> WW News Service Digest #161 > > 1) Colombia: Clinton's lies met by worldwide protest > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 2) Mumia Abu-Jamal addresses 'Redeem the Dream March' > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 3) Mumia news in brief > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 4) Haitian man on death row: 'Self-defense is not a crime' > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 5) Solidarity with AK Steel strikers > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 14, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > > >COLOMBIA: CLINTON'S LIES MET BY WORLDWIDE PROTEST > >By Andy McInerney > >When U.S. President Bill Clinton traveled to Colombia on >Aug. 30, one sentence stood out from all his photo-ops and >his phony anti-drug demagogy. > >"This is not Vietnam," he said. "Neither is it Yankee >imperialism." > >But Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels notwithstanding, a lie >repeated enough times does not make the truth. In fact, the >only ones who seemed to believe his lie of benevolent >interventionism were the U.S. lackeys in Colombia's >political and military elite. > >Clinton was in the tourist center of Cartegena de Indias to >deliver $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid to Colombia's >tottering ruling classes. The aid is part of the $7.5 >billion "Plan Colombia," a program based on military aid >combined with various pledges of social services to win the >hearts and minds of Colombians. > >His denials did not travel well in Latin America. > >"It would be highly dangerous if the operation leads to a >military escalation," Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez >warned on Aug. 31. "That could lead to a Vietnamization of >the entire Amazon region." > >Chavez's fear was not isolated. "We do not want to become >the next Thailand," said the chair of Panama's Foreign >Relations Committee of the National Assembly, Marco Ameglio. > >Thailand served as a massive U.S. air base and springboard >for covert operations during the war against Vietnam. > >Despite diplomatic arm twisting by Clinton and the U.S. >government, a meeting of the 12 presidents of South American >countries refused to endorse Plan Colombia. In particular, >they would not go along with Clinton's efforts to portray >Colombia's insurgencies as part of the drug trafficking >problem. > >Chilean President Ricardo Lagos told the New York Times on >Sept. 2 that the presidents supported Colombian President >Andres Pastrana's talks with the insurgencies. "That is >distinct from the problem of drug trafficking," he affirmed. > >PARALLELS WITH VIETNAM > >The parallels between the increasing U.S. military >escalation in Colombia and the buildup to the U.S. war in >Vietnam are stunning. Colombia is now the third-largest >recipient of U.S. military aid in the world. As part of Plan >Colombia, 500 U.S. military troops will be stationed in >Colombia as "advisers." Military helicopters are already on >the way and have been cleared for combat against Colombia's >revolutionary movements. Biological and chemical warfare-- >reminiscent of Agent Orange--are in the works for Colombia's >countryside. > >On Aug. 30, the Pentagon announced that Gen. Keith Huber >will be stationed in Colombia to "oversee" the military aid. >Huber will be the only U.S. general posted in Central or >South America, according to the Associated Press. > >Even Clinton's highly staged visit to Cartagena had an air >of unreality. Behind the barrage of baby-kissing and >picturesque poses, over 5,000 Colombian troops and close to >500 U.S. military and police agents patrolled the streets of >the city. Clinton's speeches essentially took place under >martial law. > >Despite the massive show of force, students and trade >unionists burned U.S. flags in the streets of Cartegena. >Cleaning crews worked overtime to remove "Clinton go home" >and "Yankee out" graffiti. > >Thousands more turned out in mass demonstrations against >Clinton's visit in Bogota, Medellin, and Cali. Students from >the University of Antioquia clashed with riot police >throughout the day. > >The country's two main insurgencies, the Revolutionary Armed >Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) and the National >Liberation Army (ELN), both issued statements declaring >Clinton a "persona non grata" in Colombia. The ELN staged >attacks on oil pipelines in northern Colombia to coincide >with the visit. > >Meanwhile the FARC-EP launched a massive offensive across >the country. Among the losses for the government: a Vietnam- >era AC-47 fighter-bomber that went down in heavy fighting >near a key communications center at Mount Montezuma, 155 >miles west of the capital, on Sept. 2. > >A SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT ARISES > >Clinton's visit proved to be a lightning rod for protest >from around the world. In the United States, the >International Action Center joined with other organizations, >coordinating actions in 12 cities. Two hundred people turned >out in New York City and 150 in San Francisco. > >Other