> >New Worker Online Digest > >Week commencing 21st April, 2000. > >1) Editorial - Distant thunder. & Striking back. > >2) Lead story - Striking back in Washington. > >3) Feature article - What has happened to play? > >4) International story - Israel preparing to scuttle out of Lebanon. > >5) British news item - Straw accused over asylum hysteria. > > >1) Editorial > >Distant thunder. > >REPORTS from the teams searching the Kosovo area of Yugoslavia for evidence >of mass killings show that the Nato-inspired propaganda stories were wildly >exaggerated. > > Bodies have been found -- as would be expected following a period of civil >fighting and Nato bombing but evidence of mass murders allegedly committed >by Serb forces has not been found. > > It is clear that if the Nato leaders had genuinely wanted to save lives >and end the conflict they would have used their influence to stop the flow >of arms to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and pledged to uphold the >severeignty of Yugoslavia. > > But that was the last thing they wanted to do. Nato, imperialism's armed >force, has all along wanted to see Yugoslavia broken up to satisfy the >economic and political aims of the United States, Britain, Germany and others. > > It was obvious that the KLA, even with outside support, was not able to >break Kosovo away from Yugoslavia on its own. That's why Nato decided to >intervene directly. To justify such a course of action it had to bombard us >with a stream of harrowing horror stories portraying President Milosevich >and the Yugoslav forces as the cruelest monsters seen in Europe since Hitler. > > Nato's bombing war was not as successful as it hoped. It managed to force >outside troops onto Yugoslav soil, but it has failed to create an >independent Kosovo and it has failed to break Yugoslavia's sovereignty in >the area. > > Also, the imperialist plan to break up Yugoslavia is in any case >incomplete -- Montenegro has, from the West's point of view, still to be >detached. > > It was always just a matter of time before the imperialist powers started >to wind up the propaganda machine again and find some pretext or another >for "helping" Montenegtan bourgeois separatists. > > This process is underway and the danger of another Balkan tragedy can >already be heard like the sound of distant thunder from an approaching storm. > > The fraudster has been on the doorstep before and the lies are easier to >see -- this time the forces for peace should stop Nato before the >bomb-doors are opened! > > ****************** > >Striking back. > >THE massive demonstration in Washington DC last week thrust the >International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and multi-national >corporations under the spotlight of the world's press. And the publicity >these bodies got was far from the kind of media coverage they wanted. > > The demonstrators were there to expose these organisations, which >represent the interests of the leading banks and international finance and >corporate business, and to reveal them as the bringers of poverty and death >to the developing world and as the exploiters of toiling people everywhere. > > The huge demonstration was made up of many groups raising different issues >-- the demand to cancel third world debt, activists calling for a cleaner >and safer environment, anti-poverty campaigners, trade unionists and >workers' organisations, students, anti-racist organisations and many others. > > What made this demonstration so effective and so alarming to the United >States authorities, was the very fact that so many campaigns had come >together, had focused upon the meeting of finance ministers and identified >a common enemy in "global capitalism" -- imperialism. > > The links of human suffering had been made. The cause of so much of the >world's misery had been targeted and capitalism itself had been condemned. > > US state power was brought to bear on the protesters with all the >brutality we would expect. But the demonstrators got the message across to >the world -- we salute them! > > ********************* > >2) Lead story > >Striking back in Washington. > >by Steve Lawton > >ONCE, the lion's share of the world economic cake could be carved-up by >Western big business in quiet seclusion, troubled only by how best to hide >the truth of more corporate killing. > > Now they're getting noticed, but not in the way they have been used to or >much like: Six months after the 'Seattle siege' of the World Trade >Organisation, tens of thousands marched and demonstrated in Washington last >weekend to demand drastic changes to the role of financial institutions >that are deepening the wealth divide. > > While around 12,000 attended a rally near the White House to hear >international rights campaigners and trade union leaders, a big contingent >of trade unionists, environmentalists, student alliance and other protest >groups, marched in the rain to the World Bank building as Group of Seven >top capitalist nations' finance ministers met. > > Clashes with the huge police presence, estimated to cost $6m in operations >since Seattle, led to over 600 early arrests. The coalition force >Mobilization for Global Justice (MGJ) reported: "Dozens of people were >treated for lacerations, pepper-spray, tear gas, and other injuries at >makeshift clinics set up in the streets." The National Guard were also >brought in. > > In all some 1,300 protesters, according to the Washington Post, had been >arrested by last Tuesday, packing local jails. Officers were brought in >from many cities to prepare themselves for future actions on their own patch. > > MGJ said last Monday that legal reps had been blocked from getting to more >than a few dozen activists, despite some urgent medical needs. > > Their legal team have been getting evidence from those subsequently >released, who are frequently dumped in remote locations: "Widespread racist >and anti-gay language, intimidation and physical beatings are being used by >marshals in an effort to curtail the solidarity and restrict the protesters >constitutionally protected rights." > > The FBI tried to shut down MGJ's radio station, but quick demo action >foiled them. > > Trade unionists had no doubt it was time to act. "I live 30 miles from the >Mexican border," Southern Arizona steelworkers' leader Ian Robertson, in an >AFLCIO report explained, "where they live on wooden pallets made from the >maquiladoras [dangerous and intensely exploitative border zone industries] >where they work." Blaming IMF-World Bank greed, he went on: "In three >nights, nine children died from the cold or were asphyxiated trying to keep >warm." > > Whether from Ohio or Quito, Ecuador, student activists were of a mind in >their opposition to the strangulation of the developing world that attaches >a debt-tag to its peoples from the day they are born and thereby >prematurely die. > > The IMF, World Bank and WTO are increasingly seen as secret, >unaccountable, robber killer institutions of the West. Anti-debt coalition >Jubilee 2000 estimate that in the first three months of this year some 3.5 >million children had died directly due to the debt crisis. > > Chancellor Gordon Brown apparently thinks such campaigners are unwittingly >pitting themselves against the poor. Yet what does he have concretely to >offer? Slow-acting, tip-of-the-iceberg debt relief for the very worst hit >nations, the so-called HIPC's -- Heavily Indebted Poorest Countries. > > President Fidel Castro, at the historic but largely ignored four day South >Summit in Havana which concluded the day before the Washington protests, >pointed out the bare fact of what that amounts to a negligible 8.3 per cent >of developing countries' total debt. > > When it comes to the conceited demands for 'transparency' in developing >countries' handling of their finances, the same yardstick would be better >applied to Brown's paltry and cynical offering. Clearly, in this he fails >miserably. > > Combined with the tremendous damage done by the crisis of capitalism in >Asian countries and their markets, in Russia, Japan and elsewhere, the >result has led steelworker and student alike to conclude that something >more is required than the usual reform talk every time there is a crisis. > > The South Summit (G77) of 133 developing nations including China (August >1999), which met for the first time since 1967, officially endorsed the >protest mobilisation in Washington. The Summit represented a landmark >setting to work for unity and economic self-defence against US-led >corporate domination and profiteering. > > That spirit is hardening. It's expressed in sharper terms than the final >declaration by Fidel and some other delegates, notably Malaysian Prime >Minister Mohamed Mahathir. Fidel agrees with the Mobilization for Global >Justice: the IMF should be scrapped. > > Developing countries' toughening position is the reason why the Summit was >treated as a trifle, and why no connection between Havana and Washington >was made in the media here. Actually, it's better that activists tell us >what's what. > > Bolivian machinist Oscar Olivera was a leader in the resistance to the >privatisation of his nation's water supply. Several have been killed since >martial law was declared in Cochabamba on 8 April, as a mass uprising >scuppered Bechtel's and other corporate plans to steeply increase water >charges. Bechtel is based in San Francisco. He hid for four days to avoid >arrest, the AFL-CIO reported, before escaping to the US. > > "The people have recaptured their dignity, their capacity to organise >themselves -- and most important of all, the people are no longer scared," >Oscar told applauding thousands in Washington. > > At the South Summit therefore, Fidel was quite reasonable and measured >when he called for corporate-driven genocide to be given the Nuremburg >trial treatment: Hang capitalism, build for development and socialism. > > * The US trade union federation AFL-CIO reported a membership rise, >according to federal labour statistics, of 265,000 in 1999 -- the biggest >increase in over 20 years. It jumped from 16.21 million to 16.48 million >last year. Nearly half of that rise -- 112,493 -- was in the private >sector. The biggest single acts of organisation last year were California >home health workers (75,000) and Puerto Rican public employees (65,000). > > The AFL-CIO said unionisation ofworkers is moving into an upward trend, >overcoming its 20 year decline, and currently standing at 13.9 per cent of >the total workforce. Union federation calculations suggest that "at least" >600,000 workers organised unions in 1999, a 25 per cent increase on 1998. > > The growth is the result of greater demands by workers for a decisive >voice in the struggle for better wages, benefits and conditions. Wages, the >federation said, "still lag far behind 1970s levels, fuelling the growing >gap between wealthy and working Americans." > > ********************** > >3) Feature article > >What has happened to play? > >by Caroline Colebrook > >EDUCATION Secretary David BlunketL is considering ending the testing of >seven-year-olds after mounting concern from parents that it is causing >excessive pressure. There have been reports of children crying with anxiety >over the tests. > > He said he would seriously consider changing the system if it could be >proved that the complaints are true. > > Ian