Two Earthquakes
A strong 8.9 on the scale earthquake shook Japan today. The most worrying is that early news reports were talking about thousands dead and missing, figures really unheard of in a developed country where all constructions are quake-proof. They were even talking about a nuclear reactor that was out of control. Hours later, it was informed that four nuclear plants close to the most affected area were under control. There was also information about a tsunami 10 metres high that had the entire Pacific area on tidal wave alert.
The earthquake originated at a depth of 24.4 kilometres and 100 kilometres from the coast. Had it happened at a lesser depth and distance, the consequences would have been more serious.
There was a shift in the earth’s axis. It was the third phenomenon of great intensity occurring in less than two years: Haiti, Chile and Japan. Man cannot be blamed for such tragedies. Every country, surely, will do everything it can to help the hard-working people who were the first to suffer an unnecessary and inhuman nuclear attack.
According to Spain’s Official College of Geologists, the energy released by the earthquake is equivalent to 200 million tons of dynamite.
The most recent information, from AFP, states that the Japanese electric Company, Tokyo Electric Power, informed that according to government instructions, they had released some of the vapour containing radioactive substances…
“We are following the situation. Until the present there is no problem…”
“They also indicated that there were breakdowns related to the cooling of three reactors in a second nearby plant, Fukushima 2.
“The government ordered the evacuation of surrounding areas for a radius of 10 km in the case of the first plant and 3 km in the case of the second one.”
Another earthquake, a political one and potentially more serious, is the one taking place around Libya, and it affects every country, one way or the other.
The drama that country is living through is in full swing and its outcome is still uncertain.
A great hubbub broke out yesterday in the US Senate when James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, stated before the Armed Services Committee that he didn’t believe Gaddafi had any intention of leaving; because of evidence at their disposal, it seems that he is “in this for the long haul”.
He added that Gaddafi has two brigades that “are very loyal”.
He pointed out that the air attacks carried out by the army loyal to Gaddafi “mainly” caused damages on buildings and infrastructure rather than civilian casualties.
Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, at the same hearing before the Senate, said that it seemed Gaddafi had staying power unless some other dynamic changes at this time.
“The opportunity the rebels had at the start of the popular uprising has ‘begun to change’, he assured.
I have no doubt whatsoever that Gaddafi and the Libyan leaders committed an error in trusting Bush and NATO, as can be inferred from what I wrote in my Reflection on the 9th.
Nor do I doubt the intentions of the United States and NATO to intervene militarily in Libya and abort the revolutionary wave shaking the Arab world.
Countries that are opposing NATO intervention and defending the idea of a political solution without foreign intervention harbour the conviction that the Libyan patriots shall defend their Homeland until their dying breath.
Fidel Castro Ruz
March 11, 2011
10:12 p.m.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
AUCPB IN KCNA 13 march
Pyongyang, March 12 (KCNA) -- Exhibited at the International Friendship Exhibition House of the DPRK is a dagger sent to leader Kim Jong Il by the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, Russia in Juche 87 (1998).
The general secretary and other leading officials of the party prepared the gift out of their respect for Kim Jong Il, a great champion of world peace.
The dagger has grooved decorations patterned with waves in the grasp.
Seen in the case of the dagger are letters "To Comrade Marshal Kim Jong Il, from the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks" written in Russian language.
The general secretary and other leading officials of the party prepared the gift out of their respect for Kim Jong Il, a great champion of world peace.
The dagger has grooved decorations patterned with waves in the grasp.
Seen in the case of the dagger are letters "To Comrade Marshal Kim Jong Il, from the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks" written in Russian language.
Friday, 11 March 2011
AUCPB NEWSREEL
GDR ARMY VETERANS WALKED AROUND BERLIN IN OLD PARADE UNIFORM
07.03.2011
Around 100 former soldiers of the National People's Army of GDR (NPA) over the weekend gathered in a cafeteria of Friedrichsfelde zoo in East Berlin to mark the 55 anniversary of the founding of the NPA, according to Tagesspiegel. Many came in grey parade uniform with marks of distinction and ceremonial weapons.
At the event, which was of a confidential nature, a speech was made by former GDR Defense Minister General Heinz Kessler. The cafeteria hall was decorated with flags of the GDR.
Senior management of the Friedrichsfelde zoo on Monday, March 7, hurried to distance themselves from the incident, noting that the cafeteria was run by a private tenant, who failed to warn them about the upcoming event, otherwise it would have been banned.
The café and zoo staff, who knew about the meeting of veterans of the NPA, but did not inform the zoo management were given a warning. The administration Friedrichsfelde zoo noted that the zoo in principle is open to all, but not for the "former pillars of the dictatorship and people who are against the constitutional order."
Berlin's Social Democrats have strongly condemned the incident and urged to avoid this in the future.
Even representatives of the party "The Left" who have repeatedly made calls to stop demonizing the GDR, have distanced themselves from the NPA veterans, saying it would not have anything to do with them.
Vice-Chairman of the Association of Victims of Stalinism (VOS) Ronald Laessig said that the symbolism of the NPA and uniforms should be banned just as Nazi symbols are banned.
For his part, the legal counsel of the Berlin police, Oliver Toelle noted that the NPA is not a banned organization and wearing its uniform can not be regarded as a crime.
Related Links
http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/empoerung-ueber-nva-feier-im-tierpark/3921350.html
- Empoerung ueber NVA-Feier im Tierpark - Tagesspiegel, 07.03.2011
http://lenta.ru/news/2011/03/07/nva/
======================================
ON THE PARTICIPATION IN THE 11 TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL SLAVIC CONFERENCE
08.03.2011 14:06
On 25 - 27 February, 2011, in Minsk, Belarus, the 11-th International scientific-practical conference "The Slavic world: healthy thoughts, security, the ideology of the future" was held. The conference was attended by secretary of the AUCPB, chairman of the Central Committee of AUCPB, Bureau of the Central Committee AUCPB on Belarus and Kaliningrad region Comrade V.B. Zelikov, who spoke at a special workshop on "National Unity of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus - an urgent task of the brotherly Slavonic peoples."
At the conference, Comrade. Zelikov met with representatives of the patriotic and communist organizations in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, for an exchange of views on the forms and methods of work to strengthen the unity of the Slavic world, as well as the specific steps to create a Union State of Russia and Belarus and the accession of Ukraine. The same idea Comrade. Zelikov defended as a member of the editorial committee of the conference, while working
07.03.2011
Around 100 former soldiers of the National People's Army of GDR (NPA) over the weekend gathered in a cafeteria of Friedrichsfelde zoo in East Berlin to mark the 55 anniversary of the founding of the NPA, according to Tagesspiegel. Many came in grey parade uniform with marks of distinction and ceremonial weapons.
At the event, which was of a confidential nature, a speech was made by former GDR Defense Minister General Heinz Kessler. The cafeteria hall was decorated with flags of the GDR.
Senior management of the Friedrichsfelde zoo on Monday, March 7, hurried to distance themselves from the incident, noting that the cafeteria was run by a private tenant, who failed to warn them about the upcoming event, otherwise it would have been banned.
The café and zoo staff, who knew about the meeting of veterans of the NPA, but did not inform the zoo management were given a warning. The administration Friedrichsfelde zoo noted that the zoo in principle is open to all, but not for the "former pillars of the dictatorship and people who are against the constitutional order."
Berlin's Social Democrats have strongly condemned the incident and urged to avoid this in the future.
Even representatives of the party "The Left" who have repeatedly made calls to stop demonizing the GDR, have distanced themselves from the NPA veterans, saying it would not have anything to do with them.
Vice-Chairman of the Association of Victims of Stalinism (VOS) Ronald Laessig said that the symbolism of the NPA and uniforms should be banned just as Nazi symbols are banned.
For his part, the legal counsel of the Berlin police, Oliver Toelle noted that the NPA is not a banned organization and wearing its uniform can not be regarded as a crime.
Related Links
http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/empoerung-ueber-nva-feier-im-tierpark/3921350.html
- Empoerung ueber NVA-Feier im Tierpark - Tagesspiegel, 07.03.2011
http://lenta.ru/news/2011/03/07/nva/
======================================
ON THE PARTICIPATION IN THE 11 TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL SLAVIC CONFERENCE
08.03.2011 14:06
On 25 - 27 February, 2011, in Minsk, Belarus, the 11-th International scientific-practical conference "The Slavic world: healthy thoughts, security, the ideology of the future" was held. The conference was attended by secretary of the AUCPB, chairman of the Central Committee of AUCPB, Bureau of the Central Committee AUCPB on Belarus and Kaliningrad region Comrade V.B. Zelikov, who spoke at a special workshop on "National Unity of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus - an urgent task of the brotherly Slavonic peoples."
At the conference, Comrade. Zelikov met with representatives of the patriotic and communist organizations in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, for an exchange of views on the forms and methods of work to strengthen the unity of the Slavic world, as well as the specific steps to create a Union State of Russia and Belarus and the accession of Ukraine. The same idea Comrade. Zelikov defended as a member of the editorial committee of the conference, while working
AUCPB-CLASS STRUGGLE
LABOUR MOVEMENT IN RUSSIA – REPUBLICS OF EX-USSR – INTERNATIONAL
aucpbenglishwebsite.blogspot.com
6 MARCH – UKRAINE - MUCHACHEVO
TOTAL INDIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE
06.03.2011 06:04
All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks
Statement by the Mukachevo organization of the AUCPB
Recently, deputies of the Mukachevo city council decided to eliminate the central heating in the city.
Many thousands of families living in apartment buildings, are to be left to their own devices for the next winter to sort out their own heating arrangements in their apartments. And this is called the "European choice", as is constantly being repeated by our statesmen. According to the mayor of Mukachevo, Z.Z. Lendyel, throughout the civilized world, central heating is used (from an interview with local television 2.11), but in Mukachevo, the City Council can not afford it.
People who receive salaries and pensions, on average, about a thousand UAH, simply do not have the money funds to install their central heating system, which costs for a two-bedroom apartment not less than 10 thousand UAH. It is clear that the adoption of the Resolution by the City Council, will raise the cost of installing individual heating systems sharply.
With the rapid growth in food prices and tariffs for housing services, the working people will simply be deprived of their livelihood. And then there's city council’s expressed "concern" for the inhabitants of the city, thus showing that the local authorities (as well as central authorities, Kiev) is so far from the people that it is absolutely indifferent to the needs and aspirations of ordinary people who no longer live like human beings, but are struggling for survival and existence.
In Soviet Ukraine under the USSR, Mukachevites were always, day and night supplied with cold and hot water, heat in the apartments, and the price of one kilowatt of electricity was 4 kopecks and for a for two-bedroom apartment, rents (which were the lowest in the world), together with payment for all public utilities did not exceed 20-30 rubles per month.
Events in Tunisia and Egypt have shown that people’s patience will sooner or later end, and then the rulers will not be saved neither by the police nor the army.
Dear Mukachevites!
How much more we will need to suffer humiliation at the hands of the authorities (from the central one to local one).
Is it time to begin to act as in Tunisia and Egypt?!
