SLLU meeting on October 16th. All welcome. This meeting will be the first monthly meeting. Members of all left groups are welcome. this is your opportunity to speak to others on the left and perhaps get them involved in your project!
The time for this meeting on the 16th has not been decided... please email me plottracer@googlemail.com with the time that suits you.
Leading up to the inauguration of Barack Obama to the U.S. Presidency on January 20th, we asked people across SL to write a letter to him/ express their feelings on a world led by him (see HERE for details if you would still like to contribute). Some members put their thoughts straight to blog (see below) and some sent their contributions inworld to Zoe Parness and Plot Tracer- and some placed notecards in the collection points at our builds.
We will be publishing, intermittedly, those posts sent inworld, starting with a view from the U.S. and a view from France.
How Do I Fuck My Base? Let Me Count The Ways.
A poem by Barack Obama
(as translated by GenJCChristian Homewood)
How do I fuck my base.
Let me count the ways?
I fuck them by reaching out to homophobic pastors
and the bigoted throngs they represent.
I fuck them by embracing war-mongering apparatchiks
and the neo-con wet dreams they blindly followed.
I fuck them by allowing war-criminals and torturers
to escape the punishment they so richly deserve.
I fuck them by endorsing domestic spying
and allowing the telecoms to profit from their complicity.
I fuck them and smile
as I reach out to everyone but them.
Mister President Obama
I am French artist and as well as mine,i like your country , Mister President… and I am like many people in this world… happy of your election; I would say that is a great step for American and a step of giant for humanity… You carry in fact our desire to all to fraternize!
...And certain minds as mine believe in the possibility a better world, I wish that you be able to profit from all inspiration and energy necessary to manage to carry out this hope which share of the citizens of the whole world.
Mer Dreier
Mr. President of the United States
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Despite my reservations about the course of post-revolution Cuba under Castro's rule, I continue to view the revolution itself as an important historic event, and to admire the many social accomplishments of post-revolutionary Cuba, not least the fact that it has withstood a half-century of U.S. blockade and aggression. Here's a video I made to mark the occasion, with music by Michael Hall.
A Great initiative started as a Facebook group and now branching out into the "Real World". Perhaps some of our American comrades can keep us up to date on this organisation.
By Feminista Cat
Feminista is a member of the SLLU and the Scottish Socialist Party.
I was brought up in a family where feminism wasn't a dirty word, my grandma probably thought it was but never really said, but she was a matriarch and probably redefined it to mean that she was in charge. My grandad was a communist though had left the CPGB in the 50s he was sort of independent, trade unionist and very jaded.
My mum never married and I don't really know my father, she always worked. Though sometimes I think given her lone parentness to the detriment of our relationship, but I now understand she was stating her independence rather than be dependent - my mother was quite bohemian now when I look back on my childhood and adolescence I just wish I had understood that as a child when I wanted to be "normal".
My grandad and I were a great pair, I think I liberated him when I was born - he doted on me and gave me all of his time and in return I loved him unconditionally - everything he told me I took in and processed. He would talk to me as an adult and tell me of all his political arguments he had had and his friends - it was almost like an adventure story. I grew up wanting to live in the Soviet Union as it seemed like a fantasy world when my other friends wanted to live in America. He could tell great tall tales and I only worked that out when I got older. It was evident he loved my grandmother more than she loved him but he didn't seem to mind (well not in his 60s when I was born I was born in his 60th year).
My grandad was very clear he was a feminist and he could remember the Rent Strikes of Glasgow as a wee boy and the tanks conming to George's Square as he was there. His mother, a battered woman and mother to 8 children and step mother to 10 had been very organised in the rent strike - his mother died in 1920 in child birth to her 9th child. My grandad was taken into care after she died because of cruelty and neglect from his father! He and his brothers were looked after by the Christian Brothers confirming his atheism to the day he died. "They should of been called the Cruel Bastards" when he talked about them. My grandad was clear in order for me not to be oppressed as a woma was not to marry and to become an engineer and as a member of the working class to be in a trade union and involved in my community and to read, read, read. He used to do maths and arthemetic tests on me all the time by the time.
I was clear from about 12 I was going to become a geologist and study volcanoes and plate tectonics, travel the world and become an adventurer. In my religious phase I thought I would become a missionary at the same time perhaps even a nun!
