Heightened tension and continuing air-strikes may also create a YugoslaviaPakistan Workers cond
Farooq Suleria
On June 25, 500 workers attending the annual general meeting of Itehad (Unity) Carpet Industry
Workers Union of Pakistan condemned the war efforts of the ruling classes of both Pakistan and India.
The meeting was addressed by
Khurshid Ahmed, general secretary of the Pakistan Workers Confederation (the main body representing organised workers in Pakistan);
Yousaf Baluch, the confederation's information secretary; Gulzar
Ahmed Choudry, general secretary of the All Pakistan Trade Union
Federation; and Farooq Tariq, general secretary of the Labour
Party Pakistan (LPP).
Tariq said that the workers of both countries would be the real losers if the war between India and
Pakistan escalates. Only the rich, who would enhance their profits, would benefit, he said. He stressed type situation in India leading to more direct imperialist intervention in the region.
All genuine patriots must therefore fight for a return to peaceful bilateral diplomacy between India and Pakistan to stop infiltration in Kargil and work out a phased negotiated settlement of the Kashmir question. * Source: Liberation-CPI (ML) emn war the need to build a peace movement to counter the fundamentalists.
Most of the carpet workers were from Frontier Province and are generally thought to be conservative and supporters of the mujahideen fighters. But at this meeting, the overwhelming majority opposed the war.
The carpet workers' union general secretary, Niaz Khan, also a leader of the LPP, said the bosses have one month to agree to the carpet workers' demands for better wages, social security provisions and better safety measures.
He warned that if the demands are not met, the strike of 1977, which won a 20% pay rise for this most exploited section of the working class in Pakistan, will be repeated. "The carpet workers are in a mood to fight!" he said. * This article first appeared in Green Left Weekly (Aus.)
TIRE needs $20 fire safety
000 tor
Just as we were congratulating ourselves on our financial stability, we suddenly face a major, unexpected expense. Our permit to house students and lecturers in our 24 rooms has expired, and the Amsterdam fire inspectors have given us a list of additional safety measures we must take in order to have our permit renewed The list includes installing an alarm system covering the whole building and communicating directly with the fire department. The cost will be at least 40,000 Dutch guilders (US$20,000). These are legal requirements. Our hope now is that we will not have to finance this work by cutting back on our sessions or publications. 22 International Viewpoint #314 September 1999
209919
In the past many of you have helped generously to support our work. Can we count on you now to see us through this difficulty?
• Dutch guilders: bank transfer to Netherlands
Postbank (giro) account #2079557, lIRE,
Amsterdam
• German marks: account n° 17 495 011, BLZ
365 601 96, P. Berens, Volksbank Oberhausen-
Mülheim, earmarked 'IRE'
• US$: Checks (tax-deductible) to 'Center for
Changes', marked 'International Fund - IRE'.
Changes'
• Swiss francs: acct. 40-8888-1, COOP Bank,
266233.290005-6, Förderverein des Studienzentrums, marked 'E. Mandel/IRE'
International Institute for Research and Education (IRE),
Postbus 53290, 1007 RG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 6717263, Fax: 6732106
E-mail: [email protected]
DIOVS пO1S
Israel on wen sit