Stop Brutal Massacre in Libya NOW!

Power to the People of the Arab World

PSM

– Solidarity Statement with the People’s Uprising in Libya and the rest of Arab World Against Authoritarian Regimes

22 February 2011

The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) condemns the brutal repression committed by Muammar al-Gaddafi’s regime against its people who revolt against injustices and corruptions.

Gaddafi’s regime declared war on its people when Gaddafi’s son Saif El Islam Gaddafi threatened to “to fight to the last minute, until the last bullet”. Gaddafi even ordered fighter jet to attack parts of the capital city, Tripoli. Most of the killings have been in Benghazi on the north-east coast, Libya’s second largest city, where there has been massive uprisings of people since 15 February 2011. Due to government’s censorship, the actual death toll still yet to confirm but according to some reports more than 600 may have been killed in the murderous crackdown on civil disobedience.

Gaddafi may hide behind his “revolutionary past” by employing “anti-imperialist” rhetoric, but the fact is Libya has moved toward collusion with western capitalists in recent years when it opened up its economy for foreign investment, especially in energy sector. The economic liberalization polices have increasing destroyed the state economy, removed subsidies of basic foodstuff and invited more privatization. These have contributed to fueling social discontent among the Libyan people.

The recent waves of people upsurge in the Arab World have swept across the region, when we witness the downfall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. Libya cannot isolate itself and escape from these revolutionary waves as its people becoming frustrated with the corrupted regime and its policies.

PSM expresses its solidarity with the people of Libya who are fighting courageously against the repressive regimes. Meaningful change can only be brought about through people’s power from below and go beyond the logic of capitalism.

PSM also supports the continuous struggle of the people in Tunisia and Egypt, as their struggle is not just about transition of power, but for a real change that would bring down a system that enriching the rich through impoverishing the poor.

PSM’s solidarity also with the people of Bahrain, Yemen, Algeria and elsewhere who rise up against precarious living conditions and repressiveness of the ruling regimes.

Released by,

Choo Chon Kai

International Bureau

Socialist Party of Malaysia / Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

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THOUSANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH EGPTIAN PEOPLE IN KUALA LUMPUR

Kuala Lumpur, 4 February 2011

In spite of a long holiday in Malaysia, thousands of people gathered at the KLCC Mosque and later walked 3 kilometers to the United States Embassy at Jalan Tun Razak. The Police initially tried to contain the gathering at the mosque but failed to stop the group from matching on.

Led by PAS’s Muhammad Sabu, Syed Ibrahim from GMI and S.Arutchelvan from PSM, the crowd estimated around 5,000 people waled towards the US Embassy. Along the way – they shouted anti Hosni Mubarak slogan and called on Mubarak to get lost.

At the embassy, numerous leaders gave speeches while a memorandum was handed to the US representative at the gate of the US Embassy accompanied by heavy police presence. The Memorandum was read by S.Arutchelvan – PSM Secretary General. Among other leaders present were Salahuddin Ayop, Shamsul Iskandar, Dr. Nasir Hashim, Cikgu Azmi and Zaid Kamaruddin.

Muhammad Sabu called on Hosni Mubarak to leave Egypt. Cikgu Azmi spoke for the need for a change in system in the entire region while Arul called on the Revolution to spread. But the most important call was the one asking Hosni Mubarak to step down.

The Demonstration today focused on the US embassy because it is felt that the US is the master behind the throne of Egypt. It was the US which kept people like Mubarak in power for 30 years in spite of corruption and bad governance.

Most Malaysia young and old who participated in the rally was in full support of the might of the people of Egypt.

As the program ended and while the crowd was dispersing, the Malaysian police attacked the people from behind. They shot water cannon and arrested around 7 people. It was an uncalled act of violence. In comparison, the Egyptian army seems to have more tolerance to peaceful assemblies.

Dr. Nasir Hashim – PSM Chairperson said that the police action was to create chaos so that peaceful assemblies are marred with arrest and violence. The Malaysia Prime Minister has called on the Malaysian people to learn from Egypt on the question of instability. It is clear that the Malaysia ruling party is equally worried which what is happening in Egypt. At the rally, many people called on all corrupt regimes to go. 2011 seems to be a year to watch

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PAS-PSM Lead Protest at Egyptian Embassy

Kuala Lumpur, 31 January 2011

A last minute mobilization and continuous rain did not hinder about 70 protesters from assembling to call for Hosni Mubarak to step down as well as showing support to the brave people of Egypt.

