wake up!! It’s yer don’t get shafted...

Friday 5th March 2004 Free/Donation Issue 444

Labour leader Neil Kinnock, the leaders insisted on sticking within the Tory anti- MINER SURGERY union laws. As the strike finally drew to an st end in early 1985, the Coal Board’s On March 1 , 1984, Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Party announced the closure of industrial relations director, Ned Smith, Cortonwood colliery in Yorkshire - signaling her government’s determination to ram made a frank admission that had the TUC through a massive programme of pit closures and destroy the power of the National implemented the boycott of oil and coal, Union of Mineworkers (NUM). Miners had no choice but to fight, or see their lives and the miners would have won. By then, communities devastated. The longest major industrial battle in British history had begun though, it was too late. The strike had met a - a battle that still defines the political landscape of today. tragic and unnecessary defeat. The full force of the state was used against Motherlode But the miners strike wasn’t just about the striking miners. 20,000 police were The strike involved enormous hardship, with protecting jobs and communities, it was a coordinated by Scotland Yard and they used many receiving no strike pay or benefits. defining moment in the struggle between massive computer-backed data gathering for Yet despite all the state could throw at them, capital and labour. It was a class war, and intelligence. Tactics such as road-blocks, for a year the miners and their communities unfortunately capital won. Prime Minister political questioning, curfews, beatings, stood firm in a magnificent display of Thatcher made no bones about it. In her illegal fingerprinting and photographing, solidarity. But it wasn’t just the miners - memoirs, she wrote, “The coal strike was snatch squads, phone taps, infiltration and the women also played a central role. They always about far more than uneconomic agent provocateurs were widespread. transformed the strike, and it transformed pits. It was a political strike.” At the pit gates Alongside this was the mobilisation of the them. At a meeting at the Easington Miners at Easington, the pickets knew this all too media and the law. In the press, Thatcher Welfare, Mick McGahey, Vice President of well. “They’ve put us in a corner and if we compared the pickets to IRA bombers. James the NUM, referred to the “housewives in don’t fight our way out, there’ll be nothing Anderton, Chief Constable of Manchester the County who understand the left anyway. If we lose this strike we can said mass pickets were “acts of terrorism problems.” One woman replied, “We no forget about the union; they’ll be able to without the bullet and the bomb,” while the longer regard ourselves as ‘housewives’. do what they like with us.” Curbs on unions Police Federation warned that its members We are soldiers in the struggle.” had come before 1984, but the noose was might be unable to serve the public under a In mining villages, women played a key tightened after the miners went back to Labour government after the Labour role in the soup kitchens and in the work. Employers began to feel confident in taking on any group of workers. And while conference criticised police violence! distributing of food parcels, but they also British workers were once described by In pit village after pit village, mining took part in the picketing and spoke across right wing economists, “as the laziest communities were under siege. In August, the country. Meanwhile, in every town and city in Britain, people formed miners’ workforce in the world,” we now work the at Easington Colliery in Durham, one scab longest hours in Europe for the lowest pay. went back to work - and for five days all support groups. The 14 support groups on Merseyside, for example, sent over £1 But struggles as epic as this are also an hell broke loose as riot police were sent in education and an inspiration. Women to protect the lone worker. “The riot police million to the miners during the strike. It was estimated at the end of the strike that Against Pit Closures continued to fight and arrive. Marching through the street, with in 1994, in a squatted courthouse in helmets and shields, in through the pit over £60 million had been collected in support. As important as money was the Brighton, some of those women came to offices, into the yard, staves drawn, speak to a group calling themselves Justice? advancing. Everyone running. everyone tidal wave of donations of food, clothes, toys for Christmas, and much more. - part of a nationwide campaign to oppose throwing things, fire extinguishers turned Solidarity