International

On June 27, Canada's new Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird visited Benghazi, Libya on a so-called fact-finding mission. While there, it is reported that he signed a Canadian bomb with the message: "Free Libya. Democracy." Writing in the Globe and Mail, John Ibbitson adds: "someone else had already written another message on the bomb: 'This postal service don't strike.'"

TML Weekly vehemently denounces this uncouth behaviour on the part of Canada's Foreign Minister which takes up where the talk about "killing scumbags" left off. The reports of Baird's depraved actions in signing the bomb and his desire to link the destruction of Libyan infrastructure with the Conservatives' "victory" in forcing the postal workers back to work show that the Workers' Opposition cannot afford to leave Canada's foreign affairs up to these nation-wreckers.

Television reports show these precision guided missiles destroying trucks, planes, and all kinds of infrastructure, not to mention Libyans themselves, whose deaths at the hands of NATO attacks are usually not shown. Reports recently indicate that NATO is targetting Libyan oil refineries under the pretext of "protecting civilians."

The destruction being inflicted by the Canadian Forces against Libya shows the urgent necessity for the workers to establish an anti-war government. It is the social product produced by the Canadian working class and people which is being used to finance the destruction of the lives and productive capacity of the Libyan people. Talk about "human rights," "a humanitarian mission" or "preventing genocide" cannot cover up the reality that Canada is involved in a brutal bombing campaign against Libya, just as it is allegedly winding down the war in Afghanistan.

Get Canada Out of Libya! Get Canada Out of NATO!
All Out to Establish an Anti-War Government!

Mass Rallies in Tripoli Oppose NATO Aggression

On July 1, a massive rally in the symbolic Green Square of Tripoli, Libya denounced the NATO aggression against the country, with estimates of a million and more people participating. With a population of about 6.5 million, even modest estimates by pro-war media outlets of tens of thousands constitute a substantial percentage of the Libyan population and specifically Tripoli's population of approximately 1.7 million people. Since then, demonstration after demonstration has taken place in the Green Square and other areas, including Sabha on July 8. Many of these anti-NATO gatherings have run late into the night, and featured lively crowds affirming the right of the Libyan people to decide their own affairs. Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadhafi and government representatives have addressed these rallies despite foreign propaganda that the so-called rebels are poised to take the city. Vivid pictures of a sea of people waving the green Libyan flag or wrapped in that colour have appeared around the world and belie all efforts of NATO and its propaganda machine to paint its aggression in the garb of legitimacy.

Libyans Rally in Tripoli's Historic Green Square, July 1, 2011.

Recently, the monopoly-owned media and various pundits have begun to liken the situation in Libya to that of Iraq and Afghanistan, indicating that as in those countries, imperialist aggression has failed to establish the rule of a foreign dictate. While the NATO propaganda machine daily claims success in Libya, the facts on the ground are far less favourable. What was supposed to be a brief military mission that, according to Obama, would topple the Libyan government within days and see so-called rebel action supported by an uprising of the Libyan people has failed to realize any of these results. The government, far from being toppled, is becoming a rallying point for Libyans opposed to the foreign interference in the country and is harnessing the nationalist, anti-imperialist sentiment of a people who did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives against the Italian colonialists in the early 1900s and through World War II.

The Green Square is the symbol of the heroic resistance of the Libyan people to the Italian colonialists. Omar Al-Mokhtar, a hero of the Libyan nationalist struggle for nearly twenty years, was executed there in 1931 by the Italian fascists who hoped to quash the aspiration of the Libyan people to affirm their right to self-determination. Rather than accomplishing this aim, however, the Libyan people succeeded in their resistance and the Square to this day is a powerful symbol of Libyan independence. It is uncanny that, like NATO today, the Italian colonialists also claimed humanitarian reasons for their interference in the country; they supposedly wanted to "liberate" its people from Ottoman rule.

Anti-colonial, anti-fascist Libyan hero Omar Al-Mukhtar. Pictured right in custody of Mussolini's Italian
fascist army. He was executed in Tripoli's Green Square in 1931.

NATO, which began its aerial bombing of the country on March 19, had to extend its 90-day mission for another 90 days. For all the talk of its defeat in days, not weeks, the Libyan government has withstood almost four months of attack by the most powerful military bloc in the world. Meanwhile, despite the United Nations arms embargo against Libya, member states of NATO, such as France, were sending arms to the anti-government forces in a desperate bid to prop up their allies against the formidable military action of the government while NATO was providing aerial support for the "rebels" to advance on Tripoli.

