Rally for justice for Miss Dhu

A crowd of 50-80 people rallied on the steps of the Western Australian Parliament house on Tuesday February 25 to demand justice for the family of Miss Dhu. Dhu was a 22 year old Aboriginal woman who died in Police custody on August 4 last year. She was imprisoned in Port Headland for non-payment of fines.

The protest - which was organised by the Deaths in Custody Watch Committee WA (DICWA) - demanded that the Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett honour his pledge made to the Dhu Family made at a previous rally in October. Barnett said that his government would do everything possible to reduce Aboriginal numbers in prison. He also promised a coronial inquest into her death. To this day, the Barnett government has not delivered on this pledge.

After chanting “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now”, the crowd was addressed by the grandmother of Miss Dhu, Aunty Caroll who said that her family and other families of people who have died in Police Custody need answers from the government. She also asked “We are considered the First Nations People, Where is the respect for the First Nation’s People?”

A petition calling on the Coronial Officer to open the inquest into Miss Dhu’s death, was presented to Green’s MLC Robin Chapple on behalf of her family to be tabled in Parliament. Chapple called upon the government to focus on Justice Re-investment and building communities as opposed to its draconian “Law and Order” agenda. This agenda leads to more Aboriginal people being locked up for offences such as unpaid fines, as happened to Dhu. He said that the Government’s “Law and Order” agenda fails to take into account that it is Aboriginal people who bear the brunt of these policies.

This point was backed up by Shadow minister for corrective services, Paul Papalia, who told the crowd that in ALP report it was found that one third of women in Western Australia’s prisons are there because they are unable to pay fines and two thirds of those were Aboriginal. He called on the government to stop locking up people for being unable to pay fines and find alternatives such as community service.

Indigenous activist Vanessa Colbung and the Uncle of Miss Dhu, Sean Harris, who have been campaigning on behalf of the Dhu family, also spoke. Harris called on the State to implement the reconditions made by the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

This article by Alex Salmon was written for Green Left Weekly #1044. Photos and videos from Deaths in Custody Watch Committee.

Cuba: The Revolution Continues? An Eye-Witness Report

"Better go see the place before everything changes."

On December 17 it was announced that diplomatic talks would begin between the US and Cuban governments aimed at 'normalising relations'.

Since then there has been renewed speculation regarding the future direction of the latter's 56 year long revolution; whether the end of the illegal US blockade against the island would lead to a re-establishment of a profit-driven, market-economy, or whether the changes will deepen the Cuban Revolution by freeing it from its current material and social limitations.

Join us for this forum to explore the reality of Cuba today, featuring eye-witness reports from Christie Woodleigh and Chris Jenkins, recently returned members of the 32nd Southern Cross Brigade to Cuba, organised by the Australia Cuba Friendship Society.

6:30pm, Thurs 26 Feb

The Hilton Community Centre
1/34 Paget Street, Hilton

Organised by Green Left Weekly

Murdoch forum: International guest speaker on Greece - Wed 18 March

Murdoch Uni forum - all welcome

Greece: capitalism in crisis & the people's alternative

Wed 18 Mar, 12:30pm

Venue: Amen 2.032
This is in the Amenities Building, which is near the Guild. Give us a call if you need help finding the location.

The European debt crisis has had a devastating impact on the people of Greece and across Southern Europe and Ireland. People have responded with protests, strikes and, on January 25, the election in Greece of a coalition government led by radical left coalition SYRIZA that is already beginning to reverse the vicious public sector cuts demanded by the European banks and political institutions.

What does the crisis tell us about the world capitalist economic system? What alternatives could there be?

Guest speaker: Dick Nichols is European Correspondent for Green Left Weekly who covered the Greek elections this year. He has been covering the development of radical parties in Europe since the financial crash of 2008.

March forth on March 4th

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has organised a national series of protests against the Abbott government for March 4.

In Perth, the rally will be:

12:30pm, Wed 4 March
Parliament House (Harvest Terrace, West Perth)

The Abbott government is under pressure but is still lashing out with ongoing attacks on education, new attacks on workers' rights and never ending gaffes.

The Socialist Alliance is encouraging all our members and supporters to take part in this rally. Join us on the day.


The National Union of Students have set up a Facebook event in support of this rally.

Murdoch Uni Introduction to Socialism

Resistance: Young Socialist Alliance is holding regular Introduction to Socialism discussions. The next one is at Murdoch Uni on Wednesday 25 Feb. (All interested in finding out more about Resistance and Socialist Alliance are welcome to attend.

We'll be meeting at the Resistance stall on Bush Court (Murdoch Uni) at 1pm.

The Murdoch Resistance club is campaigning strongly against the education cuts, deregulation and fees being pushed by the Abbott government (see the latest Green Left Weekly). That's why we're pushing for as many Murdoch students as possible to make it along to the National Day of Action on March 25.

