Home | Friday 31st October 2003 | Issue 429

WAKE UP! IT'S YER SPOOKS 'N' GHOULS

SchNEWS
PDF Version - Download and Distribute!

Story Links:
Siam Old Story | All Thai'd Down | Crap Arrest of the Week | Inside SchNEWS | Brighton Briefs | West Papua Side Story | St Agnes Place Under Eviction | SchNEWS In Brief | ...and finally...

SIAM OLD STORY

SchNEWS reckons that before he was anointed president, the furthest George W had ever been from his ranch was Disneyland. Recently several countries including Thailand and the Philippines played host to his imperial convoy, and did their best to show him some good clean neo-liberal fun.

The Thai Government swept 10,000 homeless people off the streets before Bush’s arrival while the Filipino state went about destroying slums. As Bush declared his love for free speech, the Thai Prime Minister threatened any protesters disrupting his visit “long and painful consequences”. The elite in these countries create superficial Disneylands of happiness and prosperity and bury the shanty town reality. It shows that while wars are waged to secure resources for capitalism, real wars are waged as dissenters are silenced and forced to be suffering, smiling citizens.

Addressing the Philippine Congress on Saturday, Bush said, “Some say the culture of the Middle East will not sustain the institutions of democracy. The same doubts were once expressed about the culture of Asia. These doubts were proven wrong nearly six decades ago, when the Republic of the Philippines became the first democratic nation in Asia.” He then claimed that “Together our soldiers liberated the Philippines from colonial rule.”

The Filipinos don’t share that view. A hundred years ago, the US ‘liberated’ the Filipinos from the Spanish only to take over for themselves. Many Filipinos fought for independence from their ‘liberators’ and thousands were killed in the process. In 1946, U.S. rule in the Philippines came to an end and was replaced by remote control neo-colonialism. The U.S. has kept a massive military presence at bases on a 99-year, rent-free lease. The ‘independent’ Philippines was also remotely controlled economically by the US as the Filipino government was prohibited from changing the value of its currency without the approval of the US and US investors were given special investment rights.

Until 1972, the Philippines was yer average ‘democracy’ – there were elections with two parties competing for power. To win you had to have the support of the US. When protest groups began challenging the political system, US-backed President Marcos closed down Congress and the press while arresting political opponents. So what did Washington do? It sent him more military and economic aid. A US Senate staff report at the time summed it all up: “military bases and a familiar government in the Philippines are more important than the preservation of democratic institutions which were imperfect at best.” When Marcos ‘lifted’ the state of emergency in 1981 he retained the draconian powers, the US vice president George Bush senior visited Manila and heaped praise on him: “We love your adherence to democratic principle and to the democratic processes.”

The current US puppet in the country is President Arroyo, who has a few problems with the current constitution which states that “foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty agreed in the Senate.” Of course US troops need not violate the constitution if only Arroyo would submit the appropriate treaty to the Senate. Sure that such a treaty would be voted down, Arroyo and the US have chosen to simply ignore the constitution. With Bush drawing parallels between Middle Eastern democracy and the Philippines, perhaps Iraq is destined to follow the Philippine model, from liberation to occupation to remote controlled neo-colonialism.

However, the Filipinos refused to bow to Dubya. In spite of the build-up to Bush’s arrival which saw harsh repression of dissenters and protesters. Bush’s speech before congress was nearly an hour late because of concerns about large anti-Bush crowds on his motorcade route. 5-10,000 anti-Bush protesters were pushed back behind barricades due to Secret Service worries about his safety, while thousands of stars ‘n’ stripes waving well-wishers were bussed in by the authorities. Bush’s motorcade had to get past 3,000 protesters burning effigies and US flags, and waving placards saying “Ban Bush”.

All Thai'd Down

Bush then flew to Thailand to the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit. Thailand is another country under the shadow of the ‘Pax Americana’, following IMF dictats to the letter. All appeared to be going to plan when the 1997 Asian financial crisis happened and at least 2 million jobs were lost in a year.

In the run-up to Bush’s arrival, poverty was hidden and denied as Bangkok’s poor classes got a taste of his double standards. 10,000 homeless people were pushed off the streets before APEC and the Bush visit, 900 Cambodians were rounded up and flown home by the Air Force. A huge US security contingent swept into Bangkok, with 20,000 Thai police and troops controlling large parts of the city. A huge banner of the grand palace, placed to hide slums by the river, epitomises the attitude of capitalism today: the importance of cosmetic appearance over grassroots reality, the luxury of the few blotting out the lives of the many.

