International ILC Newsletter
Number 12
February 3rd, 2003
Weekly information dossier published by the
International Liaison Committee -ILC,
Please contact :
International Liaison Committee -ILC, c/o Parti des travailleurs
- 87, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis,
7510 Paris France
phone : (33 1) 48 01 88 28 fax : (33 1) 48 01 88 36
e-mai l - eit.ilc@wanadoo.fr
*****
Contents:
* Introduction
* The International Emergency Conference against war was held in Paris
on January 23rd and 24th.
* Messages to the Conference
*****
Introduction
Our previous issue included the documents adopted by the Emergency
International Conference against War.
We continue this information with an article summarizing the two days of
debates (a complete transcription will be published in a brochure).
The number of messages supporting the Conference (we publish here large
extracts) give evidence that a large front against the war can be built
in the international working class movement.
We invite our correspondents to send us every piece of information about
initiatives taken around the appeal establishing the committee :
"International working class movement against the war".
**********
The International Emergency Conference against war was held in Paris on
January 23rd and 24th.
The UN forecast is known: this war that Bush wants to unleash the war on
the Iraqi people come hail or high water will cost hundreds of thousands
of lives; And the UNO "experts" foretell that between 4 to 6
million people will not be able to get food.
When Iraq is carved up, 4.5 to 5 million of its inhabitants will be
forcefully displaced. "And reality will be far more horrendous than
the grimmest forecast" Daniel Gluckstein ILC co-ordinator stated
during the debates at the conference e.
He added: "Bush and the American administration are determined to
impose terror on peoples and pose a deadly threat to democracy, to the
existence of nations within which the labour movement has been able to
wrench its conquests and gains. Will this war be contained within Iraqi
borders? Isn't establishing the connection between war and exploitation
the labour movement' s only possible contribution as the labour movement
has always taken a stand against war? We have much to do. We must strive
our utmost to realise unity in order to prevent this war. In that
struggle, the working class has a decisive place. What can we do?"
B. Ortega, UGT activist in Spain explains in his turn: "Aznar needs
the war against the common struggle of our countries' peoples against
all the plans that turn the hands of the clock backward on the social
level. The lab our movement and its organisations must be in the
forefront. After delegations of unionists and various organisations to
government's headquarters to say "No to war, not a single peseta
for war, not a single man in Spain drafted for war!" we set up an
action group of unionists against war.
We call on the conference to propose that an international committee
should be set up "Lab our movement against war". Such a
committee could help labour organisations to organise the united
struggle against war."
According to Tiayni Lybon Mabasa, chairman of the Socialist Party of
Azania (SOPA) "when Bush said that this war was endless and
unlimited, we wondered whether the war was not on our doorstep. When its
aim is to secure total control of oil resources, it is a challenge for
us all. War will not stop at Iraq's borders. The axis of evil is Bush,
Cheney and American imperialism. All together we must stand up in
determined defence against their war because the target is a worker
across the globe. We have to help get through this deafening silence
that, with the exception of Mandela who no longer is in government, is
up to now South Africa's sole response to war threats".
Klauss Schüller, DGB and SPD activist in Germany, brought the greetings
of his country's workers. He recalled the demonstrations against war
that took place there: "Resistance is building up. DGB must take
the lead of the struggle against war"
For his own part, Michael Altman, unionist and SPD member comments
Donald Rumsfeld American defence secretary of state's recent threats.
"He considers that Germany and France are "old Europe"
against which a new Europe enlarged to the East must be imposed.
"Old Europe" is the Europe of peace, social conquests, unions,
democracy. It is what the Bush administration is determined to smash.
"NO" to war was expressed during the latest elections in
Germany. Schröder and his government have to abide by that
determination."
All those who intervened are actively campaigning against war in their
respective countries; they recalled the situation workers have to
undergo everywhere. "India has already had to pay a heavy toll
after the first war in Iraq, said Nambiath Vasudevan, secretary of Blue
Star Union in India. As it was obliged to run a heavy loan from the IMF;
the latter has imposed its own convictions entailing increased
sufferings for the people".
"The impending war is waged against all the peoples", Richard
Tiendrebeogo recalled; he was speaking in the name of the Burkina Faso
GCT.
For J. C. Loew, unionist in the field of nuclear power and research:
"In France, Chirac will produce the money for war whereas there is
none for wages, retirement pensions social welfare and education,
whereas 12% of the population live below poverty level".
Jean-Charles Marquiset unionist in the regional public sector service
said: "To stand up to the war, the working class needs to stand up
in defence of its rights and gains".
Rachid Mataszsi (Algeria) member of the executive committee of the
federation of oil and chemistry workers said (UGTA):
"This pending war will have tragic consequences for the Iraqi
people; it will also have very serious consequences for the Palestinian
people and all the peoples. As you know, Algeria is going through a grim
period. Workers today have to cope with a tidal wave of lay-offs and a
scheme heralding privatisation of the oil-producing sector, which
obviously is favoured by the United States. For the time being,
mobilisation and industrial action have stood in the way. We cannot
accept that the country's wealth should be sold off and fall into
American multinationals' hands. That would be a harsh blow against the
Algerian people. For all these reasons the UGTA has to stand in the
frontline against the war, in solidarity with the Iraqi people."