Anderson, the father of a seven-year-old had, told a BBC Radio Four >Today programme: "It seems a lot of time is being used in school, because >there is so much pressure on the teachers to get good scores in the tests, >simply preparing children for the tests, that is time that could be better >used in other ways." > > He asked: "Are our children being educated or are they being taught to >pass tests?" > > Mr Anderson said his child had suffered stress related problems after >bringing home homework "clearly designed" to prepare for the English >assessment. > > David Blunkett responded: "if we could show that the assessment was >actually pulling children at seven under pressure in the way you are >describing across the country, and we could not organise for teachers to do >it as part of the normal class work without putting pupils under test >conditions, then I would very seriously consider changing it." > > He went on to imply that some parents were responsible for pressurising >their children to do well in the tests. > > Teachers have also warned Mr Blunkett that Labour's promised after-hours >lessons for children who are struggling to cope are turning schools into >"factory farms". > > The Government has introduced early morning booster classes for low >achievers, after school homework clubs and summer schools for those who >fall behind in English and maths. > > David Blunkett has even talked of a "learning day" that would mirror the >nine-to-five hours of traditional office workers. > > The teachers, members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, >speaking at their annual conference last week, warned this will produce an >educational production line producing a generation of stressed and unhappy >children. > > Pat Bennet who teaches in a primary school in Lambeth, south London, said: >"Children are coming into school at 8.30am for their booster classes, they >stay after school for homework clubs, and during the school holidays they >come in for more learning. > > "I feel really sorry for these children. They must be so stressed out." > > And Hank Roberts who teaches at a Wembly comprehensive in north-west >London said: "What has happened to play? What has happened to childhood? > > "We work the longest hours in Europe yet we put up with it. This >Government now wants teachers and pupils to work longer hours. They want >results at any cost." > > The union also warned that the demands of the national curriculum and more >technical equip ment means space for children is being eroded. This leaves >them uncomfortable and unable to learn properly. > The ATL says that some playgrounds are so overcrowded that children are >unable to run about freely. > > Another Lambeth teacher, Wendy Stevens, said: "It may sound comical but >what's cruel to pigs is cruel to children. > > "It causes fights in the classroom when children bang into one another. It >gets to the stage where you have to put on your best Joyce Grenfell voice >and say to some innocent but longlegged child: "Could you please try to put >your legs behind your ears, dear?" > > The ATL conference also criticised Chris Woodhead, the chief inspector of >schools, for adding to the pressure that contributed to the suicide of >primary school teacher Pamela Relf. > > In an emergency motion the union accused Mr Woodhead of allowing Ofsted >inspectors to put too much pressure on staff during routine visits. > > It expressed regret at the death of Pamela Relf "as a result of >Ofsted-induced stress". > > Ms Relf left a note saying: "I am now finding the stress of my job too >much. The pace of work and the long days are more than I can do." > > David Blunkett also last week gave a warning to his junior minister to >avoid making definite pledges on cutting class sizes in the run-up to the >coming local elections. > > Labour was elected in 1997 with a firm pledge to reduce class sizes to >under 30. Since then the Government has concentrated on achieving this in >the first years primary schools which have seen numbers of oversized >classes cut from 485,000 to 177,000. > > Slightly older children aged eight to 11 have yet to benefit from this >drive. Some 38 percent are still taught in classes of more than 30. > > And secondary schools have seen class sizes rise slightly as continuing >cuts have forced schools to cut the number of teachers. > > ************************* > >4) International story > >Israel preparing to scuttle out of Lebanon. > >By Our Middle East Affairs Correspondent > >ISRAEL has formally told the UN that it will withdraw all its forces from >southern Lebanon by July. But there's been no let up by the Lebanese >resistance, which has vowed to fight on until the last Israeli soldier >leaves the last inch of Lebanese soil. > > Lebanese national resistance units pounded Israeli outposts and those of >their "South Lebanon Army" quisiings this week. Israel responded by with >air and artillery attacks on nearby Lebanese villages. > > When Israeli premier Ehud Barak won the elections last year he pledged to >end the occupation of southern Lebanon by July 2000. The Israeli public >have been long sick of the costly Lebanese conflict which began in 1978 and >the Labour leader owes his election victory to the mobilisation of the >growing peace movement in his country. > > An evacuation plan was drawn up earlier this year. And this week the >Israeli envoy at the United Nations, Yehuda Lancry, informed UN >Secretary-General Kofi Annan, that the withdrawal will be completed "in one >phase" by 7 July. > > Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al Hoss was jubilant. He said the Israeli >evacuation was "a resounding victory for Lebanon and its heroic