The Marxist-Leninist Daily

For weeks the media have fomented hysteria about a Muslim Community Centre to be built near Ground Zero in New York City. Then came the threat to burn 200 Qur'ans on the 9th anniversary of 9/11 by a pastor in Gainesville, Florida whose followers number but thirty.

In Canada, first came the police violence against the G20 protests, which continues with accusations of conspiracy against many youth. This was followed by the arrests of Muslims under the guise that they are terrorists and soon after the arrest of Tamil asylum seekers under the hoax that they too could be harbouring terrorists.

Commentators and mass media from both countries have led us to conclude from all these events that dangerous extremists are in our midst but that champions of freedom, democracy and rights are to be found in whom we should entrust our fate. Who are these defenders of freedom? None other than U.S. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, General David H. Petraeus who is the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Peter Mackay. Buried in all this commotion and not considered a problem is U.S. state terrorism and Canada's participation in U.S. imperialism's striving for world hegemony.

Many prominent individuals within the U.S. and from around the world, including leaders of the main U.S. religions, have denounced the extremist Florida pastor and pronounced themselves in favour of "American values." Obama said the planned burning of the Qur'an is "completely contrary to our values as Americans" and "a recruitment bonanza for al Qaeda." Hillary Clinton called it "a disrespectful, disgraceful act." General Petraeus said the move "could endanger troops and the overall effort in Afghanistan." Mackay dutifully agreed and Harper chimed in with the assurance that "my God and my Christ is a tolerant God, and that's what we want to see in this world."

This staged melodrama pressures people to support "lawful Muslims" versus "unlawful Muslims." We are told that if "Muslims" are "unlawful" they must be opposed yet treated as innocent until proven guilty, but no matter what, we must defend the national interests of the United States by upholding "American values." In this vein, we are reassured that Islam is not the enemy; extremists are the enemy. How do we identify the extremists? We are told they are the ones who do not support the values put forward by the state. They are the ones who are a danger to U.S. national interests and must be declared unlawful. This ugly scenario repeats the McCarthy era when anyone deemed "un-American" was declared a threat to national security and subject to civil death.

A typical "liberal" method is at play. It creates two extremes and then declares the state the champion of the Golden Mean. In this way through sleight of hand, U.S. state terrorism becomes the "Golden Mean." Wars against Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond are needed and justified to defend U.S. national interests, just as Israeli state terror is excused as self-defence in Palestine. So too, the practice of renditions, torture and the use of secret evidence are all justified under the doctrine of state secrets and national security.

Typically, a heinous rightwing extreme is floated, such as Pastor Terry Jones, to make the case that "hate crimes" and extremists must be denounced and prosecuted. It is all done to rally the official "left" and liberal opinion behind the passing of new laws to declare "un-American" opinion a hate crime. This includes criticism of Israel and Zionism, which are to be considered "anti-Semitic," and also what Tony Blair calls "revolutionary communism" that allegedly preaches class hatred.

A win-win situation for President Obama is it not. He could do nothing to stop Pastor Jones while massive demonstrations take place abroad against the burning of the Qur'an. Then he and all the other champions of the "war on terror" would continue to make statements against extremism and the danger this act has created for our troops. This would then be used to justify passing "anti-hate" legislation in the near future criminalising all those who hold un-American views. Or he could ban the Qur'an burning and present himself as a champion of tolerance for defending American values. Then in the near future, he could use the furor and action against Pastor Jones to justify legislation banning freedom of speech, association and beliefs.

Meanwhile, the international plot has thickened as it is reported that Pastor Jones has withdrawn his threat to burn the Qur'an in exchange for his demand that a Muslim Community Centre not be built near Ground Zero.

The U.S. administration, the government of Stephen Harper, the media of both countries, certain religious leaders and many others are trying to make a case that all those who do not espouse what are called "American" or "Canadian" values must be deemed unlawful or extremists and deprived of their civil rights. This is to declare lawful the condition of civil death. The citizenry is thereby deprived of its right to conscience for opposing U.S. wars of aggression, state terrorism and intolerance, while some rightwing extremists are promoted to celebrity status.

