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Resistance to capitalism and destructive IMF/World Bank policies is not confined to middle-class European students as the mainstream media would often have us believe. At the present time capitalism faces a threat from the working classes of various "developing" countries. The reactions of proletarians in these places to ongoing impoverishment and economic instability, allied with Governmental ineptitude or lack of authority, may prove uncontrollable. In the past couple of years, there have been various uprisings in: ARGENTINA: people angered at IMF dictated government reform of labour laws staged a wave of general strikes in '99. In May this year cuts to social security were met with lively demonstrations resulting in public offices being set ablaze. BOLIVIA: the privatisation of water thanks to the IMF led to a 35% price hike. As a result of demos the country was placed under a state of martial law, the occupation of the streets by the army, and radio stations being put under siege. COLOMBIA: in August this year, 15,000 Colombians staged a general strike in response to IMF imposed restructuring programmes. COSTA RICA: saw widespread anger to a bill outlining IMF policies. The resulting protests ended with police gunfire and beatings leading to the death of one protester. HONDURAS: protesters staged a wave of strikes between May and July of this year because of significant cuts to their public services and a 48 hour general strike in August. |
NIGERIA: this January, 5,000 workers marched in opposition to deregulation of the oil industry suffering vicious attacks by armed police for doing so. June this year saw the country crippled by a general strike and two police stations were burnt to the ground.PARAGUAY: protesters and police clashed this June during rallies over 'non-negotiable' IMF reforms. A 48 hour general strike was later called. SOUTH AFRICA: has seen a mass of actions at rising unemployment and labour market reforms whilst demonstrations were held at meetings of IMF and governments officials. And finally, YUGOSLAVIA (part of the "developing" world after being bombed by NATO): in October very recently a revolutionary general strike involving thousands of workers overthrew Milosevic and burnt down parliament (but unfortunately installed a pro-free market capitalist friendly politician who in the end won't be much different from Milosevic to the working class of Yugoslavia). Who said the general strike is an old fashioned, out of date method of struggle? Source: mainly SchNEWS. |