AUSTRALIA $1.50 á CANADA $1.50 á FRANCE 1.00 EURO á ICELAND KR100 á NEW ZEALAND $2.00 á SWEDEN KR10 á UK £.50 á U.S. $1.00 INSIDE Meat packers in Minnesota fi ght fi ring of unionist — PAGE 5 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 69/NO. 2 JAN. 18, 2005 Social catastrophe unfolds Utah miners win support in in South Asia after tsunami fi ght for union Imperialist domination, local capitalist regimes magnify toll Safety board cites BY PAUL PEDERSON Ten days after an undersea earthquake Co-Op bosses sent a series of huge waves across the Indian Ocean December 26, the United Nations for 10 violations reported that the offi cial death toll in the BY GUILLERMO ESQUIVEL region’s coastal communities had surpassed 150,000. Tens of thousands more are still PRICE, Utah—The bosses at the Co-Op missing, most of whom are presumed dead. mine in Huntington, Utah, fi red nearly 30 Over half a million are seriously injured, and foreign-born workers December 9—one fi ve million survivors throughout the region week before a union representation elec- have been left homeless. tion—for supposedly not having proper work documents. Since then, broad sup- port for the coal miners’ fi ght to win rep- resentation by the United Mine Workers of Massive aid with no America (UMWA) has not ceased. During the Christmas holidays, the miners received strings attached! numerous letters of support and contribu- tions amounting to more than $7,000 to help Cancel foreign debt about 20 miners who are still unemployed of countries struck! to pay rent, food, and utility bills. For the handful of UMWA supporters — editorial, p.10 who remained working at the Co-Op mine after December 9, harassment and fi rings by the bosses continued, workers report, “The death toll will grow exponentially on Getty Images/Prakash Singh leaving only one pro-UWMA miner on the western coast of Sumatra,” Jan Egeland, People leave devastated village of Karmavadi, in Tamil Nadu, India, three days after the job. the supervisor of the United Nations relief tsunami struck. Offi cial death toll in India from tsunami stands at 11,000; it tops 150,000 Meanwhile, the UMWA assisted the min- effort, told the press January 4. Egeland was throughout the region. Thousands are still missing in India’s remote Andaman and Nico- ers in fi ling unfair labor practice charges referring to the Indonesian island close to bar Islands, which were closer to the epicenter of the quake that set off the waves. with the National Labor Relations Board the epicenter of the massive earthquake, (NLRB) against the company for the mass which registered 9.0 on the Richter scale Thailand stand at just over 5,000. Hundreds ing in places such as India where the waves fi rings. Workers also say an offi cial with and set the huge waves in motion. “We may more died in Somalia, Myanmar, Maldives, struck the shores four hours after the quake. the Mine Safety and Health Administration be talking about tens of thousands [more],” and Malaysia. Resources on hand—from communications, (MSHA) told them the government agency Egeland said. “At this stage, it is beyond “The underlying story of this tragedy is to roads, transportation, electrical grids, cited the mine with 10 safety violations on comprehension.” the overpowering, amoral mechanics of the medical care, and food supplies—have also December 28. As of January 5, the offi cial toll in Indo- earth’s surface,” the New York Times edito- been scarce to respond to the disaster in its One letter of solidarity from the UMWA nesia stood at about 100,000. In Sri Lanka, rialized the day after the disaster struck. immediate aftermath. These are the products in Pennsylvania arrived here before the holi- the second-worst affected, the fi gure topped “They demonstrate, geologically speaking, of the plunder of the region’s resources and days with a $300 check. “Each year we hold 30,000. India’s offi cial toll stood at 11,000, how ephemeral our presence is.” labor over decades by the wealthy imperi- a haunted house in Indiana, Pennsylvania, although another 20,000 people may have Geology indisputably played a role. The alist states—whose governments are now to raise money for gifts for unemployed died on the remote Indian islands of Anda- staggering loss of life produced by the tripping over each other to paint themselves members’ children in Christmas,” the let- man and Nicobar from which there is no tsunami’s wrath, though, was largely due to as generous benefactors—aided and abetted ter said, signed by two offi cers of UMWA accurate count yet. The confi rmed deaths in the absence of any warning system—includ- Continued on Page 6 District 2. “We hope this will make your Christmas brighter.” Checks have also arrived from unions Pentagon pours troops into Mosul, Ukraine vote and individuals in Utah and other states, miners said. Annie Fivecoat and her husband Bob, a launches offensive in Iraqi city registers blow UMWA retiree, help organize the Co-Op BY SAM MANUEL premier warned those calling for a post- miners’ fund. “We are proud to be counted WASHINGTON—In early January, the ponement of the poll that any delay would to Moscow as supporters of the Co-Op miners,” Annie U.S. military increased its troop strength in “worsen the security situation,” according said in an interview. “It’s important for them BY MICHAEL ITALIE Mosul by the thousands as part of a new to Agence France-Presse. to win their fi ght against the injustices from offensive against Baathist forces in that An earlier audiotape message by al- The victory of Viktor Yushchenko in C.W. Mining. It’s very important for the northern Iraqi city. At the same time, U.S. Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden praised the repeat Ukrainian presidential elections miners to stand up for their human rights. occupation forces and Iraqi National Guard Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and said December 26 appears to have quelled the It’s equally important for all of us to support troops have captured hundreds of suspected anyone who participates in the Iraqi elec- political crisis in the former Soviet republic the miners mentally, physically, morally, and Baathists in raids across the “Triangle of for the time being. The outcome is a blow monetarily. We urge all who can to give to Death”—a string of towns south of Bagh- to Moscow and presents new openings for their fund and we thank all those who have dad where the former Baathist party regime Washington and its imperialist allies in that already stood up.” of Saddam Hussein had a strong base of Iraqi Kurds part of the world. Outgoing president Leonid Jesús Galaviz, one of the fi red workers support. push for autonomy Kuchma has accepted the results, the chal- who worked at the mine for six years making Meanwhile, Baathist forces have contin- lenges of the Moscow-backed Viktor Yanu- $6 an hour, said the contributions are vital. ued deadly attacks against U.S. forces and — see p. 10 kovich have little chance of success, and the “While we look for work, the donations help Iraqi troops, representatives of the interim Russian government is not in a position to Continued on Page 3 government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, impose the acceptance of its favorite. and election offi cials in a desperate attempt tions is an “infi del” and fair game for attack. According to the Central Election Coun- to halt elections scheduled for January 30. Al-Zarqawi’s group has collaborated with cil (CEC), Yushchenko received 52 percent On January 5, for example, a suicide car Baathist forces and taken responsibility for of the vote against 44 percent for Yanukov- bombing outside a police academy south numerous bombings of civilian and military ich—a margin of more than 2 million votes Also Inside: of Baghdad during a graduation ceremony targets in Iraq, as well as kidnappings and in this nation of 48 million. The results are a Demand for uranium up, defeat for Russian president Vladimir Putin, reportedly killed as many as 20 people, most beheadings of hostages. According to the dormant U.S. mines reopen 2 of them policemen. Hours earlier, another Christian Science Monitor, bin Laden’s who had campaigned for Yanukovich and opposed the idea of rerunning the elections car bomb killed two Iraqis in the country’s statement urged Muslims to attack anyone U.S. military forces in Europe collaborating with the interim administra- after the second round of voting held No- capital, according to news agencies. The to be cut in half, moved east day before, gunmen assassinated the gov- tion. “All polling stations and those in them vember 21. While Putin has not offi cially 3 ernor of Baghdad province and detonated a will be targets for our brave soldiers,” it said. recognized Yushchenko’s victory, Russian fuel truck near an Iraqi Interior Ministry of- The embrace of al-Zarqawi by bin Laden is a foreign minister Sergei Lavrov signaled in U.S. textile bosses ramp up fi ce in Baghdad, killing another 10 people. further indication of the growing isolation of comments to the German media that Mos- protectionist drive as quotas Despite these killings, and a January Baathists and their allies in Iraq, especially cow would bow to the inevitable. “We never on textile imports from 4 statement by the country’s most senior among Shiites, who comprise 60 percent of said we weren’t prepared to work with the semicolonial world expire 4 Sunni Arab offi cial, Iraqi president Ghazi the population, and Kurds. president elected by the Ukrainian people,” al-Yawar, that holding the vote as planned U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Paul said Lavrov, according to Reuters. More than four million Cubans would be a “tough call,” the Allawi admin- Hastings, said two brigade-sized units “My government’s strategy will be mobilize in defense exercise 11 istration held fi rm on going ahead with the would be deployed to Mosul to reinforce European integration,” said Yushchenko, elections on January 30. The U.S.-backed Continued on Page 10 Continued on Page 7 The Militant xxx xx, 2004 3 Demand for uranium up, dormant mines reopen BY DANIELLE LONDON department of public health and leveled CRAIG, Colorado—After more than because of radioactive contamination. All two decades of the uranium mines in the that’s left of the town today is a UMETCO area around Naturita in western Colorado building and holding ponds for the massive being shut down, three have reopened this radioactive clean-up. year. Thousands of uranium miners are sick During an intensive period of nuclear or dying mostly from lung cancer and bomb development following World War other lung ailments caused by exposure to II, Washington established uranium mines radioactive dust. in a number of locations on the Colorado Former miner Bill Chadd told the Den- Plateau, many on Indian reservation lands. ver Post that of 13 miners who worked on The industry went bust in the 1980s. his crew in the 1970s, only two are alive. The revival would have been unheard of Of the few former miners remaining in just a few years ago, Stuart Sanderson of the area, most are older. The work is heavy the Colorado Mining Association, told the and includes running handheld jack-leg Denver Post. “But with the price of natural drills. This is producing a labor shortage gas going up, we’re seeing an increased as the companies seek to increase produc- demand for coal and uranium.” tion. Glen Williams, a spokesperson for the What’s happening in western Colorado’s uranium producer Cottor Corp., told the Radioactive uranium sludge contaminates creek bed in Uravan, Colorado. The uranium belt is far from the boom that once Post that his company would open more company town built during the post–World War II uranium mining boom was dominated the area. But industry analysts mines if they could hire enough miners. condemned by the Colorado Department of Health and Safety in the 1980s. predict that uranium prices will continue to climb, which will encourage more uranium production. UN report backs U.S. nuclear ‘non-proliferation’ offensive The 435 nuclear reactors in the world— including 104 in the United States—need BY CINDY JAQUITH in technology,” the UN panel claims. “We ing” military missions in countries deemed 180 million pounds of uranium annually, A new United Nations report legitimizes are approaching a point at which the ero- “failed nations”; support for Washington’s according to the Denver Post. Global pro- the military actions of Washington carried sion of the nuclear regime could become Proliferation Security Initiative, which al- duction has been half that. out under the banner of combating “terror- irreversible, and result in a cascade of lows search and seizure, including board- The gap between supply and demand ism” and “weapons of mass destruction.” proliferation.” ing of ships on the high seas, for weapons has pushed uranium and vanadium prices The report warns of a “cascade” of nuclear It singles out—without naming allegedly destined for “states of prolif- to their highest levels in more than 20 proliferation if the imperialist powers that them—Iran and north Korea, according eration concern.” As cover, the report also years, since the meltdown at Three Mile dominate the UN Security Council don’t to an article by Graham Allison in the includes a proposal that the major nuclear Island in Pennsylvania and the explosion join forces to prevent semicolonial nations International Herald Tribune. “If Iran goes powers proceed with programs to reduce at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine put the from developing nuclear technology widely nuclear,” Allison writes, “Egypt will follow, their nuclear arsenals, as mandated by the brakes on the construction of new nuclear used by imperialist countries both as a power then Saudi Arabia (more likely buying than Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. (The power plants. source and to manufacture weapons. making) and possibly Syria. Contemplate nations known to have nuclear weapons Uranium is currently selling for $20.50 Released in early December, the report the consequences of such a nuclear arms are the United States, Britain, France, Rus- a pound. Its price was as low as $7.50 a to the Security Council was prepared by the race for Israel’s security and the stability of sia, China, Israel, India, and Pakistan.) But pound in 2001. Industry predictions have High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges energy supplies.” If north Korea obtains a this is just window dressing. The target of it climbing as high as $25–$35 before it and Change, whose 16 members were ap- nuclear bomb, he adds, “such developments the report is the underdeveloped nations levels off. And the steel-hardener vanadium pointed by UN Secretary General Kofi An- will destabilize Northeast Asia and intensify attempting to speed up their development that comes from the same ore has jumped nan. While the report gives lip service to the risk of one state pre-emptively attack- with the use of nuclear power. from less than $2 a pound to around $10. confronting the problems of world hunger, ing another. Even more dangerously, North An article by David Hannay, a member Those prices are behind the new environmental destruction, and pandemics, Korea could sell nuclear weapons to eager of the panel preparing the report and former stepped-up uranium mining in Canada, the only recommendations receiving media buyers like Osama bin Laden.” British ambassador to the European Union Australia, and Africa, as well as in one of attention are those related to alleged threats The UN report, according to articles and the UN, stated, “The international com- the largest uranium reserves in the United of “nuclear terrorism.” in the Financial Times and International munity also needs to tackle the problem of States—an area that stretches from Grants, The report raises the specter of a nuclear Herald Tribune, makes the following rec- state failure which has, on occasion, desta- New Mexico, through the Paradox Valley Armageddon as power-poor nations seek to ommendations: “Collective action” against bilized whole regions, provided a base for in western Colorado and into Utah. use nuclear power to develop their countries. states alleged to threaten nuclear attack on terrorism, and created the conditions for In the midst of the post–World War II “The nuclear proliferation regime is at risk nonnuclear countries; a moratorium on new genocide. The international response to boom, UMETCO Minerals built an entire because of lack of compliance with exist- countries developing uranium enrichment failed or failing states has generally been company town, Uravan, Colorado. It was ing commitments, a changing international or reprocessing programs; UN “peacekeep- tardy and inadequate.” condemned in the 1980s by the state’s security environment and radical advances

U.S., UN troops out of Haiti! Following the ouster of Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide in March by ultrarightists backed by U.S. troops, forces opposing the imperialist-backed regime of Getty Images/Koichi Kamochida Japanese “anti-terror” unit practices seizing a ship suspected of carrying “weapons of Gerard Latortue have faced gov’t mass destruction” during Oct. 29, 2004, Proliferation Security exercise. repression. Read the ‘Militant’ for coverage of the conditions facing working people in Haiti today. Freed Haitian priest Gerard Jean-Juste at address. By fi rst-class (airmail), send $80. Don’t miss a single issue! Miami meeting, December 2004. Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: Send $65 The Militant drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. Vol. 69/No. 2 Canada: Send Canadian $50 for one-year sub- Closing news date: January 5, 2005 scrip tion to Militant, 6955 Boul. St. Michel suite 202, Montreal, QC. Postal Code: H2A 2Z3. Editor: ARGIRIS MALAPANIS United Kingdom: £25 for one year by SUBSCRIBE TO DAY! Business Manager: MICHAEL ITALIE check or inter na tion al mon ey order made out Washington Bureau Chief: SAM MANUEL to CL London, 47 The Cut, Lon don, SE1 8LF, Editorial Staff: Róger Calero, Arrin Hawkins, En gland. Michael Italie, Martín Koppel, Sam Manuel, Republic of Ireland and Continental Eu- Doug Nelson, and Paul Pederson. NEW READERS NAME rope: £70 for one year by check or in ter na tion al Published weekly except for one week in Janu ary, mon ey order made out to CL London at above June, July, and September. address. France: Send 115 eu ros for one-year ❏.$5 for 12 issues The Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 306 W. 37th subscrip tion to Diffusion du Militant, P.O. Box ADDRESS Street, 10th fl oor, New York, NY 10018. Tele- 175, 23 rue Lecourbe, 75015 Par is. phone: (212) 244-4899; Fax (212) 244-4947. Iceland: Send 3,500 Ice landic kronur for RENEWAL E-mail: [email protected] one-year sub scrip tion to Mil i tant, P.O. Box CITY STATE ZIP The Militant website is: www.themil i tant.com 233, 121 Reykjavík. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or Sweden, Fin land, Nor way, Den mark: 400 ❏ $10 for 12 weeks chang es of address should be addressed to The Swed ish kro nor for one year. Domargränd 16, . UNION/SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION PHONE Mil i tant Business Offi ce, 306 W. 37th Street, S-129 47 Hägersten, Stockholm, Sweden. 10th fl oor, New York, NY 10018. New Zealand: Send New Zealand $55 to P.O. ❏ Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. Box 3025, Auckland, New Zealand. Aus tra lia: .$20 for 6 months POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Send Austra lian $50 to P.O. Box 164, Campsie, CLIP AND MAIL TO THE MILITANT, Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 10th fl oor, New Haymarket, NSW 2194, Australia. Pa cifi c Is- 306 WEST 37TH ST., 10TH FL. NEW YORK, NY 10018. York, NY 10018. lands: Send New Zealand $55 to P.O. Box 3025, ❏ $35 for 1 year Auckland, New Zealand. . Subscriptions: United States: for one-year sub scrip tion send $35 to above address. Signed articles by contributors do not nec es - 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia and the Pacifi c, A$8 • United Kingdom, £4 • Canada, Latin America, Caribbean: for one-year sub- sari ly represent the Militant’s views. These are Can$7 • Carib be an and Latin America, $10 • Continental Europe, £12 • France, 12 Euros • Iceland, Kr 500 • scrip tion send $65, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above expressed in editorials. New Zealand, NZ$10 • Sweden, Kr60 (Send payment to addresses listed in business in for ma tion box)