actions took place in Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, >Detroit, Los Angeles, Providence, R.I., San Diego, San >Francisco and West Palm Beach, Fla. The local chapter of the >Colombia Support Network held an action in Helena, Mont. The >following day, the Colombia Solidarity Committee in Chicago >demonstrated in front of the Colombian Consulate. > >"These demonstrations are the first step toward building a >national anti-war movement against U.S. intervention in >Colombia," said IAC leader Teresa Gutierrez. > >Actions also took place in Vienna, Austria; Stockholm, >Sweden; Brussels, Belgium; Beirut, Lebanon; Buenos Aires, >Argentina; and Toronto. Some 300 people in Rome took the >street in front of the U.S. Embassy and held a sit-in. > >This is the reason that Clinton felt forced to repeat again >and again that Colombia would not be "another Vietnam." The >U.S. government knows well that the carnage it unleashed >against the Vietnamese people was eventually halted by >massive solidarity--in the United States and around the >world--against U.S. imperialism. > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > >Message-ID: <00ab01c01c4c$c714df60$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Mumia Abu-Jamal addresses 'Redeem the Dream March' >Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 20:01:44 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 14, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZERS PROTEST POLICE BRUTALITY: > >MUMIA ABU-JAMAL ADDRESSES "REDEEM THE DREAM MARCH" > >By Andre Powell and Steven Ceci >Washington > >On Aug. 26 Martin Luther King III stood where his father had >given his historic "I Have a Dream" speech 37 years earlier. >King repeated his father's challenge to the people of the >United States: "I dare you to fulfill the dream." > >Police brutality, racial profiling and eight years of the >Clinton administration's broken promises brought tens of >thousands of people from across the country to the Lincoln >Memorial for the Redeem the Dream March. > >The rally replicated the 1963 March on Washington that >brought over half a million protesters to Washington to >demand basic civil rights, including the right to vote and >an end to Jim Crow laws and segregation. > >King, the Rev. Al Sharpton and hip-hop producer Russell >Simmons called for the march. > >"The day my father dreamed about has not yet been realized >in our lending institutions, nor in our employment offices, >nor even our nation's courtrooms," King said. > >He challenged President Bill Clinton to issue an executive >order outlawing racial profiling, the police practice of >stopping and harassing motorists who are people of color. > >"A Black man can walk over a bridge, but he cannot drive >over it without being stopped," King told a cheering crowd. > >Sharpton challenged Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. >George W. Bush to address these issues. "Both of you are >running for the presidency, but you can't run from us," >Sharpton said. > >Many civil-rights leaders and celebrities addressed the >crowd, including NAACP head Kweisi Mfume, Coretta Scott >King, comedian Dick Gregory, Rep. John Conyers and comedian >Chris Tucker. > >In addition, victims of police brutality spoke to the crowd. >One of them was Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant who was >brutalized and sodomized with a broken broomstick in the >bathroom of a New York police station in 1997. > >"We are tired of being judged by our skin color. We want to >be judged by our hearts only," Louima said. He added, >"Elected officials become blind to racial problems once they >are in office." > >Kadiatou Diallo and Saikou Diallo, parents of Amadou Diallo, >an immigrant from Guinea who was shot at 41 times by New >York cops, also spoke. > >MUMIA: 'WHY VOTE FOR OPPRESSION?' > >A very important part of the rally came when Pam Africa, >leader of International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia >Abu-Jamal and minister of confrontation for the MOVE >Organization, presented a taped message from death-row >political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. > >Abu-Jamal made a blistering attack on the Democratic and >Republican parties, hitting them on such issues as the >growing prison-industrial complex, police brutality and the >racist death penalty. > >"I know many people at this rally will not like what I have >to say," Abu-Jamal said. "Many here will tell you to vote. >But I ask you: Why would you vote for your own oppression?" > >Abu-Jamal pointed out that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wasn't >just a dreamer. King asked questions about the capitalist >system, like, "Who owns the oil? Who owns the iron ore? Why >is it that people have to pay water bills in a world that is >two-thirds water?" > >There was a strong push by organizers for people to return >to Washington Oct. 16 for the Million Family March. They >pointed out that there is a growing new civil-rights >movement. > >International Action Center members staffed a table at the >rally to build support for the