> > WW News Service Digest #166 > > 1) Former political prisoners go home to DPRK > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 2) Baltimore cop-terror protest marks victim's birthday > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 3) Gay students win right to club > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 4) Moorehead-La Riva 2000: Socialist candidates on Florida ballot > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 5) New York parade celebrates MoMA strike victory > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 21, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >THEY REFUSED TO RENOUNCE COMMUNISM: > >FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS GO HOME TO DPRK > >By Deirdre Griswold > >It was one of the most emotional moments in the history of >the Korean nation--a nation that has been through so many >tragedies and triumphs over the last century. It happened on >Sept. 2 at the site of the armistice negotiations where, 47 >years earlier, U.S. generals had finally agreed to a cease- >fire after three years of ferocious war against the >Democratic People's Republic of Korea. > >At exactly 10 a.m., a procession of 63 people passed through >the little building that straddles the border between north >and south Korea at Panmunjom. Some were in wheelchairs. >Others were carried on stretchers. Their ages ranged from 60 >to over 90. > >These were the long-term political prisoners who had been >held in south Korean jails, some ever since the Korean War. >They were on their way home to socialist north Korea. > >Of the 63 men, 45 had each spent more than 30 years in >prison. One holds the world record for political >imprisonment - 43 years behind bars, much of it in solitary >confinement. > >They have known torture, isolation and constant threats. > >But they have survived. And not just physically. > >They were held for so long because they refused to renounce >communism and their loyalty to the DPRK. > >At any time, they could have signed a paper and been >released into south Korean society. But they refused. They >stuck to their principles. > >"I sacrificed myself for the cause of the nation divided by >foreign powers," said Yang Jong Ho, who spent 30 years in >south Korean prisons. In all that time, Yang had been unable >to get any news about his family in the north. Released last >year, he was helped by southerners who have formed support >groups for the former prisoners. > >These courageous south Koreans--also in danger from the >repressive National Security Laws that severely punish >anyone suspected of sympathizing with the north--find >housing for the released prisoners, help with their laundry >and their meals, and ease their way back into civilian life. > >DEVOTED TO KOREA AND THE WORKING CLASS > >Yang has worked at several jobs since his release. One was >in a school kitchen. Asked to comment on life in the south >by the Seoul newspaper Korea Times, Yang said he wondered if >the women in the cafeteria "receive the proper payment" for >their hard work. > >Such devotion to the cause of the working class and of >Korea's independence from imperialism has deeply inspired >the people of north Korea. They have been struggling through >a difficult economic period. Severe shortages of food and >fuel started a few years ago, caused by the collapse of the >Soviet Union, the death of their great leader Kim Il Sung, >and several years of extreme natural disasters. But they too >have survived. > >When the former prisoners crossed over the demilitarized >zone separating the two halves of Korea, the people gave >them a heroes' welcome. As the motorcade drove north toward >the capital of Pyongyang, the roads were lined with Koreans >carrying bouquets and waving banners. > >In the capital itself, hundreds of thousands celebrated >their arrival, shedding tears of joy. Koreans do not hide >their emotions. > >Every one of the former prisoners had chosen to go to the >north, despite intense pressures and inducements to stay. >Some had to leave behind family members in the south. One >had to say goodbye to his 90-year-old mother. > >He doesn't know when he will be able to see her again, >because the south Korean government refused to let family >members accompany the released prisoners. > >DIVISION OF COUNTRY AND FAMILIES > >The division of Korea after World War II tore 10 million >families apart. Almost everyone has a relative on the other >side. > >This state of affairs is so painful and so hated by the >people that even right-wing parties in the south that >endorse the U.S. military occupation of the country have to >give lip service to the cause of reunification. > >The return of the long-term political prisoners comes after >an unprecedented meeting between north Korean leader Kim >Jong Il and south Korean President Kim Dae-jong in Pyongyang >in June. The very fact that such a meeting took place >undermines south Korea's National Security Laws. How can the >government keep throwing people in prison for visiting the >north when the president has gone there? > >However, the main cause for Korea's division is U.S. >imperialism. And while Washington claims to support the >process of reunification, at the same time it has