THE Iraq: Highest US Casualties This Year

THE WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!

NEWNo 1482 Week commencing 18 April 2008 Weekly paper WORKER of the New Communist Party of Britain 60p PLAN TO GRAB UNION FUNDS by Daphne Liddle want us to disaffiliate if the Government insists on do- JUSTICE SECRETARY Jack Straw last week out- ing this.” raged union leaders by proposing that the politi- Unison is also angry cal levy paid by members of unions affiliated to about Straw’s plans. the Labour Party should be paid directly to Labour Labour MP John headquarters. McDonnell, who heads the Labour Representation This is a move that The Labour Party was Committee, founded four could prevent unions from created by the unions so years ago to reclaim the using their political funds that working people could party for the working class, for other purposes, like have a party to represent said: “This proposal will be campaigning against the them in Parliament in con- opposed by MPs and rank- British National Party or trast to the existing Conser- and-file members across defending Remploy, the vative and Liberal parties, the Labour Party. It gives NHS and so on. which were funded and Labour Party headquarters Straw claims that the controlled by big business the right to take over con- plan, which is supported by – as they still are. trol of all trade union Gordon Brown, will ap- Naturally the ruling money and is unaccept- pease Tory claims that class – and the New able.” union leaderships have too Labour clique – would like Gerry Gable of the much control over Labour to see the Labour Party • Straw is trying to stifle the political voice of the unions. Searchlight anti-fascist and that union donations also brought completely organisation expressed should be capped in the under ruling class control. their support to tiny, inef- litical parties were first pro- be forcing taxpayers to deep concern at the idea same way that donations Currently the party carries fectual and unstable social posed. fund political parties that unions would be pre- from wealthy individuals out ruling class policies but democrat parties. Blair’s government re- whether they agreed with vented from funding the are capped. the party’s current depen- But clearly the ruling sponded to this with a pro- them or not. Talks on this Hope not Hate campaign But many suspect that dence on trade union fund- class still has a real fear of posal for Government between the major political against the BNP. Straw’s proposal is so out- ing still leaves a possibility the link between Labour funding for all the major parties broke down last He told the New rageous it is really intended that the unions could force and the unions or they political parties. This would year after they failed to Worker: “When we go out to provoke unions to cut the party to follow more would not continually at- effectively extend state agree on a final version of on the streets we’re not their link with Labour and working-class friendly poli- tack it and try to undermine control over those parties. proposals put forward by telling people to vote disaffiliate. It has already cies. it. Party members would have former civil servant Sir Labour, or for any particu- spurred GMB general sec- Many on the left have Recent attacks date little or no say in policies Hayden Phillips. lar party. We’re just say- retary Paul Kenny to despaired of Labour ever back to the “cash for and the leaders would not Tory spokesperson ing don’t vote for the BNP threaten to ballot members being reclaimed by the honours” scandal when be accountable to their Francis Maude has indi- and be sure to vote. This is on disaffiliation if the plan working class and either proposals for controls and members. cated to Straw he would outrageous. What is Straw goes through. stopped voting or given curbs on donations to po- Furthermore it would accept the new proposals thinking of?” but would not accept this current situation. The To- ries would prefer a £50,000 cap on union donations. Straw’s new proposals Iraq: highest US casualties this year would increase labour FUND funding from the unions by by our Arab Affairs about £750,000 a year – all Our fund this week cent of the US military deaths that houses some 2.5 million even rewarded for their loy- has brought us £495.50, Correspondent occurred in Baghdad, com- people. The siege is now into alty and devotion to their re- the money that is spent on other kinds of campaigning which brings our April pared with 28 per cent in Feb- its third week though one ligion,” he added. total to £1,226 so far and CAR BOMBS brought dev- ruary and 47 per cent in April entrance has been opened Over 1,300 members of – but the unions would lose astation to Baghdad and leaves £1,774 to raise to 2007. Baghdad, Baquba, for motor traffic. the puppet army and po- their democratic control on meet our monthly target three other major cities in Mosul and Ramadi were hit The puppet regime, domi- lice, including 40 senior how that funding is used. Iraq last week while of £3,000. by car-bombs targeting po- nated by senior Shia clerics police officers in Basra and Unions use their politi- We thank a Woking American troops and their lice and puppet government who want to reduce Al Sadr’s 400 policemen in Kut have puppet auxiliaries con- cal funding in line with de- comrade for £5 and an- offices and a truck-load of influence within their own been dismissed for refus- other Woking comrade tinue to besiege Sadr City, pro-American Kurdish mili- community, has repeated its ing to fight the Mahdi Army. cisions made at their an- the slum neighbourhood nual conferences by demo- for £8.50, a Manchester tiamen was bombed near the demand for the Mahdi Army A further 1,000 members friend for £10, a of eastern Baghdad that’s Syrian frontier killing twelve to disband. Al Sadr has said of the security forces, in- cratically elected delegates. the stronghold of radical and wounding many more. he would do this if all the cluding a full infantry bat- Since the demise of inter- Wiltshire reader for £15 cleric Muqtada al Sadr. other militias including the talion, refused to fight or and a Carlisle friend for Muqtada al Sadr has nal democracy within the £5. We also had another Imperialist forces are blamed the Americans and sectarian Shia Badr Brigade joined the militia during last Labour Party itself, this is now battling on two fronts their Iraqi puppets for the as- also laid down their weap- month’s fighting. Some gift of £3. All the rest in Iraq with the “surge” con- the only way that ordinary came from bankers’ or- sassination of one of his top ons. Al Sadr has also called even turned over their ve- workers can now have any tinuing against the aides, Riyadh al-Nouri, direc- for the reinstatement of all the hicles and weapons to Al ders and we thank those Baathist and nationalist tor of his office in the Shia holy puppet soldiers and police Sadr’s supporters. influence on Labour’s who give this way regu- resistance in central Iraq city of Najaf who was am- dismissed for refusing to US imperialism in- policy-making. larly. while trying to contain the bushed by gunmen after re- fight the Mahdi Army during vaded Iraq to seize its oil Paul Kenny said: “The We are more than Mahdi Army in Baghdad turning from prayers last Fri- the fighting in Basra last wealth, exploit its labour Government is going down half way through the and Basra. The price of day. Al-Sadr repeated on Sat- month. force and use its territory the wrong road and taking month but not yet half way New York crude oil rose to urday his demand for Ameri- Al Sadr said that those as a military centre to the wrong direction. There to our target. We really a record high of $113.09 a can soldiers to leave the who refused to take up arms threaten the other coun- do need to improve our barrel on Tuesday as fight- is no way we are going to fund raising. We ask all country and urged his fight- against his militia were only tries of the Middle East. concede the right to allo- ing intensified in Iraq fol- ers not to target fellow Iraqis doing their religious duty. What it got was never-end- NCP members, New lowing the virtual collapse “unless they are helping the “Our brothers in the army or ing war that has cost thou- cate their cash to Gordon Worker supporters’ of the Iranian-brokered occupation”. police who gave up their sands of American lives Brown and the party head- groups and readers to put cease-fire. The Americans suffered weapons to their brothers and brought immense suf- quarters when not all our on their thinking caps and American casualties their heaviest casualties so were only obeying their grand fering to the Iraqi people members support every- as well as digging in their are rising with an outbreak far this year last week much religious leaders,” he de- over the past five years. Not thing the Government is own pockets come up with of fighting in Baghdad be- of that down to the clashes clared. “I call upon all con- matter how many troops doing. ideas to raise some money tween US and puppet around the Sadr City. The cerned authorities to recon- they pour in the Americans for this paper. forces and the largest Shia “Not all our members Mahdi Army has blocked all sider their decision to dis- will never win. The only way support the Labour Party Please send whatever militia — the Mahdi Army of attempts by the Americans miss those people from the out of the quagmire of their you can to the New radical cleric Muqtada al and their puppets to pen- army and the police. I de- own making is to withdraw and they would not stand Worker Fund, PO Box 73, Sadr. Last month, 61 per etrate their neighbourhood mand they be reinstated and and end the occupation. for their money being used London SW11 2PQ. in this way. They would Page 2 THE NEW WORKER 18 April 2008 email: [email protected] News Desk 020 7223 4052

