asiapacificresearch--2020-12-16--Abuse on the Mainland: Australia’s Medevac Hotel Detentions

Governments that issue press releases about the abuse of human rights tend to avoid close gazes at the mirror .
Doing so would be telling .
In the case of Australia , its record on dealing with refugees is both abysmal and cruel .
It tends to be easier to point the finger at national security laws in Hong Kong and concentration camps in Xinjiang .
Wickedness is always easily found afar .
Australia ’ s own concentration camp system hums along , inflicting suffering upon asylum seekers and refugees who fled suffering by keeping them in a state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so normalised , it barely warrants mention in Australia ’ s sterile news outlets .
In penitence , the country ’ s literary establishment pays homage to the victims , such as the Kurdish Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani .
Garlands and literary prizes have done nothing to shift the vicious centre in Canberra .
Boat arrivals remain political slurry and are treated accordingly .
Recently , there were small signs that prevalent amnesia and indifference was being disturbed .
The fate of some 200 refugees and asylum seekers brought to the Australian mainland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of certain activists .
Prior to its repeal as part of a secret arrangement between the Morrison government and Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie in December last year , the medical evacuation law was a mixed blessing .
While it was championed as a humanitarian instrument , it did not ensure one iota of freedom .
As before , limbo followed like a dank smell .
The repeal of the legislation offered another prospect of purgatory , only this time on the mainland .
The individuals in question have found themselves detained in Melbourne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Preston , and the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in Brisbane .
In the mind of Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul , the conditions at both abodes are more restrictive than those on Nauru .
The medical help promised has also been tardily delivered , if at all .
“ My life is exactly the size of a room , and a narrow corridor , ” reflects Mostafa ( Moz ) Azimitabar , who has been detained at the Mantra for 13 months .
Like his fellow detainees , he has become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the hotel , the signs pleading for their release , drivers honking in solidarity .
He sees himself as “ a fish inside an aquarium … The whole of my life in this window to see the real life , where people are driving , walking ; when they wave to us .
And when I wave back at them .
This is my life.
” When former Australian soccer player turned human rights activist Craig Foster visited Azimitabar , conversation could only take place between a transparent plastic barrier .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the glass , ” tweeted the detainee .
“ Several times a day Serco officers enter my room and there aren ’ t any glasses for them.
” After the visit , Foster described the corrosion of liberties , “ this constant theme of the most onerous regulations … constantly chipping away – just taking another right , another right , another right , and making them feel less and less and less human , if that ’ s possible after eight years.
” The more obstreperous refugees have been targeted by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iranian refugee Farhad Rahmati found himself shifted from Kangaroo Point to the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation Centre ( BITA ) , and then to Villawood .
BITA also received four more from Kangaroo Point in mid-November .
The advent of COVID-19 compounded the situation .
Detainees already vulnerable to other medical conditions faced another danger .
The authorities gave a big shrug .
Shared bathrooms are the norm and are infrequently cleaned .
Hand sanitizer containers are left empty or broken .
The inquiry into the failure of Victoria ’ s quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave in Melbourne avoided considering the conditions of detained refugees .
Writing in Eureka Street , Andra Jackson wondered if this had anything to do with the fact “ that these men , now detained in some instances for six to seven years , have behaved more responsibly that [ sic ] some returning travellers.
” The government authorities did release five refugees from the medevac hotels last week , threatened by lawsuits testing the legal status of their detention .
On December 14 , the 60 men detained at the Mantra were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another undisclosed location .
The conclusion of the contract with the hotel has the Department of Home Affairs considering its options , and all are bound to aggravate the distress of the detainees .
Alison Battinson of Human Rights for All has a suggestion bound to be ignored .
“ Instead of telling the gentlemen that they are going to be moved to another place of detention – that hasn ’ t been disclosed to them – the more sensible approach would be to release them as per the law.
” The only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inhumanity has come in the form of a Canadian resettlement scheme .
Nine refugees have already availed themselves of the opportunity ; another twenty await their fate .
Australian politicians , as they so often do on this subject , are nowhere to be found .
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Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a frequent contributor to Global Research and Asia-Pacific Research .
Email : [ email protected ]

Governments that issue press releases about the abuse of human rights tend to avoid close gazes at the mirror. Doing so would be telling. In the case of Australia, its record on dealing with refugees is both abysmal and cruel. It tends to be easier to point the finger at national security laws in Hong Kong and concentration camps in Xinjiang. Wickedness is always easily found afar.
Australia’s own concentration camp system hums along, inflicting suffering upon asylum seekers and refugees who fled suffering by keeping them in a state of calculated limbo. Its brutality has been so normalised, it barely warrants mention in Australia’s sterile news outlets. In penitence, the country’s literary establishment pays homage to the victims, such as the Kurdish Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani. Garlands and literary prizes have done nothing to shift the vicious centre in Canberra. Boat arrivals remain political slurry and are treated accordingly.
Recently, there were small signs that prevalent amnesia and indifference was being disturbed. The fate of some 200 refugees and asylum seekers brought to the Australian mainland for emergency medical treatment piqued the interest of certain activists. Prior to its repeal as part of a secret arrangement between the Morrison government and Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie in December last year, the medical evacuation law was a mixed blessing.
While it was championed as a humanitarian instrument, it did not ensure one iota of freedom. As before, limbo followed like a dank smell. The repeal of the legislation offered another prospect of purgatory, only this time on the mainland.
The individuals in question have found themselves detained in Melbourne at the Mantra Bell City Hotel in Preston, and the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in Brisbane. In the mind of Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul, the conditions at both abodes are more restrictive than those on Nauru. The medical help promised has also been tardily delivered, if at all.
“My life is exactly the size of a room, and a narrow corridor,” reflects Mostafa (Moz) Azimitabar, who has been detained at the Mantra for 13 months. Like his fellow detainees, he has become a spectacle, able to see protesters gather outside the hotel, the signs pleading for their release, drivers honking in solidarity. He sees himself as “a fish inside an aquarium … The whole of my life in this window to see the real life, where people are driving, walking; when they wave to us. And when I wave back at them. This is my life.”
When former Australian soccer player turned human rights activist Craig Foster visited Azimitabar, conversation could only take place between a transparent plastic barrier. “I had to talk with him behind the glass,” tweeted the detainee. “Several times a day Serco officers enter my room and there aren’t any glasses for them.”
After the visit, Foster described the corrosion of liberties, “this constant theme of the most onerous regulations … constantly chipping away – just taking another right, another right, another right, and making them feel less and less and less human, if that’s possible after eight years.”
The more obstreperous refugees have been targeted by the Department of Home Affairs and forcibly relocated. Iranian refugee Farhad Rahmati found himself shifted from Kangaroo Point to the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation Centre (BITA), and then to Villawood. BITA also received four more from Kangaroo Point in mid-November.
The advent of COVID-19 compounded the situation. Detainees already vulnerable to other medical conditions faced another danger. The authorities gave a big shrug. Shared bathrooms are the norm and are infrequently cleaned. Hand sanitizer containers are left empty or broken. The inquiry into the failure of Victoria’s quarantine system that led to a second infectious wave in Melbourne avoided considering the conditions of detained refugees. Writing in Eureka Street, Andra Jackson wondered if this had anything to do with the fact “that these men, now detained in some instances for six to seven years, have behaved more responsibly that [sic] some returning travellers.”
The government authorities did release five refugees from the medevac hotels last week, threatened by lawsuits testing the legal status of their detention. On December 14, the 60 men detained at the Mantra were told that they would be moving to another undisclosed location. The conclusion of the contract with the hotel has the Department of Home Affairs considering its options, and all are bound to aggravate the distress of the detainees.
Alison Battinson of Human Rights for All has a suggestion bound to be ignored. “Instead of telling the gentlemen that they are going to be moved to another place of detention – that hasn’t been disclosed to them – the more sensible approach would be to release them as per the law.”
The only ray of compassion in this mess of inhumanity has come in the form of a Canadian resettlement scheme. Nine refugees have already availed themselves of the opportunity; another twenty await their fate. Australian politicians, as they so often do on this subject, are nowhere to be found.
*
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Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research and Asia-Pacific Research. Email: [email protected]
Featured image: Australian refugees detained at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel, Brisbane | CNN


