secret trials threaten Iivas ol Iran socialists -PAGE 8 AUGUST 31, 1979 50 CENTS VOLUME 43/NUMBER 33 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY /PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE - Launch 1980 presidential campaign By Arnold Weissberg WASHINGTON, August 22-At a news conference here today announc­ ing the Socialist Workers Party 1980 presidential campaign, Andrew Pulley and Matilde Zimmermann, SWP candi­ dates for president and vice-president denounced the threat of U.S. military intervention against the Nicaraguan revolution. "In overthrowing the Somoza dicta­ torship, the people ·of Nicaragua achieved a heroic victory," Pulley said, "one that has inspired the exploited and oppressed masses the world over." "We think that the Sandinista gov­ ernment that is trying to get Nicara­ gua on its feet is doing a good job of it," Zimmermann added. "It has the confidence of the masses of the Nicara­ guan people. They see this government as leading the way toward the goals that they have fought for: a decent standard of living, education­ Nicaragua has one of the highest illiteracy rates in Central America­ Militant/Arnold Weissberg decent health care. Andrew Pulley and Matllde Zimmermann, Socialist Workers Party candidates for president and vice-president in 1980. "The main problem the Sandinista government has is the refusal of Amer­ ican imperialism to come across with They failed. But they're not giving up. crecy, chaos, shortages, and rip-offs for mayor of a city, or for Congress. its promises of aid." "We call upon American working that working people are victims of The United Mine Workers could an­ Pulley branded the United States people to stand ready to oppose any every day of our lives." nounce a candidate for Congress in the government as responsible for the military intervention either by the The statement noted that "working next election in West Virginia. Such a United States government or its client people are angry and are looking for candidate would get tremendous sup­ More coverage inside on launching states," said Pulley. radical solutions. One sign of this was port and would inspire similar cam­ of socialist campaign. See pages 6- "Carter should send food and medi­ the recent decision of the AFlrCIO paigns around the country." 7. cine, not marines, to Nicaragua." Executive Council to favor nationaliza­ "We also think," Zimmermann went On the domestic scene, Pulley noted, tion of the oil companies." on, "that a labor party is important 40,000 deaths and widespread destruc­ "American working people are being But, they asked, "How can such not just for dealing with the economic tion and hunger that resulted from the squeezed on all sides. Our living stan­ progressive and necessary changes be problems that workers face, but for the fight to oust Somoza. "The arms with dard has deteriorated. The cost of brought about? How can we challenge big social problems as well." which the Somoza forces fought the everything from gasoline to food is the control that oil barons and other In particular, Zimmermann noted Nicaraguan people came from the Uni­ reaching the sky." capitalists now have over govern­ the refusal of the Democrats and Re­ ted States government," Pulley said. In a statement released to the press, ment?" publicans to ratify the Equal Rights "Without U.S. military arms, there Pulley and Zimmermann called for The answer, the socialists said, is for Amendment. would have been no Somoza." immediately nationalizing the energy the union movement to launch an Also speaking at the news confer­ Pulley noted the threat of U.S. mil­ industry. "Place the production and independent labor party in opposition ence was Cathy Sedwick, national itary intervention against the revolu­ distribution of energy under public to the capitalist Democratic and Re­ chairperson of the Young Socialist tion. "Any time there's a popular revo­ ownership," the socialist candidates publican parties. Alliance, who pledged the YSA's sup­ lution," Pulley said, "where people demanded. "Every aspect of the indus­ Asked by a reporter how such a port for the Pulley-Zimmermann cam­ have sought to get control of their own try should be open to public scrutiny. party could come into being, Zimmer­ paign. affairs, the rulers of this country have All books and records should be open mann responded, "We think that a Sedwick, who recently returned from always found it in their interests to and easily available for inspection. powerful union like the United Auto a trip to Cuba, cited that country as an oppose it. They tried in Nicaragua. That is the only way to end the se- Workers could announce a candidate Continued on page 5 In Our Opinion VOLUME 43/NUMBER 32 AUGUST 31, 1979 CLOSING NEWS DATE-AUG. 22 New U.S. propaganda drive against Nicaragua The following statement was released by they say, to cliches about 'the new Cuba' and 'rising not financing 'a new Cuba.' " the Political Committee of the Socialist anti-Americanism.'" The Times editorially advises Congress not to get Workers Party on August 21. This is