Iraq: More Troops but No Us Success

WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!

No 1448 Week commencing 10 August 2007 Weekly paper of the New Communist Party of Britain 50p IRAQ: MORE TROOPS BUT NO US SUCCESS by our Arab Affairs Correspondent the provincial capital because pump trucks used to US TROOP LEVELS in Iraq are at an all-time high clean septic tanks have with nearly 162,000 troops now in occupied Iraq, a been unable to operate due thousand more than during the last “surge” to to fuel shortages. The sew- cover the rigged puppet regime elections in 2005. age is causing a health threat and contaminating The American expeditionary force is now at the local crops. highest level seen since the invasion began in One of the biggest prob- March 2003. But it’s done little to dent the strength lems facing the national or morale of the partisans fighting the imperial- grid is the move by prov- ists throughout the occupied Arab country. inces to disconnect their power plants from the sys- Dozens of resistance shelled while death squads tem, reducing the overall fighters in cars equipped on both sides of the sectar- amount of electricity being with heavy weapons at- ian divide, and with the ap- generated for the entire tacked puppet police head- parent approval of the pup- country. Officials in the quarters in Al Duluiyah, pet authorities continue outlying provinces say they some 90 km north of their murderous work that have no choice because Baghdad, last Friday after- can only serve the “divide they are not getting as noon. The partisans swept and rule” strategy of US much electricity in return into town in ten large ve- imperialism. for what they produce, hicles to attack the puppet It’s the height of sum- • Many US made Humvee trucks have been destroyed by the resistance. mainly because the capital police HQ and finally with- mer in Iraq now with tem- requires so much power. drew after planting a car peratures soaring above 50 Electricity” blames the puppet regime is spending summer and the people get Puppet government of- bomb in the eastern part of C and what’s left of the current chronic shortages hundreds of millions of dol- only have one or two hours ficials say there are 17 the town. water, petrol and power on lack of fuel admitting lars on fuel imports from of electricity a day. The high-tension lines running Partisans downed two supplies is grinding to a halt. that electrical generation neighbouring countries. water supply has also been into Baghdad but only two US helicopter gunships and Occupied Iraq’s power grid capacity is even worse Aziz Shammari of the severely curtailed by power were operational. The rest one F-16 warplane in is now on the brink of col- than in the months before puppet “Electricity Minis- blackouts and cuts that have had been sabotaged. One clashes north of the capital lapse because of sabotage the 2003 imperialist inva- try” said the country had affected pumping and fil- official told reporters: in what the imperialists by resistance forces, fuel sion. never witnessed “this kind tration stations. “When we fix a line, the used to call the “Sunni tri- shortages and provinces of power crisis” since the In Karbala, south of insurgents attack it the next angle” and there’s been a that are unplugging local crippled 1990s when punitive UN Baghdad, the city’s 50- day.” remarkable rise in opera- power stations from the sanctions were still in place. megawatt power station tions carried out by the national grid. Iraqi officials Though Iraq is awash “Electricity generation was shut down because of Iraqi resistance against the say that power generation with oil constant guerrilla can hardly meet half of the lack of fuel, causing the American occupation nationally is only meeting attacks have crippled the country’s needs. Power entire Karbala province to forces in al Anbar province half the demand and there oil industry imperialists output has never been as be without water and elec- FUND in western Iraq. have been four nationwide hoped to plunder. There’s bad as it is today since tricity for the past three Back in Baghdad the blackouts over the past few severe fuel shortages with 2003,” Shammari said. days. “Green Zone” imperialist days. refineries running at much In Baghdad power sup- Sewage is seeping Our first New compound was routinely The puppet “Ministry of below capacity and the plies have been sporadic all above ground in nearly half Worker fund total for Au- gust is a modest £341.50, leaving £2,658.50 to raise to meet our monthly target of £3,000 a month. We thank an Epsom comrade for £5 and a Getting ready to run Woking comrade for £5. A north London comrade contributed £20 and a by Daphne Liddle clear signals that he intends ity of the situation is at last And on the ground in and destruction of their to withdraw British troops sinking in at the highest lev- Iraq American troops are ac- country for a long time. Bootle reader sent £10; THE GRAND coalition from Iraq. els and the military men are cusing the British troops in Once the invading another supporter added of invaders of Iraq is Then Brown visited getting their message Basra of being effectively troops are gone the pup- £1.50. The rest came falling apart, with Brit- Bush at the President’s across. Furthermore, when defeated and of handing pet government will not from friends and com- ish and American “al- Camp David retreat and, af- top generals are saying, their administrative power last long. Those who rades who contribute lies” accusing each ter four hours of talks, “Hell no, we won’t go” – who over to Shia militia groups. have collaborated with regularly through bank- other of losing control Brown told a joint press do you send to arrest One senior US intelligence the invaders face a very ers’ orders. as they prepare to conference that he would them? Another glimpse of officer claimed: “The British unhappy future and this Our special 30th An- withdraw, while pre- make a statement in the the reality of where power have basically been de- is why many of them are niversary Appeal to raise tending they are hand- House of Commons in Oc- really lies in a capitalist feated in the south”. trying to get out now as £30,000 has received ing over to a well- tober on the future of the state. Ken Pollack said: “I am fast as they can. £310, with £300 from our organised and stable 5,500 British troops in the Nevertheless Bush is assuming the British will no Not surprisingly the good friend now living in puppet regime. Basra region. still very vexed at the politi- longer be there. They are British immigration au- Lithuania and £10 from Three weeks ago In other words Brown is cal impact that a quick with- not there now. We have a thorities are proving very a Bootle comrade. General Sir Richard diplomatically delaying his drawal by British troops is British battle Group holed reluctant to grant asylum Now we are back Dannatt, head of the Brit- announcement of with- going to make. Ken Pollack, up in Basra airport … Basra status to those who have from our summer break ish army warned that Brit- drawal to allow the United a foreign affairs expert from is out of control.” acted as interpreters for with a very full agenda of ain is running out of States government to get in the Washington-based Meanwhile much the the British army and the US is unlikely to be pre- political activity ahead we troops – which perhaps first and announce its own Brookings Institute – who same could be said of the need you to keep sending accounts for the long withdrawal plans – cobbled claims the “surge” is work- US presence in Baghdad pared to take a large in- overdue withdrawal of together under pressure ing – said Bush would pre- and American and British flux of collaborator refu- the money so we can put troops from the north or from US General David fer the British to stay. spin doctors are getting gees. it to good campaigning Ireland. Petraeus who is in charge “What Bush needs is ready to blame each other Iraq will take a long use. It is not the first time of US forces in Iraq. for there to be a Union jack for the coming collapse and time to recover but the Please send whatever the general has been This is a very different flying somewhere in Iraq so retreat. role of the United States you can and mark the en- critical of the Iraq War but climate to the “We’ll stay as he can trumpet that as full We must of course wel- as military and political velope either New on this occasion his re- long as it takes” state- British participation, but come the withdrawal, dominator of the whole Worker Fund or Special marks were followed ments being made by Bush that participation has been though the Iraqi people will world may never recover. 30th Anniversary Appeal shortly by Prime Minis- and Blair a few months ago. meaningless for some continue to suffer from the We must see that it does – both at PO Box 73, Lon- ter Gordon Brown giving It seems that the real- time.” after-effects of the invasion not. don SW11 2PQ. Page 2 THE NEW WORKER 10 August 2007 email: [email protected] News Desk 020 7223 4050

