| INTERNATIONAL NEWS |
From National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Dear friends of the Cuban Five:
Last December 8, 2009, in the courtroom of the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida the room was packed with supporters of the Cuban Five, including the family members of Ramon Labanino and Fernando Gonzalez. Ramon and Fernando were re-sentenced now at this court.
Ramon received a 30-year sentence, reduced from life in prison. Fernanado received a sentence of 17 years and 9 months, reduced from his original sentence of 19 years.
A new stage in the Cuban Five freedom fight has just begun. We urge the Cuban Five supporters around the world to initiate new actions and continue the struggle with renewed vigor until the Cuban Five are free.
The Cuban Five have already served 11 years of their prison sentence and there is still no justice at any level of the American legal system.
From info@mlkp.info
Alaattin Ksaradag was murdered by police in Esenyurt, Istanbul, when he was asked to show his ID card. The witnesses testified that in the skirmish that followed, while Karadag was being taken away, he was shot by the civil police. He came from a working class family and was imprisoned for his activities in 2001. He then joined the other prisoners in a "death fast' resistance. He was released following the release of the death fast resistance fighters.
On December 19, 2000, the Turkey fascist dictatorship murdered
28 revolutionary prisoners and wounded dozens of others in a simultaneous operation. aimed to force the prisoners into the F-type prisons. This massacre with its brutality and unspeakable violence, had the purpose of creating an atmosphere of fear and helplessness in the entire society.
As a response to this massacre, the revolutionary prisoners started a death fast. The death fast made plans of the State futile. The tradition of resistance and non-surrender continued into the F-type prisons. The renowned death was a great ideological achievement. 133 revolutionary prisoners fell in this massacre on December 19, 2000, and the death and fast following it.
22 Confederation of Public Employees Trade Union members at the 8th Heavy Penalty Court of Izmir was finished after two days. The 22 members were then released.
These KESK members were in jail for 174 days without any evidence against them. At that hearing the KESK members defended the peace program of their union. Even though the Turkish Court released them, they were banned from traveling anyplace. The KESK chairman Sami Evren said that the release of its members is a very important step in the struggle.
A new publication was received from the Czech Republic and it's called the: "CZECHOSLOVAK YOUTH PRAVDA". It is a Marxist-Leninist publication aimed at the young people and this is for a united Socialist Czechoslovakia.
We wish you young comrades great success in your work and stamina for the hard struggles ahead!
Editorial Board of Northstar Compass
From aic@antiimperialista.org
Protests took place in Berlin in November last year against this "gift" to Israel that will cost German taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
After the German Chancellor Merkel argued in front of the US Congress, "whoever threatens Israel, threatens us!" – it's a fact that Israel will get what it wants.
This is nothing new at all, since at the start of year 2000, Germany
financed three Israel submarines, spending over 560 Million Euros of
taxpayer's money. Germany also promised Israel two additional
submarines – and the German taxpayers will again have to pay 333
Million Euros!
This satire cartoon is excellent, since in one quick glance, it
tells the complete story as to the role of US Imperialism as well as
the subservient role of the United Nations Organization.
Who are those UN representatives who bow low before Uncle Sam and do not stand up united against this New World Order threat?
Is it only Israel that has the "right to defend itself"?
Unfortunately the United Nations Security Council is just another tool for Uncle Sam!
If not stopped soon, Imperialism can grow quickly into the black plaque of fascism!
China received a very harsh rebuke from Iran after China voted with U.S. last November 27, 2009 for the IAEA Board’s resolution condemning Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Iran's statement said in part: "Undoubtedly, this illogical conduct of the countries that voted against Iran will make the Islamic Republic of Iran more determined to continue the current path to develop peaceful nuclear technology "
COMMENT:
Why was not Israel condemned since it has the largest nuclear arsenal next to the USA? Why did Russia vote against Iran, just like a lap dog to their overseas master! These questions will be asked when the time comes to pay for the crimes committed!
By European Parliament Vice-President Martinez
BRUSSELS: January 6, 2010. The European Parliament Vice-President Miguel Martinez stated that Cuba should not be considered a country that sponsors terrorism. He criticized the US Government for having included Cuba in the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
He criticized the US Government for having included Cuba in the list of countries whose nationals will have to undergo further restrictions at airports on flights bound for the US.
The war on terror, or the long war, has the USA pursuing the so-called terrorists with massive military power from Iraq to Afghanistan to Pakistan and now to Yemen, amongst other nations. It is pointing South as well as East, and it is not hard to imagine that a number of military bases abroad now designated as carrying on the war on drugs will be adapted to carrying on the war on terror.
Even a false positive could trigger retaliatory action.
By Shamus Cooke
From Information Clearing House
Last month's (December 2, 2009) announcement that President Obama will send an additional 30,000 soldiers to Afghanistan -while begging the Allies to send an extra 10,000 – will have dramatic effects throughout the Americas and world society. The hope that was promoted widely in the USA and all over the world that Obama's election will drastically change the USA's foreign policy has been destroyed. It is hoped that this will change the minds of millions of Americans who believed in his pre-election promise.
The morale of the US troops is low and more brazen acts of defiance will increase amongst the troops that the US media is silent about.
