Socialist Action No. 172, 9 October 1987
The scan: 172-sep-25-1987-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
STOP THE ALTON BILL WOMAN'S
No. 172
our lives ¡our right to decide
AcTioN
BUILDING AN ALLIANCE FOR SOCIALISM
Our bodies
040. 480)
BRITAIN OUT OF THE GULF!
9 Oct 1987 DAVID ALTON's proposals radically restrict women's access to abortion wide ranging opposition. This includes even from spokesperson of his own party and from Liberal women organising to them.
Alton's key proposal is to cut the time 28 to 18 weeks. amendments to the Infant Life Preservation Act of 1929, as well as to the 1967 Abortion Act.
If passed his bill would hit hardest women in some of the weakest and most vil nerable positions. women who last year had abortions over 18 weeks many were very young women or were women carrying a handicapped fetus not detected pregnancy. Alton allows for no exceptions: despite overwhelming public support for the right of choice for women carrying a handicapped fetus, they would be refused an abortion.
FOR A
CHOOSE
week, have already provoked
the health rights'
who are campaign against
limits for abortion by ten weeks - from 16 weeks.
This would require
the 5,600 necessary misery on that
abortions over 24 weeks.
until later in the not prevent unwanted pregnancies abortions.
legal access.
In general Alton aims to pave the way to the unsafe backstreet abortions of the
INSIDE:
Ken Livingstone on Labour after Brighton Labour NEC results Defend unilateralism
South Africa Britain out of Ireland p5
RIGHT TO
to to outlawing all abortion. As he said this days before the '67 Act, and the accom
the "post-conception child's. overwhelming right to life must always take precedence over any other claimed deprived
despair.
His 18 week limit is aimed at still fur- The ther restrictions: allowing for a margin of error, doctors would often refuse abortions to women well below this limit. An immediate attack is posed on the rights of these 16,000 women who, last year for instance, had abortions between 13 and
Given Alton's extreme proposals, 'compromise' bids may well be proposed. We should be very clear: any lowering of time limits from 28 weeks will vote against the Bill make it more difficult for all women to obtain abortions, as well as inflicting un-
number of women who end up needing already
Alton's proposals would certainly
Last year nearly 25,000 should be women came to Britain for abortions from countries with very restricted or no under the
Equally certain would be the return
HANDS OFF IRAN!
30p рб p2 p3 Peter Heathfield on sanctions against
p7 panying deaths and injuries to women, - as well the rise in unwanted births
children, unhappiness and
support secured across the labour movement for the provisions of the '67 Act, including in the policy of the TUC and Labour Party, can stop Alton's attack and must be mobilised now.
Unfortunately Labour Party con. ference passed a contradictory resolution
opposing Alton's Bill but accepting Labour MPs right to a free vote on the issue. Labour Party members must de mand a parliamentary whip is imposed to
Coordinated by the National Abor tion Campaign (NAC) and other provery small choice organisations the fightback has
begun. Alton's Bill, published in parliament on 27 Octobe must meet a flood of opposition. The picket of parliament called for that day
supported by everyone who defends the safety for women possible
David Alton should be sent to jou that long list of MPs in obscurity follow ing their defeated anti-abortion bills.
Page 2 scan of this page
stay left, unions swing right
2 Socialist Action 9 Oct 1987
ACTiON
The Gulf
SOCIALIST ACTION is in general a strong supporter of the Campaign Group of Labour MPs. We think the positions they have taken on the miners strike, democracy in the Labour Party, and on other issues have been important in defending the interests of the working class. Nor are we interested in the nit-picking, or straightforward ultra-left, type of criticism of them that appears in much of the left press.
But that is why, when they are wrong on a big issue, it is necessary to say so clearly. On this, both in the latest issue of Campaign Group News, and in the bulletin they issued at Labour Party conference, the Campaign Group called for an arms embargo against Iraq and Iran (see page 4).
But what is the concrete situation in the Gulf today? The US and British fleets, aided to their allies, are massing in order to 'deal with' Iran. There is no 'arms embargo' being applied by them. The demand for an arms embargo today is simply a demand that Iran be disarmed exactly at the moment when the US and British fleets are threatening to attack it.
Socialists rightly reject the anti-working class character of the Khomeini regime - and those that know a little more should equally reject the no less anu-working class character or we mussel regime in Iraq. But the idea that Britain and the US, of all powers, would introduce anything more progressive in any country in the 'Middle East' is ridiculous. The US and Britain prop up every reactionary regime and group in the world — including apartheid in South Africa and the contras in Central America.
Britain and the US's objection is not to the anti-working regime but that, for its own purposes, it is forced to take some actions which collide with their interests in the region. They would like installed in Iran an equally anti-working class regime which was simply LUTC pliant
Socialists have to demand the withdrawl of the US and British fleets from the Gulf -paign Group members do. Exactly for that reason they also have to oppose an arms embargo against Iran. Anything else deprives Iran of the ability to defend itself against Britain and the US.
The LLL
confirmed very strongly the role which is now played in the party by Labour Left Liaison
The first index was simply the size of its fringe
Labour Party conference was attended by 150 peo. ple. This year, held on the eve of the NEC elections, 600 people attended its meeting.
The weight of the campaigns in LLL was also seen on the conference agenda. Well over 100 resolutions and amendments on the agenda came from the campaigns in the LLL.
In the NEC elections it was candidates most identified with key campaigns in the LLL — Diane Abbott and Ken Livingstone — who did well in the
Group was also the most effective for several years
and directly responsible for ensuring the left, not Bryan Gould, was really successful in the CLP section. Of 115 CLPs voting for three women candidates in the NEC elections,
showing its importance in promoting women can-
LLL members were also able to take an important political initiative prior to Labour Party conference in the 'left unity' statement signed jointly with members of the LCC. This political impact in helping put the lid on talk of coalition in the Labour Party — if only because it created fear of a united left to oppose any such move. Ine statement also oroke down sectarian divisions on the left which the right deliberately
manoeuvre of the left inside the party.
In short an extremely powerful political instrument has been created in the LLL. But it is one that has had to be fought for tamist attacks from the LCC from the outside, which wanted to talk of positive action and other
issaes bat deliver nothing i practice. witra leftism from Labour Briefing, which word have put the left in a ghetto and smashed it.
'the ILL now has to use the infinence it is creating to help turn around the situation in the party during the next year.
on Ireland, class character of the Khomeini
to US and British
• 98 CamA year ago the LCC fringe meeting at
The joint slate for the NEC • both against oppor-
LABOUR PARTY conference week in Brighton started on a gloomy note with Kinnock already having the votes to overturn accountability of MPs and Bryan Gould making all the running for Labour to promote itself as the party of share ownership. The week ended on a considerably more optimistic note with the constituencies rejecting the right wing in the NEC elec-
The week started to pick up on Sundav at the Cam-
for Labour ¿Party (CLPD)
Democracy Labour Left Liaison (LLL) fringe meetings. More than
people attended CLPD meeting which brieted delegate. week's agenda. Six hundred attended the LLL fringe meeting in the evening to hear Diane Abbott, Audrey Wise, Eric Heffer, Jo Richardson, Tony Benn, Dennis Skinner, Ken Livinestone ana olner NEC candidates speak. compares to 150 at the LLL meeling last yeal.
By John Ross
Later in the week 400 people attended a meeting on the left unity statement signed by members of the LCC and LLL.
In between times 280 people attended the Labour Coordinating Committee (LCC) fringe meeting with Bryan alle ouie
speakers - and heard Diane
Abbott and Robin Cook at tack Bryan Gould over his advocacy of share ownership as a socialist policy.
The first day also saw wide La Tons Benne Ken - a reply oy lony Dell, Liv-
ingstone, Alan Meale, and
Ann Pettifor to the Moving
Ahead document put for-
ward by the party leadership as the basis for
Labour's policy in the next
four years. After one day of
the 'fringe the left was
clearly regaining its morale.
Mondav morning was
back to depression. The
VULC to overturn accoun-
tability LICI
GC's had already been set
up in advance. The vote in
principle to overturn ac-
countability was carried by
4.5 million to 1.8 million
votes. The only consolation
was that CLPD won the
debate nands down and a
glance at the hall showed
CuP delegates voted
Brighton '87 — CLPs
massively defend accountability. But the leadership's position was carried on the basis of the bloc vote - a pantern ual was lo De repeated all week. The electoral college system for the election MPs was introduced by 4.5 million to 1.6 million votes. Pure One Member One Vote, which would have destroyed the union link, was defeated by 4.4 million to 1.8 million. Vote
But the really electrifying vote, the turning point in the mood of the week, came with the NEC results
Monday's session. The 'intended outcome in this nac already been widely leaked to the press as 'fact' by Kin nock's office. Bryan Gould was to come second in the constituency section poll, behind David Blunkett, and Ken Livingstone, - against
whom a vicious campaigr had been waged
ress, was to be defeated
political comment on the
Labour Party appears to be a daily bulletin for the right wing of the LCC, had already confidently predicted Gould would come second, and the New Statesman had predicted Livingstone's defeat. ine press, having been briefed on the outcome was
already preparing to leave
Right
In the event Livingstone
cruised in votes
ahead of Gould. Equally
striking Diane Abbott, the
first black woman to stand
for the NEC consutucil
section, gained a 234,000
votes and came ninth. Kin-
nock supporter Michael
Meacher saw his vote fall by
161,000 - falling from third
to seventh place in the con-
stituency section, and lam
Dalyell was crushed - his
vote falling by 227,000 votes.
