Wales : April 6th 1835 execution of Edward Morgan of Scotch Cattle Remembered by Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr

Edward Morgan should be as famous in Wales as Dic Penderyn and Lewis Lewis but has largely been written out of history.

Our task at the Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr /Great Unrest Group is to bring him back and get him recognition has leader of the Scotch Cattle's fight for social justice expressed in those days as natural justice

The 'Scotch Cattle' first appeared in the early 1820's.The movement was formed by discontented workers mainly from the coal mines of the Monmouthshire valleys.

Their aims were to improve the pay and working conditions of the local workers but their tactics  were for direct action against  any person or group who opposed their working class cause.

They existed as a secret society with its members swearing allegiance under pain of death to the Scotch Cattle.

Each Valley town and village had its own group and a leader was elected, usually a person respected and feared for his aggressiveness and physical strength, known as the 'Bull' or in Welsh 'Tarw' 

Their meetings were always clandestine, being held at dark in secret locations usually on hillsides.

Victims were usually workers who had 'blacklegged' or refused to join strike action or workers who were prepared to work for less money.

A warning would be issued to offenders - failure to comply would invoke drastic consequences.

Retribution was swift - offenders were 'scotched' which involved a visit by the Cattle, faces blackened and dressed in animal skins with the 'Tarw' wearing a headdress bearing a bull's horns.

Normally, the punishment would be undertaken by a herd from another area to avoid recognition by local residents.

The Cattle's code, however, dictated that any foodstuffs found in the household would always be left intact.

Company property was also targeted, with Truck shops and other buildings ransacked and burned down.

Despite attempts by the authorities to penetrate the movement and bring the ring leaders to book, their activities continued for many years mainly due to the extreme secrecy of their organisation and the reluctance of the general population to speak against their actions.

The movement was said to have declined after 1835 when one of their members, Edward Morgan a coal miner, was tried for murder and hanged at Monmouth Jail on 6th April 1835 but see link below for the second Tarw Scotch Revolt in Aberdare in the 1850's.

See Also; http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/after-1831-scotch-cattle-by-alan-jones.html

 

Ireland : 1916 speech by Brian Leeson of Eirigi

.

Citizens Celebration of 1916 - Dublin

"In 1916 these... streets were a battleground. 99 years later there is another battle being fought – a battle about how the centenary of the Rising should be commemorated.

On one side of this battle is the political establishment. They want to remember all of the ‘participants’ of the 1916 Rising - to treat the British soldiers who suppressed the Rising as equals to the Volunteer soldiers who fought to establish an Irish Republic.

If you saw their 1916 video you’ll know what I’m talking about – packed full of images of the British Queen, David Cameron, Ian Paisley, Bono and Bob Geldof – without a rebel in sight!

In truth there are many in the political establishment who would rather commemorate the battle of the Somme than the 1916 Rising. And they would rather turn Moore Street into a shopping arcade than part of a 1916 historical quarter.

Then there are people like us - people who believe that the 1916 Rising was one of the most important and brilliant events in the history of our nation - people who want to not only remember 1916 – but also to celebrate it.

And that is what we are doing today. We are unapologetically celebrating the 1916 Rising. We celebrate the women and men who took up arms to end British rule and establish an Irish Republic. We celebrate their bravery. We celebrate their integrity. We celebrate the vision of those who fought for the Republic in 1916.

Closet Republicans Are Coming Out!

Over the next twelve months every chancer in the country is going to try and jump on the 1916 bandwagon. The most unexpected people are going to tell you that they’ve been proud Irish republicans all along. Blueshirts, revisionists, west-Brits, shoneens and gombeens will all declare themselves the true inheritors of 1916.

These closet republicans are

• the same people that maintain partition and support the British occupation of the Six Counties
• the same people who surrendered sovereignty to the EU and Troika
• the same people who voted to bail out the private banks
• the same people who have given away our natural resources
• the same people who are imposing austerity from Leinster House and Stormont
• the same people who are trying to make us pay again for our water
• these same people have spent the last 99 years trying to restore the system that existed before the 1916 Rising

Learn the Lessons of History

 The last hundred years have taught us words and slogans are cheap.

 It’s easy to wrap yourself in the tricolour and declare yourself a proud republican.

 It’s easy to say you want a country that cherishes all the children of the nation equally.

 Collins did it, Dev did it, Haughey did it and over the course of the next twelve months they’ll all be at it.

