Aboriginal protests condemn poverty _amp; injustice

1 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008



Prolétaires de tous les pays, unissez-vous! Otatoskewak ota kitaskinahk mamawentotan Workers of all lands, unite!



Military plans

people's

JUNE

1-15,

for 2010



VOICE

2008



See page 7

VOL. 16

#17 Printed in Canada by union labour

on recycled paper

$1 Publications Mail Agreement #40011632









TIME

TO

PAY

THE

RENT!

Aboriginal

protests

condemn

poverty &

injustice

see page 3

Photo: K. Cariou







5

Challenging Wilkins

INSIDE 9

4th Fleet sails again

6

A Montreal author and solidarity Frightened by the upsurge in people's

activist takes on U.S. Ambassador Behind Bill C-50 movements and the election of

David Wilkins' claim that Cuba is a The Harper government's new progressive governments across

"prison island", reminding him that immigration bill is anti-worker and anti- Latin America, U.S. imperialism has

the United States is a world leader equality, a return to the openly racist revived the Navy's 4th Fleet to patrol

in dubious imprisonment. policies of earlier decades. the seas of the southern hemisphere.

2 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008







Corporate tax cuts increase regional gap

PV Vancouver Bureau foundland & Labrador, Alberta, averages 11.2% of GDP, ranging near the minimum, despite the high All other industries in Canada,

and Saskatchewan, which account from a low of 9.2% in Nova Scotia cost of living.) on the other hand, reported profits

The Harper government’s pro- for 15% of the population, gener- to 12.7% in Manitoba. In the non-oil-producing prov- per worker of just $10,800, or

posed corporate tax cuts will widen ate 36% of corporate profits, will The three oil-rich provinces al- inces, on the other hand, before- one-tenth as high as the super-

the regional and industrial in- reap a large share of the benefits of ready enjoy higher economic tax corporate profits average profitable resource and finance

equalities in Canada’s economy, corporate tax reductions. On a per growth, thanks to the surge in global $4500 per capita, less than one- sectors.

says a new study released by the capita basis, companies operating oil prices and industry profits and third the levels in oil-producing Measured as a share of industry

Canadian Centre for Policy Alter- in these provinces can be expected investment activity. In Newfound- provinces. revenues, profits in Canada’s hard-

natives (CCPA). to receive three times as much land and Alberta, before-tax corpo- Stanford’s study reports that hit manufacturing sector equal just

The study, by economist Jim benefit from the tax cuts as com- rate profits equal almost $16,000 before-tax profits equal almost 6.59% of revenues in 2006 (and

Stanford, analyzes the distribution panies in the rest of the country. per resident. Saskatchewan gener- 20% of the petroleum industry’s probably lower now, given the

of corporate profits across prov- The share of profits already ates over $10,000 per resident. total sales. In 2006 (when the data challenging economic conditions

inces and 16 major industries. It amounts to 32% of GDP in New- (While Stanford’s study does not was assembled) this equaled over facing Canadian manufacturing).

finds that the big winners from foundland’s case, and 22% for Al- examine the living standards and $300,000 for every employee in Profits are even lower for a range

corporate tax cuts will be oil-pro- berta and Saskatchewan, reflecting working conditions of workers in the industry, and undoubtedly more of economically important serv-

ducing provinces, and the oil and the unique profitability of the petro- these provinces, readers should re- since then. Profits per worker in ice industries.

finance sectors. Industries and re- leum industry. Across the oil-pro- member that the benefits flowing to the oil and gas industry are 17 “Finance Minister Flaherty is

gions which are struggling will ducing provinces, before-tax cor- the corporations do not trickle down times higher than in the Canadian `picking winners’ as surely as any

receive very little benefit. porate profits average 23% of GDP. to much of the population. Housing economy as a whole (just over other Finance Minister - including

The Tories plan to reduce corpo- For Canada as a whole, before- costs are sky-high, for example, and $18,000 per worker). Ontario’s,” says Stanford. “Sur-

rate income tax rates over the com- tax corporate profits accounted for social programs remain badly un- The finance sector is the sec- prisingly, the `winners’ he’s pick-

ing four years by almost one-third. 13.7% of GDP in 2006 (a record derfunded in the oil-rich provinces. ond most profitable industry, with ing are the provinces and indus-

The statutory rate will fall by over 7 high share). In non-oil-producing Hundreds of thousands of workers before-tax profits exceeding 20% tries that are already doing very

percentage points, from 22.12% in provinces, however, the profit share are forced to survive on wages at or of operating revenues, or more well indeed.”

2007 (including the federal corpo- than $100,000 per employed The study also questions the

rate surtax) to 15% by 2012. Fi- worker, five times higher than the economic impact of corporate tax

nance Canada estimates these cuts Canadian average. Three other cuts. Despite the dramatic decline

will reduce federal revenues by just industries also enjoy high profit in corporate tax rates this decade,

under $15 billion per year (or about levels: mining, utilities, and real business spending on capital

$450 per year per Canadian) once estate. Together these five sec- equipment and R&D has been re-

fully phased-in. The corporate tax tors (concentrated in resources markably sluggish.

cuts will reduce the federal govern- and finance) accounted for over (Picking Winners: The Distort-

ment’s total revenue base by about 45% of all before-tax corporate ing Effects of Federal Corporate

6%, at a time when federal deficits profits in 2006, reporting aver- Tax Cuts, is available on the CCPA

may be looming again. age profits per worker of web site at

“Despite what Finance Minis- $107,000. www.policyalternatives.ca.)

ter Flaherty says, corporate tax

cuts are an especially uneven

policy tool,” Stanford says. “These

corporate tax cuts constitute a sig- Hamilton celebrates May Day

nificant net fiscal shift in favour of

Alberta, and away from Ontario By Sam Hammond

and every other non-oil-produc- May Day was celebrated in Hamilton, Ontario, very well this year.

ing province.” The highlight was an important and timely demonstration hosted by

According to the study, the oil- Local 1005 United Steel Workers to preserve manufacturing jobs.

producing provinces of New- More than 600 people gathered at the Local 1005 Hall parking lot

where CLC President Ken Georgetti, Steel Canadian Director Ken

Neumann, CAW Local Presidents from Oshawa and St. Catharines,

the President of National Steel Car Local 7135, Gary Pedron, and



$50,000 Fund Drive Rolph Gerstenberger, President of Local 1005, addressed the crowd.

The speeches were angry and militant, reflecting the threat to our

manufacturing base and the foreign takeover of our plants and

resources.

Rolph Gerstenberger gave a powerful speech about the loss of

People’s Voice at the CLC control over our industry and resources. He also passionately con-

demned all the parties in the Ontario Legislature who called a 30

minute special session on a Sunday afternoon to legislate the Toronto

As this issue goes to press, Peo- gone over $30,000, passing 60% nual PV Walk-A-Thon, organ-

Transit Workers back to work after a strike of only a few hours. Every

ple’s Voice business manager Sam of our target, but the detailed pro- ized by the Lower Fraser Club

party in the legislature shamed themselves by enthusiastically sup-

Hammond and other volunteers vincial breakdown will have to CPC, will take place in Surrey on

porting this anti-labour legislation without dissent, even by the NDP.

are busy at the Canadian Labour wait until next issue. Sunday, July 20. Gather by 11 am

It was an appropriate May Day rally fighting for workers’ rights.

Congress 25th Convention in To- In the meantime, tickets are on at the 140 St. entrance picnic area

The action was followed by celebrations later that night at the

ronto - distributing papers, selling sale for our 16th Annual Victory of Bear Creek Park for the usual

Workers Arts and Heritage Centre in conjunction with Hamilton

books, and watching the debates Banquet at Vancouver’s Russian walk around the park, followed at

Labour Council, on May 3 in Hamilton’s downtown area by the

with keen interest. We’ll have cov- Hall (600 Campbell Avenue) on 12 noon by a delicious interna-

Skydragon Hall, and on May 4 by a celebration at Solidarity

erage and analysis in our next is- Saturday, June 7, doors opening at tional potluck lunch. The cultural

House, where over 40 attended a showing of the classic film Salt

sue. 6 pm. Our guest speaker this year program and speakers will start at

Of The Earth.

Unfortunately for this report, will be Stephen Von Sychowski, a 1 pm. It’s an event you don’t want

preparations for the People’s Voice leading member of the Vancouver to miss! For details, call Harjit at

display at the CLC required con- & District Labour Council Young 604-543-7179, or Krishna at 604-

siderable time and energy, at the

expense of all the work necessary

Workers Committee and the un-

ion-led campaign to raise the B.C.

940-0420.

Remember that this year’s “PV 16th Annual

People's Voice

to calculate the latest report on our minimum wage. Shopping Bag” includes the fol-

2008 Fund Drive. We have now Also on the west coast, the an- lowing:

- “The Gruesome Acts of Capital-



Here's my contribution ism,” a 112-page booklet by David

Lester, full of astounding facts and

figures about the exploitative sys- Victory Banquet

to the PV Fund Drive! tem which threatens our planet;





Enclosed please find my donation of $_____

- a 12-month complimentary PV

sub (keep it or give it to a friend);

- People’s Voice 2008 Calendar;

Saturday, June 7

to the 2008 People's Voice Press Fund Drive. - People’s Voice “Karl Marx” T- doors open 6 pm

shirt (tell us what size);

Name __________________________________ - a surprise music CD - pick clas- Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave.,

sical, oldies, or folk.

Address ________________________________ For a $100 donation, you get Vancouver

your choice of one of these items.

City/town ______________________________ For each additional $100, choose

Guest speaker: youth labour activist

another item from our Shopping Stephen Von Sychowski

Prov. ________ Postal Code _______________ Bag. For a donation of $1000 or

more, take the entire Shopping Tickets $15 - call the People's Voice office,

Send your contribution to:

People's Voice, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3

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scription for yourself or a friend.

3 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008





Justice now for Aboriginal Peoples

Support May 29 protests!

100 Aboriginal communities have Aboriginal territories. Most of the their traditional territories, the Grassy national rights of Aboriginal peo-

Statement of the Central been under “boil water” advisories land Canada occupies was simply Narrows blockade in northwestern ples and Quebec to self-determina-

Executive Committee and for years, a situation which would stolen from Indigenous people for Ontario, the rising protests against tion, up to and including secession.

the Aboriginal Peoples' not be tolerated in other areas. Over- settler use. Wherever nation-to-na- Olympics-related resort development We want swift and just settlement

Commission of the crowding among Aboriginal fami- tion treaties were in fact signed, the on unceded aboriginal lands in Brit- of Aboriginal land claims, includ-

Communist Party of Canada lies is double the rate of that for all colonizing powers soon violated ish Columbia - these are among the ing over natural resources, and for

Reflecting the rising strength of Canadian families, and mould con- these agreements to further encroach warnings that the racist and criminal emergency action to improve living

grassroots Aboriginal movements, a taminates almost half of all First upon Aboriginal lands. While these denial of Aboriginal rights will not conditions, employment, health and

second annual “National Day of Ac- Nations households. Asbestos, pes- lands and resources have been ex- be accepted. Despite legal setbacks, housing of Aboriginal peoples.

tion” has been ploited to generate the Manitoba Métis continue their No process of achieving these

called on May 29 The time has come to pay the rent. The First vast wealth for the do- struggle to reverse the theft of their aims can work without respecting

by the Assembly of

First Nations. The

Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples are demanding mestic and foreign transnational corpo-

lands at the time of Confederation.

