This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.
## ## ### ## ## # # ### ### ### ###
# # # # # # # ## # # # # # #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ###
# # # # # # ## # # # # #
# # ### # # # # ### # ### ###
THE MAOIST INTERNATIONALIST MOVEMENT
MIM Notes 101
June 1995
Electronic Edition
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Get MIM Notes 101 from the Maoist Internationalist
Movement (MIM), and get the latest in Maoist news
and analysis - put a revolutionary weapon in your
hands.
This issue features the changing face of imperialism, from
debates over how to reshape Amerikan foreign policy to the
Contract with Amerika. Plus analysis of the post-Oklahoma-
City-crackdown, the expansion of the FBI, immigrant abuse,
culture reviews and much more. International news from
China, Kampuchea, East Timor, Azania, Palestine and more.
Also MIM's monthly news from prisons and prisoners, Under
Lock & Key.
MIM Notes speaks to and from the viewpoint of the
world's oppressed majority, and against the imperialist-
patriarchy. Pick it up and wield it in the service of the
people. Support it, struggle with it and write for it.
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR ATTACKED
2. STUDENTS RALLY AGAINST 187, WILSON, & WELD
3. COLLEGIAN'S "JOURNALISM" IGNORES PROTEST
4. THE CHANGING FACE OF U.S. IMPERIALISM
5. BLACK HOLE OF "AID" TO THE THIRD WORLD
6. AMERIKANS PROTEST THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA
7. LETTERS TO MIM
8. NEW FILM REMEMBERS YOUNG LORDS PARTY
9. IMMIGRANT ALERT: MORE CRACKDOWN, AGAIN
10. CRACK-DOWN'S VICTIMS GET LONGER SENTENCES
11. OKLAHOMA BOMBING BRINGS INCREASED REPRESSION
12. L.A. REBELLION GOT MORE NEWS COVERAGE
13. FBI CONTINUES EXPANSION
14. MILITIAS WORK IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS
15. POLICE ATTACKS AGAINST BLACKS, LATINOS
16. UNPEACEKEEPERS IN KAMPUCHEA
17. INDONESIAN FASCISM
18. GOLD IS DEADLY
19. LAND MINES CONTINUE TO KILL IN KURDISTAN, ETC.
20. SNAIL FEVER RAGES IN CHINA
21. 268 MILLION JOBLESS IN CHINA
22. UCLA GRADUATE STUDENTS WANT MORE PIE
23. ISRAEL'S AMERIKAN BOON
24. ONE (BLOOD-STAINED) HAND WASHES THE OTHER
25. REVIEW: ONCE WERE WARRIORS
26. REVIEW: MORE FEROCIOUS THAN A PAPER PANTHER
27. UNDER LOCK & KEY
CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR ATTACKED
by MIM and RAIL
Amherst, MA, May 9 - RAIL, MIM and two University of
Massachusetts student groups, the Alliance for Student
Power (ASP) and the Haitian Students Association held a
teach-in entitled "Anthony Lake, U.S. Imperialism and
the University." W. Anthony Lake is a local professor on
leave as National Security Advisor to President Clinton,
and has been selected as the UMass Commencement
(graduation) speaker for late May.
RAIL organized the teach-in to expose Lake's role as a
top leader in the U.S. military machine, and to use
concrete examples from U.S. foreign policy to mobilize
students against imperialism and Amerika itself.
RECENT CIA HISTORY, LAKE'S RESPONSIBILITY
The organizing groups gave seven short presentations.
MIM started the teach-in with a short presentation on
Lake's duties in the Clinton Administration, and Lake's
specific contributions to U.S. foreign policy. As
National Security Advisor, Lake is responsible for the
CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and is one of
President Clinton's top advisors. MIM pointed out that
Lake has bragged about the U.S. bringing democracy to
Haiti and Guatemala, and other speakers took Lake to
task on this point. MIM argued that the Clinton
Administration likes to portray itself as humanitarian,
but it admits that its "humanity" comes at the expense
of Third World peoples. Lake declares that foreign
policy will determine "whether Americans' real incomes
double every 26 years, as they did in 1960s, or every 36
years, as they did during the late '70s and '80s."(1)
A member of the Haitian Students Association spoke on
the history of Haiti up to 1990, and a RAIL member,
using back-issues of MIM Notes as a source, detailed the
U.S. role in Haiti since 1990. Another RAIL member
explained how "humanitarian" aid is a form of
imperialism through the hegemonic control of agriculture
to serve First World interests. A third RAIL member gave
a presentation about the Vietnam War and Lake's role
first as a vice consul to South Vietnam and then as
special assistant to the president for national security
affairs.
A member of the Alliance for Student Power gave two
talks. The first was about the U.S. role destabilizing
the Guatemalan government in 1954 and the links to the
more recent CIA role in Guatemala. His second talk
exposed the ideological and material connections between
the government, big business and the University and the
significance of Lake's selection as commencement
speaker. He reported that at an earlier RAIL meeting, we
decided not to demand that the University rescind the
invitation to Lake. We decided that Lake was an
appropriate choice for a pro-imperialist University in
Amerikkka. Rather than opposing just Lake or his
selection, we need to oppose the government and the
University itself. Lake's selection, he continued, was a
brilliant symbol of the revolving door between the
military-industrial complex and its educational wing.
RIGHT-WING LIBERALS PROTEST HISTORY
The two right-wing students led a Liberal attack on both
the organizers and the event itself after this last
lecture - having already interrupted the Vietnam
presentation. They first posed "left" by pretending to
support the organizers' opposition to U.S. imperialism
and the CIA, while criticizing us for not focusing on
Lake enough. Later they switched, and said that we
couldn't criticize Lake at all, since we didn't know
what Lake's personal position was on each issue, and
whether or not he truly ordered X CIA execution, or knew
about Y slimy dealings.
One Liberal was a German student who had been a student
of Lake's. The other Liberal was a Haitian student who
was also the scheduled Commencement speaker. The German
student argued that we couldn't hold Lake responsible
for the institutions he's in charge of, and that we
couldn't know his motivations. He attacked the event's
organizers for discussing U.S. actions prior to
Clinton's rise to power; arguing that this history was
irrelevant. Perhaps, he argued, Lake was going to try
and reform the CIA.
FAKING LEFT FOR COMPRADOR STATUS
The Haitian Commencement speaker was opportunist. First
he attacked MIM for ignoring the fact that Haitians have
continued to die under U.S. military occupation; and
then criticized the organizers for pimping off of dead
Haitians to build our organizations. His first claim was
a lie. The student has been made aware of the articles
in the November and December 1994 MIM Notes exposing the
U.S. role in working with the right-wing death squads
against the people, and the RAIL presentation was clear
on this point. The second charge is answered most
clearly by looking at the Haitian student's own practice
of faking "left." He recognizes the U.S. oppression of
his country, while using his Haitian origin and a shared
stage with a chief orchestrator of Haiti's subjugation
as a launching pad for his personal agenda. This student
represents the right wing of the national bourgeoisie:
some anti-imperialist sentiments, but eagerly looking
for the conditions to cut a deal with imperialism and
head for comprador status.
The Haitian student hypocritically argued that "credit
must be given where credit is due" and we must
acknowledge the progress, however limited, of the
Clinton administration over that of former-President
Bush. He also argued that organizers should use
"caution" in criticizing Lake as part of the government
and instead should look more at the individual.
Both the German and Haitian students represented Liberal
ideology well. When it comes to judging bourgeois
society, they are willing to make countless excuses.
They can invent fantasies, as the German student did,
about Lake reforming the CIA, and then criticize MIM for
"not having done enough research." When criticizing
revolutionaries, they present a double standard,
opposing Mao because of the actions of anti-Maoists
before and after Mao's death. Maoists want to hold
people accountable for both the good and the bad of
their actions, not just one aspect. The Liberals might
claim otherwise, but in practice they only want more
imperialism.
Notes:
1. W. Anthony Lake, Remarks at Johns Hopkins University
9/21/93, p. 3.
* * *
STUDENTS RALLY AGAINST 187, WILSON, & WELD
Boston - On May 14 about 100 people formed a picket line
outside the Four Seasons Hotel to protest a fundraiser
organized by Massachusetts Governor William Weld for
California Governor Pete Wilson. Chauffeured Mercedes
brought leading pigs at $1000 a plate to the "gala"
event. Outside, protesters chanted: "Hey hey ho ho
Governor Wilson has got to go" and "Racist, sexist,
anti-gay; Right-wing bigots go away!" and "We didn't
land on Plymouth Rock; Plymouth Rock landed on us."
Several speakers addressed the crowd. Some talked about
the importance of voting out racists from office and the
need for "inter-racial" unity to combat Proposition 187.
One of the organizers of the event, a Latina from Mt.
Holyoke College, told Gov. Wilson to watch out for 2007
- the year when people of color will outnumber whites in
California. Several Latinos told stories of family
members working in factories and fields for $2 an hour.
"We maintain the system, we deserve schooling, medicine,
everything."
The demonstration was initiated by Students from Smith,
Mt. Holyoke and UMass Amherst who are making a
documentary about Proposition 187.
One of the organizers was upset at the ISO, who turned
out in full color at the rally, for taking credit for
organizing the event. By trying to register
demonstrators as members of the ISO, they succeeded in
watering down the anti-racist message of the rally and
turned it into a membership drive. The organizer felt
that the ISO was able to overwhelm what was intended as
a non-sectarian grassroots student demonstration because
so many students didn't come to the event because they
were still busy with finals or else had already gone
home.
A high point of the demonstration occurred when two
hotel managers wheeled a cart of lemonade out to the
protesters and explained that the Four Seasons was
"pleased to have them." The crowd responded with a
spontaneous cheer: "We have brains, We can think, We
don't want your stinking drink!"
- member of the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League
MIM adds: MIM does not have a problem with members of
organizations showing up at events and attempting to
interest people in their politics, but those
organizations should not attempt to take over the
events. It is good to broaden the issues addressed by a
rally so that people can see connections with other
issues, if they are interested. However, the ISO has a
history of bad practice at some events and MIM can't
speak to their practice at this specific event. MIM
would also object to any organizers who think they are
doing their event good by keeping out people who
politely distribute political literature and talk to
whoever is interested.
* * *
COLLEGIAN'S "JOURNALISM" IGNORES PROTEST
by the Maoist Internationalist Movement (MIM) and the
Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League (RAIL)
RAIL's petition condemning the selection of Anthony Lake
as Commencement speaker (see page 3) was submitted to
and rejected by the University of Massachusetts student
paper, the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. According to
the editors, our organizing was "news" so they were
going to write a story about us, and not print the
petition. Not our first choice, but Ok.
During an interview, News Editor Jessica Taverna asked a
lot of unnecessary questions such as our student status,
the number of people in RAIL and MIM, etc. MIM is an
underground organization and we don't answer questions
that are only useful to the cops. It's irrelevant
whether Taverna herself is an active agent of the state,
since they no doubt exist among her readers.
We explained that the purpose of the petition was two-
fold: first, it was a concrete way to engage the masses
in struggle over the Lake question, and it would serve
(we hoped) to guarantee that the statement would be
printed by the campus media. We explained that for
security reasons, we didn't encourage people to sign
neatly, list phone numbers or addresses, or indicate
student status. We had 91 signatures and guessed that
most of the signatures were from students.
