Same Old Divide and Rule Monthly Target of £3,000

WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!

No 1427 Week commencing 2 March 2007 Weekly paper of the New Communist Party of Britain 50p McDONNELL IS LABOURS BEST HOPE • McDonnell supporters on the march for peace. by Daphne Liddle that he could split the left- “The Case for a Socialist creditable record of doing themselves while they are IT’S ALL getting very messy at the top of the wing within the Labour Labour Government”. grass roots work and fight- doing this “voluntary” work Labour Party as Blair’s premiership winds down, Party and make it easier The Transport and ing the fascist British Na- is a mystery. Many have for Brown to win. General Workers’ Union tional Party. pointed out that forced un- long past its natural end, and lacking any leader- The essential thing is Broad Left has unani- There have been open paid “voluntary” work is ship it is falling apart. that Brown should be chal- mously endorsed the arguments between Cabi- slavery. A YouGov poll last Committee, who is stand- lenged. If McDonnell gets John4Leader campaign. net members over policy on Meanwhile Foreign week put Tory leader David ing for a return to a social- the signatures of 45 fellow They join national unions: families and Home Secre- Secretary Margaret Cameron 13 percentage ist Labour Party. Labour MPs this will force ASLEF, the RMT and tary John Reid has been Beckett is proving she does points ahead of Gordon But veteran MP a contest in which the FBU; union broad lefts: scrapping with MI6 over have a sense of humour Brown when people were Michael Meacher is now whole Labour Party mem- Amicus Unity Gazette, whether or not the military after all by claiming with a asked who would make the putting himself forward bership gets to vote, includ- CWU Broad Left and Uni- intelligence agency – straight face that there is best prime minister. also as a challenger from ing members of affiliated son United Left. known as the armed wing no link between the Brown’s succession is the left and claiming to be unions. When that hap- McDonnell also has the of the Confederation of planned withdrawal of becoming less and less a “more credible” than pens, Brown’s succession support of activists’ British Industry – should be 1,600 troops from Iraq and foregone conclusion as he McDonnell. Meacher has is very far from certain. organisations: Welsh merged into his new “Se- the posting of 1,400 to Af- faces challenges from the attended many LRC events Labour Grassroots, Scottish curity Department” when, ghanistan. right and left. but has not committed him- union rights Campaign for Socialism, as Reid hopes, the Home Blair is saying that at Ultra-Blairites Alan self to join. He has recently Socialist Youth Network, Office is divided in two. least 4,000 British troops Milburn and Charles attacked the growing McDonnell and the CLPD, and the LRC – all They are all trying to will stay in Iraq for five Clarke are calling for a full wealth gap and the obscen- LRC are currently cam- of whom have backed the cap each other in dream- years. debate over the future ity of the money that the paigning for support for the campaign unanimously or ing up new draconian mea- The best we can hope leadership of the Labour fat cats of finance and in- Trade Union Freedom Bill, overwhelmingly. sures to be imposed on for is a McDonnell victory Party. They claim they are dustry are paying them- introduced by McDonnell, There is another great “threats” from single moth- – and it is a real possibility. doing this for the health of selves. to restore union rights to battle going forward for the ers to al Qaeda terrorists. It will not bring what we the party but neither has But he has weak- workers in Britain that position of deputy leader, to Brown has announced mean by socialism but it said they will not run for the nesses, especially for his were abolished by the To- replace John Prescott who that immigrants should be will be a retreat from the top job themselves. own private wealth. The ries in the 1980s – and will resign at the same time compelled to perform vol- anti-working class New Meanwhile on the left press has wasted no time which Blair has failed to as Blair, with Peter Hain untary work in order to in- Labour policies. most trade union and in pointing out the hypoc- restore. trying to pretend to be left tegrate them into the com- organised support is com- risy of his remarks since he McDonnell is also wing again. The only can- munity. Since they are not ing together behind owns 11 separate proper- speaking at a rally in didate with any shred of allowed to receive any ben- backbench MP John ties, which provide him with Friends House, 173, Euston integrity seems to be efits when they first arrive, FUND McDonnell, leader of the a substantial rental income. Road, London, next Tues- Dagenham MP John how they are expected to February is a short Labour Representation There is a real danger day 6th March at 7pm on Cruddas, who has a very pay the rent and feed and bitter month and so it has proved with our fund. Last week we received £668.50, bringing the monthly total to £1,791.10, which is £1,209.90 short of our Iraq: same old divide and rule monthly target of £3,000. We thank all of you by our Arab Affairs in Baghdad on Monday. The and detained by American powers and the Arab League. by being branded as part of who did send money: the Correspondent bomb, apparently planted in- patrols. Others have gone into Envoys from Britain, China, the “axis of evil” by George W Cumbrian bees send us side the building, killed 12 temporary exile in Iran. Russia, France and the Bush. £10; a reader in Ostend THE AMERICAN “surge” of- others and wounded 42 The US plan, according to United States will attend this Iran knows US imperial- sent £3.50; our London fensive is underway in more. Inside the capital fight- the Al Sadr’s supporters, is to “security” conference in ism is trying to isolate Tehran Scot gave his regular £10 Baghdad but it has clearly ing rages between partisan cripple or disarm the Mahdi Baghdad that has been to force them to back down and a Swansea supporter failed to impose imperialist units and the American Army and the Badr Brigades nominally organised by the over the nuclear issue or face sent £20; a Dagenham order on the Iraqi capital or troops and tit-for-tat reprisals and then replace the current puppet regime. the wrath of the US air force comrade gave £10 and a hinder the partisan opera- against each other by local Shia dominated puppet gov- The proposal has been and they also know that Yorkshire friend gave tions against the US-led oc- sectarian Shia and Sunni ernment with a new “national” cautiously welcomed in Washington has been trying £5. The Metropolitan cupation army and the pup- militias. coalition of collaborators that Tehran. “If it serves Iraq’s in- to forge an anti-Iranian front NCP gave £10. All the pet regime. the Americans hope will interests, we would attend the amongst its remaining Arab rest came from bankers’ The resistance shot crack down clude some Sunni elements talks,” the secretary of Iran’s friends. orders and again we down two American helicop- who are currently backing the Supreme National Security America’s great friend is thank all the comrades ter gunships during the fight- Though the nationalist partisans. Council told the media on Saudi Arabia and this, no who give in this way. ing last week and the puppet and largely Sunni quarters The aim, as always, is to Wednesday. Ali Larijani was doubt, is why Prince Bandar We fight for the work- Iraqi vice-president narrowly are the prime targets of the divide and weaken the resis- not too keen on the participa- bin Sultan, the head of the ing class and against the escaped with his life in a US troops, the Americans are tance and allow the imperial- tion of the Big Five on the UN Saudi National Security ruling class so we’re bomb blast. This, perhaps, is also beginning to crack down ist occupation to continue to Security Council but he ac- Council, was in Tehran ear- hardly going to get rul- why Washington is belatedly on some of the Shia move- plunder Iraq’s oil wealth with- cepted that this was the wish lier in the week for talks with ing class backing. We turning to diplomacy to try and ments in an attempt to re- out the constant losses that of the Iraqi government. Larijani. Lebanon was top of depend on the pennies of extract itself from the quag- duce the influence of the pro- are draining the American the agenda because the the workers, the small mire of its own creation by Iranian militias in advance of war-machine and stoking up suspicious Saudis back the current pro- sums donated by people calling an international con- a possible attack on Iran. the fires of the anti-war move- American government and who don’t have much to ference next month which will Both the Mahdi Army, led by ment in the United States and The Iranians are naturally Iran is seen as the major spare. But please, keep on include delegations from maverick cleric Muqtada al across the globe. suspicious of anything com- supporter of the opposition sending it, it’s small beer Syria and Iran. Sadr, and the Badr Brigades But its all been done being out of Washington these Shia Hezbollah movement. to big business but it’s Iraqi puppet vice presi- – the armed wing of the Shia fore and it’s always failed. So days. The last time they co- Both sides “emphasised treasure to us. dent Adel Abdel Mahdi was hierarchy – are keeping a Washington has mobilised its operated with the Americans the necessity of finding a so- Please send what you slightly injured when a bomb low profile to avoid any direct diplomats to puff up a confer- in the drive to oust the Taliban lution agreed by all Leba- can to the New Worker exploded while he was confrontation with the Ameri- ence next month that will in- regime in Afghanistan, which nese groups” and mend Fund, PO Box 73, London speaking at a meeting in the cans. Some of their leaders clude Egypt, Syria and Iran the Islamic Republic de- fences between Saudi Arabia SW11 2PQ. “Townships Ministry” building have been roughly treated along with the five UN veto tested, they were “rewarded” and Iran’s ally, Syria. Page 2 THE NEW WORKER 2 March 2007 email: [email protected] News Desk 020 7223 4050

