From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:18:45 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:18:45 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades Part 1 Message-ID: <06c201c53907$c6d43f00$ab30fd3e@WOL> GUATEMALA: Mass protests and resistance delay the passing of CAFTA, a free trade deal with the US Mass protests oppose trade deal with US Protests delay plans for a "free trade area" and protesters try to shut down congress Police attack protesters with tear gas and water cannons Thousands protested, and more were prevented from entering the capital The protests continued for days after the pact was passed Two protesters were killed in the western province of Huehuetengango when soldiers opened fire on protesters Protesters storm parliament and prevent vote on free trade deal The parliament couldn't get quorate for a vote due to a blockade by protesters Teachers were foremost among those protesting Police viciously attack protests, killing two protesters Protesters surrounded Parliament and prevented the fast-tracking of the deal After CAFTA is passed, a national strike is called http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2005/marzo/vier11/12guate-i.html http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991221416&Language=EN http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D88ICI480.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down http://www.kfmb.com/story.php?id=7148 http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=543356 http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/aplatin_story.asp?category=1102&slug=Guatemala%20Free%20Trade http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-16-voa7.cfm http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-guatemala-free-trade-protest,0,5298465.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=543356 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6096 http://chiapas.mediosindependientes.org/display.php3?article_id=112057 http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/19/9795362 http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0310-22.htm http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0316-05.htm http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/14/91534/4944 http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/22/191257/297 http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727547.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727539.php http://www.indybay.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=3009&category_id=53 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4355999.stm http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2005/03/14/free_trade_protests_jam_guatemalan_roads/ http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0310summary.htm http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0310another_day.htm http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0310repression.htm http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0310street_clashes.htm Photographs from Guatemala: http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0311fotos.htm http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0314fotografias.htm http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0314fotografias1.htm http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0314fotografias4.htm http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0314fotografias3.htm http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/america/tlc2005/0314fotografias2.htm Videos and pictures available: http://www.freedomsojourn.com/Naranjales.htm HONDURAS: Similar protests against the free trade deal Social justice, peasant and indigenous groups block roads as part of the protests http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B36BB4A32-9F4F-457D-8412-1AD5717E4CD0%7D&language=EN http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=82552 CAFTA opponents denounce vote in Honduras http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0303-14.htm CAFTA opposition pledged in Nicaragua http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={C7119024-3583-4902-9F21-1BCABC9BF1E7}&language=EN "U.S. Solidarity Organizations denounce police violence in Guatemala; support popular movement's call for a referendum on CAFTA" Washington, D.C.: U.S. based solidarity organizations that make up the Stop CAFTA coalition expressed support for protests in Guatemala calling for a popular referendum on the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). They also demanded that the government of Guatemala stop attacks against demonstrators. "We support the call from the Mesa Global, and other popular sector groups in Guatemala for a popular referendum on CAFTA. This agreement will have a dramatic impact on the country - from the rural small farmer economy to access to medicines, and provision of public services. The people should be able to vote directly," said Matthew Kennis of the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala. This week demonstrations have delayed efforts to ratify the treaty in Guatemala's congress. Yesterday, 500 hundred soldiers were sent in to the Historic Center of Guatemala City to help the municipal police disrupt union, farmer, indigenous and other groups protesting the vote. Police fired tear gas and beat demonstrators Wednesday evening. "The people in Central America are speaking out on CAFTA, and the message is clear: They do not want this agreement!" said Tom Ricker of the Quixote Center. "The ruling parties in Guatemala and the Bush administration pretend this agreement is great for Central America. But as in El Salvador and Honduras, the only way they can pass CAFTA is through force and repression," added Burke Stansbury of the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador There is a demonstration in front of the Guatemalan Embassy (2220 R. St., N.W.) in Washington, D.C. tomorrow at noon to voice support for the popular movement in Guatemala. Sponsored by NISGUA and the Guatemala Human Rights Commission. The STOP CAFTA Coalition works in solidarity with the people of Central America. Organizations include, the Nicaragua Network, the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala, U.S.-El Salvador Sister Cities, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, the Quixote Center, the SHARE Foundation and others. TOGO: Masses revolt against illegal president, mainly in the Be district of Lome Protests are held in the capital and elsewhere as opposition groups declare a general strike The revolt began when the army unconstitutionally declared the former president's son to be president after his death A 2-day general strike on Feb 8-9 was heeded by some, but inconsistently; mass protests continued over the next several days Thousands burned tyres and piles of garbage to block the movement of army vehicles, and threw things at security forces in protests against the coup Security forces murdered at least three protesters during ongoing clashes The army claimed to be firing "warning shots" which just happened to hit people, after a vehicle was besieged (yeah, right, "warning" shots straight into the crowd, probably) Another was allegedly shot on a later protest, allegedly for trying to disarm a soldier Opposition leaders claim 11 people were killed Protesters built barricades, burnt tyres and clashed with soldiers and cops in riot gear Some used catapults, while others covered their faces while dragging wrecked cars into barricades The 2,000 or more protesters held banners with slogans such as "Togo is not a monarchy" and "The coup d'etat will not succeed" Protesters pledged to continue the protests until the new "president" is removed Opposition parties support the protests, which the new regime is trying to ban http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19794-2005Feb12.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200502080733.html http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1107948420543B232 http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5534024 http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-12T133406Z_01_CUT243150_RTRUKOC_0_TOGO-SAT.xml http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7609696 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0502130555feb13,1,6775430.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-briefs13.4feb13,1,860208.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/81B88A20-4378-4E63-B815-FBE4FA84C521.htm http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1108178564191 http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-11-voa11.cfm http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:420c8685:ab2d1f4e81536e2?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7602638 http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/131580/1/.html http://www.columbiatribune.com/2005/Feb/20050214News018.asp http://www.columbiatribune.com/2005/Feb/20050214News018.asp http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=498240 http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7575140 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=qw1108377902369B232 http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/131490/1/.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200502080713.html http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=53N2PWLKXUXVSCRBAE0CFFA?type=worldNews&storyID=7575140&pageNumber=1 http://allafrica.com/stories/200502150980.html http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/14/news/togo.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200502140945.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200502140562.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4797371,00.html http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw110839140115B232 http://www.afrol.com/articles/15609 http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/news/shownews.jsp?content=w021465A http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-14-voa65.cfm http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:42079d50:f99cf1b45aaf7e5?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7558357 http://www.afrol.com/articles/15591 February 27: burning barricaces in the streets and more clashes with riot cops They marched from Be towards government buildings but were attacked on the way Gnassingbe has stepped down and been replaced by the deputy-speaker amid the unrest http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=221432005 http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=535688 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/4523b078c9a8e3cf872268ba27276e0b.htm http://english.people.com.cn/200502/28/eng20050228_174935.html http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1109572021985B232 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/03/01/2003225039 Solidarity protests by Togolese diaspora http://www.icilome.com/nouvelles/news.asp?id=70&idnews=4918 NIGERIA: Uprising against police in Makurdi, Benua state - copshops torched The two copshops were destroyed during several days of fighting with police in which protesters used sticks and bottles to fight off riot cops The revolt is triggered by the killing of a bus driver for not paying a bribe Protesters built roadblocks and fought cops Luxury cars were also trashed during the unrest Some reports suggest 3 cops and 1 other person died during clashes http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4315519.stm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03359551.htm http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0503040141mar04,1,7692945.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050304T180000-0500_76225_OBS_NIGERIAN_POLICEMAN_PLEADS_GUILTY_TO_DEMANDING_BRIBE.asp http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-nigeria-rioters,0,3909734.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050303/API/503031140&cachetime=3&template=dateline http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1109853721211B252 http://newsobserver.com/24hour/world/story/2199402p-10311819c.html >>BOLIVIA: MASS PROTESTS BRING DOWN PRESIDENT (slightly abridged to remove partisan conclusions; from Fifth International Global) Bolivia has lost another president. Carlos Mesa Gisbert resigned on Monday rather than face another huge wave of popular mobilisations. Just such a revolt brought him to power in October 2003. Originating in the massive shantytown of El Alto, 500,000 demonstrators marched down to the streets of the capital, La Paz. The then president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada fled to Miami. Mesa, his vice president, promised to fulfill the demands of that movement: to reclaim for the Bolivian state the second largest reserves of natural gas in Latin America. He promised to use them for an industrialisation project to benefit the indigenous majority. He promised to summon a Constituent Assembly, which could address the issues of indigenous autonomy, land distribution, and the ownership of natural resources. All of these promises have been broken. During the year and five months of Mesa's rule the country's social movements have repeatedly shut down the economy through strikes and road blockades. In recent weeks a general strike in El Alto has paralyzed access to the capital. A second "water war" has centered on El Alto determined to reverse the privatization of the public water and sewerage system. A three-day general strike actually forced the government to terminate of the contract of the private consortium Aguas del Illimani on January 13, 2005. This is the second victorious "water war" of the new century. Five years ago, in Cochabamba, several weeks of violent conflicts between protestors and the military led to the expulsion of a consortium controlled by the American transnational corporation, Bechtel. A Confusing Retreat in Bolivia By Luis Gomez, Posted on Wed Mar 16th, 2005 at 10:49:08 PM EST After announcing last night that the pressure tactics would continue, Evo Morales met with the social leaders this morning, before flying to the Chapare to announce a temporary suspension in the mobilizations. Last night, after Carlos Mesa's proposal to move forward with general elections and the diverse reactions to his speech, the Chamber of Deputies approved the hydrocarbons law proposal after a debate over the details. Now it's up to the Senate to approve it definitively or modify it. in waiting for that moment, the movements went into a confusing retreat this morning. (Posted in Spanish at 12:17 PM) First President Mesa shook the political stage once again in Bolivia with his call for early elections. Later, the Chamber of Deputies finally approved the hydrocarbons law (in which the collection of taxes and royalties follows the government's original proposal), leaving the Senate the task of making any modifications. Faced with this situation, Evo Morales and the social groups aligned to his Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party decided to lift their blockades and proposed an "intermission" to the other social leaders committed to the national mobilization pact created last week. During the meeting this morning in the headquarters of the Bolivian Workers' Federation (COB in its Spanish initials), both Morales and COB Executive Secretary Jaime Solares explained that it was necessary to wait until the Senate worked on the hydrocarbons law, and, they said, "decide to respect the sovereignty of the Bolivian people," modifying the law until the royalties are set at 50 percent per unit of gas or petroleum produced. Roberto de la Cruz (a member of the El Alto city council), Felipe Quispe (the Aymara leader known as el Mallku), and the Aymara leader of the peasant farmers of the La Paz department, Gualberto Choque, also attended the meeting. Quispe, frustrated by the suspension of the protests, walked out before the meeting was over. Choque, who later held a meeting in his office with the main Aymara community leaders from the Bolivian highlands, was not happy with the meeting either: the Aymara nation had decided to join the blockades in full force, and this new posture from Morales and other leaders left them disconcerted. At the moment, the highway that unites the cities of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, passing through the Chapare, is now practically free of blockades. Evo Morales is heading there to speak with his supporters about what will come next for them. And speaking of the center of the country, this morning the peasant irrigators confronted the police in Cochabamba, making them flee and strengthening their blockades, which they will probably lift this afternoon. This afternoon a joint session of Congress will debate Mesa's call for early elections. Nevertheless, the proposal to make the newly elected congress also into a Constituents' Assembly, charged with writing a new constitution, has been rejected by nearly every sector of the political class and the Bolivian social movements. (The original proposal for such an assembly was understood to be separate from Congress, and inclusive of all Bolivia's social sectors as opposed to just the political parties). The withdrawal of the social movements, some tired but gambling on congressional action (such as the MAS), others frustrated by what they consider to be a step back (such as Felipe Quispe) is without a doubt still confusing. but we will keep watching these events unfold. Nationalize Gas Now, Says El Alto (4.00 / 1) (#1) by Teo Ballve on Thu Mar 17th, 2005 at 05:56:15 PM EST (User Info) http://www.nacla.org El Alto's Neighborhood Associations (FEJUVE) Want Gas nationalized Wednesday night (Mar. 16) Federation of Neighborhood Associations (FEJUVE) of city of El Alto held a General Assembly of Presidents and Neighbors to define their position on three items: water, Carlos Mesa and the hydrocarbons. In brief, they resolved: that not a cent will be paid to the water transnational Suez; to reject the hydrocarbons law and put forth the nationalization of natural resources; that Mesa, his ministers and parliamentarians leave. After some speeches and several short interventions in which could be heard the unanimous repudiation of the attitude of President Carlos Mesa and the parliament, a FEJUVE leader described the context in which political changes are produced in the government: "We can very clearly see that not one alte?o was fooled by Carlos Mesa and the grand party he threw last week at the Plaza Murillo. A party that signaled that the country remains a beggar to foreign capital. A party, where they danced and sung atop the bodies of 60 alte?os and more than 400 wounded that fought for our natural resources. We can't resign to this because blood was shed." Next, the following resolutions were read and greeted with applause: - With regard to Mesa's resignation or early elections: Let him go, they should all go, the President, his ministers and his parliament - We need to find mechanisms ourselves for self-government and to do that we need to find unity among all the impoverished and marginalized sectors. - We need top go to the level of the bases to deal with every issue. - In relation to the Hydrocarbons Law approved by the Lower House (C?mara de Diputados) of Congress: a unanimous rejection of the 18% royalty and 32% tax. It's a farse, it's the same law as Gonzalo S?nchez de Lozada's and that is why this one was backed by his partisan, Mario Coss?o. El Alto's direct proposal is the Nationalization Hydrocarbons. - Regarding Aguas del Illimani: we have not ruled out taking over installations. - Bills will not be paid and to not suffer the cut (of service(?)), each zone will constitute self-defense committees for each street. patrols - We also indicate that there is no reason to pay compensation to the company; what has it invested? What's more, it is only because of neighborhood participation that water hookups were made. For all the damage and abuse, they should be the ones paying indemnity to the people of El Alto. -We are convinced that the call for the immediate resignation of Jos? Luis Paredes as traitor to the city of El Alto needs ratification. After the interventions, a student from the Public University of El Alto denounced a fellow student that had presented himself at the Parliament to join a hunger strike in support of Carlos Mesa. He was subsequently expelled from said University. More from Bolivia: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7909606 http://ipsnews.net/new_nota.asp?idnews=27893 http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=national&story_id=030805b1_bolivia http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6069 http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-1/534/534_03_Bolivia.shtml http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6912/691256.html http://www.scottishsocialistvoice.net/back%20issues%2005/issue%20206.htm http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7820458 http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=a5STJBdJzzsE&refer=news_index http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/03/06/bolivia/ http://au.news.yahoo.com/050307/19/tdzo.html http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BB75AE9E8-487D-485C-ACAD-72A6FE3CE25E%7D&language=EN http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4351227.stm http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/07/9755216 http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/13/62629/4397 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m15.shtml http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=5285 http://www.counterpunch.org/ledebur03112005.html http://www.counterpunch.org/gomez03102005.html http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/620/620p19.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/616/616p19.htm http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=national&story_id=030805b1_bolivia http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=140540 http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_international.asp?id=60021 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/07/content_422596.htm Social movements unite http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/3/9/13539/63259 Pictures from Bolivia protests http://www.all4all.org/2005/03/1530.shtml BOLIVIA: Prime Minister resigns amid protests, roadblocks http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/consumer_news/11094598.htm Bolivia's Indians vow to keep up blockades KEVIN GRAY Associated Press LA PAZ, Bolivia - Bolivia's Indian leaders vowed Wednesday to set up more road blockades until the country's embattled president drops his opposition to their call for increasing taxes on foreign oil companies. President Carlos Mesa offered his resignation Sunday, saying his South American nation had become ungovernable after days of streets protests, but lawmakers refused to accept it and thousands rallied in his support in the capital, La Paz. Mesa, who is pressing for a law to encourage foreign investment in Bolivia's energy sector, said he has received a new mandate to govern, and he appealed to Bolivians to join him in a Thursday march to protest against the road blockades. "The vote by Congress shows there is a clear consensus about where Bolivia should head at this very difficult time," he said. But Evo Morales, an Indian congressman and leader of the nation's coca leaf growers, said his followers would continue blocking roads as long as the president opposes the law to increase taxes on foreign oil companies. "There are going to be more road blockades," Morales said. Bolivia holds the second-largest natural gas reserves in South America after Venezuela, and disagreements between leaders over ways to develop them have been at the center of political tensions in South America's poorest country. Mesa has said he reached agreement with lawmakers Tuesday to approve his oil tax plan, part of broader legislation known as the hydrocarbons law. Mesa took office in October 2003, succeeding President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, who resigned after bloody street protests over plans to export natural gas reserves. Since coming to power, Mesa has faced more protests, including calls for greater autonomy by Santa Cruz, Bolivia's wealthiest province; demands to lower fuel prices; and calls to increase taxes levied on foreign oil companies from 18 percent to 50 percent of their sales. The protests have highlighted the fault lines in the nation of 9 million people, already troubled by tensions between an Indian majority wielding new political clout in La Paz and a traditional white and mixed-race business elite. On Wednesday, angry Indian peasants burned tires and blocked roads with boulders in the Chapare region of central Bolivia, stalling traffic on one of the country's main highways. Protests also were held in El Alto, a city on the outskirts of La Paz. GERMANY: Thousands protest at defence summit in Munich Some protesters were masked and carried implements ready for clashes 19 were arrested by oinkers, who were equal in number to protesters http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12234506%255E1702,00.html BUSH IN GERMANY Mass protests as Bush visits Mainz Over 10,000 turn out to protest Some rush Bush's car Thousands march but don't get near Bush; pigs steal poster http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050224/asp/foreign/story_4417780.asp http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0223-10.htm http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-23T175428Z_01_L2347198_RTRIDST_0_INTERNATIONAL-BUSH-GERMANY-PROTEST-DC.XML http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5374 http://www3.turkishpress.com/w.asp?s=i&i=050223190639.dt9mo4go http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/demo-f26.shtml Pictures http://stern.de/politik/ausland/index.html?id=536801&nv=ct_rl&backref=%2Fpolitik%2Fdeutschland%2F536863.html%3Fnv%3Dhp_sr BELGIUM: Hundreds gather to protest Bush in Brussels http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DBD5F60E-606F-4095-BB52-CF963FAE0950.htm http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29629/story.htm Protesters try to storm Bush visit venue, using flares and firecrackers and breaking glass while trying to breach police lines Police attacked the protesters with water cannons http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2005/02/22/belgian_police_fire_teargas_at_anti_bush_protesters/ http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=17225&name=Thousands+protest+in+Brussels+against+Bush+European+visit http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=9882&s2=23 http://iraqwar.mirror-world.ru/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=40141 Piss off Bush http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1090665.htm SOUTH AFRICA: Protests and unrest in Phomolong, near Henneman, Hlohlolwane in Clocolan, and Mmamahabane, in Ventersburg, Orange Free State Residents, mainly youths, blocked roads and repelled police advances Police were forced out of Phomolong by insurgent youths who looted shops and fought running battles with cops Schools were closed for the day as youths walked out Media vehicles were also targeted, and police tried to seal off the township One youth was shot with a rubber bullet and injured; a cop died during the protests, but apparently of natural causes The unrest followed the failure of a state leader to turn up for planned talks with residents This was the culmination of over a week of protests over poor service provision by the local council and calling for the sacking of a corrupt official In Hlohlolwane, buildings were damaged by stone-throwers, and cops used teargas Hundreds were involved in protests in nearby Mmamahabane township Protesters stoned parked trucks and police vehicles and looted a cafe People from the township later marched for the release of detained locals The unrest forced municipal officials to meet with protesters Unfortunately, the protesters also targeted minorities such as Indians http://iafrica.com/news/sa/559892.htm http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20050216063002294C743726 http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,98007,00.html http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,97947,00.html http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/newsst/newsst1108459100.aspx http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=271&fArticleId=2412549 http://www.sabcnews.com/politics/the_provinces/0,2172,98028,00.html http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=qw1108550164901B216 http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,97888,00.html http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,97610,00.html http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=qw1108567262312B216 KHAYELITSHA, SOUTH AFRICA: Protester shot in leg during anti-eviction protest Residents gather as evictors, without notice, storm house and steal money, books This is in spite of a moratorium on the eviction after negotiations http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20050209063823659C512738 TSHWANE UNIVERSITY, SOUTH AFRICA: Students blockade campus with burning tyres in protest over fees This led to a general shutdown and by afternoon, all classes were suspended http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleid=197558 KwaZulu-Natal campus closed as students protest expulsions A major demand was reinstatement of hundreds of excluded students Student leaders claimed victory, but in suspicious circumstances http://iafrica.com/news/sa/515816.htm http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/7591.php PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA: Students make bonfire and clash with cops in protest over racism and exclusion http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1666100,00.html Similar protest march at Johannesburg University http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=qw1109071085219B232 SOUTH AFRICA: School students revolt over donated money which has disappeared Police are forced to release a detained student to calm stone-throwing The principal was holed up in an admin building as students pelted police vehicles with stones The students responded with stones when cops fired rubber bullets and threw stones at the students http://allafrica.com/stories/200502180301.html http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=vn20050218120027953C982274 SOUTH AFRICA: Security guards open fire on pickets disrupting scabbing Four protesting truckers were wounded with bullets when guards fired live bullets at pickets Guards allege the pickets had stormed the gate of the building and that they fired in the ground, hitting the pickets as ricochets Police also attacked strikers in central Johannesburg who targeted scab truckers The strike is mainly over safety, with many truckers injured and killed because bosses cut corners The protesters are also demanding pay increases http://www.finance24.com/Finance/Economy/0,,1518-25_1672586,00.html http://www.finance24.com/Finance/Economy/0,,1518-25_1671386,00.html http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A25003 http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSetId=261&fSectionId=553&fArticleId=2434062 http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=129&fArticleId=2432995 http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=128&fArticleId=2432996 http://www.sabcnews.co.za/economy/labour/0,2172,99087,00.html http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=198721&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/ http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2005/03/02/news/n21_02032005.htm http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1669748,00.html http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=128&fArticleId=2430782 http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/03/02/trucker.talks.reut/ http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:4225e1e8:992f943402658c5?