Trade unions and progressive movements across the world unite to #MakeAmazonPay

During the pandemic, Amazon emerged as the first trillion-dollar corporation ever while its CEO Jeff Bezos became the first person to amass over USD 200 billion. Meanwhile, its workers across the world have complained of denial of rights

November 28, 2020 by Peoples Dispatch




https://peoplesdispatch.org/2020/11/28/trade-unions-and-progressive-movements-across-the-world-unite-to-makeamazonpay/




A global coalition of progressive movements and trade unions staged a massive scale boycott campaign of Amazon on the annual Black Friday sales day, that fell on Friday, November 27. The coalition held an organized global campaign in as many as 15 countries that constitute the bulk of Amazon’s customer base, under the banner of #MakeAmazonPay. Dozens of international and national trade union movements, trade justice groups, environmentalist organizations, and progressive political movements participated in the campaign.




A number of trade unions and trade unions confederations took part, including the GMB Union in the United Kingdom, Ver.di in Germany, IndustriAll, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), UNI Global Union, Amazon Workers International, and Public Services International (PSI) among others. Several of these groups and their national and regional affiliates also organized walk-out strikes on Friday.




Groups such as the Progressive International, the pan-European Democracy in Europe Movement 2025, All India IT and ITeS Employees’ Union from India, Momentum from the United Kingdom, the Athena Coalition from the United States, along with advocacy groups like the Workings Peoples’ Charter, Focus on the Global South, IT for Change and the Transnational Institute were also part of organizing it.




In their campaign statement, the organizers pointed out how despite reaping huge profits during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company continues to evade taxes. “But instead of giving back to the societies that helped it grow, the corporation starves them of tax revenue. In 2019, Amazon paid just 1.2% tax in the United States, where the corporation holds its headquarters.”

“As Amazon’s corporate empire expands, so too has its carbon footprint, which is larger than two thirds of all countries in the world. But instead of giving back to the societies that helped it grow, the corporation starves them of tax revenue,” the statement reads.

During the pandemic, Amazon emerged as the first trillion-dollar corporation in human history, while its founder and CEO Jeff Bezos became the first person to amass over USD 200 billion worth of wealth.

In the meanwhile, the corporation has been accused by workers across the world of vehemently denying its over 876,000 employees fair compensation. “Amazon warehouse workers risked their lives as essential workers, and faced threats and intimidation if they spoke out for their rights to a fair wage,” added the campaign.




In an article in the Guardian, Casper Gelderblom, coordinator of the #MakeAmazonPay campaign at the Progressve International, wrote, “While Bezos’s [Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos] wealth has risen by more than $70bn (£52bn) since the onset of the pandemic, Amazon workers have put their health at risk daily with only marginal increases in pay. The corporation is said to monitor its warehouse workers, sanctions them whenever their productivity drops and has spied on their efforts to organize. The result: claims that workers have been forced to urinate in bottles for lack of adequate break-time (Amazon has disputed such claims), thousands of Covid infections and claims of inadequate worker protections. Bezos could pay each of his 876,000 employees a $105,000 (£79,000) bonus – and still be as obscenely rich as he was before the pandemic broke out.”

The campaign was also backed by prominent political leaders and activists across the globe.

Legal proceedings against former de-facto government officials begin in Bolivia

The newly elected MAS government has opened investigations against several former officials of the de-facto government for their role in crimes committed during their one year tenure after the coup détat ágainst former president Evo Morales

November 28, 2020 by Peoples Dispatch




https://peoplesdispatch.org/2020/11/28/legal-proceedings-against-former-de-facto-government-officials-begin-in-bolivia/




With the restoration of democracy in Bolivia, the process to seek justice for the numerous crimes committed by former ministers and officials of the coup-installed government has begun in the country. The newly elected government of president Luis Arce and vice-president David Choquehuanca of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party has opened investigations against several former officials for their role in various corruption cases, massacres, incidents of violence and human right violations committed during their one year in office.

Some former officials have been arrested, while some have fled the country. The president of the de-facto government, Jeanine Áñez, who has not yet been questioned by the authorities, also tried to escape Bolivia on November 23. However, she was prevented from boarding a plane by a group of representatives of various social organizations at the Jorge Henrich Arauz airport in the Trinidad city in the Beni department.

Áñez faces a liability trial related to the massacres in Sacaba and Senkata as well as other incidents of violent police and military repression carried out on her orders against protesters mobilizing in rejection of the coup d’état against former president Evo Morales. According to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), 36 people lost their lives in different regions of the country during various violent repression operations by security forces after the coup.

