Workers' Weekly V.28 No.7

AS THE SABRE RATTLING of US imperialism and the British government against Iraq gets ever louder, demonstrations and other forms of opposition to this doctrine of "Might Makes Right" have mushroomed, not only in Britain but in the United States and other countries also.

The US has assembled its biggest strike force since the 1991 Gulf War. At the same time, Bill Clinton would have the world believe that US imperialism has "no quarrel with the Iraqi people", and "we will do everything we can to prevent innocent people from getting hurt," as he attempted to excuse the US superpower in response to the vigorous opposition not only from popular opinion but from governments around the world. Meanwhile, the US and Britain were undermining the authority of Kofi Annan as he arrives in Iraq by making it plain they would reject any agreement reached that undercut the freedom of the nuclear weapons inspection team to demand to go anywhere they pleased in Iraq. As one newspaper put it: "There is suspicion that the US and UK regard the Annan mission as purely demonstrative – to show that they have exhausted the diplomatic process before proceeding to war."

Representing the deep concern of the people, demonstrations and vigils have been held in Whitehall opposite Downing Street. There is an on-going demonstration every Saturday, which has been held since February 7 and is growing week by week, encompassing thousands of people. In a press release, the organisers point out: "Blair's government is defying international law and morality, as well as the wishes of the people and governments of Britain and the world, in supporting Clinton's war threats in the Gulf. Even the US and British military, media and political establishments are divided as never before on the wisdom of the proposed attack." In a leaflet advertising the demonstrations, they say: "During these past seven years, the sanctions, imposed in violation of all international law by the UN Security Council under US and British pressure, have killed 1.2 million Iraqi children, which ranks amongst the most massive cases of genocide in this century."

A nonviolent direct action took place at the Northwood airbase in Middlesex on Monday, February 16, under the slogan "Shut down Northwood!". Around 100 protesters blockaded the base, which is the headquarters of the Joint Rapid Deployment Force from which any air strikes on Iraq will be authorised. One placard read: "'Rogue' states in the Gulf: USA-Britain". There was also a trespass at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire. On the same evening, a public meeting was organised at the House of Commons by the Committee to Stop War in the Gulf. Hundreds of people participated in a vigil opposite Downing Street on the evening of Wednesday, February 18, organised by the Emergency Committee on Iraq. On the same evening, a vigil was organised on the steps of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and on the following evening a public meeting to plan further action was called in Conway Hall. In a radio interview the morning after the vigil at Downing Street, the playwright Harold Pinter pointed out that "international law is based on civilised procedures … In my view what [the British government] are performing is an act of international terrorism."

In other parts of the country, a vigil was organised in Glasgow on Wednesday, February 18, by the Scottish Justice and Peace Network, and on Friday, February 20, an action was held at Aldermaston by the Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp. In the event of any bombing of Iraq, actions are planned also in Aberystwyth, Bradford, Brighton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Hebden Bridge, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Llandrindod, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, Swansea, Wrexham and York.

All around the world there have been protests: across the Middle East, in Australia, in many cities in Canada, and throughout Europe. US activists held demonstrations on February 17, including a protest at Times Square in New York. Mass demonstrations are planned for February 28.

What the US imperialists and the British government are preparing against Iraq and the Iraqi people is the most massive crime against humanity. Workers' Weekly once again condemns the warmongering in the strongest terms, and is at one with all those expressing opposition.

HANDS OFF IRAQ!

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For A Moratorium on Debt Repayment!

CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER Gordon Brown made the biggest monthly government debt repayment on record on February 17 in advance of his first full Budget on March 17.

In making the record payment of £10.4 billion, the Chancellor held out prospects of increases in health and education spending in the latter half of this parliament, saying, "Our toughness on the public finances is toughness for a purpose, so we can move resources to high priority areas." The July 1997 Budget had set the guideline that "public debt as a proportion of national income will be held over the economic cycle at a stable and prudent level".

