Hypocrites on the March

Global Peace&Justice Auckland and the Wellington Palestine Group organised rallies yesterday against the Israeli bombing of Gaza.





Where were these people when Hamas was firing rockets from Gaza into Israel?

Were they all out Christmas shopping?

Surprise, Surprise

Every country has its traitors.

From the Communist Party USA's People's Weekly World

The Communist Party of Israel and Hadash (the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) condemned the deadly Dec. 27 attack by the Israeli Air Force on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the killing of over 200 Palestinians.

In a statement issued the day of the massive airstrikes, the CPI called on communist and workers parties and social movements throughout the world to mobilize against what it termed “these Israeli war crimes” and called on the international community to “implement sanctions against Israel and indict Tzipi Livni, Ehud Barak and other Israeli political and military leadership for these blatant war crimes, committed as part of Israel's election process.”

The CPI said the attack on Gaza is part of the Israeli government’s ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip. “Israel is exploiting the last moments of the Bush administration to implement the deadly but ineffective imperialist policy of utilizing military force to effect political change,” the statement said.

It noted that demonstrations against the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip were planned for Israel’s major cities, with demonstrations to be held that night in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Nazareth. The day before, hundreds of demonstrators attended a rally in central Tel Aviv to protest the expected Israeli military operation in response to Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza. The rally was organized by the Coalition against the Gaza Siege and Hadash.

"I suggest that we go the other direction," said Hadash Knesset Member Dov Khenin, a leading member of the Communist Party of Israel. Israel’s power, he said, “is our tragedy. One powerful blow will not bring the end. [Hamas] will respond with rockets and eventually we'll embark on an all-out war. Going in the other direction means reinforcing the lull, securing a ceasefire, and lifting the siege that only serves to unite the population around Hamas.”

A genuine peace process has to engage the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, he said. “What's tragic here is that it's possible. We just need the desire.”

Communists "Worked Diligently" To Elect Obama

How's this for an admission?

From the Communist party USA's latest Peoples Weekly World

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — There was much to celebrate at the 89th anniversary of the Communist Party USA here Dec. 7. The party and its allies, unionists and friends joined together this year to work diligently to help elect our first African American president, Barack Obama. Folks pounded the pavement in Bridgeport, Conn., to defeat the last standing congressional Republican, Chris Shays. His replacement, newly elected Jim Himes, is vowing to take the people’s agenda forward.

The event was filled with the spirit of the movement in our country that says America can get back on the right track...

Now that the election is over and people prepare for a historic inauguration, the celebration reminded us that we must keep the unity that we had in 2008 and work to advance the people’s agenda with the new White House. The ball is in our court.

The Communist Party does not do things for fun.

They seriously plan to collect what Obama owes them-their "people's agenda".

Obama File 59 Top Socialist's Memo to Obama

Obama file 58 here

Barack Obama owes his new job largely to two organisations-Communist Party USA (CPUSA) and the allied and much larger Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

These two organisations share similar agendas. Both aim for a socialised and much weakened America-brought about through slashed military expenditure, socialised medicine, a massive increase in union power and large scale re-distribution of wealth.

Both organisations see the Obama administration as an opportunity to move the US way to the left, through what I describe as the "sandwich strategy".

The plan is to stack Obama's administration with as many sympathisers and socialists as possible-one slice of bread. Then create a massive "peoples movement" of protest groups, mass organisations and "community groups"-the other slice of bread-to pressure Obama into moving in the desired direction.

Obama will then be able to implement socialist measures in response to "public demand."

The US taxpaying middle class will of course be the meat in the middle.


Joseph Schwartz

For their January-February issue, Tikkun Magazine asked a number of "liberal and leftist academics and activists" to draft a "Memo to President Obama". DSA's Labour movement blog Talking Union has pre-published a memo drafted by Temple University politics lecturer and Democratic Socialists of America Vice-Chair Joseph Schwartz.

Tikkun, incidentally is run by former Students for a Democratic Society radical and one time DSA member Rabbi Michael Lerner and DSA honorary chair and member of Obama's Black Advisory Council, Cornel West.


Cornel West left, Rabbi Michael Lerner centre

Joseph Schwartz and Obama go way back.

According to Chicago DSA's New Ground of March/April 1996

Over three hundred people attended the first of two Town Meetings on Economic Insecurity on February 25 in Ida Noyes Hall at the University of Chicago. Entitled "Employment and Survival in Urban America", the meeting was sponsored by the UofC DSA Youth Section, Chicago DSA and University Democrats. The panelists were Toni Preckwinkle, Alderman of Chicago's 4th Ward; Barack Obama, candidate for the 13th Illinois Senate District; Professor William Julius Wilson, Center for the Study of Urban Inequality at the University of Chicago; Professor Michael Dawson, University of Chicago; and Professor Joseph Schwartz, Temple University and a member of DSA's National Political Committee.

So what advice does comrade Schwartz have for the president elect?

Some extracts, with commentary and interpretation from New Zeal.

Schwartz The impressive depth and breadth of your electoral victory, combined with Democratic gains in both the House and the Senate, provides the possibility of reversing three decades of growing inequality that is the primary cause of an impending depression. But to do so you will have to act boldly and quickly. As a constitutional law scholar, you realize that the system of checks and balances and separation of powers established by our founders consciously aimed to forestall rapid change. Thus, almost all the reforms we identify with the twentieth-century Democratic Party—Social Security, the National Labor Relations Act, the Civil Rights Acts, and Medicare—occurred in the periods 1935-1938 and 1964-1966, the only times when the Democrats controlled the presidency and had strong majorities in both chambers of Congress.

New Zeal In other words Schwartz is advising Obama to "blitzkreig" the system, so that constitutional checks and balances can be quickly over-ridden or by-passed. There is a rare window of opportunity here to create significant socialist change.

Schwartz If upon taking office you lead with boldness, your administration could pass major legislation in regard to universal health care, massive investment in green technology, and labor law reform that would transform United States social relations for generations to come. But as a former community organizer you know that such reforms did not come from the top down; they arose because moderate elites made concessions to the movements of the unemployed and the CIO in the 1930s and to the Civil Rights, anti-war, women’s, and welfare rights movements of the 1960s. While your office cannot conjure up mass social movements, you can call your supporters to ongoing grassroots activism.

New Zeal Schwartz is referring here to the communist led union/mass movements of the 1930s which pushed Roosevelt into the "New Deal" and the communist/New Left led movements of the 1960s which brought about Lyndon Johnson's "New Society". DSA sees the next few years as the next "New Deal" Schwartz wants Obama to be guided by (and no doubt to finance) this movement.

Obama's encouragement of the recent CPUSA/DSA supported Republic strike in Chicago is perhaps an indicator of things to come.

Schwartz Even before taking office, you confront the most serious breakdown in the global economy since the Great Depression. Hopefully well before you take office, you and your Treasury Secretary nominee will push the lame-duck Congress to pass a massive stimulus package of at least $500 billion or $600 billion...

The stimulus package should include major government funding of job training in the inner cities (in green technologies, for example) and of opportunities for both GIs and displaced workers to return to university as full-time students (and for women on TANF to fulfill their “workfare” requirements through secondary and higher education pursuits). While affluent suburbs provide their residents superb public education and public services, federal cutbacks in aid to states and municipalities has worsened the life opportunities of inner city residents.

Your election as the first African American president is of inestimable symbolic import; but its promise will be soured if your administration does nothing to address inner city poverty and the massive rise in the incarceration of young youth of color. Only federal funding of pre-K education and of after-school programs for vulnerable youth can begin to redress rampant educational inequalities.

New Zeal Re-distribute the wealth-especially to the areas where socialists are most influential. Fund government programs that socialists will control. The communists of the 1930s infiltrated and lived off Roosevelt's myriad make-work schemes. The socialists of the new century aim to do the same. Re-distribute the wealth-especially to socialists.

