Workers' Weekly V.28 No.8-9

PRESS REPORTS AND statements by Ministers suggest that the British and Irish governments are still determined to try to push through a "settlement" in the all-party negotiations on the future of the north of Ireland by Easter, and to organise referendums in both north and south by the target date in May.

Yet serious discussions have still not even taken place. Some of the participants have yet even to speak to each other. The main protagonist advocating an end to partition and British withdrawal, Sinn Fein, is at present excluded. An atmosphere of fear and tension has been created which precludes sober and serious consideration of the issues. Most importantly, the question of the sovereignty of the Irish people over their territory, the right of self-determination of the Irish people as a whole – acknowledged by the Major government and supposed to underpin the entire process – has not even been addressed.

What has become abundantly clear is that the Labour government is trying to railroad through a new arrangement in the north of Ireland, between north and south, and between Ireland and Britain, which favours English and other capital, in an atmosphere in which all issues of principle are obscured. The hand of the undercover agencies of the British state is only too apparent in the present mayhem. The cynical use by the bourgeois politicians of the dastardly murder by shadowy forces of two friends, one Catholic one Protestant, in Poyntzpass on Wednesday as an argument for a rushed settlement only adds insult to injury.

Most suspiciously, various media pundits have already begun doing approving propaganda that if referendums are held in north and south in May this will be the first time the Irish people have spoken with one voice since 1918. While not giving the facts, they are referring to the General Election of 1918, when 80% of the Irish voters throughout the whole of Ireland returned candidates advocating independence from Britain. The refusal of the British government to accept the logic of this result led to the bloody War of Independence and to the imposition of partition in 1921, which has resulted only in more than 75 years of further bloodshed, division and destruction. A rushed settlement addressing none of the issues of principle, referendums held in a tense atmosphere on a frenzied "peace or violence" basis, can result only in similar tragedy.

The working class and all progressive people must condemn Blair's government for its cynical manoeuvres. They must demand that Britain's role should be confined to facilitating the various political forces in Ireland sitting down to seriously discuss their future among themselves. Britain, meanwhile, must declare its intention to end its rule over part of Ireland and to end its interference in the affairs of the Irish people. This would open the way for the Irish people to reunite their country, heal the divisions caused by centuries of foreign rule, and develop relations between Ireland and her neighbours on a free and equal basis.

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Actions Continue against War Threats in the Gulf

EVENTS AND THE WORDS OF Clinton and Blair have shown that despite the agreement signed by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Iraqi government on February 23, the belligerence and arrogance of Britain and the US towards Iraq have not ceased.

Actions have continued to be organised both in this country and the US and elsewhere condemning the warmongering of Anglo-American imperialism and demanding Hands Off Iraq! Lift the Sanctions! As Kofi Annan arrived in Baghdad hundreds of demonstrators were demonstrating opposite Downing Street on February 21 demanding that there be no bombing of Iraq and that the US and Britain end their warmongering. The following Saturday, February 28, after the signing of the agreement, 1,000 people still demonstrated at Trafalgar Square with the slogans "No War in Our Name!", "Hands Off Iraq!", "Unconditional lifting of sanctions on Iraq!" and others. The leaflet for the occasion said: "The threats to bomb Iraq have not yet ceased, and even after Kofi Annan's agreement, the US military build-up in the Gulf continues. The statements of criminal intent to carry out aggression in defence of US and British 'national interests' made by Clinton, Blair and other US and British representatives continue to challenge the rule of international legality and the authority of the United Nations. All those who wish to see a just peace in the Middle East are urged to continue to participate in the planned activities against war threats and sanctions on Iraq, to work to ensure that no further such threats of military aggression are made, and that the genocidal sanctions blockade, which has now killed 1.2 million Iraqis, be lifted immediately. Our task is not yet done. Stay Mobilised!" An Ad Hoc Campaign Against Sanctions And War On Iraq (CASWI) is being set up to carry forward the struggle.

The criminal intent and aggressive stance of US imperialism and the British government is clear for all to see. It is astonishing that Tony Blair should rubbish the agreement in such terms as "a piece of paper signed by the Iraqi regime plainly cannot be enough" and commend the "firm willingness to use force" by the US and Britain, while throughout the world, governments and peace-loving people have called for calm, objectivity and an attitude by the big powers which would avoid escalation of the situation. But the signs are ominous. US and Britain seem determined to impose their will on the Iraqi regime and once more continue to trample on the sovereignty of Iraq. Iraq has continued to show restraint, while according to a Pentagon spokesman, "The 38,000 US troops in the Persian Gulf region will not be going home anytime soon. We are going to maintain our forces in the region for the foreseeable future." Meanwhile, the US weapons inspectors, in a hostile and provocative move, returned to Iraq led by an American ex-Marine who the Iraqi government had accused of spying. Bill Clinton has also claimed that the latest UN resolution gives the US "authority to act", which a White House spokesman said meant military action, despite the explicit wish of the UN Security Council that they were seeking language that would avoid implication of automaticity and the use of force. The US ambassador to the UN made clear that the UN-Iraq agreement "did not preclude the unilateral use of force".

It is all too plain that US imperialism, in which Tony Blair is acting with total complicity, has not changed. The US imperialism the Iraqi people face today is the same US imperialism it faced yesterday with its desire to dominate a unipolar world, following the fascist doctrine of "Might Makes Right" and blasting any so-called "rogue state" that dares to pursue its own path. The peoples must affirm their sovereignty and pursue their struggles against this imperialism and doctrine until it is defeated. In particular, all democratic people must condemn and oppose the genocidal threats against Iraq and the international gangsterism of US and Britain in this matter.

