One thousand workers have been on strike for five months in the Tanta Linen company in Egypt. We have received an appeal for solidarity please take up this case in your trade union or workplace.

Over the weekend Essam Salami, a leading activist in the General Union of Tunisian Students, was seized by the police who have treated him brutally. Please take up the appeal of the General Union of Tunisian Students, and write to local Tunisian embassies demanding his release.

We publish this appeal that we received from Syrian left-wing activists. The appeal calls for clarification of the whereabouts of several left-wing activists that have disappeared in the last months and a release of all those imprisoned. We encourage our readers to support their appeal and write letters of protests.

On 12 April, 2009 Jim Mullaly, a CUPE 1004 Health and Safety Rep and union activist, was fired from his job at EasyPark in Vancouver. EasyPark is a public-private partnership owned by the City of Vancouver and the Downtown Vancouver Association. Mr Mullaly recently led a safety campaign demanding proper ventilation and clean air in the underground parkade that he works in.

An appeal from the Arabic Marxist website, Marxy.com, for solidarity with the Egyptian workers.

Malaysian police yesterday attacked a peaceful protest against fuel price hikes in Kuala Lumpur. 54 activists were arrested, including leaders of the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) chairperson Nasir Hashim and secretary-general S. Arutchelvan. Urgent solidarity action is needed.