World

Philippines: SPP founding congress

SPP founding congress By Reihana Mohideen MANILA — The founding congress of the Sosyalistang Partido ng Paggawa (Socialist Party of Labour — SPP) was held on June 18-20. The congress opened with a rally and march, throughout which the SPP

US decision attacks disabled people's rights

By Marta Russell Disabled one day, next day you're not — that appears to be the outcome of a recent US Supreme Court ruling which has all but defined away "disabled". The judges decided to deny a group of disabled workers access to the US federal

Surreal Stormont farce

By John Meehan DUBLIN — On July 15, the British government triggered a gadget (the D'Hondt mechanism) for electing a devolved Stormont government in Belfast — and the Irish "peace process" sank into farce that would not have not been out of

USA: The 'Vietnam syndrome' is alive and well

The 'Vietnam syndrome' is alive and well By Barry Sheppard The end of the air war against Yugoslavia was met by a subdued response from the US people. There was no feeling of celebration as there was when the 1991 Gulf War ended. The Gulf War was

IMF calling the shots in Indonesia

IMF calling the shots in Indonesia By James Balowski An article in the June 24 Far Eastern Economic Review stated: “Ask the average Indonesian who he'd like as his next president and he'll tell you Megawati Sukarnoputri. Ask him why,

New Zealand: Rent striker evicted

Rent striker evicted By Russel Norman AUCKLAND — Police have evicted rent striker Len Parker from his house in Auckland. Parker had been barricaded in for 45 days after refusing to pay more than 25% of his income in rent. He was supported by

South Africa's railways to shed 27,000 jobs

South Africa's railways to shed 27,000 jobs By Norm Dixon Spoornet, South Africa's state-owned railways corporation, announced on July 8 that 27,000 workers' jobs would be eliminated over the next three years. Shocked trade unions, which

Indonesia: PRD activists still in hospital

PRD activists still in hospital By Emily Citkowski JAKARTA — On July 1, 36 activists were hospitalised after a peaceful demonstration outside the office of the electoral commission (KPU) organised by the People's Democratic Party (PRD) was

ANC reassures big business after win

By Norm Dixon The overwhelming victory by the African National Congress in South Africa's June 2 national and provincial elections was greeted with approval by big business spokespeople. ANC leaders moved quickly after the final results were

Madagascar: 'We will never give you our land!'

By Anna Weekes TOLAGNARO, Madagascar — A mining project on the southern coast of Madagascar, the huge island east of the African mainland, has run up against unexpected resistance from local villagers, and could spark angry protests

Indonesian farm workers reestablish peasants' union

By Emily Citkowski YOGYAKARTA — More that 80 Indonesian farm workers and organisers met here on June 25-27 to re-establish the National Peasants' Union (STN — Sarakat Tani Nasional). This was the STN's second congress. The founding

Militia violence continues in East Timor

Militia violence continues in East Timor By Jon Land On June 29, while East Timorese pro-independence and pro-integration leaders were finishing reconciliation talks in Jakarta, a pro-integration gang attacked the recently established United