Korean art for British eyes

NCP leader Andy Brooks and other friends of Korea met members of the art world at the Democratic Korean embassy in London last weekend at the opening of an exhibition of modern Korean paintings, panoramas and posters to mark the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party of Korea in October 1945.
The exhibition was opened by Pak Chang Sop, a People’s Artist and President of Korea Paekho Trading Corporation, a Kim Il Sung Prize winner, the highest award for an artist in the DPR Korea. Earlier in the month Pak Chang Sop had taken part in the 16th International Panorama Conference in Plymouth. Korean giant 3-D panoramas are known throughout the world and the draft of one covering the historic struggle against the sea building dams in Holland ran for some 35 metres down the side of the embassy grounds. Korean artists have produced historical panoramas in Syria, Kuwait and Mali but perhaps the most famous is the October War Panorama in Cairo which commemorates in dramatic detail Egypt’s victorious offensive across the Suez Canal against Israel in October 1973.
Also on display were works created by the new Korean technique of jewel-powder painting. The paintings are covered in jewel dust which then keeps the
artwork from decaying in any way. Even immersion in water
cannot affect it. Others on show were many oil paintings and posters demonstrating the vitality and strength of Korean art. In Democratic Korea all artists work in teams to produce art that serves the people. This brief two-day exhibition high-lighted some of their best and it certainly was a vivid demonstration of the superiority of the socialist system in arts and culture.

Struggles in south Asia

COMRADES and friends gathered in the Marchmont Community Centre in north London last Thursday to discuss the complex struggles taking place now in South Asia at a New Worker meeting, organised by the New Communist Party London District and chaired by Neil Harris.
Speakers included Pakistani trade union and civil rights activist and campaigner against bonded labour Mukhtar Rana, north London Labour Councillor and Third World Solidarity representative Mushtaq Lasharie, Kumar Sarkar from the British South Asia Solidarity Forum, Theo Russell from the New Communist Party and Suresh from the Nepali Samaj Society.
Mushtaq Lasharie began speaking about the current situation in Pakistan in the run-up to the coming presidential election. “President Musharraf is the most powerful man in because he is in uniform; he is the head of the army.” Musharraf has agreed to take off his uniform and quit the military in order to improve his chances of returning to power in the election.
“This presents a dilemma for the people of Pakistan,” said Lasharie, “the people don’t want to accept Musharraf in or out of uniform but they are afraid of putting up a candidate against him because this will legitimise the election. The alternative is to let Musharraf be returned unopposed. Supporters of a boycott could end up being excluded from the political process.”
Mukhtar Rana explained that Musharraf had taken power in a military coup accusing the former President Sharif of corruption. Sharif, a big landowner, had attacked the Supreme Court while the army – dominated by landowners – stood by.
“Musharraf claimed the credit for defending the court, putting an end to corruption – but he was the most corrupt of all.
“President Benazir Bhutto of the People’s Party promised good things for the working class. She fooled them; promising land reforms that would limit land holdings to 25 to 30 acres. Now there are giant estates of thousands of acres. The land reforms were not implemented. Benazir did not implement the reforms because she is a big landowner herself.”
He went on to explain that currently the United States is supporting Benazir Bhutto in the election while the British government is supporting Sharif to return, “but they are all corrupt”. Kumar Sakar spoke of changes in Indian society where a new middle class is emerging among the intelligentsia and those with well paid jobs in the IT sector who lived in comfortable enclaves with security guards.
“The new India is emerging as a super power,” he said, “but the other side of the story, the Dalits or untouchables and other disadvantaged groups like building labourers, women, Muslims and so on.”
He went on to give a history of effects of British imperialism – and now American imperialism – on developing Indian society.
Comrade Suresh explained that the monarchy in Nepal is only 250 years old. Most people are landless and were born into landlessness. But over the last couple of decades Maoist revolutionaries have taken over the remote areas and implemented land reforms.
They have brought of lot of social advances, for example illiteracy has been reduced from 33 per cent to five per cent. “The Maoists led a military struggle that forced the King to return power to the parliament and became part of a ruling coalition and were in charge of five ministries. But the government has come under pressure from the United States to suppress the Maoists and the people.”
The Maoists have been forced to quit the government because of corruption.
Theo Russell introduced a Marxist-Leninist slant on the reports already given. He said that US plans to dominate the world had failed through the Iraq War and that imperialism’s hopes of imposing a New World Order were “now a distant memory”.
There followed a deep and constructive discussion of all the issues raised.

