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From: New Worker Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
New Worker Online Digest
Week commencing 6th April, 2001.
1) Editorial - US to blame.
2) Lead story - China demands apology.
3) Feature article - Resisting privatisation.
4) International story - Israel blasts Gaza.
5) British news item - Britain accused of racism.
1) Editorial
US to blame.
IT is not hard to imagine the furious outcry there would have been if a
Chinese military spy-plane had flown into United States airspace, collided
with a US jet causing the pilot to bail out over the sea and then landed on
a US airfield without so much as a by-your-leave.
But when this situation happens in reverse and the spy plane is from the
US, the missing pilot is Chinese and the airfield is in People's China, the
response of the US leadership is not to issue an apology but to berate the
Chinese authorities and make hostile and arrogant noises from the White
House.
The US has not expressed an ounce of concern for the missing Chinese
pilot. But it has made a huge fuss about the crew of its spy-plane even
though US diplomats in China have had access to the crew and have seen that
all the US personnel are safe and well. This fact has not stopped the
hype-machine from going into top gear with all that yellow ribbons round
the trees stuff.
The Chinese govemment is carrying out an investigation into the incident
and wants the US to co-operate with it. It wants to know, for instance,
what a US military aircraft was doing in the area. Indeed, it wants to know
why spying flights close to China are frequently made by US planes. It
wants to know why the US warplane made an abrupt turn that caused the
collision -- damage patterns on the US plane certainly show that it was the
spy-plane's fault.
Bush is unlikely to answer. He and his reactionary backers really do
believe that the agencies of US imperialism should be allowed to go
anywhere and do anything. The big-power arrogance they show tells us that
they don't accept the right of other nations to defend their own airspace,
territorial waters or sovereignty -- at least not against the incursions of
the US. They are actually angry that China should even want to know what
they were up to.
Even so this situation has not arisen just because of US arrogance. The US
ruling class has never abandoned its cold-war hostility to the remaining
socialist countries and countries that take an anti-imperialist position.
It is especially hostile to countries with a nuclear capability outside of
the Nato alliance and this of course includes China and Russia.
With the exception of socialist Cuba, the remaining socialist countries
are in Asia. This is also a part of the world where the capitalist states
are most vulnerable to the harsh effects of recurring economic crises. The
combination of these two facts alarms the imperialist powers who fear that
countries like China and Democratic Korea will become beacons of light for
increasingly impoverished and oppressed people in the rest of Asia.
US imperialism is not only worried about the spread of socialism -- it
wants to eradicate socialism every where and open up the whole world to its
own economic penetration and political control. This is why the spyplane
incident is not an isolated case.
There has been a build-up of the US military machine in south Korea
accompanied by cold war rhetoric against Democratic Korea and western arms
are being sent to Taiwan as a calculated threat to China.
On top of all that there is the clear desire of the US leadership to
create enemy images in order to justify its plans for a National Missile
Defence system (NMD). This "son of star wars" project has met with
widespread opposition around the world because it is a direct threat to the
Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty of 1972, it would allow the US to
ratchet-up its own nuclear arsenal and it would open the way for the US to
militarise space.
There is opposition to these plans in the US itself and throughout the
world. But it is vital that these issues are not seen in isolation and that
campaigns against NMD should not become undermined by cold war propaganda.
It is in all our interests to stand in solidarity with China, Democratic
Korea, all the remaining socialist countries and the anti-imperialist
forces throughout the world. Opposition to US imperialism is growing --
join the struggle!
*********************
2) Lead story
China demands apology.
PEOPLE'S CHINA is demanding an apology from the United States for the
incursion into their air-space by an American spy-plane now held on China's
Hainan island.
The US Navy spy-plane, which hit a Chinese air-force jet, made a
forced-landing on Hainan last Sunday. Its 24-strong crew are being
questioned. They have been allowed to meet US diplomats.
The US Navy EP-3E Aries II electronic surveillance aircraft was damaged
when it rammed the Chinese jet which was monitoring its spy mission forcing
it to crash.
