economy minister of Brazil, Zelia Cardosa de Mello, was forced to resign last week after President Collor withdrew his support for her. She had rather embarrassed Collor's 'business-like' image by saying that Brazil couldn't afford to keep its foreign debt repayCollor with his new economy minister, former banker Marcilio Marques Moreira, accept the IMF's latest and most savage austerity package for the country, tempted by the carrot of a $1.2 billion standby loan. The plan is very similar to that which the Mexican government is now imThe managing director of the IMF, Michel Camdessus, wants Brazil to 'eliminate its $122 billion debt problem' within three years. Who's kidding Italian Communists Organise The abandonment of any commitment to Marxism and class struggle by the mainstream Italian Communist Party has led to a split, with a substantial portion of its base preparing to form a new party. In February the Italian Communist congress in Rimini changed the name of the party to 'Party of the Democratic Left', removing any reference to traditional communist goals.
Dissidents will hold a congress in November to establish a new party. So far 144,000 membership cards for the new party have been distributed. Lead ing figures include Cossuta, long-time leader of the old pro-Soviet tendency in the PCI and Garravini, former trade union leader and PCI deputy.
The main Italian far left organisation Democratic Proletaria (DP) seems certain to go into the new party. US Marine faces death penalty Erik Larsen, a US Marine Reservist who campaigned against the Gulf'war, now faces the death penalty for 'desertion in time of war. Out of the 3000 or so Gl registers who spoke out against the war, Larsen is the first to be charged with desertion.
His civilian attorney, Robert Rivkin, represented thousands of contentious objectors since the Vietnam war. He maintains that the Marine Corps acted illegally in issuing Larsen's activation order for deployment to Saudi Arabia in February. He says that there was an unnecessary delay in processing the soldier's application for contentious objector status.
The anti-war movement in the US is mobilising support both for Larsen and also Tahan Jones, a black marine and prominent anti-war activist, who is expected to face the same charges when he gives himself up soon.
Tory backs Labor
While he was Tory Party treasurer in Britain, Lord McAlpine was busy supporting the Labor Party election campaign in Australia during 1985. The embarrassing news came to light during an inquiry into the suspect wheeler-dealing around the Government of Western Australia.
McAlpine has large business interests in the state and has never denied the close relationship he has with the ultra right-wing Labor Party. He said at the time I am the treasurer of the British Conservative Party. I don't find my strong conservative philosophies incompatible with the Labor Party in Australia'. Enough said really... threats. Soviet Union today. THE NINE WEEK strike by Soviet miners now looks close to an end, but Gorbachev's problems are far from solved. The authority of the state apparatus is under siege.
Other sectors of workers are now threatening action, encouraged by the miners' partial success, oviet republics' struggle for independence gathers потени Armed force Meanwhile, Gorbachev's response to the continuing dispute over Karabakh has been the tried and tested method of the stalinist bureaucracy armed intervention on a nass ye scare This has been combined with warnings economic consequences of secession - many republics subsidised by the central stare Lost production The miners' strike has cost the Soviet economy more than seven million tonnes oflost production, as well as ample of militant an exfor both economic objectives.
Though some miners in the Kuzbass and Vorkuta are still sceptical of government promises, and have pledged to continue the action until they iron evidence that these will be fulfilled, now seems likely. IN RECENT months Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has faced an unprecedented combination of political A third of the Soviet Union's miners took industrial action, demanding a wage increase of more than 200%, as well as. Gorbachev's resignation. At the same time, Russian premier Boris Yeltsin launched a bitter new struggle for power. PATRICK BAKER looks at the political situation in the the battle in a number of respects - even if miners haven't yet achieved their demand for his resignation. workers, including Siberian oil and gas workers, are now threatening action in Gorbacherosi while the oraconian programme of anti-union laws. They have also raised Gorbachev's resignation. of mines to the control of the Russian republic will clearNagorno ly fuel the Ussk's move of central controlof of the the economy, coinciding with rallies. of the hundreds of are still heavily thousands in the Baltic republics, reflects the crisis of the central state ap Matanic twilin. doubtedly strengthen the position of Russian premier Boris Yeltsin in his chal militant struggle lenge to Gorpolitical and bachev for ultimate power in the Soviet state. He quickly moved to consolidate his new-found strength have cast- with the estab lishment of a Rusa settlement sian branch of the KGB. But does this devolution of for the miners, who have led the struggle in support decent wages workers' control since 1989? The deal may answer some grievances in relation to central state control, though vague promises of 'worker management are unlikely to materialise. But the real aim, from the viewpoint of Yeltsin's administration, is betrayed in the statement that 'the deal involved a transfer to market relations'. Shatalin Plan Given Yeltsin's consistent advocacy of rapid marketisation, including the Shatalin Plan marketisation of the Soviet economy 1n days, miners may be in for a shock. ( The destruction of the Polish and east German economies over the ast vear is an indicator of what such plans involve. It was explained quite clearly at a recent economic conference in Moscow, organised by the American far-right 'Cato Instituté' that: Soviet industrial base has to be wiped out'. Such views may not be those of the mainstream yet - though prime minister Pavlov leans heavily in this direction. But President Gorbachev is responding to. the repeated threats to the A fortnightly ¡ review of news 1 and analysis published by the United Secretariat of i the Fourth 1 International i Subscription 1 year £21 O 6 months £11 O Name.. Address.. Please make cheques payable to PEC and return desperation and This vast array of personal crisis-torn menia and Azerbaijan. raging over the disputed enclave Nagorno involved sectarial Samanter details, experience teaches us that the heavy hand of for paratus will not solve such problems. Indeed, the origin many such problems. No alternative The outlook for the Soviet Union looks bleak. With the strengthening of the hand of Boris Yeltsin, Gorbachev's ability to hold the union together must be The question. No serious political alternative is on offer. However, the struggles of the Soviet peoples for their national rights and living standards will continue. It is only through these struggles that a posi tive solution will emerge.
International Viewpoint ternation IEWPOIN Cuba under siege to: 2 rue Richard Lenoir, 93108 Monteuil, France.
No. 2 May 18, 1991 Page 7
Fighting for food supples in one of a catalogue of refugee camps in today's third world George Bush: The west has no doubt where its next meal is