The CLPs had resisted the right wing drive to a surprisingly high degree. David hillnken was Cane only member of the "soft left' to come high up the list of those elected Bryan Gould's popularity, atter
iganti media hype,
aling bv the hour and the vote had been taken at the ena ol the week he would have been very lucky to have got elected to the
decisive goal of the left to overcome during this year, was the continuing revelation. of deep sexism in the wally. Audrey Wise • below Gould and Meacher
with her support in the partv should be in the top three
sixth.
Left
It was the left wing constituencies that
three women candidates
the straight
seven Campaigl Grout candidates. Only
didates - despite the that formally the LCC en dorsed Diane Abbott, Richardson, Wise.
formalv endorses
candidates and then practice delivers no
say, was maker
Gorton,
contain a single woman.
Sections
The other sections of
the NEC, the
women's section, confirmed
the same pattern as the con-
ference voting. The right
wing, basing itself on the
block vote, gained all five
places in the women's sec-
tion - removing left wingers
Margaret Beckett and Joan Maynard.
The great political explosion of the week came in the debate dominated by Livingstone's •remarks at the inoune rally the night before that any attempt unilateralism would lead to 'civil war' in the party. • This drove the right into a frenzy precisely because they knew It Was une hoping the left would lie down and accept unilatera. nuclear disarmament being overturned. Livingstone's speech gave due notice that wasn't going to happen.
The party leadership
ting the renationalisation of privatised industries shock and a quick demand although only after for a card vote. Strong support was also registered for moves outlawing job discrimination against Catholics in the North of Ireland although the resolution tell due to position by the TGWÜ The NEC was defeated over the issue of a national minimum wage with Michael Meacher being jeered for replying for the platform VOUS
Votes for the NEC
Constituency Section Last vcal Blunkett* 499,000 Benn* 490,000 Skinner* 430,000 Livingstone* Gould* Richardson* 364,000 Meacher* 482,000 Wise 279,000 Abbott Heffer 251,000 Dalyell 376,000
Women's Section 1,270,000 Lestor Jeuda* 3,801,000 Dunwoody* 3,820,000 Renee Short* 4,376,000 2,887,000 Anne Davis* Beckett 3,101,000 Clywd 609,000 Clare Short 2,180,000 Maynard 3,374,000 Bellos
*elected
Politics Today
demands for
£120 a week.
Serious setbacks were the loss of support for Black Sections in the NUM delegation against the views Heathtie d and Scargill, and a narrow loss of support tol Black • Sec. tions in the NUR delegation. hese votes contirmed the shift to the right in the
Another was
Hattersley
tion with Liberals,
even the
the session.
Overall the left gressed weve of
. The big
the
ycal This year Change
466,000 -33,000
439,000 - 51,000
394,000 - 36,000
385,000
344,000
326,000 -38,000
321,000 - 161,000
238,000 -41,000
234,000
187,000 - 64,000
149,000 - 227,000
5,439,000 +4,169,000
+1,344,000
3,997,000 + 177,000
3,339,000 - 1,937,000
3,339,000 +387,000
3,064,000 - 37,000
2,677,000 +2,068,000
2,154,000 26,000
1,302,000 - 2,072,000
449,000
Page 3 scan of this page
Defend unilateral nuclear disarmament
Politics Today
'NO TURNING back — we're unilateralist and proud of it, said Bernadette Hillon, delegate for Lancs West CLP, defence debate at 1987 Labour Party annual conference. She was posite 34, 'the only proposition that clearly reaffirms our total unilateral nuclear show of hands conference overwhelmingly supported those sentiments. But another composite was also passed which creates ambiguity. And there is equally no room to doubt that unilateralism is again under attack from Labour's right wing. TURNER reports from Brighton.
Labour right mounts
new attack
'SELF-MUTILATION in the cause of a false deity? was the rather lurid description given to Labour's unilateral nuclear disarmament policy Healey's research assistant in the Wednesday issue of Fabian Conference News. elaborated what others have carefully glossed over: Labour should use the opportunity of a policy review to ditch unilateralism.
He argued: 'to enter the next election pledged
Trident would meet with incredulity. take the decision to terminate our independent strategic capacity will require substantial reciprocation from the Soviet Union ...
John Lloyd editorialised in like vein in the pages of the New Statesman that anpeared at the end of conference. In foreign atfairs, and crucially defence, the reviewers must noW give pride of place to the world as it 15 and is likely to become:'
Lloyd concluded that: 'the reduced power of the UK means that a grand unilateralist gesture cannot stimulate emulation All these statements are intended to prepare the way for unilateral nuclear disarmament.
rew are prepared to go as far in
Men Scott or John Lloyd. But it is clear where the right wing are heading. In the months to come more and more so-
multilateralist voices will join the chorus
at nuclear disarmanent-
nuclear disarmament policy.
Scott's boss Denis Healey trod a careful line
Thursday afternoon's 'defence' debate at Brighton. Labour could not hang a 'do not disturb' sign on this part of policy he argued, in a reference to Neil Kinnock's speech of that Tuesday.
Under the guise of describing views of socialist colleagues Europe', he argued inal nuclear weapons were
Sheltering CLICHL under the nuclear umbrella was essential, said Healey, until "international nuc-
lear disarmament' was
achieved.
Despite this, the over-
whelming mood of consti-
gates was clear.
in the
moving Com-
commitment to disarmament'. On a
CAROL by Denis
Dr Len Scott openly
In the words of the Guardian editorial of the Friday 2 October: 'they are not to
the unilateral non-nuclear detence policy.
That clarity was not exthe pressca, However two composites, C30 and C34, that passed
welc the end of the debate. The
was unambiguous. but the former opened the door to a tuture tudge.
In this light, many other were
stalliculls clearly ambiguous. In his leader's speech earlier in
week, welcomed the US-USSR
Las, especially praising the United States
He went on: 'we will work to ensure that we - have policies that are capable of dealing with the changed conditions of the 1990s in a way that will
prospect of removing reliance on
weapons. Hard v clear statement of Labour's unilateral nuclear disarmament policies.
The ambiguitv of this statement is even more im-
when UlIC considers the genesis of Composite 30 passed by conference. Moved by TASS and seconded by Chelsea CLP. the contributed the call for working review 'timetable and negotiating strategy'
Chelsea is the constiof Charles Lucie Dall Clark, Kinnock's advisor Another part of Chelsea's resolution, not included in composite 30, 'reaffirms the partv's determinatior to scrap the British independent nuclear weapon and supports the adoption of a non-nuclear defence strategy for Britain' But it made no mention of US nuclear bases or the commitment to remove all
British soil and waters - a
LABOUR PARTY H.Q
Garland
within the Labour Party,' said its editorial.
clear shift away from unilateralism.
Likewise. • Joan Rud-
tribution to quote fence
tribution defence debate was clearly designed to open up a way for a shitt In policy. It must be made clear that we will
Trident, she said. sulau 'But that does not stop Labour using Trident politically' concluded Ruddock.
speech was described by the Guardian redue as. 'the dismal attempts of some of lic cangnca centre to ly to make two and two make five, exemplified in Virs Joan Ruddock's speech and in the optimistic struction put Labour officials on the meaning of
NOLORS WICH were passed.'
It was in this context that Ken Livingstone's remarks that any attempt
unilateral nuclear disarmament would lead to civil war within the party were greeted with outrage by the Labour establishment. Denis Healey appeared conference especially make his contribution in une cene ucoale. LOSI of which was devoted to attacking •the Brent representative'.
Clarke, summing up
his fire on Livingstone
the MUCO press pointed out the ingstone's remarks caused following Liv.such precisely
alikel because they were true.
was clear from the CLP delegates who took the rostrum during the •erence deode co cemac that any review must leave the principles of unilateral nuclear disarmament alone
period the rank and file not just of the CLPs but also of the trade unions must reassert
determination fend Labour's unilateral nuclear disarmamen policy. No turning back!
Jnilateralist and proud of
"ITS FOR WHEN WE DO ACTUALLY REVIEW OUR DEFENCE POLICY.
How the Independent saw Labour's defence debate: 'Ken Livingstone was stating no more than the truth when he warned that an attempt to abandon the policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament would lead to something approaching civil war
Review presentation
not policy says Toda
TGWU leader Ron Todd has called on the Labour Party to stand firm on its nuclear disarmament policy.
Speaking at the South East the weekend after Labour met in Brighton, Todd said Labour's defence policy couldn't be blamed for the party's general election defeat.
How can we believe that people who live in the south found defence a decisive issue while those in the north did not, he asked?
Todd went on: "What have got to look at is the Way We DISCIL UNC DOLICY
•Ron Todd's statement is a welcoilt reattirmation ol the TGWU's commitment
tonin has be hin that
union been the forefront of pioneering the party. Alle the transport workers contribunon to ine aclence acbalt al Labour Party conference it
welconc TGWU delegate Jack Dromey was the first on his • feet after the movers and seconders the composites. He came to une
reaffirm the TOWEs commitment Labour's non-nuclar
SHARM RPLUS defence policy, said Dromey, supporting
to the need to strengthen Britain's
conventiona defences, stressing the redundancies facing defence workers at Enfield and Davenport. Dromey's Tanure to lake up any olnel aspect of Labour's unilateralist policy did not
unremarked by conference.