Schwartz The inefficient and inequitable United States health care system cries out for replacement by a universal and cost-efficient alternative... While the power of the insurance lobby may preclude your backing a national single-payer bill, you must back progressive Democratic amendments for opt-out provisions from your “pay or play” system of private insurance. Such opt-outs would allow states to create their own single-payer systems, and allow Medicare or the federal employees health plan to market to employers as a lower-cost alternative to private group plans.

New Zeal Single payer or socialised medicine is at the top of the DSA/CPUSA agenda. The socialists see socialised medicine as a way of making the US middle class dependent on the state-particularly the Democratic Party "state".

Chicago physician Quentin Young, a DSA member and personal friend of Obama's has been pushing this for years through his Physicians for a National Health Program.


Young and Obama at Young's 80th birthday celebrations in 2003

Strong Obama ally Congressman John Conyers (Democrat, Mi), an alleged DSA member with life long ties to CPUSA has been pushing his HR676 health proposal in Congress and through the union movement.








Conyers right



Conyers wrote on his blog 28.12.08 Already nearly 9,000 people have sent the message online to the incoming Obama Administration that single payer is the one true health care reform that the country desperately needs. Now there are citizens groups across the country meeting to come together to collectively call upon the President-elect to consider single payer health care.

Schwartz But how to pay for all this? You should attempt to reverse not only the Bush tax cuts, but also the Reagan-era cuts in marginal rates on high-income earners (approximately $300 billion in revenues, each). In addition, abolishing the 15 percent tax rate on hedge fund and private equity managers’ earnings could garner another $100 billion in annual revenues.

New Zeal Taxes, taxes and more taxes-the socialists answer to every problem..

Schwartz Ending the war in Iraq should save $100 billion per annum; a one-third cutback in United States military bases abroad and an end to Cold War era plans to build a next generation of fighters and an anti-ballistic missile defense could save $216 billion in federal revenue per year.

The military budget is hideously oversized for a nation that claims armaments are necessary for defense, and not defense of empire.

New Zeal Time to give Russia, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Al Qaida their turn on top.

Shwartz When the Ponzi scheme of “securitized mortgages” collapsed with the end of the irrational run-up in housing prices, the federal government had to bail out Bear Stearns, then Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and then AIG. American capitalism has privatized gain, but socialized risk. Yet if risk is to be socialized, then so should investments. Your administration should not only demand equity shares in the banks and corporations that are bailed out by the public treasury, but should also require that consumer, worker, and government representatives be added to the board of directors of corporations receiving government aid.

New Zeal Get the unions and "peoples organisations" into the board rooms. Don't waste this great opportunity to socialise "Big Business".

Schwartz A “new New Deal” would have to restructure international economic institutions so that they raise up international labor, living, human rights, and environmental standards. In large part you owe your victory in the key battleground states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania to the efforts of one of the few integrated institutions in the United States—the American labor movement. Restoring the right to organize unions (which de facto no longer exists in the United States) is a key policy component in the battle against economic inequality. Given the already massive corporate and media offensive already launched against the Employee Free Choice Act, you will have to place the entire prestige of your office behind the legislation...

New Zeal You owe us! Schwartz is reminding Obama that the unions got him elected, so he owes them (and by extension their communist and socialist leaders) his soul.

Schwartz wants Obama to resist pressure to can the Employee Free Choice Act, which basically abolishes secret ballots in the workplace and gives union goons tremendous power to re-unionise the workforce.

It's payback time!

Schwartz Your victory by no means guarantees the bold policy initiatives necessary to restoring equity with growth to the United States economy. Your campaign did not advocate major defense cuts, progressive tax reform, and significant expansion of public provision. But FDR did not campaign on bold solutions in 1932. It was pressure from below that forced FDR’s hand. Similarly your victory may provide space for social movements to agitate in favor of economic justice and a democratic foreign policy. But as a president who understands the process of social change, I trust that you will understand that those demanding the most from your administration are those who can best help you succeed in office.

New Zeal Okay president-elect Obama, we know you didn't campaign on socialism, but FDR didn't campaign on the "New Deal" either. He did what he did, because the communists forced him to.

We're going to pressure you too. You understand what we are doing. We're not really going to attack you, we're trying to help. We're going to give you president-elect Obama the excuse to implement the socialist agenda we all desire.

Obama file 60 here

Recommended Holiday Reading

If you're looking for some holiday reading, buy the latest Investigate Magazine.

Check out the article by your's truly.

"America's First Red President?-Barack Obama's Radical Roots".

A Classic From Judy Collins

Animal "Liberationists" Involved In Illegal Acts? Surely Not

Why do I call NZ animal "Liberation" activists "criminals"?

Here's why.

Some extracts from a recent Indymedia article, discussing the alleged activities of police informer Rob Gilchrist.

About a week ago news broke in New Zealand that long time activist Rob Gilchrist had been a police informant for the last 10 years. Working for the Special Investigations Unit - an anti-terror, national security police unit - Rob had been informing on animal rights groups, environmental groups, unions, peace groups, even the Green Party...

About a week ago news broke in New Zealand that long time activist Rob Gilchrist had been a police informant for the last 10 years. Working for the Special Investigations Unit - an anti-terror, national security police unit - Rob had been informing on animal rights groups, environmental groups, unions, peace groups, even the Green Party...

His reports included not only communication methods, phone numbers, demonstration plans etc but also information on sexual relationships, travel plans, sources of income, etc.

Much of the behaviour of Rob Gilchrist is what one would consider classic informant and contilpro behaviour – most people I've talked to didn't react with shock at the news – instead everything suddenly clicked into place. I had once considered Rob to be a close friend, but hearing this news I realised deep down I already knew it to be true.

Many people had previously expressed distrust of him and some had already broken off contact with him or stopped working with him politically, but for various reasons there was no collective confrontation.

Before I get into how Rob got away with it for so long, I want to summarise some of the key signs that something was seriously wrong.

Rob was a self-confessed adrenaline junkie and always very keen on 'fucking shit up', would often during quiet periods say he was bored and suggest doing something illegal just for the hell of it.

He promoted violence against cops and fascists at every opportunity, but when push came to shove, either escalated a situation when it wasn't strategic to do so, or wasn't there. For example would take on the role of driving, police liason, or listening to police scanners during an action/demo (All things that people are generally happy to let someone else do). Or he would simply make up a reason at the last moment why he wouldn't take part.

This is not to say Rob limited his behaviour to provocation and incitement. Criminal acts include breaking and entry, amongst others. Footage released to television for example clearly show Rob breaking into a high security intensive chicken farm.

Although seldom arrested during his 10 years on actions and protests, he led the majority of workshops on what to do if arrested or interrogated. Likewise at conferences Rob led workshops on anti-surveillance, getting away if police were chasing you (and police dogs - quite a terrifying discussion), how to move around in country and city spaces without people noticing you. Rob didn't just suggest to people they should commit criminal acts, he showed them personally how to do it. He also distributed booklets on how to break into factory farms and how to commit acts of eco-sabotage.

Although security conscious in many ways, he would definately pick and choose aspects of security culture he liked (ie. good for his ego) and ignore the ones that weren't convenient. For example Rob never cared about talking about sensitive issues in easily surveilled spaces. He was a scanner geek and had fancy equipment that could apparently check for (nonhuman) bugs. His car was always 'clean', the office was always 'clean' , etc....

Peace, love and crowbars
miss x.

No condemnation of Rob Gilchrist's alleged criminal activities here-just anger that he turned out to be a police spy.

Animal Liberationists Emulate British Counterparts

Animal Liberation Aotearoa-the NZ version of the UK based Animal Liberation Front is targeting local firms linked to British firm Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Emulating their UK comrades, the local activists are harassing individuals connected with targeted companies-even on Christmas morning.