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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123Say no more Grave error Thumbs up The Cadbury Playing console games Schweppes confectionary like Playstation and prise: Gemma had mistakenly Later he said: “We will company has been forced Weekly paper of the New Communist Party Nintendo helps young sur- signed her name in the “wit- embroil them, confuse them to apologise to the parks geons improve their skills ness” space – and best man and keep them in the quag- commissioner in Boston, in the operating theatre ac- Paul Hickleston had put his mire. They cannot just enter a Massachusetts, over an cording to a recent study. signature where the bride’s country of 26 million people advertising stunt for the Dr Research conducted at should have been. and lay besiege to them! They Pepper fizzy drink that A plague the Beth Israel medical cen- Chef Chris said: “I are the ones who will find went disastrously wrong. tre in New York found a di- couldn’t believe my eyes themselves under siege.” The company hid a rect link between video when I saw what we’d done. coin worth $10,000 in a of locusts gaming and skill at keyhole, I’ve known my best man for False impression well-known place and is- or laparoscopic, surgery. over 20 years and he’s a great sued a series of clues to Young surgeons who spent guy – but I don’t want him as Cabinet Minister Peter enable treasure hunters to THE GMB union last Tuesday staged a dem- at least three hours a week my missus.” Hain last week complained find it. The successful onstration in Ludwig-Erhard Anlarge, Frank- playing console games in bitterly after television satirist tracker would be eligible to furt in Germany outside an international con- the past made 37 per cent Long-sighted and impressionist Rory win another $1 million. ference held by the European Private Equity fewer errors, were 27 per Bremner imitated the voice of But the company con- and Venture Capital Association. The venture cent faster and scored 42 In March 2003 the west- Chancellor Gordon Brown in cealed it in the Old Granary capitalists are threatening to leave Europe if per cent better overall than ern media mocked Iraqi infor- a telephone conversation with Burying Ground in Boston, surgeons who had never mation minister Mohammed Foreign Secretary Margaret a historic graveyard that in- they are forced to pay taxes; the union ban- played these games at all. ners told them to “slam the door shut as you Saeed al Sahaf, calling him Beckett. cludes the graves of many Comical Ali for the unreal op- of the leaders of the Ameri- leave and good riddance”. Mixed marriage timism of his broadcasts. This Beckett was entirely taken can war of Independence. Venture capitalism came to the headlines un- was when the Bush and Blair in by the hoax and spent The local authority had der the Thatcher government of the 1980s, when a Chris Adams from spin doctors were assuring the around 10 minutes discussing to lock the gates of the cem- group of “corporate raiders” led by Sir James Gold- Loughborough exchanged world that the war would be her fellow ministers and other etery to protect it from des- smith and his Mayfair chums made fortunes for vows with bride Gemma over in just three weeks. senior Labour Party officers ecration by over-eager themselves by pooling their funds, buying up work- Mortell in a St Valentine’s At the time, “Comical Ali” – and not very flatteringly. treasure-seekers, set to dig ing capitalist enterprises through hostile bids. Once Day wedding but was later warned them: “Do not be Later Hain and Bremner up the whole plot in their they had taken over a company they would sell off horrified to learn that he hasty because your disap- appeared on BBC One’s Sun- quest. had “married” his best man. pointment will be huge. You day AM, where Bremner Cadbury Schweppes capital assets like land and buildings – sometimes When the couple re- will reap nothing from this renting them back. They would use the company’s asked: “I want to know who’s had to offer a grovelling turned from honeymoon aggressive war, which you impersonating Peter Hain Be- apology and choose the financial standing to borrow huge sums; pay them- and checked the wedding launched on Iraq, except dis- cause I remember you as a lucky $1 million winner by selves a fortune in salaries and bonuses and then certificate they had a sur- grace and defeat.” leftwing ideological figure.” drawing lots. abandon it, now stripped of assets and loaded with debts, to its fate. This was the age when the Government de- creed that “greed was good” and the process was healthy for capitalism because it weeded out lame ducks – all part of the survival of the fittest philoso- Faulty points caused phy. Venture capitalists also avoid paying taxes by running their investments technically at a loss. Shareholders were happy to sell out to the venture capitalists at a tidy profit. The real victims were fatal derailment the workers employed by these companies that were sucked dry and spat out as jobs were cut by the by Caroline Colebrook thousand. The process culminated in the scandal of Enron, which rocked America. THE CUMBRIA rail crash Now the venture capitalists are back. The GMB last week has been blamed on first raised the alarm a couple of years when the a faulty set of points after an private equity group Permira took over the Auto- initial investigation by the mobile Association. Its first action was to Rail Accident Investigation Board. Investigators found derecognise the union, then sack 3,500 workers, one of three stretcher bars who are represented by the GMB. The remaining was not in position, two were workers were bullied into doing increasing over- fractured and bolts were time; AA patrols now work an average 11.75 hours missing. a day and cannot give a decent service. The com- An elderly woman died pany is rapidly losing customers but Permira have and 22 passengers were in- loaded the AA with debts of £1.9 billion, equivalent jured, eight of them seriously, to six years of subscription income. when a Pendolino operated Now Permira has bought Birds Eye in Hull from by Virgin Trains came off the rails and careered down an Unilever. The local MP, Cabinet Minister Alan embankment at Grayrigg, Johnson, was assured the jobs were protected un- north of Kendall, last Friday der Tupe arrangements. Six months later the work- night. ers are being sacked. Another private equity group, The accident could have 3i, took over National Car Parks. It fixes daily tar- been far worse if the train gets for parking fines and bullies and harasses staff driver had not heroically and to penalise London motorists to meet these targets. at great risk to himself re- 3i’s website claims a “strong sense of values” and mained in his cab doing all he “close partnerships” with the companies it “invests” could to slow the train down in. But it doesn’t want to know about its workers after it left the tracks. The construction of the who are getting beaten up on the streets. If they Pendolino carriages, which glas Alexander, the Transport gate bedding of the tracks. “The privateers like to call don’t return to work at once they are threatened were not crushed, also helped Secretary, backed by the Prime The crew were employed this idea vertical integration, with dismissal. 