SP Newsletter No.191
Three Nigerian student activists from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife Ife, are in jail on made-up charges including conspiracy to murder and attempted murder.
Two are members of Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), the Socialist Party’s sister organisation in Nigeria.

Both Taiwo Hassan Soweto, secretary, DSM OAU branch and coordinator, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), and Olatunde Dairo, OAU students union public relations officer were arrested and detained earlier on October 11. OAU student union president Saburi Akande Akinola has been held since July 31.

The murder charges relate to protests in 2004 during which an OAU student was killed by the police. The attempted murder charges relate to a former vice-chancellor, who has up to now made no accusations against these student activists. These are clearly politically motivated charges aimed at wrecking OAU’s students union.

The OAU campus was closed and Taiwo Hassan Soweto and Olatunde Dairo arrested two days after a student mass meeting agreed a lecture boycott for 17-18 October to press demands including Saburi’s release from imprisonment. The campus closure and arrests are management’s attempt to forestall the students’ planned action.

The Socialist Party and the DSM demands the immediate release of all three OAU activists and asks for urgent protests and solidarity.

Please send urgent protest letters to:

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at registra@oauife.edu.ng

OAU Vice-Chancellor – mfaborode@yahoo.co.uk and mfaborod@oauife.edu.ng

Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education at enquiries@fme.gov.ng and te@fme.gov.ng

As some of these email addresses may not accept protests, copies of protests within Australia should also be sent to the Nigerian High Commission. Address the letters to Mr Edward Ogbonna, 26 Guilfoyle Street Yarralumla ACT 2600. Email: chancery@nigeria-can.org.au and Phone him directly on 02 6282 7411.

Send copies of all protest letters to the DSM (CWI Nigeria) at dsmcentre@hotmail.com

We are also asking for people to make donations to the defence fund. Clearly legal and other defence activities will cost money and the DSM asks for donations to be sent via its website.

The Socialist Party would like to thank the RMIT Student Union in Melbourne for their solidarity and generous donation of $500. It is greatly appreciated.

To make a donation or to read more about this campaign visit the DSM website here.
http://www.socialistnigeria.org/

Che Guevera day school in Melbourne this Saturday!

The Melbourne branch of SP is holding a day school to mark the 40th anniversary of Che’s death. The details are Saturday October 20th 2007 at Trades Hall, Carlton South, Melbourne. There will be two sessions starting at 3.30pm.

3.30pm - The life and times of Che.
Speaker: Denise Dudley (recently returned from Latin America)

5.00pm – An introduction to the ideas of the Socialist Party.
Speaker: Anthony Main.

Join the Socialist Party

If you agree with 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

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 38 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 the federal election, IR laws, the Greens, Latin America, a report from our councillor in Yarra and a centre page spread on the 90th anniversary of the Russian Revolution.

Regional Activity

Victoria

The SP Melbourne Branch meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets Carlton South. This week the branch will host a public meeting to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. The speaker will be SP Councillor Stephen Jolly. For more info call 96399111. All welcome.

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 –

Canada: Four month forestry workers’ strike over health and safety conditions
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2007/10/18canada.html

Britain: Brown’s expedient election climb-down
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2007/10/11britaa.html

Poland: Will the tumultuous twins hold on to power?
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2007/10/10polana.html

Get Active - Join the fight back, Get Militant - Join the Socialist Party
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI).

To contact or join the SP or the CWI anywhere in Australia or the world, call our National Office on +61 3 9639 9111

‘Workers of the world unite – you’ve got nothing to lose but your chains’

http://www.myspace.com/socialistpartyaustralia
http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org
http://www.socialistworld.net/