>
>here and stronger than ever. The revolution is invincible
>not only because it's supported by the vast majority of the
>Cuban people but because all over the world people show
>their support every day."
>
>Several speakers focused on the damage to Eli=A0n that
>worsens the longer he is kept from his father and
>grandparents in Cuba. Concha Mendoza and Zenon Arribalzada
>were sent to the U.S. 40 years ago during the
>euphemistically named "Operation Peter Pan." Arribalzada
>spent several years in refugee camps and foster homes. "The
>pain I have felt for the past 35 years brought me here
>today," he said. "Unlike the foster children, Eli=A0n has a
>father who loves him, wants him and can care for him."
>
>"I was denied the privilege of growing up in Cuba," said
>Mendoza. "We are people without a country. These right-wing
>Cubans are part of this. Many of us went back to Cuba for
>the first time as adults as members of the Antonio Maceo
>Brigade. It's really pathetic that the fate of Eli=A0n is
>being controlled by fascists in Miami who don't speak for
>the majority of Cubans in the U.S."
>
>It is clear from recent press reports that Eli=A0n can't
>accept his mother's death. Child psychiatrist Manuel
>Orlando Garcia, who was fired from his radio program for
>saying that Eli=A0n was kidnapped by the Miami Cubans, talked
>from broad experience about the emotional effects on Eli=A0n.
>
>Psychiatrist says `It's child abuse'
>
>"To keep him away from his father constitutes child
>abuse," said Orlando. "The process of growth is very
>fragile. Every day I see people who are phobic because they
>were abandoned as a child. They are afraid everyone will
>betray them as their parents did."
>
>But Eli=A0n also has to cope with the guilt that is almost
>universal among survivors of such tragedies. "He needs to
>be convinced he is not responsible, it was an accident. But
>what is he being told? `Your mother died for you.' If this
>is not abuse, I'm not a child psychiatrist."
>
>Attorney Jose Pertierra, a Cuban American specializing in
>immigration law, explained that "The law is clear. The only
>thing keeping Janet Reno from repatriating him back to his
>family is a lack of political will on her part. Every day
>that goes by the relationship between this boy and his
>father is further damaged.
>
>"This case is really about putting Fidel Castro on trial.
>A six-year-old boy should not be manipulated for political
>purposes." He referred to Miami as "the world's largest
>closet." Cubans there, said Pertierra, "are afraid to come
>out and say what they know to be the right thing. Well, I'm
>out of the closet. I say that children should be with their
>papa, not with Mickey Mouse."
>
>The symposium was co-chaired by Ellen Bernstein and Teresa
>Gutierrez of the National Committee for the Return of Eli=A0n
>Gonz=A0lez to His Father in Cuba. They represent,
>respectively, the two main groups in the committee--
>IFCO/Pastors for Peace and the International Action Center.
>
>Calls for vigilance
>and direct action
>
>Gutierrez said that if the committee has to go back and
>demonstrate again in Miami to make the INS carry out its
>ruling on Elian, it will do so.
>
>Rev. Lucius Walker of IFCO assailed the U.S. government's
>"intentional pattern of delay. The government looks good
>but has let Dan Burton, Jesse Helms and the Cuban right
>wing obstruct their decision.
>
>"What do we have to do? Direct action. We have to be
>prepared to respond if the call comes from the national
>committee to park on the steps of the Justice Department.
>Absent this pressure, Elian could be here for a long, long
>time. Let's not let that happen."
>
>IAC leader and former Attorney General Ramsey Clark spoke
>on the urgency of this case. "We ought to look at it like
>it's the soul of a child drowning. The intention is to
>prevail by delay. The U.S. knows how to get rid of people
>quickly when it wants to. When a Cuban diplomat was falsely
>accused of spying, they had him on a plane that evening.
>
>"Don't we know that Elian's kidnappers contrived to starve
>him and deprive him of medicines through the blockade for
>the first six years of his life? That's how much they love
>him.
>
>"Who really cares about children? The poor of this planet
>have an awfully hard time getting through their first year,
>for no reason other than the selfishness of capitalist
>countries. Before the revolution in Cuba, infant mortality
>was over 100 per 1,000 live births. They've brought it down
>to the lowest in this hemisphere because they love
>children. Return Elian, end the blockade, and open free and
>uninhibited relations with Cuba."
>
>The meeting was dedicated to the memory of people's
>videographer Key Martin.