According to the imperialist dictate, so long as Gadhafi remained, there would be no negotiations. The Harper government and the U.S. continuously rejected negotiations, choosing violence, civilian deaths and large-scale wrecking of Libya's basic infrastructure. Yet their bravado and claims of success were belied after the Libya Contact Group meeting in Turkey yesterday where, among others, the U.S. agreed to begin negotiating a ceasefire with the Libyan government. That meeting of the Libya Contact Group, which Russia and China declined to attend, also recognized the so-called rebels as the “sole legitimate authority” in Libya and promised to funnel Libyan government assets frozen in Euro-American banks to them.

Only time will show exactly what is taking place in Libya, given the often contradictory reports. What is clear, however, is that the Libyan people are not interested in playing ball with the likes of NATO. They will not for one second conciliate on the national question, nor will they permit that foreign powers decide their future. Whether Gadhafi stays or the Libyan government changes must be decided by the Libyan people themselves, without any foreign interference in the form of NATO military action or support for the so-called rebels.

Recent Events

On March 17, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1973 by a vote of 10 in favour to none against, with 5 abstentions (Brazil, China, Germany, India and the Russian Federation). This resolution authorized member states "to take all necessary measures to protect civilians under threat of attack in the country, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory -- requesting them to immediately inform the Secretary-General of such measures." The resolution supposedly legalized the imposition by member states of a no-fly zone over Libya and an arms embargo against the country.

Almost immediately, the U.S. began the military aggression and soon after handed over the mission to NATO with Canada in command. Indeed, even before the resolution had been passed, Canadian warships and other NATO military forces had made their way to Libya. Since the resolution was self-servingly passed by a Security Council composed of the very countries wanting to militarily intervene in Libya, the situation in the country has quickly unfolded as a foreign-engineered civil war with one side, the so-called rebels or opposition, backed by the major imperialist powers against the Libyan government. Under the guise of protecting civilians from government repression, the imperialist NATO alliance has caused untold damage and killed hundreds of civilians in its efforts to dominate Libya with its rich oil resources and geopolitical significance. Since air strikes began in March, NATO has flown more than 14,931 missions, some 5,623 of which involved airstrikes. Canadian CF-18s were involved in about 523 missions and dropped about 399 laser-guided bombs, sources reveal.

NATO Crimes

On July 8, news outlets reported that NATO had bombed Libyan oil facilities for the first time since the aggression began in March. As the fighting intensified between the Libyan government and the foreign-backed opposition, the airstrikes hit the highly-lucrative, government-controlled complex at Brega, one of the countries' biggest petrochemical complexes and port for export. Control of Brega and the adjoining city of Ras Lanuf has changed hands several times since the fighting began, while Tripoli remains un-breached. As of July 15, it has been reported that the rebels are trying to recapture Brega, again with NATO aerial support. The use of military power to support the rebels is also outside the mandate established by the relevant Security Council resolution.

According to NATO, this targeting of infrastructure and the economic assets of the Libyan people was designed to prevent government troops from mounting a defence against the "rebels." NATO had explained the targeting of hospitals with similar hollow arguments. In the Libyan capital, Deputy Foreign Minister, Khaled Kaim pointed out that NATO's increased bombings represented the "final phase" of the air campaign which aims not at protecting civilians but rather to clear a path for the opposition's military action on the ground to succeed against the government. Indeed, as of July 7, while the foreign-backed "rebels" advanced on Tripoli, NATO intensified its aerial bombing of the area clearly in an effort to provide aerial support for their ground advance.

Meanwhile, on July 7, news outlets carried announcements by France that it had delivered arms and ammunition to the rebels in the Nafusa Mountains in early June. This was another clear instance of foreign interference in a civil war to back one party against another. It is also directly in violation of Security Council Resolution 1973 which established an arms embargo against all parties in Libya. The African Union, Russia, China and others condemned this move.

International Organizations Concerned by Growing Humanitarian Crisis

In related news, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed its alarm at the humanitarian situation in Libya. On Tuesday, July 5, the ICRC informed that health care and food supplies are deteriorating in Libya. According to the ICRC, medicine and equipment for treating patients with chronic diseases like diabetes or cancer are increasingly in short supply and many facilities require spare parts. Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Libya's system for procuring life-saving medicines and vaccines has broken down, and supplies are dwindling on both sides. Both the ICRC and WHO expressed concern at the humanitarian consequences of NATO-backed opposition forces extending the fighting into Tripoli as that would only worsen the situation for all Libyans. "We haven't identified a food crisis in government-controlled areas. [...] Every family receives food subsidies [from the Libyan government], which are of great value, for a month," WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told reporters, adding that, "Government wages are still paid, including to those who are displaced, through the banking system. This still works." He also explained that, "There has been a huge psychological impact on the whole population which never thought they would see their country at war." Clearly, the collapse of the Libyan government is of huge concern for the ICRC, WHO and other international aid organizations due to the food, health care and financial crisis that would hit Libyans dependent on the food rations and wages still guaranteed by the government.

