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Why IEU should not support public funding of private schools

BY JAMES SMITH If federal education minister David Kemp gets his way, by 2004, public schools will receive only an estimated 32% of federal government funds, despite educating 70% of students. To its credit, the Independent Education Union (IEU)

WEST PAPUA: Independence supporters defy authorities

BY JAMES BALOWSKI Despite a massive presence by Indonesian troops and stern warnings from Jakarta and local police, thousands of West Papuan's on December 1 peacefully celebrated the 39th anniversary of their self-declared independence from Dutch

COLOMBIA: The 'Vietnamisation' of Latin America

BY DICK NICHOLS "This is not Vietnam", US president Bill Clinton announced during a one-day trip to the northern Colombian city of Cartagena in late August. Clinton was launching "Plan Colombia", the goal of which is to tame the country's guerrilla

PHILIPPINES: Anti-Estrada movement deepens ruling class crisis

BY REIHANA MOHIDEEN MANILA — In November alone, more than 300,000 demonstrators here have called for the resignation or sacking of President Joseph Estrada (known as Erap). The mass protests have continued to put pressure on the regime and have

Refugees on hunger strike to protest detention

BY BRONWEN BEECHEY ADELAIDE — In recent weeks, the Woomera detention centre has been the focus of media attention, following allegations that the centre's management had covered up the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old boy at the centre. There have

On the box

Actively Radical TV — Sydney community television's progressive current affairs producers tackle the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Sunday, 9-11pm. Ph 9565 5522. Access News — Melbourne community TV,

News briefs

AMWU to launch 'Campaign 2001' Following the success of the Victorian Australian Manufacturing Workers Union's 'Campaign 2000', the national AMWU is planning to lodge a combined claim on manufacturing employers with the aim of improving job

'We cannot be satisfied until every refugee is free!'

In late November, at least three former employees of Australasian Correctional Management (ACM), the private company contracted by the federal government to run Australia's immigration detention centres, revealed that child abuses and other crimes

M1: carnival of the oppressed

BY DAVE RILEY As more activists from many cities and towns respond to the call for mass actions against corporate tyranny on May 1, cultural activists are to lend their support to these blockades and related events. Taking our cue from the

EAST TIMOR: Solidarity conference discusses new challenges

BY SIBYLLE KACZOREK BAUCAU — On November 26-30, 40 or so members of the Asia Pacific Coalition for East Timor (APCET) met here to discuss international solidarity with East Timor. The international guests were joined by around the same number of

An indigenous break from the ALP?

BY PETER JOHNSTON & KAREN CIERI DARWIN — The announcement of the formation of an Aboriginal political party has understandably ruffled the feathers of both Labor and the Country Liberal Party (CLP). The Labor Party traditionally receives the

EAST TIMOR: Australia's oil and gas grab exposed

BY JON LAND Australian domestic demand for natural gas is projected to steadily increase over the next decade, with the fields off the coast of Western Australia and the Northern Territory — especially those in the Timor Sea — being the