The Communist Party condemns

the full national rights of Aborigi-

nal nations, especially the right of

AFN’s Call re- an end to decades and centuries of agony and rations which domi- the racist policies of the Harper To- self-determination and existing

flects the just de- countless national humiliations. nate the Canadian ries, and expresses full solidarity treaty and constitutional rights.

mands of Treaty- economy, Aboriginal with the May 29 National Day of We are proud of our party’s vi-

status nations on reserves. For us, the ticides and mine tailings are a par- peoples continue to suffer intoler- Action and with all Aboriginal strug- sion for Canada. The growinginterest

Day is a welcome opportunity to sup- ticularly deadly problem for Abo- able levels of poverty, unemploy- gles being conducted across Canada. by Aboriginal people in the Commu-

port the AFN’s Call and to raise a riginal communities. ment, illiteracy and disease. We will continue to do our part to nist Party of Canada comes after

larger discussion involving all Abo- Decade after decade, these ap- Now, the time has come to pay the help mobilize full support for all many decades of fighting for genu-

riginal peoples in the land called palling numbers rarely shift. But rent. The First Nations, Métis and these actions. ine national equality and for the goal

Canada, status and non-status alike. instead of taking decisive measures Inuit peoples are demanding an end We want equal and just relations of a socialist Canada which will

The NDOA comes at a critical to improve living conditions, the to decades and centuries of agony among all nations in Canada. We make these policies a long overdue

moment in the growing struggles by Harper government scrapped even and countless national humiliations. want a new, democratic constitu- reality. Nothing less can end the

Aboriginal peoples to defend their the Kelowna Accord’s limited fis- The Six Nations land reclamation at tion based on an equal and volun- tragic consequences of five hun-

traditional territories and to end rac- cal supports, and rejected the United Caledonia, the struggles of the tary partnership of the Aboriginal dred years of racist colonial op-

ism and poverty. The Communist Nations Declaration on the Rights Tyendinaga Mohawks, the KI resist- peoples, Quebec, and English- pression. We will never rest until

Party of Canada urges wide partici- of Indigenous Peoples. ance against mineral exploration on speaking Canada, recognizing the this terrible legacy is erased!

pation by the labour and democratic Forced by public opinion to make

movements in the NDOA and all at least a token gesture towards equal-





Jailed Algonquin leader

Aboriginal struggles. We vow to ity, PM Stephen Harper has announced

amplify our call for the genuine equal- plans for an “apology” for the geno-

ity of all nations within Canada, and cidal history of the residential schools.





begins hunger strike

for resolving the just demands of But more Aboriginal children are sepa-

Aboriginal peoples, including swift rated from their families today than

settlement of lands claims based on ever before, and the murders of hun-

full recognition of inherent Aborigi- dreds of Native women remain un-

nal title. We demand that Aboriginal solved and unrecognized. Statement released by end the peaceful protests of the by the government of Ontario to

peoples be able to legally enforce an At the same time, the Tories and Ardoch Algonquin First First Nations, while lawyers rep- send a message that the interests

end to resource exploration and all their police agencies are

Nation, May 15, 2008 resenting Ontario supported the of the mining industry will trump

other development on their tradi- criminalizing Aboriginal youth, mining industry’s legal manoeu- Aboriginal rights and the environ-

tional lands pending settlement of claiming for example that opposi- On Feb. 15, Ardoch Algonquin vres at every stage. ment of Ontario.

claims if they so choose. tion to the 2010 Winter Olympics in First Nation (AAFN) spokesper- For the first month of Bob Lovelace, who turned 60 in jail,

Over five hundred years after the Vancouver is driven by “Native ter- son Robert Lovelace was sen- Lovelace’s incarceration, the gov- announced that he will begin a

genocidal beginning of imperialist rorists.” This lie follows last year’s tenced in the Ontario Superior ernment of Ontario said nothing, hunger strike tomorrow [May 16]

colonization, the indigenous peo- revelation that a Canadian Armed Court of Justice in Kingston to 6 remaining indifferent to this trav- to press the government to respond

ples of the Americas are increasing Forces manual lists Aboriginal re- months in maximum security, plus esty. Since the jailing of the KI to Ardoch’s request for good faith

their resistance today with growing sistance movements among so- crippling fines, for peacefully pro- Six, and public outcry which fol- negotiations. “I do not want my

strength and unity. We salute the called “terrorist” groups, clearly tar- testing uranium mining in the children and grandchildren to have

historic political advances of the gets for military attack. In Ontario,

Ardoch homeland. Chief Paula to go through what we are going

working class in Latin America, such the KI Six and Ardoch Algonquin

Sherman was fined $15,000 and through,” he said. “Starting to-

as the election of Evo Morales in spokesperson Robert Lovelace re-

Bolivia, which are based in large main in jail for the “crime” of op- given until today to pay the fine, morrow I will consume only water

part on the powerful struggles of posing corporate exploitation of failing which she will be jailed. in the hopes that our cry for justice

indigenous movements against US their traditional territories. The rac- On March 17, a Superior Court will be heard by Mr. McGuinty

imperialism and its local allies. ist policies of the Harper Tories and judge in Thunder Bay sentenced and Mr. Bryant.”

Canada is not isolated from this provincial governments are setting six leaders of the Chief Paula Sherman said: “I

process, just as Aboriginal peoples the stage for new police attacks on Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug will soon be going to jail because

in this country suffer from the same Aboriginal peoples, with the tragic (KI) to six months after they were I cannot and will not pay this un-

oppression as in the rest of this potential for future Ipperwashes. found in contempt of court in a just fine. I am a single mother with

hemisphere. The shameful truth is Those who refuse to accept in- dispute which is virtually identi- three dependents whose only crime

that unemployment and poverty rates justice and oppression are not “ter- cal to that of the Ardoch is the defense of our land. Like

are far higher for Aboriginal peo- rorists” or “criminals.” The real Algonquins. Bob Lovelace and the KI 6, I would

ples than any other group in Canada. criminals are the corporations and The jailing of respected, law- rather go to jail than take food out

The suicide rate among Aboriginal governments which profit by the abiding community leaders has had of my children’s mouths or let our

youth is estimated at nearly ten times theft of Aboriginal lands while fami- a devastating impact on our com- Robert Lovelace land be destroyed.”

the rate in the wider population. lies live in desperate poverty. munities, particularly on the fami- Acting Co-Chief Mireille

Among First Nations children, 43 The truth is that the Canadian lies of those incarcerated. The in- lowed, the Minister of Aboriginal Lapointe added, “We are sickened

per cent lack basic dental care. Over state was founded on the theft of difference shown by the McGuinty Affairs, Michael Bryant, has told by the hypocrisy of the McGuinty

government towards the rights of the media that he has bent over government. While honest, consci-

First Nation communities and the backwards to try to resolve the entious community leaders languish

Pool closures hit Winnipeg youth imposition of long jail terms and disputes which led to the incar- in their jails for peacefully protect-

crippling fines in the name of the ceration of seven First Nations ing our land from uranium mining,

rule of law has further eroded re- leaders from our two communi- all these politicians care about is

spect for both the legal system and ties. He also claims that he wishes their public image. They are lying

the government of Ontario in the to see the incarcerated communi- when they say they are trying to

eyes of First Nations people in this ties leaders freed from jail. resolve these disputes. They have

province. We want to set the record done nothing at all and continue to

The cases of the KI Six and straight. show total indifference. They do

Robert Lovelace are strikingly In fact, there has been no re- not even respond to our letters,

similar. In both cases Ontario gave sponse from Minister Bryant to calls and emails asking for negotia-

approvals to mining companies to any of our proposals for peace- tions, meanwhile claiming they care

conduct aggressive mineral explo- fully resolving the dispute. Minis- about us and our land.”

ration on land claimed by First ter Bryant’s staff also has not re- Ardoch and KI remain commit-

Nations as their own. In both cases sponded to several calls and emails ted to resolving these disputes peace-

this approval was given without seeking a response to our propos- fully, through negotiations which

any consultation with affected als. To put it bluntly, Michael lead to responsible, cooperative land

This demolished wading pool is becoming a common scene in communities, forcing the First Bryant is a liar. use planning. We call on all citizens

Winnipeg, where Mayor Sam Katz’s service cuts to help eliminate Nations to take action to end the Bob Lovelace is now entering of Ontario to support the uncondi-

business taxes are hurting many youth too poor to travel to illegal exploration when the gov- his fourth month in jail while the tional release of our leaders and

beaches. The Winnipeg Is Not For Sale group is planning a “use ernment refused to act. In both KI Six are about to begin their negotiators by joining us at Queen’s

it before you lose it” party at a remaining pool this summer. (PV cases the mining company sought third month of incarceration. They Park on May 26 at the Gathering of

photo: David Tymoshchuk) and obtained court injunctions to are prisoners of conscience, jailed Mother Earth’s Protectors.

4 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008





EDITORIALS

Natural disasters and sovereignty

It appears that the pace of natural disasters is becoming more

frequent and destructive. Climate change is forecast to result in

more hurricanes, droughts, floods, storms and a rise in sea levels.

Whenever earthquakes occur in populated areas, the loss of life and

the destruction of property is immense. But most governments are

not yet implementing urgent measures to change the situation.

There are notable exceptions, such as Cuba’s highly-organized

preparations for the hurricanes which often sweep across the island,

and the massive reaction to the devastating earthquake in China. In

both cases, swift government action has been matched by the

collective spirit of the people. Compare this to the totally inadequate

response of the government of Myanmar after the recent cyclone, or

the Bush administration when Katrina devastated New Orleans.

Closer to home, the collapse of schools in China reminds us that

hundreds of schools in earthquake-prone British Columbia are

decades away from seismic upgrades, thanks to the failure of

governments to make protection of children and teachers a priority.

Those who invoke the so-called “responsibility to protect” to call

for “smashing down the doors” into Myanmar - including U.S.

politicians - conveniently forget that the people of New Orleans

were left to suffer for days, while international offers of assistance,

including from nearby Cuba, were arrogantly rejected.

Instead, the imperialist powers are playing politics with natural

disasters, taking advantage of the failures of the government of

Myanmar to promote the view that national sovereignty of countries

can be trampled whenever the U.S. and its allies choose. This threat

Czech state and fascists step

to “do as we say or face the consequences” is a dangerous colonialist

mentality which must be rejected. up attacks against KSM

On May 14, the Czech necessity to struggle for another gallery in Prague’s historic Old

$50 billion for war toys society not based on capitalist Town Hall. This group strongly

Communist Youth Union

The Canadian Forces are slated to spend between $45 billion and (KSM) released the principles. This attack is a cul- rejected the ban as an attack

following information on the mination of a lengthy anti-Com- against fundamental democratic

$50 billion on equipment between now and 2028, says Lt.-Gen.

latest attacks against their munist campaign. rights and presented in the Gal-

Walter Natynczyk, the vice-chief of defence staff. On May 12,

during a news conference on the Canada First Defence Strategy in organization. The state power, represented lery the campaigns of the KSM,

by the police, also took the next expressions of solidarity with

Halifax, PM Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Peter MacKay

On March 19, a Municipal steps towards the fascization of the KSM received from a vast

presented $30 billion as the “total investments we’re making in the

Court of Prague rejected the ad- our society. On May Day, a group number of foreign organisations

military in the next generation”. That $30 billion, however, is just

ministrative protest delivered by of Communist Youth Union ac- and individuals, and a movie

the Department of National Defence (DND) budget projection for

the KSM against the decision of tivists during a May Day celebra- about the KSM. A video report

2028, based on a 2 per cent annual increase that starts in 2011.

the Ministry of Interior of Czech tion in a city of Brno was attacked from the exhibition can be found

“What we’re going to invest between now and (2028), and further

Republic on the dissolution of by the police, who confiscated at www.youtube.com/

on beyond that, is that $45 billion to $50 billion,” a senior military

the Communist Youth Union materials and flags with the KSM watch?v=uYN5K5rqzrY. Pre-

official explained. “These are two different numbers. They mean

(KSM). The official reason for logo. The Czech media reported cisely and symbolically on the

two different things.”

banning of the KSM was its pro- this scandalous step of the state May Day this exhibition was

The Tory minority government’s long-range plans include a

grammatic goal to replace pri- repressive policy. destroyed by a brutal attack of

schedule for the purchase of new fighter jets (2017), destroyers

vate ownership of the means of Two weeks ago, a non-com- anti-communists who wore

(2017) and frigates (2024), with new ships eating up more than half

production with collective own- munist artistic group, Guma black clothes and balaclavas

of the equipment budget. At the same time, the military appears to

ership, and also its work to con- Guar, officially opened an exhi- covering their faces. The direc-

be scaling back its commitment to coastal patrols and search-and-

vince young people about the bition against the KSM ban in a tor of the Prague Gallery kept

rescue operations. The shift is clearly towards an expanded Cana-

silent about this violent anti-

dian role in the global strategy of U.S. imperialism. The Tory focus

communist attack for 4 days.

is on increasing the ability of the Canadian armed forces to take part

in offensive wars around the world rather then protection of Cana- The artistic group wanted to reo-

pen the exhibition after the at-

da’s borders and citizens.

tack, but the Gallery decided to

The price tag for sending Canadians to kill and die around the

world in the service of the big oil and resource monopolies is abolish the exhibition.

We are witnessing

enormous. More war toys for the Armed Forces means fewer social

anticommunist oppression both by

services, less spending on decaying infrastructure, insufficient

resources to respond to natural disasters, and higher unemployment. the state and by various fascist and

extreme rightist groups, as well as

This is certainly one of the main reasons to vote the Harper Tories

a number of physical attacks

out of office at the first opportunity.

against KSM activists in the streets.