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7785953 http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/09/2878038 http://business.iafrica.com/news/692678.htm http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:4228281b:59e421b41a47d9ed?type=businessNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7807423 SOUTH AFRICA Bisaser Road Revolt This is how the local newspaper, The Sunday Tribune, describes the confrontation that took place this past Saturday, 19 March 2005, between the police and the Bisaser road residents: "Amid burning car and tractor tyers and flaming, lice-infested mattresses, Durban police battled for more than four hours yesterday to disperse a crowd of about 750 protesting shack dwellers who had barricaded a major arterial route into Durban." The chief issue is that land promised for the development of housing is suddenly being dug up to be developed for business use. Amongst the secondary issues (sanitation, water, electricity, health) is the question of the Bisaser road dump - which has stayed open as part of the World Bank carbon trading scam which is giving people nearby cancer. It is quite clear that many of the people in the squatter settlement want the dump because of the livelihood that it gives them (meager and degraded as it is) and although some people present this as clash between the rich and the poor - people in houses and people in shacks (for whom the health crisis is much more immediate than a threat of cancer and for whom the smell of the dump is a much less immediate problem than the smell consequent to no sanitation) most people seem to want to racialise the disagreement on whether the dump should be closed or not and explain it in the language of Indians trying to drive Africans out of the area. Another struggle facing the community at the moment is to free the 14 comrades who were arrested during the clash with the police. The people we spoke to were demanding that if their comrades are being kept in jail then they all want to be arrested. The group of 14 was supposed to appear in court today, to hear of their fate http://southafrica.indymedia.org/ SOUTH AFRICA: Marchers in Secunda, calling for the resignation of the local mayor, smash and try to torch government buildings and damage a mall They had marched from a local township to protest poor service delivery http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1676758,00.html http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16707091.htm Storm brewing in South Africa as social protest spreads http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20050227101929920C886439 Student protests spread across several universities http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=qw1109092862672B232 PALESTINE: Unemployed workers storm PA authority buildings, smashing windows and fighting police The protesters were demanding jobs and protesting against shortages threatening starvation They demanded the re-opening of borders to allow work in Israel They also called the government "thieves" and protested against miserable working conditions Other demands included trade union rights, development policies, social security and welfare measures and free basic education Protesters fought police trying to remove them from the parliament courtyard Protesters smashed parliament windows and police fired "in the air" After the clashes, politicians agreed to meet some of the protesters http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1110597566372 http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=78286 http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=106650&Sn=WORL&IssueID=27358#http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3057321,00.html http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1110597566372 http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2005%20News%20archives/March/13%20n/Unemployed%20Palestinian%20Laborers%20'We%20Are%20Hungry,'%20Abu%20Libdah%20'Israel%20Cannot%20Wash%20Its%20Hands,%20Walk%20Away'.htm http://lnn.laborstart.org/more.php?id=399_0_1_0_M http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=84482 NIGER: Protest over VAT and food shortages - 20,000 march in the capital Niamey; shops looted, streetlights smashed Stay-at-home strike accompanies protest http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m25.shtml http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4352349.stm http://allafrica.com/stories/200503150756.html Fresh poverty and tax protests bring Niamey to a standstill Clashes are reported in northern Tahoua at barricades set up by local youths Police clashes with protesters who threw stones and burnt tyres Clashes were also reported in Maradi, while in the capital Niamey, shops were closed down The protests were called by a coalition of civil society groups, to oppose the imposition of VAT on basic necessities such as food The government is trying to stop the protests by arresting civil society activists http://allafrica.com/stories/200503310474.html http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/bdb9f0169b9eb6a06d00c14e83259b4d.htm http://allafrica.com/stories/200503300924.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4396865.stm http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:424bfa9e:130b42fbe6dcac?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=8048215 http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-31-voa52.cfm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/b4dcecd7f9792fc63250001ad5713a07.htm AUSTRALIA: Massive insurrection in Macquarrie Fields Police driven from the community; four nights of running battles Youths and other rebels threw rocks, fireworks and Molotov cocktails at police Cars were also torched, and bystanders gathered to watch the battles Police harassment was the main reason for the uprising, as well as poverty in the area The trigger was the death of two youths in a car chase, triggered by police harassment Repeated incursions into the area by police were similarly met over four nights Many locals provide cover for the insurgent youths Politicians kiss pig arse as usual (NOTE: bugmenot login for smh.co.au: hatesyou and password wontregister) http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/02/28/1109546773470.html?from=top5&oneclick=true http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12382298-1702,00.html http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=106196®ion=7 http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1311879.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1313653.htm http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/04/wriot04.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/03/04/ixworld.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/sydn-m03.shtml http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10113645 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/macf-m07.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/sydn-m03.shtml Atrocities reported as police stage military assault on Macquarrie Fields Two youths treated for dog bites as police attack Youth beaten up by pigs in a case of mistaken identity Residents penned in, roads blocked and drivers forced to abandon cars Local property occupied to serve as base area for pigs http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/sydn-m03.shtml Pigs warned to stay away from funeral - and do Prisoners donate cash to support funeral http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12433340-29277,00.html http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1316026.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1315667.htm http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Prison-inmates-donate-to-help-pay-for-crash-youths-funeral/2005/03/03/1109700610620.html http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12439059%255E1702,00.html http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=2759548 Pigs stage mass raids on homes to spread terror Two arrested for defending their home with iron bars Carr admits "drenching" areas with police to smash resistance "The police say the move is not part of an operation but designed to be a show of force" (ABC News) Locals say police overkill is causing more trouble http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=138702 http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1316533.htm http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12448326-2,00.html http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12449219-1702,00.html http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1274&storyid=2762339 Pigfuckers attack MP for revealing bugging http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1314417.htm Scumbag politicians make excuses for pigs and deny link to poverty; order pigs to make arrests "Police are doing a great job attacking poor people and we can't have this sort of thing where poor people fight back, it is disgraceful that some people don't kiss pig arse" says racist Carr http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,12419731%255E421,00.html http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1313093.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1311908.htm Oinkers get death threats http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Police-reveal-riot-zone-death-threats/2005/02/28/1109546762784.html?oneclick=true Pictures from the third night of the uprising http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/2005/02/28/1109439465019.html Police attacked with bottles March 06, 2005 From: AAP ANGRY crowds pelted police with bottles in separate incidents in Sydney's west and the city centre. The most serious attack was in Darling Harbour, where more than 150 youths threw bottles at a street policing unit just after 1.30am (AEDT) today. Police were forced to call for back-up, and it took about 30 minutes to bring the crowd under control. Three men were arrested near the Imax Theatre after the crowd dispersed about 2am (AEDT). They have been charged by police, but details were not immediately available. One juvenile was arrested for offensive language. Five other people were taken into custody and removed from the area. Meanwhile, four people were charged after two police vehicles were pelted with bottles at St Clair in Sydney's west. St Marys Police were called to Dobell Circuit, St Clair, about 10.30pm last night after complaints about a noisy party and drunken youths in the street. When they arrived they were surrounded by people throwing bottles. The windscreen of one police car was smashed. The officers called for assistance, and crews from neighbouring commands attended the scene. Police said the crowd was broken up in about 30 minutes, but smaller groups continued to cause problems in the area for some time. Two youths aged 17 and two men aged 19 and 20 have been charged with offences including affray, malicious damage, resisting police and offensive language. The two adults are to appear in Penrith Local Court on March 29 and the two youths in Cobham Children's Court on March 30. All were allowed bail. You are right, the kids only demanded that the police get off their backs rather than say ?we need jobs? or ?youth housing? etc. In other words they accept their lot as being normal just as the rest of society sees them as ?disrespectful misfits?. Because the rest of society doesn?t ?respect? them it forces them closer together. Their ?respect? comes from within their own group. A new reality. Im sure some sociologist or two has written a thesis on this. It would be good to look at the American Gang culture with its own music, clothes etc. as it seems to fit the same pattern - its a dropout from the nuclear family where subsistance comes from meaningful work. Crime and our perceptions of it are all relative. It is even hard for you and I (let alone the police) to even try to understand that pardigm shift fully - yet it may be the dialectical schism that eventually changes society as we know it. The clash of realities. For many people in society work has no meaning other than providing food for the table, shelter etc. Is work as we know it really a necessary way of distributing all that the earth produces? Why hasn?t humankind benefitted as much as it should have from from automation and innovation, by reducing working hours and making our lives more satisfying? In fact technology has produced a whole new lot of new problems. It has enslaved us rather than liberated us. This has more to do with the mode of production than anything else. In hunter-gatherer societies no one could be left out of the circle as each person had a role in the survival of the whole tribe. I believe that ultimately modern industrial societies also have a obligation to all of its citizens or it will fail. How much of what we produce is suplerflous, ie not necessary for our survival, eg insurance, speculation, shoddy goods, etc? I guess we could rate everything that we have and produce in order of importance. One thing that can?t be rated is culture, for without it there is no such thing as society. Culture is the glue that holds society together. Modern multinational capitalist economic society can only survive if the culture supports a homogenous uniformity. If you are left out of that, or you don?t conform to the norms you are a misfit and are targeted in the mainstream as a danger to the whole. Thus Carr?s and other?s response is predictable because these kids challenge the comfortable uniformity which ensures their survival. Thats why words such as ?drench?, ?smash?, ?crush? etc was used by Brogden, Beasley, Carr, and Howard. In the end i guess its all about identity. The family and societal role models are not appropriate for these kids, because they have no relationship with their own lives. They have created there own new reality. Regards, Peter Perkins (GreenLeft Discussion List - publicly archived) Contrary to the newpaper reports there was another night of police terror in Macquarie Fields last night - Police helicopters flew overhead till 12 am. At least 6 busloads of riot police, and fifty or so other types of police vehicles continuously drove around Eucalyptus Drive trying to provoke incidents with residents. Some police units were from as far away as Queanbeyan and North Sydney. Taxpayers are footing a very heavy bill for the massive military like policing operations in Macquarie Fields this week. The money could have provided better youth services and public housing repairs for Macquarie Fields residents. The local shopping center car park became a police command centre holding every type of police vehicle. They filled one section of the car park. There must have been about 300 coppers in the area that were shuffled back and forth from the car park to the residential areas, blocking streets and generally harassing people. The hundred or so times they drove past our house the police would slow their vehicles to walking pace then shine spotlights on us. This continued this till 2:00am. Before this police circus arrived in the late afternoon everyone was indoors and the streets were quiet. When the police arrived everyone went out on the streets to yell abuse or wave at them. Macquarie Fields residents were smart enough not to play into the hands of the police by using riotous behaviour but one wonders how long the peace can be maintained. Everyone has a breaking point and if this keeps up there will be war between the good folk at Macquarie Fields and the police. When the harrassment tactics didnt work for the police they started pulling youths off the streets and arresting them. People remained calm. Then around 9:00pm the riot police in full battle dress went door to door kicking them down as they went, terrifying the locals. Several youths were then arrested and pulled from their homes by groups of 50 of so TRG terrorists in their full battle gear. This scene continued into the early hours of the morning. The police buses loaded with cops continued driving around and around Eucalyptus drive then making lightening raids on homes whilst helicopters flew overhead providing the light and to spot anyone trying to escape. Each raid was followed was by a caravan of news hounds but they could not get close to the action as they were blocked at the entrance to each street by riot police. Barbara and myself went from raid to raid trying to make sure youths who were present didn?t react to the police brutality and also to try and get the police to stop. On one such raid I heard Mike Munroe from 60 Minutes doing a commentary about how he was chased by youths throwing bottles and generally denegrating Macquarie Fields. I became so angry at this bullshit that I jumped in front of the rolling cameras to tell Mike that he was ?talking bullshit?. He was taken by surprise by my sudden entry into his spotlight that he stepped aside. I was just so angry - then I started to tell the press that was gathering after my intrusion the real story about poverty, police harrassment, poor facilities in the area etc. Alas, again I see this morning that none of what I said was printed or went to air. People here are angry with the media simply because of the spin that is being put on the situation. Plenty of residents have told their side of the story only to have it misquoted construed or used against them. The attack on a Channel 7 cameraman and is crew is symptomatic of the frustration with the media. The media, including respected journalists, have done themselves a grave disservice in this area. We also know that once Jesse hands himself in that the media circus will leave and Macquarie Fields will become a forgotten downtrodden backwater once again. Tonight Macquarie Fields expects more of the same as the intimidation tactics of the police have been ramped up each night during the last week. In such circumstances anything can happen - we all have our breaking point. Below is my unsubbed interview for Green Left Weekly with outspoken Macquarie Fields resident and railworker, Peter Perkins. The interview was, conducted today, was interrupted by police. Peter Boyle *** GLW: You and your wife Barbara, are both longtime residents of Macquarie Fields and know many of the residents, including some of the youth being targeted by recent police action? Peter Perkins: Barbara and I have lived here for 20 years and we know most of the community of one or two thousand ,including the young people who are in revolt against police harassment. Our 20-year-old grandson, Jesse Kelly, is being hunted by police and has being falsely branded by the media as a dangerous criminal. GLW: Can you describe the events that led to the recent clashes between youth in Macquarie Fields and police? Perkins: There has been a very sharp hardening of the police stance in the area, a new-style, paramilitary, policing with coppers being bussed in in large numbers from outside. This new approach began about two months ago, at the same time as it was taking place in other poor outer-Sydney working class suburbs like Claymore and Airds. The first signs were raids on residents' homes in the early hours of the morning. They stuck guns through windows and set police dogs on people. They'd cordon entire areas off for half a day at a time, using police in full paramilitary kit. So tensions had been building up. The initial spark of the riot when residents allege that police actually caused the deaths of two youths in a car pursuit. A stolen car had been under surveillance for three days and the cops had bugged in it. The chase started when three youths drove off in the car at about 11pm, last Friday February 25). The car crashed and Dylan Raywood, 17, and Matt Robertson, 19, were killed. Local residents came out and starting pelting police probably in anger at past provocations and also to help the driver get away. Similar clashes with police took place over the next four nights and Macquarie Fields was placed under police seige. At night the suburb was sealed off. GLW: The police are now hunting for your grandson, who they allege was the driver of the car. Perkins: Jesse is in hiding. He's afraid for his life. We've told him, if he surrenders on his terms it's going to be much safer than if he's picked up down a back alley or just disappears. Jesse and his friends are popular among other local youth. They were renting a rundown private house from a speculator and it had become a sort of gathering place for youth. They played their music and played football outside. All the youth from the neighborhood used to go there. Many of the young homeless kids were fed there and given beds for the night. Some of these youth may have been involved in petty crime but not all. The young people people here are loyal to their community, such as it is. "MFB", which stands for Macquarie Fields Boys they call themselves. It gave them a self-esteem that sustained them in a tough life. They had respect for the community and they understood the harsh predicament the community was in. For example, they looked after young kids who couldn't get social security, protected them from police harassment and helped a bit around the neighborhood. Even the proceeds of their petty crimes were shared around. None of them lived the high-life. GLW: ALP Premier Bob Carr has said that the cause of the clashes was not the social disadvantage of many residents but simply the work of "bad people" - what do you say to that? Perkins: He's talking rubbish, right-wing rubbish. All social scientists say that it has been proved beyond doubt that poor social conditions cause crime. It is ridiculous to deny this. All the youth facilities have been slashed back, and suburbs like Macquarie Fields are hit hardest by the cutbacks in social services. Carr says there are all these fantastic facilities for youth out here but it's not true. There are two tennis courts and a billiard hall that's about it. I know of very few young people have permanent jobs in the area. Probably half the kids drop out of school at 15. The tightening of social welfare payments in this high unemployment area drives many people to rely on petty crime for an income. Many young people here don't see it as morally wrong to steal from those who have more than them in order to survive. They simply have no real alternative. Some steal cars simply to get around because there is no public transport after 8pm and very limited services on Sundays. Some have had jobs where they have been ripped off by employers. Sometimes they've worked for small builders for a couple of weeks, as labourers, and have not been paid. Jesse and the two boys who were killed had casual jobs lined up in the Royal Easter Show. So they took jobs when they could get them. But they couldn't meet the impossible requirements to get unemployment benefits. There simply aren't the job interviews here that they have list on their social security forms. Public housing is run down and there is a $650 million dollar backlog on repairs and maintenance for the public housing according to the papers the papers today. The Carr government is running it down as an excuse to bulldoze more the public housing and sell the land to private developers. It is the same as in Redfern. (see ) [This interview was then cut off by a police visit on the Perkins' home at 11.30am. It was resumed at 1.30pm] Perkins: Four detectives tried to convince us to stop talking to the media. They urged Barbara and me to organize from for our grandson to surrender himself. One detective intimated that it would be more dangerous if Jesse was cornered by some hyper young coppers. A Channel Seven reporter just rang us and said that the Police Commissioner would be prepared to come and personally help hand over of Jesse. I think they are feeling the heat but they are not going to stop us from speaking out because unless we speak out do the real problems here are not even going to be begun to be addressed. We need and full and independent public inquiry into the situation into policing methods, including