In paying the £10.4 billion to the financial oligarchy, Gordon Brown is demonstrating which are the high priority areas to which the government is moving resources. The interest payments to the financiers on the national debt for the last financial year in addition amounted to over £25 billion. The guideline on public debt, which includes a "five year deficit reduction plan" also shows the Chancellor's priorities. What is this "deficit reduction plan" for? The record PSBR (Public Sector Borrowing Requirement) payback provides the answer. In short, his priorities are that the claims of the financiers come first. Only then does the government say it will consider a prospect of "increases in health and education spending". In fact, the present reality is that huge reductions in spending on social programmes are taking place.

An immediate measure which should be applied is that of a moratorium on debt repayment. If the government were applying an economic programme which met the claims of the people and served their needs, this is the first thing they would do, along with setting a budget which would increase spending in health, education and other social programmes. They would then consider other measures to develop a planned economy. Such a course is encapsulated in the programme: Stop Paying the Rich – Increase Investments in Social Programmes!

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Northern Ireland Peace Talks:

Why Is Mo Mowlam Dictating Terms in Dublin?

Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam announced in Dublin last Monday that the British government, with the backing of the Irish government, was calling for the expulsion of Sinn Fein from the multi-party peace talks. She stated that it had been alleged by the RUC that the IRA was implicated in two murders in Belfast in the previous week and that Sinn Fein had therefore violated the so-called Mitchell principles by which participants in the talks pledged themselves to peaceful means and not to intimidate others by force or threat of force. Sinn Fein lodged a legal challenge to their expulsion in the Irish courts.

The question arises: why is the British government dictating who takes part or does not take part in negotiations on the future of northern Ireland?

Having accepted the right of the Irish people to self-determination – as John Major's government did in 1993 – what gives a British government any right to exclude any Irish political force from negotiations concerning the future of the north of Ireland? This is especially so with Sinn Fein, which is the main political force that has been fighting for British withdrawal and an end to partition, and without whom any talks are meaningless. The main force whose right to be present at the talks is surely in doubt is the British government! There is an added irony in that Mo Mowlam's announcement was made in Dublin Castle, the former seat of British colonial rule over the whole of Ireland.

In recent months the British government and its various agencies have organised all manner of provocation and tension in the north of Ireland in order to create a climate in which they can push through a new arrangement favourable to English and other capital, irrespective of what disasters this new arrangement might cause for the people either in Ireland or Britain, and obscuring the issue of the sovereignty and right of self-determination of the Irish people. The thorn in their flesh has been Sinn Fein, who have straightforwardly put the demand on the table for British withdrawal and an end to partition. Now once more the British government is trying, as it has tried and failed before, to marginalise them.

The Blair government must stop acting like 19th century colonial rulers. They must facilitate the various political forces in Ireland discussing their future amongst themselves. The talks should proceed swiftly to an end to British rule over part of Ireland and an end to British 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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Students Take Action against Anti-Social Offensive in Education

A DAY OF ACTION was called by the National Union of Students (NUS) on February 13 against the imposition of tuition fees. The government plans to introduce tuition fees of £1,000 per year as from September. The government has reported that university applications were down by 20,000 by the December 15 deadline. Douglas Trainer, NUS National President, pointed out: "Fees are killing access to higher education, they will destroy our universities and colleges just as they destroy so many would-be students' dreams of higher education. The money won't even go back into higher education. The Government and all Government MPs have to realise, this policy is deeply unpopular and would have devastating effects. Students and their parents can't afford to pay any more. The extra money should come from business and industry."

Activities took place at universities and colleges across the country in advance of the National Shutdown of Further and Higher Education which is to take place on Wednesday, March 4. It is estimated that over two million students will walk out of lectures and lessons on that day. The actions follow on from demonstrations in November and a week of action last December, besides actions by students at individual universities and colleges. The shutdown on March 4 comes after a national ballot of students. Over 130 universities and colleges voted in favour of the national shutdown. Workers on campuses are also set to join the shutdown.

Among actions against the tuition fees were occupations at Manchester and Leeds universities.

