공지사항
-
- '노란봉투'캠페인/국제연대..
- no chr.!
4905개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.
This leaflet we, migrants in S. Korea, published about two years ago..
This System Has No Error, Just It Is The Error!
Certainly you ask yourself why we, in contradiction to you, are shouting slogans against Roh, why we are fighting against the current government.
Perhaps you know, that we, migrant workers fight against government’s policy of human hunting and mass deportation, for releasing of our comrades, imprisoned in detention centers, facing deportation – only because they, like us, are activists for our rights as workers here in South Korea. Also we’re fighting for to achieve labor rights and the right just to change our work places. And last but not least we’re struggling for legalization. So, just we want human rights, but the current government refuses to meet our demands, just they treat us like animals!
But we are not the only people, suffering under government’s repression:
Remember what was happen last Friday with the rally of disabled activists! Just because the government don’t like the activities of “not nice looking” people, they send the riot cops to arrest them!
Or remember last year: against the will of more than 80 per cent of the Koreans the parliament voted to send the troops to Iraq (the suggestion came from Roh personally!). But instead to listen to the will of the voters, the government sent the riot cops to beat the protesters bloody up.
Or what’s with SOFA? Even though the government knew about the fact that the U.S. even didn’t want to negotiate the matter, they promised a better SOFA. And of course nothing changed yet!
Remember the pre-election promise to make “worker friendly” policy? The reality begun at least on the end of last June when thousands of riot cops stormed Yonsei Univ., hunted and arrested at least 1.700 railway workers unionists.
Or in October last year when riot cops broke up nearly every workers demonstration, only minutes after they begun…
The list is very long! So, why we should defend this government?
We only should defend ourselves, our interests. Our interests in a life without to fear to get no jobs, to be threaten like slaves or to sent in a ongoing aggression against innocent people in Iraq. We should fight for free education and health insurance, for same payment for man and woman, Korean and migrant workers.
But to achieve this we cannot trust in the corrupt ruling parties – no matter how they call themselves, if they are on power you cannot distinguish anymore between them and their predecessors!
LET’S FIGHT TOGETHER FOR A WORLD
WITHOUT EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION!
ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE, ONLY
I
KCTU
F YOU WANT AND FIGHT FOR IT!
명동성당농성투쟁단
About the latest developments you can read here, 민중의 소리
http://www.voiceofpeople.org/new/2006051443151.html
nearly everything..
The semi official news agency Yonhap wrote this..
Korean activists protest against U.S. military base expansion
Ignoring a government appeal for restraint, about 2,000 militant students, shouting "Yankee go home," clashed with riot police in a remote farming village on Sunday, opposing plans to expand a U.S. military base there.
Initial police reports said that 20 protesters were arrested. There were no reports of injuries, however.
Sunday's protests, the second in a little more than a week, were against the U.S. military's plan to drastically expand Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul.
Under a 2004 agreement with Washington, most of the U.S. military bases in South Korea, including its headquarters in the center of Seoul, will be relocated to Camp Humphreys by 2008.
By the time the expansion is completed, the number of U.S. soldiers in South Korea will be reduced from the present 30,000 to 25,000.
The relocation requires South Korea to level a farm village to triple the size of Camp Humphreys. Most farmers have moved out after being compensated but a few hundred, supported by anti-U.S. groups, have been refusing to leave.
In two days of fierce protests at the farm village, Daechuri, about a week ago, 200 activists and police were injured. Police detained over 500 protesters, of whom 16 were put under formal arrest.
Authorities deployed 18,000 riot police in preparation for Sunday's protests. They blocked all roads leading to the village and checked all vehicles to and from it.
The Pyeongtaek City government has zoned a vast area in the area, including the contested farm village, for the expansion of Camp Humphreys. The area was fenced off by South Korean Army engineers with barbed wires.
To bypass the police cordon, the students, who were unarmed, gathered at a remote school and walked several kilometers along paddy dikes to reach the village where they confronted police.
"Withdraw U.S. military forces. Pyeongtaek is our land," protesters shouted as they kicked and punched riot police who formed human barriers to block their march.
The students, many of them wearing gauze masks apparently to conceal their identity, vowed to break through the police lines.
A South Korean military helicopter showered down leaflets warning that protesters who would violate the fenced-off military zone could face punishment under military laws.
On Friday, Prime Minister Han Myung-sook, in a special statement, appealed for restraint, saying that violence would not do any good to the nation. She said the U.S. base expansion is unavoidable.
Separately in the center of Pyeongtaek, a city of 350,000, several hundred protesters, mostly workers, held a protest rally, demanding that the U.S. base expansion project be cancelled.
After the rally, the workers planned to march a few kilometers through the city and may try to join the students, organizers said.
South Korea plans to draw up a master plan on the expansion of Camp Humphreys by September, along with studies on its possible environmental impact and the location of cultural assets in the area. Construction is scheduled to begin in October at the
earliest.
The U.S. military presence in South Korea is a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. The U.S. led 15 other Western countries to fight against invading North Korea in the conflict.
Korea Times will publish today following article..
Korea Herald is publishing this...
Thousands of activists staged violent protests in Seoul and Pyeongtaek over the weekend against a planned expansion of a U.S. military base.
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/05/15/200605150004.asp
Chosun Ilbo..
Major Violence Averted as Pyeontaek Protests Resume
JoongAng Ilbo..
Demonstrators fail in new effort to enter base site
PS..
NEVER, NEVER, PRAYERS, CANDLELIGHT RALLIES, CULTURE FESTIVALS WILL CHANGE THE MIND OF THE CLASS ENEMY!!