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G8 Conference on Growth, Employability and Inclusion

FROM FEBRUARY 21-22, government ministers from the eight leading industrialised countries met in London at the G8 Conference on "Growth, Employability and Inclusion". The aim of the conference was to agree on policies that will be adopted by heads of government at the G8 summit that will take place in Birmingham from May 15-17 this year. The focus on employment reflects the seriousness of this problem and its consequences on the economies of the G8 countries. In the EU alone there are over 18 million people without work, while in Britain, according to recent government figures, one in five households of working age contain no one in work.

As a result of the conference the participants agreed on "seven principles to guide employment policy" in the G8 countries. In particular the ministers agreed on policies to target the "young and long-term unemployed and groups such as lone parents, people with disabilities, older workers and those without the basic literacy and numeracy skills needed in today's world of work". They were especially keen to "encourage benefit recipients to enter or re-enter the labour market". At the same time there was agreement on the need for the reform of tax and benefit systems "to enable and encourage those people who are unemployed or excluded from the labour market to look actively for work and find suitable employment".

In other words there was much that reflected the "welfare-to-work" polices of the Labour government. Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett proudly stated that "G8 members share the priorities we have set for our domestic employment policy". Indeed the British government is attempting to use its position as current chair of G8 meetings and its presidency of the EU Council of Ministers to widely promote its policies on employment. According to the government's logic it is the unemployed who should be held responsible for unemployment, and "reforms" of the benefit system can solve this and many other problems. Only a few weeks ago another government minister, Peter Mandelson, was applauding the actions of other European governments that have cut pensions and disability and sickness benefits, or raised the retirement age and he claimed that more needed to be done in this regard. But what has been referred to as Tony Blair's "Third Way", is simply government creating the conditions for the monopolies to make maximum profits in the global markets, by providing amongst other things a cheap "highly adaptable workforce", while at the same time cutting spending on social provisions and making debt repayments to the rich the main priority.

The employment policies of the Labour government, such as the so-called "New Deal" for 18-24 year olds are not in the interests of the unemployed, nor in the interests of other workers. Similarly the "seven principles" agreed at the G8 conference aim to create the conditions for the big monopolies to continue to make maximum profits in the global market at the expense of the workers and the most vulnerable sections of society. The fact is that such measures, pushing the profits of the monopolies to the highest level and intensifying the exploitation of the working people, lead to the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer. Far from solving the problem of unemployment such measures will only increase it.

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Glaxo Wellcome / Smithkline Beecham Merger

IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN ANNOUNCED that the proposed merger between the two major British pharmaceutical monopolies Glaxo Wellcome and Smithkline Beecham has collapsed. The proposed merger, "the biggest deal in corporate history", would have created the world's largest pharmaceutical monopoly and would have been responsible for thousands of job losses in Britain and in other countries. Union representatives therefore welcomed news that the planned merger had been called off, while financial speculators bemoaned the fact that the aborted merger had wiped some £20bn off the value of leading shares on the stock exchange.

The breakdown of the merger negotiations reflects the fact that cut-throat competition, and the drive to make maximum capitalist profits remain the main characteristics of the monopolies at all times. What was promoted as a merger of two equal partners could not mask these characteristics, as each monopoly struggled to further its own interests in the proposed deal and to make itself the dominant force in the proposed new monopoly. Indeed, it is still not ruled out that Glaxo Wellcome will swallow up Smithkline Beecham.

Even though the merger negotiations have ended in failure, increasing monopolisation remains a major characteristic of the pharmaceutical industry, just as in all other areas of the economy. Even before the negotiations, Smithkline Beecham had held merger talks with the US monopoly American Home Products Corporation. Already there is speculation that further mergers and take-overs will soon occur as the major monopolies strive for dominance and the pursuit of maximum profits in the global healthcare industry. This underlines the need for a radical rupture in society and for the working class to take hold of the assets of the nation so that the people may set the direction of the economy.

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Opposition Grows against Health Cuts in East London

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HEALTH CUTS in East London is gathering strength in response to government cuts to health funding in Redbridge and Waltham Forest of more than £14.5m. In a statement released on February 21, the East London Branch of RCPB(ML), says that:

"Cuts include the closure of three wards at Whipps Cross Hospital, one of the busiest hospitals in the country; drastic reductions in the number of district nurses, health visitors and school nurses; and the closure of many clinics in an area which is one of the most deprived in England. These and other cuts such as cutting the community drug and alcohol team by half and withdrawing mental health care from all but the severe cases means that preventative health care is being lost. There is already a serious shortage of mental health beds, yet government cuts will mean the closure of a mental health unit in Whipps Cross and reductions in other units. The hospital providing continuing care for the elderly mentally ill – Thorpe Coombe – is under threat of closure. These are the real social consequences for the people of the cuts in their health services.

"Whilst the government claims that it is modernising the health service and developing services to prevent the causes of ill-health, the harsh reality is that the very existence of a comprehensive national health service as a public service is under attack."

The statement points out that "in recent years we are seeing wider groups excluded from particular health care services through the use of assessment criteria to determine who is entitled to them. Health care is a right that people are entitled to because they are human beings living in a society that has the ability to provide that care. This conviction is spurring health workers, professionals, community organisations and individuals to fight the cuts and demand that the funding that is required to meet the health care needs is provided in full."

