INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN BERLIN

~ Common strug

By TOM MORRIS BERLIN — Delegates came from

every corner of the globe, from diverse .

political backgrounds, from widely- differing social and economic systems to meet in Berlin, GDR, from Oct. 20-24 and examine the complex world situation around the theme: ‘‘the joint struggle of the working-class movement and the na- tional liberation movement against im- perialism and for social progress’’.

Organized jointly by the Socialist ©

Unity Party of the GDR and the journal, World Marxist Review, the international scientific conference spent the major portion of its time divided into three sec- tions:

1. The relationship between the struggle for peace and socialism and the struggle for national independence and against imperialism;

2. The struggle against neo-colo- nialism and for a democratic structur- ing of international economic relations;

3. Experiences and problems con- nected with the struggle for national and social liberation.

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In his remarks at the opening session, GDR leader Erich Honecker set the tone: ‘‘We look upon the collapse of the imperialist colonial system, brought on by the seismic force of the national liber- ation movement and its natural allies — the socialist countries and the interna- tional revolutionary labor movement — as the most important achievement of the revolutionary forces since the emergence of the world socialist. sys-

**A political awakening without prece- dent today characterizes the once colo- nial world. The ongoing debate on what path. of social deyelopment to choose is assuming Special significance in the lib- erated states of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.” :

The scope of this was emphasized by the fact, pointed out by Honecker, that since the end of World War Two, more than 90 sovereign states have come into existence having cast off the yoke of colonialism.

“Experience has shown,”’ he said, ‘that development along capitalist lines can neither safeguard national indepen- dence economically nor appreciably im- prove the social condition of the mass of the people. What the objective require- ments of progress dictate more and more is deep-going changes, economic, social and political that are anti-capitalist in na- ture.” : This main thread was also feflected in the speech of the leader of the Soviet

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GDR leader Erich Honecker gave the opening address to 300 participants at the international conference against imperialism and for social progress held in Berlin. ‘The most important

delegation, B.N. Ponomaryov, who characterized the key changes of the 1970s: ‘‘New shifts in the relation of forces internationally in favor of socialism and national liberation;

‘*Major successes of the detente policy ~

with the effect of greatly restricting the ‘freedom to manoeuvre’ of the more ag- gressive imperialist forces;

“Expansion of the anti-imperialist struggle, with practically all regions of the national liberation zone being drawn into it and its content being enriched.”’

Ponomaryov also outlined the basic:

aims of the many-sided imperialist strategy to meet the rising tide of national and social liberation:

— to keep the developing countries within the system of the capitalist world economy as dependent clients and tributaries;

— To have them follow in the main- stream of imperialist policy and to op- pose the countries of existing socialism

: and the socialist-oriented states;

— To prevent their free development

and hold back their social progress,

dragging them onto the capitalist road and even supporting archaic, semi- feudal, feudal and tribalist structures. This was further spelled out in the economic sphere where the strike force of neo-colonialism, the trans-national

/ corporations, strive to control the

economies of newly-developing states, exploit cheap local labor and build up a local elite. ‘‘In short,’ Ponomaryov said, ‘‘a new international division of labor scheme is shaping up: the ‘ad- vanced’ imperialist countries concen-

ef

gle for social progress

trate on building up their scientific and technical potential while using Asia, Af-

‘rica and Latin America for labor-

intensive industries”. * aD co

The conference examined statistics showing the widening gap between “rich”’ and ‘‘poor’ states. The World Bank, for example, estimates that the per capita income of the developing states in 1990 will be less than one-twelfth that of capitalist industrial nations. If in 1975, 800 million people out of 2,100 million were living in extreme poverty, the World Bank says the figure for the year 2000 will be 1,300 million.

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Imperialist strategy in the political field, the conference noted, includes re- introducing the concept of the U.S. as world policeman, igniting local conflicts, provoking hot wars, advancing the ‘‘Soviet threat’’ lie and expanding arms production, tightening ties with repres-

sive regimes and adopting the “‘divide

and rule’’ tactic. “Tt is more and more obvious’’, the

conference was told, ‘‘that attacks

against detente affect the vital interests of the liberated peoples, that they pres- age ‘encroachments on their natural re-

sources and incitement of internecine

conflicts.’”