>
> - END -
>
>(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to
>copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
>changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
>Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message
>to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org)
>
>
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 23:16:26 -0500
>Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
>Subject: [WW] Solidarity and Resistance in Belgrade
>Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>-------------------------
>Via Workers World News Service
>Reprinted from the Apr. 6, 2000
>issue of Workers World newspaper
>-------------------------
>
>CONFERENCE TARGETS U.S.-NATO WAR CRIMES: WORKERS
>MARCH THROUGH BELGRADE ON ANNIVERSARY OF NATO
>BOMBING
>
>By John Catalinotto
>Belgrade, Yugoslavia
>
>On March 24, tens of thousands of workers marched into
>Republic Square in downtown Belgrade and gathered near the
>headquarters of the Central Union of Yugoslavia. Many older
>workers wore hats identifying themselves as veterans of the
>1941-1945 partisan struggle that liberated all Yugoslavia from
>Nazi occupation.
>
>The march commemorated the start of last year's 78-day U.S.-
>led NATO war on Yugoslavia. On the anniversary, Yugoslavs
>displayed the same strength and determination they showed when
>the war was launched.
>
>Marchers shouted, "Stop the sanctions," and, "Kosovo is
>ours."
>
>For years, Yugoslavia's workers have suffered under U.S.-led
>sanctions. NATO troops have occupied the southern Serbian
>province of Kosovo since last June 10.
>
>The biggest banner was the Yugoslav flag--including a red
>star--the flag that was flown back in the days when all six
>republics were united under communist leadership. When a group
>of anti-imperialist Italians from the Voce Operaia group
>showed up with a party banner complete with hammer and sickle,
>the Yugoslavs quickly put them at the front of the march.
>
>Union leaders and poets addressed the crowd gathered in
>Belgrade's main square. Messages of solidarity came from
>China, Russia, India, South Africa, People's Korea and other
>countries all over the world.
>
>SOLIDARITY GATHERING ACROSS THE RIVER
>
>Meanwhile, across the Danube River in New Belgrade, 93
>foreign guests from 38 countries met with 60 people from
>Yugoslavia in a conference to discuss "The Effects of NATO
>Aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia."
>
>The biggest foreign delegations came from Russia and other
>parts of the former Soviet Union. Almost every participant in
>the conference was a social or political scientist, legal
>expert or political activist who had taken a public position
>against U.S. and NATO aggression during the war.
>
>Also present were three former Soviet generals, a former
>West German admiral, a former Indian general and other
>military officers.
>
>The Institute for International Politics and Economics,
>based in Belgrade, organized the conference.
>
>While the invited speakers from abroad took up many sides of
>the questions under discussion, their spirit was generally
>compatible with the introductory talk given by Yugoslav
>Minister for Foreign Affairs Zivadin Jovanovic. He made the
>following important points:
>
>"The aggressive policy of the United States is particularly
>focused on the ethnically mixed communities and countries
>through an undisguised encouragement of separatism, religious
>and ethnic exclusiveness, and the support of terrorists,
>through the arbitrary interpretation and abuse of human and
>minority rights.
>
>"Organized campaigns of `public lies' and the creation of
>false realities by the use of the world media's enormous newly
>created power serves the function of world domination. ...
>
>"As part of the regular preparations for the conduct of an
>aggressive policy toward a particular region, there is a
>systematic demonization of whole regions and individual
>cultures. What has been done to the Federal Republic of
>Yugoslavia over the last 10 years is the best example. A
>nation that has made an enormous contribution to the struggle
>against fascism and for the freedom of Europe and the world
>has been portrayed in the most influential world media as an
>uncivilized criminal nation unworthy of sympathy."
>
>The foreign minister added: "We insist on the identification
>of the crimes against peace and humanity by the aggressors as
>well as compensation for the damage caused by the war. ... We
>say to the aggressors that we will be equally successful in
>defending ourselves from all forms of continued aggression, be
>they sanctions, interference in our internal affairs,
>encouragement of separatism and destabilization, as well as
>the systematic violation of the decisions of the Security
>Council concerning the Serbian provice of Kosovo."
>
>Many who spoke during the conference's three days enlarged
>on points raised by the foreign minister. But they also
>examined other aspects of U.S.-NATO aggression against not
>only Yugoslavia but the whole region.
>
>The first night, young people from the whole city and
>suburbs gathered on the bridges to sing and celebrate, as they
>had during the bombing--evoking the feelings of solidarity
>that marked the Yugoslav people's heroic resistance to last
>year's horrendous bombing campaign.