3i is now selling it on to an Austra- to save lives. Minister and Chancellor, to by a private maintenance com- but the reality is that it would lian bank after having made a fortune from it. On Monday Network Rail implement its recommenda- pany, contracted by Network mean more fragmentation, and Venture capitalism is an extreme form of capi- chief executive John Armitt tions – even if it means spend- Rail. Network rail said it had it is fragmentation that is at talism, one that preys on other capitalists, a para- said his organisation was ing substantial public money. no record of their concerns the heart of the railways’ site on the back of other parasites. But it is also an “devastated” by the investi- “The points in the but did not deny the truth of problems. inevitable development of capitalism. The GMB is gators’ report and took full Cumbria rail crash were re- their account. “It is bad enough that fighting mainly to defend union recognition and save responsibility and issued an portedly 30 years old, despite there are still contractors, jobs. But a capitalist government has no answers. “unreserved apology”. the upgrading of the West privatisation sub-contractors, labour-only Lawyer Louise Christian, Coast line. It is known that agencies and one-man-and-a- It cannot legislate to stop capitalists behaving like who represents the victims there was no proper record of Sir Richard Branson, who trolley outfits let loose on the capitalists, even though this behaviour is like a virus and seven bereaved families the age and safety-critical chairs Virgin Trains, has called tracks under Network Rail. that will ultimately destroy the whole system. in the Potters Bar rail crash in parts of the crumbling Victo- for further privatisation of rail- “Trains and tracks should Last weekend a new sinister development 2002, has said there are far too rian rail infrastructure. way maintenance and repairs be operated by the same emerged: venture capitalists have been making big many parallels between the “Fragmented privatisation – which were brought under organisation, but that donations to the Labour Party. They may well be two crashes. She described continues to play a malign role the control of the publicly organisation should be pub- after the value tied up in Labour halls and offices the families’ shock at the lack in sucking out money from the owned company Network Rail licly owned and controlled – up and down the country but it is more likely they of accountability among the places it is needed. A public after Potters Bar. maybe we could call it British are set to destroy the link between Labour and the different private interests inquiry examining the reasons But the RMT transport Rail. blaming each other after Pot- for both crashes should be union said that Branson’s “Handing the track net- unions. They know their real enemy is the organised ters Bar. called urgently.” suggestion is the complete work to the private sector was working class. She said: “The families of Technicians had been reverse of what is needed. bad enough when it was done We must support the union campaigns against those affected by the Cumbria asked to repair the set of “The idea of divvying up by a single organisation, but venture capitalism but at the same time point out train crash should not have points in question the week the tracks among the private splitting it up and handing it that only socialism can put a stop to it. to face the same indifference before the accident. Concern train operators fills me with to a host of operators whose [as the Potters bar families]. had been raised by the crew horror,” RMT general secre- sole aim is to make a profit There must be a full inquiry of a “tamping” machine, tary Bob Crow said on Mon- would be a recipe for further and a commitment from Dou- which compacts the aggre- day. disaster,” Bob Crow said. 2 March 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 3 Home News Newsdesk 020 7223 4050 NHS Together Day of Action Reporting on Palestine rd on Saturday 3 March PAULINE Collins and Norma When they get to the Rana of the Palestine Solidar- fields they cannot farm the ity Campaign last Friday slopes of a nearby hill – there DOCTORS, nurses, hospital that starts at 11am in the city’s Square, local schools, col- organisations that represent cleaners, midwives and Western Park (opposite the night spoke to a packed meet- is an illegal Israeli settlement leges and drama groups are staff working in the NHS, to- at the top and the settlers ha- radiographers will be Children’s Hospital) and ends to perform plays, poems or gether with the TUC. Its aim ing room in Blackheath, amongst the thousands of at City Hall. south-east London, of their rass the farmers and damage draw pictures depicting what is to defend and celebrate the recent visit to Palestine’s the trees. But if the land is left NHS staff marking a national Barber will then speak at the NHS means to them. improvements in local health Day of Action in defence of the a rally, along with other key West Bank. unfarmed for a number of Speakers at a rally in Lon- services that have been years, the farmers are forced health service in towns and figures in the NHS Together don include Unison’s na- achieved by extra Government Their talk was illustrated cities across the Britain. campaign such as Maura by slides and packed with in- to relinquish ownership of it tional secretary for health, spending and the hard work formation and shocking sta- under laws that go back to the NHS employees and Buchanan, president of the Karen Jennings; Amicus as- and commitment of NHS staff. members of the public will be Royal College of Nursing, and tistics on the lives of ordinary Ottoman Empire. sistant general secretary Gail But NHS Together is people in Palestine under the Pauline and Norma de- joining together to take part TUC Yorkshire and the Cartmail and Josie Irwin, the warning that this progress is in rallies, marches, candlelit Humber Regional Secretary, oppressive and illegal Israeli scribed the effects of the gi- RCN’s head of employment under threat from: ant partition wall built on Pal- vigils and street theatre per- Bill Adams. relations. • deficits in local NHS occupation. formances on Saturday 3rd Another event takes They visited the agricul- estinian land to prevent Pal- The event takes place trusts; tural village of Beit Furik, with estinians moving about March. place in Birmingham city cen- from 1.30pm at the Friends • too much and too rapid Events are happening tre. At noon Saturday, a rally a population of 25,000 situ- freely. The wall is not straight; Meeting House on the top-down reform and ated 25 miles from East Jerusa- it has many loops that create across England and the north organised by the Midlands Euston Road. reorganisation that does not of Ireland, from Gloucester to TUC and health unions in the lem. isolated enclaves, cutting off Gloucester Royal Hospi- involve NHS staff; those within from the rest of Sunderland, and from Belfast region, is to be addressed by tal is the venue for a candle- • the rapid expansion of They described the key to Sheffield. the new RCN general secre- nd issues affecting the people of their community. lit vigil at 5pm on Friday 2 the private sector and reforms the village, including denial of It forces people to walk One of the weekend tary Dr Peter Carter and March, and Saturday sees a that have set different parts events taking place involves Unison’s president Malcolm access to water, which is ra- many miles from their homes march and rally in Preston’s of the NHS competing against tioned by the Israelis, and to their places of work and a number of hill-walking em- Cantello. Flag Market involving health each for patients. ployees who plan to scale the And in Crawley, there is denial of access to their fields study, which are quite close employees from hospitals This is fragmenting the as the crow flies and it iso- heights of Skiddaw, England’s to be street theatre in celebra- across the North West. health service and stopping to harvest their olives. third highest peak, to unfurl tion of the NHS. From 11am- The people of Beit Furik lates clinics from the commu- NHS Together is a new it working together for the have to pass through military nities they serve. an NHS Together banner at 3pm in the town’s Queen’s alliance of all the good of patients. the summit. checkpoints to get to their The local people have a The following day in own farm land but the open- simple list of demands, includ- Woking, bands and artists ing times of the checkpoints ing being treated as human such as Sham 69, The Pretty are brief, arbitrary and con- beings, a Palestinian state Things and Rhoda Dakar take stantly changing. equal to that of the Israelis, to the stage at the H G Wells Permits are needed to get the right of return to the Centre from 2pm to “Rock for through the checkpoints and homes they have been evicted the NHS”. can be taken away arbitrarily. from, the restoration of their On the NHS day of ac- People can be arrested and olive groves and a fair price tion, TUC general secretary detained for no reason. Some- for their goods when they Brendan Barber will be head- times they are released after a take them to market. ing to Sheffield to join a march few hours; sometimes they The Women’s Union disappear into prisons. raised £1,000 in funds for the Delays at checkpoints are village, which was used to responsible for a number of buy two sewing machines to deaths, as ambulances are make clothes for sale; a digi- Labour denied access and both casu- tal camera, piano and com- alties and women in labour are puter with internet access for rebels rescue denied access to urgently the Children’s Drama Asso- needed medical care. Many ciation and traditional Pales- babies born to women queu- tinian clothes for the boys’ probation ing at checkpoints have died dance group. They are setting service and so have some mothers. up a website for the village.