police pursuits and into the state of support services (including education, youth services, public transport and housing). There is the federal by-election coming up in this area for former ALP leader Mark Latham's seat of Werriwa. And this community has no faith in the major parties to represent us. Latham and Moroney like to boast that they came from poor working backgrounds in this area but most of Latham's peers are struggling. He had his education paid for by the ALP branch so he could climb ladder of opportunity. Not everyone here gets such a hand up. Most don't. (Interview by Peter Boyle - GreenLeft Discussion list) POLICE battled rioters for up to two hours in Sydney and Perth when drunken youths at weekend parties launched full-scale assaults, hurling bottles and rocks and forcing officers into riot gear. Mobs riot in two cities By Andrea Mayes and John Stapleton March 07, 2005 The Australian POLICE battled rioters for up to two hours in Sydney and Perth when drunken youths at weekend parties launched full-scale assaults, hurling bottles and rocks and forcing officers into riot gear. A total of 36 police cars were sent into the Perth trouble spots at the height of the rampage on Saturday night in a battle that mirrored the week-long rampages in far Western Sydney. One officer was injured and four men were arrested. In Sydney, police clashed with 150 young people on Saturday night, but this time the violence was in the tourist area of Darling Harbour. A further crowd of young people rioted at a party in the western suburb of St Clair, where four people were charged. In Perth, Inspector Gary Kosovich said police were called to the first party, at a community hall in the foothills suburb of High Wycombe, at 10pm after residents complained partygoers were doing burnouts. The first officers on the scene were confronted by a crowd of about 250 drunken partygoers in their teens and early 20s, many hurling rocks and bottles. Twenty-four police vehicles attended, some with dogs. One officer received minor injuries after being hit in the thigh by a bottle. The rear window of a police car was also smashed. Police were hampered by a smoke machine that reduced visibility and officers were forced to don riot shields and helmets, advancing on the revellers in riot formation. Four people were charged with disorderly conduct. Police took two hours to bring the situation under control. Sergeant Peter Grover of Midland police said 30 to 40 of the guests were the main perpetrators of the violence. "There was a hardcore bunch of diehards that you usually find at these sort of events and they're the ones we have to battle with," he said. No arrests were made and the crowd was dispersed after about an hour. A melee of more than 150 youths at Darling Harbour in central Sydney threw bottles at police in the early hours of Sunday morning, with the police taking more than half an hour to subdue the crowd. Two men and a youth were arrested and charged with assaulting police. A further five were taken into custody and later released. At St Clair, police were called to a noisy party. When they arrived they were pelted with bottles. The windscreen of a police car was smashed. Two youths aged 17 and two men aged 19 and 20 were charged with affray, resisting police and offensive language. All four were released on bail. Macquarie Fields, in Sydney's western outskirts, was tense but quiet over the weekend following the fifth night of riots on Friday, one week after a high-speed police pursuit left two teenagers dead. A total of 32 people have been arrested over the Macquarie Fields riots. The alleged driver of the stolen vehicle, Jesse Kelly, 20, was still at large yesterday. Sydney, Australia: In 4th straight night of rioting, Police attacked with chlorine bombs Tuesday, March 01 2005 @ 01:07 PM PST Contributed by: Anonymous Views: 299 FOUR youths were being questioned after a home-made bomb exploded near a police vehicle parked outside a Sydney police station. Two bombs, which witnesses say contained chlorine, were thrown at the vehicle outside Macquarie Fields police station, but only one went off, a police spokeswoman said. "Four local males aged between 13 and 15 were arrested running from the scene after two small improvised explosive devices were set off outside the police station under a police RBT van," the spokeswoman said. "Only one of them actually went off and the youths are currently being interviewed. "They were arrested about 5.40pm (AEDT)." Witnesses said they saw two boys aged about 12 approached the van on bikes before throwing the soft-drink containers filled with the chemical mix. "It was a chlorine bomb - you could smell it," said a resident, who did not want to be identified. "A couple of kids were going to put them under the truck when someone yelled out 'oi' and they pegged them. The police ended up catching them." Police established a crime scene and removed one of the unexploded bottles, which lay under the front wheel. About five metres from the van a white splatter on the road marked the spot where one of the bombs exploded. Police have stepped up their hunt for the suspected driver of a stolen car that crashed, killing two teenagers in south-western Sydney, as eight men faced court over riots sparked by the deaths. A police plea for information on the whereabouts of Jesse Kelly, 20, came after New South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney admitted officers had contact with him on Saturday but did not make an arrest at that time. Dylan Raywood, 17, and Matthew Robertson, 19, were killed when the stolen car they were in hit a tree while they were being chased by police. Their deaths sparked four straight nights of rioting in Macquarie Fields during which police officers were pelted with molotov cocktails and rocks. Mr Moroney said Kelly had reported to police as part of bail conditions related to another matter. "The police were not in a position on Saturday night - some 24 hours after the accident - to proceed," Mr Moroney told Channel Nine. "There are sound operational reasons why an arrest did not occur at that time." Late today, Macquarie Fields Local Area Commander Superintendent John Sweeney pleaded with residents to help police in their hunt for Kelly. "I call upon any members of the public who know the whereabouts of Jesse Kelly of Macquarie Fields to contact police," he said in a statement. "We believe Mr Kelly can assist us with our inquiries into the deaths of Dylan Raywood and Matthew Robertson." Earlier today, a man identified by television stations as Kelly said he was the victim of police harassment. "They've been at my house three or four times now," he said. "These coppers, they only sit around waiting for us to cause trouble so they sit around the corner hassling the young fellas." Today, eight men faced Campbelltown Local Court charged over the riots. Among them was Shannon Darren Wilkie, 18, accused of throwing concrete and glass missiles at police during the riots. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Wilkie had lived with Mr Raywood and his family for 12 months, the court was told. Defence solicitor Carl Minnet applied for bail for his client on compassionate grounds. "He actually resided with one of the young men who was killed and lived with him and his family for the last 12 months," Mr Minnet said. "I would ask that he at least be at liberty to attend the funeral of his young friend killed in the vehicle." Magistrate Michael Mahony granted Wilkie bail, warning him he was "on thin ice". "But I take into account that you were a close companion to one of the young men who died - a tragedy that cannot be overlooked," he said. "But you must control your emotions and grieve properly." Late today, Wilkie, who was ordered to reappear at Liverpool Local Court on April 27, had not been able to post bail and faced the prospect of a night in jail, a court spokesman said. Five other men - Troy Andrew Harrison, 30, of Macquarie Fields; Daniel Grant, 21, of Ruse; Daniel Patrick Pluis, 20, of Campbelltown; Bruce Robert Barnes, 40, of Macquarie Fields; and James Hunt, 18, of Macquarie Fields - faced court today charged with offences including riot and affray. All pleaded not guilty and were refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on March 9. Two other men - Peter Leslie Dickson, 34, and Rance Harrison, 28, both of Macquarie Fields - also faced court and were granted bail. IRAN: "Un-Islamic" festival attacked by militias, prompting mass uprising The pre-Islamic Persian festival, Tchahar Shanbe Souri, condemned by the regime, has become an ongoing focus for resistance down the years This year, attacks by Islamic goons prompted mass uprisings in Tehran and elsewhere Throwing Molotovs and bricks and trashing and burning government buildings, residents and protesters fought pitched battles with the militias, forcing them to withdraw from several areas Masked activists were seen rushing to un-arrest people grabbed during the festival Anti-regime slogans were chanted and regime symbols burnt http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307015.html FRANCE: A day of action in fifteen or more towns and cities by squatters and their supporters targets state repression of squatters In particular, the actions are in solidarity with les 400 Couverts, a squat threatened by a "socialist" municipality http://squat.net/en/news/france080305.html Pictures http://dioxyde.org/statique/400couverts/ http://indygrr.ouvaton.org/index.php?page=article&filtre=0&droiteA=0&numpageA=1&id=468 http://indygrr.ouvaton.org/index.php?page=article&filtre=1&droiteA=1&numpageA=1&id=454 http://lille.indymedia.org/article_theme.php3?id_article=1016 http://lille.indymedia.org/article_theme.php3?id_article=1019 FRANCE: Squat protests FEBRUARY 25TH, GRENOBLE, DIJON, SAINT-ETIENNE, THONON-LES-BAINS, BESAN?ON, PARIS, TOULOUSE, LYON, REIMS, MONTPELLIER, NANTES, ALES, STRASBOURG, LA ROCHELLE, RENNES, GEN?VE, NEULLY SUR MARNE AND OTHER CITIES ... OCCUPATIONS, BANNER-RELEASES, WALLINGS, RUBBLE DROPPING, DEMONSTRATIONS, OPENINGS, CONFRONTATIONS OF REPRESENTATIVES?. ACCOUNT OF THE COORDINATED ACTIONS PROTESTING AGAINST SQUAT EVICTIONS IN FRANCE AND SUPPORTING THE 400 COUVERTS ALLEY IN GRENOBLE. contact in Grenoble : hommage_olivier_noblecourt at no-log.org 1) INTRODUCTION TO THE SQUAT MOVEMENT ; PRESENTATION OF THE 400 COUVERTS SQUAT AND THE GRENOBLE BACKGROUND On the 25th of february, everywhere in France, squatters have stood up both offensively and creatively to protest against evictions and to defend these spaces of living, creation, social experiments, thought, meetings and solidarity. IN GRENOBLE... Particularly emphasised has been the 400 Couverts' situation, threatened by Michel DESTOT's socialiste (leftist) municipality. A large squat movement arises through these actions to denounce coercion on the part of both right-hand and left-hand city councils. Let's also keep in mind that Grenoble has benefited over the last years from a very active and plural development of squats. It has also witnessed the disclosure of various struggles and types of direct and pro-anarchist actions facing local authorities: throughout the 2003-2004 winter, occupation of the Paul Mistral park, performed by the local people camping up the trees a couple of metres away from the city council which planned to raze it; action and criticism against the development of a Silicon Valley in Grenoble, including mass-publication of a counterfeit existing local newspaper advertising on new technologies ; occupation of Minatec's construction site - Minatec being the next first European centre for the development of nano-technology; a lot of radical feminist activities, as well as the creation and publication of independent media. THE 400 COUVERTS: WHAT? WHO? Little street located in Grenoble city centre, squatted for over 3 years, the 400 Couverts houses 20 people permanently, a public space dedicated to free activities (debates, gigs, projections, meeting space used by various groups?), including a free library, a garden, a home-made outdoor baking-oven, as well as more or less successful experiments (vegetal roof, vegetable plot, compost, organic pharmacy, free hardware base?). All these spaces and activities were set up independently and autonomously, without any institutional incentives and hardly any money, on a non-trading basis. Grenoble local council, owner of the place, intends to evict and raze the 400 Couverts alley in order to set up an important housing project: the erection of 12 social-housing parts. Evicting people who managed to organize their spaces of living independently in order to furnish accommodation to more or less the same number with standardized housing is part of a bureaucratic scheme aiming for social control reinforcement over dwellers. It is part of a systematic annihilation of spaces of invention and criticism. In a city liable to spend millions on the building of a stadium or on an upper-class art centre, it seems that squatters are not preventing the councils to enforce their social projects. We are fighting for this experiment to go on. ON THE SQUAT MOVEMENT IN FRANCE For a couple of years, France has seen the development of many independent political squats, where are being lead alternative collective life experiments and public political activities of various sorts. These spots usually host anti-capitalist and pro-anarchist actions and events, "free-zones" where goods and material are exchanged, squatted vegetable plots, cyber cafes. These are places where alternative hardware and software is developed, information, books and brochures printed and brought out within "Infokiosques", where people work on counter-medicine, recycling, bicycles, mechanics, wood and metal craft, serigraphy, home-made building, sunflower-oil recycling for vehicles, organic seeds exchange, single-sex groups for feminist, queer or transgender reflection, street meals, free restaurants, bars, concerts, film-projections and drama. They differ from a type of "artistic squatting" (to be found particularly in Paris) in the sense that they do not cooperate with local authorities and explicitly question private property, State organization, profit and power relations, and develop autonomous zones linked to various other social struggles. This is only a partial and rough account of a generally complex set up, and it wouldn't be right to try and level too much these rather multiple experiences and activities. Especially as the collectives mentioned do not necessarily see themselves as part of a greater process. Nonetheless, a couple of inter-squat gatherings have been successfully organized over the past 3 years. Local inter-squat associations are rather common and exchanges between squats all over the country are brought about through specific actions and projects, friendships of course, and networks involving squatters such as Sans-Titre (www.under.ch/SansTitre), the Infokiosque network infokiosques.net), Indymedia, resistance festivals, the anti-prison movement, or nomadic projects such as La Caravane Permanente (cp.squat.net). Despite growing repressive attempts on the part of French authorities, specifically directed against political squats - the government has attempted to condemn the ? sans droit ni titre ? (rightless and nameless) occupation 2 years ago through enforcement of "National Security" laws - it is still possible to squat without risking imprisonment, fortunately. Though courts nearly always decide in favour of landlords and order eviction, squatters usually benefit from a few months (or a few years) extension when they fight through legal procedures, and also on the public and political side. Thus, the number of evictions is rising, but so is the number of re-openings. Over the last few years, a couple of squats have even managed to cut short eviction threats and to achieve a kind of stability thanks to a favourable power struggle with authorities, and sometimes through negotiating with landlords (which is often subject to debate?). It is the case for L'espace autog?r? des Tanneries in Dijon, Le Cland? in Toulouse, for the 102 in Grenoble, that have all been there for more than 7 years. On the other hand, some of the most active squats, such as Les 400 Couverts or l'Ekluserie in Grenoble, Les Diables bleux in Nice are all under eviction threat on the short-term, or have just become so. While in Paris, the socialiste councils do not even bother using legal proceedings any more to enforce eviction. It is thus essential for the movement to build up in time an advantageous power struggle on a national basis, and, on the other hand to work out alliances and cooperation outside of the squat movement. WHY THIS COORDINATED ACTION ON THE 25TH OF FEBRUARY? Denouncing the action of the Parti Socialiste, in place in Grenoble and elsewhere, we meant to underline how much institutional urban and housing policies constantly endanger these spaces. Denouncing the Parti Socialiste's responsibility allowed us to remind that, next to common right-wing repressive policies, "good-hearted social-democrats" are the ones who call the police to evict illegal immigrants and refugees on hunger-strike from their headquarters in Paris. That its strategy regarding squats is often to legalize artistic settlements for added value while, on the other side, they evict all other sorts of squats with extreme violence. It fights the poors rather than poverty. It cleans up cities rather than giving a chance to real attempts for political change. For Grenoble as well as for other places, we protest against a repressive strategy concealed by "social" plans and urban policies, carried out by all parties, from right to left. Grenoble squatters and friends. 2)ACTION REPORTS FROM 15 TOWNS?. GRENOBLE Pictures for Grenoble: http://grenoble.indymedia.org http://indygrr.ouvaton.org/index.php?page=article&filtre=1&droiteA=1&numpageA=1&id=454 24/02/2005. During the night, a group of individuals has sabotaged the parti socialiste headquarters main door with neoprene glue, toothpicks and paint-bombs?. Only way to get back in: wrecking bar. Sounds familiar? The PS evicts, lets evict the PS. They have been generously conceded an explanatory graffiti. The PS headquarters are located on rue Mallifaud, 46, first floor. Have fun! 25/02/05. Around 14:30, approximately 50 people have dropped rubble in front of the city hall. 2 signs have been put up the lump, saying: " What the council makes of our houses" and "What should be down with places of power". 2 banners have also been hung up on a bridge across the boulevard, a few metres from the city hall, saying: "we've had enough, we're getting organized: Autonomy! Squats! Things for free!, and "Who decides what for whom? What decides whom for what?" As demonstratorswere leaving, they were violently disbanded by a surprise police drive.About 10 people were arbitrarily taken, at least one of them with physical violence. They were released after identity checking, needed for systematic filing of individuals. 30 000 leaflets were spread out in the city, reminding the critical situation of squats such as Les 400 Couverts, La Mordue, Le Resistor, La M?che and many other Grenoble squats. More info: http://grenoble.indymedia.org PARIS http://paris.indymedia.org/article.php3?id_article=33028 http://indygrr.ouvaton.org/index.php?page=article&filtre=1&droiteA=1&numpageA=1&id=453 photos : http://lille.indymedia.org/article.php3?id_article=1016 February 25th, the 12eme arrondissement city hall was covered by piles of rubble (as well as a large town planning model worth 10 000 euros) as a protest against the squats eviction policy carried out by the left in Paris and in many other cities. On the 18th, the 12?me arrondissement city council, after a violent eviction of students who had been occupying for a week an empty building 1, cite Debergue, to turn it into a house and centre of activity, proceeded to destroy the stairs and inside of the building to prevent any re-occupation. Demonstrations and actions to prevent the authorities from walling the place had followed. A counterfeit council's poster with the stamp of the city had also been glued around the 12eme arrondissement. Is the Left talking "social policy", as it evicts homeless students without discussion in the middle of winter, and this illegally? Does the "green spaces" policy boasted on by the council imply razing empty buildings to plant trees, and eviction of the homeless? DIJON In Dijon, a giant banner was spread 25metres from the ground on the socialiste Dijon city hall roof, from a scaffold: "In Grenoble as elsewhere, the PS evicts people. Let's protect the autonomous squat Les 400 Couverts."About 30 people stood below in solidarity, distributing leaflets inside the offices to municipal workers, enjoining the sending of faxes to Grenoble city council and confronting the representatives (the mayor and its court who had stepped out, angered to be put face to face with their contradictions?). After 2 hours exhibition on this busy Liberation street, and a thousand leaflets handed out (see below), the scaffold's occupiers came down with the banner. Other participants have formed a human chain to block the cops about to control/arrest the climbers. The Dijon heads had agreed to contact Grenoble once the people came down, what was done. The press release stating what was in the leaflet was also sent to Grenoble from the city hall. A phone meeting with Destot, mayor of Grenoble, was also promised to the collective. In Dijon, Les Tanneries, autonomous squat used for housing and activities since1998, have survived thanks to a strong period of struggle and actions after which the council had been compelled to sign a convention with its occupiers. It seemed all the more important to demonstrate Les 400 Couverts solidarity, showing that only fighting pays. photos : http://www.dioxyde.org/statique/400couverts/ Full press release: http://grenoble.indymedia.org BESANCON Some individuals have entered the PS council and tried to talk to the mayor about Les 400 Couverts, about the security policy enforced on the city, the destruction of many attempts to create independent zones (systematic squat eviction). They have been stopped before reaching the mayor's office and, after fierce discussions with the representatives, came down to hand out leaflets, with banners and flags. Besan?on's mayor agreed to send a letter to Grenoble's mayor about the protest action and asking for informations. FROM SOMEWHERE IN PROVENCE Grenoble city hall offices have been mail blocked. SAINT ETIENNE During the night of the 24th of February 2005, a group of individuals inflicted the St Etienne PS a sample of what it does to many people. On the morning, the members of the PS offices found their place (symbolically) walled, as well as a demolition notice. In the afternoon, they have received a eviction notice and some explanatory phone calls from the Comity for Eviction, Destruction and Reenchantment of Occupied Spaces by Social Parasites and Other Plagues. Let's remind that IZMIR, a space of activity (computer resources, restaurants, debates, infokiosques?) and housing, which has been open for a few years, is also threatened of eviction by the St Etienne council. More info: http://lenumerozero.lautre.net NANTES Individuals have dropped compost and garbage on the PS office's doorstep. The socialiste council claims that evictions are being made "for the squatters's own sake", putting forward the argument of health measure, and obviously without trial nor deferment. In Nantes, the Baragouinage, housing and feminist activity squat, opened a few months ago, and that an old squat, L'Usure, is under threat of eviction. THONON LES BAINS Some people have gathered in Thonon-les-Bains, in Haute-Savoie, to protest against eviction threats concerning Les 400 Couverts and inform about their situation. A leaflet has been given out on an information press table. It reminded how Grenoble city council is as bad as its right-wing colleagues in terms of urban projects (empty buildings, "beautiful" architectural projects meant for an wealthy elite, and cultural development directed towards this same elite, and last but not least, squat evictions?). In Thonon, Le Train-train is a squatted building used for housing and activity, including concerts, debates, an infokiosque. The SNCF (national railway company), landlord, has demanded eviction. MONTPELLIER About 30 people have invaded the "Maison de la D?mocratie", owned by the city council, in the city centre, and hung up a banner against evictions. When the simple request was made to send faxes to Grenoble, the answers were: "This is impossible. If everyone starts to send faxes and things, it's anarchy!", or: "This is private stuff. This is not public, it's only a city hall office." The occupation thus lasted till the civil servants and representatives working for this administration's media-puppet, the Maison de la D?mocratie, finally accepted to send the fax. Meanwhile, employees were ready to use violence to prevent people from entering their offices (door closed on hand). Part of the municipal staff eventually turned up and called Grenoble. One participant then made the Grenoble cabinet secretary read out the fax, making sure the latter had really been sent. Meanwhile, 3 flats, left empty by the landlords, were opened by an other collective to the benefit of homeless families. Self-attribution has been favoured to endless waiting lists?.The Maison de la D?mocratie occupiers joined the place, from where a group of policemen, who had come to evict, left to the sneers of the local residents, after having been stuck in a lift for an hour. The month before, in Montpellier, The Great Revolutionary Anarchist Refuge Unanimously Opened (French is grraou: grraou at no-log.org) was unanimously opened. They have already organised a street meal and took part to a week devoted to local initiatives against security policies. REIMS Posters and leaflets denouncing evictions and supporting Les 400 Couverts and other squats were hung and given out in the area where former La Grosse Caillasse was evicted in 2002. LYON http://rebellyon.info/article.php3?id_article=125 After a visit to the PS office, which was covered by posters supporting Les 400 Couverts and other Lyon squats, a group consisting of people dressed up as cooks settled Place des Terreaux around a large pan where a "rose soup" was being cooked (the PS symbol is a pink rose). Leaflets were handed out, denouncing socialiste policies, "managers of poverty" and informing about Les 400 Couverts and other threatened squats in and around Lyon, such as the concert hall and activity centre GROUNDZERO. They remind that, out of the 60 evicted squats over the last years, 80% are still walled and unused. The gathering was disbanded by the police who proceeded to id controls. Information will also be given during the ecologist fair in Lyon, Primev?re. NEUILLY SUR MARNE http://paris.indymedia.org/article.php3?id_article=33039 Some individuals from Neuilly sur Marne made up their minds during a feast to support the 400 Couverts squat. One more drink, and the plates were soon used to write clever messages such as "NO", "You are the baddies" and "Long live squats" (couvert means knives-and-forks in French). Then, stumbling a little, they reached the PS office of Neuilly. Though they found the place closed, they nonetheless decided to decorate the door, sticking the plates to it, and leaving a flier. Across the street, they visited the town council in a similar way. Eventually, the main square got the leftovers: plates, forks, spoons, knives and glasses?Neuilly supports the 400! MARSEILLE During the afternoon, supporters have handed out leaflets in the city centre, to inform the inhabitants on the French housing problem (can't write "crisis" any more, it's been going on for so long), especially on the Grenoble policy towards autonomous spaces. They organized an infokiosque (free information and documents) on the Cours Julien. Many people came for non-mercantile discussion on squats -surprising to see how people were impressed with the brochures. Info on the Marseille situation was greeted with much enthusiasm and encouragement to squat!! In the evening, a special program on Radio Gal?re was broadcasted. Let's share, expand our fights? LA ROCHELLE On the 25th of February, as the French Chancellor of the Exchequer was resigning after the news spread about his government-paid 800 sqm flat in the centre of Paris, some militants claimed the opening of a 800sqm squat in La Rochelle. Located 45 Quai Maubec, in an old cooking school, on 3 floors, they are planning to turn it into an autonomous, cultural and festive space. One floor dedicated for people living there, another for local associations, workshops?.It includes a public kitchen, a library, a "free-zone", and as many things you might want to do there. The PS council wants them out, they're calling for help? FINALLY, AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT THAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE RENNES Thursday 24th, the police, boots and helmets on, has put an end to the occupation of the former DDE administrative buildings renamed l'Ekluserie, opened 4 years ago and used for many public activities (story-telling, vegetable plot, computer resources centre, debates, gigs and projections?). Coincidentally, bulldozers started their meal. Dwellers were violently pulled from bed by the police. 