Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority rejected pressure by Washington to renegotiate a withdrawal of Israeli troops from less than 13 percent of the West Bank.

Taxi drivers strike in Uganda
Many businesses in Uganda ground to a halt July 13 as taxi drivers went on a national strike to protest the Traffic and Road Safety Act. The new law requires cab drivers to pay up to $300,000 or spend three years in jail if they are found guilty of causing an injury or death. Strikers set up road blocks, keeping other forms of transportation from functioning.

The next day the government ordered cab drivers back to work, but they refused. Transport minister John Nasasira said, "[The] government will ensure the rule of law and all those taxi operators who want to carry out their normal business will be protected." He said the drivers' strike was illegal. Strikers warned that government interferences in the labor dispute would be treated as strike breaking. Some of the taxi drivers officials have called on strikers go back to work while they negotiate a deal.

Kenyan teachers threaten strike
The 260,000-strong Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has threatened to strike nationwide July 15 if the government there does not implement the rest of a pay raise won through an 11-day strike last year. The Kenyan government claims it is unable to meet the agreement to increase teachers' pay between 150 and 200 percent over a five-year period. The teachers' pay is currently as low as $45 per month. Inflation ran about 11 percent last year, and is rising. Education minister Kalonzo Musyoka urged KNUT members to "be cool minded and engage in reason to resettle" the agreement. In addition to trying to renege on the pay raise, Finance Minister Simeon Nyachae announced that the government plans to lay off 66,000 teachers over the next three years, in the name of balancing the budget.

Death of opposition leader sparks protests in Nigeria
Rebellions broke out in Nigeria July 7 following the death of Moshood Abiola. Some 60 protesters were killed during the outbreak, as cops clamped down on the unorganized actions and implemented a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Abiola was a popular bourgeois politician who was jailed in 1994 by the late dictator Sani Abacha after running a presidential campaign in 1993 that seemed on the verge of winning. The army cancelled that election. After Abacha's death, military general Abdulsalam Abubakar stepped into power. He released dozens of political prisoners, claiming he would bring democratic elections to Africa's most populous country. Abiola, who was negotiating to be released when he died suddenly, had agreed to relinguish his claim to the presidency. The official cause of death was cardiac arrest. Elections have been pushed back to next year at the earliest.

While economists boast that the inflation rate in oil- rich Nigeria dropped 29 percent last year, unemployment is as high as 50 percent. Toilers' annual per capita income has also fallen to about $250; and basic necessities like electricity and phone service are sparse at best.

Madrid shuts Basque media
The Spanish government deployed 350 cops who occupied the headquarters of the Basque radio station EGIN IRRATIA and EGIN newspaper, located in Gipuzkoa province. EGIN's offices in three others cities were also shut and equipment was confiscated. Workers were not permitted to enter. Police also arrested 11 of the administrative councilors of the news outlets on charges of "helping the ETA" [Basque Homeland and Freedom], an armed organization fighting for Basque independence. The news media published and televised excerpts of communiques by and interviews with ETA leaders, which had also been published in the Spanish press.

Supporters of the struggle for Basque self-determination and against the repressive acts of the Spanish government can send protest letters to: Embassy of Spain, 2735 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, or call (202) 452 - 0100. Fax: (202) 833-5670.

Unemployment increases in Chile
A report issued by Chilean labor minister Jorge Arrate predicted the jobless rate would rise to 7 percent by the year's end. Economy minister Alvero García put the figure at closer to 6.1 percent. According to government officials the growth in unemployment is concentrated in export- oriented industries like fishing and forestry. Government statistics place unemployment among youth - ages 15-19 - at 18.8 percent.

Judge orders: electrify defendant
Ronnie Hawkins, who chose to represent himself June 30 in a Los Angeles petty-theft trial, is suing after being shocked for eight seconds with 50,000 volts of electricity for speaking out of turn, on orders from presiding judge Joan Comparet-Cassani. Hawkins is one of 22,000 pretrial defendants made to wear stun belts into the courtroom, supposedly to restrain "violent defendants" or "escape risks." Attorney Stephen Yagman is seeking a class-action suit for those who had to wear the belts.

Under California's "three strikes" law, Hawkins faces 25 years to life in prison for allegedly stealing $200 worth of aspirin.

Klanner admits to killing Blacks
Ku Klux Klan (KKK) member Joshua England on July 13 pled guilty of drive-by shooting three teenagers outside a nightclub is South Carolina in October 1996 because they were Black. He says he was aided by Clayton Spires Jr., who he drove around town with that evening, shortly after attending a Confederate flag rally. England, who faces up to 25 years in prison, explained his animosity towards Blacks was "pumped and pumped and pumped" into him during his two years as a member of the Klan. Grand dragon of the South Carolina Knights of the KKK made statements to try to publicly distance himself from the racist assault.

In other news, Klanners Gary Cox and Timothy Welch - imprisoned for setting fire to Black churches in 1995 - just received five- and six-year sentence reductions for allegedly collaborating with cops by giving information on burglary and gun trafficking.

-BRIAN TAYLOR  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home