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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123Say no more Not a smart price predecessors – he has been teaching other birds The notorious Wal- how to swear, despite be- Mart supermarket com- the Wal-Mart board from 1986 ished at the racism she has ing taken to a language Weekly paper of the New Communist Party pany, since its early days to 1992, praising the company encountered from all parties specialist. 30 years ago, hired a com- – an episode she would now – many of whom assume that The seven-year-old pany, Flagler, to make thou- prefer to be quiet about. any black woman they en- bird has been spreading sands of video tapes of its counter in the building must his obscene vocabulary to executives at work and play. Highway robbery be a cook or a cleaner. two other parrots, Sam and But in 2006 Wal-Mart sud- Former Tory minister Charlie, at the centre. New dawn over denly ended the contract German police are looking David Heathcote-Amory rep- Owner Geoff Grewcock with Flagler, leaving it fac- for thieves who stole a mile rimanded her when she went said: “It sounds like a the Himalayas ing bankruptcy but with a and a half of the central reser- to sit in the members section builders’ yard sometimes huge library of tapes. vation from a busy motorway. on the terrace, beside the when we come in here, Thames. “What are you do- what with all the abuse fly- COMMUNISTS throughout the world will Wal-Mart is now re- The thieves made off with gretting offering Flagler a more than 20 tonnes of the ing here?” he said, “This is ing about. rejoice at the news of the overwhelming vic- paltry $500,000 for the metal strips from the A6 for members only.” When she “They just sit there tory for the Communist Party of Nepal- tapes because Flagler is motorway in Vierheim near told him she was a member he swearing at each other Maoist(CPN-M) in last weekend’s elections. now charging trade union Frankfurt. turned to his colleague and now, all kind of foul lan- The CPN-M has grown from strength to and legal researchers $250 Police said they must said: “They’re letting anyone guage – it’s unbelievable.” strength following the ceasefire that ended a time for video research. have spent hours dismantling in these days.” Grewcock added: the civil war and brought the Maoists into A Kansas City lawyer the 500 four metre strips of On a different occasion “These birds can live until an interim government that held this poll to representing a 12-year-old metal that made up the stretch last year she was using a they are 70 so there are elect a constituent assembly to decide the boy who suffered exten- of the central reservation. members’ lift when a number potentially another 60 sive burns when a petrol can This would have required of politicians started talking years of this to contend future of the mountain kingdom. loudly about how cleaners with.” The CPN-M has won 111 seats out of the 201 bought at Wal-Mart blew specialised equipment and a up found footage of em- large truck with a lifting de- and catering staff shouldn’t contests declared for the 601-member assembly, ployees joking about their vice. Yet they have been un- be allowed to use that specific Spare a dime well ahead of its closest rivals the Nepali Con- petrol cans blowing up at a able to find a single witness lift. gress with 32 seats and the reformist Communist Christmas party – though so far. Language teacher Harry’s Bar in Venice, Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist- Leninist) with the company had claimed it famed as the place where 28, while the small Nepal Workers’ and Peasants couldn’t reasonably have Parliamentary dinosaurs The swearing skills of par- Ernest Hemingway held Party (NWPP), a minor partner in the interim gov- seen any risk. rots have often graced col- court over hearty food and ernment, has held its two seats in its traditional Many similar blunders Labour MP Dawn Butler, umns like this but Barney the stiff martinis, is offering a bastion of Bhaktapur. are coming to light, includ- one of the only two black macaw at Warwickshire Wild- discount to “poor” Ameri- ing footage of a young Hi- women MPs currently at life Sanctuary in Nuneaton has cans suffering from a weak Final results should be known by the end of dollar and sub prime blues. this month when all the seats chosen by propor- lary Clinton, who served on Westminster, has been aston- taken the art further than his tional representation are tallied and preliminary returns show that the Maoists will take the lion’s share there. The overwhelming demand of the Nepalese people for a democratic federal republic was re- flected in the massive swing to the communists, Targets before patients who only laid down their guns two years ago after massive street protests forced the hated mon- THE HEALTHCARE Com- trust put the safety of pa- arch to relinquish direct rule. mission last week accused tients, volunteers and staff at The Maoists will clearly be the leading force Staffordshire Ambulance risk.” in drawing up the constitution and the new gov- Trust managers of putting She added that the pub- patient safety at risk in or- lic, staff and patients “could ernment that will follow but they are seeking coa- have been seriously hurt by a lition partners from other democratic parties to der to meet Government tar- st gets over response times. compromised safety culture”. take Nepal into the 21 century. The commission said, af- Ambulance drivers were The first step must be to ratify the decision of ter an eight-month investiga- threatened with disciplinary the interim parliament to abolish the monarchy and tion, that the trust used poorly action if they waited outside rid the country, once and for all, of its worthless trained volunteers at act as a busy hospital accident and feudal king whose family has kept the Nepalese “community first responders” emergency unit until it was people in bondage for decades. The next will be to get to emergencies before ready to receive a patient – to end feudalism and meet the basic demands of properly trained paramedics the hospitals were adjusting the masses for social justice. The communists have in order to keep the statistics their own statistics by delay- already prepared a democratic programme of so- of fast response times high. ing admissions until they These volunteers were could deal with them cial and economic reform aimed at raising the an- authorised to drive at high promptly. nual per capita income from $300 to $3,000 in 10 speeds using blue lights and The ambulance trust re- years. sirens without the necessary sponded by threatening to Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the advanced driving training. leave patients in tents or in world and around 80 per cent of the population The commission says these the carp park if the hospital work on the land. Most of the peasants work for practices put patients and the did not admit them immedi- feudal landlords. Most earn less than a dollar a public at risk of an accident. ately. day and half the population live below the poverty The trust also equipped The commission also blamed regional and local line. Half the population are unemployed and many ambulance staff and volun- • ‘Community first responders’ training. have been forced to emigrate to India for work. teers with controlled drugs NHS managers for failing to they were not legally allowed picion last year and the in- In particular the ask searching questions. Half the children are malnourished and under- to possess, including addic- quiry was set up to look into Healthcare Commission “This complacency was weight. Only 15 per cent of the people have ac- tive sedatives diazepam and the conduct of the trust from praised role of former army brought about by the trust’s cess to health services and most do not have ac- midazolam – which have a April 2004 to June 2007. officer Roger Thayne, the ability to exceed the Depart- cess to basic needs such as food, health and edu- high street value. Before then the Govern- trust’s chief executive from ment of Health’s targets,” it cation. It also failed to keep ment had regularly praised 1992 to March 2006, describ- said. The new Nepalese leadership will face the proper records of the medi- Staffordshire Ambulance ing him as “a benevolent dic- hostility of the imperialist world whose “new world cines, which regularly went Trust for the speed of its re- tator”. Last October the trust was order” is crumbling day by day. The Americans, missing from ambulance sta- sponse in emergencies. In Anna Walker, who headed amalgamated into the West who continue to class the CPN-M as a “terror- tions. Some patients were 2002 the Consumers’ Associa- the commission, said: “The Midlands Ambulance NHS given larger than necessary tion also praised Staffordshire managers at the trust were Trust, which claimed: “We ist” movement are already bleating about “vio- packs of the drugs and told Ambulance Trust while ac- motivated by the best inten- accept the commission’s find- lence and intimidation” during the election cam- to dispose of the surplus them- cusing other trusts of fiddling tions – to provide high-qual- ings and have already made paign, though even they concede that voting was selves. the statistics on their re- ity care for patients. However massive strides to tackle the peaceful in most districts. The trust came under sus- sponse times. some of the practices in the issues raised”. Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, formerly known as “Comrade Prachandra”, says democracy is not “an alternative to armed struggle but a logical conclusion” and throughout the world millions of oppressed people are once again turning The dead hand of privatisation to communism as the only way out of the capitalist crisis. THE PUBLIC sector union – public safety must be put the privatisation of public ser- organiser Dave Watson The Nepalese communist victory is a decisive Unison has welcomed before private profit.” vices is more cost effective. said: “Police forces in confirmation that police The secretary made the In addition, it would Scotland have introduced blow to those who claimed that armed struggle custody services in Scot- was futile and that the communist ideal was irrel- announcement as the Scot- break up the team approach civilian custody staff in re- land will not be privatised. tish government unveiled its to custody services that has cent years to free up po- evant in today’s age. Their victory is our victory response to recommenda- developed over recent years, lice officers from duties in the struggle for a new world free from oppres- It follows a statement by tions from HM Inspectorate of replacing it with the demar- that do not require police sion and exploitation – a new and better world — justice secretary Kenny Constabulary – including the cation that is inherent in a powers. the world that Marx and Engels predicted and a MacAskill, who said: “I have suggestion that that police contractual relationship. Po- world that will surely come to pass in the 21st cen- made it perfectly clear that custody services could be lice forces would be surren- “That is the way ahead tury. this government is com- privatised. dering real control over a key for custody services – not pletely opposed to pri- Unison argues that there police function. the dead hand of vately-run custody facilities is little credible evidence that Unison’s Scottish privatisation.” 18 April 2008 THE NEW WORKER Page 3 Home News Newsdesk 020 7223 4052 Fighting against Unison to ballot on three-year pay deal the BNP by Caroline Colebrook Delegates voted to: • highlight the suc- by Mike Fletcher THE PUBLIC sector union cesses of the NHS; Unison agreed to ballot over • mark the 60th anni- TWENTY New Communist acceptance of the versary with “a series of Party members, trades coun- Government’s offer of a events and activities; cil members and students last three-year pay deal totalling • continue to cam- weekend leafleted the eight per cent at its health paign to “defend its founding Highwoods area of workers’ conference in principles and build wide- Colchester against the Brit- Manchester last week. spread support to safeguard ish National Party, who are The deal would give its future”; standing in that area in the workers 2.75 per cent this • congratulate Wales 1st May local elections. year, 2.4 per cent next year and Scotland on abolishing The leafleting was and 2.25 per cent the follow- prescription charges, making organised by Colchester ing year. The cost of living is healthcare truly free at the Trades Council with support rising steeply and is likely to point of need, and campaign from Essex University Student be above this level. for this to be extended to En- Union. But the deal does give gland and the north of Ire- This was followed by a guarantees of a minimum land. further organising meeting on wage of £6.77-an-hour for The conference wel- Wednesday at Essex Univer- NHS workers and more comed recent changes, such sity. money to nurses, midwives as the scaling back of plans Meanwhile the BNP in its and paramedics at the top of for private “independent sec- efforts to win support in Lon- their grades. tor treatment centres” and don has targeted the Jewish The controversial deal noted that primary care is “the community in the hopes of will affect over one million new frontier for private health scraping a few extra votes on NHS workers – around half of care”, as service group execu- the basis of its anti-Islamic them Unison members. Last tive speaker Pam Barr said. stance. week Unison head of health The other big challenge But the move has only Karen Jennings said the • Unison health workers marching through Manchester last year. facing the NHS, and Unison’s provoked anger from Jewish union would recommend ac- campaigns around it, is the organisations which still ceptance while Unite, the gi- health workers to join teach- ern equipment. And it called pay point, band one, so that Darzi report, which “should be recognise the BNP as anti- ant union that represents ers, lecturers, civil servants on the Government to cleaners aren’t “having to an opportunity, but is also, Semitic and racist. 12,000 health workers, has and other public sector work- recognise the link between work an average of 54 hours a undoubtedly, a threat”, execu- Nick Lowles from the anti- decided to oppose the deal. ers in joint strike action over cuts in numbers of cleaning week”, as delegate Elizabeth tive speaker Nick Holden fascist magazine Searchlight, Opinion at the conference pay. staff and the rise in infections, Pratt noted. noted. which is mobilising voters was divided, with some del- “NHS workers are being implement “clean hospital “Without domestic work- Speaker after speaker across the country in its Hope egates keen to move straight cast as agents of inflation,” committees” in all hospitals, ers, we wouldn’t have clean agreed, pointing out a glaring not Hate campaign, said the to a ballot for industrial action. said service group chair Lilian implement Agenda for hospitals,” noted Martin contradiction between the vi- tactic of appealing to differ- But conference voted instead Macer. “But our members are Change and the agreement on Grant, a cleaner at the Royal sion for the NHS outlined in ent ethnic and cultural groups to give the membership a victims of inflation, not the two-tier workforce for London hospital, but “no- the report and the strategy of ticked several boxes for the chance to accept or reject the causes.” Nevertheless she cleaning staff, and take steps body knows how hard we marketisation and BNP. deal – with the possibility of said the deal would give “sta- to meet the bed occupancy work. privatisation outlined to “It allows them to portray industrial action if it is re- bility and certainty” for the target of 85 per cent, rather “Nobody knows what we achieve it. themselves as being non-rac- jected. next three years and bring than the current 95 per cent. go through on low pay, strug- Delegates recognised a ist at the same time as Bristol nursing delegate benefits such as extra help for Specifically, the union gling to make ends meet.” welcome shift in tone in the legitimising their vicious and Sarah Creagh predicted that the lowest paid. called for better training for The conference sup- report but warned: “A shift in sustained attacks on the UK’s members would be angry be- Conference also debated domestic staff and recognised ported proposals to continue tone is not enough. The long- Muslim communities.” cause food and fuel costs are the failure of the that winning adequate staff- the fight against privatisation, term future of the NHS can rising above the rate of infla- Government’s target of halv- ing levels means “addressing to defend and celebrate the only be safeguarded … by a tion. ing MRSA incidents by April the chronically low pay rates NHS in its 60th year and to reversal of the privatisation Protest at Wakefield hospital porter 2008 and called for more clean- of cleaning staff”, particularly build on the union’s Keep the agenda which has beset the children’s Adrian O’Malley called for ers, better paid and with mod- by abolishing the lowest NHS NHS Working campaign. NHS for the past decade.” detention Scottish unions reject A GROUP of around 16 moth- Home Office desperate for ers detained at the Yarlswood immigration centre in council pay offer Bedford have staged a naked support on longer detention protest at the lengthy deten- THE THREE major unions members over recent years. tion of their children there in almost any repressive mea- There are dozens of in- representing local govern- The GMB said the rejec- unhealthy conditions. HOME OFFICE Minister ment workers in Scotland, tion of the offer placed the Tony McNulty last week sure. Former attorney gen- stances where “anti-terror” The mothers argue that eral Lord Goldsmith is op- legislation has been used Unison, GMB and Unite, have unions on a course for indus- locking up children is cruel told the media that MPs rejected a pay offer made by trial action. “will buy” the posed to the extension – as against peaceful anti-war and have pointed out that are Liberal Democrat and protesters, including the in- the Council of Scottish Local Dougie Black, of Unison keeping children in close con- Government’s plans to in- Authorities (Cosla). Scotland, added: “If you want crease the length of time Tory MPs, meaning that the famous expulsion of Walter finement leads to outbreaks of Government is facing an up- Wolfgang from the Labour The deal would have first class public services, cut- that “terror suspects” can given 220,000 local authority ting the pay of public sector viruses – there has recently be held without charge or hill struggle to get the exten- Party conference a few been an outbreak of vomiting sion through Parliament. years ago. workers a pay rise of 2.5 per workers is the wrong way to trial from 28 days to 42 cent for each of the next three go about it.” virus at the centre. days. Smith’s claims that the Brown could be facing Many of the women have measure would only ever be the first Commons defeat years. The unions will now call The unions said it was on their members in local gov- been detained at the centre Doubts about this ex- used rarely and on danger- of his term as Prime Minis- with their children for months, ous terror suspects were un- ter and the Government is less than inflation and did not ernment to reject the employ- treme measure have di- address losses suffered by awaiting deportation. vided the Cabinet with Jus- dermined when it came to desperate to appease po- ers offer in a full consultation. The protest followed a tice Secretary Jack Straw light that a Dorset local au- tential Labour rebels. confrontation