A dossier of weekly information published by the International
Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
July 4, 2006
Issue 190
INTRODUCTION:
We are continuing the publication of the discussions at the 13th Conference
in Defense of the ILO Conventions and Trade Union Independence, which
met in Geneva on June 11, 2006.
You will find in this issue the speeches of Tafazzul Hussain (Bangladesh),
president of the Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramk Federation and H. Mahadevan
(India), general secretary of the All Indian Trade Union Congress.
You will also find various documents concerning the Justice for Anderson
campaign, as well as a list of the signers of the international appeal.
Mexico: We are publishing in this issue of the ILC International Newsletter
a declaration of the Independent and Democratic Workers Party (PDTI),
concerning the presidential elections of the republic, which took place
on July 2nd, 2006. "The unity of the country is in danger. North-American
imperialism imposes division and chaos."
Greece: For the past weeks, the students, by the tens of thousands,
have demonstrated against the Bologna (LMD) process and privatization.
Subscribe to the ILC International Newsletter! Support the ILC!
-----
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
p. 1: Introduction
p. 2: Speeches of Tafazzul Hussain (Bangladesh) and H. Mahadevan (India)
p. / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - Brazil: Justice for Anderson!
p. 7 - Mexico: Declaration of the PTDI concerning the presidential elections
p. 8 - o Greece: Student demonstrations against the LMD!
Contact:
Informations internationales
Entente internationale des travailleurs et des peuples,
87, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis -75010 Paris - France
Tel: (33 1) 48 01 88 28
E.mail: eit.ilc@fr.oleane.com - Site: www.eit-ilc.org
********************
13TH CONFERENCE IN DEFENSE OF THE ILO CONVENTIONS AND TRADE UNION INDEPENDENCE:
GENEVA, JUNE 11, 2006
Tafazzul Hussain (Bangladesh)
President of the Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramk Federation, BJSF
Dear friends and comrades,
We are meeting in Geneva for the 13th time in defense of the ILO and
the defense of our trade unions. But what is going on throughout the
world? Those who want to destroy the ILO norms and subordinate the trade
unions are very powerful. They do everything possible to aid the forces
of imperialism.
The trade unions are on the brink of disaster. But the workers are
not remaining with their arms crossed.
You may know that a few weeks ago there took place a workers´
revolt in the clothing industry in Bangladesh. Forty factories were
burned down. Several workers were shot dead by the police.
But the demonstrations continued and eventually won their three demands:
vacation payments, respect for workers, and union rights.
The government and the bosses caved in. This revolt did not come out
of nowhere; it has been brewing for a long time. In the Special Economic
Zones, the trade unions are legally forbidden. This revolt obliged the
government and the bosses to recognize that the trade unions were necessary.
This is because the revolt had no relays. There was nobody to blame
and nobody to dialogue with. There were no leaders to tell the workers
to calm down. The government realized it needed an interlocutor, that
is, a trade union.
In the other sectors (jute, textile, sugar, and steel) everything was
closed down. This is a process of deindustrialization. Industry, workers,
and trade unions were destroyed. The ILO has sponsored for the last
couple years rampant NGOization of the trade unions.
The NGOs are in the process of promoting the implementation of workers´
co-ops in the closed-down industries, with the funds of the NGOs financed
by imperialism.
This is a slippery slope which the ILO is heading down. I know that
several delegates are also officially participating in the ILO conference.
The ILO is the final hope for the workers.
All that we can expect from the bosses is the extortion of more and
more profits, at the expense of the workers and trade union rights.
But the ILO was built to defend the workers and their trade union rights.
What is it doing today?
It is necessary that the delegates present explain to the ILO that
this drive is in contradiction with the principles which the ILO is
based on.
The drive toward "factory co-management" and "governance"
is spreading everywhere. In our country, the NGOs, the so-called "civil
society" regularly organize seminars.
They push for "factory co-management." What is this? They
want to destroy the rights of the nation and the national independence
of all states. They are trying to integrate the unions into this process.
In the colonial countries, we know what "factory co-management"
means. It is awful. What is this world governance?
At the same time, these organizations explain to us that another world
is possible. I do not know what world they are referring to. For the
moment, we cannot protect our rights, our decent wages, or save the
independence (and very existence of) our trade unions.
If we do not defend and reconquer all the conquests won by our predecessors,
how can we head toward another world? Is this the world governance?
And then there is the fusion between the ICFTU and the WCL. In our
country, we have 5 trade unions affiliated to the ICFTU and two to the
WCL.
But these federations have different goals and interests. How can there
be a fusion between them?
In conclusion, I call on all the trade union leaders who are participating
in the ILO session to defend the ILO norms and the independence of our
trade unions.
-----
H. Mahadevan (India)
General Secretary of the All Indian Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
I thank the organizers for allowing me to make this speech. My name
is Mahadevan and I am the General Secretary of the All India Trade Union
Congress, the oldest trade union in the country.
I listened to the examples given by our comrades. In our country, we
face the liquidation of the workers´ conquests, lay-offs, public
and private industry closings, the ruin of the cities and the towns,
the dismantling of social security, deregulation, a regressive tax system,
and Structural Adjustment Plans that push for outsourcing.
We are facing violence against struggling workers. The courts have
come out against the workers. The law of the jungle is being promoted.
Through the framework of the infernal trio of the World Bank, the IMF,
and the WTO, violence, unemployment, and the destruction of our futures
are being implemented everywhere.
What has the ILO done for the past five years in the face of this destruction?
There are attacks on the existence of collective contracts. Yesterday,
the labor organizations refused to participate in the discussion.
But governments such as those of France and Bangladesh have filed a
resolution on free trade. They have come out for the revision of the
existing contracts.
There is pressure from the donor-states, such as the U.S. and Japan,
to modify the statutes of the ILO. And they want to continue down this
path.
In this context, what does solidarity mean? It is not traditional solidarity.
We need solidarity which I will call organic solidarity. Through organic
solidarity, I mean that the stronger sectors should support the weaker
ones on a national and international level. This could be one goal of
meetings like this.
There is another important point. Last September, a strike took place
in India, with the participation of almost all the confederations. The
main demands were the rejection of the privatization of the public sector,
a real agrarian reform, and a law protecting agricultural workers, as
well as a social security system for the informal workers.
This June 21 and 22, we are organizing a conference in India to continue
this struggle, including through strikes and sit-ins until August 1st.
We are also planning a mass demonstration on Parliament, so that the
organized workers can support the workers in the informal sector. This
type of organic solidarity can be useful.
I must raise two other important points: The U.N. is transforming itself
into an auxiliary mechanism to facilitate the implementation of the
policies of NATO, the EU, and the United States. At the same time, they
are aiming to have the ILO help implement the dictates of the donor-countries.
This is being secretly and insidiously implemented in various places.
They talk to us about "corporate responsibility." What does
this mean? This means exploiting the workers, transforming the trade
unions, abandoning the norms and conventions of the ILO, and transforming
collective bargaining into the negotiation of concessions. This is not
the same thing.
