to keep cialist Alliance who faces deportation and January 1981. us from organizing against these at­ because of her views, presented her case behind suit tacks. and its significance for the suit. The unionists were discharged after By David Rowlands "This case is about defending every­ Also participating in the evening an intensive investigation of their legal BOSTON-Nearly 150 people ga­ one's right to fight for a decent living," were members or supporters of the union and political activities. The com­ thered at the Church of the Covenant Miah said. Guardian newspaper, People's Antiwar pany spy operation included physical July 11, for an evening in defense of the Also speaking was Norman Forer, a Mobilization, Workers World Party, and and electronic surveillance, use of in­ Bill of Rights. professor in Lawrence, Kansas. Forer the Communist Workers Party. formers in the plant and at meetings of The event, initiated by the Political headed two delegations to Iran when More than $600 in contributions were Lodge 709 of the Machinists union, and Rights Defense Fund, was cosponsored American hostages were being held raised to support PRDF. contact with at least five field offices of by a wide spectrum of individuals and there. "We wanted to start a dialogue the FBI and the Alcohol, Tobacco and political organizations from the Boston between Iranians and Americans, to try Firearms Division of the U.S. Treasury and New England area. and cool down the hysteria," he said. Department. These included the Boston People's When delegation members returned, Atlanta: Organization; Massachusetts Alliance Forer said, their families received ano­ Kahlmorgan also pointed out that at Against Racist and Political Repression; nymous threats. One professor was de­ the same time the FBI was defending its Boston local of the Democratic Socialist nied reinstatement to his teaching post. 'Bill of Rights criminal actions in court in New York, it Organizing Committee; Bernard Sand­ Randy Goul, speaking for the So­ was busy in Atlanta attacking the ers, socialist mayor of Burlington, Ver­ journer Truth Organization, said he was is at stake' mothers of the city's slain Black youth. mont; Michael Meeropol, son of Ethel sent to jail for a year in the early 1970s By Garrett Brown Walter Reeves of the Atlanta Coali­ and Julius Rosenberg; Mobilization for after being framed on bombing conspi­ ATLANT A-"What is at stake in this tion Against Registration and the Draft Survival; !'{ational Lawyers Guild; and racy charges. Goul said his group has trial of the FBI and CIA is the American told the rally of an experience he had in John Roberts, executive director, Mas­ files documenting FBI harassment of ac­ Bill of Rights and the Constitution," de­ 1972. sachusetts Civil Liberties Union. tivists in the antiwar and antiracist clared Leamon Hood in a statement to "I was a sixteen-year-old high school Speakers included Joseph D. Feaster, movements. the July 11 Political Rights Defense student here in Atlanta. I sent a letter to Jr., president of the Boston NAACP; Many came to the rally after receiv­ Fund rally here. Hood is international a New York newspaper opposing the State Representative Mel King; Morton ing a flyer advertising it or because they union area director of the American war in Vietnam. Sobel, co-victim with the Rosenbergs in know one of the speakers. Federation of State, County and Munici­ "Three days later two FBI agents the "atom spy" frame-up of the early The event was covered by one televi­ pal Employees. "Those of us who are showed up at my family's. ouse.to ques­ 1950s; and Mary-Alice Waters, a na­ sion station and one radio station. fighting against government cutbacks tion me. I was at work but th~y called tional cochairperson of the Sociaiist As one Iranian put it, "It's good to see and layoffs, for extension of the Voting me there after having successfully terri­ Workers Party. Americans doing this, because it is Rights Act, for decent jobs and housing, fied my sister and grandmother," Bringing greetings were Leslie Cagan when you organize and put your forces and against racist attacks by groups Reeves recalled. from the Mobilization for Survival; together that you can be very powerful."

10 THE MILITANT JULY 31, 1981 Protests oppose GE .harassment of women By Mike Alewitz company's claims that "appropriate ac- shop stewards meeting. They called for LYNN, Mass.-On April24, National tion had been taken" and to demand the a demonstration on June 24, and set up Secretaries Day, two managers from the company take some real action. a committee of stewards and other vo­ General Electric River Works plant As one member put it, "You know if a lunteers who wanted to help organize it. here told their secretary that part of her manager put his hands on any man he'd job was going out to lunch with .them. be out of here, but they seem to think Picket & rally So began a several hour ordeal where they can put their hands all over any The June 24 demonstration was a Mary was sexually abused, both verbal­ woman. We shouldn't tolerate it. great success. ly and physically .. She was threatened They're nothing but male chauvinist About 200 people participated over a with loss of her job if she dared report pigs." three-hour period at a picket line at the the assault. Other members pointed to the double plant. She did report it to the company. standards that applied to management A brief rally was held, where officers When they took no action against the and workers, explaining that it was es­ and members of the local spoke. Mes­ managers involved, 150 of her co-wor­ sential to defend the victimized brothers sages were received and read from the kers-machinists-walked off their and sisters who walked off the job. local of District 65 of the United Auto jobs in protest. And other workers in the The double sta.ndard was also illus­ Workers, the Massachusetts Caucus of area threatened to join them if the man­ trated by the fact that in the recent past, Women Legislators, the Massachusetts agers were not removed. union workers had been fired for cases of Coalition for Occupational Safety and As a result of these job actions, the sexual harassment. Health, and others. managers were given two weeks vaca­ Following the picket, the first shift tion and transferred to other jobs. Company isolates women workers coming out of the plant boarded The workers who took a hike for their The company used these incidents to buses to go to the home of Frank Thorn, sister got different treatment, however. attempt to divide male and female a GE spokesperson. One probationary employee was dis­ workers and to further isolate women in A convoy of three buses, cars, and nu­ charged. He won his job back, but with the plant. merous motorcycles snaked its way loss of seniority. As Marcia Hams, a member of the Lo­ through the exclusive neighborhood Twenty-two workers were docked a cal 201 women's committee, explained, where Thorn lives. They met a fourth day's pay. The rest were given "blue let­ "The women's . committee has worked bus there from the GE plant at Wil­ ters" which can result in future dil)cipli­ with the Rape Crisis Center and the Al­ mington. Thorn wasn't home, but peti­ nary penalties. liance Against Sexual Coercion just this tions signed by thousands of union last month, because of this incident, to members were left in his mailbox. Disregard for workers work out a program of education in the The company has now filed charges Callous disregard for the health and local for officers, stewards, and a group against the union with the National La­ safety of female employees is not some­ of women who would be trained to work bor Relations Board. It has charged un­ thing new to GE management. with the stewards." fair labor practices on two grounds. • They say the union has no right to Last year, a woman was raped in the The clear sentiment of the meeting -picket Thorn's house because there is an River Works plant. She won her was that sexual harassment of women established grievance procedure. This is worker's compensation case on the workers has no business in the plant, be particularly hypocritical since the com­ grounds of company negligence. it from managers directly, or union pany has refused to discuss the matter But demands by women workers-in­ members mistakenly playing the bosses' with the union. cluding better lighting between build­ game. • They say it is unfair for the union to ings and locking women's bathrooms Picket line outside GE The meeting voted to demand imme­ demand the managers be fired since -have been ignored by the company. Massachusetts. diate discharge of the two managers, to that would mean the union can deter­ These events, and the company's re­ give full support to the victims in any mine ·who represents the company in sponse, prompted a major discussion in way possible, and to call a special shop collective bargaining. If this is upheld, the International Union of Electrical other electrical plants in the area. stewards council meeting to orgamze it would make managers, or anyone Workers Local .201, which represents At the May local meeting, member af­ protest activities. dealing with grievances procedures, vir­ 8,000 workers at River Works, and three ter member took the floor to refute the Two hundred people attended the tually immune to union demands. NASSCO 3 need solidarity-not stab in back By Stu Singer Written by People's World staff writer NASSCO is the largest shipyard on and Johnson are members of the Com~ There's an old and proud slogan in the Lincoln Smith, it is filled with attacks the West Coast. The work force suffers munist Workers Party. labor movement: an injury to one is an against what Smith claims the CWP did from extreme company violations of In their trial, the government prosec­ injury to all. atNASSCO. health and safety. They are paid about utor said in his closing arguments that Unfortunately, not everybody seems The real significance of what hap­ $3 an hour less than workers at other anyone who was advocating the over­ to remember it. pened at NASSCO is ignored. West Coast shipyards. throw of the capitalist system would be The Daily World, published in New The company and FBI joined in a blat­ A militant struggle against the com­ inclined to commit crimes. York, and the People's World, published ant frame-up against unionists. It's a pany has been going on for several in California, reflect the views of the classic example, in the tradition of the years. The union militants who rose to Workers respond Communist Party. "Molly Maguires" frame-up that sent leadership in that struggle include The World Magazine article buys the The June 27 supplement to both pa­ ten coal miners to the gallows in the late members of the Communist Workers charges made by the company and the pers, World Magazine, carried a full­ 1870s. Both cases involved the use of Party. cops and the right-wing union officials. page article· attacking the Communist agents provocateur. But the workers in the yard at NASSCO Workers Party (CWP) for its role in the are more intelligent. After the frame-up Unionists haven't seen anything like Union militants fired fight of shipyard workers at the Nation­ charges came down in September, mil­ it in recent years. But, as the ruling­ NASSCO responded to a series of al Steel and Shipbuilding Company strikes and demonstrations last fall by itant union activists, including (NASSCO) in San Diego. class offensive intensifies and workers members of the CWP, were elected to fight back, they will face more attacks firing at least twenty-seven union mil­ The article comes at a time when the leadership of the Ironworkers union like this one. itants. On September 2, the bodies of NASSCO workers are under vicious at­ local. The local was put into receiver­ Now is the time for maximum unity in two young machinists were found in the tack. It casts blame not on the criminals, ship to prevent these militants from support of the NASSCO Three. Instead, hull of a ship where they had been work­ but the victims. taking office. the World Magazine article uses the oc­ ing. There was no ventilation, and they On June 5 three NASSCO workers, A number of trade union officials casion for a crude factional attack on the died from a gas leak. two of them members of the CWP, were have spoken out against the frame-up. CWP. convicted on a bomb plot frame-up engi­ Coming after months of protests Liberal politicians like Congressman against the safety violations in the yard, neered by the company, the FBI, and the The author even echoes charges made Ron Dellums and prominent supporters the deaths brought outrage and en­ San Diego cops. On July 14 the by the company and right-wing union of civil liberties have spoken out in de­ hanced the authority of the young mil­ NASSCO Three were sentenced to six officials. fense of the NASSCO Three. itants who had been leading the safety months in jail and three years' proba­ For example, Robert Carter, the offi­ Supporters of the NASSCO Three de­ fight. Public pressure was also mount­ tion. cial of the International Association of fense in San Diego report that members ing against the company to clean up the The World Magazine article does not Machinists who took over the lAM local of the Communist Party have been safety violations. even mention their conviction. It does at NASSCO when it was put in receiver­ among those opposing the frame-up. say that, "three members of the CWP at ship, was quoted in the September 19, On September 17, the company moved The attack in World Magazine must the shipyards have been accused of plot­ 1980, San Diego Union, that the CWP to head off these developments. Three. be an embarassment to them. It is a vio­ ting to bomb the shipyard's power gen­ members should be told, "'look, we don't young union activists were charged lation of the most elementary trade erator.... want any part of your Communist bull­ with a plot to blow up part of the ship­ union solidarity. "National big business media has giv­ shit. We'll take care of our problems at yard. It is the militancy of workers at en the trial a lot of coverage. The strug­ the collective bargaining table and on The only evidence was the testimony NASSCO that is under attack. The mil­ gle of the NASSCO workers has some­ the picket line if necessary.'" of Ramon Barton, a white South African itancy of thousands of shipyard workers how disappeared in all this publicity. The World Magazine article charged: immigrant who was a spy against the is a threat to the company. The attention is now on the CWP." "The CWP's main principles are not for union for both NASSCO and the FBI. The NASSCO Three, victims of com­ The title of the World Magazine arti­ trade union struggle, but for 'revolu­ Barton actually made a bOmb and in­ pany-FBI injustice, deserve all the sup­ cle is, ''The politics of diversion." And tion.'" vented the whole "conspiracy.'' Its only port that can be organized for them. the diversion they seem to be referring If this is supposed to be bad, it would purpose was to break up the workers' Messages of support and contribu­ to is the fact that there is some attention be interesting to know what the "main struggle in the shipyard. tions should be sent to the NASSCO to the CWP. principles" advocated by World Maga­ The NASSCO Three are David Boyd, Three Defense Committee, P.O. Box But the real diversion is this article. zine are. Mark Loo, and Rodney Johnson. Loo 8383, San Diego, California 92102.

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 11 Fidel Castro on 20 years of socialist revolution The following are extracts from a speech by Fidel Castro. See intro­ ductory comments on facing page. By that time [the "Bay of Pigs" inva­ sion], we could say that the program of the Moncada had been completed. (AP­ PLAUSE) All the laws passed during the first years of the Revolution were laws and measures proclaimed in es­ sence in the Moncada program, since it contained the seed, created the condi­ tions for a socialist revolution. (AP­ PLAUSE) And in our country at that moment there could have been no revo­ lution other than a socialist one, (AP­ PLAUSE) if any of us were real revolu­ tionaries. Our enemies said that our struggle against Batista's tyranny had been for another kind of revolution. But at the very moment when we confronted the most powerful enemy, Yankee imperial­ ism;. when we resolutely confronted their plans and their forces; on the very eve of battle, when the people prepared once again to struggle, to shed their blood and die, the socialist nature of the Revolution was proclaimed. And no one knew what that struggle .. would cost, because if the mercenaries had not been defeated immediately, in Prensa Latina less than 72 hours, thus preventing Havana, May Day 1981 them from establishing a beachhead, with a solid territory in their hands and with a so-called provisional government "NO!") Who has the weapons? (SHOUTS olution against anyone, down to the last pions among the people of Latin Ameri­ which-as the dispatches said-would OF "THE PEOPLE!") Whose hands drop of blood.

