WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!

No 1429 Week commencing 16 March 2007 Weekly paper of the New Communist Party of Britain 50p TRIDENT REVOLT by Daphne Liddle and scaled a crane next to on this issue, and that in- AROUND 95 rebel Labour MPs last Wednesday Big Ben. The protesters cludes those ministers who had arrived by boat and we know either do not sup- voted against their own government’s proposals found a crane barge near to replace the Trident nuclear missile system with port this it who have seri- Westminster pier ous doubts about the un- a new nuclear weapons system, costing at least They unfurled a 50- timely decision-making pro- £20 billion but estimated as nearer £80 billion by foot banner with the slogan cess the Prime Minister is many. “Tony loves WMD”. And forcing on us.” They voted in support Government’s determina- they claimed that from the Harry Cohen, Labour of an amendment tabled by tion to go ahead with the top of the crane they were MP for Leyton and backbench Labour MP Jon Trident replacement. They phoning MPs, “urging then Wanstead, said: “It is a fic- Tricket that would have de- were deputy leader of the not to support new weap- tion to pretend the new Tri- ferred any decision on Tri- House of Commons Nigel ons of mass destruction”. dent is right for Britain dent until after the next Griffiths and government A spokesperson for when it is plainly wrong. general election. aides Stephen Pound, Jim Greenpeace said police at- “The facts are that it is But the amendment Devine and Chris Ruane. tempted to stop the four exorbitantly expensive, to- was defeated, by 413 votes Nigel Griffiths handed campaigners – two men tally useless against terror- to 167 because the Tory in his resignation on Tues- and two women – as they ism and a green light for party backed Blair’s posi- day “with a heavy heart but began their climb. “The four proliferation.” tion on Trident. The Liberal a clear conscience”. He volunteers aim to occupy Democrats voted with the said he took his inspiration the crane until the vote no enemy rebels. from the late Robin Cook, takes place,” he said. And In a second vote, taken who resigned as Foreign they did. • Protesters leave their mark in Scotland. Michael Meacher, MP on the substantive motion Secretary in 2003 in pro- On the ground in Par- for Oldham and Royton, to opt for the Trident re- test at the invasion of Iraq. liament Square a huge pro- help destroy it. The £75 bil- “Blair took us into an said: “We’re in the post placement, the Govern- test demonstration as- lion that could be wasted on illegal war over weapons cold-war environment, ment won by 409 votes to for peace sembled on Wednesday as new Trident could go a long of mass destruction that when there is no nuclear 161 – once again relying on the vote drew nearer. Some way to helping Britain re- didn’t even exist, and now enemy in sight and the Min- Tory support to win. Griffiths added: “After were arrested after chain- duce carbon emissions, he wants to tear up the istry of Defence cannot “How does it feel to be reading the White Paper ing themselves to concrete build some of the transport nuclear non-proliferation actually suggest any part of the Tory opposi- entitled the Future of the models of Trident missiles. infrastructure we desper- treaty to build some new nuclear enemy in the fore- tion?” Channel Four News United Kingdom’s The protesters had the ately need and bolster our ones of his own – there is seeable future which might presenter Jon Snow asked nuclear deterrent, I have support of trade unions. public services. only one word for that, and require nuclear weapons as the government spokesper- concluded that it has no Bob Crow, general secre- it is hypocrisy.” a security.” son Kim Howells MP. future; that this country tary of the RMT transport divorced John McDonnell, who The Government won This is the biggest has to become a country for union, said: “Today the is set to challenge Gordon its vote; that was never in backbench rebellion since peace, not a country for Government is publishing a “Forcing Trident Brown’s succession to doubt. But having to rely on the vote in 2003 to endorse war.” Bill which underlines the through with the help of Blair as the next prime Min- opposition votes to do so the illegal invasion of Iraq. On Tuesday evening, need for action to save the Tory votes in the face of ister, said the votes would was a betrayal of their elec- The rebels included the day before the parlia- planet, yet tomorrow they public opinion shows just be “a defining moment” for toral mandate – such is four junior government mentary debate, intend to force through how divorced from the real the Government. “It’s bourgeois democracy! ministers who had resigned Greenpeace activists foiled plans to spend billions on world the Government has time,” he said, “for people their posts in protest at the a heavy police presence nuclear weapons that can become. to stand up and be counted FUND

Baghdad conference: Our fund did very well last week, bring- ing us £1,156.40 – no concrete outcome the best for quite a long time. It brings our March total so far by our Arab Affairs presence felt by lobbing mor- Army for support amongst the ers, who call the areas un- cuse the Americans of try- to £1,631.85 and Correspondent tar shells into the fortified poor Shia Muslims of der their control the “Islamic ing to set up an alternative Green Zone military com- Baghdad and the south. Al State of Iraq”, said the pur- Baathist leadership com- leaves £1,368.15 to THE INTERNATIONAL con- pound, shattering glass Sadr has not been seen in pose of the conference spon- posed of Iraqi Baathists raise to reach our ference in Baghdad is panes in the conference public for a month and his sored by US imperialism based in Syria who “officially monthly target of over but what has it venue while the meeting was enemies claim he’s lying low was to promote “national rec- wanted to participate into £3,000. achieved? The answer in session. in Iran. None of Al Fadhila’s onciliation” to provide the the political process and We thank our depends on which way The puppet regime leaders were rewarded with Americans with an exit strat- collaborate with the puppet London Scot for £10 you look at it. Represen- claims it initiated the talks posts for their past loyalty and egy, or as they put “find a de- Maliki government or any and another comrade tatives of the five veto and it was predictably up- many suspect they’re now cent exit for the armies of the other” to divide the Baath. going to try and forge an alli- Cross out of the crisis that And this is why the execu- for £10. The collec- powers at the UN – Brit- beat in its assessment. tion at our Karl ain, China, France, Russia “The meeting was con- ance with the official Sunni they’re living; an exit that will tion of Saddam Hussein and the United States structive and positive in its parties to replace the current save face (for their forces) in was brought forward at the Marx social last Sat- took part in it along with atmosphere and its compo- pack of stooges with a new front of the entire world”. end of last year, to get him urday raised £392 Syria, Iran, Turkey, puppet sition” puppet “foreign min- “national reconciliation” gov- The Baath analysis was out of the way before this and the rest came government leaders and ister” Hoshiyar Zebari told the ernment. more complex. They agree process could begin. from bankers orders officials from the Arab media after the event. The that the Americans took this “It is clear therefore” the and we thank all of League and the same cannot be said of his too close initiative because of the “co- Baath statement says “that you sincerely. Organisation of Islamic own stooge government. The lossal failure” of the invasion the Conference to be held but they see the attempt to in Baghdad is nothing else We ask you now Conference. Shia Al Fadhila (Islamic Vir- This would also serve the not to become com- But after 10 hours of tue Party) has left the “United interest as the Americans internationalise the crisis as but another US attempt to closed-door talks, the only Iraqi Alliance” – the main bloc believe puppet premier Nouri a move to prolong the US drag some Arab govern- placent; we are half agreement was to hold in the puppet parliament – al Maliki is too close to the occupation by other means. ments into selling Iraq for a way through the another gathering. They after accusing the coalition of Iranians and the Shia militias They suspect that the Ameri- very cheap price and for a month and just over did not specify the place or pursuing “faulty sectarian responsible for some of the cans are trying to draw Iran, few pennies”. But this, the half way to the target. date but the Turks have of- policies”. tit-for-tat sectarian killings Syria, Turkey and Saudi Baath say, will only lead to We must keep up fered to host the next meet- The departure of this across the country. Arabia into this scheme with the stepping up of the re- this rate. ing in Istanbul. small Shia party with 15 seats Needless to say both the promises to give Iran a sistance fight which will greater say in the future of leave the Americans with Please send The only significant in the Baghdad parliament is Baathist underground and Al whatever you can to Iraqi force not present at no big deal in itself but the Qaeda in Iraq areas have is- Iraq and offering Syria only two choices – a humili- last weekend’s meeting timing is significant. Al sued statements condemn- progress in recovering the ating and a dishonourable the New Worker was, of course, the resis- Fadhila competes with ing the whole exercise. occupied Golan Heights from withdrawal or a fatal col- Fund, PO Box 73, tance. But they made their Muqtada al Sadr’s Mahdi Al Qaeda’s Iraqi follow- Israel. They specifically ac- lapse. London SW11 2PQ. Page 2 THE NEW WORKER 16 March 2007 email: [email protected] News Desk 020 7223 4050