The KSM appeals to all demo-

cratic forces to oppose the ban-

PEOPLE'S VOICE ning of the KSM by the Ministry

of Interior and the anti-Commu-

ISSN number 1198-8657 Published by New Labour Press Ltd. nist and anti-democratic tenden-

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Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., In spite of the bans and

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Tel: 604.255.2041 Email: pvoice@telus.net all its members and friends that

Volunteers and contributors for this issue: the young communists will not

Dave Arland, Ed Bil, Johan Boyden, Miguel Figueroa, Correction back off their struggle for the

Sam Hammond, B. Prasant, Darrell Rankin,

Liz Rowley, David Tymoshchuk, and our mailers in

Renew The article “We Decided We Had

interests of the majority of the

young generation, the students,

Vancouver & Toronto. today! To Fight” (People’s Voice, May 1-

15, 2008) states that protesting U

apprentices, young workers and

unemployed people, and the

Editor: Kimball Cariou Business Manager: Sam Hammond

Editorial Board: Kimball Cariou, Miguel Figueroa,

Check your label of T students “sat down outside the struggle for socialism.

Vice Provost’s door.” This was an - From Veronika Pazderova

Doug Meggison, Naomi Rankin, Liz Rowley, Jim Sacouman Please check the error; the students did sit down, (Sykorova), vice-chairperson of

address label on the but not in any particular spot. the KSM.

front page to see if it’s

LETTERS

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5 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008







U.S. Ambassador challenged on Cuba

Letter to the Editor of Cuban constitutional order.

National Post, May 22, by One of the two Cuban

Arnold August, Montreal legislations in response to these

American laws is Law 80 which

Regarding the May 21st article criminalizes collaboration with, or

in the National Post entitled “The aid to, a foreign power to over-

Castros’ island prison” by U.S. throw the Cuban government. Law

Ambassador to Canada David H. 88 has similar provisions. Full

Wilkins, please allow a Canadian evidence was presented in court

citizen to provide a response. Hav- showing that the accused were

ing been to Cuba over 35 times working in close collaboration and

Montreal author Arnold August urges Ambassador Wilkins to respond to the concerns raised by

and written extensively about the being funded by the U.S. Interest

Canadians over the Cuban Five jailed in the United States (above)

political system on the island, I Section in Havana to destabilize

would like to deal with a few points. the Cuban political system and in the U.S. of trading with the that the U.S. has the highest im- as American Consulates all across

Mr. Wilkins calls for the re- apply the goals of the Torricelli enemy that is Cuba (he sold water prisonment rate in the world. It has Canada have been the object of

lease of political prisoners in Cuba. and Helms-Burton laws. The Cu- treatment equipment to Cuba). less than 5 percent of the world’s information pickets and petitions

The small group of Cuban politi- bans who were tried and convicted Canada, for its part, has adopted population, but almost a quarter of handed over directly to the Ameri-

cal prisoners to which the Ambas- were done so not because of their legislation which prohibits any the world’s prisoners! While they can authorities. The Cuban Five

sador is referring have been ar- political beliefs but rather their Canadian corporation or director are not all political prisoners, tak- have been imprisoned by the U.S.

rested and tried on the basis, physical collaboration with a for- to “comply with an extraterritorial ing into account the infamous role for having infiltrated terrorist or-

amongst other legislation, of the eign country against their own measure of the United States” such ganizations in Florida in order to

Cuban Penal Code. This people in violation of the Cuban as the Helms-Burton Law. hand over the evidence to the

criminalizes those “who in the in-

terest of a foreign state, commit an

laws and penal code.

Most countries have such laws.

If all this is possible, why can-

not Cuba adopt laws, arrest, send

other FBI. The goal was to assist the

American government in stopping

act with the objective of damaging

the independence or territorial in-

tegrity of the Cuban state...” They

For example, the U.S. itself has

several statutes which criminalize

the injection of foreign funding

to trial and convict individuals if

found guilty of collaborating with

what can only be called an enemy,

voices... the terrorist activities against

Cuba which put into danger both

Cuban and American lives. In-

have also been tried on the basis of into the American political proc- the USA? It is not Cuba’s choos- stead of arresting and trying the

two other pieces of legislation that ess. In addition, the U.S. Trading ing to have the USA. has an en- of the National Rifle Association terrorists, they arrested the five

have been adopted in response to with the Enemy Act, Chapter 106, emy. It is Washington that has lobby, the politically/economically Cuban citizens. In a series of tri-

the Helms-Burton Law (1996) as Section 2, defines trade amongst always attempted to forcefully motivated consumer society, rac- als violating both American and

an expansion of the 1992 Torricelli other activities to “draw, accept, change the situation in Cuba in ism, drug dealing and the U.S. international law, the five Cu-

Law. The goal of these two Ameri- pay, present for acceptance or pay- order to revert to the situation culture based on violence and sex, bans are being kept in prison now

can laws consists of further tight- ment” any funds from a foreign which existed before the 1959 the issue of this high rate of im- for close to ten years. It would be

ening the blockade against Cuba, country with which the U.S. con- revolution. prisonment is a highly charged appropriate for the American

to starve the Cuban people into siders to be at war. In fact it is The U.S. Ambassador mentions political issue. Ambassador to respond to all the

submission, that is create havoc under this act that U.S. has ac- the “Ladies in White” in his article There are, however, political information pickets and petitions

and provoke a revolt against the cused a Canadian citizen residing as an example of what he calls prisoners in the traditional sense in Canada by Canadian citizens

persecution. Readers can look at of the term in the U.S. The Am- over the years calling for the re-

the web site of this group in which bassador knows about the Cuban lease of these five political pris-

they list their links. Many such ties Five because his Embassy as well oners held in U.S. jails.

MANITOBA NEWS as the Centro por una Cuba Libre,

Cuba Encuentro, Cubanet News,

Violence common for

Freedom House are directly funded

Compiled by PV Manitoba Bureau by the U.S. government program

Palliser rips off actors for their allies in Havana as well as

in the U.S. itself. Other allies of

long-term care workers

Hollywood actor/director Clint Eastwood and the estate of Marlon the “Ladies in White” as listed by WHSC/CALM

Brando are among those taking Palliser Furniture to a U.S. court. themselves are the likes of the

Winnipeg-based Palliser, which is privately owned by Art DeFehr, Cuban American Foundation, es- Violence against workers in Canadian long term care facilities is

has been exploiting the star power of the actors’ names to sell a line tablished in Miami by the White common, according to a recently released study. The York University-

of home theatre furniture without permission. House with well known terrorists led study, Long Term Care Workers and Workplaces: Comparing

The case was filed in January. The corporate office tried to weasel at the head. What actually hap- Canada and Nordic Europe, found 17% of registered nurses and 25% of

out of a separate case filed by the Brando estate by claiming that the pened during the incident the licensed practical nurses and registered nursing assistants experience

chair was named after a town in Corsica. But the rest of the line had Ambassador is referring to and violence daily. For personal support workers, who bathe, clothe and

names like Eastwood, Connery and Cooper, so the excuse didn’t stick. which took place a few weeks ago feed residents in long-term care facilities, 43% reported daily incidents

After an era of poor management and greedy over-expansion, Palliser in Plaza de la Revolucion? These of physical violence.

has been on government bailouts and workers’ pay has dropped. individuals showed up in Plaza de “What we found is disturbing,” says Prof. Pat Armstrong, York

la Revolucion, Havana on a week- University Department of Sociology and study co-author. “Canada’s

day morning when people were level of violence towards long-term care workers is significantly higher

Worker death in Brandon going to work or to school. I am a than the other countries we looked at. The situation is out of control, as

Canadian and not a Cuban. How- one respondent put it.”

A repairman at a Home Depot was killed on the job May 8 in

ever, I will put myself in the shoes Workers at unionized long-term care facilities in Manitoba, Ontario

Brandon. Employed by an outside contractor, the worker was servic-

of a Cuban for a few minutes. I see and Nova Scotia were surveyed. Many reported physical violence, verbal

ing a Home Depot forklift when a piece of heavy equipment fell and

these individuals in Plaza de la abuse, sexual harassment and racist comments as common daily occur-

crushed him. An investigation is underway.

Revolucion knowing full well that rences. These workers also report high levels of physical and mental

they are linked to the U.S. Inter- exhaustion along with back pain. Survey participants said they rarely

Pet food for the hungry? ests Section whose explicit goal is report incidents, for fear of being blamed, a belief nothing will be done

to undermine all the Cuban socio- and the expectation that exposure to violence is part of their job. Many

The Winnipeg Harvest food bank’s David Northcott wants to

economic advances and Cuba’s believe that staff shortages are a major contributor to violent incidents.

divert sows being killed in a federal culling program away from pet

independence and dignity. I know

food and onto the hotplates of the hungry. The “free market is king”

that the Cuban people had under-

Tory plan is to keep hogs off the market in order to raise the price of

pork for the benefit of hog barn corporations, at a cost of $50 million

for taxpayers. The program stated that culled pork had to go to pet

gone innumerable sacrifices for

many decades in order to arrive at The November Elections

their revolution fifty years ago.

foods, but was changed to include feeding the poor working class. Is

this what Winnipeg has come to?

Since 1959 the Cubans have faced

and still confront huge human and

and the Struggle for

Chamber of Commerce urges welfare hike

physical damages caused by the

U.S. against the Cuban people and

Change in the U.S.

its economy. Taking all this into

Even the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce urged the NDP govern-

account, what would my reaction

ment to raise social assistance rates, yet the NDP never did a thing

be? I imagine it would be difficult

People's Voice Public

when the provincial budget was presented last month. Has Hell frozen

over? It would explain the cool spring!

for me to hold my emotions and Forum with speaker

antagonism back. The Cuban au-

thorities with female police offic- Sam Webb, Communist

Federal Tories end clean needles ers removed the “Ladies in White”

from the area in a non-violent way Party USA leader

Public health is in danger after Kali Shiva AIDS Services shuts and brought them to their homes in

down its drop-in centre June 1. The Harper government stopped

funding because the program’s emphasis on harm reduction was not

a Tory priority. The program had seen 4000 people a year, including

order to avoid any incident caused

by this provocation. Tuesday, June 3, 7:30 pm

While the Ambassador seems

around 100 HIV positive women, giving out condoms and clean to be very concerned about pris- GCDO Hall, 290 Danforth Ave., Toronto

needles. Meanwhile, in Iran, a pilot project includes vending ma- oners in Cuba, it would be appro-

chines providing clean needles and condoms. priate for your readers to know Everyone welcome! Call 416-269-2446 for details

6 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008







How Bill C-50 encourages discrimination

This commentary by Harsha Budget Implementation Bill C-50. fairness. Immigration Minister The government says these they are “welcoming record num-

Walia is reprinted from the By making it a matter of confi- Diane Finley has attempted to amendments will not give them bers of newcomers” but the reality

Vancouver Sun, May 21, dence, the government forced op- downplay Bill C-50’s significance power to intervene in individual is that migrants are not welcome

2008 position parties to accept them or by characterizing it as “small cases. However, the very nature of unless they are wealthy, super-

call an election. changes to modernize the system”; these changes is to allow for dis- professional, or are willing to work

Recently the Conservative gov- Despite being opposed to the while launching an unprecedented cretion in rejecting or discarding as temporary workers without ba-

ernment introduced amendments Bill, the Liberals chose to safe- multimillion dollar advertisement applications that meet the existing sic legal protection. In Canada to-

to the Immigration and Refugee guard their own electoral interests campaign, largely running in ‘eth- criteria. day, the number of people admit-

Protection Act, buried in the over the principles of justice and nic’ media only and containing The government has said that ted each year on temporary worker

very few substantive details. The the changes will not affect family visas is greater than the number

ads are the first time that Citizen- reunification. However, the bill admitted as permanent residents.

ship and Immigration Canada has includes the power to issue re- What motivates the Canadian

launched an ad campaign to pro- strictions in the Family Class cat- government and businesses to re-

mote legislation that Parliament egory and overseas Humanitarian cruit temporary workers is that

has not yet passed. and Compassionate claims. they are essentially indentured

Under the proposed changes, The government says these servants. A 2006 North-South In-

even if someone meets the neces- changes will not impact refugees. stitute study documented systemic

sary - already stringent criteria for However, refugees will be affected abuse amongst migrant workers,

a visa (such as a permanent resident by the withdrawal of the legal right including low wages, long hours

visa), the ministry can arbitrarily to permanent residence if they meet with no overtime pay, unsafe work-

reject the application. Humanitar- the requirements of the law and the ing conditions, discrimination, and

ian and Compassionate applications elimination of the right to have an being tied to the “importing” em-

no longer have to be examined if overseas Humanitarian and Com- ployer.

the applicant is outside Canada. passionate application examined. Bill C-50 and the Safe Third

The ministry will have the power to The main justification the gov- Country Agreement creates a “For-

decide the order in which applica- ernment is providing for Bill C-50 tress Canada” by disallowing up

tions are processed, regardless of is that it will fix the backlog. How- to 40 per cent of asylum seekers,

when they are filed. ever, instead of getting rid of the and the North American Security

The minister will also have the inexcusably long waiting list by and Prosperity Partnership sanc-

power to issue quotas and restric- easing immigration bureaucratic tion the favouring of migrant work-

tions on the country of origin and controls, their solution is to give ers as labour market commodities

category of person. This modifica- themselves the power to simply while creating an increasingly hos-

tion would sanction racism similar kick people off the list. tile climate to family class immi-

to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act An array of organizations have grants, refugees, and displaced

or the 1911 Order in Council pro- expressed their opposition, includ- migrants.

hibiting the landing of “any immi- ing the Canadian Bar Association, At the same time, the Conserva-

grant belonging to the Negro race.” Canadian Council for Refugees, tive government has hypocritically

The government says there will Canadian Arab Federation, Cana- and opportunistically made an-

be no discrimination as the Char- dian Labour Congress, African Ca- nouncements to acknowledge the

ter of Rights and Freedoms will nadian Legal Clinic, Canadian HIV/ Komagata Maru tragedy and allo-

be respected; however the Char- AIDS Legal Network and the Chi- cated money to commemorate the

ter does not apply to potential nese Canadian National Council. Ukrainian-Canadian internment

immigrants. Furthermore, the The major lobby for Bill C-50 and the Chinese Head Tax. Yet

government says the instructions comes from business organizations these historical injustices are be-

will be transparent; however this who want immigration policy to ing perpetuated through racist,

publication will occur after the meet labour market needs, mean- exploitative, and restrictive poli-

Bill comes into effect and will not ing immigrants are disposable cies such as Bill C-50.

be subject to any consultation or other than their value as labour. (Harsha Walia is a member of

People's Voice photo: Ed Bil approval process. The Conservative government says No One Is Illegal.)