took other forms too. Train the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act on. Stones, bricks, anything that comes to drivers in many areas refused to move scab 1994. The women told us we needed to be hand.” Jack Dormand the local MP said the coal, despite a lack of firm support from their organised and to stick together; that to win action by the police to get just one scab union leaders. Print workers twice refused to we needed to break the law and embrace back to work had been unnecessary and print editions of the Sun because of its attacks direct action, and that we needed our own irresponsible but that “the Home Office has on miners. And twice during the summer of newsletter to get our message across. Not told him (the Coal board manager) to get ’84, Dockers across Britain went on strike. so long after that meeting, the first ever men into his pit at whatever costs.” All this solidarity could and should SchNEWS came rolling off the press, Up to 3,000 police occupied the village. have been the basis for a movement which promoting direct action and solidarity with They stopped the buses and searched would have seen the miners win victory and people in struggle ever since. people. As one miner commented, drive Thatcher from office. The blame for * Banner Theatre’s new play ‘Burning Issues - “Easington was cut off from the rest of the defeat of the strike lies at the feet of the The Miners 1984-2004’ begins this Saturday Britain for days while the police occupied it trade union leaders and the Labour Party. (6) at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. For other dates, 0121 like a conquering army.” As one woman They at best mouthed support for the resident put it, “I never ever thought I’d 682 0730 www.bannertheatre.co.uk miners while doing little or nothing in * Recommended reading: People Versus State - see scenes like this in Britain. I never reality, and at worst actively opposed David Reed & Olivia Adamson thought I’d see what I’ve seen on the streets attempts to build solidarity. The key turning (www.rcgfrfi.easynet.co.uk). State of Siege - of Easington. We’re occupied. We’ve been point came in the autumn of 1984. The TUC Politics and Policing in the Coal Fields Coulter, occupied by the police. We’ve had violence membership had voted to stop all coal and Miller and Walker (Canary Press 1984) Also in this village. We’ll never forget this - oil movement. But Trade Union leaders check out www.minersadvice.co.uk for more never. Not after this.” refused to implement this. Backed up by books and general info. @nti-copyright - information for action - published in Brighton since 1994 HAITI TO SEE YOU GO CAMP UPDATES VATAN AND ROBIN “The crisis in Haiti is another case of brazen US All these camps need more people to defend them: The case against six people charged under Anti- manipulation of a small, impoverished country BLACKWOOD CAMP Terrorism laws has been thrown out of court due with the truth unexplored by journalists,” wrote A final eviction notice was granted on March 3rd, to a ridiculous prosecution by the Home Office. Jeffrey Sachs of the Earth Institute this week. bailiffs could move in at any time. If you can’t The six were charged under the Terrorism Act for And he could not be more spot on. In the main- make it contact the land clearing contractor – Land supposedly supporting the banned Turkish Revo- stream media line on the Haitian revolt, Presi- & Water Services Ltd. of Guildford (01483 202733 lutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front, or dent Aristide is portrayed as an undemocratic www.land-water.co.uk) – to remind them of the DHKP-C (SchNEWS 392). They were arrested leader who stole elections and refused to address criminal investigation around the trashing of bat for selling copies of “Vatan,” a radical Turkish- opposition concerns. There is, however, another, and dormice habitat at St David’s Wood which based magazine that criticises Turkey’s human hushed-up side to this well-rehearsed story. makes their work illegal. All this destruction just rights record. The prosecution said that Vatan is George Bush’s foreign policy team came into for an access road into an industrial area! Info: “terrorist property”, even though it is sold le- office hell-bent on giving Mr Aristide the boot. 07811 948764 or 07708 420446. For a map - gally throughout Turkey and Europe. A week Why? Because many powerful US right-wingers www.schnews.org.uk/pap/blackwood-map.htm before the trial, defence lawyers produced a let- were convinced that Aristide was “another Fi- SHERWOOD FOREST CAMP ter from the Home Office confirming that the six del Castro in the Caribbean.” Aristide critics in