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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123Say no more Exorcising Bush laws, foreign ministry Maya leaders in Guate- steeples as mobile phone protect the grave even though spokeswoman Zehavit mala are to perform a spe- masts – which brings the they knew it was being tar- Ben-Hillel told reporters. Weekly paper of the New Communist Party cial cleaning ceremony at church a very useful income geted. She confirmed that lu- ancient ruins to clear bad – but which can be used to “Vampire hunter” rid reports of the incident energy after the recent visit relay pornographic transmis- Miroslav Milosevic said they in the Israeli press were by President Bush on his sions. believed Slobodan’s spirit accurate. “We’re talking The trap tour of South and Central The church’s highest could return to haunt the about behaviour that is un- America. court, The Court of the country if the ritual was not becoming of a diplomat,” ADAM CURTIS’ BBC2 documentary The Trap shown Bush visited the Mayan Arches, is to hear an appeal performed. she said. ruins of Iximche in Guate- after a diocesan judge ruled Slobodan Milosevic died last Sunday (the first of three parts) on modern western th ruling class thinking and policy-making revealed a cold, mala as part of his tour of that the churches were acting on 11 March 2006. Captain America killed bleak world where the powerful trust no one, especially the Latin American region. against the law when they “fa- not each other. But when he left Maya pro- cilitated the transmission of Naked ambassador Marvel Comics has Curtis showed how this thinking began in the Cold testers held a ceremony to pornography, even in a slight killed off one of its most War when American military scientists were trying to an- restore peace and harmony or modest way”. Israel has recalled its am- iconic superheroes: the ticipate when and how the Soviets might attack them. They to the area. bassador to El Salvador after stars-and-stripes wearing had made a fundamental wrong assumption – that the Morales Toj said: “We Desecration he was found drunk and na- Captain America. Blond Soviets wanted to attack them. Their own intelligence ser- will burn incense, place ked apart from bondage gear. and blue-eyed, he repre- vices had told them this was not so but they ignored this. flowers and water in the area Slobodan Milosevic’s Reports say he was able to sented an image that many Instead they developed strategies based on “Game where Mr Bush has walked daughter Marija Milosevic identify himself to police only Americans believed em- Theory”, invented by mathematician John Nash – later to clean out the bad en- has hired security guards to after a rubber ball had been bodied the spirit of their diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic – at the Rand Cor- ergy.” protect her father’s body from removed from his mouth. nation. poration. This aimed to maintain a balance of power that Indigenous leader vampire hunters. The self- An Israeli foreign minis- The character’s death would prevent a Soviet attack out of fear and self-interest. Rodolfo Pocop complained: styled vampire hunters have try official described Ambas- comes as he leaves a court- These were the only motives that the American military “No, Mr Bush, you cannot already made one attempt at sador Tzuriel Refael’s house where, as a fugitive could comprehend. Then Nash produced mathematical trample and degrade the driving a wooden stake behaviour as an unprec- resistance leader, he has formulae to calculate exactly how many Soviet cities would memory of our ancestors. through the former Yugoslav edented embarrassment. come to surrender under a have to be nuked to discourage them from retaliating. This is not your ranch in president’s heart to “stop him San Salvador was Refael’s Superhero Registration Then they tried to apply these principles and formu- Texas.” returning from the dead”. first post as ambassador. He Act, which requires super- lae to the whole of human behaviour – reducing the whole Milosevic is buried in the was promoted in 2006 from a heroes to register their ser- of society to numbers that could be fed into computers to Unholy transmission front garden of his former technical position in the min- vices and outlaws vigilan- predict exactly what people would do. It was the crudest home in the northern Serbian istry which had involved sev- tism. Captain America is possible form of mechanistic materialism. Nash claimed The Church of England town of Pozarevac. His eral foreign postings. shot three times by a sniper that humans were naturally calculating and always seek- has been thrown into tur- daughter Marija said local He was being recalled, al- as he leaves the court ing an advantage over their fellows and this led to equilib- moil over the use of church police had refused to act to though he had not broken any house. rium. This system could only work if everyone behaved selfishly. As soon as people started co-operating together, instability ensued. Nash and his colleagues tried tests, using secretaries as guinea pigs. Contrary to expectations, the women pre- MPs vote for all-elected Lords ferred to cooperate with other people rather than try to cheat them – but he ignored the results which proved that by Caroline Colebrook the instinct to cooperate is innate within all of us. The human race could not have survived any other way. The Austrian-born bourgeois economist Friedrich von PRIME Minister Tony Blair Hayek took up Nash’s principles and applied them to eco- suffered a huge defeat in the nomics, declaring that altruism was a bad thing because it House of Commons last week was unpredictable and so led to instability. The only hu- when MPs voted by 337 to 224 man traits that could be relied on were fear and greed; against the New Labour gov- society could only be safe if everyone was allowed to act ernment policy and in favour upon their own greed and this would lead to a natural of a reformed House of Lords balance of forces. Curtis forgot to mention that this ap- to be entirely elected. plied only to the bourgeoisie – as soon as the workers This will set the Commons started acting in their own interest, Hayek and his follow- on course for a historic con- ers wanted trade unions banned in this new “freedom” frontation with the existing they sought. House of Lords and some Hayek was Margaret Thatcher’s inspiration when she political commentators be- declared that “greed is good” and “there is no such thing lieve that some traditionalist as society”. MPs may have voted this Curtis then skipped to the theories of psychologist way as a deliberate ploy to RD Laing, who discovered that spending time talking to sabotage hopes of getting young women diagnosed as schizophrenics had a better support for the reforms from success rate than giving them insulin-induced comas or the House of Lords itself. electric shocks – but that they relapsed when sent home. A different option, for an He then studied how the pressures inside narrow bour- 80 per cent elected second geois nuclear families, when they function badly, can have house, was also supported • A Labour poster of 1910 – and we are still not there yet! a disastrous effect on the mental health of vulnerable mem- but by a smaller majority. bers of the family. One Government spokes- elected and 50 per cent ap- 392; 80 per cent elected – stained on the 100 per cent The followers of Nash and Hayek took this as a vindi- person said: “The Lords will pointed. backed by 305 to 267 and fully vote. Peers are to vote on the cation of their extreme individualism and proof that the look on this and say ‘We’re This received the fewest elected – backed by 337 to reform later this week and family, like the rest of society, was full of individuals moti- all doomed,’ so they’ll throw votes of the seven options, 224. Straw expects them to back a vated only by fear and greed and that love and affection it our.” which were: a fully appointed Blair only took part in the fully appointed second cham- were merely tools used to manipulate others – rather than The votes is an embar- Lords, rejected by 196 to 375; vote on 50 per cent. Straw ber but said the Commons evidence that the extremely narrow nuclear family in bour- rassment for Blair and for Jack 20 per cent elected –rejected voted against the 100 per cent vote would give them “pause geois society isolates some people from the moral sup- Straw, who last month drew without a vote; 40 per cent option but several Cabinet for thought”. port of wider society. Once again they tried to analyse up the Government’s White elected – rejected without a Ministers voted for it, includ- The changes are not ex- human behaviour with special questionnaires; the results Paper on Lords reform, which vote; 50 per cent – rejected ing David Miliband, Hazel pected to be implemented un- fed into huge computers which decided who was mad and recommended a second cham- by 155 to 418; 60 per cent Blears, Peter Hain and Alistair til after Blair has retired next who was not on the basis of number crunching. Once ber that was 50 per cent elected – rejected by 178 to Darling. John Prescott ab- summer. again it was pure mechanics applied to human behaviour where an understanding of dialectics was most needed. The computers concluded that most Americans were mad to one degree or another. But the disordered thinking exposed by Curtis is the Serious signal blunder by scabs logical conclusion of capitalism. It is not the ugly face of THE RMT transport union “This was a potentially knowledge, and this shocking ing near a box for five years. capitalism because capitalism does not have a good face warned that a potentially se- very dangerous signalling incident underlines those “We have also learned of – certainly not at this stage of its development. Curtis rious signalling blunder at blunder at Waverley which concerns. six safety critical track faults examined it from a bourgeois perspective that finds itself Haymarket station in Scot- could have resulted in two “I have today asked the in the Glasgow Central area disappointed that the efforts of Nash and Hayek have land earlier this week has trains running in the