Euskal HerritikMUNDURA

mundua

ASIA

OCEAN

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EUROPEAFRICA

NAZIOARTEA

Nazioarteko aldizkaria • 2009ko apirila

INTERN

AZION

ALISMO

AMERICA

From the Basque Country to the world

IDear colleagues,

You have just received the first issue of Euskal Herritik Mundura!. The name ofthis digital magazine in Euskara, language of the Basque People, means«From the Basque Country to the World!». And that is exactly its purpose: toperiodically inform all the trade union organisations that are friend of LABabout the trade union, social and political reality of the Basque Country. It isa publication that we would like you to spread as much as you can and inwhich we call to collaborate, the best way you can.

It is a digital magazine that our trade union, LAB, will publish twice a year andwill send to all those organisations and people related to our trade union andto those that may be interested in knowing more about the reality of theBasque Country, Euskal Herria, giving them first hand information. With thispurpose, there is an article in this issue about current situation of the BasqueCountry, where civil and political rights are being infringed; there is also anarticle explaining the campaign LAB has been developing during the last fewmonths against the capitalist crisis that has caused disastrous consequencesfor the Basque working class.

Nonetheless, we should emphasize that it will be a magazine that, will notonly deal with subjects relating to LAB and the Basque Country, but also withinternational subjects, as in LAB we think that the proletarian internationa-lism is a weapon loaded with future in the hands of the world's working class.For this reason, this magazine also aims at depicting the struggles of the wor-king class in other areas of the world, as well as witnessing the struggles ofother people for their freedom. In this first issue you will see that the heroicfights of the People of countries such as Palestine, Cuba or Venezuela or theexemplary fight that the workers of Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupehave carried out against the withdrawal of the French Government ofSarkozy, have been shown, as well as others.

This issue begins with the greeting of Ainhoa Etxaide, the new SecretaryGeneral of LAB, who was elected in the Congress held on May 2008 in Bilbao,in which many of the trade union organisations that will receive this maga-zine took part.

Finally, we would like to take advantage of this opportunity and add some linesto thank you for your revolutionary friendship, for being fighting, togetherwith LAB, for a fairer world in the World Trade Union Federation, in your coun-tries and in your Towns. The freedom of the working class and of the People ofthe whole world is something it is worth fighting for. We all can achieve it.

°Long live the unity of the working class!°Ever onward to victory!

In the Basque Country, April 2009

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Euskal Herritik mundura, a digital magazine to createbridges and break frontiers

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«To fight for the full political and economic sovereignty of our People inorder to advance towards a Euskal Herria built from social justice, and tobe able to make a real and effective contribution in the international fieldbased on solidarity and on the work done with other People in favour of adifferent world that, is not only possible, but necessary».

This is the summary of LAB's struggle. The Basque Pro-independence tradeunion thinks that class struggle is nothing anachronistic or beat in the 19th

century; far from that, we think it is the only way to make those politicaland social changes we, the workers, need.

There is no alternative to the exploitation of the majority of social workingclass in capitalism. We are not demanding for improvements, we are clai-ming rights. Rights that we should have, that belong to every person, toevery worker; rights that in many cases we had never conquered and thathave been neutralised from and by the capital. Rights that will only berecognised and guaranteed with economic and social models structurallydifferent to those currently imposed from the capitalist institutions.

They want to impose more capitalism as a way out of the crisis they havecreated, that they manage and that will be resolved according to theirinterests . The recipe of the capitalists is old and well-known, but the ans-wer given by the working class is also well-known: to organise ourselvesand fight from trade unionism to advance in our class positions.

These are not easy times for the working class; neither are they for tradeunions that place the change factor on workers. But these are times to beapproached with ambition and firmness. The alternative that the majorityof the working class needs is trade unionism which intends to confrontthe capital.

In order to share these thoughts, LAB has started to publish Euskal Herritikmundura! (From the Basque Country to the world!), a digital magazinethat will published twice a year and sent to you, to all friendly trade unionassociations, in Spanish, English and French. The aim is to regularly informof the main facts of the trade union reality, as well as the economic andsocial realities of our People, and explaining the work that we carry ourdaily on an international scope, because for us, the proletarian internatio-nalism is much more than a word, it should be worked on every day.

Ainhoa Etxaide (Secretary General of LAB)

In view of the capitalism's crisis, fighting is the way morethan ever

Imanol Chaparro (LAB delegate at «Lantegi Batuak» company)

In the Basque Country (Euskal Herria in Basque, our language), there is a political con-flict from centuries ago, and its last phase has been going on for more than 50 years.Basque People suffered the consequences of Franco's dictatorship and today is stilloppressed by the Spanish and French States. States that, disguised as democrats stillimprison Basque citizens, and in the case of the Spanish State, it still uses torture, asinternational bodies have repeatedly acknowledged.

The Spanish government and the majority parties use big words like «democracy»,«liberty», etc., but then they ban political parties (Batasuna, Acción Nacionalista Vasca,Partido Comunista de las Tierra Vascas, Demokrazia 3 Milioi, Askatasuna), they impri-son their leaders and infringe the most elemental civil and political rights of thou-sands of Basque citizens, denying them the right to vote for independent left wingpolitical parties. This has recently happened in the 1st March at the AutonomousBasque Community Parliament elections, just to mention one example.

Likewise, during the latter years, youth organisations have also been banned (Segi,Jarrai, Haika...), as well as organisations for the defence of Basque inmates' rights(Gestoras); several Basque media have also been closed because of their leading arti-cles' ideas (the newspapers Egin and Euskaldunon Egunkaria, as well as the magazineArdi Beltza). To put it briefly, in the heart of the European Union there is a political«APARTHEID» situation against a whole nation,and there are no juridical guarantees,not even the minimum ones.

Currently there are around 800 left-wing and pro-independence political inmates,scattered in 52 Spanish State's prisons and in 33 French State's prisons.Most of them are more than 500 kilometres away from the Basque Country and this

distance is what their families have to cover to see them. This causes several trafficaccidents, due to tiredness or poor condition of the roads. Nearly twenty of them havedied already when going to visit their relatives. Likewise, there are approximately 3000Basque political refugees.

It is necessary to put an end to the political conflict that confronts the Basque Countrywith the Spanish and French States, and to the suffering caused to all of the peopleinvolved. In order to do so, what Basque people decides freely, must be respected.

The 3 million people that make up the Basque Country should decide over their futu-re, freely and without ties, and every body (including the Spanish and French States)should respect what Basque People decide. …that is the way to obtain fair and long-lasting peace, and to put an end to the political «apartheid» situation that is affectingour land.

