Turkey: Prison reforms provokes protests.
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: "[Ozgurluk.Org]" Turkey: Prison reforms provokes protests Sunday, 20 August, 2000, 22:26 GMT 23:26 UK Prison reforms in Turkey provokes protests There have been further arrests in Turkey following demonstrations against the government's plans to reform overcrowded prisons. Police have detained about forty people in the city of Istanbul, after protests against the transfer of their relatives from large dormitory-style prison blocks to prisons with small cells. On Saturday, thirty people were arrested after similar protests. Human rights groups say the new cell system will isolate inmates and leave them more open to abuse by prison guards. But officials say the reforms will bring Turkey's prison system closer to European Union standards. They say smaller cells will break up the power that Islamic, Kurdish and mafia leaders wield over prisoners in crowded dormitories. Prisons in Turkey have recently been plagued by a series of hostage-taking incidents, riots and hunger strikes. From the newsroom of the BBC World Service -- Press Agency Ozgurluk In Support of the Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey and Kurdistan http://www.ozgurluk.org DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 20
BELGRADE, 20 August 2000 YUGOSLAVIA - MALI YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SENDS MESSAGE TO MALI COLLEAGUE YUGOSLAVIA - SWEDEN YUGOSLAVIA AND SWEDEN END POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA YUGOSLAV COMMITTEE OFFICE BOMBED IN PRISTINA BOMB IN AIR CONDITIONER CAUSED THE EXPLOSION IN PRISTINA ETHNIC ALBANIANS BOMB SERB CHILDREN IN U.N.-RUN KOSOVO-METOHIJA * * * YUGOSLAVIA - MALI YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SENDS MESSAGE TO MALI COLLEAGUE BAMAKO, Aug 18 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has sent a written message to Mali President Alphe Oumar Konare, and the message was delivered in the Mali capital Bamako on Friday by Ambassador at the Yugoslav foreign ministry Danilo Milic. The message stresses the importance that the Yugoslav government attaches to the promotion of relations, both bilateral and international, with friendly Mali. On behalf of President Konare, who was absent, the message was received by presidential secretary general Modibo Keita, who gave thanks for the message and expressed satisfaction with steadily strengthening bilateral relations. Keita conveyed President Konare's greetings for President Milosevic and the friendly Yugoslav people. The two sides gave high marks to a recent visit to Mali by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and his talks with his opposite number Modibo Sadibe. Keita reiterated that Mali, as a non-aligned country and member of the U.N. Security Council, would continue fully to support Yugoslavia in international forums, especially in the U.N. Security Council and the Non-Aligned Movement. YUGOSLAVIA - SWEDEN YUGOSLAVIA AND SWEDEN END POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS BELGRADE, Aug 20 (Tanjug) - Yugoslavia and Sweden have held political consultations in Stockholm at the level of foreign ministry political directors, according to a Yugoslav government statement on Saturday. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, the situation in the U.N.-administered Serbian (Yugoslav) Kosovo- Metohija province and other matters of mutual interest. They also reviewed questions in connection with the upcoming Millennium Summit and 55th session of the U.N. General Assembly. The Yugoslav delegation drew attention to a disastrous situation in Kosovo-Metohija, where the international force KFor and the U.N. civilian mission UNMIK, in collusion with ethnic Albanian terrorists, systematically violate U.N. Resolution 1244. This is leading to a further "ethnic cleansing" of the province of its non-Albanians and a further exacerbation of the situation with unforeseeable consequences, the delegation said. The Swedish delegation expressed concern at the violence being practised against local Serbs, ethnic Turks, Romanies, Goranies, Muslims, ethnic Egyptians and other non-Albanians in that U.N.-run southern province of the Yugoslav republic of Serbia. Both sides reaffirmed their interest in continuing dialogue with a view to further promoting bilateral relations and cooperation on an equal footing, the statement said. SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA YUGOSLAV COMMITTEE OFFICE BOMBED IN PRISTINA PRISTINA, Aug 18 (Tanjug) - A powerful blast on Friday rocked the building that houses the offices of the Yugoslav Committee liaising with the U.N. mission in Pristina in U.N.-run Serbian (Yugoslav) Kosovo-Metohija province. The terrorist attack caused severe damage, but no serious injuries. The explosion smashed some of the windows and blew others out of their frames, and a thick column of smoke was gushing from the building's interior. Windows on neighbouring buildings were also blown out. Apart from the Committee, set up under U.N. Resolution 1244, the building houses offices of the Centre for Peace and Tolerance and some other institutions. According to Kosovo District Administrator Veljko Odalovic, speaking for TANJUG, this was an attack on the last two Serbian and Yugoslav institutions still left in the province since U.N. peacekeepers' deployment in June 1999. BOMB IN AIR CONDITIONER CAUSED THE EXPLOSION IN PRISTINA PRISTINA, Aug 20 (Tanjug) - Friday's blast that rocked the building in Pristina housing the Yugoslav Committee liaising with the U.N. mission to Kosovo-Metohija was probably caused by a planted bomb, according to the international force KFor on Saturday. The building houses offices of the Committee, as well as those of the Centre for Peace and Tolerance and of some political parties in that U.N.-administered province of the Yugoslav republic of Serbia. KFor's explosives experts believe the bomb was planted in an air conditioner behind the building, according to KFor spokesman Major Scott Slaten. British KFor force commander in Pristina Major John Powell had said on Friday that the blast was probably caused by a rocket. ETHNIC ALBANIANS BOMB SERB CHILDREN IN U.N.-RUN KOSOVO-METOHIJA OBILIC, Aug 20 (Tanjug) - Eight Serb children were injured on Friday evening when ethnic Albanians lobbed a powerful grenade out of a passing unmarked car in the
Turkey/Prisons: Calm Before the Storm
From: Press Agency Ozgurluk [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: "[Ozgurluk.Org]" Turkey/Prisons: Calm Before the Storm 20 August ,2000, Turkish Probe issue 396, Copyright© Turkish Daily News Calm Before the Storm It's been a week and silence dominates the dispute over the new F-type prisons consisting of one- or three-inmate cells, but this silence certainly doesn't mean that the dispute is over... There are many sides involved in the dispute such as government, the Justice Ministry, inmates and inmates' families, and these groups are all directly affected by the new prison system. Turkey's human rights groups are reacting against F-type prisons just because they believe it will harm inmates' health and may result in further human rights violations Esra Erduran Everything seems to have cooled down. It has been a week of silence in the dispute over the new F-type prisons consisting of one- or three-inmate cells, but silence certainly doesn't mean that the dispute is all over... In the aftermath of scores of protests and prison unrest over the issue, silence dominates the prisons. Human rights activists fear that it is the calm before the storm. Turkey has been experiencing numerous problems in prisons recently, which cannot be defined solely in terms of uprisings and human rights violations. The government has been working on trying to solve the shortcomings of the present situation by constructing a new type of prison called the F-type prison. But the government's solution -- F-type prisons consisting of one- or three-inmate cells instead of dormitories -- is turning into a problem itself. The government's claim is that small prison cells are crucial to ending riots, hostage takings and hunger strikes by inmates who are currently housed in dormitories of up to 100 individuals. As a result Turkey is engaged in a program to build this type of facility. Prisoners loyal to Kurdish and Islamist groups often run their own dormitories like recruiting and initiation centers. On the other side of the dispute, inmates and families of inmates are taking every opportunity to protest the government's decision to construct this new type of prison. Inmates' families fear that the new prisons carry the potential risk of violating human rights and are harmful to prisoners' physical and psychological well-being. As mentioned above, there are many sides to the dispute such as government, the Justice Ministry, inmates and their families, and these parties are all directly affected by the new prison system. Turkey's human rights groups are reacting against F-type prisons just because they believe inmates' health will be at risk and they fear the possibility of further human rights violations. After visiting Sincan Prison, an F-type prison in Ankara, Turkey's most well known human rights groups, the Human Rights Association (IHD), the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (Mazlum-Der) and the Association for Inmates' Families' Solidarity (TIYAD), issued their reaction in a report. In the concluding comments, the report said: "F-type prisons consist of one-inmate cells or three-inmate isolation units and there are no [set construction] standards for the one-inmate cells." The Justice Ministry in promoting the new type of prisons claims that there will be recreation areas in the prisons where inmates can socialize with each other. In contrast to this, human rights groups claim all closed and open-air activity areas are not suitable for all needs and from that point of view there are actually no activity areas for inmates. Meanwhile human rights groups also maintain that torture is common in Turkish prisons and that leftist and Kurdish prisoners are sometimes singled out for abuse. Critics of the new, more segregated system say that prisoners will be more vulnerable in smaller cells. The associations claim, "Everything possible is being done in an effort to isolate inmates," with the construction of new prisons. --- Press Agency Ozgurluk In Support of the Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey and Kurdistan http://www.ozgurluk.org DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MASS GRAVE OF 160 KIDNAPPED SERBS
To: Sandeep Vaidya [EMAIL PROTECTED], STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM Send reply to: "STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN!" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date sent: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 12:34:00 +0100 From: Sandeep Vaidya [EMAIL PROTECTED] Organization: Lucent Technologies Ireland To: "STOP NATO: ¡îO PASARAN!" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject:[STOPNATO] MASS GRAVE OF 160 KIDNAPPED SERBS Wasn't there just an article -- say, a week or so ago -- that blamed this massacre on the Serbs? STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM http://www.FreeRepublic.com/forum/a39a0443a536f.htm UN POLICE DISCOVER MASS GRAVE OF 160 KIDNAPPED SERBS Foreign Affairs Breaking News News Keywords: KOSOVO KLA TERRORISM Source: Kosovo Ham-Radio Published: August 20, 2000 Author: Ichabod Walrus Posted on 08/20/2000 13:48:58 PDT by Ichabod Walrus The wife of a kidnapped Serb in Kosovo has just disclosed to ham radio operators (the only independent Serbian source of news now in Kosovo), that UNMIK police have confirmed her husband was one of 160 Serb, or mostly Serb victims, found in a mass grave outside Pristina. The Serbs were among more than 900 persons similarly kidnapped in 14 months of lawlessness in the NATO occupied province. The woman, Vesna Mulic, said she was taken to the HQ of UNMIK polic in Pristina, to identify her husband's remains. There she was told that her husband, Rame, was one of 160 bodies found in a mass grave near the village of Dragodan outside Pristina. So careless were the Albanian killers, whom Clinton's administration is proud to call the US Army's allies, that they left numerous personal document and other forms of identification with the dead. Vesna Mulic, said she saw numerous pieces of identification belonging to other victims. It would appear that UNMIK has known of the mass grave for a long time. Why it has refused to reveal this shocking discovery is another unanswered question. __ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb __ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 109 / 1
From: Mark Clement [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mailing-List: list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [pttp] IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 109 : IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 109 Monday, August 21 2000 PLEASE NOTE THE MARIAM APPEAL HAS MOVED. THE NEW CONTACT NUMBERS ARE: TEL: +44 (0)20 7403 5200 FAX: +44 (0)20 7 403 3823 Mariam Appeal to launch Iraq International Work Brigades The London based Mariam Appeal recently announced their plans to form monthly international work brigades who will help build a friendship village in Iraq beginning May 2001. Mr Stuart Halford the Director of the Mariam Appeal told ISM that the monthly work brigades will under the supervision of Iraqi tradesmen and engineers engage in "reconciliation through reconstruction" in an original form of international solidarity. Brigadiers will be in Iraq for exactly one month at a time from May until October 2001 and every year thereafter. They will have a programme of construction work in the mornings, lectures and discussions in the afternoons and social and cultural activities in the evenings. Participants should be able to speak either English or Arabic (there will be a translator always on hand) and should be aged 18 and over. And of course they will need to be fit enough for light construction duties and the heat of the Iraqi summer. Brigadiers will be asked to make a contribution towards travel to Amman. All other costs will be met by the Mariam Appeal which will fundraise for that purpose. For further information please contact Stuart Halford at the Mariam Appeal on [EMAIL PROTECTED] or by telephone on (0044) 207 403 5200 - Iraq says it shot down U.S. F-14 fighter in mid-July. Iraq shot down a U.S. F-14 fighter over the southern no-fly zone in mid-July, an Iraqi military spokesman said Saturday. Gen. Yassin Jassim, spokesman for the Iraqi Air Defense Command, said the U.S. plane crashed inside Saudi Arabian territory. The U.S. Navy recently said in a statement that an F-14 fighter crashed in the Saudi Arabian desert during a training flight July 26 and the two crew escaped unharmed. Jassim told a press briefing that the U.S. has claimed the planes Iraq shot down in the two no-fly zones to be "crashing in military exercises," he said. (c) 2000 KYODO NEWS. Stop the bombing. We must find a better way to deal with Iraq. Without fanfare Britain and the United States have resumed their bombing of Iraq. Whether or not the official Iraqi reports that the latest attacks killed civilians are true, the bombing is unnecessary and reckless. After long debate the United Nations passed a resolution many months ago setting up a new inspection system designed mainly to check Iraqi progress in dismantling its weapons of mass destruction and the potential to re-create them. The inspectors have recruited their team and will soon be ready to visit Baghdad. Although Iraq has not yet said it will accept them, for some weeks it has not repeated its statements rejecting the resolution that set up the inspection team. There is therefore an opportunity that could make it easier for the team to start work. Air attacks on Iraq at this moment cannot help the climate. To claim, as the United States and Britain do, that they contain no political message and are merely a technically triggered reaction to the fact that Iraqi defences have locked on to the planes is disingenuous. The aircraft that patrol the two no-fly zones over Iraq are under political control and Washington and London could easily reduce the number of flights. Britain and the United States should also take more seriously the questions which the Iraqis have raised about the new inspectors. When the council authorised the team, the aim was to find a quicker way of achieving compliance and ending the international sanctions, which have dragged on for almost 10 years. It is true that the sanctions have been eased but they are still in force and doing serious harm to ordinary people, though very little to the regime. Iraq wants to know whether there is a finite term in sight if it cooperates with the inspectors or whether it is entering another tunnel in which objections will constantly be raised. The American presidential election complicates the matter since neither candidate wants to appear weak. But the Iraqi bogy has fortunately lost much of its resonance in American politics and there is no reason why sensitive diplomacy at the United Nations should suddenly explode into a campaign issue. Rather than sending warplanes over Iraq the United States and Britain should be sending signals to their UN missions to urge the secretary-general to answer Iraq's legitimate questions. Source: GUARDIAN 21/08/2000 P21 PAKISTAN-IRAQ TRADE VIA IRAN SUGGESTED. KARACHI, Aug 21, Asia Pulse - The acting president ofFederation of the Pakistan
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 109 / 2
Status: The message deals with ways to enhance parliamentary cooperation between the two assemblies and relations between the two fraternal countries. During the meeting, Dr Sa'dun Hammadi expressed hope that Jordan would adopt more positive steps regarding the operating of flights to transport passengers between Iraq and Jordan. For his part, Dr Ahmad Bushnaq reiterated the Jordanian people's support for and solidarity with the Iraqi people in the face of aggression and the unjust blockade. He added that his party is making intensive efforts to end the suffering of the Iraqi people as a result of the continuation of the blockade, which lost all its justifications. Source: Republic of Iraq Radio, Baghdad, in Arabic 1400 gmt 20 Aug 00. Petrel Resources' shares make debut trading on AIM at 11p sterling. Shares in Petrel Resources, which has exploration interests in Iraq, began trading on AIM yesterday at 11p sterling. They had been trading on OFEX at around the same price. The listing document showed the chairman, Dr John Teeling, holding 2.1 million shares (valued at £230,000 sterling), representing a 5.4 per cent stake, and Mr David Horgan, group chief executive officer, holding 1.1 million shares (valued at £121,000). Dr Teeling has a number of options; these are over one million shares at an exercise price of 1p per share, over 1.05 million at 5p, and over 150,000 at 10p. Mr Horgan has a similar option package. Dr Teeling receives a salary of £20,000 (E 25,395) and Mr Horgan has a salary of £37,000. Mr Guy Delbes, a non-executive director, receives fees of $20,000. Irish Times Train arrives in Aleppo from Mosul marking resumption of Syrian-Iraqi rail link. Source: Syrian Arab Republic Radio, Damascus, in Arabic 1115 gmt 12 Aug 00 Excerpts from report by Syrian radio on 12th August The first Iraqi passenger train arrived in Aleppo from Mosul today marking the establishment of a railway link between Mosul and Aleppo in accordance with the agreement between the ministries of transportation in Syria and Iraq. A reception was held on the occasion upon the train's arrival at the Baghdad Train Station... The train had arrived at the Syrian-Iraqi border last night en route to Aleppo with 31 Iraqi and Syrian passengers on board. (c) The British Broadcasting Corporation 19/08/2000 Turkish "napalm bombs" reportedly kill 32 in attack on village in north Iraq. Source: Medya TV, Paris, in Turkish 1730 gmt 16 Aug 00 Excerpts from report by Paris-based Kurdish Medya TV on 16th August Turkish fighter planes have bloodied southern Kurdistan [northern Iraq]. We have learned that 32 persons lost their lives when the plateau of Qendakor in Lolan [place names as received] near the town of Sidekan [Sidikan] was bombed yesterday afternoon. Local sources report that two Turkish fighter planes flew a few times over the plateau homes at around 1600 hours local time and then dropped napalm bombs for 40 minutes. The local sources say that scenes reminiscent of the Halabjah massacre could be seen, and that 32 persons were killed, mostly women and children. They also say that close to 50 persons were wounded, 27 of them seriously... Iraq, Venezuela sign memorandum of understanding. Source: Iraqi TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 1700 gmt 11 Aug 00 Text of report by Iraqi TV on 11th August Iraq and the Republic of Venezuela have signed a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum was signed for Iraq by Nuri Isma'il al-Wayyis, former Foreign Ministry undersecretary, while for the Venezuelan side it was signed Jorge Valero, deputy foreign minister. Iraq and Venezuela also signed a cultural agreement. It was signed for the Iraqi side by Dr Jamal Ahmad al-Duri, director-general of the Scholarships and Cultural Relations Department at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, while for the Venezuelan side it was signed by Jorge Valero, deputy foreign minister. The two friendly states agreed in principle to form a high-level joint committee. Mortars reportedly fired at Iranian opposition base in Iraq. Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, in Persian 0930 gmt 18 Aug 00 Text of report by Iranian radio on 18th August The opponents of the Iraqi regime have reported that a base of the terrorist hypocrites [Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization - MKO] has been attacked north of Basra. According to the sources affiliated to the opponents of the Iraqi regime, 20 mortars were fired this morning from a 120-mm mortar launcher on a base of the terrorist hypocrites in the Dayyer region, north of Basra. The hypocrite grouplet confirmed the report this morning, but did not mention whether there were any casualties. The hypocrites actively cooperated with the Iraqi Ba'thist regime in the year 1991 to crush that country's Shi'i people Iraq should be able to raise its oil output to 3.3m-3.4m b/d Iraq should be able to raise its oil output to 3.3m-3.4m b/d and exports to 2.6m-2.7m b/d by year-end even if there are new
The submarine Kursk. A collision? What not a single Western station has reported...
From: "Irina Malenko" [EMAIL PROTECTED] The head of Russian Navy and the Russian minister of Defense have both confirmed today THAT THE ONLY POSSIBLE REASON FOR EXPLOSION ON BOARD OF THE SUBMARINE KURSK WAS THE MASSIVE COLLISION WITH ANOTHER (that means - Western!) SUBMARINE. "Other versions were considered, but at this time we are certain that we can rule everything else out", - the minister said. My question is not only WHAT WAS A FOREIGN SUBMARINE DOING IN RUSSIAN WATERS, ON THE TERRITORY OF A RUSSIAN MILITARY POLYGON DURING THE NAVAL TRAINING - my question is also : IF IT IS NOT TRUTH, THEN HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN NOT ONLY THE TOTAL AND ABSOLUTE SILENCE OF ALL THE WESTERN RADIO AND TV STATIONS AND OTHER MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE WORDS OF THE RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE BRITISH NAVY RUSHED SO QUICKLY TO THE SCENE AND INSISTING ON BEING THERE - WITHOUT ACTUALLY DOING ANY REAL STEP IN ORDER TO TRY TO SAVE THE CREW OF KURSK? EVEN MORE INTRIGUING IS THE FOLLOWING - WHY WHEN THE RUSSIAN RADIO STATIONS ARE REPORTING ABOUT THIS COLLISION VERSION, THE WESTERN "SILENCERS" ARE MAKING SUCH DELIBERATE NOISE THAT IT BECOMES VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR WHAT THE RUSSIANS ARE SAYING (FAR WORSE THAN THE KIND OF NOISE THAT THE KGB WAS CREATING WHEN WE WERE LISTENING TO THE BBC YEARS AGO!)? It is obvious that the whole fuss around the "incapability" of the Russian navy, the "brave British navy" (who at the end, just as I predicted from the very beginning, knowing the Brits, refused to risk their precious lives - and it was good too, because otherwise we'd have to save themselves as well!) that "could have saved" the Russians etc, etc is only created in order to avoid the main question - WHO SANK KURSK AND WHY? No wonder that the Americans are the most silent of all - "the cat knows whose meat it ate", as we say in Russia... But the truth will come out. ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Korean Central News Agency Aug 21
TODAY'S NEWS (August.21.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * Gift to Kim Jong Il from head of UNESCO * DPRK ambassador to Syria appointed * Kim Yong Nam meets director general of UNESCO and his party * Gift to Kim Jong Il * Photo exhibition of Koguryo murals opens * Korea's famous waterfalls * Light comedy "Let's Always Be Cheerful" staged * KCNA on Sankei Shimbun's mud-slinging at DPRK * U.S. plan for permanent presence of its forces rejected * Preparatory committees inaugurated in Ecuador For Spanish-speaking people * crpp exige cese de simulacro "ulji focus lens" * ee.uu. es fautor de amenaza nuclear Gift to Kim Jong Il from head of UNESCO Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Matsuurs Koichiro, director general of UNESCO on a visit to Korea, conveyed the gift to an official concerned. DPRK ambassador to Syria appointed Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Hyong Jun was appointed as the DPRK Ambassador E.P. to the Syrian Arab Republic, according to a decree of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK. Kim Yong Nam meets director general of UNESCO and his party Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met and conversed with Matsuura Koichiro, director general of the UNESCO, and his party on a visit to the DPRK at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Choe Su Hon, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the DPRK national committee of the UNESCO, and other officials concerned were present. The director general at the meeting said that he came to know well about the achievements made by the Korean people in different fields under the wise leadership of the great leader Kim Jong Il and, especially, achievements in educational and cultural sectors are a model of the developing countries. Gift to Kim Jong Il Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a gift from the visiting delegation of the Finnish National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea. Its secretary general Pekka Rantala, head of the delegation, conveyed the gift to an official concerned. Photo exhibition of Koguryo murals opens Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- An opening ceremony of photo exhibition of koguryo murals was held at the Korean Central History Museum yesterday. Present at the ceremony were Kang Nung Su, Minister of Culture, and Choe Su Hon, vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the DPRK national committee of UNESCO, officials concerned and working people in Pyongyang. Matsuura Koichiro, director general of UNESCO, and his party were also present there. Speeches were made at the ceremony. Its participants looked round photos of Koguryo murals whose colors remain unfading even after the lapse of more than a thousand years and which are distinct and beautiful in drawing techniques and unique in their themes and well composed to match walls. Korea's famous waterfalls Pyongyang, August 21 (KCNA) -- There is famous Pakyon falls in Korea visited by many people every day. Situated in the gigantic granite ravine between Mt. Chonma and Mt. Songgo, Kaesong, it is widely known together with Kuryong falls on the world's famous Mt. Kumgang and Taesung falls on Mt. Solak. It is 37 metres high. At the foot of the waterfalls there is Komo pond 40 metres across. It has been coned out by the cascading water and over which protrudes a round rock called Ryong rock at the western shore of the pond. On a hill east of the Komo pond stands the Pomsa pavilion. At the head of the waterfalls there is Pakyon pond 8 metres across. As a large rock stands high strangely in the middle of the pond shaped like a calabash, water rushes against the rock before falling down. Sound of waterfalls is reminiscent of thunder. The waterfalls presents a superb scenery in all seasons. All species of flowers are in full bloom on rocky cliffs surrounding the waterfalls in spring, it is covered with green foliage in summer, maples turn red in autumn and frostwork is seen in winter. There are over the falls famous historic remains including a 10-kilometre-long wall, the Kwanum Temple and the Taehung Temple dating back to the period of Koryo dynasty. The President Kim Il Sung visited there in August Juche 46 (1957). Touring the falls, Pukmun (north gate) and the Kwanum Temple, he said that the Pakyon falls is a famous site with splendid historic remains and instructed that it should be built well into a place for the cultural recreation of working people. Pakyon falls and its surrounding area serve as a recreation ground for working people. Light comedy "Let's Always Be Cheerful" staged
Free Fehriye Erdal, Political prisoner in Belgium
From: "hkb" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Petition Free Fehriye Erdal, Political prisoner in Belgium Ms Fehriye Erdal, 23, of Turkish nationality, was arrested in Belgium on = 26 September 1999 and has been in detention ever since. Her demand for = political asylum was rejected by the Belgian Minister of the Interior on = 10 July 2000. The High Commissionner for Refugees is however of the opinion that Ms = Erdal cannot be sent to Turkey or to another country. That would be = contrary to article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights. = Fehriye Erdal should thus be freed, all the more so as the Belgian = Council of State suspended both the decision to refuse her right of stay = and the order to leave the country, delivered on 25 July 2000 by the = Minister of the Interior.=20 Ms Erdal has been on hunger-strike since July 14. In order to demand her = liberation, fifteen other people began a solidarity hunger-strike on = August 5. On 4 August, the President of the Belgian League of Human Rights, Dan = Van Raemdonck wrote to the Minister of the Interior, Antoine Duquesne: = "We ask you to put an end to this arbitrary detention, since expulsion = from Belgium is not possible without particularly grave risks". In consequence, the undersigned demand the immediate and unconditonal = liberation of Fehriye Erdal. Signature: Name and forename: Function or profession: Address: Telephone: Fax: E-mail: To be returned to Comit=E9 de solidarit=E9 avec les prisonniers = politiques rue Belliard, 197, boite 8 T=E9l=E9phone: 02 280 22 28 Fax: 02 280 22 29 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]=20 -= --- -= --- To Post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]=20 ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Libya News and Views
Libya: News and Views : , 22 August, 2000: Philippine officials sought Libya's approval Monday for a new approach to talks with Muslim rebels after the separatists' last-minute refused to free 24 hostages last weekend. President Joseph Estrada decided on the strategy - which would not be made public until Libya responds - after talking with top negotiators, members of the negotiating team said. Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said the plan retains the president's ``all or nothing'' approach to the freeing of the captives, but other aspects were changed to resolve disagreements with the Abu Sayyaf rebels. Some believe the Abu Sayyaf group is demanding a larger ransom than Libya offered. The rebels have sought $1 million for each Westerner. [AP] Tuesday, 22 August, 2000: The Philippines Monday blamed a row between a top Libyan negotiator and the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas for the Muslim extremists' refusal to release 28 hostages, as indications emerged of a dispute over ransom money. The Abu Sayyaf group insisted on 18 million dollars -- a million for each of the remaining nine Westerners, and three million dollars each for three French journalists captured later, they said. "The Libyan mediators brought only about four million dollars with them, leading Abu Sayyaf leaders to accuse Azzarouq of not fulfilling his promise," one source said. "It was not clear what the promise was." Qadhafi Charitable Foundation announced late Sunday that it would keep mediating to free the hostages in the Philippines, despite its earlier threat to halt its efforts. The foundation, headed by Seif al-Islam the son of Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi, had earlier warned: "If there is no positive and concrete development in the next 48 hours, it (the foundation) will pull out of negotiations." Muslim separatist Abu Sayyaf rebels are holding 28 hostages on the southern Philippine island of Jolo. [AFP] ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wwnews Digest #155
WW News Service Digest #155 1) On the picket line: 8/24/2000 by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2) Mergers consolidate wealth, signal layoffs by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3) Venezuelan president resists U.S. pressure by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 4) U.S./Britain bomb civilian targets in Iraq by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5) Workers around the world: 8/24/2000 by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Aug. 24, 2000 issue of Workers World newspaper - On the picket line UNITED PILOTS GROUND FLIGHTS Fewer than half of all United Air lines flights have left on time--defined as with in 14 minutes of the scheduled time-- since Memorial Day. Things have been even worse in August. For the first 10 days of the month, on-time performance was down to 40 percent. Why? Mostly because pilots are refusing to work overtime. That simple job action is shining a bright light on a dirty secret that United shares with many companies: Instead of hiring enough people for good-paying jobs, they plan production or service based on speedup and overwork. Most employers would rather pay overtime than hire more workers with the complete wage-and-benefit package that entails. That's been the tune at United. Now the airline is paying the piper. Ten thou sand members of the Air Line Pilots union are exercising their right to work only their regular full-time schedules. As a result, United has had to cancel hun dreds of flights every day this summer. One-quarter of United is supposedly "owned" by its employees. But the "employee stock ownership plan" provisions covering wages expired April 12. Pilots are demanding significant pay and benefit improvements to make up for the years of cuts they endured under the ESOP. WICHITA STRIKERS DEFY COURT It's the first strike by Machinists Lodge 70 at the York International plant in Wichita, Kan. The workers, who manufacture heating and cooling equipment, got the hang of it real fast. On July 31 they voted to reject the company's proposal; Lodge 70 President Richard Aldrich said the 3- percent wage increase offered was "simply not sufficient." The 700 workers walked out later that evening. By the next morning, company law yers were in court getting an injunction. That didn't bother the strikers. They kept blocking vehicles from entering the plant, causing traffic to back up on surrounding streets, according to the bosses who complained to the judge several days later. The bosses were also upset that strikers were using bad words, calling scabs ugly names. Naturally, the workers say, they're mad. One of them commented that they make air conditioners but they don't even have air conditioning inside the plant. They say they'll stay out until their demands for decent pay and improvements in working conditions are met. WASH. FARM WORKERS MARCH Over 4,000 farm workers and their supporters marched four- and-a-half miles--from Desert Aire to Mattawa, Wash.--on Aug. 7. United Farm Work ers President Arturo Rodriguez led the march in 90-degree heat in the apple-growing region southeast of Seattle. Workers, most of them immigrants and many undocumented, are paid $9 or $10 per bin of apples picked. They're demanding amnesty, decent wages, improved conditions and union recognition. They carried signs reading "Workers deserve a piece of the apple" and more racism." Members of other unions from the region swelled the march, along with community and religious activists drawn to the cause. Rodriguez said, "We have literally millions of Latinos and people of other ethnicities performing the work that other people don't want to do, and they' re treated like second- class citizens." Despite all the threats against them, including the threat of deportation, the workers made some threats of their own. Strike talk was in the air. "We cannot feed our families with these low wages," said farm worker Arnulfo Ramirez. "And we will stop working if necessary to get a fair wage." UFW Regional Director Lupe Gamboa commented on the mass turnout for what became the biggest march for immigrant workers' rights ever in Washington: "It shows how much worker discontent there is." GEORGIA BRICKLAYER SOLIDARITY Members of the Bricklayers union demonstrated outside City Hall in suburban Smyrna, Ga., on Aug. 9. "Drop the charges," they chanted. The construction workers were protesting the racist arrests of six of their union brothers in July. The workers' crime? Working--at 7 p.m., one hour past the 6 p.m. cut-off time stipulated in a city noise ordinance. Police charged six Mexican bricklayers with violating the law. They were arrested, handcuffed, taken to jail and forced to post $175 bail each. Outraged union members said they had never before heard of workers being arrested for working. Six organizers personally reimbursed the immigrant workers for the bail money. Bricklayers National Organizing Director Bob Yeggy
NATO War Games In Albania Scheduled
From: Rick Rozoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [STOPNATO] NATO War Games In Albania Scheduled STOP NATO: °NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM http://www.albaniannews.com Albanian Daily News August 22, 2000 War-game in Albania to Involve Commando Units TIRANA - A multi-national military exercise, with the participation of units from all NATO countries, as well as from Slovakia, Macedonia and Albania, will be held in Albania next year, the Ministry of Defence has said. Code-named ëAdventure Express 2001 (AVDEXP-01)í, it will be a game for commando units with the participation of troops and gunners, and rapid air and sea reactions supporting the operation of ground forces, said Fatmir Zanaj, the chief spokesman of the ministry. The Initial Planning Conference will be held at the end of August, the main Planning Conference in October and the Final Conference in December, said Zanaj. Another exercise, ëCooperative Dragoní, which was held in June, concentrated on peacekeeping operations. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail ñ Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ __ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] BCENTRAL ListBot: CoverageCorp is the leading provider of online insurance options for businesses. Representing several of the nations' premier insurers, CoverageCorp allows the business owner a choice of carriers, coverage, payment options, and the ability to purchase coverage in one business day. http://on.linkexchange.com/?ATID=278AID=1452 ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
India. CPI(M) Calls For Withdrawal of US Consul General
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Partha Roy) Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CPI(M) Calls For Withdrawal of US Consul General The West Bengal state secretary of the CPI(M) has called for an early withdrawal of the present US consul general from Bengal who sent two employees of the so-called "analysis wing" of the US consul generals office in Calcutta to Nanur in Birbhum district. These employees were sent for conducting a kind of "fact-finding" mission on what had transpired at the Soochpur village on July 27 where 11 armed hoodlums in the pay of local jotdaars had been lynched by irate villagers. The goons, all of them in the pay of the Trinamul-BJP combine, had come to snatch back parcels of land that had been under Barga cultivation after the vesting of the land in the state government and its redistribution among the rural poor. The US consulate office had sent Sourav Sen and Tinku Roy, both former newspersons presently in the employ of the consulate, to prepare a report which was later sent to the US Human Rights Commission. Describing the entire sordid episode as a "clear transgression of the sovereign status of India as an independent nation," Anil Biswas said the state CPI(M) has called for the withdrawal from Calcutta at the earliest of both the US consul general Sandrolini and his spouse, Seema Sirohi, who is the Washington-based correspondent of a Calcutta daily. Both of them, Biswas asserted, had played an active role in the entire conspiratorial move against a sovereign nation. Biswas told the Calcutta media that the move "appeared to form an integral part of the elaborate conspiracy being put together to destabilise the political situation in Bengal in the run up to the elections to the state legislature coming up in the year 2001." CPI(M) MP, Biplab Dasgupta, who was asked by the state unit of the Party to take the issue up with prime minister A B Vajpayee and for eign minister Jaswant Singh, wrote a letter to both and raised three issues that needed an early clarification. These are: 1) Whether or not the US consul general asked for the permission of the central government to send such an "investigative team" to Soochpur in Birbhum bypassing the state administration, especially the state police; 2) If the answer is no, then would the central government deem it fit to communicate to the US ambassador its displeasure over the matter; and 3) If the central government had cleared such a move by the US consul general, a move that clearly transgresses all norms of center-state relations, what constitutes the central governments justification of such a stand? Biswas affirmed that in view of the irrefutable proof which lay with the state unit of the CPI(M) regarding the "poaching" by the two US consulate general office employees in Soochpur, the sullen silence that the US consulate maintained over the matter was understandable. In the event of the central government failing to organise any move over the extremely sensitive issue, the Party would go in for large-scale demonstrations very soon, Biswas said. Biswas added to recall for the benefit of mediapersons that a former US ambassador to India, Daniel Patrick, had written in his memoirs how the US administration had twice sent forth funds to ensure the defeat of the communists, once in Kerala and once more in Bengal. Biswas also focussed attention in this connection on the way in which Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamul Congress supremo, has made no secret of her declared intention to present a set of fait accompli before the central government on the supposed "break-down of the law-and-order situation in Bengal" and to call for clamping down of article 356 on the state before the 2001 elections. ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 21
BELGRADE, 21 August 2000 YUGOSLAVIA - MALI YUGOSLAVIA, MALI PLAN TO INTENSIFY COOPERATION YUGOSLAVIA - UN - BOMBING OF YUGOSLAV OFFICES IN PRISTINA YUGOSLAVIA FILES PROTEST WITH U.N. OVER PRISTINA OFFICE BOMBING YUGOSLAV COMMITTEE BLASTS PRISTINA BOMBING AS HEINOUS TERRORIST ACT RUSSIA - BOMBING OF YUGOSLAV OFFICES IN PRISTINA RUSSIA CONDEMNS ATTACK ON YUGOSLAV OFFICES IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA KOSOVO-METOHIJA - TREPCA BERNARD KOUSHNER - AN ECOLOGICAL POLLUTION OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA, SERBIAN MINISTRY TREPCA WORKERS IN U.N.-RUN KOSOVO-METOHIJA AGAIN PROTEST TAKEOVER KOSOVO-METOHIJA - TERRORISM ARSON AT SERB CEMETERY IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA KOSOVO-METOHIJA - SERBS SERBS IN U.N.-RUN KOSOVO-METOHIJA PROTEST YOUTHS' ABDUCTION SERBS ACCUSE KFOR, UNMIK OF WORKING WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS BOSNIA - YUGOSLAVIA - RADIO BAN BOSNIAN INTERNATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR ORDERS RADIO YUGOSLAVIA OUT YUGOSLAV MINISTER BLASTS BAN OF RADIO YUGOSLAVIA IN BOSNIAN TOWN * * * YUGOSLAVIA - MALI YUGOSLAVIA, MALI PLAN TO INTENSIFY COOPERATION BELGRADE, August 21 (Tanjug) - Ambassador at the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry Danilo Milic, who has presented a written message from Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for his Malian counterpart Alphe Oumar Konore to Malian authorities in Bamako, was received by Malian Foreign Minister Modibo Sidibe. The talk focused on the future development of bilateral relations, the situation in Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province, and issues regarding the forthcoming Millennium Summit and the 55th UN General Assembly. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the successful development of bilateral relations, especially in the economic field, and pointed to the need for stepping up bilateral cooperation within international organizations, the statement says. YUGOSLAVIA - UN - BOMBING OF YUGOSLAV OFFICES IN PRISTINA YUGOSLAVIA FILES PROTEST WITH U.N. OVER PRISTINA OFFICE BOMBING NEW YORK, August 20 (Tanjug) - Yugoslavia has filed a strong protest with the U.N. Security Council over Friday's bombing of the Yugoslav U.N. Liaison Office in Pristina, in the Serbian (Yugoslav) U.N.-run province of Kosovo-Metohija. The protest note, delivered by Yugoslavia's U.N. Ambassador Vladislav Jovanovic, condemns the terrorist attack as a heinous crime and points out that the U.N. Mission to Kosovo-Metohija has lost all meaning and should be terminated. The note was delivered on Saturday to Security Council President Agam Hasmy with a request that it be circulated to all members of the 15-member body and published as an official document. It says that the Friday blast was further evidence of flagrant violation of U.N. Resolution 1244 and non-implementation of its mandate by the international force KFor. The text of the note follows: "I have been instructed by my Government to lodge the strongest protest at the terrorist attack at the offices of the Committee of the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for Cooperation with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and Metohija, the autonomous province of the Yugoslav constituent Republic of Serbia, in Pristina, which amounts to a flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 and the non-implementation of the mandate by the Kosovo Force (KFOR). "On 18 August 2000 at about 9:30 a.m., ethnic Albanian terrorists planted an explosive device in the building housing the Committee of the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for Cooperation with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and Metohija in which, at the time of the attack, there were 20 Committee employees. The building, housing also the offices of UNMIK and allegedly provided security by KFOR round the clock, was severely damaged. "The attack represents yet another act of aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as a heinous act of terror, the provenance of which is in the deliberate campaign of the United States Administration which has put the United Nations mission under its tutelage and outside the control of the Security Council. It is evident that the overt collaboration of the representatives of the international mission with terrorists and separatists continues. "Only four days after the armed attack of over 1,000 heavily armed members of KFOR on the civilian population of Kosovska Mitrovica and the military occupation of "Trepca", as well as the vandal demolition and shutdown of the only remaining Serbian-language media in Kosovo and Metohija, the Pristina newspaper "Jedinstvo" and the Zvecan Radio "S", the ethnic Albanian terrorists continued their reign of terror. There is no doubt that they have understood the occupation of "Trepca" by KFOR and UNMIK as their victory and the defeat of Serbs and are now attempting to cut off all links of the remaining Serbs with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its constituent Republic of Serbia. "This crime provides also eloquent proof of the
Korean Central News Agency Aug 22
TODAY'S NEWS (August.22.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * Kim Jong Il sends condolences to Putin * 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks begins * Three-point charter of Korea's reunification supported * Travelling health care enjoys popularity * KPA athletes prove successful in army pentathlon championships * Kim Il Sung registered as Honorary Citizen of Huaraz Province of Peru * Kim Jong Il registered as Honorary Citizen of Huaraz Province of Peru * State symphony orchestra performs in Seoul * Kanggye government office * Korean nation urged to pool efforts for its reunification * Defending socialist cause and advancing human cause of independence called for For Spanish-speaking people * reunificacion es obra que ha de ser lograda por fuerza unida de nacion coreana * en seul representacion de orquesta sinfonica nacional de rpdc Kim Jong Il sends condolences to Putin Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, today sent a message of condolence to V. V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation, over the deaths of the crewmen of the Russian nuclear-powered submarine "Kursk." The message says: I heard the very sad news that all of 118 crew members of the Russian nuclear-powered submarine "Kursk" which had been grounded on the Barents sea floor since August 12 died. In this connection, I express deep condolences to you and, through you, to the victims, the bereaved families and the Russian people. I am convinced that you will emerge from sorrow and all obtaining difficulties and make successes in the work to build powerful Russian armed forces. 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks begins Tokyo, August 22 (KCNA) -- The 10th round of the DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks began in Tokyo today. Present at the talks were the members of the DPRK government delegation headed by Jong Thae Hwa, roving ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the DPRK side and the members of the Japanese government delegation headed by Kojiro Takano, ambassador of the Foreign Ministry for negotiations for Japan-DPRK diplomatic relations, from the Japanese side. Three-point charter of Korea's reunification supported Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- International secretary Miguel Angel Gonzalez and 9 other members of the leadership of the Colombian Communist Party signed the international signature paper supporting the three-point charter of Korea's reunification on August 14 on behalf of the party membership. Travelling health care enjoys popularity Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Brisk travelling health care is popular among people in the DPRK. A good example of this is what has been done by a travelling medical team of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital in Taehongdan county, Ryanggang Province in the northernmost part of the country, where there are many families of the demobilized soldiers all out to implement the revolutionary policy of the Worker's Party of Korea for potato farming. The team has rendered assistance to their wives at childbirth and conducted medical examinations of inhabitants of the county. Equipped with ultrasound scanners and other examination and treatment apparatuses and staffed by skilled doctors, the team has done effective services, enjoying a high appreciation from the working people there. Meanwhile, its members have taught advanced methods of treatment and valuable experience to medical workers of the county people's hospital and clinics of branch farms, thus helping augment the medical staff of the county. Such activities of medical workers as visiting emergency cases and work-sites for treatment and conducting health examinations and preventive inoculations for the population under their charge are also brisk in other parts of the country. KPA athletes prove successful in army pentathlon championships Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- Women athletes of the Korean People's Army were reported to have come first by clocking 1 minute 57.8 seconds in women 500m hurdle relay at the 48th World Army Pentathlon Championships held in Denmark from August 14 to 20. They placed second in the team competition of the women pentathlon by obtaining 15,902.4 points. The championships brought together army athletes from the DPRK, Norway, Denmark, Brazil, Sweden, China and other countries. Kim Il Sung registered as Honorary Citizen of Huaraz Province of Peru Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The Huaraz Provincial Council of Peru adopted a decision on registering the President Kim Il Sung as an Honorary Citizen of the province on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Governor of the province Jose Fernando Mendez paid a congratulatory visit to the DPRK embassy in Lima on August 16 and conveyed a