The negotiation of concessions takes place through more or less brutal
pression. They have created in the electronic sector in India a new
type of job: a qualified slave. Hours of unlimited work, unlimited days
of work, with no laws or rules. Labor should not be a commodity, but
it has become one in all sectors.
I would like to underline this because we were all delighted to see
the example given by the French students who fought with the workers
against the CPE. The protests forced the government to back down. There
are many other similar struggles.
But we should analyze our strengths and weaknesses, as well as our
possibilities and the threats facing us. There are many threats. Many
of our weaknesses have become traditions. How can we overcome these
weaknesses?
If we workers have nothing to lose but our chains, I think it is a
major weakness that today these chains are in our heads. We have interiorized
these chains into our heads. We have to break them. This is on the agenda.
If we take a step back, it is clear that the fusion between social
democracy and social Christianity, has nothing to do with our discussion.
We are independent federations. We organize our class struggle. And
we will advance in this manner.
***********************
International campaign for the truth regarding the assassination of
Anderson Luis Souza Santos
Justice for Anderson!
To all trade union and democratic organization
To all those who joined this campaign
So that the assassination of comrade Anderson does not go unpunished
The national congress of the CUT (Central Workers' Union Confederation)
demands that the inquiry be handled by the federal judicial authorities
The 9th national congress of the CUT (Brazil) was held on June 6 through
9, 2006. It unanimously decided to integrate in their "fight plan"
adopted by the delegates, the demand that the assassination of Anderson
should be clarified, as well as the arrest and punishment of those responsible.
In view of the scandal caused by the two months that have passed without
any progress on the inquiry, the CUT Congress has decided to demand
that President Lula and the Minister for Justice consider it a federal
crime. Therefore the police and federal justice must have the responsibility
for the inquiry. The newly elected leadership of the CUT has received
the mandate to organize a delegation to the federal government in this
regard.
The first meeting of the executive commission of the CUT that was held
after the congress on June 21, 2006 made the arrangements for the organization
of this delegation.
The Brazilian committee of "Justice for Anderson" issued
the following communication:
A campaign which has continued to grow in Brazil and throughout the
world
It is now over two months ago that Anderson Luis Souza Santos, president
of the trade union of the milk product sector (Sintafrio-RJ) and leader
of CONTACT-CUT was assassinated. It was on April 10, 2006 that he was
gunned down in front of his home. His assassination caused indignation
and a strong emotion among the trade unionists and all those who, in
Brazil and throughout the world, fight for justice and democracy.
An even greater indignation since this assassination is added to a
long and tragic list of unsolved assassinations of trade unionists.
A national and international campaign for the identification of those
responsible for this barbarous crime, their arrest and punishment is
now under way. Over a thousand organizations and activists around the
world have responded to the appeal. Messages, motions and letters to
the authorities in Rio de Janeiro in support of Anderson's trade union
have come from all over Brazil and the whole world.
The Brazilian committee of "Justice for Anderson" was constituted
in Rio de Janeiro on April 19, 2006.
The members of the committee are comrade Ivan Salles, representing
Sintrafrios; Julio Turra representing the national executive of the
CUT; Darbi Igaraia, representing CUT-RJ; Alessandro Molon, state deputy
of the PT-RJ; Markus Sokol, national director of the PT; Emmanuel Cancella,
representing Sindipetro-RJ; Aldair de Sousa, representing the municipal
directors of the PT and Christiane Granha, for the daily O Trabalho
of the PT.
The committee met for a second time on June 20 at the legislative assembly
in Rio de Janeiro two months after the assassination of comrade Anderson.
-The state deputy, Alessandro Molon opened the meeting by recalling
the numerous steps undertaken before the authorities: the governor,
secretary of security in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the secretary
of human rights. His office sent an official note (No. 70) to the head
of the homicide department in charge of the inquiry, Romulo, asking
that all information be sent to his office. He also sent an official
note (No. 71) along the same lines to the assistant prosecutor for human
rights, Leonardo Chavez.
It is obvious that said authorities, our counting on the gradual loss
of interest on the case. What, another trade unionist assassinated!
Impunity is often the rule in these types of deaths, Brazil being in
the second place just after Colombia, for the number of workers and
peasants assassinated. Since 2003, 18 assassinations of activists (one
every three months) have been committed and the perpetrators remain
unpunished.
In conclusion, Alessandro Molon, strongly reaffirmed: "We make
a solemn vow that the assassination of Anderson will not go unpunished!"
Neither the tardiness of the inquiry, nor the connivance of some with
the impunity accorded assassins in the deaths of worker activists will
stop the work of the committee.
-Julio Turra, member of the executive national committee of the CUT,
gave important information for the development of the campaign. The
national congress of the Central Workers' Union Confederation of the
CUT has decided to federalize the crime. Certain measures have been
taken for an official delegation of the CUT to go to the ministry of
justice for this purpose on July 10. On that day it will be three months
since comrade Anderson was assassinated.
- Sergio, president of the Sintrafrio-RJ trade union, Anderson's trade
union, invited all participants to come and pay him homage on June 23,
the 75th anniversary of the foundation of this trade union.
On this same date there will be another meeting of the committee to
constitute the delegation to Brasilia.
- Christiane Granha proposed that the committee take charge as of June
of a financial aid for Anderson's mother asking all labor and democratic
organizations to contribute to this fund.
- Rio de Janeiro, June 20, 2006
---
We ask for your authority to offer financial aid to the funds constituted
by the committee. Donations can be deposited into:
Bank of Brazil Branch 4480-6. Savings Account 0100185940.
Or into the Savings Account 18594-9 variação 01, in the
name of Christiane Nunes Granha.
You can also contact us concerning how to donate your funds. We thank
you in advance.
Justice for Anderson Committee
Contacts: comiteanderson@grupos.com.br Sintrafrio - (21) 3872-7843
e 22645838;
Cabinet Molon - (21) 25881402; Christiane Granha - (21) 81052910; Syndicat
des
Nutritionistes - (21) 22245122; Sindipetro-RJ
---
Message from the Sintrafrio trade union of which Anderson Luis Souza
Santos was the leader
"Good morning, comrades. The Sintrafrio is proud to advise you
that the "banking hours" system (annualization system and
ultra-flexibilization of working hours. Ed. Note) that Sadia (the industrial
food products company in Brazil) had imposed the past eight years, was
rejected yesterday.
In 1998, the yellow trade union that dominated Sadia had allowed the
"banking hours" system be established without consulting the
workers.
Yesterday the trade union held a meeting that lasted from 10 a.m. to
10 p.m. The objective was to put an end to "banking hours".
The result was 216 votes against 65, for an end to "banking hours."
This is an important victory for the workers at Sadia who have been
subject to the 'yellow hands' for the past 20 years and now have the
possibility of being represented by a true trade union (1).