From Indymedia

This morning animal rights activists gave GSK Director, Michael Bryant, an early (and rather loud) xmas message that GSK’s involvement in animal testing will not be tolerated.


GSK are HLS’s single largest customer. They use HLS for experiments every single day and are responsible for the pain and suffering of thousands of animals every year. There is an international campaign to shut down HLS and there are demonstrations and actions world wide targeting GSK for their role in HLS animal abuse.

Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) are the largest contract testing laboratory in Europe. They have about 70,000 animals on site, including rabbits, cats, hamsters, dogs, guinea-pigs, birds and monkeys. These animals are destined to suffer and die in cruel, useless experiments.

We are sure that Michael would love some more of your xmas messages; you can contact him on 09-.........or at ... .... ...... Auckland.

There will be more actions carried out against all companies and people in New Zealand who are in anyway involved with animal testing at HLS. If you would like to get involved and help the animals email ........

Is it a matter of time before NZ activists become as extreme as their British comrades?

From the Times Online

Four animal rights extremists involved in a six-year hate campaign against people and companies linked to Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) each face up to 14 years in jail after being convicted of conspiracy to blackmail.

The two men and two women were found guilty yesterday of orchestrating the campaign designed to shut down HLS, one of the world’s largest contract research companies.

The convictions follow a two-year, £3.5 million police investigation into Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), an international campaign against the company, which has an animal testing laboratory in Cambridgeshire. The campaign was funded in large part by public donations collected on the high streets.

Two founding members, Gregg Avery, 41, and his wife Natasha, 39, along with fellow activist Daniel Amos, 22, pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to blackmail.

Prosecutors believe that among these members of SHAC’s hierarchy were some of the key figures in the Animal Liberation Front, the movement that acts as an umbrella for much animal rights extremism worldwide.

Yesterday, after a three-month trial at Winchester Crown Court, Heather Nicholson, 41, Avery’s former wife and fellow SHAC founder, was found guilty of the same offence, as were three further conspirators, Daniel Wadham, 21, Gerrah Selby, 20, and Gavin Medd-Hall, 45. All will be sentenced next month. An eighth defendant, Trevor Holmes, 51, from Newcastle, was acquitted.

HLS, which tests pharmaceutical and other products for clients around the globe, became a focal point for anti-vivisection campaigners partly because of the scale of its operation.

SHAC’s victims, who worked for companies that did business directly or indirectly with HLS, received threatening letters, hoax bombs and sanitary towels allegedly contaminated with the HIV virus, while their neighbours were sent anonymous letters warning them that they lived near a paedophile.

The managing director of one targeted company received a letter in December 2006 that threatened: “We will attack your property, your family or you, whichever we see fit. . . The screams of the animals are in our heads. We will not fail them. You will pay for their agony.”

Nocturnal “home visits” from extremists left cars covered in acid, menacing messages painted on houses and ALF slogans daubed on nearby roads.

Victims were targeted after they were listed as “collaborators” on SHAC’s website, a process that involved detailed research and was co-ordinated by the Averys and their fellow conspirators, who knew what the likely result of that listing would be.

Michael Bowes, QC, for the prosecution, said that although the darker part of the campaign was labelled ALF, the attacks that followed a victim’s appearance on the SHAC website were “all part and parcel of the conspiracy”.

SHAC still lists “targets” on its website, although it claims to engage only in legal activity. A spokeswoman told The Times: “We have absolutely no control over what happens to that information.”

Operation Achilles, a two-year investigation that included bugging SHAC’s Hampshire headquarters, culminated in the arrests of 32 people in a series of raids involving 700 police officers across Britain and in Belgium and the Netherlands in May last year.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Robbins, of Kent Police, who led the operation, said: “The public should be aware that money donated in good faith to SHAC was in fact being used to finance this criminal conduct.”

Should police be spying on NZ "animal rights" activists?

I think they would be failing in their duty if they weren't monitoring these criminals.

New Zeal-End of Year Appeal

It's been a great year for New Zeal.

Particularly gratifying has been the increasing number of readers who have been willing to make donations to keep this blog alive.

Those who read New Zeal regularly will know that our research is top notch.

This blog has broken several stories, both locally and internationally, that the MSM wouldn't dare touch.

Our work has been used in thousands of blogs, websites, books, magazine articles and radio shows.

However this work takes time and time is money.

If you want to keep New Zeal doing what it does best, please use the button to the right to make a donation to the cause.

Believe me, you'll enjoy the experience almost as much as I will.

If you'd like to become a New Zeal sustainer, or to commission some specific research, please contact me at trevor.newzeal@gmail.com

Blogging will be intermittent over the Christmas period, but will fire up around New Year.

Wishing my readers, of all persuasions, a very happy Christmas.

Best wishes

Trevor Loudon

Top Aussie Communist Shoots Through

From the Communist Party of Australia

Friday, 19 December 2008

Communist legend dies


The Communist Party of Australia is saddened to announce the death yesterday of its General Secretary, Mr. Peter Symon. Peter served for 36 years as the General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Australia and then the renamed Communist Party of Australia (CPA) until his death at the age of 86...

His understanding of the inequalities of the Australian system were heightened by his working life on the wharves and his activity during the war against fascism. He began his life long attachment to the Communist Party in the 1930s and did not waver from his conviction that only socialism could solve Australia’s economic, social and environmental problems.

“Peter’s leadership of the struggle for the better conditions for workers and a more just society spanned many of the tumultuous episodes of Australia’s 20th Century history from the Depression to the Second World War, banning of the Communist Party, the Communist Party dissolution referendum, and opposition to wars including Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan,” CPA President Dr Hannah Middleton said.

“He outlived ten Prime Ministers, actively campaigning against each in whatever way they threatened the working people of Australia, the marginalised and disadvantaged...

“He was deeply committed to the land and other rights of Australia’s indigenous people and spurred CPA campaigns in support of migrant rights. He fought for an equal place for women in the CPA and in Australian society and was passionate in his commitment to peace and justice.

“Peter's contribution to the Australian and International communist movement was considerable. He ranks with other great Australian Communists such as JB Miles, Dick Dixon and Lance Sharkey.

“Peter will be remembered for his resolve and determination to win a socialist future for all Australians.

Must See Video

Check this out, if you want to understand modern Western culture.

Jim Simpson of Truth&Consequences on video interview with Soviet Defector Yuri Bezmenov

It was recorded in 1985 but retains relevance today as we see successive generations of radicalized students graduate from American universities and increasingly mindless leftist propaganda promoted by our illustrious 4th Estate, as the radical left goes mainstream. It is essential for understanding our current situation, including the most recent elections. Absolutely essential. Watch the video and listen to what this guy says. Take especial note of what he says will happen to the ideological leftists in this country.

Yuri Bezmenov
by onmyway02

Presidente For Life-Hugo Chavez?

Venezuela moving ever closer to outright tyranny.

From the Communist Party USA's Peoples Weekly World

Last week activists of President Hugo Chavez’ United Socialist Party of Venezuela sought signatures supporting a constitutional amendment to eliminate the present two-term limit on presidential tenure. After receiving the signatures, the National Assembly will discuss the amendment on Dec. 18 and again on Jan. 5. If it gains Assembly approval, it will be submitted to a national referendum vote, probably in March.

The Popular Tribune quoted Communist Party General Secretary Oscar Figuera as saying Venezuela’s Communists will gather signatures in a process viewed as useful for promoting “unity and collective discussion.” Figuera called for abolition of term limits for all elective offices. The next presidential election takes place in 2012.

Obama Plans Disarmament Talks With Russia

Here's trouble.

From Russian news agency Novosti

MOSCOW, December 20- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama plans to resume talks on strategic arms reductions with Russia but negotiations will be difficult as two countries do not trust each other, a U.S. congresswoman said.

