Blair to Quit Next May? and Rejecting the Al Maliki Bringing Our Total for June “Initiative”

WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!

No 1396 Week commencing 30 June 2006 Weekly paper of the New Communist Party of Britain 50p IRAQ: THE GUN AND THE PEOPLE by our Arab Affairs Correspondent Americans have set up ignominious retreat from around the Republican pal- the promise of its liberation, FOUR RUSSIAN diplomats have been slain in ace in Baghdad – the dis- an unacceptable abandon- Iraq. The Baathist underground and the major trict they have called the ment of the rights of Iraq partisan movements in Iraq have rejected a sham “Green Zone” as the US- and the Iraqis who have “amnesty” offered by the US puppet regime last sponsored “Iraqi parlia- been killed, raped, impris- ment” was in session oned, and tortured.” week and partisans battled in the streets of Addressing the “heroic Baghdad and once again rocketed the US “Green there. A headquarters of the US Army and puppet fighters in the holy Zone” military compound while the puppet par- troops in the north-west of struggle” the Baath liament was sitting. the city was rocketed and stressed: “The path to de- The Russian govern- Russia, told the Vremya street battles erupted in the cisive victory lies not ment has blamed the Novosti newspaper that he heart of Baghdad when the through the United Nations Americans for the death of believed western secret resistance overran a pup- or the Arab League or ne- four of their diplomats services were behind the pet check-point the same gotiations with the occupa- seized by a guerrilla group murders. “This is a US-led afternoon. tion under its conditions, or linked to Al Qaeda that was game,” Salyam Musafir Meanwhile the sectar- collaborating with stooges. demanding the withdrawal said. ian “Badr Brigade” that Victory only comes out of of all Russian troops from works for the puppet re- the barrel of the gun of the Chechnya in exchange for responsible gime raided a dormitory in militant. their lives. Baghdad University, drag- “So keep hold of your In Moscow Russian of- “This is how they de- ging 10 Sunni students out weapons! Make them your ficials stated that the coali- cided to punish the Russian suspected of nationalist sure path to victory, your tion forces were respon- diplomacy for its anti-war sentiment because they only guarantee that the oc- sible for security in Iraq, stance. The US is defi- came from the partisan cupation will be prevented including the safety of for- nitely responsible for the stronghold of Ramadi. sectarian gunmen and tisan movements have re- from playing its cards and eign diplomats in Baghdad. fact that they have occu- Other Badr Brigade wounded several more. jected the sham “amnesty” the cards of its lackeys to “The responsibility for the pied Iraq but failed to es- units attacked the homes of The US-installed puppet offered by the puppet re- try to circumvent the resis- execution of the Russian tablish law and order Palestinian refugees in regime of Nuri al-Maliki gime as a ruse designed to tance or some of the resis- diplomats is the burden on there”. eastern Baghdad, killing claims to have held secret split the resistance and get tance organisations. the shoulders of all those The streets of the oc- four as part of an ongoing talks with high-ranking US some of them to lay down “The fundamental way who occupied Iraq. This cupied capital rang to the pogrom against the Pales- military commanders and their arms. to complete the march to crime is on their con- sound of gunfire when par- tinian community which the former generals and offic- The General Command decisive victory is science,” deputy speaker tisans seized parts of south- sectarians accuse of being ers the Iraqi Army from of the Iraqi Armed Forces, the militant gun, combined of the Russian parliament ern Baghdad last Friday pro-Baathist. But the at- before the American inva- a major part of the Iraqi and integrated with a broad Lubov Sliska declared. and held them for nearly tackers did not get away sion in their drive to get the resistance, dismissed national front embracing all The head of the Iraqi three hours. On Monday entirely unscathed. Local resistance to give up the claims that they had held those who reject the occu- Cultural Forum, an the resistance fired mortar Iraqis who rushed to the aid fight. talks with puppet leaders pation!” organisation that repre- rounds into the maximum- of the Palestinians killed But the Baathist under- saying “no intelligent per- sents Iraqi immigrants in security zone that the five of the pro-American ground and the major par- son could believe such a lie” while the Iraqi Arab FUND Socialist Renaissance Party (Baath) issued a Our fund this week similar statement analysing has brought us £798.55, Blair to quit next May? and rejecting the Al Maliki bringing our total for June “initiative”. so far to £2,201.45, which “What are the contents is £798.55 short of our Since then he has been was sacked as Home Sec- be able hold terror suspects monthly £3,000 target. by Daphne Liddle pressured into saying he will retary last May following a for 90 days – and then lost and conditions of this `rec- We thank a Vauxhall not stand for a fourth term. series of scandals at the the vote. onciliation’ and with whom Home Office and the disas- friend for £50, our London Then after May’s disastrous Clarke is no rebel but he are we to reconcile?” the Scot for £10, a west Lon- TONY Blair seems at last to local elections, he promised trous local elections. can see the obvious – that Baath Party statement But Clarke is a dedicated don comrade for £20 and be ready to announce that to stand down “in good time” Blair and Blairism are head- asked rhetorically, and went some bees in Cumbria for he will step down as Prime for Brown to settle into the job New Labour crony, who fears ing for defeat. Since he has Minister, probably in May the headlong rush to privatise no job to lose, he is the only on: £10. We also thank every- before the next general elec- one who has contributed by next year. Senior MPs in his tion – but nothing specific. everything in sight while one of Blair’s closest friends “The idea of this recon- clique say they expect him Last Tuesday’s news building a (privatised) police who can tell him the truth. ciliation is based on the re- bankers’ orders. to make the announcement that he is likely to go next May state is in danger of being The new Home Secretary nunciation of `violence’ as We have also had an- at this autumn’s Labour is evidence of panic among defeated. John Reid has behaved like the occupation administra- other £20 added to our spe- Party conference, in order his closest supporters. It In September last year a panicking rhinoceros, an- tion calls it, and agreeing to cial press appeal, bringing to ensure a smooth transi- came after former Home Sec- Clarke did not complain nouncing one ill-thought-out the total to £1,197 and become a part of the politi- leaving £1,803 still to tion to Gordon Brown taking retary Charles Clarke openly when Blair humiliated him by measure after another and cal process, even as the over the premiership. attacked Blair’s leadership. promoting junior Home Of- widening the rift between the raise. We thank the Though long overdue, In an interview with the fice official Louise Casey judges and the Government Americans continue to Vauxhall friend for £10 this is a significant retreat for Times, Clarke said: “I do think without consulting Clarke. over the advancing police refuse even to set out a and the Cumbrian bees for Blair and an indication of the there is a sense of Tony hav- state. timetable for their with- £10. rising fear within his clique ing lost his sense of purpose bizarrely That war flared again on drawal! Instead of that, Both these sums are that Brown’s succession if far and direction, so my advice Wednesday when a High American officials talk disappointing. We know all from guaranteed. to him is to recover that Bizarrely, Casey was pro- Court judge ruled that keep- about remaining in Iraq for our supporters and read- For over a year now, sense of purpose and direc- moted to head a “respect” ing terror suspects under ers have many calls on a long time to come, and their pockets and purses since the last general election and that remains the best taskforce to curb anti-social house arrest when there is about building bases and tion, most Labour Party activ- option. behaviour after she had, no evidence or charge but this paper does a ists have been aware that “What we are lacking is when drunk, told a meeting against them is in breach of airports! Therefore the unique job in presenting a Blair is a liability for Labour a sense of leadership and of senior police officers that their human rights. ‘reconciliation’ can only weekly Marxist-Leninist at the polls and that Labour direction, so that can either she wanted to “deck” various The current panic and mean one thing, and that is analysis of the news. won in spite of Blair, not be- be solved by Tony himself Downing Street officials. Blair disarray among the Blairites the acceptance of the oc- We depend absolutely cause of him. recovering in the way he has and Casey openly gave their must give courage and hope cupation and its results”. on our readers for our sur- For a short while it the capacity to do – that would opinion that Clarke was “soft” to all progressives in the The statement went on vival so we ask you to help seemed as though Blair still be the best solution – or on crime. Labour Party and trade union to say: “Putting a halt now us continue the fight. Send himself realised this. But by by Gordon being elected with He did not complain in movement to step up the to the armed resistance at whatever you can, marking last year’s Labour conference that sense of leadership and November when he had ne- pressure; not to settle for a the envelope either New he boasting he was the most direction himself.” gotiated a compromise to get “smooth transition” to Brown a time when it is at the Worker Fund or Press Ap- successful Labour leader Most of the press have the latest anti-terror Bill and to press for a real gates of decisive victory peal at PO Box 73, London ever and hinting that he attributed this attack to through and Blair sabotaged change of leadership and would be the greatest pos- SW11 2PQ. wanted to go on forever. Clarke’s sour grapes after he it by insisting that police must policies. sible betrayal of Iraq, an Page 2 THE NEW WORKER 30 June 2006 email: [email protected] News Desk 020 7223 4050