Neither did his silence on Composite 34. This resolution was the only one which unambiguously reaffirmed the party's commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament.
1987 was the first time tor many yeals thal geneta! secretary Ron Todd did not lake • 10 Lauvul cull ference rostrum to confirm the TGWU's support for unilateral nuclear disarmament. His weekend speech, however makes clear his position
After Brighton the attack on nuclear disarmament from Labour's right wing is out in the open. It Is more important that ever
make clear once again their
nutea: disarmameni
Socialist Action
Behind the scenes
at Brighton
tion clearly and Labour's unilateral nuclear would ever have made it to the rostrum.
FIVE composites comprised the Thursday afternoon 'defence debate Labour Party conference in Brighton. Two of them, Composites 30 and 34, formally reaffirmed existing policy - but their content
Sost duurs different.
In the unambiguous words of Composite (C)34: 'Conference reaffirms its commitment Labour's non-nuclear detente and nuclear disarmament poncie including the removal from British soil and waters of all nuclea weapons and nuclear bases within the lifetime of the next Labour government.'
According to C30, the statement that 'conference TenTATOS CHELICT
Labour's non-nuclear defence policy rellall unspecified. Only Polaris is mentioned by name the Tory government i
ondemned for upgradin it to the detriment of con-
ventin a capability.
both the strategy and timetable of Labour's non-nuclear defence policy is clear. All nuclear weapons and nuclear bases will go, and they will go in the lifetime of single parliament • This is exactly the area that C30 leaves unclear, for an NEC party "review".
This unclarity is no accident. Of the 47 resolutions and amendments on the final agenda, 24 reatfirmed unilateralism. Nonetheless, office lig directorate of Walworth Road produces
ex duded composite wrase
excluded phrase 'unilateral nuclear disarmament. Unclear
The nearest the draft
came was: 'Conference
urges the party to continue to oppose the possession
by this country of nuclear weapons and lne stallon ing of such weapons within this countrv..
Only Polaris and Trident specifically referred to the
Walworth Road draft
the event this draft bit the dust was superceded by C30 sup
ported by TASS and
Chelsea CLP Unfor-
tunately more
concerned with welcoming
Ine arms talks inal
defending nuclear disar-
9 Oct 1987 3 RESOLUTIONS FOR the 'defence' section of the 1987 Labour Party annual conference were the subject of intense behind-the-scenes lobbying before the debate ever reached the floor. If Walworth Road's policy directorate could have had its way, no resolu-
reaffirming unambiguously
disarmament policy ed a sentence that proved
chubal assica ITASS. The composite reaffirmed Labour's com mitment to NATO membership despite TASS's policy to the con trary. Throughout the conference, TASS weTt lobbying to have C30 • wil nola Wit
This probably the mair ¡casul for remarkable decision by the conference arrangements committee (CAC) on the day before the defence debate. The CAC decided that time permitted only three of the five defence composites to be debatec
and that conterence C30, with the least suppor ting organisations, would be one of the two resolu tions dropped.
No sooner decision been taken WILD let support o CAC chair Derek Gladwin
than the party leadership set up its own lobby te get C30 reinstated on the agenda. for reason the loca government debate Thursday morning foreshortened and all fis defence composites debated by delegates .... Mood
On a show of nart conference overwhelmir
carned boin (si C34. There was i
doubt ine delegates nuclear disarmar:
delegate: did: hild
dilu
leadersho
Page 4 scan of this page
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Page 5 scan of this page
News
IN THE words of The Economist 'A nasty row is brewing over the Anglo-Irish agreement'. This centres on the failure of the agreement to deliver significant reforms of the administration of justice in Northern Ireland, to eliminate discrimination against Catholics in employment and the treatment of the Birmingham 6 and Guildford 4 — the innocent victims of anti-Irish frame-ups who remain in jail after 13 years.
more for the
away WILl promised
sary the Angio-Irish
blems.
has
discrimina-
'cause cel-
measures compel US firms the
code known MacBride principles.
The
an 11 day
by state city legisCLP and secretary of the Labour Party Irish Section, moved the resolution to Labour Party con-
within the lifetime of a Labour government. reproduce her speech.'
AS an Irish woman from a
Protestant
to
British problem Northern Ireland.
There are over three million people of Irish extraction in Britain: three
i99, tane trish bote for
the Irish VOIC Labour was the lowest ever, reflecting past Labour governments' shameful record on Ireland.
Moves
Since Labour's more positive moves to end o-partisanship Have started to reverse the tide. The Labour Party aras been evolving a policy on Ireland which has begun to WIll back its credibility within the Irish community.
My experience in the general election, working
the newly Tormed Labour Party Irish Secdons. was one or alicio ting to persuade the Irish community to vote Labour, join the party and contribute to the development of socialism in this country.
The Irish community in
La role along with the black com munitv in the historic election of Bernie Grant.
But the message on the
Row brewing over
Anglo-Irish Agreement
Mayor Flynn of Boston the British
not action insofar
employ-
latest
nothing the latest British paganda.'
He 'The
U11.
British must
the society. that Ireland represents.'
said of
a slick
force in It does
who al C against
newspaper
Britain out in one parliament
SIOBHAN CROZIER, a delegate from Tottenham
ference calling for British withdrawal from Ireland
We
doorsteps community clear:
Was Labour's
our vote
granted.
fatally it's not
tise the
posal wilton
next Labour
blem. tion, the
guvelll the meni all-
cent of the
Ireland
tain sec-
Was
non.
the border go and
that "The MacBride band'wagon is set to keep on rolling.'
In the field of administration of iustice the government is also facing
political DIUblems. These centre on the
Diplock court system.
The British government has refused to carry out even the cosmetic reforms Diplock court system that have been pontely requesicu Dy Dublin. posed the Dublir
British against highlighting Diplock courts,
operations and the 6 and
rot In jail, despite universal
the of the anti-Irish in political
of all this, 16 Siobhan Crozier
Until Britain withdraws, neither communitv will be freed from the suffocating traditions which pass politics in the North. The Loyalists will always play the Orange card, refusing to concede the reality that they : have to co-exist peacefully and equitably with the rest of the Irish people.
The question of how this will be achieved must be addressed. A serious and practical policy programme must be instigated. The incoming Labour government would declare its firm intention to withdraw in its first
then convene tional Come ent with elected representatives from North and south to agree structures for a new Ireland and procedures for transferring sovereignty.
This constitutional conterence WOlO powered to make majority decisions to prevent a veto being exercised, and would agree the appropriate structure for a new Ireland. The British government would lạy. down for civil and religious liberties and rights to dual citizenship with Britain.r"•
September the European Commission of Human Rights ruled that Britain had violated the European
on Humar Rights by holding two irish men for more that five days under the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act.
ficult for the Dublin
the
its arsenal against republican
The drops the traditional political and
facie' case _be made before Act and
six counties liable
Aim An AntiExtradition Committee has been launched. In Britain the Labour Committee on Ireland and Labour Party Irish Sections are planning a rally in London on 17 November, with Ken
extralhighlight the denial of civil rights and justice by Britain to Irish people. tainable as previous British
when minating colonial
the world. babwe's struggle led to
Lancaste policy rapidly ground
Union
withdrawal Ireland
particularly to represen-
La firm
Labour
Britain the Labour take this historic withdraw, us
peace -harmony together.….
Annie Maguire, and Chris Mullin.
Party conference
thern Ireland' in the lifetime of one parliament.
Both resolutions were defeated. Nonetheless this year's party conference did 'mark something breakthrough on the Irish question.
The week started with the new shadow secretary oi state for Northern Ireland, Kevin McNamara, claiming that 'bi-partisanship' with the Tories had ended with the vote of the 1981 party conference for a policy of Irish unity 'by consent'. He said: "The logic of our commitment to irish reunitica. tion and our recognition that the people of the north of Ireland, whatever their traditions, are Irish first and foremost, that they should run their lives not us.'
He attacked the Tory suvallell obbying in the US against TO T fruitless
wate bracines Por it to only way it to defeat them would be to make them irrelevant by introduc ing strong effective policies with teeth to eliminate job discrimination?
McNamara went out of his way to contrast Labour's commitments on specitic civil liberties such as opposing renewal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to the increasing rellance or suc cessive Tory government:
on coercion. His overall li tention was to distance Labour from Tory government on ireland.
However, for McNamara the framework of Labour's policy remained the Anglo-Irish agree ment, and as the Irish 1 mies pointed out in its editorial on his speech: 'he ignores the tact that, if ever the British government and opposition displaved virtua unanimity on Irish affairs auring the past decade, it was after the signing of the agreement at Hillsborough .in 1985.
On the conference floor McNamara spelt out the ; massive scale of discrimina¡tion in employment against Catholics. 'The MacBride principles embody sentiments with which no person committed to equality •could disagree
Nonetheless when the
10rc
FISH SECTIO
1800 people attended the spectacularly successful Irish Social and Rally for Cori Rights and Justice organised by the Labour Committee on Ireland and :* / se sections at party conference. Billy Bragg topped the bill and was prececies -speakers including: Clare Short, Bernie Grant, Ken Livingstone, Fred Her c
Advances on Ireland at Labour
LABOUR PARTY conference debated two composifes on Northern Ireland. The first asked the NEC to prepare a report on employment discrimination in Northern Ireland. The second proposed a policy to achieve Irish self-determination by negotiation with all interested parties and British withdrawal from Nor-
tion on employment the NEC
was duly defeated. what was remarkable was that were cas against
steam loI • to enc
Ireland built up
resolution major unions, the TGWU,
and their British union movement.