The Strategic Arms Reduction (START-1) Treaty signed between the Soviet Union and the United States in 1991 expires on December 5, 2009. It places a limit of 6,000 strategic or long-range nuclear warheads on each side, and limits the number of delivery vehicles, such as bombers, land-based and submarine-based missiles, to 1,600 each.

"After the Russian aggression in Georgia, it's difficult to get back to business-as-usual, while it's clear that we have business to do. Their [Russian] position effectively is 'we don't believe you and we don't trust you'," said Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher in an interview posted on CQpolitics.com website.

Tauscher, the chairwoman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee, led a U.S. delegation this week to Russia for talks on bilateral cooperation.

She also said that the United States "need to get about the business of negotiating a new treaty; it's a fundamental priority of both the Congress and the new administration."

Moscow has repeatedly stated that the signing of a new nuclear disarmament deal will only be possible if Washington abandons its plans to place elements of a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe.

Washington plans to deploy a missile defense system comprising 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic. The U.S. says it needs the shield to deter strikes from "rogue states." Russia insists it would threaten its national security and harm the balance of European security.

After Barack Obama's November election victory, one of his foreign policy advisers said the president-elect was not committed to the missile shield, and would only continue with the project if its effectiveness was proven.

Russia also insists that any agreement replacing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty should be a legally binding document and must set lower ceilings not only for the number of nuclear warheads, but also for their delivery vehicles.

Obama File 58 Hilda Solis-Obama Labor Secretary's Socialist Connections

Obama file 57 here

Los Angeles Congresswoman Hilda Solis is to join the Obama Cabinet as Secretary of Labor.


By appointing the strongly pro-union Solis, president-elect Barack Obama has sent a clear signal to his far left support base that he has not abandoned his roots.



According to the Communist Party USA's People's Weekly World

One labor source said Solis’ name was put forward by Service Employees President Andrew Stern, whose union -- along with the Change To Win coalition -- endorsed Obama’s presidential candidacy long before the AFL-CIO did. SEIU is the biggest union in CTW.

But leaders ranging from CTW Chair Anna Burger to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney to RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum all welcomed the Solis appointment.

So did former House Minority Whip David Bonior (D-Mich.), now chair of pro-labor American Rights At Work, and ARW Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell. Both had been on lists circulated for the job...Maxwell. Bonior dropped out of the running to endorse her. Both praised Solis, who sits on the group’s board...

Bonior, citing his work with Solis since she entered Congress in 2001 -- he was there until 2004 -- called her “a terrific leader who I know first-hand will work tirelessly on behalf of America’s working families.”

Sweeney said the AFL-CIO is “thrilled at the prospect of having Solis as our nation's next Labor Secretary...The AFL-CIO looks forward to working with Solis as she charts new territory for our nation's working men and women.”

Stern is one of the US labor movement's new breed of leftist leaders-trained by the Chicago based and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)controlled Midwest Academy.

Bonior and Sweeney are both DSA members and both serve with Hilda Solis on the board of American Rights At Work. Most other ARW board members have DSA connections, including Julian Bond who was active in the DSA's predecessor, the Democratic Socialist Organising Committee and labor academic Harley Shaiken-also touted for the Labor Secretary job.

The fact that four board members of what is essentially a DSA front were the main contendors for the Labor position, is revealing.

It doesn't stop there however.

According to Greg Sargent of TPM


"It's extraordinary," SEIU president Andy Stern said in an interview with us a few moments ago. "On every issue that's important to us, she has stood up for an America where everyone's hard work is valued and rewarded."

Some labor officials had initially thought that an elder statesman type with stature would be best in the gig. But Stern said he thinks the choice of Solis by Obama, who has a keen appreciation of the power of biography, wanted someone with a bio steeped in labor, someone who has the kind of built in dedication and passion that could make her a kind of labor star in a cabinet that is stocked with a fair amount of star power already.

"As opposed to some candidate [for whom] this would have been just a job, for Hilda Solis it's the fulfillment of a life-long dream," Stern said, adding that that Solis was one of the names that labor officials had privately communicated as acceptable to them in talks with the transition. "Her father was a teamster. She is the American dream."

Incidentally, Stern said that the person who knows Solis perhaps best is writer Harold Meyerson...


Midwest Academy founder Heather Booth, left, Harold Meyerson centre

DSA vice chair Harold Meyerson has written on American Prospect's group blog Tapped

HILDA SOLIS IS GREAT.

What does Rep. Hilda Solis, Barack Obama’s selection for secretary of labor, bring to the job? Only a record of passionate commitment to working people, a high level of political smarts, and some genuine displays of raw guts that could make her a star of American liberalism...

In the House, Solis has continued to champion labor causes, immigrants' rights, women’s health and environmental protections. She also worked closely with Rahm Emanuel in recruiting Democratic House candidates from the Southwest and Latino-dominated districts, so she brings to her new job a strong relationship with Obama’s incoming chief-of-staff. Now, she’s in the key position to promote the Employee Free Choice Act, which seems likely to be the most contentious issue on Obama’s agenda. But Solis has never been deterred by controversy.

Hilda Solis is also a leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the 70 odd strong group of left wing Democrats with strong ties to DSA.

According to leading DSA member Duane Campbell, Hilda Solis has recently been promoted to "Vice-Chair Liaison to Women's Caucus" of the Congressional Progressive Caucus...

DSA is clearly a friend of Hilda Solis, but is Hilda Solis a friend of DSA?

In November 2005 Solis addressed the DSA National Convention in Los Angeles-"The New Capital of Progressive Politics?"

Twenty-First Century Socialism...

While the gathering was a working convention—one that differed from past meetings in that all convention business happened on the plenary floor for maximum delegate participation,two evening public sessions focused on the big picture, too.

On Friday evening, a panel consisting of ACORN chief organizer Wade Rathke, Kent Wong of the UCLA Labor Center and Roxana Tynan of the Los Angeles Alliance
for a New Economy looked at the level of struggles nationwide.

Saturday evening delegates recognized the contributions of DSA vice chair and Washington Post columnist Harold Meyerson, Occidental College sociologist and longtime DSAer Peter Dreier and insurgent California Congress member
Hilda Solis (D) who in turn provided in-depth perspectives of the political scene.

"Insurgent"?

Hilda Solis also has indirect ties to the Socialist International. In June this year the SI Migrations Committee held a Migrations Reform, Integration, Rights forum in Los Angeles

DSA, the SI's main US affiliate was represented by DSA National Director Frank Llewellyn plus Duane Campbell and Dolores Delgado Campbell of DSA's Anti Racism network and the Latino networks.

California State Senator Gill Cedillo, was also in attendance.

Hilda Solis was formally represented by Elena Henry, a caseworker from Solis's East Los Angeles Office.

This was not the first time that Solis had sent a representative to a socialist gathering.

According to the Communist Party's People's Weekly World of June 20 1996

The Southern California Friends of the People's Weekly World tribute to two of Los Angeles' finest labor leaders, Jerry Acosta and Gilbert Cedillo, became a dynamic rally of elected officials, activists, labor and community leaders in solidarity with labor struggles and in the fight to defeat the ultra-right in November...

The audience clapped, cheered and sometimes shouted out during the spirited tribute to Jerry Acosta, regional director of the Utility Workers Union, and Gilbert Cedillo, long-time leader of Service Employees International Union Local 660.


"The People's Weekly World and all of us in this room feel very strongly about who we honor today," said Evelina Alarcon, chair of the Southern California District and national secretary of the Communist Party USA, one of the emcees of the tribute. "Jerry Acosta and Gilbert Cedillo represent the new fightback vision of the Sweeney, Trumka, Chavez-Thompson leadership in the AFL-CIO. They represent the rank and file that is pushing from the bottom for that new vision!"

Alarcon recounted many of Acosta's and Cedillo's achievements, calling them "real live working class heroes in the forefront of struggle" who "take bold initiatives on labor issues" and spearhead mass action in the fight for equality of all people.