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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123 Telltale sign 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123 The frightening thing 123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123Say no more is that a CBS poll two years “A man from Sierra ago revealed that two- Leon once told me on a train troleum law” and to report to Safari Park general man- thirds of Americans be- from New York to Philadel- ager David Ross told the lieve that creationism Weekly paper of the New Communist Party the “UK Trade and Industry phia, ‘If you pass a pond department on potential com- Liverpool Echo: “Many should be taught in and see two fish fighting in mercial opportunities”. people are wisely removing schools alongside evolu- the pond, you know the The personal require- the flags before they set off tion; more than a third British have been there be- ments include Arabic lan- on the safari drive. thought it should be taught Stop Zionist forehand.” That was Barry guage skills, personal resil- “But if they forget, the instead of evolution. McElduff, of Sinn Féin, writ- ience and flexibility, because baboons usually take them aggression ing in last week’s An “covering a variety of slots and they’ve now built up Slave labour Phoblacht. during the absences of col- quite a collection.” leagues is common”. A course Pieter van Rooyen, ISRAELI WARPLANES are hitting targets Job vacancy in surviving hostile environ- Dinosaur pets founder of the Life Church in Gaza. Israeli tanks are pouring into the ments is compulsory and “a in Douglas, the Isle of Gaza Strip. The Palestinian leadership has A recent internal civil sense of humour would be an Barefoot children, clad in Man, claimed to be doing been told that they will face massive retri- service memo advertised added bonus”. beige tunics frolic with baby a favour for a group of Af- bution unless a captured Israeli soldier is the following vacancy for a dinosaurs in the Garden of rican workers in bringing handed over. It seems that another deadly Second Secretary Flying the flag Eden in the Creation Museum, them to Britain, getting round in the battle for Palestine is about to Economy/Energy, located due to open next year, near them through customs on begin. in Baghdad, Iraq with the Knowsley safari park in the town of Cincinnati on the the pretext that they were Whenever Israel attacks it poses as the in- Foreign and Common- Merseyside is warning visi- Ohio-Kentucky state border. on a business training wealth Office – at a salary tors to remove England flags Ham, an Australian, is course. jured party. It tells the world it has to act to save of between £20,000 and from their cars after a group head of Answers in Genesis, In reality he was em- the life of a soldier taken by Palestinian comman- £30,000. of baboons began stealing one of the fastest growing ploying them to build his dos in a raid last week. But Israel says nothing The job description in- them. “Young Earth” creationist house on “slave wages”. about the 37 Palestinian civilians killed and an- volved evaluating and re- The animals have built up ministries. He has spent the Van Rooyen preaches other 192 injured in the occupied Palestinian ter- porting on key develop- a huge collection of flags in past decade planning his £14 on his website that “the ritories in the last two weeks as the result of at- ments in Iraq’s energy sec- the monkey enclosure. million museum, funded from light that shines farthest tacks by the Israeli forces. tor (oil) and supporting the Keepers at the park say donations. shines the brightest at Tel Aviv blames the Palestinian militias for First Secretary. the 120-strong troop of ba- He claims that dinosaurs home”. But he paid the Af- The job would involve boons have been known to came into being only 6,000 rican workers as little as armed resistance which it calls “terrorism” but tracking progress on en- £1.36 an hour for working says nothing about the root cause of the crisis in help themselves to years ago and that they sur- ergy legislation, “particu- windscreen wipers but have vived Noah’s flood and up to 72 hours a week, Palestine – the millions of Palestinian Arab refu- larly the proposed foreign now turned their attentions to roamed the Earth until quite renovating his luxury gees and their descendants driven out of their investment law and draft pe- the World Cup flags. recently. home. homes by the Zionists in the first Arab-Israeli war which ended in 1949 and the continued denial of Palestinian rights even in the territories seized by Israel after the Third Arab-Israeli war of 1967. Ehud Olmert’s Kadima bloc won the Israeli elections in April by promising to resolve the Pal- by Caroline Colebrook BMA attacks NHS estinian crisis. He had a plan. He was backed by former Israeli Labour premier and Nobel Prize DELEGATES at the annual supermarket reforms winner, Shimon Peres. He had the blessing of the conference of the British Bush administration which is all that counts in Tel Medical Association in Aviv these days. Belfast last week queued up But there was nothing new in his plan nor had to express their anger over he bothered to consult the Palestinians because Government reforms to the Olmert knew it was totally unacceptable. NHS, which allow the private Olmert’s big idea is often called “unilateral sector to cream off NHS money and are breaking the disengagement”. All that means is that Israel with- service apart. draws from the parts of occupied Palestine it They also attacked BMA doesn’t want or cannot hold while retaining all leaders for failing to put up a the good bits, including the vast tract of Palestin- strong opposition to the re- ian territory the Zionists call “Greater Jerusalem”, forms, thereby failing both behind a concrete wall that has also been erected patients and doctors. on stolen Arab land. James Johnson, a sur- If the Palestinians agree to negotiate their own geon from Cheshire who capitulation Israel might give them a few more chairs the BMA council, ac- crumbs. If not the “plan” will be implemented re- cused the Government of running the NHS like a supermar- gardless of past UN resolutions, Oslo agreements ket, offering choice and com- or the “road map” that Bush and Blair were tell- petition. ing us was the only way forward not long ago. “There is no doubt it Olmert bleats that he has no Palestinian “part- works in supermarkets,” he ner” to negotiate with. But he has. Olmert claims said, “plenty of choice, good that his plan will safeguard Israel’s “security”. quality and low prices. But But it won’t. will it work in a health service Israeli leaders down the years have repeat- where more ‘customers’ – we edly spurned the concept of a comprehensive and doctors are old fashioned enough to call them patients • Organising against privatisation in the health service. lasting peace with the Palestinians and the rest of – do not mean more profits? medically qualified manage- of feeling amongst consult- that this year patients being the Arab world in exchange for the elusive dream They mean more cost.” ment consultants employed ants and doctors in general referred to a hospital for spe- of total victory. Armed to the teeth by imperial- He said that payment by by local trusts. that we are implicitly support- cialist treatment should be ism their armies have dealt savage blows against results created “perverse in- The Government claims ing the reforms. offered a choice of five hos- the Arabs. Tens of thousands of Arabs have died centives” to keep patients in that ISTCs reduced NHS wait- “The membership has pitals. in the wars and confrontations that have wracked hospital when the best treat- ing times but many doctors been telling the BMA what James Johnson said: “We the Middle East since the State of Israel was es- ment might be to provide some call them a waste of money the consequences of Govern- found some surprising re- tablished in 1948. But so have many Israelis. care in hospital and the rest and the quality of the care ment reforms will be for years sults, which don’t seem to The terror of the oppressor has spawned the in the community. they offer is not monitored. now – that these reforms will match Government thinking. terror of the oppressed. The Palestinian determi- And he warned of the fi- The conference passed a be bad for patients, for the Most strikingly the majority nancial dangers of private motion condemning the BMA taxpayer and for doctors.” of people – 55 per cent – said nation to fight tooth and nail for their rights by companies commissioning leadership’s failure to defend He went on to say that the NHS did not offer choice.” whatever means possible continues to frustrate services. “It would not take a the NHS by 58 per cent to 42 the Government now holds He added that those tak- the Zionist dream of a land without Arabs and a financial wizard to work out per cent and called for a the profession in contempt ing part in the survey had had Middle East that revolves around Tel Aviv. that if a private company ran “policy of active opposition and will not listen to its ad- plenty of experience of the The basis for a just peace has long been ac- hospitals and also commis- and proper scrutiny”. vice. NHS within the past year. cepted by the international community. Past UN sioned services it adds up to Natasha Arnold, a geri- The conference narrowly “I think it is wrong,” he resolutions have called