Unprecedented security and a tough immigration blacklist of activists assured a protest free conference. About 1,000 anti-summit protesters still marched through Bangkok on Sunday. The Thai Prime Minister saw things differently: “These people (APEC delegates) will bring investment money to Thailand. Unfortunately, some ghouls are going to hold street rallies, and this is very bad for the country’s image.” Demonstrators criticised the government for cleaning Bangkok of homeless people, prostitutes and stray dogs and creating an artificial image of the city.

One protester’s sign read: “APEC — Welcome to Disneyland.’’ And Disneyland it was, as Mickey Mouse leaders discussed Bush’s ‘security’ policy and the APEC policy of ‘creating an environment for the safe and efficient movement of goods, services and people across borders in the region’. What these policies really do, is end any possibility of a ‘safe and efficient movement of people across borders’ while allowing goods and capital to flow freely. A Thai journalist, pointed out that “the ‘leaders of the free world’ have found in ‘counter-terrorism’ a way of keeping out the rabble of the Third World from their pretty shores while letting in the wealth expropriated through their exploitation.” With the US pouring money into “the War of Terror”, corrupt Majority World governments are able to use ‘counter-terrorism’ to suppress human rights while creating a ‘stable environment’ for big business.

As Bush tours around the world, he pats pro-war puppets on the head as he grants them crumbs of economic aid and money for ‘counter-terrorism’. For these crumbs the Majority World leaders wage a war on the poor, suppressing pesky dissenting voices that are left powerless in slums next to the skyscrapers of foreign capital. On the other hand, there are millions of ordinary people who make the link between Bush’s war on Iraq and their own destitution and struggles.

When the emperor himself comes here on 19th November it’s our turn to laugh at his new clothes as everyone can see the naked truth except his mate Tony.

More on ambush actions see
-www.resistbush.org

Crap Arrest Of The Week

For returning rubbish!
At an anti-McDonald’s protest in Newcastle people took McRubbish back to Mucky Ds and were giving out free food outside the so-called restaurant when they were asked to move by the police. The protestors agreed to go if McDonald’s took back their rubbish; an angry employee then came out took the rubbish and started chucking the protestors’ spuds cutlery and plates into a rubbish sack! So what did the police do? Arrest one of the protestors for obstructing the highway! www.mcspotlight.org/

Inside SchNEWS

In 1997, John Two-Names, a Cherokee was sentenced to a total of 90 years in prison with a $5 million dollar fine - the harshest penalty on record in Alabama for a classified ‘non-violent, first time offender.’ His crime? Being labeled a ‘militant, terrorist/extremist’ who got in the way of power and politics. Budget cuts have gutted many of the state’s social services, the Department of Corrections received an additional $16 million to reduce the prison population. They will release upwards of 6,000 non-violent offenders in the next few months. John has documents released through the Freedom of Information Act that clear his name, with the Assistant Attorney General admitting that there was evidence of tampering at trial, and his conviction was based upon ‘flimsy proof.’ He has a parole hearing set for November 13 and he is asking supporters to send letters, calls, emails, and faxes of support to the parole board. For copies of a sample letter www.ainfos.ca/ainfos336/ainfos09398.html For more on how Two Names ended up in prison www.justicedenied.org/andyriendeau.htm

* Stephen Funk, a US Marine, has been jailed for “refusing to deploy with his unit because of his opposition to the war”. Charged with desertion and thrown in prison for six months; he is becoming the focal point for a ‘refusenik’ campaign in the US military. To write to Stephen, write to: Stephen: Corp Base Brig; Attn: Stephen Funk Bldg 1041 PSC 20140 Camp Lejeune, NC 28542-0140, USA. Or sign the on-line petition www.join-snafu.org

* Spiros Tsitsas, a Thessaloniki hunger striker for 23 days was taken to hospital on the 28th. His condition isn’t thought to be serious. The other 4 hunger strikers are okay but some are suffering breathing problems, Castro is appoaching 40 days on hunger strike - the others around 26 days. Follow the story on www.indymedia.org.uk

* Four Irish protesters will appear for mention in the Four Courts on Monday. They face two counts of criminal damage and a maximum sentence of 10 years if convicted at trial. Their crime? The disarmament of a U.S. plane at Shannon Airport en route to the war in Iraq. If you are interested in participating in vigils or protests www.geocities.com/pwdyson/pitstop.html