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«APARTHEID» in the Basque Country

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Sonia González (Secretary for Communication LAB)

Lapurrak, that in our language means thieves, has beenthe key word in the campaign we have carried out inEuskal Herria (Basque Country) during the past fewmonths, meaning that they should pay for the crisis, ins-tead of the working class. We have claimed this on thestreets and work centres. This campaign had a great suc-cess in the streets of Euskal Herria. People needed infor-mation and needed to see that, at last, someone was onthe move against this mega-fraud. However, to makepeople aware and to report the facts is not enough; com-munication campaigns mean nothing if we do not backthem with a real fight on our streets and at the compa-nies where we work. Making media propaganda hasnever been the main goal of LAB; we have only used it asa means to activate working class fight.

This is not a financial crisis, nor a real-estate crisis, or amerely economic crisis; such a disaster has not been cau-sed by a couple of North American bankers, althoughthat is the message the media wants us to believe. Thislast capitalist crisis is shaking the foundations of thewhole system. Lately, all the institutions of the BasqueCountry have been repeating the same sentence «Wemust all tighten our belts», as things are getting worsefor them and their profits. When they say «all», they arenot talking about politicians, but about the workingclass; they do not refer to employers, but to the workingclass; they do not refer to banks, but to all those peopledrowned in mortgage credits. Our answer is that theyare the ones who need to tighten their belts.

During the last fifteen years Basque companies havebeen boasting about their enormous benefits (that haveincreased an average of 73%), while we, the workingclass, have seen how our salaries lost weight (4% less),

and how our contract conditions became worse withlower salaries and more unstable and precarious workingconditions. The banks have not done too bad either. Thatis the case of BBVA, a bank created at the Basque Countryand unfortunately known at the American continent.

Just like in the USA and in all Europe, in the BasqueCountry and in its French and Spanish administrations (inNavarre and in its three Basque provinces) and govern-ments, all of them with neoliberal tendencies, haverapidly come to offer their help to companies and banks,and have immediately taken their «anti-crisis measures».…that is to say, to reduce the taxes of companies and capi-tal even more; to subsidize companies or commissionlarge infrastructures with public funding; unnecessaryinfrastructures like a high-speed train, that endangers thereal environmental and farming capital of our land; toinject public funds to private banks and, of course, tolower social expenses. And, without hanging their headsin shame, they also want to make us believe that it is forour own good. We believe politicians, employers and ban-kers are responsible for this unprecedented large-scalerobbery.

The dismissals and extortion of the indebted workingclass are a strategy to make them accept everything.Behind the crisis a real strategy of the employers to keeptheir benefits can be found. They are trying to deregulatelabour relations even more, they want to make dismissalcheaper, to increase flexibility, and reduce salaries, andthey are playing with the unemployment benefits andwith retirement pensions.

In LAB, we know that the only way to turn the situationaround is to completely change the economic, social andpolitical model. Euskal Herria and the whole world produ-ce enough wealth to guarantee the well-being of all citi-zens. But to so, it is necessary that the said wealth is sha-red out fairly, that the economy is planned to serve peopleand not the other way round, that money is invested inquality public services that assure our right to education,health, social protection and housing. And, of course, toachieve all that, it is necessary that the Basque Countryand all the nations of the world have the right to decidean economic social and political model with socialistbases.

“LAPURRAK”:¡THIEVES!

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Gaizka Rial (Delegate of LAB in Z. Electromecánicas ARA)

The outcome of capitalism is: One thousand million peo-ple are starving, 1 % of the richest people in the woldowns 35 % of the world’s wealth. The production or realgoods was 90 % of the economy in 1971 and 10 % was spe-culative, while today, more than 95 % is speculative andless than 5 % of the investment is dedicated to produc-tion and services. An unbearable way of life.

There have been several crisis since the petrol crisis in1973, for example the Mexican in 1994, the Asian in 1997,the Russian in 1998, the Brazilian in 1999, the Turkish in2000, and the Argentinean in 2001.

The political, economical and social situation has plentyof class-contradictions. If we talk about the working class,we must say that it has suffered from a constant crisissince neoliberalism was established in the 80s. Be it intimes of economic prosperity or in periods of economicslowdown, the crisis has been constantly over the wor-king class in all its expressions: share out of profits, labourconditions, social coverage, and privatisation. All theresources have gone to the hands of the rich.

On this occasion three large-scale crisis concur –financial,raw materials and food–, but there is a fourth one, moresevere, the crisis of left-winged alternatives.

Financial markets are the driving axis of globalisation.

The policy of enhancing consumption and general specu-lation impelled by financial capital has provoked this cri-sis generated in the USA. They gave mortgage loans topeople who cannot pay them back (they were encoura-ged to live on credit instead of on an adequate salary) andthat lead to a financial crisis that is spreading around theworld.

This crisis is the result of the insatiable voracity of thecapital; its origin is in the complete public deregulationand lack of control of markets and capital movement,speculation, impunity of Tax Havens and absence of fairtaxes. That is to say, it was caused by the will to stole asmuch as possible in the minimum time, which is the veryessence of capitalism.

They do have a plan: it is the financial restructuring withthe State's intervention and at the expense of taxpayers.They only project they have is to put the same systemback together.

Capitalism shows us how they understand democracy.Public funds are used to save private banks, to replacetheir losses in the stock market casino. By financing capi-talism, we are watching its darkest side.

As the cost of the operation has entirely been paid withpublic money, public debt will increase and State's inco-mes will fall and its expenses will increase as it will haveto repay the debt, cut social expenses, unemploymentwill increase and purchasing power will decrease. Theyintend to pay the bill of this disaster with more work,more shortages, and more labour slavery, implementingmore liberal measures, imposing market fundamenta-lism and increasing indirect taxes.

While economy is collapsing world-wide: The fortune ofthe rich is increasing. Company profits have increased by73 % and banks obtain scandalous profits. The BasqueGovernments has given more than 12,800 million Eurosto employers, for free.

This cynical robbery is an attack against the workingclass.

What capitalism and the governments of the USA andthe rest of the world want is to «socialise losses»; in otherwords, they want to make workers pay for the catastro-phe caused by capitalism.

The financial crisis is an alibi for the real side of capitalisteconomy, for a general reduction of labour and socialrights. Another way of making the catastrophe profitablethrough fear.

Financial terrorism, well organised crime by those whoare responsible:

• Political organisations and institutions because theyhave designed, promoted and strengthened the strategyof multinational companies without arguing the type ofeconomic growth and its distribution, because they pro-

Make them payfor THEIR OWNCRISIS

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mote useless infrastructures toenrich company owners.

• Bankers and company owners thatmanipulate stocks and lead to finan-cial fraud knowing that they can dowhat they like and that, and that insome cases they will receive publicmoney to carry on robbing thou-sands of millions through this pirateglobalisation.

• Mass media, because they have apropagandist role to make capita-lism last.

• Trade unionism attached to subsi-dies, that helps manage the crisis.

• Those who lead us to wars andastronomic military and surveillanceexpenses.

All invite us to lend a helping hand;apparently the only way to come outof the crisis is to adopt antisocialmeasures. «Don’t worry, we are in agood situation to face this tempo-rary setback» they say, and theyteach us to think only as owners andconsumers, but not like workers.

