Nº 36 • March • May 2015 • IWU-FI

Triumph of the left Greece in the crossroads

Cuba: Obama - Castro Agreement Nothing good can be expected Summary Presentation...... 1 World Economy Why are oil prices dropping?l...... 28 Nº 36 • March • May 2015 Greece

Magazine of the UIT–FI Mexico International Wyorkers Unity – Fourth International USA Rebellion against racism...... 42

International Coordination Statement of the IWU–FI...... 2 Offices Greece in the crossroads...... 4 Hipólito Yrigoyen 1115 What is Syriza?...... 8 Debate Buenos Aires Political and economic crisis in Argentina Mexico...... 30 France Telephones Who profits by the massacre of Charlie +54 11 4383 7733 Hebdo?...... 9 Argentina +54 11 4383 4047 Six million Islamists in France...... 11 The Nisman case stressed the political crisis...... 34 Internet The attack to AMIA...... 37 www.uit-ci.org Cuba Brazil Layout Isabel Sanchez Dilma: her popularity falls abruptly...... 38 Daniel Iglesias Baba takes the position of councillor in Rio de Janeiro...... 42

English Translation Daniel Iglesias

Statement of the IWU–FI...... 12 Contribution “Cuban style” capitalism deepens...... 14 Argentina: Ar$ 30 From Rockefeller to Obama...... 20 Brazil: R$ 5 Mariel, Lula and the Brazilian The Petrobras scandal...... 43 Rest of Latin America: US$ 2 entrepreneurs...... 21 USA: US$ 5 The secret negotiation of Fidel with Europe: € 5 Reagan...... 22 Venezuela Rest of the World: US$ 3 The “Bolivarian revolution” is a failed Project...... 44 Tunisia Signed articles do not The responsibility of the left in the necessarily reflect the transition ...... 24 position of the leadership of The old regime returns through the Global News...... 47 the IWU-FI but that of their ballot box...... 26 authors. Alexis Tsipras, Syriza leader and Prime Minister of Greece Introduction

The electoral victory of Syriza has made a big impact in International Correspondence is dedicated to the political Europe and the world. The Greek workers and masses after process that opens in Greece and the experiences of populist dozens of general strikes against the adjustments and cuts governments in Latin America such as Venezuela (Chavez,- are seeking a way out to the left. Greece is at a crossroads: Maduro), Argentina (Kirchner) and Brazil (Lula, Dilma). either the government of Syriza takes a real path of change, Also an important issue is the massacre of journalists stopping the payment of the debt, breaking the agreements of the magazine Charlie Hebdo, in France. We join in the of cuts and adjustments with the European Union and the condemnation of millions to this attack. We reject the IMF or it yields to conciliation with imperialism and the actions of these Islamic reactionary groups, which also Greek bourgeoisie. The entry of a bourgeois party into attack and divide the Syrian resistance against genocidal its cabinet, appointing a conservative president and the al-Assad. And who with their criminal actions give rise to agreement with the Eurogroup, although they achieved repression in Europe and to imperialist intervention in concessions, keep the privatisations and other measures, the Middle East would be in the second sense. We also present a special work on Cuba and the Historic experience has shown that half measures of class meaning of the agreement Obama-Castro. We show what conciliation, applied by governments who claim to be anti- lies behind this new agreement. Firstly, the deepening of imperialist and of the left, led to maintain social inequality “Cuban style” capitalism. Secondly, a lattice of over 35 and the decline in the living standards of the people. It is years of negotiations and secret agreements between the enough to look at the experience of the so-called Bolivarian Cuban leadership and imperialism. On this last point, we Revolution, in which neither Chavez nor Maduro broke reproduce parts of a 1982 article by of Nahuel Moreno with the multinationals and capitalism. This edition of (Why does Fidel negotiate in secret with Reagan?). §

Contacting us: Argentina: Izquierda Socialista: [email protected] – Bolivia: ARP-LP: [email protected] – Brazil: Corrente Socialista dos Trabalhadores: [email protected] – Chile: Movimiento Socialista de los Trabajadores mst_solidaridad@ gmail.com — Colombia: Socialist Alternative: [email protected] – Mexico: POS-MAS [email protected] – Panama: Propuesta Socialista: [email protected] – Peru: Unios en la Lucha: [email protected] – Spanish State: Lucha Internationalista: [email protected]; – Turkey: Workers Democracy Party: [email protected] — United States: Socialist Core: [email protected] — Venezuela: Partido Socialismo y Libertad: [email protected]

Recomended Sites: www.uit-ci.org / www.nahuelmoreno.org / www.izquierdasocialista.org.ar (Argentina) / www.cstpsol.com (Brazil) / www.unios.tk (Peru) / www.laclase.info (Venezuela) / www.socialistcore.org (USA) / www.mst-solidaridad.cl (Chile) / www.raetedemokratie.org (Germany) / www.luchainternacionalista.org (Spanish State) / www.iscicephesi.net (Turkey) / www. movimientoalsocialismo.org (Mexico) In Facebook: www.facebook.com/mst.solidaridad (Chile) / www.facebook.com/partidoobrerosocialista (Mexico)/ www.facebook. com/linternacionalista (Spanish State)/ www.facebook.com/idpgirisimi (Turkey) Greece

Celebrations in Athens on 25 January

Statement by the IWU–FI Triumph of the left in Greece!

Only the non-payment of the debt and the break with the EU, the Troika, the IMF and their adjustment can provide a solution to the workers and youth!

In the elections of 25 January the Greece: a country ravaged by been unleashing adjustment after left has triumphed. Syriza and its the IMF and foreign debt adjustment on the Greek working leader Alexis Tsipras have achieved 36.6 people and youth. With the fairy- These legislative elections to form a percent of the vote, with 2,246,064 tale of “aid” international creditors new government took place in advance votes. The defeated ruling party New have pumped billions of dollars in due to the tremendous political and Democracy, conservative, reached 27.8 exchange for tough austerity plans. The social crisis in Greece. Crisis that has percent. The triumph of the left is a consequences are obvious. A country been intensifying every year since the very important fact that impacts on with 11 million inhabitants has lost, governments have been applying the all European workers and youth. And since 2009, one million jobs. Thirty adjustments and cutbacks agreed with also on the peoples of the world who percent of businesses have closed; wages the European Union (EU) and the so- for decades have been struggling and fell by 38 percent and pensions by 45 called Troika (EU, European Central facing the adjustments and cutbacks percent!! And the foreign debt has Bank (ECB) and the IMF) commanded of the bosses’ governments, agents of reached the equivalent of 175 percent by Angela Merkel and international imperialism and the IMF. Moreover of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The banking. Amid the global capitalist when many took the left for dead and more it pays the more it owes. economic crisis, opened in 2007, the in some European elections there is But the working class and youth banks and the multinationals want the the threat of the progress of the vote of have not been standing still but instead workers to pay for the crisis. the extreme right, type Marine Le Pen have been resisting for years this brutal Greece is the weakest link in the and the National Front in France or adjustment. They have carried out European imperialist chain, coupled the Greek neo Nazi formation Golden about 20 general strikes, partial strikes with an acute crisis in Spain, Portugal Dawn. and demonstrations of all kinds. Thus and Italy. For years the Troika has they are hindering the plans of the

2 Greece

Troika and the complicit governments. This is why Greece is experiencing political instability and a worsening of the crisis in the political regime. Syriza ‘s victory shows that the masses are becoming radicalised and seek a change to the left The massive vote for Syriza (Greek acronym for Coalition of the Radical Left) shows that there has been an electoral turn to the left. We must take into account that Syriza, just a few years ago achieved only 4.6 percent of the vote. The formation of Syriza has its origin in the left current Synaspismos, Syriza supporters outside Athens University Headquarters which essentially consists of militants policies. In this sense the vote to the changes involves an emergency plan who left the Greek CP (KKE) in the left is a hard call to attention and of to cancel the Memorandum, starting split of 1991. Many of them then fear for imperialism and the Troika. with an immediate No Payment of the assumed reformist positions of the so- They are afraid of the contagion effect debt and progress in the rupture with called “Eurocommunism”, and began in their countries. the Troika, the Eurozone and the EU. to ally to other sectors and groups of There is no room for half measures. the atomized Greek left. Only in the Without a break with the Troika, Debt and agreements with the EU are last elections it began to grow to 16 the EU and debt payments, the main cause of drama in Greece. If percent and then to 26 percent, to the there will be no solution for the it does not start from there, there will beat of the adjustment application, workers and youth of Greece. be no solution. the discrediting of the old parties and In that sense we must point out workers and popular struggles. This The electoral victory of the left and that this would not be the way the new vote expresses the political rupture of the installation of a government headed government of Syriza would adopt. millions with the old politicians and by its leader Alexis Tsipras, open a new Tsipras has committed to finish with parties that adjusted and agreed to political stage in Greece. Millions of the adjustments and to increase wages. the Memorandum of cuts with the workers and youth have high hopes But instead of suspending all debt Troika. Thus, the old Greek reformist and expectations for change. Millions payments, Tsipras and Syriza leaders left, nucleated in PASOK (acronym of workers in Europe and the world will speak, for example, of a “renegotiation” for Panhellenic Socialist Movement), also be expectant. Even in Spain there to keep paying in better conditions. the social democracy that ruled a are local government elections in May Alexis Tsipras, told the German daily long time with Papandreou, now has and there is a similar expectation with Handelsblatt, in late December that: “A been reduced to 4.6 percent. Most of the new formation Podemos (We Can), government led by Syriza will respect PASOK’s electoral base were workers, which according to several surveys all obligations that Greece assumed, popular sectors and youth. Papandreou, could defeat the PP (People’s Party) of as effective member of the Eurozone, who split from PASOK and formed the Rajoy and the PSOE (Spanish Socialist seeking to reach a balanced budget Democratic Socialist Movement, only Workers Party). and trying to meet fiscal targets at reached 2.4 percent and was outside The revolutionary socialists of the the EU level”. Then, on 20 January, parliamentary representation. The IWU–FI respect the logical expectations he reaffirmed to the British Financial neo-Nazis of Golden Dawn managed of workers and young Greeks and that Times, that “a future government led 6.28 percent, with 17 members of they see Syriza as their government. by Syriza will keep all commitments parliament. The KKE (Greek PC But, from the onset we warn that previously assumed by Greece with still considers itself Stalinist) reached workers should not give any blank the EU in budgetary matters and to 5.4 percent, with 15 members of check to the new government. The eliminate the deficit”. Also, regrettably, parliament. Greek working people must continue Syriza has already dropped its 2012 The more than 2 million votes to to rely on their mobilisation to enforce proposal to renationalise privatised Syriza express this exhaustion with the changes to which they aspire to end companies: “renationalisation will be the governments of the Troika and the adjustment and achieving a reversal impossible given the illiquidity of the the search for substantive changes, to of the situation. We are categorical in state” (Yannis Varoufakis, of Tsipras’ the left, of rupture with adjustment stating that the only way to open those government team). 3 Greece

Many comrades who have Evo Morales of the MAS in Bolivia or of In this path we call to the Greek expectations in Syriza may tell us that Chavez in Venezuela. In these countries workers, youth and the rank and file we exaggerate, that we must “give time” no substantive anticapitalistic measures of Syriza, to its most militant sectors, to the new government or that these were taken and, in the case of Lula-PT, to demand with their mobilisation, for are “tactical statements”. We do not they directly negotiated with the IMF, the government of Tsipras and Syriza to want to be a killjoy. We say only that and the workers saw their expectations take a break with an economic model there have been other cases where the of change cheated. In Venezuela, where based on indebtedness and looting, same proposals and arguments were Chavez came to power 15 years ago which breaks with the Troika and the given. In response to our alerts we were with great expectations, the country is EU and which ceases to pay the debt. accused of being “ultras and hasty”. sinking in crisis, with food shortages, And that an emergency plan be drawn But unfortunately, these projects of layoffs of workers and the highest including substantial measures to exit conciliation and of seeking agreements inflation rate in Latin America. This is the crisis such as the nationalisation of with bosses’ sectors failed. Now Syriza why we reaffirm that the need remains banks and the re-nationalisation of all even starts by agreeing with a small for the working class to be independent privatised enterprises and properties, right-wing party (Independent Greeks of these governments and to be a among others. From there will come who came in 6th place) to assume. We protagonist with its struggle, with the mass of money to give fair wages already have the experiences of Latin its own organisations, with its mass and pensions, work and health and American governments that played meetings and by helping to form a education. with the same arguments that Syriza new revolutionary socialist leadership International Workers Unity – does today. The cases of Lula and the in these processes. government of the PT Left in Brazil, of Fourth International (IWU–FI) 27 January 2015 Greece in the crossroads

Yolanda Andreu – Lucha Internacionalista [Internationalist Fight]

The electoral victory of Syriza opens up a new perspective for the European left. After four years of implementation of a brutal austerity plan by the Troika (the European Union (EU), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the IMF), the Greek masses, who were at the forefront of the class struggle in the continent, seek a political alternative to break with the adjustment policies. A real earthquake that may spread to the countries hardest hit by the austerity plans, starting with the Spanish state. For its peripheral position in the EU and its economic structure, Greece was the Euro partner most vulnerable to the The masses in the streets against the cuts crisis. The big capitalists (Orthodox a bloated military budget (it was the German military industry) and the Church and shipowners) have never fifth largest arms buyer in the world, European funds were used to finance paid taxes while public funds supported major customer of the French and the dismantling the fragile productive

4 Greece

With the two parties of the regime turned into servants of the Troika, the left alternative, which moved around 5 percent of votes, becomes the political reference for those expectant of change. Greece enters one of those moments when history accelerates. Syriza won with a message of “dignity” and “hope” and, although without arousing great enthusiasm, it opens a new door. Its electoral proposal (the so-called Thessaloniki Program) promises to address the “humanitarian crisis” that plagues Greece by renegotiating debt and with a reform of the state that will put an end to the privileges of the oligarchy. Greece paralysed by the general strike of November 2014 The response of Germany and the Eurogroup came swiftly. If the structure. With advice from Goldman thousand schools were closed, the Greek austerity was imposed as an Sachs — whose European branch was budget of public hospitals was reduced exemplary punishment for the rest of then headed by Mario Draghi, now by 26 percent, and three million Greeks the peripheral peoples of the EU, now president of the ECB — public debt (those unemployed for more than one they have to show that no one can get was concealed to meet the requirements year and their children) were left out of out of the script. The ECB cut the credit for entry into the European Union. public health. Eradicated diseases, like tap to Greek banks, blackmail in any Without control over its currency and tuberculosis and malaria, reappeared, rule. Meanwhile the Greek government the international financial crisis, state HIV infections soared, and suicide was seeking to square the circle with bankruptcy was inevitable: the country attempts increased 30 percent. The that in 2004 hosted the Olympic birth rate plummeted 14.6 percent. Games in Athens went bankrupt five The data are more typical of a war A conservative years later. After winning the election than of a recession. In parallel VAT promising a fairy-tale, the government increased and Enfia was introduced, is named of PASOK (social democrats) began a tax on first homes which is charged imposing austerity plans and ended up with electricity: 300,000 families were President asking for the rescue, which served for without electricity because they cannot Greece to pay its debts to the French afford it. Labour laws were abolished, Conservative politician Prokopis and German banks. In return, it signed public assets privatised. The right- Pavlopoulos, member of New Democracy, was elected the new a Memorandum of austerity which wing government hit the weakest the President of the Republic of Greece involved a savage attack on the living hardest: illegal immigrants, prostitutes, on 18 February with the broad conditions of the working classes. drug addicts. While imprisoning their support of parliament. He gathered leaders for criminal activities the policy Laboratory of austerity measures 233 votes from Syriza and the of the government was paying the way conservative New Democracy. The response of the working class for the neo-Nazis of Golden Dawn. What is unusual is that and the Greek youth was exemplary: 30 As it has already happened in so Pavlopoulos was proposed by Syriza general strikes, massive demonstrations many places in the world, the recipe of to hold this office. That is, they despite repression. The PASOK austerity did nothing to reduce debt, proposed a member of the party that government fell and the right of but rather the opposite. Once the was ruling and applying the cuts; Andonis Samaras continued the banks were rescued with public money thus taking another step towards expansion of the same plans. and after four years of cuts in social conciliation and pact with the The result of four years of adjustment spending, the Greek debt amounted to bourgeoisie. is devastating. GDP has been reduced 320 billion, 174 percent of GDP. Pavlopoulos, 64, was Minister of by 22 percent. One of every three the Interior twice, from 2004 to 2009, Greek is unemployed (half among Syriza’s triumph within the Conservative governments young people). For those who are With two years of delay with respect of Kostas Karamanlis and remained fortunate enough to retain the job, the mobilisation in the streets, the polls a member of parliament until this wages were cut by 30 percent. Six sent a clear message: enough of austerity. last term. § 5 Greece

for the war in Ukraine and promised to block the Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Remaining in ambiguity are two key issues, critical to the survival of a project of change in Greece: privatisations and control of banks. Although initially it was announced the sale of 67 percent of the port of Piraeus which remains in the hands of the state, was put on hold, government officials have told the press that the privatisation, one of the largest agreed by the previous government of Samaras with the Troika keeps going ahead. The Syriza government has also waived its right to place its representatives on the boards of banks or to dismiss the director of the Greek Central Bank. To defend public The victory of the left was anticipated by 30 general strikes assets and to control the capitals are not ideological measures: they are essential the debt. Greece has very soon debt Politically there is the government’s steps to the survival of any project of maturities that stifle any possibility agreement with the Independent change today in Greece. of change: €2.2 billion to the IMF Greeks, a split of the right, chauvinistic in March, 7.5 million this summer and anti-austerity openly xenophobic Tsipras will have to choose and if it does not comply with the and very aggressive towards Turkey, Syriza argues that it is possible to Memorandum it loses the last credit. which have been handed over the make the Troika see reason, renegotiate In the elections Syriza had promised Ministry of Defence. Later the proposal the debt to reduce its load and free up to “renegotiate” the debt to cancel “a for president, a former minister of resources to address the “humanitarian significant part of its nominal value” the right. A message of reconciliation crisis” in which Greece has plunged and pay the rest to the extent that the and national unity. Fences guarding with the austerity plans. That it is country gets out of recession. parliament from the protesters were possible to ask for time to European In the first negotiations, instead removed and Tsipras promised to recover capitalists to return to growth and to of starting from a position of strength the minimum wage to levels before the continue paying debt. That it is possible refusing to pay, the Greek government Troika (€751) and offer food stamps, to reform the European Union to put has retreated to request an extension of free electricity and transportation to all the peoples of Europe on an equal credit and agree to continue negotiating the unemployed in addition to return footing. That it is possible to reconcile with the Troika. The first formula, the extra pay to the poorest pensioners. the rights of the Greek masses with the raised on the advice of French banker The extension of the moratorium to euro and EU membership. Varoufakis Mathieu Pigasse, proposed lowering evictions already approved by the defends an European “New Deal” debt to 120 percent of GDP and previous government was also raised, based on Eurobonds and loans from converting the rest in bonds of two as well as the restoration of universal the European Investment Bank. types, one indexed to growth and public health. Tsipras promised to But this policy is a dead end. Obama another perpetual (which do not expire grant Greek citizenship to children of and Hollande also promised to bet but pay interest indefinitely). In one of immigrants, but said nothing about on investment and growth policies the Eurogroup negotiations, Finance closing the shameful prisons of the and they failed, because at the present Minister Yanis Varufakis acknowledged undocumented, real Guantanamos moment of capitalism, finance capital that they had offered to guarantee on Greek soil. There were also some swallows everything and today there payment of all debt and not to approve measures of recognition to symbolic are no investment sectors to ensure a any of the measures of its program for struggles, like the reinstatement of the recovery of the rate of profit. The only six months in exchange for a bridge female workers cleaning the Ministry way capital has to reproduce is the loan. But none of this served to get of Economy or the promise to reopen plundering of the public sector and of German imperialism to yield. public television. On the international available resources, increasing the rate In Greece the first weeks of the new front the Syriza government made some of exploitation. The dilemma between government have been hot and cold. objections to sanctions against Russia growth and austerity is false. Reality

