[L-I] another russian world war two song-"the sacred war".
THE SACRED WAR ARISE,VAST LAND;IN AWESOME MIGHT FOR MORTAL COMBAT GIRD AGAINST THE EVIL POWERS OF NIGHT, THE FASCIST HORDES ACCURSED! LET STORMS OF INDIGNATION RAGE AND RIGHTEOUS WRATH OUTPOUR! THIS IS A SACRED WAR WE WAGE, A PEOPLE'S SACRED WAR. this has been quoted as the most famous of the russian songs sang during the war. cheers m ___ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
[L-I] Dry Rot- The Far Right Targets the Left
DRY ROT -- The Far Right Targets The Left. By Will Offley Canadian Dimension, January/February 2001 Volume 35, Number 1 Like most huge events in history, the fall of the Berlin Wall shook our world. In doing so it also changed the ground rules of politics. Whether you call it paradigm shift or merely the temporary triumph of neo-liberalism, the dust from the Wall's collapse has clouded our vision for nearly a decade. Without exception, currents of the left around the world have found themselves disoriented and scrambling to create a new vision and a new political framework within which to organize and to fight. This has not only been true for the traditional Communist Parties, but for the non-Stalinist and anti-Stalinist left as well. The left has not yet been able to reconstitute a coherent vision of the new world we want to see issue from the ashes of the old, nor have we articulated the strategy or programme or organizations necessary to make that happen. As a result, radical left politics have remained largely confined to "anti" politics for a decade or more: anticorporate, anti-globalization, anticapitalist. We have remained locked down behind the relatively easy bulwark of what we're against, rather than venturing out into the exposed and more dangerous terrain of defining what we're for. In addition, in some sectors there have been marked tendencies to view the capitalist system through the lens of conspiracism and irrationality, where plots and conspiracies replace class interests and mass politics as the motor forces of human society. This weakening of its culture, institutions and politics have rendered some sectors of the broad left vulnerable to the conscious and organized predation being carried out in Canada by a specific current of the far right. In the U.S. this dates back as far as the Gulf War, where neo-fascist currents like the Larouche organization and Spotlight sought to attach themselves to the movement against the war. Is the Canadian left immune from this sort of targeting? No. Is the situation any different now, a decade later? Yes and no. Yes, because Seattle has led to Washington, and from there to Philadelphia and L.A. and Windsor and Prague. Quebec will be next, and it won't be the end. The rise of the struggle in the streets against globalization marks the end of ten years of demoralization and confusion. There is a new dynamism and a new optimism, and if the path ahead is only partially visible, at least we're collectively underway again. However, one has only to look at Seattle to see that the growth of far right currents within and alongside the left and progressive movements has increased visibly over the decade. There are also indicators that point to a change =96 during the Gulf War, the far right was active on the fringes, but by Seattle it seemed to be active at the very centre of things. While the young militants faced down the cops and the gas in downtown Seattle, on a leadership level elements of that movement were being increasingly compromised politically by a de facto convergence between Ralph Nader and the most important far-right leader in the United States, the semi-fascist Pat Buchanan. Five months later during the April 16th mobilizations in Washington, Buchanan shared a stage with Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa Jr. as an invited guest of the AFL-CIO. Antiglobalist politics are not the exclusive preserve of the left. Though it springs from different roots, Buchanan's opposition to globalization and free trade is as genuine as ours. He just takes it in a direction diametrically opposed to everything else we stand for =96 protectionism, racism, exclusion. Not only that, there have been plenty of examples this century to show the far right can be anti-corporate too. Throughout the 1920's Hitler's Nazi Party contained a minority current led by Gregor and Otto Strasser that was inalterably opposed to the German trusts... as well as the Jews, the Communists, Social Democrats, gays and lesbians, unions, etc. Nor is the far right confined solely to the hardcore neo-Nazism of the Heritage Front or the Northern Hammerskins. It's relatively easy to ward off the interventions of groups that put swastikas on their literature. It's considerably more difficult when the politics of the groups in question are cloaked in progressive rhetoric and hidden behind coded language. Between Wolfgang Droege and Stockwell Day there is a whole swamp of currents and organizations =96 conspiracist, anti-Semitic, some with hidden fascist agendas, some totalitarian, some merely far right. Some of these are targeting the left. There is reason to be concerned. ** Although they're based at different ends of the country, they seem to be made for each other. The Radical is a monthly tabloid published in Quesnel, B.C. since June 1998 by Arthur Topham, a self-described anarchist who regards himself as "a natural, sovereign and unique critter who doesn't need an