All of them pretend to be worriedwhile they lie to the citizens, tomake them act like sheep at the ser-vice of their markets.

They all defend ultraliberal politicsand reduction of taxes that onlybenefit the rich. They are perpetua-ting this system based on injustice.

It is not a simple error of the systemthat will be corrected and changed.Money does not vanish; it goes fromone hands to others. Nobody punis-hes them. They are rewarded withmore money.

The proposed reforms only make theproblem worse. First, because whatthe banks will do with that cash is tocontinue doing what they have learntand what suits them: speculate.

But instead, there is no money forsocial aids, for retirement pensions,etc.

¿What about our crisis? ¿What doescapitalism have that benefits us andis worthwhile for workers?

The only thing we can see and touchis that more and more segments ofthe working class are drowning inprecariousness, and especiallyyoung people, women and immi-grants; workers have miserable sala-ries, humiliating working conditionsand lots of unemployment.

A change is needed on the econo-mic, social and political model; weneed to discuss and mobilize in allfields. It is time to organise the rage,to prevent them from reorganisingcapitalism. It is time to make thempay for their own crisis, to develop ademocratic theory and practice thatwill bring social progress and res-pect for the sovereignty of nations.

A socially oriented political practice.

LAB called for mobilisations inall the companies and areas of

the Basque Country and han-ded out an information sheet in

all work centres.

¡ LONG LIVE THE UNITY OFTHE WORKING CLASS OF THE

WORLD!

ON 1ST APRIL, an international mobilisation of workers andprogressive forces of the world was held. It was organisedby the World Federation of Trade Unions to which LAB isaffiliated. The aim of the demonstration was to demandthat the crisis be paid by those that provoked it and notby the workers nor the nations victim of neoliberalism.

- The working class and those nations that are victims ofthe anti-labour politics demand profound changes; tobuild, consolidate and defend social and economic poli-tics as alternatives to capitalism and its neoliberal modelof globalisation.

- Only united action of the workers, and the progressiveforces under the principles of class, can stop furtherexploitation and precariousness of work.

- For the distribution of wealth and improvement of sala-ries.- Against infant labour.

- No more dismissals; defence of social and labour rights.

- Reduction of working hours without reduction of sala-ries; for the strengthening of trade unions.

- Against all types of discrimination of worker women,young people, immigrants, etc.; for equal opportunities

- Nationalisation of banks and other strategic sectors, likeenergy, food sovereignty under social control.

- Immediate cease of wars, cease of NATO funding andmilitary weapons; that those budgets are invested in theproduction sector to generate employment and for deve-loping nations.

- No more repression or assassinations of trade union lea-ders and social fighters.

- For the immediate unconditional withdrawal of themilitary occupying forces of Iraq, Palestine and other Arabterritories as well as those from Afghanistan.

- For the full respect to the sovereignty and free determi-nation of nations.

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APRIL 1: The working class backed the demonstration organized

by the FSM, also in the Basque Country

Igor Urrutikoetxea (International Relations Secretary of LAB)

Last 17th December the European Parliament finally refusedthe Directive that intended to establish a working week witha maximum of 65 hours. On 9th June 2008 the Ministers ofLabour of the European Union (EU) voted this proposal ofdirective, that was approved with no votes against; whichjust goes to show, once again, that the European Union sup-ports ultraliberal politics with no shame.

The French State voted in favour of the Directive and theSpanish State abstained. That is to say, neither of them votedagainst it.

However, even though it was finally not approved, we,European workers, cannot count our chickens before theyhatch, because some of the governments that most defen-ded the directive made it very clear that they will not stopuntil approve it. This time it did not work out, but there willbe further tries.

- ¿What consequences would this directive bring?

1.- To approve it would mean a backward step of one centuryin labour relations. The working class fought restlessly for an8 hour working day. That lead the International LabourOrganization (ILO) to establish the 48 hour working week in1917.

2.- The collective negotiation would be completely deregula-ted. The directive proposal foresees to increase the workingweek established in agreements and joint agreements,through individual agreements between the employer andeach worker.

3.- This would increase unemployment, because a single personwould do the working hours of two people.

4.- The working week of 65 hours would mainly affect thoseworkers in precarious and worst labour conditions. Althoughthe ruling establishes that the agreements should be signed«freely», it is foreseeable that many companies will resort tobribery and threats to make their workers accept this abusi-ve working week. Phrases like «If you do not accept the wor-king week increase we will not renew your contract» and«You will be fired», will become common to put pressure onthose who most suffer precariousness.

5.- Labour accidents would increase. Legalising a 10 or 12 hourworking day would make workers be a ot more tired and, asit is generally known, fatigue is one of the main causes oflabour accidents.

6.- The conciliation between professional and family lifewould be impossible, and this would make people to leavetheir jobs, especially women.

Imposing a 65 hour working week would be another step inthe gradual configuration of the «Capitalist Europe» project.Likewise, we have some other similar examples: the ReturnDirective goes against civil and political rights of immigrants(also approved in June this year), the sentences of theEuropean Courts of Justice that facilitate social dumpingand, therefore, the application of the Bolkestein Directive;the goal of the Bologna Directive is to privatise education,attempt to delay the age for retirement or reduce socialbenefits.

Once again, if this rule was approved it would be imposed toall Basque workers, with no previous consultation, withoutthe chance of making our voices be heard in the EuropeanUnion. This shows that the only way of having the power tomake decisions in Europe is having full sovereignty as anation.

All these is set in a context, in which the governing classesand employers, try use the current capitalist crisis as anexcuse to justify these backwards steps in labour, economicand social conditions of the Basque and European workingclasses.

From LAB we want to express our rejection to this Directive.In addition, we believe that it is time to impel a great mobi-lisation all over Europe and, obviously, in the Basque Country,against the model of Europe they want to impose andagainst these backwards and reactionary measures that theright-wing and the transnational capitalism is adoptingduring this world-wide capitalist crisis. With these goals, theBasque Trade Union majority has called for a General Strikeon the next 21st May in Euskal Herria (Basque Country).

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BACKWARD STEP of one century in Europe

Txente Rekondo (Delegate of LAB-Teaching, member of GAIN)

Palestine has become a, wrongly called, collateral victimof the complex international scenario. The policy ofWashington in the region, in tune with the Zionist gover-nors of Israel, the passivity of European governments, thecollaboration with all these of a large number of theneighbouring regimes, has made it possible for them touse the cruel situation of Palestinians in defence of theirown interests.

Beyond the events that occasionally get mentioned in themass media, like the recent massacre of Gaza caused bythe Israeli army, the reality of Palestinians is usually left

behind, at least by western mass media. It happens thesame in a large number societies. However, reality is dif-ferent, and Palestine is still an important hot spot regar-ding the conflicts that are destroying that part of theEarth.

