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A dossier of weekly information published by the ----- INTRODUCTION: Belgium: We are publishing an interview with Philip Larsimont, a trade unionist concerning the conference that took place in Brussels on May 5 in relation to the regionalization offensive against the social rights that still are codified into the national state. "After the de facto split of the metal-workers federation of the FGTB, it was necessary to defend the unity of federal FGTB itself. Also, a series of events took place that demonstrated that everything is being prepared for a 'communitarian' conflict during the legislative elections on June 10 -- the goal of this is to undermine the federal social conquests." Turkey: More than a million and a half demonstrators marched on May 13 in Izmir. Elections are being called for July 22 and Parliament has adopted a constitutional amendment aiming to elect the president of the Republic through direct universal suffrage. The Party of Workers Solidarity issued an appeal: "Democracy doesn't mean changing the form of the election of the president. Democracy means that the people have to right to speak and decide. The only solution, in our opinion, is the election of Constituent Assembly, through universal suffrage, with proportionality -- an Assembly that takes all power into its hands." Togo: Over 170 labor activists and leaders from 13 countries in Africa and 50 trade unions have signed on to an initiative based around a letter to the ILO titled: "The workers and peoples of Africa have the right to live! The ILO conventions should be ratified and implemented!" Ireland: We are publishing an article, "After the agreement of May 8, under the tutelage of Tony Blair: A coalition government to deny the unity and sovereignty of the country." Haiti: On May 11 and 12, 2007, a conference in solidarity with the people of Haiti took place in Santo Domingo. An appeal for a day of international solidarity on September 4, 2007 was issued. International Tribunal on Katrina: We are publishing a letter from Luis Vasquez of the PTDI in Mexico. (Also see our previous issues.) Subscribe to the ILC International Newsletter! ----- TABLE OF CONTENTS: p. 1: Introduction ------ Contact: Informations internationals ***********************
Fight to preserve the unity of the FGTB and the federal social conquests: The General Federation of Belgian Workers (FGTB) is the united confederation of the whole country An Interview with Phillip Larsimont, coordinator of the Movement in Defense of Workers (MDT) ILC: A conference took place in Brussels on May 5 in relation to the regionalization offensive against the social rights that still are codified into the national state. What was the context that this took place in? PL: Last year, twenty trade unionists (ten francophones, ten Dutch-speakers) launched an "Appeal in defense of the unity of the FGTB and the federal social conquests." This appeal was based on two facts: One, after the de facto split of the metalworkers federation of the FGTB, it was necessary to defend the unity of federal FGTB itself. Also, a series of events took place that demonstrated that everything is being prepared for a "communitarian" conflict during the legislative elections on June 10 - the goal of this is to undermine the federal social conquests. By the beginning of May, this appeal had received 1,200 signatures, including many trade unionists and even national and regional leaders from certain sectors. A meeting of signers of the appeal set up a committee for unity, which decided to organize a struggle conference on May 5 around the following points: -For the maintenance of the federal level, against all regionalization,
for the collective bargaining contracts, the right to work, and Social
Security (like the FGTB had demanded); Of course, the Movement in Defense of Workers (MDT) supported this initiative from the start and did everything possible to make it a success. ILC: Has the FGTB taken a position in favor of the defense of the federal social rights? PL: Yes it has - and this is very important. Before May 1, the FGTB published a text for its activists, where it wrote: "We see that some want to push forward new steps in the regionalization of services. The delimitation of services between the federal, regional, and community regions is linked to the responsibility of political power. But three things directly concern us, because they guarantee federal solidarity and in relation to them we say loudly and strongly that the must remain federal and that there will not be any concessions on the matter: the 1968 law concerning parity commissions and collective bargaining contracts, the right to work, and Social Security." The first goal of the May 5 conference was to support this position of the FGTB against all the political pressures. The FGTB has remained federal, while all the big parties have been divided for a long while on language lines. There are no more national parties in Belgium. But the FGTB organizes the working class of the whole country. Its president is Flemish and its general secretary from Walloons (this relationship alternates). The existence of the FGTB as a national organization is a crucial political struggle. This position taken is very important. ILC: How representative was the conference? PL: The conference brought together many workers and numerous trade union leaders. Before the discussion began, there were opening remarks and reports by Marc Goblet, president of the FGTB in Liege-Huy-Waremme; Geert Haverbeke, mandated delegate of the SETCa Dexia ; Rudy Janssens, federal secretary of the CGSP-ALR Région de Bruxelles-capitale ; Henri-Jean Ruttiens, permanent secretary of the SETCa (secteur industrie) Bruxelles-Hal-Vilvorde ; Dany Van Cauwenbergh, secretary of the federation Alimentation-Horeca-Services FGTB d'Anvers. The reports reinforced the convictions of each person present concerning the importance