British kill IRA TH£ members in cold blood Page 8

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 52/NO. 12 MARCH 25, 1988 $1.00 Socialist Workers Party wins final round in anti-FBI suit BY MARGARET JA YKO NEW YORK, March 17- An unprec­ edented victory for constitutional rights was registered at a federal court house here today . "The government's decision to throw in the towel in the Socialist Workers Party case brings this 15-year fight to a success­ ful conclusion," Jack Barnes, national sec­ retary of the Socialist Workers Party, told a news conference here this morning. Attorney General Edwin Meese decided to withdraw a Justice Department appeal of the August 1986 ruling of U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa that declared it ille­ gal for the FBI and other police outfits to use informers, disruption programs, or break-ins_ against political organizations and activists. Meese was joined in this ac­ ony tion by II other heads of government agen­ SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes (second from left) at news conference announcing government will not appeal decision against cies. FBI spying. With him are Christina Cowger of CISPES, attorney Leonard Boudin, and (at far right) John Studer of the PROF. Griesa's ruling in favor of the SWP and Young Socialist Alliance, and his 1987 in­ junction barring the government from and spy on people engaged in political ac­ out by the FBI to steal or copy private pa­ nounce the filing of the appeal dismissal in using information in the 10 million pages tivity is not a neutral act- it is a violation pers or to plant microphones are violations the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second of files obtained illegally by the FBI, are of the right of privacy and freedom of as­ of the Fourth Amendment, which was writ­ Circuit, which is in New York. now the law of the land . sociation. This is a historic victory that ex­ ten to protect the people against illegal Political Rights Defense Fund (PROF) "This places a valuable weapon securely pands the space for political action free searches by the government. Executive Director John Studer and Chris­ in the hands of every fighter for democratic from government interference," Barnes And for the first time, a federal court tina Cowger from the national advisory rights and political liberties. It is a weapon emphasized. ruled that a surreptitious campaign of dis­ committee of the Committee in Solidarity that can and should be used widely and en­ The SWP' s general counsel and attorney ruption operations is against the law . with the People of El Salvador (CISPES), thusiastically to win broader freedoms for in this case, noted constitutional lawyer In addition, the court awarded the SWP joined Barnes and Boudin at the news con­ everyone," Barnes noted. Leonard Boudin, pointed out that Griesa's and YSA $264,000 in damages. ference. "The court decision states that the use of decision was also the first time that a fed­ The news conference, held at Boudin's Also in attendance were SWP presiden­ FBI or other police informers to infiltrate eral judge has ruled that burglaries carried offices here this morning, was called to an- tial candidate James Warren; YSA Na­ tional Secretary Rena Cacoullos; PROF National Coordinator Holbrook Mahn; Bill of Rights Foundation President Anna Des Moines meat-packer fights rape frame-up Rand; Fred Dube, a member of the African National Congress of South Africa who BY NAN BAILEY less than five blocks later stopped for a "Let's see what you've done," the cop was recently fired from a university teach­ DES MOINES- Supporters of demo­ traffic light. A young woman who was said. "What have we got here?" ing job for his political views; Edward cratic rights have launched a campaign to Black ran up to Curtis' car and pleaded for Copeland, a partner in Boudin's firm who The cop then arrested Curtis, taking his expose the frame-up and brutal police as­ help. has worked on the case; Hector Marroquin, sault against Mark Curtis, a prominent po­ "Some guy is after me and I'm scared," wallet, license, and keys . "Bet you've got a Mexican-born leader of the SWP who is AIDS," he said, and then told Curtis, still litical activist who works at the Swift pack­ she said. She asked Curtis to give her a ride fighting for permanent residence status; inghouse here . to her house, three blocks away. He handcuffed, to pull his pants back up. and George Novack, a founding member Curtis was framed up on attempted rape agreed. Curtis asked if they should call the Curtis was taken outside where a patrol and longtime leader of the SWP who has a charges March 4 and beaten by the cops so police, but the woman said no. car and police van were waiting. He was 50-year record in the fight for democratic badly he had to be hospitalized. When they arrived at the house , the taken to the police station. It was only rights. Curtis is a member of Local 431 of the woman asked Curtis to wait in an enclosed when he was allowed to make one phone Another news conference to announce United Food and Commercial Workers at front porch while she checked inside the Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 6 Swift. A big struggle is taking place in Des house to make sure it was safe. Moines to defend the rights of immigrant She then disappeared into the house and workers at Swift. On March I Immigration that was the last Curtis ever saw of her. and Naturalization Service cops, along with A few minutes later two cops charged U.S. troops out of Honduras now! other federal agents, swooped down on the onto the front porch and grabbed Curtis. plant and arrested 17 Latino workers. The One of the cops took him into a bedroom. No aid to U.S.-run contra war! cops claimed they were using fake identifi­ He handcuffed Curtis behind his back, President Ronald Reagan's move to send news conference was "No to U.S. troops, cation papers. pushed him down on the bed, and pulled 3,200 more U.S. troops to Honduras is an The arrests have provoked an outcry down his pants. no to U.S. invasion, no to U.S. aid to the among Swift workers and the Latino com­ outrageous escalation of Washington's use contras." munity here. Curtis has been actively in­ of force and threats of force to try to com­ The Reagan administration's cover story volved in support work for the 17, some of pel the people of Nicaragua to submit to for sending troops to Honduras was the whom remain in jail pending trial. U.S . domination. The deployment of U.S. claim that Nicaraeuan government forces The day of his arrest Curtis attended a military force is intended to bolster the have carried out an "invasion" of Honduran late afternoon meeting of Swift workers, contra mercenaries whom Washington has territory. residents of the Latino community, and organized to wage war against Nicaragua. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega de­ civil rights activists to discuss defense of The troops ordered to Honduras on nied the claim. "There has not been a the jailed workers. Immigration and other March 16 consist of two battalions of the single combat, not a single confrontation, government authorities also attended the with Honduran forces," he said. meeting and were confronted with angry Ortega explained that Nicaraguan forces questions from the crowd. were "carrying out large-scale offensive Curtis took the floor during the discus­ EDITORIAL operations" against U.S. -organized contra sion and, speaking in Spanish, raised the units that have been attacking northern importance of getting Local 431 involved army's 82nd Airborne Division and two Nicaragua. Ortega added that the fighting in aiding the victimized workers. battalions of the 7th Infantry Division . was "always inside Nicaragua." Following the meeting, Curtis joined The government-owned Voice of Nica­ The Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry an­ other Swift workers at a bar for awhile, and ragua radio called on the Nicaraguan peo­ nounced that Nicaraguan forces were uni­ then stopped at his house briefly before ple "to maintain a state of alert." laterally pulling back from the country's going out again to do some shopping. Cur­ In New York City, foes of U.S. military border with Honduras in an effort to ease tis is the director of the Militant Labor intervention responded immediately. The tensions. It urged representatives of the Or­ Forum in Des Moines and was buying food New York Mobilizing Coalition, which is ganization of American States and United for a reception the next evening prior to a helping build national June II protests in Nations to visit the border region and ob­ forum on volunteer work brigades to Nica­ Singer New York and San Francisco against nu­ serve the situation . ragua. He was also organizing a forum Meat-packer Mark Curtis was brutally clear weapons and U.S. intervention, held Col. Manuel Suarez Benavides, a spokes­ where women farm leaders would speak beaten by Des Moines cops after they ar­ a news conference March 17 to denounce man for the Honduran military, stated, "We about women and the farm crisis. rested him on phony attempted rape the troop deployment. According to a co­ have no concrete information that San­ Curtis drove away from his house, and charge. He had to be hospitalized. alition spokesperson, the theme of the Continued on Page 14 'Militant' sales set brisk pace in Britain

BY JONATHAN SILBERMAN "International Socialist Review" supple­ England, North Yorkshire, Staffordshire, LONDON - A thousand copies of the ment to the Militant, which reported on the and Kent. A focus of the teams will be March 4 issue of the Militant have been political discussion at the recent London reaching out to miners and residents of sold so far in Britain. conference of the Communist League of coalfield communities. At a March 5 demonstration here of Britain. We are going to kick off the effort on 100,000 in defense of the National Health Boosted by these experiences, dis­ March 19 when tens of thousands take to Service, 340 copies of the Militant were tributors in Britain are planning an ambi­ the streets in an abortion rights demonstra­ sold. Many who bought the paper were tious spring circulation drive. We have set tion. The Militant's coverage of the recent trade unionists. a target of winning 200 new regular read­ abortion rights victory in Canada has been Distributors reported that demonstrators ers. That breaks down as 130 subscriptions particularly well received here at a time were attracted to the Militant's coverage of to the Militant, 20 to the Spanish-language when fresh attacks have been mounted struggles around the world. Articles from monthly Perspectiva Mundial, and 50 against a woman's right to choose. the paper's Managua, Nicaragua, bureau, single copies of the Marxist magazine New Also on March 19, the Militant, Per­ eyewitness reports from the Philippines, International. spectiva Mundial, and New International and articles on the Palestinian struggle There are currently 176 Militant sub­ will be prominently displayed on the Path­ were among the items mentioned in discus­ scribers in Britain. Nearly 70 percent of finder literature table at the International sions with prospective buyers. these were won during the circulation drive Book Fair of Radical, Black, and Third Some salespeople carried copies of the last fall. Many were familiar with the paper World Books. This annual fair in London attracts hundreds of people who are inter­ previous issue of the Militant that con­ already so convincing them to subscribe tained an article on a victorious nurses' turned out to be relatively easy. ested in antiracist and anti-imperialist struggles around the world. strike in Alberta, Canada. Health workers We are now talking to them about re­ We have increased the number of single here were particularly interested in how newing for six months or a year. And we fellow workers in other countries were copies of the Militant sold each week from are offering a reduced price on one of four 210 at the end of January to around 340 dealing with similar problems to their own. Pathfinder titles to anyone who renews for A leader of the recent nurses' strike in now. Our goal is to be selling over 400 a year. On the average, five renewals are copies a week by the end of May. Well over 300 copies of the Militant were Manchester read the entire article on the coming in a week. In South Wales, sales of individual sold at London march protesting cuts in Canadian struggle out loud to a captive audi­ National Health Service. ence on a train leaving the demonstration. The upcoming circulation drive will be copies of the Militant have gone from 40 to different from the last one in that we will be 60 papers each week. Distributors there One person who bought the paper from reaching out to many new people with the have established plant-gate sales at the We have raised our monthly order of me said, "Workers in Britain and North press. An introductory rate of £3 for 12 STC electronics firm and at the Tower Col­ PM's from 20 to 40, and we plan to make America have common problems, and with weeks is being offered. liery (coal mine). sales of PM subscriptions an important as­ the stock market crash this is going to be Workplace sales have been established pect of the circulation drive. even more the case." Special teams are being organized that in London at a rail depot, two postal tele­ He was responding to the material in the will travel to Scotland, the northeast of Over 450 copies of the current issue of communications depots, at an electrical en­ New International have been sold in Brit­ gineering factory, and at the Dagenham ain. It contains articles titled "The Second Ford auto plant. Assassination of Maurice Bishop," "Cuba Campaign for Sharpeville 6 wins We are finding that there is interest in a Historic Turning Point: Two speeches by the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial in the Fidel Castro," and other material. increasingly multinational working class in one-month stay of execution Britain. We are selling 10 to 15 papers We will continue to sell that issue during each Saturday in both the Butetown Black the spring campaign but also seek to circu­ BY SAM MANUEL "common purpose" with others intent on community in Cardiff, South Wales, and in late the previous five issues. Six South African Blacks scheduled to murder. At least one key witness admitted Moss Side in Manchester. Supporters of the publications have also be hanged Friday, March 18, have won a he had been told by police whom to accuse. Twenty-two participants in a recent decided to sponsor a series of New Interna­ one-month repreive pending a judicial re­ Neither was it clearly established that two picket line against contra aid held at the tional Forums in Manchester, Nottingham, view . The stay of execution was won by an of those accused, Diniso and Mokhesi, U.S. embassy in London picked up copies Cardiff, London, and in two South York­ international campaign of appeal for clem­ were even present when Dlamini was killed. of PM. shire locations. ency, including by several European gov­ The effort to save the Sharpeville Six is ernments. The five men and one woman part of an international campaign to save have become known as the Sharpeville Six. the lives of 44 Blacks scheduled to be exe­ Help get out word on rights victory They are Oupa Diniso, Duma Khumalo, cuted by the regime. Two of the 44, Moses Francis Mokhesi, Reid Mokoena, Theresa Jantjies and Wellington Mielies, were Ramashamola, and Mojalefa Sefatsa. BY NORTON SANDLER By taking an aggressive approach to hanged Sept. I , 1987. They were also Militant distributors in the United sales over the next couple of weeks, we can They were tried and convicted by an charged with killing a township council­ States, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, and get the paper into the hands of hundreds apartheid court for being part of a crowd man. Ramashamola is the first woman to other countries will note that they have re­ who don't normally read it. This can in­ that killed Khuzwayo Dlamini, a Black receive the death penalty in South Africa. ceived extra copies of this week's paper. clude a big push on circulating the Militant township councilman in Sharpeville. Dla­ Another woman, Daisy Modise, is listed This is to facilitate supporters beginning and Perspectiva Mundialat the plant gates, mini, who was also deputy mayor, was among the remaining 38 scheduled to be a two-week campaign to sell Militants con­ in working-class communities, and on cam­ killed when townships erupted in protest executed. taining special coverage of the landmark pus. against rent increases imposed by the tow~­ In a telegram to Botha, Socialist Work­ victory scored in the Socialist Workers Many can be convinced to subscribe to ship council . Members of the apartheid ers Party U.S. presidential candidate James Party and Young Socialist Alliance lawsuit theMilitantorPerspectivaMundial. During government-controlled councils are con­ Warren demanded an "immediate halt" to against the FBI and other U.S. government this effort we can also sell the current issue sidered to be collaborators with the South the execution of the six. Warren said, "The spy agencies. ofthe Marxist magazine New International, African government. Many of the council apartheid regime's barbaric record of the Union members, Black and Latino rights which contains an article by Larry Seigle en­ members are part of the right-wing vig­ use of executions has not deterred the fighters, farmers, Central America solidar­ titled, "Washington's 50-Year Domestic ilante death squads that are organized and people of South Africa in their struggle for ity and anti-apartheid activists, students, Contra Operation." armed by the apartheid regime. a democratic and nonracial homeland. and others who have backed the Political Distributors who want to increase their No evidence was ever produced showing Neither will it deter working people in this Rights Defense Fund's effort to raise funds order for next week's issue should contact that the six actually participated in the kill­ country and around the world from their and publicize the SWP and YSA lawsuit our business office in New York by 7:00 ing. The trial judge ruled that the defen­ commitment and action to bring an end to over the years will be interested in this p.m. March 23. The phone number is (212) dants were guilty because they shared a the hated system of apartheid." coverage. 929-3486.

The Militant tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant Closing news date: March 16, 1988 "As a Third World trade unionist, I think the Militant is carrying Coeditors: MARGARET JA YKO and DOUG JENNESS Circulation Director: NORTON SANDLER out consistent and objective work within the U.S. working class, Nicaragua Bureau Director: LARRY SEIGLE Business Manager: JIM WHITE informing it of the causes of the world's problems and the chal­ Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein, Fred Feldman, Arthur Hughes, Cindy Jaquith, Roberto Kopec (Nicaragua), Susan LaMont, Sam lenges all progressives must confront to construct a new society Manuel, Harvey McArthur (Nicaragua}, Harry Ring. where human dignity is respected." Published weekly except one week in August and the last week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Of­ -Yves Antoine Richard fice, (212) 243-6392; Telex, 497-4278; Business Office, (212) Gen'l secy, Autonomous Confederation of Haitian Workers 929-3486. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of Subscription running out? Renew now. address should be addressed to The Militant Business Of­ D $4.00 for 12 weeks, new readers fice,410WestSt., New York, N.Y.l0014. D $9.00 for 12 weeks, renewals Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POSTMAS­ $17.00 forslx months TER: Send address changes to The Militant, 410 West St., D New York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S., Canada, Latin D $30.00 for one year 0 $55.00 for two years America: for one-year subscription send $30, drawn on aU. S. D For $3.50 additional, send New International issue bank, to above address. By first-class (airmail), send $65 . I:::.. No. 6 with my •x·month odonge< Mi/;tan"ub«ription. Britain, Ireland, Continental Europe, Africa: £22 for one year, or £6 for six months. Send check or international money order made out to Pathfinder Press and send to Pathfinder, 47 The Cut, London SEl 8LL, England. Australia, Asia, City State Zip----- Pacific: send Australian $60 to Pathfinder Press, P.O. Box 37, Telephone Union/School/Organization Leichhardt, Sydney, NSW 2040, Australia. 1 Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Send to THE MILITANT, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014 theMilitant' s views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant March 25, 1988 Coup attempt fails as U.S. tightens squeeze on Panama