People should not line up in defence of "American" or "Canadian" values in the name of protecting national security, opposing extremists or any other reason. What is required is to reject the self-serving arguments that U.S. authority in its military or civilian garb has the indisputable right to settle all matters in the world based on its own self-serving interests. The cause of the peoples of the world for peace and justice is not favoured by taking sides pro or con any equation or melodrama the U.S. state self-servingly advances.

These dangerous developments must not be permitted to pass. On this anniversary of 9/11, the U.S. has some 11,600 private contractors and 50,000 troops in Iraq after its alleged disengagement. It commands 150,000 U.S. and other NATO forces in Afghanistan. It is routinely bombing Pakistan and threatening Iran and the DPRK. Outside the U.S., it has almost one thousand military bases in sixty-five countries in the world; it continues to practice torture and renditions to torture, and flouts civil rights in the name of national security. Canada is following suite. The massive disinformation campaign over extremism indicates that this anniversary of 9/11 catches the U.S. in such a deep all-round crisis, including a profound economic and credibility crisis in which the U.S. system is mired, that it has unleashed the greatest assault since the McCarthy era on the conscience of its own people and that of the peoples of the world.

It is indeed a matter of conscience, the conscience of humanity, which the U.S. state is criminalizing. It must not pass!

On this occasion, let us reiterate our opposition to all acts of individual and state terrorism; demand an end to the war in Afghanistan and that Canadian troops be brought home now, and that the U.S. immediately withdraw all its troops from foreign lands.

Humanity needs fundamental measures to end state terrorism and all violence, abuse and torture wreaked upon the innocent peoples of Palestine, Afghanistan and all others suffering from imperialist predatory war and oppression.

Justice for the Chilean People!

September 11 marks the 37th anniversary of the U.S. imperialist coup d'état organized in Chile in which the Pinochet regime murdered thousands of people. On this occasion, TML remembers the victims of the Pinochet regime and Operation Condor that extended these crimes to Uruguay and Argentina. To this day, relatives of the victims are fighting to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

Today, as the U.S. state cites adherence to "American values" as the criteria to decide who are enemies of the state, it is proper to recall that the crimes committed in Chile and throughout Latin America were against those identified as "enemies of western Christian civilization." Their "crime" was their political beliefs, affiliations or activism. With Santiago's stadium converted into a holding pen, people were rounded up and massacred. At the Moneda presidential palace the constitutional President Salvador Allende was murdered. These crimes extended throughout the years of Pinochet's rule and far beyond Chile's borders even to Washington, D.C. itself. The military junta led by army general Augusto Pinochet, with the full support of the U.S., ran Chile officially and "unofficially" for the next 25 years.

Clearly exposing the U.S. role in the Chilean coup, an October 1970 cable to CIA operatives in Chile from Henry Kissinger's "Track Two" group states: "It is firm and continuing policy that [the democratically elected government of] Allende be overthrown by a coup.... We are to continue to generate maximum pressure toward this end utilizing every appropriate resource. It is imperative that these actions be implemented clandestinely and securely so that the USG [United States Government] and American hands be well hidden."

Prior to the coup in Chile, the U.S. already had a long and bloody history of organizing and backing violent coups d'état in Latin America, e.g., Guatemala, Brazil, Nicaragua, Grenada and Panama to name only a few. The 1823 Monroe Doctrine served notice that the U.S. claimed Latin American for itself. Almost immediately, the U.S. grabbed 1/3 of Mexico through military force. Since the 1890s, when it achieved regional supremacy over Spain and Britain, the U.S. has forcibly intervened in Latin America over fifty times.

Thirty seven years after the coup in Chile, the U.S. continues to organize and back violent coups d'état as it did recently in Honduras. The U.S. continues to form aggressive alliances, build military bases in client states like Colombia, treat the surrounding bodies of water like American lakes, and carry out subversive actions against those democratically elected Latin American governments such as Cuba that exercise the right to choose their own political system, free of U.S. interference. The secret "Dirty Wars" that the U.S. previously conducted in the Southern Cone and Central America in collusion with local military forces have now become open.