on Israel to withdraw from a licence to print money,” he atrician from Islington, said: rejected a motion from obste- continued, “to put much em- all the occupied territories seized in 1967. The said. “The BMA represents all of trician Wendy Savage to af- phasis on the choice of five UN has upheld the right of the Palestinians to Johnson accused manag- us here. The BMA has been filiate to the Keep Our NHS hospitals. This is difficult and establish their own independent state on the West ers of interfering in decisions working with the Government Public campaign but still ex- in some parts of the country about where patients were re- over the entire period of re- pressed opposition to further quite artificial when there is Bank and Gaza Strip and recognised the right of ferred for treatment because form, but has not succeeded involvement of the private only a choice of local hospi- the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes of pressure to use private in influencing how reforms sector in the NHS. tal, with many miles to travel or receive appropriate compensation, if they so companies that had been have been implemented, de- The conference also to another. wish, from the Israeli authorities. given Government contracts spite the growing concerns in heard the results of a BMA “It would be far better for The Palestinian problem is not insoluble but it to provide services. the profession.” survey which showed that patients to be given more can only be resolved when the legitimate rights He told the conference And Hamish Brown, a more than half of patients say choice on how they are of the Palestinians are resolved. That’s the bitter that it was “outrageous” that consultant surgeon from Bir- that the NHS does not offer treated, especially those with equation that Olmert must accept if he wants patients were being diverted mingham, said: “The them choice – despite this long-term conditions. The peace. from their local hospitals to unchallenging nature of this being the Government’s main choice of five hospitals Independent Sector Treat- opposition to Government re- boast about its reforms. frankly seems to turn most ment Centres (ISTCs) by non- forms has led to a great deal The Government claims people off.” 30 June 2006 THE NEW WORKER Page 3 Home News Newsdesk 020 7223 4050 Unison condemns No more privatisation by Mike Fletcher in Bournemouth that is not always reflected in subject to more frequent stop outsourcing government policies.” and search procedures. THE GIANT public sector Migrant workers, many of “I’m proud to be a British of patient union Unison last week, at its whom work in the health ser- Muslim, I don’t need an ID annual delegate conference vice, suffer from the lack of card to tell me I’m a British citi- in Bournemouth, voted legal protection, leaving them zen,” said Medhi Hassan from records against any further exposed to unscrupulous em- Tower Hamlets. privatisation by the Labour ployers, she said. The ID card was a form of government. Low pay, long hours and state racism, he continued, “I THE GIANT public sector And an amendment to a appalling accommodation are will be stopped every day. I union Unison last week at- composite resolution called just some of the ways in which don’t think Tony Blair will tacked hospital trusts which for the renationalisation of all they suffer. ever be stopped. My skin send tens of thousands of con- public services. The motion Roland added that Uni- colour is brown, and his white fidential patient records to called for spending on the son in Scotland already had a – and that is the difference,” the Philippines, South Africa NHS to be maintained above number of initiatives, includ- said Hassan to cheers from the and India to be transcribed the European average. ing the overseas nurses’ net- hall. under an outsourcing policy It was moved by Green- work and refugee learning Delegates also raised the designed to save the NHS mil- wich Local Government project that could be repli- issue of the security of per- lions of pounds. branch and it said: “Confer- cated across Britain. sonal data collected by the Hospitals are replacing ence condemns the thou- Delegates voted to chal- • get Unison commodation who are ex- scheme, as the work is being medical secretaries with pri- sands of jobs shed in the lenge the government “to branches to foster closer links pected to be charged for contracted out to private com- vate secretarial services NHS, with 4,000 announced in shift the debate around mi- with different communities; changes to the database ev- panies. where doctors’ instructions March 2006 alone.” gration to a focus on increas- • challenge BNP at- ery time they change address. Conference re-affirmed are recorded by Dictaphone Conference also called ing the employment rights of tempts to exploit divisions in “This is money better its opposition to the scheme and sent abroad to be tran- for backing of workers in the migrant workers, rather than society; spent on public transport, im- and resolved to campaign on scribed and emailed back to private contract health in restricting their ability to work • work with partner proving patient care, protect- both ID cards and for the Gov- the hospital. Whipps Cross Hospital in in the UK”. unions to challenge the mis- ing pensions, and public ser- ernment to abandon the na- The contract typists have east London, who were being The Government was also representation of Islam and vices,” said Ray Walker, mov- tional information register made potentially life-threaten- balloted for strike action over called on to clamp down on the portrayal of all Muslims ing the motion opposing the scheme. ing mistakes, getting medical the failure to implement the rogue operators who flout as potential terrorists. scheme. Conference also agreed dosages wrong and confu- Agenda for change – an equal employment regulations. Dave Prentis congratu- Criticising the to work with civil society sion hypertension (high opportunities programme – lated Unison members in lead- Government’s view that the organisations, such as Lib- blood pressure) with hy- and against cuts in their increase ing the fight against fascism scheme was necessary to pro- erty and their “NO2ID” cam- potension (low blood pres- hours and jobs. and the British National Party. tect security, Walker said: paign. Branches were re- sure). Unison general secretary The conference heard that Any member of the BNP will “There is nothing that shows minded that they could affili- Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said that Unison there has been a 29 per cent be expelled from Unison. that we would be safer than ate both to Liberty and their Dave Prentis said: “Lives are will be in the forefront to de- increase in racist attacks in Unison is opposed to the we are now.” campaign. being put at risk by hospitals fend our NHS in conjunction the last year. And Government’s ID scheme and The conference warned desperate to save money. with patients’ groups and Islamophobia is on the in- remains concerned about the alarm US president George Bush not Medical secretaries work to community groups. crease, both before 7th July cost of the scheme and the to interfere with the revolution 99.8 per cent accuracy; once Conference deferred a 2005 and subsequently, with impact on race relations and Delegates expressed that is transforming the for- phased out their knowledge motion opposing the union’s two-thirds of religious hate civil rights. alarm at the potential impact tunes of Venezuela. and experience will be lost for- affiliation to the Labour Party crime targeted at Muslims. The scheme is expected on race relations. There was Delegates in ever.” and Unison will continue to This prejudice is fuelled to cost up to £19 billion, and concern that black and ethnic Bournemouth signalled their give positive support to its by a “hysterical” right-wing charges are likely to impact minority people would be tar- support of President Hugo link with Labour. media and plays into the most on the poor, especially geted when trying to access Chavez, who is presiding over Veteran left-Labour hands of the British National those living in insecure ac- public services, and would be social programmes aimed at statesman Tony Benn Party (BNP), said Hannah improving education, pointed out at a fringe meet- Priest of West Midlands. healthcare, housing and jobs ing that all unions should af- “Witnesses are refusing in his country. University filiate to the Labour Party; or failing to attend court to But his pan-continental with a forthcoming party lead- give evidence against those “Bolivarian revolution” is ership election the 40 per cent who cause misery,” she ex- making the US government fees deter trade union vote would be plained, “because they are very nervous about its dwin- critical in the election of a new afraid of reprisals against dling power in the region. Labour leader. themselves or family.” “Hugo Chavez has won students Dave Prentis said: “Any She added that the BNP nine elections, and is working final offer on pensions will be is inciting racial hatred with to do things differently,” said THE PROSPECT of paying put to the members for a bal- leaflets saying people should Bill King from Wales. “His huge university fees and lot for industrial action.” “get even”. policies are popular in Ven- building up thousands of Trade unions have a ma- “If we allow the BNP to ezuela but not with the Bush pounds of debt early in their jor role in sticking up for the grow in this country, oppres- administration. lives is deterring many of the rights of migrant workers, sion against freedom of “Bush believes that de- brightest pupils from state conference heard. The Gov- speech and trade unions will mocracy is not any good un- schools from applying for ernment was urged to “shift increase.” less it is his kind of democ- university courses. the debate” away from dis- Ann McCormack from the racy,” King added. “We must Course fees are due to couraging immigration – and North