At Manchester, the office of the Vice-Chancellor was successfully occupied for 24 hours by up to 60 students, following from a postering and leafleting campaign, as well as building support for the occupation through discussions with students. After the occupation, a demonstration took place outside the Students' Union building. Messages of support were received throughout the occupation by various branches of trades unions such as UNISON and the NUT, and the occupation was visited by delegates of some of these branches. The occupation was reported in the local newspapers and on the local radio stations. Many other students expressed support and were pleased the action had been taken.

At Leeds, 150 students occupied the student grants office for three hours. The action immediately followed the passing of a motion by a general meeting of Leeds University NUS condemning the tuition fees. After the occupation, students marched through the streets of Leeds back to the university.

All these actions show the determination of the students to oppose the imposition of tuition fees, which are an integral part of the anti-social offensive against all sections of society. Public services such as education and health are being made the target of the broad offensive against the people which seeks to deny the responsibility of society to provide education, health and other public services according to the needs of its members and at the highest standard to all. At the same time, these services are being geared to the needs of the monopolies and turned into a source of maximum profits for the rich. The aim of education is being reduced to one of serving the needs of business in "making Britain great again" by "succeeding" and becoming "competitive" in the "global market". The mass of the people are left with minimum job skills while further and higher education is limited to providing the training required by the monopolies at no expense to themselves.

This underlines that students, as they fight against the cuts in education and against tuition fees, student loans, the impoverishment of students and the destruction of the education system and putting its assets at the disposal of the rich, must affirm and elaborate their vision of a new society, as they cannot secure a future under the present arrangements. An integral part of this must be an all-round education system which prepares students and young people to fully participate in the political, economic and cultural affairs of society. Youth and students must engage in a broad discussion on these issues as they intensify their efforts to overcome the crisis.

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Actions against Cut-Backs in Health Care Funding

ACTIONS ARE continuing to escalate against cut-backs in health care funding and to safeguard the future of health services.

A packed public meeting of more than 200 people took place on January 21 at Leytonstone in East London, to demand that the proposed cuts of £14.5 million in health provision in Waltham Forest be reversed. The meeting was organised to give impetus to a broad-based campaign against the drastic reduction of resources to Whipps Cross Hospital which will have serious consequences for the health care of the local people, as well as putting intolerable loads on health workers and professionals. The Anglican Bishop of Barking, the Rt Rev Roger Sainsbury, was one of the platform speakers, while the Roman Catholic Bishop of Brentwood, Rt Rev Thomas McMahon, took a place in the audience to demonstrate his support. The meeting wholeheartedly agreed to a six-point plan of action, to involve members of the community as well as health campaign leaders. A public meeting at which the health authority will outline its plans is taking place on February 26, and people are being urged to attend. In a further action, a demonstration of local people and health workers was held at Whipps Cross Hospital on February 3 to protest against the closure of a ward the previous day. The ward, which dealt with general medical cases, is the first of three scheduled to be shut as part of the £6 million cuts programme introduced by Forest Healthcare Trust on instructions from Redbridge and Waltham Forest Authority.

In the biggest demonstration in Canterbury in memory, 6,000 people marched on February 14 in the campaign to save the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Five thousand came bearing banners and placards from the hospital itself, while the rest marched in from Kent University. The East Kent Health Authority plans to downgrade the hospital to transform it into a small city hospital. Such a scenario is very familiar to those who are campaigning against the cuts to the people's health care. At the Kent and Canterbury, services lost would include accident and emergency, intensive care, coronary care, children's ward, renal services and cancer care. The previous Saturday, February 7, 2,000 people had marched, a number sufficient to bring Canterbury city centre to a standstill. A parallel campaign in East Kent is fighting to save the Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital, and a joint public meeting was held on January 23 in Whitstable. It is a sign of how low the government has sunk that a local Labour MP has accused those fighting to save the hospitals of mounting a "dishonest campaign" and spreading misinformation.