Meanwhile, reports are emerging of the human rights abuses being committed by the so-called rebels. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that in four towns captured by rebels in the Nafusa Mountains over the past month they had damaged property, burned homes, looted hospitals, homes and shops, and beaten people suspected of supporting the government. The latest reports appear to confirm concerns expressed by an Amnesty researcher who visited rebel-held areas in May. Donatella Rovera reported that rebels had formed death squads in Benghazi to dispatch alleged employees of Libya's Internal Security Agency and that at least three men had been killed in "chilling summary-execution style attacks." Ms. Rovera said that "many" migrant workers from sub-Saharan Africa had suffered the same fate.

Political Efforts to Resolve the Crisis

The African Union's calls for negotiations and a ceasefire not aggression to resolve the situation in Libya had been oft reiterated and oft rejected by NATO countries. Russia and China have added their voice in support of negotiations and for a ceasefire, with officials from both countries in discussions with their Libyan government counterparts. In the past week, some negotiations have in fact started. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been in discussions with Libyan government officials, including with Prime Minister Al Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoud to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation and for a transition towards peace in Libya. Ban urged support for UN Special Envoy for Libya Abdul Ilah Al-Khatib, who is in consultations with the government in Tripoli. Reports had also trickled in that last week negotiations had been taking place between France and the Libyan government.

In this context, the Libya Contact Group met on Friday, July 15 in Istanbul. This group was established in London on March 29 to coordinate the efforts of various players on the situation in Libya. It includes NATO member countries, the United Nations, the Arab League, the Libyan rebels and the European Union. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird attended this meeting.

Following this meeting, this self-appointed group held a press conference where it issued a statement recognizing the opposition’s National Transitional Council (NTC) as the sole and legitimate authority in Libya. The UN Special Envoy to Libya, Abdelilah Al-Khatib, has been authorized as the sole representative to communicate with the Libyan government. The group also called for the formation of an interim government once a ceasefire is realized. Al-Khatib is apparently mandated by the group to negotiate with the Libyan government the terms of such a ceasefire. This highlights the difficulties NATO and its allies are facing in defeating the Libyan government, since the previously established condition of Gaddafi leaving government before any negotiations take place has now apparently been waived even by hard-liners such as U.S. Secretary of State Clinton.

Franco Frattini, Italian Foreign Minister, said, "Only one group will negotiate and the group is led by Mr. Al-Khatib. Member states decided -- all the member states -- that we pass the same message to Tripoli, in case there are further attempts to have confidential mediations, or negotiation." In this manner, efforts of the Libyan government to reach out to various NATO and European countries by sending messages and officials to communicate directly with each government are to be blocked through this so-called member consensus. The basis for membership in this group is of course arbitrary, and does not include the many sectors of the international community opposed to the imperialist agenda for Libya.

The statement issued after the meeting also encouraged the theft of Libyan government assets, held in the banks of various Contact Group member countries, in order to funnel the money to the National Transitional Council. In this way, the rebels are now to be directly funded by the imperialist powers with the Libyan people’s money as collateral for new debts that will be issued or as a direct source of the funds. Now, Washington can help fund the NTC with some of the more than $30 billion in assets from the Libyan government currently frozen in U.S. banks. In this manner, the imperialist powers are to further interfere in the sovereign affairs of Libya by redirecting the people’s money to one party in the civil war.

In response to the Contact Group statements, another mass rally took place against foreign interference in Zlitan. Gaddafi, still head of the Libyan state, denounced the Contact Group's unilateral declaration of the NTC as the sole legitimate authority in the country. He told the crowd that they can trample such declarations beneath their feet.

African Union Opposes International Criminal Court Mandate

The African Union (AU) strongly rejected the request by chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that arrest warrants for war crimes be issued against Muammar Gadhafi, his son Saif al-Islam and the Head of Libya's Intelligence Service, Abdullah al-Senussi. The AU pointed out that this serves only to confirm the role of the ICC as a useful instrument of imperial aggression, domination and propaganda. The 53-member alliance, representing all the countries of Africa, called into question the legitimacy of the ICC and its arrest warrant. AU official Jean Ping called the ICC "discriminatory" for targeting only Africans while ignoring the crimes committed by the Euro-American states in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The AU has also condemned France for its blatant violation of the already illegitimate Security Council Resolution 1973 by dropping weapons to the so-called Libyan rebels. The African Congress Youth League, among other African institutions, also added its voice to the condemnation.

