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A dossier of weekly information published by the ----- Introduction Algeria: We are publishing A Call to the youth of the world against war and exploitation issued by young militants from Algeria, Bangladesh, France, Morocco, Palestine and Turkey, who gathered at the 1st Congress of the Youth Organization for Revolution in Algeria on December 4 and 5, in Algiers. December 5, 2009, was a day of action against war in response to a call by 50 young Americans: public meetings, rallies, and demonstrations were held in Algeria, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, France, Brazil, Burundi, and Peru. In the United States, the national meeting of the coalition U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW), which met on December 4 and 5, adopted unanimously a resolution "for the immediate end to war and occupation in Iraq and in Afghanistan. " A large majority of union leaders called to join anti-war demonstrations planned for March 20, 2010 in Washington. Russia: "For the immediate release of trade unionist Russian Valentin Urusov !" A delegation of trade unionists at the initiative of the International Committee against Repression (ICR) was received at the Russian Embassy in Paris. Romania: You will find below a correspondence, "After the presidential election," concerning the election in which 40% of voters did not vote. Mexico: You will find below a call for a plan to rescue the nation, for a National Sovereign Constituent Assembly, and for a political expression for the working class. Honduras: The National Resistance Front advocates the convening of a Constituent Assembly. ----- Table of Contents p. 1: Introduction -----
Informations internationales ****************************
For the immediate release of Valentin Urusov! A trade union delegation at the initiative of the International Committee Against Repression (ICAR) received at the Russian Embassy
The Delegation recalled that Valentine Urusov was a Profsvoboda union leader in the industry of diamond mining company Alrosa, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). When the union Profsvoboda, which then had about 1,000 members, engaged in an action for the protection of working conditions and to demand wage increases, its leader, Valentin Urusov, was arrested on September 13, 2008 for "possession of drugs." Valentine Urusov has always contested this, claiming that the drugs had been slipped into his pocket during his arrest. Valentin Urusov was sentenced to six years in prison. On March 12, 2009, an investigation was opened into the criminal action of the head of police in the narcotics division, Sergei Rudov. Though this investigation concerned another matter, S. Rudov was nevertheless involved in the charge which led to the conviction of Valentin Urusov After a campaign of support organized by ten national unions of Russia, Mr. Urusov was released on May 12, 2009. But on June 26, 2009, the district court og Mirninsky again decided to return him to prison. After various calls to his lawyers, the second trial in the Court of the Republic of Sakha declared on September 8 that Urusov was sentenced to five years in prison. The delegation noted that in addition to all this sentencing, all the union leaders of Profsvoboda were fired and placed on a "black list". Confirming that these facts are a challenge to International Labor Organization Conventions 87 and 98, ratified by the Russian Federation, which guarantee workers the freedom to organize in the union of their choice. Mr. Pavlov said that the federal government was also concerned about this matter, although he recalled that it constituted a judicial decision in which the executive of the Federation could not interfere. He said that from this point of view, all efforts had been exhausted by the lawyers, both at the Sakha Republic and across the federal state. Mr. Pavlov committed to inform the Ambassador of the concerns of unions of France so that they could be forwarded to the federal government. The delegation particularly stressed the urgency of this approach, given the poor health of Valentin Urusov. I received a commitment from Mr. Pavlov that he would keep informed of the developments. The delegation believe that this delegation is an incentive to increase the statements of solidarity of trade unions in France to ask the Russian federal authorities for the immediate release of Valentin Urusov. ----- Endnotes (1) The delegation consisted of officials of the SU FW Paris, the FERCSup-CGT, a militant of the CGT and two members of the ICAR office. ************************
Young militants from Algeria, Bangladesh, Spain, France, Morocco, Palestine and Turkey who gathered at the 1st Congress of the Youth Organization for Revolution in Algeria on December 4-5, 2009 in Algiers issued a "Call to the Youth of the World Against War and Exploitation."
