PETR Uhl, one of the most respected leaders Czechoslovak dissident movement, is today languishing in the Mirov prison. It's clear that the Czech authorities wish to destroy this revolutionary socialist, both physically mentally.
Although Petr Uhl suffers from chronic bronchitis, he is forced to do heavy labour and is fed on an inadequate diet. He is not permitted to keep material, allowed only one visit of one hour every six to eight months.
Today a massive campaign is underway to protest against prison conditions endured by activists in Czechoslovakia, and support is mounting in Britain. Student Petr Uhl, who is serving five years, became a revolutionary Marxist during his student days. According to the Czechoslovak government development is by no means unusual. After all, large numbers of students the Communist Party. 'Marxist Leninist' youth What distinguished Uhl, however, was not that he recited 'correct' views in order to pass his course, but that he took Marxism seriously as a method of analysis, of capitalist society as well as of 'real' socialism.
Between 1965 and 1968, Uhl paid a number of visits to France where he came into contact with the Fourth International. He abandoned his earlier view that bureaucratic society could be reformed, realising revoltokay action could Stalinism.
Following the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, Uh! helped to organise the Movement of Youth and wrote his programme, the Manifesto of Revolutionary Socialist Party.
Arrested in 1969, Uhl spent nearly four years in the prisons malised' Czechoslovakia. Contrary to the hopes of the however, prisons didn't break him. Shortly after his release, with 29 other former political prisoners, the Czechoslovak : Lawyers that body's Chilean junta as hypocritical.
In the words of the letter: ...we are linked with progressive Chileans through common ideals, goals, and frequently through a common fate. However, we deny the right express such solidarity gentlemen the Czechoslovak Lawyers for we are not aware of a single instance in which your union would have come forth in actice of munal gate ties, or adherence to legalities in your own country, Czechoslovakia.
This, lętrer, is reproduced in an ex=. cellent new Socialist Challenge pat t Registered with the Post Ottice as a n of the and and is civil rights such and organisathat only topple tists in Czecholosvakia.
the Unlike many him Laugull struggle for democratic rights.
'nor- Revolutionary
bureaucrats;
he signed Union of denouncing Britain:
Abroad:
'YOU Name Union of:
Address civil liberphlet, Petr Uhl and the jailed Charpeople on the Western left, Uhl's own experiences as well as nis grasp or Marxisu Have the importance of the In his 'Appeal to the Western Left', which is also reproduced in the Socialist Challenge 6month:
Multi-reader institutions: Double the above rate I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of. pamphlet, he wrote: 'But it is a common belief of all of those Marxists and. revolutionary socialists already the first revolutionary phaseof the communist development must bring to every member of society, accept both the superior form of democracy exists in Eastern Europe, and the argument of -Stalin s apologists that in the face of a hostile imperialist world, repression"
and In one sentence, 'All persons cynical themselves insult to injury.
Uhl and Please Europe', ed in the book.
Chartists in Stalinist lie that a is necessary, albeit unfortunate. He was a founding member of Charter the Committee for the Defence of Unjustly Prosecuted Per1979, Uhl was sentenced to five years imprisonment. As he has already completed The is considered a recidivist and has been categorised as a strict regime prisoner According to Czechoslovak laws;
deprived of personal freedom shall be treated in a humane manner and with respect dignity of the human being.' In fact, the treatment of Uhl in prison shows this law, like all other paragraphs of the Czechoslovak legal code, to be a mockery of the working people of that country.
It should be a matter of outrage to every socialist that these things are of. such crimes communists only adds Socialist Challenge appeals to all its readers to support the Defence Committee's campaign. Send labour movement protests against the barbaric crimes committed against Petr Czechoslovak Embasay. comrades to the 25 - Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8.
Socialist Challenge • readers are also urged to support the publication of a book of Ühl's writings. Five hundred pounds is urgently needed send postal orders/cheques payable to "Alternatives in Eastern PO Box 50, London N1. Any individual/organisation which donates £20 or more will be mention.
'Petr Uhl and the jailed Excellent new campaigning pamphlet, 40p plus 12p (p&p) From SC Pamphlets, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP Buik order rates on request.
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