“Mr. Cannon’s imposition of a new and seemingly insurmountable hurdle before Mr. Abdelrazik, 46, can return home is only the latest in a series of increasingly difficult conditions set by the Harper government. … Last summer, it said Mr. Abdelrazik would be given a temporary passport if he could get a reservation on an airline. When he did, the government said that wasn’t sufficient, that a fully-paid ticket was required. … Government documents, originally marked secret and now in the possession of The Globe and Mail, implicated Canadian security agencies in the original arrest of Mr. Abdelrazik, who went to Sudan in 2003 to visit his ailing mother. They show Canadian agents interrogated him in Sudanese prisons. Mr. Abdelrazik says he was beaten and tortured. … Sudan released him, saying they could no longer hold an innocent man at the behest of foreign governments. Canada originally promised the Khartoum government it would bring him home but has delayed for years.”

Mr. Abdelrazik undoubtedly poses a litigation threat to the government of Canada.

China Labour Bulletin today publishes a new research report, Protecting Workers’ Rights or Serving the Party: The way forward for China’s trade unions, that provides key insights into these questions by examining the development of the official All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) over the last two decades, and, more specifically, how it has responded to the growing workers’ movement in China. The ACFTU has a mandate to protect the rights and interests of China’s workers. However, as the report shows; the organization has become increasingly passive and subservient to its political masters over the last two decades, to the point where it is now unable to satisfy even the most basic demands of migrant workers – decent pay for decent work.

The report asks what does the ACFTU consider its role to be: Is it a defender of workers’ rights or a servant of the Chinese Communist Party and government? And it shows that the ACFTU has generally not seen fighting for workers’ rights as an end in itself, but rather as a means to an end: the maintenance of social stability and upholding the political authority of the Party. Consequently, workers feel left out in the cold and are now increasingly bypassing the union altogether in their attempts to defend their rights. As evidenced by the wave of taxi strikes that swept the country late last year, workers now stage strikes and protests in a deliberate attempt to force local governments to intervene in their disputes with management.

An absurd decision to say the least. And one that is completely based upon the erosion of civil-rights brought on by the implementation of anti-terror legislation post September 11 2001.

Also see: Jewish group proud of role in barring Galloway | Toronto Star

“The Jewish Defence League of Canada is taking credit for lighting the spark that ultimately burned a British politician’s plans to enter the country. … “We asked that he not be allowed in,” said Meir Weinstein, national director of the Jewish Defence League of Canada.”

“In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces concluded there was no evidence to support the most serious charges, including alleged instances where civilians were shot without cause and soldiers unnecessarily destroyed or defaced property.”

Also see: Israel troops admit Gaza abuses | BBC

and: IDF soldiers ordered to shoot at Gaza rescuers, note says | Ha’aretz

and: Israeli troops describe vandalism, humiliation and unnecessary deaths in Gaza campaign | Scotland on Sunday

and: A Religious War in Israel’s Army | New York Times

and: Guardian investigation uncovers evidence of alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza | Guardian

“In February a military court convicted Sgt. Michael Leahy, 28, of Lockport, Ill., to life in prison with the possibility of parole after he admitted to the execution-style killing of one of the detainees and shooting another. He was acquitted of murder over a separate incident in Baghdad in January 2007. …
According to testimony at previous courts-martial, at least four Iraqis were taken into custody in spring 2007 after a shootout with a patrol. … [Sgt. 1st Class Joseph] Mayo, 27, [Sgt. Michael] Leahy, 28, and Master Sgt. John Hatley, 40, are accused of pulling the trigger. … Hatley’s court-martial on charges of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice is scheduled for April.”

At half past eight this morning (March 30) terrorists used machine guns and grenades to launch a savage attack on a police training academy in Manawan, on the outskirts of Lahore. Our correspondent explains the real material interests that lie behind these attacks, interests that are expressed in divisions within the state at all levels.

–Chomsky on the current economy.

–Everyone should read Beyond Capital

On Wednesday, Chávez said his government has committed errors that must be overcome. He recommended that every official read the book Beyond Capital by István Mészáros. Book in hand, he read a passage that said, “The path to socialism is filled with misunderstandings, errors, setbacks, and sacrifices, but it is the path, the only path.”

At half past nine on Friday 27th March, in the magnificent surroundings of the Aiwan Iqbal Hall, Lahore, the 2009 Congress of the Pakistan Marxist Tendency commenced its sessions in an atmosphere of tremendous enthusiasm. As the delegates and visitors poured into the hall, they shouted revolutionary slogans such as “Inqlab! Inqlab! Socialist Inqlab!” (Revolution! Revolution! Socialist Revolution!)

That commentators in Pakistan are now drawing comparisons between Cambodia and Afghanistan indicates the regions political trajectory.

“‘The vast reservoir of ‘anti-Americanism’ in Pakistan has become the breeding ground of terrorists. The primary responsibility for what is happening lies with the United States — as was the case in engendering the tragedy of Pol Pot in Cambodia’ … the American involvement with Pol Pot’s genocidal regime in Cambodia … connects two apparently unrelated situations in Cambodia and Afghanistan, and thereby in Pakistan. Washington had covertly aided and abetted the Pol Potists’ guerrilla war to overthrow the Vietnamese backed government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, which replaced the Khmer Rouge regime. … The US government’s secret partnership with the Khmer Rouge grew out of the US defeat in the Vietnam War. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the United States — worried by the shift in the Southeast Asian balance of power— turned once again to geopolitical confrontation. It quickly formalised an anti-Vietnamese, anti-Soviet strategic alliance with China — an alliance whose disastrous effects have been most evident in Cambodia.”

