THE ARTICLE which appeared in the Times on NUM executive officer Roger Windsor's trip to Libya was set up with the British police or inNo British newspaper could have done this. It came directly from the state.
fact the entire carefully orchestrated campaign on the 'Libyan connection' should dispell any illusions anyone might nave in Jus! utterly determined Lne Thatcher government is to win this strike and the ruthlessness of its methods. Thatcher's government has never had one idea of 'compromise in its head since it provoked the strike in March.
It was confirmed again in the House of Commons on Monday when Peter Walker announced 'not one inch' would be given bv the government Now everyone the Mirror David Owen that's any distance!) is demanding Inal te government does not move the NACODS settlement — deal that leaves in place the government spil crosure programme.
If Thatcher loses this her government would be finished as credible political force. Its sole aim is to smash the miners. It is using, and will use. every available for that. Cynical distortion the law. police violence, starvation and hardship are all just grist to Thatcher's mill.
This cynical person, whose morality is shown in its full glory by the fact she murdered in cold blood more than three hundred Argentinian sailors on the Belgrano, then lied over that event, is perfecthappy to use any wedool that Contes hand against the miners.
But the Libyan scare campaign is oniv the latest proof of the total war the i hatcher government is waging against the NUM. Its tactics in that war have been simple. At all costs to Sunday try to isolate the NUM Ton me rest or lae about movement. To try to the nuders themselves by sheer police CUUI L acuul. grinding hardship These policies are totally This happened during the first docks strike and again with the threat of the NACODS walk out. Each time Thatcher has been able TO relatively isolate the NUM, the government nas gainca connaence and taken the offensive — as it is doing viciously since the NACODS sell out Now the aim of the government is clear. It is trying to use the courts, press hysteria, break the miners' strength.
resolve ° of the usiners resolve miners before the power cuts come. Secondly to try to so discredit the NUM that if the coverlical coal from the pithead stocks workers in the power stations will handle Confronted with UnIs onslaught the policy of the TUC leadership of trying to reach a 'compromise' is a certain road to disaster. When Thatcher is determined will TUC to compromise, then Thatcher Cal always vul bid the TUC. • Only Arthur Scargill's policy of relentless struggle for all out victory can win the Exactly because Thatcher's tactics 'divide and rule' each time that unc miners has threatened to prea beyond the UN something approaching panic has gripped major sections of the ruling class.
Voted The role of the NUM leadership in keeping the together has been superlative. It was shown once again after the NACODS executive voted not to Arthur Thatcher awarding prizes for free enterprise to Eddie Shah and Goldsmith Scargill appearing on the television win use summe message of 'no compromise Was just wildl needed to keep the strike together after one of the ime history or elirits the history British trade unionism. But the task now is to smash this government's drive to isolate the NUM. This is task of the entire trade union movement and not just the NUM.
Bridges The bridges to rebuild around the be both political and material. A huge political campaign to gain respect and support or the miners. A massive financial campaign to alleviate the hardship. huge campaign of material industrial uppor to win ne since ae break o legal attacks on it.
The first step is to campaignto ge Nue. aner aid to NUM. There should be no illusions. With threatening court actions against every area of the union the government aims to cripple the union's ability to win the strike. Large Large interest free loans ory donations, TUC number one priority.
Secondly the TUC Congress decisions on the hovcott of strengthened. Coal stocks ai tie bowel staliulis alc rapidly . running down in Yorkshire, Scotland Wales where there is to reinforce those workers around the coun try already operating the TUC policy Thirdly the key move is to get a LOLa identification between the movement anne use miners best step in that would be a •TUC support of the miners. support the would help gain that sup The Labour Party NEC the TUC should urgently decide a calling such a demonstra. tion.
Fourthly there needs ic be national solidarit!
sponsored by the NUM. There are a whole series of effective local conferences taking place but these need to be pulled together at a na.
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telligence service. Included in the article were details of telephone taps of phone calls made from Paris.