HOME OFFICE ministers last week backed down and amended their own Manage- ment of Offenders Bill in order to avoid a humiliating defeat on the future of the pro- Thousands march against war bation service. PEACE protesters from all ported by peace groups, were there. It was so big The amendments re- over Britain assembled in trade unions, progressive that one hour after the head stored local accountability to London last Saturday for political parties including the of the march had reached the probation service and a massive march from New Communist Party, com- Trafalgar Square; people gave assurances that vital Hyde Park to Trafalgar munity groups and thou- were still leaving Hyde tasks such as the writing of Square. And in Glasgow sands of individuals. Park. court reports will not be more thousands marched Estimates of the num- The march had very privatised without further par- in the same cause. bers involved in the London little coverage in the press liamentary approval. Both were organised march range from 60,000 to and television in Britain but The Government faced by the Stop the War coali- 100,000, though the police was well covered else- defeat because more than 40 tion, CND and the British estimate of 10,000 is re- where, including on the Labour MPs had sworn to Muslim Initiative and sup- garded as a joke by all who Euro News channel. vote to protect core tasks from • Norma Rana and Pauline Collins. being privatised and the To- ries had said they would back them. The retreat is regarded as further evidence of the growing weakness of Tony Blair’s An Anti-Fascist Fortnight in the south east position as Prime Minister. The chief of the Probation THE SOUTH East Region of Searchlight’s started asking questions underpinning it has hitherto lice and turned in his two as- Boards Association, Martin the TUC (Sertuc) has given www.stopthebnp.com still about the South African lacked. sociates.” Wargent, said the Bill was “a its full backing to the Anti- exists but the new site will apartheid connection and the Nieuwhof, 35, is an immi- The anti-fascists intend to hugely centralising measure”, Fascist Fortnight being give up to date and detailed BNP’s secret think-tank. grant but that has proved no see the BNP off in the May which transferred account- organised by Redbridge and information to all those who “Solidarity’s website is bar to his rise to a position of elections. Whilst no seats are ability for probation work from Epping Forest Together. wish to take part. hosted by a man called Dr influence in the BNP. Perhaps up for election in London, the local people to the Home Sec- Gerry Gable has been Lambertus Nieuwhof. He and that is because of his past BNP are moving in their Lon- retary. This group has been op- designated as the co-ordinator his Herefordshire-based com- record as a white racist don resources into the Home He said the Home Office erating in those two areas for for the Anti-Fascist Fortnight pany, Vidronic Online, have fighter.” Counties and we must face had already hired an extra the last three years. It is a for Greater London and the also taken over most of the “Fifteen years ago South them down and defeat them 1,600 staff even before the Bill broadly based non-party, Sertuc region. He can be BNP’s other internet opera- Africa was in the process of in all these areas. had become law. Wargent cross-race and faith body. reached on the above email tions, including the party’s dismantling apartheid. The This coupled with the added: “The probation ser- The group is in the final address or on 020 8550 1805. website for Barking and white supremacists of the ter- pending re-trial of two BNP vice in its 100th year faces be- stages of planning three ac- The British National Party Dagenham, where the BNP rorist Afrikaner Weerstand terror-linked activists, the life ing broken up tomorrow.” tivities in support of the Anti- last Saturday was forced to had 12 councillors elected last Beweging (AWB) were doing sentence of a BNP supporter The Bill would scrap lo- Fascist Fortnight: 24th March cancel the annual general May. their utmost to prevent the after he shot two black people cal probation boards and ap- to 7th April 2007. meeting of its bogus trade “Nieuwhof, known in the move towards majority rule in London and several other point “regional offender man- They are calling on all union body, “Solidarity” after BNP as Bep, is also part of the and to restore the racist sys- recent cases involving BNP agers” who would buy pro- progressive organisations to the anti-fascist magazine BNP’s secret think-tank, a tem. Three men had planted a officers and activists in seri- bation and prison services give support and to partici- Searchlight exposed its apart- small inner circle of men home-made bomb at the Cal- ous violence shows the BNP from public, private and vol- pate. heid links. whose identity is unknown to vary Church School in protest are a threat to the democracy untary organisations. More From Friday 2nd March a The BNP has cited pub- both the wider membership against the school’s decision we live in. commercial local probation new web site carrying details lic order considerations, but and the general public. Their to become racially mixed. advisory trusts, appointed by of the Fortnight will be this is just a smokescreen, said task is to form policy for Nick When the bomb failed to go “Let’s join Together for the Home Secretary, would opened at Searchlight, “The BNP is run- Griffin, the BNP leader, and off, one of them lost his nerve. Hope Not Hate and defeat the replace existing boards. www.hopenothate.org.uk ning scared after Searchlight give the party the intellectual He gave himself up to the po- fascists,” said Gerry Gable. Page 4 THE NEW WORKER 2 March 2007 Features Slavery and Freedom

by Prof Mohammed Arif West Africa to the trading cen- tres in Virginia. Prior to that time, A talk given to the World the Dutch had already formed Muslim, Sikh Federation their own Dutch West Indies Company in 1621 to ship slaves in February. to the Americas. African slaves were in great demand because they were I WOULD LIKE THANK the skilled workers and experts in World Muslim, Sikh Federa- tropical agriculture. They had tion for inviting me to speak high immunity to malaria and yel- to you on the subject of sla- low fever compared with Euro- very and freedom. In March peans and Native Americans. this year we will be celebrat- The slave trade made slave trading the bicentenary of the end ers rich and brought a massive of Britain’s part in the slave supply of labour to the Caribbean trade. There will be lectures, and American colonies. Capital- film shows, exhibitions and ism in America could not have TV programmes. The Heri- progressed without the slave tage Lottery Fund has trade. granted £16million for this They did not succeed in en- purpose. slaving Native Americans (so- The Abolition of the Slave called “Red Indians”) as they Trade Act was passed by the were rebellious, supported by British Parliament in 1807. This their tribes and knew their coun- Act outlawed the slave trade in • Branding of slaves of both sexes was commonplace. try better than white immigrants, the British Empire. However, the while African slaves found them- slave trade continued for more selves in a strange atmosphere than 30 years in deferent forms est importance. It was the basis in a strange country without any after the act was passed. During of the Greek economy and help or support. this period, major slave rebellions propped up the Roman Empire. As a result of the trans-At- took place in Jamaica, Dominica, The demand for African slave lantic slave trade between the Barbados, Honduras and labour arose in the New World 16th and mid 19th centuries, over Guyana. This was primarily be- through the development of plan- 20 million Africans were re- cause the Act gave false expec- tation agriculture, the long-term moved from their home and tation among slaves that their rise in the price of sugar, cotton shipped to the New World. servitude might soon come to an and minerals, and the need for Around 50 per cent died, either end. This was a mistake and the domestic servants. The African in transit or while being prepared rebellions were savagely slave trade was massively for servitude. crushed. boosted and carried out on an in- These sons and daughters of In fact, the Act was not re- dustrial scale as Europeans be- the African continent were kid- spected even by the British who gan to invade and occupy that napped and forcibly carried to the violated it by purchasing black continent. Corrupt African rulers Americas to be sold and branded people in the slave market to were supported by Europeans to with the initials of their masters’ serve in their imperial wars. Black participate in the ghastly trade. name, with large iron hooks hung people were imported from the This point was eloquently around their necks. Extremely slave market in Goa and elaborated by Karl Marx: “West- cruel instruments of torture were Mozambique to fight a war of ern capitalism, in its period of used against them. This applied conquest in Ceylon. primitive accumulation, turned not only to the US but also to the However, when the final end Africa into a commercial warren • Above: some people fought against slavery. Below: A baby is handed Caribbean and South America. of the slave trade took place it for the hunting of black skin.” over to its slave nanny on this Greek vase. Slavery in US was fundamen- was due to the enormous struggle Marx further pointed out that cascaded down from generation velopment of black slavery. In tally different from other parts of by slaves themselves, who were “labour in the white skin can to generation.” 