Havana Radio news/views Aug 21
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Radio Havana Cuba-21 August 2000 22:30 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 21 August 2000 22:00 *SOY PROCESSING PLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA *UKRANIAN DELEGATION VISITS CUBA *GOVERNOR OF MEXICAN STATE OF QUINTANA ROO VISITS THE ISLAND *PRESIDENT OF FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN EXTOLLS SUCCESSES OF CUBAN WOMEN *CUBA SHOWS SIGNS OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY: BRAZILIAN NEWSPAPER *CUBAN MEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM TAKES THE AMERICAS CUP *SOTOMAYOR WALKS AWAY WITH HIS SECOND PRESENTATION IN MONACO *Viewpoint: FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN CELEBRATES 40th ANNIVERSARY *SOY PROCESSING PLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, August 21 (RHC)-A soy processing plant is currently under construction in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba aimed at producing food and other products as part of an import substitution program. Valued at 22 million dollars, the plant will be inaugurated in October. The soy processing plant will produce soybean oil and soy flour for human and animal consumption, as well as soy derivatives destined for the island's pharmaceutical industry. The new factory will maintain a young work force in which 74% of the rank and file constitute university graduates. *UKRANIAN DELEGATION VISITS CUBA Havana, August 21 (RHC)-A Ukrainian delegation headed by the First Secretary of that country's Communist Party, Pietr Simonenko, announced on Sunday in Havana that they will have a tight agenda which includes meetings with Cuban government officials. In a statement to the press, the Ukrainian Communist Party official expressed interest in learning from his Cuban counterparts on how to succeed in a globalized world under the hegemony of the United States. He also thanked the Cuban government and people for the medical assistance to the thousands of Ukrainian children who were victims of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. *GOVERNOR OF THE MEXICAN STATE OF QUINTANA ROO VISITS THE ISLAND Havana, August 21 (RHC)-In Havana, the Governor of the Mexican State of Quintana Roo, Joaquin Hendricks, Monday expressed his desire for a more direct exchange with Cuba in the tourism sector. He added that he expects to sign various agreements in the promotion of multi-destination packages and greater exchanges in the way of information technology and human capital. The Mexican governor also expressed interest in having medical exchanges - given the prestige of Cuban medical personnel abroad - between the two countries. The Mexican official arrived in Havana on Sunday accompanied by a large delegation from Quintana Roo. He met with the President of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, and will tour the famous Varadero Beach Resort. *PRESIDENT OF FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN EXTOLLS SUCCESSES OF CUBAN WOMEN Havana, August 21 (RHC)-The President of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), Vilma Espin, has congratulated members of the women's organization on the occasion of its 40th anniversary on August 23rd. In a document issued in Havana, Espin said that the work of Cuban women has multiplied in both quantity and quality during the Revolution. She commented that Cuban women have had years of combat, victories, dreams and hopes. The President of the Federation pointed out the importance of the institution's role in the economic, political and social life of the island and urged FMC members to continue to struggle for equality and justice in the face of the US's genocidal anti Cuba policy. The Federation of Cuban women was founded in 1960 and has a membership of over three million. *CUBA SHOWS SIGNS OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY: BRAZILIAN NEWSPAPER Rio de Janeiro, August 21 (RHC)-Cuba is showing signs of economic recovery, according to Monday's report in the Brazilian daily Jornal do Brazil. The Cuban people are still in an unparalleled economic crisis or special period but, according to the report, the worst has been overcome. The article, in Monday's Brazilian newspaper, explains how the Cuban people have confronted the special period, a product of the collapse of the former socialist camp and the tightening of the U.S. blockade against the island. In light of such drastic changes in the world economic order, Cuba lost 85% of its trade at fixed prices. The article recalls that, in 1993, the economic situation in the country hit the bottom of the barrel suffering a drastic 38% percent constriction of its Gross Domestic Product. The article adds that after Washington re-enforced its economic war against the island, Cuban authorities implemented economic reforms, which have slowly but surely improved the island's economy. The Brazilian daily pointed out that, during the first six months of this year, the Cuban economy has grown 7.7% and it is estimated that, by the end of the year, economic growth will approach 4.4%. It adds that Brazilian investment on the island is increasing, emphasizing that Brazilian
Turkey: Political Prisoners on the Earthquake
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] What Happened On August 17 (1999) Was Not A Natural Disaster, It Was A Massacre! THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSACRE, THIS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN, OTHERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO FORGET, AND WE WILL DEMAND A RECKONING! Tens of thousands of our people were killed, tens of thousands were left handicapped; thousands of our people were buried in mass graves with bulldozers and annihilated, or exposed to hunger and the open air; for a year our people have been condemned to live in poverty in tents with nobody listening to their cries. We feel the sorrow of the victims of the earthquake who faced to an intensified degree the hunger and poverty, unemployment and deprivation that already afflicted our peoples. Although we might be prisoners behind four walls; our hearts, our consciousness, everything we possess and everything we do not possess have been full of their pains, distress, worries and troubles for over a year. In the year since August 17, the revolutionary anger we felt from the first moment has grown and today we shout out that: August 17 was not a natural disaster, it was a massacre. The fact that it is an earthquake zone was not considered important; seismic and geological analysis was not carried out, the state and its institutions did not put into effect zoning and construction plans which were proof against earthquakes, and the capitalists who produced inadequate materials, the local authorities who took bribes and the builders who stole materials all bear responsibility. In our understanding, it is this system which is against the people, which spills blood, plunders and exploits, and the fascist state which all bear responsibility for the massacre. On the anniversary of August 17, we share the pain of our people and express our respect towards those we have lost. On the night of August 17, at 0302, in all the prisons we are in, we prisoners also shouted out slogans to show that WE DID NOT FORGET and WILL NOT LET OTHERS FORGET. For decades our peoples have been exposed to pain: trampled upon, exploited, oppressed; in the streets, in the countryside, in the cities, in the prisons, natural disasters have turned into massacres; while our people as a whole were in their deepest pain, the TAHKIM (Arbitration laws: giving unlimited investment opportunity to the foreign capital) laws were opportunistically ratified in one night as a result of pressure from the IMF for "reform" of social security; trillions of Turkish lira collected supposedly for "the earthquake and those affected by it" flowed into the coffers of the SABANCIs and KOCs. While our wealth is squandered for the sake of the imperialist gentry, hundreds of thousands remain hungry and miserable in the midst of snow, winter and uproar; the fascist state, which is guilty of burning our infants in broad daylight, continues to commit new crimes every day. While the needs and the rights of those of our people affected by the earthquake count for nothing, millions of dollars have been spent on the F-Type prisons, 15 billion dollars have been wasted on weapons, and we warn the fascist state which is seeking in these ways to make our people surrender that THE CRIMES OF THE ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT GONE UNPUNISHED AND WILL NOT REMAIN UNPUNISHED. On the anniversary of August 17, in all the prisons we are in, we will refuse to be counted for a day, in protest at the fascist state and its practices. THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSACRES, WE WILL DEMAND A RECKONING! August 17, 2000 CENTRAL COORDINATION OF PRISONS (CMK) AND those prisoners from the DEVRIMCI YOL, THKP-C/MLSPB AND TDP TRIALS in all the prisons. -- Press Agency Ozgurluk In Support of the Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey and Kurdistan http://www.ozgurluk.org DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
ML Update, Vol:3; No.33; 23-8-2000.
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 00:59:52 +0530 From: "CPI(ML) LIberation" [EMAIL PROTECTED] ML Update A CPI(ML) News Magazine Vol:3; No.33; 23-8-2000 Editorial: Against Regional Disparity, Against perpetuating Backwardness It is no longer a secret that the decade of new economic policy has led to an alarming accentuation of regional disparity in this country. The reason is also not difficult to understand. Even before the new economic policy was introduced we had widespread regional disparity in India. The core Hindi belt states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (acronymed BIMARU) had already fallen way behind in terms of almost every major indicator of socio-economic development. While the extreme backwardness of this region could be partly attributed to socio-economic and cultural factors specific to this region, the Centres policies and the skewed framework of Centre-states relations were no less responsible. The policy of freight equalization had offset much of the geographical advantage that could have otherwise accrued to resource-rich states like Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Many other aspects of the prevailing economic model were also dictated by the approach of betting on the strong and tilted in favour of the already advanced states. The abolition of the so-called license-quota-permit raj of the Nehru-Indira era was expected to remove many of these anomalies and pave the way for rapid economic development of the backward regions under the aegis of the free market economy of the 1990s. At least this is what the bourgeois economists and other apologists of economic liberalization had asked us to expect. But the result has been precisely the opposite. Devoid of any kind of state regulation or policy restriction, capital is abandoning backward regions and gravitating further towards already developed regions thereby widening the gap between advanced and backward regions. According to a recent Planning Commission study, the fifteen major Indian states (barring the ten special category states of Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Goa, Himachal and JK) now stand clearly divided into two categories forward and backward with the latter list including apart from the four BIMARU states Orissa, Assam and West Bengal as well. In 1995-96 the highest per capita development expenditure was recorded in Maharashtra (Rs. 491) and the lowest in Bihar (Rs. 161). Against this backdrop of widening inter-state disparities, the Eleventh Finance Commission (EFC) has slightly enhanced the relative allocations for the backward states, which may perhaps be described as a sort of affirmative action of a cosmetic kind akin to reservation for OBCs. But this has evoked strong protests from the so-called forward states and the Chief Ministers conclave held in Delhi at the call of Chandrababu Naidu saw the coming together of state governments cutting across party divisions. Their plea is that the EFCs latest allocations amount to penalizing progressive and performing states and patronizing their poor and non-performing counterparts. This argument is akin to the stock arguments supporting elimination of reservation and subsidies for the disadvantaged and the needy. Interestingly, the conclave of these forward state Chief Ministers in Delhi coincided with the massive Parliament March organized by the Bihar unit of CPI(ML) demanding a special development package for Indias second most populous and poor province. Braving an inclement weather thousands of toiling people came all the way from Bihar and marched to Parliament ignoring heavy August rains. Their slogans: Anchalik Vishmta Dur Karo, Bihar ke Vikas kee Guarantee Karo (Eliminate Regional Disparity, Guarantee Bihars Development) and Vikas ke Naam par Loot Nahin, Dilli-Patna ko Chhut Nahin (Development Funds Are Not for Loot, Delhi and Patna Must Deliver the Goods). This resolute response of the toiling people from abandoned Bihar is a clear pointer to the growing antagonism between the beneficiaries and victims of the new economic order of liberalization, privatization and globalisation. Seen in the context of widening regional disparities, Bihars backwardness becomes a major stumbling block to any kind of national progress. Bihar therefore is one of the biggest national issues. Also, the slogans rightly pointed to the interconnection between the external and internal dimensions of Bihars economic backwardness. If Bihar is being sought to be reduced to an abandoned colony of the Indian rulers and their global capitalist bosses, the governing elite of Bihar are an equal partner in this crime. The battle against Bihars backwardness will therefore have to be waged and won by the toiling people themselves. Massive March to Parliament CPI(ML) Demands Special Package for Bihars Development CPI(ML) General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya, while addressing a massive rally near Parliament today in Delhi,
Anti-Imperialism List. Invitation.
I n v i t a t i o n. We offer you kindly a possibility to join the ANTI-IMPERIALISM -mailing list. The purpose of this list is to transmit the most essential news, reports and articles from state-level informational sources and from respected workers´ press and news bureaus. The contemporary menu: Korean Central News Agency Cuban News Yugoslav Daily Survey Libya News and Views Vietnam News Sinn Fein News There will be more news material as soon as appropriate sources are found. The ANTI-IMPERIALISM -list is closed. In case you have material you wish to send to that list, please address it to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kominform list continues without any changes. Subscribe/unsubscribe instructions for the ANTI-IMPERIALISM -list below. With friendly regards. KOMINFORM Heikki Sipila ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 22
BELGRADE, 22 August 2000 C O N T E N T S : YUGOSLAVIA - RUSSIA - PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA - YUGOSLAVIA'S CHIEF OF STAFF GIVES INTERVIEW ON MILITARY DOCTRINE - YUGOSLAV ELECTORAL COMMISSION CHIEF INITIATES PREPARATIONS FOR POLLS YUGOSLAVIA - INDIA - YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO INDIAN COUNTERPART YUGOSLAVIA - DENMARK - YUGOSLAVIA AND DENMARK HOLD CONSULTATIONS IN COPENHAGEN YUGOSLAVIA - UNHCR - UNHCR TO CARRY OUT A NEW REFUGEE CENSUS IN YUGOSLAVIA THIS YEAR KOSOVO AND METOHIJA - INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS - SCHARPING EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT SITUATION IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA - SERBIAN MINISTER: U.N. KOSOVO-METOHIJA ENVOY UNDER INVESTIGATION - U.N.-STORMED TREPCA'S WORKERS CONTINUE PROTESTS * * * YUGOSLAVIA - RUSSIA PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT PUTIN BELGRADE, Aug 22 (Tanjug).- Following the tragic death of the crew of Russian submarine Kursk, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic addressed to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a message expressing his deepest condolences to the Russian people and the families of the deceased on behalf of Yugoslavia's people and leadership. FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA YUGOSLAVIA'S CHIEF OF STAFF GIVES INTERVIEW ON MILITARY DOCTRINE BELGRADE, Aug 21 (Tanjug).- Yugoslavia's recently adopted military doctrine is a science-based and experience-tested system of organizing, training, deployment and safety of the Yugoslav Army in war and peace both at present and in the future, Chief of General Staff General Nebojsa Pavkovic said in an interview published Monday by the Belgrade daily Politika. Pavkovic underlined that the doctrine duly takes into account Yugoslavia's general capabilities, is founded on international law and humanitarian law, abides by all international charters, resolutions and agreements, and reflects Yugoslavia's lasting and traditional adherence to peace and freedom. The public has demonstrated a great interest in the document in the present situation characterized by the use of military force in international relations and the attempts of the single world super-power - the US - to create a unipolar world, Pavkovic said. The military doctrine is neither a policy, an economy, a technology nor a science, it is a document comprising specific instructions to the military profession on its place, role, purpose and tasks in confronting various forms and methods of military threats to national security and takes into account the achievements of all the mentioned fields of human endeavour, Pavkovic said. Underlining that the fundamental message of Yugoslavia's military doctrine is peace as the basic precondition for general development of all world nations and states, Pavkovic noted that the military option unfortunately increasingly prevails today in international relations. Defensive strategies and doctrines are applied by countries favouring peace and peaceful settlement of all issues, and by countries which are unable to keep the pace of contemporary trends of development of the deadliest armament systems, Pavkovic said. Contemporary strategies and doctrines are conditioned by the aspirations of neighbouring states and by the present possibilities of manufacturing or acquiring modern combat systems, Pavkovic said. One article of the doctrine analyses all elements of world military factors and sums up the experience of last year's NATO aggression on Yugoslavia. This was done in an objective manner, taking into account both the positive and negative aspects, with a special emphasis on the outstanding achievement of the unity of the people, the state leadership, the Yugoslav Army and the police, Pavkovic said. As regards Yugoslavia's strategic position, it is based on an all-round analysis of all military and political factors which - as a changing category - influence the training, the organization and the deployment of the Yugoslav Army. It is obvious that all attempts to threaten Yugoslavia's security at first focus on the so-called unarmed methods of destabilizing the country from the inside, which then escalate into armed rebellion as a specific form of internal aggression - an external blow dealt internally, Pavkovic said. That so-called indirect strategy consisting of threats to national security through finding hostile forces within the country which was the victim of aggression, was realized most brutally in Yugoslavia, where ethnic Albanian terrorism, powerfully backed by external factors, had brought about the armed aggression by NATO, Pavkovic said. The Yugoslav military doctrine points to the presence of latent threats to national security by both internal and external factors in both unarmed and armed forms, Pavkovic said. An armed aggression such as the one launched against Yugoslavia is also possible in a local or world war, in which military operations would depend on the relative
Libya News and Views Aug 23
Libya: News and View Wednesday, 23 August, 2000: Libya is reported to have agreed to raise an extra US$12 million ransom for the release of westerners among the 28 hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf rebels in the southern Philippines. An official in Philippine President Joseph Estrada's office said the money was believed to be on top of the US$25 million Libya had pledged in development aid to Jolo island. The rebels had backed off on the release of the remaining hostages last weekend, citing fears of a military attack as the main reason. But government sources have said, a dispute over ransom payments between the rebels and top Libyan negotiator Rajab Azzarouq, is the real culprit. Meanwhile, preparations for further talks continue. [Yahoo] Wednesday, 23 August, 2000: Libya has approved a secret deal proposed by Manila to woo Muslim extremists into freeing 28 hostages in the southern Philippines, officials said Tuesday. A Philippine government emissary was expected to deliver the formula, details of which were being kept under wraps, to the Abu Sayyaf gunmen holding 12 Westerners and 16 Filipinos on Jolo island, an aide to top negotiator Roberto Aventajado said. He said Libya's pointman in the negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf, Rajab Azzarouq, conveyed Tripoli's decision to Aventajado late Monday. Libya is reported to be providing the ransom money to the Muslim rebels, delivered either as cash or as aid to Islamic areas in the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines. [AFP] Wednesday, 23 August, 2000: Burundian President Pierre Buyoya Sunday expressed scepticism that "there was no solid grounds" on which to base an agreement expected to be signed 28 August during the planned peace conference aimed at bringing together parties to the ongoing conflict in that country. Reporting a telephone conversation with Libyan leader Col. Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi, the Libyan news agency quoted Buyoya as saying that "in this context," the planned Arusha (Tanzania) conference "will reach no solution." Quoting official Libyan sources, it said Buyoya's view was that the conference would result in no more than "a simple press release because of divergences in the viewpoints put forth" by the parties involved in the conflict. [PANA] ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Vietnam News Aug 23
Extracts Vietnam - Two Koreas Relationship Helps Regional Development, Says FM Vietnam and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) share aspirations of promoting bilateral relations in the interest of each country's people, and for peace, stability and development in the Asian-Pacific region and the world as a whole, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien said. The foreign minister was speaking in an exclusive interview with Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Seoul before concluding his visits to the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (RoK). On relations with the DPRK, Mr Nien said that the fraternal friendship between the Parties and people of the two countries, fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung, had been constantly strengthened and developed over recent years. He added that the two countries had united, supported and assisted each other in their respective struggles for national independence, freedom and unification. Besides deep sympathies between those who share the same plight, Vietnam and the DPRK shared fundamental similarities in terms of social regime, ideals and goals, the FM stressed. He said that the two nations had so far this year organised many activities to mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. The Vietnam visit by DPRK Foreign Minister Pec Nam Sun in March this year demonstrated the unceasing development of friendship and co-operation between the two Parties and peoples, Mr Nien noted. He said that his August 5-8 visit to the DPRK aimed to strengthen such traditional relationships. The visit, which took place after the DPRK-RoK Summit, DPRK's participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF), and Vietnam's becoming President of ASEAN, was of great significance, he added. On detailed measures that Vietnam and the DPRK have reached to boost bilateral relationships, Mr Nien said: "Both sides have attached importance to the traditional friendship and co-operation between the Parties and people of the two countries, and agreed that the two countries will together strengthen solidarity and bilateral relations, and bring them to a new level in the 21st century. The two sides have agreed to increase exchanges of high-level delegations, to re-convene the Inter-governmental Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Co-operation, to boost commercial and economic co-operation, to further bilateral co-operation in culture, education and sports, to co-ordinate at international and regional multilateral forums, and to strengthen relations between the two foreign ministries." Regarding relations with the RoK, FM Nien said that Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) should exert greater efforts to boost investment and trade ties, to take the bilateral relationship to a new level of development in the future. In terms of bilateral trade, the RoK was enjoying a trade surplus, Mr Nien said, adding that the two sides would devise effective measures to bridge the current gap. The RoK government had pledged that it would increase imports from Vietnam. He highlighted the success of a group of RoK business people in Vietnam. It was possible that RoK investment in Vietnam would increase in the near future as a result of the RoK's economic rebound and considerable improvements in the investment environment in Vietnam. In the immediate future, those RoK-invested projects in Vietnam which had not yet been completed due to the Asian financial-monetary crisis should be continued, Mr Nien said. He noted that assistance from the RoK's Economic Development and Cooperation Fund (EDCF), including non-refundable aid, to Vietnam was expected to increase in the years to come. Joint efforts would be made to boost labour co-operation. The two sides would tap their respective potentials to expand bilateral co-operation in the domains of culture, sports and tourism. Worthy of note was that RoK leaders touched upon an unhappy chapter in bilateral relations between the peoples of Vietnam and the RoK in the past and expressed their wishes to turn the bilateral relationship into a comprehensive one, so as to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples. Asked about Vietnam's efforts to promote negotiations on the Korean peninsula, Nien affirmed that Vietnam had always hoped that peace and stability would be established on the Korean peninsula and fully supported the aspirations for peace and unity of the people living on the peninsula. Vietnam welcomed the outcome of the inter-Korean summit last June and recent developments regarding the situation on the Korean peninsula. As president of ASEAN and the ARF, Vietnam would do its utmost to contribute to the strengthening and promotion of peace, stability and co-operation on the Korean peninsula, Mr Nien said in conclusion. (VNA) --- Lao Newspaper Praises August Revolution Pasason daily newspaper, the organ of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary
Aug. 30 Colombia protests grow.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support grows for INTERNATIONAL PROTESTS VS. CLINTON'S TRIP TO COLOMBIA AUG. 30 No to the Plan Colombia! Stop the U.S. war against Colombia! 23 August 2000 When U.S. President Bill Clinton travels to Cartagena, Colombia on Aug. 30, thousands of people in Colombia, the United States, and around the world will hold demonstrations to protest the escalating U.S. military interve ntion in Colombia. The International Action Center (IAC) encourages all anti-war and progressive forces to join in the Aug. 30 demonstrations, to organize pickets at U.S. government offices and military recruiting centers, and to stage acti vities to denounce the U.S. war in Colombia. "Clinton's visit is a slap in the face to the millions of Colombians who are struggling for peace with social justice," IAC leader Teresa Gutierrez said. "The people of Colombia have spoken loud and clear: the Plan Colombia is an act of war," she continued. "We will not sit by while the U.S. prepares another Vietnam War." In Colombia, union, peasant, student, political and community organizations have announced plans for protests during Clinton's visit. Demonstrations are also planned for New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Montreal , Toronto, Stockholm, London, Buenos Aires, and other cities. "The list of cities where Aug. 30 protests are taking place is growing every day," Gutierrez said. The Colombian government is holding talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army at the same time that it is imposing drastic IMF-sponsored austerity measures against the population. The Plan Colomb ia is a $7.5 billion proposal to support the government's efforts to continue the austerity and increase its military force. Key to the plan is the $1.3 billion U.S. military aid signed by Clinton in July. The package includes 60 combat helicopters, counterinsurgency training, and deadly chemicals to be used on Colombian crops. In August, the f irst detachment of nearly 100 U.S. Special Forces troops arrived in Colombia, joining the 200-300 U.S. troops already there. "If Clinton really wanted to wage a war on drugs, he would start by providing jobs and education in the U.S. to decrease demand and provide drug treatment to all who need it," Gutierrez charged. "He would investigate the U.S. embassy in Bogotá, where U.S. Col. James Hiett presided over a drug-running operation until last year, and would investigate the biggest banks for the profits they make on drug funds." Clinton's war plans must be challenged by the solidarity of the people of the U.S. Stop the U.S. war in Colombia! To endorse these actions, to send solidarity messages, or to inform us of local activities, contact the IAC at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or (212) 633-6646. International Action Center 39 West 14th Street, Room 206 New York, NY 10011 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.iacenter.org CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE www.mumia2000.org phone: 212 633-6646 fax: 212 633-2889 ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Havana Radio news/views Aug 22
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subject: Havana Radio news/views Aug 22 Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-22 August 2000 22:00 Radio Havana Cuba-22 August 2000 22:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 22 August 2000 22:00 *PRESIDENT CASTRO WARNS OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CATASTROPHE *MONDAY NIGHT TV ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES THE CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT *FIRST SECRETARY OF UKRAINE'S COMMUNIST PARTY MEETS WITH ALARCON *CUBA, MEXICAN STATE OF QUINTANA ROO, SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENTS *CUBAN WOMEN ARE ESSENTIAL TO COMMUNITY SOCIAL WORK, SAYS FMC OFFICIAL *Viewpoint: THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT-AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY SERVE THE PEOPLE *PRESIDENT CASTRO WARNS OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CATASTROPHE Havana, August 22 (RHC)-Cuban President Fidel Castro has warned of an impending international health catastrophe. Speaking Monday in Havana, the Cuban leader underscored the importance of institutions like the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine, which specializes in infectious diseases. President Castro was addressing an activity commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Cuban scientist Dr. Pedro Kouri, founder of the Institute. Stressing the importance of the research institute, the Cuban leader talked about the successes of the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine into which, he said, thousands of dollars have been invested in important research in contrast to the scant resources earmarked for the health sector before the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The Cuban President referred to the complex health situation in today's world, which has been made more critical by resistance to antibiotics, the appearance of new illnesses and generalized poverty. He said he was convinced that the Cuban doctors volunteering in Africa and Latin America will make history. Referring to the integral plan applied by Cuban doctors in underdeveloped nations, the Cuban President noted that the island is the only country in the world able to organize a complex infrastructure in a matter of months. President Castro praised the work of the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine in protecting the island from infectious diseases such as dengue fever and cholera, which are endemic to the region. Institute director Gustavo Kouri, whose father, Pedro Kouri was its creator, reports that over 20 thousand specialists have been trained since it was founded 60 years ago. Other diseases that Cuba has been able to control which are rampant in the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean are malaria, AIDS, hepatitis, meningitis, tuberculosis and other acute respiratory illnesses. The Institute is an integral part of the island's preventive public health care system, recognized by international authorities as the best the Third World has to offer and, say officials, if it were not for a shortage of drugs and equipment due to the US-imposed blockade of the island, the system would be on a par with many developed nations. *MONDAY NIGHT TV ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES THE CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT Monday evening's roundtable discussion, aired live on Cuban TV and the international airwaves of Radio Havana Cuba, dealt with the human consequences of the Cuban Adjustment Act. The panel, composed of Cuban journalists, took a look at the ramifications of a recent case involving two Cuban brothers, both in their early 20s, who were found dead last week by the U.S. Coast Guard. They were half eaten by sharks some 30 kilometers off of the Florida Keys. Panelists stated that this tragedy, like so many others every week, was provoked by the criminal Cuban Adjustment Act, a U.S. law designed to stimulate illegal migration from Cuba to the Florida coast by granting benefits exclusively to undocumented Cuban immigrants such as instant residency, housing, stipends, and others. All other nationalities of undocumented immigrants are systematically greeted with a deportation order. International news reports state that an average of 3 out of 5 Cubans traveling in makeshift transportation die in the shark- infested waters of the Florida Straits in their attempt to reach U.S. territory. The Cuban Adjustment Act has also given birth to a lucrative contraband business. The U.S. Coast Guard has reported that speedboat-owning dealers in humans who charge up to 10 thousand dollars per person, facilitate 85 percent of illegal migration from Cuba to the U.S. The panel pointed out that many people resort to robbery and violence inside Cuba in order to come up with such a large amount of cash. Moreover, the human contraband trade in many cases enslaves newly arrived Cuban immigrants in the form of indentured servitude. Once in the U.S., many Cuban women are forced into prostitution while many of their male counterparts are coerced into mafia-related activities in order to pay off the cost of the journey plus interest. Roundtable participants proposed that if the U.S. is really interested in
wwnews Digest #156 / 2
their former colony. Nor did he remind world public opinion of the Nigerian naval blockade and aerial bombardment of the capital, Freetown, in 1997, after the government favored by Britain and the United States had been overthrown in a military coup. For over a century, the imperialist powers have used charges of atrocities to corral public support for their own bloody, interventionist schemes. BRITISH RULE LEFT POVERTY AMID RICHES Sierra Leone, a West African nation of 4.8 million people, was an outright colony of Britain until 1961. The country's natural resources include bauxite, cocoa, coffee, palm kernel, corn--and, most notably, diamonds. Yet for all this wealth, 75 percent of the people live in extreme poverty. The country's gross domestic product averages $159 per person per year--one of the lowest in the world. A civil war has raged there since 1991. During that time military factions have carried out several coups. In 1998 President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was returned to power by troops of the Economic Community of West Africa (Ecowas), a 19-country force led by Nigeria under United Nations direction. In July 1999 Kabbah's government signed a peace accord with two rebel armies, the RUF and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. The accord, signed in Togo, brought RUF and AFRC into a coalition government. The peace accord broke down after RUF leader Foday Sankoh charged Kabbah with violating the agreement. A UN "peacekeeping force" of 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, India, Guinea, Jordan and Zambia was sent in to replace the Togo Lome coalition government. The major imperialist powers in Africa--the United States, Britain and France--supported Kabbah and the UN troops even as they maneuvered to keep Nigeria from getting too much power. In April of this year, RUF forces captured 500 UN troops. There was heavy fighting in northern Sierra Leone, driving 350,000 refugees into neighboring Guinea. In May the RUF seized several diamond mines. Britain, the former colonial power in Sierra Leone, sent several hundred paratroopers into the capital of Freetown, accompanied by an aircraft carrier and other ships, supposedly to evacuate British nationals. A U.S. Navy warship was also sent to the area. Liberian President Charles Taylor negotiated the release of the UN troops from the RUF. In May the combined forces of Britain, AFRC and the United States captured RUF leader Sankoh. Sankoh is now in a Freetown jail. If U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke gets his way, Sankoh will be tried by a UN War Crimes Tribunal. The U.S.-dominated UN Security Council voted 15 to zero to set up a war crimes body for Sierra Leone. Holbrooke, it should be remembered, is the U.S. diplomat who set the stage for the U.S./NATO war in Kosovo. In addition, the UN Security Council has voted to ban diamond sales from Sierra Leone until a certification system is put in place by the government. Holbrooke charged that the diamonds were fueling the RUF in the civil war and enriching officials from neighboring Liberia. U.S. DIAMOND INTERESTS Holbrooke says not a word about the diamonds having enriched foreign imperialists for years. One such company is America Mineral Fields--which used to be based in Bill Clinton's hometown of Hope, Ark. AMF "has a majority stake in Nord Resources, a major [diamond] mining house in Sierra Leone," according to the Web site of Africa Confidential. Earlier the Security Council voted to "strengthen the peacekeeping force." Holbrooke says this gives the UN troops authority to "take down the RUF." Gov. George W. Bush and his foreign policy advisor Condoleeza Rice have given public support to the Clinton- Gore moves to deepen U.S. intervention in Sierra Leone's civil war. Many stories have appeared in the Western media alleging atrocities by the Nigerian troops. When heavily armed British soldiers carried out an offensive in Sierra Leone last month, however, the wire services said only that they had "no reports" on casualties. Nigeria has begun to face problems at home over its multi- billion-dollar war budget; there are cries to bring the youthful troops home. Nigeria also faces an external debt of $31 billion, with yearly debt servicing of $3.5 billion. Oil-rich Nigeria faces deep poverty. In August, 169 Shell Oil employees were held hostage by Nigerian youths demanding jobs. All the hostages were released unharmed. Ivory Coast, a member of the Nigeria-led military force, was rocked by a coup in December 1999, staged by soldiers demanding back pay for fighting in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The United States owes the UN millions of dollars for these operations. Nigeria was left holding the bag for the Ecowas campaign, politically and economically. It's clear the Nigerian-led campaign in Sierra Leone has failed. The Ivory Coast coup and the determination of the RUF to keep fighting have the imperialists worried. Capitalists at the helm of firms like Shell Oil, De Beers and
DHKC PRESS RELEASE NO:120
Subject: "[Ozgurluk.Org]" DHKC PRESS RELEASE NO:120 DEVRIMCI HALK KURTULUS CEPHESI PRESS BUREAU August 22, 2000 No: 120 THE TERROR OF THE "CROSS-BORDER OPERATION"; VILLAGES WERE BOMBED AND THE IMPOVERISHED KURDISH PEOPLE WERE MASSACRED The warplanes of the fascist state in Turkey bombed Iraqi Kurdistan once again. While 32 civilians, most of them were children, were massacred, hundreds of people were wounded and their villages were destroyed. For the state in Turkey, it does not make a difference whether these people were young or old and women or children. They have no inhibitions about slaughtering people. They have been trained by US imperialism in how to carry out massacres. While the USA bombs Iraq and massacres civilians, at the same time, Turkey is carrying out massacres in Iraqi Kurdistan. And there is no response or protest against this massacre from the Kurdish nationalists. There is no response either from the so-called European human rights defenders or from the press in Turkey. As if those who were massacred are not human beings. If the state carries out the massacres, they say nothing, if the USA carries out the massacres they also remain silent. The state has been bombing the Kurdish people and there is not a single village or mezra (village only occupied during certain seasons) that has not been bombed. They carry out massacres, burn down villages and prove their own savagery. Their animosity towards the Kurdish people does not stop there. Under the name "cross-border operation" they send their warplanes, tanks and artillery to Iraqi Kurdistan and continue the slaughter of the Kurdish people. For years savagery has continued under the name of "cross-border operation". With the approval of the Talabani and Barzani traitors they drop bombs on the people. These bombs belong to the USA, the European imperialists and the oligarchy in Turkey. Don't the Kurdish nationalists, whose policies are based on attacking each other, and those who continuously praise the USA and the oligarchy in Turkey, bear responsibility for the bombings? Won't they be judged? Fascism intimidates the people and wishes them to never again resist and struggle for their rights. This is why the warplanes keep flying over them. Massacres, treason, forced migration, destruction of villages etc. could not prevent the just struggle of the Kurdish people. It will never be prevented. The Kurdish people, united with other peoples, will continue to rebel. There is no other way. If there is surrender and a refusal to react, the only response will be bombing and massacres. It is the same state which spilled the blood of the people - Kurdish, Turkish, Arab, Laz, Circassian. who massacred hundreds of people in Maras and Corum and who ripped open the wombs of pregnant women. If those who search for "democracy" within this state are not blind to reality, they are willfully engaging in treason. This state is a terrorist state which unstintingly commits every kind of terror. FASCISM CANNOT DESTROY THE KURDISH PEOPLE WITH MASSACRES. DEVRIMCI HALK KURTULUS CEPHESI -- Press Agency Ozgurluk In Support of the Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey and Kurdistan http://www.ozgurluk.org DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wwnews Digest #156 / 1
WW News Service Digest #156 - Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Aug. 31, 2000 issue of Workers World newspaper - PROTESTS CANCEL 'URBAN WAR GAMES' Baltimore community stops Navy SEALS By Sharon Black-Ceci Baltimore Community, labor and anti-war activists scored a major victory Aug. 21 when Navy officials announced they would not conduct military exercises at the vacant Memorial Stadium in Baltimore's Northeast community. On Aug. 17, the Navy had announced that its Special Warfare Forces, including the elite Navy SEALS, planned to conduct military exercises at Memorial Stadium. The exercises were to simulate combat against an "urban uprising." The City Board of Estimates granted permission to the Navy to use the public facility at no charge. Local residents and activists were outraged. Myles Hoenig from the Waverly Improvement Association was concerned about the noise level, possible property damage and disruption to the community. The All-Peoples Congress, International Action Center, Baltimore Emergency Response Network, Unity for Action and other groups announced plans for a demonstration in front of the stadium for the following Wednesday, Aug. 23. Dennis Chornowski, a spokesperson for the City Department of Public Works, said Navy officials pointed to the publicity as the reason for canceling. "They were not happy about it. It's really a shame because it would have given them an opportunity to do training in a real-world situation," Chornowski said. Local activists believe it was the threat of mass protests, fueled by community anger over rampant police terror and other government attacks, that forced the Pentagon to back off. Andre Powell, spokesperson for the All-Peoples Congress, explained: "Our group's office is just blocks away from the area where the Navy wanted to conduct these exercises. We had vowed to do everything in our power to shut it down. "There are many issues at stake here. Why did the city choose to allow military exercises to take place in a predominately African American, working-class neighborhood? Why not the wealthy area of Roland Park? "How can the city justify millions of dollars being spent on the military when it cannot feed the homeless and hungry right here in the Waverly community? "Who does the Navy intend to target when they train for 'urban warfare'? Obviously, their targets are communities just like this one." Jeff Bigelow, an organizer for the State, County and Municipal Employees union and a representative of the Baltimore/Washington International Action Center, said: "There is a growing movement to shut down military bases that are causing havoc all around the world, from Vieques to Okinawa to Maehyang-ri. "While the Navy's plans for Baltimore were not on the scale of what it has done in Vieques, we nevertheless had vowed to stop it. "We consider this a people's victory." The All-Peoples Congress will hold a community meeting Aug. 24 to discuss the victory. There will also be eyewitness reports from the anti-base struggle in south Korea and protests at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. - 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) Message-ID: 007f01c00d6a$f38ca870$[EMAIL PROTECTED] From: "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [WW] Strikers win at Verizon Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 21:30:56 -0400 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit - Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Aug. 31, 2000 issue of Workers World newspaper - 'New economy' bends to workers' power STRIKERS WIN AT VERIZON By Shelley Ettinger Remember all that stuff about how the "new economy" and high technology have made unions obsolete? With their Aug. 20 strike victory, 86,000 workers at Verizon served up a nice corrective to that fallacy. By withholding their labor, these members of the Communications Workers and Electrical Workers unions did more than win a strong contract for themselves. They sent a message to all the bosses, from billion-dollar monopolies like Verizon down to the smallest start-up: It doesn't matter whether a company's stock is traded on the big board or its name ends in dot-com. As long as its owners profit off employees' labor, they will face a fight. More important is what the Verizon strikers showed the workers themselves, those millions who aren't supposed to expect any rights in the "new economy": You can organize, you can fight, and you can wrest back some of the wealth stolen from you. Not a bad accomplishment for 15 days on the picket lines. When the strike began Aug.