[L-I] Speeches on Russian-American future relations (1)
TITLE: MAIN SPEECHES AT THE FORECAST AND OUTLOOK CONFERENCE REGARDING RUSSIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS [RADISSON SLAVJANSKAYA HOTEL, 9:30, FEBRUARY 14, 2001] SOURCE: FEDERAL NEWS SERVICE (http://www.fednews.ru/) REMARKS BY JAMES COLLINS, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Collins: Thank you, Professor Yasin, and I thank all of the organizers of this conference. I think it touches a very important element in the US-Russia relationship which I think really is a complex and comprehensive and often complicated relationship. But that element is the economic relations between the United States and the Russian Federation -- a segment of our relationship which I believe, despite the efforts of a decade of considerable dedication and considerable creativity, still remains far from the kind of support for a stable and normal relationship between our countries that it should become. And I believe that -- myself and my colleagues here at the Embassy are persuaded that the economic relationship is something which must receive priority attention over the coming several years. Now, fortunately, I think, in our judgment, conditions exist today that have not existed for some time that provide reason to think that the growth and development of the economic relationship, in a serious and constructive way, is a real and distinct opportunity. And a critical element is for the private sectors and our governments to work together to realize its potential. I would simply point to two reasons for this judgment. First, the Russian economy has done far better in the last year or the last year and a half than almost anyone would have predicted two years ago. It seems to us that a foundation is in place for solid change to attract investment, to build a normal business relationship, and to create the conditions for Russians and Americans together to do constructive, profitable business between us is beginning to take shape (sic). Nevertheless, it's going to take a fair amount -- indeed, a lot -- of work on the part of both of our countries to see that those trends continue. We cannot take for granted that high oil prices or the particularly good growth rates of this past year will just continue automatically, and it's very important, in our judgment, to take advantage of the opportunities these particular events and these particular circumstances provide. The second opportunity which I believe is profoundly important for Russia's emergence as a major partner for the United States and for many other countries of the world is Russia's determined effort to join the World Trade Organization. It's the judgment, in many ways, of my colleagues and myself that, in the decade of the '90s, whatever the shortcomings and whatever the successes, there was one basic achievement, and that is that Russia found the means to achieve macroeconomic stability. But the next stage really comes with what may, in fact, be a much harder and longer process: How do you now integrate and develop the business at the micro-level that will make the relations between Russia and the rest of its partners outside a profitable and constructive one that will benefit all? We believe the key to that process is going to lie in the acceptance of the World Trade Organization by Russia and its entry into that organization, because that should produce the reforms and the changes that will make Russia increasingly more competitive and increasingly more attractive. I believe I can say with confidence that the American government will support Russia's effort to enter the World Trade Organization, and we are hopeful that that will become a priority and remain a priority, as it is today, for the government of President Putin and the Russian Federation. So I look forward to the conference, and I thank all of you for taking the time to participate. Thank you very much. REMARKS BY STATE DUMA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IRINA KHAKAMADA Moderator: I would like to