same inspectorate to look into this that the S&T team were told changed the world but not for the better and that the “free- highlighted the union’s fears track section, or a derailment,” specific incident and a num- simply to leave, and even the doms” they preach have led to wars and disasters like over the use of inadequately RMT general secretary Bob ber of other safety-critical fail- case of a secretary working a Iraq. Communists and socialists were telling them that from trained scab managers to staff Crow said on Monday. ures we have information on, 12-hour shift as a caretaker the start – but the whole programme ignores any left-wing signal boxes during the cur- “Had this mistake been and to take urgent steps to and taking potentially safety- perspectives. rent dispute with Network made by one of our members ensure that the safety of our critical calls with no safety The contradictions within capitalism have rendered it Rail in Scotland. it would have been regarded members and the travelling training at all. dangerously insane and it will render the human race ex- RMT has asked the Rail- as a serious matter and would public is not further compro- “Rather than risking tinct if it is not stopped. Fortunately all around the world ways Inspectorate to take ur- certainly have resulted in dis- mised. people’s lives in a fruitless there are millions of people who have no private property gent action to stop Network ciplinary action being taken “Our reps have collated attempt to undermine our to be obsessed with; who know they depend on each Rail further jeopardising against the signaller respon- a number of disturbing re- members’ solid industrial ac- other and how to cooperate – the true proletariat of the safety after the 07:15 Glasgow sible. ports, including the case of a tion, Network Rail should be world and they are not taken in by this lunacy. Socialism is Queen St to Edinburgh train “I have already ex- part-time trainer who had been putting its efforts into engag- growing in Latin America, Asia and Africa. It is recovering was signalled to proceed in pressed my grave concerns to retired from signalling on ill- ing with us to implement the in Europe and America. Capitalism will be swept away like both directions when it was the Railways Inspectorate at health grounds with a heart 35-hour week agreement we a bad dream. terminated at Haymarket sta- the unsafe use of scab man- condition being pressured to signed last summer,” Bob tion at around 08:00. agers without suitable local staff a box in despite not be- Crow said. 16 March 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 3 Home News Newsdesk 020 7223 4050 Amicus Forced and Unions fight HSE job cuts removal sparks TGWU TRADE unionists are cam- resents workers in scientific, devoted to their memory. O’Leary. “They die because paigning against Govern- technical, construction, elec- It was originally estab- an employer decided their battle at ment plans to cut the number trical, printing, graphic and a lished in Canada in 1989 and safety just wasn’t that impor- members of health and safety inspec- variety of other occupations, quickly spread worldwide as tant a priority; 1,600 people Campsfield tors after an alarming in- is asking its members to put a day to remember those who die each year in UK while do- back new crease in the number of fatal their names to a petition ask- have died at work or from dis- ing their job and 20,000 die AMBULANCES took nine accidents on building sites. ing the Government in Britain eases contracted at work. It from work related diseases. people to hospital suffering Seventy-four people died to officially recognise 28th became an international day “The country should re- from smoke inhalation on union in building site accidents in April as Worker’s Memorial in 1996 and was adopted by member them on this day, as Wednesday morning from the the last 11 months, which is a Day. (See http:// the TUC in 1999, and has since they do in other countries and Campsfield House detention MEMBERS of two very big 14 per cent increase over the petitions.pm.gov.uk/ been commemorated in thou- by doing so reduce this centre in Oxford after a dis- general unions, Amicus and number who died in the pre- workersmemorial/ ) sands of activities around the slaughter.” turbance. the Transport and General vious 12 months. A message from the world, as well as being offi- Trade unions and trades This was sparked when Workers’ Union, have voted Now, in the run up to In- Union’s Research Officer, cially recognised by a grow- councils will be holding immigration officers tried to to merge to create Britain’s ternational Workers’ Memo- Chris O’Leary, says that ev- ing number of national gov- events to mark the occasion th remove an Algerian inmate for newest and biggest trade rial Day, on 28 April, con- ery year more people are killed ernments. throughout the country. immediate deportation while, union with around two million struction and civil service at work than die in wars, and “Most workers don’t die The deadline for signing according to his fellow in- members. unions Ucatt, Prospect and that 28th April is the interna- of mystery ailments, or in is 28 April 2007 – Workers’ mates, a review of his case In the ballot to approve PCS last week issued a state- tional commemoration day tragic ‘accidents’,” says Memorial Day itself. was still pending. the creation of the as yet un- ment: “The increase in fatali- A group of detainees set named new union, the TGWU ties has occurred alongside fire to buildings and started gave the go-ahead by 86.4 per the massive cutbacks at the to destroy equipment, espe- cent for merger and Amicus Health and Safety Executive, cially computers. members voted 70.1 per cent the body responsible for in- Seven immigration staff at for merger. Both unions specting workplaces. the centre, which is run by achieved a 27 per cent turn- “The HSE are being private company GEO UK out. forced to cut 283 jobs by 2008. Limited, and two detainees This gives a mandate for The job losses come on top were taken to hospital. a new union which, subject to of year-on-year real-term fi- Police, fire and ambulance the completion of legal re- nancial cuts at the HSE since teams attended the scene, quirements, will come into 2002.” along with a number of Tor- being on 1st May. It will cover Further cuts are expected nado units – teams of prison a huge range of industries and as the HSE is a part of the officers specially trained and services including transport, Department of Work and Pen- equipped to deal with riots. manufacturing, aviation, food sions, which is being be The centre, which opened and farming, the financial sec- forced to make cuts of five per in 1993, holds 200 adult male tor as well as public services cent from its spending over detainees, including failed and the voluntary sector the next three years. asylum seekers and immigra- amongst many others. Ucatt general secretary tion offenders awaiting depor- TGWU general secretary Alan Ritchie said: “The Gov- tation. Tony Woodley and Amicus ernment must reverse these In September last year, general secretary Derek cuts and put extra resources GEO began a three year con- Simpson welcomed the ballot into ensuring that this inher- tract to run Campsfield. It was result. ently dangerous industry is the first British contract se- Derek Simpson said: “The made safer.” cured by the US-owned firm, new union will be the great- Meanwhile the giant gen- whose world headquarters are est campaigning force on be- eral union Amicus, which rep- • A moment’s silence for the dead outside the HSE last 28th April. in Boca Raton, Florida. half of ordinary people that has ever existed. It is a pre- cursor to the creation of a single global trade union Care home movement capable of chal- Union fights cuts lenging the might of multina- ‘Travesty’ verdict company tionals who seek to play in mental healthcare workforces and governments after Iraqi civilian reneges off against each other to re- CUTS IN mental healthcare their level of experience with- duce jobs and hard won pay in Oxfordshire will harm pa- out sufficient senior support. on Tupe and conditions.” beaten to death tients, the union Amicus The proposals also con- Simpson also used the warned last week. tain an unacknowledged over- occasion to warn Gordon MEMBERS of the GMB gen- TWO BRITISH soldiers Amicus clinical psy- all cut of 13 per cent in the Brown, who expects to suc- cluding its former com- chologist members at eral union working as care were last Tuesday ac- total psychological therapy assistants, domestics, admin- ceed Tony Blair as Prime Min- mander Colonel Jorge Oxfordshire and time available in Oxfordshire. ister when Blair retires later quitted of charges relat- Mendonca were cleared at Buckinghamshire Mental istration, catering staffs for Amicus regional officer, five Barnet care homes have this year, that he would be stu- ing to the death of Baha the Court Martial, in Healthcare Trust (OBMHT) Debbie Watson, said: “Our pid and naïve and lose the Mousa, a prisoner of Bulford in Wiltshire, due to have warned that patients will voted to take strike action members are extremely con- over massive pay cuts and next election if he did not re- British troops who died lack of evidence – the chief suffer if proposed budget cerned about the impact that spond to Labour Party mem- with 93 wounds to his cuts by the trust go through. threatened sackings. witnesses were former these cuts will have on pa- The first day of strike ac- bers and the traditional Labour body in 2003. prisoners who had been The cuts are part of a re- tients. The loss of senior ex- voters for a radical break with view into the trust’s mental tion will take place on Mon- hooded throughout. perienced therapists could re- day 19th March 2007. Blairite politics. health services. The trust is sult in some patients, espe- Simpson said: “Despite Major Michael Peebles These GMB members and Warrant Officer Mark proposing a 50 per cent cut in cially those with more complex the personal hostility be- charges dropped