This has been brought
Employment Discrimination
In Northern Ireland:
Socialist Action 9 Cct 155. 5
into the light c: should be Dada = Jae ASIC C ferences with BITI winning the year's Late conference
withdrawal was zsed I a higher level than bejose I the party, bý the Tottenhamm delegate's explanation of a practical plan IC carry through British withdrawal in the lifetime of one parliament.
Finally, the spectacular success the Irish socia and rally organised by the Labour Committee on Ireland and the Labour Par ty Irish Sections, with 1800 people attending, Wak landmark showing that al long last the fight for self determination for Ireland is , being recognised as an in: dispensable part of the agenda of the Labour lett.
In the coming year the aim will be to win a clear majority for action against such consequences of partition employment discrimination and at the sam . to bulld up and con solidate a clear minority committed to the longe term fight to commit Labour 'British withdrawal in the lifetime of one parliament'.
IRELAND:
CAUSE OF
LABOUR?
The Origins
The Facts
The Future
28 November 1987 The Camden Contro rough Streel a NW (opp Si Pancras Station delagates pack and turther informatio contact Ireland: Tra Carso of Labor?', BM Box 5335; London WCIM DO
Page 6 scan of this page
BRIGHTON
Socialist Action 9 Oct 1987; KEN LIVINGSTONE'S election to the NEC, beating Bryan Gould by more than 40,000 votes, was the single most striking vote of the Labour Party conference. His speech to the Tribune rally the night before the defence debate dominated that discussion. Socialist Action asked Ken Livingstone for his assessment of Labour Party conference and his own plans.
We must understand the mood of the Party, and the needs of the situation, after Brighton. The Labour movement wants, above all, to win the next election. It wants to do it because it wants to demolish Thatcherism. Anything which cuts across that goal, from either right or left, will be ruthlessly condemned by the Party membership.
Take the response to John Edmonds, general secretary of the GMB, on the first day of conference. He was cheered, in-
cluding by CLP delegates, when he made
clear he was prepared to use the GMB's
leverage in the Party.
I don't believe he was cheered because
people wanted right wing policies. When
Deakin of the TGWU, or Carron of the
AEU - who I'm not comparing Ed-
monds to - threatened or used the block
vote in the 1950s they were jeered, not
cheered. They used it directly to push
through right wing policies regardless of
their effect. Edmonds
because he was stressing something else
that without unity and discipline
Labour could not win. The delegates
know that is true.
Left I don't believe the left has anything to
fear from this particular development.
The left wants Labour to win more than
anyone else in the Party. They will win
over the centre ground of the party;
membership, the 'party loyalists', because
the left does have the greatest will, and
the clearest strategy, to win.
Nor will the Party membership, in-
cluding most importantly the trade union...
membership, condemn any arguments in the party which are about how to win. What they are not interested in, and hunt v have svmpathv with them. Is a fight in the Party for its own sake. They are not interested in posturing, or protesting. They want power in order to destroy what Thatcherism has done.
This is why the right will have a tar rougher time than they think. Because the type of policy they destroy Thatcherism. They are discussing ways to 'build on' Thatcherism, not how to destroy it:
Mass
Labour party members are not so
demoralised, or so opportunist, that they
want the party to have office for its own
- that might be the ambition of a
sake
few hangers on, or careerists, but it is not
the spirit of the mass Labour Party
membership. Everything we do must be
in the spirit of winning the next election
Ior LaDour.
Where, therefore, will the difference cheered between the right and the lett develop -
because, of course, they will?
First because the events that will
determine whether Labour wins the next
election won't be the elections that will
take place in the next four years
although obviously we have got to devote
the greatest attention to winning these. It
will be what happens outside parliament
that will determine the outcome of the
International If the trade unions are defeated, if the
fight in local government is defeated, if
Labour doesn't 'aid. the international
struggles, if the fight against the poll tax isn't carried through, then we can kiss goodbye to winning the next election and getting of understands that and the right doesn't.
policy carried out towards the miners was so misguided. If the miners had won Thatcher would have lost the election. Because the miners lost Labour lost. want won't key struggles outside parliament in the next four years, but it will be these which will, more than anything else, determine the outcome of the next election.
Second the right
policies which eliminate it.
People
Damaging
that just at the
couldn't happen to a
be to demolish it and its support.
•This. IsSUC
AFTER
Thatcher. The left
This is why, among other reasons, the
It is impossible to tell what will be the
Unions doesn't aim to demolish Thatcherism. We have to have
underestimated how much Labour gained at the last election by defeating the Alliance and pushing it into third place In the last twenty years issue out openly. Labour has lost 45 votes to the Alliance for every vote it has lost to the Tories. The destruction of the Alliance increases chances of winning. dramatically Labour's chance to win - if we are prepared to use the opportunity.
This is why it is doubly damaging
moment when the Alliance was plunged into crisis the right wing in the Party, such as John Lloyd of Vote the New Statesman, Austin Mitchell of the Fabians, Eric Hammond or Bill Jordan, comes forward to give the Alliance a lifeline by proposing coalition, proportional representation, or prettifying the politics of Owen and Steel. Our attitude to the Alliance crisis should have been It
"nicer" group of people. Our policy to the Alliance should
two years also shows Up the
hollowness of right's claim to want to win. The right wing constantly goes on about how it wants to win and the lett doesn't. In fact it is the right which advocates policies, coalition, which would make it certain Labour would not win and that there would not be a Labour government. By explaining this we will make it clear to the vital rank and file middle ground in the party that it is the right, not the left, that is the obstacle to winning the next election.
It is the same in the unions. The rank and tie, ana tne enure madie ground l the trade unions, don't want anything to do with no strike deals. , which unfor-
tunately some in the party leadership are
playing with, and we have to bring that
We also have to point out that it i
fetishes of the right which harm Labour's
Take, for example
the witch hunt. This has now been seen
not only to be anti-democratic but a
complete waste of time. The swing to
Labour in Liverpool was the second
highest in the country after Scotland.
Terry Fields had a huge swing in his
direction in Broadgreen.
I don't believe that this is because
people are supporting Militant's politics
- right wingers on Merseyside got just
as big a vote as leftwingers, and the par-
ty in Scotland got even greater support.
But it does show people are completely
uninterested in the whole issue of Mili-
tant. However the right ensured we spent
with the NEC totally
troverted and obsessed by this witch
hunt. It was a complete and total waste of time, positively damaging, and this has to be explained to the Party. I believe this is getting through to the Party membership.
Take the right's activities in Birmingham prior to the election. The keep out of Birmingham' letter sent to Black Section members by Roy Hattersley and other Birmingham MPs been rightly condemned by Bill Morris
focussed national attention' on a routine Black Section meeting and stirred up a racist backlash that damaged us both in the local and general elections → all the polls show that during the elec tion, even at the height of the campaign, Labour didn't make the slightest advance in the West Midlands.
Coalition
I think we could do with a little investigating of Frank Field - - whose at-
tacks on Labour Party candidates un-
doubtedly helped us lose Wallasey in the
general election
The discipline that is needed if
Labour is to win doesn't just apply to the
left. Indeed the left has never sabotaged
Labour's chances - unlike the right. We
have to point out, for example, the dif
ference between the discipline of the left
in the last election and the wrecking ac-
tivities of Callaghan in the 1983 election
If the left is going to win it must carry
the centre ground of the rank and file
with it. This can only be done by making
clear that the left is not pursuing some
goal of its own, but is seeking the general
goal of the labour movement of destroy-
ing Thatcherism.
Finally I think we have to spend
much more effort on international issues
Obviously the outcome of the struggie
Page 7 scan of this page
Ban all imports of South African coal
tour is going to win the election or
¡nestic political issues. But the interna-
Priority
will be spending a lot of time on
e discussed in the party in the next
ja defence of abortion rights
* But as well as these Labour has to
a high priority to South Africa, a perica and, immediately, the I think perhaps I have a difference wh some on the left on this at present. here seems to be a high priority on
Q 1 think this is not quite right.
- and
ATO membership by first showing the United States. That is why I think we atral America and South Africa where
Obviously I'm very identified with
¿ I will be in Chicago next week testify. i in support of the MacBride prin-
But I want to extend that to taking the more general issues of British and
THERE are just two weeks left for ensuring the most
massive demonstration for sanctions against the apar-
theid regime on 24 October. The Labour Party con-
ference unanimously backed the demonstration. Union
after union have added their support. Students and
youth are mobilising in their thousands.