give the floor over to State Duma deputy chairman Irina Khakamada. Khakamada: I would like to welcome the participants and make a brief report that will consist of two parts. The first part analyzes the political situation and current relations between Russia and the United States of America. The second part is devoted to the new stage of Russia's economic development and the creation of a new, more favorable investment environment in the country. Some time ago Russia and the US announced that they were building a strategic partnership. I think that the current stage of our relations may be characterized as some cooling. I think this may be connected with objective problems which Russia is experiencing in its partnership with the US. First of all, there are great disproportions in the development of our countries. Second, Russia's socio-economic and political structure does not meet partnership requirements. Third, there is too much opti
[L-I] Speeches on Russian-American future relations (2)
(Continued from part 1) First of all, this concerns the reduction of licensed types of activities. Second -- legal regulation of all administrative checks, regulation of these checks and their distribution among agencies. Third comes the law on uniform registration of all legal entities on the principle of application through a single window. Fourth -- a simplified system of registering rights to real estate and land for urban construction. There must be a simplified procedure to get permits to carry out investment projects, these permits being issued through a single window. We also need a huge number of various amendments to make all these laws work. This package is a very serious one. In reality it means the removal of a part of bureaucratic barriers between business and the corresponding level of state regulation. These laws should expect tough sailing through government and parliament. The third direction is corporate culture and corporate regulation. It is common knowledge that in Russia market capitalization is becoming some sort of a new fashion in the behavior of companies but not yet a rule of the game. That is why the Duma is now discussing a tremendous number of amendments to the law on joint stock companies, the law on the use of inside information, the so-called law on affiliated persons, which is also initiated by the right-wingers in parliament. The government also is working hard to create a corporate code, a code of corporate behavior to ensure a new culture in the fulfillment of contracts. These are to be voluntary rules with a subsequent increased responsibility for their observance. And, of course, the creation of general conditions for investments. We are now discussing new problems pertaining to the law on production sharing agreements. There are attempts of just a more formal approach to this problem -- just to increase quotas. But at the same time everybody understands very well that even under the old quota all the three agreements were signed. The problem, therefore, is not in determining quotas but in creating conditions for the quick fulfillment of contracts. All this now being discussed in the Duma. I believe the government is moving slowly with the introduction of Western accounting standards. These are elementary technical things which we have been discussing for 10 years now. Still, even the new simplified standards bear the stamp of Russian specificity. There is no desire to move to purely Western, transparent, normal and unified rules of the game. How can this be explained? I believe this question should be posed to the government. But that would be a serious incentive to investors. And the protection of the rights of minority shareholders. The Duma adopted amendments to the law on joint stock company. The Federation Council turned them down. The problem of overcoming this veto will be discussed next week. I believe that there is absolutely correct criticism concerning the structure of government and the level of manageability. I mean the entire administrative system in Russia. I believe that in the next three-four years we will witness in Russia attempts to create conditions to change the Constitution, to change the territorial and administrative arrangement of Russia. You see, the seven federal districts are not yet as effective as one would have wanted them to be. Primorye Territory has demonstrated this. Despite the existence of both federal governors and ministers and local authorities nothing still works. The second problem is to change the structure of government. The matter is not in personalities. The question is in determining the political component of economic reforms. To this day neither Putin nor the Prime Minister have said what they intend to build in