February 12, 2011 , the Mukachevo
5 MARCH – RUSSIA- VOLKOV
THREE THOUSAND RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF VOLKHOV COME OUT TO PROTEST AGAINST IMPENDING MASS JOB LAYOFFS
05.03.2011 05:49
On March 2, nearly three thousand residents of the city of Volkhov in Russia came out to protest against impending mass layoffs at the city-forming enterprise Metakhim. Last week, notice of possible layoff were handed to 1400 employees of the enterprise. The total number of staff at of Metakhim and its "daughter" company Pikalyovsky soda is 2500 people. Workers at Metakhim were supported by city residents, labour organizations (including Mining and Metallurgical Union), as well as representatives of the factories in Pikalevo and Boksitogorsk.
Employees fear losing the only source of income, as there is no other work in the city. And dormitory residents - mostly young families are even at risk of losing their housing.
The situation in the city-forming enterprise Metakhim in Volkhov escalated in mid-January, as a supplier of basic raw materials - Apatit (FosAgro ") was not signed to a long-term contract for 2011. Since the beginning of the year, the Volkhov plant has operated at 50% capacity and was forced to buy raw materials at inflated prices. The company Metakhim state that if the March 15 issue of the contract for the supply of raw materials is not resolved, on May 15 the company will lay off about 1,400 workers.
The absurdity of the situation is that it was created completely artificially – as up until now, the still Volkhovsky Metakhim plant was an economically sound enterprise - say workers.
The city authorities and Volkhov district authorities sent a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to help resolve this situation, and after that, the governor of Leningrad region Valery Serdyukov appealed to the leadership of FAS Russia and the Russian Industry and Trade.
IA "ICDs"
• ===========================
5 MARCH – UKRAINE – DONETSK REGION
DONETSK MINERS THREATEN TO FLOOD THEIR HOME TOWN
05.03.2011 05:42
Employees of the mine-water-tower "Red October" in Enakievo, Donetsk region of Ukraine threatened to stop work and "flood" the city if they were not paid.
It has been reported by TSN, citing the press service of the Central Committee of the Miners Union of the Coal Industry of Ukraine.
"People are outraged to the limit. How far can you test their patience! Last summer, just a threat to stop the dewatering units forced the Ministry of Coal to remember us and pay four months in salary arrears, and now again the same situation, "- says the chairman of the trade union of the mine.
According to the miners who have not received salaries since the beginning of 2011, the management told them that "there is no money, and not to bother to even wait for it."
"If the water draining complex stops working, water will flood areas in which homes are located, and threaten flooding of existing mines. And then the problem of one state-owned enterprise will become an ecological disaster of urban scale, where people may suffer"- notes the report of the Central Committee of the miners' union.
=================================
RUSSIA - MARCH 4- PENSIONER RALLY AND MARCH IN NOVOSIBIRSK
04.03.2011 15:33
On March 4, in Novosibirsk, outside the government building of the Novosibirsk region, a rally of pensioners protesting against the governer Yurchenko’s decision to abolish unlimited travel on public transport was held. At the end of the rally, protesters organized a march along the pavement of Krasny Prospect to the residence of the President Plenipotentiary in the Siberian Federal District.
The event organizer – the Organizing Committee, formed in the wake of the protest, which consists of active senior citizens, as well as representatives from many political parties and public organizations: The AUCPB, Working Russia, RCWP, Komsomol, "For Control And People’s Order" and others. At the rally and march, according to organizers, were at least 500-700 people.
Next rally 18 March
Source: vkpb-nsk.ru
See video and photo coverage on front page:
aucpbenglishwebsite.blogspot.com
• ===================
aucpbenglishwebsite.blogspot.com
6 MARCH – UKRAINE - MUCHACHEVO
TOTAL INDIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE
06.03.2011 06:04
All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks
Statement by the Mukachevo organization of the AUCPB
Recently, deputies of the Mukachevo city council decided to eliminate the central heating in the city.
Many thousands of families living in apartment buildings, are to be left to their own devices for the next winter to sort out their own heating arrangements in their apartments. And this is called the "European choice", as is constantly being repeated by our statesmen. According to the mayor of Mukachevo, Z.Z. Lendyel, throughout the civilized world, central heating is used (from an interview with local television 2.11), but in Mukachevo, the City Council can not afford it.
People who receive salaries and pensions, on average, about a thousand UAH, simply do not have the money funds to install their central heating system, which costs for a two-bedroom apartment not less than 10 thousand UAH. It is clear that the adoption of the Resolution by the City Council, will raise the cost of installing individual heating systems sharply.
With the rapid growth in food prices and tariffs for housing services, the working people will simply be deprived of their livelihood. And then there's city council’s expressed "concern" for the inhabitants of the city, thus showing that the local authorities (as well as central authorities, Kiev) is so far from the people that it is absolutely indifferent to the needs and aspirations of ordinary people who no longer live like human beings, but are struggling for survival and existence.
In Soviet Ukraine under the USSR, Mukachevites were always, day and night supplied with cold and hot water, heat in the apartments, and the price of one kilowatt of electricity was 4 kopecks and for a for two-bedroom apartment, rents (which were the lowest in the world), together with payment for all public utilities did not exceed 20-30 rubles per month.
Events in Tunisia and Egypt have shown that people’s patience will sooner or later end, and then the rulers will not be saved neither by the police nor the army.
Dear Mukachevites!
How much more we will need to suffer humiliation at the hands of the authorities (from the central one to local one).
Is it time to begin to act as in Tunisia and Egypt?!
February 12, 2011 , the Mukachevo
5 MARCH – RUSSIA- VOLKOV
THREE THOUSAND RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF VOLKHOV COME OUT TO PROTEST AGAINST IMPENDING MASS JOB LAYOFFS
05.03.2011 05:49
On March 2, nearly three thousand residents of the city of Volkhov in Russia came out to protest against impending mass layoffs at the city-forming enterprise Metakhim. Last week, notice of possible layoff were handed to 1400 employees of the enterprise. The total number of staff at of Metakhim and its "daughter" company Pikalyovsky soda is 2500 people. Workers at Metakhim were supported by city residents, labour organizations (including Mining and Metallurgical Union), as well as representatives of the factories in Pikalevo and Boksitogorsk.
Employees fear losing the only source of income, as there is no other work in the city. And dormitory residents - mostly young families are even at risk of losing their housing.
The situation in the city-forming enterprise Metakhim in Volkhov escalated in mid-January, as a supplier of basic raw materials - Apatit (FosAgro ") was not signed to a long-term contract for 2011. Since the beginning of the year, the Volkhov plant has operated at 50% capacity and was forced to buy raw materials at inflated prices. The company Metakhim state that if the March 15 issue of the contract for the supply of raw materials is not resolved, on May 15 the company will lay off about 1,400 workers.
The absurdity of the situation is that it was created completely artificially – as up until now, the still Volkhovsky Metakhim plant was an economically sound enterprise - say workers.
The city authorities and Volkhov district authorities sent a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to help resolve this situation, and after that, the governor of Leningrad region Valery Serdyukov appealed to the leadership of FAS Russia and the Russian Industry and Trade.
IA "ICDs"
• ===========================
5 MARCH – UKRAINE – DONETSK REGION
DONETSK MINERS THREATEN TO FLOOD THEIR HOME TOWN
05.03.2011 05:42
Employees of the mine-water-tower "Red October" in Enakievo, Donetsk region of Ukraine threatened to stop work and "flood" the city if they were not paid.
It has been reported by TSN, citing the press service of the Central Committee of the Miners Union of the Coal Industry of Ukraine.
"People are outraged to the limit. How far can you test their patience! Last summer, just a threat to stop the dewatering units forced the Ministry of Coal to remember us and pay four months in salary arrears, and now again the same situation, "- says the chairman of the trade union of the mine.
According to the miners who have not received salaries since the beginning of 2011, the management told them that "there is no money, and not to bother to even wait for it."
"If the water draining complex stops working, water will flood areas in which homes are located, and threaten flooding of existing mines. And then the problem of one state-owned enterprise will become an ecological disaster of urban scale, where people may suffer"- notes the report of the Central Committee of the miners' union.
=================================
RUSSIA - MARCH 4- PENSIONER RALLY AND MARCH IN NOVOSIBIRSK
04.03.2011 15:33
On March 4, in Novosibirsk, outside the government building of the Novosibirsk region, a rally of pensioners protesting against the governer Yurchenko’s decision to abolish unlimited travel on public transport was held. At the end of the rally, protesters organized a march along the pavement of Krasny Prospect to the residence of the President Plenipotentiary in the Siberian Federal District.
The event organizer – the Organizing Committee, formed in the wake of the protest, which consists of active senior citizens, as well as representatives from many political parties and public organizations: The AUCPB, Working Russia, RCWP, Komsomol, "For Control And People’s Order" and others. At the rally and march, according to organizers, were at least 500-700 people.
Next rally 18 March
Source: vkpb-nsk.ru
See video and photo coverage on front page:
aucpbenglishwebsite.blogspot.com
• ===================
REFLECTIONS OF FIDEL
Havana. March 10, 2011
REFLECTIONS OF FIDEL
NATO, war, lies and business
(Taken from CubaDebate)
AS some people know, in September of 1969, Muammar al-Gaddafi, a Bedouin Arab soldier of unusual character and inspired by the ideas of the Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, promoted within the heart of the Armed Forces a movement which overthrew King Idris I of Libya, almost a desert country in its totality, with a sparse population, located to the north of Africa between Tunisia and Egypt.
Libya’s significant and valuable energy resources were progressively being discovered.
Born into the heart of a Bedouin community, nomadic desert shepherds in the region of Tripoli, Gaddafi was profoundly anti-colonialist. It is known that a paternal grandfather died fighting against the Italian invaders when Libya was invaded by the latter in 1911. The colonial regime and fascism changed everyone’s lives. It is likewise said that his father was imprisoned before earning his daily bread as an industrial worker.
Even Gaddafi’s adversaries confirm that he stood out for his intelligence as a student; he was expelled from high school for his anti-monarchical activities. He managed to enroll in another school and later to graduate in law at the University of Benghazi, aged 21. He then entered the Benghazi Military College, where he created the Union of Free Officers Movement, subsequently completing his studies in a British military academy.
These antecedents explain the notable influence that he later exercised in Libya and over other political leaders, whether or not they are now for or against Gaddafi.
He initiated his political life with unquestionably revolutionary acts.
In March 1970, in the wake of mass nationalist protests, he achieved the evacuation of British soldiers from the country and, in June, the United States vacated the large airbase close to Tripoli, which was handed over to military instructors from Egypt, a country allied with Libya.
In 1970, a number of Western oil companies and banking societies with the participation of foreign capital were affected by the Revolution. At the end of 1971, the same fate befell the famous British Petroleum. In the agricultural sector all Italian assets were confiscated, and the colonialists and their descendants were expelled from Libya.
State intervention was directed toward the control of the large companies. Production in that country grew to become one of the highest in the Arab world. Gambling was prohibited, as was alcohol consumption. The legal status of women, traditionally limited, was elevated.
The Libyan leader became immersed in extremist theories as much opposed to communism as to capitalism. It was a stage in which Gaddafi devoted himself to theorizing, which would be meaningless to include in this analysis, except to note that the first article of the Constitutional Proclamation of 1969, established the "Socialist" nature of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
What I wish to emphasize is that the United States and its NATO allies were never interested in human rights.