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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123Say no more Waiting time Antonio Spadaro urged fellow Catholics not to be Olive Beal, aged 108, fice is reportedly conducting political negotiation, with scared of entering the vir- has been told she must wait a review after a 31st July re- Condoleeza Rice insisting that tual world which may be Weekly paper of the New Communist Party at least 18 months before port revealed that Iraqi insur- America would retain leader- fertile ground for new con- she receives a new hearing gents may have got their ship of “the political track”. verts wishing to better aid. hands on weapons and body Meanwhile new Prime themselves. The former suffragette armour intended to equip Iraqi Minister Gordon Brown is “It’s not possible to A deeper activist and piano teacher troops. appointing his own envoy, close our eyes to this phe- has failing eyesight and One senior Pentagon of- Michael Williams, a former nomenon or rush to judge kind of spin uses a wheelchair; she finds ficial told the Post that some BBC journalist who is cur- it,” Spadaro said. “Instead it difficult to hear with her of the weapons likely are be- rently a special coordinator it needs to be understood old analogue hearing aid ing used against US forces. for the regional peace pro- ... the best way to under- PRIME MINISTER Gordon Brown has been con- cess for the UN General Sec- stand it is to enter it.” spicuously doing things differently to his prede- and needs a digital one that will cut out background Out of a job retary Ban Ki-moon “Second Life” is a cessor Tony Blair and distancing himself from noise. simulation game where Blair’s most unpopular errors. Former Prime Minister Saving cyber souls players can create a virtual Since the 1960s every British Prime Minister has Gone missing Tony Blair was in a hurry to version of themselves — visited the President of the United States within a couple quit Westminster and take up A Jesuit has urged his col- an avatar — and interact of days of taking office but Brown made Bush wait a The Pentagon has lost his new job as “peace envoy leagues to conduct mission- with other people in the couple of weeks and visited the French and German track of 190,000 AK-47 rifles in the Middle East” – but af- ary ventures in the cyber three-dimensional world. leaders first. and pistols given to Iraqi ter a few weeks it is not quite space realm of “Second Life” According to its Web When he did visit Bush he acted friendly enough. security forces, the Wash- clear who he is working for to convert virtual souls and site, it has a population of He withdrew hints that he might be about to withdraw ington Post reported re- and what he is supposed to spread the Word. more than eight million resi- British troops from Iraq with or without US approval. cently. be doing. In an article in Rome- dents, and millions of dol- But he showed no signs of having a groupie-like crush The United States Gov- The White House has based Jesuit journal La lars change hands there on the President as Blair did. He knows it will probably ernment Accountability Of- barred him from any serious Civilta Cattolica, academic every month. not be long before Bush is replaced by a Democrat president. Brown has called for the British residents held in the hell-camp at Guantanamo Bay to be released, another marked change from Blair’s policy. Brown has taken his summer holiday in Dorset, CWU steps up strikes Britain – and not sponged a freebie in the mansion of some ageing celebrity or Italian businessman. Then he broke that holiday immediately to be seen to be dealing as Royal Mail gets dirty with the foot-and-mouth crisis. He is giving the impression of a Prime Minister by Caroline Colebrook to 35 per cent under the DBPP. who knows what he is doing – and he does. He is “Worse still RM have no- preparing for a general election while the Tories are THE COMMUNICATION tified our representatives lo- divided and in disarray. When his Health Secretary, Alan Workers’ Union (CWU) has cally that they are intending Johnson, ordered the NHS pay review body to make a increased its level of strike to deliberately impose earlier better offer on nurses’ pay, that virtually confirmed it. action in its long and bitter start times for delivery staff It would be nice to think that Brown is doing this fight to defend jobs and work- from Monday 13th August, from the heart and that all along, as Blair’s sidekick, he ing conditions as it emerged even though Postcomm’s was secretly yearning for the chance to bring in social- that Royal Mail bosses have public consultation does not ist policies. Alas the evidence is against this. The evi- used “Gestapo-like tactics” close until 28th August,” said dence from his ten budget speeches and all the mea- to silence both sub-postmas- Bob Gibson, assistant secre- sures he introduced from the Treasury over those years ters and staff at Crown Post tary at the CWU. is that he is a far greater master of spin, of illusion than Offices to stop them protest- “We believe that this is ever Blair was – and he doesn’t need the likes of Peter ing in anyway at closures, an unacceptable deterioration Mandelson and Alastair Campbell to act as a support- mergers and the transfer of in service for small businesses their work to branches of WH and residential customers ing cast of pantomime dames. both in rural and urban areas.” For a decade Brown supported all Blair’s mad ad- Smith. Then news emerged that A further astonishing ad- ventures in Iraq and Afghanistan without a murmur of Post Office managing director mission from RM concerned protest. At home it was he who drove the compulsion Alan Cook will win a bonus the ability of competitors to to privatisation – the Treasury controlled the purse of up to £1 million if he access the mail market. “Ear- strings that forced all other Government departments achieves the planned closure lier delivery times and later to make massive job cuts, to privatise much of the of 2,500 post offices on sched- collection times would create work and to take on huge and expensive private fi- ule. a barrier to entry on quality nance projects. Two months ago Royal grounds, as competitors will And for a decade he has kept the economy of Brit- Mail chief executive Adam struggle to match universal ain afloat by fostering a huge boom in personal bor- Crozier was reported to be • CWU picketers respond to support. early delivery and late collec- rowing. The capitalist system inevitably produces paid a £370,000 bonus for the tion times,” says the RM sub- booms and slumps; the slumps produce unemployment, last financial year. cant changes including later about closures, the sub-post- mission. misery, starvation and the threat of war – and an angry The most recent strike delivery start times and per- masters stuck to the official The CWU believe this ad- and dangerous working class. In the last century many actions by the CWU have had manent reductions in cus- line. The Tories described this mission raises serious ques- governments, following the ideas of economist John 98 per cent support for the tomer services. The imposi- tactics as “Gestapo-like”. tions over the real motives of Maynard Keynes, used government borrowing to spend actions that were announced tion represents an unneces- Subsequently the Post the present RM management. on public works to generate employment, stimulate on two weeks ago after ex- sary attack on postal workers’ Office was forced to apologise “We see this as a distortion demand and borrow their way out of crisis. It only ploratory talks at the concili- jobs, pay and conditions. for the letter. of the supposed objective of worked in the short term, spending money they had ation service Acas failed. CWU deputy general Now the staff in Crown competition,” said Bob. “RM The actions announced secretary Dave Ward said: Post Offices have been told should not be seeking to re- not got devalued the money, led to roaring inflation and strict the service it provides ultimately back to the boom and bust cycle. that took place last week were: “Despite Royal Mail’s stated they will lose their £1,000 bo- • The withdrawal of position and with the pros- nus if they strike or if they run to customers on the grounds But for the last decade Brown and his banking labour in mail centres and pect of imposed change, the anti-closure petitions or re- that to not do so would deter friends have kept interest rates low to push members cash handling from 3am today union has made a fresh offer placed relocation leaflets with the competition. of the public, the working class, to do the borrowing to 3am on 31st July for a period of calm. We have campaign leaflets against the “Moreover, concerns that leads to spending, that stimulates demand and keeps • The withdrawal of made yet another offer to closures. over collection and delivery the profits rolling in. Banks, mortgage lenders and credit labour in the network from Allan Leighton and Adam A spokesperson said: times apply particularly to ru- card companies have thrown away their criteria on who 3am on Wednesday 1st Au- Crozier to call off the next “We want to ensure that, in ral areas and it is widely they should lend to. Now anyone who has a pulse can gust to 3am on Thursday 2nd planned strikes. All Royal the difficult period in the run- recognised that private postal get a loan of thousands of pounds and if they default August. Mail have to do is take a step up to relocation, that the cus- operators are very unlikely to they have nothing to lose but their homes. • Strike action at de- back and engage in meaning- tomer service is the best that seek to compete with RM over The workers have suffered from this through hav- liveries and separate collec- ful negotiations.” it can be.” rural collection and deliveries, ing to work extra hours to try to keep up with the tion hubs from 3am on Thurs- On Monday the Conser- Customer service after with or without changes to the debts, sacrificing their leisure and their family life. Very day 2nd August to 3am on Fri- vative Party accused the Post “relocation” is likely to be se- times at which they occur.” few ever get to be able to pay all the debts off once day 3rd August. Office bosses of trying to gag riously damaged according to The union also believe they are enslaved in this way. • Strike