of this struggle that has gone on for months. But the discussion concentrated on a vital question: the necessity for federal trade union actions before vacations, on the basis of the positions of the FGTB. The conclusion of the Manifesto for Unity focused on the need for such an action; the manifesto was written by the preparatory committee and proposed for signature of the participants. It was remarkable that most of those present signed the manifesto, particularly all the speakers. ILC: Why is a protest before vacations so important? PL: First of all, the positions taken by the FGTB are an enormous point of leverage. But their existence is not enough to stop the political offensive underway. This makes it necessary to pass from words to action. It is necessary to show through a show of strength that this is not a "communitarian" conflict; it is a bosses' offensive against workers' rights. It is a class conflict, not a "communitarian" question due to the national question in our country. The bosses and their political lackeys are only divided on how to go all the way in this offensive. On the policies of the offensive itself they are all in agreement; what solidifies them, above all on the political level, is the general framework of the European Union, which pushes them to accelerate the destruction of the social rights. For example, all the bosses agree on lowering the length of coverage for unemployment benefits. Some think that this can only be achieved through regionalization. Others think that this is possible on a federal level and give the example of the policies of the federal minister of health, who, bit by bit, has imposed a considerable step backwards. A head of the Walloons Union of Businesses - who thinks that these objectives can be met on a federal level - feels that the Flemish bosses are discouraged because "they consider that they won't ever be able to arrive at agreements with the French-speakers concerning the austerity measures." (The Free Belge, May 10) Things are clear. In reality, the basic problem is not an agreement with the "francophones." The statistics demonstrate that there are currently more strikes in Flanders than in other regions. The class struggle is thus completely national. But it is true that the SP is the majority in Walloons (which is not true with its Flemish equivalent, the SP.a) and the pressure of its working class electors, mostly affiliated to the FGTB, complicates the political negotiations. Currently, there are not new internal threats to the unity of the FGTB. But once the "communitarian" negotiations begin, many centrifugal tendencies might arise in all the social and political organizations in the country. We are entering into a political situation characterized by uncertainty as to the outcome. That's why the conference felt that before confronting the clash to come, it is necessary to solidify the ranks of the FGTB in an action before the opening of negotiations, that is, before the end of June. It is up to the union structures to determine whether this should be a demonstration or a gathering. But we should recall that the metalworkers FGTB union exploded in less than 15 days, during the mobilization against the generation agreement. And this was the product of a "revelation" of a Flemish bourgeois newspaper, whose director is a member of the In de Warande group, which is one of the most active in pushing for the destruction of the country. From this point of view, it is remarkable that May 1 in Anvers saw a demonstration of most of the FGTB federations under the slogan of the defense of the federal social rights. It was also important that, since the May 5 conference, the Manifesto has circulated widely in Flanders, via Internet, and the first spontaneous support has come from Flanders. This is an essential struggle. Everything must be put into it. That was the goal of the May 5 conference. ***********************
Appeal of the Party of Workers Solidarity
Many demonstrators had anti-government banners, Turkish red and white flags, and portraits of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Turkey in the 1920s. The powerful demonstrations are opposed to the candidate of the AKP's (Party of Justice and Development) election as president. He, the current minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Gul, had to step down. The legislative elections are scheduled for July 22 and Parliament has adopted a constitutional amendment aiming to elect the president of the republic through direct universal suffrage. This is a step in the bonapartization of the regime. In this context, the Party of Workers Solidarity (which participates in the activities of the ILC) just launched the appeal that you can find below. ----- Appeal On the eve of the elections, what is happening in our country? . Why are they spreading seeds of disagreement between the peoples that constitute our nation? . As the Party of Workers Solidarity (PFO) we say loudly and strongly: this does not benefit the workers who live from their labor, the youth who want decent lives, the peasants who want to cultivate their land, nor the women who want to receive their legal rights. Those who profit are the European Union, NATO, and international finance capital. They want to eradicate the presence of our people, with all its components, Turks and Kurds. For many years, but in particular with the AKP government which took power in 2002, our nation has had its nature altered: What does this concretely mean? - The sale to the multinational corporations and their representatives in Turkey of our big strategic enterprises, oil refineries, steel factories, telecommunications companies, and the ports. - The privatization of the public services, including health care, education, and transportation. - The lowering of the social budget in the national budget, in the framework of the plans for adjustment to the European Union. - The continuation by the CHP and the AKP