senior therapy posts. Some of were transferred out of the Davies – who were among psychological difficulties not employment of Barnet Coun- tween Mr Brown and Mr Blair, them will be replaced by more receiving the best care and I don’t think you can get a seven soldiers put on trial The only conviction se- junior newly-qualified posts cil when the care homes ser- thereby being put at risk.” vice was privatised, and cigarette paper on policy be- charged with the ill treat- cured in the longest British and this is causing particular Amicus also has serious tween the two men. ment of Iraqi prisoners – court martial in memory concern as junior psychologi- outsourced to Fremantle concerns about the way the Trust on 1st April 2001. The “Gordon Brown has to be were found not guilty of ne- was against one of the five cal therapy staff will be ex- review, and the subsequent so naïve and stupid is he does pected to work with complex workers were transferred to glecting their duty to ensure who had charges against limited consultation, has been Fremantle Trust too. not realise that he must do clinical situations beyond conducted by the trust. something to address the drift that Iraqi prisoners were them dropped. Corporal The laws that protect away from Labour both by the not abused. Donald Payne had admit- workers who have been trans- electorate and by the party ted from the beginning to fer to new owners have meant membership, or else he will not conditioning abusing prisoners. Climate change Bill these workers have received be Prime Minister after the But manslaughter all the pay increases, working next election. The grounds on which charges against him were THE GOVERNMENT last and 60 per cent by 2050. conditions improvements and “He cannot be immune to they were cleared were among those dropped, week published its land- It will introduce “carbon retained their pension rights that fact since we as a union that higher command had meaning no one will be mark Climate Change Bill, budgets” to cap total emis- that have been agreed, since have put warnings to him over authorised the “condition- punished directly over the making it the first govern- sions – notified 15 years in the transfer, to workers still and over again. The concern ment in the world so far to advance of being brought employed directly by the ing” of prisoners prior to in- death of Baha Mousa. council. is that Brown is just going to terrogation. This usually make a legal commitment into force to allow busi- be another Blair and God, Phil Shiner, the lawyer to reduce carbon dioxide nesses to plan ahead. Now however these work- don’t we want a change after involves forcing prisoners representing Mousa’s fam- emissions. There will be five-year re- ers are under threat of being 10 years.” to stand in a “stress posi- ily, said the verdict was a The publication comes views of how it is working, sacked if they do not re-ap- Tony Woodley and Derek tion” for long periods and “travesty” that “gave the after a week in which the The Bill will give Courts ply for their own jobs at re- Simpson will serve as joint being hooded. It is contrary victims nothing”. three major political parties the power to carry out judi- duced pay and conditions by general secretaries of the new to the Geneva Conventions Dawood Mousa, the vied to exceed each others’ cial reviews on the end of March 2007. union. A sole general secre- and recognised as illegal by father of Baha, said: “I can- promises to deal with glo- Government’s progress. GMB senior organiser tary will be elected in a mem- British law. But Mousa’s not believe that no one is bal warming issues. Missed targets could lead Tony Warr said: “There is a bership ballot in 2010. injuries indicate that he suf- held responsible for my Environmentalists are to the naming and sham- very strong mood amongst Preparatory work on fered sustained physical giving it a cautious wel- ing of relevant ministers. the workforce. They are pre- choosing a name for the new son’s death. I feel a fool for come. The Government pared to strike however long union is almost complete. Al- abuse. believing that the British It will set targets to cut claims the Bill will tie the it takes. Members appreciate ternatives will be put before Last month five sol- Army would investigate emissions by between 26 hands of future govern- that concern over residents the membership in a demo- diers from the Queen’s their own soldiers prop- and 32 per cent by 2020 ments. but not the position they cratic vote in the near future. Lancashire Regiment, in- erly.” choose.” Page 4 THE NEW WORKER 16 March 2007 Features

The International Labour and Trade Union Movement in The thesis of the the 21st century

MANY YEARS have passed since the formation of the first labour union in 1790 and World Federation since the establishment of the first international working- men’s association in 1864. The labour and union move- ment has travelled a long way of Trade Unions since then, along a road paved with substantial achieve- ments and very good results. of production, the wealth is ap- nullify the positive and rich propriated by capital. The first and foremost issue WFTU course. We are proud of that the appearance of trade So against this overall picture that history and we learn from the the following issues arise for the union organisations revealed was victories and the successes as the role of a then young and international trade union move- well as from our mistakes. ment: emerging new social class – the Now, at the dawn of the 21st working class – which rapidly century some important rever- • What type of trade unions do entered the social and political sals have taken place in the In- life of the population at large in the workers need today? ternational balance of forces. • What strategies and tactics every country around the world. These overthrows have given th have to be employed? Moreover, up until the 18 serious supremacy to the forces century most people considered • What should be jettisoned and of capital at the expense of the what maintained? social development as having working class. The temporary been determined by kings, • How do the economic theo- sovereignty of capital intensifies ries of today compare with princes, gods and spirits. A new capitalist exploitation against appreciation came about that so- those defined 150 years ago at people and states, the wealth that the start of the international cial progress was in fact deter- the working class produces is mined by the popular masses. trade union struggle? gathered in the hands of a few • Should a trade union be This new understanding greatly strong people around the world. affected the path of human his- judged by its words or by its The progress of science and actions and inactions? tory in the 19th and 20th centu- technology in all fields, the rapid ries. use of new technologies in the This path of human history The new WFTU leadership productive process is developed started on a new path based on has been one of unprecedented for the increase of profits of the th difficulties. For the trade union the decisions of the 15 World transnational corporations. Trade Union Congress held in movement from 1790 until the While in a society without present day there have been Cuba in December, 2005 and exploitation of man by man new encapsulated in the final decla- great successes, substantial vic- technologies should, as a human • At the 15th congress of the WFTU. tories and also weaknesses, mis- states, creates millions of refu- ration entitled the Havana Con- achievement, be of service to lies and accumulate large prof- sensus. takes and setbacks. humanity, in order for us to work gees, kills innocent people, sup- its. The International Monetary Contained in this rich experi- In the course of 2006 these less, to earn more, to enjoy bet- presses the autonomy and inde- Fund and the World Bank are principles were developed in sub- ence of history is the role of the ter occupational hygiene and pendence of some countries and capital’s mechanisms and their WFTU – the World Federation enslaves peoples It turns the UN stantial dialogue on contemporary safety conditions, to have more policies cause problems to issues between affiliates, friendly of Trade Unions. Its formation on free time, better opportunities in into a cover of United States’, peoples. 3rd October 1945 was a victory UK’s and their allies’ illegalities. organisations and individuals from entertainment, culture, education the world trade union movement in itself for the world trade union and healthcare. That is to live Even the official data confesses The thesis of movement – a crowning achieve- in a series of meetings organised better and longer. that contemporary imperialist by the WFTU leadership. ment for the international work- Nowadays, this not only does wars have forced 8.5 million refu- the new WFTU ing class. It was a qualitative new gees and another 21 million Emerging from these discus- not happen, but exploitation is in- sions and the Havana Consen- step and it was the first serious tensified while such great wealth people to leave their homes The WFTU holds deep con- and stable attempt at global unity within their countries. Using the victions on the substance of these sus paper is a list of ten priorities is being concentrated in the pock- the WFTU has nominated for it- and coordination of the world pro- ets of few. One hundred and fif- pretext of the struggle against new challenges. It recognises the letariat against fascism, the domi- changes in the world balance of self in these challenging times. teen million children remain illit- terrorism, democratic and trade They are not listed in any form nation of capital and imperialism. erate. A child dies each 3.6 sec- union rights are restricted. Hu- forces of power. It recognises the The authority and dynamism man liberties are also restricted. changes in the make-up of the of priority and the WFTU recog- onds. In the American city of nizes that each one of these is- of the WFTU was of immediate New Orleans, 1.577 poor people