Marie-Clause Schidlower speaks on behalf of the ILC Working Women
Committee. She recalls that on February 21st 2002, the women's
international conference convened in Berlin to reconquer ILO convention
103 for the rights of women had launched an appeal to make March 8th
2002 a first day of international mobilising. She introduces the appeal
that was launched this year to make March 8th 2003an international day
of mobilisation against war, for peace, for democracy, for social and
economic justice for women's rights.
As Julio Turra, member of the executive committee of the CUT, the
Brazilian trade union said: "For the whole of the American
continent, the march to war is accompanied by the implementation of
"free trade" treaties to impose the law of multinationals. If
we adopt the Spanish c comrade's proposition, I shall make sure that I
present it to the CUT's next meeting."
Delegates spoke about many other tragic consequences of the impending
war in their interventions. Tragic consequences especially for working
women, above all for Iraqi women as Subhi Toma said, one of those who
took up American academics' appeal "Not in Our Name":
"The American administration plans to substitute an Islamic state
to the current Iraqi state. Iraqi women have rights, during the twelve
year-long embargo they have suffered most. With the sharia, it will be
still worse, whatever rights they have will be wiped off."
War against workers and young people, war to dismantle nations, as many
delegates from Asia, Africa and the Maghreb said.
In response to the Tunisian delegates and to the message sent by a
Moroccan worker activist, Louisa Hanoune, spokesperson of the Algerian
Workers' party and member of the national parliament of that country,
declared: "For twelve years, workers have day in and day out
mobilised to prevent the privatisation of Algeria's natural wealth and
the destruction of the nation. Through all the strikes, the UGTA
occupied its legitimate place in those struggles. Despite slaughters,
despite abductions, people have continued mobilising. We shall fight to
the utmost against all the plans of privatisation and against any war
that might be waged between Morocco and Algeria, fanned by imperialism
and multinationals.
Pavlusko Imsirovic, militant of the Workers' Political Alliance,
recalled the dismantling and carving up of the Balkanic states that was
the true stake of the war waged in Yugoslavia. He said:
"We in Yugoslavia have learnt from experience. Deaths by the
hundred of thousands, refugees by the million s, ruined economy and many
of our conquests brought down, that is what the war amounted to in the
Balkans. When, in 1991, Baker, sent by the American government visited
Belgrade, he warned Milosevic: the Unite States will not give Yugoslavia
any leeway for independence. They drove Milosevic to wage war, so he
attacked Slovenia and Croatia.
That was the starting point of the war in the Balkans and the setting of
American military bases. In 1998, after a delegate from Clinton had
declared to Milosevic that the intervention in Kosovo was a Serbian
domestic intervention, he attacked Kosovo, with the known resulting
butchery.
Now, the Balkan's largest American military basis has been installed in
Kosovo. A new agreement was passed three days ago with the American
government for the use of air space for the war in Iraq.
That triggered a tide of protests against war especially among
workers."
That war will have tragic consequences too for young people who, in
every country are standing up against impending barbarism. A young man
who belonged to the Basque Country's Socialist Youth Movement was
testifying to the depth of mobilisation. "I participated in the
convention of the Federation of the Basque country's socialist youth.
Delegates voted a unanimous resolution saying: not a cent for war, all
the money for health, education, not a drop of blood shed for oil
corporations and other multinationals, NO to exploitation".
Vitali Kulik of the Borotba union (the Ukraine) explained: "Bush's
policy concerning the Ukraine is based today on the following
principles: "isolating the Ukrainian government, politically and
financially supporting the opponents, led by the American politician
Iuchenko and destabilising the Ukraine's domestic situation. What are
they aiming at with such policy? To force the Ukrainian government into
accepting that European and American capital get into the country's
economy, the creation of favourable conditions for multinationals and,
for that effect, whatever is left of the October revolution conquests
have to be wiped off: free healthcare, free education, social security.
For twelve years, those rights and conquests have been systematically
torn apart. But, for Bush, the process is still too long.
In their majority, Ukrainians are not in favour of the war. But no
labour movement organisation has yet undertaken any active mobilisation
against war. Workers and groups like mine that demonstrate in opposition
to the war need international support."
Saman Mudunkotuwage, JVP, Sri Lanka, informed the conference that
"last October 12th, we, together with the other left-wing parties
and trade unions appealed a huge demonstration against the war in Iraq,
in front of the United States embassy. Over 20 000 demonstrated (.) In
Sri Lanka, we are faced with two problems: the first one is
privatisation. Most state-owned agricultural societies have been sold,
three major companies have been closed down. American multinationals buy
off state owned lands. The second problem is our national sovereignty.
There is a reactionary separatist movement that accepts market economy
and has just announced it would collaborate with George W. Bush in his
war against Iraq and Afghanistan. They organised a conference with the
support of American imperialists and the Norwegian ally.