of the anti-worker legislation established by the regime of September 12, 1980, as well as the denial of democratic rights for our Kurdish people, which pushes them into the arms of the United States and the European Union. And, as if this wasn't enough, now they want to divide our nation into two camps: those who defend democracy and those who defend secularism. But everybody knows that those who are strangle secularism in Turkey are the heads of the military dictatorship that took power on September 12, 1980. Wasn't it these leaders that asked the United States for permission before going through with the coup and suppressing the workers' conquests? And, now, they would like to be the spokespeople for national sovereignty and secularism? On the other hand, those who did not say a word when the workers' conquests were destroyed by the September 12, 1980, those who serve the bosses and who defend the most unjust electoral system in the world. how can they claim to be the spokespeople for democracy? No! The flag of national sovereignty and secularism and the flag of democracy cannot be left to these people! Only the working class can carry both these flags and stand at the head of the nation. Everybody knows that there cannot be democracy without secularism and there cannot be secularism without democracy. In our opinion, the interest of the majority of our people lies in the defense of the nation, national sovereignty, and independence. For that, it is first of all necessary to establish national sovereignty based on the principle of rights for all peoples, including the Kurdish people, to determine their own destinies. This is the only path toward preventing Turkey from becoming another Iraq, toward creating a free and fraternal union of the peoples who constitute Turkey. For this, it is necessary to build complete democracy in Turkey. This democracy would allow the workers, the peasants, the youth, and the women to live with dignity. This requires that: - All the privatizations that destroy our country be ended; Democracy doesn't mean changing the form of the election of the president. Democracy means that the people have to right to speak and decide. The only solution, in our opinion, is the election of Constituent Assembly, through universal suffrage, with proportionality - an Assembly that takes all power into its hands. This constituent assembly would modify the 1982 Constitution and would decide on the removal of our country from NATO and the European Union. Our country does not want to become a new Iraq or Yugoslavia. The peoples that constitute our nation want peace and solidarity. But the establishment of peace and fraternity needs the abolition of the domination of the European Union and NATO. To speak of national sovereignty without opposing NATO, the European Union, and U.S. military bases, is to lie. That is why a National Sovereign Constituent Assembly should be founded on the free union of peoples that constitute Turkey, representing the Turks, the Kurds, and all the other peoples . One of our most ardent desires is for our brother peoples in Iraq and Afghanistan to win peace and independence. Invaders out of these two countries! We also want our brother peoples in Yugoslavia to reestablish peace. End the imperialist domination of Yugoslavia! As the Party of Workers Solidarity, we declare that we do not have interests distinct from the workers, the peasants, the youth, and the women. Their interests are ours. We believe that the Turks, the Kurds, and all the other peoples can live freely in this country, fraternally, and in peace, on the basis of the acceptance of the right of the peoples to control their futures. There is a path forward away from this imminent catastrophe: It is the election to a Constituent Assembly, that has all power in its hands. This Assembly would chose a government responsible to it, not Washington or Brussels. This government would establish a full democracy, defend secularism, establish full workers' rights, take the urgent measures to save national sovereignty, end privatizations, and reinforce the system of Social Security. In the July 22 elections, the PFO will support the independent labor candidates that act on these bases. . **********************
In a letter addressed to the General Director of the International Labor Board and the president of the Workers Group, the general secretaries of four trade unions in Africa, together with the ILC, decided to request the reception of a delegation during the next annual session of the ILO, at the beginning of June. Over 170 labor activists and leaders from 13 countries in Africa and 50 trade unions have signed on to this initiative through a letter to the ILO titled: "The workers and peoples of Africa have the right to live! The ILO conventions should be ratified and implemented!" This letter (which was published in ILC International Newsletter 227) states, in part: "Every member of the ILO that has ratified a convention must 'pass laws and encourage education laws to assure the acceptance and application of this convention" and must "abrogate any disposition or practice that is incompatible with this" .187 conventions have been adopted, covering all domains relevant to workers' rights. Who can deny that these principles are denied for millions of African workers?" Norbert Gbikpi-Bénissan, the general secretary of the National Union of Free Trade Unions of Togo (UNSIT) explains in this interview printed below the reasons for this initiative and the importance of ILO conventions n a country ravaged by famine, war, and the policies of imperialism. An interview with Norbert Gbikpi-Bénissan, general secretary of the National Union of Free Trade Unions of Togo (UNSIT) ILC: You took the initiative with other union leaders in Africa to address the ILO. Why? NGB: The International Labor Organization (ILO) is the only tripartite organization where the governments, employers, and workers elaborate together