FINALLY EVERYTHING WILL END LIKE THAT...
...AND THEY WILL F.. US.. at least!
It is just my opinion...
Yesteray thousands of people took the streets in the center of Seoul to protest against the relocation of USFK from the area near the border to the DPRK to Pyeongtaek, South of Seoul. They also protested against the state terror in the last days and weeks against anti.USFK activists, farmers, workers and students.
The semi official news agency Yonhap wrote yesterday following..
Anti-U.S. activists protest in Seoul against base expansion
Thousands of anti-U.S. activists and students hit the streets here Saturday to protest plans to expand a U.S. military base located south of Seoul.
Some 6,000 protesters staged a candlelight vigil next to the Gwanghwamun intersection in central Seoul in which they called for the release of activists detained during protests against the expansion earlier this month. No major clashes with riot police were reported.
On Voice of People
you can read more in Korean..
More about it you can read here..
전국노동자대회
설명: | 광화문 |
일자: | 토요일, 5월 13, 2006년 |
시각: |
17:00 |
국방부장관퇴진, 군부대철수,
평화농사실현 범국민촛불문화제
설명: | 광화문 |
일자: | 토요일, 5월 13, 2006년 |
시각: |
19:00
..so called democracy in action...
NEVER GIVE UP OUR STRUGGLE!! |
Please check out following sites..
Yonhap published yesterday following stuff..
Prime minister to announce position on anti-U.S. protests
South Korea's prime minister will appeal to anti-U.S. activists to stop staging violent protests against the expansion of a U.S. military base located south of Seoul, the premier's office said Thursday.
Prime Minister Han Myung-sook will announce a "message to the people" after a breakfast meeting with 14 community leaders from all walks of life to discuss the matter Friday morning, the office said.
During the meeting, Han will express concern about a series of violent rallies and discuss ways to persuade activists to abstain from such rallies, it said.
Han mentioned the announcement plan during a meeting of deputy premiers and ministers that she presided over to discuss pending state issues, according to government spokesperson Kim Chang-ho. The issues included the nation's declining birthrate and plans to sign a free trade agreement with the United States.
Tensions have risen ahead of another set of large-scale anti-U.S. rallies planned for this weekend.
In a press conference Thursday, the Pan-national Committee to Deter the Expansion of Pyeongtaek U.S. Base, a coalition of more than 100 anti-U.S. civic groups, reaffirmed the rally schedule in spite of a police ban.
"On Saturday and Sunday, we will hold rallies as scheduled in a peaceful and popular manner with people from all walks of life participating," the committee said.
About 10,000 labor activists and students are schedule to join coalition members in Pyeongtaek on Sunday to protest plans to expand Camp Humphreys, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, after they wrap up a similar rally in downtown Seoul on Saturday.
The police have stood firm, saying they will not sanction such rallies. They plan to block all roads leading up to Daechuri, a contested farming village, to prevent protesters from approach the site.
Civic activists are feared to clash with police and soldiers again during this weekend's planned protests. About 8,000 riot police have been stationed near the site, along with 3,000 soldiers, including 600 military engineers, to guard the area.
Meanwhile, some 300 conservative groups convened an emergency meeting in downtown Seoul on Thursday and called on the government to deal sternly with illegal protests by anti-Americans.
"We will begin activities to defend the free democracy and government power after forming a network next week," the spokesman said.
The groups will also hold rallies in Pyeongtaek on May 20 and in Seoul three days later to criticize the anti-American activists and support plans for the U.S. base relocation, the spokesman added.
Last Thursday, about 540 demonstrators were detained after a clash with riot police and soldiers who evicted them from their
headquarters, an elementary school near Camp Humphreys. More than 200 people on both sides were injured.
Military engineers built a 29-kilometer-long wire fence around
the area that is designated to become the new headquarters for
U.S. troops in South Korea. The Pyeongtaek City government zoned
2.85 million pyeong (one pyeong equals 3.3 square meters) as a
restricted area for military facility protection.
But anti-U.S. protesters and villagers cut through the fences
and clashed with riot police again on Friday, and police
apprehended an additional 90 protesters.
Prosecutors secured six more arrest warrants on Tuesday, but
were forced to release 17 anti-U.S. activists in connection with
last week's violence. That brought to 16 the number of
anti-U.S. protesters who have been arrested following two days of
violence.
As part of a 2004 deal with South Korea, the U.S. plans to relocate its Yongsan Garrison in downtown Seoul and the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division near the border with North Korea to Pyeongtaek, a city of 350,000 people, over the next three years.
Camp Humphreys is set to triple in size by 2008 and become the
U.S. military's chief installation in South Korea as part
of a global U.S. troop realignment for strategic flexibility.
South Korea plans to draw up a master plan on expanding Camp
Humphreys by September, along with studies on its environmental
impact and exploration of cultural assets. Construction is
scheduled to begin in October at the earliest.
But some farmers and organized protesters have defied
government orders to leave the site and vowed to plant a new
spring rice crop.
About 30,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy
of the 1950-53 Korean War. The two Koreas are still technically in
a state of war since the Korean War ended with an armistice, not a
peace treaty.
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20060511/610000000020060511182412E1.html
PLEASE, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM!!
JUST REMEMBER THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN FRANCE,
OR BETTER IN NEPAL..
ONLY IF WE USE OUR POWER, FORCE, ON THE STREETS ..some call it violence.. THEY, THE RULING CLASS, ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO US!!
反자본주의..
反제국주의!!
PS..