asiapacificresearch--2020-12-16--West Papuans: An Indigenous People that the World Forgot

In December 2018 , Survival International began receiving disturbing reports from the Nduga region of West Papua .
Church leaders were saying that congregations from 34 churches in the Papuan highlands were missing .
A violent military operation by the Indonesian army had forced scores of innocent men , women and children to flee their villages in fear of their lives and seek shelter deep in the forest .
Just before Christmas , things took an unexpected and alarming turn .
Survival started to receive disturbing photographs of disfigured bodies , horrific wounds and burns , and of strange canisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their villages .
An Australian newspaper reported that the mysterious canisters appeared to contain white phosphorous , an incendiary and chemical weapon , which “ burns through skin and flesh , down to the bone.
” The use of air-dropped incendiary weapons against civilian populations is banned under Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons .
The Indonesian government has categorically denied the use of white phosphorous , with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating on Twitter that the allegation is “ totally baseless , non-factual , and gravely misleading.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Papua where soldiers and police kill and torture with impunity .
West Papua is the western half of the island of New Guinea , colonised and governed by Indonesia , and distinct from the independent country of Papua New Guinea .
The indigenous Papuan peoples under Indonesian occupation have endured extraordinary suffering and oppression since Indonesia took control in 1963 .
Papua ’ s tribal people are Melanesians : ethnically , culturally and linguistically distinct from the Malay Indonesians who rule them from Jakarta .
The government represses political dissent and attempts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only lives but also the astonishing cultural and linguistic diversity of more than 300 different tribes .
The highland tribes live by shifting cultivation and hunting ; they also keep pigs .
During military raids they are too frightened to go to their vegetable gardens or to hunt .
According to an independent investigation by Papua ’ s churches , during a similar military operation in 1998 , at least 111 people died from hunger and disease in three villages alone and women and girls as young as three years old were systematically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 attacks , soldiers were searching for militants from the West Papua National Liberation Army ( TPNPB ) , an armed group fighting for West Papua ’ s independence from Indonesia .
The militants had killed an estimated 19 road construction workers in December , believing them to be Indonesian soldiers .
In such cases , Indonesian military operations to track down perpetrators disproportionately victimise innocent civilians , who are terrorised , abused , and killed .
Even those who escape the army are not safe .
Vulnerable villagers , especially the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure and hunger while hiding in the forest .
Despite horrific evidence from the tribes themselves and the appalling history of Indonesian violence and human rights abuses , it has not yet been possible for the alleged use of chemical weapons to be independently verified .
International journalists , humanitarian organisations and human rights observers are denied free and open access to West Papua .
Survival and other organisations are calling for a halt to the violent and indiscriminate military operation in the Nduga region and for independent investigators , including international weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area to investigate the alleged use of white phosphorus and other abuses of the civilian population .
As well as the military operations in the highlands , Indonesia ’ s security forces are brutally repressing peaceful political dissent .
In 2018 , on December 1 , the date commemorated by many as “ Papuan Independence Day , ” more than 500 peaceful protestors were arrested in cities across Indonesia .
On December 31 , the Indonesian police and military violently broke up a meeting of the West Papua National Committee ( Komite Nasional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peoples ’ organisation calling for a referendum on the independence of West Papua .
More than one hundred police and soldiers stormed and then destroyed KNPB ’ s office .
Nine members of KNPB were arrested and beaten ; three have been detained and charged with treason .
West Papuans have described what is happening to them as a ‘ silent genocide.
’ Its invisibility is , in no small part , due to the restrictions on journalists and the repression of peaceful organisations .
The abuse of the Papuan peoples by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atrocities of our times .
Papuan voices must be heard ; Papuans brave enough to speak out must be protected and the international community must expose and stop the human rights violations that are happening there .
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In December 2018, Survival International began receiving disturbing reports from the Nduga region of West Papua. Church leaders were saying that congregations from 34 churches in the Papuan highlands were missing. A violent military operation by the Indonesian army had forced scores of innocent men, women and children to flee their villages in fear of their lives and seek shelter deep in the forest.
Just before Christmas, things took an unexpected and alarming turn. Survival started to receive disturbing photographs of disfigured bodies, horrific wounds and burns, and of strange canisters that the people say had been dropped on their villages. An Australian newspaper reported that the mysterious canisters appeared to contain white phosphorous, an incendiary and chemical weapon, which “burns through skin and flesh, down to the bone.”
The use of air-dropped incendiary weapons against civilian populations is banned under Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. The Indonesian government has categorically denied the use of white phosphorous, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating on Twitter that the allegation is “totally baseless, non-factual, and gravely misleading.”
Military operations are frequent in West Papua where soldiers and police kill and torture with impunity. West Papua is the western half of the island of New Guinea, colonised and governed by Indonesia, and distinct from the independent country of Papua New Guinea. The indigenous Papuan peoples under Indonesian occupation have endured extraordinary suffering and oppression since Indonesia took control in 1963. Papua’s tribal people are Melanesians: ethnically, culturally and linguistically distinct from the Malay Indonesians who rule them from Jakarta. The government represses political dissent and attempts to “Indonesianize” Papuans, destroying not only lives but also the astonishing cultural and linguistic diversity of more than 300 different tribes.
The highland tribes live by shifting cultivation and hunting; they also keep pigs. During military raids they are too frightened to go to their vegetable gardens or to hunt. According to an independent investigation by Papua’s churches, during a similar military operation in 1998, at least 111 people died from hunger and disease in three villages alone and women and girls as young as three years old were systematically raped and gang-raped.
In the December 2018 attacks, soldiers were searching for militants from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), an armed group fighting for West Papua’s independence from Indonesia. The militants had killed an estimated 19 road construction workers in December, believing them to be Indonesian soldiers. In such cases, Indonesian military operations to track down perpetrators disproportionately victimise innocent civilians, who are terrorised, abused, and killed. Even those who escape the army are not safe. Vulnerable villagers, especially the very old or very young, die from exposure and hunger while hiding in the forest.
Despite horrific evidence from the tribes themselves and the appalling history of Indonesian violence and human rights abuses, it has not yet been possible for the alleged use of chemical weapons to be independently verified. International journalists, humanitarian organisations and human rights observers are denied free and open access to West Papua. Survival and other organisations are calling for a halt to the violent and indiscriminate military operation in the Nduga region and for independent investigators, including international weapons inspectors, to be allowed into the area to investigate the alleged use of white phosphorus and other abuses of the civilian population.
As well as the military operations in the highlands, Indonesia’s security forces are brutally repressing peaceful political dissent. In 2018, on December 1, the date commemorated by many as “Papuan Independence Day,” more than 500 peaceful protestors were arrested in cities across Indonesia. On December 31, the Indonesian police and military violently broke up a meeting of the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat–KNPB), a non-violent Papuan peoples’ organisation calling for a referendum on the independence of West Papua. More than one hundred police and soldiers stormed and then destroyed KNPB’s office. Nine members of KNPB were arrested and beaten; three have been detained and charged with treason.
West Papuans have described what is happening to them as a ‘silent genocide.’ Its invisibility is, in no small part, due to the restrictions on journalists and the repression of peaceful organisations. The abuse of the Papuan peoples by the Indonesian government is one of the worst atrocities of our times. Papuan voices must be heard; Papuans brave enough to speak out must be protected and the international community must expose and stop the human rights violations that are happening there.
*
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Featured image is from photobom/Flickr