1672, the King of England char- the world. Here, most blacks at the heart of their own libera- never be free when in the black The state of Virginia in the US tered the Royal Africa Company were slaves and no slaves were tion (today they would probably it is branded”. was the primary site for the de- to bring a shipload of slaves from white. It was strictly racial. be described as terrorists), with The British, French and Span- From 1660 to 1860, slavery in the help of their supporters and ish scoured the Gulf of Guinea, the United States was governed sympathisers throughout the moved east, around the Cape of by an extensive body of laws: world. Good Hope and up to These laws made slavery a per- To understand the horrors of Mozambique. The slave traders manent condition inherited slavery, we need to be both pas- moved into the interior, plunder- through the mother and defined sionate and informed about the ing as they went, capturing all, slaves as property. It placed the way in which human relations regardless of age and sex, set- label of inferiority on black skin were perverted by the insatiable ting tribe against tribe, murder- and black culture. Slaves could thirst for incredible wealth. ing and looting. Darcus Howe, a not marry, own property, give I would like to quote distinguished writer has pointed evidence in a court of law, carry Makgabuka K Kola, a distin- out that for the first time in its weapons, assemble in groups or guished African writer who said, history, Africa experienced mur- leave plantations without permis- “a person without knowledge of der and plunder on an unimagin- sion of their master; slaves could his own history, culture and iden- able scale. be bought and sold, auctioned, tity is a lost person. He is like a For the African continent it rented and separated from their lifeless leaf that drifts aimlessly was tantamount to a Holocaust. family. with neither direction nor destiny The continent was robbed of its It may be worth noting that over the ocean of time.” physical, intellectual, technical many distinguished leaders of the This quotation underlines the and productive capabilities. The US were slave owners. In 1774 significance of this meeting. The process of negative “cumulative George Washington held 202 slave trade did try to disconnect and circular causation” devas- slaves, while Thomas Jefferson African slaves from their heri- tated the continent economically owned 187 slaves and both be- tage, achievements, culture and and socially. came President of the United identity. The impact of the injus- Richard Gott has pointed out: States and “founding fathers” of tices of slavery is palpable today “For more than two centuries the the nation. However, in their life- among the descendents of slaves. slave trade has been the central times, they did very little to re- Slavery is about the owner- feature of Britain’s foreign com- lieve the suffering of slaves. ship and control of people by merce. The beneficiaries in- In fact, African slaves had other people through economic cluded financiers, landowners, very few supporters and friends and military means. It has existed and merchants. The wealth cre- in the countries which owned and since the beginning of time, long ated by slave trade was a crucial traded them. With the honourable before it came to be seen in terms element which made the indus- exception of Methodists and of race. In fact, slavery was an trial revolution possible. In some Quakers, many leading churches economic institution of the great- specific families that wealth has supported and profited from the 2 March 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 5 Features 020 7223 4052

On the other hand, slavery in mander of British Forces in America was solely based on the America, declared freedom for colour of the skin and the racist slaves who joined the British perception of the inferiority of the forces against the rebels. African culture. George Washington also The example of Phyllis asked the help of slaves to fight Wheatley is a case in point. Phyllis for freedom from the British, was born in Senegal in 1753. She promising that he would put the was abducted into slavery at the issue of abolition of slavery be- age of seven and shipped to Bos- fore the Congress, knowing full ton, US. She was brought up by well that the Congress would a family called Wheatley. At the never approve it. age of 13, Phyllis had not only In 1778, the Society of Friends achieved a complete command of of Blacks was set up in Paris. the English language, but also had In 1807 Britain finally abol- • William Wilberforce. studied Greek, Latin and pub- ished the slave trade in all its colo- slave trade. Many Bishops lished her first poem. nies. owned hundreds of slaves. The Later on, she published many In this respect, the contribu- Church of England has recently masterpiece poems and pieces of tions of Lord (William) apologised for its role in the slave prose. Had she lived in more en- Wilberforce (a Conservative trade. lightened times, she could have MP) and Thomas Clarkson in Many slaves were converted won the Nobel Prize. Many of fighting slavery were extremely to Christianity but that led to little her white opponents could not important. They helped to set up improvement in their conditions. believe that a young black slave anti-slavery committees through- Slave owners had Christian was capable of writing so well out the country and mobilised names but no Christian ethics. and so profoundly. They also could public opinion against it. The complicity of some Christian not tolerate her revolutionary Moreover, the French revolu- missionaries in the plunder of views regarding freedom, human tion of 1789 played a major role Africa has been very powerfully equality and human dignity. in providing the ideological basis presented by Jomo Kenyata The racists at the time tried for revolt against slavery. One of former president of Kenya: to dismiss her as a fraud. The the first acts of the revolution “When the white man came to Lieutenant Governor of Massa- was to abolish slavery. Africa, he had the Bible and we chusetts prosecuted her in a court When Britain finally abolished had the land, and now we have of law for plagiarism, which was the slave trade, it compensated the Bible and he has the land.” a criminal offence at that time. the slave owners but not the The intellectual basis for the She won the case and the racists slaves, leaving the question of slave trade was provided by a were forced to acknowledge that compensation and reparation un- twisted logic promoted by the she was the sole author of her resolved. What Africans are ask- slave owners, that slave labour works. ing for is the stolen fruits of their was uneconomic and if slaves Oscar Wilde later on wrote ancestor’s labour to be given were freed, then they would not that the mistreatment of Phyllis back to their rightful heirs. produce enough to feed them- Wheatley could be put down to This is a powerful argument selves. At the same time, slave the fact that they (Americans) for the cancellation of all African owners were renting slaves, were a nation of philistines who debt as a collective way of ad- earning rental income and were would not have been able to de- mitting responsibility and atoning still able to feed them. This proved fine the term ‘philistine’. • Above: slaves in the US were routinely badly treated, this is the result for the suffering western coun- of a whipping. Below: slavery is still with us in various forms – these tries caused. Tony Blair has be- the duplicitous nature of this logic. It is an established maxim that children are employed breaking rocks, the traditional occupation of Slavery in America was dif- where there is oppression, there criminals. latedly expressed “deep sorrow” ferent from other parts of the is resistance! There were slave over the slave trade without ten- world not only because of its ra- revolts in America as early as dering an apology or restitution. cial dimensions but also because 1712. In New York slaves re- This gesture is vacuous and un- it was solely motivated by com- volted – the revolt was not suc- likely to satisfy those who are de- mercial incentives. In other was cessful and 21 slaves were ex- manding compensation for the words a slave was not only con- ecuted. Again there was another descendants of slaves as well as sidered to be a chattel but also revolt in New York in 1741. for Africa generally. racially and culturally inferior. However, the successful re- It will not be out of the place It is important to note that ‘sla- volt took place in Haiti in 1791. to mention that indentured mi- very was not born out of racism The slaves set up the first free grant labour from South Asia in but racism was the consequence black state. The Haitian revolu- the 19th century carried on where of slavery’. tionaries exploded the myth of the classical slave trade left off. Slavery has existed as a hu- white imperialist supremacy by Indentured labourers from South man institution in Africa and Asia driving the Spanish, the British Asia were dispatched to the plan- since the days immemorial but it and the French out of their island tations of the empire from the was not based on race or the in a brilliant guerrilla war. Pacific to the Caribbean. Death colour of skin. It typically involved Yet other islands also saw rates on these sea voyages were prisoners of war and was con- serious uprisings by slaves, as- similar to those on the earlier sidered a