The aftermath of the 1997 ‘currency crisis’

 This article was written at the end of October 1999 with a view to being reproduced in the November/December issue of LALKAR. However, lack of space prevented its publication then. The reader ought to keep this in mind when confronted with a reference to expressions such as this year and last year. Nothing has happened … [Read more…]

Socialist Labour Party Congress

 The Socialist Labour Party (SLP) held its third (that is, if we exclude the Special Congress held in Manchester, 14 November 1998) Congress on the weekend of 6/7 November 1999 in London’s Conway Hall. Apart from Party delegates, the Conference Hall was graced by the presence of fraternal delegates from the DPRK, Cuba, France, Ireland … [Read more…]

Twenty-First Century Belongs to Communism

 This article is based on, and a slightly detailed version of, the speech made by Harpal Brar at a public meeting on November 20th, 1999 in Leicester, to mark the 82nd Anniversary of the Great Socialist October Revolution. The meeting was organised by the Committee to Celebrate the October Revolution with the full support of … [Read more…]

Book Launch

Marxism and the Emancipation of WomenBook Launch: Saturday, 26 February 4 p.m.Saklatvala Hall, Dominion Road, SouthallMain Speaker: Ella Rule[Editor of the new book, Chair of SLP Women’s Section]Cultural Programme: Workers Music Association SingersJoin us in launching this new and important publicationHosted by Ealing Southall Constituency Socialist Labour Party,[Chair: Harpal Brar, Secretary: Iris Cremer, Treasurer: Jagdev … [Read more…]

Basawa Singh Johal

 Indian Workers Association (GB), Lalkar and CSLP Ealing Southall send their sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Comrade Basawa Singh Johal, who passed away following treatment for cancer. His untimely death has left his family and friends stunned. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, a wonderful friend and a good comrade. … [Read more…]

Chechen terrorism is being caused by Yeltsinism

Declaration of the CC of the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (Victor Tyulkin) A series of terrorist outrages has started with the explosion in the commercial centre on Manezhnaya Square in Moscow. It was continued with the explosions in the Russian cities of Buynaksk, Moscow, and Volgodonsk. They herald an escalation of what has been developing in … [Read more…]

East Timor – Self-determination at last

 As Australian troops flying the banner of the United Nations landed in East Timor in September, with the permission of Indonesia, to put an end to the massacres being perpetrated by Indonesian troops and pro-Indonesian local militias on the innocent Timorese population, the question on everyone’s lips is: will the East Timorese people see freedom … [Read more…]

Imperialist-inspired protest against Chinese President

 The State Visit of Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, to Britain in October 1999 gave rise to enormous publicity for the imperialist-inspired ‘human rights’ protesters calling for Tibet’s independence from China on the grounds of China’s supposed oppression of the people of that region of China. As if to ensure that this motley handful of protesters … [Read more…]

Disgrace of Leicester sweatshops

 TheIndependentof 27 September reports that“Sweatshop labourers in some of Britain’s small garment factories are routinely paid less than the minimum wage but are too frightened to complain.”The National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades is bringing Tribunal cases on behalf of several Asian workers who are being paid wages as low as £1.50 an … [Read more…]

Racism at Fords

 ‘Wildcat strikes’ have finally persuaded Ford’s overwhelmingly white management to do something about the racist practices, directed against black workers, that permeate its operation at Dagenham, Essex. According to theFinancial Timesof 23 October 1999,Fords were pioneers of equal opportunities:“Ford has in some ways been ahead of its time. The issue of equality of opportunity was … [Read more…]