Amphon Tangnoppakul (Aa-Kong) was a 61 year old man who had been a manual labourer all his life. He was sentenced last year to 20 years for allegedly sending SMS messages insulting the king. Amphon already had oral cancer and while in prison was denied adequate health care until the last few days. Amphon died on the 8th of May. His death is the result of the continuing use of the Lèse Majesté law by successive Thai governments to suppress dissidents. The campaign to release the labour activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk continues.

Over 10,000 workers at the giant Asia Pulp and Paper’s (APP) twin mills in Karawang, West Java, staged a two day strike this week over conditions and pay. The unity and determination of the workers actions set the stage for a quick resolution of the dispute. Workers won up to 18% wage increases which placed most workers well above the minimum wage award.

There is a growing effort to bring the giant Samsung corporation to account over its shocking OHS record. Unfortunately, this week, Ms. Lee Yunjeong became the 55th known worker that has died due to chemical exposure while working at one of Samsungs production lines. A public funeral was held on the 10th of May to highlight her death. Protest messages can be sent to Samsung and to the government. Messages of solidarity can be sent here.

The Government of Pakistan is continuing to use its Anti Terrorism legislation to suppress labour movement organising. We have previously reported on the Faisalabad 6, the 6 unionists from Ittehad Town and labour activist Baba Jan. Now nine officers and one member of the Pearl Continental union in Lahore have been arrested on charges of terrorism. Click here for information and solidarity.

War and oppression creates refugees. Capitalism creates war and oppression. Refugees are workers who are running from bombs and running from starvation. They go to countries like Greece, the United States, Egypt, Malaysia and Korea where they are constantly being threatened with deportation. They come to countries like Australia in boats and are locked up in immigration detention centres.  2012 marks 20 years of mandatory detention of refugees arriving in boats in Australia.

World wide, workers will be marching in defence of refugees.
Join us in protest on World Refugee Day
Sunday 17 June 2012 at 12 noon
Gather State Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne
Download the leaflet here

Every year the KMU Labor Centre in the Philippines organises an International Solidarity Affair, which is a solidarity visit with many activities, including a major march on May Day. Solidarity visits with workers in struggle is a major component of the International Solidarity Affair.
This year the a coalition of groups, including the KMU and IOHSAD, have organised an International Solidarity Mission on Mining, and they are asking supportive labour movement organisations to send delegates to this important solidarity visit. Part of the trip involves meeting mining communities and discussing with the workers their situation, and what activities can improve the situation.

Come to AAWL’s next Public Meeting for a report back on this very important Solidarity visit to the Philippines.
Wednesday 6 June 2012 at 6pm
Evatt Room, Trades Hall, Cnr Victoria and Lygon Streets Carlton

The situation for Palestinian hunger strikers is becoming more desperate by the day with some close to death. This continuing protest is being carried out by Palestinian detainees to highlight the illegal occupation of Palestine by the Israeli state and protest the ongoing repression of Palestinians. For May Day, Palestinian workers reiterated their support for the hunger strikers while Physicians for Human Rights have now set up a support centre. For solidarity click here.
 

Bersih demonstrations held in Independence Square, Kuala Lumpur on 28 April 2012 were the biggest demonstrations seen in Malaysia in a decade.  But police heavily repressed protesters, with some 400 people being arrested.  The Socialist Party of Malaysia has issued this statement in response to the police brutality.

Watch the video here

The hospitality industry in East Timor has had recent frequent labour disputes, see here and here. This week on May Day, 84 workers and supporters were assaulted and arrested by police as they were marching towards the Hotel Timor. Two of the demonstrators had to be taken to hospital. The workers at the Hotel Timor are in dispute over wages and arbitrary dismissals. For solidarity, click here
 

In a significant court decision, workers employed at the PT. Iwata Indonesia company won their right to be regarded and to receive the same benefits as direct employees. The workers had fought for two years against the company’s attempts to ‘sub-contract’ them out to another company in order to lower their wages and conditions. For more information click here.