The picture of the current situation in Palestine looks likea complex puzzle, with a large number of pieces (actors)and above them, there is the clear determination ofPalestinian People to be what they freely decide.

The political and social reality of Palestine has beentransformed in the last years. The organisation that formany years has held the flag of Palestinian resistance, AlFatah, and the Palestinian National Authority createdaround it, are going towards a dangerous precipice.

Following this trend, the twelve years of PalestinianAuthority, controlled by Al Fatah, have not improved edu-cation, economy, health or progress for the majority ofPalestinians, but they have, instead, swelled currentaccounts and companies belonging to that network ofopportunists and «administrators».

It is mainly a minority that has taken advantage of thesupport from foreign actors (the European Union, USA,Israel, Egypt, Jordan); they try to keep their privileges andstatus quo, even if they have to increase or hold the suf-fering of the majority of Palestinians.

I has been a long time since some Palestinians have rai-sed their voices to reclaim a policy of unity that defendsthe rights of the Palestinians. They have also asked for apolicy that will make it possible to create a PalestinianState.

Given the evidence, and the internal contradictions, thePalestinian people find themselves up against Israel, astate that represents the materialisation of apartheid,and whose base is founded on clearly racist policies andnot on democracy. We cannot left behind the fact thatthis State is closely attached to certain religious ideas.Exclusion, colonisation, ethnic cleansing and inequalityare terms that can describe a large part of the nature ofthat state formed many decades ago.

We cannot forget the responsibility that a large numberof European governments have in this matter. Westernlessons leave no room for error and we know they are cle-arly in line with Israel. They support the formation of theIsraeli State in Palestinian lands, trying to clear their badconscience because of the holocaust; and moreover, they

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The PALESTINIANcentrality

close their eyes in front of the Israeligenocide against Palestine. And wecannot forget their weird lessons ofdemocracy in the area, where theyhave denied the electoral victory ofHamas and have impelled embargo-es and prohibitions against thoserepresentatives chosen by people.

Within this context, we have tohighlight the double partisan usethat some collaborating Arab regi-mes (with the policies coming fromWashington) have done. In the Arabworld there is a clear dissociationbetween leaders and governmentsand the great majority of the popu-lation of those states. While officialpolicies usually have a large numberof public declarations in defence ofPalestinian demands, experienceshows us how these governmentshardly take solid steps to helpPalestine configure its future accor-ding to the will of its people. What ismore, these leaders look on in fearhow the Palestinian dynamism canend up affecting their countries andstimulate movements of changethat for years have been breeding intheir respective civil societies.

The solidarity of Arabs and Muslimswith the Palestinian conflict is notsupported by their governments.The support of the countriessurrounding Palestine is evident, forexample in Jordan, in the south partof Lebanon and in Iran, where peo-ple gathers in a square to throw sto-nes to what symbolises the Zionistoccupation of Palestine.

Nowadays, many situations directlylinked to the realities of other coun-tries take place at Palestine. Thesituation of the thousands of displa-ced people and refugees, Jerusalem,the wall, the control and exploita-tion of natural resources are some ofthe matters that directly affect theinterests of different actors, and are

key to approach any attempt to starta peace process.

A HARD SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALITY

An aspect that normally goes unno-ticed by the majority of mass mediais the terrible socio-economic conse-quences the repressive policies of TelAviv generate. Closing borders hasprovoked the dismantling of themajority of the industrial network ofGaza, obliged to close or destroyedby the Zionist bombs. Besides, themeasures taken by Israel, with thesupport and collaboration of theWestern Countries, have crippledthe normal export of Palestinianproducts.

Measures like the embargo, havecaused lack of materials and equip-ment for education and health, sothose basic services cannot be offe-red, and, at the same time, they havecaused unemployment for workersof the mentioned services.

The cantonisation of Palestine, themilitarisation of the civil society,(barriers, checkpoints, bombings),the wall of shame, are all part of theIsraeli politics and their consequen-ces are evident. The difficulties tonormally develop a job, the attemptto not help people, the rise of unem-ployment, the lack labour rights forPalestinian workers that go to Israellooking for a job, the promotion ofnon Jewish labour from other coun-tries to avoid employingPalestinians in Israel, are just someof those aspects that are not reflec-ted in Western mass media.

Few weeks ago a large part of theWestern world took the streets toprotest against the massacre provo-ked by Israel in Gaza. But now it isnecessary to take further stepstowards this solidarity and it is also

a good opportunity to put into prac-tice the boycott campaign againstIsrael.

The international BOYCOTT is aneffective way of putting pressure onIsrael. The boycott is justified on thebasis of their violation of legal prin-ciples (the United Nations resolu-tions) and of human rights. The boy-cott against the South African apar-theid was started by persons andindependent groups. It slowly, butfirmly, grew and finally became aglobal boycott: economic, sports,culture, academic and touristic.South Africa was obliged to change.Israel can follow the same path.

Beyond these unmistakable signs ofsupport, Palestine stays firm againstthe offensive that from Israel, withthe support of United States, hasbeen going on for decades, with theaim of preventing the Palestiniansfrom freely deciding over their futu-re. And if the steps and fight ofthese people keep on going, if thedecision of the neighbouring peo-ples to support them spreads, and ifthe brainy strategists in Washingtonand their allies do not understandthat reality, the whole region canend up exploding and turning theMiddle Eastern arsenal into a terri-ble nightmare.

Palestinian society is very lively anddynamic that continues moving for-ward to achieve its right for self-determination and to start buildingthe Palestinian State. Anyway, thisaspect is never shown by the massmedia. The above mentioned showsus that Palestine is in the harts oflots of us, and that it is a the centreof the political knot surroundingthat area. And above all, we shouldnot forget that Palestine will bewhat the Palestinian people want itto be.

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Amaia Fontang (LAB - Iparralde)

The Movement Against Exploitation(LKP) gathers 48 organisations in aplatform that raises 146 claims. Itsspokesperson is the GeneralSecretary of the UGTG (GeneralUnion of Guadeloupe Workers), themost important trade union on theisland (it got 52% of the votes in thelast Council of prud’homme).

This movement condemns the highcost of living and demands, amongother things, to reduce the price offuel and to immediately increase by200% the salaries. However, itsclaims go even further. LKP gathersall the representative trade unionorganisations of the island, andalmost all the political and associati-ve forces too. Thus, employers andtheir organisations, local authoritiesand the State itself have to face alarge cultural and social mobilizationthat reflects a whole united nation.

The LIYANNAJ KONT PWOFITAYSON(LKP) has become the voice of thosethat could not express themselvesand has given them a dimension.

Nowadays, in spite of thousandsdemonstrators, hours of negotia-tions, the assassination of the tradeunion activist of the CGTG and cultu-ral activist Jacques BINO, the Frenchgovernment and the managers ofthe employers of Guadeloupe stillrefuse to satisfy the claims and willsof people. President N. SARKOZY haspreferred to drown these claims in amagic formula:‘Sole Assembly, statu-tory evolution’.