6 Greece

is daily emptying the coffers. And this is only possible with a government that relies on the workers’ and popular mobilisation to resist the onslaught that will come from both the European Union and the great Greek magnates. It is the only way out for the Greek masses: to stop the looting and rebuild the country, opening a benchmark for the rest of the peoples of Europe. Sooner or later Tsipras must choose The EU is afraid of the between two incompatible ways: either contagion effect to defend the Greek masses with a policy which breaks with debt and the EU, or to continue the subordination to the dictates of finance capital keeping the bulk of the austerity policies. Believing there is a third way, as argued, is utopian and reactionary, because it does not prepare the Greek people for the essential clash to climb out of the pit. If the socialist parties are in freefall — more pronounced in southern Europe— is not due to imposes a single policy dictated by the at the service of European capitalism: national differences, but to the fact that need of big capital to absorb all the an agreement between states for a capitalism does not give the crumbs that money available. And the debt (which relentless offensive against the workers, reformism needs to be credible. should continue to be paid until 2057) to privilege financial capital and serve should be unpaid because first are the on a platter the peripheral markets The issue is political needs of the people, because it is not to the central bourgeoisies. The euro And beyond the economic problem the Greek people who should pay for was a “dollarization” European style: a there is another one, political. To the rescue of the French and German way to impose the Deutschmark upon give air to the Syriza government or banks or all credits asked by corrupt the other currencies. To overcome the to raise an agreement to let Tsipras governments to buy fighter planes from crisis according to the interests of the sell it as a victory would facilitate France or trains to German companies workers we have to stop paying the the “contagion” to other countries, which, incidentally, did not work for debt and break with the EU and the starting with the Spanish state, with the Greek rail gauge. euro. Taking the available resources the electoral prospects of Podemos (We Neither is it possible to democratise with the nationalisation of banking Can). Hence, the alternative for Merkel the EU, which is an institutional lattice and cutting the flight of capitals that is either to tame Syriza or destroy it. And it will be in the class struggle, again, where everything is resolved. If Criticism to the agreement the Greek people are capable of putting in place a mobilisation that imposes At press time several prominent to be punished; the Troika and the on the government the cancellation of members of Syriza have criticised bailouts are gone and not to be rebuilt”. the debt and the break with the Troika the agreement reached with the t MEP and hero of the resistance and to progress in the only measures Eurogroup, which lengthens for who as an 18 year old unfurled the that can open a way out of the crisis four months the bailout plan, which Nazi flag from the Acropolis, urged for workers, as nationalisation of proposes to continue with privatisation supporters of Syriza to demonstrate banking and strategic sectors. Also in and reforms. against the deal. “Renaming the Troika the struggle of the other peoples of the Panagiotis Lafazanis, Minister as ‘institutions’; the ‘Memorandum’ EU alongside their Greek brothers, and member of the tendency Left [rescue] as ‘agreement’, and ‘lenders’ as realising that everyone’s future is now Platform, said in an interview with a ‘partners’ changes nothing” (El País, 22 being played in Greece. local newspaper: “We cannot allow the February 2015) Glezos said. 22 February 2015 popular will and the electoral program

7 Greece What is Syriza?

Syriza stands for Coalition of the Radical Left and comes from a grouping of 13 parties, including left environmentalists, Maoists, Trotskyists and Eurocommunists. It appeared for the first time in the elections in 2004, as a result of confluence process which began in 2001 with the formation of Space for Dialogue for the Unity and Common Action of the Left. Its various components had agreed in the 1990s in their response to the Kosovo war and the fight against privatisation and cuts. They had held since 2004 with results around 5 percent. Its main component is Synaspismós, Alexis Tsipras in the festivities on 25 January Eurocommunist and led by Alexis Tsipras. Eurocommunism is the Workers’ Left (DEA) — a splinter of organisations, which was the basis of current emerged in the European CPs the Greek SWP and sister organisation Syriza organisation previously, as a (especially the French and Italian, of ISO in the United States. Later coalition of radical parties. This false to which joined the Spanish CP on joined Kokkino (Red), observer call for ‘unification’ came with three after Franco’s death) which gave organisation of the United Secretariat concrete proposals. up the revolution in the capitalist (the official section is in Antarsya, “– All organisations that are countries and theorised the arrival the coalition to the left of Syriza component parts of Syriza must to power through elections after the that in these elections concurred in dissolve immediately. formation of mass parties with a coalition with the group of Alekos “– Serious restrictions on the rights reformist program. In Greece the Alavanos, former president of Syriza, of internal factions and tendencies, Eurocommunist current was minority who advocates the rupture with the EU mostly to constrain different ‘lists’ of and formed the Communist Party and the euro and non-payment of debt). candidates for internal elections, which of Greece-Interior after the Prague The Trotskyist group of Ted Grant, is how proportional representation for Spring of 1968. Synapsismós was built which edits the journal Revolution has the groups within Syriza on leading as an electoral coalition in the elections also joined. bodies has been ensured. of June 1989 in which went together Last year, after the success in the “– Election of the chair of the party the Eurocommunists, the pro-Soviets 2012 elections, in which Syriza became by the Congress, and not by the Central 1 of the KKE (CP) and a social democrat second force behind the right of New Committee.” sector in rupture with PASOK. They Democracy, a unification congress was This was the mechanism to counter obtained 29 Members of Parliament, held to convert the coalition into a the left wing, despite the wide support the third force in the country. But this party. At this congress Left Platform to its positions of rupture in the agreement broke out with the collapse was constituted as a tendency, which congress. of the USSR that year: the leadership won between 30 and 40 percent support Left Platform has obtained of KKE expelled the “revisionist” for its positions, compared to the some MPs (as economist Costas elements (which were almost 45 majority controlled by Tsipras, for the Lapavitsas). In the government it percent of the Central Committee) cancellation of debt, leaving the euro and holds the Ministry of Productive and left the coalition. Later the sector the European Union, nationalisation Reconstruction, Environment and expelled from the KKE, together with under workers’ control of banks and Energy with Panagiotis Lafazaris; the Eurocommunist -sector continued strategic economic sectors and the the Deputy Health Ministry with together and formed Synaspismós as formation of a united front of the left Dimistris Stratoulis, and the Deputy a party in 1991. Six years later they including the KKE and Antarsya and Ministry for European affairs, with managed to enter parliament. rejecting any agreement with forces that Nikos Hountis. In the 2004 elections Synapsismós have supported austerity plans. Y. Andreu headed the coalition called Syriza, The leader Panos Petrou wrote after 1 “The battle for SYRIZA goes on”, 30 June along with other smaller parties: the congress in Socialist Workers that: 2013, in: socialistworker.org/2013/07/30/ environmental groups (AKOA) Maoists “The leadership of Syriza from the-battle-for-syriza-goes-on. For the (KOE), a left splinter from Pasok the majority put forward the slogan internal situation in Syriza before the (DIKKI), Active Citizens (the party of unification, with rhetoric about elections, refer to another article by Petrou: “Where is SYRIZA headed”, 19 December of historic Nazi-resistance militant putting the party in the hands of its 2012, in: socialistworker.org/2012/12/19/ Manolis Glezos), the Internationalist members rather than the component where-is-syriza-headed.

8 France

Paris: hundreds of thousands repudiated the attack Who profits by the massacre of Charlie Hebdo?

Miguel Lamas

The massacre of 12 journalists Firstly we must condemn the by President George W. Bush to invade and workers of the of the magazine criminal act, utterly unjustifiable, Afghanistan and later Iraq. Charlie Hebdo in Paris on 7 that claimed the lives of journalists, The “National Unity January, perpetrated by an armed cartoonists and editorial employees. group shouting “Allahu Akbar“ This type of attack contributes March” in Paris (Arabic for “God is the greatest”),” to the political confusion and the On Sunday 11 January millions of is now being used to call for manoeuvres of imperialism and its French marched repudiating the attack. French “national unity”, frighten agents to justify, achieving acceptance We sympathise with the families of the Islamic minority in France, from popular sectors, their bombings the victims and all those who honestly discredit the anti-imperialist and military interventions and it participated in the march. But the struggle of the Arab peoples, justify discredits the just cause of the peoples reality is that the march of 11 January, their military interventions and fighting against imperialist domination headed by genocidal, repressors and support the genocidal state of state terrorists, like Netanyahu of Israel, Israel. in North Africa and the Middle East. In 2001 the attack that brought down was not called to defend liberty, or the Twin Towers in New York was used fraternity, or equality.

9 France

Those who were in front of it, in Palestine. They maintain a racist 2,000 people, or when he still kills from French Prime Minister François policy against the Palestinian people Palestinians daily, including dozens Hollande, to Nicolas Sarkozi, the and also within French society against of journalists. During the last Israeli former Conservative leader, Fascist Islamic immigrants, to divide the genocidal attack on Palestine, France Marie Le Pen, German Chancellor working class. Right now they try to banned demonstrations to repudiate it. Angela Merkel, Spanish Prime Minister use this criminal act to strengthen Al Qaedta and Isis with their Mariano Rajoy, are responsible for the the warmongering policy of France in implementation of terrible economic NATO, with bombings in Iraq and terrorist actions objectively adjustment plans against workers Syria, as well as French interventions benefit imperialism and the poor in Europe leading to in Africa. They will also try to use it Isis (Islamic State) and a branch of unemployment, hunger and despair to against Arab immigrants and their Al Qaeda claimed and welcomed this millions of workers and young people, children to stigmatise them, terrorise massacre. We repudiate reactionary including millions of immigrants, many them and to prevent that they mobilise organisations like Al Qaeda and Isis for of them Muslim. for their rights. their terrorist actions and for seeking to In this demonstration those who To show the profound hypocrisy impose theocratic dictatorships. headed the march are responsible for of these capitalist leaders we have These organisations, in the continued and barbaric aggression to remember that those who now beginning, were funded by the United and imperialist invasion, including marched from the arm of Israel’s Prime States and its allies of Saudi Arabia and genocide, to Arab and Islamic countries Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made other pro-imperialist Arab monarchies. like Iraq, Afghanistan and for the no march when Netanyahu and Israel With their criminal actions they harm 66 years of occupation and genocide bombed the Palestinians and massacred the Palestinian cause against the racist Zionist state of Israel, only generate great confusion among the peoples of the world with a supposedly “anti- France: from slavery to imperialist” rhetoric, but far from attacking Israel or imperialist interests modern imperialism they are attacking the Kurdish people in Kobane (Syria) and in Iraq; also French imperialism has a long Coast (April 2011). It has troops in attacking the Syrian resistance facing history of looting, slavery and colonial Ivory Coast, Chad, Senegal, Gabon, the dictator al Assad. violence. From the slave trade of the Djibouti and Reunion Island and Unfortunately, these reactionaries sixteenth and seventeenth century “defence associations” with eight achieve the support of Islamic youth to genocide in Algeria to prevent its countries: Cameroon, Central African sectors. This has its deeper cause in the independence, where it killed one Republic, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, absence of a revolutionary leadership, million Algerians in the 1950s, also Djibouti, Gabon, Senegal and Togo. and the hatred and rejection to the in Vietnam and in various countries One of the main justifications for historical imperialist intervention in of black Africa and the Middle East. such interventions is “fighting Islamic the Middle East and Arab countries, Today, like the United States, it terrorism”. of which the genocidal state of Israel is keeps its empire in the semi-colonial In these countries the French a fundamental part, and also because guise, i.e. under political, economic multinationals dominate, such as of the marginalisation and racism and military agreements, which Alstom, Bolloré, BRL Ingénierie, against immigrants of Muslim origin allow it to control the “independent” Lafarge, L’Oreal, Sanofi, Schneider in Europe. governments of its former African Electric, Technip, Thales and the big Together with our repudiation of the colonies, so they “collaborate” with oil company Total. These imposed the attack, we reaffirm that the imperialist France and its multinationals. crudest capitalism with privatisations governments that try to stand in front To ensure its semi-colonial interests and the introduction of imperialist of the repudiation, are not those who it keeps troops in several African agribusiness that drove farmers from will guarantee liberty, equality and countries. France in recent years led their lands. This new colonisation is fraternity clamoured by millions of military operations with bombings what caused permanent social disaster, French. It will be the mobilised peoples and sending of troops to Libya political instability and immigration of Europe, the Middle East and the (March 2011), Mali (January 2013) to Europe as overexploited cheap world, which will be able to put an end and the Central African Republic labour, without rights and with their to imperialist aggression, the oppression (December 2013), took part militarily culture devalued. of immigrants and to reactionary to overthrow Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory groups like Al Qaeda and Isis. §

10 France Six million Islamists in France

In France there are about six million attacking Islam or Islamists (9 percent of the population). immigrants, saying In general they are immigrant families they are “criminals, of Arab origin, mostly from Algeria, a terrorists”, “take former French colony, and also from away our jobs” and the former Black African colonies “there is a risk” that as Senegal, and now mostly born in European French France. That is to say, children or population will be grandchildren of immigrants, Islamic or replaced by people not, Arabs and blacks, who were used with “other values”, as cheap labour since the end of World that “French War II. Today with the crisis, their values” will be lost grandchildren are often unemployed and France become French Muslims praying in the streets inhabitants of slums, and in other cases an Islamic country. a sense of power and belonging, a part of the working class with jobs. They This attack on the Islamic culture sense to their lives to “serve Allah” and are a fundamental part of the working is even more damaging when it comes fight “the infidels”, who represent, for class in France, its most oppressed and from the “left” of the ruling Socialist them, everything they hate, those who worst paid sector. Labour flexibility Party, or from “progressive” media. marginalise them. means they can no longer get jobs as The lack of revolutionary leadership, As noted by Nahuel Moreno: their parents or grandparents had, but the abandonment on the part of the “Immigrant workers are not a small only precarious jobs. bureaucratic leaders of trade unions marginal sector of European bourgeois This immigration phenomenon is and major reformist parties like the society or economy; on the contrary, common in many countries in Europe, SP and CP, police brutality and this they are one of its pillars. In France, with migrants originating from Africa, marginalisation produce despair for every four manual workers one is a the Middle East, Eastern Europe and of young people without a future, migrant worker. (…) This will be the Latin America. In capitalism, racism often sunk into gangs linked to drug sector hardest hit by unemployment has the primary purpose of dividing trafficking. In 2005, 2007 and 2009 and poverty and the hardening of the the workers; as Marx explained in social indignation erupted without any regime. This process will be parallel to his time with the division between direction: thousands of young people the colonial process, in the attempt English and Irish workers, with his from the Muslim slums began burning by imperialism to escape its crisis famous conclusion “a people who thousands of cars, as a social “revenge” using the inequalities. (…)To the oppress another cannot be free”. Those without hope and without any visible extent that they are an economically, of the oppressed nation or ethnicity claim; except that society learns they are socially and politically discriminated are deprived of their trade union out there and fear them. sector of the European proletariat, and political rights. And those of the Islamists are 9 percent of the slogans for immigrant workers should “superior” nation or ethnicity are total population, but 60 percent of be: equal pay, equal political and pressured to join their bosses, “their” prisoners in overcrowded ultraviolent union rights (…) the right to lead bourgeoisie in defence of national or environments. The terrorists of the their neighbourhood communities by ethnic “values”. attack to the satirical weekly Charlie appointing their representatives and to The so-called “Islamophobia”, Hebdo kept contact in Gaul prisons. keep their beliefs, their language, culture agitated by extreme right-wing groups “Some parents tell me their children and customs. We should put forth that like the National Front, serves these went to prison as small drug traffickers we, the Trotskyists, are the only ones purposes: to suppress and divide. The and came back as fundamentalists”, who are willing to respect their will…” extreme right, which like classical said Hassen Chalghoumi, imam of (The Party and the Revolution, page fascism recruits some of its adherents a mosque in the French suburb of 92, www.nahuelmoreno.org/textos. in unemployed sectors of the working Drandy. For many of these youth, php?i=en). § class and lower middle class, is directly Islamic fundamentalism gives them

11 Cuba

Statement by the IWU–FI On the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the USA and Cuba

The announcement of the fought for decades repudiating these good can be expected for the Cuban reestablishment of diplomatic reprisals of imperialism. Together with people from this agreement between relations, conducted jointly by this, it is a welcome fact the release of Obama-Castro and the Vatican. Any Barak Obama and Raul Castro, Cuban prisoners part of the so-called interpretation that the restoration of after more than 50 years of rupture “Five Heroes” (two had been released diplomatic relations may bring benefits and US blockade has caused a long ago), who had been for over for the Cuban workers and people is logical impact on the world. This 15 years in an US prison and were a false. Raul Castro and the regime of the is an important fact about which claim of peoples and the left of the Communist Party of Cuba mistakenly all kinds of interpretations for the world. Therefore, as socialists, we reject open expectations in Obama and the reasons for this change and its Raul Castro thanking the Pope and role of the Vatican when it is known scope have opened. congratulating Obama for this political that they are only at the service of the Although it is a partial measure, setback. It was the struggle of more than exploiters. since the historical blockade has not 50 years of the peoples of Cuba and the Obama had to recognise the been raised yet, the mere fact that a world who achieved this political defeat historical error of imperialism because USA president finally acknowledges, of imperialism. they are part of a global crisis of as Obama had to do, that after more capitalism, with its failure in the Nothing good can be expected than 50 years of rupture of relations and Middle East, with the rebellion of the blockade to Cuba “have failed” means for the Cuban people people in North Africa, the struggles a political victory for the Cuban people Just as we say this, we are also of workers and youth against cuts and the peoples of the world who have categorical in saying that nothing and adjustments and a severe global