On this occasion, we express our deepest sympathies to the heroic Chilean people and to the families and friends of all those killed and disappeared in the infamous coup and subsequent regime. Families and friends continue to look for the disappeared and to demand justice for what happened to them. Incredibly, political prisoners continue to linger in jail while virtually none of those responsible for human rights violations has been prosecuted for their crimes. Pinochet himself, protected by the imperialists, eluded justice and died without conviction.

TML hails the struggle of the Chilean people to achieve justice for the crimes committed by the Pinochet regime and its U.S. patrons. The September 11, 1973 U.S.-backed coup d'état in Chile, an act of state terrorism, exposed the true character of U.S. imperialism and will never be forgotten.

End the Injustice, Freedom Now!

This September 12th will mark the twelfth anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of Gerardo Hernandez, Ramón Labañino, René Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando Gonzalez, our five brothers who are political prisoners in the United States for fighting against terrorism.

Twelve years in which Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio have served over a decade of time in high security prisons. Twelve years where René and Gerardo were unable to see their wives. Twelve years where the Five have been forced into isolation cells for more than 635 days.

Twelve years of pain for five Cuban families who have seen their children grow up without the presence of their fathers. Twelve years of having to say goodbye to their loved ones without the embrace of their children. Twelve years of not knowing when they will receive the next "blessed authorization" to see their relatives again. Twelve years of shame for the justice of a country that pretends by lecturing the world about human rights.

The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five joins with others in the international effort which starts on September 12 and extends to October 8, the date of the death in combat of Che, as part of the ongoing battle for truth, justice and the freedom of the Five.

During this time, the world will be reminded that on September 21, 1976, the former foreign minister of Chile, Orlando Letelier and his North American secretary Ronnie Moffitt, were assassinated in Washington, DC. Also during this time, it will be remembered what happened on October 6, 34 years ago when a plane was blown up in mid-air over the coast of Barbados killing 73 innocent people on board. Those who confessed to this heinous crime, Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Carriles, today enjoy privileges awarded by the U.S. government and are free to walk the streets of Miami as honorable citizens instead of the international criminals that they are.

Today, September 4, on the thirteenth anniversary of the death of Fabio Di Celmo, a young Italian tourist who died from a bomb blast that was planted in a Cuban hotel by order of the same Luis Posada Carriles, we join with people from around the world in all their initiatives and activities from September 12-October 8.

On behalf of the memory of Fabio, of the victims of Barbados, and of all of those who have suffered death and wounds by the actions of terrorist groups based in Miami. And on behalf of all peoples right to live in peace, we raise our voices, along with honest men and women from all over the world to renew our commitment, to multiply our efforts, day by day, step by step, so that together we can achieve the return of the Cuban Five to their families and their homeland.

We demand President Obama to put an end to this injustice and order the freedom of the Five Cuban Patriots Now!

Toronto Rally Expresses Workers' Support
for Cuban Five

On August 8, a rally was held in Toronto at the Steelworkers Hall on Cecil St. to raise international awareness of the cause of the Cuban Five and to advance the demand for their release from U.S. prisons. The event was the result of co-operation among labour unions and solidarity groups representing workers in Canada, the U.S., Britain and Cuba. The featured guests were family members of the Cuban Five who had arrived from Cuba earlier that day -- Adriana Pérez, the wife of Gerardo Hernández; Olga Salanueva, the wife of René González; and Irma González, their daughter, on her third visit to Toronto.

Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers' National Director for Canada, emceed the event, introducing each of the special guests and union representatives, starting with Salanueva. She began by recognizing the work done in solidarity with the Cuban Five by friends in Canada and other countries. She said that the reduction of the sentences for three of the five prisoners last year would not have happened if it hadn't been for the international solidarity shown. However, she pointed out, Gerardo Hernández still faces two life sentences plus 15 years and they do not have much hope that his current habeas corpus application, in front of the same judge as at the 1998 trial, will be victorious. Now that the official process of appeals to the highest courts is over, she said, their message to the solidarity movement has changed to one of putting pressure on U.S. President Barack Obama to use his executive privilege to release the Cuban Five.

