200 people gather in Vitoria called by the Antifascist Platform On Thursday, December 14, there was a rally against fascist aggressions outside the offices of the F. Engels Foundation and the Students Union in Vitoria-Gasteiz (in the Basque Country), which have been the object of fascist attacks six times in the last few weeks. See the Spanish version here.
Stop Fascist Aggression in Vitoria (Gasteiz) in the Basque Country! In the recent period the Spanish School Student Union and the Frederick Engels Foundation in Vitoria (Gasteiz), in the Basque Country, have become the victims of fascist harassment. UGT activists have been physically attacked and hospitalised. Before something serious happens, these fascist thugs and their backers in the state, must be made aware that workers and youth around the world have their eyes on what is going on. Stop the fascists now!
New Catalan Marxist website: www.militant.cat Marxist Classic texts, analysis and activities of the International Marxist tendency in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearics. See the website at www.militant.cat.
Pakistani MP Manzoor Ahmed received in Madrid by the leadership of the Spanish left Pakistani Marxist MP Manzoor Ahmed had the opportunity to participate in various meetings with the main organisations of the left during his recent visit to Spain.
Manzoor Ahmed (PTUDC) meets UGT trade union leaders in Madrid Manzoor Ahmed, Pakistani MP and president of the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) met with leaders of the Spanish UGT (General Workers’ Union) on July 3, establishing links between the Pakistani and Spanish workers.
Referendum on the Catalan Estatut: Victory for the “Yes” but with a huge abstention On June 18, a referendum was held in Catalonia (Spain) on the new Estatut.A big majority voted “yes” but the level of abstention was very high, with only 49.5% turning out on the day. Abstention was particularly high in the working class areas. The massive “yes” vote was more a vote againstthe right-wing PP than an enthusiastic vote for the Estatut itself.
The Frederick Engels Foundation will be present at the 2006 Madrid Book fair - A victory for free speech After a very widespread international campaign the organisers of the Madrid Book Fair have changed their decision to exclude the Frederick Engels Foundation, which will now be present at the Fair. See also in Spanish.
The Commission of the Madrid Book Fair attempts to exclude the Fundación Federico Engels Mexican Marxist intellectual and Vice-rector of the Open University of Mexico Fernando Buen Abad Domínguez opposes the decision to exclude the Frederick Engels Foundation from this year’s book fair in Madrid. Also available in Spanish.
Madrid Book Fair excludes Frederick Engels Foundation - An attack on freedom of expression The Madrid Book Fair organisers have taken a decision to exclude the F. Engels Foundation from this year’s book fair. The FFE is the main publisher and distributor of Marxist books in Spain and has been participating in the Madrid book fair since 1998. The growing interest that it has generated is seen as a threat by the organisers and sponsors of the Fair. The organising committee is meeting for the last time before the book fair on Monday April 24th. We have received an appeal for protest letters to be sent to the organisers asking them to review their position. There is a model letter in...
ETA’s declaration of permanent ceasefire: For a genuine socialist programme to resolve the national question Last week's ceasefire declaration by ETA will be of great significance for the coming months and years. Here we publish the statement of the revolutionary Marxists of the Basque country and Spain gathered in Ezker Marxista and El Militante.
Spain: Growing militancy of working class while reaction raises ugly head A militant mood is developing among Spanish workers. Thanks to their mobilisations a PSOE government is in office. Now reaction has reared its ugly head, including army officers, but the leaders of the left and the trade unions are doing everything they can to hold back the workers. At the same time the bosses are on the offensive, announcing plant closures and sackings. However, the workers are not always prepared to stay calm and do nothing.
The whip of the counter-revolution in Spain Last year the PSOE leader Zapatero was swept to power on the back of mass mobilisations against the war in Iraq in the aftermath of the Madrid bombings. He has introduced some minor reforms, but has not tackled the real issues facing the Spanish working class. Now the PP, backed by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, has been mobilising the most reactionary layers of Spanish society. The “two Spains” are back.
Gerry Ruddy and Danny of the IRSP in the Basque Country Ezker Marxista and El Militante organised a speaking tour last week throughout the Basque Country, with Gerry Rudy and Danny of the IRSP (Irish Republican Socialist Party) speaking in many Basque working class neighbourhoods, drawing the lessons of the experiences in Ireland and linking these to the struggle for national liberation of the Basque Country. The common thread was the need for the organised working class to take a lead in the struggle and link it to a socialist perspective.
Spain: After one year of the Zapatero government One year ago the Zapatero PSOE government came to power after a truly gigantic mobilisation of the masses. Apart from a few minor reforms the direction of this government has not changed in any fundamental way from that of the previous PP government. The workers and youth are watching and drawing lessons. Sooner or later this government will face the wrath of the Spanish workers. Editorial statement of El Militante, the journal of the Spanish Marxists.
XII National Congress of the Spanish Students' Union On November 12, 13 and 14, the XII National Congress of the Spanish Students’ Union took place in Madrid. There were 130 students present from all over the country. The Congress was extremely useful in strengthening the organization and there were lively debates which allowed the Union to ideologically arm themselves to face the events that will take place in the next period.