between de- voicing doubts about Gor- thority had used anti-terror- Ministers have already tainees and officers on don Brown’s determination ism surveillance powers to made a number of conces- Wednesday night as the to push ahead with the 42 monitor a family suspected sions to win them over in- High Court rules women demanded to have days. Straw said he feared of fibbing about their address cluding allowing Parlia- their concerns heard by the that it would alienate Mus- to get their three-year-old ment a regular vote on UK Border Agency. lim communities and dis- daughter into a an over-sub- whether to axe the powers on NHS treatment for The confrontation began courage intelligence scribed local nursery school. and giving MPs the right to as 11 detainees tried to pre- sources from within that The family were outraged debate each occasion a asylum seekers vent a mother and child being community. at the invasion of their privacy. suspect is held for more removed. Home Secretary But it seems the local coun- than 28 days. THE HIGH Court last Friday Mr Justice Mitting said The women protested by Jacqui Smith last week cil did not break any laws in Lib Dem home affairs ruled that restrictions pre- that many, even all, asylum standing naked in a corridor claimed there are 30 differ- using the Regulation of In- spokesperson Chris venting failed asylum seek- seekers and refugees were and going on hunger strike. ent plots, involving the track- vestigatory Powers Act to Huhne said: “We have a 92 ers from getting free NHS “penniless” and ruled that the Later one Nigerian woman, ing of 2,000 people in 200 snoop on the family. per cent conviction rate on healthcare while they are hospital had an obligation of deemed to have led the pro- networks. But her critics The mother said: “I’m in- terrorist offences. For heav- waiting to return to their own care. test, was separated from her pointed out the figures censed that legislation de- ens sake, that’s far higher countries are unlawful. Government guidelines six-year-old child and taken to were no higher than two signed to combat terrorism than on ordinary criminal The decision follows lob- issued in 2006 said that free a solitary wing. years ago and contained can be turned on a three- cases. bying from human rights treatment – unless in an emer- Mercy Guobatia, on of the no new information. year-old. It was very creepy “So what on earth is the groups and will affect around gency or life-threatening situ- protesters, said: “I took my Smith claimed “We when we found out that Government on about in 11,000 asylum seekers. ation – was only available to clothes off because they treat cannot wait for an attack to people had been watching us saying that we need to go The ruling came in a test those “ordinarily resident” in us like animals. We are claim- succeed and then rush in and making notes. Councils further than any compa- case concerning a Palestinian Britain for 12 months or more. ing asylum, we’re not animals. new powers” – a spurious should be protecting chil- rable country has anywhere man who had been denied They treat us as if we’ve done argument that could justify dren, not spying on them.” else in the world?” treatment for a chronic liver The ruling will affect all something terrible.” disease. NHS trusts. Page 4 THE NEW WORKER 18 April 2008 Features Tibet: hands Portugal: public sector up, who’s for workers fight back feudalism?

by Rob Gowland China, using the US, Taiwan- ese and south Korean military EASILY THE MOST popular as well as CIA-funded “guerril- cause at present for film las” operating out of Thailand. stars, pop stars and what “On 15th September Greg Barns in the Hobart 1998”, notes Barns, “a Los An- Mercury calls “celebrity geles Times investigation re- politicians” is freedom for vealed that during ‘the 1960s, Tibet. The “freedom” they the CIA provided the Tibetan want would return Tibet to exile movement with US$1.7 feudalism, to the system million a year for operations that prevailed before 1951. against China including an an- The country would once nual subsidy of US$180,000 again be ruled by the Dalai for the Dalai Lama”. Lama, a prospect that the in- Barns says this CIA support cumbents in both the White “petered out in the 1970s”, but House and Downing Street I think he would be more accu- would clearly welcome. And rate if he said it merely why not? For all their noise changed its form. At any rate it about fostering democracy, the received a new boost in the leaders of the US and Britain 1980s when President Ronald have no difficulty cosying up to Reagan established the Na- feudal autocrats in the Middle tional Endowment for Democ- that teachers spend more time in Police have harassed unions. East or Asia or anywhere else racy (NED), a classic CIA front by André Levy such relics can be found. which openly admits to receiv- school performing administrative Schools have been ordered to Britain has been actively in- ing funds directly from the peak PUBLIC SECTOR workers duties. keep a record of which teachers terfering in Tibet (and also in US intelligence body. in Portugal, with teachers in The new career structure cre- strike. Afghanistan) since the 19th Barns quotes Michael the lead, have opened an im- ates divisions among regular But still teachers have contin- century, but stepped up its ac- Barker, “a PhD student at teachers and so-called “titled” ued their struggle. The massive tivities after the victory of the Griffith University in Brisbane pressive fightback struggle th against a government attack teachers with the purpose of lim- 8 March “March of Indigna- Revolution and the Chinese who studies social and politi- that threatens both public ser- iting the access to higher-level tion” had the participation of two- Red Army in 1949. Together cal movements”, who points out vices and the workers them- positions. These positions are thirds of the professional sector, with the United States, Britain that “much of the present in- selves. Following dozens of now subject to quotas. Even long- the most massive protest of any helped to provoke the flight of ternational campaigning for a protests throughout the coun- term teachers with impeccable sector in Portugal’s history. the Dalai Lama to India. free Tibet is financed by the th evaluations may be unable to Teachers expressed their in- Britain played a dominant NED”. try, on 8 March some role in counter-revolutionary Barns’ article continues: 100,000 of Portugal’s 150,000 reach higher-paying positions. dignation at the government’s dis- The minister introduced a new respect and disregard toward activity in many parts of the “The NED has financed the teachers marched down one world between the two world work of the International Cam- of the main avenues of cen- teacher evaluation system in the teachers and their unions. They middle of the school year. Teach- waved white handkerchiefs de- wars, but after the Second paign for Tibet, the Tibet Fund tral Lisbon in a massive pro- World War was eclipsed by the and the Tibetan Information test. ers will be evaluated by their col- manding the minister of educa- US in this field. On 24th March, Network, the three leading anti- Over the last three years the leagues and on student grades. tion resign. They demanded a in a Hobart Mercury article with Chinese Tibetan advocacy Portuguese Socialist Party (PS) This creates an incentive to in- change in education policies and the fairly blunt heading “US fin- organisations. government of José Sócrates – flate grades and an imbalance the renegotiation of the Teacher ger in unrest pie”, Greg Barns “In short, the CIA/NED di- which is socialist in name only – between teachers in rich and poor Career and School Management (writing of the Tibetan exiles rectly bankrolls the apparatus has carried out a full blown, broad socio-economic districts. “reforms.” grouped around the Dalai that runs the Dalai Lama’s in- attack on the public services and The protesters demanded re- Lama) noted “the CIA gave the ternational campaign for a public service workers. This in- All in all, the “reforms” are spect for the professional char- Tibetans and the Dalai Lama non-violent revolution in Tibet cludes reducing the network of dictated by administrative and acter and union rights of teach- money and support through to overthrow the Chinese.” maternity wards and emergency financial priorities rather than ers and for academic autonomy the 1950s and 1960s”. The brutal way the Dalai educational and pedagogical and freedom. They demanded US policy in that period was Lama’s supporters hacked to clinics, and introducing public to try to provoke war with death ordinary workers — administration changes called aims, aiming to punish teach- measures to promote the quality “reforms” that have reduced the ers and destroy the public of education and reduce the lev- wages and pensions of govern- schools. els of unemployment and job in- ment workers. security that afflict teachers. One of the most targeted sec- Teachers have not accepted Despite the massive turnout tors is schools. The state budget these reforms and have been in- and the impressive show of force for schools was cut and thousands volved in a continuous mass and unity, the minister of educa- of schools closed. These closures struggle for more than a year- tion downplayed the demonstra- increase pupil travelling times and and-a-half. The government has tion and restated her policies. strengthen the forces that are been inflexible and has attempted Faced with such stubbornness, leading to a massive depopulation to isolate and divide teachers. A teachers have promised to con- and aging of the country’s inte- massive public relations cam- tinue their struggle. rior. paign has characterised teachers Avante (Portugal) The government imposed a as “privileged” public servants profound change on school man- and responsible for poor educa- agement that erodes the schools’ tion results. The aim of this cam- • Public service sector workers paign is to create a conflict be- are on the march; top: health democratic character. The workers and, bottom, teachers. change replaces school boards tween teachers and other public with the more powerful figure of servants and the general public. the school director and broadens school councils (which determine school policies) to include parents and local businesses, placing teachers and other school workers in the minority. The minister of education, Maria de Luz Rodrigues, has been set on changing the rules regarding how much time school teachers work. By counting only class time, she claims that teachers work few hours. This omits class preparation and student • In feudal days prisoners were not fed but shackled together and left to evaluation time. One rule requires beg for their food. 18 April 2008 THE NEW WORKER Page 5 Features 020 7223 4052

