“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

• Martin Luther King Jr.

THE GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY (GLA) ELECTION should have been held 17 days ago – on 7th May. They’re held every four years and 25 seats are up for grabs. The election is unique in that it comprises of three different ‘contests’ – each with its own ballot paper. This means that the London electorate votes for the Mayor of London, 14 Constituency Members & 11 Members that represent the whole of London (London-wide Members) all in one hit.

As this section of the official London Elects web-site notes – https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/what-do-mayor-london-and-london-assembly-do – the London Assembly is responsible for areas such as policing, transport, housing, planning and the environment.

However, due to the Covid-19 crisis, the GLA election has now been postponed until Thursday May 6th 2021. But what has all this got to do with Nations without States?

The main reason is that our friends and comrades of the National Liberal Party -NLP – were intending to stand candidates (under the banner of Self-Determination For All!) in the election. Here, they were hoping to draw attention to the fact that countless people around the world are demanding Self-Determination – whether it be some form of recognition, autonomy or independence.

Self-Determination is the raison d’être of the National Liberal Party. Therefore, they’ll support the right of all people who desire freedom. This includes for example the Catalans, Flemish, Kurds, Sikhs and Tamils. (The irony of the election being held in London – the English capital – won’t be lost on supporters of both NwS & the NLP. For those who don’t know, England doesn’t have its own Parliament. Westminster is a British, and not English, Parliament!)

The NLP have advised us that they are still organising for next May – although, now that there’s no immediate hurry, much of this is now being done behind the scenes.

Nations without States will also keep on highlighting the causes of those people who desire some form of Self-Determination. As our educational outreach posters (above) indicate, to date we’ve looked at the Aborigines, Aché, Ainu & Ahwazi People. Next up will be an article about the Åland Islands.

In the meantime, however, we feel that it’ll be appropriate to reproduce an article which appeared in issue 1 of Nation, the ‘Newsletter of Nations without States’. Identities, Self-Determination and Initiatives provided information about NwS and outlined our strategy. It talks about the need to ‘build a broad-front alliance which consists of self-determinists from the British Isles and the various foreign Diasporas living here.’ Whilst fighting elections wasn’t specifically mentioned at this early stage – although we feel that it’s implicit in the article – issue 2 of Nation reported that NwS wished to build ‘a whole new voting demographic.’

As usual, we welcome any feedback from fellow Self-Determinists once this article appears on Facebook/Nations without States.

Identities, Self-Determination and Initiatives

NATIONS WITHOUT STATES (NwS) is an exciting new activist based pressure group sponsored by the National Liberal Party. The NLP – Britain’s true centre party – is the only party that supports self-determination for all nations. Check out its website: www.nationalliberal.org

Founded in March 2012, the Organising Committee of NwS consists of Jagdeesh Singh, Graham Williamson and Sockalingam Yogalingam. It is currently appointing NwS Representatives, who’ll become official links to their community’s Diaspora. It also hopes to produce a self-determinist manifesto and constitution in the near future.

The main aim of NwS is to highlight the plight of all peoples who aspire to nationhood. These might be based on peoples or tribes within a state or even across borders; folk that may or may not have been independently organised in the past. They might have a linguistic or historical separateness from their neighbours or fellow citizens. All seeking statehood will aspire to recognition, autonomy or independence.

We will support the right of all such peoples to determine their future. These include, for instance, the Kurds, Flemish, Sikhs and Tamils. Nations without States – NwS – supports the right of self-determination where it is based on a sound and just position and is supported by the majority of its ‘national’ community.

As self-determinists we believe that the concept of nationhood is universal – and in an era of globalisation it needs protection and promotion as one solution to our political ills. A proud and recognised nation within its own state and at ease with itself is far more likely to ensure internal and external peace than any ‘supra-national empire’.

Thus, Nations without States will aim to:

• Showcase the many suppressed nations and those groups that struggle to obtain recognition for their nations and/or some level of autonomy or independence. We will do this via conferences, meetings, demonstrations, days of action, pickets, publications, leaflets and social media. Here we’ll look at the ‘forgotten nations’ of the world explaining their historical background, their present situation and what the future might hold. We are more than happy to allow representatives of such peoples as individuals or groups to present their case.

• Help build a broad-front alliance which consists of self-determinists from the British Isles and the various foreign Diasporas living here. We will co-ordinate the representatives and groups among the various Diasporas in the West so that each cause will benefit from each other’s experience, strength and contacts. Hopefully, by working together – via joint conferences, demonstrations and educational outreach material – each group will be able to push their national cause that little bit further towards their goals.