A little while later Taverna told us the story was
canceled. She had called the administration to check our
names and student status and since only one of the
sources was "reputable" the planned protest at
Commencement was only a "rumor". MIM and RAIL couldn't
be quoted, because anything we said wouldn't be credible
and people would "think it was coming out of my
[Taverna's] ass."
The Collegian's "principles" having nothing to do with
credibility at all, but rather they follow the
censorship-bound, boot-licking principles of
administration-cowed student journalism. The Collegian
brags that it is independent of the University, but they
let the administration set their principles - and a
universal rule of University administrations is to
discredit political debate by non-students. (And cowed
the Collegian is. The Administration's newspaper, the
Campus Chronicle, didn't print the petition either, but
they did write a short story about it.)
According to this "logic", we are only credible if we
can prove our identities. Regardless of whether
something is true or not, as long as you know the
identity of the person who said it, then it is true.
Even real bourgeois journalists have ways of dealing
with anonymous or half-identified sources. The New York
Times frequently says, "Said, so and so, who only
identified herself as 'Jane.'" They also ran the letter
by the UNABOMBER, without a clue to whom s/he is. The
bourgeois media regularly quotes "unnamed officials" in
the government, helping them leak information (sometimes
accurate, sometimes not) without being held individually
accountable.
The Collegian's notion of "credibility" is limiting in
countless ways, not the least of which was keeping this
important story from Collegian readers. If we had told
Taverna our student status, or that RAIL and MIM had
half a million members, we might have been believed. But
we declined to answer some questions, so therefore we
don't exist.
Progressives on the Collegian staff and on the staffs of
student newspapers around the country should drop
reactionary journalism and work for MIM Notes, Maoist
Sojourner, and the Mass Rail (the newsletter of the
Massachusetts Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League).
* * *
THE CHANGING FACE OF U.S. IMPERIALISM
In mid May the House International Relations Committee
voted to support a bill that would consolidate the
Agency for International Development (USAID), into the
State Department along with several other agencies as a
part of a Republican move to cut or abolish USAID. USAID
is one of the agencies that the United States uses to
create dependency in foreign countries and gain their
allegiance to Amerikan foreign policy.
As J. Brian Atwood, USAID administrator said in a
January 17 plea to keep USAID autonomous, "We have led
the world in providing technical assistance to create
free economic systems, private sectors and new
markets."(1) In other words, USAID gives money to other
countries so that they will follow the political system
that the US supports and will open their doors to
Amerikan corporations seeking new ways to make greater
profits. In the 1994 fiscal year USAID spent $2.1
billion on "development assistance" to foreign
countries.(2)
The current debate among the different shades of
reactionaries is between the fiscal conservatives who
want to save the money spent by USAID and instead let
the free market reign in international relations, and
the internationalists who want to take the straight
forward route to imperialist domination by buying the
allegiance of foreign governments and markets directly.
In this case, it is the internationalist-minded who are
more dangerous to the international proletariat. The
less money spent by the imperialists on international
intervention of any kind, the easier the task of
revolution becomes as reactionary governments weaken.
But in the case of this debate, the alternative to a
separate and independent USAID will probably not be much
different from the status quo. The $20 billion given to
international programs by the government makes a good
target in the GOP drive to cut "wasteful spending"
because cutting domestic programs gets them in trouble
with their constituency and many Amerikans believe that
we give away too much money as it is. In a New York
Times poll (which generally reaches the voting
population), 75% of the people said the U.S. spends too
much on foreign aid.(3)
The reality of international politics will leave the
Republicans pushing imperialist domination on the Third
World countries in one way or another. Even if a bill
passes Congress that cuts international aid, no one is
suggesting that aid be cut from Israel or Egypt
(strategically important countries that the U.S.
controls). And less money for some projects does not
mean cuts in the military or the CIA which can be used
to impose or depose a government favorable to
imperialism.
Notes:
1. International Development Conference speech, 1/17/95.
2. Executive Memorandum, The Heritage Foundation,
1/27/95.
3. New York Times 4/30/95.
* * *
BLACK HOLE OF "AID" TO THE THIRD WORLD
MIM reported last month that the United States does not
give anywhere near as much foreign aid as the settler
masses assume, but we still have the question of where
the money does go. Reports from the World Social Summit
in Copenhagen stated that "developing countries" got
$1.4 trillion in aid over the past 35 years - and have
very little to show for it. By looking at where the
money went, we can understand the falsity of imperialist
"generosity."
The reason that the aid money does more harm than good
is that most of it does not land in the hands of Third
World people. A study in Bangladesh, for example,
revealed that 75% of the aid it has received in its 25
years of independence have gone to experts, consultants,
and equipment from the donor countries. Other countries'
statistics are even higher. According to Western Samoa's
UN ambassador, "Well over 90% of this money was spent on
foreign consultants who go to the developing countries
in the name of national capacity building."
World Bank officials and others are always eager to
impose strict controls on how much money Third World
countries use for services for their people, implying
that health and so on are what should be sacrificed in
the interests of "development." First World nations have
pledged to increase their aid to the Third World to 0.7%
of their Gross National Product. If that increase
actually happens it will mean greater oppression for the
people and greater decadence for the parasites who feed
upon them.
Note: Pacific Islands Monthly 5/95, p. 21.
* * *
AMERIKANS PROTEST THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA
by MC17
College students across Amerika have responded to the
"Republican Contract with America" and the conservative
proposals in Congress this year with a lot of protests.
Cuts in welfare, tax cuts that favor the wealthiest,
anti-immigrant legislation, cuts in education programs,
and cuts in programs that provide children with health
care and nutrition have all angered protesters. While
MIM believes that all people should have equal access to
health care, food, shelter, education and all other
necessities, much of the anti-Contract agenda is not
progressive.
The biggest problem with this movement is its pandering
to electoral politics. The call for a national day of
campus action against the contract concluded by saying:
"It will be necessary to use this debate to inform the
public about the anti-democratic nature of the Right's
agenda - and about the alliance between big business and
fundamentalist religious groups working to seize
political power."
This statement is misleading, suggesting that the only
enemy of oppressed people is the Right and the solution
is a Democratic majority back in Congress. The reality
is that both Democrats and Republicans are imperialists.
The difference between the Republicans and the Democrats
is often the difference between the color of their
coats. While the Republicans target immigrants and
social services, the Democrats have gone to great
lengths to increase the number of police and prisons.
Both groups are working to expand the power and wealth
of imperialist Amerika at the expense of the oppressed
world-wide.
Even many of those who recognize the reactionary nature
of the Democrats play into the hands of the imperialists
by pretending that if everyone in this country could be
as well off as the middle class we would have true
equality. This is an insult to the exploited masses of
the Third World from whom Amerika extracts its wealth
and distributes it to its citizens.
The National People's Campaign (NPC), initiated by the
Workers World Party (WWP), held protests in many cities
across Amerika on May 6, incorrectly encouraging
electoral politics at its rallies, ignoring the
realities of imperialism and colonialism. While there is
nothing wrong with revolutionary parties initiating mass
movements, they should do so openly. But Workers World
Party's own members often are not up-front within the
NPC that they are members of WWP.
WWP believes that coalition politics are the best way to
get the masses involved in revolutionary politics. "We
hope you will find Workers World Party members in every
progressive organization and movement across the U.S.,"
said the managing editor of the WWP newspaper in a
recent exchange on the Internet.
MIM also believes that vanguard parties should work with
progressive organizations, but the party should not
liquidate into a coalition with such organizations as
WWP advocates; nor should it urge its members to join
organizations which champion electoralism and
reactionary nationalism.
The National People's Campaign statement reads ". only
by getting into the streets to show our anger and
determination can we really have any political leverage
to make the fundamental changes that are necessary."
Fundamental changes occur, according to WWP, when the
masses are finally "heard" by their elected officials.
MIM believes that the real answer to the reactionary
politics of the Republicans and Democrats who promote
imperialist colonialism in the Third World and inside
Amerika's borders is revolution. We can not take the
issue of health care for people in Amerika out of the
context of the money that is taken from the workers and
peasants of the Third World to pay for the construction
of the most bloated health care system in the world. We
can not take the issue of funding for college education
out of the context of the exploitation of the land and
resources of Amerika's colonies that pays for these
scholarships and buys future imperialists. Opposition to
the reactionary nationalism of anti-immigrant
legislation should not lead to the reactionary
nationalism of white Amerika demanding its share of the
superprofits of the world. We need to respond with
revolutionary internationalism against the imperialists.
* * *
LETTERS TO MIM
AMERIKKKA: LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT
***The following letter from Chemistry student J.D.
Tovar appeared in the 3/13/95 UCLA Daily Bruin. The
event discussed was covered in MIM Notes 99, which is
available from MIM for $1.***
I would like to address the Maoist Internationalist
Movement protesters and their hippie friends who stormed
the CIA informational meeting I attended on March 3.
First and foremost, by thrusting their ideological
beliefs upon those present, they quite possibly took
away the many rewarding careers in science and
technology available in the CIA from our fellow Bruins.
They entered in an extremely immature fashion - by
blowing whistles in the speaker's face - and they told
us of the atrocities being committed by the CIA in small
countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala.
My objective here is not to refute those claims since
they are most likely true; however, that does not change
my interest in the CIA. In fact, I take pride in what
they do; namely, in helping to preserve the American way
of life. By dealing with foreign militants toting anti-
American beliefs, they are protecting the very ideals
upon which this country was founded.
This may sound harsh or cruel ... that is because it is.
Sure, it would be great if we all could live in the
happy-go-lucky world the protesters dream of, but that
just is not possible. Revolutionaries may be able to
change the laws of society, but they cannot change the
laws of nature. Maybe our liberal friends have not heard
of such terms as survival of the fittest and natural
selection, but for millions of years, the strongest
individuals are the ones favored to live and reproduce.
The weak are preyed upon, killed by their own or left to
die.
This is a cold, hard fact of nature from which man will
never be able to run away. We as Americans should be
proud that we are one of the stronger societies on this
planet. As an intelligence agency, it is the CIA's job
to find out who says or knows what about whom. One such
thing they may discover is who is circulating anti-
American thoughts (e.g. Libya and Iraq).
In other words, our "terrorism" prevents theirs. Accept
it or don't, but America is our home and we should be
supportive of any efforts to preserve her greatness. If
one feels so emotionally for a poor and oppressed third
world country, why not relocate there and join a
guerrilla movement to help bring down the CIA and
America? We sure as hell do not need you here.
MIM RESPONDS: J.D. Tovar's letter explicitly accepts the
fact that "atrocities [are] being committed by the CIA
in small countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala."
Despite his/her code words, Tovar upholds genocide: "By
dealing with foreign militants toting anti-American
beliefs, [the CIA is] protecting the very ideals upon
which this country was founded." As Amerikkka was
founded on genocide, Tovar's statement rings true.
Rather than deny the CIA's bloody legacy, Tovar trots
out the tired lie that "the laws of nature," not the
laws of patriarchal capitalist imperialism, cause
oppression. Like competition, cooperation is a part of
human nature. Tovar should put aside his/her Darwin and
read Peter Kropotkin's work on the natural phenomenon of
"mutual aid." Furthermore, Tovar's "might makes right"
argument cuts in more than one direction. Will Tovar
still uphold it when the world's oppressed majority
exercises its dictatorship over Amerikkka?