12 THE MILITANT JULY 31, 1981 Fidel: Socialism has worked miracles By Harry Ring for Cuba on the boat Granma. Batis­ was the day before the U.S.-organized killers well connected in this country. · As Cuba celebrates July 26, one of ta's troops were waiting, and only a invasion force of counterrevolutionary Recently, New York's Mayor Ed­ its major holidays, Washington is handful made it up into the Sierra exiles hit the beach at Playa Giron ward Koch bestowed "freedom" pressing harder with its anti-Cuba Maestra where they began to organ­ (the Bay of Pigs). awards on several people involved drive. ize guerrilla war. Inspired by a socialist perspective, with this murderous outfit. On July 11, Havana announced the Two short years later, on January as well as by what the revolution had In 1979-80, we saw Carter attempt capture of five U.S.-based terrorists. 1, 1959, Batista fled to Miami as the already accomplished, the Cuban peo­ to exploit the refugee issue for anti­ Th~ir mission, to commit sabotage Rebel Army marched across Cuba to ple rallied in defense of their home­ Cuba purposes. This backfired when and to try to assassinate Fidel Castro. Havana. land. Within twenty-four hours, the Cuba opened the port of Mariel for all Credit for the mission was taken by It was very soon after the Cuban U.S.-organized invasion was who wanted to leave. Alpha 66, a gang of counterrevolution­ revolution came to power that Wash­ smashed. Why does Washington fear Cuba? ary thugs trained in their murder­ ington realized that its ·leadership It was a jolting defeat for Washing­ Quite simply, because of the revolu­ ous arts by the CIA and permitted to could not be corrupted, or intimidat­ ton. But the U.S. government never tionary course it follows and the in­ violate U.S. law with impunity. ed. These were revolutionary fighters gave up on its perspective of destroy­ spiring example it sets. Shortly before this episode, the U.S. who were determined from the outset ing the Cuban revolution. Customs Service confirmed that since to achieve the goal of national inde­ The political and economic war Washington cannot abide Cuba's last May it has been seizirig all Cuban pendence, democracy, agrarian re­ against Cuba was pressed relentless­ solidarity with revolutionary Nicara­ publications addressed to U.S. sub­ form, and a better life for the Cuban ly. gua and Grenada and its identifica­ cribers. people. In 1975, the anti-Cuba drive was tion with the struggle in El Salvador and with all others who fight for liber­ Why does Washington fear the This was why Washington vowed escalated. This came after Cuba bold­ ation. printed word coming in from Cuba? early on to destroy the Cuban revolu­ ly sent internationalist fighters to It has feared revolutionary Cuba tion. help the Angolan people repel a SOuth In his spe~ch of last April 16, Fidel from the outset. And July 26 symbol­ The beginnings of an economic African invasion. began by recalling the circumstances izes well what it is they fear. blockade were first imposed in 1960. In one particularly brazen provoca­ of his speech of twenty years ago. He It was on that date in 1953 that 200 A year later the embargo was com­ tion, Carter announced in April 1980 then went on to discuss what socialist determined young revolutionists led plete. that the Marines would conduct a revolution has meant for Cuba. by Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada It was during those critical early "practice" invasion of Guantanamo It is that larger portion that we re­ military barracks in Santiago de Cu­ years that the Cuban leadership rec­ Bay, where the Pentagon still holds a print here. ba. They aimed to seize arms and to ognized that the goals of the revolu­ naval base against the declared will Among the topics Castro takes up is . summon the Cuban people to rise up tion could not be realized within the of the Cuban people. the rapid growth of the Territorial against the hated Batista dictator­ framework of capitalism. That sinister announcement was Troops Militia, initiated as Washing­ ship. They were convinced that the They unhesitatingly took the anti­ answered by an unparalleled demon­ ton was stepping up threats to Cuba Cuban people could be won to a revo­ capitalist road. stration of the Cuban people. It was so in the spring of 1980. lutionary struggle. Nor was this imposed on the Cuban massive, so militant, that Carter beat This formation is organizing, train­ They did not accomplish their aims people from .above. It had the enthusi­ a retreat, calling the military maneu­ ing, and arming millions of Cubans to that July 26. But their confidence in astic support of the great majority. ver off. defend their homeland. The enthusi­ the revolutionary potential of the Cu­ On April15, 1961, six bombers with But meanwhile, U.S. trained exiles astic response to the formation of the ban people was soon vindicated, Cuban markings bombed Cuba's have been given added leash. In fla­ militias is a sure sign of the over­ The attack on Moncada was three main airfields. The planes re­ grant defiance of the U.S. Neutrality whelming popular support for Cuba's smashed. Seventy of the guerrillas turned to Miami, where it was de­ Act, they train in Florida's socialist revolution. were killed. Many of the others, in­ clared that the pilots were "defectors" Everglades for sorties into Cuba. We believe this speech offers a fit­ cluding Fidel, were jailed on the Isle from the Cuban air force. Like the They have conducted bombings and ting reminder of why we celebrate Ju­ of Youth, then called the Isle of Pines. planes themselves, this brazen lie was assassinations in this country with ly 26. It illuminates why the rulers of But soon after, Batista was com­ quickly proven to be made in the impunity. this country fear and hate the Cuban pelled to release them. Fidel and oth­ USA. In one such incident last Sep­ revolution. And why that revolution ers soon went to Mexico. On April 16, the day following the tember, a Cuban attache to the means so much for the oppressed of In Mexico they trained for their re­ plane attack, Fidel made a speech de­ United Nations was gunned down by the entire world-including here m turn. At the end of 1956, they sailed claring the revolution socialist. That members of Omega 7, a group of exile the United States. universities, polytechnics, vocational ties and advantages over the past 20 We confronted the problem of the to­ When I mentioned the things that so­ schools, technological institutes, ele­ years. bacco blight, and this year our country cialism made possible I left out another mentary schools and day-care centers. We didn't always act wisely, as we said has reached an all-time record in tobac, one of our great successes: the end of the Our Technical Youth Brigades of inven­ during the 2nd Congress, we didn't al­ co production, (APPLAUSE) along with cruel discrimination against women and tors have over 140,000 members. Social­ ways take the best decisions. But we were an ~ll - time record in the production of of the cruel racial discrimination that ism has created a different kind of hu­ certainly always able, with all the hones­ vegetables and other produce, and an existed in our country, the discrimina­ man being, a new kind of human being ty in the world, to detect in time any er­ all-time record in citrus fruit. In fact, tion on grounds of race or sex. (AP­ in our country. ror, any wrong decision, recognize it, rec­ we've had recont crops in many PLAUSE) So we could also ask this Socialism opened up our relations tify it and carry on; because even when branches of our agriculture. question: Has the United States eradi­ with the world and we now occupy, next you travel through the mountains with Construction work is being carried cated racial discrimination? (SHOUTS to the Soviet Union and other countries the help of~ compass-and our compass out with greater organization and effi­ OF "NO!") Has the United States eradi­ of the socialist community, a place in is socialism, our compass is Marxism­ ciency. We are building a number of cated discrimination against women, the vanguard of the world's most pro­ Leninism-from time to time there can plants that require thousands of con­ the exploitation of women, the prostitu­ gressive peoples, (APPLAUSE) among be some drifting away from the right struction workers, for example the tion of women? (SHOUTS OF "NO!") the peoples struggling to establish jus­ path-just as ships sailing on the ocean nickel complex in Moa, the textile plant No, a thousand times no! (APPLAUSE) ter societies, more humane societies. Is occasionally drift off course a little-but in Santiago de Cuba, the spinning mill These are truths. The facts speak for our socialist society or is it not a thou­ you always keep going ahead in the right in Havana, the thermoelectric power themselves; they are convincing facts sand times more just, a thousand times direction. plant east of Havana and our first nucle­ which explain and demonstrate what so­ more humane than capitalist society? For us, the socialist road was some­ ar-powered electric plant, already under cialism has meant to our country; hence Can anybody deny this? (SHOUTS OF thing entirely new, a course that was be­ construction in Cienfuegos. In spite of the importance of the date we're cele­ "NO!") Socialism has brought us that! ing embarked on for the first time not the imperialist blockade and the deep brating today. And along with justice and awareness only in our country but in the rest of the crisis that is now affecting a great part But is the security of our country any it has brought our people tremendous hemisphere as well. But we can assert, of the world, and thanks to the friendly, different from what it was in the past? social development. It has brought us above all else, that we've known how to fraternal and generous solidarity of the (SHOUTS OF "NO!") No, here we are the development of enormous forces use our time, that we've been capable of Soviet Union, the rest of the socialist again, getting ready again because such as our mass organizations, our rectifying mistakes and that today our community and other progressive coun­ again we're being threatened, because worker organizations, our Committees Revolution is stronger and more solid tries, our country is making steady new aggressive policies against Cuba for the Defense of the Revolution, our than ever before. (APPLAUSE) progress-and that's something that are being formulated, because the impe­ peasant organizations, women's organi­ even our worst enemies can't deny. (AP­ rialists are talking about blockades zations, youth organizations, students' Surpassed sugar goal PLAUSE) again-and no longer just about· eco­ organizations, even the Pioneer organi­ These are not mere words. You, the We have learned how to manage our nomic blockades, but rather about na­ zation, all of them extraordinary forces workers, peasants, students, men and economy, our factories and our agricul­ .val, military blockades. Again the impe­ that are contributing to the consolida­ women, you, the fighters know very well tural centers; we have learned how to rialists are threatening us, talking tion and further development of our what's being done in our country. The manage our schools, hospitals and pub­ about aggression. Hence the similarity Revolution. sugar harvest alone is a good example. lic services with increasing efficiency; between this April16 and that April16. Revolutionary awareness under so­ In spite of the blights-which we fought but the most important thing is that we This is why we're again having to make cialism has brought us a vanguard Par­ and overcame-the sugar harvest is be­ will keep on learning more and more. a great effort to defend ourselves, to mo­ ty, a Party of organized, disciplined, con­ ing carried out with l:>etter organization This is because, among other things, so­ bilize the people, men and women, all scious Communists. The 400,000-plus and greater efficiency than ever before. cialism means that we are the owners of our people, to organize the Territorial members of our Party and the 400,000- It's now April 16 and our work in the our factories, our mines, our railroads, Troop Militia and to accelerate the work plus members of our Young Communist sugar harvest is practically done. The our ports, our merchant fleet, our lands, of fortification and buttressing our de­ League are a demonstration of what the overall grinding rate stands at 89 per­ our natural resources. Everything in fense capacity in every way. ideas of socialism and the ideas of Marx­ cent, a figure that the capitalists never our country belongs to our workers, our ism-Leninism have brought to our coun­ reached-the best they ever did was 85 peasants, our students, our men and our New world relationship try and what they have created here. percent. (APPLAUSE) And in spite of women!

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 13 ... Fidel on 20 years of socialist revolution Continued from preceding pege very important changes in our country. In April 1961, the first tanks, field guns and antiaircraft guns sent to us by the Soviet Union had arrived only a few weeks before. They were the very first we had and we were just learning how to use them. We had also acquired some weapons in the Western world; they were the first weapons purchased by the Revolution, so that · the imperialists wouldn't be able to say that we were re­ ceiving socialist weapons. And re­ member too something that happened at that time: the freighter La Coubre was blown up in a brutal, savage act which killed some 100 workers and soldiers. In those days we had those F AL rifles that were raised aloft at the corner of 12th and 23rd Streets, and we also had the first field guns and tanks, which we were hastily learning how to handle. ·But we didn't have enough instructors, and it often happened that what our mil­ itia members learned in the morning they taught to thousands of others in the afternoon. Thus, in view of the immi­ nent attack, by doing the very best we could, given the situation, hundreds of field gun, antiaircraft and other batter­ ies were organized and hundreds of thousands of militia members through­ Perspectiva Mundiai/Jose out the country mobilized in a matter of Member of Antonio Maceo Brigade, right, which is made up of Cubans living in U.S., interviews Young Pioneers in Havana. weeks. There were around 50,000 mil­ itia members in the capital alone. And it was like that right across the country. and we could say to the imperialists imperialists, we're not afraid of their country along with the effort of develop­ Our army was beginning to learn all -who made so much use of the slogan soldiers, we will not hesitate for a single ing the country and increasing produc­ about handling modern weapons. And "Remember Pearl Harbor" and re- moment to defend our soil, our country, tion. That's another thing we'll teach how much time has passed since then, . member many other things--a few slo­ our Revolution. the imperialists so they won't deceive and how far have we come? gans of our own like "Remember Giron," We will not hesitate even for a mo­ themselves into believing that we're Today we have tens of thousands of "Remember Giron!" (APPLAUSE) Gir­ ment, and the imperialists should be neglecting the development of the coun­ regular and reserve officers in our Revo­ on should have been a lesson to teach well aware of this. They shouldn't forget try and production while we're organiz­ lutionary Armed Forces; today we have them to deal with Cuba in a different this experience. If they think they're go­ ing and preparing ourselves for defense. a degree of knowledge, experience, or­ way. They thought that when their lit­ ing to settle the differences between Cu­ We're going to show them that in these ganization and technical know-how we tle planes showed up everybody here ba and the United States through at­ difficult circumstances our people rise to didn't have then. At that time we didn't was going to be scared out of their wits, tacks and threats, they're mistaken! If the occasion and are capable of handling have, as we have now, the hundreds of but it took only seconds for our militia to they think they're going to intimidate the two tasks at the same time: streng­ thousands of reservists who have served respond to the enemy attack by opening us, scare us, bring us to our knees by thening our defense and strengthening in our Revolutionary Armed Forces or fire: dint of threats and attacks, they're mis­ our economy! (APPLAUSE) the tens upon tens of thousands--no, That's what our militia artillerymen, taken! This is what we've always told In the Territorial Troop Militia there more than that-the tens upon tens of whose average age was between 15 and the imperialists and this is what we are men of different ages, either because thousands of internationalist fighters 20, did; that's what the militia in Giron want to say to them· today! (AP­ they're very young and haven't done who have been through the experience of and everywhere else did as soon as the PLAUSE) their military service yet or because combat, war and sacrifice. (APPLAUSE) enemy appeared. At that time the impe­ Our ideas are very clear, our convic­ they're engaged in important produc­ At that time we didn't have the possi­ rialists were saying· they expected our tions are very deep, our decisions are tion tasks or because they're beyond the people to stage an uprising, etc. And bilities we have now, that have enabled very resolute: we don't want war, \ •e are age limit to be in the Revolutionary us mobilize hundreds of thousands of they had visions of our troops being de­ to not in the habit of provoking conflicts Armed Forces reserves. The women are combatants in the Territorial Troop Mil­ feated and scared off. But what hap­ and we don't want to do so, but they also of different ages; they are workers, pened? They underestimated our peo­ itia and to train many cadres and chiefs should beware of provoking us! They peasants, stPdents. In all, the Militia in just a few weeks. (APPLAUSE) It can ple's ability, our people's dignity, cour­ should beware of dragging us into a war, constitutes a formidable force that, age and heroism, while their brigades, be said with certainty that never before into a conflict!. (APPLAUSE) If they im­ along with the regular troops of our Rev­ was such a large force organized so their planes and tanks lasted as long as pose a conflict on us, if they impose war olutionary Armed Forces, make for an a lit candle lasts in a rainstorm. (AP­ quickly and efficiently. The record time on us, they'll find out what a resolute entire people armed and ready to defend in which we are organizing and training PLAUSE) people are like, what a communist peo­ themselves. the Territorial Troop Militia and their ple, a patriotic people, a Marxist-Leni­ The imperialists have imposed this ef­ cadres is proof of how far we've come in Message to Washington nist people, an internationalist people fort on us, the same way that they im­ terms of organizational ability and ex­ However, at that time we were pre­ are like. (APPLAUSE) posed the blockade on us, but our Revo­ perience. pared to fend off not just one mercenary This is because socialism made us lution is over 22 years old, 20 years have This .means that we're not fooling invasion but rather ten mercenary inva­ passed since Giron, and here we are, around; the Revolution doesn't fool even more patriotic, because socialism sions. And when our tanks reached Gir­ building socialism for more than 20 It on taught us what internationalism around. knows how to do things se­ and set up positions there, face to face years, and we'll be here, doing the same riously and it is doing things seriously. with the Yankee warships and aircraft means. We're an internationalist peo­ ple, very much aware of our rights, (AP­ for another 20 and the next 20 and as We're not trembling, we're not scared carriers, everybody was very calm and PLAUSE) very sure of our ideas and of many more as necessary. And if we do by the imperialists' threats. On the con­ every gun was loaded and ready to fire. our cause. We have a lot of dignity and things the right way, we'll have an in­ trary, we turn those threats into a force, In other words, we're not afraid of the are very sure of ourselves. creasingly patriotic, united and aware The imperialists should know that, people, a people better equipped to cope whereas our people were strong in the with any test. Others may be used to New from Pathfinder Press . days of Giron, today they are 100 times trembling before the imperialists' stronger (APPLAUSE) and better pre­ threats, but not our people. Never! Cuba's Internationalist Foreign Policy 1975-80 pared militarily, politically and psycho­ (APPLAUSE) logically. We should meditate on this date, on Now we're again forced to mobilize this day, and from the bottom .of our and prepare ourselves, but this won't hearts resolve to make whatever efforts make us neglect our revolutionary are necessary to fulfill our sacred duties tasks, our creative work. We will not to our country and to socialism. neglect our factories, o~r fields, our con­ Circumstances have made this day FIDEL struction sites, our hospitals, our closely resemble that day exactly 20 schools, our public services, and this is years ago. However, happy circumstan­ why we have to make an extra effort. It's ces have made possib_Ie a scene such as true that this takes up a great deal of this one, to see a people like this, with our time, it's true that it calls for great the same awareness, or better said, with energy to prepare to defend our country, even greater awareness and with the CASTRO and it's true that it calls for resources. same determination, or even more, than But our people have the ability of multi­ 20 years ago. (APPLAUSE) Once again plying themselves and, in circumstan­ we can repeat what we said on April 16, ces such as these, a man becomes two or 1961: Let us swear to defend this cause even three men, a woman becomes two, of the poor, by the poor and for the poor! three and even 100 women, and when (SHOUTS OF "LET US SWEAR!") Let SPEECHES circumstances so require, what normal­ us swear to defend our socialist Revolu­ includes Cuba in Angola by Gabriel Garcia Marquez ly takes two hours to do is done in one, tion down to the last drop of blood! and work goes on as long as necessary. (SHOUTS OF "LET US SWEAR!") Paperback, 391 pages. $7.95 (include $.75 for postage). Order from Pathfind­ We have the resources within us, in Patria o muerte! er Press, 410 West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014 our energy, in our will, and this is why Venceremos! we will make this effort to defend our (OVATION)