2 The Militant January 18, 2005 Latin America: imperialist retail giants help push peasants off land BY ARRIN HAWKINS equipment, cooling tanks and ultra-high United States after his The growing penetration by retail gi- temperature treatments, demands that potato crop failed last ants from the United States and other im- can close small farmers out of the supply year and couldn’t make perialist countries into food distribution in chain.” enough money to pay off Latin America is increasing the number of Farmers who do manage to sell their debts and keep his land. peasants being forced out of farming and goods to the supermarkets often wait two In response to these off their land. Supermarket chains such or more months to get paid for their pro- conditions, peas- as Dutch food giant Ahold, the French duce, according to the International Policy ants have intensified Carrefour, and U.S.-based Wal-Mart Research Institute. struggles for land and have taken a big piece of the food retail Supermarket chains, often owned by government aid for de- markets in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa companies from imperialist countries, velopment throughout Rica, and Mexico, and to a lesser extent control 10 to 15 percent of fruit and veg- Latin America in the in less developed Latin American nations, etable sales in Guatemala. But in Argen- past decade. In Brazil, like Guatemala. tina, their slice has grown to as much as for example, 8,000 Working farmers struggling to survive 30 percent, while in Brazil it’s up to half landless rural workers have to compete with often-subsidized the total market. and others marched in goods from agribusiness in the European Through the “free trade” offensive by the country’s capital, Union and the United States, as well as Washington and its imperialist allies in Brasilia, in November other Latin American countries. According the past two decades, fi nance capital has to demand more gov- to an article in the December 28 New York stepped up investments in Latin America ernment funding for Times, for example, trucks at La Fragua’s and other semicolonial countries. Latin land distribution. huge distribution center in Guatemala City American governments have abolished The Washington Post regularly unload apples from Washington price subsidies on food, slashed tariffs on reported in September State, potatoes from Idaho, pineapples imported goods from imperialist nations, that 2,000 police of- from Chile, and avocados from Mexico. sold off state-owned companies, and tar- fi cers were sent to evict In addition, small farmers have to geted workers’ wages and unions—all in peasants occupying a meet the costly specifications for food the name of attracting foreign investment. cattle ranch near Cham- production the large supermarket chains Millions of peasants have been forced off perico, Guatemala, and demand. the land as a result. were met by a demon- “They wanted consistent supply without Although the capitalist economic depres- stration of 3,000 peas- ups and downs,” Mario Chinchilla, a toma- sion that has engulfed most of Latin America ants, some armed with to farmer in Palencia, Guatemala, told the and the Caribbean has affected many profes- AK-47 rifl es. Reuters/Daniel Le Clair Times. “We didn’t have the capacity to do sionals and other middle-class layers, work- The fi ght for land has Thousands of Guatemalan peasants protest against it.” For a time, the farm cooperative Chin- ing people in the city and countryside—the also been a major fea- the government of President Oscar Berger last April in chilla heads managed to sell vegetables large majority—have been the hardest hit ture of developments Guatemala City during the 28th Regional Conference of to the Stop and Shop supermarket chain, and their living and working conditions are in Venezuela, where the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. owned by Ahold. Chincilla’s cooperative, deteriorating. The number of people liv- peasants, encouraged which once had more than 300 members, is ing below offi cial poverty lines has grown by a new agrarian reform law passed such struggles, more than 75,000 landless now down to eight farmers. Ahold requires from 200 million in 1990 to 224 million last by the government of President Hugo peasant families in Venezuela had obtained farmers to use drip irrigation, expensive year—or 44 percent of Latin America’s 512 Chávez in 2001, have waged fi erce battles titles to some 5 million acres of land as of pesticides, and modern greenhouses for million people. In rural areas, 60 percent live against big landowners. Largely through the spring of 2004. growing produce, but small farmers don’t under offi cially defi ned poverty. have the resources to meet such require- In Guatemala, 75 percent of the popula- ments which are increasingly being de- tion lives below the government-defi ned manded. poverty line, and 50 percent of Guatema- Co-Op miners get support Dairy farmers throughout Latin America lans are employed in agriculture. With the face similar rigid requirements to sell their downward slide of world prices for coffee, Continued from front page Co-Op miners. “Once again, with the recent milk to food retail chains. According to the sugar, spices, and other agricultural goods, keep all of us together,” said Galaviz, who fi rings, the company is trying to frustrate the Inter Press Service news agency, “Tens of many small farmers have lost their liveli- has a family of fi ve. will of the workers and break their union, thousands of small dairy farmers cannot hoods and been forced to migrate elsewhere The Voice@Work Campaign of the by leaving them without an income for the afford the investments in equipment they for work. According to the Times, José Luis AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C., sent out a second time in two years,” the appeal said. need to be able to sell to the supermarkets. Pérez Escobar, who belonged to the same pre-holiday appeal to 30,000 union activists “These miners live paycheck to paycheck, The chains require mechanical milking cooperative as Chinchilla, migrated to the across the country asking for support for the many only paid between $5.50 and $8.00 an hour (the average U.S. miner makes $18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Sta- tistics) and receive no health benefi ts while CIA maintained secret prison at Guantánamo performing one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. Having a union would BY ARRIN HAWKINS disclosing their identities or accounting for approved by administration lawyers, the allow them to negotiate for safer working The CIA has maintained a secret deten- them in military records. CIA is allowed to capture and hold cer- conditions, a livable wage, and affordable tion facility within the Defense Depart- According to the Washington Post, the tain classes of suspects without accounting health care. Make the difference for these ment’s prison camp at the U.S. naval base CIA used a group of hidden buildings en- for them in any public way and without miners by helping them continue to fi ght. in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, report several closed within the Defense Department’s revealing the rules for their treatment,” the Make a donation now by clicking on: https:/ media sources. The naval base has been Camp Echo complex to interrogate and Post reported. /secure.ga3.org/08/helptheminers.” Through maintained against the will of the Cuban detain the “most valuable al-Qaeda cap- A New York Times article in May said this link individuals and organizations can people for more than 40 years. The CIA tives,” alleged to have information on the that these secret rules “have provided a le- make immediate fi nancial contributions by facility, a prison within a prison, held a group’s “logistics, fi nancing and regional gal basis for the use of harsh interrogation credit card to the miners. The AFL-CIO number of prisoners U.S. troops captured operations.” These “ghost” detainees were techniques.” Similar to the CIA facilities told the miners that an additional $7,000 during Washington’s wars in Afghanistan held under separate rules from other pris- at Camp Echo, other secret CIA detention was raised through this appeal over the in 2001 and Iraq two years later. The CIA oners at the Guantánamo base. “Under centers were set up on the Bagram air base holidays. held the inmates under strict secrecy, not a presidential directive and authorities in Afghanistan and in Iraq’s Abu Ghraib As part of the Christmas spirit, Ricardo prison. The CIA claims that the facility at Silva, an activist from Salt Lake City, made Camp Echo is no longer in use. the two-hour trip in his pickup truck to do- U.S. troops to be cut in Europe The majority of those detained at the nate toys and 30 turkeys to the miners at the Guantánamo prison camp have been in UMWA District 22 union hall in Price on BY MICHAEL ITALIE NATO. The repositioning will allow the U.S. the custody of the U.S. Defense Depart- December 23. Silva returned on January 3 The U.S. government is proceeding rulers to more effectively deploy forces to ment. Many of those captured during the with bags of clothes for miners’ children that apace to cut in half the number of troops “Georgia and Azerbaijan in the Caucasus 2001 invasion of Afghanistan were labeled he collected from friends and other support- it has stationed in Europe, Marine Gen. region and to strategic sites along the West “enemy combatants” by the U.S. govern- ers of the miners’ struggle in Salt Lake. James Jones told the U.S. Army Times in African coast,” the Army Times said. ment to justify denying them legal rights, The unemployed miners said they are late December. Jones, who commands U.S. These steps are part of the U.S. military’s including those accorded to prisoners of looking for other mining jobs in the area and NATO forces in Europe, said he is wait- “transformation,” aimed at reorganizing war under the Geneva Conventions. More while they push for reinstatement at the ing for approval from Washington for this Washington’s armed forces into smaller than 550 prisoners are still detained there. Co-Op mine through the NLRB. redeployment, which is expected to come and more mobile and lethal units poised Some have been held for several years C.W. Mining, which operates the Co-Op later this year. for rapid deployment for the U.S. rulers to without charges, legal counsel, or due mine owned by the Kingston family, fi red The number of U.S. soldiers stationed defend their wealth and domination. There process. 75 miners on Sept. 22, 2003, after miners in Europe will be reduced from 110,000 will be a step-up in the use of such units as Under Supreme Court rulings earlier this demanded safe working conditions, pro- to 50,000. In Germany, forces will be sub- well as port visits along the coast of West year, these detainees have the right to chal- tested harassment of co-workers and the stantially cut down from the current level of Africa “as soon as the Navy and the Marine lenge their imprisonment in U.S. federal fi ring of a colleague, and began the effort 76,000 with the return to the United States of Corps can generate the types of deployments courts. Several dozen inmates have fi led to win UMWA representation. The miners the Army’s First Armored Division and First they did in the past” and when “not all the habeus corpus petitions with the U.S. Jus- turned the lockout into a strike and set up Infantry Division currently located at bases Marines are either in Iraq or waiting to go tice Department to have their cases heard. picket lines for nearly 10 months, winning there. Jones said U.S. forces will remain in to Iraq,” Jones said. In response to the high court rulings, the broad support in the labor movement in the Ramstein and Grafenwoehr, Germany, as “We’re charting Africa right now,” the Pentagon set up military tribunals com- West and beyond. The NLRB ruled July 1 well as Aviano and Naples, Italy. U.S. general added, “so that when the time prised of U.S. military offi cers and denied that the miners were fi red illegally and the At the same time, Washington plans to comes, and we get more assets, we can do the prisoners legal counsel, claiming the company was forced to offer unconditional shift its remaining forces in Europe east- things on a bigger scale.” trials were administrative proceedings. reinstatement to all the strikers, many of ward, closer to the Middle East, Africa, and The reduction in U.S. forces in Germany Meanwhile, abuse of the detainees con- whom returned to work July 12. Since re- Central Asia. “Troops will train at former will be carried out in coordination with the tinues. A recent FBI memo details practices turning to work, miners said they faced a war Soviet bases in Eastern Europe,” said an U.S. Base Realignment and Closure Com- by U.S. interrogators in Guantánamo that by the company against UMWA supporters, article in the January 3 Army Times. These mission, which is expected to give Congress are tantamount to torture, reported the which included selective fi rings of union include bases in Poland, Hungary, Romania, a list of proposed base closings before the Guardian. The memo described detainees backers and many attempts to intimidate and Bulgaria, which are new members of end of 2005. being strangled, beaten and burned. Continued on Page 5 The Militant January 18, 2005 3 Florida sugar workers okay concession pact after four-day strike BY ALEX ALVARADO everything. I voted no. I didn’t accept it.” AND ERIC SIMPSON Many workers said they felt they had SOUTH BAY, Florida—After a four- no alternative but to accept the contract in day strike, members of International order to save the union. “A lot of workers Association of Machinists (IAM) Local are heartbroken,” said Javier Almazan, 2152 ratifi ed a three-year contract Janu- the president of Local 2152, in a phone ary 1 at Florida Crystals’s Okeelanta plant interview after the vote. “But in ratifying here. Workers voted 584-42 in favor of the the contract, every union member who was agreement. The strike was the local’s fi rst on strike will go back to work.” since 1972 at this modern, farm-to-refi n- Tractor-trailer operators whose jobs are ery sugar production operation. The plant being outsourced will work only through also generates its own steam and electrical the end of the harvest season in February or power by burning sugarcane bagasse. March, said Almazan. Tractor-trailer trucks The contract includes major conces- are used to transport sugarcane from the fi elds to the mill. Sugar workers who struck Okeelanta Sugar Corp., owned by Florida Crystals, picket sions from both seasonal and year-round in December near South Bay, Florida. They approved takeback contract January 1. workers. It terminates about 150 union Like the harvester and other farm tractor-trailer operators and replaces them equipment operators and laborers in the with contract workers. The company also fi elds, where the harvest is completely empire of the Fanjul family. Its property their mansions, it became Cuba’s National won the elimination of overtime pay for mechanized, these workers will no longer encompasses 180,000 acres of plantation Museum of Decorative Arts. farm employees, which the union had receive premium pay for overtime work, land in south Florida, three sugar mills, one Many workers on the picket line said gained in the 1970s. Health insurance for unlike the mill and refi nery workers. Ac- rice mill, a distribution center, and exten- the Fanjuls used their political infl uence seasonal workers will no longer be part of cording to company spokespeople, farm sive holdings in the Dominican Republic. to get police to limit picketing and control the union plan, union offi cials report, and workers are “exempt” from overtime pay The Fanjuls were one of the wealthiest of news coverage—keeping news of the strike co-payments and other health-care costs under state and federal laws. The union had the capitalist families that dominated the out of the local Spanish-language press, are 25 percent higher across the board. forced Florida Crystals to pay farm workers sugar industry in Cuba before 1959. Its and distorting coverage to the company’s “There has been an injustice done to all a premium for work over 50 hours, as part property was nationalized after workers advantage against the union. the workers,” striker Augustine Batista, 49, of winning union representation for fi eld and farmers overthrew the U.S.