Today.s newspaper JoongAng Ilbo is writing following..
Permit or none, protesters promise Pyeongtaek rally
The conflict between the government and protesters against the relocation of U.S. forces to a new base in Pyeongtaek escalated yesterday, although the confrontation was verbal for now. A coalition of anti-U.S. civic groups said it would hold rallies this weekend in Seoul and in Pyeongtaek despite the rejection by police of a rally permit for the provincial gathering.
The announcement could be a prelude to more violence at the base area in southern Gyeonggi province on Sunday. The rally in Seoul on Saturday and the next day's protest at the base site were announced by the Pan South Korea Solution Committee Against U.S. Base Extension in Pyeongtaek at a press conference yesterday at the headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. The committee insisted the rallies would be peaceful. The national police gave permission for the alliance of 130 civic groups to rally Saturday in the capital, but rejected a permit for the next day's event. Provincial police said they would use 18,000 riot policemen to block demonstrators from approaching the base site. Last week, after protesters were evicted from the site, they reassembled, cut fences and attacked the military engineers who were erecting them. For what it was worth, the government seemed to have a majority of Koreans on its side. A poll conducted by the government showed that most people here object to the meddling in the base issue by anti-U.S. activists from outside the Pyeongtaek area. The Office of Government Policy Coordination commissioned TNS on Sunday to poll 1,000 adults nationwide; two-thirds said they disapproved of the outside agitation. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent with 95-percent confidence. About 58 percent of the respondents said the protesters were trying to politicize the forced sale of private land to the government for the base; 60 percent agreed that the protesters' motive was to force U.S. troops out of Korea. Only a third agreed that the protesters were representing residents' interests. The anti-USFK protesters may have some company from the other side of the ideological divide. An alliance of 300 civic groups that support the U.S. base relocation said yesterday that those groups would not sit by idly as protesters interfered with the "legitimate process" of base relocation. The alliance said they would rally next week; police issued a permit for a gathering in Pyeongtaek on May 20. They have not yet applied for a permit for a rally in Seoul planned for May 23.
Korea Herald is writing this today..
Civic groups to go ahead with rallies in Seoul, Pyeongtaek
The government yesterday confirmed its resolve to push ahead with a plan to expand a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, while warning of a stern response to massive anti-American protests due this weekend. Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook chaired a meeting of Cabinet ministers to discuss the simmering dispute. Civic groups said they will go ahead with mass rallies in Seoul and Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of the capital, despite the government's stern position. Han also directed government officials to take measures to minimize conflicts between riot police and demonstrators, her office said. Before the meeting, the office released the result of a recent opinion poll that showed a majority of Koreans oppose violent demonstrations. According to the poll, 81.4 percent of respondents are against the protesters' violence and 65.6 percent are negative to civic activists' involvement in the issue. The survey also showed 74.5 percent answered it is premature for U.S. forces to withdraw from the Korean Peninsula while 22.2 percent voted against both the U.S. presence here and the base relocation plan. The survey was conducted for 1,000 citizens above age 19 by a private polling agency TNS. The protest is organized by the Pan-national Committee to Deter the Expansion of U.S. Bases, a coalition of 138 civic groups. "(We) will hold peaceful mass rallies from May 13 to 14 as planned with the participation of people from all social standings," the committee said in a press conference. On Wednesday, civic groups announced they will hold massive protests this weekend in downtown Seoul and the rural town against the government's forcible enforcement of land expropriation. However, police stood firm, saying it will not authorize the protest in Pyeongtaek and take stern measures if they go ahead. The group urged yesterday the government to organize a consultative institution to peacefully resolve the dispute. Ahead of it, the leftist Democratic Labor Party suggested on Wednesday to mediate a dialogue between the government, residents and activist groups. It also demanded the release of arrestees and the punishment of officials "responsible for the violent oppressions." Sixteen protesters have been issued arrest warrants over two fierce clashes with riot police and troops last week. Amid mounting worries over another possible collision, police are planning to block all roads to Daechuri village, the epicenter of the fierce dispute, to prevent the demonstrators from approaching the sectioned-off site. The government set up a 29-kilometer-long wire fence around the site last week. About 8,000 riot police are stationed in an outer ring of the site along with 3,000 soldiers to guard inside the area. http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/05/12/200605120008.asp |
The reactionary newspaper Chosun Ilbo published yesterday following articles..
Pyeongtaek Protests Grow Into Ideological Confrontation
A coalition of activists opposing the relocation of U.S. military bases to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province will go ahead with renewed protests there on May 14, despite police warnings. Amid fears of fresh violence, groups opposed to the coalition on Thursday announced they will stage their own demonstrations in favor of the relocation of U.S. Forces Korea headquarters there starting May 20. That effectively turns the issue into an ideological dispute between left and right.
In a press conference at Korea Confederation of Trade Unions offices on Thursday, the coalition said it would hold “peaceful and acceptable” demonstrations involving people from all walks of life in Seoul on May 13 and in Pyeongtaek on May 14.
Read the full article here..
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200605/200605110019.html
Violent Pyeongtaek Protests Find Scant Public Support ![]() |
Some 81 percent of the public oppose violent demonstrations against a planned new U.S. Forces Korea headquarters in Pyeongtaek .......HARRHARR... I CAN.T BELIEVE...... 70 km south of Seoul, and 66 percent condemn intervention from outsiders in the matter, a poll suggests. The Office for Government Policy Coordination on Thursday announced results of a poll by TNS Korea of 1,000 adults nationwide.
