Solidarity with S. African workers

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lems than Zimbabwe. 'Independence' (from South Africa) would have to be coupled with the creation of an indigenous capitalist state in as little time as possible, in order to hold back the social revolution developing inside the Namibian liberation movement.

Namibian 'independence' will also pose internal problems for the South African regime - the possibility of another rear base for the growing ANC guerilla incursions; a possible split in the white Nationalist Party over the loss of "South West Africa" to SWAPO; and the demonstration that a small guerilla force with the masses behind it can actually inflict a defeat on the massive South African army It's hardly surprising. therefore, to find that the last Callaghan government. THE Oxford Trades Council has passed a resolution from the TGWU 5/293 branch at BL's Cowley assembly plant, to be submitted to the annual conference of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

The Oxford Trades Council resolution gives a direction and a programme of action in the fight for the strongest solidarity with the struggle of South African workers and oppressed -working class action 1o support our class brothers and sisters in South Africa. and to mobilise ettective resistance against. the bosses' apartheid state and its allies in Britain, the capitalist class and their Tory government.

Socialist Organiser calls on workers and militants to support the approach of this resolution, raising it at appropriate meetings of union branches, Labour Party wards, AAM bodies and at South Africa solidarity meetings and events.

The Anti-Apartheid Movement conference A open to al AAM members applications (£7.50 a year for individuals or organisatonsi to 44M1.

Street, tundin hi SO supporters at the conterence to give maximum support to this resolution and to campaign for its implementation inside the labour movement.

JIM FARNHAM "CONFERENCE resolves that wherever struggles develop inside South Africa at workplaces with direct or indirect British connections, the AAM will campaign for appropriate blacking and strike action at the linked workplaces in Britain liaising with irades councils, shop stewards committees organise workers' mass meetings, leafletting of workplaces and so on.

Conference further resolves that the AAM will direct its resources to a campaign in the labour movement (liaising with trades unions, trades councils, shop stewards committees):

1) for the building of direct workplace-to-workplace links so that the needs and demands of South Atrican workers can be directiy conveyed to workers in Britain 2 for workers to peer links of every capitalist with South Africa, and so lay the basis for immediate solidar. ity action as necessary, 3) for the labour move. ment to fight. against all secret diplomacy and to uncover the imperialist deais and links with the South African state;

4) for full blacking actior against all military and related supplies to the apar theid regime;

5) for the nationaisa: =under workers corts:* = companies ars • : involved in Sour i

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Socialist Organiser, Thursday 10 September, 4981 Page, 12.

change T&G rule book A MAN who is certain to face torture and probably execution if returned to Turkey, has just been refused political asylum by the British authorities.

Dogan Tarkan is a Turkish socialist newspaper editor and former full time official of the metal workers' union (Maden-Is).

He was forcea to flee from Turkey following the September 12, 1980 military coup. Eighty • people have already died in prison while thousands have been tortured.

Executed

This fact has been confirmed by observers from Amnesty International and from the European Trade Union Confederation. Ten have been executed.

Dogan Tarkan has committed no crime under British law. However, the harsh laws in Turkey make it a crime to write or publish radical articles, or to belong to an independent trade union - laws taken from Mussolini. Evidence exists that his friends and associates are being tortured even now so that the military authorities may discover his whereabouts.

Free speech

Britain seemed the obvious place in which Dogan Tarkan should seek asylum because of its status as a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, as amended by the 1967 Protocol and its well known history of democracy and tolerance of free speech.

Immediately on arrival he made an application for political asylum. The Home Office, although satisfied with the evidence provided, refused his application on August 12, 1981, which means that he is now likely to be returned to Turkey where he will almost certainly be executed.

Dogan arrived in Britain through Lebanon. returned to there, Dogan will again be within reach of the Turkish army's killers.

Already the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has made representations on Dogan's behalf, and the TUC International Secretary has appealed to the Home Office. You too can help to save the life of this man by taking the following steps immediately:

1. Write a letter to the Home Office requesting that it reconsiders its decision to refuse Dogan Tarkan political asylum.

2. Write to your MP and urge him or her to take up the matter in parliament.

3. If you are a member of a trade union or a professional association, pass an emergency resolution through your branch.

Please understand that it is only a matter of days or weeks before this man is removed from Britain, so only immediate action from you can save his life.

Thank you.

FRIENDS OF DOGAN TARKAN BM Box 5965, London WCIN 3XX Writeback to list Organiser Middle Lane London N8 ime to THE Transport and General Workers Union is regarded as probably the most left-wing of major unions in Britain, but the TGWU's own internal structure could be envied by that wonderful democrat Frank Chapple.

If any member of the union reads the rule book, you will soon find that it is a strong weapon for the TGWU bureaucracy to use against any militancy of the membership. With the TGWU votes at Labour Party conference securing a little more democracy for the Writebac rank and file of the Labour Party, the time has come to start a campaign for democacy within the GWU itself.

As most brothers/ sisters within the TGWU know, the only full-time official to be elected is the General Secretary. All other full-time officials are appointed.

With recent developments within the union such as the sell out at Ansells and the behaviour of full-time officials in the recent Stockport bus drivers' strike, the time has come for a campaign to democratise the The national conference of the union is held only once every two years and the