Obama is telling a Big Lie because the actual truth is too damning. If he remotely approached the real motives behind this war, the US public would be pushed into total defiance – Obama's new $700 Billion military budget for 2010 would have caused mass demonstrations.
In reality the war in Afghanistan was convenient for the US Corporations – who dominate US politics – to get a much firmer hold on the resource-rich Middle East! For example, as soon as we invaded Afghanistan we were told that Iraq was a "ticking time bomb". But now Obama is telling the Americans that Pakistan is the real threat – and don't forget Iran!
When you consider the military budget of Obama, the above-mentioned countries are as much a threat to the US as the flea is a threat to an elephant!
The US is not fighting terrorists in Afghanistan; it is a money-grab for the US corporations that get "reconstruction contracts" such as Halliburton, Blackwater, Exxon, Boeing, Citigroup banks etc. etc.
Anti-war groups were active when Bush was president. When Obama became president, these anti-war groups played a destructive role in the anti-war movement, shifting effective measures used against Bush, or even abandoning the antiwar struggle altogether. This illusion of Obama had a temporary derailing effect on the anti-war movement organizers.
Mass demonstrations are very effective measures since they show the undemocratic nature of the US government. During the Vietnam War the large demonstrations with the participation of the US veterans in them, had the desired effect of ending the war and US troops getting out.
The same can be accomplished now in stopping the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sent in by Michael Opperskalski
The Department of International Relations (DAIR) – PLO is highly welcoming the conclusions adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers on December 9, 2009 on the Middle East Peace Process.
Regarding the conclusion of the EU on the annexation by Israel of East Jerusalem, the separation wall, house demolitions and evictions are illegal under international law, DAIR considers these conclusions a very positive and significant development in the international community attitudes
The Palestinian people expect that such a step should encourage the world states, including the United States to hold their ethical responsibilities and join the EU position and engage in the process of supporting the Palestinian rights to self determination and the building of an independent Palestinian State within the borders of 1967 and East Jerusalem as its capital.
We call upon the international community, solidarity movements and peace forces to promote this EU conclusion, and we invite all to pay intensive visits to the Palestinian territories for estimating the real basic obstacles that face the peace process.
The Palestinians still need the international intervention to put an end to the constant Israeli violations and to compel Israel to commit to the international legitimate resolutions. We call upon the EU to protect the Palestinian human rights, and set out peaceful negotiations that lead to a conflict resolution and the two states living side by side in peace and security.
Israel's largest US-funded private investment group, "Infinity Capital Management Company Ltd." and China's "Zhonohhuancun Start-Up Investment Development Center" have signed an agreement to
establish a $100 Billion RBM international technology import investment fund to encourage private foreign high tech firms to invest in China's private businesses and be the majority shareholders in them, with Israel being the coordinator.
It was reported by People’s Daily newspaper in December of 2009 that in Dangshan last year over 1,000 local villagers refused the land requisition compensation for a local development project. They attacked the site, set fires and clashed with the 200 police guarding this foreign funded project. Police vehicles were smashed, many villagers were injured and over 30 were arrested.
Also over 1,000 retired workers at a motorcycle factory blocked two highways, demanding the reorganization of their pensions.
In Hong Kong, thousands marched against the construction of a massive garbage incinerator, demanding that the government conduct an environmental assessment of this project and the health hazard to the people of Hong Kong.
On December 27, on the first anniversary of Israel's brutal attack on Gaza that left 1,4000 dead (mostly civilians) thousands wounded, and hundreds of thousands homeless – 2 000 people met in New York's Time Square. This throng of people marched through the streets filled with New Yorkers and tourists; they passed the crowded Rockefeller Center, and ended up in front of the Israeli Consulate.
These marchers represented all ages and all racial and ethnic groups. This march-demonstration was timed to coincide with marches of solidarity with the people of Gaza that took place all over the world.
As the marchers moved through the streets they carried signs and Palestinian flags and chanted: "Israel, Israel, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide" or "Gaza, Gaza, don't you cry. Palestine will never die!"
There were signs worn that said: "Resistance in not terrorism!"
A large group of Orthodox Jews who oppose the Israeli State marched too. Seeing them, some Jewish people in the streets cursed them and spit at them. But these Orthodox Jews took it in their stride.
The day after Vietnamese Government again emphasized
Hanoi's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes, the country convened a major international conference entitled: "The East Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and for Development." The two day conference, which included 150 domestic and international delegates from 22 countries, including China and the US, is a prelude to Vietnam's push to corral China into a multilateral dialogue once it takes the chair of the ASEAN next month. China put up a spirited defense of its claim to this archipelago.
Vietnam charged that there should be freedom of navigation since this is the cause of recent rising tensions and called for cooperation "in search and rescue efforts for fishermen", a reference to Chinese "patriots" mistreatment of Vietnamese fishermen seeking shelter during a recent storm.
In response to the announcement by President Obama that the US will
send additional 30,000 troops for the occupation of Afghanistan, the
organization "March Forward!" has called upon all soldiers to refuse
their orders to be deployed to Afghanistan. According to the US
Pentagon figures, since October 2001 more than 50,000 soldiers from all
branches of the US military have gone AWOL (absent without leave). This
photo shows one of many protests by US veterans across the United
States against the occupation of Afghanistan. Photo from The New Worker - GB.