While the vast majority opposed violent protests, 17 percent said the base expansion must be quashed by violence if necessary. Some 58 percent said the intervention of outsiders claiming to act on behalf of evicted residents at the site was politically motivated, while 35 percent believed it came to help the locals. Sixty percent said protestors wanted the USFK pull out of the peninsula and 34 percent said demonstrators meant to protect the livelihood of locals.
Asked about the military’s response to the protests, 65 percent said it needs to take harsher measures to protect itself, but 30 percent felt the military was right to restrain itself. Respondents felt the government should accept peaceful demonstrations (49 percent) but curb violence by mobilizing more police (47 percent). An overwhelming majority of 75 percent said it was too early to call for the withdrawal of the USFK, 22 percent said American forces should go. An even bigger majority or 86 percent said activists were unjustified in likening their protests to the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Meanwhile, the chairmen of the human rights committee of Korea’s four main political parties visited Pyeongtaek on Thursday afternoon to meet activists and residents there to hear from them whether government efforts to quell the protests violated protestors’ human rights. http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200605/200605110030.html |
Btw.. Korea Herald and JoongAng Ilbo are not less reactionary as Chosun Ilbo...
Yonhap wrote 5.8 and 5.9 following shit...
S. Korean labor minister cautions against excessive concern over labor rights in
South Korea's labor minister urged the international community on Monday not to hastily conclude that the inter-Korean industrial complex in Kaesong is vulnerable to labor rights abuse.
Speaking to a group of Seoul-based foreign correspondents, Lee Sang-soo stressed that North Korea's working conditions cannot be compared blindly with those seen in other nations.
"Some foreign nations are showing sensitive responses to the wage level at the Kaesong industrial complex, claiming it is too low," Lee said. "Taking North Korea's unique system and its community into account, however, different interpretations are available. Making a hasty judgment should be restrained."
His remarks came in response to growing concern by foreigners, especially U.S. officials, over the low wages being paid to thousands of North Korean workers and a lack of transparency over how they are remunerated. The industrial zone is being hailed as a perfect model of economic cooperation between the two Koreas, which have been divided for half a century by a heavily armed demilitarized zone.
The complex, created three years ago in North Korea's border city of Kaesong, is aimed at combining South Korean capital and expertise with the North's cheap land and labor.
During a public lecture in Washington in March, Jay Lefkowitz, the U.S. envoy on North Korean human rights, argued that North Korean workers in the zone receive pitifully low wages and are not protected by full labor rights, raising the need for the International Labor Organization to monitor the situation.
The envoy underlined the fact that North Korean laborers get paid less than US$2 a day.
Officials at the Unification Ministry, which handles Seoul's policy toward Pyongyang, hit back at Lefkowitz's criticism, saying it was misplaced.
Each worker gets an average of $67 a month, considerably more than the communist country's average monthly wage of $14, they pointed out.
South Korea's labor minister said the government will be prepared when U.S. officials broach the subject of labor rights at the Kaesong complex at forthcoming free trade agreement talks between Seoul and Washington. The point of contention is whether to include goods produced there among made-in-Korea products in any possible FTA deal.
South Korea wants them to be recognized as its own in order to legitimize them, a proposal the U.S. finds unacceptable given its brooding standoff with the North.
Lee also vowed to step up efforts to address the polarization of the country's labor market.
Regular workers at larger companies are protected by powerful labor unions, while small-and medium-sized firms hire a growing number of part-time workers who are vulnerable to lay-offs, he said.
"So, the government's policy of increasing flexibility in the labor market will target regular workers at large companies," he said.
Unification minister visits Kaesong amid U.S. criticism of joint comple
Seoul's top official on North Korean
affairs, Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, on Tuesday said the government will continue its joint project with communist North Korea to build an industrial complex in the North's border town of Kaesong despite "any difficulties."
The remarks came during his one-day trip to the joint industrial complex, but it was believed to have offered Seoul's view on Washington's skepticism about the inter-Korean project.
"We will achieve our goal no matter what difficulties lie ahead. I promise North and South Korea will never stop the Kaesong project despite any changes to the state of things on the Korean Peninsula," the unification minister said.
He crossed the heavily-armed inter-Korean border back to South Korea shortly before 5 p.m.
One of the main joint economic projects being conducted by the divided Koreas, the Kaesong complex is touted as a fruit of inter-Korean rapprochement following the historic summit between then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000.
More than 6,500 North Korean workers are already working for a dozen South Korean firms operating in the joint complex, with the number of employees expected to increase to over 350,000 by 2012 when the industrial complex moves into full swing, according to officials at the Unification Ministry.
However, several U.S. officials, including Washington's special envoy for North Korean human rights Jay Lefkowitz, have expressed concerns that the joint economic project may end up funneling billions of dollars to support the North's cash-stripped regime while doing little to help the North's people, let alone inter-Korean relations.
The unification minister said the Kaesong complex will provide a venue where "North and South Korea work to pursue their common interests, and now I am very confident of it."
The United States and the international community have been pressuring the communist North to improve its human rights
conditions despite a continued stalemate in international negotiations over the North's nuclear weapons program.
Pyongyang denies having any human rights problems, calling the U.S. accusations part of a smear campaign.
Seoul refuses to publicly pressure the communist state to change its ways, but claims its economic assistance for the impoverished North is helping millions of North Koreans enjoy their most basic human right; the right to live.
"At least since 2000 when we began providing assistance to the North, no one there has starved to death," the unification minister said in Seoul last week in a special lecture for the presidential National Unification Advisory Council's delegates from North and South American countries.