The pandemonium that occurred in the Security Council, in the meeting of the Human Rights Council based in Geneva, and in the UN General Assembly in New York, was pure theater.
I can perfectly comprehend the reactions of political leaders embroiled in so many contradictions and sterile debates, given the intrigue of interests and problems which they have to address.
All of us are well aware that status as a permanent member, veto power, the possession of nuclear weapons and more than a few institutions, are sources of privilege and self-interest imposed on humanity by force. One can be in agreement with many of them or not, but never accept them as just or ethical measures.
The empire is now attempting to turn events around to what Gaddafi has done or not done, because it needs to militarily intervene in Libya and deliver a blow to the revolutionary wave unleashed in the Arab world. Through now not a word was said, silence was maintained and business was conducted.
Whether a latent Libyan rebellion was promoted by yankee intelligence agencies or by the errors of Gaddafi himself, it is important that the peoples do not let themselves be deceived, given that, very soon, world opinion will have enough elements to know what to believe.
In my opinion, and as I have expressed since the outset, the plans of the bellicose NATO had to be condemned.
Libya, like many Third World countries, is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and other international organizations, via which relations are established independently of economic and social system.
Briefly: the Revolution in Cuba, inspired by Marxist-Leninist and Martí principles, had triumphed in 1959 at 90 miles from the United States, which imposed the Platt Amendment on us and was the proprietor of our country’s economy.
Almost immediately, the empire promoted against our people dirty warfare, counterrevolutionary gangs, the criminal economic blockade and the mercenary invasion of the Bay of Pigs, guarded by an aircraft carrier and its marines ready to disembark if the mercenary force secured certain objectives.
Barely a year and a half later, it threatened us with the power of its nuclear arsenal. A war of that nature was about to break out.
All the Latin American countries, with the exception of Mexico, took part in the criminal blockade which is still in place, without our country ever surrendering. It is important to recall that for those lacking historical memory.
In January 1986, putting forward the idea that Libya was behind so-called revolutionary terrorism, Reagan ordered the severing of economic and commercial relations with that country.
In March, an aircraft carrier force in the Gulf of Sirte, within what Libya considered its national waters, unleashed attacks which destroyed a number of naval units equipped with rocket launchers and coastal radar systems which that country had acquired in the USSR.
On April 5, a discotheque in West Berlin frequented by U.S. soldiers was the target of a plastic explosives attack, in which three people died, two of them U.S. soldiers, and many people were injured.
Reagan accused Gaddafi and ordered the Air Force to respond. Three squadrons took off from 6th Fleet aircraft carriers and bases in the United Kingdom, and attacked with missiles and bombs seven military targets in Tripoli and Benghazi. Some 40 people died, 15 of them civilians. Warned in advance of the bombardments, Gaddafi gathered together his family and was leaving his residence located in the Bab Al Aziziya military complex south of the capital. The evacuation had not been completed when a missile directly hit the residence, his daughter Hanna died and another two of his children were wounded. That act was widely rejected; the UN General Assembly passed a resolution of condemnation given what was a violation of the UN Charter and international law. The Non-Aligned Movement, the Arab League and the OAU did likewise in energetic terms.
On December 21, 1988, a Pan Am Boeing 747 flying from London to New York disintegrated in full flight when a bomb exploded aboard, the wreckage fell on the locality of Lockerbie and the tragedy cost the lives of 270 people of 21 nationalities.
Initially, the United States suspected Iran, in reprisal for the death of 290 people when an Airbus belonging to its state line was brought down. According to the yankees, investigations implicated two Libyan intelligence agents. Similar accusations against Libya were made in the case of the French airline on the Brazzaville-N’Djamena-Paris route, implicating Libyan officials whom Gaddafi refused to extradite for acts that he categorically denied.
A sinister legend was fabricated against him, with the participation of Reagan and Bush Senior.
From 1975 to the final stage of the Regan administration, Cuba dedicated itself to its internationalist duties in Angola and other African nations. We were aware of the conflicts developing in Libya or around her via readings and testimonies from people closely linked to that country and the Arab world, as well as impressions we retained from many figures in different countries with whom we had contact during those years.
Many known African leaders with whom Gaddafi maintained close relations made efforts to find a solution to the tense relations between Libya and the United Kingdom.
The Security Council had imposed sanctions on Libya which began to be overcome when Gaddafi agreed to the trial, under specific conditions, of the two men accused of the plane sabotage over Scotland.
Libyan delegations began to be invited to inter-European meetings. In July 1999 London initiated the reestablishment of full diplomatic relations with Libya after some additional concessions.
In September of that year, European Union ministers agreed to revoke the restrictive trade measures imposed in 1992.
On December 2, Massimo D’Alema, the Italian prime minister, made the first visit to Libya by a European head of government.
With the disappearance of the USSR and the European socialist bloc, Gaddafi decided to accept the demands of the United States and NATO.
When I visited Libya in May 2001, he showed me the ruins left by the treacherous attack during which Reagan murdered his daughter and almost exterminated his entire family.
In early 2002, the State Department announced that diplomatic talks between the United States and Libya were underway.
In May, Libya was once again included on the list of states sponsoring terrorism although, in January, President George W. Bush had not mentioned the African country in his famous speech on members of the "axis of evil."
At the beginning of 2003, in accordance with the economic agreement on compensation reached between Libya and the plaintiffs, the United Kingdom and France, the UN Security Council lifted its 1992 sanctions against Libya.
Before the end of 2003, Bush and Tony Blair reported an agreement with Libya, which had submitted documentation to British and U.S. intelligence experts about conventional weapons programs and ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers. Officials from both countries had already visited a number of installations. It was the result of many months of conversation between Tripoli and Washington, as Bush himself revealed.
Gaddafi kept his disarmament promises. Within five months Libya handed over the five units of Scud-C missiles with a range of 800 km and hundreds of Scud-B which have a range exceeding the 300 kilometers of defensive short-range missiles.
As of October, 2002, a marathon of visits to Tripoli began: Berlusconi, in October 2002; José María Aznar, in September 2003; Berlusconi again in February, August and October of 2004; Blair, in March of 2004; the German Schröeder, in October of that year; Jacques Chirac, November 2004. Everybody happy. Money talks.
Gaddafi toured Europe triumphantly. He was received in Brussels in April of 2004 by Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission; in August of that year the Libyan leader invited Bush to visit his country; Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Texaco and Conoco Philips established renewed oil extraction operations through joint ventures.
In May of 2006, the United States announced the removal of Libya from its list of nations harboring terrorists and established full diplomatic relations.
In 2006 and 2007, France and the U.S. signed accords for cooperation in nuclear development for peaceful ends; in May, 2007, Blair returned to visit Gaddafi in Sirte. British Petroleum signed a contract it described as "enormously important," for the exploration of gas fields.
In December of 2007, Gaddafi made two trips to France to sign military and civilian equipment contracts for 10 billion euros, and to Spain where he met with President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Contracts worth millions were signed with important NATO countries.
What has now brought on the precipitous withdrawal of U.S. and other NATO members' embassies?
It all seems extremely strange.
George W. Bush, father of the stupid anti-terrorist war, said on September 20, 2011 to west Point cadets, "Our security will require … the military you will lead, a military that must be ready to strike at a moment's notice in any dark corner of the world. … to be ready for preemptive action when necessary to defend our liberty and to defend our lives.
"We must root out terrorist cells in 60 countries or more … with our friends and allies, we have to stop their proliferation and confront regimes which harbor or support terrorism, as is required in each case."
What might Obama think of that speech?
What sanctions will the Security Council impose on those who have killed more than a million civilians in Iraq and those who everyday are murdering men, women and children in Afghanistan, where just recently the angry population took to the streets to protest the massacre of innocent children?
An AFP dispatch from Kabul, dated today, March 9, reveals, "Last year was the most lethal for civilians in the nine-year war between the Taliban and international forces in Afghanistan, with almost 2,800 deaths, 15% more than in 2009, a United Nations report indicated on Wednesday, underlining the human cost of the conflict for the population.
"… The Taliban insurrection has intensified and gained ground in these last few years, with guerrilla actions beyond its traditional bastions in the South and East.
"At exactly 2,777, the number of civilian deaths in 2010 increased by 15% as compared to 2009," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan annual report indicated.
"On March 3, President Barack Obama expressed his profound condolences to the Afghan people for the nine children killed, as did U.S. General David Petraeus, commander in chief of the ISAF and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
"… The UNAMA report emphasizes that the number of civilian deaths is four times greater than the number of international forces soldiers killed in combat during the same year.
"So far, 2010 has been the most deadly for foreign soldiers in the nine years of war, with 711 dead, confirming that the Taliban's guerilla war has intensified despite the deployment of 30,000 U.S. reinforcements last year."
Over the course of 10 days, in Geneva and in the United Nations, more than 150 speeches were delivered about violations of human rights, which were repeated million of times on television, radio, Internet and in the written press.
Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, in his remarks March 1, 2011 before Foreign Relations ministers in Geneva, said:
"Humanity's conscience is repulsed by the deaths of innocent people under any circumstances, anyplace. Cuba fully shares the worldwide concern for the loss of civilian lives in Libya and hopes that its people are able to reach a peaceful and sovereign solution to the civil war occurring there, with no foreign interference, and guarantee the integrity of that nation."
Some of the final paragraphs of his speech were scathing.
"If the essential human right is the right to life, will the Council be ready to suspend the membership of states that unleash war?
"Will it suspend states which finance and supply military aid utilized by recipient states for mass, flagrant and systematic violations of human rights and attacks on the civilian population, like those taking place in Palestine?
"Will it apply measures to powerful countries which are perpetuating extra-judicial executions in the territory of other states with the use of high technology, such as smart bombs and drone aircraft?
"What will happen with states which accept secret illegal prisons in their territories, facilitate the transit of secret flights with kidnapped persons aboard, or participate in acts of torture?
We fully share the valiant position of the Bolivarian leader Hugo Chávez and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA).
We are against the internal war in Libya, in favor of immediate peace and respect for the lives and rights of all citizens, without foreign intervention, which would only serve to prolong the conflict and NATO interests.
Fidel Castro Ruz
March 9, 2011
9:35 p.m.
Translated by Granma International
REFLECTIONS OF FIDEL
NATO, war, lies and business
(Taken from CubaDebate)
AS some people know, in September of 1969, Muammar al-Gaddafi, a Bedouin Arab soldier of unusual character and inspired by the ideas of the Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, promoted within the heart of the Armed Forces a movement which overthrew King Idris I of Libya, almost a desert country in its totality, with a sparse population, located to the north of Africa between Tunisia and Egypt.
Libya’s significant and valuable energy resources were progressively being discovered.
Born into the heart of a Bedouin community, nomadic desert shepherds in the region of Tripoli, Gaddafi was profoundly anti-colonialist. It is known that a paternal grandfather died fighting against the Italian invaders when Libya was invaded by the latter in 1911. The colonial regime and fascism changed everyone’s lives. It is likewise said that his father was imprisoned before earning his daily bread as an industrial worker.