Korean Central News Agency Aug 23
TODAY'S NEWS (August.23.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * Greetings to Ukrainian President * 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental talks held * DPRK govt. delegation pays courtesy call on fm of Japan * DPRK govt. delegation meets Japanese figures * Kim Dae Jung meets participants of north-south joint concert * Joint concert performed by symphony orchestras of north and south * Japanese government hosts reception * Film show and friendly meeting for Cuban women * Reception given by Cuban ambassador * Symposium held to commemorate Youth Day * Songdowon International Children's Camp * Anniversary of DPRK marked in India * Koryo Temple site discovered * Director general of UNESCO leaves * UNESCO director general on mural paintings in Koguryo tombs * 5th World Junior Taekwon-do Championships open For Spanish-speaking people * decima ronda de conversaciones rpdc-japon * concierto conjunto de orquestas sinfonicas norte - sur de corea * embajador de cuba ofrece banquete * dirigente kim jong il envia telegrama de condolencia a presidente ruso Greetings to Ukrainian President Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Leonid Kuchma, President of Ukraine, on August 21 on the occasion of its Independence Day, the National Holiday. Expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of the two countries would continue to develop on good terms, the message wished him greater success in his work for the country's peace and prosperity and the Ukrainian people happiness. 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental talks held Tokyo, August 22 (KCNA) -- The tenth round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks was held in Tokyo Tuesday. Present there were members of the DPRK government delegation headed by Jong Thae Hwa, roving ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and members of the Japanese government delegation headed by Kojiro Takano, ambassador of the Foreign Ministry for negotiations on the establishment of Japan-DPRK diplomatic relations. At the talks the head of the Japanese side said that it is the stand of the Japanese government to liquidate the inglorious past existing between Japan and the DPRK and establish new relations of good-neighborliness and friendship. Japan will make efforts to normalize the relations between the two countries at an early date in the spirit of the agreement reached at the Japan-DPRK foreign ministers talks held in July last, the first of their kind in history, he said. The head of the DPRK side noted that Japan's redress for its past presents itself as a pivotal issue in improving Japan-DPRK relations. The principled demands raised at the 9th round of full-dress talks held in Pyongyang in April last as regards Japan's redress for its past remain unchanged, he said, urging Japan to take a sincere approach towards the unavoidable issue of redressing its past. The talks continue. DPRK govt. delegation pays courtesy call on fm of Japan Tokyo, August 22 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government delegation led by Jong Thae Hwa, roving ambassador of the Foreign Ministry, today paid a courtesy call on Yohei Kono, Foreign Minister of Japan. The delegation is staying in Japan for the tenth round of the DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks. Present on the occasion were Kojiro Takano, ambassador of the Foreign Ministry for negotiations for the Japan-DPRK diplomatic relations who is leading the Japanese government delegation to the talks, and officials concerned. DPRK govt. delegation meets Japanese figures Tokyo, August 22 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government delegation led by Jong Thae Hwa, roving ambassador of the Foreign Ministry, which is staying here for the tenth round of the DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks, met at the Japanese diet hall today with former Prime Minister of Japan Tomiichi Murayama, secretary general of the Japanese Liberal-Democratic Party Hiromu Nonaka and chairman of the Japanese Dietmen's League for Friendship with the DPRK Masaaki Nakayama. Present on the occasion were head of the Japanese government delegation to the talks Kojiro Takano, who is ambassador of the Foreign Ministry for negotiations on the establishment of the Japan-DPRK diplomatic relations, and officials concerned. At the meeting Murayama, Nonaka and Nakayama said that abnormal relations between Japan and the DPRK should be put to right and, to this end, it is very important to smoothly advance the talks for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Jong Thae Hwa stressed that the two sides should make joint efforts to turn the relationship between the DPRK and Japan into that of good-neighborliness and friendship at an early date, on the basis of redress for the past
China-Cuba
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 01:14:47 -0400 From: "Henry C.K. Liu" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Status: PRC Vice-President Meets Cuban Communist Party Official Hu Jintao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), told a senior official of the Cuban Communist Party that China will always back the just cause of Cuba. Hu, who is also vice-president of China, told Juan Carlos Robinson, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and his delegation that the CPC, the Government and the people of China will continue to support the just cause of the Communist Party, the government and the people of Cuba. Leaders of the two countries and parties have kept in close contact over the years. As a result, they have increased mutual understanding and friendship and brought bilateral relations to a higher level, Hu said. Hu thanked the Cuban side for its firm support of China on the issues of Taiwan, human rights and Tibet. He also spoke highly of the achievements the Communist Party and people of Cuba have scored under the leadership of Fidel Castro in building socialism and safeguarding national integrity and independence. Robinson said Cuba has forged a sincere friendship and close relations of cooperation with China over the past 40 years. He said he is confident that under the joint efforts of both sides, the relations between the two parties and two countries will continue to grow stronger. The Cuban delegation arrived in China on Sunday at the invitation of the CPC. People's Daily August 24, 2000 ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 111
From: Mark Clement [EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivered-To: mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 111 Thursday August 24, 2000 PLEASE NOTE THE MARIAM APPEAL HAS MOVED. THE NEW CONTACT NUMBERS ARE: TEL: +44 (0)20 7403 5200 FAX: +44 (0)20 7 403 3823 - LATEST Russia suggests easing Iraq's reparations UNITED NATIONS, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Russia has floated a proposal to reduce from 30 percent to 20 percent the proportion of the proceeds from Iraq's "oil-for-food" sales earmarked for reparations stemming from its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Security Council sources said on Wednesday. Russian U.N. envoy Sergei Lavrov was also said to have urged, during closed-door council consultations, a review by the council of the operations of the Geneva-based U.N. Compensation Commission, which reviews and pays out claims for reparations. Under the U.N. "oil-for-food program" that began in December 1996 Baghdad is allowed to sell unlimited quantities of oil to buy food, medicine and other civilian necessities to help offset the effects on ordinary Iraqis of sanctions imposed after its invasion of Kuwait. Since the start of the programme, 30 percent of the proceeds from the sale of Iraqi oil is automatically siphoned off into the U.N.-administered reparations fund. Lesser amounts are used to administer the "oil-for-food program" and to meet other costs related to the Gulf war. This includes scrapping Baghdad's weapons of mass destruction, though U.N. arms inspectors have been barred from Iraq for nearly two years. The council sources said Lavrov raised the reparations issue informally in challenging a $21.5 billion claim by Kuwait for lost oil production and sales during Iraq's invasion and seven-month occupation of the emirate. If the percentage of Iraqi oil proceeds earmarked for reparations was ever reduced to 20 percent, the difference would presumably become available to buy more food and other civilian supplies for the benefit of Iraqi civilians. Russian and French representatives in Geneva have held up a decision by the Compensation Commission on the Kuwaiti claim, on which a panel of arbitrators has recommended awarding $15.9 billion. Kuwait's claim will be considered again when the commission's governing council, which has the same 15-nation membership as the Security Council, next meets in Geneva from Sept 26 to 28. The council sources said Russia's move for a review of the operations of the Compensation Commission was supported by France, China, Ukraine and Tunisia. The United States, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands were said to have argued that the Security Council should not pronounce on specific reparations claims, which should be left to the technical body - the Compensation Commission - established for that purpose. Russia's moves on the reparations issue represents another front in a campaign aimed at easing curbs placed on Iraq since its attack on Kuwait. Russia, together with China and France, has been pressing for the easing of sanctions in force for the past 10 years. It also campaigns vigorously against "no-fly zones" patrolled by United States and British warplanes to prevent the Iraqi army from attacking Kurdish dissidents in northern Iraq and Shiite dissidents in the south. Iraq will not accept new U.N. weapons team. By Huda Majeed Saleh BAGHDAD, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Iraq said on Wednesday it would not accept the new United Nations arms inspection team established under a Security Council resolution last December. "Clearly speaking Iraq does not deal with resolution 1284," Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz told reporters and members of parliament. "Hans Blix and his commission is a result of this resolution which Iraq does not deal with. "When Iraq does not deal with the resolution and its results this means that Iraq will not receive any person who has a relation with the resolution and its results." Security Council resolution 1284 adopted in December offers to ease longstanding trade sanctions on Iraq if it allows U.N. weapons inspectors empowered to dismantle Iraq's weapons of mass destruction to return to Baghdad. The resolution set up a new arms inspection body called the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) to replace the former U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM). Aziz said Iraq could not be intimidated on the issue. "We are accustomed to threats and Iraq is ready to face all challenges in defence of its sovereignty and legitimate rights," he said. In Washington, a senior State Department official said Iraq was free to reject the new inspection system but would then have to live with the continuation of sanctions. "If Iraq wants to take this opportunity, then it can. If not, they will be stuck in the same situation they are in now," said the official, who asked not to be named.
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 111
When Madeleine Albright was told on a television show that a UN study had found that perhaps 500,000 Iraqi children may have died because of our 10 years of sanctions, she responded, quote, "We believe it was worth it," worth it. When did the greatest republic on earth start waging war on children? (END VIDEO CLIP) ZAHN: That was Pat Buchanan two weeks ago on the UN sanctions against Iraq. Joining me now in the studio is Ambassador Richard Butler, former executive chairman of the UN Special Commission and author of, "The Greatest Threat, Iraq, Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Crisis of Global Security." Good to have you with us here on THE EDGE. AMB. RICHARD BUTLER, FORMER UNSCOM EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN: Good to be here, Paula. ZAHN: You didn't want to appear with Scott Ritter. Why not? BUTLER: Because if I were to debate him directly, it would give credence to some really shockingly wrong things that he's saying. And we heard some of them tonight. ZAHN: What wouldn't you say in front of him that you'll say in front of me tonight? BUTLER: Look, what would happen - and you know this very well - is that as we saw with the gun segment a few moments ago, that we could presumably lose valuable time in a he said-you said kind of debate. And I want to use that time to a better purpose. ZAHN: OK, let's quickly refute some of Scott Ritter's charges. One is he does not think Saddam Hussein has the capacity to create weapons of mass destruction. BUTLER: Well, I find Scott's performance truly sad, I must say. He's completely wrong. Scott himself, when he left UNSCOM almost two years ago, went to the Congress of the United States and said Iraq is not disarmed. His words were, "It is an ugly threat to the region and beyond." He was right then, he's wrong now. ZAHN: But he said tonight that he is convinced in his words, "qualitative disarmament has worked." BUTLER: Qualitative disarmament is a fictional concept that he invented for the article that you referred to that he wrote for "Arms Control Today." We're talking about quantity not quality, quantity of specific types of weapons. And he knows very, very well that we never got rid of all the chemical weapons, we never got rid of the missiles, all of them. We had a complete black hole facing us with respect to biological weapons. He knows... ZAHN: How do we know that if we never got into some of these key weapons sites? BUTLER: Because we had over a million documents. We got into millions of sites. We could see the tip of the iceberg. Look, take biological weapons, for example, Paula. I called it a black hole. And Scott Ritter knows this very well. Iraq had a substantial biological weapons program. They lied to the world for four years saying they had no program. When we were able to prove that that was false, they said, "Oh, well, it wasn't a big program." Now I begged the Iraqis towards the end of my time there to help us get them out of jail, to give us above all an honest declaration on biology. They robustly refused. And as I record in my book, Tariq Aziz told me privately that, "Of course, we had a biological weapons program," and he went on. He said, "That's because we need to use it on Israel." Now that's what we're dealing with. Now Scott Ritter knows that. He knew it then, but he's seeking to deny it now. I find that tragic. ZAHN: He's saying he actually used Tariq Aziz as one of the sources in this "Arms Control Weekly" piece that he just wrote and he's confident... BUTLER: And so that was the deception. That was a deception, too, because.. ZAHN: Where was the deception in that? BUTLER: Because the piece in "Arms Control Today" was written before he went to Baghdad. You quite properly asked him, "Who was these Iraqis that you cite in your article that you spoke with? What was their names? What was the seniority? Who were they?" And Scott blurred that. He said the deputy ambassador in New York. Now I accept that he probably talked to him when he was preparing his "Arms Control Today" piece, but the meeting that he says he had with Aziz and Amir Rashid happened afterwards when he went to Baghdad, weeks or months after he prepared that article. So that was deceptive to say, "I received those assurances from those people leading to my concept of qualitative disarmament that he published in that article." That could not have happened then. ZAHN: So in closing tonight, give us your opinion on what you think Saddam Hussein is capable of doing to his enemies today. BUTLER: You know, well, I welcome that question because already, we've spent too much time talking about a person in his youth who frankly lost his way and is misleading people. I'll tell you quite plainly. Saddam Hussein is back in the business of making long-range missiles. Secondly, he has recalled his nuclear weapons design team. Thirdly, he's rebuilt his chemical weapons manufacturing factories, and we believe the same is true of biology. In other words, he is back in business but that is what I've
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 23
BELGRADE, 23 August 2000 FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA SERBIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES TAX RELIEF DUE TO DROUGHT SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AID FOR RECOVERY OF NIS ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSOVO TO VOTE AT SPECIAL POLLING STATIONS YUGOSLAVIA - RUSSIA YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR MEETS RUSSIAN INDUSTRY MINISTER IN MOSCOW YUGOSLAV, RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN DISCUSS COOPERATION YUGOSLAV MINISTER CONDOLES WITH RUSSIAN SERGEYEV ON SUBMARINE DEATHS YUGOSLAV CHIEF OF STAFF EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO RUSSIAN COUNTERPART YUGOSLAVIA - CHINA YUGOSLAVIA, CHINA TO HOLD DIPLOMATIC CONSULTATIONS KOSOVO-METOHIJA - TERRORISM ATTACKS ON SERB CHILDREN IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA PART OF ETHNIC CLEANSING KOSOVO-METOHIJA - TREPCA WORKERS OF U.N.-SEIZED TREPCA IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA KEEP UP PROTESTS KOSOVO-METOHIJA - UNMIK - NON-ALBANIAN MASS GRAVE U.N. KOSOVO-METOHIJA ENVOY KOUCHNER IGNORES NON-ALBANIAN MASS GRAVE a.. * * FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA SERBIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES TAX RELIEF DUE TO DROUGHT BELGRADE, August 22 (Tanjug).- The Serbian Government approved at a session on Tuesday chaired by Premier Mirko Marjanovic the granting of tax relief for the agricultural sector due to drought and other natural disasters in 2000, the Information Ministry said in a statement. Tax relief will be granted to farmers and agricultural companies to alleviate the devastating effects of drought and provide help to the agricultural sector as a priority branch of the economy. The Government decided to suspend the present management of the Nis electronics industry and to appoint a new board and acting manager, and approved a program for its financial consolidation and restructuring that should pave the way for increased production and better performance. It also decided to invest 400 million dinars in the first stage of the program. The Government also adopted a program for the utilization of the special 3 percent sales and services tax in force in Belgrade, which is used to finance the capital city infrastructure and utilities, earmarking the funds for the construction of the city railway network, the consolidation of public utilities companies and payment for heating gas. b.. c.. SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AID FOR RECOVERY OF NIS ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY BELGRADE, August 22 (Tanjug)- The Serbian Government will provide funds for the recovery of the Nis electronics industry (EI) through the introduction of new technology and a market-based production program, Serbian Minister of Science and Technology Branislav Ivkovic said on Tuesday. By suspending the old management and appointing a new board headed by Prof. Branimir Djordjevic and Gen. Jugoslav Kodzopeljic as new general manager, the Government endorsed a program of financial consolidation of the company, which will also help its workers retain their jobs, Ivkovic said. EI is a giant industry whose products are used by various public companies and services and whose capacities exceed the needs of the Yugoslav market, which is why it must be provided with government support, Ivkovic said. The EI business plans are in line with Serbia's strategic goals, but modernization has been neglected and it has been unable to adapt to changing market conditions, he said. The Government therefore expects that its aid to the company development will ensure the return of its investment in the future, he noted. d.. e.. DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSOVO TO VOTE AT SPECIAL POLLING STATIONS BELGRADE, August 23 (Tanjug) - The Federal Electoral Commission held its fifth session on Wednesday at the Yugoslav Parliament to discuss several issues, the Commission press service said. The Commission decided to enable persons expelled from Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province to vote elsewhere in Serbia and thus exercise their civil rights. Special polling stations will be established for them in the constituencies where they are accommodated temporarily. Special polling stations will be created in all municipalities hosting over 100 displaced persons from Kosovo-Metohija. If less than 100 such persons are registered in any municipality, they will be enabled to vote at polling stations in the nearest municipality. As local authorities in Montenegro are refusing to deliver certificates on election rights and places of residence of candidates, the Commission has empowered the Electoral Commission for Montenegro in charge of elections for deputies to the Chamber of the Republics (upper house) of the Federal Parliament, and the Central Electoral Commission in charge of elections for deputies to the Chamber of Citizens (lower house), to deliver such certificates. f.. g.. YUGOSLAVIA - RUSSIA YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR MEETS RUSSIAN INDUSTRY MINISTER IN MOSCOW MOSCOW, August 22 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Ambassador to Moscow Borislav Milosevic met on Tuesday in Moscow the Russian Minister of Industry, Science and Technology Alexander Bondukov, who was recently appointed president of the Russian side of the joint
DHKP-C CAPTIVES ABOUT THE FEHRIYE ERDAL AFFAIR
From: dhkc [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: "[Ozgurluk.Org]" DHKP-C CAPTIVES ABOUT THE FEHRIYE ERDAL AFFAIR THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT MUST CEASE ITS PROVOCATIONS AND "THIRD COUNTRY" GAME: FEHRIYE ERDAL MUST BE SET FREE UNCONDITIONALLY! Our comrade Fehriye Erdal was taken prisoner in Belgium on September 26, 1999, and her imprisonment has continued deliberately and illegally up to the present day. Although our friend was set free by the judge according to the laws of Belgium, despite this she has consciously been kept a prisoner. Even when her confinement in prison came to an end on August 16, 2000, our comrade Fehriye Erdal has been kept under the supervision of the Belgian security forces under the name "house arrest", thereby experiencing a second form of imprisonment. This second imprisonment is both deliberate and contrary to the law. Today they are continuing to play a game with Fehriye Erdal, in this way an environment of provocation is being created. As is known, our comrade Fehriye Erdal became a prisoner of the security forces of Belgium, she was judged in the Belgian courts and set free. But the Belgian government is continuing to create provocations, paying no heed to its own court's release order and the decision not to extradite Fehriye to Turkey. It has used illegal methods to trample on the release decision. The Belgian government from the very beginning wanted to hide this or similar forms of illegality, injustice and provocations behind the excuse of "security". From that day to the present, the pretext of "security" has constantly been on the agenda. The creator of this is the Belgian Secret Service and Ministry of Internal Affairs which is in close contact with the security services in Turkey. Yes, if there are threats to anyone's security, it is to the security of Fehriye Erdal. The source of these threats is the centre of injustice, illegality and provocations - the Belgian Ministry of Internal Affairs - and, working in collaboration with them, the fascist state in Turkey. Fehriye Erdal put her life in jeopardy and started a hunger strike to protest against the injustice and illegality she was subjected to. She could only make the reality expose through this way. Her action yielded a result on August 16, 2000, the 34th day of the hunger strike, and she was released from prison the same day. But the provocations by the Belgian government have not ceased. This time the address where Fehriye Erdal was to stay was revealed to the press. Supposedly, her address was to be kept secret and nobody other than the authorities would find it out. The Belgian government did not hesitate to reveal the second address to the media either. Why? It is simple. The aim in violating "secrecy" is to create another "security problem" and provide an excuse to continue Fehriye Erdal's detention. In other words, to legitimise her extradition to a third country, that is, to fascism in Turkey. Our comrade does not need the security of the Belgian government. She has made no such demand. What the Belgian government provides is not security but Gladio-style provocations. We are not expecting "generosity" from the Belgian government, we only want them to comply with the decision of their legal system. Because this is what the law requires. When this has been done, Fehriye will not leave Belgium and her protection will be the task of our comrades. THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD COMPLY WITH THEIR OWN LAW! - The Belgian government should give up saying "We are not capable of protecting Fehriye Erdal" This is unbelievable. Nobody is demanding "protection" from the Belgian government, on the contrary, it would be enough if they only stopped their provocations. - The Belgian government should comply with the decisions of their own courts. - The Belgian government should give up the game of extraditing Fehriye Erdal to "a third country", which means extraditing her to Turkey. - The Belgian government should stop collaborating with the state in Turkey. It should not be forgotten that; Each activity resulting with Fehriye Erdal's detention is a crime committed against the peoples of Turkey. It is also an assault on the Belgian people. Also, the Belgian people should reject such indignity and take a stand against it. WE ASK THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT: We ask the Belgian government: Who is carrying out this provocation targeting Fehriye Erdal? We ask the Belgian government: Who made public the addresses which were supposed to kept secret? We ask the Belgian government: Who is trying to abduct Fehriye Erdal to a third country and hand her over the death squads of the state in Turkey? We ask the Belgian government: Is this provocation being carried out by the Belgian contra-guerrilla organisation GLAIVE (SDRA-8), which is connected to the European Gladio whose existence was revealed at the beginning of the 1990s? We ask the Belgian government: Do they have national sovereignty in their own country? We ask the
Re: Anti-Imperialism List. Invitation.
I hope I will continue to receive your postings. I very much enjoy the opinions, updates and calls for action. Please keep me subscribed. In solidarity, Jordana Sardo Thanks a lot ..do not mention... .of course you are subscribed. The invitation letter was not the best possible. There have been some misunderstanings. There is no change in the kominform list operation. You get the mails normally. Yet in addition to the kominform list there is now the anti-imperialist -list which is more "official" with the most essential anti-imperialist material serving this fight in the world. Thus this list is closed and only for one-way informational traffic. Joining that list works automatically by sending a blanc mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] All the best. With friendly regards. Heikki Sipila ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Korean Central News Agency Aug 24
TODAY'S NEWS (August.24.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * Kim Yong Nam meets Chinese delegation * State Symphony Orchestra comes back from Seoul * Friendly meeting with Russian guests * DPRK government delegation visits Korean Hall of Chongryon * DPRK's symphony orchestra evokes lively response from S. Koreans * Chairman of DPRK Red Cross Society sends telephone message * DPRK officials express condolences at Russian embassy * Signal successes made in universal compulsory 11-year education * Clothes institute of Ministry of Light Industry * Results of 1st day competitions of junior Taekwon-do championships * Mt. Chilbo * Japan urged to lend ear to world voices * Anti-imperialist struggle called for * Japan's infringement on human rights flailed at int'l forum * Japanese right-wing's smear campaign under fire For Spanish-speaking people * "rodong sinmun" exhorta a responder con resuelta lucha a desafio de imperialistas * presidente de cc de asociacion de cruz roja de rpdc envia aviso telefonico a sudcorea * apertura de 5 campeonato mundial de taekwondo de juniores Kim Yong Nam meets Chinese delegation Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met and conversed with a delegation of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference led by its vice-chairman Ye Xuanping at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Kang Ryon Hak, a presidium member of the central committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, officials concerned and Wang Guozhang, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK. On the occasion the head of the delegation said that China and Korea linked by a mountain and rivers have long relations of friendship which were personally forged and developed by the leaders of the old generation in the two countries. He pointed out that the great leader Kim Jong Il's unofficial visit to the People's Republic of China in may this year was a historical event in further strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. Noting that his. Korea visit convinced him that under the guidance of Kim Jong Il the Korean people will build a powerful country true to the behest of President Kim Il Sung, he confirmed that the Chinese people will fully support the proposals of the Korean party and government for the reunification of the country. Friendly meeting with Russian guests Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- The State Symphony Orchestra led by Ho I Bok came back here today from South Korea. The orchestra was met at the airport by Minister of Culture Kang Nung Su, chairman of the DPRK Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee Cha Sung Su and officials concerned. Friendly meeting with Russian guests Pyongyang, August 24 (KCNA) -- A friendly meeting with the members of the delegation of the Russian paper Utro Rossi was held at Korea-Russia friendship Moranbong Senior Middle School no. 1 yesterday. Invited there were the members of the delegation headed by its deputy editor-in-chief Nina Maslova. A vice-chairman of the Korea-Russia Friendship Society, officials concerned and teaching staff and students of the school were present there. The guests looked round several experiment and practice rooms of the school and saw an art performance given by its students. And they conversed with each other, deepening friendly feelings. DPRK government delegation visits Korean Hall of Chongryon Tokyo, August 23 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government delegation headed by roving ambassador Jong Thae Hwa of the Foreign Ministry which is taking part in the 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks today visited the Korean Hall of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). The delegation was warmly greeted by first vice-chairman So Man Sul, chief vice-chairman Ho Jong Man, vice-chairmen Pak Jae Ro, Kwon Sun Hwi, O Hyong Jin and Nam Sung U, chairman Choe Pyong Jo of the financial committee, chief Ri Ki Sok of the comprehensive planning office and department directors of the Chongryon central standing committee and leading officials of its organizations and enterprises. Women staff members of the Korean hall presented bunches of flowers to the members of the delegation. Jong Thae Hwa and the members of the delegation conversed with Chongryon officials in an atmosphere overflowing with warm compatriotic feelings. The delegation was shown round the hall. DPRK's symphony orchestra evokes lively response from S. Koreans Seoul, August 23 (KCNA) -- The DPRK's State Symphony Orchestra's performance in Seoul has created a great stir among South Koreans. Leading media including Hangyore, Kyunghyang daily news, Dong-a Ilbo and Hankuk Ilbo, Yonhap News,
Havana Radio news/views Aug 23-24
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subject: Havana Radio news/views Aug 23,24 Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-23 August 2000 23:00 Radio Havana Cuba-23 August 2000 23:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 23 August 2000 23:00 *CUBANS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF THE FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN *ROUNDTABLE: FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT *PRECAUTIONS AGAINST TROPICAL STORM DEBBY *ALARCON WELCOMES DELEGATION FROM UKRAINIAN COMMUNIST PARTY *PROGRAM TO IMPROVE CITRUS EXPORTS ON THE ISLE OF YOUTH *CUBAN MUSICIANS RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL PRAISE AT POPKOMM '2000 *Viewpoint: MAFIA TACTICS AGAINST THE CUBAN REVOLUTION ARE DOOMED TO FAILURE *CUBANS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF THE FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN Havana, August 23 (RHC)-- The President of the Federation of Cuban Women, Vilma Espin, highlighted the active participation of women in the defense of the Revolution. Speaking on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the FMC, Vilma Espin recalled that the organization was founded during very difficult times and that one of its first activities was to encourage rural women to further their education. She also stated that the Federation of Cuban Women has contributed to women's involvement in health care, social services, employment as well as administrative and managerial responsibilities. This morning's edition of the daily Granma published a special feature on the achievements of Cuban women during these 40 years of Revolution. The newspaper article points out that the women's organization -- which currently has more than 3000 affiliates -- has made a decisive contribution to the preservation of equity and social justice. The FMC has permanently defended the rights of women, incorporated women into social and community work and confronted rising problems and difficulties, such as the ones emerging during the recent economic crisis. Granma also emphasized that Cuban women led many demonstrations to rescue Elian Gonzalez from his kidnappers in Miami and are currently active in the campaign against the Cuban Adjustment Act and the U.S. economic blockade in general. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Federation of Cuban Women, a special roundtable will be aired live on Cuban radio and television Wednesday evening to discuss the achievements made by women in Revolutionary Cuba. *ROUNDTABLE: FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE CUBAN ADJUSTMENT ACT Havana, 23 August (RHC)--Tuesday's roundtable discussion, aired live on Cuban TV and transmitted on the international airwaves of Radio Havana Cuba, focused again on the Cuban Adjustment Act - U.S. law designed to stimulate illegal migration from Cuba to the Florida coast, by offering instant residency, stipends, housing, and a variety of other benefits exclusively to Cubans taking this illegal and dangerous trip. This evening's roundtable, composed of Cuban journalists, explored a dimension of the Cuban Adjustment Act designed to internally destabilize Cuban society by provoking domestic chaos. The panel analyzed one of many illegal departures from the island, this one on August 2nd, in which a group of thugs and their families hijacked a fishing boat off the coast of Pinar del Rio. In this incident, four fishermen were assaulted, tied up, threatened with death if they interfered with the hijacking, and taken forcibly to the United States. While the four fishermen were allowed to return to Cuba upon their request, the hijackers, responsible for assault, robbery, and kidnapping, were not subject to prosecution by U.S. authorities for any of their crimes and were subsequently paraded by the Cuban- American mafia as heroes. The panel pointed out that the same royal treatment by U.S. authorities and the Miami mafia was given to a Cuban national who brutally killed a Cuban Coast Guard official in an illegal departure last year. And the list goes on and on. Roundtable participants analyzed the internal destabilization component of the Cuban Adjustment Act as part of a larger 40 year U.S. war against the island. U.S. policy makers understand that such a policy deliberately exploits economic hardship, common among Third World counties, and serves to further intensify the four-decade-old U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. Complemented by a socio- economic package deal not even available to those either born in the U.S. or any country other than Cuba, the panel noted, it's of little wonder why Cubans continue to risk their lives, and the lives of others, for economic opportunism. *PRECAUTIONS AGAINST TROPICAL STORM DEBBY Guantanamo, August 23 (RHC)-- As Tropical Storm Debby approaches the northern coast of eastern Cuba, more than 4000 people in Guantanamo Province have been evacuated to safer areas. The storm, which was at hurricane force on Tuesday, was downgraded to a tropical storm early Wednesday morning. Meteorologists expect that Debby will once again reach hurricane force winds as the storm moves out
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 24 / 1
BELGRADE, 24 August 2000 YUGOSLAVIA - INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO SENEGALESE COUNTERPART YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES UKRAINIAN COLLEAGUE ON NATIONAL DAY YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER CONGRATULATES UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART ON NATIONAL DAY YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES IRAQI HEALTH MINISTER YUGOSLAVIA AND IRAQ CONDEMN SANCTIONS YUGOSLAVIA AND ARMENIA HOLD CONSULTATIONS IN YEREVAN URUGUAY FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR YUGOSLAV UN AMBASSADOR CHARGES KFOR, UNMIK, KOUCHNER WITH COMPLICITY YUGOSLAVIA APPEALS TO UNESCO TO PROTECT CULTURAL MONUMENTS YUGOSLAV MINISTER VISITS SOUTH AFRICA YUGOSLAV MINISTER OF ECONOMY RECEIVES CHINESE DELEGATION SERBIAN POWER COMPANY EXECUTIVES RECEIVE CHINESE DELEGATION YUGOSLAV MINISTER RECEIVES IFRC DELEGATION INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS FEDERATION SECRETARY GENERAL VISITS YUGOSLAV RED CROSS FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA SERBIAN PREMIER MEETS NEW MANAGEMENT OF NIS ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY CONSTRUCTION OF 10,000 HOMES UNDERWAY KOSOVO AND METOHIJA - INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONDEMNS TERRORISM IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA MASS CRIMES BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS REVEALED TREPCA MANAGER MAKES OFFER TO UN KOSOVO-METOHIJA ADMINISTRATOR PROTESTING TREPCA WORKERS ENDORSE THEIR MANAGER'S OFFER TO KOUCHNER YUGOSLAVIA - RADIO - PROTEST REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS CONCERNED OVER CLOSURE OF RADIO YUGOSLAVIA * * * YUGOSLAVIA - INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO SENEGALESE COUNTERPART BELGRADE, Aug 24 (Tanjug).- Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has addressed a message to his Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade. The message was presented by Ambassador Danilo Milic of the Yugoslav foreign ministry to Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio in Dakar. The message points to the need for expanding the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and for stepping up bilateral cooperation and joint endeavors in international forums. Gadio accepted the message on behalf of absent President Wade and underlined that Senegal wishes to enhance the friendly ties and all-round cooperation with Yugoslavia. The talks also focused on the forthcoming Millennium Summit in New York and 55th UN General Assembly. Senegal, one of the leading member-states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, advocates Yugoslavia's full reintegration in the UN and the Nonaligned Movement. YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES UKRAINIAN COLLEAGUE ON NATIONAL DAY BELGRADE, Aug 24 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic has sent a congratulatory letter to his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushtchenko, on the occasion of Ukraine's National Day. Bulatovic expressed his belief that bilateral cooperation is a solid foundation for further development of the overall relations between the two friendly countries. YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER CONGRATULATES UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART ON NATIONAL DAY BELGRADE, Aug 24 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic has congratulated his Ukrainian counterpart Boris Tarasyuk on the occasion of August 24, Ukraine's National Day. Expressing best wishes for the prosperity of the friendly Ukrainian people, Jovanovic stressed the contribution of Yugoslav-Ukrainian ties to international relations in general, as well as to stability and peace in Europe and the world, said a government statement on Thursday. YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES IRAQI HEALTH MINISTER BELGRADE, Aug 23 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic received on Wednesday Iraqi Health Minister Omar Madhat Mubarak, who is on a few days visit to Yugoslavia heading an Iraqi delegation of leading medical and pharmacological experts. The two governments give priority to bilateral cooperation in the health sector, as both countries have been victims of NATO aggressions and international sanctions, it was said at the meeting. During the Iraqi delegation's visit to Belgrade, programmes for cooperation between the two countries concerning mother and child health care, cancer treatment, production and supply of medicines and professional staff training must be defined, both sides noted. Yugoslav Minister of Labour, Health and Social Policy, Miodrag Kovac and Iraqi Ambassador to Yugoslavia Sami Sadun were present at the meeting, a Yugoslav information ministry statement said. YUGOSLAVIA AND IRAQ CONDEMN SANCTIONS BELGRADE, Aug 24 (Tanjug).- Serbian parliament Speaker Dragan Tomic met Thursday the Iraqi Minister of Health Omar Madhat Mubarak. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the development of overall bilateral cooperation based on traditional friendship, understanding and mutual trust, the parliamentary press service said in a statement. Both countries abide by the principles of peaceful coexistence, the UN Charter and international law, and both most strongly
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 24 / 2
FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA SERBIAN PREMIER MEETS NEW MANAGEMENT OF NIS ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY BELGRADE, Aug 23 (Tanjug).- Serbian Premier and Vice-President of the Socialist Party of Serbia Mirko Marjanovic received Wednesday Gen. Prof. Jugoslav Kodzopeljic, acting general manager, Prof. Branimir Djordjevic, management board president, and Prof. Branislav Ivkovic, board member, of the Nis electronics industry (EI), Serbian information ministry said. Kodzopeljic, who is a renowned telecommunications expert and Yugoslav assistant defense minister prior to his new appointment, informed Marjanovic of the preparations underway for the financial consolidation and restructuring of this industry in southern Serbia. EI has considerable technical, technological and manpower potentials which, together with the supportive measures adopted by the Serbian government, should form the basis for the recovery of this company of strategic interest for Serbia's economy. Increased production and full use of capacities will provide for full employment of EI workers and improve their standard of living, it was noted during the meeting. Approving the new management's plans for consolidation, Marjanovic said that the government would ensure the full implementation of measures for the recovery of the company. CONSTRUCTION OF 10,000 HOMES UNDERWAY BELGRADE, Aug 23 (Tanjug).- The coordinating teams of the Serbian government for construction and manufacture of construction materials held a meeting Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the program of building 10,000 homes this year and the supply of construction materials for the purpose over the past three months. They noted that the construction sites were well provided with the necessary materials and that the construction works were proceeding according to plan. KOSOVO AND METOHIJA - INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONDEMNS TERRORISM IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA MOSCOW, Aug 23 (Tanjug) - Russian foreign ministry once again condemned terrorist acts in Kosovo-Metohija on Wednesday, saying that the leaders of the civilian mission UNMIK and the international force KFor are fully responsible for inadequate safety conditions in the province. The statement, carried by Russian Itar-Tass news agency Wednesday, said that people were injured in the Aug 18 blast that targeted the building in Pristina housing the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission and offices of the Yugoslav Committee for Liaison with the U.N. mission in Kosovo-Metohija and of several political parties. On Aug 17, another blast demolished the Orthodox church in Velika Reka village. The day before, eight Serb children from Crkvena Vodica village, near Obilic, were seriously injured in an ethnic Albanian extremists' bomb attack. This evidently shows that the leaders of U.N. mission and KFor are turning a blind eye to the violence against Serbs and ethnic minorities in Kosovo-Metohija, and are therefore fully responsible for inadequate safety conditions in the province. Scheduled local elections cannot therefore be fair, free or democratic, the statement said. UNMIK chief Bernard Kouchner scheduled local elections for Oct. 28 in Kosovo-Metohija, despite the strong opposition of the local Serbs and the Yugoslav government in Belgrade. This is the second protest of the Russian Ministry to the same effect in two days. In the first protest, made public on Tuesday, the ministry described the August 17 UNMIK and KFor declaration on their own status as a glaring violation of the Security Council resolution 1244 which placed Serbia's southern province under UN administration last summer. KFor and UNMIK proclaimed their own status unilaterally, without approval by legitimate Yugoslav authorities, the ministry said. Claims by KFor and UNMIK that they are empowered to decide their own status are untrue. Moscow considers this document to be politically harmful and dangerous, as it violates in form and content the basic provisions of Resolution 1244 regarding Yugoslavia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement says. SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA MASS CRIMES BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS REVEALED PRISTINA, Aug 23 (Tanjug).- The two mass graves discovered in Pristina, capital of Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province, have once again revealed the horrible truth about the atrocities committed by ethnic Albanian terrorists last year, the Pristina Center for Peace and Tolerance said in a statement Wednesday. Bodies of 160 victims were discovered Monday in a mass grave in the Pristina district of Dragodan. They are believed to have been killed by ethnic Albanian terrorists over the past 14 months, since the arrival of international KFor troops and UN civilian mission UNMIK following the pullout of Yugoslav security forces from the province. KFor's and UNMIK's silence so far about the discovery constitutes complicity with the crimes and an encouragement to the terrorists
