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UNITED STATES “We need conferences like this to unite our struggles”

2020-03-29

Nnamdi Lumumba An interview with Nnamdi Lumumba, activist of the Black workers-led Ujima People’s Progress Party in Baltimore, Maryland, and one of the 407 initiators of the World Conference against War and Exploitation, and for the Workers’ International (in Paris, 5 and 6 November). The city of Baltimore will be welcoming a national conference of activists for Black and workers’ independent politics at the end of July. Why is this the issue of the moment, according to you? We are in the middle of an interesting presidential election year in the U.S. The liberal imperialist Democratic Party is openly struggling against progressive elements within its party for the party’s nomination to run for president against president Donald Trump who is a member of the conservative imperialist Republican Party. We have watched progressive forces go from being very energized and optimistic that they could win the Democratic Party nomination via proclaimed democratic socialist Bernie [...]

FRANCE Wage war on the epidemic, give oneself the means to do so Statement by the Independent and Democratic Workers Party (POID)

2020-03-29

On 12 March, French President Macron solemnly called for sacred union against coronavirus. One week later, pandemonium has spread at lightning speed. This government, and the governments that came before it, are very largely responsible – and guilty – for this expansion. The terrible lack of masks, testing kits , beds, intensive care units and medical staff accuses the successive ministers and presidents of the French 5th Republic. They had a billion masks and they got rid of them. They had the means to produce tests kits and they didn’t. They had hospitals and beds, and they closed them. They had medical staff and they refused to hear their demands – all of that in order to meet the demands of capitalist profit. Macron claims to be at war against the epidemic. But who is he waging war against? While he threatens sanctions for whoever won’t not obey the lockdown, he has multiplied joint calls with MEDEF (the French bosses’ union) to demand [...]

INDIA After the anti-muslims pogroms N. Vasudevan calls on the « mobilisation of the labour movement » in order to impose a « fair enquiry that will reveal the truth »

2020-03-14

Hindu women demonstrate « against hatred and violence » against Muslims. The disturbing tragedy unfolded in India’s capital city, New Delhi, during February 24-26, which took over 42 lives, both Muslims and Hindus, injured 200 men, women and children is a matter of serious concern. That tragedy took place after months of massive protests by the Indian people to the attempt to divide them and discriminate on the basis of religious beliefs. It took place also after Modi’s party, the BJP, suffered a severe electoral setback in Delhi. The tragedy took place in working class areas. Houses and shops were burnt down. Hundreds are without shelter and food. Hindus and Muslims in the local area have shown tremendous empathy with each other. The communal flame was incited by ruling BJP leaders who vowed to retaliate against those opposing the new Citizenship Act in India, particularly women sitting in Shaheen Bagh for over 70 days. Despite US President being in Delhi on [...]

INDIA Modi’s government bears responsibility for anti-Muslims pogroms (correspondence received from Nambiath Vasudevan)

2020-03-14

Hindus and Muslims in Delhi protest together against attacks by BJP militias: “Stop the violence! « ; « Stop dividing India! « ; « CAA and NRC boycott! » « Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arranged a $150 million US dollar grand reception for the US President and his family in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) where Modi was the State Chief Minister till 2014. India has a 4 million diaspora in the US. A big chunck of this is from Gujarat. In the November 2020 US election Indian voters can play a role. Traditionally Indians in the US have been supporters of Democratic Party. It was the custom earlier that Indian government would not show its preference to any party or candidate in the US elections. This was changed when Modi was in Houston recently addressing a large Indian crowd where he shouted an election slogan in favour of Trump : “Ab ki baar Trump Sarkar” (This time Trump government). About Trump visit to India, The Indian Express editorially said : “Underlying the [...]

CHINA/HONG KONG General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU),  Lee Cheuk-yan arrested for questioning — Communiqué of the China Inquiry Commission

2020-03-14

Lee Cheuk-yan The China Inquiry Commission has been informed today of the arrest by the Hong Kong police of Lee Cheuk-yan, General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions HKCTU, maybe for his participation in demonstrations last August. He should be summoned to appear in court on May 5. The China Inquiry Commission wants to strongly protest against this arrest which comes at a time when dozens of unions have been formed in recent months; it demands that all proceedings against Lee Cheuk-yan be dropped. The Commission assures Lee Cheuk-yan of its full solidarity. Lee had been invited last October in Paris to the 22nd solidarity banquet with Chinese workers. The communiqué will be sent to inform all the unions in France. Paris, February 28, 20:20 Alain Denizo China Inquiry [...]