I went to uni for 12 days (if he had still been alive I would have stayed, I know I would have but he died the day after my 18th birthday the year before).
I went to Manchester in 1990 when the Poll Tax was in full flight and got involved at the Pankhurst Women's Centre - it was full of anarchists and Labour party Women. I actually thought they were a bit mad (and I think I was right) but I wanted to get involved in politics so I stuck it out. I was attracted to the anarchist feminists more than the Labour women, the Anarchist women were Radical Feminists, vegans and producing a fanzine called Subversive Sister - whilst I was never that impressed on a personal level, it allowed me to read a lot about feminism, anarchism and socialism. Most of it made no sense what so ever and I couldn't work out what was going on.
Then Sara Thornton got sent to prison for killing her violent husband, I had never felt such anger before at an injustice and I wrote to her, I then got involved in giving out leaflets and petitioning for her, it was at this time Militant had launched the Campaign Against Domestic Violence - I got really involved and later in 1992 joined SML. I suppose I got involved in more class and anti-racist politics after that and the feminist politics were more of a private thing.
I trained to be a social worker because I wanted to work with women experiencing violence and I have been lucky that I have been able to do that and better than that been able to develop a radical theoretical basis in social work (unfortunately I haven't been able to make the revolution grow very fast though there are small pockets).
Some women in the Militant used to meet as the Women's Bureau and we discussed the "women's question" in great detail. I started to read a lot about anthropology and paelo-anthropology. It became clear to me that class society was the patriarchy, it's the same thing, then is NO division.
Paleo-anthropology and archaeology suggests to us that the majority of the history of humanity humans lived together in peace and shared the resources, indeed there was a point in our history where they believe there was only 70,000 humans left on the planet but in working in partnership together they did not become extinct (70,000 makes you nearly extinct). There was little or no evidence that female humans were treated subordinately to male humans. There was sex-division in work and rituals but it didn't make one sex better off than the other.
If the bringing about of class society brought about the oppression of women and then as Marxists we are against class society as we believe it oppresses us i.e. alienates us from our true humanity then surely as Marxists we are against the double oppression of women via the patriarchy i.e. the rule of the father or men.
Once you start to look at the violations of women around the world and in our own communities presently and in history it becomes glaring. I have convinced many many women to become feminists including plenty that refused to become feminists as they believed in equality for everyone. But what equality? Equality is not a socialist demand. Liberation and emancipation is the demand. Feminism talks about that demand. Feminism probably is the wrong word, its about gender really and the oppressions and creations of the bipolarism of gender including how men are oppressed too.
Material circumstances shape your conciousness - the [Tommy] Sheridan Affair for me was like a belesha beacon. I think it is fair to say that Sheridan Affair had two effects on feminist ideas in the party. You either became hyper-sensitive to the misogyny of Sheridan, the press and his supporters (and even by some in the party) and it had a radicalising effect. Those that had ignored the patriarchy were reminded every day of it and felt oppressed more by the attitudes they were coming across as women rather than being working class. Tommy and Gail were allowed to smile outside court but the female comrades weren't. Gail could look like a film star but female comrades were castigated fro having summer dresses on. We were called witches, bitches, harridans and the rest. But the men were betrayed friends and comrades. We were accused of putting spells on men, of "manising", pussy whipping, being gender obsessed etc etc. Yet it was the women in court who were sexualised and abused - the men weren't. The treatment of Katrine and the other women was shocking.
Of course back in 2002 50:50 started it but it was in our programme, our manifestos and constitution - all 50:50 was was a mechanism to bring about something simple. However I think it was a scratch that turned into a festering sore (for some).
For some comrades in the SSP and now Solidarity and beyond they were repulsed by the gender divisions and took a reactionary point of view as it made them uncomfortable as it challenged their great leader who was a man. They chose to ignore the obvious gender part of the argument and debate and chose to go for the simplification of Murdoch Press vs Tommy our great leader/Great socialist, that was safe and made better sense than the complications of gender, ethics, morality etc. They chose to see it as a class battle and in doing so ignored the impact of Tommy, the press and themselves on women. I have argued with myself whether Gail is a victim of abuse/liberated woman making complex choices in a difficult situation, I continue to swing between loathing of her and care and concern. I wonder how those in Solidarity and beyond see her - courageous and strong or "standing by her man rightly or wrongly".