If there is any time that we value that kind of leadership, "it is now when we face the greatest electoral challenge of our time," Alarcon said pointing to the necessity "to vote out the Republican ultra-right in the Congress and in the California State legislature."

Rep. Esteban Torres, a UAW labor leader in Congress, wearing his union jacket and standing tall, told the crowd, "This event would have made old Sam Kushner proud," referring to the late World labor reporter.

Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, on behalf of the council which adopted a resolution honoring Acosta and Cedillo, said, "Gil Cedillo and Jerry Acosta have changed the whole dynamic of what it means to be for the working class and what it means to fight for workers rights. Because of them and other labor leaders, we have seen a resurgence of strength of the least empowered in our country..."

Presentations to the honorees were also made by Clara James, chair of the Community Affairs Commission of the Second Baptist Church, on behalf of Congresswoman Maxine Waters, one of the nation's most distinguished African American leaders; Antonio Aguilar, on behalf of State Senator Hilda Solis, California's first Latina elected to the State Senate, who, along with labor, led the drive to put a minimum wage increase initiative on the ballot;

State Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigoza sent a message and 17 elected officials and more than 50 labor leaders put their names in the program book honoring Cedillo and Acosta. Victoria Castro, a member of the L.A. City Board of Education, sent certificates recognizing the two labor leaders.

This piece is important because it shows the influence of the CPUSA in Southern Californis Politics. The CPUSA has substantial influence in the Los Angeles labor movement and by directing union money and human resources in the right direction is able to determine who gets elected and where.

Richard Alarcon is now a Los Angeles City Councillor. Both Richard and his communist big sister Evelina, are close friends and supporters of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigoza-who incidentally now serves on Barack Obama's economic transition team along side DSA member and Hilda Solis supporter David Bonior.

Both Richard Alarcon and Antonio Villaraigoza were elected with strong union support.

Maxine Waters is now a stalwart of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Hilda Solis also enjoyed strong union (and CPUSA backing) when she ran for US Congress in 2000.

In a report submitted to the Communist Party in November 2000 Evelina Alarcon, Vice Chair CPUSA and Chair Southern California District, commented on Hilda Solis's Congressional victory;

The monumental victories which are occurring in Los Angeles electorally and in the workplace are because of the coalition building that the labor movement is doing with the Latino and African American community. In Los Angeles, the Labor Federation not only targeted three congressional districts but it had organized 250 volunteers to help State Senator Hilda Solis win her Congressional seat by turning out the union household and Latino vote...

We in the Party can also be proud because our members were involved in all the targeted electoral efforts...

In 2007 Hilda Solis, endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president and signed on to co-chair of the Clinton campaign’s Environmental and Energy Task Force and co-chair of the National Hispanic Leadership Council.

She was joined by her friend and DSA honorary chair, Dolores Huerta, former colleague of legendary Farmworkers Union leader Cesar Chavez. Dolores Huerta had the honour of formally nominating Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary.


Dolores Huerta right

Together Huerta and Solis campaigned for Clinton through California and Nevada on a tour themed "Juntos Con Hillary, Una Vida Mejor" (Together with Hillary, A Better Life).

By 2008 Hilda Solis was campaigning under a new slogan "Yes we can"-the anglicised version of Cesar Chavez's old battle cry "Si se puede".

Solis joined Obama's National Latino Advisory Council

"As the Latino community continues to get to know Senator Obama, it is clear that he is the right candidate for our issues and is the best candidate to deliver the change that America desperately needs," said Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis. "Senator Obama not only understands the struggles and diversity of our community but because of his personal history and background he will stand with us and be a fighter for our issues. I look forward to continuing to work to elect Senator Obama as the next President of the United States."

Solis sure wasn't lonely.

Other members of the Advisory Council included five members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus-Xavier Becerra, Raúl Grijalva, Luis Gutiérrez, Linda T. Sánchez
and Nydia Velázquez. Another member was Service Employees International Union Executive Vice President and DSA honorary chair Eliseo Medina.


Eliseo Medina left, Chicago DSA dinner 2004

Also a former colleague of Cesar Chavez, Eliseo Medina and a supporter of the Communist Party newspaper Peoples Weekly World

Medina also has close ties to Chicago DSA-the same people who endorsed Barack Obama during his successful bid for Illinois State Senate in 1996.

DSA has supported Barack Obama through his entire political career.

Is appointing Hilda Solis to such a key position simply Obama's way of returning a favour, or is it indicative of a shared agenda?

Obama File 59 here

Left Plans Fightback Against National/ACT Government

Socialist Aotearoa, The Greens, Workers Party, Communist League, Communist Workers Group, RAM/Socialist Worker, UNITE, the National Distribution Union are uniting against the "right".

The far left wants to build a mass movement to bring down the National/ACT government, such has been recently happening in Greece.

From the Socialist Aotearoa Blog


There's a new spirit in the fighting Left of Auckland.

Faced with a barrage of attacks from the new National led government, in particular the 90 Day Fire at Will Law (which now comes into effect on March 1st, thanks to pressure from ACT), socialists, unionists and left Greens have got their act together and began planning the fightback.

Socialist Aotearoa organised an inspiring meeting on Thursday 11th December, where Unite union's John Minto and the Green's new MP, Catherine Delahunty, joined SA's Frank Doleman in outlining the need for a united front to resist the effects of the international crisis in capitalism and the new government's attacks on workers and the poor. Leading activists from the Workers Party, Greens on Campus, the National Distribution Union, the Residents Action Movement, the CWG and the CL also spoke from the floor. All agreed that we could work together round the slogan "We won't pay for their Crisis".

The next day saw this new unity in action, where activists from Socialist Aotearoa, the Workers Party, Greens on Campus and Unite joined a vocal picket of John Key's Auckland mansion, as his government rammed through the 90 Days Fire at Will Law.


Thursday December 18th saw the United Front convene again in Unite Union's Morningside HQ, where Mike Treen gave a powerful lead off that critiqued the inadequacy of the response from the so called Opposition Labour Party, and the need for a fighting left alternative. That alternative will now-

(a) Call a National Day of Action against this government and its attacks on workers rights, in particular the 90 Days Fire at Will law, on Saturday Febuary 28th 2009.

(b) Build this day of action through all our union, community, college and political networks, and organise mass postering, leafleting, stickers and badges to oppose the Fire at Will law. Activist stalls will take the word out to major markets, workplaces and city streets.

(c) the stalls will also collect pledges of resistance from those who want to do more than just sign a petition, who will then help staff a Rat Patrol which can picket, protest or occupy any workplace where a worker has been unjustly sacked using this law. This warning goes out to employers immediately.

(d) organise a major weekend conference on the Global Economic Crisis in mid or late March, with respected international critics of capitalism and a wide range of speakers from Aotearoa's fighting left, to help educate and cohere the movement we bring out onto the streets on Feb28.

The stakes are very high for our class. Already, redundancies are mounting, and the employers are preparing to flex their muscles in the workplaces as they begin stripping us of our work rights. And sorry, Chris Trotter! The Labour Party leaders have failed us- the answer to the worst economic crisis since the 1930s is not Phil Goff...


The answer is building a powerful coalition of our community, political and union organisations to resist them on the streets and in every workplace facing their attacks. We need to learn the lessons from workers in other countries who are already resisting the Crisis. Factory occupations in Chicago got the goods against redundancies imposed by the banks- a tactic that we should educate NZ workers facing the sack about. Irish teachers, pensioners and students have had mass street protests and fought back against cutbacks in public services- which is what we now face in Tory controlled Auckland City and with increases in the ACC levy. And the economic crisis has seen scenes in the cities of Greece not glimpsed since the heady days of Paris, May 68, as a generation of students and young people are joined by the organised working class in what 62% of Greeks refer to as a national uprising.

Watch out John and Rodney-the reds are back!

