Arafat in new sell-out plan

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150 blitzed villages; 100,000 new refugees. That is only part of the toll paid by the Eritrean people in the first three weeks of the latest offensive against their struggles for self determina. tion and independence.

While the armies of the Derg battle to crush the Eritrean revolution, the leader of the Ethiopian military dictatorship has been abroad visiting his allies in this counter-revolutionary war.

Moscow, Colonel Mengistu ratified …a treaty • 0† friendship between the Soviet Union and Ethiopia.

At the same time, the latest fruits of this vicious friendship were being gathered in the Horn of Africa, as the forces of the Eritrean Popular Liberation Front (EPLF) were forced to withdraw from their positions on the Asmara-Massawa highway and to evacuate the town of Keren.

The power• which secured these advances for the Derg was that of the Soviet Union and its Cuban allies.

Not only are the Ethiopian proletariat and the oppressed masses of the world that their promises of friendship are contracts to work for the strengthening of counter-revolution.

Legitimate

The EPLF is plainly unable to understand the complex basis to the Soviet and Cuban intervention in Ethiopia and Eritrea -and has-though understandably-responded to it in an empirical way.

But their struggle for national self-determination is a legitimate one that deserves the support of the international workers' movement.

A demonstration, sponsored by associations of Eritrean workers and students in Britain is to be held on Saturday, marching from Speakers Corner to the Soviet Embassy under the slogan:

"Condemn Russia's war of aggression in Eritrea"

The WSL will be supporting this demonstration, distributing a leaflet explaining why we believe that such a march should also protest at. the role : of imperialism in the Horn of Africa, and spelling out a Trotskyist position on the reactionary role of Stalinism in that region.

The 'peace talks' between the Egyptian and Israeli bourgeoisies drag on, with American envoy Lyrus Vance now undertaking yet another desperate week of "shuttle diplomacy" in a bid to get things moving.

Meanwhile the Palestinian petty-bourgeoisie is looking increasingly prepared to strike its own bargain with the Zionists.

Although piqued because he hasn't been invited to take part in the preparation of this historic sell-out of the Palestinian people, PLO leader Yassir Arafat has indicated his willingness to fall over backwards in defence of attacks on the fundamental rights of those he claims to represent.

Message

He has sent a personal message to President Carter telling him that, in exchange Begin: staking fresh claims . Soviet planes bomb Eritrean village for a Palestinian state on the West Bank of the Jordan and in the Gaza strip, he will "renounce the use of force against Israel".

It is not known whether or not he has the support of the other PLO leaders.

"Comrade" Arafat's intentions are clear.

Provided that the Palestinian petty-bourgeoisie can be guaranteed the minimum conditions in which to develop into the Palestinian national bourgeoisie then all will be forgiven.

The Zionists, however, are being far less co-operative. Rather than clear the way for a Palestinian "mini-state" on the West Bank, they are instead stepping up their building programme there. Arafat's hopes are doomed to failure!

Right of return

Palestinian workers and peasants must break with these petty-bourgeois leaders and build an organisation which reflects their interests; an organisation which will fight for the right of return for all of the Palestinian peoples and jobs and homes for all in the Middle East.

Arafat and his errand boys around the world must be decisively rejected if there is to be any lasting peace in the Middle East.

Arafat *Build armed workers' militias!

*Create workers' • peasants' and soldiers' committees!

*For a constituent assembly!

*For workers' and peasants' government!

*In the factories and oilfields: expropriate the capitalists and occupy!

*In the countryside: expropriate the landowners and *In the army: refuse to obey the officers! Join the workers in setting up militias!

*Black all arms to the Shah!

*No imperialist military intervention!

*Sack Callaghan, Owen Mulley, the Shah's friends!

Called by Campaign Againa Repression in tran ¡unday 1- December 1.30 pm. Speakers Comer