Even Gaddafi’s adversaries confirm that he stood out for his intelligence as a student; he was expelled from high school for his anti-monarchical activities. He managed to enroll in another school and later to graduate in law at the University of Benghazi, aged 21. He then entered the Benghazi Military College, where he created the Union of Free Officers Movement, subsequently completing his studies in a British military academy.
These antecedents explain the notable influence that he later exercised in Libya and over other political leaders, whether or not they are now for or against Gaddafi.
He initiated his political life with unquestionably revolutionary acts.
In March 1970, in the wake of mass nationalist protests, he achieved the evacuation of British soldiers from the country and, in June, the United States vacated the large airbase close to Tripoli, which was handed over to military instructors from Egypt, a country allied with Libya.
In 1970, a number of Western oil companies and banking societies with the participation of foreign capital were affected by the Revolution. At the end of 1971, the same fate befell the famous British Petroleum. In the agricultural sector all Italian assets were confiscated, and the colonialists and their descendants were expelled from Libya.
State intervention was directed toward the control of the large companies. Production in that country grew to become one of the highest in the Arab world. Gambling was prohibited, as was alcohol consumption. The legal status of women, traditionally limited, was elevated.
The Libyan leader became immersed in extremist theories as much opposed to communism as to capitalism. It was a stage in which Gaddafi devoted himself to theorizing, which would be meaningless to include in this analysis, except to note that the first article of the Constitutional Proclamation of 1969, established the "Socialist" nature of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
What I wish to emphasize is that the United States and its NATO allies were never interested in human rights.
The pandemonium that occurred in the Security Council, in the meeting of the Human Rights Council based in Geneva, and in the UN General Assembly in New York, was pure theater.
I can perfectly comprehend the reactions of political leaders embroiled in so many contradictions and sterile debates, given the intrigue of interests and problems which they have to address.
All of us are well aware that status as a permanent member, veto power, the possession of nuclear weapons and more than a few institutions, are sources of privilege and self-interest imposed on humanity by force. One can be in agreement with many of them or not, but never accept them as just or ethical measures.
The empire is now attempting to turn events around to what Gaddafi has done or not done, because it needs to militarily intervene in Libya and deliver a blow to the revolutionary wave unleashed in the Arab world. Through now not a word was said, silence was maintained and business was conducted.
Whether a latent Libyan rebellion was promoted by yankee intelligence agencies or by the errors of Gaddafi himself, it is important that the peoples do not let themselves be deceived, given that, very soon, world opinion will have enough elements to know what to believe.
In my opinion, and as I have expressed since the outset, the plans of the bellicose NATO had to be condemned.
Libya, like many Third World countries, is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and other international organizations, via which relations are established independently of economic and social system.
Briefly: the Revolution in Cuba, inspired by Marxist-Leninist and Martí principles, had triumphed in 1959 at 90 miles from the United States, which imposed the Platt Amendment on us and was the proprietor of our country’s economy.
Almost immediately, the empire promoted against our people dirty warfare, counterrevolutionary gangs, the criminal economic blockade and the mercenary invasion of the Bay of Pigs, guarded by an aircraft carrier and its marines ready to disembark if the mercenary force secured certain objectives.
Barely a year and a half later, it threatened us with the power of its nuclear arsenal. A war of that nature was about to break out.
All the Latin American countries, with the exception of Mexico, took part in the criminal blockade which is still in place, without our country ever surrendering. It is important to recall that for those lacking historical memory.
In January 1986, putting forward the idea that Libya was behind so-called revolutionary terrorism, Reagan ordered the severing of economic and commercial relations with that country.
In March, an aircraft carrier force in the Gulf of Sirte, within what Libya considered its national waters, unleashed attacks which destroyed a number of naval units equipped with rocket launchers and coastal radar systems which that country had acquired in the USSR.
On April 5, a discotheque in West Berlin frequented by U.S. soldiers was the target of a plastic explosives attack, in which three people died, two of them U.S. soldiers, and many people were injured.
Reagan accused Gaddafi and ordered the Air Force to respond. Three squadrons took off from 6th Fleet aircraft carriers and bases in the United Kingdom, and attacked with missiles and bombs seven military targets in Tripoli and Benghazi. Some 40 people died, 15 of them civilians. Warned in advance of the bombardments, Gaddafi gathered together his family and was leaving his residence located in the Bab Al Aziziya military complex south of the capital. The evacuation had not been completed when a missile directly hit the residence, his daughter Hanna died and another two of his children were wounded. That act was widely rejected; the UN General Assembly passed a resolution of condemnation given what was a violation of the UN Charter and international law. The Non-Aligned Movement, the Arab League and the OAU did likewise in energetic terms.
On December 21, 1988, a Pan Am Boeing 747 flying from London to New York disintegrated in full flight when a bomb exploded aboard, the wreckage fell on the locality of Lockerbie and the tragedy cost the lives of 270 people of 21 nationalities.
Initially, the United States suspected Iran, in reprisal for the death of 290 people when an Airbus belonging to its state line was brought down. According to the yankees, investigations implicated two Libyan intelligence agents. Similar accusations against Libya were made in the case of the French airline on the Brazzaville-N’Djamena-Paris route, implicating Libyan officials whom Gaddafi refused to extradite for acts that he categorically denied.
A sinister legend was fabricated against him, with the participation of Reagan and Bush Senior.
From 1975 to the final stage of the Regan administration, Cuba dedicated itself to its internationalist duties in Angola and other African nations. We were aware of the conflicts developing in Libya or around her via readings and testimonies from people closely linked to that country and the Arab world, as well as impressions we retained from many figures in different countries with whom we had contact during those years.
Many known African leaders with whom Gaddafi maintained close relations made efforts to find a solution to the tense relations between Libya and the United Kingdom.
The Security Council had imposed sanctions on Libya which began to be overcome when Gaddafi agreed to the trial, under specific conditions, of the two men accused of the plane sabotage over Scotland.
Libyan delegations began to be invited to inter-European meetings. In July 1999 London initiated the reestablishment of full diplomatic relations with Libya after some additional concessions.
In September of that year, European Union ministers agreed to revoke the restrictive trade measures imposed in 1992.
On December 2, Massimo D’Alema, the Italian prime minister, made the first visit to Libya by a European head of government.
With the disappearance of the USSR and the European socialist bloc, Gaddafi decided to accept the demands of the United States and NATO.
When I visited Libya in May 2001, he showed me the ruins left by the treacherous attack during which Reagan murdered his daughter and almost exterminated his entire family.
In early 2002, the State Department announced that diplomatic talks between the United States and Libya were underway.
In May, Libya was once again included on the list of states sponsoring terrorism although, in January, President George W. Bush had not mentioned the African country in his famous speech on members of the "axis of evil."
At the beginning of 2003, in accordance with the economic agreement on compensation reached between Libya and the plaintiffs, the United Kingdom and France, the UN Security Council lifted its 1992 sanctions against Libya.
Before the end of 2003, Bush and Tony Blair reported an agreement with Libya, which had submitted documentation to British and U.S. intelligence experts about conventional weapons programs and ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers. Officials from both countries had already visited a number of installations. It was the result of many months of conversation between Tripoli and Washington, as Bush himself revealed.
Gaddafi kept his disarmament promises. Within five months Libya handed over the five units of Scud-C missiles with a range of 800 km and hundreds of Scud-B which have a range exceeding the 300 kilometers of defensive short-range missiles.
As of October, 2002, a marathon of visits to Tripoli began: Berlusconi, in October 2002; José María Aznar, in September 2003; Berlusconi again in February, August and October of 2004; Blair, in March of 2004; the German Schröeder, in October of that year; Jacques Chirac, November 2004. Everybody happy. Money talks.
Gaddafi toured Europe triumphantly. He was received in Brussels in April of 2004 by Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission; in August of that year the Libyan leader invited Bush to visit his country; Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Texaco and Conoco Philips established renewed oil extraction operations through joint ventures.
In May of 2006, the United States announced the removal of Libya from its list of nations harboring terrorists and established full diplomatic relations.
In 2006 and 2007, France and the U.S. signed accords for cooperation in nuclear development for peaceful ends; in May, 2007, Blair returned to visit Gaddafi in Sirte. British Petroleum signed a contract it described as "enormously important," for the exploration of gas fields.
In December of 2007, Gaddafi made two trips to France to sign military and civilian equipment contracts for 10 billion euros, and to Spain where he met with President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Contracts worth millions were signed with important NATO countries.
What has now brought on the precipitous withdrawal of U.S. and other NATO members' embassies?
It all seems extremely strange.
George W. Bush, father of the stupid anti-terrorist war, said on September 20, 2011 to west Point cadets, "Our security will require … the military you will lead, a military that must be ready to strike at a moment's notice in any dark corner of the world. … to be ready for preemptive action when necessary to defend our liberty and to defend our lives.
"We must root out terrorist cells in 60 countries or more … with our friends and allies, we have to stop their proliferation and confront regimes which harbor or support terrorism, as is required in each case."
What might Obama think of that speech?
What sanctions will the Security Council impose on those who have killed more than a million civilians in Iraq and those who everyday are murdering men, women and children in Afghanistan, where just recently the angry population took to the streets to protest the massacre of innocent children?
An AFP dispatch from Kabul, dated today, March 9, reveals, "Last year was the most lethal for civilians in the nine-year war between the Taliban and international forces in Afghanistan, with almost 2,800 deaths, 15% more than in 2009, a United Nations report indicated on Wednesday, underlining the human cost of the conflict for the population.
"… The Taliban insurrection has intensified and gained ground in these last few years, with guerrilla actions beyond its traditional bastions in the South and East.
"At exactly 2,777, the number of civilian deaths in 2010 increased by 15% as compared to 2009," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan annual report indicated.
"On March 3, President Barack Obama expressed his profound condolences to the Afghan people for the nine children killed, as did U.S. General David Petraeus, commander in chief of the ISAF and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
"… The UNAMA report emphasizes that the number of civilian deaths is four times greater than the number of international forces soldiers killed in combat during the same year.
"So far, 2010 has been the most deadly for foreign soldiers in the nine years of war, with 711 dead, confirming that the Taliban's guerilla war has intensified despite the deployment of 30,000 U.S. reinforcements last year."
Over the course of 10 days, in Geneva and in the United Nations, more than 150 speeches were delivered about violations of human rights, which were repeated million of times on television, radio, Internet and in the written press.
Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, in his remarks March 1, 2011 before Foreign Relations ministers in Geneva, said:
"Humanity's conscience is repulsed by the deaths of innocent people under any circumstances, anyplace. Cuba fully shares the worldwide concern for the loss of civilian lives in Libya and hopes that its people are able to reach a peaceful and sovereign solution to the civil war occurring there, with no foreign interference, and guarantee the integrity of that nation."
Some of the final paragraphs of his speech were scathing.
"If the essential human right is the right to life, will the Council be ready to suspend the membership of states that unleash war?
"Will it suspend states which finance and supply military aid utilized by recipient states for mass, flagrant and systematic violations of human rights and attacks on the civilian population, like those taking place in Palestine?
"Will it apply measures to powerful countries which are perpetuating extra-judicial executions in the territory of other states with the use of high technology, such as smart bombs and drone aircraft?