5 minutes to gather a few things and the razing had started. After a mess-up with the local TV, the 20 people present started to block the boulevard along the docks. Quickly, the riot police and the vans came up. Tension sprung, people got taken. 3 of them were released, the 4th detained because he carried a knife. There has been a gathering in front of the city hall, usually very posh and clean, the building was occupied a few minutes for protest?and the villains gazed a few people on their way?.Protesters started a fire on the city hall place. During all the week after, people gathered every evening to protest against the evictions (that was largely covered by local medias, with the council reprensetatives justifying this eviction in middle of the winter by saying they had to do because they had booked the riot cops). They did various kind of rioting actions and illegal fires in the streets of rennes. AND OTHER THINGS NOT YET REGISTERED -LONG LIVE THE 400!- AWAY WITH THE PS -. MORE INFO TO COME ON OTHER ACTIONS IN STRASBOURG, ALES, LILLE, TOULOUSE, GENEVA, ETC. 3)HOW TO SEND PROTEST LETTERS AND FAXES TO SUPPORT THE 400 COUVERTS AGAINST THE EVICTION... THE MORE PRESSURE WE PUT ON GRENOBLE'S CITY COUNCIL FROM EVERYWHERE, THE MORE THE 400 COUVERTS WILL BE ABLE TO STAY. IF YOU INTEND TO CARRY ON PROTESTING AGAINST EVICTIONS IN GRENOBLE: YOU'RE DAMN INVITED TO ORGANIZE YOUR OWN ACTIONS AND TO INFORM GRENOBLE ABOUT THEM, BOTH THE 400 COUVERTS AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF COURSE. IT'S ALSO GREAT IF YOU JUST TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO SEND ONE SHORT PROTEST FAX OR LETTER TO DESTOT, MAYOR OF GRENOBLE. IT CAN BE JUST A FEW LINES IN YOUR OWN LANGUAGE TO TELL THEM YOUR ANGER AND SUPPORT OF LES 400 H?TEL DE VILLE 11, BOULEVARD JEAN PAIN BP 1066 38021 GRENOBLE CEDEX 1 T?L. 04 76 76 36 36 FAX 04 76 76 39 40 EMAIL: CONTACT at VILLE-GRENOBLE.FR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:19:22 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:19:22 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades part 2 Message-ID: <06cc01c53907$e97e25c0$ab30fd3e@WOL> CAMBODIA: Police attack Sam Han factory protest Workers staging pickets outside the factory were beaten and attacked Police open fire on workers (ostensibly in the air) and use electric-shock batons to attack workers The South Korean-owned factory closed in January and workers are owed severance pay http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991221369&Language=EN http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK73145.htm MAURITIUS: Death of Chinese worker from overwork sparks sweatshop protest Workers throw stones at cop cars as cops attack the protest http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/11/content_424059.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/11/content_424059.htm http://www.itglwf.org/displaydocument.asp?DocType=Press&Language=&Index=1066 http://www.lexpress.mu/display_article_sup.php?news_id=37829 BAHRAIN: Two-hour revolt by textile workers after colleague commits suicide The exploited sweatshop workers, mostly South Asian migrants, damaged the factory and attacked a manager http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=61172&d=28&m=3&y=2005 http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=108171&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28011 http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=108086&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28010 [uganda] Nkumba varsity students riot By Matekha Samuel Sunday, 20 February 2005 Students of Nkumba University have been involved in a stone and tear gas canister exchange battle with the anti-riot police this afternoon. This followed a students' riot in which students protested the death of their colleague who was knocked dead by a speeding presidential convoy police car. Students took to the Kampala Entebbe highway, blocking it and stoning every vehicle that tried to go past the roadblock. This attracted the anti-riot police from Kampala that got engaged in running battles with the students. Major General Katumba Wamala, a student of Nkumba University had earlier tried to persuade the students against rioting but all in vain. Kasasa Christopher, the Dean of Students Nkumba University says the body of the Late Christine Nabakooza a 1st Year student is lying in Mulago hospital mortuary as burial arrangements are made. Philippines: 8 hurt in demolition of squatters'shanties in Malabon Friday, March 11 2005 @ 01:23 PM PST 8 hurt in demolition of squatters' shanties in Malabon By JONATHAN MAYUGA TODAY Reporter, www.abs-cbnnews.com March 12, 2005 Violence marred the demolition of squatters' shanties in barangay Tonsuya, Malabon City, Friday morning as members of the demolition team clashed with angry residents who continued to defy an eviction order from the Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC). Those injured were mostly members of the demolition crew who sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of the body. They are Jay-R Vergara, who sustained a bullet wound in the left arm; Alfred Cruz, who was shot in the head; Cyrel Agitara, who was hit with shrapnel in the left arm and legs; Anjo Punay, who was shot in the chest; and Rolando Marfil, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the legs. Also injured were Filemon Tabid, Arturo Olidan and Dave Fabella, who sustained head and body injuries. The riot erupted around 9:30 a.m. after some 500 members of the demolition crew, armed with a demolition order issued by Judge Edison Quinton of the Malabon MTC Branch 56, started to demolish several houses on Block 2 on Kadima. Barangay Tonsuya chairman Antonio Criss said more than 10 residents were wounded and taken to various hospitals after they were hit by rocks allegedly hurled by demolition-crew members. Criss also alleged that some members of the demolition crew took advantage of the situation and ransacked houses. "They were ransacking the place. They were not simply tearing down our houses, they were stealing," he said. Around 100 policemen were deployed in the area. Apparently outnumbered, the police failed to prevent the riot. Not a single arrest was made despite the number of casualties. Malabon Police chief Senior Supt. Josefino Teofisto said he had ordered his men to stay neutral and prevent further bloodshed. The riot stopped around 10 a.m. after Malabon Mayor Canuto Oreta and Malabon-Navotas Rep. Federico Sandoval arrived. The demolition crew finally pulled out from the area and the tension subsided. Together with Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) chairman Percival Chavez, Oreta and Sandoval were able to convince the court official who was serving the demolition order to suspend the ongoing demolition to prevent further bloodshed. Chavez said the government would offer resettlement to those who would be displaced in barangay Tonsuya. He said an in-city relocation site would be made available as soon as possible and that they are eyeing idle properties in barangay Dampalit and Panghulo as possible relocation sites. However, he said, the two relocation sites combined can only accommodate some 2,000 beneficiaries. "I was ordered by President Arroyo to make sure that those who would be displaced will have relocation. The PCUP is ready to help those who will voluntarily vacate the property to follow the order of the court," he said. Criss said they are willing to sit down and talk with the Gozon family as most of the residents are willing to accept government offer to be relocated within Malabon. But some residents are standing pat on defying the court's eviction order ALGERIA: More unrest in the north of the country, over scarcity of housing Youths in Tenira, near Algiers, looted and torched a city hall A month of unrest in Algeria is demonstrating widespread alienation and hostility to politicians http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2005%20News%20archives/February/14%20n/Riots%20Hit%20West%20Algeria%20City%20Hall%20Burned.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4203095.stm TUNISIA: Tens of thousands of youth rise up against the Ben Ali dictatorship in Tunisia By Jean Duval The "personal invitation" of President Ben Ali, the dictator of Tunisia, to "General" Ariel Sharon, the Israeli butcher of the Palestinians, to visit his country next November during the World Summit of Information Society has inflamed the Tunisian youth. When President Ben Ali made his invitation public on February 25 he probably never imagined he would provoke the ire of the students and school students all over the country. He probably felt comforted by his fraudulent election "victory" last year and by the benevolent support of the United States and the governments of the European Union - starting with France- for his bloody regime. Tunisia has been portrayed in the last ten to fifteen years as one of the most stable and quiet countries in North Africa, the ideal holiday resort. This invitation to Ariel Sharon was clearly made under American advice, as Tunisia has no official diplomatic relations with Israel. The Tunisian regime wants of course to be part of the new Pax Americana in the Greater Middle East. Therefore it needs to "normalise" its relations with the Israeli Zionists. In reality Ben Ali is a candidate to become the most reliable Arab ally of the Americans. In return for the role of docile American puppet, Ben Ali wants further support for his dictatorship and some economical aid to finance the mafia clans of his entourage. Solidarity with the Palestinian and Iraqi masses The Palestinian question is a burning question in the whole of the Middle East, especially amongst the youth who identify strongly with the fate of the Palestinian masses. Many Arab youth know that it is not only the Israeli state machine which is repressing the Palestinians but that all the Arab regimes contribute to one degree or another to holding down the heroic Palestinian youth. Rapidly last week, the anger and indignation reached boiling point on the campuses all over Tunisia. The scope of the protests only became clear at the end of the week. Tens of thousands of university students and secondary school students defied the ferocious repression of the police in strikes, sit-ins and demonstrations to protest against this provocative invitation. The courses have been closed down at the "Institut Sup?rieur des Sciences Humaines et Sociales Ibn Charaf". In Sfax, five students, including two women have been arrested and tortured. In Jebiniana, the police entered a secondary school. The campus witnessed violent clashes between the police and the students. The faculty of science of Bizerte and the university of Jendouba have been closed. Dozens of students have been arrested. Some students have already been put on trial. In Monastir on Saturday, March 5, the police stopped a peaceful demonstration before it could leave the campus. In other places teachers have been "preventively" arrested, three leaders of RAID ATTAC have been abducted and no news has been heard of them since. The general secretary of the Progressive Democratic Party - a moderate opposition party - has been beaten up by the police. The leader of this party has declared that Ben Ali should withdraw his invitation or else he will have to "march over dead bodies" during his visit. Human right lawyer Mohamed Abou has also been arrested after having published an article on the internet in which he compared the Tunisian jails with the prisons of Abu Ghraib, famous for the torture of Iraqi prisoners by American guards. The lawyers of Tunis, the capital have announced a strike for this Wednesday to protest against this arbitrary detention. Last Friday in Tunis thousands of plain-clothed policemen tried to stop a new demonstration in the centre of town. As soon as a small group of students gathered the police pushed them down the side streets were they were brutally beaten. Dozens of students were arrested. Some of them were freed later. Another human rights lawyer Radhia Nasraoui was brutally beaten. She suffered different fractures and her right eye was injured. One of her daughters also suffered injuries to her head. Many of the students who have been beaten received injuries to their heads and limbs. School students who have been arrested, before being released have been forced to sign statements in which they declare that they will not take part in any further demonstrations. Also trade unionists and other opposition figures have been participating in the demonstrations. In another effort to stifle the opposition demonstrations, the government has closed down access to many informative websites. This is really ironic for a country which is going to host the World Summit on the Information Society! Over the weekend calls have been made to coordinate the actions across the whole country. The numerous Internet sites, weblogs, etc., which the regime cannot control are used to achieve this goal. A catalyst for more general discontent Not accidentally it is the youth which has erupted against the regime. The invitation of Sharon is merely a catalyst for a more generalised discontent which has not found a point of reference over the last few years. This lack of a point of reference gave the impression of the Tunisian youth of passivity and atomisation. But this has now changed! Despite the fact that Tunisia is presented as a stable and prosperous country the situation of the masses has deteriorated. Unemployment has not been absorbed by the economic growth. Growth has been at an average of 5% in the last three years. Over ten years the growth average has not gone above 4%. Those are better growth figures than the neighbouring countries, but not sufficient to alleviate the conditions of the masses, the youth in particular. Official figures estimate the level of unemployment at 15% to 16% of the active population. But the so-called "active population" represents only 48% of the population, the other not being even considered as being able to work! Worst hit by unemployment are the youth and more specifically the educated youth. 68% of the unemployed are under 30 years of age. Two thirds have just left high school or university. The younger you are and the more you have studied the more chances you have of not finding a job. What a terrible waste of talent! What a cruel paradox, a paradox the Tunisian youth shares with the Moroccan students! Hundred of thousands of young students will join the list of unemployed in the next two years. To this flagrant injustice we must add that some hundred thousand textile workers will lose their jobs before 2008 as part of the new Free Trade Zone established in the area. Official figures indicate that only 4% of the Tunisians live in poverty. This is another lie. In the cities 15% of the population lives on less than 2US$ a day. Nationally one in four Tunisians is poor. Wages have declined in the last 20 years. The minimum wage is almost 15% less than what it was in 1984! Students and workers must bring down the Ben Ali dictatorship! Combine this with an asphyxiating repression and you understand why the Tunisian youth is rising up against the dictatorship of Ben Ali. It might be just a first battle, comparable to a skirmish in war, but the battle has started, there can be no doubt about it. In the next few days we will see how the situation evolves. For the moment, the regime does not seem to be giving any sign of withdrawing the invitation to Sharon. Therefore the students should continue and organise their actions at national level. A national day of action should be called. Action committees should be established bringing together students and workers with the aim of fighting the regime. This action should not only be directed at the student community but also to the workers in the factories and the offices, to the peasants in the villages. The heroic students should direct their actions not only against one measure of the regime - the invitation to Sharon -but also against the whole regime. Moderate opposition parties - in reality the authorised parties of the regime even if they do make some critical noises - are trying to limit the movement to opposition to the invitation to Sharon. By doing this they want to take the regime under their protection. However, the invitation to Sharon is just one aspect of the pro-imperialist character of the dictatorship. The whole economic policy of low wages, unemployment and brutal repression of free speech and organisation, is linked to the pro-imperialist and pro-capitalist character of the regime. That's why other demands, social and economic demands, should also be taken up by the protest movement. [slightly abridged - "build the party" ending cut ;-)] March 7, 2005 www.marxist.com / www.marxy.com NIGERIA: 200 protesters storm and occupy oil terminal, demanding local jobs The army attacks the protest, killing four http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/02/04/ap1806658.html Machete-wielding protesters shut down Shell facility The local villagers closed down the facility by blockading entrances http://www.forbes.com/business/businesstech/feeds/ap/2005/01/26/ap1781834.html UK: Heroic migrant workers resist social cleansers Fascist council scum attacked the workers' homes on a planning technicality Workers resisted, throwing bricks and other objects One threatened to self-immolate as part of the resistance They eventually left voluntarily after an intervention by a church leader The council has wasted ?100,000 on the attack, but plans to steal it from the building's owner to subsidise their own repression and violence http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/4266863.stm TURKEY: Clashes as police attack Kurdish protesters Police attacked rallies in Diyarbakir and Istanbul, and protesters defended themselves with stones The biggest protest was in Diyarbakir, where protesters marched with pro-Ocalan banners In Istanbul, the protesters tried to march on the Greek embassy In Izmir, protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails at pigs In Mersin, protesters built bonfires in the road before police attacked There were also protests in Van Several cops and protesters were injured in the clashes Protesters are demanding that guerrilla leader Ocalan be moved from isolation into a regular prison Human rights groups later called for investigations into police violence http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/article.php?id=3532 http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=37367 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B0499E3B-08D6-4D55-91FA-D3CD710719D8.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1596043.htm http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-15-voa26.cfm http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=12699 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16692436.htm SUDAN: Tribal protesters massacred by army - 23 dead The protesters were demanding wealth redistribution and local autonomy Police claimed to be stopping looting and vandalism. Opponents allege they attacked a peaceful protest News reports refer to the troops attacking "economically motivated rioters" Hundreds had gathered for a march demanding talks on local autonomy for the Beja people The troops went on the rampage, attacking protesters and even homes miles away The UN has condemned the killings as a ceasefire violation http://www.soatsudan.org/press_releases/Deaths%20of%20Protestors%20in%20Port%20Sudan%20-%2001%20Feb%2005.asp http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/614/614p19h.htm http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/29/world/main670232.shtml http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050130/NEWS03/50130004/-1/news http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002165575_wdig31.html GHANA: Uprising closes school run as personal fiefdom by head School students trash the school in a revolt over fees for uniforms and other items The headmaster himself was put to flight by the students http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=76860 BANGLADESH: Three-day general strike after murder of opposition leader and others in a grenade attack on a rally Sporadic clashes were reported between cops and opposition supporters At least 100 were injured as pickets and police turned out in force http://athens-olympics-2004.newkerala.com/?action=fullnews&id=66918 http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_15988.shtml YEMEN: Protest against economic policies - clashes with cops Shops closed and protesters marched to protest a new sales tax Some protesters in Taaz fired at police, and other cops were injured by thrown objects http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050316-082009-7236r.htm http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/CA75B1B2-E84C-4BC3-B93C-15F7408FA8F5.htm http://www.iht.com/getina/files/234572.html KENYA: Protests at globalisation event http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306290.html KENYA: PROTESTS AT W.T.O. MEETING IN MOMBASA http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp? category_id=1&newsid=43880 text: Police yesterday rounded up some 60 anti-globalisation demonstrators as the World Trade Organisation conference got underway in the coastal town of Mombasa. The conference which is being attended by ministers from 33 countries, is aimed at kick-starting the Doha Round of global trade talks and is taking place at the Leisure Lodge Beach and Golf Resort, South Coast. Fifty-three of the protesters were arrested at Kombani trading centre as they made their way to Ukunda show ground the planned venue of a protest rally. Thirteen others, four of them women, were arrested at Ukunda town while marching from a local mosque to the meeting's venue. Police had earlier declared the planned rally illegal. The demonstrators carried banners that read; Africa sio ya kunadiwa (Africa is not for sale), and Coast women not involved in WTO resolution making. Others read WTO you are killing our farmers, and Protect us from cheap and subsidised agricultural imports. Kwale police chief, Patrick Mbarire, led his team in sealing off the venue of the planned rally at Ukunda show ground, and advised locals to keep off or face arrest. However, members of the civil society defied the Government order, and converged at the Markaz Mosque at Ukunda where, after a brief discussion, started marching to the showground about a kilometre away. Those arrested outside the Markaz mosque included top officials of Oxfam, Elizabeth Mueni, members of the Chemichemi and Coast NGOs Forum. The chairman of the Coast Lobby Development group, Mr Athman Said Kibada was among those arrested at Kombani trading centre. Kwale police station chief, Richard Masinde said his office was under firm instructions to arrest anyone headed for the rally. Meanwhile, Kenyan Trade and industry minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi said the difficult part of the long negotiations had started. "In the last 24 hours, we have set the tempo. Now the hard bit begins," conceded Dr Kituyi during a press conference at Leisure Lodge, in Mombasa's South Coast. The 33 Ministers had been flown in from the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and in the afternoon went into closed-door sessions lasting late into the night. Ironically, Dr Kituyi who last year hosted a similar forum in Mombasa, attracted a ringing endorsement from other world officials, even as the meeting provoked the wrath of assorted anti- globalisation lobbyists. The ministers are expected to offer the political commitment needed to push through the global trade agenda during the 148-member World Trade Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong December. However, no final deals are expected at the forum. But Dr Kituyi told Nation that concrete commitment from the ministers attending the mini-ministerial meeting was expected. "We do not want this to be a talk shop. We are not interested in mere tokenism," he said. The minister concurred with WTO outgoing director-general, Supachai Panitchpakdi, that no deals were set to be cut at the meeting. He explained that only US trade representative, Peter Allgeier, and European trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, had the mandate to make major decisions on the issue under discussion. Others, including major developing country players like Brazil, South Africa and India, had to submit their findings first for concrete decisions to be made. Dr Kituyi asked the participants to offer the requisite political leadership, set goals and show the right commitment to the process. Players in the WTO are hoping the Doha Round can be concluded next year. Among the issues under discussion include liberalisation of global trade and competition, agriculture and services. Developing countries since the Round kicked off in Doha, Qatar at the end of 2001 have resisted attempts to fully liberalise the multilateral trade system before rich countries can particularly eliminate farm subsidies. Some commitment to reduce part of the subsidies, running into billions of dollars, has been made by the US. Yesterday, Dr Kituyi said the participants were at least seeking basic consensus, ahead of the Hong Kong forum, slated to come up with a draft agreement. "We want something concrete to be put on the table," he said. "I hope we are capable of rising above what has divided us." Yesterday, the WTO director-general lauded Dr Kituyi for his part in pushing the process. "Kenya has played key role in maintaining the tempo," he said also in reference to the earlier Mombasa meeting. He expressed optimism that constructive outcome would especially emerge on the controversial issues referred to as Singapore Issues. DERBY, UK: Small protests against G8 Pigs ban protests and arrest 12 for nothing, and waste ?2 million on repression http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306876.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306776.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306801.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306681.html http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=12036736&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=12035535&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=12039499&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=12030853&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=12024763&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=12017242&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=12010120&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=12005582&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124621&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124615&contentPK=11956361&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124621&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124615&contentPK=11786835&moduleName=InternalSearch&keyword=g8&formname=sidebarsearch http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1440522,00.