shop assistants and others — during their “revolutionary” riots suggests that their leader’s appeals for non-violence were a sop to the Western media. For the Dalai Lama is not Last Ghost stirs the US after democracy or indeed any form of popular rule. He wants to be restored to power, and An updated version of The Last Ghost of War for three images of benign monks exud- critically acclaimed years, following the lawsuit after ing love and kindness simply it was filed in US District Court aren’t supported by the histori- documentary film the Last in Brooklyn through the Court of cal facts. Ghost of War was Appeals. Barns has him pegged to screened for the first time rights: “The Dalai Lama leads in the US on 28th March, Bui Ngoc Hai: As an inde- an elite of families and religious followed by a panel pendent film maker, I suppose figures that once ruled Tibet. you have many difficulties in And the Tibet they ruled was discussion.The film your work, especially with re- one of the most backward and explores the effects of the gard to the financial aspect. inhumane societies in the Do you receive any endow- world. herbicide Agent Orange, sprayed by US troops ment/support from any indi- “Almost 90 per cent of Ti- viduals or entities? betans were slaves before the during the American War. Chinese invaded the country”. Shot in Vietnam, France Many people and foundations Barns then goes on to quote have helped us produce these an article by Aniket Alam, an and inside the US Court of Appeals, the film features films. Each film has had differ- Indian commentator writing ent supporters. A World Beneath earlier this month: interviews with veterans the War was broadcast on PBS “Far from any democratic from both sides as well as rights, for an overwhelming stations and by Discovery Inter- majority of Tibetans, the rule political, scientific and national. We received support of the Dalai Lama was one of historical experts. Vietnam from the Independent Television unending unpaid labour, cru- Service and private foundations News Agency for Precious Cargo, which was elty and debt-bondage and not correspondent Bui Ngoc some spiritual Shangri-la. broadcast on PBS stations and “…one prisoner in the Dalai Hai catches up with Mrs worldwide by National Geo- Lama’s prison in the 1960s Gardner who co-directed graphic Channels International. called it hell on Earth.” the film with Mr Pham The Last Ghost of War was produced in association with the Of course, we must not for- Thai. get that the Dalai Lama’s own Centre for Asian American Me- supporters may in fact not dia with support from the Corpo- have been responsible for Bui Ngoc Hai: When did ration for Public Broadcasting. some of the fire-bombing and you make your first documen- Private foundations also contrib- killing. We know from many tary film on Vietnam and how uted to the production. But fund- previous instances of carefully many films on Vietnam have raising is always difficult. manufactured “civil distur- you produced up till now? bances” that a favourite tactic Which aspects of Vietnam are Bui Ngoc Hai: What en- of US special forces and intel- you interested about, and why? courages you to do this work ligence services is the staging for the people of Vietnam? of provocations. We finished our first The US Time magazine re- programme Vietnam: Land of I travelled to Viet Nam in 1987 vealed back in the beginning the Ascending Dragon in 1993. Precious Cargo and The Last food chain. We wanted to ask the and was very impressed with the of 2003 that under the current There was still an embargo Ghost of War, we wanted to show question: “Who should be ac- Vietnamese people. I felt that it US President, the CIA had re- against “trading with the enemy”, the consequences of the Ameri- countable?” and have the audi- was important to tell the stories built its paramilitary outfit, the which made travel to Vietnam can War to both the US and Viet- ence think about that. This of the Vietnam War, which you euphemistically named Special more difficult than it is today. But nam. programme has not yet been call the American War, from a Operations Group (SOG). One I wanted Americans to see just broadcast in the US so we can- Vietnamese perspective. Co-pro- of SOG’s roles is to do the stir- how beautiful Vietnam was and Bui Ngoc Hai: What is the not say how American audiences ducer Pham Quoc Thai has ring when the US needs I wanted them to learn more message do you want to send will react. At screenings, some helped me to do that, as has Pham trouble stirred up somewhere about your history and culture. with The Last Ghost of War? have been shocked that the US Thanh Liem, Pham Hoang Van, in the world. We bought some footage of a How does American audience did not clean up around their mili- Truong Thi Khue, Ma Van Cung, As Barns writes in the Mer- golf course under construction in see the fight of the agent or- tary bases after the war and have Nguyen Minh Tuan of Vietnam cury: “One cannot rule out the Vietnam and were threatened by ange victims for justice? felt sympathy for the Vietnam- News Service, and many others possibility, or indeed the prob- the US Departmen. of Treasury. ese in their fight for justice. Many who opened their hearts and per- ability, that this group and other Since that time I have completed Pham Thai and I hope that people feel that the US govern- sonal archives to us. Dr Le Ke CIA operatives have had some a trilogy of documentaries on post The Last Ghost of War speaks ment and/or the chemical com- Son has also been helpful in role in fuelling unrest in Tibet -war Vietnam. They are A World for itself. By telling the stories of panies should be held account- granting us an interview and get- over the past few weeks”. Beneath the War, Precious the victims of herbicides, we able. ting us photographs for The Last The Hobart Mercury is a Cargo, and The Last Ghost of show the consequences and hope Ghost of War. Trang Thu mainstream bourgeois news- War. In A World Beneath the that no country will ever use Bui Ngoc Hai: You have Nguyen has also helped us as a paper. Its publishing of Barns’ War, we revealed the story of a these chemicals again. We tried mentioned Mr Pham Thai. translator, narrator and friend to comments on Tibet and the village that went underground to show how hard it was to con- Can you tell us something realise this long and sometimes USA reflect the contradictions and the strategies that made Viet- tain Agent Orange and other her- about him? difficult project. For this reason within the ruling class over at- nam such an impressive competi- bicides and how they got into the and because it means so much tacking China. Their greed is tor and ultimately victorious. In soil, the water, and eventually the I met Pham Thai at a confer- to so many people in Viet Nam, at odds with their desire to do ence on Vietnam at the Union we hope that VTV and VTV4 over a socialist power. Theological Seminary in New will broadcast The Last Ghost of For some of the media and York about 15 years ago. He War in Vietnam. what Barns calls “political ce- started with The Gardner Group lebrities”, the Dalai Lama and as a translator and assistant pro- Bui Ngoc Hai: Besides the collection of expatriates ducer and has since become a co- screening at Universities, will that he leads in India are be- producer and close friend. Of your film, The Last Ghost of yond all criticism. course we don’t always agree on War, be broadcast on TV chan- However, now that the ini- everything, but we have always tial shock is over and the me- nels? dia frenzy about “Tibet in re- had a good working relationship. volt” has subsided, reality And we have been through a lot So far, The Last Ghost of checks have begun. Despite together. War has been broadcast by SBS the Australian media, the IOC Australia (Australian public tele- has ruled that “there is no Bui Ngoc Hai: How did you vision) and in hotels in Asia by credible movement for a boy- update the film to be screened The Australia Network; in Nor- cott” of the Olympic Games. and how long did it take you to way by NHK (Norwegian pub- Nor have the fractious pro- complete the project? lic television); in the Middle East tests by a handful of Tibetan by Al-Jazeera; in French speak- émigrés backed up by Falun We had to account for the ing Canada by RDI; and in Ja- Gong cult members from court decisions and the deaths of pan by NHK. Regarding Ameri- China carried much weight. two more Vietnamese plaintiffs, can television, we know that it will Chalk up a further defeat for who came to New York for the be broadcast on KCSM in San US scheming. hearing in the US Court of Ap- Mateo, California on 15th May The Guardian peals, but then died in Vietnam and will be offered to other pub- Australian communist shortly afterwards. lic television stations soon. weekly • Nguyen Thuy Linh has to write with her feet thanks to Agent Orange. We have been working on Vietnam News Service Page 6 THE NEW WORKER 18 April 2008 Home News