BY SUSAN LaMONT eluding an order to U.S. oil companies to A coup attempt against Panamanian avoid using a pipeline that crosses Panama. leader Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega took That pipeline carries crude oil from place March 16, and was quickly put down. Alaska, and generates up to $95 million a Washington admitted advance knowledge year in revenue for Panama. of the coup, which was reportedly led by In a significant move of bipartisan sup­ an anti-Noriega army officer, but denied port for Reagan's destabilization cam­ responsibility for organizing it. paign, the U.S. House of Representatives Washington, however, has been openly passed a resolution virtually unanimously trying to undermine support for Noriega by - 367 to 2 - calling on Noriega to step causing a split in the Panama Defense down. The March 10 resolution urged Forces, that country's army. Secretary of Reagan to impose severe economic sanc­ State George Shultz and Elliot Abrams, his tions on Panama. main Latin American affairs adviser, re­ Panama's banks have been basically cently reported that the Reagan administra­ closed since March 3, following the freez­ tion was appealing to officers in the De­ ing of Panama's assets- some $50 mil­ fense Forces to rebel against Noriega. lion- held in U.S. banks. This robbery of Meanwhile, the United States - the Panama's assets by Washington is possible largest, most powerful , and wealthiest im­ because Panama's financial and banking Ships passing through locks at Pacific end of Panama Canal. Washington is illegally perialist country in the world - tightened system is completely dependent on the holding $6.5 million due Panama for use of canal. its economic stranglehold on tiny Panama, United States. Panama does not even have a semicolonial country of some 2 million its own currency; it uses U.S. dollars, bone, a public affairs officer for the U. S. dition, Panama Canal Administrator Den­ people, during the past week. The U.S. which it calls balboas. embassy in Panama, to leave the country. nis McAuliffe has raised the possibility that rulers took additional measures in their at­ These moves come on top of the cutoff "We don't accept this declaration because "we might have to call upon U.S. forces to tempt to force Noriega, the head of Pan­ of U.S. military and economic aid to it does not originate with the Delvalle gov­ be more readily available to provide pro­ ama's army, from power. Panama last summer; the elimination of ernment," said Charles Redman, State De­ tection" for the canal. On March II President Ronald Reagan Panama's sugar quota; and the cancellation partment spokesman. The U.S. Southern Command, which ordered the $6.5 million monthly payment of a $50 million loan to Panama by the maintains some 10,000 U.S. troops in due to be paid to Panama for use of the World Bank. Washington has been on a systematic Panama, is carrying out month-long mili­ Panama Canal to be withheld and kept in campaign for several years to force Nori­ Washington justifies its illegal economic tary maneuvers in Panama, called "Total escrow. These payments represent an im­ ega from power, in an effort to get in place moves against Panama on the basis that Warrior." They also involve the Florida portant source of income fo r Panama, total­ a more subservient regime in Panama and such a campaign was ordered by Eric Ar­ National Guard and Puerto Rico National ing about $78 million a year. turo Delvalle, Panama's former president. to undermine the 1977 Panama Canal trea­ ty. Guard. Reagan also suspended trade preferences Delvalle was removed from office in late The Defense Department announced for Panama, jeopardizing some $96 million February by Panama's National Assembly Calls for U.S. military action March 14 that 100 U.S. Marine Corps and in annual trade between the two countries. after he unsuccessfully tried to force Nori­ air force "security specialists" were being The tremendous economic pressure on The same day a federal court in Miami ega to step down as head of the army. The sent to Panama to help protect U.S. person­ Panama is being accompanied by threats of grounded Air Panama's U.S. operations, assembly then elected Manuel Solis Palma nel and military installations in Panama. direct U.S. military intervention. and froze its assets in the United States, in­ as president. Delvalle, who claims that he Because Panama's banks remain closed cluding two jets, negotiable airline tickets, is still head of state, remains in hiding in Open calls for U.S. military action are and the government has no access to its fi­ ground equipment, and facilities. Money Panama. being made by figures in the business­ nancial resources that are being held hos­ held for Air Panama in four Miami banks On March 15 the U.S. State Department dominated, U.S.-backed National Civic tage by Washington, many working people has also been frozen. announced that it would not comply with Crusade, which has organized much of the in Panama find themselves in an increas­ More measures are being considered, in- an order by Panama for Terrr:nce Knee- anti-Noriega protest inside Panama. In ad- ingly difficult situation. The government has been unable to pay some 140,000 gov­ ernment workers. Teachers, medical work­ ers, electrial workers, telephone workers, Castro supports Panama sovereignty and others have protested not being paid. Dock workers at three commercial ports announced March 14 that they were going BY SUSAN LaMONT Omar Torrijos, under which control of the Anastasio Somoza, and denounced U.S. on strike to demand that the government On February 24 NBC reporter Maria Panama Canal is to return to Panamanian military intervention in El Salvador. pay them. Shriver interviewed Cuban President Fidel sovereignty at the end of 1999]. These and other actions angered Wash­ The Washington Post reported March 15 Castro in Havana. A very brief segment of "It's a huge conspiracy to remove the ington, which had grown accustomed to that store owners in Colon said that groups the long interview was aired on February National Guard from Panamanian politics, more subservient governments in Panama. of hungry people had broken into grocery 28. The full text was made available to the simply because the Panamanian National Noriega, who became de facto head of stores in order to obtain food. Television press on March 2 by the Cuban Mission to Guard observes a patriotic and nationalist state in Panama in 1983, was a top army of­ news reports from Panama March 16 indi­ the United Nations. A wide range of topics stance. In my view, that is what's at the ficial under Torrijos, and presents himself cate increased protests and street fighting, was covered in the interview, including bottom of this." (Panama's army, the as the continuator of Torrijos' programs as well as stepped-up army efforts to stop U.S. allegations of "human rights" viola­ Panama Defense Forces, used to be called and policies. the actions. tions in Cuba, the role of Cuban troops in the National Guard.) Angola, and other questions. In response to a question from Shriver Castro also discussed Washington's cur­ about the indictment of Noriega on drug N.Y. picket: 'Hands off Panama!' rent campaign against Panama and the at­ trafficking charges, Castro said, "I say the tempts to smear Cuba with charges of in­ United States' motivation is not the war BY MIRTA VIDAL around drugs; second, the indictment of volvement in drug trafficking, along with against drugs. It is politics. It wants to NEW YORK - A spirited demonstration [Gen. Manuel Antonio] Noriega; and third, Gen. Manuel Noriega and others in Pan­ liquidate the Torrijos process. It wants to was held in front of the Panamanian consulate the embargo. The only thing left to them ama. take away the political role of the National here March 11 to protest Washington's in­ now is a military invasion." Guard, because the National Guard has a "I believe there is something sordid and terference in Panama's internal affairs. During the demonstration a delegation dirty about this business," the Cuban leader patriotic and nationalist role to play . . . . Some 40 people joined the picket, chanting, Drugs are just a pretext. of four protest organizers was allowed into said . "This campaign against Noriega is "Embargo South Africa, not Panama!" and the consulate to present Alberto Garcfa de founded on a great conspiracy, not against "It's a big campaign to do away with the "The issue isn't drugs, it's the canal!" and Paredes, whom Washington recognizes as Noriega, but against the Torrijos-Carter National Guard, not Noriega. What it real­ displaying signs demanding "Hands off consul general, with an open letter de­ treaties [ 1977 treaties signed by President ly wants is to take the National Guard out Panama!" manding that he step down; that he recog­ James Carter and Panamanian leader Gen. of politics, because under Torrijos' leader­ "Donna Prescott is our consul!" was nize Prescott as the legitimate representa­ shi p the National Guard took the country to another slogan chanted by participants. tive of Panama; and that he cease to act in negotiations with the United States. Prescott, who was deputy consul in New collusion with "the foreign aggressor "I'm not supporting Noriega," Castro York for 10 years, was recently appointed state." This confrontation and the picket continued. "I am supporting the Torrijos consul general by Panama's new president, were covered on the evening news by one movement. I am supporting the Torrijos­ Manuel Solis Palma. U.S. State Depart­ of the area's two Spanish-language televi­ Carter Treaties. I am supporting the sov­ ment officials evicted her from her office sion networks. ereignty and independence of Panama. It's on March 9. Because Washington does not not Noriega the man who matters. The im­ recognize her appointment, she may be Asked what can be done to counter portant thing is independence, sovereignty, forced to leave the United States. Washington's campaign of aggression Panama's right to the canal, the Torrijos Speaking to the Militant, Prescott indi­ against the people of Panama, Consul Gen­ movement, which in our opinion is a pro­ cated that the stage is being set for a mili­ eral Prescott said it was necessary to gressive, patriotic, and nationalist move­ tary intervention into Panama by Washing­ mobilize public opmwn, particularly ment. .. . That's what we support, inde­ ton. She pointed out that former President among the 60,000 Panamanians who live pendently from Noriega the man." Eric Arturo Delvalle is under the protection in the New York area, mostly in Brooklyn. Gen. Omar Torrijos was Panama's cen­ of the U.S. Embassy because Washington She also said that the possibilities for tral leader from 1968, when he came to wants to install a government that represen­ mobilizing opposition to U.S. intervention power, until his death in 1981 . In addition ts U.S. interests in Panama. in Panama in the U.S. Black community to negotiating the return of the Panama "But how can the junta that Delvalle and are very good. A high percentage of Canal, his regime established friendly rela­ the United States want be installed?" Pres­ Panamanians are Black, including many of tions with Cuba, aided the Nicaraguan cott asked. Washington's strategy involves those who currently live in the United Cuban President Fidel Castro struggle to overthrow U.S.-backed dictator three phases, she said, "First, the campaign States.

March 25, 198,8 The Militant 3

j ~ '\ • • ' • • ~ ' J...' ~~ f ' Socialist candidates hit campaign trail Join protests against Israeli aggression, nuclear weapons testing

BY JUDY STRANAHAN A pipefitter whose union organizes the MERCURY, Nev. -Kathleen Mick­ construction workers at the test site also ells, the Socialist Workers Party candidate talked with Mickells. He and one of his co­ for vice-president, participated in a March workers attended the demonstration out of 12 protest rally at the nuclear weapons test curiosity, and expressed interest in some of site in Nevada, along with several cam­ the socialist ideas raised in the Warren­ paign supporters. Mickells campaign. A campaign literature table, featuring A junior high school teacher from Las the Militant and the Spanish-language Vegas expressed interest in organizing a monthly Perspectiva Mundial was the program for a socialist candidate, and a scene of many lively and lengthy political high school student from Tucson, Arizona, discussions with demonstration partici­ invited Mickells to bring the socialist cam­ pants. paign to her school. A number of people Mickells explained that the stock market signed up for more information. In addition crash last October signaled that the existing to staffing a literature table, campaign sup­ economic crisis will worsen, with a devas­ porters also distributed copies of the Mili­ tating impact on workers and farmers tant. throughout the world. She went on to de­ scribe some of the proposals the socialist PRICE, Utah - Following the rally candidates are putting forward, including against nuclear weapons testing, Kathleen fighting for a shorter workweek and affirm­ Mickells traveled here to spend several ative action, which touched a responsive days campaigning in the center of the west­ chord among a layer of people who em coal-mining region. dropped by the table. She had several informal meetings with Many of those who stopped to talk with coal miners, including women miners ac­ Mickells were young, some from high tive in the Coal Employment Project, an schools and college campuses. A young organization that fights to help women get woman of Cuban descent spoke with Mick­ and maintain jobs in the mines. ells for half an hour. Her parents had left Mickells also spoke with Militant sub­ Militant/Kate Daher Cuba, but she was interested in traveling to scribers and campaign supporters. Socialist Workers presidential candidate James Warren campaigned among partici­ Cuba to see for herself what the country is On March 16 she traveled to Salt Lake pants at March 13 demonstration in Washington, D.C., to protest Israeli repression like. She explained that she was very much City for a news conference, a public meet­ against Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza. The action of more than 3,000 people opposed to U.S. actions against Panama. ing , and other campaign activities. was organized by American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. A literature table set up by campaign supporters remained busy throughout the day. Copies of the socialist publications the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial were sold. A statement by Warren distributed at the march read in part: "The U.S. rulers' military, economic, Teams building youth conference and political support is crucial to Israel's ability to dominate the Palestinians. With­ out that backing, Israel could not survive. That is why working people in this country get good response from students and all partisans of social progress must fight for an end to U.S. complicity with the Israeli atrocities." BY GREG McCART AN napolis at the end of March. "Students at Oberlin College are really The Socialist Youth and Activists Con­ ference will be an educational and organiz­ excited about the Socialist Youth and Ac­ The Young Socialist Alliance invites you to a national tivists Conference," reported Juliette Mon­ ing weekend of talks, classes, workshops, tauk, who is leading a two-week team of a panel of international youth, and a rally members of the Young Socialist Alliance featuring Socialist Workers Party candi­ Socialist Youth and to build the April 2-3 conference to be held dates James Warren for president and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kathleen Mickells for vice-president. Oberlin, Ohio, was the first stop for the The conference will begin at 9:30a.m., Activists Conference team, which will cover Ohio, Pennsyl­ Saturday, April 2. All conference sessions vania, and West Virginia. Montauk said 10 will take place at the University of Pitts­ April2 & .3 students at Oberlin "decided to organize a burgh, Lawrence Hall. van and encourage others to attend the con­ Rena Cacoullos, national secretary of University of Pittsburgh ference." The team was invited to set up a the YSA, will open the conference with a table at an anti-apartheid meeting at the talk on "The Capitalist Crisis and World Lawrence Hall college. Much of the day's discussions Revolutionary Perspectives." Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania were about how to protest aid to the Nica­ A second talk will be presented by Greg raguan contras and Washington's cam­ McCartan, a member of the YSA National paign against Panama. Executive Committee, on "Building a Rev­ Join with A one-week team of YSA members will olutionary Youth Organization in 1988 ." other students, young workers, activists also be visiting cities in Indiana, including A broad array of classes Saturday after­ a Midwest student conference in India- noon and Sunday morning will include: "Che Guevara and Revolutionary Cuba," Keynote presentations "What Way Forward in the Fight Against The Capitalist Crisis & 5,000 at Nevada rally Racist Attacks," "Does the World Have Too Many People?", "The Struggle in Southern World Revolutionary Perspectives protest U.S. nuclear Africa," "Abortion Rights," "Malcolm X Today," "Nuclear Weapons, Disarma­ Rena Cacoullos, Young Socialist Alliance National Secretary. Sat .. weapons testing ment, and the Working-class Road to April 2, 9:30 a.m. Peace," and "Israel and the Fight for a Building a Socialist Revolutionary BY DAVE PRINCE Democratic Secular Palestine." MERCURY, Nev . - More than 5,000 Workshops will include: "Building More Youth Organization people rallied here March 12 at the Nevada Brigades to Nicaragua," "Academic Free­ Greg .McCartan, YSA National Executive Committee Sun., April3, test site to demand an end to nuclear dom and the Prof. Fred Dube Defense Case/ 1:30 p.m.; weapons testing by the U.S . government. Anti-Apartheid Actions," "The Pathfinder The rally and civil resistance action, at Mural Project," "Financing the YSA," and Also featuring an international youth panel, Sun., April 3, which nearly 1,200 people were arrested, "The 1988 Socialist Workers Election 9:30a.m.; and classes, workshops. was sponsored by American Peace Test. It Campaign." marked the beginning of I 0 days of protest Supporters of the Warren-Mickells cam­ actions, and was considered to be the paign are visiting college campuses in New Special event largest demonstration ever held here. The York State to encourage students to attend Socialist Presidential Campaign Rally nuclear test site is 65 miles northwest of the conference. At Bard College, team Las Vegas, and is the same size as the state member Nancy Rosenstock participated in Hear James Warren. Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. of Rhode Island. a panel discussion on the Tawana Brawley president, and Kathleen .Mickells. candidate for vice-pres­ Participants in the nationally built rally case, and set up a table of revolutionary lit­ came from Maine, Kansas, Ohio, Wiscon­ erature. Eight students signed up to go to ident. Sat., April 2, 7:30p.m .. Benedum Hall Auditorium. sin, and Texas, as well as from the far the conference. Conference registration $15. or $5 for high school and unemployed. Write or call western states . Also present were a delega­ YSA members who attended the Califor­ for more information on housing and transportation. tion from the Hibashuka Federation (Sur­ nia Alliance of Progressive Student Activ­ vivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki); a ists conference at Stanford University also number of young people from western report that a number of members of the D I want to attend. Send more information. Europe who had participated in antinuclear group are interested in attending the Pitts­ D Send me ___copies of new conference brochure (10¢ each). demonstrations in their own countries; and burgh conference. D I want to join the Young Socialist Alliance. a delegation from the Shoshone Nation, on The conference will be an international D Enclosed is $4 for 12 weeks of the Militant. whose land the test site is located. event. Young workers and students from Name ______Many of the demonstrators were young, Canada are planning to attend. Prof. Fred Address ______and were participating in their first demon­ Dube, a spokesperson for the African Na­ stration as part of high school and college tional Congress of South Africa, will also City/State/Zip------­ contingents that they helped organize. A address the conference. Dube, who was Phone ( ) School/organization ------­ number of participants wore T-shirts and fired by New York's Stony Brook State buttons showing their strong identification University for his political beliefs, is fight­ Clip and mail to YSA, P.O. Box 1235, New York, NY 10013. Tel: (212) 334-1110. with Nicaragua. ing for reinstatement.

4 The Militant March 25, 1988 70-year struggle: Palestine and the Arabs' fight for liberation April 1936: Palestinian villagers voice support for revolt against British rule.

BY FRED FELDMAN growing opposition to Ottoman rule. With 1922 from the League of Nations to to foster Jewish-owned industry. (First of a series) regard to the Arab peoples, the "Allies" ­ legitimize their colonial rule. The British authorities restricted the The struggle being waged by Palestin­ as the imperialist coalition of Britain, former rights of Arab landlords and peas­ ians throughout Israel is part of a 70-year France, and later the United States was Balfour Declaration ants to expand their holdings. battle by the people of the Arab Middle called - proclaimed the goal of "guaran­ The British rulers also moved to create a Between 1922 and 1939, the amount of East to achieve a democratic revolution and teeing their liberation." powerful new obstacle to the Arab inde­ land held by the fund rose from 150,000 to put an end to colonial rule and imperialist pendence struggle by backing plans of the nearly 400,000 acres. domination. Imperialist promises World Zionist Organization, founded in The massive infusion of capital from This struggle opened up before World In a series of diplomatic exchanges in 1897, to colonize Palestine with European abroad to purchase land in Palestine caused War I in the last years of the Ottoman Em­ 1915 and 1916, British official Henry Jews. The imperialists calculated that colo­ a boom in real estate prices that led to the pire. Based in what is today Turkey, the McMahon promised Hussein ibn Ali, ruler nial settlers would have a stake in helping Zionist expropriation of ever more Arab Ottoman Empire ruled much of the Middle of the Hejaz (part of today's Saudi Arabia), combat the Arab democratic movement. peasants. East for several hundred years. to support the formation after the war of an In a memorandum written to a prominent Zionist organizations campaigned for Under the Ottoman Empire, Palestine independent Arab kingdom to include the capitalist who was Jewish, British Foreign the dismissal of Arab workers from jobs in formed part of Syria, which then included entire Arabian peninsula from Syria to Minister Arthur Balfour stated, "His Jewish-owned businesses and their re­ present-day Lebanon and Jordan, as well. Yemen. Majesty's Government view with favor the placement by settlers. Arab-made goods The struggle to forge an independent Arab In return Hussein supported the Allies in establishment in Palestine of a national were boycotted. And the flow of capital nation or nations began as a protest against the war against Germany and sponsored home for the Jewish people." from the Jewish National Fund and other the oppression all Arabs suffered at the guerrilla warfare against the Ottoman Em­ Like the agreements with the French rul­ backers of colonizing Palestine spurred the hands of the decaying, feudalistic Ottoman pire. ers, the Balfour Declaration violated growth of a strong capitalist class among regime. The British rulers' real plans forthe Arabs, McMahon's promises of independence and the settlers. The stirrings among the Arabs were part however, were signaled when they pro­ self-determination to the Arabs. The result was a developing system of of a big change in world politics in which claimed Egypt, which had been part of the The Zionist organizations proclaimed segregation directed against the Arab tens of millions of toilers oppressed by im­ Ottoman Empire, a British protectorate. that their purpose was to provide perse­ population, including wage differentials perialism entered the stage of history as ac­ In 1916 the British rulers signed a pact cuted European Jews with a homeland. In and other privileges for the settlers. To pro­ tors determining their own future. with their French counterparts that divided fact, Zionism was an integral part of the tect these privileges, the settlers formed Revolutionary upheavals in Mexico, the region between them. According to the imperialist drive in the late nineteenth and armed units that were the nuclei of the China, Turkey, and Iran in the first years of pact, Lebanon and Syria were to be turned twentieth centuries to penetrate, subjugate, Zionist Haganah and Irgun armies that this century revealed that the masses of the over to France, while Iraq and Transjordan and colonize the Middle East. forged the Israeli state in 1948. countries subjected to imperialist exploita­ (as Jordan was then called) were to be "We should there [in Palestine] form a tion were emerging as an explosive new under "direct or indirect [British] adminis­ portion of the rampart of Europe against Palestinian Arab nationalism force. tration and control." Asia," Theodor Herzl, founder of the Resistance to Zionist colonization of This was given further impetus by the Parts of Palestine were to be placed World Zionist Organization, wrote, "an their homeland spurred the development of October 1917 Russian revolution in which under what was termed "an international outpost of civilization as opposed to bar­ Palestinian national consciousness and re­ workers and peasants, led by the Bolshevik administration." Dismissing their promises barism." sistance to British rule. Party, for the first time took power and es­ to the Arabs, the British and French im­ Chaim Weizmann, a central leader of the While the British imperialists often tablished their own government. This new perialists began carving up the region along Zionist movement to colonize Palestine worked closely with the Zionists, they did regime strongly supported the right of op­ these lines with the end of the war in 1918. and later president of Israel, explained, not support the Zionist goal of transform­ pressed nations to self-determination and French troops crushed Arab resistance in "What we wanted was a British protector­ ing Palestine into an independent, exclu­ backed the colonial revolt. Syria, driving the independent government ate." sively Jewish state. They backed the Hussein's supporters had set up out of "A Jewish Palestine would be a Zionists as a means of reinforcing their World War I Damascus. Monarchies controlled by Brit­ safeguard to England," he explained to own rule. As the Zionists later moved to­ World War I dealt a death blow to the ain were set up in Iraq and Transjordan. British officials, "in particular in respect to ward their goal - with the backing of U. S. Ottoman Empire, which fought on the los­ Only Yemen and parts of what later be­ the Suez Canal. " imperialism - the colonial settlers and the ing side headed by the German im­ came Saudi Arabia - which were among British rulers came into sharp conflict. perialists. The victors prepared to dis­ the least developed parts of the region - Self-determination opposed In 1921 massive protests against British member the empire's remains at the same achieved formal independence. At the beginning of World War I, there rule and Zionist settlement greeted a visit time as growing numbers of Arabs were as­ There was one major alteration in the were 85,000 Jews in Palestine - a figure to Palestine by Winston Churchill , then the serting their right to independence. British-French pact. The British impe­ which dropped to 56,000 during the war. minister of colonies in the British cabinet. To further their war aims, the British im­ rialists took Palestine as part of their share Many of those who remained were descen­ An Arab general strike greeted Arthur Bal­ perialists moved to take advantage of the of the booty, receiving a formal mandate in dants of families that had lived in the area four when he visited Palestine in 1925. for generations. In voicing support for Zionism, Balfour Arab revolt Ad supports Palestinian struggle justified rejecting any form of self-determi­ In the 1930s the growing national move­ nation for the Palestinian Arabs. The Al­ ment exploded into a popular revolt against Three hundred prominent individuals The signers included 200 people from lied powers, he said, "do not propose even British rule. signed a full-page advertisement - pub­ the United States, and another 100 from 15 to go through the form of consulting the This coincided with unrest across the lished in the Sunday , March 13, New York countries including Israel and countries of wishes of the present inhabitants . .. Middle East as a revolt challenged British Times - that calls on the U.S. government Europe, Latin America, and North Africa. Zionism being of far profounder import rule in Egypt, and a general strike shook to end all aid to Israel and urges solidarity Among the signers were authors Jessica than the desires and prejudices of the the French grip on Syria. The British im­ with the struggle for a democratic and sec­ Mitford , Bertell Oilman, Gore Vidal, and 700,000 Arabs who now inhabit that an­ perialists yielded a little ground. Iraq ular Palestine . Alice Walker; Rabbi Elmer Berger; Jim cient land." gai ned its formal independence in 1932, The advertisement denounced the "bru­ Guyette, former president of United Food A U.S. commission that visited Pales­ and the protectorate over Egypt was ended tal occupation, daily humiliation, military and Commercial Workers Local P-9; Oak­ tine in 1919 reported to President Wood­ in 1937. rule, mass imprisonment, and in­ land, California, City Council member row Wilson, "The Zionists look forward to In 1936 a general strike swept Palestine, stitutionalized torture" that is being carried Wilson Riles, Jr. ; Nobel Prize winner a practically complete dispossession of the accompanied by the formation of Arab Na­ out against the Palestinian people by the Is­ Linus Pauling; Elombe Brath of the Patrice present non-Jewish inhabitants of Pales­ tional Committees across the country. The raeli government. It called for support to Lumumba Coalition; Muhammad Hallaj , tine, by various forms of purchase ." The strike demanded the suspension of Jewish the struggle to dismantle the State of Israel editor of Palestine Perspectives; veteran report pointed out that this goal could only immigration. and establish "a democratic, secular Pales­ civil rights fi ghter Robert F. Williams; an­ be accomplished "by force of arms." For the next three years, Palestinian tine, where Jews and Arabs, Christians and tiwar activist Ron Kovic; Nat Weinstein , peasants waged a guerrilla war against the Moslems live together with equal rights national secretary of Socialist Action; poet Expropriating peasants British occupiers. In 1938 the guerrillas and opportunities." Laurence Ferlinghetti; and attorney Wil­ After World War I, backed by the Brit­ controlled the whole Arab area of the coun­ "Since 1948," it continued, "$92 billion liam Kunstler. ish colonial administration, the Jewish Na­ try, establishing an unofficial administra­ of U.S . tax money - $6 billion in 1987 James Mac Warren, presidential candi­ tional Fund, set up by the World Zionist tion that was finally rooted out only with alone - have financed Israel, a state built date of the Socialist Workers Party, and Organization in 1901 , stepped up its pur­ considerable difficulty by British troops. on expulsion, dispossession, and subjuga­ Rena Cacoullos, representing the Young chases of land from Arab landowners in At the height of this anti-imperialist up­ tion. The American people have no interest Socialist Alliance, were also among the Palestine. This step was often followed by surge, half of the British Army was tied in subsidizing the world's fourth largest signers . Another was George Novack, a expulsion of Arab peasants from the land, down in the Middle East. military power or the torment of the Pales­ longtime leader of the SWP and author of which was then turned over to Jewish Offi cial British fi gures - vastly under­ tinian people. End all aid now!" many books on history and philosophy. settlers, set aside for future settlers, or used Continued on Page 13

