Angela Bryan (SO 23) has totally missed the point about lesbian and The politics of the lesbian and gay Iberation campaign has developed out of (and into) a lesbian and gay analysi and strictured die crimination that lesbians and gay mer suffer, individually and colectively.
A crucial basis for developing that analysis has been the right to have our own space, that is our right to deter. mine our own struggle and our own chosen strategy for iberation.
We are still struggling for our right to autonomy to be recognised. Many les. bian and gay groups are denied existence. The presence of bisexuals The experience and realities for bisexuals are not fundamentally the same as for lesbians and gay men. Bisexual men and women must take responsiblity for the power they inherit from their position as heterosexuality defined.
Because of their colusion with the straight works, what bisexuals bring to the lesbian and gay campaign is comwe are going to have any dialogue at I am not suggesting that bisexuals should not or cannot have a forum of their own - that is for bisexuals to decide, and doubless lesbans and gay men would make alliances with them But in political terms, bleexual experience is not lesbian or say ex campaign MUST any lesbian rellect lesblan and gay experiences i we are going to achieve Iberation.
Jo Baxter London NW6. with promises of something better?
If it all sounds a little comy, that's because the play s message is a simple, if grim, one. Despite that it's very funny and has some ey stone perortance refreshingly strong, and have a capacity for self-irony which enables them to rise above their sometimes depressing situaton The show is packed with classic soul hits, and if you like soul music and a good night out at the theatre, it is unlikely to disappoint.
Demonstration
Free the Cardiff 3! Amemble: July 4, 12.30pm James St, Butetown, Cardiff
The June 5-6 elections in Czecho-Slovakia show a massive rejection of shock inerapy in slovakia but a narrow victory for the right in the Czech Republic. This federation a most evitable.
In the richer western Czech republic, Finance Minister Vacav Klaus will depend or (CSL) right Republicans (SPR-RSC) for a majority of 16 in the 200-strong Czech parliament.
right dominated by Klaus' Civic Democratic which defends the current reform model. Although Klaus is a federalist, he is under strong pressure from the impatient Civic Democratic Allance (ODA).
want Czechs to separate from Slovakia and seek German protection in their 'return to western Europe'. They have 6 per cent of seats in the Czech Three left of centre lists stood against the governing coall tion. The Czech Communist Party-led Lart Diac (LD) 185 0e) come the largest opposition grouping, with 35 seats.
Its association with the prewill hinder with the Social C08058688 Democrats (CSSD, 16 seats), the Liberal Social Union (LSUan alliance of Green, Socialist and collective farmers' parties, 14 seats) and the social Moravian Autonomous Movement (HSD-SMS, 14 seats).
According to Vrata Votava, a ourth International supporte •lected to the Czech parliamen on the Left Bloc list, 1 "The widespread privatisation un derway will make 1993 the year of mass redundancies, and subject the economy to the whims of German capital.
'Our alternative to privatisation is the lease of state factories o the workforce, with govern ment-backed redits for cooperatives and small businesses. The Left Bloc also opPoses and sate childcare, and privatisation of the return of schools and hospitals to the church.
In Slovakia socialist and A fortnightly review of news and analysis published by the United Secretariat of the Fourth internationa 280 FF or £28; Six months 150 FF Address Return to IVP 2 rue Richard Lenoir.
93108. Montreull, Prance nationalist parties won 65 per tion of the shock therapy that has devastated the poorer eastern republic.
The left-nationalist Move ment for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), which won 48 per cent of seats in the Slovak parliament, is demanding a 'new International News Czech president Havel want referendum before final division of Czecho-Slovakia In Slovakia socialist and nationalist parties won 65 per cent of votes, in a massive rejection of the shock therapy that has devastated the poorer eastern republic.
reform for Slovakia' - with or without the Czechs - by the The particular develop.
ments in Slovakia have pushed the national revival along progressive lines Unemployment, at 14 per cent, is three times the rate in the Czech lands. Economic policies followed since 1989 are returning Slovakia to its pre-war position as an agricultural and labour reserve for the richer Czech lands.
The HZDS 'new reform' is based on massive job creation, and a state-led restructuring of the economy. Worker and management buy-outs are to be favoured in future privatisations, and foreign investment subject to stricter conditions.
Differences are bound to emerge within and outside parliament over Meciar's proposals to build gigantic barages on the Danube and other Slovak rivers to generate half of Slovakia's energy needs, and build enough nuclear power stations to provide the other half.
As with other east European opular or national front ZDS includes federalist separatists, pro-capitalist and social democratic forces. Neither its policies nor voters' expectations are crystallised, beyond the 'new reform' and an undefined *Slovak sovereignty.
With the crushing failure of the pro-capitalist parties, the ole of the opposition goes t the Party the Democrati Left (SDL, the ex-Communist Party), with some 20 per cent of the seats in the Slovak parliaSDL leader Peter Weiss says his party supports most HZDS will go further in demanding that progressive measures are genuinely carried out. Both stalinist and social democratic tendencies in the members as the HIZDS wavers on economic and social questions.
The divergent views of the zech and Slovak elites over the economic reforms makes the end of the federation certain, sooner or later. Both elites are tryms to portray the oset as responsible, in order to maximise international support.
For Czech Communist Party Lap of CzechoSlovakia wilf br the taut or the czech Tony Their reform has proved social. ly unacceptable in Slovakia, and they would rather split the federation than slow down the restoration of capitalism. They would rather have capitalism in half a country.
In the meantime, the strong result for HZDS in Slovakia blocks rightist policies in Czecho-Slovakia's assembly (parliament) where legislation must be passed by a separate majority of both Czech and Slovak deputies. HZDS alone decides whether the Klaus group can pass any legislation.
Meciar seems to have taken ne tactical decision to suppor laus in the short term, whik consolidating in lovakia. But any support for ontinuation of federal pri market reforms will benefit the separatist Slovak National Party (SNS) and the SDL.
Though the marxist Unionof Communists of Slovakia (ZKS) polled less than 1 per cent, individuals like Vrata Votava were elected on the Czech Left Bloc list. But overall the marxist left in the new parliaments is overwhelmingly drawn from the ex-ruling parties, the KSCM and SDL.
Of the 16 percent support these parties received in the elections, perhaps 12 per cent came from older voters nostalgie for the past, worried about Inel pensions and price rises or concerned about growing German economic and political life. who see the CPs as the best chance for outains a new fert party. The coming months will snow whetner tney were Tant to give the CPs a second No. 24 June 27, 1992
like a Canoe Home News GCHQ spymasters apparently prayed the role of an indifferent CID team sitting back to watch a group of joynders, the banks and financlers who fed Maxwell a heady diet of loans have been equally embar. rassed.
The whole world now knows how easy a was for the old rogue to no salted away in obscure bank accounts and trusts in Liechtenstein and elsewhere. Even the Liechtenstein banks seem more wiling to hand back stolen shares and restore some semblance of decorum than their British equivalents.
Meanwhile the business pages are clamoung for a clean-up of
divergence makes the col- lapse of the Czecho-Slovak
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