certainly not objective news reporting on in the way of this blackmail plan by placing any the contradictions in the Nicaraguan revolution. By restrictions on the State Department's maneuvers: The imperialist enemies of the revolution in asserting that the "civilian junta," which includes "No one can say that Nicaragua will not go the Nicaragua have opened a concerted international bourgeois figures, is in command as against the Cuban route but it is significant that the junta is campaign to pressure the Sandinista leaders, to Sandinistas, by asserting that "conservative busi­ pressing for American economic help. The legisla­ isolate the revolution from its supporters and poten­ nessmen" are the mainstay of the revolution and tion needed to expand American aid programs must tial supporters, and to divide and confuse the forces left "extremists" are the enemy of it, these mouth­ pass a Congress in which diehard Somoza support­ organized in solidarity with the revolution. pieces for the State Department are giving clear ers command key [congressional] committees. Three articles that recently appeared in the New warning to the Sandinista fighters: this is the way Doubtless they will fight every outburst about York Times and Washington Post, and were picked it has got to be-the revolution is a bourgeois 'Yankee Imperialism' as proof that Nicaragua is up by papers across the country, convey the line the revolution and must stay within bourgeois limits. undeserving, in tum confirming the leftist view that State Department and top circles of the ruling rich In warning of the "extremist" danger to the America is an implacable antagonist. It will be a are promoting. Articles with the identical line have revolution both Simons and Meislin are very pre­ test of American maturity to keep extremists on all appeared in major capitalist dailies in Europe and cise. They point to any measures that "could sides from fulfilling their own dire prophecies.'' in Latin America. frighten both the domestic and foreign private In her article, Simons utilizes the Sim6n Bolivar The three items are: an editorial in the August 15 sectors.'' As an example, Meislin singles out the Brigade to launch an attack on Trotskyism (see Times entitled "Crosswinds in Nicaragua"; an proposal that workers be paid back pay "for the two article page 4). This attack is designed to further August 20 piece by Times special correspondent months the country was at war. It is money the one of Washington's key objectives: to divide and Richard J. Meislin in Managua, titled "Adversity government has promised the workers but that few thus weaken the international solidarity movement forges unity among rebel Nicaraguan leaders"; and of the hard-pressed employers have been able to with the Nicaraguan revolution. an August 21 Post article by Marlise Simons, also in pay." The Sim6n Bolivar Brigade was organized by the Managua, titled "Nicaragua expels Trotskyist Simons and Meislin utilize the activities of the Colombian PST (Partido Socialista de los group in crackdown." "Sim6n Bolivar Brigade" in Nicaragua (the Trabajadores-Socialist Workers Party), under the Contrary to previous reports by Times corres­ "Trotskyists" Simons refers to) as a convenient direction of an international grouping known as the pondents, Meislin writes: "In Managua, the percep­ target. But their warning is directed squarely "Bolshevik Faction," led by Nahuel Moreno. tion that the Sandinist military leadership, and against the Sandinistas. Their message is that any The Bolshevik Faction, most of whose members not the five highest members of the civilian junta, measures the new leadership has to take against belong to sections or sympathizing organizations of was running the country, which was prevalent in either the native or foreign capitalists to advance the Fourth International, claims adherence to the diplomatic circles and among some junta members the interests of the Nicaraguan masses will be Fourth International. However, it has its own themselves only two weeks ago, has virtually disap­ considered "extremism" by Washington. international structure, finances, and discipline. It peared." These are not idle threats. Washington is backing sets its own policies without regard for the policies Simons' article begins, "Despite the revolutionary them up by making desperately needed aid contin­ decided by the elected leadership bodies of the euphoria of the past months, the first signs of gent upon acceptance of political concessions. If Fourth International. organized opposition to Nicaragua's new govern­ these concessions prove insufficient they are hold­ In the case of the Sim6n Bolivar Brigade, the ment are coming from the extreme left and not, as ing in reserve the threat of military intervention, Bolshevik Faction never consulted the Fourth Inter­ widely anticipated, from conservative businessmen. possibly through the Somocista National Guard national about this project or about the policies the "At the same time, the government's first act of units that withdrew to El Salvador and Honduras.