March 25, 1988 The Militant 5 SWP wins court case against FBI spying

Continued from front page ard Boudin and his decade and a half of particularly fascism and communism' .... not to appeal the case included several who the victory was also held today at the Los work on the suit. "In 1941 Director Hoover wrote the New had submitted affidavits. Angeles Press Club in California. Speak­ York office of the FBI complaining about In response to a question about why the What Watergate exposed ing at the West Coast event were SWP the lack of information regarding the SWP government decided at the last minute not leader Larry Seigle; Frank Wilkinson of the On July 18, 1973, as the Watergate and requesting that every effort be made 'to to appeal the case, Barnes said there was National Committee Against Repressive scandal was bringing to light previously obtain from book shops, informants, and no way it could have been appealed on sim­ Legislation; Khader Hamide, one of eight hidden facts about the FBI's covert domes­ other sources whatever written materials ply narrow technical grounds. "To appeal supporters of Palestinian rights that are tic operations, the SWP and YSA filed a existed about the SWP.'" the case would mean rehearsing publicly in threatened with deportation; SWP vice­ lawsuit against then-President Richard front of the U.S. people what has been ex­ presidential candidate Kathleen Mickells; Nixon and 18 other officials and former of­ 'New' and 'old' FBI posed in this 15-year effort," he said. It and PROF representative Elizabeth Stone. ficials of the U.S. government. Barnes said that many people had asked would have meant redoing the case before "This case is winnable," Boudin told re­ the appeals court and then, possibly, before Statements celebrating the victory have him whether the SWP case basically dealt porters at the time. the Supreme Court. come from New York State Assemblyman with the "old" FBI under Hoover or the Having won the case, this doesn't sound "The current administration faces prob­ Roger Green; Kathy Andrade, an official current FBI. like a radical judgement today, said Initially, Barnes said, it was about the lems. Its activity has not been primarily of Local 23-25 of the International Ladies' Barnes. But at the time Boudin said it, it Garment Workers' Union; Robert and legacy of the Hoover FBI. It was about "30 lawful. The appeal dismissal was filed the was a new idea. day after indictments came down against a Michael Meeropol, sons of Julius and Ethel years of what we thought we had suffered Rosenberg, who were framed up and exe­ The suit charged Nixon and the other de­ under the FBI in addition to what we knew few of the minor figures in the Iran-Contra­ gate scandal," Barnes pointed out. cuted in 1953 on charges of giving the fendants with "illegal acts of blacklisting, we had suffered and the desire to get justice Soviet government the "secret" of the harassment, electronic surveillance, bur­ and to advance the fight for democratic He was referring to the federal grand atomic bomb; Morton Sobell, who was glary, mail tampering, and terrorism" rights in this country." jury indictments of four men for setting up convicted with the Rosenbergs and sent to against the SWP and YSA and their mem­ But over the course of the case, this a secret operation to channel funds to the prison; actor Ed Asner; Peter Schey of the bers and supporters. changed, Barnes said. What was exposed Nicaraguan contras. They are former na­ National Center for Immigrants Rights; The plaintiffs asked for a court injunc­ was the "depth of determination of the gov­ tional security adviser John Poindexter, ernment to defend what the Hoover FBI Jack Foley, director of District 1 of the Oil, tion to halt these government acts. former White House aide Oliver North, re­ had done and to defend it from the point of Chemical and Atomic Workers; and the Through the lawsuit, literally hundreds tired air force major general Richard Se­ Los Angeles chapter of the National Law­ of thousands of pages of secret FBI files view that it was necessary for them to carry cord, and his business partner, Albert out their work. And if nothing else, 'na­ yers Guild. were brought to light. These documents be­ Hakim. came one of the chief sources of informa­ tional security' was used to justify it." Barnes also emphasized the importance "I think ~e helped bring about, with tion about the FBI's Cointelpro ("counter­ Barnes quoted Griesa's 1987 injunction, of the recent revelations about FBI spying many, many others, a shift in the political intelligence program") operations, the ex­ when the judge answered government offi­ on CISPES. sensibilities in this country," Barnes said. tent and character of its informer network, cials' demands that they be able to use the As the result of an effort by CIS PES and "The right to privacy, the right of associa­ and its "black-bag jobs" - burglaries to illegally obtained spy files that contain re­ the Center for Constitutional Rights, the tion, the refusal to accept national security plant bugs and steal papers. ports gathered for almost 40 years: FBI has been forced to admit that it carried as the rationalization for any action by the Boudin told reporters today that he "The government contends that there out an extensive nationwide drive to federal police - all this changed in the viewed the SWP case as a kind of "labora­ should be no injunctive relief because there "break" CISPES. past period and I think our case has helped tory study of how the FBI actually func­ is no threat of future unconstitutional use of In this operation the FBI spied upon, change that." tions in terms of trying to penetrate and in­ the illegally obtained information - such harassed, and collected more than 3,700 And, Barnes said, "the fact that even the jure an organization that engages in lawful as use in a disruption program. But this ig­ pages of files on hundreds of individuals federal government at the highest levels political activities." It is an example of nores the fact that any use or dissemination and 150 organizations. This underground has to pay fines and attorneys' fees is no "what must have been done against scores of this material would be tainted with ille­ operation, which the FBI admits it con­ small part of the victory." of other organizations." gality because the information is not law­ ducted between 1981 and at least 1985, "But it is not only the SWP and YSA fully in the hands of the Government. The was carried out under classified "Foreign Origins of anti-SWP campaign who are the victors," he said. "Every labor Government can hardly deny the possibil­ Intelligence/Terrorism" guidelines adopted union and farmers' organization, every As Judge Griesa recorded in his 1986 ity of usage when it has presented af­ by the Reagan administration in 1981. group seeking to halt racist discrimination opinion , the FBI's operations against the fidavits of seven federal agencies . .. urg­ CISPES has been fighting to gain access and cop violence against Black people, SWP began in the years leading up to ing that they need to have access to the in­ to all the files the FBI developed. CISPES every defender of women's rights and the World War II. The employer class was formation in these documents for various representative Cowger told reporters at the rights of immigrants, every opponent of gearing up for the restrictions on democrat­ purposes." news conference that the SWP's "historic The case, said Barnes, thus came full cir­ Washington's intervention into the affairs ic rights that the war would make neces­ victory" is a component of a larger victory of other countries and aggression abroad, sary. cle: what was made known and exposed at which CISPES is also part of. She said the every political party or association- all of The SWP became a target of the govern­ the trial about the 30 years of Hoover's dis­ decision in the SWP case was an aid for all us have a new tool to use to defend con­ ment because of its class-struggle policy in ruption efforts, "were precisely the things those fighting for peace and justice, who stitutional freedoms against government the unions its members participated in, its that they were determined to defend because will not be intimidated by government they had to continue to use them. It turned violations." opposition to World War II, and its efforts harassment. "How were we able to do this?" asked to spread Marxist ideas. into a case that both dealt with the history of "These things will continue as long as Barnes. "Because the we was so much The case started, wrote Griesa, "with a injustices and the realities of what tools they there are police, as long as there's a ten­ more than the formal plaintiffs." He series of directives issued by President insist they must have today." dency to expand executive power to carry praised the Political Rights Defense Fund, [Franklin] Roosevelt to J. Edgar Hoover. Barnes pointed out that in his decision, out these policies in a world that won't ac­ "whose tens of thousands of supporters in Roosevelt met with Hoover on August 24, Griesa provided an extensive summary of cept U.S. government dictates," said the United States and in many other coun­ 1936, and this meeting was recorded in a the government's illegal operations against Barnes. "But CISPES and their friends tries have made this conquest possible." memorandum written by Hoover. Accord­ the SWP and YSA as revealed in the case. managed to expose them quicker" than the He thanked the National Emergency ing to the memorandum, Roosevelt 'was This included the FBI's use of informers, SWP was able to do. People see rights in a Civil Liberties Committee and the Bill of desirous of discussing the question of the disruption operations, wire-taps, electronic different way today, he said. Rights Foundation. He also saluted Leon- subversive activities in the United States, surveillance, and black-bag jobs. Then, said Barnes, this Republican Decision more important than ever judge, who was appointed by Nixon, con­ Mounting evidence now points to the cluded that "there is no evidence that any conclusion that the stock market crash last FBI informant ever reported an instance of October signaled that a qualitatively new Spread the word planned or actual espionage, violence, [or] period of economic instability, social terrorism." crisis, and hard times for tens of millions of Instead, wrote Griesa, the informers working people is in the offing. Govern­ about this victory! helped the FBI amass "thousands of reports ment agencies and many employers will The historic victory in the So­ financial support for this fight recording peaceful, lawful activity by the step up efforts to force through deep social cialist Workers Party and Young since the suit was filed in 1973. SWP and YSA," and carried out FBI or­ and economic cutbacks. To carry out these ders to "suppress recruiting activities," to blows successfully will require intensified Socialist Alliance suit against FBI The PROF is organizing rallies "frustrate the growth of the organizations," government efforts to interfere with the spying and disruption is a weapon across the country to celebrate and "to attempt to disrupt them." right to organize, meet, and protest. This in the hands of all those fighting this victory and let everyone know Griesa concluded that this entire govern­ makes this victory even more important. for peace. social justice. and dem­ about the new ground for political ment operation was illegal. "We said 15 years ago when we ocratic rights. rights that has been conquered. He specifically ruled that the FBI cannot launched the case that the FBI's purpose The Political Rights Defense appeal to "national security" to authorize was to discourage political activity, to les­ Fund has won broad political and Join us in this effortl its agents to violate the Constitution, writ­ sen the space for it, to narrow the de facto ing "the FBI exceeded any reasonable def­ use of the Bill of Rights, to shrink the con­ inition of its mandate and had no discretion fidence of working people and anyone who to do so." wants to use their democratic rights, in D I enclose $ __ to help the PROF. In his August 1986 decision, Griesa said order to prepare for the war and repression D Please send me ___ copies of Judge Griesa's decision that government he would issue an injunction to prevent the they felt was necessary," Barnes told re­ spying and disruption are unconstitutional. Booklet also has judge's injunc­ government from using the illegally ob­ porters. tion against use of illegal FBI files. $1 per copy. tained materials. "At a minimum we can say that our vic­ D Please send me ___ copies of Una lucha por derechos politicos. (A In response, the Justice Department and tory helps encourage people to engage in Struggle for Political Rights). a pamphlet in Spanish about the case at $1 several other governmental agencies filed political activity, increases the space for per copy. affidavits arguing that barring the use of politics, expands the de facto use of the the illegally obtained files would have dire Bill of Rights, increases the confidence of Name ______consequences for their work and "national working people that you can be political Address ______security." and hold the deepest convictions against In addition to a memorandum by Meese, the government and it's your right to do so City ______State ______Zip _____ affidavits were filed by the FBI, CIA, Of­ and act upon them, and weakens their abil­ Phone ______fice of Personnel Management, State De­ ity to prepare secretly for war and repres­ partment, Immigration and Naturalization sion. Title/Union/Organization ------­ Service, Defense Investigative Service, "I think we can justly say that what the (for identification purposes only) National Security Agency, Secret Service, Nation magazine called the government's and the U.S. Army and Navy . 50-year domestic contra operation was ex­ Political Rights Defense Fund. P.O. Box 761. Church Street Station. New York. But the judge dismissed their claims and posed. And everyone who wants to fight N.Y. 10007. Telephone (212) 941-1174. issued his injunction last year. The 12 gov­ can fight in better shape today, and rights ernment parties who signed the agreement for all were expanded."

