ISC replies to Socialist Challenge THE Iranian youth went from demonstrator to demonstrator feverishly showing pictures of atrocities mitted by the army in Tehran.
The photographs everyone who saw them that repression goes on in Iran and need for SWP solidarity remains as strong as ever.
The 2,500-strong stration, which took place last Saturday London, organised by organisations, Iranian student organisations grouped in the Iran Solidarity Campaign and the the Committee against Repression in Iran and was supported and the National Union Students. the After speeches from representatives of these organisawas tions, including the joint far left statement reprinted on the back page, the demonstration's WErE high point came as it passed the American Embassy venor Square. The 500-strong CARI contingent in particular shouted slogans 'Carter! Callaghan! Hands off and Iran!" and 'Don't make Iran another Vietnam'.
At the Iranian which was massively protected by hundreds of police the whole demonstration shouted *Down with Bakhtiar! Yes to workers' power.' BBC reporters who attended press of the demonstration were evidently Gear since described on the news as proKhomeini, despite the complete The Iran Solidarity Campaign replies to Socialist Challenge. THERE are a number of points would like to UDOI regards Challenge's contribution, the tone of which makes it sound like a joint statement with the Committee Against Repression in Iran 1. You write that 'a number of Iranian student been involved in CARI and left because they disagreed with this orientation' (i.e. toward labour and STUCCHI movements Britain).
The Confederation of Iranian Students — National Union - was in fact a main founder of CARI and many of its members contributed greatly building Marxist Group members London, Manchester Sheffield can confirm this.
On the question of orientation we refer you to the draft platform of the ISC. not because of orientation, but because of a right turn on the side of IMG and its Iranian on us their political positions. 2. It issurprising to see that you suddenly think that the slogan Polaroid reminded demonwas left of in Grosincluding Embassy absence of religious slogans.
The demonstration had was large majority students on it, showing the lack of appreciation within the left important, because the IMG and its Iranian supporters was the only touch opposed 'clarifying the role of Socialist imperialism including in CARI's manifesto, April 1976).
This point has been forgotten since we left CARI and even until recently activists of CARI argued that slogans like Death to the Shah', groups have Shah's imperialist slogans were not the ones around which mobilisation should take place and therefore in must not be raised. the struggle in Iran or the prospect of isolation in the solidarity movement must have made you change your position.
toward As regards the exclusion of a CARI speaker from the rally at the end of and demonstration (by biggest ever held in Britain on the question which you did not even bother to We left, report), distorted to an unbelievable extent by the people who claim to be agamst disincanon Prior to the demonstration we had been denied the right to announce it on two occasions (the Fourth IRANIANS on the demonstration in London last Saturday.
whole of Iranian the Imperialist Hands off Iran' is | Fortieth anniversary rally and CARl's public organisation which and the labour movement as a strategic role which Iran plays in maintaining network of imperialist exploitation in the meeting) and although we do not believe a solidarity rally to be a place to settle political differences, we asked for the feeling of the rally allow CARI speaker to address it, and it was which took away the chance for a CARI for be DOING larly key area of the Middle East At its Steering Committee next day, CARI saw bringing this awareness to the labour disagree ('We suggest that the SWP and ISC...actively partici pate in building CARI...').
Wesuggest that you recognise unity. movement as its main task over the next few months After the affiliation of the National Union of Students to CARI, a joint speaking tour with the NUS will be proposed. Meetings held with Liverpool and Hull Port shop stewards committees will aim culminate with the affiliation of the National Port Shop Stewards Committee Other trade unions will be contacted to provide support the workers' struggles continuing in Iran. There will launched throughout the whole labour movement for the withdrawal of logistical and maintenance aid for the Shah's At the same time CARI will propose united action on the lines of last week's demonstration to all other forces active on the question of Iran, particuthe ITantar students grouped in the Iran Solidarity Campaign There will be a full discussion of the situation in Iran and wildl Can be done in the imperialist countries to block the forces of reaction at the CARI Conference on Saturday 31 March at University College London Speakers invited include Fred Halliday, Hull o and Liverpool dockers, and shop stewards from the Vickers Combine Committee. * Further details of the Conference and forms can be obtained from CARI, Box 4, Rising Free, 182 Upper Street, London NI Phone 1-5pm - 01-800 8958 the existence of differences both in politics and action and stop appealing for unprincipled