"What will happen with states which accept secret illegal prisons in their territories, facilitate the transit of secret flights with kidnapped persons aboard, or participate in acts of torture?
We fully share the valiant position of the Bolivarian leader Hugo Chávez and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA).
We are against the internal war in Libya, in favor of immediate peace and respect for the lives and rights of all citizens, without foreign intervention, which would only serve to prolong the conflict and NATO interests.
Fidel Castro Ruz
March 9, 2011
9:35 p.m.
Translated by Granma International
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
AUCPB - LIBYA- MID EAST
AUCPB ON THE EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
A. MAYEVSKY
We all watched with great interest the developments in Tunisia, then in Egypt and other countries of North Africa and the Mediterranean.
First, the people rebelled in Tunisia. Mass thousands of demonstrations, which lasted almost a month, have shaken the country. Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14 had fled to Saudi Arabia. The people celebrated their victory.
January 25 started mass protests of the people in Egypt. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered on the central Tahrir Square (Liberation) in Cairo, the streets and squares of other cities. The people's protest lasted 18 days and, finally, the protesters had their way – on February 11, Egyptian President Hosni Mubark renounced his post. The people rejoiced and exulted their victory.
The social cause of these protests are poverty, unemployment, hopelessness and despair of the masses.
Tunisia. December 17 Mohamed Bouaziz, the young merchant from the small town of Sidi Bou Said tried to end his life by self-immolation. Having a university education, he spent 5 years looking, but could not find work, except street trading vegetables. On the eve of the police took away his goods because of the lack of a license, depriving him of a livelihood. On January 4, Mohammed Bouaziz died. On December 22 another unemployed 22-year-old Hussein Nagi Felhi committed suicide by climbing on the power line and holding the high-voltage cable. Before his death, he cried out: "No to poverty! No to unemployment!”
In solidarity, thousands of young people took to the streets.
Tunisia is a young country, with more than half its population under the age of 30. Youth unemployment stands at 50%.Without work there is no future, so the first thing demanded of the authorities from protesting youth is work. The authorities responded to the demands of young people first, with police batons and tear gas, then bullets. But when people have nothing to lose, violence and repression cause the opposite effect. The protest began in the provinces, but the more people became victims and wounded, the more they covered the country, and reached the capital. To the slogans of social nature were added and political ones: against the corrupt regime of Ben Ali and the Trabelsi clan, for political freedom.
Ben Ali ruled the country since November 1987, declaring its aim "to build in Tunis a prosperous, open and peaceful society based on justice and tolerance." But it was the usual promise of bourgeois politics, a promise that is given to the people, when a politician eager for power, and which they immediately forget after they get into power.
The family of the president and his wife Leila Trabelsi privatized the economy and politics. Leila Trabelsi was called the Empress by Tunisians. She and her family control over all key enterprise: from the land and banks to telephone companies and Internet providers. Belhassen, the elder brother of the wife of President, is one of the richest people in the country, owns the airline and is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Tunisia, the most profitable bank in the country. Mohammed Sahr, the 30-year-old son in law of the ousted President is involved in trading of motor vehicles and real estate, agriculture, finance, media and owns a travel agency.
The global financial crisis has only accelerated the process of polarization of Tunisian society. Tunisia's economy is totally dependent on external market conditions and foreign investment. And when as a result of the crisis there was nothing to patch up the social holes, the situation exploded.
After news of the departure of Ben Ali of Tunisia, the country began rejoicing. Thousands of people greeted each other with victory. "That's our message all over the world: Do not be afraid of dictators!", said one of the participants of protest actions. But there is a more restrained assessment: "Do not rush to congratulate us! It has not ended, the most important thing lies ahead."
After Ben Ali's resignation, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi in a speech on television said that the government was temporarily transferred to him. But the next day, the Constitutional Council of Tunisia said that under the Constitution of the Speaker of Parliament Fuad Mbazaa shall become the Acting President. On January 15, he took the oath. But both represent the same ruling party that overthrew Ben Ali.
It has already been stated, that within two months in the country will be held early presidential elections.
Egypt. Jan. 25 start of mass protests in Egypt, which took place in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Asyut and other cities. The organizers of the protests made up of opposition groups of leftist, social-democratic orientation, called these actions a "day of rage" - "day of protest against torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment." People went onto the streets, using the appeals in social networks. Egyptian authorities took immediate action by blocking the Internet and mobile communications. And on the streets of Cairo were put 30,000 police officers. For the crackdown police used tear gas and water cannons. Protesters threw stones and debris of destroyed fences at police.
The general demands of the protesters - the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled the country since October 1981, the fair Elections and the social orientation of the economy. In the hands of the protesters could be seen the posters with slogans such as "Today, Tunisia - Egypt tomorrow," "We want bread, peace and respect!
Like in Tunisia, Egypt, workers live in poverty, and the ruling elite enjoy the luxury and wealth. According to the Human Development Index, Egypt occupies 101-s place out of 169 countries. At the same time, the family of Hosni Mubarak is one of the richest in the Middle East, with wealth, according to various estimates, amounting from 4 to 70 billion dollars, earned through the ruthless exploitation of the working people.
With increasing protests, the daily outpouring onto the squares and the streets of major cities in Egypt from the hundreds of thousands to a million or more protesters, this forced the police to abandon measures of violence against their own people. Egypt's armed forces occupied a position of neutrality and seeks to prevent the collision of warring parties, as onto the streets began to come out "supporters" of President Mubarak. Since the time of President Anwar Sadat, Egypt became openly pro-American, went on to conclude a peace treaty with Israel that led to its isolation in the Arab world. After the assassination of Sadat by Islamists in October 1981, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak began his rule, and pledged to adhere to the old foreign policy, i.e. steer a course towards further normalization of relations with Israel and its rapprochement with the West and to seek peace in the Middle East within the framework of the Camp David accords. Mubarak succeeded to a certain degree to restore Egypt's prestige and raise its international prestige, especially in the eyes of U.S. and the West. Egypt became second after Israel in the Middle East recipient of American aid, much of which is sent to the Armed Forces of Egypt. Israel is concerned with what's happening in Egypt, because Israelis fear the possibility of the Islamist organization the Muslim Brotherhood coming to power in Egypt, openly anti-Israel-anti-American.
Despite all the re-shuffles at the top leadership of the country and trying to hold on to power, the protesters forced Mubarak to step down. And here, during mass protests of the people, many fell victim. More than 300 people were killed and more than 5,000 wounded.
Power in the country passed into the hands of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt, whose representative immediately stated that the Supreme Military Council will comply with all agreements and commitments and to adopt democratic, that is, Western, principles and values. Currently, the Supreme Military Council dissolved Parliament, suspended the constitution, offering 10 days to re-write it and, within two months submit to a referendum, and banned public demonstrations.
Large protests also took place and are held in other Arab and Muslim countries: Yemen, Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Syria ... On 14 February, there was a mass protest in Iran with the same slogan: "Down with the dictator!" This refers to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a leading anti-American leader.
All this shows to where and against whom the present "revolutions" are aimed.
And although the Americans have been trying to distance itself from some of its influence on the ongoing mass protests of the people, reality tells a different story.
Thus, The Daily Telegraph wrote that the U.S. government secretly supported the main actors, who were behind the protests in Egypt and were planning a revolt over the last three years (Herald, 01/29/2011). In particular, the U.S. embassy in Cairo has helped a young dissident activists to attend a summit in New York, which was organized by the U.S. government. Simultaneously, the U.S. did everything to hide his real name from Egypt's secret service. Upon his return to Cairo in December 2008, the activist told U.S. diplomats that the opposition leaders developed a plan to overthrow Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and the subsequent creation of a government based on democratic principles. Egypt's security services managed to arrest him during these protests.
On January 20, during a teleconference with journalists, staff member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations, Stephen Cook said that he was going to Cairo and expects that the National Police Day, celebrated in Egypt on January 25 will result in mass protests. I.e. this employee was already aware of emerging actions and travelled to Cairo not in vain (Svobodanews.ru, 11.02.2011).
Many analysts and commentators of the events indicate that, for these protests to be carried out, there was no necessity for long-term training of young protest cadres of pro-American orientation, such as during the "colour revolutions" in Georgia and Ukraine, where large sums of money, time were to spend on them.
Now, the mobile communications and the Internet replaced the training for these protests. The youth communicate on the Internet, social networks, where they are quietly inculcated with the principles of Western democracy and bourgeois freedom and with these slogans, with demands for change over to a western model, and it was involved in these mass protests.
In this sense, is an interesting article by Roger Cohen, "The Arab Internet Revolution", published in the International Herald Tribune (USA) on January 28. The American journalist criticizes the book by Evgeny Morozov “Network illusions. The Dark Side of the Internet ", which appeared in stores at a time when the youth of Tunisia - noted the author of the paper - demonstrates the liberating power of social networking."
But from the article by Roger Cohen, we learn that Morozov, a 26-year-old Californian internet explorer (a native of Belarus), gives to the Internet a completely correct assessment. The cyber-utopians, and not the least of them, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have created a dangerous illusion, as if the world can come to democracy and freedom through blogs and services such as Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Google – such is the basic conclusion of the book by Morozov. In an era when "the most intelligent and talented geeks", the so-called "Google doctrine” has become, in the opinion of the author, a seductive trap. "They want - said Evgeny Morozov – so that people are interested in dating, pornography and celebrity gossip" - exactly what has most saturated the internet. And he himself, Roger Cohen does not deny the connection between Twitter and the U.S. government, more so, for example, during the demonstrations in Iran in 2009, when the U.S. State Department officials had openly been in contact with the leadership of this company.
"These lines I write, - said Roger Cohen, - after returning from Tunisia, where Facebook has given the young demonstrators strength, which enabled them to throw the dictator. Now before my eyes is footage from Youtube, in which courageous young Egyptians oppose President Hosni Mubarak's thugs with their batons and water cannons." "The organization, network activity, the discovery of banned ideas and information, debating skills and independence...are just some of the gifts of social networks to the predominantly young population of the Arab world." And Roger Cohen concludes: "No, the Tunisian revolution was made by the pro-Western middle class, and during it, Islamic slogans did not sound out. Onto the streets of Cairo came young pragmatic people, alien ideologies .... "
In my opinion, this article by Roger Cohen openly demonstrates that the popular unrest in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries was controlled and directed into the track needed by U.S. imperialism. In the same article is quoted Hillary Clinton, saying that the U.S. priority is "the mobilization of communication technologies and their use in our diplomatic purposes." Candid enough.
Just like in Georgia and Ukraine "colour revolutions" occurred according to the western scenario, and with American money, just as is the massive popular unrest in the Arab world.
The overthrown Tunisian and Egyptian rulers were loyal servants of U.S. imperialism, the conductors of American influence, US-Israeli policy in the Arab world and the Middle East. But when the throne underneath them began swaying due to anti-national social policy, mass unemployment, poverty and misery of the people, the American puppet masters began to direct the righteous anger of the people in the direction towards them, but with the use of the latest developments of information industry, mobile communications and the Internet. That, among other things, allows them to remain as it were, behind the scenes.