 But action and inaction speak far louder than words!

James Connolly understood that removing the British crown from Ireland wasn’t enough. He understood that it wasn’t enough to change one flag for another. He understood that Irish freedom from British rule would be useless if that freedom wasn’t used to deliver a national, economic, social and cultural revolution.

And that remains as true today as it did over a century ago.

So the next time someone declares their republican credentials to you, as they ask you to support them or vote for them why don’t you ask them a few questions.

Ask them are they willing to take on the elite – not just with rhetoric or slogans – actually take them on.
Are they willing to take back our oil, gas, fisheries, lead, zinc and other natural resources?
Are they willing to put the developer and speculator class out of business permanently?
Are they willing to do what has to be done to provide every family with a home?
Are they willing to outlaw all forms of private money-lending and banking?
Are they willing to end the private ownership of the media? Are they willing to make the corporations pay proper tax on their profits?

Are they willing to challenge imperialism in Ireland – to challenge British, EU and US interference in Ireland’s affairs?

Are they willing to do what needs to be done to establish a Republic of the type that envisioned in 1916.

You judge the answers for yourselves and see how they measure up to the politics of Connolly, the Citizen Army and the revolutionary politics of 1916.

Twelve Months to Organise Community Celebrations of 1916

 The Dublin government, political parties, trade unions and others are all announcing their plans for events to mark the 1916 centenary.

And that’s all well and good but wouldn’t it be great if communities all over the thirty-two counties started organising their own commemorations, public meetings, the erection of monuments and community parties for 1916?

Why wait for governments or political parties to lead the way?

Imagine if communities in villages, towns and cities across the Thirty-Two Counties took ownership of the 1916 centenary celebrations.

What’s stopping any of us from working with our neighbours to organise community-based events to mark the centenary?

Imagine the potential for change that could be unleased if large numbers of people came to understand and then support the politics of revolution – of the complete destruction of the old order and the creation of a new all-Ireland Republic.

The message at the heart of socialist republicanism is one of possibility and hope – of a democratic economy and an equal society where everyone can reach their full potential – of the country that can be built after occupation and capitalism.

Why don’t we all set ourselves the challenge of spreading that message over the next twelve months – of working with our families, neighbours and friends to spread the revolutionary politics of 1916 and of organising centenary celebrations in our communities.

That, my friends, would be a very fitting tribute to those who have given their lives that we might all be free.

India: Caste and Gender : Meena Kandasamy and Nadi Palshikar - Hyderabad Literary Festival

See Also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meena_Kandasamy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyankali

The Life of Maoist Political Prisoners in Morocco is in Danger ! Support Paris Rally on 8th April 2015

Morocco has several years of movements of popular struggle, in particular its universities against privatization of education, to improve conditions for students and for the political and trade union freedoms.

In this context, many students who were arrested and sentenced to long terms in prison.

Among those convicted students are 7 Maoist students: Elbour Aziz Mohamed Elmounden Hicham Almskini and Abdelhak Atalhaoui each sentenced to 3 years .

We should also mention the names of Aziz El Eikhalfaoui and Rédouane Aadimi, both arrested on 09.04.2014 and jailed since without any form of trial - just like Alaa Aderbali last student arrested .

Since 3/23/2015, the Maoist political prisoners of the group of Aziz Elbour and that of Aziz Elkhalfaoui, started and lead Morocco a indefinite hunger strike, first to denounce the abuses and physical assaults that these comrades suffer daily in the jails of the reaction and the other to succeed and impose their just and legitimate demands, mainly to improve their conditions of detention, their rights to care, to be visited and to be able to communicate with the outside, and finally the right to be able to continue their education without hindrance.

                                           Demonstration at World Social Forum - Tunisia


These Maoist comrades were recently joined in their action by other political prisoners who also started an indefinite hunger strike and this resistance movement is growing day by day in several prisons of Morocco. This movement thus provides for the moment:- Abdul Wahab Alramadi and Munir Ashibha of Fez in prison- Zakaria Raakass prison of Kenitra- Mimoun Aznaï prison of Oujda-

To these activists struggle also add the struggle of the Saharawi students in Marrakech also on indefinite hunger strike.

It is also important to recall the commitment of 11 other political prisoners from Fes prison went on strike this week of hunger and five other inmates of the prison Meknes them have fasted for 48 hours .