Radicals Seduce the Young

Dave Mann posted this as a comment on my profile of Mark Eden.

Dave sums up how radical activism works by drawing young people into their networks through so called "respectable" groups like Greenpeace.

I have firsthand experience of the fact that there is an interlinking of membership, techniques and broad objectives between a huge range of activist groups in New Zealand.

If a person is, for example, an anti-GE activist, then they will almost inevitably at some time exchange intelligence, techniques and ideas with other groups like the Zapatistas, 'peace' groups or animal 'rights' organisations - most of which view our society as the enemy which must be attacked and overthrown.

This is how these people operate. Being an 'activist' doesn't necessarily mean that you are exclusively committed to any particular cause per se. What it means is that you are angry and pissed off at the society you live in and want to change it to reflect your views about how it should be. The activist cell that you operate in is simply the means by which you feed your own sense of righteousness and get your metaphoric (and sometimes actual) rocks off.

If you read Scoop, Indymedia and any number of other radical sites, it should be glaringly apparent that tomorrow's bombers, saboteurs and Tuhoe guerillas start off as today's Greenpeace leaflet distributors outside your local New World.

I am shocked that Howard Broad's bumbling politically correct plodders were entrusted with the task of checking up on these people instead of the SIS, under whose pervue this scene more properly belongs.

Right on!

Mark Eden-Should The Police Be Monitoring This Man?

The anarchists, Greens and other subversives have been going daft after it was revealed that leading Christchurch activist Rob Gilchrist was a paid police informer.

Gilchrist had been spying on the Save Happy Valley Coalition, Peace Action Wellington, "animal rights" organisations and several other anarchist led groups for up to a decade.

Should the police spy on protest groups? Are these people really just concerned individuals out to better society?

Here is a profile of Mark Eden, a close friend (and probable target)of Rob Gilchrist.

Eden and Gilchrist were seen together at protests all over New Zealand for years. Everywhere Eden was, Gilchrist was perched on his shoulder like an angry parrot. The duo were the "Uncle Ernies" of the New Zealand anarchism, adept at seducing young innocents into the movement, with their stories and their militant bravado.


Mark Eden with megaphone, Catherine Amey centre

Mark Eden (aka Markypoo, Mr Grumpy, Mr G) has been one of New Zealand's leading anarchist/animal rights activists since at least the mid 1990s.

In February 1996 Mark Eden (Age 27, woodcutter, Newtown) was one of six people arrested at Waitangi protests in Wellingtn. All pleaded not guilty .

Later that year the unemployed Mark Eden was sentenced to 100 hours community service and reparations of $1911 after smashing windows with slingshots, gluing locks and painting "kill all duckshooters" on the Complete Anglers Shop in central Christchurch.

Eden has been arrested at least a dozen times since those landmark events, but has been very seldom convicted.

Also in 1996 Eden was a spokesman for the Canterburyy University Animal Rights group (part of Kaimanawa Horse Action Network), protesting against the proposed wild horse cull on the Central Plateau.

In October 2001 Eden attended the Anarchist Odyssey conference in Christchurch.

For me, the main contrast between this and previous anarchist conferences was that this conference had a lot more politics in it. Most of the conference goers were involved in activist groups and political movements. This was in contrast to conferences in the 90s that were often dominated by lifestyle topics and only a minority of people there were politically active.

In October 2003 Eden was arrested with Maoist Jared Phillips and Trotskyist Paul Hopkinson after a flag burning incident during the visit of then Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

In 2004 Eden was active in anti Iraq War demonstrations with the anarchist led Peace Action Wellington.

In 2005 the Premier Bacon Company threatened legal action against Mark Eden of the Wellington Animal Rights Network, for registering premierbacon.co.nz and putting up a website criticising Premier Bacon’s factory farming practices.

In 2006 Eden travelled to an animal "rights" conference in the UK where he met notorious Animal liberation front activist Keith Mann. Eden's group Operation Rescue (well known for stealing chickens from poultry farms) invited Mann to tour New Zealand the following year, but Mann was stopped at Heathrow Airport because of his serious criminal convictions.

If you still think that Mark Eden is a harmless, pleas view the two imbedded videos

Keith Mann



Mark Eden



Mark Eden is part of the anarchist crowd that hangs out at 128 Abel Smith St in Wellington's Aro Valley. Many of those arrested in the October 2007 police anti terror raids also frequented that address.

Eden's girlfriend Catherine Amey in particular was very close to at least one of those arrested. Amey's car was observed parked near one of the Urewera training camps.

Mark Eden has recently been involved with Teanau Tuiono, an Urewera 17support activist, whose own home was raided during the police sweep.

Please comment on the thread below whether or not you think a responsible police force should be monitoring individuals like Mark Eden and co.

Have your say.

Zinn on Keeping Obama Left

Leftist US historian Howard Zinn, was a leader of the New Party when Barack Obama joined in the mid' 90s.

Howard and his comrades want to build a mass protest movement to keep Obama to the left agenda.

He explains on GritTV

Obama File 57 Obama's Socialist Ally Joins Powerful Congressional Committee

Obama file 56 here

The left's "long march" through the US government, has since the recent election, broken into a jog.


A good example is the appointment of long time Barack Obama friend and ally, Illinois congressman Danny K Davis to the United States House Committee on Ways & Means-arguably the most powerful organ of the US Congress.




According to Wikipedia

The Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee cannot serve on any other House Committees, though they can apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership. The Committee has jurisdiction over all taxation, tariffs and other revenue-raising measures, as well as a number of other programs including Social Security, Unemployment benefits, Medicare...

Ways & Means is already heavily influenced by members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC)-a grouping of leftist Democratic congressmen, many of who have ties to Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Communist Party USA (CPUSA)or both.

Current CPC members on Ways & Means include Chairman Charles Rangel, Pete Stark, John Lewis, Xavier Becerra and Jim McDermott. With newcomers CPC Vice Chairman Raul Grijalva and Danny Davis, the CPC clearly has the committee on a tight leash.

Davis's ties with Barack Obama, go back at least to their time together in the Illinois New Party in the mid 1990s.

While both Democrats, Davis joined the New Party during his successful run for US congress, Obama joined to help his successful bid for Illinois State Senate.


New Party members/candidates Patricia Martin left, Danny K Davis centre, Barack Obama right. New Party News Spring 1996 page 2

In Chicago, the New Party was formed by activists from the radical community group ACORN and members of DSA and the CPUSA breakaway group Committees of Correspondence.

Obama was endorsed by DSA and has a long history with the marxist organisation.

Davis was then and still is a DSA member, one of the few semi-open socialists in the US Congress.

Davis also had ties to CoC. According to Chicago DSA’s New Ground of September 1994;

"Over 500 delegates and observers (including 140 from Chicago) attended the founding convention of the Committees of Correspondence (CoC) held here in Chicago in July.

Speakers…included Charles Nqukula, General Secretary of the South African Communist Party; Dulce Maria Pereira, a senatorial candidate of the Workers Party of Brazil; Angela Davis of CoC; and Andre Brie of the Party of Democratic Socialism of Germany (Formerly the East German Communist Party) Other guests during the Convention included Cook County Commissioner Danny Davis, Alderman Helen Schiller and Rick Munoz, a representative of the Green Left Weekly of Australia, and a representative of the Cuban Interest Section."

Davis was also close the CPUSA. In Chicago, the Communist Party has for many years held an annual a fund raising banquet for its paper, the Peoples Weekly World (formerly the Peoples "Daily" World).

According to the PDW of July 28th 1990, Chicago alderman Danny K Davis attended that years banquet on July 15th.

Davis applauded those at the banquet, who, he said, are always in the midst of struggle. PDW readers, he said, are "steadfast in the fight fòr justice."

According to the Peoples Weekly World of October 3rd 1998, congressman Danny K Davis presented an award at the Chicago annual Peoples Weekly World banquet.

