In a referendum with a high turnout on May 11, the vast majority of voters supported the creation of an independent Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republic. Both from the media and from our friends living in the DNR and LC, we know of the great enthusiasm and active participation of the population in the referendum.
There is no doubt that the desire for separation is not due to the
Borotba – Ukraine
Democracy and Class Struggle is concerned at the co-ordinated attacks on Borotba and deliberate misinformation orchestrated from Kiev by disgraceful Maidan Leftists of which the latest statement from Searchlight is a recent example.
We respectfully suggest Searchlight’s attention to be drawn to the real frauds on the Left in Ukraine like Zakhar Popovych and
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| After Delhi Police demolished tents at the dharna site |
Military Big Brother Stinks of Fascism
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
The military junta is waging a psychological war against pro-democracy activists. Soldiers have raided the homes of prominent red shirts, community radio broadcasters and other pro-democracy activists. Many have been arrested.
At least one woman was forced into a taxi by 4 plain-clothed police or soldiers who refused to identify themselves. Luckily she has now been freed from military detention.
Since the coup progressive academics, redshirt activists and investigative journalists have been summoned to report to army offices. Most have been temporarily detained without charge in military camps outside Bangkok before eventually being released.
None of those who have been summoned or arrested or those who have had their houses searched by armed soldiers has committed any crime. Meanwhile Sutep’s Democrat Party gang, who used violence on the streets and openly carried weapons to intimidate voters, have been allowed to go free. There are no summonses for all those academics and activists who stood against democracy. Military repression is directly only against red shirts and other pro-democracy activists.
People who have been through the process of being summoned and temporarily interned by the military have talked about their experiences. They are interrogated by many army officers who report back about peoples’ attitudes to Army HQ every day. The military has compiled files of all their activities, writings, speeches and internet posts.
Before people are released they are asked to sign a document stating that they were “well treated” and that they will refrain from any further political activities, speeches or writings. People are not given the choice of whether or not to sign because any refusal will mean facing a military court and then prison. Soldiers tell them that this is a “yellow card” warning. Any further activity will result in immediate imprisonment.
When released, many people are told that they have been assigned an army officer to monitor their behaviour. Some receive telephone calls reminding them of this.
Some detainees are “set-up” with Lèse-majesté charges and now face years in prison.
The junta is clearly trying to spread fear in society in order to destroy the democracy movement. Fear often leads to paralysis. People who have not been summoned or detained wonder when they will be next.
This is the first time since 1976 when Thais will have to wage an underground struggle against the junta. This struggle will have to be based on the mass movement, not on armed struggle. The junta isn’t a fully developed fascist regime, as in Germany or Italy, but it stinks a little of fascism.
While in a military detention camp, one experienced activist told his comrade that “we aren’t dogs that howl and whine when we get locked in a cage, we must not show the soldiers any weakness”. Many intellectuals have been brave enough to argue with their captors about the illegitimate coup.
We must overcome the fear and strike back in this war for democracy. The way to overcome fear, or at least to manage it and avoid paralysis, is for people to meet quietly together every day in small groups so that they can analyse the situation and discuss strategy and tactics. These groups need to carefully link up with other groups. Actions against the junta will necessarily be “symbolic” in the early stages, but more powerful activities like strikes, protests and civil disobedience need to be planned. This will be a long drawn out struggle, but the enemies of the people are a minority and they do not have a future; they can only hark back to the past.
Filed under: Thai politics Tagged: a coup d’état, detentions, military, Thai politics 
By Karthick Rm “In a besieged fortress, all dissidence is treason.” -St. Ignatius of Loyola Ever since Lyotard famously described the postmodern condition as “incredulity towards metanarratives”, it has become fashion in the academia to obsess over micronarratives and particularities. The endless discussions over race, gender, sexuality are considered “subversive” while debates on universality, questions […]
Sean O’Torrain
Just when you think it could not get any worse another crime of the Catholic church is exposed in Ireland. This time it is the bodies of 800 little children in a septic tank. They were thrown there when they died of malnutrition and disease which resulted from them being neglected by the Catholic church which ran the home in which they were held. They were held there and neglected because their mothers were not married, that is their mothers had not gone through the ritual and garbage that the Catholic church says they have to to be able to have sex. You have to really think about this.