On November 23, a group of independent experts from the IACHR arrived in Bolivia to investigate all the incidents of violence committed under Áñez’s rule. The next day, on November 24, the commander of the Cochabamba Military Garrison, General Alfredo Cuellar, was arrested in connection with the massacre in Sacaba city. He has been charged with the crime of murder.

Additionally, the same day as Áñez tried to run away, the Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants against former oil minister Victor Zamora and former immigration director Marcel Rivas for various crimes.

Former oil minister Zamora is under investigation for the crimes of abuse of power, breach of duties, corruption and unconstitutional resolutions. He allegedly committed these crimes during the lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic, when he was in charge of the state-owned oil company, the Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB).

According to the national police, Zamora’s whereabouts are unknown. He has not been located at his declared legal address nor at his parents’ home. The Prosecutor’s Office has requested information from the immigration department about his possible flight.

Former immigration director Rivas has been arrested and is being investigated for the crimes of inappropriate use of influence, concealment, breach of duties and political persecution. He has been accused of facilitating the escape of former government and defense ministers as well as of using the institution for “political purposes” and illegally issuing over 495 immigration alerts against the officials, politicians, journalists, diplomats and businessmen considered close allies of the ousted president Morales and opponents of the Áñez’s regime.

Last week, on November 16, arrest warrants were issued against former government minister Arturo Murillo and former defense minister Fernando López in the “tear gas” case, related to the purchase of the non-lethal chemical weapons from a Brazilian company, Condor, at an inflated price for the national police. They are accused of misuse of power and of having purchased 50,000 units of long-range and triple-action projectiles for 2 million USD.

On November 17, the general commander of the police, Jhonny Aguilera, reported that both the officials had fled the country. He stated that Murillo and López escaped to Brazil on November 5, three days before the rule of the de-facto government ended. From Brazil, Murillo fled to Panama on November 9. Three officials of the immigration department, in addition to Rivas, have been arrested for allowing the escape of fugitives, on whom an immigration alert was already weighing.

According to the recent police investigations, Murillo and former vice-minister of interior Javier Issa are now in the United States, and López remains in Brazil.

Issa is accused of having participated in the theft and supposed burning of the military service book of former president Morales. In this case, the former director of the Special Force for the Fight Against Crime (FELCC), Iván Rojas, has also been detained.

Colombian social leader Julián Gil released after 900 days in prison

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2020/11/26/colombian-social-leader-julian-gil-released-after-900-days-unjustly-held-in-prison/
Colombian social leader Julián Gil released after 900 days unjustly held in prison


The technical secretary of the People’s Congress Julián Gil was released from La Picota Prison on Wednesday night

November 26, 2020 by Peoples Dispatch




“This is a victory of people’s movements,” declared Julián Gil as he left the prison and was greeted by dozens of family members, friends as well as militants and leaders of his organization Congreso de los Pueblos (the People’s Congress). Gil, who worked as the technical secretary of the organization was arrested 902 days ago outside the organization’s office and falsely accused of having participated in and planned acts of terrorism.

On Tuesday November 24, the Specialized Judge of Cundinamarca absolved Gil of all charges and declared that he should be released immediately. Gil had been accused of rebellion and pertaining to the insurgent group National Liberation Army (ELN) as well as of trafficking and transportation of explosives and arms. The charges were levelled based on one testimony which, Gil’s defense pointed out, was contradictory in explaining how Gil was allegedly involved in the crimes. The prosecution team was unable to find any evidence to support the unreliable testimony, but kept him in prison while they attempted to build a case.

Since day one, Julián and Congreso affirmed his innocence as well as the deeply political nature of his arrest and incarceration. They classified it as another attempt of the Colombian state to silence those who dare to think differently and fight for a country with peace and dignity, against the interests of the ruling class.

Following the announcement on Tuesday, members of Congreso de los Pueblos gathered outside La Picota Prison where Julian has been held for the past 900 days in order to pressure the prison authorities to release him. However, they informed that the process was delayed and he would not be released until Wednesday. Finally on Wednesday November 25, at around 19:00h, Julián was free.

Throughout the 900 days, Julian never lost hope or determination. The prison became his new trench of struggle from where he and other prisoners in his cell block organized libraries, donation drives and political education classes.

Following his release Julian declared that the struggle is far from over and that it must intensify so all prisoners are free. Gil declared: “This is why we are convinced that we must fight and transform all of this. Together we can achieve this comrades. The hope and joy of all of you always has been contagious and we will continue in the fight for a long time.”

Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh condemned across the globe

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was attacked by unknown assailants near Tehran on Friday. Both Iranian authorities and observers around the world accused Israel of being behind the murder

November 28, 2020 by Peoples Dispatch



https://peoplesdispatch.org/2020/11/28/assassination-of-iranian-nuclear-scientist-mohsen-fakhrizadeh-condemned-across-the-globe/




The assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, has drawn harsh condemnation from all over the world. Dr. Mohsen (62) was shot and killed by unknown assailants on Friday, November 27 in Absard city, around 70 km away from capital, Tehran.

Assailants attacked his vehicle with bombs and guns. Dr. Mohsen was gravely injured in the attack and he later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The encounter between the assailants and Dr. Mohsen’s bodyguards resulted in a few more deaths. While the Iranian media said the assailants were killed in the shoot-out, Times of Israel said those killed were Dr. Mohsen’s bodyguards, and that the assailants had escaped. Dr. Mohsen, who was a professor of physics at Imam Hossein University at Tehran, was also heading defense ministry’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that the assassination was carried out by “mercenary usurper Zionist regime.”

Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif tweeted that “there are “serious indications of Israeli role” in the terrorist attack. He also urged the international community to condemn this “state act of terror”.

Israel, which has serious objections to Iran’s nuclear program, has been accused of the assassination of several other Iranian scientists. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had mentioned Dr. Mohsen’s name in a presentation in April 2018, accusing him of heading Iran’s “clandestine nuclear program”.

Israel was also accused of the killing of Iran’s nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari in 2010.

Reacting to the assassination, Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Corps (IRGC) commander Major General Hossein Salami warned of harsh revenge against those responsible for the act. The Iranian interior ministry launched an investigation to identify the culprits.
International Reactions

Meanwhile, several international groups, institutions and activists have issued statements offering condolences and some of them even called the assassination of Dr. Mohsen an act of terror. The groups included Yemen’s Ansar Allah and Palestine’s The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) which called Dr. Mohsen a “martyr”.

Senior Swedish politician Carl Bildt called the assassination a plot to derail the possibilities of betterment of Iran-US relations after the election of Joe Biden as president. Biden has promised to re-join the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) from which Donald Trump had withdrawn in 2018. The deal has been opposed by Israel and Saudi Arabia who have also expressed their reservations regarding Biden’s promise to re-join it.

United Nation’s expert on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard, called the assassination of Dr. Mohsen an act of terror and a violation of the UN charter which prohibits use of force extraterritorially.




Several human rights and peace activists have condemned the act. CODEPINK, a US-based peace group, issued a statement on its Twitter handle calling the act an Israeli attempt to incite a war with Iran before Trump leaves office.




Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the CODEPINK, asked president elect Joe Biden to “walk the talk” and condemn the assassination of Dr. Mohsen in a tweet on Saturday.




UN secretary general António Guterres issued a statement asking for restraint and avoiding any action which can lead to the escalation of tensions in the region.

Civilian casualties to mount as the battle for Mekelle begins in Ethiopia’s northern region

The military conflict between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray regional government, which began on November 4, has already claimed thousands of lives. International agencies have raised concerns over shortages of food and medicine.

November 28, 2020 by Pavan Kulkarni




https://peoplesdispatch.org/2020/11/28/civilian-casualties-to-mount-as-the-battle-for-mekelle-begins-in-ethiopias-northern-region/




On Saturday, November 28, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) began heavy shelling on Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray region in the country’s north, populated by half a million people.

Now in its fourth week, the military conflict in this region, between the troops of the federal government and of the rebelling regional state government ruled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), is already estimated to have killed thousands.

The TPLF has called on “the international community to condemn the artillery and warplane attacks and massacres being committed”.

Prior to the shelling on Mekelle, the ENDF on Friday claimed to have taken control of several strategically important towns around this city, including Hawzen, al-Najashi, Adikeyeh, Maimesanon, Hewane and Wukro.

They were seized as a part of the “final phase” of the military offensive in the region, aimed at taking Mekelle. It was in this city that the Northern Command, ENDF’s largest regional military command, was attacked and seized by the forces of TPLF on November 4, triggering the armed conflict.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the final push aimed at Mekelle on Thursday, a day after the 72-hours deadline he had given the TPLF to surrender expired.

The Tigrayan forces are “ready to die in defense of our right to administer our region”, Debretsion Gebremichael, TPLF’s head and the president of the regional state government maintains.
Guerilla warfare

According to unnamed diplomatic sources quoted by Reuters, the TPLF has “mobilized lots of people in Mekelle. They are digging trenches and everyone has an AK-47.”

