News from around the world

The Awami Workers’ Party (AWP) expresses deep concerns over recent news reports about the Interior Ministry’s intentions to extend for another two-year period an amendment made to the Anti-Terrorism Act allowing preventive detention of up to three-months of those charged under the ATA,” AWP general secretary Farooq Tariq said.

Left Bloc’s 10th National Convention approved political motion A, “The strength of hope, Left Bloc aiming for a majority”, and elected a new national leadership, with 64 people from motion A, 7 from motion B and 9 from motion R. Catarina Martins was elected coordinator of Left Bloc.

We invite the international community and the Puerto Rican diaspora to join us in struggle and solidarity with Puerto Rico’s present situation.

The protest movement against the proposed labour law (known by the name of the labour minister El Khomri) has been underway since 9 March of this year. The SP government is trying hard to snuff it out. Last week the Paris demonstration called by the coordinating committee of 9 trade-union confederations, federations, and unions (the Intersyndical) was first banned and then allowed to demonstrate around the pleasure port le bassin de l’Arsenal at the Place de la Bastille. On 28 June a demonstration was authorised over a sightly longer itinerary, from Place de la Bastille to Place d’Italie. The NPA issued this statement during the afternoon.

The Convoy to Calais, on Saturday 18 June 2016, was refused entry into France. Over 250 vehicles carrying many tonnes of much needed aid for refugees in the ’Jungle Camp’ were turned away at the border by the French authorities.

This statement was made by the People’s Assembly (anti-austerity movement in Britain) at 4.15 pm (British time) on Saurday 18 June. That morning a convoy of 250 vehicles had left London carrying aid for the refugees in camps around Calais, France.

This statement by the British-based group “LGBT+ Against Islamophobia” was issued after the Orlando attacks. It is on their Facebook page.

Ken Loach sent a message to striking workers blockading the oil refinery in Le Havre. The video below the text of Ken Loach’s greeting shows the response when those messages were read to a mass meeting of workers.

The Awami Workers Party condemns the attack on Alisha, a transgender activist from Trans Action Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Peshawar on Sunday May 22, which left her fighting for her life. (Tragically Alisha died on Wednesday May 25. There are also allegations that she did not receive good medical treatment initaily because of her trans status See LA Times Ed.)

On May 20 Anjuman Muzareen Punjab led out a women’s rally from AWP Lahore office against state continued oppression, for land reforms and release of their leaders.