Ba A ONG-rPANTY STATS 7? By a Birmingham Correspondent. 142 2 On 14th, January Julius Nyerere spoke to delegates of the conference of the Tanganyika African National Union asking them to endorse a resolution calling for the statutory recognition of a one party state. Since TAU has an overwhelming majority in parliament this means that the actual passing of the bill will now only be a formality. This is one more step along the road to the personal dictatorship of Nyrere and as such econ only have «# retarding effect upon the fight against Imperialism. Having made strikes illegal, and deported T.U. leadors this new step will round out the neo—coloninlist regime,
There is a trend emerging among the leaders of the anti-colonial struggle: to adopt the anti-democratic devico of suppressing minority parties and groups. No hard and fast rule can be laid down about this, because at certain times it will obviously be necessary to suppress reactionary and counter—revolutionary groups, but any revolutionary or national movement thet embraces the one-party state is sowing the seeds of its ow degeneration. The need to counter redction should not be used as an excuse to suppress 211 dissident voices, In Algeria also the same trend is evident with the banning of the Algerian Communist Party, not for any specific reason, bet on the grounds of the need for only one party of the revolution, Marxists mst resclutely oppose this iden, Whilst on the surface it appears as a simple and attractive-ddea of unity, it bears with it the seeds of the destruction of revolutionary elan and ultimate degeneration,
No doubt in the conditions of struggle in the colonial world it is not unreasonable to try to achieve the maximum unity, ond Marxists should be to the forefront in this endeavour, At the same time we should struggle for democratic rights for all who support the revolutionary anti—imperialist fight. I am sure we shall soon see the emergence of a real opposition to Nyerere, thia can only be welcomed, However we can only deplore that any opposition would have to be illegal in Algeria, In this matter Boanbella is wrong and Marxists have not only the right to criticise, but also the duty to help in every way possible the new Algerian Republic, This is our primary task at the moment.