12 Cuba economic crisis. He then seeks to with the multinational Odebrecht Castro himself recommended to the overcome the crisis with new policies and other Brazilian entrepreneurs, a Sandinistas not to make of Nicaragua a of agreements and investment for the free zone for private companies has “new Cuba”, i.e. not to advance towards multinationals. Obama wants to repeat already been installed. These business socialism. Also following Moscow, Fidel what they did with China and Vietnam. opportunities are those that Obama and Raul Castro imposed an ironclad In those countries they agreed with and many American entrepreneurs see bureaucracy restricting democratic the communist dictatorships for US they are missing out on, amid their rights to their people. Then in the 1990s, and world multinationals to invest, economic crisis. This is the background when the Soviet Union disappeared, developing capitalism with starvation to the change and the Obama-Castro they joined with Chavez, and now wages and super profits. Hence, it is agreement. Maduro, supporting their policy of no coincidence that among those who This agreement does not come the false slogan of “Socialism of the most welcomed Obama’s measures for about overnight. It is fruit of long XXI Century” to continue holding the lifting of the embargo there is a secret negotiations conducted behind in Venezuela a capitalist economic sector of big American entrepreneurs the Cuban people. Neither Raul Castro structure. Meanwhile, at the same time eager to do business in Cuba. Among nor the Communist Party of Cuba they agreed to Venezuela subsidising the them: Ricky J. Arriola, president of consulted the workers and the people. weak Cuban economy with oil at low the powerful consortium Inktel; sugar There has been secret negotiations prices, while they restored capitalism and real estate barons Andres Fanjul and agreements between the US and with Spanish, Brazilian and Canadian and Jorge Perez; businessman Carlos Cuba for years, both of collaboration investors. Saladrigas, and oil tycoon Enrique Sosa, in maritime security and of economic The crisis in Venezuela, exacerbated besides other billionaire entrepreneurs, measures despite the existence of the now with falling oil prices, did nothing are among the activists for binational blockade. In 2001, for example, the but accelerate the realisation of the pact approach. Many are of Cuban origin, US eased the blockade on food items with the US that was already being but they all have US citizenship, so and since 2003 it has become the secretly negotiated. Now the Obama- they cannot do business with Cuba by first provider of food products to the Castro agreement prepares an opening imperative of the embargo” (El País, island, displacing France and Canada. for future Yankee investments. What Spain, 18 December 2014). If the US did not lift the blockade solution can US investments bring to then was for political and electoral the Cuban people? None. Capitalist restauration reasons: fear of losing votes of the Therefore from the IWU–FI advances in Cuba Cuban-American community. On the we call to continue supporting the Obama changes policy precisely other hand, the Cuban bureaucracy has Cuban people and their historical because they are behind with Cuba. always politically used the argument demand for the blockade— which is Because, given the US blockade, the of the blockade, although its effect an undemocratic measure, of trampling Cuban regime for many years has been was diminishing, to justify all of its of sovereignty of the peoples and a agreeing investments with European economic policy disasters and hardships remnant of the USA’s colonial policy— and Canadian multinationals and with of the people. to be finally lifted and for a return of private investors from Brazil, China, Guantanamo to Cuban sovereignty. The Cuban leadership Israel and Venezuela. Within the context that we reject While many fighters find it hard abandoned the banners any interference and intervention to believe, the one-party regime of of socialism by US imperialism. We also support the Castros began years ago to restore Our revolutionary socialist current the Cuban people’s struggle to regain capitalism with a plan similar to that has always defended the socialist gains the lost gains made by the socialist of China and Vietnam. This is the of the Cuban revolution of 1959, has revolution of 1959, for that they must sad reality. With miserable wages that repudiated all forms of imperialist have full democratic rights to form do not reach US$20 per month and aggression against Cuba, including unions and parties, to end the one-party without the rights to strike and to form the economic blockade and embargo. regime, and have the right to claim independent unions. But we have always been critical of and mobilise to reverse the capitalist The advance of capitalism in Cuba Cuba’s political leadership who was restoration and ensure decent wages, and the strong private investment abandoning the socialist banners of the as well as the recovery of education have done nothing but exacerbate glorious era of Che Guevara. From the and health achieved in the early stages the social problems of the Cuban 1960s–1970s this leadership became of socialism of Che. people. While, on the other hand, subordinated to the political pacts of the International Workers Unity – the rich and the wealthy in the areas former USSR with imperialism to not Fourth International (IWU–FI) of government and business grow. promote new socialist revolutions in the 19 December 2014 In the port of Mariel, in agreement world. So in Nicaragua in 1979, Fidel

13 Cuba

United States – Cuba relations “Cuban style” capitalism deepens

Mercedes Petit • [email protected]

Spanish tourism multinationals have been operating in Cuba for decades

Raul Castro repeats endlessly on the one hand to take into account Changes in Cuba that his mission is to “update the process of capitalist restoration The Statement by the IWU-FI1 socialism”, make it “prosperous started over 20 years ago, and which states that “while many fighters find it and sustainable” and that it would has been consolidating. On the other hard to believe, the one-party regime of be “irreversible”. The new Law hand, there have also been changes on Foreign Investment and the the Castros began years ago to restore in the Cuban community within capitalism with a plan similar to that resumption of diplomatic relations the United States and the demands with the United States continues of China and Vietnam”. of important Yankee bourgeois The government of the CP in the exposing the lies and double talk sectors, not only Democrats but also of the Communist Party and the 1990s, after the fall of the USSR, began Republicans, have grown eager to do Cuban government. to open to imperialist investment business in Cuba. fundamental areas of its economy, To explain the reasons for the 1 See page 12 of this issue and www.uit-ci. Obama-Castro agreement it is essential org. 14 Cuba starting with tourism, minerals (nickel), traditional cigars and rum. Thus joint ventures emerged, with the association of state companies with multinationals, Canadian and Spanish firstly, followed by other countries. We have been widely documenting these facts for years.1 Let us recall the major multinational companies that were the pioneers. Tourism is led by the Spanish Sol- Melia and Barcelo, associated with corporations Cubacan and Gaviota, private and state Cuban capital (in particular of the Armed Forces). In nickel and cobalt operating since 1992 is the Cuban-Canadian Metalúrgica de Moa, with the multinational Sherritt. Participating In oil exploration are Petrobras (Brazil), Ocean Rig (Norway), Western Union has over 220 offices in 148 of the 168 municipalities Sherritt-Gordon (Canadian), Repsol (Spain), and other companies from Because of the embargo, Yankee investors partners in joint ventures or France, UK and China. multinational companies were left out parties in contracts of international In telecommunications came of business opportunities on an island economic association”. In addition Mexicans, and later Italians and so close. they can repatriate their profits. Foreign investments are exempted for eight Canadians. In tobacco Habanos The new Foreign Investment Law SA exists since 1994, with the state years of income tax, and afterwards company Cubatabaco and the Spanish Since 2013 the new law has been they will pay 15 percent (previously Altadis, which is owned by an English announced to employers in Cuba 30 percent). The exemptions will be group, handles 80 percent of the world and by Minister of Foreign Trade extended if they reinvest in the country. market for cigars. Havana Club rum and Foreign Investment Rodrigo No doubt the new law meant a new is commercialised by Cuban private Malmierca in his travels (see “Mariel, boost to the broad business movement entrepreneurs with the French Pernod Lula ...”). Finally, on 16 April, 2014 it that from the United States had for Richard (of Chivas Regal whiskey was published in the Official Gazette, quite a while been demanding normal fame), and it is among the 20 largest in following the guidelines emerging from relations and the definitive liquidation the world in the field. The most popular the decisions of the VI Congress of of the embargo 2011, which consolidate this “Cuban beer, Bucanero, belongs to Coralsa, Inequality and misery Cuban private and Canadian Cerbuco. style” capitalism. The law contains two Soft drinks and mineral waters are held important measures. For the first time The agreement of 17 December last by Coralsa, associated with Nestlé the installation of companies with 100 between Obama and Castro, with the and exporting to the Caribbean and percent foreign capital is authorized. blessing of the Vatican, is another step Mercosur. And Cuban emigration can do business in the capitalist road that Cuba has been The workers are employed by on the island, both as natural or legal traveling, and therefore refutes all those government agencies that provide persons (will not be so for Cuban who, from the left, continue to deny labour to these joint ventures. With residents in the country). this sad reality. this perverse system, the multinationals Items include agricultural and To a growing social differentiation, are doing good business, paying a forestry sectors, food industry, sugar, it is now added that important sectors salary of $150 to $200. And the energy and mining, iron and steel, of the Cuban people are fed even more Cuban government pockets a succulent light industries, chemical, electronics, with false expectations in capitalism difference because the salary that “state pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and in the agreement with the main employees” get is between $15 and wholesale trade, construction, tourism, imperialist power on the planet. The $ 20, something difficult to found transport and health (in some sectors). primary consequence of the agreement elsewhere in the world. Remain closed the sectors of education will be the impetus for multinational and defence. businesses and entrepreneurs, both 1 “Cuba, what is behind the adjustment?”, Exemptions from taxes on personal Yankees and Cuban Americans. They International Correspondence (IWU-FI) No. income are laid down for “foreign 29, August-December 2010. 15 Cuba

the company will have as customers tourism hotels, senior officials, the new rich and the new middle class. We could go on with each of the measures. The laid off from state enterprises (that have been made little by little, for fear of a social reaction if the hundreds of thousands advertised were put into effect), seeking to make a living as self-employed or forming cooperatives have many problems, starting with the high taxes, precarious transport, lack of cheap bank credit and access to wholesale prices, and so on. All this compounded by the limitations of a domestic market of widespread poverty. The embargo and the Poverty is growing in many of Havana’s neighbourhoods relations between the United are and they will be the beneficiaries, No Cuban worker can benefit from States and the Castros not the people. this opening. The cheapest models are The embargo began in 1960 and For the Cuban people the joint sold at US$25,000 completely outside was a main banner in the Cuban ventures, privatisations, the boosting of the scope of those earning not only exile community in Miami, which foreign investment and other changes the most common US$20, but even for decades harshly attacked the gains mean wage misery (the outrageous the US$100 of the very privileged, of the revolution and sought to tear US$20 on average), increasing linked to tourism or some prosperous down the government of Fidel Castro. precariousness in the living conditions “invention”. The new rich and high Republican and Democratic politicians and deterioration of health, education officials, however, will enjoy the new gave added support seeking the votes and many other achievements of the models. of the Cuban community and their revolution. Something similar happens with political representatives. For years, millions of Cubans the free buying and selling of houses, At the same time, Republican survive thanks to the “remittances”, existing since late 2011. Prices are President Nixon in 1973 was the the dollars they receive from Cuban totally outside the reach of workers vanguard in promoting the opening relatives in the United States. Many who are suffering a housing shortage of relations with Mao’s China. But his of them are workers who emigrated to of 600,000 homes. It will be another attempts towards Cuba, in the midst achieve painfully in the United States a benefit for the senior officials of the of the Vietnam War, failed as did the minimum savings to send to relatives, bureaucracy, Cuban businessmen and attempts by Democrat Jimmy Carter in for whom to receive, for example, foreigners, the affluent middle class and 1977. However, since 1977 respective US$100 per month is equivalent to those engaged in real estate speculation. Interest Offices were opened, Cuban in five Cuban salaries. The “remittances”, The expansion of the presence Washington and Yankee in Havana in extended by Obama, have become the of Yankees telecommunications their former embassy near the Malecon second earner of currency in Cuba companies, that started years ago, is [boardwalk]. (US$2.5 billion annually), behind another source of social differentiation, In the early 1980s it was common the sale of medical and social services because of their high costs. Remember knowledge in the major imperialist (US$10 billion). Traditional tourism that an hour of internet (still very media the “secret” negotiations between was in third place. Thus, within a restricted, with only 2,600,000 users, Ronald Reagan and Cuban government generalised shortage, continue growing many with difficult access) equals officials. This is widely documented in the sectors that combat their poverty one week of an average wage of an article by Nahuel Moreno in 19821 increasingly linked to the US and with US$20. Netflix, the Yankee company (see “The secret negotiation of Fidel expectations in the changes towards of production and distribution of with Reagan,” p. 22). Imperialism capitalism. audio visual content announces that pressed, with increasing success, the The possibility opened in late it is starting its establishment, selling Castro regime to act as a brake to 2013 of buying new cars, obviously an US$8 monthly connection. The the revolutionary processes in Latin imported, in state stores, is another user must have broadband and an 1 See in full “Why does Fidel negotiate in milestone in the social differentiation. international credit card. No doubt secret with Reagan?” www.nahuelmoreno. org/textos.php?i=en. 16 Cuba

agribusiness multinationals as well as medium and small farmers who sold them their production. Among Cuban entrepreneurs, some of them important, as Carlos Saladrigas (see “Raul thanked the Vatican”, p. 18) or sugar magnate Alfonso Fanjul, began to set their interest in adding themselves to the businesses opened by the return to capitalism. Furthermore, since the 1990s a new type of people began settling. Less involved in anti-Castro politics and dissent, “economic” exiles started coming, travelling to the United States with the expectation of finding a way out of poverty and the growing inequality they suffered in Cuba. For both sectors the embargo was a senseless Never before seen, the Yankee flag in the hands of a Cuban worker stumbling block. In the middle of the first decade of the new century most America. We always remember his The changes in exile of the Cuban community preferred call to the Sandinistas in 1979 to not Since the triumph of the revolution the easing of the embargo or directly advance towards socialism when the a fiercely anti-Castro Cuban exile its liquidation. 1 revolution triumphed in Nicaragua. community settled in the state of The very powerful Catholic Church, When beginning to develop the Florida. Currently there are more from Miami and from Havana — as capitalist restoration, the economic than two generations, and more than well as the Protestant churches — blockade remained increasingly due to a million and a half. What became fuelled actions aiming at normalising domestic political reasons, because of known as the “Cuban lobby” had a relations between the two countries. the above mentioned votes in Florida. major influence in Congress and in the And so the Yankee multinationals were Obama in the presidency two traditional parties, mainly among and the change in the OAS left out of the investment opportunities Republicans. that were seized by Spain’s, Canada’s, In 1996 the United States tightened In 2009 there were major changes in and other countries’ multinationals. the blockade measures, with the the United States. In January Democrat Anyway, as “business is business”, Helms-Burton Act. Back then this Barak Obama became president. In growing loopholes allowed many already went against the interests April, the White House eased over the companies to sell food and medicine, of the powerful bourgeois sectors blockade. Restricting visits to every the limited sending of money to already mentioned, such as food and three years was eliminated, authorizing relatives, direct charter flights, among other things (see” From Rockefeller to Obama”, p 17). The Cuban government, meanwhile, manipulated the issue of the embargo, which was and is rightly repudiated worldwide by defenders of the Cuban Revolution and democratic rights. It used it to justify its increasing difficulties in the economy and an anti-imperialist discourse, while it progressed in the capitalist opening and the embargo itself was increasingly relative.

1 Address by Fidel in www.cuba.cu/gobierno/ With Obama in the Presidency there are changes in the Organisation of American discursos/1979/esp/f260779e.html (in States (OAS) Spanish). 17 Cuba

Cuban Americans to travel freely. The toiletries, seeds for agriculture, fishing unite both countries as well as the amount of dollars that could be remitted equipment and other personal gifts. provision of radio and satellite TV from every three months was increased from And for the first time the telephone the United States. All this had been 300 to 500. The concept of close companies were allowed to invest and prohibited. relative was expanded, covering nearly operate in Cuba. It opened to them the In late April, The New York Times three million Cubans on the island. opportunity to earn lucrative returns (leading advocate of ending the The list of gifts authorized to be sent with the installation of fibre optic embargo) lifted the lid: there were grew, to include items such as clothing, and telecommunications satellites to informal negotiations between officials

Raul thanked the Vatican

The version of Pope Francis playing a key role in the deal was much touted, and Raul especially thanked him. Surely the Vatican have been pushing these negotiations with its usual stealth. But this is nothing new. For years the Catholic Church has a growing role in the internal politics of the island. John Paul II visited in 1998, and the Christmas public holiday was restored. In 2010, the Catholic Church and the government of Spain played a leading role, along with the Cuban Bishops, to secure the release of dozens of imprisoned dissidents in Cuba. With its magazines and secular organisations — which have enjoyed freedom of expression much broader than the Cuban people— Catholic leaders have been asking for freedoms, Joseph Ratzingter, Pope Benedict XVI, and Raul Castro but fundamentally they have been underpinning and encouraging the Villanueva, in the suburb of Miramar, talking about the priests to provide Cuban government and its capitalist Havana. again basic and university education. restorationist course for over two In November 2010, official Among the exiled Cubans pilgrimage decades. Sectors of the Christian publications Granma and Trabajadores to see the pope, of note was Carlos churches in the United States are reported on the opening of a seminar Saladrigas, one of the most important doing the same, as well as Catholic 17 kilometres away from Havana. It businessmen, who declared he had priests of the Cuban exile community is said that at the ceremony, Cardinal abandoned his closed anti-Castroism in Miami. Cardinal Jaime Ortega Ortega thanked Fidel Castro and his influenced by Catholic priests in never tires of applauding the different brother Raul —present there— for the Miami. In his lecture organised by the steps of the government, which in turn support of the government to complete Catholic magazine Espacio Laical, he is encouraging religious faith among the work. Among the 300 guests was called to the exiles to set aside their the Cuban people. On 19 March Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski. confrontation against the Cuban travelled to the enthronement of Pope Funding was in the hands of Catholics government and to support with Francis Raul Castro’s elected successor, in the United States and Europe. financial and human resources the Miguel Díaz-Canel, closely linked to Joseph Ratzingter, Pope Benedict private sector blooming with ongoing the Cuban ecumenical movement. XVI, visited in 2012, and in addition reforms. Speaking to the Catholic Discreetly, since late 2009, the to the formal meetings, he enjoyed 30 magazine Palabra Nueva, he insisted Catholic Church is recovering minutes of relaxed conversation with in stating that from Miami he had property expropriated in the early Fidel. Obviously, the previous pope proposed several of the measures years of the revolution. One of the publicly condemned the blockade. being taken by the government in the most appreciated was the chapel of the And he took the opportunity to start island. § former University of Santo Tomas de

18 Cuba from both governments, which had to be officially recognised in a press conference by the Yankees, to search a “serious, civic and open” relationship. On 3 June the OAS, meeting in Trinidad Tobago, took a shocking decision: it annulled the 1962 resolution which excluded Cuba, by unanimous consensus of 34 countries, including the US. Hillary Clinton stated that the blockade was a failure and praised Raul Castro. Obama was applauded when he said that “the USA is ready for a new beginning with Cuba”. Raul, from Havana, said they were willing to dialogue, provided that it was equal to equal. Fidel Castro, for his part, on 4 Five expectant airlines, including American Airlines, awaiting approval of direct November, 2008, while the voting in commercial flights the United States, in his “Reflections” published in Granma stated that he that begins on 1 March and American medicines, medical equipment and remained “neutral” between the two Express is getting ready. supplies for emergencies from third candidates, but divulged the promises * Banks are authorized to open countries destined for Cuba, will be able of the Obama campaign, noted the accounts in Cuban banks for transactions to call on US ports without waiting the colour of his skin and added that he that are authorized between the two 180 days required until now. was “more cultured, intelligent and countries. In defence of the Cuban people fair” then Republican McCain. On * Travellers may freely carry cell January 22, he wrote in Granma on phones, televisions, computers and Although the embargo had many the winner: “No one could doubt the other telecommunications products. holes for long years, and now only scraps sincerity of his words when he says that They can return with personal products of it remain, we continue to support the he will make their country a model up to US$400, which may include not historical claim of the Cuban people of freedom, respect for human rights more than US$100 in rum and cigars. to its ultimate abolition, as well as the in the world and for independence of * Direct commercial flights from restitution of the Guantanamo base. other peoples”.1 various cities will be open, with five And we say to this people that there already expectant airlines (American will be no progress from the hand The agreement of Airlines, United, JetBlue, Southwest of the multinationals, big business December 2014 and Delta). Previously, Washington and the new rich Cubans, promoted In relation to the specific measures and Havana must negotiate a new air and protected by the government of that continue disassembling the transport agreement, since the current, Raul Castro. And even less if it keeps blockade we can summarise: signed in 1953, is obsolete. Currently, following the capitalist steps of the * Remittances are extended to the abundant charter flights that Chinese and Vietnamese dictatorships. US$2,000 per quarter (500 were these companies keep are regulated On the agenda is the struggle to regain authorized). directly by the departments of Treasury the gains made by the revolution * The authorizations to travel to Cuba and Transportation. The airlines and of 1959, as well as for having full are extended, benefiting US citizens travel agencies may contract insurance democratic rights to form unions, who are journalists, academics, artists services. parties and student centres, and the and athletes, religious, humanitarian * Authorizations are extended for end of the single-party regime. What program participants, among others. telecommunication companies, which is posed is to claim and mobilise for * On the island you can start can make investments in infrastructure decent wages and the recovery of using credit and debit cards without and sell services, software, devices education and health achieved in the spending limit. Mastercard announced and equipment, although not of high early years of the socialism of Che, technology. We already mentioned reversing the capitalist restoration. § Netflix. 1 “Is the end to the blockade coming?” * Existing restrictions for shipping International Correspondence No. 27, June- are kept, but now ships carrying food, August 2009.