Rob, the protester who fell 50ft from a treehouse were actually working for the similarly named the US were royally peeved when Clinton re- last week, is back on the Sherwood Forest protest DHKC which has never been banned. The pros- stored him to power in 1994 after the (US- site with a broken arm. The camp still needs the ecution went ahead with the case anyway, claim- backed) campaign of terror during the 1991-94 usual tat – plus extra climbing harnesses to pre- ing that the six also worked for the DHKP-C. coup against him. They succeeded in getting US vent any more falls. The planning committee meet Lawyers for the six were then told four days troops withdrawn soon after Aristide was re- at Mansfield Civic Centre, 5pm March 10th and before the trial that the consent of the attorney instated, well before the country could be sta- all are invited to make comments! 07050 656410 general - a requirement for prosecutions under bilised. In the meantime, the so-called “opposi- http://mysite.freeserve.com/sherwood_camp/ the Terrorism Act which involve another coun- tion”, a collection of rich Haitians linked to the NINE LADIES ANTI-QUARRY CAMP try - had never been given. At the last minute, Duvalier regime and the CIA, worked Washing- The camp is under imminent threat of eviction, the attorney general gave a rushed consent. But ton to lobby against Mr Aristide. And who are bailiffs paid a recent visit to the camp. The camp all of this proved too much for the judge presid- the Duvaliers? None other than a family of ruth- has been going since 1999 to stop the destruction ing over the case, who said “Were this prosecu- less Haitian dictators. Now exiled Haitian dic- of Stanton Moor hillside in the Peak District Na- tion to continue, it would bring the administra- tator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier had been tional Park from quarrying, and to protect the tion of justice into disrepute amongst right-think- named president for life at age 18 after the death Nine Ladies Stone Circle. 0700 5942212 ing people and offend this court’s sense of pro- in 1971 of his father, Francois. Accused of hu- FORTESS ROAD priety and justice”. man rights violations, mass killings and stealing Today sees the opening of the second social cen- * Last week, 19 immigrants became the first peo- at least $120 million from the national treasury, tre on Fortess Rd., London, with a free film night ple to take part in a new ceremony where they however, Duvalier fled to France in 1986, thus and freshly baked pizza made on the premises! all pledged their “loyalty to the UK and respect ending a 29-year dynasty. The new Social Centre, in what used to be the for its rights and freedoms” before becoming citi- In 2000, Haiti held parliamentary and then presi- “Grand Banks” wine bar, is right opposite Tufnell zens. We hope Home Secretary Blunkett, also at dential elections. Aristide’s party won the elec- Park tube station. www.wombles.org.uk the ceremony, was taking note of that last bit. tion, although candidates who should have faced a HASTINGS BYPASS second-round election also gained seats. Observ- You thought it was over? No – East Sussex Inside SchNEWS ers declared the elections successful, if flawed. County Council are considering new routes for Robert Seth Hayes, a former Black Panther, Mr Aristide won the presidential election later a A259 Bexhill Rd ‘relief road’, and make a de- has collapsed in prison ten times over the past that year, in a contest the US media now says cision in June. Originally the plan was quashed few months due to lack of treatment for diabe- was “boycotted by the opposition” and so, not in 2001 (See SchNEWS 288, 313) when the govt tes. He fears that unless he receives a transfer legitimate. The truth behind this seems to be rejected it on environmental impact grounds. to another prison where they take his illness that Duvalier thugs hardly constituted a win- Despite this, however, most of the newly pro- seriously, he may die. Write to the Correctional ning ticket and so didn’t even try. Nor did they posed routes still trash the Combe Haven Site Services Commissioner to demand his transfer: have to, according to Jeffrey Sachs. The oppo- of Special Scientific Interest, one of Britain’s Glenn S. Goord, Commissioner, NYS Depart- sition party “in Haiti benefited from tight links most important wildlife sites. ment of Correctional Services, Building 2, 1220 with the incoming Bush team, which told * More Protest Camp Updates: Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12226-2050, Aristide it would freeze all aid unless he agreed www.schnews.org.uk/pap/protestcamps.htm - USA. Letters of support to: Robert “Seth” with the