EAST GERMANY
Towards an
November 27, 1989 • #174 International Viewpoint other, there are more than 300,000 Soviet independent Socialist soldiers. The inter-German frontier is one of the most heavily guarded in the world.
left in the GDR
NATO forces threaten East
German revolution
At a time when the East German workers are going into motion, this formidable concentration of foreign troops represents at least a potential threat for the German revolution. There can be no doubt. The NATO forces, like those of the Warsaw Pact, are not going not stand idly by facing the possibility of a revolutionary victory that would profoundly shake the regimes that they defend.
In these conditions, the demand for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign troops from the two German states must be taken up by the whole workers' and revolutionary movement in the countries concerned, above all the four
Already in 1983-1984, a big campaign on this question initiated by the French and German sections of the Fourth International in collaboration with the peace movements made a considerable impact on public opinion and some contingents of NATO.
Three French soldiers, members of the LCR, were hauled before the Landau military tribunal on this account. They got very broad international support. The officially proclaimed sympathy of the French CP and SP leaders for the East German masses must be judged by the attitude they take to this question. *
ЛЕНИЛ
ON October 2, 1989, a meeting of members of independent left groups, working groups and socialists took place. It was decided to convene an all-GDR working meeting in November and a co-ordinating group was set up to prepare the meeting. We publish here statements of the co-ordinating group, omitting for space reasons details of the workshops to be held at the meeting. DOCUMENT ON the all-GDR open working meeting of the independent left (socialists) planned for the end of November 1989 - statement of the co-ordinating group. THE working meeting aims to bring together the broadest possible spectrum, both on the level of the issues and of the different left currents and tendencies. It offers the possibility to promote the basic clarifications and orientations for a socialist future for the GDR and to present conceptual proposals regarding particular political and economic
It will be an opportunity to work out concrete socialist alternatives for the transformation of the GDR. We will try to facilitate a issue-related discussion and one to which both practical and theoretical people and both those interested in general questions and specialists can contribute. present their different views, but will also work out and try out general ideas in order to establish a consensus that is capable of sustaining the project of a united left. Also on the agenda therefore will be a discussion on how the pro ject of a united left can be carried forward after the meeting.
We address ourselves to the whole left, whether working in an independent group or alone, whether organized in the SED or not, and call on them to take part in this meeting with their contributions or to organize similar working meetings themselves and keep each other in touch about their experiences. Support in your work the project of a "United Left" and thus the struggle for a socialist alternative for the GDR!
Contact with the co-ordinating group for the November meeting can be made via the postal address or directly at the Berlin "Umweltbibliothek".
Information about the state of organizational and theoretical preparation, other dates, working groups or the final time and place of the meeting, will appear for
Umweltbibliothek's "Telegraph" news service of the or in other independent news sheets where ordinating group will be published. Statement no.1 of the coordinating group for the preparation of a working meeting for the project "United Left". THE co-ordinating group for the preparation of a working meeting will publish regular statements on dates and the
It is responsible both for for the working out of the thematic framework of the meeting on the basis of different preparatory texts and contributions from announced participants and for the organizational preparations.
It is also ready to support the arrangement of contacts which will allow collaboration between different participants on the same project coming out of the meeting. This is aimed at a long-term collaboration of the left around such working meetings. In the same way, the co-ordinating group views itself as an initiative for the advancement of a projected "United Left" which proposes, in the context of the discussion about economic change a socialist reorcanization of the GDR • Social ownership of the means of production as the dominant and leading basis of socialist socialization. determination a bieowners in the futili: 11
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guards killed 79 people and wounded 115 in escape attempts. More than 200,000 American, 60,000 English and 50,000 French soldiers, with- out counting the Canadians, Belgians and Dutch are stationed on one side. On the
International Viewpoint #174 • November 27, 1989
EAST GERMANY ment of genuine socialization of collective economic activity. • The consistent implementation of the principles of social security and justice for all members of society. • Political democracy, the rule of law and the consistent implementation of indivisible human rights and the free development of the individuality of every member of society. • The ecological reconstruction industrial society.