London news round-up

NUJ photographer challenges police
SOLICITORS Hickman and Rose have served papers on Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police for “battery” (assault) and breaches of the Human Rights Act, relating to freedom of expression and assembly, on behalf of the photojournalist and NUJ member Marc Vallée. Vallée, who is also a member of the International Federation of Journalists and the British Press Photographers’ Association, was taking photographs of the “Sack Parliament” demonstration protest in Parliament Square on 9th October 2006.
He received injuries further to action by Metropolitan Police officers, which resulted in an ambulance attending to give urgent attention and then treatment at St Thomas’ hospital.
The Metropolitan Police have yet to apologise for or offer any explanation of the actions taken by officers.
Chez Cotton of Hickman and Rose said: “This is a significant case because freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of democracy and safeguards afforded to the press are particularly important.
“Mr Vallée was lawfully present to photograph a political protest outside parliament, yet received injuries at the hands of Metropolitan police officers.
“In these circumstances it is hoped that the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police will swiftly confirm that neither he nor his officers have any legal power or moral responsibility to prevent or restrict what the media record, and resolve this case urgently.”
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: “We are delighted to be supporting Marc’s case. He has been treated disgracefully and it is important that such behaviour is challenged and proper amends made.
“Key democratic principles are at stake here and we are determined to do everything in our power to make sure that Marc gets justice.”

New anti-terror jail
THE GOVERNMENT is to build a new maximum-security jail to hold up to 30 terrorism suspects to replace the notorious Paddington Green police station, which was built in the 1960s and is now considered out of date.
Counter-Terrorism Minister Tony McNulty told Parliament last week that it was “well accepted” that the office-block-style Paddington Green has had its day.
The high-tech replacement will be designed to hold suspects for much longer as the Government hopes to bring in before Christmas a new Counter-Terrorism Bill that would allow suspects to be held for significantly longer than the current 28-days limit. When Paddington Green was built the limit was three days.
The new police station will allow High Court judges to authorise continued detention of suspects by video link without the suspects having to be brought to court.
The Government claims this will prevent the disruption of London traffic caused by security convoys carrying suspects around the capital.

NCP leader Andy Brooks and other friends of Korea met members of the art world at the Democratic Korean embassy in London last weekend at the opening of an exhibition of modern Korean paintings, panoramas and posters to mark the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party of Korea in October 1945.
The exhibition was opened by Pak Chang Sop, a People’s Artist and President of Korea Paekho Trading Corporation, a Kim Il Sung Prize winner, the highest award for an artist in the DPR Korea. Earlier in the month Pak Chang Sop had taken part in the 16th International Panorama Conference in Plymouth. Korean giant 3-D panoramas are known throughout the world and the draft of one covering the historic struggle against the sea building dams in Holland ran for some 35 metres down the side of the embassy grounds. Korean artists have produced historical panoramas in Syria, Kuwait and Mali but perhaps the most famous is the October War Panorama in Cairo which commemorates in dramatic detail Egypt’s victorious offensive across the Suez Canal against Israel in October 1973.
Also on display were works created by the new Korean technique of jewel-powder painting. The paintings are covered in jewel dust which then keeps the
artwork from decaying in any way. Even immersion in water
cannot affect it. Others on show were many oil paintings and posters demonstrating the vitality and strength of Korean art. In Democratic Korea all artists work in teams to produce art that serves the people. This brief two-day exhibition high-lighted some of their best and it certainly was a vivid demonstration of the superiority of the socialist system in arts and culture.

London news round-up

Safety protest on the tube

TUBE DRIVERS last week refused to operate trains on the Central Line after brake parts fell off a train on to tracks. The incident led to a safety check on the line with 85 trains being inspected and maintenance staff working through the night.
The check revealed a separate fault on another train and an investigation has been launched.
The RMT transport union says that passengers are being put at risk because corners are being cut. Union spokesperson Derek Kotz said: “We believe the public private partnership has undermined safety.
“There are serious fault lines and our members are always vigilant. We have to ask ourselves how something fell off a train – there are supposed to be protocols.
“We will not compromise on safety. This could have caused a derailment. If any of our members were disciplined for refusing to drive their trains we would ballot for a strike.”

Tower Hamlets gardeners to strike?

MEMBERS of the GMB general union employed as gardeners by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets are considering strike action following a pay dispute with a private contractor.
Fifty gardeners are being balloted by the GMB in the row with grounds maintenance firm Fountains and the ballot results are expected later this month.
Union officials accused the contractor of using taxpayers’ money in other parts of their business instead of meeting their members’ demands.
GMB official Bert Schouwenburg said: “Tower Hamlets Council is sitting on its hands and watching Fountains divert the borough’s taxpayers’ money to prop up their business elsewhere.”

A Good Day at Turnham Green

by New Worker correspondent

HOME-MADE marmalade, second-hand books and home-grown plants all sold well at last Saturday’s traditional peace market on Turnham Green in West London.
In just a few hours the New Worker stall had made a profit of £60. This contribution to our paper’s fund is of course very welcome.
But better still were the many conversations with people visiting the stall and the interest shown in the New Worker and New Communist Party literature.
Copies of The Communist Manifesto, our own The Case for Communism and other titles were sold.