-backed Ba- At fi rst strikers crowded onto the shoul- told the Militant. Batista is a truck driver workers after a strike in 1972. This was an tista dictatorship at the time and established der of Route 27 with signs defending the who has worked for Okeelanta for four exception in the industry. a revolutionary government. The Fanjuls’ union, but police forced them behind bar- seasons and will lose his job at the end of extensive art collection—now estimated to riers away from the highway. this one. “We were out there fi ghting for Bosses left Cuba after revolution be worth $20 million to $60 million—was Under heavy police protection, the com- everyone and we ended up losing just about Florida Crystals is part of the sugar nationalized as well. Along with one of pany brought several busloads of scabs into the plant past hundreds of chanting strik- ers from day one of the walkout, workers report. U.S. textile bosses ramp up protectionist drive Almazan told the press that 600 of the 900 union members had signed up for pick- as caps on imports from colonial world expire et duty. But some stayed on the job, along with crews organized by labor contractors. BY ANNE PARKER imports from 2005 through 2008. “The apparel business group. Despite the company’s use of scabs, local ATLANTA—On January 1, a system Bush administration has already ordered Refl ecting the contending capitalist in- union vice president Mike Myers estimated of quotas that restricted the exports of new limits on Chinese shipments of four terests, the U.S. Association of Importers of that sugar production was cut to one-third garments and textiles from semicolonial categories of clothing, and has threatened Textiles and Apparel—representing retailers of capacity. nations to the United States and Europe new limits on a wide range of additional such as J.C. Penney—immediately fi led suit Strikers set up four giant grills to cook expired under World Trade Organization categories,” reported the December 13 New seeking an injunction blocking the Com- food for the hundreds on the picket line. “I (WTO) rules. Under that system, known as York Times. merce Department from considering the don’t know how long we’re going to be on the Multifi bre Arrangement (MFA), quotas According to the National Coalition of U.S. textile bosses’ petition. “If U.S. retailers the line, but we’ve got to show the company were assigned country-by-country limiting Textile Organizations (NCTO), a business can’t get suffi cient supplies of merchandise we’re sticking together,” said Enrique Cib- group, the crisis in the U.S. textile industry from China, they’ll simply turn to other for- rian, 43, a heavy equipment operator who has been precipitated by China. The NCTO eign manufacturers, not U.S. manufactur- has worked at the mill for 17 years. asserts that in clothing categories where ers,” said Erik Autor, of the National Retail AS I SEE IT quotas were removed in 2002, China’s mar- Federation. An editorial in the December 12 Solidarity from other unions ket share went from 9 percent to 72 percent New York Times commended the retailers’ Solidarity came from sister IAM Local the volume of jeans, underwear, towels, as of last June. “Because of these trade association for “fi ghting back” against “the 57 at U.S. Sugar in Clewiston and Pahokee fabric, yarn and other products companies practices, the U.S. textile industry has been whiny [textile] manufacturers’ requests to and from UNITE-HERE Local 25-70 at the could export from countries such as Ban- forced to close 300 textile plants, including impose new limits on China.” Point Blank Body Armor garment plant in gladesh, China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri more than 50 textile plants during the last In the face of new and threatened quotas Oakland Park. Lanka, and Turkey. year and a half,” the NCTO states. It dema- and demands by the Bush administration A delegation of garment workers from Under existing WTO rules, though, gogically argues that 650,000 more U.S. jobs that Beijing take steps to limit its exports, the Point Blank was led by local president Washington has indicated it intends to con- are at stake—a fi gure roughly equal to the Commerce Ministry of China announced in Umberto de la Cruz, who spoke to the tinue restricting garment and textile imports total number of U.S. textile jobs. December that it would voluntarily impose pickets through a bull horn, summarizing from many of these countries—especially “Where will our Armed Forces go?” some tariffs on its $100 billion garment and the lessons he had drawn from six months China. the NCTO asks. “Will our soldiers have to textile exports this year. At the same time, of picket duty fi ghting for union represen- The 1974 arrangement protected the wait for Chinese textile producers to agree Chinese offi cials protested efforts by U.S. tation at Point Blank. “You have got to profi ts of U.S.-based companies and busi- to meet our military’s specifi cations not just manufacturers to limit free trade. China has remain united,” he told the strikers. nesses in other imperialist countries against for quantity but for quality?” a relatively modern and massive textile and The visiting unionists were given ribs competitors in the semicolonial world. Ac- Textile bosses in the United States are apparel industry—with 30,000 factories ex- and introduced to all the pickets, including cording to the World Bank and the Inter- using some of the same patriotic, prowar porting goods and 35,000 to 40,000 geared Burley Adams, a union veteran who helped national Monetary Fund, these quotas cost arguments—aimed at convincing workers to the domestic market. Production is also lead the fi ght to extend union organization semicolonial nations $40 billion annually that bosses and their employees have com- integrated—from raw materials like cotton, to the farm workers about 32 years ago. in lost exports. mon interests to defend “our company” or to spinning and weaving of fabric, down to “I stood in this corner in 1972 for the Leading up to the January deadline, “our country”—to get workers to go along the last button on an article of clothing. Its same reason I’m standing on this corner trade confl icts mounted over the $400 bil- with ramped up production, lower wages, main advantage, though, is its massive, today,” Adams told reporters. He said the lion world trade in garment and textiles. The and deteriorating working conditions. The cheap labor supply. workers now faced losing “what took us loudest voice demanding new protectionist bosses try to convince us that we compete Recognizing opportunities to make a so long to get.” measures was the most powerful imperialist with workers in underdeveloped countries in profi t in China, some U.S. manufacturers The bosses’ last offer was worse than power in the world—Washington. order to defl ect any resistance to the employ- have announced plans for joint ventures in their initial proposal. “There are some In addition to any new quotas, the U.S. ers’ antilabor offensive at home. that country. One example is the Interna- things that are non-negotiable,” a company rulers already wield the club of duties to pro- Crying crocodile tears, the textile indus- tional Textile Group-China Ting venture. spokesperson told the press. The company tect the profi ts of U.S. manufacturers from try owners sometimes also pose as the bene- U.S. capitalist Wilbur Ross formed ITG withdrew its offer of an early retirement competition from imports. Bangladesh, for factor of the semicolonial world. “If they by merging Burlington Industries—at one plan, strikers report, and took off the table example, which exports $1.7 billion in ap- won’t necessarily listen to the concerns of time the world’s largest textile company severance packages to the fi red truck driv- parel to the United States, faces an average the domestic producers, maybe they’ll listen with 80,000 employees and 149 plants—and ers, who are seasonal workers, some with of 16 percent, or $300 million a year, in du- to the concerns of the Third World,” said Cone Mills, a denim maker. Ross bought decades of seniority. About half of the 700 ties. U.S. duties for garments and textiles Augustine Tantillo, executive director of both of these companies after they declared strikers were seasonal, working only during range from 16 percent to 33 percent. the American Manufacturing Trade Action bankruptcy. the fi ve-month sugarcane harvest. Charging that they will be devastated by Coalition. Many in the big-business media have Local 57 faces a similar challenge in competition from Chinese manufacturers, U.S. textile and apparel bosses, joined by hailed the fact that employers worldwide its contract negotiations with U.S. Sugar, a coalition of U.S. textile trade associations their Turkish counterparts, led an effort to will use the dropping of MFA quotas to which has announced the closing of the and the UNITE trade union appealed to appeal to the WTO to postpone the lifting push for further cuts in wages and working Bryant mill in Pahokee, Florida, and the U.S. president George Bush to cap several of the MFA and to take action against their conditions. “It’s a new world order now, elimination of more than 300 union jobs. categories of garment imports from China rivals in China. Ninety-six trade groups where Thailand and Turkey will compete Production will be concentrated in Clew- at 7.5 percent above the value of shipments from 54 countries signed on to this call, furiously to reduce costs and eliminate un- iston, where the mill and refi nery will be over the last year. As a condition of China’s known as the Istanbul Declaration. “The necessary red tape, all so they can be the expanded and modernized. admission into the WTO in 2001, Wash- developing world sees China as a preda- ones awarded the contract to run up your Local 57 members struck U.S. Sugar for ington won “threat-based safeguard provi- tor stalking them like prey,” stated Ziya next pair of jeans,” said an editorial in the six days in 1998, holding the line against sions,” allowing the U.S. government to limit Sukun, executive director of the ITKIB New York Times. “Let’s pull up the anchor; company demands for cuts in their guar- the growth of Chinese clothing and textile Association USA, a Turkish textile and Continued on Page 5 anteed work week. 4 The Militant January 18, 2005 Board cites Co-Op mine Continued from Page 3 sor Cyril Jackson went underground to pull and divide them. miner Bill Estrada from the job. Estrada said Region 27 of the NLRB in Denver ruled the company claimed his alleged failure to November 18 that Kingston family mem- do his job had resulted in a safety violation bers and relatives and supervisory personnel citation from the Mine Safety and Health would not be allowed to vote in the union Administration. This was one of 10 viola- representation election. tions MSHA cited the company with that The company appealed the decision 12 day, workers were told by an offi cial with days later and the NLRB subsequently the agency. Estrada was given two “occur- allowed more than 100 Kingston family rences” by Jackson. These are disciplinary members and relatives, whom the bosses points, which the company said brought claim are legitimate employees, to vote in Estrada to a total of eight, the number at the election. Their ballots were separated which the company supposedly may termi- and sealed, however, pending a fi nal deci- nate employees. “This is retaliation against sion from the NLRB. me because I and other miners have reported On December 17, 40 mostly Mexican- violations to MSHA and because I’m pro- born miners and the Kingston family UMWA,” Estrada said. Militant/Amy Huston members voted in the union representation The company has also dismissed three Co-Op miners (from left) Ricardo Chávez, José Contreras, Jesús Salazar, and election conducted by the NLRB. The bal- other Mexican miners for alleged lack of Guillermo Servando unload donated Christmas presents and turkeys at UMWA lot included as choices the UMWA, the so- proper work documentation since the mass hall in Price, Utah, December 23. Ricardo Silva (right), a supporter of the union- called International Association of United fi ring on December 9. These latest fi rings organizing effort from Salt Lake City, brought the supplies to the miners. Workers Union (IAUWU), which workers leave only one UMWA supporter working say is a company-run outfi t, or neither. Re- at Co-Op, who is also under threat of ter- ers say are staunch opponents of the union, article said. “The UMWA had attempted to sults have not been announced because most mination, workers say. The company is now remain working at the mine. organize the mine workers when the stop- of the ballots have been challenged. attempting to run the mine almost entirely The Co-Op miners’ struggle has contin- page began.” A week earlier, on December 9, mine with relatives of the Kingston family. ued to receive attention in the media here. The article also pointed out that in Sep- manager Charles Reynolds called nearly Miners visited the local MSHA offi ces in The Sun Advocate, the local daily in Price, tember the Co-Op owners and the IAUWU 30 miners into his offi ce one at a time to Castle Dale and Price to obtain information featured the fi ght in its year-end issue. “Co- filed a civil lawsuit in federal court in inform them that was their last day of work. on their rights. One miner said an inspector Op mine strike draws national attention to Utah against the UMWA, 17 Co-Op min- C.W. Mining claimed they lacked proper informed them that MSHA has revoked the workers, local mine operations,” reads the ers, a number of labor unions and other documentation in order to justify the mass training papers for José Ortega, who was the headline of one of the two lead articles for organizations that have backed the union- fi rings. The miners say their documents safety trainer at Co-Op. Numerous Co-Op the 2004 top stories section of the paper in organizing struggle, as well as many news- remain the same from their hiring date. miners testifi ed against Ortega in October its December 30 edition. papers that reported on the labor struggle. Mexican miners have worked at Co-Op 2003 for improper training and charging “The work stoppage not only gained The dozens of defendants were cited with since the 1970s, but only now—a week excessive payments for the courses—up to statewide coverage by the television sta- “unfair labor practices” and “defamation” prior to a union election—did the company $350 for the 32-hour MSHA-required new tions and in newspapers across Utah, but against the Kingston-owned company and question their work documents, workers and miner safety class that he typically taught in national attention was brought to the situ- the IAUWU. union offi cers point out. six hours out of his house. Ortega and his ation primarily through the efforts of the Subsequently, the plaintiffs amended their On December 28, maintenance supervi- father, both of whom the pro-UMWA min- United Mine Workers of America,” the legal complaint, dropping a number of the original defendants, in an effort to split those supporting the miners. Those no longer cited include all entities related to the Catholic Minnesota meat packers fight fi ring of unionist Church, the local newspapers in Carbon and BY JOHN PINES union contract. They are also active in sign- the suspension and has produced another Emery counties, and a number of individual ST. PAUL, Minnesota—Twenty members ing up new members for the union. We feel edition of the Workers Voice. “The bosses activists who have supported the miners over of the United Food and Commercial Work- the company wants to weaken the union so it at Dakota claimed recently that it violates the last 15 months. ers (UFCW) Local 789 and union represen- can force the workers to do more production union contract to distribute union fl iers in “The two local papers, the Sun Advocate tatives met here December 14 to organize a with the same number of workers and that the factory if we don’t have permission from and the Emery County Progress, were also fi ght against the fi ring of Miguel Olvera, a this is part of a strategy of the company to the company bosses,” the new issue of the named in the suit,” said the December 30 union steward. Olvera has been a leader of attack the most active union workers.” union newsletter says. “This is completely Sun Advocate article. “But the next week a the struggle through which workers at the Since the union meeting, UFCW mem- false and we will continue to read and dis- mine offi cial contacted the publisher of both Dakota Premium Foods (DPF) slaughter- bers at DPF’s boning department have col- tribute what we want.” papers and told him that the two local papers house won a union representation election in lected over 75 signatures demanding Olvera It continues, “Company bosses argue that were added to the suit by mistake and their 2000 and their fi rst contract a year later. be returned to his job. Workers said they they are not making enough profi ts. But the names were being withdrawn from it.” “The local is working vigorously in de- plan to present the petition to the plant’s owners of Rosen have grown wealthy from The citation of the two local papers, fense of Miguel Olvera’s job. We are sparing general manager. our labor. Instead of using that wealth to however, was not done in passing in the no expense, nor time and energy to fi ght The bosses walked Olvera out of the fac- ensure the well-being of the employees and original suit. The fi rst company complaint with every means we have to win Olvera’s tory December 9, unionists said, claiming their families, they want to force us to solve named not only the newspapers and their job and all the lost pay and benefi ts caused he was not doing his job up to company their profi t crisis by further wearing down publisher but also reporters of the papers by this unjust fi ring,” said Don Seaquist, standards. Olvera has many years of boning our hands, backs, and bodies by working and cited quotations from articles they had president of UFCW Local 789. experience and nine years of seniority in the harder and faster. The Rosen owners, and published on the miners’ struggle to back The fi ring occurred shortly after the com- plant. Until a few months ago, the company their salaried bosses, don’t face losing their up the Kingstons’ allegation of “defama- pany issued disciplinary warnings to dozens had never disciplined him for anything. homes nor their ability to feed their families tion.” These quotations remain and were of union members in an effort to force work- Olvera helped lead his co-workers to join as we do when our bodies wear out and we even expanded in the amended complaint, ers to work harder and faster, cleaning more the UFCW and take an active part in union cannot do our jobs any longer.” Continued on Page 9 meat off bones than previously. This initial affairs. His activities included helping lead campaign, which took place last summer, a ground-breaking sit-down strike and union was countered by Local 789 with a petition organizing drive in June 2000 in the South U.S. textile bosses push protectionism demanding the company halt the practice St. Paul slaughterhouse. of calling workers into the offi ce and rep- Rosen Diversifi ed Inc.