The criticism of the left in the 70s and 80s that lead to the women organised in the left being excluded from conferences and discussions is that they put "party first" that under pressure they resorted to an over simplification it was about "capitalism" and "class". However without the class analysis feminism has become the guardianship of the NGOs and academics. Which is neither liberating or emancipating indeed has turned violence against women into a charity. There was much bleating of the liberal do-gooders about a donkey sanctuary getting 5 times more that charities dealing with domestic abuse and my position on that is quite right too. Donkeys should be cared for by charitable organisations, women and children affected by domestic abuse should be cared for by everybody and until something better comes along by the state contributing either directly or indirectly to government services services and NGOs offering support, refuge, advocacy and recovery. You can't compare donkeys to women!!!
The SSP isn't actually influenced by radical feminism of the 70s, I think it is influenced by feminism today. I think many of us are becoming Radical Feminists but not like the Radical Feminists of the past. I think the SSP is rejecting post-modernism (and I think that is a good thing) and in rejection of post modernism you have to ask the question - why are women experiencing this level of violence, why are they still paid less than men, why do women get left with the caring responsibility, why are there so many single women bring up children. Where are the men and what are they doing?
For me I am revolutionary in my feminism, quite a lot of the feminism around us is coming from NGOs and academics and there is not a good class analysis, we need to bring that to the women who are being radicalised. You can see that in the debates around abortion, all the campaigns demand - abortion on demand (or on choice) and that it should be legal and safe but rarely raise that it must be free at the point of need for ALL women. Free at the point of need is a socialist demand. Without socialists getting involved this demand will be lost.
I have campaigned for 18 years against men's violence towards women and I guess I will do it til the day I die. I have worked in the field of domestic abuse trying to advocate a radical social work approach to men's violence towards women rather than systemic one that blames women and ignores men however it reflects society and it seems to me the SSP reflects society too rather being radical- I am getting there but it is an uphill struggle as social work and the helping agencies want women to be saints and mothers and not ordinary women dealing with difficult lives and complex choices.
I just can't separate my feminism from my socialism - I just don't think it is possible. And I wonder how others do? I am a radical, a radical socialist and a radical feminist. And I think you should be too.
Cat xx
Links seeks to promote the exchange of information, experience of struggle, theoretical analysis and views of political strategy and tactics within the international left. It is a forum for open and constructive dialogue between active socialists from different political traditions. It seeks to bring together those in the international left who are opposed to neoliberal economic and social policies, and reject the bureaucratic model of `socialism' that arose in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Inspired by the unfolding socialist revolution in Venezuela, Links is a journal for `Socialism of the 21st Century' and the discussions and debates flowing from that powerful example of socialist renewal. Please explore Links and subscribe
SLLU are pleased to welcome new member and blog contributor Klaatu Congrejo, who has been exploring, in diary form, how her SL experiences relate to, and intersect with RL issues and experiences. This is her first SL diary extract we are publishing here, hopefully with more to follow...
THE TRIGLAV INCIDENT
Here in Second Life, just as in Real Life, there are daily struggles for 'human' (avatar) rights, ideologies, beliefs, freedom from poverty, freedom from oppression and environmental protection issues.
A few days ago I took part in a stand-off against a group of fascist griefers who, through intimidation and threatening behaviour, were trying to force an SL citizen to remove her building structures and give up her land.
On August 28th, through the IM chatline of Arbor Project (a group that buys up tiny blocks of land and plants trees to prevent that land being taken over by advertisers), I was alerted by a panic call from a Group member:
"Help, they have guns and they are threatening me" said Meredith.
Instantly, there were half a dozen people on line asking 'Whats wrong?', 'Where are you?',
'Who's threatening you?', etc.
Another Arbor Group member from the same location sent back: "We're here (LM enclosed) surrounded by a group of people in uniform, carrying guns and claiming to be SL Police."
Within seconds at least ten other Arbor Project members and myself had teleported into a block of land at Triglav sim. We saw a young female avatar, Meredith, and a large crow avatar, Deadcrow Sands, surrounded by about a dozen large muscle-bound male avatars in blue uniforms. Some of them were carrying rifles - ALL of them had pistols.
Apparently, Meredith had recently built walls with pictures of trees on them to block out the unsightly ads floating above the land next door. One of the 'police officers', the owner of the ad land, claimed he was acting on behalf of Linden Labs and told her to remove the walls and lower her ban lines. She complied, and within minutes her land was swarming with police carrying weapons with the intention, it seemed, of intimidating her and forcing her off her land.