6 The Militant March 25, 1988 Massive FBI wiretap revealed in trial of 15 Puerto Ricans BY SUSAN APSTEIN discussions between parents and children "All of us who are in opposition to a to a conversation about someone's favorite government are branded terrorists," said movie. Much of what was recorded didn't prominent Irish independence activist Ber­ even involve the defendants, but others nadette Devlin McAliskey. She was stand­ who were in the house. ing outside the courtroom in Hartford, Connecticut, where pretrial testimony is Some of the cops who spied on Berrios being heard in the case of the Hartford 15. and Segarra Palmer moved in next door to gain access to their home. They questioned McAliskey was there the first week of the couple's children to find out when the March to demonstrate her support for the family would be away so they could enter 15 Puerto Rican independence activists the house and plant their listening devices. being framed up by the U.S. government Interrogating children is illegal. on charges of conspiring to rob a Hartford Wells Fargo depot in 1983. The 15 are also Live monitoring, perjury accused of membership in Los Mache­ Defense attorneys have demonstrated teros, a Puerto Rican organization the U.S. that the cops used live monitoring by government calls "terrorist." analyzing the reel-to-reel tapes, which re­ She attended pretrial hearings and met veal the eavesdroppers' practice of using a Militant/Pat Hunt with defendant Filiberto Ojeda Rios, who radio or television in the listening post to New York demonstration in support of Hartford 15 has now been in jail for more than two and match the station that is on in their target's a half years - with no bail and no trial home. This can be accomplished only by date. His fifth appeal for release was turned continual listening in by the agent before this entire prosecution should be dis­ When Judge T. Emmet Clairie granted down by the court in February on the basis and after turning on the recorder. The missed." bail to Segarra Palmer, he argued that pos­ of FBI claims that he is a "dangerous ter­ matching of stations is done so the tape can Many of the agents have admitted live sible flight was not a justifiable basis for rorist." later be "washed" of background noise to monitoring out of boredom or curiosity. pretrial detention under the Bail Reform Act. Only if the defendant represented a Codefendant Juan Segarra Palmer was hear conversations more clearly. Political dossiers finally released on $1 million bail March 7 "danger" to others could he be held. after 31 months of "pretrial detention." In the Hartford tapes, the recordings But idle prying was not the reason the Segarra Palmer's two and half years in jail Outrageous violations of the defendants' begin when the channels are matched. The FBI broke the wiretap Jaws, defense then was to convict him before the trial rights to privacy have been coming to light cops claim they somehow knew exactly lawyers point out. The cops listened in for even takes place. in pretrial testimony since February. The what was playing at the defendants' homes the illegal purpose of gathering informa­ In the hearing for Ojeda Rios' motion hearings began more than a year ago. the instant they began to record. FBI agent tion about the personal lives and opinions for bail, his lawyer pointed to the reason J. Antonio Rivera perfectly matched eight of the Puerto Rican independence fighters for the U.S. government's attempted 1,500 hours of tapes channel changes in a two-hour period, for to add to the personality profiles and other frame-up of the Hartford 15. "Filiberto At the center of the revelations are 1 ,500 example, explaining this as "coincidence." dossiers the FBI compiles on activists - Ojeda Rios is on trial," he explained, "be­ hours of conversations taped by the FBI as Defense attorneys also argue that the regardless of their supposed involvement cause he is an independentista" opposed to it spied on the defendants in their homes cops are guilty of perjury. Seventy of them in illegal activities. U.S. colonial domination of Puerto Rico. and workplaces in Puerto Rico. Defense at­ submitted false sworn affidavits denying They note it is also possible that the FBI Supporters of the Hartford 15 are con­ torneys are challenging the legality of these any wrongdoing and then lied on the wit­ listened to private conversations in the de­ tinuing a petition campaign demanding the recordings - the prosecution's principal ness stand. fendants' homes to collect information that release of Ojeda Rios, the dropping of all evidence in the case. "It was obviously a deliberate policy ap­ could be used to harass prominent proin­ charges in the case, and an end to the proved at the higher ranks of the FBI, who dependence activists or disrupt their politi­ harassment of the Puerto Rican indepen­ To begin with, the defense points out, had to have known about and approved of cal work, as was done to Martin Luther dence movement. the Puerto Rican constitution forbids the the bootleg cassettes, the cover-ups, and King, Jr. , and many other figures during The pretrial hearings are continuing. De­ use of any kind of wiretaps or electronic the lying under oath," said defense attorney the heyday of the FBI's illegal Cointelpro fense attorneys say that it may be six more devices. Although the U.S. government Harold Mayerson. "For the perjury alone, program in the 1960s. months before jury selection begins. claims that Puerto Rico is "autonomous," it systematically violated this law, installing wiretaps and planting bugs in the defen­ dants' homes, cars, and workplaces for Des Moines meat-packer fights rape frame-up long periods of time. Defendants Luz Berrios and Segarra Continued from front page can carry a 25-year sentence. Bail was set Curtis is also a firm opponent ofU .S. in­ Palmer's house was bugged for more than a call to a friend that the police told him what at $28,875. Supporters raised the funds and tervention in Central America. Secret FBI year. "The FBI listened to every sound in he was charged with: sexual abuse in the got him out of jail that day . files recently released on the Committee in that house," one of the defense attorneys second degree. The cops are telling the media that they Solidarity with the People of El Salvador noted. "We know they listened to every­ Then the police brought Curtis into a received a phone call for help March 4 and (CISPES) reveal that the FBI investigated thing because they turned over to us tapes room and made him take all his clothes off. arrived at the house just as Curtis was try­ Curtis as one of the main activists in the in which you can hear the toilet flushing, Three cops began an "interrogation." ing to sexually assault the young woman. Birmingham, Alabama, Committee in Sol­ people in the shower, parents putting chil­ One said to Curtis, "You're going to The police say the woman told them, "That idarity with Central America in 1984. One dren to bed, and intimate moments be­ have to face up to this thing. You're going guy just raped me." heavily censored Jetter to FBI headquarters tween a married couple." to have to tell us what you did." To cover up the brutal beating they gave from the Birmingham FBI lists Curtis as The FBI not only tapped the defendants' "You were raping that girl," said a sec­ Curtis, police officials say he became "vio­ one of those identified "as acting in the private telephones, but all the public ond. lent" during interrogation. leadership role in the Birmingham area." phones in their neighborhoods. Curtis replied that he wanted to talk to an "The claim that I tried to rape this The cops also broke U.S. federal laws attorney. woman, and that I attacked the cops after­ Supporters organize defense limiting FBI electronic spying. The cops then shifted their line of "ques­ ward, is a complete lie. I am innocent." On March 12, a week after his arrest, They systematically violated two provi­ tioning." Curtis told the Militant. "I've been falsely Curtis joined a demonstration in support of sions of the 1968 federal wiretap Jaw - "You're one of those Mexican-lovers, arrested, framed up for attempted rape, the 17 arrested Swift workers called by that agents can only listen to conversations aren't you?" said one of the cops. "Just like beaten into unconsciousness, and then groups in the Latino community and oth­ about specific illegal activity and that they you Jove those coloreds." framed up again for supposedly assaulting ers. must record everything they hear. These 'Til bet he's got AIDS," said another. the cops who assaulted me! Following that march, a meeting of more stipulations were included in the bill to as­ Curtis refused to be provoked. One of "This violation of my constitutional than 40 people was held to discuss Curtis' suage fears of unlimited trampling on the the cops then grabbed him in a chokehold, rights turns out to be more widespread in defense campaign. Participants included privacy of those targeted by the FBI. where he could hardly breathe, and a sec­ the city. Since my arrest a number of Swift workers, members of the Iowa Citi­ The cops are required to keep a written ond cop kneed him in the stomach. He people, including some Swift workers, zens Action Network, students from the log of everything they listen to and record clubbed Curtis on the face with a night­ have told me how they too were beaten up University of Iowa and Drake University, on reel-to-reel tapes so the court can check stick. The three then beat Curtis all over his by the Des Moines police or know some­ and Jane Curtis, Mark's mother. compliance with its surveillance order. A body. one who was. They decided to organize a news confer­ practice known as "Jive monitoring" where "The next thing I remember," Curtis told "The charge against me of sexual assault ence, scheduled for March 18, to get out the agent listens through the monitoring de­ the Militant, "I was in the hospital. My makes no sense to those who know me and the truth about Curtis' case. In addition, vice but does not record what he or she ankles were in terrible pain, they were what I've dedicated my life to," Curtis Curtis will be a featured speaker at a Des hears is forbidden. shackled together. My wrists were shack­ said. "I plan to fight this frame-up to the Moines rally March 27 sponsored by the Agents who spied on the Hartford 15 Jed to a bed." end, get all the charges overturned, and not Political Rights Defense Fund, which or­ have admitted destroying hundreds of cas­ The cops who had brought him to the stop until the full truth comes out about ganizes support for the SWP's lawsuit sette tapes that documented what they hospital told doctors and nurses, "We've what happened." against FBI spying. heard after turning off the reel-to-reel got a rapist here." Curtis is well known at the Swift plant, Curtis is urging all supporters of demo­ machines making their "official" record­ Curtis had to have stitches all around one where several months ago, coworkers and cratic rights to immediately send telegrams ings. A few of these accidentally preserved eye, which was swollen shut. The cops had the union won his job back. The company to the Des Moines police, demanding that illegal cassettes demonstrate that there fractured his cheekbone. had put Curtis on indefinite suspension for all charges be dropped against him; protest­ were no holds barred on the FBI's spying. Curtis was then taken back to the police leaving the assembly line to see a nurse for ing his brutalization by the cops; and de­ station and thrown naked into a cement­ a work-related back injury . manding an investigation into the beating. Listened to every conversation floored cell with no water, bed, toilet, or Curtis is a also a longtime member of the Protests should be directed to Police Segarra Palmer, who is participating in blankets. He was left there freezing all Socialist Workers Party and a former na­ Chief William Moulder, 25 E. First St. , his own legal defense, has shown that the night. tional chairperson of the Young Socialist Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Telephone (515) cops listened to virtually every conversa­ The next morning Curtis was arraigned Alliance . In addition to his activity in sup­ 283-4800. tion and activity in his home for more than on charges of sexual abuse in the second port of immigrant workers, he has been in­ Copies should be sent to Mark Curtis, a year. This included conversations that degree and two counts of assault against volved in protests in the Des Moines sub­ 2105 Forest Ave., Des Moines, Iowa. took place in the privacy of bedrooms to police officers. The sexual abuse charge urb of Clive against racist police practices. 50311. Telephone (5 15) 246-1695.

March 25, 1988 The Militant 7 British troops gun down Irish activists on Gibraltar streets Thousands protest killings in Ireland

BY DONNElL NASH asserted that the car had been abandoned LONDON - Thousands of supporters by the victims. of the Irish freedom struggle lined the route British and Spanish cops also claimed as a funeral cortege with the bodies of three that they had been trailing the three since Irish activists, the latest victims of Brit­ last November. Fearing a "terrorist at­ ain's shoot-to-kill policy, made its way tack," the cops placed 89,000 Irish and from Dublin to Belfast in Northern Ireland British citizens living in Spain under inves­ March 14. tigation. Daniel McCann, 30, Mairaed Farrell, The Irish Republican Army (IRA) stated 31, and Sean Savage, 24, were gunned that the victims "were volunteers killed in down in cold blood in Gibraltar March 6. active service." The IRA believes that an The killings are also serving to fuel the armed struggle is necessary to end the par­ already raging debate in Britain over a tition of Ireland and to liberate the six series of previous government murders of counties in the north from British rule. Irish activists. The Conservative Party government of Outrage over murders Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher im­ Several days of protests took place in mediately tried to justify the latest shoot­ Belfast, Northern Ireland, following the ings with the claim that army experts had killings. defused a 500-pound bomb found in the In Dublin, capital of the Republic oflre­ victims' car near the British governor's res­ Jand , hundreds gathered after the shootings idence on Gibraltar. That is also the spot to sign a book of condolences prepared by where the Royal Anglian Regiment stages Sinn Fein, a revolutionary nationalist or­ Royal Ulster Constabulary and British soldiers constantly harass republican popula­ its changing of the guard ceremony. ganization with close ties to the IRA. tion in Northern Ireland. Recent killings are fueling furor in Britain over cover-up of But the government was quickly forced On March 14, Sinn Fein arranged for a murder of six Irish activists in 1982. to admit that the three were unarmed and special plane to transport the bodies of the that no bombs were found . murdered republicans to Dublin. They Gibraltar is a British colony of 29,000 Martin McCauley, were in a deserted bam experts and on confessions gained after se­ were then moved in the cortege to Belfast located on a small promontory attached to when they were fired on by the RUC. vere beatings. A campaign launched in de­ Spain at the western entrance to the for burial. McCauley was seriously injured, and fense of the men won widespread support As the procession passed through Tighe died of multiple wounds. in the labor movement and in Irish com­ Mediterranean Sea. loyalist areas, it was stoned by a crowd Gibraltar resident Pepi Celecia told the The RUC claimed that the youths were munities here in Britain. waving British flags. press she was looking out of her window at armed, but the two rusty rifles found at the The case of the Birmingham Six bears On March 14 British troops took another about 3:30 on Sunday afternoon March 6. scene had no bolts or ammunition and were striking resemblance to the case of the victim, gunning down Kevin McCracken "I was watching a couple walking down not in usable condition. Local residents Guildford Four, who were also convicted the road in the direction of the border, in Belfast. claimed the rifles were planted by the RUC of pub bombings and are widely regarded Outrage in Ireland in the first days fol­ when I saw a blond man come up from be­ and dismissed police claims that the youths as innocent. hind them, and without any warning, he lowing the killings was so great that even were given a chance to surrender. But the government is refusing to budge Prime Minister Charles Haughey was shot at them. The woman, who was carry­ It has since emerged that the barn was on both cases. forced to speak out. "I have already said ing a large shoulder bag, fell to the ground under MIS surveillance and the whole inci­ Irish solidarity activists argue that the that the shooting of unarmed civilians is dent was actually recorded on tape. imprisonment of these 10 innocent people immediately," Celecia said. unacceptable to this government, ami I "The young man, in a white track suit RUC agents lied about the killings in is designed to intimidate the ·potentially think it should be unacceptable to democrat­ and running shoes, staggered toward the court. And the government has steadfastly powerful Irish population in Britain. ic governments everywhere," Haughey ex­ maintained that prosecutions or public service station. The man fired at him four Repressive legislation or five times more, and he collapsed with claimed. knowledge about the incidents would dam­ British, Danish, Dutch, Irish, and age "national security." blood all over the place." This is what lies behind the Thatcher Spanish members of the European Parlia­ When Stalker was investigating the government's move to make the Preven­ She said that a police car had roared up ment meeting in Strasbourg, West Ger­ shootings, he was refused access to the tion of Terrorism Act (PTA) permanent. to the gunman, who immediately jumped many, also condemned the killings. tapes by John Hermon, head of the RUC. This act, which was introduced as a "tem­ in. The car made aU-tum and sped away. The furor is also growing in Britain. Eric Stalker has described how he "met in­ porary measure" in the hysteria that fol­ The next day, British and Spanish police Heffer, Labour MP (member of Parlia­ creasing resistance" from the RUC and that lowed the Birmingham bombings, allows changed their story again, saying they had ment) from Liverpool put forward a motion just at the point when he was finally going the state to detain people up to seven days found 140 pounds of explosives in a car in in the House of Commons that says the to gain access to the transcripts of the tape or longer without access to lawyers, and Marbella, Spain, a resort town 50 miles up shootings are "tantamount to capital pun­ recording, he was removed from the in­ without charges being brought against the Spanish coast from Gibraltar. The cops ishment without trial." quiry and suspended from duty. them. His superior officer, James Anderton, At least 10,000 people have been de­ The entire episode adds weight to the claimed Stalker had associated with known tained under the PTA. Only a handful of growing belief that the British government criminals. Anderton is famous for saying those detained have ever been charged. Three die in attack and its military exercise a shoot-to-kill pol­ that he gets his instructions directly from Participants in the Irish solidarity move­ on Belfast funeral icy in perpetuating British rule in Northern God. ment complain that the PTA is used to try Ireland. Stalker was cleared and reinstated to to "criminalize" their political activity. BY CLIVE TURNBULL duty in Manchester. He has since taken Even before the latest killings, two more BELFAST, Ireland - An armed Stalker investigation early retirement. His new book Stalker, incidents occurred that deepened protests. attack on the funeral of Mairead Far­ This is the essence of the raging public about the "Stalker affair," is being widely The first was the gunning down of Aidan rell, Sean Savage, and Daniel Mc­ controversy over the "Stalker affair" - an read in Britain. McAnespie in Ireland on February 25. Cann at Milltown Cemetery here has investigation named after the high-ranking A second inquiry into the killings was McAnespie, 24, was killed by a British sol­ resulted in three deaths and many in­ police officer John Stalker. ordered by the British government. But the dier as he was strolling to a Sunday after­ juries. He was deputy chief constable of the government again decided not to prosecute noon Gaelic football match. The assault on the funeral took Greater Manchester police, appointed by the murderers and is trying to keep the Local people reject army claims that he place in full view of the two British the British government to investigate the findings of the investigation secret. was killed by a ricochet bullet and point out army helicopters that hovered over­ killings of six unarmed Irish men. British Labour MP Ken Livingstone has that McAnespie and his family have been head throughout. The story began in 1982 in the pro­ described Patrick Mayhew, the govern­ threatened several times by British sol­ Several hundred in the crowd pur­ nationalist area of Armagh in Northern Ire­ ment's chief Jaw officer in charge of the diers. This in spite of the fact that McAnes­ sued the two gunmen, who threw land. cover-up, as "an accomplice to murder." pie was not active in politics. grenades and fired shots to cover In order to cope with IRA activity in the Even a big-business publication such as Within days of this shooting, it was re­ their escape. Despite this, one of the area, which had broad popular support the Economist has stated, "The govern­ vealed that Ian Thain, the only British sol­ gunmen was captured when his pistol from the local community, the Royal Ul­ ment has admitted that members of the dier ever convicted of murder in Northern jammed. He was placed under citi­ ster Constabulary (RUC) formed the Royal Ulster Constabulary have conspired Ireland , was released after serving just over zen's arrest until Royal Ulster Con­ Mobile Support Unit, which worked to pervert the course of justice. Yet it is still two years of a life sentence. stabulary officers arrived to rescue closely with the British Secret Service's not taking full responsibility for discover­ Thain, who was found guilty of murder­ him at gunpoint. MIS. ing how such a conspiracy came about." ing unarmed Irish nationalist Thomas The murderous attack took place In November and December of 1982, the "Kidso" Reilly, has been returned to active following a funeral procession of Mobile Support Unit was involved in three Birmingham Six duty in the British army. tens of thousands. The crowd lining separate incidents resulting in deaths. Five Adding fuel to the mounting anger The Gibraltar killings are the most recent the route to the cemetery was the of the men killed were known to be active against this situation is the Thatcher gov­ in a deepening assault on civil and demo­ biggest since the funeral march for republicans. Eugene Toman, Sean Burns, ernment's refusal to grant freedom to the cratic rights by the Thatcher government. hunger striker Bobby Sands in 1981 . and Gervaise McKerr had IRA connec­ six Irish men known as the Birmingham But the ruling circles do not agree on Several hundred wreaths were car­ tions. And Roddy Carroll and Seamus Six. how to deal with the growing clamor over ried behind the three coffins , which Grew were members of the Irish National Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Hill, Robert the attacks on democratic rights, as public were draped with Irish national flags. Liberation Army (INLA) . Hunter, Richard Mcllkenny, William debate over the Stalker affair, the Birming­ Black flags fl ew from every lamp­ None of these men were armed or in­ Power, and John Walker were convicted in ham Six injustice, and the Gibraltar ki ll­ post and many houses throughout volved in military activity when they were 1974 of carrying out a series of pub bomb­ ings shows. west Belfast. All stores and work­ shot. ings in Birmingham, England. They have And there is a growing mood in support places in the area were closed for the The death of Michael Tighe, a 17-year­ maintained their innocence throughout. of the Irish freedom struggle in Britain , day. old, has been surrounded by even more The convictions rest on forensic evi­ with Irish republicans getting an increasing controversy . Tighe and a school friend , dence that has been challenged by several audience in the labor movement.

