EAST GERMANY in escape attempts.
English and 50,000 French soldiers, with out counting the Canadians, Belgians and
Dutch are stationed on one side. On the other, there are more than 300,000 Soviet soldiers. The inter-German frontier is one of the most heavily guarded in the world.
NATO forces threaten East
German revolution
At a time when the East German workers are going into motion, this formidable ers are goino into concentration of foreign troops represents at least a potential threat for the German revolution. There can be no doubt. The NATO forces, like those of the Warsaw Pact, are not going not stand idly by facing the possibility of a revolutionary victory that would profoundly shake the regimes that they defend.
In these conditions, the demand for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign troops from the two German states must be taken up by the whole workers' and revolutionary movement in the countries concerned, above all the four states occupying Berlin.
Already in 1983-1984, a big campaign on this question initiated by the French and German sections of the Fourth International in collaboration with the peace movements made a considerable impact on public opinion and some contingents of NATO. Three French soldiers, members of the LCR, were hauled before the Landau military tribunal on this account. They got very broad international support. The officially proclaimed sympathy of the French CP and SP leaders for the East German masses must be judged by the attitude they take to this question. *
ЛЕНИН
Towards an independent Socialist left in the GDR
ON October 2, 1989, a ON October 2 1090 meeting of members of Independent left groups, working groups and socialists took place. It was decided to convene an all-GDR working meeting in November and a co-ordinating group was set up to prepare the meeting. We publish here statements of the co-ordinating group, omitting for space reasons details of the workshops to be held at the meeting. DOCUMENT ON the all-GDR open working meeting of the independent left (socialists) planned for the end of November 1989 - statement of the co-ordinating group. THE working meeting aims to bring together the broadest possible spectrum, both on the level of the issues and of the different left currents and tendencies. It offers the possibility to promote the basic clarifications and orientations for a socialist future for the GDR and to present conceptual proposals regarding particular political and economic questions for discussion.
It will be an opportunity to work out concrete socialist alternatives for the transformation of the GDR. We will try to facilitate a issue-related discussion and one to which both practical and theoretical people and both those interested in general questions and specialists can contribute.
The participants will not only present their different views, but will also work out and try out general ideas in order to establish a consensus that is capable of sustaining the project of a united left. Also on the agenda therefore will be a discussion on how the project of a united left can be carried forward after the meeting.
We address ourselves to the whole left, whether working in an independent group or alone, whether organized in the SED or not, and call on them to take part in this meeting with their contributions or to organize similar working meetings themselves and keep each other in touch about their experiences. Support in your work the project of a "United Left" and thus the struggle for a socialist alternative for the GDR!
Contact with the co-ordinating group for the November meeting can be made via the postal address or directly at the Berlin "Umweltbibliothek"
Information about the state of organizational and theoretical preparation, other dates, contact addresses for working groups or the final time and place of the meeting, will appear for example in the Umweltbibliothek's "Telegraph" news service of the or in other independent news sheets where the public statements of the coordinating group will be published. Statement no.1 of the coordinating group for the preparation ot a working meeting for the project "United Left" THE co-ordinating group for the preparation of a working meeting will publish regular statements on dates and the content of the meeting.
It is responsible both for for the working out of the thematic framework of the meeting on the basis of different preparatory texts and contributions from announced participants and for the organizational preparations.
It is also ready to support the arrangement of contacts which will allow collaboration between different participants on the same project coming out of the meeting. This is aimed at a long-term collaboration of the left around such working meetings. In the same way, the co-ordinating group views itself as an initiative for the advancement of a projected "United Left" which proposes, in the context of the discussion about economic change, a socialist reorganization of the GDR along the following lines: • Social ownership of the means of production as the dominant and leading basis of socialist socialization.
-The establishment self- 11 determination of the owners in the fulfill-
EAST GERMANY
• Socialist defense policy. • popular education. • culture. • History of the Communist Movement.