We want to dedicate this victory to comrade Anderson who fought so
hard for the workers at Sadia and get rid of the repugnant "banking
hours" system. After this victory he would surely have cried: "Central!
Unica! De los Trabalhadores!" ( One and only worker's union!)
The trade union system in Brazil, inherited from a corporatist regime
of the 30's provides that only a single trade union can exist locally
in one sector (in this instance the food industry in Rio de Janeiro).
The trade union that wins the election locally in a particular sector
becomes the only trade union and receives all of the tax moneys deducted
from the trade union on the mass of wage earners. This is what is at
stake financially. Could this have something to do with the assassination
of comrade Anderson? We hope the inquiry will help to clear this up.
---------
French activists and trade union leaders write to Ignacio Lula da Silva,
President of the Brazilian Republic
May 1, 2006
"Mr. President,
We take the liberty of addressing you, in the diversity of our opinions,
following the cowardly assassination of trade union activist Anderson
Luiz Souza Santos, last April 10 in Rio de Janeiro.
We have been informed of the constitution in Brazil on April 19 of
a national committee of "Justice for Anderson", with the participation
of representatives mandated by the trade union federation (CUT) on the
one hand and the board of directors of the Labor Party on the other
hand.
Anderson was, as you know, both a trade unionist of the CUT and member
of the Labor Party just as you, Mr. President, once were the president
and spokesman for many years.
The secretary general of the CUT, Artur Henrique has declared: "This
crime cannot remain unsolved and without the culprits being punished,
that is the commitment of the CUT."
We know of your commitment for the respect of democratic liberties,
to the free exercise of trade union and political rights and democracy.
We are persuaded that we share the same will that all efforts will
be made to that the truth, the whole truth, can be established on the
assassination of Anderson Luiz Souza Santos so that the crime does not
go unpunished and those responsible will be found, judged and condemned.
We want you to know, Mr. President, that we share the emotion of millions
of trade unionists and democrats from all parts of the world, who have
sent messages of support to this elementary democratic demand.
Please be assured, Mr. President, that we are available to offer all
the necessary support to this campaign so that justice can be done.
Please respectfully receive our deepest commitment to democracy.
First signatories:
Marc BLONDEL, trade unionist, free thinker; Rose BOUTARIC, secretary
general of FEC-FO; François CHAINTRON, teacher trade unionist
; Xavier COMPAIN, President of the Movement in Defense of family farmers
(MODEF); Gabriel GAUDY, trade unionist; Daniel GLUCKSTEIN, national
secretary of the Workers Party; Yacine HADJ-HAMOU, trade unionist, inspector
of work; Christophe MASSE, trade unionist, PTT; Alain ROQUES, trade
unionist, researcher ; Daniel VAZEILLE, trade unionist, public service;
Henri Weber, national secretary of the Socialist Party, European deputy.
----------
Endorsers of the letter to Lula Da Silva (in a personal capacity):
Djadja Ouaras, unionist, Haute Savoie; Rachid Nouasria, health care
unionist; Franck Giordano, housing unionist; Marc Guyon, departmental
secretaryof FNEC FP-FO of the Landes; Michel Pétrequin, teacher
unionist, Hérault; Alain Cwick, unionist, Hérault; Nathalie
Sicard, departmental secretary FO Health care de l'Aude; Joseph Circhirillo,
unionist FO MSA Languedoc; Franck Vidal, unionist BTP, Hérault;
Didier Lammari, unionist TOS, Hérault; Charles Hetzel, unionist
administration; Philippe Etienne; Hervé Charlot, teacher, Calvados;
Eric Delteil, public services unionist, Calvados; Jacques Gest, pensioner
unionist, Calvados; Michel Guérard, secretary of the union FO
of the personnel of Préfecture (Calvados); Claude Kada, pensioner,
Calvados; Didier Kerdoncuff, unionist FO, Calvados; Tristan Malle, media
unionist; Gérard Boucher, tax-sector unionist, Gironde; Monique
Domergue, municipal councilor PCF, public services unionist, Gironde;
Georges Benis, postal unionist, Gironde; Bernard Loupien, postal unionist,
Gironde; Philippe Mano, teacher unionist, Gironde; Joachim Salamero,
anarcho-sindicalist, responsable libre penseur et laïque; Franco
Pietro, unionist; Mira Mangolini, unionist; François Sainson,
pensioner unionist de l'AFPA; Pierre Garino, teacher unionist, Savoie;
Yves Daldosso, postal unionist, Savoie; Renée Laurent, municipal
councilor, Savoie; Christian Florentin, pensioner unionist, libre penseur;
Nicole Renevier, teacher unionist; François Cousyn, PT, France;
Jean François Fournier, PT, France; Claudine Denier, social security
unionist; Yveline Calais, PT, France Marie Louise Michelland, rail-way
unionist; Sylvain Ferrere, JR; Louis Cheminal, JR; Francis Dardousset;
Marcel Attias, unionist; Christian Camelin, chemical sector unionist;
Marc Verschueren, teacher unionist; René Malle, unionist action
sociale; Alain David, unionist CGT rail-way pensioner, former secretary
of l'Union locale; Marc Perrier, unionist, municipal councilor; Auguste
Allain, unionist France-télécom; André Froin, unionist
of the transportation sector; Patrick Denève, chemical sector
unionist, Val-d'Oise; François Lefebvre, teacher unionist, Val-d'Oise;
Marie Chantal Abouquir, unionist PTT, Val-d'Oise; Patricia Jones, unionist
in transport, Val-d'Oise; Jean Pierre Sauger, unionist, Nantes; Marc