Russia, have not said what their basic values are and what a political system they would like to see in Russia as a result of their efforts and the passage of some number of years. Before we have clarity on this it is impossible to form a professional government. We lack a professional with tremendous political weight, be it the president or the prime minister, who would ensure the uniform ideology of the economic reforms. Before we solve this main problem it would be possible to solve at least the smaller problem of changing the structure of the government to make it more manageable and effective. This is the second direction in the field of administrative reforms that will be pursued shortly, I believe. These are the conditions, both political and economic, that I believe are necessary for further cooperation between Russia and the United States of America. Thank you. REMARKS BY DIRECTOR OF THE EXPERT INSTITUTE YEVGENY YASIN Yasin: Thank you, Irina Matsuovna. I would now like to say a few words in conclusion of our session. First of all, I would like to subscribe to many things said by Mr. Aksakov and Madam Khakamada. But I would also want to state
[L-I] Algunas noticias de interés
El 19 Feb 01, a las 18:40, Agencia NOVA Noticias dijo: NOVA 8.958 DENUNCIAN LICITACIONES POCO TRANSPARENTES DE AGUAS ARGENTINAS LA PLATA, Febrero 19 (Agencia NOVA) La Delegación Provincia de Buenos Aires de la Cámara de la Construcción dijo que la empresa Aguas Argentinas convoca licitaciones en territorio bonaerense que carecen de transparencia" y que excluyen a las firmas afiliadas a esa entidad. La denuncia fue confirmada a esta Agencia por el propio titular de la Delegación, Ingeniero Andrés Domínguez, que señaló que "nos parece mentira que se pueda proceder con esta falta de transparencia por que nuestra cámara no ha tomado conocimiento de algunas licitaciones que se han realizado". "Por averiguaciones propias y de algunos municipios hemos podido confirmar que se ocultan datos sobre licitaciones y a las pocas horas se abren los sobres con los invitados que a ellos (por Aguas Argentinas)les parecían", afirmó Domínguez. Al mismo tiempo, Domínguez agregó que "los argentinos estamos hartos de la falta de transparencia y nosotros no vamos a tolerar eso en ningún lugar porque pretendemos una competencia digna y pura". El directivo , sin hacer nombres, habló de "intemediarios" que "provocan que los costos de esas licitaciones sean realmente altos y eso se traduce en aumentos de tarifas a usuarios o sea que no sólo afecta a las empresas que realmente hacen el trabajo y cobran muy por debajo de esos costos". NOVA 8.964 SE REGLAMENTARIA LA LEY DE MEDIERÍA PARA AFIANZAR LA RELACION LABORAL DE LOS TRABAJADORES LA PLATA, Febrero 19 (Agencia NOVA) La Secretaría de Estado anunciaría posiblemente el jueves próximo la reglamentación de la Ley de Mediería, con el objetivo de afianzar la relación laboral de los trabajadores que hoy no tienen sustento adecuado. El jueves, productores frutihortícolas de la provincia - encabezados por entidades que nuclean a trabajadores de nuestra región- dirigentes e instituciones de todo el país, la ministra de Trabajo Patricia Bullrich, se reunirán en la sede central de la cartera laboral, donde la Secretaría de Estado anunciará probablemente en conferencia de Prensa la reglamentación de la Ley de Mediería. Según dijo el diputado Jorge Orozco, la situación de los trabajadores de la producción lo llevó a interceder, además, en el conflicto que actualmente mantienen productores de cebolla de Patagones, Villariño y Bahía Blanca (8000 familias bonaerenses), "que por problemas arancelarios y de un doble control fitosanitario, se ven imposibilitados de exportar dicho producto a Brasil . Y luego agregó que a raíz del alto costo que generan esas medidas, se conforma un precio con el cual es muy difícil competir en un país que hoy no logra autoabastecerse y que es un excelente mercado para nosotros". ___ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
[L-I] Re: noticias
El 19 Feb 01, a las 13:36, Agencia NOVA Noticias dijo: NOV 8.946 ENCUESTA REVELA CAIDA DE IMAGEN DEL GOBIERNO PERO RECHAZO AL PARO DE MARZO CAPITAL FEDERAL, Febrero 19 (Agencia NOVA) La misma encuesta que puso de manifiesto un incremento de la imagen positiva del gobernador bonaerense, Carlos Ruckauf, refleja un apoyo a la gestión del presidente Fernando de la Rúa sólo del 25 por ciento, no obstante lo cual refleja un rechazo superior al 60 por ciento al paro dispuesto por la CGT oficial para el 1 de marzo. La medición realizada por la consultora Analogías entre el 22 y el 28 de enero pasado indica que el 53,3 por ciento de la gente cree que el presidente De la Rúa NO está haciendo un buen trabajo como jefe de Estado, al tiempo que sólo