When one know the part played b y Norway in Palestine, one can raise the
question: what kind of "peace" for the Sri Lanka people? All
Asia is concerned by those problems, by the war in Iraq. Let us recall
Clinton's speech: "Next Bosnia is India".
In this conference, everyone was also able to gauge the consequences of
a war against Iraq that would lay a further burden on the Palestinian
people as a message from Palestine said:
"For the Palestinian people, the war on Iraq would amount to a vast
tragedy because, this time, the plan schemed against it would be carried
to its end: to drive the Palestinian people from their land for
good!"
After a two days' debate during which everyone could freely discuss, the
emergency conference adopted a manifesto of the committee,
"International Labour Movement against War", an appeal for an
international liaison committee of young people against war and an
appeal to make March 8th 2003 a day of international mobilisation for
social justice and for the rights of working women against war.
Clarence Thomas, officer of the San Francisco Longshore Workers' Union
Local 10, whose fight against war and in defence of longshore workers'
rights has been related in the publications of the ILC on several
occasions, was visibly moved when he stated "I feel honoured to
take part in this conference. That is a crucial moment for the American
and international labour movement. I am comforted by the first results
of this conference, it will strengthen the struggle we are waging. Only
international solidarity and labour solidarity can defeat that
war."
The international emergency conference was prepared in difficult
conditions, it has been supported by numerous messages of militants who
were not able to come to Paris; it is a true success, it affords strong
leverage to continue the fight against war.
In his conclusion, Daniel Gluckstein explained: "All that can
possibly be done to prevent that war will be done. Let everyone
circulate the manifesto, let the discussion be led, let initiatives be
taken. We shall not let go. We are also realistic, as we know that
within the very labour organisations, there are obstacles.
The issue of labour organisations' independence is crucial, their
commitment into the fight against war is a determining factor. This
committee which is not set up against any other initiative against the
war, affords leverage for the fight. We shall fight to the end. And if
tomorrow bombs are dropped on the Iraqi people, we shall pursue that
determined fight against war, for democracy, for workers' rights and
against exploitation."
Article published in "Informations Ouvrières" (France) N°
574 January 29th
Delegates from 25 countries took the floor during the conference
Their interventions will be published in full in a brochure and also
interviews in our next issues.
*****
Messages to the Conference
Brazil
Message from Joao Felicio, president of the CUT of Brazil (Excerpts)
Dear friends and comrades
I am greeting the International Emergency Conference against war as well
as all the participants, especially the unionists from all over the
world that are present.
True, "everything that can be done to prevent that unfair, terrible
war, whose consequences would be impossible to assess, has to be
done", as the appeal to your conference says; we have to join all
our forces in a common action to ward off a new slaughter that would
bring about consequences for workers and peoples world-wide.
The demonstrations that were staged on January 18th in many countries,
that mobilised thousands people, in the United States included, show
that the responsibility of the warmongering policy pushed by George W.
Bush's government does not lie with workers nor with peoples.
In Brazil, the CUT has given its support to and participated in the
first initiatives and in the committees that have been set up against
the war in Iraq.
In the words of the manifesto issued by artists, writers and
intellectual in the United States that I had the opportunity and the
honour to endorse in Brazil, Bush government's and its allies' war
policy is not made in our name. It has economic interests, it aims at
controlling oil resources and at the same time, it aims at enforcing a
social and economic pattern that runs cross-grain with the interests of
workers, unions and oppressed people across the globe.
In my country, on October 27th, as you know, over 52 million Brazilians
elected the candidate of the Workers' Party, Luis Inacio da Silva,
president of the Republic. From the beginning, 20 years ago, the CUT was
operative in the activity that brought about the participation of a
representative of workers in the government.
The determination to bring about change expressed by the Brazilian
people through the ballot boxes, certainly included the wish to have a
world free from wars, in which peace grounded in the fraternity between
peoples and the respect of each one's national sovereignty, prevails.
We give a hearty greeting to all the participants to that international
conference.
No to war in Iraq, Yes to peace between peoples!
Joao Antônio Felicio
President of the CUT in Brazil
-----
Message from José Genoino, President of the Workers' Party of Brazil
When the threat to trigger the war against initiated by the Bush
government is coming ever closer, carrying in its wake death and
sufferings for people already harshly hit by a more than ten year long
blockade,
When the Bush government, despite people's opposition, even the public
opinion in the United States itself, insists to led the world into war,
When we quite well know that this war will only serve to worsen
international tension and the haggling over such resources as oil, when,
under cover of the impending war peoples' democratic, social and
economic rights are already under threat,
In the name of the Workers' Party, I heartily greet you, in the hope
that you will make us acquainted with the conclusions of the conference
through comrade Sokol, member of our leadership.
Against war and for peace!
José Genoino Neto
President of the Workers' Party
Sao Paulo, January 2003
-----
Message from Claudio Willer, President, Brazilian Writers' Union
As chairman of the Brazilian union of writers, I endorse the manifesto
"Not in our name" to respond to the appeal launched by
intellectuals and political persons in the United states; I also say
that I rejoice that the initiative of this conference against war was
taken. I recall a great American poet whose work I had the pleasure to
translate and to publish in Brazil: Allen Ginsberg. If he was alive now,
he would be in the front line of anti-military protests, at the same
place he took during the demonstrations against the intervention in
Viet-Nam. His poem, America, written during the fifties of last century,
is now an impressively burning issue. All his criticism levelled at
manipulating human beings, using them as if they were puppets and
managing the world through military logics is more appropriate than
ever. We are standing up to that, we are mobilising against that and we
shall do so as long as necessary.