>
>U.S SPEAKER URGES STRUGGLE IN NATO COUNTRIES
>
>John Catalinotto of the United States represented the
>International Action Center at the Belgrade conference. He
>described how people in the NATO countries can resist
>Washington's goal of expanding this military alliance as a
>world super-cop:
>
>"I especially address those of us here from the very NATO
>countries that waged aggression against Yugoslavia. Our
>responsibility is to use the facts and analysis presented
>here to mobilize our home populations to fight the
>government's policies, to lift the sanctions against
>Yugoslavia, to send aid--really reparations for the crimes
>committed.
>
>"On June 10, the International Action Center in New York
>is holding a day-long International Tribunal on U.S.-NATO
>War Crimes against Yugoslavia. An initial hearing last July
>31 inspired or encouraged hearings in a dozen U.S. cities.
>
>"Those working in parallel with us held similar hearings
>in Oslo, Novi Sad, Berlin, Rome, Vienna, Moscow, Kiev,
>Sydney and even Tokyo. The most dramatic was a mass
>people's tribunal in Athens last fall where thousands found
>Clinton guilty of war crimes. More hearings are planned for
>Belgrade, Hamburg, Prague, Boston and elsewhere.
>
>"We do not expect to make the people in power see reason
>and change their minds. These tribunals are a way to
>mobilize mass public opinion and build a movement that can
>fight the governments that wage these wars. In the
>International Action Center we also support the struggles
>of oppressed groups in the United States--for example, the
>fight to free political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Only by
>building bridges to others can we succeed in turning back
>the U.S. war machine.
>
>"On June 10, former Attorney General Ramsey Clark will
>prosecute U.S. and NATO leaders for 19 charges of war
>crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity.
>International expert witnesses will present testimony. And
>a distinguished international panel of judges will hear the
>case. Come and be part of this historic event."
>
> - END -
>
>(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to
>copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
>changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
>Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message
>to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org)
>
>
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 23:17:40 -0500
>Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
>Subject: [WW] India, Bangladesh Protests over Clinton Visit
>Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>-------------------------
>VIA WORKERS WORLD NEWS SERVICE
>REPRINTED FROM THE APR. 6, 2000
>ISSUE OF WORKERS WORLD NEWSPAPER
>-------------------------
>
>INDIA, BANGLADESH PROTESTS OVER CLINTON VISIT
>
>At every turn in President Bill Clinton's tour of India
>and Bangladesh, there were protesters there to challenge
>him. Only in Pakistan, where the military government banned
>all protests, were there no demonstrations.
>
>Days of student actions led up to Clinton's March 20 visit
>to Bangladesh. On March 14, protesters burned an effigy of
>Clinton in front of the U.S. embassy. On the day Clinton
>arrived, police attacked the demonstrators, injuring at
>least 15.
>
>A statement by the Left Democratic Front declared: "We are
>organizing this protest against U.S. policy towards
>Bangladesh, looting our natural resources, imposing U.S.
>control over our land and above all the conspiracy to
>entangle Bangladesh with the U.S. military and war-
>mongering politics in this region."
>
>Mass protests were held throughout India starting with his
>arrival on March 19 in Kerala. Actions were held in city
>after city from Dehli to Calcutta.
>
>The Socialist Unity Center of India reported that Clinton
>was confronted with shouts of "U.S. imperialism, hands off
>Iraq," "Stop U.S. intervention in the Indian economy,"
>"Vacate Kosovo and Iraq," and "Warmonger Clinton go back."
>
>The SUC reported that speakers at the rallies condemned
>"the many U.S. imperialist attacks on sovereign countries
>under the leadership of Bill Clinton leading to death and
>misery of thousands of innocent men, women and children."
>Particularly, the sanctions in Iraq, Cuba and Yugoslavia;
>the missile attacks on Iraq; the bombardment of Yugoslavia;
>the missile attacks on Afghanistan and Sudan; the military
>presence in East Timor; and the occupation of Haiti.
>
>Another focus of the protests is the takeover of the
>assets of the South East Asian economies by U.S.
>multinational corporations. Ever since the economic crisis
>that swept Asia, U.S. banks and corporations have "re-
>colonized" Asia. This was part of the focus of the protests
>against the World Trade Organization in Seattle last year
>and will be a focus of demonstrations against the
>International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington on
>April 16.
>
>
>--Gary Wilson
>
> - END -
>
>(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to
>copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
>changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
>Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message
>to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org)
>
>
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