el 25,1 por ciento sostiene que SI está haciendo una buena gestión. Del mismo modo, la encuesta puso de manifiesto que el 65,7 por ciento de los consultados cree que De la Rúa NO trabaja duro para mejorar las condiciones de los pobres, mientras que sólo el 18,8 por ciento cree lo contrario. A su vez, el 61,5 por ciento se inclinó por opinar que De la Rúa NO trabaja duro para parar la delincuencia, siendo positiva sólo en un 23,2 por ciento la imagen del gobierno en ese sentido. Por otra parte, el 63,1 por ciento no cree que el gobierno nacional trabaje duro para crear empleo, el 22,3 sostiene que sí lo hace y un 14,1 por ciento asegura que más o menos. Respecto de la relación con el espectro de fuerzas políticas y sindicales, la medición puso de manifiesto que la mayoría de la gente, un 38,3 por ciento, no cree que De la Rúa esté peleando mucho con el PJ, aunque el 39 por ciento sostiene que tiene una mala relación con los gremios y el 36 sostiene que esta última es buena. Esta encuesta que pone de manifiesto un supuesto deterioro del gobierno, no se ve complementado por un incremento de la adhesión a las medidas de fuerza contra la gestión dispuestas por el sindicalismo. A saber, la mayor parte de la gente consultada rechaza el paro nacional al que convocó la CGT para el próximo 1 de marzo, en rechazo a la desregulación de las obras sociales. Este rechazo es más acentuado, con un 74,2 por ciento, en la Capital Federal, mientras que en el Gran Buenos Aires, la no adhesión es del 70,8 por ciento. Lo mismo ocurre en la provincia de Buenos Aires, donde el rechazo al paro es del 67,3 por ciento, mientras que en el interior del país el cuestionamiento a la medida gremial es del 59,6. Todo esto se traduce en un 64,7 por ciento de rechazo en todo el país y un solo un 31,8 por ciento de apoyo a la medida que tendrá lugar en marzo. NOVA 8.947 FEDERACION DE PYMES SOSTIENE QUE SON ¨EL SECTOR MAS DEBIL DE LA ECONOMIA¨ LA PLATA, Febrero 16 (Agencia NOVA) La microempresa es el sector más débil de la economía argentina, y se determinó -por un cruce de estadísticas- que existen 2 millones de microempresas en el país¨, aseguró el vicepresidente de la Federación de la Cámara de Microempresas de la provincia, Juan Bautista Zitti. La Federación de Microempresas estableció en el año ´97, la sanción de la ley 11.936 que los separa de las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES), lo cual produjo la creación de una identidad propia. Además, se estableció un techo para las microempresas que facturan un monto aproximado a los 240 mil pesos anuales. Por su parte, el vicepresidente del FECAMI afirmó que ¨esta recesión económica que estamos viviendo desde hace tiempo, indudablemente, a afectado a todos los bolsillos de la gente, pero mucho más a los más chicos; y esto lo saben, mejor que nadie, los microempresarios¨. ¨A los microempresarios agregó- los afecta la gran carga impositiva; los afecta la legislación del Banco Central que los margina de la posibilidad de créditos. Es por eso que el 60% de la población está fuera del sistema bancario¨. Cabe recordar, que la Federación de Microempresas de la provincia es una entidad de segundo grado que viene trabajando desde 1991 y que conforma su federación en 1995, agrupando hoy casi 70 Cámaras en la provincia. Por ello, su función es agruparse, ya que además de tener un poder muy fuerte en sí mismo-, es el sector más numeroso de la economía y el que más trabajo genera. En tanto, el vicepresidente Zitti señaló que estamos haciendo una campaña, para que los intendentes de todos los municipios entiendan y sean ellos los que empiecen a dar el ejemplo de proteger a sus trabajadores y que no los maten con los impuestos. En ese sentido añadió que en estos años de trabajo hemos conseguido capacitación para la gente; algunos convenios con sectores del gobierno y sólo le pedimos a la provincia que se acuerden del trabajador y del empresario más chiquito, porque también tiene derecho a una vivienda. ¨Los concejales y los intendentes de las 70 cámaras, mencionadas, tienen que legislar para sus microempresarios porque son el tejido social de la empresa de cada pueblo. No los tienen
[L-I] (Spanish) Struggle of former oil company employees in Argentina