YOUTH

FIGHTBACK Young people vs. tar sands destruction

Buried below the Boreal Forest ple know about the Tar sands? What is Greenpeace calling for? across Canada and internationally. tions. In November, on the open-

of northern Alberta is a source of Mike Hudema: People should be The main demand is that since We’ve organized a wide-range of ing day of the Alberta legislature,

oil known as the tar sands. Com- aware of the tremendous social this process is so destructive, and community meetings and thirty- four Alberta activists dropped a

panies are now producing over a and environmental impact of the given global warming, now is not nine groups in Alberta have signed forty-foot banner off the High

million barrels of oil per day from Alberta tar sands. In 2020, the the time to expand the develop- onto the campaign. Level Bridge, downtown close to

the tar sands, and this number is Tar sands will have produced ment of unconventional sources We were active during the pro- the legislature. And about two

constantly increasing. Oil from the more greenhouse gasses than all of oil. vincial election, following Pre- weeks ago during the Premier’s

sands has to be heated with steam of Canada’s cars and trucks com- What is happening in Alberta is mier Ed Stelmac as well, and have fundraiser dinner, where he was

in order to be fluid, requiring the bined. This is single-handedly a fundamental change in the act of organized two larger scale ac- launching essentially a twenty-

use of immense amounts of power changing Canada’s Kyoto goals, oil extraction. We’re talk- five million dollar cam-

and water. and changing Canada’s stance in ing about huge strip-mines paign to convince the

Environmental, labour and international negotiations and - over a hundred meters world that the tar sands

Aboriginal activists have all agreements on the environment. deep. This is fundamen- problem didn’t really ex-

raised serious concerns over cur- Tar sands production causes 40 tally different than the ist, we dropped a large

rent government policy towards million tonnes of CO2 equivalent pumps and jack wells that banner behind him say-

the tar sands and the impact on to be emitted every year - ensur- Albertan’s have tradition- ing “The Best Premier

the ecology and energy sover- ing that Canada cannot meet its ally seen. that tar sands money can

eignty of Canada and First Na- Kyoto targets. So we are calling for buy.”

tions. The Federal government There is also the issue of ground Alberta to make an eco- How are youth contrib-

gets royalties amounting to only water depletion and pollution. The logical U-turn in its envi- uting to the campaign?

one percent of the price of each tar sands are the largest user of ronmental and energy Young people are

barrel, and Harper’s Tories have ground water in Alberta, and this policy. Alberta is one of making a huge contri-

recently extended a federal Ac- is having a huge impact with pol- the best places in Canada bution to our campaign

celerated Capital Cost Allowance lution on health, especially in to build a renewable en- - many of our volunteers

tax break to tar sands projects down-stream communities, such ergy economy. It has the are youth and justifiably

until 2010. as Fort Chippewan, where we’ve most wind in the country, so, because it really is

Mike Hudema is a former stu- been seeing rare forms of cancer. more sunlight, and excel- the young peoples fu-

dent leader, activist, long-time In addition to carbon dioxide, tar lent sources of geothermal ture that is at stake.

Edmontonian, and author of a sands also emit nitrogen oxide, energy. There are also the There are an important

short book entitled An Action a sulphur oxide, and volatile organic capital and financial re- part of our volunteer

Day Keeps Global Capitalism compounds. sources. base, researching, mak-

Away. He currently works for The Tar sands are an area the Tell us about the cam- ing reports, and

Greenpeace in Edmonton and is size of Vancouver Island. The ac- paign. outreaching as well.

helping coordinate the Stop the tual area available for leasing - the It’s definitely been a To get involved, or

Tar sands campaign. PV corre- first step before development - is very active campaign to to sign the petition, go to

spondent Johan Boyden spoke to about the size of Florida. We are get the images out of the www.nonewapprovals.ca

him about this work. seeing the complete destruction of tar sands destruction to the or www.greenpeace.ca/

People’s Voice: What should peo- habitat in these areas. Alberta public, and also Greenpeace banner on the High Level Bridge tarsands.

7 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008







Vancouver becoming military camp for Olympics

document authorizing the military of violence consisted of a demonstrators.

By Kimball Cariou The second main

to assist the RCMP’s Olympic single blasting cap found

When Vancouver voters backed plans. Military planners say it will lying on the ground under issue raised by anti-Ol-

the city’s 2010 Winter Olympics be the largest security operation in the Arthur Laing Bridge ympic forces is that the

bid by an underwhelming 63% Canadian history. Their boast that near the airport. Games facilities and other

majority, they were promised the Canadians “will hardly notice” the In actual fact, much of recreation and tourism

Games would bring social hous- operation is an attempt to reassure the current opposition to the facilities are being devel-

ing, new recreation and transit fa- the public at a time when opposi- 2010 Games is emerging oped on “stolen Native

cilities, and a party that would tion to the Olympics is becoming from two sources: poor peo- land” - unceded First

bring the world to our doors. Five more organized. Nearly 13,000 ple and the Aboriginal com- Nations territories. Sev-

years later, the social housing has RCMP, military and other security munity. eral band councils have

been scaled way back, skewed tran- personnel will be stationed to Van- Anti-poverty organiza- become official “Olym-

sit “improvements” are costing couver, a force which will inevita- tions have been consistent pic partners,” but these

taxpayers some $3 billion, and bly be highly visible. opponents of the Olympic bodies remain conten-

preparations are underway to turn The security plans are also bid. Since the bid was tious within the grassroots

the city into an occupied military highly intrusive, including hun- launched, homelessness in Native population, most

camp. “Security costs” are ex- dreds of closed-circuit cameras, the Vancouver region has of whom were not con-

pected to balloon past the one bil- electronic sensors, and unmanned jumped from several hun- sulted about the process.

lion dollar mark. aerial vehicles, leading sociolo- dred to nearly 2,000. Prom- In spite of enor-

The latter issue is in the head- gist David Lyon of Queen’s Uni- ises to build new social mous pressures to “grab

lines, after the Vancouver Olympics versity to call Vancouver 2010 housing as part of the bid a piece of the Olympic

Organizing Committee (VANOC) “the Surveillance Games.” Each have been dramatically re- pie,” many traditionalist

offered over $300,000 to the Britan- Olympic venue will use face-rec- duced, even as hundreds of and grassroots Aborigi-

nia Community Centre to use its ognition technology to track peo- single-room occupancy nal people refuse to join

skating rink as an Olympic hockey ple on the streets. housing units are closed in the celebration. One of

practice venue. Since the east Van- B.C. privacy commissioner the Downtown Eastside. these was the late Harriet

couver neighbourhood voted against David Loukadelis has been told Developers and landlords February 2007: above, anti-poverty groups Nahanee, a long-time

the Olympic bid, many residents the images from those cameras are licking their chops in erect their own "Countdown Clock", showing activist who died after

who were already highly skeptical will be available only to “key peo- anticipation of even steeper the growth of homelessness; below, protesters being jailed for her role

of the Games “benefits” now have ple.” But he fears the cameras increases in the value of confront a massive police presence at the in resisting the expan-

new fears. might remain after the Games, in- properties in this neighbour- official Clock ceremony. (Photos: K. Cariou) sion of the highway to

Britannia’s Board will vote on fringing on privacy rights, as hap- hood. Rents and housing Whistler through forests

the controversial offer in June, but pened in Sydney and Atlanta. purchase costs alike are skyrock- come much worse. Poor people are north of Vancouver. On several

most residents expressed vocal “Forces and other dangerous eting across the Lower Mainland, outraged that billions of dollars are occasions, prominent chiefs have

opposition at a recent forum. individuals or organizations may as predicted by anti-poverty groups being poured into the Olympics been presented with bags of ap-

Among the sharpest concerns is seize this moment to further their from the start. instead of homes. It’s a recipe for ples by indigenous activists, signi-

that police and military will put up aims using violence,” Hillier wrote Despite some minor announce- larger and angrier protests. And fying contempt for those who col-

barriers around the Community in his 2006 document. “Canadian ments from the provincial Liberal given the history of police violence laborate with VANOC.

Centre to block protests. Since the security forces, and the CF, must government (such as the purchase against anti-poverty movements in Aligned with these groups are

complex includes the local library, therefore be poised to detect, de- of a number of Downtown Eastside Vancouver, the winter of 2010 may various environmentalist and left

a major swimming pool and other ter, prevent, pre-empt and defeat hotels), the housing crisis has be- well see escalating attacks against political forces, composing a wide-

recreation facilities, and both an threats and aggression during the ranging, loose coalition of those

elementary and a secondary school, period of the 2010 Vancouver who consider the Olympics one of

residents could be cut off from these Olympics while respecting, as the causes of the deteriorating eco-

important community resources for much as possible, the spirit of the nomic and political situation for

weeks or even months. Olympic Truce.” working people, the poor, and

Those who scoff at this sce- In another chilling memo, Lt.- Aboriginal peoples.

nario should look at the Trout Lake Gen. Marc Dumais wrote in Octo- The Olympic Countdown Clock

Community Centre, just 20 blocks ber 2006 that “There are a number in front of the Vancouver Art Gal-

south, where the ice rink was slated of terrorist groups that maintain a lery now shows about 600 days left

for replacement. In 2004 VANOC presence within Canada. While before the 2010 Winter Games be-

offered $2.5 million (half the esti- much of their activity is related to gin. Tensions will continue to mount

mated cost) towards the replace- fundraising, some of these groups as the city is increasingly turned into

ment in exchange for its use as a are assessed as having the capac- a war zone. The eyes of the world

practice venue before and during ity to undertake terrorist acts.” will be on Vancouver and Whistler

the Games. Since entering into David Pugliese wrote in the in just twenty months, but the sight

this agreement, the project cost Ottawa Citizen (May 10) that the may not be a pretty one.

has more than tripled to $15.9 North American Aerospace De- (Cariou is the organizer of the

million. VANOC refuses to pro- fence Command (NORAD) will Vancouver East Club of the Com-

vide any additional funding, de- be deeply involved in the 2010 munist Party of Canada.)

spite the inflationary construction Olympics “with potentially every-

market the Olympics have helped thing from fighter aircraft to so-

create. Trout Lake is responsible phisticated surveillance planes.” BC Communists urged different priorities

for the extra costs. NORAD has been given the job

Trout Lake has also learned that of providing air protection (from Excerpts from a statement issued by the Com- “disruption” of its operations...

it may be surrounded by a “secu- what threat is unclear) and moni- munist Party in British Columbia prior to Vancou- “What angers many British Columbians is that

rity perimeter”, which could force toring the airspace over the Olym- ver’s February 2003 referendum on the Winter this bid for the 2010 Games coincides with a brutal

cancellation of all programming pics, with the full capabilities of Olympics bid: attack on public sector spending by the provincial

in the fall of 2009 and winter 2010. the US-dominated military body “Given the depressed state of the provincial government. The same politicians who argue that

Another concern is a huge in- to draw upon. economy, many working class British Columbians B.C. cannot afford to fund schools, hospitals, day

flux of police and soldiers into the At this point, Pugliese says, the see the Olympics as an opportunity to generate cares, low-income housing and women’s shelters

neighbourhood. Already, indig- military’s Joint Task Force employment and create a legacy for the future. Some want to spend taxpayers’ dollars on the Winter

enous and Latino youth in the area Games headquarters in Victoria progressive civic politicians are using this opportu- Games. The Liberals say that improving the Sea to

are subject to constant police har- has around 25 personnel, expand- nity to negotiate related investments in transit, social Sky highway is a “safety issue,” yet they refuse to

assment and racialization, and ing to over 200 by 2010. Already, housing and other potential benefits for the city.... provide more funds for seismic upgrading of schools

many predict that racist attacks Canadian navy divers are map- “The evidence available to date leads our Party to in the Lower Mainland, risking the lives of thousands

will increase around the Games. ping out the seafloor of the Van- believe that most of the claims about the potential of students should a major earthquake hit the area.