These activists have already begun several hunger strikes; they have been repeatedly hospitalized for their resistance actions and because of this long process of struggle, their health has been debilitated.

Thus, 31.3.2015, Comrade Redouan Alaadimi lost consciousness and had to be evacuated to the hospital. Finally, after several days, he was taken back to the cell, but still in critical condition.

Also recall that Comrade Alaa Derbali had also lost consciousness on 27/03/2015 and has been transported to the hospital several times in a worrying state.

As for Aziz Elkhelfaoui, he lost consciousness again and his health is rapidly deteriorating day by day. Today the situation is for them more catastrophic and we can expect the worst.

Despite this, the reactionary regime continues to ignore the demands of comrades over there and tries to kill them slowly, as has been the case for two dead militants detained Mustapha MEZIANI (died 13/08/2014) and Noureddine ABDELWAHAB (died 01.04.2014).

We denounce this hard systematic policy towards comrades and declare that the Moroccan government bears full responsibility for anything that may happen concerning them.

We also call on all democratic forces, progressive and revolutionary to take all necessary steps to inform people of the situation and to support or organize actions in concrete and practical solidarity to assert our  active claims of Maoist political prisoners and all revolutionary political prisoners in Morocco.

SOLIDARITY WITH OUR COMRADES IN UNLIMITED HUNGER STRIKE!

LONG LIVE THE STRUGGLE OF MOROCCAN PEOPLE!

LONG LIVE THE PEOPLES INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY! SMASH  REACTION, IMPERIALISM AND ALL ITS LACKEYS AND SUPPORT MOROCCAN PEOPLE!

marocresistance@gmail.com

Red Internationalist group for the defense of the revolutionary political

prisonerslecrirouge@gmail.com

Paris, 02/04/2015

RALLY TO SUPPORT MAOISTS

POLITICAL PRISONERS IN MOROCCO ON HUNGER STRIKE

Wednesday  April 8, 2015 OF A 18H 20H

BEFORE THE ARAB WORLD INSTITUTE

Rue des Fosses Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris - Metro JUSSIEU

 

Salute to  solidarity with Moroccan Comrades

 

See Also :

http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/morocco-our-comrades-unconscious.html

 

Wales : Leanne or Gwenllian ? Devolution dependence or Independence ? Time to speak for Wales

Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr pointed out that the 4th of April 2015 Home Rule Rally in Cardiff was backward looking and lacked the leadership or vision for a genuine struggle for social  and national liberation struggle of the Welsh People.

It was that middle of the road approach that Michael Sheen ridiculed that leads nowhere.

When they are to careful not to speak from their hearts sums up Plaid Cymru's the "Party of Power" not  the "Party of Protest" and their managed electability approach to politics..

Therefore when the Plaid Cymru  backed - Yes Campaign in Wales issued the call for Home Rule expressing the desire for Wales not to left behind - we wondered what had happened to the lessons of history.

 

As Marx said the tradition of all dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living.

It is a nightmare, it is the thinking of Plaid Cymru in the 21st Century repackaging the shoddy goods of the Home Rulers has something "new" terrified of calling for a Welsh Socialist Republic which would strike chord with the working class in Labour strongholds - terrified of calling for real Independence and striking a chord with its nationalist base and beyond.

Plaid Cymru defends the indefensible European Union has it demonstrates its brutal vindictiveness against the national and social rights of the Greek people - with the terrifying consequence of allowing the British Nationalist - United Kingdom Independence Party to ravage the Welsh heartlands rather then being kept the other side of Offa's Dyke.

 

Marx was right a nightmare weighing on the brains of the living.

 

The selection of the slogan for the rally of Welsh Home Rule reflects a deep flawed psychology and understanding of both the Welsh people and leadership.

Michael Sheen spoke for the authentic Wales of passion and belief and not the Wales of  blandness and obsequiousness.

Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas the leader of British "Privy Council" Loyalist wing of Plaid Cymru has recently said that Labour was more in contact with the people than Plaid Cymru  just timed as the general Election commenced to undermine Leanne Wood in his usual obsequious way.

This same man said in the British Houses of Parliament  about Wales that the "principality was created as a form of feudal devolution" and not annexation and there is no "independence project".

How long must Wales put up with the treachery of these Crachhach who not only continually falsify Welsh History but who also falsify the present and  undermine the current struggle for national and social liberation.

Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr constructively criticise Leanne Wood the  Plaid Cymru leader because we want her to be Gwenllian and lead with passion for Welsh Independence.

Speaking at the "shed" is a metaphor for the "Welsh" Home Rulers.

Wales  needs it own House - the Senedd Glyndwr

It needs it own Land - Wales

Reclaimed after several hundred years of abuse.

Forward to the National  and  Social Liberation of Wales

Build the Welsh Socialist Republican Congress

Build a House for our Nation  the Senedd Glyndwr.....

India : Copies of the land-grab ordinance to be burnt in protest across India on April 6, 2015

New Delhi, April 2: In continuation of the joint movement against the draconian Land Acquisition Bill-2015, the core groups involved with the organisation of the massive protest demonstration at Parliament Street on 24th February, 2015 met in Delhi on 2nd April, 2015 to discuss the way forward.

The Strategy Meeting decided to launch united protests with massive participation in all States. Various protest actions have been planned by different unions and people’s organisations in their respective areas and at the State-level to amplify protest against the Bill/Ordinance. All people’s organisations and unions protesting against the ordinance will undertake a signature campaign against the ordinance aiming to collect 5 crore signatures. A Massive Bhoo Adhikar Sangharsh Rally will be held on 5th May, 2015 at Delhi.

A Meeting with political parties was also held in which Jairam Ramesh (Indian National Congress), Sitaram Yechury (Communist Party of India (Marxist), D.Raja (Communist Party of India), K.C.Tyagi (Janata Dal-United), Debabrata Biswas (All India Forward Bloc), Abani Roy (Revolutionary Socialist Party), Danish Ali (Janata Dal-Secular), Manoj Jha (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Kavita Krishnan (Communist Party of India (ML) Liberation) and Satyavan (SUCI(C)) expressed solidarity with the struggle against the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill/Ordinance. They said we will not allow this Bill to be passed in the Rajya Sabha, we will struggle inside the Parliament and join hands with movements struggle outside on the street, together we can defeat this design of NDA government.

A comprehensive strategy with the immediate aim of mounting a robust opposition against the new Land Acquisition Bill as well as to move towards the long term objective of achieving land rights for all was arrived at. Farmers’ unions, people’s movements and political parties from across the country have come together to form a strong opposition force against this historic challenge, and pressure is mounting on the current government from both inside and outside the Parliament.

Medha Patkar (NAPM), Hannan Mollah (AIKS, 36 Canning Lane), Ragib Asim (AIKS, Ajay Bhavan), Dr.Sunilam (Kisan Sangharsh Samiti), Suneet Chopra (AIAWU), Ashok Choudhary and Roma (AIUFWP), Dayamani Barla, Virendra Vidrohi (INSAF), Rakesh Rafiq (Yuva Kranti), Ulka Mahajan (Sarvahara Jan Andolan), Smita Gupta (Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch) and others representing various mass organisations and people’s movements spoke on the occasion and stressed the need for united struggles until victory.

A Resolution was passed demanding that the widespread crop loss due to unseasonal rains and the floods in Jammu and Kashmir be declared as a National calamity and made specific demands (Resolution attached). Another Resolution expressing solidarity with the indigenous People in Australia who have risen in protest against the move of Adani to take-over their land for coal mining.
Decisions:

• The collective Movement will be known as Bhoomi Adhikar Sangharsh Andolan/ Movement for Land Rights.
• Land Acquisition Ordinance once promulgated, as decided by NDA government, will be burnt across the country on 6th April.
• Bhoomi Adhikaar Sangharsh Rally in Delhi on Parliament Street on 5th May, 2015.
  State-Level Conventions, Mass Mobilisation, Padayatras, Rail Roko, Rasta Roko and Human Chains in all States and Districts.
• 5 crore signatures will be collected across the country.
• Zameen Wapsi campaign to be undertaken across the country by movements.
• State Level mobilisation against the Land Ordinance : April 9 : Vijaywada, Bhubaneshwar – April 10th, Patna 11th April

All India Kisan Sabha (36 Canning Lane),
All India Kisan Sabha (Ajay Bhavan)
National Alliance of People’s Movement
All India Union for Forest Working People
Kisan Sangharsh Samiti
INSAF
All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (36, Canning Lane)
Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union (Ajay Bhavan)
All India Krishak Khet Mazdoor Sanghatan
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Harpal Singh)
Delhi Solidarity Group
Yuva Kranti
Sarvahara Jan Andolan And many other Organisations
Contact : 9818905316, 9958797409, 9911528696, 9818864006

 

RESOLUTION

Farmers Suffer Unprecedented Crop Loss; Declare It A National Calamity
 
Unseasonal rains and hailstorm across the country has led to unprecedented losses and rural India is in acute distress. The peasantry across the country are in acute distress and a spurt in farm suicides in many States is being reported even as the Government continues to be in a denial mode.