14 THE MILITANT JULY 31, 1981 Case of the political prisoner who wasn't By Will Reissner itical prisoner-a participant in the were charged with planting bombs in Tais Ramos, and Humberto Barrera. Enemies ·of the Cuban revolution struggle against Batista and by implica­ public places. In the house where they The doctors described Valladares's have recently seized upon the case of Ar­ tion a disillusioned supporter of Castro, were arrested, police seized ammuni­ case to Spanish journalist Jose A. Pages. mando Valladares as the latest stick a poet, a Catholic, crippled by mistreat­ tion, weapons, dynamite and other ex­ According to the physicians, "Armando with which to beat the Castro govern­ ment in the dictator's prisons. plosives, and materials for making Valladares suffered from a 'polineuropa­ ment. In recent months there has been a And because none of these dispatches bombs. thic deficiency' due to a failure to take spate of articles in the press in Europe mentions why he was imprisoned, the The arrest took place at a time when food. Valladares has carried out at least and North and South America about reader is left with the impression that it Washington was stepping up its attacks fifteen hunger strikes. Valladares, the paralyzed poet political must have been something he wrote, or against the Cuban revolution. Less than "His muscular development," the doc­ prisoner. perhaps his Catholicism. two weeks earlier, the Eisenhower ad­ tors continued, "was .that of a healthy In the June 4-17 London Review of The reason this case is made to order ministration had totally eliminated the man; we detected the presence of re­ Books, for example, Cuban emigre nove­ for opponents of the Cuban revolution is Cuban sugar quota. flexes, and there was definitely no mus­ list Cabrera Infante wrote of Valla­ precisely because it really has been al­ Following a trial, Valladares was cular atrophy. dares: most entirely made up! There's hardly a sentenced in 1961 to thirty years in pri­ "Therefore, his rehabilitation was not "Let me speak now of sadder, wiser word of truth in the whole thing!. son. In March 1973 that sentence was difficult. We carried out a therapy based men, like Valladares and Cuadra, poets Let's look a little more carefully at the ,reviewed and reduced to twenty-five on high doses ofB-complex vitamins, vi­ in prison, captive minds in captive bo­ descriptions of Valladares contained in years. It should be noted that the leader tamin C, i-ntensive physiotherapy, and a dies. Armando Valladares, the poet in a these reports. of Valladares's terrorist group, Oliver high protein diet (fruit, vegetables, wheelchair as he has been called in First, Valladares was 24, not "barely Obregon Obregon, who was also sent­ meat, milk, etc.), including foods that France, was condemned to 30 years in 20," when he was arrested; he did Rot enced to thirty years, ·was released in had to be imported." gaol in the early Sixties, when he was take part in the revolution against Ba­ November 1979 because of good behav­ The attending physicians added that barely 20. In prison, as a result of ill­ tista; and he was not a student. In fact, ior while in prison. "generally, he refused to follow the treatment and his various hunger he was a policeman under Batista. On treatment, because he was tired or be­ strikes in protest against ill-treatment, October 7, 1957, at a time when thou­ Sentenced as terrorist cause he felt like writing, etc. He was re­ he became an invalid." sands of students were involved in the So Valladares was sentenced to prison leased [from the hospital] when he re­ In a June 3, 1980, dispatch, the Asso­ struggle to overthrow the Cuban dicta­ as a terrorist, not as a poet or even as a fused to follow the treatment." "In December 1979, a consultation ciated Press described Valladares in tor, Valladares joined Batista's police former member of Batista's police force. was held with the best specialists in the these terms: "Valladares, age 43, a na­ force, and remained on active duty until In fact, Valladares suffered no reprisals country, and it was determined that he tionalist Catholic, took part in the the victory of the revolution. for his police duty. With the victory of suffered from a 'polineuropathic defi­ struggle against the dictatorship ofFul­ the revolution he was dropped from the Second, Valladares was not a poet. He ciency,' but not of the intensity that he gencio Batista, but was sentenced to 30 police force "for the good of the service." did not publish a single line of poetry is claiming." years in prison in 1960 by the Castro re­ But after a period during which he prior to his arrest and began writing on­ In short, he doesn't need a wheelchair. gime." worked as a traveling perfume sales­ ly after he had been in prison for quite Although the capitalist press claims According to Agence France-Press, man, he was hired by the Ministry of some time. that Valladares was subjected to con­ the French news service, "Valladares, a Communications, where he was employ­ stant mistreatment and beatings during nationalist and Catholic, 43, has been in Third, Valladares is not paralyzed! ed until his arrest. the years he has been in prison, Pages prison for twenty years. When he was a Much has been made of Armando Val­ student he took part in the fall of the The real story visited Valladares in the prison hospital Finally, none of the reports on Valla­ ladares's physical affiictions. His one and found that "Armando Valladares dictator Fulgencio Batista. When Fidel volume of poems was published in Eu­ Castro came to power, Valladares was dares mentions why he was imprisoned. doesn't look like he is 42 years old [actu­ The reader is left with the impression rope under the . title From My Wheel­ ally he was 44 at the time]. He could taken into custody and sentenced in. chair. 1960 to 30 years in prison." that it was for something he wrote, for pass for a man of 35." This hardly fits some political offense. Very convenient, Valladares has engaged in numerous the image of a poor intellectual wasting An article in Diario de las Americas, a but not true. hunger strikes while in prison. As a re­ away in prison. right-wing Miami daily, adds the detail Valladares's real story was revealed sult he began to exhibit difficulties in Eliseo Diego, a prominent Catholic that "in 1970, as a result of hunger, by. Hector Fernandez Pardo in an article movement. He has been treated in vari­ writer in Cuba, told Pages that "it was beatings, and other mistreatment, Val­ for the Cuban news agency Prensa Lati­ ous hospitals, including the Frank Pais irritating to have foreign sources im­ ladares lost the use of his legs." na. It appeared in the Managua daily, El Orthopedic Hospital in Havana, one of pose 'an intellectual' on us, whom we Nuevo Mundo. Earlier Jose A. Pages the most modern facilities in all of Latin don't even know, who has only written A made-to-order case wrote an article in the Spanish mag~ ­ America. While he was a patient there one book of poems--quite bad to be sure, So here we have a case that seems zine, Interviu. (October 26, 1978, to April 2, 1980), he and who is in prison for a crime of ter­ made to order for enemies of the Cuban Valladares was arrested on December was diagnosed and treated by a team of rorism." revolution. Valladares is the perfect pol- 27, 1960, with sixteen other people. All specialists including Raul Candesat, From Intercontinental Press

'Hungry' Cubans · a day at the beach ByNEW a Cuban YORK-Soon visitor after arriving here, I read liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii veryOn few a Sunday of the visit, hundreds she reports, of Cubans "it was enjoying clear that the an article from Havana in the July 6 New York water had brought picnic lunches or were able to Times. Reporter Jo Thomas said she has seen lots buy anything to eat." of hungry people at the beach there. To illustrate, she describes how Cubans stared. This is the very same Jo Thomas who, fifteen at "foreign visitors" with a beer cooler and hot months ago, reported that some of the 10,000-odd dogs, until "finally, a tough-looking man strode up Cubans who sought asylum in the Peruvian em- and demanded food, saying rather belligerently, bassy in Havana were subsisting on the flesh -of 'I'm hungry."' cats and dogs, plus boiled tree bark. One does wonder how hundreds of Cubans could True, there was a food problem at the embassy. be enjoying the water while hungry. But not the one so vividly described by Thomas. It is true that Cubans are not big picnickers, and The fu_ture refugees-the antisocials, the scum, rarely take anything to the beach but drinking wa- the fainthearted, and the misled-were supplied ter for the kids, or a minor snack. Here, one perti­ nent factor is the deeply rooted tradition against going into the water less than three hours after eating. Do Cubans really flock to the beach hungry, As I see it either because there is no food, or they don't have the wherewithal to buy it? Very few Cubans are with food by the Cuban government. However, the unemployed. True, as Thomas points out, wages law of the jungle governing the society for which are not high. But neither are the prices of most ne­ they yearned began to be applied right there on Young Cuban Pioneers at the beach cessities. the embassy grounds. The "natural leaders" cor­ One possibility is that some of those on the nered the food, controlled the movement of weaker But she doesn't indicate that fresh fish, eggs, beach who looked washed out may have simply asylum seekers, and frequently prevented chil­ yogurt, and vegetables are unrationed and inex­ been recuperating from Santa Maria's outdoor dis­ dren from receiving milk. pensive. co, featuring ali-day dancing on Sunday beginning However, after their departure, the stray dog Nor does she seem aware that ham and several at 8 a.m. and a sign that announces "COLD. and cat population emerged rather more intact kinds of cheese are sold in the supermarkets, also BEER." than some of the local populatioR might have unrationed. Butter is unrationed, at about $1.40, In any event, the next time Jo Thomas visits wished. u.s. Santa Maria, she might find it interesting to fol­ Now, in a report on her most recent visit, Tho­ Or, take tomato paste. Rationed it is, as Jo Tho­ low some Cubans from the water, across the burn­ mas does cite some of the gains of the revolution mas says. Just 01~e small can a month. But there ing sands, and into an eating facility. -free schooling and medical care, low rent, child are canned tomatoes, catsup, and tomato juice-all Perhaps La Barca, specializing in seafood, .El care, etc. unrationed. Caribe, with well-prepared chicken and pork dish­ But, she adds, a big problem seems to be severe: Not to mention the fact that Cuba has the high­ es; the Atlantico, featuring specialty pizzas; or ly rationed food and low income. est nutrition level in all of Latin America. the many cafeterias and snack bars from one end She lists the monthly quota of some items that Thomas's Cuba food update takes her to Santa of Santa Maria to the other. are available only in small amounts-meat, Maria, one of the loveliest beaches in the Havana For Jo Thomas, a whole new world could open chicken, rice, and beans. area. the next time she does the Cuban food scene.

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 15 What Poland's workers want Solidarity union draft program Part II

This week, the 'Militant' presents the second installment of a three-part se­ banks. This made matters worse: the Polish national debt is now $24 billion. rialization of the draft program of Solidarity, Poland's independent union In its draft program-and in what it does, too-Solidarity responds in sev­ movement. eral ways to this crisis. The prQgram was drawn up by a commission of Solidarity, discussed by its One, it defends those who are hit hardest by the crisis. Solidarity demands National Coordinating Committee, then published in 'Solidarity Weekly,' the a 'social minimum' income, a government guarantee of full employment, union's national newspaper. It is now being discussed by Solidarity's more price subsidies for the poorest workers, and a tax that falls heaviest on the than ten million members. privileged elements. Part I of this document, published by u s last week, took up the political Two, it champions the demands of the working farmers. sources of the crisis in Polish society. That is, control ofthe government by a Three, it calls for workers' control of economic planning and self-manage­ privileged bureaucracy that prevents democratic decision-making. m ent of in~ividual enterprises. In Part II, the union takes a look at Poland's economic condition. Workers in the U.S. are always told we need to be told what to do by corpo­ Like workers here, workers in Poland face an economic crisis. The roots of ration heads and executives because they're the only ones who really under­ their problem, though, are different from ours. stand the big picture and can make the big decisions. Poland's socialized economy, says Solidarity, was victimized by 'long-term economic policies carried out in an over-ambitious and unrealistic manner The Solidarity draft program proyes this is false. It analyzes the problems by a narrow group of people and institutions that function outside any social of an entire society and makes proposals to r eorganize that society. It was control.' written b y workers. In an attempt to avoid the consequences of their corruption and misman­ The translation is by 'Intercontinental Press.' agement, the bureaucrats began taking out loans from foreign capitalist -Steve Bride

