Report on labour repression in China
US-based Human Rights Watch has released a new report detailing the growing repression of worker protests in China.
The report details struggles that occurred between March and May in three cities in north-eastern China, including the 10-week fight against layoffs by metalworkers in a former state-owned enterprise in Liaoyang. Oil workers in Daqing met particularly heavy repression, with the arrest of at least 60 workers. Laid off miners in Fushun won partial payouts when thousands blocked roads and railways.
Pacific Islands Forum
Both East Timor and new Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare opposed West Papuan independence at the 33rd Pacific Islands Forum, held in Fiji, August 19-20. Australia was criticised by Pacific island leaders for its "Pacific solution" and opposition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Indonesian Nike workers protest
On August 19, about 4000 Nike workers marched on the US embassy in Jakarta. Organised by the Indonesian Garment, Textile and Leather Workers Union, they were protesting the planned layoff of 7000 workers by Doson Indonesia, a Nike subcontractor. Union president, Rustam Aksam, told reporters, "Nike has no social responsibility. They are just exploiting the workers, getting their profit and then leaving". The workers are demanding adequate compensation.
No amnesty for South Korean unionists
President Kim Dae-jung's government failed to give amnesty to South Korea's imprisoned and wanted unionists on Liberation Day, August 15, despite pressure from parliamentarians and a solidarity campaign by the International Metalworkers Federation. The Korean Metalworkers Federation is organising a national day of protest at the end of the month.
Tamil-Sri Lanka peace process
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga announced she would not dissolve parliament and call new elections, amid speculation surrounding her People's Alliance party's conflict with the United National Front government currently engaged in a peace process with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. This signals a retreat by the PA and will allow peace talks to go ahead in Thailand next month.
Meanwhile, more than 300 doctors in the north-east province took strike action on August 20 against pay discrimination. Doctors coming from outside the province receive a special mission allowance which was denied to the mainly Tamil doctors of the province.
[Compiled by Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) <http:www.asia-pacific-action.org>.]
From Green Left Weekly, August 28, 2002.
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