Esteve, unionist et libre penseur; Paul Genestie, metal-sector unionist;
Laurence Florance, health care unionist; Jean Marie Nebbak, health care
unionist; Chantal Gérard, health care unionist; Serge Berton,
unionist AFPA; Hervé Lebrun, unionist AFPA; Françoise
Lecroq, teacher unionist; Sylvette Chevalier, higher education unionist;
Paul Barbier, general secretary of the SNUDI-FO; Joël Rathonie,
unionist; Claude Singer, unionist, libre penseur, director de l'Idée
libre; Florence Widner, health care unionist; Francis Brabant, teacher
unionist; Catherine Wyckhuyse, teacher unionist; Patrick Hermas, unionist
AFPA; Jean Pierre Kaspereck, unionist Service de health care of the
armées; André Bouis, unionist cheminot, libre penseur;
Joël Sohier, maître de conférence (University of Reims),
departmental secretaryfédération FO in the education sector
de l'Aube; Pierre Bouillon, unionist; Frédéric Chailloux,
social security unionist; Marthe Chevillet, unionist PTT; Michel Mayen,
secretary of the union SNPE; Josiane Ruhaud, unionist in the education
sector; Bernard Ruhaud, unionist collectivité territoriale; Quentin
Dauphiné, member of the conseil national of FSU; Giuseppe Of
therelli, unionist; Franck Servel, state workers unionist; Maurice Stobnicer,
departmental secretaryof the SNFOLC de Seine-Saint-Denis; Claude Senes,
maire de Thoard, France; Jean Luc Sicre, unionist, CGT PTT, Rennes,
France; Arlette Vaillant, démocrate; Jean Louis Henry, unionist
douanes; Michel Louis, pensioner unionist; Marc Minni, unionist portuaire;
Philippe Renard, unionist construction; Jean-Michel Groisier, tax-sector
unionist; Jean-François Lacour, journaliste; Jean Claude Leymarie,
secretary de l'Union locale de Saint-Chamond; Daniel Teyssier, anarcho-sindicalist,
postier; Pierre Schwartz, trésorier de l'Union locale CGT de
Rive de Gier, Loire; Claude Mella, unionist Union locale CGT de Rive
de Gier, Loire; Félix Of theprat, unionist Union locale CGT de
Rive de Gier, Loire; Remy Janneau, professor à l'IUFM de Basse
Normandie, SNESup (FSU); Françoise Illa, professor, syndiquée
FO; Monique Maneyrie, syndiquée FO; Gérald Fromager, general
secretary of l'UD FO Aisne; Jacqueline Fraysse, MPs of the Hauts-de-Seine;
François Chabert, tax-sector unionist; Claudine Revet, PT; Florence
Chamiot Poncet, PT; Abbès Labane, PT; Bruno Depuoy, PT; Patrick
Mollaret, PT; Gabriel Callipe, labor activist, unionist CGT; Michel
Delamotte, teacher unionist; Bruno Ricque, activist unionist health
care, action sociale; Luce Euder-Niez, unionist; Claude Rielland, FO,
cheminote; Jean Louis Aurigny, libre penseur; Daniel Jouanne, teacher
unionist; Michel Brunet, unionist; Michel Guitton, PT 22, pensioner
SNFOLC; Brigitte Monvoisin, unionist PTT; Albert Damjou, pensioner artisan
granitier; Isabelle Chauvet, teacher unionist; Yann Olivier, unionist
PTT; Dominique Audaire, activist CGT; Paul Klein, unionist, pensioner
de l'in the education sector public; Yvette Borde, institutrice pensionere,
la Grand Croix, Loire; Marc Vey, instituteur unionist, Roanne, Loire;
Bernard Peyrache, ouvrier, Saint-Chamond, Loire; Alain Collard, unionist,
Haute Savoie; Sylvie Beck, anarcho-sindicalist; Brigitte Lacroix, unionist,
action sociale; Alain Delsante, unionist action sociale; Pascal Baudoin,
unionist, professor de russe; M. Pinaud, unionist; Jean Louis Guérin,
unionist portuaire; Jacques Dandrimont, health care unionist; Fabienne
Mateu, unionist; Philippe Joulain, unionist, libre penseur; Jean Brasselet,
unionist; Claude Clouet, syndiquée SNADGI-CGT, Essonne; Christine
Bayo, agent ouvrier de educationnationale; Julien Malissard, professor
of the écoles, Limeil-Brévannes; Chantal Nicoud, professor
of the écoles, Brunoy; Martine Guidette, teacher, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges;
Stéphane Gauthier, professor, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges; Yannick
Farnos, teacher; Adrien Paoletti, teacher; Patrick Fantini, professor
of the écoles, Brunoy; Cassandre Pinto, teacher; Malika Fiouane,
teacher, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges; Marc Auray, unionist CGT, Lyon; Paul
André Gaide, unionist CGT, Lyon; Christophe Déquier, unionist
CGT, Lyon; Serge Bouchon, union secretary, Brest; Thierry Jacq, unionist
FO EDF; Jean Yves Boissière, member of the PT; Michèle
Polloca, teacher, Bas-Rhin; Jean-Louis Hobel, unionist, Bas-Rhin; Michel
Mariotte, postier, Bas-Rhin; Anne-Catherine Beck, Bas-Rhin; Marie-Paule
Vanberkel, Bas-Rhin; Marie-Stella Freyermuth, Bas-Rhin; Albert Mann,
pensioner metal, Bas-Rhin; Matthieu Ruyer, pensioner, Bas-Rhin; Hubert
Whitechurch, professor à l'université, Bas-Rhin; Gabriel
Fischer, pensioner of the university, Bas-Rhin; Arlette Hoffmann, professor,
Bas-Rhin; Laurent Hobel, unionist COOP, Bas Rhin; Marie-France Pollet,
professor, Bas-Rhin; Jean-Claude Schmitt, professor, Bas-Rhin; Eliane
Fisch, teacher, Bas-Rhin; Odile Sendaln, documentaliste, Bas-Rhin; Christiane
Schmitt, secretary, Bas-Rhin; Maxence Chorvot, Bas-Rhin; Xavier Gervais,
chômeur, Bas-Rhin; Jean-Michel Delaye, unionist, Bas-Rhin; Claire
Deidemy, Moselle; Fabrice Monnot, teacher, Haut-Rhin; Remy Caillat,
unionist; Claude Hirbec, president of fédération of the
Val-de-Marne of Libre Pensée; Monique Murga, presidente de l'Association
France-Brazil; Claude Bartolone, MP de Seine-Saint-Denis; Commission
exécutive of section départementale of the Landes of the
SNUDI-FO; Commission exécutive of section of the Landes of the
Union national of leadership générale of the impôts-CGT;
Bureau de l'Union locale CGT de Rive de Gier, Loire.