In South West London, as well as fighting against the cut-backs at Queen Mary's, Roehampton, campaigners are also faced, for example, with plans to make "major savings" at St George's Hospital, Tooting. A petition protesting against the cuts was handed to Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary, on February 13.

Such campaigns show that the voice of the people is not being heeded and their needs ignored, despite the fact that a Labour government was elected as a "people's" party and under the slogan, "New Labour, New Britain". The people are having to intensify their struggles for their rights and to safeguard the future of a society which has responsibility to its members. This shows that it is the people themselves who must elaborate and fight for a programme for a genuinely "New Britain".

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The Spectre of Communism:

Communism Today

Picture of Frederick Engels, aged 20

The Manifesto of the Communist Party was published 150 years ago this month. At a Congress of the Communist League, held in November 1847, Marx and Engels were commissioned to prepare a complete theoretical and practical party programme. In the Preface to the 1888 English Edition, Frederick Engels writes:

Yet, when it was written, we could not have called it a Socialist Manifesto. By socialists, in 1847, were understood, on the one hand the adherents of the various Utopian systems: Owenites in England, Fourierists in France, both of them already reduced to the position of mere sects, and gradually dying out; on the other hand, the most multifarious social quacks who, by all manner of tinkering, professed to redress, without any danger to capital and profit, all sorts of social grievances, in both cases men outside the working-class movement, and looking rather to the "educated" classes for support. Whatever portion of the working class had become convinced of the insufficiency of mere political revolutions, and had proclaimed the necessity of total social change, called itself Communist. It was a crude, rough-hewn, purely instinctive sort of communism; still, it touched the cardinal point and was powerful enough amongst the working class to produce the Utopian communism of Cabet in France, and of Weitling in Germany. Thus, in 1847, socialism was a middle-class movement, communism a working-class movement. Socialism was, on the Continent at least, "respectable"; communism was the very opposite. And as our notion, from the very beginning, was that "the emancipation of the workers must be the act of the working class itself," there could be no doubt as to which of the two names we must take. Moreover, we have, ever since, been far from repudiating it.

The Manifesto being our joint production, I consider myself bound to state that the fundamental proposition which forms the nucleus belongs to Marx. That proposition is: That in every historical epoch, the prevailing mode of economic production and exchange, and the social organisation necessarily following from it, form the basis upon which it is built up, and from which alone can be explained the political and intellectual history of that epoch; that consequently the whole history of mankind (since the dissolution of primitive tribal society, holding land in common ownership) has been a history of class struggles, contests between exploiting and exploited, ruling and oppressed classes; that the history of these class struggles forms a series of evolutions in which, nowadays, a stage has been reached where the exploited and oppressed class – the proletariat – cannot attain its emancipation from the sway of the exploiting and ruling class – the bourgeoisie – without, at the same time, and once and for all, emancipating society at large from all exploitation, oppression, class distinction, and class struggles.

Today, communism is far from being repudiated, despite the claims of the imperialists or of this or that trend that "communism is dead". In fact, the states such as the Republic of Cuba and others which express communist sympathies are subject to the most vicious campaigns to bring them down. A non-stop barrage of disinformation and terror is created by the reactionary bourgeoisie about communism, with the aim of trying to destroy the modern communist doctrine and the communist parties by marginalising them. Today, capitalism has reached its final stage, when what is required is to bring the ownership of the means of production in line with the social character of the process of production. How is this to be done? This is a task to be taken up for solution. Modern communism shows the way forward, while the reactionary bourgeoisie declares that the present system of liberal democracy is the final word, and attempt to equate "communism" with "totalitarianism". In attempting to portray communism as the enemy of democracy, they increasingly try to shut the door on the any progress and base themselves on nineteenth century colonialism and dreams of empire.

In this situation the Manifesto of the Communist Party and the words of Engels maintain their power. Communism is the condition for the complete emancipation of the working class and thereby of all humanity. Communism today requires that the workers, women, youth and students and all those fighting for their rights acquire a profound grasp of the present conditions and in the struggle against them, by their own conscious act, give rise to a new society in which the exploitation of persons by persons itself becomes a thing of the past and they themselves become the decision makers.