CARICOM Denounces NATO War Crimes

In recent news, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) condemned the NATO aggression after its 32nd Regular Meeting of the Conference of Caribbean Heads of Government in St. Kitts, held from July 1 to 4. They called for a cease-fire and pointed out that the NATO war crimes have even violated Security Council Resolution 1973 in targeting civilians, their infrastructure and residential areas. The communiqué issued at the end of the conference stated that CARICOM heads of government "deplored the increasing loss of innocent life as the conflict in Libya becomes drawn out [and] called for a ceasefire as well as the early convening of negotiations. In this regard, they expressed support for the African Union in their search for a peaceful resolution of the dispute."

Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, added that the people of Dominica stand with the Libyan people facing this assault. CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr. Denzil Llewellyn Douglas also condemned the attacks, pointing out the racist nature of the propaganda against this strategic African country. He linked the attack to wanting to block the pivotal work of the Libyan government to strengthen the African Union, as well as to controlling the country's oil.

22nd Pastors for Peace Friendshipment
Caravan Underway

Caravan participants and supporters at the BC-Washington border, July 3, 2011.

On June 25 the first Canadian route of the 22nd Pastors for Peace Caravan began in Victoria, British Columbia. Another section of the caravan made its way across Ontario, while another traversed the prairies. This year the caravan, made up of more than 100 volunteers from Canada and the U.S. will again defy the U.S. government's criminal embargo of Cuba, travelling via 15 different routes to visit 130 cities in six provinces and 46 states. The routes will converge on McAllen, Texas on July 17 for the crossing into Mexico on July 20 to begin the final leg of its journey to Cuba with 100 tons of humanitarian aid in the form of construction tools and materials, educational and medical supplies and medicines.

Participating in the caravan and defiance of the U.S. embargo has particular significance for Canadians because of the extraterritorial nature of the blockade. In place since 1962, the blockade is such that the U.S. gives itself the right to dictate to other countries what their relations with Cuba should be. Thus, it is not only part of interfering in Cuba's internal affairs but impinges on the sovereignty and foreign policy of Canada and all other countries which have normal relations with Cuba.

This year's caravan will celebrate and honour the achievements of young people in Cuba. While in Cuba, the caravanistas as the participants are known, will learn about the daily lives of Cuban youth and Cuban society, through visits to organic gardens, neighbourhood projects, health centres and schools.

"The caravan will travel to Cuba via Mexico, without asking for or accepting a U.S. government license, as a peaceful, disciplined act of civil disobedience against the blockade and travel ban, and as ambassadors for a 'people-to-people' foreign policy based on mutual respect," says a news release from Pastors for Peace.

According to President of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization Rev. Thomas E. Smith, "The current licensing system is both immoral and illegal, because it requires people of faith to submit their acts of conscience and friendship to government licensing, and violates our right to freedom of religious expression, political thought, association and travel."

"The Obama administration has made some small changes in U.S.-Cuba policy, but they are not nearly enough." says Ellen Bernstein, IFCO's acting co-director. "The U.S. economic blockade has caused the Cuban economy to lose over 750 billion dollars at current values. Millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars continue to fund programs to create instability in Cuba and overthrow the Cuban government. It's time to stop punishing our neighbours!"

This year's caravan also commemorates the life of Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr.. Rev. Walker was the founding director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace, leading its work for the last 20 years. He passed away in September 2010.

Speaking to Prensa Latina, Rodolfo Benitez Verson, Cuba's charge d'affaires at the UN, pointed out Rev. Walker's legacy as "a man of steely determination, a spirit of struggle and absolute faith in victory." He referred to Walker as a leading advocate for the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba, including ending the travel ban imposed on U.S. citizens who want to visit Cuba and for the release of the Cuban Five, unjustly imprisoned in U.S. jails.

Benitez said that "the most valuable cargo that Lucius and the Pastors for Peace have brought to Cuba for over 20 years has undoubtedly been their solidarity and friendship."

TML salutes the defiant spirit of the Friendshipment Caravan and the outstanding contributions of Rev. Walker and all those who oppose the U.S. attempts to interfere in Cuba and are fighting for international relations based on mutual respect and benefit.

The routes and stops for the 2011 Friendshipment Caravan.

British Columbia

On Sunday July 3, over 70 peace and social justice-minded people from across the province of British Columbia and the state of Washington united at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in White Rock/Blaine to give a send off to a contingent of this year's caravan. The border crossing was organized by Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC), the newly formed BC Aid Network for Cuba (BCANC), as well as other Cuba solidarity organizations and individuals from Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, Victoria, Nanaimo, Salt Spring Island, Courtney/Comox, Penticton, Bellingham, Tacoma, Seattle and Olympia. Before heading to the border on July 3, the Caravan visited Victoria, Salt Spring Island, Nanaimo, Courtenay/Comox, Penticton and Vancouver.