The National Union of Mineworkers has been at the
IT IS WITH mixed emotions that I
niceung
math of recent events in South Africa and in particular the events of such place in the South African mining in-
pride at the tremendous heroism and sacrifices demonstrated by the black miners of South Africa as they united in a force of 300,000 in the South African NUM and squared up to the mining giants and their partners in apartheid Pride at the way they resolutely stood up to the teargas and plastic bullets and the attempts to starve them or sack
and the back trade union movement did not lose in the dispute and will be better placed to mobilise their power in the struggles of the future.
of those 50 South African mineworkers who perished in the explosion at the St Helena goldmine when their cage crashed to the bottom of a 4,600 feet shaft.
also owns the Kinross mine where 177 miners died last year, is one which we also feel. And with that bitterness there is also anger at the carnage which continues in the South African mining in-
deaths every year and which has led to 48,000 miners killed in accidents in the
know that if we are to express solidarity with the black mineworkers in their
under racist military occupation, with those children and youth who face the army and the police in the streets, with militant workers and those who are landless, with women who continue to fight even as they bury their dead, with
have been imprisoned and tortured but
with the people's army, engaged in their armed offensive channel our feelings of solidarity for all
meworker
our brothers and sisters in the African National Congress have called for them — and because all those people who ge-
freedom throughout the world have
that the apartheid system
injustice and inhumanity of these times
the degradation of human beings is the very foundation of that system and its development of Africa - of all the international working class — and indeed
murderous institution needs the lifeline of international economic support in COSATU and the Mandelas and the ANC and the people of South Africa have called for sanctions because they know that in the struggle to bring down
sacrifices and suffering they will have
to face will depend upon how much strength the apartheid system can draw from those international backers who presently ensure its continued survival.
Just what those sacrifices and suf
licalls. couldn't have been more clearly outlined than by the events of the last year: • Railway workers striking for union I recognition shot dead; •• The headquarters of the Congress of South African Trade Unions ransacked by the security forces then blown up; • Hundreds more trade unionists de-
i • Bomb attacks on Zambia and Zim-
created by Apartheid's rulers and their MNR mercenaries.
:ternational terrorism and we have to
union leaders and leaders of the liberation movement have earned the right to speak on behalf of the South African people when they call for sanctions. We Thatcher to speak on behalf of the peo-
supposed to be that there will be job losses and suffering for black working
the National Union of Mineworkers is well-placed to know
about the job losses or suffering of working class people, and black people
•tions are against the interests of inter-
nationals - the interests which Thatcher truly represents.
Shell and all the other partners in apartheid don't want sanctions then Thatcher's decision will be against applying
South African people face. It is that approach which really lies behind British government policy at the present time.
Condemn
will surely condemn - those who prolong the life of that abhorrent' system by one more day. But condemnation is not enough. Because of the Tories' attitude, the task of achieving sanctions
organising better to achieve sanctions should be a major task of this con-
take up with particular sense of urgency and of responsibility. I say that because it is mining and minerals which are the key to apartheid's survival. It is coal which is the energy source that tuels apartheid and it is miners who are in the front line in the struggle to bring it down
It is because of developments like that that we take up the People's Sanctions campaign, and in particular the campaign against South African coal
HOW
coal imports, and our fight
South African coal were imported into of coal exported by the apartheid state
exports which provide its second largest source of foreign revenue. The
centre of mobilising solidarity with the liberation struggle of the South African people. At a meeting during the TUC, NUM general secretary Peter Heathfield, spoke alongside representatives of the ANC, SWAPO, and the South African trade union organisations, COSATU and SACTU: The following are major extracts from his speech, explaining the case for sanctiens.
market terms, reaching Europe for as.
is not cheap. It is known only to those miners who pay for the wealth they create but do not share with their sweat, their misery and their lives - because black miners must face living and work. ing conditions which are an interna the strike the conditions weour paid a pittance to work in ap palling conditions with little or no comAnd in spite of the rich loads of coal, diamonds and gold which the miners have won with their lives, miners, like
'tured and killed, their union has grown from 2,000 in 1982 to a mighty force of
Charter With their adoption of the ANC's Freedom Charter, their linking up with other forces in the South African strug gle and their potential power of industrial action to stop the flow of South 'African minerals and coal, the miners
313,000 tonnes of that coal icame into Britain. Much more besides |came in blended form via Belgium and
Socialist Action 9 Oct 1987
'end to those imports and for sanctions now against apartheid We have taken the case to the British and : European parliaments throughout the internationa ! trade union movement. Our international the International Miners Organisation — last year agreed to bring pressure to bear on those coun tries importing. South African coal ! and called for a complete boycott of
Campaign
In response to calls from brothers in the South African NUM we have stepped up that campaign. : Within our own union we have laun'the Miners United Against Apartheid campaign, producing a briefing pamphlet on one per DANS well other materials, in order to make sure our membership is fully informed of the 'issues inyolved and will be responding as for action. In addition to • calling tor a bovcott of ail souti African products, we have called for a boycott of Shell's products through our press The United States, France and Denmark have already banned South African coal imports, while the Euro. pean Parliament is dithering on issue. We believe that by continuing a sustained mult-level campaign publicity, lobbying and protest we can bring a very telling pressure to I bear on those who continue to allow I the coal to flow into Britain.
AAM 13 Mandola Stront, Lon
@ANTI APARTHEID MOVEMENT Y
ESANCTIONSA
NOWAL
DEMONSTRATE!
Page 8 scan of this page
8 Socialist Action 9 Oct 1987 US-Britain out of the Gulf!
Victory to Iran!
Discussion article
on Iran
SOCIALIST ACTION has presented its views on the Iran-Iraq war in its pages. BRIAN GROGAN represents an alternative, minority view.
THE 1979 Iranian revolu- tries to hide all this by and other such gains. tion sent shock waves presenting the issues It is these gains that the inrougn imperlanst circies. Tengious terms. BUT LAISI anasses have con Iran under the Shah had no more religious con- tinuously mobilised to
the kev imperialist flict than that in Ireiand or DrULCCi : over the past eight policeman for the whole Poland. Islamic fun- years including the
The Shah's over- damentalsm is the cloak mobilisations defeat throw devastating. under which the masses Iragi in the The Gult is of central was Gulf war. strategic importance for im- aspirations. perialism. The Gulf, con- grotesque tains 57 per cent of the the world's proven oil reserves — with Saudi Arabia alone accounting for 24 per cent. have in
Lotte turner conster- equating unpopular nation of imperialism, the measures the Iranian
of the Iranian people have sent reverber-. police every ations throughout the aspect of life whole region.
Reagan and Thatcher this, has referring ther assemble its chatter on about Iranian massive of "de-stabilisation' of LIC COULILIY region, and about Iran's
LIC revolution there were DIULCOU the labour Gulf war as threatening movement. Other im'world Mass and perialist which
peace. • 11l1perialism's 'stability' and imperialism's 'peace' that Oppressed is their concern.
like Italy have used
Fear along 25,000 US the cover
TOONS.
The desparate fear of imperialism wan revealed OrganISE mintary duti in Saudi Arabia in August this year at the annual Haj The to Mecca. The • Iranian anti-US demonstration is the assembled there clearly struck since War II, chord with the downtrodden throughout the alone the land 100 ships, growing. whole of the mid-East.
This is why the response of impose government the Saudi authorities monopoly foreign under the tutelage US (aptly named the tacked in the This 'Great Satan'), alla fleet ferocious - massacring at Iran. least 400 Iranian pilgrims. • ULIULIS The fact of the matter is that for all imperialism's talk of the Arabs' lining on Iran. clearly up against Iran, many assault states Gulf and targets on beyond face threat tion. the govern- ritory. ic1within their own borders Despite this, the which is inspired by the peoples in Iran. tront and last week im-
I'he capitalist media
Socialist Action
Xmas draw
WITH this issue of Socialist Action, we launch our 1987 Xmas raffle. Last year, we raised £1000 which helped us maintain our fortnightly publication schedule. So we have decided to repeat the successful formula of 1986.
There is one major prize - - an Amstrad word processor. But the winner can choose the £399 cash equivalent. Tickets sell at 50p each or 3 for f1.
Buying a raffle ticket, or better, helping sell some, is an easy way to show your political support for our newspaper. The extra money that we hope to raise in this way is indispensible to our regular publication. Sales alone cannot meet our cost. It is only the generosity of our readers and the commitment of our supporters that keeps a paper like ours afloat.
So ask your Socialist Action seller for some raffle tickets. And if you can help sell some, please write to us at Box 50, London N1 2XP.
ing office
Labour
Left
the
perialism generated
perialism's pressed in
12 SOS
Iraq has
many
tillery.
Economist,
popular
closure of
tion has in London this
from the
the Woodward DOCAINI
'the SHal
Lo survive Star whose
been to
for the
the petty
A of im- talism'. has been
charges
to the
of im-
intenMecca Action'?
to with the popular
11ltestimony
their
much ar-
advance, 19-25
this
Socialist
. with the
writing
25
Cousica
• depender
particularly
in
fundamen-
is it
'Great
mobilisa-
and other
continuing
the
well founded
against
imperialism therefore
tactics
of struggle
up with
credit
British
to the entered
pose drive
Iran-Iraq
Mates place
and in the
The war
capitalist
embargo
US fleets
Unfor-
position 11-
war
ran and
wal
Immediately
Debate
raid into Iran which ended in fiasco in the desert. •The outcome of this blocked off further direct US a gression for the time b
Instead, in 1981, the US encouraged the Iraq Invasion
Proxies
Since that time, the US has bankrolled Iraq's wa effort through its Saudi and Kuwaiti proxies Saudi Arabia alone ha contributed f25bn. France has chipped in with f8bn and a steady flow of Exocel missiles. While at tempting • US blockade of Iran, to it surd braised • raised
trading extending virtuathy partner
unlimited credit and pro. •viding it with subsidised food from its strategic
Losing
Now, despite this sup
is losing the war. Such an outcome would threaten a radicalisation region to the detriment of imperialism. This is why
flotilla has been assembled This itself merely a preliminary stage to direct military . incursions into Iran.