As more Arbor Project people arrived some of the police disappeared, but it was at least half an hour before the last of them left. When questioned about why they were there they simply replied "We're just exploring a wonderful second life and making sure all is good with everyone", and other similar comments.
While one of the Arbor Project members walked around taking pictures of what was happening, another member was making a complete transcript of the conversations taking place. We tried contacting the Lindens to invite them to come and see what was happening but, as is always the case in these siuations, there were no Lindens on line at that time!
We told the 'pretend police' that we were all lodging AR's (Abuse Reports) to Linden Labs about their intimidating behaviour and misrepresenting LL by claiming to be acting on their behalf. We also informed them that the second charge (of misrepresentation) was regarded as a VERY serious offence by LL that could result in them having all their lands confiscated.
This information soon saw all but two of the police disappear.
These two remaining policemen - 'Gandi Benelli' and 'joethehand McMillan' (I kid you not, that was his name!) seemed determined to wait around until we had gone. Then one of the Arbor Group members shouted out: "Since we have so many members here I suggest we all sit down and have a group meeting - now any suggestions for an agenda?".
As we started our meeting Gandi and joethehand soon got the message that we weren't going anywhere so they decided to leave.
We all filed our AR reports and, to date, we're waiting for Linden Labs to investigate.
I think 'The Triglav Incident', as we call it, is a perfect example of solidarity overcoming oppression - as has happened so many times throughout RL history. And it's encouraging to see that here in Second Life too a group of people standing together in peaceful solidarity can overcome oppressive and intimidatory behaviour.
PEACEnHARMONY -KC:))
Remember: if YOU have an article you would like to submit to the blog, about your SL experiences, and how they relate to RL issues, please submit it on a notecard inworld to SLUL Revolution or higgleDpiggle Snoats.
SLURL TO OUR COFFEE SHOP: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Montserrat/48/18/22
SLURL TO THE TRIBUTE GARDEN: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Isla%20Montevideo/49/220/36
IF YOU ARE BROADLY IN AGREEMENT WITH THESE, PLEASE CONTACT SLUL REVOLUTION TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED!
OUR CHARTER:
The SLLU seeks creative, non violent means to foster revolutionary social dialogue. We oppose capitalism, as well as racism and sexism as a part of capitalism. Our goal is to develop socialism in order to maximise left activity and thought on SL.
SLLU originated from members of the Scottish SSP, and is now part of a world wide left unity movement in SL. We are a diverse group, united around social justice and anti-capitalism. We are a democratic collective.
SLLU has acquired new land.
A number of the SLLU membership have been working hard on projects as diverse as educationals on the coffee trade, factories in 2/3rds world “economic zones” and of course, the Tribute Garden.
The land sale went through for L$37000. More projects are to be announced to members soon – and YOUR input is required!
Thanks to all who financially contributed/ regularly contribute. We still need the money to come rolling in. Contact me, SLUL REVOLUTION about contributing both financially and physically – ie. work/ ideas/ comments.
Click on link to go to SLLU entry in wikipedia... or click on pic above for a screenshot...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Businesses_and_Organizations_in_Second_Life#Second_Life_Left_Unity
You Cre8tive lot! The photo below shows some of the Cre8 garden tributes you have left in memory and in tribute to the victims of globalisation/capitalism.
All you lefty creative types - the ongoing Cre8 Garden
(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Isla%20Montevideo/49/220/36)
has proved that the left have the artists! Well done to all who have taken part and all of those who are going to.
SLLU are now working towards aquiring our own land for a new and exciting ongoing proposed project - details of which to follow later in the week.
In order that we can expand, and connect with as many people in SL as possible, we are now looking for content-creators who are interested in participating in our new ventures. Currently, we are in the process of setting up a space where we will give away creations, donated by members, to residents of SL, who can then contribute a voluntary donation if they wish (or not, as the case may be!).
SO! if you are a content-creator, and are interested in donating content you have made, and having a venue to show-case it, be it overtly politically-themed, or just playful/dorky/useful/experimental - whatever! please get in touch for further details, and/or send your full-perms content to either myself (higgleDpiggle Snoats), Eremia Woodbury, or Plot Tracer.
thanks again for your continuing support!
higgledpiggle snoats
OUR CHARTER:
The SLLU seeks creative, non violent means to foster revolutionary social dialogue. We oppose capitalism, as well as racism and sexism as a part of capitalism. Our goal is to develop socialism in order to maximise left activity and thought on SL.