The unelected dictatorship which runs the 1.1 billion Catholic church is all men. Women are banned from the top positions. They are inferior according to the Catholic hierarchy. The Catholic church is the main church of capitalism. It worked with and helped US imperialism to organize the so-called dirty wars in Latin America where tens of thousands including its own left wing the liberation theologists were murdered and slaughtered. It worked with US imperialism to see that when Stalinism fell it was replaced with capitalism and not democratic socialism. US imperialism and the Catholic church are responsible for the wars and mass poverty that has resulted from the collapse of Stalinism. The last pope was a former member of the Hitler youth. This pope was a collaborator with US imperialism in the dirty wars. This is a monstrous organization.
Back to Ireland. The Catholic Hierarchy are responsible for this mass killing of these children. But they are not the only culprits. The Irish capitalist class were too weak to lead the struggle for independence in Ireland. (See Trotsky’s Theory of the Permanent Revolution.) The counter revolution that followed the war of independence left capitalism in place but very weak. They needed allies. They looked for and found one in the Catholic hierarchy. The dirty deal was done. The Catholic hierarchy could have the schools (centers of propaganda), the hospitals and a veto over all major legislation, especially social legislation, and could dictate the “morals” of the people. I never heard of James Joyce until I emigrated from Ireland when I was 20 and a young man from Quebec told me about him.
But to get back on track. The Catholic hierarchy and the Irish capitalist class are both responsible for throwing these little children into this septic tank. The horror of it is unbelievable. And now some full time organizer of the Catholic church, they call themselves priests to better intimidate people, says the children were only “resting.” I do not believe it is a good idea to support the capitalist state to ban any organization as it can then use this ban to justify banning workers organizations. But if there was ever a case to ban an organization there would be to ban the Catholic church in Ireland.
But I do not call for this instead I call for all members of that church to leave it and never participate in any activity it is involved with. I cannot see how any decent, any intelligent person can belong to that organization. It is utterly corrupt, utterly anti-democratic and utterly anti-women. I cannot for the life of me see how people who say they are against capitalism and imperialism, how people who say they are Republicans can belong to the Catholic church.
The Catholic church has a massive structure of wealth and resources. It has tens and tens of thousands of full time organizers, they call them priests, nuns, bishops, cardinals, popes, this is again to intimidate and impress, these people are full time organizers for a dictatorial capitalist organization. So how can people who say they are against the system, get named, get married, get buried by these people, by this organization. It only gives this organization greater authority and control. I see the Republicans in Ireland attending the Catholic church and I am astounded at the reactionary role this plays.
In the North of Ireland we have the Paisleys and the Protestant organizations. They are just as bad only they did not get their hands on as much undiluted power. But they have been able to justify every wrong they have done by pointing to the role of the Catholic church in the South and internationally. Imagine what Paisley and co will be saying now about the 800 children in the septic tank in Tuam. And the Catholic population, their leaders, such as Gerry Adams and the rest of them will not have a word to say.
Join the Demonstration in Hyde Park, London on Sunday 8th June 2014 – 12:00 h
Condemn Indian Army’s ‘Operation Blue Star’ 1984
Mark the 30th Anniversary of Sikh Genocide
Demand justice for the people of Punjab and rest of India
Abolish Death Penalty; Release all Political Prisoners
Punjab under seige – Delhi’s undeclared War on Sikhs
On 6 June 1984, tanks, mortars, missiles
Released by Concerned Citizens TO FREE SPEECH AND EXPRESSION I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~Voltaire No democracy can claim to be one, unless freedom of speech and expression are guaranteed by statute and where the state machinery works to ensure […]
A study of Ukip’s rise yields surprising facts about the party’s followers, says Daphne Halikiopoulou.
Published on the eve of the European Union elections, Revolt on the Right is a highly topical account of what the authors term “one of the most successful challenges to the established political parties in modern Britain”.
Robert Ford and Matthew Goodwin follow the UK Independence Party
The meeting of the Delhi University Committee Against Police Repression DUPR organized the convention Democracy and dissent: Understanding the Abduction and Arrest of Saibaba with the solidarity of several individuals and institutions. At the meeting speakers like Dr Aparna (CPI(ML), New Democracy), Justice Sahai (PUCL), Prateek Bombade (Senior Advocate, SC) Seema Azad (Editor, Dastak), Majeet […]