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 24 / 3
committed by Albanian terrorists against innocent Serbian civilians. Only close relatives, who were long ago expelled from Kosovo and Metohija, can identify the killed Serbs. KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner were duty-bound to inform of the massacre and discovered graves the relevant authorities of the FR of Yugoslavia, which they did not do. It means that identification of bodies is being continued without the assistance of pathologists from the FR of Yugoslavia. KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner neglect on a daily basis the fact that Kosovo and Metohija is the integral part of the Republic of Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia. Excellency, The concealing by KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner of crimes committed by Albanian terrorists against innocent Serbian civilians is, de facto, as if they themselves committed the said crimes. Consequently, KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner are equally responsible for the massacre of Serbs as the perpetrators of this crime. The government of the FR of Yugoslavia expects that you will most energetically publicly condemn these crimes committed against innocent Serb civilians by Albanian terrorists. At the same time, it expects that you will condemn the complicity of KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner in these crimes and do your utmost that the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) be implemented without delay. In expectation of your prompt reaction, please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. (end of translation) ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Vietnam News Aug 25
An extract. Party Leader Welcomes CPSU Delegation The Vietnam visit by the delegation from the Union of Communist Parties-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) would help strengthen the traditional solidarity and friendship between communists and people of Vietnam and the former Soviet Union, said General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. He was speaking at a cordial reception extended to the delegation, led by Mr Oleg Shenin, chairman of the Union Council in Hanoi on August 24. The delegation's visit is being made at the invitation of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. The Party chief expressed the gratitude of the Communist Party and people of Vietnam for the fine sentiments, the valuable support and assistance which communists and all peoples of the former Soviet Union had given to the Vietnamese people in their struggles for national liberation and unification as well as to the present national reconstruction and defence. He affirmed that the Communist Party and people of Vietnam have always attached importance to strengthening and developing those beautiful traditional relations. Mr Shenin thanked the Vietnam Communist Party for the invitation and warm reception extended to the delegation and for the pure and faithful sentiments of the Party and people of Vietnam to communists and all people of the former Soviet Union. He expressed his elation at visiting Vietnam and spoke highly of the achievements recorded by the Vietnamese people in the national renovation process. He wished the Vietnamese people greater achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. A Vietnamese delegation led by Mr Pham The Duyet, permanent member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, and the Russian delegation held talks on the same day. The two parties informed each other on the current situation in their respective countries, and exchanged notes on international issues of common concern. They discussed measures to further enhance friendship and co-operation between the two countries. During their stay in Vietnam, the Russian guests paid floral tributes at Lenin Statue and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. They will visit some economic, historical and cultural establishments in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
China: Vice-President meets Cuban Communist Party
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subject: China: Vice-President meets Cuban Communist Party Wednesday, August 23, 2000, updated at 21:49(GMT+8) China Vice-President Meets Cuban Communist Party Official. Hu Jintao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), told a senior official of the Cuban Communist Party that China will always back the just cause of Cuba. Hu, who is also vice-president of China, told Juan Carlos Robinson, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and his delegation that the CPC, the Government and the people of China will continue to support the just cause of the Communist Party, the government and the people of Cuba. Leaders of the two countries and parties have kept in close contact over the years. As a result, they have increased mutual understanding and friendship and brought bilateral relations to a higher level, Hu said. Hu thanked the Cuban side for its firm support of China on the issues of Taiwan, human rights and Tibet. He also spoke highly of the achievements the Communist Party and people of Cuba have scored under the leadership of Fidel Castro in building socialism and safeguarding national integrity and independence. Robinson said Cuba has forged a sincere friendship and close relations of cooperation with China over the past 40 years. He said he is confident that under the joint efforts of both sides, the relations between the two parties and two countries will continue to grow stronger. The Cuban delegation arrived in China on Sunday at the invitation of the CPC. Print Discuss It Recommend to your friend In This Section Chinese State Councilor Meets Ethiopian Minister Chiang Kai-shek's Grandson to Visit Ancestral Tombs on the Mainland Chinese Premier Meets UNESCO Director-General Hong Kong's Population Hits 6.78 million Typhoon Bilis Slams Into Taiwan CMC Calls for Beefing Up Ideological Work Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao Police Increase Cooperation Hu Jintao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), told a senior official of the Cuban Communist Party that China will always back the just cause of Cuba. Advanced Search Senior CPC Official Meets Cuban Delegation Vice-Premier Meets Cuban Minister Chinese Defense Minister Meets Cuban Guests - --- Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved | Mirror in U.S. | Mirror in Japan | Mirror in Edu-Net | Mirror in Tech-Net | " JC ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Int'l day of mobilization against Clinton's visit in Colom bia
From: "ILC" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The 30th of August Bill Clinton, as one of the last acts during his presidential mandate, will go to Colombia in order to give his personal support for the so called Plan Colombia and in this way to confirm the politics of intervention of the USA in the region. Thats why a lot of trade unions, human right associations and popular organizations are calling for an international day of protest against the undesired visit of the US-president in Colombia. The Plan Colombia means a large amount of money (1.300 millions of USD) for the disposal of the Colombian government, officially dedicated to fight drug traffic and to eliminate the cultivation of coca by implementing alternative economic and social development programs. In reality this plan is a program characterized exclusively by an orientation of military interventionism that implies: new US-military advisers that will strengthen the contingent that has already stayed in this country since years; military technology of the last generation for the Colombian army as well as the creation of new battalions for special operations; massive fumigation of the coca plantations without any program for alternative cultivations and as a consequence more misery and hunger for thousands of peasants, besides the fact that this kind of politics has shown its failure since years; political protection for the paramilitary groups, the real big drug cartels; and last but not least protection for the destructive activities of the multinational enterprises like OXY or British Petrol. The realization of the Plan Colombia would also lead to the forced expulsion of at least 200.000 persons that would enlarge the contingent of almost 1.800.000 persons that has been expelled from their lands and communities by the violence of the paramilitary groups and the Colombian army that act in accordance and in complete impunity, terrorizing the civil population that is suspected to support the guerrilla movement. The tragic and immediate consequences of the Plan Colombia has already become clear. The 16th of August the Colombian army killed consciously six children during their school journey to the mountains, the 5th of August in an other place five peasants were killed sadistically and brutally by a paramilitary group very near by a military installation of the army. The Plan Colombia is also a threat for the peace process between the FARC (Revolutionary Army of Colombia) and the ELN (National Liberation Army) and the government, not only because the Colombian government has constantly shown its lacking will to solve the causes that has led to the armed conflict, but also because the finances of the Plan will strengthen the position of those who always boycotted a peaceful solution, the Colombian oligarchy and army. The armed conflict thus may become a real war of annihilation against the Colombian people in his legitimate fight for justice; and not even a direct US-military intervention can any more be excluded either with their own US-troops, or with a multinational intervention force that involves parts of the armies of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and other Latin American countries. The Plan Colombia has foreseen a co-financing of the European Union in the area of projects that officially could been presented as humanitarian ones. But owing to its marked militarist character, the EU has rejected until now this support and it is up to the single governments to decide about a possible support. Spain and England have already agreed to do so. Italy up to now has maintained a negative position, but also this government should no be trusted, as the Yugoslav war has shown that it is ready to intervene in case of a humanitarian cause. Thats why in the USA, Europe and a lot of Latin American countries there will be demonstrations and protests the 30th of August against the provocation that means the visit of Clinton in Colombia and against the Plan Colombia. We therefore call all the social, popular, democratic, human rights and anti-imperialist organizations to join this international day of protest and organize demonstrations to the US-embassies rejecting the US-politics of intervention against the Colombian people. Not one dollar, not one Euro for the Plan Colombia! Freedom, Justice and Social Equality for Colombia! Support the resistance of the Colombian people until their victory! *** International Leninist Current (ILC) Corriente Leninista Internacional (CLI) PF 23, A-1040 Wien, Austria Tel Fax +43 1 504 00 10 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.comports.com/ilc www.antiimperialista.com ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 112
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 112 Friday, August 25 2000 PLEASE NOTE THE MARIAM APPEAL HAS MOVED. THE NEW CONTACT NUMBERS ARE: TEL: +44 (0)20 7403 5200 FAX: +44 (0)20 7 403 3823 Iraq protests to UN over Turkish bombing raid. The Iraqi foreign minister has complained to the UN Security Council about last week's Turkish bombing raids on Kurdish areas in northern Iraq. According to Baghdad radio on Thursday night, Foreign Minister Muhammad Sa'id al-Sahhaf described the Turkish raids on 15th August on the villages of Lulan, Khaznah, and Khatrah in the area of Sidikan, as an aggressive criminal act. Sahhaf said in two letters of protest to the UN secretary general and the Security Council president that 40 people were killed and many more wounded. "The Iraqi Government appeals to your excellencies to intercede and urge the Turkish Government to halt such aggressions and practices which violate the international law principles, the UN Charter, and the good-neighbourly relations," Sahhaf said in the letters. "The Government of the Iraqi Republic categorically rejects the flimsy pretexts and excuses provided by Turkey to justify its repeated aggressions. Claiming that it pursues the elements that threaten the Turkish national security does not allow Turkey to continue its aggressive policy which runs counter to its claim that it is eager to maintain Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Iraq reserved the right to seek compensation for the damage, he said. Source: Republic of Iraq Radio, Baghdad, in Arabic 24 Aug Military spokesman says US F-14 jet was "downed", did not crash. Text of report by Iraqi radio on 24th August An official spokesman for the Air Defence Command has said that the Central Command of the US Army tried in vain to black out the heroic achievement of the Iraqi Air Defence fighters on 26th July when they downed a US F-14 jet inside Saudi territory. In a press briefing attended by correspondents of Arab and foreign news agencies, media networks, Baghdad Republic of Iraq Television, Iraq Satellite Channel, and the Iraqi news agency [INA], Maj-Gen Yasin Jasim, the official spokesman of the Air Defence Command, added: The spokesman of the Central Command of the US Army claimed that the plane crashed while on a training mission, not as a result of the fire of the Iraqi defences. This US claim is false. We, of course, do not expect the US spokesman to admit that the plane was downed by the fire of the Iraqi air defences. We even expected that the Americans would fabricate other excuses to justify the crash of their plane. He added: With the aim of blacking out this heroic Iraqi achievement, the US administration suspended the activities of these planes in the southern sector for several days. We would not have asked why they suspended the air activity of these planes for several days in the southern sector immediately after the crash of their plane had the goal not been to reconsider and reassess the efficiency of the valiant Iraqi air defences and their capability of hitting this kind of planes. Concluding, he said: We know that we shot down their plane. Similarly, they know that we shot down their plane. Yet, they deny this because they do not want to harm the morale of their pilots who patrol the no-fly zones and who are indeed fearful of flying in the Iraqi airspace, especially since some of their planes where hit by the fire of the valiant Iraqi defences. Source: Republic of Iraq Radio, Baghdad, in Arabic 1800 gmt 24 Aug Military spokesman details US, British "air sorties" on 23rd August. Text of report by Iraqi radio on 24th August The ravens of the evil US, British and Zionist aggressors have returned to conduct treacherous combat air sorties over our cities and our civilian and services installations with the aim of harming the march of struggle of our proud people. In a statement to the Iraqi news agency [INA], a military spokesman for the Air Defence Command said that at 2030 [1630 GMT] yesterday, the Turkish regime attacked the sanctity of our international airspace by assisting six hostile formations of their US, British and Zionist bosses in carrying out 12 combat air sorties from the Turkish territories. The formations were supported by AWACS planes from the Turkish airspace. The spokesman added that these ravens overflew areas in the governorates of Dahuk and Arbil, which brings the number of combat air sorties carried out by the enemy since the Day of Conquest on 17th December 1998 to 4720. The total of combat air sorties carried out by the ravens from Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Turkish airspace is 23,585. Minister accuses US, UK envoys of "selectivity" in approving contracts. Text of report by Iraqi satellite TV on 24th August Trade Minister Muhammad Mahdi Salih accused the US and British envoys on Committee 661 of selectivity in approving food and medical supplies to Iraq. In a statement to the correspondent of the Iraqi Satellite Channel Dawud Kazim, the
The US political prisoner Leonard Peltier. CALLS NEEDED FOR CLEMENCY!
Dear Friends, We called the White House Comment Line this morning to urge the president to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier. We asked the operator if she was receiving many calls, and she replied that she is not. Let's get those phone banks cranked up again! Please be sure to make your call to the White House at least once a week, and have others do the same! Don't forget to let us know when the operators reveal anything reflecting the volume of calls being received. We must make sure at least 100 calls go in every single day, from now until the president leaves office (or signs the clemency of course). YOUR CALLS MATTER. Here is a reminder of the regional call-in days, and some tips on organizing phone banks. THANK YOU! northeast-Mondays. southeast-Tuesdays mid-west and international-Wednesdays northwest-Thursdays southwest call on Fridays. ORGANIZE PHONE BANKS: Each one of us needs to organize a small committee of friends to call on their day of the week. Once a week is enough, but you must convince your friends and family that they must really call, not just think about calling. This means getting them really mad about the case, and explaining to them that their calls really do have impact, and that these efforts are not a waste of time. Experience tells us that these calls are effective. Jennifer Harbury heard from US officials that the massive calling sessions during her hunger strikes in Guatemala played a critical role in forcing government action. The feedback from last fall was really good as well. Our friends in Congress have also let us know that a high volume of calls shows them that their voters are really interested in a given issue. If dozens of calls start coming in on the same issue, they pay careful attention. So for those of you who have limited time and want to help, please know how much your calls really matter. Try and get a group of ten committed people going in your area. Remind everyone each week to make their calls and ask them to let you know at the end of the day how the calls went. Getting feedback from our teams really helps us plan our strategies. Most people will feel more confident and involved if you give them some basic information before they start calling. Give them the 7 page fact summary to read, if they don't have time for one of the books. It is available on our web site (www.freepeltier.org under "Peltier FAQ), or you can call and ask us to mail it to you. Call the White House Comments Line Today Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456- Be in New York City December 10th Peltier March For Freedom! Leonard Peltier Defense Committee PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044 785-842-5774 www.freepeltier.org To subscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your email address, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with your old address in the Subject line - To subscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your email address, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with your old address in the Subject: line ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Korean Central News Agency Aug 25
TODAY'S NEWS (August.25.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental talks closes * Head of DPRK govt. Delegation to DPRK-Japan intergovernmental talks interviewed * DPRK govt. Delegation hosts reception for Japanese counterpart * 2nd day competitions of junior Taekwon-do championships * Aid equipment to DPRK from UNDP * WPK's invariable stand of attaching great importance to youth * DPRK government delegation welcomed by Chongryon * More vigorous movement for national reconciliation and unity called for * National meeting of School Youth League and Children's Union * National memorial service for Kim Hyok * Joint international struggle for peace called for * Anniversaries of DPRK and WPK to be celebrated in Guyana * Indonesian political party supports three-point charter of Korea's reunification * Construction of basic food production centers progresses apace * New stamp * Japanese right-wing reactionaries' provocation flailed 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental talks closes Kisarazu, August 24 (KCNA) -- The 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks closed in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, today. Present at the talks were the members of the DPRK government delegation headed by Jong Thae Hwa, roving ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the members of the Japanese government delegation headed by Kojiro Takano, ambassador of the Foreign Ministry for negotiations on the establishment of Japan-DPRK diplomatic relations. The talks proceeded in a good atmosphere. Meanwhile, a joint communique on the 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks was issued in Tokyo on Thursday. Noting that the 10th round of DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks was held in Tokyo from August 21 to 24, the communique said: 1. Both sides had earnest discussions on an early establishment of good-neighborly friendly relations from the common stand to improve the DPRK-Japan relations and in the spirit of deepening mutual confidence between the DPRK and Japan. 2. Both sides exchanged their frank opinions on all issues between the DPRK and Japan, including the redress for the past, on the basis of the success achieved at the talks between the two foreign ministers held in Bangkok in late July, the first of their kind in history. And both sides had discussions aimed at materializing exchange and visits in the political, economic, cultural and other fields to serve the purpose of promoting the mutual understanding between the DPRK and Japan. Both sides shared the view on pushing forward exchange between the diplomatic authorities of the two countries as part of it. They also shared the view that exchange between civilian businessmen is desirable. 3. Both sides confirmed the need to promote the DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks in the future, too, and agreed to have the 11th round of intergovernmental full-dress talks in October in a third country to be chosen by both sides. Head of DPRK govt. Delegation to DPRK-Japan intergovernmental talks interviewed Pyongyang, August 25 (KCNA) -- Japanese right-wing reactionaries committed unprecedentedly malicious anti-Chongryon and anti-DPRK rowdyism in front of the central hall of Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) in Tokyo with the opening of the 10th round of the DPRK-Japan intergovernmental talks as a momentum. Minju Joson today carries a signed commentary in this connection. The rowdyism committed by right-wing hooligans of Japan is an outrageous act intended to slander and threaten Chongryon, the dignified overseas compatriots organization of the DPRK, and an undisguised hostile act against the DPRK, the commentary says, and goes on: Such blatant rowdyism timed to coincide with the DPRK-Japan intergovernmental full-dress talks can not be considered as an accidental crime perpetrated by an individual or a group. This is an unpardonable challenge to the DPRK which has made every sincere effort to improve the relations between the DPRK and Japan and a deliberate and premeditated act to chill the desire of domestic and foreign peoples for the normalized relations between the two countries. The DPRK is a dignified and sovereign country where the leader, the party and the masses are single-heartedly united and Chongryon is a compatriots organization which conducts legal activities in Japan and is recognized and supported by many countries and peoples around the world. The DPRK will regard any provocation to Chongryon as a hostile act against the DPRK and resolutely react to it. The Japanese police authorities should arrest all the criminals responsible for the provocation, strictly punish them and take necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of similar crime. DPRK govt. Delegation hosts reception for
Korean Central News Agency Aug 25 / Annex
Unconverted long-term prisoners, men of strong faith and will, to come to DPRK Pyongyang, August 25 (KCNA) -- Unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea are due to come into the care of the DPRK soon in accordance with the historic north-south joint declaration. The unconverted long-term prisoners have waged courageous struggles, devoting their youth and happiness to the sacred cause for the party and the revolution, the country and the people. That is why their coming into the care of the mother party and that of the socialist fatherland, which they have wished even in their dreams, is a great revolutionary event as it alleviates the misfortune and pain of the fellow countrymen and brings great joy and hope to them. The whole country is greatly excited by the forthcoming event of welcoming the unconverted long-term prisoners, the praiseworthy sons of the motherland who courageously overcame scores of years of ordeals in prison with their transparent revolutionary views on the leader and inflexible will and emerged as victors by remaining true to the revolutionary principles and constancy to the last. The 63 unconverted long-term prisoners to come into the care of the DPRK in the first batch early in September amid the blessings of all people are as follows: Kang Tong Gun, 84. 37 years in prison Kim Tong Gi, 68. 34 years in prison Kim Myong Su, 78. 37 years in prison Kim Sok Hyong, 86. 30 years in prison Kim Son Myong, 75. 45 years in prison Kim Yong Dal, 66. 30 years in prison Kim Yong Man, 76. 30 years in prison Kim Yong Thae, 69. 35 years in prison Kim Yong Gyu, 77. 34 years in prison Kim Yong Su, 69. 27 years in prison Kim U Thaek, 81. 40 years in prison Kim Yn Hwan, 70. 31 years in prison Kim Ik Jin (Kim Il Jin), 68. 31 years in prison Kim In So (Kim Kuk Hong), 74. 34 years in prison Kim In Su, 76. 36 years in prison Kim Jong Ho, 84. 31 years in prison Kim Jung Jong (Kim thak), 74. 29 years in prison Kim Chang Won, 66. 31 years in prison Ko Kwang In, 65. 34 years in prison Ryu Un Hyong, 76. 34 years in prison Ryu Yon Chol, 88. 27 years in prison Ryu Han Uk, 89. 37 years in prison Ri Kyong Gu, 70. 38 years in prison Ri Kyong Chan, 65. 35 years in prison Ri Kong Dun, 66. 33 years in prison Ri Tu Gyun, 74. 31 years in prison Ri Se Gyun, 78. 30 years in prison Ri Jae Ryong, 55. 30 years in prison Ri Jong, 89. 25 years in prison Ri Jong Hwan, 78. 43 years in prison Pak Mun Jae, 78. 28 years in prison Pak Wang Gyu (Pak Wan Gyu), 71. 33 years in prison Pang Jae Sun, 83. 38 years in prison Sok Yong Hwa, 75. 20 years in prison Son Song Mo, 70. 19 years in prison Song Sang Jun, 73. 36 years in prison Sin Kwang Su, 71. 15 years in prison Sin In Su, 82. 30 years in prison Sin In Yong, 71. 32 years in prison An Yong Gi, 71. 38 years in prison Yang Jong Ho, 69. 31 years in prison O Hyong Sik, 68. 31 years in prison U Yong Gak, 71. 42 years in prison Yun Yong Gi, 74. 40 years in prison Yun Hui Bo, 83. 25 years in prison Im Pyong Ho, 84. 32 years in prison Jang Pyong Rak, 66. 38 years in prison Jang Ho, 80. 32 years in prison Jon Jin, 77. 38 years in prison Jon Chang Gi, 82. 23 years in prison Jo Chang Son, 71. 30 years in prison Choe Son Muk, 72. 38 years in prison Choe Su Il, 61. 35 years in prison Choe Ha Jong, 73. 36 years in prison Han Paek Ryol, 80. 23 years in prison Han Jang Ho, 77. 39 years in prison Han Jong ho, 82. 13 years in prison Han Chun Ik, 75. 29 years in prison Ham Se Hwan, 68. 34 years in prison Hong Kyong Son, 75. 33 years in prison Hong myong Gi, 71. 38 years in prison Hong Mun go, 79. 37 years in prison Hwang Yong Gap, 76. 35 years in prison ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
DHKP-C ORGANISATION OF CAPTIVES ARE ON 5 DAY HUNGER STRIKE TO SUPPORT FEHRIYE ERDAL
Subject: "[Ozgurluk.Org]" DHKP-C ORGANISATION OF CAPTIVES ARE ON 5 DAY HUNGER STRIKE TO SUPPORT FEHRIYE ERDAL FEHRIYE ERDAL MUST BE UNCONDITIONALLY SET FREE! Our comrade Fehriye Erdal is an anti-fascist, anti-imperialist revolutionary. She is struggling for the independence of our homeland and the liberation of our people. While honourably continuing the revolutionary struggle, on September 26, 1999 she was captured by Belgian state forces. Court proceedings established that there was no crime according to Begian law but she was illegally and illegitimately imprisoned until August 16, 2000. The reason for this illegality is that our comrade is an internationalist revolutionary waging a struggle against fascism in Turkey. From Fehriye Erdal's capture to the present, From the time Fehriye Erdal was taken prisoner to the present, the Belgian government and secret services have carried out all provocations in order to hand our comrade over to the bloody murderers of fascism in Turkey. Her already illegal imprisonment was extended and she was not released. Even the laws of Belgium required that our comrade should be released. But by not doing this they trampled upon their own laws. They tried to explain away this illegality with the pretext of "security". The Belgian government and secret service personally deprived our comrade of the security of her life with their provocational behaviour. Because at the first opportunity fascism in Turkey wants to settle accounts with our comrade by having her surrendered into their bloodstained hands. In the face of all this, Fehriye Erdal started a hunger strike on July 14, 2000 in protest at the behaviour displayed by the Belgian government. When their games were frustrated, they had to let our comrade out of prison on August 16, 2000. But there was no end to the provocational behaviour. On the one hand they said our comrade was under "house arrest", while they showed their intentions once again by giving away the address of our comrade which they were supposed to keep secret. The aim of the Belgian government is clear. Since they could not dare to engage in the openly illegal and illegitimate handing of our comrade over to fascism in Turkey, they are instead creating new provocations. By stating that "we cannot provide security for Fehriye Erdal in Belgium", they are trying to create an atmosphere, which will expedite sending her to a third country. In this way they are making plans to hand her over to the fascist murderers of Turkey via the third country. It should be known that it is the greatest crime against the peoples of the world and humanity to collaborate with fascism and fascists. The criminal nature of the Belgian government will never be forgotten by their own people in particular and the peoples of Anatolia and the rest of the world. WE ARE ASKING! Belgian government: why are you making such efforts to hand Fehriye over to the fascist murderers? What interests of yours are served by this? What kind of treaty on collaboration lies behind it? Does the Belgian government have sovereignty in its own country? Is the Belgian government incompetent in applying the requirements of its own laws? If the aim of the Belgian government is to spill Fehriye's blood, there is no reason for them to wait. They should massacre Fehriye by themselves. Because this is the effect of what they are doing! Of course, since you violated your own laws when you were threatened by fascism in Turkey, you wouldn't hesitate to be the hirelings of fascists. It should be known that no Parti-Cephe supporters are afraid of death threats. On the contrary when you evaluate our history you will see that we have hundreds of martyrs in our decades-long struggle. Fehriye also is one of our comrades who knows how to face death with honour wherever and whenever necessary. There is no point in prolonging this game any further. Either free our comrade unconditionally, or slaughter her, so that you will win the approval of fascism in Turkey. WE DEMAND! - Fehriye Erdal must be immediately and unconditionally released; - We only demand that the Belgian government abides by the laws of its own country; - We are not demanding that the Belgian government "protect" our comrade Fehriye Erdal. Fehriye's security will be provided by our comrades in Belgium. - The Belgian government should abandon the contra-guerrilla provocations. - The Belgian government should abandon the game of extraditing Fehriye to a third country, which means handing Fehriye over to fascism in Turkey. WE CALL UPON The Belgian people not to let their own country's laws and dignity be trampled on for the sake of good relations between the Belgian government and fascism in Turkey. The Belgian people who know fascism well from their own experiences should not accept the dishonour of their own government's collaboration with fascism. It should be known that the freedom or imprisonment of Fehriye is at the same time a matter of whether or
Peoples Daily Aug 25
An extract. Friday, August 25, 2000, updated at 16:06(GMT+8) Chinese Vice-President Meets Uzbekistani Defense Minister Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao said Friday that China will further expand and strengthen cooperation in all fields with Uzbekistan, including the joint combat against national separatism, international terrorism, religious extremism and other cross-nation crimes. Hu, who is also the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in his meeting with visiting Uzbekistani Defense Minister Yuri Agzamov. China-Uzbekistan relations have seen sound development since the two countries forged diplomatic ties, Hu said. The expansion of such relations are "in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples and conducive to regional peace, stability and development", he noted. Hu said Chinese President Jiang Zemin met with Uzbekistani President Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov at the "Shanghai Five" summit held in Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, in July. The two heads of state extensively exchanged views on bilateral ties, regional and global issues, and reached a broad consensus. He also said that the meeting between the two presidents laid solid foundation for the healthy and stable growth of bilateral ties in the long run. Hu spoke highly of Uzbekistan's consistent support to China on the Taiwan issue and China will give Uzbekistan support in its effort to safeguard national stability, regional security and the advancement of economic development. Agzamov considered his current visit to China "an important follow-up step" to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. Uzbekistan can "learn from China" in its army building, he said. Sharing Hu's view on bilateral ties, the minister said that Uzbekistan will consistently adhere to the One-China principle and support the stance of the Chinese government on the Taiwan issue. Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor and Defense Minister Chi Haotian was among those present at the meeting. Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao said Friday that China will further expand and strengthen cooperation in all fields with Uzbekistan, including the joint combat against national separatism, international terrorism, religious extremism and other cross-nation crimes. ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Havana Radio news/views Aug 25
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Radio Havana Cuba-25 August 2000 21:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 25 August 2000 21:00 *LABIOFAM PHARMACEUTICAL LABORATORY A TARGET OF US ATTACKS *UKRAINE'S COMMUNIST PARTY SECRETARY SAYS CUBAN VISIT A SUCCESS *ST. LUCIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IN CUBA ON "PRIVATE VISIT" *PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM LAOS ARRIVES IN HAVANA *SIGNS OF ECOOMIC RECUPERATION, TEN YEARS INTO THE "SPECIAL PERIOD" *LABIOFAM PHARMACEUTICAL LABORATORY A TARGET OF US ATTACKS Havana, August 25 (RHC)-- The President of Cuba's LABIOFAM pharmaceutical laboratory, Jose Antonio Fraga, has denounced pressures exerted by U.S. transnationals based in Guatemala as the cause of the cancellation of the licensing of Biorat, a Cuban product proven effective as a biological rat exterminator in various countries. Fraga said that a commission of Guatemala's Ministry of Agriculture claimed the product caused ecological damage, which, said the Cuban business executive, is totally false. He asserted that Biorat has been shown to be safe and effective in other countries including Bolivia and Vietnam. Biorat has been used for years in Central America to eliminate rats that cause epidemics like the bubonic plague and leptospirosis. According to the President of Cuba's LABIOFAM pharmaceutical laboratories, the campaign against the Cuban product is headed by CDC laboratories based in Atlanta, Georgia. LABIOFAM will file a letter of protest next week. *UKRAINE'S COMMUNIST PARTY SECRETARY SAYS CUBAN VISIT A SUCCESS Havana, August 25 (RHC)-- The General Secretary of the Ukrainian Communist Party, Pietr Simonenko, has called his four-day official visit to Cuba "a success." In a meeting with Cuban Communist Party official Jose Ramon Balaguer, the Ukrainian political leader thanked the Cuban government for the free medical assistance extended to Ukrainian children -- victims of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The First Secretary of the Ukraine's Communist Party, Pietr Simonenko, met with the president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon and toured places of interest in Havana and in the central province of Villa Clara. . *ST. LUCIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IN CUBA ON "PRIVATE VISIT" Havana, August 25 (RHC)-- Saint Lucia's Foreign Minister, George Odlum, has signed a letter of intent in Havana for the purchase of various pharmaceutical products from Cuba's LABIOFAM laboratories. The foreign minister, who is on a private visit to Havana, told Prensa Latina News Agency that his country will begin by purchasing, among other products, banana derivatives and ACYTAN, a vitamin that fights intestinal diseases. *PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM LAOS ARRIVES IN HAVANA Havana, August 25 (RHC)-- A parliamentary delegation from the Popular Democratic Republic of Laos arrived in Havana on Thursday for a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. The Laotian delegation will meet with the president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, and Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Bolanos. The delegation will also visit Havana's Latin American School of Medicine and other places of interest. Viewpoint: *SIGNS OF ECOOMIC RECUPERATION, TEN YEARS INTO THE "SPECIAL PERIOD" Ten years after declaring a "Special Period in peace time," Cuba is exhibiting good economic results after much hard work and sacrifice. It was the end of August of l990 when the Cuban newspaper "Granma" published an article warning of the necessity of rationing and saving fuel because the Soviet Union was failing to make good on its promised oil deliveries. That warning of the future scarcity of necessities, fundamentaly of petroleum, placed in time and space the beginning of the economic crisis which, though it is still plaging Cubans, the worst seems to be over. With the predictable disintegration of the Soviet Union, to which Cuban President Fidel Castro referred as early as July of l989, the island's principal adversaries began packing their bags for a speedy return to Cuba since, from their point of view, the Revolution was on the verge of destruction. Eleven years later, extremist right wing Cubans in Miami, who have unpacked their suitcases, have launched new campaigns against the island. Throughout the years of the Cuban Revolution, right wing Cuban- Americans in the U.S. Congress and elsewhere have executed plans ranging from assassination attempts on Cuban leaders and setting off bombs in Cuban hotels to kidnapping little Elian Gonzalez. Cubans on the island resisted and today they can speak of an economy which though it is still restricted, is at least expanding. The current economic trend is not recession, but a 7.7% growth rate registered in the first six months of this year. And though the increase is important, it is also important to note how the wealth is distributed. In Cuba, efficiency has also increased along with basic services including education,
China. Peoples Daily Aug 25
An extract. Friday, August 25, 2000, updated at 14:46(GMT+8) A Promising Undertaking Implementation of the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education is an important State policy of the Chinese government. Talent is the decisive factor in the application of this strategy. Among our ranks of science and technology, in addition to the 18 million domestic scientific and technological personnel of various types, there is a contingent of scientific and technological experts composed of overseas Chinese and foreigners of Chinese origin with new knowledge and of profound attainment. According to relevant materials, there are 600,000 scientific and technological personnel of Chinese descent around the world, who are distributed mainly in developed countries. There are 450,000 such people in the United States alone. The research work engaged in by scientific and technical experts composed of overseas Chinese and foreigners of Chinese origin covers almost all important high-tech fields in today's world. The surging tide of China's reform and opening program has injected fresh vigor into the scientific and technological ranks of overseas Chinese and foreigners of Chinese origin. Related materials reveal that between 1978 and late 1999, the number of students sent by various areas of China's mainland to study abroad was close to 220,000 distributed in 103 countries and regions. With the exception of around 100,000 students who returned home after completing their studies abroad, most students remain overseas, some of them are still at school, some others live in the countries concerned after finishing their studies, becoming a new generation of overseas Chinese and foreigners with Chinese origin. Among them are many outstanding talents, the overwhelming majority of them have a strong enterprising spirit and a good wish of serving their motherland by various ways and means. Viewed from the practice of China's revolution and construction, professionals made up of overseas Chinese and foreigners with Chinese origin have played a significant role in China's socialist modernization drive. Since the founding of New China in 1949, the Chinese government has paid great attention to outstanding overseas Chinese talents and has established a special body which has carried out fruitful work. As early as the 1950s and 1960s, more than 2,500 overseas specialists had returned in succession to work on the mainland of the motherland, their outstanding representatives are a group of well-known scientists including Li Siguang, Qian Xuesen, Hua Luogeng and Tang Aoqing, they have made important contributions to the development of various Chinese undertakings. Statistics show that in 1990, among the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, 132 were returned overseas Chinese scientists and technicians, accounting for over one-third of the then total number of academicians. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Party Central Committee in December 1978, another group of overseas experts returned to China to take part in the motherland's construction. Young in age and with new knowledge, they constitute an additional backbone force in China's scientific research and teaching fields. By 1997, among the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering alone, 157 were persons of outstanding ability returned in different periods to work in the country, accounting for 51.6 percent of the total number of academicians. Since the middle and late years of the 1990s, a large group of professionals of overseas Chinese and foreigners with Chinese origin who stayed in the country concerned after completing the studies have become increasingly active in serving the motherland by various methods, the fact that they stay in the country concerned but return home to do pioneering work has become a trend, and demonstrated the absolute sincerity of these overseas Chinese. According to incomplete statistics, the Start-up Parks created by 44 returned overseas Chinese students in various parts of the country have attracted more than 3,000 enterprises, the majority of these parks were set up by the new generation of professionals of overseas Chinese and foreigners with Chinese origin who stay abroad after completing their studies, most of the enterprises are performing well and have good prospects for development. Practice proves that the undertakings started by professionals of returned overseas Chinese and foreigners with Chinese origin who come to China not only play an important role in China's implementation of the strategy for rejuvenating the country through science and education, but also provide an important way for the new generation of overseas Chinese and foreigners with Chinese origin to develop their own career. In order to support the development of the career of the new generation of overseas Chinese and foreigners with Chinese origin and encourage them to return home (come to China) to set up
Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. A Survey.
