However, it also exposed those who talk the talk but do not have any interest in actually making a stand. The current chief minister of Tamil Nadu and her party AIADMK and the other main right-wing party DMK paid no attention to this event despite their rhetoric of defending ‘Tamil Eelam’. These parties have been using the ‘Eelam issue’ to get their ‘Dravidian’ credentials back among voters. This explains the increased rhetoric and pretence of defending Eelam. But in reality they are not prepared to do anything in the interest of poor Tamils in Tamil Nadu – let alone defending the plight of Eelam Tamils. With the exception of Vaiko (MDMK) and Ram Vilas Paswan, the president of Lok Janshakthi Party from the state of Bihar who attended the event, none of the leading political figures who use the Eelam issue for their election purposes took part in the remembrance.

This remembrance was organised by the May 17 movement along with various other groups. Members and supporters of the New Socialist Alternative (CWI-India) and Tamil Solidarity also took part. The May 17 movement was formed by young people after the so-called end of the war in 2009 May 17. This movement is now established as a key movement in Tamil Nadu which campaigns for the rights of Tamil-speaking people in Eelam and Tamil Nadu and attracts a number of young people.

The New Socialist Alternative and Tamil Solidarity have been in discussion with this movement in terms of how best to take the struggle forward. Tamil Solidarity’s participation was warmly welcomed by the activists. Jagadish G Chandra (New Socialist Alternative CWI-India) travelled from Bangalore to participate as requested by the May 17 movement. The leaflet brought out by the New Socialist Alternative was distributed and appeared to strike a chord with those who attended because it put forward a strategy for struggle by ordinary working and young people. Many young people are keen to get involved and to join Tamil Solidarity. The event showed the benefit of jointhttp://www.socialism.in/wp-admin/ activity and campaigning and Tamil Solidarity looks forward to further work with May 17 and other serious campaigns.

T U Senan

Chennai

Seek Justice- By All Means Necessary!

It is exactly three years ago, the absolute horror spectacle of the genocidal war, killing tens of thousands of innocent and defence less Tamils was unleashed in the northern parts of Sri Lanka. This demonic war conducted by the Sinhala chauvinist, Buddhist communal regime of Sri Lanka led by Mahinda Rajapakse Inc. was covertly and overtly supported and executed by the ruling regimes of India, China, Japan, Pakistan, Israel, UK and above all the Imperialist USA.

While the communal regime in Sri Lanka is trying to paint a picture of normalcy to the out side world with all the fanfare and the façade of being a elected democracy. But the recent events of UNHRC resolution, Channel 4 exposés have opened a Pandora’s box highlighting the stinking nature of the regime and the war machine there.

Build the Mass Struggle

Above all even the resolution at the UNHRC is a product of the relentless mass pressure that has been built around the world indicting the Mahinda Rajapake’s regime of heinous war crimes. The forces such as the Tamil Solidarity campaign & May 17th Movement and others have been earnestly building mass democratic pressure both with in India and abroad amongst the Tamil diaspora.

It is no doubt that the set back caused by the military defeat of the rebellion has had an enormous disarray among those all who genuinely favoured the Home Land i.e. the Ealam for the island’s Tamils in the North and East of Sri Lanka. But the despair is fast disappearing, and a new awakening among the ordinary Tamil masses is on the rise in relation to all the day to day issues of the People in general and Tamil populace in particular.

Class Unity is the Key

The extraordinary class unity that has been witnessed in the mass opposition to the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant, shows the power of the mass democratic struggles that can be built. A time has come to understand that movements of sectional character, however militant may be, are an easy prey to the machinations of the ruling classes, a glimpse of which we saw in the provocateur act of the Congress through Mullaiperiyar Dam issue.

Nothing less than a mass democratic pressure built on an international scale led by the working people of all nationalities can bring justice to our Tamil brethren in Sri Lanka. The New Socialist Alternative (CWI-India) and the forces of Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) in over 45 countries have been in the forefront of such efforts. United Socialist Party (CWI- Sri Lanka) has a heroic record of defending Tamils and fighting unequivocally for the Right of Self Determination of Tamils including secession, while totally defending the democratic rights of all the minorities.

From the days of the brutal genocidal war, the forces of CWI are on an relentless efforts to bring justice to the oppressed Tamils in Sri Lanka through their campaigning efforts. New Socialist Alternative & CWI are in total solidarity with the International campaign; Tamil Solidarity to seek justice for the Tamils.

End the oppressive system of Capitalism

Seeking justice to the brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka is no longer an issue which is isolated and far removed from the struggles of immediate concern, be it Kudankulam, atrocities on Daliths and Adivasis or land and livelihood issues. All these issues point us in the direction of the task of replacing the oppressive Capitalist system.