North Korea has relied on assistance from the South and other international relief agencies to feed a large number of its 23 million population since the mid 1990s, while the country is expected to fall far short again of producing enough food this year.
The South Korean minister was accompanied by Hyun Jeong-eun,chairwoman of South Korea's Hyundai Group, and a group of about 160 officials from his ministry and South Korean firms currently operating in the Kaesong complex, according to ministry officials.
The unification minister also visited the office of an inter-Korean economic promotion committee where resident representatives from the two Koreas hold weekly meetings and consultations.
He also hosted a lunch for the visiting delegation at the famous Chanamsan Hotel in downtown Kaesong before visiting historic sites in what was the capital of an ancient Korean kingdom, according to ministry officials.
NORTH KOREAN WORKERS ARE ALSO WORKERS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE ...at least... THE SAME RIGHTS LIKE S. KOREAN WORKERS!!!
HUMAN AND LABOUR RIGHTS FOR ALL WORKERS!!!
Please check out a more personally report by manic about the latest developments there..
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Achronoth published yesteray following..
Poll: 62% want Arab emigration
Annual survey shows Israel continues to decline in democracy index; nearly one third of respondents say Jewish majority required for crucial national decisions, almost two thirds want to encourage Arabs to leave the country
A total of 62 percent of Israelis want the government to encourage local Arabs to leave the country, according to the 2006 democracy index released Tuesday by the Israel Democracy Institute.
Only 14 percent of respondents said ties between Arabs and Jews are good, while 29 percent said a Jewish majority is required for decisions of crucial national significance. Meanwhile, 26 percent said religious Jews and secular Jews enjoy a good relationship.
According to the annual survey, Israelis trust the IDF more than any other institution (79 percent,) followed by the High Court of Justice, the media, and the Knesset.
Read the full article here..
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3248693,00.html
Arab MK: Israel world's most racist state
Israeli Arab Knesset members slam results of Israel Democracy Institute's survey showing 62 percent of Israelis want to encourage Arab emigration; MK el-Sana: Israel became world's most racist country
The "democracy index'" published by the Israel Democracy Institute on Tuesday revealed a grim picture: Israel has dropped to the 20th place out of 36 countries in terms of corruption.
However, the most prominent figure was that 62 percent of Israelis want the government to encourage local Arabs to leave the country.
More here..
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3248807,00.html
The letter from Ahmadi-Najad, pres. of Iran, to G.W. Bush, sent 5.8. Translation by Le Monde, France..
Mr George Bush,
President of the United States of America
For sometime now I have been thinking, how one can justify the undeniable contradictions
that exist in the international arena -- which are being constantly debated, specially in political
forums and amongst university students. Many questions remain unanswered. These have
prompted me to discuss some of the contradictions and questions, in the hopes that it might
bring about an opportunity to redress them.
Can one be a follower of Jesus Christ (PBUH), the great Messenger of God,
Feel obliged to respect human rights,
Present liberalism as a civilization model,
Announce one’s opposition to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and WMDs,
Make “War and Terror” his slogan,
And finally,
Work towards the establishment of a unified international community – a community which
Christ and the virtuous of the Earth will one day govern,
But at the same time,
Have countries attacked; The lives, reputations and possessions of people destroyed and on
the slight chance of the … of a … criminals in a village city, or convoy for example the entire
village, city or convey set ablaze.
Or because of the possibility of the existence of WMDs in one country, it is occupied, around
one hundred thousand people killed, its water sources, agriculture and industry destroyed,
close to 180,000 foreign troops put on the ground, sanctity of private homes of citizens
broken, and the country pushed back perhaps fifty years. At what price? Hundreds of billions
of dollars spent from the treasury of one country and certain other countries and tens of
thousands of young men and women – as occupation troops – put in harms way, taken away
from family and love ones, their hands stained with the blood of others, subjected to so much
psychological pressure that everyday some commit suicide ant those returning home suffer
depression, become sickly and grapple with all sorts of aliments; while some are killed and
their bodies handed of their families.
On the pretext of the existence of WMDs, this great tragedy came to engulf both the peoples
of the occupied and the occupying country. Later it was revealed that no WMDs existed to
begin with.
Of course Saddam was a murderous dictator. But the war was not waged to topple him, the
announced goal of the war was to find and destroy weapons of mass destruction. He was
toppled along the way towards another goal, nevertheless the people of the region are happy
about it. I point out that throughout the many years of the … war on Iran Saddam was
supported by the West.
Mr President,
You might know that I am a teacher. My students ask me how can theses actions be
reconciled with the values outlined at the beginning of this letter and duty to the tradition of
Jesus Christ (PBUH), the Messenger of peace and forgiveness.
There are prisoners in Guantanamo Bay that have not been tried, have no legal representation,
their families cannot see them and are obviously kept in a strange land outside their own
country. There is no international monitoring of their conditions and fate. No one knows
whether they are prisoners, POWs, accused or criminals.
European investigators have confirmed the existence of secret prisons in Europe too. I could
not correlate the abduction of a person, and him or her being kept in secret prisons, with the
provisions of any judicial system. For that matter, I fail to understand how such actions
correspond to the values outlined in the beginning of this letter, i.e. the teachings of Jesus
Christ (PBUH), human rights and liberal values.
Young people, university students and ordinary people have many questions about the
phenomenon of Israel. I am sure you are familiar with some of them.
Throughout history many countries have been occupied, but I think the establishment of a
new country with a new people, is a new phenomenon that is exclusive to our times.
