• AUSTRALIA$2.00 • BELGIUM BF60 • CANADA$2.00 • FRANCE FF10 • ICELAND Kr150 • NEW ZEALAND $2.50 • SWEDEN Kr10 • UK £1.00 • U.S. $1 .50 INSIDE A reply to Boston area attacks on Mark Curtis THE PAGES 7-9 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 56/NO. 26 JULY 17, 1992 Defend Wave of mass protests abortion rights! sweeps across S. Africa The following statement was issued June 30 by James W..rren and Estelle DeBates, the Socialist ~rkers candidates for U.S. ANC breaks off negotiations after massacre president and vice-president. BY GREG McCARTAN long for democracy." In upholding both the Pennsylvania re­ Facing government intransigence at the ANC secretary gen- strictions on abortion rights and the princi­ negotiating table and a campaign of intim­ eral Cyril Ramaphosa pal pillars of the Roe v. Wade decision, the idation involving assassinations and mas­ told the press that the sacres, workers, youth, and rural toilers random shootings of Supreme Court has handed working people !" and youth who support abortion rights a new across South Africa are joining in a sus­ township residents a­ cross the country and challenge: mobilizing the majority support tained series of mass rallies, protest the court fears, to combat the persistent marches, and strikes called by the African the massacre at Boi­ patong are the govern­ chipping away at abortion rights under way National Congress. ment's response to the since 1973. The country was virtually shut down June mass action campaign. As shown in the inspiring victory for 29 as millions observed a day of mourning ., l . In the days leading up ~-......,. _....._ women 's rights scored in Buffalo, we can for some 40 residents of Boipatong town­ ' ship killed in an attack organized by the to the launching of the rely on our own power and strength to fight actions, 79 people were both rightist assaults on clinics and new regime's security forces. .. Picket lines and other events took place reported killed. legislation aimed at curtailing the right of "We charge [South ~ · \ *- women to safe and legal abortion. In that around the world, heeding a call by demo­ cratic organizations in South Africa for in­ African president] F.W. fight the Democratic and Republican parties de Klerk and his gov­ and their candidates- whether male or fe­ ternational solidarity with the antiapartheid struggle. ernment with complic­ male -are not the ally of working people, ity in this slaughter," he African National Congress (ANC) pres­ but the chief architects of the assault on said of the Boipatong ident Nelson Mandela called for the July abortion rights that has hit working women massacre. " It is becom­ mass action campaign after the latest round the hardest, especially those of oppressed ing clear that the of the Convention for a Democratic South nationalities. government's agenda Africa (Codesa) negotiating sessions, in­ From Buffalo to Milwaukee to Baton is that they want to ne­ volving 19 political organizations in the Rouge young people, especially, are dem­ gotiate with an ANC country, hit a deadlock. The South African onstrating a different road forward than that that is powerless and Congress of Trade Unions and other orga­ practiced by the established leaderships of has no following." nizations fighting for a democratic repub­ the National Organization for Women, The London Inde­ lic are also joining in the July actions. Planned Parenthood, and the National Abor­ pendent wrote of the tion Rights Action League. The leaders of "We are determined that the minority in Boipatong events: these organizations have said abortion rights this country is not going to dictate to the "Everybody - about will survive only if supporters elect majority," Mandela said in response to the 30 reporters fanned out Rally in Evaton addressed by Nelson Mandela was one of many "friendly" Democrats or Republicans and South African regime's insistence that mi­ around the township actions that protested massacre in Boipatong township. look to November to make a statement at nority veto rights be codified in any new interviewing eyewit­ the ballot box. They went so far with this government. The ANC has long fought for nesses-gave a similar version of the fense teams had prepared for an anack since dead-end strategy as to urge the court to majority rule, based on one person, one event." word had spread earlier in the day that overturn Roe if it did not choose to declare vote. Late in the evening police arrived in ar­ residents of a nearby hostel, the crude dor­ Pennsylvania's laws unconstitutional. mored vehicles and dispersed, with pellets mitory for workers at the state-run metallur­ The court's decision was overtly politi­ The power of the oppressed and tear gas, youth guarding barricades gical monopoly, lscor, were preparing an cal. It registered what the wealthy rulers of ''The government currently has no inten­ erected to protect the community. The de- Continued