World

New left unity in the Philippines

New left unity in the Philippines By Reihana Mohideen MANILA — The "State of the Nation" address is an important day in the Philippine left's calendar, demonstrations being held outside the opening of Congress in the new financial

Korean workers offer wage cuts to save jobs

Korean workers offer wage cuts to save jobs By Eva Cheng On August 6, the occupation by about 3000 workers of Hyundai Motors' key plant in Ulsan entered its 18th day. Hyundai Motors is South Korea's biggest car maker. The workers are trying to

Cambodia: losers reject election results

Cambodia: losers reject election results By Helen Jarvis Anyone reading the establishment press over the past month, or watching TV, would have been primed to expect certain results of the July 26 elections in Cambodia: the people would

Burmese students in Thailand

Burmese students in Thailand The All Burma Students Democratic Organisation in Australia has issued a statement attacking "the brutal and inhumane treatment of Burmese students in Thailand" by Thai authorities. According to an SBS Burmese program

GM — a political strike confronts capitalism

By David Bacon SAN FRANCISCO — The most unusual factor of the month-long strike of two General Motors auto parts plants near Detroit is that the company has accomplished what generations of left-wing activists in the factories have not been able

Indonesian political prisoner speaks out

Indonesian political prisoner speaks out JAKARTA — The following interview with a People's Democratic Party (PRD) leader, ANOM, was conducted by JANET PARKER on July 19. The questions and answers were smuggled in and out of Cipinang Prison. Anom

Union officials end Puerto Rican strike

By Lisa Macdonald The 41-day strike by 6400 telephone workers to stop the privatisation of the Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC) ended on July 29. The sale, to US-based General Telephone and Electronics, and Banco Popular, will go ahead for

Experimenting on children

By Charlie Cray Health authorities in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have recommended a ban on soft PVC toys, such as teething rings and bath toys. The Spanish government requested action by the European Union in March 1998.

Hyundai workers continue occupation

By Eva Cheng Hyundai Motors, South Korea's biggest car producer, failed to reopen its key plant in Ulsan on July 28, due to a protest walkout of 15,000 workers in a bid to save the jobs of 2678 co-workers who were scheduled to be fired on July 31.

Neptune Jade case deferred

For four days last September, labour and community supporters of the sacked Liverpool dockers in England picketed a scab ship, the Neptune Jade, in the port of Oakland in California. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) on the west

Sanctions needed against Burmese military

By Maung Maung Than August 8 is the 10th anniversary of the brutal massacre of thousands of peaceful demonstrators in Rangoon. Opponents of the military dictatorship will be protesting outside the Burmese embassy in Canberra on August 7 and 8.

Russian activists fight security police frame-up

By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — In a grim reflection on the state of human rights in Russia, naval journalist and environmental campaigner Grigory Pasko remains in prison on charges of high treason brought against him by the country's security police.