the norms, conventions, and recommendations that guarantee, on an international level, workers' rights and the bases of social justice. The preamble of the Constitution of the ILO expressly formulates a series of fundamental principles according to which, for example, that without social justice there can be no universal and lasting peace and "the non-adoption by any nation of a truly humane labor regime is an obstacle for other nations to improve the fate of workers in their countries." The international labor norms and conventions are characterized by the fact that they should be codified into the different national legislations (Labor Codes, statues, collective bargaining contracts, etc.) - thus, they are the direct emanation of this will toward social justice, that there cannot be peace without. However, everywhere in Africa misery, famine, illness (malaria, AIDS-HIV, tuberculosis) kill millions of people; a child dies every 30 seconds; so-called "ethnic" wars exterminate and displace whole populations; and the debt continues to strangle states, impose reactionary and anti-social policies on the workers, and spread the most abject poverty among all the people. In Africa, the international norms and conventions, including the most basic, are violated everyday. African trade unionists should, urgently, utilize all the means available to call, in particular, on the ILO to have the African states, like the other states in the world who are part of the ILO, ratify the ILO conventions and, most importantly, scrupulously implement them. Toward this end, we have proposed to organize, during the 96th International Labor Conference on May 29, in Geneva, a delegation to the director of the International Labor Board as well as the Workers Group of the Administrative Council of the ILO. ILC: What has been the impact among African trade unionists? NGB: The initiative has been received favorably and impact of the letter to the ILO, "The workers and peoples of Africa have the right to live! The ILO conventions must be ratified and implemented!", is growing everyday. All the African trade unionists have been called on and we have already been able, in only a few weeks, to receive 170 signatures from over 50 organizations in 13 countries (Algeria, South Africa/Azania, Burkina, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Chad, Togo, and others) The signature campaign continues and is spreading to other African countries and will continue even after the 96th session of the International Labor Conference. ILC: What relationship is there between the defense of the ILO conventions and the struggle for survival in the African countries ravaged by famine, wars, and policies of imperialism? NGB: Truly survival is at stake because the workers and peoples of Africa are simply threatened with disappearance by the ravages imposed on our continent. Today we also see African youth, without hope to survive in their own countries, take off on perilous boat voyages toward Europe. This destruction of our country is in reality the result of the pillage of our resources organized by the international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank) that impose, with the complicity of our governments, the economic policies at the service of the so-called debt, creating the conditions of misery and war and the destruction of the labor force through the massive violation of the ILO conventions. The ratification -but above all, the rigorous respect for these norms and conventions- is thus important to contribute to turning around the deadly offensive that threatens the very existence of the workers and peoples of the continent. In this respect, we recently saw in Guinea how the social demands and exemplary mobilization of the independent trade unions in defense of the trade union rights guaranteed by the ILO have created the conditions for a halt on the process of chaos threatening the people of Guinea. ILC: In your country, Togo, which ILO conventions were ratified and which are truly implemented? NGB: Togo has ratified over 20 ILO conventions, including the eight fundamental conventions. But the truth is that these conventions are not respected. Thus, Conventions 87 and 98 have been violated many times since their ratification, in 1960 and 1983 respectively. We've seen the dissolution of independent trade union confederations in 1972 through a political decision, the prohibition and violent break-up of peaceful trade union demonstrations, the incarceration of trade unionists, lay-offs for striking, denial of the right to collective bargaining, etc. In violation of Convention 95 on the protection of wages, we see the non-payment for months in certain sectors. We see five months of non-payment of pensions - this goes up to 50 months for CNSS wages. This can also give you a idea of how Convention 102 on social security is respected. There are also flagrant violations of Convention 131 on the minimum wage. Despite a minimum wage of 20.4 Euros, some sectors are "paid" nine out of twelve months for some, below this! Togo is regularly singled out as a country where child labor prevails and is internationally known as a center of cross-border child trafficking - all while Conventions 138 and 182 on child labor have been ratified. The trade unions are de facto banned in the free trade zone where all sorts of work in violation with all the conventions prevail. Numerous sectors of commerce are in the hands of foreign employers who not only practice economic dumping but also force their workers to labor in conditions similar to those in the free trade zones. These examples of violations are unfortunately common in numerous countries in Africa that, nevertheless, have ratified ILO conventions. ----- APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION The workers and peoples of Africa have the right to live! [Excerpts from Appeal published in full in Issue No. 227 -- March 20, 2007 -- of the ILC International