CAMDEN'S housing crisis exploded last month when a fire swept bed breakfast hotel killing Mrs Karim and her two children. Since then, homeless families have been occupying the town hall in protest.
Holborn and St Pancras Labour Party Camden council has • the most homeless families in London. They're housed in B&B hotels, where space is at a premium and with no basic fire precautions. Many live there for two or three years before iney After the Karim family deaths, homeless tamiies led delegation the Labour council to demand an immediate improvement in their conditions. Labour councillors gave them such pathetic reception they spontaneously sat-in. And there they' ve been since.
With some honourable exceptions, intransigence has increased the determination. They see themselves as fighting for all London's homeless.
And support has come flooding in: from council unions, organisations of homeless, black workers' ome local Labour Part members.
Last week 500 people marched from the town hall to the hotel where Mrs Karim died. Such support has taken Camden council by surprise.
Initially, councillors tried to blame these deaths on the striking staff of the homeless families unit. The families themselves pointed out that council policy was the cause.
Faced by determination, the council now claims to have agreed the demands of the homeless Lalles. the rehousing of families harrassed by racist landlords or whose accomodation is unfit for habitation. But the occupation continues — no commitment has yet been made about how and when this agreement will be carried out.
The council's attitude inspires no confidence for the fightback against the on local government. As long the most disposessed in the community suffer at the hands of the very people who claim to defend them, how can it? What about a subscription for Christmas? And you could save 15 per cent by ordering now. In the three years since its launch, International Viewpoint's come a long way changed its price. But that's about to change. Order your copy now, before the price goes up in the New Year.
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WHEN PIET Botha launched his new 'reformed' The pathetic turnout in elections to this alled parliament was clear roof of the rejection of this plan.
In its fury, the regime mumed uDon those who had organised resistance to the new constitution and marged a boycott of the elecLions the United Democratic Front (UDF)
LCaLUC. many of the trade headed by FOSATU. Peaceful demonstrations WC1C viciously assaulted by massive display of force by the police and the military; leaders were arrested mai security Act, whicSecurity Act, which alleres detention without tra. ACTION th African constitution he had two sims in mind. wanted to appease world opinion by showing he was making a move away from the hard, al apartheid policies of his predecessors. But, ve all, he sought to divide the non-white populaby giving 'privileges' to sections of it through tri-cameral parliament which gave a limited franse to the officially designated 'coloureds' and InTwo of those now facing trial were among the accused in that case Archie Gumede, the 71 year-old Co-president of UDF and Billy Nair, one of the Durban Six. search for witnesses willing to testify against the acused will undoubtedly be an excuse for gigantic campaign of harassment by the South African over the next few months.
sified its campaign against black several of whose leaders, including Chris Diamini, president of FOSATU, have been detained.
The Botha regime finds itself on the horns of dilemma Internally faced not only with intenwants to maintain the open apartheid, complete displays "kragdadigheid' (absolute power) enforced bv the sjambok, the rifle and the hangman's rope. The Conservative Party's supporters see even the farcical Botha 'reforms' as the thin edge of the wedge which wil ultimately spell an end to white rule in South Africa.
On the other hand, even in the United States, Reagan has been forced by massive demonstrations pressure also within the Republican Par ty, distance somewhat from the more This is because American big business. which has huge stakes South Africa, fear that the struggle of the oppression will not simply end with the abolition colour bar.
The UDF subscribe to the Freedom ularLer adopted by the Congress of People in 1955 This seeks to limit the struggle the first place building on the common desire for full democracy a government at bay