Adriana Pérez noted the ongoing risks faced by the five Cubans while imprisoned in U.S. maximum security prisons. She explained how her husband, Gerardo Hernández, was thrown in "the hole" (solitary confinement) on July 13, where he was subject to extreme heat and no ventilation, allegedly because he was "under investigation." He was kept there for 13 days. It would have been longer had it not been for the many calls from international supporters that helped prompt the prison authorities to return him to the general population.

Both Salanueva and Pérez have been denied the right to visit their husbands since 1998 when the five Cubans were arrested and unjustly imprisoned. Irma González, the daughter of René, has been able to visit her father. On recent occasions, she has been accompanied by her younger sister. Still, for the family members, and especially the wives who have been denied U.S. entry visas, she remarked, there are "many lost moments we can never get back." She expressed thanks, on behalf of the families, for the solidarity that has been shown with the Cuban Five and gave assurances that they get strength from knowing that people everywhere are supporting them.

Andy Stern, SEIU President Emeritus, and Tony Woodley, Joint General Secretary of UNITE (UK), both expressed the support of their unions for the cause of the Cuban Five and pledged to work for their release. Woodley in particular pointed to the need for American unions to also take up this struggle in North America. Jack Layton, national leader of the NDP, also declared that the cause of the Cuban Five would now be an issue for his party.

Heide Trampus, spokesperson for Worker-to-Worker Canada-Cuba Labour Solidarity Network, explained, as background, that the role of the Cuban Five had been to gather information about the activities of violent, anti-Cuban groups in southern Florida in order to prevent further terrorist attacks against Cuba. The Cuban Five were falsely arrested, tried and convicted on espionage-related charges, she said, while the real terrorists have been allowed to walk free. Trampus concluded by reading an open message sent by Gerardo Hernández to the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five shortly after his release from "the hole." In it, he expressed his gratitude to everyone in Cuba and around the world for their solidarity, saying that these were "particularly difficult days due to the excessive heat and lack of air, but you all were my oxygen."

Thanks were also expressed on behalf of the Cuban government by Maria de la Luz B'Hamel, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Canada, who reiterated that the Cuban Five only acted to prevent terrorism, which is not a crime.

Organized Labour Steps Up Fight to Defend Cuba

On September 5, the 5th Biennial Convention of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) held a special session on Unions and Canada-Cuba Solidarity. The three speakers for the event were Denis Lemelin, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Sid Ryan, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) and Jorge Garcia, staff representative of the Global Affairs department of the United Steelworkers (USW) standing in for National Director Ken Neumann. Co-ordinator of Worker to Worker Heide Trampus chaired the session.

The common theme of the speakers was the need for organized labour to step up the campaigns to defend the Cuban people and their nation-building project and build the worker-to-worker exchanges.

Denis Lemelin said CUPW considers the fight for workers' rights inextricably linked to the fight for an alternative to neoliberal globalization. He stated that part of CUPW's day-to-day work is to inform Canadians about Cuba and defend Cuba. He pointed out that the right wing agenda at play against Cuba also manifests in Canada in the form of security certificates and the monopoly media hysteria about Tamil refugees. CUPW also pays a lot of attention to developing worker-to-worker exchanges, especially with young Cuban postal workers of the Communications Workers Union of Cuba, he said.

Sid Ryan said that as past president of CUPE Ontario and now as OFL President, he is putting the emphasis on grassroots involvement and common actions of Ontario workers and workers of all the Americas, such as the actions against the Free Trade Area of the Americas in 2005. The OFL is trying to break through the disinformation of the so-called mainstream media to inform Ontarians about the reality of the Cuban people's struggle, he said.