NORTH KOREA PROPOSES FOR KOREAN CONFEDERATION. THE HIGH LEVEL TALKS ON THE TOPIC LEAD TO MORE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN KOREAS. THE OBSCTACLE AGAINST REUNIFICATION IS THE MILITARY PRESENCE OF USA IN SOUTH KOREA. NORTH KOREA´S ECONOMY IMPROVES. A NEW LIGHT WATER REACTOR PROJECT STARTED. A WORLDWIDE FRONT AGAINST IMPERIALISM UNDER CONSTRUCTION. DPRK DEVELOPES INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. NEW STUDY GROUPS FOR JUCHE-SOCIALISM ESTABLISHED ALL AROUND THE WORLD. IN DPRK THERE IS NEITHER UNEMPLOYMENT NOR DRUG PROBLEMS. Korean peninsula was divided after the Korean War in the early fifties. The imperialist forces with the arms of USA fighted under the flag of United Nations. In this war imperialist powers were defeated. However, the country was splitted. Two states were established, socialist North Korea and capitalist South Korea. The ideological contradiction between these countries still continues in spite of workers´ co-operation in both Koreas. Korean people on both sides would rather have only one state. The state of North Korea, North-Korean Workers´ Party of Korea, South Korean citizens´ movement National Democratic Front of South Korea and the Trade Unions of South Korea support the reunification. USA and their puppet regime in South Korea are the only obstacle in forming united Korea. There is a heavily constructed military borderline between the Koreas. It has been built by Americans and south Koreans. No peace agreement has been made after the Korean war. The war continues in form of propaganda. North Korea appears as the first anti-imperialist force in the world. In spite of the apparent political and economical realities of today´s world there is clear logicality in this idea. DPRK gets day by day stronger. USA has blaimed North Korea for hiding some kind of superarms. North Korea produces and sells weapons in order to support its food supply. Capitalist countries buy these weapons. Also other countries have arms, especially NATO. Accusations about superarms have been heard elsewhere and they sound amusing... It is more serious that USA uses commercial coercions against North Korea. The western media tells stories about submarine incidents in Korea in order to create an idea of military threat from North Korea. The truth is again just the opposite. DPRK has to defend her area with minisubmarines against penetrators and aggressions from south. DPRK has a strong army. The army works mainly for welfare of civilians. The meaning of the army and purpose for investments to the army have got in the bourgeois media a completely distorted form. North Korea excavates tunnels and builds other underground constructions. In the end of 1998 USA suspected on this basis DPRK for dangerous military plans like it has done when Libya builds her water maintenance system. In January 1999 USA demanded for arms control in the underground srturctures. In March 1999 North Korea accepted the inspections because they have nothing to hide. Nothing interesting was found. USA promised to pay for the inspections by delivering oil or to build light water plants to DPRK. The promises were nothing but a deception. In August 1999 North Korea offered very reasonable terms for peace pact to USA and to the political leadership of South Korea. The offer was rejected. Instead of political aim to peace USA is pushing Japan for further militarization in co-operation with NATO. This means a new threat to DPRK and to all the mankind alike. In 2000 USA, Japan and South Korea speak of military threat of North Korea. To be translated to thruth this means that USA, Japan and South Korea may plan for military operations against DPRK. Talks between DPRK and USA have continued at the level of special delegates in the beginning of 2000. South Korean political leaders disturb the talks intentionally. South Korea is in political and economic difficulties. USA on its side has made the efforts for peace difficult by planning to send advanced missile systems to South Korea and to Japan. USA´s lackey Israel delivers already now unmanned aircrafts to South Korea. DPRK has given an official warning to Israel for endangering the peace process in Korean peninsula. Because of several successive bad years in the nineties and floods North Korea has had an emergency. A lot of people were starving. Exceptional weather conditions and bad productivity of soil may have been crucially caused artificially by enemies of North Korea. According to the big noise by the western media the poor productivity of agriculture is caused by socialism. However, the main reason to the situation are obviously the poisons spreaded to North Korea by USA during the Korean war. These poisons have spoiled the earth and caused erosion. Improvement is possible with fertilizers. Because of commercial embargo caused by USA DPRK was not been able to buy enough fertilizers. People of north Korea work efficiently for the agriculture. This efficiency has been noted also by the UN
Turkey / Belgium. 3 statements on Fehriye Erdal
From: dhkc [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] AN EMBARGO BY TURKEY AGAINST BELGIUM? Up to now, many tricks were played on us in the Fehriye Erdal trial. Lies were told. One form these took was accusations. These mainly arose from the manipulation of the media by the contra-guerrillas, the Gladio of Turkey. None of them told the truth. But with all this misinformation they tried to influence Belgian public opinion with the "Fehriye Nightmare". Those who carry the "press" label took on leading roles in all this. And unfortunately, the misinformation and threats and blackmails of the fascist regime in Turkey caused the Belgian government to arbitrarily keep Fehriye Erdal in prison for months and she still faces the danger of being handed over the torturers via a third country. The misinformation targeting Fehriye Erdal: - Fehriye would shed blood in Euro 2000,... When Fehriye was captured, it was not known yet whether Turkey would take part in the cup or not! - Uranium was found to be in her possession... She does not even possess a handgun! They have tried to make Fehriye appear to be a bloody monster. They partially succeeded in that. Fehriye became targeted by the Belgian government under the pretext of her being a threat to the Belgian people and national security. Nowadays she is being presented by the provocateur "press" as a threat to the economy of Belgium. Turkey cannot boycott Belgium. The regime in Turkey is preparing to be accepted into the European Union and therefore cannot initiate an embargo against Belgium while requiring the approval of the EU in every single matter. Turkey does not have the political or economic power to carry it out. If there will be an embargo, let us see whether Sabanci could do it. The Sabancis cannot initiate an embargo against Belgium. For Sabanci, who is one of the sponsors of the fascist MHP (Nationalist Movement Party), money is everything. Their principles are collaboration and being parasites. They have no honour, they only care about their own interests. And they do nothing to risk their interests. Those who are connected to the West by an umbilical cord, like Sabanci, will financially suffer from an embargo. Newspapers like Turkiye (a fascist daily in Turkey) which are trying stir up the Belgian people with the news on an imaginary embargo and inflated comments can deceive no one. Also, the embargo lie is bound to deflate like a balloon. The fascist regime in Turkey is still threatening Belgium. First they threatened the security of the Belgian people by saying they will not leave Fehriye alone if Belgium sets her free. They tried to increase the pressure on the Belgian courts. And now they are threatening Belgium with an embargo. Will the Belgian government still keep quiet? Will the Belgian government bow down to these threats? The Belgian people do not deserve a government which submits to blackmails and threats. This submission means trampling upon the national dignity of the Belgian people. AN EMBARGO IS A BALLOON WHICH IS BOUND TO BE DEFLATED. LET'S SEE WHETHER OR NOT SABANCI WILL CONDUCT AN EMBARGO. August 25, 2000 DEVRIMCI HALK KURTULUS CEPHESI Belgium ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE More than 1,000 DHKP-C captives in Turkey's prisons started a five-day hunger strike since August 24, 2000 to support Fehriye Erdal's struggle. Fehriye has been on hunger strike for 43 days against the illegal behaviour of the Belgian government arising from its mutual interests with Turkey. Fehriye's hunger strike is not only against her extradition to a third country or the prevention of her asylum application. Her hunger strike is also against the illegal and arbitrary policies of the Belgian authorities. Fehriye's hunger strike is to defend the national dignity of Belgium, which has become a marketable and negotiable commodity. Fehriye's hunger strike is the voice of resistance of all those who have been subjected to unfair treatment. Fehriye's struggle is for the honour of all of us. Fehriye is the symbol of resistance of the peoples of the world against tyranny. The revolutionary captives in our country have become evidence of the invincibility of revolutionary resistance during their acts of resistance which have become famous world-wide. Despite being behind four walls, iron doors and bars, they expressed their sensitivity against each attack targeting the peoples of Turkey and the world. This sensitivity has been shown for example, for Palestine or Rwanda, or for the democratic struggle for our peoples. They have created the term of OZGUR TUTSAK (Free Captive) through physical resistance, hunger strikes, Death Fasts, freedom actions (escapes) and with their life-style. They could never be silenced. With a passion for freedom and a fighting spirit in their hearts and minds, they have always been within the struggle despite being captured. They have always been the first who
Nato preparing for another war in the Balkans / 1
NATO PREPARING NEW MILITARY STRIKE IN BALKANS By Gregory Elich Quietly, NATO is laying plans for a new military strike against Yugoslavia. On August 13 through 15, CIA Director George Tenet visited Bulgaria. In a series of extraordinary meetings, Tenet met with Bulgarian President Petur Stoyanov, as well as the Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Defense Minister. Officially, the purpose of Tenet's visit was to discuss the problem of organized crime and narcotics. However, Tenet spent a combined total of only 20 minutes at the headquarters of the National Security Service and the National Service for Combating Organized Crime. Unnamed diplomatic sources revealed that the proposed oil transit pipeline from the Caspian Sea was also topic of discussion. The driving motivation for Tenet's visit, though, was to discuss Yugoslavia. According to an unnamed diplomatic source, Montenegrin secession from Yugoslavia topped the agenda. Following the meeting between Tenet and Major General Dimo Gyaurov, Director of the National Intelligence Service, a public statement was issued which stressed their "commonality of interests." Reports in the Bulgarian press revealed that various options were discussed with Bulgaria's president and prime minister. Tenet's preferred option is the removal of the Yugoslav government, either as a result of that country's election on September 24, or by a NATO military assault that would install a puppet government. Another scenario would follow the secession of Montenegro from Yugoslavia. If open warfare breaks out over Montenegro's secession, then the United States plans to wage a full-scale war against Yugoslavia, as it did in spring 1999. Sofia's Monitor reported that the "CIA coup machine" is forming. "A strike against Belgrade is imminent," it adds, and "Bulgaria will serve as a base." (1) The Italian army recently signed a lease contract to conduct training exercises beginning in October at the Koren training ground, near Kaskovo in southeast Bulgaria. The French army signed a similar agreement, in which French soldiers and tanks will train at the Novo Selo grounds in central Bulgaria from October 11 to December 12. Talks are also underway for the U.S. military to lease the Shabla training grounds in northeastern Bulgaria. Scheduled to take place following the election in Yugoslavia, the training exercises could serve as a launching pad for NATO's planned military strike. It was recently announced that the British aircraft carrier HMS Invincible is to be redeployed to the Adriatic over the next few months in support of a potential conflict over Montenegro (2) Military force is only one component of the West's destabilization campaign against Yugoslavia. In November 1998, President Clinton launched a plan for the overthrow of the government of Yugoslavia. The initial emphasis of the plan centered on supporting secessionist forces in Montenegro and the right-wing opposition in Serbia. (3) Several months later, during the bombing of Yugoslavia, Clinton signed a secret paper instructing the CIA to topple the Yugoslav government. The plan called for the CIA to secretly fund opposition groups and the recruitment of moles in the Yugoslav government and military. (4) On July 8, 1999, U.S. and British officials revealed that commando teams were training snatch operations to seize alleged war criminals and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. As an encouragement to mercenaries, the U.S. State Department also announced a $5 million bounty for President Milosevic. (5) Several Yugoslav government officials and prominent individuals, including Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic, have been gunned down. Most of these crimes remain unsolved, as the assassins managed to escape. Police apprehended one assassin, Milivoje Gutovic, after he shot Vojvodina Executive Council President Bosko Perosevic at an agricultural fair in Novi Sad. During interrogations, Gutovic admitted to police that he worked for the right-wing Serbian Renewal Movement. (6) Goran Zugic, security advisor to secessionist Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, was murdered late on May 31, 2000. The assassin escaped, allowing Western leaders to blame President Milosevic. Coming just one week before crucial local elections in Montenegro, forces opposing President Milosevic stood to gain from the murder, as the effect would tend to sway undecided voters in favor of secessionist parties. A few days after the assassination, Yugoslav Minister of Information Goran Matic held a press conference, at which he accused the CIA of complicity in the murder. Matic played a taped recording of two telephone conversations between head of the US mission in Dubrovnik Sean Burns, US State Department official James Swaggert, Gabriel Escobar of the US economic group in Montenegro and Paul Davies of the US Agency for International Development. Excerpts of the conversations, recorded 20 minutes after the assassination and again three hours later,
Nato preparing for another war in the Balkans / 2
"eager to help Americans" make money. (17) Western leaders yearn to install a puppet government in Belgrade, and place their hopes in the fragmented right-wing opposition parties in Serbia. In 1999, American officials encouraged these parties to organize mass demonstrations to overthrow the government, but these rallies quickly fizzled due to lack of popular support. When Yugoslav Federal and local elections were announced for July 24, 2000, American and Western European officials met with leaders of the Serbian opposition parties, urging them to unite behind one presidential candidate. Despite U.S. efforts, three candidates emerged in opposition to President Milosevic. At the beginning of August 2000, the U.S. opened an office in Budapest specifically tasked to assist opposition parties in Yugoslavia. Among the staff are 24 psychological warfare specialists who engaged in psychological operations during NATO's war against Yugoslavia and earlier against Iraq in the Gulf War. During those operations, the team also fabricated news items in an effort to sway Western public opinion. If President Milosevic is re-elected, then U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright expects street demonstrations to overturn the election results and topple the government. In meetings held in Banja Luka in spring 2000, Albright expressed disappointment with the failure of past efforts to overthrow the legally elected Yugoslav government. Albright said that she had hoped sanctions would lead people to "blame Milosevic for this suffering." An exasperated Albright wondered, "What was stopping the people from taking to the streets?" Indicating that the U.S. was casting about for a pretext for intervention, she added, "Something needs to happen in Serbia that the West can support." (18) The paths of Yugoslavia's two republics are sharply diverging, and Montenegro has embarked on a program to place its entire economy at the service of the West. November 1999 saw the introduction in Montenegro of the German mark as an official currency and the passage of legislation eliminating socially owned property. One month later, several large firms were publicly offered for sale, including the Electric Power Company, the 13th July Agricultural Complex, the Hotel-Tourist firm Boka and many others. (19) The republic's privatization program for 2000 calls for the privatization of most state-owned industries, and includes measures to "protect domestic and foreign investors." Three hundred firms will be privatized in the initial stage of the plan. In early 2000, the U.S. signed an agreement to provide Montenegro $62 million, including $44 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). According to the agency, it will also undertake "assistance programs to support economic reform and restructuring the economy..to advance Montenegro toward a free market economy." U.S. policy advisor on the Balkans James Dobbins indicated that the U.S. viewed the "market-oriented reforms of the Djukanovic regime as a model and stimulus for similar reforms throughout the former Yugoslavia." The U.S. is also offering guarantees for private investors in the republic. Additional aid is provided by the European Union, which has approved $36 million for Montenegro. "From the first day," admitted Djukanovic, "we have had British and European consultants." (20) The Center for International Private Enterprise, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is providing support to the Center for Entrepreneurship (CEP) in Montenegro. According to the center's executive director, Petar Ivanovic, the organization "focuses on elementary and high schools," establishing entrepreneurship as a new subject to be taught in schools. As Ivanovic explains it, "Introducing young people to the concept of entrepreneurship will make them less resistant to the private sector." The CEP also intends to "educate government officials about the potential rewards of the private sector," and to help them "understand the benefits of economic reform and privatization." (21) According to Djukanovic, when he met with President Clinton on June 21, 1999, the U.S. president gave the privatization process a push by telling Djukanovic that the U.S. planned to "stimulate the economy" by "encouraging US corporations and banks to invest capital in Montenegro." (22) Djukanovic has moved steadily toward secession from Yugoslavia, indicating that he will push for separation if the right-wing opposition loses the September 24 election. In a phone call to Djukanovic in July 2000, Madeleine Albright promised that the U.S would provide him with an additional $16.5 million. That same week, Djukanovic blurted out that Montenegro "is no longer part of Yugoslavia." He also made the astonishing claim that he considered it a "priority" for Montenegro to join NATO, the organization that had bombed his country only the year before. The next month, Albright announced that she and Djukanovic "try and
wwnews Digest #157 / 1
WW News Service Digest #157 1) Why Dr. King would oppose 'welfare reform' by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2) Outside the Democratic Convention 1,000 demand: 'End Iraq sanctions' by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3) Gore talks 'left' in bid to hold Democratic base by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 4) Mumia to address teach-in before election 'debates' by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5) It was all a lie: NATO now admits Yugoslavs carried out no mass killings in Koso by "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Aug. 31, 2000 issue of Workers World newspaper - WHY DR. KING WOULD OPPOSE 'WELFARE REFORM' By Monica Moorehead If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, he would certainly focus much of his attention on the issue of racist repression in the United States. Dr. King dedicated most of his life to fighting against racism and poverty. Many forces within the dynamic new youth and student movement against so-called globalization that emerged last December in Seattle have made the fight against the death penalty, rampant police brutality and the expansion of the prison-industrial complex top priorities. They have also embraced winning freedom for political prisoner Mumia Abu- Jamal. Fighting racism is strategic to overcoming all forms of capitalist oppression. Racism, while rooted in white-supremacist ideology, also has a deeper social character. Political repression is but one side of the equation to combat racism. Underneath the political repression, there is economic repression. Aug. 22 is the fourth anniversary of President Bill Clinton's signing of the so-called welfare-reform law. The official name of the law is the "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act." Its true name should be "Economic War against the Poor and People of Color Act." Dr. King would have viewed this law as a vicious assault against the most downtrodden in society. It is just as vicious as the city of Memphis, Tenn., denying Black sanitation workers the right to organize back in 1968. King had gone there to offer the workers his support before he was assassinated. Just four months before he signed the anti-welfare bill, Clinton signed the Effective Death Penalty Act, an addendum to the Anti-Terrorism Bill. That law has all but gutted the right to a writ of habeas corpus for death row inmates. It makes it much harder for prisoners to get an independent federal review to overturn biased state convictions. WELFARE WON THROUGH STRUGGLE Welfare was a right won by the struggle to build the unions in this country back in the 1930s. It served as a necessary safety net to provide a guaranteed income for the unemployed and those unable to provide a means to subsist for themselves. Signing away welfare is something that both Al Gore and George W. Bush support wholeheartedly. The Center On Budget and Policy Priorities, which describes itself as a non-partisan organization that conducts research and analysis on government programs and policies, recently released a report on the impact of this significant law. The report, entitled "The Initial Impacts of Welfare Reform on the Economic Well-Being of Single Mother Families," was based on census data. The report found that the average income of low-income families headed by single mothers rose "substantially" between 1993 and 1995--but that the average income of the poorest 20 percent of these same families declined between 1995 and 1997. The decline coincides with the application of this repressive law. What was sore ly missing from this study was any major section on the racist nature of so-called welfare reform. Even though there were more white people on welfare, a disproportionate number of Black, Latino and Native people were dependent on welfare due to a lack of strong affirmative-action policies. Wendell Primus, the report's main author, said, "It is disturbing that substantial numbers of children and families are sinking more deeply into poverty when we have the strongest economy in decades and when substantial amounts of funds provided to states to assist these families are going unused." What does this mean in stark reality? These numbers reflect 2 million families and a total of 6 million people who have lost an average of $580 per year in income. This may not seem like a lot to some people. But if you are trying to survive, every dollar is precious. These statistics roughly equal the same number of people-- especially youths--caught up with the vicious cycle of the prison-industrial complex and the criminal-justice system. The joint political and economic attacks amount to racist genocide on the part of the U.S. government on behalf of capitalist profit and greed. The poorest 10 percent of these families saw their income decrease by $810 per year, a one-seventh loss in income. Their incomes declined from 35 percent of the poverty line in 1995 to 30
Cuba Press release Aug 25-26
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Cuba Press release Aug 25-26 PRESS RELEASE NO. 174 FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS HAVANA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2000 HOLGUIN, CUBA.- The Province Direction command post for Catastrophe ordered evacuated from Holguin due the weakening of hurricane "Debby"'s tidal wave. Farm institutions also returned cattles to the previous places when the flooding danger for the approaching hurricane diminished. HAVANA.- During a now traditional live T.V. round table discussion, experts and journalists analyzed on Thursday,- for the second time the development reached by the Cuban woman over the 41 years of the Revolution. The panelists also analyzed the levels of participation of the Cuban women, who "are an indispensable and irreplaceable part" of the revolutionary work. Their valuable presence comprises the most diverse political, economic and social spheres. HAVANA.- The 20th Pan American Railroad Congress will meet in Havana from September 18-22, Granma newspaper announced. with the slogan "On train to the Third Millennium", the meeting will work on the task of giving continental governments the tools to design fair economic transport policies, protect the environment and benefit society. HAVANA.- Ambassador to Cuba from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tai Van Lung yesterday ratified "the indestructible brotherhood" existent between his country and Cuba, and the trend to its reinforcement. The diplomat expressed the wish of his government and people of developing political, economic and trade links with the Island, which are based on the historic ties of friendship between both peoples, during a meeting with the press on the occasion of the 55th Anniversary of the August Revolution. HAVANA.- Ukrainian Communist Party (UCP) First Secretary Piotr Simonenko thanked for the medical care given to over 18,000 people, including children and adults, victims of the nuclear explosion in Chernobyl in 1986. Simonenko, on a visit which concluded on Thursday, highlighted the services received by the 15,800 minors who suffered from diseases related to radioactivity, some very serious, in a sanatorium in the outskirts of Havana City. HAVANA.- A warm welcoming ceremony to the Cuban Olympic baseball squad coincided with the opening of the new course of studies in the Sendai Ikuei Gakuenn school, 300km. from Tokyo. Before some 500 students representing 6000 matriculated, the school director Takehito Kato, highlighted the importance of the Cuban team training in this institution, which has fraternal relations with the Cuban sports. Servio Borges, representing the Cuban squad, pointed out that the training is carried out with all the necessary equipments and praised the level of dedication shown by the hosts. DPTO.INFORMACION/MINREX *** from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subject: Cuba Press release Aug 26 PRESS RELEASE No. 175 FOR ALL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS HAVANA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2000 HAVANA.- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon assured yesterday that they have not yet received visas to attend a meeting prior to the Millennium Summit, to be held in New York in September. Alarcon said that "Cubans will not be given visas, according to what they are saying in New York", if it is so "I could neither see any Cuban there nor the Statue of Liberty", he emphasized, when asked about a possible meeting alluded on Friday by the Miami press. According to the daily, the New York City might be the venue of a meeting amongst Cuban government officials and Cuban community members in the U.S., although without stating the agenda and goal of the meeting. Alarcon said that he meets Cuban residents in the U.S. every time he visits New York. HAVANA.- Cuban experts analyzed in Havana the system of the United Nations system, the organizations that formed it, plus the need to reform the Security Council, according to Granma daily. The experts met during a now traditional live T.V. round table discussion at 18:00 local time. This type of activity, habitual in Havana, began during the battle carried out for the return of Cuban shipwrecked boy Elian Gonzalez, who was illegally retained in the U.S. for over seven months. After the minor's return on June 28, the Cubans have began "a new stage of the fight", now to demand the elimination of laws encouraging illegal immigration and reinforcing the U.S. economic blockade on Cuba. Over 15,000 people will meet today at Havana's municipality of Melena del Sur to demand the elimination of the 1996 Cuban Adjustment Act and the extraterritorial 1992 Torricelli and 1996 Helms-Burton Acts. HAVANA.- Lao's Parliament President Samane Vignaketh yesterday reiterated his thankfulness for the invitation made by his Cuban counterpart to visit the Island. During a meeting with Cuban Communist Party (PCC) Politburo member and ideologic department Head Jose Ramon Balaguer, Vignaketh said he "felt at home" since he set foot on the Cuban territory on Thursday night. The Laotian
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 27
BELGRADE, 27 August 2000 YUGOSLAVIA - INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART YUGOSLAV MINISTER MEETS SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS TAJIKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR YUGOSLAV, CHINESE POWER INDUSTRIES AGREE TO COOPERATE FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA YUGOSLAV CENTRAL BANK ADOPTS MONETARY STABILITY MEASURES YUGOSLAVIA - KOSOVO-METOHIJA SERBIAN OFFICIALS TOUR SOUTHEASTERN KOSOVO-METOHIJA KOSOVO-METOHIJA - TERRORISM ETHNIC ALBANIANS PLANT EXPLOSIVE IN SERB HOME IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA KOSOVO-METOHIJA - KFOR US KFOR SOLDIERS KILLS ALBANIAN BOY IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA a.. * * YUGOSLAVIA - INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART MOSCOW, August 26 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov discussed on Saturday in Moscow a series of bilateral and international issues. They exchanged views on bilateral cooperation, Balkan developments, the situation in Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province and the forthcoming Millennium Summit and 55th UN General Assembly. Both sides reiterated their commitment to all-round development and expansion of the traditionally friendly relations and mutually beneficial political, economic, scientific, technical and other forms of cooperation. They particularly pointed to the importance of the free trade agreement to be signed shortly by Yugoslavia and Russia, the first such agreement that Russia will conclude with any country outside the Commonwealth of Independent States. Jovanovic and Ivanov expressed their deep concern over the constant violations of the Security Council Resolution 1244 on Kosovo-Metohija and the fresh wave of terrorism in the province, which is being ethnically cleansed of its Serb, Montenegrin, Muslim, Turkish and other non-Albanian inhabitants. Not even a minimum of security exists in Kosovo-Metohija for the holding of local elections that UNMIK chief Bernard Kouchner has scheduled for October 28 despite strong opposition by local Serbs and the Belgrade government, they underlined. The Yugoslav side stressed that the idea of elections in the Province constituted direct support to separatism and terrorism aimed at further destabilizing the region, while the Russian side reiterated its full support to Yugoslavia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The meeting was attended also by the Yugoslav Ambassador to Moscow Borislav Milosevic and Assistant Minister Ivan Mrkic, and by Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Avdeyev and Deputy Sergei Ordzonikidze. b.. c.. YUGOSLAV MINISTER MEETS SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS PRETORIA, August 26 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Minister and President of Beogradska Banka Borka Vucic, on a visit to South Africa, met Saturday the Foreign Ministry Director for Europe Ambassador Chris Streeter. They discussed prospects for intensifying bilateral cooperation in the economic and financial fields and expressed their support to the fundamental principles of the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement that South Africa is currently chairing. They also pointed to the need for a strict implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 on Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province, where the situation is extremely difficult and where illegal measures, absolutely unacceptable for the international community, are being taken by the UN administration. Streeter said the visit of the Yugoslav Minister was important for promoting banking, financial and economic cooperation between the two countries. Vucic also met Central Bank officials and representatives of various other South African and international banks, as well as officials of the Chamber of Commerce. The officials expressed their understanding for Yugoslavia's position in world financial institutions and urged for direct and firm cooperation with Yugoslavia in the banking and financial sectors. Vucic and South African officials have exchanged useful information and agreed on measures for stepping up mutual imports and exports. Yugoslavia will be welcome at the forthcoming September and October trade fairs in South Africa, they said. d.. e.. TAJIKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR DUSHANBE, August 26 (Tanjug) - The Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Talbak Nazarov has received Ambassador Stanislav Stojanovic of the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry. They discussed bilateral cooperation, the situation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija and international issues, especially the forthcoming Millennium Summit and 55th UN General Assembly. Stojanovic briefed Nazarov of the serious consequences of last year's (March-June) NATO aggression on Yugoslavia, the continuing aggression by different means, and the impressive results in national reconstruction and development. Nazarov said Tajikistan strongly opposes all forms of pressure, interference in internal affairs of states, incitement to separatism and threats to Yugoslavia's
Turkey: Hungerstrike Looming
Subject: "[Ozgurluk.Org]" Turkey: Hungerstrike Looming 27 August ,2000, Turkish Probe issue 397 Hunger Strikes Looming TAYAD members who have voiced their protests over F-type prisons are preparing to start a hunger strike More than 200 people were taken into custody in just two months of protests over F-type prisons They were mentioned in every hunger strike that was staged in prisons, every operation by security forces and in every uprising. They went on a hunger strike, kept vigil in front of the prisons or went to hospitals to be informed about their injured relatives. They were mentioned in every news program about prisoners arrested and convicted on political grounds. For the past month they have organized frequent demonstrations against F-type prisons, an issue that has become highly charged. These people who have made themselves heard through their political actions are the prisoners' families. They formed an organization called TAYAD, which stands for the Association for Inmates' Families' Solidarity -- a group established to champion the cause of arrested and convicted individuals. The relatives of thousands of people who were taken into custody and tried after the coup d'etat of Sept. 12, 1980, joined forces to get information about their lost relatives or to find where they were buried. These people, who due to circumstance met each other in front of prisons or police stations, decided to act together to address their common problems. This attitude crystallized in the 1980s, when the repercussions of the military intervention were felt most strongly. The first action by prisoners' relatives was triggered by a hunger strike started by prisoners arrested or convicted on political grounds. At the time they had wanted to protest against human rights infringements. They applied to the chief of general staff, Parliament, the ministries and other institutions and presented petitions. They visited academics and journalists. They also staged a sit-in in front of the Presidential Palace in Cankaya. When they did not achieve results they decided on another sit-in in Istanbul and organized a march to the Taksim monument, unfurling a banner that read, "Improve the state of prisons, end the hunger strike." This is also when they endured their first public beating. While the hunger strike ended with the deaths of four people, some of the demands made by prisoners' relatives were accepted. Their experiences, the beatings and detentions caused people to come together under one roof. TAYAD was officially founded on Feb. 3, 1986. 'There will be much bloodshed' TAYAD members did not give up on their imprisoned relatives even when they were tried in court. They have been very anxious recently and with their 20 years of experience following the coup d'etat, they say, "There will be bloodshed, the blood of our loved ones will be shed." They are referring to their children, husbands and brothers. They add, "But they will have to kill us first." The reason for these words is the new smaller-cell-type prisons. They are determined, but their eyes remain tearful and they say insistently: "They won't make our children enter those cells. We won't stand by passively. They will kill us first and then only them [our loved ones]." TAYAD members describe F-type prisons as, "The places where our children will be buried alive." The families, who state that their children say, "We won't lie in these coffins, we will die if necessary," accept that there are problems in prisons and enunciate them as follows: "The problem is that sick people are prevented from getting medical care and are left to die. The problem is their right to a fair defense is obstructed and they cannot meet their lawyers under favorable conditions. The problem is the pain and insults we have to suffer when we visit them. The problem is that our children enjoy no personal security and are killed under torture. But the solution to these problems is not cells. On the contrary, the cells will make all these issues more difficult and cause new problems. Prisoners will be isolated and separated from each other. Can you imagine a life when you are deprived of your needs? ... It is forbidden to talk to friends, listen to music or read newspapers. Lonely days for months or years... How can someone bear it?" Small-cell-type prisons, which became a major issue with proposed implementation of the plan at Eskisehir Prison in 1986, were not put into practice because of opposition from families. In 1996 hunger strikes in response to the planned changes in cell structures turned into "death fasts" and the decision [to build F-type prisons] was withdrawn following the deaths of 12 people. Not only detainees but also families participated in the fasts in mass protest. Reminiscent of days past, the relatives of arrested and convicted individuals say that a hunger strike is impending. They say, "Solve this problem before there is a 'death fast' and 10 or 15 people
AUG 30th: U.S. Out of Colombia!
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "International" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 39 W 14 St #206 New York, NY 10011 (212) 633-6646 fax: (212) 633-2889 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.iacenter.org Contents: 1. Aug. 30 press release 2. Informe de prensa 30 de agosto (en español) 3. List of actions/lista de actividades locales Texto en español se encuentra abajo. * * * For Immediate Release * * * For more information: Teresa Gutierrez, Andy McInerney 28 August 2000 International Protests to Challenge Clinton's Aug. 30 trip to Colombia: STOP THE U.S. WAR AGAINST COLOMBIA! Demonstrations across the United States and around the world are scheduled to coincide with U.S. President Bill Clinton's trip to Cartagena, Colombia on Aug. 30. The main demands will be: "Stop the U.S. war against Colomb ia! No to Plan Colombia!" In New York, the demonstration will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 42nd St. and 6th Ave. from 5pm to 7pm. Other actions are scheduled in San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Diego, Providence, H elena, West Palm Beach, Stockholm, London, Rome, Vienna, Toronto, Buenos Aires, and other cities in Europe and Latin America. Mass protests are expected across Colombia during Clinton's trip. A list of actions and local c ontacts is attached. "Clinton's visit will not go unchallenged," charged Teresa Guttierez, a leader of the International Action Center. "Demonstrations around the United States and the world will expose the lie that the U.S. is interested in peace while sending $1.3 billion in military supplies to Colombia." Colombia is already the third largest recipient of U.S. military aid in the world. The aid package, part of the proposed $7.5 billion "Plan Colombia," includes 60 combat helicopters, counterinsurgency training by U.S. Spe cial Forces, and defoliation efforts with lethal chemicals and dangerous biological agents like the "Fusarium oxysporum" fungus. "This aid package has nothing to do with narcotrafficking," Gutierrez stated. "These weapons are clearly aimed at escalating the civil war that has gripped Colombia for 50 years, at the very time that Colombian President Andres Pastrana claims to be looking for an accord with the insurgencies." "Clinton is visiting Colombia just two weeks after Colombian soldiers massacred six children in Pueblo Rico on Aug. 15," IAC West Coast Co-coordinator Gloria La Riva said. "Government-linked death squads have killed score s of others since then. That is the real impact of U.S. military aid and Plan Colombia." "The latest escalation of military aid is another step down the road to open U.S. intervention in Colombia," stated IAC co-director Sara Flounders. "The Pentagon generals and Wall Street tycoons have grown so arrogant tha t they have forgotten the lesson of Vietnam: a people's struggle for social justice cannot be crushed by bombs and high-tech weaponry." The U.S. protests are being coordinated by the IAC. They have been endorsed by the Anti-War Committee, Casa de las Americas, the Colombia Action Network, the Colombia Solidarity Committee, Haiti Progres newspaper, the Hai ti Support Network, the Patrice Lumumba Coalition, Vamos a la Peña, the Vieques Support Campaign, and the Working Group on Puerto Rico. International Action Center 39 West 14th Street, Room 206 New York, NY 10011 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.iacenter.org CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE www.mumia2000.org phone: 212 633-6646 fax: 212 633-2889 ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM FOR FEHRIYE
From: dhkc [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: "[Ozgurluk.Org]" COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM FOR FEHRIYE THE OBSTACLES PLACED ON FEHRIYE'S REQUEST FOR ASYLUM MUST BE LIFTED On July 14, 2000, Fehriye Erdal started an honourable battle against the illegalities to which she was subjected, by using her only weapon, an action harmful to her body and health, that is, a hunger strike. On August 28, after 45 days on hunger strike, she decided to interrupt her resistance following a protocol concluded with the Ministry of the Interior. Since September 26, 1999, she has lived with the threat of being extradited, whether directly or indirectly, back to Turkey where the regime of the torturers holds sway. Turkey, like the Belgian state, took Fehriye as a target. But Fehriye resisted all the plots and slander directed at her, and resisted with her revolutionary will, her body, her thoughts and emotions. She was stronger than entire states because she received support from individuals, institution and organisations which support people's resistance to tyranny. In the end, it was Fehriye and those who support her who won. Today, even if Fehriye has not completely won freedom, unprecedented support from a public opinion that was sensitised have made it possible to obstruct a probable conspiracy against her. Fehriye's resistance was a matter for all who oppose injustice and illegality. Fehriye largely accomplished her mission with a struggle carried out in the name of us all. We did the rest. Henceforth, we are going to disseminate information regularly concerning the application for asylum until the threat to Fehriye, which arises from her not having the right to asylum, is lifted. We are going to take active measures to ensure that the asylum procedure is started as quickly as possible. That is why we are appealing to all those from near or far who took part in the action "Freedom for Fehriye" to support the campaign for granting her the right to stay as a political refugee in Belgium. In other words, the "Freedom for Fehriye" campaign continues. FREEDOM FOR FEHRIYE COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM FOR FEHRIYE Brussels, August 28, 2000 Press Agency Ozgurluk In Support of the Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey and Kurdistan http://www.ozgurluk.org DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Mobilize Against Clinton to Columbia, etc, 28 Aug Main Line News
From: "Claudia K White" [EMAIL PROTECTED] STOP NATO: °NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM Date: 28 Aug 2000 21:34:19 - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [MainLineNews] Digest Number 317 Reply To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] There are 36 messages in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1. Olympics 2000.Read it here first before it hits the headlines. http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5538 2. ACL: SMS Reparations Survey the MFM National Ag http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5533 3. !*Free Mumia News (8/25/00) Mumia on Amicus Brief Mark Clement http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5534 4. SRINAGAR LOOKS LIKE WAR -ZONE " Human Rights Foundation " Mon 8/28/2000 http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5535 5. INDIA ESCALATING TENSION IN S.E.ASIA " Human Rights Foundation " Mon 8/28/2000 http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5536 6. Int.RedCross Violates Mandate on Eritrea http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5537 7.Int'l day of mobilization against Clinton's visit in Colombia[fwd] http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5539 8.The Burmese Military Junta wants a word with you http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5540 9.Roger Bunn : London to Afghanistan mid 60s Part 1 http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5541 10.Afghanistan and the gun in my tum. http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5542 11.Photos for Daw Su Kyi and Companions in Dala Township are at - http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5543 12.Burma Out! The Lord of the Rings http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5544 13.Burma Out! ANDREW JENNINGS meets Roger Bunn http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5545 14[STOPNATO] S. African Bio-Chem Warfare Head Linked To NATO Bribes, Croatian Drug Money http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5546 15.Agent Green: Shades Of Vietnam Over Colombia http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5547 16. On Eve Of Clinton Visit, Gov't-Linked Death Squads Massacre 17 http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5548 17. [Fwd: Fw: Nato preparing for another war in the Balkans / 1] http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5549 18. RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION FOR KASHMIRIS http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5550 19. wilpf-news World March of Women: Australian Education Union schools kit http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5551 20. Fwd: Billboard Calls for the End of Iraq Sanctions (fwd) http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5552 21. wilpf-news-us: civil obedience in Iraq http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5553 22. Travels in a Stone Canoe: The Return to the Wisdomkeepers http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5554 23. Lori Update: (Young American Woman Imprisoned in Peru) http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/ 24. Arrestan grupo de artistas en zona de tiro viequense http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5556 25. Labor Letter 4 Mumia http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5557 26. [ndn-aim] A few million signatures are missing. Is yours one of them? http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5558 27. [KOLA] American Indian elders give message to youth http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5559 28. LPDC: correction http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5560 29. LPDC: Peltier Birthday Events http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5561 30. Kosovo: mass graves and lies [fwd] http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5562 31. [ndn-aim][Dipity] [nygreen] New Trial for Lori! F http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5563 32. s11/WHY WE'LL PROTEST AT THE OLYMPICS -- Global A http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5564 33. Re: trafficking of women http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5565 34. 8/27 UPDATE- MOMS FOR JUSTICE http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5566 35. : !b_a_Act: RadTimes # 7 Claudia K White 1:11am http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5567 36. [soa] AFRICA: CLINTON'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY http://www.egroups.com/message/MainLineNews/5568 --- xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Claudia White~Main Line News~Human Civil Rights Campaign Internationale' Free Mumia Abu Jamal~Free All Political Prisoners~End the Drug War!Stop the US Bombing of Vieques Global Genocide of Indigenous Peoples. Web Read complete archives@ http://www.angelfire.com/ut/Angel1 Voice Mail #801-220-0127 ext. 0010 xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Pray for the Dine'h and traditional Hopi at Big Mountain, AZ, USA. http://members.xoom.com/senaa/HomePage.html xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com __ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Vietnam News Aug 28
Extracts. Vietnam, Cambodia Parties Sign Co-operation Agreement The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) reached an agreement on the exchange of visits for the 2001 and 2002 period during a visit to Vietnam by Mr Sai Chum, permanent member of the CPP Central Committees Standing Board. The agreement was signed after the talks between the CPV delegation led by Mr Pham The Duyet, permanent member of the CPV Politburo Standing Board and the CPP delegation led by Mr Sai Chum in Hanoi on August 28. During the talks, the two delegations informed each other about the situation and achievements in their respective Parties and countries in recent years. They compared notes on international and regional issues of mutual concern and discussed measures to strengthen the traditional relations between the two Parties, States and peoples. Mr Sai Chum congratulated Vietnam on the coming National Day, September 2 and praised the great and significant achievements recorded by the Vietnamese people under the wise leadership of the CPV over the past 55 years. Mr Sai Chum said he believed that the Vietnamese people would achieve greater success in the process of renovation and their national industrialisation and modernisation to fulfil the task of building a rich people, powerful country and equitable and civilised society. He also wished the CPV under the leadership of General Secretary Le Kha Phieu would be successful in preparing for its coming national Ninth Party Congress. Mr Duyet spoke highly of the great efforts of the CPP, the Royal government and the entire Cambodian people in their national construction and economic development. Mr Duyet said he wished that the Cambodian people would score further successes in making Cambodia a prosperous country. Deputy PM Starts Cambodia Visit Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrived in Phnom Penh on August 27 for a four-day official visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian Deputy PM Sar Kheng. Deputy PM Dung and his entourage were warmly welcomed at Pochentong International Airport by Deputy PM Sar Kheng and many other senior Cambodian officials. It is scheduled that Deputy PM Dung will have talks with the Cambodian Deputy PM on the friendly and co-operative ties between Vietnam and Cambodia. He is to pay a courtesy visit to Cambodia's Acting Head of State Samdech Chea Sim and Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen. ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 28
BELGRADE, 28 August 2000 C O N T E N T S : YUGOSLAVIA - RUSSIA -YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES RUSSIA'S DONDUKOV -YUGOSLAV-RUSSIAN FREE TRADE ACCORD SHOWS OPENNESS TO COOPERATION YUGOSLAVIA - CUBA -YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN CUBA YUGOSLAVIA-IRAQ -IRAQI DELEGATION TOURS YUGOSLAV PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY YUGOSLAVIA-KOSOVO-METOHIJA-TERRORISM -TERRORISM AGAINST SERBS IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA RISING SHARPLY -SERB BOY KILLED BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN DRIVER -KOSOVO-METOHIJA ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS MURDER 75-YEAR-OLD SERB * * * YUGOSLAVIA - RUSSIA YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RECEIVES RUSSIA'S DONDUKOV BELGRADE, Aug 28 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Monday Russian Minister of Industry, Science and Technology Alexander Dondukov and his host, Yugoslav Minister of Foreign Trade Borislav Vukovic. Earlier on Monday, Dondukov, who co-chairs the Russian-Yugoslav intergovernmental committee, and Vukovic signed a free trade accord between Russia and Yugoslavia, which had been in preparation for months. Milosevic said on the occasion that the removal of tariff barriers between the two countries was a huge and radical step in the direction of bringing the two countries closer together and promoting overall bilateral economic ties. This is the only trade liberalisation accord between Russia and a country outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Milosevic congratulated the ministers on the accord which establishes a free trade regimen in bilateral relations. He stressed this was a huge step in the direction of mutual linkage which would accelerate the two states' economic development, improve conditions of life and work and boost employment, and which would certainly promote economic stability in both countries. Openness and closer economic ties are in both countries' vital interest and their firm commitment which reaffirms the friendship and understanding between their nations and their determination to develop equal relations and cooperation, according to Milosevic. Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic and Vice Premier Nikola Sainovic, Premier of the Yugoslav republic of Serbia Mirko Marjanovic, Russian Ambassador in Belgrade Valery Egoshkin and Yugoslav Ambassador in Moscow Borislav Milosevic attended. YUGOSLAV-RUSSIAN FREE TRADE ACCORD SHOWS OPENNESS TO COOPERATION BELGRADE, Aug 28 (Tanjug) - A free trade accord signed between Yugoslavia and Russia on Monday shows their determination to promote cooperation, according to Yugoslavia's ambassador to Russia in Belgrade on Monday. Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Ambassador Borislav Milosevic said the accord showed the political good will, determination and commitment of the two countries to develop, consolidate and diversify cooperation in all areas. According to Milosevic, the accord is a major step, as Russia has not signed similar accords with any other country outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). He further said Russia was Yugoslavia's strategic partner in the economy and other areas. YUGOSLAVIA - CUBA YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN CUBA HAVANA, Aug 27 (Tanjug).- Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic arrived in Havana Sunday for a two-day official visit. He was welcomed by his Cuban counterpart Felipe Perez Roque. Jovanovic told the press on his arrival that the goal of his visit was to discuss the expansion of bilateral cooperation and joint activities in international organizations. Initial talks with Minister Roque have demonstrated that good conditions and mutual will for such cooperation exist already, Jovanovic said. Jovanovic is accompanied by a big delegation of businessmen who will discuss future economic cooperation with Cuban partners. Jovanovic hailed Cuba's principled condemnation of last year's NATO aggression on Yugoslavia and pointed to the long tradition of friendly relations and cooperation. Yugoslavia and Cuba, as nonaligned countries, are united by the common goals of peace and cooperation among states on equal footing and by their abidance by the UN Charter, he noted. Roque said he expected the visit to provide a fresh impetus to bilateral relations through an exchange of views on issues of common interest and on the international situation in the expectation of the forthcoming Millennium Summit. The Cuban people are following with great attention Yugoslavia's reconstruction and recovery endeavors following the NATO aggression, he said. YUGOSLAVIA-IRAQ IRAQI DELEGATION TOURS YUGOSLAV PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY VRSAC, Serbia, Aug 27 (Tanjug).- The Iraqi health ministry delegation toured Saturday the Hemofarm pharmaceutical industry in Vrsac, Serbia's northern province of Vojvodina, where it was hosted By Yugoslav Minister of Health Miodrag Kovac. The talk focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in the health and pharmaceutical industry fields. The Iraqi delegation of leading health experts is headed by Minister of Health Omar Madhat Mubarak. Iraqi Ambassador
ML Update, Vol.3; No.34; 30-8-2000.