Socialists today. must stand up alongside Iran demand Britain and Us out of the Gulf, oppose an arms embargo on Iran and stand for its victory ir the war.
Page 9 scan of this page
'Either we die of hunger or of bullets'
International
THE 300 islands in the south Pacific which make up Fiji would once attract paradise' aimed at British and US tourists. The second coup there brought the islands to the attention of the world's media. But the 'constitutional crisis' provoked by Col Sitiveni's self-designation as head of state which has gripped media attention, or the so-called racial conflict' to which they refer, have as little relevance to the country's 715,000 inhabitants as the previous description of 'paradise'. has rather everything to do with the British empire, class relations and the struggle for non-racialism, democracy and independence. JON SILBERMAN explains.
Fiji became
from Bri-
rule in tne Fiji® was
ceded Fiji
colonial ad• Lall
Their warriors to police indentured
Bri-
such as
stitutions. Great
the
is the real the coully.
supporters,
maintain
aristocracy and their
The was
Wak
ple.
the British
for in-
Fijians privileged
Guatemala
obstacle to peace in the region. In Nicaragua, the San-
and lifted press censorship. amnesty for contra forces who lay down their arms, and unilaterally imposed previous war zones. his campaign for $270m of contra aid.
negotiate with the liberation forces in their countries.
name to the peace accord - Guatemala.
PRIOR TO the 1985 elec-.
DOES Guatemala Wals byword for military dictaluis, coups aru iculcosioli of the most brutal kind. 38,000 people have been murdered or disappeared.
The human rights situation • was so bad that even the US was forced to cut off aid. So
Vinicio Cerezo, won what was generally accepted as a tair
lection, (the first time since
Second coup in Fiji
press reports about
within five months has again The present crisis in Fiji
social layer are simply
workers Lena! farmers in modern
economy.
1985. Poor The bulk of indigenous Fijians are also extremely poor. They hereditary rights to farm allottribal return for providing the tribal chiefs with money, food and labour. Those who live and farm in the tribal are often the sway of the chiefs. But they can get out of such tribal duties by renting land outside them tribal area alongside IndoFijians. Through this process, despite formally owning 83 per cent of all lana in ril, malgenous rI jians are in fact forced to the SUOSSI lands.
It was these indigenous Fijians, who farm outside their tribal areas who, alongside Indo-Fijian workers and tenant farmers, up social base of the Bavadra election victory in April of his year
te hereditary thiefst t0
hereditary chiefs. struck their entire 'divide and rule' policy, which had been maintained since 1970 by the parliamentary majority THE SIGNING of the Guatemala peace treaty by the five Central American presidents has shown to the world that it is the US and its clients who are the chief
dinistas have reopened La Prensa and Radio Catolica,
They have declared an
cease-fire in three Meanwhile Reagan continues
As we go to press, the governments of El Salvador and Guatemala have been forced to sit down and
In this, the third article in our series on the treaty, BRIDGET ELTON looks at the country which gave its
the CIA organised coup in 1954 that the military did not fix the results), Guatemalans were hopeful of improvement.
Nothing changed.
Cerezo the military's front man ne Is Mr Clean. After 32 years of virtually unbroken military rule, ana wild a growing trade union and peasant
guerrilla struggle, the army
Wher Mara was
defend aristocratic privileges. the named
anti-Bavadra Taukei
ried the May
wno are to day the subject of
Prime
Benaia the Queen's
Party, Kamisese Mara Meli the leader
third. chief.
first coup, about the
CTISIS 8100 inter-racial simply to hide
their chiefly privileges. decided Guatemala needed a new image. As former army spokesperson D'Jalma Dominguez put it receiv. *Hor convenience sake a civilian government is preferable. It's better to remain outside: the real power will not be lost'.
Having failed to physically annihalate the guerrilla the
(Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity), a civilian government was central to the army's plan for enforcing mass involvement in the army's civilian patrols alie called development programmes. (known in viet nam as strategic hamlets).
The army returned to barracks after Cerezo's election, but on its definition
Guatemala.
port Group
Relatives the Disappeared (GAM) demanded lustice Cerezo told them 'not to poke around in the
Rabuka and the army who size has been doubled since the first coup in May.
military
The Service
cut on the
vants.
were attacked even
was" in-
coup armed
was equally.
: that
Bavadra seek turn the
more with as had
concerned the regional of the Fiji.
the October, ignore going on has Hauc
society.
Rogoberta Guatemalan Indian and Solem GeTTOCAC
1986 expected
year
signal, elsewhere,
take DUAL-COlO
panies
Rabuka-
meeting opposi-
harvest as revenut
Dockers in
It was get round
was put together by Ganilau and
Mara Timoci
tain, chiefly aristocracy and
a stable form of political rule against a background
demands for non-racialism, democracy and
independence. manoeuvres are on the way that's why this small country will be at the centre of the attention of this month's Commonwealth conference in presentians ansert ts
presenting himself regional peacellakel Cerezo hopes to ensure that the money keeps flowing in and tries to brand liberation forces of
as ponents of peace.
But Guatemalan lawyer, Frank La Rue - in
with kigobert:
Menchú pointed out, like the FMLN of El Salvador ; and unlike the Contras, the 'URNG are indigenous and receive no aid from outside, so a cut off of aid will not aftect them. "There will be no peace in Central America without dialogue with the FMLN and the 'URNG', he said, vuatemala Is a counny where there is struggle'
There could be no peace while there were human rights violations, . he went on. "The peace plan has not altered the situation of the Guatemalan people'. Menchú added, Either we die of 'yielded " " hunger or of bullets"
Angola
crossed the Namibian-Angolan border.
planning entry.
Continued epidemic.
the The Pretoria's aggression. Burkino Faso was
country of Burkina Faso.
Namibian liberation movements.
by against apartheid -
the
South Africa.'
Soviet Union slander.
tried by Stalin -
the the
by communists throughout the world.
Hungary
cent rise in consumer prices.
do better or to go bankrupt
Socialist Action 9 Oct 1987
World
in action
Apartheid military forces have inflicted
'considerable casualties' on government troops in south-east Angola in the past few days. South Africa has confirmed that its troops have
According to the Johannesburg paper, The Star, 'at least three' mechanised infantry battalions entered Angola in two places. The Angolan detence ministry savs that ten war planes nave been involved and that three more battalions are
I support by the US and Pretoria for the Unita terrorists has cost Angola dear $12bn, 60,000 deaths, 150,000 refugees; 600,000 people of the country's 8m population have fled from the cities to the countryside. Economic consequences of the war are devastating, and Luanda has been the site of a major cholera
Internationalist volunteers from Cuba first arrived in Angola to counter the 1975 South African invasion. Today, they number 37,000 and are the decisive barrier to Washington's and
A MAJOR conference involving
organisations throughout the African continent is being held in the west Atricar
. The conference has the backing of the United Nations. special committee against apartheid. Participants will include representatives of anti-apartheid organisations, peace associations, youth and women's groups, trade unions, prominent individuals in the international struggle against apartheid and representatives of the South African and
A statement issued by Burkino Faso's United Nations mission said that although a poor country 'its willingness to host the conference reflects the importance it accords to the struggle
one of the key questions facing the entire African continent. One of Ouagadougou's (the capital) central avenues has been named in honour of imprisoned ANC leader Nelson Mandela, mass anti-apartheid demonstrations have been staged there, and in May 1986 anti-apartheid activists held a conference in Ouagadougou on sanctions against
THE prospect of the rehabilitation of all
the old Bolsheviks on 7 November during the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Russian revolution is being strongly rumoured. Ever since the days of Joseph Stalin official Soviet history has either excluded mention of certain key personalities or simply subjected leaders like Trotsky, Zinoviev and Bukharin to calumny and
It is possible that some legal formula will be designed to discriminate between particular leaders such as rehabilitating those who were
• Trotsky was 'simply' expelled from the party and executed by Stalin's agent and would therefore not be included. Certainly there will be no rehabilitation of Trotsky's, Zinoviev's or others' political views. But mere recognition that these were genuine leaders of the revolution and not 'agents' or 'criminals' would allow a more objective appraisal of them
A MAJOR package of austerity measures has been adopted by the Hungariar government. A massive foreign debt which has spiralled from $5bn at the beginning of 1986 to over $10bn today and an associated budget deficit have been cited as 'reasons'. The new prime minister, Koroly Grosz has called for cuts in personal consumption and is moving to personal tax increases which will lead to a 14 per
Wages will increase oy lour per cent, wilist a new wage structure 1s being devised to give special incentives to 'efficient workers'. A change in taxation for companies has also been proposed. The change is designed to stimulate inefficient companies to
Page 10 scan of this page
10 IF NOTHING else, Comrades is a film which tells more about working class history than Neil Kinnock or Norman Willis standing with a shovel under a tree in Dorset at an anniversary to commemorate the Tolpuddle Martyrs. The film sympathetically once though not broadening out at all into the context in which the struggle took place (straight after the 1832 Bill at the beginning of the Chartist movement).
This shouldn't detract from Some Dl dEl aspects within the film. For exame tacoeo elgol as an ideology among the workig class.
Reviewed by Ray Sirotkin
description We are glvcila one of vivid the labourers being told by the Church England preacner Wal lic musl cept his lot on earth'. He immediately walks out of the church to be welcomed by the Methodist community on the basis you are ențitled to a better lot in this life
Such basic ideas were important initiating. struggle and were an advance. However, the cost
WHY ever did Carol Turner spoil an
US EMBASSY PICKET against US intervention in
El Salvador and Central America
Saturday 10 October 12.00 to 2.00pm
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anyone wanting to koop up with
avents in the world today.
