The standing of candidates in France under the banner of 'Europe begins at Sarajevo' has opened up debate - including within the 'Sarajevo? list itself. Bernard Henri-Levy, organiser of 'Europe begins at Sarajevo' announced the withdrawal of candidates, because they were likely to win a few seats! A minority appears to be continuing the electoral campaign. CATHERINE SAMARY of the Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire (LCR, French section of the Fourth International) gives her personal view. (The article was an immediate reaction to the debate around the list and written before recent developments). Catherine Samary THE INITIATIVE should be judged on its merits. It is not only legitimate but useful to introduce a debate on the stakes in Bosnia into the European elections.
Of course there is no 'class line' and the organisers want to appeal to all political parties: supporters are as much on the right as on the left. But whose fault is it if rejection of the ethnic carve-up of Bosnia doesn't mobilise the whole left?
Can we complain about 'right wing' discourse when they support the right of the victims of ethnic cleansing to defend themselves?
Political pressures on the Bosnians to give up the fight and accept the plan for ethnic division reveal cynicism or myopia.
Cynicism that anticipates establishing order through a Milosevic-Tudjman alliance, legitimising ethnic cleansing in all states involved.
Cynicism that presents those Bosnians resisting such policies as being responsible for the war. Cynicism that justifies violence and massive displacements of people - whilst restricting the right to asylum. BOSNIA CONVOY Short-sighted because plans for ethnic division' are, and will be, a source of permanent war. Short-sighted because the breaking-up of Bosnia will signify the same fate for its neighbours.
This is what we have in common with supporters of the 'Sarajevo list'. But we don't believe UN recognition of Bosnia means the UN can save multi-ethnic Bosnia.
We don't think lifting the arms embargo should only be demanded if the UN doesn't carry out its mandates'. Nor does support for the Bosnian resistance - and its right to have arms - imply uncritical support for the policies of Izetbegovic.
Multi-ethnic Bosnia can only be preserved by agreement amongst all its communities. This requires:
1) Punishment of war crimes on the basis of factual evidence.
2) Equality between the peoples, their right to self-determination and guarantees against repression of minorities.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 64, 11 June 1994, Page 6 ON MAY 28 over 40,000 assembled at the Bastille to meet the national demonstration of 500 against unemployment organised by committees of AC! (Act together against unemployment!) in cities, towns and villages throughout France.
4C!, formed last October, was a response of the workers and unemployed to refuse to accept the rising tide of unemployment which has engulfed France.
Its aim is none other than a global solution to the problem of unemployment and social marginalisation: their abolition through a cut in the working week and requisition of empty houses for the homeless.
Co-organised by the major organisations of the trade unions and the unemployed it now has over 200 groups organised across France.
Such a reception and national mobilisation, organised in less than six months by an alliance of the unemployed, trade unionists and activists, shows the depth of the social crisis that is affecting both the unemployed and workers.
Socialist The march has catalysed a widespread recognition of the urgency to act against unemployment and has helped to encourage a debate about how such a campaign should be taken forward.
The trade unions have emphasized the struggle against job losses and redundancies whilst the unemployed have pointed to the need for emergency measures such as a massive cut in the working week.
This discussion has been both difficult and useful. As the demonstration passed through towns on the routes of the march the dialogue has developed and the agreement of the need for common objectives to fight for has come to the fore. Both the trade unions and the unemployed organisations have recognised in action that the united front on the issue of unemployment has been a valuable gain. There are lessons here for all of us.
Success always breeds self confidence and the organisations of the unemployed, the MNCP (National Movement of the Unemployed and Marginalised) and UNAC (National Union of Unemployed Associations) have established a timetable for the organisation of conferences of the unemployed and the marginalised for September 30 and October 1 where they will debate how to take the campaign forward.
AC! itself is now debating its future role. Two themes have emerged so far. First: to continue to encourage discussions and common projects between the organisations of the unemployed, farm workers, students and the unemployed.
Attached to such a development it is hoped to develop local "solidarity houses" - places where common between workers and the unemployed can be organised.
Thus AC! will be able to push forward the debate at both a local and national level. Second: that the debate on global solutions does not simply become a party political issue. It FIVE DAYS of study, discussion and fun. has to be based on the campaigns of workers, the young and the unemployed.
The AC! initiative has given a lead to all the workers and unemployed across Europe. Nobody has to accept the Europe of the bosses and the multinationals.
The social crisis that affects France is a social crisis that affects the whole of Europe.
Such a crisis can lead to a continental alliance between CHINESE bureaucrats' celebrations over US President Clinton's decision to renew China's Most Favoured Nation trading privileges overlapped neatly with the fifth anniversary of the bloody the working class and the unemployed. Such an alliance is imminent in the failure of the west European bourgeois order and its inability to deliver anything to the workers and unemployed in the East bar poverty and Fortress European Union. France also shows that the organised intervention by marxists, such as that of the Fourth International in France, can enable such an alliance to reach its full potential. most important export market and key trading partner: American multinationals want to retain the front place in the race to exploit the opportunities of this vast market and pool of cheap labour.
Having faced down Clinton's empty threats of sanctions, the Chinese bureaucracy turned their attention to a massive police clampdown in Beijing, with roadblocks and identity checks in force around the University and Tienanmen Square itself, to ensure there were no echoes of the events of 1989. Unfair shares FIGURES from the United Na-
In Bloody but unbowed