—which owns both Continued from Page 4 decades serving as an “export platform” rimanding them for “dirty bones.” After Dakota Premium Foods and Long Prairie it’s time for those ships to sail.” for light manufactures or other industrial more than 90 workers signed the petition, Packing in Long Prairie, Minnesota—has Others in big business, like those repre- goods—like garment and textiles—often the bosses halted the warnings. been stepping up attacks on Local 789. The sented by the NCTO, continue to complain made in imperialist-owned factories. Even Unionists at the December 14 meet- local organizes both of these meatpacking about “unfair competition” from textile with regard to these goods, countries in the ing decided to get the truth out about the plants and other facilities. and apparel production in semicolonial semicolonial world get slapped down every company’s strategy of victimizing union Other union militants have been disci- countries. time they try to horn in on markets sought leaders in the plant in an effort to weaken plined for their work and face possible sus- This demagogy notwithstanding, fi nance by the titans of agriculture and industry in the entire union. Workers also decided to pension and fi ring too. The company has capital from the United States and the rest North America, Europe, and Japan. circulate a petition among union members also offered Quality Control (QC) positions of the imperialist world robs enormous Countries where apparel and textile in the plant to get support for the demand to two UFCW shop stewards who were very amounts of wealth from these countries for predominate have been and will continue that Olvera be reinstated. active in organizing workers at Dakota into the coffers of imperialist banks and other to be vulnerable to protectionist measures. Two days later, an in-plant union news- union fi ghts against the company. The QC fi nancial institutions. This extortion is guar- These include Bangladesh, where garments letter, the Workers Voice, was distributed in positions are privileged. Because of their anteed not primarily by “unfair” terms of account for 77 percent of total exports—of the boning department with a statement by semi-supervisory functions, workers in trade imposed from the outside onto the which 94 percent goes to markets until now Olvera explaining the facts surrounding these positions are not in the union. One of world market. It is guaranteed primarily governed by MFA quotas; Sri Lanka, where his fi ring. “Brothers and sisters from work the stewards has accepted the offer. by the differential value of labor power and 71 percent of export revenues are from I would like to extend an invitation to you The most recent attack at Dakota came the gap in the productivity of labor between textile; and Pakistan, where 45 percent of to stand united and fi ght together and to de- against union member Jacob Perasso. Ac- the imperialist countries, on the one hand, manufacturing jobs are in textiles. fend our rights because today it was me and cording to the company, Perasso was ac- and those exploited by imperialism, on the Worldwide employment in the textile tomorrow it could be any of you,” Olvera cused of trying to force a co-worker to take other. and garment industries is estimated at says in the statement. a union fl ier against his will. The Dakota Wages and other labor costs for textile tens of millions of workers. As the world The leafl et explained that the fi ght to get bosses organized an intimidating “investiga- and clothing bosses, for example, average capitalist economic crisis deepens, textile Olvera’s job back has big stakes for the whole tion” into the accusation and suspended him $.70 an hour in India, $.92 in China, $1.20 and garment bosses are competing fero- union and working conditions in the plant. for “not cooperating,” Perasso said, when he in Thailand, and $1.70 in Mexico, according ciously to increase their cut of the surplus It also announced that Local 789 is fi ling a sought to see a copy of the zero-tolerance to business studies. These countries face the value produced by these workers. Textile grievance on behalf of Olvera and an unfair policy that the company claimed it used to problems of underdevelopment—including and garment workers all over the world labor practice charge against the company launch the investigation before answering lack of electricity, roads, ports, and com- face the common problems of lay-offs, for illegally targeting union activists for fi r- questions. Perasso and his union steward munications systems—which make it im- speedup, longer working hours, stepped- ings and other disciplinary measures. were also denied the possibility of consult- possible for them to compete on an equal up attacks on our working conditions, and “This is a clear attack on the union and ing with union offi cers at the time. footing. lack of medical care and pensions. Workers on all of us workers at Dakota,” the Workers During the “investigation,” the bosses Imperialism warps the economic struc- face a common enemy, too: the textile and Voice said. “Miguel [Olvera] and Salvador told Perasso and shop steward Montoya tures of the semicolonial world. The “com- clothing bosses and the capitalist govern- Sosa have been singled out because they are Guerrero that distributing union fliers parative advantage” of oppressed nations in ments that represent their interests in every active in defending workers from the com- without company permission is a violation the world capitalist market is largely restrict- country where we live. pany. This includes those who are not being of the union contract, the unionists said. ed to producing and exporting agricultural paid at the wage that they should earn by Local 789 has filed a grievance against goods and raw materials, as well as in recent Anne Parker is a textile worker in Atlanta. The Militant January 18, 2005 5 Social disaster in S. Asia

Continued from front page Lincoln’s helicopters can fl y only as far as by the local capitalist regimes. the leveled city of Meulaboh, along Aceh’s A week after the disaster, much of the west coast,” reported the January 5 New York media coverage had shifted to the millions Times. “The fate of villagers to the south of dollars in aid that has been pledged for remains unknown.” recovery from the catastrophe. But a wide “We have a logistical nightmare,” the UN’s disparity exists between the amount of help Jan Egeland told NBC TV’s Today show. “I that has been promised and what is actually would say that tens of thousands of people given, and of that, what is turned over to have received no relief.” Egeland said more the UN aid agency and what ends up in the trucks, aircraft, base camps, fuel, water treat- hands of those who are in dire need. Aid ment plants, and generators are needed. is channeled through UN offi cials—whose recent record of thievery over the Iraqi “oil Strategic spy base hit for food” program speaks volumes of what According to the Christian Science one may expect this time—and the impe- Monitor, only one-quarter of residents of Car Nicobar Island, once home to 30,000 rialist governments and bureaucracies they Getty Images/Dimas Ardian represent. It then goes into the hands of the people, have survived the tsunami. The waves hit from all sides and penetrated Aid for earthquake and tsunami victims in local capitalist regimes, before any of it Aceh piles up at the Polonia military air- reaches the intended destination. more than four miles onto the island in some places. But the estimated 20,000 dead do not base December 30, in Medan, Indonesia. No early-warning system yet appear as part of the overall fi gure, as “The waves are totally predictable,” Dr. the Indian government has kept the islands countries whose nationals were caught in Tad Murty, an expert on the region’s tsuna- off-limits to outside assistance. the maelstrom in Thailand’s resorts and ho- mis affi liated with the University of Mani- Car Nicobar is part of the Andaman and tels—a much swifter response than coun- toba in Winnipeg, Canada, told the New York Nicobar island chain, an Indian territory tries that lost tens of thousands more. Times. “We have travel-time charts covering that is home to 350,000 people. In addi- “Obviously we have to look after the all of the Indian Ocean. From where this tion to a large population of Indian settlers foreigners,” Thaksin Shinawatra, the coun- earthquake happened to hit, the travel time and an indigenous people who live largely try’s prime minister, said in early January. for waves to hit the tip of India was four in the forests, the islands are also home Shinawatra promised that the priority now hours. That’s enough time for a warning.” to Indian military spy bases. This is the would shift to the Thai population. Stations that gauge wave and earth- rationalization New Delhi has used to bar quake activity across the Pacific Ocean foreign aid groups from the islands, even Imperialist plunder are capable of alerting potential targets though it claims its listening posts have been Behind the facade of generosity and of the giant waves in minutes. In fact, the destroyed too. Little has been made public sympathy that imperialist governments scientists monitoring earthquake activity in about the extent of the devastation. and their institutions have built with the aid the Pacifi c predicted within 15 minutes of “India has used the islands, located 600 they’ve promised to victims of this calam- the December 26 earthquake in the Indian miles from the mainland, as a listening post ity, Washington, Paris, London, Tokyo and Ocean that a substantial risk of a tsunami for east Asia, mainly China, for many years,” other citadels of fi nance capital continue to Ten days after the disaster, relief fl ights existed. Since no such early warning system said the Monitor. plunder the resources of the countries in have only made it as far south as exists in the Indian Ocean countries, there “When the Chinese set up a signals the region. Indonesia and Sri Lanka, to cite Meulaboah. Tens of thousands of people was no network in place to warn those who intelligence facility by leasing an island two examples, are both saddled with mas- south of there have received no aid. were potentially at risk. Thousands of lives from Myanmar, to monitor Indian missile sive debts to imperialist creditors. could have been saved had such a system tests in the northeast of the country, Indian In Indonesia, almost $7.5 billion dollars, been established, especially in mainland intelligence came onto the scene with three or one-quarter of the country’s tax revenue, Washington Post, only one-eighth of the India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, which were state-of-the-art ESS, or electronic surveil- is slated for payment in the coming year on 400,000 tons of food flown into Banda hit by the waves more than an hour after the lance stations, provided to them by the the interest and principal of the country’s Aceh has been delivered to the victims. quake shook the ocean. Americans, in the Andaman and Nicobar nearly $81 billion foreign debt. This is equal The New York Times reported that “com- Governments along the shores of the Indi- Islands,” Subir Bhaumik, a military analyst, to all of the country’s planned spending on plaints have already arisen about soldiers an Ocean are now calling for such a system told the Monitor. “The United States gave infrastructure projects and many times the siphoning off supplies for their relatives to be put in place. Its effectiveness, however, us the hardware to intercept Chinese intel- amount pledged by wealthy nations in aid and friends.” The Indonesian government’s depends on the level of development of the ligence and it was put in place by 2002, but for the country’s reconstruction. disaster relief coordinator dismissed reports countries included in the network. now all three bases in the islands of Kakana, In Sri Lanka, the overall foreign debt last of hungry families in towns leveled by the Even with such a network in the Pacifi c, Katchall, and Nancowrie are believed de- year accounted for more than 58 percent of giant waves. “I can guarantee you there is no for example, 2,000 people were killed stroyed by the tsunami.” the nation’s gross domestic product—a total starvation, except for me, because I didn’t when a tsunami struck the Pacifi c Islands In Port Blair, the capital of Car Nicobar, of $10.6 billion. It has continued to grow have lunch today,” he told the press. of Papua New Guinea in 1998. Without starving survivors kidnapped the island’s top steadily over the past decade, increasing At the same time, Jakarta has seized on substantial modern infrastructure, nations civilian offi cial and police chief January 2 from $8.6 billion in 1995. the opportunity to go after an independence in the semicolonial world have far less of to protest the inadequate relief operation, German chancellor Gerhard Schröder movement that has been waging a struggle a chance of getting an adequate warning the Guardian reported. After a four-day has proposed that the Paris Club, a banking against Indonesian rule in Aceh since 1976. to their population than the industrially trek through the jungle, a group of starving network of imperialist lenders based in the According to military spokesman Col. Ah- developed Pacifi c-rim nations of Japan and Punjabi settlers came upon the two govern- French capital that holds roughly half of mad Yani Basuki, one-third of the Indonesian the United States. ment offi cials eating plates of fi ne curried Indonesia’s debt, temporarily suspend col- military forces committed to the region in the In Indonesia, the World Bank reports, 47 meat, the paper reports. lection in face of the tsunami’s destruction. wake of the disaster is conducting operations percent of households are not connected to “The assistant commissioner was eating The governments of the world’s wealthi- against the Free Aceh Movement guerrillas the electricity grid and 6,000 villages lack biryani in his guesthouse,” one witness, est nations have pledged aid packages total- rather than aiding the relief effort. electrifi cation altogether. In Sri Lanka, ac- Lilly Ommen, told the UK-based daily. “The ing over $2 billion. Washington had initially cording to the 1998 UN Human Develop- men arrived and pointed out that they were offered a paltry $15 million in aid and then Contrast with Cuba ment report, 56 percent of the population in starving. They also said there were people upped that fi gure to $350 million after an The response of Cuba’s revolutionary 1994 did not have access to electricity. Some stuck in the forest with nothing, as well as international outcry. government to recent natural disasters is 75 percent of the country’s population lives many dead bodies.” “The greatest source of America’s gen- a sharp illustration of the potential that in the countryside. “I’m very angry,” Suresh, 22, a welder, erosity is not our government: it’s the good exists to minimize the loss of human life Indonesia’s hardest-hit Aceh province on told the Guardian. “We saw these people heart of the American people,” U.S. presi- during such calamities and in their aftermath the island of Sumatra, near the epicenter of eating biryani. But we had nothing but rice dent George Bush said, in announcing a gov- when workers and farmers run society and the massive undersea earthquake, is one of soaked in salt water.” The offi cials were ernment-backed drive January 3 to collect are mobilized to defend the interests of the the poorest in the country. The province’s released after promising more aid. private contributions that will be headed by vast majority rather than the profi ts of the poverty is not due to a lack of resources. “On the really remote islands, God knows his father, ex-president George H. W. Bush, wealthy few. The Cuban example stands in Rich in oil and natural gas, Aceh has long what is happening,” aid worker Hoslo Jiwa, and his predecessor, William Clinton. stark contrast to the chaos, scarcity, and cor- been a target of imperialist oil barons like who toured Car Nicobar, told the Guardian. But press reports cautioned that the ruption that have characterized the response ExxonMobil, which operates a large natu- “They have only made aerial surveys and hundreds of millions in government of- to the Indian Ocean tsunami by imperialist ral gas plant there. This wealth, though, dropped packages.” fers are only pledges. The U.S. rulers and regimes and the capitalist governments of is siphoned into the accounts of wealthy their counterparts in Europe and Japan are the affected countries. capitalists and government bureaucrats in Tourists and fi shermen notorious for making grandiose promises When Hurricane Charley swept through Indonesia, the foreign oil monopolies, and Press reports and interviews on televi- for the cameras and then failing to deliver. Havana in the early morning hours of August imperialist banks and other such fi nancial sion news programs have given substantial Aid to victims of last year’s devastating 13 last year with winds of up to 160 miles institutions (see also article on page 7). space to stories about the foreign tourists earthquake in Bam, Iran, for example, fell per hour, the population was prepared. A According to the World Bank, in Jakarta, who were vacationing in Thailand and other far short of the amounts pledged, top UN massive mobilization to evacuate thousands Indonesia’s capital, there are a little over areas when the disaster struck. offi cials reported. and to prepare the city for the superstorm 160 hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants. Thais have complained of the unequal As the U.N. oil-for-food scandal revealed, minimized the loss of life. While four people In Aceh, the fi gure is less than 50. Almost treatment meted out to local residents who the money, once in the hands of United Na- died in Cuba as a result of that storm, 30 half of the children in this province are mal- were caught in the disaster and the tourists. tions administrators, does not often reach people died in nearby Florida later that day nourished. About 22 percent of Indonesia’s More than half the population of 5,000 in its promised destination. Billions in funds despite the superior resources and wealth of population has no access to safe water. the Thai fi shing village of Baan Nam Khem, generated by sales of Iraqi oil disappeared in the United States. This extreme underdevelopment meant for example, was feared to have died in the a web of relations between various capitalist A month later, Hurricane Ivan hit. In its that millions had few tools at their disposal tsunami. interests, government representatives, and sweep through the United States, Ivan and to shield themselves from this disaster or, in “Thais have complained that towns like UN bureaucrats. the storms it produced killed 50 people. its aftermath, to minimize additional loss of Baan Nam Khem have been ignored, while What aid actually does reach the affected Another 70 died in neighboring Caribbean life and the spreading of disease and begin the international relief effort has focused country has to then go through the web of countries. But in Cuba, no one lost their the recovery. Most of the southern coast on foreign tourists,” the BBC reported. local capitalist interests and government lives as 1.9 million people were evacuated of Indonesia, for example, has not been “They say that foreigners were put up in an bureaucracy. A good portion of it never from the areas in the storm’s immediate path reached by relief efforts as this issue goes international school with beds and Internet reaches its destination, and is sold on the and a mobilization of volunteers helped in to press. connections, while Thais were left to sleep black market and elsewhere, enriching lo- the effort to rebuild the more than 20,000 “From their position off Banda Aceh, outside.” cal capitalist gangs, government offi cials, destroyed homes and quickly restore power the province’s capital, the [USS] Abraham Thailand received large teams from and their lieutenants. According to the to affected areas.