Students are saying that sixty years ago such a country did no exist. The show old documents
and globes and say try as we have, we have not been able to find a country named Israel.
I tell them to study the history of WWI and II. One of my students told me that during WWII,
which more than tens of millions of people perished in, news about the war, was quickly
disseminated by the warring parties. Each touted their victories and the most recent battlefront
defeat of the other party. After the war, they claimed that six million Jews had been killed. Six
million people that were surely related to at least two million families.
Again let us assume that these events are true. Does that logically translate into the
establishment of the state of Israel in the Middle East or support for such a state? How can
this phenomenon be rationalised or explained?
Mr President,
I am sure you know how – and at what cost – Israel was established:
-Many thousands were killed in the process.
-Millions of indigenous people were made refugees.
-Hundred of thousands of hectares of farmland, olive plantations, towns and villages
were destroyed.
This tragedy is not exclusive to the time of establishment; unfortunately it has been ongoing
for sixty years now.
A regime has been established which does not show mercy even to kids, destroys houses
while the occupants are still in them, announces beforehand its list and plans to assassinate
Palestinian figures and keeps thousands of Palestinians in prison. Such a phenomenon is
unique – or at the very least extremely rare – in recent memory.
Another big question asked by people is why is this regime being supported?
Is support for this regime in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ (PBUH) or Moses (PBUH)
or liberal values?
Or are we to understand that allowing the original inhabitants of these lands – inside and
outside Palestine – whether they are Christian, Muslim or Jew, to determine their fate, runs
contrary to principles of democracy, human rights and the teachings of prophets? If not, why
is there so much opposition to a referendum?
The newly elected Palestinian administration recently took office. All independent observes
have confirmed that this government represents the electorate. Unbelievingly, they have put
the elected government under pressure and have advised it to recognise the Israeli regime,
abandon the struggle and follow the programs of the previous government.
If the current Palestinian government had run on the above platform, would the Palestinian
people have voted for it? Again, can such position taken in opposition to the Palestinian
government be reconciled with the values outlined earlier? The people are also saying “why
are all UNSC resolutions in condemnation of Israel vetoed?”
Mr President,
As you are well aware, I live amongst the people and am in constant contact with them -
many people from around the Middle East manage to contact me as well. They dot not have
faith in these dubious policies either. There is evidence that the people of the region are
becoming increasingly angry with such policies.
It is not my intention to pose to many questions, but I need to refer to other points as well.
Why is it that any technological and scientific achievement reached in the Middle East
regions is translated into and portrayed as a threat to the Zionist regime? Is not scientific
R&D one of the basic rights of nations.
You are familiar with history. Aside from the Middle Ages, in what other point in history has
scientific and technical progress been a crime? Can the possibility of scientific achievements
being utilised for military purposes be reason enough to oppose science and technology
altogether? If such a supposition is true, then all scientific disciplines, including physics,
chemistry, mathematics, medicine, engineering, etc. must be opposed.
Lies were told in the Iraqi matter. What was the result? I have no doubt that telling lies is
reprehensible in any culture, and you do not like to be lied to.
Mr President,
Don’t Latin Americans have the right to ask, why their elected governments are being
opposed and coup leaders supported? Or, why must they constantly be threatened and live in
fear?
The people of Africa are hardworking, creative and talented. They can play an important and
valuable role in providing for the needs of humanity and contribute to its material and
spiritual progress. Poverty and hardship in large parts of Africa are preventing this from
happening. Don’t they have the right to ask why their enormous wealth – including minerals –
is being looted, despite the fact that they need it more than others?
Again, do such actions correspond to the teachings of Christ and the tenets of human rights?
The brave and faithful people of Iran too have many questions and grievances, including: the
coup d’etat of 1953 and the subsequent toppling of the legal government of the day,
opposition to the Islamic revolution, transformation of an Embassy into a headquarters
supporting, the activities of those opposing the Islamic Republic (many thousands of pages of
documents corroborates this claim), support for Saddam in the war waged against Iran, the
shooting down of the Iranian passenger plane, freezing the assets of the Iranian nation,
increasing threats, anger and displeasure vis-à-vis the scientific and nuclear progress of the
Iranian nation (just when all Iranians are jubilant and collaborating their country’s progress),
and many other grievances that I will not refer to in this letter.
Mr President,
September Eleven was a horrendous incident. The killing of innocents is deplorable and
appalling in any part of the world. Our government immediately declared its disgust with the
perpetrators and offered its condolences to the bereaved and expressed its sympathies.
All governments have a duty to protect the lives, property and good standing of their citizens.
Reportedly your government employs extensive security, protection and intelligence systems
– and even hunts its opponents abroad. September eleven was not a simple operation. Could it
be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services – or
their extensive infiltration? Of course this is just an educated guess. Why have the various
aspects of the attacks been kept secret? Why are we not told who botched their
responsibilities? And, why aren’t those responsible and the guilty parties identified and put
on trial?
All governments have a duty to provide security and peace of mind for their citizens. For
some years now, the people of your country and neighbours of world trouble spots do not
have peace of mind. After 9.11, instead of healing and tending to the emotional wounds of the
survivors and the American people – who had been immensely traumatised by the attacks –
some Western media only intensified the climates of fear and insecurity – some constantly
talked about the possibility of new terror attacks and kept the people in fear. Is that service to
the American people? Is it possible to calculate the damages incurred from fear and panic?
American citizen lived in constant fear of fresh attacks that could come at any moment and in
any place. They felt insecure in the streets, in their place of work and at home. Who would be
happy with this situation? Why was the media, instead of conveying a feeling of security and
providing peace of mind, giving rise to a feeling of insecurity?