The arrival to power in Egypt of th eSupreme Council of the Armed Forces is completely under American influence, because Egypt's armed forces receive the second largest, after Israel's multibillion-dollar aid to equip the army with weapons and military equipment, of course, American-made. It is clear that the Supreme Military Council and would continue to pursue pro-American policy, a policy of cooperation with Egypt, Israel and the betrayal of the interests of Arab peoples.
But on the other hand, this does not mean that the Marxist revolutionary forces must stand apart from the actions and outpouring of the people onto the streets. After all, we also have here a classic revolutionary situation, according to Lenin, when the lower classes do not want to live in the old, and the top can no longer operate under the old, where hatred of the people of the ruling regime is so great that people are willing to face death, which was place in Tunisia and Egypt, than to remain in the powerless, hopeless situation. But in order for mass popular action to really take on a revolutionary proletarian character, when one group of the bourgeoisie at the top of the power are not replaced by another group of such oppressors of the people, but when working people really come to power, the working class comes to power, the presence of the subjective factor in the people's revolution - a proletarian Revolutionary Party, which is closely related to the masses.
The establishment of close ties with Marxist revolutionary organizations in the Arab world, as well as the whole world, is the most important task of our Party – the AUCPB - in the international arena.
Russia: a climate of insecurity and fear dominates
On January 24, the day before the mass demonstrations in Egypt, in Moscow's Domodedovo airport, a bomb attack occurred. In the centre of a hall room, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device. The explosion killed 36 people. More than a hundred were wounded.
As noted by observers, this is the 26 th terrorist attack in Moscow over the past 15 years, during which more than 600 people have been killed.
The authorities immediately began to take measures to restore order to the security of citizens. But the number of attacks speaks for itself. Moreover, explosions rattle and terror attacks are carried out in other regions of Russia, especially in the North Caucasus. The Russian authorities cannot ensure security to its citizens.
The question arises: who benefits from, and who is behind these terrorist attacks?
The answer is obvious. This is beneficial to itself the ruling regime in Russia, the Medvedev-Putin regime of large oligarchic capital. Enormous accumulation of wealth at one pole and misery and poverty on the other inevitably leads to the aggravation of social tensions, and sooner or later, lead to social upheaval.
To avoid this, the government is trying to take away responsibility for the situation in society, from itself and point out the "enemies" - those same underprivileged people, only of other nationalities, and aims to incite hatred of Russians towards inhabitants of the Caucasus, Orthodox Muslims, etc. This is a common tactic of the bourgeoisie: divide and conquer.
Under the guise of fighting terrorism and extremism in a charged with fear community, in an atmosphere of insecurity and fear, the regime would be able to "tighten the screws" bring about repression in the first place, against revolutionary forces, class conscious representatives of the working class, fighting for the revival of our great Soviet Socialist homeland.
Of course, "friends" of Russia - the U.S. imperialists and the West pour oil on fire, and nurture, fund and provide everything necessary for the terrorist activities of various extremist groups and elements. And here is used the same imperialist tactic - divide and conquer! To incite the people of Russia against each other, to create a society in an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear that inevitably weakens Russia, and then give her "assistance" under the guise of combating terrorism, interfering in internal affairs and enslaving Russia.
Ukraine: the bourgeoisie oppress, the people tolerate
Recently, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a decision to hold the next parliamentary elections in October 2012 and presidential elections - in March 2015. The bourgeois power group has secured a quiet comfortable life for almost two years. Hence, they had no need to make any promises to the people, and with vengeance to take advantage in power and build up their capital.
That is what the bourgeoisie does. As we have said before, all laws are being prepared for adoption or have already been adopted: Tax, Labor, Housing, Pension Reform, Land Reform, the Parliament has adopted the laws and decisions of the government and so the burden of overcoming the crisis lays firmly on the shoulders of the working people.
Prime Minister Azarov declared a total collapse of the housing and communal system of the country, noting that 80% of the networks, water pipes, sewers are in disrepair. And he stated the inevitability of "difficult reforms." What this means is clear to everyone. The reform of public utilities, as well as all other reforms will be implemented at the expense of working people, by the further increase of tariffs for housing services. But they both growing. Goskomstat recorded 14% increase in utility rates in 2010 and announced that this year's rates will rise at least another 30%. But this is the official data. The reality is much worse. From February 1, increased electricity charges, from 1 April last year, a scheduled 50% rise in price of gas for domestic use.
On the rapid rise in food prices and one say nothing. That one, each of us sees going to the store and the market.
In one of his speeches, President Yanukovich set a "ambitious" goal - to reach by 2020, a population growth of Ukraine up to ... 50 million people. But now the population of Ukraine is less than 46 million and last year alone it fell by another 170,000 (official data). At what expense is the president is going to achieve such growth. An increase in payments for extra child births will not achieve it. Mass unemployment, the total lack of prospects for young people, the rapid growth of prices and rates with extremely low salaries and student grants, there are no opportunities for young people to purchase housing (except for the youth elite, because they live in a completely different world), etc. All this speaks of the unreality of presidential plans. The trend seen is quite different - a further decrease in population.
But even if the president's plans are suddenly realized.
In 1992, at the beginning of the bourgeois reforms and independence, Ukraine had a population of 52 million 250 thousand people. (And annually in Soviet Ukraine, the population grew). And after 30 years - 50 million?!
***
During the mass uprisings in Egypt, hundreds of thousands of tourists were forced to interrupt their vacation on the azure shores of the Mediterranean and quickly return home, wondering and indignant at what was happening.
In Moscow, citizens scared to death ask a rhetorical question: what is happening in Russia, why innocent people are killed.
In Ukraine, however, workers are still silent. But this silence is increasingly developing into a dull murmur of discontent.
But all of this is phenomena of the same order.
Before our eyes, world imperialism and the world of the omnipotence of capital and money-bags is collapsing. And to delay its inevitable collapse, there will continue to be terrorist attacks in Russia, no matter how often President Medvedev visits railway stations and airports, there will continue to be the uprising of the masses against tyranny and poverty, which the modern puppeteers, using new technology will deviate to one side, placing around the neck of the people one set of rulers, exploiters by another set, that pleases the West, the cash cow.
Putting an end to war, terror and poverty can only be done by destroying imperialism, the source. Already no one can sit in the close nook of the family, comfortable little world, where personal interests and personal welfare are above all.
Only by a united struggle of the vast masses of people under the revolutionary banner of Marxism-Leninism can we win and wipe out the hated system of the power of capital, the system of exploitation, war, violence and robbery.
A. MAYEVSKY, secretary of the CC AUCPB
==================================================
ALSO
THE JUCHE IDEA AND THE LESSONS OF THE LIBYAN COUNTER REVOLUTION
A couple of years ago, a number of senior officials, including the author of the Diary, had seen with their own eyes a number of towns and cities in the coastal area of Libya. During a discussion of practical issues of interstate cooperation, a personal meeting with the leader of the Libyan Revolution Muammar al-Gaddafi was requested. After addressing these issues and the transfer of greetings and best wishes of the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il to the Arab revolutionary Gaddafi, the conversation turned to a lengthy discussion of ideological and theoretical problems. Everything that was examined on that day has been confirmed by events at this historic juncture.
It is obvious that the causes of the counterrevolutionary riots in Libya should be sought not only in external forces, as rightly pointed out by the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, but in the first place - in the collapse of ideological work among the population, and the substitution of party and political work to rehabilitate people, by way of senseless ideological dogmatism and purely financial incentives.
Herein lies the fundamental flaw in the so-called "third world theory" set forth in the "Green Book" by Muammar al-Qaddafi, and one that for a long time was pointed out to him personally by President Kim Il Sung .
The "Third World theory" is influenced by anarchism, by postulating the elimination of state and party, as such, and the immediate transition to general self-rule in the form of people's congresses and people's committees. In view of this point, the question of support of the subject of the revolution has remained unresolved, which from a scientific point of view is always the totality of the masses, the Party, army and the Leader.
Under the people’s leader Gaddafi, the Libyan masses reached such standard of living that, let us say, the population of the former Soviet republics seemed completely unattainable. The citizens were so spoiled that obtaining through the system of people's committees, people's congresses and charities all that they needed, they were not able to work in production, preferring to live off a significant benefit.
On the income from so-called "oil and gas," Muammar Al-Gaddafi, I must say, built comfortable multi-storey homes and handed out apartments that were rent and electricity free to all those who wished. Petrol in the country was dirt cheap, and in every family there were 2 or 3 new cars purchased. Newly weds were at the same time immediately given tens of thousands of dollars. Education abroad for children of any family was provided free of charge. Medicine, education were completely free of charge, and an incredible number of European doctors were imported into the country for the highly skilled treatment of the people. Basic foodstuffs were purchased for next to nothing, and the so-called "business" of major taxes, VAT-s and other levies, abolished.
In the absence of a stable system of education of the people, this fair social policy of Muammar Al-Gadhafi created a mass of parasites, lacking world outlook, and by the logic of class struggle, they were bound to descend to the positions of counter-revolution – imagining themselves as "potential millionaires", targeting their goals to the level of wealth of so-called "Sheikhs" and "kings" of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf.
One should openly state, that it is very rare to see a Libyan working in Libya.
During the daytime, almost the entire population of the capital Tripoli is relaxing by the sea. A giant beach cuts the Libyan coast from end to end, and is a continuous chain of bungalows, attractions, “kebab stalls" filled with people in the midst of every working day.
In the city of Tripoli one often face situations when you can not buy basic things due to the fact that shops are closed and their employees are too lazy to even sell their products. Based on extensive experience of working in other parts of the Arab region, it has to be said that Libya is one of the few Arab countries (if not the only country), where street vendors do not try to constantly haggle with the buyer. It shows in the first place, lack of desire to engage in any work, even including trade, customary to Arab masses on the basis of national identity.
Basic material production culture in Libya is made by the hands of foreigners.
Foreign workers and office staff support the excellent infrastructure all created through the efforts of the leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. For example, domestic flights are often carried out by Ugandan and other airlines.
There is no doubt that the leader of the Libyan Revolution Muammar Al-Gadhafi has glorified his country, and has done much for its residents. A section of the masses by virtue of a political mistake, did not appreciate such a "noble thing" and began to believe the Internet fraud and religious obscurantism of the fanatical sinusitis sects. By the way, the Internet is everywhere and in some places, free, and was developed specifically by the leader Gaddafi. Outside the ideological education of every person from birth, this led to the Arab masses for many hours to use this network not for self-development but, mainly for the consumption of video productions of a sexual nature (pornography).
We hope that events will give the possibility of such an outstanding leader as Muammar al-Gaddafi, to even more firmly fix the political situation, to eliminate system errors in order to promote further the march of the Libyan revolution on the right path of independence.
Ideological work to educate and rehabilitate the population can not be conducted on a case by case occasional basis. Education is a continuous process, and it ends only when the person being educated, dies. Lessons have been taught by the temporary defeat of socialism in some countries of Eastern Europe, and the lesson is being taught by the Libyan counter-revolution now.
===========================================
A. MAYEVSKY
We all watched with great interest the developments in Tunisia, then in Egypt and other countries of North Africa and the Mediterranean.
First, the people rebelled in Tunisia. Mass thousands of demonstrations, which lasted almost a month, have shaken the country. Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14 had fled to Saudi Arabia. The people celebrated their victory.
