The statement below was approved by the Political Committee of Socialist Action-US The world economic crisis has sparked the beginnings of a fightback against poverty and austerity enforced by the pro-capitalist regime of Nursultan Nazarbayev. Nazarbayev, the former Communist Party head of Kazakhstan when it was a Soviet Republic, has presided over a repressive capitalist-restorationist … Continue reading Condemn Police Repression of Socialist Activists in Kazakhstan
Category: South Asia
The American War Moves to Pakistan
THE AMERICAN WAR MOVES TO PAKISTANBy Tariq AliThe decision to make public a presidential order of last July authorizing American strikes inside Pakistan without seeking the approval of the Pakistani government ends a long debate within, and on the periphery of, the Bush administration. Senator Barack Obama, aware of this ongoing debate during his own … Continue reading The American War Moves to Pakistan
Pakistan is Explosive in the Wake of Bhutto’s Assassination
[by Gerry Foley] The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is the subject of all sorts of speculation, even over the basic facts of her death. On the latter the explanations range from the claim that she hit her head on a knob (the story of the Musharif government) to she was zapped by a high-tech laser … Continue reading Pakistan is Explosive in the Wake of Bhutto’s Assassination
India – Pakistan War Tensions Persist
By GERRY FOLEY The threat of war between India and Pakistan is a "blowback" for the U.S. rulers on a far greater scale than that of bin Laden and the Afghan Islamists turning to bite the hand that fed them. It could threaten a slaughter bigger than anything seen since World War II. India's pretext … Continue reading India – Pakistan War Tensions Persist
What are US War Goals?
By MICHAEL SCHREIBER The following article is based on a Nov. 27 talk the author gave, sponsored by the New York City branch of Socialist Action. The U.S. government's efforts to overthrow the Taliban-as well as to capture or assassinate Osama bin Laden-did not begin following the Sept. 11 attack, or even with George … Continue reading What are US War Goals?
US Victory in Afghanistan… What Does it Mean?
By GERRY FOLEY The collapse of the Taliban regime, now completed with the fall of Kandahar on Dec. 7, came as a surprise to the Western governments and media, despite the preceding claims by U.S. officials of the effectiveness of their military campaign. The New York Times felt compelled to run a special article … Continue reading US Victory in Afghanistan… What Does it Mean?
To Punish Innocent Afghans Would be Immoral
BY CHRIS BUCKLEY Below are excerpts from a statement by a Christian Aid Program officer. I have just returned from Afghanistan, and cannot avoid a growing feeling of dread at what may be about to befall the people I have left there. The bellicose statements being issued by America and her allies about revenge … Continue reading To Punish Innocent Afghans Would be Immoral
The Terrorist Bombing: Where We Stand
Tragedy Must Not Be Turned Into War! No U.S. Bombing Anywhere! Stop U.S. Intervention! End Racist Attacks on Arab and Muslim Communities! Defend Civil Liberties and Civil Rights for All! The following statement was issued by the Socialist Action Political Committee on Sept. 17. The government that spends trillions on war, has sent more troops … Continue reading The Terrorist Bombing: Where We Stand
Who is Bin Laden? What is the Taliban?
By Gerry Foley As we go to press, the world is waiting for a U.S. military attack on Afghanistan. It is clear that the American rulers' objective is to demonstrate their capacity for destruction and their ruthlessness, and to score some general political points based on that. U.S. government spokespersons are increasingly having to … Continue reading Who is Bin Laden? What is the Taliban?
Indonesian Politicians Spar as Country Slides into Crisis
By GERRY FOLEY For the last two months, in its coverage of Indonesian developments the capitalist press has focused on an obscure tug of war between President Abdul Rahman Wahid ("Gus Dur"), elected as a representative of the "democratic" movement, and the parliament, which continues to be dominated by former supporters of the fallen military … Continue reading Indonesian Politicians Spar as Country Slides into Crisis
Sri Lanka Protesters Demand: “Down With the War!”