asiapacificresearch--2020-12-16--China Restricts Australian Coal Imports Amid ‘Deteriorating Relationship’ Between Canberra and Beiji

China Restricts Australian Coal Imports Amid ‘Deteriorating Relationship’ Between Canberra and Beijing

China appears to have formally restricted imports of Australian coal in favour of both local production and imports from other @ @ @ @ @ that threatens the $ 14 billion export industry .
The goal is ostensibly to “ @ @ @ @ @ .
China is also looking to cut down on its coal use in the push @ @ @ @ @ coming decades .
However , Wang Yongzhong , director of the Institute of Energy Economy @ @ @ @ @ Social Sciences , drew attention to the political overtones of the move .
Note to @ @ @ @ @ share buttons above or below .
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Crosspost @ @ @ @ @ internet forums .
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China appears to have formally restricted imports of Australian coal in favour of both local production and imports from other suppliers, in a move that threatens the $14 billion export industry.
The goal is ostensibly to “stabilise coal purchase prices”. China is also looking to cut down on its coal use in the push to reduce carbon emissions in coming decades.
However, Wang Yongzhong, director of the Institute of Energy Economy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, drew attention to the political overtones of the move.
Read full article here.
*
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Featured image is from Pxfuel


asiapacificresearch--2020-12-16--Mass Vaccination Is Beginning Around the World, but New Zealand Will Wait for a COVID Jab

The first people in the UK will be getting a Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday , while in New Zealand , the wait could be for several more months .
Here ’ s the government ’ s plan to vaccinate Aotearoa .
Mass vaccination efforts against Covid-19 are underway around the world , but in New Zealand the government is asking for patience as the first jabs are still months away .
The first Britons will receive a vaccine tomorrow and the Queen is expected to receive her first dose in the coming weeks .
Clinics in Moscow began deploying Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
In the US , mass vaccination is expected to start before Christmas .
Globally , the coronavirus is entering a dangerous phase .
The northern hemisphere is headed into colder months spent indoors as well as the holiday period .
Over the past week , the United States broke a series of new records , with over 226,000 new cases of Covid-19 added on Friday alone .
Hospitalisations have topped 100,000 .
In Canada , field hospitals are being set up before the arrival of snow .
Covid-19 minister Chris Hipkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines won ’ t be administered until the first quarter of next year , March or earlier .
One of the reasons for the delay is that the country ’ s sense of urgency , and its willingness to take risks , is somewhat lessened .
“ They are speeding things up in a way we wouldn ’ t necessarily do here because of the risks they face , ” Hipkins told reporters .
He added that countries facing “ hundreds if not thousands ” of deaths daily are willing to skip waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something New Zealand won ’ t do .
The government only confirmed in late November that Covid-19 jabs will be free .
There also won ’ t be any legal requirement that people get the vaccine , however Qantas has already said that it ’ ll require passengers to show proof of vaccination before letting them on international flights .
Unlike the UK , which was the first western country to approve a vaccine , New Zealand won ’ t be using emergency provisions to fast-track approval of any of the coronavirus vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global vaccination programmes gain speed , there will be more evidence for the efficacy and safety of some vaccines than others .
Medsafe , the country ’ s medical regulator , has already started an approvals process for Covid-19 vaccines .
One of the vaccines being looked at is the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that Britain is rushing to its citizens this week .
Early results have shown that the vaccine , which uses a new form of technology , is highly effective .
Hipkins added that an emergency approval from the government for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK , wouldn ’ t necessarily speed up delivery .
“ There is a global issue here where everybody wants the vaccine as fast as we can get it , ” he said .
New Zealand expects to eventually purchase five or six different types of vaccines .
Some will come through direct purchases from pharmaceutical giants while others will be delivered as part of large international coalitions .
While Hipkins mused last week that a humanitarian argument could be made to ensure the vaccines go first to countries that are hardest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that New Zealand will be getting its doses as quickly as possible .
There won ’ t be any unnecessary delay , he added .
In the UK , the first wave of jabs have been reserved for the over-80s and care home residents .
In the US , authorities have said health care workers and the frail will be at the head of the queue .
In New Zealand , the order will be decided by the evidence from a longer approvals process .
Border-facing workers and people in aged care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will determine the sequencing , said Hipkins .
New Zealand ’ s vaccine programme will be unveiled later in December , but the government is planning to have a significant supply of vaccine in the country when Medsafe finally provides approval to proceed .
As a result of that , purchasing agents are currently scouring the globe for the equipment the country will need to transport , store and administer the vaccines .
New orders have already been placed for super-cold freezers needed for the Pfizer injection .
Note to readers : please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Forward this article to your email lists .
Crosspost on your blog site , internet forums .
etc .

