No to All Attempts to Justify War against Iraq!

Workers' Daily Internet Edition : Article Index :

No to All Attempts to Justify War against Iraq!

Raid on DHKC London Bureau

Hackney Council Unjustly Suspends Three Unison Branch Officials

Portuguese Workers Strike against New Work Laws

In an interview in the Financial Times on Monday the Prime Minister once again signalled the readiness of the British government to go to war against Iraq.

The interview was given in the wake of attempts by the government to provide new justification for its warmongering actions against Iraq by releasing a dossier of what were referred to as "human rights abuses" by Saddam Hussein’s government. This was in addition to the earlier government dossier on "weapons of mass destruction" which it alleged were to be found in Iraq. The fact is that the government is seeking any excuse it can in order to provide a justification for invasion and "regime change" in Iraq, one day putting more emphasis on Iraq’s alleged possession and manufacture of weapons of mass destruction, and the next suggesting that the government of Iraq must be overthrown because of its treatment of its own citizens.

In his interview, the Prime Minister made much of his determination to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which he claimed is "one of the biggest threats that the world faces". According to Tony Blair’s view this is a particular problem at the present time because of the danger of such weapons passing from so-called "rogue states" to "failed or failing states" or into the hands of "terrorist groups". But the greatest stockpilers and traffickers of such weapons are the big powers themselves, particularly the US and Britain, and the greatest threat of terrorism in the world stems from the state terrorism of these same big powers and their proxies throughout the world, such as the Israeli Zionists. Indeed the British government openly acts as the agent of some of the biggest arms manufacturers in Britain, such as BAE Systems, while openly colluding in arms sales which destabilise entire regions of the world, as has occurred in Africa.

Another part of this attempt at justification is what Tony Blair referred to as "the UN route", in other words the manipulation of the UN Security Council in the interests of Anglo-US imperialism. The inference that could be drawn from the Prime Minister’s comments was that "the UN route" was simply "a deal", a means to an end, a justification for military invasion rather than the means to prevent the use of force in international relations.

As for the recent UN Security Council resolution on Iraq, Tony Blair interpreted this to mean that Britain and the US were entitled to invade Iraq should they decide that it had been breached. He did not see the necessity of securing a further Security Council resolution and only accepted that "we would go back for a discussion…then we are prepared to take action".

In this way the Prime Minister signals the fact that Britain, in alliance with the US, intends to take the law into its own hands at the earliest opportunity. It will continue to manipulate or ignore the UN as it see fit and will continue to act according to the medieval dictum that "might is right". Not in order to defend human rights or prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction but in order to impose the Anglo-American "New World Order" of neo-liberal globalisation.

WDIE has been informed by People Against the Terrorism Act (PATA) that at 05.30 on the morning of December 11, police raided the London Information Bureau of the DHKC (Turkish Peoples' Liberation Front). Two people were arrested. At least one of them is being held at Paddington green.

PATA have requested information about the detainees, and are awaiting a call back from Special Branch.

At approximately 07.00, the police made seven arrests. PATA reports that it is unknown where the other arrests occurred but it is likely that people were picked up at their home addresses.

Specialist firms of solicitors who can deal with the anti-democratic provisions of the Terrorism Act are representing the majority of the detainees. However, at least one of the detainees had his fingerprints, photograph and DNA taken prior to seeing a solicitor, being interrogated or charged with any offence.

One of the detainees has been arrested on suspicion of offences under sections 11, 12 and 15 of the Terrorism Act 2000, i.e., membership of a proscribed (illegal) organisation, support of a proscribed organisation and raising finances for the purposes of terrorism. It is unclear what the other six have been arrested for.

WDIE joins with PATA and other democratic forces in demanding the immediate release of these detainees, and all others imprisoned under the Terrorism Act 2000 and interned under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

We join with them in demanding the repeal of these unjust laws, and an end to the racist and divisive legislation, policies, and rhetoric from the British state.

At 3.30 pm on Wednesday, December 11, Hackney council suspended the Unison joint branch secretaries, Brian Debus and Will Leng. The Council has indicated that it is also their intention to suspend John Page, Unison's joint Equalities Officer.

They are all facing dismissal for allegations of gross misconduct. They are held by the Council to be responsible for the production of a draft Unison report into racism in Hackney Council. The report, which was due to be submitted in its final form to the Commission for Racial Equality, called for tougher enforcement of the CRE's Non-Discrimination Notice, which was served on the employer after a previous report by the union branch.

Hackney branch of Unison reports that out of courtesy the branch provided a draft of the report to the employer, in advance of its completion, to allow the council to respond to the concerns contained within it.

Hackney Council is the only employer in the country to have twice been served with a non discrimination notice by the Commission for Racial Equality, the Hackney branch reports. The most recent notice was served in December 2000, after Hackney Unison, in consultation with its Black Members Group, drafted a report on racist malpractice within the council. Unison was then threatened with legal action by the council.

Officers and staff of Hackney Action for Racial Equality were present at a Unison Black Workers Group meeting on Friday and have offered support.

There will be a public organising meeting, which has been organised by the local Trades Council, at Marcon Community Hall on Amhurst Road (junction with Marcon Court) on Monday, December 16, at 7.30pm.

A general strike took place yesterday in Portugal, the first since 1988, after some state workers have taken action in recent months. The protest arose from opposition to the new Labour Code proposed by the government, in order to increase the productivity among Portuguese workers.

Some state services, industries and schools have been paralysed. The transport sector appeared to have the highest number of participants.

CGTP, the trade union that called the strike, says that the new code benefits big corporations and will increase unemployment, especially among young people. On of the most criticised points is the extension of the temporary contracts period.

"The new Code is a source of conflicts and social instability," the union’s general secretary, Carvalho da Silva, said. He added that the strike should make the government think about changing the law.

The government, on the other hand, has tried to focus the discussion on the issue of low productivity, offering up the new code as a part of the solution. "I will go on governing without driving away one millimetre from the line this government has drawn. Portugal needs this reform of the labour laws in order to be more competitive," the Prime Minister, Durão Barroso, said.

Figures are being put forward that suggest that productive in Portugal is the lowest of the EU and the government is said to be concerned that after the 2004 enlargement, Portugal may not be able to compete with the then newly entered Eastern countries. The issue that is being raised is that of cheap labour power, which had otherwise been an advantage to Portugal in the European markets in the last two decades.

The government is now suggesting that to be more competitive the levels of productivity of the Portuguese workers must be stepped up. In this context, the Portuguese government has presented these new work laws. In addition the government has recently announced a number changes in the education system.

Economists have been proposing new measures based on the neo-liberal agenda: innovation, organisation, low taxes for companies, less bureaucracy and education geared to the capitalists’ needs.