The coordinating circle for the workshop on "The Foundations for Shaping Socialist Economic Relations" provisionally proposes the following framework:
Main heading |
The shaping of production and property relations in the process of socialist socializa-
Appeal of the Social Democrats THINGS cannot go on like this! Many hope that the situation will change, But this isn't enough! You don't hope for hange, you have to impose it. The democratization of the GDR the monopoly of power and the preten- which is needed requires. ded reguires a challenge to sions to sincerity of the dominant party. We need a battle of ideas, an open debate on the situation of our country today and on its future.
This requires the elaboration of a programme involving all citizens who can contribute their professional expertise For us, the signatories of this petition, the formation of a social democratic party is very important for the future of our society
Our goal is that of a social democracy with an ecological orientation. This goal can only be realized through a clear and complete separation between state and society. We wish to implement, defend and reinforce the fundamental rights of citizens on the social, cultural and political planes. We wish to ensure the defence of the natural environment as well as the preservation of natural resources and the possibilities of life tor future generations. We ask all those who share this programmatic orienta tion to group together at a local level
• a state of laws and rigorous control of the civil authority parliamentary democracy and a multi-party system relative autonomy - in the linancial, economic and cultural spheres - of the regions, departments, towns and
Villages a social market economy with rigorous restrictions on monopolies, so as to avoid any anti-democratic concentradon of economic power
• democratization of the structures of economic life
• the freedom to establish Independent trade unions and the right to strike.
We wish to establishi torms of collaboration with all those who share these fundamental principles. hose who wish to express their criticisms can put forward their own democratic perspec tive. We are attempting to create a com mon front of all those who want to participate in the democratization of our country.
12 September 1989
Group for a social democratic party in the GDR.
ment of genuine socialization of collective economic activity. • The consistent implementation of the principles of social security and justice for all members of society. • Political democracy, the rule of law and the consistent implementation of indivisible human rights and the free development of the individuality of every member of society. • The ecological reconstruction of industrial society.
The provisional date for the working meeting is November 25/26. Information about the place will be provided as soon as possible.
The over-riding aim of the work of the groups working on specitic questions must be to produce a concrete, politically thoroughgoing and radical transitional programme for the socialist re-organization of the GDR. This includes efforts towards a durable consensus of the left on the most important questions concerning this reorganization.
The co-ordinating group is preparing the discussion through two thematic groups. The Coordinating Circle of the Thematic Group "Democratic and People's Self-Management" proposes the following framework for discussion. Main Heading I The political forms required to establish popular sovereignty and develop public opinion. Main Heading lI The role of the state and the tasks of people's self-managed bodies. Main Heading III The reconciliation of differing interests within the society and the political framework for solving conflicts in the process of forming a socialist society. Theme-centered Workshops • Socialist foreign policy. 12% The all-German policy of a socialist tion. Possibilities and limits of the development of self-managed and private property. Main Heading I| Forms and methods of reconciling the interests of self-managed plants and social, collective economic and environmental interests. Main Heading I!! Outlines of specific structural policy for the GDR.
In view of the crisis situation in our country, it is expected that all thematic and theme-centered workshops will go beyond the inevitably partially very basic discussion of their subjects to concrete conclusions and proposals for immediate, timely and urgent changes.
During the meeting, a committee of representatives of all workshops will be formed, which will summarize the work of all the groups and present it to the plenary session.
All leftists who want to participate in, or present their own reports or suggestions, or to help or participate in the presentation of material or reports, or to support the work of the United Left can submit their requests in writing or in person through the contact addresses given. We ask that they provide concrete details regarding the area of work or the theme to which they want to contribute. In this respect, the framework given above should not be seen as a limitation. The coordinating circle feels duty-bound to respond to all suggestions also through continually widening of the framework.
Berlin, October 19, 1989.
The Coordinating Group for the November Meeting of the Left.
Contact Address: Umweltbibliotek, 1058 Berlin, Griebenowstrasse 16 or Genn. Katrin Schmidt, 1150 Berlin, Schönburger Strasse 8. *
International Viewpoint #74 • November 27, 1989