Jailed unionist on policy which destroyed the last
Labour government, and by attacking where
Labour's support the areas is strongest - in the big cities, in the mining communities, among Black people. The new fighting left which is emerging stands for expanding
Labour's base by supporting those fighting the Tories, coming forward
TWO YEARS after the US invasion of Grenada, the repressive drive as the champion of women (including to break or bring to heel the workers and popular movement continthe obstacles to women removing ues. The case of Chester Humphrey has become a focus of this, as representing the labour movement), defending lesbian and rights, a particularly outrageous persecution of a popular union leader in gay opening up a dialogue with those which Washington is trying to impose its writ in total disregard for fighting
British rule in the
Six local and international law. This case is also a focus of the workers
Counties of Ireland and so on.
and popular movement, which is reviving despite the repression.
Following the Labour Party conference this course can be strength-
The first public demonstration of opposition to a policy of the ened by pursuing the broadest possible
US and puppet authorities took place a few weeks ago. It was a united action with the entire labour protest of hundreds of people in the streets against the threatened movement on particular campaigns and at the same time hammering out extradition of Chester Humphrey, organized by the Maurice Bishop the key policies and alliances necessary
Patriotic Movement. Humphrey's appeal against the extradition order to build a long-term political alterwill be heard sometime in November. This is the last recourse before native within the labour movement around the axis of building an alliance being turned over to the tender mercies of the US courts. He began for socialism.
an unlimited hunger strike on September 2. It is not known what his
Within this framework, the tactics condition is today, but it can hardly be good.
adopted have to correspond to the real
It is important that the maximum international pressure be brought not fantasy.
balance of forces,
So, for example, the proposal championed to bear while there is still time. Letters and telegrams opposing at conference by Labour Briefing and
Humphrey's extradition should be sent to Prime Minister Herbert
Socialist Organiser (4) that a key task
Blaize, Prime Minister's Office, St. George's, Grenada.
Is to run an alternative for leader or deputy leader of the party in 1986 is a
The following articles on the case are from No 9 of Free Grenada, non-starter. Rather than strengthening the publication of the Swedish Grenadakommittee.
the fighting left that emerged at this year's conference, such a course would allow Kinnock to destroy that new left.
STIEG LARSSON and JIM WARDALLY
What is needed is not organisational gimmicks or kamikaze tactics but a political alternative to the course pursued by Kinnock.
This is also one of the chief lessons
Liverpool of Liverpool.
must be
Militant supporters' defended.
But towards Liverpool's Black objection organisations, and their reduction of all struggles to the economic, have weakened Liverpool's fight and facilitated Kinnock's attacks.
What is needed in the run-up to the next election is a break not simply with electoralism but with the past racism, sexism and British chauvinism of the Labour left - and serious tacties to achieve broad united action and clear policies. Despite Kinnock's victories taken along steps were that road by the new fighting left centred around the Campaign Group, the NUM and the Black section.
Organiser' is a
4.
'Socialist revolutionary socialist newspaper within the
'Labour Briefing' is a journal
Labour Party.
in the Labour Party which organises large of the left wing opposed to the sections of Neil
Kinnock.
closely policies allied with the Campaign group of MPs.
International Viewpoint 28 October 1985 beginning of November 1983, a few days after the US invasion the trade-union leader the military authorities in St. George's.
Humphrey, the new rulers claimed, was a source of "unrest" among the euphemism meaning in fact that he occupation and made no secret of it. Humphrey was imprisoned in Richmond Hill, where he was held together with the leaders the October 19 coup d'etat against the government of Maurice Bishop. Today, two years after the invasion, he remains behind bars waiting - as absurd as it may seem, extradition to the US!
case of Chester Humphrey highlights the sort of democracy the US has brought in. So, it bears looking at more closely.
US invasion, together with the brief reign of the so-called Military Council in the week following the murder of Maurice Bishop to a grave and grievous setback for The old leadership that made up the progressive nucleus of the unions was to a large extent wiped out.
the comrades murdered during the counterrevolution on Octwere Vincent Noel, of the Bank and General Workers Union and Fitzroy Bain, chair of the Agric-
General Workers union. These were two of Grenada's foremost and most popular leaders. Technical and Allied Workers Union, had the good fortune to go into exile. As a result, he has been prevented from participating directly in the struggle in Grenada. of Grenadan John Ventour, has been interned since the invasion, accused of complicity in the murders at Fort Rupert [of Bishop and his
Regardless of whether or not there basis for these charges,
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GRENADA hunger strike
result is that the work of the confederation has been seriously disrupted.