To put an end to the conflict, theyonly propose general scope measures(Active Solidarity Contribution,exceptional premium of a maximumof 1,500 Euros per year, free of taxes),but they have no intention whatsoe-ver of reforming their unique system.

For many weeks, Reunion, Guyanaand Martinique are following thesteps of Guadeloupe.

Martinique, Guyana and Reunionfollow the steps of Guadeloupe, andKanaky continues with its social mobili-sation

In Reunion, the unemployment rate

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Peoples fighting against all kinds ofexploitation

Dozens thousands ofGuadeloupians are in the

last five weeks demons-trating in the streets

against the pwofitasyon(profiteering), due to

both the colonial systemthat is still in force in

Guadeloupe, the powersgiven to the employers,and the cowardice and

submission of the politi-cal representatives.

Workers, youngs and reti-red people mobilised for

a more fair Guadeloupe

is reaching its maximum levels: 35%of the active population, 61% ofwhich are under 25. An associationagainst the high cost of living orga-nises strikes and demonstrations infavour of salary increases, loweringthe prices of first necessity products,freezing of social rents, etc. Likewise,a general strike has been called forthe 5th March.

In Guyana, many demonstrationshave been organized, streets havebeen cut and establishments forcedto close, and towns have becomedeserted to protest against the highcost of living and, above all, againstthe exorbitant cost of fuel (1,77 ¤ / L).The UTG (General workers ofGuyana - 60% of votes in the lastprud’homme council) lead the men-tioned demonstrations.

In Martinique, a general strikeagainst the high cost of living and infavour of acquisitive power was heldon 5th February. The strike was ledby the UGTM (General WorkersUnion of Martinique). Negotiationswith the representatives of themain distributors have had no suc-cess to the date - meanwhile, massi-ve demonstrations are continuouslybeing held.

In Kanaky (New Caledonia), socialmobilisations are emerging. Carsudworkers, for instance, are on strikeon the last 15 months. The USTKE(first trade union of Kanaky) and theKanak people are enduring fiercerepression.

Solidarity with workers and peopleof the last French colonies

The LKP and people fromGuadeloupe keep demanding thetransformation of social relations,the respect to all the basic liberties,the right to live and work in dignityin the country - in short, that alltypes of pwofitasyon (profiteering)cease. The same demands are clai-med in Martinique, Guyana, Kanakyand Reunion.

The LKP regularly calls for internatio-nal solidarity and invites trade unionorganisations and anti-capitalismprogressive anti-colonialist organi-sations in France and in the lastFrench colonies to intensify theirsupport and mobilisation.

LAB has often expressed its solida-rity with its brothers and sisters ofthese last French colonies.

Likewise, as members of thePlatform of the Trade Unions ofNations without State and underFrench dominion, the trade unionsLAB (Basque Country), SLB (Brittany),Intersindical-CSC (Catalonia) and STC(Corsica) have expressed their solida-rity with the trade unions UTG,UGTM, UGTG and USTKE, that alsoform part of the mentioned plat-form. They reaffirm the claims of theworkers and people of Reunion,Guyana, Martinique, Guadeloupeand Kanaky when fighting againstcolonialism and in favour of dignity.

In this context, the platform hassent several supporting messagesfrom the Worldwide Social Forum ofBelem and from the Basque Country,Corsica, Brittany and Catalonia.

The first common initiative took placein Paris, on 27th February 2009.TiennotGrumbach (lawyer of the UGTG), arepresentative of UTG and a delegateof UGTM made a debate-style-mee-ting, which had been transmitted livethrough the Pays-Corsica Radio (93.1FM). Likewise, the National Council forPopular Committees organized a talkin another place of Paris but at thesame time, where members of LABtook part.

In addition, in March another solida-rity meeting was held in Rennes(France).

It now depends on us to extend thatsolidarity through more informativeactions and by means of the supportthroughout the whole territory ofthe French State.

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Galván Betancor

In Cuba, a secular State of 11 million people, Christmas hasnever been officially celebrated. During that days, howe-ver, Cubans have commemorated the anniversary of theRevolution on 1st January 1959. Until that day arrived, morethan a century of fights and combats passed, which led toforge the constitution of a free, independent and sove-reign nation. The Revolution was conceived as a processfor social and national construction, made by citizens forcitizens.

In these 50 years of Revolution, Cuba has had to bear alltypes of aggressions (military, terrorist, bacteriologist,mass media…) from the Empire, just because it rebelledagainst it, conquering its second independence; justbecause it has maintained it, in spite of the enormoussacrifice of its people; and just because it is a "bad exam-ple" for other neo-colonized peoples that depend on theEmpire and that could opt to free themselves.

There is a mass media campaign against Cuba aimed atmisinforming through all the large media that are at theservice of the empire. As a consequence, people from allover the world only knows a few events that happen inthe Caribbean island. And that events, often presentedout of the Cuban context, could make us think that Cubanpeople are living under a criminal and bloody dictatorshipthat oppresses its inhabitants and infringes humanrights. That view is nowadays predominating in our socie-ties, as it is the one shown by the mentioned means ofcommunication at the service of the empire.

As we are not spokesperson of the empire, we are going topresent some questions that perhaps are unknown bymany of those who listen to us.That questions show a dif-ferent and more realistic view of what Cuba is and of itsRevolution.

FIRST: ¿Did you know that Cuban people are supportingan economic, commercial and financial blockade by theUnited States since 1961, as a military measure, for havingfreed themselves from Yankee imperialism, that punishes

all the companies that trades with Cuba, and that thementioned embargo is not legitimized by the UnitedNations? In October 2008, 185 countries of the 192 thatform the United Nations voted in favour of stopping thementioned embargo. The damages caused to the Cubaneconomy by the North American embargo from 1961 to2008 exceed 53,000 million Euros. øSo who is carrying outa genocide policy towards the Cuban people? The answeris clear: the United States.

SECOND: ¿Did you know that Cubans celebrate electionsevery five years, on municipal, provincial and state levels,and that no political parties run in them, not even theCommunist Party? In fact, all the candidates are free torun for the elections. Such candidates are proposed by thepopular assemblies of each area, just like in the democra-tic assembly of the early years of the French Revolution.Cuba is criticised for not allowing a multi party politicalsystem, but we know that a multi party system, in a capi-talist society that buys everything, does not guaranteedemocracy (in other words, governing by people and forpeople), but a particracy at the service of the richest witha strong two-party system that alternates in government,according to the ideological tendency (more liberal ormore conservative) of the rich class.

THIRD: ¿Did you know that Cuban people passed a socia-list democratic Constitution in 1976, which was backed by97% of the electorate, that the Constitution recognisesand guarantees the fundamental rights gathered in theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights, and that it is oneof the most advanced ones in the world? Cuba is criticizedfor its lack of democracy; however, it has passed aConstitution that regulates its politic and institutionalsystem, endorsed by its people - so, it cannot be classifiedas dictatorial just for being socialist.

FOURTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba is in the 50th place(from 177 countries that have been studied) as for as thehuman development is concerned, that is to say, thosecivil societies that improve the living conditions of theircitizens by increasing the assets to cover the basic andcomplimentary needs and create an environment wherehuman rights are respected, according to the 2006 Reportof the United Nations' Development Programme?

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CUBA: 22 questionsthat you maybe do not knowCuba 50 years of Revolution. A speech from solidarity

FIFTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba is the only country in theworld that fulfils the minimum criteria for ecological sus-tainability, according to the report presented by the SwissADENA association in Beijing in 2006?

SIXTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba is, according to UNICEF,the only Latin American country that has eradicatedinfant malnutrition, even in the hard period of the 90s,and that is has the highest life expectancy of the so-calledThird World (78 years) and the lowest rate of infant mor-tality of Latin America and the Caribbean (4.7 for eachthousand babies born alive), even lower than the one ofthe United States?

SEVENTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba, with its scarceresources, is one of the countries that has more coopera-tion engagements with countries of the Third World, andthat it develops programmes like "Barrio Adentro" inVenezuela, according to which each neighbourhood hasbeen provided with a health centre, and "OperaciónMilagro", which has served, in the last four years, to returnsight to one and a half million people from more than 20nationalities, free of charge, with the support ofVenezuela?

EIGHTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba eradicated illiteracy in1961, just two years after the Revolution, and that nowa-days, through the “Yo sí puedo” programme, addressed toadult people, has freed in scarcely 2 years countries likeVenezuela, Nicaragua or Bolivia from illiteracy? øAnd that47,000 youngs from 126 countries have graduated in Cubasince 1961 through its grants programme in more than 33university and technical specialities?

¿Or that since 1961 Cuba has cooperated with 154 coun-tries, with the help of 270,000 co-operators, and thatmore than 41,000 Cuban professionals are currently coo-perating in 97 countries, 31,000 of them devoted to thehealth sector? ¿Did you know that Cuba supplies moredoctors than any other country in the world to the UnitedNations' campaign against AIDS (more than 3,000), whilethe United States and the European Union bring togethernot even 1,000 doctors, and that the United Nations hasdeclared that, without the help of Cuban doctors, carryingout the campaign would be practically impossible? Didyou know that had Cuba not sent 2,500 doctors to coverthe Pakistan earthquake in 2005, more than 1,500 peoplewould have lost their lives and hundreds of thousandswould not have been cured? ¿Did you know that Cuba hasmore doctors in the world than the contributed by theWorld Health Organization?

NINTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba condemned the terroristattack of 11th September 2001 and, nevertheless, fiveCubans are still imprisoned in the United States since

1997 for having infiltrated in terrorist organisations ofMiami and for having alerted the United States govern-ment of the plans of more than 170 attacks on the island,being accused for spying, in a manipulated judicial pro-cess, and that they have been condemned to long prisonsentences -one of them has even being condemned totwo life imprisonments- and tortured in a dungeonknown as "the Hole"?

TENTH: ¿Did you know that Cuban people has sent hun-dreds of thousands of volunteers to fight against colonia-lism in several countries in the world and that has sup-ported all the national movements for freedom in thatcountries, mainly in Africa (like Algeria, Congo and Angola)and in Latin America (Bolivia and Nicaragua)?

ELEVENTH: ¿Did you know that in the battle of CuitoCuanavale (Angola, 1987) the South African army, suppor-ted by United States and Israel, was defeated thanks toCuban troops, that Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe gottheir independence, and that the racist regime in SouthAfrica had been fatally wounded, which crumbled a fewyears later and Nelson Mandela got released?

TWELFTH: ¿Did you know that in 1984 Cuba and theUnited States signed an agreement in which the UnitedStates undertook to grant 20,000 visas per year to theCubans that wanted to travel to the mentioned country,but that they have never granted more than 1,000 visasper year, forcing that way clandestine emigrations wherelife is risked at high seas? Did you know that the USAapplies the Adjustment Law, granting North Americannationality to people who travel illegally, as long as theydeclare being victims of political persecution by theCuban government?

THIRTEENTH: ¿Did you know that the United States hasprohibited its citizens from travelling to Cuba, and thatpeople who do it may be punished up to 10 years of impri-sonment?

FOURTEENTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba allows severalforeign means of communication, both European andNorth American (CNN, among them), but that the UnitedStates does not authorise Cuban journalists to work in itscountry?

FIFTEENTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba was the first countryof the world to request the external debt of the so-calledThird World countries to be suppressed?

SIXTEENTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba has one of the bestpublic, free and universal health and education systems inthe world, recognised by the United Nations? Did youknow that even North American citizens with scarce

17

resources go to Cuba both to be treated and to study, as inthe United States they cannot afford the cost of healthand education, which are in hands of private companies?

SEVENTEENTH: ¿Did you know that Cuba is a world powerin biotechnology, and that many of its pharmacologicpatents are used to cure numerous illnesses in the world,at low prices, as the medicine that cures the diabetic footulcer?

EIGHTEENTH: ¿Did you know that while Cuba is blamed bythe Empire for violating human rights when imprisoning75 Cubans that conspired with the United States govern-ment to throw down the socialist regime of the island in2003, no crime that, according to the InternationalAmnesty, are committed in the European Union countries(Spain, for example) and in the United States has beencommitted in Cuba in 50 years of Revolution? (crimessuch as political assassination, torture, disappearances,kidnapping, traffic of human beings and other numerouscrimes, the limbo-prisons like that of Guantánamo, thesecret flights of North American planes carrying kidnap-ped people authorised by several governments -amongthem, the Spanish government- and the extrajudicial exe-cutions committed by the GAL in Spain under the govern-ment of Felipe González). øDid you know that, for the fifthconsecutive year, Cuba forms parts of the Human RightsCouncil of the United Nations, with support of the so-called Third World countries, and that the United Stateshas remained outside?

NINETEENTH: ¿Did you know that in Cuba old age adultscollaborate in their work centres or carry out sociallabours in neighbourhoods and communities, that theyare assigned an active part in the civil society and that noelderly is living alone?

TWENTIETH: ¿Did you know that Cuban people receiveevery year a Hurricane practice programme, calledMeteoro, which makes it possible that there are scarcevictims on the island (not even ten in ten years), while inother countries of the Caribbean area, including theUnited States, thousands of people die, as in the case ofthe Katrina Hurricane?

TWENTY-FIRST: ¿Did you know that in Cuba there are 65art schools, 80 million books are yearly edited and betwe-en 5 and 6 films are made, that there are 11,000 freesports installations, and that it is a world power in sports,as it got 24 medals in Beijing and 27 in Athens?

