GLW issue 706, published 2007-04-18.

Skepticism over 'new' suspects in Indonesian activist's murder

Indonesian police have named two new suspects in the murder of human rights activist Munir, who died of arsenic poisoning on a Garuda flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam on September 7, 2004.

Construction workers resign in protest

Citing low pay, management intimidation and poor safety, metal construction workers at the Coles Myer distribution centre in Somerton resigned their casual employment with labour hire contractor Busicom Solutions on April 11 and set up a 24-hour protest outside the centre.

No Australian troops to Afghanistan!

The Socialist Alliance condemns the Australian government’s decision to deploy a 300-strong Special Operations Task Group to Afghanistan and repeats its call for a withdrawal of all Australian, US and NATO occupation forces from that country.

Women and infants dying at checkpoints in Palestine

According to a report by the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens Rights, between September 2000 (the beginning of the Al Aqsa Intifada) and July 2006, 68 pregnant women were forced to give birth at Israeli checkpoints in the Occupied Territories after Israeli soldiers barred them from crossing the road blocks to access hospitals and medical centres. Thirty-four infants and four pregnant women died at these checkpoints.

Further

Australian News

Howard, Rudd escalate support for US-led Afghan war

Declaring that there “is the distinct possibility of casualties and that should be understood and prepared for by the Australian public”, PM John Howard announced on April 10 that an Australian military task force spearheaded by 300 Special Air Services troops would be deployed to Afghanistan’s south-central Oruzgan province.

Protest against troop deployment

More than 50 people protested on April 12 against the Australian government’s decision to send 300 extra troops to Afghanistan. The speakout was called at short notice by the Stop the War Coalition. Activists pointed out that the wars against Iraq and Afghanistan are part of the same “war on terror”, are both motivated by lies, and are both wars of occupation in which innocent people are being killed for US corporate interests.

Further Australian News

International News

Philippines: Unionists confront repression, build unity

Organisers from the Philippines’ biggest left trade union centre, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP — Solidarity of Filipino Workers) spoke to Green Left Weekly’s Sue Bolton about the repression that they encounter from the state and their efforts to unify left-wing trade unions.

Neuquen follows Oaxaca's example

In actions that have echos of the struggle in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, teachers and their union have installed themselves outside the governor’s office in the southern province of Neuquen, calling for better salaries and governor Jorge Omar Sobisch’s resignation.

Further International News

Comment and Analysis

Spain leads the way on wind power

By late March, Spain’s wind power generation was contributing 27% of the country’s total daily power demands, surpassing supplies by nuclear and coal. This marks a new record for the contribution of wind-generated power to Spain’s electricity grid.

Drugs: Facts please, not hysteria

In the lead-up to the March 24 NSW state election, you could be forgiven for believing that the NSW Greens were drug dealers: Hysterical attacks were launched on the party’s drugs policy, which focuses on harm minimisation and health issues.

Further Comment and Analysis

Letters

Letters to the Editor

Work Choices The first anniversary of Work Choices is marked by another employer exploiting the Howard government's feudal IR laws to reduce workers' pay and conditions National retail chain Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops expects its 1509 casual

General

Green Left Weekly's $250,000 Fighting Fund: Racist shock jock with friends in high places

Last week, right-wing Sydney Radio 2GB “shock jock” Alan Jones was let off with a ticking-off from Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for inciting on air the infamous anti-Lebanese bashing spree in Cronulla in 2005.

Resistance!

Building a movement against uranium mining

At this year’s national ALP conference, to be held in Sydney from April 27, delegates will determine whether or not to ditch Labor’s current policy of not supporting any new uranium mines (adopted in 1998). The current policy will almost certainly be overturned.

Cultural Dissent

Tribute to a great fighter

Cannot Buy My Soul: The songs of Kev Carmody
Various artists
Virgin, $24.99

Destroying the presence of God in nature

Darwin’s Origin of Species: A Biography
By Janet Browne
Allen & Unwin, 2006
174 pages, $22.95

Further Cultural Dissent

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