Workers Socialist League

Socialist Press, Trotskyism Today and the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, 1975–1984

Fascism's Days Are Numbered

Socialist Press no. 9, 29 May 1975 · scan p. 3 · about 942 words

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action during this year. There have leadership, but most important to us now are the new developments in also been more powerful class act- trade union work and new areas opened up by our break from WRP ions in the last weeks - including methods. We are now turning to recruit and train the new forces thrown_ strikes at the giant SEAT car plant forward into struggle in this period - not only trade unionists, but also in Barcelona, supported by workers professional workers, housewives, students and youth - in the fight to from other plants and followed by construct the new party. workers in the area: and strikes revisionism - whether the state capitalist theories of IS or the Pabloite against sackings at a large Renanit revisions of the IMG, and against Stalinism and reformism. Already it is The repressions, too, have gon which must create similar splits and discussions throughout the world. on nationwide. They include not prior to a full founding conference, a vital part of which is to hammer out and unist Party supporters, but support- ¡adopt perspectives for the building of the Trotskyist Fourth International, ers of the Liga Communista Revol-l and the development of revolutionary parties based on the Trotskyist ucionaria ETA (sympathetic to the Programme in every country in the struggle to end capitalism. Fourth International) and th. Rev- resources to begin regular publication of Socialist Press just five weeks. olutionary Spanish Workers': arty - after provisionally constituting the Workers Socialist League. Already the (PORE). paper is winning important new contacts and establishing a firm base in the Franco, the ageing dictator While the internal struggle over the succession continues, the regime responds to political opposition with a combination of repression and appeasement. As recent reports in the capitalist press have described the Basque country in the north west of Spain has been turned in the last few months into a network of emergency gaols and concentration camps for political prisoners from all parts of the country.

Since the end of April the provinces of Vizcaya and Guipuzcoa have been under a state of emergency. There, the police have effectively unlimited powers - whereas in other areas they are obliged to observe at least some outward forms of legality. Over 2,000 people were arrested in the early part of May. The prisons were so overcrowded that in San Sebastian some of the victims had to sleep on the floors of halls, while in Bilbao the bull-ring was turned into a temporary 'concentration camp.' Along with the arrests came numerous reports of police beatings, tortures and killings - almost none of which, of course, were reported in the press or investigated by the government.

At the same time the police have turned a blind eye to the horrific 'pogrom' against left-winger: liberals, and those suspected of sympathy with Basque nationalism in the area. Led by the ultra-right 'guerrillas of Christ the King', groups of thugs carried out dozens of bombings, vurnings and assaults.

The Minister of 'Information' this month issued new rules' , in an attempt to bring the press under better control. These include a ban against even mentioning 'any subject which could prejudice national unity', or 'the hypothesis that Franco could be getting ready to give up his place.' However, it is not only the working class and national struggle in the Basque country that is challenging the regime, but also sections of workers and professional people throughout the country. With most pay increases lagging behind a rate of inflation which last year reached at least 20%, even actors and civil service officials have been among the many groups taking industrial 1974 after over 200 members were expelled from the Workers Revolutionary Party.

Healy leadership and the Workers Press.

document was expelled.

revolutionary parties.

the WRP from the working class became clear. without compensation under workers control" a widespread strike of building vehicle factory.

only Basque nationalists and Cominrevisionist United Secretariat :: the political strength.

NEGOTIATIONS But the repressions cannot of 1 would like more information about the themselves break the growing strenWORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE gth of the working class. The fact that employers are often forced OMPLETE THIS FORM AND SEND TO: to negotiate with the Workers' Commissions' (officially illegal, and 1, Dartmouth Parl: Hill, London NWS 1HR largely dominated oy the Communist Party), rather that. «he state-run| Name. 'Syndicates' , compelled the overn-' Address ment to finally concede a "right to strike" earlier this month. But it is subject to six days' notice after the end of lengthy official procedure, and it specifically outlaws sympathy SOCIALIST PRESS strikes and, of course, occupations and demonstration" it is, in essence, 6 Issues 93p an attempt to bring the 'unofficial" movement under state control. 12 Issues.. £1.86 Within the ruling class the search for political solutions forces sect- 24 Issues.. £3.72 ions towards alliance with the classcollaborative leaders of the semi- COMPLETE THIS FORM AND SEND TO: legal workers' organisations. Over a hundred Madrid lawyers occupied| 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR the Bar Association in Madrid ten days ago in protest against theil arrest of their colleagues, some of whom were accused of having literature of the 'Democratic Junta' (the popular front coalition of the Name..

Communist Party with 'left monaAddress. rchists.) And at the end of April, the supporters of Juan Carlos' new the socia! democratic PSOE. Such biocs are an attempt to secure an^ 'orderly' transition of power, and to head off the development of revolutionary politics in the working! class.

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The Workers Socialist League was formed on December 22nd._

Bolton, the three antos He ste LETTERS

← Contents of Socialist Press no. 9, 29 May 1975