Socialist Outlook

Socialist Viewpoint, International, Socialist Outlook and their supplements, 1984–2002

Don't just get Angry

Liberation no. 9, Spring 1996 · 2,142 words

Racism and anti-fascism Europe Asylum and migration France

starvation, environmental devastation, exploitation and injustice make you angry... If you rejest the idea that they are somehow "inevitable " or permanent features of human society...

Then, like us, you've probably thought a lot about how to change the world. Simply wishing things would get better is not enough. Working alone you can change some things a little, for a while; working together with others, you can change the world. • Liberation! is a newspaper produced by and for young people working together against poverty and injustice.

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close two first class stamps. • Send me the last 4 issues of Liberation!. I enclose 4 first class stamps.' Name Address I to Liberution! PO Box 1109 London Post Code Age Tel the Torles of trying to boost their crumbling. support from the electorate. It is also aimed at cutting welfare spending. Having lead the economy into crisis, the Tories are desperate funds to manufacture the "feel good factor" that they usualy attempt before a general election. The socia security changes have already found numerous stumbling blocks. The Toriesa originally aimed at introducing their benefit cuts on g Januarv, but were forced to postpone them until 5 February. Lillys were aimed to include existing claimants. Anger at the estimated 13,000 people who would be thrown on the streets overnight forced a partial retreat to include only future claims. On February 5 the high court ruled that these changes should be postponed a second time, following a legal challenge from the Joint Committee for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI). he need by British capital for a labour force that could carry out a programme of reconstruction immed!ately after the second world war meant that Immigration was positively encouraged from the Indian sub-contifrom the mid 60s went geria until outrage followhand in hand with succes- ing the execution of Ken sive legislation from 1965 Saro-Wiwa and eight other to 1971 under both La- activists forced the government to withdraw this. bour and Tory governOther countries on the ments to Testacl immigration, though peo- "white list" are likely to ple who are granted the include Sri Lanka and Alright to live in Britain still geria. The Home Secretary will be able to add more have the same right to welfare benefits and social countries to this list at his provision as all other citi- discretion without re ACTIO course to banalicil. Despite the Tories chauvinist rhetoric against he legacy of this imEuropean integration the perialist past is that bill will mean that anyone there is now a large set- refused asylum in any tled black community in other European country Britain, the vast major- will automatically be reIty of whom are British fused asylum in Britain. citizens. This will be achieved Get Active! * Build the National demonstration on February 24. Try raising funds to book coaches through trades councils, student unions, Labour Party branches etc.. * Organise stalls with leaflets publicising the demo. * Affiliate to CAIAB and raise a resolution in your Trade Union, Student Union, Labour Party etc. 0171 247 9907. the bill have used this to start to implement apartheid style "pass laws". A number of hospitals, for example, have written to Doctors in their area asking them to check the immigration slalus of patients before they are referred to hospital for treatment.

Ithough public lopinion has turned against the IAB - It's not enough. A determined Government will force through its policies regardless of It.

We need to organise. The Campaign Against the Immigration and Asylum Bill (CAIAB) has 'already brought together Trade unions, Labour rarty activists, churen groups, anti-racist bodies and refugee organisations. Local branches are emerging in most major towns and cities. If there isn't one where you live, why not try to set one up.

Local groups should campaign for Labour Parties or local Councils to resist the social security cuts and for public sector workers to retuse to carry out immigration checks on claimants. A mass campaign backed up by trade union action can force the Tories to scrap their plans.

• Racism • Europe • youth camp • Tear Down The Walls of Fortress Europe • Adam Hartman tion and Asylum Bill is another brick in the wall of Fortress Europe. This wall is designed to exclude noncltizens both Inside and outside the Euro pean Union from Its prosperity. It is cen- ASylum seekers imprisoned in Fortress Europe tral to the project of European integration.

The Single European Act (SEA) opens internal borders to the free movement of EU nationals, allowing them to live, work and get welfare anywhere in the EU.

At the same time It restricts entry into the EU from outside and enter the EU. The denies the right of free movement and settlement to non-citi. zens resident within. trast, the three The SEA harmonises. the Immigration pollcles of member states, so that the most restrictive becomes the norm. Un- at people accountable institutions are being set up to direct EU im- at black people. migration policy.

Fortress Europe Is Europe also faces deeply racist. In 1994, a list of 127 countries was drawn up where nationals would need visas to Meet 1000 young socialists from sixteen European countries at this Socialists against racism and fascism Ing Ernest Mandel's 'Learn the Lessons of Germany' — explains to defeat them. This 128 page book is avallable POST FREE to Liberation! readers. Send a cheque or postal order for £4.95 to "Socialist Outlook Fund', PO Box 1109, London, N4 2UU.