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Scotland:

First Private Ward Opens in NHS Hospital

IT IS REPORTED that the first purpose built unit for private patients has opened within the NHS in Scotland. The four-bed unit opened in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary three weeks ago and will be mainly be used for minor surgery. Though private patients were treated in NHS hospitals since the NHS was established in 1948 there was no dedicated ward until now. At the moment none of other major hospital Trusts in Scotland have a similar private unit, although they are now commonplace in England. The government spokesman at the Scottish Office said that no action would be taken to prevent similar units opening.

On July 5, the Labour government is planning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NHS by trying to convince people, just as the Tories did before them, that the NHS is safe in their hands. However, the facts prove otherwise. The government, far from using the occasion to consolidate the gains of the 20th century in the provision of public health care and guarantee the right of all to health care, is continuing to withdraw even these gains of this century and on behalf of the financial oligarchy is plundering the public resources of the NHS to increase their profits to a maximum.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR * LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A Criminal Case of Double Standards

THE ARTICLE "Fraudulently Opposing Weapons of Mass Destruction" in Workers' Weekly on February 14 pointed out the hypocrisy of the United States and Britain involved in their threats against Iraq.

The trigger for the present crisis was Iraq's rejection of the US and British domination of the inspection teams which are supposed to be investigating its "weapons of mass destruction". Iraq accuses such teams of spying and provocation.

The Chemical Weapons Convention, "on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction", has been signed by over 100 states in the last five years.

All such treaties lay down an independent inspection system which is binding on each signatory state to ensure its compliance.

The United States belatedly signed the Convention in 1997, but a law is now on the verge of being passed there which allows the US to interfere with the inspection system as it applies to itself.

The law lets the US government refuse an inspection of any of its chemical weapons facilities and allows it to reject any inspector it disapproves of. It says that "the President may deny a request to inspect any facility in cases where the President determines that the inspection may pose a threat to national security interests" and, "Any objection by the President to an individual serving as an inspector … shall not be reviewable in any court".

In other words, the United States arrogates to itself the right to enforce inspections by "blitzkrieg" and starvation half way around the world while prohibiting just such inspections on its own territory.

Reader in South London

Improving the Content Qualitatively

With the edition of Workers' Weekly of February 14, it is clear that a qualitative leap has been achieved both in terms of content and form. It is clear that this paper is a useful weapon in the armoury of the working class in their class struggle. Every article is timely and truly relevant to the ongoing struggle of the working class and people against the pressures of the anti-social offensive, against the threat of imperialist domination and not least the threat of war in the Gulf, particularly nuclear, chemical and biological.

It all goes to show the continuing relevance of the Communist Manifesto in its modern renditions, it is indeed significant to commemorate its 150th anniversary as you have been doing in the Workers' Weekly Vol. 28, Nos. 5 & 6. The quality of the paper has further encouraged me to make sure that it finds its way into the hands of workers and progressively minded people. With Revolutionary Greetings

Reader in South London

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Friends of Korea Celebrate Birthday of Kim Jong Il in London

ON FEBRUARY 14, a well-attended social event was organised by the Korean Friendship and Solidarity Campaign (KFSC) in London to celebrate the 56th birthday of the great leader of the Korean people, Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Keith Bennett, chairperson of KFSC, warmly welcomed the participants, making special mention of the presence of the representatives of the mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the International Maritime Organisation in London, as well as other Korean guests. A short address was given to the gathering by Chris Coleman of RCPB(ML) (see below), member of the executive committee of KFSC, which was followed by a message from fellow executive member Andy Brooks, General Secretary of the New Communist Party, and a brief presentation by KFSC secretary Lila Patel on the work of the campaign. Greetings conveyed to the meeting included messages from Labour Party councillors as well as representatives of Socialist Labour Party, Communist Party of Britain and Young Communist League, Institute of Independence Studies, British Afro-Asian Solidarity Organisation and the Juche Study Group

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Address by Chris Coleman to the Social Event Celebrating the Birthday of Kim Jong Il

Comrades and friends:

Our Party is very honoured to speak on this happy occasion celebrating the 56th birthday of the great leader of the Korean people, Kim Jong Il, joining friends and wellwishers of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea who will be celebrating this event in many countries throughout the world, not to speak of the celebrations in the DPRK itself.

