Socio Is Reagan's Trail of 10018

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Paner of the Socialist Oraaniser Alliance No.112 December 9 1982 (Claimants and strikers, 10p) 25p Paper of the Socialist Organiser Alliance No.112 December 9 1982 (Claimants and strikers, 10p) 25p

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AS Ronald Reagan flew into Guatemala, US security agents checked the rifles of the Guatemala guard of honour to make sure that they were not loaded.

The imperturbable Reagan could see nothing in Guatemala but sweetness and light. Military dictator Efraim Rios Montt, he said, 'is totally dedicated to democracy in Guatemala... Frankly, I'm inclined to believe that they (the Guatemalan regime) have been given a bum rap."

Rios Montt, unfortunateiy, is not yet well enough versed in playing the democrat. 'We have no scorched indirapolicy We have d indignantly. we nave a policy of scorched Communists.

The Tatin America Regional Report oi september 24 gives some idea of what this policy of scorched Communists' means. 'Massacres of guerillas and their actual or suspected supporters have increased in number, and have been characterised by clinical savagery•..

'The killing is sometimes selective, with community leaders, such as teachers or church activists, and their tamilies being singled out. In other instances whole villages have been wiped out.

And Oxfam relief workers report (Oxfam News): *Even in Central America, where political murders and repression are a fact of life in most countries, Guatemala stands out 'for the indiscriminate bloodshed and suffering inflicted on its population.

Already this year at least 7,500 people have been killed... The Cathodence determined to resist counter-revolution.

And in Brazil the recent elections registered serious, if as yet minority, support for the new, radical Workers' Party, a party which breaks from tradi. tional populist politics and proclaims independent class struggle for socialism.

Milions of working people in the US, though not yet willing to join that sort of open socialist struggle, are certainly becoming hostile to Reaganomics, the US role in Central America, and the nuclear arms build-up.

No number of bulletproof vests and security agents will protect Reagan from that.

LIVES Polish embassy.

KRIS LAST Friday's one-day So staff are overwhelmstrike, called by the civil ser- ed, violence against staff and vice unions CPSA and SCPS, staff turnover increases, and closed well over 400 out of many claimants do not

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