Were Agera had begur o . many oi them of Se make, to the Afghan rightists through Pakistan. New Vira Times correspondent David Birder called it the CIA's first : ceration "of this nature and magnitude since the Angolan civil war ended in 1976".
Some reporters travelling with the guerrillas have confirmed that they are receiving US-supplied weapons.
FACT?
The Western governments have backed up their armed support for the guerrilias with a campaign of lies and slander in the press. Even the wildest assertions and rumours, it seems, are good enough to tarnish the image of nuclear missiles in Atghanistan; another that student protesters were being shipped to Siberia to 'teach them a lesson' and yet another that 12 to 17 year old schoolgirls were being massacred by Soviet troops on the streets of Kabul.
The obvious aim of such stories is to bolster Washington's charge that the Afghan regime - besides being inept and on the brink of collapse - is bloodthirsty and completely unpopular. The Soviet troops are pictured as facing opposition from virtually the entire Afghan population.
FIGHTING Nevertheless, there has been serious fighting. Pravda, the Petr Uhl, a leader of Charter issue, stating: The struggle against the bandits in the mountains is no easy matter.
Kabul radio reported on June 8 that during the previous two months, 140 persons had been killed during clashes in Kabul. Thirty schools were reported to have been destroyed, as well as one hospital. The radio report accused 'criminals' backed by Washington and the Chinese regime of being behind the disturbances.
The Soviet press agency Novosti reported on June 13 that there was fighting in the suburbs of Kabul and that "bandits are shooting peoples' power representatives, poisening the water, terrorising the population & even trying to infiltrate into the capital in small groups'.
not eveii a copy of prison to the conflict. considered.
for.
In an effort to undermine the outside backing for the rightist insurgents, the Atghan regime on May 14th issued a proposal for a negotiated 'political settlement' Specifically, Kabul demanded a "clearly expressed commitment' by Washington 'not to carry out any subversive activities against Afghanistan, including activities from the territories of third world countries'. A similar commitment was asked of the Pakistani regime. With an end to outside interference, the statement continued, a withdrawal of Soviet troops could then be Both Washington and the Pakistani regime spurned the offer, refusing to give the kind of public commitments that were asked BBC musicians are on strike because the BBC, implementing the cuts imposed by the 1 ones, plans to sack one third of its musicians and disband five orchestras.
To fill the gap left by the sackings, more of the BBC's output of music will be in the form of commercial records and tapes, le less musicians emploved. and more 'needle time'. There is a long-standing agree. ment between the BBC and the Musicians Union on the level of employment of musicians and the amount of 'needle time'. The BBC has now decided unilaterally to break this agreement The musicians need supp ort from other trade unionists in their fight against the Tory cuts. Trade union branches should pass motions instructing their members not to cross MU This not only pickel llnes. involves unions whose members work at BBC premises, but also tnose wnose mem• bers deliver food, mail and other supplies to BBC stuNor does cos ana onces. it only involve union branches in London; there are regional or local studios in most major towns.
A victory for the musicians will be a step forward in the fight against the Tory cuts.
No sacking of musicians! No trade unionist to cross MU picket lines!
Victory to the musicians!