From: Communist Party of Canada <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 11:26:41 -0500 To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: People's Voice: November 1-15, 2001 PEOPLE’S VOICE ON-LINE Issue of November 1 - 15, 2001 ARTICLES FROM THE COMMUNIST PRESS IN CANADA (The following articles are from the Nov. 1-15/2001 issue of People’s Voice, Canada’s leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People’s Voice, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, Canada, V5L 3J1.) INDEX 1) ANTI-TERRORISM BILL MUST BE STOPPED! 2) ANTHRAX TERROR: MADE IN THE USA? 3) ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVOLUTION - Editorial 4) NOVEMBER 17: ACT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE! ************ 1) Anti-Terrorism Bill Must be Stopped! Statement by the Central Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada, Oct. 26, 2001 THE GOVERNMENT’S “Anti-Terrorism” Bill (C-36), introduced into the House of Commons October 15, should set off alarm bells with all democratic-minded Canadians. C-36 would strip away many of our fundamental rights and legal protections, all in the name of “protecting” Canadians from terrorist threats or attacks. Worse, it would create a legal and political framework to further intimidate and stifle political dissent in this country, and to help whip up a “cold war” atmosphere of fear, paranoia and witch hunts. The public is being told that C-36 is urgently required to provide the tools needed to fight the scourge of terrorism in our country. And yet, many experts agree that the legal means to combat terrorism is already essentially in place, and that the new law enforcement “tools” that would be provided by this Act are excessive, unnecessary, and open to widespread abuse by the Canadian state. The draconian measures include “preventative detention” that would allow people identified as suspects or “potential” terrorists to be imprisoned for up to 12 months without a trial or conviction; “investigative hearings” in which individuals are stripped of their right to silence and forced to inform on their friends, relatives or co-workers on pain of their own incarceration; secret trials; the shredding of all privacy laws and protections; the extension of police and CSIS powers; etc. Taken together, these reactionary changes would constitute the single most sweeping attack on the democratic and legal rights of Canadians since the War Measures Act of the early 20th century. Furthermore, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that such measures will have any significant effect on combating the real terrorists, any more than is the case under present-day law. The real victims of this legislation will be the broad popular movements of the people, especially those that promote militant political action in opposition to the right-wing, neoliberal and militarist policies of the imperialist powers, including Canada. The most damning and starkly political part of the legislation relates to how “terrorism” is to be defined under law. According to the bill, “terrorism” would involve any action or intention “of a political, religious or ideological” character that causes death or endangerment of a person’s health. But it also includes actions which “cause substantial property damage” or which “cause serious interference with or disruption of and essential service, facility or system.” Such a sweeping definition covers virtually all forms of militant resistance or armed struggle. As Canadian Civil Liberties Association president Alan Borovoy pointed out recently, if this bill had been in place 10 years ago, Canadians who supported Nelson Mandela and the ANC, or who raised funds for the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, would have been called “terrorists” and subject to arrest and conviction. In fact, the definition is so broad that all those who engage in militant forms of resistance -- peace supporters who march without a permit, anti-globalization activists who occupy buildings or try to shut down meetings like the WTO conference in Seattle, workers who refuse to abide by unjust labour laws -- all these forms of struggle could be termed “terrorist” under this definition. This legislation is an extremely grave attack on democracy in Canada. Its sponsors and promoters hope that by a combination of parliamentary bullying and taking advantage of current public sentiment, shaken by the September 11th attacks and by current anthrax scare, they will be able to force C-36 into law quickly, and with little scrutiny or meaningful resistance. This must not happen. It is imperative that all those Canadians who genuinely cherish democratic principles and practices -- Canadians from every walk of life, and with views spanning the political spectrum -- should unite in demanding that this legislation be withdrawn. Despite Liberal blustering to the contrary, the “anti-terrorism” bill is very vulnerable. A broad array of legal professionals, constitutional experts, political parties and social activists has sharply condemned the bill. Even Liberal backbenchers, and the editorial department at the Globe and Mail are squeamish about several of the most draconian and anti-democratic sections of the Act. This indicates that it is possible to defeat this legislation, provided a broad front of democratic forces can come together quickly and decisively to mobilize the Canadian people against this horrendous attack on their rights and freedoms. Our Party is fully committed to that goal and will work with all others in helping to realize such a broad front to defend democracy. ************* 2) ANTHRAX TERROR: MADE IN THE USA? By Kimball Cariou AS ANTHRAX HYSTERIA swept North America, the mass media and politicians consistently linked this phenomenon with Osama bin Laden and his organization. But more astute observers argued that the attacks probably came from within the USA itself. By late October, more than a month after envelopes containing anthrax spores started turning up at media and government offices, even top US officials were conceding that many signs point to militia groups and other ultra-right forces as the likely culprits. “Homeland Security Director” Tom Ridge, for example, said on Oct. 25 that the spores from all five tainted envelopes at that point were from the Ames strain of anthrax, widely available in the US. For years, abortion clinics have received similar mail threats from fanatical anti-choice groups across the United States. Most clinics have a standard protocol in place: handling suspicious mail with gloves, sealing it in ziplock bags, contacting the local police, etc. The National Abortion Federation says 80 anthrax hoaxes were received between October 1998 and January 2000. The latest wave of this anti-choice tactic took place on Oct. 16, when letters claiming to contain anthrax were sent to 170 abortion clinics around the US. When abortion providers or other women’s rights groups are sent deadly letters, this is rarely called “terrorism” by the mass media or politicians. But the close links between elements