Features

Today we have learned of the penalties imposed against Catalan pro-independence political prisoners. After two years in prison, Jordi Cuixart, Carme Forcadell, Dolors Bassa, Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Sànchez, Joaquim Forn, Raül Romeva, Jordi Turull and Josep Rull have been sentenced to various terms of between 9 and 13 years for sedition and misuse of public funds.

The international crisis has meant the ruling classes have unloaded the costs of the neo-liberal economic measures onto the backs of workers throughout the world. In a region which is again living through turbulent times, as we see with the people’s upsurge in Ecuador or the political crisis in Peru, the shift to the right in Latin America is real but also unstable. The axis of the authoritarian and ultra-liberal offensive internationally is the Trump administration but a key regional outpost of it can be seen in the semi-fascist Bolsonaro government. This is the context of the upcoming Argentinian elections.

After a dozen of hearings in Kharqhamar check post attack case on 18 September Peshawar High Court’s Bannu bench accepted the bail pleas of MNA’s, Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar [see The News article below]. The MNAs have been asked to provide surety bonds worth Rs1 million each. They have been asked to report to police once a month. “The judge gave a verbal order and we are waiting for the written one,” said Latif Afridi, the lawyer representing the MNAs.

A human chain and rally was organized calling upon to stop attack, repression and massacre on the people of Kashmir by Indian army.

The body of 24-year-old Steve has been identified. The young man died, drowned in the Loire River after a police charge on the evening of the Fête de la Musique in Nantes. Our thoughts are obviously with his family, his loved ones, and all those who almost lost their lives that night.