January 25 started mass protests of the people in Egypt. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered on the central Tahrir Square (Liberation) in Cairo, the streets and squares of other cities. The people's protest lasted 18 days and, finally, the protesters had their way – on February 11, Egyptian President Hosni Mubark renounced his post. The people rejoiced and exulted their victory.
The social cause of these protests are poverty, unemployment, hopelessness and despair of the masses.
Tunisia. December 17 Mohamed Bouaziz, the young merchant from the small town of Sidi Bou Said tried to end his life by self-immolation. Having a university education, he spent 5 years looking, but could not find work, except street trading vegetables. On the eve of the police took away his goods because of the lack of a license, depriving him of a livelihood. On January 4, Mohammed Bouaziz died. On December 22 another unemployed 22-year-old Hussein Nagi Felhi committed suicide by climbing on the power line and holding the high-voltage cable. Before his death, he cried out: "No to poverty! No to unemployment!”
In solidarity, thousands of young people took to the streets.
Tunisia is a young country, with more than half its population under the age of 30. Youth unemployment stands at 50%.Without work there is no future, so the first thing demanded of the authorities from protesting youth is work. The authorities responded to the demands of young people first, with police batons and tear gas, then bullets. But when people have nothing to lose, violence and repression cause the opposite effect. The protest began in the provinces, but the more people became victims and wounded, the more they covered the country, and reached the capital. To the slogans of social nature were added and political ones: against the corrupt regime of Ben Ali and the Trabelsi clan, for political freedom.
Ben Ali ruled the country since November 1987, declaring its aim "to build in Tunis a prosperous, open and peaceful society based on justice and tolerance." But it was the usual promise of bourgeois politics, a promise that is given to the people, when a politician eager for power, and which they immediately forget after they get into power.
The family of the president and his wife Leila Trabelsi privatized the economy and politics. Leila Trabelsi was called the Empress by Tunisians. She and her family control over all key enterprise: from the land and banks to telephone companies and Internet providers. Belhassen, the elder brother of the wife of President, is one of the richest people in the country, owns the airline and is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Tunisia, the most profitable bank in the country. Mohammed Sahr, the 30-year-old son in law of the ousted President is involved in trading of motor vehicles and real estate, agriculture, finance, media and owns a travel agency.
The global financial crisis has only accelerated the process of polarization of Tunisian society. Tunisia's economy is totally dependent on external market conditions and foreign investment. And when as a result of the crisis there was nothing to patch up the social holes, the situation exploded.
After news of the departure of Ben Ali of Tunisia, the country began rejoicing. Thousands of people greeted each other with victory. "That's our message all over the world: Do not be afraid of dictators!", said one of the participants of protest actions. But there is a more restrained assessment: "Do not rush to congratulate us! It has not ended, the most important thing lies ahead."
After Ben Ali's resignation, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi in a speech on television said that the government was temporarily transferred to him. But the next day, the Constitutional Council of Tunisia said that under the Constitution of the Speaker of Parliament Fuad Mbazaa shall become the Acting President. On January 15, he took the oath. But both represent the same ruling party that overthrew Ben Ali.
It has already been stated, that within two months in the country will be held early presidential elections.
Egypt. Jan. 25 start of mass protests in Egypt, which took place in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Asyut and other cities. The organizers of the protests made up of opposition groups of leftist, social-democratic orientation, called these actions a "day of rage" - "day of protest against torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment." People went onto the streets, using the appeals in social networks. Egyptian authorities took immediate action by blocking the Internet and mobile communications. And on the streets of Cairo were put 30,000 police officers. For the crackdown police used tear gas and water cannons. Protesters threw stones and debris of destroyed fences at police.
The general demands of the protesters - the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled the country since October 1981, the fair Elections and the social orientation of the economy. In the hands of the protesters could be seen the posters with slogans such as "Today, Tunisia - Egypt tomorrow," "We want bread, peace and respect!
Like in Tunisia, Egypt, workers live in poverty, and the ruling elite enjoy the luxury and wealth. According to the Human Development Index, Egypt occupies 101-s place out of 169 countries. At the same time, the family of Hosni Mubarak is one of the richest in the Middle East, with wealth, according to various estimates, amounting from 4 to 70 billion dollars, earned through the ruthless exploitation of the working people.
With increasing protests, the daily outpouring onto the squares and the streets of major cities in Egypt from the hundreds of thousands to a million or more protesters, this forced the police to abandon measures of violence against their own people. Egypt's armed forces occupied a position of neutrality and seeks to prevent the collision of warring parties, as onto the streets began to come out "supporters" of President Mubarak. Since the time of President Anwar Sadat, Egypt became openly pro-American, went on to conclude a peace treaty with Israel that led to its isolation in the Arab world. After the assassination of Sadat by Islamists in October 1981, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak began his rule, and pledged to adhere to the old foreign policy, i.e. steer a course towards further normalization of relations with Israel and its rapprochement with the West and to seek peace in the Middle East within the framework of the Camp David accords. Mubarak succeeded to a certain degree to restore Egypt's prestige and raise its international prestige, especially in the eyes of U.S. and the West. Egypt became second after Israel in the Middle East recipient of American aid, much of which is sent to the Armed Forces of Egypt. Israel is concerned with what's happening in Egypt, because Israelis fear the possibility of the Islamist organization the Muslim Brotherhood coming to power in Egypt, openly anti-Israel-anti-American.
Despite all the re-shuffles at the top leadership of the country and trying to hold on to power, the protesters forced Mubarak to step down. And here, during mass protests of the people, many fell victim. More than 300 people were killed and more than 5,000 wounded.
Power in the country passed into the hands of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt, whose representative immediately stated that the Supreme Military Council will comply with all agreements and commitments and to adopt democratic, that is, Western, principles and values. Currently, the Supreme Military Council dissolved Parliament, suspended the constitution, offering 10 days to re-write it and, within two months submit to a referendum, and banned public demonstrations.
Large protests also took place and are held in other Arab and Muslim countries: Yemen, Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Syria ... On 14 February, there was a mass protest in Iran with the same slogan: "Down with the dictator!" This refers to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a leading anti-American leader.
All this shows to where and against whom the present "revolutions" are aimed.
And although the Americans have been trying to distance itself from some of its influence on the ongoing mass protests of the people, reality tells a different story.
Thus, The Daily Telegraph wrote that the U.S. government secretly supported the main actors, who were behind the protests in Egypt and were planning a revolt over the last three years (Herald, 01/29/2011). In particular, the U.S. embassy in Cairo has helped a young dissident activists to attend a summit in New York, which was organized by the U.S. government. Simultaneously, the U.S. did everything to hide his real name from Egypt's secret service. Upon his return to Cairo in December 2008, the activist told U.S. diplomats that the opposition leaders developed a plan to overthrow Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and the subsequent creation of a government based on democratic principles. Egypt's security services managed to arrest him during these protests.
On January 20, during a teleconference with journalists, staff member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations, Stephen Cook said that he was going to Cairo and expects that the National Police Day, celebrated in Egypt on January 25 will result in mass protests. I.e. this employee was already aware of emerging actions and travelled to Cairo not in vain (Svobodanews.ru, 11.02.2011).
Many analysts and commentators of the events indicate that, for these protests to be carried out, there was no necessity for long-term training of young protest cadres of pro-American orientation, such as during the "colour revolutions" in Georgia and Ukraine, where large sums of money, time were to spend on them.
Now, the mobile communications and the Internet replaced the training for these protests. The youth communicate on the Internet, social networks, where they are quietly inculcated with the principles of Western democracy and bourgeois freedom and with these slogans, with demands for change over to a western model, and it was involved in these mass protests.
In this sense, is an interesting article by Roger Cohen, "The Arab Internet Revolution", published in the International Herald Tribune (USA) on January 28. The American journalist criticizes the book by Evgeny Morozov “Network illusions. The Dark Side of the Internet ", which appeared in stores at a time when the youth of Tunisia - noted the author of the paper - demonstrates the liberating power of social networking."
But from the article by Roger Cohen, we learn that Morozov, a 26-year-old Californian internet explorer (a native of Belarus), gives to the Internet a completely correct assessment. The cyber-utopians, and not the least of them, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have created a dangerous illusion, as if the world can come to democracy and freedom through blogs and services such as Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Google – such is the basic conclusion of the book by Morozov. In an era when "the most intelligent and talented geeks", the so-called "Google doctrine” has become, in the opinion of the author, a seductive trap. "They want - said Evgeny Morozov – so that people are interested in dating, pornography and celebrity gossip" - exactly what has most saturated the internet. And he himself, Roger Cohen does not deny the connection between Twitter and the U.S. government, more so, for example, during the demonstrations in Iran in 2009, when the U.S. State Department officials had openly been in contact with the leadership of this company.
"These lines I write, - said Roger Cohen, - after returning from Tunisia, where Facebook has given the young demonstrators strength, which enabled them to throw the dictator. Now before my eyes is footage from Youtube, in which courageous young Egyptians oppose President Hosni Mubarak's thugs with their batons and water cannons." "The organization, network activity, the discovery of banned ideas and information, debating skills and independence...are just some of the gifts of social networks to the predominantly young population of the Arab world." And Roger Cohen concludes: "No, the Tunisian revolution was made by the pro-Western middle class, and during it, Islamic slogans did not sound out. Onto the streets of Cairo came young pragmatic people, alien ideologies .... "
In my opinion, this article by Roger Cohen openly demonstrates that the popular unrest in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries was controlled and directed into the track needed by U.S. imperialism. In the same article is quoted Hillary Clinton, saying that the U.S. priority is "the mobilization of communication technologies and their use in our diplomatic purposes." Candid enough.
Just like in Georgia and Ukraine "colour revolutions" occurred according to the western scenario, and with American money, just as is the massive popular unrest in the Arab world.
The overthrown Tunisian and Egyptian rulers were loyal servants of U.S. imperialism, the conductors of American influence, US-Israeli policy in the Arab world and the Middle East. But when the throne underneath them began swaying due to anti-national social policy, mass unemployment, poverty and misery of the people, the American puppet masters began to direct the righteous anger of the people in the direction towards them, but with the use of the latest developments of information industry, mobile communications and the Internet. That, among other things, allows them to remain as it were, behind the scenes.
The arrival to power in Egypt of th eSupreme Council of the Armed Forces is completely under American influence, because Egypt's armed forces receive the second largest, after Israel's multibillion-dollar aid to equip the army with weapons and military equipment, of course, American-made. It is clear that the Supreme Military Council and would continue to pursue pro-American policy, a policy of cooperation with Egypt, Israel and the betrayal of the interests of Arab peoples.
But on the other hand, this does not mean that the Marxist revolutionary forces must stand apart from the actions and outpouring of the people onto the streets. After all, we also have here a classic revolutionary situation, according to Lenin, when the lower classes do not want to live in the old, and the top can no longer operate under the old, where hatred of the people of the ruling regime is so great that people are willing to face death, which was place in Tunisia and Egypt, than to remain in the powerless, hopeless situation. But in order for mass popular action to really take on a revolutionary proletarian character, when one group of the bourgeoisie at the top of the power are not replaced by another group of such oppressors of the people, but when working people really come to power, the working class comes to power, the presence of the subjective factor in the people's revolution - a proletarian Revolutionary Party, which is closely related to the masses.