Peoples, states and governments working class, their new needs concern to the ruling powers in are threatened. Almighty groups and demands. But while all these sues could be a programme in its died. In the countries of Euro- own right. the United States and United pean Union the unemployed ex- of capitalists control mass media changes take place, the main law Kingdom and capitalism world- ceed 30 million. According to and have imposed their anti- of capitalism remains unchanged: wide. For that reason a campaign The working class produces the The 10 current priorities of Unesco more than 921 million democratic terms. They libel, WFTU are… was launched to undermine and people live in hovels. This is the devise news and facts, spread wealth but, through the process destroy the new world trade true image in most capitalist coun- union body. tries, independent of whether The history of the last 60 years neo-liberal, conservative, or so- of the labour movement is well- cial democratic powers are gov- known. Many books have been erning. written and there are indisputable In the beginning of the 21st historic documents; thousands of century, we see that neo-colonial- protagonists of contemporary his- ism is emerging again strength- tory are still living and no one can ened, with new characteristics overturn the facts of history. and elements. In Africa, many During these last 60 years the countries experience intense WFTU has never been on the pressure from the United States. side of the monopolies nor with The same is true for Latin the transnational corporations. It America. The United States is has never been on the side of the worried by the intense develop- bourgeoisie and imperialists. It ment of People’s Republic of has never been neutral either. It China. In the former socialist has always remained on the side countries of Europe, the working of the workers’ struggles for ba- class works in feudal conditions. sic rights and liberties all around Racism, neo-fascism, xenopho- the world. It has always been bia are gradually reappearing! with those who have fought for The revolt of immigrants in peace, progress and the elimina- France and in the United States tion of exploitation of man by proves that. man. It played an important role In our century, the counter- in the movements of Asia and revolutions of 1989-1991 brought Oceania, Africa, Europe, Latin new correlation of forces, which America and the Middle East. In led to US omnipotence. Although this 60 years history there have we believe, that this omnipotence also been omissions and mistakes. is temporary, it gives birth to These however, by no means wars, changes to the borders of • In New Orleans the US National Guard are barracked for their lack of aid. 16 March 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 5 Features 020 7223 4052

1. In order for the labour ing formed according to the era and trade union movement to be and its needs, according to the capable of expressing the con- time and the place. They work temporary demands of the work- for the participation of all work- ing class, it has to be guided by ers in trade unions for the estab- the principles of class struggle lishment and the free functioning and militant orientation. The study of trade union organisations in of the labour movement’s history every country. At the same time, over the last 200 years proves that it is stated in the statute of the what the international working WFTU that the organisation will class has achieved had been struggle for the abolition of ex- achieved by struggle. Nowhere ploitation of man by man. This in the world, no employer and no qualitative element gives impetus capitalist government has ever to the working class’s struggle resolved working class problems and makes it the moving force of by its own initiative. Our move- history in the construction of a ment does not accept the theo- society without social injustice, ries of rejecting class oriented without wars, with democracy struggles. and freedom. With a right to knowledge and democratic me- 2. WFTU believes in the dia. independence of trade union organisations from monopolies ment, developing a wide, mass 9. WFTU struggles against and transnational corporations. movement, demands a UN that cultural imperialism, which aims We live in a society divided into is just and independent from the at the distortion of history, which classes, therefore trade unions powerful of the earth. Our era does not respect traditions, cul- represent the working class with needs such international ture and the particularities of each its contemporary characteristics, organisations. nation, which tries through a mul- aiming at a wide coalition with tisided propaganda to impose the broad popular strata. The trade 6. WFTU’s new leadership American way of life every- union movement must be assesses that trade unions need where. Each nation, each coun- organisationally independent from to sustain a constant front against try, each trade union movement political parties. It must fight back bureaucracy and elitism, so as to has its own history, its own char- against the policies of govern- regain authority, trust and accep- acteristics. WFTU respects and ments that are harmful to the tance. History teaches us that the values this and calls upon the popular strata. And it should be principles of collectiveness, criti- youth to study the culture and his- financially independent so as not cism and democratic functioning tory of their nations. to depend on secret sources. help the movement. Trade union leaders should be simple, be with 10. WFTU states in the new 3. Today, there is a serious simple people, love the working page it has turned after its 15th drawback in the issues of demo- class and not themselves become Congress that it is ready to co- cratic and trade union liberties wealthy allies of capital. True operate and act along with other due to employer terrorism and trade union leaders ought to edu- international trade union state violence. The latest ex- cate the youth on the principles organisations, with national, re- amples against the strikers of and values of labour movement. gional and branch trade unions, south Korea, the governmental They ought to respect the base independent from existing ideo- violence against the striking and respect ordinary workers. logical and political differences, teachers in Mexico, the barbar- for the promotion of international ity of the Colombian regime 7. We live in the century of working class interests. The only against struggling trade unionists knowledge and information. criteria for every WFTU coop- and the modern surveillance sys- Transnational corporations try to eration are equality, mutual re- tems in Europe, the threats keep knowledge and spect, the acceptance of each against the construction workers specialisation for their cadres and other’s differences and each in Australia, and thousands of managers. The necessity for time, a mutual designation of other cases are undeniable facts. workers to have access and the aims. right to knowledge, culture and • Top: British troops do imperialisms dirty work in Iraq and, above, in The WFTU is ringing the bell of Afghanistan. danger for progressive people education is more imperative than The WFTU of today does not about human rights that are been ever before. Within this frame- view trade unions as enemies. It attacked under the pretext of the work, trade union education pro- sees enemies in capital and the struggle against terrorism, by the vided through seminars, schools, imperialists. A fundamental prin- governments of the United States, groups, and institutes is useful to cipal of WFTU was and is the the UK and their allies. The all workers. Research and sci- promotion of unity of all work- struggle for democracy and free ence are necessary tools. They ers independent of ideology, reli- trade union action is constant but give further advantages to the gion, colour, language and sex. also concrete. trade union movement for it to This unity should promote the address youth, women, intellec- fighting characteristics of all 4. In a period of imperialist tuals, economic immigrants trade unions and rally wide madness, the struggle for peace whose entry into trade unions will forces so that the struggle against is a principal task for the class revive the labour movement. It capital is more massive and ef- oriented trade union movement. is essential that new trade union fective. In this fighting unity, poor The first victims of US and Nato members have a higher educa- peasants, the landless, self-em- aggressiveness are workers and tional, cultural and intellectual ployed, groups of people, who are the popular strata. They are killed level. concerned and worried about the in battlefields, in their homes and world we are living in and its fu- workplaces; they are burdened 8. WFTU fights for the im- ture, have a place. with the task of recovering from provement of workers’ lives, for We live in the era of wars’ consequences. Interna- the solution of their economic, globalisation, whose dominant el- tional peace will help all peoples social security and labour de- ement is neo-liberalism and the in all developing countries. mands – demands which are be- accumulation of excess power in Therefore, WFTU is present in the hands of the few. the development of a wide, mass The international balance of anti-war movement and under- forces has, we hope temporarily, lines that internationalism and been disturbed! Let us work in workers’ solidarity are key points order to oppose this globalisation, for the struggling movement with with a globalised struggle. a new and rich content. WFTU WFTU with its 60-year experi- is in favour of the abolition and ence and activity and with its re- destruction of all nuclear weap- newed and contemporary class ons from all countries without attitude is the hope for the revival exception. of the international labour and trade union movement. 5. The whole of humanity realises that in the last 15 years the negative correlation of forces which dominates in international organisations such as the UN, legalise the illegal and aggressive • Left third down: poverty is still the acts of the US government. This lot of millions. Left bottom: the is a very negative development. British labour movement marches The labour and trade union move- out on May Day. Page 6 THE NEW WORKER 16 March 2007 Home News