Further on the statement says: "The drive to meet the local health service cuts is destroying these services. But where does the money the government is clawing back from the health service go? It is not being reinvested into meeting the needs of the population but transferred into things like debt repayment, which means into the coffers of the very rich. Why should things like debt repayment be more important than the well being of the population? What we are seeing is a whole offensive against public services like health, education, benefits and social services and a move by the government to transfer public wealth to the private sector. The consequence is a decrease in the overall well being of the people and the widening of the gap between the rich and poor in society.

"The question arises of how the needs of all the people in society will be met? In which direction do we want society to go? To everything being geared to meeting the interests of the economically powerful, or to the well being of the population being the aim of society?

"The strength of resistance to anti-social offensive shows where people want society to go. Health workers and all concerned people need to fight for a society that recognises and provides for the claims of all. It is in this context that the fight to defend and safeguard the future of the NHS must take place."

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The Spectre of Communism:

A Manifesto for Today

THE FAMOUS Manifesto of the Communist Party of Marx and Engels was published in February 1848, 150 years ago.

In his biographical article Frederick Engels, Lenin wrote:

This little booklet is worth whole volumes: to this day its spirit inspires and guides the entire organised and fighting proletariat of the civilised world.

The spirit of the Communist Manifesto still guides and inspires the revolutionaries, the working class in struggle for their emancipation, and all enlightened forces who come into contact with it. Nevertheless, the spectre today which the reactionary bourgeoisie conjures up is a dogmatic and ahistorical presentation of communism. Far from inspiring the progressive forces, this kind of "communism" and "Marxism" is put forward to mislead the people, to ideologically disarm them and render them passive. First and foremost, it is put forward by the big powers and their apologists in order to save their moribund and crisis-ridden system, by channelling the energies of the people into activities which contribute to the old as against the new.

The work which our Party, RCPB(ML), is carrying out today, and which it calls on the working class, women, youth and students, other progressive forces and all other enlightened sections of society to join, is a continuation of the spirit of the Communist Manifesto, work which is essential to bring about the changes required today and the victory of the new. RCPB(ML) has worked out its Draft Programme for the Working Class, with its theoretical, ideological and practical considerations, which it has presented for ongoing discussion and elaboration to the working class and other sections of the working people. Its starting point is that a new society must be established in which the inviolable rights of all are recognised simply by dint of being human. This is the path which the working class must take up as its own, leading the entire society out of the crisis and opening up the path to a new socialist society and to the complete emancipation of humanity. This is the world which the working class and all humankind have to win.

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Privatisation Is Making the Railways Increasingly Dangerous

THE RAILWAYS INSPECTORATE (HMRI), which is part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), started a prosecution against Railtrack PLC and two of its contractors last month for allegedly causing the derailment of a freight train, in which four people were injured at Bexley, Southeast London, last February. The Inspectorate is considering whether there is enough evidence to support prosecutions over other accidents.

Recently, there have been several more derailments of freight trains and one passenger train at Harwich last month, injuring one person. It is reported that the HSE has threatened Railtrack PLC with criminal prosecution because parts of Britain's railway lines are so poorly maintained that the safety of passengers and railway workers is at risk. After these derailments and inspectors reports, Mr V. Coleman, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Railways at the HSE, wrote to Railtrack complaining of "persistent poor track condition" and that the Inspectorate "remains concerned about the condition of track on the Railway network". In two cases, track was "in such an extremely bad condition so as to be unsafe".

Railtrack PLC has persistently claimed that these problems are inherited from British Rail before the privatisation but however even the HSE warned the company that its could not use this argument because it was almost four years since Railtrack had taken over. Four years later, not only has privatisation of the railways been completed under a New Labour government but this path of retrogression is leading to further serious dangers from the drive of Railtrack to maximise profits at the expense of health and safety. Since privatisation Railtrack PLC has increased its pre-tax profit from £189 million in 1995 to £346 million for 1997 and the interim report projects even bigger profits this year.

However, it is not the prosecution of Railtrack which will guarantee safety of passengers and workers on the railway system. This will only be guaranteed by the workers themselves fighting for their own political programme in which the railway system must become part of a planned economy which is aimed at providing for the needs of all and with the investments necessary to provide a railway which is safe to use.

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The Stand of the Fire-fighters

FIRE-FIGHTERS supported by local people and other activists are taking a stand in various parts of the country against closures and cut-backs. In London, for example, the fire-fighters balloted for strike action against threats to close Shooters Hill and the Barbican fire stations, though the result was against a strike. Below we carry a report from a reader in the North East.

Fire-fighters and People Oppose the Closure of Chopwell Fire Station

On Monday February 23, fire-fighters and people from Chopwell protested outside the Tyne & Wear Fire Authority in Newcastle against the threat of closure of Chopwell Fire Station. The Tyne and Wear Fire Authority is discussing plans to make cuts to meet its £2.7million deficit as a result of the recent Government reduction in the Local Authority revenue support grant.

The protesters, who come from an ex-mining village with a long history of working class solidarity, not only opposed the closure of Chopwell Fire Station, but also in the event of the station not closing, opposed any loss of Fire Appliances elsewhere. Fire-fighters from Chopwell and Swalwell were among the protesters and one of them said that if Chopwell closed cover would have to come from Swalwell 9 miles away. "It takes twenty minutes to get to Chopwell from Swalwell. We are talking about a fire that would be well out of control in that time."