Wembley protest against Palestinian team ban

MEMBERS and supporters of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in conjunction with the Boycott Israeli Goods campaign and Jews Boycotting Israeli Goods are planning a Day of Action this Saturday, 8th September against a Euro 2008 qualifying match between England and Israel.
There will be events and actions throughout Britain but the most significant will be a protest demonstration at the match at Wembley.
This follows a decision by the Home Office last month to ban a Palestinian under-19s team from a planned tour of friendly matches against youth teams in Britain.
The Home Office refused visas to all the players on the spurious ground that they might abscond and become illegal immigrants here.
The Palestine National Youth Football Team was to have spent three weeks touring Britain and playing English football teams including Chester City, Tranmere Rovers, and Blackburn Rovers.
The tour had been organised by the University of Chester along with the Palestine and English Football Associations.
Rod Cox, spokesperson for the organisers said: “I regret to tell you that the tour has been terminated, not by a hostile blow from a distant enemy, but by our own government.
“The Consulate in Jerusalem has refused visas to every single one of the team and its support staff of coaches and officials.
“They have produced a written reason for the refusal but will not show it to us,” he said. “I cannot imagine the disappointment of the boys selected to play in the team. The chance to escape the most densely populated, and seriously deprived, part of the world, Gaza, and show the world that you can compete with the rest, if only the chains are taken from around your neck, well, its gone.”
The Entry Clearance Officer at the Jerusalem Consulate said: “The refusal has been taken at the highest level in London. It is in line with current immigration policy.” incredible
Cox described the decision as “incredible”, adding: “Only a few months ago Britain’s Foreign Office was considering funding this scheme under the ‘Engagement with Islam’ programme.
“They recognised that the positive nature of engaging people in sport both in Palestine and in the UK helps to keep young men out of the hands of the gunmen. But the ‘Engaging with Islam’ programme has been completely terminated, and no grants will be given this year,” he said.
The American-born Palestinian striker Morad Fareed expressed his disbelief at the Home Office decision, saying: “Football is one of the very few institutions that Palestine has to compete, to show our statehood, to be on the world stage.” siding with the enemy
The chairperson of Truce International, Nancy Dell’Olio, offered her support for the team, noting: “This decision will be seen in Gaza, where most of the team originate, as siding with the enemy. To refuse a national team admission solely on the grounds that they are too poor and deprived will not do Britain any good abroad.
“The lives of these boys, who have worked so hard to achieve the position they are in, are just being thrown away.”
A spokesperson for War on Want commented: “The refusal stands in marked contrast to the welcome given the Israeli national team, due to play England at Wembley on 8th September. This is despite calls for that match to be cancelled in protest of continuing Israeli assaults on Palestinian towns, including the bombing of the national football stadium.”
War on Want is under investigation by the UK Charity Commission for allegedly violating its charity status through political campaigning.
Palestinian football teams have been dogged by a lack of support from those in power. In 2005, Israel prevented the Palestinians competing on the world stage by detaining players in Gaza during a world cup qualifier.
They also prevented the entire team leaving Gaza for an Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore in 2006, and barred the team from re-entering Gaza for over a month after they competed in Jordan in June of this year.
On 31st March 2006, Israeli army artillery shells left a large crater in the centre of the field at Gaza’s national stadium, claiming this was in response to Qassam rocket attacks.

Metronet strike victory

STRIKE ACTION by more than 2,300 Metronet maintenance workers was suspended late on Tuesday night after more than eight hours of talks between RMT, the failed company, its administrator and Transport for London (TfL) yielded significant progress on the issues involved in the dispute.
But the transport union’s planned action for next Monday remains on, pending the outcome of further talks with the pension trustees’ board meeting, and pending consultation with the union’s reps on Friday.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said on Wednesday: “We now have in writing from the employer that the originally proposed pension-scheme rescue is withdrawn, and that a full scheme rescue will be placed before the TfL pension trustees’ board today, and is expected to be in place by Thursday.
“This means that our members will now actually have their pensions restored to them, which is rather different than promises from a man in an expensive suit.
“Further to the existing assurance that there will be no job losses or transfers during the period of administration, we also now have written commitments that any subsequent proposals will be subject to proper discussions through the existing negotiating machinery and the code of practice agreed at the time the PPP was introduced.
“This means that the threat of 691 job losses, tabled before Metronet’s collapse, and postponed by the administrator, has been withdrawn entirely.
“As a result of the detailed talks last night, the RMT executive suspended the current industrial action, although the action scheduled to begin next Monday remains on, pending the successful outcome of today’s pension meeting and consultation with our reps on Friday.
“Our members are to be congratulated for their rock-solid action, and can return to work with their heads held high after sustaining their strike in the face of enormous pressure and hostile media.
“It is their unity that has given their union the strength it needed to hold its position in this difficult dispute.
“The dispute has underlined the need to bring the maintenance of London Underground back into the public sector, and that is what our members and the vast majority of Londoners want,” Bob Crow said.
The strike closed two-thirds of the Tube network and affected 10 lines. London’s financial centre was hard hit as office staff struggled to get into work by other means. Many arrived several hours late; others gave up trying and stayed at home.”