Rocent issues have includod
articios on the last Palestinian
National Congress, tho South African
Communist Party and trade-union
movement, Islamic fundamentalism
and women in Turkey. the world
financial crisis and the rocont
•loctions in Western urop•
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FREE SAMPLE COPY
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Socialist Action 9 Oct 1987
COMRADES
— for - dramatises part of working class history,
was the rooting of Methodism within the working class. Significantly, these events occurred belore the writing of the Communist Manifesto.
The independence of the working class is confused by the role of a liberal magistrate pursuit of usuce. unconotedv suca people existea, but the working class then and now have been the main fighters for justice not lust IoI 'trade union' issues.
Throughout we are only shown the workers fighting for wages and could easily be led to delleve inal ine London Dorchester Committee, the campaign for the release of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, had nothing to do with them.
Perhaps it would be
Too critical of Gorbachev?
otherwise excellent article, 'What's behind
cernational
IEWPOINT
Europo to tho Philippines, IV is indispensablo roading for
and
Contributors includo Montrouil, Franca.
strange to expect a film about six men to show women a lcaaing roie. From glimpses, it is obvious ,that women participated in the struggle.
But how are they portrayed? As mothers. As taking food to the men in the fields. Then later, sweeping. up the meeting room of the O0OI vorcieslel Committee! would have served well to show that women in sil liggic . LICH maybe Bill Douglas the director forgot too?
The exploits of the six in Australia reveal little. But, quite interestingly, Old Standfield, one of the six sccfl Ha erusue with aboriginies. Not very usual in the British Empire of the time. inis relanonsnid Is referred to only briefly. Nevertheless, the film does bring out the ruthlessness of both the state and employers of the time he fundamentals of class justice are apparent. (So what's new?)
For these essential reasons, the film is a must. But don't go when Norman Willis is in town!
dealr (SocietistAs
(Socialist Action No 171, 25 Sept) by Huocruule uc icaluuliaı y remark: 'Gorbachev would be perfectly prepared to sell out quite a few revolutions for an arms deal"?
There is absolutel! no evacuce tu legitimate this statement. Nor is there any precedent to suspect that the Soviet Union will sell oul anyling of the kind Carol 1 urnel suggesls Whatever criticisms may be levelled at the USSR — past or present - the tact is that it has always supported national liberatior struggles, as well as having been a refuge for revolutionaries henever necessary iso. the doors of Sovi universities and training camos have alwavs been open to the oppressed and those struggling against capitalism, fascism and above all imperialism.
Geoff Wade, Nottingham
IV ís a uniçue fortnightly magazine of nowa and analysis of the International class strugglo. From South Africa to Contral Amorica, Eastorn
nternationa NMAEWPOINT
attacks
ACCORDING to figures issued last
million in lost production.
managers have offered non-productive
union activists has been stepped up.
weakness in the union's response. labour movement.
"THE number of strikes
coap eroustry is s times
industry number mos the * average number strikes in the economy as a whole. Typically, coal inaustry strikes ahe sont. and involve small numbers ot men. but even allowing for these factors the average mineworker loses eight times as many hours through strikes as the UK average'. British Coal, Report and accounts 1986/7.
mphain of a centure of
complain of a 'culture militancy' in the coälfields. This is just two and a half years after the year long 1984-85 strike in which the miners. were supposed to have been sions, the have
Seventy jobs have been lost. But
of class The
Women Against Pit Closures:
Many ule-
over 20 retirement. management drives to output and muuCs have little but to
ICDECSCLILS miners to the coal
ing and pro-
UVCI years.
the
tion.
The started where the NUM 'Pal reatesi. iot branch Whetton, NUM
Coal board steps up
week, the miners overtime ban has cost the coal board $2.5
But these losses have been the occasion not for the board's retreat over the code of conduct but for an intensification of its dirty tricks. Miners in Yorkshire report that local pit
workers unlimited overtime in an attempt to divide them from face workers covered by the ban. Harrassment
Long-running disputes at particular pits are being brought to a head by management out for blood and sensing
But despite substantial rank and file pressure for more forthright action and as Yorkshire miners prepare for their own ballot over stronger action on 20/21 October, the NUM's national executive voted at its Labour Party meeting by 12 votes to nine to maintain status quo. CLIVE TURNBULL looks at why a softly-softly approach will not convince the coal board to back down, and why building a movement in support of the miners is vital for the entire
secretary Bevercotes, was sacked for posting a
Mark Hunter and Tony Geddes, NUM oCu Cla and delegate at Welbeck were sacked distributing NUM leaflets Mick McGinty, Notts NUM vice-president sacked for arguing with an overman.
Even when the coal hoard lost its case at an in dustrial tribunal and was ordered to reinstate Paul Whetton, 1t Sill. 'won'.
Whetton was offered reemployment, not at Bever cotes but miles away at Manton Shireoaks the South Yorkshire coalfield.
Similarly Ted Scott, NUM branch secretary Selby complex was sacked for carrying out union duties.
The board offered employment 20 miles away Wheldale, which is due to close in 1988 September, coal boss Sir Robert Haslam, made his objectives clear in accusing Arthur Scargill oi being more concerlicu about the protection of his militants than anything else'.
Notts As Henry Richardson, Notts NUM president, explained replyın! eading members of th NUM who opposed stronger action against the
BRITISH Coal boss, Sir Robert Haslam, has announced a new scheme aimed at buying miners' jobs. Mineworkers who take voluntary redundancy before next March will receive an extra £5000 according to the scheme.
In makin the announcement, Haslam sai that the corporation "hoped to maintain redun-
basis' up to March 1988.
Writing in the Financial Times of October, Charles Leadbeater plained that Haslam's statement means that 'there will need to be compulsory redundancies in the 1988-89 financial rear if not before. . He weat ou to add that the ans
Never
Undar Estrmote
Miners Wives
code of conduct on the grounds that a full overtime ban would allow the UDM to recruit 'nobody knows the danger of the UDM better than we do. But if we don't beat mous coce or comduc we won't have a union worth defending'.
Rights
But what's at stake is more than just trade union rights in the mining industry. The imposition of the code of conduct on the mnes wowe be a viclor. for every employer. If coal board Wallaecuicil Cal. pick and choose union representatives; if NUM branch officials can be sacked at will; who else i safe? It will give the green light to every employer to impose a similar draconian regime in a workplace.
Haslam threatens compulsory redundancies
ment is 'clearly aimed' at
forcing new pit closures.
statement
midst of the fight against
the new discio inarv codt but also as Derbyshire
miners have started a fight
against the closure of
Renishaw Park. The
North Derbyshire work-
force has been halved from its 1984 level of
12,000
Speaking at a rally to
fight the closure alongside
reter Heathtield and Den nis Skinner, Renishaw
NUM branch chair, Ron
Robinson, that
British Coal had put all sorts pressure on
miners to withdraw from
the revie» procedure a00
ccepa the castre.
La screcal pil batla
In the Unions
Already Courtaulds, which employs a numbe of Notts coalfield women has produced its own
disciplinary measures to DaCK up wuc-randul. changes it is proposing to workes coluacls. Othei employers will follow suit and a victorv tor the coa board would make every
activist feel vulnerable
But if the miners win, it would similarly be a gain for the whole labour movemen dnd sureuecic the whole fight against the Tory government and the wider employers offensive. This is why the entire labour movement must rally to the miners sup port, why old links forged
during the strike should be •renewed, should be invited to put their case on labour move ment platforms.
had been unanimous in deciding to fight. The closure is scheduled for March 1988 and would
rean 400 jobs being axe Renishaw ark sti has between 10 and 15 years reserves of good quality coal.
Branch secretary, Mick Kirby, said we can't run or take redundancy. Selling ice cream and hot dogs as small business,men is no alternative to jobs at the :pit and community.
. Marshall of Barnsley Women's Action Grout urged fight because the closure wouk affect everybody in the community men,
and childrez. wutlcl Dont for O rist's sakelee
dora she urged
Page 11 scan of this page
Support the firefighters
Opposition mounts to engineering deal
In the Unions
A WAVE OF anger has swept across the country's fire stations following news of the sacking of 360 firefighters in West Glamorgan. Fifteen areas, in cluding the north-west, and north Wales were hit by solidarity action as local branches of the Fire Brigades union (FBU) adopted an 'emergency only' policy. JON SILBERMAN reports.
THE decision of the Labour-controlled West Glamorgan county council to dismiss the firefighters and bring in the army to allow it to carry through its cost-cutting attacks was sakened Murdoch's sacking of the News Inter leatoral Renter Cameron. leader, Cameron. Though in the case of the West Glamorgan firefighters, they hadn't even taken strike action before the council moved. They had just threatened a one-hour stoppage.
The council's letter says that the firefighters says they not 'locked out'. it even warns them that will claim damages from the dismissed workers to pay for the extra cost of using the army!
Cuts The 400 firefighters had voted by four-to-one
to take a series of one-hour
stoppages in protest at
decision
reorganise the service in-
volving a cut of 48 full-
time jobs, the reduction of
the vehicle fleet by one
pump, and the conversion
one full-time pump
crew into part-time.
Fi ne reorganisation
the outcome of all
General Workers Union
the engineering industry.