In an interview Councillor Sidaway, Fire Authority Chairman and Labour leader of Sunderland City Council, said, "Tyne & Wear is probably the busiest authority in the country. It is the Government's spending plan we are having to deal with... We are already down to a very dangerous level. The service is stretched." But he concluded by saying that the cuts should be made; "There are some very, very hard decisions to be taken on Friday. Everybody's views will be taken into account".

People's views should be taken into account. But they should not only be taken into account, because the point is people's needs for such a vital public service should be paramount. The decision that needs to be taken is how to start to plan the economy from the point of view that all public services that meet the needs of the people are guaranteed and investments increased. At the same time, the "hard decisions" that should be taken is for government and local authorities to declare a moratorium on debt repayments and interest to the financial oligarchy so that the direction of the economy can start to be turned around to meet the needs of the people.

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Nationwide Shutdown by Students

IT IS REPORTED THAT over two million students boycotted lectures and took action on March 4 in protest against the imposition of tuition fees in September. The National Union of Students (NUS) called it the "biggest single student protest in history".

For the first time, all full-time undergraduate students will face fees of £1,000 a year, about a quarter of the cost of an average course. The imposition of the fees is part of the anti-social offensive against students and public education, and against all social programmes. It has aroused widespread anger and concern, and has caused a drop in university applications of around 20,000. It comes on top of the introduction of student loans amid the general impoverishment of students, and flies in the face of the principle that education should be available at the highest standard to all, irrespective of ability to pay. The action by students on March 4 follows from other actions such as a day of action on February 13 and a number of demonstrations last year after the legislation was announced, and demonstrates the strength of feeling not only of the students but by their families and the colleges and universities themselves. It is reported that by their action students totally disrupted normal campus life, and their action was supported by workers and lecturers in the colleges, and at many colleges rallies and pickets were held as well as other actions.

Workers' Weekly hails the students in their struggle against the anti-social offensive and to work for a secure future for themselves and the students of tomorrow.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR * LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Paying the Rich from the People's Pockets

The article "For a Moratorium on Debt Repayment" (Workers' Weekly of February 21) pointed out that the Chancellor had made a record monthly public debt repayment of £10.4bn to the financial oligarchy, thereby demonstrating that the government's priority was the claims of the financiers rather than the needs of the people. It might also be pointed out that tax revenue for January had also increased considerably to £19.5bn. Income tax revenue alone was £11.8bn, an increase of 37% compared with January 1996. In other words not only are the government implementing cuts on social expenditure in order to pay the rich, they are also extracting more from the people in order to do so.

Reader in East London

Reporting Actions

Thank you for publishing, in Workers' Weekly of February 21, the article on the actions taken by Manchester University and the University of Leeds, as well as the March 4 action. It is important that the news of the occupations gets spread in order to inspire others and to promote discussion.

Student in Manchester

Warmongering in the Name of Upholding UN Resolutions

SINCE THE END of the American-led Gulf war, propaganda has been carried out against Saddam Hussein to prepare the way for attempts to remove him from power through the use of force. The warmongering of the United States trailed closely by Britain in the last few weeks have been a culmination of that. The pretext has been that Saddam Hussein has violated UN resolutions, is hiding stockpiles of nuclear and chemical weapons and is obstructing the attempts of the UNSCOM inspectors in their attempts to locate these weapons.

Throughout the latest moves by America and Britain, what has been clear is that the power that America believes it has internationally, to do whatever it wants whenever it wants, does not exist in reality. Many governments, Russia, China, Germany, France, Middle East countries and many others have openly said that they are against Iraq being bombed. America has been so isolated on the question of Iraq that it has even spoken and threatened to carry out actions in the face of world opinion. The unipolar world that America has been trying to create with itself at the head dictating to other nations is far from the reality of the current situation. One contradiction that stands out in stark contrast is the hypocrisy with which America has carried out its threats of war. America has presented itself as an agent to prevent chemical and nuclear weapons getting into the hands of dictators. However, it has one of the greatest stockpiles of these weapons. America has also used chemical weapons in Vietnam and Cuba causing massive devastation to human and natural resources. It has also stated that it would use tactical nuclear weapons on Iraq if it considers them necessary. It is hardly in a position to act as the world's policeman on the question of nuclear and chemical weapons.

Furthermore the US is not consistent in insisting that all countries respect UN resolutions. President Mubarak of Egypt, pointed to the hypocrisy of America's position by asking, why hasn't Israel, which has flouted UN resolutions for decades, been forced to comply with them in a similar manner. Arab leaders have also asked why Israel, which is thought to have huge stockpiles of nuclear and chemical weapons, has not been forced to open them to UN inspections in a similar manner to Iraq? Israel's possession of these weapons intensifies their spread in the region as other Middle East countries rush to match Israel's chemical and biological arsenal. Yet the US turns a blind eye to its possession of these weapons and its disregard for UN resolutions and persecutes Iraq.

The greatest contradiction that arises from this situation is that the greatest stockpilers of nuclear, chemical and other weapons want to dictate what weapons other countries can keep and develop. If the US has genuine problems with Iraq having these weapons, then it should move to ban these weapons internationally so that no one has them, itself included. But to possess these weapon and at the same time attempt to deny them to others is nothing else than an attempt to keep others in weak position militarily to exploit and oppress them. America's only interest in the gulf is the ambition to dictate the events of the region to its own advantage.