19 Cuba

From Rockefeller to Obama

Few remember the historic meeting and 20,000 of livestock feed. In in February 2001 between Fidel Castro a speech on 8 November, Fidel and David Rockefeller, one of the said to the Cuban people that most influential Yankee billionaires it was a unique and exceptional (Standard Oil, Chase Manhattan measure, for damages caused Bank and the University of Chicago, on 4 November by Hurricane power house of neoliberalism and the Michelle. “Chicago boys”). Rockefeller returned * In September 2002 took to Cuba for the first time since 1959. place in Havana the first Along with 18 bankers, businessmen Agroindustrial Fair of the and former diplomats, supporters of United States. Purchases for lifting the blockade, they met for five US$60 million were signed. hours with Fidel Castro. Afterwards Present were 700 executives the Yankee magnate said Fidel had of 288 US companies (such been very friendly and charismatic, as Hormel Foods and Kraft and that what the Cubans had done Foods) authorized by the Bush “in the fields of education and health administration to expose and is pretty impressive”. And although “it make sales in Cuba. Fidel was is a totalitarian government, basically the main host at a dinner, and socialist” it was “in many respects, spoke from a podium on which successful and one should recognise the Yankee and Cuban flags were Fidel speaks to US businessmen in September 2002 (facsimile copy of Buenos Aires daily that they made a lot of positive things” on show, about the successful Clarin, 30 September 2002. Headline reads (b, Buenos Aires, 23 February 2001). commercial relationships. “Cuba open its markets to US firms”.) Such a move by major imperialist Present, for example, were the bourgeois sectors was the expression governor of Minnesota and of previous expectations, relationships agricultural commissioners of transfer money from the US to Cuba, and agreements, as well as of very seven states. In 2001 they bought for has been in Cuba for many years and specific future intentions: not to stay US$2.5 million; in 2002, US$175 has over 220 locations in 140 of the out of the big business opened by the million (22 percent of total imported 168 municipalities and that delivers restoration. foods). Two years earlier, Cuba ranked remittances in convertible pesos Less spectacular had been the visit last among US food export markets. (CUC) to the relatives. American also to Havana, just four days earlier, In 2003 for the first time the US will Airlines has been operating for 15 Charles Wilhelm, former head of the be the main supplier of imported food years charter flights to Cuba from US Southern Command, to meet with to the island, beating the Canadians Miami and Tampa (Florida); currently Cuban military. In 1999 Wilhelm had and Europeans. offering 20 weekly flights. Jetblue has filed an official military briefing at the * In December 2003, in an official since 2011 charter flights from Fort Pentagon in which he gave assurances note from the Cuban government Lauderdale (also in Florida) and that Cuba no longer posed a threat to the US oil companies are told to that Tampa. Also operating are Delta and United States security interests. it had “no objection” for them to join Sky King. Travel agency Insight Cuba We can remember some other in the exploration of its maritime operates on the island since 2000. antecedents: platform, which has already begun, Pilgrim’s, from Georgia (acquired by * In 2000, before the visit of for example, by the Canadian Sherritt Brazilian capital), one of the leading Rockefeller, US Congress took an International. chicken exporters, has Cuba since important step: to remove the embargo * In July 2004, Californian 2013 as the fifth destination. on food and medicine. Anyway, Cuba company CancerVax Corp was In 2014, after the publication of was required to pay cash for the authorised to patent and perform the Foreign Investment Act, there products. On 13 December 2000 the preliminary trials to begin selling were posters in the street and the first shipment of food took place. The in the US three experimental drugs subway hailing Obama’s change multinationals Cargill, ADM (Archer against cancer developed in Cuba. in policy by the major US Cuban Daniels Midland) and Riceland Foods We do not want to bore you. Let entrepreneurs. Recently Google’s sold 50,000 tonnes of wheat, 43,000 us add that the multinational Western president travelled to Havana. § of corn, 12,500 of rice, soy 12,000 Union, the only company licensed to

20 Cuba

Mariel, Lula and the Brazilian entrepreneurs

The old port of Mariel, 50 kilometres west of Havana, has changed a lot since 1980 when it was the embarkation point for 125,000 Cubans, the “Marielitos”, who crossed the Straits of Florida to seek asylum in the United States. Mariel has been transformed into a mega deep-water container port, opened in January 2014, and conceived as part of the first Cuban ZED (Special Development Zone). It follows the experience of “special zones” that were implemented in China when it began capitalist restoration. The port is one of the largest in the Caribbean and will allow taking advantage of the movement arising from the expansion Dilma Rousseff and Raul Castro in in the reopening of the Port of Mariel of the Panama Canal. Also, since the project began in 2010, the Cuban government is committed to the total The expectation is that the free zone Havana to explain the experiences of liberation of trade relations with the will create 150,000 jobs. Activities will his country’s foreign investment. For United States when the definitive end cover real estate, tourism, technological his part, Minister Malmierca reminded to the embargo occurs. innovations, port maritime activities, Lula and the Cuban entrepreneurs These port reforms were made by logistics, agriculture, production and of the importance of the official the Brazilian multinational Odebrecht, services. legislation that created the ZED, which counts for the entire work with At the time of the inauguration it and advanced that in March would more than one billion dollars in funding was reported that there were already be up for discussion at the National from the Brazilian government. The 70 applications for investment, mainly Assembly the new Foreign Investment port movement is entirely in the from Spain, Italy, Russia, Brazil and Law, finally approved in September, hands of PSA International, a private China, as well as Argentina, Chile, which is crucial for the development company in Singapore,. Panama, Mexico and Canada. of the first free zone. In September 2013 were officially Odebrecht is already getting ready The inauguration of the first phase published in Cuba the rules of the for other projects such as a new of the port was in January of this year, ZED, with advantages for foreign airport and it has already signed with the presence of Raul Castro and Cuban investors such as tax with Azcuba (the private business and Dilma Rousseff. The next day, exemptions, facilities for remitting of group that operates the ancient and when opening the summit of the profits, authorisations to operate for legendary “Sugar Ministry) a contract Community of Latin American and 50 years, renewable, among others. to modernise the production of the Caribbean States (CELAC), Raul Brazilian companies as Fenavid (glass) sugar mill Central Azucarero 5 de Castro said: “These are undeniable and pharmaceutical ones quickly Septiembre, in Cienfuegos. benefits of foreign direct investment expressed their interest to sign up. The opening to capitalism in Cuba for the economies of the region”. Souza Cruz, already installed in Cuba, has counted since it started with the Given these facts, more and more made ready to expand into there. presence and initiatives of Brazilian entrepreneurs from the United States The Cuban Foreign Trade Minister entrepreneurs and the government want a definitive end to the blockade Rodrigo Malmierca toured China, itself. Countless Brazilian companies and to begin regaining lost ground. Vietnam, Brazil and other countries have been active in the island for many Anyway, on January 28 this year, when to present before businessmen the years, and business chambers and the the Mariel Container Terminal started program of the ZED. This includes government itself have sent all kinds work, the first ship belonged to the the government being responsible for of advisors to train the new Cuban Crowley line, coming from the US hiring labour, which as we mentioned entrepreneurs. In February 2014 with a cargo of chicken. § already is happening across the country. former President Lula went in person to meet with Cuban businessmen in

21 Cuba The secret negotiation of Fidel with Reagan

Nahuel Moreno

Ronald Reagan and Fidel Castro in the 1980s

Behind the showmanship of the for the Reagan administration in the multilateral economic program for current agreement Obama-Raul the rally organised by the Council the region —that perhaps will include Castro, hides the fabric of more of the Americas in Washington, in Canada, Mexico and Venezuela in an than 35 years of negotiations and early June, Cuban émigrés circles still agreement with the United States — agreements between Fidel Castro, suspect that negotiations are being to separate Cuba gradually from the the Cuban leadership and US carried out through intermediaries communist bloc “. (…) imperialism. Our current, led by to achieve a new modus vivendi with On January 27 this year, in an Nahuel Moreno, always denounced Castro”.2 In that same article Thomas interview, President Reagan reported it. In particular the agreement O. Enders, new Assistant Secretary that Cuban vice-president Carlos Rafael of Fidel Castro to prevent that of State for Inter-American Affairs, Rodriguez and [US Secretary of State Nicaragua be transformed into said he “is supporting the efforts of Alexander] Haig had met secretly in a socialist country. To illustrate Edward Broadbent, parliamentary Mexico. This was confirmed in Granma this background we reproduce outstanding paragraphs of the leader of the New Democratic Party by the Cuban Vice President, who said article “Why does Fidel negotiate of Canadav, to continue the mediation the secret meeting took place on 23 in secret with Reagan?” 1 by Nahuel of the Socialist International in November 1981 and that “Secretary of Moreno (published in Correo Central America and particularly in El State Haig and I decided by common Internacional, Year I, No. 6, May Salvador. There are also suspicions that agreement that the interview be 1982). Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot regarded as secret”. (…) Trudeau, a long-standing defender of Why does Castro negotiate? Business Week magazine commented Castro’s revolution, is hoping to use in its 22 June 1981 issue that: “despite the 2 Thiscitation and others are not available at It is important to know why these harsh tone speeches by the spokesmen this time in their original English version, secret negotiations of the Castro 1 Full article can be found in www. so they had to be re-translated back from nahuelmoreno.org/textos.php?i=en. Spanish. [Translator’s note.] 22 Cuba government with ultra-reactionary goals of vital importance for the whole and imperialist Reagan. world capitalist imperialist system: to Castroism faces, like all the alienate Cuba from the USSR, trying to bureaucratic and totalitarian workers’ accomplish something similar to what states of Eastern Europe and Asia, an it did with Yugoslavia and China; and impressive economic crisis, apparently to make Castro to transform himself without solution. Castro negotiates into an unconditional agent to divert, with US imperialism an economic stifle, and ultimately crush the Central arrangement that would allow him to American revolution. overcome this crisis. At this stage, neither imperialism The crisis of the Cuban economy, nor capitalism has as central aim of whose immediate reason seems to be their policy to get the Cuban economy the lack of development of production, transformed immediately in a capitalist is due to a fundamental reason: the economy. The essential and immediate bureaucratic leadership of the Cuban goal is political, that is, to add the economy and society. This bureaucratic Castroist leadership as sure agent of leadership is manifested in the lack their counter-revolutionary policy. (…) Stalinism was realistic, achieved what of workers’ democracy to discuss could be achieved: Socialism in one Angola and Nicaragua the development of economic plans, country temporizing with the world to apply them and for their critical Castro has already played a role of bourgeoisie. Nothing of developing evaluation. Everything is resolved by prime importance of a political nature the world revolution, this was left Fidel and his team. This totalitarian in Africa, being the most useful tool infantilism, Trotskyism, a delusion that leadership has led to economic disaster. that Yankee imperialism has had to only served the counter-revolution. (…) curb the revolutionary process, mainly To these nationalist and falsely Given the failure of the reforms in Angola. The Castro regime has gone realistic arguments, we Trotskyists have of 1980, Castro has been forced to to Africa not only to fortify its positions opposed the policy of the permanent, continue with his economic concessions before the undisputed pressure that international revolution, as the only truly to capitalism. Instead of now making Yankee imperialism exerts against the realistic. For us, it was utopian wanting them through the domestic market Cuban workers’ state, but also to show to build socialism in one country and, to the embryonic domestic capitalists, Washington that the Castro leadership to make matters worse, underdeveloped he directly targeted to make all kinds is for keeping within capitalism the or very underdeveloped. (…) of concessions to imperialism. With different countries where revolutionary The crime of the ruling bureaucracy, this policy he does nothing more processes exist. This is the reason why in the case of Cuba, not only is to than to follow the steps, as always, the Cuban army has been instrumental impose a totalitarian regime to the of other bureaucratic and totalitarian in restructuring the capitalist state and Cuban workers, but equally or more governments, such as the Polish, in maintaining the bourgeois economy serious, not to develop the world Chinese, Yugoslavian and the USSR, in Angola. (…) revolution, limiting itself to developing which enacted similar laws for the Fidel Castro and the FSLN in socialism in one country. It is the other protection of imperialist capital. Central America are doing the same face of petty bourgeois, bureaucratic The Economist on 17 April this year today. Countless data demonstrate that politics. noted how “without fuss, Cuba has Castro and the FSLN stress the need The facts are there as a final balance enacted a law on foreign investment for the barriers of capitalist private sheet: Stalinist policy is responsible for that allows western capitalists to take property and the bourgeois regimes in the chronic economic crisis. Trotskyist 49 percent of capital in joint venture Central America not be overcome, and policy would have averted the crisis or with state-owned companies, and the by all means they try to avoid the rise of at least it would have really improved total repatriation, after taxes, of profits a single Central American revolution. the economy of the workers’ states and dividends”. (…) Two policies for Cuba due to two phenomena that combined would be the only solution: internal Yankee imperialism, with the and the workers’ states complicity of European imperialists, democracy to develop the initiative of the Second International, the Mexican (…) Stalinism and many intellectual workers at all levels, development of government of Lopez Portillo, as well admirers of its accomplishments world revolution to unite indissolubly as the Panamanian and Canadian have attacked us Trotskyists for being into a single nation or federation governments, are trying to use the severe utopian, idealistic and that we do all countries that expropriated the economic crisis of the Castroist regime not start from reality or we manage bourgeoisie. § to achieve two international policy to project actual plans. In contrast,

23 Tunisia

Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali falls on 14 January 2011

Tunisia: The revolution four years later The responsibility of the left in the transition

Josep Lluis de Alcazar – Lucha Internacionalista [Internationalist Fight]

Four years from the start of the trade union left called for support to the city of Sidi Bouzid, with which revolution and Beji Caid Essebsi, an Al Sisi to shut Islamism, restoring we had maintained a short but intense old politician supporter of Habib to power those whom the revolution relationship combined with a campaign Bourguiba and of Zine El Abidine had ousted. What happened in of support in the fight against the regime. Ben Ali holds the presidency of these four years to get to this point? The committee, consisting essentially of the republic, after winning the This is an essential debate for the teachers, lawyers and doctors, was run election with the indirect support revolution and the left. by the PCOT, Workers’ Communist of the left (as they called not to vote On 14 January 2011 Zine El Party of Tunisia, which in 2012 became for Moncef Marzouki, the other the Workers’ Party (POT). candidate). An operation similar Abidine Ben Ali fell and on 4 February Two days later, on 6 February, tens to that developed in Egypt, when a we travelled invited by the Committee of thousands of Tunisians coming from substantial part of the political and for the Defence of the Revolution of all corners of the country gathered in 24 Tunisia

Sidi Bouzid in the “caravan of gratitude” active and there were for the role played by the town in the multiple strikes. But revolution. In parallel, in headquarters the political line of of the Tunisian General Labour Union the left was to park (UGTT) we were invited to the first the labour demands coordination of the Committees for a later stage, when for the Defence of the Revolution, democracy were which brought together 13 of the 24 consolidated. But the governorates or districts into which fight for democratic the country is divided. The reference rights and the fight to the UGTT and the weight of the for improving the left were crucial in the committees. The conditions of life are contradiction in the UGTT was glaring two sides of the same because the leadership was part of the coin. One feeds the Ben Ali regime, while the rank and file other and vice versa. Demonstration in Tunis, 22 January 2011 and union cadres were an undisputed At the service of RCD leaders, who still control levers reference for the revolution. An intense this electoral policy the Committees for of power and have resources, adjust debate ran the meeting: on the content the Defence of the Revolution (CDR), themselves in the new democracy. of the revolution, what to do with the as incipient organs of popular power, government, how to deal with the and the importance of coordination Siliana: a second chance reaction of the RCD,1 party of the were weakened. They were given a The Government of Ennahda did regime that was attacking and sowing temporary character until the elections not advance in the purification of fear, and what role the committees and and their purpose was monitoring the the state apparatus, which was used the own coordination did have. Government and Parliament. Some in the repression of workers’ and examples of their strength: On Monday Revolution by stages or popular protests. And it continued to 7 the CDR of Sidi Bouzid met with implement recipes of impoverishment permanent revolution the newly appointed Governor to ask of the population associated the The majority representatives of for his dismissal. In Regev, police had agreements with the IMF and the the left were of the POT, which by its fled and it was the CDR which looked large multinationals. The mobilisation Stalinist tradition2 led it to theorise after the situation. Many municipal against the government was not only the revolution by stages. For the political positions had also resigned, or necessary but essential. POT, accompanied by much of the just fled and were kept functioning by In November and December intelligentsia and middle classes, it was the workers themselves. 2012 a revolt broke out in the city of a first step to consolidate democracy, Without placing at the centre the Siliana from the call for general strike identifying it with elections to the struggle of the working class and the demanding the creation of jobs and Constituent. youth for jobs and advancing a social the release of prisoners. After a brutal The revolutionary uprising of program of the revolution; without repression, the revolt spread to other the youth was due not only to the strengthening the own organisms of the cities to the cry of “the people want fight against the oppression of the revolution as instruments of popular a new revolution”. The Popular Front dictatorship but also to the rejection power; without advancing a proposal appears as the only political reference of of poverty, unemployment and job for transitional government “of the the revolt. Against is the Government insecurity. It is no coincidence that the revolution” around the UGTT and and Nidaa Tunis, a heterogeneous spotlight was focused in the centre of the organisations created in the heat of party regrouping elements of the old the country, a poor area and abandoned the revolution or that drove it, it was regime. Fronts are realigned by the class by the regime. After the fall of Ben difficult to open a political perspective interests they represent; the popularity Ali the workers struggle was strongly for the workers and youth. of the Popular Front grows. The first deception on the left 1 RCD, Democratic Constitutional There was a second opportunity Rally: party created and led by Ben Ali; was the elections of October 2011 to to relaunch the revolution and equip it was a plenary member of the Socialist Constituent where the PCOT was it with social content, because the International until the 18 January 2011, presented as Revolutionary Alternative energy of the masses, far from being date in which it was expelled. and achieved only three out of the 214 exhausted, resurfaced with all vigour, 2 POT, Tunisian Workers’ Party: calls itself of Lenin and Stalin, following the line of seats at stake. In these elections the and put back the left at the centre of Enver Hoxha and the Workers’ Party of social fabric of the Muslim Brotherhood the political stage. It is no accident Albania. Its main leader is Hama Hamami. won with 40 percent of the votes and that the murderous hand of reaction It is part of the International Conference of Ennahda comes to Government. Also rises against the Popular Front. Today Marxist–Leninist Parties and Organisations. 25 Tunisia