FRANCE
* Unions
Fédération FO des personnels des services des départements
et régions; SNFOLC; SNUDI-FO; FNEC-FP FO; Union départementale
CGT de la Vienne; FNEC-FP-FO des Alpes de Haute Provence; FNEC FO des
Alpes-de- Haute-Provence; SNFOLC des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence; CGT Equipement
Alpes de Haute Provence; Union départementale FO du Var; Commission
exécutive de la section FO du personnel de l'Equipement du Var;
Syndicat départemental de l'Action sociale FO de Haute-Savoie;
Bureau du syndicat départemental du SNUDI-FO de la Loire; SNUDI-FO
de la Loire; Syndicat départemental de l'action sociale FO de
l'Essonne; Syndicat FO de la fonderie Perfect Circle; Section départementale
de la FGF FO de Charente Maritime; FO Com Toulouse; FO EDF région
Sud Ouest; Syndicat départemental de l'Action sociale FO de Haute
Savoie; Syndicat FO Sécurité sociale de Haute Garonne;
FNEC-FP FO des Yvelines; SNFOLC académie de Grenoble; Les travailleurs
du centre postal Rondelet de Montpellier avec leur section syndicale
CGT; SNUDI-FO des Côtes d'Armor; SNFOLC des Côtes d'Armor;
Union locale FO de Dreux; FGF FO de Charente Maritime; Syndicat départemental
des employés et cadres des organismes de Sécurité
sociale de Haute Garonne; SNUDI-FO d'Eure et Loir; FNEC-FP FO d'Eure
et Loir; Syndicat CGT PTT Eure et Loir; Syndicat FO des communaux de
Clichy; Union locale FO de Clichy; Syndicat FO Fournier (Metz-Tessy);
Syndicat FO Nobel explosifs France; FNEC-FP FO Seine et Marne; SNFOLC
Seine et Marne; SNUDI-FO Seine et Marne; Section locale du SNUDI-FO
de la Ferté sous Jouarre; SNUDI-FO Val D'Oise; FNEC-FP FO Val
d'Oise; Union départementale FO du Val d'Oise; Syndicat des employés
et cadres des organismes de Sécurité sociale FO du Val
d'Oise; Section FO de l'Hôpital Dupuytren (Val d'Oise); Chambre
syndicale des employés et cadres FO des organismes de Sécurité
sociale de la région Ile de France; Syndicat FO du personnel
des organismes sociaux de la région parisienne; Syndicat CGT
de la leadership Informatique et Télécommunications d'EDF-GDF;
Section syndicale SNES du collège Croix d'Argent de Montpellier;
Union départementale FO de l'Hérault; Union départementale
FO du Puy de Dôme; Union départementale FO de la Haute
Loire; Section CGT Bobigny du centre de tri; Syndicat CGT des salariés
de la MGET; Syndicat CGT des Gobelins (Paris); Section syndicale CGT-PTT,
syndicat des postiers de Paris, 5e arrondissement; Syndicat FO du centre
hospItalyr intercommunal de Créteil; Section CGT hôpital
de Dieppe; Union départementale FO du Maine-et-Loire; Syndicat
FO du personnel de la région Ile-de-France; SNUDI-FO du Gard;
Syndicat FO hôpital Vinatier de Lyon; Groupement départemental
du Rhône des syndicats des services publics et de santé
FO; FGF, section départementale d'Eure et Loir; Syndicat FO de
la CAF du Calvados; SNUDI-FO de l'Aisne; Syndicat tourangeau des artistes
musiciens CGT; SNPREES-FO de l'University of Brest; Section départementale
FO de la Poste de l'Yonne; SPASEEN-FO; FO DDTE d'Eure et Loir; Syndicat
FO COM des Réseaux Opérateurs et Système d'Information,
Paris; Union locale CGT d'Issy-les-Moulineaux; Syndicat FO de l'Institut
Gustave Roussy; Syndicat départemental des employés et
cadres FO des organismes de Sécurité sociale de Seine-Saint-Denis,
section de l'URSSAF; Syndicat départemental CGT des salariés
du secteur des activités postales et de télécommunication
de la Vienne; SNFOLC des Ardennes; FNEC-FP FO des Ardennes; Syndicat
CGT de l'Agence de l'environnement; Section syndicale FO d'Alstom Saint-Ouen;
Syndicat national CGT de la Géologie Géophysique; MODEF
de l'Hérault; Syndicat CGT DDTEFP de la Haute Garonne; SNPREES
de Montpellier; SNUDI-FO de l'Eure; Bureau syndical FO Santé
HIA St Anne; Union locale FO d'Ivry-Vitry; SNPREES-FO d'Indre et Loire;
FNEC-FP FO de l'Yonne; Bureau du SPASEEN de la Gironde; Union locale
CGT de Monthermé; Union départementale FO de l'Aisne;
Section syndicale CGT Amadeus; SNFOLC des Alpes Maritimes; Secrétariat
académique du SNFOLC de Créteil; Bureau de la FNEC-FP
FO de l'Aisne; Union des syndicats FO de la chimie, du pétrole
et activités connexes du département du Rhône; Bureau
syndical de la FERC-Sup CGT University of Bordeaux 2; Syndicat général
FO Aéroports de Paris; Union régionale FO des cheminots
de Saint-Lazare; Union départementale FO du Gard; Syndicat du
personnel CGT du Centre hospItalyr spécialisé du Jura;
Secrétariat de l'Union syndicale départementale de la
Santé et action sociale CGT du Jura; Union régionale FO
des cheminots de la région de Paris-Nord; Section départementale
du Val-d'Oise du SNADGI CGT; CGT Schneider Automation, Sophia-Antipolis;
Union locale FO de Seine-et-Marne; Union locale CGT d'Annecy; Union
départementale FO des Pyrénées Orientales; Union
départementale FO de l'Orne; Section FO Thales Communications
Colombes; SNUDI-FO de la Côte d'Or; Union départementale
FO des Côtes-D'Armor; Union syndicale CGT de la santé et
de l'action sociale de Côte d'Or; Union départementale
FO de la Corrèze; CVSE-CVSL de Lyon; SNFOLC de Haute-Savoie;
Syndicat FO de la S.A Evian (Cran Gevrier); SNUDI-FO de la Gironde;
Des travailleurs de la Poste de Créteil et de Maisons-Alfort;
Union départementale FO du Rhône; Section académique
du SNFOLC de Montpellier; Section syndicale FO CPAM 93, syndicat départemental
des employés et cadres des organismes de Sécurité
sociale de Seine-Saint-Denis; Section syndicale FO du centre de tri
postal de Paris Charolais PLM; SNUDI-FO de l'Isère; SNUDI-FO
du Rhône; SNFOLC du Rhône; Section de Paris du syndicat
national des services du Trésor FO; Syndicat FO des personnels
de la communauté urbaine de Lyon; Bureau de l'UL FO de Villeurbanne;
Syndicat CGT Vinci Energies Ile-de-France; Syndicat départemental
FO de l'Action sanitaire et sociale de la Haute Saône; SNUDI-FO
du Pas de Calais; MODEF de Charente Maritime; Bureau de la section locale
du SNUDI-FO de Château Thierry; CE du syndicat CGT des Postaux
de Paris; Les délégués du personnel et les organisations
syndicales CGT, FO, CFDT de l'établissement commercial Trains
de Paris Montparnasse; SNFOLC Gironde; Union départementale des
retraités et pré-retraités FO des Deux-Sèvres;
SNPREES-FO Gironde; Syndicat CGT du CRB-SNPE-matériaux énergétique;
SNFOLC de Charente Maritime; Union locale CGT d'Evreux; Section FO COM
du Havre; SNPREES FO de l'Isère; Section FO de l'hôpital
Beaujon; Secrétariat de la section FO de l'AP-HP; Syndicat CGT-Brandt
Industries; Syndicat général FO des personnels des hospices
civils de Lyon; Union locale FO de Saint-Denis; Section du SNADGI-CGT
de Paris Centre; SNPREES-FO Ille et Vilaine; Union locale FO de Sevran;
Syndicat CGT Crédit agricole Titres et filiales; Commission exécutive
du SNADGI-CGT de l'Essonne; Section FO SACRED, Saint-Lubin; Union départementale
FO du Finistère; Bureau de la section départementale du
SNFOLC de Saine-Saint-Denis; Syndicat SNTRS-CGT de la faculté
d'Orsay; SNUDI-FO du Var; CVSE de Saint-Etienne; Syndicat FO DDE 92;
USBT FO 92; Fédération FO BTP; SNUDI-FO du Vaucluse
* Other Organizations:
International Committee Against Repression (Comité international
contre la répression/CICR); Departmental Committee of Puy-de-Dôme
for the Reconquest of Democracy; Workers Party of France (PT); Internationalist
Communist Current, Workers Party.