Then at 4 a.m., without 1234567890123456789012345678 whole of New Year’s Day 1234567890123456789012345678 LETTERS warning, the British Mother of 1234567890123456789012345678 filling the craters in the road 1234567890123456789012345678 with stones passed hand to armoured cars smashed their 1234567890123456789012345678 1234567890123456789012345678 Dear Comrades hand. way into the peace camp. two soldiers 123456789012345678901234567Diary 8 When the first vehicles They threw everybody out 1234567890123456789012345678 of their tents, bulldozed the I would like to thank crossed the border, there faces SATURDAY 17 March Conferene for Trade Peter Frank Lovell from was a huge cheer from all tents, and barricaded the Republican community in . Troops out of Iraq! 12 Unionists & pensioners. Sussex for his brilliant letter sides. Even though the deportation noon, Piccadilly Gar- 10am-4.30pm, UCU Head (2nd March). British army bulldozed the We joined the residents of Garvaghy Road in a sitdown dens, Manchester. Stop Office, Britannia St, London He gave an outstanding rebuilt road back to rubble, it JOY BOWMAN, whose two the War. WC1X 9JP. Free. Register description of the way was a significant symbolic in the street, and experi- enced the violent response sons are both in the British SATURDAY 17 March with [email protected] religion has played a key act by Catholics and army and one has served in To remember Chima by 23 March. part throughout history in Protestants against British from the RUC. By 9 o’clock in the morning, the road was Iraq, is facing deportation to Ubani (progressive MONDAY 26 March preventing the emancipation imperialism in the north of Jamaica after fleeing from a activist in Nigeria). Iran, Israel & nuclear of ordinary working people Ireland. cleared by the army and RUC. violent marriage there six 12.30pm, Room G50, weapons. 7pm,Cttee the world over. Who could I arranged a number of years ago to bring her chil- SOAS, Thornhaugh St, Room 16, House of possibly disagree with the visits to Derry and North A ring of armoured tanks prevented anyone crossing dren to England. London WC1. ALISC Commons. fact that the British state has Belfast. We witnessed the Her youngest son has Network. TUESDAY 27 March played the religious card to brutality of the RUC and the the road to go to Sunday Mass. I went with one of the served in the Royal Logistics SATURDAY 17 March Politics of archaeoiogy in manipulate the Republican British army first hand and Corps in Basra and her eldest Adel Salameh Trio Israel/Palestine. 7.30pm, and Unionist communities of saw the injuries inflicted by community leaders to the priest, and got him to come son was featured on an army concert. 8pm, 21 South Oxford Town Hall, St Northern Ireland? plastic and rubber bullets, recruitment poster. Joy St, Reading. £10/£8. Aldates. I know the Northern teargas and truncheons. over and hold the service inside the ring of armoured Bowman’s 15-year-old daugh- TUESDAY 20 March WEDNESDAY 28 March Ireland situation particularly I regularly attended the ter is preparing for her GCSEs. National Troops Out Stop the War/CND public well since I played an active stand-offs at Drumcree in cars. Even though I am an But mother and daughter Day. Afternoon demo in meeting. 7pm, St Andrew’s part in the British Troops the late 90’s, where the are in a detention centre at central London, die-in Hall. St Andrew’s Plain, Out movement, and have Unionists wanted to have a atheist, it was a moving sight to see the community Heathrow facing imminent arouns Parliament and Norwich. £5/£3. made many visits to the triumphalist march down the deportation. rally. Stop the War, 020 SATURDAY 31 March north. Republican Garvaghy Road. resisting oppression in this way. We sang African Leven Bowman said: “I 7278 6694. John4Leader national rally. In 1992 I was invited by In 1997 a peace camp was was proud to serve my coun- TUESDAY 20 March Supporting John the Irish National Congress set up on the grass verge. freedom song, including Senzenina: “What have we try and the Government was Iraq War debate. 2-8pm, McDonnell for Labour to help rebuild the cross After being given assur- happy enough for me to risk Central Hall, leader. 1-4pm, Shaw border roads which the ances by the Secretary of done to deserve this?” I still stick to my main my life fighting in Iraq. I can’t Westminster, London Theatre, Euston Rd, British army had blown up. State that no march would understand how they can SW1. Stop the War, London. The Republican and pass through the area, we point in my letter; it sickens me that our Government will now threaten to deport my [email protected] WEDNESDAY 11 April – 17 Unionist communities joined spent most of the night mother.” THURSDAY 22 March April. Birds of War - art together, and we spent the singing and celebrating. allow another year of discrimination against gay Israel, Palestine & exhibition. 10-5pm & 10- people who want to adopt Scottish Human Rights. Haldane 4pm Sat-Sun. Candid Arts children whilst the rest of Human Rights lecture. Gallery, 3 Torrens St, Britain properly enforces 6.30pm. London South London EC1V. Free. nurses get FRIDAY 13 April legislation that aims towards Bank University equal rights for all citizens, Keyworth Centre. and 14 April. Conference: and it is all the more 2.5 per cent FRIDAY 23 March Peace History. Imperial shocking coming from a Justice for Palestine. War Museum, Lambeth community that has endured pay rise 6.30pm, St Avion Centre, Rd, London SE1. Details: oppression themselves. Whitmore Reans, www.abolishwar.org.uk Wolverhampton. PSC. SATURDAY 21 April SCOTTISH Health Minister Yours sincerely, SATURDAY 24 March Concert for peace. The Andy Kerr last week an- Protest the England vs Galliard Trio. 7.30pm, Ray Davies nounced that nurses in Scot- South Wales Israel Euro 2008 match. Rosslyn Hill Unitarian land and other health work- 1pm,outside FIFA HQ, Chapel. Hampstead, ers will receive their full 2.5 Soho Square, London. London NW3. £8/£6.50. per cent pay rise. MONDAY 26 March Mana 020 8455 1030. Meanwhile their counter- parts in England and Wales are being offered only 1.9 per Manchester cent, which is below the rate of inflation. students ban Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal Col- Coke lege of Nursing, welcomed this announcement but added: THE STUDENTS’ union at “By following the recommen- Manchester University has dations of the Independent banned the sale of Coca Cola Pay Review Body, Scotland’s on campus premises in pro- Executive is also setting an test at the American example that the Government On the Web... company’s human rights in Westminster should follow New Worker National – record. as a matter of urgency. “While the RCN would www.newworker.org A motion banning the NCP Central – fizzy drinks from the union’s not want to see this as a step bars and shops because of its towards separate pay deals www.geocities.com/ncpcentral behaviour in Colombia, Tur- for the different countries of London District NCP– key and India won over- the UK, today’s decision will clearly put fresh pressure on http://londoncommunists.blogspot.com/ whelming support at a union Brighton NCP – meeting last week. The ban the Government to rethink was supported by 400 votes their decision to stage the pay http://brightoncommunists.blogspot.com/ to about 20. award for nurses this year – a NCP-PCS – Students accuse the decision which is unjust and www.geocities.ncppcs/pcs1.html company of siphoning water undeserved.” from rivers in India for its fac- tories, leaving farmers with- out irrigation water for their fields. The student union vote is part of a growing campaign New Worker to ban coke on college cam- puses across Britain and is co- Supporters’ Groups… ordinated by an internet group called New Worker supporters groups exist to sup- Weekly paper of the New Communist Party ukstudentsagainstcoke.com port the weekly newspaper of the New Com- SUBSCRIBE NOW! munist Party. Individual membership is £5.00 ( 8 Euros or 6 weeks: £5; 3 months: £10; $10) for all or part of the calendar year and 6 months: £15; annual: £30 FROM THE NEW COMMUNIST PARTY every member will receive a New Worker New technology and the need for socialism Supporters Group (NWSG) card and a cop- Name...... £2 plus 50p P&P. ies of the Internal Bulletin for the year. Address...... The case for communism £2 plus 50p P&P. All in the family by Daphne Liddle, ...... Name...... £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint). Address...... Post code...... Arab nationalism and the communist movement ...... Phone...... by Andy Brooks, £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint)...... Cheque/P.O.’s, made out to New Worker, to: NCP Lit. PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ. postcode...... NW Subs, PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ (cheques to New Worker) 16 March 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 7 020 7223 4052 They’re rewriting history again

