Korean solidarity in action

Dermot Hudson and Thae Yong Ho

by New Worker correspondent

Comrades and friends met to discuss future Korean solidarity work at the AGM of the Korean Friendship Association held in central London last weekend. UK KFA chair Dermot Hudson opened the discussion which focused the anniversary of the north-south June 15^th Declaration and the start of Kim Jong Il’s work at the Workers Party of Korea and preparations for the annual Month of Solidarity with the Korean People which starts on the anniversary of the imperialist attack on the DPR Korea on 25^th June 1950.

               A report of work was given which outlined the KFA's activities and achievements over the past year while Thae Yong Ho from the DPR Korea’s London embassy covered many aspects of life in Juche Korea during the always-popular question and answer session that followed.

            Dermot Hudson was returned to the helm of the KFA unopposed. Two other activists stepped down this year and their vacancies were filled by David Munoz, who  was elected Organisation Secretary and Daniel Braggins, voted in as Communications Secretary.

A solidarity letter to dear respected leader Chairman Kim Jong Un was adopted together with solidarity greetings to the DPRK government and the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front (AINDF) –  the underground resistance to the fascist regime in south Korea.

Free the Korean waitresses!

Andy Brooks, Dermot Hudson and other comrades at the picket

by New Worker correspondent

 

New Communist Party leader Andy Brooks joined other comrades outside the south Korean embassy in London last week to demand the release of 12 young north Korean waitresses working in China who were tricked into flying to south Korea in April. They are now being held, against their will, by the puppet regime. The DPR Korea Red Cross has asked that they be sent back or at least allowed to meet their parents and families either at the Panmunjom armistice line crossing point centre or in  Seoul, the south Korean capital. This has been rejected by the puppet regime which is holding the waitresses in detention while claiming that they are “defectors”.

            The picket was called by the Korean Friendship Association and the NCP to draw attention to the latest human rights abuses of the Seoul regime that is propped up by American bayonets and oversees the exploitation of south Korea on behalf of US imperialism.

            KFA Chair Dermot Hudson said the abductions were “another horrendous and vile crime by the south Korean fascist puppets whose mere existence is a blight on humanity! The south Korean puppets are spreading all sorts of dirty lies to cover up their massive crime”.

London call for Lexit vote

Tariq Ali calls for Lexit!

by Theo Russell

Several hundred people gathered on Monday at a Left Leave Campaign rally at London’s Camden Centre to hear supporters of worker’s rights from across Europe call for a “Lexit” vote next Thursday.

Mick Lynch, RMT assistant general secretary, declared: “The EU is unreformable, change can only come through campaigns and struggle. Another Britain is possible, another Europe is possible, but another EU isn’t. Vote for Lexit!”

Polly Jones, of Global Justice Now, warned: “Staying in the EU means joining TTIP. Even members of the European Parliament had to join protests just to be allowed to see the draft TTIP proposals.”

Dean Williams, chair of Holborn & Covent Garden Labour party (in a personal capacity), said: “Millions of Labour supporters have been denied a voice in this debate. As soon as we get out we will see an end to that ghastly system. When Tony Benn went to Brussels as a minister, he said he felt like a slave going to Rome.”

Lindsey German, from {Counterfire}, pointed out: “The first fight for equal pay for women was the strikes by bus, tram and underground workers in 1918. The EU debate is not all about immigration. In fact the EU is driving racism by tolerating right-wing parties with anti-migrant agendas.”

Writer and broadcaster Tariq Ali said: “There is no serious reporting by the Europhile media of events in Europe such as the current struggle in France, or the protest by thousands at the US Ramstein base in Germany against drone strikes. The president of the European, Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, is a total charlatan and crook who has been involved in many scams in Luxembourg. The EU is in complete social, economic and cultural crisis. Green Party MP Caroline Lucas claims the EU is ‘green’, what about Volkswagen? They don’t give a damn about the environment, all that matters is the drive for profit.”

Tosh McDonald, president of Aslef, said: “We have no problem with freedom of movement in the EU but we do have a problem with having no free movement of workers’ rights,” adding: “Three weeks ago Aslef lay members voted ‘Out’ after a long debate at conference.”

Paul Embery, FBU London Region secretary (in a personal capacity), said “There is a disparity between trade union leaders and ordinary working people on the ground. Trade union recognition, the national minimum wage and equal pay – all were won by trade union struggle. Is the EU defined by workers’ rights or by austerity, neo-liberalism and maximising profits?”

And Polish migrant worker Jacek Szymanski, said: “The Polish economy is built on low wages, high unemployment and millions on zero-hour contracts. Twelve years after joining the EU three million people have left Poland in desperation. These are perfect conditions for creating fascism and this is not accidental, it is also happening in Greece, Italy and Hungary. You have a great opportunity to deal a powerful blow against the EU – I urge you to do it.”