bolstered >its military presence in Korea by carrying out large-scale >"war games" aimed at the DPRK and by refusing to make any >but cosmetic concessions to the massive movement in the >south against U.S. bases. > >On Sept. 4 a north Korean delegation, led by head of state >Kim Yong Nam, angrily turned back from its planned trip to >the United Nations Millennium Summit after being strip- >searched by U.S. personnel at a Frankfurt, Germany, airport. >While some U.S. officials defended this humiliating >procedure, calling the DPRK a "rogue state," Secretary of >State Madeleine Albright sent a letter of apology that was >accepted by the Koreans. > >Albright has generally been a hawk on foreign policy. > >Is Washington just using its old "hard cop, soft cop" >tactics with regard to the DPRK, or is there a significant >split within the U.S. ruling establishment over the >reunification talks? > >A split did take place during the administration of >President Jimmy Carter, when the U.S. commander in Korea, >Maj. Gen. John Singlaub, defied the commander in chief over >a proposed reduction in troop strength there. Singlaub was >removed, but the reduction, which Carter had promised during >his election campaign, never took place. In the end, the >Pentagon prevailed in setting foreign policy. > >The struggle to aid Korean reunification while preventing >U.S. imperialism from creating another neocolony in Asia >needs and deserves the support of the progressive movement >here. The only time a disagreement over foreign policy in >the ruling-class establishment has been resolved in favor of >U.S. military withdrawal has been when a militant mass >movement demanded it. > >- END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > > > > > > >Message-ID: <002501c02233$fd6b0660$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Baltimore cop-terror protest marks victim's birthday >Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 08:20:24 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 21, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >BALTIMORE: COP-TERROR PROTEST MARKS VICTIM'S BIRTHDAY > >By Sharon Black-Ceci >Baltimore > >Sept. 8 would have been Joseph Wilbon's 47th birthday. But >instead of celebrating a day of joy and laughter, Wilbon's >family was forced to commemorate his life with a march for >justice. > >Wilbon was the victim of a police beating. He died as a >result of the attack, according to family members and >activists with the Baltimore All-Peoples Congress. > >Protesters from the APC and Unity for Action rallied in >front of Wilbon's auto-body shop. Then they marched through >the neighborhood, taking over the streets and distributing >hundreds of fliers. > >According to eyewitness accounts, Wilbon left his shop on >June 5 to attend to a customer's vehicle. As he was trying >to enter the vehicle with a key, police surrounded him, beat >him, and threw him into a van. > >Wilbon died several hours later. The state has refused to >release the autopsy report. > >His death has sparked many protests. > >Renee Washington, Wilbon's fiancee, proclaimed: "We will not >let Joey's case be forgotten. The police and the mayor think >we will go away. But they are wrong. The protests will >continue until justice is won not only for Joey but for all >victims of police abuse." > >The group ended its activities at the All-Peoples Congress >Hall with a birthday party to commemorate Wilbon's life. His >children, mother, and other friends and family attended. The >hall was adorned with pictures of Wilbon in the role of >loving father, high school youth and beloved family member. > >Activists pledged to continue the fight. They plan to go to >City Hall and file a lawsuit against police harassment in >the Brentwood community. > >- 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: <002d01c02234$0c056da0$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Gay students win right to club >Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 08:20:49 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 21, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >ORANGE, CALIF: GAY STUDENTS WIN RIGHT TO CLUB > >By Joe Delaplane >Orange, Calif. > >In spite of a viciously anti-gay campaign by right-wing >forces, the school board in Orange, Calif., voted 5-2 in >early September to allow the Gay/Straight Alliance to meet >on a high school campus. > >On that day, the first day of classes, Anthony Colin, a 17- >year-old junior at El Modena High School, faced an angry, >intolerant school board. At the same time organized right- >wing bigots tried to pack the house. > >GSA members say their mission is to promote tolerance and >respect for all students while creating a safe forum for >discussion of issues related to sexual orientation and >homophobia. Colin recently filed a federal lawsuit against >the board's deliberate delaying tactics and won a >settlement. > >After Colin bravely faced the hostile crowd at the meeting, >the school board voted in favor of the GSA rather than face >a lawsuit it knew it would lose for legal fees of upwards of >a million dollars. > >This is a victory for gay, lesbian, bi and transgender >people. But this win also speaks to the growing power of >organized