to demand that the Labour Government break all links with the Chilean junta Latest issue contams articies on tne mas upsurge in soain, ine tent adainst the austerity measures in Portugal; the fall of the Italian Government: the international stakes in the Angolan war; the moves towards reunification of Vietnam the soldiers' movement in France; the French CP and the crisis; and a statement oy revolutionary anti-cionists in Israel All essentia reading and unpearabie var le at only 30p (plus 8p p&p) from Rec Books, 97 Caledonian Road, Londor N.1. Or why not take out a subscription Et to nea books wit brne you ever issue for a year, and you won't regret it. CrA and orners Your articles on the BBC external ser vices broadcasts to Portugal (30 Decem ber and 9 January) have ably revealed the philosophy that lies behind the BBC's view of 'objectivity'. This evidently means biased news and comment ary against left-wing views and activities.
In the case of Portugal, as your articles have illustrated, this has meant that the BBC and other mass media have generally weighted their reports against those seekingto detend and advance the interests of the working class in tavour or the ront-wing and counter-revolutionary forces whose anxiety to put an end to these gain: has extended to dropping bombs on events Lisbon and burning offices belonging to workers orcanisations That Mr Gerard Mansell, managing director of external services, can justify the use of the term 'moderate' for those responsible tor such actions is intolerable He says that there are views to the right of those expressed by General Spinola. There are no doubt views to the right of Pinochet, the Chilean dictator.
In practice, the BBC's objectives ACT come uncomfortably close to the CIA's stated aim or detending democracy when the chips are down, as they were in Allende's Chile, we are only too well aware of the real attitude towards pariiamentary democracy shown by the The fact is that the Portuguese work ing class has been righting against con siderable odds - not least politically motivated opposition to key Portuguese exports such as textiles, and the running down of plants by multi-national comp anies. Yet there is no indication that the BBC's broadcasts have highlighted these developments, quite apart from the gains which have been made through the establishment of workers control ir many industries We consider that the BBC and other mass media have much to learn from the strides towaros rear press treedom mad until recently by Republica and Radio Renascensa in Lisbon, and that journal ists here would do well to hold their managements to the National Union of Journalists Code of Conduct, which would ensure a less one-sided version of The BBC should immediately re instate Cartaxo and Ribeiro, the twi Portuguese journalists sacked for occasionally deviating trom the corp oration's bias. We are grateful to them for bringing to light the facts reported in your articles Yours faithfully, ALAN SAPPER, General Secretary, ERNIE ROBERTS, Assistant General Secretary, AUW BOB WRIGHT, AUEW Executive EMLYN WILLIAMS, President, South wales Num JUNN SPENCER, London CO-Op how kiowLEs, caitor, /ne Journalis AUDREY WISE, MP TOM LITTERICK, MP MAX MADDEN, MP JUAN MAYNAHD. IVI
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