action from post office staff by denying the CWU – as will the domes- RM are using the 56 mph EU And like the original form of Keynesianism, it can 19.00 at airports on Friday 3rd them a £1,000 “incentive” tic postal delivery service. speed restriction on vehicles August until 19.00 on Satur- payment if they campaigned The CWU has claimed weighing 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes as only work in the short term. Many western govern- th ments have followed this policy, including in the United day 4 August. against branch mergers. Royal Mail’s plans to set later an excuse to defer delivery States where unscrupulous lenders invented “sub- • Strike action at This followed a revelation delivery but earlier collection times. “Most vehicles are al- MDECS from 3am on Satur- the week before that the Post times will result in a worse ser- ready unlikely to travel at prime” mortgages targeted at low-paid workers who th speeds in excess of 56 mph, would never normally have qualified for a loan. It day 4 August to 3am on Sun- Office bosses tried to black- vice to the public. day 5th August. mail sub postmasters that they Royal Mail’s plans were so the effect of the legislation seemed to be a foolproof source of profits and big bank- The fresh wave of strikes will lose “thousands of set out in its Delivery Best should be minimal. It is also ers from all around the world invested. has been set against the back- pounds of compensation” if Practice Plan (DBPP) put for- worth noting that regardless Last week saw them burn their fingers and suffer ground of Royal Mail con- they do not support the clo- ward to the regulator of the legislation 60 per cent serious losses. There is a limit to how debt you can firming the first stage of its so- sure programme. Postcomm. of all mail due for delivery is load onto the backs of the working class before they called modernisation plan that They were sent a letter Data from Royal Mail available at midnight. There- collapse. Capitalism is beginning to look a little less stable. will be imposed on a large sec- warning that undercover staff shows 85 per cent of residen- fore if current working time ar- A real crash, eventually, is inevitable and Brown is one tion of the workforce on the would be visiting sub-post tial deliveries being completed rangements are maintained, of the architects of this. 13th August. offices around the country to by midday in the past year the legislation should not af- This will involve signifi- check that, when questioned (2005/6). This figure would fall fect delivery times,” said Bob. 10 August 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 3 Home News Newsdesk 020 7223 4050 High Court bans Heathrow protest Justice4Jean family campaign A HIGH COURT judge last port Watch – which includes London Mayor Ken tice Lord Phillips dismissed an Monday granted an injunction the Woodlands Trust, the Livingstone opposed the appeal by the Director of Pub- to the British Airports Au- Royal Society for the Protec- blanket injunction and hired lic Prosecutions that could THE INDEPENDENT Police including senior officers, Complaints Commission re- government officials and even thority (BAA) banning a cli- tion of Birds and the Cam- a team of lawyers to be in have ended the Parliament nd mate change protest that paign to Protect Rural En- court for the hearing. London Square anti-war protest picket port published on 2 August the Met Cricket team were could have disrupted the work- gland – was not included in Underground and Transport of Brian Haw. is a damning indictment aware of that fact. If it is true ing of the airports for a while. the injunction. for London were awarded The Lords also ruled that against the Metropolitan Po- that he did not know, then it But the Mrs Justice Swift Organisers of the Camp costs as Mrs Justice Swift the current restriction of his lice Service, say the family of raises serious questions refused BAA’s application for for Climate Action said they said it was “extraordinary” picket were “unclear and un- Jean Charles de Menezes. about his ability to be in full a blanket ban on all protests would go ahead with the pro- that BAA had not consulted workable” but they urged The young Brazilian was command of the Metropolitan there and left both sides test camp: “The Camp for Cli- them. Haw to reach an agreement shot and killed by anti-terror- police. ism officers at Stockwell sta- “How can he effectively claiming a victory. mate Change is not covered On the same day in a with the police on the limits nd BAA, owned by Spanish by the injunction that was that separate court Lord Chief Jus- of his protest. tion on 22 July 2005. manage the Metropolitan Po- construction and services was granted at the High Court After a distressing two lice if he is not privy to this group Ferrovial, went to the today, and will be going ahead year wait, the family welcomed vital information? His account High Court in London to pre- as planned,” they said. the fact that the report exon- about not being aware of this vent up to 5,000 people set- “The final injunction pro- erated Jean of any allegations information is even chal- ting up camp between 14th and vides no additional powers of of suspicious behaviour lenged by one of his own se- 21st August in a demonstration arrest, and covers a much which had been fuelled by the nior officers. It raises the sus- against climate change and a smaller geographical area, misinformation circulating in picion that there has been a proposed third runway at which will not include the the media from police cover up. This report has also Heathrow. camp. Everyone, including sources. raised very grave concerns BAA was ordered to pay the named injunctees, is A spokesperson for the about the Metropolitan Police the costs of the three groups therefore free to come to the Justice4Jean campaign said: Authority’s role in the after- who challenged the attempt camp.” “This report exposes the Met- math of Jean’s shooting. to impose the most wide-rang- BAA had claimed that a ropolitan Police Service to “This brings into ques- ing restriction on the right to blanket injunction was neces- a crisis of public confidence tion their ability to hold act protest ever used in Britain. sary because of the threat of in their honesty and integrity. independently and impartially The injunction bans three terrorism. They sought to in- The report identifies Andy and to hold accountable people – John Stewart of the clude not just Heathrow but Hayman as having misled the those officers named in this Heathrow Campaign Against Paddington Station, Piccadilly public and the IPCC have said report.” Aircraft Noise (Hacan), Josh and parts of the M25 and M4. that this is clearly an example A spokesperson for the Garman and Leo Murray of the But as she restricted the of misconduct. Menezes family today said: anti-aviation group Plane Stu- range of the injunction Mrs “The IPCC recommenda- “After two years, every insti- pid – from interfering with the Justice Swift said: “Police will tion to merely issue him with tution of justice has failed us running of the airport. be deflected from their ordi- a letter containing ‘strong and we are left with the im- The injunction was also nary duties, including protect- words of advice’ is not the pression that the police are applied to the Plane Stupid ing the public from terrorist appropriate response – this above the law. We call on organisation and to “anyone attack. There is a risk that a report has made his position Home Secretary Jacqui Smith acting in concert” with it in terrorist group might use the untenable. to meet with us to explain how any illegal activity. disruption by protesters to “Regarding Sir Ian Blair, she will redress this complete The umbrella group Air- carry out an attack.” the report’s findings make it lack of a credible investiga- seem unfeasible that he was tion. not aware that they had killed “This only makes us even an innocent man until the next more determined to keep fight- 130 Tube stations day when so many people, ing for justice.” face cuts to ticket-office hours Migrant workers fight shift ANOTHER 130 London Un- lose afternoon peak services derground stations face cuts and 13 facing other major Slightly improved to ticket-office hours, says hours reductions. extension plans the RMT transport union. The union has also NHS pay offer London Underground’s learned that Transport for ANGRY factory workers, in- of the factory’s workforce, cull of ticket offices is far London (TfL) has a deliber- THE AMICUS section of the now fall in line with workers cluding migrant workers, and parents who have more worse than originally feared, ate strategy to lengthen union Unite last week com- in Scotland, Wales and North- held a demonstration outside than one family member work- as Tube bosses deliberately queues and frustrate people mented on the improved NHS ern Ireland who received pay their workplace yesterday, ing at the factory are expected create longer queues to drive into going elsewhere, and that pay offer announced on increases in line with the Pay against plans to introduce to be most affected by the people away from ticket of- its ticket office closure plan is Thursday 2nd August. Review Body’s recommenda- longer shift patterns. changes because there will be fices, the network’s biggest based on predictions of the Unite’s Head of Health, tion of 2.5 per cent. Supported by members of a reduction in overtime and it union reveals today. lower future use that it will Kevin Coyne, said: “After “In addition to the im- the Transport and General could create problems with RMT has learned that help to bring about. months of long and tough proved pay offer for this year, Workers’ Union (TGWU), childcare. LUL has a hit-list of 130 sta- RMT has already warned negotiations, this is a break- unions, employers and the workers from the Hilton Food But Hilton Meats, which tions where further that it will fight the planned through in the pay negotia- Government have agreed to Group PLC, in Latham Road, produces beef and lamb prod- “changes” to ticket office cuts, with industrial action if tions. The new package of- enter into talks prior to the Huntingdon, protested out- ucts for supermarket chain hours are proposed, on top of necessary, and is seeking pub- fered by the Treasury gives next pay round, to consider a side of the premises against Tesco, hopes that extending 39 ticket offices already ear- lic support for its campaign to extra help to the low paid and multi-year deal.” plans to extend their shifts by its employees’ weekday shifts marked for complete closure, maintain station staffing lev- for staff in England. Previously the employers five hours per day, because from eight hours to 13 hours 32 scheduled to lose some or els and to keep booking of- “This pay remains in England had refused to of- they believe the move would will enable it to meet the de- all weekend opening, 16 to fices open. staged; however there is also fer anymore money than the have a negative impact on mands of supermarkets. a commitment to review future two per cent imposed by the their family life. TGWU representative pay and conditions. Government, which overrode Migrant workers from Andy Watson said: “We are “NHS workers in England the Pay Review Body’s rec- Poland and Lithuania, which here today because we are from the 1st November will ommendation of 2.5 per cent. account for about 80 per cent concerned about health and Give us toilets or safety issues, because workers would be expected to work prepare for a strike! longer hours in a cold envi- Glasgow care workers ronment. LONDON BUS workers relieve themselves in public “The company says it’s staged a series of protests at places and been arrested. to meet the demand of super- key London Transport and lo- Three vital issues will be continue strike action markets. However, I think it’s cal government offices on put before London’s transport SOCIAL care staff in and offenders, and all the bers in dispute, but would just a cost-saving exercise Thursday 23rd August to pro- and local leaders: Glasgow belonging to the city’s methadone users. have required up to three because it wants to increase test at the lack of toilet facili- • Lack of toilets equals public sector union Unison They are angry that a re- years for others to output while saving as much ties on bus routes and in gen- lack of respect for drivers and began their third week of cent job evaluation does not progress to the top of the money as possible – but it eral. their health strike action this week af- reflect the responsibilities of new grade, said Kirby. shouldn’t be at the expense The campaign has taken • Serious health prob- ter rejecting a pay offer the job they carry out. He added: “We were of its workers, because they a new turn with the capital’s lems arise from not being able from the council. Mike Kirby, Unison’s so near, yet so far from a work hard to earn a living. bus workers, all members of to go to the toilet when you Glasgow convener, said talks solution. Perhaps it is time “I think the company is the Transport and General need to, especially bladder, Support for the action with Glasgow City Council to ask, ‘where are the trying to get away with it be- Workers’ Union section of kidney and prostate condi- has been solid, with mes- had failed to provide a solu- elected city council lead- cause it thinks migrant work- Unite – the union, threaten- tions. sages of solidarity coming tion. ers? Will they intervene to ers won’t know any different. ing a full strike ballot if Trans- in every day. Unison has The strikers overwhelm- bridge the gap?’” So we are down here today to port for London (TfL) and TfL says it wants to attract now set up a hardship fund ingly rejected an offer from Other members of the force the company to listen.” London’s local authorities more women into the indus- to support the workers. the council at a general meet- council’s social work Dominik Szczetanski (28), don’t act. try. How can it be serious The dispute over pay ing last Friday. teams are being asked from Poland, who has been In a hard-hitting newslet- about this when it cannot even and grading involves al- The council proposals whether they want to take working at the factory for 18 ter to members the bus work- provide adequate toilet facili- most 600 Unison mem- would have provided an im- supportive strike action in months said: “Thirteen hours ers leaders say some drivers ties for staff? Perhaps it ex- bers working with children mediate increase in earn- a ballot which closes this is too long to work, we are too have been so desperate for a pects these women to bring at risk, vulnerable adults ings for one third of the mem- Friday, 10 August. tired and very cold. Also, we toilet break they have had to their own bottles to work! won’t be able to do overtime.” Page 4 THE NEW WORKER 10 August 2007 Features

by Drew Cottle

Dr DREW COTTLE is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and Humanities at the Australia and the University of Western Sydney. This article is based on a talk given in May 2005 at a seminar organised by the rise of fascism Communist Party of Australia to commemorate Britain, continental Europe and As the failures of European the 60th anniversary of the United States, members of the appeasement grew more appar- the defeat of fascism. Australian establishment saw it ent, international fascism accel- as the panacea for their prob- erated its drive to war. In Aus- FASCISM AROSE in Europe lems. Frustrated by parliamentary tralia the perils of appeasing fas- in the wake of the First World democracy, a militant labour cism were made plain by the Port War and the Bolshevik Revo- movement and a worsening eco- Kembla waterside workers’ re- lution. Post-war economic nomic depression, Eric Campbell fusal to load pig iron onto a conditions and a political cri- and other right-wing Empire loy- steamer bound for Yokohama. sis led the Italian ruling class alists formed the New Guard in The wharfies believed that the to seek a fascist solution. New South Wales. In Victoria shipment of metal fuelled the fires Mussolini’s squadrons and South Australia, similar of war. It would be used to kill brought order and stability to organisations were established by Chinese peasants in the Japanese Italy as workers and peasants concerned middle-class citizens. invasion of China. The Lyons who demanded radical change They represented a turn to Government saw the pig iron were killed, terrorised, im- fascist solutions to end the crisis strike not only as a denial of trade prisoned or driven into exile. of capitalism. They attacked but also as a challenge to the In the first years of the Great working class organisations. They policy of appeasement. In the Depression, as Germany was prepared to seize political power government’s efforts to starve shaken by economic and so- if there was a breakdown of the • The Union Flag on the Australian flag is depicted as turning into a the wharfies into submission, sec- cial crisis, the Nazis were social order. As state repression swastika. tions of the labour movement and brought to power by the domi- of the unemployed masses inten- Lyons-led coalition government Malaya, the Netherlands East other Australians rallied in sup- nant sectors of capital. sified, the infant Communist Party attempted to prevent Kisch from Indies and Australia and New port of the wharf labourers’ anti- Fascism attempted to control of Australia attempted to coun- landing in Australia. Neither a Zealand. fascist stand. Chinese market the anarchy of capitalism through teract these fascist trends with broken leg nor a dictation test in gardeners and shopkeepers sent barbarism. European fascism demonstrations, rallies and occu- Scots Gaelic stopped Comrade lorry loads of vegetables and fruit became a mass political phenom- pations. Kisch addressing public meetings to the striking workers. Chinese enon which represented the ata- Nevertheless, the burden of about fascism and its class and seamen ashore in Australian ports vistic responses of the bourgeoi- the Depression was forced onto racial consequences. Australia gave money to the wharfies’ sie and petit-bourgeoisie threat- the working class as capitalism was alerted to the dangers of fas- strike fund. ened by the deepening class found its resilience in factory clo- cism even as its rulers continued It was these acts of interna- struggle, recession, mass unrest, sures, wage cuts, extended to appease it. tional solidarity by Communists revolutionary Russia and the working hours, bankruptcies, By 1939, Hitler’s demand for and the Australian working class organised working class and so- takeovers, overproduction and German expansion could not be which should be remembered just cialist parties. Nevertheless, sustained levels of high unem- sated through the subjugation of as the silent appeasement of the there were substantial differ- ployment. Czechoslovakia. Mussolini Australian ruling class must be ences between the fascist solu- Although the rise of fascism dreamt of building a new Roman thoroughly exposed. Eventually, tions of Italy and Germany and in Europe and Japanese milita- Empire in Africa. In Asia, with Australia under Menzies went Japan. In the Far East, Japan rism in North Asia did not directly much of China’s coast under its reluctantly to war against fascism turned to militarism as its solu- affect the class struggle within