The neighbourhood’s worries are couver harbour, and Aurora patrol benefits are greatly exaggerated, while the actual “Like most others in our province, the Communist

heightened by a spate of news re- aircraft are flying missions to col- costs have been understated. Party strongly supports expanded public participa-

ports, such as a May 20 Canwest lect images of various areas. “For instance, Premier Campbell and the Van- tion in sports and recreation. We are in favour of

News Service story which said, “Ca- These scare tactics recall the couver-Whistler Olympic Bid Corporation have said using public funds for improved sports facilities at all

nadian security agencies are plan- situation in Vancouver a decade the Games will cost only $600 million while gener- levels. But we simply cannot agree that governments

ning to use planes, tanks, ships, and ago. During the 1997 APEC Sum- ating big profits. But this crucial claim is wildly should spend billions of dollars on the 2010 Winter

thousands of military and police mit, police used pepper spray, misleading, even according to right-wing analysts Olympics at this time. Governments should use these

personnel to secure the Vancouver kilometers of fences and other like Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun. funds to restore the cuts to health care, education and

2010 Olympic Games and will con- security tools to block and attack “The actual costs of staging the Games total over social assistance, to invest in social housing, afford-

sider their job a success if the public protesters. Their justification at $6 billion, including: $34 million for the Bid proc- able mass transit, and alternative energy sources, and

hardly notices their presence.” the time was similar - the poten- ess, $500 million for a new Convention centre in to help create a sustainable, value-added forestry

The overall plan was initiated tial for terrorist attacks, for which Vancouver, $1.7 billion to widen the Sea to Sky sector. Such investments would do far more to create

by none other than Chief of De- they claimed undisclosed evi- highway, $1.3 billion for staging the Games, $2 jobs and save the environment than holding the

fence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, the dence. It later turned out that po- billion for transit investments which are considered Winter Olympics.

driving force behind the Canadian lice agencies tried to infiltrate necessary, plus security, which cost $560 million for “For all these reasons, the B.C. Executive of the

Armed Forces combat mission in anti-APEC protest groups, and the Salt Lake City games. Other expenses will in- Communist Party will campaign for a “no” vote on

Afghanistan, who wrote a June 2006 that their “evidence” of the threat clude compensation to the Whistler ski resort for February 22. 2003...”

8 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008









Global class struggle

tors of sudden deaths and illnesses Carbon nanotubes were devel-

Unions challenge of some cocoa farmers. oped in 1991 and have proved to

Sarkozy pension The Cocoa Board is considering be extremely useful, conferring

a pilot programme where cocoa great strength while also being very

"reforms" farms infested with swollen shoot light. They are also superb con-

disease would be replanted. The ductors of heat and electricity and

France’s transport and public cutting down of infested trees is the have been touted as wonder mate-

sector workers began a nation- best means of improving the cocoa rials that could form the basis of a

wide strike on May 21 to protest yield, which is important for Gha- new generation of electronics.

changes to state pension qualifica- na’s foreign exchange earnings. “This is a reason for concern,”

tion rules. The strike will put re- Some farmers, who had earlier said Anthony Seaton, a professor

newed pressure on President opposed the cutting down of their and expert in asbestos-related dis-

Nicolas Sarkozy to drop his at- infested trees, later agreed to co- eases, working at the Institute of

tacks on pension rights as his ap- operate. They urged the Cocoa Occupational Medicine in Edin-

proval ratings reach an all-time Board to ensure that all affected burgh. “Asbestos started in the

low a year after his election. cocoa farms were treated and con- same way ... it had thousands of

France’s five largest unions trolled to avert the possible transfer applications and people used it

called marches in 80 cities, de- of the virus to other cocoa farms. experimentally. It became very

manding a reversal of the govern- widespread, almost ubiquitous.”

ment’s decision to increase state The similarity between the size

pension entitlement rules to 41 years

French workers carrying banner of the CGT labour federation. Carbon nanotubes and structure of carbon nanotubes

of work, an increase of one year. Immigration officials have been

“The scale of the protests will

tions tied to emergency response.

given quotas for the number of may pose health and asbestos fibres has always

Airport administrators had to close placed a question mark over how

show that the government will have the airports because there would migrants they should arrest - 600 dangers the former could affect lungs. New

to review its plans under pres- not have been enough rescue staff for the ministry’s Seoul office and research shows that, in mice, the

sure,” Bernard Thibault, head of on hand in case of an accident. The 250 for Busan. The total quota is A May 20 report in The Guard- tubes, like asbestos, cause inflam-

the powerful CGT union, told government refused to force a set- made up of 3,000 per month from ian newspaper says scientists fear mation of the mesothelium, the slip-

France 2 television. tlement, but after the transport of May to the end of July. There are that carbon nanotubes could pose pery membrane that surrounds

Port workers walked out during workers to and from oil installa- cases of immigration officials raid- a cancer risk similar to that of lungs and other bodily organs. With

the one-day protest, further dis- tions in the North Sea was af- ing churches, while some turn up asbestos. They say the govern- asbestos fibres, the inflammation is

rupting shipping times that have fected, pressure was applied to at workplaces and arrest unregis- ment should restrict the use of the a stage leading towards the deadly

already been affected by fisher- end the strike. tered people without giving notice materials, which are included in a cancer known as mesothelioma. It

men taking action over the rising to the owner of the facility or bring- variety of consumer products, to typically takes 20 to 50 years for

cost of diesel. ing legitimate warrants. protect human health. the cancer to develop following

Last November, a nine-day strike Korean migrants’ Lee Jeong-won, outreach and In most products containing exposure to asbestos fibres.

by transport workers protested public relations director of the nanotubes, such as car body pan-

plans to scrap the pension rights of

union leaders Migrants’ Trade Union, said the els, tennis rackets, yacht masts and

The researchers, who report the

development in the journal Na-

public-sector workers. The gov- deported bike frames, the fibres are embed- ture Nanotechnology, compared

ernment negotiated an end to those ded in composite materials, which the effects of short and long

entitlements, under which certain On May 15, the South Korean provide strength and lightness. In nanotubes. With asbestos, stiff fi-

categories could draw a full pen- Ministry of Justice and Immigra- this form they are likely to be bres about 10 micrometres in

sion after working for 37.5 years tion deported President Torna relatively harmless. But research- length (100 times smaller than a

rather than the standard 40 years. Limbu and Vice President Abdus ers say further studies are neces- millimetre) are harmless because

On the rail network, most of the Sabur of the Migrant Trade Union sary to confirm that people cannot immune cells can engulf them and

latest disruption was expected to (MTU, an affiliate of the Korean be exposed to carbon nanotubes safely remove them. Stiff fibres

be on regional trains, while trains Confederation of Trade Unions, embedded in such materials. longer than 15-20 micrometres are

to Paris airports were also halved. KCTU), despite actions in several Dr. Andrew Maynard at the too big for the cells to handle and

Some flights were affected. cities protesting the targeted ar- Woodrow Wilson International their presence provokes an inflam-

About 500,000 people took part rest of the two MTU leaders 13 Centre for Scholars in Washing- matory response. The researchers

demonstrations across the coun- days earlier. ton says that the risks are greater confirmed that carbon nanotubes

try, including over 70,000 in Paris. Torna and Sabur were taken during manufacture and at the time seemed to have the same effect.

In 2003, more than one million from Cheongju Foreigners’ De- products reach the end of their

people marched against a previ- tention Center and forced to board life. “What happens as you demol-

ous attempt to undermine pensions. a plane at Incheon Airport at 9:30 ish products or throw them away Many "Global Class

pm, and arrived in their home coun- officials violation of human rights in landfill sites? Is there a chance Struggle" reports are

tries the following afternoon after has been a problem for many and of carbon nanotubes coming out based on news from

Pay raises end a layover in Bangkok, where they the quota has made many over- then and exposure occurring? We the Labour Start

Norwegian were held in the airport detention staying foreigners nervous. simply don’t know the answer to website:

center. A total of 650,000 foreign la- that and I think it is something that

airport strike The deportation was carried out bourers are living in Korea, in- needs to be addressed.”

www.labourstart.org

on the same day that the South cluding an estimated 200,000 “il-

Flights resumed at 12 airports Korean National Human Rights legal” workers, according to the

around Norway on May 21, after a Commission had accepted an Justice Ministry. Send me information

strike by airport workers that had MTU appeal to stay deportation

forced the grounding of much of pending an investigation into the Child labour on on the Communist

the country’s domestic air traffic

ended during the night with a new

human rights violations associated Party of Canada

pay pact.

with the arrests. Ghana’s cocoa

The right to form unions is cru- The Communist Party of Canada, formed in 1921, has a proud history of

Norway’s civil aviation author- cial to improve the conditions of farms fighting for jobs, equality, peace, Canadian independence, and socialism.

ity Avinor and the union repre- migrant workers, but the govern- The CPC does much more than run candidates in elections. We think the fight

senting airport workers, LO Stat, ment of South Korea is using de- Osei Wiafe-Akenten, a district against big business and its parties is a year-round job, so our members are

went back to the bargaining table portation as a means of anti-union manager of the Ghana Cocoa active across the country, to build our party and to help strengthen people’s

late on May 20 and hammered out repression. All leaders of the MTU Board, has warned that it is illegal movements on a wide range of issues. All our policies and leadership are set

a wage settlement early the next and morally unacceptable to en- democratically by our members. To find out more about Canada’s party of

since its creation in 2005 have

morning. It calls for Avinor’s em- gage children as labourers, espe- socialism, contact the nearest CPC office.

been deported shortly after being

ployees at the airports to get an officially declared leaders of the cially in the re-planting of swollen Central Committee CPC

overall raise of at least NOK union. shoot infested cocoa farms. Co- 290A Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ont., M4K 1N6

19,000 a year (about USD 3,800). About 9,000 “illegal” foreign coa farmers, he said, should in- Ph. (416)469-2446 Fax (416)469-4063 E-mail

Workers will also receive higher workers, about 4.4 percent of the stead contact the Board for the

Parti Communiste du Quebec

pay for working shifts outside day- total in Korea, are expected to necessary support, assistance and 3981 Av. Barclay, App. 5

Ottawa CPC

Tel: 613-232-7108

time, weekday work hours. face deportation this year as the advice to enable them to replant Montreal, H3S 1K9

A union representative said a government wages a campaign to the affected cocoa farms. E-mail: Manitoba Committee CPC

Wiafe-Akenten was addressing 387 Selkirk Ave., Winnipeg, R2W 2M3

revamp of the pay system was the arrest “unregistered aliens.” The B.C. Committee CPC Tel/fax: 204-586-7824

most important goal for the work- campaign has been stepped up more than 100 cocoa farmers at 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, V5L 3J1

Tel: 604-254-9836 Fax: 604-254-9803

ers, who had started walking off since the Lee Myung-bak admin- May 20 forum on the prevention Ontario Ctee. CPC

and control of the swollen shoot 290A Danforth Ave., Toronto, M4K 1N6

the job on May 16. Their strike istration took office in February. Edmonton CPC

Tel: 416-469-2446

disease, in Ghana’s Asante Akim Box 68112, 70 Bonnie Doon PO

paralyzed air traffic through some Anxiety among foreign work- Edmonton, AB, T6C 4N6

of Norway’s biggest cities, includ- ers is higher than ever, especially North District. About 74 cocoa Tel: 780-465-7893 Fax: 780-463-0209 Hamilton Ctee. CPC

265 Melvin Ave., Apt. 815

ing Bergen and Stavanger. after two were severely injured farming blocks in the region have Hamilton, ON,

Calgary CPC:

The strike only involved around while leaping from the third floor been identified for the outbreak of Unit #1, 19 Radcliffe Close SE, Tel: 905-548-9586

400 Avinor employees at 13 air- of a building in Maseok, Gyeonggi the disease. Misapplication of in- Calgary, T2A 6B2 Tel: 403-248-6489

Atlantic Region CPC

ports around the country includ- Province, to avoid a crackdown secticides and wrong spraying of Saskatchewan CPC Box 70, Grand Pré, NS, B0P 1M0

ing Oslo, but they worked in posi- last November. cocoa farms have been major fac- Email: Tel/fax: 902-542-7981

9 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008







U.S. 4th Fleet waves nuclear club at Latin America

The U.S. 4th Fleet was re-es- time services in Central and Latin sive governments, popular move-

tablished in late April, commanded America,” said U.S. Chief of Na- ments and patriotic leaderships

by Rear Admiral Joseph D. val Operations Adm. Gary in the whole region.