Also see: Ex-Khmer Rouge still dominate regions of Cambodia | Associated Press

“A court hearing on Sunday could determine whether controversial British MP George Galloway will be allowed into Canada to speak.”

Also see: Canadian Arab Federation taking Jason Kenney to court | Montreal Gazette

“Kenney’s department decided to end its contacts with the federation, worth nearly $2 million over two years, after its president Khaled Mouammar called the minister “a professional whore” for his support of Israel.”

“In addition to the investment of $5.9 million for the tuition freeze, $5 million is included to eliminate the interest on Newfoundland and Labrador Student Loans benefitting approximately 49,000 people, to increase the amount of financial assistance students can access in up-front, non-repayable, needs-based grants and to decrease the amount of required spousal contributions to give married students greater access to assistance.”

I have not personally reviewed this budget, or read any analysis on it, but here it is. The elimination of the interest on student loans is nice.

The intersection of race and sport remains fascinating.

“The five-time All-Star and 2002 AL MVP is the first high-profile player convicted of a crime stemming from baseball’s steroids era. He was sentenced at the same federal courthouse where a grand jury has been meeting to determine whether seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens should be indicted on charges of lying to Congress about whether he used steroids and human growth hormone. … Tejada’s case grew out of the March 17, 2005, congressional hearings on steroids in baseball at which Mark McGwire refused “to talk about the past,”"

Also see: Barry Bonds in Context | Edge of Sports

“The case to prove that slugger Barry Bonds perjured himself in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) steroid investigation [began] March 2. Yet after seven years of investigation, millions of dollars in work hours and countless ruined reputations, the US Attorney’s Office will arrive in court with virtually no leg to stand on. Judge Susan Illston struck down most of the prosecution’s case”

By Stefan Christoff in the Hour

“The Conservative government has reintroduced two controversial provisions within the post-9/11 Anti-Terrorism Act. If passed, the recently tabled legislation would once again extend policing powers like investigative hearings and preventive arrests. These extraordinary measures expired in March 2007 when the opposition parties at the time refused to reaffirm them.”

The 3rd annual Fredericton based benefit for the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) was fabulous.

I am also personally pleased that the main stream Irving media has now cut back on it’s journalism so much that it is printing our press releases pretty much word-for-word. Too bad they missed the point with the title, but I do like seeing “feminist” in newsprint.

“On Monday, Palestinian lawyers presented the Ottoman [era land registry] documents to an Israeli court, which is expected to assess their validity over the next few weeks. The lawyers hope that proceedings to evict about 500 residents from Sheikh Jarrah will be halted … Israel and Turkey have been close military and political allies for decades and traditionally Ankara has avoided straining ties by becoming involved in land disputes in the occupied territories. … The families’ unprecedented access to the Turkish archives may mark a watershed, paving the way for successful appeals by other Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank caught in legal disputes with settlers and the Israeli government over land ownership.”

“Mubin Shaikh’s undercover work wasn’t criminal; sentencing of youth guilty of terrorist charge can go ahead … The decision does put Mr. Shaikh in an awkward position, however. By ruling that Mr. Shaikh did not entrap the young offender, the judge effectively affirmed the youth’s guilt. Mr. Shaikh has expressed skepticism about the young man’s guilt, repeatedly saying he was on the periphery of any plot.”

“The judges overruled a decision that gave police extra time to question the suspects, saying it was invalid because the lower court involved didn’t review the legality of their arrests and had contravened the European Convention on Human Rights, the High Court said in an e-mailed statement.”

The anti-terror laws in the U.K. and N. Ireland have finally been challenged. All it took was the arrest of white suspects.

Also see: Belfast judge orders alleged IRA dissidents freed | Associated Press

“Lord Chief Justice Brian Kerr ruled that all six were being held illegally. Britain’s Terrorism Act permits suspects to be questioned for up to 28 days, with judicial extensions each week. Kerr said a recent hearing extending their detention to 14 days had been mishandled. The men were held for 11 days each without charge.”

“On Monday, the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Shas party signed on to become the second partner in the Likud-led coalition. Last week, the Yisrael Beitenu party led by ultra-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman signed on.”

It would be a mistake to apply the Western political spectrum to Israel.

“Israel has weapons it can place to within a metre of its intended targets. Its drones have high-quality optics that can see the colour of the target’s sweater. And they film everything both before and after each attack. The army has the means to refute these allegations, but feels no obligation to do so. An international inquiry should be launched for no other reason than to hold it accountable.”

“Most importantly, it is not an isolated event. The Western Australian section of the Maritime Union of Australia endorsed the boycott and has urged its members not to handle Israeli goods. In January, the Norwegian Locomotive Drivers Union stopped all trains in the country for a two-minute protest against the Israeli onslaught.”

Finally some job creation.