soC!: No. 734 "'H23 21 April 2000 The Elian Case and the U.S. Imperialist Drive for Counterrevolution Delend the Gains 01 the Cuban Revolution! Ever since the government of Fidel divisions within the American bourgeoi­ Castro expropriated the capitalist class in sie over Cuba. Spearheading the efforts to Cuba in 1960-61, establishing a bureau­ For Unconditional Military Defense of keep Elian in the U.S. are the counterrev­ cratically deformed workers state, the olutionary gusanos (worms)--the former U.S. ruling class has worked relentlessly Cuba Against Imperialism! bourgeoisie and its henchmen from the to undermine and overthrow the Cuban brutal regime of Fulgencio Batista-who Revolution. From the 1961 Playa Gir6n At the same time, the collapse of the ment has opened up to foreign capital fled the Cuban Revolution and have ever (Bay of Pigs) invasion to repeated attempts Soviet Union has enabled the American over the past decade. Consequently, since waged a campaign of terrorism to assassinate Castro, from funding coun­ bourgeoisie to pursue different means of many within the Clinton administra­ supported by their CIA masters. The terrevolutionary terrorists in Miami to the promoting counterrevolution in Cuba. In tion now advocate policies of "construc­ gusanos' aim is the reconquest of power ongoing economic embargo, the Ameri­ tum, this has led to increasing divi­ tive engagement" with Cuba, aiming to in Cuba, wreaking bloody vengeance on can bourgeoisie has been determined to sions among U.S. capitalists. After the strengthen the forces of counterrevolu­ the workers and peasants, and especially bring back the days when Cuba was a U.S. twice tightened the embargo in the tion from within, while maintaining mil­ Communist Party members. While the brutally exploited, viciously racist neo- mid-'90s in an attempt to squeeze Cuba itary pressure against Cuba. This type of Immigration and Naturalization Service colony of U.S. imperialism. (INS), on orders from Clin­ CIA dirty tricks and mili­ ton and Attorney General tary plots were repeatedly ~ Janet Reno, has declared stymied, epitomized by the that the boy must be re­ crushing of the mercenary turned to his Guban father, invasion force at the Bay of INS authorities in Miami Pigs by Cuban soldiers and Return handed Elian over to the workers. For more than three Elisn now! family of his rabid gusano decades, the biggest obsta­ Left: Counter­ great-uncle, who brandishes cle to Washington's drive revolutionary him as an anti-Communist for capitalist counterrevolu­ gusano mob trophy. tion in Cuba was the exis­ outside Miami The gusanos have won tence of the Soviet Union, home of support in the Republican­ which supported Cuba with Elian Gonzalez' controlled Congress and also some $4 billion a year in kidnappers. from Democratic Party pres­ aid and provided. a crucial Millions have idential aspirant Al Gore. rallied in Havana military shield against im­ (right) and Trawling for votes in Flor­ perialism. In the wake of the throughout Cuba ida, a key electoral state, capitalist counterrevolution to demand Gore signed on to a call for which destroyed the Soviet Elian's return. Elian and his immediate degenerated workers state in family to be given perma­ 1991-92, the imperialist rul­ nent residency status in the ers see their big chance to ; U.S. Amid the frenzy over bury the Cuban Revolution once and for into submission, growing sections of the policy has been employed against the Elian this winter, the government charged all. Indeed, without the Soviet lifeline, ruling class have concluded that such Chinese deformed workers state, where a Cuban diplomat and a senior INS the social gains of the revolution based on moves have only served to rally the pop­ more than two decades of increasing official with spying for Cuba and had Cuba's planned, collectivized economy ulation around the Castro regime in the imperialist economic penetration under the diplomat deported. Meanwhile, Clin­ are today in great peril. This underscores name of national solidarity against U.S. Deng Xiaoping and his heirs have encour­ ton and Reno, whose racist immigra­ the necessity for the interQational working imperialism . aged capitalist-restorationist forces. tion cops routinely expel black Hai­ class to rally to the defense of Cuba . Moreover, American corporations have The kidnapping of Elian Gonzalez, the tians and other "undesirables," have bent against U.S. imperialism and internal found themselves cut off from access to six-year-old Cuban boy rescued off the over backward to appease Elian's Miami counterrevolution. the markets which the Cuban govern- coast of Florida last fall, has highlighted continued ()n page 9 IMF Protests Beware Fraud of "Human Rights" Imperialisml APRIL 17-When some 15,000 dem­ national Monetary Fund (IMF) and strike by seizing the protest headquar­ many remain in jail. We demand: Free