Kernan. The Fleet will be respon- Roughead, making the official “Our concern and protest are

sible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft announcement. extended to joint naval exercises

and submarines operating in the That “strong signal” is widely held in the Brazilian coastline with

Southern Command seen as a warning by U.S. imperi- the participation of the United

(SOUTHCOM) area, which en- alism to the progressive forces re- States, Argentina, and Brazil in

compasses the Caribbean, and shaping the region’s politics and the occasion of the 49th UNITAS

Central and South America and economies. operation. During 12 days nuclear-

the surrounding waters. Socorro Gomes, the Brazilian powered and nuclear-equipped

The original U.S. 4th Fleet was President of the World Peace U.S. ships will perform military

established in 1943, with a spe- Council, condemned the move as exercises in Brazilian territorial

cific World War Two mission to “designed to engage in aggressive waters being headed by the George

protect against raiders, blockade naval missions in the Caribbean, Washington, the nuclear aircraft

runners and Axis submarines in Central and South America” and carrier that is considered the great-

the South Atlantic. In 1950, the as “a severe threat to peace, secu- est weapon of the United States,

U.S. 2nd Fleet took over responsi- rity and sovereignty to all peoples loaded with nuclear torpedoes,

bilities in this geographic area. and nations of Latin America.” Tomahawks and high-depth nu-

The 4th Fleet’s stated mission is “By endorsing the Colombian clear bombs, as well as aircrafts The graphic from the website www.freerepublic.com sums up

to direct U.S. naval forces operat- military action in Ecuadorian terri- loaded with six to ten nuclear the essence of US imperialist policies: overwhelming military

ing in the SOUTHCOM area, and tory,” continued Gomes, “the gov- bombs. Our patriotic conscience superiority and huge profits for arms producers.

to “interact with partner nation na- ernment of the United States at- cannot accept such exercises as

vies within the maritime environ- tempted to apply to our continent routine acts. They are aggressive “The reestablishment of the war policy, against which rises

ment.” Its operations include “coun- the principles of preventive war, a in character. Their existence and U.S. Fourth Fleet as an aggres- the democratic, independent and

ter-illicit trafficking, Theater Se- fascist doctrine at service of State frequent operation tarnish the sov- sive interventionist force and the pacifist conscience of Latin

curity Cooperation, military-to- terrorism. Now, as the Fourth Fleet ereignty of the countries that take military exercises practised in the American peoples, as well as the

military interaction and bilateral is reestablished, the United States part in and provide the backdrop South Atlantic Ocean are part of peace movements in the region

and multinational training. “ brings to the continent militarization, to those exercises. the United States’ imperialism and and all over the world.”

“Reconstituting the Fourth Fleet arms race and nuclear threat - for

recognizes the immense impor- the Fourth Fleet will be equipped

tance of maritime security in the

southern part of the Western Hemi-

with nuclear aircraft carriers. Such

a measure deserves our most ve-

Cuba demands action against US officials

sphere, and sends a strong signal hement rejection. That is also what (Prensa Latina) - The Cuban gov- These facts reveal the behav- the denunciation.

to all the civil and military mari- we are expecting from progres- ernment has demanded the US iour of US diplomats in Havana as Vidal affirmed those elements

administration take action against facilitators of contacts and deliv- “show once more the illegal con-

diplomats involved in illegal ac- ery of money sent by Santiago duct of the US Interests Section

tions inside Cuban territory. Alvarez to the counterrevolution in Havana that encourages, pro-

Cuban authorities presented on in Cuba, said the director of the motes and monitors provocative

May 19 evidence about contacts North America Department of the actions and public disorder in our

between counterrevolutionaries, Foreign Relations Ministry, country.”

officials of the US Interests Sec- Josefina Vidal. “What has been said,” she af-

tion in Havana and a terrorist of These events, she said, “reveal firmed, “shows how the govern-

Cuban origin resident in the US. the condemnable connection of ment of the United Status joins

Several e-mail messages showed counterrevolutionary elements in forces with terrorist elements of

the relation of dissident groups Cuba with a terrorist from whom Cuban origin in its effort to sub-

with terrorist Santiago Alvarez they receive money. They are the vert domestic order in Cuba.”

Fernandez-Magrinat, sentenced to same people who receive special She explained that the actions

prison in the United States for treatment from the US govern- raise many questions, “which in

illegal possession of weapons who ment, including the President, who our opinion have to be answered

pretended to use them in violent sends them personal letters of rec- and profoundly investigated by

actions against Cuba. ognition and talks to them through the government of the US. The

One of the messages proves the video conferences.” Cuban government will continue

personal involvement of the head The director of the Center of this investigation for the illegal

July 2007: A group of protesters unfurling a banner opposing a of the US Interests Section, Historic Investigations of the State nature of these events and for

dredging project for the USS George Washington makes their Michael Parmly, in the delivery of Security, Manuel Hevia, revealed the threat they represent for the

way to a branch of the Yokohama District Court to file a suit mail and money addressed to the e-mail messages, video images and stability and tranquillity of our

against the project at Yokosuka, south of Tokyo. counterrevolutionaries in Cuba. recorded conversations to support citizens.”







Rural poll setbacks for Bengal's Left Front to be analyzed

By B. Prasant, PV main trends. Bengal secretary, he could only ernment? The answer is “no,” sim- Bankura district, reputed to be

correspondent in India In the 748 ZPs, the LF won 418, highlight a few points in a rough, ply because the statistics speak a the largest village of Asia, and

the Congress 97, and the Trinamul preliminary estimate, such as: different language. In Purulia, where the population over-

The results of May 18 voting Congress 122, with the right-wing * Lack of adequate enhancement where 10,000 acres of fertile and whelmingly belonged to a reli-

for Bengal’s three levels of rural fundamentalist BJP winning in a of the political consciousness of fallow land was taken over for in- gious minority, the LF had

elected bodies were still coming couple of seats. SUCI (Socialist the rural populace. dustrialisation, the LF won 30 of emerged a handsome winner.

in when the state’s governing Unity Centre of India) won in six, * Gaps in implementation of rural the 35 ZP seats. In Midnapore West, Simplification and calcula-

Left Front chair Biman Basu Jharkhandis in two and there was development programmes. where more than 8,000 acres of tion to suit one’s pejorative aim

answered a barrage of questions an independent winner (in * Weaknesses in the mass contact fertile and mixed land was acquired would never get the media any-

thrown at him by media-persons Bankura). work among the rural populace of for industrial purposes, the LF where, Biman Basu advised. He

of the corporate houses, all in At the Panchayat Samity (PS) the Communists and the Left. walked away with 57 of the 62 GP concluded by stating that any-

high spirits. level, the LF won in 189, the com- * Imponderables like the inability seats. In Bankura district, where thing new, like any employ-

Some of the questions were bined opposition in 131, and an- to keep everybody satisfied, and 3,000 acres have been acquired, ment-generating, pro-poor in-

deliberate attempts at provoca- other nine were still uncertain. to succeed in tying down the last the LF won 64 of the 67 ZP seats. dustrial policy based on a solid

tion, while others were dully Of the 3220 Gram Panchayat seats, tidy knot in every rural develop- Then, persisted the scions of and diversified agricultural sub-

repetitious. The senior Commu- results were known for 2899. The ment project in a class-divided the corporate media, “it must have structure, took time to grow

nist Party of India (Marxist) LF walked away with 1514, the society. been the swing away of the reli- roots of confidence amidst the

leader exuded patience and tol- combined opposition winning * Any deviations from the respon- gious minority vote that cost the people. The Luddites, said

erance while standing his ground 1283, and 111 remaining either sibility which the Left is expected CPI(M) and the LF so dear in the Biman Basu, referring to Marx-

on some of the most delicate undecided and/or tied or domi- to bear for popular welfare. poll verdict.” ist classics, had finally stopped

questions. nated by independent candidates * Instances where self-confidence An unperturbed Bimanda un- breaking up machinery in Eng-

Biman Basu began as he does who were yet to declare their po- was substituted by self-satisfaction folded another sheaf of papers and land and elsewhere, only after

usually by reading off the latest litical loyalties. and even by egoistic behaviour. stated how a large number of dis- they had been taught by the ex-

figures in voting for the Gram Answering the chorus about * The expectation and demand of tricts, including the Congress perience of that wonderful thing

Panchayat (GPs, or village coun- what had “gone wrong,” Bimanda the people of the Communists and stronghold of Murshidabad, where called struggle for life and live-

cils), the Panchayat Samity (PS, merely pointed to the detailed re- the Left. the Muslim population exceeded lihood that machines would

rural blocks covering dozens of view that must be awaited before * The lack of unity among the Left 60% or more, the LF had emerged never replace people, even as

villages), and the Zillah Parishad he could respond adequately to Front parties in certain areas. the winner at the ZP level. At productivity would go right on

(ZPs, or districts). Bimanda the media’s happy curiosity about Was the vote against the indus- Punisole, at the border of the Onda increasing, benefiting even the

mostly focussed attention on the the “LF debacle.” As the CPI(M)’s trial policy of the Bengal LF gov- and Taldangra subdivisions of the Luddites themselves.

10 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008







A mosaic of early Civil Rights struggle

Defying Dixie: The Radical tile of each mosaic is gingerly the FBI kept up a merciless sur- Even though Professor class struggle.

Roots of Civil Rights, 1919- placed in the natural flow of time, veillance against all civil rights Gilmore’s wonderful descriptions No historical event, neither the

1950, by Glenda Elizabeth and in conjunction with the ever- individuals and organizations breathe life into largely unknown great civil rights struggles of the

Gilmore, published by W.W. clearer portraits of others involved before and during World War II? historical characters and events, South, not even World War II it-

Norton & Co., New York, in the same events. Who knew that Ella Mae Wiggins, limits to the epic story are evident. self, can make sense without the

2008, 640 pages, ISBN It will come as no surprise that martyr of the Gastonia Textile In addition to what was generally broader analysis of the ongoing

0393062449. the earliest and bravest of these strike, was not African Ameri- known, Gilmore seems to add pri- class struggle.

early fighters came from the newly can, but an Anglo woman who marily from her research in the Defying Dixie has no class ba-

Review by Jim Lane, formed Communist Party USA. was targeted because she stood Soviet Archives and from the mem- sis. The author’s sympathies are

People’s Weekly World The great civil rights cases involv- up for full integration? Who knew oirs of North Carolina activist Pauli clearly with the civil rights fight-

Newspaper ing the Scottsboro Boys, accused that the dreaded House Un- Murray. A great deal of the book is ers and against all who oppose

of rape, and Angelo Herndon, ac- American Activities Committee centered on Murray, and the point them, but they could have been

Professor Glenda Elizabeth cused of sedition, had Commu- (HUAC) actually began as an anti- of view seems to come directly understood better, and their con-

Gilmore’s Defying Dixie, The nists as the principals. fascist investigation? Who knew from her. tributions could be appreciated

Radical Roots of Civil Rights 1919- But Gilmore reveals many sur- that the fundamentals of the civil Like virtually every other his- even more, if the author had in-

1950 creates full-colour mosaic prises in the details of the battles rights movement led by Dr. Mar- tory published in this capitalist cluded the underlying meaning of

portraits of the great men and that made up the war against tin Luther King Jr., were actually world, the greatest lack in Defying each of these wonderfully de-

women who took on the horrific Southern racism. For example, developed 20 years before the Dixie is an understanding of the scribed battles.

task of fighting for civil rights at a who knew that the first American Montgomery Bus Boycott began?

time and place when fearsome Black Communist was born in Who knew that, in 1937, the Ger-

lynchings and race riots were com- Dallas, Texas? How many were man Embassy actually tried to

mon occurrences. Each delicate aware that J. Edgar Hoover and buy the Ku Klux Klan outright? Salvador Allende Centenary

activities in Vancouver

Mexico oil privatisation The Gladys Marin Club of the Communist Party of Canada has an-

nounced plans to mark 2008 as the centenary of Salvador Allende’s birth.

Celebrations of Allende’s legacy will take place around the world by

various social, cultural, political and

dispute rages on grassroots organisations.

Salvador Allende Gossens

(June 26, 1908 - September 11,

1973) was President of Chile

By Emile Schepers, People’s fixed contractual amount as the was ended, and the details of the

from 1970 to 1973. Allende dedi-

Weekly World law now requires, this was not debate on the government’s en- cated his life to the cause of poor

really “privatisation.” ergy reform program are now be- and indigenous people in Chile,

While the rest of Latin America Calderon claimed that this be- ing worked out.