The first people in the UK will be getting a Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday, while in New Zealand, the wait could be for several more months. Here’s the government’s plan to vaccinate Aotearoa.
Mass vaccination efforts against Covid-19 are underway around the world, but in New Zealand the government is asking for patience as the first jabs are still months away.
The first Britons will receive a vaccine tomorrow and the Queen is expected to receive her first dose in the coming weeks. Clinics in Moscow began deploying Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine over the weekend. In the US, mass vaccination is expected to start before Christmas.
Globally, the coronavirus is entering a dangerous phase. The northern hemisphere is headed into colder months spent indoors as well as the holiday period. Over the past week, the United States broke a series of new records, with over 226,000 new cases of Covid-19 added on Friday alone. Hospitalisations have topped 100,000. In Canada, field hospitals are being set up before the arrival of snow.
Covid-19 minister Chris Hipkins has said New Zealand’s first vaccines won’t be administered until the first quarter of next year, March or earlier. One of the reasons for the delay is that the country’s sense of urgency, and its willingness to take risks, is somewhat lessened.
“They are speeding things up in a way we wouldn’t necessarily do here because of the risks they face,” Hipkins told reporters. He added that countries facing “hundreds if not thousands” of deaths daily are willing to skip waiting for the end of clinical trials, something New Zealand won’t do.
The government only confirmed in late November that Covid-19 jabs will be free. There also won’t be any legal requirement that people get the vaccine, however Qantas has already said that it’ll require passengers to show proof of vaccination before letting them on international flights.
Unlike the UK, which was the first western country to approve a vaccine, New Zealand won’t be using emergency provisions to fast-track approval of any of the coronavirus vaccines the country will eventually purchase. As global vaccination programmes gain speed, there will be more evidence for the efficacy and safety of some vaccines than others.
Medsafe, the country’s medical regulator, has already started an approvals process for Covid-19 vaccines. One of the vaccines being looked at is the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that Britain is rushing to its citizens this week. Early results have shown that the vaccine, which uses a new form of technology, is highly effective.
Hipkins added that an emergency approval from the government for that vaccine, copying the work done in the UK, wouldn’t necessarily speed up delivery. “There is a global issue here where everybody wants the vaccine as fast as we can get it,” he said. New Zealand expects to eventually purchase five or six different types of vaccines. Some will come through direct purchases from pharmaceutical giants while others will be delivered as part of large international coalitions. While Hipkins mused last week that a humanitarian argument could be made to ensure the vaccines go first to countries that are hardest hit by Covid-19, he quickly added that New Zealand will be getting its doses as quickly as possible. There won’t be any unnecessary delay, he added. In the UK, the first wave of jabs have been reserved for the over-80s and care home residents. In the US, authorities have said health care workers and the frail will be at the head of the queue. In New Zealand, the order will be decided by the evidence from a longer approvals process. Border-facing workers and people in aged care homes could be first, but the science will determine the sequencing, said Hipkins. New Zealand’s vaccine programme will be unveiled later in December, but the government is planning to have a significant supply of vaccine in the country when Medsafe finally provides approval to proceed. As a result of that, purchasing agents are currently scouring the globe for the equipment the country will need to transport, store and administer the vaccines. New orders have already been placed for super-cold freezers needed for the Pfizer injection. * Note to readers: please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc. Featured image is from Pixnio


asiapacificresearch--2020-12-16--What to Expect from Relations Between China and Australia?

Relations between China and Australia worsened significantly in 2020 , reaching the lowest level in its history .
Between spying scandals , fake news and trade tariffs , ties between both countries have diminished , impeding various possibilities for international cooperation .
However , the recent agreement that built the largest commercial zone in the world in the Asia-Pacific region opens a new horizon for Beijing and Canberra , which prompts to think about measures to overcome this deep diplomatic crisis .
This year has been extremely difficult for the ties between China and Australia .
The most recent escalation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on November 30 , where the conduct of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan was criticized with the following text : “ Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers .
We strongly condemn such acts and call for holding them accountable ” .
The behavior of the representative of Chinese diplomacy caused outrage in Australia and was considered a serious national offense .
A few days before the virtual incident , on November 27 , China had imposed severe trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham called the action “ unfair ” and said it was part of China ’ s “ deliberate strategy ” to pressure Canberra to serve its interests .
Regardless of the Chinese intentions , the decision should cause great damage to Canberra , which exports more than 900 million dollars in wine to the Asian country – its main market in this sector .
However , it was not only China that imposed sanctions .
Australia has also taken several measures considered hostile by Beijing , such as , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in addition to canceling visas for Chinese students and journalists .
As we can see , boycotts are reaching all sectors , not being limited to the economic field .
Since 2012 , ties between Beijing and Canberra have been deteriorating .
There was an undeniable discomfort in Canberra with the inauguration of Xi Jinping , which meant China ’ s greater insertion in international politics .
The growing Chinese role has bothered Canberra mainly due to the fact that both countries are fighting for the same space of influence in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the main critical point in relations between China and Australia .
Canberra joined the trade war waged by Trump against China in the dispute for control of 5G technology .
In 2018 , Australia banned Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE from their national 5G network , which Beijing interpreted as an anti-diplomatic act .
Recently , Australia has also replicated the American discourse about the “ origin of the coronavirus ” , endorsing the rhetoric that Beijing would have been negligent in controlling the virus in its earliest days , thus being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
All of these factors have profoundly shaken cooperation projects between Chinese and Australians , but despite the friction , Australia and China maintain close trade relations and divide the geopolitical space of Southeast Asia .
As a strong mining country , Australia supplies China with coal and ore on a short sea route .
Canberra is also a major food exporter for the Chinese , being , due to the short distance , a point of great strategic importance for the food security of the Asian country .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australians .
Australia depends on Chinese money and China on Australian resources .
With a population of about 1.4 billion people , Beijing is increasingly investing in imports to ensure food security for its people and Australia is a strategic partnership in this regard .
But Canberra is not the only option available to the Chinese , who have strong relations with South American and African countries in the food production sector .
Although the distance makes such relations more expensive , Beijing has enough financial resources to face this problem if relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be said for Australia .
Among developed countries , Australia is the most dependent on China .
Still , Canberra is facing its first recession in three decades , being even more economically vulnerable and dependent on Chinese investments .
Given this , how to overcome the crisis in a beneficial way for both sides ?
Certainly , it is Australia that should give more .
As a country economically dependent on China , Australia should not practice some acts that have marked its policy of hostilities against Beijing , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in QUAD and FVEY .
QUAD is a security quadrangle formed by the US , Japan , Australia , and India , consisting of a “ NATO for China ” project .
FVEY ( Five Eyes ) is an intelligence cooperation program , where the US , Australia , Canada , New Zealand , and the United Kingdom carry out joint espionage operations and share information collected .
Recently , a scandal involving Australian FVEY spies on Chinese soil was revealed .
If Australia wants to preserve its economic partnership , it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperation projects with countries that are enemies of Beijing .
Likewise , a review of the Australian decision on 5G would be interesting , considering that few countries , even among American allies , have chosen such a way of sanctions against China .
Beijing , on the other hand , could mitigate its strong criticism against Australian soldiers and perhaps should ban the barriers to Australian wine .
Both countries are currently part of the RCEP , the largest economic bloc in the world , having all the necessary resources to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solid cooperation .
In order for this bloc to be strengthened and to reach its full potential , it is necessary that diplomatic tensions between its member countries be eased and that each member prioritize its economic needs over its political choices .
Therefore , it is essential for Australia to decide between its economy and its alliance with the West .
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etc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ InfoBrics .
Lucas Leiroz is a research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro .

