On May 30th and June 1st, nine socialists from the Kargaran-e Sosialist were arrested by government forces. took place during the massive round-up of Arab workers, steelworkers and others in Khuzestan Province.
The Barzagan government sent in troops to crush this opposition which poses the most serious challange to the capitalist system to Further HKS militants were picked up on June Ist by Inman Committee guards. Their books other political literature and clothing were confiscated. The Inman's Committee has refused to disclose where they are being held or to allow lawyers to see them.
This crackdown on the HKS comes in the context of the govern. ment's increasing inability to establish a stable capitalist rule in Iran. It has been forced more and more to employ repressive measures against workers, women and oppressed national minorities fighting for their rights.
The HKS have organised a national campaign for the release of their members, and there can be no doubt that the case can become a major test for democratic rights in Iran.
Emergency protests demanding the immediate release of the HKS militants should be sent to: Prime Minister Mehdi Barzagan, Office of the Prime Minister, Tehran, Iran. Protests should also be directed to the Iranian Embassy. April 17-calling for 'action not words' and others have gone even further in calling for the right to strike, nationalisation of all foreign companies and workers control.
Hezb-e * Women, who fought in the front ranks of the anti-Shah struggle, are not prepared to accept the 'Islamic Republic's' view of themselves under the viel and thrust back into the home. Mass demonstrations protesting the Ayotollah's reactionary positions have taken place and have been attacked by Islamic committee thugs. * Oppressed national minorities, who were among the fiercest opponents of the Shah, are not prepared to accept the 'Islamic Republic' and have called mass mobilisations in support of their right to self-determination. Beginning with the Kurds, this has spread to the Turkomans and the Arabs.
ILLUSIONS It would be wrong, of course, to assume that the Khomeini leadership has already lost its enormous prestige won in the anti-Shah battles. Enormous illusions still exist among the masses. But its clamp-down on democratic rights, bringing it into conflict with wide layers of the Iranian people, has begun to create a changing mood. Thereas less enthusiasm than before for the 'Islamic Republic' and much more willingness to consider alternatives.
One recent example of this change in mood can be seen in
A conference on 'Labour and the at a local level must reorganise itself into a campaigning organisation and intervene effectively in the local community. This was a theme which ran throughout the Socialist Action first meeting which should have been trying to gain as much unity as possible.
Partly as a result of some unorthodox chairing of the final ses