And this is not counting short-term Ill. Economic Questions loans and the prospect of further indebt­ 1. The recurrent edness. The country must set aside more for the payment of interest and of credit economic crisis installments than is earned by exports. The deep economic crisis in our coun­ This means that every import must be try is manifested primarily in the enor­ supported by additional credits. And mous and growing disproportion be­ such additional credits are becoming tween the supply and demand of goods harder to get from the foreign banks and and services found throughout the eco­ have stiffer conditions than before nomy. This crisis did not arise in the last (higher interest rates and less time to few months or the last few years, but repay). Quite simply, we are being rated has grown steadily over the past decade. as bankrupt and are being treated ac­ It flowed from a serious deterioration of cordingly. the productive apparatus that made it In such a situation, the economy can­ incapable of satisfying demand, either not be assured of enough imported goods in terms of quantity or variety. The cri­ from the West. There must therefore be sis has directly affected the living stan­ a sharp curtailment of raw materials dards of the whole society, the condi­ and semi-finished goods and even spare tions of work, and the real wages of parts- and this above all has been the working people. At present, with the cri­ reason for the underutilization of prod­ sis still deepening, we face a real drop in uctive capacity in our economy. these already low wages. The economic crisis of the Polish Peo­ C. Factors built into the system ple's Republic affects its structure, eco­ The deepest causes of the crisis are nomic policy, and system. And in the lodged in the system itself. All economic last few years, in addition, unfavorable decisions are monopolized by the main conjunctural factors have appeared. centers of authority, which issue orders A. Defects in the economic to individual enterprises on what, how structure as the immediate cause much, and in what way things should be of the difficulties produced. This is known as administer­ The structural character of the crisis ing the economy through a system of expresses itself in the continual and in­ command-distribution. In such a situa­ creasing disproportion between the sec­ tion, individual enterprises do not have tor of the economy that serves the needs any freedom in the determination of the of the people and the sector that is di­ production plan or in the choice of meth­ rected toward developing industrial ods, thereby leading to the making of production. An excessive part of the unrealistic economic calculations at all country's economic potential is used for levels of the enterprises. Nor does eco­ the production of machinery and tools to nomic accounting play a prominent role produce more machinery and tools, in central planning, since there is a lack rather than for the production of consu­ of accurate information on real costs. mer goods, which is relegated to a secon­ This aggravates the tendency of enter­ dary role. This is part icularly true of prises to maximize costs and promotes agriculture, a section of the economy their interest in valuing realization of that provides for the primary needs of the plan, including expanding costs. the people and that employs a quarter of Greater concentration of decision-mak­ the population, but that has been ing ultimately causes complete under­ pushed into a subordinate place in the utilization of mechanisms for motivat­ country's economy. It is obvious that an ing people. economy with this kind of structure can­ All of this together leads to enoqnous not provide working people with even a waste of labor and resources. It is reasonable standard of living. enough to say that in the production of a unit of national income, we must use up B. Long-term defects in considerably more raw materials, economic policy energy transport, and labor than do the The structural disproportions in the French and West German economies. economy are the outcome of long-term D. Incidental factors economic policies carried out in an over­ Gdansk memorial for victims of 1970 government massacre of Polish workers. ambitious and unrealistic manner by a There are a lso certa in factors that are narrow group of people and institutions djctated by the conjunctural situation that function outside any social control. that there was the necessary transport, bankers were expected to finance this that has plagued our country in the last The concentration of decision-making in energy, and linkage to other sectors of economically decrepit centrally planned few years, such as a poor year in agricul­ the main centers of authority, the ab­ the economy to make them feasible. state economy. But the loans have to be ture in.l980. From this point of view, it sence of accounting, a nd the chaos in Within this framework, the volunta ris­ repaid- and with interest-something must be kept in mind that a ny economy pricing policies make social control to­ tic policies were especially discriminato­ that can only be done by an efficient eco­ must be prepared for conjunctural diffi­ tally impossible, in any case. ry against individual farmers, particu· nomy. Thus, this way of compensating culties and must have reserves, so as not There has thus been a situation of to­ larly in terms of low prices and the in­ for inefficiency could not be used for to break down under the impact of those tal economic arbitrariness and irrespon­ sufficient allocation of machinery. long; to the contrary, it would become an difficulties. But if it does collapse under sibility, leading to economic decisions To try to compensate for these ineffi­ additional factor in the economic break­ the temporary impact of unfavorable that have been harmful. Huge invest­ cient economic policies and this ineffi­ down. circumstances, then they no longer con­ ments have been made without suffi­ cient system, more and more foreign The final result of this has been the stitute the objective cawses of the col­ cient reason and without first assuring loans were taken out. The ·capitalist colossal debt of more than $24 billion. lapse, but are the result of a faulty eco-

16 THE MILITANT JULY 31,1981 nomic system, bad policies, and a deeply cussion and decision-making through ests of the workforce be protected. education. unbalanced economic structure. the medium of the Sejm [parliament] Effective participation of the work­ There is a threat of a complete disor­ Because of all these factors, the eco­ and through social organizations, local force in the profits of an enterprise may ganization of the consumer market. The nomy of the Polish People's Republic self-government bodies, and the trade also increase the differentiation in in­ financial income of the population grew has been functioning badly. One expres­ unions. This control should be con­ comes between workers in one conce~:n in 1981 in relation to 1980, but the sup­ sion of this has been a slower rate of cerned with the overall direction of eco­ and another. That is something that ply of manufactured goods is unsatisfac­ growth in the national income, and for nomic development, the rate of growth, should also be discussed within the tory. In addition, 1981 may not be a good more than two years a sharp drop in the and the distribution of the national in­ union. year for agriculture, since it has not yet national income. As a result, the coun­ come between investment and consump­ The extensive introduction of auto­ been possible to restock the herds that try is going through a serious crisis that tion, including the main trends of social nomy for each enterprise and reliance were depleted in 1980. In practical threatens to bring about a complete col­ consumption. This social control should on a market system may result in. some terms, then, the total annual increase in lapse of the national economy. also safeguard the autonomous social­ economic and social difficulties (higher the income of the population will find no ized enterprises and family businesses prices, employment problems, etc). The corresponding increase in goods availa­ from restrictive orders by economic and course of the reform will thus have to be ble for purchase. 2. Economic reform social administrative agencies. Inter­ watched closely, so that the anomalies A. Support for reform as a condition for mediate links between the enterprises that will arise can be eliminated. A. The state's legal responsibility for its success and the central economic authorities, The giving of autonomy to socialized the costs of the crisis and of reform This analysis shows that the present such as the ministries for certain enterprises at the same time makes it The view of our union is that the re­ economic sytem does not correspond to branches of industry or associations of possible-and necessary-to develop sponsibility for the effects of the crisis the existing social and economic needs. enterprises in certain industries, should authentic workers self-management. and for the reforms to be introduced The only way to overcome the crisis on a be eliminated to a considerable extent. Our union thinks that the establish­ rests with the state, regardless of long-term basis and lead our economy Socialized concerns should be given ment of workers self-management bo­ whether the economic reform assures down the road of balanced development ·the freedom to determine their produc­ dies in socialized enterprises is an indis­ real autonomy for economic enterprises is fundamental reform of the system to tion plans and methods. In this connec­ pensable element of economic reform. or what form that takes. This is because remove the causes ofthe constantly re­ tion, the centralized distribution of raw The self-management bodies in these the state does, in practice, directly or­ curring crises. Our union fully supports materials and other elements of produc­ enterprises should have sufficient legal ganize the economic life of Poland. The economic reform and thinks that it is in tion should be limited and eventually authority to make effective decisions obligation to protect the population the interests of our members and of soci­ done away with. The concerns should be about the functioning and operations of from the effects of the crisis therefore ety as a whole. self-financing, that is, they should be the enterprise. Therefore, they should rests precisely with the state and its The way in which our support for re­ able to cover their costs out of their own have the right to exercise control over agencies, regardless of what activities form must be expressed includes a broad earnings. They should be evaluated not the assets of the. concern, to decide on the various unions and social organiza­ preliminary discussion of its underlying on the basis offulfilling the plan, but on the aims of production and sales, the tions undertake. It is on this basis that principles and a clear definition of its di­ the basis of economic efficiency. An en­ choice of production methods, and in­ the union will judge the state bodies. rection, form, and aims. By clarifying terprise should be free to dispose of re­ vestment goals. They should also decide The government has not presented a through discussion the precise character sources it has earned through greater on the distribution of the profits of the program for leading the country out of of the reforms we want, we prevent efficiency, and to earmark them for fur­ enterprise. the crisis. The plan for 1981 recently them from becoming trivialized or dis­ ther investment, especially for main­ Particular solutions to these ques­ adopted by the Sejm did not take up the torted. taining equipment. tions will depend on, among other crucial problems. The long promised However, Solidarity will not advance The way the concern functions, the things, the size and character of the en­ stabilization plan still does not exist. its own reform program, since it thinks degree to which it is autonomous, and terprise in question. But one thing is es­ Our union and the public in general that the desired shape of the reforms can the manner in which it is administered pecially necessary: involvement of the have not even received a report on the be worked out through a discussion of by society will depend on its character workers self-management bodies in the state of the economy. This inaction is already existing proposals. A question and size. A precondition for the proper recruitment and dismissal of directors sure to cause the crisis to deepen. The can-be asked, however. Should not Soli­ functioning of an enterprise under the (through competitive examinations, government should immediately pres­ darity join in actively· developing and new system is the de-monopolization of evaluation, or direct appointment). The ent a program to lead the country out of carrying through the reforms, for exam­ the market and the appearance of com­ problem of workers self-management the crisis and submit this program for ple, by working out its own proposals for peting producers to a certain extent. should be the subject of wide discussion nationwide discussion. solving the key problems? Changing the price system wi.ll be a in the union. Faced with the indifference of the au­ The reforms should be the result of serious dilemma for Solidarity. It will be Our union will be socially subsidiary thorities, our union is compelled to free, public discussion by specialists, but necessary to change it for the efficient to the workers self-management bodies launch its own initiative. We do not aim they should be implemented by the gov­ functioning of the enterprises, but may and will support them fully. But there to substitute for the government. We ernment authorities, who control the be difficult to carry out in cases where must be a clear separation between the just want to indicate, in principle, the whole economy. The task of the union, retail prices are affected. And change union organization and the self-mane direction that economic and social policy on the other hand, is to see to it that the will have to be accompanied by wage agell)ent body, based on the principle should take-a direction which is of fun­ reforms introduced will actually im­ compensation; moreover, the entire that the union will primarily defend the damental importance from the point of prove the position of working people. union and public opinion in general will interests of the workers while the self­ view of the working people and which at The union thus supports those economic have to be convinced of its usefulness. management body will represent and be the same time will decisively affect reforms that will be in keeping with the There needs to be broad discussion on responsible for the economic and prod­ many aspects of the country's economic principles of social justice and that will this question. uctive interests of the enterprise. The situation. bring the greatest likelihood of a long­ Production units under different self-management bodies must consult Solidarity-understanding that the term-and not just an immediate-im­ forms of ownership should have the with the union in all matters regarding country's economy is in really desperate provement in the country's economic same legal and economic conditions for division of the concern's income that af­ straits-will not advance major wage or state. development under the new system. fect the workforce. social demands in 1981. But it does ex­ In defining the conditions that must Concerns that are owned socially, coop­ The union thinks that economic re­ pect that: be fulfilled in the process of reform, we eratively, and communally, as well as . form should be carried out as quickly, • the basis for the government's eco­ recognize that to achieve real and far­ by individual families, should be treated completely, and democratically as possi­ nomic policies-particularly in areas re­ reaching improvements sometimes equally in terms of market prices, sup­ ble. But we especially think that the in­ lating to the union's most immediate in- means to sacrifice immediate interests. plies, and employment and tax policies. troduction of reforms cannot be post­ But we can only accept this risk if all de- · It is particularly necessary to eliminate poned until after our economy has cisions concerning the reforms are made all restrictions on the development of achieved full stability. Therefore a pro­ in consultation with us and with the en­ family farms and family-owned handi­ gram must be quickly drawn up to halt From tire society, if a full accounting of all the craft and service shops. the tendency toward economic decline. Pathfinder benefits and disadvantages of each par­ One of the key economic tasks facing In order to make it possible to begin eco­ ticular solution are presented to us, and the country is developing a national nomic reforms, it is also necessary to Press if the basic principles of the govern­ food program based on the strength of restore a normal pace of work and to ment's social policy are worked out in Polish agriculture itself. The following find areas of real cooperation, such as collaboration with us and strictly ad­ must become the main elements of this improving the economic functioning of hered to. program: full respect for the private the enterprise, discovering the most ap­ ownership of land by individual farm­ propriate forms of self-management, B. The character of expected changes ers, and a substantial step-up in the pro­ combating alcoP.olism, etc. Economic reforms should reshape the vision to them of farming machinery, structure and functioning of the central tools, chemical fertilizers, and other ma­ 3. The main problems planning bodies, the main centers of au­ terials needed to increase agricultural of social policy thority, the socialized enterprises, and production. The danger exists that the living con­ the other elements in the economic sys­ The operation of such a free-market ditions of the population will worsen in tem. planned economy will produce certain 1981. Above all, the foreign trade situa­ Central planning should no longer social problems on which our union tion is likely to deteriorate further. It is have the character of a commander giv­ must take a clear position. . not certain that our country will obtain ing out orders. That is, it must not as­ The union recognizes that the enter­ the $10-$11 billion in additional credits sign tasks to the enterprises by issuing prises will have the right to make that we need this year, of which $6-7 bil­ directives and prohibitions. The ways to changes in their employment level as lion is needed for repayment of loans, induce the enterprises to adopt certain they need to. But the government au­ $3-4 billion for payment of the interest policies must be economic ones (such as thorities will still be responsible for car­ on loans, and $1 billion to cover the cur­ the use of prices, taxes, and the like). rying out a full employment policy, al­ rent deficit. Central plans should be strategic in though this policy must no longer hind­ If this credit is not raised, then prod­ character, not merely concerned with er productive concerns. Enough money uction can fall considerably, having an current operations, and should cover a must be allocated by the government for immediate impact on consumption lev­ period of several years. The goals of the the creation of new jobs and to cover the els. The possibilities for increasing con­ central plan, which determines the costs of retraining and transferring peo­ sumption by altering the distribution of overall direction of economic develop­ ple from one industry or office to anoth­ the national income-that is, by reduc­ 48 pp., $1.25 ment, should be arrived at through the er economic activity or trade. The self-fi­ ing investment in favor of consumption­ Order from Pathfinder Press, 41 0 active involvement of society. nancing of the enterprises may also re­ -are extremely limited, since no fur­ West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014 The participation of society in the sult in some having to cut back or close ther restrictions can be imposed on in­ (Please include $.75 postage) planning process and in control over down. In that case, however, the union vestment in such important nonproduc­ planning should be ensured by open dis- will demand beforehand that the inter- tive areas as housing, health care, and