Latin America and the world. He

moves left, Mexican President cause PEMEX would still exist in On May Day, traditionally a died in the Presidential Palace

Felipe Calderon is pushing hard in name. But many aren’t buying this mass labour event with govern- during the brutal coup which in-

the other direction with a thinly charade. ment sponsorship in Mexico,

stalled the military dictatorship

disguised plan to privatise On April 10, legislators affili- Calderon decided not to show his in Chile. Supported by the CIA

PEMEX, the huge state oil com- ated with the left wing of the Revo- face to the workers, a glaring con- and the US government, the re-

pany that provides 40 percent of lutionary Democratic Party (PRD) trast with previous presidents. The

gime used torture, exile, disap-

the Mexican government’s rev- and allies, backed up by mass or- topic of the privatisation of pearances, killing thousands of

enues. But resistance to privatisa- ganisations including grassroots PEMEX and other public entities, people during the 17 years of

tion is very strong. women’s collectives called “Las Calderon’s threatened “labour law

Pinochet’s dictatorship.

PEMEX was created after 1938 Adelitas,” seized the podium of reform,” and other reactionary and A tribute to Salvador Allende

when then President Lazaro both houses of the Mexican Con- neo-liberal policies came under will be held on Saturday, June

Cardenas nationalised foreign oil gress and locked out the rest of the sharp attack from union speakers,

21, 7:30 pm, at the Center for

companies’ holdings after these Senators and Congresspersons. though many noted the absence of Socialist Education, 706 Clark

companies refused to obey Mexi- Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Petroleum Workers Union presi- Drive, Vancouver.

can labour laws. leader of the Broad Popular Front dent Carlos Romero Deschamps,

PEMEX has certainly not been (FAP) to which this section of the who has yet to speak out on the

well managed in recent decades.

There has not been enough invest-

ment in finding and exploiting new

PRD belongs, said they did this

because they got information that

Calderon’s National Action Party

PEMEX privatisation issue.

At the May Day rallies, Mar-

tin Esparza, head of the Mexi-

PV CROSSWORD

oilfields or even in maintaining

existing infrastructure. Frequent

(PAN) and the formerly ruling

Revolutionary Institutional Party

can Electrical Workers Union,

asked if they would allow “pe- by David Tymoshchuk

accidents have damaged the envi- were cooking up a lightning dawn troleum profits to be carried

ronment, imperilled health and action (albazo, for “alba,” dawn in away by transnationals?”

safety and outraged public opin- Spanish) to ram through the Rather, he said, Mexican labour

ion. Opponents of the government Calderon privatisation plan before should organise campaigns of

hint that this may have contained opposition could be mounted. civil resistance, because “if the

an element of deliberate sabotage The government denied this, energy reform is passed, they

to prepare public opinion for pri- but had called for a strictly parlia- will also pass the labour reform”

vatisation. mentary debate lasting 50 days, so as to destroy the unions and

In 1989, President Raul Salinas and vote on the Calderon plan by collective bargaining.

of the Revolutionary Institutional the middle of the summer. The Valdemar Gutierrez Fragoso,

Party (PRI) struck hard against the FAP and Lopez Obrador, on the Secretary General of the Union of

oil workers union, jailing the lead- other hand, had demanded a much Social Security Employees, which

ership on trumped up arms charges, longer period of discussion, 120 has itself been having a long strug-

then manoeuvring to put pro-gov- days with mass public participa- gle against the government’s pri-

ernment union leaders in their tion all over the country - basi- vatisation efforts, pledged that his

places. cally, a massive referendum on union would help to lead in the

At the time, commentators the issue. struggle to prevent privatisation

speculated that this was the first After two weeks, the occupa- both of PEMEX and the electrical

step toward privatisation, since the tion of the podia of the Congress energy system.

union had been a strong force in

support of maintaining public

ownership. Public opinion in

Mexico then and now, however,

has been against such a move,

especially if the privatising agents

include foreign corporations. This type of puzzle is much like the television game show “Wheel of

So Calderon’s radical privati- Fortune.” Use the Code Grid to help complete the above blank

sation plan had to be dressed up as puzzle. One number coresponds to a letter of the alphabet.

something else. Though, under his

plan, the vast majority of corpo-

rate functions, including explor-

ing new oilfields, drilling test wells,

pumping, building and maintain-

ing pipelines, transportation and LETTERS IN CIRCLES MAKE UP WORDS enter into searchbar

storage would be contracted out to on wikipedia website (en.wikipedia.org)

private industry, in some cases in

exchange for a share of the profits Look for the Solution Grid on page 11.

of new wells instead of just for a PEMEX gas station, owned by the people of Mexico.

11 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008





Korean War atrocities revealed What's Left

PV Vancouver Bureau Haiti Book Tour at Remedy Cafe, 8631-109 St.,

After being denied for over half a 5 pm, second Friday each

The Politics of Containment month. Discussion topics and

century, the scope of atrocities com- in Haiti, book launch tour with

mitted by South Korean troops dur- suggested readings on

Peter Hallward, author of F a c e b o o k :

ing the Korean War is finally being “Damning the Flood: Haiti,

acknowledged. A recent Associated www.facebook.com/

Aristide, and the Politics of group.php?gid=3559215104.

Press article, for example, reports Government.” MONTREAL,

that “Grave by mass grave, South Sat., May 31, (French) 3 pm,

Korea is unearthing the skeletons

Saskatoon, SK

Centre culturel Simon Bolivar,

and buried truths of a cold-blooded 394 ruede Maissoneuve ouest, Political discussion & beer,

slaughter from early in the Korean (English) 7:30 pm, Cafe Culturel all welcome to join Saskatoon

War, when this nation’s U.S.-backed Volver, 5604 avenue du Parc, CPC members, 5:30 pm, Mon-

regime killed untold thousands of tel. 514-618-2253; OTTAWA, day, June 16, and the third

leftists and hapless peasants in a Sunday, June 1, 2 pm, Public Monday of every month, in the

summer of terror in 1950.” Library Auditorium, tel. 613- tv room at Amigo’s, 632-10th

While repeating the absurd lie 864-1590; TORONTO, Mon- St. East.

about “North Korean invaders day, June 2, 7 pm, Oakham

push(ing) down the peninsula” Toronto, ON

House, 63 Gould St. (Ryerson

(how can an army “invade” their U), tel. 416-731-2325; VAN- Housing Not War Fundraiser

own country?), the article notes This recently declassified U.S. army photograph is one of a COUVER, Sat., June 7, 7 pm, Concert, organized by Toronto

that “With U.S. military officers series depicting the execution of 7,000 political prisoners at Public Library, 350 W. Geor- Disasater Relief Committee, 9

sometimes present... the south- Daejeon, South Korea, in July 1950. gia, tel. 604-338-2558. For de- pm, Sat., May 31, Cecil Street

ern army and police emptied tails, see www.canada- Community Centre, 58 Cecil

South Korean prisons, lined up with hands bound - thrown down men then stepped up behind, haitiaction.ca. St., tickets $10 advance/$15 at

detainees and shot them in the prone, jammed side by side, on the pointed their rifles at the backs of the door, call 416-599-8372.

head, dumping the bodies into edge of a long trench. South Ko- their heads and fired. The bodies Victoria, BC The November Elections and

hastily dug trenches. Others were rean military and national police- were tipped into the trench.

Goods for Cuba campaign the Struggle for Change in

thrown into abandoned mines or

fundraiser, 5:30 pm, Sunday, the US, People’s Voice forum

into the sea. Women and chil-

June 1, BCGEU Hall, 2994 with Communist Party USA

dren were among those killed.

Many victims never faced

Manuel Marulanda Douglas, admission $15 em- leader Sam Webb, 7:30 pm,

ployed, $10 unemployed & Tue., June 3, GCDO Hall, 290

charges or trial.” Manuel Marulanda Vélez, leg- and workers, against constant at- students. Danforth Ave., call 416-469-

The mass executions of at least endary leader of the Revolutionary tacks by the Army and paramilitary 2446 for details.

100,000 people out of the 20 million Armed Forces of Colombia-Peo- forces backed by the U.S. and Co- Vancouver, BC

in the southern part of Korea were ple’s Army (FARC-EP), died on lombia’s ruling elite. Attempts to Second Annual Cuban Film

“the most tragic and brutal chapter March 26. Nicknamed “Sureshot” create conditions for peaceful People’s Voice Victory Ban- Festival, June 6-10 at the

of the Korean War,” says historian for his accuracy with firearms, change in the country were destroyed quet, 6 pm, Sat., June 7, Rus- GCDO Hall, 290 Danforth Ave.,

Kim Dong-choon, a member of a Marulanda was born in a coffee- by the ruling class, which killed sian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave., see story on this page for film

government commission investigat- growing region of west-central Co- thousands of political activists and tickets $15, call 604-255-2041. details.

ing the killings. That estimate is lombia, into a peasant family. He trade unionists. During the late Women’s Housing March Celebration of Life for Bill

based on projections from local sur- joined the Communist Party of Co- 1990s, Marulanda led the FARC’s Against Poverty, 2 pm, Sat., Stewart, Sunday, June 8, 2

veys and is “very conservative,” said lombia (PCC) during the period of participation in a peace process with June 14, organized by Power of pm, at the GCDO Hall, 290

Kim, who thinks the true toll may be “La Violencia” , and became part Andrés Pastrana’s Conservative Danforth Ave. For information,

Women Group, from Downtown

twice that or more. of a column of guerrilla fighters government, resulting in the crea- call 416-469-2446.

tion of a demilitarized zone of five

Eastside Women’s Centre.

U.S. military reports of the who resisted government attacks.

In 1964, after a period of relative municipalities centered around San Salvador Allende Tribute, CCFA Toronto Island Cruise,

South Korean slaughter were Sunday, July 27, Noon-4 pm,

peace, the Colombian Army over- Vicente del Caguan. In the liberated marking centenary of his birth,

stamped “secret” and filed away area, FARC became the de facto lunch included, live band, to

ran the Marquetalia district where 7:30 pm, Sat., June 21, Centre

in Washington. Reports of the many of the guerrillas were based. governing force. Under pressure for Socialist Education, 706 Clark reserve tickets ($35) call CCFA

atrocities by independent journal- The survivors, including from U.S. imperialism, the Colom- Drive, for info contact Gladys Toronto 416-410-8254 or

ists and the Democratic People’s Marulanda and Jacobo Arenas, bian government eventually re- Marin Club CPC, 254-9826. Sharon 905-951-8499.

Republic of Korea itself were dis- formed the “Bloque Sur” (South- sumed its war against the guerrillas.

missed as lies. Left Film Night, returns July

ern Bloc) guerrilla group, which On May 25, FARC Central Winnipeg, MB

Photos of one massacre, taken 27 to the Centre for Socialist

became the FARC in 1966. High Command member Annual Peace Walk, Satur-

by an Army major and kept classi- Timoleon Jimenez confirmed that

Education, 706 Clark Drive, call

Led by Marulanda and Arenas, day, June 14, starts 12 Noon

fied for a half-century, show white- Manuel Marulanda had died of 604-255-2041 for details.

the FARC has waged a decades- at the provincial Legislature.

clad detainees - bent, submissive, long defense of the rural peasants heart failure.

Edmonton, AB For further information, con-

Edmonton Young Commu- tact Peace Alliance Winnipeg,

nist League, meets regularly tel. 479-7026

2nd Annual Cuban Film Festival in Toronto

The 2nd Annual Cuban Film

Festival, sponsored by the Free

one in his family for two years.

My Brother Fidel, directed by re-

Amat, one of the most important

musicians in Cuba, reflects on his

People's Voice deadlines:

the Cuban Five Cultural Commit- nowned documentary filmmaker life and the music of Cuba.

tee, runs from June 6 to 10 at the Santiago Alvarez. Fidel Castro Tuesday, June 10, 7 pm: An JUNE 16-30 issue: Thursday, June 5

Greek Hall, 290 Danforth Avenue, interviews a peasant who was an evening of exciting documenta-

Toronto. The Festival will honour exceptional witness to events in ries by acclaimed documentary

JULY 1-31 issue: Thursday, June 19

the Cuban Five, anti-terrorist fight- the Sierra Maestra. filmmaker Santiago Alvarez. Send submissions to PV Editorial Office,

ers imprisoned by the U.S. for Saturday, June 7, 7 pm: Plaff - or Hanoi shows how the heroic peo-

nearly ten years. Being Afraid of Life, directed by ple of Vietnam lived and fought

706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, V5L 3J1,

Friday, June 6, 7 pm: Moving in Juan Carlos Tabio. The story of a for their liberation starting with

Cuba - this comedy by Juan Carlos superstitious Cuban woman who the bombing of Hanoi.

Tabio speaks to the frustrations tries to find out who is throwing The Tiger Leaped and Killed But

and joys of moving from one house

to another in Cuba.

eggs at her house, an old practice

of Cuban witchcraft, and why.

