calling on the Pompidou regime to lift the ban on the Communist League (French section of the Fourth International), and demanding the release of Pierre Rousset, a leading member of the former League who has now been in jail for two months.
Recent signatories include two more MPs: Gerry Fitt of the SDLP, MP for West Belfast, and Edward Milne, Labour MP for Blyth. Many local Labour councillors have also signed, particularly in Scotland where Edinburgh councillors responded especially well. In Reading, many leading trade unionists in the AUEW have added their voices to the protests, including:
R. Calow, District Secretary: - G. R. Stevens, National Committee Delegate; - C. W. Dixon and R. Horvath, Convenors; - F. W. Long, D. White, and A. C. McQue, District Committee Delegates; - W. S. Huxford, Branch Secretary; - J. M. Smyth and L. V. T. Amor, Shop Stewards. to hold a broad-based national conference open to all those individuals and organisations oppo sed to the ban on the League and the jailing of its militants.
To mobilise effectively for this conference, and to involve the maximum number of people, local defence committees incorporating all those prepared to work on this issue - the local labour movement, left groups, concerned individuals, civil rights organisations, etc. should be initiated as soon as practicable All correspondence, especially signed petition forms, copies of resolutions of support, financial contributions etc. should be sent to: Ad Hoc Committee to Defend the Communist League, c/o 182 Pentonville Road, London N.I. Further copies of the petition form, together with an explanatory pamphlet (outlining the events leading up to the ban, the nature of the laws invoked, a statement by the League, and further background information) may be obtained from the same address. There has been an international response in defence of the Communist League: picture shows Bala Tampoe, secretary of the LSSP(R), Ceylon section Last week's article on the campaion in defence ol the Communist League referred to activity in Tyneside, 'where a local defence committee including reoresenatives wrom au the maror workino cias.
organisations has been set up'. It also listed South Shields Trades Union Council as among those organisations which have passed resolutions condemning the ban. This is factually incorrect In fact, a local defence committee has been set up on the initiative of South Shields LPYS and Newcastle IMG. Individual sponsors include: Jim Murray, Chairman of Vickers Newcastle Shop Stewards, and Prospective Labour Parliamentary Candidate for the Carlton Division; Malcolm of the Fourth International, speaking at a public mecune in cerence or une communist Leacue! Colombo last month. Nearly 200 people were present Campbell. President of South Shields Trades Unio counciane anne vermes cresteent or Tre Student Representative Council, Newcastle University The Committee is asking all bodies of the local labour movement to sponsor the committee, t circulate the petition, and to send delegates or observers to the next business meeting on Tuesday, 13 September, at 8.00 p.m. in the People's Place, Derby Terrace, South Shields. Speakers from the Committee and more informa tion can de obtained from the secretary: rona Berry, 17 Lake Avenue, Marsden, South Shields. Co. Durham.
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of the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia, the background to the invasion and its On 21 August 1968, armies of five members occupying the entire country within 24 hours.