After an energetic picnic and program, everyone picked up banners, signs and Cuban flags to march to the border crossing. Chanting "Lift the Blockade on Cuba!" and "Cuba Si! Bloqueo No!" caravan supporters followed a van full of humanitarian aid collected by the BCANC to the crossing. The protest continued with chanting and singing, while the van was pulled over and searched by U.S. border guards. Meanwhile six caravanistas crossed from Canada into the U.S.: four from Vancouver, one from Victoria and one from Germany.

News was soon received that the van carrying the humanitarian aid for Cuba was denied entry at the border crossing. Border guards claimed the aid was actually goods for commercial use and therefore needed to be brought into the U.S. through the commercial truck crossing.

The humanitarian aid was again refused entry at the commercial truck crossing and the caravanistas were told they would have to pay a bond for the aid before crossing into the United States.

Caravan supporters arrived quickly on the scene and began chanting, "Let the aid through!" and "The U.S. Blocked Our Aid to Cuba! Shame! Shame! Shame!" Caravan supporters and caravanistas were adamant that no bond money would be given to the U.S. Customs -- on the second year of the Caravan, a bond of $800 was paid to the United States government and not returned when the aid left the U.S.

Ultimately, seven caravanistas successfully crossed the border into Washington with all the aid bound for Cuba without paying any bond.

Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta

In Winnipeg, members of the Manitoba-Cuba solidarity community and the members of the Charleswood Mennonite Church held a fundraising event on July 2. They provided generous donations of goods for Cuba, including a number of reconditioned wheel chairs and also the means for the caravan to make its way further along its journey.

In Regina, the local Regina Peace Council and the strong Chilean community gathered for a potluck supper in support of the caravan on July 3.

The next day the caravan reached Edmonton, where an event was organized by "Not Just Tourists" with lots of support from the local Salvadoran and Chilean communities. Entertainment was provided by the Nortre Dames de Bananes Choir and the Raging Grannies who sang an original song about the Pastors for Peace. The caravan received donations of medical supplies to take to Cuba.

In Calgary, the caravanistas were again enthusiastically welcomed. Their stay included an evening gathering and BBQ with Cuban cusine. The event proceeded well into the night and wrapped up with labour songs in Spanish and English. Much support from the Calgary Chilean community added great spirit to the evening.

From Calgary, the caravanistas made their way across the border with Montana. The participants were pleased to report that, "Amazingly, when we stopped at the border, we were asked no questions and we were on our way in less than 30 seconds with a 'Have a nice day!' from the border inspector."

Ontario

Arriving in Ottawa on July 3, the caravan was hosted with a fundraising dinner with El Salvadoran food and Latin American music, where many came out to meet and talk with the caravanistas.

In Kingston on July 4, at the annual fundraising dinner for the caravan, community members once again made generous donations of medical supplies which were loaded up at the event.

In Toronto, a fundraising event featuring speakers, food, a raffle and the Cuban Consul General in Toronto Jorge Soberón Luis was hosted by the Don Heights Unitarian Congregation on July 5.

Hamilton, July 6, 2011. Left to right: Brian Gordon Sinclair, Rev. Thomas Smith (Pastors for Peace) and Cuban Consul General in Toronto Jorge Soberón Luis.

In Hamilton, the Hamilton Friendship Association with Cuba (HFAC) held a program on July 6 welcoming the IFCO Peace Caravan to Steeltown. The successful fundraiser, held at the popular Artword Artbar, brought together people from all walks of life for an evening of culture, information and discussion. Every year, the HFAC hosts the caravan and assists its work by organizing donations from the community. This year, the HFAC was pleased to include in the program a performance by Brian Gordon Sinclair of his renowned one-man show, "In Deadly Ernest," about author Ernest Hemingway. Sinclair generously donated his time and talent to the fundraising initiative. The gathering was also honoured by the presence of the Cuban Consul General in Toronto, Jorge Soberón Luis who brought greetings to all assembled and expressed his joy at the successful program.

In Windsor on July 7, a fundraising dinner was held in support of the caravan. A representative of the Canadian Cuban Friendship Association of Windsor Executive highlighted the fact the U.S. blockade of Cuba and its extraterritorial nature is a violation of Canadian sovereignty. Based on this, the support of Canadians for the caravan is a demand that the Canadian government not permit U.S. hostile policy toward Cuba to have a base in Canada. Further, given the new government in Canada, it is important that all those who support friendly relations with Cuba play a pro-active role so that the federal government will not see any openings to align itself with U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba. Following this introduction, Lisa Valenti of Pastors for Peace addressed the dinner. She noted the importance of this year's Caravan, given the loss of Rev. Lucius Walker, and how the firm conviction not to give in to any attempts to regulate or prevent travel to Cuba will continue to guide the organization as it faces a new phase without the leadership of Rev. Walker. She also informed the audience about the various ways in which the U.S. blockade infringes Canadian sovereignty and the importance of the united stand of the people of both countries against it.

