La major political issue in ran. weeks ago 200,000 people demonstrated in Tebran against kidnapping of the Mojahedin guerilla Sadati by members the committe.
The Imam committee Sadati of being an accomplice of the Soviet Union. He was kidnapped two months ago. For 20 days there was no started to leak out. He had severely beaten, and was being held in a secret place.
At first, the Mojahedin tried to get Sadati released through negotiations with the liberal Ayatollah Talleghani, and then through representations by lawyers and the like. All failed. they turned to mass street action.
The massive public meeting took place in Tehran University.
demonstrations of harassment by armed right-wing Islamic thugs took place. But this time it was different because the demonstration was composed of people from the Istamic movement.
The Mojahedin Islamic. Formed in the early *70s, they were among the main fighters against the Shah. Hundreds of their militants were imprisoned and tortured. Many were executed.
So when the right-wing injured the sister of the most famous martyrs of the Mojahedin, recar Drolners, Were was a miyaly surge of anger in the crowd.
The mother of the Rezai brothers spoke condemning the actions of the Islamic thugs, saying that they were a stain Islam and condemn the repression being carried out by the new Islamic republic.
This demonstration significant since it coincided with a change in line by the towards the Bazargan government.
Previously they had not criticised he government. Now, aiter the case of Sadati, they have come out with strong criticisms of the Bazargan Meanwhile, international action is still growing for the release of the 15 members HKS Workers Party) in Karoun jail Ahwaz.
Both the Mojahedin People's Fedayeen, guerilla organisation, have cautiously sapported the call for the release of the HKS 15. This is development because of the lies and slanders that have been heaped on the Trotskyists inside Iran.
It is in stark contrast to the actions of the pro-Moscow Tudeh which joins committees in attacking the left, and fuily supports the repressive actions against the rest of the left in Iran.
The 15 were imprisoned as a result of their support for the rights of the Arab-speaking national minority in Iran. One result of the international campaign is the release of Hojabr Khosravi.
Howeyer, the other comrades are still being held without formal charge. Telegrams calling for their release and I CLE EULE TONES AIR workers' movement and the left in Iran should be addressed to Bazargan. Prime Minister, Iran; and to the Islamic Revolutionягу Council, Tehran, Iran.
PICKET IRAN-AIR
Saturday 21 July 73 Piccadilly, London W1 Defend Iranian Left!
Socialist Challenge 19 July 1979 Page 10 IWO the happen to me' Imam accused of his right-wing Guard desert business cronies head, loot as possible, to Miami. been Either US/Sandinista Victorious As usual the left, gangs of the provisional government. Complete details mainly conservative figures strongly ment was rejected Partly commitments, on limiting thugs the four Other include capitalist economy and relations with Cuba.
on of forces doubly Mojahedin different.
impose this agreed transition. role of (Socialist in Somoza.
and the the other main.
major party, Mehdi Tehran, 'WHAT happened to the Shah won't — Somoza, May 1979.
Sitting in his bunker, the cornered dictator complains about the failure neighbours support him. His praetorian National in droves, and his with as much Somoza will accept approved transition plan, or the FSLN will defeat him in a week. Unlike the Shah, Somoza did provide one last bloody service for His genocide prevented an early Sandinista insurrection.
This made the social conditions for a radical solution more unfavourable and gave the US State Department vital time to change its policy and negotiate some sort of agreement with of this aaree ment are not yet available. An earlier US proposal to include several more tration in the governbut concessions have been made in this agreement.
exchange for aid there are guarantees reprisals the National Guard and on forming a regular army, as opposed to allowing full rein to the armed committees.
probable concessions maintenance of "restrained' Of course, written agreements are not the same as the political relation on the ground. and i Somoza's latest reported bravado is to be believed and he does fight to the end (or at least to the last man but himself) the outcome might be very An alternative variant might be a US-inspired junior officer coup to As this first victory draws near it is important to know more about how the new government will meet the expectations of the masses who have done the fighting to get rid of Kemel George, Colombian Trotskyist leader and co-ordinator of the Simon Bolivar international brigade, interviewed members of provisional junta — Sergio Ramirez, Violeta Chamorro and Robelo - on 21 June.