Claudio Willer cjwiller@uol.com.br
January 2003
-----
COSTA RICA
Dear comrades,
The Socialist workers' party of Costa Rica greets this effort of the
international union movement to confront the impending war of American
imperialism and its imperialist cronies against the Iraqi nation. Two
days ago, we were acquainted with the fact that the conference was to be
held; we are now circulating a manifesto in support of such a relevant
initiative among Costa Rica's various working class organisations.
A small-scale but significant movement against war has started
organising in our country, we are striving to enlarge it. Against
imperialism's onslaught levelled at the masses, it is imperative that
all the forces struggling against war be joined on the widest possible
basis and be co-ordinated on the international level.
Our commitment alongside the working class movement against the war is
in continuity with our struggle against the fact that our country's
government has allied with the USA's state department to set up an
international police training centre in Costa Rica, in the framework of
the so-called "war against terrorism" and of the
"Columbia plan"
We wish that this conference agree on joint and co-ordinated actions on
the world scale to stand in the way of this imperialist onslaught that
is increasing the barbarism of a worn out capitalism which can offer no
other scope that death, starvation, ruin, unemployment and war even if
it can get occasional sundry military success.
We put our hope in the rise of the working class movement in major
countries who take to the streets to fight that war with an ever clearer
conscience that this struggle joins the struggle we have to wage against
the economic, political, social, environmental struggle of capitalism in
its last phase characterised by decay, which demands that the working
class movement join forces on the international level.
For the executive committee of the POS
Pablo Hernandez Arias
-----
Ecuador
We the committee and the union of electric sector workers of the central
region of Ecuador greet the proud and determined stand taken by the
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples concerning the
rampant global war situation initiated by the United States. We received
the invitation to the International Emergency Conference due to be held
on January 23rd and 24th 2003 and we deeply regret we cannot
participate.
The undersigned, general secretary of the committee and of the union,
Fernando Guerra, will be in Spain during those days; he will be
participating in a world union meeting. I should like to meet comrades
from the ILC in Spain in order to discuss on the subject.
No to slaughter! Yes to life, to peoples' self-determination! Let us
prevent that unjust war.
I wish every success to this new struggle and I also wish that the
conclusions of the international conference be forwarded to us so that
we can circulate them in our country.
On behalf of the Committee and of the Union electric sector workers of
the central region of Ecuador
Fernando Guerra S. General Secretary.
The Conference received also a message from José Limaico, on behalf of
OSRT (Ecuatorian section of the Fourth International).
-----
United States
Michael Eisenscher, Labor Committee for Peace & Justice
Sisters & Brothers:
On Saturday, January 11 in Chicago history was made. More than one
hundred trade union leaders gathered there to found US Labor Against the
War (USLAW). These union officers, officials and activists came
from organizations representing more than 2 million members. Below
you will find the final resolution adopted unanimously after a lively
and thoughtful debate. Also below are remarks I made early in the
opening session.
Needless to say, this development is unprecedented and portends a
significant shift in the posture of the labor movement toward U.S.
foreign policy in general and the Bush administration's dual war
strategy (war on the world and war on workers) in particular.
The International Emergency Conference Against War and Exploitation is
an important initiative which will contribute to the international
movement to prevent a war against the people of Iraq. This is a war that
can be stopped before it starts, but only if there is a maximum and
massive moblization of peace forces around the world. The
Emergency Conference will help to mobilize working people globally to
oppose the Bush administration's 'total war' agenda.
Congratulations on this important initiative. I regret that I will
not be able to join you in Paris but look forward to learning the
outcome of your deliberations. Working together, we shall assure
that peace and justice, not war and corporate profiteering shall
prevail.
Yours in solidarity,
Michael Eisenscher
Coordinator, Labor Committee for Peace & Justice
Member, Continuations Committee, US Labor Against the War
Sisters & Brothers:
----------
Larry Duncan, TV producer
I send this message of solidarity to the Emergency International Antiwar
Conference in Paris and wish you the greatest success in your efforts to
help organize a powerful international movement against the latest war
threat posed by the U.S. government.
I am the co-producer of the Labor Beat cable-tv series (in Chicago,
Rockford, Springfield, IL, and St. Louis, MO). We recently covered the
founding meeting in Chicago of U.S. Labor Against the War, which brought
together important union represenatives from around the country. Also,
just two days ago the Chicago City Council passed an anti-war
resolution, watered-down however by pressure from the Democratic Party's
Mayor Richard Daley. Also, the Chicago Teachers Union, the 3rd largest
teachers union local in the U.S., voted to hire buses to send their
members to the anti-war protests scheduled in Washington on Jan. 18. The
Chicago Teachers Union has never before taken an action like this.
