All (Planning)
Abdul Karim Messag (Finance)
Hassan Shaliee (Information)
Suleiman Laog Radio-TV)
Affairs) political importance.
changes.
For centuries Alghanistan was ruled by monarchs and religious divines. During BritInh rule in India, the Alchan King Amanullah, who resisted British political and military incursions, was replaced by the Yusufzai dynasty, This famil ruled Alghanistan till the 11 April upheava:.
112 SE ruling monarch Zahir Shah was removed from 1973 by brother-in-law Sardar Dand.
pledged reforms. He stated that the preceding regime had been a corrupt and effete government, pseudo democracy based on personal and class interests which Aigbanistan.to the edge of the abyss.' ONE-PERSON Daud promised to convoke an elected Loi Jirga (Grand National Assembly) nothing happened. The Jirga was the same old combination of divines and feudal notables of governors).
Daud imposed a one-person rule and ruled, In everything but name, like a monarch. He Then in carly April this year a popular trade union leader was assassinated. His provoked a wave of angry Abdul Hakim Sharase (Justice) THE upheaval in Afghanistan is an event of enormous it could have protest demonstrations and meetings, in open defiance of Daud's ban assembiles, The funeral procession turned into the largest anti-government demo seen in Afghanistan since the 60s, PURGE Daud ordered his arrests and was preparing a bloody purge of all lettists in democratic The response was sharp and well-prepared. The tank force overthrew had taken The scenes which followed were reminiscent of Portugal iD 1974. without inhibitions •were garlanded with flowers.
Radio Kabul announced thar this was not military coup, but a 'rational democratic revolution A revolutionary Council was created civilians and officers. provincial Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Council is Noot Mohammed Minister is Babrak Karmal of two different factions of the People's Democratic Party (the public factions murder CHECILEE SLE April incidenta saw a reunifiCRESLIE serious Revolutionary all political are the examples.
large-scale through mark the Daud ture AL The masses celebrated Soldiers TEALITICH abolition relationships EQUALITY Taral, Vice chairperson and deputy Prime that it will ensure equality of The significance lies in the were called nomads issue Khala). The revolutionary positions.
Members of the Afghan Revolutionary Council Danish (mines and Industries)
35g, or 11p J.Wiaon, SC The PDP is a political party for which contains all Afghanistan's pro-Moscow Commun Muslim well as a laver of independent intellectuals.
Every member of the new 1s a member of the PDP. This is different from other countnes SHEL where Communists have partiSytia, Iraq, Indonesin, Banglaobvious being The programme of the new regime is democratic. It calls for the end of landed estates sweeping reform, and the abolition of IRAN feudal and pre-feudal relations I implemented this would La radica shift Afghanistan's agrarian structhe MASTERI the landowners (comprising 2 per Kahul cent of the population) have understood more land than owned by 81 per 40 thousand fabilies own 73 per cent of the cultivable land.
1.5 million peasant households are landless. Any real change would unleash new struggles and pose the question of a total existing I LOWE The new programme states rights of women with men in all ocial, economic, political and cultural and civil aspects, This coupled with the promise of u "democratic solution of the reflecly 108l result SURIETE Maj.
Hafizullah Amin (Foreign| Wataniar Bramsgrove Stal Birmingham FIGHT RACISM' badges and T-shirl La each plus 7p pap. or tip or motH Shite C2 wich plus 15p pap. Frem Badges, FO BoN 50 The decrees on equal rights would make Afghanistan the most advanced striking neighbour, Pakisan barbaric The events in Alghanistan have created consternation in acighbouring The Pakistani dictator Zia is worried about the impact it will have within the ariny Furthermore in the event of former Prime Minister Bhutto hung, LINCHEL Instability could further com plicate matters.
For the Iranian burcher, matiers are even worse. The Afghan become a rallying point for dissidents, Radio can beatu Iran. The language in both COUNTES similar and radical measures jp Afghanistan Will their impact in Iran.
it is reported that the Shah considered a military intervenKabul, but was overruled by his superiors in the US State Department. The saw more clearly than their short-sighted client that military intervention might well be the final blow to bring the Socialists musi follow the eveats in Afghanistan carefully in the coming months. if the measures it has promised, class struggies will intensify in the medieval, tribalist state.
could well prove yel originality of the hiscocical process.
Mohammad Aslam (ET.SO.
upar. 45 Falkland Road, London w-rascist groupe in South shoul netratien for 24 June and - an As an Pan in flare 10 Plasher Park in taal TO COMMUNIST UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - July 15-23 Pulytechnic of Central London Wide range of specialist anu general courses, including British Labour Movement well as Cily Politics, Popular Music, Sex and Class one-day Symposium on the Futore of Past-School LIDLEEINE Education Further details from The Organiser, CUL 10, 16 King Si, London WOZE BHY. Noor Mohammad Taraki (Prime Minister)
Babrak Karmal (Deputy Prime Minister)
Dr Saleh Mohammad Zelri (Agriculture)
Shah Col. Abdul Cadir (Defense Out nest week!
'Students Unions L'ader
Attack' An SSA pamphlet Socialist Student Allance National Cours Friday, 16 June, 2pat For venue and orders for pamphlet ring Nick Mullen 01-882 3950 Colin Talbot 01-359 8271 Student Polities Specia
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repercussions in Pakistan and Iran and destabilise South Asian polities. TARIO ALI discusses the recent