control, Japan was poised to build in Europe. A large number of the tion to economic depression. Australia, events during the 1930s through invasion and occupation Australian soldiers who formed Each of these regimes faced fun- drew Australian workers into the its “Greater East Asia Co-Pros- the Sixth Division, which sailed damental class contradictions anti-fascist struggle. Soon after perity” Sphere which embraced to the Middle East to defend Brit- which were resolved by force the Nazis came to power in Ger- French Indo-China, the American ish oil interests and the Suez Ca- and terror to ensure capital’s ex- many there arose throughout the Philippines, British India, British • Egon Kisch nal from Nazi attack, had been istence. capitalist nations and the the unwanted jobless in Austra- Throughout the capitalist colonised world, organised oppo- lia for more than three years. world the strong regimes of Italy, sition to fascism. Within Austra- Now they were expected to fight Germany and Japan were ad- lia, the Movement Against War and die for Australia in the war mired and later feared. Their ef- and Fascism saw the fascist drive against fascism. Appeasement forts at territorial expansion were to war was a war on the work- only gave strength to a fascism tolerated as long as they did not ing class and toilers worldwide. which could never be appeased. threaten the interests of the lead- In 1936 the Spanish demo- Once again capitalism resolved ing capitalist nations. Nazi Ger- cratic republic was threatened by its contradictions in war. Fascism, many was acceded European the military rebellion of General the force which was to discipline “living space”, Italy invaded Franco. The forces of Spanish the working class and eradicate Libya and Abyssinia, while the reaction saw Franco as their fas- communism drew the competing Japanese secured Manchuria cist saviour. Mussolini and Hitler capitalist powers into global con- before seizing much of coastal sent arms, equipment and limited flict. China. troop numbers to the Francoist Fascism and its defeat are too The appeasement of fascism cause. Britain, France and the often seen as past historical allowed Hitler, Mussolini and the United States appeased fascism events. Fascism is also a politi- Japanese militarists to consolidate by their failure to support repub- cal ideology and project which their power and deepen their lican Spain. A number of Austra- can arise in moments of capital- ambitions. Moreover, fascism lians travelled to Spain to join the ist crisis. In contemporary Aus- bludgeoned the working class fight against fascism. Only the tralia, ruling class responses and, upholding the interests of Soviet Union provided any mili- criminalise refugees, militant capital, became the enemy of tary aid to anti-fascist Spain. workers, Arabic and Muslim Aus- communism. During the inter- Along with comrades from the tralians, environmentalists and war period, Australian capitalism United States, Britain, Europe and anti-war activists. A Federal gov- was not immune or isolated from China, they attempted to hold ernment brings into force an in- these overseas developments. back the march of fascism whilst dustrial relations system devised While Australian economic the bourgeoisie internationally by the Business Council of Aus- ties to Britain were more pro- remained willing to appease it. tralia. The police are given the nounced in the 1920s and 1930s, Franco’s victory in the Spanish power to lock down suburbs. a growing trade with Japan in Civil War emboldened the fascist New sedition laws strip away metals, wool and wheat made states in their plan to redraw the fundamental civil liberties. Dis- Australian appeasement both imperialist world under an Axis sent is stifled. An illegal, immoral profitable and a necessity. As design. war of occupation is waged in long as British interests in China During Australia’s sesqui-cen- Afghanistan and Iraq and the were not threatened by Japanese tenary celebrations of 1938, the spirit of Anzac mythologised. aggression, Australian trade with Czech Communist journalist, Is this the long, slow drift to Japan could not be questioned. Egon Kisch, was invited to Aus- an Australian form of fascism? If fascism won many admir- tralia to speak about the dangers ers within the ruling circles of of fascism. The conservative • Part of the Communist Party’s long standing fight against racism. Australian Marxist Review 10 August 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 5 Features 020 7223 4052 GI protest spreads to Baghdad

being AWOL. It will, instead, al- by John Catalinotto low him to request an administrative Other than Honorable dis- GI RESISTANCE is continu- charge.” ing to grow even as the popu- Cherry, an African American lar opposition to the occupa- from Chicago, has medical docu- tion of Iraq does. Below are mentation that he suffers from some updates on ongoing post-traumatic stress disorder. cases and some new resisters, The “Different Drummer” is including one in Baghdad. st modelled on the Vietnam era anti- On 21 June, the news broke war coffee houses set up near of the first US war resister sta- military bases. tioned in Iraq, Spc [specialist – a Cherry’s supporters in rank equivalent to corporal] Watertown had planned meetings Elonai “Eli” Israel, who sent out and protests as the court-martial an SOS on his blog making known was to start, including the pres- his presence and delicate situa- ence of Colonel Ann Rice and the tion in Iraq and indicating he was final stop of the IVAW bus, surrounded by hostile forces, ap- which had made an 11-stop tour parently meaning within the US mostly of military bases in the chain of command. Spc Israel is eastern part of the US, from stationed at Camp Victory in Georgia to Watertown, but also Baghdad with JVB Bravo Com- including the US Social Forum in pany, 1-149 Infantry of the Ken- Atlanta. At Fort Benning, Geor- tucky Army National Guard. He gia, and Fort Jackson, South wrote, “I have told them that I Carolina, some of the anti-war will no longer play a ‘combat role’ veterans were arrested by the in this conflict or ‘protect corpo- military authorities. The arrests rate representatives,’ and they demonstrated how the command have taken this as ‘violating a di- fears contact between experi- rect order.’” Spc Israel will seek enced dissidents whose word will a discharge as a conscientious carry weight and the active-duty objector. He received immediate troops. support from groups like Cour- • Veterans on the march in the US. An officer, this one in the US age to Resist, Iraq Veterans Air Force Reserve and right here Against the War (IVAW) and GI The judge at that court-mar- up more and more popular sup- Sp/4 [corporal] Eugene in the United States, has been Special, and announced the next tial, Lt-Colonel John Head, made port, especially on the West Cherry, a soldier in the 10th threatened with discharge for his day that he felt relieved for the all decisions in the first days of Coast. A new group now support- Mountain Division, a unit whose outspoken opposition to the war. time being. the trial to prevent the lieutenant ing him is composed of Japanese- home base is Fort Drum in up- Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jun- A military judge in Fort Lewis, from bringing up his principled op- Americans known as the Heart state New York and which is now th ior, an African-American hip-hop Washington state, ruled 7 July position to the Iraq war as part Mountain draft resisters, who breaking into homes in Baghdad, artist, writes that on 26th March that Lieutenant Ehren Watada, of his defence. When the pros- refused the draft during the Sec- had a good result. He had been the Air Force notified him they the first Army officer to refuse ecution case seemed weak, lead ond World War, saying they facing a bad conduct discharge are taking action to honourably orders to Iraq and publicly an- prosecutor Captain Scott Van would fight only if the Japanese- and a year in prison for going discharge him on the basis of nounce it in June 2006, could be Sweringen asked for the mistrial, Americans held in camps by the AWOL and was to face court- th nd “behaviour clearly inconsistent again brought to trial. At his first and Lt-Colonel Head granted it. US government at that time— martial on 9 July. On 2 July, with the interest of national se- court-martial, which ended in a Watada’s attorney, Eric Seitz, has who had committed no crimes— Tod Ensign of the “Different th curity.” The letter arrived six mistrial last 7 February, Watada argued that trying Watada again were all released and were Drummer” centre in Watertown, days after Yearwood publicly attempted to bring up his moral would be “double jeopardy,” and treated as first-class citizens. near Fort Drum, sent out an e- announced the launching of a and political objections to the war that the Army should drop the These elders congratulated mail announcing that the Fort national “Make Hip Hop Not in Iraq and his responsibility to the case. Watada for his principled position Drum command has, belatedly, War.” men he was supposed to be lead- While Watada may face an- and encouraged him to keep on decided to drop “its plans to Rev Yearwood faced a hearing into battle. other trial, he has been picking with his struggle. court-martial Sp/4 Cherry for ing on 12th July at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. Cindy Sheehan was there to lend solidarity. In February 2003 Yearwood preached a sermon he titled, “Who Would Jesus Bomb?” He is an eloquent writer with a powerful message that he sent out in a recent release: “This moment in history is our generation’s lunch-counter moment—Iraq is our Vietnam and New Orleans is our Birmingham. Our generation could be the generation to defeat racism, poverty and war, but only if we come together as people of conscience. In the movements of the 60’s, solidarity among the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement was never truly achieved. As the ‘Hip Hop generation’—a generation where the sons and daughters of former slaves work side by side with the sons and daughters of former slave owners—we have the ability to bridge the gap and link movements for peace, justice, civil rights and the environment in true solidarity.” As the last-but-not-least item, the Appeal for Redress, an pro- withdrawal statement signed by active-duty GIs, surpassed 2,000 signatures in mid June, and as of 9th July had reached 2,028. • Above: Eli Israel in Iraq. Left: defending Ehren Watada. Workers World (US) Page 6 THE NEW WORKER 10 August 2007 Home News