Reader in East London

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Northern Regional Committee Takes Stand against Warmongering

We would like to add our voice to those of Workers' Weekly and organisations and individuals who are condemning the warmongering of the Tony Blair government and their US masters against Iraq. It is an absolute outrage that a government that claims to be implementing an "ethical foreign policy" is preparing to use weapons of mass destruction of human life and property against another country under the excuse that such a country may have stockpiles of similar weapons to the US and Britain.

We saw another glimpse of this "ethical foreign policy" last week when the government excluded Sinn Fein from the peace talks on northern Ireland because of the alleged connection of the IRA to two killings. One would justly ask that by this standard should not Britain be expelled from the United Nations along with the US and other warmongers for their warmongering against another member of the United Nations just as they are the ones that should withdraw from Ireland and have no rights to expel any Irishmen from any peace talks on Ireland.

Everyone knows that the sanctions against Iraq are driven by the "vital interests" of the United States in the Middle East and to create a unipolar world under its dictate. Among other things what this dangerous situation shows is the need for democratisation of the United Nations so that all nations are empowered and the domination of the Security Council by the US and other powers is ended. The wishes of the majority of countries for a peaceful solution and the ending of sanctions against Iraq must be realised immediately.

Northern Regional Committee of RCPB(ML)

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NEWS IN BRIEF * NEWS IN BRIEF * NEWS IN BRIEF

Government to Raise Prescription Charges

The Labour government announced on March 2 that it would raise the charges for prescription medicines by 15p or 2.7 per cent to £5.80 as from April 1. The government said the increase was lower than the headline inflation rate of 3.3 per cent and represented the first below-inflation rate since 1981. Underlying inflation, the government's target measure, is running at an annual rate of 2.5 per cent. The government did not mention, though it is fresh in everyone's memory, that in opposition they opposed every increase in prescription charges that the Conservative government brought in. The new charges are expected to raise about £336 million in 1998-99. As a comparison, the profits of the pharmaceuticals company Glaxo-Wellcome for 1996 were around £3.36 billion (£3,360,000,000).

Unemployment Figures

The Labour government has announced that it is to change the figures on calculating the rate of unemployment, over which they had criticised the Conservatives, who had modified the method, it is said, some 32 times. A further 500,000 are expected to be added to the figures when published in April. However, those who are not entitled to benefits because they are not "actively seeking work", such as women looking after children and other sections, such as the young and the old, of working age who are without jobs, will still not be included. The rate of unemployment on the changed basis is expected to jump from 1.4 to 1.9 million, from 5% to about 7% of the relevant population.

North East:

Six hundred Shipyard Workers Sacked Over "Unofficial Strike"

ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20, over 600 workers at Aker McNulty Shipyard on Tyneside were sacked for "holding an unofficial strike" after banning overtime and walking out and threatening a one day strike in rejection of an 8.6% pay offer which had changes to working conditions and shift patterns attached.

Aker McNulty issued a statement on Friday blaming the workers for their dismissal. The company wrote to all the workers over the weekend saying that if they accepted the pay offer negotiated with their trade union and returned to work on Monday the dismissal notices would be rescinded. After a mass meeting on Monday morning the workers refused to return to work and more than 100 subcontractors also joined the strike.

After holding another mass meeting on Tuesday to discuss their demands with the union a ballot was held on Wednesday morning at a further mass meeting and the workers voted by 380 to 268 to accept the pay offer and return to work but with other issues, including demands over working conditions, to be renegotiated.

Cornwall:

South Crofty Tin Mine Closes

South Crofty, the last remaining Cornish mine, closed on Friday, March 6. A vigil took place at the gates of South Crofty to mark the occasion. Like the closure of the coal mines, this is an example of how the national economy is sacrificed in the name of "competition in the global market". Not only is it a blow to the nation and to the working class, but it also contributes to the devastation of the local community. It makes a bad situation worse in Cornwall, as one of the poorest regions of the country.

Many events are to take place during the coming weeks to highlight the situation in Cornwall. A public meeting is to be held in Redruth today, March 7, on "The Situation in Cornwall", as well as a previously arranged meeting of the Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum. On the same day, two parades with bands are converging opposite South Crofty mine. It is hoped that this will be the beginning of an annual Cornish Mining Gala.

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Interest in Web Site

Over 2,000 interested people have visited the Workers' Weekly Home Page on the Internet. Its address is http://www.wwne.demon.co.uk/index.htm. Through the website the Party has received a number of e-mails raising questions. Below we print one example of the questions asked and an extract from the reply given.

Question and Answer

Question: I am currently a third year undergraduate student studying towards an honours degree ... To complete the honours component of the degree I am conducting a survey investigating possible links between the environmental and socialist ideologies. The purpose of the questionnaire is to evaluate attitudes towards several stereotypical views associated with the debate. Your input via the questionnaire would be highly valued as you are considered to be relevant to the topic. Consequently your co-operation would be very much appreciated. . .

Answer: Thank you for consulting us on our views towards the subject you are studying. . .

Modern society is posing definite problems for solution. Of course, to bring from the past old controversies as a solution to the present problems is the pastime of all the forces that want to maintain the status quo. The fact that you are raising the whole problem faced by the people to guarantee the wellbeing of the natural environment as we prepare to enter the 21st century is because this has become one of the major concerns of the time. It has arisen both under the crisis of monopoly capitalism and under capitalist restoration in the former socialist countries as one of the main questions.

. . . Present capitalist societies are not fit for human beings and societies which are unfit for human beings are not capable of being concerned about the natural environment. Take for example the fact that it is estimated that in the capitalist world 100 million children live on the streets. Take for example the present anti-social offensive in most capitalist countries. They are saying that there is no such thing as society – only individuals and that individuals should fend for themselves and any public services, or welfare programmes, are cut back or used to make profit for the rich.

