Russia: Gazprom workers fight back
The radical labor leader and the deputy of the State Duma Oleg Shein
with 100 hundred chemical workers have been blocking the highway
Astrakhan-Aksaraisk in southern Russia since 4 September.
They demand the regional government stop the deadly contamination of
the working class settlements by the giant gas monopoly Gazprom and
provide their families with housing in safe areas.
The highway is used by the company to ship chemical materials to its gas processing plant. Hundreds of workers and their family members fall victim to deadly pollution. Cancer, tuberculosis, and sulphur poisoning are rampant in the areas adjacent to the Astrakhan-Gazprom plant.
So far there has been no violence. But the Governor of Astrakhan Region Guzhin refused to talk to the workers and there is a danger that the authorities will use force against the protesters.
Through deputy Shein, they have asked for international support in the
form of faxes and letters to the authorities.
The LRCI fully support their demands and actions and urge that these actions will continue and even spread.
The fact that the Putin government sides with Gazprom - indeed chairman
Rem Viakhirev is a close ally of Putin - demonstrates clearly that this
government is not a government of the people. Indeed it is a puppet of
the ruling class - the newly enriched bourgeoisie.
This struggle is an important struggle not only against the
corrupt and greedy Gazprom management but also against the rulers of
Russia, who care a lot about their personal fortunes but not about the
people as the world could see during the tragic days of the sunken
submarine Kursk.
Send protest letters to:
President Vladimir Putin
fax (095)206-07-66
Governor Guzhin
ôÅÌ. (8512) 22-8519, 22-85-19
E-mail: head@region.astmail.astranet.ru
President's Regional Representative Valery Adrov
Tel/fax (221) 22-56-44, 22-24-55
Please kindly note that if you send a copy of your protest to
Deputy Shein
shein72@mail.ru, shein@duma.gov.ru,
fax: 007 (8512) 22-12-87,
he will be able relate it to Astrakhan workers.
Also, please send a copy to ISWoR@aol.co
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