At least one thing emerged from the Blair Peach inquest in West London last month. That was that Peach was killed by the police. The jury's verdict of 'death by misadventure' places the responsibility fair and square at the door of the SPG thugs.
It was hardly avoidable considering that 11 witnesses at the inquest testified to having seen Blair struck to the ground by SPG members.
RIDERS Moreover, one of the 'riders' added by the jury that in future SPG members should be under firmer control by their officers - clearly suggests that, on that fateful day in Southall, these members were 'out of control' As Paul Holborrow, ANL National 10,000 people marched through Southall to commemorate Blair Peach a few days after his death JUSTIFIED?
While holding the police responsible for Blair's death, jury's verdict ('death by misadventur) held that the violence used by the police was justified' or reasonable'.
Such a verdict is hardly surprising considering the 'guidance' given by the coroner, Dr throughout the trial. At one stage. Burton emotionally declared that the 'police murder theory' was unacceptable. In his summing up, a clear attempt was made to bulldoze the jury into bringing in a verdict which let the SPG thugs off the hook.
Similar bias could be detected in the fact that the Cass Report -included detailed evidence from relevant witnesses - was withheld to campaign for a public inquiry however, the into Blair's death has already received a substantial amount of backing.
throughout the labour movement.
John Burton, victims of police violence as the to what amounted to a vicious attack.
similar tactics against anyone oppickets to demonstrators. We all have a reason for avenging Blair Peach. dence that came out at the inquest 'draft'.
- a call that This call should be supported Peach was killed last year for daring to oppose racism. Many others were Carter's moves.
Southall community was subjected AGGRESSION If Peach's killers are allowed to get away with it, the green light will have been given for them to employ posing social injustice - from strike is not ruled out Vance, and those who think like him, are fearful that Carter is pressing ahead too quickly with his warlike aims. They are worried that this will not only fuel the anti-war feeling among American workers - thousands of whom have already demonstrated against the introduction of the Iran.
Equally important, they are concerned that such actions might deepen anti-imperialist feeling in the Third World and create increasing shifts towards dependence on Moscow. These concerns are also shared by Japan and European governments who have adopted a luke-warm attitude to Despite these rifts, however, and despite his inability to whip up a war frenzy, Carter has continued his belligerent moves. Not only has he detended the raid but he has also gone on record as saying that another action of this type The dangers of another act of aggression can be seen trom the fact that US naval strength in the Indian Ocean has recently been increased to record strength. his includes 34,000 troops and 400 aircratt, some of which have already been used for intercepting The repercussions such an act would bring in its wake do not have to be underlined. In any confrontation with the USSR, which could develop, newspaper reports have already suggested the Pentagon favours immediate resort to tactical nuclear weapons.
In this war-drive, of course, Carter