We stand with the working people of Thailand

Workers: Organise to win !

Soldiers: Don’t shoot !
No to Abhisit – No to Thaksin

23 April 2010 – Anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok are continuing despite attacks.

On 10 April a large Red Shirts movement demonstration in the centre of Bangkok was attacked by army troops. At least 25 people were killed and many hundreds injured. On 22 April the Red Shirts protest area was attacked with granades by unknown forces. One person was killed and many injured.

This is the 6th time in the past forty years that the Thai government has used military force to suppress popular discontent against the inequality and corruption of Thai society. The Red Shirts movement is usually characterised as supporting ousted Premier Thaksin. Many Red Shirts are pro Thaksin, but the Red Shirts are a complex mix of many factions who are protesting against economic inequality and injustice and against the entrenched power structures of Thailand.

The protests are continuing because the working people of Thailand have decided to resist oppression and exploitation. We stand with the working people of Thailand.  Workers in Thailand have been paying the price of globalisation for too long. Many global companies have relocated their factories to Thailand to take advantage of low wages and inadequate laws on health & safety and workplace standards.

This is a time of crisis for workers in Thailand. Thai workers can resolve this situation if they intervene as an organised workers movement and take control of their workplaces and communities. Workers can meet together and decide their own economic and social demands, not simply choose between different capitalist rulers.

Workers everywhere must support workers in Thailand. AAWL asks all workers in the region and globally to support coordinated protest actions and international industrial action and solidarity to assist our fellow workers in Thailand.

Workers: Organise to win !

Soldiers: Don’t shoot !
No to Abhisit – No to Thaksin

23 April 2010 – Anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok are continuing despite attacks.

On 10 April a large Red Shirts movement demonstration in the centre of Bangkok was attacked by army troops. At least 25 people were killed and many hundreds injured. On 22 April the Red Shirts protest area was attacked with granades by unknown forces. One person was killed and many injured.

This is the 6th time in the past forty years that the Thai government has used military force to suppress popular discontent against the inequality and corruption of Thai society. The Red Shirts movement is usually characterised as supporting ousted Premier Thaksin. Many Red Shirts are pro Thaksin, but the Red Shirts are a complex mix of many factions who are protesting against economic inequality and injustice and against the entrenched power structures of Thailand.

The protests are continuing because the working people of Thailand have decided to resist oppression and exploitation. We stand with the working people of Thailand.  Workers in Thailand have been paying the price of globalisation for too long. Many global companies have relocated their factories to Thailand to take advantage of low wages and inadequate laws on health & safety and workplace standards.

This is a time of crisis for workers in Thailand. Thai workers can resolve this situation if they intervene as an organised workers movement and take control of their workplaces and communities. Workers can meet together and decide their own economic and social demands, not simply choose between different capitalist rulers.

Workers everywhere must support workers in Thailand. AAWL asks all workers in the region and globally to support coordinated protest actions and international industrial action and solidarity to assist our fellow workers in Thailand.

We ask all genuine unions to discuss solidarity statements in union meetings and workplace meetings that include the following:

Thai soldiers must refuse to follow any orders to shoot the workers and farmers assembled in the streets of Bangkok.

Support the call for the resignation of the military-backed government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Take immediate practical solidarity action for workers in Thailand. This is particularly important if you work for a company with economic links to Thailand.

Send your message of solidarity for workers in Thailand

to AAWL – australia asia worker links: solidarity@aawl.org.au

and to the following Global Union Federations:

BWI – building workers international: info@bwint.org
EI – education international: headoffice@ei-ie.org
ICEM – international federation of chemical energy mine and general workers unions: info@icem.org
IFJ – international federation of journalists: efj@ifj.org
IMF – international metalworkers federation: info@imfmetal.org
ITF – international transport workers federation: mail@itf.org.uk
ITGLWF – international textile garment and leather workers federation: office@itglwf.org
IUF – international union of food agricultural hotel restaurant catering tobacco and allied workers associations: iuf@iuf.org
PSI – public services international: psi@world-psi.org
ITUC – international trade union confederation: info@ituc-csi.org
WFTU – world federation of trade unions: info@wftucentral.org

End the dictatorship – All power to the working people !
australia asia worker links – workers change the world – aawl.org.au