In the context of a politically explosive situation and great political pressures created by a looming defeat of government forces in their war against Tamil rebels, a coalition of left parties, including the Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP), the Sri Lankan section of the Fourth International, led a demonstration May 25 of 3000 people against … Continue reading Sri Lanka Protesters Demand: “Down With the War!”
East Timorese Demonstrate Against the UN
BY ADAM RITSCHER It has now been six months since the United Nation's occupation of East Timor began, making it appropriate to take a look at what has been happening in East Timor during this time. When the UN occupation force arrived in East Timor this last winter they were occupying a country that was … Continue reading East Timorese Demonstrate Against the UN
Economic and Political Crisis Simmers in Indonesia
By GERRY FOLEY Despite a relative stabilization after the election of a government of the bourgeois democratic opposition to the discredited Suharto dictatorship, the crisis in Indonesia continues to simmer. The much touted economic recovery has failed to materialize. Since last November, the national currency, the rupiah, has declined by 21 percent against the dollar, … Continue reading Economic and Political Crisis Simmers in Indonesia
Strike Wave Hits India
Following are major excerpts from a statement by the Inquilabi Communist Sangathan, Indian Section of the Fourth International. After long years of one-sided bourgeois offensive, punctuated only by sporadic and scattered resistance, the Indian working class has begun to hit back against the new wave of capitalist offensive. On Jan. 19, the lead news in … Continue reading Strike Wave Hits India
Separatist Movement Destabilizes Indonesian Government
In October, a new Indonesian government was installed in an attempt to put a democratic face on continued neocolonialist rule. Now the stability of the new government is already being threatened by a powerful rise of movements for self-government among various peoples of the diverse island country. These areas were pockets of chronic discontent compressed … Continue reading Separatist Movement Destabilizes Indonesian Government
Indonesian Neocolonialism Puts on a New Face
By GERRY FOLEY In the face of angry demonstrations by students, supported by the poor masses of Jakarta, the Indonesian capitalist class has fallen back to a new line of political defense. The party of the military dictatorship, Golkar, decided on Oct. 20 to put a moderate Muslim divine, Abdurrahman Wahid, known as Gus … Continue reading Indonesian Neocolonialism Puts on a New Face
Military Shoots Protesters in Streets of Jakarta
By GERRY FOLEY The Indonesian government and military have suffered their third major defeat in the last two years at the hands of student protesters with broad support among the population of the country's main city, Jakarta. The fighting in Jakarta Sept. 23-24 revived the image of a country gripped by a revolutionary crisis, … Continue reading Military Shoots Protesters in Streets of Jakarta
US Urges Japan to Rearm
By NAT WEINSTEIN In a brazen Aug. 26 New York Times editorial titled, "Japan Discovers Defense," this very influential voice of American imperialism tells Japan it must break with its post-World War II rejection of militarism and serve as window-dressing for a U.S.-led NATO-like "peace-keeping" force in Asia. The editors take care to express satisfaction with … Continue reading US Urges Japan to Rearm
East Timorese Defy Violence
As we go to press on Aug. 30, hundreds of thousands of residents of East Timor have cast their votes in a UN-supervised referendum for independence from Indonesia. Reports indicate that over 90 percent of registered voters went to the polls-in strong defiance of the pro-Indonesian militias. These death squads killed dozens of independence supporters … Continue reading East Timorese Defy Violence
Workers in India Strike Over Health and Safety
Workers at the Hema Chemical Industries plant in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, have been on strike for more than seven months in protest against the company's refusal to observe the health and safety regulations in the 1948 Factory Act or even court orders. The Hema workers walked out on Dec. 11, 1998, both in response to … Continue reading Workers in India Strike Over Health and Safety
Workers in India Strike Over Health and Safety
Workers at the Hema Chemical Industries plant in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, have been on strike for more than seven months in protest against the company's refusal to observe the health and safety regulations in the 1948 Factory Act or even court orders. The Hema workers walked out on Dec. 11, 1998, both in response … Continue reading Workers in India Strike Over Health and Safety