of the anti-choice movement and the militias (famous for their hatred of women’s equality) makes these groups an obvious source of suspects. Aware of this possibility, the FBI’s domestic terrorism unit has been investigating the possible role of illegal militia groups in the latest anthrax outbreaks. As the Miami Herald reported on Oct. 16, Timothy McVeigh “was a supporter of one such group, the National Alliance. Others have threatened to use biological weapons, including anthrax, botulism, and ricin, in their struggle against what they see as a global conspiracy between the US administration and the United Nations to disarm and enslave them. Every state has its own `patriot’ group of disaffected right-wing Christian radicals opposed to central government and federal regulations. Most are organized along paramilitary lines. The FBI estimates their numbers at up to 40,000, with the larger militias in backwoods country areas.” The same article notes that “In January 1999, police and security forces responded to 30 anthrax hoaxes in southern California alone. Since then, there have been thousands of false alarms across the country. Many aimed at government buildings, including deliveries of envelopes containing suspicious white powder, were militia inspired. Others targeting schools, hospitals or newspapers were sent by disgruntled former employees or jilted lovers.” Sometimes the threats are more than hoaxes. In 1992, two members of the Minnesota Patriots’ Council were arrested carrying vials of ricin, an extremely dangerous toxin. Larry Wayne Harris of the Aryan Nations used the Internet to buy samples of bubonic plague, which turned out to be inert. Three members of the Republic of Texas bought what they thought was anthrax in 1998; it turned out to be anthrax serum. A top specialist in terrorism at the Australian National University in Canberra, Clive Williams, says the evidence points to the militias. “I think the first instances of it, the ones involving media, were more likely to have been caused by extremist militia in the US who have shown an interest in anthrax in the past and tried to acquire it,” he told Agence France-Presse on Oct. 16, after buildings were evacuated across Australia following a wave of hoax packages. “The subsequent instances were basically copy-cat episodes by mentally unbalanced people, I believe.” Williams points out that the US attacks have involved the use of a form of anthrax readily available to scientists and researchers. “But what is rare is the weaponised version of it which is much more dangerous and has a high lethality rate, but that is not available and is difficult to manufacture,” he said. “I’m not convinced that any of the instances in the US involved the weaponised variety.” *************** 3) ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVOLUTION People’s voice Editorial, Nov. 1-15, 2001 RARELY HAS THE absence of the Soviet Union from the world stage been so badly felt as today. Eighty-four years after the historic Nov. 7 revolution for “peace, land and bread,” imperialist war is tearing apart Afghanistan, with Iraq and other countries lined up as the next targets. The horrifying scenario unfolding before our eyes is possible largely because the main bastion against US military power, the USSR, no longer exists. Yes, the record of the Soviet Union was blemished by errors and crimes. But in the main, the world’s first socialist state was a powerful force for peace, equality, social justice, and democratic rights for over seventy years. It was the Soviet Union which proved to workers everywhere that a socialist planned economy could tackle the capitalist legacies of unemployment, mass poverty and illiteracy, and regional underdevelopment. The Soviet people showed how women and oppressed minorities could make giant strides towards equality within a few short decades. The heroic Soviet people played the biggest role in the victory over Hitler fascism. The advances of the USSR and the socialist community -- and their solidarity -- were a key factor in the upsurge of anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggles which followed World War Two. For decades, the capacity of the US and its NATO allies to terrorize the peoples of the world was partially held in check by the military power of the Warsaw Pact. On November 7th, we pay tribute to the Revolution of 1917, not out of nostalgia for some perfect past, but because despite its shortcomings and setbacks, the Soviet Union represented the future of humanity. The first serious attempt to build a new society without exploitation and oppression blazed a trail for the working class of all lands as we struggle for peace and justice. *************** 4) NOVEMBER 17: ACT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE! ANTI-WAR GROUPS are mobilizing for the November 17 Cross-Canada Day of Non-violent Action for Global Peace and Justice. The action, organized by the 30-member September 11 Peace Coalition, was announced at a news conference on October 22. In all major cities, groups have finalized plans. “Canadians implicitly understand the need for real justice and that’s why thousands of people across the country will participate on November 17. The alternative to war is to begin rebuilding the world’s infrastructures,” said Deborah Bourque of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and co-chair of the September 11 Peace Coalition. In Toronto, a march will start at Queen’s Park at 1 pm. For info or to help out, call 416-588-5555 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] In Montreal, a march will start at Lafontaine Park 11:30 am, passing by the U.S. consulate and ending at a federal office building. The march is supported by the Federation des femmes du Quebec and major student groups. Some major Quebec unions are participating in the planning meetings, all three labour centrals (QFL, CEQ, CSN) have taken a stand against the war. Over 100 organizations in Quebec are demanding a meeting with Jean Chrétien to talk about their opposition to Canada’s response to terrorism. In Vancouver, a Walk for Global Peace and Justice will start at the Peace Flame Park (south end of Burrard St. bridge) at 11 am, winding up with a 1 pm rally at the Art Gallery. Call End the Arms Race for info, 604-687-3223. In Ottawa, peace groups are trying to coordinate actions with anti-corporate activists mobilizing for a meeting of the G-20 countries, a mixture of developing and advanced capitalist countries that support neoliberal economic policies. Groups in all cities are asked to send their plans to the Canadian Peace Alliance, which is broadening its information and action network, 416-588-5555 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] The CPA website lists actions across Canada, www.acp/cpa.ca. In other developments, the 2.5 million-member Canadian Labour Congress said in a news release on October 24 that it is “calling on the generosity of all its members... to provide relief to the incredible hardship being experienced by the people of Afghanistan as their winter is about to set in.”