The problem communists must pose is that modern society should take the high road of civilisation. This means that for the working class to emancipate itself it must recognise that all individuals have inviolable rights by virtue of being human and, secondly, that society has an obligation towards all its members. Objectively it is in the interest of the working class, once it becomes fully conscious of its own position, to take this path. On the other hand the interest of the financial oligarchy and the capitalists is to continue to deny that society exists and has responsibilities to all its members and the natural environment, and that is why they are a road block to the progress of society.

Modern society is based on social production at a very high level. What is causing anarchy in the society and upheavals and damage to the environment is the private ownership of this social production. The key to progress is new social arrangements.

Today you are born to society not to a family. The problem of the environment is that unless the social relations are humanised then social production will continue to be in the control of those who are de-humanising social relations and de-humanising and endangering the natural environment. As a species human beings will be the most effective in maintaining the wellbeing of the natural environment when society is humanised. The human factor and social consciousness will be placed in charge of the scientific-technical revolution and this will open a new chapter in human history where for the first time human beings will have control over their society, social production and the natural environment. . . (Signed)

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Britain Must Withdraw from All Colonial Territories

At the beginning of February, the Foreign Secretary made a speech outlining the Government's policy towards Britain's fourteen "Dependent Territories", those countries where Britain still maintains colonial rule, such as Gibraltar, the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) and Montserrat. Rather than announcing that the British government was severing all colonial ties with these countries, as might be thought fitting on the eve of the 21st century, Robin Cook announced details of what he called "a new partnership" with the "Dependent Territories", which he arrogantly referred to as "a source of pride to Britain". Although throughout his speech Robin Cook made a great fuss about "self-determination" and "democratically-elected governments" in these countries, in most of the territories the people have little say in government and executive authority is in the hands of a colonial governor appointed from Westminster. This colonial relationship is maintained for the economic, strategic and military interests of the financial oligarchy of Britain and not for the benefit of the peoples of these territories, as recent events in Montserrat following the volcanic eruptions have shown.

But criticisms of this colonial relationship have prompted the government to attempt to "modernise" it. According to the proposals announced by Robin Cook, a new government department will be established to handle the territories, and the government has announced that it will explore the possibility of granting British citizenship to all citizens of the Dependent Territories, which will now be known as "British Overseas Territories". However, at the same time new financial legislation is to be introduced to strengthen and develop the "offshore financial services" that many of these territories offer, and the government will strengthen its legal and economic controls thus making these territories more dependent on Britain.

The days of Britain's empire are long gone but the Labour government still maintains the imperialist logic that it is "developing a partnership" with these colonial possessions and dreams of "making Britain great again". The working class and all democratic people must demand that Britain sever all its colonial and neo-colonial ties. Britain must withdraw from all its colonial territories.

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION * FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the Republic of Iraq

1. The Government of Iraq reconfirms its acceptance of all relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolutions 687 (1991) and 715 (1991). The Government of Iraq further reiterates its undertaking to cooperate fully with the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

2. The United Nations reiterates the commitment of all Member States to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.

3. The Government of Iraq undertakes to accord to UNSCOM and IAEA immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access in conformity with the resolutions referred to in paragraph 1. In the performance of its mandate under the Security Council resolutions, UNSCOM undertakes to respect the legitimate concerns of Iraq relating to national security, sovereignty and dignity.

4. The United Nations and the Government of Iraq agree that the following special procedures shall apply to the initial and subsequent entries for the performance of the tasks mandated at the eight Presidential Sites in Iraq as defined in the annex to the present Memorandum:

a) A Special Group shall be established for this purpose by the Secretary-General in consultation with the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM and the Director General of IAEA. This Group shall comprise senior diplomats appointed by the Secretary-General and experts drawn from UNSCOM and IAEA. The Group shall be headed by a Commissioner appointed by the Secretary-General.

b) In carrying out its work, the Special Group shall operate under the established procedures of UNSCOM and IAEA, and specific detailed procedures which will be developed given the special nature of the Presidential Sites, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

c) The report of the Special Group on its activities and findings shall be submitted by the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM to the Security Council through the Secretary-General.

5. The United Nations and the Government of Iraq further agree that all other areas, facilities, equipment, records and means of transportation shall be subject to UNSCOM procedures hitherto established.

6. Noting the progress achieved by UNSCOM in various disarmament areas, and the need to intensify efforts in order to complete its mandate, the United Nations and the Government of Iraq agree to improve cooperation, and efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of work, so as to enable UNSCOM to report to the Council expeditiously under paragraph 22 of resolution 687 (1991). To achieve this goal, the Government of Iraq and UNSCOM will implement the recommendations directed at them as contained in the report of the emergency session of UNSCOM held on 21 November 1997.

7. The lifting of sanctions is obviously of paramount importance to the people and Government of Iraq and the Secretary-General undertook to bring this matter to the full attention of the members of the Security Council.

Signed this 23rd day of February 1998 in Baghdad in two originals in English.

