World Socialist Web Site

4 May 2009

Obama administration indicates military commission trials to resume

By Tom Eley, 4 May 2009

Recent statements by top Obama administration officials and articles in the New York Times and Washington Post indicate that President Obama will likely revive the system of military commission trials for Guantánamo prisoners.

New evidence of Sri Lankan army atrocities

By K. Ratnayake, 4 May 2009

Despite the government’s denials, the Sri Lankan army offensive against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is continuing with criminal indifference to the toll on the estimated 50,000 civilians trapped in the fighting.

US Senate rejects anti-foreclosure measure opposed by banks

By Barry Grey, 4 May 2009

In a vote that demonstrates the veto power exercised by Wall Street on US government policy, the Senate on Thursday rejected a measure that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to modify the terms of mortgages to help distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure.

US Supreme Court Justice Souter to retire

By Don Knowland, 4 May 2009

US Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter announced on Friday that he will retire after the end of the court’s current term in June. Although appointed by the first President Bush in 1992, Souter tended to side more with the court’s three liberal justices than with its right-wing bloc.

Appeals court rejects Obama state secrets claim in rendition case

By John Andrews, 4 May 2009

A federal appellate court has unanimously reinstated the lawsuit brought by five men against a Boeing subsidiary for allegedly flying them to secret prisons to be tortured as part of the CIA’s “extraordinary rendition” program, rejecting arguments by Bush and Obama administration lawyers.

Britain: Police to be investigated after wrongful arrest of Cardiff man

By Robert Stevens, 4 May 2009

An investigation is to be conducted into the arrest of a jazz musician, Victor Frederick, in Cardiff, Wales, on February 17.

Fijian military defiance triggers Australian foreign policy debate

By Will Marshall, 4 May 2009

The Fijian junta’s determination to defy the Australian government has exacerbated the dilemma confronting Canberra in the South Pacific. The rise of China as an alternative source of economic and political support is undermining the previous dominance of the US over the region and therefore Australia’s role as Washington’s proxy.

New in French

La faillite de Chrysler

Par Tom Eley et Barry Grey, 3 mai 2009

Ce jeudi, le président américain Barack Obama a annoncé lors d’une conférence de presse que Chrysler, le troisième constructeur automobile américain, était en faillite et se plaçait sous le chapitre 11 de la loi américaine sur la faillite.

New in Russian

Собрание в Берлине открывает кампанию ПСР на выборах в Европейский парламент

От нашего корреспондента, 4 мая 2009 г.

Партия Социалистического Равенства (Partei fuer Soziale Gleichheit - PSG) Германии начала свою кампанию по предстоящим выборам в Европейский парламент, успешно проведя в прошедшее воскресенье, 26 апреля, открытое собрание в Берлине. В течение более двух часов рабочие, безработные, пенсионеры и студенты обсуждали с ведущими кандидатами PSG социалистические перспективы.