The Agriculture Ministry’s conservative estimates initially reported that crops were destroyed in about 1.81 crore hectares of land across 13 States. The trail of destruction is unprecedented when one considers the fact that the total area under rabi cultivation is around 6 crore hectares. In effect around one-third of the total area under rabi cultivation has been affected.

Two days after the Agriculture Minister reported that crops were damaged in 1.81 crore hectares, the Central Government has reduced 75 lakh hectares and presented a “revised” data charging the States with over-estimation and deliberate over-reporting. What greater insensitivity can be displayed in times of such a national calamity? The magnitude of the crisis is far beyond whatever the Government is claiming as it does not take into account many States.

The reality is that the Government figures do not include crop losses in States like Bihar, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Odisha, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Assam and other North-Eastern States due to the unseasonal rains which are continuing and expected to continue till early April. Jammu and Kashmir has been hit by another round of floods with widespread destruction and loss of lives. The BJP Government is clearly downplaying the magnitude of the destruction.

This Meeting of Peasants, Agricultural Workers, Mass Organisations, Trade Unions and People’s Movements demands:

• The Central Government must immediately declare the unprecedented crop loss across the country and floods in Jammu and Kashmir a National Calamity and announce a Relief Package taking full responsibility.
• A Special Session of Parliament, State Chief Ministers Meet, Meeting of Peasant and Agricultural Workers’ Organisations must be convened to discuss the Emergency situation.
• Joint Monitoring Group must be formed to monitor the Relief and Rehabilitation.
• Waive All Loans of the Peasantry and ensure Crop Insurance Payment taking account of losses in each field.
• Provide time-bound Compensation for Peasants and Share-Croppers covering Cost of Production, Yield and Income Loss (Not less than Twice the Cost of Production).
• Provide Compensation for Agricultural Workers equivalent to the prevalent Minimum Wages for 3 Months.
  Ensure employment under MGNREGA and supply free food grains to all affected families for the next 3 months.
• Provide Inputs for the next season Free of Cost making Input providers and Insurance Companies contribute to a Special Corpus Fund.
• Waive Electricity Bills of Farmers, Share-croppers and Agricultural Workers

All India Kisan Sabha (36 Canning Lane),
All India Kisan Sabha (Ajay Bhavan)
National Alliance of People’s Movement
All India Union for Forest Working People
Kisan Sangharsh Samiti
INSAF
All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (36, Canning Lane)
Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union (Ajay Bhavan)
All India Krishak Khet Mazdoor Sanghatan
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Harpal Singh)
Delhi Solidarity Group
Yuva Kranti
Sarvahara Jan Andolan And many other Organisations
Contact : 9818905316, 9958797409, 9911528696, 9818864006

SOURCE:
http://www.indiaresists.com/copies-of-the-land-grab-ordinance-to-be-burnt-in-protest-across-india-on-april-6-2015/

India: Punjab - Irate over Centre’s policies, farmers stage sit-ins

Irate over Centre’s policies, farmers stage sit-ins Irate over Centre’s policies, farmers stage sit-ins
Farmers and activists of the BKU during a protest against the Centre at Moga on Wednesday.

Wait for relief to stretch on

Muktsar farmers who suffered losses due to rain last year will have to wait for more time to get compensation for their losses.

The Finance Department has not cleared the bills and the Rs 28 crore sanctioned by the Financial Commissioner have lapsed with the end of 2014-15.

The officials concerned repeatedly reminded the authorities concerned to clear the bills, but to no avail.

Similarly, Rs 6 crore was sanctioned for farmers affected by waterlogging over the past three cropping seasons. That grant also lapsed .

An administration official said about Rs 22.8 crore of the sanctioned amount of Rs 28 crore was meant for extending compensation for crop loss.

“We will have to put up the case again. It may even take two months or more.”