opposition over new elections...the www.roadalert.org.uk - www.indymedia.org.uk Hayes #74A-2280, Clinton Correctional Facil- tragedy, or joke, is that Mr Aristide agreed to ity, PO Box 2001, Dannemora, NY, 12929, USA. compromise, but the opposition simply balked.” BAYER SACKS www.montrealabcf.org/hayes/ Because of this, the US cut off $500 million of Bayer recently spent a lot of money getting in- ...and finally... US and World Bank aid, and the country started junctions out on campaigners who are opposed to its decent into economic chaos. their involvement in genetically modified food “The Miners of Silverwood, having been told they Colin Powell has said that allegations of US (SchNEWS 436 & 442). But all this must seem were confined to six pickets only, built themselves involvement in this week’s kidnap of Aristide like a waste of money as they now seem to be a seventh comrade in the shape of a large snow- are “baseless and absurd”, but Aristide claims scaling back things on their own. Last week, many man, wearing a plastic policeman’s helmet. Next to have arrived in Bangui, the Central African of Bayer’s top GM scientists were sacked, in- morning, Chief Inspector Nesbitt appears on the Republic capital, in a contracted US-airforce jet. cluding Paul Rylott, head of their UK bioscience scene and seeing the jeering miners and their snowy Aristide described “white American, white mili- department and recent recipient of a pie-in-the- companion, ordered the constables to knock the tary” agents arriving at his house and forcing face. Hopefully all of this is an indication that snowman down. This order brought rebellion to him to sign a document relinquishing power and Bayer know there is little acceptance of GM tech- the police ranks as PCs declined to, “look so fucking threatening bloodshed on his refusal. nology in Europe. www.stopbayergm.org stupid knocking down a snowman”. Now the question is, what happens next? Hai- * Phytopharm, a drugs company who have been “Very well,” shouts the irate Nesbitt, jump- ti’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Boniface targeted by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, has ing in his Range Rover and charging off to de- Alexandre has been installed as interim leader obtained a High Court injunction using the anti- molish the snowman… As the vehicle made con- and has kept a low profile since. Meanwhile, stalking laws to limit protests close to their HQ to tact, it came to a dead stop, smashing front grill, good old “Baby Doc” Duvalier said he wanted just six people for only two hours a week. The bumper and headlamps and hurling the shocked to return to his homeland. “This is my coun- BioIndustry Organisation, the biotech sector lobby Nesbitt into the steering wheel. PCs found ex- try,” Duvalier said in an interview in Paris. “I’m group, said the court action shows there was a cuses to walk away or suppress body-shaking ready to put myself at the disposal of the Hai- need for a single piece of legislation to crack down laughter while pickets fell about on the ground tian people.” Why Baby Doc, you sound just on animal rights protesters. www.shac.net with side-splitting mirth. The snowman had about as sincere, democratic, and freedom-lov- been constructed around a three foot high two ing as George W. himself. Whatever else hap- RIP Chris Gorman foot thick concrete post!” pens, one thing is sure—the US government After a long battle with cancer, Chris Gorman From ex-miner Dave Douglass’s book, ‘All has yet again tried to play puppet master with passed away last Thursday at home in Ger- Power to the Imagination’ published by The the world’s governments, picking and choosing many. Chris, who was in her early thirties, was Class War Federation 07931 301901 who should rule based on its own personal ideas well known for her regular involvement in Re- www.classwaruk.org of “good” and “evil” and getting even more blood claim the Streets and at the more recent Reclaim Disclaimer on its hands in the process. the Future events. Her memory will live on in SchNEWS warns readers despite miner differences the hearts of all who knew her and in our con- we’ll be back extracting the piss and slagging off tinuing struggle against capitalism. from the coalface of the pits of capital... Honest! Keep SchNEWS FREE! Send 1st Class stamps (e.g. 10 for next 9 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?) Ask for “Originals” if you can make copies. Post free to all prisoners. SchNEWS, c/o on-the-fiddle, P.O. Box 2600, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 0EF. Tel +44 (0)1273 685913 Email [email protected] Download a PDF of this issue or subscribe at www.schnews.org.uk