[60th Anniversary

of the USSR
(1917-1977

MOSCOW (APN) — The
World press regularly reports
Out some amendments that are
being made to constitutions in dif-
ferent countries, thereby emphas-

4aing the dynamics of our time.

Work on a new draft constitution _
18 also under way in the Soviet
Union. In his speech at the 25th
Congress of the Communist Party

Of the Soviet Union in February.

t year Leonid Brezhnev em-
Phasized that the further consoli-
dation and development of social-
ist democracy would be one.of the
Main specific features of the new

constitution.

€ current constitution of the
USSR holds an important place
Rot only in the life of society as a
Whole, but also in the life of every
dividual, for it guarantees the
actual equality of citizens.

Nationality, color of skin and
S€x are not taken into account
when a person enrols at a school
Or college, gets a job, receives his
Wages or a flat from the state, or

| When he or she applies to the

€ union for a cut-rate voucher

toa sanatorium or sues somebody
In the people’s court. _

The equality of citizens, irres-

Pective of their sex, nationality or.
'Tace, in all spheres of economic,

80vernment, cultural, political
and other social activity is laid

‘down in chapter 10 of the con-
'Stitution of the USSR, and. any.
_ Violation of this right is punish-

le by law.

Under the very same chapter of
the constitution all citizens of the
Country are granted the right to
Work, to rest and leisure, to

Maintenance in old age and also in’
. Case of sickness, and to educa-

tion. Freedom of conscience, of
Speech, of the press, of assembly

8nd meetings, of street proces-

Slons and demonstrations is also
granted to all citizens. Inviolabil-
ity of the person, the homes of
citizens, and privacy of corres-
Pondence are under the protec-
tion of the fundamental law.
A specific feature of the current
OVviet constitution which was
adopted. in 1936 or more than
Orty years ago is that for the first
time in history it has not only
8tanted man, along with a com-
Plex of political freedoms, the
SIC socio-economic rights, but
also guaranteed all these rights.
. For example, the right to work
'S ensured by the socialist organi-
Zation of the national economy,
the growth of the productive
Srces, and the elimination of
“tisis and unemployment. The
Night to rest and leisure is ensured
by the fact that the working week
4s been fixed at 41 hours, by an-
Qual fully-paid leaves and a rami-
€d network of sanatoriums,

holiday hotels and clubs have.

n established.
We would like to recall in this
Connection that the United
tates, a rich and developed
Capitalist country still does. not
dare to take sucha step. It has not
Yet ratified the international co-

~ Yenant on civil and political rights

nd the international covenant on
onomic, social and cultural

Tights which came into force last.

year. For what reason? Back in
1952, the U.S. congress pointed

This Soviet family enjoys free medical service, education Is free,

New constitution will
reflect radical changes

ee

holidays are partially paid by the parent's trade union, the little girl’s
food and clothing are subsidized and the mother is guaranteed by law
equality in the home, law and workplace.

out directly that social and
economic rights were in essence
“socialistic’’ and therefore in-
volved commitments which not a
single government could fulfil.
Millions of ordinary Americans
hold quite a different opinion. But
evidently the congressmen are
not much bothered about the
opinion of people who have been
actually removed from posses-
sing or disposing of the means of
production and who have been
deprived of the elementary
human right to work. They are
evidently more concerned over
the interests of those few families
of millionaires. and multimil-
lionaires who own factories,
plants, banks, transport facilities
and who therefore determine the
policy of the United States.
Giving such preference to a
handful of families over the whole
of society, in general, is impossi-
ble in the Soviet Union. This has
also been guaranteed by the con-
stitution, under which the land, its
mineral wealth, factories, trans-
port facilities and the banks be-
long to an equal degree to all the

citizens of the country, whereas
‘the position a citizen holds in soc-
iety depends upon his personal
participation in socially useful
labor.

While proclaiming the citizens’
right to work, the constitution at
the same time emphasizes: that
working is also their duty.

The state grants its citizens free
medical service, gives them free
education and builds subsidized
housing for them. But all these
material values are not created by
themselves, and every able-
bodied person must make: his
definite contribution to their crea-
tion.

But the fundamental law of the
country should not be considered
as something immutable.

During the forty years that have
passed since the adoption of the
current constitution of the USSR,
radical changes have taken place
both in the social and economic
life of the country.