Tovar asks, "If one feels so emotionally for a poor and
oppressed third world country, why not relocate there
and join a guerrilla movement to help bring down the CIA
and America?" No place is safe from U.S. imperialism. We
need not relocate to work for socialist, anti-
imperialist revolution.
BLESS AJAMU, CURSE THE STATE
Dear Friend,
I read the story of Ajamu Resnover and I was very
disappointed at the U.S. judicial system. I believe they
have different laws for different folks. As for the
Afro-American the law of the States is an unfriendly
law. I will be so pleased if I could get more
information about the whole story of Ajamu and other
unfortunate people like him. In as much as my soul and
heart weep for Ajamu, my soul and heart curse the state
that has done this wicked thing to him. God bless Ajamu
and may his soul rest in perfect peace. I want you to
know he's not the only person in this - we all - the
black brothers and sisters are all facing the same
problem all together. Long live the spirit of the black
man.
Yours in everything,
- Black reader in Europe April 1995
WHY SUPPORT THE EZLN?
I read your article "Mexico: All Out War Declared On
Zapatistas" in the March edition of "MIM Notes." I know
that the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) in no
way supports Maoist thought and none of their
revolutionary ideology comes from Marx, Lenin, or
Stalin. Emiliano Zapata seems to be their teacher if
anyone. You being very strict Maoists, who only support
other socialist groups if they hold to a similar strict
Maoist line, such as Sendero Luminoso, why do you show
support for the EZLN in your newsletter?
- Internet Reader
April 1995
MC12 RESPONDS: MIM supports all outbreaks against
imperialism. That means that you will also find support
for radical Islamic movements in our pages as well. We
believe that Maoist revolutions - national liberation
struggles led by a vanguard proletarian party - stand
the best chance of defeating imperialism and creating a
socialist society in its place. However, we also
celebrate the righteous anger against imperialism
generated everywhere in its wake, and support movements
that stand to weaken imperialism and open up
opportunities for revolutionary advance whenever they
occur.
On the other hand, most reformist struggles within the
imperialist system are another story. These, such as the
struggles of labor aristocracy unions for better pay,
strengthen imperialism rather than weaken it.
"RADICALS TOLERATE CLINTON"
***The following was posted on the Internet newsgroup
alt.politics.radical-left.***
I browsed through the newsgroup to see how the radical
Left views Clinton. I counted less than 5 posts
criticizing Clinton from the Left and tons of posts
vilifying the Republicans.
If Clinton is a centrist as he says he is, why does he
seem so tolerated by the radical Left. Some possible
answers come to my mind.
I as a true right-winger, spent a lot of time
criticizing George Bush for raising taxes, the Clean Air
Act, the ADA, and increasing the federal deficit. There
were, as I recall, plenty of posts heavily attacking
Bush in the conservative newsgroups. So what's keeping
you guys from at least constructively criticizing this
"moderate" Democrat?
MIM RESPONDS: MIM does not tolerate Clinton.
The *radical* left recognizes that "constructive
criticism" of the head-honchos of imperialism is
worthless. Bill Clinton is not different in any
meaningful way from George Bush, and neither has any
interest in the needs of the oppressed.
The word radical comes from the word for root, and
radicals attack problems at their root. Voting for
tweedle-dee or tweedle-dum does not change the rotten
root of militarism on a global scale and the oppression
of internal nations. Asking tweedle-dee to play nice
accomplishes little. The most "constructive" criticism
that radicals can make is by building independent power.
This comes through a criticism of imperialism, not this
or that head of it or this or that policy of it. MIM
does expose the reactionary nature of Clinton's
government, but not as something peculiar to Clinton,
but peculiar to a militarist nation bent on maintaining
world hegemony.
LAKE CONDEMNED
We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the selection of
W. Anthony Lake, National Security Advisor to President
Clinton as Commencement speaker [at the University of
Massachusetts at Amherst. See page 4 for more.] Anthony
Lake is one of the top leaders of the strongest
imperialist country in the world and is responsible for
the CIA and Joint Chiefs of Staff. His claim that
Amerika has "helped defend democracy in Haiti and
Guatemala"(1) requires a response. The only things that
Lake has defended in Haiti and Guatemala is the U.S.
interest and continued repression for the people.
Some facts about the U.S. and Haiti:
# Cedras, the leader of the coup against Aristide was on
the CIA payroll.(2)
# The CIA helped created FRAPH, a right-wing death
squad, and put it's leader, Emmanuel Constant, on
their payroll.(3)
# *Candidate* Clinton called the repatriation of Haitian
refugees to face death squads "unconscionable".
*President* Clinton flip-flopped and announced that
fleeing Haitians would continue to be repatriated;
they were "economic refugees" and wouldn't be harmed
if returned. By April 1994, at least 5000 of these
repatriated "economic refugees" had been killed by
FRAPH.(4)
# After the coup, the U.S. continued training at least
10 Haitian military leaders at U.S. bases, despite
continued official statements to the contrary.(5)
# Right after the Amerikan invasion of Haiti, the CIA
estimated it would spend $1 million influencing the
political process within Haiti.(6)
# The purpose of prolonged U.S. occupation was not to
protect Aristide but ". to prevent the Haitian
population from taking politics into it's own hands
and [to] forestall danger of radical mass
mobilization", one U.S. intelligence official
admitted.(7)
U.S. role in Guatemala:
The CIA has recently been exposed for killing Guatemalan
leftists and then covering it up. The most well known
case is that of Efrain Bamaca Velazquez, a guerrilla
leader and the husband of U.S. lawyer Jennifer Harbury.
Even Representative Torricelli (D-N.J.), has accused the
CIA of knowing about this, and covering it up for
years.(8)
So when Lake speaks for the Clinton Administration and
says "... we do not seek to expand the reach of our
institutions by force, subversion or repression"(9),
he's lying because reality shows otherwise.
Some of these atrocities Lake no doubt chose not to know
about. But even he admits "we expect to be held
accountable for our policy decisions."(10)
We respond: You are being held accountable.
- Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League
***Signed by 91 people.***
Notes:
1. Remarks at Johns Hopkins University 9/21/93, p. 1.
2. NYT 11/14/93, p. A1.
3. Nation 10/24/94.
4. Haiti Communications Project 4/25/94.
5. Boston Globe 12/6/93, p. A1.
6. NYT 10/2/94, sec 4, p. 16.
7. Nation 10/3/94, p. 344.
8. Los Angeles Times 3/23/95, p. A7.
9. Remarks., p. 5.
10. Remarks., p. 15.
MIM BIASED ON KURDISTAN
***The following is a response to a MIM Notes 100, May
1995 article on Turkey's invasion of south Kurdistan
(northern Iraq) which was also printed in a college
newspaper.***
To the editor:
I am writing in response to the article entitled "Turkey
attacks South Kurdistan" printed on April 25th. The
article itself, being the account of an invasion into a
nonexistent country, making use of fictitious statistics
attributed to blatantly biased sources is beneath
reproach. What is a matter of concern is how this
mindless drivel found its way onto the pages of the
[paper].
Most students on this campus can litle afford the time
to read hefty periodicals such as the New York Times on
a regular basis. So, between the demands of school and
the demands of work they turn to the [paper] to bring
them a summary of the global news worth of mention. No
doubt they expect the articles they read to be factual.
To have printed the above mentioned article was an error
in judgment. To have presented it as anything but
unsubstantiated opinion exhibits a serious lack of
journalistic integrity.
Turkey's advances into Iraq are a result of the
apparently irreconcilable differences that exist. The
goal of said actions is to put an end to the terrorist
activities that have claimed countless lives over the
past years. As in any military engagement, the loss of
some innocent lives, however unfortunate, is
unavoidable. Yet the implication that innocent civilians
are being intentionally killed is a fallacy and the
claim that genocide is the primary objective of Turkey's
advance is pure nonsense.
In the wake of the occurrence in Oklahoma we have all
been exposed to the heinousness of terrorism. Turkey
seeks nothing more than to bring an end to the terrorist
acts that she has endured over the course of the past
decade, and to ensure a peaceful existence for all
members of her society, regardless of ethnicity.
MIM RESPONDS: We doubt that readers of the New York
Times would find much that openly contradicts MIM's
article. MIM's article on Turkey's "Operation Rome" [MIM
Notes 95, December 1994] used primarily bourgeois
sources like Reuters or the AP. These sources described
the Turkish military's long-term strategy of combating
the PKK by relocating people and burning villages and
forests, etc. Members of Turkey's government who
denounced the army's large-scale human rights abuses
were among those quoted in that article.
The sources used in the last article were indeed pro-
Kurdish. Good! The New York Times is openly pro-U.S. The
U.S wants to polish its image as defender of human
rights but at the same time it has to defend its
military and economic interests in the area, so it slaps
Turkey on the wrist for "excesses." This is all the news
the NYT can print. MIM's article described the excesses
and explained why the reactionaries were driven to such
desperate measures.
MIM thanks the college newspaper which printed our
article for the service it rendered its readers and the
people of Kurdistan. Moreover, we hope people don't just
take our word for it - they should study the facts and
the history of the problem, and struggle with MIM if
they still do not think MIM took the correct progressive
stand in the article. That's why MIM includes footnotes
with our articles. On the other hand, the NYT and other
bourgeois newspapers want readers to accept their
authoritative word without question.
* * *
NEW FILM REMEMBERS YOUNG LORDS PARTY
Amherst, MA - On May 13 at the University of
Massachusetts, the Puerto Rican students organization,
Boricuas Unidos, organized a showing of the first
portion of a documentary in progress on the Young Lords
Party, called *Palante, Siempre Palante!* About 40
people turned out to see the video and lecture by
filmmaker and former Deputy Minister of Education Iris
Morales. Morales is on tour to raise money to finish the
documentary.
The Young Lords Party (YLP) was a mainland U.S. Puerto
Rican Maoist Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s.(1)
The documentary is a mixture of recent interviews with
ex-Lords, old footage and still photographs. As Morales
explained, the history of the YLP has not yet been told,
and it's difficult to research because so much has been
thrown away or forgotten.
The first half of the documentary is almost finished and
covers the formation and early struggle of the Young
Lords. The second half of the documentary is going to be
about the government repression of the Young Lords Party
(later the Puerto Rican Revolutionary Workers
Organization (PRRWO)).
The weakest point in the documentary is its treatment of
ideological issues. The video makes some references to
the inspiration of Puerto Rican nationalists such as Don
Pedro Albizu Campos and the Nationalist Party, but does
not mention Maoism or the political context, beyond
Puerto Rican nationalism. In response to a question from
MIM, Morales said that many people have criticized the
video for not discussing the importance of Maoism and
the Little Red Book (*Quotations from Chairman Mao*).
Morales said that she would add this to the film. Even
with this addition, the video will have a way to go in
order to adequately capture the revolutionary political
line of the YLP.