PAKISTAN The All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF) presents its platform for struggle

2020-03-14

On 15 February, in Lahore, the trade union federation organised a rally attended by several hundred workers commemorating Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary, labour activist and former APTUF leader who died in February 2011. It was the occasion for APTUF General Secretary in her speech to pay tribute to the militant who “spent his whole life and struggle against capitalists, and also against imperialists led war against IRAQ, Afghanistan spread(ing to) different countries.” She further said that “he bravely criticized the (Pakistani) government pro imperialist policies”. Rubina Jamil also presented a paper in which she described the current working-class situation. She especially insisted on the situation of over-exploited agricultural and brick kiln workers and the “great exploitation of women and children, (with) no social security cards”. She also denounced the “government (…) taking direct dictation from IMF/World Bank and imposing anti workers/people policies” saying [...]

Международный комитет «За свободу фигурантов дела « Сети » (Россия)!»

2020-03-04

10 февраля российский Приволжский окружной военный суд вынес приговор семерым молодым анархистам по так называемому «делу «Сети». За умышленное убийство в России осуждают на срок 6-15 лет в зависимости от обстоятельств. А обвиняемые, которые не сделали ни одного выстрела или взрыва, получили: — 27-летний Дмитрий Пчелинцев – 18 лет строгого режима — 23-летний Илья Шакурский – 16 лет строгого режима— 30-летний Андрей Чернов – 14 лет строгого режима— 25-летний Максим Иванкин – 13 лет строгого режима — 25-летний Михаил Кульков – 10 лет [...]

International Committee “Free the activists convicted in the “Network” case (Russia)!”

2020-03-04

On 10 February, in the city of Penza (Russia), the Volga Military District Court sentenced seven young anarchists in the so called “Network” case. In Russia, premeditated murder is punishable by a sentence of six to 15 years. But the defendants, who did not fire a single shot or carry out the slightest attack, received the following sentences: – Dmitry Pchelintsev (aged 27): 18 years in a maximum-security penal colony; – Ilya Shakursky (aged 23): 16 years in a maximum-security penal colony; – Andrei Chernov (aged 30): 14 years in a maximum-security penal colony; – Maksim Ivankin (aged 25): 13 years in a maximum-security penal colony; – Mikhail Kulkov (aged 25): 10 years in a maximum-security penal colony; – Vasily Kuksov (aged 31): 9 years in prison; and – Arman Sangynbaev (aged 27): 6 years in prison. The young people involved in the so-called “Network” case were arrested in 2017. They were accused of having formed a terrorist organisation to plan attacks during [...]

HONG KONG / CHINA “100 New Trade Unions have been created”

2020-03-04

Ming Lam Cho is an activist of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU). He has sent this information on the situation in Hong Kong and the strengthening of worker unions since last August’s general strike, as a contribution to the preparation of the World Conference against War and Exploitation next November. The Confederation banner Hong Kong is in a very critical situation. The first case of “internal” contamination – i.e., by a person who had not travelled to Mainland China – was announced a few days ago. The HKCTU and many other trade unions have asked for the complete closing of the border with China, but the Hong Kong government has refused, for political reasons. The medical personnel trade unions of the public hospitals have called for strike. They have demanded a complete closing of the border, as well as demanding supplies of protective materials (such as masks), which are genuinely lacking. The hospital staff must buy their own. This is [...]

TURKEY Call for solidarity with BODE‑DOĞRUSAN workers

2020-03-04

BODE-DOĞRUSAN is an automotive subsidiary industry company with German partnership located in Bursa, which is the city where the automotive and metal industry concentrates, stronghold of the Turk-Metal Union, affiliated with Turk-Is Confederation. Bodo Bode workers have signed up for membership at the Turk-Metal Union and this week a great mobbing has started after the authority of the union was notified to the company. Workers were individually called into the office where they were forced to disclose their e-state passwords, open their e-state accounts to show/prove they were not members. Then 68 workers have been laid off. The workers have turned off the switch and shut down the company since Monday and they are staying in the factory day and night in cold. They have succeeded in sending back the police force sent to evacuate the factory and the governor of the city has talked to them on the phone about this (Friday). Tonight will be their seventh night not [...]