resistance. >It was a "crushing defeat" for Israel. > > Words are one thing, deeds another, particularly in Tel Aviv. Given >Barak's track record -- stalling the Palestinians, refusing to seriously >make peace with Syria -- few Arabs were prepared to give him the benefit of >the doubt. > > Now it really does seem that the Israeli leader is bowing to the inevitable. > > ********************* > >5) British news item > >Straw accused over asylum hysteria. > >by Daphne Liddle > >BILL MORRIS, the general secretary of the giant Transport and General >Workers' Union, last week accused Home Secretary Jack Straw and Prime >Minister Tony Blair of "giving life to racists" in its treatment of >asylum-seekers in Britain. > > He was speaking in an article in the Independent on the eve of the TUC >Black workers' conference in Southport. > > He wanted that the Government's attitude to asylum-seekers was "playing a >hostile tune for black Britons". > > The Government, a year after the publication of the McPheson report, >claims it is now tackling institutionalised racism in Britain. > > But Mr Morris said that black Britons would reserve judgement on the >Government's response to McPherson in the light of the Home Office policy >towards asylum-seeekers and the Government proposal, now dropped, to >introduced �10,000 visa bonds to be imposed on visitors from the Indian >sub-continent. > > Mr Morris said: "The United Nations has charged the Tories with whipping >up racial intolerance. But the Home Secretary and the Home Office team must >accept responsibility for creating the environment in which this is >acceptable. > > "The mood music is playing a hostile tune for Black Britons. But it is the >Home Office and indeed the minister who are playing their part in the >orchestra. > > "By heralding measure after measure to stop people entering Britain, the >Home Office has given life to the racists." > > He was particularly critical of the inhumane system of giving refugees >just �30-worth of food vouchers a week to live on plus �10 in cash. > > This is a lot less than the minimum poverty threshold. Refugees are >forbidden to work while waiting for judgement on their cases. > > So they cannot survive without help from charities or else resorting to >begging or petty crime to live. > > This in turn fuels the xenophobic hysteria against them being whipped up >by the right-wing press. > > He said many Government measures, such as the restriction of the right to >trial by jury, will affect low-income black communities proportionately >more than white. > > "But worse even than the content of these proposals has been the climate >of fear and loathing that the Home Office has allowed to fester," he said. > > He said: "It is time to reclaim Labour as the party of civil rights" and >warned the Government not to try to outdo the Tories. > > "You will never come up with an immigration policy that will be acceptable >to Ann Widdecombe and her xenophobic colleagues. We should not even try." > > Bill Morris's words were backed up by black Labour MP Diane Abbott who >told the BBC radio Four programme Today: "I told the Prime Minister in a >private meeting this week that as a child of economic migrants, I took >personal exception to a minister constantly talking about bogus >asylum-seekers and economic migrants as if they are some sort of parasite." > > She suggested two reasons why the Government was dismissive of complaints >like hers: "One, they believe that black voters, like Labour heartland >voters perhaps, have nowhere else to go. > > "And also, for Jack himself, although Jack's personal commitment to race >relations is quite strong, where the interests of good race relations >clashes with the prejudices of middle England, middle England wins every >time." > > And at the TUC Black workers' conference, the new head-in-waiting of the >Commission for Racial Equality Gurbux Singh, condemned both Labour and Tory >politicians for their inflammatory remarks on asylum seekers. > > He attacked "the way the issue of asylum-seekers has been used to foster >racial tension and hatred. > > "Political parties have a responsibility to look at what they say and how >they say it." > > Mr Singh went on to list a number of recent instances of racist violence. > > Meanwhile the Tories have continued unashamed with their use of the race >card to whip up hatred of asylum seekers with a proposal to put all of them >in detention camps. > > He also proposed a "removals agency" to ensure that those refused asylum >are thrown out of the country at once. > > Hague, Straw and Blair continue to bandy about the term bogus-asylum >seeker. Successive Tory and Labour governments have made it more and more >difficult for refugees to prove before the courts that they are genuine. > > Yet when they fail in this they are described as bogus, implying that they >are fraudulent. > > In stark contrast, the Home Office is now preparing for a flood of white >refugees from Zimbabwe -- mostly former large scale landowners from very >wealthy backgrounds. > > These people are not expected to have to go through the �30 food voucher >system but will have their cases fast-tracked and given permission to stay. > > Extra staff have already been sent to the British consular department in >Harare where 14,500 British passport holders have already registered and >another 20,000 are expected to do so in the next few weeks. > > ********************* > > >New Communist Party of Britain Homepage > >http://www.newcommunistparty.org.uk > >A news service for the Working Class! > >Workers of all countries Unite! __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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