World

  • Indonesian resistance continues despite crackdown

    On October 9, the Suharto dictatorship began the trials of 60 people arrested during rioting in Jakarta on July 27. At least another 60 are due to be put on trial shortly, along with 24 leaders and members of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) and

  • Fear strikes Kiev as Chernobyl heats up

    Fear strikes Kiev as Chernobyl heats up MOSCOW — In the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, the scenes recalled those during April 1986, when rumours were flying of a massive accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 100 kilometres to the north.

  • Trade union leaders on trial

    By Francisco T. Sobrino BUENOS AIRES — In some provinces, the economic and social deterioration of life has pushed workers to resist and fight. Carlos Ménem's government has replied with harsh repression. Around the country, there are more

  • Espionage charges laid against Russian ecologist

    MOSCOW — After eight months in prison, Russian anti-nuclear activist Aleksandr Nikitin has now had formal charges brought against him. On October 2, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had completed its

  • Papua New Guineans organise against structural adjustment

    PETI LAFANAMA is chairperson of the recently formed PNG Watch-Council for Socio-Economic Justice, a coalition of non-government organisations and grassroots activist groups opposed to the World Bank and PNG government's structural adjustment program.

  • Tongan king dissolves parliament

    Tonga's absolute monarch, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, suddenly dissolved parliament after it voted on October 1 to impeach the minister of justice for corruption. The move coincided with mounting local and international protests about

  • Wide support for Argentine strike

    By Francisco T. Sobrino BUENOS AIRES — A national 36-hour strike ended at midnight on September 27. The strike had a 70-80% success rate in the industrial belt around Buenos Aires, while support in the provinces was estimated at 50-80%. The union

  • Writing from Kenya's prisons

    A Season of Blood: Poems From Kenyan PrisonVita Books. 156 pp., $15Kenya: A Prison NotebookVita Books. 287 pp., $15Both by Maina wa KinyattiReviewed by Ndungi wa Mungai These two volumes of prison writing are based on the author's experience as a

  • Death warrant for Nigerian lowland rainforests

    The international Rainforest Action Network has issued an action alert concerning rainforests in Nigeria's Cross River State, home to an astounding variety of animals, including one third of Africa's primates and more than 1000 species of

  • Letter from the US: A battle to save the redwoods

    On Sunday, September 15, the largest protest action in recent years in defence of the environment in the US took place in the remote northern California town of Carlotta. Organized by Earth First!, the action mobilised some

  • Suharto's rise: Communist plot or military coup?

    Suharto's rise: Communist plot or military coup?People watching Indonesian television on the night of September 30 didn't need a guide to know what was on. With the Suharto regime desperate to resurrect the "latent threat of

  • New Zealand's politics of hate and fear

    AUCKLAND — It's a beautiful sunny day, the first day it hasn't rained in months. Winston Peters, the leader of the New Zealand First Party, has gambled on an open air campaign launch for the October 12 election and has won. God