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EDITORIAL

Rig figures, rob pensioners

Does anyone in Canada really believe the drivel coming out of Ottawa which suggests that the economic crisis is caused by, and can be cured by persecuting, old age pen- sioners, families dependent on F amily Allowances, and public service workers, whose pay and pensions are both under attack?

Is bleeding these people going to save the country from ruin? Or does such salva- tion depend upon new policies and new governments to apply them?

Parliament voted, Liberals 117 for, with 102 New Democrats and Tories opposed on Feb. 3, to depress pensioners’ living standards still more by clamping them into the 6 and 5 tyranny. That holds pension increases to about 50% of the current in- flation rate, guaranteeing depressed living standards. No wonder new sections of the population are working to replace this bra- zen government of the monopolies with MPs who represent the non-monopoly majority.

To compound the insults to those who

can barely stretch their incomes to cover the necessities, the government manipu- lates the cost-of-living index:

In 1971, its agency, Statistics Canada, buried the evidence of daylight robbery of the people of Canada by abolishing the aggregate cost-of-living records and start- ing once more at zero.

Now this total has become embarrassin again, and so, as of February 1, they began with a clean slate. Allinflation over the past

12 years has been expunged. There hasn’t been any.

To top it off, a group of five members of parliament have directed criticism at the Catholic bishops’ condemnation of the way the system is working. The bishops, they: complain, “are engaging the authority of the Church, and therefore God, in tem- poral matters ... a dangerous precedent.”

Arrogance seems to be contageous among MPs-for-monopoly. With their re- cord of assault on living standards and all other standards, they deserve a barrage of dangerous precedents from every quarter.

Let world judge massacre

Israel’s judicial inquiry into respon- sibility for the massacre of Palestinians in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila last fall, while that area of Beirut was under Israeli occupation, has ended.

While it called Israeli Defence Minister Ariel Sharon “personally responsible” for not preventing the massacre, rebuked Prime Minister Menachem intelligence chiefs culpable, it steered clear of finding any deliberateness in their deeds.

Last September, when word of the mass murders of Palestinian men, women and children of all ages became known, the Communist Party of Canada voiced certain requirements for bringing the perpe- trators to justice: “The Israeli Government and those in Washington who armed the Israeli forces to the teeth, primed the aggression against Lebanon and then sup- ported it, are responsible for this crime against humanity.

Begin, and.

“They must not be allowed to get away with it,” the statement says.““The Nurem- berg trials established the principle that individuals could not absolve themselves of crime against humanity for they are collec- tively responsible. We need another Nuremberg trial against those who com- mitted this holocaust, both directly and in- directly. This includes Begin, Sharon and

policy of expansionism, annexation and- genocide against another people.”

It went on to demand the complete with- drawal of the Israeli military from Lebanon.

Each and every one of these points is valid today. An international tribunal is cal- led for, withdraw] of Israeli troops is long overdue. Whether Begin brazens it out or calls an election is not the point. The crime against the Palestinians, involving the USA, Israel and their Lebanese fascist collaborators, is in the international arena, and there it must be tried.

Peace needs efforts of all

The battle to keep Cruise nuclear missile testing out of Canada cannot be considered finished until that battle is won, regardless of the stage of the Canadian Government's

deal to allow such tests.

Not only is the battle not over, but the ranks of the growing peace forces are wide open as never before for the participation of people and organizations who Oppose the Cruise tests, whatever their approach to other matters. In a broader sense, there is room for this broad spectrum of views in the overall movements for disarmament, for declaring Canada a nuclear weapons free zone and barring the way to nuclear escalation.

The recent meeting of the central execu- tive committee of the Communist Party of Canada took note of the developing peace offensive:

“In Canada the desire for peace, against the arms drive and against nuclear war, expresses itself in widespread opposition to

the Cruise missile testing on Canadian soil, >ACIFIC TRIBUNE—FEBRUARY 18, 1983—Page 4

and in support of making Canada a nuclear weapons-free zone.”

The meeting called attention to opposi- tion to the Cruise tests, shown by Gallup Poll, and by opposition to the tests among Liberals (including Cabinet ministers), among New Democrats and among Tories.

“What must be at the centre of our atten- tion is the role the organized peace move- ment can and must play at this stage of the struggle, that of mobilizers, and unifiers of all peace movements around an agreed peace program, working on an equal basis with all who want peace and oppose nu- clear war ... working to help build up a powerful anti-war coalition in this country as part of the international coalition needed to deal with the dangers to peace today.”

That is the scope that is needed at this crucial time in history. An all-embracing | surge for nuclear disarmament, for peace and life permits of no narrowness, but calls for the broadest participation by all who share these aims.

ZZ

Flashbacks

25 years 50 years

INSULTING ARRANGEMENT

New insults are being heaped on Canada from south of the border.

A quartet of young To- ronto singers, the Crewcuts,

it ne tier eet eee woh 4j-.._ 2) are .denied:-entry to ‘the |: those in Washington who endorsed their *

United States unless they ob- tain immigrant visas. They will lose $50,000 while com- plying with U.S. customs red tape. Canada exacts no such conditions from U.S. artists.

Now U.S. Congressmen have decided to “investigate” U.S.-Canada relations and have the audacity to suggest Canadian cabinet ministers should be summoned before them to “testify”.

And Secretary of State Dul- les tells the committee that Canada-U.S. difficulties are “due to the inexperience of the present Canada govern- ment”.

Tribune, February 17, 1958

hee bea

Not as spectacular as the headline-catchers, but Canadé Trustco Mortgage Co., London, Ont., had a 1982 after-tax profit of $40,307,000, compared to 1981's $28,684,000. Considering they’vé@ been taking all the market will bear since 1864 (within the law$ passed for their enrichment) it’s not a bad life.

-after conflicts between fascist8

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HITLER’S TERROR GRIPS GERMANY —

BERLIN — Mass raids and searches of all workers’ oF ganizations are now bein carried out by fascists al police. :

“Liebknecht House, head quarters of the Germa# Communist Party, was 0 cupied by armed forces: Many arrests have taken placé throughout the country: especially in Prussia.

In Loebeck a 24-hour ge” eral strike has develope

and socialist workers’ defensé corps. Goering has pro- hibited all Communist out door demonstrations and meetings and police have or ders to arrest communists whenever they deem neces sary.

The Worker; February 11, 1933