has its basis first of all in 1234567890123456789012345678 ematics of how the four an uneven process. What 1234567890123456789012345678 LETTERS practical, observational forces combine – as sort of universe came before 1234567890123456789012345678 1234567890123456789012345678 experimentation and currently gravity does not or what will come after are 1234567890123456789012345678 1234567890123456789012345678 Dear Comrades mathematics. work with the other three; again a matter of speculation 123456789012345678901234567Diary 8 The basis of the black the maths just doesn’t fit with no evidence to go on – 1234567890123456789012345678 Cuts in funding for the holes and gravitational because gravity is very yet. TUESDAY 22 April Citizens’ Advice Bureau are theory both come from our much weaker than the other The God squad will of Stockwell Rd, London to be deplored – the CAB understanding of the forces Barnet Trade Council SW9. £20/£16. forces and scientists cannot course claim that the Big launch meeting. 7pm, Cttee does a great job. of nature – gravity, electro- figure out why. Bang justifies their idea of www.hopenothate.org.uk We should be wary magnetic and small and large room 2, Hendon Town Hall, THURSDAY 1 May That’s why you have creation but it does nothing The Burroughs, London London May Day march & however of all “confidential- nuclear forces. Our under- such theories as string of the kind. ity” claims by anyone. All standing of how these NW4. rally. Assemble 12 noon, theory and the existence of Where I agree with TUESDAY 22 April Clerkenwell Green, rally at advice services present forces interact – or don’t – 11 dimensions, which are Mervyn is that scientists like has been clarified by Afghanistan: Britains other Trafalgar Square. dream opportunities to the science’s best attempts to Stephen Hawking are war. Talk & discussion with security service, and full observational experimenta- SATURDAY 3 May unify the four forces. mistaken in their pursuit of a Prof Mohammed Arif. Recital for Peace. John advantage is taken. tion leading to mathematical The purpose of trying to unified theory of everything equations like the three laws 7.30pm, Green Room, Williams, guitar. 7.30pm, Mick Kenny, unify this, as I understand it, and that it has got to fit in Woodhatch Centre, off St James’s Church, 197 Yorkshire. of Newtonian physics. So is the theory that if every- with human mathematics. Hornbean Rd, Reigate, Piccadilly, London W1. having the maths there, we thing works and could be Maths is a creation of the Surrey. Redhill & Reigate MANA 020 8455 1030. can predict how bodies will understood by mathematical mind of human beings – one STWC 01737 248487. £15/£10. Dear Comrades react when certain forces are equations then, the universe that has served us very well SATURDAY 26 April MONDAY 5 May applied to them. has been created or created in interpreting the universe Use Your Vote on 1st May. Manchester May Day With regards to Mervyn These laws and math- itself or whatever for a but it is not perfect. Even two BBQ. 2pm, West London march. Assemble Drage’s letter (New Worker ematical equations, I agree, specific purpose and plus two equals four is not TU Club, 33/35 High St, 11.30am, All Saints. 1481) I feel slightly confused are normally accepted as therefore there is some so straightforward if one of Acton W3 6ND. Manchester trades by his statements that the fact. But just because they meaning to its existence and them is pregnant. When you SUNDAY 27 April Council. Big Bang theory and black are considered as facts at everything that’s in it. look more deeply at anything Love Music Hate Racism SATURDAY 10 May holes are “mental aberra- this current time has not Now the religious lobby and include a time dimension carnival. 12 noon, Victoria Free Palestine national tions” and also that such made them immune to has taken this and stated it’s always more complicated Park, London E3. Unite, demo. Assemble 1pm, things are “philosophical dialectics. that if there’s a purpose to than you thought. PCS, Love Music Hate Temple tube – rally in idealist concepts taught Going back to our the universe then God did it. Hawking and friends are Racism. 020 7801 2781. Trafalgar Square. PSC, only by university depart- example of the laws of This does not mean that seeking the unified theory of MONDAY 28 April BMI & PFIB. ments of physics and Newtonian gravity – they Big Bang theory and black everything just like the International Workers SATURDAY 10 May astronomy across the were modified by Einstein’s holes were dreamt up in the ancients who sought the Memorial Day. March, ‘1968 & all that’ confer- capitalist worlds as if they theory of relativity and imagination of scientists philosophers’ stone. If they assemble 10.30, Holland ence & book fair. 10am - were real”. which in turn have been with little or no basis in our had been educated to think St, London SE1. 10pm, Conway Hall, Red I personally don’t feel modified by Hawking’s perception of reality as it is dialectically they would MONDAY 28 April Lion Square, London that such terms are con- theories on black holes and at the moment, much as know it is an impossible 12.30pm, the Colchester WC1. structive or helpful. Our the Big Bang. various theocrats have come concept. As science fiction Labour Representation THURSDAY 15 May understanding of both big My understanding of up with a whole variety of writer Douglas Adams wrote, Committee, which includes Public meeting: State & bang theory and black holes Stephen Hawking’s work is imaginary deities to explain once you find the answer to New Communist Party, Revolution. Speaker Peter are based on scientific that his goal is to unify the how their world works. life, the universe and Labour Party members and Hendy, NCP CC. 7.30pm, theory but scientific theory understanding and math- The process of scientific everything, it will have Unison’s North East Essex Room 5, Friends Meeting thought has always been changed because everything Mental Health branch, will House, Mount St, subject to modification and is always changing – and at be supporting workers Manchester. Greater this is a dialectical process. different rates. Memorial Day outside the Manchester New Worker NCP National Weekend School Theories are not set in stone If such a theory was ever Memorial Plaque and tree, Supporters Group. despite what certain found and scientists had an speakers from the trade SUNDAY 18 May 26th & 27th April theocrats and scientists explanation for everything it union and labour move- Protest nukes at Laken think. I think Mervyn has would bring scientific ment, all welcome. Details heath. 1pm, main gate. • Stalin and the British working class been unfair to our current research and discovery to a from Mike Fletcher, c/o NCP CND East. mellcnduk.org • Socialism in one state scientists – they have not sudden full stop. This cannot Party Centre. SATURDAY 31 May • Stalin and the British Road to Socialism simply plucked their theories happen. Every major scien- No third Runway. Demo at WEDNESDAY 30 April Heathrow, assemble 12 • The Soviet “command” economy out of thin air. tific breakthrough always Owen Liddle, Hope not Hate 2008. noon. tutors: Andy Brooks, Neil Harris, Alex Kempshall raises new questions. Carling Academy Brixton, www.campaigncc.org and Dolly Shaer London. Scientific theories are £10 for the weekend, £5 for one day always generalisations; they hold up and are useful until NCP Party Centre, London. Dear Comrades we come across situations where they do not work Starts at 10am Saturday. Mervyn Drage in his properly. Then they are Comrades outside London need to register in letter last week (New Worker challenged, and either On the Web... advance as places are limited. 020 7223 4052. 1481) seems to have got the rejected or modified and New Worker National – wrong end of the stick about developed. www.newworker.org some scientific theories. And predictions based NCP Central – There is nothing inherently on the theory of the Big www.geocities.com/ncpcentral idealistic or undialectic in Bang and black holes have London District NCP– the concepts of black holes been supported by evidence http://londoncommunists.blogspot.com/ and a Big Bang. In fact a Big obtained from observation. Brighton NCP – FROM THE NEW COMMUNIST PARTY Bang is totally consistent That does not mean there will http://brightoncommunists.blogspot.com/ New technology and the need for socialism with the dialectical under- not be contrary evidence in NCP-PCS – standing of the nature of the future but in the mean- www.geocities.ncppcs/pcs1.html £2 plus 50p P&P. change – a long gradual time the balance of probabili- The case for communism £2 plus 50p P&P. quantitative build up to a ties is that they are true. On Stalin £2plus 50p P&P. (New Worker reprint). sudden dramatic qualitative We have to accept All in the family by Daphne Liddle, change. We just don’t know theories for practical pur- anything about the long poses – for example the £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint). slow build up that preceded theory that the nuclear forces Arab nationalism and the communist movement the bang and speculation within the atoms in the floor by Andy Brooks, £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint). without any real evidence is beneath our feet, combined NCP Lit. PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ. pointless at this stage. with gravity, will hold that (cheques to New Worker) On the other hand the floor together or we’d never idea that the universe has get out of bed in the morn- always existed as it is, is ing. very undialectic. The one Yours, rule of nature we can be sure H E Cartey, of is that everything London. changes and that change is