Quebec

On July 2, activists from the Caravane d'amitié Québec-Cuba successfully brought a load of goods for Cuba from Quebeckers across the border with Vermont. Caravan participants reported that, "We were greeted by a crew of [U.S.] border personnel who explained to us that they would first verify all of our IDs and then take all the aid to the back of the building and open all the boxes. The customs people allowed us to observe them as they examined the boxes and they carefully tried to not damage our labels and re-taped the boxes. At no point was there a question of the aid not being allowed to go through. The blockade was not applied which is a small victory for us in a much larger battle to have it lifted nationally."

United States and Mexico

The various sections of the caravan are now making their way through the U.S. towards the Mexican border. For regular updates, visit the blog: http://www.ifconews.org/Blog-22ndCaravan

For upcoming stops of the caravan in the U.S., visit: http://www.ifconews.org/CubaEvents

On July 20, the caravan will cross from the U.S. into Mexico. Organizers point out that "In the past this has been the most challenging border crossing and it is important that people across the United States, Canada and around the world are ready to respond if the U.S. government attempts to stop the Caravan from its mission to break the U.S. blockade on Cuba!"

(IFCO/Pastors for Peace, TML. Photos: IFCO/Pastors for Peace, TML, Janine Bandcroft, Alan Sproule.)

National Celebrations Mark
Bicentenary of Independence

On July 5, Venezuelans celebrated 200 years of independence with formal ceremonies and cultural events around the country, as well as a giant civic-military parade in Caracas, as July 5 also marks Armed Forces Day.

On July 5, 1811 the congress of Venezuelan provinces adopted and signed the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence. It marked a decisive break from the Spanish Crown and the establishment of their own nation based on equality, abolition of censorship, and freedom of expression that were radically opposed to the practices applied during the preceding three centuries of colonialism, Venzuela Analysis points out.

A total of 12,000 people from the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB), social missions, communal councils, and 400 people from a range of Venezuelan indigenous groups participated in the parade, while over 30,000 seated observers looked on.

At the main festivities in Caracas, President Hugo Chávez, in a televised speech from Miraflores Palace prior to the civic-military parade, addressed the nation and expressed his admiration for the heroic Venezuelan people. He boldly affirmed that Venezuela would never again be colonized.

"This is a wonderful day of jubilation for this great homeland, for independence, for the bicentenary," said the head of state.

"There is no better way to celebrate this greatly awaited day than by being independent. We are no longer, nor will we ever be, any type of colony thanks to our people, our soldiers," said Chávez.

The president also invited all the participants to take part in the march to celebrate another bicentenary on June 24, 2021, the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo. Chávez said that this day will mark the full bicentenary of independence of the socialist homeland.

A report from Granma International conveys the spirit of the day's events and the conviction of the Venezuelan people that they will continue to chart an independent path that serves their interests:

"From the Presidential Palace, accompanied by the principal military chiefs of the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FANB), Comandante Hugo Chávez gave permission to initiate the parade in a brief message that the country saw and heard via national television and radio networks.

"With much emotion, the Venezuelan President celebrated the arrival of the 'Day of the Patria Grande, of the Independent Homeland, of the Bicentenary.' He thus greeted 'the heroic Venezuelan people who are totally filling Los Próceres Avenue and all the public spaces of the Venezuelan homeland.' He expressed thanks for the presence of Presidents José Mujica of Uruguay, Evo Morales of Bolivia, and Fernando Lugo of Paraguay; Latin American and Caribbean foreign ministers; and especially, soldiers from 21 countries, including a squad of Cuban cadets who took part in the parade.

"His words transmitted the happiness of someone who arrives in time to fulfill his duty: 'We had no better way to celebrate, comrades in arms, soldiers and the people, this so much awaited, so long awaited day, than being independent as we are once again. We are no longer the colony of any empire nor will we ever be.' [President Chávez recently returned from a visit to Cuba, during which he fell ill and received treatment for a pelvic abscess, at which time a cancerous tumour was also discovered and excised -- TML Ed. Note.]

"And in order not to leave the slightest doubt as to his announced decision to fight, he reiterated to his people, 'We will live and overcome. This is the beginning of the return, not only of Chávez, but of the full homeland, of full independence, of the perpetual homeland, of the people of Bolívar. The construction of the greatest of the dreams to have been born under this soil and on this land... We have begun another long march.'

"In the context of that march, he also had some tactical orders to explain: 'Bolívar would say: the national body must be one, the national spirit must be one, by overcoming division, defeating conspiracies, defeating in a thousand battles those who attempt from within or without to weaken, to bring down the homeland and its independence. We must defeat them in peace, with joy, with beauty, in a sublime way, with splendour. [...]'