the Islamic State claims the murders of regime of Nidaa Tunis. It is the same The elections of 2014 — legislative Chokri Belaid in February 2013, very policy used by Al Sisi in Egypt to hijack and presidential— ended up certifying active in the strikes of Siliana, and of the legitimate struggle of the Egyptian a majority to Nidaa Tunis. The fact and Mohamed Brahmi, Member of masses and recruit their leadership for that abstention was higher among the the Constituent Assembly for Sidi the bloodthirsty coup d’état that tries youth and in Sidi Bouzid is a symbol to Bouzid, in July. In March of that year to bury the revolution. determine how far from the revolution we had the opportunity to see the The Popular Front formed a this young majority that led it four growing support among workers and block with Nidaa Tunis against the years ago has moved. The Popular Front youth to the Popular Front in a rally government in a disastrous policy goes up to 15 seats, a good result for of homage to Chokri Belaid, in which that buries the opportunity opened “peacetime” but does not free it from we were invited to participate along by the “second revolution” of Siliana. the disaster lived by the revolution and with other international delegations. Did we want the fall of the Ennahda its responsibility. Massive mobilisations are triggered by government? Yes, just as we wanted Many take the revolution in Tunisia the murders, holding the Government the government of Mursi in Egypt to as closed and with this the so called responsible and causing a couple of fall, but not for the return to power “Arab Spring”. But it remains to months later its resignation. of elements of the dictatorship. The be seen, the class struggle does not legitimate fight against the Ennhada stop simply because of the adverse The dynamics of blocks against government needed absolute class electoral result. Nidaa Tunis has formed the dynamic of classes independence, a clear delineation from a national unity government with But the leadership of the Popular Nidaa Tunis and a place for the UGTT Ennahda and others, without the Front did not deepen this orientation to assume its responsibility with the left Popular Front, showing that the alleged towards the working class, towards in a workers’ government. incompatibility between the old regime the youth of Redeyev who were Thousands of young people and Islamism has been nothing but a demanding work in the mines, towards from poor neighbourhoods where screen to defeat the revolution. Those in the labouring women of Regev or Enahda had strength were essential government are those who denounced Kasserine who work in the fields from to the revolutionary process. We face the uprising of Siliana and supported dawn to dusk for a pittance, or towards Enahda firstly because it is a bourgeois the bloodthirsty repression. They will the mothers of the martyrs killed by government that applies the plans of try to burden the plans of imperialism the revolution. Instead, the leadership imperialism and the multinationals on the masses, but the people have of the Popular Front puts at the centre against the workers and the people. And known since 2012 they can overthrow the confrontation between Islamists also, from our class front, we defend dictatorships. and secular; a clash that divides the our secular politics and denounce the Without a revolutionary workers poorest neighbourhoods of Islamist attacks on freedoms. To place at the party this road is full of disappointments tradition of working class struggle or of centre the fight against Islamism is to and defeats. This is the commitment we the city, who were all needed to push raise a deep wall with those poor sectors work on from the IWU-FI: to assist in forward the revolution. This policy and to make it easy for Ennahda to the formation of this party. § serves on a plate the legitimacy of the continue leading them. “al-fulul”, the remnants of the old The old regime returns through the ballot box

Layla Nassar • Lucha Internacionalista (Internationalist Fight)

The presidential elections of 21 Syria or Egypt the counter-revolution illustrated dictator of independence) December in Tunisia have closed a has been stained with blood, in Tunisia and chairman of parliament under Ben cycle: representatives of the regime has done so under a formal democracy. Ali is now the president of Tunisia. It of Ben Ali, ousted in the revolution At age 88, Beji Caid Essebsi, Minister has commissioned Habib Essid, chief of of 2011 have returned to power. If in of the Interior of Habib Bourguiba (the staff of the Ministry of the Interior and

26 Tunisia

Minister of Environment under the dictatorship, the formation of government. How can it be explained that the country that lit the fuse of change in the Arab world in January 2011, with an unpredictable popular uprising, vote for a return to the old regime only three years later? The margin was ample: 55 percent for Essebsi, candidate of Nidaa Tunis, 45 percent Beji Caid Essebsi, 88 year old former minister of the old regime, won the elections for the former president and human rights activist already materialised before the second peaceful retreat of Ennahda, which repressed by the regime, Moncef round of the presidential elections, returns to the old regime the power Marzouki. with the support of the Islamists to that the revolution had delivered to it The first answer lies in abstention: the budgets of the new government, and attempts to preserve its democratic the young and the poor, who did not which anticipates more cuts and portion. feel represented by any of the political to continue paying the debt of the Now a new cycle begins, where options, stayed home. Sidi Bouzid, dictatorship (which will be 18 percent it will no longer serve the option of the cradle of the revolution, and of expenditure). Nidaa Tunis presents confronting secularists and Islamists the southern regions were the most itself as a secular formation facing because everyone is on the same side abstentionist. And the poor are left obscurantism, but beyond the debate of the barricade, with the payment of with bowing their head again and for between secularism and Islamism, the the debt and imperialism. the youth asylum seeker boats or the two forces are equally reactionary with Four years ago the people rose promise of paradise doing jihad in regard to their social project. spontaneously and took to the streets Syria. The left has also played an important demanding dignity, work and an end Abandoned the momentum and role in the return of the “al-fulul”, the of the regime. revolutionary project (“bread, work remnants of the old regime. Anchored The Tunisian left was caught in and dignity”), the economic crisis, in the theory of revolution in stages the old dilemma of dictatorship or the disastrous experience in power (first democracy, then socialism) and Islamism and discarded itself as an of Islamist Ennahda (which was left in a Islamophobic vision, the Popular alternative. isolated after the coup in Egypt against Front — which won 5 percent of votes But it would be wrong to conclude the government of Mohamed Morsi) in the parliamentary elections and 15 that all is lost. Too often revolutions and fear of jihadist terrorism have seats, three of which were Trotskyist of in the Arab world have been taken justified the return to order, under the the League of Workers Left (LGO) — for dead. Even in the most difficult figure of Essebsi. focused its entire discourse in ousting conditions, such as in Syria or Egypt, We verify thus, on the one hand, Ennahda, and some sectors even the struggle continues. Neither the the failure of the project of the Muslim defended entering a government of the dictatorship nor Islam can provide Brotherhood, who attempted to old regime against the Islamists. a solution to the demands of the combine a neoliberal economic policy The combination of domesticated masses, which now know they are designed to satisfy the multinationals, Islamism and a democratised old able to overthrow tyrants. In Tunisia, and the democratic reform without regime to stop the revolution is the in October 2014 the days of strike of breaking with the so-called deep best scenario for the EU and the 2011, the year of the revolution, had state, the repressive apparatus of the United States. The advance of the already been overcome. But we shall dictatorship. counter-revolution in Syria and Egypt, have to build a political reference able After the fierce repression suffered by the chaos in Libya, a growing jihadist to channel so much energy poured in its allies in Egypt, Ennahda has chosen threat and reconciliation between Qatar the three years of fighting. §v to leave power and seek agreement and Saudi Arabia mark a complicated with the government of Nidaa Tunis, regional context that reinforces the

27 Economy

Why are oil prices dropping?

Jose Castillo

Oil prices collapsed from US$107 lead and imposed a decision against the dependent on its day to day oil revenues a barrel in June to less than US$50 will of Iran and Venezuela, which were to not go bankrupt. by year-end. Although many aiming to agree to a drop in production The reasons of the drop imperialist spokesmen assert that it and thus underpin the value of crude, “will have a revival effect”, actually tending to bring it back to US$100 a Immediately, different it heralds new acute episodes of the barrel. interpretations flourished. Some global economic crisis. Saudi Arabia and its Persian Gulf analysts argue that the problem is an In late 2014, OPEC decided not partners, traditional allies of US “oversupply”. This would be because to cut its oil production. This meant imperialism have the back up to the United States has become a new they would let the value of the barrel, wait a while with low prices. They major producer, especially from which was already low, to keep falling. can produce oil at very low costs— a intensive oil extracted by fracking. The result was immediate: the collapse barrel costs them less than US$10— It would add to this a “lower global of oil prices below US$50 in a few days. in addition to huge reserves to finance demand” by the European recession, The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, their states. Instead Venezuela and Iran, the Japanese stagnation and, above all, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar within OPEC, and Russia without, are the slowdown in China, all major oil and the United Arab Emirates took the consumers. But these readings are at least unilateral: neither production of

28 Economy nor global demand for oil have changed establishment came out quickly to multinational (Bloomberg, quoted substantially in the last three years (data “propagandise” the reactivating benefits by International Energy Consultants from BP World Statistical Review, June lower crude oil prices would have. Organisation (IECO) 15 February 2014). In addition, we would be naïve Thus, Americans would save one 2015). Therefore, there are many if we accepted that the price of such a billion dollars for every penny a barrel doubts that the overall effect of low oil strategic input as oil is defined by “the goes down, which would be massively prices will be a “growth” of the world interplay of supply and demand”. turned to consumption (according to economy. The IMF itself prefers to Other interpretations have gone Moody’s Analytical quoted by Reuters be cautious and announces that the so far as to say this is a fight between and EFE, 12 December 2014). But in reactivating effect will reach only to 0.5 Saudi Arabia and its Gulf partners fact, except for the United States, no percent of GDP worldwide. And even against US companies that extract oil other country has had a substantial drop that is in doubt. with fracking. Thus, as the latter is only in the price of gasoline. Conclusion: the global profitable with high oil prices, when And in addition, incongruously, in lowering its value the Gulf countries the United States it began to appear the capitalist crisis continues would be looking to “break” Yankee negative consequences on the huge US The speculative component in the firms to avoid competition in the energy industry (including traditional price of oil is nothing new. In fact, market. This analysis does not seem oil and gas, alternative extraction — in the last 40 years there have been correct. Technological advances in the fracking — but also the suppliers very violent ups and downs. Since the extraction via fracking have already who depend on them). Thus, theWall large rise in crude of 1979, there has lowered the cost from US$70 to US$57 Street Journal (11 February 2015) titled been ten sharp falls of over 30 percent; a barrel (The Economist, 12/2014). “US oil companies adjust to survive which were then followed by impressive Moreover there is no conflict between with a barrel at $50”, noting that 20 increases. Just think, only to give a the US and the Gulf countries as to companies have already reduced their recent example, the barrel was US$9 endorse this interpretation. costs by more than US$25 billion. in 1998, reached US$145 in 2008, and For us, what is decisive is the Oil services companies will also suffer now collapsed to US$45. agreement between US imperialism from downsizing: the giant Halliburton But the context is that we are in the and Saudi Arabia. It aims to favour the announced cuts between 5000 and midst of a global economy wrapped imperialist countries or their major 6500 jobs (Houston Business Journal, in a chronic crisis, where imperialism partners given a global crisis that does 15 February 2015). tries over and over again to try to get not subside. Essentially it favours those Outside the United States, the out of it through adjustment plans, countries that are net importers of oil: consequences of the drop in crude oil together with bailouts of banks and starting with the United States itself, prices are not minor. British Petroleum transnationals. But these policies and followed by the European Union, announced it would cut one billion of hunger and misery generate, as a Japan and China. The losers, as always, dollars of expenditure in 2015, with counterpart, more workers’ and popular are the semi-colonies or countries the loss of thousands of jobs. The effects struggles, fail to prevail and end up oppressed by imperialism, essentially on Russia are devastating: the rouble in failure because of the resistance by those dependent on oil exports, as lost half its value since mid-2014 (the the workers. So they try, “looking for Russia, Venezuela, Brazil, Iran, Mexico, steepest decline since the 2008 crisis), shortcuts”, to generate more speculative Algeria, Nigeria and Ecuador. This is since oil is 60 percent of the income short-term gains — either like today, nothing different to the usual strategy of the country. The devaluation of with low oil prices, or as it happened to try to counter the capitalist crisis: to currencies is general: also fell the other times, and it is not ruled out that keep super exploiting and plundering Nigerian naira, the Malaysian ringgit, will not happen again in the future the oppressed nations. The drop in which suffered the biggest drop since — with astronomical rises. Oil, then, crude oil prices is, then, within the set the 2008 crisis, the Canadian dollar regardless of how strategic an input of measures that imperialism uses to and the Brazilian real (Financial Times, it may be, is not the “cause” of the keep trying the crisis be paid by workers 2 December 2014). alterations of the world economy. Yes and subject peoples. With the fall of crude global it is a manifestation, which adds more investment will be US$316 billion fuel to the fire, of how imperialism The final effect: reactivation or lower (only among OPEC members). seeks to unload the effects of the crisis new exacerbation of the crisis? Overall, the number of jobs already lost on the backs of the peoples. Whether But US imperialism is immersed in the world in total exceeded 100,000, it succeeds or not will depend on the in the middle of a huge, political, with the emptying of activity of the present and future chapters of the economic and military crisis and, oil poles in Scotland, Australia and struggles of the working class. § therefore, the results are to be seen. The Brazil, according to Swift Worldwide major spokespersons of the economic Resources, a staff recruitment

29 Mexico

One of the huge demonstrations for the 43dissapeared students Political and economic crisis in Mexico Francisco Retama • POS-MAS

The brutal repression against In previous analyses, we anticipated The leaderships of the workers students of the “Isidro Burgos” that the class struggle in our country and organised popular sectors, mostly Rural Teachers School located would intensify due to the plans of linked to the ruling Institutional in the community of Ayotzinapa, Enrique Peña Nieto’s government. Revolutionary Party (PRI) and also in the southern Mexican state of The latter, in agreement with the sectors that say to be independent Guerrero, became the straw that main bosses’ parties, imposed an but are linked to the Party of the broke the camel’s back. Thousands aggressive package of counter-reforms Democratic Revolution (PRD), became have taken to the streets, have that included the amendment to the directly complicit in the adoption of the paralysed universities and labour act, education counter-reform, a new laws or, in the best of cases, despite protested in dozens of countries, new telecommunications act, a package their opposition discourse, leaderships with the murder of three young of financial reforms, an undemocratic that claim to be independent refrained teacher training students and the political reform and, to crown this from calling to the mobilisation to stop enforced disappearance of 43 of their peers. These mobilisations and offensive, an energy privatisation so this offensive. falling oil prices put Peña Nieto in yearned by the major Mexican and Then the implementation of the check. transnational capitalists. counter-reforms came and a powerful

30 Mexico teachers’ movement stood up in practically the entire country, as it had not happened in over 20 years. This time, the teachers took to the streets and paralysed their activities for months in some states and carried out actions of unseen radicalness, such as a sit-in Mexico City’s international airport and the blockade of local banks and petrol retailers. However, the lack of coordination of the teachers’ movement and the inability to homogenise the relationship of forces at national level, along with the isolation suffered by the struggle, had as a result that Peña Nieto’s education counter-reform could not be stopped. But the worst was yet to come, The students were the backbone of the mobilisations because after the adoption of the had to face glimpses of the outbreak of to university students, who largely constitutional changes and general laws social unrest. come from this social sector. They followed the implementation of the In the previous government, led by are the professionals, who previously counter-reforms through layoffs and Felipe Calderon,1 household income received higher incomes, as well as increasing precariousness of working fell by 12.75 percent.2 Insecurity soared workers who could be considered of conditions of millions of people. At as a social scourge, having in a six-year the Mexican “labour aristocracy”, the same time, the power of big money period a total of 121,000 murders including traders, or self-employed, invested in telecommunications and related to narco-trafficking violence;3 who conformed broad amorphous financial sectors was multiplied, with homicides increased 150 percent in the contingents, consisting of families, the promise that for entrepreneurs six years of Calderon’s administration;4 neighbours or affinity groups, which in the energy sector there would be also other crimes such as kidnapping have accompanied the students from lucrative business with the opening to and extortion multiplied. a large number of higher education private investment in oil exploration This was the fundamental institutions and higher secondary and extraction, in addition to the explanation of the PAN debacle and its education who, these yes, marched in generation and sale of electrical energy. electoral defeat in 2012, but also of the well identified contingents. Additionally it remained latent high expectations and demands to be The teacher training students have a warning of the launching of new met by Peña Nieto. However, not only been the victims of one of the greatest attacks on other workers’ sectors did this not happen, but violence, social expressions of decomposition of this such as health and energy. And it polarization, corruption and political regime and have managed to cause what did not take long, because the fall in decomposition deepened, expressed previously had failed to achieve the international oil prices put in check the mainly in the increasing control by tragedy of the ABC day care centre. This Mexican economy, dependent on oil drug cartels of the various levels of tragedy was also terribly painful for the revenues. The mass dismissal of workers government. death of 49 children of less than three subcontracted by state-owned Petroleos Hence, discontent took to the streets years of age, and it was also caused by Mexicanos and a regulation making mainly middle-class sectors, in addition deep decomposition and corruption; precarious the work of thousands of in this case of both the Sonora state nurses, rehabilitation and social health 1 Felipe Calderon headed the second government and officials of the Mexican workers have already materialised. government of the National Action Party Social Security Institute. Neither (PAN), identified as the most conservative Eight years of constant and right. did it happen with the discovery of accelerated social uncertainty 2 See La Jornada, 17 July 2013: www.jornada. dozens of bodies of Central American unam.mx/2013/07/17/politica/002n1pol and southern Mexico migrants, in But this story of deteriorating living (in Spanish only). clandestine graves in Tamaulipas. conditions for more and more Mexicans 3 See Excelsior, 12 March 2014: www.excelsior. Ayotzinapa motivated the social did not begin with Peña Nieto, although com.mx/nacional/2014/03/12/948239(in Spanish only). awakening, in good measure because it was his government that, given the they are young students, with whom political and now economic crisis, has 4 See La Jornada, 31 July 2013: www.jornada. unam.mx/2013/07/31/politica/005n1pol empathised hundreds of thousands (in Spanish only).

