have created an instability in European politics which creates room for the far-right. It is therefore necessary for the lett to discuss what the tarnigne represents, whether there are real fas. cist movements and to put them into ane Conte It was a grave mistake that the left in Italy, Germany and Spain did not stand together and fight fascism at the time of its early growth.
In Germany the Communists-under direction from See -wen: 25 2' as saying out the socal democrats 2nd the fascists were one and the same thing. It is of course quite the opposite: we have to unice with the social demo. croness on we carl gles of the 1920s and 1930s? and Ireland only from Socialist Outlook. €1.65 postage.
By are racism and fascism on the rise in Europe What lessons are these from the anti-fascism strus This compelling collection of marxist essays - including Ernest Mandel's 'Learn the Lessons of Germany' — explains the roots of European racism and fascism, and the strategy needed to defeat them.
This 128-page book is available POST FREE to readers in Britain Send your cheque or postal order for (4.95 made payable to "Socialist Outlook Fund", to PO Box 1109, London, N4 2UU. Overseas: add Nightmare
Socialist Outlook 97 • February 17, 1996.
George Thompson THE BANNING of the Komala Kurdistan association and the closing down of the Kurdish Parents Association cultural centre in Munich are the latest acts by the Government against the Kurdish community.
Already most Kurdish groups In Germany have been out. lawed, for alleged sympathy with the PKK (a communist organisation fighting the Turkish regime), thousands of Kurds are facing prosecution for "carrying on with banned associations" and political exiles are being deported to face the brutal Ankara regime The Executive of Komala Kurdistan were mostly Germans, but it was declared a foreign association by a Court and banned.
The authoritles claimed it was damaging German interests and the friendly relations estab. lished between the peoples of Germany and Turkey.
Turkey is Germany's main ally in the Middle East. The Kohl government gave its leaders (3.5 billion pounds last year.
In retur, German arms companies, seven hundred of which are based on Turkish soil, have earned massive profits by supplying weapons to a Turkish army slaughtering Kurds.
In the international arena Germany has turned a blind eye to Turkey's human rights record and supported its success. ful bid to get a Customs Union with the European Union. In domestic affairs it has unleashed a wave of repression against an "enemy within".
The Parents Association taught Kurdish children the Kurdish language, banned in Turkey and not offered in Ger. many, despite there being a Kurd population of half a million. The police said the Cultural Centre's activities were "Porty — Struggle — Victory declare the banners of the MLKP-R directed by the Bavarian leadership of the PKK.
In the smear campaign, the liberal paper, the Suddeutschen Zeltung described it as a "molo. toy cocktal thing station• On November 30, the news of the closure of the Centre was broken to its Committee members by armed police who smashed down their doors in the middle of the night.
In Bayern 16 associations have been banned and the Kurd. Ish people have been robbed al. most completely of their democratic, political and cul. tural rights.
The response of the Kurdish community to the latest outrage, was to occupy the Cultural Centre. The State ordered in special commandos, and a policespokesperson said the situ. ation would be dealt with in the "usual Bavarian way".
The radio lied that the Kurds were going to throw their chil. dren out of windows, because a Kurd was seen at a window with a child (lt was a Parents Associationt).
Demonstrators outside the Centre pleaded with the troops not to use arms or storm the building. German and Turkish fascists descended on the scene to fight supporters of the occupation.
It was ended by negotiation, but the promises given to the Kurdish occupiers before they left were almost immediately broken-most are now Impris.
The local mayor agreed to al. low the Kurds a cultural centre without politics. However a major part of Kurdish culture is their tradition of resistance against repression. Their New Year celebration Newroz is a festival of resistance.
The Kurds are not giving up their politics to satisfy Kohl. Last June they organised in sup. port of Kurdish freedom, the largest demonstation in Germany for decades. 200,000 peo. ple marched, but few from the International Viewpoint is the hard-hitting news magazine main parties of the German left.
The RSB/ Vierte Internation. ale, (Revolutonary Socialist League-Fourth International) has been very active in support of the Kurds fight against persecution in Turkey and Germany. Comrades have cone to court for giving out leaflets in support of their struggle. In Bavaria, they have helped form a Solldarity Committee.
Real werman triendship with the Kurds is being attacked by the State. A stronger German State must be resisted, and defence of the Kurds' human rights in the country is essential In this struggle.