Civilian support for the TPLF appears to be significant. In the election that was held in Tigray in September, in defiance of the federal government’s decision to postpone elections in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the TPLF was re-elected with a large majority.

Analysts have pointed out that even if Mekelle is taken by the federal forces, the TPLF is in a position to engage in prolonged guerilla warfare, which suits the mountainous terrain.

TPLF had been the most dominant force in the country’s ruling coalition since the 1990s, until it was marginalized into a regional power following the ascent of Abiy Ahmed as a reformist Prime Minister in the backdrop of 2018 anti-government protests.

However, having been on the frontlines of the 1998-2000 war with Eritrea and having played a lead role in the campaign which brought down Mengistu’s military dictatorship in 1991, the TPLF remains militarily powerful.

Including the state government’s security personnel and the ethnically organized Tigrayan militias, its forces are estimated to number up to 250,000.

This is higher than estimated 140,000 personnels in the ENDF, but the federal troops have the support of the militias controlled by the state government of the Amhara region, which flanks Tigray on the South.

The federal forces also have a monopoly over air-power. Military jets have been repeatedly used in the conflict to strike TPLF targets. A large number of tanks have also been deployed.

“From now on, the fighting will be a tank battle,” ENDF spokesperson, Col. Dejene Tsegaye, had said on the night of November 21, before the PM gave the TPLF three days to surrender.
War Crimes

“Our people in Mekelle should be notified that they should protect themselves from heavy artillery,” he added, warning that “no mercy” will be shown to the residents who do not “steer away” from the TPLF leadership to “save themselves” before the attack on Mekelle.

The Horn of Africa director of Human Rights Watch, Laetitia Bader, has warned that “treating a whole city as a military target would not only be unlawful, it could also be considered a form of collective punishment,” which could amount to war crimes as per Geneva Conventions.

The region is already suffering from shortages of food and other essentials. “Hospitals and primary health-care facilities in northern Ethiopia, in and around areas that have seen intense fighting, are in urgent need of medical supplies,” Red Cross has warned. The UN has demanded access to a humanitarian corridor. However, the region remains cut off.

On Thursday, when the “final phase” was announced, Finance Minister Ahmed Shide told France 24, “We have made the people of Mekelle to be aware of the operation by deploying military helicopters and dropping pamphlets in Tigrinya and also in Amharic so that they protect themselves against this.”

However, HRW maintains that “warnings alone do not absolve the government of its obligation to take constant care to protect civilians, particularly when using airpower and heavy weaponry in urban areas where thousands of people reside who may not be able to flee to more secure areas.”
Human toll of the conflict

In the three weeks since the conflict began, UNHCR estimates that 43,000 people have fled across the western border into Sudan. The highest refugee flow was recorded on November 10, when 6,800 people crossed over, following the massacre of hundreds in the border town of Maikadra on November 9.

Victims who spoke to Amnesty International pointed fingers at the TPLF. According to a report of the preliminary findings by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released on November 24, the victims were people of non-Tigrayan ethnicity.

Federal government-controlled Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported that according to EHRC, the massacre was carried out by a Tigrayan youth group called “Samri”, with the backing of militias and police forces loyal to the TPLF, before retreating from the advancing ENDF forces.

The average number of refugees crossing into Sudan was estimated to be 3,000 a day, but has since reduced to 700 after the deployment of federal troops along the crossing points on the border to stop the refugees. This has raised concerns over the plight of those who are unable to flee to safety as fighting intensifies.
Conflict spilling over the borders

Sealing this western border is a critical military objective for the federal troops to prevent the TPLF from retreating and regrouping in the remote region of eastern Sudan. Eritrea lies on Tigray’s northern border. The country had negotiated a peace deal in 2018 with the federal government under Abiy Ahmed, against the will of the TPLF which continues to regard Eritrea as an enemy.

Eritrean territory has been repeatedly used by federal troops to retreat and regroup. Reports also indicate that wounded federal troops are being treated in Eritrean hospitals. The TPLF launched rockets targeting Eritrean capital Asmara on November 15, accusing Eritrea of also sending its soldiers to support the Ethiopian federal troops’ military operations in Tigray. Eritrea denies this allegation.

On Friday night, according to unnamed diplomatic sources quoted by AP, at least “one rocket coming from Tigray.. seems to have landed south of Asmara.” According to an unverified claim by another diplomat, another rocket landed inside Asmara, although no casualties have been reported.

U.S. breaks record for daily COVID-19 cases

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA7ZufzklIY&ab_channel=ArirangNews

Economic decline is a social trauma - Richard Wolff

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22U9E9iKQa8&ab_channel=DemocracyAtWork