AROUND THE WORLD
International Viewpoint 9 February 1987
Basque country Discussion on the national question OVER JANUARY 21-23, the Fourth organization in the part of the Basque country in the Spanish state, the Liga Komunista
(LKI - Revolutionary Communist League) organized a series of talks and round tables on socialism and the national question. Sessions were held in all four of the capitals of the provinces of southern Euzkadi
Bilbo/Bilbao, Irunea Pamplona, Gasteiz/Vitoria and Donostia/San Seb
Irunea/Pamplona the roundtable discussion was on the theme "Navarra, a special question in the framework of Basque national liberation." The province of Navarra is the most hispanicized of the Basque provinces. The Spanish governhas tried to deny its Basque autonomous area. The round table was broad and aroused interest in
Donostia/San Sebastian, discussion was on the theme 'Euzkadi in struggle for national and social liberation. The panel included Emilio Basque Nationalism and Social Classes
From Carlism to Bourgeois Nationalism, as well as other works and analysis relating to the Basque national question, along with
In Bilbo/Bilbao, the round table was on the national question in the Spanish state and included Francisco Letamedia "Ortzi," author of one of the major works on the history of Euzkadi and the Basque national movement, as well as Jordi Via Llop from the Crida a la Solidaritat, a Catalan united front organization; Encara Otero from the Galician National Bloc; and Marti Caussa, from the Liga Comunista Revolucionaria, the Fourth Internationalist organization in the Spanish state.
Michel Lowy, a revolutionary Marxist historian and author of a book on the history of the Marxist approach to the national question, spoke in Donostia, Irunea and Gasteiz on Marxism and the national question. Gerry Foley, editor of International Viewpoint, spoke on "Ireland, the history of an unconquered people" in Irunea, Gasteiz and Bilbo. 26
The lectures and round tables were well attended. In particular, an unexpectedly large number of young people attended, including many youth of high-school age, especially in Irunea. The program has received significant coverage in the local press Belgium JGS congress ON JANUARY 10-11, 1987 the Jeune garde socialiste (JGS) held its congress.
Belgian youth organization celebrated its hundredth anniversary last year. In recent years it has acted in political solidiarity with the Socialist Workers Party (POS), Belgian section of the Fourth International.
At this congress the JGS decided to become explicitly the youth organization of the POS, and with it, to support the project of constructing a revolutionary force amongst youth. The sixty delegates present also decided to direct their organization toward young workers and school students.
They discussed the recent mobilizations of youth in Europe and are preparing to play an active role in future school students' struggles.
As part of the struggle against militarization a major demonstration against the installation of the second batch of American missiles is already planned for October 1987. In the coming months, therefore, the JGS will have the task of making event a major mobilization of youth.
The JGS has been very active in building solidarity with the Nicaraguan revolution and in campaigning against the investments of Belgian banks in South Africa.
Also present as guests at the congress were representatives of the revolutionary youth organizations, the JCR and "Rebel" South Africa Union disputes THE ANGLO American Corporation (AAC) is currently involved in two disputes with South African trade unions. AAC's Vaal Reefs mining complex was at the centre of a wave violence among workers at the end of last year, resulting in 62 Black miners being killed.
Recently, fighting has also broken out at the Beatrix gold mine in the Orange Free State, with half of the 8,000 miners resigning OI being sacked after 8 miners were killed and over 50 injured.
AAC's Gold and Uranium Division recently placed advertisements in the South African press blaming the violence on "irresponsible action, including 'trials' and executions, general intimidation, forced boycotts of liquor outlets and mine stores, illegal stoppages coercion of workers to join these".
The National Union of Mineworkers responded with their own adverts to explain the real causes of the fighting: "The source of the conflicts is rooted in the institutions of oppression and exploitation which hostel system, migrant labour and induna system [police in the mines recruited from among the Black miners] were pioneered at the turn of the century by the mineowners to ensure maximum exploitation and control over all aspects of mineworkers' lives. Over time these structures have been refined, but kept intact."
The NUM has called on the mining companies to remove the Emergency Protection Unit (EPU) system, a practice of housing Black workers according to their languages and using white mine workers as security guards, no matter what their actual job is.
Another major dispute is that beOK CARES FOR PROFIT NOT PEOPLE!
### SUPPORT 10,000 O.K
WORKERS ON STRIKE
FIGHT FOR A
LIVING WAGE!
International Viewpoint 9 February 1987 workers and OK Bazaars, who own a chain of 200 shops across South share-holders of the group.
Members of the Commercial CaterCCAWUSA, have been on strike for over a month for higher wages and better conditions at work. Although both the union and the management arbitration, picketing of the shops is continuing.
10,000 workers on strike, from a total workforce of 23,000, are demanding an increase of R160 a month across the board, and for to receive a minimum monthly wage of R450. [R1 = 0.41
Presently, workers get on average R256 a month, and are often working a ten-hour day. The company's operating profit last year was R35.5 million.
CCAWUSA have reported that the company have called in the police to arrest and attack striking workers, and that the OK management have given the police names of so-called "intimidators". Hundreds of strikers arrested so far in the dispute, which has the backing of the trade-union federation, the Congress and other labour and Black organizations. Philippines Letter from the PnB THE LETTER published here was sent to the United Secretariat (USec) of the Fourth International from the Partido ng Bayan, (PnB - People's Party) of the Philippines.
It was sent in response to the USEC's message of condolence the PnB and the KMU (May 1 Movement) following the brutal murder on November 13, 1986 of Rolando Olalia. (See 'IV" No 109, November
THEY ARE OUR BROTHERS... 24, 1986.) was a central figure in the Philippine workers' movement. Dear Comrades,
This is to formally express our deep appreciation for the warm concern and solidarity you sent not only to the Partido ng Bayan and to the Kilusang Mayo Uno, but also to the bereaved family and the basic masses whom our departed chairman had served with so much dedication.
Your message of hope and courage gives us strength and firm determination to help bring about a society that is free, just and humane. The loss of Ka [comrade] Lando and Ka Leonor [murdered in the same attack] will not be the end of what their lives niema VIET SPECIAL ISSUE ON WOMEN
In celebration of international women's day, IV will be producing a special issue on March 9, which will include articles on women in Japan, China, the Philippines, Eastern
Europe and elsewhere.
So make sure to put in your extra orders for this issue, number 115, as soon as possible.
stood for. In their death, we estab lished a covenant with them and al your group
Respect pilver and fratermal greetings!
Man, Jazmines, Secretary General