6 The Militant January 18, 2005 Indonesia: imperialism amplifi ed toll of tsunami

BY PATRICK BROWN palm oil and rubber on plantations, many AUCKLAND, New Zealand—The of which date from the period of Dutch December 26 tsunami turned Aceh—the colonial rule. northernmost province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra—into a brown wasteland From colony to independence and a grave for tens of thousands of people. The widespread group of islands that Some 100,000 are now living in temporary eventually became Indonesia was first shelters and 1 million people are dependent cobbled together as part of the Dutch East on aid to survive. Indies in the 19th century. After plundering Aceh was hit at point blank range, be- the country’s spices and other resources, as cause it is less than 100 miles from the well as the labor power of its people, the epicenter of the earthquake that launched Dutch colonial rulers were defeated in an the tsunami. independence struggle after World War II. As devastating as the waves were, how- Fearing the militancy and combativity of ever, their impact is magnifi ed many times the Indonesian workers and peasants who in Indonesia and elsewhere by underde- had gained self-confidence through the velopment and rule by capitalist regimes, anti-colonial struggle, Washington, now the which are corrupt as all such governments dominant imperialist power, took a hostile are. Fifty-fi ve years after winning indepen- stance toward the new government of Su- dence, Indonesia, the world’s fourth most karno, and backed a bloody military rebel- populous country, remains a semicolonial lion launched by General Suharto and other country dominated by the billionaire rulers offi cers in 1965. Workers and peasants were of the United States, Australia, Japan, and left defenseless in face of the onslaught, in- other imperialist powers. structed by the mass-supported Communist Photos of the tsunami’s aftermath dra- Party of Indonesia to place political trust in matically show this underdevelopment. The the bourgeois Sukarno government. Hun- tsunami faced little resistance from shacks, dreds of thousands were killed. Banda Aceh, Indonesia, before tsunami hit on December 26 (top), and after (below). houses, and feebly constructed buildings in Through three decades, imperialist gov- Banda Aceh, the capital—let alone from ernments from the United States to New As in other semicolonial countries, Indo- for every 100 people in Indonesia, and one the ramshackle structures of many smaller Zealand gave support to Suharto’s mili- nesia is forced to largely export raw materi- for every two in Australia. The fi gure is towns and villages. Untold thousands of tary-dominated regime, including its 1975 als and light industrial goods, usually at low roughly the same for cell phones. people were trapped in collapsed buildings invasion and occupation of East Timor. In prices, and import heavy industrial goods, Indonesia has less than one-half the or felled by swirling debris. the 1980s and ’90s, however, Suharto’s technology, machine tools, and other manu- length of highways of Australia, and half the The few well-constructed buildings had iron grip began to loosen. In 1998 working factures, which are expensive. To make up number of airports with paved runways—a a better chance of surviving the impact. people and youth poured into the streets the difference it has to borrow funds from major barrier to the delivery of food and Photos of Banda Aceh and Meulaboh town- to protest the government’s imposition of the IMF and other imperialist institutions, other supplies to outlying regions. ship on Aceh’s West Coast showed mosques austerity measures in the wake of the Asian which puts it in a perpetual state of debt The lack of roads and airfi elds is not standing in seas of mud where other struc- fi nancial crisis of the previous year. Backed slavery. Its foreign debt stands at $136 bil- the only obstacle to the transport of aid in tures had been smashed to the ground. by the imperialists, local ruling-class fi gures lion. In 2002 the World Bank estimated that Aceh, however. The province has been the As they begin to clear the wreckage, shoved Suharto aside. payments on this debt would take 44 percent scene of a series of military offensives under working people and aid workers now have Since then, working people have tried of that year’s national revenue. both Suharto and more recent regimes, as to contend with the region’s poor road sys- to use the political space they have won to Indonesia today bears other marks of its the rulers have moved to crush the pro-in- tem and the fact that Aceh, a province of 5 advance their interests, while a succession domination by imperialism. More than 40 dependence Free Aceh Movement (GAM), million people, has only one small airport. of governments in Jakarta has tried to put percent of the population lives under the founded in 1976, and to suppress sentiments Meanwhile, trained elephants are being a lid on the social ferment. The imperial- offi cial poverty line—an offi cial statistic for independence or greater autonomy. AP used in the clean-up “because there [are] ist powers, meanwhile, have continued to that understates the real level of depriva- reports that at least 13,000 people have been few trucks and other heavy equipment,” interfere in the country’s affairs. tion. Other aspects of underdevelopment killed in Aceh in the last 30 years. reported the Associated Press. Recently, Washington and its allies have can be illustrated by a comparison with Following the December 26 catastrophe, The waves also destroyed the sparse had increasing success in working with the Australia, the imperialist power closest to GAM leaders declared a unilateral cease- health system. In Banda Aceh, only the new government of Susilo Bambang Yud- it geographically. fi re. According to the British daily Indepen- hospital constructed for the tens of thou- hoyono in the “war on terrorism,” pressing To cite one example, Indonesia produced dent, however, GAM spokespeople said in sands of Indonesian troops stationed in the it to pursue “Islamic” groups it accuses of 96 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in early January that the Indonesian military area remained standing. In the fi rst days, bombings in Bali and elsewhere. 2001. In the same year, almost double was sending in soldiers “under guise of the surgeons there operated on the wounded us- A key mechanism for transferring the that amount—198 kWh—was produced relief effort. Indonesian commanders con- ing local anesthesia only and unsterilized wealth created by Indonesia’s workers and in Australia, a country of around 20 mil- fi rmed that counter-insurgency measures instruments. Reporting on a visit to the hos- peasants is the never-ending obligation to lion people, not even one-tenth Indonesia’s were continuing but insisted that two-thirds pital one week after the tsunami, Australian pay interest on the debt owed to foreign population. of troops had been reassigned to coping with Associate Press reporter Rob Taylor wrote, banks and imperialist institutions. There is one phone line—on average— the aftermath of the disaster.” “In a white tiled emergency room devoid of almost all equipment but stretchers, four people died in a matter of minutes.” Capitalism, imperialist domination Ukraine elections register blow to Moscow All this is taking place in an oil- and Continued from front page said. He is now appealing the validity of an offi cial in the coal industry in the eastern gas-rich province whose natural wealth according to Reuters, indicating that his the election results to the Supreme Court, region and Yushchenko in the state banking and human labor has for 30-plus years pro- administration would adopt a more pro- while acknowledging, “I don’t have much system. They each served terms as prime vided massive revenues for ExxonMobil imperialist stance than that of the outgoing hope” of a favorable ruling. minister during the 10-year presidency of in partnership with Pertimina, the state oil president. “We want to move westward,” he The political crisis in Ukraine was Kuchma, who directed the regime in Kiev company. The government in Jakarta and said, “because Europe means higher stan- sparked by widespread allegations of fraud toward closer collaboration with imperialist its local political and military representa- dards—of democracy, social policy, and the in the November 21 elections, the second governments, while maintaining fi rm ties tives—who act as agents for the imperial- functioning of the economy.” round of elections that had begun three with Moscow. ists while fattening their own pockets—have Washington took advantage of the eco- weeks earlier. After the CEC announced The Russian government sought to also taken a smaller, but handsome, share nomic crisis in Ukraine and the repressive November 24 that Yanukovich had won by prevent another regime in a former Soviet of the pickings over time. policies of Kiev to present itself as the a 49.5 percent to 46.6 margin, mass pro- republic on its borders from turning away Across Indonesia, the same investors defender of “democracy” in the former tests backing Yushchenko broke out in the from its infl uence and toward Washington from abroad and local capitalists have Soviet republic. Under the guise of pro- capital, Kiev. This was followed by counter- and other imperialist powers. Ukraine in blocked national development. The indus- moting “democratic” institutions, the U.S. protests, also numbering in the hundreds of particular had played a vital role in the trialization that has occurred is tailored to government over the last two years has spent thousands, in Donetz and eastern sections Soviet economy, supplying much of the meet the needs of imperialist investors. some $58 million to aid opposition forces of Ukraine, where support for Yanukovich country’s iron ore, coal, and heavy industry. For them, Indonesia is a source of lucra- in Ukraine. In addition, the National En- was largely based. The Black Sea port of Sevastopol remains tive commodities from rubber to palm oil, dowment for Democracy reportedly spent On December 3 the Supreme Court an- home to Moscow’s southern naval fl eet. petroleum, and gold. In addition, capital- $400,000 on “trade union education.” The nulled the elections, ruling that election Under an accord with Kiev, the Russian ists have taken advantage of Indonesia’s American Bar Association, for its part, law violations by pro-Yanukovich forces military may station up to 25,000 troops 100-million strong labor force to make the spent another $400,000 giving election law had made them invalid. at Sevastopol and its other bases on the country a low-wage export platform for “training” to judges, including fi ve who sit As the Kiev protests gathered momen- Black Sea. light industrial products, including shoes on Ukraine’s Supreme Court whose rulings tum and imperialist pressure mounted Meanwhile, on December 31 the gov- made for a pittance and sold for exorbitant facilitated Yushchenko’s victory. Imperial- over claims of electoral fraud, outgoing ernment of Turkmenistan announced that prices in stores from New York to Frankfurt ist powers in Europe kicked in millions for president Kuchma and his allies sought a it had cut off gas exports to Ukraine. “In to Auckland. similar purposes as well. way out of the crisis without relinquishing what some interpreted was a hidden show of Among Indonesia’s chief attractions for Yanukovich’s charges of violations of power. He agreed to a deal in which much force by Moscow,” reported Agence-France foreign capitalists are its minerals. U.S., Ca- election laws were rejected by the CEC of the power of the presidency would be Presse, “Turkmenistan said it had cut off nadian, and Australian mining companies December 30. Although he had promised turned over to parliament, in exchange for gas supplies to Ukraine to force Kiev to are hauling out gold, copper, and other min- not to give up his position as prime minis- changing personnel at the electoral council. pay higher prices.” A deal between the two erals from Sumatra, West Papua, and other ter, Yanukovich announced his resignation The council then announced December 26 governments was quickly reached, with the islands. Such products provided 19 percent in a New Year’s Eve address following the as the date for a new run-off election for Ukrainian state-owned company Naftohaz of the country’s export revenue in 1998. CEC decision and protests by Yushchenko president. agreeing to pay $58 per 1,000 cubic meters, U.S., Canadian, and European firms supporters who have blocked Yanukovich Both presidential candidates had their as opposed to the previous price of $44. also exploit gas fi elds off West Papua and from holding cabinet meetings. “I believe political roots in the privileged bureaucratic Ukraine receives 45 percent of its natural in the Maduras Strait, as well as in Aceh it is impossible to have any position in a caste that ruled the republic when it was part gas imports from the former Soviet republic and elsewhere. The country also produces state ruled by such offi cials,” Yanukovich of the former Soviet Union. Yanukovich was of Turkmenistan.