on Page 14 this country have achieved in pushing back tion of being persuaded by argument to give women's right to choose abortion. It is con­ up power," an ANC statement said. "We sistent with the character of attacks on abor­ have no choice but to call on the only power tion rights, from the Hyde Amendment to a at our disposal: the voices of the disenfran­ 100,000 demonstrate against Continued on Page 12 chised and oppressed who have waited too war at Belgrade protest rally Socialist candidate visits jevo and forces backed by the Croatian gov­ Washington moves closer ernment increasing their actions in Bosnia­ to military intervention Herzegovina. Cuba, pledges solidarity Reflecting some of the hesitations within in Yugoslavia's civil war the Bush administration and U.S. ruling cir­ cles. Secretary of State James Baker told the BY SETH GALINSKY Senate Foreign Relations Committee June In the biggest demonstration yet against the 23 that the White House had "not ruled out policies of Serbian president Slobodan Milo­ - we haven't ruled it in but we have not sevic, some l 00,000 people demonstrated June ruled out- participating in some multilat­ 28 in Belgrade demanding that he resign. eral operation" in Yugoslavia. The New York Times reported that "at the The senators questioning Baker made it rally, religious figures, labor leaders, students clear that they favor military action. and professors deplored what they described "I would support efforts that would, say, as the dictatorial and demagogic rule of the allow helicopter landings of food and med­ government and called for replacing blood­ ical supplies supported by fighters," Sen. letting with a policy of negotiations." Paul Simon told Baker. The toll from the war has reached 7,200 The world needs "some type of interna­ dead, 25,000 injured, and 1.3 million driven tional police force" under U.S. leadership, from their homes in the last three months. Simon stated. Meanwhile, the United States is moving The day after the hearings the outgoing closer to military intervention in Yugoslavia. commander of the North Atlantic Treaty President George Bush met for two hours Organization, U.S. general John Galvin, June 26 with Pentagon and Defense Depart­ said that NATO forces were "uniquely ment officials to consider "options for an ready" for such a mission. expanded role.'' Galvin described intervention in Yugosla­ In recent days the conflict has escalated, via as "our moment of great chance," and with military units of Serbian rightist forces an opportunity to "stabilize this part of the maintaining constant bombardment of Sara- Continued on Page 6 Militant/Selva Nebbia Socialist presidential candidate James W..rren (right) meets with Parmenio Or­ ' tega (left), head of 32nd brigade of Bias Roca contingent, and other members of 1 brigade, which is now working in agriculture. See article on page 16. J Campaign reports - Pages 10-11 - -·--------- -·--------- - --- IN BRIEf____________ _ Germany passes pro-choice bill hitting on June 20 it's lowest point since October 1986. The marlcet dropped 598 The Gennan Parliament voted June 26 to points to 15,92 1.22 which represents a 59 adopt a new law allowing abortion on de­ percent decline in value since the market mand in the fu'St three months of pregnancy. peaked in 1989. The stock plunge comes as In spite of opposition from Chancellor Hel­ more pessimistic news was released on the mut Kohl, the law was approved by a vote direction of the Japanese economy. of 357 to 284, with the support of many deputies from Kohl's ruling Christian Dem­ Iraqi people continue to suffer ocratic Union. After East and West Gennany were reuni­ Recent studies show the extent of suf­ fied in October 1990, abortion remained fering that the Iraqi people continue to legal in the east and heavily restricted in the endure, nearly 16 months after the U.S. west. war on the country ended. Nearly 30,000 ''The final decision can and must be up children under the age of five have died to the woman," said Rita Siissmuth, a in the first four months of 1992. The most leading Christian Democrat who backed common cause of death is malnutrition the bill. and dehydration. This follows a Harvard Study Team report, which documented Israeli military favor negotiations more than 70,000 children under five that died in 199 1 as a result of the war and A survey published June 2 1 indicates that continuing economic sanctions. Infant a large majority of fonner Israeli generals mortality has risen 310 percent compared believe the government should be open to ~ ... (! ~· • to pre-war Iraq. conceding complete control over territories Police wade through a wheat field to reach road blockaded by French farmers occupied by Israel since 1967 in exchange Iraq's ability to purify water has yet to recover, and the country's electrical system for advancing negotiations with the sur­ tling groups seeking to become pan of Rus­ lions.