NwS is unique because it links all of our national struggles. We believe that joint strategies and the pooling of our resources will make us much stronger. This is essential – as we’re up against powerful governments who have a vested interest in denying people self-determination. Some of these governments are openly dictatorial – indeed, they’re not adverse to a spot of genocide. Even some of the ‘democratic’ governments just pay lip service to true democracy and human rights.

They also have lots of money to spend on PR. In many cases they can call upon a compliant media to either smear those fighting for self-determination or simply not bother reporting views which represent an ‘inconvenient truth’.

Those interested in helping NwS overcome these vested interests and obtaining self-determination for all of our nations, should contact nationswstates@aol.co.uk or check out Facebook/Nations without States.

The Tolpudddle Martyrs are generally considered as the founders of British trade unionism.

TRADE UNIONISTS will be aware that yesterday was 1st May.   Traditionally Spring festivals are held on this day.  However, it also marks an important day in the Trade Union calendar as ordinary workers take to the streets to celebrate International Workers’ Day.  Sadly, this year these celebrations were significantly muted due to Covid-19.  

Despite the ‘leftist’ origins of International Workers’ Day (the 1st May was chosen in 1889 for political reasons by the Marxist International Socialist Congress) we National Liberal Trade Unionists – NLTU – are more than happy to recognise & celebrate May Day.  

Some people may find this odd, given that the NLTU rejects socialism (as well as capitalism).  

We also have a slightly different take on class.  Here, we feel that it’s ridiculous to view and/or judge individuals solely in terms of percieved class.  This ‘be all and end all’ view is fairly restrictive.  Most importantly, it doesn’t take into account the nature & character of different people – irrespective of what their personal wealth is or what accent they speak with.  

With the above in mind, we find it slightly bizare – and completely hypocritical – that some on the ‘left’ absolutely hate those who have more money than they do, or speak with a ‘cut glass’ accent.  At the same time, they would (rightly) oppose anyone who hated others simply because of the colour of their skin, religion, sexuality or whatever.  To some extent, we’re all ‘accidents of birth’ and have no control over certain distinguishing features.  So why do the left entertain these double standards?  

National Liberal Trade Unionists also celebrate May Day because, in the past, there’s been a strong liberal tradition within trade unionism.  Also, we find it useful to study early socialists & non-socialists – particularly those who were patriotic in outlook.  The NLTU feels that it can draw inspiration from the struggles of others.  

With the above in mind, we’ll be looking at the Tolpudddle Martyrs, generally accepted as the founders of British trade unionism.  We’ll also examine early socialist pioneers like Robert ‘Bob’ Blatchford, Keir Hardie & William Morris.  Social reformers like William Cobbett & John Ruskin are also of great interest.   

It’s important to note that none of these figures will be placed on a pedestal, so to speak.  However, we do regard them as a ‘point of reference’ in that they did – or said – things that are of great interest to the NLTU.  

We mentioned earlier the tradition of liberal trade unionism and trade unionists.  Few people – including many trade unionists – will be aware of this.  That’s not surprising as this tradition hasn’t really been evident for years now.  However, that’s no reason to self-censor ourselves and ignore it.  On the contrary, we need to re-kindle & re-build this tradition.   

Whilst this may appear to be a daunting thought, the NLTU feels that it’s possible to promote this ‘alternative’ form of trade unionism.  For instance, we’re aware of many ordinary working folks who’re sick & tired of what they perceive to be modern day trade union double-standards – such as the huge salaries pocketed by many top officials.  Others are fed up with local officials who claim to be on trade union business when in fact they appear to be on ‘jollies’.  Still more workers are tired of listening to those trade unionists who appear to be on some sort of power trip.  

With all of the above in mind, why not learn more about the National Liberal Trade Unionist?  Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/277840098977231

An electronic Conference on Kashmir’s Lockdown running quite separately and earlier than the global one was held last week. Various Kashmiri organisations, politicians, human rights activists and our (national) Self-Determinist pressure group Nations without States, attended.

Some notable attendees included the Conference Moderator Barrister M. Tramboo, Chairman Professor K. Buchner MEP (the Conservative Green ODP), and President in exile Carles Puigdemont (of Catalonia). The Conference discussed the need for the world to acknowledge Kashmir’s Self-Determination and Human Rights.

A Resolution was agreed by the participants calling the UN, EU, individual states and whomever will listen, to lobby for a solution (to follow). It was agreed that such conferences should be held on a regular basis.

Our Parliamentary petition was brought up as one initiative, amongst many, that supporters can get behind: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300570/