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 17 necessity, there must be a limit on in­ • the taxation of exorbitant wealth come levels, and exceeding that limit (luxury cars, vacation homes, etc.), will not be tolerated. In this connection, • the restriction of unwarranted ma­ we demand, among other things, the an­ terial privileges for those in the ruling nulment of the 1972 decree that result­ apparatus (apartments, official cars, ed in a departure from our general prin­ special medical services, etc.) and the ciples by giving very high pensions and publicizing of the incomes and property benefits to privileged individuals and holdings of people occupying positions their families. in the apparatus. The measures for redistribution of in­ D. The principle of proportional liabili­ come proposed above, as well as the sys­ ty for the costs of the crisis tem of compensating people for higher Social justice demands that the costs prices (providing full compensation only of the crisis and of the necessary reforms for people in the most difficult material be distributed evenly among all citizens, situation) will make possible both the that is, in proportion to their means. Po­ elimination of the inequalities that soci­ land is a country that has a wide range ety will no longer accept and the financ­ of income levels among different social ing of the most essential social pro­ on their age and family status. This ap­ Continued from preceding page groups. That is why the costs of the cri­ grams. The adoption of all these meas­ propriate minimum should be controlled sis should be shouldered more by those terests-will be established in consulta­ ures will also open th~ road toward res­ and modified in light of changes in the tion with the union, with higher incomes than by those with toration of a stable market. availability of goods on the ·market, • the government will commit itself ·lower ones. This should be taken into ac­ The union is aware that the market their prices, and consumption patterns. to consistently carry out a reform pro­ count in the system of wage and tax in­ must be stabilized step by step, but it The areas of poverty in our society gram that will guarantee for the future creases. must be done as quickly as possible. We cannot be allowed to expand. We should a fairly rapid and balanced pace of eco­ There is no one-regardless of the are also aware that this cannot be insist that minimum welfare be guaran­ nomic development (we will present the government position he may hold-who achieved only through stepped-up prod­ teed by the government to everyone in general principles of this reform in the may be exempted from the application uction and increased deliveries to the Poland, regardless of whether they work next section), of this principle. Its implementation market. Higher prices are inevitable. or are unable to work. It is also neces­ • and the economic policy of the gov­ should be under the supervision of the We take that into account. But price in­ sary that every living person under this union and of other social organizations. ernment will in fact-and not just in creases can lead to a~ decline in real minimum be assured state financial and words-respect the principle that the That requires a detailed discussion in wages. material assistance. The union, for its average level of real income of the popu­ view of the specific needs, aspirations, This situation presents our union part, will supervise the amount paid to lation will be maintained and that and traditions in each individual occu­ with problems in taking a position. Full ensure this minimum level and the priority will be given to those groups pational area. Above all, this means compensation for higher costs ofliving criteria by which that amount is deter­ that are in the weakest economic posi­ that in the process of applying the cor­ resulting from price increases should mined, as well as the implementation by tion. rect principle, certain highly qualified apply to those with the lowest incomes, the state of a program to protect the and self-sacrificing groups of profession­ and should not, in general, be given to B. The principle of the free market minimum welfare of all citizens. al workers must not be deprived of their those with the highest incomes. How­ Seven months after the signing of the We are aware that even such a modest sense of self-worth and the incentive to ever, on the question of average in­ strike accords, the main complaint of program would add to the supply of mo­ increase their productive efforts. comes, which are the majority, it is nec­ working people is the disastrous and ney in the hands of the population with­ The costs of the program to restore essary to consider two alternatives: constantly worsening state of the out a corresponding increase in the equilibrium should, in the first place, either to compensate them for part of market. Empty store shelves and com­ supply of goods [i.e., be inflationary]. fall on the shoulders of the most well-off the higher cost ofliving and in that way mercial warehouses place a question But in our opinion these measures must groups, especi,ally those who benefit improve the stability of the market, or mark over our wage gains. Lengthening be undertaken, since that is the only from privileges flowing from the exer­ compensate them in full, thus aggravat­ shopping lines and the emergence of the way the material situation of the worst­ cise of authority. The union should press ing the market situation and delaying black market disrupt family life. off part of the population can be im­ this policy calmly but with determina­ an end to the crisis. Both solutions In this situation, increasing the sup­ proved. tion, for in the 1970s there began a should be widely discussed in the union. ply of commonly used items is indispen­ In considering this problem we need sharp rise in social inequality, and the It is certainly not proper to provide sable and necessary. But a rapid im­ to remember that-although a substan­ privileges of those in authority swelled compensation for higher prices on lux­ provement in the supply of all rationed tial amount of money would be involved to even greater dimensions. And yet this ury items, as well as tobacco and alco­ items is not yet possible. In this situa­ in raising the standard ofliving of those very group is directly responsible for the tion, two proposals for immediate solu­ who are now below the minimum, en­ hol. current state of our country. The main­ The problem of determining compen­ tions should be considered and dis­ larging family allowances, extending tenance of such privileges for state offi­ sation for higher prices must be carried cussed. The first raises the possibility of maternity leave, reevaluating rents and cials is socially dangerous and in the out in a comprehensive . way, in accor­ broadening regulation of the market pensions, etc.-this sum would repre­ present situation extremely immoral. dance with the relevant points in the (through the ration cards). The second is sent only a small part of the money in Because of their privileges, the people strike agreements. This system of com­ categorically opposed to the introduc­ the hands of the population. Thus, to wielding power are divorced from the tion and maintenance of this system. abandon these programs would contrib­ pensation should be worked out in detail realities of the actual day-to-day life of with the union and should be presented The first proposal recognizes the need ute only slightly to the stabilization of the population. They are alienated from for a public discussion, since the degree for a healthy market, and in particular the market. And that would be accomp­ society and are in no position to under­ of social acceptance and effectiveness for that to pay what farmers demand will lished at the expense of those who are in stand its problems. change wholesale and retail prices. It the worst material position. Our union either method of calculating and paying In light of the economic situation and compensation for higher living costs views ration cards, however, as a neces­ would never agree to that kind of eco­ the demands of social justice, we feel it sary evil. In a situation of substantial nomizing. will depend on people having a choice as necessary to present to the authorities to which is the most appropriate. shortages, money cannot be the only A correct practical application of the the following demands: way to regulate the distribution of principle of a minimum level of welfare • the introduction of a universal, E. The universal right to work goods. Without the ration card, it will be requires that the public become actively compulsory, and progressive tax to . The first difficulties on the labor hard to guarantee a minimum supply of involved in this matter. equalize inc~mes, in cases where the to­ market have already made themselves basic goods, especially for those with Related to the problem of the mini­ tal family income exceeds the average felt and as the crisis becomes worse we low incomes. mum is the question ofthe maximum. Of monthly wage, can expect to see the appearance of un- The second proposal is against the ex­ tension of rationing to cover more items and ventures the possibility of a rapid elimination of existing regulation, since Subscribe to Intercontinental Press introduction of ration cards has resulted in hoarding in some households and shortages in others, and this under­ and receive either of these books at half price! mines the role of wages as an induce­ ment to good work. According to this South Africa: White Rule/Black Re­ Fidel Castro Speeches, Edited by Mi­ proposal, a much better way of regulat­ volt, By Ernest Harsch. This is the sto­ chael Taber. These speeches give a ing the market than use of ration cards ry of South Africa's Black majority detailed picture of Cuba's foreign policy is· to employ the mechanism of prices, -from Dutch colonialism to the apart­ and its internationalist world outlook. which in each case should be enacted heid regimfl. 350 pp. List price $6.95, 391 pp. List price $7.98, you pay only with social approval. you pay only $3.50. $3.98. Both proposals should be the subject ...... ,,, ,•! oo••.; • l'oo , I• IM HO of broad discussion within the union. FIDEL­ We demand the complete realization CASTRO in 1981 of all the government's obliga­ SPEECHES tions, stated 'in the strike agreements, in the sphere of social wages. In particu­ Many of the Militanfs articles on world events come from Intercontinental Press. IP carries v.:eekly features on the struggle in lar, we expect very quick action to intro­ Northern Ireland, along with speeches by revolutionary leaders like Fidel Castro and Grenada s Pnme M1mster Maunce Bishop duce the principle of a social minimum ... and much more. During the month of July, new subscribers to IP can get one of the above books at half price. into the process of income formation in the areas of wages, pensions, and rents, Yes! Start my subscription now. Enclosed is $ for: as well as enlargement of family allow­ ances and the extension of maternity D $35 for one year subscription D $17.50 for six months Mail to: leave. We do not, however, want to ad­ D $3.50 for South Africa: White Rule/Black Revolt D $3.98 for Fidel Castro Intercontinental Press vance any new changes in wage levels. Speeches 410 West Street It is especially important that the Name ______New York, NY 10014 costs of reform not fall in any way on the Address------~------~~------shoulders of our least well-off citizens. It City/State/Zip ______is necessary to define the minimum av­ erage requirements of people depending

18 THE MILITANT JULY 31, 1981 Canadian labor party leader says employment in some areas and among some sectors of the population. It should also be kept in mind that during the first period of the introduction of eco­ halt U.S. arms to Salvador junta nomic reform, this problem will be a By Bob Braxton Canadians who were killed in the Se­ arms from another country because the source of particular difficulties and will For two weeks in late May and ear­ cond World War when you consider the United States is supplying the junta, I require that the union commit itself to ly June, Ed Broadbent, leader of fact that the population ofEl Salvador' is say it would be immoral to condemn close cooperation with management at Canada's labor party, the New De­ about half of what it was in Canada at those people for getting arms to protect the workplace and with the central eco­ mocratic Party (NDP), toured Cen­ that time." their lives." . nomic authorities. tral America and the Caribbean as He disputed the U.S. thesis of the war As for the Duarte government's prom­ The problem of unemployment will part of an effort by the Socialist In­ being a product of an "interntional Com­ ise to hold free elections, a "democratic demand a division of labor between the ternational to seek a "political solu­ munist conspiracy." "It's as absurd to solution" championed by the U.S. and enterprises and the central economic tion" to the civil war in El Salvador. say that the civil war in El Salvador was Canadian governments, Broadbent in­ authorities. While the enterprises Broadbent's proposals for interna­ created by some people or indeed by sisted that "it is a total mockery of de­ would have the right to alter their em­ tional mediation of the conflict were some arms that are coming from the out­ mocracy to pretend that you can have ployment levels as they need to, the cen­ rejected out of hand by the Salvado­ side as it would be absurd to say that the elections in a country where 22,000 peo­ tral authorities are responsible for ran junta and by the U.S. State De­ French revolution in 1789 occurred be­ ple have been killed in the last 18 maintaining full employment for the en­ partment. cause certain Frenchmen happened to months [and where] the slaughter is go­ tire workforce through an active policy The following major excerpts from read the revolutionary tracts published ing on daily." of creating new jobs, as well as raising an article in the June 29 issue of the by the Americans in 1776," Broadbent "Can you have an election in that funds to cover the costs of retraining Canadian fortnightly 'Socialist argued. country now, when no candidate left of workers and of providing assistance to Voice', report on the role that Broad­ "A revolution is occurring today in Genghis Khan would dare present him­ those workers released by an enterprise. bent has been playing in building Central America because the situation self as a candidate?" Broadbent asked. Alongside this, it is necessary to initiate the solidarity movement with El Sal­ is unjust, because millions of people are "A genuine democrat wants peace first a program of occupational readjust­ vador since returning to Canada. suffering." and then you have elections. Those who ment, financed by the state but subject The NDP leader disputed the claim are talking about elections are attempt­ to the approval and control of the union. During the week June 15-21, NDP that the Duarte government is a govern­ ing to deceive us." At the same time, an important and Leader Ed Broadbent stepped up his at­ ment of the "center" opposed to the vio­ Outspoken opposition to U.S. arms to very difficult matter is the provision of tack on U.S. arms to the Salvadoran jun­ lence of the "far left and far right." El Salvador by the New Democratic suitable jobs for graduates from all ta and Canadian complicity. Quoting the findings of the legal advisor Party and the El Salvador solidarity types of schools. This requires analysis Speaking in Montreal June 18, Broad­ to the Archbishop of San Salvador, he movement in Canada is beginning to of how to utilize qualified workers, re­ bent brought home the horror of the civ­ said that "80 to 90 percent of the [terror­ pay off. place those who do not have proper il war in El Salvador: "So far in that war istic] killings have been done by the se­ On June 16, Broadbent introduced a training, transfer experienced workers in Salvador there have been in numbers curity forces which are under the con­ motion in the House of Commons calling in a prudent manner, ensure greater killed [in the last 18 months] the equi­ trol . . . of the government of Duarte." on the Canadian government to change mobilization of workers on a national valent . . . of the number of C,anadians Broadbent defended the Salvadoran its stance and support a negotiated set­ level, and so on. A particular difficulty who were killed throughout World War people arming · themselves in self-de­ tlement in El Salvador. Despite the ar­ in the current year and in years to come Two. Twenty-two thousand deaths in El fense: "When a people is repressed . . . rogant rejection of these proposals by will be the situation facing young people Salvador compare ... with the 45,000 if that people has no recourse but to get Canada's External Affairs Minister graduating from vocational and techni­ Mark MacGuigan, Broadbent's stand · cal institutions. won wide support throughout the coun­ Implementing the above proposals try. can be a source of serious strains -and In an editorial entitled "Glory, honor, even social injustice, requiring advance praises to NDP Leader El Broadbent," thought and discussion by particular the June 19 Montreal daily La Presse professional circles, depending on the editorialized, "One would have to go a probable severity of the employment dif­ long way back in Canada-U.S. relations ficulties in each particular sphere. The to find comparable audacity and cour­ union sh9uld likewise take under con­ age among Canadian parliamentar­ sideration the desirability, and perhaps ians." The same day; CTV-Montreal re­ also the necessity, of organizing under ported that a number of Liberal back­ its own authority an extensive, long­ benchers in the House now oppose the term program for occupational adjust­ Canadian government's position. ment. At the Montreal meeting June 18, the F. Improving labor conditions NDP leader spoke on a common plat­ Economic reform leading to the estab­ form with former Parti Quebecois immi­ lishment of autonomous enterprises gration minister Jacques Couture. This freed from the system of commands and is an important step for the solidarity directives must be accompanied by steps movement, since the NDP and the PQ to achieve basic improvements in the are the two major Canadian political working conditions of the labor force. parties which oppose the Canadian-U.S. Currently, a substantial number of government position and support the workers labor under conditions that are Salvadoran Revolutionary Democratic strenuous or dangerous. to their health. Front. The enterprises should be obligated to Echoing Broadben.t's stand, Couture set aside a percentage of their amortiza­ called for "a vast interparty movement tion and development funds for the im­ Socialist Voice to rally deputies and militants of every provement of ·working conditions. This NDP leader Ed Broadbent protesting U.S. intervention in El Salvador at February party and mobilize provincial govern­ percentage should be determined by the demonstration In Canada. ments" to the cause of El Salvador. workers self-management bodies, and the minimum level should be defined by law. In regard to the numerous cases of health and safety violations in workpla­ ces discovered by health supervisory Mitterrand blasts Washington's policy agencies (toxic agents, dust, noise, high cent contacts with French officials temperature, etc.), it is necessary to de­ Newly elected French President have let it be known here that the mand that Poland ratify the Interna­ Franc;ois Mitterrand has sharply Reagan administration is seriously tional Labor Organization's convention criticized U.S. policy in Central concerned about this kind of French no. 148 of 1977 on the question of pro­ America. approach, especially were it to become tecting workers against polluted air, "The people of the region want to . translated into militant policy. dust, vibration, and crowding and that put an end to the oligarchies that, "These officials have left the im­ there be strict compliance with existing backed by bloody dictatorships, expol­ pression that such policy differences Polish regulations on the protection of it them and crush them under intoler­ on Central America . . . could be as workers according to the terms of this able conditions," Mitterrand said in a damaging to bilateral relations as convention. July 1 interview with the Paris daily Mitterrand's inclusion of four commu­ An important factor in properly or­ Le Monde. nist ministers in the new French gov- ganizing work in the enterprises and in "A tiny part of the population owns ernment." · the entire economy is to shorten labor almost everything," Mitterrand said. Referring to the Le Monde inter­ time. This will provide a strong stimu­ "How is it not possible to understand view with Mitterrand, Randal noted lus to a more. effective organization of this popular revolution?" that "although West Germany's So­ the enterprises and encourage workers Referring to Washington's charges cial Democratic leadership was unea­ to work more efficiently. During negoti­ against Central American revolution­ sy, no major U.S. ally until now has ations on the next stage of shortening aries, Mitterrand said that "it is not voiced such public reservations about labor time, it will be necessary to call on at all a question of Communist sub­ U.S. policy in Central America." the heads of enterprises and economic version. . . . It is a question of the United Press International report­ administrations to draw up concrete people's refusal to submit to misery ed from Paris July 2 that "Mitter­ plans for more organizational efficiency and humiliation." · rand's Socialist Party today proniised and technical undertakings to bring In a July 1 dispatch from Paris, 'total support' to two visiting Salvado­ about a reduction in the hours of the Washington Post correspondent Jona­ ran leftist leaders in their fight work day. than Randal reported that "American against their nation's United States­ officials who have had intensive re- backed Government." (Next week: democratic rights)

