Hamas Election

I got upbraided today about an article in the Green Left Weekly about the election of Hamas to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The points made were:

• Hamas is a terrorist organisation
• Hamas is not representative of the Palestinian people
• The Socialist Alliance should not be seen to be supporting Hamas
• Fatah was corrupt
• The real alternative would have been a workers' party

It is all well and good to promote a socialist solution. But the main problem is that socialist movements within the Middle East have been throughly smashed through the collusion of CIA, Mossad, the Baathists, and various political Islamist movements. The left of the political spectrum in the Middle East is represented by the political Islamist movements such as Hamas.

This is the reality on the ground. It is no good pining for a fictional alternative. The WCPI is so small within Iraq that it did win any seats in the recent elections. The Communist Party of Israel gets between 3 and 6 seats in the Knesset according to WikiPedia.

This is in line with the general trend within the world outside of South America.

Adam Hanieh wrote in PALESTINE: The end of a political fiction?

Hamas’ landslide victory in the January 25 elections for the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is an unprecedented turning point for politics in both Palestine and the broader Middle East. For the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, an official administrative power in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has strong popular support and is not directly beholden to Israeli or Western interests.

Cde Hanieh sees the real problem facing Hamas is a military response:

If Hamas makes good of its promise not to sustain the structures of occupation then this will be a huge setback for Israeli and US interests in the region. The situation, however, defies simplicity due to the labyrinthine network of factions and interests located throughout the PA apparatus.

The PLC is a weak body and considerable power officially remains in the hands of Abu Mazen and the presidential office. The security forces — in particular the Preventative Security branch — remain Fatah-led under the nominal control of Abu Mazen.

A number of commentators have raised the fear that the election results could herald a repeat of the 1991 Algerian experience, where the election victory of the Islamic party FIS was overturned by a military coup and led to prolonged civil war. Any repeat experience in the Palestinian context would undoubtedly see the involvement of the Israeli military and security apparatus in both provoking and maintaining internal armed strife.

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A terrorist organisation participating in an electoral process is a good thing because they have come to the realization that more can be achieved by talking to people than by threatening them. However, Hamas is exposed because they opposed the wishes of the American and Israeli ruling classes.

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Rocking the Foundations

*** Monday, February 20, 7.30pm sharp, Tris Elies Night Club, Katoomba: Green Left Weekly presents 'Rocking the Foundations' ***

A film about the New South Wales Builders' Labourers' Federation, 1940-1975. It is an outstanding historical account of the Green Bans introduced by the radical NSW BLF, led by Jack Mundey and the late Bob Pringle. The BLF in the 1970s responded to requests by the community to preserve inner-city parkland and historic buildings. The union transformed into a militant, democratic union prepared to fight for its members rights, wages and conditions. One of the first women to be accepted as a builders' labourer, filmmaker Pat Fiske traces the development of a union whose political and industrial activities challenged the notion of what a union should be. Today, as workers face the vicious attacks of the Howard government, the example of the BLF is more relevant than ever.

Phone 4787 7859 or 0428 826 347 for more info.

An exhilarating and complete account of the Green Bans -- one of the most important developments in union history. An uplifting film for the sheer energy of the people involved.

John Hinde, ABC Radio.

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Dr Carolus Wimmer

The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network <www.venezuelasolidarity.org>proudly presents...

Latin America in Revolt

**Dr Carolus Wimmer**

Deputy to the Latin American Parliament,
International Relations Secretary of the Venezuelan Communist Party

When: Saturday February 25, 6pm

Where:187 Thomas St, Haymarket

As the US war machine bogs down in Iraq, a continent is rising in revolt. Hear outstanding Venezuelan revolutionary Dr. Carolus Wimmer speak about how the new socialist revolution in his country is empowering the poor majority to use the country's vast oil wealth to bring education, health care, housing and dignity to millions of people who were excluded and marginalised under "neoliberal" capitalism. Together with revolutionary Cuba, Venezuela is demonstrating that "another world is possible". Don't miss this opportunity to hear about Venezuela's inspiring alternative.

Cost: $10/5 concession (to cover tour costs)

BOOKINGShighly recommended- seats limited. 

Ph 9690 1977 or 1800 634 206  HOW to get there? See below!

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The Enemy of My Enemy

Greg Saunders at This Modern World chastises Cindy Sheehan for cozying up to Pres. Hugo Chavez of Venezeula as The Enemy of My Enemy…

Getting cuddly with Hugo Chavez and thanking him for "supporting life and peace"? Do you know anything about Hugo Chavez other than the fact that he hates George Bush? Here’s an eye-opener from Human Rights Watch:

Amendments to Venezuela’s Criminal Code that entered into force last week may stifle press criticism of government authorities and restrict the public’s ability to monitor government actions, Human Rights Watch said today.

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For those of you who have the knee-jerk reaction of defending anyone described as “leftist”, just because Chavez helps the poor by providing cheap petroleum, sending doctors into the barrios, and setting up a market to provide partially-subsidized food, doesn’t change the fact that he’s acting like a despot. Harassment of political opponents and the slow crawl toward a one-party state are things I hate about George W. Bush and the Republican party, so I don’t see why Chavez should get a free pass.

Here a liberal wants Pres Hugo Chaverz to obey universal principles of free speech. In the nice world view of liberals, everyone is given the same rights. What wooly-headed idealism! Do the exploiter and the exploited have the same rights? No!

What liberals forget is that all laws are oppressive! It is who is oppressed that makes a law just or not. The Sexual Assault laws oppress rapists yet the laws are just in that regard.

In the comments section of that post, the argument seems to revolve around several issues:

• Pres. Chaverz is doing good to the poor
• Pres. Chaverz faces a hostile media
• The USA is actively working to overthrow Pres. Chaverz
• Ms Sheehan discredits the Anti-War movement by this association

Being an ex-Fundie, let's see what the Bible says (Matthew 25):

³⁴ Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' ⁴⁰ And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Nothing about a Bill of Rights there! The Final Judgement is all about the practical things of life for the poor and oppressed.

What the liberals are blind to is the class struggle. There is a struggle for supremency between the rich and the poor. The rich are doing all in their power to stay rich. These are the mob that lie, kill and maim to get control of the Iraqi oil. Theirs is the dictatorship of the bourgeious.

It is time for the liberals to decide which side they are on. There is no middle position. There is no virtue without cost.

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