continuing struggle to free >Abu-Jamal. They passed out many placards that read, "Not one >more legal lynching," featuring photos of Abu-Jamal and >Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham. > >Many people at the rally stopped to get an update on Abu- >Jamal's case. Others signed up for the IAC's mailing list >and e-mail alert list and pledged to do support work in >their own communities. > >IAC organizers saw the high level of interest as proof that >support for Abu-Jamal is growing. > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > >Message-ID: <00b301c01c4c$e2a61000$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Mumia news in brief >Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 20:02:32 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 14, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >MUMIA NEWS IN BRIEF > >By Greg Butterfield > >LATINO UNIONISTS DEMAND NEW TRIAL > >At its Aug. 9-13 national conference in Chicago, the Labor >Council for Latin American Advancement adopted a resolution >supporting a new trial for Black freedom fighter Mumia Abu- >Jamal, who is beginning his 19th year on Pennsylvania's >death row. LCLAA is the official Latino constituency group >of the AFL-CIO. > >The resolution states, "Mumia's case concentrates the whole >atmosphere of criminalizing African American men, the >expanded death penalty and the gutting of defendants' >rights. > >"The National Convention of Aug. 9-13 goes on record >demanding a new trial for Mumia and joins in coalition with >the individuals and organizations around the world that >represent a growing chorus for freedom and justice and >against the violation of Mumia's right to a fair trial and >to stop the execution." > >Labor support for Abu-Jamal has snowballed in recent months. >The Service Employees, Postal Workers and California State >AFL-CIO have come out in Abu-Jamal's defense this year. > >LABOR LETTER TO RENO > >The Labor for Mumia campaign is gathering signatures for "An >Open Letter to Attorney General Janet Reno and the >Department of Justice from Trade Unionists." > >The letter reads in part: "We trade unionists demand justice >for our union brother, award-winning journalist and National >Writers Union member Mumia Abu-Jamal. > >"Abu-Jamal has been on death row for the last 18 years, >convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer and >sentenced to death in a trial that can only be described as >a travesty of justice." > >After laying out the facts of the case and the many abuses >of courts, cops and prosecutors, the letter concludes: > >"Attorney General Janet Reno, justice demands that you >intervene to guarantee the rights of Mumia Abu-Jamal. We >demand that you guarantee Abu-Jamal's right to a new trial. >We demand justice. Anything less would amount to your >complicity." > >To get copies of the letter and background information >especially prepared for union members, visit the Web site >www.aspenlinx.com/labor. > >POLICE ATTACK DUTCH PROTESTERS > >A bulletin from the Dutch Campaign to Free Mumia reports >that police attacked 75 protesters outside the U.S. Embassy >at The Hague Sept. 2. At least seven activists were arrested >after they demanded to meet with U.S. officials. > >Braving heavy rains, the crowd chanted "Free Mumia, Free, >Free Mumia!" in Dutch as they marched from Central Station >to the U.S. Embassy. They found the door locked and the >entrance deserted. > >"The police, unprovoked, charged into the crowd waving >batons," says the group's report. "Several people were >wrestled to the ground, while many others were clubbed by >police, apparently at random." > >Eyewitnesses who were not part of the action have agreed to >testify about the brutal police attack. > >The Free Mumia group adds, "We call upon the Dutch >government at all levels to apologize for the actions of the >police, free our comrades in jail, and join the European >Parliament, the Belgian Parliament, Amnesty International >and other bodies that have studied the case of Mumia Abu- >Jamal and called for his conviction to be overturned." > >FRENCH PARLIAMENT LEADER VISITS > >Raymond Forni, president of the French National Assembly, >visited Mumia Abu-Jamal on death row Aug. 28. He was a >sponsor of the 1981 legislation that ended capital >punishment in France. > >At a press conference following the meeting, Forni urged the >U.S. government to abolish the death penalty. > >"With Mumia you have the case of everyone who is sharing his >lot," said Forni. "Because of his particular intelligence >[Abu-Jamal] is fighting two wars: one on his own behalf, and >the other for the larger issue that we are interested in." >(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 29) > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > >Message-ID: <00b401c01c4c$e7da27a0$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Haitian man on death row: 'Self-defense is not a crime' >Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 20:03:04 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 14, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >HAITIAN