Another shoeing for Bush

Louise Nousratpour
Friday December 19, 2008
The Morning Star

PEACE protesters delivered a box of shoes to the US embassy in London on Friday to show support for Iraqi shoe-thrower Muntadhar al-Zeidi and demand his "immediate and unconditional" release.

The protesters waved their shoes in the air, chanting: "Free Muntadhar - jail Bush."

One banner read: "If the shoe fits, throw it." A box wrapped as a Christmas present and addressed to US President George Bush quickly brimmed over with old shoes donated by the protesters.

The event, organised by Media Workers Against the War, was part of an international wave of protests demanding the immediate release of Mr Zeidi, who was jailed last week after hurling his shoes at Mr Bush during a press conference in the Baghdad Green Zone.

The Iraqi journalist became an instant hero across the world when he threw his shoes at the US president, shouting: "This is for the widows and orphans of Iraq."

Mr Zeidi, who has not been seen since his arrest, has reportedly been subjected to brutal treatment and is suffering from a broken wrist, broken ribs and internal bleeding.

Media Workers Against the War chairman Dave Crouch warned that Mr Zeidi's life was in danger and that he faced up to seven years in jail "for doing what journalists do - speak up for those who do not have a voice."

He dismissed reports that Mr Zeidi had sent a letter to Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki pleading for clemency and forgiveness.

Before delivering a protest letter to the embassy, Mr Crouch told the crowd that Mr Zeidi's arrest "shows that there is no media freedom in Iraq and the Iraqi government has a dreadful record of harassing, detaining and torturing journalists."

The US Committee to Protect Journalists published a report on Thursday which ranked Iraq as the most dangerous place for journalists.

Protesters also heard passionate speeches from Iraqi journalists and activists residing in London.

Sabah Jawad of the British-based Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation described Mr Zeidi as "a brave man" and demanded his "immediate and unconditional" release.

"The BBC asked if I thought it was appropriate for a journalist to throw shoes at heads of states and I replied: 'Absolutely'," he said to loud cheers.

"Was it appropriate for George Bush to launch an illegal war, destroy my country and kill more than one million people?"

Mr Jawad added: "Mr Bush should not be allowed to retire happy and write silly books, but he should face war crime charges alongside Gordon Brown, who wrote the cheques for the war."

Iraqi journalist Nidhal Ail Shibib made an emotional speech, highlighting the death and destruction that has plagued her country for nearly six years.

She added her voice to calls for Mr Zeidi's release, saying: "He wasn't the one who killed innocent people, committed the crimes at Abu Ghraib jail in Baghdad or raped little girls.

"George Bush should be sitting in jail, not al-Zeidi, who only spoke on behalf of Iraqi people."

Mr Crouch delivered the box of shoes along with the protest letter, signed by prominent figures such as veteran socialist Tony Benn, Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn and Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German.

The letter read: "We believe that Muntadhar al-Zeidi is guilty of nothing but expressing Iraqis' legitimate and overwhelming opposition to the US-led occupation of their country.

"We call on you to guarantee his safe treatment and effect his immediate release."

A solidarity protest will take place outside the BBC, Oxford Road, Manchester at 1pm on Saturday.

Britain's poor suffer brutal benefit attack

Louise Nousratpour
Friday November 21, 2008
The Morning Star

A SENIOR government adviser urged new Labour on Friday to rethink plans to force Britain's poorest people into low-paid work by threatening to cut their benefits.

Social security advisory committee chairman Sir Richard Tilt was joined by family charities, the TUC and Labour MPs in condemning the welfare-to-work measures as a "brutal attack" on lone parents and disabled people.

From Monday, people with disabilities and single parents with a youngest child of 12 who apply for income support will be put on jobseeker's allowance and expected to look for work or face sanctions, including benefits cuts of up to 40 per cent.

Only full-time carers, disabled people "with the greatest needs" and those with disabled or sick children will be exempt. By 2010, the rule will be extended to lone parents with a youngest child aged seven or over.

Announcing the changes, Pensions Secretary James Purnell insisted that they were aimed at helping the jobless seek work.

But critics dismissed the measures as "cruel" and "unworkable" in the face of rising unemployment and deepening economic crisis.

They highlighted the government's own figures showing that over 56 per cent of Britain's estimated 1.8 million lone parents are already in work.

Sir Richard said: "Benefit rates are relatively low and, if you are going to reduce someone's benefit for a few weeks by 40 per cent, you are pushing people much closer to poverty.

"Of course, the child will suffer, but it's not the child that has fallen foul of the system."

TUC leader Brendan Barber insisted: "As thousands join the dole queue every day, this is the worst possible time for a further benefits crackdown and introducing workfare.

"If the government continues, more people will be left in poverty, unable to work or claim benefits, and, at £60.50 a week, many of those claiming jobseeker's allowance will still find themselves in poverty."

Left MP John McDonnell called for an "immediate halt" to the measures, which he branded a "brutal attack on some of the poorest members of our society."

He added: "It will put immense pressure and stress on parents struggling to bring up their children at a time when there is increasing unemployment and opportunities to re-enter the labour market are restricted by the economic recession."

Lone parent charity group Gingerbread warned that the workfare plans would undermine good parenting and force many into low-paid, dead-end jobs.

Chief executive Fiona Weir said that many parents could end up "cycling" between low-paid work and benefits.

Maxine Hill of childcare charity Daycare Trust feared that there was not enough suitable and affordable childcare for lone parents.

"Our childcare costs surveys show above-inflation increases in the cost of childcare," Ms Hill said.

Britain facing twin threat from BNP and state fascism, warn delegates

Louise Nousratpour at the Labour Representation Committee conference in Conway House
Sunday November 16, 2008
The Morning Star

BRITAIN is facing the rising threat of both "state fascism" and the far-right BNP, Labour Representation Committee delegates warned on Saturday.

Far-right groups such as the BNP are active in white working-class areas, filling the vacuum left by the Labour Party and other organisations, the committee's conference heard.

Moving a motion on combating the threat of fascism and racism, committee member Daphne Liddle called for locally focused campaigns and door-to-door visits, particularly in areas targeted by the BNP.

"The BNP puts most of its political energy into door-to-door campaigning because it knows that this is effective and it must be countered in the same way," Ms Liddle argued forcefully.

Conference also expressed fears about the growth of "creeping state fascism" through anti-terrorism legislation as well as a succession of draconian immigration and asylum acts.

Committee chairman John McDonnell MP noted that, in his west London constituency, "three or four asylum-seekers are deported every day - dragged out at all hours of the night and in handcuffs.

"This government is sending people back to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq."

The agreed resolution called for the repeal of all "unjust" immigration and asylum laws, the scrapping of all anti-terror legislation and an end to private-sector involvement in the prison system and all government departments that keep public records.