humane alternative to sisted by French, they seized con- Trans-Atlantic slave trade voy- prisoners being put to death. It trol of large parts of Dominica, ages. was common in Africa for slave Guadeloupe, Grenada, St Vincent, Today there are some 30 mil- owners to adopt slave children Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad. lion slaves in the world, if you in- and to marry slave women who The rebellion defeated two Brit- clude bonded labour, child labour, then became a full member of the ish armadas sent to destroy them, and a large numbers of women family. Slaves, after gaining their killing thousands of soldiers and caught up in international prosti- freedom, faced no difficulty in seamen. The rebels were even- tution. settling down in society as equals. tually defeated but they deprived Moreover, neo-liberalism and Slaves accumulated property and the British of income from their the dominance of multinationals in some cases reached the sta- sugar plantations for years. The are enslaving the people of Af- tus of kings, for example Jaja of danger of the continuing slave rica, Asia and Latin America, Opobo in Nigeria. trade to British commercial inter- with debt bondage predatory One finds similar instances in ests became evident. pricing, skewed concepts of in- the Islamic world: Prophet At the same time, anti-sla- tellectual property rights, interfer- Mohammed’s own spokesman very movements were set up all ence in internal affairs under the was a slave named Bilal. There over Europe and in America. pretext of “human rights”, wars, had been a slave dynasty in In- The 1772 Case of Somerset occupations, setting up puppet dia. Within Europe, slavery was vs Stuart, with Judgement by regimes, and the outright exploi- common but was not based on Mansfield, the Chief Justice of tation and theft of the natural re- the racial inferiority of slaves. For England, freeing the slave sources of these countries. example, Cicero, the great ora- (Somerset) from bondage is held Whatever we do, ladies and tor and statesman of Rome, had to be a landmark in British judi- gentlemen, we must not allow the a low opinion of the intellectual cial history. Mansfield held that bicentenary of the abolition of the ability of the English, but it was slavery was irrational and could slave trade to mollify us into self- not racial. He wrote in 50 BC to only be maintained by perverse congratulation. We ought to link Atticus, his close friend and a laws. it with the broader issues of to- slave trader who had settled in In 1774, a Ghanaian scholar day, such as poverty, disease, in- Athens: “Do not obtain slaves presented a brilliant thesis against equality, exploitation, environmen- from England because they are slavery in a University in Holland, tal degradation, unprovoked at- so utterly stupid and incapable of arguing that slavery was incon- tacks against defenceless coun- being taught that they are unfit sistent and incompatible with tries, and occupation. to form a part of the household Christianity. I firmly believe the battle is in Athens.” In 1775, Lord Dumore, Com- far from won. Page 6 THE NEW WORKER 2 March 2007 Home News

death by burning in London fear more than anything 1234567890123456789012345678 persecuted, burnt at the 1234567890123456789012345678 stake, rights denied and had and more in the country at else. It all has little to do 1234567890123456789012345678 LETTERS 1234567890123456789012345678 their land taken away from large. This was the time of with religion and the 1234567890123456789012345678 1234567890123456789012345678

Dear comrades them.” religious persecution. unionist leader probably has 123456789012345678901234567Diary 8 This is not the first time However, the burnings more in common with the 1234567890123456789012345678 I feel more in common I have encountered this and persecution ended Pope than he could possibly with an Iraqi or Afghan opinion, which is neverthe- when Elizabeth became realise. SATURDAY 3 March FRIDAY 9 March worker or poor person than less incorrect, and those queen and she is on record So far as Ray Davies 11am-5pm & Reem Kelani concert. with a British capitalist, who believe it would do well as saying: “I will not tell men comments about the church SUNDAY 4 March 7pm, St Ethelburga’s landlord or financier. Does to brush up on their history. what they shall believe.” are concerned, neither of the 10am-1pm. Book sale, Centre, 78 Bishopsgate, not an Iraqi of Afghan Until Henry VIII’s break And so great was the joy at churches have much to Community Centre, 62 London EC2N. widow or orphan shed the from Rome Catholicism was the ending of Mary’s recommend them, although Marchmont St, London SATURDAY 10 March same tears as a British the official religion of Catholic tyranny, Elizabeth’s nothing about the Roman WC1. South Camden The impact of fair trade widow or orphan? England. And in that time accession day was cel- Church surprises me. Ever Morning Star Supporters for Palestinians. 3.30pm, The boss class tells me dissidents such as Wycliffe ebrated for centuries after. since the act of toleration Group. St George’s West they are different to me and the Lollards were For a time there was was passed the Roman SATURDAY 3 March Church, 58 Shandwick because they are Muslim. persecuted and suffered all comparative harmony church has pursued an Palestine cultural evening. Place, Edinburgh. On the contrary, I say, they manner of cruelties includ- between Catholic and aggressive propaganda 7.30pm,The Foundary, Old MONDAY 12 March are free to take their own ing burning for differing Protestant, until the Pope policy and there is no St, London. PSC. Conversation with Craig path and it is our duty to from the official papal line. excommunicated Elizabeth underhand trick that church SATURDAY 3 March Murry. The dirty side of oppose the boss class King Henry still and declared it would be would shrink from to gain a A Taste of Palestine. 7pm, the War on Terror. parasites. considered himself a lawful for any of the faithful point. Asian Cultural Centre, 6.45pm, The Gallery, 70/ Keep up your fine work Catholic even after his break to assassinate her. Thus at a History shows what that Manzil Way, Oxford. £10/£5. 77 Cowcross St. London and expose the machina- from Rome; his quarrel was stroke he made all Catholics institution most covets is SATURDAY 3 March EC1. tions of the boss class. with the Pope not with potential terrorists and power; the power to meddle Palestine Benefit. Eastern SATURDAY 17 March Catholics as a whole. priests would-be assassins. in people’s lives, even to the Cowboys at the Plough Inn, Troops out of Iraq! 12 Yours fraternally, Though it is true he inflicted Unsurprisingly priests were point of preventing them 9pm, Kilburn St, Eastern, noon, Piccadilly Gardens, Raymond Hogan, cruel punishments on any of now hunted down and taking sensible actions to Bristol. Manchester. Stop the Manchester. his subjects who refused to certainly did suffer, as did improve and prolong their MONDAY 5 March War. accept his divorce and many of their followers. lives. I believe it was one of Talk - Palestine refugees. THURSDAY 22 March himself as head of the And after numerous their saints, Thomas 5pm, Mary Ogilvie Theatre, Israel, Palestine & Dear comrades English church, it was not plots against the life of the Aquinas, who said, there St Anne’s College, Human Rights. Haldane because they were Catholics queen, life for the Catholics was no lie he would not tell Woodstock Rd, Oxford. Human Rights lecture. It is not often that I find but because they disobeyed certainly did become very if it would serve the Holy MONDAY 5 March 6.30pm. London South myself in disagreement with the King’s edict uncertain. Then, as ever, the Father. Indymedia film night - The Bank University Keyworth Councillor Ray Davies of The real terror began many had to suffer for the So as a socialist I say, a Iron Wall and others. Centre. South Wales. However in with the accession of Queen sins of the few – gives one a plague on both their houses. 7.30pm, Cube Cinema, WEDNESDAY 28 March his letter (New Worker 22nd Mary (Bloody Mary) feeling of déjà vu doesn’t it. The sooner I see a queue of Dove St, Bristol. Stop thr War/CND public February) he begs the through her efforts to re- Needless to say such was priests and prelates at the TUESDAY 6 March meeting. 7pm, St question when he states: impose her Roman Catholic the horror of Queen Mary’s labour exchange seeking Against Trident replace- Andrew’s Hall. St “Throughout British history religion; when some 800 reign there was an all jobs as labourers, the ment. 7.30pm, Cttee room Andrew’s Plain, Norwich. Catholics have been Protestants suffered cruel pervading fear of Catholi- happier I shall be. However 2, Manchester Town Hall. £5/£3. cism in England which returning to my point in Manchester CND. SATURDAY 31 March lasted for many years to chief – we should not allow FRIDAY 9 March John4Leader national come. ourselves to be mislead by Impact of fair trade for rally. Supporting John And the strong anti- snide assertions which Palestinins. 7.30pm, McDonnell for Labour Catholic feeling in the Catholic politicians and are Interfaith Room, Glasgow leader. 