General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Steve Turner, by a narrow 10 votes to 9 on the union's executive, is not just NEW EVIDENCE from forensic tests has shown that at least one of the so-called confessions of the Tottenham Three - that of Winston Silcott - had been tampered with. The families of the three men have demanded their immediate release Winston Silcott, Engin Raghip and Mark Braithwaite were all convicted of the murder of PC Blakelock during the 1985 Broadwater Farm More. They were convicted solely on the basis of uncorroborated confessions, which were subsequently retracted. The media conducted a viciously racist campaign against the three, and all were sentenced to life Imprisonment. the worst possible time for the union.
Contrary to the reports in Monday's Daily Mirror the move came not from the left on the This latest evidence, which Silcott's lawyers have submitted to the Home Secretary along with the demand for an immediate enquiry, uses the same forensic tests that led to the release of the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six. New evidence is already being considered for Mark Braithwaite's case and Engin Raghip has already been granted an appeal.
The sham that resulted from the Maguire Sevens' appeal showed that the courts cannot be relied on to overturn miscarriages of justice. Support for the immediate release of the Tottenham Three must be won in the Labour Party and the unions, along with support for all other miscarriages of justice. wing.
Turner is no friend of the left but the right-wing were desperate to get rid of him be cause of his merger with other print and media unions.
It was this issue that led to Turner's sacking, over the question of him flouting union policy on merger.
The union is now set to enter a long and expensive period of battles in the courts as Turner attempts to get the decision overturned.
This will all serve as a bitter blow to many of the industrial disputes that NUJ members are involved in around the country, with a union already in financial crisis.
Employers will no doubt use. this as an opportunity to kick media workers when they're However, the worst of all worlds is to be found in the misguided campaign supported by Socialist Workers' Paul Foot for Turners' reinstatement pending a Special Delegates Meeting of the NUJ. This is a formula for endlessly protracted internal rows at a time when unity is needed. Seven Sisters Road, London N4 2AA.
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Noted BCCI patron - General Noriega socialist Socialist Outlook is taking a well-earned rest. We will return on September 7th.
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