For the United Nations Kofi A. Annan Secretary-General

For the Republic of Iraq Tariq Aziz Deputy Prime Minister

Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the Republic of Iraq of 23 February 1998

The eight Presidential Sites subject to the regime agreed upon in the present Memorandum of Understanding are the following:

1. The Republican Palace Presidential Site (Baghdad).

2. Radwaniyah Presidential Site (Baghdad)

3. Sijood Presidential Site (Baghdad).

4. Tikrit Presidential Site.

5. Tharthar Presidential Site.

6. Jabal Makhul Presidential Site.

7. Mosul Presidential Site.

8. Basrah Presidential Site. The perimeter of the area of each site is recorded in the survey of the "Presidential sites" in Iraq implemented by the United Nations Technical Mission designated by the Secretary-General, as attached to the letter dated 21 February 1998 addressed by the Secretary-General to the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq

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Rio Group - European Union: A summit with major themes

A 32-POINT DECLARATION approved by the foreign ministers of the Rio Group and the European Union, meeting in Panama City, stressed the principal aspects of the agenda for the 1999 Rio de Janeiro summit.

Among the matters to be discussed are commercial and economic issues, including Latin America's growing trade deficit with the EU; plus political and cultural questions. Many feel that the two continents have a good chance for coming to some agreement on political issues, in regard to sustainable development and in the fight against drugs.

Panamanian Foreign Minister Ricardo Alberto Arias stated that the importance of the 1999 summit lies in the process of strengthening commercial and economic integration between the two regions.

Manual Marín, vice president of the European Commission, which is the EU's executive board, explained that while preparations are being made for the Rio summit, Latin America and Europe will attempt to reduce the bilateral trade imbalance. He added that the goal is to make trade freer through bilateral negotiations with Latin American countries, beginning with Mexico and followed by Chile, the Andean Community and Central America.

Marín has previously attended the Forum in San José, Costa Rica, at which he lobbied for the integration of the isthmus. He stressed that this attitude does not represent any change in the EU's policy toward Central America, which receives 60% of the aid directed to Latin America.

In the opinion of the Latin American Economic System (SELA), the heads of state and government of the Rio Group and the European Union will have to pay special attention at the 1999 summit to trade, given the drastic change which has taken place in recent years in the commercial relations between the two areas, according to IPS.

In 1990, Latin America had a 9.2-billion-dollar trade surplus, but in 1996 it had a 13.2-billion-dollar deficit.

The foreign ministers' meeting also covered subjects such as reform of the United Nations and the special conference on drugs organised by that world forum for next July. Also on the agenda of the meeting that just ended was the role of education as a strategic instrument in overcoming poverty and promoting regional development.

Without identifying Cuba by name, the Panama Declaration rejects all trade measures which are unilateral and have extraterritorial effects on the economic relations between states. This is a clear allusion to the blockade which was imposed by Washington on Havana over 35 years ago and has been stepped up by U.S. laws such as the Helms-Burton Act.

Chilean Foreign Minister José Miguel Insulza stated that the moment had arrived to adopt a more creative position in regard to Cuba, and that the island did not constitute a threat to any other country.

Another subject amply discussed by the 29 foreign ministers in Panama City was drugs, related crime and their consequences. Suffice it to recall that many of the member states of the Rio Group, such as Mexico, Colombia and Peru, spend large portions of their budgets to fight drug trafficking, while countries which are members of the European Union, such as Germany, France, Spain and Portugal, are transit or receiving points for those drugs.

Observers were surprised that Thomas McNamara, U.S. negotiator for the creation of a multilateral centre for the fight against drugs, appeared at the Panama meeting to present his country's views regarding that centre, which the United States would like to establish in the Canal Zone once it is returned to Panama.

Talks on the creation of the centre are stagnating because of differences on the way in which other Latin American countries should participate in the project, and regarding the functions of the members of the U.S. military assigned to that centre. Furthermore, many analysts feel that such an installation would be a new form of interference in the internal affairs of the region's countries, in addition to being a mechanism to fight drug trafficking. They base this concept on unilateral measures the United States has taken, such as the arbitrary certification process promoted by the White House. Many observers believe that the agreement which is being sought for a new inter-regional economic order represents the sentiment and will of Latin Americans, above all because it will be based on equal participation and a common vision. Manuel Marín stated that this will be done without undue haste, because Latin Americans don't like fast tracks, which run the risk of crumbling.

GRANMA INTERNATIONAL, February 24, 1998

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DPRK Condemns Warmongering of US Superpower

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has carried reports condemning the warmongering of US imperialism both in the Gulf and on the Korean Peninsula.

The KCNA reports that a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) pointed out that during the Persian Gulf crisis, the United States reinforced its armed forces in south Korea on the basis of its "two wars strategy" and under the pretext of a "vacuum" in security.

In a commentary, the KCNA points out that the US Airforce authorities had voiced apprehension about the "security vacuum" in south Korea as the Independence, an aircraft carrier of the US Seventh Fleet, was deployed in the Persian Gulf due to the crisis over Iraq. The US, the commentary says, has about 40,000 troops and many sophisticated lethal weapons and combat equipment deployed in south Korea. It is the height of impudence, KCNA says, for the US to talk about a "security vacuum". Its loud-mouthed "security vacuum" is no more than a deceptive signboard to justify its large-scale arms build-up in south Korea. Lurking behind the argument of a "security vacuum" is a sinister design of the US for "simultaneous wars" in the two areas. With this war strategy, the US, considering that "strength" is almighty, has amassed its forces in the Persian Gulf, while reinforcing armed forces in south Korea. The US arms build-up in south Korea, says KCNA, is an unpardonable crime of worsening military confrontation between the north and south of Korea and bringing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. Worse still, the US is more openly stepping up the arms build-up behind the screen of the "four-way talks". If the US truly wants to establish a peace-keeping mechanism on the Korean Peninsula, the article concludes, it should take away the war signboard.