Moga, April 1 Seventeen farmers and farm labour bodies under the banner of BKU (Ekta) staged dharnas in all districts of the Malwa belt today to protest the Centre’s new Land Acquisition Ordinance and to press for their demands.

Seeking withdrawal of this ordinance, the BKU leaders threatened to intensify their struggle and launch a statewide stir in support of their demands if their demands were not met.

The protests were held at Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa and other districts of the Malwa belt.

BKU (Ekta) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokari said the farmer organisations had decided to intensify their struggle against the decisions of the Union Government regarding the acquisition of their productive land.

They also announced that agitation would be carried out across the state if the Food Corporation of India took any decision to stop the purchase of wheat in the state. They also demanded minimum support price for all crops on the pattern of wheat and paddy.

Kokari demanded a compensation of Rs5 lakh each to the families of farmer who had committed suicide due to debt and also demanded employment to the kin of the deceased.

Fazilka: A large number of farmers under the banner of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) and Krantikari, Kisan Sabha and Punjab Palledar Union held a district level demonstration outside the office of Deputy Commissioner, Fazilka, to oppose the land acquisition Bill proposed by the Union Government.

They accused the government of overlooking their interests. They demanded that not only the MSP of different crops should be continued, but all crops should be brought under this category.

Sangrur: Hundreds of activists of various farmers’ and labourers’ organisations staged a dharna and a rally outside the district administrative complex (DC office) here today. They were protesting against the non-acceptance of their long-standing demands. They also submitted a memorandum to the SDM.
The BKU (Ugrahan), BKU (Dakonda), Punjab Kisan Union (PKU), Zamhoori Kisan Sabha (ZKS), Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union (KPMU) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union (PKMU) took part in the protest.

State president of the BKU (Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan said many demands of farmers and labourers had not been fulfilled. Some of these had already been accepted by the government, but not implemented so far. He said if the government failed in implementing these even now, farmers and labourers would be compelled to intensify their agitation.

Tarn Taran: A deputation of the Kisan Sangarash Committee presented a memorandum to the deputy commissioner demanding compensation for the damaged crops due to unprecedented rain and hailstorm in the area. Sawinder Singh Chutala, state general secretary, said a huge loss had been caused to the crops especially to the wheat and vegetable crops. A special girdawari should be conducted to know the exact loss cause to the crops, he said.

Agitation against land acquisition Bill gains momentum, may spread across the state
Protests were held at Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa and other districts of Malwa BKU (Ekta) chief Joginder Ugrahan said they would intensify their stir against the acquisition of their productive land He said the agitation would be held across the state if the FCI stopped the purchase of wheat in the state The activists sought a relief of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each farmer who had committed suicide due to debt

 

 

 

Bathinda, March 18

 

Hundreds of labourers, under the banner of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, today staged a protest against the state government for not providing them the possession of plots, which were allotted a couple of years ago.

The protesters claimed, that in 2007, the SAD-BJP government had given possession of 165 plots to labourers in five villages.In other 42 villages, the government had failed to provide the possession of the plots allotted a couple of years ago.

It’s pertinent to mention here that since 1992, a number of labourers were allotted the plots under the five marla plot scheme. The government claimed that since 1992, one lakh labourers had been allotted the plots, out of which 85 per cent were given the possession.

The Punjab Khet Mazdur Union has been demanding the possession of plots to the remaining labourers.

In Februaray, 2014, before the Lok Sabha elections, labourers had staged a protest here demanding the possession of the plots, following which the state government agreed to their demand and issued a letter mentioning that they would get the possession of plots within a week.

The protesters demanded that the grants should be issued to construct houses. On Wednesday, hundreds of labourers staged a protest near the Children’s Park here and demanded the possession of plots.

Jora Singh Nasrali, president Bathinda district, Punjab Khet Mazdur Union, said, “The government has failed on every step and only pretends to be pro-poor. Both the Centre and the state governments have adopted anti-labour policies. Since 1992, labourers have been allotted around one lakh plots, whereas the government has failed to provide them the possession. Since attaining power in 2007, the SAD-BJP had allotted possession of plots to only 165 labourers.”

“There are hundreds of labourers who have not been allotted the plots under the scheme and a survey should be conducted to include those who did not get the plots. We have the letter mentioning that labourers should be given possession within a week. More than one year has passed but the government has failed to fulfill its promise” Jora Singh added.

“In around 42 villages of the Bathinda district, hundreds of laboueres have been awaiting the possession of the plots. We will intensify our stir, in case the government fails to fulfill our demands,” Jora said.

