World

Tamil surgeon urges peace talks in Sri Lanka

By Nadeem Ansari CANBERRA — In a public meeting here on March 16, Tamil surgeon Dr Thayalan Ambalavanar asked the Sri Lankan government to respect the right of self-determination of the Tamil people and to open peace talks with the Liberation

Challenges face new workers' party in Zimbabwe

Challenges face new workers' party in Zimbabwe By Patrick Bond HARARE — The March 1 announcement by Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary-general Morgan Tsvangirai that his federation's executive has mandated the creation of a

Government hides report on Biak killings

Government hides report on Biak killings By Linda Kaucher The Australian Defence Department has refused a freedom of information request concerning West Papua put to the Department of Foreign Affairs. When Indonesian armed forces reacted

Papuan representatives demand independence

Papuan representatives demand independence By Linda Kaucher One hundred West Papuan community representatives met with President Habibie, members of his cabinet and the head of Indonesian armed forces (ABRI) in West Papua, in Jakarta on February

Fight over water privatisation in South Africa

Fight over water privatisation in South Africa By Anna Weekes JOHANNESBURG — Attempts by the African National Congress government to privatise the water of Dolphin Coast municipality in kwaZulu-Natal province, in breach of a national agreement,

Socialist magazine seized in Philippines

By Sonny Melencio MANILA — On February 19, I went to the Las Pinas Post Office to claim a package sent by the Australian publishers of Links, an international theoretical journal for socialist renewal. When the person in charge opened the

Victory for Scottish socialists

Victory for Scottish socialists GLASGOW — The registrar of political parties has been forced into a humiliating climb-down by the Scottish Socialist Party. The registrar's decision to bar the SSP from the ballot for the May 6 Scottish Assembly

Indonesian regime backtracking on Budiman release?

Indonesian regime backtracking on Budiman release? By James Balowski On March 9, the Indonesian daily Kompas claimed that the chairperson of the People's Democratic Party (PRD), Budiman Sujatmiko, had rejected an offer of clemency by the

Remodernising Russia: the role of the left

Remodernising Russia: the role of the left BORIS KAGARLITSKY interviews ANATOLY BARANOV. A left journalist, Baranov in 1996 came under attack from the authorities in the Moscow municipality, after an article he had written for the newspaper Pravda

Struggle for 'sans papiers' and 'illegals' in Netherlands

By Bastiaan van Perlo Nederland Bekent Kleur, a national platform against racism in the Netherlands, is seeking international assistance in its work. At this moment, we are involved in a struggle with our government to legalise a group of "sans

How democratic will Indonesia's election be?

How democratic will Indonesia's election be? By James Balowski Last January, Indonesia's B.J. Habibie government announced a series of "electoral reforms" and set an election date of June 7. Since then, the establishment media has repeatedly

Resistance and repression continue in Kurdistan

Resistance and repression continue in Kurdistan By Norm Dixon The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has responded to the abduction of its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, by vowing to escalate the struggle for national self-determination. This was the