In this issue:

German Monday Demonstrations Ignite Uprising in Netherlands

Protests Erupt in France, as Well

Rallies Viewed Differently in Eastern, Western Media

German Chancellor Begins Asia Tour

French President Tours Asia

Is Coalition of the Willing Disintegrating?

Polish Government Announces Its Withdrawal From Iraq

From Volume 3, Issue Number 41 of EIR Online, Published Oct. 12, 2004

Western European News Digest

German Monday Demonstrations Ignite Uprising in Netherlands

Inspired by the German Monday rallies, more than 200,000 Dutch citizens took to the streets of Amsterdam Oct. 2. Labor unions and related associations had planned for the national day of action on Oct. 2, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, in cooperation with labor unions in several other European countries, but organizers, who expected 100,000 people, were overwhelmed by the turnout of at least twice that many, and perhaps as many as 250,000, which included members of the liberal D66 party and Christian Democrats.

A resident of Amsterdam, reported from the scene that trains heading for the rally in Amsterdam from other Dutch cities, had standing room only by their second stop. And in Amsterdam itself, the main route to the central square was so jammed with people, that the protesters filled several other squares in the city, as well—no tram, no bus could operate, because the entire downtown section of Amsterdam was crowded with people, and in the evening, after the event, many protesters had to wait several hours to catch a train.

The overwhelming success of the national day of action is encouraging those who are thinking of targetted general-strike actions to stop the government's Dutch version of the German Hartz IV. And the cynical tone in German media reports, to the effect that more Dutch took to the streets than Germans in Berlin on the same day, will backfire, because Germans who can think, see clearly that what is happening in the Netherlands, is an achievement of the German Monday rally movement.

Protests Erupt in France, as Well

For several weeks, a number of French cities have, in addition to rallies organized by the French LaRouche Youth Movement, held Monday rallies in support of the German movement against the Hartz IV austerity policy, as well as in opposition to the French government's cutbacks in essential social services. Avignon held its fourth Monday rally Oct. 4.

Protest ferment is developing on the issue of the speculative diesel price inflation: fishermen last week blocked the English Channel ports and they will target the Mediterranean ports.

It is also mooted among leftists in Germany that if people like Laurent Fabius gain more support for their criticism of the European Union Constitution, Socialist Party support for French Monday rallies or similar actions will visibly increase.

Rallies Viewed Differently in Eastern, Western Media

Many newspapers in eastern Germany give a different picture of the situation. While it cannot be denied that the total turnout at rallies is decreasing, eastern media reflect in their reports that east Germans do want the rallies to continue. The fact that many citizens who joined rallies in their home cities, but did not go to Berlin for the national Oct. 2 rally, has been noted by many observers, but it is not a sign of dwindling support for the rallies more broadly.

In many cities, Monday rallies may be called off, for the time being, or at least will not be held every week; in other cities, citizens are committed to continue no matter how many attend. In numerous cities where rallies will be called off for the next weeks, regular meetings of organizers and committed citizens will discuss more detailed alternatives to Hartz IV. Ironically, in numerous cities, the local PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism) still is on auto-pilot, from weeks of mobilization against Hartz IV, while the leaders of the state PDS party organization, especially in Mecklenburg and in Berlin, are part of the governing coalition trying to impose the Hartz IV policy.

There are related, interesting developments on the political party scene: In Wiemar, the Free Democrats are split over the issue of rallies, which are supported by one faction of the party; and in Saxony, the Christian Democratic Party base is enraged that the state party leadership is avoiding any debate on the election defeat of Sept. 19. The CDU of Mittweida is circulating a letter among party sections, calling for a debate, and for party leaders to take responsibility for the losses.

German Chancellor Begins Asia Tour

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder began a two-day visit to India, on Oct. 6, followed by Vietnam, on Oct. 8, for a state visit and participation at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Hanoi. From Oct. 8-9, he is scheduled to meet the Prime Ministers of Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia, on the sidelines of the ASEM meeting.

On his return to Germany, Schroeder will visit Pakistan on Oct. 10, and Afghanistan Oct. 11.

French President Tours Asia

French President Jacques Chirac toured Asia, beginning with a visit to Singapore Oct. 6, where he met with sitting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his two predecessors, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Top issues for discussion include a potential billion dollar sale of France's Rafale jet fighters, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's proposed Asia-Middle East Dialogue as a forum for governments from both regions to discuss terrorism. Chirac's spokesman said the President liked the idea of using the dialogue to discuss ways of tackling the root causes of terrorism, not just the use of military force. Former Prime Minister Goh had proposed the initiative in August while travelling in the Middle East.

Singapore's foreign affairs ministry website states the dialogue aims to promote better understanding between the two regions on political issues, security, economics, and social-cultural matters.

A steering committee comprised of government officials from Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Bangladesh are due to meet in October to lay the groundwork for the dialogue.

The most important leg of Chirac's trip is also the last leg, that to China.

Fifty French business leaders are travelling with Chirac. France is aiming to better its status as China's fourth-biggest trading partner in the European Union. This, his third visit to China since 1995, will include stops in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Chengdu.

Is Coalition of the Willing Disintegrating?

Coalition partner Spain has disinvited the U.S. Marines from participating in that country's annual Columbus Day celebrations. The previous conservative government of Jose Maria Aznar had, since 2001, invited U.S. Marines to take part in honoring the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's voyage on Oct. 12, as part of the "Day of Hispanidad."

But with the change of governments in April, the new Socialist government, which withdrew its troops from Iraq soon after taking power, dropped the invitation for the Marines to participate in the commemoration, and instead invited French troops to join the festivities to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation.

Spanish Defense Minister Jose Bono said Oct. 5 that there was still friendship and respect between Madrid and Washington, but, "What does not continue is subordination and getting down on our knees on orders from a foreign government, whichever it may be." A U.S. Embassy official declined to criticize Spain.

Polish Government Announces Its Withdrawal From Iraq

The "Coalition of the Willing" in Iraq has taken multiple hits in recent days, beginning with Polish Defense Minister Jerzy Szmadjdzinski announcing that Poland will end its troop presence in Iraq, definitely by the end of 2005, coinciding with the expiration of U.N. resolution 1546 and the timetable included therein.

Poland has a contingent of 2,500 Polish troops in Iraq, and commands a "multinational" force of 6,000 soldiers, stationed south of Baghdad. The Polish government's announcement coincided with a visit by President Aleksander Kwasniewski to Moscow, and thence to Paris on Oct. 4, where he met French President Jacques Chirac.

The meeting led to a significant warming of relations, after a cooling of ties related to differences between the two countries over Iraq, and Poland's decision to purchase US F-16 jets over France's Rafale jets.

In an interview with the Swiss daily Neue Zuercher Zeiting two weeks ago, Kwasniewski had hinted that Poland had been lured into Iraq on the basis of the threat of WMD, and complained that Poland had been practically frozen out of any contracts in Iraq, which according to Kwasniewski: "the U.S. had unilaterally distributed." He furthermore warned against "a unilateral hegemony policy," that America wants to play in Iraq and the world.

Polls show that 70% of the Polish population oppose Poland's troop presence in Iraq. On Oct. 15, a confidence vote will be taken in the Polish Sejm (parliament). It is reported that politicians from the opposition PSL party will present a petition demanding the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

At the same time, Italian Vice Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini has indicated that Italy, which has 3,000 troops stationed in Iraq, could withdraw its troops after parliamentary elections in January 2005. "As soon as there is an Iraqi government which represents the will of the people, Fini said in Cairo, "there is no reason why any foreign troops should stay in Iraq."

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