You recognise that there is a massive economic crisis and the people are in great need. How is your government going to deal with these problems?
VC: With a great 'austerity'. This is very important for Nicaragua. We are at the bottom of the barrel and we have to reconstruct the economy with total austerity.
Will the people support this austerity?
R: It is important make a distinction. It's one thing to have austerity within a national crusade of reconstruction and another to have poverty without a corrupt regime.
The basic elements in this task are: austerity, efficiency in the adminisof the resources of Nicaraguan people, and the unity of all sectors - in order to avoid all LONG AS YOU HATE SOMOZA' SIMON BOLIVAR BRIGADE this form of solidarity:
Hondurans. I feel it is necessary to support them...
you hate Somoza. 'It's strange.
really Trotskyist. I now all forms of solidarity sectarianism that in a given moment may ruin a process that has cost so the many lives.
We are going destroyed country. begin advantage, despite everything -will be able to build right from the foundations and to We will need all the prestige won by the people's revolutionary struggle to obtain hunger. To carry it's important to maintain the prestige and honesty of true unity that we find in this government.
Are you going to pay external debl?
R: Yes, we recognise international agreements. However, in our case we will need a certain restructuring.
Will the government collective bargaining and the right to strike? Will it convoke a sovereign, democratic, and popular assembly?
'I FEEL NOW A MILITANT OF THE WORLD REVOLUTION' 'IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT NATIONALITY YOU ARE AS On 12 June, the Colombian Trotskyists of the PST (Socialist Workers Party) initiated the formation of an international brigade. Nearly 700 Columbians have since volunteered from many different tendencies.
Forty fighters have been in Nicaragua on the southern front for several weeks. Here is what one of the young volunteers thought of 'I feel that there, further north in our continent, there ar comrades fighting — it doesn't matter if they are 'Nicas' or 'It's not worth thinking whether one is a little Nica or a little Columbiano. What's certain is that any nationality is okay as long as You feel like any ordinary Nicaraguan peasant or student, and because of that it doesn't worry me too much if they kill me like they have killed so many others...
'But at the same time you feel important because you know that the fate of the world revolution depends just a little on you.
'After I took the decision to go to Nicaragua I felt for the first time know seriously internationalist, to be a militant of the world revolution.' The Fourth International has called on all its supporters to build the these assembly, to take over a We will have to democracy But there 1s give build a confidence work. massive aid to stave off forward this plan hundreds Somoza's return permit free Will SR:
we don't want For The form first The fighter, like any passively necessarily 'national unity'.
Hugo it is to be Working people. foreign debts.
set Solidarity donations 134, London 01-226 6747 Coordinating ¡ SR: Yes, definitely, will accept labour rights. the it is a necessary step we must take in the process of a return to But this requires an electoral infra-structure.
Our people have a profound lack of confidence in what elections have meant before. Part of the process of reconstruction wil get back in democracy Nicaragua. It will take time and hard Once the provisional government is set up, what will happen to all the and thousands of armed fighters? What role will they have? VC: These young people are fighting for one ideal and that is to overthrow Somoza. After that each one has the right to follow their career to their schools and universities, to the studies that they have lost. Those who are soldiers can remain in the army.
you establish diplomatic relations with Cuba?
would like to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, but to give excuses to Honduras and El Salvador to attack this diplomatic relations are not the first priority.
of national 'austerity' proposed and the willingness to pay debts to the same imperialists who helped to destroy Nicaragua in the place the democratic' solution favoured by the majority of the junta Constituent Assembly is vaguely supported and the youth in arms are patted on the back and told to go back to their studies Whether the youth, particularly in the northern towns controlled by the more socialist FSLN tendencies, will accept that advice uncertain. The economy's dislocation and the need for foreign aid doesn't impose all-class Blanco and the FOCEP electoral bloc, based on independent class solutions mass support for a detailed refusal to pay The Cubans didn't tell the youth to go back to their schools, and they : up armed committees for the defence of the revolution. Fidel also gained support from the workers' i states to rebuild the economy.
notes: An appeal for funds for relief has been set up. Send Central A mencar Human Rights Committee, PO Box NW1. For speakers film, copies of Nicaragua Libre, tel to:
Comminice 21 Compton Terrace, London N1.