West region said: “We show him that he has no right rise to £3,000 in September and using inflammatory language need to make members aware to interfere with the internal a study of 7,000 students in that leads to racism – to im- of the BNP’s vicious lies and workings of another state.” their first year of A-level proving migrants’ working politics. We need to get them Conference heard of the courses found a drop of 27 per lives. off the councils where they “colossal advances” in Ven- cent in the number contem- Migrant workers made “a already are and stop them get- ezuela, which included a mas- plating going to university. valuable contribution to the ting any more seats.” sive house-building project The survey, carried out by economy and to ethnic and Conference pledged the and the building of universi- Target 10,000, an independent cultural diversity in our soci- union to: ties, schools and hospitals. campaign group, found that ety,” said Pat Roland from • work with Govern- Chavez’s government is 90 per cent of the students Scotland. ment to make it easier for wit- also encouraging trade knew little or nothing of the “These workers do more nesses to give evidence and • Top: against job losses and privatisation in the NHS. unions and worker co-opera- financial support available. than their share, fiscally, but other appropriate bodies; Above: support for the campaign against ID cards. tives. Jacobo Torres, a mem- The Government has in- ber of the Public Services Fed- sisted that new arrangements eration of Venezuela’s Na- that allow students to defer tional Union of Workers ad- paying until after they have dressed a fringe meeting pro- graduated should benefit Anger at Brown’s support for Trident moting the revolution taking those from the poorest back- place in his country. grounds. Labour MP for Hayes and He demanded a de- “We are not carrying out Gemma Tumelty, presi- GORDON Brown last Prime-Minister-in-waiting. an International Monetary week astonished many But it is also likely to Harlington, who chairs the bate and a vote in the dent-elect of the National House of Commons be- Fund agenda,” he said, “but Union of Students, said: “It is by announcing that he cost him the support of Socialist Campaign Group a Bolivarian agenda, for the extremely worrying that a is committed to main- many left Labour MPs in his and the Labour Represen- fore a decision was benefit of the Venezuelan large number of talented state taining Britain’s ambitions to succeed Blair. tation Committee, de- reached. people. school students are being put nuclear deterrent – Clare Short, the former scribed Brown’s speech as He said: “Brown has “We are building our own off. which will mean updat- International Development “a slap in the face for Labour got this reputation for be- reference points, in our own “As well as holding seri- ing the Trident system. Secretary who resigned af- and the trade union move- ing an Iron Chancellor but rhythm.” ous concerns over the mas- ter the invasion of Iraq, said ment”. now he says he is ready The conference was sive increase in student debt This is not the sort of she could no longer support to write a cheque for £25 organised in a friendly atmo- levels that the new system will announcement normally Brown as Prime Minister Islington North MP Jer- billion for American weap- sphere with delegates from all create, NUS has long been expected from a Chancel- after he had pre-empted a emy Corbyn, who chairs the ons. over the world expressing concerned by the complexity lor of the Exchequer and promised parliamentary de- parliamentary CND group, “His obsession with their need for solidarity of the new support system so also delivers a strong bate on the future of said that Brown’s remarks being more New Labour against and Anglo-American and whether it may deter stu- message that he regards Britain’s nuclear weapons. about Trident were “sad and than Tony Blair is getting global capitalism and its de- dents from entering higher himself as the next John McDonnell, the absurd”. the better of him.” sire to exploit and privatise the education.” world.

Page 4 THE NEW WORKER 30 June 2006 Features

For 20 years, Iraqi by Rob Gowland American Sami Rasouli lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as a peace Iraq: eyewitness MY WIFE AND I were tick- led pink the other day to re- activist and restaurant ceive a personal computer- owner. He visited Iraq in generated letter from our lo- 2004, and decided to to occupation cal State MP. He wasn’t any- move home and help one I was familiar with, nor was he anyone we had ever rebuild his country. He voted for (heck, we didn’t sold his restaurant and of Baghdad and populated by close to 3 million, people are in- even know anyone who had returned to Najaf, where fected by hepatitis A, hepatitis B voted for him). he founded the Muslim or typhus from polluted drinking He wasn’t our MP because Peacemakers Team. The water. of an election, but because of a redistribution – a singularly un- American progressive Main transportation routes that connect cities in Iraq are democratic way to be assigned a magazine Fight Back! mainly controlled by US military parliamentary representative. interviewed him during patrols and checkpoints, with We live in the Dooralong Val- his three-month US many of them sealed off alto- ley on the New South Wales Central Coast. Together with the speaking tour about the gether. For an average Iraqi trav- eller, highways are a killing field, adjacent Yarramalong Valley, our reality of the US so they avoid them. Inner city area provides half the water occupation of Iraq. routes are also blocked by hun- catchment for Wyong and the dreds of checkpoints, peppered Central Coast (a not unimportant by US and Iraqi newly formed matter in this time of continuous Fight Back!: What condi- forces. drought). tions are Iraqi people living To sum it up, Iraq today is a Last year the residents had to under? How have things mess. It’s a big mess. wage a determined struggle to changed under occupation? prevent the area being subjected Fight Back!: US officials to intensive drilling for coal seam Sami Rasouli: In Iraq there and media say that sectarian methane extraction. If it had is none of the progress that the violence between Sunnis and gone ahead, the hundreds of US administration and main- Shiites justifies the continued • Above: the occupiers respect neither gender nor age. Below: If you wells planned would have had a stream media propagate. After occupation. What do you don’t want to show your face imperialist technology has an answer. catastrophic effect on the water three years of promises, Iraqis think? supply for the Central Coast of haven’t seen it. Life under NSW. Saddam Hussein was not perfect. Sami Rasouli: This is a big Now the south Korean-gov- But life now is unbearable. It’s lie. The administration well knows ernment-owned mining giant more difficult and the situation is that their occupation in Iraq di- Kores (pronounced Kor-es) getting worse. The Iraqis want vided the people of Iraq – pro and wants to build a huge coal mine progress in three fields. against the occupation. The under the valleys, with all the First, security: 40 to 60 Iraqis people who support the occupa- consequences of land subsid- get killed every day. The US fails tion are the profiteers and the ex- ence, damage to the aquifer and according to international law to patriots who accompanied the US disruption of the water catch- provide security for the land of invasion. It looks like they struck ment. Iraq, and for Iraqis’ lives. The US a deal – we occupy your country Last time, the valley residents trained almost 3,000 Iraqi secu- and allow you to rule the coun- were supported by Wyong Coun- rity police and military personnel, try. And you ask for our presence, cil, but now, thanks to a remark- besides the US troops estimated so we stay and protect you and ably convenient redistribution, the at 130,000. But still we see death protect our interests. two valleys have been severed squads roaming the streets. Upon assuming his post, the from Wyong (their local urban There is no security. The foreign previous US administrator in Iraq, centre) and shifted into the Lake countries donated $18 billion to Paul Bremer, announced de- Macquarie electoral area, which reconstruct Iraq. Two-thirds of Ba’athification and the disband- is literally “over the hills and far this money went to security, but ing of the army. These led to in- away” from the affairs of the country is still lawless; the fighting, which is backed by some Wyong. country is still broken; the coun- current Iraqi government offi- They are now part of an elec- try is no country anymore. cials. For 35 years, under the pre- torate largely comprising commu- The second field of vious regime, 95 per cent of Ira- nities dependent on coal mining “progress” is the economy. The qis became Ba’athists, whether for a living. economy in Iraq today is com- willingly or by force. To call for No doubt it’s just a coinci- pletely destroyed. Before 1991, de-Ba’athification was an open dence and has nothing to do with an Iraqi dinar was worth $3. Now, invitation to all Iraqi factions to the influence of the mining lobby one US dollar is equivalent to fight each other. in Macquarie Street. 