Workers' Liberty

The scale of the current crisis has as much to do with poverty and injustice as with 'nature'.

Zely Ariane is the secretary-general of the People’s Democratic Party (PRD), the only openly socialist party in Indonesia. The party played a central role in the movement to overthrow Suharto in 1998. It is the only party supporting the right of the Acehnese people to self-determination. Ariane spoke to Australian socialist paper Green Left Weekly about her recent visit to Aceh.

Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC), made up of 26 labor organisations including trade unions, labour federations and congresses and NGOs, is receiving donations from its members and the public to help affected workers from the tsunami in Thailand.

While articles in Solidarity 64 and 65 on the politics behind tsunami aid and recovery have addressed general issues concerning the stinginess of western governments to give, and the inept and corrupt agencies on the ground in affected areas, a number of key political issues have escaped attention.

Report abridged from Green Left Weekly 9 February 2005
Zely Ariane is the secretary-general of the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD), the only openly socialist party in Indonesia. It played a central role in the movement to overthrow Suharto in 1998. It is t he only party supporting the right of the Acehnese people to self-determination. Ariane spoke to Australian socialist paper Green Left Weekly her recent visit to Aceh.

Since late 1999, there has been a strong movement in favour of holding a referendum to determine Aceh’s future status, as the peaceful way of solving the conflict.

On the initiative of former president Abdurrahman Wahid, negotiations were held between the Indonesian Government and GAM, leading to a “Humanitarian Pause” in June 2000, loosely supervised by the Henri Dunant Centre in Geneva. The armed forces were never happy about this accord and the Pause barely affected the level of killings, which steadily mounted. The talks have now been suspended indefinitely.

From a statement by the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) of Indonesia.

Promises of aid from richer countries to the countries hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 have increased. Australia now heads the list, promising US$800 million. The USA has increased its initial offer of $35 million to $350 million, and on 6 January, embarrassed, dissolved its so-called “core group” of aid-giving US allies in favour of UN coordination.

Notes from North London AWL branch meeting, 18 January

Political report: Murder of IFTU's Hadi Salih

Tubeworker of 20/01/05 proposes a "no" vote to the hours-and-pay deal for signal operators and control staff. It also carries an article about the tsunami disaster, and workplace reports include an update on LUL's "Equalisation Process", and news of forthcoming local ballots for industrial action.

Read the text below, or click 'download' to read and download Tubeworker as a PDF.

There has been a huge response from trade unionists worldwide. Here is a selection of sites and appeal information.

General information

Updates on trade union appeals and news

Suggested resolution for trade union branches on the 26/12/04 tsunami disaster

This union expresses our deepest sympathy with the victims of the Asian earthquake and tsunami. The scale of the disaster and the suffering caused has shocked and moved us all.

Socialists and trade unionists in the Indian Ocean countries hit by the 26 December Indian Ocean tsunami have called for more aid from rich countries, cancellation of debts owed by the victim countries, and an end to the blockage of aid by the local military.

Vast numbers of people were killed straight off by the tsunami. That could have been avoided. What can still be avoided is a similar death toll from the aftermath.

The Sri Lankan Trotskyist organisation NSSP has issued this appeal following the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004.