The Militant January 18, 2005 7 How legless veteran fought 1950s witch-hunt Below is an excerpt from The Case of can Federation of Teachers, AFL. All the the Legless Veteran, one of Pathfi nder’s time I was talking to them, I half wanted to Books of the Month for January. It say: “If things had gone differently, if I had describes a successful fi ght against the done what I wanted to do, I would be sitting anti-communist witch hunt of the Joe down there in one of the seats among you McCarthy era in the United States. In as a member of your local and your profes- the decade following World War II, the sion instead of standing up here defending Socialist Workers Party, other work- myself against the charge of disloyalty.” ing-class organizations, and individual But I refrained. They unanimously passed artists, professors, and others were a resolution to be sent to President Truman targeted and blacklisted as part of and the press, asking the VA not to turn me the government’s “loyalty program.” out of my job and the president “to grant Due to his membership in the SWP, Kutcher’s request for a public hearing at James Kutcher, a worker who lost which his party can defend itself against both his legs in World War II, was fi red the subversive charges.” Later, the New Jersey Federation of Teachers, AFL, took a similar stand. Next I appeared before the Baptist Min- isters’ Conference of Newark and Vicin- BOOKS OF ity, representing congregations of about 100,000 Negroes. They listened to me politely, questioned me closely and then THE MONTH Press conference held September 1, 1948, in Newark, New Jersey, to announce forma- endorsed my case vigorously. Through tion of the Kutcher Civil Rights Defense Committee. Left to right: George Novack, them I obtained access to a great many in 1948 from his job at the Veterans James Kutcher, Carl Holderman, Rev. John I. Daniel. churches where I told my story to their Administration. In the book, Kutcher congregations. chronicles his eight-year battle through looked for and grabbed every opportunity listen to me. Unless I am mistaken, the The Newark Branch of the National As- which he won back his job and pension to reach the public ear with the facts. But fi rst local group, after the State CIO, to sociation for the Advancement of Colored benefi ts. The fi ght drew support from the main part of such a job consists of act on my case was my own chapter of People applauded after I fi nished, took a thousands of unionists and other sup- leg work. You have to get out and around the American Veterans Committee. They collection for me and referred the question porters of democratic rights. Copyright to people where they are; you can’t just branded my discharge as “a cruel abuse of of endorsement to their executive board. © 1973 by Pathfi nder Press. Reprinted open up an offi ce and wait for them to offi cial power” and “a fl agrant violation of At fi rst I was afraid that this was a nice by permission. come to you. You can’t go knocking on civil rights.” They opposed my prospec- way of avoiding action, but that showed the doors of people’s homes, either; you tive discharge, condemned the practice how inexperienced I was. The executive BY JAMES KUTCHER must concentrate your energies by going of blacklisting organizations without a board turned it over to the branch’s legal Newspaper publicity, press confer- where people are in groups—that is, you hearing, and took a collection toward the committee, which studied the whole ques- ences, publication and distribution of must search out organizations and prevail expenses in the case. Since they knew all tion carefully and then brought in a resolu- literature, interviews over the radio—we upon them to listen to you. about me, after the newspaper publicity, it tion of whole-hearted support which was It is not an easy job, especially where the was not necessary for me to make a speech adopted by the executive board. “T element of alleged “disloyalty” enters, and asking their endorsement. I appeared before a committee or group sometimes you get ignored, or get put off A couple of weeks later, however, I did of offi cers of the Commission on Social BOOKS with phony excuses, or get rebuffed alto- not have as good luck with the other ex- Work, New Jersey Conference, Methodist January gether. Sometimes you know that if you can servicemen’s organization I belonged to, Church. I couldn’t tell from their expres- OF THE MONTH get before a certain organization and tell the Disabled American Veterans. A mo- sions, questions, or comments whether your story, the members will listen to you tion was made by someone at a meeting or not they were sympathetic to what I PATHFINDER with attention and sympathy, but the of- of my chapter (composed of amputees) was saying, although they were polite enough. They said we would be notifi ed READERS CLUB fi cers or executive committee are afraid or to support me in a mild sort of way. Then 25% hostile for one reason or another and they someone else suggested that the motion about their decision. Weeks went by, and SPE CIALS DISCOUNT bar your way. And even when you succeed be made stronger. That got the majority of we heard nothing from them. I thought in getting the fl oor, it is still no picnic. Un- the meeting frightened, and a motion was the least they might have done was send The Second less you are a trained speaker with leather passed to table the whole matter. Most of me a letter stating they did not intend to Declaration of lungs it is pretty tiring to make four or fi ve them worked for the Veterans Administra- act. Then George Novack told me on the Havana speeches a night, as I often had to do. tion, and they did not want to jeopardize phone one day that the New York offi ce of By Fidel Castro The case was best known in my home their jobs. I wasn’t given the fl oor to tell our committee had received a resolution of The second declaration, town, and in the weeks following the my side of the story. endorsement from the Commission some from February 1962, fi rst press conference I spent most of my By coincidence, the fi rst organization time before. It was evidently the only ad- is a call for continent- time in and around Newark, taking my I spoke to on the case was the Newark dress they had. I began to learn the virtue, wide revolutionary case to as many organizations as would Teachers Union, Local 481 of the Ameri- and even the necessity, of patience. struggle. ”What does the Cuban revolution teach?” it asks. “That revolution is IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP possible.” $4.50 Special price: $3.50 Where to find distrib u tors of the Zip: 48244-0739. Tel: (313) 554-0504. 9698. E-mail: [email protected] From Lenin to Stalin Militant, Perspectiva Mundial, and E-mail: [email protected] CANADA New International, and a full display of By Victor Serge MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 113 Bernard St., Pathfi nder books. West St. Paul. Zip: 55118. Tel: (651) 644- ONTARIO: Toronto: 2238 Dundas St. Eyewitness account of the rise of Stalin- 6325. E-mail: [email protected] West, Suite 201, M6r 3A9 Tel: (416) 535- ism. $14.95 Special price: $11 UNITED STATES 9140. E-mail: [email protected] NEBRASKA: Omaha: P.O. Box 7005. Zip: ALABAMA: Birmingham: 3029A 68107. 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Postal Code: WWW.PATHFINDERPRESS.COM MICHIGAN: Detroit: 4208 W. Vernor Campsie, NSW 2194. Mailing ad dress: P.O. EH12 5ED. Tel: 0131-226-2756. E-mail: OFFEROFFER GOOD GOOD UNTIL UNTIL D ECEMBERJUNE 30 31 St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 44739. Box 164, Campsie, NSW 2194. Tel: (02) 9718 [email protected] 8 The Militant January 18, 2005 GREAT SOCIETY Babies, not bombs—Two years give birth. The new maternity ser- 1983.” This is twisted history. Sounds like capitalism—“The oners will continue to get the same ago, a maternity ward was estab- vice coincided with the surrender A short-hand account: In 1979, fascination with customized cell amount as before. Both women and lished on the Puerto Rican island decision of the Pentagon to give a movement of workers and farm- phone ring tones is in the midst of men, we assume, will continue to up use of the island as a bomb- ers led by Maurice Bishop toppled a severe—and possibly offensive— get the same culinary slop. test range. For years, the people of a hated government backed by evolution. Shotgun blasts. Rapid Vieques had fought tenaciously to Washington. With Bishop as gunfi re. Horrifi c screams. Bodily How about a slave galley?— get them out. prime minister. Grenada moved functions. Even sexual moans and According to Scotland Yard, so Harry in a socialist direction. In 1983, groans.”—News item many arrests are being made in Ring Twisted history—Navigator, counter-revolutionaries turned London that they have an acute an AARP travel guide, offers tips guns on the people and murdered Like the wage system—The shortage of prison cell space. To on where, “the U.S. is feted, not Bishop. A week later, U.S. forces Georgia state prison system is ease the crunch, the Yard is con- hated.” As a prime choice, it plugs stormed the island and reinstalled reducing the average number of sidering buying a ship moored in of Vieques. Since then, some 150 the island of Grenada. It cites that a puppet regime. For a fi rst-rate calories allotted to women inmates. the Thames river. They say it can children have been born there. Grenada celebrates Thanksgiving article by Steve Clark, check out It will be a 20 percent calorie reduc- hold 400 prisoners. Earlier, the For decades, women had to “to mark the American overthrow Pathfinder’s New International tion and, it’s said, meets the stan- chief prisons inspector attacked travel to mainland Puerto Rico to of the socialist government in no. 6. dards set by nutritionists. Male pris- conditions on board the ship. Utility workers strike Jersey Central Power & Light BY SARA LOBMAN Keith Harris, also a meter reader, with MORRISTOWN, New Jersey—The two and a half years at the utility, noted that 1,300 workers at Jersey Central Power the company has little regard for safety. Less & Light Co. (JCP&L), New Jersey’s sec- than a year ago, a lineman was electrocuted ond-largest utility company, have been on on the job due to poor equipment. Meter strike since December 7. The workers are readers are expected to go out in all kinds members of the International Brotherhood of weather, yet their trucks are not equipped of Electrical Workers (IBEW). They include for snow. meter readers, service workers, linemen, and “I don’t think a utility should make a collectors. profi t at all,” Dave Hoppy, another meter Workers on the picket line here in Mor- reader, said. “This is not the 1800s. Utilities ristown said that one of the main issues in are a necessary thing for everyone.” the strike is the company demand to increase The previous contract expired in No- the number of unionists, especially retirees, vember. In September, the workers had who will have to pay for health insurance. rejected a proposal recommended by the JCP&L also wants changes in work rules union negotiating committee that included that would force workers to be on-call for up to a 12 percent jump in health-care costs 24 hours at a stretch, several times a week. by 2006. Workers would not get paid for this time JCP&L is owned by FirstEnergy of unless they were called in, but would be Akron, Ohio. The company is on a similar subject to disciplinary action if they were offensive against workers in other states. Militamt/Sara Lobman Workers in Morristown, New Jersey, December 14, on strike against Jersey Central unreachable or unavailable. The company In Shippingport, Pennsylvania, a contract Power and Light Co. Some 1,300 members of IBEW union walked out December 8 . has already tried to impose these work rules, for 360 members of the IBEW expired in issuing lengthy suspensions for noncompli- February. When no agreement was reached, ance. the bosses unilaterally implemented parts attempt to break the union,” David Raffa, son in Ohio also turned down a contract “Basically they want to take money from of their “last, best offer,” requiring work- the local president of the IBEW, told the offer because the company was insisting us and put it in their pockets,” Micah Al- ers to pay 5 percent of the company’s cost Newark Star Ledger. on increasing workers’ health-care con- mendinger, a meter reader said. for health insurance. “It’s an out-and-out Members of the IBEW at Toledo Edi- tributions. Co-Op miners win support for union fight, bosses cited Continued from Page 5 miners as a group were making their opin- continue to be urgently needed. Almost Miners are also urging their supporters which dropped the two local newspapers as ions known to the bosses that I should be all the fi red workers live in trailer parks in to write, call, or fax the NLRB to protest named defendants. put back on the job, and were refusing to Huntington. In the winter months heating the mass fi rings, demand reinstatement of The UMWA, other labor organizations, back down. That’s when management called bills can soar above $200, as much or more the workers, and ask that the election be the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morn- the cops, ordered all of the miners off the than rent payments. Funds can be sent to: decided based on the November 18 NLRB ing News—Utah’s two main dailies, and the property, and locked us out.” UMWA District 22, 525 East, 100 South, ruling on who was eligible to vote. Letters Militant remain defendants. C.W. Mining lawyers also state their Price, Utah 84501. Checks should be made to the NLRB should be sent to Region The new complaint is a sharper attack intention in the lawsuit to prove allegations out to the Co-Op Miners Fund. Messages of 27, Director B. Allan Benson at 600 17th against the UMWA and others who have of defamation against the UMWA and the support can also be faxed to the UMWA at St., 7th fl oor—North Tower, Denver, CO backed the fi ght. The amended Kingston le- Militant through discovery. No mention (435) 637-9456. For more information call 80202-5433; Tel: (303) 844-3551; Fax: gal brief now accuses the UMWA, through of using discovery is made in relation to the UMWA at (435) 637-2037. (303) 844-6249. one of its “agents,” of misrepresenting the Salt Lake Tribune or Deseret Morning the actions of the Co-Op bosses when News, the other two papers still named in they fi red Bill Estrada on Sept. 22, 2003. the suit. This process, which can be used The complaint claims that after his fi ring if the court does not dismiss the case in its 25 AND 50 YEARS AGO Estrada “falsely told the waiting workers early stages, opens up defendants to mas- they had also been fi red,” thereby causing sive legal expenses as the Co-Op bosses’ the walkout. lawyers organize a fi shing expedition by “The Kingstons are attempting to rewrite demanding correspondence, records, and history and obscure what miners have been deposition from defendants. fi ghting for,” Estrada told the press. “The “This is a frivolous lawsuit,” UMWA January 18, 1980 January 17, 1955 miners were responding not only to my Region 4 director Bob Butero said. “The TEHRAN—More than two months after DETROIT, Jan.10—Attempts to bar fi ring but to two other disciplinary actions union’s attorneys will represent the miners it began, the occupation of the U.S. Embassy minority parties from the ballot in Michi- by the bosses against workers in the days and we will try to get this dismissed.” here—renamed the “den of spies”—remains gan will be renewed this week when the preceding the fi rings. After I was fi red, the The fired Co-Op miners say funds at the center of political developments in Republican-controlled State Legislature Iran. meets in Lansing: The Legislature’s Elec- The refusal of the students holding the tions Committee, headed by State Senator Malden mills workers sign contract embassy to compromise on their demand for Clyde Geerlings, has announced that it will the return of the shah, and Ayatollah Ruhol- introduce a bill to change requirements for BY MAGGIE TROWE New England Joint Board recommended lah Khomeini’s support for their stand, have minority parties so drastically that it will be LAWRENCE, Massachusetts—Textile adoption of the fi rst and second offers. inspired new mass mobilizations by workers virtually impossible for them to comply. workers here at Malden Mills Industries This was the fi rst contract negotiated and peasants in recent weeks. The drive against minority parities began voted 301-136 to accept a three-year con- by the mill’s new ownership, led by GE A powerful example of this was a dem- in 1952 when the State Legislature passed, tract that includes a modest wage increase Commercial Finance, the fi nancial arm onstration held December 23 in Tehran by and Democratic Governor Williams signed, offset by steeply increased health insurance of General Electric. Former owner Aaron the Islamic Workers Shora to support the the notorious Trucks Law. One of the provi- premiums. Feuerstein lost control of the company occupation of the embassy and oppose any sions of this witch-hunt measure gave the Some 1,000 people work at the main mill when Malden Mills fi led for bankruptcy compromise with imperialism. authorities the power to ban minority parties here and a smaller facility in Hudson, New in 2001. The Islamic Workers Shora consists of through the device of designating them as Hampshire, knitting polyester fabric. Seven The three-year contract includes annual representatives from shoras (committees) in “subversive.” hundred are production workers organized wage increases of 2 percent, 2 percent, and 128 factories. The December 23 demonstra- The Socialist Workers Party was the fi rst by UNITE HERE Local 311. 