Gorbachev's casualties
in Eastern Europe
THE CURRENT pulicies of perestroila (restructuring) and glasson (openness) in the Sovict Uninn are beginning to create some mcolerable strains withm the ruling communist parties of other countries of the Warsaw Pact.
With cconomic stagnation and massive foreign debts at home, Increasingly sharp Soviet criticism of the Brechnev period when most east Europcan leadets came 20: power. plus demands for connomic and political democratisation, you have the ingredients for massive social crisis.
Gustav Husak, Kremlin stooge in Czechoslovakia for the past eighteen years, Las been removed as general secretary of the Communist Party (KSC) withnur so much as a thank vet for all the hand work. In Poland. Jaruzelski has received a major rebuff in the recent relerendur on cconomic reform and austerity where a majority cither vored against or dida't vaste
Nicolac Cranscac's personal dynasty in Romania is showing signs of filling apart at the seamus. Even in Hungary, with the most innovative of cranemir reforms, major reshuffles of rhe government have raken place.
In Czechoslovakia, Husak, left with the cerrmonial position of president. has becone the first major cast European victim of Gorbarhes v ascendency: Deeply resented amongst the Czech people for his rolc after the 1968 mvastion, Husak was. an opportunit indebted to Brezhnev for his power.
However, his replacoment, Milos Jakes, while an apparen reformist on the economy, collaborated with other hardiners we prepare the Soviet invasion in 1968 and was Instrumental in purging the party of Dubcck supporter alterwards
Solidarity's campaign for non participation in the Polish referendum appears to have had results — only 68 per cent of those eligible voted. Of those voting. 66 per cent voted for the package of economic reforms and lower living
THE JILL KNIGHT amentiment to the government's local governmenr bill has brought the question of
Iesbian ard gay rights back to:
rhe centre stage of British polirius:
The Konghtamendment wowir make it illegal lor docal aurharities to do anytlung which promotes hamesexualit or 10 fund any organisation which allegedly dines the same. The definitiun of promote in the right wing
Tory MP's amendment is so wide-ranging, that virally any mention of homosexuality m schools can be outlawed Twill polestially provide the courts, and backward parents will a held day: The thrcor of court action will strike a major biow at those local suthrities which have taken initiatives to support lesbian and gay rights;
lesbian and gay contres and so
UPFRONT standards and 70 per cent for some democratisation' bur there was no overall majority in the clertorare Planned.
price increases which might
STOP CLAUSE 27