"[In] farewell, he quoted part of a speech Bolívar made in 1830, in which he defined independence as the gateway to reconquering all other riches for the homeland and the people: 'Today, I say to you, in the name of Bolívar, that our recovered independence is the gateway which we must keep open in order to recover [...] all the other riches for the people: liberty, equality, happiness, living fully, a good life, a humane homeland and complete homeland.'"

"And after his words the grandeur of the parade was unleashed, a parade that glorified the people" and the people's decree of "Mission Reposo" (Mission Rest) for Chávez.

Around the country big and small plazas were renovated for the occasion where civic-military celebrations were also held. Hundreds of free cultural events were held during the week around the country, including orchestra performances, music, theatre, literary events, dance, local handicraft, sport, food exhibitions, and photographic and artistic displays, Venezuela Analysis reports.

Celebrations of the bicentenary are ongoing. On July 14, the country celebrated the 200th anniversary of the adoption of its national flag, proposed by hero of the struggle for independence Francisco de Miranda, first raised in Caracas on July 14, 1811.

Commemoration of the bicentenary began last year. On April 20, 2010 the country marked the formation of the First Republic of Venezuela, which lasted until July 25, 1812. The event was similarly marked with a large civic-military parade.

(Venezuela Analysis, Granma International, Juventud Rebelde. Photos: AVN, VTV, CubaDebate)

Tyranny Made "Legal"

A main feature of the current situation inside the U.S. are arrangements of brutal tyranny, which concentrate much greater power in the hands of the executive while eliminating the role of the public in governance. Various mechanisms are being used to fully establish and institutionalize these arrangements, making "legal" wide ranging attacks on the rights of the workers and people as a whole.

One notable example is the "Emergency Financial Manager" law recently passed in Michigan. The law concentrates power in the hands of the governor, who can appoint an "emergency manager" for any town, city, county or school district he determines faces a "financial emergency." This appointed manager has powers to dismiss elected government, unilaterally change or eliminate any contract, hire and fire public workers, fully control all public funds and borrowing and sell public assets like water, parks, schools and libraries. The law specifically includes content requiring the "manager" to pay debts, saying that while "prudent fiscal management" sanctions all of the above attacks on the rights of the workers and elected governance, it "does not allow any termination or diminishment of obligations to pay debt service."

Modern democracy requires that the people themselves govern and decide. The Michigan laws are designed to block such a role for the people by putting in place arrangements where a Governor and his appointed "manager" -- with sweeping powers and no public accountability -- decide. The tyranny is such that already, one of these managers has decreed that elected officials be removed and city workers cannot attend public meetings of city government without his permission. There is to be no role for the public, not even the minimum that exists now of electing representatives and speaking out at public meetings.

Further the rule of law, where a contract is a contract and government has social responsibility to the public is being eliminated while the tyranny of the governor and his "manager" is made "legal." This can be seen in a clause in the law granting broad impunity to conduct any action. Following a lengthy listing of specific powers, the law states the "manager" has the authority to "Take any other action or exercise any power or authority of any officer, employee, department, board, commission or other similar entity of the local government, whether elected or appointed, relating to the operation of the local government. The power of the emergency manager shall be superior to and supersede the power of any of the foregoing officers or entities." "Any power" of "any officer" includes police powers to take action against the people.

While the Michigan law is currently being implemented at the state level, President Obama recently made clear that these appointed "managers" are to be considered "models" for the nation. At a press conference organized by Michigan's Governor Rick Snyder concerning implementation of the law for Detroit public schools, Obama's Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, "Detroit has the potential to be a model not just for the state, but for the entire country."

The Michigan model is an anti-worker, anti-social model that is being widely opposed, including efforts to repeal the law. Resistance is also taking place against anti-worker laws in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and elsewhere. In Ohio, for example, 250,000 signatures were required to put repeal of the state law on the ballot and 1.3 million were collected, showing the broad stand of the public in defence of public right. There is rejection of this effort to impose a conception of governance where government openly and solely serves monopoly right and its drive to secure more and more of the public treasury while rule of law, including elected governance, public meetings and accountability to the public good is eliminated.

A second mechanism for increased executive control at the federal level impacting all workers can be seen in current plans to implement a federally issued biometric ID card. A pilot program is planned for the coming year, beginning with immigrant workers. Obama's Department of Homeland Security can go forward with such a plan whether or not legislation on immigration is passed. Obama's recently released "blueprint" for immigration calls for "piloting the development of a biometric identifier that could be potentially used for employment verification in the future" for all workers.