The establishment of close ties with Marxist revolutionary organizations in the Arab world, as well as the whole world, is the most important task of our Party – the AUCPB - in the international arena.
Russia: a climate of insecurity and fear dominates
On January 24, the day before the mass demonstrations in Egypt, in Moscow's Domodedovo airport, a bomb attack occurred. In the centre of a hall room, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device. The explosion killed 36 people. More than a hundred were wounded.
As noted by observers, this is the 26 th terrorist attack in Moscow over the past 15 years, during which more than 600 people have been killed.
The authorities immediately began to take measures to restore order to the security of citizens. But the number of attacks speaks for itself. Moreover, explosions rattle and terror attacks are carried out in other regions of Russia, especially in the North Caucasus. The Russian authorities cannot ensure security to its citizens.
The question arises: who benefits from, and who is behind these terrorist attacks?
The answer is obvious. This is beneficial to itself the ruling regime in Russia, the Medvedev-Putin regime of large oligarchic capital. Enormous accumulation of wealth at one pole and misery and poverty on the other inevitably leads to the aggravation of social tensions, and sooner or later, lead to social upheaval.
To avoid this, the government is trying to take away responsibility for the situation in society, from itself and point out the "enemies" - those same underprivileged people, only of other nationalities, and aims to incite hatred of Russians towards inhabitants of the Caucasus, Orthodox Muslims, etc. This is a common tactic of the bourgeoisie: divide and conquer.
Under the guise of fighting terrorism and extremism in a charged with fear community, in an atmosphere of insecurity and fear, the regime would be able to "tighten the screws" bring about repression in the first place, against revolutionary forces, class conscious representatives of the working class, fighting for the revival of our great Soviet Socialist homeland.
Of course, "friends" of Russia - the U.S. imperialists and the West pour oil on fire, and nurture, fund and provide everything necessary for the terrorist activities of various extremist groups and elements. And here is used the same imperialist tactic - divide and conquer! To incite the people of Russia against each other, to create a society in an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear that inevitably weakens Russia, and then give her "assistance" under the guise of combating terrorism, interfering in internal affairs and enslaving Russia.
Ukraine: the bourgeoisie oppress, the people tolerate
Recently, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a decision to hold the next parliamentary elections in October 2012 and presidential elections - in March 2015. The bourgeois power group has secured a quiet comfortable life for almost two years. Hence, they had no need to make any promises to the people, and with vengeance to take advantage in power and build up their capital.
That is what the bourgeoisie does. As we have said before, all laws are being prepared for adoption or have already been adopted: Tax, Labor, Housing, Pension Reform, Land Reform, the Parliament has adopted the laws and decisions of the government and so the burden of overcoming the crisis lays firmly on the shoulders of the working people.
Prime Minister Azarov declared a total collapse of the housing and communal system of the country, noting that 80% of the networks, water pipes, sewers are in disrepair. And he stated the inevitability of "difficult reforms." What this means is clear to everyone. The reform of public utilities, as well as all other reforms will be implemented at the expense of working people, by the further increase of tariffs for housing services. But they both growing. Goskomstat recorded 14% increase in utility rates in 2010 and announced that this year's rates will rise at least another 30%. But this is the official data. The reality is much worse. From February 1, increased electricity charges, from 1 April last year, a scheduled 50% rise in price of gas for domestic use.
On the rapid rise in food prices and one say nothing. That one, each of us sees going to the store and the market.
In one of his speeches, President Yanukovich set a "ambitious" goal - to reach by 2020, a population growth of Ukraine up to ... 50 million people. But now the population of Ukraine is less than 46 million and last year alone it fell by another 170,000 (official data). At what expense is the president is going to achieve such growth. An increase in payments for extra child births will not achieve it. Mass unemployment, the total lack of prospects for young people, the rapid growth of prices and rates with extremely low salaries and student grants, there are no opportunities for young people to purchase housing (except for the youth elite, because they live in a completely different world), etc. All this speaks of the unreality of presidential plans. The trend seen is quite different - a further decrease in population.
But even if the president's plans are suddenly realized.
In 1992, at the beginning of the bourgeois reforms and independence, Ukraine had a population of 52 million 250 thousand people. (And annually in Soviet Ukraine, the population grew). And after 30 years - 50 million?!
***
During the mass uprisings in Egypt, hundreds of thousands of tourists were forced to interrupt their vacation on the azure shores of the Mediterranean and quickly return home, wondering and indignant at what was happening.
In Moscow, citizens scared to death ask a rhetorical question: what is happening in Russia, why innocent people are killed.
In Ukraine, however, workers are still silent. But this silence is increasingly developing into a dull murmur of discontent.
But all of this is phenomena of the same order.
Before our eyes, world imperialism and the world of the omnipotence of capital and money-bags is collapsing. And to delay its inevitable collapse, there will continue to be terrorist attacks in Russia, no matter how often President Medvedev visits railway stations and airports, there will continue to be the uprising of the masses against tyranny and poverty, which the modern puppeteers, using new technology will deviate to one side, placing around the neck of the people one set of rulers, exploiters by another set, that pleases the West, the cash cow.
Putting an end to war, terror and poverty can only be done by destroying imperialism, the source. Already no one can sit in the close nook of the family, comfortable little world, where personal interests and personal welfare are above all.
Only by a united struggle of the vast masses of people under the revolutionary banner of Marxism-Leninism can we win and wipe out the hated system of the power of capital, the system of exploitation, war, violence and robbery.
A. MAYEVSKY, secretary of the CC AUCPB
==================================================
ALSO
THE JUCHE IDEA AND THE LESSONS OF THE LIBYAN COUNTER REVOLUTION
A couple of years ago, a number of senior officials, including the author of the Diary, had seen with their own eyes a number of towns and cities in the coastal area of Libya. During a discussion of practical issues of interstate cooperation, a personal meeting with the leader of the Libyan Revolution Muammar al-Gaddafi was requested. After addressing these issues and the transfer of greetings and best wishes of the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il to the Arab revolutionary Gaddafi, the conversation turned to a lengthy discussion of ideological and theoretical problems. Everything that was examined on that day has been confirmed by events at this historic juncture.
It is obvious that the causes of the counterrevolutionary riots in Libya should be sought not only in external forces, as rightly pointed out by the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, but in the first place - in the collapse of ideological work among the population, and the substitution of party and political work to rehabilitate people, by way of senseless ideological dogmatism and purely financial incentives.
Herein lies the fundamental flaw in the so-called "third world theory" set forth in the "Green Book" by Muammar al-Qaddafi, and one that for a long time was pointed out to him personally by President Kim Il Sung .
The "Third World theory" is influenced by anarchism, by postulating the elimination of state and party, as such, and the immediate transition to general self-rule in the form of people's congresses and people's committees. In view of this point, the question of support of the subject of the revolution has remained unresolved, which from a scientific point of view is always the totality of the masses, the Party, army and the Leader.
Under the people’s leader Gaddafi, the Libyan masses reached such standard of living that, let us say, the population of the former Soviet republics seemed completely unattainable. The citizens were so spoiled that obtaining through the system of people's committees, people's congresses and charities all that they needed, they were not able to work in production, preferring to live off a significant benefit.
On the income from so-called "oil and gas," Muammar Al-Gaddafi, I must say, built comfortable multi-storey homes and handed out apartments that were rent and electricity free to all those who wished. Petrol in the country was dirt cheap, and in every family there were 2 or 3 new cars purchased. Newly weds were at the same time immediately given tens of thousands of dollars. Education abroad for children of any family was provided free of charge. Medicine, education were completely free of charge, and an incredible number of European doctors were imported into the country for the highly skilled treatment of the people. Basic foodstuffs were purchased for next to nothing, and the so-called "business" of major taxes, VAT-s and other levies, abolished.
In the absence of a stable system of education of the people, this fair social policy of Muammar Al-Gadhafi created a mass of parasites, lacking world outlook, and by the logic of class struggle, they were bound to descend to the positions of counter-revolution – imagining themselves as "potential millionaires", targeting their goals to the level of wealth of so-called "Sheikhs" and "kings" of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf.
One should openly state, that it is very rare to see a Libyan working in Libya.
During the daytime, almost the entire population of the capital Tripoli is relaxing by the sea. A giant beach cuts the Libyan coast from end to end, and is a continuous chain of bungalows, attractions, “kebab stalls" filled with people in the midst of every working day.
In the city of Tripoli one often face situations when you can not buy basic things due to the fact that shops are closed and their employees are too lazy to even sell their products. Based on extensive experience of working in other parts of the Arab region, it has to be said that Libya is one of the few Arab countries (if not the only country), where street vendors do not try to constantly haggle with the buyer. It shows in the first place, lack of desire to engage in any work, even including trade, customary to Arab masses on the basis of national identity.
Basic material production culture in Libya is made by the hands of foreigners.
Foreign workers and office staff support the excellent infrastructure all created through the efforts of the leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. For example, domestic flights are often carried out by Ugandan and other airlines.
There is no doubt that the leader of the Libyan Revolution Muammar Al-Gadhafi has glorified his country, and has done much for its residents. A section of the masses by virtue of a political mistake, did not appreciate such a "noble thing" and began to believe the Internet fraud and religious obscurantism of the fanatical sinusitis sects. By the way, the Internet is everywhere and in some places, free, and was developed specifically by the leader Gaddafi. Outside the ideological education of every person from birth, this led to the Arab masses for many hours to use this network not for self-development but, mainly for the consumption of video productions of a sexual nature (pornography).
We hope that events will give the possibility of such an outstanding leader as Muammar al-Gaddafi, to even more firmly fix the political situation, to eliminate system errors in order to promote further the march of the Libyan revolution on the right path of independence.
Ideological work to educate and rehabilitate the population can not be conducted on a case by case occasional basis. Education is a continuous process, and it ends only when the person being educated, dies. Lessons have been taught by the temporary defeat of socialism in some countries of Eastern Europe, and the lesson is being taught by the Libyan counter-revolution now.
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Sunday, 6 March 2011
WREATH LAYING IN MEMORY OF J.V.STALIN
IN MEMORY OF J.V. STALIN, WREATH LAYING IN VLADIKAVKAS
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=674:2011-03-06-11-38-09&catid=15:2010-09-19-12-33-59&Itemid=42
MOSCOW
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=673:-5-&catid=15:2010-09-19-12-33-59&Itemid=42
KRASNOYARSK
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=672:2011-03-06-05-04-33&catid=15:2010-09-19-12-33-59&Itemid=42
NOVOSIBIRSK
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=670:-5-&catid=15:2010-09-19-12-33-59&Itemid=42
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=674:2011-03-06-11-38-09&catid=15:2010-09-19-12-33-59&Itemid=42
MOSCOW
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=673:-5-&catid=15:2010-09-19-12-33-59&Itemid=42
KRASNOYARSK
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=672:2011-03-06-05-04-33&catid=15:2010-09-19-12-33-59&Itemid=42
NOVOSIBIRSK
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=670:-5-&catid=15:2010-09-19-12-33-59&Itemid=42
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