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This article is a somewhat expanded version of a paper I presented, on behalf of the Socialist Labour Party, to the May Day International Seminar in Brussels organised by the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB). Although the paper was presented on 3 May this year, the present version makes reference to certain events and data … [Read more…]

 On 11 July 1999, 300,000 full-time and 50,000 part-time workers went on indefinite strike in the Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling regions in West Bengal, where 104,000 hectares of tea gardens produce almost 22% of India’s tea. Production lost per day of strike action amounted to 500,000 kg of tea. Companies affected by the strike include … [Read more…]

 The devastating earthquake that hit Turkey on the night of 17 August 1999, which has killed in the region of 40,000 people, destroying 100,000 building, is reminiscent of the one which hit Guatemala City in 1976, killing 23,000. It was dubbed the ‘class quake’ because of the accuracy with which it struck down the poor.Is … [Read more…]

  The conviction of Manjit Kaur Basuta for shaking a child to death has raised many questions concerning the justness of her trial and the lack of publicity given to her horrendous treatment.On June 15, Manjit Basuta was found guilty of killing 13-month old Oliver Smith, a child in her care at the Day Care Centre … [Read more…]

UN report damns the effects of restoration of capitalism in the USSR and Eastern Europe  Three days before the publication of a United Nations report to the effect that the transition to capitalism of the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union has in reality been a Great Depression in terms of its disastrous … [Read more…]

 This coming October marks the 50th anniversary of the Chinese Revolution and the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). On this historic event Lalkar sends its heartfelt greetings to the people and the government of the PRC, as well as to the Communist Party of China (CPC), without whose brilliant leadership the Chinese … [Read more…]

By C P Chandraskehar,  We reproduce this article on the Chinese Reforms for, since our own article “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” in the August/September 1992 issue of Lalkar, it is one of the most thoughtful that we have come across. [FromPeople’s Democracyof 18 July 1999, with thanks.] – Editor. China’s drive towards a “socialist market economy” is … [Read more…]

  Stan Goff retired from the U. S. Army in 1996. He served in Vietnam, Guatemala, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Honduras, Somalia and Haiti. His last assignment was with 3rd Special Forces.Earlier this year, the Departments of State and Defense shed crocodile tears over human rights in Kosovo. Now, self-righteous sanctimony about drugs … [Read more…]

 Meningitis B is a major killer of children and young people all over the world. It affects some 500,000 people each year, of whom 10% die of it. Up to now there has been no effective vaccine available against the disease in Europe an North America, even though such a vaccine does exist and has … [Read more…]

Currently between readings in the House of Lords is the Welfare Reform and Benefits Bill, the second piece of legislation introduced by the Labour government is part of the British bourgeoisie’s attack on the British welfare state (the first being the cuts in benefit to single parents last year).This new Bill voices the determination of … [Read more…]