onstrators from around the country World Bank, they were faced with a ters. Later that day, over 600 people, all the protesters! Drop the charges gathered in Washington, D.C. last massive police mobilization. A good including supporters of the Spartacist now! weekend in protests against the Inter- 50 blocks of the nation's capital League/Spartacus Youth Clubs, who From all points of the geographic became an armed camp: police heli­ were protesting against the "prison­ and political compass, the youthful copters patrolled overhead; armored industrial complex" were penned in by demonstrators came to Washington vehicles rolled through city streets; riot cops for hours and then arrested looking to join a movement against police snipers sat atop buildings; and forced to sit, handcuffed, in police '<'globalization"-sweatshops, poverty ~ baton-wielding riot cops in full body buses for up to 18 hours before being in the "Global South," child labor and armor lined street intersections. On released. Some 700 more protesters other evils inherent in the system of 7 25274"81030I April 15, the cops staged a pre-emptive were arrested over the next two days; continued on page 4 International Solidarity Campaign Wrap-Up Mexico: Free Jailed UNAM Student Strikers and Leftists! / APRIL 16-Before dawn yesterday, some 5,QOO cops of the' Federal Preven­ tive Police (PFP) re-occupied Mexico Protest Police Siege of UNAM! City's National Autonomous University (UNAM), site of a ten-month-long stu­ dent strike until it was brutally sup­ Cops Off Campus! pressed in the government's February crackdown. This cop attack provoked forces on the campuses. The STUNAM arrested-who still face serious, trumped­ anew widespread anger and indignation tops even gave as a reason for calling the up charges-while keeping eight strike among both students and workers. In May 3 strike the fact that the federal leaders in jail. On April 12, up to a third response, the STUNAM campus work­ police were "doing the job" of Auxilio of the UNAM campus and several prepar­ ers union has called a mass protest dem­ UNAM cops! A heated debate took place atory high schools were temporarily re­ onstration for April 19, which is also at yesterday's CGH general assembly, occupied by students demanding the supported by the UNAM students' Gen­ held at the STUNAM offices, where release of the jailed strike leaders, follow­ eral Strike Council (Consejo General de comrades of the Grupo Espartaquista de ing a 5,000-strong march to the jail Huelga-CGH). The STUNAM union Mexico (GEM), section of the Interna­ the day before. Cops off campus! Free all also called a campus workers strike for tional Communist League, intervened to the UNAM strikers now-Drop all the denounce Auxilio UNAM and call for May 3 and announced that it would charges! Reuters refuse to work at any sites where the fed­ cops out of the unions. In the February crackdown on the Mexico City, February 14: Parents eral police were present. The day before the April 15 cop raid, UNAM strike, up to a thousand students and supporters of jailed UNAM The police occupation of UNAM some 8,000 students and workers had and others were arrested. On March 20, strikers demand their release. underscores the pernicious effect of the demonstrated to protest the UNAM the Partisan Defense Committee and ICL Auxilio UNAM campus cops, who have administration's threat to send the PFP launched an international fundraising Hidalgo, student activists occupied the attacked student strikers, being part of the cops onto the campus. Since the crack­ campaign for legal defense and to help campus of the El Mexe teachers college, STUNAM union. The STUNAM leader­ down and mass arrests in February, the pay bail for the UNAM strikers. We are and after the campus was raided by ship has demanded, as a condition for its Mexican government has cynically tried pleased to announce that this campaign police, the villagers of El Mexe captured support to the student strikers, that the to defuse the ongoing protests in sup'­ has collected US$4,830.83 plus 2,304.60 68 cops, who were then traded for the CGH drop its demand for abolishing the port of student strikers who are still im­ Mexican pesos (approximately US$246) release of the arrested students (see WV Auxilio UNAM cops and other repressive prisone,d by releasing most of those . for the imprisoned militants and the hun­ No. 730, 25 February). dreds still facing charges for fighting to This campaign clearly struck a chord defend public education. Last week, these among workers and leftists in the places funds were transmitted to the CGH's where the ICL does political work. In the For International Finance Commission for Political Prison­ San Francisco Bay Area, $300 was con­ ers. This money-donated by union tributed by International Longshore and Workers Revolution! members, students and others from the Warehouse Union Local 10.