He Will Die, a story told through

four songs that pay homage to the

Celebration of Life for

Saturday, June 7, 1:30 pm: Women

Guerrilla Fighters, directed by

Ivette, directed by Lourdes de los

Santos. The child of René Gonzalez

great Chilean folksinger Victor

Jara.

Bill Stewart on June 8

Consuelo Elba Alvarez. The story (one of the Cuban Five) draws a Hurricane, evacuation and co- The Central Committee and Ontario Committee of the Commu-

of ten women fighters who incor- picture to send to a father she has operation when Hurricane Flora nist Party of Canada will host a Celebration of Life in honour of Bill

porated themselves into the guer- never known. hits Oriente and Camaguey prov- Stewart, on Sunday June 8, 2 pm, GCDO Hall, 290 Danforth Avenue

rilla struggle against Batista. Sunday, June 8, 7 pm: Memories inces of Cuba in October, 1963. in Toronto.

I Delight In You Now, directed by of Underdevelopment, directed by LBJ The murders of John Bill Stewart, who died in January after suffering a stroke last fall,

Roberto Chile. The story of five Tomas Gutiérrez Alea. The story Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King devoted his life to the labour movement and the Communist Party, of

Venezuelan children whose eye- of Sergio, a well-off person who and Robert Kennedy are docu- which he was an important leader for many years. Comrades, friends,

sight has been restored through remains in Cuba after the Revolu- mented in an historical, poetic, and acquaintances of Bill are invited to join with us in a celebration

Operacion Milagro. tion while his relatives leave. satirical and didactic synthesis of his life and contributions to the struggle for socialism, for working

Saturday, June 7, 4 pm: The Cu- Monday, June 9, 7 pm: Memories about violence in the U.S. class advance, for peace.

ban Story, as narrated by Holly- of the Soul, directed by Lourdes All films have English sub-ti- We are pleased to announce that Dora Stewart, Bill’s wife and

wood star Errol Flynn, directed by de los Santos. The story of a new tles. Each evening will start with a comrade of 55 years, will be present and happy to meet friends and

his friend, Victor Pahlen. song movement (Nueva Trova) in two-minute BBC interview of comrades. For more information, call the CPC at 416-469-2446.

Dear Papa, directed by Sergio Cuba and its roots, analysed by Adriana Pérez, the wife of Gerardo

Nunez. A presentation of daily life Silvio Rodriguez and other re- Hernandez, one of the Cuban Five.

in the family of Ramon Labanino, nowned singers. Suggested donation $5 or $10. For

one of the Cuban Five. In a prison The Musician Arrived, directed more information, visit

in Texas, Ramon has not seen any- by Lourdes de los Santos. Pancho www.freethefivecc.ca.

12 • PEOPLE’S VOICE • JUNE 1-15, 2008







FARC computer allegations exposed

In recent weeks, the North seized laptops all showed that the * 22,481 web pages Professor at the University of Cali- Spanish and didn’t have a politi-

laptops had been shut down on 3 * 37,872 written documents (such fornia (Pomona) and Forrest Hylton, cal understanding of what the files

American media has Professor at New York University said. That’s what one report said:

March 2008 (at different times, but as Word documents, PDF files, text

repeated endlessly the all three prior to 11:45 am, the time format documents) (NYU), who warned that the infor- “The experts come from outside

allegation that information of receipt by the forensic computer * 210,888 images mation found in the computers said the region and didn’t speak Span-

found on laptop computers examiners of the Colombian Judi- Of the above, 983 files were to be those of Raul Reyes, had been ish, which helped eliminate the

reveals direct links between cial Police). The two external hard found to be encrypted. (Page 27) misused by the Colombian govern- possibility that they might have

the Revolutionary Armed disks and the three USB thumb In other words, nowhere in the ment and Interpol. been influenced by the contents of

Forces of Colombia (FARC) drives had all been connected to a seized computers is there a refer- Miguel Tinker-Salas, an expert the data they were analyzing.” A

and the government of computer between 1 and 3 March ence to them containing emails. on Latin American subjects, indi- report from an IT technician who

Venezuela. This analysis 2008, without prior imaging of their Remember that the reports from cated that there are number of po- doesn’t understand Spanish can-

from Rebelion by Carlos contents and without the use of El Pais referred to emails and pub- litically motivated misinterpreta- not possibly say that Venezuela

Martinez and Pascual write-blocking hardware.” lished the files under the headline tions assigned to the contents of financed the FARC, because s/he

Serrano exposes these lies. That is, the Colombian Army the computers. “One must recall wouldn’t have understood a sin-

Last March 1, the Colombian used and modified the archives that Interpol can only say whether gle word of what the files said.

Army attacked a FARC camp in contained in the computers, USB manipulation took place. But it The media misrepresentation has

Ecuadoran territory. The army sup- memory and hard disks, before cannot say whether the elements it continued while the Interpol report

posedly captured three laptops, delivering them to the Colombian found are original and it cannot summary says: “The verification of

three flash drives and two external police. certify the information.” the eight seized FARC computer

hard disks. And it must be said For example, on page 31, the Moreover, he pointed out the exhibits by INTERPOL does not

“supposedly” because said evi- report says: “83. Seized exhibit 26, problem inherent in the fact that the imply the validation of the accuracy

dence was not obtained under es- a laptop computer, showed the fol- report was disseminated from Co- of the user files, the validation of

tablished police or judicial proce- lowing effects on files on or after 1 lombia, since this demonstrates that any country’s interpretation of the

dures, but rather through military March 2008”: Interpol is defending the interests of user files or the validation of the

aggression in a foreign country, * 273 system files were created Alvaro Uribe’s government, sup- source of the user files.”

making any evidence obtained * 373 system and user files were ported by the United States. El Pais headlined its report from

thereby illegal and unusable in any accessed Forrest Hylton, of NYU, ex- Maite Rico and Pilar Lozano, “In-

judicial procedure. * 786 system files were modified pressed the need for the contents to terpol Certifies that the FARC

In order to give validity to this * 488 system files were deleted be verified by an institution with a Computers Were Not Manipu-

“evidence,” the Colombian authori- The report says that user docu- greater degree of independence. lated,” with the subtitle: “Police

ties asked Interpol to produce a ments (Word and the like) are au- “It’s likely that the computers did Organization Says the Laptops

report certifying the “authenticity” thentic, because they were not FARC Commandante Raul survive the Colombian bombing, Belonged to Raul Reyes.”

of the archives contained in the modified between March 1 and the Reyes was killed in the but the problem is that we don’t On the other hand, in passing

equipment. A reading of the report date of the examination. However, know anything more, nor how they supposed contents of the comput-

Colombian military attack .

calls attention to the following con- the same report acknowledges the were treated,” he said. ers that implicated Venezuela and

clusions: limits of this statement because in “Emails captured from Raul Reyes The reality is the Colombia did Ecuador through the filter of a

First, a reference is made to “data Exhibit 31, there are: computer.” Therefore, where did manipulate the FARC computers. friendly press, Colombian authori-

classified as ULTRA SECRETO” * 2,110 files with creation dates they get those emails? Or did they The media, the Colombian gov- ties showed the world that they

(Page 20) when part of the data was ranging between 20 April 2009 to simply not exist in the seized com- ernment and Interpol’s managers were more interested in

already published in the El Pais 27 August 2009 puters? have stressed the elements that criminalizing these governments

newspaper. * 1,434 files which show as having Finally, the report concludes (Page interest the media who headline than in allowing judges and secu-

The most important is that the been last modified between 5 April 35 and beyond) with seven pages their reports, “Interpol Finds rity forces to work. If they’re so

report itself acknowledges in its 2009 and 16 October 2010 dedicated to recommendations to Documents Sourcing From Raul interested in transparency, it would

“Finding 2b” (Page 30) that the It concludes that “these files were police in member countries, telling Reyes’ Computer to be Authen- be good to know what information

Colombian authorities manipulated originally created prior to 1 March them how electronic evidence should tic,” or “Police Agency says Ven- the FARC had about paramilitary

the computers and storage devices 2008 on a device or devices with be treated, recommendations that ezuela Financed the FARC” (El crimes and the members of the

and that “Access to the data con- incorrect system time settings. (p. 33) were probably made because this Pais). The most eloquent evidence Uribe administration implicated in

tained in the eight FARC computer What this means is that any user case serves as an example to police that these headlines are lies is that paramilitarism. Surely there were

exhibits... did not conform to inter- changing the time on the operating for how not to collect information the Interpol report, in order to en- was plenty of that in the hundreds

nationally recognized principles for system can create a document with technology (IT) evidence. The only sure its impartiality, was done by of gigabytes that are said to be

handling electronic evidence by law any date they please, either a prior way in which one might ensure the IT technicians who don’t speak contained in the disks.

enforcement.” or even a future one. authenticity of documents contained

It must be stressed that in regard in IT archives is to obtain them under

The study commissioned by the

Colombian government acknowl- to the forensic conclusions, the re-

port literally says: Without reveal-

judicial direction and from the out-

set, when they come into custody of

Venezuela’s contacts were

edges that: “Direct access may com-

plicate validating this evidence for ing the content of the data, INTER-

POL can state the following with

jurisdictionally independent authori-

ties; doing forensic testing on only

“for humanitarian exchange”

purposes of its introduction in a

judicial proceeding, because law regard to the user files contained in one exact copy of the contents of the tional computer experts have ques-

the eight seized FARC computer hard disks and memory. From Venezuelanalysis.com,

enforcement is then required to dem- tioned whether the report could

exhibits: As it is, Interpol’s own report May 21, 2008

onstrate or prove that the direct ac- hold up in a court of law.

cess did not have a material impact * 109 document files were found only casts more doubt on the origin The Venezuelan Minister of the Venezuela’s Attorney General

on the purpose for which the evi- on more than one of the exhibits of the computer archives published Interior and Justice, Ramon Luisa Ortega Diaz said on May 20

dence is intended.” * 452 spreadsheets by El Pais in order to attack Ven- Rodriguez Chacon, told the press that the INTERPOL report is null

For example, further on in the * 7,989 e-mail addresses ezuela and Ecuador. on May 20 that President Hugo and void because the evidence was

document, Interpol says that: “The * 10,537 multimedia files (sound This has also been pointed out by Chavez does not have any “direct not collected legally. Colombian

operating systems of the three and video) U.S. academics Miguel Tinker-Salas, relationship” with the Revolution- officials “pretend now to cover

ary Armed Forces of Colombia. with a veil of legality a thing that



NEWS FOR PEOPLE,

The “only contacts” that Chavez has been illicit from the begin-

had were at the request of the ning.... these computers were ob-

Colombian government for the tained in virtue of an invasion, of



NOT FOR PROFITS! sake of the peace process, the min-

ister asserted, referring to Presi-

an interference [Colombia] made

in the Ecuadorian state. It is con-

dent Chavez’s mediation of FARC taminated evidence,” Ortega Diaz

Every issue of PEOPLE’S VOICE hostage releases. told the press outside of the Ven-









VOICE

gives you the latest on the

fightback from coast to coast. people’s Two days after the FARC re-

leased four hostages to Venezue-

lan authorities on Feb. 27, Colom-

ezuelan Supreme Court of Justice.

Meanwhile, President Uribe

and his allies in the Colombian

Whether it’s the struggle to defeat bia launched an illegal attack on a government have been accused of

the HarperTories, resistance to FARC encampment inside Ecua- having contracted paramilitary

social cuts, solidarity with Cuba dorian territory which set off a groups to carry out political assas-

or workers’ struggles around the week-long regional crisis. Colom- sinations and to battle the FARC

$25 for 1 year $45 for 2 years bian authorities claimed to have using terrorist tactics beyond legal

world, we’ve got the news the

Low income special rate: $12 for 1 year found in the wreckage three laptops oversight. On May 20, Colombia’s

corporate media won’t print. and other computer hardware that Attorney General ordered the ar-

Outside Canada: $25 US or $35 Cnd for 1 year

belonged to the FARC‘s second- rest of the former president of Co-

And we do more than that–we Name _________________________________ in-command, Raul Reyes, who was lombia’s House of Representatives,

report and analyze events from a killed in the attack. Emilio Martinez, an Uribe ally, on

revolutionary perspective, helping Address _______________________________ President Chavez has called the charges that he paid 200 million

Interpol report on the laptops “a Colombian pesos to three paramili-

to build the movements for justice media show,” and the Venezuelan tary commanders of the now dis-

__________________ Postal Code__________

and equality, and eventually for a Communication and Information solved United Self-Defenses of Co-

socialist Canada. Read the paper Send to: People’s Voice, Minister Andres Izarra said the lombia (AUC) in 2001 for political

that fights for working people–on 133 Herkimer St.,Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3 accusations of government sup- assassinations. The charges are

every page—in every issue! 11/08 port for the FARC are “empty and based on the testimony of six former

lacking legality.” Several interna- paramilitaries currently in jail.