Newsletter] We, the undersigned workers and activists, issue this Appeal to the International Labour Bureau (ILB) and to you, worker delegates who will attend the annual ILO General Assembly next June. Like us, you know the situation: Africa is in danger of death. Hundreds of millions of inhabitants of Africa have barely one euro a day to live on. Hunger is wreaking more devastation than AIDS and tuberculosis combined. Tuberculosis, which we know perfectly well can be treated, is killing millions of Africans. Across the continent, one African child dies every thirty seconds. Endless wars are exterminating the populations. The root cause of this situation is debt, which despite colossal repayments is never cleared. ... We are addressing you. We need your support: It is a vital question for workers and their families in Africa. In order to put an end to the infernal spiral of destruction in which Africa is being engulfed, ILO conventions must be ratified and implemented. ... [Following a presentation of the dire situation of trade union rights across the continent, the Appeal concludes as follows:] You know that these are just a few examples illustrating a situation where the workers and peoples of Africa are being plunged into dire poverty. Average life expectancy in Africa has fallen from 49 years in 1980 to 45 years. The application of international labour norms and the conventions that codify them is a question of survival for the peoples of Africa. ILO Conventions must be respected. They must be ratified and implemented. We are convinced of this, and this is the basis of the appeal that we are addressing to you today. We are sure that we will be heard. Initiators of the Appeal: ALGERIA: Sidi Saïd, General Secretary of the UGTA - Louisa Hanoune, General Secretary of the Parti des travailleurs (Workers' Party), Member of the National Popular Assembly - Zoubida Kherbache, Parti des Travailleurs MP - Mohamed Tehami, UGTA Trade union member - Fettoumi Ahmed, UGTA Trade union member - Fazia Mokrani, Teacher - Rezki Yaïche, Student- Djoudi Djelloul, Parti des travailleurs MP - Kerkoud Fouad, General Practitioner.- Huouekeb Jusser, UGTA Trade union member - Mohamed Ameur, Parti des travailleurs - Amar Djouambi, Member of the National Union of Commerce - AZANIA: Tiyani Lybon Mabasa, SOPA Chairman - Mankoto Lesufi, General Secretary of TUSAA (Public services Trade Union) - BENIN: Gaston Azoua, General Secretary of CSTB - Innocent Assogba, CSTB - BURKINA FASO: Tolé Sagnon, General Secretary of CGT-B - BURUNDI Gahungu Tharcisse, Chairman of the Federation of the Trade Unions of Burundi (COSYBU) - Paul Nkunzimana, member of the executive board of the Union of the Burundi University Workers (STUB) - CAMEROON: Benoît Essiga, General Secretary of CGT-Liberté - Martin Mbille, CGT-Liberté - Jean-Marc Bikoko, President of Trade-Unions Central of Public Services (CSP) - CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Patrice Zakaria, General Secretary of SNECASU - CHAD: Gami N'Garmadjal, General Secretary of SET (Chad) - COTE-D'IVOIRE: François Yao, General Secretary of SYNASEG - Mamadou Ouattara, SYNARES, in charge with organising the National Coordination of teachers and researchers of the Côte d'Ivoire, member of the International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples - Dr. Thio Seydou, teacher-researcher, Abobo-Adjamé University - Dr N'Dri Y. Denis, teacher-researcher, University - Mr. Brou Kouakou, teacher-researcher, Abobo-Adjamé University - Prof. Parice Kouamé, teacher-researcher, Abobo Kouamé University - Prof. Otchoumou Atcho, Secretary of the National Union of University Professors (UNESUR), Abobo-Adjamé University - Ms Ocho Gbongué, teacher-researcher, Abobo-Adjamé University - Mr. Coulibaly Sifolo, DEA (Preparatory Research Diploma) Student, Abobo-Adjamé University - Dr Touré Augustin, CNEC Treasurer, Cocody University- Dr Djè Bi, Member of the CNEC board, Cocody University- Prof. Traoré Flavien, Spokesperson for the CNEC, Cocody University - Dr Johnson Kouassi, Member of the CNEC board, Cocody University,- Dr Settié L. Edouard, Member of the CNEC board, Cocody University - Dr Kamaté B. André, Deputy General Secretary of LIDH (the Côte d'Ivoire League of Human Rights) - Mr. Goa Okou Hugues, computer scientist, Computer Department of the Abobo-Adjamé University - Mr Diabaté Ibrahim, computer scientist, Computer Department of the Abobo-Adjamé University - Ms Krizoua Berthe, secretary of the Computer Department of the Abobo-Adjamé University - Kpagli Tchémotché, Head of the human resources department at the Abobo-Adjamé University- M. Tanon Valentin, Head of the computer department at the Abobo-Adjamé University - Ms Memean née Thefro, deputy spokesperson of the CNEC, Bouaké University --- TOGO: Norbert Gbikpi-Bénissan, General Secretary of UNSIT (National Union of the Independent Trade Unions of Togo) - M. Idrissou Abdoulaye, Trade Union member (UNSIT) - Jude Aleke, Human rights activist- Pierre Allaga, General Secretary of FETREN/UNSIT (Federation of Education Workers) - Ayao Couchoro, Human rights activist- Marius Djissenou, Human rights activist - Komlan Djossou, General Secretary Kloto (UNSIT) - Mohammed Kondow, Human rights activist - Mawolo Landoukpo, Commission of International Norms and Conventions and Trade Union Rights (UNSIT) - Atta Lithor, Commission of International Norms and Conventions and Trade Union Rights (UNSIT)- Pierre Sénouvo, Trade Union member (FETREN/UNSIT) - Sabou Zekpa, Human rights activist. For all contact: eit.ilc@fr.oleane.com - Fax: (33 1) 48 01 88 36 *********************
