Polish call to East
Socialist Organiser1981 1981-09-10Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 1 →
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THE new Polish workers' movement, Solidarnosc, has cocked a snook at the Soviet bureaucracy and their heavy-handed military black mail - and urged workers throughout Eastern Europe to follow their example and form independent unions.
The Kremlin has in turn accused Solidarnosc of attempting to take power in REPORT - page 5 ACCOUNTABILITY Saul of the H-Block campaign, the daily brutality of the British army and RUC has continued unabated.
Over 7,000 rounds of plastic bullets have been fired at Catholic workers and youth since the second hunger strike began.
On 15 August a youth from the Ormeau Road area in Belfast was set on when he refused to leave his local fish and chip shop when ordered to do so by the police.
He was beaten up and taken by the RUC to a nearby Loyalist area where the RUC handed him over to a group of Loyalists.
After they had beaten him up he was again taken and dropped in another Loyalist area, four miles from his home. He managed to find his way to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he received treatment for a fractured nose, broken teeth and multiple bruising.
On 27 August a 19 year old youth from the Beechmount area was beaten up by the Royal Marines and again dropped in a Loyalist area.
Such actions by the RUC and the British Army are daily occurrences in the six counties. seriously injured, the majority of them children.
Two recent victims include 12 year old Paul Carr, shot in the face as he rode his bicycle in the Beechmount area of Belfast. He has just come out of intensive care.
And a 15 year old girl was shot in the neck on 24 August as she stood outside her house. She too remains in hospital.
Meanwhile in Britain the struggle for labour movement solidarity remains an uphill task, hindered by the Labour and trade union bureaucracy.
The TUC voted down a proposal from the NUJ to campaign for the repeal of the so-called "Prevention of Terrorism" Act, and members of the Smash the PTA Campaign came in for a rowdy reception from Congress delegates when their march arrived outside the hall.
Despite the problems the fight must be pressed home both in the unions and the *Victory- to the hunger strikers! Political status now!
*Troops out now!