Thus, the majority of the union leaders were eliminated - by murder, few surviving popular and respected leaders have been subjected to daily at making it impossible for them to
In this connection, Chester Humphrey is a key person. He is a member of the leadership of the Grenadan confederation unions and was elected to the post of deputy chair of the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU). members. He is known as a stubborn and courageous person who will not give in to threats and harassment. He is a tough dealer who has skillfully defended the interests of the memberoccupation therefore, he is, in a nutshell, a particularly dangerous person who has at all costs to be made harmless.
During the US invasion of Grenada, Chester Humphrey took part in defense of the country. He functioned as a communications technician. When the resistance collapsed, he returned to his work as a union leader, and this was at a time when defense of the workers interests was more important than ever. A short time later,
Still today, years later, he remains interned. A parody of justice Humphrey is a pure parody of justice, which shows with all the clarity anyone could want how the new rulers
St George's There are no judicial or legal grounds for his internment.
According to Grenadan law, within seven indicted for a specific accusation has been made.
No one, neither the US nor its local puppet regime, has accused Chester Humphrey of implication in any political conspiracy in connection with the coup d'etat.
He has not been accused in any way of involvement in the murders of Maurice Bishop and his associates at the time of the coup d'etat.
The threat that Chester Humphrey has received during his time in prison would be a scandal in any state that claims to be based on proper legal
He has been denied the right to during a good part of his confinement. When he was lawyer. His request was disregarded during the first six months of his imprisonment. It was only at the end of April 1984 that he was able to get legal advice. The consultation was ended after ten Humphrey has been held in strict
That has not only stopped visits from his family but created big problems for his legal defense.
have been broken arbitrarily and without any
Humphrey has been denied access to pen and paper, which he to prepare his defense or just to write to the court to ask why he is being Humphrey's lawyer got tired of this arbitrary treatment and lack of explanations from the authorities. filed a habeaus corpus brief with the court in St. George's.
In Beds corner the law
ultimate guarantee for persons arrested, so that no one can disappear in prison without their case being tried means "produce the body." It obliges the prosecution to either indict jailed persons immediately or release them.
To disregard such a demand is the of judicial ponsibility possible in a state that claims to be based on proper legal
So, in. Chester Humphrey's case the authorities do not have a legal leg to stand on. Without even acknowledging his lawyer's habeaus corpus continuing to hold May 15, quite unexpectedly released from prison. No explanations given, but it occupation authorities at long last come to the same conclusion as everybody else - that there were keeping him interned.
At that point, the treatment of Chester Humphrey to arouse serious protests, and the threatened to sore point for both the US and the puppet regime in St. George's.
During the time he which was to be very short - Humphrey was subjected to constant surveilharassment by the police forces of the occupying power. On against engaging in "political activity."
As a trade-union leader, however, it was Chester Humphrey's duty to do work in his union, and shortly workers visited him at his home to discuss various union affairs.
The rulers in St. George's apparently quickly came to the conclusion that it was too risky to Humphrey running around scot-free. On the flimsiest of pretexts, he was
Once again, no formal charge was lodged against him.
Instead, it was explained, the union anticipation that a Grenadan court demand from extradite Chester Humphrey to the United States."
This expedient hardly needs to be
Since Chester Humphrey had committed no crime in Grenada, was no reason to keep behind bars. Since he was too dangerous to be let free they had to find some grounds for arresting him. him back safe behind lock and key is shown best perhaps by the fact that he was arrested several months before there was any formal request from the US to the court in Grenada.
Formally, the USA is accusing Chester Humphrey of a crime that he is supposed to have committed in the US before the Grenadan revolution in 1979. The indictment points, going from arms smuggling to such hard-to-define "conspiracy against the US government." If Chester Humphrey is found guilty on all counts, around 25 years in prison.
The judicial procedures request for extradition at best be described as pure farce.
After having awaited the US's postponed for the entire winter of 1984-1985. This stands in glaring contrast to the speed with which he was interned.
Since no formal charge has been made against him in Grenada, cannot appeal against his imprisonment and gain release.
It should be stressed that Grenada and the USA have no mutual extratreaty. This fact was cited over and over again by the Reagan administration as grounds for over the former dictator, Gairy, to the Bishop government in the revolutionary period.
Nevertheless, decided in March of this year, when the case was finally considered, to extradite Chester Humphrey to
The decision to extradite him was thus already made, but at the time of writing it has not yet been carried out. But it can happen at any time. International Viewpoint 28 October 1985