We refuse to pay for their crisis. We consider it vital that workers and youth around the world preserve and build their own independent organizations. We propose that the youth of the world discuss and join in the preparation of the 8th Open World Conference Against War and Exploitation, at the initiative of the ILC, which the Workers Party of Algeria will host in Algiers in late 2010. Today is the starting point of our struggle. We call on workers and youth around the world: join us! Let us respond to the call of these 50 young Americans, and make March 20, the seventh anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, an international day of struggle and protest against war and exploitation, against the oppression of peoples, against the occupation and for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops around the world! ---- An International Day of Action: December 5, 2009 In response to a call by young Americans, and particularly in the aftermath of Obama's speech about sending 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, protests were held in various countries. Here are some examples (See our previous issues for more information) "Not a penny, not a weapon for the war in Afghanistan" Madrid In response to the call of the Revolutionary Organization of Youth, on Saturday December 5 at noon, there was a rally held opposite the Foreign Ministry to demand that the government withdraw Spanish troops from all countries abroad, within the framework of several International "missions." A letter was sent to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero to demand the return of Spanish troops from Afghanistan, Lebanon, the former Yugoslavia and Haiti. For the moment, Spain is in third place for these amount of troops in these "missions."
Lisbon As part of International Day of Action against the war in response to the call of the youth of the United States, a public meeting took place in Lisbon on this issue. The Portuguese government pledged 100 soldiers under NATO in Afghanistan. And after Obama's request, the government decided to send 150 additional troops beginning in January 2010. At this meeting it was decided to continue the campaign for the withdrawal of Portuguese troops from Afghanistan. Hungary "I would like to express our solidarity with the Afghan people and the organizers of this action on behalf of the Left Front Alliance of Communist Youth László Szabó.
Paris On Saturday, December 5, youth and activists marched in Paris for the withdrawal of troops, in response to the call by the POI (Independent Workers Party) and the AJR (Alliance of Youth for Revolution).
For the POI, Jeanneney Peter concluded: "As it has suggested to all parties raising the banner of the labor movement, the POI is ready to demonstrate in unity at any time to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan. " Brazil In response to the call by young Americans, Revolution Youth (JR) of Brazil organized a day of action addressed to President Lula demanding the withdrawal of Brazilian troops in MINUSTAH (UN mission) from Haiti. The MINUSTAH occupation troops in Haiti under the command of the Brazilian Army.
Burundi The Youth Commission of the Democratic Workers Party, as part of the International Day of Action, issued a call that says: "In Burundi too, military troops were sent to Somalia as part of Amisom, where more than two dozen soldiers have been killed in Burundi since 2007, while these troops have been deployed to defend the interests of U.S multinationals ... Therefore we demand: "Immediate withdrawal of troops from Burundi in Somalia! Immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops and NATO troops from the countries they occupy! " Lima (Peru) An anti-Imperialist Youth Day, December 5th, was organized by the University
Movement We must recall that the Peruvian government has sent a contingent of troops to Haiti.
The day after the announcement by Obama to send more than 30,000 additional troops there were protests organized by anti-war coalitions in the major cities of the United States.