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Dear Comrades will inevitably become more authority uses its powers to gold. 123456789012345678901234567Diary 8 frequent. deal fairly in rehousing Fort Knox was emptying 1234567890123456789012345678 In 1947 when floods A prominent Iraqi who those with families with by the truck-load. ravaged this country, who supported the invasion of decent conditions. In December that year was in the front line, sand- Iraq recently said: “I hated More importantly, it will the gold price was increased Until 3 September THURSDAY 23 August bagging homes, premises, Saddam Hussein but if he stop the minority of owner massively, in other words Exhibition: Artists, art & Slavery Remembrance industrial premises, schools, was to walk down the occupiers making the crisis the dollar was greatly culture of north Korea. Day. 12-3pm, Afican food assisting the elderly? It was streets of Baghdad today I worse with their self devalued. La Galleria, 5b Pall Mall, & Family activities, the British armed forces. would kiss his feet.” interested support with the Currencies and the gold Royal Opera Arcade, Otterspool Promenade, Where during our flood If Gordon Brown could local estate agents and price now float and the London SW1Y 4UY. Liverpool. 1pm liberation emergency in 2007 has the summon the courage to building societies pushing dollar has now sunk to 1.38 SATURDAY 11 August on the waterfront, 1.30pm up mortgages in the artificial to the Euro – so far. bulk of help come? From our change course on these In honour of Jack music and drama. 10am- police, diverted from their wars and confront global shortages of homes – which work fighting crime, and a warming, I would do the well-paid MPs exploit too. Mick Kenny, Shapiro. Celebration and 7pm, opening of the mass of public spirited same to him. Yours, Yorkshire. social. 6pm, Saklatvala International Slavery volunteers. Yours Sincerely, George Marsh, Hall, Southall (off Museum, Albert Dock, Yet with thousands Councillor Ray Davies, South London. Feathrstone Rd, UB2 Liverpool. temporarily homeless, Caerphilly. 5AA). 07899 974525. SATURDAY 1 Septem- without water or electricity, Dear Comrades SUNDAY 12 August ber when we see the damage Lebanon one year on. CND conference: US caused, we asked ourselves “We may even rock the “Could more have been Dear Comrades dollar,” said Vietnamese 4.30-7.30pm, Charles missile defence - towards done?” leader Ho Chi Minh, Wison Building (corner a new cold war? 10-5pm, Yes, of course – had our Building more homes will pointing to America’s of Gibson St & University SOAS, Thornhaugh St, Labour government not not provide for those in madder-than-usual money- Ave), Glasgow. Glasgow London WC1. 020 7700 committed 98 per cent of our need if the financial control printing to finance that STWC. 2393. armed forces overseas to the remains in the hands of the madder-than-usual war. THURSDAY 16 August SUNDAY 2 September unwinnable wars in Iraq and estate agents and building The Bank of France Stop the War folk night. Burston Strike School societies. It will simply make agreed, demanding gold in Afghanistan. 8pm, Tudor Barns, Rally. 11-4.30pm, Church The British armed forces a larger market and a bigger exchange for their dollar in Iraq live under the most source of capital. and, on 15th August 1971 the Eltham. Lewishan Green, Burston near Dis, atrocious conditions. The To overcome the STWC, 020 8690 1817. Norfolk. Unite, Sertuc. death rate of our soldiers in housing crisis, it is neces- TUESDAY 21 August Iraq has now passed that of sary to apply the “option Slavery Remembrance MONDAY 3 September British soldiers killed in the four” of council home BNP mystery festival Day. Memorial lecture: Brent Stop the War public Second World War. building with affordable Dr Molefi Asante - meeting. 7.30pm, Brent Billions of pounds are rents that do not create Origins of Chattel Trades & Labour Hall, 375 being wasted on these debts for those in need. and punch-up unpopular wars which It is also the only Slavery. 5.30pm, High Rd, Willesden NW10 THE FASCIST British Na- an eye and that was it. There Liverpool Town Hall. 2JR. tional Party last weekend held was a couple of tents just vis- its three-day annual “Red ible in the distance but no White and Blue” festival, at crowds going in or out, no a farm in Denby, Derbyshire parked cars and no coaches,” and described it as “a roar- they told the New Worker. FROM THE NEW COMMUNIST PARTY ing success” with up to 3,000 Even among the few New technology and the need for socialism in attendance over the course people who did attend, one On the Web... £2 plus 50p P&P. of the event. certainly had a bad day. New Worker National – The local parish council Former BNP candidate An- www.newworker.org The case for communism £2 plus 50p P&P. gave a licence for the event in drew Spence, who polled a All in the family by Daphne Liddle, spite of protests from local record 2,494 votes for them in NCP Central – £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint). anti-fascists, including the the Sedgefield by-election, www.geocities.com/ncpcentral Arab nationalism and the communist movement local Fire Brigades Union. came to blows with BNP trea- London District NCP– But on the day local anti- surer John Walker and head http://londoncommunists.blogspot.com/ by Andy Brooks, £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint). fascist protesters, who know of publicity Mark Collet and NCP Lit. 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NW Subs, PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ The New Worker 10 August 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 7 020 7223 4052 British soldiers pull out Adams calls for support for March for Truth AT MIDNIGHT on Tuesday, The British army also ad- families who are campaigning 31st July all British military mitted to military and public- for Truth. personnel in the Six Coun- ity blunders during its cam- He is also asking every- ties were recalled to their paign and that not enough of one to wear on the day of the barracks, bringing to an end an effort was made to reach a march and rally a black ribbon the longest continuous cam- political resolution of the in solidarity with their families. paign in British Army his- conflict. The admission was Gerry Adams said: “Dur- tory. Codenamed by the Brit- further evidence of the valid- ing over three decades of ish army, Operation Banner, ity of the long-standing re- conflict successive British the campaign began with the publican argument that the governments employed deployment of three British British could not defeat repub- shoot-to-kill operations; rub- army infantry battalions to the lican demands by military ber and plastic bullets; North of Ireland in 1969. means and that British policy counter-gangs directly run by But within two years, the in Ireland was wrong headed. MI5 and others, as well as the inability of the British military Commenting on the end- various unionist paramilitary to subdue the popular upris- ing of the British army’s cam- organisations to wage a war ing emerging out of the Civil paign, Sinn Féin North Belfast of terror against the national- Rights Movement and spear- MLA [northern Ireland As- ist and republican people. headed by the IRA, eventu- sembly MP] Gerry Kelly said “Thousands were injured, ally lead to the deployment of that when the British Army ar- over a thousand people killed around 30,000 British soldiers rived on the streets of the and many families were forced at over a 100 different loca- North in 1969 it quickly be- to flee their homes. tions. came clear that it would be an “Collusion and the use of Over 300,000 British sol- oppressive force. counter-gangs were an inte- diers have served in the North “When the British Army gral part of British policy. in the intervening years and arrived in the North in 1969 it • British troops on Irish streets – good riddance! “The decision to pursue were directly responsible for quickly became clear that it a response that included tor- “They had it on file. They quences can be seen by ev- this approach was taken at the killing hundreds of people would be an oppressive force ture, shoot-to-kill and collu- used to walk into houses at eryone. highest levels of the British across the Six Counties. The and would be used against sion with loyalist death night and count everyone “It was only when repub- state and in some instances British military were also re- the nationalist community to squads. The military response there – from babies up – to licans forced the British gov- the orders to kill came directly sponsible for the deaths of at maintain British rule”, Kelly failed.” keep check,” Kelly said. ernment to admit that the con- from Downing Street and were least 1,000 more people North said. Speaking to the media “When you talk about flict