The pilot, Wang Wei, bailed out and an intensive Chinese search and rescue
mission is continuing. But he is missing presumed dead. Three US warships
in the South China sea have been ordered out of the area by the White
Mouse. Their cynical offer to help in the search for the missing pilot was
ignored in Beijing.
In Washington the US administration, from George W Bush downwards, showed
little or no concern about the fate of the Chinese pilot.
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told the press that "the United
States doesn't understand the reasons for an apology. Our airplanes were
operating in international air space and the United States did nothing
wrong". And the most Secretary of State Colin Powell could bring himself to
say was that the incident was "a tragic accident".
But they all had plenty to say about the fate of the spy plane and its
crew. First of all, the Americans hypocritically complained about the
inspection of the craft fearing the Chinese would get their hands on the
sophisticated intelligence-gathering equipment and codes inside.
Now the Pentagon claims the crew managed to destroy the most sensitive
data before the plane landed in Hainan. What they don't say is that the
United States allows no country to conduct spy flights off the American
coast.
Nor, when they bleat on that the Chinese had no right to inspect the
plane. do they mention that when a Cuban defector flew an advanced Mig
fighter to Florida not engaged in spying, US specialists pounced on the
plane to dissect its secrets.
US bears full responsibility
Chinese President Jiang Jemin has called on the Americans to stop all
reconnaissance flights in the airspace off China's coastal areas to prevent
further incidents.
The United States should bear full responsibility for the recent collision
between Chinese and US military planes in the airspace off China's Hainan
island, Jiang said. "We have sufficient evidence".
"It is the US plane that violated flight rules" he added. "What is most
precious is human life. I am deeply concerned about the safety of the pilot
and I have time and again given instructions to search for and rescue the
pilot at all costs"
"We cannot understand why the United States often sends its planes to make
surveillance flights in areas so close to China," Jiang said. "And this
time, the US plane bumped into our plane, invaded Chinese territorial
airspace and landed at our airport in violation of international laws and
practices" he declared.
In the United States the peace campaign is rallying to condemn Bush's
provocations. The International Action Center (IAC), a leading organisation
in the US anti-war movement, is calling on that movement to be on the alert
for further dangerous US moves against China and be prepared to raise its
voice in protest against them.
The IAC has denounced the US spy-plane flights in and near Chinese
airspace and US threats since the plane landed in China as acts of
aggression and blatant attacks on Chinese sovereignty.
The IAC is calling on the anti-war movement in the US to mobilise to
demand that the Pentagon end its spy flights in the Pacific, that
Washington apologise for the death of the Chinese pilot and that it drops
plans to send new weapons to the regime which runs the Chinese island of
Taiwan under US protection.
**********************
3) Feature article
Resisting privatisation.
by Renee Sams
THE GOVERNMENT is pushing ahead with Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
schemes all over the country and protest against them is growing.
One of the biggest protests so far was the strike on the London
Underground on 29 March which practically brought London to a standstill
and was 96 per cent solid according to Bob Crow, the assistant general
secretary of the transport union, RMT.
"We must look deeper in to why they are rushing to transfer control to the
private sector," he told a one-day conference in London last Saturday."
They are pushing PFI projects in schools, housing, transport, the fire
service and the latest bonanza For the private sector is the sale of air
traffic control.
The conference that Bob Crow was addressing was in the London Borough of
Camden and organised by the public sector union Unison from the Dudley
Group of Hospitals where workers are maintaining their strike action
against privatisation.
The conference was supported by the RMT national executive, the London
regional councils of the train drivers' union Aslef, the Fire Brigades
Union, general union MSF, RMT, Unison and the Unison health Group.
There were 120 trade union delegates from a wide spread of unions at the
conference, together with 41 strikers from the Dudley Hospitals.
Their struggle is becoming a focal point for the anti-privatisation
campaign.
Also present at the conference were the Defend Council Housing Campaign
which now has support groups all over the country, and many individuals.
PFI and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are just the same thing, Bob
Crow told the conference and he spoke of the privatisation of British rail,
which is now being run by over 20,000 companies, with contractors, sub
contractors and agency staff.