Some believe that the hype paved the way – and was the justification – for an attack on
Afghanistan. Again I need to refer to the role of media.
In media charters, correct dissemination of information and honest reporting of a story are
established tenets. I express my deep regret about the disregard shown by certain Western
media for these principles. The main pretext for an attack on Iraq was the existence of
WMDs. This was repeated incessantly – for the public to, finally, believe – and the ground
set for an attack on Iraq.
Will the truth not be lost in a contrive and deceptive climate?
Again, if the truth is allowed to be lost, how can that be reconciled with the earlier mentioned
values?
Is the truth known to the Almighty lost as well?
Mr President,
In countries around the world, citizens provide for the expenses of governments so that their
governments in turn are able to serve them.
The question here is “what has the hundreds of billions of dollars, spent every year to pay for
the Iraqi campaign, produced for the citizens?”
As your Excellency is aware, in some states of your country, people are living in poverty.
Many thousands are homeless and unemployment is a huge problem. Of course these
problems exist – to a larger or lesser extent – in other countries as well. With these conditions
in mind, can the gargantuan expenses of the campaign – paid from the public treasury – be
explained and be consistent with the aforementioned principles?
What has been said, are some of the grievances of the people around the world, in our region
and in your country. But my main contention – which I am hoping you will agree to some of
it – is:
Those in power have specific time in office, and do not rule indefinitely, but their names will
be recorded in history and will be constantly judged in the immediate and distant futures.
The people will scrutinize our presidencies.
Did we manage to bring peace, security and prosperity for the people or insecurity and
unemployment?
Did we intend to establish justice, or just supported especial interest groups, and by forcing
many people to live in poverty and hardship, made a few people rich and powerful – thus
trading the approval of the people and the Almighty with theirs’?
Did we defend the rights of the underprivileged or ignore them?
Did we defend the rights of all people around the world or imposed wars on them, interfered
illegally in their affairs, established hellish prisons and incarcerated some of them?
Did we bring the world peace and security or raised the specter of intimidation and threats?
Did we tell the truth to our nation and others around the world or presented an inverted
version of it?
Were we on the side of people or the occupiers and oppressors?
Did our administration set out to promote rational behaviour, logic, ethics, peace, fulfilling
obligations, justice, service to the people, prosperity, progress and respect for human dignity
or the force of guns.
Intimidation, insecurity, disregard for the people, delaying the progress and excellence of
other nations, and trample on people’s rights?
And finally, they will judge us on whether we remained true to our oath of office – to serve
the people, which is our main task, and the traditions of the prophets – or not?
Mr President,
How much longer can the world tolerate this situation?
Where will this trend lead the world to?
How long must the people of the world pay for the incorrect decisions of some rulers?
How much longer will the specter of insecurity – raised from the stockpiles of weapons of
mass destruction – hunt the people of the world?
How much longer will the blood of the innocent men, women and children be spilled on the
streets, and people’s houses destroyed over their heads?
Are you pleased with the current condition of the world?
Do you think present policies can continue?
If billions of dollars spent on security, military campaigns and troop movement were instead
spent on investment and assistance for poor countries, promotion of health, combating
different diseases, education and improvement of mental and physical fitness, assistance to
the victims of natural disasters, creation of employment opportunities and production,
development projects and poverty alleviation, establishment of peace, mediation between
disputing states and distinguishing the flames of racial, ethnic and other conflicts were would
the world be today? Would not your government, and people be justifiably proud?
Would not your administration’s political and economic standing have been stronger?
And I am most sorry to say, would there have been an ever increasing global hatred of the
American governments?
Mr President, it is not my intention to distress anyone.
If prophet Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, Joseph or Jesus Christ (PBUH) were with us
today, how would they have judged such behaviour? Will we be given a role to play in the
promised world, where justice will become universal and Jesus Christ (PBUH) will be
present? Will they even accept us?
My basic question is this: Is there no better way to interact with the rest of the world? Today
there are hundreds of millions of Christians, hundreds of millions of Moslems and millions of
people who follow the teachings of Moses (PBUH). All divine religions share and respect on
word and that is “monotheism” or belief in a single God and no other in the world.
The holy Koran stresses this common word and calls on an followers of divine religions and
says: [3.64] Say: O followers of the Book! Come to an equitable proposition between us and
you that we shall not serve any but Allah and (that) we shall not associate aught. With Him
and (that) some of us shall not take others for lords besides Allah, but if they turn back, then
say: Bear witness that we are Muslims. (The Family of Imran).
Mr President,
According to divine verses, we have all been called upon to worship one God and follow the
teachings of divine prophets.
“To worship a God which is above all powers in the world and can do all He pleases.” “The
Lord which knows that which is hidden and visible, the past and the future, knows what goes
on in the Hearts of His servants and records their deeds.”
“The Lord who is the possessor of the heavens and the earth and all universe is His court”
“planning for the universe is done by His hands, and gives His servants the glad tidings of
mercy and forgiveness of sins”. “He is the companion of the oppressed and the enemy of
oppressors”. “He is the Compassionate, the Merciful”. “He is the recourse of the faithful and
guides them towards the light from darkness”. “He is witness to the actions of His servants”,
“He calls on servants to be faithful and do good deeds, and asks them to stay on the path of
righteousness and remain steadfast”. “Calls on servants to heed His prophets and He is a
witness to their deeds.” “A bad ending belongs only to those who have chosen the life of this
world and disobey Him and oppress His servants”. And “A good and eternal paradise belong
to those servants who fear His majesty and do not follow their lascivious selves.”
