Global Briefs
COLOMBIA: Benedicto Caballero, a leader in the agricultural co-operative movement, is the latest victim in the wave of assassinations of trade union, popular movement and Communist activists in Colombia, the Communist Party of Colombia said. "This new assassination is part of the systematic persecution against popular leaders and activists of the Communist Party of Colombia and gives the lie to the official demagoguery about the guarantees for the opposition: the CPC said. Under the Uribe administration, forced displacements, threats, arbitrary detentions and assassinations of CPC leaders have increased, the party said. Over 3000 Communist activists have been assassinated in the last 13 years, in the context of the political genocide against the Patriotic Union, whose victims number over 5000, the CPC said.* * * GEORGIA: When Mikhail Saakashvili became Georgia's Prime Minister last November he promised to make Georgia a prosperous state with control over all of its territory. He was faced with break-aways in the Adzhara and South Ossetian regions. Their governments preferred to have close relations with the Russian Federation. Saakashvili has forced out the leader of the Adzhara region and has now turned his attention to South Ossetia. Saakashvili, a US stooge, was installed to facilitate the construction of a major oil export pipeline across Georgia thereby avoiding Russian territory. Saakashvili's policies towards the region and Russia are seen as provocative. One of his aims is to prevent any meaningful dialogue or co-operation between Russia and Georgia. He is now turning his attention to military might which is being built up by the US. His latest remarks that Russian tourist ships will be shot at if they come close to the disputed territory brought a strong diplomatic protest from the Russian foreign minister.* * * GREECE: The Communist Party of Greece cited "the dozens of dead and injured workers" along with violations of people's labour and democratic rights, environmental damage and repression in the name of "security" in its statement on July 23. The CPG pointed out that under the control of the multinational corporate giants, the Games lack "any measure to develop and support mass popular athletics for all". The statement demanded the new facilities be given to the people when the Games are over. Meanwhile, head of the Greek Construction Workers' Union said that the union had details of 14 workers who had died while building Olympic facilities. According to the union the total may be closer to 40 when deaths on the supporting infrastructure are counted. "Men are being forced to work long shifts, up to 14 hours a day, every day, in very hot temperatures and under constant pressure to complete construction work in time. Most have no hard hats or safety boots and if they complain, they're sacked", said the union leader.