Silence secrets' charade

Scan page 4

Chief TGWU Region 5 witch hunter Brian Mathers It would have opened the door for the re election of Carty as convenor and a resumption of the fight against the management in defence of wages and jobs.

But the events have still proven a severe embarassment to the right wing.

A campaign must now be mounted throughout the TGWU, and in particular, in Region 5, to defend Carty and other EPS militants against victimisation as a result of the "inquiry"

Resolutions for the Regional Committee should be sent to the witch-hunter in chiet, Regional Secretary, Brian Mathers, Transport House, Victoria Street, West Bromwich, B70 8HX.

The second opening of the ABC "secrets" trial at the Old Bailey has succeeded in drastically cutting back press publicity of the proceedings, which are now in their third week.

But despite the fact that the case is now out of the spotlight, journalists Crispin Aubrey and Duncan Campbell and exsoldier John Berry still face possible 14-year jail sentences : under the Official Secrets Act.

And Colonel Hugh A. Johnstone, the one-time Colonel 'B', whose name was shrouded by spurious secrecy earlier in the year, is in the front rank of those attempting to ensure that they receive the most severe sentences possible.

During his hour of prosecution testimony in open court, Johnstone, appearing now under his real name, claimed that in the tape-recorded discussion between the three defendants in early 1977, Berry had revealed information that would 'delight' enemy and regarded as 'manna from heaven' But under cross examination Johnstone admitted that once an observer knew a unit was a SIGINT unit then "its location, size and cooperation with other agencies followed"

And by referring to two magazines-those of the Intelligence Corps and the Signals Corps-Stuart Shields, QC for Berry picked out information, that went a long way to proving that two units (referred to as 'A' and "B' in court) were involved in SIGINT.

,But while the farce of a trial goes on, there is still little sign that the ABC Defence Campagin or its official backers in the NUJ leadership are making any serious attempt to appeal for support from the broader labour movement.

The trial is thus not only out of the public eye but largely unknown to the millions of trade unionists, whose right to probe the workings of the repressive military and police apparatus of the capitalist state is under attack.

• The fight must be taken up for a national level labour movement conference to discuss action to prevent any of the defendants going to jail.

Scan page 5

Wednesday October,