Relations between China and Australia worsened significantly in 2020, reaching the lowest level in its history. Between spying scandals, fake news and trade tariffs, ties between both countries have diminished, impeding various possibilities for international cooperation. However, the recent agreement that built the largest commercial zone in the world in the Asia-Pacific region opens a new horizon for Beijing and Canberra, which prompts to think about measures to overcome this deep diplomatic crisis.
This year has been extremely difficult for the ties between China and Australia. The most recent escalation of tensions centered on a publication made by a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on November 30, where the conduct of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan was criticized with the following text: “Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts and call for holding them accountable”. The behavior of the representative of Chinese diplomacy caused outrage in Australia and was considered a serious national offense.
A few days before the virtual incident, on November 27, China had imposed severe trade restrictions against wines produced in Australia. Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham called the action “unfair” and said it was part of China’s “deliberate strategy” to pressure Canberra to serve its interests. Regardless of the Chinese intentions, the decision should cause great damage to Canberra, which exports more than 900 million dollars in wine to the Asian country – its main market in this sector.
However, it was not only China that imposed sanctions. Australia has also taken several measures considered hostile by Beijing, such as, for example, blocking ten investment projects, in addition to canceling visas for Chinese students and journalists. As we can see, boycotts are reaching all sectors, not being limited to the economic field.
Since 2012, ties between Beijing and Canberra have been deteriorating. There was an undeniable discomfort in Canberra with the inauguration of Xi Jinping, which meant China’s greater insertion in international politics. The growing Chinese role has bothered Canberra mainly due to the fact that both countries are fighting for the same space of influence in the Asia-Pacific.
Currently, the technological market is the main critical point in relations between China and Australia. Canberra joined the trade war waged by Trump against China in the dispute for control of 5G technology. In 2018, Australia banned Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE from their national 5G network, which Beijing interpreted as an anti-diplomatic act. Recently, Australia has also replicated the American discourse about the “origin of the coronavirus”, endorsing the rhetoric that Beijing would have been negligent in controlling the virus in its earliest days, thus being “responsible” for the effects of the pandemic.
All of these factors have profoundly shaken cooperation projects between Chinese and Australians, but despite the friction, Australia and China maintain close trade relations and divide the geopolitical space of Southeast Asia. As a strong mining country, Australia supplies China with coal and ore on a short sea route. Canberra is also a major food exporter for the Chinese, being, due to the short distance, a point of great strategic importance for the food security of the Asian country.
There is a link of interdependence between Chinese and Australians. Australia depends on Chinese money and China on Australian resources. With a population of about 1.4 billion people, Beijing is increasingly investing in imports to ensure food security for its people and Australia is a strategic partnership in this regard. But Canberra is not the only option available to the Chinese, who have strong relations with South American and African countries in the food production sector. Although the distance makes such relations more expensive, Beijing has enough financial resources to face this problem if relations with Australia become unsustainable. The same cannot be said for Australia. Among developed countries, Australia is the most dependent on China. Still, Canberra is facing its first recession in three decades, being even more economically vulnerable and dependent on Chinese investments.
Given this, how to overcome the crisis in a beneficial way for both sides? Certainly, it is Australia that should give more. As a country economically dependent on China, Australia should not practice some acts that have marked its policy of hostilities against Beijing, such as, for example, the participation in QUAD and FVEY. QUAD is a security quadrangle formed by the US, Japan, Australia, and India, consisting of a “NATO for China” project. FVEY (Five Eyes) is an intelligence cooperation program, where the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom carry out joint espionage operations and share information collected. Recently, a scandal involving Australian FVEY spies on Chinese soil was revealed.
If Australia wants to preserve its economic partnership, it will have to restrain its participation in military cooperation projects with countries that are enemies of Beijing. Likewise, a review of the Australian decision on 5G would be interesting, considering that few countries, even among American allies, have chosen such a way of sanctions against China. Beijing, on the other hand, could mitigate its strong criticism against Australian soldiers and perhaps should ban the barriers to Australian wine. Both countries are currently part of the RCEP, the largest economic bloc in the world, having all the necessary resources to create new strategic partnerships and a future of solid cooperation. In order for this bloc to be strengthened and to reach its full potential, it is necessary that diplomatic tensions between its member countries be eased and that each member prioritize its economic needs over its political choices. Therefore, it is essential for Australia to decide between its economy and its alliance with the West.
*
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This article was originally published on InfoBrics.
Lucas Leiroz is a research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.


asiapacificresearch--2020-12-16--Djab Wurrung: Fighting to Save Sacred Trees

On the same day Victorians were celebrating Premier Daniel Andrews ’ announcement of the easing of the 112-day COVID-19 lockdown , the state government oversaw the felling of a 350-year-old tree sacred to the Djab Wurrung people in central Victoria .
The tree was destroyed to make way for a multi-million-dollar highway upgrade .
More than 50 protesters were attacked and arrested by Victoria Police , who weaponised COVID-19 laws by fining at least 40 protesters for failing to comply with COVID-19 measures .
A further ten protesters were arrested for obstructing police .
The $ 672 million Western Highway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 , but work on the Buangor to Ararat section did not begin until June 2018 .
Work in this section will result in the destruction of more than 3,000 trees , including at least 200 which hold cultural significance to the Djab Wurrung people .
Among the trees are traditional birthing trees , to which Aboriginal women have come to give birth for hundreds of generations .
The area holds “ a deep intimate connection for Djab Wurrung women ” , wrote Djab Wurrung woman and recently resigned member of the First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eileen Austin , in the Guardian .
When work first began on the section of the highway in June 2018 , Djab Wurrung protesters established a Heritage Protection Embassy , calling for the highway to be rerouted and the area protected .
According to the embassy ’ s website , not only are the birthing trees located on sacred women ’ s country , but they are also part of the songlines , which “ connect us to the beginning of time , back to our spirit ancestors , our creators ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigational tracks for safe travel across country , while also telling the history of the land , animals and plants .
The songs sung along the songlines are the means by which cultural knowledge , values and practices are retained and passed down .
The destroyed tree was known to the Djab Wurrung as a “ directions tree ” , which is a tree planted after the birth of a child where the placenta is mixed with the seed and the resulting tree becomes a source of spiritual guidance and connection to land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrews government has negotiated the highway project with the Indigenous custodians via the 2006 Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act .
But heritage acts and the process surrounding them are seriously flawed .
In Victoria , in order to be recognised as the “ primary guardians , keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ” under the Aboriginal Heritage Act , traditional owners must apply to become a “ Registered Aboriginal Party ” .
To be recognised , they must become an incorporated organisation under the 2006 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations Commonwealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Title Holder with a Native Title Agreement or a Traditional Owner Entity Group with recognition and settlement agreement as part of the 2010 Victorian Traditional Settlement Act .
The problem with this , notes Deakin University anthropologist Associate Professor Melinda Hinksonin in a 5 November article for Arena , is that it “ ensures that Aboriginal owners and custodians who refuse to participate on these terms will not be recognised ” , resulting in them being “ excluded from formal processes of consultation ” .
Under the Victorian act , the current Registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation ( EMAC ) .
EMAC took over the role in February of this year , after Martang—the original Registered Aboriginal Party , which had signed off on the highway extension in 2013—became defunct .
In a media statement issued on 28 October , EMAC noted that “ despite [ the directions tree ’ s ] age and majesty , extensive re-assessments did not reveal any characteristics consistent with cultural modification ” .
They went on to explain that the EMAC had previously won a significant “ realignment ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the preservation of 16 trees , two of which were birthing trees , as well as “ marker ” , “ directions ” and “ grandmother ” trees .
But other Djab Wurrung people disagree with this assessment and argue the trees are of cultural significance .
University of Sydney director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research , Professor Jaky Troy , told the ABC that Indigenous custodians often face a situation of “ deciding which child to kill ” when taking part in heritage negotiations .
Troy , a Ngairgu woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were put in a position where something was going to have to go ” .
That is , traditional owners are forced into making pragmatic decisions in order to save some part of their cultural heritage , while being forced to sacrifice others .
This fact was further highlighted by EMAC ’ s chair , Jason Mifsud , in the same interview .
Mifsud explained that despite earlier advocating for the directions tree to be protected , they were not able to save it because Aboriginal groups are “ not negotiating from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ you ’ re essentially , as a result of the Aboriginal Heritage Act , still the last in line in regards to protecting and preserving cultural heritage ” .
In the aftermath of the destruction of the directions tree , prominent Aboriginal activist and Djab Wurrung woman Marjorie Thorpe has won a three-week injunction to stop construction .
The case will return to the Supreme Court on 19 November .
In the meantime , the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy activists are calling for the return of the destroyed tree and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : please click the share buttons above or below .
Forward this article to your email lists .
Crosspost on your blog site , internet forums .
etc .

