SP Newsletter No.162
Next Tuesday, the pro war and anti democratic campaigner Nimal Siripala De Silva will be in Melbourne as part of a visit to Australia. Siripala De Silva is a senior government minister in the ruling party of Sri Lanka. He looks after the portfolio of Healthcare but has blood on his hands as he has supported recent killings and abductions.

The situation in Sri Lanka at the moment is escalating into civil war. Hopes were raised four years ago that an agreement could be arrived at between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to end the suffering of both the Sinhala and Tamil people. However, since then the ‘peace process’ has periodically been punctuated by armed exchanges between the Sri Lankan armed forces and Tiger fighters in the north and east of the country.

In recent times, on top of the military exchanges, killings and abductions have become common place across the country. The city of Colombo is almost like a police state with checkpoints every few hundred meters. To this day the whereabouts of many people that have been abducted is still unknown.

In November last year a high profile Tamil MP was shot dead and members of our sister organisation in Sri Lanka, the United Socialist Party (USP), are receiving death threats on a daily basis. On one occasion in early January, the General Secretary of the USP, Sirithunga Jayasuriya, escaped with his life when over 300 armed thugs, led by a deputy minister, raided the place where a public rally against the war was due to be held.

The Socialist Party is demanding that the government stops the killings and abductions immediately. If anyone has any doubts that the government is behind the abductions then Siripala De Silva should explain when he visits how people have been illegally abducted then mysteriously appeared in the hands of the government. We condemn the role of Siripala De Silva in these events.

In this deteriorating situation, it is vital that socialists and activists in the workers’ and human rights movement maintain their campaign of solidarity with the left and democratic forces in Sri Lanka.

The Socialist Party calls on all concerned members of the community to join us and protest the visit of this war monger and abuser of human rights. The Hon. Consul Dr Rodney Arambewela, who also supports the killings and abductions in Sri Lanka, has arranged for the minister to address a public meeting in Melbourne.

The Socialist Party will be picketing this event highlighting the war in Sri Lanka, the gross violations of human and democratic rights and repression of the Tamil people.
Join us 6pm Tuesday February 27th, Deakin University Burwood Campus, lecture theatre LT7 on the second floor of building W (Psychology Department). For more information or for assistance with transport contact the SP National Office 96399111.

Join the Socialist Party

If you like what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states. We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to overthrow the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more information about joining in your area contact the SP National Office. 0396399111

Socialism 2007

SP is hosting Socialism 2007 on the weekend of 3rd/4th March in Melbourne. It will be a weekend of discussion and debate over the major issues facing workers and young people in Australia and internationally. Click the link below to see the agenda and impressive list of speakers from Australian and overseas. For tickets or to help advertise the event phone 0396399111
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SP subscriber List

Become a supporter of SP today! Join our subscribers list - only $20 per year or $10 concession. You will receive our newspaper ‘The Socialist’, delivered to your door every month, and our email newsletter every week. You will also know that you are supporting a party that is at the fore of the fight back against Howard and against capitalism. Contact the SP National Office now on 0396399111 to join the list.

The Socialist

Issue 30 of SP’s monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’ is out now! Readers can pick up a copy at our regular street stalls, from our National Office or by joining the SP subscriber’s list. This month’s paper features articles on climate change, David Hicks, the ALP leadership team, nuclear power, bushfires, IR, Venezuela, Cuba, a report from our councillor in Yarra, a report back from the world congress of the CWI and a back page special on student poverty.

SP now on My Space!

My Space is an online forum for networking. You can use it to chat, share photos, videos and journals. SP is using it to promote our party and meet people interested in socialist politics. Check out our site at www.myspace.com/socialistpartyaustralia

Regional Activity

Victoria

The Melbourne Branch of SP meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall in Carlton South. 1st Floor Corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets. This week the branch will host a public meeting with guest speaker Claus Ludwig. Claus is a German Marxist and socialist councillor in Cologne Germany. He will be speaking on the rise of the class struggle in Europe. All welcome.

SP stall in Swanston St City outside McDonald’s restaurant 12-1pm every Saturday. All welcome. For more info contact Antony on 0401356132

SP stall in Smith St Collingwood outside Safeway supermarket 12-1pm every Saturday. All welcome. For more info contact Steve on 0433113421

SP stall at RMIT o week on city campus from 11am Wedneday Feb 28th. All welcome. For more info contact Anthony on 0417368215

New South Wales

To find out more info or to join SP in Sydney contact Gary - 02 9728 7727

To find out more info or to join SP in Newcastle contact Samantha - 02 4968 1545

Western Australia

To find out more info or to join SP in Perth contact John on – 08 9402 0728

Please note childcare is available at all SP meetings but only by prior arrangement please call ahead first.

News links just a click away –

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Netherlands: The rise of the Dutch Socialist Party
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Israel: Contract postal workers demand permanent job status
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The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI).
To contact or join the SP or CWI anywhere in Australia or the world call our National Office
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