In a resolution adopted unanimously, USLAW "called for an immediate halt to the war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and the end to the attacks against Pakistan," as well as "immediate and complete withdrawal of all military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, and the immediate closure of U.S. military bases in those two countries." A large majority of union representatives in attendance also adopted an appeal to join the anti-war marches planned on March 20, 2010 in Washington, San Francisco and Los Angeles. There was also support, included in the Action Plan adopted by USLAW, for the call by the Trade Union Council of Troy Area (New York) of the AFL-CIO urging the national leadership of the AFL-CIO to organize a national march in Washington " for jobs, peace and healthcare justice. "
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Presidential Elections in Romania Over 40% of voters did not vote. Traian Basescu (populist right winger) narrowly defeated the Social Democrat Mircea Geoana, former ambassador to Washington, who was supported by virtually the entire political class. The incumbent President Traian Basescu seemed doomed to lose these elections, given the broad alliance that Mircea Geoana was able to organize against him. The former partners of Basescu, the Liberals, were the first to rally behind the flag of the Social Democrat. Then came the turn of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania, but also, paradoxically, the ultranationalist Greater Romania Party. It was a Holy Alliance in good form, sponsored by the oligarchs and media owners , not to mention several trade unions, whose leaders are deputies and senators in the PSD. Behind Basescu, there was the Liberal Democratic Party, the government, which controls the entire state apparatus with the support of the European People's Party. The anti-corruption rhetoric of the outgoing president, the condemnation of privatizations by the oligarchs supporting the Social Democratic candidate, but also the commitment to keep public ownership in the Romgaz, the Post or the Savings Bank enabled Basescu to retain hisaudience. Of course, the candidate refrained from referring to the privatizations during the 5 years he was president ... But he always defended in the campaign and in debates with his opponents his policies of cutting program spending, "negotiated "by Romania with the IMF, by obscuring the numbers ... In this situation it is no wonder that voters did not rush to the polls. Certainly, there was more participation than in the two or three previous elections, but the abstention was the product of a refusal of both candidates: the Social Democrat representing the oligarchs and the Liberal Democrat representing the IMF. Over 40% of voters have again refused to vote for two candidates who in the eyes of workers, pensioners, young people are only products of the former system (1) and profiteers of the current system, representatives of political mafias in this country and abroad. On election night, polling in the exit polls announced as the winner as Mr. Geoana. The whole country saw him rejoice before the cameras as a child. Finally, Mr Basescu won by some 70,000 votes ... And the former ambassador to Washington lost all joy and confidence in democracy ... What are the implications for the masses? Today it is difficult to say. I heard a pensioner say that with Basescu's victory "they will divide the booty among less thieves." What is certain is that no part of the "spoils" will go to workers, youth, pensioners, and poor peasants. What is certain is that Mr Basescu and the government will do everything to implement the dictates of the IMF and the European Union. And the bureacratic apparatuses of all kinds will follow along ... Correspondent. ---- Endnotes 1 Traian Basescu was, during the dictatorship of Ceausescu, a trade representative in Antwerp, a position associated with the suspicious bureaucratc economic transactions; Mircea Geoana also originated from the nomenklatura; his father was a General during the dictatorship. ************************
FOR A NATIONAL STRIKE FOR THE REPEAL OF THE LFC DECREES
FOR A PLAN TO RESCUE THE COUNTRY! After the huge demonstration on October 15 and the November 11 strike, the Committee for a political expression of the working class met in Mexico City. We present below the main resolutions adopted by the Assembly. The strike of 11 November marks a turning pointy in the history of the working class and the Mexican nation. At the invitation of the Mexican Union of Electricity Workers (SME) and the National Front of Popular Resistance, more than 200,000 workers and youth marched in the capital. The union of telephone employees went on strike across the country. For the first time the union of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) organized a solidarity strike. In 27 states there were demonstrations, strikes and meetings with teachers, youth, and workers to support the SME.
