[p. 85]
The world famous French author Jean-Paul Sartre has issued a statement, also signed by writers Simone de Beauvoir and Jorge Amado, protesting the arrest in Holland of Michel Raptis (Pablo) and Sal Santen, Trotskyist leaders in Europe, for aiding the cause of the Algerian revolution.
Their prosecution is part of the repressions against supporters of the Algerian freedom fighters highlighted in France today by the trial of Professor Jeanson's "network" and the indictment and blacklisting of the signers of the declaration of the 121 French artists and intellectuals who uphold conscientious objection to serving in the armed forces.
Says Sartre: "Once more colonialism has struck at militants fighting for freedom of the Algerian people. This time the Red Hand, a fascist organization, in the service of the 'ultras' and connected with the main political policy of th: Western world, has organized a Machiavellian provocation in order to bring about the arrest of Sal Santen and Michel Raptis, leaders of the Fourth International, who were developing in Holland an intensive campaign of solidarity with free Algeria.
"Free men in the world must protest against such attempts which involve a danger to the freedom of all. These men, true to their revolutionary beliefs, are now paying by losing their freedom and the right and duty to struggle incessantly against colonialism.
[p. 86]
"In spite of differences with the political conceptions of these militants and with their organization, ie. The Trotskyist Fourth International, what is at stake is the safeguarding of human dignity, of the right of men to struggle for their ideals, of the right of the Algerian people to count on active help by all Left militants.
"Therefore we appeal to intellectuals, to workers' leaders, and to students to organize a great wave of protest addressed to the Dutch leaders and to unmask fully this infamous colonialist provocation."
The trial of Comrades Raptis and Santen will be held in Holland within the next several weeks. Noted individuals and progressive organizations in this country are being asked to join Sartre, Claude Bourdet, British Labour M.P. John Baird and many other socialist and labor leaders in Europe, Latin America and Asia who have already protested this act of injustice. SWP presidential candidate Farrell Dobbs this week sent a telegram of protest to the judge in the Santen-Raptis case.
Protests should be sent to the lawyer for the defense: Mr. Brans, Weteringhans 90, Amsterdam, Holland, for transmission to the judge.