The protest and memorandum handing ceremony was led by Mohamad Sabu – PAS Central Committee Member and S.Arutchelvan – PSM Secretary General .

The group walked a short distance and was greeted by around 50 police personnel in riot gear blocking the front entrance of the embassy. There were no confrontation with the police who also desperately tried to get a representative from the embassy to take the memorandum. Like in Egypt, the situation at the embassy was equally uncertain as no one wanted to take the responsibility to receive the memorandum.

The frustrated representatives from the political parties and the NGOs then decided to dump the memorandum in the post-box while speeches and slogans continued to feel the air. Besides PAS and PSM, other parties present were from PKR as well as NGOs from JIM, GMI, JERIT, SUARAM and Youth groups. Also present was PSM national Chairperson Dr. Nasir Hashim and PKR Vice President Tian Chua.

There were continues chanting of “Down down Mubarak” and “Power to the people”.

Muhammad Sabu called for the ouster of corrupt leaders in the Arab world and extended the solidarity of the Malaysian people to Egyptians as well as Tunisians. PSM Secretary General, S.Arutchelvan who read the joint statement to the media also called this a Peoples’ Revolution and said that all corrupt regime must go. He shouted, “ Long Live the people and Long live the Revolution”.

Many speakers also condemn the role played by the United States as the guarding of the corrupt and dictatorial Government of Hosni Mubarak. Till today the US has not called for ouster of Hosni Mubarak which has been their close ally.

PAS International Bureau chief Syed Azman Syed Ahmad said that if situation does not improve then a more massive rally in front of the US Embassy will be held on Friday. He said that it is the US that can dictate the fate of their key ally Mubarak .

Dr. Nasir Hashim, PSM Chairperson said that this is the struggle of the common people in Egypt against the Elites in Eqypt and America. The workers and the common people of the world are with the Egyptian people and the demand change now.

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All Repressive Regimes Must Go! Solidarity Statement with the People’s Uprising in Egypt, Tunisia and the Middle East

The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) would like to express its solidarity with the revolutionary masses in Egypt, as well as in Tunisia and other countries in North Africa and the Middle East, for their courageous struggle against repressive regimes which are mostly backed by US-led imperialist powers.

28 January 2011 is a historical day for Egyptian people, when thousands of them filled the streets across Egypt on this “Friday of Anger”. Inspired by the recent Tunisian uprising which brought down a repressive regime, the struggle is still going on. The people of Egypt also took to the streets to protest against poor living conditions, unemployment, food inflation, lack of housing, low wages, corruption, suppression of freedom of speech, corruption, police brutality and a state of emergency since the US-backed Hosni Mubarak regime came to power 30 years ago.

The ordinary people of Egypt defied a nationwide curfew to participate in the intensified struggle against Mubarak’s regimes. The Egyptian government has sent in tanks to the streets to quell the mass protests. It also suspended internet access and the SMS network nationwide in its effort to cling onto power.

The flame of anger and people’s power is spreading in North Africa and the Middle East, and this has made the ruling regimes in the region tremble in front of the rising of massive revolutionary waves. The Tunisian revolution which sparked off in December 2010 has put an end to the 23-year rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who came to power through a coup d’état. Ben Ali has implemented pro-western capitalist policies and economic development that concentrated wealth into the hands of ruling elites and the comprador bourgeoisie clique. After overthrowing Ben Ali’s regime, working people and youth are continuing to fill the streets to fight against the provisional government that only serves to protect the interests of ruling elite and imperialist powers. There will only be real sustainable change when the ordinary people take charge of political and economic affairs.

While in Egypt, for the last 30 years, Mubarak has embraced pro-US policies and Egypt has become a close ally of US in its domination over the Middle East region. The working people and the poor in Egypt have been forced to endure economic hardships and poor living conditions as a result of privatisation policies. There have been mass struggles over the years against repressive measures, imperialist war and poor living conditions.

Besides Tunisia and Egypt, there are also massive waves of protest sweeping across Algeria, Yemen, Jordan and other parts of the Arab world. These people’s struggles deserve our solidarity.

All repressive regimes and those who collude with imperialist powers must go. The people of Tunisia and Egypt have shown the way and more nations will follow their footsteps. Like the past revolutions which have brought dramatic change to the world and the ongoing revolutionary struggles in Latin America, the people’s revolution in Tunisia and Egypt will continue to inspire people around the world to revive their fighting tradition and stand up against powerful ruling elites who collude with imperialist powers, and to build a better world from below.

29 January 2011

Released by,
Choo Chon Kai
International Bureau
Socialist Party of Malaysia / Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

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