THE RUSSIAN Communist Party held its refoundation congress, almed at 'restoring and uniting the party, just outside Moscow last week. The Russian CP was outlawed after the August 1991 coup, as part of the ban on the communist Party of the Soviet Union.
The recent congress was only given the authorities after a long wrangle over its legality, Eventually, the constitutional court ruled that 'core or sations* of the old CPSU had the right to exist and establish their own party.
Chinese model
it is clear that the new formation is a essentially Stalinist mix. The leader, CPSU voteran Valentin Kuptsov, stated in his opening speech that China had shown the compatibility of soclalism and the market.
A number of coup leaders attended the congress, including Gennadly Yanayev. Anatolly Lukyanov and ex-KGB head Vladimir Kryuchkor. They were greeted with rapturous appleuse whenever they spoke.
Aleksandr Burgalin, chair of the Party of Labour, attended the congress as an ob server. According lo Buzgalin: The democratic trend, which wants a real renewal of the party, constitutes a clear minority.
Leading positions in the congress organising committee were occupled by members of the Socialist Party of Working People, headed by Roy Medredev, who seemed particularly embarrassed by the pro-coup sentiment among delegates.
Buzgalin said that Medveder's party wanted parliamentary struggle and compromise with the authorities, whereas mard noo-Stinists and even the "pet neo-Stalinists and even the "pa triotic" right.
While he and his colleagues were 'communists by conviction they were wary of the "congress's nostalgie defence of actually existing socialism* The principle social base of the Russian CP and similar organisations is among older people. There is a widespread belle in Russia now, measured in opinion polis, that ite was better under the Communists, but that mood has little resonance among the young, who are bound to think thet the past is the past.
• The class struggle wont on during the congress deliberations. Hundreds of pying a mineshaft to force the authorities to release their detalned leader, hran Guridor. Number Two Dyeing factory of Wuhan City. Hong Kong capitalist says he bought 5i per cent of the shares at a ff 1200 of the 200 workers, and now retains only those workers under 35.
workday has been increased from eight to ten catchphrases, • Europe: 280 FF; E32; $48 @sort of will aimal 360 F: 140: 560 66 yuan a month, one third of their previous salary. workers are the hardest hit. Last October Daily published a survey on the consequences of the reforms, saying that women workers are the first to be laid off. And many women workers choose to give up rights and social benefits to The official press published mainly culogies of the reforms, and seldom criticisms. But workers grievances are still voiced, A NEW CRISIS erupts in the Middle East, as Israel expels 417 alleged activists from the Islamic fundamentalist organization, Hamas. In the first (February) issue of the new 36-page monthly International Viewpoint, Lea Tsemel, Dalal Bizri and Manar Hassan go behind the headlines to explain the meaning of the Israeli government's act and the reasons for the rise of Hamas. There's also Catherine Samary, recently returned from Sarajevo, on the Yugoslav war, David Finkel on Bill Clinton's first steps and Frangois Piguet on the social and political complexities of the crisis in Somalia - and more. We think IV provides a unique resource for those who want to go beyond labels and slogans to understand what British foreign secretary Douglas Hurd has recently described as the "new world disorder". A single trial issue will cost you $4.50 or f3, postage included. For a one year subscription (11 issues) to N • Rest of work surtace mail: 280 FF; 132; S48 • Send to N, 2, rue Richard-Lenoir, Montreui, • French francs preferred, Cheques payable to PEC.
No.38 nalised', relationships are everywhere, young workers are not taught any skills' and 'nothing but money counts Indeed the longstanding rights of workers are now under attack; and the workers do not enjoy any democratic rights to organise real trade unions and organise what up till now has been either passive resistance, or spontaneous outbursts of Feb 27, 1993 •Page 13
By Joe Pass THE LOSS of the Haitian erry Neptune last week may have cost several hundred more lives than the sinking of the Titanic. Yet press coverage was minimal.
some 1,503 people drowned when the Titanic hit an iceberg Regulations were changed so that vessels nad to carry tire Saara. But here will be non tightening of safety rules after the Neptune.
The number of lives lost in third world shipping disasters bach vear is unknown. Indus Swapping stories of class collaboration? Mandela with Kinnock International News
Titanic death toll as Neptune goes under