1,500 dinars. This is a 4,500 per Those who backed the call for cent inflation rate. de-Ba’athification took the side The falsification industry There are no production fa- of the US occupation, while the cilities in Iraq. There is no Iraqi majority of Iraqis opposed the Capitalism may be based on national investing in Iraq. We see occupation. Some chose to be the private ownership of the foreign investors who backed the violent in their opposition, so they means of production, but it de- war and supported the occupa- formed the Iraqi national resis- pends for its continued existence tion. The occupation has tance. Others oppose the occu- on the prolific use and develop- mobilised a fever to privatise the pation peacefully, but support the ment of lies. Lies about who re- country, its wealth to be sold out underground resistance army. people, hungry for information stability, no peace, no progress. ally owns the factories, banks, to foreigners. It’s destroying the There is no sectarian war. Ira- from an un-embedded source. Because the government that mines and infrastructure as well Iraqi economy. The most devas- qis have lived together for cen- People are tired of hearing the just formed is part of the occu- as lies of every sort about who tating economic reality is the un- turies. The US administration, by administration say it is accom- pation, it’s a puppet government, actually benefits most from the employment rate of 60 to 70 per its occupation forces, tries to ap- plishing progress, which is not not a free government. The Iraqi system. cent. ply the old rotten British colonial there in Iraq. President Bush people reject this collaboration Capitalism arose out of the The third field of progress is concept of divide and conquer. It promises to improve the situation between the government and the growth of commerce, especially infrastructure, which was com- hasn’t worked for the last three in Iraq by forming a new perma- occupation. in the age of exploration and the pletely destroyed by the first Gulf years, and will not work. This nent Iraqi government, but still he In Iraq, I will maintain the industrial revolution. The great War in 1991. The previous re- strategy is failing and will never fails to address the security ques- bridge that I helped create by influx of gold that flowed into gime restored 65 per cent of the succeed in Iraq. Bush and his tion in Iraq and he fails to talk founding the Muslim Peace- Europe after the Spanish con- public services, but failed to com- failing military operation in Iraq about reducing US forces in Iraq. maker Teams that work with the quests in Central and South plete the job due to 13 years of will not last. In my view, the US must pull out Christian Peacemaker Teams America helped enormously in harsh economic sanctions before all troops immediately, to secure and other vital organisations of the development of capitalism. the aggression in 2003. Iraqis in Fight Back!: After speak- the land of Iraq and the lives of the anti-war movement in the US However, as early as the time Baghdad were getting 16 hours ing at more than 100 meetings millions of Iraqis. and Iraq. I will carry messages of Oliver Cromwell, social re- per day of electricity while and protests, you are heading The US occupation in Iraq is of support from US people who formers like England’s Gerard Saddam was in power, before the back to Iraq. What have you a form of war and this war should oppose the war. Winstanley – who founded, or war. Today they get 3.7 hours of accomplished in the United be ended. No matter how many When I get to Iraq, I will be influenced the founding of, over intermittent electric power. States? How will your work elections take place, how many the US population’s ears and a dozen communes in England at The previous regime provided continue in Iraq? constitutions are written, how eyes. I’ll be reporting from there, that time – saw through the pre- clean drinking water, restored many governments are formed, and sharing the stories that I wit- tences of the world of “business”. capacity service of the water Sami Rasouli: It was very as long as occupation continues, ness. These activities will support Winstanley succinctly dismissed treatment plant by 70 per cent. important to share reports from there is a resistance to counter the international goal of peace. commerce as “the lying art of Now in Sadr City, which is a part Iraq with average American the occupation. There will be no Fight Back! (US) buying and selling”. 30 June 2006 THE NEW WORKER Page 5 Features 020 7223 4052 Over the hills and far away

the employer class made these ment so far has retained all seven concessions to the demands of provisions – that’s “PROTECED the poor and exploited out of the BY LAW” for you! goodness of their hearts! Those who maintain that black Far from being forced to ac- is in fact black are lampooned as cede to the workers’ demands by liars, dinosaurs or conspiracy popular economic pressure theorists. (strike action, boycott, and the Capitalism also uses the like), they will tell you that em- method that, if something is re- ployers were simply displaying peated enough times in all the their natural generosity. A gen- “credible” media, it will almost erosity greedy workers tried to certainly be believed in the end, take advantage of! no matter how improbable it may Capitalism has developed new actually be. forms of lying, ones that not only In the think tanks of capital- say black is white but provide ism, control of information is now proof that black is white, backed seen as being as important as up by witnesses who saw black control of the armed forces. become white or who saw that it Their lies permeate every was never anything else but facet of our history, our society, white. Then if people do by our culture. chance come across the truth, But despite all the highly paid they may not believe it. spin doctors and industrial tacti- Black is white has become an cians the capitalist class has to industry in itself. Learned insti- hand, it struggles to convince the tutes are created solely to give people of its lies. credibility to the idea that black The working people have a is white – and always has been. ceaseless source of truthful edu- The government pays private cation that never stops – it may consultants millions of dollars on take a little time, but it always gets how to do it. there in the end. Remember those [Australian] That educational source that • Capitalism revolves round lies – but some are more deadly then others. WorkChoices TV ads and news- always tells the truth, is, of Nevertheless, it was not only privileged position. The entire and working conditions of work- paper advertisement and the course, life itself. those actually involved in buying capitalist system is and has al- ing people were wrung from the glossy kits? The “PROTECTED and selling who depended on ly- ways been dependent on lying to employer class only after bitter BY LAW” stamp over seven key ing for the growth of their wealth the people. and often long struggles. But to award provisions. Not a single The Guardian and the maintenance of their Every advance in the living hear their representatives tell it, Australian Workplace Agree- Australian communist weekly The bitter fruit of Zionist policy

nomic, military and political sup- Billions of dollars a year flow into rifles and rocket-propelled gre- ets have been successfully by Michael Kramer port of the US government for its the colony via congressional ap- nades. This self-defence of the launched against settler towns survival. It is widely acknowledged propriations and Pentagon grants, oppressed must never be con- and farms east of Gaza. While AS THE 35th World Zionist Con- to possess the latest in high-tech artificially propping up the stan- fused with the violence of the op- they have not caused great physi- gress convened in Jerusalem strategic and tactical weapons dard of living of most settlers. pressor. cal damage, their effect on the on 19th June, the Palestinian systems, including nuclear weap- This prevents a mass reverse-mi- In desperation some turn morale and psyche of the settler people are continuing their ons of mass destruction. Succes- gration that would result in the themselves into human bombs. population should not be under- determined and heroic sive US administrations repeat- collapse of the whole colonial en- Others construct ground-to- estimated. struggle against the colonial edly use their veto power in the terprise. ground rockets with simple guid- The Zionists have never hesi- enterprise that has been set up United Nations Security Council The Palestinians fight with ance systems in secret machine tated to utilise terrorism against throughout their most beauti- to quash any anti-Israeli motions. what they have: AK-47 assault shops. Hundreds of these rock- the civilian Palestinian population. ful land. Targeted killings of Palestinian The Zionist colony in Palestine political leaders and militants are calls itself the State of Israel. It an everyday occurrence. Arabic- rules over millions of Palestinians speaking Israeli death squads in through brute force and an apart- civilian clothing roam the West heid-like legal system. Millions Bank. US supplied air-to-ground more Palestinians have been missiles are regularly fired into the forced into exile and/or live in refu- middle of densely populated ur- gee camps. Thousands of others ban neighbourhoods. at any one time are locked up in A large extended family pic- Israeli jails. High rates of unem- nicking on a beach in Gaza was ployment are official government recently targeted by artillery fire, policy. resulting in horrendous casual- The Zionists call their colony ties. a Jewish “homeland” and encour- The four-day World Zionist age Jewish immigration with gen- Congress had over 2,000 partici- erous financial grants and pants, but it is really only a “feel- subsidised housing. In 1967 the good” event and photo-op for Zi- colony expanded into Syria, onist activists. where it established illegal settle- The real deliberations over Zi- ments in the Golan Heights re- onist policy take place behind gion. closed doors in Washington DC Today most settlers are either — in the White House, Pentagon religious fundamentalists or come and State Department. from countries with high degrees of economic and/or social insta- Michael Kramer served in the bility such as Russia, Uzbekistan Israeli Defence Forces during and Ethiopia. Each year thou- the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. sands of settlers—especially youth in their twenties—emigrate Workers’ World (US) to leave behind a life of endless war, military call-ups and racism. The colony relies on the eco- • Many Jews are not Zionists. Page 6 THE NEW WORKER 30 June 2006 Home News