Brighton Briefs

• Next Thursday (6) Fahim Ahmed from Campaign Against Criminalising Communities will be talking about their new book ‘A Permanent State of Terror?’ about the criminalising of dissent. This is the first of regular weekly talks happening at the Cowley Club bookshop, 12 London Rd., Brighton (opp. Somerfield supermarket) 6-7.30 pm
• ‘A Tale of Two Villages’ meeting this Saturday (1st) Listen to peoples experiences helping with the Palestinian olive harvest and their time with a family whose house was scheduled for demolition by Israel. Community Base, Church Road 4.30pm
• What Future for Palestine: Road Map or Apartheid? Public meeting next Saturday (8) 1-5 pm, Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton University
• Mad Pride punk bonanza weekend at Sanctuary Cafe, Brunswick St, Hove Fri/Sat and Sunday 7pm. Entry £4/3 conc www.bedsit.freeserve.co.uk/bbw
• From Bolivia to Chiapas, the indigenous peoples of Central and South America are in the front line of the global resistance to capitalism. But why?” Talk at The Downview pub, opp West Worthing station next Tuesday (4) 7.45pm

West Papua Side Story

If you paid 15% of the MOD’s budget you’d expect a little bit of “I scratch your back, you scratch mine.” The world’s largest mining company, Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ), a company whose primary concern is bringing global Nirvana through capitalism, has been scratching the back of the Indonesian military to the tune of 15% of its budget. Coincidence - the area around RTZ’s most important mine in West Papua is highly militarized. Also coincidence that there have been hundreds of substantiated and thousands more unsubstantiated instances of murder, torture, false imprisonment, kidnapping by the hired militia not to mention massive environmental genocide. Thanks to the efforts of NGOs and activists negative publicity is having an impact on Rio’s presence in Indonesia.

The Grasberg mine in Irian Jaya province is vital to RTZ, yielding 1 million ounces of gold and 255,500 tons of copper. Grasberg has the largest gold deposit in the world yet RTZ has begun a partial pullout. In October it announced the sale of its half share in the Kaltim Prima coalmine and already sold its biggest primary gold mine.

Grasberg has not been good for RTZ. So annoying when the natives get restless! Who wouldn’t get noisy after so many rapes, tortures and landslides? The environmental damage of the area’s previously unspoilt wilderness also got the company bad press. 110,000 tons of highly toxic waste is discharged daily into the local river. The Lorentz National Park, a World Heritage site, has been contaminated. Same happened to the 10km sea-bed. In May 2000 discharge was washed into Lake Wanagon, sending a wave of rocks, sludge and water cascading on the village below, killing four people. This seems to be a regular scenario. Those not killed in landslides, bumped off or tortured by the military often suffer copper poisoning. The natives, in fact all those not working for RTZ, desperately want them to stop exploiting and poisoning the area. One of the Papuan tribeswomen, Mama Yosepha, prosaically told goldmine Freeport-McMoran CEO, Jim Bob Moffett(!), “You suck my blood until it is all drained and I remain only bones without flesh.”

In May Yosepha, after being imprisoned and tortured and taking legal action against Freeport, was due to address shareholders at the company’s London AGM. It must be a coincidence that she was turned back at the last minute by Indonesian airport security officials. Since then, some Papuan students have gone on hunger strike. Last Friday there were simultaneous protests, outside RTZ’s London office and in Jakarta outside PT Freeport Indonesia. The demands of the protesters include the cutting of Freeport’s military subsidies and demilitarisation around the mine. As one West-Papuan activist leader said “The Freeport operation should be shut down” www.westpapua.net

St Agnes Place Under Eviction

Urgent call for people to help fight evictions at St. Agnes Place - one of the last squatted streets in the Lambeth borough of London, which has been going for 28 years! Lambeth council called off evictions of 14 dwellings last Friday when they saw the resistance, but are due to return on Friday 31st Oct (today). More people are needed down there straight away!!! This multi-ethnic community must be saved.