* Individual messages:
Roland Corominas (Paris); Pascal Pierron, member of the section of
the Parti of the travailleurs of Epinac; Samuel Dezélée
(Paris); Patrick Ansquer, union delegate FO; of the professors de droits
de Dijon et of Sorbonne; Henri Galy et Lucile Frison (Isère);
Annie Lacroix-Riz, professor d'histoire contemporaine, Université
Paris VII; Jean Pierre Barrois, professor Université Paris 12;
Joël Mekhantar, professor de droit public (Dijon); Jean Pierre
Doujon, university worker, unionist Université P. Mendès
France (Grenoble); Patrick Hébert, general secretary of l'Union
départementale FO de Loire Atlantique; Georges Vidal et Joachim
Séné, elected representative of the personnel (CGT) Paris
17e; 7 travailleurs of the Centre spatial de Toulouse (CNES); Alain
Denizo, president of Commission internationale d'enquête of the
mouvement ouvrier contre la répression en China; Monique Domergue,
élue municipal councilor of the PCF (33); Jean Marc Schiappa,
historian; Julien Quennesson, student, activist JRCF, Somain; J. Morel,
ingénieur, CNRS; Charles Conte, syndiqué CGT; Julien Guérin,
student; Paul Monmaur, neurobiologiste, Université Paris VII,
pensioner; Patrick Babault; François Le Pivert, unionist CGT;
Jacques Guilbert, unionist CGT; Alain Roques, national secretary of
the union CGT de l'INRA; Catherine Prokhoroff, secretary of the union
CGT of Cité of the sciences et de l'industrie, member of Commission
exécutive de l'Union départementale CGT de Paris; Patricia
Montenegro, médecin; Jean-Pierre Deligey, general secretary adjoint
de l'Union départementale FO of Gironde; Françoise et
Pierre Of thebois; Gérard Givone, Grenoble; Olivier Bancel; Julien
Guérin, student; Michel Iafelice, historien; Patrick Henrart,
libre penseur; Georges Gastaud, philosophe, unionist, member of the
PRCF; Bruno Sinagoga, general secretary CGT-E. Dalkia; Michel Delamotte,
union delegate FO et Sylvie bellet, secretary of section syndicale SNES,
lycée technique Marcel Sembat, Sotteville-lès-Rouen; Alain
Serre, general secretary of fédération CGT of the professionnels
of vente; Michel Vanetti; Xavier Giovannetti, La Garde; Jean-Yves Boissière,
Brétigny-sur-Orge; Aimé Savy, maire-adjoint d'Ivry, member
of the national leadership of Convention pour la reconquête of
démocratie; Gilles Boulin, MRC, Côtes d'Armor; Laurence
Favier, MRC, Cote d'Or; Bruno Susani, municipal councilor PS de Sartrouville,
Yvelines; Janine Hebrard, responsable UGICT-CGT Ivry; Gérard
Of thechesne, CGT Ivry; Marylène Lebars, Jean Marc Chesnel, Odile
Ollivier, Jérome Vuillemant, section FO of the Offices agricoles;
Jean Paul Schaff
Didier Tregnier; André Morisseau; Marie Hélène
Le Corre; Jean Pierre Fitoussi, member of Commission exécutive
nationale of the SNTRS-CGT.
INTERNATIONALLY
* Unions
Haïti: Confédération of the Forces ouvrières
haïtiennes (CFOH); Philippines: UNORKA; Pakistan: Fédération
syndicale of the Pakistan (APTUF); Pakistan: APFUTU; Switzerland: Union
of the services publics ofusanne et environs, section health care, social
parapublic; Tchad: Union of the teachers of the Tchad; Bangladesh: Fédération
nationale of the travailleurs of the Bangladesh (BJSF); Spain: FES-UGT
Compeboel; Russia: Union libre of the conductors de tramways de Saint-Pétersbourg;
Ecuador: Union of the travailleurs de l'électricité d'Ambato;
Inde: All India Blue Star Employees Federation (AIBEF); Burundi: Union
libre of the travailleurs of the university of the Burundi (STUB); Spain:
section syndicale UGT BBVA, Barcelone; Guadeloupe: UGTG; Israël:
The Laborer's Voice; Cameroun: Confédération générale
of the travail-Liberté; Russia: Union of the travailleurs de
l'entreprise Passajiravtotrans (Perm); Russia: Union "Solidarité
studente" (Perm); Russia: Conseil de coordination of the actions
de protestation of ville de Perm; Belgium: comité exécutif
of the SETCa de Brussels-Hal-Vilvorde; Belgium: CGSP Enseignement de
Schaerbeek; Spain: Fédération régionale de services
de Madrid de l'UGT; Belgium: CGSP-in the education sector de Brussels;
Switzerland: Union SSP Région Lausanne et environs
* Other Organizations
Russia: Union of Jeunesse communiste of ville de Krasnodar; Russia:
Organisation civique "Centre de défense of the droits",
Toula; Philippines: Parti of the travailleurs philippin; France: Jeunesse
Révolution (section française de l'IRJ); Russia: organisation
of the district de Lipetsk de l'Union of the jeunesses communistes of
Fédération de Russia; Mouvement civique en soutien aux
initiatives sociales de Russia "Alternatives"; Mouvement socialiste
"Vperiod", Moscou; "Solidarnost", Kaliningrad; Parti
ouvrier révolutionnaire (Perm); Argentina: 17 memberes d'un collectif
de femmes; Malaisia: Transnational Information Exchange Asia; Belgium:
le comité contre la régression sociale imposée
par l'Union européenne (section de Liège); Cuba: parti
social-révolutionnaire démocratique de Cuba; Entente internationale
of the travailleurs et of the peuples; Germany: rédaction de
SOPODE; Angleterre: The Link; Palestine: Comité pour un Etat
démocratique et laïque de Palestine; Roumanie: Association
pour l'émancipation of the travailleurs; Spain: Rédaction
d'Informations ouvrières; Maroc: Comité de rédaction
of Tribune of the travailleurs; Algérie: Parti of the travailleurs;
South Africa: Socialist Party of Azania (SOPA); Ukraine: Union Borotba;
Switzerland: UCPO; Turkey: Parti of the travailleurs; Portugal: section
portugaise of IVe Internationale (POUS); Ecuador: section équatorienne
of IVe Internationale (OSRT); Togo: Comité de liaison of the
trotskystes of the Togo (CLTT); Réunion: Groupe trotskyste réunionnais
(GTR)
* Individual messages (titles and organizations for id. only):
Togo: Marius, Lomé; Togo: Norbert Gbikpi-Benissan, general secretary
of l'UNSIT; Brazil: Alexandre Linares, member of the Comité national
de Jeunesse Révolution (IRJ); United States: Larry Duncan, co-producer
of Labor Beat tv show; Russia: Galina, member de l'Union of the jeunesses
communistes de Krasnodar; Philippines: Renato B. Magtubo, MP of the
Parti of the travailleurs philippin; 6 British unionists; Great Britain:
Professor Nat Queen, University of Birmingham (AUT); Scotland: Professor
Dr John O'Dowd (unionist University of Glasgow); Portugal: Aires Rodrigues,
MP PS à l'assemblée constituante; Germany: Eva Gürster,
member of leadership of the union of health care, member of leadership
régionale of l'AFA of the SPD (health care); China: Cai Chongguo,
China Labour bulletin; Germany: Michael Futterer, Brigitte Klein, Margit
Weisskirchen, unionists; Germany: Christian Hass, Axel Zutz, Heinke
Först, Birgit Schöller, activists of the SPD; Germany: Volker
Prasuhn, unionist; Germany: Heinrich Becker (GEW); Germany: Michael
Altmann, SPD; Germany: Beate Sieweke, AFA of the SPD; Germany: Anna
Schuster, Ver.di; Germany: H.-W. Schuster, AFA of the SPD; United States:
Joseph Johnson aka " Lil Joe ", Labor Party Praxis; United
States: Megan Moriarty, Socialist Organizer; Canada: Barry Weisleder,
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, Socialist Action; United
States: Jackson Losh, Socialist Organizer; United States: Gregg Shotwell,
United Auto Workers; United States: Connie White, Radical Women, member
of the Continuation Commitee of the Africa Tribunal; Benin: Innocent
Assogba, activist unionist, secretary aux relations extérieures
of Confédération syndicale of the travailleurs of the
Bénin (CSTB); Italy: Susanna Angeleri, PRC - CNG; Grande Bretagne:
professor Philip Wrigt, associate Dean for Research Management School
University Of Sheffield; United States: Mark T. Harris, journalist;
United States: James E Vann, Oakland Tenants Union; United States: Steven
Argue, Liberation News; United States: David Walters, member, IBEW 1245;
United States: Jerry Gordon, Ohio State Labor Party; Belgium: B. Dawance,
affiliée CGSP; South Korea: Sikwa Jung, unionist KCTU et fédération
of métallurgie; Belgium: Francis Provot, délégué
CGSP; Hong Kong: Ka Wai, Hong Kong Christian IndustrialCommittee; Belgium:
Raymonde Van Vaerenbergh; Great Britain: Rajmil Fischman, unionist University
of Keele; Belgium: JM Dehousse, ancien ministre, ancien sénateur,
ancien member of the Parlement européen; Belgium: Pierre Marlioux,
unionist SETCa/FGTB, member of the comité exécutif of
the STECa BHV; Belgium: Mohamed Daouani, unionist SETCa/FGTB; Belgium:
Martine Mormer, unionist SETCa/FGTB; Belgium: Geert Haverbekke, unionist
SETCa/FGTB; Belgium: Sfia Bouarfa, senator Parti socialiste; Belgium:
Mohamed Lahlali, MP, échevin; Belgium: Alain Hutchinson, MP européen;
Belgium: Robert Lejeune, pensioner in the education sector; Belgium:
Jeannine Wynants, pensioner in the education sector; Belgium: Manuel
Puissant, unionist SETCa/FGTB, POS; Belgium: Hugues Esteveny, union
delegate SETCa; Belgium: Karim Inan, unionist SETCa; Pakistan: Gulzar
Ahmed Chaudhary, general secretary of l'APTUF; Pakistan: Rubina Jamil,
APTUF; Pakistan: Aima Mahmood, WWO; Pakistan: Fazal-e-Wahid, general
secretary of l'Union of the travailleurs of the chemins de fer; Pakistan:
Farid Awan, general secretary of United Workers Union TMA-Town Hall;
Pakistan: Nasir Gulzar, APTUF; Pakistan: Junaid Awan, APTUF; Pakistan:
Mohammad Amin, vice president de Manviwala Mauser Plastic Industries
Employees union; Pakistan: Muhammad Ishaque: general secretary of Ittehad
Carpet Labour Welfare Union-Karachi; Mexico: Humberto Martinez Brizuela,
professor, EIT; Mexico: Roberto Alcaraz Lopez, Professor, ILC; Senegal:
Bayla Sow, general secretary of the union unique of the transports aériens
of the Sénégal (SUTAS); Belgium: Gilberte Lejour, member
CGSP, professor honoraire IESS, Brussels.
-----
Messages should be sent to:
President of the Repubic of Brazil:
protocolo@planalto.gov.br
Minister of Justice of Rio:
gabinetemj@mj.gov.br
Governor of Rio de Janeiro,
Rosinha Garotinho
governadora@gabgovernadora.rj.gov.br
Secretary of Public Security of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Secretariodeseguranca@ssp.rj.gov.br
Send a copy to:
"Justice pour Anderson" Commitee (Rio de Janeiro)
comiteanderson@grupos.com.br
Sintrafrio
Sintrafriorj@yaho.com.br
Julio Turra
julioturra@cut.org.br
"Justice pour Anderson"
justicepouranderson@fr.oleane.com
*******************
MEXICO
In the wake of the presidential election, who aims to plunge the country
into chaos?
On July 2, the presidential elections in Mexico took place.
The three principal candidates were: Felipe Calderon -- from the Party
of National Action (PAN) which Vincente Fox, the preceding president,
belongs to -- and who aims to deepen the "free-trade" agreement
(1) with the United States; Roberto Madrazo, from the Insitutional Revolutionary
Party (PRI), which governed Mexico for 66 years; and Andres Lopez Obrador,
from the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), a split from the
PRI in 1987, which aims to stand in the tradition of the former president
Cardenas, who nationalized the oil in 1938.
Obrador´s campaign was centered around the slogan: "Mexico
is not for sale." A few hours after the closing of the polls, the
Federal Electoral Institute suddenly stopped counting the vote results
when Obrador was leading, creating a situation of acute crisis.
We are publishing below the declaration of the Independent and Democratic
Workers Party of Mexico, which is allied to the ILC, titled: "In
the Face of the Threat of Electoral Fraud, In the Face of the Threat
of Instigated Chaos and Confrontations in the Country -- Open Letter
to Mr. Andres Manuel López Obrador, Leaders of Workers' Organizations
in the City and Countryside, and Working People of Mexico."
Endnote:
(1) NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was implemented on
January 1, 1994. It has had such disastrous results in Mexico that millions
were left without work and were obliged to immigrate to the United States.
This agreement was also an instrument of the multinationals against
the rights of the U.S. workers. This explains why millions of workers,
in the main cities of the United States (and also in Mexico) demonstrated
in defense of the civil rights of the immigrant workers, with the support
of the local trade unions of the AFL-CIO.