31 Mexico

condemnation of the massacre and the maximum security prisons. However federal government’s actions, Peña Nieto two young activists remain prisoners has committed to shelve the Ayotzinapa in penitentiaries of the capital, adding case, holding his entire cabinet, mainly to dozens of social activists arrested in the officials who head the political various jails as a result of repression operation and administration of justice. exerted by the governments — in states Jesus Murillo Karam, Attorney like Puebla, Sonora, Guerrero, Chiapas General of the Republic, has declared to name a few– against processes of the investigations concluded, despite struggle in defence of natural resources, the virtually zero scientific evidence for the defence of human rights or proving his version of events. The against the adjustment plans. “historic truth” advocated by the For a national front of struggle Ayotzinapa protests: Out with Peña! government is that the young people were killed by the insane action of the to confront and defeat the who, like them, are formed in mayor of Iguala and his wife, linked to government of Peña Nieto classrooms struggling to gain better the local drug trade. The year 2015 began and the prospects for the future in a country However, analysis of specialists in the protests have not yet taken up with where young people are the sector field of criminology and other forensic the breadth and intensity with which suffering proportionately the highest sciences, along with the findings of a last year closed, but the global days unemployment, especially those young group of Argentine experts, initially of Ayotzinapa still continue, as on 26 people who graduate from college. supported by the government itself, January last, when at the end of four Also fuelling the outrage was the fact have made the government’s “truth” fall months of repression, it summoned they were young people with a rural, to the ground. They have not been able 60,000 people to march on the country’s poor among the poor social origin, to close the credibility crisis and their capital. from some of the most marginalised popularity continues to decline. It counts, of course, on the action communities in Mexico. This is why besides the failed of the leaders of the mass movement, Therefore, despite the ups and manipulation they have used repression who still fail to articulate a national downs of the mobilisation, it has been to curb the mobilisations. Although the united front of struggle to confront possible to see a march like the one government is unable for the moment the government, taking up the claims on 20 November last, which probably to strike a reactionary coup of larger of the local struggles and of workers gathered about 300 thousand people scope, due to the fact that the share and popular sectors which continue in Mexico City. So, as time passes the of blood has already been covered by in isolation. This is a year of elections mobilisation extends territorially and by the teacher training students, from the and many of these leaders focus their sectors, as demonstrated by the last day prosecutors of Mexico City and the attention on it and call those who are for Ayotzinapa, on 1 December, which Office of the General Prosecutor of the mobilised to trust the electoral process, according to information released by Republic absolutely unconscionable as a panacea for solving the conflicts national media, involved marches in charges were fabricated against activists that afflict the country. 60 cities of 29 states; in addition to and demonstrators, such as attempted Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and dozens of cities in the world having murder or terrorism, pretending to his party, the National Regeneration demonstrations against the Mexican criminalise protest and punishing those Movement (MRN), which is a reference government. who were willing to take to the streets to a large sector of activists, has Students were the backbone of much against the government. Even using already abandoned the social struggle of the demonstrations. Therefore, as the agent provocateurs and infiltrators in in the recent past, contributing to school cycles closed by the proximity marches, it has sought to justify its the advancement of the counter- of the end of the year, the number repressive actions, as at the end of the reforms, to prioritize the registration of demonstrators has been reduced, massive mobilisation on 20 November, of his organisation to participate in the just like the organised participation when they violently evacuated Zocalo elections this year. of schools. The upward dynamics in Square, making arbitrary arrests, For our part, the militants of the paralysing schools with 24-72 hours equally of protesters and of observers Partido Obrero Socialista [Socialist stoppages was truncated. of the mobilisation. Workers Party] closed the year at full The Government responds with The social pressure, of academic steam, taking part in the mobilisations sectors, artists and the pressure exerted manipulation and repression and promoting the construction of from abroad, has forced the government this much needed national front for Despite the massive nature of to release 11 detainees without struggle, through the action of leaders the mobilisations and international charge the day they were already in as comrade Jesus Torres Nuño, leader

32 Mexico

POS-MAS was present in the demonstrations of cooperative Democratic Workers of In turn, now that the economic We urge the leaders who claim to be the West, which participates in the New crisis has exploded in the hands of the independent and democratic to be Workers Central, stressing the need government we reject their demand of a part of this effort and to no longer for workers to take a place increasingly adjustment measures and we demand rely on negotiations with the federal protagonist in the struggle against the measures be taken for the capitalists to government and local governments, government of Peña Nieto. pay for the crisis, such as the cancellation regardless of what party they belong to. We joined and encouraged the of the Free Trade Agreement with the We join the struggle for a new popular clamour that demands United States and Canada as well as the constituent assembly to approve a new justice for the murdered Ayotzinapa non-payment of debt, which for last national project, choosing constituent students and that keeps up the August had grown at a rate of 1,622 members with this single mandate, demand for the presentation with million pesos a day1 since the beginning based on a truly democratic law allowing life of the disappeared, because we of the government of Peña Nieto. all organisations who wish it to have a do not believe the manipulative and Spending cuts should be made in registration to nominate candidates, discredited government version. We the money earmarked for the repressive eliminating the onerous public budget continue demanding, along with forces and the luxuries of a political class for campaigns and the bosses parties, parents and teacher training students that keeps hundreds of thousands of opening on free television and radio that military involvement be clarified parasite officials and federal and local the broadcasting of election programs. in the repression against students and legislators who live off at the expense But first and foremost, we put for punishment against all officials in of working people. our militant forces in the service of charge, starting with Guerrero’s licensed We keep pushing for the building organisations of workers and PRD governor, Angel Aguirre, who construction of a single and powerful the people, for them to run as an option enjoys freedom with impunity. national front against the government for power against the decomposition of We also join the cry chanted by and the bosses, bringing together the the Mexican capitalist system, because tens of thousands in demonstrations popular organisations and sectors that we are convinced that only from the demanding the departure of Peña Nieto are giving important battles across the working people and the exploited and from the presidency, while at the same country in atomised form, in which the oppressed classes can emerge a solution time we advocate the organising and teacher training students and parents to the crisis, for the benefit of the consciousness-raising action that put of the disappeared have a leading role. majority. A workers’ and people’s power more people on the street, especially 1 Amount equivalent to US$108,3 million to set up a revolutionary project to rule workers, joining this slogan to make it a day, at the exchange rate of 15pesos per the country with a socialist project. § dollar, which has consolidated a devaluation an immediate task to be fulfilled by the of more than 15 percent, as a result of the actions of the mass movement. political and economic crisis in Mexico. 33 Argentina

President Cristina Kirchner in one of her “classic” speeches in national broadcast network The Nisman case stressed the political crisis

Juan Carlos Giordano – Izquierda Socialista [Socialist Left]

The death of prosecutor Alberto The news travelled the world. attack”). His ex-wife and federal judge Nisman has caused a quagmire. At “The prosecutor who would accuse argues that Nisman was murdered. ten months from the presidential the president was found dead”. The Intrigues, new signs, comings and elections it pours more fuel to the fire national impact, in full holiday season, goings, are feeding the daily popular of the government’s political crisis, was blunt. The popular, immediate conjecture. So far nothing could emphasising its wear and weakness; commentary: “If this happens to a reverse the perception of millions: it and of the entire bosses’ regime. prosecutor, what is left for any of us”. was a political murder in which the The government is suspected and Millions follow the news daily to government would be involved. appeals to the perfidious campaign unveil “the last hours of the Prosecutor”. of the “deposing coup”. Thousands The Government wants to The death occurred one day before he marched on 18 February against was due to appear before the National save itself, but cannot impunity and demanding justice. Congress to explain his accusation Kirchnerism came quickly to The “decade won” of the Kirchnerist disassociate itself from the fact. The Justicialist [Peronist] Party (PJ), is against the president and officials leaking water anywhere you look. for the AMIA case (see “The AMIA President issued several tweets and two handwritten letters. In the first 34 Argentina

The “new SIDE” is an amnesty for justice and against impunity, showing all actions taken by this repressive and the anger of popular sectors and middle Mafiosi body. All intelligence services class against Cristina and her “model”. are part of the repressive apparatus While our party and the Left Front did that supports the institutions of this not attend, we understand the feeling capitalist democracy in the service of of those who rallied. We clearly point the powerful. Created in the 1950s, it out that in order to clarify Nisman’s has always been used for military coups, death and the “never again” [crimes of or Triple A of the 1970s. After the fall of the dictatorship] we have to dissolve all Prosecutor Alberto Nisman the Videla’s dictatorship, constitutional intelligence services, open all the secret presidents (UCR, PJ, centre left) used files and for Milani to go. The opposite she spoke of “suicide”. As it clashed that body at will. of what propose the prosecutors and with the popular belief, the second pro-bosses politicians like Macri, Massa The breeding ground that was changed to “murder”. In any of or Binner, who wanted to profit from its variations, according to her version, led to the death and the the march without much success. everything would be to “oust” and false “coup” campaign The Nisman case is a leap in the “remove” her government; a national The death of Nisman must be political crisis of the government and international plot to end her associated to no plot, destabilisation and the regime. The perspective is it mandate. The same discourse of Latin campaign, the AMIA case or will continue with new chapters and American governments (Chavism, international dispute, but to the crisis unexpected events. The same will Evo Morales, PT of Brazil) to cover of the Kirchner government that happen with the inter-bosses clashes their adjustment policies, corruption, forced it to advance authoritatively and friction; in particular, with justice authoritarianism, looting and poverty imposing judges and prosecutors to seek sectors. There are over 300 cases against wages. impunity after 2015. To save itself from government officials and the presidential To deflect responsibility, the future convictions for corruption and to family. Vice President Amado Boudou government lets run that Nisman was prevent new lawsuits from exploding. is processed for taking ownership of a the victim of a “war of services”. It In this inter-bosses fight (government big share of the company which prints leans on the fact that late last year the versus justice, and multimedia Clarín), national banknotes (Compañía de top echelon of the former SIDE (State interfered Nisman, AMIA and the Valores Sudamericana, previously called Secretariat of Intelligence) changed intelligence services, starting with Ciccone Calcográfica). Businessman and that displaced sectors would have Milani and followed by the rest (Federal Lazaro Baez — figurehead for the “tossed a dead”. It turns out that the Police services and former SIDE). presidential family— is accused of ringleader of the dismissed, a certain The confrontation of the government laundering money and being benefited “Jaime” Stiuso, was appointed by the against non-sympathising sectors of from public works. Even Max Kirchner, own Nestor Kirchner so that together the justice system is part of its overall son of the president and leader of the with prosecutor Nisman they were to policy to try to overcome its political youth group La Campora (entrenched engage in the AMIA case. “Kid, you’re crisis accusing those who oppose them in state positions with fat salaries) will going to work with him”, said Kirchner of “pro-coup” and of “right wing”. be called to testify for unlawful acts. in 2004 to the then young Nisman, Persecuting in this way any critical And the list goes on. referring to the spy the government voice, prosecutor, journalist or social, The crisis affects the entire sheltered during those 11 years and who union or political fighter, essentially bourgeoisie. They have at hand an had been providing services since 1972. of the left as the parliamentarians exit via the elections to ensure a bosses The government also announced of the FIT, who were accused by replacement and in this way to mend that it would “dissolve” the former the government for supporting the cracks in the regime that strike against SIDE. A total lie. Its staff —and the struggles. Putting them all in the same parliament and the judiciary. The road millions reserved in funds — shall pass bag, labelling them as destabilising. will remain turbulent, full of new to the new super intelligence agency K A dangerous campaign that fertilises political facts and wage struggles. (Federal Agency for Information). The the ground so the service sectors and The solution comes from the left latter will be headed by the genocidal the repressive apparatus may reach a Cesar Milani (current Army chief “settling of scores” against any dissident. The image of the president, and appointed by Cristina Kirchner, Given the massive march of 18 hence of her party’s six presidential denounced for having made the soldier February called by prosecutors, a candidates falls substantially. The Ledo disappear during the dictatorship), month after the death of Nisman, the majority are still very low in the polls, and Secretary of Security and repressor, government branded the mobilisation some directly in anonymity. Likely Sergio Berni. as “pro-coup”. Thousands marched for Kirchnerism will have no alternative but

35 Argentina

to agree with Daniel Scioli (Governor to “arrive well” to October. Just as do all Mendoza province it managed to get of Buenos Aires province, who comes sectors of the trade union bureaucracy, the second most voted candidate, from Menemism — a repudiated sector pro-government or in opposition. fighting every millimetre for second of the JP which was in government in In response, the Left Front raises place with the Front for Victory the 1990s— and was vice president substantive proposals that put forward (Kirchnerist), achieving 14 percent of Nestor Kirchner), with whom in both the struggles and parliament, of the vote. Important figures are also Cristina Kirchner has been keeping a with the seats conquered with the predicted in other provinces such marriage of convenience, sometimes 1.2 million votes they won in the last as Salta and Cordoba. The FIT is a with public fights which are nothing elections. Beyond the different opinions nationwide reference. It raises a clear more than fights for portions of the within the FIT in regard to Nisman, policy of class independence and a patronage system of Buenos Aires and other issues, only the Left Front substantive program to the political Peronism through which it directs the — PO [Workers Party], PTS [Party of and economic crisis that is still hitting capitalist business in the richest and Socialist Workers] and Socialist Left— on the working people. Denouncing most populous district of the country. proposes dismantling the repressive the union bureaucracy and demanding Replacement candidates are apparatus, ending with the intelligence from the CGT-Moyano (Peronist anti- prepared on behalf of the bosses’ services, opening of the secret files, the Kirchnerist) and CTA-Micheli (centre- opposition. Sergio Massa (PJ and removal of Milani and the repudiation left Workers Federation) in opposition, anti-K, former chief of staff of Cristina to the criminalisation of social protest. a national plan of struggle against the Kirchner) and Mauricio Macri (PRO, As well, the FIT has been raising an adjustment for wage salary increases, as centre-right) fight over the remains alternative economic plan, proposing Socialist Left does. of the UCR, assembling all type of wage increases; the prohibition of The endorsement provided to electoral scraps result of the crisis dismissals and suspensions by law; the FIT by Carlos “Perro”[“Dog”] in which bipartisanship has been non-payment of debt; nationalisation Santillan, leader of the SEOM (Jujuy since the Argentinazo of 2001 swept of oil and gas and to reverse Menem’s Province’s municipal union and referent away the corrupt government of the privatisations. Only its parliamentarians of Militant Trade Union Gathering UCR. The bosses opposition is divided and legislators have been at the forefront together with “Pollo” [“Chicken”] and fragmented, chasing electoral of workers’ and popular struggles. Sobrero), among other organisations agreements by province, responding With this background, the FIT and leftist groups, are an incentive to within the regime (“for the judicial is already giving the electoral fight. further strengthen a political alternative system to act” and the intelligence In the recent municipal elections of the workers and the left to face all services to be kept), calling for Cristina on 22 February in the capital of the bosses’ politicians. §

Stop prosecuting those who protest!

The government has been using assassination of Mariano Ferreyra of against the fighters the theory of the Partido Obrero [Workers Party] “complot”. Florencio Randazzo, their (FIT). Years ago Cristina denounced preferred presidential candidate and teachers as lazy. She defended the Minister of Interior and Transportation, shameful life sentence against oil accused the railworkers of the Sarmiento workers from Santa Cruz for fighting line and Ruben “Pollo” Sobrero of against the tax on wages. She branded “sabotage” for the malfunction of the INDEC workers (statistics agency trains, calling for the trade union operated by the government) to be with impeachment of the delegates from the holders of the debt. Criminalisation this railway in the context of a general of protest that extends to fighters strike. Years ago, the current Secretary from around the country, including of the Presidency, Anibal Fernandez, municipal workers of Jujuy, public “Pollo” Sobrero and “Perro” Santillan got Sobrero to be imprisoned, accusing servants and teachers of Tierra del him without evidence of “burning Fuego, and many other places. infiltrate marches and workers’ mass trains”. Cristina Kirchner repressed To do this, the government has meetings. While refusing to deal in with gendarmerie workers of the refined its intelligence engineering. In Congress with a law driven by human multinational Lear, fighting layoffs. addition to approving the Terrorism rights organisations, by the Left Front The government protected the Railway Act recommended by imperialism (and other deputies), demanding the Union bureaucrat, José Pedraza in 2011, it invented the so-called acquittal of the 5,000 social fighters. § (now imprisoned), who ordered the Project X to spy on fighters and 36 Argentina The attack to AMIA

The indictment by prosecutor Nisman and his suspicious death have put again for debate the bombing in July 1994 of AMIA (Argentine Israelite Mutual Association). The attack happened almost 21 years ago under the Peronist government of Carlos Menem, where 85 people died. Attack we repudiated from the outset and we sympathised with the victims. We reject the wrong method of terrorism that may have caused the AMIA bombing by Arab or Islamic organisations. Just as we did with the attack on the Twin Towers (New York) at the time, or the recent terrorist action in the case of Charlie Hebdo. These actions do nothing to help the cause of the Palestinian people July 1994: the bombing left 85 victims and the Middle East — if the authors had that intention—, creating innocent the former SIDE), ruled that the agreement with Iran. Something that victims, and confusion in the peoples bloody attack in 1994 was executed by also failed. The Iranian regime never of the world and fostering imperialist politicians in the Iranian government, finished approving the Memorandum; repressive action. ordering international arrests. another of the many failed moves of We believe that the AMIA bombing The imputation to Iran was to Kirchnerism. was not a racist or anti-Semitic attack whitewash Israel and try to hide the We have always denounced that — as stated by the leaders of the Jewish real “terrorists”, Zionism and US neither the government, nor Nisman, community and the government just imperialism. The speeches at the United nor the politicians of the bosses’ as it happened. Rather, it was part of Nations in 2007 by Nestor Kirchner opposition wanted to get to the truth. the ongoing conflict in the Middle and by Cristina Kirchner in 2008, Neither the government, with its East. The Menem government at 2009 and 2010 went in this direction. failed pact with Iran; nor Nisman the time always wanted to cover its Until the current president produced —-supported by Macri, Massa and the liability, even though it was not direct, a shift in 2013 with the signing of a UCR— blaming Iran, labelling it as for having committed the country to Memorandum with Iran, driven and “terrorist state”— taking the version of the imperialist aggression in 1991 in voted on by the government in the the secret services of the US and Israel the first invasion of Iraq. An act of national congress. (the CIA and Mossad). aggression against the Arab peoples and The government said the The only policy to prevent further of support to the Zionist and racist state Memorandum was to “get to the Amias passes through breaking the of Israel, genocidal and perpetrator of truth” and “prevent” new attacks. historic alignment of Argentina with crimes against the Palestinian people. A smokescreen. The pact with Iran the United States and Israel. Breaking Menem put the country completely on occurred to the beat of Obama’s turn diplomatic relations with Israel and the side of Israel and the United States, to negotiating with that country. The demanding from the Mercosur countries exposing it to the risk of an attack that United States was abandoning the to cancel the signing of the Free Trade unfortunately ultimately happened. position of “stick” promoted by Bush, Agreement with Israel. Something that At the time, Judge Canicoba Corral to seek to reach an agreement with the neither the government, nor the bosses’ and prosecutor Alberto Nisman, at the Iranian government. This is the policy opposition, nor the investigation lead request of the Bush Sr. administration that is in progress, although with the by prosecutor Nisman, propose. and the Zionist community in opposition of the racist state of Israel. JCG New York, and without proof (only The Kirchnerist government used “indications” based on intelligence this “umbrella” of imperialism to seek reports from the CIA, Mossad and 37 Brazil Dilma: her popularity falls abruptly