In the battle of ideas, too, im- perialism’s strategy of strident anti- communism and anti-Sovietism were examined. Many delegates reported on the efforts being made to alienate and

achievement of the revolutionary forces since the emergence of the world socialist system, he said, has been “the collapse of thé imperialist colonial system.” |

isolate the forces for national liberatio? from the socialist community. Here,

‘special role played by the Chinese lead-

ers to split the revolutionary forces WaS

- discussed.

* * *

More than 195 speakers were heard i) the four-day meeting, bringirig to thé) conference the widest possible expel’ ence, the most diverse examples of the

' rapidly-changing world scene.

But it was this very diversity of expe™ ence that made the main point of thé conference — the growing unity betwee? the three main currents of the world rev" olutionary forces: the socialist world sy> tem, the national liberation movement and the working class of the capitalist states.

Time and again speakers illustrated how a victory for the people in one regio? was a victory for all; how the struggle bY one section affected the entire TeV olutionary process. |

“The conference showed,”’ the clos ing session noted, ‘‘that growing politi and ideological agreement is the pred” minant character of this movement. It showed that imperialism is out to unde? mine the natural interaction of the thre¢ revolutionary currents, but that our unity of aim and increasing solidarity of pu pose is the guarantee that we shall suc

ok * *

The contributions of the three-pers©” Canadian delegation to the Conferenc® will appear in the November-Decembe issue of the Communist Viewpoint avail |

able from Progress Books, Toronto.

where racist crimes go unpunished.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—DEC. 5, 1980—Page 8

‘We hold the U.S. Department of Justice criminally negligent for refusing to seek out for prosecution racist killers in Nazi, Klan or police: uniforms,’’ the NAARPR said in a press statement. ‘‘Parenthetically, the victims of racist repression in our country. were shocked to see former Attorney General Griffin Bell accusing the Soviets of humart rights violations. The freeing of the six Klan-Nazi murderers by the state of North Carolina — at almost the very hour our country is in Madrid accusing the Soviet Union of ‘brutal repression’ is immoral.”’

Sweden honors Joe Hill

STOCKHOLM — A new stamp issued by the Swedish post office is dedicated to the outstanding poet and fighter for workers rights, Joe Hill, who was executed in the U.S. in 1915. Joe Hill (his real name was Joel Emanuel Hilstrom) was born in Sweden in 1878. The centenary of his birth was broadly marked in Sweden last year and the new stamp carries Hill’s picture and words from one of his poems.

The Swedish post office has also issued a stamp marki anniversary ofa strike at Sundwalls which beganintheforestryindustry' dents and developed into a lengthy general strike.

WORLD NEWS | ; Freeing of Klan-Nazikillersiscondemned _

NEW YORK — The National Alliance Against Racist-and Political Repression has condemned the release in Greensboro, North Carolina of six Klan and Nazi killers saying it is another instance in the U.S.

vote.

ng the 100th Israeli soldiers attack stu- demonstrating against university closure.

Rubber bullets fired at Arab students

JERUSALEM — Israeli troops again attacked Arab students who were demonstrating against the government’s closing of Bir Zeit unl- versity. The occupation authorities had shut the facility following 4 student decision to declare a ‘‘Palestine Week’’ without obtaining permission from the regime. For the first time, police used rubbet bullets against the students. Twenty four were arrested.

Left gains in Peru vote

‘LIMA — The United Left coalition has won control of six provinces in Peru’s first municipal election in 14 years and finished second overall with 27% of the popular vote compared to the government’s Popular - Action Party which took 35%. In its first test since winning power in 2 ~ general election last May, Popular Action won 11 provinces including the capital, Lima. In May, the United Left coalition polled 15% of the

Residents want Titan-2 removed

DAMASCUS, Arkansas — Townspeople held a protest here Nov. 16 demanding the removal of the Titan-2 nuclear missile from their state. A silo exploded last September killing one person and injuring 21 others. Residents fear that radioactive material released in the explosion are responsible for a wave of mysterious illnesses.