SYDNEY — On March 8, a police officer approached a bookstall at the University of NSW, staffed by members of the socialist youth organisation Resistance, and told them that unless they stopped handing out leaflets, the students could "disappear from [their] classes".
The police officer did not wear a badge and refused to provide his details, "because you won't give me yours".
Resistance activists at UNSW are refusing to give their details to police, as these are not being sought for any criminal matters, but simply to assist the ALP Right-controlled UNSW Student Guild's attempt to deny socialist students their right to hold political stalls at UNSW.
The following day, Michael Dawson, UNSW security shift supervisor, reiterated the cop's threat to the students staffing the Resistance stall by claiming "disciplinary action" would be taken against them. Of the eight stalls that Resistance has held at UNSW since the beginning of the year, seven have been shut down, four of these by police.
An email network is being set up to link all UNSW students and others who support free speech at UNSW. To join, email <free_speech_unsw@yahoogroups.com.au> or visit the UNSW Resistance stall, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 12-2pm outside the main library.
Jess Melvin
Pilger addresses packed pub
SYDNEY — Politics in the Pub was packed out on March 12 as award winning journalist, film-maker and activist John Pilger took the floor.
He covered a wide range of the big moral issues of the day. On the so-called "war on terror" he said that "al Qaeda is a flea" compared to Washington's state-organised terror against Iraq and Afghanistan.
Pilger argued that the Democrats are no real alternative in the US presidential election, just as Mark Latham's ALP is not a real alternative in the coming Australian election.
He also discussed why so few journalists are prepared to stand up to the prevailing pressure and write about the truth.
Pilger urged people to come to the March 20 global day of action against the occupation of Iraq.
Pip Hinman
Cuban rep discusses blockade
BRISBANE — In the face of the 40-year US blockade of Cuba, "the Cuban people have been able to realise their potential, their talents", Juan Pozo, Asia-Pacific representative of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, told a public meeting on March 11. Part of a national tour, the meeting was sponsored by the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (ACFS).
"We are prepared for any new attack by the US. We have always lived with the blockade, so we are ready for any threat", Pozo said, outlining the assaults on Cuba by a series of US administrations since the 1959 revolution.
"The Cuban revolution has not been destroyed because the Cuban people will not allow it, and because the international solidarity movement refuses to let the revolution be destroyed", Pozo said.
He explained that a "great new social movement" is rising in Latin America today, with the broad feeling that "real change is possible". He discussed Cuba's "mutual solidarity" with Venezuela, describing how "everybody in Cuba celebrated when Chavez returned to power after the failed coup".
He urged the audience to support ACFS projects in support of Cuba, including the annual Southern Cross brigade to Cuba.
[For more information, contact ACFS at PO Box 5683, West End Q4101.]
Jim McIlroy
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, March 17, 2004.
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