In more recent times Davis, along with several other Obama friends and supporters has been closely associated with the Chicago
Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights (CCDBR).

According to the CCDBR website

The Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights (CCDBR) has fought for 41 years against government encroachment on our constitutional rights in all its forms. CCDBR began as part of the struggle to disband the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities (HUAC), played a major role in the opposition to Chicago Police "Red Squad" spying in the seventies, and most recently, helped facilitate the passage of the Chicago City Council Resolution against The Patriot Act.

Founded by (among others) CPUSA members Milton Cohen and Richard Criley, CCDBR was led for many years by forty Communist party veteran Frank Wilkinson.


Frank Wilkinson

When Wilkinson died in 2006, Danny K Davis joined the Honoring Committee to celebrate the esteemed comrade's life.



Committee chairman was Timuel Black, a Chicago historian, friend of Barack Obama, alleged former communist and CoC member.

Other Committee members included;

Yolanda Hall (Accused of CPUSA membership by the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities in the 60s, with Milton Cohen)
Peggy Lipshutz (A one time CPUSA member)
Bea and Frank Lumpkin (both CPUSA members)
Honrable Abner Mikva (a well known mentor to Barack Obama)
Harold Rogers (A well known Chicago CPUSA member in the 1980s)
Mark Rogovin (A CPUSA member)
Frank Rosen (A former official of the CPUSA front, US Peace Council)
Norman Roth (A one time CPUSA member)
Emile Schepers (A CPUSA member)
Alderwoman Helen Schiller (linked to CoC)
Studs Terkel (A secret CPUSA member in the 1940s, later linked to DSA)
Tim Yeager (A CPUSA member)
Dr. Quentin Young (Accused of CPUSA membership by the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities in the 60s , now a prominent DSA member and personal friend of Barack Obama)

Chicago DSA supported the event, as did an old Obama associate and DSA member Lou Pardo.

Danny K Davis has been one of Barack Obama's most consistent supporters and friends in Congress. Davis has endorsed Obama, campaigned for him, even telephone banked for him.

Now as Obama gets set to bring "Change" to America, Danny K Davis and his CPC comrades will be there to raise all the money needed-from the US taxpayer.

Obama file 58 here

Letter to Keith Locke

I have just emailed this post to Green Party MP Keith Locke.

Green Party MP Keith Locke has come out swinging against the police for using informers against New Zealand anarchist groups.

Mr Locke stated on Prime TV tonight;

There is no evidence whatsoever that there are seriously violent potential terrorists within Greenpeace or any of the organisations that they (the police) infiltrated.

Is Keith Locke's judgement on such matters to be trusted? How good is Locke's track record when it comes to spotting potential violent behaviour or threats to public safety?

For several years in the 1970s, Keith Locke was editor of the Trotskyite newspaper Socialist Action. The April 25th 1975 edition, carried a lead article by Mr Locke under the banner heading: "Cambodia Liberated: Victory For Humanity".

Who were the "liberators"? The Khmer Rouge of course. Who led the Khmer Rouge? Mass murderer Pol Pot-that's who.

Up to two million dead.

In 1980 Keith Locke was a member of Socialist Action League National Committee. On February 23rd that year (Socialist Action March 14th) Keith Locke gave a talk in Wellington "Why workers should support Soviet Action in Afghanistan."

At least a million dead.

Today on National Radio Keith Locke cited the German film "The Lives of Others", which exposes the massive use of informers by the East German Stasi in the 1980s. Mr Locke compared Stasi tactics to those of the New Zealand police.

Yesterday Mr Locke issued a press release entitled Police Stasi tactics towards protestors undermine democracy.

During the early 1980's Keith Locke's Socialist Action League was very very close to the pro-Soviet NZ Socialist Unity Party-named incidentally after the then East German ruling party. Keith Locke was at that time effectively a supporter of the Soviet Union and by extension, its client state-Stasi run East Germany.

Keith Locke is a supporter of the radical Auckland University based Students for Justice in Palestine.


Keith Locke marching with SJP banner

Auckland SJP is dominated by Muslim students of Palestinian, Afghan, Indian and Pakistani extraction. It is regarded as one of the most militant groups on campus.

In September 2006 Auckland University SJP published a magazine entitled Intifada.

Keith Locke contributed an article to the magazine in his capacity as Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesman.

Sometimes, when I support Palestinian rights, I am accused of not being “even-handed” in the Israel/Palestine dispute.

But what does “even-handed” mean when the situation on the ground is hardly “even”. There is only one occupying power (Israeli) and only one occupied people (the Palestinians).

Another contributor to Intifada was a young female Afghan refugee named Rana Khumkhor. Ms Khumkhor contributed a short story examining the motivations of a Palestinian suicide bomber.

When death becomes a sacrifice

The Dead cannot ask for justice it is the duty of the living to do so. For my father and for my people the hunger of my hatred opens its mouth. Calling to me to avenge those who have fallen. Years ago my father gave his life for me. Tonight I die for Palestine.

I could start by telling you my name, but what would be the point? I’m just a face, in a sea of oppression, inflicted upon my people. For generations we suffered at the hands of the Zionists. Oh my insane rage vengeance will be ours, the clouds will clear and the sun will shine on us again. They think by uprooting our trees they can destroy our history? But our history is in our hearts and we will tell it to our children and they will tell it to their children. They cannot cut off our tongues...

Religion is what keeps us alive. It is what keeps us going, because in the mind of a freedom fighter fear of god is greater then the fear of death. The desire for paradise dominates our thoughts, reminding us that this wasn’t the way life was supposed to be...

Suddenly my train of thought comes to an abrupt halt as the bus comes to a stop I glance up to see cars lining up in front of the bus. I shrug it off as traffic. I know time is running out. I look outside the window and can barely make out my city of Jenin in the distance. I know this will be the last time I will see my home ever again. There is no turning back now, it is at the end of a person’s life when they realise how important the choices in her life are. Maybe my death won’t make a difference; maybe my people will continue to live in terror tomorrow. But maybe for just a moment, my enemies can feel what we feel when we lose a brother or a sister, a father or a mother, a daughter or a son. If they can feel what we feel for just a moment for just a fraction of a second, my death would have been worth something...

“We will be reaching Jerusalem in a few minutes “ I sit up straighter in my seat. It is now the time, I can wait no longer. I feel around in my pocket for the trigger that leads to the c4-tapped securely to my chest. I swallow the bile that had risen in my throat. I am afraid yes, I am afraid the bomb wont go off. There is no greater shame then failure and I have no desire to fail. I close my eyes imagining what it will be like. Will it hurt? Will I meet my maker upon my death? Or will I wait till the day of reckoning where we all shall be judged...

Oh lord forgive me for my sins. Forgive my father, forgive my family and most of all forgive my people. Shed some light on our oppression and free us.

I clutch the trigger in my hand. I take the time to acknowledge each person in the bus. I feel the walls in my heart closing up for I feel no pity where we received none. I look out the window for the last time. The bus is coming over a hill. There lies Jerusalem in all its glory. I close my eyes and take my last breath…. Freedom

Keith Locke, a senior Green Party MP has supported the organisation responsible for this material-what can only described as pro-terrorist, anti Israeli propaganda.

Either Keith Locke supports the militant anti Israeli views of SJP and their apparent sympathy for suicide bombers, or he has been sucked into supporting their propaganda.

Either way, his judgement is suspect to say the least.

Keith Locke has supported Pol Pot's "liberating" army, the Soviet rape of Afghanistan and a publication that glorifies Palestinian suicide bombers.

On this evidence, who is best qualified to judge who is a risk to public safety-Keith Locke or the new Zealand police?

If Mr Locke would like to answer this question, I will publish his reply in full.

I will keep readers updated as to Keith Locke's response.