These changes, which reflect
the achievements. of Soviet soci-
ety will, no doubt, be taken into
account in the new constitution.

Canadians to participate
in Lisbon conference |

TORONTO — A member of:
Canadians Concerned About
Southern Africa will be travelling
to Lisbon to attend the World
Conference Against Apartheid,
Racism and Colonialism in
Southern Africa to take place
June 16-19, announced the CCSA
in a press statement.

Jean McGuire, CCSA_ vice-
chairman, will take part in the
world meeting to be held on the
anniversary of Soweto ata time of
growing involvement of Western
forces who are aiding the racist
regimes on the continent.

Recent developments in
Southern Africa have made the
convocation of this conference,
which will see wide participation
from many countries, even more
timely. Participants at the 2nd In-’
ternational Preparatory Commit-

‘tee included Houssain Nouri Ab-

dulrazak, deputy secretary-
general of the Afro-Asian
People’s Solidarity Committee;
Kader Asmal, vice-president of
the International Defence and Aid
Fund; Roger Billé, France, sec-

retary of the World Peace Coun-
cil; Chris Child, British Anti-
Apartheid Committee; Vladimir
Shubin, secretary of the Soviet
Afro-Asian Solidarity Commit-
tee; E.S. Reddy, from India, di-
rector of the UN Center Against
Apartheid. Also attending were
representatives from the MPLA
Angola, FRELIMO, PAIGC,
Guinea-Bisseau, SWAPO from
Namibia, ANC South Africa and
the Patriotic Front from Zim-
babwe. There were also many
other individuals and organiza-
tions at the conference.

The Portuguese committee
comprises parliamentarians from
all the political parties, from the
trade unions, womens organiza-

tions and churches. Almost 150. ”

individuals and organizations are
included.

, Persons wishing to assist in
travel for Canadians travelling to
the Lisbon conference may do so
by sending their contribution to:
CCSA, Box 545, Adelaide Street
Station, Toronto, MSC 2J6.

CHINESE PAPER SHOWS ACTIONS OF “GANG OF FOUR”
SUPPORTERS

PEKING — The newspaper Jenmin jihpao in an article indicates that
activities by supporters of the ‘‘gang of four’’ reached a peak last July
in Fukien province. Marked by raids on airports and the ‘‘taking by
storm’’ of party offices, these elements provoked armed clashes with
army units in the region.

The paper points out the aim was the seizing of power in the Party
and government, but that the rebellions were crushed and people who
were released by the ‘‘gang of four’’ were once again jailed.

WILMINGTON TEN DENIED A NEW TRIAL
BURGAW, North Carolina — A motion for a new trial for the
Wilmington Ten was denied May 21 after the longest post conviction
hearing in the state’s history. Despite the fact that three former star
witnesses recanted and swore they had lied under pressure from the
state prosecutor, the judge ruled there ‘‘was no violation of their (the

_ defendants) rights.’ An appeal by the Ten now goes to federal court.
* ‘Meanwhile they remain in jail. 2

CAMPAIGN GROWS AGAINST SCOTLAND-CHILE MATCH

LONDON — Mass pickets here at the FA Cup finals highlighted the.
growing opposition in Britain to the proposed June 15 soccer match
between Scotland and Chile to take place in the infamous stadium in
Santiago. More than 50,000 signatures will be presented to the Scottish
Football Association in Glasgow demanding the match be cancelled.
‘*Tens of thousands of Chileans cannot forget that for over two months
in 1973 the stadium was used as a concentration camp...” a letter to
the SFA reads.

CPUSA SENDS GREETINGS TO ‘LA PASIONARIA’

NEW YORK — ‘‘We send you our heartfelt congratulations on your
return to your homeland... Your return is a victory in the Spanish
people’s struggle for peace and democracy. It is also your personal
victory — a testimony to the uncompromising struggle against facism,
which you personify,” reads the message sent to Dolores Ibarruri by
the Communist Party USA on her return to Spain after 38 years.
Ibarruri is currently campaigning for election to Spain’s House of
Deputies.

DETROIT — As the General Motors’ stockholders meeting was taking
place May 20, demonstrators protested G.M.’s investments in fascist
Chile and demanded the giant multi-national withdraw Its investments
until labor’s rights have been restored there. : :

’ PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JUNE 10, 1977—Page 7