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306905.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306935.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306956.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306806.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/derby/content/image_galleries/derby_g8_summit_protest_2005_gallery.shtml?1 LONDON: Noisy climate change protest - 2 arrested at cacelorazo against climate change The target was a conference of G8 employment ministers http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306661.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306496.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306666.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306461.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306449.html US: Protest against Andean Free Trade Agreement outside secret talks http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/119407/index.php BAXTER, AUSTRALIA: Police attack refugee rights protesters, arrest 16 or more Police repeatedly attempted to steal and trash kites and balloons, using a technicality over flying objects as an excuse to attack protesters In one incident, protesters used a hook to cut through outer fencing around the concentration camp Protesters cut through and flattened outer fences to march on the camp while protecting themselves with padded fencing until this was stolen by snatch squad goons In another, a protester was arrested for crawling under a fence One protester was arrested for playing the guitar naked Some reports suggest protesters were marching on the camp, and that police wanted to make sure inmates were unaware of their presence A number of protesters were viciously assaulted by police; one was trampled by pig cavalry There have also been vicious slanders against protesters, with police blaming protesters for road deaths because police choose to use all their resources on repression, and politicians (who cruelly detain immigrants) accusing them of cruelly raising detainees' hopes Pigs, politicians and sections of the media are bending over backwards to make excuses for the brutal attempts to smash the protest http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B8C7CFC11-16A1-42FA-A384-35FFAE7AB599%7D&language=EN http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12675533%255E601,00.html http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=108137®ion=7 http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1333069.htm http://www.bordermail.com.au/newsflow/pageitem?page_id=925488 http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=47221 http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12666528%255E903,00.html http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12672320%255E911,00.html http://www.theage.com.au/news/Immigration/More-violence-at-Baxter-centre-protest/2005/03/27/1111862255094.html http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stories/asiapacific_stories_1331933.htm http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050326-123824-1500r.htm http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0503/S00418.htm http://www.theage.com.au/news/Immigration/Six-arrested-woman-trampled-in-Baxter-protest/2005/03/26/1111692681478.html http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12671467-2,00.html http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1332133.htm http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12675100%255E662,00.html http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1332313.htm http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12661143%255E1702,00.html US - INDIANAPOLIS: Police attack protesting school students with chemical spray Students stage sit-in over lateness rules, set off fire alarms and argue with pigs http://www.indystar.com/articles/2/219711-9452-009.html GERMANY: Nazis and anti-Nazis clash in the northern German city of Kiel Leftist counter-protesters trying to stop a banned Nazi rally threw bottles and stones at pigs Protesters built burning barricades of tyres and rubbish bins, and smashed signs They also threw bottles and stones while trying to break through a pig cordon http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/30/content_2525144.htm http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/31/wnazi31.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/01/31/ixworld.html BELIZE: VICTORY! Protest movement wins The government reach an accord giving the unions most of what they demanded But not without wrangling and continued resistance, including a split in the teachers' union Prior to the agreement, there were further strikes and protests http://www.belizean.com/mt-static/archives/2005/02/gob_and_unions.html#more http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13498 http://www.guardian.bz/storm.html http://www.belizean.com/mt-static/archives/2005/02/protests_contin.html#more http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?story=447&PHPSESSID=d6f39c3bac388e58b32c0215c801fae4 http://www.guardian.bz/eyeball.html http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13465 http://www.sanpedrosun.net/old/05-051.html http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13453 http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13458 http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13447 UGANDA: Running battles between protesters and police Protesters oppose Museveni's attempts to become president for life and change the constitution They defied a protest ban and then fought police who attacked the protest Dozens were arrested as police used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons to attack protesters Protest organisers say they proved their point that Uganda is not free The protests were organised by a newly-formed pressure group, Force for Change http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,6119,2-11-1447_1683474,00.html http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVIU-6AZGQZ?OpenDocument http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=qw1112272203592B225 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4397649.stm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/32d80c77d1e516190a76985691842d3b.htm http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=qw1112272203592B225 WSF: The varied leftisms of Latin America http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27147 Reports pictures etc from WSF http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/wsf/portoalegre2005/#beyond WSF should challenge capitalism http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/wsf/portoalegre2005/wsf_africa2007.htm WSF: the colonisation of resistance http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/wsf/portoalegre2005/colonisation_resistance.htm Porto Allegre Consensus Manifesto http://opendemocracy.typepad.com/wsf/2005/02/previous_posts_.html#more WSF needs to break out of the cage http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/615/615p20.htm PAKISTAN: Protesters torch and stone buses in protest over private company The protests follow incidents in which pedestrians were run over and killed Protesters blame the private bus company for dangerous driving by bus drivers In addition to trashing buses, the protesters fought with police http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-2-2005_pg7_39 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_13-3-2005_pg7_28 PAKISTAN: Varan company discontinues service after demonstrations http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-2-2005_pg7_31 ZAMBIA: Villagers revolt after wildlife police kill two in chase Two more people die of gunshot wounds as cops battle with protesters http://allafrica.com/stories/200502150859.html KOREA: Security goons fight trade unionists trying to attend a labour meeting Members battled to enter the meeting in the face of attempted repression at Hyundai's plant in Ulsan Trade unionists battled the guards and broke windows and computers in the office Seven were injured including four of the goons and three workers http://au.news.yahoo.com/050207/3/sxqs.html http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20050204/300500000020050204220254E3.html HAITI: Protesters mark anniversary of coup; police attack - two killed Protesters defend themselves and target UN forces in response to the killings http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/NAJL22801.htm http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1109561142949 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4306493.stm http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-28-voa54.cfm http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/aplatin_story.asp?category=1102&slug=Haiti%20Protest http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=540019 http://www.victoria.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/38541.php http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0228-11.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/NAJL22801.htm http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031781783695&path=!nationworld&s=1037645509161 http://www.workers.org/2005/world/haiti-0407/ RUSSIA: Benefits protests continue - 250,000 march across Russia Some protesters try to block traffic after rallies http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19792-2005Feb12.html http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=494433 http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=2/13/2005§ion_id=5&newsid=12559&spcl=no http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/02/12/russia-marches050212.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4795843,00.html http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-12T164846Z_01_ULL260481_RTRUKOC_0_RUSSIA-PROTESTS.xml http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1108226046658_20?hub=World http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7610023 http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=493794 http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5534273 http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5405700&startrow=1&date=2005-02-12&do_alert=0 http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=493741 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7609690 http://www.abc.net.au/correspondents/content/2004/s1296569.htm http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=114362005 http://au.news.yahoo.com/050212/19/t1a8.html (see also Avtonom reports, in Russia section, below) US: Protests, defiance greet introduction of Big Brother RFID cards in school http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_2562630 http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2005/2/11/technology/10144752&sec=technology http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2926275 http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=21183 http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/feeds/ap/2005/02/09/ap1817091.html Letter sent to ACLU and others http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/RFID/schools/ACLU_EFF_EPIC_letter.pdf VICTORY! RFID experiment ends http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,66626,00.html?tw=wn_3bizhead http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000167031980/ http://i-newswire.com/pr7216.html http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60402156 More on RFIDs - California library crisis http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=17602 ALBANIA: Villagers protest Club Med development Police attack viciously, driving a bulldozer into the crowd and beating protesters There had been a four-day blockade over the development, for which locals are not compensated http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-24T175325Z_01_CHA464126_RTRUKOC_0_ALBANIA-CLUBMED.xml http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5561570 COLORADO: Students rally against fascist regents to defend Ward Churchill When police attack, protesters fight back and regents have to sneak off out a side-door http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0204ColoProfessor04-ON.html NEW ZEALAND: Golf course sabbed ahead of major event Sabbing is in protest against a mass killing of ducks, including one pet duck by accident Holes were dug in the golf course and petrol spilled to write words such as "murderers" http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10010150 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/articles/16469512?source=Evening%20Standard GREECE: One-day general strike over poverty and unemployment Thousands protest; police fight students near the Foreign Ministry http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m25.shtml CHINA: Demonstrations by jobseekers at job fair over event mismanagement 6000 protest, blockade roads and overrun the venue Riot police smash the protest, but are forced to free arrested protesters as tensions continue The protesters were unemployed graduates, whose economic position is worsening http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/chin-m29.shtml GLOBAL PEACE PROTESTS Hundreds of thousands march in hundreds of cities around the world, on the anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5559 http://www.marxist.com/Europe/iraq_demonstrations190305.htm http://www.all4all.org/2005/03/1542.shtml http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/6029 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/6031 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/6032 http://www.socialistunitynetwork.co.uk/news/marchwar.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4364305.stm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/620/620p19b.htm Condensed review of Iraq War protest around the world... San Francisco, Calif - at Dolores Park, City Hall, paraded with photos of Iraq war dead. New York, City, New York - Hundreds at U.N., 42nd St., Times Square, at military recruiting stations, paraded flagged draped coffins Ft. Bragg, North Carolina - 3,000 paraded slogan, "slap a yellow ribbon and call it supporting our troops" ...support them by assuring minimum harm, with superior equipment Albuquerque, New Mexico - 300 paraded to the Nationall Guard Armory with slogans "Support troops...bring them home", "Stop the Neocon war", "Peace is patriotic", "You can't be prolife and pro war"... and they glued names and pictures to sidewalks...also protest against globilization and social security reform...Pres. Bush is expected to deliver a speech at 9:30 am Tuesday 3/22/2005 at the Albuquerque Convention Center the Kiva Auditorium... Europe: London, England - 45,000 to 100,000 paraded the streets, Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, and the American Embassy Istanbhul, Turkey: 15,000 paraded in Kadikay neighborhood with slogan "Murder Bush, get out" Warsaw Poland - 500 paraded to the U.S. Embassy with slogans "Pull out from Iraq now", and "Pols back to Poland" Athens, Greece - 3,000 marched on the U.S. Embassy Stockholm, Sweden - 300 at Sergel Square, with slogan "USA out of Iraq" Around the world, protests took place in Tokyo, Winnipeg, Istanbul, Copenhagen, London, Bombay, Lahore, Rome, Ankara, Athens, Brasilia, Dublin, Glasgow, Mexico City, Sydney, Aukland, Madrid, Kuala Lumpur, Santiago, Cairo, Montevideo, Sao Paulo, Johannesburg and many other cities. http://www.all4all.org/2005/03/1542.shtml This list, now at 42-44 countries, may still be incomplete. There will also be demonstrations in at least Palestine, Iran and some sort of solidarity actions in Cuba and Venezuela. (www.stopwar.org.uk/march20/) AFRICA: Egypt (Cairo 20/3), South Africa (Johannesburg). ASIA: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam. ASIA PACIFIC: Australia (many cities, often 20 March), Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea (11 countries). Cities: Bangkok (20/3), Dhaka (20/3), Hanoi (18/3), Kakamigahara-city, Gifu-ken (20/3), Kuala Lumpur (20/3), Kyoto (20/3), Manila (18/3), Osaka [2] (20/3), Rawalpindi, Sapporo, Seoul (20/3), Tokyo, INDIA (various cities). Adelaide (20/3), Auckland, Brisbane (20/3), Canberra, Christchurch (Otautahi), Darwin (20/3), Kobe, Hyogo prefecture (20/3), Melbourne (18/3), Perth (20/3), Sydney (20/3), Victoria (18/3). EUROPE: Iceland, Basque Country, Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland (many cities throughout Scandinavia), Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Greece (3/18 and 3/19), Cyprus, Turkey, also Germany. (21) Cities: Akureyri, Albi, Arendal, Arvika, Athens, Barcelona, Belfast, Bergen, Brussels, [2], [3], Budapest (20/3), Burgos, CAGLIARI (SARDINIA), Copenhagen, Donostia - San Sebastian, Dublin, Dundee, DUISBURG, Gislaved, Gothenburg, G?vle, Heidelberg, Helsingborg, Helsinki, Istanbul, J?nk?ping, Karlshamn, Karlskrona, Kristianstad, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lisboa, Logrono (La Rioja), London, Lulea, Lund, Lysekil, Madrid, Malm?, Marseille, Nicosia, Norrk?ping, Nyk?ping, Oslo, Pamplona (18/3), Parma, Porto, Reykjavik, [2], Rome, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Skelleftea, Stavanger, Stockholm, Sundsvall, S?derhamn, Torino, Tromso, Umea, Uppsala, Vienna, V?steras, V?xj?, Warsaw, Zaragoza, ?stersund. LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Haiti, Nicaragua, Mexico, Puerto Rico (8). Cities: Belo Horizonte, Buenos Aires, Carazinho, Cd Juarez (20/3), Maldonado (18/3), Managua, Marechal C?ndido Rondon (21/3), Mexico City, Port-au-Prince (20/3), Porto Alegre (20/3), Rio de Janeiro, San Jos?, Santiago (18/3), [2], Sao Paulo, Vieques. NORTH AMERICA: Canada (more than 30 cities), USA (over 700 actions of some sort on March 18-20 according to United for Peace and Justice site), includes major demonstrations in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Boston (20/3), Chicago, Detroit (18/3), and at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, NC. (2) SAN FRANCISCO: Port workers close docks in anti-war strike http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5548 http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/1712408.php EUGENE: Recruitment centre shut down http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/6101 KANSAS CITY: Graffiti, banners and sabbing of army centres http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OreadDaily/message/679 UK: Alexandra school students occupy school in peace protest http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6119 Students occupy university in Iraq war protest http://www.marxist.com/Europe/ucl_students_occupation210305.htm PICS FROM CHILE, BRAZIL, MALAYSIA, INDIA, TURKEY, ITALY, CYPRUS & MORE http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727903.php CHILE: Various pictures from the Santiago, Chile march and actions http://santiago.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/30421.php KOREA: Peace march and "confusion" event http://migrant.nodong.net/zb/view.php?id=newsndates&no=237 JAPAN: Transport workers rally against the war http://www.labournet.net/world/0503/japan5.html WEST BENGAL: Millions form human chain to protest imperialism http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/858/1/32/ MALAYSIA: Police attack peace protesters with water cannons http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/138316/1/.html SOUTH AFRICA: Anti-war demo pics http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/7772.php http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/7778.php PHILLIPINES: Peace march in Manila http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/2906.php TURKEY: Photos of Anarchist Block which participated in the demonstration in Istanbul on 19th of March: http://anarsiforum.otonom.info/viewtopic.php?p=5743#5743 EUROPE: Protests in many cities http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-eur/2005/mar/19/031903714.html http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1511&e=2&u=/afp/20050320/wl_afp/iraqwar2yearsbritain_050320021505 http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/03/20/966748-sun.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m21.shtml POLAND: In Szczecin, anarchists organized an anti-war demo. You can see photos from FA Szczecin here: http://www.poland.indymedia.org/pl/2005/03/12723.shtml UK: Protest march in London http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307091.html Pictures http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307189.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307107.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307050.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307040.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307092.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307065.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307385.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307365.html Protesters target US Embassy http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307146.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307106.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307251.html OutRage contingent protest war and fundamentalism http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307125.html Glasgow anti-war demo and rally http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307225.html Samba contingent http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307059.html BELGIUM: March for peace and against social security cuts in Brussels - up to 100,000 march http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305734.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305728.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305767.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305767.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/brus-m21.shtml http://www.marxist.com/Europe/belgium_protest_190305.htm http://www.all4all.org/2005/03/1542.shtml http://dearkitty.modblog.com/?show=blogview&blog_id=518061 Pictures: http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93226.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93213.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93254.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93280.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93321.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93394.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93440.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93184.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93193.php http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93201.php http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305817.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305669.html Video: http://www.indymedia.be/news/2005/02/93320.php ICELAND: Protests in two towns http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5561 DENMARK: 1500 rally against Danish involvement in the war http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1658012,00.html SCANDINAVIA It was pretty depressing to see a low turn out at the venue for anti-war demo yesterday. Over 1000. Though AP put teh figure at 300.AFP says 1000. I myslef think 1000-1500 is a realistic figure. Depressed, I sent an sms to a friend in London asking about London demo: '150 thousand on the march' came the reply. It helped me overcome my frustration. I think the low turn had yesterday a lot to do with , among other things, lack of mobilisation. The anti-war network here proved incapable. I think one reason for big antiwar demos in London is the efeectiveness of anti-war network there. Oslo and Kopenhagen also had demostartion but very small ones. Oslo indeed surprised all here in Scandanavia on Feb 15 , two years ago when 60 thopusand gathered in central Oslo. I think most encouraging news was from Turkey. 15 thousand demostrated. Atleast some Muslim country sets an example. Though there were demonstration all across the world but not even a shadow of what we had on Feb 15. Depressing? yes at least for me but we need to think over. Farooq Sulehria AUSTRALASIA: Rallies in NZ, Aus http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/aust-m21.shtml NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA: Police viciously attack protest, arrest four; protesters block roads http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/30423/index.php AUSTRALIA Former Gitmo inmate addresses rally http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Dont-leave-Hicks-behind-Habib-tells-rally/2005/03/20/1111253885111.html Sydney: 3000 march against war http://sydney.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=52970&group=webcast http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Dont-leave-Hicks-behind-Habib-tells-rally/2005/03/20/1111253885111.html Thousands rally in Melbourne http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89426.php Protests across America http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=10529&s2=20 http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/1712511.php http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0321-07.htm 583 anti-war protests across America http://www.thenation.com/blogs/actnow?pid=2270 FAYETTEVILLE: Fayetteville Stands for Peace rally March targets Fort Bragg military base; thousands, including soldiers and veterans, protest http://arkansas.indymedia.org/feature/display/9853/index.php http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313958.shtml Photo essay of the protest http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/119801/index.php AUSTIN, TEXAS: Anti-war march - anarchists chase off bigots http://austin.indymedia.org/newswire/display/19517/index.php http://austin.indymedia.org/newswire/display/19511/index.php http://homepage.mac.com/kaaawa/Polly_Tiks/PhotoAlbum64.html TUCSON: Protesters target Bush visit. Police make random arrests http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/25644.php http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/25652.php http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/25661.php BALTIMORE: About 300 march against war http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/9840/index.php BOSTON: Thousands rally against the war http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/34037/index.php Protesters stage "bloodbath" at military recruiting office http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/34004/index.php CHICAGO: More peace protests - over 5000 rally; police harass splinter-groups Thousands gathered "illegally" to defy a police ban http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/54462/index.php http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/54461/index.php http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/54479/index.php http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/54460/index.php http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/54501/index.php MAINE: Bridges for Peace demo http://maineindymedia.org/feature/display/2669/index.php MIAMI: Hundreds gather at Torch for Peace memorial http://miami.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/915.php MADISON: Demo at military recruiting office http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/22663/index.php MINNEAPOLIS: 1500 march against war http://twincities.indymedia.org/feature/display/20270/index.php HOUSTON: Large march and rally http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/38066.php http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/38077.php http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/38097.php http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/38053.php http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/38072.php DETROIT: Protest links war to budget cuts http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/9912/index.php ANN ARBOR: Protesters highlight peace, Palestine http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/9972/index.php HARTFORD: Rally hailed as "great success" http://www.qumsiyeh.org/march19hartfordrally/ LOS ANGELES: 2000 march in Hollywood http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123906.