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 01:22:28 +0530 From: "CPI(ML) LIberation" [EMAIL PROTECTED] ML Update A CPI(ML) News Magazine Vol:3; No.34; 30-8-2000. Editorial: Police Brutality, Peoples War and Peoples Ire If the police in India have long reveled in the reputation of being the nations foremost organized criminal gang, the credit of being Indias number one police state has generally been backward Bihar. The age-old khaki shorts of Indian police have of course started giving way to more modern and colorful attire (the dress code of khaki shorts now stands reserved for another variety of criminals the musclemen and thought police of RSS), and the weapons are also getting increasingly sophisticated, but in terms of brutality and lawlessness, the police of Independent India are still capable of putting the colonial police to shame. It is this unbridled brutality and lawlessness of Indian police which is always sought to be defended by bourgeois leaders and administrators in the name of strengthening the morale of the police. The current spate of police atrocities in Bihar has once again revived Bihars notoriety as a police state. From the killing of CPI(ML) leader Vishwanath Ram in Bhojpur to the showering of police lathis on a CPI(M) demonstration in Jhanjharpur of Madhubani, the list of police brutalities is lengthening every day. The one incident which has rocked the entire state, happened in Imamganj bordering Patna and Jahanabad districts just three days after India celebrated the 53rd anniversary of her Independence. On August 18, the Bihar police went on berserk on the students of Imamganj who were observing a black day in protest against the beating up of a student in a so-called peoples court sponsored by the local PWG unit a few days ago. At the end of the day three students were found missing and the next day the local people discovered the dead bodies of the missing students aged between 6 and 22, with tell-tale signs of brutal torture. When the people blocked the road demanding the Chief Ministers intervention, they were not spared and a student leader Sushil Kumar of AISA was detained and tortured for sixty long hours in police custody before being sent to a jail in Patna. As we go to the press, the aggrieved people of Imamganj and all justice-loving sections of society are demanding exemplary penal action against the erring police officials as well as civil functionaries like the concerned BDO, SDO and DM of Patna. The state government on the other hand is trying to hush up the whole thing by just suspending the in-charge of the local police picket and doctoring the post-mortem report to attribute the murder of victims of police torture to drowning in the nearby canal. As the battle lines between repression and justice, between police raj and the rule of law, are being drawn in sharp relief, it is time for everybody to take side. For all streams of defenders of democracy, here is an open challenge to rise to the occasion. The anarchists and pseudo-revolutionaries of PWG, however, found themselves thoroughly isolated and unmasked by the events in Imamganj. The local PWG unit had conducted a typical peoples court to try one high school student who was accused of having slapped a fellow girl student in the course of an altercation. The court was chaired by an ex-activist of the PWG who had incidentally been expelled by the group on the charges of hobnobbing with the police and the Ranvir Sena. While the local women themselves pleaded for letting off the accused student with five counter-slaps by the girl, the PWG insisted on subjecting him to twenty whiplashes, tonsuring of head and a fine of Rs. 10,000! And the sentence was immediately carried out by a group of local activists of the Ranvir Sena. It is this brutal demonstration of the PWG model of revolutionary justice which triggered the peoples ire and a thoroughly exposed PWG is now trying to keep up the morale of its ranks by portraying the peoples anger as a caste backlash and blaming the revisionist and vote-hungry CPI(ML) for leading the peoples resistance against police atrocity! There could not perhaps be a clearer revelation of the real meaning of the high-sounding revolutionary phrases of the anarchists. Holding peoples courts to resolve contradictions among school students, delivering Taliban-like verdicts and carrying them out in tandem with elements of the Ranvir Sena, slapping fines of the order of Rs. 10,000 on students, and maligning the consequent outburst of students ire against injustice and coercion as an engineered caste backlash can there be a more suitable recipe for counter-revolution? Press release CPI(ML) Condemns Killer Naidu Govt. for Frenzied Repression on Agitators CPI(ML) strongly condemns Chandrababu Naidu's killer government (In Andhra state) for launching brutal and heinous repression on tens of thousands of protestors who had come to Hyderabad on 28 August to peacefully
Turkey. Human Rigths Association.
From: Margarita Lacabe [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: "[Ozgurluk.Org]" [mideast] TUR 001 / 9708 / OBS 006.03 (fwd)
URGENT APPEAL - OBSERVATORY
New Information
TUR 001 / 9708 / OBS 006.03
Closure of HRA branch
TURKEY
25th August 2000
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders,
an FIDH and OMCT venture, requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Turkey:
New Information
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
has received information from the Human Rights Association
(HRA), that the Diyarbakyr branch of the HRA was closed
down a few minutes after its re-opening on 12 August 2000.
The executive members of the HRA were presented with an
official notification stating that the Diyarbakyr branch of the
HRA was to closed down for another 3 months under article
11/0 of the State of Emergency Rule by the official approval of
Diyarbakyr governorship, dated 11 August 2000.
The Observatory believes that this is another deliberate attempt
to prevent the Diyarbakir branch of the HRA from carrying out
its activities of monitoring human rights violations, particularly in
Diyarbakir and also in the region, informing public opinion on
human rights violations and helping people who faced human
rights violations to use national and international mechanisms for
the protection of their rights.
Brief reminder of the situation
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
has received information from the Human Rights Association
(HRA), member of the FIDH, that on 12th May 2000, the
Diyarbakir branch of the HRA was closed for three months by
the decision of the Diyarbakir Governors Office. The State of
Emergency Governors Office decided to close the branch
based on Article 11/o of the State Emergency Rule.
This closure comes 23 days after the re-opening of the
Diyarbakir branch which had previously been closed since 23rd
May 1997. After a legal struggle of three years, the Court of
First Instance Nr. 3 lifted the closure decision on 31st march
2000. The judicial decision was delayed for 20 days and the
branch was finally opened on 19th April 2000.
Previously, the Diyarbakir and other branches of the Human
Rights Association in Turkey had been subjected to systematic
threats in 1997 leading to the closure, by Governors of the
region, of some branches. (See also 1997 annual report page
198)
The reasons invoked by the authorities for closing these offices
were unvarying : the possession of illegal publications, which in
reality are human rights reports and publications in favour of a
peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue. These closures - of a
fixed duration - were for the most part been followed by
detention of local human rights defenders, including the head of
the local branch.
Action requested :
Please write to the Turkish authorities urging them to:
i. order the immediate re-opening of the Diyarbakir branch of
the Human Rights Association;
ii. adopt all necessary measures in order to ensure full freedom
of action of the Human Rights Association and all other human
rights organisations as well as their members;
iii.abide by the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United
Nations on December 9th 1998 ("Declaration on the Rights and
Responsibility of individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to
Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms ") and more particularly Article 6 which
states that « everyone has the right, individually and in
association with others
to publish, impart or disseminate to
others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and
fundamental freedoms. »
iv. more generally to abide by the provisions of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the regional and international
covenants ratified by Turkey.
Addresses
M. Bulent Ecevit, Premier Ministre. Fax: 90 312 417 04 76 /
90 312 231 52 01
Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Président de la République, Fax: 00 90
312 468 50 12 / 90 312 467 40 28
M. Sadettin Tantan, Interior Minister, Tel/Fax: +90 312 425 72
15
M. Gokhan Aydemir, State Emergency Region Governors
Office, Tel/Fax: +90 412 228 63 01/224 35 72
M. Cemil Serhadli, Governor of Diyarbakir
M. Hikmet Fani Turk, Ministre de la Justice. Fax: 90 312 417
39 54
Geneva - Paris, 25th August 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code
number of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a joint FIDH and OMCT venture, is
dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and
aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
To contact the Observatory, call the Emergency line
Fax : 33 (0) 1
Havana Radio news/views Aug 28 -Colombia
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subject: Havana Radio news/view Aug 28 -Colombia Delivered-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-28 August 2000 22:00 Radio Havana Cuba-28 August 2000 22:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 28 August 2000 22:00 *YUGOSLAVIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IN HAVANA *HIGHER EDUCATION ENROLLMENT UP THIS YEAR *PABLO MILANES PLANS FUND-RAISER CONCERT FOR MEXICO'S ENVIRONMENT *LAOTIAN ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VISITS VARADERO RESORT *CUBAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH ANCIENT HUMAN SKELETON *CUBA STILL EAGER TO HOST OLYMPIC GAMES *WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM TAKES THE GOLD AND GRAND PRIX TITLE *INJUSTICE AND INEQUALITY: THE REAL CAUSE OF VIOLENCE IN COLOMBIA *YUGOSLAVIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER IN HAVANA Havana, August 28 (RHC)-- Visiting Yugoslavian Foreign Minister Zivaldin Jovanovic, met Monday morning with his Cuban counterpart, Felipe Perez Roque. Speaking with reporters following the meeting, Jovanovic said that Cuba and Yugoslavia have a long history of solidarity and friendship and that his visit to the island is designed to help strengthen those cordial relations even more. Yugoslavia's top diplomat expressed his deepest appreciation for the solidarity shown by Cuba during last year's U.S.-led NATO attacks against the European nation. He also thanked the Cuban government and people for their continued support in international forums such as the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. For his part, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque affirmed that the visit of Zivaldin Jovanovic marks a new point in relations between Havana and Belgrade. And the Cuban foreign minister reiterated Cuba's principled position concerning NATO's "unjust war of aggression" against Yugoslavia. Earlier in the morning, the visiting Yugoslav official laid a wreath at the foot of the Jose Marti Monument at Havana's Plaza del la Revolucion. He also signed an agreement for the protection and promotion of mutual investments with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Marta Lomas. The Yugoslavian foreign minister arrived in Havana on Sunday and is slated to wrap up his visit to the Cuban capital tomorrow, Tuesday. *HIGHER EDUCATION ENROLLMENT UP THIS YEAR Havana, August 28 (RHC)-All higher education institutions in Cuba are ready to welcome some 130,000 students, representing 3000 more students than last year, according to the Minister of Higher Education, Fernando Vecino Alegret. The Cuban education official told the press that all material and academic requirements for the coming school year are guaranteed by the Cuban government. The Education Minister also announced that, this year, all educational institutions will have access to the Internet. The Cuban government has managed to guarantee the necessary financial resources to buy computers for every educational center over the next four years. The Cuban official recalled that, although Cuba faces a lack of material supplies, education has always been a priority for the Cuban people. *PABLO MILANES PLANS FUND-RAISER CONCERT FOR MEXICO'S ENVIRONMENT Mexico City, August 28 (RHC)-Cuban singer songwriter Pablo Milanes will perform at a fund-raising concert on October 31st, in Oaxaca, Mexico, in support of ecological projects in that country. The President of the Mexican Institute for Environmental Science and Technological Development, Guillermo Amaya, said that profits from the show will go towards the reforestation of various communities in Oaxaca. The Mexican official added that the money is earmarked for other countries with environmental problems. Pablo Milanes, one of the founders of Cuba's New Song Movement, together with singer songwriter Silvio Rodriguez, are authors of famous tunes like "Yolanda", "El Breve Espacio En Que No Estas", and "Amame Como Soy". In a recent survey conducted by the Cuban magazine, Salsa Cubana, Pablo Milanes was selected as one of the best Cuban composers of the 20th century. *LAOTIAN ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VISITS VARADERO RESORT Havana, August 28 (RHC)-The President of Lao's National Assembly, Samare Vignaketh, Sunday visited Varadero Beach Resort as part of an official visit to Cuba with the goal of strengthening bilateral relations. Vignaketh expressed particular interest in the contribution of the tourist industry to the Cuban economy as well as the facilities, which accommodate the island vacationers. The Laotian official was impressed with the preservation of Cuban culture, as an integral component of the tourism industry, as well state-sponsored protection of the environment in relation to increases in tourism. *CUBAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH ANCIENT HUMAN SKELETON Havana, August 28 (RHC)-Cuban archaeologists have found an ancient fossilized human skeleton in Punta de Hicacos, Varadero, located in Matanzas province. The President of Cuba's Archaeological Society,
People's Voice - September 1-15, 2000 / 1
PEOPLE=S VOICE ON-LINE ARTICLES FROM THE COMMUNIST PRESS IN CANADA (The selected articles below are from the September 1-15/2000 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.) In this Issue: 1/ EDITORIAL: THE OKANAGAN-COQUIHALLA BY-ELECTION 2/ WHERE'S STOCKWELL? - Canadian Alliance leader avoids the voters 3/ MIXED RESULTS IN LATEST ELECTION ACT RULING 4/ A BUSY AUTUMN IN HEALTH CARE STRUGGLE 5/ ONTARIO TEACHERS WON'T DO HARRIS TORIES' BIDDING 6/ THE OCAP CRACKDOWN: CRIMINALIZING PROTESTS 7/ CUBA INVITES THE WORLD TO HAVANA * 1/ EDITORIAL: THE OKANAGAN-COQUIHALLA BYELECTION CANADIAN ALLIANCE LEADER Stockwell Day is seeking election in Okanagan-Coquihalla, where his extreme right-wing views are shared by a significant number of voters. The decision by the Liberals and Tories not to nominate candidates in the Sept. 11 by-election gave him another boost. But even in the south Okanagan, many voters are solidly opposed to the bigoted, reactionary ideology of Day and his party. From the moment the by-election was announced, residents of the area have spoken out for the rights of women, First Nations, working people, and other targets of the Canadian Alliance. The by-election has already proved that Stock and his gang - the most dangerous force among the big business parties - will face a rough ride whenever a federal election is called. We congratulate the progressive activists and movements who mobilized quickly in Okanagan-Coquihalla to reveal the Alliance's real political agenda. And we urge voters in the riding to cast a ballot for one of the candidates running against Day. The best of these is clearly Joan Russow, leader of the Green Party of Canada, a long-time campaigner for human rights, labour, social justice, the environment, and peace issues. In the spring of 1999, while the federal NDP was supporting NATO's aggression against Yugoslavia, Russow was helping to rally Canadians against this shameful imperialist war, and demanding that NATO be dismantled. She has been a powerful opponent of the so-called "trade agreements" driven by the transnational corporations. Under her leadership, the Green Party has been active in fighting NAFTA, the MAI, the WTO and other "globalization" treaties and bodies. Russow correctly warns that religious fundamentalists such as Day pose a threat to reproductive rights and the right of women to work outside the home. She wants the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect sexual orientation, gender identity, and form of family. Unfortunately, Canada's "first-past-the-post" electoral system is stacked against progressive, smaller political parties. Working people would be far better served by combining the election of individual MPs with some form of proportional representation. Such a change would increase the chances of electing Joan Russow or Communist Party leader Miguel Figueroa to Parliament, greatly strengthening the movements to put working people and the environment ahead of corporate greed. The by-election campaign is a perfect opportunity to expose the Canadian Alliance bigots, to win support for the idea of a broad alliance for progressive change, and to call for proportional representation and other democratic reforms. * 2/ WHERE'S STOCKWELL? - Canadian Alliance leader avoids the voters By Kimball Cariou LEADING UP TO the Sept. 11 by-election in Okanagan-Coquihalla, Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day is spending as little time as possible in the riding. Organizers of election forums have expressed frustration at Day's decision to be in the riding for only six or seven days of the campaign. At press time, Day had agreed to take part in only two all-candidate meetings, including one organized by a Chamber of Commerce. His absence has also angered voters, many of whom are upset that their support is being taken for granted. Day and his handlers claim that the Alliance leader has a "responsibility" to be taking his right-wing message across the country. Official functions in Ottawa are also a higher priority for Day than the by-election. For example, Day preferred to meet with Mexico's president-elect Vicente Fox in mid-August in his role as Opposition Leader, even though he has yet to be elected to Parliament. Many observers point to a bigger factor in Day's schedule than pressing duties elsewhere: the CA's attempt to minimise public criticism of his contempt for hard-won social equality rights, and of his pro-corporate economic policies. Since Day's victory in the CA leadership race, protesters have turned up with signs, slogans,
People's Voice - September 1-15, 2000
protect public services and resist further downloading and cuts, or we will have municipal governments and school boards that simply deliver and implement the Mike Harris CRAP agenda." Promising to seek out and support progressive candidates, Manners said "people are not putting forward their names, because they don't wish to be servants of the provincial government... But it's very important for this organization to make sure that people dedicated to public education are running, or our School Boards will simply become satellites of the Ministry and of this government." ** 6/ THE OCAP CRACKDOWN: CRIMINALIZING PROTESTS People's Voice Toronto Bureau "At a signal, the police went crazy, lashing out right and left with batons, riding whips, feet and occasionally blackjacks. Mounted Cossacks rode their scared and plunging horses right at the nearest victim ... " (Description of a Queen's Park demonstration, August 1929, from The Little Band: Clashes between the Communists and the Canadian Establishment, 1928-1932 by Lita-Rose Betcherman.) THE ACTIONS OF the police at and following the June 15 demonstration at Queen's Park, organized by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), are reminiscent of the Depression, when organizing amongst the unemployed was met with extreme police violence and repression. The criminal justice system has also stepped up the heat in their continuing war against OCAP. On July 21, Organizer John Clarke and three other activists, Gaetan Heroux, Stefan Pilipa and PJ Lilley, were arrested in connection with the June 15 demonstration. All have since been released, and it is clear from their bail conditions that the main objective of the police is to criminalize and destroy OCAP. In a chilling rendition of the events of June 15, the crown declared that the organizers must have been planning for a riot because protesters came wearing cargo pants, many layers of clothing, bandanas and sporting bicycle helmets and swim goggles. The crown failed to take note of how the police were dressed: full riot gear, clubs, tear gas, horses and cattle prods. Most charges against participants in the demonstration, including those laid against the four OCAP members, have been for "participating in a riot." Clarke was also hit with "counselling to commit an indictable offence," a charge that carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail. Bail conditions, which were agreed to only because OCAP wanted to fight them in a higher court, restricted their access to Queen's Park and Allan Garders, (the home of many homeless and the site of the ongoing "Safe Park" demonstration). The four activists were ordered not to participate in protests, demonstrations or marches, and to stay away from members of OCAP and each other. According to OCAP lawyer Jeff House, these unconstitutional conditions will be fought in court. House stated that they are clearly related to "police perceptions that OCAP is a conspiracy." The breach of civil liberties permeates the police actions related to June 15. As well as the bail conditions, which in Clarke's case, restrict his ability to work, the police have seized photographs and videotapes from various media outlets. Several media organizations are challenging the police warrants in court. Lawyers were told that police intelligence has a list of other OCAP members that they are looking for in connection with the demonstration. The lawyers asked for the list, so that they could arrange for the members to turn themselves in. The request was denied. The police are more interested in playing cat and mouse games ? taking activists down publicly, as in the case of Clarke who was arrested on the Bloor Viaduct on his way home. Over 200 OCAP supporters gathered at the courthouse for the bail hearings, including members of the OCAP Allies group ? labour and social justice leaders from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Canadian Auto Workers, York University Faculty Association and the Metro Network for Social Justice. "The anti-poverty work that OCAP does day after day will continue," said Steve Watson from the CAW. "Labour will ensure that the work of defending the poor and the homeless will continue." One of the most moving moments of the day was a speech from Gaetan Heroux, obviously exhausted from his overnight stay, who told the assembled media that "If you turn your cameras away from me right now you will find thousands of people living and dying on these streets, and you will not stop us from speaking about that." 7/ CUBA INVITES THE WORLD TO HAVANA By Elspeth Gardner IN NOVEMBER 1994, the First World Meeting of Solidarity and Friendship with Cuba was held in Havana. At the time, Cuba was suffering the economic effects of the break-up of the Soviet Union, which added to the continuing problems created by the long-term U.S. embargo. In response, there was a world-wide outpouring of humanitarian aid to Cuba in appreciation of its
Korean Central News Agency Aug 29
TODAY'S NEWS (August.29.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * Kim Jong Il guides work in various fields of national economy * DPRK hard hit by torrential rain * Hong Chang Su emerges as world pro-boxing champion * Anniversary of opening of DPRK-Cuba diplomatic relations observed * Youth Day marked * Three-Revolution Red Flag Movement waged by WPK * Executive director of KEDO arrives * Delegation of south side arrives * Kim Jong Il receives gifts from ITF figures For Spanish-speaking people * es indestructible amistad coreano-cubana Kim Jong Il guides work in various fields of national economy Pyongyng, August 29 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il guided the work in various fields of the national economy in South Hamgyong Province on August 26 and 27. During his on-the-spot guidance Kim Jong Il inspected power stations built on the River Songchon, the June 4 Plant, the Tongbong Cooperative Farm in Hamju county and other units. The first leg of his visit was the Songchongang Power Station no. 32. Seeing outside and inside of the modern power station, he acquainted himself in detail with its construction and operation. He was greatly satisfied to learn that Hamhung University of hydraulic power and the provincial people's security bureau have built a modern power station capable of producing a lot of electricity by harnessing the unused water. He also went round the Songchongang Power Station nos. 29 and 30 in Yonggwang town, Yonggwang county and was greatly satisfied to know that the county has met its demand for electricity and realized the electrical heating for many dwelling houses. After visiting the terraced minor power stations on the Songchon River, he advanced highly important tasks which would serve as guidelines in increasing the output of electricity and making an effective use of it. Then he inspected the June 4 Plant at which he dropped in processing, grinding and finishing shops to learn about production there. He also moved to the Tongbong Cooperative Farm in Hamju county where he aquainted himself with details of the farming and was greatly satisfied to learn that the requirements of the Juche method of farming have been fully met. He highly appreciated the agricultural workers of this farm for accumulating precious experience in double and treble cropping. In order to raise the grain yield it is necessary to strictly observe the principle of right crop on right soil and in the right time and research into and develop high-yielding seeds suited to our country's climatic and soil conditions, he said. Accompanying him on site-guidance was first vice department directors of the WPK central committee Pak Song Bong and Ri Yong Chol, chief secretary of the South Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the WPK Ri Thae Nam, and chairman of the South Hamgyong Provincial People's Committee Kim Phung Gi. DPRK hard hit by torrential rain Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- Different parts of the DPRK were hard hit by abnormal weather in August. The recent abnormal weather was characterized by the torrential rain that hit some areas in a short time. Downpour registered over 200-300 mm in Phyonggang, Kimhwa, Kosong, Thongchon, Anbyon and other counties in Kangwon Province, leaving hundreds of houses and scores of public buildings submerged or destroyed. several sections of railways and road were destroyed and power and communications networks were totally cut. Human losses were also reported from different areas. In Kimhwa county, in particular, two hour-long downpour registering over 230 mm left at least 150 dwelling houses inundated. The water level of the Tuman River rose so suddenly in the Onsong area of North Hamgyong Province that more than 400 surrounding houses were inundated and thousands of hectares of paddy and non-paddy fields buried under silt. The torrential rain that hit some areas including Hyesan and Samsu county of Ryanggang Province left Hyesan Railway Station and industrial establishments submerged and caused unexpected losses to different sectors of the national economy including city administration and land management. Hyesan was struck by big flood three times in August. Houses for more than 1,000 families were inundated. Torrential rain and hail did big damage to crops in Rinsan, Unpha, Singye and other areas of north Hwanghae Province. 40 minute long rainfall of 155 mm accompanied by wind over 20 m/s was followed by 30-40 mm hail. Torrential rain did damage to tens of thousands of hectares of paddy and non-paddy fields in different areas in North Phyongan Province, including Pakchon, Chonma, Thaechon, Uiju and Kusong. Big landslide was reported from the Tanchon area of South Hamgyong Province. The landslide by downpour, hail and thunder caused serious damage to the mining sector, in particular. Continued survey is made of damage. Heavy rain, together
Indonesia -EastWest Timor
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Indonesia -EastWest Timor Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 Guardian Weekly . August 10-16, 2000 The Observer "Rebels risk Indonesia's wrath" By Ian Williams --- Erson Wenda stands on a ridge above the remote Baliem Valley, gesturing wildly with his arms, tears in his eyes. "The soldiers came from over there. They took people from my village, tying their hands, and brought them to these holes." He bends forward, his hands behind him, re-enacting what happened when 11 of his terrified neighbours were shot and dumped into shallow graves on the ridge. A silent crowd gathers as he continues his story. A tribesman, wearing only a codpiece and feathers in his hair, stamps his spear and utters a deep moan. An old man in soiled shorts steps forward, pointing to bullet wounds in his thigh and foot. Rain suddenly sweeps in across the valley. Everyone scrambles for shelter. The man's words now compete with rain on the tin roof: "They hacked the bodies before they threw them into the holes." For the first time, the full horror of Indonesian rule in Irian Jaya (or West Papua, as Papuans prefer to call it) is emerging. For more than 30 years Jakarta fought a dirty war against the rebel group OPM and anyone thought to sympathise with them. Thousands are thought to have died. Only now are villagers coming forward to have their reports documented by human rights workers in the highland capital of Wamena. "We're not scared any more. Before, if you as much as mentioned the rebels you'd be killed. People would be terrorised for as much as writing down their name. People were scared to even use the word Papua," says Yafet Yelemaken, who is gathering the evidence. Years of repression now fuel an urgent desire for independence. The Baliem Valley is technically still an area of military operations, but suddenly the hated Indonesian military has disappeared. All along the bumpy road that threads through the valley, villagers have set up their own security posts. Groups of men in bare feet and tattered clothes spring to attention as strangers approach. They brandish the ancient weapons of the Dani tribe that dominates this valley: bows and arrows, spears and crude knives. Veteran members of the OPM emerge from the hills, wearing feathered head-dresses, necklaces of giant boar's teeth and enormous gourds over their loins. "We're not afraid. Not now," they insist. In Jayapura the independence movement organised its most forthright challenge yet. Hundreds flooded the city centre last week for the raising of the outlawed Morning Star flag. The only sign of Indonesian authority was a solitary and bemused traffic policeman. Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid has said he will never let Irian Jaya go. Yet in the valley and here in Jayapura it looked too late, as black-clad militiamen, forbidden flags on their breasts, paraded openly. These men policed the port with sticks and knives when a refugee ship arrived from Ambon. At first nobody was allowed ashore. The few eventually permitted to land for medical treatment were escorted, menacingly, by those same militiamen. One pro-Indonesian businessmen was reportedly kidnapped and beaten by militiamen. Chinese shop owners have been threatened. At the local human rights office, long-standing critics of Indonesia's heavy-handed rule were deeply uneasy, drawing parallels with strife-torn Ambon and East Timor. "This is a time-bomb waiting to explode. I'm afraid it's all going to end in tragedy," said Albert Rumbekwan, one activist. And then cryptically: "Why are we accepting favours from our enemies?" Among those "favours" is cash for the militia, from a disturbing source. The self-proclaimed "Big Leader" of the West Papua independence movement, who runs the militia, is 62-year-old Theys Eluay, a tall, imposing man with a shock of white hair. He was once a member of the ruling Golkar party and voted for integration with Indonesia in a dubious 1969 plebiscite of local leaders. For 30 years he kept quiet about Indonesia's human rights abuses. More sinister is his main source of money: Yorris Raweyai, deputy head of an Indonesian youth organisation with close ties to the Indonesian army and ex-President Suharto. Yorris's youth organisation is involved in gambling, prostitution and protection rackets. In the past it was used by the military for the dirty work that they preferred to avoid: Yorris is awaiting trial over an attack in 1996 on the headquarters of Megawati Sukarnoputri, then an opposition leader. Now it is his money funding Eluay, his West Papuan separatist movement and their militia, which claims to be 7,000-strong. "The people are hungry for freedom, and that seems to matter more to them than the personalities fighting for it," says Mr Rumbekwan. More worrying, Mr Rumbekwan's office has received reports of rival "red and white" militias, loyal to Jakarta, being trained by
Libya News and Views
Libya: News and Views Wednesday, 30 August, 2000: Libya staged an elaborate ceremony on Tuesday to formally hand over six Westerners freed after being held hostage in the Philippines for more than four months. Libyan negotiator Rajab Azzarouq, basking in the positive publicity generated by Libya's role in the release, pledged that Libya would continue its efforts to win freedom for seven others still detained by Moslem Abu Sayyaf rebels. "We promise you with the supervision of the Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi and support of his son Seif al-Islam that we will pursue our efforts to free the remaining hostages, said Azzarouq, speaking at the ceremony on the outskirts of Tripoli. "Don't forget the name of Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi... It's the name of the man who freed you," added a spokesman for the Qadhafi International Foundation for Charity Associations, which negotiated the release. [Reuters] Wednesday, 30 August, 2000: Libya is ready to mediate for the release of an American whom the Islamist rebel group Abu Sayyaf says it captured in the Philippines Monday, Libyan foreign ministry official Hassuna al-Shaush said Tuesday. "I don't think that the Qadhafi Charitable Foundation would sneak away if its help were requested by the United States," Shaush said of the Libyan organization that has conducted negotiations to free western and Philippine hostages from the Abu Sayyaf. "Saving the life of a human being, be he European or American, is important to the Foundation," he said. "We are teaching the world how to behave," he said. [AFP] Wednesday, 30 August, 2000: - Libya's minister for African affairs, Ali Triki, and the Egyptian foreign minister, Amr Moussa, are to meet with Sudanese government officials in September to re-launch their efforts to broker national reconciliation in the civil-war rocked country. According to official sources in Tripoli, the decision to revive the initiative was decided during recent meeting of the Executive Council of the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States, which was held in Asmara, Eritrea. The sources said the Sudanese foreign minister, Mustapha Osman Ismail, would attend the forthcoming meeting. Triki met with Ismail in Khartoum Monday to discuss the Libyan plan to revive the national reconciliation initiative. [PANA] Wednesday, 30 August, 2000: The French foreign minister thanked the Philippines and Libya Tuesday for working to free six western hostages as the Cooperation Minister Charles Josselin arrived in Tripoli to greet the former hostages. "We thank the Philippines but also Libya for what they did to obtain this liberation, but I repeat that what we want is the freedom of all the hostages," Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said on Europe 1 radio station in France. He stressed that Paris had not paid a ransom for the three French hostages, released with three others on Sunday and Monday by the Muslim group Abu Sayyaf in Jolo Island, as this would only increase the risk of kidnappings in the world's trouble-spots. [AFP] ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
China. People´s Daily Aug 30
An extract. Beijing marks 100th birthday of veteran proletarian revolutionary (08/30/2000) Over 300 people gathered today at the Great Hall of the People to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Zhang Wentian, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary. Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who is also General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting convened by the CPC Central Committee. Vice-President Hu Jintao, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over the meeting. Born in 1900 and died in 1976, Zhang Wentian held several important posts of the CPC during his life. In his address to the gathering, Jiang said that Zhang was a devoted Marxist and an outstanding proletarian revolutionary, who made monumental contributions to the country and the people during his long career of revolution and socialist construction. With a deep understanding of the Marxist theory, Zhang had a strong sense of party principles and sharp political vision, Jiang said. The whole party should learn from Zhang the firm belief in the causes of the party and people, the moral integrity and the courage to uphold truth, the president said. Jiang also called on party members to learn from Zhang the spirit of learning assiduously, the good tradition of seeking truth from facts and simple living, and the will to serve the people whole-heartedly. At a time when the party and nation are marching toward the 21st century, the memory of Zhang and other revolutionaries of the older generation will help carry on and further promote their revolutionary spirits, and push forward the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, Jiang said. (Xinhua) ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[Rad-Green] Information - Please forward
From: "John Brookes" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hope you do not mind us sending this e-mail. We hope that you find the content informative and useful and, if so, would you please forward to as many people as you can from your address book and any mailing lists you maybe on. We are attempting to launch the first ever UK left-wing interactive manifesto with the intention of forging a 'new left' in Britain that could unite many disparte groups/individuals around common issues. Once the interactive part is complete we intend to put together an editorial board and prepare it for publication. So, who are we? Left Directory is the most comprehensive gateway for left and radical websites on the Internet. In addition to it left portal function visitors are kept informed of forthcoming events and the lastest labour news that is updated daily. Visitors can also get a free 'leftdirect' e-mail address which can be accessed at any time on any computer around the world. Left Directory also have an active discussion page for those interested in engaging on political issues. As the site is completely democratic, there are no restrictions on any topic people wish to discuss. More recently, Left Directory has added a music feature titled 'Working Class Hero' that is facilitated by Red Planet records. Also recently Left Direct has launched the first ever left- wing interactive manifesto where vistors are invited to write their contribution which will form part of the final piece which is intended to be published. In the near future Left Directory hopes to re-design its pages to enhance the existing features and add new ones like weekly articles. In the spirit of the site, Left Direct invites suggestions and comment from visitors. So, visit Left Directory at: http://www.leftdirect.co.uk You can also e-mail them at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] All the best and thanks for taking the time to read this e-mail. Remember, we would greatly apprecaite it if you can distribute the contents of this e-mail as far and wide as you can through your address book, mailing lists, web pages, publications, usenet groups and whatever else. The more people become involved with the manifesto the more represnetaive and therefore more valid it will be. Thanks http://www.leftdirect.co.uk To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[AFIB] News from Vieques, Puerto Rico
From: Tom Burghardt [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] DISCLAIMER: Antifa Info-Bulletin neither accepts nor endorses paid advertisements. Please ignore any ads above/below the content of this message; they have been inserted by the listserv not AFIB. ___ ANTIFA INFO-BULLETIN News * Analysis * Research * Action ___ SPECIAL EDITION - August 28, 2000 - * * * __ NEWS FROM VIEQUES __ CONTENTS: 1. COMMITTEE FOR THE RESCUE AND DEVELOPMENT OF VIEQUES [Puerto Rico]: Vieques Report; Artists and Vieques. 2. WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE ON THE AMERICAS [US]: US Navy Ends Vieques Exercise. * * * COMMITTEE FOR THE RESCUE AND DEVELOPMENT OF VIEQUES Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765 Tel: (787) 741-0716 Cel. 375-0525 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Wednesday, 23 August 2000 - - VIEQUES REPORT Report on Activities in Vieques through 23 August Source: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Hurricane Betty did not pass close enough to Vieques to cause damage. Thanks to all for emails and phone calls concerned about our situation. ) The first of August a team from the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV) and the Vieques Youth United (VYU) occupied the office of the Secretary of Health in San Juan, forcing her to meet with the group and discuss the serious situation of military contamination and the urgency to update the investigations about the cancer rate on the island municipality. During the first week of August the Navy began maneuvers scheduled to last until de 24th of this month. Simultaneously, we began several actions of civil disobedience and protest. On 3 August more than 200 people participated in a People4s Assembly at Peace and Justice Camp, in front of the entrance to the bombing range of Camp Garcma. A resolution was approved by the assembly, reafirming the committement of the community organizations to use peacefull civil disobedience in the struggle for peace on Vieques. After the mesages, around 125 people crossed the street, walked up the the Navy4s fence - heavily fortified with several rolls of razor wire creating a concentration camp atmosphere - to tie ribbons on the fence, sing hymms and chants and reflect while Norma Torres recited her most recent poem, The silent fence. The following week a group of Viequense Women - accompanied by women in solidarity from the main island - and a group of Vieques youth, were arrested after penetrating the Navy4s restricted zone of Camp Garcma on two consecutive nights. The women were freed after processing in the Federal Court at San Juan. The members of the VYU, however, were sent to the Federal Corrections Facility when they could not post the 10 thousand dollar bail imposed by the judge! They were released the next day. Hundreds participated in car caravans and support protests at Camp Peace and Justice the nights the women and youth returned by plane chartered by the CRDV. Saturday, August 5th, the Coordinating Committee All Puerto Rico with Vieques met in Vieques with leades community organizations. That night during the vigil that takes place every Saturday night at Peace and Justice Camp, enjoyed the participation of the theatre group, Agua, Sol y Sereno, under the direction of Pedro Adorno. Also contributing to the festive atmosphere of our protests was the group Locobloco, a San Francisco based youth group with an exciting presentation of dance and percussion. During the week of 6 August, the special report, Alerta Roja 2 (Red Alert 2) was aired on Channel 4 News. The special, prepared by reporter Pedro Rosa Nales, dealt with an incidente in 1966 when Navy pilots accidently dropped a nuclear device in Vieques waters. The report included new evidence, obtained by CRDV representative Flavio Cumpiano, esq., (Washington, DC), that revealed new information about the cover up of this issue that was highlighted in the Alerta Roja program originally prepared by Rosa Nales in 1998. On Sunday, August 13th, we created a Human Chain, with the participation of approximately 1000 people, mainly from Vieques. Americo Bosheti sung and Norma Torres read her most recent poem, The Silent Fence, while over 600 spread out along the military fence to tie white ribbons, flags and signs for peace on Vieques. Here is part of the multi-generational mesage offered during the activity: For more than half a century the Navy has attacked the Viequense family, forcing our husbands to look for work in other places and our children to leave in order to study. They have raped our women. They have poisoned our land, air and water. It is time to put an end to this abuse. It is time to unite the greater Viequense family, this
NOW COLOMBIA IS OFFICALLY IN PLAY LOOK FOR INSIGHTS