TWENTY-SECOND: ¿Did you know that Cuba is, togetherwith Venezuela, pioneer in establishing a Latin-Americansocio-economic integration system, called ALBA, thatother countries are joining it, and that has stopped some

free trade agreements promoted by the USA that wereruining the Latin-American peoples? This is the Cuba thatmedia at the service of the empire do not show us. Asocialist Cuba which is being developed and that, yearafter year, resists the aggression of the empire with sacri-fice. A socialist Cuba economically not very developed–mainly, due to the blockade-, but with sustainable politi-cal, ecological and social development and honourablehuman values and international solidarity practices.

The Cuban political, social and economic policy model isnot perfect, but we can assert that it is ethically more just,politically more democratic and socially and ecologicallymore sustainable, as well as more exportable for theimmense majority of peoples of the world, than the oneoffered by imperialism both for opulent and poor socie-ties. Because if all the countries of the world lived in thedepredatory consumption level of the industrially mostadvanced capitalist country of the world (USA), we wouldneed many planets to maintain it, and many Ethiopiasand Haitis to suffer hunger. So, why should we ask Cuba toleave its model, instead of improving it? øIs it so difficultto understand that what imperialism wants regardingCuba is to re-colonize it, not to bring there more demo-cracy, and that it fears that the success of the island couldbecome an example for other peoples? °°Let’s hope thatthere will be many revolutions like the Cuban one in theworld!

Socialist Cuba deserves respect, comprehension,sympathy, admiration and defence; solidarity to overcomemistakes and errors. At the same time, we are in the needof the socialist Cuba, in order to defend the liberation cau-ses of our own peoples; øhow could we walk in the dark-ness without any light?

Perhaps one day –hope not!- the counterrevolution,always disguised as democracy, may overthrow the socia-list Cuba, but we are sure that °°°it will never, never,never!!! give to people what this Revolution has giventhem. The Revolution has accomplished 50 years and hasserved as flag and guide to many peoples that now try toconstitute themselves as free, independent and sovereignnations outside of the empire's power. Perhaps one day,we will call our Christmas Revolution. That will be,without doubt, a great day for Mankind.

!LONG LIVE THE SOCIALIST CUBA!!LONG LIVE THE SOLIDARITY AMONG PEOPLE!!LET'S JOIN CUBA IN ITS FIGHT!

Domingo Galván Betancor is the President of the Canarian Platformfor Solidarity with Nations. By this talk, the International SolidarityOrganisation greets the 50 years of Cuban Revolution.

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Mario López Rebelión

In Colombia, Uribe has achieved tocontrol the Senate and the Congress,the Bank of the Republic, the controlbodies and the branch of justice, andto have all the media by his side,because of his charisma and thestrength of the institutions. InVenezuela, however, that same situa-tion is produced by the abuse of theauthoritarian power of Chávez.

In Colombia, the re-election ofPresident Uribe should be allowed,according to the will of millions ofColombians who signed a referen-dum request. Their democratic inten-tion cannot be evaded. But inVenezuela the populist will concen-trate on «exporting its revolution»and on swallowing the little institu-tionalism that is left.

Students from public and private uni-versities that demonstrate on thestreets of Caracas every time theywant to are libertarian heroes; mean-while, their companions from TheNacional, The Pedagógica and TheDistrital are terrorist instruments ofthe FARC.

Being an unconditional of the milita-rist policy of the most discreditedgringo president of the History, bac-king the invasion of Iraq, toleratingparamilitaries and attacking theinsurgency are policies of a states-man. To be distant and to criticize theneoconservative stance of Bush Jr., toapproach China and Russia, and to pri-vilege the trade with Latin America isnot only demagogic, but bellicose and

incontinent.

Uribe giving out cheques from the tre-asury to Families in Action it is redis-tributive policy; Chavez taking posses-sion of Bolivians for Missions, it is elec-toral bribery.

It is the old tradition of double mora-lity of the governors. The Congress, InColombia, is full of paramilitaries, justlike the local authorities in vastregions. The social, economic and cul-tural atmosphere crossed by easymoney derived from drug traffic andthe pyramidal casino that has spreadto the politics and to the most hum-ble peasant, from the city to the mostremote village. Nevertheless, we feelfree to tell our neighbour (secondcommercial client) that his livingsystem and model are not decent.

All that Chávez has done is to modifythe tradition of Latin Americangovernments. He decided to bringsome services (regarding health, edu-cation and markets) to 70 per cent ofthe black Venezuelans that were piledup on the outskirts and underestima-ted by more than 100 years by whitepeople that managed to seize oil pro-fits. That is exactly what he has donein the last 10 years, always respectingthe democracy and the Constitution.He is blamed for getting the supportof excluded people, who were neverconsidered neither citizens norhuman beings. However, nobodyexplains why the opposition party,which plead for sabotaging the eco-nomy and for the coup d'état, decidedto ostracise itself and to abstain in theelections. However, it still has power-ful media (television channels, dozensnational and regional newspapers, AM

and FM radio channels). It directs largekey regions. It is the owner of all theexclusive areas of the country and ispresent at religious spheres, in highand medium social stratums. It stillleads the social and cultural initiativesregarding areas such as trade, residen-ces, companies, universities and leisu-re time infrastructures of the nation.Likewise, it has the multiplying cove-rage of the transnational press by itsside.

So, it is worth asking øHow manymass media are under the control ofthe Colombian opposition party?øAnd what spaces and environmentsdiffering from the Executive do theydominate?

The fact is that hate and pugnacityagainst the Bolivarian process is hidinga fear: that underprivileged peopleunderstand that there is an alternativeway to the government of the «famousand leaders», and that it is possible toadopt a model which is closer to solida-rity, outside the market and adulationto the entities from United States.

Rich men who dream with becomingministers and ambassadors that brea-the chavist hate should admit thatmiserable people -not just poor- havein democracy a different option, farfrom the one that is based on therebel clumsiness of the rifles.

The objective of the aforementionedfacts is not to hide the faults and mis-takes of the Bolivian process -theyshould be analyzed in another article-. On the contrary: it is not reasonableto think that thanks to Uribe every-thing is perfect, but with Chávez beco-mes terrible.

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With Uribe, perfect; with Chavez, terrible

2008:- September:- Belarus: LAB was invited to Belarusby the Federation of BelarusianTrade Unions and by the MetalWorkers Union (BTUWI) that partici-pated in our Congress, May 2008.We visited Belarus from the 1st to the6th September, as part of a delega-tion from the European RegionalOffice (Eurof) of the WorldFederation of Trade Unions.As a result of the trip, we signed aCollaboration Agreement with theBelarusian trade union.- Budapest: LAB participated beingrepresented by Koldo Barros, mem-ber of the pensioners group, in thepreparatory meeting of thePensioners Congress of theEuropean Regional Office of theWFTU.