'Delegates to. our con-
ference felt 10211 UHC
employers are asking too
price for reduced hours
commented Fred Howell,
T&G national secretary for
power
"This would not improve
employment prospects and
our delegates are suspicious
of the motives behind the
new procedure proposals.
By Jon Silberman
The T&G decision
comes shortly after
move by Teleclo
GMB and TASS
On 6 October the EET-
PU will hold its national
delegate conference to con-
sider the proposed deal.
Three regional EETPU
meetings have been held in
the run-up to the national
conference. Each has
jected the proposed deal.
-WiL full-time officials
arguing for rejection.
This leaves the AEU
leadership
isolated in its support for
further IKKS with the
engineering employers
around the package. The
AEU is the major union in
the industry and has a one-
delegate majority on the ex-
ecutive of the • Confedera
tion of Shipbuilding and
Engineering Unions
Scotland, West Midlands
month review carried out on the basis of a government Cucula Issued 1985. It has major implica-
other county councils. Immediately the reorganisation decision was taken on 26 August. the firefighters • began a work-to-rule Following the ballot for strike action, the council decided on a lock-out. I ney are lusicau using 120 army personne and 20 'green goddess' fire
for their strikecalca breaking operation. Labour
Frank Evans, chair of the council's public tection made the Labour group's posi-
absolutely clear their determination
through the CallY reorganisation which will 'save' the council £270,000 per year. go out for one hour, they go out for good' he said.
tact. OI course, there will be no savings at
the reorganisation
plans. itselt
nas admitted that 30,000 people one-third of everyone covered will get a worse service as
result . OI tnel HOOSCO
In strict monetary
CuLD.
terms, the reduction in serA NATIONAL delegate conference representing 300,000 engineering members of the Transport and has voted unanimously against the proposed deal covering work practices for
(CSEU) which negotiated
the deal with the employers
federation (EEF)
Bill Jordan, AEU presi-
dent, won support for fur
ther talks at the union's key
policy-making Hallullal
committee by a majority of
69 votes to 49. Strong reser-
vations were expressed at
the meeling malaung
those who favoured further
talks aimed at reaching an
agreement.
The successful resolu-
tion argued LOCL the
reconvened talks, the AEU
should 'press TOI the
removal of contentious
clauses and the overall im-
provement of the enabling
conditions'. Ballot After negotia-
tions, the resolution pro-
vides for a postal ballot of
CSEU members in which
two questions will be pul
one on the ratification of
the agreement, the other
asking
prepared to take industrial
action for the 35-hour week
in the event of the deal be-
ing rejected.
Following the nationa Bill Jordar
pressed his hopes that tre
talks
employers would remove a
clause from the draft agree.
ment which allows white-
vice will create greater expense not less. bul wildl price.can you put on the threat to human life and well-being? The council's reply that the service is still within safety one elic laid down by the Home Office simply the Tory government's collar and supervisory stati
of skilled to do the 100s shop-floor workers on new technology machinery.
Jordan hopes that in the absence of any serious cam-
around the 35-hour paign week by the union leaderships, the removal of his clause combined with the threat of industrial action would result members reluctantly acp. ting the proposed deal.
Flexibility
But the objections to the draft agreement go way beyond the •question
shop floor/staff tion.
rangement
workers themselves
and stringent measures for
allowing total utilisation of
Plai management's behest. The and machinery
facility in the package of
'seasonable working' could
result in weekend working
at normal rates.
Under the catch-all
phrase of management's
right to manage, the deal
would eliminate mutuality
arrangements a wide
range of areas traditionally
bargaining.
Under current procedures,
'status quo
throughout such
negotiations.
The deal also provides ex- the possibility for manage-
ment withdrawing recogni-
tion from certain federated
unions — thereby fitting in-
proposals currently
under TUC renew
SUPPORT
Ten years ago labour movement solidarity backed the fire fighters.
own plans for a national
reorganisation to increase
the 'efficiency' of the fire
service.
One of the proposals in
a recent national
committee report was for
changes He SuEll Dalicill
and the replacement of
full-time by
NOLO"EOST
UST OUR
Manchester engineering workers and supporters marching in solidarity with Senior Colman strikers. . was started when management sought to unilaterally impose new working practices and
single union deals Even that section of th agreement which engineering workers stand to improve their conditions the reduction working week of 1½ hours , over three years - is collultional on no added costs. 10]
part-timers.
West Glamorgan is acting as a government stalking review which would, implemented nationally, have dire both for firefighters themselves and for the service they're able to proAMALUAMAIED UNIO
ENCINEERING WORKERS
MANCHESTER AND DISTE
The nine month old strike
agreed.
Employers given
right to determine how the alc reduction should be worked
out, reproducing absurd ar-
rangements reached in
number of firms 1979
when the move to a 39-hour
' week was sometimes con-
Iz minutes pe
vide
The union well 'understands the threat. The member. : Liverpool, Newcastle Manchester, West Midlands, Tayside and Glas-
started industrial action in solidarity with their West : Glamorgan colleagues.
FBU general secretary, Ken Cameron has said that the union will reconvene its national conference to consider national inaustrial acuol support of the South Wales fireIgnlets. He congratulated the
firefighters for taking action and urged them cond i keep avoid isola-
the 1101 fight'. Cameron condemned the use of the army and its 'green goddesses'. 'It's a bloody disgrace to the people they represent
can protect tney inink lne) them with 30-year-old engines manned by people with only three days training'.
Executive
As we go to press the union's national executive is meeting to consider action proposals.
During the last national fire brigade's dispute ten years ago, huge wave of solidarity actions were launched across
movement. • Similar support needs be generated now if the : 'money peere jobs and
services' policy of the government and West : Glamorgan county council
variety are to be defeated. isacked four workers who, in line with union policy, refused to implement inem Similar management tactics will become increasingly commonplace if the new flexibility deal is
the day!
Deep felt opposition to
the deal resulted
250-strong lobby of the na-
tional committee meeting in
Eastbourne. A major lobby
is planned for the CSEU ex-
ecutive meeting in London
on 5 November.
Socialist Action 9 Oct 1987 11 Wapping STAFF at Murdoch's News International plant in Wapping have voted in favour of being represented by a union other than the EETPU. Just 140 voted for EETPU representation,
'of staff council, and 321 for another TUC-affiliated union.
The TUC has been asked for assistance in the move to proper union organisation. A meeting of print unions is being called at TUC headquarters, , Congress House.
Postal strike vote
LEADERS of the Union of Communication Workers have voted to ballot their members over strike action for a shorter working week.
The strike vote for a three hour reduction in the 43-hour weel will be held on 17 November. Under the law, action would have to take place within 28 days, , and would thereby disrupt Christmas post.
The Post Office which has offered a one-hour cut with productivity strings, has threatened 20,000 jobs if the unions take strike action.
Rail BRITISH Rail is proposing a widerancing clange to
colletive bargaining
arrangements in th
industry. The board
wants to see bargaining being tied more closely to the 'business needs
of the different sectors of the industry.
The proposals are
understood to be related
to the move to chances
in working practices
under consideration by
BRB. This includes the
new train crews concept
which blurs previous
demarcation and
increases job
'flexibility
It is also related to
plans for departments to
be individually
profitable and to
possible future
privatisation plans.
One of the sectors -
freight - • has recistera
an operating profit of
925m this vear and
forecasts profits of
£53m in 1989-90.
Another, the
engineering sector,
orders worth f56m three
days after announcing
3000 redundancies. Longbridge
: UNION leaders at
Austin Rover's
: Longbridge plant have
threatened strike action
from Monday. 12
October if a sacked
shop steward is not
: reinstated.
Two workers were
sackea lor le sallic
alleged time-keeping
: misconduct. One na
been reinstated but the
i company has so far
refused to reinstate the
steward
Page 12 scan of this page
ALLIANCE SOCIALISM
Diane Abbott TICKETS
* £7 for the weekend
£4 per day
(£5 and £2.50 unwaged)
* Sir William Collins School,
Charrington St, London NWI.
Kings Cross tube
* Make cheques payable to:
Socialist Action Conference
Send to PO Box 50, London, N1 2XP.
Please send me Name
Address
I/We require
BUILDING
O R
The third annual Alliance for Socialism weekend of debate,
discussion and agitation sponsored by Socialist Action SPEAKERS INCLUDE
Linda Bellos Peter Heathfield
Registration from 10am Saturday Sessions: 11-6pm Saturday 10.30-5pm Sunday tickets for 'Building an Alliance for Socialism'
places in the creche for children aged
AN
Tony Benn Bernie Grant
Ken Livingstone Ann Pettifor
Saturday evening social
Marc Wadsworth
• Fighting racism -
Dewsbury
peace
the NUM
women?
• Glasnost and detente • Employment
of Ireland
Palestine
Labour • The Iran-Iraq war
• The way forward
3
7-8 November
WORKSHOPS INCLUDE
• Defending unilateralism
Broadwater Farm to
• The strategy of the ANC • Defend abortion rights • Ireland - a scenario for
• The Coal Board's assault on
• Nicaragua must survive • The changing working
class - what policies for
• Which way for students?
discrimination in the North
• The EEC — for or against? • For a democratic, secular
• After the AES — a new
economic strategy for
And two plenary sessions: • Campaigning for socialism
← Socialist Action No. 171, 25 September 1987Socialist Action No. 173, 23 October 1987 →