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 20:18:20 -0700 (PDT) From: "UTOPIA UNARMED THE MODERN LEFT.IN LATIN AMERICA" [EMAIL PROTECTED] COLOMBIA IS NOW OFFICALLY IN PLAY WITH THE CLINTON ARRIVAL TO BLESS 'plan colombia' LOOK OUT REMINDER PLEASE BE SURE TO READ ALL,THIS uu AT HTEIR BEST INSIGHTSMTHE REAL GAME AND THE REAL TAKE =MOW WITH THE USA SHOWING ITS HAND IN COLOMBIA INSIGHTRFUL REMINDER COMMENTARY WILL FLOW SUPPORT FARC-EP WHAT THE US GOVERMENT HAS IN STORE FOR COLOMBIA IN DEFENDING THEIR 'FREEDOMS' Twenty years have passed since the Nicaraguan Revolution swept the Sandinistas to power against tremendous odds, presenting the Latin American people with a fragile glimmer of hope, in an otherwise horrendous time. The new government has pursued an ambitious program of social and economic development: increasing spending on health and education and carrying out extensive land reform. Land formerly owned by absentee landlords has been given to the peasants, who worked the land prior to the revolution. They expanded production because they now work for themselves. Land reform has offered the working peasants a sense of integrity and hope. The United States, however, saw the land reform and the peasants "hope and integrity" as a threat that needed to be put down immediately. The United States sees a country that embraces land reform, in which peasants become landowners, as the enemy. For more than a decade, the United States waged a bitter war against the Campesinos throughout Central America. Several hundred thousand people were killed during the decade of "Hope and Integrity". The U.S. propaganda system attempted to hide the true nature and significance of these battles from the public. Thus, when the Sandinistas finally lost power in the 1990 elections, the U.S. media recorded the event as a victory for burgeoning Latin American democracy, notwithstanding the fact that "the US government repeatedly announced that if their favored party, the UNO coalition, did not win, the economic embargo, which had already caused $3 billion worth of damage, would continue, as would US sponsorship of Contra terrorism." Similar U.S.-sponsored "free and fair" elections were held in El Salvador and Guatemala, and were greeted with acclaim by the dutiful media The Cubans were interested in the US definition of "sponsoring of terrorism" ,because the US government was sponsoring the Contras and undermining "elected" governments, which did not support the US agenda.and financing counter insurgency throughtout the Americas . The deluge ofUS propaganda spans a period of 14 years: from the height of the Contra insurgency and Reagan's Cold War to Latin America's economic crisis and the renewed U.S. assault on Cuba. It is important to expose the truth about U.S. Latin America policy. More importantly, to expose the continuity of the colonial process, from 1492 to the present day affairs; from Columbus to Clinton. What the United States has done in Central America is not at all new, and apparantely similiar plans for Colombia re now undeway. The American public is mislead by viewing these matters in a myopic manner, because the US media does not present the real agenga behind America effort to maintain "freedoms" in Latin america.The US population believes that their goverment is helping the people of latin Americam obtain freedom and defending their right to Have "fair and Free" elections. The media refuses to expose the real agenga of US goverment,where free"and Fair "elections mean a puppet for USinterest Colombian President Pastrana and Peru's President Fujimouri are two major puppets controlled by US aid and weapons, Colombia is on verge of recieving $1.6 BILLION dollars in "aid" more money than any other country in the world recieves for domestic application. The leaders continue the propaganda we are fighting the "War on Drugs",when anyboby pays the slightest attention to LatinAmerica understands that real purpose for America'sgenerosity is make sure that the "FARC and ELN are defeated,hence American interest in Colombia are perserved The people of United States accept U.S. foreign policy, because it satisfies the needs and wants of the American people. Once the American people are made aware of cynicism with which US foreign policy is formed, then US citizens can comprehend what the USA is doing in the world. Americans who understand the historical record of US foreign policy can also comprehend a good deal of contemporary history, in the context of the power and influencethe United State wields. Current U.S. policies in Colombia and Peru fall into place, fitting historical patterns that have changed very little since the last adventure in Central American. U.S. foreign policy is designed to create and maintain an international order, in which U.S.-based business can prosper. This means a world of "open societies": societies that are open to profitable investment, to expansion of export markets and transfer of capital, and to
Korean Central News Agency Aug 30
TODAY'S NEWS (August.30.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * Greetings to Malaysian King * Greetings to Kyrgyz President * Greetings to Surinamese Foreign Minister * Message of greetings to President of Trinidad and Tobago * Hong Song Nam hosts reception for delegation of south side * 2nd round of north-south ministerial talks held * Japan's ambition for reinvasion * Gift to Kim Jong Il from Italian guest * Chinese residents in Manpho city contribute to work to take good care of Kim Il Sung's portraits * Three-point charter of Korea's reunification supported abroad * Farewell functions for unconverted long-term prisoners in S. Korea * Press conference called at Vietnamese embassy * Joint plenary meeting of KCCP c.c. and KCC central guidance committee * Symposiums held * Guyanese political party signs Pyongyang declaration * Month that witnessed burning desire for reunification * Sustained efforts for global independence called for For Spanish-speaking people * garantia para verificacion de independencia * segunda ronda de conversaciones a nivel de ministro norte-sur de corea Greetings to Malaysian King Pyongyang, August 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, yesterday sent a message of greetings to Malaysian King Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah al Hagi al Marhum Sultan Hisamuddin on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the independence of Malaysia. In the message he warmly congratulated the king and people of Malaysia on the occasion. Expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would further expand and develop, the message sincerely wished the King good health and happiness. Greetings to Kyrgyz President Pyongyang, August 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Askar Akayev, President of Kyrgyzstan, on Monday on the occasion of its National Day. The message extended warm congratulations to the President, government and people of Kyrgyzstan on its National Day. Expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would further develop, the message wished the President success in his work to achieve the country's stability and prosperity. Greetings to Surinamese Foreign Minister Pyongyang, August 30 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to his Surinamese counterpart Maria Lebens. The message extended warm congratulations to her on her appointment as Foreign Minister of Surinam. Expressing the belief that the relations between the two countries would develop on good terms, he wished success in her work. Message of greetings to President of Trinidad and Tobago Pyongyang, August 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, yesterday sent a message of greetings to A. N. R. Robinson, President of Trinidad and Tobago, on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of its independence. The message congratulated the President, government and people of Trinidad and Tobago on the occasion. Expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would further develop, the message wished the President, government and people success in their work. Hong Song Nam hosts reception for delegation of south side Pyongyang, August 30 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, hosted a reception at the Mansudae Art Theatre yesterday for the delegation of the south side to the 2nd round of the north-south ministerial talks. Invited there were the members of the delegation of the south side with Unification Minister Pak Jae Gyu as chief delegate. Present there were Kang Nung Su, Minister of Culture, Kim Su Hak, Minister of Public Health, Jong Mun San, chief secretary of the DPRK cabinet, Jon Kum Jin, chief councilor of the DPRK cabinet who is heading the north side's delegation to the talks, and other officials concerned. Hong Song Nam in his speech made at the reception welcomed the delegation of the south side to the 2nd round of the north-south ministerial talks and pointed to the historic changes taking place in the relations between the north and the south following the publication of the north-south joint declaration. This reality in which the north and the south are open- hearted in the efforts for reunification clearly confirms the immutable truth that if the Korean people pool their efforts, they can surely achieve the reunification of the country most quickly and smoothly, he said, and continued: The north and the south should make the ministerial talks serve the purpose of further promoting the improvement of the
China. People´s Daily Aug 30
An extract. Li slams US plan for missile shield (08/31/2000) Missile defense splits US administration-officials (08/31/2000) Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, has reiterated China's serious concern over the United States developing a National Missile Defence (NMD) system. Li told United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan Wednesday (Beijing time) that the US attempt to develop and deploy the NMD system will dramatically change global and regional strategic balance and stability. The United States possesses the largest and most advanced nuclear and conventional arms arsenal. It has decided again to spend heavily to develop the NMD and the Theatre Missile Defence system, Li said. He added this runs counter to the current trend and undermines international arms control and disarmament efforts. Annan agreed. He also said the UN will adhere to the one-China principle. He closely follows developments in relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, said Annan, who was briefed by Li on latest cross-Straits developments. Li also said China is now strengthening its democratic and legal construction in line with its strategy of rule by the law, and has made great progress in legislation. He said it is a mistake to see China as only implementing economic reform and not political reform. The two progress simultaneously and the development of a democratic,legal system is an important part of political reform, Li said. Different countries have different social system and national conditions. Therefore, it is natural that they choose different forms of democracy, Li said. Regrading the UN,Li said the UN's authority must be respected, and no international or regional organization should try to skirt the UN when coping with issues with international ramifications. As multipolarization and economic globalization continue, China will also continue to support the goals of the UN Charter and defend the authority of the United Nations. Li is in New York for the millennium conference of national parliament speakers of the Inter-Parliamentary Union that begins today (Beijing time) at the UN headquarters. Li also met with Inter-Parliamentary Union President Najma Heputulla, saying the millennium meeting allows national parliament speakers to exchange views and seek common ground while putting aside differences. Meanwhile,the United States has refused to grant entry visas to the Cuban delegation, headed by its parliament speaker. Li said every parliament speaker is entitled to participate in all meetings and special conferences of the union. Li and Heputulla said they fear the visas were denied for unjustifiable reasons. Earlier in the day, Li met with Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary-General Anders Johnsson and Lee Man-sup, speaker of the Korean National Assembly. Li stressed the three principles for international co-operation when he met Lee. The principles are: All countries, big or small, are equal; each country shall decide on its own how to develop; and sovereignty is inviolable and interference in the internal affairs of other countries should not be tolerated. Li said he hopes the principles will win widespread recognition at the millennium meeting. (China Daily staff Gao Jin'an) ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Vietnam News Aug 30
An extract. Developing Relations with Cambodia Important: Party Leader The Party, State and people of Vietnam always attach importance to developing the close neighbourly relations and traditional friendship and co-operation with Cambodia, for the interest of each country, and for the peace, stability, co-operation in the region and the world. This was affirmed by Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu during his reception in extended to a delegation from the Cambodian Peoples Party, led by Mr Sai Chum, permanent member of the Cambodian Peoples Party Central Committees Standing Board, in Hanoi on August 29. The Party leader told his Cambodian guests that he was happy to see the great achievements recorded by the Cambodian people. He also expressed his sincere thanks to the Cambodian Peoples Party and people for their valuable supports to the Vietnamese people and wished the Cambodian people would record further achievements in the cause of building Cambodia into a peaceful, stable and prosperous country. Earlier, Mr Sai Chum conveys the greetings from the Cambodian Peoples Party leaders to Mr Phieu and other Vietnamese leaders. Mr Sai Chum expressed his sincere thanks to the Party, State and people of Vietnam for the valuable assistance during the Cambodian peoples struggles for national independence in the past and national reconstruction at present. He said he believed that the friendship and multifaceted co-operation between Vietnam and Cambodia would be further developed, implementing the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Communique signed during the visit to Cambodia in June 1999 by Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu at the invitation of King Norodom Sihanouk. ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Colombia's Death Squads
STOP NATO: °NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM http://www.motherjones.com/news_wire/paramilitaries.html Mother Jones Magazine Colombia's Death Squads The US is dishing out $1.3 billion to help Colombia's military fight leftist rebels and drug growers -- but in doing so, it may also be helping murderous right-wing paramilitary groups. by Steven Dudley Aug. 31, 2000 PUERTO ASIS, Colombia -- Just walk into District Attorney German Martinez's office, and it becomes obvious he's a watched man. From across the street in the town's central square, hard-eyed men watch his every movement. Inside the dark, steamy, one-story building, two military officers wait to speak to him. Just a few feet away from the soldiers, the 31-year old lawyer fiddles with his neatly stacked papers on the corner of his desk. Martinez gets death threats regularly, usually by telephone in this office. Two heavily armed bodyguards accompany him everywhere. All of this attention makes Martinez nervous; he shakes as he speaks. "As public servants, we should have confidence in the military," Martinez says softly, hunching over his desk. "But we don't, because the ties between these criminals and the armed forces are very clear." "These criminals" are the clandestine right-wing paramilitaries which operate with impunity in Puerto Asis, unofficial allies of the Colombian military in its decades-long war against leftist guerillas. Martinez lays the blame for over 100 murders last year on the paramilitaries who are trying to violently purge the area of left-wing guerrillas. Puerto Asis, a town of 18,000 in Putumayo province, is ground zero for the US-backed military assault on coca-growing areas in Colombia. Putumayo, located along the Ecuadoran border, and its northern neighbor, Caqueta province, are where most of Colombia's coca is produced and refined before being smuggled out to the US and Europe. An estimated 1,500 left-wing rebels from the country's largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), protect some of these fields -- many of which lie just a few miles from Puerto Asis -- and siphon a tax from the growers and traffickers to finance their own war against the state. The Colombian military -- which was barred from getting US money for years because of past human-rights abuses -- is now set to receive a record $1.3 billion in US aid, most of it to be spent on helicopters, intelligence equipment, and training, so it can chase the leftist rebels out of this area. But Martinez's allegations -- which are backed up by numerous other observers and international human-rights groups -- point up important questions about whether the US can aid this attack without supporting the most brutal element of the war, the right-wing paramilitaries. International human-rights groups say the paramilitaries are responsible for over 70 percent of the estimated 3,000 extrajudicial executions per year in Colombia. The legal safeguards that are supposed to prevent US aid money from going to such human-rights abusers have been easily sidestepped. On Aug. 22, President Clinton signed a waiver that permits the aid to go to Colombia despite the fact that State Department did not certify the Colombian government for its human-rights record, a stipulation built into the package. "This is the wrong policy and the wrong time," said JosÈ Miguel Vivanco, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Americas Division. "The message is that the bad apples in the armed forces shouldn't be worried. Ultimately, the waiver defeats the purpose of any policy meant to improve human rights." This year's State Department report noted the Colombian military's human rights record has improved, but said that parts of the armed forces maintained ties with the right-wing groups. Critics within the Colombian government say that allegations of the Colombian military's wrongdoing have dropped because they have simply passed off the dirty work to the paramilitaries. Military units receiving aid must also abide by the Leahy Amendment, which bars money from going to foreign armed forces that are involved in human-rights abuses. Putumayo's 24th Army Brigade is one of several military units that has supposedly been cleared of involvement in such crimes. But US officials seemed to have overlooked strong evidence linking the brigade to the paramilitary groups in the area, revealing just how artificial this screening process is. Martinez, for instance, said he saw paramilitaries take four peasant farmers past one of the brigade's checkpoints last year. The farmers later turned up dead. He has filed reports to the central office of the Attorney General in Colombia's capital city of Bogota but to little avail. US embassy officials in Colombia admitted that it is hard to screen an entire brigade, which has several hundred frequently rotated soldiers. But they said that if there were specific incidents from credible sources, the embassy would
Libya News and Views Aug 31
Extracts Thursday, 31 August, 2000: French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said Wednesday that France will continue the process of normalizing relations with Libya, which has helped arrange the release of three French hostages by the Philippine Muslim rebels. In an interview with the daily Le Figaro, Vedrine said that the process of normalization of relations between Libya and the European Union (EU) began one and a half years ago when the United Nations suspended its sanctions against Libya after Tripoli agreed to hand over the suspects in the 1988 bombing of a Pan-Am passenger plane. "The Africans, the Arabs, the Mediterraneans all wish that Libya returns to the international scene because they think it will help strengthen the new foreign policy of Libya," he said. He also said that France will invite Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi to attend an EU-Mediterranean summit to be held in Marseilles, if such a summit can be realized. [Xinhua] Thursday, 31 August, 2000: Libya is to give Lebanon 5,000 tonnes of oil under an agreement aimed at strengthening relations between Tripoli and Beirut, Libyan foreign ministry spokesman Hassuna Shaush told AFP Wednesday. The deal also provides for Lebanon to buy Libyan fertiliser, while Libya will purchase 15,000 tonnes of Lebanese apples and an unspecified quantity of tobacco. In June Libya lifted a six-month suspension on visas for Lebanese visitors to Libya, while its ambassador offered Tripoli's help in rebuilding southern Lebanon after Israel ended its 22-year occupation. [AFP] ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
New Worker Online Digest - 1/9/2000
New Worker Online Digest Week commencing 1st September, 2000. 1) Editorial - From steel to rust. 2) Lead story - NHS faces another Winter crisis. 3) Feature article - Black soldier "unlawfully" killed. 4) International story - Israelis die in West bank raid. 5) British news item - New warnings on BSE. 1) Editorial From steel to rust. THE sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk and the devastating fire in the Moscow telecommunications tower have once again focused national and international attention on the decaying state of Russia's infrastructure, the weakness of its economy and the ineptitude of its current leaders. The Russian press has published scathing attacks on Vladimir Putin and his government, the relatives of the dead submariners have bitterly expressed their anger at the government's handling of the situation and the Russian public at large has shown its dismay at the appalling state their country is in. The western media has shed a few crocodile tears but at the same time it has been rubbing its hands with pleasure at the sight of so many rusting hulks in Russia's naval ports and the evidence of a dramatic reduction in Russia's naval force. Like the Russian media, the western press has pointed the finger of blame at Putin and the top military brass. Putin and his cronies undoubtedly deserve criticism. But this blaming of individuals and governments only serves to turn people's eyes from the truth -- that Russia's backwards march to embrace capitalism has brought nothing but disaster to the country and the vast majority of its people. In the fifteen years since the traitor Gorbachov came to power the once super power Soviet Union has been broken up and state power has been handed on a plate to the emerging capitalist class. The rich oil and mineral reserves have fallen like ripe plums into the hands of western transnational companies, the country is in hock to the money-lenders of the IMF and World Bank and unemployment and poverty are widespread. Russia has suffered massive devaluations of its currency which has impoverished millions of pensioners and others living on fixed incomes and wiped out the value of people's savings. A shady dollar-based economy has mushroomed in which gangsters grow fat. Inevitably the crime rate has risen dramatically. Our media and politicians rejoiced at the counter-revolution in the former Soviet Union. They bragged that now the people of that country had freedom, democracy and opportunity. But what did this really bring? It gave freedom to giant western oil companies to penetrate the Caspian, it gave freedom to transnational retailers to open up branches in Russian and east European cities and it gave freedom to Russia's new rich to get rid of socialist laws and restore the practice of exploiting workers. The new-found "democracy" is, as it is everywhere in the capitalist world, a means of allowing the capitalist class to rule with the swords of state power sheathed in their scabbards. We only have to look at the United States Congress, the House of Commons or the Russian Duma to see that the chambers are full of lawyers, economists, business people, Ivy League and Oxbridge graduates, the well-to-do and other lackeys of the ruling class. The opportunities of this restored capitalism are a sick joke for most Russians. Many workers and military personnel have experienced having to survive without wages at all, some have been paid in kind and had to hawk their factory's products around the market place, pensioners have been driven to selling their personal or household belongings and abandoned children are forced into begging or worse. All of this is the fruit of capitalism and a direct result of the country being thrown into the imperialist camp by the treacherous counter-revolutionaries who wormed their way into positions of power in the former Communist Party of the Soviet Union after it had become corrupted and distorted by revisionists and other self-serving elements. But in all class divided societies there is always class struggle. Russia, the former Soviet Republics and the countries of eastern Europe are no exception. The flame of socialism still burns as working people fight back. The spirit of the Soviet working class has not been crushed and the courage and heroism that defeated the Nazi war machine will be galvanised to win the class struggle once again. Capitalism belongs in the past along with the systems of slavery and feudalism. The time for change is long overdue -- only socialism can bring life to the hungry, hope to the exploited and oppressed and a future for all of humanity. * 2) Lead story NHS faces another Winter crisis. by Daphne Liddle JUST A FEW weeks after Tony Blair announced his grand five-year plan for the National Health Service, signs of a new looming winter beds shortage are appearing up and down the country. In many places right
Havana Radio news/views Aug 30. High Education
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Radio Havana Cuba-30 August 2000 22:30 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 30 August 2000 22:30 *CUBAN CHILDREN READY TO BEGIN NEW SCHOOL YEAR *CUBA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ON EUROPEAN TOUR *EL SALVADOR REQUESTS CUBAN HELP WITH DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK *THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALI TO VISIT CUBA *PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM KUWAIT ON ITS WAY TO THE ISLAND *OLYMPIC COMMITTE STATEMENT ON WHY HAVANA SHOULD NOT BID ON 2008 GAMES *SOTOMAYOR AND VORONIN GO FACE TO FACE ON THRESHOLD OF OLYMPIC GAMES *INFORMATICS IN CUBAN HIGHER EDUCATION *CUBAN CHILDREN READY TO BEGIN NEW SCHOOL YEAR Havana, August 30 (RHC)-Everything is set for Cuba to begin its 2000- 2001 school year, on Friday, with an enrolment of 2 million 262 thousand students. To guarantee a successful first day, Cuba's Education Ministry, teachers, parents, and children are working hard in the maintenance and refurbishing of over 500 schools, dormitories and laboratories aimed at improving the living and educational conditions of the school children. The Ministry of Education has informed that school uniforms textbooks and other school supplies are guaranteed for the upcoming school year. Education continues to be a priority for the Cuban government, despite the island's economic difficulties. *CUBA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ON EUROPEAN TOUR Stockholm, August 30 (RHC)-Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, Angel Dalmau, has wound up a two-day official visit to Sweden as part of a European tour aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. The Cuban official met with European Foreign Ministers, Foreign Trade officials, the Vice President of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Swedish Parliament and the Director of the Americas Department of the Swedish International Cooperation Agency. Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister also met with representatives of Swedish political parties, parliamentarians and business executives. The Cuban diplomat's tight agenda also includes a meeting with the Cuba-Swedish Friendship Association. His next stop will be Norway. *EL SALVADOR REQUESTS CUBAN HELP WITH DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK Havana, August 30 (RHC)-Cuba is aiding El Salvador in combating an outbreak of dengue, which has left 15 people dead so far, according to the Director of the International Relations Department of the Cuban Health Ministry, Enrique Comendeiro. The Cuban official confirmed that the Research Director of Cuba's Health Ministry, Erick Martinez, is already in El Salvador to help stop the spread of dengue, which has already affected almost two thousand people. Dr. Martinez told the Salvadoran press that Cuba will do all it can to help the people of El Salvador stop the epidemic. Last May, just before the outbreak of dengue in Central America, particularly in El Salvador, the mayor of San Salvador, Hector Silva, announced that they were already in the process of requesting Cuban aid to create a disease and disaster prevention program. *THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALI TO VISIT CUBA Havana, August 30 (RHC)-The President of the Republic of Mali's National Assembly, Ali Nohum Diallo, is scheduled to visit Cuba on Friday. He will meet with Cuban counterpart, Ricardo Alarcon, and visit Havana's Biotechnology Center and the Latin American School of Medicine among other scheduled activities. *PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM KUWAIT ON ITS WAY TO THE ISLAND Havana, August 30 (RHC)-A Parliamentary delegation from Kuwait will arrive in Havana on Saturday at the invitation of Cuba's National Assembly. The delegation will include members of the Kuwait-Cuba Friendship Parliamentary Group, headed by Dr. Nasar Al Sane. The Kuwaiti delegation is scheduled to meet with Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon and other Cuban parliamentarians. Meetings with Government Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, as well as the Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, Marta Lomas, are also on the list of activities. *OLYMPIC COMMITTE STATEMENT ON WHY HAVANA SHOULD NOT BID ON 2008 GAMES Havana, August 30 (RHC)--The decision to leave Havana out of the biding for the Olympic Games, for the year 2008, did not take the Cuban Olympic Committee by surprise, noted today in an editorial in the Cuban daily Granma. On Monday, the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board listed five cities still in the race for the games. They are Beijing, Osaka, Paris, Istanbul and Toronto. Those eliminated included Havana, Bangkok, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur and Seville. The Cuban Olympic Committee says that, once again, the rights of poor nations to organize Olympic Games have been ignored. The note adds that the decision follows the lucrative profit margin integral to the sports world to which Cuba has always been opposed. We call for respect for third world countries' rights to organize the location of Olympics, if they have the merits, the infrastructure, experience,
Korean Central News Agency Aug 31
TODAY'S NEWS (August.31.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * Medal and diploma to Kim Jong Il from Nakhodka city * Greetings to leader of great September 1st Revolution of Libya * Message of greetings to Uzbek President * Kim Yong Nam meets delegation of south side * Guinean figure on repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners * Anniversary of September 1st Revolution in Libya marked * Delegation of S. Side to north-south ministerial talks feted * Japan schemes naval attack on DPRK * Pyongyang, time-honored city * Rodong Sinmun calls for smashing imperialists' "globalization" For Spanish-speaking people * segunda ronda de conversaciones a nivel de ministro norte-sur de corea * banquete para delegacion surcoreana a segunda ronda de conversaciones a nivel de ministro Medal and diploma to Kim Jong Il from Nakhodka city Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a medal marking the 50th anniversary of Nakhodka city and its diploma from Nakhodka city of Russia. Mayor of Nakhodka Victor Gnedilov on a visit to Korea conveyed the medal and diploma to an official concerned. He said that the city decided to award the medal and diploma to Kim Jong Il who has made immortal exploits for freedom and happiness of humankind. Greetings to leader of great September 1st Revolution of Libya Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, today sent a message of greetings to Moammer El Gaddafi, leader of the great September 1st Revolution of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the revolution. The message extended warm congratulations to Moammer El Gaddafi and, through him, to the leadership and people of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, on the occasion. The Korean people are sincerely rejoiced over the great successes the Libyan Arab people have achieved under his leadership in defending the dignity and sovereignty of the nation and achieving the prosperity of the country. The message wished Moammer El Gaddafi greater success in his work, expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger and develop in the future. Message of greetings to Uzbek President Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on August 29 sent a message of greetings to Islam A. Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the Independence Day of his country. Extending congratulations to the President, the government and the people of the country on the Independence Day, the message wished him and his people successes in the work for the independent development and prosperity of the country. Kim Yong Nam meets delegation of south side Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met the delegation of the south side to the second round of the north-south ministerial talks at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present were members of the delegation of the south side with Minister of Unification Pak Jae Gyu as chief delegate. Minister of Culture Kang Nung Su, director An Gyong Ho of the secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland and members of the delegation of the north side headed by chief councilor of the DPRK cabinet Jon Kum Jin. The talk proceeded in a cordial atmosphere. Kim Yong Nam gave a luncheon in honor of the delegation of the south side to the north-south ministerial talks. Guinean figure on repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Editor-in-chief of the Guinean paper Horoya Ibrahima Solidien released a statement on Aug. 22 in connection with the repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners to the north. In the statement he said: General Secretary Kim Jong Il highly praised the unconverted long-term prisoners in the south as men of strong faith and will, reposed profound trust in them and showed loving care for their families in the north. From the time when survival of unconverted long-term prisoners was known to the world, he saw to it that the DPRK Measure Committee for Rescuing Unconverted Long-Term Prisoners in South Korea was formed and made his all efforts for their repatriation. He also made sure that they were awarded "national reunification prizes". Kim Jong Il raised the issue of their repatriation as an important one at the north-south summit talks and saw to it that their repatriation was realized in September. He is, indeed, a kind-hearted popular leader. It is his warm love for the people that prompts the entire Korean nation to hold him in high esteem like their father. Anniversary
Libya News and Views
An extract. Libya: News and Views : LIBYA Friday, 1 September, 2000: The Philippines will negotiate with a Muslim extremist group which kidnapped an American man, officials said Wednesday as Libya offered its help and the United States rejected any deals with "terrorists." A government negotiator meanwhile said the abduction of American Jeffrey Craig Schilling would not affect a separate initiative to win the release of six Europeans held by another faction of the Abu Sayyaf guerrilla group in the southern island of Jolo. [AFP] ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
China. People´s Daily Sep 1
An extract. Chinese leaders congratulate Vietnam on 55th anniversary (09/1/2000) Chinese Leaders sent Friday messages of congratulation to their Vietnamese counterparts marking the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In a message to General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Le Kha Phieu and Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said the Chinese Communist party, government and people have always stressed the importance of maintaining and developing relations with Vietnam. In 1999, relations between China and Vietnam have grown closer. With friendly exchanges and reciprocal cooperation strengthened, relations between both countries have moved into a new stage, Jiang said. In a congratulating message to his Vietnamese counterpart Nong Duc Manh, Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, said that with mutual efforts, friendship between the Chinese and Vietnamese people and cooperation between both countries' congresses could be further consolidated. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said in another message of congratulation to his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Khai that in the previous year the trade volume between China and Vietnam increased sharply, economic cooperation was deepened and the scale of cooperation was constantly expanded. It's a steadfast policy of China to further develop friendly relationship and overall cooperation with Vietnam. The Chinese government is willing to cooperate with the Vietnamese government to push the friendly bilateral relations to a higher level, the Chinese premier said. Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan also greeted the occasion with a message to Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien, wishing that the bilateral cooperative ties be further fortified. (Xinhua) ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yugoslav Daily Survey Aug 31
BELGRADE, 31 August 2000 YUGOSLAVIA - INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES YUGOSLAV PREMIER SENDS MESSAGE TO LIBYAN COLLEAGUE ON NATIONAL DAY YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER RETURNS FROM CUBA YUGOSLAV FM CONGRATULATES LIBYAN COUNTERPART ON NATIONAL DAY YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER CONGRATULATES KYRGYZ COUNTERPART ON NATIONAL DAY YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER SENDS MESSAGE TO UZBEK COLLEAGUE ON NATIONAL DAY KING OF JORDAN RECEIVES YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR YUGOSLAVIA WILL ATTEND CHILDREN'S CONFERENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA I NTERPARLIAMENTARY UNION - USA - YUGOSLAVIA - CUBA INTERPARLIAMENTARY UNION BLASTS U.S. VISA BAN AS UNDEMOCRATIC FROM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA SERBIAN PREMIER MARJANOVIC VISITS CENTRAL SERBIA SERBIAN DEPUTY PREMIER VISITS COMPANY IN SOUTHERN SERBIA TANJUG DIRECTOR DIES YUGOSLAVIA - KOSOVO-METOHIJA YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL ON RESISTANCE TO ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISM YUGOSLAVIA - ELECTIONS NAMES OF CANDIDATES IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS TO BECOME KNOWN ON SEPTEMBER 3 VOTERS' RIGHTS IN MONTENEGRO ARE UNDERMINED - COMMITTEE * * * YUGOSLAVIA - INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES YUGOSLAV PREMIER SENDS MESSAGE TO LIBYAN COLLEAGUE ON NATIONAL DAY BELGRADE, August 31 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic has sent a message of felicitation to his Libyan counterpart Imbarek Abdullar Al-Samis, on the occasion of Libya's national holiday, a Yugoslav Government statement said on Thursday. Traditionally good relations and successful cooperation existing between the two countries are a guarantee of a further strengthening of friendship and understanding to the well-being and in the best interests of the Yugoslav and Libyan people, Bulatovic said. YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER RETURNS FROM CUBA BELGRADE, August 30 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic returned on Wednesday from his two-day visit to Cuba, during which he held intensive talks with President Fidel Castro and top state officials. Bilateral talks at all levels and on all occasions were held in an atmosphere of friendship, closeness and full mutual trust as part of the endeavors to intensify all forms of cooperation between the two countries which enjoy traditional friendly ties. Both are members of the Non-aligned movement and strive for democratic international relations, Jovanovic told the press on his arrival in Belgrade. During his visit, Jovanovic was received by President Castro, to whom he conveyed a personal message from Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic regarding bilateral relations and cooperation in international forums. Castro welcomed the message and agreed with President Milosevic's ideas on intensifying friendly ties and all-round bilateral relations and cooperation in international forums, and expressed his best wishes for Yugoslavia's prosperity, Jovanovic said. Castro was particularly interested in the results of reconstruction and recovery endeavors in Yugoslavia and reiterated his solidarity, support and admiration for the results achieved so far, Jovanovic said. President Castro said that Yugoslavia was demonstrating in its reconstruction, recovery and economic modernization endeavors the steadfastness, unity and determination it had demonstrated in its defense from the military aggression by NATO, Jovanovic said. The views of Yugoslav and Cuban officials during the talks in Havana were identical on all issues, as the two countries are symbols of steadfastness in the fight for democratic and just international relations and firmly adhere to the principle of free choice of paths for internal development, free from foreign pressures or interference, Jovanovic said. Yugoslavia and Cuba have agreed to intensify cooperation within the Non-aligned Movement and the UN, and Cuba reiterated its principled stance that Yugoslavia is a founder and continues to be a member of both organizations, Jovanovic said. Cuba endorses the continuity and full protection of all Yugoslavia's membership rights in all other international organizations as well, and unreservedly supports Yugoslavia in its defense of its integrity and sovereignty, Jovanovic said. Jovanovic expressed hope that the agreement the two countries reached on cooperation in international forums would bear fruit at the forthcoming 55th UN General Assembly session, the Millennium Summit and the activities of the Non-aligned Movement. A special contribution to the talks on bilateral economic cooperation was made by the delegation of Yugoslav businessmen, who discussed cooperation prospects in various fields with Cuban partners, Jovanovic noted. YUGOSLAV FM CONGRATULATES LIBYAN COUNTERPART ON NATIONAL DAY BELGRADE, August 31 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic addressed to his Libyan counterpart Abdurrahman Mohammed Salgam a message on congratulations on Libya's national day - September 1. Jovanovic expressed his conviction that bilateral relations would continue to develop on the basis of traditional friendship between the two peoples and of decades of
Havana Radio news/views Aug 31. US blocks conf
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subject: Havana Radio news/views Aug 31. US blocks conf Radio Havana Cuba-31 August 2000 23:00 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 31 August 2000 23:00 *CUBA DEMANDS THE U.S. FULFILL ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AS UN HOST COUNTRY *ALARCON REFUSED U.S. VISA, MISSES MEETING OF INTERPARLIAMENTRY UNION *CHINA'S PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S WITHHOLDING VISAS *CUBA NOW HAS MODERN EQUIPMENT TO STUDY EARTHQUAKES ON THE ISLAND *18TH-CENTURY SUGAR MILL IS DISCOVERED IN EASTERN CAMAGUAY *CUBAN BOXERS PROMISE TO DELIVER A KNOCK-OUT AT THE OLYMPICS *RESPONSE TO U.S. CLAIM THAT CUBA "FORCES" PEOPLE TO MIGRATE ILLEGALLY *U.S. BLOCKS CONFERENCE OF PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS *CUBA DEMANDS THE U.S. FULFILL ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AS UN HOST COUNTRY Havana, August 31 (RHC)-- Cuba has called on the United States to live up to its responsibilities as host country of the United Nations. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, speaking at a news conference in Havana on Thursday, called on Washington to grant the visas requested by members of the Cuban delegation, which plan to attend the Millenium Summit in New York next week. The Cuban foreign minister also stated that Cuba maintains diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic, although political ties between Havana and Prague are at the lowest level ever. He affirmed that despite the services rendered by the Czech Republic to Washington's policy of aggression against the island, the Cuban government has not changed its relations with Prague. Cuba's top diplomat recalled that the Czech representatives presented an anti-Cuba resolution before the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Commission in April -- charging Cuba with violations of human rights. Perez Roque said it was unfortunate and shameful that an independent country such as the Czech Republic would bow down to the dictates of the United States. During another part of the news conference, held Thursday at the Foreign Ministry, Felipe Perez Roque said that three Swedish citizens -- detained in Havana on Tuesday -- would be expelled from the country. The Cuban foreign minister noted that the three entered the country under the cover of tourists and were involved in subversive activities against the Cuban government. *ALARCON REFUSED U.S. VISA, MISSES MEETING OF INTERPARLIAMENTRY UNION Havana, August 31 (RHC)-Cuban legislators who were to participate in the Inter-parliamentary Union meeting in New York, were unable to attend because Washington has refused to issue them visas. The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that it would not issue entry visas to Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon and his personal assistant Miguel Alvarez, but that they would issue visas for two Cuban legislators, Ramon Pez Ferro and Ada Martinez to attend the meeting that got underway on Wednesday at UN headquarters. However, by late Thursday neither of the two Cuban parliamentarians had received the promised entry permits. Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Anders Johnson, expressed frustration over Washington's decision to refuse to issue a visa to the President of the Cuban Parliament and recalled that the meeting begins with the participation of the world's Parliament presidents. And in Uruguay, newspapers published Cuba's condemnation of the US government's decision. *CHINA'S PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT CONDEMNS WASHINGTON'S WITHHOLDING VISAS Beijing, August 31 (RHC)-The President of China's National Assembly, Li Peng, said in New York that all the world's Parliament Presidents have the right to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting currently underway at the United Nations. Asked about Washington's refusal to issue the president of Cuba's Parliament a visa to participate in the UN meeting, the Chinese official said that each of the leaders of the world's legislative bodies has the right to attend all meetings and conferences. *CUBA NOW HAS MODERN EQUIPMENT TO STUDY EARTHQUAKES ON THE ISLAND Havana, August 31 (RHC)-Cuba's National Seismologic Station's seven centers now boast the most modern equipment to study earthquakes that shake the island. According to the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, the 7 stations that make up the national network are capable of recording earth movements on the island as well as earthquakes around the world if they if they registrar five points or more on the Richter scale. The state-of-the-art technology will allow the stations to guarantee more rapid and reliable statistics. The National Center of Seismologic Research is located in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. The center's specialists are currently doing research on that eastern city's geology and infrastructure in order to determine the levels of danger and vulnerability of communities built in high risk areas. The last strong earthquake felt