 

 

Philly’s Native Son Lives! They can’t Silence our Movement from Serve the People Philadelphia

 

  On Monday, March 30th, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections came close to murdering Political Prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. On that day Mumia was transferred from SCI Mahanoy to the Schuylkill Medical Center, suffering from diabetic shock. Mumia’s condition was the direct result of a denial of proper medical care to him over an extended period of time. Only Mumia’s strength, and that of his supporters allowed him to live through that day and those that have followed.   

 

   Had the Pennsylvania’s DOC been successful in it’s endeavor to forever silence Mumia, it would have dealt a serious blow to the movement for revolution in the USA. For over 40 years Mumia’s journalism has shone a light on the crimes of the capitalist state, it’s armed enforcers and its prison industrial complex. 

 

   With the above in mind, it is perhaps ironic that the commonwealth tried to silence Mumia twice in one day. In addition to Mumia’s near death experience, March 30th also saw a hearing in federal court to uphold the Revictimization Relief Act. The RRA, also know as the “Mumia Silencing Law” was signed into law by outgoing Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett on October 21st, 2014, after being rushed through the PA legislature. This law prevents prisoners in the PA prison system from issuing written or recorded statements such as articles or speeches, provided that these statements are construed to be causing the victim of their crimes emotional distress. 

 

  Let us be clear on one thing. Mumia Abu-Jamal is an innocent man. His trial was a farce and we support the immediate release of Mumia. Additionally, there is no question of Mumia causing the victim’s family distress, since he was not the one who shot and killed PPO Daniel Faulkner in December of 1981.

 

   The above being said, on March 30th, U.S. Middle District Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner heard oral arguments from lawyers representing both the commonwealth and a number of PA inmates, including and especially Mumia. The hearing was held in PA state capitol in Harrisburg, and we in Serve the People-PHL were among the supporters observing the hearing in person.

 

   The attorneys representing Mumia and his fellow inmates more than competently exposed the nature of the law. The RRA is a blatant violation of Mumia and his fellow inmates 1st Amendment rights, they argued. The commonwealth’s attorney made the absurd claim that Mumia’s writing’s and recorded commentaries constituted an “action” against Maureen Faulkner. In a sickening and desperate ploy to play on the emotions of Chief Judge Conner, the commonwealth’s attorney argued that an inmate who publishes an article or records a commentary that is read or viewed publicly is akin to a rapist calling their victim from prison to have a chat. Dwell on that for a moment and try not to vomit. There was no depth to which the attorney’s defending the RRA would not sink. Even Chief Judge Conner wasn’t buying this shit. 

 

   More than this, the commonwealth’s representative attempted to set a dangerous precedent. She argued that the RRA’s statues were applicable to a defendant in court proceeding who is awaiting trial. Think about that. Even if you have not been convicted of a crime you are still prevented from making public statements. Were the RRA to be interpreted and enforced in this way it would remove the fig leaf of due process in the US legal system. Defendants awaiting trial would not be able to proclaim their innocence publicly, leaving it to the DA’s office to control the narrative. Again, even the judge had a hard time swallowing this pill, perhaps because not even he could allow the PA legal system to be that blatantly fascist in it’s execution of “justice”. 

 

  The proceedings lasted for a little over an hour, with Chief Judge Conner to issue his ruling by the end of April. We in Serve the People-PHL need not wait that long. The RRA is an overt attempt to silence the voices of Pennsylvania’s inmate population, and in particular the law’s intended target, Mumia Abu-Jamal. Since Mumia’s days as the Minister of Information for the Philly Chapter of the Black Panther Party the commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been trying in vain to silence Mumia. They couldn’t do it with violence or with a frame up complete with a mock trial and a death sentence. They won’t silence him with the RRA. Mumia is fearless, a fact he has proven time and again throughout the course of his career, speaking for those who have no voice. 

 

   We in STP-PHL demand that the RRA be immediately overturned and that Mumia Abu-Jamal receive any and all medical treatment necessary for a full recovery from his present medical crisis, including and especially preventive care upon his return to SCI Mahanoy. 

 

 

Overturn the RRA Immediately!

 

Freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal and All Political Prisoners!