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123456789012345678901234567Diary 8 child database battle with Asda 1234567890123456789012345678 CIVIL Rights groups last sure,” said Dr Munro. week expressed grave con- Some child experts are THOUSANDS of depot work- union informed when staff SUNDAY 2 July the UK. 7.30pm,Secular cerns over the Government’s worried that the creation of ers employed by the super- who are union members leave Against Zionism: Jewish Hall, 75 Humberstone latest plans to create a £224 such a huge database might market chain Asda Wal-Mart the job. Perspectives. Gate, Leicester. million database with exten- actually make it harder to spot are set to begin a five-day The union is anticipating Organised by Islamic SUNDAY 16 July sive personal information on a child really at risk. “When strike on Friday in a long illegal strike-breaking moves Human Rights Commis- Brent Stop the War the 12 million children living you’re looking for a needle in running dispute over union and has written to employ- sion and NEDA Summer Fundraising in England and Wales. recognition rights. ment agencies throughout a haystack, is it necessary to Time: 9:30am – 7pm Garden Party. From 4.00 The Government claims keep building a bigger hay- The workers voted by Britain informing them of the Venue: School of Oriental this is a child protection mea- stack?” said Jonathan 2,209 to 771 in a strike ballot Conduct of Employment pm in Kate & Jamie’s sure, arising out of discus- Bamford, the assistant com- organised by the GMB gen- Agencies and Employment and African Studies, Willesden Green Garden. sions following the death of missioner at the Information eral union in a 57 per cent turn- Business Regulations 2003, University of London, Tickets £12 waged / £6 on Victoria Climbié and expects Commissioner’s office. out. They are demanding the which makes it illegal for agen- Thornhaugh Street, Russell the door. Delicious food the programme to be operat- He also wondered how payment of last year’s £300 cies to supply labour to com- Square, London WC1H and entertainment, ing within two years. helpful it would be in prevent- per worker bonus and in- panies during a trade dispute. 0XG. guests, poetry, music & Schools, doctors and po- ing abuse if one of the creased union recognition GMB national secretary WEDNESDAY 5 July magic. lice will be expected to alert indicator’s against a child’s and negotiating rights. Phil Davies said: “GMB mem- Music Benefit Gig for Stop SATURDAY 29 July the database to a wide range record was that they were not The union has recogni- bers know full well that Asda the War: Don’t Harm Iran. tion so far in nine out of the Anniversary of the victory of “concerns” and two warn- progressing well towards his Wal-Mart are collaborating Progress bar, 162 Tufnell ings about any child could or her French GCSE. company’s 20 depots but with a range of employment of the Korean Fatherland lead to an in depth investiga- The children’s rights even in those nine Asda Wal- agencies and transport firms Park Rd, N7 Admission; Liberation War. Meeting tion. organisation Arch commented Mart has illegally tried to stop to illegally break the strike. An eclectic evening of followed by BBQ. 3-5pm, The scheme will also that “Government databases shop stewards talking to work- “All this activity by Asda exciting,emerging Acoustic Saklatvala Hall, Southall, monitor each child’s develop- have a dreadful record”. ers and tried to restrict nego- Wal-Mart to break the strike & Rock music.£5. London. ment and performance to- There is a real danger in a tiations only to pay and ex- is an illegal attempt to run a SATURDAY 8 July wards certain targets and system like this that many cluded conditions. coach and horses through the The Out of Beirut children’s services are to be families will find themselves Asda Wal-Mart has also Conduct of Employment exhibition, 3:00pm Le Trio Joubran instructed to make sure the facing intrusive intervention tried to introduce a new work- Agencies and Employment As part of the Out of Beirut A special tour of Wales targets are met. over trivial things that come ing system based on new Business Regulations 2003. exhibition, Samar Martha, Dr Eileen Munro of the technology that will increase GMB intend to mount a vig- co-produced by Theatr well within the spectrum of Director ArtSchool London School of Economics normal variation – leaving the work rates to a level that, ac- orous campaign to expose Mwldan and LMD Produc- said that if a child caused con- child support services so cording to health and safety these illegal plans. Palestine. Free. Modern Art tions under the Arts cern by failing to progress as overwhelmed with work that experts, will quickly make “GMB plans to install Oxford, 30 Pembroke Street Outside of Cardiff expected then detailed infor- real victims of abuse will be workers ill from exhaustion. each picket line surveillance Oxford 0X1 1BP Scheme, funded by mation would be gathered. missed. The American-owned grade cameras to collect evi- SUNDAY 9 July Welsh Assembly Govern- This would include sub- And there is the concern Wal-Mart group is notori- dence which is admissible in War on Want meeting. ment and Arts Council jective judgements, such as about what happens to all this ously anti-union and is seek- court when GMB prosecute Profiting from the Wales. ing a court injunction against whether parents were provid- very personal and private in- the employment agencies occupation: A people’s Dates: ing a positive role model and formation once the child be- the ballot, claiming that ballot that illegally help Asda Wal- information about the parents’ comes and adult and has chil- papers were sent to people no Mart to break the strike. tribunal to expose the 4 July Theatr Mwldan, mental health. dren of their own. Will it all be longer employed by the com- “GMB will have notices corporations behind Israel’s Cardigan “They include consum- linked in with the national pany. on each picket line saying, occupation of Palestine, www.mwldan.co.uk 01239 ing five portions of fruit and identity register that will be the The GMB says that, de- ‘Smile, you are on camera 11am-6pm, 621200 vegetables a day, which I am basis of the identity card spite repeated requests, Asda when you cross this picket Auditorium, Amnesty 5 July Arts Centre, baffled how they will mea- scheme? Wal-Mart fails to keep the line’.” International, 17-25 New Inn Aberystwyth Yard, London EC2A. www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre MONDAY 10 July 01970 623232 INFORMATION BULLETIN Protest at Aldermaston 6 July SPAN @ Queens Nuclear Bomb Factory. Stop Hall, Narberth www.span- Published by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) FROM THE NEW COMMUNIST PARTY the next generation of arts.org.uk 01834 869323 British nuclear weapons. 7 July Theatr Ardudwy, 1) Athens communist & workers’ parties conference, Early on Monday morning Harlech October 2004 (2/2004). New technology and the need for socialism 10th July will be the next www.theatrardudwy.co.uk 2) Athens communist & workers’ parties conference, £2 plus 50p P&P. protest at Aldermaston. 01766 780667 November 2005 (1/2005). The case for communism £2 plus 50p P&P. There will be overnight 8 July Taliesin Arts Centre, £5 each post free from NCP Lit, PO 73, accommodation nearby - Swansea All in the family by Daphne Liddle, £1 plus 50p P&P London SW11 2PQ. free or cheap - on the www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk (New Worker reprint). Sunday. 01792 602060 Arab nationalism and the communist movement TUESDAY 11 July 9 July National Museum, by Andy Brooks, £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint). Palestine Solidarity Cardiff ‘Organised by Campaign public meeting Beyond the Border: Wales :Stand by the Palestinians. International Storytelling NCP Lit. PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ. Dr Manuel Hassassian, Festival’ (cheques to New Worker) Palestinian General www.museumwales.ac.uk Reception Delegate (Ambassador) to 02920 573466

Emergency New Worker Celebrate the foundation of the New Communist Party press appeal Saturday 15th July 7pm Because of a problem on our printing press we are Party Centre.£5. Bar & buffet. launching an emergency appeal for £3,000 to cover repairs and maintenance. Please send what you can to: Press Appeal (cheques/PO’s to New Worker), New Worker, PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ. Weekly paper of the New Communist Party SUBSCRIBE NOW! 6 weeks: £4; 3 months: £8; On the Web... 6 months: £15; annual: £30 New Worker National – www.newworker.org Name...... NCP Central – Address...... www.geocities.com/ncpcentral ...... London District NCP– http://londoncommunists.blogspot.com/ Post code...... Brighton NCP – Phone...... http://brightoncommunists.blogspot.com/ Cheque/P.O.’s, made out to New Worker, to: NCP-PCS – NW Subs, PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ www.geocities.ncppcs/pcs1.html 30 June 2006 THE NEW WORKER Page 7 020 7223 4052