The provisional date for the working is November 25/26. Information about the place will be provided as soon as possible.
The over-riding aim of the work of the groups working on specific questions must be to produce a concrete, politically thoroughgoing transitional programme for the socialist includes efforts towards a durable consensus of the left on the most important organization.
The co-ordinating group is preparing the discussion through two thematic groups. The Coordinating Circle of the Thematic Group "Democratic and People's Self-Management" proposes the following framework for discussion. Main Heading I The political forms required to establish popular sovereignty and develop public Main Heading II The role of the state and the tasks of people's self-managed bodies. Main Heading III The reconciliation of differing interests and the political framework for solving conflicts in the process of forming a socialist society. Theme-centered Workshops • Socialist foreign policy. 12% The all German policy of a socialist
• Socialist defense policy.
• popular education.
• culture.
of the
• History
Communist
Movement.
The coordinating circle for the workshop on "The
Foundations for
Shaping Socialist
Rela-
Economic tions" provisionally proposes the following frame-
Main heading I
The shaping production property relations in the process of socialist socialization. Possibilities and limits of the development of self-managed and pri-
Main Heading Il
Forms and methods of reconciling the interests of self-managed plants and social, collective economic and environmental interests.
Main Heading III
Outlines of specific structural policy for
In view of the crisis situation in our country, it is expected that all thematic and theme-centered workshops will go beyond the inevitably partially very basic discussion of their subjects to concrete conclusions and proposals for immediate, timely and urgent cha-
During the meeting, a committee of representatives of all workshops will be formed, which will summarize the work of all the groups and present it to the plenary session.
All leftists who want to participate in, or present their own reports or suggestions, or to help or participate in the presentation of material or reports, or to support the work of the United Left can submit their requests in writing or in person through the contact addresses given. We ask that they provide concrete details regarding the area of work or the theme to which they want to contribute. In this respect, the framework given above should not be seen as a limitation. The coordinating circle feels duty-bound to respond to all suggestions also through continually widening
Berlin, October 19, 1989.
The Coordinating Group for the
November Meeting of the Left.
Contact Address: Umweltbibliotek,
1058 Berlin, Griebenowstrasse 16 or
1150 Berlin,
Genn. Kathrin Schmidt,
Schönburger Strasse 8. *
Appeal of the Social Democrats THINGS cannot go on like this! Many hope that the situation will change, But this isn't enough! You don't hope for change, you have to impose it.
The democratization of the GDR which is needed requires a challenge to the monopoly of power and the pretensions to sincerity of the dominant party. We need a battle of ideas, an open debate on the situation of our country today and on its future.
This requires the elaboration of a programme involving all citizens who can contribute their professional expertise. For us, the signatories of this petition, the formation of a social democratic party is very important for the future of our society
Our goal is that of a social democracy with an ecological orientation. This goal can only be realized through a clear and complete separation between state and society, We wish to implement, defend and reinforce the fundamental rights of citizens on the social, cultural and political planes. We wish to ensure the defence of the natural environment as well as the preservation of natural resources and the possibilities of life for future generations, We ask all those who share this programmatic orientation to group together at a local level:
• a state of laws and rigorous control of the civil authority
•parliamentary democracy and a multi-party system
• relative autonomy — in the financial, economic and cultural spheres - of the regions, departments, towns and
• a social market economy with rigorous restrictions on monopolies, so as to avoid any anti-democratie concentration of economic power
• democratization of the structures of economic life
• the freedom to establish independent trade unions and the right to strike,
We wish to establish forms of collaboration with all those who share these fundamental principles. Those who wish to express their criticisms can put forward their own democratic perspec tive. We are attempting to create a com mon front of all those who want to participate in the democratization of our country,
12 September 1989
Group for a social democratic party in the GDR