Paranoia, Fury, Outrage, Revenge, Panic, A Little Calm Reason-Just Another Day at Indymedia

My anarchist comrades are gutted after learning that one of their key people, Christchurch activist Rob Gilchrist, was a long time police informer.

They're letting it all hang out, on two threads on Indymedia

From the Police anti-terror squad spies on protest groups thread

by Anonymous

For fucks sake.

Your SORRY??

You have to be kidding?

You took the cash offered and didnt give a fuck about us all. To say you feel bad is total crap. I have known you for many years Rob and knew you didn't fit from day one. But everyone else wanted to believe you were "heaven sent". If you were not caught out by your friend you would still be taking to governments cash.

For myself mate I am pleased you have been stopped. And there is about to be a trial. There will be others like you and in fact there are others like you.

Gess Rob...your an arse hole. Sorry mate no amount of sorrys will help. There is a person who picked you out from day one, from the very 1st time he saw you. He is no longer with us now. We weren't sure but he was sure you were a spy. Well done to that man. I am sure he is having a little chuckle to himself.

by Anonymous

Rob's going to have to find a real job, now that he's not getting that $600 a week.. Awwww!

by Anonymous

this is a guy that took great pleasure in spreading false rumors that good activists were police informants. what a fucking scum bag.

YOUR A PIECE OF SHIT ROB.

the damage you've done to good activists and the damage you've done to social justice movements (especially animal rights)is unforgivable. aside from the fact that you've been informing for the last ten years, the shit you've done in general is so completely fucked.

your a fucking piece of scum Rob and you better hope I don't ever see your face again.

by Anonymous

never did trust that fucking slimy fuckwit!

by Anonymous

Shame rob I hope you die in a gutter

by Anonymous

"Gilchrist says he was by then increasingly unhappy about his police informer role and refused. He told the story of that recruitment attempt to the Star-Times, but did not, at that time, reveal the full extent of his double life."

Absolute bullshit. He revealed the Thompson and Clark investigation to throw attention away from himself. It's a classic bait and switch technique used in social engineering - if you're a spy, you reveal another, and thus secure your place.

I was hell suspicious of him when I read that article earlier this year, but since so many years had gone by at that stage I scratched my head and thought, 'that can't be true'.

by Anonymous

Rob all I can say is that you got what you deserved you fucking scum bag.

by A Non E-Mouse

Well, I guess you're off the xmas card list for this year.
by Asher

Come on, really? That's a bit pathetic. I was relatively close friends with Rob for several years, and yeah this sucks arse, but there's no point in revenge. Its a waste of our time that could be better spent focussing on any number of other things.

by Anonymous

In Soviet Aotearoa, balaclava spies on YOU!

by Anonymous

I hope Rob wasnt on the dole, cause $600 a week is a bit more than the allowed extra income.

by Anonymous

Hey Rob.

Fuck you asshole. I stood up for you when you where first accused, and you didn't even bother hinting that I was putting my neck on the line with my new zealand friends by standing up for you.

You sold everyone out asshole, and worst of all you sold out people who actually cared about you , or at least the "Rob" whos story we learned about.

So what has this gained you. Your whole life was the people you where setting about destroying. The NZ left. And now you've lost them all. Your old freinds, your girl, your old life. You've probably lost your job too, because you aint got nothing now. New zealand is a tiny little country, and you'll always be recognised as the fucking asshole who sold out his mates.

Congratulations Rob! Your now persona non grata.

I would never have sold you out, and on your shared sins, I still wont. But you sold us out. I hope you can live with betraying people that cared about you, man.

-You know who, from Perth.

by Anonymous

his current email addresses shoudl be removed from any and all email lists

by Anonymous

He also runs the NZActivism email list.

by Anonymous

Publicise the NZ Scanners thing. I'm sure that people would feel uncomfortable knowing that their website is being run by a paid police informant - possibly as an intelligence gathering exercise.

by Anonymous

Wonder how much this case had to do with all the in-fighting that's been going on recently. It seems Rob's taskmasters were taking an interest in people's sexual relationships and factions.

by Anonymous

I fucking told you he was a prick and shouldn't be trusted - he was ex-army for fuck's sake! God you people are so gulliable. You haven't got a bloody idea have you?

by Kerry

I'm ex-army as well, I can name at least three other anarchists in this country who are ex armed services. I got a feeling you're the one without an idea

by Anonymous

He wasn't ex-army, anyway - he lied about that.

by shagool

This is really upsetting. Its sometimes hard to catch out police spies. I remember a couple who approached us at a pub after a May day rally many years, covered with Lenin badges and asking random questions. Sniffed them out immediately.
I hope no one gets hurt out of this - and I dont mean Rob.

by perthite

Its more than upsetting, its heartbreaking. Some of us really cared for the guy, so this is just hurtful.

God I know I owe some people appologies for losing my shit at them when I first heard this allegation.

Fuck you rob.

- perth person.

by Anonymous

It's strange that an organisation many of whose members are trained and regularly use force should spend so much time and money spying on good peaceful people just in case they should do exactly what ?

It's strange that a cop here can chase a car driven by a paralytic drunk who's identity is known at 160kmh on the wrong side of State Highway One on a Friday night into the path of an oncoming car maiming two innocent women and absolutely nothing happens.

It's strange that a real Christchurch anarchist should die in his bed following a premature discharge from hospital and absolutely nothing happens.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

by Anonymous

Your weasel pigshit, Rob-don't ever cross my path

by Anonymous
Nark is the word

Scab is another

by Anonymous

What the SIG seems to be is a carbon-copy of the German Governments 'Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution' or Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz.

Their mission is to apparently monitor extremists and paramilitary groups that pose a potential threat to Germany's national interests. Even though extensive intelligence resources have been devoted to monitoring and destroying Neo-Nazi groups that are banned under German law, since Sept 12 2001 terror attacks in the US, Verfassungsschutz have gained themselves a serious obsession with leftest activist groups.

Verfassungsschutz main tasks have been bugging, infiltration and collecting publications of various groups. In fact one of the groups targetted by Verfassungsschutz is Indymedia.

But mostly they spend their time targetting left wing political parties.

How does that compare to NZ, well we dont have any left wing political parties of any substance other than the Greens. This country also has an Indymedia, Maori activists and tribes seeking autonomy, Animal Rights campaigners, environmental campaigners and some fractured factionalised socialist groups.

So it comes as no big surprise that the NZ Special Investigation Group although tasked with tracking links between overseas terrorist groups and their supporters in this country, has in fact mirrored the exact tactics and focusses of the nationalist fascist Verfassungsschutz and HAS gone after the groups mentioned, has, and is currently monitoring the activities of these groups.

According to a friend of mine who was privvy to the 50 plus thousand pages of garbage collated by the SIG in operation 8, they used that operation to investigate every left leaning organisation in this country. Even Kohanga Reo.

This S.I.G group represents the face of fascism and activists must respond to this threat to our civil and human rights that are being abused and stripped away by this group.

From How Gilchrist was found out thread.

by Anonymous
Yeah, but is he the only one? That's the danger I guess. If he isn't, the others know to watch out. IF he is the only one, everyone is all that more circumspect now.

by rosie
the last thing we need is to be looking sideways at each other. the last thing! we need to support each other, to come together and be strong through this. to work together. not to doubt each other. yeah it's a goddamn shame. i mean, what the f*#k. but lets get through this together, people!
Reply to this comment

by Anonymous
We're all fucked. That prick Gilchrist knew everything. He's gotta pay big time for this. Where can we find the bastard? He's got a electronics website and business hasn't he? Let's fuck that up for him. All the fucking time we were worried about fucking Thompson and Clark, what a fucking joke.

by Anonymous
people are not protecting him, there is more to come on this story and all will be revealed to maximum effect in the next few days
Mr G

by rosie
yeah nice one. drop the standards around here why don't ya. and what evidence do you have of that? that's the sickest thing i've heard all day, thanks. thanks for taking the whole thing to that next level down.