A delegation of our Party visited the DPRK last October and November. It had just been announced that Kim Jong Il had been elected as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. What we witnessed, in nightly TV performances from all the regions, in displays by children and in all manner of ways, could only be described as a genuine outpouring of joy from the people. It was not, as the enemies of the DPRK slanderously assert, something imposed or mystical. It was certainly organised – the tradition is to do things in an organised way and collectively. But it is clear that the love for the great leaders, Kim Il Sung and now Kim Jong Il, is based on quite outstanding and concrete achievements, and is a great unifying factor.

Kim Il Sung is known as the father of the nation. One can see why. Not just some monuments but Pyongyang itself built from the ashes of 1953, all the great achievements in providing for the people, are a testament to the record of this outstanding world leader. It was he who answered the call of the Korean people for independence and freedom after centuries of interference and subjugation by the surrounding great powers, as well as the United States. He led the national liberation struggle against the cruel Japanese colonialism. When liberation came and freedom beckoned, only for the US imperialists to maintain the Japanese apparatus, staffed with collaborators in the south, and then launch the criminal war of 1950-53, it was he who led the resistance and prevented the whole of Korea being enslaved. It was he who led the heroic struggles to defend the independence of the DPRK, build socialism and work for the reunification of the homeland.

The love for Kim Jong Il is also based on concrete achievements. It is not just that he is the son of Kim Il Sung, although coming from so outstanding a patriotic family is no small thing, his great-great grandfather, Kim Ung U, leading in 1866 the burning of an intruding US warship and his grandfather, Kim Jong Jie, being a celebrated anti-Japanese leader. From the early 1970s Kim Jong Il was appointed Organisational Secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, commanded the Korean People's Army and led a number of state functions, led in culture and made important theoretical contributions. From 1994, on the sad and unexpected passing of Kim Il Sung, he led the Korean people to continue without wavering, and against intense pressure and provocation from the enemies, on the path of independence, socialism and reunification laid down by the great leader. When one thinks of what has happened in other countries on the death of a great leader, Stalin in the Soviet Union for instance, that the succession should be so in the DPRK seems no small matter.

These great leaders have been integral to all the achievements and stands of the DPRK. In fact they embody them. And today, when the US imperialists exert the most brutal pressure on all countries to bow to their will – the war threats against Iraq by the US imperialists and most shamefully their British allies being only the most current example – when all the imperialist powers attempt to impose on the peoples of the world their "free" market, political pluralism and "human rights" based on private property, then the stand of the DPRK along with a handful of other countries to stick to their chosen path, is truly heroic.

Our solidarity with them is also concrete. The cause for which the Korean people fight – the cause of independence, of a society dedicated to the wellbeing of the people, of socialism – is the cause of all progressive humanity.

And in our view it is important that concrete demands are made. Irrespective of any ideological differences we think it important that all progressive forces in Britain unite politically in support of the DPRK, under the umbrella of the KFSC or otherwise. We must demand that the Labour government change its hostile stand to the DPRK. It must come out from behind the coat-tails of US imperialism, recognise the DPRK and open the way for full diplomatic relations. It must demand that the US withdraw its nuclear and other forces from south Korea and open the way for the Korean people to achieve their cherished goal of peaceful reunification.

So when we celebrate the 56th birthday of Kim Jong Il, we celebrate the great achievements of the Korean people, we celebrate the heroic stands of the DPRK. It is in this light we offer our warm congratulations to Comrade Kim Jong Il.

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