However, MIM celebrates this video and looks forward to
its release. Despite its imperfections, the video fills
an important void and can only serve to popularize the
Young Lords, and hopefully encourage others to pick up
where the Young Lords left off. Despite downplaying
ideology, *Palante, Siempre Palante!* added to MIM's
understanding of the YLP's development from a street
gang to a revolutionary party. The full story of the
first YLP action - the Garbage Offensive - provided a
basis for this understanding.
Soon after the YLP was formed in New York, they realized
that they should not just talk about what the people
needed, they should go and ask the people. While going
door to door in *El Barrio*, the YLP expected to hear
that large political questions, such as the role of the
police or the Vietnam War were at the fore. But when
asked, the masses first demanded that their garbage be
gathered from the neighborhood and picked up.
So the Young Lords cleaned the streets on successive
Sundays and left the garbage in bags for the city to
pick up. But for the same racist reasons that the city
didn't sweep the streets, they also didn't pick up the
bagged trash. So the YLP made picking up the garbage
into a political battle with the state. Other
"offensives" such as "People's church," an eleven-day
occupation of a church that refused to provide space for
Serve-the-People programs, (even though it was empty six
days a week) made a strong impact on Puerto Ricans in
New York and on the video's audience.
One member of the audience asked if the Young Lords had
a prison program and what it was. Morales answered that
they did, and MIM was pleasantly surprised at her
explanation that the Young Lords considered all
prisoners to be political prisoners, and considered
those who were imprisoned for overtly political reasons
to be prisoners of war.
Morales explicitly did not call for a rebuilding of the
Young Lords Party and instead encouraged a more general
pro-Puerto Rican reformist approach. This means that
instead of making a Maoist revolution, as the YLP was
working to do in the 60s and 70s, people should do
whatever they want (be doctors, teachers, politicians)
in a pro-Puerto Rican way without worrying about
revolution. She made a strong call to oppose Puerto
Rican "sell-outs" but she didn't discuss the
inevitability of more sell-outs if Puerto Ricans remain
within a reformist and individualist framework.
It was clear from the video and talk that the Party made
a number of theoretical and strategic mistakes, which
according to Morales, isolated the Party from the
people. But Morales tended to blame ideology, and the
conceptual approach of Marxism-Leninism in general, for
the decline of the YLP. While MIM does not agree with
this assessment, we have not studied the issue of 1970s
Maoism in the U.S. as closely as we would like.(2)
Another disagreement between Morales and MIM is that MIM
would not be so quick to judge the YLP's mistakes,
particularly the move to close some U.S. offices in
order to open offices in Puerto Rico, as the result of
police infiltration. Rather, we would criticize the YLP
for not having been scientific enough in their
application of Maoism to North America. Police
repression (and we can assume infiltration) was very
real for the YLP, but from what we can see, this did not
negatively affect major portions of their line.
Some of the YLP's most obvious errors flowed from their
incorrect position on the counter-revolutionary nature
of the white working class. While it was correct for the
YLP to change their position from lumpen-as-vanguard to
proletariat-as-vanguard, it was not correct to abandon
the ghetto to organize privileged white workers, as
Morales says they did.
Morales expects the video to be done in about a year.
Notes:
1. See "Puerto Rican Revolutionary Workers Organization:
Maoist vanguard paved the way," in MIM Theory 7,
available from MIM for $4.95.
2. MIM is researching the theories and history of other
U.S. Maoist vanguards. We are particularly looking
for documents and former members from I Wor Kuen, Red
Guards, Brown Berets, Black Workers Congress and the
Puerto Rican Revolutionary Workers Organization. We
especially seek documents from the Young Lords Party
Congress.
* * *
IMMIGRANT ALERT: MORE CRACKDOWN, AGAIN
In his May 6 radio address, President Clinton promised
to increase deportation of immigrants from Mexico.
"Right now we're deporting 110 illegal aliens every day.
That's almost 40,000 a year. And we're going to do even
better," he said.
Specifically, Clinton promised to deport any illegal
immigrants arrested for anything, whether they are
guilty or not. He said: "Every day illegal aliens show
up in court who are charged. Some are guilty and,
surely, some are innocent. Some go to jail, and some
don't. But they are all illegal aliens, and whether
they're innocent or guilty of the crime they're charged
with in court, they're still here illegally and they
should be sent out of the country."
That is a green light (as if they needed one) for pigs
of all stripes to arrest anyone they think might be an
illegal immigrant and drag them down to court on any
charge. No matter the merits of the charge, they can
still be deported and the pigs win either way. In the
process, naturally, lots of immigrants, both legal and
illegal, will be harassed and persecuted even more than
they are now. Since this land was stolen from native
peoples, and the wealth of this country built on the
exploitation and oppression of Mexicans and others, MIM
thinks the borders should be opened and the imperialists
should be deported.
- MC12
Note: White House Press Release 5/6/95.
* * *
CRACK-DOWN'S VICTIMS GET LONGER SENTENCES
The U.S. Sentencing Commission reports that the average
federal sentence for crack possession was 30.6 months in
1993. The average federal sentence for powder cocaine
was 3.2 months. Further, 73.8% of powder possession
cases got no prison time, compared to just 32% of crack
possession cases.
Current federal law requires the same mandatory minimum
sentencing for 5 grams of crack as for 500 grams of
powder cocaine (five years), and the same mandatory
minimum for 50 grams of crack as for 5,000 of powder
cocaine (10 years). Punishing crack users more than
powder cocaine users satisfies the reactionary anti-
crime crowd to the detriment of people busted for crack
use, who are more likely to be poor than powder cocaine
users.
- MC12
Note: The Third Branch 3/95 (Dept. of Justice
publication).
* * *
OKLAHOMA BOMBING BRINGS INCREASED REPRESSION
FOR REVOLUTIONARIES
by MC17
In the wake of the April bombing of the federal building
in Oklahoma we heard cries of "kill those nasty Arabs"
because many Amerikans assumed that an act that left so
many people dead must be the fault of those "Arab
terrorists" we hear so much about in the media. Ibrahim
Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in
Washington, DC said that many Muslims received death
threats after the Oklahoma bombing.(1) The Oklahoma City
home of Iraqi refugee Saher Al-Saidi, who was seven
months pregnant at the time, was attacked by vigilantes
the morning after the bombing. As her windows were
shattered with stones "she began experiencing abdominal
pain and internal bleeding; her baby was stillborn."(2)
Arabs and people opposed to white Amerikan chauvinism
were relieved to hear that the chase for suspects turned
entirely to white men. But with this shift in focus to
the militant fascist groups, revolutionaries should not
let down their guard.
The Democrats and Republicans are now working together
to beef up the FBI so that Amerikans can feel safer in
this supposedly free country. The Senate has been
conducting hearings on increasing the FBI's powers, but
the FBI representatives said that they don't think they
need expanded powers. They said that all they need are
more agents since they currently have the power to
infiltrate groups, gather information, and carry out
surveillance with only the belief that there might be
something worth investigating. The reality is that the
FBI can do whatever it wants: tap phones, infiltrate
organizations, follow individuals, search buildings,
censor mail, and kill. And not only *can* they do all
these things, they do: for more information see *Agents
of repression: The FBI's secret war against the Black
Panther Party and the American Indian Movement* by Ward
Churchill and Jim Vanderwall and *Break-ins, death
threats and the FBI: The covert war against the Central
America movement,* by Ross Gelbspan.
In a recent editorial Ross Gelbspan pointed out that the
current FBI guidelines "allow the Bureau to infiltrate
virtually any group it suspects of potential
lawlessness." In addition "it can tap telephones, faxes
and computer communications. It may even burglarize
homes and offices under specific circumstances which, to
this day, remain classified." Information that is now
available shows that in the 1980s the FBI conducted
investigations of 1,300 groups, mostly those opposed to
Reagan's Central America policies, during which the FBI
infiltrated groups, wiretapped phones, monitored mail
and followed the movements of thousands of activists. As
a part of this FBI campaign "the offices of over 200
political groups and churches were burglarized, their
membership files and donor lists stolen or copied. Much
of that material was subsequently discovered in FBI
files."(3)
While the FBI is currently making a show of focusing its
attention on the fascists, and it is possible that a few
of these militant armed groups will be hurt by this
attention, the FBI has historically infiltrated fascist
groups like the KKK, only to take part in the murder of
Blacks, Latinos and other oppressed peoples.(4) Beyond
the arrest of a few individuals, it is unlikely that the
white supremacists will be bothered because they are
usually only a threat to the part of the public that the
government does not care to protect: the oppressed
nations both inside and outside of this country.
An expanded FBI force means expanded power to repress
progressive people and groups, specifically targeting
revolutionaries, just as it has in the past. As a
comrade at New York Transfer News Service said "A new
form of McCarthyite thought is being nurtured, and we
believe it is extremely dangerous to our basic freedoms
in this "democracy" - much more dangerous than a few
thousand gun nuts running around in cammies on their
weekends."
Notes:
1. Detroit Free Press 4/20/95, p. 12A.
2. Valley Advocate, 5/2/95.
3. Boston Globe 5/12/95, p. 21.
4. Agents of Repression, p. 181-182.
* * *
L.A. REBELLION GOT MORE NEWS COVERAGE
Tyndall Weekly, a newsletter that tracks network news
coverage, reports that the Oklahoma City bombing was the
biggest network news story since the L.A. rebellion in
the spring of 1992. The bombing got an average of 17.2
minutes per network per night on the big three network
evening news programs for the first three days. That is
less than the L.A. rebellion got: 18.6 minutes per
network per night. The average top news story gets just
2.4 minutes. So for all the hype, the bombing appears
not to have grabbed attention quite as much as the
potential uprising of Amerika's captive nations. Maybe
it would have gotten more coverage if had been Islamic
rebels after all..
Note: Don Fitzpatrick Associates' Shoptalk, 4/26/95.
* * *
FBI CONTINUES EXPANSION
The Amerikan government justifies its expanding military
influence by defining national security issues as
anything that might disrupt Amerikan economic hegemony.
It is nothing new for the Amerikan government to
fabricate the need for its military presence in order to
protect economic interests, but the further expansion of
the FBI in East Central Europe serves to illustrate the
method that the U.S. uses to retain control.
The Clinton Administration is opening an FBI
international police training academy in Budapest. They
claim Amerikan "law enforcement is being exported in
response to the surge of international terrorism,
narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling and the potential
theft and sale of nuclear material."(1) In order to do
this, the Clinton administration has said that it is
redirecting manpower and resources to combat
international crimes.
Rather than merely "redirecting" resources, they are
being increased despite the death of the "Cold War"
excuse. The proliferation of Amerikan military
installations overseas has given the government the
power that it needs to fill the vacuum that the Soviet
Union left behind.
The FBI school in Budapest is officially set up to train
officials in dealing with crimes. The administration has
made it out to seem as if these officials do not
understand how to be pigs and therefore the US needs to
train them. The more striking reason that the US needs
to set up training installations is to increase the
stability of the countries not yet fully integrated into
the Western capitalist economy. Clearly the FBI is in
the former Eastern Bloc to make sure that strong
comprador relations are built in what Clinton hopes will
be America's newest colonies.
Note: NYT 4/17/95, p. A1 and A8.
* * *
MILITIAS WORK IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS
The bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma happened
last week. I re-read the Jan. MIM Notes article on GATT,
and it helped me clarify the political meaning of this
event.