Adolfo Santos – Socialist Workers Current CST/PSOL

The Workers Party (PT) government of Dilma as optimal and In this scenario the country begins to government has just begun its 24 percent as very poor. In February tread a new moment, more favourable fourth term. After Lula I and the numbers were reversed: 44 percent to the struggles, within the process II, Dilma’s second term begins said that government is bad, against 23 opened in 2013. crisscrossed by a severe economic percent who see it as optimal. One of But this debacle did not start crisis with strong political and the worst popularity ratings recorded now. There are important facts that social overtones. This time there for a government that just won the were charting this course. One of was no honeymoon. Less than four election. the main destabilisation factors of months on the second shift, where It could not be otherwise. The the government was the days of June the PT / PMDB1 alliance won a combination of a strong economic, 2013, when millions took to the streets narrow victory over the PSDB, the water and energy crisis; a high degree establishing a new political situation. government is experiencing one of of government corruption involving What was to be a protest against the its worst moments. Petrobras; serious lies during the rise of urban transport fares, unleashed A survey conducted in early February election campaign (once elected a torrent of economic and political shows a vertiginous fall in the approval and contrary to all her promises she demands against the regime shifting ratings of the President. In December, unleashed a brutal adjustment against the balance of power between classes 42 percent of respondents assessed the working people), and a great willingness in favour of the underdogs. Frightened, 1 Brazilian Democratic Movement Party to struggle by the workers have turned the government made vague promises (PMDB), bosses party founded in 1966. Brazil into a truly explosive cocktail. Ally of the PT. 38 Brazil waiting for lower waters. But nothing and the opening of capital in the real increase of the minimum wage is changed. Federal Economic Bank, one of the another finding. Encouraged by the new situation, two largest state banks, a road leading If to this we add the trade deficit several groups of workers joined the to privatisation. And she went further. of more than four billion dollars up fight with strikes and demonstrations Upon assuming her second term to November 2014, which is not more forcing the bureaucratic trade union she declared what her government’s unfavourable because of low imports, leaderships to convene a national day slogan would be: “Brazil, the educating we have a picture of the economic of struggle. All this was reflected in the homeland”, and in the first month she situation. However, the real cancer election with a punishment vote against made a budgetary adjustment and the of the Brazilian economy is the high the government. The PT lost in its main biggest cut was made, shamelessly, public debt, consisting of external and strongholds, like cities of Sao Paulo’s in the field of education. Precisely internal debts. The data from Citizen ABC, was defeated in states where it everything Dilma said during the Debt Audit, an NGO that follows the ruled, as Rio Grande do Sul and the campaign that her “Toucan”1 opponent evolution of public debt, are worrying. Federal District, scored very low vote Aecio Neves, would do if he won the In 2015, the financial system, will in key states like Rio de Janeiro and election, her government is doing. A pocket a whopping US$500 billion, Sao Paulo and Dilma was re-elected true “Toucanisation” of the PT. equivalent to 47 percent of the national by a tight margin. This is the current Unlike the Lula era, when high budget, which was approved by the Joint situation in 2015. A government commodity prices allowed the Congressional Budget Commission. To with little credit and weakened by the capitalists to make optimal business get an idea, it is equivalent to 13 times onslaught of the working class and invigorating the Brazilian economy, the the resources for health and 13 times youth, which comes out the election last four years were marked by economic those for education. knocked. On the other side, the poor stagnation and rising inflation. In 2010, The workers are not prepared and working people who are not willing for example, China invested in Brazil to pay for the crisis and continue to 13 billion dollars in oil and minerals. to pay for the crisis fight in an attempt to advance the In 2013, that figure dropped to only 10 If government’s policy is to adjust, revolutionary process opened in 2013. percent of that total. Considering that the attitude of workers, youth and the global crisis continues, these data popular sectors is to resist those The new government and tend to worsen and the GDP this year adjustments. Overcoming the old the economic crisis has already been announced with zero bureaucratic leaderships, workers and After the second round, the growth. Even the recovery of the United popular sectors show, every day, they do government removed its mask. Erasing States, the main buyer of Brazil, may not to abdicate their rights and pay for with the elbow what it wrote by hand, not get to positively influence it, since the crisis. Proof of this is the heroic strike it came out announcing a series of this improvement will be accompanied in Volkswagen, a factory with 13,000 economic measures that during the by an increase in interest rates, which workers, whose mobilisation managed election campaign swore that it would will attract speculative capital to that to reverse the 800 redundancies sought never apply, constituting a true electoral country, reducing the flow to Brazil. by the bosses (see page 41). Youth also fraud and one of the reasons for the Official data confirm this negative took over the streets. As in 2013, the results in the above mentioned survey: scenario of the economy that directly fight against rising transport fares is 60 percent of respondents claim that affects workers. Two pillars of the Lula back on the agenda and, although at the president is a liar. Cornered, Dilma government, from the favourable global a lesser intensity, young people are intends to unload the economic crisis economic situation, were the level of demonstrating in several capital cities. on the backs of the workers and poor employment and real wage increases. The adjustments brought at people, to get the primary surplus that According to the IBGE, the Brazilian state and municipal levels have also would allow her fulfil her commitments Institute of Geography and Statistics, in produced important struggles. The to the financial system. November 2014, compared to the same most emblematic case is Brasilia, where Among the austerity measures period of 2013, the industrial sector the PT government — which built an prepared with her new Minister of recoiled 5.8 percent with a resulting US$800 million stadium for the World Economy Joaquim Levy, a ‘Chicago impact on employment. In October Cup, and plundered the coffers— boy” placed in office to reassure the 2014, the formal market eliminated delayed salaries of public officials, markets, the government announced 30,000 jobs. The deceleration of the which led to strikes and demonstrations the reduction of labour rights such as 1 Toucans: supporters of the PSDB (Brazilian by various sectors of services that now unemployment insurance, a significant Social Democracy Party), major bourgeois negotiate the regularisation with the increase in rates for energy, water, opposition party of former president new government that defeated the transport, in food and gasoline, as Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC) and demoralised PT. But if it continues to well as projects to privatise airports of candidate Aecio Neves. Its symbol is the delay payments, this new government figure of a toucan.

39 Brazil

Victory in Volkswagen!

With a 10-day strike the Volkswagen workers show the way to deal with Dilma’s adjustment. The strike of the metalworkers of Volkswagen in Sao Paulo’s ABC, was the first major battle in 2015 of the working class against the adjustment of the Government of Dilma (PT/ PMDB) and the bosses. Undoubtedly the workers were victorious. The reinstatement of 800 workers showed that the bosses were forced to back down in front of the fighting strength. The workers rank and file also had to face the disastrous policy of the union bureaucracy that a month earlier had defended in a mass meeting a proposal to accept a plan of over 2000 voluntary redundancies and Mass meeting of Volkswagen’s workers a freeze on wages, measures which were defeated by the workers. The strike was successful because this government, which began the year It was a historic strike, imposed it managed to reverse the dismissals by cutting labour rights, could defend from the rank and file, which will and the workers became more aware of the workers. The same misguided undoubtedly strengthen metalworkers their strength. However, we cannot fail strategy of small opposition nucleated of the ABC, whose companies to note that the agreement the union around the CSP-Conlutas (PSTU), threaten to fire workers. One of the leadership signed with the bosses has whose political axis in their pamphlets key moments of this struggle occurred some traps. One of them is to maintain was “Dilma, ban the layoffs”, which on January 12, when 20,000 people the PDV (Voluntary Dismissal Plan), does not reflect at all the process of took the Via Anchieta (important which had already been rejected by rupture the new generation of the artery of the region) and confirmed the workers and another is the wage working class is having with the PT the strong support for the strike and freeze until 2016, discarding actual and only helps to create illusions. the dismissed workers. Metalworkers adjustment and leaving moored wage For our part, we reaffirm the of Ford, Mercedes Benz and Kharman campaigns until 2019 with unclear need for the leadership of the ABC’s Ghia, displayed their solidarity rules. The strength of the strike, external Metalworkers’ Union, along with the with the comrades of Volkswagen, support available and the immense CUT, to break with this government stopped their activities and marched willingness of struggle of the workers that attacks the workers and to join together with delegations from subway could have reversed the dismissals in the preparation and unification of workers, teachers and families of those without accepting these terms. the struggles in the state of Sao Paulo, dismissed, despite the CUT’s policy This hesitant stance was developing a plan of struggle in defence of not mobilising the rank and file of demonstrated in the strategy of of workers’ rights, for jobs, housing, its unions. the union to meet with the federal water, against rate increases. § government and accept the idea that

will fail to start classes in the capital of project with strong austerity measures. and security of the male and female the country. To enter the building, parliamentarians parliamentarians”. On the outside, When we were closing this article, were taken in buses of the Military workers shouted “Victory! It’s just the teachers and public servants of the state Police itself; as entries were blocked beginning!” of Parana got a big win. After nearly a they had to cut bars in the fence to In the midst of this, there are week of mass meetings, demonstrations, enter with their vehicles. At dusk, popular struggles. One of the most clashes with police and rallies in front of given the strength of the mobilisation, dynamic is organised by the MTST the government house with more than the government issued a statement: (Movement of Homeless Workers) for 10,000 workers and occupation of the “We removed the project given the housing, and with their mobilisations legislature, they forced the governor demonstrations that took place and they have achieved gains, particularly Beto Richa (PSDB) to withdraw a also to ensure the physical integrity in San Pablo. In addition, the water

40 Brazil crisis caused by the shortage of drinking water in the dams, a problem that has to do with the lack of rain but mainly to the lack of foresight on the part of governments that do not invest in the necessary works to prevent these disasters, is leading to cuts and rationalisation of water and probably of energy, which increases protest and hatred against these governments and affects the economy. The “garis” (workers responsible for street cleaning) of Rio de Janeiro, protagonists of the most resonant struggle during the Carnival of 2014, are preparing their new wage campaign and, despite the treacherous leadership, opposition activists promise to go on One of the many workers’ strikes strike. On 10 February, hundreds of blue collar workers of COMPERJ (Oil youth, where the PCdoB,1 free wheel of weakest government of the PT cycle. Complex of Rio de Janeiro) — the the government, plays a nefarious role The experience of large sections of largest petrochemical hub in Latin stifling the momentum of the students. masses with this government, corrupt America being built in the city of Worse still, they accuse those who want and of the bosses, will produce new Itaborai (Rio de Janeiro) — crossed the to fight as accomplices of the right breaks in the political field with the PT Niteroi River bridge in a march that and conservative sectors which, they and in the trade union field with the cut traffic to complain about layoffs say, want to destabilise the country. A CUT and their collaterals. We need to and wage arrears by the contractors brazenness, to the extent that it was this prevent such breaks from going to their that, after the Petrobras scandal, are government that they defend the one homes or to false alternatives offered by reducing their activities and delaying that rehabilitated all the old reactionary the old right. The momentary fragility payment of wages. and corrupt right, using it to rule of bourgeois alternatives to PT, like the Undoubtedly, the disparity between against the workers and maintain their Toucans of the PSDB or the different the predisposition to struggle of the mandates in spurious electoral alliances. groups within the PMDB or parties like working class and obtaining gains and But it is precisely in the struggles PSB, cannot deceive us that the process positive results in the defence of their that new leaderships may arise. Hence will come directly to the left. rights have a clear explanation: the we are optimistic. In this very dynamic Despite the good election made betrayals of the leadership. It is hard process, workers and youth are doing by the PSOL and of being the most to recall a period in recent history of their experience with the government. recognised party at the left of the our country, where the working class New ruptures begin to appear within government, for now it fails to be an has been so bereft of leadership to the PT and the old bureaucratic union alternative since many sectors of this respond to the level that the economic leaderships. New activists and leaders party act with centrist policies and adjustment plans demand. However are being tested in the heat of these continue capitulating to PT in the hope the struggles are taking place against onslaughts. It is in them that we need of a turn to the left that with certainty the will of the bureaucrats. We live at to invest to build a new alternative will not give. We have to push from a time when almost all demonstrations leadership. within the PSOL for the construction and clashes are organised and take of a political and trade union alternative Betting on the struggles and place because of the pressure from the pole, with all sectors willing to fight rank and file against the policy of the the growth of a left pole against the government of Dilma and leaderships, mostly co-opted by the We must prepare ourselves for the her adjustment plans and to demand government apparatus. So it was in great opportunities offered by the stopping the biggest bleeding of the Volkswagen, with the “garis”, among new situation. For this we must arm country by suspending payments of the workers of COMPERJ, in various ourselves with a policy of class at the foreign debt and opening an audit of the teacher unions and public servants, in service of the interests of the workers same. For pole that demands a call to a civil construction and even among the and poor people. We are against the constituent assembly, free, democratic 1 PCdoB: Communist Party of Brazil, and sovereign, to discuss the economic, of Maoist orientation it supports the social and political reorganisation of government of PT. 41 Brazil

Baba takes the position of councillor in Rio de Janeiro

With the enthusiasm and support of the membership of the PSOL, Baba took over the mandate as councillor in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The ceremony was held in the Noble Hall of the city council. When Baba was announced to make his oath, the workers and young people present broke protocol shouting “Our mandate is to fight in the streets with Baba” synthesising the profile of the new councillor. In addition to the lively supporters, were present councillors Paulo Pinheiro and Renato Cinco, who will now have the company of Baba in the composition in the benches of Rio de Janeiro’s PSOL. Councillor Baba accompanied by workers and youth In his inaugural speech, Baba highlighted his history of socialist of President Dilma (PT), governor was expelled from the PT along with militancy and explicitly that his Pezao (PMDB) and Mayor Eduardo Luciana Genro, Heloisa Helena and mandate will be at the service the Paes (PMDB). Joao Fontes for opposing this and struggles of workers, youth and poor After those words, the militancy, other neoliberal policies of the Lula people. The “picketing” councillor which filled the Noble Hall, excited, government. emphasised that among the priorities of sang “The radical returned”, referring His return to parliament is a victory his term of office will be fighting against to his history. Baba is founder of PSOL for those who struggle consistently the tariff readjustment, supporting the and was one of the comrades who led against the government, for a dignified “garis” wage campaign and the fight for the fight against the Reform of the life without exploitation and for wages and improvements in the career Social Security (retirement system) in socialism. His mandate will be a plan of education workers. He took 2003, when the government of Lula bastion at the service of defeating the opportunity to stress that he will and the PT leadership, newcomers the adjustment of Dilma, Pezao and be in opposition to the governments to the federal government, confirmed Paes. § their right turn. For this reason, Baba

the country, a reorganisation serving We demand from the CUT and the Intersindical,1 the currents the interests of the poor and working other trade union organisations the and combative union opposition, people. immediate break with this government movements like the MTST, parties like To make headway in this direction that serves the bankers, multinationals, PSOL, PSTU and PCB among other we need to support, strengthen and agribusiness and imperialism and to political organisations, the left of UNE unify the ongoing struggles for wages, convene a national plan of struggle and the unions that resist adjustment. against the measures cutting labour discussed by the rank and file. . United in the struggle and with a rights, against the dismissals, against We call on the trade union, student consistent policy against government rising rates, for lowering the price of and militant popular organisations and plans, we can build the left alternative, public transport, against cuts in the of the left to construct and articulate union and political, which the Brazilian budgets for education, health and unitary concrete actions against the working class needs. § housing. For the opening of Petrobras’ measures which the government of books to know the whole truth. For a Dilma and the bosses is presenting. CSP-Conlutas Intersindical Petrobras 100 percent state owned and A key task for CSP-Conlutas, 1 and . Trade union currents, the first responds to the under workers’ control. PSTU and the second to centrist groups.

42 Brazil

The Petrobras scandal

Corruption in Brazil is not new. Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC) and Lula, only to remember the previous two presidents, blatantly practiced it. The first did it during the privatisation process and later in the proven buying of MP’s votes to vote the law that allowed his re-election. The Lula government will be marked by what was called the “Mensalao”(“big-monthly allowance”) where MPs of several parties received money every month to vote on legislation of interest to the government and against the workers, including the famous reform of the pension system. Of the PT tried to weather the storm and agenda of the votes that make that scandal, there are still politicians until after the election. But you cannot the country run. Against the PT and businessmen in prison, including cover the sun with your hands. The candidate, was elected by a wide margin part of the top leadership of PT. allegations against the set up scheme Eduardo Cunha, of the PMDB Rio However, the favourable situation of are extremely serious. The large de Janeiro, a character involved in the economy, allowed several parties construction companies, contractors corruption scandals, former official in to have a space in the sharing of power with Petrobras, to get overbilled the government of former president and the cake, in a kind of national unity contracts, delivered between one and Fernando Collor de Mello and declared around the figure of Lula who managed three percent of the cost of each work enemy of this government, despite the conflicts and to maintain cohesion. for executives and representatives belonging to the same party as Vice With Dilma in government and of parties who held key positions in President Michel Temer. In the Senate, an economic situation of crisis, this the state. According to one of the Renan Calheiros, another corrupt changed. The president does not have complainants, through this scheme, politician of the PMDB of Alagoas the charisma or the authority of her the PT would have received more than was re-elected with his own agenda predecessor to control the situation, US$ 200 million. and some disagreements with the much less help from the economy. The scandal is huge and has government. That is, the vast majority In this context emerged the scandal already led to the imprisonment of the government could always count on of Petrobras, the largest Brazilian several executives of the oil company in Congress to approve its proposals, company, a source of resources for the and of major contractors and to the vanishes into thin air given the deep federal government and which pours investigation of some figures as the crisis. All these issues give clear money through the royalties received PT’s treasurer Joao Vaccari Neto. There warning signs for the government, to by the states and municipalities linked is a list of 40 politicians accused, of the point that there is already talk of to oil exploitation. All governments whom their names are still unknown the possibility of impeachment against have had their fingers into the state because they are under the secret of the the president. With such a congress oil company to finance all sorts of inquest, but that may become a bomb and the government losing control of expenditures and political campaigns. when known. This flood of allegations the threads to handle the situation, any But current reports leave no doubt is generating differences, divisions outcome may be possible. Of course that we could be facing the biggest and realignments at all levels and in amid a situation like this, where the corruption scandal seen in our country, all parties, including the PT. Thus, the underdogs do not want to continue further weakening the government, government has serious difficulties to living as before and those above cannot placing at risk the future of Petrobras pass their bills in Congress. govern as they did, we can expect new and producing an “every man for The first major defeat of the crises and upheavals that will raise the himself ” attitude. government was the election of discussion of who and how, should With allegations floating around Parliament’s speaker, a key position govern this country. § since the first government of Dilma, because it determines the pace

43 Venezuela

After 16 years of Chavism, the people is worse off The “Bolivarian revolution” is a failed project

