*When you look at the front page of the bourgeois newspapers in Portugal you see the faces of Cunhal, Soares and Costa Gomes. In our paper we prefer to show pictures of working people in action — not just leaders!
Members of the workers' commission of Republica were explaining how they are using their paper since they took it over, and why it is so important in the fight which Portuguese workers are now waging.
*Our criterion for printing an article is whether or not it advances the mterests of the working class; that is how we judge, for instance, what is said about the Sixth Provisional Government.' The paper always tries to go for its news and reportage to the workers themselves: to the democratic bodies of the workers movement — the workers and neighbourhood commissions - to the workers in struggle. Because of this Republica has become something vital to the Portuguese struggle: the mouthpiece of the workers.
Outrage
The Portuguese ruling class realises very well the danger of this freedom for the working class to express itself. The Government recently took the extraordinary step of blowing up the transmitter of Radio Renascenca which had been similarly taken over - so much for 'freedom of the media' The reaction of the working class was one of universal outrage. The very fact that the Government had to blow up the transmitter because it could not get support (even from its own army!) to take it over shows its weakness.
The ruling class cannot risk an open attack on Republica, but is doing everything else it can to bring it down. All other papers receive loans from the Government, but Republica faces a financial boycott. The workers told us: 'We have to finance the paper from the workers' commissions and from our sales. we have to distribute it ourselves, whereas other papers are distributed by The paper has nevertheless stabilised its sales at around 34,000 and has raised widespread financial support through its campaign to give the price of a cup of coffee to Republica. The importance of this campaign is not just the money received - the financial situation of the paper is still desperate - but the extent to which the whole workers' movement have joined in and contributed.
The newspaper is run by a comRepublica became an instrument of prac tical international solidarity this week from the paper's workers' commission and the launching of a special English edition.
As well as speaking at enthusiastic mecunes in mancnester severdool and London, comrade Dos Santos visited the occupied Personna razor blade factory and Scottish Daily News offices in Glas gow on the initiative of the IMG. Santos and representatives of the Portuguese Workers Coordinating Committee de interviews with Personna So. and Chrysler workers for publication in Repworkers. Whenever necessary they convene meetings in the Republica offices to decide on the editorial line. is: Will it reflect the interests of the workers in Portugal?' of workers democracy in action.
geois press freedom is a sham, that there is an alternative.
launched against the paper interruling class are so desperate to destroy it.
us: "You will not find the truth You must tell British workers the truth, as we in Republica tell the Portuguese workers the truth, through their own mouths. This is what the ruling class fear the most."
ANTONIO JOSE DE ALMEIDA mission of 13 elected from the 190 The criterion they always use Republica is a living example It demonstrates every day that bourThis is why such a campaign of slander has been nationally, and why the Portuguese As the workers themselves told about Republica in your own press. COOR CO Comrade Dos Santos from Republica addressing a solidaritv meeting in London last week
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Portugal which in- cluded a visit to the Lisbon offices of the paper Republica.
SELL AND SUPPORT REPUBLICA