These new developments in Chicago, coming more rapidly one after the
other, indicate an important sea-change in the Midwest, showing that a
transformation is rapidly taking place in the American heartland, where
working people and their organizations will be adding their forces to
oppose a possible war. We know that similar developments must be taking
place throughout the world.
Global solidarity forever,
Larry Duncan
-----
Hal Sutton, trustee UAW Local 1268 (in a personal capacity)
Dear conference organizers:
Greetings to the International Emergency Anti-War Conference. The
global labor movement is now coming forward to stop the U.S. war machine
in its tracks. The British locomotive drivers who refused to haul
war materials showed the way forward for the peaceloving toiling masses
throughout the world. Labor has the power to stop the war machine,
and everyone must make every effort to mobilize this power. Forward to a
global general strike to compel global disarmament and end war forever.
Global solidarity forever,
-----
Connie White, Labor Party activist, Los Angeles
At this time when the U.S. war machine is marching full force to war
with Iraq, and the U.S. government is providing the funds and the
military equipment for Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people, I
greet the ILC's Emergency International Anti-War Conference in Paris.
In convening this Emergency International Anti-War Conference, the ILC
has taken the necessary step to bring together the international working
class in opposition to war. War never benefits the laboring masses of
the world, but only serves to advance the interests of a capitalist
system that exploits and oppresses us. The recent demonstrations on
January 18, 2003 in the USA against the war plans of the U.S. government
-- estimated at 500,000 in Washington, D.C., USA and 200,000 in San
Francisco, California, USA -- exhibit to the international community
that many in America are opposed to the war plans of the U.S.
government. The people of Iraq are not the enemies of the American
people. The U.S. government needs to be checked or it will bring the
international economic situation to barbarism.
I am glad to see that the Emergency International Anti-War Conference
has been convened by the ILC, has participants from all over the world,
and that the labor movement of the U.S. is represented. I look forward
to hearing the decisions and plans for further action against war that
result from this historic event. We have a lot of work ahead of us in
putting the international working class in a position of controlling its
own destiny. I commend the ILC for continuing to exhibit a strategy of
international solidarity and coordinated action.
la luta continua,
connie white
-----
Michael Letwin, NY Labor Against the War
Unfortunately, NYCLAW will be unable to attend this conference. However,
please convey to the delegates our message of support for workers of all
countries that unite against the war. In Solidarity,
Michael Letwin Co-Convener, NYC Labor Against the War (NYCLAW)
-----
Pride At Work, AFL-CIO
Pride At Work, AFL-CIO represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender working people and our allies. Our Executive Committee
is proud to have taken a stand against Preemptive Attack and War in
October 2002. We knew then that the labor movement must step
forward in order to build a broad coalition for peace and justice. Our
members are involved in many anti-war activities, at their workplaces,
in their unions and churches, and on the streets.
Please know as you work together here in Paris, we salute your efforts
to strengthen the international movement against war. We stand
with everyone here today united in the effort to stop greed and to stop
war. We echo your demands for education, health care, the freedom
to organize - and peace!
Pride At Work, AFL-CIO
-----
Julian Kunnie Free Mumia Campaign, Tucson, Arizona, USA Activist with
the Black Radical Congress
Dear Comrades:
We salute your efforts in the Paris Labor Movement to denounce the
planned U.S. war against the impoverished people in Iraq. I have
just returned from a mass rally in Washington D. C. on January 18, as we
commemorate Martin Luther King's struggle against the U. S. war against
Vietnam, where between 300,000-500,000 people participated. It is only
through mass action around the world that we can halt the mad drive by
U. S. imperialism towards war and bloodshed, all in the name of
"combating terrorism." The U. S. is the number one
country in the world that manufactures and distributes weapons of mass
destruction, with over 12,000 nuclear weapons and biological and
chemical weapons made in parts of New Mexico and Texas. It is also
the number one Outlaw State in the world because it has violated the U.
N Convention on Human Rights, by starving Iraqi children to death, over
500,000 thus far. We must put a stop to this madness and not only
stop the war but dismantle the genocidal sanctions against the Iraqi
people, all documented in a recent book, Iraq Under Siege: The Deadly
Impact of Sanctions and War edited by Anthony Arnove (South End Press,
Massachusetts). Let us continue to organize protests and demonstrations
until the greatest threat to world peace, the United States, as Nelson
Mandela has cited, is forced to become a peace-maker.
A luta Continua! The Struggle Continues!!
Best wishes for a productive meeting.
-----
INDIA
Hyderabad, 16 JAN-2003.
" We in India, AITUC and other mass organisation are one with the
ILC in condemning the war preparations by US imperialism along with
allies against Iraq. In a joint statement of the mass and peoples
movement and organisations 7th January at Hyderabad we declared that the
looming threat of war on Iraq by the United States of America imperils
all of us, who have witnessed the Gulf War, the bombing of Afghanistan,
and the continuing occupation of Palestine. US political and
military interventions in Asia under its so-called War on Terror -
particularly in South, South East and East Asia - has brought us to the
brink of nuclear war. Meanwhile, all over the region, citizens are
kept in check by un-democratic and draconian laws imposed by colluding
regimes. This has promoted a false discourse on terrorism and
security while systematically marginalizing and assaulting people's
struggles for survival, livelihoods, rights, inclusion and
self-determination. "
"We, therefore, resolve to carry forward and strengthen the
solidarity for resisting imperialist domination. It will be
necessary- and we will strive - in the coming days to include many more
social movements into this process of resistance and to evolve
democratic and transparent processes for coordinating activities and
actions."