1-4pm, Shaw country persisted through wont to slip in – glibly University. Theatre, Eusyon Rd, more than one reign even trotting out the tale of London. long after the gunpowder Protestants burning plot. However, this was Catholics, when the boot officially not persecution of was decidedly on the other Catholics but of wrongdoers foot. It is an old enough and suspects, not unlike the trick to establish a lie as a present day. truth by constant repetition, The position in North- as a throw away line as ern Ireland is quite different, though it were an accepted British imperialism had long fact, a kind of subliminal played Catholic and advertising. Protestant off against each other, divide and rule was Fraternally always a successful tactic. Peter Franks-Lovell, To have people at each Sussex. others’ throats in the name of matters which are irrelevant to the point at issue; where the people – nationalist and so called Celebrating loyalists – have more interests in common than any that divide them. They both have much to gain from unity, unity which our rulers MarxSaturday 10 March, 7pm, NCP Party Centre, £5 inc bar & buffet FROM THE NEW COMMUNIST PARTY New technology and the need for socialism £2 plus 50p P&P. The case for communism £2 plus 50p P&P. New Worker All in the family by Daphne Liddle, £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint). Arab nationalism and the communist movement Supporters’ by Andy Brooks, £1 plus 50p P&P (New Worker reprint). NCP Lit. PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ. Groups… (cheques to New Worker) New Worker supporters groups exist to Weekly paper of the New Communist Party support the weekly newspaper of the New Communist Party. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Individual membership is £5.00 ( 8 Euros 6 weeks: £5; 3 months: £10; or $10) for all or part of the calendar year 6 months: £15; annual: £30 On the Web... and every member will receive a New New Worker National – Worker Supporters Group (NWSG) card Name...... www.newworker.org and a copies of the Internal Bulletin for Address...... NCP Central – the year. www.geocities.com/ncpcentral ...... London District NCP– Post code...... Name...... http://londoncommunists.blogspot.com/ Address...... Phone...... Brighton NCP – ...... Send cheque/P.O.’s made to New Worker to: http://brightoncommunists.blogspot.com/ ...... NW Subs, PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ NCP-PCS – postcode...... www.geocities.ncppcs/pcs1.html 2 March 2007 THE NEW WORKER Page 7 020 7223 4052 Latin America and Caribbean plan expanded cooperation

VENEZUELAN president the small Caribbean na- what Cubans call the “en- Hugo Chávez recently tions, which are vital to the ergy revolution”, which is visited St Vincent and economies of the region. saving electricity as well as the Grenadines and then Later, the leaders of the fuels that produce it, Dominica for ground Dominica, St. Vincent and and making maximum use breaking talks with gov- the Grenadines and Antigua of alternative renewal ernment leaders on joint and Barbuda signed a dec- sources. projects within the frame- laration supporting the prin- These transformations work of ALBA. cipals of ALBA, the are now among the most These meetings and the Bolivarian Alternative for the important in the economic statements that cam from Americas. and social history of the them underscore the open- A Memorandum of Un- Cuban Revolution and they ing up of numerous ways for derstanding, penned by the are a valid international ex- the Caribbean region to ex- president of Venezuela and ample of rational actions, pand economic and social ALBA sponsor, recalled the because they profoundly cooperation, and were of principals of solidarity and change the concept of how great importance for the fu- cooperation that are en- to produce and use energy. ture of those island nations. compassed by the Venezu- In Dominica Chávez elan initiative. The Caribbean has evi- signed four integration ac- It is important to recall dence of benefits arising cords and inaugurated a five that ALBA has spawned in- from contacts with Cuba and thousand barrel fuel tank. tegration and cooperation Venezuela with the creation Venezuelan economic initiatives like Petrocaribe, of Petrocaribe, the Venezu- cooperation with Dominica, a Venezuelan programme elan programme that sup- an island of 68,000 inhabit- that supplies fuel to the plies low cost fuel to the ants, now stands at close Caribbean at preferential area. to $150 million, but that prices and comprises the • Chavez, left, with Caribbean leaders And so Chávez’s recent amount will grow because construction of storage and visit to the Caribbean bodes Caracas has offered to as- treatment plants. tourist infrastructure, the gua. Havana is instrumen- It offers its experience to wells for new and greater sist in the construction of Other projects include a region’s main source of in- tal in “Operation Miracle”, its Caribbean neighbours on multilateral progress in an oil refinery there. new airport in St Vincent vestment and trade. which provides free treat- a plan initiated by Havana Latin America and the Car- In St Vincent and the and the Grenadines and the Cuba is an enthusiastic ment to Caribbean patients that exchanges incandes- ibbean. Grenadines, Chávez spoke expansion of one in participant in ALBA with eye problems. Cuba cent light bulbs for energy about tourism and air and Dominica, in an attempt to projects, along with Ven- also advises neighbouring saving models. sea connections between increase the Caribbean ezuela, Bolivia and Nicara- countries on energy saving. The efforts are part of Radio Havana Cuba A swelled head is a dangerous thing

Islands and beyond, Austra- “would be a major defeat for lian army, navy and police by Rob Gowland the United States of America”. forces are deployed on “hu- Well, duh. manitarian” missions that, HAVE YOU NOTICED the ex- Howard is the standard- whatever their stated lofty tent to which Australian pre- bearer for Australian imperi- motives, soon become merely mier John Howard seems to alism, keen to see this coun- a cover for extending the in- have fallen under the spell of try lording it over the Pacific fluence and exploitation of his own publicity? Take his and Indian Oceans as Australian imperialism. performance over the pos- Washington’s “deputy sher- Usually, US imperialism sible nomination of black iff” with all the perks and ben- tolerates, even encourages Democrat Barack Obama, as efits that would be available such enterprise on the part of that party’s candidate for to the local wielder of the big its loyal ally. But, however President of the United stick. much the US lets the Howard States. In Howard’s view of the government act as a big fish In announcing that he was world, he can clearly envisage in a small pond, Australia re- throwing his hat into the ring, nothing more alarming than mains a minnow compared to Obama, a strong critic of the defeat of the US empire. the US. Bush’s war, declared that one (Although, since Vietnam and Australian Prime Minis- of his first acts if elected the fiasco in Somalia — not ters who get a swelled head would be to bring all US troops to mention the crumbling of and forget their subsidiary home from Iraq within US hegemony in South and and subservient global role is months. Central America — you would not only likely to stick their He had scarcely uttered think that by now he would foot in their mouth: they are these words when the Prime be getting used to it!) also asking to have their Minister of Australia jumped If he thought that his an- wrists slapped. up and attacked Obama’s can- nouncement of the prospect • Australian troops doing the work of imperialism in Iraq. What is now perturbing didature, poured scorn on his of a “major defeat” for the US Australian imperialism about proposals and tried to imply would be greeted by shrill gressional opponents, to to arrange an “exclusive inter- Nor should we be. Howard’s bellicosity is to that Obama was acting, per- cries of “Shame!” and the stand up and to raise issues view”, invite one or two com- Like every other country what extent the wrist-slapping haps unwittingly, on behalf of spectacle of Opposition MPs that both leaders would rather mercial TV news teams along on Earth, Australia will cer- could adversely affect their Al Qaeda! leaping about in haste to re- have avoided. to film it, and deliver as tainly be affected by the poli- trade with the US and access This impertinence pro- assure the House and the For instance, Robert “news” — a carefully stage- cies of whoever wins the US to US capital and continued voked Obama to respond that media that they didn’t mean McClelland, the Labour managed event in which he presidential race. However, freedom to exploit the Indo- if the Australian PM is so keen anything as unthinkable as Spokesperson for Foreign could present his own views that in no way excuses his Pacific region should an on the war in Iraq let him con- that, he was doomed to yet Affairs really got stuck in to unhindered by difficult ques- clumsy attempt to interfere in Obama-led — or even a more script 20,000 Australian sol- more disappointment. Howard over the Iraq war on tions or contradictory atti- something as clearly internal moderate Clinton-led — diers and send them to fight While there are obviously television on 18th February: tudes. to the US as the Democratic Democrat Government be there. plenty of MPs in Australia’s the war in Iraq, said His blatant attempt to Party’s choice of a presiden- elected in 2008. In the ensuing parliamen- Labour Party who incredibly McClelland, had been a “di- meddle in the internal politics tial candidate. The ruling class must be tary debate over his sally into do still believe the US alliance saster”; but if a slew of more of the US, however, suggests Howard, on the other seriously considering “statesmanship”, Howard’s should continue to be the cor- troops was sent now it would that his arrogance has become hand, would probably see whether a “regime change” in main argument — delivered in nerstone of our defence and become a “catastrophe”. pathological. Despite what nothing wrong in such inter- Canberra might not suit it bet- tones that indicated that he foreign policies, the present Howard, of course, has al- Howard may privately wish, ference. His government has ter! thought he was delivering a US discomfiture in Iraq has ways been sufficiently arro- Australia is not a state of the been interfering in the inter- “most telling point” — was to emboldened Howard’s parlia- gant to treat such criticism US, nor are we as a nation in- nal affairs of countries in and The Guardian, inform the House that an early mentary opponents, just as it with disdain. He would con- timately involved in that around the Pacific for years. Australian communist US withdrawal from Iraq has emboldened Bush’s Con- tact one of his tame radio jocks country’s electoral process. From Timor to the Solomon weekly Page 8 2 March 2007