Johannes Schneider has recently forwarded something to marxmail which may certainly benefit from the reading of the following pieces of news --- Forwarded message follows --- SALTA, 19(PSI).- CONFLICTIVA SITUACIÓN EN EL NORTE PROVINCIAL POR RESPUESTA PROVOCADORA DE FUNCIONARIOS DEL GOBIERNO NACIONAL A LOS EX TRABAJADORES DE YPF. La salida extrajudicial que reclaman los desocupados de YPF para el cobro de las acciones obreras de la ex petrolera estatal, parece cada día más lejana. El diálogo del sector con el viceministro de Desarrollo social, Gerardo Morales, y el secretario de Provincias del Ministerio del Interior, Walter Ceballos, quedó bruscamente interrumpido. Ambos funcionarios nos dijeron que cortemos las rutas y hagamos lo que se nos ocurra, manifestó, aún sorprendido, Héctor Rodríguez, secretario general de la Mesa Coordinadora Nacional de los ex trabajadores de YPF, cuando el jueves 15 dialogó con el periodismo. La última reunión mantenida por representantes de ex trabajadores de YPF de Salta, Mendoza, Neuquén, Plaza Huincul y Río Negro con Morales y Ceballos terminó con una inaudita sugerencia de ambos funcionarios a desocupados del Norte salteño: Corten las rutas y hagan lo que quieran. La salida del viceministro de Desarrollo Social y el secretario de Provincias del Ministerio del Interior, indicó Rodríguez, surgió cuando les advertimos que veníamos de un departamento con un alto índice de desocupación y con una paz social sumamente precaria. A viva voz explicó- nos desafiaron a que hagamos lo que se nos ocurra, porque, en definitiva, ellos estaban a miles de kilómetros de Tartagal. Rodríguez interpretó la réplica de los funcionarios nacionales como una provocación innecesaria de quienes no quieren acercar ninguna solución y borran con el codo lo que escriben con la mano, graficó el dirigente. Aclaró que la lucha de los ex trabajadores de YPF no está ligada a partidismo alguno. Le reclamamos al gobierno nacional, porque ocurre que son sus autoridades las que deben responder por la situación planteada tras la privatización de YPF. Los gobiernos provinciales añadió- deben acompañarnos en la cuestión social. El secretario general de la Mesa Coordinadora recordó que la Nación, por intermedio de Ceballos y Morales, firmó un primer acuerdo con este sector de desocupados el 27 de noviembre del año pasado. Desde entonces se pasearon por todo el país diciendo que aquel no era un acuerdo sino una mera y simple expectativa de los ex trabajadores de YPF. Y sus personeros, en lugar de defender el interés de la región, defienden a estas funcionarios a capa y espada, sostuvo Rodríguez. En el mismo orden, indicó que el pasado 20 de diciembre pusimos de manifiesto una vez más la necesidad de que el gobierno nacional nos dé una respuesta. Morales y Ceballos proponían ideas y decían que podían solucionarlo todo con el blindaje financiero, o con recursos del propio presupuesto nacional, de modo que se comprometieron a darnos una respuesta hasta pasado el 31 de enero, acotó Rodríguez. Tras aludir al malestar generado en el sector por las provocativas respuestas deMorales y Ceballos, el presidente de la Mesa Coordinadora Nacional de los ex trabajadores de YPF lamentó que ambos ahora nos manden a cortar las rutas y a hacer lo que nos ocurra porque, en definitiva, no les importa lo que sucede a 1.800 kilómetros de Buenos Aires.- XXX TARTAGAL, 19(PSI).- LOS EX TRABAJADORES DE YPF TOMARÍAN HOY MEDIDAS DRÁSTICAS. El presidente de la Mesa Coordinadora Nacional de ex trabajadores de YPF, Roberto González, señaló que el sector tomará drásticas medidas de fuerza, si el gobierno nacional persiste en su actitud de indiferencia a la delicada situación socio-económica planteada en el Norte salteño luego de la privatización de la petrolera estatal. Los reclamos, subrayó González, no apuntan a solucionar únicamente los problemas de los ex trabajadores de YPF del departamento San Martín. Luchamos por una solución definitiva para toda la región, por la posibilidad de generar fuentes de trabajo para nosotros que, con un promedio de 50 años de edad, estamos viejos para conseguir un empleo. Lo que esperamos recalcó- son respuestas para nuestros hijos, que quieren tener una vida digna, y para este departamento que hace diez años sufrió en carne propia las consecuencias de lo que fue la venta de YPF, subrayó González. El dirigente indicó que la Mesa Coordinadora envió una carta documento al Ejecutivo Nacional. Le dimos al presidente Fernando de la Rúa un plazo perentorio para que atienda nuestro reclamo, pero como respuesta nos enviaron una nota firmada por un asesor de Walter Ceballos. La hoja ni siquiera tiene un membrete y llegó a una cabina telefónica de Aguaray sin ningún destinatario fijo, remarcó González. El titular de la Mesa Coordinadora consideró el envío de esta nota como un agravio hacia quienes estamos reclamando lo que es justo. González aseguró que hoy, lunes a las 18, se t
[L-I] LESBIANS & GAYS ON DEATH ROW