"If there is an accident," he said, "the managing directors do not want to
take the tap for it. They each blame the other. "It is now costing us more
money than before it was privatised because the companies require a subsidy
to carry out the repairs and maintenance costs, otherwise they would not be
able to make enough money to keep their shareholders happy.
"We believe that it is not just about breaking up the nationalised London
Underground. It is about weakening the industrial strength of the unions."
He added: "Tory governments have passed altogether nine anti-trade union
laws. When in opposition the Labour Party had no hesitation in voting
against these Acts. Now they must repeal every single one of those Acts!".
Dave Whatton spoke on behalf of the FBU executive council for the West
Midlands.
"It has been privatisation by degrees," he said. "They have gone around the
country closing two old fire stations but only replacing them withone new
one. Firefighters have lost their jobs."
He also revealed that fire engines "bought with taxpayers' money" are now
owned by Transco. And protective clothing which firefighters need is also
supplied privately.
He said resolutions will be put to conference and: "We intend to fight it
as a union, together with other unions."
Several speakers from the floor expressed fears that the Government is
ignoring the dangers of privatisation.
A health worker drew attention to the crisis in the health service and a
teacher pointed out the failing schools with crumbling buildings.
One speaker told ofa home for the elderly which is being closed and the
residents are worried out of their lives, not knowing where they will be
sent to, or if they will have a roof over their heads.
Veteran Labour MP Tony Benn had a warning for the delegates, telling them:
"This is a really big issue that affects the whole fabric of society and we
must understand what is at stake."
He recalled that Harold Wilson had said that public services, with their
huge budgets, are "the engine of economic growth".
"It is no wonder," he added, "that big business wants to get in and make a
profit."
"Now," he informed the conference, "the World Trade Organisation is
mooting the idea of buying and selling whole countries, especially in
Africa.
"They want to do away with democracy altogether because private ownership
keeps people ignorant."
"The Dudley strike is not just about PFI," Tony Benn said. "It is about
the way society is run.
"We must get across to people the idea that what we are talking about is a
new kind of society, a society that we want to run ourselves.
"We don't want a corporation that wants to run it for us. Most people want
it to be publicly accountable.
"To get that we must appeal to a much wider audience. If we don't, we are
in deep trouble."
There is a great need for unity and the trade union speakers made calls
for unity and solidarity throughout the movement.
Bob Crow told the strikers that his union was making a donation of £5,000
to help them and promised continuing RMT support.
*************************
4) International story
Israel blasts Gaza.
by Our Middle East Affairs correspondent
THE ZIONIST occupation army unleashed its fury throughout the Gaza Strip on
Tuesday night in an onslaught which wounded at least 70 Palestinians, most
of them civilians.
Israeli tanks, jets and warships took part in the raids, the heaviest for
several months. Many missiles and shells fell near President Arafat's
headquarters in Gaza City. In other parts of occupied Palestine fierce
battles raged.
On Monday an Israeli gunship carried out the assassination of a leading
member of Islamic Jehad, firing three missiles into his car in Rafah in the
Strip. Mohammed Abdu Aeal, 26, died and two of his comrades were badly
wounded. "Vengeance is coming" Islamic Jehad has warned. "The door of
conflict with the enemy will not be closed because the Palestinian people
are determined to continue the struggle until they have restored completely
their legitimate rights"
Israeli army chief of staff Shaul Mofaz admitted this week that the
resistance is growing. According to an Israeli army report the Palestinians
have carried out 4,140 attacks since the uprising began on 28 September
last year. General Mofaz said that the Israeli government would suppress
the intifada by all means.
Several Israeli soldiers were wounded in gun battles in Bethlehem, Belt
Jada and Aida. One Israeli soldier was killed near Salem and four others
died when their tank plunged into a ravine east of Hebron.
Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan urged the Arabs to take up arms
to defend the Palestinians against Israeli aggression. He told the press
Tuesday that "if Israel wants peace, there is no way left for it except
handing over the occupied territories including Jerusalem".