In particular, we resolve to carry forward the campaigns and struggle
and move towards common actions in the following areas:
Resist imperialism - the imminent US attack on Iraq, its escalating
militarist interventions in the region, a well as, and its possible
unilateral declaration of war against any country. Specifically,
we will organize a common day of protest action against the war in Iraq.
We demand the total elimination of all nuclear weapons."
We subscribe to the decision being taken in the International Emergency
Conference against war and exploitation.
Fraternally
H.MAHDEVAN, AITUC, INDIA
-----
Morocco
Lamin, Co-ordinator of the follow-up committee against deregulation.
Dear comrades,
After you informed us that the international emergency conference
against war is to be held on January 23rd and 24th in Paris.
Because time is short, we shall not be able to participate that is why
we write this letter of support to you, we declare that we shall
consider ourselves bound by all the initiatives that will be the outcome
of it.
Dear comrades,
Because the war against Iraq is coming closer, taking into account the
troops that have already been deployed (over 200 000 US troops) we have
to take immediate action in order to say:
Down with war! Down with exploitation!
No blood for oil!
No money for slaughter
Money to improve life, not to destroy it.
For the right of peoples and nations to self-determination.
Dear comrades;
It is clear that the conference against war is in direct continuity with
all the conferences that set up the International Liaison Committee in
Barcelona in 1991 that voted a manifesto "against war and
exploitation" rendered more urgent than ever by the entire
international situation. More than ever it is urgent to help regroup the
oppressed, the exploited and organisations against war and exploitation
on the widest possible basis.
It is more than ever urgent to fight that loathsome war, against the
embargo that has already taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of
Iraqi children deprived of medicines, milk and the possibility to live
beyond five years of age, by "international right of law". The
same right today threatens to carve up the whole region, to break it
into pieces and cause still more victims, still further sufferings still
more deprivations.
Dear comrades,
We wish to be with you on the 23rd and 24th of January, but because time
is short and for want of adequate financial means we have not been able
to come but morally and with all our conscience we are with you and with
all those men and women who across the globe, in the USA, in London, in
Berlin, in Paris, in Rabat Š took to the streets to march and shout
"No to the War in Iraq!" "Not in our name!" and, in
advance we confirm that we are totally committed in the measures that
you will take during this international conference.
Dear comrades,
In our country and alongside the preparations to the war in the region,
a strong demonstration against war was organised in Rabat on that
January 12th, it gathered tens of thousands of demonstrators who marched
to the shout of "no to imperialist war", an end to the
extermination of the Palestinian people" and alongside the threats
of war against the Iraqi people, US imperialism pushes forward
"political" and military plans in the Maghreb region, they are
trying to get Sahara separated from the national Moroccan territory; to
that end, they are trying to destroy our country, and destabilise all
the Maghreb region, to that end, they are trying to pit to brother
peoples against each other: the Algerian people and the Moroccan people.
In that framework, the UNO emissary, J. Baker who arrived this week in
Morocco with a new "solution" for Sahara in his brief-case
aiming at awarding a widespread "autonomy" to the Saharoui
region, so that it falls under the direct control of the US oil
multinational and makes up a spearhead for the dismantlement of the
entire North Africa.
Dear comrades,
From the interests of workers and of democracy it is more than urgent to
mobilise against war on the international level and in each country. It
more than urgent to mobilise against war because it is war that causes
weakness in our organisations and causes disunity among workers and
oppressed. Finally, I greet you on behalf of the Moroccan working class
movement and on behalf of the Moroccan committee against deregulation
that was present with many of you in Berlin during the international
Conference against Deregulation and for workers' rights for all. I wish
total success for your conference.
-----
MEXICO
Comrades,
We totally side with you during this International Emergency Conference
against war.
We join our voices with yours to say "No to war !" Let us save
human civilisation from this mortal wound!
We know that together, with those who are at the moment convened in
Paris, with all those who across the world express their determination
against war, we can halt the crusade of barbarism that is schemed
against the Iraqi people, against all the peoples worldwide.
Unemployment, want, deregulation are stalking on the heels of that
crusade. But we can overcome with the unity of all those who eagerly
wish for a world in which priority is given to jobs compatible with
human dignity, with labour and social rights we who wish for peace and
harmony between nations.
We side with you. We are organising three actions; one in the North,
another in the centre and a third one in the south of our country to
publicise the work of the international conference and the world
struggle against war.
We already consider ourselves bound by the resolutions voted by the
conference and we are committed to promote joint actions.
Long live the international solidarity of workers and peoples!
Let us stop the war!