On the same day Victorians were celebrating Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement of the easing of the 112-day COVID-19 lockdown, the state government oversaw the felling of a 350-year-old tree sacred to the Djab Wurrung people in central Victoria. The tree was destroyed to make way for a multi-million-dollar highway upgrade.
More than 50 protesters were attacked and arrested by Victoria Police, who weaponised COVID-19 laws by fining at least 40 protesters for failing to comply with COVID-19 measures. A further ten protesters were arrested for obstructing police.
The $672 million Western Highway upgrade between Ballarat and Stawell began in 2013, but work on the Buangor to Ararat section did not begin until June 2018. Work in this section will result in the destruction of more than 3,000 trees, including at least 200 which hold cultural significance to the Djab Wurrung people. Among the trees are traditional birthing trees, to which Aboriginal women have come to give birth for hundreds of generations. The area holds “a deep intimate connection for Djab Wurrung women”, wrote Djab Wurrung woman and recently resigned member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Sissy Eileen Austin, in the Guardian.
When work first began on the section of the highway in June 2018, Djab Wurrung protesters established a Heritage Protection Embassy, calling for the highway to be rerouted and the area protected. According to the embassy’s website, not only are the birthing trees located on sacred women’s country, but they are also part of the songlines, which “connect us to the beginning of time, back to our spirit ancestors, our creators”.
In Aboriginal culture, songlines act as navigational tracks for safe travel across country, while also telling the history of the land, animals and plants. The songs sung along the songlines are the means by which cultural knowledge, values and practices are retained and passed down. The destroyed tree was known to the Djab Wurrung as a “directions tree”, which is a tree planted after the birth of a child where the placenta is mixed with the seed and the resulting tree becomes a source of spiritual guidance and connection to land and ancestors for the child.
The Andrews government has negotiated the highway project with the Indigenous custodians via the 2006 Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act. But heritage acts and the process surrounding them are seriously flawed. In Victoria, in order to be recognised as the “primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage” under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, traditional owners must apply to become a “Registered Aboriginal Party”. To be recognised, they must become an incorporated organisation under the 2006 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations Commonwealth Act and be either a registered Native Title Holder with a Native Title Agreement or a Traditional Owner Entity Group with recognition and settlement agreement as part of the 2010 Victorian Traditional Settlement Act.
The problem with this, notes Deakin University anthropologist Associate Professor Melinda Hinksonin in a 5 November article for Arena, is that it “ensures that Aboriginal owners and custodians who refuse to participate on these terms will not be recognised”, resulting in them being “excluded from formal processes of consultation”.
Under the Victorian act, the current Registered Aboriginal Party for Djab Wurrung country is the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC). EMAC took over the role in February of this year, after Martang—the original Registered Aboriginal Party, which had signed off on the highway extension in 2013—became defunct. In a media statement issued on 28 October, EMAC noted that “despite [the directions tree’s] age and majesty, extensive re-assessments did not reveal any characteristics consistent with cultural modification”. They went on to explain that the EMAC had previously won a significant “realignment” of the highway project, resulting in the preservation of 16 trees, two of which were birthing trees, as well as “marker”, “directions” and “grandmother” trees. But other Djab Wurrung people disagree with this assessment and argue the trees are of cultural significance.
University of Sydney director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research, Professor Jaky Troy, told the ABC that Indigenous custodians often face a situation of “deciding which child to kill” when taking part in heritage negotiations. Troy, a Ngairgu woman, explained that the Djab Wurrung “were put in a position where something was going to have to go”. That is, traditional owners are forced into making pragmatic decisions in order to save some part of their cultural heritage, while being forced to sacrifice others.
This fact was further highlighted by EMAC’s chair, Jason Mifsud, in the same interview. Mifsud explained that despite earlier advocating for the directions tree to be protected, they were not able to save it because Aboriginal groups are “not negotiating from a position of power”. Instead, “you’re essentially, as a result of the Aboriginal Heritage Act, still the last in line in regards to protecting and preserving cultural heritage”.
In the aftermath of the destruction of the directions tree, prominent Aboriginal activist and Djab Wurrung woman Marjorie Thorpe has won a three-week injunction to stop construction. The case will return to the Supreme Court on 19 November. In the meantime, the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy activists are calling for the return of the destroyed tree and are continuing their campaign.
*
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Featured image is from Red Flag


asiapacificresearch--2020-12-16--India’s One-Day General Strike Largest in History

