International News International News International New
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-11-18Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 5 →
Read from the scan by machine and not corrected: expect misread words, and now and then a caption or a line from a neighbouring story. For anything you quote, read the scan.
Scan page 5
The achievements of an 18-years reign: • Invasion of Czechoslovakia in August to snuff • Savage anti working class ropression in the USSR • Giving a tremendous boost to the imperialist arms drive by invading Afghanistan in December 1979. . • Threats to invade Poland unless Solidarnosc was destroyed. Martial law was declared in Poland in December 1981, Solidarnosc formally banned in • November 1982: dies - unfortunately in bed.
His successor is Yuri Andropov, aged 68. He presided as USSR ambassadör in Budapest over the suppression of the Hungarian workers' revolution and of the Hungarian people in 1956. Was head of the KGB - backbone of the Stalinist police state -Ritualistically pledges to continue Brezhnev's policies, and is certain whatever changes occur to continue the anti working class and repressive core of Brezhnev's line. Unlikely to get an international relaxation of tensions because the US ruling class needs the tensions to whip into line the American people, who so recently revolted against their What was said for others will bear repetition for He was a rotten bastard - Hell roast him. Soon may the Russian workers send his successor speedFitzgerald - a liberal' tailing clericalism Haughey - his party in tatters are for rural districts -- though over 50% of the 26 Counties population now live in cities and towns -and many are held on a personality rather than political basis.
Spring supports coalition. However, he has asked Noel Browne to stand for Labour in Haughey's constituency. Browne left Labour some years ago in opposition to coalitionism.
He is an almost legendary figure in Irish politics because 30 years ago, as a minister in the then coali-. tion government, he took on the Catholic Church and the medical establishment by attempting to bring in a free health service for mothers and babies. Browne may accept the invitation.
The Workers' Party will present Labour with serious challenge in the cities and towns.
It is not yet known if the Provisionals will stand in the election. They did badly in the last election eight months ago, in sharp contrast to their showing in last month's Six Counties The election may affect the fate of the new Six County assembly. Fitzgerald is more favourable to it than Haughey, who dismisses it.
Fitzgerald is favoured by Britain, and the polls suggest that Fine Gael will take seats from Fianna rom Fianna ATTI T Tonn Fail.
De THERE has been a great sea-change in people's attitudes towards the Palestinians. Their claim to be seen as a nation with a right to statehood has gradually become widely recognised.
The PLO has become widely accepted as the representative of the Palestinian people and not, as they ing psychopaths.
The resolutions passed at this year's Labour Party Conference amply illustrate this change.
But the shift has not taken place mainly because • Restalinisation of the USSR. out 'socialism with a human face.
and Eastern Europe.
October 1982.
for 15 years.
ruling class's war in Vietnam.
Brezhnev:
ing after him.
of the existence of a vigorous solidarity movement. It has taken place because of changes in the thinking of European governments, and changes in tactics on the part of the Palestinians, as well as the blatant aggression of the Israeli state.
The Labour Committee on Palestine was founded by a supporter of SO and a supporter of. Briefing, seeing the failure of the Labour Movement: •to respond to the invasion of Lebanon: Given the change in mood, the campaign has the possibility of mobilising large numbers and broadening and deepening the understanding of imperialism and Zionism within the Labour Movement.
To do that, its Conference this weekend must decide to turn the LCP into a real activist organisation, with local groups able to undertake the steady work of mobilising and explaining. It must outgrow its present role as a source of speakers and occasional initiatives.
The big opportunities that face the LCP should not tempt it to jettison its
----- pull-quotes -----
John O'Mahony reports on the 26 Counties election due on November
were presented a few years ago, as a bunch of murder-