by Rob Gowland the dog-eat-dog system that class) sang Hitler’s praises, and 19 other members of the it is, the USSR was able to find France had the Cagoulards Romanian fascist government When the American journal- governments and business and the Croix de Feu (Fiery of the time were found guilty ist John Reed called his ac- willing to break the blockade Cross). In Belgium there were of “crimes against humanity” count of the October Revolu- if it would put money in their the Rexists, in Poland the and Antonescu faced the fir- tion in Russia Ten Days That purse. The Soviet state began POW, in Czechoslovakia the ing squad in 1946. However, Shook the World, he was not to build up its industries. Henleinists and the Hlinka Romania’s present anti-com- just indulging in literary hy- But capitalism, as a sys- Guards. munist government has just perbole. tem, still saw the socialist So- Romania had the Iron distinguished itself by getting The overthrow not just of viet Union as its mortal foe and Guard, Bulgaria the IMRO, the country’s Appeals Court Czarism but also of the capi- the spread of communist Finland the Lappo, Lithuania to overturn this decision of talist regime that sought to ideas as anathema. This be- the Iron Wolf, Latvia the Bal- 60-odd years ago! replace it, was a profound came particularly urgent when tic Brotherhood, which dis- In a letter to the Romanian shock to the entire capitalist the capitalist system went tinguished itself during and authorities, the Central Com- system. In fact, it scared the into free fall with the Wall after the Second World War mittee of the Communist Party pants off capitalists every- Street crash of 1929. by fighting for the Nazis of Greece (KKE) condemns where. Throughout the 1920s, against the Red Army and also this decision, saying that by They tried unsuccessfully capitalism had been encour- against any Latvian peasant it Romania’s Court of Appeals to smear the revolution (Lenin aging every kind of reaction- who supported the establish- “rewards the aggression of was “a German agent” and so ary, from police spies like ment of collective farms. Hitler Germany, backed by the forth), they tried intrigue Hitler to Polish militarist land- Estonia’s Nazi-financed fascist Romanian government (plotting a series of abortive lords like Pilsudski, in the hope fascist organisation was inap- lead by I Antonescu, against coups and assassinations that they might become the propriately — but typically — the USSR, as well as the Nazi against Soviet leaders). force that would save capital- named the “Liberty Fighters”. crimes against the Romanian And they tried invasion ism from the Red threat. These and numerous people and against humanity. and repression. The First Never ones to be con- other fascist groups and “This decision is a provo- World War was raging, troops cerned about little things like fronts carried out assassina- cation for all people in the and weapons were in plenti- democratic rights, the extreme tions, organised putsches world … who resisted and ful supply, and no less than right eagerly accepted and attempted coups, all un- fought with all their forces 14 capitalist countries in- capitalism’s financial and der the ultimate direction of against fascism in the resis- vaded the new Soviet repub- other aid in its bid for power, Alfred Rosenberg, the one- • Above: Ion Antonescu (left), Romanian dictator and leader tance movements, concentra- lic. the thugs and other adven- time Czarist émigré who tion camps and prisons. turers in their ranks more than headed the Nazi Party’s For- of the Iron Guard, meets Adolf Hitler. Below: memorial to “It’s an act against the However, to the fury of the Jews slaughtered by Romanian fascists in 1944. capitalists everywhere, the willing to embrace the policies eign Political Office. peoples and a blasphemy for courage and initiative of the of terrorism that went with it. All of these fascist the memory of the millions revolutionaries, backed by By the early 1930s, Nazi organisations would become dead in the anti-fascist the solidarity of workers Germany’s intelligence ser- infamous during the Second struggle. … [Hear, hear!] worldwide, thwarted these ef- vice was co-ordinating, plan- World War by forming the “This development”, says forts to crush the Reds. ning or assisting the activities core of the Nazi Fifth Column the KKE’s letter, “only a few Instead, they spread their of fascist groups or move- in their respective countries. days after the accession of revolutionary ideas to other ments all over Europe and as They brought destruction to Romania to the European countries of Europe and then far away as China, India, Cen- their own countries and were Union, is not a coincidence. around the world. The worried tral and South America, Africa responsible for inflicting tor- “It comes on top of the capitalists sought to strangle and the United States. ture and death on large num- unacceptable official Roma- the Red baby in its crib by an Many of these groups had bers of their own people. nian statement of 18th Decem- international embargo on been in existence since the General Ion Antonescu, ber 2006, ‘condemning com- trade and other contacts with time of the Revolution, hav- leader of Romania’s Iron munism’, uncovering fully the the Soviet regime. ing been established by anti- Guard, became dictator of the real goals of the anti-commu- Winston Churchill had the communist, anti-Soviet Czar- country from 1940 and in 1941 nist campaign which is in pro- gall to christen this economic ist émigrés. Others were newly added his country’s armed cess in the European Union.” and diplomatic blockade a created, to combat the threat forces to those of Hitler to in- “cordon sanitaire”, protecting of revolution in the wake of vade the USSR, in return for the world from plague. But it the Great Depression. the promise of Soviet territory, was the rule of profits that he In Britain Mosley’s British including Bessarabia and The Guardian, was actually protecting. Union of Fascists (and a con- Northern Bukovina. Australian communist However, capitalism being siderable part of the upper After the War, Antonescu weekly

Quantum funding celebrated LOCKHEED MARTIN, the from an airborne platform.” main United States defence But registering a patent KARLKarl MARX was re- Marx communist movement contractor, is seeking fund- does not mean the device can membered by com- was high-lighted by ing from the White House to be built; British Rail in the develop and patent a scanner 1970s filed a patent for a rades and friends at Michael Chant of the based on the principle of quan- nuclear fusion-powered fly- the NCP’s London RCPB(ML) and Harpal tum entanglement for use as ing saucer. Centre last Saturday Brar of the CPGB (ML) spy ware. Lockheed Martin is at a reception to and NCP leader Andy known to be experimenting mark the 124th anni- Brooks recalled Marx’s This principle is contro- with sensors based on quan- versary of the pass- work in London; the tre- versial and weird even by the tum entanglement, which is ing of the founder of mendous contribution standards of quantum me- also known as ghost imaging. of the Soviet Union in chanics. It claims that two How this principle works scientific socialism. sub-atomic particles can be is a mystery to most scientists, The main meeting war and peace during connected, even though they never mind lay people. We can room and the print shop the 20th century and are far apart spatially, and that only conjecture why one par- were transformed for stressed that the 21st what happens to one must ticular particle becomes con- the bar and buffet and would certainly be the also happen to its twin. nected to another: is it some- during the formal part era of socialism. Lockheed Martin claims thing to do with magnetic at- of the celebrations No NCP event goes this will help scanners “see” traction or repulsion? Are friends from all over the by without mentioning behind brick walls to detect they resonating on some com- hidden bombs and such from mon as yet undiscovered world joined with the the work of the New hundreds of miles away. wavelength? Is the mysteri- NCP to pay tribute to Worker and Dolly European patent number ous dark matter involved? Or the memory of Karl Shaer from the Polit- EP1750145 described “radar are they connected through Marx. buro spoke graphically systems and methods using some unknown dimension? Comrade Jong In about the struggle to entanglement quantum par- Another theory put for- Song from the Demo- ensure it comes out ev- ticles” and claims such de- ward links this project to cratic Korean embassy ery week. The com- vices could “visualise useful Lockheed Martin’s greed for target details through back- American taxpayers’ money; in London spoke of the rades responded by ground and/or camouflaging approaching US presidential contribution Marx raising £392 for the clutter, through plasma elections when the Republi- made to the world fighting fund. Most com- struggle for freedom rades departed at shrouds and around hyper- can Party will be happy to re- • Comrade Jong In Song speaking. sonic air vehicles, through the ceive substantial donations together with Judith 10.30 but some were layers of concealment hiding from companies like Lockheed Amanthis of the African (ALISC); Prof Mohammed Organisation and Ella determined to burn the underground facilities and Martin and a current President Liberation Support Arif of the British Afro- Rule for Friends of Ko- midnight oil until the bar fund improvised explosive whose bullshit detecting sen- Campaign Network finally closed at 12.45! devices, mines and other sors are not 100 per cent ef- Asian Solidarity rea. Marx’s role in the threats – all while operating fective. Page 8 16 March 2007

