Threatened Expulsions from the Brazilian PT (Workers' Party)

["John O'Neill" <johnfergaloneill@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Forwarding as requested by an Independent Socialist involved in the "Red
Banner" Editorial Group.


A Cháirde,
A number of left wingers have been threatened with expulsion from the
Brazilian PT, the political party of the recently elected president Lula.

As you can see from the petition pasted below,  they voted against pension
reforms similar to measures proposed by the previous right wing government
of Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

Signatories in Britain so far include John McDonnell MP, Ken Loach
(filmmaker), Paul Laverty (screenwriter) plus Greg Tucker, Rail Marine and
Transport national train crew secretary and Andrew Burgin, Press Officer,
Stop the War.

I propose that Irish labour movement and peace activists, prominent
leftwingers, feminists, environmentalists and so on, should also sign this
petition; would you be willing to help get the ball rolling?

I do not think there is much point in creating extra work by drawing up a
separate Irish based petition - although nothing need stop people (or groups
of people) issuing their own supplementary statements; once a reasonable
number of people have signed the statement, I propose to release it to the
appropriate media outlets here in Ireland, copy it to friends abroad, and so
on.

Regards,

John M
--------------

Petition on Behalf of PT Senator Heloisa Helena And PT Deputies Joao Batista
Araujo Baba and Luciana Genro

We the undersigned, like millions of others around the world, shared the joy
of the Brazilian people when Lula was elected President of Brazil last year.

After more than a decade of neo-liberal policies devastating the peoples of
the world; after more than four years of a new, diverse, international
movement of opposition arguing that another world is possible - in which
Lula, the PT and the World Social Forums in Porto Alegre played a crucial
part - it seemed that at last there would be a chance to show there really
is an alternative.

Of course the circumstances are difficult, the legacy is a heavy one, and
time has been short. But it is with deep alarm and dismay that we learn the
PT is now considering expelling three of its most outspoken members of
congress for publicly opposing the government's planned pension reforms. It
is not our business to express an opinion about the detail of the Brazilian
government's policies. However we do know that pension reform, not only in
Latin America but here in Europe and elsewhere, has been a key issue pitting
neo-liberal governments and the IMF against the organised labour movement.
Just one day after the PT decided to begin disciplinary proceedings against
these three members of congress, millions of workers in France and Austria
took action against pension reform in their countries. We also understand
that the PT itself opposed similar pension reforms when they were proposed
by the previous government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

It therefore seems to us very grave that the PT leadership is now
considering drastic punishment against those who continue to argue for the
PT's traditional policies. Of course, as Emir Sader of the World Social
Forum International Council has put it, the Lula government may well have
the right to change its mind about such issues, but to punish those who have
not changed their mind would send a terrible message around the world. To
those millions of workers on the streets in France and Austria, to the many
millions more who have been mobilising against neoliberalism and war, it
will seem to say, "Sorry, we don't care about all that, we've decided there
really is no alternative".  It will also suggest that the PT as a party has
given up on its proud tradition of democracy, pluralism and tolerance.

We therefore urge you to step back from any expulsions and reaffirm the PT's
role as a beacon of hope for all of us around the world who want to work
with you to realise our common dream - that another world is indeed
possible.

John McDonnell MP
Ken Loach Film Director
Paul Laverty Screen Writer
Andrew Burgin Press Officer Stop the War Coalition
Greg Tucker RMT National Train Crew Secretary