We have a number of exciting events coming up including:

* March forth on March 4th
Join the Resistance/Socialist Alliance contingent at this union protest against the Abbott government
12 noon, Wed 4 March, Parliament House

* Murdoch forum on Education cuts, fee increases and deregulation
12:30pm, Wed 11 March, meet at Walters Cafe

* International guest speaker on Greece
Dick Nichols - European correspondent for Green Left Weekly - will be addressing inspiring developments in Greece since a left wing government was elected last month and has begun challenging austerity
"Capitalism in Crisis and the People's Alternative"
12:30pm, Wed 18 March, venue to be confirmed

It would be great if you're able to make it along to some or all of these events. We look forward to working with you on Murdoch Uni to make the world a better place.

Finally, please "like" our FaceBook page and check out some of the photos from today's stall. If you haven't yet joined Resistance: Young Socialist Alliance, there is still a special O-week discount that will be available until the clubs and societies day on March 5.

Justice for Reza Barati action

Well over 100 people attended the one year anniversary commemoration in Perth of the murder on Manus of Reza Barati. Plenty more who were attending the nearby Fringe festival events stopped to have a look.

The action was organised by Refugee Rights Action Network and featured former G4S whistle blower Steve Kilburn who was an eyewitness to Barati's murder.

Other speakers included Sarah Ross from RRAN, Dave Fox from the AMWU and Sophie from Students for Refugees.

Speech by Steve Kilburn


Photos by Zeb Parkes



Photos by Alex Bainbridge


More photos by Zeb Parkes here.

Reza Barati: One year on from the Murder on Manus and lives still at risk - Protest Fri 20 Feb

ONE YEAR ON AND LIVES STILL AT RISK.
WHO WILL BE MURDERED ON MANUS NEXT?

Please join us in calling for an end to mandatory detention and offshore processing.

Friday 20 Feb

7pm Perth Cultural Centre

It's been one year since the brutal murder of #RezaBarati on Manus Island; there is still no justice and the lives of the men on Manus are at greater risk than ever before.

First Reza, then Hamid, WHO WILL BE NEXT?

The only way to guarantee the safety of those who came here with the express purpose of seeking our protection is to #ShutDownManus and #CloseNauru. Each day delayed puts more lives at risk.

Men have been abused, beaten and tortured.

They have been denied drinking water and medical treatment.

They have received death threats.

They have been subject to appalling and unhygienic living conditions .

They have been denied freedom, dignity and hope.

Show our brothers on Manus that we will support them and their struggle for justice and freedom. Show them that we believe they should be treated as human beings with names not numbers. Show our government that we will not stop defending the rights of those who they demonise and scapegoat for political gain.

Seeking asylum is a fundamental human right: how many more lives will be lost before our government stops indefinitely detaining innocent people without charge or trial?

Public forum: The Greek elections, SYRIZA and the fight against austerity in Europe - Thurs 19 March

After five years of brutal austerity polices that have decimated Greece socially and economically, the radical leftist party SYRIZA swept to power on January 25. SYRIZA promises to change Greece and spark an anti-austerity fightback across Europe. Can a government led by the radical left mobilise the active support of working people and social movements, and defeat the determined opposition of Greek and European elites?

Guest speaker:
Dick Nichols
Dick Nichols is a European correspondent for Green Left Weekly who covered the Greek elections this year. He has been covering the development of radical parties in Europe since the financial crash of 2008.

6 for 6:30pm
THURS 19 March

Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Recommended donation: $6/$4

Ph 9218 9608, 0413 976 638

Attend on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/732243400216919

Photos from rally against the shark cull

Photo by Carly Sheree (via FaceBook)

Perth participated in a national day of action against shark culling on February 8.

Photo by EnviroBren (via Facebook)

Photos from protest against Roe 8

Photos from the February 4 protest against the Roe 8 development as part of Perth Freight Link. The protest took place outside a meeting of businesses being briefed about tender opportunities.

Film screening: Who is Saving Whom? - Fri 13 Feb

Film screening - all welcome

A film about the bailout of the banks at the cost to ordinary people and democracy.

6 for 6:30pm
Fri 13 February

Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Ph 9218 9608, 0417 319 662

Taxpayers are financing private wealth
They say Greece received 240 billion € in aid. But only the private banks, insurance companies and investment corporations were bailed out. They held nearly all Greek government bonds in 2009. In 2012 - three years later - this debt has nearly entirely been transferred to European taxpayers! Public debt has been increased by about 300 billion € because of this. As a result, many rich Greeks are even richer and all losses have been diverted away from hedge funds, banks, and rich private investors. Multi-billion "aid" from taxpayers have been converted into private wealth. The German neo-liberal economist Hans-Werner Sinn calculated that continuing the bailout policies would certainly be in the interest of large financial institutions and the 5% of the richest individuals of the world. But even the citizens of the economically strongest countries will have to worry about their old-age pension schemes. But the main concern is that the "the markets recover".

The power of the "markets"
They keep telling us that the markets are upset, the markets are disappointed. The financial markets seem to be some kind of special creature that has to be kept in a good mood. Three rating agencies are dominating European parliaments. They are owned by government bond traders, the largest investment banks and the private equity corporations of the world. If they show the thumbs down sign, states start to tremble.

Many people anticipate that something is going seriously wrong. They feel helpless because they do not understand the billion Euro game. But democracy will only stand a chance against the power of the financial markets if citizens start to recognise their interests in the "billion Euro game", to understand the main structures and mechanisms of financial capital. "Who Is Saving Whom" will be a means to achieve this aim.