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 19 By Margaret Jayko The June 25 Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of regis­ Whe~e tration and the draft was another suc­ NOW's position goes vvrong cessful step by the Reagan administra­ tion down the road toward war. The big-business media, however, Should women fight to be universally said that what was ·on the line was the question of women's equali­ ty and the fate of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). They barely men­ tioned that this decision gave the gov­ included in the draft? ernment a green light to attempt to prosecute those who have not registered and brought us closer to a reinstitution ized discussion or vote by the NOW Is the goal of the women's movement of the draft itself. membership, many of whom oppose the to have women generals lead a bloody As a step toward war, the decision was draft for men and women and think the invasion of Cuba, Nicaragua, Grenada, a blow to women's rights and the rights ERA has nothing to do with women be­ Kampuchea, or Iran to turn back revo­ of all working people. ing drafted. lutions that have meant big advances As many antidraft activists have for women and all working people? pointed out, being drafted is not a Support the draft?· NOW should oppose the draft and "right" to be fought for, but a violation of The basic premise of the brief is that U.S. intervention in El Salvador, just our rights, which should be opposed. "the exclusion of women from registra­ like it opposed the war in Vietnam. Passing the ERA would not mean tion disserves the goal of an effective mil­ An unsigned article appearing in the women would be drafted. itary and powerfully enforces harmful May National NOW Times, NOW's offi­ But reinstitution of the draft would stereotyped beliefs about women and cial newspaper, tries to downplay the make it harder to.defend our living stan­ their role in our society." horrors of war. dards and democratic rights, never The brief then goes on to marshal ar­ The National NOW Times says: "The mind winning new gains like the ERA. guments to prove these assumptions. modern military is not one of foxholes Because if the government is able to These are directly counterposed to the and trenches. The modern military is bring back conscription, it will mean women's movement's traditional posi­ one of computers, nuclear vessels, long­ they have strengthened their hand in tion that the fight for equality is part of range weaponry, and highly technical the battle to force us to sacrifice our in­ the fight for a better life for all the op­ equipment." terests for the "national interests." pressed and exploited. Ladies wouldn't even have to get their By accepting the goverment's line hands dirty. Carter sets the trap that conscription and war are necessary, In that same article, the real dangers How did the questions of the draft and that women's interests and "national in­ facing the men who are forced to regis­ the fight for women's rights get so mixed terests" are identical, and that registra­ ter are pooh-poohed. They say it's a up together to begin with? tion of women is a "right," the brief myth that "all men between the ages of In 1971, several draft-age men filed a points the women's movement in the di­ 18-26 are 'at risk' because they are lawsuit asking that the draft be de­ rection of becoming a prop instead of an asked [sic] to register." clared unconstitutional because it only opponent of the status quo. included men. In fact, it even approvingly quotes But they are at risk. Millions of peo­ Subsequently, as a result of massive Senator Nancy Kassebaum, Republi­ ple-Vietnamese and American--died opposition to the draft and the Vietnam can from Kansas, explaining that regis­ in the Vietnam War. And is it comfort­ War, conscription was abolished ·in tering women will make them more ing to know that the next one might in­ 1973. committed to "our Nation and its princi­ volve "highly technical equipment" like Then, in February 1980 Carter moved ples." nuclear weapons-launched by women? to reinstitute draft registration and pro­ The brief endorses the idea of a draf­ The brief argues that drafting women posed that women be included-in the tee army to serve imperialism's needs: wouid improve our status in society. name of women's equality. "Compulsory universal military service To prove this, they point to the Black The rulers' intent was to win support is central to the concept of citizenship in struggle. for the draft and the military-whose a democracy.' ~. The National NOW Times asserts: image had been badly tarnished in the And: "Indeed, the responsibihty to "As the blacks found in the pursuit of eyes of the American people-by giving pro-draft decision while many oppo­ bear arms in a time of national peril is their civil rights, full equality in the ser­ them a "progressive" veneer. nents of the draft were looking the other 'the ultimate duty of American citizen­ vice is a mandate for full equality in so­ The hope was that millions of people, way, discussing something else. ship.'" ciety." especially women, could be persuaded But concepts like "citizenship," "a de­ But Blacks were forced to fight and that the imperialist military was simply For years it was right-wing opponents mocracy," "responsibility," and "nation­ die in Vietnam out of proportion to their of the ERA who peddled the line that the one more liberal employer who coura­ al peril" cannot be abstracted from the numbers in the population. And it cer­ geously subscribed to the "equal opportu­ ERA means women would be drafted. class character of the government that's tainly did not lead to greater equality in nity" code; that the military was an They did this to undercut support for the defining them. society. The political and economic si­ amendment. Now, many leaders of the avenue through which women, Blacks, All wars the U.S. rulers force us into tuation of Blacks in this country is rot­ women's movement have adopted this and Latinos could overcome the racism are carried out in the name of national ten and getting worse. The large and sexism of this society. same line. defense. numbers of Blacks who are dragooned An editorial in the New York Times Many have largely accepted the into the "volunteer" army out of eco­ explained it outright, "No long-term framework that women must "prove" 'National defense'? nomic compulsion reflects the worsen­ military draft is likely to achieve public they deserve equality by being ready to The main question is, whose interests ing of the situation for Black America. support unless it is perceived fair, in­ fight and die. This is in contradiction to are served by the "national defense" of volving equal sacrifice" (emphasis their stated opposition to the draft and the U.S. today? Women cops added). militarism. Should we be fighting for the "right" Among the most reactionary argu­ Thus equal rights was perverted into to butcher our brothers and sisters in El ments the brief uses to "prove" women the concept of equality of sacrifice. Men Salvador? are able to fight, and therefore "de- and women should have the "equal NOW leadership right" to fight and die for big oil. Most outspoken have been leaders of The rulers also wanted to weaken the the largest women's rights organization fight for the ERA by linking it with the in the country-the National Organiza­ unpopular idea that passage will mean tion for Women ~ this time they'll take our daughters as Eleanor Smeal, NOW's president, was well as our sons. widely quoted in the media when the de­ They also hoped to divide and confuse cision came down. opponents of the draft and supporters of She explained, "Our organization and equal rights by focusing discussion on many women's organizations are actu­ who should be drafted instead of wheth­ ally peace advocates. We don't want to er there should be a draft at all. be soldiers. What we really wanted was that the system be fair." No-win situation That's like saying you're against the In this context, the 1971 lawsuit was death penalty but if there is one you revived and, whatever the intentions of want executions to be "fairly" distribut­ the plaintiffs, it played into this ruling­ ed between men and women. class strategy. There's no way that a military whose Clearly, the lawsuit was a no-win si­ job is to protect the privileges of the tuation for women, opponents of the wealthy few who run this country can be draft, and aU working people. No matter "fair" about it. what the outcome, one thing was cer­ And massively expanding the draft to tain: the government would win and we include women would not be "fair"-it would lose. would be a big setback for supporters of If the court ruled the draft unconstitu­ women's rights and opponents of war. tional unless it included women, many NOW's national board went so far as would have mistakenly hailed it as a big to file a friend-of-the-court brief in this victory for women's rights. The rulers case, as did several other women's or­ would have succeeded in legitimizing a ganizations. massive expansion of registration The NOW brief argues that "this case and the draft under the guise of striking poses an issue of critical importance to a blow for women's equality. the achievement of full equality be­ Edward W. Suba, . The way the Supreme Court did rule, tween the sexes." Cops attack' United Auto Workers picket line at Bailey Controls in Wickliffe, Ohio. they were able to hand down a strong The brief was filed without any organ- Would it be an advance for women's rights if two of these cops were female?

20 THEMIUTANT JULY 31,1981 serve" to be drafted, is the following footnote: "Studies testing women police ~plies to S.F. Examiner officers' ability to command respect, use authority, respond with force when nec­ essary and face physical and often armed resistance are also persuasive ev­ NOW answers red-baiting smear idence that women possess the skills re­ quired for combat." By Anne Menasche Should we be proud of the fact that SAN FRANCISCO-The board of the women cops can harass and murder San Francisco chapter of the National Black and Latino youth and attack Organization for Women voted ·over­ union picket lines equally "well"? whelmingly July 18 to send a letter to If that's equality, ho~ will we ever the San Francisco Examiner. The letter win union sisters and brothers, op­ protests an article published July 16 un­ pressed minorities, and youth to our der the headline, "NOW chapter torn by side? dispute over socialists." Why fight for equality at all? The article alleged that San Francisco Reagan and his ilk know damn well NOW was "in danger of breaking up be­ that women can fight. cause of some members' fears that the There were plenty who fought against traditionally moderate feminist group is Washington in Vietnam and they're do­ being taken over by the Socialist ing it today in El Salvador. Workers Party." The board challenged the Examiner's The brief also argues that a major attempt to divide and weaken the wom­ cause of the oppression of women is the en's movement. It affirmed that NOW is small number of women who are in the a diverse, nonexclusionary group that military. Thus, a draft would be good to welcomes all fighters for women's change that. rights. But the reason for our second-class It refuted the claim that San Francis­ status is that big business profits in a co NOW is on the brink of collapse, big way from our oppression and super­ pointing out that the chapter is rapidly exploitation. winning new members. The same big business that will profit San Francisco NOW is one of the larg­ handsomely from any war waged by est and most active chapters. Washington. At its July membership meeting the 'Trim' the war budget chapter voted to submit three resolu­ tions to the upcoming national NOW The front page of the April National convention in October-----<:alling for a na­ NOW Times has an article entitled tional demonstration for the Equal "Military Budget Increase Doubled." MilitanuSonja Franeta Rights Amendment in the spring of San Francisco rally for women's rights. Far from collapsing, as 'San Francisco Exa­ They ask, "Are we forced to make a 1982, a national conference on abortion miner' would portray it, local NOW chapter is rapidly winning new members. choice between human needs and the rights, and shifting NOW's position to military?" one of unequivocal opposition to the Their answer is no. draft and draft registration-'-whether cisco NOW. The committee is organiz­ Red-baiting is an attack not only on The article says, "It is axiomatic that for men only or for both men and wom­ any budget as large as the Pentagon's is ing an October 3 march and rally for socialists, but on the women's move­ en. abortion rights. ment as a whole. It aims at intimidating bound to have waste." These resolutions had the support of Then it approvingly quotes "military The Examiner quoted Festa as saying, · all NOW members from freely consider­ the vast majority.of NOW members ·at "I quit the committee because I believe ing all positions on the best way to de­ experts" on how to trim some of the fat the meeting, including SWP members. while still maintaining a multi-billion­ the SWP is attempting to use NOW as a fend women's rights, and from express­ In recent months differences have political arm of its own organizations. ing their own views. And red-baiting dollar arsenal. emerged in the chapter over how to de­ And it concludes with this statement . . . Their dedication is not to feminism can have the effect of scaring away those fend women's rights against growing at­ from a retired admiral: "It is difficult to butthe Socialist Workers Party." who would otherwise join NOW or par­ tacks. Kramer was quoted as charging that ticipate in NOW activities. measure how much military spending is Some members oppose a strategy that enough. But it is clear that spending is SWP members rarely identify them­ Attempts to divide the women's move­ utilizes mass action as part of attempt­ excessive if the nation's political, social, selves as such "and build alliances by ment through red-baiting play into thf> ing to involve broader layers of women or economic fabric is weakened in the making friends with unsuspecting hands of the enemies of women's rights. (especially working women), the Black members." The likes of Phyllis Schlafly and Ronald process." and Latino communities, and the unions Any spending on imperialist wars is The lies in the Examiner article are Reagan are pleased by the appearance in the struggle. excessive, and there is no other kind the language of red-baiting. Women in of articles like the one in the Examiner. Some in NOW criticize this strategy, the SWP who are members of NOW are In the spring of 1972, while women fought by the U.S. military. urging more emphasis on supporting And it's always financed by cutting committed feminists. They are among were marching in the streets for abor­ Democratic Party candidates or use of the most dedicated and hard-working tion rights, the FBI circulated a pamph­ back on human needs. civil disobedience tactics as alternative With the deepening economic crisis of fighters for women's rights. Unlike the let entitled "Exploitation of the Wom­ approaches in responding to attacks on Democrats and Republicans in Congress en's Movement by the Socialist Workers their system, the two are more and more women's rights. mutually exclusive. and state legislatures, who have sys­ Party." Using charges similar to those The Examiner article quoted two tematically sabotaged ERA ratification, contained in the Examiner article, the NOW members, Linda Festa and Rusty the SWP has been actively fighting for pamphlet aimed to divert the women's New perspective needed Kramer, as accusing SWP members of The rulers of this country are trying the ERA. movement from fighting for abortion "disruptive tactics," "packing meet­ Far from hiding our views, socialists rights into a divisive witch-hunt against to reverse the widespread antiwar senti­ ings," and having a "hidden agenda" to ment among the American people that ii). NOW openly seek to convince others socialists. "manipulate NOW." of the need for a socialist society, while We cannot afford to be divided in this makes it harder for them to launch new Festa is one of those who has been in­ wars. joining with women of many views to way. Especially when we have less than creasingly critical of using mass action fight for equal rights now. a year to fight for ratification of the NOW's position of support to the draft tactics. She recently resigned as chair of and military helps them sell another Many NOW members expressed ERA. When we are faced with the threat the abortion rights committee, one of anger at these charges, which portray of passage of measures that outlaw Vietnam. the most active committees in San Fran- It makes it easier for the Democrats them as dupes lacking sufficient intelli­ abortion. And when thousands of wom­ gence to make their own decisions. Red­ en are being attracted to NOW because and Republicans to implement their bi­ Anne Menasche is a member of the partisan foreign and domestic policies of baiting is an attempt to raise the specter they want to fight back. San Francisco National Organization war, austerity, and attacks on demo­ of." communist takeover" in order to obs­ The stand taken by the San Francisco cratic rights. for Women and of the Socialist Workers cure real political differences and avoid NOW board helps strengthen and unify It makes it easier for them to attack Party. a real·debate. NOW for t,he battles ahead. women's rights. State legislators use the linking ofthe ERA with the draft as an excuse to de­ feat ratification efforts. The need for strong "national securi­ Racists assault Black pickets ty" is a primary argument used for the budget cuts and attacks on democratic By Nelson Gonzalez advance on the picketers with two-by­ Mayor Koch's reaction to the demon­ rights. NEW YORK-On July 17, a little fours. When the picketers attempted to stration was to call it "a case of extor­ By giving credence to the need for a over a month after 100 racist thugs at­ defend themselves, mounted police at­ tion"-repeating the slanders that have strong military, the NOW leadership is tacked a peaceful picket of minority con­ tacked them. An estimated eighteen bee!l leveled against the BES by Bronx forced to begin tailoring the demands of struction workers, 800 Black and Latino protesters were injured as club-waving District Attorney Mario Merola. Both the women's movement to fit the needs unemployed construction workers were cops repeatedly charged. Koch and Merola ignore the fact that of those in power. back on the street chanting, "Jobs, Jobs, "Seventy-five percent of the people five trials in the last two years have · And worst of all, it isolates the worn- · we want jobs." here are union members," Ray Moses, completely exonerated the BES of such assistant director of Staten Island BES, charges. en's movement from our only true and The protest, which took place in front said of the picketers. But the federal and effective allies-working · people, of the Trump Towers Construction Pro­ While Koch claims that the city, "will state laws that are supposed to give the Blacks, Latinos, farmers, students, and ject, was organized by Black Economic not tolerate people taking the law into Black worker an equal shot at these jobs other victims of the government and Survival (BES) and a number of other their own hands," he is giving the cops are being ignored." bosses. groups. and racist goons a free hand to violently The NOW leadership is on a danger­ Natalie Davis, vice chairwoman of help the construction bosses keep the in­ ous course and a discussion is urgently The picket line proceeded peacefully BES, told the New York Times, "We are dustry white. needed among all NOW members. until racist goons inside the construc­ asking that the construction company Reversing NOW's current position on tion site began hurling bottles, food, and . hire more minorities to bring the level Moses Harris, executive director of the draft is a vital part of effectively or­ other debris on the demonstrators be­ to 33 percent and to put an equal oppor­ BES, has vowed to continue protesting ganizing a fightback against the bipar­ low. tunity officer at each project to assist in at the site, until 25 percent of the jobs tisan attacks on women. Witnesses report seeing several goons the hiring." there go to Black and Latino workers.