3 percent. However, health insurance premi- tion was called on only one day’s notice. organization singled out for victimization Several days earlier, local members had ums for individuals will triple from $6 to $18 Nevertheless, some fi fty factory shoras took after the Trucks Law went into effect. But voted 231-198 to authorize a strike and a week in the fi rst year and then to $25 and part. Tens of thousands of workers organized the SWP went to the courts and was able reject what the company claimed was the $31 the following two years. Family cover- in contingents from each plant, turned out. to preserve its ballot rights thanks to wide- initial offer, which included cutting the age will quadruple in the fi rst year from $9 The banner at the head of the march read: spread protests against the Trucks Law by time laid off workers are covered by the to $35 to a week, followed by increases to “Unity, Martyrdom, Shora.” the CIO, AFL and the nonpartisan Citizens company’s health insurance from three $40 and $45 in the next two years. Among the most popular slogans were: Committee Against the Trucks Law. months to one month. In the offer that was In November, 190 workers at Duro “America, America, you are our enemy,” The courts are still considering the adopted, the company restored the three- Finishing in Fall River, Massachusetts, “The trial of the spies must begin,” “The constitutionality of the Trucks Law. But month coverage. In recent years a good accepted a concessions contract, includ- Imam [Khomeini] is not going to com- without waiting for a fi nal court decision portion of Malden Mills workers have been ing increased health insurance payments, promise,” and “Long live the people of the Republican leaders have decided to try laid off for several months annually. after a six-week strike pushed back the Panama” (a reference to the protests against to bar the minority parties by changing the Union offi cials from the local and the company’s initial proposed cuts. the shah there). election laws. The Militant January 18, 2005 9 EDITORIALS Iraqi Kurds press A social, not just natural, disaster in Asia for autonomy Massive aid with no strings attached! Cancel the foreign days on the coastal areas of South Asia. BY SAM MANUEL debt of all the countries struck by the Indian Ocean tsuna- The character of the aid extended and its distribution is mi! Working people should campaign with these demands the product of the class character of the states that offer it WASHINGTON—Tensions between Baghdad and Iraqi as relief efforts for the victims of this disaster unfold. and those that receive it. Relief offered by the imperialist Kurds have sharpened recently as Kurdish political leaders are At the same time, the magnitude of the toll; the so- powers so far has been inadequate, if not stingy. None pressing to resettle thousands of Kurds to the northern oil-rich cial catastrophe plaguing millions in India, Indonesia, of these governments has taken the much needed step city of Kirkuk and its surrounding area. Sri Lanka, Thailand, and elsewhere in the region in the to immediately cancel the foreign debt of the countries Another reason is the support by substantial numbers of tsunami’s aftermath; and the class character of the aid affected, to cut the noose of debt slavery. And much of Kurds for the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan, the term Kurds extended from abroad and its distribution locally speak the aid promised, if the past record is any indication, is use for the northeastern section of the country. According to volumes about the need for social revolution. No capital- not likely to materialize. Al-Jazeera TV, on December 29 a delegation of the Kurdish ist country—from top imperialist powers like Washington Much of the relief distribution is in the hands of the Referendum Movement handed the chief United Nations offi cial to those in the semicolonial world—has ever used existing United Nations—as much a “den of thieves” as its prede- working on the organization of elections in Iraq a petition call- technology and human ingenuity and resources to effec- cessor, to borrow the apt term for the League of Nations ing for a referendum on Kurdish independence. More than 1.7 tively minimize the toll from natural calamities. used by Bolshevik leader V.I. Lenin. This is cause for million Kurds, almost half the Kurdish population in northern The movement of tectonic plates on the ocean fl oor discomfort, as recent revelations of the handling of the Iraq, signed the petition. The Kurds represent 20 percent of the did cause the powerful quake that made the sea rage. It Iraqi “oil for food” program by UN offi cials shows. country’s population of 25 million. was a reminder that we live on the crust of a planet whose Not all the aid that does reach the countries it is des- Efforts by Kurdish political parties to bolster limited au- molten core makes its shell shift. We can’t do anything tined for will get to those in dire straits either. Reports tonomy from Baghdad that already exists on the ground, and about that. have already surfaced of tons of relief supplies accu- the widespread support for Kurdish independence highlight the The extent of the toll, however, was man-made. Early mulating in warehouses, members of the local military explosive threat the struggle for Kurdish self-determination rep- warning systems for tsunamis have been developed and pilfering donations, and of callousness among local gov- resents to imperialism and bourgeois regimes in the region. are in place off the coast of California and in the Sea of ernment offi cials toward the millions in desperate need Thousands of Kurds were forcibly removed from Kirkuk Japan in the Pacifi c. These systems are costly and none of aid to rebuild their lives. Corruption, rampant among and the surrounding area in the 1980s by the Saddam Hussein of the countries struck have the resources to build or buy all capitalist regimes, does show its ugly head at such government. Their lands and homes were given to thousands them and make them functional, or effective. Tens of moments, often with more crudeness in the semicolonial of Sunni Arabs, many of whom were also forced to move to thousands perished in Sri Lanka and India, alone, which world where scarcity is rampant. the area, in a Baathist “Arabization” program to strengthen the were hours away from the tsunami’s starting point. Lack Cuba stands out as an exception to this horrendous regime’s hold over the strategic region. of adequate communications, warning networks, and reality in today’s world. Its record in preparations be- U.S. offi cials estimate that Kurdish resettlement efforts have transportation rendered useless even the signals picked forehand, massive evacuations during, and rapid recon- so far forced 100,000 Arabs to leave. Some Kurdish leaders up in Hawaii and elsewhere that indicated a tsunami was struction after last year’s hurricanes—and the resulting have proposed that the January 30 elections be postponed in the developing 15 minutes after the earthquake’s eruption. minimal toll, even in comparison to its wealthy Yankee Kurdish areas until the resettlement of Kirkuk is complete. The underdevelopment of the countries affected, neighbor to the north—is an example that cries for emu- Hamid Afandi, a prominent minister in the Kurdish regional which accounts for this state of affairs, has everything lation. The reason? Workers and peasants in Cuba took government based in Erbil, northern Iraq, has suggested that to do with their domination by imperialism. The plunder state power and put the country’s destiny into the hands Kurds take control of Kirkuk and get a larger share of its oil of the natural resources and exploitation of labor of the of the vast majority through a socialist revolution, forging revenues. “We are ready to fi ght against all forces to control semicolonial world by the barons of fi nance capital in a communist leadership that is not bought off or cowed. Kirkuk,” he told the New York Times. Afandi said that so far Washington, Paris, London, Tokyo, and elsewhere has Cuban working people and their proletarian leadership Washington has blocked such a move. everything to do with lack of access for millions to joined the worldwide struggle to build a society based not The Iraqi government has also expressed irritation at Kurd- modern forms of electricity, telephones, paved roads, on the profi ts of a tiny minority of super wealthy families ish offi cials signing deals with foreign companies to develop sturdy housing (or housing at all, other than shacks), but on the interests of the vast majority—a society that oil fi elds under Kurdish control. Baghdad has warned foreign public sanitation, medical care, or adequate nutrition. The values human life and dignity equally for all. That makes companies against making such deals with anyone other than workings of capitalism, and imperialism, are behind the all the difference in the world—including in a storm, representatives of the central government. acuteness of the social catastrophe unfolding the last 10 fl ood, fi re, earthquake, or tsunami. Though the main political parties in Iraqi Kurdistan have repeatedly reassured Washington and Baghdad that they are for a “united, federated Iraq,” there is widespread support among Kurds for independence. This is what the petition recently Free trade: either way workers go to wall turned over to UN offi cials refl ected. UN offi cials have balked. “We have all been working on the In his January 1848 “Speech on the Question of Free ing class, including balancing the confl icting needs of capitalist sectors that are vulnerable to competition basis that you are going to have a unitary state, an Iraq that is Trade,” Karl Marx warned working people and demo- united and at peace with itself and its neighbors,” UN Secretary crats not to be “deluded by the abstract word Freedom!” on the world market to quite different degrees. That’s what the previous textile and apparel quotas, or the General Kofi Annan said at a recent news conference. Whose freedom? he asked. “Not the freedom of one Kurdish parties are also pressing to preserve a provision in individual in relation to another, but freedom of Capital new restrictions to clothing and textile imports from China and elsewhere Washington has put in place or is the current Iraqi constitution that gives them broad veto powers to crush the worker.” Under capitalist social relations, over most laws passed by Baghdad. They have said that they Marx pointed out, whether free trade or protection hap- contemplating, are all about. Under the banner of free trade, the U.S. government will take part in the January 30 elections and the writing of a pens to be current government policy, either way the new Iraqi constitution on the condition that the veto provision worker “goes to the wall.” Since Marx prepared that uses so-called antidumping clauses, “environmental” and “labor standards” restrictions, “human rights” is maintained. Iraq’s interim constitution, known as the Transi- speech for publication more than 150 years ago, the tional Administrative Law, allows a two-thirds majority in any structure of world capitalism has changed signifi cantly, demagogy, and other measures to carry out brutal and aggressive trade wars not only against its imperialist three provinces to block the ratifi cation of a new constitution. with the rise of consolidation of the global imperialist Kurds constitute the large majority in three of Iraq’s northern order. What hasn’t changed, however, is the correctness competitors but with special ferocity against the semi- colonial countries. provinces, enabling them to defeat attempts to weaken Kurdish of Marx’s concluding words: that in judging the trade autonomy. policies of one or another capitalist government, the All the talk from the White House and Congress, and in the big-business press about the “complexities” and Leaders of the largest Shiite-led parties, including Ali al- position of the workers movement should be determined Sistani, the leading Shiite cleric, have said that the provision by what “hastens the Social Revolution.” breakdowns of international negotiations to advance “free trade” is a self-serving smoke screen. The U.S. for Kurdish autonomy may no longer be in effect after the The labor movement needs to start with the interests upcoming elections. of the working class, which is an international class. rulers need to do only one thing: declare that all goods coming into the United States are free of tariffs and The U.S-backed Iraqi interim government has little, if any, There is no blueprint good for all times, all situations, authority in the northern region of Iraq, according to an article and all places. With regards to products coming into the nontariff barriers of any kind. That’s what revolutionists demand from Washington as well as the governments in the December 31 New York Times. While it is nearly impos- United States, our position on free trade is very simple: sible to fi nd an Iraqi fl ag displayed anywhere in the region, the we’re for it. Revolutionists in any imperialist country of Canada, France, Sweden, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Japan, or any other impe- Kurdish fl ag fl ies everywhere, including atop an Iraqi border take the same position with respect to “their own” gov- guard compound. ernments. We’re unconditionally opposed to the rulers rialist country. This is not what militant workers demand in most In stark contrast to parts of Iraq dominated by Sunni Arabs, of the United States imposing protectionist barriers of who made up the backbone of support for Baathist rule, the any kind under any pretext on imported goods. And countries in the world today, however. Semicolonial countries, as well as those like Cuba or China where Kurdish provinces are in the midst of a construction boom. The we’re opposed to Washington imposing an embargo on 10-story Hotel Erbil in the provincial capital opened last October goods to Cuba, Korea, Iran—or any imperialist country capitalism was overthrown in the past through popular revolutions, have a right to use trade barriers to protect and its 167 rooms are often sold out, according to the Times. either, for that matter! Tight security is maintained throughout the region by a sub- The “free trade” demagogy of fi nance capital needs to their national sovereignty against decades of imperial- ist oppression and exploitation advanced through debt stantial police force and the 80,000-member Kurdish military be exposed. The trade policy of the U.S. rulers, or those comprised mostly of former pesh merga guerrillas. Thousands in any other imperialist country, is a national policy. It slavery and all the mechanisms through which fi nance capital dominates the world. of these fi ghters were sent into Mosul last November when Iraqi aims to advance the national interests of the exploit- police fl ed their posts in face of Baathist attacks. Though the Kurdish troops are offi cially incorporated into the Iraqi army, they functions largely independently of Baghdad. Together with another 20 million Kurds living in a territory U.S.-led forces launch offensive in Mosul that covers parts of Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Armenia, the Iraqi Continued from front page for kidnapping dozens of foreigners. The group’s name Kurds make up an oppressed nationality fi rst subjugated by the 8,000 troops already there in a new offensive against refers to Iraq’s fi ght against British colonial rule. Ottoman empire. Baghdad, Ankara, Tehran, and Damascus fear Baathist forces. Brigades are made up of 2,000-4,000 A third leader of the Baathist-backed armed groups that any move toward independence, or even formal autonomy, soldiers. On December 30, U.S. troops turned back an was captured in fi ghting in Samarra, according to the by Iraqi Kurds could be a mortal threat to their states as it would attempt by Baathists to overrun a U.S. combat outpost International Herald Tribune. The Tribune said the inspire national struggles among their Kurdish populations. in Mosul, reported al-Jazeera. U.S. warplanes strafed man captured, Fadil Husain Ahmed al-Kurdi, is an Iraqi The main Kurdish political parties in Iraq—the Kurdish and bombed the attackers, killing 25, according to the Kurd and was responsible for communications between Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan U.S. military. al-Qaeda and Tahwid and Jihad, Zarqawi’s group, and for (PUK)—have hitched the future of the Kurdish struggle for self- Iraqi government offi cials have announced the capture movement of their forces in and out of Iraq. determination to the wagon of U.S. imperialism. In exchange, of Abu Mawan, an alleged top leader of the Mosul-based Under these conditions, while support among Shiites Washington has tolerated a degree of autonomy for the Kurdish Abu Talha, a group reportedly associated with al-Zar- and Kurds for the upcoming elections has remained solid, administration in Iraqi Kurdistan. qawi. the leader of Iraq’s largest Sunni-led party announced the The Kurds have every reason to be concerned about moves U.S. and Iraqi troops also launched a new offensive group’s withdrawal from the upcoming vote, according to against the limited autonomy they have obtained. In the after- in the Triangle of Death south of the capital. Nearly 300 a December 27 report by al-Jazeera. Mohsen Abdul Hamid math of the 1991 U.S.-led war against Iraq, the Kurdish people suspected Baathists were captured, including Hatem al- said the Iraqi Islamic Party was not calling for a boycott revolted against Baathist rule and held many villages and towns, Zawbal, according to press reports. Al-Jazeera said that of the elections. Several leaders of the party were arrested including Kirkuk, for a week or more. At the time, Washington al-Zawbal is believed to be the leader of the 1920 Revolu- by Iraqi police last November and were accused of sup- stood aside as the Hussein regime sent helicopter gunships and tion Brigades, another group that has taken responsibility porting the Baathist attacks on the interim regime. heavy armor to crush the Kurdish uprising. 10 The Militant January 18, 2005 Four million Cubans join defense exercise BY MATILDE ZIMMERMANN worker and reservist, made a similar point. HAVANA—“A United People. And “We aren’t just prepared physically and mili- With Tanks!” read the banner headline tarily but also psychologically and above all on the newspaper of the Union of Young ideologically, which makes us stronger and Communists on Sunday, December 19. even invincible against an enemy that needs Juventud Rebelde was celebrating the to draw the lesson that we shouldn’t be un- successful completion of a full week of derestimated.” large-scale military exercises to test and According to Mercedes Valdés, a young sharpen Cuba’s preparedness for resisting soldier in her fi rst year of anti-aircraft artil- a U.S. invasion. lery training, “These days have helped me a The exercise, known as Bastión 2004, lot in every way. First because I know I am was launched December 13. It involved being useful, and secondly because, even 100,000 people in the first five days of though it’s not an exam, for me Bastión strategizing and simulated attacks and over 2004 is my fi rst trial under fi re.” 4 million Cubans in the fi nal weekend of One difference between this year’s mo- national mobilization. Bastión 2004 was bilization and the military alerts that took the fi rst nationwide military mobilization place in Cuba during the 1980s is that now in this nation of 4 million in 18 years, and there are many more young women who are Reuters/Randy Rodríguez the fi rst time in more than a decade that offi cers in the army and more women of all Members of Cuba’s Territorial Troop Militia take part December 17 in civilian- heavy tanks and MIG fi ghter planes have ages leading the work of the Cuban Com- military training exercise outside Havana. The drill, dubbed Bastion 2004, was the been brought out. munist Party, Union of Young Communists, largest of its kind in 18 years. It took place December 10–19 throughout Cuba. “For many years our principal objective and Civil Defense Councils in different mu- nicipalities and provinces. This was clear in has been to avoid war,” said Minister of the and other urban areas, are maintained with that children and fi ghters here can count the television and press reports on Bastión Armed Forces Raúl Castro when he initiated ventilation, light, water, medical services on getting their pieces of bread, because 2004, as was the case during preparations to Bastión 2004 on December 13. “And we and sometimes even classrooms. There are even without electricity and in a war, La confront Hurricane Ivan three months ago. know that the only way to avoid an invasion also fi eld hospitals and refuges in natural Flor won’t stop.” Several million Cuban workers, peasants, is to make it clear that if it happens Cuba will caves in various parts of the island. The Although Bastión 2004 was announced students, and others are organized into the be converted from one end to the other into province of Holguín celebrated the early only a week before it began, military pre- voluntary Territorial Troop Militias. Bruno an enormous wasps’ nest, which no aggres- completion of its plan for expansion and paredness has long been part of the routine Guerra, 53, who has been a member of sor can conquer, no matter how strong he is. fortifi cation of the tunnel system with an act of life for millions of Cubans. Most work- the militias for more than 30 years, said, In the end, the invader will have to retreat, honoring the tuneleros, or tunnel-builders. ers and professionals do voluntary over- “When Playa Girón happened and the bloody and defeated, because this would be An important aspect of the training ex- night guard duty every four to six weeks at struggle against the counterrevolution in a war of the entire people.” ercise was guaranteeing supplies of water, their workplaces or in their communities. the Escambray mountains, I was just a boy. “Better to spill rivers of sweat now than food, and medical care to the population and School children get target practice, starting My Girón, my Escambray, my Sierra Mae- rivers of blood later,” became one of the continuing industrial and agricultural pro- in about seventh grade. The country also has stra has been the Territorial Troop Militias, slogans of the mobilization. duction in the event of war. During Bastión an extremely effi cient and well-organized and that’s where my post is when it comes Active-duty members of the armed 2004, every national industry drew up plans civil-defense structure to deal with natural to defending the homeland.” forces, reservists, and civilians organized to protect or move machinery and supplies, disasters such as hurricanes. Guerra was referring to the 1961 merce- into the Territorial Troop Militias were and to continue production under conditions The last two days of Bastión 2004 were nary invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, placed on alert status all over the country. of extreme hardship. designated as Days of National Defense and which was organized by Washington and They went into action with their weapons One garment factory in Havana Province involved the mobilization of a large part of crushed by Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed in response to announcements of bombing trained workers to continue producing with the Cuban population and detailed plans for Forces and popular militias within three attacks, incidents of sabotage, or the landing pedal machines if electricity was lost. “And evacuation of the most vulnerable sectors. days. The Sierra Maestra is a mountain of U.S. troops. Although the weapons were if the factory is bombed,” said plant direc- On Sunday morning, about 8 a.m., a range in eastern Cuba from which the real, they fi red blanks, in order not to waste tor Rosalina Lago Hernández, “we have woman came down the street where I was Rebel Army and July 26 Movement led the precious ammunition. workers chosen to continue working in their staying in Havana, calling loudly for “evacu- revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed Julio César Arteaga, a young fi rst ser- houses and in the people’s tunnels.” ees” to gather on a nearby corner. Retirees dictatorship in Cuba on New Year’s Day in geant from Camagüey, told the press he A steel factory in Havana that normally and people who were sick or disabled as- 1959. A counterrevolutionary campaign by had received six years of advanced weapons produces medical equipment devised a plan sembled to receive evacuation instructions, U.S.