Labour Movement Campaign Needed to Defend Abc

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WHO WHC HOOPER * MILITARY VIL Aubrey and Berry on the picnic last weekend ABC campaign, but no proposals to amend section specific calls have been 2 of the Act-in such a way issued. that Aubrey/Berry/CampBut such vague and bell could well slip through the topmost levels of the But the top military and trade union bureaucracy, civil service officials that are completely inadequate control 'security' matters to prepare the kind of are determined to cling on action by journalists-that that preserves their 'right' to will be necessary to defend continue clandestine operaAuhrey Rerry and famn- tinne in defence of the RritThis 166 page book is vital reading for those who wish to defend the method and principles of Trotskyism against the varied revisionist currents that have challenged the very essence of the Transitional Programme. £1.75 plus 20p p&p The campaign to defend journalists Crispin Aubrey and Duncan Campbell, and former soldier John Berry from charges under the Official Secrets Act now faces a crucial period.

Last weekend saw some 350 demonstrators turn out on a "picnic' in Cheltenhem, which included a march to GCHQ-headquarters of top secret Signals Intelligence unit SIGINT.

But aside from highlighting the whereabouts of this building and naming the hitherto unnamed 'Colonel A' the ABC Campaign leaders-predominantly pacifists and 'left' liberalswere unable to offer any way forward from this protest action.

It is now only three months until the trial begins in London-and still no clear call has come from the Campaign as to how the issue of the Official Secrets Act, and the threat of 14-year jail sentences that hangs over the heads of all three of its present victims, should be taken more widely into the labour movement.

Letters We have heard that National Union of Journalists General Secretary Ken Ashton has sent a letter to other union General Secretaries asking them to send letters to branches asking for general support for the LEONARO PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report WHAT : S INTELLKENCE HIS TOB 15 A MONTAN TERMS Poorecasionel Teloca smunicatin anemon delayed moves, restricted to the net.

action -including nuvivy, wury anu vamp bell.

These three have been charged not simply under the general section 2 of the Official Secrets Act (which covers anything from details of hospital waiting lists through to 'confidential' material at the highest level) but also the 'spying clause' in section i-though not even the prosecution are alleging that any of the three are involved in spying!

The reason for this is simple: the Lib-Lab government has already tabled OAKLEY AB Gates TOBAY 28 Cracker 1923 Kingdow 1073)

meshes, compassie strike to every aspect of legislation ish capitalist class at home and abroad.

Scapegoat

Aubrey, Berry and Campbell are the scapegoats being used to prove' the need to retain section 1 of the Act.

The Labour manifesto at the last election included a pledge to repeal the Official Secrets Act and replace it with 'freedom of information' legislation.

But once in the PHOTO: Chris Davies, Report Rees of actually adminstering British capitalism, the reformist politicians immediately took over responsibility for preserving and strengthening its most reactionary legislation and institutions of class rule MARXIST Student bulletin of the Workers Socialis League MIUNI SUNIC LONDON ATON S ADOR DINARINES VEE SUPÄTIQME Issue No. 6, Available from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR, Price 10p plus 9p postage. plans for armed repression of the working class-must be taken up in the workers movement.

The WSL and Socialist Press have repeatedly suggested that the best vehicle for such a fight would be for the ABC campaign to call a labour movement delegate conference on the issue timed to coincide with the trial in London, and to call on all union branches and Labour Parties-not simply the NUJ -to participate.

Only in this way the groundwork can be laid for implementation of solidarity strike action by journalists and others to force the dropping of the charges against Aubrey, Berry and Campbell.

"Communists' Against Revolution deals with the most important aspects of the development of Stalinism on a world scale since 11945.

It brings together in volume the until now obtainable 1964 essay Structural Assimilation Westoby.

Order WSL, 31, from Communists Two Essays on Post-wer Against one unby Tim Wohlforth The Theory of with a critical commentary by Adam Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5

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Published June 15