JULY 31, 1981 THE MILITANT 21 Thousands celebrate July 19 Solidarity with Central American revolutions By Nelson Gonzalez representative from Grenada; and Rev. Thousands of people all across the Herbert Daughtry from the National country marched and demonstrated Ju­ Black United Front. ly 19 in solidarity with the second anni­ The highlight of the day was a speech versary of the Nicaraguan revolution by Angela Rosa Acevedo, a representa­ and in opposition to U.S. intervention in tive of the Council of State of Nicaragua El Salvador and Guatemala. and a member of the Nicaraguan Wom­ The nationally coordinated day of sol­ en's Association. She was greeted by a idarity was jointly sponsored by the Na­ standing ovation. tional Network in Solidarity with the When she called for a united front People of Nicaragua, the National Net­ against intervention the crowd re­ work in Solidarity with the People of sponded with another standing ovation. Guatemala, and the Committee in Soli­ darity with the People of El Salvador. Los Angeles These demonstrations occurred at the In Los Angeles, 2,000 people partici­ time of an important new propaganda pated in the July 19 celebration. move by the Reagan administration. Indianapolis activists organized a public meeting of more than 300 people The administration is attempting to Militant/Lou Howort July 19 actions deepen antiwar sentiment with a number of trade union represen­ defuse popular oppositioh to interven­ tatives participating. A representative tion in El Salvador and to demobilize of the Textile Workers Union spoke the solidarity movement by projecting a Northern Aid and the Pierce and Conno­ from the floor and urged solidarity acti­ fake "political solution" in El Salvador. the Lower East Side Puerto Rican com­ vists to join with the labor movement in Reagan's "settlement" would be tied to ly Fife and Drum band. munity. building the September 19 protest elections staged by the present dictator­ Speakers at the Dolores Park rally in­ At the solidarity fair more than 3,000 march in Washington, D.C., against ship. This farce has been denounced cluded representatives of the struggles activists, many from the surrounding in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guate­ Reagan's budget cuts, called by the worldwide. community, were able to collect infor­ AFL-CIO. The July 19 solidarity actions reflect mala. Others on hand were Leo Robinson mation from a wide variety of informa­ Milwaukee activists from the Coali­ the fact that a lot of people in the United from the Coalition of Black Trade tion booths set up by antinuclear, wom­ tion to Aid Nicaraguan Democracy or­ States have not been fooled either. Unionists, Marie Linden of the Grey en's, Black, and Latino organizations. Panthers, and a representative of the Political groups were also widely repre­ ganized a meeting of more than 350 peo­ In San Francisco, 5,000 people re­ American Indian Movement. sented. ple. It was reported that during last sponded in a march through the mainly A spirited rally and cultural perfor­ month alone, $450,000 was raised in Latino Mission District on their way to New York mance included the well-known singing medical assistance for Nicaragua. Dolores Park for a rally. Sponsored by In New York, a coalition of more than group "Nicarahuac," as well as poets In cities such as Atlanta and Boston more than 100 Bay Area organizations,· 100 organizations led by Casa Nicara­ from El Teatro Ambulante. solidarity activists organized picnics the march included busloads of activists gua, Committee in Solidarity with the Speakers included Arnaldo Ramos and cultural events attended by from San Jose and other parts of the People of El Salvador, and the Commit­ from the Salvadoran Revolutionary De­ hundreds of activists. state. tee in Solidarity with the People of Gua­ mocratic Front; Rafael Cancel Miranda, Many other meetings were organized One of the largest and best-organized temala organized a march of 1,500 and one of the five Puerto Rican National­ during this very successful day of soli­ of the contingents was that of the Irish an ali-day solidarity fair and rally at ists; a speaker from the Guatemalan De­ darity with Nicaragua and the Central solidarity organizations, including Irish Tompkins Square Park in the heart of mocratic Front Against Repression; a . American revolution. ... Salvador junta in disarray Continued from back page piously declared that "all parties that out all opposition. Armed forces chief real attempt at a political solution" (El a pre-emptive strike against the civilian renounce violence should be encouraged Col. Jaime Abdul Gutierrez spelled this Salvador Alert, July 1). opposition. Su.ch a sweep, it is feared, to participate in the design of new politi­ out during a visit to Uruguay in late Zamora compared the move to the would take the repression to unprece­ cal institutions and the process of choos­ May. election call "made by lex-dictator] Gen­ dented levels." ing representatives for them." The elections, he said, will be "the re­ eral Romero back in 1979 when In a major policy speech July 16, U.S. Under the provisional election law re­ sult of military victory against subver­ ORDEN, the paramilitary organiza­ Assistant Secretary of State for Inter­ cently adopted by the junta, political sion." The Revolutionary Democratic tions, and the security forces were at­ American Affairs Thomas Enders reit­ parties must present the names and ad­ Front could hot participate, Gutierrez tacking and killing all the opposition erated Washington's backing for the dresses of 3,000 of their members in said, because "it is not a political party forces. The same thing is occurring junta's election ploy. order to qualify for ballot status. Under but only the democratic facade of the now. . . . In addition, there exists a "The Government of El Salvador has the circumstances, this would mean pro­ guerrillas." state of siege in the country. The press announced that it will hold presidential viding the military with a ready-made (During the same trip, Gutierrez and the media are completely controlled elections in 1983," Enders said. "Prior to hit list for its death squads. stopped off to pin El Salvador's highest by the government. There is no possibil­ that a constituent assembly to be elect­ military medal on Chilean dictator Gen. ity of our people expressing their views. ed in 1982 will develop a new constitu­ Democratic veneer Augusto Pinochet.J It is in this climate that Duarte is call­ tion." The call for elections is intended to FDR leader Ruben Zamora has ing for elections. This is clearly a Enders, who directed the secret U.S. put a democratic veneer on the junta termed the junta's call for elections "no­ farce." bombing of Cambodia in the late 1960s, while it proceeds with its effort to wipe thing more than an excuse to avoid a From Intercontinental Press What•s Going On

'I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER.' A film on the NEW YORK------, INDIANA fight of the Nez Perce Indian Nation to retain their land GARY in 1877. Sun., Aug. 9, 7:30p.m. 711 N.W. Everett. Do­ SUPPORT THE SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY nation: $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information MARCH FOR IRISH HUNGER STRIKERS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FBI. Benefit barbeque. call (503) 222-7225. Sat., July 25, 3 p.m. 3780 Rhode Island. Donation: $5. Ausp: Political Rights Defense Fund. For more infor­ Sat., August 8, 11:30 a.m. ty Center for Justice and Peace; Internation­ mation call (219) 884-9509. Tenth Anniversary of Internment (det­ al Socialists; Mobilization for Survival Reli­ TEXAS ention without charge or trial in Northern gious Task Force; New York Citizens Party; HOUSTON Ireland) Paul O 'Dwyer; Philip Wachtel, Democratic A TRIBUTE TO THE CUBAN REVOLUTION. An Assemble: 8th Ave., between 32nd district leader 63rd A.D., New York; Peoples MINNESOTA evening of Cuban food , slides. speakers, and music. Anti-War Mobilization; Socialist Workers Program : "Cuba Yesterday and Today"; "Cuba's lnspi· and 34th St. TWIN CITIES Party; Washington Square Methodist ration to Nicaragua, Grenada, and El Salvador"; and March: on 6th Ave. to 59th and 5th Ave. COME CELEBRATE 22 YEARS OF THE CUBAN "The Role of the U.S Government and How We Can Church; Workers World Party; New York Mo­ REVOLUTION. Speakers: Jose G. Perez, editor, Defend the Cuban Revolution ." Slides from Cuba. Rally: Grand Army Plaza bilization for Survival; Fellowship of Reconci­ Perspectiua Mundial; Tiffany Patterson, National Gr\)nada, and Nicaragua. Sat. , July 25 , dinner 6:30 liation; Committee in Solidarity with the Peo­ Black Independent Political Party; Julio Ouan . Gua­ p.m .. $3 a plate. Program : 7:30p.m. Donation : $1 .50 . Initial co-sponsors: American Irish Unity temalan professor. Fulbright Scholar. Sat.. July 25 , 6 6333 Gulf Freeway, Griggs Exit. Ausp: Militant Forum. ple of El Salvador; Rev. F.D. Kirkpatrick; Committee; American Committee for Human p.m. wine and cheese reception ; 7 p.m. program ; 8:45 For more information call (713) 924-4056. Black Theology Project; Rev. Daniel Berri­ p.m. disco. 508 N. Snelling , St. Paul. Donation: $3. Rights in North of Ireland, Rockaway Park; gan; Clergy and Laity Concerned; Commu­ Ausp: Young Socialist Alliance. For more information Ancient Order of Hibernious No. 12, Rocka­ nist Workers Party. call (612) 644-6325. WISCONSIN way; ·Irish National Caucus of New York; Mid-Manhattan Unit, Irish Northern Aid; New Part of a coordinated day of action in cit­ MILWAUKEE York H-Biock/Armagh Committee; All African ies throughout the country. All groups WORKSHOP: 'REVOLUTION IN THE ARTS.' Cu­ Peoples Revolutionary Party; Catholic ban Mime Troupe, Olga Flores y Ramon. Mon ., July and individuals welcome. OREGON Peace Fellowship; Ramsey Clark; Coalition 27 , 7 p.m. Militant Bookstore, 4707 W. Lisbon Ave . Do· PORTLAND nation: $2. Ausp: Friends Mime Theater, Socialist tor People's Alternatives; Christine Car­ 'THE NEW SCHOOL.' A Tricontinental film on Cu­ Workers Party, New American Movement, and Coali­ mody-Arey, coordinator, New Jersey Nation­ For more information: (212) 788-1990 ban literacy crusade. Sun .. July 26 , 7:30 p.m. 711 tion to Aid Nicaraguan Democracy/Committee in Soli ­ al Organization for Women; Inter-Communi- or 436-4770. N.w:-Everett. Donation: $1. Ausp : Militant Forum . For darity with the People of El Salvador. For more infor- more information call (503) 222-7225. mation call (414) 445-2076. ·

