[Soldier restrains demonstrators in Shanghai bdernising' but retaining…]

Scan page 9

Soldier restrains demonstrators in Shanghai bdernising' but retaining old-fashioned repression: Deng the workers in the Taiyuan Steel Factorv. This action LALLO. AVLIVIL was linked to the Polish trade movement and the article proclaimed that "the working class of our country has re-awakened."

The official Changjiang Daily, 14 January 1981, reported on attempts to organise independent trade unions. The official Wuhan Nailv 29 ]ăngry 1081 many, vil as saluary 1701 reported that some Wuhan workers demanded the formation of free trade The editorial of the official Workers' Daily, 16 February 1981, mentioned that in many regions (including Shanghai, Wuhan and Xian), workers wanted to organise independent trade On March 1981. printing workers from Taiyuan were sentenced to imprisonment for organising the "China Democracy The demand to organise independent trade unions was not limited to the central plains of China. The Lhasa Radio reported on 24 Inestamer 1001 thnt Jaliudly 1701 War allloilg those arrested during à demonstration, there were workers wanting to organise an independent trade union.

It is difficult for the outside world to know the number and scale of strikes not reported in the official media. However, speculations can be made of the degree of seriousness from the fear exnressed hv and vigilence the government VAPINOONENJ leaders.

Students were also affected by the Polish example. The official Changjiang Daily of 14 January 1981 reported on attempts to organise independent students unions. Samizdat publications revealed that Tu Shen, the Hunan student leader, went on a hunger ctrilo with 87 w11 a Hungel DuInE WIll DI students in October 1980 and then led a student delegation to petition in Peking.

On his way he exchanged ideas with students from other universities, and they discussed preparations for setting up a national students union.

In April 1982, the CCP central leadership proposed Jailed: Wang Xizhe ta the Natinnal People's LU LIW ITALIVILI Congress to delete from the Constitution LIC fanatitution tha article guaranteeing the workers' right to strike.

And in May 1982, the State Council issued "Regulations concerning rewards and penalties for workers in enterprises" which threatened l workers with economic penalties and administrative dismissals in order to tighten its control over the workers.

The country is still bogged down in deep economic and political crises. Party cadres on all levels continue with, if not intensify, their corruption, bribery, privilege-seeking activities, so that the authority that the Deng faction had when it first resumed power has declined drastically. The party is communicu will au most, in panfrantad with an unprecedented crisis in faith and connaence. in unis lana where the people are thirsting for changes, the Polish experience is like a torch lighting up a whole pile of dry wood.

For the moment, the Chinese democracv. moveWILLINOY SAINTH ment has been repressed and the working class is under more severe attacks. Similarly, soldarity has been repressed. However it has not been crushed.

With the deterioration of the économic and political situation and the further decay of the bureaucratic rule, the resurgence of a socialist movement for true democracy waged by the Chinese and Polish people is inevitable.