Farmers and agricultural workers from northern India marched along various national highways toward India ’ s capital of New Delhi as part of the general strike on Nov. 26 .
They carried placards with slogans against the anti-farmer , pro-corporate laws that were passed by India ’ s Lok Sabha ( lower house of parliament ) in September , and then pushed through the Rajya Sabha ( upper house ) with only a voice vote .
The striking agricultural workers and farmers carried flags that indicated their affiliation with a range of organizations , from the communist movement to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They marched against the privatization of agriculture , which they argue undermines India ’ s food sovereignty and erodes their ability to remain agriculturalists .
Roughly two-thirds of India ’ s workforce derives its income from agriculture , which contributes to roughly 18 percent of India ’ s gross domestic product ( GDP ) .
The three anti-farmer bills passed in September undermine the minimum support price buying schemes of the government , put 85 percent of the farmers who own less than 2 hectares of land at the mercy of bargaining with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the destruction of a system that has till now maintained agricultural production despite erratic prices for food produce .
One hundred and fifty farmer organizations came together for their march on New Delhi .
They pledge to stay in the city indefinitely .
Around 250 million people across India joined the general strike , making it the largest strike in world history .
If those who struck formed a country , it would be the fifth largest in the world after China , India , the United States , and Indonesia .
Industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uttar Pradesh – came to a halt , as workers in the ports from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port ( Maharashtra ) to the Paradip Port ( Odisha ) stopped work .
Coal , iron ore , and steel workers put down their tools , while trains and buses stood idle .
Informal sector workers joined in , and so did health care workers and bank employees .
They struck in opposition to labor laws that extend the working day to 12 hours and strike down labor protections for 70 percent of the workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions , said , “ The strike today is only a beginning .
Much more intense struggles will follow.
” The pandemic has deepened the crisis of the Indian working class and peasantry , including the richer farmers .
Despite the dangers of the pandemic , out of a great sense of desperation , workers and peasants gathered in public spaces to tell the government that they had lost confidence in them .
The film actor Deep Sindhu joined the protest , where he told a police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a revolution .
If you take away farmers ’ land , then what do they have left ?
Only debt.
” Along the rim of New Delhi , the government positioned police forces , barricaded the highways , and prepared for a full-scale confrontation .
As the long columns of farmers and agricultural workers approached the barricades and appealed to their brethren who had set aside the clothes of farmers and put on police uniforms , the authorities fired tear gas and water cannons at the farmers and agricultural workers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmers and workers , Nov. 26 , is also Constitution Day in India , which marks a great feat of political sovereignty .
Article 19 of the Indian Constitution ( 1950 ) quite clearly gives Indian citizens the right to “ freedom of speech and expression ” ( 1.a ) , the right to “ assemble peaceably and without arms ” ( 1.b ) , the right to “ form associations or unions ” ( 1.c ) , and the right “ to move freely throughout the territory of India ” ( 1.d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Constitution had been forgotten , the Indian Supreme Court reminded the police in a 2012 court case ( Ramlila Maidan Incident vs. Home Secretary ) that “ Citizens have a fundamental right to assembly and peaceful protest , which can not be taken away by an arbitrary executive or legislative action.
” The police barricades , the use of tear gas , and the use of water cannons – infused with the Israeli invention of yeast and baking powder to induce a gagging reflex – violate the letter of the Constitution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police forces at each of these confrontations .
Despite the cold in northern India , the police soaked the farmers with water and tear gas .
But this did not stop them , as brave young people jumped on the water cannon trucks and turned off the water , farmers drove their tractors to dismantle the barricades , and the working class and the peasantry fought back against the class war imposed on them by the government .
The 12-point charter of demands put forward by the trade unions is sincere , having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The demands include the reversal of the anti-worker , anti-farmer laws pushed by the government in September , the reversal of the privatization of major government enterprises , and immediate relief for the population , which is suffering from economic hardship provoked by the coronavirus recession and years of neoliberal policies .
These are simple demands , humane and true ; only the hardest hearts turn away from them , responding instead with water cannons and tear gas .
These demands for immediate relief , for social protections for workers , and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world .
It is demands such as these that provoked the recent protests in Guatemala and that led to the general strike on Nov. 26 in Greece .
We are now entering a period in this pandemic when more unrest is possible as more people in countries with bourgeois governments get increasingly fed up with the atrocious behavior of their elites .
Report after report shows us that the social divides are getting more and more extreme , a trend that began long before the pandemic but has grown wider and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is only natural for farmers and agricultural workers to be agitated .
A new report from the Land Inequality Initiative shows that only 1percent of the world ’ s farms operate more than 70 percent of the world ’ s farmland , meaning that massive corporate farms dominate the corporate food system and endanger the survival of the 2.5 billion people who rely upon agriculture for their livelihood .
Land inequality , when it considers landlessness and land value , is highest in Latin America , South Asia , and parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China and Vietnam , which have the ‘ lowest levels of inequality ’ ) .
A young man , Avtar Singh Sandhu ( 1950-1988 ) , read Maxim Gorky ’ s Mother ( 1906 ) in the early 1970s in Punjab , from where many of the farmers and agricultural workers travelled to the barricades around New Delhi .
He was very moved by the relationship between Nilovna , a working-class woman , and her son , Pavel , or Pasha .
Pasha finds his feet in the socialist movement , brings revolutionary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both mother and son are radicalized .
When Nilovna asks him about the idea of solidarity , Pasha says , “ The world is ours !
The world is for the workers !
For us , there is no nation , no race .
For us , there are only comrades and foes.
” This idea of solidarity and socialism , Pasha says , “ warms us like the sun ; it is the second sun in the heaven of justice , and this heaven resides in the worker ’ s heart.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bertolt Brecht retold this story in his play Mother ( 1932 ) .
Avtar Singh Sandhu was so inspired by the novel and the play that he took the name “ Pash ” as his takhallus , his pen name .
Pash became one of the most revolutionary poets of his time , murdered in 1988 by terrorists .
I am grass is among the poems he left behind : Bam fek do chahe vishwavidyalaya par Banaa do hostel ko malbe kaa dher Suhaagaa firaa do bhale hi hamari jhopriyon par Mujhe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , har chiz par ugg aauungaa .
If you wish , throw your bomb at the university .
Reduce its hostel to a heap of rubble .
Throw your white phosphorus on our slums .
What will you do to me ?
I am grass .
I grow on everything .
That ’ s what the farmers and the workers in India say to their elites , and that is what working people say to elites in their own countries , elites whose concern – even in the pandemic – is to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privileges .
But we are grass .
We grow on everything .
Note to readers : please click the share buttons above or below .
Forward this article to your email lists .
Crosspost on your blog site , internet forums .
etc .
This article is from Tricontinental : Institute for Social Research .
Vijay Prashad , an Indian historian , journalist and commentator , is the executive director of Tricontinental : Institute for Social Research and the chief editor of Left Word Books .