Jorge Garcia of the USW highlighted the leadership of Local 1005 and its President Rolf Gerstenberger in mobilizing the USW to step up its work in defence of Cuba. He said that USW stands for the development of joint actions in Canada and in the world for the release of the Cuban Five and has its own actions to develop closer links between steelworkers in the mining and metallurgical sectors and their Cuban counterparts. This work is of mutual benefit so as to learn from each other, support each other and grow together, said Garcia. For example, USW is keenly interested in learning how Cuba deals with the impact of the global economic crisis without resorting to layoffs and massive destruction of the productive forces as in Canada.

Heide Trampus called upon all the workers to participate in the annual Worker to Worker conference held this year in Toronto from September 24-26 where Canadian workers will meet and exchange with representatives of the Cuban unions.

During the period of discussion which followed the presentations, the participants were moved to hear a reading of the poem More than a Proclamation by Antonio Guerrero, one of the Cuban Five, which upholds the dignity of those who fight for justice. USW Local 1005's resident poet Bill Mahoney also delivered a poem in defence of the Cuban revolution to rousing applause.

Canadian Network on Cuba's Successful
Cuba for Haiti Fundraising Campaign

On September 2, the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) held a press conference at A Different Booklist in Toronto announcing the success of the Cuba for Haiti Fundraising Campaign. The press conference highlighted the importance of this campaign and the CNC's commitment to continuing it. The press conference featured Professor Isaac Saney, Co-chair of the CNC and author of the renowned Cuba, a Revolution in Motion and Campaign Coordinator Professor Keith Ellis, and was chaired by Tamara Hansen, CNC Co-chair.

Both Professors Saney and Ellis stressed that this campaign's success is due to the fact that it is an appropriate response to the Canadian people's aspiration to assist the Haitian people in the wake of the devestating earthquake of January 12, 2010. Due to the prestige Cuba's internationalist work enjoys, Canadians donate to the campaign with confidence that every dollar will be used with efficiency and creativity to provide medical assistance to Haitians. Cuba's track-record in Haiti is excellent, Professor Ellis stressed, explaining that Cuba has been providing medical assistance to Haiti since 1998. When the earthquake struck, Cuba increased its personnel and the Henry Reeves Medical Brigade, specializing in emergency disaster relief, was sent to Haiti. Within 24 hours of the earthquake, Cuba had already treated well over 1,000 Haitian patients, Ellis said. The challenge is now to not only deal with the diseases and treatment of immediate needs but to help Cuba fulfill her pledge to help Haiti build a new self-reliant health care system, Ellis added.

Speakers highlighted that the success of the campaign shows the great potential to continue and expand this fundraising work. They called upon all Canadians to step up their efforts to support this work.

Isaac Saney announced that over $140,000 so far have been raised in the campaign and that initiatives are continuing across the country to raise more. He introduced the fall issue of the CNC's newsletter North of Havana, focusing on the Cuba for Haiti campaign and on the work of Canadians to further strengthen the links between the Cuban and Canadian people

Both presentations were warmly applauded and in the period of questions and discussion that followed many initiatives by Canadians were mentioned which have helped to raise money for the campaign. These include initiatives by artists to sell some of their works or organize concerts as fundraisers and fundraising campaigns in definite communities such as the Caribbean community in Toronto. The show Hemingway's Hot Havana is but one example. The show is created and performed by Brian Gordon Sinclair who was presented at the press conference. He invited everyone to host a performance in their community as part of the campaign. The call was given to all once again to step up these initiatives.

Raúl Delgado Concepción, Consul at the Consulate General of Cuba was warmly received at the press conference. He thanked Canadians for their contribution to the Cuba's work in Haiti and said Cubans are going to be there to provide genuine humanitarian assistance as long as they are needed.

Obama Extends Blockade of Cuba

U.S. President Barack Obama on September 3 announced the extension of sanctions on Cuba under the Trading With the Enemy Act, a move aimed at continuing the economic, trade and financial blockade of the island.

The White House said in a press release that Obama sent a memo to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner extending that legislation,set to expire this September 14, until September 14, 2011.