Abolish 'legal' lynchings LESBIANS & GAYS ON DEATH ROW By Anya Mukarji-Connolly On Feb. 7, the state of Missouri executed Stanley D. Lingar, a gay man convicted of killing a teenager in 1985. This execution of Lingar and that of disabled African American lesbian Wanda Jean Allen in Oklahoma are two of the four recent death-penalty cases that have received national attention due to the severe homophobia that permeated their trials. In the case of Stanley Lingar, the only issue raised in the sentencing phase of his trial was the fact that he and his co-defendant were involved in a consensual same-sex relationship. An attorney representing Lingar said that the aim of telling the jury about the defendant's sexuality was to "inflame a homophobic jury from a rural area with prejudicial evidence that Lingar was a practicing homosexual, a fact that the prosecution believed the jury would find morally offensive." Lingar appealed to the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, which refused to overturn his conviction. The court held that the introduction of his homosexuality to the jury was "harm less" and "did not contribute to the jury's death verdict." In Texas, the case of Calvin Burdine has gained national publicity. Burdine's original trial attorney slept through portions of the trial. And when the lawyer was awake, he remained silent when the prosecutor made homophobic arguments to the jury. The most outrageous of these remarks was the prosecutor's urging the jury to sentence Burdine to death rather than life imprisonment because sending "a homosexual to the penitentiary certainly isn't a very bad punishment." The jury was made up of a number of jurors who had expressed anti-gay views before being chosen. This was also not objected to by Burdine's original attorney. During the trial, the prosecutor used a 1971 "sodomy" conviction resulting from a consensual sexual relationship to argue that Burdine was likely to commit criminal violent acts in the future. In 1999 Burdine's conviction was overturned, not based on the homophobia that dominated his trial, but rather on the denial of his right to counsel. The court reasoned that unconscious or sleeping counsel is equivalent to no counsel at all. An appeals court then voted to reinstate the conviction. Now on appeal to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the court has held that the case must be reheard. In the case of Wanda Jean Allen, an African American lesbian who was executed on Jan. 11 by the state of Oklahoma, the prosecutor labeled Allen as the "man" in the relationship in order to persuade the jury that she was more capable of being violent. Allen and Lingar, both recently executed, suffered from brain disabilities. Allen suffered from severe developmental disability resulting from skull traumas. Lingar's attorney also argued that his client was borderline developmentally disabled. The fourth of these recent death penalty cases involving gay and lesbian defendants is the case of Gregory Scott Dickens in Arizona. Dickens, along with his co-defendant and former boyfriend, were charged with the 1991 robbery and murder of two people. Dickens, who did not pull the trigger, was sentenced to death, while his co-defendant who testified for the prosecution was sentenced to 55 years in prison. Dickens' attorney argues that he did not receive a fair trail because the judge was homophobic. Judge Cole, who presided over Dickens's trial, had written several letters to his own gay son saying things such as, "I hope you die in prison like all the rest of your ft friends." Judge Cole maintains that he was capable of handling Dickens's case fairly. In this society the death penalty has been used arbitrarily to punish members of oppressed communities. It is used disproportionately against the poor and people of color. Over 3,200 individuals--disproportionately people of color-- sit on death row in the United States. None of them are wealthy. Prior to 1976, the Supreme Court held that the death penalty was illegal because of its racist use. Today, it is clear that the death penalty is also used to inflict severe punishment on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Capitalist society is built on a foundation of racism, sexism and anti-lesbian/ gay/ bi/trans oppression. It is no accident then that this ideology pervades the criminal injustice system and its laws--both created to protect private ownership of wealth and property, not the lives of poor and working people. It's time to wage a large-scale fight to abolish the racist, bigoted use of the death penalty--a weapon of terror in the hands of the capitalist state. And lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people of all nationalities have been in the forefront of this struggle, particularly in the battle to save the life of death-row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. - END - (Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this d
Re: [L-I] Socialism, Regionalism, & Pan-Africanism (was Learning)
Didn't Mao foment revolution in a mainly agraian society?