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 113 / 2
Robin Cook, the foreign secretary, was accused of hypocrisy when he used gagging orders - public interest immunity certificates (PIIs) - to suppress the texts of four intelligence reports. While in opposition he lambasted the Tories for signing such orders, which led to Paul Grecian's imprisonment in the first place. Although Mr Cook has said that the sole reason for withholding the documents was to protect their sources, he refused to hand them over with the names of sources blanked out. His decision is backed by Jack Straw the home secretary, who has forbidden the Grecians access to further intelligence reports in the case. Now two developments threaten to undermine the government's case. Article 8 of the new Human Rights Act which comes into force on October 2, and a ruling from Elizabeth France, the data protection commissioner, giving the public the right to ask to see security files on them, will let the Grecians' lawyers ask for seek these and any other documents held by the security services relating to the father and son. A law lords' ruling on July 27 will also weaken customs and excise ability to mounta successful defence against the Grecians. It let four people, led by David Darker, prosecute the West Midlands police for conspiring to fabricate evidence against them. The Grecians' lawyers will use it to apply to the courts in November for permission to bring accu sations of abuse of power against customs and excise. Such allegations only require proof of malice: the absence of an honest belief in guilt is not necessary. The West Midlands police claimed immunity from prosecution after the trial of Mr Darker and three others for alleged drug trafficking and forgery of travellers' cheques collapsed because evidence had been fabricated by the police. The case went to law lords, who ruled that because the police fabricated the evidence, immunity from prosecution should be withdrawn. The five judges ruled that 'in determining the scope of witness immunity, the predominant requirement of public policy was that those who suffered a wrong should have a right to a remedy" and it should not extend to the 'wrongful purpose of fabricating false evidence which would be referred to in an untruthful statement of evidence'. Lord Hutton quoted Sir Richard Scott, the judge who headed the Arms to Iraq inquiry, as saying 'The police and the crown prosecution service, like everyone else, are subject in the discharge of their duties to the rule of law. There is no public interest that requires them to afforded immunity against actions based on malicious or knowing abuses of their powers.' Lawrence Kormornick of Dechert, the Grecians' lawyer, said: ' The Darker case is an important landmark human rights decision that apart from evidence in court and witness statements, the police and other investigation authorities and prosecution authorities no longer have absolute immunity from suit for actions alleging conspiracy to injure and misfeasance in public office. 'The House of Lords now seems to be saying that investigators and prosecutors like everyone else, are subject to the rule of law and they should not have immunity against actions based on malicious or knowing abuses of their powers unless absolutely necessary. 'This decision is to be welcomed, it should enable many more victims of injustice to obtain compensation by relying on abuse of public office rather than having to prove malicious prosecution.' Iraq Says 311 Killed in U.S., UK Bombing UNITED NATIONS (Aug. 28) XINHUA - Iraq on Monday told the United Nations that a total of 311 Iraqis had been killed and another 927 wounded in the south of Iraq since December 1998 in the U.S. and British bombings. In a letter to the U.N. Secretary-General and the president of the Security Council, the speaker of Iraq's National Assembly, Saadoun Hamadi, said in that time, there were 18,607 sorties flown by United States and British warplanes from bases in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. On August 12 and 13, U.S. and British planes committed a further crime by indiscriminately shelling civilians in civilian residential districts and food storage warehouses in Muthanna overnorate in southern Iraq, the speaker said. This resulted in the killing of two people and the wounding of 24 civilians. Between the attack in December 1998 and the resent, a total of 18,607 sorties have been flown in the south of Iraq by United Kingdom and United States warplanes taking off from the teritory of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, killing 311 citizens and injuring 927 others, the speaker noted. He said despite the flagrant violations of the Charter and procedures of the United Nations, the Security Council has been beset by a general paralysis and has been unable to take any immediate collective measures. Iraq strongly condemns these repeated acts of aggression, he added. MISCELLANY+++
Philippines. Suu Kyi Burma
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Philippines, Suu kyi Burma Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 Via: Sydney Morning Herald . August 26, 2000 "Ring-in at VIP line-up shows rampant cronyism" By Konrad Muller in Manila --- During a recent visit to the Pentagon, as the United States Secretary of Defence, Mr William Cohen, accorded President Joseph Estrada state honours, a Filipino-Chinese tobacco, beer, airline and banking magnate was photographed oddly standing in a line-up of Philippine Cabinet officials and congressional leaders. To critics of the Philippine Government it was not merely a gauche breach of protocol but a telling tableau. "Cronyism has grown into a monster that can no longer be controlled," said Amando Doronila, a veteran commentator and Estrada critic. "The Lucio Tan episode provided vivid evidence of Philippine cronyism played out on the Washington stage." It was not the first time the tycoon at the heart of the Pentagon contretemps had been closely associated with Mr Estrada on a foreign trip. In May, on a state visit to China, massive colour posters of Mr Estrada were reportedly plastered on the facade of Mr Tan's 36-storey Bank Centre in the city of Xiamen, Fujian province, as a string orchestra welcomed the Philippine President with classical and Filipino songs. At his inauguration in June 1998, Mr Estrada pledged "no relatives, no friends, no compadres [godfathers]". He has since rejected persistent accusations that cronyism is flourishing once more in the Philippines. Mr Tan is not just any entrepreneur; neither is he the sole presidential friend to attract allegations of influence peddling, although he does fuel particular heat. On the latest Forbes magazine roll-call of the world's top 200 billionaires, he appears with a fortune of $US2.1 billion ($3.67 billion) and is the wealthiest man in the Philippines. He arrived from Fujian as a boy, and his immigrant rags-to-riches career, starting as a caretaker, demonstrates remarkable tenacity and acumen. Yet pages from the past also help explain why he inspires such controversy. After the late president Ferdinand Marcos was driven into Hawaiian exile, a case was filed in 1987 against Mr Tan, among others, seeking the "reconveyance" of allegedly ill-gotten wealth. It was specifically claimed he had paid the dictator "sums of money" from 1980 to 1986 in exchange for "privileges and concessions". "We deny that and there is no proof, no evidence," responds his lawyer, Estilito Mendoza, who was a justice secretary under Marcos and is still one of Manila's top corporate lawyers. Thirteen years later the case, astonishingly yet to move to pre- trial, is crawling in Dickensian fashion on the files of the anti- graft court of the Philippines. The alleged Marcos partner is said to have donated very generously to Mr Estrada's 1998 election campaign. "This is nothing new," said Sheila Coronel, head of the Philippine Centre for Investigative Journalism. "The conventional wisdom is that a campaign contribution is an investment that guarantees access and favourable treatment. "Lucio Tan just happens to play this role on a far grander scale than any other Chinese-Filipino businessman before." She suggests Mr Tan's contribution to the Estrada electoral stockpile was perhaps as high as 1.5 billion pesos ($58 million). Early controversy centred on a 25 billion peso tax evasion suit filed against Mr Tan's Fortune Tobacco Corporation by the government of president Fidel Ramos. After Mr Estrada was elected in 1998 the tax case was dropped for lack of evidence by the new Commissioner of Internal Revenue. Mr Estrada's first justice secretary initiated a revival of the case but has since been sacked. Liwayway Chato was commissioner under Mr Ramos. She insists the cigarette maker committed criminal fraud from 1990 to 1992 by selling to dummy corporations and fictitious individuals, which Mr Tan's lawyer denies. Ms Chato said: "With such blatant disregard for the evidence, it's very clear this administration is saying you can violate the law so long as I kno w you. I don't know what favours the President is getting, but if it's mere friendship, wow." She is being sued for 290 million pesos in damages over a separate tax case won by Mr Tan. However, it is the Estrada Government's policy towards the Tan-owned Philippine Airlines (PAL), especially the scrapping of an air agreement with Taiwan, that has kindled the deepest discord. Last October flights were severed, amid accusations that Taiwanese carriers had breached the agreement by dumping prices and poaching PAL's trans-Pacific trade. In July 1998, fresh from a costly refleeting exercise, the oldest airline in Asia, a symbol of Philippine national pride, was badly burnt by the Asian financial meltdown. It still has debts of $US2 billion, and is only now returning to profit. Rejecting allegations of protectionism, government
China. People´s Daily Sep 1
An extract. China hopes to further increase exchanges between the legislative bodies of China and India, as a consolidated Sino-Indian friendship and its further development are of great significance to both the economic development of the two countries and the stability of the region, China's top legislator Li Peng said in New York on Thursday. Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remark during his meeting with Gandhi Balayogi, speaker of the Lok Sabha, or the House of the People. The two leaders are attending the millennium summit of the national parliaments, which began at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday. Li said that he hoped to push forward the development of bilateral relations and cooperation in every possible field by increasing exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries. He also noted that the five principles of peaceful coexistence proposed by Chinese and Indian leaders decades ago continue to be important guidelines in the development of international relations today. Balayogi agreed with Li that India and China share identical views on many issues, such as multi-polarization of the world. Regardless of the size of countries, they are all equal members of the international community, and share such principles as mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference of internal affairs in other countries. He hoped parliamentary cooperation between the two countries would become an important component of overall bilateral ties. Li also said he noted that in her opening speech at the millennium summit of the presiding officers of the national parliaments Wednesday morning, Najma Heptulla, who is the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha of India -- the Upper House of Parliament -- and the president of the Council of the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) and chairwoman of the millennium parliamentary summit, reflected China's views, which were drafted in the final declaration of the parliamentary summit. "We rededicate ourselves to the ideals enshrined in the UN Charter, adopted some 55 years ago, and to work together to address the main challenges facing the world community. These are achievements of international peace and security, democracy and respect of human rights without compromising sovereignty and equality and without interfering into internal affairs of member states and allowing each country to choose its own path of development," she said in her speech on Wednesday. (Xinhua) ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Vietnam News Sep 1
En extract. NA Chairman Calls for Closer Ties between IPU and UN Having experienced great losses and made sacrifices for national independence and the people's happiness, the National Assembly and the people of Vietnam are trying their best to bring into full play their internal strength, striving for the objectives of 'a wealthy people, an economically strong country, an equitable and advanced society.' So said Nong Duc Manh, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the Conference of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments held in New York, August 30 and September 1, 2000. He went on to say that Vietnam had been holding fast to the fundamental principles of international relations, namely respect for each other's freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference into each other's internal affairs, equality and peaceful co-existence, and development of friendly and co-operative relations with all countries in the world community. On behalf of the National Assembly and the people of Vietnam, chairman Manh extended his greetings of solidarity and co-operation to the Presiding Officers of National Parliaments, and greetings of peace and friendship from the Vietnamese people to the world's peoples on the occasion of the Conference, an important event for the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). He welcome the initiative of all IPU members to hold this historic conference immediately before the United Nations Millennium Summit, marking a new development in the co-operation and relationships among peoples of the world, and between the IPU and the UN at a crucial juncture when humanity was about to enter a new millennium. "In the first years of the 21st century," he stressed, "peace and co-operation are the major trends reflecting the pressing demands of nations and states. However, local wars, armed conflicts, religious and ethnic contradictions, armed races, subversive interventions, terrorism and social and economic crises of increasing complexity are likely to occur in many parts of the world. Therefore, for peace to be maintained, security guaranteed, and democracy and human rights respected, all countries should adhere to the fundamental principles of international relations as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, are equal members of the United Nations. The internal affairs of each country should be managed solely by its people and international affairs collectively discussed by all countries. This represents the common will of all nations and peace-loving peoples as well as an irreversible historical trend." He pointed out: "Globalisation, as an inevitably objective trend, is developing very swiftly and contributing to the promotion of productive forces and the world economy. However, globalisation may also have many negative impacts on social life and exacerbate the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor in and among world nations. In recent years, economic crises have broken out in many countries, consequently driving them into severe destitution, with the poor population bearing the heaviest burdens. However, our great desire for a fair world has made us believe that the dawn of the 21st century promises a brighter future for global co-operation in favour of developing countries, first and foremost through poverty alleviation and the narrowing of the development gap among nations. We also believe that the IPU will work more closely with the UN in resolving emerging issues in the globalisation process and ensuring comprehensive and sustainable development for the good of humanity. "The 20th century has passed, yet it has left us the indelible imprints of human history. This very century saw vigorous economic development, fuelled by extraordinary advances in science and technology and marked by the creation of very great material wealth, the likes of which had never been seen in previous centuries. However, we cannot help but feel uneasy about the losses we caused. Apart from the losses of life and property in destructive wars, the environment and natural resources are also being destroyed by human hands. With this in mind, we are convinced that the activities of Parliaments should contribute actively to the conservation of the environment and natural resources for our lives today, and those of future generations. "Since its inception, the UN has existed as an important forum, where states speak for justice, equality and the inevitable existence of their territorial sovereignty and national independence. In keeping with vigorous development of the world today, we support an overhaul of the organisational structure and democratisation of UN operations in order to improve the efficiency of its services for the common benefit of all countries. IPU is a forum of all peoples where MPs represent their people's earnest and legitimate aspirations regarding political, economic, cultural and social issues
[New-Worker-News] Prague - Stop IMF
Hi all! :-), I have a lot of info sent by the Czech Communist Youth Union for anyone going to join the demo against the IMF conference -- everything from maps of the area and conference centre to info about accomodation and Czech law. It is too much to post on here and I am not sure if egroups will forward images anyway. If anyone plans to go, or knows someone that is, drop me a line and I will forward it to you (bout 550k!) Hugs, Richard ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Havana Radio news/views Sep 2. ElSalvador Dengue
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subject: Havana Radio news/views Sep 2. ElSalvador dengue Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Radio Havana Cuba-01 September 2000 23:45 Radio Havana Cuba-01 September 2000 23:45 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 01 September 2000 23:45 *FIDEL CASTRO WILL HEAD CUBAA'S DELEGATION TO THE UN MILLENMIUM SUMMIT *ALARCON'S SPEECH TO THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION DELIVERED IN HIS ABSENCE *CUBAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ON FIRST DAY OF CLASSES *RUSSIA DENOUNCES WASHINGTON'S REFUSAL OF VISAS TO CUBAN, YUGOSLAVIAN DELEGATIONS *MOTHER OF TANIA THE GUERRILLA VISITS DAUGHTER'S TOMB IN THE CHE GUEVARA MEMORIAL *VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR THANKS CUBA FOR SOLIDARITY *UN AGENCY GIVES CUBA HIGH MARKS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION *OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CONFIRMS MORE THAN 80 NEW CHANGES OF NATIONALITY FOR THE SYDNEY GAMES *CUBAN TRAINERS ARE IN SYDNEY WITH FOREIGN TEAMS *CUBA SENDS MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO CONTAIN OUTBREAK OF DENGUE IN EL SALVADOR *FIDEL CASTRO WILL HEAD CUBAA'S DELEGATION TO THE UN MILLENNIUM SUMMIT Havana, September 1 (RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro will head the island's delegation to the United Nations Summit of the Millennium, slated to take place next week in New York. According to a statement released by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, entry visas to attend the UN event were requested Friday morning in Havana for the leader of the Cuban Revolution, as well as Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and other members of the delegation. At the same time, it was announced that the Cuban government has requested authorization to fly over and into U.S. territorial airspace, clearance at the international airport and permission for two Cubana airliners to land in New York City *ALARCON'S SPEECH TO THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION DELIVERED IN HIS ABSENCE Havana, September 1 (RHC)-- Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon would have delivered his speech to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in New York City on Friday -- but U.S. officials earlier this week denied granting him a visa. This morning at the United Nations, the text of the speech was delivered to all of the delegations present at the meeting. The speech by the president of Cuba's parliament addressed the issues of world poverty and a continued arms race, despite the so-called end of the Cold War. Alarcon asked what the future will bring for the billions of people who are poor and hungry, lacking education and health care. Cuba's representative to the Inter-Parliamentary Union questioned why military interventions and attacks against sovereign nations continue to take place in today's world -- calling for an end to the plunder of underdeveloped nations by the one superpower that thinks it owns the planet. The speech that would have been delivered today by Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon ends by issuing a call for all parlimentarians to work for a world where liberty, justice and democracy are not just empty words -- concluding that working for a better world is their duty before the people they represent. *CUBAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ON FIRST DAY OF CLASSES Havana, September 1 (RHC)-Cuban President Fidel Castro met on Friday morning in Havana with primary and secondary school principals, representatives from provincial universities as well as with students and officials from the Ministry of Education. The meeting, which was held in the capital's International Convention Center, was to analyze the upcoming school year. Meanwhile, two million 400 thousand students started their 2000-2001 school year with 47 new text books and a reduction in the number of students per classroom with the incorporation of new teachers this year. The number of polytechnic institutes specialized in computer sciences was increased from 8 to 14; nearly all of the island's 12 thousand 446 schools were refurbished and a series of new subjects were introduced into the curriculum. *RUSSIA DENOUNCES WASHINGTON'S REFUSAL OF VISAS TO CUBAN, YUGOSLAVIAN DELEGATIONS Moscow, September 1 (RHC)-Russia has denounced Washington's refusal to issue visas to the Cuban and Yugoslavian delegations that were to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at UN headquarters in New York. According to a Russian Foreign Ministry note, the world's legislative leaders passed a joint declaration condemning Washington's decision. The Russian Foreign Ministry document charges that Washington failed to comply with a UN accord signed in June of 1947, which states that the US government promises to issue visas to foreign government officials regardless of the state of Washington's relations with the country. The president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, was to have participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting, which began on Wednesday in New York. However, Washington refused to
SEPTEMBER 26 CALL TO ACTION
From: "aaron hoffer" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [CrashList] Fwd: SEPTEMBER 26 CALL TO ACTION SEPTEMBER 26 CALL TO ACTION Mark the IMF/WB Annual Meetings September 26: Localize the Fight for Global Justice! [Slightly modified from Jobs with Justice call to action. See contact information below.] The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hold their semi-annual joint meeting on September 26, 2000 in Prague, Czech Republic. The World Bank and the IMF, two of the cornerstones of the international financial system, claim to be working to eliminate poverty, but their real purpose is to force developing nations to embrace corporate globalization. The result is rampant abuse of workers' rights and the environment and the further impoverishment of the very people the World Bank and IMF are supposedly there to help. Tens of thousands will take to the streets in Prague on September 26 to protest these harmful institutions and their advance into Eastern Europe. In cities across the U.S., coalitions of labor, community, student and faith-based activists will organize actions against local targets to highlight the same issues that our sisters and brothers will be protesting in Prague. Here is what some are planning in the U.S. on September 26: * Confront a union-busting employer in your community who is ignoring his/her workers' right to organize. * Protest a local privatization plan in your city. * Hold a forum on canceling third world debt. * Target a toxic-waste dumper in your area. * Leaflet or protest at a Kohl's or Target outlet, to support sweatshop workers in Nicaragua who are resisting union-busting at the Chentex and Mil Colores factories. * Do a leafleting or protest at a store location or corporate headquarters of some other offensive corporation. * Do an action at a CitiBank branch to pressure them to stop purchasing World Bank bonds. On the occasion of the 55th annual meetings of the governing bodies of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, we call for the immediate suspension of the policies and practices that have caused widespread poverty and suffering among the world's peoples and damage to the world's environment. We oppose those policies that have encouraged the suppression of basic human rights and freedoms, especially those specific to women, workers and the poor. We assert the responsibility of these institutions, together with the World Trade Organization and multi-national corporations, for an unjust world economic system. We issue this call in the name of global justice, in solidarity with the peoples of the Global South struggling for survival and dignity in the face of unjust economic policies. We seek to create just societies, where governments are accountable first and foremost to the will of their peoples for equitable economic development. Only when the coercive powers of the international financial institutions are rescinded can such a society exist. Only when international institutions are no longer controlled by the wealthiest governments for the purpose of dictating policy to the poorer ones shall all peoples and nations be able to forge bonds - economic and otherwise - based on mutual respect and their common needs. Only when the well-being of all, including the most vulnerable people and ecosystems, is given priority over corporate profits shall we achieve genuine sustainable development and create a world of justice, equality and peace. Endorsing Organizations Include: Jobs with Justice * 50 Years is Enough Network * International Brotherhood of Teamsters * Witness for Peace * AFL-CIO * Essential Action * Communications Workers of America * Center for Economic and Policy Research * Continental Direct Action Network * United Students Against Sweatshops * Alliance for Global Justice * Rainforest Action Network * Eighth Day Center for Justice * Just Act: Youth Action for Global Justice * Global Exchange * Center for Economic Justice * Nicaragua Network * Campaign for Labor Rights * Citizens Trade Campaign * United for a Fair Economy * Alliance for Democracy * Mexico Solidarity Network * The Shalom Center * Pride at Work AFL-CIO. Cities Planning Actions Include: Albany, NY * Asheville, NC * Atlanta, GA * Baltimore, MD * Blacksburg, VA * Bloomington, IN * Boston, MA * Buffalo, NY * Burlington, VT * Chapel Hill, NC * Chicago, IL * Cleveland, OH * Dallas, TX * Denver, CO * Detroit, MI * Durham, NC * Erie, PA * Greenville, SC * Helena, MT * Indianapolis, IN * Ithaca, NY * Knoxville, TN * Lancaster, PA * Los Angeles, CA * Louisville, KY * Miami, FL * Nashville, TN * New York, NY * Oakland, CA * Orange County, CA * Philadelphia, PA * Pittsburgh, PA * Portland, ME * Portland, OR * Providence, RI * Raleigh, NC * Richmond, VA * Salt Lake City, UT * San Diego, CA * San Fernando, CA * San Francisco, CA * Seattle, WA * Springfield, MA * Syracuse, NY * Trenton, NJ * Tucson, AZ * Washington, DC * Wilmington, DE. If you are
Turkey: 6 Kurds Hurt, 72 Arrested In Peace Day Protests
STOP NATO: °NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM Times of India September 2, 2000 6 hurt, many held in Turkey peace day protests DIYARBAKIR, Turkey: Six people were injured and at least 72 others were detained on Friday as Turkish police clamped down on Kurdish protestors demonstrating accross the country to mark world peace day, the Anatolia news agency reported. The police crackdown came as member of the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP) went ahead with their planned meetings despite a ban by Turkish officials on the activitires. In Diyarbakir, the regional capital of Turkey's southeast, truncheon-wielding police clamped down on some 300 protestors outside the office of the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP), an AFP correspondent witnessed. Six people were injured while an unspecified number of others were detained, HADEP said in a statement. Police were continuing to enforce strict security measures across the city, which is located in the heart of a 15-year Kurdish insurgency, the AFP correspondent said. In the eastern city of Van, 40 HADEP members and sympathisers were taken into custody when police dispersed a group of demonstrators outside the party building, Anatolia said. The agency added that 29 party members were detained in the central Anatolian city of Konya for holding an illegal demonstration and three others were taken in by police in Istanbul for putting up posters on world peace day without permission from authorities. In a written statement earlier Friday, HADEP chairman Ahmet Turan Demir denounced Ankara's ban on their plans to hold meetings, which he said were aimed at issuing peace messages. He said that officials in Ankara had banned HADEP meetings in the cities of Mersin in the south, Izmir in the west, Diyarbakir, Van and the Turkish capital even though local officials in some cities had given a preliminary go-ahead to the activities. "Our supporters have reacted strongly to this decision," he added. He added that the aim of the meetings was to call for a general amnesty, including rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the abolition of the death penalty and the lifting of restrictions on the use of the Kurdish language. HADEP, which seeks a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question and recognition of cultural rights for Turkey's Kurds, faces a possible ban for alleged links to the PKK, which Turkey describes as a "terrorist organisation". The PKK has fought for self-rule in southeastern Anatolia since 1984, but declared an end to the armed conflict last year following an appeal from its leader Abdullah Ocalan, on death row for treason, for a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue. Turkey's southeast has been relatively calm since then as normally heavy fighting between rebels and government troops, which has claimed some 36,500 lives, has scaled down considerably. (AFP) __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ __ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Nuclear Power Project Hazards
WE NEED YOUR HELP Dear friends, The Government of India and its State Governments have decided to install Nuclear Power stations in different States of our country. The apprehension of the people is that the ulterior aim of such initiative is not for the welfare of the people but to use its DU to strengthen the atomic power armoury of the Government. The danger of such Projects is well known to you. Our Committee and other Organizations are in movements against it. To alert the people of our country and to make conversant of such nefarious act of the Government, and to boost up our movements, we need a list of Nuclear Power Project Hazards occurred in various such installations around the globe. It will be of much advantage to us if the list contain the dates of occurrence, nature of hazards, short notes on pollution affected areas caused by that hazards and casualties details. We request you to help us with such a list; if it is available with you or any information / contact where from we may get it. With fraternal greetings, Ratan Sen Gupta All India Anti-imperialist Forum Calcutta, India [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Independent: Turkish state behind Turkish Hizbullah?
Did Turkish army kill the feminist Konca Kuris? By Justin Huggler in Batman 2 September 2000 Konca Kuris was a loving mother with five children. She also dared to challenge Islamic orthodox teachings on women, and insisted that women's rights had a place in Islam. In January, her rotting body was dug up out of the ground, disfigured beyond recognition. Kuris was abducted two years ago, tortured for 38 days, murdered and buried in a shallow grave. Her killers made a video of the torture sessions. So who killed Konca Kuris? The answer leads to another grave, newly dug in south-east Turkey this year - a grave no one dares even go near. It leads to a terror group calling itself the "Army of God", which committed hundreds of "executions" in which the killers were never caught, even when the police were witnesses. It leads to a looming political crisis, which has pitted the head of the military against elected MPs. And it leads to Islamic terrorists supported, trained, and maybe armed by security forces. Kuris was among several Islamists who abruptly disappeared. Police could find no trace of them, until, acting on a tip-off, they raided a house in Istanbul. It was a safe house used by the Kurdish group Hizbullah, the Army of God. Turkey's Hizbullah is not related to the Lebanese group of the same name. It is committed to Islamic revolution in Anatolia. In the police raid, the leader of the group, Huseyin Velioglu, was shot dead. He was buried in his home town of Batman, in the Kurdish south-east. Militants captured in the raid revealed that the organisation killed Kuris and the other Islamists. Police have since captured a large number of Hizbullah militants, and several of the most prominent are on trial. The government has used the spectre of them to justify a purge of hundreds of state employees for alleged links with Islamic groups it is trying to force through. On the surface, Turkey is dealing with Hizbullah. But that is not the whole story. People are afraid to walk too close to Velioglu's grave. But people here are used to fear: Batman is notorious for"mystery killings". Between 1992 and 1996, it had 363 unsolved murders. "I am a witness," said Murat Aydin, a local Kurd. "I saw Mehmet Sincar killed." Sincar, a pro-Kurdish MP, was shot dead in the main square of Batman at 4pm in 1993. His murderer was never caught. "There were police and soldiers all around that day," Mr Aydin said. "They just ignored the killing." Most of the "mystery killings" of Batman were like that. But no one in Batman is in any doubt as to who the killers were. "It was Hizbullah," Mr Aydin said. "We all knew who they were." In Batman, they call themcontra-guerrillas. And they say they worked hand in hand with Turkish security forces. Hizbullah emerged in 1985, a year after the Kurdish rebellion started in earnest. The rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), led by Abdullah Ocalan, was Marxist and atheist. The Islamic extremists of Hizbullah vowed to wipe it out. Turkish security forces desperately trying to contain the Kurdish rebellion stood to gain from factional fighting. Everybody in Turkey knows they turned a blind eye to Hizbullah. But how far did it go? Troubled by the allegations coming out of Batman, the parliament sent a commission to investigate and in 1997 published a damning report, concluding that security forces had supported Hizbullah. Fikri Saglar, a former MP who served on the forum, said: "The police chief in Batman told us on the record he knew who the Hizbullah militants were. But he said he could do nothing because the armywas protecting them. He also told us the army had given Hizbullah militants some training." The armed forces are the most powerful institution in the country. When Kuris's murder was uncovered in January, the former president Suleyman Demirel conceded some "forces belonging to the state" may have formed links with Hizbullah, but insisted they acted "illegitimately". Mr Saglar says, for the situation to continue in the face of the parliamentary report, those acting "illegitimately" must have been at a high level within the state. Plenty of questions remain. Earlier this year news emerged that in 1994 the governor of Batman spent $500,000 on guns - the guns disappeared but Hizbullah stores have been discovered full of guns. Are they the same ones? Why did Hizbullah suddenly turn on Islamist figures in the past 12 months. And why have the security forces chosen now to wipe out the Army of God? The PKK is defeated, and the militants are of no more use to security forces. Mr Aydin believes he knows. "Now Turkey wants to join the [European Union], and they have all these unsolved murders to account for," he said. "So they shut down Hizbullah, blame the killings on them, and the whole case is closed." -- Press Agency Ozgurluk In Support of the Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey and Kurdistan http://www.ozgurluk.org DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc
wwnews Digest #158 / 2
organic farming. The idea is that the resistance to disease of one type of crop will protect another crop nearby. Now China has shown that it works not just in little garden plots but in large-scale agriculture, too. It's a simple method that can quickly be adopted all over China--and all over the world, for that matter. It doesn't require the purchase of costly chemicals or seeds. It doesn't force the farmer into an endless cycle of borrowing before each harvest. The New York Times of Aug. 22 called it a "stunning new result from what has become one of the largest agricultural experiments ever." This is a real "green revolution"--unlike the corporate- driven one several decades ago that drove so many small farmers in the Third World into bankruptcy. The question to be asked is, Why didn't anyone do this sooner? These methods of gardening have been around for a long time. Organic farmers swear by them. Why hasn't the government of a huge agricultural country like the United States carried out a similar large-scale experiment? Why was it left to China to do it? Without knowing all the details on how this experiment came about, one thing stands out very clearly. The United States is a capitalist country where the agribusiness companies, including large chemical corporations, dictate agricultural policy. China, on the other hand, is still primarily a planned economy, despite some capitalist inroads. The governing Communist Party is not a capitalist party like the Republicans or Democrats. It is driven not by profit motives but by the desire to feed China's 1.3 billion people as efficiently as possible. This experiment didn't take place in India or Indonesia or the Philippines or Louisiana. It took place in China. Think about it. - 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) Message-ID: 022c01c014f0$b012c2e0$0a00a8c0@home From: "WW" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [WW] South Korean movement wins strafing ban Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 11:15:54 -0400 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit - Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Aug. 31, 2000 issue of Workers World newspaper - South Korea PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT WINS STRAFING BAN By Berta Joubert-Ceci On Aug. 18, the Korean people won a partial victory when the U.S. Air Force announced that it would stop strafing the Koon-ni range at Maehyang-ri, south Korea, with live ammunition. For 45 years the Pentagon has waged war against the people living in villages adjacent to the strafing area. U.S. fighter planes stationed on the nearby bases of Osan and Koonsan fly to Maehyang-ri to practice machine-gun artillery. They shoot at four circular targets on the coast's edge, less than a mile from civilian homes. The Koon-ni range is the only one south of Seoul authorized for training for automatic weapons. The U.S. planes--many times in formations of four--fire at the same time, creating such an incredibly loud noise that it is beyond the scope of sound-measuring devices. The pilots start firing while still flying above civilian territory. Chun Man-Kyu, leader of the Maehyang-ri Task Force to Close the Bombing Range, calls this noise "the unseen weapon." He says it has produced even more psychological damage than the artillery that U.S. forces drop on the range. The noise pollution has created pent-up anger that causes aggressive behavioral problems in children and adults, Chun says. A very high suicide rate in the area is another consequence. OPPOSITION TO U.S. OCCUPATION After 45 years, why has the U.S. military finally responded to the villagers' demands? On May 8, a U.S. A-10 plane dropped six 500-pound live bombs on the beach at Maehyang-ri. The explosions rattled the village and damaged 170 houses. Seven residents were hospitalized. This incident galvanized growing sentiment against the U.S. military presence in Maehyang-ri. Many militant demonstrations have taken place in the village and beyond. The residents defied the anti-communist National Security Law that forbids any act perceived as supporting socialist north Korea. Labor and student rallies demanding reunification and the ouster of all 38,000 U.S. troops have made a great impact in the struggle. Farmers, religious and cultural groups, and other organizations have put Maehyang-ri's battle on the front burner. International delegations traveled to the village to offer support. They included representatives of the struggles against the U.S. military presence in Okinawa and in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Other supporters have come from the United States and Germany. Support demonstrations have also
IRSP: Solidarity with the Libyan Revolution
IRSCNA News Analysis - http://www.irsm.org/irscna/ 01 September 2000 Solidarity with the Libyan Revolution The International Department of the Irish Republican Socialist Party issued a statement sending "greetings and solidarity" with the Libyan people on the 31st anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the Libyan monarchy, which functioned as a surrogate for the imperialist interests operating in North America. The statement, issued by IRSP International Secretariat member Peadar Baile said: "The Irish Republican Socialist Party pause to extend warm wishes and continuing solidarity to the people of the Libyan Jamahirya on the 31st anniversary of their revolution against imperialism "The Libyan Jamahirya has set a shining example through its willingness to demonstrate its independence from the imperialist powers, who have bent so many other nations to their will, making a mockery of national sovereignty. The Libyan Jamahirya has also lent its support to many, many people in struggle around the globe, providing a model of revolutionary internationalism. "Having endured more than a decade of international sanctions designed to destroy the independent, revolutionary, posture of Libya in the world, the Libyan people have shown their determination and their preparedness to sacrifice for the sake of national sovereignty and for the principles on which they have constructed one of the most radical realisations of popular rule in the world today. "Through having long supported efforts promoting Pan-Arabism and Pan-Africanism, the Libyan people have set the standard for internationalism that other nations would do well to follow, if they would seek to arise from under the thumb of imperialist domination. "The IRSP is proud to be able to claim a consistent history of solidarity with the Libyan Jamahirya, which we reiterate today. In a continuation of that tradition, we send greetings of solidarity to the Libyan people, and salute them for their heroic stance in opposition to imperialism and in support of national liberation and justice for the working people throughout the world." ENDS --- Eric Hayes Patkowski [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://irsm.org/ (Pairtí Poblachtach Sóisialach na h-Éireann) http://www14.pair.com/jcs/ (James Connolly Society) Collective Member, Working Stiff Journal ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Vietnam News Sep 3
An extract. Grand meeting and parade celebrate National Day A meeting, military parade and march of the masses were held in Hanoi on the morning of September 2 to celebrate the 55th anniversaries of the August Revolution and the National Day. A delegation of athletes carried a revolutionary torchlight from the Ho Chi Minh Museum to light up the flame from a make-shift tower in front of Ba Dinh Square. When the Party and State leaders had come to the rostrum, the national anthem was started. Minister of Culture and Information Nguyen Khoa Diem, head of the organising board, read an opening speech and President Tran Duc Luong made a speech highlighting the revolutionary process of 55 years of national construction and defence. Representatives of 54 nationalities of Vietnam and young pioneers took the lead of the parade. Following them were the peoples armed forces including ground troops, anti-aircraft and air forces, border guards, navy, commandos and peoples police forces and the Mekong River Delta woman guerillas. Then representatives of governmental agencies, unions and branches marched past the rostrum. ___ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