After the agreement of May 8, under the tutelage of Tony Blair: A coalition government to deny the unity and sovereignty of the country On May 8, a coalition government was formed in North Ireland, supported by a regional parliament, inside which the Protestant pastor Ian Paisley and the Catholic McGuiness are, respectively, Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister. Formally, this is the implementation of the "regionalization" already implemented by London in Scotland and in Wales. (1) In reality, it is much more: it is the ratification of the negation of the unity and sovereignty for which the Irish people have struggled for over a century. First of all, an important point must be made: The new Prime Minister, Ian Paisley, cannot be defined primarily by his religion, nor can McGuiness. Ian Paisley is the head of a political party, the Unionist Party, that has always considered that North Ireland would always belong to the British crown and which utilized its religious opposition to justify armed violence; the weekly The Economist recalls that the party declared it okay to assault any catholic approaching a protestant house.) Paisley has always been an ally of the Conservative Party: he's an old enemy of the British workers, just like the Irish workers, from the North to the South. McGuiness is the leader of a party, the Sinn Fein, which even recently called for the reunification of Ireland, national sovereignty and unity, and called, in a general way, for socialism. The "coalition government" that has been set up, far from absorbing the religious differences, will institutionalize the contrary. It is a "intercommunity" or "bi-confessional" government, as is the Parliament. It is not the citizens of the territory that are democratically represented - it is two "communities" defined by religion. But the conflict that is at the root of the violence for decades in North Ireland is not religious - it is national. In 1972, when the British army opened fire in Derry, North Ireland, on an unarmed protest, killing 15 demonstrators, these protestors were not making religious demands, they were calling for equal rights. In 1981, Bobby Sands and his comrades who were assassinated by Thatcher were not killed because of their faith, but because the demanded the status of political prisoners. They were in this position because they fought for the unity of Ireland and the sovereignty of its people. In 1921, faced with the movement of workers and people of North and South Ireland, British imperialism was forced to retreat and renounce its direct domination over its old colony, but it proceeded to cut up the country, with a part of North Ireland artificially cut off to create a region that would be majority "protestant" -that is, favorable to the maintenance of the link with the Crown, which delt out privileges, particularly concerning jobs - with a "nationalist" minority that demanded the unity of Ireland. As James Connolly, the founder of the Socialist Party and a major figure in the national struggle, predicted, the partition would have the consequence of making it more difficult "to unite the workers independently of religious questions and the old war cries" and would facilitate the exploitation of both. Of course, we can only be happy to see the end of a conflict that cost the lives of thousands of people, leading to uncountable suffering. This is true, but the conditions for a stable peace do not lie in the stabilization of a partition imposed against the right of the Irish people as a whole to national sovereignty - with the linking of this partition to the European Union. It is not through making the Irish nation a "region" of the Europe of Maastricht, replacing the direct political domination of Great Britain with the dictates of Brussels, that progress toward true peace and prosperity can be made. The only positive solution is democracy - the recognition of the rights of the Irish people, with the separation of Church and state - which always constituted the program of the national movement for Irish freedom. - Correspondent. ----- Endnotes (1) Read the article in ILC Newsletter 235 ------ Concerning the 1998 agreements The new Paisley-McGuiness government was set up in the framework of the "Good Friday" Agreement signed in 1998 with the initiative coming from Britain and America, which at the time had Bill Clinton as its president. Article 1: "All of North Ireland belongs to Great Britain and will not cease to without the consent of the majority of the people of North Ireland. The participants engage, with the British and Irish governments, in this new agreement to: a) Recognize the legitimate choice, freely expressed, by the majority
of the people of North Ireland to maintain the union with Great Britain The agreement thus rests upon the legitimization of North Ireland as a British province. In other words, a minority defined by its religious views, created in a partition of Ireland imposed by force, is given the right to veto any decision by the Irish people. But the rejection of partition by the Irish republican movement always was founded on the fact that there existed one single Irish people, that its cultural and religious diversity meant that civil equality and the respect for minority rights were needed, but not that a fraction of the population had the right to undermine national sovereignty and unity. ----- The role of the European Union José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, announced substantial aid - one billion euros between 2007 and 2013 - to North Ireland. Praising "the courage" of the Irish leaders and the British and Irish heads of state, he declared: "I am dedicated to our future, that of North Ireland within the European Union." The EU is going to set up a commission to advise "intercommunity" governments how to promote growth, jobs, and employment. Things are clear: with the blessings of Blair (and his successor), the European Union is taking the reigns. In contempt of the sovereignty of the Irish people, it will decide upon the "restructuring." This means, as the spokespeople had themselves made clear, reducing public services, privatizing, and, according to the press, "developing an environment propitious for foreign investment." In a region where unemployment hits more than 10% of the population, these objectives mean that "the elimination of discrimination in employment" means that there will not be more "catholic" workers working - but, rather, more "protestant" unemployed. **********************
