End the Afghan nightmare
SP Newsletter No.283
Provisional results show that President Hamid Karzai has emerged victorious from the controversial and violence ridden elections in Afghanistan. The elections were marred by widespread allegations of fraud, violence and irregularities.
The elections were never going to bring relief to the Afghanistan people. It was always going to be the case that a puppet government similar to the previous one would be elected with even less room to make meagre concessions to ordinary people.
Karzai’s web of alliances with warlords, religious leaders and tribal chiefs in the North, North Western and Central provinces allowed him to outdo Abdullah Abdullah his nearest rival and one of the US’s favoured candidates.
Seven years of so called democratic rule have failed miserably to weaken the warlords. Hard-line religious groups and tribal chiefs still rule the show. Karzai has the support of the most feared and notorious warlords in the country. These include the notorious Uzbeck warlord Rashid Dostum, accused of massive human rights abuses.
Karzai’s relationship with his western allies has become increasing bitter over last year. The US has given him the cold shoulder and wants to replace him with someone more reliable. The flash point could come if Karzai is declared the outright winner in the elections despite the allegations of fraud made by Abdullah.
The voter turn out was quite low at only 35%. The main reasons for the low turn out were widespread disillusionment about the candidates and Taliban threats to attack polling stations. Many Afghans view official politics with indifference. In Southern Afghanistan the epicentre of the Taliban movement, voter turn out was only 10%. The Taliban not only harassed voters but also carried out bombings and rocket launcher attacks. They cut off the fingers and noses of some who dared to vote in an “un-Islamic election”.
There was no real choice for the masses in the recent elections. All four of the major candidates stood on the same platform and slogans. All the main candidates supported the occupation being led by the US and all advocate the free market as a way forward. They all are puppets of imperialist forces and represent those interests rather than the rights of their own people.
Afghanistan is still as fractured and divided as it was before the US invasion in October 2001. Foreign occupation troops are only fuelling the Taliban insurgency and religious extremism. Afghanistan is a clear example of how capitalism and feudalism can destroy the lives of millions of people in the interests of the rich few. Only opposition to imperialist occupation and socialist solutions can provide a way forward for the Afghan people.
The Socialist Party calls for:
-an immediate end to the occupation - withdraw all foreign troops
-an end to Taliban terror and religious extremism
-the Afghan people to be able to decide their own future without imperialist interference
-democratic multi ethnic defence forces to protect local communities, not foreign troops
-a workers’ and peasants’ government with a socialist program to use the counties resources to provide for all not just a rich few.
Bring the troops home from Afghanistan rally
Protest on the 8th anniversary of the Afghan war. This Saturday October 10th at 12 noon in the City Square, corner of Collins & Swanston Sts Melbourne. All welcome!
Save Solar Systems campaign
The building of the first large-scale solar power plant in Australia is in doubt after its owner, Solar Systems, declared that due to a lack of private investment, the company faces collapse. Over 100 Solar Systems workers have already been made redundant. In order to protect jobs and the environment the Socialist Party is calling for this plant to be nationalised under democratic workers control.
We will be attending a protest outside the plant this Sunday and distributing our new leaflet which explains the issues. Join us 2pm Sunday October 11th at 45 Grosvenor Street Abbotsford. For more information visit: http://savesolarsystems.wordpress.com/
Upcoming SP meetings
The Melbourne Branch of the Socialist Party meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South. Upcoming meetings include:
14/10/09 – Ireland: The aftermath of the Lisbon Treaty
21/10/09 – Capitalism, women and the family
28/10/09 – Civil liberties – A socialist analysis
4/11/09 – The history of the Indonesian Communist Party
For more information or for details of meetings in other parts of Australia contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.
News links:
Ireland: Passing of Lisbon Treaty not an endorsement of hated government
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/10/0601.html
Latvia: Big Swedish banks strangle Latvian economy
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/10/0602.html
Portugal: Voters turn to the left
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/10/0301.html
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 get rid of the capitalist system, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.
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Socialist Party contact details
Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.
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