"The grain of truth in the right-wing conspiracy
theories is that the U.S. multi-national corporations
that push for 'free trade' make their decisions in
closed boardrooms, and the settlers are often left in
the dark."(MN, Jan. 1995)
I gather that membership in organizations like the
Michigan Militia is solidly white, male working class.
MIM is right. These goons are fighting for *their*
freedom. And their freedom is based on the exploitation
of oppressed nations. I've been confused about whether
they benefit or not from GATT and NAFTA. Would you agree
that they will benefit or not based on how successfully
they struggle for "their share of the pie," that is, the
new super-profits that GATT and NAFTA allow
multinationals to steal from the international
proletariat? I agree that MIM and all *real*
revolutionaries shouldn't support this struggle.
It also should be pointed out that Clinton's righteous
indignation about the bombing is so much horse shit. The
U.S. government conducts terrorist attacks on other
nations all the time. And the majority of the white
settler nation always supports these attacks. The 125
people (including children) who died got a taste of what
the government they support does to people all over the
world.
- MAZ10
MC17 adds: This writer is correct that the militias are
struggling for their piece of the pie at the expense of
the oppressed of the world. Historically, as this
country has gotten wealthier, the white working class as
a whole has gotten wealthier. So it is likely that some
of the greater profits that the Amerikan imperialists
generate from GATT and NAFTA will be passed on to the
labor aristocracy. An important part of the parasitism
of the labor aristocracy is their struggle for a bigger
piece of the pie. As this writer suggests, the more they
fight for their "right" to a share in the exploitation
of the Third World, the more concessions they will get
from the imperialists. This is certainly a fight to
oppose.
Of course, even if we agreed with the political motives
of the bombers, MIM does not support any such armed
struggle at this time, without clear political purposes
and broad support among the oppressed. There is a lot of
non-lethal political work to be done in this country
before employing the political tools of violence.
* * *
POLICE ARRESTED FOR ATTACKS
AGAINST BLACKS, LATINOS IN NEW YORK
"Youth, Cynics and the 48th precinct" reads one
headline. "16 Police Officers Are Indicted" reads
another, and yet another, "...Brutality in the Bronx."
But what is really happening? Do we really know?
The headlines tell part of the story. On May 3, 1995,
over a dozen police from New York's 48th Precinct were
indicted. Charges include corruption, assault,
intimidation, menacing, larceny and insurance fraud. Big
deal, some would argue, we all know cops are pigs! But
the meat of the matter is the types of stuff that these
cops are charged with: one person, kicked and beaten by
police with their flashlights, was left unconscious,
badly bleeding, and charged with stealing a police radio
and resisting arrest. A second incident involved a man
whose pit bull dog and semiautomatic weapon were stolen
by police, and the person, in jail, was terrorized (the
cop put a gun in the man's mouth) because the man was
possibly going to report incidents of police brutality
he had seen in the community.(1)
What kind of neighborhoods make up the 48th Precinct?
They are poor members of oppressed nations. The
population: 107,000, 54% Latino, 42% Black. Unemployment
is officially 20% with 42.5% of people receiving public
assistance. Less than half the people have received a
high school diploma, and the median income is a little
over $12,000 a year.(2)
People in this area know the deal. Said one teenager,
"Sure, I once called 911 when there was some trouble,
but what alternative did I have? If I could have called
somebody else, *like the Panthers*, I would have."(3)
Indictments against police sometimes occur when public
sympathy is going strong against the police, to show
that the 'system works.' Well, that's bull. The system
does not work, and Blacks and Latinos face oppression of
untold proportion. We need a mass struggle for freedom
and liberation and we need it now!
- Blooming Tree
Notes:
1. NYT 5/4/95, p. A18.
2. 1990 Census figures.
3. NYT 5/6/95 p. 16, emphasis added.
* * *
WHAT UNPEACEKEEPERS DID IN KAMPUCHEA (CAMBODIA)
The 22,000-strong UN peacekeeping force which left
Cambodia in November last year has led to a ten-fold
rise in the incidence of HIV infection and a massive
increase in prostitution, according to a UN report.
During the troops' stay, the prostitute population of
Phnom Penh rose from 6,000 to 20,000 in less than a
year; and child prostitution rocked as the demand for
virgins - considered a low AIDS-risk - increased.
The Geneva-based charity, Defense for Children
International, reported that soldiers were prepared to
pay up to US$700 for virgins; the cost of sex with a
non-virgin child prostitute was less than US$15 a visit.
UN medical officers recorded more than 3,000 cases of
sexually-transmitted diseases among troops, and at least
150 men were diagnosed with HIV. AIDS education and
condoms were not issued to the peacekeeping force until
months into the mission.
Khmer Rouge radio accused the peacekeepers of spreading
AIDS throughout the country, claiming the troops had
left behind a "parasite to poison the nation."
The radio station also encouraged people to throw
excrement in the face of UN force chief Yasushi Akashi
before his departure.
- reprinted from Red Star: Platform for Communist
Revolutionaries (organ of the Communist Party of India
(Marxist-Leninist/Red Flag)), November 1994.
Thaikkattussery PO
Thrissur 680 322
Kerala, INDIA
* * *
EAST TIMOR'S FIGHT FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION
PROMPTS INDONESIAN FASCISM
On March 10 the editor of Kabar Dari Pijar, Tri Agus
Siswomihardjo, became the first in a series of arrests
of members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists
(AJI). AJI and the publication PIJAR were set up in
response to the clampdown on the press in June 1994.
After the arrest of Tri Agus, the security forces also
raided a nearby office of the Alliance of People's
Democracy and confiscated the organization's documents.
On March 17, AJI events were raided and five leading
journalists critical of the Indonesian government were
arrested. Search warrants for the journalists cited
Article 154 of the Criminal Code, "insulting the
government".(1)
Repression increases as liberation struggle gains ground
On March 4, 30 people were arrested in Liquisa, a small
town on the north coast of East Timor. This followed the
announcement by the National Commission for Human Rights
that the six people killed by the government on January
12 of this year were civilians. The names of the
villagers that were arrested were not released but "It
is feared that some may be villagers who agreed to be
questioned by the Commission in it search for evidence
about the atrocity" on January 12.(2)
The catalyst for the January 12 killings was a Timorese
guerrilla victory the previous day. In one of the
largest battles in years, one soldier was injured and
the guerrillas seized the soldier's weapons. The death
of one of the Timorese guerrillas was not enough, so
troops entered the village of Gariana to find the
guerrillas and killed the civilians. Of course the
government claims that all those killed were legitimate
targets because the civilians support the guerrillas.(3)
According to unofficial reports, five army officers have
been dismissed because of the killings. TAPOL, a
publication of the Indonesian Human Rights Campaign,
pointed out that "the armed forces may be compelled to
replace officers and discipline others as it did after
the Santa Cruz massacre but this would not lead to any
improvements. The international community should press
for the withdrawal of all military forces from occupied
East Timor."
GOVERNMENT DEATH SQUADS
Another tactic in the Indonesian government's fight
against the national liberation movement in East Timor
is the use of death squads, known as "ninjas". A member
of the parliament admitted that in January the ninjas
had killed at least eight pro-independence activists. He
also said that about 5,000 farmers had stopped tending
their fields due to fear of the ninjas, thus creating
more deaths through famine.(4) A Dili politician
reported that at least 30 people have "disappeared."(5)
On February 9, uniformed troops and ninjas raided the
house of a pro-independence activist, demolished the
house and those of his neighbors and arrested six young
men who have not been heard from since.(6)
On February 14, the Indonesian government deployed
troops throughout Dili claiming that this was to protect
the people from the ninja gangs. Considering the
collaboration between the death squads and the
government this was most likely a response to the Dili
neighborhood setting up its own protection squads.(7)
SUPPORT THE JUST STRUGGLE OF THE PEOPLE
The struggle for national liberation in East Timor is a
just struggle for self-determination against imperialist
domination. The growing fascism in Indonesia through the
crackdown on the press, the deployment of government
troops, and the support of death squads must be exposed.
The masses will not stand for further exploitation and
their protests are met with intensified repression that
must be defeated. The mainstream Amerikan press is
silent through all this, taking their cue from the
government who is hoping to preserve good relations with
the Indonesian government. People who support the right
of the East Timorese to self-determination need to
spread this information and organize in support of their
revolutionary struggle.
***For a very comprehensive description of the tactics
used by the Indonesian government to dominate East Timor
write: TAPOL-Canada, c/o ETAN-Canada, P.O. Box 562,
Station P, Toronto M5S 2T1.***
Notes:
1. TAPOL Bulletin: The Indonesian Human Rights Campaign,
No. 128, April 1995, pp. 1 and 17.
2. Ibid, p.4.
3. Ibid, p. 1 and 2.
4. AP 2/6/95.
5. Reuter 6/10/95.
6. CNRM press release 2/9/95.
7. Reuter 2/21/95.
* * *
GOLD IS DEADLY
Injustices in Azanian (South African) gold mines
"linger, despite the abolition of apartheid," according
to the Chicago Tribune. Those "lingering" injustices
brought more than 100 gold mine laborers crashing to
their deaths in a May accident. The deaths are part of a
proud mining tradition that kills many miners every
year. The Tribune says 70,000 have died in accidents in
the last 80 years.
Since the "end" of apartheid, the composition of the
mine workforce, and their conditions, have not improved.
At the Vaal Reef mines, Azanian workers get paid as
little as $114 a month to work 8-hour days six days per
week, with no breaks. That's about $.57 per hour. They
are migrants and live 18 to a room in hostels, with one
family visit allowed per year.
The gold they produce lines the ring fingers of women
and men of the rich countries, and the profits they
produce line the pockets of the First World and its
local hacks.
MIM uses Azanian gold miners as an example of class
exploitation and national oppression because of the
social relations under which the labor is performed and
the inequality imposed between rich and poor nations.
But we also call this gender oppression, since the
biological men who work the mines suffer domination of
their sexuality in the segregation from their families.
It is also gender oppression of the women who stay home
and take care of families with little or no money and
who have to work themselves without the help of their
husbands. This combined nation, class and gender
oppression in turn makes possible the decadent gender
relations in the rich countries - of which gold rings
are an especially egregious example.
- MC12
Note: Chicago Tribune 5/12/95.
* * *
LAND MINES CONTINUE TO KILL IN IRAQI-OCCUPIED KURDISTAN
AND ACROSS THE GLOBE
Amerikan "protection" of the Kurds within Northern Iraq
is not only meaningless in the wake of Turkish invasion,
but it does nothing against a hidden killer: land mines
that remain. The section of Kurdistan within Iraqi
borders arguably has more land mines per capita than any
other nation on earth, with estimates running as high as
ten million mines for a population of about five
million. Other areas in the globe contending for the top
spot are Angola and Afghanistan, which have a mine per
person and Kampuchea with two mines per person.
A British NGO working in the area has recorded a total
of 1400 deaths due to land mines in Southern Kurdistan,
but estimate that the death toll is probably twice that.
They are worst during the farming months, as Kurds work
in their fields amid mines laid by Iraq that the Iraqi
military did not bother to record the locations of.
Most of the mines in the area were made by Italian
companies and sold to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, but
the US and France are also contributors to the lethal
devices.
Globally, the deaths due to land mines are increasing.