by an observer and deep-seated prejudice” and the “belligerent prejudice PUBLIC and Commercial of the bar-room bully and the Services (PCS) union mem- Sun editorial”. And he slated bers gathered in Brighton in the Blair/Brown Labour lead- June for group and annual PCS stands firm ership for its attacks on civil conference to take stock of and public servants and said the work done in resisting it was “surreal” that Tory the sweeping attack on their Government’s offensive. an average pension of £4,500 leader David Cameron was pay, pensions and conditions Though over half the workers and he praised the 100,000 now apparently the “de- by the Government that is have walked out repeatedly in PCS members who had taken fender” of the public sector. their main employer. protest stoppages against the strike action this year in de- But he pointed out that The majority of civil ser- cut, just over a tenth bothered fence of jobs, pay and condi- Cameron had supported ev- vice workers are organised by to vote in the DWP group elections, as he moved the annual ery single Tory policy and PCS, an amalgamation, whose tions. report. statement attacking the pub- final form took shape in 1998, The right-wing’s problem Some of the left factions lic sector. consisting of four major civil is that they regard themselves were critical of the tactics in Prentis, whose local gov- service unions whose divi- as New Labour “Brownites” DWP and the pension settle- ernment members are also sions and traditions are mir- but the Chancellor is the ar- ment reached this year, which under the Government’s rored in the highly factional chitect and chief advocate in preserved the civil servant’s cosh, warned the Blair gov- politics of the union today. the campaign to cut the work- existing rights but accepted ernment that public sector Though the new union force by 100,000 across the the Government’s changes workers “will take action to was originally dominated by board. The left bloc is domi- for new entrants. This clearly defend our members facing right-wing blocs the left won nated by former Militant Ten- wasn’t the view of the leader- cuts and privatisation”. sweeping victories in 2003. dency supporters now in the ship. PCS President Janice On the fringe the biggest Annual conference was re- Socialist Party and the Scot- Godrich told conference that turn-out at around 200 was stored and the reactionary tish Socialist Party and a gal- the union’s achievements undoubtedly for Tony Benn heart of the rule book torn out axy of Trotskyist, revisionist over the last year were a cause at a Stop the War Coalition and democratic controls re- and social-democratic group- for celebration. meeting but almost as many stored. Membership confi- ings within and outside the “We are bigger, better went to hear George Galloway dence in the new leadership Labour Party. It’s an uneasy known and even more well MP speak against the Iraq war has continued under the lead- alliance and the divisions respected,” she declared. at the Respect rally. Meetings ership of general secretary were reflected on the debates “Members have stood to- in support of the Venezuelan Mark Serwotka and the Left on pay, pensions and the cuts. gether and we have secured revolution and in solidarity Unity led “Democratic Alli- General secretary Mark some important concessions with Cuba were well attended ance” bloc. Serwotka stressed the need including a Government back- as well as those called by the This was confirmed in this for the restoration of national down on our members’ pen- unions many pressure groups year’s national elections. The pay bargaining. In his key- sion retirement age.” and factions. right wing was left with just note address opening main Guest speakers included The debates in the confer- one seat on the new execu- conference he called on Gov- • PCS on the march for peace. Labour MP John McDonnell, ence hall reflected the trends tive and the left held its vote ernment to take responsibil- who chairs the PCS parliamen- within the union and ulti- in most of the groups. But ity for its policies, rather than tary group and is the leader mately the decisions, like the there were no grounds for engaging in crude said. “This attack, combined ries are trying to capitalise of the Labour Representation elections, were overall a vote complacency. Overall the scapegoating. with the latest blame game in on.” Committee as well as Dave of confidence in the left-led turn-out in the group and na- “The scapegoating by the the Home Office, botched Mark told delegates that Prentis, the general secretary leadership while the fringe tional elections was down on Government of hard working privatisations and failing pri- the Government should re- of Unison. meetings, probably the larg- last year – significantly in the civil servants who are bat- vate sector IT contracts, is member that PCS members McDonnell denounced est number seen so far, mir- giant Department of Work tered by job cuts and bruised leading to a wave of discon- were low paid people; half the the Government’s offensive rored what is going on and Pensions (DWP) which by privatisation is nothing tent emerging across the civil civil service earn less than against civil servants which throughout the peace and has faced the brunt of the short of passing the buck,” he service, which even the To- £20,000 per year and retire on he said reflected an “abiding labour movement. Solidarity is stronger than nuclear bombs

“THE WORLD is full of dis- tion of the Korean penin- Americans, which has left torted information about sula, Japan had suppressed the country divided by the Korea,” Comrade Jong culture, education and eco- American occupation of the In Song from the Em- nomic development, leaving south and still technically in bassy of the Democratic the Koreans without a func- an unfinished war. People’s Republic of Ko- tioning infrastructure. The terms of the treaty rea told a north London In 1945 the end of the specified that a peace con- seminar last Saturday. Second World War saw ference was to be estab- The seminar was Soviet troops in the north of lished within three months organised by the Friends of Korea and Americans in the to negotiate the terms of Korea coordinating commit- south. This division was the peaceful reunification of tee and chaired by Harpal supposed to be temporary. Korea. But the US reneged Brar with a platform that in- Korea was one of the victor on this and built a huge wall cluded Andy Brooks of the nations in the battle against dividing the country in half. New Communist Party, fascist Japan and expected Now the US imperial- Michael Chant of the RCPB to be united and left to en- ists still aim to conquer the (ML); Godfrey Kramer of the joy the peace. world. “They try to disarm CPGB (ML) and Dermot Comrade Jong ex- us,” said Comrade Jong. Hudson from the British plained why the first item on “That is ridiculous.” Juche Society. the agenda for the new He spoke of the need And it took place DPRK government in 1948 for solidarity movements against a background of ris- was the production of pen- “like this one here” to coun- ing threats from the United cils. Getting the economy teract the lies and the hos- States concerning DPRK on its feet was not possible tile propaganda in the west- plans to test a missile. without a mass literacy ern press. “Solidarity is Comrade Jong contin- campaign to educate the stronger than nuclear ued: “Why are the Ameri- people – hence the need for bombs,” he said, “We are cans currently attacking pencils. not afraid.” Korea?” he asked. The Americans ac- • On the platform: Michael Chant, Jong In Song, Andy Brooks and Harpal Brar. NCP leader Andy “Today is the 56th anni- cused the North Koreans of Brooks paid tribute to versary of the start of the invading the south in 1950 One week before the at- the border and invade the tiny nation, the DPRK, led Democratic Korea’s stand US war against Korea – the but that was a ridiculous tack, US statesmen John young People’s Republic of by Kim Il Sung, did not give against US imperialism and Fatherland Liberation War. claim to make against a Foster Dulles had visited China and plan C was to way and let the imperialists pointed out that the DPRK Why do we still commemo- country only two years old, the US troops in the south carry on over the north-east- pass. Instead they put up has not only a right but a rate this year? And why is struggling to establish an of Korea to approve plans ern border to invade Sibe- the mightiest resistance. duty to protect its people the western press still hos- economy and an infrastruc- for the invasion, which they ria. What they lacked in against the continuing tile to the DPRK?” ture. boasted would take only At the time the US weapons and technology threat of invasion. Comrade Jong gave a When they launched one day. alone had atomic weapons they made up for in sheer Michael Chant spoke of detailed account of the their attack, the Americans They spoke of breakfast and Washington hawks courage and commitment British complicity in anti- events leading up to the war used one third of their total in Kaesong, lunch in were keen to make the to defend their homeland – DPRK slanders and smears that began in 1950. This ground forces, one fifth of Pyongyang and supper at most of this advantage as and ingenuity in finding new and the need to take a was just five years after the their air force, their entire the Chinese border. They quickly as possible with a ways to wage a partisan stand to defend that state. Korean people, led by Kim Pacific fleet and contin- had three alternative plans: dash for world domination war against the enemy. The meeting ended with Il Sung had thrown out the gents from 15 satellite coun- plan A was to occupy the and the defeat of world so- The war ended in 1953 a strong message of sup- Japanese imperialist occu- tries, totalling in excess of whole Korean peninsula cialism. with an armistice – not a port for the people for the pation forces. two million troops – all and use it as a US base; But the American plans peace treaty – signed be- DPRK that was unani- During its long occupa- against the tiny DPRK. plan B was to continue over were not to be because the tween the DPRK and the mously supported. Page 8 30 June 2006

