Moralism no ans on Tudeh Party

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"IN NO WAY do the Tudeh Party deserve to be defended by socialists" , says Stan Crooke (SO July 7). The choice of words is revealing: it discloses a profoundly moralistic approach to the problem of how socialists should respond to the Khomeini regime's attacks on the Tudeh (Iranian pro-Moscow Communist) Party.

Stan is quite right to point out that the Tudeh Party played a part "actively aiding the regime in the physical liquidation of left "bloodless version of Party policy" wing opponents". In so doing, the Tudeh Party followed the logic of being an agency of the Soviet bureaucracy within the ranks of the Iranian masses.

What the Tudeh Party did in Iran is no different from what the Iraqui CP did in Iraq before it was ousted from the goyernment. And in substance it is little different from the anti-working class activities of such parties throughout the world.

For all that, the Tudeh Party - despite its smaller weight compared, for instance with the Iraqui CP - was a section of the Iranian working class movement.

It was a section of an ideologically disorientated movement, and led by people guided by a purpose other than and counterposed to the interests of that movement. Nevertheless, it was a section of that movement.

Logically, Stan Crooke arguing that the CPs in general have ceased to be an clement in the working class movement and that they represent nothing more than agencies of reaction.

Bani Sadi And more than that. The National Council of Resistance of Bani Sadr and the Mujahedeen is not part of the workers' movemment.

But wouldn't we defend its democratic rights against the Islamic despots? Stan's argument makes sense only if the Tudeh is not only not a workers' party, but not a party at all - just a clique of KGB agents. • Whatever the Tudeh's despicable record, objectively the attack on it marked the latest step in the Khomeini regime's bid to, secure an unconditional monopoly not only of power but of organisation and expression. It is not in the ințerests of the working class to permit this.

Civil rights

As socialists we condemn injustice and abuse of civil rights wherever they occur. We defend the victims of such injustice in that we demand an end to such abuses. What we may think of the victims of these injustices, how we evaluate their politics and their record - that is not the issuc here.

It is in the interests of the working class to end tyranny. Such opposition to tyranny doesn't imply any general support for its victims or for their policies.

A.HORNUNG, Hackney Khomeini ¡ vo rauo ....

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