8 The Militant March 25, 1988 Philippine Muslim rebels get int'l support

BY RUSSELL JOHNSON Among some of the Philippine tribes, a MANILA, Philippines- A new inter­ distinct civilization began to develop national initiative by the Moro National through contact with the Islamic traders. Liberation Front has created headaches for This evolving social order adopted the Is­ President Corazon Aquino, whose govern­ lamic religious, social, and legal code of ment has been trying to defeat the struggle the Arab traders. for self-determination of the Moro people. The Muslim people, or the Moros as The Moros are Muslims. About 5 mil­ they were called by the Spanish, bitterly re­ lion are concentrated on the southern sisted Spanish and subsequent U.S. con­ Philippine islands of Mindanao, Sulu, and quest of the Philippines. Unlike the people Palawan. The Moro National Liberation of Luzon Island and the Visayan island Front (MNLF) is the main organization group, both of whom were conquered and leading their struggle. Christianized, the Moros preserved many The MNLF has applied to the 48-nation elements of their culture and way of life as Organization of the Islamic Conference farming, fishing, and trading people. (OIC) to be accepted as a full member at the OIC conference scheduled to be held in Recent decades have seen large-scale Jordan this month. For the past II years the foreign capitalist penetration of Mindanao MNLF has had observer status. in the form of logging, mining, and planta­ The OIC groups together the govern­ tion operations, and tenant and owner-op­ ments of countries that have a Muslim cui- erated commercial farming. The capitalists rely largely on an immigrant work force of .... peasants displaced from their homes in the -· overwhelmingly Christian north. The penetration of capitalism has been accompanied by large-scale grabbing of the land of Moro farmers. Moro (Muslim) people of the southern Philippine islands are fighting for self-deter­ Struggle against Marcos mination. Moro resentment exploded in the 1970s into a war, led by the newly formed danao, Sulu, and Palawan. Saudi Arabia reportedly refused to meet MNLF, headed by Nur Misuari, against the Instead, the regime sought to undercut with him. martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos. the MNLF and bribe Moros willing to col­ The government fears the impact the An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 people laborate with Aquino. On February 26 she Moro struggle can have on economic links died and one of every four Moros was ren­ flew to Mindanao to launch a billion-peso with the Middle East. Remittances from dered homeless by Marcos' counterin­ economic program for the island, a the more than 300,000 Filipino construc­ surgency operations. windfall for corrupt officials who won tion workers, domestics, and professionals In 1976 Marcos was compelled to sign local elections in January and February. working in Saudi Arabia and other gulf an agreement with the MNLF, under the Aquino is also planning to announce ap­ states are a major source of funds to the BASILAN ...... _ -: Philippines. 0 •• 0' auspices of the OIC, granting Muslim au­ pointments to a Regional Consultative • ·c.;.t. tonomy in the southern Philippines. Commission for Muslim Mindanao, which Thousands of other Filipinos staff oil .. :t SULU tankers that ply the gulf. ~ -- ARCHIPELAGO is to advise her on drawing up a new Mus­ But the dictator stalled on implementing The MNLF has at least 15 ,000 armed TAWI TAWI lim autonomy law. this agreement. Intermittent warfare con­ fighters. In parts of the south it is the real tinued. The Moro guerrillas received mili­ Using the pretext of keeping the peace governing power. tary and economic support from some OIC during the recent local government elec­ Manila Chronicle correspondent Carol countries. Two groupings broke from the tions, Philippine armed forces command­ Argillas wrote from Sulu in relation to the ture and tradition. MNLF and established their own guerrilla ers threatened to break the cease-fire by January-February local elections: "In the The Palestine Liberation Organization forces. launching offensives against the MNLF. town of Jolo, there are about two [military] has been the only liberation movement not The overthrow of Marcos in February Military mobilizations were staged in checkpoints until Kilometer 5. Beyond holding state power to be granted full OIC Mom,:ueas, including sending five battal­ this, the MNLF fl ag flies over the rest of membership. ,. 1986 created .a new opening fm . the Moro ions to Sulu. More armed clashes between the municipality with checkpoints and de­ The Aquino government was dealt a people to press their demands. President Aquino flew to Sulu in September and the military and the MNLF are being re­ tachments manned by the MNLF." blow when the OIC commission responsi­ ported. ble for the Moro issue agreed March I to signed a cease-fire agreement with Mis­ The MNLF has warned that any Moros recommend to the conference that the uari. Aquino's countermoves who join Aquino's Regional Consultative MNLF application be approved. The com­ The new constitution adopted in a In an effort to block the MNLF from Commission will be considered guilty of mission cited the government's failure to plebiscite in February 1987 committed the gaining OIC membership, the government treason. The organization has indicated implement agreements promising Moro au­ government to legislating autonomy for announced that Aquino will be making that it is considering setting up a provi­ tonomy. Muslim Mindanao within two years from state visits to Saudi Arabia and other Mid­ sional government for the 23 southern The roots of the Moro struggle go back the day the charter came into effect. dle Eastern countries. provinces. Spokespeople have also indi­ centuries. cated willingness to increase cooperation For at least 200 years before Spanish But the Aquino government has been re­ In February Ramon Mitra, speaker of the with New People's Army guerrillas fight­ colonization in the 16th century, Arab mer­ fusing to carry out its commitment to grant lower house of the Philippine Congress, ing the government if the Aquino regime's chants had been carrying on trade along the Moro autonomy in 23 provinces on Min- was sent on a similar trip. King Fahd of forces go on the attack. Philippine coast. New from Pathfinder Pathfinder a hit at Manila book fair Surrogate Motherhood, BY DEB SHNOOKAL The nearly 80 copies of Che Guevara FoundinR ConJ:ress of the Communist In­ Women's Rights, MANILA, Philippines - For the sec­ and the Cuban Revolution sold out quickly, ternational and nine copies of Lenin's ond consecutive year Pathfinder/Pacific and a further 12 orders were prepaid during Struggle for a Revolutionary International. & the Working Class and Asia participated in the Manila Book the last two days of the bookfair, bringing The majority of visitors to the Pathfinder Fair with overwhelming success. The Feb­ the total sold to 90. booth were young, including many stu­ by Cindy Jaquith ruary 27 Manila Chronicle reported that Apart from the book of Guevara's writ­ dents. Pathfinder had one of the busiest booths at ings, 44 copies of Socialism and Man by As was the case last year, many visitors The case of "Baby M" has the February 20- 28 fair. Guevara and 26 copies of a Tricontinental returned to the Pathfinder booth again and been one of the year's leading This was reflected both in book sales and magazine special on him were sold. again over the 10 -day bookfair, showing news stories. But behind the the enthusiastic response of many bookfair Three other titles sold out as well . They books to friends they had brought along or often-sensationalized head­ visitors to the Pathfinder booth. A total of were: Fidel Castro: Nothing Can Stop the buying titles they didn't have the money I ,623 books and pamphlets were sold, Course of History, an interview with the for a few days before. lines are a number of impor­ Cuban president, by Jeffrey Elliot and Noticeable this year was the interest in tant questions addressed in most at reduced prices. This was double the previous year's sales. Mervyn Dymally, 62 copies; War and the classical Marxist works and the key t: :is pamphlet: Crisis in the Americas, by Fidel Castro, 50 strategic questions facing the world's The booth featured the Pathfinder range copies; and Time Was On Our Side , by workers and farmers. This was reflected in of titles on Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mario Mencia, an account of the imprison­ the sales of works by Karl·Marx, Frederick In what ways do "surrogate Grenada, South Africa, women's libera­ ment of Fidel Castro and other July 26 Engels, V.I. Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and motherhood" contracts vio­ tion, and Black rights. late basic democratic rights Movement leaders following the Moncada Rosa Luxemburg, as well as the interest During the 10 -day bookfair, Pathfinder attack, 51 copies. displayed in the New International, a won by the workers' move­ received considerable publicity in Manila's The successful Guevara book launching magazine of Marxist politics and theory, of ment over more than 100 daily papers, including the Manila Chroni­ showed the interest that exists here in the which 51 copies were sold. Thirteen of the years? cle, the Philippine Daily Enquirer, Manila Cuban revolution. This was also reflected latest issue, with the feature article enti­ Standard, Business Star, Philippine Star, in the sales of 39 copies of Fidel Castro's tled, "The Second Assassination of Mau­ How can the workers' and the Manila Bulletin . The February 24 Political Strategy from Moncada to Vic­ rice Bishop," were sold . movement fight to fulfill soci­ Manila Standard and the February 23 Busi­ tory, by Marta Harnecker; 33 copies of Around 150 individual back issues of the ness Star did features on Pathfinder's latest ety's obligation toward chil­ Fidel Castro's History Will Absolve Me; Militant were sold, mostly to people seeing book Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolu­ and 36 copies of Fidel and Religion . the paper for the fi rst time. Two one-year dren and to advance women's tion, which was launched at a meeting Feb­ The Pathfinder titles on Nicaragua also and three introductory subscriptions were rights? ruary 26 during the bookfair. remain popular. The 35 copies of Nicara­ bought. Other press reports focused on another gua: The Sandinista People's Revolution The Manila fa ir was held at a big exhi­ 24 pp., $1. Order from : Pathfind­ Pathfinder/Pacific and Asia title, Fidel and were sold out , as were the 15 copies of bition center known as Philcite. It is or­ er, 410 W est St., New Yo rk, N.Y. Religion, Conversations with Frei Betta, Sandinistas Speak. ganized by the Philippine Exhibition Co. 10014. E ncl~ se 75 cents for po stage which Johanna Son in the Dec. 26, 1987, Refl ecting interest in the history of the Other displays included ones from the em­ and handling. Manila Chronicle named as among the 10 world communist movement, bookfair par­ bassies of China, the USSR, Korea, and best books of the year. ticipants bought 14 copies of Pathfi nder's Malaysia.

March 25, 1988 The Militant 9 Cura~ao socialist hails Nicaragua advances Plans cultural tour of Atlantic Coast groups to publicize autonomy example

BY HARVEY McARTHUR ity over educational, cultural, social, and MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Cura<;:ao economic affairs in their region. socialist leader Eugene Godfried recently Godfried contrasted the Nicaraguan au­ visited Nicaragua to arrange a tour of the tonomy project with the so-called autono­ Caribbean for cultural groups from Nicara­ mous governments that administer the gua's Atlantic Coast. A central goal of the Netherlands Antilles. tour will be to publicize the autonomy proj­ "What the Dutch call autonomy is auton­ ect being developed by the Indian and omy within the framework of an imperialist Black peoples of the Atlantic Coast. power," he explained. "The people of the "The Nicaraguan experience is very im­ islands elect their own local government, portant for Cura<;:ao and the entire Carib­ but you have the Dutch queen as head of bean area," Godfried said in an interview the government, and there is a governor in here. "Nicaragua has a long history of op­ the islands as the representative of the pression, submission, and dependence on queen. big capital. But they are now in the fore­ front of carrying out the big task that we all "This so-called autonomy has meant that face: to work for genuine independence." the Dutch government makes decisions Cura<;:ao is one of six small Caribbean is­ about us without even informing us. It is lands that make up the Dutch colony autonomy that keeps us submitted to the in­ known as the Netherlands Antilles. These terests of the Dutch and other transnational islands are located off the coast of Ven­ corporations." ezuela, and have a total population of 250,000. Their economy is dominated by Here he stressed, "the Nicaraguan au­ oil refineries owned by U.S., Dutch, and tonomy enhances the possibilities of the Militant/Roberto Kopec peoples' full participation in the economic, Venezuelan corporations. Eugene Godfried, leader of Action Committee for a Socialist Movement in Cura~ao. In Cura<;:ao , Godfried explained, "we social, cultural, and political spheres. It is have a double task: the fight for formal in­ for the liberation of the Nicaraguan people. dependence, and the fight for our national That is why I feel that their autonomy Godfried concluded with a brief mes­ "I believe that other countries in the re­ sage to workers and farmers of the United gion can only come to liberation through liberation just like Nicaragua." should be discussed much more with the peoples of the Caribbean." States. active support and understanding from the In Nicaragua, he said, "the people are in "The American people have been the U.S. people," Godfried continued. "We power. They are in a position to actively Publicizing the autonomy project will be first to face the ills of big capital," God­ have seen in Vietnam how the awareness respond to the ills of the society that they a major goal of the cultural tour he is or­ fried said. "I think that they have tremen­ and involvement of the American working have inherited. We have to come here to ganizing, Godfried explained. A big ad­ dous experience in working and living masses helped bring an end to the war. learn how they are working and solving vantage in touring Atlantic Coast groups is under the complicated circumstances "Therefore," he concluded, "I would their problems; how they can improve life the similarity between their music and cul­ caused by the transnational corporations make an urgent call for deepening this al­ for the workers and farmers. " tural traditions and those of much of the that are causing all our difficulties. It is im­ liance through such ways as visiting each Godfried is general secretary of the Ac­ rest of the Caribbean. This will facilitate portant for us to learn from their experi­ other's countries and through working to­ tion Committee for a Socialist Movement "establishing a dialogue between the Nica­ ences. gether as you are doing with Nicaragua." in Cura<;:ao. The Action Committee is a raguan and Caribbean peoples," he said. member of the Anti-Imperialist Organiza­ Example for farmers tions of the Caribbean and Central Ameri­ Godfried said he was also impressed ca, which groups some 37 organizations highlights with Nicaragua's land reform program. New York n1eeting from 22 countries in the Spanish-, Dutch- , Since the 1979 revolution, the workers' English-, French- , and Creole-speaking and peasants' government here has distrib­ Caribbean and Central America. He noted gains of Grenada revolution uted land to tens of thousands of landless that the Sandinista National Liberation families, directly benefiting half a million Front is also a member, "and we are giving BY MERYL LYNN FARBER These revolutions served to break the isola­ people in this country of 3.5 million. active support to them, and to the Nicara­ NEW YORK - One hundred people tion of the Cuban revolution imposed by guan people." Godfried is a leader of farm organiza­ turned out here for a meeting to mark the U.S. imperialism. tions in Cura<;:ao and helped organize pro­ ninth anniversary of the Grenada revolu­ Clark pointed to the special role the Gre­ Autonomy: example for Caribbean tests last year to demand that the govern­ tion . The March 12 event was sponsored nada revolution played in cutting across Godfried said he was particularly im­ ment distribute land to farmers and un­ by the Grenada Foundation and the Medgar language, cultural, and national divisions pressed with the experiences of local au­ employed workers. Despite the protests Evers College Student Government. that are the legacy of colonial rule and im­ tonomy being developed by the peoples of however, "we haven't got a real agrarian Wilton DeCoteau from the Grenada Foun­ perialist oppression in the Caribbean. Gre­ the Atlantic Coast. Under the autonomy reform yet, because we don' t have the type dation moderated the meeting and intro­ nada was the first revolution in an English­ law adopted last year by the revolutionary of government to do it," he said. "But the duced members in the audience from the speaking country with a majority Black government here, the Coast peoples will revolution in Nicaragua shows that it can Socialist Bloc of the Dominican Republic, population. elect local governments with wide author- be done." the Committee Against Repression in Haiti, Clark described the example set and les­ and the South West Africa People's Organi­ sons to be learned from Maurice Bishop. sation of Namibia. A representative of the Bishop understood that the revolution Cuban Mission to the United Nations was could advance only by basing itself on the Subscribe to 'Perspectiva Mundial' greeted by prolonged applause . growing involvement of workers and farm­ ers in the state, the party, and all aspects of The program opened with Themba Ntin­ social and economic life. The reversal of ga from the African N ltional Congress. this course by the counterrevolutionary Ntinga related his experie 1ces at State Uni­ U.S. out of Panama! clique led by Bernard Coard- culminat­ versity of New York at Stony Brook as an ing in the October 1983 murder of Bishop African student leader prior to the criminal and other leaders - destroyed the revolu­ U.S. invasion of Grenada in October 1983 . As a reader of the Militant tion and laid the basis for the subsequent He described the large Caribbean, African, you are familiar with our week­ U.S. invasion. and U.S. student protests against the U.S. ly coverage of the struggles of The New York celebration was one of invasion. Ntinga said he had been harassed working people around the several international meetings and events PANAMA Descubren by university officials and Suffolk County EU ataca being held in Britain, Cuba, Nicaragua, world. soberania espionaje del police as a central organizer of the protest and the Netherlands to commemorate the If you can read or are study­ panamena FBI contra actions. EUA ninth anniversary. In Grenada on March l3 ing Spanish, there is a com­ Adictos: a~_!!gu~rra Prof. Roderick Thurton from Queens the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement victimas ..CIP'C-'"1~-- plementary monthly magazine del SIDA College discussed the situation of Carib­ (MBPM) planned a series of cultural, for you: Perspectiva Mundial . PM EUA bean countries in the postcolonial period sports and political activities to mark the Niegan fianza is a Spanish-language socialist a patriota and the impact of the defeat of the Grenada day. magazine that carries many of boricua revolution. Wilton DeCoteau announced the launch-. EUA He explained that 25 years of formal in­ ing of a campaign to pressure the U.S. -.i · the same articles you read in the Muieres dan paso al frente dependence from colonial rule has pro­ posed government in Grenada to d:How Militant. en huelga duced declining social conditions for the Terry Marryshow, a leader of the MBPM, The March issue of PM in­ masses of working people in the Carib­ to practice medicine in Grenada. Mar­ Campesinos nicaraguenses bean. The policy of inviting in foreign cap­ ryshow is a young Cuban-trained doctor cludes an article about the ac­ luchan por mejoras sociales tions the U.S. government has ital, primarily U.S. capital, has failed mis­ who is being denied the right to work, de­ taken against Panama. erably. Thorton said Cuba is the only coun­ spite the desperate need for doctors in Gre­ try in the Caribbean that has moved ahead nada today. Petitions addressed to the gov­ With imperial arrogance, Subscriptions: $9 for one year; in the past 20 years, meeting the basic ernment in Grenada were circulated at the Washington's campaign is aim­ $5 for six months. Introductory necessities of life for its people. meeting. offer, $3 for five months. Steve Clark, director of Pathfinder and The New York meeting was cospon­ ed at overturning the Panama­ author of the recent article, "The Second sored by the Maurice Bishop Patriotic nian government and establish­ 0 Begin my sub with current issue. Assassination of Maurice Bishop" (New Movement Support Group; Organization ing one more subservient to the Name ______International No . 6), took up the relation­ for a Better Grenada; Militant Labor Fo­ U.S. rulers. This attack on Pan­ ship between the Grenada revolution and rum/Foro Perspectiva Mundial; Young So­ amanian sovereignty threatens Address ------recent developments in Cuba and Nicara­ cialist Alliance; Committee Against Re­ to reverse the 1977 agreement City/State/Zip ______gua. He said the current "rectification pro­ pression in Haiti; Center for Caribbean to turn the Panama Canal over cess" in Cuba, which is deepening the po­ Studies, Medgar Evers College; Center for Clip and mail to PM, 410 West St., litical understanding and involvement of Women's Devolopment, Medgar Evers to Panama by the year 2000. New York, NY 10014. Cuban workers and farmers in the building . College; Dominican Workers Party; Afri­ of socialism, would not be possible without can National Congress; and the Socialist the Grenada and Nicaraguan revolutions. Bloc.

10 The Militant March 25, 1988 At home in Nicaragua, artist discusses work on N.Y. mural project

BY ROBERTO KOPEC Baltasar Gutierrez and Bayardo Gamez. MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Amoldo They were working on another mural proj­ Guillen, one of Nicaragua's most promi­ ect in Boston and worked for a few days on nent painters and a leader of the Sandinista the Pathfinder mural during a brief visit to Association of Cultural Workers, traveled New York. Guillen completed the portrait. to the United States last October to partici­ pate in the Pathfinder Mural Project and Tours U.S. cities speak in several cities. Guillen's visit was While in the United States, Guillen also cohosted by the Pathfinder Mural Project went on a speaking tour to several cities in and Ventana, an organization of U.S. art­ New York and New Jersey and to Boston, ists supporting Nicaragua. Washington, D.C., Chicago, Minneapolis­ The mural project is a six-story-high St. Paul, and Newark, Delaware. He also pai nting on the side of the building that visited striking paper mill workers in Jay, houses Pathfinder's editorial offices and Maine. printshop in New York City. It depicts rev­ "There is great interest in general in olutionary fighters, past and present, knowing the truth about what is happening whose speeches and writings Pathfinder in Nicaragua," Guillen said. However, he publishes and distributes around the world. added, "in many cases there is also a lot of Guillen is one of a number of prominent confusion because the [U.S.] media dis­ international artists who have been helping Artist Arnoldo Guillen in his Managua studio, with his bust of Sandino. torts everything. There are some doubts paint the mural and gather support for the about the decisions made by the Nicara­ project. He painted a portrait of Augusto guan government, which are made to ap­ Cesar Sandino, the revolutionary leader pear in the media as something that they who led a workers' and peasants' army are not." against U.S. occupation forces in Nicara­ -WORI.D NEWS BRIEFS-- Thus, "Perspectiva Mundial and the gua in the 1920s and early 1930s. Guillen Militant are two very important publica­ of the islands, which the British seized also completed a portrait of Carlos Walter Rodney's death tions," he said. "I quoted them many times in 1833. Fonseca, Marxist leader and central found­ while in the United States because there are ruled an 'accident' The Organization of American States er of the Sandinista National Liberation very few news media that are reliable about held an emergency meeting in late Feb­ Front. Death by "accident" or "misadven­ what is going on, not only in Nicaragua, ture" was the unsurprising ruling deliv­ ruary to discuss the maneuvers. Several Latin American countries known as the Impressions of U.S. but in all countries of the Third World." ered in mid-February by a belated For Guillen, the most interesting thing Group of Eight demanded that London Guillen recently described his impres­ Guyanese coroner's court inquest into about the talks he gave was "the chance to cancel the exercise. sions of the United States and his experi­ the death of Walter Rodney. Rodney dialogue, to clarify things. In some cases Brazil and Uruguay, members of the ences with the Pathfinder mural in an inter­ was a prominent political figure in the there were provocative, even hostile ques­ group, canceled a scheduled trip to those view here. Caribbean and a founder of the Working tions. But these are also important because countries by Britain's junior foreign "What motivated me to participate in the People's Alliance of Guyana. He was it allows one to discuss and clarify things." minister, Tim Eggar. mural," he said , "was the political signifi­ killed in Guyana's capital of George­ town on June 13 , 1980, when a walkie­ cance of the project. It's not often that you 'U.S. not an enemy country' find the faces of Marx , Engels, Lenin, talkie rigged with explosives blew up in During one of his speaking engagements Malcolm X, and other such leaders on the his car. he was asked how it felt to be in an For years the ruling People's National walls of New York City. That political ATLANTIC "enemy" country. "I answered that I did connotation in itself made it interesting for Congress government, headed by the OCEAN not consider the United States an enemy of me. late President Forbes Burnham, refused Nicaragua. The interests of the U.S. people "Many revolutionary and social protest to.h old an official inquiry into Rodney's are the same as our interests. We fight for murals have been painted, but they were death. Many people in Guyana and the same things." done in a somewhat underground manner," around the world believed that Bum­ Guillen said he not only talked about he continued. "This time, I see very broad ham's government was behind Rodney's Nicaragua but also learned about the and important publicity [for the mural]. It death. Conceding to international pres­ United States. "What most interests us is has provoked great interest among U.S. sure, Burnham's successor Desmond this necessary communication. It is very citizens, as well as among international Hoyte ordered the coroner's hearing, important to know the reality of the United citizens living in the United States. And on which began February l and lasted nine States because one realizes that we share a world scale, artists who don't live there days. the same interests. are very much interested in participating, Appeals by the attorneys for the Rod­ "I learned that the American people also precisely because of the challenge it repre­ ney family to call two key witnesses be­ have a great desire for peace, jobs, and sents." fore the inquest were denied by Coroner The British government announced on freedom. They are struggling in one way or Guillen's many portraits of Sandino are Edwin Pratt. The two witnesses were March 6 that it would go ahead with the another, and furthermore, they have a great well known throughout the world. Refer­ Gregory Smith, a sergeant in the Guyana maneuvers involving as many as l ,000 tradition of struggle." ring to the Pathfinder mural, he said he had Defense Force, and Donald Rodney, the troops. Code-named Fire Focus, they Commenting on Pathfinder, Guillen said "a special interest in presenting an image of brother of Walter Rodney. The latter are intended to test British capability for that "it made a terrific impression, and its Sandino with a little more depth in that was with Walter Rodney when the ex­ rapidly reinforcing its military presence work is praiseworthy. Pathfinder is a pub­ mystical expression of his. I reall y put a lot plosion took place. His testimony was on the islands. It is the largest use of lishing house that I was completely un­ of interest and love in painting it, as I did key to establishing that Smith, who had British troops on the islands since the aware of previously. It was a surprise to with the portrait of Commander Carlos infiltrated the Working People's Al­ 1982 war. discover that it has been working for many Fonseca." liance, was the person who gave the years publishing important political works walkie-talkie to Walter Rodney. Fonseca's portrait had actually been that few other publishing houses are inter­ The February I Open World pub­ French gov't to started by two other Nicaraguan artists, ested in ." lished by the WPA reported that Smith now lives in Guyane, a French colony deport prisoners east of Guyana, under the name of Cyril The French government of Prime Missourians hit farm foreclosure Johnson. It also reported that Smith re­ Minister Jacques Chirac has opened up a newed his passport in 1987 at the new drive against immigrant workers in BY ARLENE RUBINSTEIN better condition today than when we ac­ Guyanese embassy in Suriname under France. It is aimed at the estimated KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For 40 years quired it." the assumed name. 10,000 prisoners in France who are from Herbert and Mary Jones farmed and paid Protesters entered the Mutual Benefit "This is not a valid attempt to deter­ the North African countries of Morocco, on their land in Caldwell County, Mis­ building. After a brief statement by the mine the circumstances surrounding the Algeria, and Tunisia. souri. Their farm is now owned by Mutual company's spokesperson, many farmers death of Dr. Walter Rodney," declared Benefit Life Insurance Co. of Newark, began to chant, "One phone call." This re­ the attorney for the Rodney family. With Under the government's deportation New Jersey. ferred to the demand that the Kansas City no material witnesses having been proposal, prisoners from North Africa office contact the company's Farm Invest­ called, the five-member jury handed who have completed half their sentences More than 100 farmers , farm activists, ment Division, which has refused to sell or down its verdict. would be given the option of early re­ and their supporters picketed the Mutual rent the farm back to the Jones family for lease in exchange for voluntarily leaving Benefit office here on February 16 to pro­ three years and in the last year has refused the country. test this absentee landlord's farm policies to meet with the Jones. British maneuvers in and practices, and their treatment of the A prominent French civil liberties When the company spokesperson re­ lawyer, Georges Kiejman, has called the Jones' family farm. the Malvinas protested fused , farmers and their supporters re­ proposal a "xenophobic and demagogic" After foreclosing on the Jones' farm in mained in the building and called by pay Several Latin American nations pro­ move by Chirac's party to draw votes the spring of 1985, the insurance com­ phone. tested plans for British military maneu­ from the ultraright National Front presi­ pany's first act of land ownership was to Friends and neighbors of the Jones fam­ vers on the Malvinas Islands, located off dential candidate, Jean-Marie Le Pen. bulldoze the farm. Photographs on an in­ ily as well as activists from Farm Alliance the coast of Argentina. Disregarding the The elections are scheduled for April 24. formational leaflet distributed at the protest of Rural Missouri, American Agriculture protest, London went ahead with the Although the government says that revealed the bulldozer's handiwork. Movement, Land Stewardship Project, Ec­ maneuvers as scheduled on March 7. the plan is simply aimed at relieving It showed jagged gullies, knocked-over umenical Rural Advocacy Network, Hun­ Argentina demands that Britain, overcrowded French jails, the March 10 trees, and pasture land scraped bare and ger Action Enabler, and others discussed which militarily occupies the islands, London Times reported that Chirac has never replanted on the once award-winning future plans. negotiate their return to Argentina. The said that France must not accept any conservation farm . Mutual Benefit 's opin­ According to Mark Schultz of the Land British government went to war with more immigrants because "we are not in ion is also quoted on the flier, "In regard to Stewardship Project, the insurance indus­ Argentina in 1982 when the South Amer­ a position to receive them with dignity the property in Caldwell County, Missouri try owns 4.1 million acres of farm land val­ ican country attempted to regain control and assure them a normal life." . . . we firmly believe this property is in ued at more than $2.3 billion.