SLLU originated from members of the Scottish SSP, and is now part of a world wide left unity movement in SL. We are a diverse group, united around social justice and anti-capitalism. We are a democratic collective.
Physical attacks by right-wing groups on meetings of the Indonesian
National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas - see
translated articles from Indonesian press below). Their objective seems
to be to disrupt attempts by Papernas to get registered as an electoral
party in time for the 2009 presidential elections. After the massacre of
up to a million leftists and social activists in Indonesia 1965, the
anti-communist hysteria being promoted by these right-wing groups is
deeply menacing.
The situation is quite bad now and some office bearers of
the new party have been intimidated into resigning after being
threatened with having their homes burnt down by these right-wing thugs.
If you or friends can approach human rights and civil
liberties groups or prominent democratic rights advocates to send
messages supporting the democratic right of Papernas to organise, please
send them to Katarina Pujiastuti at
These articles are the translated by James Balowski from the INDOLEFT
news service is produced by the Institute of Liberation, Media and
Social Studies (LPMIS) and Action in Solidarity with Asia and the
Pacific. See
Please spread this urgent appeal for solidarity to your friends and
comrades.
Solidarity greetings
Peter
* * *
Papernas conference in Sukoharjo forcibly broken up by Islamic thugs
Tempo Interactive - April 30, 2007
Imron Rosyid, Solo -- Dozens of members of Surakarta Islamic Community
Militia (LUIS) forcibly broke up a conference being held by the National
Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) in the Central Java city of
Sukoharjo on Sunday March 29. Islamic groups in Jakarta have taken
similar actions against Papernas.
The LUIS members blockaded the entrance to the conference venue at the
Gajah House on Jl. Yos Sudarso in the Tanjung Anom area of Sukoharjo.
Members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) (sic) even frisked a police
intelligence officer who they accused of being a provocateur. "We have
evidence, Papernas is PKI [Indonesian Communist Party]", said LUIS
general secretary Khoirul Suparjo.
Shouting "God is great", the LUIS members who were wearing robes and
turbans arrived on motorbikes and an open pickup truck. Papernas members
who believed they already had a permit to hold the event tried to hold
them off from inside the building. However because the LUIS members
outnumbered conference participants, some of them decided to leave the
venue before the event started.
Sukoharjo Regent Bambang Riyanto, who was wearing tennis sportswear,
then facilitated a dialogue between the two groups in order to prevent
anarchic acts. The head of the Papernas conference organising committee,
Onang Tiyoso eventually gave in and agreed to halt the event but under
the condition that all FPI members must leave the location before they
disbanded. "In formal terms, Papernas does in fact actually have a
permit for the activity, but in order that the local situation remains
favorable, I have asked Papernas to cancel the event", said Riyanto.
Suparjo said that his organisation would continue to hunt down Papernas
members that want to organise similar activities saying based on the
statutes and rules of association that they have on the party, Papernas
is communist. He cited the Papernas' program of Tripanji(1), the
protection of prostitutes and so forth as evidence that they are
identical to the PKI.
Meanwhile the chairperson of Papernas' Central Java Regional Leadership
Board, Kelik Ismunanto said he regretted the LUIS' actions in forcibly
breaking up the event. According to Ismunanto, regardless of LUIS'
perceptions of Papernas they do not have the authority to prohibit or
break up their events. "Our party is registered with the Department of
Justice and Human Rights, we will be participating in the 2009 general
elections and we had already obtained a permit for the event from the
police", said Ismunanto while promising that they would take legal
action against LUIS over the incident.
Notes:
1. Tripanji - Papernas' Three Banners of National Unity: Abolishing the
foreign debt, nationalising the mining industry and build the national
industry for the welfare of the people.
* * *
Papernas declaration in Sukoharjo broken up by right-wing thugs
(Adds details on previous posting – JB.)
Radar Solo - April 30, 2007
Sukoharjo -- A tense situation developed at the declaration of the
National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) in Sukoharjo, Central
Java, that was to be held yesterday afternoon. Even before Papernas
members had begun the meeting, dozens of members of the Sukoharjo
Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) had occupied the Gajah Tanjung Anom
Building where the event was to be held.