September 4, 2007: Enough of the Violence, Plunder and Massacres! APPEAL Dear Sisters and Brothers: We -- the undersigned who send you this Appeal for Solidarity with the Haitian People -- are workers, peasants, engineers, agronomists, students, teachers, political and trade union leaders, and heads of cultural and family associations. We came together here in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) on May 11-12, 2007 at the Caribbean Conference in Solidarity with the Haitian People. We came from Haiti, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, Martinique, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Brazil, the United States and France to take part in this gathering, which was convened at the initiative of the Caribbean Workers and Peoples Alliance (ATPC, by its French acronym) with the support of the International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC). During this gathering we discussed the situation of the Haitian people today, noting in particular the following: - more than 80% of the population of 8 million live below the poverty level, - more than 60% of the working-age population are unemployed, - life expectancy has gone down to 51 years, - the infant mortality rate at birth is 8%, - illiteracy and violence show no signs of abating. Once again, for the past three years, the Haitian nation is under occupation, this time by a UN international military force called MINUSTAH, or United Nations Mission for Stabilization in Haiti, under Brazilian military leadership. Report after report from the United Nations insists on the so-called beneficial effects of a military presence of 7,500 soldiers and police troops from 19 foreign countries, which costs an annual total of US$498 million, representing one-third of the Haitian nation's annual budget. We, the undersigned, have said and repeated: The Haitian people have had enough of misery, violence, dictatorship and occupation. We all have said and repeated: The Haitian people want to live in peace, to decide on their own future as a fully sovereign people. They want to put an end to military occupation and to the permanent interference by foreign governments and by international institutions such as the UN, the IMF and the World Bank, whose structural adjustment plans have pillaged and torn asunder a country that 200 years ago was called the "the Pearl of the West Indies." Hardly two centuries have gone by since the Black slaves of Santo Domingo rose up in 1804 and set up the first free and independent Black Republic in the world, taking on the name of Haiti. Today, all the descendants of the colonialist settlers, all the monied interests, all the governments in the service of the capitalists want to make the descendants of slaves pay dearly for their incredible and audacious act of rebellion through which they sought to liberate themselves from the chains of slavery and oppression to become free men and women. "A People That Oppresses Another Cannot Be Free" We, the participants in the Caribbean Conference in Solidarity with the Haitian People, call on young people throughout the world, on workers and peasants, on their organisations to demand together with us: - the cancellation of the foreign debt that is ruining Haiti, a debt that is not the people's debt but the debt contracted by dictators and corrupt governments for their own benefit -- a debt whose principal and interest have in fact been largely paid back; - the immediate repayment by the French, Canadian and other governments of the sums they once demanded in "reparations" to the colonialist settlers when slavery was ended and the Haitian Republic was established; - the respect by the Dominican Republic government, and by the French and British governments, for Haitian immigrant workers' rights in the Caribbean countries, - the respect for the Haitian people's sovereignty, - the immediate withdrawal of the UN troops from Haitian territory. We, the undersigned, hereby decide to launch an Appeal for an International Day of Action in Solidarity with the Haitian People on September 4, 2007 and for the setting up of an international delegation that will ask to be received by the UN Secretary-General in New York to press for these demands. This September 4th, we call on you to organize press conferences, meetings, rallies, street demonstrations and delegations to all the governments that have armed forces in Haiti. On September 4, 2007: ----- Delegates and participants in the Santo Domingo Conference in Haiti: Buona SAINT GERMAIN (AEHRD), Samy Cédric BARTHELEMY, Pierre André CESAR (AEHRD), Joseph ROUDY (POS, CHADA), Placide YVES (POS), Yslande CASSAMAJOR (AEHRD), Ernst ASTRE (POS, CHADA), Dieuneh CIVIL (AEHRD), Josias SIMON (POS), Tehen June Sunshine TIENNA (AEHDR), Gardy POLISSAINT (AEHDR), Widney GANTHIER (AEHDR), Marie Solida SALOMON (COH), Marc Antoine POINSON (POS), Jeannot LEJEUNE (POS), Wanney ANTOINE (AEHRD), Ronel DUMOUNE, Johnny CALIXTE (AEHRD), Jean Marie Bony PROU (COH), Frantzy ANTOINE, Alain DOMINIQUE (AEHDR) Dominican Republic: Domingo Antoine HENRIQUEZ PENA (VPCN, CESODECO), Evelio SANTOS (OITC, ATPC, APA), Ysidro Alexandro SANTANA (PRI), Francisca Altagracia PEGUERO LEON (CNUS), Candy MISSIER (CAFAM), Jean Benito BEAUSEJOUR (CESCUDHA), José Miguel GOMEZ (PLD), Alexis COMPRES (CAFAM), Rayssa PEREZ FLORENTINO (LMA), José HERNANDEZ FELIZ, Tobios FERNANDEZ (LST), Infante MILDRED DEL PILAR (FMHD) Guadeloupe: Charly LENDO (UGTG, ATPC), Yveline BOURGUIGNON (UGTG, ATPC) , Victor FABERT (TP, ATPC), Jocelyn LAPITRE (TP, ATPC) Martinique: Eric LOUIS ALEXANDRE (AOP, ATPC) Santa Lucia: Leonard PRESCOTT (SLLP, NWU) Mexico: Luis VASQUEZ (PTDI, ATPC) Brazil: Edison CARDONI (CONDSEF-CUT), Ismaël CESAR (CONDSEF-CUT) United States: Monifa AKINWOLE-BANDELE (PHRF), Kwame KALIMARA (PHRF, NAPO, MGO) France: Alex DELUGE (PT), Jean Paul GADY (EIT/ILC) ----- Acronyms of Organizations: AEHRD: Association des étudiants haïtiens en République
