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Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)

30 May 2009

Sri Lankan government prepares broad attack on democratic rights

By S. Jayanth, 30 May 2009

The Sri Lankan government has refused to lift its state of emergency and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which allows security forces to continue their arbitrary detention without trial of “LTTE suspects”.

US cybersecurity plan poses new war threats, attacks on democratic rights

By Tom Eley, 30 May 2009

On Friday, President Barack Obama announced the creation of a “cyber czar” who would oversee the defense of US financial networks. Separately, plans proceeded within the military-intelligence apparatus to develop a Cyber Command that would have offensive-war capabilities.

India’s Congress-led government to do big business’ bidding

By Deepal Jayasekera, 30 May 2009

India’s Congress Party-led government, which won re-election in this month’s general election, has rushed to reassure big business that it will do its bidding, accelerating the pace of neoliberal reform and reining in a rapidly escalating budget deficit.

The Opel rescue plan: Who is being rescued?

By Ulrich Rippert, 30 May 2009

Irrespective of which takeover bid is successful, all the proposed plans for Opel involve job cuts, wage reductions, cuts in break time and more shift work.

Auto parts maker Visteon files for bankruptcy

By Andre Damon, 30 May 2009

Visteon, the auto parts supplier, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday. The company, which was spun off from Ford in 1997, is one among dozens of auto parts suppliers facing bankruptcy amid the economic crisis and the downturn in the auto industry.

Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic claims US granted him immunity

By Paul Mitchell, 30 May 2009

Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has alleged he was given an immunity deal by US diplomat Richard Holbrooke at the end of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s 1992-1995 war.

Solomon Islands: Julian Moti challenges Australian government’s “politically-motivated” prosecution

By Patrick O’Connor, 30 May 2009

International constitutional lawyer and former Solomon Islands attorney general Julian Moti is challenging statutory rape charges now being heard in the Australian judicial system as trumped-up and politically motivated.

New in German

Wall Street treibt General Motors in die Insolvenz

Von Jerry White, 30. Mai 2009

Die "Rettungsaktion" von Barack Obama für den General-Motors-Konzern läuft auf eine weitere Plünderung der öffentlichen Kassen und einen Rundumschlag gegen die Arbeiter im Interesse der Investoren hinaus.

Millionen versinken in Arbeitslosigkeit und Armut

Von Dietmar Henning und Elisabeth Zimmermann, 30. Mai 2009

Die Europawahlen am 7. Juni finden unter extremen sozialen Spannungen statt. Viele Millionen Menschen versinken in Arbeitslosigkeit und Armut. Arbeitskämpfe und soziale Auseinandersetzungen wachsen an.

Russland und China beschließen engere militärische Zusammenarbeit

Von John Chan, 30. Mai 2009

Während sich die russischen Beziehungen zur Nato wegen Georgien verschlechtern, sind Russland und China übereingekommen, für dieses Jahr 25 Manöver gemeinsam durchzuführen.

Trittin verteidigt die Politik der rot-grünen Regierung

Von unserem Korrespondenten, 30. Mai 2009

Der grüne Spitzenkandidat Jürgen Trittin kam im Rahmen des Europawahlkampfs nach Duisburg. In der von Armut und Arbeitslosigkeit extrem betroffenen Stadt verteidigte er vehement die unsoziale Politik der rot-grünen Regierung und der Europäischen Union.

Die Realität wird bewusst verschleiert

Von Markus Salzmann, 30. Mai 2009

In der Wiener Hofburg sprachen prominente Politiker zum zwanzigsten Jahrestag der osteuropäischen Wende. Ihre Lobreden über die Einführung der Marktwirtschaft hatten jedoch mit der politischen, ökonomischen und sozialen Realität nichts zu tun.

New in French

Elections européennes : Les syndicats et la nécessité du socialisme

Par Ulrich Rippert, 30 mai 2009

La crise économique internationale a des conséquences de plus en plus dramatiques pour l’Europe. Selon les sources européennes officielles, le nombre de personnes au chômage pour les 27 Etats membres de l’UE a augmenté de plus de 20 millions en mars.

La lutte contre le centrisme et la fondation de la Quatrième Internationale
Deuxième partie

Par Bill Van Auken, 30 mai 2009

Les questions essentielles que la fondation de la Quatrième Internationale devait affronter et qui furent posées de façon si intransigeante par Léon Trotsky dans les années et les mois précédant son assassinat, n’ont rien perdu de leur acuité.

Perspective

On eve of GM bankruptcy
Obama administration targets the working class

30 May 2009

The drastic cuts imposed on auto workers at General Motors and Chrysler are not an exception, but the rule. The Obama administration is spearheading an assault by the entire corporate ruling elite in the United States against the jobs, wages and benefits of the working class.

Earlier Perspectives »

Socialist Equality Party

SEP public meeting
Capitalist breakdown and the need for a socialist Europe

30 May 2009

The Socialist Equality Party will be holding a public meeting on Sunday, June 7, in Manchester, England.

Arts Review

Lymelife: How filmmakers look at recent American life

By David Walsh, 30 May 2009

Lymelife, directed and co-written by Derick Martini (along with his brother Steven), takes place in a New York City suburb in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The film has its share of clichés, but it also reveals a certain insight.