What political solution for the country? The defense of SME and the collective contracts requires defending the nation and the workers' gains. This requires a political solution for the country, as the usurping government of Calderon, the PAN-PRI regime [parties supporting the regime NDR] and parties that accompany it, are leading the country to disaster. The institutions are clearly undemocratic, they are deeply corrupted, and they turn their backs on the interests of working people and the nation. What is needed is the unity of all the organizations of working people around a plan that includes the most urgent demands of the people and nation, a plan that revolves around the struggle for a national sovereign constituent assembly. For a National Sovereign Constituent Assembly to: - Repeal the Free Trade Agreement of North America (TLCAN) which destroys
industry and the country. For a political expression of workers to assist the working class and all oppressed peoples to achieve the unity of their organizations, we must forge a political representation of the workers, which is the first step in building a class party. In this sense we, the undersigned, agree: * To form committees for the political representation of the working
class, and invite groups, leaders, workers and young people to join
these committees. First signatures (in a personal capacity ; trade union responsibilities are mentioned for identification, except if it is specified that one signs on behalf of an organization). Hernán López López, member of the leadership of the General Workers, Peasant and Popular Union (UGOCP, Chiapas). Baldemar Gerardo Gómez Sánchez, technical education, Section 7 of the SNTE-CNTE, Chiapas. Anselmo Carrillo Camacho, a member of the Union of the Colonies for a Social Tariff, Baja California. Russell Aguilar Brindis, professor, Section 7 of the SNTE-CNTE. Fulgencio Ortiz Talavera, Workers' Commission, Chiapas. Daniel Rosas Nicolás Ibáñez, Professor, Section 22 of SNTE-CNTE, Oaxaca. Juan José Álvarez Fernández, Gregorio González Castillo, Juan Flores Romero, Cesar A. Guzmán García, Arturo Guzmán Villeda, Trujano Edgar Hernández, Rogelio Martínez Maza and Carmelo Santos, workers, Mexican Union of Electricians (SME). Patricia Borjas S. Jaime and Eduardo Olivera Hernández, teachers, section 9 of the SNTE-CNTE. Javier Alfaro Brena, Steward, STUNAM. Arturo Díaz Alegría, retired worker SUTERM, Chiapas. Ignacio Gastélum, retired professor, the Movement RESISSSTE Section 2 of the SNTE, Baja California. Zacarías Mesino Patiño Sergio Andraca Patrón and Juan Ramirez, members of the NDA-Ajusco Medio. Galdamez Jorge Luis Estrada, a delegate to Sidet-Cecytech, Chiapas. Ballinas Baldemar David Gómez, Cecytech. Luis Carlos M. Haro, student, UAM. Irais Vélez and Efren Garcia Portillo Percastre, students, IPN. Juan Hernández Cruz student, UPN. Luna Raúl Rivero, professor, UACM, Mr. Humberto Brizuela Roberto Alcaraz, Armando Pasos, Luis Vázquez, on behalf of the Socialist Workers Organization (Fourth International). Ruben D. Monsalvo Cozano, retired worker SME. Ricardo Ortega Hernández, delegate SITUAM-CNDAM. Claudia Zaragoza phones. Alberto Baeza V., Professor, STUNAM. Braulio R. Sánchez Hernández, worker SITUAM. Jaime Barajas Q. worker STUNAM, SITUAM. Leonardo Pérez Bravo, Professor, Tlaxcala. Oscar A. García Alcántara, lawyer. María del Carmen Téllez Amieva, student CETYS. Guadalupe Lira Cabañes student. Política_indep@gmail.com
For the convening of a Constituent Assembly The National Resistance Front continues to fight for the Constituent Assembly On Thursday, December 3, there was held the last meeting of the National Resistance Front at the headquarters of the union of workers of the beverage industry. The spokesman, Juan Barahona, said: "We will continue our struggle, but only for the convening of a Constituent Assembly, and for the restoration of former President Zelaya, who declared that he no longer wants fight for the Assembly, since the National Congress, composed of members of parties of the oligarchy, voted against his return. " Barahona also said: "The struggle for the Constituent Assembly is a permanent struggle through the organization of the Resistance Front in each municipality and each district. " The National Resistance Front meeting culminated in the call for a new march on December 11 in Tegucigalpa. ********************
During the presidential and legislative elections, over 62% of voters have supported the current president, Evo Morales (the participation reached 90% of the population). Recall that the Morales government decreed in May 2006 the nationalization
of the hydrocarbons. In November 2007, the Constituent Assembly adopted a new Constitution, which gave particular rights to the country's indigenous majority
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Open World Conference of Workers