richard's blog
Somyot is a former project coordinator for ICEM (International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions) in Thailand and the founder of the Center for Labour and International Solidarity Thailand. Somyot was arrested together with Associate Professor Suthachai Yimprasert, after they presented themselves to the police when they heard of their arrest warrants. Suthachai was released yesterday following petitions by students and the faculty, however Somyot is still being held. More information and letter-writing campaign here. |
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The well-known Thai labour and human-rights advocate, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, has been arrested following the recent political upheaval in Thailand. He has been held in military barracks without being charged since May 24th.
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They will call on the government to reverse recent decisions to freeze processing of all claims by asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, and to re-open the notorious Curtin detention centre. More information here. |
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Workers Rights are Human Rights |
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Mr Han led a 77 day strike at the Ssangyong vehicle manufacturing plant in protest against mass sackings. The company and South Korean government responded with violent police attacks against the strikers and solidarity supporters including the use of chemical agents. They blockaded the workers and denied them food, water and medical aid. The strike ended in August 2009. More information about the strike can be found here and here.
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On February 13, 2010 Mr. Han Sang Kyun the Chairman of the Ssangyong Motor Company Union was sentenced to four years in prison. AAWL is campaigning for his release.
On May 15 at around 2.30pm, the police attacked the villagers with rubber bullets, tear gas and lathi charges (baton charge). Over 100 people, mostly women and children were injured in the attack with two people seriously injured. The POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samithi (Committee for Resistance Against POSCO) request urgent national and international support to condemn this attack and to ensure that the POSCO does not come at the cost of lives and lands of thousands of villagers and to protest against POSCO's adamant attitude (obviously for profits) in setting up the project in the area despite people opposing it since 2005. More information here and here. |
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Villagers in Jagatsinghpur in Orissa whose lands are to be acquired for the South Korean steel giant POSCO's mining and steelworks project have been staging an indefinite peaceful protest since January.
reports by comrades who have recently returned from korea & the philippines 6:30 pm |
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Soldiers: Don't shoot! This is a time of crisis for workers in Thailand. The Abhisit government must go. To achieve democratic rights and economic justice the working people of Thailand have to defeat the Abhisit government and the Thai army. But replacing the current government with Taksin or with a general who switches sides will not change the economic conditions of exploitation imposed by capitalist companies operating in Thailand. Workers can resolve this situation if they intervene as an organised workers movement. Only direct democratic control of workplaces and communities by assemblies of working people can begin to restructure the economy in favour of the great majority of the population. All workers in the region and globally must support protest actions and international industrial action and solidarity to assist workers in Thailand. |
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Read more here. Additional reports here. Education International (EI) is calling on its member organisations to join the campaign in memory of Farzad, and in support of other Iranian teachers and union activists. Farzad was one of the activists AAWL was supporting through the 'free our comrades' campaign. In Sydney a protest against the assassination of Iran political prisoners was called for Thursday, May 13 outside the NSW State Parliament. AAWL offers its condolences to Farzad's family and comrades. |
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