- November:- On 13th November, LAB participatedin Paris in a European demonstra-tion to protest against the privati-zing policies of the European rail-way network. The call was followedby 20,000 workers. The representa-tives of LAB were the delegates ofthe transport sector.- On 17th November, a meeting washeld with George Mavrikos, GeneralSecretary of the World Federation ofTrade Unions, in the headquarters ofthe World Federation of TradeUnions. The representatives of LABwere Ainhoa Etxaide (GeneralSecretary), Igor Urrutikoetxea(International Relations Secretary)and Jesús M. Gete «Purri» (memberof LAB and General Secretary of theTrade Union for Metal Workers).In the said meeting, the resolutionsadopted by LAB in its last congresswere presented, the current capita-list crisis situation was analysed,and the future aims of the WFTUwere reviewed. In the afternoon, therepresentatives held another mee-ting with the PAME trade unionfrom Greece.- From the 19th to 23rd November, LABparticipated in the Congress organi-zed by PEO, main trade union ofCyprus and member of the WorldFederation of Trade Unions. The said

Congress, held in Nicosia, was atten-ded by more than 1,000 delegates.The PEO renewed its wager for arevitalised class trade unionism andundertook to reunificate the island,that is in part illegally occupied byTurkey since 1974. The delegationsinvited to the Congress had beenreceived by President DimitrisChristophias, member of the CyprusCommunist Party.

- December:- India, Thiruvananthapuram: TheSecretary of International Relations ofLAB, Igor Urrutikoetxea, participatedin the 39th Congress of the Indiantrade union AITUC, in representationof the European Office of the WorldFederation of Trade Unions, from 1st

to 5th December. The mentionedCongress was held in the capital ofKerala, and was attended by 3,000delegates from India and Asia(Nepal, Vietnam, India, etc.), Europeand Africa. The first day of theCongress, a demonstration hadbeen held, attended by 15,000 peo-ple.- Lisbon: Amaia Almirall and JoseLuis Rezabal participated in thesymposium organised by the WFTUin Lisbon, entitled «Globalisationand Working Class Rights».- On 17th December, many gatheringsand mobilisations were held in theBasque Country to protest againstthe 65-working-hour week that theEuropean Union wanted to esta-blish.- Catalan countries: Ainhoa Etxaidetook part in the IV. Catalan InterTrade Union Congress, held on 20th

December in Barcelona. IsabelPallarés was re-named GeneralSecretary.

- January:- Basque Country: LAB carried outmany mobilisations to show its soli-darity to Palestine and to denouncethe Gaza massacre. Among otherinitiatives, resolutions were passed inthe Councils to show solidarity toPalestinian People, a boycott againstIsrael was called, pamphlets and pos-ters were distributed in the compa-nies and, together with other trade

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WE HAVEBEENWE HAVEDONE...

During these last months, the trade union has carried outmany activities on the interna-tional panorama, among whichwe can highlight the following:

unions, a demonstration was called for24th January in Bilbao. Likewise, on 16th

January, once more in Bilbao, LABannounced a concentration.- Vienna: LAB participated in the mee-ting of the European Regional Officeof the WFTU, where the work plan for2009 was decided.- Latin America: LAB participated from27th January to 1st February as part ofthe Basque delegation of the WorldSocial Forum.

- February:- The Secretary of InternationalRelations, Igor Urrutikoetxea, visitedin February Caracas (Venezuela) andQuito. There, he met the Venezuelantrade unions (UNT) and the ClassistTrade Union Movement Cruz Villegas,and the Ecuadorian WorkersConfederation (CTE), respectively. Theobjective of the visit was to consoli-date the relations with theVenezuelan and Ecuadorian tradeunions, as well as getting to knowfirst-hand the process of social libera-lisation that is happening in bothcountries.Likewise, in Ecuador, the LAB repre-sentative held a meeting in theNational Assembly (Parliament) ofEcuador with the President and theVice-president of International Affairsof Ecuador.- On 20th February, a concentrationwas held in front of theSubprefecture of Bayonne (France), insolidarity with the workers ofGuadeloupe and Martinique, todenounce the death of the tradeunionist Jacques Bino in Guadeloupe.Likewise, on 27th February we partici-pated in Paris in a solidarity event,together with the trade unions fromGuadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique,Brittany and Catalan countries.

- March:- On 12th March, the member of theFinance Subsector Joxean Urkiola par-ticipated in the world-wide meetingof Banking that WFTU organised inAthens.- On 21st March: Gaizka Uharte, mem-ber of the National Committee, parti-cipated in the Youth Space Congressof the Catalan Inter Trade Unionism.

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By: The National Trade Union School(Published in Viritn Informative Network)

The teacher José Jair ValenciaAgudelo, from the Crisanto LuqueSchool of Samaria, municipality ofFiladelfia, in the north of Caldas,was shot in the morning of 26thFebruary by two hired assassins onmotorbike, when he was leaving hishouse to go to his workplace.Valencia Agudelo, member of theUnited Educators of Caldas (Educal)and well-known in the municipalityfor his trade union activism, recei-ved six shots. His state, according tothe medical report, is confidentialand is under strict medical survei-llance.

According to a communicationfrom the Unitary Central ofColombian Workers (CUT), theProfessor José Jair started denoun-cing threats against his life longtime ago. That is why he wasinitially moved from the San Josécorrectional to the one in Samaria.Nevertheless, he expressed that hestill did not feel safe in that area.José had no protection means.Besides, people close to his familydeclared that that same week theEducation Secretariat of theDepartment refused once again hisrequest for relocation as a conse-quence of being a threatened tea-cher.

The CUT organisation denouncedthat attack to the Colombian tradeunionism in the national and inter-national medias, and demanded thegovernment to clarify the circums-tances of the assassination and tocall for justice.

A trade unionist is assassinatedeach week

The outlook is far from being encou-raging, as the violence against tradeunion managers and activists pro-ves. From the first days of 2009 on,threats, harassment (telephonecalls, text messages and e-mails)and crimes are being committed:four trade unionists (two of themeducators) lost their lives in violentattacks since last 28th January - thatis to say, a trade unionist was killedeach week.The last case is the one of the edu-cator Leoncio Gutiérrez, member ofSUTEV, on the municipality of Toro(Cauca Valley). It happened on themorning of 20th February, Friday, in ahotel of the town.

On 15th February, the educatorGuillermo Antonio Ramírez Ramírezhad been assassinated, member ofthe trade union of Belen de Umbria,Risaralda. He was shot in a coffeeshop of the municipality.

In the municipality ofBarrancabermeja (Santander), on 12th

February, Luis Alberto Arango Crespowas killed, the president of theAssociation of Fishers and Farmersof Llanito and director of the ArtisanFishers Association of MagdalenaMedio (Asopesam).

And on 28th January, in the munici-pality of Sabana de Torres, also inSantander, Leovigildo Mejía, a tradeunionist from the FarmersAssociation of Santander (Asogras),had been assassinated.

COLOMBIA: endless assassinations and repression to tradeunionists

21st MayGENERAL STRIKE