International News Web: www.newworker.org Fax 020 7223 4057 Sinn Féin calls on Brown for Who are the neo-colonialists in Africa? peace IN RECENT YEARS, China measure of exploitation. It re- year, the unstable situation in and African countries have sulted in single and abnormal this region has become the dividend been making great efforts to economic structures in many major reason for the rise in establish a new strategic African countries, thereby international crude oil prices. A SINN FÉIN delegation led partnership based on politi- having a long-term impact on The predatory exploitation of by Party President Gerry cal equality and mutual trust, the sustainable economic de- African resources by Western Adams MP and including economic cooperation and velopment of these nations. transnational corporations is MPs Martin McGuinness and cultural exchange. Both European colonial powers a blatant example of the so- Michelle Gildernew met the sides have made unprec- also introduced new lan- called “economic colonial- British Chancellor Gordon edented achievements guages and new clans to Af- ism” of Africa, which the Brown on Monday. through mutually beneficial rica, which created ethnic Western media have been ac- Speaking afterwards Gerry co-operation. However, some conflicts, incited religious dis- cusing China of so enthusi- Adams described the meeting Western media have at- sent and provoked religious astically. as useful and constructive tempted to discredit Sino-Af- conflict, thereby undermining In the 50 years since and welcomed the opportu- rican relations by propagat- the traditional African social China and African nations nity to raise with Brown “the ing their African version of and economic order. As a re- established diplomatic rela- crucial importance of the Brit- the “China threat theory”. sult, African countries have tions, they have been pursu- ish government actively pur- Among other things, they been in a poor and backward ing a plan for peaceful devel- suing the full implementation preach that China is trying to state since they were granted opment, consistently stress- of the Good Friday Agree- impose a kind of neo-colonial- independence. ing the democratisation of in- ment”. ism on Africa and that the Even today, those indus- ternational relations and de- The Sinn Féin delegation Chinese are plundering tries which are of utmost im- veloping friendly relations also raised “the essential re- Africa’s resources. This is an portance to African countries’ based on the principles of re- quirement of a Peace Divi- attempt to drive a wedge be- economic lifeline such as spect for sovereignty, equal- dend to build infrastructure, tween China and African heavy industry, mining and ity and mutual benefit. create jobs and develop a countries and to destroy the manufacturing are manipu- China has always pro- positive social and economic Sino-Africa cooperation. lated by western multinational vided assistance to Africa dynamic”. These statements lack histori- corporations. without attaching any politi- “Cuts in public spending, cal basis and don’t reflect re- cal strings or special require- massive increases in rates and ality. Its deep-seated purpose suffered ments. It has also respected the introduction of water is to obstruct Chinese enter- the sovereignty of African charges are all vital matters prises from accessing the Af- From 1840 China suffered nations. This has won wide which this Chancellor has a rican market and safeguard under colonial aggression, acclaim from African coun- particular responsibility for”, the interests of western coun- and thus has many common tries and peoples. Gerry Adams said. tries in Africa. grievances with African coun- Today, the major reason “Sinn Féin has consis- It is well know that the tries. China and Africa have that China and African coun- tently put the case to the Brit- western colonial powers com- tries have been able to be- never come into conflict. In- • A sign of friendship between China and Gabon. ish government for a £10 bil- mitted numerous crimes instead, they have a tradition of come all-weather friends, sin- lion 10-year Peace Building cluding slavery in their exploi- friendship and cooperation. cere partners, and close friends, is that they all under- Strategy to tackle years of tation of Africa. At a confer- Facts speak louder than United States has risen to 16 tion. Frequent pipeline rup- neglect”, he said. ence in Berlin in 1885, Euro- words. It was the western per cent and is expected to hit tures have led to the sponta- stand the pain of colonialism “It is disgraceful that the pean powers secretly divided powers that brutally 25 per cent by 2015. Nigeria is neous combustion of oil spill and the importance of fight- Democratic Unionist Party up Africa between them and colonised and frenziedly plun- Africa’s largest oil producer fire. Large areas of farmland ing against it. History has (DUP) refused to participate rewrote the map of Africa by dered African resources. and the world’s sixth largest and forest have been burned shown that China’s policy on in a collective approach by setting up about 50 colonies Since the 9/11 attacks, Africa differs markedly from oil exporter. However 95 per to ashes. Thick smoke has that of western colonialists, party leaders on the issue of and protectorates. In addition western countries have ad- cent of its daily oil output is generated heavy pollution in a Peace Dividend. This is bad, to trade and military control, justed their policies toward under the control of western the air, soil and rivers. Local past or present. Commenting short-sighted leadership, es- European powers also gradu- Africa. However, they started oil companies. residents cannot even drink on the hearsay being spread pecially for disadvantaged ally moulded African coun- to attach greater importance In order to maximise prof- clean water. by western media, visiting unionist working class areas tries into their material suppli- to African countries because its in Niger Delta oil-produc- Long-term exploitation by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao which the DUP claims to rep- ers and product-dumping of the significance of its re- said this: “No one can claim ing areas, major Western oil western companies has led to China is practicing neo-colo- resent”, said Adams. markets. sources. The proportion of companies reduced spending recurrent violence in the area. AP/RN This too can be used as a African oil imported by the nialism in Africa.” on infrastructure construc- Since the second half of last People’s Daily (Beijing) President Bush and his seven-pound fish

systematically destroy de- the US but also run the risk sia, accusing it of its own sessed weapons of mass panorama, Jeb Bush is wait- by Vicky Pelaez mocracy under the pretext of suffering damage that sins of “violating human destruction. Ever increasing in the wings and the ar- of fighting international ter- would last for eternity. In a rights and distancing itself ing anti-terrorist laws and rival in the White House of THE ABSURD answer by rorism, adversely affecting nuclear war there could from democracy” and trying constant threats magnified one of the worst governors George W Bush to a ques- the US economy and insti- never be a winner regard- to humiliate Chinese Presi- by the media have put the in the history of Florida tion from the German tab- tutions. less of the firepower of any dent Hu Jintao on his visit country in a state of para- would be no surprise. In loid Bild am Sonntag The Pentagon, executor one country. to Washington. noia and fear, justifying un- fact, that possibility has about what he considers of the wild idea of remodel- All of its sophisticated It appears that the US restrained tapping of all been in the works for years. his best moment in five ing the world to give the US weaponry, 750 military is locked into the past un- phone calls abroad. years as president says a hegemonic control and ab- bases in 172 countries, and able to see the present or To complete this dark Granma International lot about the state of the solute global power, has the 700 billion dollars being the unpredictable future. As union. been strengthened for the spent annually on its armed the economy begins to feel Bush replied: “I’ve had a time being. As Russian forces fail to bring security the effects of inflation and lot of great moments, but President Vladimir Putin to the United States. In fact, the sharp fall of the dollar, the best was when last year said, a situation exists the more warmongering it the oil corporations do what- I caught a 7.5 pound fish in whereby “the United States becomes, the more vulner- ever they want, like artifi- my lake.” has become a hungry wolf able it will be. cially increasing the price of It is no easy task to find that eats alone and doesn’t oil to 75 dollars a barrel, something positive during listen to anybody”. massacring which could reach 100 dol- Bush’s term, a disaster Bush and his entourage lars by the end of this year. both at home and abroad. want to revive the story of Massacring in Iraq and Meanwhile, Congress has The worst of it all is that he nuclear supremacy. In do- Afghanistan for several decided to create a Cold recently said his brother Jeb ing so not only do they fail years has also failed to War Victory Medal for those would be “a good president”, to listen but they refuse to bring their peoples to their who played a key role in making known the intention see the current world situa- knees and the resistance to destroying the Soviet Union to keep the family at the tion. If they took it into ac- occupation grows day-by- and the socialist bloc. helm. count they would under- day. At the same time the Blind to everything, the Surrounded by his stand that absolute power US is seeing its allies Bush administration ac- hawkish neo-conservatives can not exist in the nuclear slowly but surely abandon- cepts no criticism and de- since his first campaign — era because the capacity of ing it. Last week the Japa- stroys those who attempt it. mthe ones who tell him mass destruction of these nese government an- In that light, the CIA was each and every move he is arms makes any super- nounced it will withdraw its weakened and forced to supposed to make — the power vulnerable. At this troops from Iraq. The US is obey the Pentagon after its Bush administration has time, Russia and China being left evermore alone. It analysts disagreed with the used these five years to have the ability to destroy rebuts by antagonising Rus- theory that Iraq had pos- as a newspaper. Printed by New Age Press (TU). Registed at the Post Office