A SOUTH AFRICAN APPEAL FOR HELP
The German participants ‘in the defense work in the Dr,Neville ' Alexander case have just received an appeal for immediate financial help in a situation involving a figure frequently named during the trial as one of the inspirers of the movement for which Dr. Alexander and ten other victims were condemned to long’ prison terms.
This is Dr, Kenneth G, Abrahams, another outstanding South African intellectual who has dedicated his life to freeing his country from the intolerable racist structure imposed by the apartheid Verwoerd government,
Dr, Abrahams was notin the prisoners! dock with his friend Dr. Alexander only because he:.was outside the country. But before he managed to leave, he and three companions were dragged into a Supreme Court hearing on his’ political views. Under the fascist-
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like laws of South Africa, the court ruled that Dr, Abrahams must pay the total costs of the hearing. The bill presented to Dr. Abrahams was £316/los. [$886.20 U.s.].
Dr. Alexander, now a refugee in another country, has no money; and the South African government has no way of collecting from him, Verwoerd's cops thought of an ingenious solution. They have threatened to attach the house which Dr, Abrahams left to his aged parents and eject them unless the money is paid at once.
Students in Germany are organizing an immediate fund to help pay the ransom demanded by the Verwoerd government, They have written World Outlook asking for help.
The address to which contributions should be sent is Franz J.T,Lee, 74 Tlibingen, Schwabstrasse 22, West Germany.
Use an International Money Order or send a check,
SPANISH STRIKERS STICK TOUGH
MAY 20 -= With the bulk of the Asturian coal miners still out on strike on the thirtieth day of their defiance of General Franco!s fascist laws banning strikes, the Spanish working class appears to have a most heartening victory in sight.
' Solidarity strikes, linked with economic demands, have spread to other areas, The employers here and there have indicated that they would like to make a settlement. And the government itself decided to begin publishing new decrees which, it is reported, contain concessions on both wages and vacations, A few workers arrested for strike activities were released,
It was even reported that negotiations were being undertaken with independent figures among the miners, by-passing the stooge unions set up by the government, This could signal a significant step toward bowing to one of the main demands of the workers ~- the right to organize free unions. .
The figures on the number of Asturian miners on strike have risen as high as 50,000. The figure dropped to 30,000 last week and at the moment, the estimate is 40,000. The returns to work seem to be part of a deliberate tactic and not an indication of any defeat~_ ist mood, since fresh walk-outs immediately occur,
For instance, when 5,000 miners went back in Asturias, 11,000 naval workers stopped work at Bilbao.
In Santander, 7,500 steel workers went on strike to display.
their solidarity with the miners. Their immediate reason was the dismissal of one of their ranks,
The coal miners in the Teruel fields are also reported to be engaging in strike action and even farm workers in the sherry vine-~ yards of the Southwest are on strike to indicate that a pay rise is long overdue,