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Belgian Trade union Federation Adopts Boycott Paul Lootens, Secrétaire Fédéral Centrale Générale FGTB, Algemene Centrale ABVV Decent work is impossible under military occupation On May 31st, the Israeli army attacked a convoy with 10, 000 ton of humanitarian aid on its way to the Gaza-strip. Among the unarmed campaigners, at least 10 people got killed and 30 people were wounded! The FGTB reacted with horror, regrets the deceased and wounded and demands the political responsibles of our country and the EU to express a strong condemnation, both in words and in concrete measures. The blockade of Gaza has demanded too many victims among the civil population and the action in international waters by Israël puts the peace process completely at risk. The rights of the Palestinian people to an independent state has been trampled for more than 60 years. The Palestinian population and specifically the workers are victim of discrimination by the state of Israël. They are exploited at work, their freedom of movement is obstructed and the labour-law is violated. The state of Israël applies a policy of Apartheid, similar to the politics that were used in South-Africa. Furthermore, there is the situation of the population in the Gaza-strip who still suffer form the Israëli offensive of December 2008, which has led to the death of more than 1, 450 people and the massive destruction of infrastructure. More than a year after the attack, Israël still prevents the reconstruction of Gaza in any way possible. In these circumstances, it is impossible to achieve an economical, political and social development. Building up a trade-union in an economy of survival is impossible. Considering this situation, the Congress calls the Belgian and European political leaders and leaders of the trade-unions to defend the following elements:
It also requests to go on with the policy of building solidarity with the PGFTU. The Congress requests the political responsibles to stop:
The FGTB has to commit itself during the Belgian presidency of the European Union from July 1st 2010 to December 31st 2010 to put pressure on the Belgian government to draft a European resolution that takes in account the above defined elements.
CommentIts encouraging how the power of the working class can blow off bureaucratic trappings that hide injustice in the name of balance, to sustain apartheid and colonial relations in Palestine. What is even more encouraging is the fact workers in the belly of the beats are rising up to demand action and no more double standards from their own leaders and their own governments. We have read with amazement how dockworkers from Sweden, Norway, Cochin (India) and US recently have shown the way. This is on top of the heroism of UCU, UNITE, UNISON, PCS, Firebrigades, etc in the UK who all have taken bold and courageous decisions to support practical steps towards solidarity with Palestine. This should be a relief from the ITUC “balancing act to protect and cushion Israel aggression and apartheid” with all sorts of intimidation against smaller unions by the big 4 who act in the interest of their ruling classes to defend Israel. Workers from these countries have proven that these are not speaking on their behalf. They support justice and decisive action against Israel. Just refer to the bold and courageous statement from the Congress of FGTB of Belgium. Its exactly what COSATU what was condemned for adding on the resolution, we have been vindicated and the truth has a tendency of forcing itself into the open at all times! Aluta! Bongani Masuku, International Relations Officer COSATU
Source: http://www.labournet.net/world//1007/belgium1.html   Related ArticlesAlso Of InterestPage URL: http://www.inminds.com/article.php?id=10459
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 [all videos (over 200)..] Featured MP3 Podcast  "[Deportation at the airport] We saw the injured [Turkish] men going through.. a lot had a leg cut out of their trousers or an arm cut out of their top. It had been cut out to treat their wounds.. they were covered in blood, blood that had been there for three days, and some of them had wounds that were still bleeding.. What upset me most was seeing the dozen men, one after another, hobbling across the terminal, with a bandaged foot. I couldn't ask them why so many of them had a bandaged foot, I couldn't ask them what had happened, because if they spoke or if any of us spoke to them the Israelis beat the injured person.. We later found out that they had these injuries on the tops of their feet from when the troops came down from the helicopter on the Mavi Marmara, and they came down firing - they had been shot from above. Some of the men that were killed were shot at close range - head and chest, but a dozen of the men who were shot, among 59 people who were shot, they were shot at the tops of their feet - the bullets were coming down.. They weren't given a wheelchair or a pair of crutches, and if any of the other passengers stood up and tried to offer [help].. that person was dragged away and smacked by these Israelis. The Israeli soldiers sat on the floor, laughed and sniggered and made every one of these Turkish men hobble and hop all the way across, some 200 metres, everyone of them, one by one, made to do that purely for the sick amusement of the Israeli soldiers." Survivor of the flotilla massacre speaks candidly of her experience Ratstar Centre London, 22 July 2010 [46min / 42Mb] [need flash]
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