youth across the country. The number of youths >such as Colin and Steve Cozza--a 15-year-old Eagle Scout in >Northern California who has organized protests against the >Boy Scouts of America's exclusionary practices against gay >and atheistic youth--is growing. > >>From the struggle against the World Trade Organization in >Seattle to the Republican Convention in Philadelphia--across >the country young people are standing up against a system of >oppression, making their voices heard and continuing the >struggle for equality for all people. > >- 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: <003501c02234$227af0a0$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Moorehead-La Riva 2000: Socialist candidates on Florida ballot >Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 08:21:27 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 21, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >MOOREHEAD-LA RIVA 2000: SOCIALIST CANDIDATES ON FLORIDA BALLOT > >By Linda Breed >West Palm Beach, Fla. > >In Florida, where Gov. Jeb Bush is cutting affirmative >action and racing to match his brother George W.'s execution >rate, Workers World Party boldly seized a place on this >year's presidential ballot. Recent changes in election laws >here made it possible for WWP to get on the Florida ballot >for the first time this year. > >Southern Florida activist groups along with support from the >African American community helped get WWP candidates Monica >Moorehead and Gloria La Riva on the ballot. Moorehead, an >African American woman, is the party's presidential >candidate; La Riva, who is Chicana, is the vice-presidential >candidate. > >The groundwork for the campaign was laid during the >organizing for the historic Jan. 29 demonstration against >the right-wing kidnapping of Cuban child Elian Gonzalez. It >took the courage and the leadership of Workers World Party, >along with IFCO/Pastors for Peace, the International Action >Center and other groups, to make that demonstration a >reality in the face of Miami's violent right-wing Cuban >exile groups. > >When the two socialist candidates visited the area in >August, a meeting for them was hosted by African American >activists in Miami who promote affirmative action for >minority contractors. > >The WWP candidates also met key death-penalty abolitionists >from Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, >progressive Cuban community members, anti-war activists and >opponents of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. > >Achieving ballot status in Florida is important because the >state is one of the biggest and fastest-growing. Florida has >many diverse communities--Black, Latino, lesbian, gay, bi >and trans--and many, many immigrants who arrive daily from >all over the Caribbean and South America. > >Moorehead stated, "Gloria and I are so excited about getting >on the ballot in the fourth most populous state in the >country. There has been an intensification of racist >repression in this state, especially with the attacks on >affirmative action by Gov. Bush's administration. > >"The fact that over 50,000 people, primarily young African >Americans, marched against these attacks indicates that the >most oppressed are organizing to fight for their basic >democratic right to have a decent education and a job," >Moorehead explained. > >"Gloria and I look forward to bringing a message of anti- >racist class solidarity along with a pro-socialist >perspective to this state." > >WWP has launched a struggle-oriented campaign that will >continue past the November elections. Friends and supporters >are proud to have the party on the ballot and in the >struggle here. Let's build a Workers World! > >- 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: <003d01c02234$35679b00$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] New York parade celebrates MoMA strike victory >Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 08:21:58 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Sept. 21, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >NY PARADE CELEBRATES MOMA STRIKE VICTORY > >Early in the morning of Sept. 9, at the end of a 15-hour >negotiating session, leaders of Auto Workers Local 2110 >announced that their four-and-a-half month strike against >New York's Museum of Modern Art had ended in victory. > >The union won an 18-percent wage increase over five years. >And it won an agency shop. All new staff will automatically >pay union dues. > >Management also agreed to eventually rehire all the workers >furloughed during the museum's renovation, which is about to >begin. > >Local 2110 made the museum bosses agree that any changes to >the members' medical benefits would result in the same >changes in the bosses' own health plan. > >Later on Sept. 9, at the annual Labor Day Parade up Fifth >Avenue in Manhattan, many workers cheered the 250 fighting >MoMA strikers. The New York Central Labor Council and many >local unions had rallied behind the workers, bolstering >picket lines and helping them win support from 150 prominent >artists and City Council members. -- by Anne Pruden > >- 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] _______________________________________________________