Led by Ustad (Islamic teacher) Khoirul, the FPI members, who had been
arriving since 10am, began to pour into the venue where the event was to
be held. They immediately moved towards the auditorium that had been set
aside by the Papernas organising committee.
FPI's arrival caused confusion among some of the Papernas members. "We
have come here to break up this event. We are asking that Papernas be
disbanded and not be allowed to exist in Indonesia. Because Papernas is
an embryo of the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party - Ed.). Where is the
committee chairperson, I want to meet them", ordered Khoirul in a shrill
voice.
Not wanting to create a problem, several of the Papernas members that
were already present left the venue one by one. Unfortunately the FPI
members prevented this. "Don't let them leave. The ones that were here
earlier, order them all back inside", Khoirul instructed his subordinates.
It was not just members of Papernas that were harassed, but also other
people in the vicinity who they considered suspicious. Tensions reached
a climax when the FPI frisked a Sukoharjo district police intelligence
officer that had been guarding the venue from the start. If he was
indeed a police officer, the FPI asked the man to show them his identity
card.
A National Unity and Social Protection Agency (Kasbang Linmas) official
also suffered a similar fate. Becoming suspicious about his actions, the
FPI immediately accosted him. As well as examining his identification
papers, they also asked for the photographs on his cell phone to be
erased. The FPI members even asked the man to take off his shirt and
show them a tattoo on his body.
"This is a picture and symbol of the PKI. Because we know that earlier
you were inside and now you are going back inside", asserted one of the
FPI members while pointing at the tattoo on the Kasbang Linmas
official's body.
After a short while Sukoharjo Regent Bambang Riyanto arrived. He had
come to facilitate a dialogue between the two camps in order to resolve
the problem peacefully. This was because Riyanto wanted the situation in
Sukoharjo to remain 'conducive'.
The two parties met at around 11.30am. Papernas eventually agreed not to
go ahead with the event and asked its members who were already present
to return home. Following this, one by one the FPI members left the
location. (mg2/mg3)
* * *
Media Indonesia - April 30, 2007
Papernas flags burnt at FPI protest in Bekasi
Golda Eksa, Bekasi -- Around 30 members of the Bekasi Islamic Defenders
Front (FPI) gave speeches and set fire to flags of the National
Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) in front of the Bekasi municipal
government offices on Monday April 30. They also brought banners and
posters with messages opposing Papernas.
"Papernas, is a reincarnation of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
Papernas [says it] is populist democratic. This term is the camouflage
that is usually used by communists or socialist in Indonesia like the
PKI. It is because of this that we don't want the party to grow and
develop", said action coordinator Ustad (title of Islamic teacher)
Abdurrahman.
Abdurrahman went on to say that the PKI's once cause the nation to loose
its best sons. Moreover he said, thousands of Muslims were wiped out by
the PKI.
After giving speeches for around an hour, the protesters set fire to
Papernas flags shouting that they will not tolerate Papernas' presence,
especially in Bekasi.
From the Bekasi government offices, they then moved off to continue the
action at the Bekasi City Regional House of Representatives on Jl.
Chairul Anwar in East Bekasi under the tight security of the Bekasi
municipal police. (GG/OL-02).
[Translated by James Balowski.]
Papernas postpones regional meeting to avoid clash with FPI
Liputan 6 - April 30, 2007
Sukoharjo -- The National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) continues
to come under pressure. Again and again the Islamic Defenders Front
(FPI) has attempted to break up Papernas events. This time it was a
meeting to establish a regional leadership board in Sukoharjo, Central
Java, on Sunday April 29.
Without showing any hesitation, FPI members moved in and tried to evict
Papernas members who had arrived at the Gajah Sukoharjo Building for the
event. Tensions rose between the two camps and police moved in quickly
before a clash could break out.
The two groups were then brought together for a dialogue facilitated by
Sukoharjo Regent Bambang Riyanto. The FPI said it objected to Papernas
because it has a communist ideology that his banned in Indonesia. In the
end the Papernas members decided to postpone the meeting because it
could potentially result in a brawl.