MAN ON DEATH ROW: "SELF-DEFENSE IS NOT A CRIME" > >By G. Dunkel > >Borgela Philistin was tired and in a hurry to get home on >June 16, 1993, so he took a jitney cab. But he never made it >home. > >A few blocks from his house, two Philadelphia cops stopped >the cab. A shouting match broke out. One cop reached through >the window and punched Philistin. The cop smashed him in the >mouth with a flashlight, then pulled him through the window. > >A big brawl followed, with the two cops and Philistin on the >ground. One cop was trying to grab Philistin's hands. The >other drew his gun. In the struggle, the cop dropped his >gun, Philistin picked it up, and in his words to the cops >during his interrogation, "I fired shots towards the ground >so I could run. I didn't aim at them; one of the officers >was hit. I saw the blood. I panicked and started running." > >Without an effective lawyer to present a heat-of-passion >defense, without consular notification, this 19-year-old >Haitian citizen, who was a student and part-time worker >here, was convicted of premeditated, first-degree murder of >a cop named Robert Hayes and aggravated assault on another >cop, John Marynowitz, who is paralyzed. Given the racism of >the Philadelphia court system, these charges drew a death >penalty. > >Philistin wound up on the same death row as journalist and >former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal. He told Abu-Jamal, "I >came from a country where you respect authority, but was I >just supposed to let them beat me, shoot me? I thought they >were going to kill me." > >Abu-Jamal adds, "Can anyone really say that such a fear >isn't justified?" > >Ray Laforest, a labor union militant and member of the >Haitian Coalition for Justice, said: "The movement to free >Mumia must defend the right of self-defense and other >victims of this racist justice system. What happened to >Philistin could happen to any of us--look at Patrick >Dorismond and Abner Louima. Haitians are victims of this >racist justice system, just like other Blacks in this >country." > >Abu-Jamal has asked a delegation of French parliamentarians >who are scheduled to visit him the first week of September >to visit Philistin if they can get permission from >Pennsylvania prison authorities. > >Johnnie Stevens, a leader of Millions for >Mumia/International Action Center, told Workers World, "It >is absolutely important to broaden the struggle to obtain a >new trial for Mumia, to show that the racist death penalty >is used against any person of color who dares to defend >themselves, not just Mumia." > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > >Message-ID: <00b501c01c4c$faae6800$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Solidarity with AK Steel strikers >Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 20:03:45 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 14, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >LETTER TO EDITOR: SOLIDARITY WITH AK STEEL STRIKERS > >On Sept. 1, 1999, AK Steel--then Armco Steel--declared war >on the city of Mansfield, Ohio, when management locked out >approximately 620 members of Steel Workers Local 169 as the >existing labor agreement expired. > >The company had brought in an army of approximately 200 >uniformed private security guards to intimidate Local 169 >members in May of 1999 during negotiations. > >These jack-booted thugs walked around the plant, slapping >their billy clubs into their hands while glaring at our >members on the job. A former guard told the News Journal >that he and the other guards were trained to provoke >violence. > >Since the lockout began, the guards have been seen following >Local 169 members and their families around town, to and >from the Union Hall, grocery store and even following >children home from school. > >AK Steel has filed numerous lawsuits against the local, the >international union, individual union members, city >officials and even a local police officer. The suits are a >blatant attempt by the company to further intimidate our >supporters and put additional financial pressure on >individuals whose jobs the company has taken away. > >Despite AK Steel's shameful reign of economic terrorism and >intimidation tactics the members of Local 169 have remained >strong and have vowed to last one day longer! > >Join us for a one year of solidarity rally on Sept. 9. The >program begins at 12 noon in the Town Square in Mansfield. >Refreshments and entertainment will be provided. > >Speakers include: Steel Workers Secretary-Treasurer Leo >Gerard, Ohio AFL-CIO President Bill Burga, Steel Workers >District One Director David McCall and U.S. Rep. Dennis >Kucinich. > >Directions by auto: From the north: I-71 south to Rt. 30 >west to Rt.13 south (Main Street Exit). From the south: I-71 >north to Rt. 13 north (Exit 169). From the east: Rt. 30 west >to Rt.13 south (Main St. Exit). From the west: Rt.30 east to >Rt.13 south (Main St. Exit). > >For more information, call Local 169 at (419) 522-9375. > >Mike Zielinski > >Steel Workers organizer > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