While 800,000 mines were removed in 1994, 2 million new
ones were planted. As of January 1995, five hundred
persons are killed every week by mines. "Free
enterprise" by imperialist manufacturers will not curb
their trade; only the end of imperialist militarism will
end the genocide.
Note: Middle East Report, 4-5/95, p. 13.
* * *
SNAIL FEVER RAGES IN CHINA
It is reported that Snail fever, a disease transmitted
by parasites, has reappeared in China. It is spreading
rapidly in human beings as well as in animals. The
affected areas include provinces like Hupei, Hunan,
Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Sichuan. Already 6
crores [tens of millions] of people are affected. It
swells the victim's stomach and harms the liver. It can
lead to death.
In the pre-revolutionary period, it was one of the
curses of China. But through sustained efforts in the
1950s, it was completely eradicated. Not a single case
was reported for long. But with the degeneration of
China to the capitalist path and market system in the
1980s, it started making a comeback. As even public
health departments were run with the profit motive and
basic health measures were abandoned as a result of
privatization, the disease started spreading fast.
Now it has reached alarming proportions.
- reprinted from Red Star: Platform for Communist
Revolutionaries (organ of the Communist Party of India
(Marxist-Leninist/Red Flag)), January 1995.
Thaikkattussery PO
Thrissur 680 322
Kerala, INDIA
* * *
268 MILLION JOBLESS IN CHINA
Gone are the days of the 'iron rice-bowl' in China when
an employment and all basic amenities were assured to
all citizens by a socialist state. The 'porcelain rice-
bowl' offered by Deng, though it looks prettier outside,
is proved really porous and dirty accumulating social
disparity. The "socialist" market economy has started
creating extreme capitalist divisions, unemployment and
social tensions.
The Chinese labor ministry calculated in August that by
the turn of this century, 268 million will be jobless in
China. Many workers have been effectively laid off.
According to Chinese government sources, more than 1000
cases of major labor unrest took place in China in 1993.
"The labor markets in the central Chinese city of
Chengdu look little better than cattle markets.
Apathetic young people lounge behind metal bars, only
bothering to get up when local restaurant owners walk up
and down the street outside with loudhailers calling for
dish washers.
"Notices on the wall advertise jobs in hotels for
attractive young single women; the exact job
specifications are omitted. Girls carrying their school
leaving certificates gather around the recruiters...."
"Village social order is out of control," said an
article in last week's Legal Daily, putting the blame on
the hordes of directionless, jobless youths. The
People's Daily quoted government sources as warning that
"low economic incomes have caused some of the peasantry
to lose their psychological balance and slide into
crime...."
The post-Mao period of 18 years under Deng's capitalist
path has virtually reduced China to a neocolony, of
course comparatively better off that the other
neocolonies thanks to the great achievements in
socialist construction during the 27 years under Mao's
leadership.
- reprinted from Red Star: Platform for Communist
Revolutionaries (organ of the Communist Party of India
(Marxist-Leninist/Red Flag)), November 1994.
Thykkattussery PO
Thrissur 680 322
Kerala, INDIA
* * *
PETIT-BOURGEOIS UCLA GRADUATE STUDENTS
WANT BIGGER SHARE OF SUPERPROFITS
On April 26 and 27, many UCLA graduate students and
other UCLA community members staged a walkout. The short
strike was organized by the Student Association of
Graduate Students (SAGE), which works with the United
Auto Workers union (UAW). SAGE/UAW's goal is to gain
recognition from UCLA and to gain a contract. In other
words, SAGE wants to position itself to get a larger
share of UCLA's pie. But UCLA's pie is stolen - its
wages, library collection, manicured lawns and seismic
renovation construction all rest on the backs of the
toiling peasants and workers of the world's oppressed
nations. SAGE/UAW's central slogan: "The university
works because we do!" is a lie. The university works
because the international proletariat does.
* * *
ISRAEL'S AMERIKAN BOON
MIM has long maintained that the principal problem in
Palestine is U.S. imperialism, not Zionist Jewish
nationalism. Without the power of U.S. imperialism,
Zionism would not have been able to wreak such
destruction and oppression.
Israel maintains a pivotal role in U.S. imperialism's
control over the oil-producing Middle East. This is
illustrated by a few recent developments.
In May, President Clinton became the first sitting
president to address the annual conference of the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He was
joined by leading Republicans Newt Gingrich and Bob
Dole.
In his speech, Clinton outlined the strategy of U.S.
domination of the region, which includes aggression
against Iran, Iraq and Libya as the principal targets.
The speech followed Clinton's increased sanctions
against Iran, supposedly for terrorism but really
designed (like the war against Iraq) to prevent the rise
of regional powers that could challenge U.S. hegemony.
Clinton said: "Our measures to contain these rogue
nations are part of a larger effort to combat all those
who oppose peace [U.S. hegemony - MC12], because even as
we achieve great strides in resolving the age-old
conflict between Arabs and Israelis [U.S.-backed Israel
crushing Palestinian liberation aspirations - MC12],
there remains a struggle between those searching for
peace and those determined to deny it."
Then, to continuous applause, Clinton rattled off recent
arms sales to Israel: F-15-I fighter jets, $350 million
to develop the Arrow missile system, a new multiple-
launch rocket system, and access to supercomputers and
U.S. space launches.
Clinton and the major Republicans are singing the same
tune on this despite a minority of both parties who
oppose foreign aid. (As Clinton pointed out, foreign aid
is often a direct subsidy to U.S. corporations anyway.)
As an important symbolic act - rubbing Palestinian noses
in their defeat at the hands of U.S.-backed Israel -
Republican and Democrat members of Congress are backing
proposals to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel
Aviv to Jerusalem, which Israel claims as its capital
although it is disputed by Palestinians. The move is
meant to bolster the right wing of Israel's political
spectrum, and reap campaign money from pro-Israel groups
in the 1996 elections.
"Israel is on the front line of the battle of freedom
and peace, and Israel's strength is backed by America's
strength and our global leadership," Clinton said,
stressing the need "to prevent the isolationists [those
opposing foreign aid - MC12] from risking all that was
achieved in the Cold War and its aftermath." What was
achieved in the Cold War was the U.S. victory over
Soviet social imperialism and the subsequent unimpeded
dominance of the Middle East by Amerika. "Its aftermath"
is the Gulf War, in which Amerika slaughtered hundreds
of thousands of Iraqis to promote this new "peace."
Notes: White House Press Release, "Remarks by the
President to AIPAC Policy Conference" 5/7/95; "GOP
Leaders Offer Bill to Move U.S. Embassy in Israel," New
York Times News Service 5/10/95.
* * *
ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER
(BUT BOTH ARE BLOOD-STAINED)
Amerikan companies were delighted to hear: "Israel is
expected to sign an agreement with the United States for
the purchase of $400 million in weapons systems,
HA'ARETZ reported. Funds for purchasing the weapons will
come from Washington's annual military aid package to
Israel." MIM comments, Isn't the free market great?
Besides serving geopolitical interests, foreign military
aid is a direct subsidy to some of Amerika's most
powerful companies.
- MC12
Note: Israel Line 5/3/95 (Israeli Foreign Ministry).
* * *
REVIEW: ONCE WERE WARRIORS
Review by MC17
Made in New Zealand, this movie takes on the topics of
domestic violence, gender and nation without falling
into the typical pseudo-feminism of First World
filmmakers. The story revolves around a family, the
mother is Maori (native) and the father seems to be from
a different oppressed nation (he refers to himself as
"black"). They have five children and as we enter the
husband has begun beating his wife. They are facing
difficult times economically: the husband was laid off
so he is receiving welfare (which he points out is only
a few dollars a week less than he made when he was
working).
The film follows a long struggle between the main
character and her husband through which she realizes
that he is not going to give up beating her and that his
wild and drunken lifestyle is messing up their kids. One
kid is taken away to a foster home because his mother
can't show up in court to defend the family since she
was badly beaten the night before. A daughter (at age
13) is raped by one of the father's friends and she is
devastated. After some particularly traumatic and
violent family experiences, the woman decides to leave
the marriage and take the kids back to her Maori family.
Here the question of gender and domestic violence is
handled realistically. This woman does have the option
of leaving the relationship, as do the majority of women
in First World countries. The movie avoids the
paternalism of many films of similar topics by making it
clear that this woman is strong enough to come up with
her own resources and make decisions for herself. It
also does not deceive people into thinking that all
women who leave violent relationships are in danger for
their lives. While this is true for an important
minority of these relationships, the number at risk is
very small.
Dealing with conflicts between oppressed nations, this
movie does pretty well. It makes it clear that the
intersection between nation and gender oppression is
complex. One son finds strength through Maori culture,
but at the same time we learn that the husband was never
accepted by the woman's family because he was "black"
and not good enough for her. This is not dealt with in
depth but scratches the surface of both class and nation
conflicts within the oppressed nations.
* * *
REVIEW: MORE FEROCIOUS THAN A PAPER PANTHER;
VAN PEEBLES' *PANTHER* PROMOTES THE BPP
Melvin and Mario Van Peebles' new film *Panther* is a
fine piece of film making. A solid break from mind-
numbing irrelevant fluff like the latest Highlander
flick (the younger Van Peebles' most recent previous
acting effort - pthewy!), *Panther* encourages
discussion and debate on the history of the 1960s
vanguard, the Black Panther Party (BPP). The early parts
of the film appear to be based largely on BPP
Chairperson Bobby Seale's history of the BPP, *Seize the
Time* - incorporating most of the incidents Seale
describes as the Party's formative experiences.
It is unfortunate that *Panther* messes with the order
in which many of these formative events occurred and
relies on dramatic fiction rather than real history
through much of the story line. Overall the release of
*Panther* is a positive event in Amerikan culture: this
movie popularizes the Black Panther Party, the most
advanced Maoists in the U.S. in the 1960s. MIM hopes
audiences will take this film as encouragement to find
out more about the history of the BPP.
*Panther* gives audiences some idea of the events and
discussions that drove the formation of the BPP, and
develops a number of questions that anyone interested in
learning from the BPP should ask. *Panther* addresses
difficult issues in the BPP's history - although in
several important instances it resorts to fictitious
representation rather than verifiable fact. The film
tackles issues of infiltration, bourgeois pressures on
party members, FBI aggression against the Party, the
correctness or lack thereof in the BPP's approach to
community self-defense and the Party's struggle against
cultural nationalism.
That struggle against cultural nationalism was made most
clear in the scene in which Huey Newton challenged the
fake Black Panthers, forcing them to give up the name
"panther" and discrediting them in the eyes of the
masses by exposing their bad line. This makes the
important point that while cultural nationalists are not
allies, bourgeois revolutionary nationalists (the Van
Peebles) are.
The strength of *Panther's* portrayal of the Party's
infiltration is its emphasis on how destructive
suspicion can be to a party. Some Panthers in this film
watch and spy on each other, and get into physical
fights over accusations of infiltration. MIM has learned
from the BPP's history that infiltration is very
difficult to prevent, and reaffirms that protection of
the correct line is decisive in a determining a party's
course. The most important defense against infiltrators
is political education and struggle with all recruits
and party members. This way we can be assured that
overall the party's line will be correct.