On March 29 Papernas demonstrators clashed with the FPI in the Dukuh
Atas area on Sudirman, Central Jakarta. Several people were injured
including two children and a middle-ranking police officer from the
Tanah Abang sectoral police. (TOZ/Ferry Aditri)
* * *
Right-wing thugs attempt to disrupt May Day in Yogyakarta
Khairul Ikhwan, Yogyakarta -- A commemoration of May Day in Yogyakarta
was almost marred by a clash when protesters from the Yogyakarta
People's and Worker Alliance (ARPY) were unexpectedly waylaid by members
of the Anti-Communist Front (FAKI) and the Yogyakarta Islamic Defenders
Front (FPI).
The FAKI and FPI members accused the ARPY of being infiltrated by the
National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) that they claim has a
communist ideology.
The incident occurred at intersection in front of the central post
office when a man climbed up onto an open pickup truck that ARPY was
using as a platform and dragged a person giving a speech off the
vehicle. Initially the ARPY activists were too shocked to react but were
eventually able to rescue their colleague.
Tension rose as FAKI and ARPY members confronted each other but
fortunately police were able separate the two groups before a clash
could break out.
Five thousand workers rally in Medan for May Day
May Day was also commemorated by thousands of workers in the North
Sumatra provincial capital of Medan with around 5,000 workers rallied at
the North Sumatra DPRD and the Medan State Court.
The workers, who came from a number of labour organisations such as the
North Sumatra Trade Union (SBSU) and the Indonesian Prosperous Trade
Union (SBSI), were demanding improvements to workers' welfare and that
May 1 be declared a national holiday. (djo/sss)
* * *
Prominent NU cleric Abdullah Faqih to lead anti- Papernas group
Antara News - April 14, 2007
Surabaya -- Prominent Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cleric and the caretaker of
the Langitan pesantren (traditional Islamic boarding school) in Tuban,
East Java, KH Abdullah Faqih has been chosen to lead a group opposing
the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas).
The senior ulama (Islamic scholar) has been appointed to be the advisor
to the Friendship Forum to Safeguard Pancasila and the Unitary State of
the Republic of Indonesia Against the Threat of Neo- Communism (Forum
Silaturrahmi Mengawal NKRI dan Pancasila dari Ancaman Neo-Komunisme)
that held a consolidation meeting in the East Java provincial capital of
Surabaya on Saturday, which was attended by delegations from Sumatra,
Java and West Nusa Tenggara.
Other prominent figures that were in attendance included KH Ir.
Solahuddin Wahid (Gus Solah, the caretaker of Tebuireng pesantren in
Jombang), Prof. Dr. Aminuddin Kasdi (East Java Indonesian Historians
Society, MSI), Prof. Dr. Edi Sri Swasono (economist), Taufik Ismail
(cultural observer), retired TNI Major General Sutoyo NK (the former
director general of social and political affairs at the Department of
Domestic Affairs) and KH Abdussshomad Bukhori (chairperson of the East
Java Indonesian Ulemas Council, MUI).
"The PKI [Indonesian Communist Party] has indeed been destroyed, but
communist ideas are resurfacing through various means and because of
this vigilance is needed", said Faqih who is also one of the founders of
the Ulama National Awakening Party (PKNU).
Faqih believes that one of the ways in which ex-PKI or PKI cadres are
rising up again is through politics, education and the law. "The
political means being undertaken includes among other things efforts to
revoke the Tap MPRS XXV/1966(1), but it failed", he said.
"Now, they are trying to take advantage of the situation and conflicts
the Indonesian nation is experiencing, most recently by building a new
political movement. This conflicts with [the state ideology of]
Pancasila and Islam, because of this it must be resisted", he asserted.
Speaking separately with Antara News during a break in the event, Gus
Solah explained that it would be best to invite Papernas to address the
legal factors because Indonesia is a constitutional state. "But, the
legal efforts shouldn't be juridical in character, rather a submission
to the Constitutional Court in the form of an appeal or judicial
review", explained the younger brother of former President Abdurrahman
Wahid(2).
Speaking in a similar vein, the deputy chairperson of the goodwill
committee, Arukat Djaswadi said that they are urging the government to
act immediately against Papernas because it has violated the MPRS
Decree, Law Number 27/1999(3) on State Security, and many other laws.
"Because of this, it is time for the government to act firmly, because
they are most clearly an embryo of a communist [party], because they use
the principle of populist democracy, whereas if they [want to] live in
Indonesia they must use Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution"
, he said.
