Obituary - Sharad Jhaveri
COMRADE Sharad Jhaveri, one of the founders of the Indian Socialist
Workers' Party, forerunner of the
Inquilabi Communist Sangathan
(ICS), Indian Section of the Fourth
International, has died.
While studying in Bombay he came in touch with Trotskyism, at a time when there was no Trotskyist movement in India. After completing his studies he practised law in his home town in Gujarat, maintaining his links with his political mentors and continuing his efforts to launch a Trotskyist organization in отка, не
When the Indian section was formed, he immediately involved himself and from then on, while continuing in his profession, he devoted his intellectual, material and moral resources to the new party.
While staying hundreds of kilometers away from the party centre and areas of activity in Gujarat, he maintained close links with cadres through correspondence, writings and frequent visits. He spent days and weeks with the cadres in Baroda during political campaigns, conducting mass meetings, study circles, press conferences and so on. He made an important contribution in the development of young cadres for the party.
He also played a crucial role in the internal debates. In its early years, the party had to make a great effort to understand and fight ultra-left currents in the organizavast strength in its potential ability to mobilize its militants and the members of the mass organizations, has no access to such funding.
And yet, money is centrally important to this new "war" against reaction, which promises the earth to a population understandably weary of the economic crisis.
The FSLN needs the support of all anti-imperialist and revolutionary forces around the world. For this reason, Sandinista leader commandant Omar Cabezas, when visiting Paris last June, officially asked for the assistance of the LCR in the struggle against UNO.
The LCR decided to respond positively io this request and is attempting to raise 100,000 francs to finance the FSLN's electoral campaign. It is appealing to all its militants and sympathizers to contribute to the success of this campaign.
Cheques should be sent to : LCR (for Stephane), 2 rue Richard Lenoir, 93 100 Montreuil, France. * tion. Here comrade Jhaveri made his presence felt, providing a clear orientation to the party in Gujarat.
In the mid-1970s, when the imposition of the nationwide emergency by Indira Gandhi severely affected the organization, he began a concerted initiative to hold the party together. He drafted a crucial document on the emergency and the demagogy of the government about removing poverty. He also actively participated in an effort to convene
Party Congress during the emergency. This Congress brought him into the leadership of the party.
His period of work in the national leadership was the most productive period for him as well as the party. In this period he emerged as the party's chief political spokesperson, drafting numerous resolutions and documents. At this time he also wrote a Marxist analysis of the Indian Constitution and a paper on the state in India.
As he was working on the latter text, he was suddenly hit by an intractable disease. In his last years he was completely bed-ridden and lost his capacity to speak.
His death is a big loss for the Indian section. We salute his memory and extend our sympathy to his family. We believe that the real tribute to such a comrade is to intensify our efforts to carry forward the legacy of revolutionary Marxism and build a mass revolutionary party.
(abridged from a statement of the
Central Secretariat of the ICS)* IRELAND Irish socialist on Loyalist death-list IN A NEW twist to the "leaks" row (the scandal caused by revelations of Loyalist/ British Army collusion in the murder of militant nationalists; see /V 171), Peoples Democracy, the Irish section of the Fourth International, has revealed that one of its members is among those whose photos and personal details have been leaked to the Scottish newspaper the "Daily Record" Former Peoples Democracy councillor for West Belfast, John McAnulty, said, "this is proof positive that political and trade union activists are targeted by the UDR, RUC and British Army —and subsequently by their henchmen in the Loyalist organizations.
"The member concerned is a longstanding member of our organization and a bona fide trade unionist who has played an important part in major industrial dis- putes. He has never been a member or 17
AROUND THE WORLD
LIDOVE NOVINY
ZAŘI 1989 ROC. 2. CISLO 9
Prohlášení LN
od 14- srpne 1989 ] 90u v Bratislavó veznens clen redakêní rady Lidovych novin dr. Miroslav Kusy • vydavatel Bratislavských listù dr. Jan Carnogursky. Spolu
Hanou Ponickou. Antonem Seleckým d dr. Vladimirem Manakem, stíhanymi na svobodé. ) sou obvineni z rüzných trestnych precinu pouze pruto. le vetejnó vyslovovalı srd) názor k výroči
CZECHOSLOVAKIA Police move against independent publication ON October 12 Czechoslovak secret police arrested Jiri Ruml and Rudolf Zeman, editors of an independent monthly magazine, Lidové Noviny [People's News). The journal attempts to be objective and non partisan, presenting material from a wide range of viewpoints. Many of the best Czech and Slovak writers and journalists, prevented since 1969 from publishing in their own country, have written for the magazine.
It has been appearing since the beginning of 1988 in small editions of up to 1000 copies — not for lack of interest but for lack of paper — and represents an attempt by the Czechoslovak democratic
Sinn Fein or the IRA. His only arrest arose from a May Day demonstration in 1981, and this was the only occasion on which an official photograph was taken. We believe it is this photograph which has been leaked.
"The fact that our member's photograph was included in a photo-montage shows that this involvement in perfectly legal political and trade-union activity was considered sufficient for him to be routinely harassed and put at risk from Loyalist killer squads — for these groups the leak of the document would be sufficient grounds for murder.
"It has to be asked just how many of the "random killings" of Catholic civilians are the result of malice and political bias by the state forces coupled with collaboration from its "Policy Review". The conference resolution was moved by supporters of left newspaper "Labour Briefing". In a week when almost every progressive policy was abandoned by Labour at the leadership's behest, the LCLGR victory was doubly remarkable, and can be explained by a successful strategy of fighting for a united front with Labour and trade union leaders who could be won on this question, and winning a massive genuine rank and file level of support.