[L-I] RTS Chief Arrested for NATO bombing; Miloshevich Stripped of Security
The URL for his article is http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/zorich/security.htm www.tenc.net [Emperor's Clothes] RTS Chief Arrested for NATO bombing; Miloshevich Stripped of Security By Milos Zorich - Special to Emperor's Clothes Translated by N. Malich BELGRADE, Thursday, February 15, 2001 – Several hundred demonstrators rallied yesterday outside the Serbian Parliament in Belgrade. They were protesting the arrest of Dragolyub Milanovich, former director of Serbian Radio-Television (RTS). Officially, Mr. Milanovich is being detained under suspicion that he could have prevented the deaths of sixteen RTS employees killed when NATO warplanes bombed the RTS studios on April 23, 1999. The remarkable accusation that the Serbian TV chief is guilty for the NATO attack originated from Carla del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor of the War Crimes Tribunal. After her January trip to Belgrade, Ms. Del Ponte was asked what she planned to do about NATO crimes like the RTS bombing. She countered by charging that former Yugoslav President Slobodan Miloshevich was guilty because he had been "notified in advance" of NATO’s decision to bomb the TV network in the heart of Belgrade. She claimed that he and top RTS managers wanted workers to be killed to score a propaganda victory. Ms. Del Ponte promised to produce evidence; she has not. Demonstrators accuse del Ponte of launching a propaganda campaign to shift the blame for NATO's war crimes onto Yugoslav shoulders. They charge that Belgrade District Court judge Vuchko Mirchich lent credibility to del Ponte when he ordered Mr. Milanovich detained for a month. The judge has justified his order on the grounds that the former national TV network chief could 'influence witnesses' or perhaps leave the country, though his passport had been voided. Demonstrators answer that it is the judge and, behind him, the DOS leaders who are trying to 'influence witnesses', that by arresting Milanovich DOS hopes to create a climate of intimidation in which some RTS employees or former employees may be induced to make scripted accusations against Milanovich and/or Miloshevich. (1) Parliament Sets Up Miloshevich The demonstrations Tuesday in front of the Serb Parliament and a little later at the Palace of Justice did not hinder DOS' legislative activities. The coalition’s parliamentary majority passed several strange laws, mostly nullifying previous legislation. Alas, the Serb Parliament appears to function like an assembly line. The Government sends proposals to the Legislative Committee which immediately presents them as bills on the floor. Every government proposal is automatically approved by all representatives of the ruling coalition's two thirds majority. The opposition – Socialists and Radicals – disputes the proposals fiercely, but is voted down. Many opposition deputies are so frustrated and outraged, they simply abstain from voting. Perhaps the most bitter debate on Tuesday resulted from certain amendments to the law on "Special Rights and Obligations of Heads of State". These amendments, passed by the DOS 19-party majority, were clearly aimed at former president Miloshevich. Under the newly amended law, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which controls law enforcement, would reduce Miloshevich's security staff to one bodyguard. Both Socialists and Radicals opposed this decision. Radical parliamentary leader Tomislav Nikolich told representatives, "You do not need this law unless you are setting the stage for Miloshevich’s abduction!" Branislav Ivkovich, the Socialist parliamentary leader, (2) pointed out that Washington has offered $5 million (US) for the kidnapping of Milosevich. Therefore stripping Miloshevich of protection was an open invitation to bounty hunters. Ivkovich called the amendments a "shameful insult to the state." According to widespread public rumors, the amendments were ordered by the so-called international community. The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea In Yugoslavia, the DOS-controlled mass media presents the 'Miloshevich Question' as a choice between trying him at home or turning him over to The Hague. Yet the charge that Miloshevich is guilty of war crimes is supported by exactly zero evidence. He is simply presumed guilty and the presumption of his guilt and by extension of Serbia's is causing serious divisions in Yugoslav political circles. There is a mounting feeling of injured dignity, revulsion and contempt for those who close their eyes to the real crimes (NATO's aggression) and its real perpetrators (NATO leaders). Federal Prime Minister Zoran Zhizhich said two days ago that Miloshevich would not be extradited to the Tribunal as long as he is head of the Yugoslav government. Serbian Justice Minister Batich responded in the press, saying that the Federal PM is not authorized to make such decisions. "Others will decide the fate of Miloshevich," Batich stated. "Others will decide"? W
[L-I] ONE OF MARSHALL ZHUKOV'S FAVOURITE SONGS
AH,THOSE ROADS.. DUST AND FOG, FROST AND FEARS, AND THE BRACKEN OF THE STEPPES WHETHER SNOW OR WIND, WE'LL REMEMBER FRIENDS. THOSE WARTIME ROADS WE DARE NOT FORGET. ZHUKOV EXPLAINED WHY THESE SONGS ARE POPULAR TO THIS DAY:- "THOSE ARE IMMORTAL SONGS BECAUSE THEY ENCOMPASS THE GREAT SOUL OF THE PEOPLE" cheers mark ___ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