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123926.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123939.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123970.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/124038.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/124000.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123920.php Anarchist contingent http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123869.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123963.php TRAVERSE CITY: 200 rally http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/9918/index.php LANSING: Small protest at Capitol http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/9985/index.php ST PAUL: Peace march - over 1000 turn up http://twincities.indymedia.org/feature/display/20271/index.php http://twincities.indymedia.org/feature/display/20291/index.php GRAND RAPIDS: Small march against war http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/9967/index.php PORTLAND: About 1000 protest http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313780.shtml CORVALLIS: Small "white ribbon" march http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313868.shtml EUGENE: Direct action shuts down four army recruiting offices http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313861.shtml#172941 BEND: Small peace march http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313806.shtml PITTSBURGH: peace march http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/17698.php http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/17699.php http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/17741.php http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/17686.php http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/17717.php http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/17760.php NEW HAMPSHIRE: Locals rally against war and occupation http://nhindymedia.org/feature/display/2043/index.php DENTON: Small peace protest http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=2167&PHPSESSID=a1c9db1caa5065975c4629c83a67ffb3 OKLAHOMA CITY: Hundreds rally for peace http://okimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=669 TULSA: Peace rally http://okimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=673 NEW JERSEY: Banners dropped http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145458/index.php NEW YORK: Rally in New Paltz http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145477/index.php Protests stop military recruiting - 30 arrested http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145465/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145486/index.php http://www.warresisters.org/counter-recruitMar05.htm Campus resistance interview http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/03/18/1450222 Troops Out Now rally in Central Park http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145542/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145518/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145464/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145574/index.php http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5979 Last-minute anarchist contingent arranged http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145521/index.php March by War Resisters League http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145508/index.php CHATTANOOGA: March and rally with music http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4798/index.php NASHVILLE: 300 demonstrate http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4780/index.php CHAMPAIGN: downtown peace demo http://www.ucimc.org/feature/display/28750/index.php WORCESTER: veterans plan peace demo http://worcester.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/853.php SAN DIEGO: March to the local park - hundreds protest http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/108029.shtml http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107980.shtml http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107968.shtml http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107940.shtml http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/108019.shtml http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107948.shtml Standing ovation for Pablo Paredes http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107998.shtml Code Pink stage 40-mile march http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107970.shtml Street art covers San Diego http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/108001.shtml Recruitment centres redecorated http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/108009.shtml Recruiters in school targeted - but banners removed http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107985.shtml SEATTLE: Thousands march http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/245272.shtml FRESNO: Rally draws protesters from throughout Central Valley http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/1712439.php COLUMBUS, OHIO: Hundreds rally for peace http://www.mytown.ca/denino/ SAN JOSE: 2000 march for peace http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728605.php SAN FRANCISCO: Peace march; breakaway contingent damage McDonald's, Gap The main march is BIG, attracting 25,000 according to Indymedia reports http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728142.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728304.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728089_comment.php#1728306 http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/20/MNGJKBS9PK1.DTL Pictures http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727985.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727978.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727772.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727876.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727944.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728199.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728107.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728077.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728130.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728231.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728214.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728233.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728184.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728248.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728280.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728264.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728377.php Anarchist contingent http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728022.php Labour rally http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1727997.php Student and anti-recruitment contingents http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728013.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728442.php Veterans contingent http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728029.php Rally at Civic Center Plaza http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728118.php Showdown with Zionist counter-protesters http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728929.php Bayan (Filipino) contingent http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728821.php Dogs for peace http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728280.php Videos http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728581.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728628.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728532.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728638.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728970.php http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1729037.php ROCHESTER: 300 demonstrate http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/3541/index.php RICHMOND: Anarchists participate in "Troops Rally" in inimitable fashion http://richmond.indymedia.org/newswire/display/9952/index.php ABINGDON: Small demo http://richmond.indymedia.org/otherpress/display/524/index.php CALIFORNIA: 39 coastal cities call for peace http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/16077/index.php GUELPH: Small peace rally http://www.mytown.ca/ev.php?URL_ID=103568&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201 Media coverage criticised http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0321-21.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:20:16 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:20:16 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades part 3 Message-ID: <06d601c53908$0d547e90$ab30fd3e@WOL> SNC-Lavalin Declares War on Homes not Bombs! Report from Matthew Behrens of Homes not Bombs Dozens of Police, Mounted Units, Police Wagons Greet Toronto Vigil of 10 People Protesting Production of Canadian Bullets for U.S. Forces in Iraq, Afghanistan.... (Photos http://johnb.smugmug.com/gallery/446372) TORONTO, MARCH 21, 2005 -- All the 10 or so members of Homes not Bombs wanted to do today was have a dialogue on ending SNC-Lavalin's participation in the war crimes being committed in Iraq and Afghanistan. SNC-Lavalin profits handily from its Quebec-based SNC-TEC subsidiary, which is providing hundreds of millions of bullets to U.S. occupation forces across the globe. But SNC-Lavalin management would have none of it, preferring to treat Homes not Bombs as a security threat. In their largest display of force yet, some three dozen Metro Police, eight wearing riot visors and riding horses -- backed up with two police wagons ready to cart folks away -- were on hand early today at the Etobicoke offices of the firm, which has been the site of two prior, peaceful protests. All this for a group of ten people with placards and flyers calling for an end to the profits being made from war crimes. And just to make sure we got the point, police immediately accosted the small group as we walked towards the western driveway to the offices. The officer in charge told us that the company had pre-issued trespass notices against us "that would be enforced," and another officer took it upon himself to single out one demonstrator, grabbing him by the arm, without explanation, and proceeding to shove him around. The officer then threatened to attack another demonstrator for standing on the sidewalk. "Move, how many times do I have to tell you, you're blocking the driveway!" he thundered at her. She reminded him that his police cars were in fact blocking the driveway and that she was simply standing on the sidewalk. Despite his repeated thundering at her, she stood her ground, staring him down until he backed off. Indeed, police cars blocked both entrances, and a row of squad cars was lined up at the front entrance to the building, perhaps to prevent a repeat of the scene on Martin Luther King Day, when a group of about 50 people, including some recently returned from first-hand witnessing in Iraq, had paraded around the grounds and a smaller group of about 10 had tried to enter the building for a dialogue. That day, police had seemed unprepared, and made no arrests. Why was there such a display of force today? Were the police simply embarrassed by their lack of preparation last time out (only to be made even more embarrassed with today's show of firepower for the small vigil)? Or has the campaign to get SNC-Lavalin to divest itself of its bulletmaker or, better yet, transform itself into something socially useful, begun to have an effect inside corporate boardrooms? Bullet production certainly has been cause for a great deal of dialogue inside the building, according to employees who ventured out for lunch and discussed the issue with the demonstrators. And if SNC-Lavalin was trying to deflect attention away from itself because of its unsavoury practices, this was certainly not the way to do it.The huge police presence also meant many passersby slowed down to see what was going on and, having found out, honked enthusiastically their support for our vigil. While some employees refused to look at us, others nodded in silent support, and a few were vocal in their words of encouragement. Some said they were unaware there was to be a protest, so there was concern when police on horseback started circling the building this morning. Once that occurred, the company did much of the work for us, by explaining once again in an internal email that SNC's profiting from bullets was the cause of our demo. Some employees stood out on the front porch for a short time while we called out to them to have a dialogue on divestment, but apparently a senior manager ordered them back inside. It is that kind of treatment--not even allowing employees the right on their break to speak with us--that has contributed to a certain amount of discomfort within the company. Indeed, one employee told us of a personal decision to give notice in a few weeks time, declaring that the bullet contract was one more reason to leave the company, in addition to concerns about what the individual described as shoddy environmental practices by the firm in its engineering and mining projects and poor treatment of employees. As we left the armed encampment that was SNC-Lavalin this afternoon, we vowed to return, to once again expose the lie that Canada is not involved in the crimes taking place in Iraq, and to challenge a complacent population which seems to have bought that lie in much the same way as many have swallowed the line that Paul Martin's announcement on star wars means Canada is not involved in space warfare (when in fact it is official Canadian government policy to view space as the fourth medium of warfare). Stay tuned. Better yet, if you are one of those people who has enough money to have investments, make sure none of your money is going to SNC-Lavalin. If it is, divestment provides a perfect way to express your displeasure at their profiting from war crimes. New York City Marches Against The War: Harlem The Heart Of The Action; Slimy UFPJ Leaders Refuse To Endorse March Focused On People Of Color 27 Mar 2005 From: New York City Labor Against The War Subject: 3.19: New York City Labor Against The War Report on NYC Demo On March 19, 15,000 antiwar protesters stretched for 15 blocks as they marched from Harlem to Central Park in New York City. In New York City, it was the largest antiwar protest since March 20, 2004, when 100,000 turned out on the first anniversary of the invasion of Iraq; much of the antiwar movement subsequently collapsed into support for pro-war presidential candidate John Kerry. The demonstration successfully defeated the city's policy of denying permits for antiwar protests in Central Park and on Fifth Avenue. But the March 19 demonstration, organized by the Troops Out Now Coalition, was most notable as the first large antiwar march to emerge from Harlem, and for its strong representation of African Americans, Latinos, Arabs, Muslims and Asians -- many of them immigrants -- from communities most directly impacted by the war, both abroad and at home. The protest began with a rally at Marcus Garvey Park. It rallied again at the military recruitment station on 125 Street, traveled through Central and East Harlem, and ended with a main rally in Central Park's East Meadow. Afterwards, thousands marched through the wealthy Upper Eastside to deliver the same message to the home of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Troops Out Now Coalition was initiated last fall by the International Action Center, and by trade unionists and community activists of color of the Million Worker March. These include Brenda Stokely, president of AFSCME DC 1707, co-convener of New York City Labor Against the War, and co-chair of the Million Worker March; Nellie Bailey, of the Harlem Tenants Council; Christopher Silvera, chair of the Teamsters Black Caucus, and secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 808; TWU Local 100 activists Charles Jenkins and Richard McKnight; Una Muzak, owner of Liberation Bookstore in Harlem; and Gil Banks, cofounder of Harlem Fight Back. Labor endorsements and contingents came from AFSCME DC 1707 Local 205; AFSCME DC 37 Locals 375, 1930 and 262; AFM Local 1000; Association of Mexican American Workers; Black Telephone Workers for Justice; Coalition of Black Trade Unionists-NY; Guyanese-American Workers United; National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981; Educators Against the War; Postal Workers Against the War; Transit Workers Against the War; New Jersey Labor Against the War, 1199ers for Peace and Justice; NY Taxi Workers Alliance; and Troy Area Labor Council. At the rally, NYCLAW co-convener Brenda Stokely told marchers that: "It is very important that the demonstration began in Harlem. Not only because the people of Harlem, and especially its young people, have had rain on them the costs of militarism, war and racism. Harlem is also important as a symbol of resistance. Every nationality in New York was represented in the march from Marcus Garvey Park to Central Park." Also participating in the protest were many activists affiliated with United for Peace and Justice. UFPJ's leadership, however, rejected repeated invitations to cosponsor, endorse or publicize the event. [If only John Kerry had decided to come these "leaders" might have changed their minds. As he was calling for more troops in Iraq and the destruction of Falluja in the election campaign, too many of them were busy kissing his ass as their perverted notion of a "peace" candidate.] BOSTON Like many others across the world, on March 20 - a global day of action--thousands of Bostonians gathered on the Boston Common to protest the continuing US occupation of Iraq. The crowd size was large enough to make it difficult to estimate, with figures running between two and five thousand. Local activists, veterans of the invasion and occupation of Iraq and those with loved ones in the military spoke out powerfully against the war, mixed with a multicultural cast of musicians. The plan had been to close the rally with direct action, blockading the entrance to a near-by military recruiting station. In response, the military recruiting station simply never opened for the day. Instead, the final speaker, Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner, urged everyone still at the rally (a couple hundred people -- the rally ran far over time) to join an unpermitted march originally planned by a group of young anarchists. The march snaked through the streets of downtown Boston before returning to Boston Common. There, some of the police began unprovoked attacks on activists, shoving people to the ground and arresting five. A stand-off ensued, with the police eventually pulling back. Plans are underway to support those arrested in court. I got to the Common around 12:30, a half-hour before the rally was scheduled to happen, to see what was going on with the group of young anarchists who had called for an unpermitted march at 12:30. One of them, Cameron Pond, explained, why they were not planning to go the large rally: "I would rather take to the streets. People won't take us as seriously if we don't take direct action. We can't keep waiting for the right moment - nothing will happen. The right moment is now. We have to forcibly take our victory, by being out there and being loud." He also, however, expressed a wish for greater unity among the various factions of the left: "'Personally, I would rather have the rally and the march combined...The conservatives have unity in their bloc, while we have disunity on our side."' There were also two small groups of counter-protesters, at most a half-dozen each. One group consisted of young Republicans, another of young, openly avowed fascists, dressed up like jack-booted thugs. They were kept at the margins of the rally. Most of the speakers were strong though. The first speaker was Shalom Keller, a twenty-three year-old veteran who spent six months in Afghanistan and a year in Iraq, participating in the initial invasion. What he saw and experienced turned him against the war. Anguish and rage in his voice, he recalled how, during the invasion of Iraq, "'I saw a four year old girl begging for food. I was told not give her any bread, because others would come after us to feed her. Well, it's two years later and no one's come to feed her yet!"' He also said, "'People I know personally are dead!"' naming those in his unit who have died in this senseless war. Finally, he decried those in the military who have justified the war on Christian fundamentalist grounds as a crusade for Christ. Removing his hat to reveal a yarmulke, Keller shouted, "'Do I look like I'm fighting a crusade for Christ here?! I'm kind of Jewish."' Rose Gonzalez, of Military Families Speak Out, told the gathered crowd about her mother: "'Like many others, she joined the National Guard, thinking that they would help her by paying for an education and a mortgage for a house. Currently, at forty-seven years old, she is deployed in Iraq--deployed long after he have found no weapons of mass destruction, long after it's been proved there is no connection between bin Laden and Hussein, long after Hussein has been captured, long after we were promised the war would be over. Why is she still there?"' Near the Bandstand was a wall with the names of photos of US soldiers who have died in Iraq, reinforcing the speakers' message about the war's grim toll. According to the Department of Defense's website, 1,509 American soldiers have died in the invasion and occupation of Iraq and 5,871 have been seriously wounded. Renowned radical historian Howard Zinn put the current peace movement's efforts in historical perspective, while lambasting the Bush administration's claims that this is a war for democracy: "'When Vietnam Veterans Against the War was formed, that was an important turning point in the struggle against the Vietnam War. Now that veterans are returning and speaking out against the Iraq War, more and more people are seeing the truth. Bush has stolen the wealth of this country and put into the war. Bush has said that the soldiers are fighting for liberty. That is not true. They are fighting for Bush, for Cheney, for Halliburton, and for Bechtel--and they are not worth dying for. You don't bring liberty to a country with napalm and cluster bombs. You don't bring democracy by breaking into houses and terrorizing civilians. Bush has said this is a war on terrorism. War is terrorism." The final speaker, City Councilor Turner, a respected, long-time civil rights activist and African-American community organizer, highlighted the connection between poverty and war: "Our government is not acting in the interests of our people. It's not just what's happening overseas. It's taking place in our communities as well. They're taking money and giving it to the military-industrial-prison complex to protect American business, while cutting social services at home." Several times in his speech, he urged people to join the unpermitted march after the rally. Unfortunately, the rally had stretched well beyond its schedule end time of 3:00 to 4:20, so only a few hundred people remained. Most of these people proceeded to march, resulting in higher numbers than the anarchist youth could have gotten on their own. The gathering stopped briefly in front of the military recruiting center to celebrate the fact that it had shut down for the day in anticipation of the direct action, while an activist marching band played. Turner and the anarchists then proceeded to lead the group on a march through downtown Boston, snaking along various streets, including through the shopping district of Downtown Crossing, where hundred of people saw and heard the anti-war banners and chants. Some people simply looked on in puzzlement, a few flipped us off, while others made V-signs or honked in support (including a few folks trapped in the traffic by the march). It was refreshing to see such a disparate group of progressive activists--in terms of race, generation and political beliefs--working together in a fairly militant action. The original plan had been for the march to go from the Common to Harvard Square. Police blocked the way, eventually directing the crowd back to the Common. At first, the police seemed like they were nonetheless going to be relatively mellow, simply stopping traffic and steering the march by parking their motorcycles in various intersections. The police presence became increasingly heavy though, with police in paramilitary uniforms and giant batons appearing and walking alongside the march, with legal observers trailing them in turn. When the march returned to the Common at 4:45, there were paddy wagons parked there and the police were evidently trying to stop the march from further movement with their motorcycles. According to numerous witnesses, some of the cops than flipped out as some of the marchers tried to move forward, shoving numerous people to the ground (including two senior citizens) and arresting five people (including an Indymedia writer), in some cases violently piling on top of them, all without provocation. That it was the police that were out of line is clear in light of the fact of the behavior of the other cops, who sent some of the responsible officers away to cool off. A tense stand-off between the protesters and the police followed. It became clear exactly how unpopular the police already were with the predominantly student crowd, as people called out things, "'You killed our classmate Victoria Snelgrove,"' referring to a Emerson College student killed by riot police using "'non-lethal"' weapons as she peacefully celebrated the victory of the Red Sox in the World Series. The stand-off continued for a while. At 5:00, about thirty of the anarchists and other young protesters further de-escalated the situation by sitting down on the ground, adopting a less confrontational pose but also refusing to back down by going away. They sang civil rights songs, effectively changing the atmosphere. Eventually, the police, realizing that their continued presence would only be a provocation, backed down and moved away from the protesters. TROOP NEWS 20+ FT. BRAGG ACTIVE DUTY TROOPS COME TO FAYETTEVILLE RALLY IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR Anti-War Rally: Fayetteville, NC 3.19.05 Diane Green Lent, Photographer. http://dianelent.com/fayetteville1.html NC Peace and Justice Org. & March 21, 2005 By Kevin Maurer, Staff writer, The Fayetteville (NC) Observer & 03/19/05 By The Associated Press & March 20, 2005, By Allison Williams, Staff writer, The Fayetteville (NC) Observer On Saturday, March 19, 2005, over 4000 people gathering in Fayetteville for a wonderful march and rally spearheaded by vets and military families. People came from all over: Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Minnesota, DC, Hawaii, New York. Speakers like Lou Plummer, veteran from Fayetteville, and Mike Hoffman, founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War, electrified the audience. [Which is more than the occupation has done for Baghdad.] At least 20 active duty GIs defied orders from Ft Bragg to come to listen. Joshua Despain and Hart Viges wore camouflage jackets with 82nd Airborne Division patches. Both men said they served in Iraq and have left the Army. ''It was a very positive event. We raised public awareness that not everybody believes that you are either with us or against us," said Charlie Anderson, a member of Iraq Veterans Against The War. Anderson was a hospital