-backed rightists was organized in the training. “What sets us apart from an invad- to change over to weapons production. following a short presentation about the Escambray mountains in the 1960s and was ing army is our background and the values Bakers at the La Flor factory in Camagüey danger that our neighborhood would be the defeated by the country’s armed forces and we have acquired,” he said. “There could organized to produce bread without their target of bombing in an invasion, because of militias. be soldiers with a material and technical electric mixing machines and ovens, knead- the proximity of government buildings, and A key part of Cuba’s defense system is an support system superior to ours, but they ing the dough by hand and baking it with tunnels and bridges across the Almandares elaborate system of tunnels for refuge and could never have our commitment to our wood-fi red stoves. “This is my job if the River. The gathering point for children was organizing resistance. These underground revolution and our nation.” enemy invades,” said young baker Kilbert at their schools. A few hours later I talked to fortifi cations, in and near the city of Havana Rafael Ramos Traba, an agricultural Alvarez. “The Americans should realize a young mother who was taking her daugh- ters—Anabel, 5, and Mabel, 3—to perform in a children’s chorus. She explained that when she arrived with the girls at the school U.S. gov’t lifts restrictions on publishing works from Cuba, Iran early that morning, she was told that in the BY RÓGER CALERO agency in charge of enforcing U.S. eco- of this course has been an economic war event of a real war, they would be taken fi rst to nearby John Lennon Park and then in The U.S. Department of Treasury an- nomic sanctions. aimed at crippling Cuba’s economy. The buses to a refuge in Matanzas province, and nounced December 15 its decision to lift Stuart Levy, under secretary for the White House tightened travel restrictions she was given a list of supplies to pack. restrictions barring U.S. publishers from Offi ce of Terrorism and Financial Intel- for Cuban Americans visiting relatives on Near the end of the weeklong exercise, publishing books and journals from Cuba, ligence at the Treasury Department, said the island and sending cash remittances to Raúl Castro directed an operation of heavy- Iran, and Sudan—countries under econom- in a statement that the old regulations were family in Cuba last spring. The attempt to armored tanks and then addressed residents ic sanctions imposed by Washington—and “interpreted by some as discouraging the clamp down on publishing work was part of a nearby working-class neighborhood of doing editorial work with authors and pub- publication of dissident speech from within of this pattern. Havana. Bastión 2004, he said, “involved lishers from these countries, as long as they these oppressive regimes.” In the last decade, under the banner of Cubans of all colors, a beautiful rainbow of are not government representatives. For four and a half decades, Cuba has fi ghting “terrorism,” the governments of people. But all speaking the same language, Until this decision, U.S. publishers were been the target of an unceasing effort by Iran and Sudan were added to the list of all with one goal, one ideal: our most power- required to apply for a license for each such Washington to overthrow the revolutionary those Washington is targeting with such ful weapon is our unity.” work they decided to print or face fi nes government in Havana. An essential part sanctions. up to $1 million and prison terms of up to 10 years. Under the new rules publish- ers can obtain a general license for these LETTERS activities. The new rules are effective immedi- Danish meat packers strike contract by the workers. The four are: ately. Permitted activities under them On Monday, December 13 of last year, Dag Tirsén José Pérez Gonzalez #21519-069 At- include “all transactions necessary and 1,800 meat packers struck the Danish Stockholm, Sweden lanta USP PO Box 150160 Atlanta, GA ordinarily incident to the publishing and meatpacking company Danish Crown. 30315 (anticipated release: Jan. 2008) marketing of manuscripts, books, journals, The workers in Hjørring, Esbjerg, Rødding, José Montañez Sanes #26317-069 and newspapers” in paper or electronic for- Skærbæk, and Blans og Odense didn’t ac- Puerto Rican prisoners MDC Guaynabo P.O. Box 2147 San Juan, mat, including the commissioning of new cept the contract at the Tulip plant in Ring- Militant readers may be interested in PR 00922-2147 (anticipated release: May works, advance payments, augmenting of sted, owned by Danish Crown, where the knowing that Andres Santiago and Nestor 2005) already published work with photographs local union had agreed to a 15 percent wage de Jesús Guishard, two of the protesters José Vélez Acosta #23883-069 Coleman or artwork, editing and publicity, and pay- cut. The company had presented the work- who were jailed for participating in ac- USP P.O. Box 1033 Coleman, FL 33521 ment of royalties. ers with an ultimatum: either accept the tions in Vieques, on the date the U.S. Navy (anticipated release Jan. 2006) The previous restrictions had come wage cut or the plant will be shut down. withdrew in May 2003, were freed from Jorge Cruz Hernández #26318-069 under heavy criticism from major pub- The next day, Tuesday, more plants were the federal prison in Guaynabo, Puerto Federal Prison Camp P.O. Box 725 Edge- lishers, which complained the restrictions drawn into the protest and the number of Rico, December 9–10. They will remain fi eld, SC 29824-0725 (anticipated release: stifl e the free exchange of information strikers increased to 3,000. At 10:30 a.m. on probation for three years. June 2005) and ideas and culture with these coun- on Thursday the 300 workers at Ringsted There are four others who remain The letters column is an open forum tries. Four institutions—the literary group decided to tear up the concession contract imprisoned, though, including one who for all viewpoints on subjects of interest PEN American Center, the Association of and joined the strike at 13 other meatpack- received a fi ve-year sentence. Supporters to working peo ple. American Publishers, the Association of ing plants at Danish Crown. After a meet- of the struggle to free Puerto Rico from Please keep your letters brief. Where American University Presses, and Arcade ing between the union and the company U.S. colonial rule are encouraged to write necessary they will be abridged. Please Publishing—fi led a lawsuit in September a joint declaration was issued saying that them. indicate if you pre fer that your initials 2004 against the Treasury Department’s the company accepts the cancellation of the Laura Garza Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Boston, Massachusetts be used rath er than your full name. The Militant January 18, 2005 11 Australia: Aborigines protest killing by cop BY LINDA HARRIS people the more they’re going January 16 in Goondiwindi. BRISBANE, Australia—“What do we to do it,” he said. Ray Jackson spoke at a public forum want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” Following the Brisbane in Sydney, December 12. He explained chanted more than 1,000 Aborigines and rally, the crowd marched how the exoneration of the police in the their supporters who marched here Decem- through city streets. Initially Hickey inquiry meant that “what happened ber 11 to protest the latest Black death in they remained silent in a show on Palm Island was no great surprise.” It custody. of respect for the Doomadgee also encouraged other racist attacks like The protest coincided with the funeral family, but then chants rang the one in Goondiwindi and another in of Cameron Doomadgee, who was killed out for “Justice!” and “Stop Toowoomba December 3, where racist November 19 while in police custody on Black deaths in custody!” “skinheads” invaded a home and attacked Palm Island off the far north Queensland Militant reporters met Aboriginal youths with fence palings. coast. Angry island residents burned down Murris (the local term for Many of the protesters in Brisbane were police buildings November 26 in outrage indigenous people) from also angry at a highly publicized move by over a government report clearing the cops across the state on the march. the newly elected government of Prime of responsibility in his death. (See also ar- One of the fi rst to arrive at the Minister John Howard, forcing a remote ticle in December 21 Militant.) rally was 50-year-old Brian Aboriginal community to agree to pater- The Queensland state government, run Brown, of the Mullingally nalistic hygiene standards to regain their by the Labor Party, declared an “emergency people, who works in a Bris- much-needed petrol supply. situation.” In a show of force, up to 200 bane meatworks. “They tried Described by the government as a riot cops were fl own onto the island from to breed us out, they tried to “shared responsibility agreement,” the nearby Townsville, then from Cairns, and shoot us, they tried to poison Aboriginal community in Mulan, in the as far away as Brisbane, 700 miles to the us, and we’re still here,” he told northern Kimberley region of Western south, according to media reports. Heavily the Militant. Australia, has agreed to a government deal armed cops swept the island and arrested “No matter how you look at that ties the supply of new petrol bowsers 19 Aborigines. Lex Wotton, 37, who police it, we still haven’t got justice,” (pumps) to a demand that Aboriginal par- allege was “the ring leader of the riot,” was his cousin, Gresham Brown ents ensure that children shower daily and charged with assault and arson. Wotton was added. “We’ll be fi ghting till wash their faces twice a day. a close friend of Doomadgee. He was also the day we die.” For the past 17 months, since their charged with destroying a building during a Another demonstrator, original bowser corroded away, people in riot, which carries up to a life sentence. Margaret Friday, lived on Palm Mulan have had to drive 30 miles for fuel. To cheers of supporters packing the Island for 15 years and raised The need for fuel has nothing to do with Townsville District Court December 6, and Militant/Ron Poulsen her children there. She had hygiene. Like many Aboriginal communi- against police opposition, all those arrested December 11 march in Brisbane, Australia, to protest just taken part in the Towns- ties in the outback, health conditions are were released on bail. Onerous conditions killing by cop of Cameron Doomadgee, an Aborigine. ville rally. She said that the way below those in the rest of Australia. were imposed on them, however, banning enquiries into Black deaths in Trachoma, a preventable eye disease, is their return to Palm Island or attendance at fern, Sydney, to the people of Palm Island. custody never get anywhere because “they widespread. This refl ects the lack of health- Doomadgee’s funeral. Jackson has been leading the campaign for just get police to investigate police.” care services as well as severely depressed Three days after their release, about justice for TJ Hickey, an Aboriginal youth Militant correspondents also spoke to social conditions in such communities. 2,000 people marched through the streets whose death at the hands of police in Red- Madeline McGrady from Toomelah, on Aboriginal lawyer Michael Mansell told of Townsville to protest Doomadgee’s fern last February sparked a street battle the New South Wales-Queensland state the Sydney Morning Herald that imposing death in custody. They marched on the with the cops. border. She was campaigning to get out funding conditions on Black communities police station, where Lex Wotton was Jackson pointed out that media reports the truth about a November 17 racist attack was unlawful and discriminatory. waiting on the sidewalk. Bail conditions about Palm Island had all been sympathetic on youths from the Toomelah Aboriginal “The health department in West Aus- prevented him from participating in the to the police, not the murdered Aboriginal mission. Alan Boland, 16, was dragged tralia should be going out and educating march. Murrandoo Yanner, a cousin of man. He said Doomadgee’s injuries could with a noose tied around his neck up a riv- about hygiene,” Friday said at the Brisbane Cameron Doomadgee and an activist for only have been brought about by massive erbank and then beaten, she said. He and march. “Instead they are cutting services Black rights, spoke at the Townsville rally force and there were witnesses to his bash- other Aboriginal youths had been charged to Aboriginal people.” after the march. He said the actions of ing. “The more the police in this country with stealing a motorbike. A protest is be- Wotton and others on Palm Island were a are allowed to get away with killing our ing organized outside their court hearing Ron Poulsen contributed to this article. heroic act of resistance to “state-sponsored murder,” according to the Australian. Similar sentiments were voiced at the Brisbane rally. Bertie Button, Goolburri Cuba: infant mortality rate down to record 5.8 Regional council chairman, said that the BY ARRIN HAWKINS lation is covered by this program, through hemisphere. In a letter to the editor published Palm Island protesters were “not rioters. 14,671 family doctors’ offi ces.” in the January 2 New York Times, Sanford They are heroes. They are saying, ‘Don’t Infant mortality in Cuba went down in One duty of these family doctors, or Kuvin, a medical doctor in Palm Beach, let us down: speak out. Remind the gov- 2004 to 5.8 per 1,000 live births, according “army of white coats,” as they are called in Florida, and chairman of the Sanford Kuvin ernment that one death in custody is one to an article in the January 3 issue of the Cuba, is to visit pregnant women, infants, Center for Infectious Diseases, wrote: “Cuba too many.’” Cuban weekly Granma International. This the sick, and the elderly in their homes recognized early on that the most important The Brisbane demonstration drew is the lowest rate ever recorded in Cuba and for routine examinations. Every pregnant factor in preventing HIV-AIDS was to treat Aborigines from different communities places the Caribbean nation second only to woman is scheduled for as many as 11 it like every other infectious disease by around the state. Speakers commented Canada in the western hemisphere regarding medical checkups during her term, which carrying out universal routine HIV testing, that this was the fi rst time in many years this important health indicator. include regular blood and genetic testing confi dential name reporting to public health the community had come together in such Signifi cantly, the decline in infant mortal- and other lab tests. The doctor-patient offi cials and mandatory partner notifi cation, a show of unity. ity is relatively even throughout the country, ratio in Cuba is at one doctor for every with treatment to all those infected.” In a Peter Savage, an elder from Rockhamp- with no major differences between urban 165 people. In 1956, there was barely one fi nal comment refl ecting the cynicism toward ton in North Queensland, said, “We want and rural areas. This is a sign of the prog- doctor for every 1,000 people and the most the Cuban Revolution among many profes- justice and truth. We will get action by ress since the Cuban Revolution of 1959 impoverished working-class neighborhoods sionals in the United States, even those who getting out and telling people about what that took affi rmative action measures to even and rural areas had little if any access to a recognize the gains of the revolution, Kuvin happened, how every time a Black man out differences between city and countryside health care services. said: “Few things in Cuba are good these goes to jail we are fearful of what will and develop areas of the country where little The Cuban government has made pos- days, but the Cuban approach to controlling happen.” or no access to medical treatment existed sible this kind of comprehensive health H.I.V.-AIDS is excellent.” Ray Jackson brought solidarity greetings before. Eight of the fi fteen provinces in care because from the early days of the Cuba has also continued to develop its from the Aboriginal community in Red- Cuba had infant mortality rates below the national average with rates as low as 1.8 revolution, it has viewed medical care as biotechnology industry and is currently one on the Isle of Youth. Havana, Guantánamo, a fundamental right guaranteed universally of the largest exporters of medicine and and Santiago de Cuba—the most populous from cradle to grave. pharmaceuticals to Latin America and other provinces—had the highest rates, although By comparison, the U.S. infant mortality parts of the semicolonial world. In 1999, Imperialism, the Highest none surpassing 8.5. rate was 7 per 1,000 live births last year, ac- Cuban doctor Concepción Campa Huergo, Stage of Capitalism The decline in infant mortality is a prod- cording to UNICEF. The U.S. rate is higher president of the Finlay Institute, developed uct of the cumulative gains of the revolution, among oppressed nationalities—13.6 for the world’s fi rst meningitis B vaccine, test- by V.I. Lenin one of which has been providing free, life- Blacks, 8.2 for Native Americans, and 7.8 ing it by injecting herself and her children. for Puerto Ricans. A Cuban-developed vaccine that stimulates “I trust that this time health care for all. In 1958, Cuba’s of- fi cial infant mortality rate was 39 per 1,000 The highest infant mortality rates in the the immune system against lung cancer cells pamphlet will live births, according to UNICEF statistics, Caribbean and Latin America are in the is now being tested by CancerVax, a Cali- help the reader and did not begin to drop signifi cantly until Dominican Republic, 29; Nicaragua, 30; fornia-based biotech company. to understand 1971. Since then, it has steadily declined El Salvador, 32; Brazil, 33; Guatemala, 35; At the same time, Cuba is unsurpassed the fundamental into the single digits. and Haiti, a staggering 76. These fi gures in selfl ess internationalist solidarity on the economic ques- One of the reasons for this achievement are national averages. The mortality rates medical fi eld. Tens of thousands of Cuban tion, that of the is the family doctor program, a primary, are higher in rural areas and impoverished doctors and nurses are currently working economic es- preventive care service, under which a working-class communities in these coun- in nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, sence of imperialism,” Lenin wrote doctor and nurse is placed in every neigh- tries, where access to health-care services Asia, and Africa. More than 10,000 Cuban in 1917. “For unless this is studied, it borhood, workplace, childcare center, and is more limited or nonexistent. doctors are now working on a volunteer will be impossible to understand and school—both in rural areas and the cities. As Cuba continues to lower its infant mor- basis in Venezuela as part of the Barrio Ad- appraise modern war and modern According to Periódico 26, a newspaper tality rate, it has also made progress in AIDS entro program, offering quality health care politics.” In English and Spanish. $10 published in Cuba’s Las Tunas province, prevention and treatment. Cuba currently has and free medications through neighborhood “Ninety-nine percent of the island’s popu- the lowest AIDS infection rate in the western clinics across the country. WWW.PATHFINDERPRESS.COM

12 The Militant January 18, 2005