The representation of Minister of Information Eldridge
Cleaver demonstrates that initiating armed struggle
before the party is strong enough and before the state
is weak enough is ultraleft, and that Cleaver's anti-
ideology line was incorrect. Yet MIM calls the Van
Peebles to task for making it look as if Little Bobby
Hutton, the first Black Panther martyred in the
struggle, was killed in a Panther-initiated "fire-fight"
orchestrated by Cleaver. The notion that little Bobby
got what Eldridge Cleaver deserved is a dangerous
fiction. This portrayal masks the reality of how very
little the Panthers did to "provoke" pig attacks.
The principal weaknesses of *Panther* stem from the film
makers' unwillingness to take responsibility for their
own analysis of the history of the BPP. They dodge the
issue, saying that their film is only one possible
interpretation of that history, and is based on a novel,
not on research. It is true in the strictest sense that
it is possible and necessary to interpret history. Yet
much of the Van Peebles' representation replaces
provable fact with fiction. And as all materialists
know: there is only one correct interpretation of
history. This correct interpretation explains the
masses' place in it, and enables them to seize greater
control of it.
People watching *Panther* should know that the BPP's
communism was not fiction. Nor was the all-out assault
by COINTELPRO - the FBI's Counter Intelligence Program,
a project designed specifically to disrupt progressive
political activity within the U.S.
The Black Panther Party was a Maoist vanguard. While
*Panther* shows young comrades selling *Quotations from
Chairman Mao* to earn money for guns, it does not
portray the deep ideological influence Mao's writings
and the practice of socialism in China at the time had
on Huey Newton and the BPP.(1)
Especially in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing and
the conspiracy theories being spouted by Amerika's
right, activists need to understand the history of the
Black Panther Party's infiltration and destruction. The
conspiracy theories from the right can be easily
discredited because they are false - contending, for
example, that the UN controls Amerika when in fact
material analysis shows the opposite relation. However,
the Van Peebles have historical experience to back them
up in their contention that the FBI was at war with the
Black Panther Party. But, MIM has not seen evidence that
then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover feared the BPP because
he feared Chinese and Russian invasion as the film
suggested. Hoover argued that the Panthers' Serve the
People Programs were dangerous in their own right - that
the Breakfast Programs were "nefarious activity" which
had to be stopped.(2)
Elaine Brown, a former Black Panther leader, says that
the legacy of the Black Panther Party is better served
with the film *Panther* than without it. MIM has little
other agreement with this BPP revisionist, yet this
point is correct. The film is raising interest in the
BPP among the generation of youth now the age the
Panthers were in the 1960s - and provokes anger at
government repression. It can help spur them on to
working for the BPP's goal of national self
determination. Maoism is not a far leap from
revolutionary nationalism, since it is the most
effective means to national liberation. Popularizing
this fact in Amerika was one of the Panthers' great
contributions to U.S. communism. Bourgeois nationalists
like the Van Peebles are allies in the struggle at this
point, and they prove themselves so by promoting the
BPP. MIM looks forward to struggling with individuals
inspired by *Panther* to join us in taking up the
proletarian line.
Notes:
1. Order MIM Theory 7, *Proletarian Feminist National
Liberation on the Communist Road*. Send $4.95 to
the address below.
2. Segment from PBS television series Eyes on the Prize.
* * *
UNDER LOCK & KEY
CROSSROAD ACTIVIST REMARKS ON POLITICAL PRISONERS
greetings, following is the text of my remarks at a
recent benefit for 'black political prisoners' organized
by pfoc [Prairie Fire Organizing Committee] and crsn
[Crossroad Support Network]. any comments, criticisms,
questions and/or suggestions will be appreciated.
rebuildin', hondo t'chikwa, 3/5/95
Good Evening,
i would like to welcome you all out tonight and
personally thank each and every one of you for attending
this benefit honoring Black political prisoners. On
behalf of the CROSSROAD Support Network, the many New
Afrikan Political Prisoners, Prisoners of War, and
politicized prisoners who cannot be here, and the 27-
years young New Afrikan Independence Movement - i give
you our revolutionary greeting: FREE THE LAND! Now, i
just want to talk to you briefly about this work to
benefit political prisoners and prisoners of war. First
of all, We want to look at the problem concretely;
secondly, We want to work for their benefit in the
ideological, theoretical, and political realms; thirdly,
We want to do this work with some critical grasp of the
past quarter-century of struggle to free political
prisoners. Ruchell Magee has been in prison for over 30
years! The New York Three have been down since 1971!
Sundiata's been locked up since 1973! i could go on - my
point is that We should try to learn the history of this
work. Concretely
In their statements, the brothers made this aspect
crystal clear! They want visits, cash, correspondence...
and freedom. Freedom to come to programs like this;
freedom to work on solving family problems in the middle
of the night; freedom to hug their children and wake up
next to a mate tomorrow morning. So it's our duty to do
whatever We can to make these things happen. i think
that We must also pound away at the question of "how
long is long enough?" We've got to sharpen our critique
of the politics of parole; where "seriousness of the
offense" is used as an excuse to hide the fact that
capitalist amerikkka places more value on first police
life, then white life, than on the life of a colonized
New Afrikan, Puerto Rican, Mexicano, or indigenous
person. Not to mention that many of these brothers have
been "rehabilitated" (if you want to go for that!).
Ideo-politically Now, i wanna turn to the struggle to
benefit these captured combatants ideologically and
politically. We must give them voice; help to break down
the state-imposed veil which comes down when folks get
locked up. It has always irritated me to see a flyer or
brochure urging support for a prisoner or groups of
prisoners, with no indication of how to contact them
directly. So, if you raise the issue, make sure you give
a current address. Let them speak for themselves. Then,
agitate, educate, organize and mobilize around the
issue: amerikkka uses prison as a weapon against
national liberation movements, and other movements for
social change. Increasingly, amerikkkan imperialism is
going to try to genocide these movements out of
existence - giving the death penalty to freedom
fighters. This is naked, terrified power; don't
legitimize it by doing a lot of fence-sitting. After
over 500 years of genocide, do you really think that
amerikkka can sit in judgment of his victims? One more
thing, educate yourselves! About our movements, about
settler history, about scientific socialism and how
capitalism works. i'll close this section with a quote
from Le Duan, 1st Secretary of the Vietnamese Workers
Party: "The goal of learning should not be limited to
raising our level of knowledge. Rather it is to achieve
the best results in our productive labor, our work, and
our struggle." - Intensify your self-education efforts!
Now, briefly, let me say a little bit more, then i'll be
done. In our community, and in all communities, We've
got to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable.
This is of the utmost importance. i say this knowing
that all of y'all don't accept this notion of Afrikans
being a colonized nation and having a historical right
to the southeastern portion of this rock We're on.
That's not important; but this is: is my work, our work,
our practice worthy of your recognition, and maybe even
support in some fashion (however limited it may be?)
This measure of respect is crucial; and whether folks
want to accept it or not, revolutionary nationalism
appeals to a lot of our people. The government, with the
support of the masses of North amerikkkans, offers only
crime bills, death penalties, workfare, lockdowns,
control units, more prisons, and tokens. Which would you
choose? ReBuild!
- Crossroad activist hondo t'chikwa, 3/5/95
MARYLAND: A CALL TO ACTION!
STOP The Maryland Department of Corrections! A
communique for an inmate who has been confined in
Maryland's Supermaximum facility (Maryland Corrections
Adjustment Center) for over 2 years:
"Conditions here at the State of Maryland's Supermaximum
facility are completely shocking. The warden continues
to institute methods of punishment through physical and
mental torture, some of which even the notorious Marion
Federal Prison hasn't seen. Prisoners have resorted to
very sick and disturbing practices as a result of Warden
Sweall Smith's 'make it as he goes' policy. Prisoners
use human waste (feces) as weapons. The method of
throwing it or spraying it on other prisoners and guards
is referred to as 'chemical warfare'. All the
frustration and conflict are a result of being locked in
99% of the time as no one is guaranteed walks or
showers. Physical and psychological abuse is a daily
part of this sick program. For example, one method of
controlling out-of-line prisoners is to spray them down
the chemical mace after which guards then beat them with
sticks. Then, perhaps, you may end up in the hole where
you are stripped naked and chained in what is called a
'three piece'. A three piece means you are chained at
your hands, waist and ankles. No sooner than you hit the
hole, an order is issued for the blowers to be turned
on. The blowers are extremely powerful. For instance, if
the temperature is 40 degrees in the room, the blowers
will make it feel as if it is 0 degrees. In the hole
areas there are no mattresses, no blankets and no
sheets. You are left chained like a wild animal for 1 to
7 days."
The Maryland Penal System headed by Secretary Bishop
Robinson, Commission Richard Lanhan, and Parole
Commissioner Paul Davis has earned a reputation as one
of America's cruelest and racist as attributed to the
following:
* Over-crowded conditions due to Maryland's 20,000
prison population - currently 60% over-capacity and
increasing an average of 100 per month - resulting in
health hazards such as record high outbreaks of
tuberculosis, in particular, at a Hagerstown facility
where 400 of 1,900 inmates tested positive.
# Upscale inmate control mechanisms such as the modeling
of a supermaximum facility, Maryland Corrections
Adjustment Center (MCAC), after Illinois' infamous
Marion Prison, where inmates are subjected to inhumane
punishment such as 23 1/2 hour-a-day solitary
confinement.
# Escalated repression as demonstrated by removal of 134
inmates serving life sentences from the work release
program because of the actions of one individual
involved in a murder-suicide. Please note that many of
these individuals on work release had been at that
status for years with no violations.
# Decreased focus on education, drug treatment,
vocational training and rehabilitation due to the 'law
and order' punishment mentality of prison
administrators.
# Untrained and under-educated prison employees lack
basic knowledge of Department of Corrections (DOC)
regulations.
# Biased grievance process due to an incompetent
administrative board comprised of DOC staff members who
oftentimes express prejudicial notions about the
aggrieved, demonstrated by failure to acknowledge
violation(s).
# Sexist dress codes formulated by wardens at each
institution (no state-established visiting room dress
code is established) implemented by guards at random.
For example, Jessup Pre-Release Unit allows for no
spandex pants which has been expanded to include NO
cotton straight leg pants considered to be revealing or
provocative as defined by guards. This results in denial
of visiting privileges for family and friends who
oftentimes must travel long-distances. Please write
Maryland Governor Parris Glendening to encourage him to
make new appointments for both the Department of Public
Safety and Department of Corrections. TO NOT FOCUS ON
REHABILITATION AND/OR ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION IS
GENOCIDE FOR BLACKS IN THE U.S.!
Write to: Governor Parris Glendening State House 100
State Circle Annapolis, Maryland 21401
For more information:
BlackWatch Grassroots Network c/o Jennifer Smith 3802
14th St. N.W., #511 Washington, D.C. 20011 (202) 291-
0875
- Prison Activist Resource Center, 5/3/94
URGENT APPEAL FOR SEKOU KAMBUI
This man's parole hearing is set for Monday; instead of
the thirty (30) days notice that We were supposed to
have, his wife was notified yesterday of the hearing.
Please send your letter(s) of support asap.
- hondo for CR/SN (Crossroad Support Network)
SUPPORT PAROLE FOR SEKOU KAMBUI!