Weekly paper of the New Communist Party SUBSCRIBE NOW! In memory of 6 weeks: £5; 3 months: £10; 6 months: £15; annual: £30 Arthur Attwood Name...... Address...... 1913-2008 ...... a life dedicated to the communist ideal Post code...... Phone...... Central Committee Cheque/P.O.’s, made out to New Worker, to: New Communist Party of Britain NW Subs, PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ 18 April 2008 THE NEW WORKER Page 7 020 7223 4052 A world to win Digging below the surface of this crisis ists run the working class and by Deirdre Griswold companies to fold. And so on a decent pension to live out our whole planet into the in the United States in a vicious circle. your life in dignity and com- ground with depressions, Maybe you remember the fort. wars and unbridled environ- HAVE YOU lost your job? days when it all seemed to be The right to a job or in- mental destruction. Fighting Are you in danger of get- working. More goods pro- come for life. The right to free for socialism is fighting for ting kicked out of your house duced, more jobs created. But health care. The right to free the future of the human race. or rental unit because of the the bosses were getting a education. The right to de- Right now, there’s a lot we mortgage crisis? thousand dollars for every cent, affordable housing. can and must do to fight the Do you work full time but one of ours. And they spent a Impossible? Think again. bosses and the capitalist state keep falling behind on your lot of it on new technology, All this is just common sense on every level. bills? to get an edge over their com- — once we get rid of the profit We need to resist the fore- Do you find it impossible petitors. They were produc- motive. closures and the seizure of to balance health care needs ing more but laying off work- With all the wealth created workers’ personal property. with the cost of everything ers at the same time and driv- by workers in this country, we We need to demand the right else — from food, transpor- ing down wages. People were could have all this and a lot to our jobs and stop the lay- tation and education to just buying on credit, hoping to more. In fact, we could cut the offs. We need to combat rac- trying to get a little enjoyment earn enough in the future to workind week, too, and take ism, sexism, homophobia and out of life? stay on top of their debts. longer vacations, so people persecution of immigrants. All Don’t beat yourself up. Now it’s all coming due — would have time to live in- this is absolutely necessary It’s not because you did some- credit cards, student loans, stead of work until they drop. to build the working-class thing wrong. home mortgages—at the same Instead, capitalism directs unity needed to push back the You have plenty of com- time that workers are losing most of the wealth workers bosses. pany. Many tens of millions their jobs. And for those lucky create into the hands of those We need to organise more in this country are really suf- enough to be working, wages already enormously wealthy, unions, more youth and com- fering. Your problems are not are lower today, in real dollars, who often have more than munity groups and make them personal. Even if you did ev- than 30 years ago. Plus it’s they know what to do with. fight in our interests. We need erything “right”—struggled much harder to find a full-time The capitalist drive for to resist imperialist wars and to get an education and job job. And benefits? Most new profits is also what’s behind bring the troops home. skills, struggled to find full- workers never see them. the endless wars and trillions But as long as we’re split time work, struggled to be But don’t despair. Things of dollars spent on stationing into separate groups fighting pleasant and agreeable on are going to get even troops all over the globe. alone for this and for that, we your job even when you were tougher, but capitalism won’t can’t make big gains. The justifiably angry over condi- be eternal. It will be replaced A different • You get nothing without a fight – US health workers take struggle for socialism brings tions — you could still be in by something much, much economic system action. all these issues together. the same boat. better. No more Enrons or workers can — and have — When you’re a socialist, Just keep this in mind. Think how different your What workers everywhere Halliburtons running the put into place the kinds of you’re for the rights of all the You’re living in a particular life would be if, from the time need is SOCIALISM. economy, no more billionaires universal guarantees men- workers and oppressed, not kind of economic system. It’s you were a kid, you knew you Why? Because it’s the controlling the government! tioned above: jobs, health just yourself. You’re for soli- called capitalism. It creates could get an education free only system that takes the When the working class, care, education and housing darity with the working enormous instability and in- — up to any level you de- wealth of society — the the vast majority of the for all. The human needs that people of all nations. You’re equality — the rich get richer, sired. wealth created by workers — people, dissolve the corpora- capitalism can’t solve become for equality, sharing and con- the workers get poorer. If you knew that at any out of private hands. We’re tions and banks that run ev- the first priorities of a social- servation of the earth’s re- It’s now at the point where point in your adult life, you not talking about taking away erything now and set up a ist revolution. sources, instead of a constant the rich are so disgustingly could get a job that paid a workers’ personal property. new government under their Is getting socialism easy? bloody struggle over control rich, and the workers so poor, decent wage — enough for It’s not socialists but capital- control to make the decisions Hell, no! The bosses wage a of these resources by compet- that a downward spiral has you to live independently and ists who are taking away work- about how society’s wealth constant war against the working capitalist groups. You’re started. The capitalists are al- raise a family, if you wished. ers’ homes, cars and furniture should be used, we will have ers. These super-rich para- for helping raise the standard ways competing with each If you knew that you’d and garnisheeing [docking true democracy. There’s no sites make it extremely hard for of living everywhere, not low- other to raise their profits. never have to worry about wages in repayment of debt] democracy when private workers just to organise ering wages here to those of They close plants or move how to pay for medical care if their wages. We’re talking wealth buys political power. unions, let alone challenge the the poorest countries. them to where wages are even you or a family member got about taking the billions sto- Elections under capitalism are political power of the ruling The stronger the socialist lower. That leaves even sick. len from workers’ labour away only a cover for plutocracy — class. movement, the stronger will poorer workers, and fewer If you knew that when from the whole capitalist class the rule of the wealthy. But fighting for socialism be all these people’s people able to buy what’s pro- you reached retirement age, and using it for people’s Socialist governments set is a whole lot better than the struggles. duced. Which causes more you would automatically get needs. up by organised, militant alternative: letting the capital- Workers World (US) One life-time not enough Celebrating the birth of Kim Il Sung PRIMA Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso, director of Cuba’s National Ballet, said in Egypt that she wants to live another 200 years to make all the dreams and projects she still has in mind come true. In front of the Pyramids, Alicia Alonso pointed out that “you can never conclude all the projects you want, therefore I think I will live for another 200 years to do everything I still have left.” Alonso attended the staging by her company of the Don Quixote last week with main roles interpreted by Viengsay • Alicia Alonso. Valdes and Romel an amazing past where Ballet staged Don Frometa. arts and history are Quixote in Alexandria The Cheops pyramid present, allowing the and then travelled to • Jong In Song, Andy Brooks and Harpal Brar (CPGB – ML). and other historic public to enjoy a privilege,” Spain on 14th April for Friends of Korea gathered at London’s Marx House last Saturday afternoon to celebrate th monuments like the said Alonso, who said that performances in in the 96 anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people who despite her age (86) she Valencia, Barcelona and liberated the country from Japanese colonialism and led the Democratic People’s Repub- Sphinx witnessed the lic of Korea until his death in 1994. performance of the always tries to join her Leon. NCP leader Andy Brooks along with Chris Coleman from the RCPB(ML) and Jong In Song Cuban company. “This ballet company in every from the Democratic Korean embassy in London all spoke about the DPRK’s support for is a magic place, with tour. The Cuban National ACN (Cuba) national liberation and socialism and the celebration finished with music and a buffet that included Korean food to mark the occasion. Page 8 18 April 2008 THE NEW WORKER International News Web: www.newworker.org Fax 020 7223 4057