Thus, the U.S. government reaffirmed its stance that Cuba is still a threat to its national security and therefore forbids U.S. companies from doing business with Cuba.

The Trading With the Enemy Act, which dates back to 1917, prevents U.S. companies from trading with countries considered hostile.

Coming Events

Toronto
12 Years of Injustice -- Free the Cuban Five
Sunday, September 12 -- 11:00 am
OISE Auditorium (University of Toronto), 252 Bloor St. W.
Featuring relatives of the Cuban Five, Puerto Rican Independence Leader Rafael Cancel Mirands, Cuban Five attorney Leonard Weinglass, cultural performances by Poetic Voices/Voces Poéticas and Zuviri

Vancouver
All Day Vigil/Protest to Free the Cuban Five on 12th Anniversary
of Their Imprisonment
Monday, September 13 -- 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Press Conference -- 11:00 am-12:00 noon
Protest Action: 5:00-6:00 pm
U.S. Consulate, 1075 W. Pender Street
Organized by: Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver, 604-719-6947, cuban5_van@yahoo.com, www.freethe5vancouver.ca

Hamilton
Hands Off Cuba! End the Blockade Now!
Wednesday, September 15 -- 5:00- 7:00 pm
McMaster Student Centre Room 318, McMaster University, Hamilton
Organized by: Hamilton Friendship Association with Cuba and OPIRG McMaster
Contact: Jamila Ghaddar, info@cubacanada.org

Click image for fullsize poster (PDF).

The Hamilton Friendship Association with Cuba and OPIRG McMaster invite you to join us for a lecture by Jorge F. Soberón Luis, Consul General of Cuba in Toronto. This event, taking place as part of OPIRG McMaster's Alternative Welcome Week, will focus on the current situation in Cuba in the context of the ongoing illegal U.S. blockade.

Mr. Soberón first came to Canada in December 2008, when he assumed the position of the Consul General of Cuba in Toronto. Previously, he was the Deputy Director of the North America Department (U.S. and Canada) at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was also posted at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, DC. Mr. Soberón has a Masters Degree from the Higher Institute for International Relations (ISRI) of Cuba and a Law degree from the University of Havana.

Montreal

Sixth Annual Montreal-Cuba Friendship Day
Saturday, September 18 -- 1:00-11:00 pm
Tent at the Centre culturel, social et éducatif-Maisonneuve, 4375, Ontario St. E.
Admission for Evening Program (includes dinner): $8 or two tickets for $12
Organized by: Table de concertation de solidarité Québec-Cuba
Contact: Christine Dandenault/Genevieve Royer, 514-728-7222

Click image for fullsize poster.

Join the Sixth Annual Montreal-Cuba Friendship Day to celebrate the friendship between the peoples of Cuba and Quebec. In the afternoon, presentations, kiosks, visual media, dancing and other activities will showcase Cuba's achievements. At 6:00 pm, dinner featuring typical Cuban fare will be served. The grand opening of the day will take place at 7:00 pm with a presentation by Maguy Metellus. Cuban dignitaries, political personalities and others will also address participants.

A Matter of Conscience

A Matter of Conscience

Justice for the Chilean People!

End the Injustice, Freedom Now!

Toronto Rally Expresses Workers' Support
for Cuban Five

Organized Labour Steps Up Fight to Defend Cuba

Canadian Network on Cuba's Successful
Cuba for Haiti Fundraising Campaign

Obama Extends Blockade of Cuba

Coming Events

A Matter of Conscience

A Matter of Conscience

Justice for the Chilean People!

End the Injustice, Freedom Now!

Toronto Rally Expresses Workers' Support for Cuban Five

Organized Labour Steps Up Fight to Defend Cuba

Canadian Network on Cuba's Successful Cuba for Haiti Fundraising Campaign

Obama Extends Blockade of Cuba

Coming Events

Toronto Rally Expresses Workers' Support
for Cuban Five

Canadian Network on Cuba's Successful
Cuba for Haiti Fundraising Campaign