Sekou Kambui is of Afrikan/Cherokee heritage, born on
September 6, 1948, in Gasden, Alabama. He was raised by
his mother/grandparents, and aunt in Detroit, Michigan;
Harlem, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and Birmingham,
Alabama respectively. He is presently 46 years old.
Throughout the 1960's, Sekou participated in the Civil
Rights Movement, organizing youth for participation in
demonstrations and marches across Alabama and providing
security for meetings for SCLC, CORE, SNCC and other
programs. Sekou is a paralegal professional and active
jailhouse lawyer and prisoner rights activist for more
than 20 years.
Sekou became affiliated with the Black Panthers in 1967
in Chicago and New York. While in Detroit, he became a
member of the Republic of New Afrika, before returning
to Birmingham. In Birmingham, Sekou coordinated
community organization activity with the Alabama Black
Liberation Front, the Inmates for Action (IFA), and the
Afro-Amerikan People's Party in the mid-1970's.
Charges and trials:
Sekou was falsely arrested on January 2, 1975, and
charged with the murder of two white men; (1) a KKK
official out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and the other (2) a
multi-millionaire oil man out of Birmingham. Sekou's
first trial took place on May 22, 1975 in the Tuscaloosa
County Circuit Court; the second trial took place on
August 3, 1975 in , Jefferson County Circuit Court,
Birmingham, Alabama. Sekou was convicted in both trials
and sentenced to life in both cases, with sentences to
run consecutively....
Issues at trial:
In both trials, witnesses were coerced and threatened by
police officials; testimony was perjured; evidence all
circumstantial and/or manufactured to implicate Sekou's
involvement with person assumed responsible for the
crime. Defense witnesses presented an unshakable alibi
defense; However, coerced witnesses stipulated that
"Sekou admitted to having killed two white men." Never
was Sekou placed anywhere near the scene of the two
murders; no murder weapon was found nor any direct
evidence offered to connect Sekou to the murders.
The defense witnesses in the first trial were so
terrified after continuous threats and racial
intimidation by the Birmingham police for providing
alibi testimony that they fled Alabama before the second
trial, leaving Sekou without a defense to support the
contention that he was not at the scene of the second
murder...
In 1985, both trial counsels admitted to having
destroyed all files regarding both murder convictions.
The claim made at that time was that "law requires a
trial counsel to hold files only seven (7) years. This
may be true, however, it is accepted legal practice that
any case which has not gone through the post conviction
process is held, or at least, converted to microfiche
for more permanent holding.
Major witnesses in both cases admitted during
investigation in 1985 that they had been forced to
testify against Sekou and had been repeatedly visited by
certain members of the Birmingham Police Department as
well as the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.
Evidence presented during both trials was manufactured
to make it appear that Sekou had conspired with the
perpetrator of both murders, if not actually
participating in the murders. In addition to the
manufactured evidence, the Court clearly erred in
dividing the trials, making it appear that there was no
connection between the two murders and no issue of time
constraints. These murders occurred within a very short
span of time in two separate counties in December when
the roads were terribly slippery and difficult to
traverse.
The physical impossibility of Sekou's having been in the
locations in which he was placed by his alibi witnesses
precludes his having killed two men in two different
locations in the span of time the state alleges by its
own testimony these two killings took place. None of
this evidence has ever been presented properly in any
court of law either at state or federal level.
The pre-trial publicity involving both murders was
intense, including a story in a popular "crime" magazine
of the time. The trial court, however, refused a motion
for a change of venue; appeals court affirmed and cited
that the defense counsel had failed to support his
allegations of pre-trial publicity and had failed to
answer questions regarding possible prejudice said
publicity had upon the defense during trial ... upon the
defense during trial.
The nature of the case itself remains so intense that
during the 1985 investigation of the crime, persons in
Tuscaloosa vividly recalled details of the murder, the
accused (Sekou), and the entire issue of the killing.
Even the time frame of the murders was still recalled.
Finding evidence of pre-trial publicity was not
difficult; considering further the racial nature of the
case, the publicity was enhanced, even with photographs
of the accused in handcuffs.
In the second case in Birmingham, the evidence at trial
is even weaker than that offered in Tuscaloosa. The
connections between Sekou and this crime so tenuous and
convoluted that it is impossible to present the issues
here...
Continuing legal proceedings:
The legal challenge to both convictions has been
continuously thwarted by the unavailability of both
transcripts, the seizure of legal materials by the
Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) over nearly
twenty (20) years, and the repeated, retaliatory
transfers which presently number four in only five years
(between 1988 and 1993). The repeated seizures of legal
mail resulted in a Civil Action in U.S. Federal District
Court - C.A. No: 85-0795-P-M, which went to trial in
March, 1989. The issues in this case included: 1.
Confiscation of all legal-trial preparation materials;
2. Confiscation of law books; 3. Denial of visitation
with paralegal aide; 4. Threats to interfere with
upcoming parole;
Upon trial, the State was forced to produce said
documents they had labeled "security risks" and
"contraband." The courty risks" and "contraband." The
Court ruled that all such documents did not violate the
DOC's security interests in prison order and discipline.
Despite the victory in court, however, the wealth of
legal documents and books already confiscated were never
returned. All prison claims to have returned these
documents to the outside paralegal proved false; no
papers or books have ever been returned.
An interesting note in this trial occurred when the
state was forced to show collections of writing they had
obtained from political prisoner-type magazines from as
far away as Canada with articles written by Sekou, which
the ADOC claimed proved his security risk. Any and all
forms of revolutionary rhetoric have caused severe
paranoia on the part of ADOC officials, a few of them in
particular, where Sekou is concerned.... Sekou has
written numerous lawsuits against the Alabama Department
of Corrections over his twenty years in the ADOC. His
co-authorship of the James v. Wallace, Pugh v. Locke,
and Newman v. State of Alabama, 406 F. Supp. throughout
the early 70's - '76, '77, and '78, won a court order
declaring the Alabama prison system unconstitutional.
A large number of inmates owe their freedom to Sekou's
legal efforts on their behalf. He has won numerous other
civil actions regarding medical malpractice, abusive
treatment, abusive segregation, abusive prison
conditions, all of which have earned him nothing but
retaliatory transfers and continuing, unabated enmity by
officials of the ADOC.
In the last ten years, the harassment pattern of the
ADOC (in collusion with the Alabama Board of Pardons and
Paroles) has been clear. Sekou has been "up" for parole
in 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1993 - denied each time and set
off. And prior to every parole consideration, there has
been a seriously disruptive transfer and tremendous
harassment, both physical, mental, and racial. Behind
every transfer has been a legal action taken by Sekou on
behalf of another inmate or against the institution
itself for its pattern of abuse against the inmates or a
particular group of inmates....
Prison records/files on Sekou
Despite a clear prison record of ten years, Sekou has
never received the benefit of work release or more
exercise of his minimum custody level. When he did have
the opportunity to participate in the prison program
Free By Choice, which permitted him to travel outside
the prison and speak to church and youth groups, he was
then transferred to Easterling which has no such
program. Each time Sekou has won a case against the ADOC
for any of its discriminatory policies and practices,
the ADOC has then changed its rule to thwart this
victory and deny Sekou the benefit of his own legal
victory. This has happened so often that nobody close to
him even considers this application of ex post facto
laws "strange" anymore.
Despite repeated requests for the information used by
the ABPP in considering Sekou for parole (and then
denying same), the Board has never once provided such
documentation.... Despite the issuance of Board
guidelines for prisoners and their families to follow in
preparing for parole, the family and friends of Sekou
have been made aware that these guidelines don't apply
to prisoners such as Sekou.
Sekou remains an innocent man in prison, a victim of the
continuing racist conspiracy to silence the voice of the
righteous and quell the movement for empowerment of his
people. The twenty years of harassment, oppression, and
abuse testify abundantly to the depths of hostility and
acrimony generated by the tyrannical ADOC in response to
the drive for human and civil rights by one man - Sekou
Cinque Kambui.
Letters of support and petitions should be sent to the
following address:
Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles ATTN: Chairman John
Nettles 501 Dexter Avenue Lurleen Wallace Bldg.
Montgomery, AL 36130 334-242-8700; 334-242-1809 (FAX)
Sekou C.T.M. Kambui Defense Committee ATTN: Aysha
De'Jenaba Kambui 2233 Second St., South Birmingham, AL
35205 205-322-1047
Sekou C.T.M. Kambui (William J. Turk, AIS #113058) P.O.
Box 10 (6A100) Clio, AL 36017
- Crossroad Support Network, 5/3/95
THE ROSENBERG FUND FOR CHILDREN
The Rosenberg Fund for Children was established to
provide for the educational and emotional needs of
children whose parents have been harassed, injured, lost
jobs, or died in the course of their progressive
activities and who, therefore, are no longer able to
adequately care for their children. Professionals and
institutions will be awarded grants to provide the
children with services at no or reduced cost. For more
information, write to:
Rosenberg Fund for Children 1145 Main Street, Ste. 408
Springfield, MA 01103
NATIONAL PHONE-IN CAMPAIGN TO FLORENCE PRISON
***Want to do something about the torture and oppression
of prisoners in Amerika? The best way is to join MIM to
help end the system. In the mean time, while we are
building public opinion and organizing for revolutionary
change, you can also take smaller actions that may help
some of the prisoners in Amerika.***
The National Committee to Free Puerto Rican POW's and
Political Prisoners-Boston Chapter is issuing an urgent
call to action. Call the Florence, Colorado Federal
Prison at (719) 784-9496. Ask for Warden William Storey
or his assistant. Once he or his executive assistant is
on line, tell him you are calling about Puerto Rican
POW/Political Prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera (#87651-024),
Thomas Manning (#10372-016) and Raymond Levasseur
(#10376-016). Demand an end to sleep deprivation and
strip searches immediately. Demand freedom for all
Puerto Rican political prisoners unconditionally. Demand
the closure of the ADX Florence Gulag for torture and
sensory deprivation.
Callers should be aware that prison personnel have
denied the torture. The following answers are
recommended to such statements from prison personnel: 1.
They are lying and we won't believe them. 2. They
shouldn't speak as if they were friends, they are their
jailers. 3. They should refuse to participate in the
torture as some U.S. soldiers refused to massacre
Vietnamese in the Vietnam war.
The dates for the calls are Mondays: June 26 and July
24.
HEY, LAWYERS!
Want to fight the fascist outrages covered monthly in
Under Lock & Key? Well, you're in a perfect position to
do it! Prisoners often ask us for legal help, so if
you're a progressive lawyer, please write to us! We'd be
happy to hook you up with ways to serve the people. Same
goes for paralegals and law students. Write to MIM
Distributors, P.O. Box 29670, Los Angeles, CA 90029-
0670.
![[About]](/archive/etext/gifs/0_about.gif)
![[Contact]](/archive/etext/gifs/0_contact.gif)
![[Home]](/archive/etext/gifs/0_home.gif)
![[Art]](/archive/etext/gifs/art.jpg)
![[Movies]](/archive/etext/gifs/movies.gif)
![[Black Panthers]](/archive/etext/gifs/blackpanther.gif)
![[News]](/archive/etext/gifs/0_hotnews.gif)
![[RAIL]](/archive/etext/gifs/0_rail.gif)