March 25, 1988 The Militant 11 --CAlENDAR------..----Canada-----. Organisation of Namibia. 5019'12 Woodward ALABAMA ILLINOIS Ave. Sponsor: Pathfinder Bookstore. For more The Worldwide Birmingham Chicago information call (313) 961-0395. Matewan. A film based on a 1920 fight by coal Brigades Help Build the New Nicaragua. Fight for miners to unionize. Sat. , March 19, 7:30p.m. Speak-out against U.S.-backed contra war. MINNESOTA 1306 lst Ave . N. Sponsor: Militant Labor Speakers: Deidre Fitzgerald, Carrie Nelson, Minneapolis Black Rights Forum. For more information call (205) 323- Chicago-area high school students who went to Benefit for the Progressive Student Organi· Today 3079. Nicaragua in December; Brooke Webster; rep­ zation. Raise money for legal expenses for law­ Young Socialist Alliance Fundraiser. Help resentative of Young Socialist Alliance. Sat., suit against University of Minnesota for its Alabama youth attend the socialist youth and March 19, 7:30p.m. Open house and dinner, 6 harassment of Progressive Student Organiza­ Hear James Warren activists conference in Pittsburgh . Sat. , March p.m. 6826 S Stony Island Ave. Donation: $2, tion. Speakers: Meridel LeSeur, Jim Guyette, Socialist Workers Party candi­ 26, 7 p.m. 1306 lst Ave. N. Donation: $5. dinner $3 . Sponsor: YSA. For more informa­ others. Music by the Maroons . Sat. , March 19, date for U.S. president Sponsor: YSA . For more information call (205) tion call (312) 363-7322. 7 p.m. People's Center, 2000 S 5th St. Dona­ 323-3079. United States Economic and Social Crisis: tion: $5-$10. For more information call (612) Montreal What's Coming After the Stock Market 644-6325 . Crash. Speaker: Omari Musa, National Com­ Sat., March 19, 7:30p.m. 4274 CALIFORNIA Fiesta El Salvador. In commemoration of mittee Socialist Workers Party. Sat., March 26, Archbishop Oscar Romero. Speaker: Gustavo Papineau, No. 302. For more in­ San Francisco 7:30p.m. Dinner and open house, 6 p.m. 6826 Acosta, representative of Revolutionary Demo­ Art in the New Nicaragua. A talk with slides formation call (514) 524-7992. S Stony Island Ave. Donation: $2, dinner $3 . cratic Front-Farabundo Marti National Libera­ by Carlos Montenegro Altamirano, award-win­ Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ tion Front. Salvadoran dinner, music . Sat. , ning Nicaraguan painter; Ray Patlan, communi­ mation call (312) 363-7322 or 363-7 I 36. Toronto March 26 , 6:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Church, Sat., March 26, 8 p.m. 410 Ade­ ty muralist; Jim Prigoff, documenter of mural 2730 E 31st St. Also, at same location at 5 and spray-can art. Sat. , March 19 . Reception, IOWA p.m., Mirna Anaya, Salvadoran human rights laide St. W, Suite 400. For more 6:30; program, 7:30 p.m. Mission Cultural Des Moines activist, will speak. A former judge and lawyer information call (416) 861-1399. Center, 2868 Mission St. (at 25th). Donation: U.S. Hands OtT Panama! Speakers: Ellen for political prisoners, she is the widow of Her­ $3 . Sponsor: Pathfinder Mural Project, Mission Whitt, Socialist Workers Party , member United bert Anaya, human rights leader who was assas­ Grafica, Centro Cultural Nicaragiiense; Com­ Food and Commercial Workers Union Local sinated by the death squads last October. Dona­ mittee in Solidarity with the People of El Sal­ 431, antiwar activist. Sat., March 19, 7:30p.m. tion: $3 . and other music; Orientaci6n, cultural group of vador NW Region; others. For more informa­ 2105 Forest Ave. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Mili­ young Dominicans; Kevin O'Keefe, a juggler tion call (415) 282-6255 . St. Paul who just returned from Nicaragua, member tant Labor Forum. For more information call Support Self-determination: End U.S. Inter· Dance/Baile. Help Maestros por Ia Paz send (515) 246-1695 . Ventana and Bread and Puppet Theater. 79 vention in Central America. Rally, march, teachers and material aid to Nicaragua. Latin Stop Government Attacks on Democratic Leonard St. Sponsor: Young Socialist Alliance. rhythms, rumba, merengue, salsa. Sat., March and commemorative service. Sun ., March 27 . For more information call (212) 219-3679. Rights. Speakers: Hector Marroquin, national Assemble at State Capitol 5 p.m.; rally 5:30 19, 8 p.m. 362 Capp St. (between 18th and 19th labor spokesperson for the Political Rights De­ In Defense of Tawana Brawley. Speaker: streets). Donation: Sliding $3-$5. Sponsor: sharp, march to Cathedral of St. Paul6: 15 p.m.; fense Fund; Ed Sparks, secretary-treasurer, service at 7 p.m. Sponsor: Central America James Harris, national leader, Socialist Work­ Maestros por Ia Paz. For more information call Teamsters Local 387; Alfredo Alvarez, chair­ ers Party; others. Translation to Spanish. Fri., (415) 824-9380. Week/Peace Action Committee. For more in­ person, Des Moines Human Rights Commis­ formation call (612) 378-1460 or 379-8799. March 25, 7:30p.m. 79 Leonard St. Donation: Annual Fun Run for Salvadoran Teachers. sion; Don Zmolek, retired National Farm Or­ $3 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum/Foro Per­ Sun., March 20, 9 a.m. Golden Gate Park Polo ganization organizer; Pat Kearns, member New MISSOURI spectiva Mundial . For more information call Field. Donation: $12. Sponsor: Committee in Wave, University of Iowa, participated in dem­ (212) 226-8445. Solidarity with ANDES. onstrations demanding CIA off campus; John St. Louis Give Peace a Dance. Benefit for tecNICA and Art in the New Nicaragua. Speaker: Carlos Tinker, plaintiff in 1960s Supreme Court case Defend the Framed-up Kentucky Coal Min· the Nicaragua Medical Aid Campaign. Afro­ Montenegro Altamirano, award-winning Nica­ involving high school rights; Mark Curtis, ers. Speaker: Mary Zins, member United Mine Caribbean music with the Harp Band. Sat. , raguan painter. Tue ., March 22, 7:30p.m. San member United Food and Commercial Workers Workers of America, Socialist Workers Party. March 26, 10 p.m. Manhattan Plaza, 66 E 4th Francisco Art Institute Lecture Hall , 800 Local 431, political activist and victim of police Translation to Spanish. Sat., March 19, 7 p.m. St. Donation: $10 in advance, $12 at door. For Chestnut St. Sponsor: Pathfinder Mural Project. frame-up and brutality. Translation to Spanish. 4907 Martin Luther King Dr. Donation: $2 . more information call (212) 496-6945. For more information call (415) 282-6255 . Sun ., March 27, 3 p.m. Des Moines Valley Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ U.S. Hands OtT Panama! Speaker: Matilde Friends Meeting House, 4211 Grand Ave. mation call (314) 361-0250. Zimmermann, Socialist Workers Party, mem­ Sponsor: PROF. For more information call The World Economic and Social Crisis. NORTH CAROLINA ber International Ladies' Garment Workers' (515) 246-1695. Speaker: Tom Leonard, Socialist Workers Party Union, attended 1987 Central America wom­ candidate for U.S. Senate. Translation to Greensboro en's conference. Translation to Spanish. Sat. , MASSACHUSETTS Spani sh. Sat. , March 26, 7 p.m. 4907 Martin Report on International Miners' Confer· March 26, 7:30p.m. 3284 23rd St . (near Mis­ Luther King Dr. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Mili­ ence. Speaker: Libby Lindsay, member United sion) . Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Boston tant Labor Forum. For more information call Mine Workers of America, attended 1987 Inter­ Forum. For more information call (415) 282- Defend Democratic Rights; Rally to Stop (314) 361-0250. national Miners' Conference for Peace and Dis­ Police Spying. Speakers: Hector Marroquin, 6255. armament and Against Apartheid held in Aus­ Political Rights Defense Fund representative; tralia. Sun., March 20, 7 p.m. 2219 E Market. Michael A very , National Lawyers Guild; Franz NEBRASKA Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ FLORIDA Minuty, Committee in Solidarity with Haiti ; Omaha mation call (919) 272-5996. Elias Castro, Hartford 15 defendant; representa­ United Mine Workers of America On Strike. The Fight Against Racism: a Look at Robe­ Miami tive from Civil Liberties Union of Mas­ Eyewitness report on March 12 solidarity rally son County. A representative of the Robeson U.S. Hands OtT Panama! Speakers: Marty An­ sachusetts; representative from New England in Sheridan, Wyoming. Panel discussion . County Justice Committee will speak on the de­ derson , Socialist Workers Party . Sat., March Central America Network. Sat. , March 19, 7:30 Translation to Spanish. Sat., March 19, 7:30 fense case of Eddie Hatcher and Timothy 19, 7:30 p.m. Translation to Spanish. 137 NE p.m. Service Employees International Union p.m. 140 S 40th St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Jacobs, two Native American activists who took 54th St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Local 285 , 145 Tremont St. , 7th floor. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more information over a newspaper office to draw attention to rac­ Forum. For more information call (305) 756- PROF. For more information call (617) 247- call (402) 553-0245 . ist policies in that county. Sun ., March 27, 7 1020. 6772. Cuba Today. An 11-part weekly educational p.m. 2219 E Market St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: series. Tuesdays at 6:30p.m. and Saturdays at 2 Militant Labor Forum. For more information GEORGIA MICHIGAN p.m., through April 16. 140 S 40th St. Dona­ call (919) 272-5996. Detroit tion for series: $1 .50. Sponsor: Young Socialist Atlanta Alliance, Socialist Workers Party, Pathfinder Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution. Defend Irish Political Prisoners. Speaker: Ei­ Bookstore. For more information call ( 402) Speakers: Liz Ziers, Socialist Workers Party, leen Mcllkearny, Irish activist interned in Ar­ WISCONSIN 553-0245. member United Transportation Union Local magh women's prison; video on strip searches. Milwaukee 51 I ; Robin Singer, member Atlanta Committee Sun. , March 20, 7:30p.m. 5019'12 Woodward Behind the U.S. Drive Against Panama. On Latin America; Joseph Frank, Young Ave. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor NEW YORK Speaker: Bill Breihan, longtime socialist and Socialist Alliance . Translation to Spanish. Sat., Forum. For more information call (313) 961- Manhattan labor activist; others to be announced. Sat. , March 19, 7:30 p.m. 132 Cone St. NW, 2nd 0395. U.S. Hands OtT Panama! Speaker: Osborne March 19, 7:30pm. 4707 W Lisbon Ave. Do­ floor. Donation: $2.50. Sponsor: Militant Labor Grand Opening of Pathfinder Bookstore. Hart, Socialist Workers Party. Translation to nation: $3 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For Forum. For more information call (404) 577- Sat. , March 26. Noon to 6 p.m., videos un Spanish. Fri ., March 18 , 7:30p.m. 79 Leonard more information call (414) 445-2076. 4065. South Africa, labor, Malcolm X, Cuba, and Ire­ St. Donation: $3 . Sponsor: Militant Labor U.S. Hands Off Panama! Speaker: Marilee land. Program of greetings at 7:30p.m. by Gina Forum/Foro Perspectiva Mundial. For more in­ Taylor, Socialist Workers Party, member Aranki , Palestine Aid Society; Kathy Gonzalez, formation call (212) 226-8445. Labor news in the Militant United Transportation Union Local 1245 . Nicaraguan solidarity activist; Emirene Men­ Young Socialist Alliance Fundraising Party. The Militant stays on top of the most im­ Translation to Spanish. Sun., March 27, 6:30 doza, Guatemalan Solidarity Committee; Joan­ Raise money for transportation to national portant developments in the labor move­ p.m. 132 Cone St . NW, 2nd floor. Donation: neUe Nitz, Michigan Coalition for Human Socialist Youth and Activists Conference in ment. You won't miu them ifyou eubecribe. $2.50. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For Rights; Dick Soble , National Lawyers Guild; Pittsburgh. Sat., March 19, 8 p.m. DJ Fitz Pol­ See the ad on page 2 for eubecription rates. more information call (404) 577-4065. and Jackson Swarz, South West Africa People's lard with rock, salsa, reggae, merengue, disco, --IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP·------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA , 6826 S. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin Luther 16412. Tel: (814) 398-2754. Philadelphia: Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder Stony Island Ave . Zip: 60649. Tel: (312) 363- King Dr. Zip: 63113. Tel: (314) 361-0250. SWP, YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: bookstores. 7322. NEBRASKA: Omaha: SWP, YSA, 140 S. 19133. Tel: (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, INDIANA: Muncie: YSA, c/o Brian 40th St. Zip: 68131. Tel: (402) 553-0245. YSA, 4905 Penn Ave . Zip: 15224. Tel: ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA , Johnson, 619'12 N. Dill St. Zip: 47303 . Tel: NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 (412) 362-6767. 1306 1st Ave. N. Zip: 35203 . Tel: (205) 323- (317) 747-8543 . Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. New TEXAS: Austin: YSA , c/o Mike Rose, 7409 3079. IOWA: Des Moines: SWP, YSA, 2105 For­ Brunswick: YSA , c/o Keith Jordan, 149 Somer­ Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923 . ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1809 W. est Ave. Zip: 50311. Tel : (515) 246-1695 . set St. Zip: 08903. Tel: (201) 828-1874. Houston: SWP, YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Indian School Rd . Zip: 85015 . Tel : (602) 279- LOUISIANA: New Orleans: YSA , P.O. NEW YORK: Albany: YSA , c/o Lisa Sand­ Tel: (713) 522-8054. 5850. Tucson: YSA , c/o Ursula Kolb, P.O. Box 53224. Zip: 70153. Tel: (504) 484-6418. berg, 120 Lark St. Zip: 12210. Tel: (518)463- UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA , 23 S. Carbon Ave., Box 853. Zip: 85702-0852. Tel: (602) 795- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA , 8001 . Mid-Hudson: YSA , Box 1042, Annan­ Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501 . Tel: (801) 2146. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) dale . Zip: 12504. Tel: (914) 758-0408. New 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 147 E. CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA , 235-0013. York: SWP, YSA , 79 Leonard St. Zip: 900 South. Zip: 84111 . Tel: (801) 355-1124. 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA , c/o 10013 . Tel: (212) 219-3679 or 925-1668. VIRGINIA: Portsmouth: YSA , P.O. Box 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3702 Telegraph David Warshawshky, P.O. Box 1383 , Hamp­ Pathfinder Books, 226-8445 . Stony Brook: 6538, Churchland Station. Zip: 23707. Ave. Zip: 94609. Tel: (415) 420-1165 . San shire College. Zip: 01002. Tel: (413) 549-4843 . YSA, P.O. Box 1384, Patchogue, N.Y. Zip: WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA , Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: Boston: SWP, YSA , 605 Massachusetts Ave. 11772. 3165 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255 . Seaside: YSA, c/o Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) 247-6772. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, (202) 797-7699; 797-7021. Brian Olewude, 1790 Havana St. Zip: 93955. MICHIGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 5019'12 YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel : (919) WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, Tel: (408) 394-7948. Woodward Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 831- 272-5996. 5517 Rainier Ave . South. Zip: 98118. Tel: FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE 1177. OHIO: Cleveland: SWP, YSA , 2521 Mar­ (206) 723-5330. 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. MINNESOTA: Austin: SWP, YSA , 407 112 ket Ave. Zip: 44113. Tel : (216) 861-6150. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: N. Main Zip: 55912. Tel: (507) 433-3461. Columbus: YSA , P.O. Box 02097. Zip: YSA, 116 McFarland St. Zip: 25301 . Tel: (304) YSA , P.O. Box 20715 . Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) Twin Cities: SWP, YSA , 508 N. Snelling 43202. 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA , 221 877-9338. Ave ., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel : (612) 644- OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296-0055. GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA , 132 Cone 6325 . Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, St. NW , 2nd Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel : (404) 577- MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA , PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, c/o 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 4065 . 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0224. Mark Mateja, Edinboro University qf Pa. Zip: 445-2076.