The head of the Center for Indonesian Community Studies (CICS) explained
that Papernas cannot be dealt with of by juridical means because
Papernas uses the ideology of logic, however Papernas has clearly
violated the "rules of the game" in Indonesia and the government must be
firm.
Similar comments were made by Kasdi. "The aroma of the PKI inside
Papernas is strong, including the view that the 1945 [nationalist]
revolution is unfinished, the jargon of Tripanji(4) and the focus on
workers, farmers and the urban poor", he said.
Notes:
1. Tap MPRS XXXV/1996: MPRS Decree Number XXXV/1996 on the Dissolution
of the Indonesian Communist Party and Prohibitions on Marxist, Leninist
and Communist Teachings
2. Following the attack by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) on Papernas
in Jakarta on March 29 Wahid publicly condemned the incident saying that
it was unconstitutional and if the government stays quiet on the issue
it will endanger the life of the nation. He also called on police to act
firmly against the FPI. Wahid was scheduled to speak at a Papernas
declaration that had to be postponed because of the attack.
3. Law No. 27/1999 is a revision to the Criminal Code that codifies the
MPRS Decree.
4. Tripanji - Papernas' Three Banners of National Unity: Abolishing the
foreign debt, nationalising the mining industry and building the
national industry for the welfare of the people.
* * *
FPI accuses Papernas of spreading communist ideology, undermining the state
Sinar Indonesia Baru - April 11, 2007
Medan (SIB) -- Dozens of people from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI)
demonstrated at Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in the North
Sumatra regional capital of Medan on Tuesday April 10 against the
National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas). The protesters believe
that Papernas is extremely dangerous because it only wants to legalise
and provide legal guarantees to commercial sex workers and is hiding
behind the mask of the state ideology of Pancasila and the 1945
Constitution.
The demonstrators gave speeches and issued a statement against the
establishment of Papernas, which held its founding congress in
Kaliurang, Central Java in January. They said that this was extremely
dangerous because the denial of religious values is becoming ever more
rampant and fate of the country will be to degenerate into an
uncivilized nation.
Action organisers Muhammad Iqbal and Ustad Muliyamin said that Papernas
only acknowledges Pancasila as the country's ideological basis and the
1945 Constitution as a constitution. In addition to this, Papernas'
adheres to imperialist principles (sic) in order to try to recruit
members from all sectors of society, particularly from the working
class, farmers, students and the urban poor. Based on this, the FPI is
asking that the National Unity and Social Protection Agency (Kesbang
Linmas) not to accept Papernas' when it registers itself nationally on
June 2.
They also called on the national and North Sumatra General Election
Commission not to verify the registration of a party that has communism
as its ideology, because it violate Tap MPRS Number 25/1996 and Law
Number 27/1999(1) on the dissolution of the Indonesian Communist Party.
They are also asking the police as investigators and the enforcers of
the law to have the courage to take firm action against Papernas and
disband all of its regency and municipal offices throughout North Sumatra.
The FPI is also asking the leaders and members of the North Sumatra DPRD
to be more careful and stay on guard against the communist movement in
the legislator because they suspect that it has already been infiltrated
by certain individuals who want to spread communist ideology in North
Sumatra and that they also suspect that the mastermind behind this
spread is the financier of Papernas in North Sumatra.
They are therefore asking the people of North Sumatra to be wary of
agitation and propaganda that is being manipulated by certain
irresponsible individuals to overthrow the Pancasila state and the 1945
Constitution and replace it with communist ideas. (A13/c)
Notes:
1. Tap MPRS XXXV/1996 - MPRS Decree Number XXXV/1996 on the Dissolution
of the Indonesian Communist Party and Prohibitions on Marxist, Leninist
and Communist Teachings. Law No. 27/1999 is a revision to the Criminal
Code that codifies the MPRS Decree.
1. To establish a local chapter in every community across the Americas;
2. To promote socialist values and ideas; and to
3. Create a united socialist movement in the 35 countries of the Americas.
More Specifically, Chapters Will:
1. Promote the reduction of social & economic inequalities within and between nations;
2. Help raise the awareness of the destructive forces of capitalism upon nature;
3. Monitor the progress made by socialist ideas in their community, in the Americas and beyond;
4. Act as an “honest broker” between various groups working in a spirit of unity to support worthwhile campaigns; and
5. Provide members with educational and leadership tools for socialist activists.
Long Range Goal:
To move our countries from the current capital set of social relations towards a pluralistic socialist society.