We believe a return to the teachings of the divine prophets is the only road leading to
salvations. I have been told that Your Excellency follows the teachings of Jesus (PBUH), and
believes in the divine promise of the rule of the righteous on Earth.
We also believe that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was one of the great prophets of the Almighty. He
has been repeatedly praised in the Koran. Jesus (PBUH) has been quoted in Koran as well;
[19,36] And surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serves Him; this is the right
path, Marium.
Service to and obedience of the Almighty is the credo of all divine messengers.
The God of all people in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, the Pacific and the rest of the world
is one. He is the Almighty who wants to guide and give dignity to all His servants. He has
given greatness to Humans.
We again read in the Holy Book: “The Almighty God sent His prophets with miracles and
clear signs to guide the people and show them divine signs and purity them from sins and
pollutions. And He sent the Book and the balance so that the people display justice and avoid
the rebellious.”
All of the above verses can be seen, one way or the other, in the Good Book as well.
Divine prophets have promised:
The day will come when all humans will congregate before the court of the Almighty, so that
their deeds are examined. The good will be directed towards Haven and evildoers will meet
divine retribution. I trust both of us believe in such a day, but it will not be easy to calculate
the actions of rulers, because we must be answerable to our nations and all others whose lives
have been directly or indirectly effected by our actions.
All prophets, speak of peace and tranquillity for man – based on monotheism, justice and
respect for human dignity.
Do you not think that if all of us come to believe in and abide by these principles, that is,
monotheism, worship of God, justice, respect for the dignity of man, belief in the Last Day,
we can overcome the present problems of the world – that are the result of disobedience to the
Almighty and the teachings of prophets – and improve our performance?
Do you not think that belief in these principles promotes and guarantees peace, friendship and
justice?
Do you not think that the aforementioned written or unwritten principles are universally
respected?
Will you not accept this invitation? That is, a genuine return to the teachings of prophets, to
monotheism and justice, to preserve human dignity and obedience to the Almighty and His
prophets?
Mr President,
History tells us that repressive and cruel governments do not survive. God has entrusted
The fate of man to them. The Almighty has not left the universe and humanity to their own
devices. Many things have happened contrary to the wishes and plans of governments. These
tell us that there is a higher power at work and all events are determined by Him.
Can one deny the signs of change in the world today?
Is this situation of the world today comparable to that of ten years ago? Changes happen fast
and come at a furious pace.
The people of the world are not happy with the status quo and pay little heed to the promises
and comments made by a number of influential world leaders. Many people around the wolrd
feel insecure and oppose the spreading of insecurity and war and do not approve of and accept
dubious policies.
The people are protesting the increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots and the rich
and poor countries.
The people are disgusted with increasing corruption.
The people of many countries are angry about the attacks on their cultural foundations and the
disintegration of families. They are equally dismayed with the fading of care and compassion.
The people of the world have no faith in international organisations, because their rights are
not advocated by these organisations.
Liberalism and Western style democracy have not been able to help realize the ideals of
humanity. Today these two concepts have failed. Those with insight can already hear the
sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the liberal democratic
systems.
We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point –
that is the Almighty God. Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the
prophets, the people will conquer their problems. My question for you is: “Do you not want to
join them?”
Mr President,
Whether we like it or not, the world is gravitating towards faith in the Almighty and justice
and the will of God will prevail over all things.
Vasalam Ala Man Ataba’al hoda
Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
NO COMMENT!
The Israeli bourgeois newspaper Yedioth Achronoth published yesterday following strange article..
Olmert: We will ensure Jewish majority
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert delivers speech during special Knesset session to mark Herzl Day, says: 'We must ensure that there will be a proven Jewish majority, otherwise the term Jewish state becomes empty of meaning'
The Knesset will mark a special day dedicated to Theodor Herzl on Monday evening, in accordance with a law passed two years ago. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during a speech that "we must ensure that there will be a proven Jewish majority in the State of Israel, otherwise the term Jewish state becomes empty of meaning. The obligation of the national leadership is to be responsible to the vision of Herzl and to ensure a Jewish majority in the State."
Olmert said that "this special Knesset session is dedicated not only to marking Herzl's birthday but also the discussion of his heritage. The Law of Zion was passed in the Knesset in order to ensure that the heritage and vision of the State's founding father is preserved. As a journalist he covered the Dreyfus trial and was seriously shocked by the anti-Semitic wave that washed over France."
'No hope in exile'
"Through his sharp senses he realized that the Jewish nation has no hope and that there is no alternative to establishing the State of Israel. He didn't invent Zionism, which existed before him, but he turned the dream into a political destination and the dreamers into a national movement. We must live as one people, connected not only to all of the scattered Jewish nation, we must lived as united nation here too. That is Herzl's vision. His vision, that the Jewish nation has an independent state, was realized, but the mission is not over," added Olmert.
Knesset Member Binyamin Netanyahu said that "Herzl was a visionary, not a dreamer. He was not only a prophet of the revival but also saw the danger. He said that if the Jews don't return to their land we will be annihilated. Herzl wrote about the Holocaust at least 30 times, and was thought of as a madman as a result. The threat to destroy us which saw then has not passed. We must become unified in the face of the element threatening our national existence. We must unite where we can unite and dedicate the necessary sources in order to stand in the face of the danger. We must be Herzl's students in this sense."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3248515,00.html
Btw.., the state, according to Marx, is the instrument of power of the ruling class... Mailnly it has nothing to do with the so called ordinary people!
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