12 The Militant March 25, 1988 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------They care- Workers at nine rate - and the compensation Corp. was ordered to recall45,000 lounge made from sheets of corru­ foods . When you take it home, USG Corp. plants have been told claims. ionizing air guns used in the food, gated cardboard, plus a pillow of you can peruse the Sears catalog to quit smoking or be fired. They beverage, pharmaceutical, and crushed paper. $4,500. A neat and choose between 166 varieties make tiles and insulation contain­ And that despite the role mod­ cosmetics industries to control idea, if the ceiling doesn't leak. and styles of window blinds. ing mineral fibers . The fiber els - A survey found that 43 per­ static electricity and remove dust. causes lung cancer, with a higher cent of teenagers who attend So far radiation contamination has Nothing's perfect- Sixty-one Spiritual offering - A toy evangelical churches had engaged been found at 118 plants. But, the percent of the more than I ,000 company will offer "Special Bless­ in sex by age 18, and a third of feds assure, the radiation levels hazardous waste sites operated by ings," a kneeling doll with hands them declined to brand sex outside are "virtually" harmless. the government - mainly by the clasped in prayer. The maker said marriage as immoral. Defense Department - are known studies showed a growing interest Reasonable chap - "Com­ to have released dangerous sub­ in religion and "traditional val­ The march of science - A promises have to be made between stances into the surrounding air, ues." $20. Harry Florida company is doing a brisk what is best in environmental land, and water. "The numbers business freeze drying deceased terms and what is commercially don't surprise me," a federal waste Funniest assertion of the week Ring pets. A bit stiff, but otherwise viable and desirable."-Nicholas coordinator said philosophically. - "We don't feed masses of quite lifelike. The company says Ridley, Britain's chief guardian of people. We feed individuals." ­ there's no technological barriers to the environment. Freedom of choice - In your A spokesperson for Creative rate reported among smokers. The doing the same with people. supermarket you have, on the av­ Gourmets Ltd., which puts out company assumes the ban on Decorator tip A Santa erage, a choice of 128 dry cereals, 54,000 meals a day in 60 company smoking will reduce the cancer But not to worry- The 3M Monica shop offers a chaise 204 soups, and more than 120 pet cafeterias. Palestine and Arabs' fight for national liberation

Continued from Page 5 out but to transfer the Arabs from here to one-third, of them Jewish. troops. Only 20,000-25,000 took the field stated - report that 2,000 Arabs were the neighboring countries; to transfer all of Among Arabs, however, the forced par­ against the battle-tested Israeli troops - killed in suppressing the rebellion, while them; not one village, not one tribe should tition of Palestine was seen as a terrible including tens of thousands of settlers who I 00 freedom fighters were hanged for their be left." blow to their independence. Their repre­ had fought in World War II. role in it. In the course of World War II, anticolo- sentatives denounced the measure in the The Israeli forces defeated the Arab re­ nial struggles gained steam in many parts The British imperialists got strong back­ U.N. And the Arab League - made up of gimes and seized still more Palestinian ter­ of the world. At the same time, the Euro­ representatives of governments of Arab ritory. ing in the war from the Zionist organiza­ pean imperialist powers emerged from the tions in Palestine. They enlisted the for­ countries - pledged to resist. At the same time, Egyptian forces took war in a weakened condition. Over the next As Palestinian and other Arab guerrillas control of the Gaza Strip, and the Jordanian mally underground Zionist militia to com­ decades they were forced to concede inde­ bat the Arabs, and established a 20,000- began to resist the imposition of partition, monarchy occupied the parts of Palestine pendence to the overwhelming majority of the Zionist forces largely ended attacks on on the West Bank of the Jordan River that member Jewish Settlement Police. Joint their former colonies. British-settler night patrols were formed. British forces and stepped up "reprisals" on had not been captured by Israeli forces. In the immediate wake of World War II, Palestinian villages. The initial aim was to The Palestinian statelet promised under the The crushing of the 1936-39 Arab revolt French forces were compelled to withdraw made it possible for the Zionist colonialists crush Palestinian resistance and consoli­ UN partition plan had been completely from Syria. Syria and Lebanon became in­ date the Jewish majority in the areas allot­ swallowed up. to press harder against the Palestinian dependent of France, and Jordan of Brit­ people. ted to Israel. ain. British forces had to pull out of Egypt The Zionist armies then began to seize Israeli state "The Jewish community emerged from and Iraq. the areas allotted to the Palestinian state by Israel now held nearly four-fifths of the these dangerous 1936 events in a stronger But these newly independent states re­ the partition resolution. On April 9, 1948, territory that formerly constituted Pales­ position as a result of the strong support it mained weak and backward, dominated by 254 unarmed inhabitants in the Palestinian tine. Of the approximately 859,000 Arabs received from the British government and landlords and ruled in many cases by village of Deir Yassin were murdered by who had lived in these areas, only 133,000 army in Palestine," the Israeli daily monarchies set up by the imperialists . Zionist military units. This and other "re­ remained. The rest - aside from those Haaretz summed up three decades later. U.S. imperialism, the real victor in prisals" against Palestinian villages delib­ killed - had been driven into exile. "It "This confrontation with the British ... World War II, moved rapidly to extend its erately aimed to set off a massive flight of was a miraculous clearing of the land," caused the destruction of Arab military influence in the Middle East into areas Palestinians in the path of the Israeli exulted Israeli President Chaim Weiz­ strength in Palestine and was responsible where the French and British capitalists forces. mann, "the miraculous simplification of Is­ for the partial elimination of Arab leader­ were being forced to pull back. In a situa­ "The Arabs began fleeing in panic, shout­ rael's task." ship in the country." tion where direct imperialist rule and occu­ ing 'Deir Yassin,'" boasted Menachem The defeat dealt the Palestinian people in pation of the region was clearly in decline, Begin, a future prime minister oflsrael. By their struggle to prevent the colonization of A 1940 diary entry by Joseph Weitz, the U.S. rulers saw the Zionist colonization the time the State of Israel was proclaimed their homeland and their own disposses­ onetime head of the Colonization Depart­ of Palestine as a potentially powerful on May 15 , 1948, 200,000 Palestinians sion was a big blow to the freedom struggle ment of the Jewish Agency, an organ of the weapon against anti-imperialist struggles had been driven from their homes and out across the Middle East. World Zionist Organization that often in the region. Washington emerged as the of the territory of the Israeli state. The next article will take up some of the worked closely with the British adminstra­ strongest backer of the drive to create an Is­ In the wake of the proclamation of the advances that the Arab struggle to end im­ tion, stated the goal frankly: raeli capitalist state in the Palestinians' new state, units of the Syrian, Jordanian, perialist domination made in the coming "Between ourselves it must be clear that homeland. Lebanese, Iraqi, and Egyptian, and Saudi years and how these affected the Palestin­ there is no room for both peoples together Washington and the Zionist organiza­ Arabian troops crossed the border into Pal­ ian people's democratic struggle against Is­ in this country. . . . The only solution is tions viewed the tens of thousands of estine. Between them, these countries rael and its imperialist backers. These Palestine, at least Western Palestine, with­ Jewish refugees who had survived Hitler's maintained a total of no more than 80,000 events culminated in the June 1967 war. out Arabs . . .. And there is no other way anti-Semitic extermination campaign as reinforcements for the operation. To a con­ siderable extent their settlement in Europe New York students and North America was systematically -10 AND 25 YEARS AGO--- hear professor fired blocked, and they were urged to pour into eliminate the entire Palestinian population. Palestine. About 70,000 new settlers ar­ It would be another genocide." for political ideas rived in Palestine soon after the war ended. THE MILITANT In May 1946 an Anglo-American Com­ March 24, 1978 mission of Inquiry recommended the im­ BY DEBORAH LIATOS mediate admission to Palestine of 100,000 THE PURCHASE, N.Y. - Fred Dube spoke Striking on a 40-mile front, the Israeli Jews who were being held in refugee army invaded Lebanon March 14. Pre­ to 90 people attending a meeting on March camps in Europe. In the big-business 10 at the State University of New York at ceded by artillery barrages and air strikes, MILITANT media, this cynical exploitation of the refu­ Publi,hed in the lntere•h of the Workin9 People Purchase to protest apartheid in South Af­ at least 10,000 Israeli troops, led by col­ March 25, 1963 Price 10s gees was hailed as humanitarian, while the umns of tanks, crossed the Lebanese bor­ rica. Palestinians' resistance to the seizure of Dube is a leader of the African National der. Others landed by sea on the Lebanese their homeland was decried as anti-Semi­ The United States government mortally Congress of South Africa who has been de­ coast. tism. fears a free exchange of ideas with Cuba. It nied tenure at the State University of New The pretext for Israel's invasion was the is seeking to impose thought control on York at Stony Brook because of his politi­ Conquest of Palestine March II Palestinian guerrilla attack that Latin America and is prepared to crush any cal views. The British rulers, however, resisted killed 34 Israelis along the Haifa-Tel Aviv The meeting was sponsored by the New traditional civil liberties that stand in the turning over their colony to the Zionists road. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Be­ way. That is the clearest fact to come out of York Public Interest Research Group, and their backers. This led them at times to gin seized this as an opportunity to launch a Latinos Unidos, and the student govern­ the Costa Rica conference last week be­ seek to halt or slow the influx of settlers. campaign of terror against the Palesti nians. ment at SUNY Purchase. tween President John F. Kennedy and the The Zionist-organized armies, which heads of state of the five Central American Dube explained how the apartheid sys­ The Israeli high command described its eventually came to number well over governments and Panama. tem of racism developed in South Africa. attack on Lebanon as "a purifying opera­ 60,000 in this period, responded with a ter­ "We will build a wall around Cuba," He described the struggle against apartheid tion," claiming: "The Israel Defense Forc­ rorist campaign against British soldiers and said Kennedy as the conference opened. today and the need for solidarity from the es do not intend to harm the population, the officials , as well as against Palestinians. Kennedy asserted it would be a wall of people of the United States. Lebanese army, or the Pan-Arab [Syrian] Finall y, the British government yielded. "freedom." Many students took information on force, but rather the terrorists and their Dube's case and signed petitions to urge After an intensive campaign by U.S. helpers." A six-point plan to this effect was pre­ that tenure be granted to him immediately. diplomats, the United Nations General As­ pared by the United States government, For more information on Dube's fi ght, sembly voted 33-13 on Nov. 17 , 1947, to It insisted that "the goal of the operation discussed among the officials at the confer­ write the Committee to Support Prof. E. call for the end of British rule and the par­ is to root out the bases of the terrorists." ence, and reportedly presented to the con­ titioning of Palestine into Jewish and Pales­ Fred Dube, 126, W. I 19th St., New York, But the truth is that what the Zionist ference itself, where the proceedings were tinian states. This move also got the back­ N.Y. 10026. command calls "terrorist bases" are vil­ secret. A news service dispatch said, "The ing of the Soviet government headed by lages and refugee camps housing tens of six points include: I. Greater control over Joseph Stalin. thousands of people. Zehdi Labib Terzi, the movement of Latin Americans to and The proposed partition provided for an This publication is available the Palestine Liberation Organization rep­ from Communist bloc nations, especially in microform from University Israeli state covering 54 percent of Pales­ Cuba. 2. Tighter reigns on the flow of tine (where the population of 900,000 was resentative at the United Nations, warned Microfilms International. in reply to Israeli statements that the aim of Communist propaganda in Latin Ameri­ ( :aU toU-freP 800-521< 1044. O r mail inqlllr\- l o 55 percent Jewish) and a Palestinian state ca. 3. Restrictions through effective police l 'niVt!r silv Mi!" rofilms ln!Prna tuma l. :100 North the invasion was to destroy the PLO: Zt!Ph RwHi. Ann Arbor. Ml 48Hl6. in the remainder. In 194 7 Palestine had a action on the traditional rights of citizens to population of I ,835,000 - 608,000, or "They can't destroy the PLO unless they demonstrate."

March 25, 1988 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS------More discussion Gallaudet: 'Idea becomes reality' with readers on Palestine struggle "It's a historic moment for deaf people in the world. impaired hearing, ranging from a hearing loss to deaf­ We will no longer accept limits on what we can achieve. ness. Most of them, including the great majority of the 8 BY DOUG JENNESS Students showed us that we can seize an idea with such million with significant hearing loss in both ears, are el­ We've published two letters that take issue with the force that it becomes a reality." derly. Less than I million are totally deaf. column I wrote, "A discussion with readers on the Pales­ This observation, by Irving King Jordan, the new pres­ The revolution of rising expectations among deaf tinian revolt," in our February 26 issue. The first by ident of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., cap­ people was inspired by the Black civil rights movement's David Finkel from Detroit was printed in the March 11 tures the central accomplishment of the week-long strug­ militant and successful fight against segregation based on Militant and the other by Jack Fields from Minneapolis gle of the students, faculty, staff, and alumni. skin color. appears in this issue on the facing page. Both raise points Gallaudet is the only liberal arts college in the world "It's our Selma," was how one graduate student at Gal­ that merit clarification. for deaf people and the only university in the United laudet described the struggle there, referring to the 1965 First, however, I will repeat the main theme of my ar­ States for the hearing impaired. civil rights battles in Alabama. And a college staff mem­ ticle. I stated, "The fight against military rule in the West The students won three of their four demands: that the ber commented, "In some real way, this is an extension Bank and Gaza and for democratic rights and land to new college president, for the first time in the school's of that movement. It's 20 years late, but things always history, should be a person who is hearing-impaired; that come late to the deaf community." the chairperson of the college board, who opposed the Because deafness makes it difficult to communicate, protests, should resign; and that the school administration the deaf have traditionally had difficulties getting inte­ LEARNING ABOUT would take no reprisals against anyone involved in what they called "our historical movement." The fourth de­ grated into society. Many people tend to equate hearing impairment with a SOCIALISM mand, that a new board be appointed with deaf people lack of intelligence. Thus deaf children are often put into making up half its members is still pending. classes for children with learning disabilities. Hence the Practically overnight, this campus struggle became a those whose lands have been stolen is an imp0rtant part emphasis by protesters on the fact that "we're deaf, not national focal point for the frustrations and demands of all of mobilizing the forces" that can overturn the Israeli hearing-impaired people. And its success is their victory. dumb." state and establish a democratic, secular Palestine. But it is something else as well: it marks another step In movies, stores, restaurants, banks, and other public I explained that the road of the Palestinian democratic forward in the fight by all of progressive humanity to ex­ places, deaf people are generally either scorned or ig­ revolution will lead to overturning the Israeli govern­ pand the category of people considered to be truly nored. ment, not to the Israeli government withdrawing from human, with the same rights and responsibilities as other Deaf people are routinely denied access to jobs, pro­ Palestine - all of which was forcibly brought under Is­ members of society. Deaf people are taking their rightful motions, and schools of all kinds. raeli domination between 1947 and 1967. Nor will the place next to Blacks, Latinos, women, gays, the phys­ Even where hearing-impaired workers are hired, they right to self-determination be achieved through the for­ ically handicapped, and others who have fought to have are often the targets of abuse and discrimination. For ex­ mation of a Palestinian ministate adjacent to Israel. their humanity recognized . ample, the postal service, which has a special recruitment This view that the solution to the Palestinian question The main point, argued those who stood for the resig­ program for the deaf, paid them half what other workers is an "independent" Palestine alongside a slightly re­ nation of the recently appointed college president- who were paid and made their probation period three times as duced Israel is prevalent today among liberals, and even was not hearing impaired and who didn't know sign lan­ long as for workers without hearing problems. Last year many who regard themselves as socialists. guage - was that deaf people are sick and tired of being they were forced by the Equal Employment Opportunity A welcome contrast to this stance was the advertise­ people whom things were done for and to. They want in­ Commission to end this two-tier scam. ment in the March 13 Sunday New York Times, signed by stead to be the subjects of their own destinies; they want There's been an increase in other deaf-rights court more than 300 individuals. It stated that the tyranny suf­ the opportunity to be equal leaders with others. cases, involving equal access to employment and educa­ fered in the West Bank and Gaza today is a continuation The struggle at Gallaudet dealt a blow to prejudices tion. Victories in these cases stand on the shoulders of the of the way "all of Palestine was colonized." The ad called and bigotry of every kind. And it put the government and civil rights movement, which was responsible for win­ for dismantling the Israeli state and "replacing it with a employers on notice that discrimination against those ning the legislation that made the government responsible democratic secular Palestine, where Jews and Arabs, with hearing problems is repugnant to the majority and for upholding equal rights. Christians and Moslems, live together with equal rights will not be tolerated. The fight for greater rights for deaf people has also and opportunities." (See article on page 5.) Because working people in this class-divided society been spurred by the advances in technology which can Fields seems to think that as a result of its perspective suffer the most from every form of physical handicap and enable deaf and hearing-impaired people to use tele­ on Palestine, the Militant doesn't support the fight of Pal­ every kind of social discrimination, all workers and farm­ phones and watch television. estinians on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip to get ers, whether they have hearing problems or not, should Commenting on the victory, a Gallaudet alumni said, Israeli military forces off their backs. But even a casual give a special salute to the young fighters at Gallaudet. "What's happening now is just the beginning of an en­ reading of theM ilitant since the current uprising began in tirely different future for us because things will never go December - and for many years before - would show • back the way they were last week." More than 21 million people in the United States have that this is false. Fields also implies that the Palestinian fighters in the current upsurge are demanding an "independent state" in the West Bank and Gaza. But whenever the views of the U.S. troops out of Honduras! Palestinian youths find a way into the capitalist media, they say they are fighting for all of Palestine. We've unambiguously expressed our solidarity with tral American heads of state last August. Continued from front page the Palestinian struggle and called for an end to Israeli dinista troops have crossed our border. What I can say for Washington's mercenary war against Nicaragua has military rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. An edito­ certain is that no Honduran military units are engaged in cost the lives of tens of thousands of Nicaraguans and has rial in our March 4 issue, for example, solidarized with a any combat in that area or anywhere else." maimed many others. Farms , schools, hospitals, and series of specific demands that are being raised by the Administration officials claimed that Honduran Presi­ other vitally needed resources have been destroyed. Palestinians for democratic rights and an end to repres­ dent Jose Azcona Hoyo requested U.S. military assis­ When the Nicaraguans attempt to defend themselves sion. We backed the call for an end to Israeli military rule tance against Nicaraguan forces. The alleged request was against this U.S.-organized invasion, Washington hyp­ and getting Israeli troops out of the West Bank and Gaza. reported after Azcona met with the U.S. ambassador to ocritically accuses them of threatening their neighbors. his country, and hours after the U.S. forces that have In Congress, Democratic and Republican leaders have The struggle around these demands will help to edu­ been sent to Honduras had been placed on alert. gone along with the administration's frame-up of Nicara­ cate, mobilize, and organize Palestinians for building a "That left the clear implication," reported the March gua. Democratic Speaker of the House James Wright mass movement that can overturn the Israeli government 17 New York Times , "that the idea for the troop deploy­ warned March 6, "We would regard an invasion as a very and carry through a democratic revolution. ment had come from Washington." serious matter" and demanded that Nicaraguan "troops be Finkel sarcastically "wonders whether Jenness' sudden This is not the first time the Reagan administration has returned immediately." enthusiasm for the territorial concept of Greater Israel shouted about a Nicaraguan invasion of Honduras to jus­ Majority Whip Tony Coelho (D.-Calif.) blamed will next find him calling the West Bank 'Judea and tify coming to the aid of the contras, threatening Nicara­ House Republicans for not having backed a proposal by Samaria.'" gua, and expanding the U.S. military presence in Hon­ Democratic leaders to provide $30 million in "humanitar­ Finkel places greater weight than I do on the fact that duras. And each time that Washington does this the ian" funding for the contra war. "The Republicans aban­ the West Bank and Gaza are not formally annexed to Is­ danger of a possible invasion of Nicaragua itself is posed . doned the contras to the politics of cynicism," he said. rael like the parts of Palestine conquered before 1967. In March 1986, the administration used the pretext of a The Democrats' proposal was rejected by a narrow mar­ This reflects the assumption of most liberals and radicals Nicaraguan "invasion" to justify sending U.S. helicop­ gin March 3, in part by Republicans and Democrats who that those parts of Israel that the regime has incorporated ters to transport Honduran troops and shipping $20 mil­ favored a Republican-sponsored funding measure. Presi­ are legitimate parts of Israel, while those they have not lion in military aid to Honduras . Congress echoed the in­ dent Reagan's proposal to fund the war was narrowly de­ annexed are "Palestine." vasion propaganda as its excuse for voting a $100 million feated in the House in February. This juridical relation is simply the method that the Is­ appropriation to aid the contras. All opponents of U.S. intervention in Central America raeli rulers have used to incorporate the Palestinians as a A year later John Ferch, who had been U.S. ambas­ should respond to the U.S. government's latest war superexploited part of the country's working class. sador at the time the Honduran government requested moves by stepping up our efforts to get out the truth about The recent events have highlighted the fact that in the U.S. help, described how he ordered Azcona to call for Washington's role as the real aggressor in Central Amer­ past 20 years thousands of Palestinians have been driven assistance against a nonexistent invasion. ica. News conferences, picket lines, and other activities off their land and out of their trades and into working jobs "You've got to get a letter up there right now ," he re­ are needed. in Israeli factories and capitalist farms. called telling the Honduran president. "This is absurd, These activities can contribute to building the broad The Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza but you've got to do it." national antiwar, anti-nuclear weapons actions that have have become an important component of the working It is not the Nicaraguan government, but the U.S. rul­ been called for June II, as well as important local an­ class in Israel and therefore is in a potentially even ers who are trampling on the sovereignty of Honduras tiwar protests such as the march and rally to be held in stronger position to help lead the struggle of all working and occupying its territory. Under Washington's pres­ San Francisco April 30. people - both Arabs and Jews - against the Israeli sure, the Honduran rulers have allowed the U.S. govern­ By protesting the current escalation and building broad capitalist rulers. ment to take over parts of the country that border on Nic­ protests such as those set for April 30 and June 11, foes The "territorial concept of Greater Israel," that Finkel aragua. These areas are used to provide bases for a U.S.­ of U.S. intervention can make our demands heard loud asserts enthuses me should not enthuse anyone who sup­ organized mercenary army carrying out a bloody war of and clear: ports the Palestinian struggle. But recognizing the hard aggression against Nicaragua, in violation of the peace "U.S. troops out of Honduras! U.S. forces out of Cen­ facts about the changing relationship of class forces ar­ accords signed by President Azcona and four other Cen- tral America and the Caribbean! No aid to the contras!" rayed against Israel - whether you call it Greater or not - is important to any serious class-struggle fighters.