 

 

 SOURCE:  https://servethepeoplephilly.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/phillys-native-son-lives-they-cant-silence-our-movement/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morocco : Our comrades unconscious - Democracy and Class Struggle calls for unconditional release of Political Prisoners and full solidarity with hunger strikers

                                                                   
                                                     Our Comrades on Hunger Strike


Report from Moroccan Comrades

The health status of political prisoners entered their ninth day of their indefinite hunger strike has deteriorated severely.

So, this morning, Comrade redouan Alaadimi lost consciousness and had to be evacuated to the hospital.

Finally, after several days, he was taken back to the cell, but still in critical condition.

Recall also that Comrade Alaa Derbali has also lost consciousness last Friday, 03/27/2015 and has been transported several times in the hospital and his condition did not improve.

As for Aziz Elkhelfaoui, he lost consciousness again and his health is rapidly deteriorating day by day.

Despite this catastrophic situation, the management of the prison continues to ignore the demands of the comrades and tightens the noose around them to get them to give up their fight.

But the comrades remain determined and continue their heroic resistance to defend their just and legitimate rights.

Let us recall that the group Elkhelfaoui Aziz began his indefinite hunger strike since Monday, 23/03/2015 to make  a significant number of claims indicated in their statement of 03.21.2015.

Unconditional release of these political prisoners and full solidarity with the hunger strikers.

SEE A:LSO: http://www.vdbunem.ml/2015/03/blog-post_31.html

Free Mumia Abu Jamal Now ! Family given access to Mumia

Mumia Abu-Jamal, one of the world’s most prominent and celebrated political prisoners, is reportedly in a diabetic coma and in intensive care at the Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, PA.

According to emails from his contingent of supporters, Abu-Jamal was taken to the hospital facility on Monday "Shackled to the bed, alone, and prevented from knowing that his family is close by he remains in intensive care. Prison officials and hospital officials when not spreading misinformation are denying Mumia's family access to visits, while also denying the family and his lawyers any information or records about his condition."

His brother, Keith Cook stated "The rules that the prisons have are very arcane. They don’t give out any information about prisoners to their families or anyone else. It’s like you have your hands tied because you don’t know how the prisoner is and you have no way of talking to him. I remember a month ago--- Phil Africa exercising in the prison, next thing they know they moved him to a hospital and didn’t tell his family where he was, and three days later he was dead."

As of Tuesday morning, the family has been given access to see Abu-Jamal who has been incarcerated since 1982 for the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. Long the subject of countless rallies and demonstrations with protesters, like him, proclaiming his innocence, he spent years on death row before being removed three years ago and now serving a life sentence.

Veteran activist and a close associate of Abu-Jamal, Pam Africa was outraged by the treatment and conditions he was enduring. "Prison officials are lying," she said. "Mumia is going through torture at the hands of the Department of Corrections through medical neglect. It is clear to people that they want to kill Mumia. They gave him the wrong medication which made his condition worse.

"Inmates on the inside who questioned what was happening have been subjected to direct retaliation by the superintendent," Africa continued. "They have been moving concerned inmates out of Mumia’s unit in an effort to both bury and keep this critical information from the public."

Ms. Africa was unable to talk extensively when called since she was at the hospital and at a press conference with an aim toward dealing with prison officials.

And dealing with officials of the state, those directly linked to repression and oppression is something Abu-Jamal has a long acquaintance and a relentless resistance. "Armed resistance to slavery, repression, and the racist delusion of white supremacy runs deep in African American experience and history," he wrote in his book We Want Freedom—A Life in the Black Panther Party. "When it emerged in the mid-1960s from the Black Panther Party and other nationalist or revolutionary organizations, it was perceived and popularly projected as aberrant. This could only be professed by those who know little about the long and protracted history of armed resistance by Africans and their truest allies. The Black Panther Party emerged from the deepest traditions of Africans in America—resistance to negative, negrophobia, dangerous threats to Black life, by any means necessary."

Another stalwart in the liberation fight for Abu-Jamal is Professor Johanna Fernandez who cited that "Mumia has been complaining about being ill since January. If he had gotten the proper care he needed originally, he would not be in this situation. This crisis illustrates the problem of health care in American prisons as a basic human rights violation. I am personally concerned because Phil Africa of the MOVE organization was rushed to the hospital not long ago in good health and a few days later he was dead. We need to fight to defend Mumia’s life, and that of all prisoners."

Source : http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2015/mar/31/mumia-abu-jamal-family-permitted-see-him-hospital/