Food: Berlusconi faces tough job the other MEDIA MOGUL Silvio by Berlusconi between 2001 Berlusconi won his third and 2006. global term as Italian prime minis- This general election was ter on Monday, but the job will called after the government not be easy. Though the led by the centre-left bloc led crisis Berlusconi-led centre-right by Premier Romano Prodi col- alliance won a comfortable lapsed in January. Lasting majority in both the Chamber only 20 months, Prodi’s gov- A DRAMATIC rise in the of Deputies and the Senate of ernment fell after he lost his worldwide cost of food is pro- the Italy’s national parlia- majority in the Senate when voking riots throughout the ment, his victory was prima- one of his nine allies, the Third World where millions rily due to help from his al- UDEUR headed by then jus- more of the world’s most vul- lies. tice minister Clemente nerable people are facing Berlusconi’s People of Mastella, quit the coalition, a starvation as food shortages Freedom party joined hands possible scenario for the new grow and cereal prices soar, with two small right-wing part- government of Berlusconi. In threatening to become the ners, the Northern League fact, it was the Northern biggest crisis of the 21st cen- and the Movement for Au- League that caused tury. tonomy. Both want to see Berlusconi’s first government A report in the Indepen- powers devolved from the in 1994 to collapse. dent informs that the world’s state to regions. A strong lead in both most powerful finance minis- Walter Veltroni, houses of parliament will al- ters and central bankers are Berlusconi’s main rival and low for Berlusconi more flex- meeting in Washington over former mayor of Rome, has ibility to carry out economic the weekend; but as they pre- already predicted that and social reforms he • Berlusconi triumphant. occupy themselves with the Berlusconi will find it difficult promised. Once in office for ring a per capita annual debt ment will increase police re- dia and finance. He went on global credit crunch, another to hold the alliance together the third time, Berlusconi will interest of some 1,200 euros. sources and raise the number trial again in late 2006 charged crisis, far more grave, is fac- throughout the five-year term. face the imminent task of sav- Berlusconi had promised of officers patrolling city with fraud at broadcaster ing the world’s poorest “A season of opposition now ing a sluggish economy from to lower taxes and cut public neighbourhoods. It will curb Mediaset, which his family people. begins against a majority that recession, a major concern spending. His People of Free- illegal immigration, move controls. The report recalls that this will have a hard time keeping weighing heavily on most dom party plans a reduction against illegal gypsy settle- His ownership of Italian week crowds of hungry dem- together things that are diffi- voters. in payroll taxes and contribu- ments and introduce tougher television channels has been onstrators in Haiti stormed the cult to keep together,” Veltroni Italian economic growth tions to help make businesses penalties for crimes against controversial. According to presidential palace in the capi- said when conceding defeat, has been under-performing in more competitive. It also women and minors. Berlusconi’s adversaries, his tal, Port-au-Prince, in protests “I don’t know how long this recent years. In 2007, it was pledged to introduce mea- As for the justice system, media empire has played a over food prices. And a crisis majority will last.” 1.5 per cent, far below the sures to protect and bolster he had promised to continue crucial role in his political suc- gripped the Philippines as Italy has been locked in eurozone average of 2.7 per Italian exports. a previous reform drive. A key cess, a claim rejected by his massive queues formed to years of political instability cent. The $2.4-trillion But many Italian voters point, however, is the com- supporters. buy rice from government due to its complex electoral economy, the fourth largest in wanted to see concrete re- plete separation of the roles Berlusconi, 71, has one stocks. system, under which dozens the European Union, was pro- sults rather than repeated of judges and prosecutors. more challenge — his health. There have also been ri- of small parties manage to jected to grow merely 0.3 per pledges, criticising him for in- Ironically, Berlusconi himself In late 2006 he was admitted ots in Niger, Senegal, slice votes and a single party cent this year, according to a action on his promises during has been implicated in a string to hospital with a heart prob- Cameroon and Burkina Faso can seldom form a government forecast by the International his second term as prime min- of corruption probes, a scab lem, but he underwent suc- and protests in Mauritania, on its own. Monetary Fund earlier this ister from 2001 to 2006. that needs delicate handling cessful surgery later in the Ivory Coast, Egypt and Mo- There have been 61 gov- month, the slowest among the In addition to economic to avoid hurting his political Unite States. rocco. Mexico has had “torti- ernments in place since the more than two dozen “ad- issues, Berlusconi’s govern- career. “I feel a great sense of re- lla riots” and, in Yemen, chil- end of the Second World War vanced economies.” ment also has to improve se- Berlusconi has been sponsibility because the dren have marched to draw and the collapse of coalitions With a government debt curity for citizens in a coun- dogged by court cases relat- months and years ahead will attention to their hunger. is nothing new in Italy. The of 1,400 billion euros, more try still troubled by organised ing to his Fininvest business be difficult ones,” he told The global price of wheat only government that sur- than its annual gross domes- crime. The notorious Mafia is empire, one of the 10 largest public television when claim- has risen by 130 per cent in vived its full five-year term in tic product, Italy is Europe’s certainly the main target. Italian privately-owned coming victory. the past year. Rice has rock- the past half century was led most-indebted country, incur- Berlusconi says his govern- panies, which operate in me- Xinhua news agency eted by 74 per cent in the same period. It went up by more than 10 per cent in a single day last Friday — to an all- time high as African and Asian importers competed for the diminishing supply on inter- A work of love for the Cuban revolution national markets in an attempt to head off the mounting social unrest. ONE OF THE most pre- Today, there are, on the is- But the Cuban govern- been praised by interna- the greatest priorities of the The International Rice cious and humane out- land, more than 1100 kin- ment has looked for other tional institutions and au- Cuban revolution to which it Research Institute warned comes of the Cuban revo- dergartens which daily wel- ways to deal with the geno- thorities, due to its high has dedicated the fullest that prices will keep going up, lution was the foundation come more than 130,000 cidal policy against the Cu- quality. The education sec- resources. while the buffers stocks of th staple foods that govern- of kindergartens on 10 children between 0-6 years ban people. In April 2001 it tor has always been one of Radio Havana Cuba ments once held are being April 1961, a labour to old. was decided to give one steadily exhausted. which Vilma Espin, tire- However, there are not year maternity leave, which Rising prices have trig- less Cuban fighter for enough institutions of this allowed parents to both gered a food crisis in 37 coun- women’s emancipation sort. The actual needs are guarantee better care of the tries, according to the UN and the defence of the higher than the present ca- children and also to extend Food and Agriculture children’s rights, devoted pacity to fulfil them due to more milk diet-facilities for Organisation. The hike in herself with compassion the economic, financial and older children, which had prices means the World Food and dedication . trade blockade imposed by been also limited by the Programme is cutting food After the triumph of the the United States against lack of resources. handout rations to some 73 revolution on 1st January Cuba for almost five de- Despite the obstacles, million people in 78 countries. 1959, the Cuban authorities cades, which has consider- the Cuban revolution has The threat of malnutrition on a massive scale is looming, said they would guarantee ably affected this sector striven to guarantee the says the report and warns that that women would be ac- daily facing the lack of ma- same educational level for the impact is beginning to be tively involved in the daily terials and resources to every child by the time they felt in the rich world, too. educational and health care guarantee the children’s reach the age to be regis- More expensive wheat has of their children as well as educational progress. tered in primary schools. caused large rises in the cost being part of the general Recent research by the That’s why, to catch the in- of pasta and bread in Italy, labour force outside the Cuban Ministry of Educa- fants attention living with where consumer groups home. As a result a certain tion on damages incurred mothers at home, it trans- staged a one-day strike that number of houses were con- by this blockade by suc- mits the programme Edu- brought pasta consumption verted into child care cen- cessive US administrations cate your Children, that en- down five per cent. tres for preschool children. reveals how the deteriora- sures that 99.5 percent of France and Australia have The philosophy of these tion of the condition of kin- the children all over the is- launched national inquiries dergartens and the interrup- land are also learning. into rising food prices and are centres was aimed at fos- pressing food producers and tering values and develop- tion in the construction pro- Around 30,000 teachers supermarkets to absorb price ing skills to give the basis cess means that hardly 34 are trained for this educa- rises. In Britain, the price of for elementary learning. This per cent of Cuban workers tional level. The Cuban edu- bread is rising in line with the was a form of preparation for demands for child places cational system — espe- cost of wheat. entry into primary schools. are met every year. cially kindergartens — has Radio Havana Cuba as a newspaper. Printed by New Age Press (TU). Registed at the Post Office