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Dear editor, May Day 1990, the first May Day since the Berlin Wall came down, was marked by millions throughout the world with marches, rallies, and strikes.

In Moscow, anyone who wanted to was allowed to march with their own banners behind the official parade. This, understandably brought out a wide range of views reflecting the current struggles within Soviet society.

The pre-Soviet Lithuanian flag, the Czarist Russian flag, and anarchist black and red flags could all be seen. Most of the workers' signs, on the other hand, carried anti-perestroika messages: "No unemployment," "No private property, "Prices under control of the trade unions.

(continued from page 1: “Nicaraguan gov't assaults unions”) with a Spanish newspaper. Humberto Ortega is the head of the new army. The Sandinista leaders have openly stated that they do not want to destabilize Chamorro, that they are willing to collaborate with the government as a loyal opposition. And they mean it.

"But the Sandinista leaders are also under immense pressure from the pro-Sandinista unions and the Sandinista rank and file. They are seeking to direct the mass anti-Chamorro sentiment to improve their bargaining position inside this governmental coalition."

Meanwhile, a split has occurred in Chamorro's UNO coalition over Chamorro's decision to maintain FSLN Commander Humberto Ortega as head of the army. Vice President Virgilio Godoy openly denounced Chamorro for "caving into the Sandinistas."

Many supporters of the Sandinistas have argued that this split in the Nicaraguan ruling class could mean that the more openly counterrevolutionary legislation proposed by Godoy will be blocked.

MUR leader Rodrigo Ibarra disagrees. "The split between Chamorro and Godoy is tactical, not strategic," he said. "Both agree on the need to reverse every gain of the revolution. Where they differ is on the timing. Godoy wants to go faster. Chamorro and [Alfredo] Cesar understand they must go slow and use the Sandinista leaders to accomplish their goals."

Ibarra pointed out, for example, that the civil service law is expected to be suspended by a vote of both wings of the UNO coalition in the Assembly. He also stated that Chamorro and Godoy both agree on the need to incorporate two articles from Somoza's Labor Code-Articles 116 and 119—into the current Labor Code.

These two articles had been taken out by the Sandinistas after the victory of the revolution. They essentially give the bosses the unrestricted right to fire workers without due cause and without any right to appeal. Chamorro and Godoy also agree on a "counter-agrarian reform law" that would accelerate the privatization of state farms and allow the former owners to rent some of the claiming their old property. All these proposals are now before the Assembly.

The Sandinistas are voting against most of these reactionary laws in the National Assembly but they have refused to mobilize the population against them. They have dropped their pledge to "govern from below." They are committed to "national reconciliation, unity, and peace."

At the same time, the Nicaraguan army, headed by FSLN Commander Humberto Ortega, has begun to disarm the peasants. When elected, Chamorro stated her concern that thousands of guns had not been turned in, as the Sandinistas had requested during their electoral campaign. Chamorro's decision to retain Ortega as head of the army was based on his agreement to help recover all the guns still held by the civilian population.

The army has gone into numerous peasant cooperatives with specific orders to disarm the civilians. Many of these are in the areas where the estimated 12,000 contras have been relocated.

In most instances, the Havana, Cuba, was the site of perhaps the largest May Day march in 1990. The threat of imperialist attack probably spurred people into the streets, as 800,000 marched.

Marches of over 100,000 also took place in other cities.

In South Korea, workers spent May Day marching, striking, and battling police. Over 100,000 workers defied government threats and went out on strike. A May Day march of over 10,000 in Ulsan protested police violence against workers who had occupied the Hyundai shipyards.

In Katmandu, Nepal, May Day was celebrated for the first time ever, as 15,000 demonstrated for democracy. And in Palestine, a general strike called by the Unified Leadership of the Intifada shut down the West Bank and Gaza. Many workers inside the pre-1967 boundaries simply stayed away from their jobs.

Workers of the world, unite under the banner of the Fourth International!

John Halabi, New York, N.Y.

Dear editor, I like reading your paper, but I don't like how rarely it comes out. Once a month just isn't enough to be able to keep on top of changing events here and around the world.

Therefore, I've got a suggestion: publish a somewhat smaller paper (say 12 or 16 pages) on a biweekly basis. You could charge the same price, which would bring in more money to finance further expansion and circulation. What do you think?

James Patrick, Lancaster, Pa.

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lands that were expropriated from them by the Sandinistas. This is their first step to re-