ING RED FORUM: Series of introductory discussions for those in the London area on the politics of the Fourth International. Tuesday 9 October, Imperisism. General Picton pub, Caledonian Road (5 mins Kings X BRIGHTON ING PUBLIC MEETING: Public mating on Phase 3, speaker Steve Lynch (GNAWU personal capecityl. 8.00 pm, Wednesday 10 October at Stanford Arme pub, Preston Circus, Brighton.
CAMBRIDGE ING PUBLIC MEETING: Tarig Ali on Chile: Lessons and Tasks for the Britiah Left. Wednesday 10 October, 8.00 p.m Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane (behind Union).
HULL RED FORUM: Ragalem in the Labour MOVOment, spcaker Bob Pennington. Thursday 11. October, Red Lion pub, Beverley Road, Hull. FIFE SOCIALIST FORUM: Tim Hall on Labour's new left image how meal? Wedne day 10 October, at 7.30 pm in the Labour Tron 11 Uctoba at The Ancaars" Greg Ancoats Street. First speaker: Bob Sutclitte on Impirislism' NEWCASTLE PUBLIC MEETING: Defend Ine Stewwsbury 24: hands off oickers Tuesday 9 Ocrober, 8.00 pm. Speaker: Jim Kemp (London Joint Sites Cormittee): Chairman: Jir Murray (Chairmen, Vickers-Newcastle Shop Stevends Committeel. Ar Newcastle Labour Club, 45 Leaze Park Road. Sponsored by Geteshead UCATT No.2 branch, VickersElswick Works Committee, etc.
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Last week's decration of independence by the state of Guine-Bissau is an important stage in the struggle against Portuguese colonialism which has been fought for twelve years under the leadership of the PAIGCV (African Party for the independence of Guine-Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands).
All the reports made in the recent past by visitors to the territory like Basil Davidson and Gerard Chaliand give firm support to the PAIGCV's claim that they effectively control 75% of the mainland territory. In large parts of this area they have successfully sustained administrative structures and the fabric of the social services, bringing education, medical supplies and personnel, etc:, within reach for the first time of large numbers of the population. It is even possible for the new state to talk about the organisation of external trade through the co-operation in particular of neighbouring Guinea.
But of course this declaration does not signal the end of the war. Valuable international publicity will be obtained through the attempt to secure membership of the United Nations. Once again it will be clear for all to see that Portuguse colonialism is not an isolated and anomalous phenomenon, but has the backing of the major imperialist powers in NATO, Britain, the USA, France etc.
CAPE VERDE ISLANDS The question of Guine also illuminates a key contradictory aspect of Portuguese colonialism. In reality the mainland territory does not possess significant strategic or economic Importance, If the figures were available they would undoubtedly show that, particularly since the start of the military campaign, it has DUCE A COUSCANE DRAIN ON FOLLERE S ISOLEOUS. However the Cape Verde Islands, 200 miles off the coast of Africa, are important as a communications base not just for Portugu but for the NATO alliance as a whole.
With his recent and predictable victory in the Liberated zones Contested zones Portuguese controiled It was this reasoning which probably lay behind the assassination of the PAIGCV SENEGAL • Guine -Bissau Іеіет Amilcar Cubral in January this year. The most authenticated version of the affair suggested that it was undertaken by individuals in the PAIGV who had made a deal'with the Portuguese hy which Guine would be granted independence on condition that Portugal retained the Cape Verde Islands. Since the PAIGCY has always insisted on liberation of the whole territory, however, this line appears to have met with little response in Guine.
CENTRAL BATTLE In any case it is doubtful if Portugal can actually carry through even this kind of settlement in the area without critical effects on her whole colonial strategy. Clearly the central battle both for Portugal, with its particular economic interests, and for international imperialism as a whole lies 2,000 miles away in Angola and Morambique But the liberation movements have always insisted on the related nature of theit struggles: undoubtedly a victory in Guine would give a big boost to developments in the South. Secondly, the imperialists are no doubt acutely conscious that of all the liberation movements in Africa the PAIGCV has offered the clearest analysis of African coonomic dependence on imperialism and the most explicit and practical commitment to the socialist revolution. For that reason the tremors set up by its victory could well be felt in some of the citadels of neo-colonialism in West Africa For all these reasons a campaign in the coming months to publicise and expand support for the PAIGCV's initiative will be vitally necessary in combating the continued attempts of Imperialism to dampen down the struggle in Africa. The diplomatic barmining which ensues from the declaration must not be seen as an end in itself. Rather, it should be the key springboard for escalating the solidarity movement which took its first steps during Portuguese premier Cuetano & July visit to Britain.
TONY SOUTHALL
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