International News Web: www.newworker.org Fax 020 7223 4057 Sex- Sinn Féin changes in Taliban attempt to over- Cuba will be no-cost, to kill Cheney take like all by Yu Zhixiao Labour in health care in Kabul A SUICIDE bomber Dublin CUBA’S National Assembly blasted a US military base of Popular Power has agreed in Afghanistan on Tues- DUBLIN Sinn Féin MEP to discuss making sex-reas- day, killing at least 18 Mary Lou McDonald has signment surgery free of cost people in an attempt to predicted that Sinn Féin to all transexuales on the is- kill Bush’s deputy. But will overtake the Labour land who request it. American Vice President Party in Dublin in the The entire public health Dick Cheney, who was next five to ten years. care system in Cuba is free of visiting the camp for McDonald made her com- charge. talks with the Afghan ments at Dublin Sinn Mariela Castro Espín, di- leader, was unhurt. Féin’s Annual General rector of the National Centre Taliban spokesman, Qari Meeting in the Mansion of Sexual Education Yousif Ahmadi, confirmed House last Saturday. (CENESEX), has led the move that his movement had car- “As we gather here for to make sex-reassignment ried out the suicide bomb- our Annual General Meeting, available to Cubans free to all ing and that Cheney was the we are in buoyant and con- who seek it. Mariela Castro, a target. He said the Taliban fident mood. The party is leader in her own right, is the knew Cheney was staying in election mode in every daughter of renowned revo- in the base, and that the at- county on the island and, lutionary leader Vilma Espín tacker was trying to reach here in Dublin, we are con- and acting Cuban President Cheney. fident of significantly in- Raúl Castro. Afghan Interior Minis- • Doctors help one of those injured by the bomb. creasing our Leinster House try spokesman Zamarai for a visit to Afghanistan, spring offensive against for- Pakistan on Monday morn- representation after the gen- vanguard Bashari said that the explo- and to hold talks with Af- eign troops in the country ing, during which he held eral election. We are a party ghan President Hamid as snow melts and it be- talks with Pakistani Presi- The newsletter sion killed 18 people includ- on the move in this city. We ing three foreign soldiers at Karzai on Tuesday. They comes warmer. dent Pervez Musharraf. have made significant gains Diversidad (Diversity) re- However, Nato troops ported: “The measure would around 10.00 am local time were expected to talk about About 27,000 US troops in every election in the last complement the present Iden- at a main gate of the Bagram how to fight the possible and the US-led coalition are now deployed in Af- decade and will continue tity Law that already acknowl- US military base, some 50 Taliban spring offensive and forces here said they will ghanistan to hunt down down that road after this edges the right of citizens to km north of Kabul. But a other issues. defeat any Taliban attacks militants and facilitate recon- election,” she said. change name and sexual iden- police officer at the site said The Taliban say about and give a heavy blow to the struction. tity. This places Cuba at the the blast killed 19 persons 10,000 of their fighters, in- militants. crucial vanguard of the legislations including three US soldiers, cluding 2,000 suicide bomb- Cheney arrived in Af- that acknowledge the rights one Afghan soldier, two Pa- ers, will launch a bloody ghanistan after his visit to Xinhua news agency “The next five to ten of transvestites, transsexuals kistani drivers and 13 local years will be crucial for re- and transgender in Latin labourers. publicanism in this city. We America.” The blast occurred need to set ourselves ambi- It places Cuba at the van- when some US soldiers tious but achievable goals. guard of legislations in North were checking a lorry at the Cuba condemns We must overtake the America, as well. Sex-reas- gate which apparently was Labour Party in this city in signment is priced out of packed with explosives. the next five to ten years and reach for many transsexual American soldiers imme- terrorism in all forms I predict we will. In that men and women in the US diately cordoned off the ex- And health care in general is time I also believe we will plosion site as US fighter CUBA, a country that case of international terror- terrorist groups in south become the largest party on a pricey privilege denied to has long been the tar- ist, Luis Posada Carriles, tens of millions in the heart- planes were hovering over- Florida in order to warn Dublin City Council and we land of imperialism. head. Some relatives of the get of terrorism ema- co-author of the sabotage of Havana of imminent at- will have a Sinn Féin mayor The publication reported victims were waiting out- nating from the United a Cuban passenger airliner tacks against the island. of Dublin. that Cuba’s parliament will side the base, yelling and States, has reaffirmed in October of l976, in which While Washington “But to do that we need also discuss legislative recog- shouting angrily and agoniz- its strong condemna- all 73 people on board lost persists in reducing the to set out our stall now. We nition of same-sex unions. ingly. tion of terrorism in all their lives. charges against Posada need to set out our vision for Cheney arrived at the forms and its causes. The United States has Carriles, it claims to head this city and incorporate that Workers World (US) base on Monday afternoon Speaking in a United refused to qualify Posada a genuine international into our programme of work Nations meeting on non- Carriles as a terrorist, and anti-terrorist offensive, and our key campaigns. proliferation of weapons of though he is in custody which in reality has served Central to these will be sort- mass destruction, Cuban there, the US government as a justification for it to ing out the crisis in our ambassador, Rodrigo has protected him for two intervene militarily in Iraq health services, delivering Malmierca, noted that the years. and Afghanistan, in which quality social housing to our threat of the use of such tens of thousands have people, developing an inte- weapons by terrorists detention been killed, including US grated, fully-resourced pub- cannot be dealt with in a soldiers. lic transport system to get selective and discrimina- His detention is sus- Presenting itself at the the city moving and end the tory manner. tained on simple charges of head of this so-called commuting nightmare,” she That has been fraud committed during his anti-terrorist crusade, the said. Havana’s policy which naturalisation process and United States is now McDonald formally was clearly stated on 11th making false statements to seeking to attack Iran as launched one of Sinn Féin’s September 2001, when government officials. Wash- key campaigning tools in the well, claiming that be- capital: Dublin News, almost that tragedy was repudi- ington has made no men- cause the Persian nation ated by the Revolution. 200,000 of which will be tion of terrorism, though possesses a uranium en- delivered over the next Cuba recalled then and Posada Carriles was the richment programme it month. Another issue will today it reaffirmed, that mastermind and organiser represents a danger to be produced in April and the the threat of terrorism can- of a 1997 series of bomb the rest of the world. party hopes to increase its not never be eliminated if attacks on Havana hotels. With the alleged goal circulation to at least it is defined using a In fact the White House of combating international 250,000. double standard, as west- continues to ignore an ex- terrorism, the United “This paper brings the ern governments do. tradition request against the States protects true crimi- republican vision and our The United States and terrorist made in 2005 by nals like Luis Posada goals to the people and our Europe often condemn Venezuela, for the downing Carriles and sparks fratri- message that we offer a real certain acts as terrorist, of the Cubana de Aviacion cidal wars, with the sup- alternative to the stale poli- while others are ignored, airliner. port of its European al- tics of the establishment like those committed At the same time, the lies: another example of parties. We are quite confi- against Cuba from other US government maintains its hypocrisy and double dent of achieving those countries five Cubans in prison in the standards. goals and realising that vi- An example is the United States, for infiltrating Radio Havana Cuba sion,” McDonald said.

An Phoblacht as a newspaper. Printed by New Age Press (TU). Registed at the Post Office