-----
Declaration of the Independent Democratic Workers Party of Mexico (PTDI)
- July 3, 2006 -
In the Face of the Threat of Electoral Fraud
In the Face of the Threat of Instigated Chaos and Confrontations in
the Country
*Mr. Andres Manuel López Obrador,
*Leaders of Workers' Organizations in the City and Countryside,
*Working people:
On July 2 the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) refused to announce
the preliminary results of the presidential election. There is nothing
to justify this decision. In reality they are preparing fraud.
An unprecedented institutional crisis has been created in our country.
Everything indicates they intend to deny your victory, Mr. Andrés
Manuel López Obrador, in this election. This is not simply electoral
fraud as was undertaken by the PRI in the 1998 presidential election,
through which Salinas de Gortari was handed the presidency.
This is an attempt to establish a situation of chaos in the country,
one that will only benefit U.S. imperialism and the multinationals,
which seek to dislocate the nation in order to directly control our
natural resources, primarily our petroleum resources.
The position of the New York Times, the organ of North American imperialism,
is symptomatic -- it hails the position of the Federal Electoral Institute
of not declaring the results of the presidential election.
You indicated that the PRD surpassed Felipe Calderón, the presidential
candidate of the PAN, by at least 500,000 votes. Calderón --
a pawn of imperialist interests, as a journalist from La Jornada correctly
points out -- has declared himself the winner, quoting manipulated polls.
The PRI, which by all accounts lost by a landslide in the elections,
pressured the IFE not to announce then preliminary results, and then
threatened not to recognize your victory, Mr. Lopez Obrador, and to
call on its governors and union leaders to promote confrontations and
repression such as has occurred in Oaxaca and Puebla.
Mr. Andrés Manuel López Obrador:
The unity of the nation is in danger. U.S. imperialism is pushing for
division and chaos in the country just as it is doing in the rest of
the continent. For example, in Bolivia the local oligarchies, with the
support of the U.S. Consulate, have sought to impose "autonomy"
in order to have their own regional authority to administer and deliver
oil on behalf of the multinationals. Nonetheless, the Bolivian people
have rejected this "autonomy" proposal on this very day of
July 2nd. In Mexico we see the beginning of such an operation of division
at the behest of imperialist interests.
You declared in your campaign that you were opposed to the privatization
of PEMEX. To avoid the chaos that Calderon and Madrazo of the PRI would
bring us, it is necessary to unify the nation in defense of our natural
resources, defending our petroleum resources, and returning to the content
of the decree of oil expropriation of March 18, 1938.
Mr. Andrés Manuel López Obrador:
You declared in your campaign that you rejected the clause of NAFTA
that would completely open up the importation of corn and beans in 2008.
This new clause would completely devastate our countryside. We support
your stance, and we say that to defend employment and to avoid the continued
emigration of millions of Mexicans to the United States, it is necessary
to stop the application of NAFTA and to reject the signing of the NAFTA-Plus
agreement.
We call on you, and on the leadership of the PRD and the leadership
of worker and campesino organizations that place themselves in the terrain
of defense of the sovereignty of the nation, to call on working people
to mobilize against this attempt to impose electoral fraud this Wednesday,
July 5 in the Zocalo of Mexico City and in the main plazas of the major
cities in the country.
With the demonstration of more than one million people in Mexico City
over one year ago, the attempt to deny you the right to run as the presidential
candidate of the PRD was defeated. Today, to stop the fraud, we need
to mobilize the millions of workers who elected you president.
We call upon you to stand firm in defense of the Mexican nation by
speaking out for the complete re-nationalization of PEMEX in accordance
with the agreement contained in the expropriation decree of 1938. We
call upon you to speak out for the return of the spirit of Article 27
of the Mexican Constitution in relation to the defense of the countryside,
rejecting the destruction of our agriculture and the growth of poverty
and unemployment brought by NAFTA.
For our part, we call on the workers and their organizations to form
Committees Against the Fraud and For Unity For the Defense of National
Sovereignty and For Workers' Rights to promote these demands.
-- The Independent and Democratic Workers Party of Mexico (PDTI)
Contact in Mexico City: 5547-0161
eltrabajo@gmail.com
Endnotes:
(1) In July 1988, the candidate of the PRD, Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, who
had won the election, saw this victory taken away by the PRI, which
controlled the state apparatus. thequi avait remporté les élections,
a vu sa victoire volée par le PRI, qui contrôlait l'appareil
d'Etat.
(2) Indeed, under the presidency of Lazaro Cardenas (grandfather of
Cuauhtemoc Cardena), the foreign oil companies were expropriated. We
should remember that Leon Trotsky, who was then exiled in Mexico, publicly
supported this decree, while the Communist Party of Mexico opposed it.
(3 ) Article 27 of the Constitution is the one that place land and natural
resources in the hands of the State.
********************
GREECE
Genera strike by students in Greece against the "Bologna process"
(LMD) and privatization
After several weeks the thousands of Greek students demonstrated for
the withdrawal of privatization measures of the universities, dictated
by the European Union.
The trade unions offered their support.
In an appeal by the national coordination of general assemblies, the
students' delegates affirmed the following:
" We are in a period where the government of the right, with the
tacit agreement of PASOK (Greek PS) and in the framework of the European
Union's directives reinforces the attack against the rights of the workers
and youth. The revision of article 16 of the Constitution permits the
installation of private universities and the recognition of all manner
of private schools, the application of laws already voted on "continuous
formation" and the "recognition of foreign diplomas",
the "LMD", the "evaluation of universities", credits
and study certificates that attempt to accept the model of formation
for life, that does not validate any right to work, and also the introduction
of the ECTS in the studies program with the objective of splitting up
the unified character of diplomas by "individualizing" them."
In an open letter from Revolution Youth of France addressed to Greek
students, they declared: "Via this letter we are offering you our
total support! Like us in France, the leaders of your government have
signed and today apply the Bologna declaration of June 19, 1999 bearing
the process of destruction of national diplomas and the dismantling
of universities, common to all European countries that are signatories
to this declaration. In France, the consequences of the application
of this process named "the Bologna" (otherwise known as license-master-doctorate)
are extremely serious:
-the individual "formation careers" have substituted the
national diplomas, leading to an end of national recognition of qualifications
acquired once for all;
-the "professional graduates" are generalized throughout all
disciplines including those regarding the humanities, engendering the
end of the connection between diplomas and national collective conventions
recognized throughout the labor world;
-the individualized "competences" advocated by the European
Commission are opposed to national disciplines and programs, leading
to the end of collective rights and the disappearance of the progressive
acquisition of knowledge including primary and secondary schools.
In this sense you have, more than ever, the reason to strike against
privatization of state universities and the new dispositions that arise
from the application of the Bologna process. Abrogation of the Bologna
process! A return to national diplomas! Stop the privatization of universities!"
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