Dominicaine (Haitian Students Association in the Dominican Republic) Contact: EIT/ILC - 87 rue du Faubourg St-Denis 75010 Paris ******************** INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL ON KATRINA FOR THE RIGHT OF RETURN FOR BLACK PEOPLE TO NEW ORLEANS! (Aug. 28 - Sept. 2, 2007) Campaign of Support for Tribunal in Mexico Close to two years after the terrible Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans and Louisiana, hundreds of thousands of families, mostly Black, are still scattered throughout the four corners of the United States and prohibited from return to their homes. Of the US$850 million dollars in international aid to the United States after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, only $40 million have been used. The distribution of supplies, medications, and services offered were delayed -- if not rejected -- by the federal government. At the end of next August 2007, an independent International Tribunal will take place in New Orleans to judge those responsible in the federal and state governments in the United States for this situation. --- Letter from Luis Vasquez Katrina Tribunal Support Campaign in Mexico Dear Sisters and Brothers of PHRF: We send you greetings from Mexico, and are submitting this update on the campaign to build support in Mexico for the International Tribunal on Katrina. In early February, the Assembly of Representatives of one of the most militant and important unions in Mexico -- the University Workers Union at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, or STUNAM -- voted to support the work of the Katrina Tribunal. A few days later, a number of prominent unionists and intellectuals from across the Americas who were gathered at a seminar in Mexico City voted to endorse the Tribunal and to build support for its efforts across the hemisphere. They are: Jesusa Rodriguez - National Coordinator, National Democratic Convention (CND), Mexico Juan Valdez Paz - University Professor, Cuba Javier Vidal - Director, Federation of Cooperatives, Montevideo, Uruguay German Rodas Chaves - University Professor, Ecuador Nidia Diaz - FMLN Member of Congress in El Salvador; Member of PARLACEN (Farabundo Marti Central American Parliament) Beatriz Stolowicz - University Professor, Departament of Politics and Culture, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Unidad Xochimilco, México - Andres Perez Baltodano - University Professor, Political Science, Universidad Western Ontario University, Canada Carlos Ruiz Encina - University Professor, Department of Sociology, Universidad de Chile Jairo Estrada Alvarez - University Professor, Universidad Nacional de Colombia We are working actively to gather new endorsers in the coming weeks and months and to organize a significant delegation to participate in the Tribunal at the end of August in New Orleans. Why is this campaign in support of the Katrina Tribunal so important for us in Mexico? As you know, for many months last year, millions upon millions of people took to the streets to demand a full vote recount, precinct by precinct, of the July 2nd presidential election. The Mexican people witnessed a massive election fraud both in 1988 and now again in 2006, and they vowed not to allow the U.S. government and its political cronies in Mexico to deny them their rights. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was elected president on July 2nd. The Mexican people, organized in the National Democratic Convention, have pledged to continue to mobilize until justice prevails. For us in Mexico, the Katrina disaster was a disaster organized by a political and economic system rooted in racism, exploitation and oppression. The massive deaths and human suffering could have been avoided were it not for the racism of the U.S. government at all levels. We know that you in the Gulf Coast region, particularly the Black majority, face the full wrath of the government and all its institutions and political parties. We support the right of return of the Black majority to New Orleans, with full rights, jobs, decent and renovated housing and fully restored quality public services for all. We are also aware of how the U.S. governments and the corporations are seeking to pit the Black workers against the Latino immigrant workers by providing H2B visas to hundreds of thousands of Latino workers in the Gulf Coast region, while the majority Black population has been expelled from their homes and their jobs, yearning to come back home. We cannot allow them to divide us. We must build a united movement of Black and Latino workers that demands the right of return for the Black majority and that also demands amnesty and full legalization for all Latino workers in the United States. A massive public works program could be instituted in the Gulf Coast region to put everyone, Blacks and Latinos, to work on a true Reconstruction Program. The funding exists for such a program. This could be done by dismantling the military machine that is oppressing peoples and nations the world over. As we mobilize to defend the sovereignty of the Mexican people and nation, demanding an end to the privatization of all our public services and enterprises and the renationalization of everything that has been privatized, we are at your side in your difficult struggle for justice and a genuine Reconstruction in the Gulf Coast, beginning with the right of return of the Black majority. In solidarity, ------ Other documents concerning the Katrina Tribunal were published in the following issues of the ILC International Newsletter: -193: Appeal to constitute the Tribunal on Katrina: The Crimes of the
Government will be Judged
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Open World Conference of Workers