International news in brief


Ireland: Establishment criminalises protest

Protests took place at several Irish embassies against the decision of Irish authorities to pursue a political vendetta against anti-water charge protesters.

27 anti-water charges demonstrators have been summonsed to appear in court by the police regarding a peaceful sit-down protest in November 2014 in Jobstown, south Dublin. Then, Joan Burton, the deputy Prime Minister and Labour leader, was temporarily delayed in her car by local people angry about the imposition of iniquitous water charges.

Socialist Party member and Anti-Austerity Alliance TD (MP) Paul Murphy and local councillors are among those charged. If convicted, the charge of ‘unlawful detention’ carries a heavy sentence.

Paul Murphy defends the protest – see www.socialistparty.net

Finland: Political strike against government

CWI members from Sweden participated in a recent 30,000-strong demo in Helsinki, capital of Finland. The demo opposed right-wing government plans to cut workers’ allowances and holiday entitlements, and was accompanied by nationwide strikes – the country’s first political strikes for generations.

Hundreds of CWI leaflets in Finnish were distributed and 41 Swedish papers were sold.

See article by Jonas Brännberg and Elin Gauffin, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI, Sweden) – www.socialistworld.net

Hong Kong election campaign

Socialist Action (CWI, Hong Kong) chairperson Sally Tang Mei-ching and supporters leafleting in the Pak Tin ward, Hong Kong.

“Our powerful team gave out leaflets to 7,000 households’ letterboxes today at Pak Tin!”