14 The Militant March 25, 1988

• ~ ' · I ' 1 \ . ' ..· British rail unionists fight deportation of coworker

BY CHRIS MORRIS cause he had signed the Official Secrets Act. This un­ era! NUR members stressed that rumors floated by man­ AND ARTHUR STEWART democratic law forces individuals to remain silent in agement should always be treated with suspicion. LONDON- The February 5 issue of the Militant ran cases involving so-called state security. Much confusion about the immigration laws exists an editorial on "Racism and the right to travel." The Management then began spreading rumors that our co­ among working-class people in Britain. Even some mili­ editorial called attention to the racist immigration legisla­ worker had been deported back to Africa. But the depor­ tant trade unionists are influenced by arguments pedaled tion in force in Britain. tation rumor was false. Asafu-Adjaye had been taken to a by the government. These arguments include the line that At the London Bridge rail depot here, we've just had detention center. His family was able to obtain a lawyer Britain is overpopulated, or that racial prejudice is there­ an example of the kind of harassment that results from and our coworker applied for bail. sult of the immigration of Blacks to Britain. this legislation. He was released by a judge, over the objections of the Immigration laws are selectively used by the govern­ The victim is Andrew Asafu-Adjaye a guard (brake­ Home Office, but only after stringent conditions were ment and the employers to help undermine working con­ man) at British Rail and a member of the National Union imposed. Asafu-Adjaye cannot be away from work more ditions and union organization. The bosses want a section than two days without informing the Home Office and he of the working class that it can direct into the lowest-paid must stay home at night. jobs under miserable working conditions. Asafu-Adjaye's alleged offense centers on the fact he This is then used as a lever to try to undermine the UNION TALK is separated from his wife who is a British citizen. This wages and working conditions of all workers. The laws reveals that the government has been snooping into his are also used to undercut solidarity among working of Railwaymen. Asafu-Adjaye is from a West African private life in order to contrive a case against him. people. country and has lived in Britain since 1985. People charged in deportation cases have few rights. By campaigning around cases like Asafu-Adjaye's, After arriving at work on January 18, Asafu-Adjaye Their cases go to an "adjudicator" or to an Immigration the unions can help educate the entire working class was told to go and see the train crew manager. The man­ Appeals Tribunal before going to an open court. Few ap­ about the need for unified political struggle to get rid of ager then told Asafu-Adjaye to come back to his office at peals of rulings by adjudicators or tribunals are success­ these laws. 4:00p.m. when his shift was scheduled to begin. ful. Recently NUR District Officer Jimmy Stevenson said, The outrageous use of the Official Secrets Act and the "The present immigration laws are based on racialism. When our coworker returned to the manager's office, complicity of British Rail management in the case was an Deportations divide families and communities and under­ he encountered a couple of cops and an official of the attempt to keep Asafu-Adjaye from using even the lim­ mine the unity of workers. Brother Adjaye, a guard at Home Office, the department of the British government ited rights which exist under the Immigration Acts. It was London Bridge and member of the NUR, deserves our that is responsible for dealing with immigration. also designed to keep the National Union of Railwaymen total support in his fight to remain with his family and Our workmate immediately asked to see his union rep­ from coming to his assistance. friends." resentative who was on the premises at the time. He was Many NUR members are disgusted by management's Rail workers are circulating a petition protesting the at­ refused this right and taken away in handcuffs. conduct. Workers are also discussing the lessons of what tempted deportation. Officials of the railway union and his coworkers were happened. Some said the union should negotiate a clause not informed of the arrest. The manager later said he was with British Rail that prohibits management from talking Chris Morris and Arthur Stewart are members of the bound to keep the matter under wraps for 24 hours be- to workers without a union representative present. Sev- NUR at the London Bridge depot. -lETTERS----- Israeli withdrawal bassy in Washington. 'NE JuST 'No~' T "A year ago I had barely heard AwoMAN HAS A LEGAL With the February 26 edition 0 \£LL the Militant enters into a discus­ of Nicaragua," Gonyea explained. f?.IGKT 10 AN AB ~\ioN ... ~EP. Now, after learning more about it, sion on the demand for Israeli ~60Uf \T "withdrawal from the occupied she had seen "how a small group territories. Tom Mauer of Dallas, of people with hardly any technol­ Texas, asks a very good question: ogy could fight for what is right "Why hasn't the Militant raised and just, and win. [Nicaraguans] If the demand?" are my heroes, our heroes. they Doug Jenness, in response, can band together and win, Amer­ gives us a very weak and disjointed ican workers can do the same look through his crystal ball and of­ thing." fers, "Proposing an 'independent' Appealing to the youthful crowd, Palestine in Gaza and the West Gonyea said the paperworkers' bat­ Bank is an obstacle, not a stepping tle "isn't just for union people, but stone .. .. " for everybody, for working peo­ BAN ON The youth and working class in ple, Black and white, men and wo­ ABoRn oN Gaza and the West Bank have men. We ask you for support be­ CoUNSELLING risen up. They make an immediate cause you are us." demand: Israelis out! They make Jon Hillson this demand with their barricades Boston, Massachusetts and their blood, and Jenness, from his lofty dust-covered closet, drib­ Impeach them bles that to support the Palestinian Let's impeach Bush and Reagan demand is incorrect. soon. Tony Auth Thank you so much, Jenness, T.R . for teaching us about your brand Crystal, Minnesota of socialism. For my part, I think tions are acceptable to the pro-Is­ One of the fi red workers, to the penal system to learn the I'll stick with Karl Marx's "The rael lobby. Louise Sullivan. described how truth about the United States and communists . . . have no interests More Claire Crouch she and others were trying to get a her European allies. This also in­ separate and apart from those of More stuff on the USSR, and Decatur, Illinois union formed. She had to be cludes those who support wars that the proletariat as a whole. They do economics. I love the Militant. "awful careful about who I got to this state inflicts on others. not set up any sectarian principles E.K. My interests sign the card." she said. The Massachusetts prison sys­ Los Angeles, California of their own, by which to shape You represent my interests. "We had a bunch of people who tem did me a favor. No school, and mould the proletarian move­ commend the whole staff. favored the union, but they [the home, or college taught me what ment." Karl Marx, The Com­ Pro-Israel lobby Paul Latourell company] scared half of them to I've been taught while confined to munist Manifesto. The pro-Israel lobby in the Ventura, California death ." The union was the South­ this block. Jack Fields United States openly boasts of the ern Council oflndustrial Workers, A prisoner Minneapolis, Minnesota power it wields in the political an affiliate of the United Brother­ Walpole, Massachusetts arena. Democratic presidential Trustworthy source hood of Carpenters and Joiners. candidate Jesse Jackson is its cur­ I assure you the Militant is very All 15 workers were actually or­ Truth Tawana Brawley informative. It gives us honest re­ dered reinstated in 1982 by an rent target for political assassina­ As long as you print the truth, I Your coverage on the Taw ana porting and political commentary. NLRB administrative law judge, tion. will continue reading your paper. Brawley atrocity is excellent! The It's the most trustworthy source of and by 1983 they had all been of­ Militant tells the truth, the real In an interview with Jackson in J.C. the magazine Tikkun , editor Mi­ the important news today, and it fered their jobs back. truth. confirms my natural optimism Fort Pierce, Florida chael Lerner says he undertook the But Alliance, a rubber-band A prisoner about the future. If we know, we manufacturer, went ahead and ap­ Wallkill, New York interview "to end all problems Keep presses rolling with Jesse, to show the centrists in can do. pealed the decision. The NLRB P.T. What a neat alternative to the the Jewish world . .. they would upheld the reinstatement order, Oakland, California 'Nicaraguans are heroes' not have any problems with Jack­ and finally, late last fall , Alliance lies and distortions of the main­ On March 4 Sharon Gonyea, a son." said they would comply. stream press! Keep the presses striker from Jay, Maine, spoke at Ark. workers' victory A reader rolling 'til the revolution and then the Massachusetts Institute of I came away with the sense that Workers at the Alliance Rubber Pine Bluff, Arkansas roll 'em faster to keep the latter Technology about the paperwork­ there are deep problems . . . . "If he Co. in Hot Springs, Arkansas, honest! ers' battle against International can't satisfy our audience .. . he is won a victory last fall when the And thanks: unlike so much lit­ Paper Co. and the struggle's im­ in deep trouble," Lerner writes. National Labor Relations Board AIDS erature on the left , the Militant is a pact on women workers. She got a The implication here is that "our ordered the company to reinstate, Your paper's been better and pleasure to read because it's so standing ovation from the more audience," i.e. the pro-Israel lob­ with back pay, 15 workers who better. I felt the AIDS articles uniformly well written. than 250 people attending the In­ by, has the power to make or break were fired after polygraph tests were excellent. R.F. ternational Women's Day celebra­ even a presidential candidate. "revealed" them to be union sup­ A prisoner Rolling Meadows, Illinois tion, which was also called as a Why is Jackson's candidacy so porters . Walla Walla, Washington protest against U.S. aid to the con­ unpalatable to the lobby? What is The company forced workers in The letters column is an open tras fighting to overthrow the San­ the "deep trouble" alluded to by the plant to take the tests, which it Did me a favor forum for all viewpoints on sub­ dinista government of Nicaragua. Lerner after his interview with said were mainly to find out about This letter is written on behalf jects of general interest to our Gonyea shared the platform Jackson? As for Jackson, he sup­ drug use and equipment sabotage. of all the brothers confi ned to this readers. Please keep your letters with Boston-area union and wo­ ports the right of the Palestinians The 15 workers were laid off the segregation unit. We thank you for brief. Where necessary they will men's rights leaders, and keynote to a homeland and advocates their next day, and three other union sending us a copy of the Militant. be abridged. Please indicate if speaker Rosa Tiinnermann, cul­ inclusion in any Mideast peace supporters soon after. This took I myself think it's a crying you prefer that your initials be tural attache of Nicaragua's em- discussions. Neither of these posi- place in 1980. shame that some of us had to come used rather than your full name.

March 25, 1988 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Deaf students win major victory Protests force D.C. school to appoint deaf president

BYIKENAHEM nated 50 sheets to make more protest ban­ WASHINGTON, D.C.- Student pro­ ners." testers at Gallaudet University - the only Ramos said that the students' unity and fully accredited college for deaf people in refusal to compromise on the four demands the world - won a sweeping victory here was strengthened by the outpouring of sol­ March 13. idarity, first and foremost from other deaf The students won the appointment of students and organizations. Solidarity rallies Gallaudet's first deaf president; the resig­ were held in schools for the deaf across the nation of board of trustees chairperson Jane country. Bassett Spilman and the appointment of a The student association of the predomi­ deaf chair; immediate movement toward a nantly Black Howard University was the majority of deaf people on the board of first nondeaf organization in D.C. the stu­ trustees; and no reprisals against students, dents sought and got the support of. The faculty, campus workers, or administrators many Black students at Gallaudet were supporting the strike. prominent in the organization and partici­ For one full week, some 2,400 Gallaudet pation of the strike. students shut down and took over the 99- Donna Handley, a physical and second­ acre Washington, D.C., campus in a strike ary education major from South Dakota, that captured the attention and support of explained to the Militant, "We are doing people throughout the United States and what the Black people did in the 1960s. It's around the world. a reminder of history to them and they all The revolt was kicked off when Dr. support us . It's our civil rights." Elizabeth Zinser, who hears and does not Deaf students from all over the world at­ tend Gallaudet. I met strike activists from know how to use the American manual al­ Daher phabet (sign language), was appointed uni­ Canada, Mexico, France, and the Middle Meeting at Gallaudet on March 12. One-week strike by 2,400 students won sweeping East. versity president by the board of trustees. concessions and captured attention of people around the world. Gallaudet was established by the federal By midweek the students decided to or­ government under President Abraham Lin­ ganize a national march on Washington for coln in 1864 and remains 75 percent taking over the major D.C. thoroughfare in Tables were set up organizing students into March 11 . The unprecedented action was a funded by Congress. It has never had a front of the campus when the police ar­ committees. Bulletin boards displayed sol­ big success, with more than 4,000 protest­ deaf president. The 24-member board of rived. idarity messages and news updates. ers converging on the Capitol on less than trustees that appointed Zinser has only After the police damaged, ticketed, and three days ' notice. Buses brought deaf stu­ three deaf members. The students and fac­ towed cars blocking the campus entrances, Student leader Angel Ramos took me to dents and their supporters from across the ulty had long campaigned for a deaf presi­ the students set up a "Deaf President Now strike headquarters where the students set United States for the action. dent. Fund" to raise money to organize the strike up special phone banks with computerized That evening Zinser resigned under in­ and defend students from administration or adaptors that make it possible to transmit tense pressure and the board of trustees an­ March downtown police victimization. and receive printed communications in­ nounced they would meet to pick a new The evening of Zinser's appointment, Among the first checks that poured into stantaneously. "The response has been fan­ president. The next day the board of trust­ which bypassed two deaf candidates, the strike headquarters was $5,000 from tastic," Ramos said. "The local linen com­ ees, after a seven-hour meeting, gave in to 1 ,000 students marched to the downtown the American Postal Workers Union pany that services the university has do- all the student demands. hotel where the announcement had been (APWU). There are some 4,000 deaf made. In a confrontation with students, workers in the U.S. Postal Service. The Spilman defended Zinser's selection, say­ first day 20 postal workers, including ing "Deaf people are not ready to function APWU President Moe Biller, joined the Strikes, protests rock in a hearing world." The enraged students students at the main gate, which became a then marched on the White House and the daily mass picket line. Another day a dele­ Capitol. gation of deaf machine-tool operators the Dominican Republic At 5:30 the next morning the students joined in support of the student demands. barricaded all the entrances to the campus with their cars and their bodies. At the Campus becomes organizing center BY MIKE TABER semicolonial countries, the Dominican Re­ main gate hundreds rallied and picketed While Zinser and the board of trustees Since mid-February the Dominican Re­ public - with a population of more than 6 with signs and banners. The protest swelled, tried all week to tough out and ignore the public has been rocked by a wave of million - is burdened by a massive for­ student mobilization, the students turned strikes, demonstrations, and street battles. eign debt, amounting to $4 billion. To the occupied university into an organizing These protests, which have received scant meet all its debt payments - something it center to win their demands. They first attention in the U.S. media, are the most has been unable to do - the Dominican Tribute to deaf won the support of the faculty- one-third widespread actions in this Caribbean coun­ Republic would have to devote a full 70 of whom are hearing-impaired - who try since April 1984. At that time, govern­ percent of its resources merely to servicing students from voted to support the strike. A strong state­ ment forces killed hundreds who were pro­ the debt. socialist candidate ment of support for the strike was issued by testing austerity measures imposed at the On top of this, the U.S. government has the campus staff association. The Gal­ insistence of the International Monetary intensified the crisis by drastically cutting James Warren, the Socialist Work­ laudet Alumni Association gave their cam­ Fund. back its purchase of Dominican sugar, the ers Party candidate for president, pus building to the students for the strike The current round of protests began in country's main export crop. gave solidarity greetings to a mass headquarters. the town of Cotui, when hundreds of peas­ Inflation is running at 35 percent and ris­ meeting of hundreds of Gallaudet Mass meetings of up to 1 ,000 were held ant families demanded that they be relo­ ing . Some estimate that up to 40 percent of University students March 12 . every night in the campus gymnasium. cated because of contamination of the the work force is totally unemployed, not Warren told the students that over­ Committees were set up to organize every area's water supply. The source of the con­ counting those only partially employed. night they had educated millions of aspect of the strike. The students initiated a tamination was the Rosario Dominicana And workers lucky enough to obtain full­ people about the problems and rights "Deaf President Now Council" made up of gold mine, which had dumped large time jobs still have to struggle to survive: of deaf people. "Your victory has students, faculty, and campus workers, amounts of cyanide and sulfur into a the minimum wage is about $2.50 a day. been an inspiration to thousands of and elected three central student leaders to nearby river, making the water unfit for What this situation means in human students throughout this country. You represent them on it. crops and for human consumption. The terms is that the majority of the population have accomplished what many of Everything the students did was geared fight of these peasant families touched off a suffers from malnutrition. Infant mortality them would like to accomplish, a to winning public support. As one student general strike in parts of Sanchez Ramirez in the past five years has risen from 64 per change." told the Militant, "Since we shut down the Province. 1,000 to 80 per I ,000. Cases of tuber­ Warren pledged to bring the Gal­ campus, our most important job is to put a This action in tum helped spark protests culosis are mounting . Thousands have laudet message to thousands of work­ lot of pressure on the board of trustees by throughout the country around a wide vari­ been forced to leave the country to look for ing people during the Socialist Work­ not giving up, and by getting more people ety of issues that deeply affect Dominican work. One million Dominicans live in the ers Party election campaign. to support us." working people and peasants: the high cost United States, most of them in the New The students warmly applauded of living; low wages; the lack of schools, York area. when Warren said, "Your victory has 'Deaf president now!' hospitals, and roads; the forced disposses­ The U.S .-backed government of Do­ taught me a very important thing: This reporter was able to spend some sion of poor tenants; and the unjust system minican President Joaquin Balaguer has re­ being deaf is normal- you just can't time on the campus at the height of the of land distribution. sponded to the protests by calling out the hear." strike. Student guards directed all move­ In working-class neighborhoods of San­ army and resorting to repression. Already, Supporters of the Socialist Work­ ment in and out of the main gate and all en­ to Domingo, the capital city, and in most hundreds have been arrested, scores have ers campaign went to Gallaudet to trances to the campus. There was a con­ other major towns and cities, strikes and been wounded, and more than half a dozen show solidarity and learn from and tinual noise of honking cars, trucks, and demonstrations occurred. In some areas have been killed. talk with the student fighters. The city buses passing by the main gate in re­ these reached the point of general work Among the 200 of those arrested who are Young Socialist Alliance distributed sponse to picket signs saying "Honk for a stoppages. still being held are leaders of the General literature and issued a statement in deaf president!". In sign language, hun­ Fueling the wave of protests is the wors­ Workers Federation and the Dominican solidarity with the strike. dreds of students chanted, "Deaf president ening economic situation confronting Do­ Workers Party . Demands for their release now!," "Deaf pride!," and "Deaf power!." minican working people. Like other are continuing.

16 The Militant March 25, 1988