A-Infos (en) China, More on the TWO anarcho-syndicalist COMRADES IN CHINA FACE DEATHPENALTY

[Laure <cube@zigzag.pl>]

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I've been trying to check out rumours that Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yungliang are
about to be executed for subversion for their part in workers' struggles.

They are two activists who are being made examples of. They were arrested
for ?illegal assembly, marches and protests?.

Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yungliang were from the Liaoyang Ferroalloy Factory.
Since 11 March, 2002, thousands of workers from the Liaoyang Ferroalloy
Factory and six other state owned enterprises (SOEs) have been staging
continuous demonstrations outside government buildings demanding the payment
of wages arrears and pensions. They also want the government to punish
corrupt officials who have caused their factories to go bankrupt. As one of
the workers' representatives, Yao was secretly detained on March 17. The
next day, as many as 3,000 workers from the Ferroalloy Factory gathered in
front of the gates of the Liaoyang government building and demanded his
release. During the course of events on that day, three more workers'
representatives were detained. They were Xiao Yunliang, Pang Qingxiang and
Wang Zhaoming. Workers from the Ferroalloy Factory continued their
demonstrations outside government offices calling for the release of their
representatives. The government answered with repression.

Having been detained for nine months with no formal charges, Pang Qingxiang
and Wang Zhaoming, two of the four arrested Liaoyang workers?
representatives, were released on bail pending trial on December 20, 2002.
The other two, Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang, are still locked up. Rumors have
it now that they are charged with subversion.

In November 2002 a seven-year ban on foreigners purchase of state enterprise
shares listed on stock exchanges was removed, opening the way for the
privatization of an estimated US$300 billion of state assets. China is
facing much pressure to privatize and rationalize its workforce. It is part
of the WTO. There is said to be a crisis in the banking sector; think
tankers have pinned China's economic woes on its considerable state sector.
Workers around the country are feeling the brunt of transformation but also
of widescale corruption and a third world economic model which allows
investors to keep paying shit wages in order to maximize profits.

In the early part of 2001 some 90,000 workers in northeastern China
protested demanding work, unpaid wages and punishment for corrupt government
officials and enterprise managers. In March last year protest actions
involved 50,000 oilworkers in Daqing, 30,000 metal workers in Liaoyang and
10,000 coal miners in Fushun. Around the countries, many smaller but not
less significant struggles are taking place.

It has to be remembered that China and Chinese workers play an extremely
important role in the world machinery of exploitation so it is important
that we support struggles in that region. When I find out more info, I'll
pass it on.

Laure


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