22 THE MILITANT JULY 31, 1981 Letters

Support f.®{¥ TO Vl~RUPl YlUR RET1Rf:11fm Pennsylvania pri~oners! Maam, wr WERE BROKE MAW mo' ' Will NEED YQIR HUsruMD JO WlJiK The following statement clean sheet, towel and pillow­ was received at the 'Mil­ case. Whenever these men AfEW Naffi YeARv !!, itant' on July 17. It has leave their cells they must been abbreviated for rea­ have their hands on their sons of space. heads and are accompanied by four club wielding guards. The hunger strike at West­ The overwhelming majority ern Penitentiary resumed on of the men who are sent to this Friday, July 10, 1981, as unit . must stay here for six members of the Pennsylva­ months. However, men have nia Prisoners Union and oth­ been known to stay here for er concerned prisoners at the five years or more. State Correctional Institu­ [On June 15 the men went tion at Western protest the on a hunger strike, which they abuses in the maximum se­ ended after promises of re­ curity section of the prison. forms were made by the super­ The 30 or more men housed intendent of the prison.] in this isolated section of the prison are kept locked in the The Superintendent's con­ 6 x 8 foot cells 23¥2 hours dai­ cessions on July 9 were a · ly. They are forced to sleep on meager step in improving the a concrete block topped with a unbearable conditions in the thin mattress. The cells con­ hole: prisoners now have 3, in­ stead of 2, showers weekly, tain no window or other form contributions to the social bourgeois press, though it has and they no longer must move Wants to subscribe of ventilation other than a attracted much comment from everywhere outside of their I've been reading the commentary we're discussing barred door and window. both here and in Britain. scientists in the field. There is no light fixture or cells with their hands on their Militant for several weeks now heads. Yet all other conditions in the library and I'd like to They address many issues of 0.0. other furniture of any kind in New York, New York and open-ended sentences in subscribe. I'd also like more importance. "Respectable these cells. The only light and Street" is about snotty, middle­ fresh air comes from a naked the hole endure. So as of July information on how I can 10 the hunger strike is on! become a member of the SWP class values; while "Generals bulb outside of each cell and 3 and Majors" and "Living x 3 foot window panels in the Fight cruel and unusual or the YSA and the Through Another Cuba" The 'Militant' special pri­ building walls which are 15 punishment . . . express your requirements for membership. address themselves to the soner fund makes it possi­ feet from the front of the few protest to: Superintendent Thank you for your help. I capitalist powers' war drives. ble to send reduced-rate cells they face. The men are George Petsock, Western Pe- . have found your paper Check these guys subscriptions to prisoners forced to take their meals and nitentiary, Box 9901, Pitts­ encouraging and inspiring. out-they've definitely got who can't pay for them. To defecate in these same cubi­ burgh, Pennsylvania 15233. R .S. something to say. help out, send your contri­ cles. Write the men care of: Rus­ Springfield, Ohio Patricia Hefner, bution to: Militant Prisoner The men are allowed out of sell Shoats F -3855 or Kenny Birmingham, Alabama Subscription Fund, 14 these cells for only 25 minutes Boyd M-2891, Box 9901, Pitts­ Charles Lane, New York; daily. The men receive a ten burgh, Pennsylvania 15233. Clash & XTC New York 10014. minute shower on Mondays For more information con­ and Fridays. Once a week the tact: Prisoners Union Support Your recent article on the men receive a clean canvas Committee, Box 5185, Pitts­ British rock band Clash and pinstriped jumpsuit and one burgh, Pennsylvania 15206. their sociopolitical commentary Radiation hazards in their songs was interesting. An article in the May 22 The letters column is an open The llrts are a good way of issue of Science suggests that forum for all viewpoints on expressing ideas on political radiation hazards have been subjects of general interest to situations. greatly understated. It says our readers. Please keep your Our party is your party There's another really good that the government first letters brief. Where necessary British rock act with ideas on obscured the data and then they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your 0 I want to jOin the SWP. current political situations that destroyed it (an unfortunate THE MILITANT is the voice of the 0 Send me copoes of The Chang1ng Face I think many Militant readers accident!), that opponents of initials be used rather than Socialist Workers Party. of US. Politics: Bwldmg a Party of Socialist your full name. IF YOU AGREE with what you've Workers at $7.95 each. Enclosed is$ _____ . would find interesting. They atomic power are right when read, you should join us in 0 Please send me more information are XTC-a name, they say that any radiation is fighting for a world without unfortunately, quite unfamiliar dangerous (the no-threshold AddressName ------______war, racism, or exploitation-a Coty ______to most people in the U.S. argument), and that changes in socialist world. State ------Zip ______XTC's sound is interesting. exposure limits could further Telephone ______JOIN THE SWP. Fill out this coupon Unoon School Org ______To me, they sound like a cross cripple the nuclear power and mail it today. SWP. t4 Charles Lane. New York. N.Y. 10014. between early Beatles and industry. This continuing early Kinks. Their latest, research, paid for by the "Black Sea," contains many Defense Nuclear Agency, has JOIN THE SWP interesting, relevant not been reported in the

If You Like This Paper, Look Us Up Where to f1nd the Soc1al1st Workers Party Young Soc1al1st All1ance and SOCialiSt books and pamphle!s

ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 205 16th St. S. 6149. tral Ave. NE. Zip: 67106. Tel: (505)) 642-0954. RHODE ISLAND: Providence: YSA, 52 Earle St., Cen­ Zif>: 35233. Tel: (205) 323-3079. IOWA: Cedar Falls: YSA, Box 352. Zip: 50613. NEW YORK: capital District (Schenectady): SWP, tral Falls. Zip: 02663 .. ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1243 E. McDowell. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 131 W. Main YSA, 323 State St. Zip: 12305. Tel: (516) 374-1494. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 Berkman Zip: 65006. Tel: (!>02) 2~5-0450. #102. Zip: 40202. Tel: (502) 567·6416. New York, Brooklyn: SWP, YSA, 335 Atlantic Ave. Dr. Zip: 76752. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 5442 E. Grand. CALIFORNIA: Oakland: SWP, YSA, 2664 Telegraph LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 3207Dublin St. Zip: 11201 . Tel: (212) 652-7922. New York, Manhat­ Zip: 75223. Tel: (214) 626-4711. Houston: SWP, Ave. Zip: 94609. Tel: (415) 763-3792. Los Angeles: Zip: 7011 B. Tel: (504) 466-6046. tan: SWP, YSA, 106 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. Zip: 10003. YSA, 6333 Gulf Freeway, Room 222. Zip: n023. Tel : SWP, YSA, 2211 N. Broadway. Zip: 90031 . Tel: (213) MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 Green­ Tel: (212) 260-6400. New York: City-wide SWP, YSA, (713) 924-4056. San Antonio: SWP, YSA, 337 W. 225-3126. San Diego: SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: mount Ave. Zip: 21216. Tel: (301) 235-0013. 106 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. Zip: 10003. Tel : (212) 533- Josephine. Zip: 76212. Tel: (512) 736-9216. 92101. Tel: (714) 234·4630.San Francisco: SWP, MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, P.O. Box 637. Zip: 2902. UTAH: Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 6n S. 7th East, 2nd YSA, 3264 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 624-1992. 01004. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, YSA, 216 E. 6th Floor. Zip: 64102. Tel: (601) 355-1124. San Jose: SWP, YSA, 44 Race St. Zip: 95126. Tel: Ave. , 4th Floor. Zip: 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. St., Winston-Salem. Zip: 27101. Tel: (919) 723·3419. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport News): SWP, (406) 996-4007. MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA. Tel: (313) 663-7068. De­ OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 2531 Gilbert Ave. Zip: YSA, 111 26th St. Zip: 23607. Tel: (604) 380-0133. COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 126 W. 121h Ave. troit: SWP, YSA, 6404 Woodward Ave. Zip: 46202. 45206. Tel: (513) 751·2636. Cleveland: SWP, YSA, WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 MI. Pleasant St. Zip: 60204. Tel: (303) 534·6954. Tel: (313) 675-5322. 2230 Superior. Zip: 44114. Tel: (216) 579-9369. Tole­ NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7699. Baltimore­ FLORIDA: Gainesville: YSA, c/o Don Mackie, 1206 MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, YSA, 1012 do: SWP, YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel: (419) Washington District: 3106 MI. Pleasant St., NW., S.W. First Ave. Zip: 32601. Miami: SWP,. YSA, 1237 2nd Ave. South, Virginia, Minn. Send mail to P.O. Box 536-0363. Washington, D.C. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7021. NW 119th St., North Miami. Zip: 33167. Tel: (305) 1267. Zip: 55792. Tel: (216) 749·6327. Twin Cities: OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 711 NW Everett. Zip: WASHINGTON: Olympia: YSA, Room 3208, The Ever­ 769-3476. SWP, YSA, 506 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. 97209. Tel: (503) 222-7225. · green State College. Zip: 96501 . Tel: (206) 866-7332. GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 509 Peachtree St. NE Tel: (612) 644·6325. PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, Edinboro State Col· Seattle: SWP, YSA, 4666 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: Zip: 30306. Tel: (404) 672·7229. MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, 4715A Troost. lege. Zip: 16444. Tel: (614) 734·4415. Harrisburg: 96116. Tel: (206) 723-5330. ILLINOIS: Champaign-Urbana: YSA, 1301 W. Green, Zip: 64110. Tel: (616) 753-0404. St. Louis: SWP, SWP, YSA, P.O. Box3255. Zip: 17105. Philadelphia: WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, YSA, Box 3761. Room 264. Zip: 61601. Chicago: SWP. YSA. 434 S. YSA, 6223 Delmar Blvd. Zip: 63130. Tel: (314) 725- SWP, YSA, 5611 N. Broad Sl Zip: 19141. Tel: (215) Zip: 25337. Tel: (304) 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, Wabash, Room 700. Zip: 60605. Tel: (312) 939-0737. 1570. 927-4747 or 927-4746. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 1102 YSA, 957 S. University Ave. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) INDIANA: Gary: SWP, YSA, 3683 Broadway. Zip: NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 11-A Central Ave. E. Carson St. Zip: 15203. Tel: (412) 466·7000. State 296-0055. 46409. Tel: (219) 664-9509. Indianapolis: ·SWP, Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341 . College: YSA, P.O. Box 464, Bellefonte. Zip: 16623. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, 4707 W. Usbon YSA, 4650 N. College. Zip: 46205. Tel: (317) 263- NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: SWP, YSA, 1417 Cen- Tel: (614) 238·3296. Ave. Zip: 53206. Tel : (414) 445·2076.

JULY 31; 1981 THE MILITANT 23 THE MILITANT Salvadoran junta in disarray Rebels hold ground, block milita offensive By Fred Murphy Failure to make headway in military drives against the armed forces of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) is causing desperation among El Salvador's rulers. Disarray inside the military-Chris­ tian Democratic government has reached such a point that the economy minister recently fled to Miami after be­ ing criticized by the defense minister; death-squad terrorism has begun to strike middle-class neighborhoods as well as poor districts in the cities; and refugees from the fighting in the coun­ tryside are being herded into prisons. Meanwhile, the regime is pressing ahead with its plan to hold "free elec­ tions" in 1982. 'Scorched-earth' attacks Since March, the government has been launching "counteroffensives" or· "clean-up operations" against FMLN strongholds across the northern tier of El Salvador. The results were summed up in the July 10 issue of the London­ Salvador President Jose Napoleon Duarte (front row, second from right) poses for picture with junta earlier this year. De­ based Latin America Regional Reports: spite murdering thousands, the military tyrants-and their front man Duarte-are having trouble hanging onto power.

At the end of April, the guerrillas claimed to control10 to 15 per cent of the country, but habitants in the province of San Vi­ burned the plantation's historic build­ bishop Arturo Rivera y Damas said that now say that they dominate at least 30 per cente." ings to the ground. Some 500 of the refu­ more than seventy persons had been cent. FMLN spokesmen say that a corridor linking Metapan in the north-west to north­ According to the FMLN, government gees:_including 300 children-were taken from their homes, "tortured and eastern Morazan has been established, and troops had begun a "scorched-earth" op­ rounded up and transported to a peni­ violently killed" during the preceding that during the June fighting over 1,000 eration, raining hundreds of 105mm tentiary in the nearby town of Suchito­ week. members of the security forces were killed. and 120mm shells into fourteen villages to. A National Guard major told Ray­ Another Catholic bishop-who asked · In [the central province of! San Vicente, for in the northern part of the province. mond Bonner of the New York Times not to be identified-told Raymond Bon­ example, the FMLN forces held their posi­ "The bombardments are uninterrupted that they had been imprisoned "because ner of the New York Times: "I don't un­ tions against army attack, rather than tacti­ and their target is everything that they are relatives of the guerrillas." derstand how governments that are cally retreating in the face of the advance by lives." . called Communist, such as Poland and government forces. A week earlier Defense Minister Col. Nicaragua, don't kill workers or priests, Refugees imprisoned Jose Guillermo Garcia had told the but this Government, which calls itself Commenting on the San Vicente Times that he considered "at least 15 A study conducted by San Salvador's Christian, has killed so many. . . . fighting, Guillermo Ungo, president of percent" of the 30,000 refugees in camps Central American University revealed the Revolutionary Democratic Front in southern Honduras to be subversives. "The pity is that the United States July 16 that at least 300,000 Salvado­ (FOR), said that the government forces There is, Garcia said, "a large sector supports this government because it is rans have fled their homes or farms as a had been reduced to "using their helic­ that appears to be refugees and are friendly to the United States. It's not result of the civil war. About half of opters as ambulances rather than mil­ simply terrorists, who go precisely to friendly with its own people." these were said to be dependent on char­ itary equipment." find refuge, and then return, commit The Latin America Regional Report itable organizations such as the Red Inability to rout the FMLN's armed their misdeeds, and go back." quoted earlier offered this explanation units has caused the military to vent its Cross, Green Cross, or church organiza­ for the recent step-up in death-squad frustration on the civilian population. tions. Preparing for elections? killings, which now amount to at least On June 24 the FMLN General Com­ One important refugee center was the In the cities, the "death squads" thirty a day: mand issued an urgent appeal to foreign plantation of La Bermuda north of the linked to the armed forces continue "It is widely feared that the govern­ governments and to Amnesty Interna­ capital, where more than 2,000 persons their bloody work. Ofthe 316 victims re­ ment may be preparing for the election, tional and the Inter-American Human had gathered and were being aided by ported in the first two weeks of July, in which restrictions such as the curfew Rights Commission to press the junta to the Green Cross. most were men between the ages of six­ and state of siege would presumably "stop the indiscriminate massacre by On July 3, army troops forcibly evict­ teen and thirty-five. In his Sunday hom­ have to be lifted, and that it is beginning the Salvadoran army against 5,000 in- ed the refugees from La Bermuda and ily on July 12, acting Salvadoran Arch- Continued on page 22 Calif. officials to widen chemical spraying By George Johnson Officials have never seriously consi­ This view was given added credence spraying. Further, their lives are dis­ and Judy Stranahan dered existing alternative means of when officials of Brown's administra­ rupted because it is hazardous to drive SAN JOSE-After spraying half a eradicating the so-called "medflies" tion threatened to jail local officials if while the aircraft are spraying-up to million people for days with the toxic that are infesting area fruit trees. One they didn't provide airport and other now, from midnight to 6 a.m. This insecticide Malathion in an attempt to reason for this is that California agrib­ facilities for the spraying. ensures that every person who works eradicate Mediterranean fruit flies, second or third shift, and the vast usiness, the state's biggest industry, is Although many city councils officials here have expanded the area majority of workers on day shift, have owned in large part by the same com­ throughout the county voted not to to be sprayed to. include the city of to drive through the spray. panies that manufacture Malathion. allow spraying, local officials now Milpitas and San Mateo County. The media in this state seldom stray shrug and say they cannot defy the Checkpoints to discover produce be­ They are also threatening to use far from the interests of the owners of state and federal government. ing taken from the area have caused stronger poisons. big agriculture. Opponents of spraying traffic tie-ups four-and five-miles long. are often referred to in the media as There have been no public hearings Residents describe the situation here "kooks." Talk-show hosts on KGO, a on the hazards of spraying. The state Shop-floor discussions, according to as "semi-martial law," with the Na­ large radio station, have refused to put medical board even withdrew its origi­ socialist workers in local plants, are tional Guard and cops visible in large on callers who are against spraying, nal statement on the risks of Mala­ dominated by concern over the spray­ numbers in some areas. Officials fear referring to them as "crazy." thion in favor of a weaker one at the ing and its effects. Newspaper articles attempts by residents to block helicop­ Initially, Governor Jerry Brown took time of the decision to spray. about it are posted on bulletin boards, ters from dousing communities with a public position against the spraying. There are safer methods of ridding as are leaflets announcing protests. the cancer-causing chemical. He then claimed he had no choice but produce of medflies, and these have Last week, thousands of residents of Despite the intimidating atmos­ to go along when Reagan threatened to been used in other states, such as Santa Clara County joined demonstra­ phere-and a high-powered campaign quarantine California produce if the Hawaii. But they have received scant tions against the pesticide spraying. by the government and media to con­ spraying was not done. Many people attention from the media and govern­ There have been demonstrations and a vince us that Malathion is safe-there are convinced Brown's opposition was ment officials. teach-in at Palo Alto; two rallies at is significant opposition to the spray­ only token, and some believe he was Not surprisingly, people are suspi­ San Jose city hall; and two actions in ing. actually conniving with Reagan. cious of government claims of safe Cupertino.