The end of 'Peking Spring'

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Dear Friend in China have Events turned a full circle since the "Peking Spring" of 1978 when Democracy Wall, wallposters, journals and discussion forums flourished in all of China's major cities.

Today, the same leaders in the Chinese Government who encouraged democracy and supported the criticisms against bureaucracy, are now ruthlessly repressing the democratic movement.

Since the well-publicised trial of Wei Jing-shen, who received a 15 year sentence, the Chinese regime has arrested in recent months 21 leading editors of unofficial journals throughout the country, and is persecuting all activists in the movement.

They have also victimised leaders of student and workers' strikes.

As their biographies indiby LES HEARN cate, the 21 belong to China's first generation of working class youth since the 1949 Revolution. They consider themselves to be defenders of democracy and fighters against bureaucracy and imperialism. In no way could they be branded as right wing counter-revolutionaries.

Their activities are legal 'under China's constitution which guarantees freedom of to fit tightly against the walls of the vagi na and may cause cystitis 1 by pressing against the urine tube which passes along the wall of the vagina.

Such is the poverty of research into barrier contraception, we don't even know whether spermicides are necessary or not. Worrying evidence is now coming to light of possible malformations of foetuses due to press, speech and free association. On the contrary, by harassing and holding them in custody without trial, it is the Chinese government who have acted contrary to the Chinese Constitution.

We are a group of Chinese and British socialists who are campaigning for support in Britain for the Chinese democratic movespermicides.

Once again it has to be said that research into something that affects women more seriously than men could and should have been done years earlier than has been the case. Even now, while pill usage in the West is falling, its use is rising rapidly in the Third World, due to a propaganda offensive by drugs companies interested in keeping up profits. ment.

Whilst we support the nationalised property relations in China and would defend China against capitalism and imperialism, we are opposed to the repression of these dissidents in China today.

We call on you to support us by doing the following:

• 1) Sign the petition, and urge others to do so.

2) Send urgent messages of protest to the Chinese Embassy in London.

3) Raise the question in your organisation and subscribe to our newsletter (£2 a year).

4) Support our activities e.g. we hope to organise a picket in the near future.

5) We need financial donations urgently. All donations will be acknowledged.

Fraternally, Socialist Committee in Defence of the Democratic Movement in China. c/o S. Grover, 380 Edgware Rd., London W2 AT AN H-Block rally in Leeds Last Wednesday, 29th, the Socialist Organiser speaker was shouted down by members of the Revolutionary Communist Group.

Speaking towards the end of the rally, which followed a 400-strong march, the comrade made some criticism of the Provisionals' lack of socialist direction.

The RCG - disproportionately numerous because other demonstrators had already moved off - stopped him from continuing.

For the RCG, such behaviour flows from their belief that anti-imperialism equals uncritical support for the IRA. But Provisional Sinn Fein and IRSP members present, as well as the chairperson of the local H-Block committee, condemned the disruption. GARTH FRANKLAND Leeds Socialist Organiser

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organe SCENCE

RCG antics