www.stagnesplace.org
www.indymedia.org.uk

SchNEWS in Brief

• Last Thursday five people from the Faslane Peace Camp blockaded the gate at the naval base for 4 hours. They were taken into the ‘MoD Plod’ lockup, one escaped, setting off the intruder alarms. Faslane is home to Britain’s weapons of mass destruction – the Trident submarines. The peace camp want more people to come and stay and check out the swish new caravans on site. 01436 820901 faslanepeacecamp@hotmail.com
• 500 civilian weapons inspectors were arrested last Saturday trying to break into Nato’s HQ in Belgium. 55 protestors managed to enter the compound despite 2,200 police!
• Glenys Thomas and Lilian Boden, both in their 70s, tied themselves to railings to prevent contractors felling trees at a St Catherine’s Rectory, in Wales. More than 60 residents joined in a 24-hour vigil to protect the site and Cardiff council joined in, giving the trees 6-month’s temporary protection
• Interested in joining a new London Earth First! group – meeting this Monday (3rd) Freedom Bookshop 84B Whitechapel High Street (entrance down Angel Alley) London E1 7pm 07751 432 240 eflondon@ziplip.com
• On the 4th at the Freedom Bookshop join the discussion about the differences between anarchism and marxism 7.30pm www.anarchistfaq.org
• SchNEWS has printed up some groovy new stickers to help you spread the word. If you’d like some send us an SAE to the usual address AND We’ve also just got some new t-shirts done they’re £10 long sleeve £8 short sleeve
• Come and listen to journalist John Pilger and Jorge Viana from La Paz, Bolivia talk about Stopping the Project for a New American Century at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square WC1 (Holborn tube) on Monday (3rd) 6.30 pm £4 / £2 concs.
• Check out Pilger’s new film ‘Breaking the Silence - Truth and Lies in the War on Terror’ at an anti war double bill next Saturday (8) at the Edinburgh filmhouse. Also showing “Old enough to know better” about the school protests. Starts 12.30pm – to book tickets 0131 228 2688
• There is a demonstration on the 31st in Madrid against the government’s repression of social movements and out of solidarity with the ongoing court case around the arrests at the 1997 eviction of La Guindalera, a squatted social centre. 150 were detained at the eviction with fifty still facing charges - all based on police evidence - and some are facing large fines and/or 4-6 year prison sentences. The local government power in Madrid have been cracking down on squats lately, with four squats being evicted in September. YA BASTA! http://acp.sindomino.net/

...and finally...

We’ve all heard of Buy Nothing Day, held on the last Friday of November. On this day people are encouraged to not participate in the capitalist system by not purchasing anything on that particular day. Well, a bunch of anarchos from Montreal, have gone one step further by holding a Steal Something Day which promises to be much more fun. As they say on their website “Get some friends together and go on a shoplifting spree at the local supermarket or upscale mall. Get a credit card under a fake name and don’t pay. Keep what you can use and give away everything else in the spirit of mutual aid that is the hallmark of Steal Something Day”. As property is theft we’re just going for Borrow Anything Day and then forget to give it back. For info rip-off http://resist.ca/story/2003/1/5/173829/0813

Disclaimer
SchNEWS warns all bushwhackers that kind of trick is a real treat. Honest!

SchNEWS Annuals

NOW OUT!!! 'PEACE DE RESISTANCE' - SchNEWS Annual 2003 - £8 + £1.70 p&p

• SchNEWS Round issues 51 - 100 Sold out - Sorry
• SchNEWS Annual issues 101 - 150 £3.70 inc. postage.
• SchNEWS Survival Guide issues 151 - 200 and a whole lot more £3.70 inc. postage
• The SchQUALL book at only £6 + £1.70 p&p.
• SchNEWS and SQUALL’s YEARBOOK 2001. 300 pages of adventures from the direct action frontline. £3 + £1.70 p&p. You can order the book from a bookshop or your library, quote the ISBN 09529748 4 3.
• SchNEWS Of The World issues 301 - 350. 300 more pages of adventures from the direct action frontline. £7 + £1.50 p&p. You can order the book from a bookshop or your library, quote the ISBN 09529748 6X

In the UK you can get SchNEWS Annual, Survival Handbook, Yearbook 2001 and SchNEWS of the World for just £15 inc p&p.

(US Postage £6.00 for individual books, £13 for above offer).

If you can help distribute the new book by taking a few boxes from Brighton or East London round the country, call the office and ask for John, Thanks.

In addition to 50 issues of SchNEWS, each book contains articles, photos, cartoons, subverts, a “yellow pages” list of contacts, comedy etc.

Subscribe to SchNEWS: Send 1st Class stamps (e.g. 10 for next 9 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?). Or £15 for a year's subscription, or the SchNEWS supporter's rate, £1 a week. Ask for "originals" if you plan to copy and distribute. SchNEWS is post-free to prisoners.

SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 0EF, England
Phone/Fax: +44 (0)1273 685913
email: schnews@brighton.co.uk

@nti copyright - information for action - copy and distribute!