Mexican committee "No to war, not in our name"
-----
PAKISTAN
We, on behalf of All Pakistan Trade Union Federation and its hundred
thousand of members send our whole heartidly greeting and solidarity to
International Liaison Committee for holding an Emergency International
Conference on Peace January 23-24th 2003 in Paris.
Mr. Gulzar Ahmed, Chaudhary, General Secretary of APTUF was ready to
participate in this conference but due to his illness he could not join
the conference for whom we are very much regretted.
The American Imperialist and its allies who is threatening and ready to
attack on innocent Iraqi people, and its greedy wishes to control Iraqi
oil which is the second largest oil producer in the world. Not
only this but the imperialist forces have its evil design to capture the
economy of the whole world from Iraq to Palestine, Korea, Afghanistan,
Balkans and Africa along with all capitalist government and
International Financial Institutions. We strongly condemned the
terrorist action of the imperialist forces against the people of the
whole world.
We salute to ILC Comrades and its members for holding this emergency
International Conference and taking every step to prevent this unjust
and terrible war of which the consequences cannot be evaluated. We
totally support you on behalf of the Pakistani working class and again
very much sorry that we could not participate in this important event.
In APTUF meeting it was also decided to hold anti war protest rallies
and meetings all over the Pakistan.
We heartily wish the success of the conference.
We want peace, prosperity and dignity for working class.
Stop the war! Stop the massacre!
Rubina Jamil, Chairperson - Aima Mahmood, Secretary , Working Women
Organization - Shabbir Hussain Shah, General Secretary, Textile &
Garment Workers Federation - Nasir Gulzar, President, Progressive Youth
Organization - Fazal-e-Wahid, General Secretary, Railway Workers Union
-----
Switzerland
"I am sorry I can not take part in the International Emergency
Conference organised by the International Liaison Committee of Workers
to say loudly with you that I am staunchly against the war on Iraq and
against the intimidatory manoeuvres which continue to aggravate the
suffering of an innocent population, victim to a murderous and
scandalous embargo. The purposes of those manoeuvres sacrify without any
remorse human rights on the altar of economic power. I agree entirely
with the arguments of your appeal and I mean to express you my
endorsement, my gratefulness and my congratulations for a constant
struggle against the hegemony of a power destructive to humanity."
Christine Sayegh, lawyer, socialist, former President of the Republic
and canton of Geneva
-----
YUGOSLAVIA
No to war! For peace and democracy!
We working class activists of Yugoslavia, unionists and political
activists of the independent working class movement, members of various
political and trade union organisations express our joint solidarity
with the resistance of peoples and workers world-wide faced with the war
against the Iraqi people and above all, our solidarity with the fight of
our American brothers against this war. We consider it an honour and a
duty to respond to the appeal of the international Liaison committee of
Workers and Peoples and to send our representative to the conference
against war in Paris on January 23rd and 24th of this year.
War and democracy are antagonistic. Democracy is a pre-requisite of the
working class movement. War for oil is war for profit, is war against
any social and democratic gain of peoples across the globe, it is war to
facilitate the protectorate of American imperialism against the peoples
over the world. The war in the Balkans shed light on those objectives of
American imperialism.
We workers from the Balkans drank the bitter cup of war during the past
twelve years. Deaths by the hundreds of thousand, refugees by the
million, towns and facilities laid waste, governments as puppets on
strings in dwarf "national" states -such is the aftermath of
the war in former Yugoslavia. With this war, many of our political and
social conquests have been ruined. There is no oil in the Balkans. The
cause of this bloody "humanitarian" war against all the
peoples of former Yugoslavia was essentially political and it resulted
in the occupation of Bosnia and Kosovo and the installation of NATO
bases that pose a threat to all the peoples of Europe.
We firmly oppose the adhesion of Yugoslavia to the Partnership for
Peace, which is nothing but an antechamber of NATO. We firmly oppose the
presence of any foreign troops in the Balkans any use of military troops
beyond our national borders.
Only the world working class movement's joint action can stand in the
way of imperialist barbarism and guarantee peace and democracy, the
sovereignty of peoples and the survival of mankind and its civilisation.
No to war! No to exploitation! For Peace and Democracy!
For fraternal cooperation between peoples!
In defence of the independence of working class organisations!
In defence of the right of peoples to self-determination!
For the withdrawal of foreign troops from the Balkans!
For the return of all the world's military troops to their barracks,
within their own national boundaries!
Belgrade January 16th January2003
-----
FRANCE
MESSAGE from Roger Sandri, trade unionist
Dear Comrades,
As the great French Socialist Jean Jaurès said: "Capitalism
carries with it war as the cloud carries a storm." The threat of
war which menaces once more the whole of mankind must be seen in this
context.
The International Alliance of Workers and People , with its links
with other working class organisations at international level, is
permanently setting out the case against the state of the world
economy which is in full crisis as a result of the means of production
continuing to be private property.
This system represents an obstacle to the development of world
productive forces.