would only be resolved subsequently publicly de- and South through their di- “While the so-called Op- Kelly, himself a former IRA Orwell’s book 1984, this was through political negotiations fended by British Ministers. rection of and collusion with eration Banner had been in re- prisoner, said the latest devel- real Big Brother stuff big that progress was achieved.” “In recent time a series of unionist paramilitaries. From sponse to the loyalist po- opment was hugely signifi- time,” he said. This year’s annual August reports by the Ombudsman’s 1st August the number of groms against the nationalist cant. During the early ’70s, “The harassment was so national march in Belfast has office and by international ju- troops in the North will be re- community, that had been when he was on the run, Kelly in your face. These are emo- as its theme “March for rists into scores of killings duced to a “peacetime” garri- supported the B-Specials and said, details of nearly every tive words but it was oppres- Truth”. have exposed the extent to son of around 5,000. Earlier RUC [Royal Ulster Constabu- working-class Catholic’s sive in a very personal way. The objective of the which British intelligence, last month an internal report lary], the brutalisation of na- home was held on computers, That’s the type of thing that march is to draw attention to MI5, the UDR and the RUC examining the British army’s tionalists across the North with people being stopped by was put under the banner of the major issue of collusion Special Branch managed the role in the Six Counties over a caused huge suffering. soldiers and asked to describe counter-intelligence,” the Six and British state violence, and death squads, provided infor- period of almost four decades “The British Army was part the colour of the wallpaper in County junior minister said. the administrative and insti- mation, weapons and training concluded it did not and of a military response to a situ- the house where they were But, he claimed, this was sim- tutional cover-up by the Brit- in the use of those weapons. could not defeat the IRA. ation that was political. It was staying. ply a repetition of the tactics ish government and its state “I am appealing for people used by the British army in agencies, of a policy which to demonstrate their support every part of the world where resulted in many thousands and solidarity with all of the they went as a colonial occu- of victims who were killed, in- victims and their families by pier. jured or bereaved. attending the march on 12th “The tactics used by the Sinn Féin President Gerry August and by wearing a British Army here are the same Adams MP is urging people black ribbon on the day.” 10th AUGUST 1961 as the ones being deployed to come out in their thou- in Iraq today and the conse- sands in support of the many An Phoblacht by Len Aldis ried out research over a num- In March 2006 Judge ber of years on the areas that Jack Weinstein ruled against EACH YEAR on 10th August were sprayed, where the the Vietnamese. Although a the people of Vietnam, and chemicals were stored, and setback it was not a defeat, their friends around the in some cases spilt. That re- for in the period before the Democratic Korea’s world commemorate the search continues to this day. case came to his Court world anniversary of the use of Yet it is within the past 10 opinion had clearly ex- chemicals by US forces on years that the effect of Agent pressed its support and Chemical Engineers Vietnam. Although their use Orange has come to the at- added its voice to the call for was stopped 36 years ago, tention of the international Justice for the Victims. the legacy has travelled community. President An appeal against the establishing the Juche-ori- a prosperous nation. Now, it down the years until today, Clinton’s visit to Vietnam in ruling was launched and af- by Han Chol Ju ented vinalon industry and is steadily improving the 46 years on, there are over 2000 and his meeting with ter a number of delays the replacing the facilities of a teaching work in the IT era. It three million Vietnamese the then president of the Viet- hearing was set for 18th June THE HAMHUNG University fertiliser factory with large- has launched information en- suffering from various ill- nam Red Cross, Prof 2007 in the Court of Appeals, of Chemical Engineering is sized and modern ones. gineering, bio-chemical engi- nesses and physical dis- Nguyen Trong Nhan, focused New York. The arguments a centre for producing the Today the university has neering, nano material chemi- abilities. the issue clearly when Prof were heard and now we wait scientists and technicians of chemical process and chemical engineering and other The destruction of the Nhan handed a letter to for the ruling of the three Ap- the chemical industry in the cal material engineering, inor- courses and is giving educa- forests, vital for any country, Clinton drawing his attention peal Judges. Democratic People’s Repub- ganic salt engineering and tion based on the latest sci- has had a lasting effect on to the issue and requesting It was tragic that follow- lic of Korea and it was estab- many other faculties and de- ence and technology. It has the environment. It will take assistance. ing the Court hearing, two of lished on 15th September partments, labs, a postgradu- linked the existing experimen- many years before once From that meeting, Agent the four Vietnamese victims ate school, an engineering re- tal equipment to computers again the land of Vietnam is Orange entered the interna- 1947. who had attended the Court President Kim Il Sung vis- search institute, a library and and developed relevant sup- as green as before. But it is tional arena and has re- and had returned home a practice plant. port programmes, thus solv- the lasting effect on the mained so since. The form- passed away. ited the university in June 1948 to examine the blueprints Hamhung university runs ing the problems arising in the people themselves that has ing of the organisation Viet- Nguyen Thi Hong and correspondence and evening sector of the chemical indus- been the greatest tragedy, in nam Association for Victims Nguyen Van Quy, will not hear for the new building. Later, he gave detailed instructions on courses under the study- try. particular when you see a of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) the ruling of the judges, nor while-working system, and It frequently organises child, or a teenager minus a brought the issue further to will the many thousands of the project and had money allotted for its construction. branches at main plants collective critiques of teach- limb or limbs, or their bodies the worlds attention when it victims who have died since ing and demonstration lec- twisted, which is painful to was decided to begin a law- the spraying stopped in 1972 After sending modern experi- throughout the country. In witness, as are many other suit against the chemical – 35 years ago. They must mental appliances and teach- addition, it has a print shop tures in accordance with the disabilities. companies that manufac- not be forgotten even though ing materials to it several for publishing textbooks and trend in the development of Over the years within tured the chemicals used in they, like Hong and Quy, were times to improve its teaching reference books on chemistry modern science and technol- Vietnam there have been the war. denied justice through the level, he gave instructions on and the chemical industry. ogy so as to improve teach- people, organisations carry- The prospect of the law- actions of the US Government producing technical talents Scores of merited scien- ers’ qualities. Meanwhile it is ing out day-to-day help for the suit led to international and the chemical compa- for the chemical industry in tists, associate academicians, putting efforts in the educa- victims. With the numbers friends coming into in- nies headed by Monsanto large numbers. professors and doctors teach tion of gifted students and the growing into millions, the creased activity. Meetings of and Dow Chemicals in refus- Under his instructions, at the institution. Most of students of the post-graduate task has become impossible support were held, petitions ing to accept their responsi- the university has since pro- them are in their 30s and 40s. school so that they are theo- for the country to cater for all were and launched, and met bility. duced a lot of scientists and The teachers and re- retically and practically pre- the needs of the victims. In- with overwhelming positive technicians who greatly con- searchers have recently pared as capable people with ternational help on a scale response. We who remain must tributed to the establishment achieved many successes in practical ability. not yet seen by any man- One such action was the continue the struggle for Jus- of various sectors of the research projects including The graduates of the uni- made disaster is badly and online petition at: tice. On 10th August we must chemical industry, including the development of a porce- versity are now playing an urgently needed. www.petitiononline.com/ remember those who are no the basic chemical industry. lain precision filter membrane important role in factories, Research scientists AOVN/ at the time of writing longer with us, and pledge to And it achieved successes in for making water healthier and enterprises, scientific and from a number of countries over 707,000 people have continue their work until jus- developing the chemical in- the synthesis of sterilisers, all educational institutions and including Vietnam have car- given it their support. tice is won. dustry in a diversified manner, conducive to the building of state and economic agencies.