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DPRK Details Natural Disaster Damage Situation

PYONGYANG, March 2 (KCNA) — A spokesman for the Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea released a statement concerning the country's acute food problem caused by natural disasters.

The statement said: Years of natural disasters in the DPRK have made a serious dent in the national economy, giving rise to grave after-effects. Particularly, the agricultural sector has been seriously damaged so that the food problem still remains acute.

For an early solution to the food shortage, all the people and servicemen were mobilised in farming from the beginning of last year. Crop production went well until June last year but the crops were damaged by a long spell of drought and high temperature above 30 degrees centigrade in July and August and the ensuing tidal waves, which caused losses of some 1.2 million tons of maize and some 600,000 tons of rice in the country. The losses were confirmed by the joint on-site survey team of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP).

Last year's grain output decreased drastically, the unhulled grain being 2,685,000 tons and clean grain 2,148,000 tons. The DPRK's annual need for grain is about 7,840,000 tons of which 4,820,000 tons are needed for food. Of the decreased production, 500,000 tons of early ripening crop were consumed in the June-October period, 200,000 tons of grain set aside as this year's seed and 855,000 tons allotted to farmers (the allocation was very low compared with the normal one). Besides, grain was distributed to industrial sectors, livestock domain, public catering service, workers and office employees. As a result, the total stock of grain was 167,000 tons as of January 1. With this stock, 300 grams were distributed to each person on a daily average in January and 200 grams in February. Even if 100 grams are distributed in March, the stock will run out in mid-March.

We hail the UN inter-agency consolidated appeal on February 12 after the WFP made public on January 6 a fresh appeal for 650,000 tons of food in assistance to the DPRK. We are also grateful to the international community including the WFP, the EU, different countries and organisations willing to continue this year offering assistance, mainly food to the DPRK. The international food aid will encourage our people in their efforts to eradicate after-effects of the natural disasters and normalise production in agricultural and other sectors of the national economy.

Though the aftermath of the disasters is serious, our people will make all efforts to solve the acute food shortage this year by successfully doing farming.

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For the Guaranteed Rights of Women, for the Inviolable Rights of All!

On the occasion of International Women' Day, 1998, Workers' Weekly extends its greetings to women in this country and the world over who are fighting to defend their rights.

Women are experiencing a broad attack on their economic, social and physical well-being. Their experience is confirming that they can count on no-one else to hand them their rights on a plate. On the contrary. Their rights belong to them by virtue of their being, firstly as human beings, as well as their being as women, as a collective within society, their capacity to bear and nurture children and by doing so to enable society to regenerate and continue itself. These rights can neither be given nor taken away, they are inviolable. They must be affirmed, and it is in the course of this affirmation that the new society will be created in which the oppression of women and the denial of their rights become a thing of the past.

Society must provide its members with everything they require to assert their humanity. Women have claims on society to guarantee their health, safety and well-being, as well as that of the younger generation. It cannot be presented that in "targeting the needy" these claims on society as of right are denied, nor that it is matter of "choice" for the women which of these claims will be advanced or met. The claims of all the individual members of the collective of women must be fulfilled on the basis of guaranteeing the well-being of the collective as a whole. It is the duty of the whole society and all its members to fight for and defend these rights.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, Workers' Weekly expresses its confidence that in their struggle for their own emancipation, the women will be in the vanguard of opening up the path out of the crisis to a new society in which the well-being of each and every member of society and its collectives will be the guiding principle.

Long Live International Women's Day!

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On the forty-fifth anniversary of the death of J.V. Stalin

ON MARCH 5, 1953, J.V. Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union and of the socialist camp, died. His death forty-five years ago, was deeply mourned by the entire humanity on a scale unprecedented in the history of human beings.

Forty-five years later the hope of all humankind, the Soviet Union, is no more. Neither is there a socialist camp. But still the mere mention of the name of Stalin brings immediate fear to imperialism, the world bourgeoisie and reaction. They still tremble in fright for their capitalist system, lest some aspect of Stalin's prestige, influence and teachings may inspire the working class to action.

The great merit of Stalin was that he was the architect of socialism and the great leader in the victory over fascism. All the obsolescent forces never forgave him for his leadership on these two fronts. The hatred born of defeat still compels the obsolescent forces to muster campaign after campaign of vilification against a person who has been dead for forty-five years. They try to present him as a negative personality but it does not wash. The facts are too stunning, the victories much too profound.

The building of socialism stands as one of his greatest achievements. There was no precedent for building such a system. The decisive factor was the elimination of all exploitation of persons by persons. It is to his merit that Stalin created a socialist system free from all such exploitation.

The other significant accomplishment was the heroic victory over fascism. The key ingredient in this remarkable victory was the building of the united front of the Soviet Union with the working and oppressed people of the world, together with the unity of all powers that opposed Hitlerite reaction.

At the present time when revolution is in retreat, it is imperative to profoundly appreciate that socialism is the only way out of the crisis. Imperialism, the bourgeoisie and reaction realise the truth of this statement. In opposition to socialism they still carry the most heinous propaganda against Stalin, for they desperately want to keep socialism away from the working class. This is the main content and purpose of the on-going anti-Stalin and anti-communist campaign.

The name of J.V. Stalin and his life's work will remain forever in the annals of proletarian revolution, the construction of socialism and in the struggle for national liberation.

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