World

Reject Wahid's austerity plan, says PRD

Reject Wahid's austerity plan, says PRD By Pip Hinman Since his election five months ago, the new president of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid, has managed to create the impression that his is a people-friendly government. But how true is this?

Korean steelworkers press on

Korean steelworkers press on By Eva Cheng Against great odds, almost 190 Sammi Specialty Steel workers in South Korea are continuing their long struggle for jobs and justice after 580 workers were dismissed by the Pohang Steel Company (Posco)

Iranian workers condemn repressive labour laws

By Rupen Savoulian New, draconian labour laws recently enacted by the Iranian regime will exempt small businesses from the Islamic Labour Law, affecting 2.8 million workers and resulting in 600,000 redundancies, according to a statement by the

China increases war spending while its economy sags

By Eva Cheng Under the Communist Party's tight control, the annual session of China's parliament — the National People's Congress (NPC) — has traditionally been a staged event. It often is, however, a useful gauge of Beijing's prevailing

West Papuans demand independence vote

By Mark Abberton Five hundred people participated in a four-day congress beginning February 23 in Sentani, in Indonesian-controlled West Papua, to discuss efforts to build a unified leadership for independence. About 1000 security personnel stood

The political economy of violence in Maluku

By George J. Aditjondro Since the forced withdrawal of the Indonesian armed forces (TNI) from East Timor, and with the TNI's "dual function" (its integration into Indonesia's political structures) being more openly challenged, old methods of

Resistance to Hindu fundamentalists' 'coup' in Bihar

By Eva Cheng The Hindu-fundamentalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the leading party in the 24-party coalition that has ruled India since October, has seized power through the back door in the country's second most populous state of Bihar despite

New anti-terrorism bill targets dissent

New anti-terrorism bill targets dissent By Alec Smart LONDON — Legislation allowing police increased powers of arrest and detention is being fast-tracked through the British parliament. "Anti-terrorist" laws, rehearsed and fine-tuned in

South Africa: 'Guns not butter' budget criticised

South Africa: 'Guns not butter' budget criticised By Norm Dixon South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been criticised for introducing an annual budget on February 23 that massively boosts spending for the armed services,

Palestinian Authority forced to release students

Palestinian Authority forced to release students By Ahmad Nimer RAMALLAH, Palestine - Students at Birzeit University celebrated the unconditional release of those imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the widespread crackdown that

Cuba's battle for socialist renewal

Cuba's battle for socialist renewal By Rafael Hernandez HAVANA — "What will happen when Castro dies?" That's the inevitable question I'm invited to talk about on Cuba overseas. Curiously enough, I also get a repeated question from the most

Human rights abuses in Indonesia still rampant

By James Balowski Indonesia has moved toward a more pluralistic democracy but human rights abuses remained rife in 1999, according to a US State Department report released on February 25. In June, Indonesia held its first free elections since