International News Web: www.newworker.org Fax 020 7223 4057 Nepal PM George W Bush’s visit Chavez says King blasts should go inflames Latin America IN AN INSULTINGLY delayed by the United States on the Bush IN A DRAMATIC turnaround gesture to the region, com- pretext of waging an alleged in his position on Nepal’s ing late in his term, US Presi- international anti-terrorist of- monarchy, Prime Minister dent George W Bush’s Latin fensive, though everyone by Márcia Miranda Girija Prasad Koirala said America tour is sparking knows that real reason is to Monday that King Gyanendra large, angry demonstrations get control Iraq’s oil. THE VENEZUELAN Presi- should abdicate now instead south of the US border. The distaste produced by dent Hugo Chavez has de- of waiting for the outcome of As a preamble to the US Bush’s visit appears to in- nounced Bush’s plan for a vote on his future. leader’s arrival in Brazil, resi- crease as the visitor persists bio-diesel fuel and warned Koirala, a veteran Nepali dents of Sao Paulo rallied to in taking his advisor’s coun- Mercosur (Southern Com- Congress Party politician who accuse him of fomenting war sel to show a friendly, gener- mon Market not to repeat heads an interim government and polluting the world, refer- ous face, making it appear the mistakes made by in the run-up to elections to a ring to the conflicts in Af- that he is giving something to AFTA (American Free constituent assembly, has ghanistan and Iraq and the region. “We want to be Trade Area) been among the few main- Washington’s refusal to ratify friends” said Bush in an in- Hugo Chavez has ap- stream leaders in favour of the Kyoto Treaty reducing terview with Colombian tele- retaining the unpopular mon- pealed for Mercosur not to toxic emissions. vision, though the potential repeat mistakes if it does not archy in some form, possibly Slogans like “Humanity’s listeners will certainly wonder ceremonial. number one enemy” and what benefits will be coming wish to disappear, like the But with demands grow- “Bush Out” were seen on their way from the US’s bulg- Andean Community of Na- ing to declare Nepal a repub- signs held by angry demon- ing economy, since the multi- tions (CAN). In an interview lic, Koirala said the king’s step- strators, in an atmosphere million dollar assistance the with the Argentinean station ping down would help in a very different from the calm White House has extended Canal 7, he declared: “Either smooth transition to a new conversations Bush has held Colombia has been lost in the we transform (Mercosur) and permanent political set up with President Luiz Inacio Lula imperial labyrinth of that or it will die like CAN died”. in the embattled Himalayan Da Silva. country, without its citizens For Chavez, a new nation. Attempting to play down seeing a penny. Mercosur has to be imple- the arguments of those who Farther north in Mexico, mented, in which the mis- ill repute logically maintain that there is people grind their teeth recall- takes made under the Ameri- a strong trend in Latin ing that Bush was the princi- • Telling Bush to go home in Brazil. can Free Trade Area are not “The king and crown America today questioning pal architect of the plan to repeated. prince are persons of ill re- the neo-liberalism so exalted build a wall separating their of millions of Mexicans for den accompanying Mr Bush Chavez defended the pute,” Koirala told reporters by Washington, the White two countries. The wall, called their powerful gringo on his insubstantial tour of protection of the poorer in his home town of House insists on praising the racist by many, exacerbated neighbour. Latin America. members of Mercosur, Uru- Biratnagar, 200 km southeast “relaxed” atmosphere be- the traditionally bad feelings And this is the heavy bur- Radio Havana Cuba guay and Paraguay, by the of Kathmandu. tween Bush and Lula. How- larger and more powerful “It will be good if the king ever, analysts recall that Lula nations, Brazil and Argen- steps down on his own,” opposed the original version Koirala said in comments of the FTAA (Free Trade Area tina. The Venezuelan Presi- shown on state television. of the Americas) and has ex- Guinean workers win demands dent declared that the prod- “This will open up the way.” cellent relations with Venezu- ucts of the smaller nations should have their free cir- The government and left elan President Hugo Chavez. by G Dunkel television, these youths ex- their pay and living condi- wing forces, who signed a But it is not only in Brazil culation guaranteed which is pressed their determination tions, that he locked up the not the case today. peace deal ending a decade- that demonstrations are being THE WORKERS of old civil war against the mon- held against Bush. In Uru- to keep on struggling to ammunition for their weap- Guinea suspended their force Conté out of power. ons. archy, agreed in November guay there are strong divi- st denounced that the constituent assembly, sions among those who sup- general strike on 1 That was a necessary step, Conté’s only reliable due to be elected in June, port the March and returned to they stated, for a better fu- contingents were some Chavez denounced the would decide the future of the Free Trade Agreement work. ture for themselves and their mercenary Red Berets from US plan to create a bio-die- monarchy. with Washington and those The union coalition co- families. neighbouring Liberia and sel cartel in Latin America King Gyanendra, whose who reject it in favour of a ordinating the strike said “Beggars” and market the presidential guard. But as a means “to substitute the popularity has plunged since more united Mercosur (South- that they would definitively women—the street sellers as harsh and violent as they production of food to sus- he grabbed absolute power in ern Common Market) and call off the action if they who handle most of the re- were, these forces couldn’t tain the ‘American Way of 2005 only to be forced to re- Latin America in general. approved of the composition tail businesses in West Af- crush the resistance. Life’”, because it will be store democracy last year, In Brazil and Uruguay, as of the new government; if rica — expressed solidar- Since Guinea produces necessary to sow 20 million defended his actions in a re- well as Colombia, Guatemala the bosses paid workers for ity with the strike. more than half the world’s cent public statement, trigger- hectares with corn to pro- and Mexico, the next stops on the days that the workers Conté’s decision to step bauxite, as well as signifi- duce one million barrels of ing fierce protests from politi- Bush’s tour, public opinion were out on strike and if the cal parties, who accused him polls reveal that many are op- down as head of the govern- cant quantities of iron ore, bio-diesel. Chavez declared of interfering in politics. posed to the war in Iraq, led government released all the ment, while remaining head gold and diamonds, the : “We are to produce food China Daily people rounded up during of state, satisfied the strikes had a worldwide eco- for the vehicles of the Lords January and February at unions’ demand. New nomic impact. (Bauxite ore in the North” which is un- protests and demonstra- Prime Minister Lansana is the main source of alu- acceptable. tions. Kouyaté has had a diplo- minium.) George Bush is in Latin The strike was political. matic career, working for the Even though a majority America to push the bio-die- Its main demand was for the UN in New York and West of Guineans are desper- sel plan basically to limit the President of Guinea, Africa. ately poor, living on less economic clout of Hugo Lansana Conté, to step He has French support, than $2 a day, and desper- Chavez’s oil and Evo Mo- down. The strikers also since French Minister for ately want steady work, rales’ natural gas (Bolivia). wanted the endemic corrup- Cooperation Brigitte they looked on the job ac- However the core of tion and thievery of public Girardin dropped by tions that the unionised Latin American people have funds ended and the price Conakry, the capital of workers took as defending already cast their vote: the of petrol and basic neces- Guinea, on 2nd March — the their interests, economic as millions of the continent’s sities reduced. day after Kouyaté became well as political. There is no poor, created to a large ex- While the unions coor- tent by the US’s imperialist prime minister—and gave valid reason why a country policies of supporting fas- dinated and led them, these him a cheque for •100,000 like Guinea with such vast strikes were really part of a cist and corrupt regimes, to care for the hundreds in- and well developed material adore Hugo Chavez, who is mass movement against jured in the protests. resources is so impover- visiting Argentina and Bo- the government with tens of It became clear that ished, although neo-colo- livia. thousands of unemployed Conté was going to be nialism and its by-product, Meanwhile Bush’s tour youth in the “popular,” that forced to back down when corruption, are important includes Brazil, Uruguay, is, predominantly poor and the Guinean parliament factors. Colombia, Guatemala and impoverished, suburbs voted on 24th February to It is clear that if the work- Mexico where as usual, his marching and protesting. end the state of siege he ers and people of Guinea do presence is provoking mas- They stayed in the had imposed two weeks not see a sharp and quick sive and violent demonstra- streets, coming out again earlier. Conté was also hav- improvement in their living tions wherever he has dared and again, even though the ing problems with the army. standards, they will con- to step off an aircraft. army and the police killed The higher officers still sup- tinue the struggles they There must be some rea- over 150 protesters and ported him, but he had lost have waged for the last 12 son for it. wounded hundreds more. so much support among months. Even interviewed on their the young officers and the

hospital beds by French enlisted men, upset over Workers World (US) Pravda.ru as a newspaper. Printed by New Age Press (TU). Registed at the Post Office Coastguards reject below inflation pay

MEMBERS of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working for the Mari- time and Coastguard Agency (MCA) have voted overwhelm- ingly to reject management’s 2006 pay offer. Over 80 per cent of those taking part in the ballot voted against the below inflation cost of living increase, which averages just 2.5 per cent for many and penalises the most experienced staff with pay in- creases of less than one per cent. The settlement date for MCA pay was August last year. Members are also angry that management have ig- nored the findings of pay comparison exercises carried out towards the end of last year which have supported the union’s claim for compa- rability with other 999 ser- vices. The rejection of the MCA pay offer comes at the same time as the union is campaign- ing nationally across the civil service against below infla- tion pay, job cuts and privatisation, which could re- sult in a number of depart- ments and agencies taking industrial together at the end of the month.