THE TRIAL of Petr Uhl and five other leading Czechoslovak civil rights campaigners opened in Prague Monday The six, another four still awaiting trial, all face between three and ten years tn PHISO0 T01 subversion, because of their work Committee to Defend the Unjustly Prosecuted (VONS).
The prosecution has singled out Petr Uhl, arevolutionary Marxist and the editor the Information accused. The other are: Jiri Dienstbier, a Eurocommunist and Charter 77 spokesperson; Bednarova, a veteran Communist of 25 years standing and a leading Czech journalist in the 1960s; Vaclay Havel, a former Charter 77 spokesperson and famous playwright; Benda, Catholic Charter 77 spokesperson; and Dana Nemcova, psychologist prominent in the cultural ground in Czechoslovakia.
The trial is the most sweeping crackdown against domestic critics to have been carried out in European country for over a decade. It is also an event of importance in the unfolding crisis of Czechoslovak Stalinism, reaching repercussions.
The ten Chartists wére rounded up bypoliceattheend of Mayunder cover of the Pope's visit to Poland. But the Charter movement and firm and continued their activities, while the labour movements of the West were eriraged by this repression.
split opened up in leadership and at the end of July the trial was postponed.
The regime then scrapped any pretence of lega. consistency offered to free the best-known of the ten, Havel, on condition that he went to the USA for a year. refused to go unless the others were released.
Western correspondents have called it Intercontinental Press •SOME countries possess abundant resources, others have nothing. What is their fate? To starve? eternally poor? then sation? Why then the man? Why then the United Nations? Why then the world?
These words are Castro's speech at the UN General Assembly, which is reprinted in full in the latest Ssoue of the Intercontinental Press/Inprecor [Vol 17, 38]. Also featured in this 40-page issue Revolution March', adopted the Secretariat of the Fourth International.
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Office ANNA SABATOVA in front of the court building a 'show trial' reminiscent of the Stalin period. But it's the very opposite of broadcast French This time a ring of steel has been court-room to of the proceedings Party's On the first day Ana Uhl's wife, was removed from court on a charge of trial, policeman for taking some notes of what was happening:
Yet the regime has heard that fair trials aresupposed to be open. So, with meticulous attention to detail, the police have chosen the smallest court room in Prague's city courts as the against Corrie's anti-abortion Bill was called by the TUC. But it wasn't the mainly built this That was left up to pro-choice campaigners in NAC and anti-Corrie caimpaigns all round the SUBSCRIBE NOW 12 months £12.50; 6 months $6.50 12 months - Surface Mail £12.50 Airmail •ilo.V Multi-Reader institutions: Double the above rate. l enclose a donation for the fighting Fund of Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to Compléte and return io: Socialist Challenge, 328 Upper Street, London N1 most suitable place for the event.
The Czechoslovak diplomatic service has been in disarray. Eminent Communist lawyers refused visas to attend the trial by the Paris Embassy, as was the Labour Peter Archer QC.
Canadian lawyer Gordon Wright, however, was given a visa to attend the then earica court-room when the hearing began on Monday.
The official indictment of the six accused proudly declares that it is these volumes evidence culiull wilal wcalcouy Kaow. uaalas GOCEEII Challenge has participated fully in this campaign. explained why and how Corrie's Bill has to be fought. Socialist Challenge buDUUILELS in every locality particinated inocal campaigning activities. We've reported the and national initiatives against the Bill a newspaper. Published by Reigocrest Lid. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London NI.
members of VONS the accused met and worked vigorously expose were considered to be gross breaches of the law by the police and the courts; that The Human Rights in First the Charter 77 now on trial in Prague. Help their families. Send donations to: Charter 77 Fund [SC], c/o Reg Race MP, 133 Grierson Road merely London SE23.
.in the build-up to this demonstration. Our coverage We've won't stop after this demonstration any more than the camozien acains Corrie's Bill will end then. At least, we have nope i won't, bul inere s lne small question of money. local Without telephones to get the news in, without printing, transport to get the papers out, couldn't provide the information and ideas which help militants to mobilise for the campaign against Corrié. Ur for any of the other struggles we fight to build either. profit. We need £2,500 every quarter from our supporters to stay afloat. So far our quarterly fund drive has been going fairly well (the figures are printed below). another event this autumn rebates.
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Defence relentlessly 77 activists R Hurcombe EConway Camden SC Party and campaigning •H Wordswortt A Fieldsend T Boushier PYewdall A Southali MB GParker postage, rail EdMahood AHN LCannon A nOr We don't make a PBellis Hde Ley Johan Kusch FBermejo-Barrera TOB collecting tin This is because of Suffolk postman All our M Eady (tax rebate) getting tax Anon (tax rebate)
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SHughes Hackney IMG Crawley IMG RDuckworth L Woods Swindon SCG TOTALSO FAR P.O. Box 82, London E2 VONS tried to arouse public opinion bureaucratic acs ol repression; that it provided financial families political prisoners; and that it allowed its activities to be publicised internationThe indictment can produce not one single fact that would earn VONS criticism from socialists in the West. But what it does unwittingly bring to light is the fact that the Czechoslovak authorities consider any challenge to decision being SLALL an unpardonable act of subversion.
The Husak regime' s entire conduct of this affair shows that it has been Again a stable hold on during the decade since Russian tanks rolled into Prague.
The best hope for the regime a return to the Cold War, which would allow it to cover up political bankruptcy pointing to the dangers posed by the growing militarist bandwagon in the suffering on the peoples of the Soviet Union than Hitler did, will alarm people throughout Eastern Europe, and will be used by the Stalinist bureaucracy to justify the stepping up The task of socialists is to fight the new militarism in the West all the way doing everything in their power to destroy the NATO But they must also step up practical solidarity with those like the Czechoslovak civil rights activists who are struggling for basic working class the countries of tastern The mass working class organísations in the West should respond to the Prague trial by strengthening their links with those struggling for socialist democracy in Czechoslovakia and by campaigning for the immediate release of the jailed Charter Our thanks to:
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Finally the trial began. But even now the black farce continues. Some
West. Thatcher's vicious speech last weekend, threatening to inflict worse