*********************
5) British news item
Britain accused of racism.
by Daphne Liddle
A SURVEY by the Council of Europe published last week has criticised
Britain's attitude to asylum seekers, saying that racism here is
"particularly acute".
It blames this on the media's "xenophobic and intolerant coverage" and
some politicians. The report also blames the Government for adopting
"increasingly restrictive asylum and immigration laws".
The council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, is a non-government body,
independent of the European Union and is funded by the governments of 43
European states. It's remit is to defend human rights throughout the
continent.
It also had criticisms for continuing problems of racism in Austria,
Albania, Macedonia and Denmark.
The report praised efforts to tackle institutional racism after the
Mcpheson enquiry into the police handling of the murder of Stephen
Lawrence. But it said that racial prejudice in the police "continued to
constitute an element of concern".
The report also said: "Many politicians have contributed to, or at least
not adequately prevented, public debate taking on an increasingly
intolerant line with at times racist and xenophobic overtones.
"Public statements have tended to depict asylum seekers and 'economic
migrants' explicitly or by inference, as a threat to security, economic
stability and social peace.
"Politicians should not only avoid promoting the general assumption that
most asylum claimants are not genuine, but also the vilification of those
who are considered by the authorities not to have any valid asylum claims
and who are sometimes defined as 'economic migrants', 'economic refugees'
or 'bogus asylum seekers'.
"It is unacceptable for politicians to direct the general public's
feelings on insecurity on one specific group of persons, irrespective of
whether these persons have a valid claim to remain in the country or not."
The recent antics of the Tory party are glaring evidence of this practice.
Leader William Hague has spoken of being flooded with "bogus" asylum
seekers and of Britain becoming "a foreign land".
Probably he was referring to closer integration into Europe but not
surprisingly this ambiguous comment was taken by some in his party to come
out with far more extreme racism.
John Townend MP spoke of "Anglo Saxon society" being "seriously undermined
by the massive immigration, particularly Commonwealth immigration that has
happened since the war.
Hague rebuked him for this outrageous remark but did not throw him out of
the party or withdraw the whip. Townend responded by saying he will refuse
to keep quiet on race and has still not been expelled from the party.
Next Tory MP Christopher Gill announced he was leaving the party to join
the xenophobic United Kingdom Independence Party -- which has links with
the British National Party and other fascist outfits.
Then Ceri Evans, a senior Tory aide in Wales, quit the party in order to
distance himself from the rising tide of racism within
that party.
He accused Hague of turning in desperation to the "suicidal twilight zone
of extremism" and of preparing to play the race card in the coming election.
Meanwhile, inside the Metropolitan Police Force which claims it is getting
to grips with its own institutional racism, Superintendent Ali Dizaei is
continuing to struggle against a racist witch hunt.
He is one of Britain's very few senior police officers from a black or
Asian background, having British and Iranian citizenship, and has been
suspended over a host of criminal and disciplinary allegations.
He was suspended on 18 January after he had been a vocal critic of the
Met's record and practices on race.
The allegations include misuse of drugs, deception, seeking pecuniary
advantage, corrupt practice, divulging confidential information,
unregistered business interests, accepting gratuities, sex with prostitutes
and being beholden to individuals.
But he has not actually been charged with anything. He and his supporters
are calling on his accusers to "put up or shut up".
* The family and friends of a racist murder last week accused the
Metropolitan police of failing to take steps to eradicate racial violence
after a recent spate of murders in east London.
Shiblu Rahman, a Bangladeshi chef, died in hospital after being stabbed
near his home in Tower Hamlets. He is the fourth person to be murdered in
the borough this year although his is the first case to be treated as a
racist murder.
Tower Hamlets Racial Equality Council has condemned public authorities for
failing to implement measures to prevent the growing number of racist
attacks in the borough.
And in Stamford Hill, north London, Kurdish asylum seeker Mehmet Selimoglu
is in a coma in hospital after a vicious racist attack by a violent drunken
stranger.
*********************
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