To secure the ID it will be necessary to prove citizenship on the basis of a government issued birth certificate, provide fingerprints and/or an eye scan, pass an FBI "background" check and a Homeland Security "national security threat" check. As the blueprint puts it, everyone is to "submit to a rigorous security check, including submitting fingerprints for criminal and national security background checks." So arbitrariness on the part of the government officials conducting the checks is built into the system. Already, experience shows what this can mean. For example, in Chicago, a young man who "looked Mexican" was detained by police and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who prepared to deport him. He was Puerto Rican and thus a U.S. citizen. ICE did not believe him. When his mother came with his documentation, ICE said they were not valid. Only intervention by a Chicago Congressman prevented his deportation to Mexico.

In addition, many citizens will be unable to prove citizenship as they do not have or cannot secure the documentation required. Further, the criteria for passing the "background" and "security" checks are unknown. But it can be imagined that those organizing resistance, demonstrating, building pro-people organizations, may not pass. Those without the ID will not be permitted to work. In such a situation, one can also anticipate the possibility of labour and detention camps, so as to provide the monopolies with a mobile pool of slave labour.

Obama, in speaking about his plans for changes to immigration has indicated what will be needed to pass these government background checks. He has said that being American is not a matter of birth. He elaborated that to be an American, one must "Embrace America's ideals and America's precepts... What matters is that you believe in the ideals on which we were founded; that you believe all of us are created equal, endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. All of us deserve our freedoms and our pursuit of happiness. In embracing America, you can become American." And what of those who do not embrace monopoly right trampling over public right and all the anti-worker, anti-immigrant and anti-social laws that go with this pursuit?

The U.S. and its constitution came into being opposing the tyranny of Kings with the impunity to "take any action or exercise any power." Yet today it is the tyranny of executive power that is being institutionalized. It is the tyranny of the office of the president demanding that all submit to the monopolies' "pursuit of happiness" to rule the world. What is needed is not tyranny of the executive but rather modern democracy that empowers the people to govern and decide.

Celebrate Anti-Fascist Resistance
of the Spanish Civil War

Guernica, by Pablo Picasso. Painted in 1937, it was a response to the bombing of Guernica, Basque Country,
by German warplanes at the behest of the Spanish fascist forces April 26, 1937, during the Spanish Civil War.

July 18, 2011, marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, fought between the people's forces or Republicans who had been elected to govern, and the fascist "Nationalist" forces, led militarily by General Francisco Franco. The people's forces, aided by anti-fascist volunteers from all over the world, including Canadians of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion of the XVth International Brigade of the Spanish Republican Army, fought heroically against great odds. The civil war, which caused an estimated 500,000 casualties, officially ended in the spring of 1939 with Franco coming to power, but the Spanish people's struggle against Franco's fascist dictatorship continued unabated until his unlamented death in 1975.

The Spanish fascists were backed by the big landowners such as the Duke of Alba and the Church, the big capitalists such as Juan March, and the foreign monopolies such as Rio Tinto, who wanted to retain their profits and privileges. The fascists were greatly strengthened by open financial and military support from Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. On April 26, 1937, the German Luftwaffe's Condor Legion infamously bombed Guernica, one of the first air raids on a defenceless civilian population. The Spanish fascists also benefited hugely from the sham non-interventionist policy of the ruling circles of the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, who had financial interests in Spain and who hoped to egg on the Nazis and fascists to attack the Soviet Union. Only the Soviet Union provided material assistance to the Republican forces.

While the Canadian people supported the people's forces in Spain, the Canadian ruling circles declared "neutrality," which meant giving the fascists free rein to attack the Spanish people. In April 1937 the Canadian government passed the Foreign Enlistment Act, outlawing participation by Canadians in foreign wars, and also blocked passports to anyone thought to be going to fight in Spain. Even so, Canadian communists and other progressives organized anti-fascist volunteers and by the summer of 1937 some 1,200 Canadians were fighting overseas, almost all of them workers. Except for Cuba and France, no country gave a greater proportion of its population. Canada's volunteers included Dr. Norman Bethune, who set up mobile blood transfusion units on the battlefield, saving thousands of lives. Canadians who died in the Spanish Civil War are still not included in the Books of Remembrance in the Peace Tower or commemorated on federal war memorials or in Remembrance Day services. Survivors do not receive veterans' benefits. The Spanish Civil War was the first great battle of the Second World War. It was preceded and followed by aggressions in Manchuria, the Rhineland, Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Czechoslovakia, and Albania, but it was in Spain that the battle against fascism was first fought with the greatest intensity and where there still existed a chance to stop Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and their collaborators in their tracks. Instead, the defeat of Republican Spain, facilitated by the deliberate non-action of the United Kingdom, France, and the U.S., encouraged the Nazis and fascists to escalate their aggression and to initiate a world war that resulted in millions of casualties. The tragic defeat of the heroic anti-fascist forces in Spain was also the beginning of the Second World War in Europe.

Canadian Forces' Depraved Government-Sanctioned Actions