anxious to rid itself of a military dictatorship which, although userul in crushing the onslaught of the working class in 1936-9, is today unable to provide a vehicle for political or economic development. But the depth of the economic crisis and the new revolutionary upsurge make any move in this direction extremely dangerous. It is the need for a strong military apparatus to repress we working class which keeps the senile dictatorship in business and consequently gives it its political power.
towards the liberalisation of the State's institutions inkorder to pacify the masses - the Law of AssociaThe development of the economic and political crisis in countries on the fringe of the advanceed capitalist block gives a valuable insight to trends in the more advanced countries. In Spain the capitalist class, like the working class, has learnt a lot from the Portuguese experience. It knows that the political parties and organisations of the working class emerge from underground with greater strength than those of a capitalist class accustomed to delegating its political role to a military dictatorship. Spinola's message to his fellow capitalists in Spain was "prepare yourself while you can'.
The Spanish bourgeoisie is now On the one hand there is a move the working class.
ism). tions which allows for an embryonic form of political party, the 'open' trade union elections, legalisation ot a certain number of strikes, and a relaxation or press censorsup But the narrowness of these concessions is soon outflanked by the place. working class. Strikes to be legal must not be 'political', solidarity strikes or effect essential industries. and of course there is no strike pay or unemployment benefit. The Law of Associations allows for little more than the formation of political study groups, and clearly cannot be used to represent the interests of SUBTLE FORM It is time now for the working class to show its teeth. With the failure of the proposed liberalisation, the regime has begun to prepare the organisational and legislative changes necessary to impose a subtle form of undeclared martial law in Spain. Last week a new anti-terrorist law was approved giving the the police and judicial system almost unlimited powers in the fight against 'terrorism' (blocking a road with a car is now an act or terrorThe law is, of course, aimed at the most militant sections.of the Spansi working class. The regime is considerably more afraid of the possibility of a revolutionary general ment. strike than it is of the death of half-a-dozen policemen. The law will also serve the purpose of reassuring the repressive forces, who ship. are coming under attack from a working class which has overcome the trauma of the Civil War.
As part of this reign of terror, the Franco dictatorship has set up a tion amongst the working class and all those who aim to organise and represent its interests.
Last month saw the trial of 23 members of the clandestine workers' movement; the Workers' Commissions, from El Ferrol. All 23 were accused of terrorism, although the initial charge was non-peaceful demonstration'. During this dem onstration police opened fire on the workers, killing two and injuring another fifty. One of the accused was seriously injured before any "terrorist act could have taken ON TRIAL Today five militants of the Patriotic Anti-Fascist Revolutionary Front (FRAP) are already on trial, while on 28 August the long-awaited trial of two members of ETA-V, Otaegui and Garmendia, is due to begin. In both trials the prosecution is asking for the death penalty for all the accused.
regime plans to execute these militants before the end of the summer period, while the likely working class response to such an outrage is at its lowest. REPETITION Certainly the dictatorship does not want a repetition of its defeat during the 1970 Burgos trials, when mute death sentences on a number of Basque militants to life imprisonThis time, too, it is such a action alone which can save these comrades and at the same time impose a heavy defeat on the dictator4 portugal discussion red weekly 28 august 1975
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The Franco dictatorship is show- ing that it is prepared to take any steps necessary to defend itself. Tne
mass action and international sol- idarity forced it to retreat and com