Simon Rodriguez Porras – Socialism and Liberty Party

The images of long lines of people a currency devaluation of 69 percent, Sixteen years after the arrival of waiting to buy basic consumer thousands of layoffs, drastic increases in Chavez to power, millions of workers and goods have travelled the world. food prices, a cut in gasoline subsidies residents of the popular neighbourhoods Large media networks present and to public services, among other that once trusted President Chavez and them as evidence of a new failure measures. The coordinates of the true his environment, have abandoned the of socialism. The government of economic war are evident in a growing political leadership headed by Nicolas Maduro explains them under a social polarization between rich and Maduro and Diosdado Cabello. It supposed “economic coup” at the poor. A study published this month is necessary to see in perspective the hands of the business community, by the UN Economic Commission current debacle, which heralds the end but at the same time he deals with for Latin America and the Caribbean of the “Bolivarian” cycle and opens up them a new adjustment. There (ECLAC), made from Venezuelan the possibility of a social explosion. are grassroots sectors of Chavism official figures, reveals that between What is really the balance sheet of who attribute the disaster to the management after the death of 2012 and 2013 poverty rose from 25.4 these years? percent to 32.1 percent, a trend that is Chavez. But, doesn’t the crisis A “socialism” within exacerbated in 2014 by rising inflation, reveal that perhaps there were capitalist margins never substantive changes towards reaching 63 percent, and the tightening socialism in Venezuela? of the adjustment and the fall of oil When Chavez comes to power prices in 2015. in 1998, the Chavist government The adjustment agreed by Maduro had no choice but to rely on the with business since mid-2014 includes 44 Venezuela process of self-organisation and popular which went to replace the operational the foreign debt. In the year 2014, 20 mobilisation that had been booming, agreements signed by the state as part percent of the budget was used to pay granting concessions to the mass of the Apertura Petrolera [Oil Industry’s principal and interest on the public movement. The Constituent Assembly Opening] in the 1990s. Transnational debt. of 1999 and the new constitutional text capital happened to have stakes of Far from the official propaganda meant the realisation of a reform that up to 40 percent of joint ventures in about the construction of socialism, granted concessions in the democratic partnership with PDVSA, by means of the reality is that the participation field to the population. Taxes on oil contracts of about four decades of life. of the private sector in GDP grew in companies increased, the increases in The PSUV, community councils, a decade, between 1999 and 2009, the minimum wage were slightly above the militias, the workers’ councils, from 65 percent to 70 percent. And inflation, a health care program started became the instruments of this policy the “social economy”, converted in the neighbourhoods. A democratic which seeks to place a straitjacket to into official banner of an alleged revolution wiped out the coup of April the workers’ and popular movement alternative model and represented 2002, which resulted in new social wins, and assimilate it into the bourgeois by small family businesses and with the launch of the Missions, labour state structure, through a combination cooperatives, contributes only about immobility and the requirement of of patronage and coercion. Between 1 percent. Also, capitalist exploitation labour solvency to businesses to be able 2006 and 2007, the government of wage labour has increased, amid the to make representations to the State; manages to divide the National Union impoverishment of wages. In 1998, VAT was reduced to 9 percent. The of Workers, defeating workers’ control all wage earners were involved in 39.7 government acquired relative political and self-management in the factory percent of the wealth created, and independence from imperialism. But Sanitarios Maracay, grants amnesty employers appropriated 36.2 percent. Chavez’s project lacked a strategy to to the coup leaders, and in 2008 A decade later the participation of break with capitalism. Despite ending President Chavez launched the slogan workers dropped to 32.8 percent with the old two-party system which of a “strategic alliance with the national and employers appropriated 48.8 operated between 1958 and 1998, the bourgeoisie”. This is the actual content percent of the wealth. Meanwhile, Chavez government did not impose of the so-called “Socialism of the XXI the financial sector between 2002 and sentences for corruption or human Century”, a project conceived with the 2012 tripled its share of national GDP, rights violations from that period. assistance of transnational corporations, reaching 12 percent. Over 70 percent Foreign debt was not audited nor its bankers, landlords, multi-millionaire of the food consumed in the country payment ceased. It was even agreed in bureaucrats and the new rich. is imported, while large unproductive 1999 a treaty against double taxation estates remain in the field. One percent The root causes of the with the United States, and Venezuela of agricultural properties account for strengthened its role as a supplier of oil economic crisis 40 percent of the agricultural area. through the activities of transnational Despite having administered huge There was no land reform; neither the corporations like Chevron, Repsol, resources product of the rise in prices democratisation of land tenure nor a ENI, Total and Mitsubishi. of raw materials, particularly in oil boost of agricultural production was As of 2005 there is a clear political (which in the last decade reached real achieved. Overall, domestic production shift in the Chavez government, prices comparable to those of the early did not grow; increasing dependence on aimed at changing the way relating 1980s), the country became even more food imports and of virtually everything to the workers and popular sectors. It dependent. In 1998, 68 percent of the population consumes. pointed to its regimentation and to be exports were oil; today that number With the fall of the country’s dollar increasingly based in the administrative has climbed to 96 percent. Between reserves, the import of inputs required and repressive state apparatus, already 1999 and 2013, cumulative inflation for production is affected. This, coupled with the control of the Armed Forces was higher than 2300 percent, while with the pressures of the business sector and the state oil company, PDVSA. the currency was devalued by 95 to get increases in regulated prices, The goal was to build new governance percent. Imports almost tripled in as well as smuggling to Colombia, in favourable to the-development of the same period. Even in petroleum large and small scale, of gasoline and the new bourgeoisie linked to the derivatives imports exceeded exports basic goods, stimulated by the huge government. After the agreement in 2012. Public debt, adding the disparity between the official rate and between Chavez, businessman Gustavo domestic debt and the debt of PDVSA, the parallel market. All this explains A. Cisneros and former US President has grown significantly and exceeds the scarcity of products for mass Jimmy Carter, signed in August 2004, US$200 billion, including predatory consumption and the long queues these bonds tended to consolidate, for mechanisms of indebtedness such as outside commercial establishments. example, with the creation of oil joint future oil sales to China, a country Nationalisations (forced purchases ventures between 2005 and 2006, which is creditor of about a quarter of paid at market price) such as cement

45 Venezuela

companies, steel, Agropatria, or Dairy popular majorities consists in breaking and confiscating the properties of Los Andes, did not translate into better the political chains that bind them to “briefcase companies”1involved in the working conditions for the working the PSUV and the MUD, to be able massive scam of over invoicing imports. class or in an increase in production, to face the adjustment. It is possible All these resources may underpin the but rather they were framed in a policy to face the crisis by collecting from production of basic industries of iron of elimination of the trade unions, those who generated it. Nationalising and aluminium, as well as agricultural ignoring labour rights, and promoting the oil industry 100 percent and production, and support a general wage shady deals between the government recovering the resources that currently increase that equals the minimum wage bureaucracy and Chavist businessmen. the transnationals involved in joint to the cost of the official basic basket, as ventures plunder, it is possible to well as the recovery of health and public Is another solution to recover an estimated US$15 billion education. But to implement this type the crisis possible? annually. Ceasing payment of the of measures, it is necessary to face the The centre-right opposition, fraudulent foreign debt we can avoid the government of Maduro and the pro- grouped in the Democratic Unity loss of about US$10 billion this year. imperialist opposition and impose a Roundtable (MUD), agrees with the Collecting taxes on multinationals that government of the workers and popular government in the implementation of are unpaid by the treaties against double sectors. § an adjustment as “only solution” to the taxation, we can recover some US$17 crisis, while it capitalises in the political billion a year. Repatriating the US$14.8 1 A “briefcase company” refers to companies that only exist on paper, or are using a front and electoral arena on the government billion which by way of corruption have company to pocket money. In Venezuela, debacle. The enormous and urgent ended up in Swiss banks like HSBC, they are often associated with a business- task for the Venezuelan workers and class mafia. [Translator’s note.] Increased attacks on freedom of association

On January 15 the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) ordered the suspension of union elections in state steelmaker Sidor, just four days before the scheduled date for its realisation. The next morning, a contingent of troops from the Bolivarian National Guard stormed the premises of the company to remove the voting booths. Thus, the government intervened in trade union elections of SUTISS, to avoid certain defeat of Jose Melendez’s slate, union bureaucrat backed by the governor of the state of Bolivar and the PSUV. Sidor has been the scene of major labour disputes since, in 2008, the workers imposed through a strike the nationalisation of the company, then in the hands of multinational Mass meeting of sub-contracting workers of Sidor consortium Techint. The intervention of the suspending elections. It also goes ahead Alvarez, worker of Ferrominera (FMO) Supreme Court in the elections with illegal dismissals against those who spent three years imprisoned of SUTISS, which administers a union leaders who do not surrender, unjustly and against Sidor workers collective agreement which covers as Osmary Escalona, general secretary Rederick Leiva, Heberto Bastardo more than 11,000 workers, is not of Pastor Oropeza Hospital union in and Leynis Quijada, jailed last year an exception. Through the National Barquisimeto. And it even imprisons in the context of a strike and charged Electoral Council, courts and the those who struggle, as happened with with illegal possession of weapons. labour inspectorate, the government is Ruben González, general secretary of Attacks on freedom of association and ignoring dozens of electoral processes Sintraferrominera and prisoner for 18 criminalisation of protest run parallel in unions, regulating the conditions months between 2009 and 2011 for to the implementation of unpopular under which the elections are held and leading a strike. Or by resorting to adjustments. § judicial proceedings against Rodney 46 Global News

Peru Triumph of youth mobilisation against “Pulpin law” A large youth mobilisation, as it has Demonstrations of young Peruvians through the streets of Lima not been seen for 20 years, amounting to 30,000 people in a demonstration In December there was a popular Chile and also having immense popular rebellion of the MAS rank and file support, with people encouraging in Shinaota and in Chapare, area of The government young protesters, forced to repeal a coca leaf cultivation and bulwark of weakens and corruption “law of youth employment”. The law the ruling MAS. A popular assembly was nicknamed by popular ingenuity (council) convened by 13 union advances as “Pulpin law”, alluding to a packaged branches with 5,000 attendees voted After a year of government of New juice to be squeezed to get the last overwhelmingly by show of hands Majority (Concertation coalition and drop... The law provided for stripping their candidate for mayor, Mrs. Lidia the Communist Party), public support of all labour rights to young people Poma, following the tradition of the is in sharp decline. Opinion polls show between 18 and 24 years, with the old “Political Instrument” that gave Chilean workers begin to move away excuse of “creating jobs”. rise to MAS. from a government that promised After its adoption by Congress, But this decision was not to “substantive” reforms, but has done as proposed by President Ollanta President Evo Morales’ liking; he nothing other than taking care of the Humala, outrage erupted. The youth supported another candidate. So he model inherited from Pinochet. The were organised by neighbourhood in went to Shinaota and said the people’s education and tax reforms have not “zones” in democratic mass meetings council was not valid. A large group changed anything, while the labour that discussed the actions to carry of peasants faced the president. Then reform has kept the impunity of the out in Lima and in other cities. And he retired and ordered a harsh police bosses. The year 2014 was one of the mobilisation grew day by day, repression. Since then there are several economic crisis in the country, and until breaking the government, with fugitives and on December 24 were of facing layoffs and the rising cost of ministers who claimed that it had to be arrested by hooded people and without living. “revised”. And finally Congress itself was a warrant two young leaders, Herbat We are witnessing a rise in workers’ forced to repeal it, totally disavowing Valencia and Elmer Lizarazu, accused struggles. New to this process of struggle Humala who remained in support of of “terrorism”. Evo Morales, for this is that the bureaucracy has been directly his slave law. The organisation UNIOS and other acts of “disobedience” to his confronted because of their agreements (IWU-FI) placed its headquarters in orders, and election of candidates not with the government and the bosses. Lima and its militants in the service approved by him, said the MAS had The most emblematic case was the of this struggle and its democratic been “infiltrated by the CIA”. mobilisation of teachers nationwide, institutions: the “zones”. Lizarazu and Valencia remain which lasted several months and imprisoned since. The Second Congress ended with the rank and file publicly Bolivia of ARPT (Revolutionary Alternative of denouncing the arrangements behind the Working People — IWU-FI) held closed doors between the bureaucracy Freedom to Herbat on 24 and 25 January this year, passed and the government. This crisis even hit Valencia and Elmer a national campaign of solidarity for the President of the CUT, expressing a the release of both prisoners unjustly massification of the repudiation of the Lizarazu detained. sold leaders.

47 Global News

Alongside this, both the right and carrying with her, the bus driver first policies of the government of Erdogan officialdom are going through major murdered Özgecan by stabbing her and the AKP. crises, because public allegations of and hitting her with an iron stick, then corruption that daily follow their burnt her dead body with the help of his Great Britain course, adding culprits and involving all father and friends. This terrible murder the politicians of the regime (including has instantly become the symbol of Over 100 artists announce the son of President Bachelet). The femicide and violence against women, relationship between major economic and caused mass protests of women a cultural boycott of Israel groups and pro-bosses politicians is against femicide across the country. Along with more than 600 other coming to light with cases of illegal Özgecan Aslan is not a particular fellow artists, we are announcing today financing of campaigns and transfer of and unique example. In Turkey, men that we will not engage in business- funds through fake projects. The crisis kill three women on average each day. as-usual cultural relations with Israel. has forced figureheads of the right, Only in January 2015, 106 cases of We will accept neither professional to pose the possibility of finishing violence against women from murder invitations to Israel, nor funding, with all the parties in the sector and to harassment, rape and injury were from any institutions linked to its form a single reference, to prevent the reported. The perpetrators in cases of government. Since the summer war collapse of the UDI (main party of the violence are usually women’s husbands, on Gaza, Palestinians have enjoyed no bourgeoisie). lovers, fathers and brothers. Despite the respite from Israel’s unrelenting attack The course taken by the widespread responses and reactions to on their land, their livelihood, their mobilisations of 2011 remains on the murder of Özgecan, three other right to political existence. track, and the breaking of bands of cases of femicide took place in different Israel’s wars are fought on the the mass movement with the current cities of the country within the few days cultural front too. Its army targets government and especially with the that followed it. Palestinian cultural institutions for Communist Party is again expressed. Female homicide has risen by 1400% attack, and prevents the free movement The rampant crisis of the bureaucracy during the rule of the conservative of cultural workers. Its own theatre and the workers uprise, open up Justice and Development Party (AKP) companies perform to settler audiences important possibilities to continue government. This government explicitly on the West Bank — and those same building a revolutionary alternative. In states that “men and women are not companies tour the globe as cultural Chile the struggle continues. equal” and defines women insofar diplomats, in support of “Brand Israel”. as they exist as part of a domestic During South African apartheid, Turkey unit (family). This disparity increases musicians announced they weren’t the violence against women. The going to “play Sun City”.1 Now we are Thousands rising against murderers either receive legal impunity saying, in Tel Aviv, Netanya, Ashkelon femicide or benefit from reduced sentences on or Ariel, we won’t play music, accept the presupposition that women are the Özgecan Aslan was a 20 year-old awards, attend exhibitions, festivals instigators and the guilty ones, which is university student who was brutally or conferences, run masterclasses the primary reason why violence against murdered by the driver of the bus that or workshops, until Israel respects women keeps going on. The laws, the she took to return home from campus. international law and ends its colonial judicial system and the state protect the She was the last passenger on the bus oppression of the Palestinians. To murderers, and not the women who and the driver attacked and attempted see the full list of supporters, go to are subjected to violence. Hundreds to rape her. When Özgecan fought artistsforpalestine.org.uk. of thousands of women filling the back with a pepper spray that she was Source: www.theguardian.com/ streets across world/2015/feb/13/cultural-boycott- the country israel-starts-tomorrow. § is a reaction against female homicides as 1 Sun City is a luxurious resort. It was created by the South African government much as it is an during apartheid era in the Bantustan expression of of Bophuthatswana. In 1985 Sun City the accumulated became a symbol of the struggle of several rage against international artists against apartheid who not only pledged to never perform there, the sexist “and but openly criticised artists such as Linda misogynous Ronstadt, Julio Iglesias, Queen, Ray Charles or Rod Stewart who had been there. “Sun City” gave name also to a protest song Demonstrations against femicides in Istanbul against apartheid. 48 Syria: Down with the genocidal al-Assad! Solidarity campaign with the four kidnapped Douma activists

We join and call to support the In this process have also emerged Corrente Socialista dos Trabalhadores global campaign against the kidnapping reactionary Islamic groups (ISIS and – Partido Socialismo e Liberdade of Samira al-Khalil,1 Razan Zeitoona, others) acting as fifth columns, backed (CST–PSOL) [Socialist Workers Wael Hammada, and Nazem Hammadi, by Saudi Arabia and other reactionary Current – Socialism and Freedom carried out against al-Assad opposition regimes in the region, distorting the just Party], Brazil; Movimiento Socialista activists who were unarmed. About the cause to end with al-Assad. In turn, the de los Trabajadores (MST) [Socialist kidnappers all indications intersect with US military intervention serves to end Workers Movement], Chile; KRD, the group of “Jaish Al-Islam” (Islam the rebellion of the people against the Germany; Partido Obrero Socialista Army) and their leaders who have reactionary regimes in the region and (POS-MAS) [Socialist Workers Party], effective authority in Douma. preserves its interests and those of Israel. Mexico; Lucha Internacionalista In Syria the struggle begun in 2011 In this context the IWU–FI does not [Internacionalist Fight], Spanish to end the criminal dictatorship of hesitate to join the campaign and calls State; Isçi Demokrasisi Partisi Bashar al-Assad has produced thousands to spread in the world the demand for (IDP) [Workers Democracy Party], murdered by the regime as well as freedom of the Syrian activists Samira Turkey; Socialist Core, USA; Partido thousands missing and displaced. Al-Khalil, Razan Zeitoona, Wael Socialismo y Libertad (PSL) [Socialism Hammada, and Nazem Hammadi. and Freedom Party], Venezuela. International Workers Unity – 1 Samira al-Khalil is the wife of Izquierda Socialista Fourth International (IWU–FI) Syrian activist and writer Yassin al-Haj [Socialist Saleh. Razan Zeitoona, is founder of the Left], Argentina; Alternativa 7 December 2014 Local Coordination Committees against Revolucionaria del Pueblo [People’s al-Assad, Hammada is her husband and Hammadi a lawyer and activist. Revolutionary Alternative] Bolivia; ISIS defeated in Kobane Victory of the Kurdish resistance

After four months of combat, fighting to defend their city, their The military victory of the the People’s Protection Units (YPG) families and also for their own Kurdish people in Kobane does announced the military victory over liberation from patriarchal culture not mean the war is over. Although the Islamic State (ISIS) attackers. and, most specifically, the terrible it is an important step forward, This battle was taken up by threat against women posed by ISIS, unfortunately Kobane and the the Kurds of Kobane, supported that in its territories its soldiers rape Syrian Kurds remain threatened a by a sector of Kurdish forces in women and subject them to brutal few kilometres away by the Islamic Iraq; by fighters of the FSA (Free punishments with their barbaric State, and also by the Syrian regime Syrian Army) and by international interpretation of Islam. that wants to end their autonomy. solidarity. Although the United The battle of Kobane fits into two Moreover, the popular uprising in States and the European Union, in processes. The Syrian civil war started Syria continues occupying Aleppo theory, claimed to support the Kurds in 2011 following the uprising of the and other cities and facing the against ISIS, in practice the support Syrian people against the dictator dictator who now appears as an ally was limited to a few bombings al-Assad and the invasion of ISIS, of the United States. against it. Turkey kept the border initially funded by Saudi Arabia (the The IWU-FI calls to double both almost blocked. main ally of the United States in the the solidarity with the struggle of The Turkish Government of region together with Israel), with the the Kurdish people, and with the Erdogan does not want to support aim to have a decisive influence in Syrian people fighting against the the Kurds in Kobane because it this civil war and establish its own dictator al-Assad. No to imperialist fears the “contagion” to the Kurds dictatorship. bombings! We call to the Kurdish in Turkey (14 million) who also seek The Kurds of northern Syria in people of Kobane and the Syrian their independence or autonomy. the middle of the civil war instituted resistance of the FSA to join forces to The Kurdish militias were their de facto autonomy creating end with ISIS and the dictatorship of composed by more than 40 percent their militias, although without al-Assad. We support the struggle for of young women, with their supporting the resistance against al- self-determination of all the Kurdish commanders, who said they were Assad of the Free Syrian Army. people in an independent state. §