Farmers and agricultural workers from northern India marched along various national highways toward India’s capital of New Delhi as part of the general strike on Nov. 26.
They carried placards with slogans against the anti-farmer, pro-corporate laws that were passed by India’s Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) in September, and then pushed through the Rajya Sabha (upper house) with only a voice vote.
The striking agricultural workers and farmers carried flags that indicated their affiliation with a range of organizations, from the communist movement to a broad front of farmers’ organizations. They marched against the privatization of agriculture, which they argue undermines India’s food sovereignty and erodes their ability to remain agriculturalists.
Roughly two-thirds of India’s workforce derives its income from agriculture, which contributes to roughly 18 percent of India’s gross domestic product (GDP). The three anti-farmer bills passed in September undermine the minimum support price buying schemes of the government, put 85 percent of the farmers who own less than 2 hectares of land at the mercy of bargaining with monopoly wholesalers, and will lead to the destruction of a system that has till now maintained agricultural production despite erratic prices for food produce.
One hundred and fifty farmer organizations came together for their march on New Delhi. They pledge to stay in the city indefinitely.
India’s general strike on Nov. 26, 2020. (IndustriALL Global Union, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Around 250 million people across India joined the general strike, making it the largest strike in world history. If those who struck formed a country, it would be the fifth largest in the world after China, India, the United States, and Indonesia. Industrial belts across India – from Telangana to Uttar Pradesh – came to a halt, as workers in the ports from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Maharashtra) to the Paradip Port (Odisha) stopped work.
India’s general strike on Nov. 26, 2020. (IndustriALL Global Union, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Coal, iron ore, and steel workers put down their tools, while trains and buses stood idle. Informal sector workers joined in, and so did health care workers and bank employees. They struck in opposition to labor laws that extend the working day to 12 hours and strike down labor protections for 70 percent of the workforce. Tapan Sen, the general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said, “The strike today is only a beginning. Much more intense struggles will follow.”
The pandemic has deepened the crisis of the Indian working class and peasantry, including the richer farmers. Despite the dangers of the pandemic, out of a great sense of desperation, workers and peasants gathered in public spaces to tell the government that they had lost confidence in them. The film actor Deep Sindhu joined the protest, where he told a police officer, “Ye inquilab hai. This is a revolution. If you take away farmers’ land, then what do they have left? Only debt.”
India’s general strike on Nov. 26, 2020. (IndustriALL Global Union, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Along the rim of New Delhi, the government positioned police forces, barricaded the highways, and prepared for a full-scale confrontation. As the long columns of farmers and agricultural workers approached the barricades and appealed to their brethren who had set aside the clothes of farmers and put on police uniforms, the authorities fired tear gas and water cannons at the farmers and agricultural workers.
India’s general strike on Nov. 26, 2020. (IndustriALL Global Union, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The day of the general strike of farmers and workers, Nov. 26, is also Constitution Day in India, which marks a great feat of political sovereignty. Article 19 of the Indian Constitution (1950) quite clearly gives Indian citizens the right to “freedom of speech and expression” (1.a), the right to “assemble peaceably and without arms” (1.b), the right to “form associations or unions” (1.c), and the right “to move freely throughout the territory of India” (1.d).
In case these articles of the Constitution had been forgotten, the Indian Supreme Court reminded the police in a 2012 court case (Ramlila Maidan Incident vs. Home Secretary) that “Citizens have a fundamental right to assembly and peaceful protest, which cannot be taken away by an arbitrary executive or legislative action.”
The police barricades, the use of tear gas, and the use of water cannons – infused with the Israeli invention of yeast and baking powder to induce a gagging reflex – violate the letter of the Constitution, something that the farmers yelled to the police forces at each of these confrontations. Despite the cold in northern India, the police soaked the farmers with water and tear gas.
India’s general strike on Nov. 26, 2020. (IndustriALL Global Union, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
But this did not stop them, as brave young people jumped on the water cannon trucks and turned off the water, farmers drove their tractors to dismantle the barricades, and the working class and the peasantry fought back against the class war imposed on them by the government.
The 12-point charter of demands put forward by the trade unions is sincere, having captured the sentiments of the people. The demands include the reversal of the anti-worker, anti-farmer laws pushed by the government in September, the reversal of the privatization of major government enterprises, and immediate relief for the population, which is suffering from economic hardship provoked by the coronavirus recession and years of neoliberal policies.
These are simple demands, humane and true; only the hardest hearts turn away from them, responding instead with water cannons and tear gas.
India’s general strike on Nov. 26, 2020. (IndustriALL Global Union, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
These demands for immediate relief, for social protections for workers, and for agricultural subsidies appeal to workers and peasants around the world. It is demands such as these that provoked the recent protests in Guatemala and that led to the general strike on Nov. 26 in Greece.
We are now entering a period in this pandemic when more unrest is possible as more people in countries with bourgeois governments get increasingly fed up with the atrocious behavior of their elites. Report after report shows us that the social divides are getting more and more extreme, a trend that began long before the pandemic but has grown wider and deeper as a consequence of it.
It is only natural for farmers and agricultural workers to be agitated. A new report from the Land Inequality Initiative shows that only 1percent of the world’s farms operate more than 70 percent of the world’s farmland, meaning that massive corporate farms dominate the corporate food system and endanger the survival of the 2.5 billion people who rely upon agriculture for their livelihood.
Land inequality, when it considers landlessness and land value, is highest in Latin America, South Asia, and parts of Africa (with notable exceptions such as China and Vietnam, which have the ‘lowest levels of inequality’).
A young man, Avtar Singh Sandhu (1950-1988), read Maxim Gorky’s Mother (1906) in the early 1970s in Punjab, from where many of the farmers and agricultural workers travelled to the barricades around New Delhi. He was very moved by the relationship between Nilovna, a working-class woman, and her son, Pavel, or Pasha.
Pasha finds his feet in the socialist movement, brings revolutionary books home, and, slowly, both mother and son are radicalized. When Nilovna asks him about the idea of solidarity, Pasha says, “The world is ours! The world is for the workers! For us, there is no nation, no race. For us, there are only comrades and foes.”
This idea of solidarity and socialism, Pasha says, “warms us like the sun; it is the second sun in the heaven of justice, and this heaven resides in the worker’s heart.” Together, Nilovna and Pasha become revolutionaries. Bertolt Brecht retold this story in his play Mother (1932).
Avtar Singh Sandhu was so inspired by the novel and the play that he took the name “Pash” as his takhallus, his pen name. Pash became one of the most revolutionary poets of his time, murdered in 1988 by terrorists. I am grass is among the poems he left behind:
Bam fek do chahe vishwavidyalaya par
Banaa do hostel ko malbe kaa dher
Suhaagaa firaa do bhale hi hamari jhopriyon par
Mujhe kya karoge?
Main to ghaas hun, har chiz par ugg aauungaa.
If you wish, throw your bomb at the university.
Reduce its hostel to a heap of rubble.
Throw your white phosphorus on our slums.
What will you do to me?
I am grass. I grow on everything.
That’s what the farmers and the workers in India say to their elites, and that is what working people say to elites in their own countries, elites whose concern – even in the pandemic – is to protect their power, their property and their privileges. But we are grass. We grow on everything.
*
Note to readers: please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc.
This article is from Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
Vijay Prashad, an Indian historian, journalist and commentator, is the executive director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and the chief editor of Left Word Books.
Featured image: India’s general strike on Nov. 26, 2020. (IndustriALL Global Union, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)