Page 8 10 August 2007

International News Web: www.newworker.org Fax 020 7223 4057 Hiroshima Two Koreas summit this August TENS OF THOUSANDS gathered in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Monday NORTH and south Korea an- south Korean counterpart on morning to mark the 62nd announced on Wednesday that the tarmac immediately upon niversary of the day the their leaders will hold sum- landing, showing a human United States dropped its first mit talks this month, the first side of the North Korean atomic bomb. Three days since the historic 2000 meet- leader known for his trade- later – on 9th August 1945 – ing that launched unprec- mark jumpsuit and sunglasses. another US bomber dropped edented reconciliation be- Kim Jong Il promised at a plutonium bomb on the city tween the two long-time foes. that time to make a return visit of Nagasaki. An estimated North Korean leader Kim to south Korea for a summit, 140,000 people were killed Jong Il and south Korean but it appeared security con- instantly on this date 62 years President Roh Moo Hyun will cerns made that impossible for ago, or died within a few meet in the last week of Au- this month’s meeting. Kim months after the bombing. gust in Pyongyang, the capi- rarely travels abroad, and Another 80,000 were killed tal of the DPR Korea. leaves the country solely via when the US dropped its sec- At the only other such train. ond bomb on Nagasaki. North-South summit, Kim met The summit comes at a At 8:15 this Monday bells then-south Korean President time of optimism on the pen- rang throughout the city to Kim Dae Jung in June 2000, insula as north Korea has mark the time when a US B-29 also in Pyongyang. made strides in abandoning its warplane dropped the bomb. North Korea also released nuclear weapons programme, Residents of Hiroshima ob- a statement confirming an including shutting down its served a minute’s silence in agreement on the summit sole operating nuclear reactor memory of those who per- signed on Sunday between last month in exchange for oil ished. Earlier, Hiroshima the heads of the two coun- aid. The United States and Mayor Tadayoshi Akiba tries’ intelligence agencies. other regional powers are ne- spoke at a rally and criticised “The meeting between the gotiating with north Korea on Japanese Prime Minister top leaders of the North and • North and south Korean women carry a symbol of Korean unity. a timeline for the nation to Shinzo Abe’s backing of the South will be of weighty declare all its nuclear President George W Bush’s significance in opening a new eign Ministry spokesman Liu people of the peninsula, and 1950-53 Korean War ended in programmes and disable the foreign policy. He said: “We phase of peace on the Korean Jianchao. conduces to regional peace a ceasefire, not a peace treaty, facilities. should adhere strictly to our peninsula,” the statement “China has always been and stability. but the 2000 meeting led them Roh has repeatedly said Peace Constitution, which we said. supporting whatever benefits And in Washington, the to embark on economic coop- that he would meet with Kim should be proud of, and say “The second inter-Korean peace and stability of the Ko- State Department hailed the eration projects and reunions at any time and any place and clearly ‘no’ to the US’s out- summit will contribute to sub- rean Peninsula and Northeast announcement in a statement. of families split by their shared there has been persistent talk dated and mistaken policies in stantially opening the era of Asia,” said Liu. “We have long welcomed and border — the world’s most this year that a North-South the world.” peace and prosperity be- As a neighbour of the supported North-South dia- heavily fortified. summit was possible. The Commentators strongly tween the two Koreas,” south Korean Peninsula, China has logue and hope this meeting Kim Dae Jung won a conservative opposition criticised the decision in 1945 Korea’s presidential office been supportive of the south will help promote peace and Nobel Peace Prize for his ef- blasted such potential plans, by then-US President Harry S said. and north for the improve- security on the Korean Pen- forts to engage North Korea however, calling them an elec- Truman, who ignored the In Beijing, China hopes ment of relationships through insula and fulfilling the goals through his so-called sun- tion ploy ahead of south suggestions of numerous mili- the forthcoming second sum- dialogue, he said. And it also of the six-party talks,” it said. shine policy. Korea’s December presiden- tary officials who urged him mit would lead to “positive conforms to the fundamental The two Koreas remain At the 2000 summit, Kim tial vote. to authorise the atomic bomb- results,” said Chinese For- interest of the 70 million technically at war since the Jong Il warmly greeted his China Daily ing of an isolated, uninhab- ited Pacific island. They argued that this would show the Japanese what the US was capable of doing if they didn’t Oligarchy in Ecuador backing surrender. Truman decided to bomb civilians instead and many believe the idea was to use the atomic victims as hu- president’s assassination! man guinea pigs, to study the effects of the radiation on live by Nidia Diaz recent escalated attacks on outbreak of popular rebel- national oligarchy will be- It is a matter of trying to subjects. the new administration, liousness. come more aggressive and prevent the consummation Historians say that Harry DESTABILISATION at- which is trying to end the The last few weeks have crude. Its responsibility is of social plans for the S Truman was even ready to tempts and revelations of neo-liberal system, in line been witness to a heighten- only too obvious in market coastal region, for which a authorise the use of at least plans to assassinate with Correa’s election cam- ing of these destabilisation speculations that have al- Guayaquil-based ministry seven more atomic weapons Ecuador’s president are paign promises, is the fear plans, in which Congress – ready caused an unprec- has been created, headed on Japan. According to re- the most concrete evi- shown by right-wing forces as may be expected – is edented rise in prices for by Ricardo Patiño, the ports now coming to light, the dence yet of how the ini- and their economically pow- playing a primary role. This basic foodstuffs, with the former minister of economy, US expected to have another tial months of Rafael erful sponsors in response legislature has thwarted goal of angering the people who had to resign from his atomic bomb ready for use Correa’s presidency have to the installation of a Con- laws proposed by the ad- and prompting them to re- former post due to during the third week of Au- been moving against the stituent Assembly in which ministration aimed at ben- act against the government. manoeuvres by right-wing gust that year — with three interests of the oligarchy the democratically-elected efiting the majority, includ- With just a little over six legislators. more in September and an- and transnational corpo- majority would support ing a law on financial regu- months in power, President They are now attempt- other three in October 1945. rations. change. lation and another strength- Rafael Correa still enjoys ing to manoeuvre against Radio Havana Cuba The reason behind the We should not forget ening sanctions on fuel popularity ratings of over 60 President Correa, as they that on the road to the Con- smuggling. per cent, and that is another look for an opportunity to stituent Assembly it be- The first, called the Fi- concern for those who are take him to court as a step came necessary for the nancial Justice Law, was willing to do anything to get toward his impeachment. Supreme Electoral Court to designed to regulate bank- him out of the presidential There is no question that remove 57 legislators from ing, which would have re- palace. the two remaining months office due to their obstruc- duced profits for that sec- And these are not just before the election of Con- tionist, illegal conduct. tor by $200 million annually, threats. The Attorney Gen- stituent Assembly mem- Not to mention the de- an amount that would be eral and Ministry of Defence bers have raised the politi- cision announced by Presi- allocated to social have both begun investiga- cal temperature and dent Correa himself that his programmes to benefit poor tion into leaked plans to speeded up plans to desta- government would not ex- Ecuadorians. assassinate the president bilize the government and tend its contract with the It was with good reason as well as to destabilise the the president. United States for maintain- that the president, in an in- country. You don’t have to be a ing its military base in terview with Canal Uno TV, In this context, just a rocket scientist to under- Manta. referred to an assassination few days ago the mayor of stand that these This is a decision that plot detected by intelligence Guayaquil, Jaime Nebot of manoeuvres by political and no doubt affects the hege- services and asked his in- the Social Christian Party, economic right-wing forces, monic interests of Washing- terviewer, “If the Financial took a stance of public op- which could drag along ton and its plans to Justice Law had passed, it position to Correa, some sectors of the left, are militarise the region in its would have cut bank profits criticising the government in response to the little zeal to spread and maintain by $200 million. Can you and encouraging fellow citi- chance they have of being its encirclement of the new imagine how much cheaper zens to call for that region’s the majority in the future populist, nationalist, revolu- it would be to send a hired autonomy during a public Constituent Assembly, tionary and anti-imperialist assassin (to kill me)?” event, asserting: which intends to end the governments that are be- Given the possibility of “Guayaquil is autonomous neo-liberal model and to re- coming consolidated on the its interests – untouchable with or without a law, with cover Ecuador’s sover- continent, and to be pre- until now – being affected, or without a Constituent As- eignty.

pared to smother any new there is no question that the sembly.” Granma as a newspaper. Printed by New Age Press (TU). Registed at the Post Office