have already had probpopulations of these lems entering and stay. countries are predomi- Ing In the EU. nantly black. In con- Economic crisis Is an underlying cause of Commonwealth coun- Fortress Europe. Durtries exempted from Ing the 1950s and the list are "white". early 1960s an ecoExternal border con- nomic boom In Westtrols are almed mainly ern Europe created a In the Third demand for immigrant World, whilst Internal workers from the excontrols are targeted colonles In Africa, Asia and the CaribHowever, Fortress bean. But in the late 1960s/early 1970s, East. Refugees fleeing the economies slowed war and ethnic cleans- down and went into reIng in Eastern Europe, cession. Governments notably ex-Yugoslavla, introduced laws to redawn!!. Socialist Outlook Books sons are these from the anti-fascism struggles of the 1920s and 1930s? This compelling collection of marxist essays - Includthe roots of European racism and fascism, and the strategy needed strict Immigration. Fascist partles like the British National Front called for repatrlation of Immigrants, and mainstream parties played the race card In elections. As public spending was cut and unemploy. ment rose, immigrants were blamed for taking jobs and services "belonging" to white people. They were scapegoated for the problems caused by recession: Today, it is almost impossible to enter In a more than friendly atmosphere discuss ideas, exchange experiences, and develop an alternative future on a world scale. Also bake In the sun, swim in the rivers and party until countries and "carrier lability" laws which fine airlines for carryIng passengers without the required travel documents. They have tightened the defin!• tion of refugee to exclude those fleeing unofficial armed groups. The Schengen Act al. lows EU states to turn away asylum-seekers already rejected by another EU state. At the EU Edinburgh Summit In 1992 the Ad-Hoc Group on Immigration proposed that asylumseekers "should seek protection from their own authotities or the first safe country". the EU legally to Governments clalm work. Most new Immi- that Europe is being grants are asylum- "flooded" by bogus seekers and refugees scrounging unauthorlsed mi- off "our"'"' welfare grants. The latter numstate. But the main ber about 4 million In burden of supporting the EU. As Illegal imml- refugees falls upon grants they have no poor countries. Only welfare or employ- 700,000 of the ment rights, laying world's recognised them open to Intense refugees live in Europe. exploltation by their The real welfareemployers. scroungers are the EU governments are governments and trying to stop refu- banks who are robbing gees entering Europe. the Third World of wetThey have Imposed fare. Britain forces visa requirements on poor countries to cut refugee-producing health care and educaThe central theme addressed at this camp is Anti-Racism. There will also be discussions on state and police repression, women's liberation, school and student struggles, InternationalIsm, socialism and much more. Join the Liberation! delegation from Britain now! If you're skint, we have several schemes to help you afford the trip. Name Liberation! is in solidarity with Address the Fourth International, a revoPost Code lutionary organisation Tel with supporters In over forty countries.

tion in order to repay debts to Western banks. This robbery has a long history. The Industrial revolution in Europe was financed by profits from the slave trade. Under the banner of Empire, European capitalists plundered the natural wealth of Africa, Asia and Latin America, and destroyed their economic self-sufficlency, making them dependent on Europe for trade, investment and credit. This is the root of the economic problems causing migration. Europe is also fuelling the conflict which creates refugees by selling arms to repressive regimes. Anti-racists must link up across Europe to tear down Fortress Europe and battle against the exploitation and Impoverishment of the Third Worfd. The Inter-Governmental Conference In June (which will bring together European heads of state) gives us an Ideal opportunity to demonstrate and project an alternative. • I want to go. Here's my £35 deposit [cheque payable I • I want further details about the camp. to Liberation Publishing Association].

Age Return to: 'Liberation Publishing Association', PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU.

• France • Juppé • young voices • • George Thompson Students woro on strike in more than 40 colleges at the height of the recont protests against the French government. Many were out more than four wooks. Although the government's Juppé plan attacked workers, the unomployad and students - it was the latter who first took action.

Students were incensed by the lavish spending by the government on a private university outside Paris when conditions of study for students In the public sector were so poor. They demanded more money for buildings and more teachers. Also they wanted the re Integration into the public sector of private universities. Furthermore they fought for equality between French and overseas students. Their militancy has won them huge concessions from the government e.g. a 2000 per cent increase in capltal spending on colleges. Their action together with other cot lege staff encouraged other unions to come out on strike against the Juppé plan. Its provisions - to attack people's penslon rights, break up the national railway network etc. — brought two milllon Into the streets to protest. There were more people demonstrating In December than dents could no action. have Joined the Ism had been vate sector and had not opposed them. The French sectlon of the spread the action. work. during May 1968. The public transport strikes were so successful in Paris, stulonger get to their colleges to organise More people would strikes If trade unionstronger in the prisome unions leaders Fourth International, the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire was the only party of the left calling for a general strike. Supporters of Libera tion! attending a Paris demo' In December couldn't give out LCR's leaflets quick enough to strikers eager to The dispute sidelined the far right Front National, which backed the government and called on people to return to Many of the demands of the protesters have now been met, but Juppé still remains In office. Workers and students wages and social security must now bulld a political alternative to the mainstream partles of the left which refused to call for Juppé's dismissal, even though he is now universally despised. Juppe Introduced his plan to help France meet the Maastricht criteria for European Monetary Union [EMU]. Through forcing Juppe to shelve most of Its provisions, French students and workers have blown off course EMU and the bosses plans to make Europe's poor pay for the restructuring of European capitalism. We owe them all a debt of gratitude! struggle! For only a power- mands.

year's Fourth International Youth Summer Camp in Amarante, northern Portugal.

Socialists against racism and fascism. foges some it essens

Book your place at the 1996 camp in sunny Portugal

Students Juppé and Maastricht

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