In spite of social rights and workers conquests, won over two
centuries of workers struggles, coming under constant attack , there are
segments of resistance continuously defying repression as they seek to
create a barrage to halt the flow of imperialist political and social
destruction. Out of the 6 billion men and women living in the world,
half of them live below the poverty level. There are innumerable
examples of capitalist waste, source of unprecedented human
catastrophes.
This situation is organised in fact by world wide imperialism and
first and foremost by American imperialism, for historical reasons
related to the development of financial capitalism.
Argentina in South America is the perfect illustration of a developed
country , but completely ruined by financial speculation which
international institutions, such as the IMF and the World Bank , vassals
to the American Federal Reserve , just go along with.
After South East Asia which is only just recovering from the financial
crisis of recent years and the shock therapy reducing to poverty
half the population , it's now the turn of sub-Saharan Africa to be
submitted to the pillage and genocide organised by the multinational
groups, as their interests foster corruption and mafia like gangsterism.
Africa is becoming a continent on the verge of disappearance.
Industrial patents for medicine should be placed under the control
of a supranational political authority , instead they are
maintained in the private property sphere. The result is that the
population of Africa , ravaged by AIDS and the monopoly prices that are
set by the American companies , under US protection , cannot get access
to these medicines.
The situation is similar for genetically modified organs, when a handful
of transnational companies in the agro alimentary industry controlling
these products, establish a dictatorship over peasants who lose the
ownership and control of their seeds. This is in fact nothing but a
"hold up" on life.
But, as I said to begin with , in spite of this reactionary offensive,
the working class , the people are bust organising resistance. This
situation is unacceptable for capitalism. Thus, as in all periods of
capitalist crisis, several spokesmen among economic leaders have no
hesitation in advancing war as the only means of resetting the balance.
The French writer Anatole France wrote this about the "Great
1914-18 War" "One believes one is dying for one's country when
one is actually dying for industrialists." Nothing has changed.
American Imperialism with G. Bush as leader, has, in spite of
appearances, a shy economic base, where there is a constant risk of
uncontrolled social repercussions. That's why they have recourse to the
same old methods already used in the 20th century in the way Hitler and
Mussolini were a capitalist fabrication intended to counter the
revolutionary expansion of communism , then to start a world war to get
rid of it. Today, for the second time it's Iraq and Saddam Hussein who
are the new scapegoats of a play set to the same music.
Just as Ben Laden , we know that Saddam Hussein, the bloodthirsty
dictator is a creature of US Imperialism charged with the job of
stabilising the Middle East , divided by ethnic and religious rivalry.
It is public knowledge that Saddam Hussein 's Ba'as party followed US
policy. It was also a question of setting up a barrage against Iran and
it's ayatollahs in order to protect the oil fields.
During the Iran Iraq war which followed tons of arms were
delivered to Iraq by the USSR, objectively an ally of the US, but also
by Europe and first of all by France. That war cost a
million lives for both camps. The Gulf War in 1991 ended in the
way we know , Saddam falling in the Kuwaiti trap that the US and their
Middle East allies set him.
The military operation was aimed at simply limiting his pretensions in
the area, at "clipping his wings" to avoid the danger he was
supposed to present for Israel as for other States in the Persian Gulf.
Paradoxically, these States count on him as an opposition to Iranian
pretensions on southern Iraq, dominated by the Shiite minorities,
and to Iraq's access to the Persian Gulf and its oil fields;
The United States continuing to present Saddam as a threat ,
increase their arms supply to the countries in the area as well as
their military presence , while they diversify their alliances because
Saudi Arabia appears less dependable since the terrorist attack of the
11th of September 2001.
The embargo , intended to limit oil supplies so as to control the
barrel price, has meant great suffering for the Iraqi people,
placed in a situation of victim paying for the crimes
fomented by the dictator Saddam Hussein. to be added to the 100 000
civilian and military deaths directly due to the Gulf War.
At the same time the Kurd, Shiite and Christian opposition
minorities to Saddam Hussein , who had been encouraged to rebellion by
Georges Bush senior , had their rebellion put down with all the
modern means of chemical and gas destruction , while the
American forces, under orders from Georges Bush junior, quietly
looked on .
Luckily eyes are opening . Nobody to-day is duped by US policy as it is
applied in Afghanistan , Yugoslavia, as in the Middle Eats. Public
opinion world wide is mobilised. People world wide attached
to peace , including the American people and working class , whose
lucidity and attachment to democratic values and peace we must pay
credit to, as the whole of the working class movement , must
consider it a duty to oppose the war mongering Bush Administration ,
spokesman for world imperialism. Let us remember the watch word
for the international working class movement : for bread , peace and
liberty.
Long live the Iraqi people ! No to War.
Fraternal greetings.
Roger Sandri
Subscribe to International Newsletter:
10 issues, 10euros - 20 dollar, 20 dollar - 30 issues, 30 dollar, etc.
(Support to the international diffusion of bulletin included)
Name:
Adress:
Contry
E-mail:
Cheques order to: CMO
Send to :
International Newsletter
Entente internationale des travailleurs et des peuples
87, r. du Faubourg Saint Denis, 75010 Paris. FRANCIA.
Back to Home Back
to ILC Newsletter Index
|
Open World Conference of Workers