against the recently relaunched SARHWU Sello was detained following raid took place at the Cape Town office.
During the raids numerous items were confiscated or 'lost' These incuacu copies vr a pellor calling the South African Transport Services (SATS) the government controlled transport corporation recognise SARHWU and thousands of signed letters from SATS workers the company-controlled union in favour of SARHWU.
Latest reports indicate that Ntai Sello has now been taken by police Durban where he is still in custody.
The police action Canias, the coup ended with the announcement of the rebels formal surrender at a press conference, 48 hours after it had begun. The steps taken by plotters are half hearted, despite the arrest of 13 high ranking officers and the order to arrest three more. Some form of deal is expected with those implicated in the abortive coup due to the enormous oressure the army is exertine on the government. (The people involved in last July's coup attempt were sentenced to do 30 press ups!)
The army restlessness is due to the failure of the regime to control the mass movement.
to the right by the regime. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the most provocative pro-Marcos elements within the regime was sacked as minister of defence in last December's cabinet reshuffle but he was replaced by General Raphael lelto, a counter-insurgency expert who enjoys the confidence of the Americans. The replacement of several minister by 'technocrats who enjoy the confidence of financial, multinational and national capital in the December cabinet reshuffle indicates also that the government is bent on giving confidence to business circles.
The regimes's refusal to carry out a comprehensive agrarian reform lies at the heart of the growing peasant unrest and mobilisation.
Workers demands for higher wages have not been met. The political democratisation of the country remains limited: the electoral commission has recently refused to recognise the left wing Bayan Party's right to participate in the election due in May. THE APARTHEID regime has moved in hard - the South African Rail and Harbour Workers Union. In early January the union's general secretary, Ntai police raid on SARHWU's head office in Johannesburg. A similar union was revived in 1983 and had a formal relaunch at a national conference in of last SARHWU has already established a nationwide organisation members.
Organisation in the rail industry • has beer seen as Coated ration 00 out Confederation African Unions COSATU. All COSATI affiliates have participated the recruitment Aquino and Ramos against the All this takes place in the context of the shift organising drive COSATU has issued statement calling for the immediate release of Sello the recognition SARHWU as the legit102 c coresetlalve of railway workers.
"The SATS management determined to SARHWU, the statement reads. "They are the 1U1CC and the emergency regulations to smash the union But SATS should realise that railway workers vient, cheap and controlled to the benefit of the minority right-wing government for capitalist profit.' Such attacks on SARHWU have been the price railworkers have had pay LOSIONI union's long and broken which dates back to 1936. The union has issued its own statement The mass movement is seething with discontent, as the government faces increasing difficulties on the economic front: imperialism and business circles are not satisfied, they want the checking of the mass movement and the crashing of the communist insurgence of the National Democratic Front. The government strategy of offering a ceasefire to the NDF guerrilla forces while preparing for war to definitely stabilise that situation in favour of the national bourgeoisie and imperialism, is also in difficulties. The NDF has decided to suspend the peace talks they were conducting with the government.
Due to its nature the government simply refuses to embark on the only course capable of taking the country out of the crisis: turning to the mass movement to keep the pro-Marcos plotters in check; a radical agrarian reform; the elimination of the US military bases in the Philippines; repudiation of the external debt; and a thorough purging from the state apparatus of pro-Marcos elements The beleaugered Laban-Unido government coalition hopes to regain the political initiative by winning a decisive majority in the 2 February referendum to enact a new constitution. Canlas abortive coup attempt is a clear manifestation that the army and the ruling class do not favour the course pursued by the regime but can do little which is decisive at this stage. The mass movement on the other hand will not accept any curtailment of their hard-won democratic rights and freedom. The situation is polarising rapidly and a colossal confrontation looms large on the horizon. on the recent raids.
'Since revival of our union in 1983, we have been on the receiving end of various attempts by the security police and railway police prevent legitimate trade union acOur organisers have been harassed Ou members have been threatened and • at work. lhes attacks have increased since we participated in forming COSATU - our federation.
of South Africa, of such has been COCOSION seriously curtailed since the imposition just before Xmas of the new government press censorship. Government regulations imposed al the end of January have tightened the censorship even further.
Despite this there is a growing of solidarity for SARHWU within rail unions Europe North Anenca. Special have been organised in Holland, , Canada and Britain to help put organiser n the field. In Britain, th NUR has launched a campaign to raise £2000 1n conjunction with activists organised in Rail Against Apartheid, has protested against the of protest should be Buildings Pretoria, South Africa and to the South African embassy, Trafalgar Square London SWI. Messages o support to SARHWU, PO Box 8059, Johannesburg, SACTU, Flowers Holloways, London 1119 COSATU, louse, 268 Jeppe Stre channesburg 20 Viewpoint carries news, documents and analysis of working class movements from world and is indispensible reading for all socialists International Viewpoint is available from most left book shops or by post from Other Books, , PO Box 50, London N1 2XP Subscription rates: 6 months £9.50 (120FF); 1 year £18.00 (200FF). Make cheques payable to PEC and send to , 2 Rue Kichard Lenoir. 93108, Montreuil. orders to PEC CCP Account no 2-322-42T Paris Bank transfers to PEC, BNI Robespierre, Account 230179/90, 153 rue de Paris, 93108, Montreuil, France.
Socialist Action 6 Feb 1987