al

The 90-day moratorium on strikes is facing a severe test as Solidarity threatens to pull out workers from several major

enterprises. The question remains however that a standstill economy cannot begin to meet its people’s needs.
Crop failure, rationing
hamper Poland’s revival

WARSAW — While the situation here has improved
since the new leadership was installed, elements within
and without the Solidarity union have been undermining
the 90-day, no strike moratorium agreed to a few weeks
ago. -

Threats of a general strike in Lodz, a major textile
centre, are seen by many here as an extortion attempt to
use objective economic hardships for partisan advantage
at the cost of the people’s interests.

A week ago, students at Warsaw University held two
demonstrations marking the 1968 student protests. One
was organized by the new independent students’
association, the Academy of Catholic Theology, and
Solidarity, which has moved away from its accepted
legal status as a trade union. The other, held in the
building occupied in 1968 by the former Ministry of
Public Security, was held by a group called the Grunwald
Patriotic Association. It was intended to protest alleged
violations of law and order by security forces in 1968, but
was colored by anti-Semitism. Since some officials of the
security forces at the time were Jewish, the plaque put up
by these demonstrators referred to them as ‘*Zionists”’
although they weren’t. :

An editorial in Trybuna Ludu, printed before the
demonstrations were held, said it was not possible to
remain indifferent to ‘‘attempts to use the March 1968
events to stir up and divide the country. Those who do so
only give proof that they are .. . placing their own ambi-
tions and political goals above the real social and national
interests.”

In the meantime, every day makes it clearer that Po-
land needs internal peace and cooperation to solve its
economic problems.

For example, the government has been forced to close

down some 50 big investment construction projects,
each of which involves the equivalent of $1-billion.

Empty shelves in stores are another dangerous indi-
cator of the crisis. Laundries have cut the loads they will
accept because of a shortage of detergents.

Meat rationing will go into effect April 1. Potatoes are
in short supply because of a disastrous drought, which
sharply reduced other crops as well. Sugar rations have
been cut.

The potato crop, usually about 50-52 million tons per
year, was only 25 million tons, and of very poor quality.
The sugar beet crop, which is usually about 18 million
tons, fell to little over 1.1 million tons. Poland had to buy
10 million-tons of fodder. ;

Instead of an increase in the amount of livestock, it has
fallen. In brief, market supplies are bad, and new sup-
plies and the harvest are still far off. :

This does not help improve the tense social and polit-
ical situation. Increasingly, workers and farmers are
responding to the call of the government and the Polish
United Workers’ Party to meet the crisis with positive,
concrete work measures. But some people are refusing
to respond, and some are deliberately trying to make the
situation worse. Meanwhile, the government is proceed-
ing with measures to eliminate previous errors.

|
|

GLOBE TOURS
The complete -
travel service

|

We will professionally Icok after all
yéur travel needs. We specialize in
tickets, tours, passports, permits
and reservations. Cail us today —
for prompt personalized service.

2679 East Hastings St. Vancouver, B:C. V5K 129 —
Phone 253-1221

_ Annual Storewide Sale
March 20 to April 4

9:30 to 5:30
Thursday, Friday, 9:30 to 9 p.m.

Sale features:

French Canada: A Study
Canadian Democracy |
by Stanley Ryerson ............... $595 $3.49
Forest Homes
Children’s, large format color illustrated.
eClothi< se ain es sy eee $395 $1.50
The Photography Catalogue
Best equipment, materials, techniques $8-95 $2.95 |
30% off all introductory periodical subscriptions.
Write or phone for list.

People’s Co-op Bookstore

1353 West Pender, Vancouvé’

685-5836 a

Canadians urge Ottawa act to
halt Pretoria’s ‘secret war’

TORONTO — Canadians Con-
cerned About Southern Africa
(CCSA) has called on the Canadian
Government to take an independent
position in southern Africa in face of
the widening “‘secret war’’ being
waged by Pretoria against front-line
states and the U.S. administration’s
open support for South African mili-
tary attacks.

CCSA, while applauding Ottawa’s
condemnation of apartheid, urges

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MARCH 27, 1981—Page 10

the government to take concrete
steps to provide practical support for
the people in Southern’ Africa
fighting for national independence.
CCSA calls for Ottawa to:

e Immediately demand, as part of
the westem contact group, that the

- South African government agree to a

ceasefire and UN-sponsored elec-
tions in Namibia;

e Urge the South African
government -to cease its ‘‘secret

war’’. against the front-line states;
e Step up opposition to the entire

“evil system of apartheid;

e Put pressure on the South Afri-
can government by using the threat
of manditory economic sanctions,
and act on such threats if the above
conditions are not met; ©

e Speak and act in opposition to

the Reagan administration’s danger-
ous position of increased military in-
volvement in Southern Africa.

ie

fin

Viet
Le LL yD)

i 7

El Salvador:
Revolution or Death

A: - ELM SOWING
TO BE* FOLLOWED BY

AN EYEWITNESS’ REPORT
ON NICARAGUA

805 E PENDER ST avec mat.
SUNDAY APRIL 5 — 7:45 PM

ADMISSION BY DONATION

KINGSWAY and VAXCOUVER CLUBS
COMMUNIST “PART ¥ of “CANADA