corpsman with the Marines during the war. He lives in Virginia Beach, Va. Kara Hollingsworth, a member of the Military Families group who spoke at the rally, said she was nervous about taking part in Saturday's protest. She was afraid that she would be viewed as a traitor because her husband is serving his second tour in Iraq with Fort Bragg's 35th Signal Brigade. ''We are all part of the same community, and we all want the best for our soldiers," Hollingsworth said. "We want the same things, but we don't agree on how." She said her husband is supportive of her stand against the war, but he has a job to do as a soldier. Perry O'Brien, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, said he saw a number of Fort Bragg soldiers in the crowd at the rally. He said he knows of a number of active-duty soldiers against the war and it is up to veterans to give these soldiers a voice. ''It helps them to know that veterans are not abandoning them," O'Brien said. ''We are not just waving flags and watching them die." Michael Hoffman, a co-Founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War who invaded Iraq in 2003 with the Marines, be didn't think anti-war protests undermine the morale of troops facing danger, Hoffman said. "I've been in Iraq, I've been shot at, you're not thinking about the protests, you're not thinking about yellow ribbons, you're thinking about 'how am I going to get out of this?"' he said. Anne Roesler, a college professor from California who is a member of the Military Families group, is staying in her son's apartment. It has been empty since he left Fort Bragg for Iraq. Roesler, who was wearing a pair of her son's desert camouflage pants at the rally, said her son and other soldiers support her for speaking out against the war. And the efforts are paying off, she said. ''If you had asked me six months ago, I would said I wasn't sure," she said. "Now, there's a definite shift in the wind.'' Fayetteville: "The Largest Anti-War Protest Ever In This Heavily Military Town" 20 March 2005 By Scott Galindez, t r u t h o u t Report Fayetteville, NC -- The second anniversary of the war was the impetus for major demonstrations throughout the world. In the United States, over 800 communities held events calling for an end to the occupation. CNN, however, reported that in the United States "barely a ripple was made while large protests took place in Europe." The New York Times reported that protests in the United States ranged from 350 people in Times Square to thousands in San Francisco. Later in the same story, the Times reported that several thousand marched from Harlem to Central Park. If thousands marched in New York, why did the Times highlight the 350 in Times Square? CNN's report was worse . nothing about US protests. While they only saw a ripple, a huge wave passed them by. If CNN had been in Fayetteville, North Carolina, they would have seen what could be a major turning point in the anti-war movement. The largest Anti-war protest ever in this heavily military town took place. The march was led by two banners carried by family members of soldiers who died or served in Iraq. The first banner said "The World Still Says No to War" and the second banner was "Bring the Troops Home Now." A few feet behind was a banner carried by Veterans of the Iraq War. One of those veterans, Sergeant Camillo Mejia, recently served 9 months in jail for refusing to return to Iraq after leave. Mejia told the crowd: "After going to war and seeing its ugly face, I could no longer be a part of it." Following the Iraq Veterans was Military Families Speak Out. "I can't remain silent on these issues, slap a yellow ribbon on my car and call it supporting our troops," said Kara Hollingsworth, the wife of a soldier serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. "I support our troops by making sure they are not put in harm's way unless absolutely necessary." Many veterans of past wars were also among the ranks. Sections of the march resembled army units marching in formation calling cadence. Speaker after speaker told stories of loved ones they had lost during the war and the now 2-year-old occupation of Iraq. Flag-draped mock coffins were carried by many. The March was part of a series of events aimed at breathing new life into the anti-war movement. The first-ever Iraq Veterans Against the War national conference is also taking place, along with a Conference of Military Families Speak Out. A third major conference of Southern anti-war organizers is also taking place in Fayetteville. CNN missed the boat . perhaps a good thing for them, since they were only prepared for a ripple and not the giant wave that formed in Fayetteville. Anti-War March Attracts Thousands Mar. 20, 2005 By JONATHAN FINER, THE WASHINGTON POST Here at the heart of one of the nation's most deeply rooted military communities, nearly 3,000 peace activists, war veterans and their family members gathered Saturday to call for an end to the Iraq conflict on the second anniversary of the day it began. They marched beating drums and chanting slogans through quiet suburban streets to a wooded park a few miles from Fort Bragg, which is home to the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and the U.S. Special Operations Command. Among the dozens of speakers who declared their opposition to the war, the loudest applause and only standing ovation were for Michael Hoffman, who served as a Marine artilleryman during the invasion of Iraq and who last July founded a group called Iraq Veterans Against the War. "Two years ago today, many of us standing on this stage were ready to wage destruction on Iraq," said Hoffman, 25, wearing the top of his desert camouflage uniform and a pin that said: "Bush lied." "We know that the only solution to the problem that we have created is to end the occupation now," he said. In Fayetteville, home to a small but entrenched peace activist community, organizers said the protest was the largest gathering of any kind since 1970, when a few thousand antiwar activists converged in the same park to protest the Vietnam War. The protest leaders - including representatives of several of the most prominent antiwar groups to emerge since the Iraq conflict began - said they selected this town along the Cape Fear River because so many of its approximately 125,000 citizens have personally felt the impact of the ongoing conflict. More than 10,000 soldiers from Fort Bragg are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, and since 2002, about 80 service personnel with ties to the region or its bases have been killed, according to the Fayetteville Observer. "It was important to come here because there is hardly a single family in Fayetteville that does not have some connection to the military," said Lou Plummer, a local activist and veteran of the North Carolina National Guard. "When you're at church, when you're in the grocery store, when you visit your children at school, there will be someone there who is on active duty, or with a family member on active duty, or a veteran of the military." Plummer's son Drew was discharged from the Navy after deserting his unit last year. On Saturday afternoon, both men addressed the crowd, which the Fayetteville Police Department estimated at more than 2,800 people. Across the street were a few dozen demonstrators who objected to the antiwar message. Some were members of local military families, while others said they had traveled to Fayetteville as part of a group organized by the conservative group Free Republic through its Web site. "You're traitors to our country. Go home! You don't belong in Fayetteville," shouted Tammy Harris, who waved a small American flag, as did her four children, as the demonstrators paraded past. Chris Dodds, 36, an Army veteran who lives just outside of town, held a sign that read "Protest policy in D.C. - Support the military in Fayetteville." "All we are here are families, and they should be supported. There's no policy being made here. They should take the protests somewhere else," Dodds said. The speeches began when the procession reached Rowan Street Park just after midday. Pat Elder, an antiwar activist from Bethesda, Md., laid out 100 cardboard coffins draped in U.S. flags to symbolize the war dead. Another organization distributed dozens of "peace parasols," black umbrellas adorned with painted messages. Earlier, costumed puppeteers danced to drumbeats in a dramatic interpretation of the Pablo Picasso painting, Guernica, which depicts the Spanish Civil War. Celeste Zappala, 58, of Philadelphia, wore a sandwich board with a large photograph of her son, Sherwood Baker, a Pennsylvania National Guard sergeant who was killed in an explosion in Baghdad last April. A co-founder of the group Gold Star Families for Peace, composed of family members of servicemen killed in Iraq, she said the rallies force the public to pay attention to the human cost of the conflict. "It's really important for people to understand that those who lost children and spouses are devastated, and you can't just turn off the war when you turn off the television," she said. Others who spoke included Daniel Berg, the father of Nick Berg, a civilian contractor who was kidnapped and beheaded in Iraq last year, and Camilo Mejia, a deserter who turned himself in to military authorities last March. He said he had served nine months in the brig at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was discharged last month. Many speakers directed their remarks to soldiers still serving in the military. "There is nothing more important today than building links and giving aid and comfort to the members of the armed forces who are turning against the war in greater numbers," said Thomas Barton, a union organizer from New York and the editor of GI Special, an antiwar e-mail bulletin. "The rebellion in the armed forces of the United States will stop the war," he said. Joshua Despain, who said he deserted his army unit soon after it returned from Iraq in April of 2004, drove 11 hours from Panama City, Fla. to be at the rally. He was discharged from the 82nd Airborne and now works as a security guard. "Basically, after a while I didn't buy any of it," said Despain, 23, who wore jeans, his uniform top and a red military beret. "I saw the Iraqi people as no threat and couldn't see why people were getting killed for this. I wanted to share what I had been through with the others." Asked for a reaction, Major Rich Patterson, spokesman for XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, said, "Some of our fellow citizens are concerned over the conflict in Iraq , and it is important that they be able to peacefully express that concern." CANADA: Halifax M19 gathers 400 http://maritimes.buffaloimc.org:8080/news/2005/03/9939.php March by Food Not Bombs in Fredericton http://maritimes.buffaloimc.org:8080/news/2005/03/9945.php http://maritimes.buffaloimc.org:8080/news/2005/03/9914.php Demo at militarist corporate HQ http://maritimes.buffaloimc.org:8080/news/2005/03/9897.php Peace demo in Winnipeg - hundreds show up http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?id=27&type=F&PHPSESSID=28bba3a70b3758b11657cf5ccdee321d VANCOUVER: First peace march of the day http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313713.shtml AZERBAIJAN: Prison revolt over poor conditions and demanding resignation of boss Hundreds of prisoners occupied the prison roof in protests Several prisoners allegedly tried to commit suicide as part of the protest One banner read, "The warden is a bloodsucker" After promising not to use force, soldiers and pigs attacked with water cannons Shooting and explosions were also heard as troops attacked the protesters Several soldiers were injured in clashes as the protest was violently smashed Prior to the attack, the prisoners' protest had been entirely peaceful Inmates at another prison also held a solidarity protest http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/02/abdfff33-c950-4327-bba3-22555d7e8674.html http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Azerbaijan%20Prison%20Revolt http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/16/content_416875.htm http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4803464,00.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4802373,00.html http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=117476 http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=12426 http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=12428 http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/02/5869989a-d4a5-4e37-ab10-47a2d59a8aff.html http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=12423 ARGENTINA: Massive prison uprising at overcrowded Cordoba prison The uprising started as a protest against poor conditions Sixty people, mostly screws, were held hostage before an end to the crisis was negotiated Prisoners overpowered guards, took their weapons and held them hostage, parading them on the roof They also took control of the entire prison, and started fires Eight people were killed in clashes between screws and prisoners - 5 prisoners, 2 screws and a pig Later, prisoners with faces covered threw stones at cops surrounding the prison, and threatened to push a guard off the roof if the pigs attacked The prisoners demanded an amnesty and reductions of sentences to reduce overcrowding http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp?ID=%7BD54010FD-9607-440D-9DDF-0091DF9584CE%7D&language=EN http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,11439,1411409,00.html http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2005/02/12/eight_die_in_argentine_prison_riot/ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N11556995.htm AFGHANISTAN: Uprising at Kandahar prison - pigs shoot one as prisoners storm the main gate http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/22/content_2730310.htm http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12629671%255E1702,00.html http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_23-3-2005_pg4_23 SALINAS VALLEY: Prisoners blockade themselves into cells Guards spend days trying to drag them all out http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/11089315.htm DONCASTER: Prison uprising - prisoners repel screws and erect barricades http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4332536 BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA: Another prison uprising http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=d50fe608-defc-4fac-98ab-07b398f80ba0 BRAZIL: Uprising at youth detention centre due to cutbacks http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/28/brazil10378_txt.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/a90a464d8963b8de2b13470416ac1773.htm Uprising at Sao Paolo prison - 1 guard killed, others held hostage during clashes http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4358951.stm MEXICO: Uprising at juvenile detention centre in protest against poor food http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=93ddb27ebcb14cc8 US: New Year prison uprising at Bayside prison discussed http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--prisonbrawl0228feb28,0,3980637.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey MOZAMBIQUE: Prison uprising - guards open fire, 14 escape (but later captured) The uprising was started by guards stealing personal items during searches http://allafrica.com/stories/200503100367.html BAWALPUR, PAKISTAN: Prisoners fight cops who baton-charge them after they allegedly attacked a head screw The baton-charge prompted a general uprising by many of the prisoners http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_27-2-2005_pg1_5 LIBERIA/SIERRA LEONE: Refugees revolt and take hostage several officials in a protest over undelivered food http://allafrica.com/stories/200502230160.html BURUNDI/DR CONGO: Refugee killed as UN troops open fire on "mob" at refugee camp http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/HMYT-6B2N7K?OpenDocument http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,101096,00.html http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1683949,00.html http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/DDAD-6B2PKY?OpenDocument http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4400811.stm NEW CALEDONIA: Police attack squatters near Noumea - squatters defend their camp with bricks, machetes and other missiles http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1317888.htm KENYA: Street children protest - police attack with teargas One child dies after jumping into a river to flee police http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=qw1109571664631B252 SRI LANKA: Clashes with police as army truck hits civilian; police repression leads to further protests - roads blocked Protesters pelt soldiers after being attacked with tear gas In one incident, an army base was blockaded, and army vehicle movements were disrupted Six military posts and a government party office were destroyed Roads were blocked and barricaded with burning debris Soldiers shot dead one civilian during the clashes The unrest was in response to alleged sexual harassment of an elderly woman by troops In a related incident, villagers blocked roads after a cemetery was desecrated and demanded withdrawal of troops http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14437 http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14452 http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/03/13/new38.html http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14446 http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14393 http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14384 LIVERPOOL OINKERS BOMBED CAR BOMBINGS WAR ON POLICE Senior (that's real pigs to you and me) police believe that they are being victimised by revenge attacks on there police stations. Three bombs at separate pig stations have been set off by local teenagers, one bomb blowing a hole in the wall at a station in Liverpool, the other two bombs were placed using industrial fireworks behind the petrol tanks of patrol cars. Officers believe that the campaign is being orchestrated by a north Liverpool gang based behind bars, as they can't believe that the locals hate them so much to blow them up. Bizarrely the police are hoping witnesses will come forward but if any one has information do not to bother ringing the police station as its been blown up! (from Class War) QUEBEC: Students rally to save bursaries http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050311/QUESTUDENTS11/TPNational/Canada http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=e784eb64-f360-4f56-9dda-c83583512ce5 http://www.940news.com/news.php?cat=9&id=n031211A http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/24/7902592 http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/24/7915471 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/queb-m15.shtml http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6913/691311.html http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=d8c8cfc3-f38d-4a00-b523-9f0e232df167 http://www.gateway.ualberta.ca/view.php?aid=4292 University building occupied; police attack and make mass arrests, attack violently Other buildings are also occupied in the ongoing resistance http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fd747789-22a9-4504-9557-231afe6d9d77 http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/03/12/958603-sun.html http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/03/08/student-protest050308.html Students release mice in Charest's office to protest reforms http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/02/03/charest-mice050203.html Students block traffic near national assembly - two arrested http://montreal.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=qc-studarrest20050324 Mock crucifixion used as protest http://www.940news.com/news.php?cat=9&id=n032506A Riot cops targeted by protesters; others camp-out outside the education ministry Cops break one student's leg during a violent attack on the protesters http://montreal.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=qc-protest20050322 Port blockaded http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/news/shownews.jsp?content=n032227A http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/news/shownews.jsp?content=n032215A Six students arrested, one injured after protest at Port of Montreal Wednesday, March 23 2005 @ 11:08 AM PST Montreal riot police arrested six protesters on Tuesday, after students erected roadblocks barring truckers access to the Port of Montreal's two entrances. Montreal riot police arrested six protesters on Tuesday, after students erected roadblocks barring truckers access to the Port of Montreal's two entrances. The blockade began at around seven-thirty in the morning and ended around one in the afternoon when Montreal riot police were called in to dismantle the demonstration. Montreal police spokesman Miguel Alston said protesters began throwing objects, including rocks and pieces of wood at officers. "Police then moved in and made six arrests," said Alston. He said he could not confirm whether reports one of the students arrested suffered a leg injury during his arrest, as reported by the CBC. Alston said the students who were arrested could face charges ranging from assault, assault with a weapon and illegal assembly. Coalition de l'Association pour une Solidarit? Syndicale ?tudiante ?largie spokesperson H?loise Moysan-Lapointe said police charged down students in the street who were heading to the metro station Assomption. "The arrests were extremely brutal and we have to condemn police brutality," she said. The blockade was organized by members of the C?gep du Vieux-Montreal and C?gep St-Laurent under the umbrella of CASSEE's week of planned economic disruption to draw attention to the $103 million cut from Qu?bec's post-secondary bursary program. Hundreds of students took part in the protest and Moysan-Lapointe said the arrests will do little to dampen the spirit of the student movement. "There are more surprise actions planned for this week," she said. "We're scared of a crackdown, but we will continue to demonstrate." Moysan-Lapointe said she hoped students participating in the march organized by CASSEE in Qu?bec city on Thursday will not suffer a police backlash because of today's events. "We're hoping the Qu?bec government will not use police brutality to try and break up the student movement," said Moysan-Lapointe. "It will not work, the student movement has ways of making itself heard." Moysan-Lapointe said CASSEE considered the blockade a success. The organisation's new tactics are to disrupt the economic functioning of companies tied to the Qu?bec government. Moysan-Lapointe said trucks could not enter the port of Montreal for at least five hours on Tuesday. CBC reported truckers were furious with the roadblock, as more than 70 trucks were stuck on Boucherville Street, in Montreal's East end. Truckers criticized the students and said they were losing money because of the blockade. asse-solidarit?.qc.ca http://www.cmaq.net/en/node.php?id=20362 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:21:08 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:21:08 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - ASIA - part 1 Message-ID: <06da01c53908$227d5d50$ab30fd3e@WOL> KASHMIR: Protests mark elections in Kashmir - protesters clash with police A general shutdown is observed in many areas In Srinagar, six people were injured and two arrested during clashes http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/February/subcontinent_February108.xml§ion=subcontinent Mass protests mark anniversary of independence leader's slaying Protesters staged a shutdown, set up blockades on the roads and fought security forces Hundreds burnt tyres and threw stones during the protests http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=70749 Massive protests in Pulwama against torture of locals http://www.kashar.net/kashmir/compleat.asp?id=1208 Matribugh villagers protest against 72-hour search operation Protesters resisted attempts to herd them into a stadium, and soldiers attacked with lathi and fired in the air http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1039497.cms Teachers wear badges in contract protest http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?ItemID=557&cat=6 More protests over deaths in custody in Kupwara; bandh also held http://www.kashar.net/kashmir/compleat.asp?id=1359 Further protests in Pulwana also - protesters clash with police after extrajudicial execution http://www.kashar.net/kashmir/compleat.asp?id=1326 Massive police brutality protest in remote village http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=84541 http://www.kashar.net/kashmir/compleat.asp?id=1208 Protests in northern Kashmir over molestation of women http://www.kashar.net/kashmir/compleat.asp?id=1191 Youth workers protest backdoor appointments http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?ItemID=1797&cat=6 MANIPUR: Students storm admin building and break windows in protest over exam timetable http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=22448&typeid=2 Mass meeting held to continue AFSPA agitation http://www.e-pao.net/epRelatedNews.asp?heading=6&src=110205 Students protest over non-availability of textbooks http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=5.15.100205.feb05 Civil servants stage indefinite strike over corruption crackdown http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=14.14.090205.feb05 Women launch hunger strike to protest land grab http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=22622&typeid=2 Journalists strike, protest over Meitei-only call http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050313/asp/northeast/story_4485999.asp 12. Suicide bid by student leader foiled in Manipur >From A Correspondent IMPHAL, Jan 23 ??" A suicide bid by the president of the All Manipur Vocational Students??T Union, (AMVSU) was foiled by the security guards of the Chief Minister at his official gate here on Saturday. M Premier Singh, president, AMVSU set afire his trouser and tried to forcibly enter the gate of the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Saturday afternoon. But the security guards of the Chief Minister came out and foiled the attempt. The student leader sustained burn injuries on his legs. The Union which had started agitation since December 17 with several demands and called off the agitation following an agreement with the Government has resumed its agitation to protest the State Government??Ts failure to honour the earlier agreement. It may be mentioned that classes of vocational institutes remained closed since Thursday following indefinite cease work strike launched by the Vocational Education Employees' Association. On January 6 last, the AMVSU had withdrawn its agitation after an agreement in a meeting with State Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa. During the meeting, Francis Ngajokpa agreed to take up immediate action for intensification of classes of vocational education for students in order to complete the syllabus, assessment of training raw materials requirements and immediate supply, assessment in evaluation of training equipments for vocational trades, rationalization of vocational teaching staff and placement of vocational teachers in schools where there are no teachers and review of class room requirements and furniture. The Minister also agreed to refer the matter to the State Council of Vocational Education or any appropriate committee at the earliest to formulate line of action for vocational education. The Union general secretary Kh Bedakumari said the vocational students are facing a lot of difficulties in their study due to lack of subject teachers and required infrastructure like laboratory equipment, etc. Moreover, there is no scope for higher studies in the State once the students passed their class XII, he pointed