The New Socialist Alternative(CWI-India) fully stands by the struggle of the Tamil people and demands:

An independent war crimes investigation Withdraw the troops! No to detention camps! Stop Arming Sri Lankan regime! Democratic rights for all! Support independent trade unions! Defend the right to self-determination! Support the struggle of all oppressed nationalities Better condition for Tamil refugees Remove private interests and corruption End the caste grip End the onslaught against the environment. Land to the landless.

Please click on the images below to download the PDF version of the leaflet in English and Tamil brought out by the New Socialist Alternative (CWI-India).

The production rates from the rural areas have collapsed with the power crisis, making livelihood difficult for the micro, small and medium enterprises. Students have also been hit especially in this season of exams. As small commercial establishments are running into losses, the entire state seems to be on the verge of a crisis.

This opportunistic government, however, as usual has been using this power crisis in playing one of its dirty political games. Whether the power shortage is real or one that has been deliberately created by the government itself has also been questioned (given the fact that Tamil nadu is relatively a power surplus state). But what is definitely clear is that the government has used this as an excuse in sowing the illusion that the highly dangerous Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) will come to the rescue and thus putting the lives of thousands at risk. The government, backed by eminent figures like former President Abdul Kalam, have been indoctrinating the masses with this persistent misinformation. But the truth, however, is that KKNPP will not solve the present power crisis and a few reasons for this includes:

* Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant cannot produce electric energy soon after its commissioning.

(Courtesy: http://dianuke.org )

Thus, the 10 % from the total shortfall can be achieved from KKNPP by overlooking the extreme inefficiencies of the entire project. These are some of the facts that the politically driven Tamil Nadu media and the mainstream corporate controlled media in India have neglected (or more correctly, deliberately withheld) to disclose to the public.

The state government of Tamil Nadu recently opened up opportunities to set up manufacturing units for MNCs like Ford, Hyundai and Nokia, although a problem of power shortfall is on the rise. While the governments has opened the gates for capital investments, where all the power for such energy intensive industries is going to come from is anyone’s guess. The luxuries of the urban world such as air conditioned malls, corporate houses and other such wasteful commercial enterprises have been a broad day light burglary of electric power from the ordinary people.

The much celebrated IPL (Indian Premier League) is yet another example of power wastage. With the state in deep agony of power shortage, flood lit matches have been consuming thousands of kilowatts of electricity every time a match is played. Where is the massive power supply to this coming from? This is the power that is being taken away from the students preparing for examinations, from the working people dependent on power supply to earn their daily bread and the people living in rural areas who are all suffering because of this. As an entertainer, IPL, is goaded as a success for the capitalist class. But in reality, it is highly insensitive on the part of both the government or the IPL promoters to even hold the game in Tamil Nadu in such a situation.

With the summer getting hotter day by day, the government has deliberately not taken any steps in tackling this crisis and refuses to come clean on the real state of affairs. While the power deprived people of the state are burning in fury, the situation is only being used as an opportunity by the government, both at the centre and the state, to rake up false claims in order to meet its ends.

Madhusudan S

Chennai

Director : Balaji Shaktivel

Though India is the largest producer of films, only a few films really reflect its reality. In the midst of a highly commercialized industry, Balaji Shaktivel’s Tamil film Vazhakku En 18/9 is an exception in many ways.

Vazhakku En 18/9 is the movie about four youngsters from different backgrounds whose lives lie devastated by certain incidents. The movie starts with an investigation of a case by a police officer. Narrated with two different viewpoints of the case, the film helps us understand the contradictory nature of today’s society. A spendthrift rich man’s son, a poor platform worker, an upper middle class girl craving for the latest gadgets, an honest servant maid who helps find a lost ring; a talented street play artist without opportunities, a poor sex worker helping a person find a job while high-class sex workers helping in closing illegal deals; these are some of the contradicting characters in the film.

As the story moves on, the film tells us about how unethical use of modern technology have, for example, made women’s privacies vulnerable. The movie also highlights about the problems due to high interest rate in the micro finance industry and the plight of child laborers in the savories industry in North India. The movie helps us to understand how the nexus between law enforcement agencies and businessmen can affect the lives of many ordinary working people. The climax of the film is whether ordinary working people can stand up against powerful interests and is it possible for them to get any justice at all.

Unlike other commercial cinemas, all actors in this movie were new comers, with an exceptional performance by the street play artist – Chinnaswamy . The cinematography by Vijay Milton was another feat, as the entire movie was shot using a Canon EOS 7D digital still camera, but yet making it all appear very natural and real. Oscar award-winning documentary film “Smile Pinki” composer fame R Prasanna scored music for the movie.

This movie is definitely not the type of usual unimaginative commercial films which hit screens regularly. And at the same time, it is not an art type cinema genre with a limited audience appeal. In a sense, it is balance of both without losing its social message nor its appeal to the younger generation of cinema goers.

Pasumpon V N

Chennai

Editors
http://socialism.in

I am running against the Democratic Speaker of the House, Frank Chopp, for the state House of Representatives in the 43rd District in Seattle to build a stronger movement that fights for the needs of regular working people and the poor. The Democratic and Republican Parties represent the interests of the 1%, and I believe it is essential that we, the 99%, have our own representation.

Since the Great Recession broke out in 2008, the Washington State legislature has cut $10.5 billion from essential services such as education, health care, and human services, as well as cutting benefits and jobs for state employees (www.ofm.wa.gov/budget12/highlights/4_2011-13Budget.pdf).

The state Basic Health program has been decimated with $1.7 billion in funding slashed, cutting 60,000 off its rolls. Other cuts include $2.7 billion in K-12 education; $1.7 billion in state and K-12 employee compensation; $1.3 billion in higher education; $551 million for disability, long-term health care, and mental health; and $730 million in other human services. Referring to the 2011 budget, Adam Glickman, vice-president of SEIU Healthcare 775NW, stated to reporters that the politicians “should be ashamed of themselves,” (WA State Budget and Policy Center).

These brutal cuts have been implemented at a time of historic economic crisis when working people and the poor need these services more than ever.

As a teacher of economics at Seattle Central Community College and an activist in the American Federation of Teachers Local 1789, I know all too well that public education has been savaged. Initiatives to fund smaller class sizes and cost-of-living raises for teachers have been canceled, and huge tuition increases have been pushed through. With the legislature passing devastating cuts to financial aid and other programs, it’s more and more difficult every year for ordinary people to afford to go to college.

These cuts were enacted at the same time that Washington-backed corporations enjoyed massive profits, assisted by bailouts and subsides paid for by working and middle-class taxpayers.

Washington State is home to some of the nation’s wealthiest corporations, including Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks. Over the last three decades they have extracted over 500 tax exemptions for big business from the state legislature. These total an astonishing $6.5 billion a year in lost revenue – enough to reverse all the cuts and improve our state services (Washington State Budget & Policy Center, 12/9/2010).

The same political parties who today say there is no money for vital social services granted Boeing a $3.2 billion handout in the last recession, while simultaneously making it harder for seasonal workers to claim unemployment benefits. In 2011 the state legislature completely ignored the will of the voters who rejected Washington ballot initiative 1082 and went ahead and reduced the amount corporations have to pay to compensate workers injured on the job.

My opponent, Democrat Frank Chopp, will try to blame Republicans for this program of subsidies for wealthy corporations and cuts for the rest of us. However, this argument doesn’t hold water. The Democratic Party has held the governorship and a majority in both the state House and Senate during this entire period.

In fact, as Democratic Speaker of the House since 2002, Chopp has been the most powerful member of the Washington State House. Yet he has used his position to consistently oversee legislation that benefited the richest 1% at the expense of the 99%.

Chopp, like Democratic Party politicians across the country, has adopted the viewpoint that business interests must be safeguarded and that cuts in public services are the only realistic response to budget deficits. I believe it is absolutely necessary that we challenge that fallacy and fight against the self-serving corporate agenda it represents.

If elected, I will publicly and relentlessly expose the corrupt big-business policies of the state government, and instead provide a political voice for workers, youth, the poor, and all those oppressed by capitalism such as women, people of color, and LGBT people.

As an activist in the Occupy Wall Street movement, I have seen how people are ready to fight Corporate America’s domination of our society and stand up to Wall Street’s two political parties.

The struggles of Occupy succeeded in shifting the national political agenda in a matter of just a few months. This shows the potential power that ordinary working people and youth have when we begin to get organized and struggle together for our common interests. History shows we have the power to change society through building mass movements that are prepared to engage in a determined struggle.

This election campaign will be a platform to build support for all grassroots movements of the 99% and to appeal to workers and young people to join these campaigns. But we cannot win our goals only through struggles in the streets. We also need to expose and challenge the corporate agenda in every possible arena, including the elections.

For example, Occupy struggles have faced a brutal response from the city and state police and security forces. This was ordered by elected politicians who should be providing security to our citizens as opposed to doing the dirty work for the 1%. I will demand a full investigation into how our state and local government ordered these actions, and push for legislation that bars security forces from attacking social struggles, whether by Occupy, labor, community activists or those defending their homes from foreclosure.

We also need to not only protest inequality and say what we are against; we need to say what we are for, by putting forward a clear alternative to the corporate-dominated political and economic system. Capitalism has clearly failed the 99%. The interests of workers and young people cannot be served within the framework of this rotting system.

As socialists, we believe another world is possible – and necessary – a world based on the needs of humanity and the environment. Please support our campaign and join the struggle for democratic socialism!

What We Stand For:

# We need massive state and federal jobs programs to provide a living wage job for everyone who is looking for work, rebuild our economy with green technology, and expand public transit, education, health care, and affordable housing. Create a publicly owned state bank to invest in jobs in Washington.

# Take bankrupt and failing companies into public ownership and run them under the democratic management of elected representatives of the workers and the broader public. Compensation to be paid on the basis of proven need to small investors, not millionaires.

Kshama Sawant