out. As per the guidelines of National Education Policy, 1986, State Council of Educational Research and Training has started vocational courses in some schools of the State since the academic session 1996-1997 with Central sponsorship. But all these schools offering the courses do not have any of the basic required infrastructures, he said. The students' body also expressed strong reservation against the attitude of the Director of SCERT when the aggrieved students went to present their case to him. http://assamtribune.com/ 11. Manipur tribal students, teachers threaten stir from Jan 28 >From A Correspondent IMPHAL, Jan 23 ??" Tribal students and teachers demanding various welfare measures for them have threatened to launch State-wide agitations from January 28. Strongly opposing appointment of non-locals as assistant teachers under Autonomous District Council, Chandel, the tribal students??T bodies of Chandel district, in a joint memorandum to Tribal Development Minister on January 11 contended that appointment of non-locals is against the provisions given in the State Gazette and it would not be tolerated by the student community. The memorandum said that out of 144 assistant teachers to be appointed, ninety five candidates of the post are non-local. Demanding that these non-local appointees should be replaced by the local candidates, the students' body warned of launching various forms of agitation if the matter is not resolved by the Govt within January 29. The students' bodies included Mongsang Naga Students' Union, Moyon Naga Students??T Union, Lamkang Naga Students' Union and Anal Naga Students Union. Meanwhile, All Manipur Autonomous District Council Adhoc Teachers' Association decried alleged discrimination and gross negligence on the part of the State Government towards the grievances of adhoc teachers working in various schools under Autonomous District Council. In a memorandum to Chief Minister, the association rued that even after six months of appointment, the teachers have been left in the lurch and not given their salaries. Since the appointments have been made by the State Government, inspite of some flaw in the process, it is the duty of the Government to protect the rights of the teachers and regularized their services, the memorandum said, adding that the Government has no right to play games with the life of the teachers. The aggrieved adhoc teachers also warned of taking up agitation if Government do not act positively and take up remedial measures within January 28. http://assamtribune.com/ PALESTINE/ISRAEL: Arab and leftist students disrupt demo in racism protest http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/26/8326777 PALESTINE: Political prisoners go on hunger strike to protest summit, demand release http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=110088 Journalists protest against attacks by gunmen on their colleagues http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=2674 Demo in Bethlehem against occupation and border closures http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307255.html March for release of prisoners http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306050.html Protests against wall near Ariel http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1106623162490 Israeli soldiers attack Safaa village anti-wall demo http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=Enews&id=2243 Saffa demonstration against the wall https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2716/index.php Bethlehem demo http://www.bethlehemghetto.blogspot.com/ Demonstration on Palm Sunday by Palestinian Christians http://www.donnainpalestine.photosite.com/PalmSunday/ http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4289454 http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=838&mid=10618 http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=840&mid=10618 Children of Bil'in and Israeli anarchists protest the wall http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=837&mid=10618 http://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?field=Enews&id=2258 Clashes in Bilin - Israeli officer caught on tape inciting stone-throwing http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2005/mar/week4/032605/border-police.htm Soldiers attack Bilin wall protests, torch Palestinian home http://imemc2.thinkhost.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9666&Itemid=1 WALL TORN DOWN IN BUDRUS!!! http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=829&mid=10618 http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=107&ItemID=7463 Pictures of wall being torn down http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Pictures/PictureView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=365&mid=10439&wversion=Staging http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Pictures/PictureView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=366&mid=10439&wversion=Staging Wall targeted in Saffa, Deir Balut - villagers stop bulldozers http://www.labournet.net/world/0503/ispa1.html Anti-wall protests in Jayyous http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2005/Jan-Feb/Palestine_Jan-Feb05.htm Nazareth Chistians protest over alleged sale of Jerusalem land by Christian patriarch http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2005/mar/week4/032605/nazareth-protest.htm Soldiers shoot at wall protesters in Surif, near Hebron http://imemc2.thinkhost.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9859&Itemid=1 Ramallah youths march to oppose the wall and "unilateral Israeli policies" http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050317/2005031739.html Baqa protests on both sides of the wall lead to clashes - villagers defy ghettoisation http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/887.shtml Sarif - soldiers fire on wall demo, three wounded http://imemc2.thinkhost.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=9859&Itemid=2 Al-Aqsa Brigades demonstrate angrily after expulsion from office http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&ncid=1312&e=8&u=/afp/20050331/wl_mideast_afp/mideastpalestiniansaqsa_050331054929 Protest at checkpoint near Nablus, organised by students http://imemc2.thinkhost.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9933&Itemid=1 Villagers blockade wall-building in Saffa near Ramallah - six injured as soldiers attack http://www.womenspeacepalestine.org/en/articles/article.php?id=672 Student Prisoners in 'Administrative Detention' on Strike 18 January 2005 Over 800 Palestinian administrative detainees, held in Israeli military detention centers, are on strike against the illegality of prolonged detentions without charge or trial. The strike against the Israeli Occupation's military legal system began 1 month ago, on 19 December 2004. The striking prisoners are refusing to take part in any military court proceedings, until the Israeli military authorities meet their demand that prisoners should be either charged or released after the maximum 6 month period of 'administrative detention' has expired. Even according to Israeli law, orders for administrative detention -imprisonment without charge or trial - cannot be for more than a maximum of 6 months. In reality, detention orders are repeatedly extended so that many prisoners, including student and child prisoners, have been held in administrative detention for years. Khader Raddad, a student of Civil Engineering at Birzeit University, has been imprisoned without charge, trial, or access to any information relating to his case for over two years. Khader is being held in Keseot (Naqab) military detention center, where 782 out of the total 869 Palestinian prisoners in administrative detention are currently held: 18 have been held in administrative detention for over two-and-a-half years 100 have been held in administrative detention for over one-and-a-half years 148 have had their administrative detention orders extended more than once 15 are child prisoners (under 18 years old) There are currently 76 Birzeit University student prisoners, 11 of them are being held without charge in administrative detention, and two-thirds of them have not been to trial. The Right to Education Campaign at Birzeit University condemns the use of administrative detention outright and demands the release of Khader Raddad and other prisoners who have been arrested and imprisoned in contravention of international law. Budrus tears down the Wall! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 March 2005 [Budrus, Ramallah] In response to an unprovoked military invasion in the West Bank village of Budrus, villagers, who have been struggling against the Wall for more than one year, tore down pieces of the Separation Fence which is built on their land. During a wedding celebration early Friday afternoon in Budrus, Israeli military and border police jeeps invaded the village and fired sound bombs, tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition inside the village. Israeli military and border police jeeps left the village after arresting 25 year old Hasan Mohammed Awad and wounding three Palestinians with rubber bullets. After the military left the village through the gate in the fence, villagers followed and forced the gate open. They then damaged several dozen meters of the structure while shouting "No to the fence! Yes to peace!" Budrus has held over 50 demonstrations against the Wall in the past year and a half. If the Wall is completed in the Western Ramallah area, 25,000 Palestinians in eight villages will be completely surrounded with no access to hospitals, places of employment and higher education. International and Israeli activists are sleeping in the village in solidarity with the people of Budrus and as witnesses in the event of military retaliation for today's nonviolent action of tearing down the fence. Palestinian Youth Arrested in Demonstration against the Wall FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday March 3, 2005 Today in the village of Beit Surik in northwest Jerusalem, Israeli undercover agents beat and arrested five Palestinian youth during a demonstration against the Wall. The youth were taken from Beit Surik to Givat Zeev early Thursday afternoon. One of the five youth was released. The other four are being held in Kfar Etzion juvenile jail and have a trial scheduled for Sunday at Ofer military court. Ahmad Suleiman Sheikh 14 years old Muntaser Najib Al Jamal 12 years old Mustafa Mohammed Khaled 13years old Amjad Ghazi Ahmad Sheikh 14years old This is the fourth consecutive day that Israeli `special forces' disguised as Palestinians have infiltrated the demonstrations against the Wall in Beit Surik. Yesterday two Palestinians were arrested and later released. On Monday, Israeli undercover agents arrested six Palestinians including the mayor of Beit Surik, Mohammed Kandil, while he and other Palestinians from the village tried to prevent the destruction of their lands. Mohammed Kandil has been held in Israeli police custody since his arrest. He had a hearing in Ofer military court today to determine the conditions for his release until his hearing which will begin on Sunday. Mohammed has been accused of assaulting a police officer. The judge agreed to release Kandil to house arrest on 12,000NIS cash bail until his hearing. The prosecution has 24 hours to appeal the judge's decision. Kandil's son Mustafa Mohammed Khaled is one of the youth being held in Kfar Etzion. PALESTINE: BIL'IN Friday, 11th March, another joint demo of palestinians and Israeli activists. The demo in Bil'in (near upper Modiin) - like the others of its kind, is against the Israeli state robbery of the villagers fields and orchards for expanding the Israeli settlement Mtityahu and against the apartheid fence which separate the villages from the fields and put them in getos. About 200 participated in the demo - Palestinians, Israelis and internationalists, who arrived at the building site in order to stop the works. Private security personal of the site threatened to shoot the demonstrators with live bullets. Military forces that arrived attacked the demonstrators with tear-gas and shock grenades. about 4 palestinians and one Israeli were injured. While escaping from the military assault, one Palestinian was injured and then was hit and kicked by female border guard soldiers and arrested by them. During the dispersing the demonstration, the army entered as usually the village with the usual terror activities. At the time of the demonstration, Israeli electronic media reported: "Demonstrations against the fence near Modiin. At the building site, members of the Anarchists Against The Fence are confronting the army, which responds with tear gas grenades" The demonstration began at around 11, at the village of bil'in. this is the first women's protest the village has organised, altought it seemed to have been organised by the men in the village. about 40 women and school girls of the village of Bil'in, accompanied by 6 israelis and international women, and about 10 men from the village started making the way towards the buldozers, with the girls chanting: "no to the apartheid wall", aand "stop the occupation". the demonstrators were stopped about 100 meters from where the soldiers were, and stood there while the men from the village negotiated with the army. they were finally "allowed" to continue up the hill to a certain point whichover looked the buldozers. it was decided with threats from the Magav not to try and reach the buldozers. after a while the protests returned to the village. according to the border police, this is the last protest they will "allow", and next time they will put a curfew on the village. after the protests dispersed, the Shabab threw stones, and the Magav were trying to provoc more violence by advancing towards the village and shooting teargas and sound grenades. Kerem SAFFA Yesterday Media reported 5 demonstrators injured among them one "Israeli". To day, 3 demonstrators lightly injured, in yet another demonstration against the apartheid wall in the village of Saffa. At around 9:30 around 40 palestinians, 3 iwps women, and 5 israelis who joined them, sat on the path which the buldozer had already worked on. After about half and hour, the villagers walked up to where the buldozer was working, guarded by soldiers, border police and civilian police. The demonstrators did not listen to the army's order to stop and walked right up to them. after less than 5 minuted the soldiers began with a shower of concussion grenades and the demonstrators ran downhill. 2 elderly palestinians were injured, and one israeli who was hit by the soldiers. The army continued throwing tear gas further back, one which was thrown into the ambulance. The demonstrators then sat further down the hill, for a few more hours, the Palestinian men held their prayers on the land, and lunch was handed out. there is also a settlement being built on the hill near the village. Israelis left at around 1pm. but the palestinians stayed after. Fifty high school seniors demonstrated Tuesday at the army's central induction center in support of two youths who intend to refuse to be drafted. The draft resisters, Alex Kohn and Eyal Barmai, were to be part of a group of new draftees in be inducted on Tuesday. They intend to tell the Israel Defense Forces that they will not participate in what they view as an oppressive occupation of the Palestinians. Along with Kohn and Barmai, the protestors signed a letter urging refusal to serve in the IDF, and supporting conscientious objectors already in military prison. "I will give the officers a letter I prepared, and let them know I have no intention of aiding the occupation," said Kohn. "I know that by the end of the day I will be in prison." He does not care if he receives a non-combatant job in the military, he said. "Every job in the occupation army gives legitimacy to the army's actions in the territories," he said. "If they were to propose civil service in place of military service, I would be happy to give to society." He noted that his parents do not agree with his views, but respect his decision. Shomri Tzameret, 21, is a veteran draft resister. Along with five others, he spent nearly two years in prison for refusal to serve, and was released six months ago. He arrived on Tuesday to encourage the younger generation continuing his path. "I admire their initiative," he said. "The hard thing is the morning. They will wake up each morning and remind themselves why they did this. Every morning they sit there they shorten the occupation and reduce the deaths on both sides." About 250 teenagers signed the 12th-graders' letter, which they mailed a week ago to the prime minister, the defense minister, the chief of staff, and the minister of education. The letter calls for all teenagers called up for the draft, and all Israeli soldiers, "to consider afresh if you will risk your life and take part in a policy of subjugation and destruction." "The current policy is not a result of security requirements, but rather of a nationalist, messianic worldview," the letter continues. "Israel is wasting its resources on conducting and occupation and oppression in the occupied territories, at a time when hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens live in shameful poverty. In recent years, citizens have seen a deterioriation in all public institutions: education, health care, infrastructure, pensions ... They are neglected for the sake of the settlements' continued existence." The teenagers asked for an alternative means to help society, one "which does not include hurting people." SAFFA Media: "Two border policeman were injured during the demonstrations of the anarchist activists and leftist activists near the village Safa not far from Modi'in heights[settlement - Tr.]. It was reported that 20 demonstrators were hurt from inhaling smoke and other three from rubber [coated metal] bullets. Three adults who were injured were taken to hospital for medical treatment. The demonstrators protest the separation fence". > Participant: "The pece reported in the media have not arrived to the village Safa. The first demonstration against the fence at the village Safa - on its land was built the settlement Kiryat Sefer. At the morning, we were told that the demonstration at Bil'in - where the last few days was the location of demonstrations against the fence, was canceled as the supreme court issued a 5 days stay on the fence building. We continued to the near by village Safa arriving there at 9:00. Safa have 4000 inhabitants, nice view with green vegetation all around and plenty of olive trees. The route of the fence at this region annex to Israel 90% of the lands of the village. The destruction is revealed... in front of our eyes the bulldozers work in full speed and uprooting tens of trees - while few tens villagers stand and see to their distress the continuing destruction. A band of soldiers of the border police advanced towards us with an officer named Oren Tibi at their head who appeared to be very aggressive. He yelled on the demonstrators to go away but with out waiting for response started to throw shock grenades. The demonstrators climbed on a near by hill with view on the working bulldozers... Youth from the village approached the site and as a response the border police applied again the "demonstration dispersing means" - teargas grenades, shock grenades batons, and rubber coated bullets. The efforts to remind the soldiers the talks between Sharon and Abu Mazan, and the cease fire found deaf ears. The village elders tried to talk to the soldiers and convince them to stop the works as they have already apply to the supreme court - but failed. The uprooting of the trees continued and so the demonstration. The demonstration continued some times quieter, some times a wave of violence of the soldiers using the same means, with out caring for the female demonstrators whom they push violently. At that stage it was impossible to convince the youngsters to refrain from stones throwing - resulting with easy finger of the soldiers on the trigger and the results: 26 injured, 6 of whom were taken to the hospital in Ramala. At the evening, the supreme court decided to expand the temporary stay to include the works on the lands of Safa. To the villagers their trees were uprooted that day it was too late. Pictures and the Hebrew original at: https://israel.indymedia.org/feature/display/2313/index.php RAFAT & DIR BALUT The fence continue to devour trees and fields. Inhabitants of the villages Rafat and Dir Balut did a quiet demonstration but encountered tear gas and shock grenades. On Friday, 25.2.05, about 200 of the inhabitants of Rafat and Dir Balut in the Rafat village. They were joined by few tens of Israeli and international activists. The fence robe in this region about 70% of the lands of the two villages. At about 10:00 started a march from the village towards the building site of the fence - a distance of about 2 kilometer, in a path along the village olive trees orchards - towards the bulldozers. At about one kilometer from the building site, the marchers encountered army forces who shoot them gas canisters in an effort to block the advance of the demo. The demonstrators insist in continuing the march forwards and the shock and gas grenades do not deter them.... but the repeated shooting succeed to block the march from arriving to Dir Balut. The demonstrators stood for a while on a hill from where they can see the bulldozers. There were carried speeches - including by Abu Firas the mayor of the Dir Balut municipality, who talked in Hebrew to the soldiers. He talked about the lands taken from them at 1948 - on which is built the Israeli town Rosh Ha'ain. He asked the soldiers why they want to rob the remaining lands. He ask them how there will be peace and what sense there is in all the talks if at the same time they continue in uprooting trees, to separate between the villagers and their fields and harming the demonstrators who protest that. When the speeches were ended, the villagers males organized in lines for prayers on their fields. At the end of the prayer, the demonstrators who were blocked from arriving to Dir Balut started to march back towards Rafat. The commander of the army power, marching at the head of his soldiers kept minimal distance from the retreating demonstrators trying to provoke a confrontation and stone throwing to show his mighty force.... When he failed, he lead his 10 cars in a wild driving into the village showing off with horn blowing and sirens. Shay Pictures at https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2344/index.php ANARCHISTS AGAINST THE WALL The Tel Aviv-based Anarchists Against the Wall had a busy week. The following account was provided by organizer Yonathan Polak. "At Bila'in the bulldozers are working quite close to the village houses, about four or five kilometers from the Green Line (pre-'67 border). Not that this is the decisive factor for us, we would protest even if the Wall was being built on the Green Line itself, since we oppose the whole idea of erecting walls to separate people from each other. Anyway, Bila'in and its neighbor Safa to the south are suffering very much from settlement expansion. There is the big settlement-town of Kiryat Sefer inhabited by ultra-Orthodox, and another settlement called "Menora" which is supposed to be an extension of a third settlement called "Mattityahu" - not that these names make much of a difference to the Palestinians whose land is taken. What matters is that this settlement complex is fast expanding and swallowing more and more land. They build about 300 new housing units per year, and now the Wall is being built according to the settlement municipal boundary - that is, to enclose the territory which is earmarked for further expansion. There were some media reports of "violent clashes" where we had been, especially at Bila'in. Actually it was not much more than what we are used to in such struggles. There were some three hundred villagers, joined by ourselves - about five Israelis and some internationals - marching from the village center. When we came close the soldiers formed a line to block us. When we went on walking, they used tear gas and rubber bullets - no live ammunition on this occasion. We were not able to really block the bulldozers - the last time we succeeded in that was at Iskaka a few weeks ago, that was a great day. (Iskaka is much deeper in, near the giant settlement of Ariel, work there is now frozen by a court order but this week the army presented confiscation orders at Marda which is in the same region). Altogether, we had this week two demonstrations at Bila'in and one in Safa. At one of those in Bila'in the army and police caught Einat Podhorni, she did not run fast enough when they started chasing us. She spent a night at the Russian Compound Detention Center in Jerusalem, some of the fellows in Jerusalem organized a late-night solidarity picket outside. On the morning she was set free on condition that she does not come back in 21 days. Then, on Tuesday the Bila'in villagers got a temporary injunction to stop the work until next week. I am not sure of the legal details. Yesterday (Friday, Feb 25.) we had a bigger Israeli presence at Raf'at which is further to the north (not far from Mes'ha where the big anti-Wall campaign started). At Raf'at there were some 15 of us and 15 of Ta'ayush, we joined up with the villagers and managed to walk quite far. Only when we were quite close to the bulldozers the army succeeded in stopping us, they had to bring up quite big forces to prevent us from getting nearer. Contact: Yonathan Polak DEIR BALUT About 300 people from the village Dir Ballet and other villages of the region, together with Israeli and "International" activists participated in a demo against the fence at Dir Balut. The villages Dir Balut, Rafa, and Z'awia are located at the base of a "finger" that will be annexed to Israel to connect Ariel settler city [And cut the Palestinian territories to fragments.] Inhabitants of the villages and the Israeli and foreign activists converged at the center of the village Dir Balut and around 11:00 the demonstration march started. "Three kilometer march bring us to the fence building site. Though since July 2004 stay of the works, the rote was changed a bit, still 70% of the villages fields will be on the other side of the fence when completed. The march include old folks and children as well. The going towards the bulldozers is not simple. There is no clear path and there is need to jump between rocks. The view is wonderful. The fence pass in a green ravine with Spring flowers of all colors all around. The ugliness created by the fence is just unbearable. Because of the rough topography, the demonstrators scatter all around the hill that border on the ravine the works are done in. Part of the demonstrators call towards the soldiers, some are arranging a prayer, and part - mainly children and the youngsters throw stones in the direction of the Border Police located in the too far ravine. The Border Police reply with shots of tear gas canisters.... but the wind (and justice) Cray it back towards them. Around 14:00 we start to return to the village as it is Friday and late regretfully we [the Israelis] have to sadly decline the invitation to a meal as we have to catch the last buss home. Palestinians injured, Israeli and international activists detained after nonviolent demonstration in Hebron FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2005 [Hebron, West Bank] In the West Bank village of Khallet Al-Dar in the Qalqas area of Hebron, hundreds of Palestinians with the support of international and Israeli activists prevented Israeli bulldozers from continuing construction of an illegal bypass road. Today's protest was an effort to plant trees in the location where over 300 trees were uprooted on Sunday, January 30. Two Palestinians were injured during the nonviolent demonstration, one of whom was hospitalized after Israeli soldiers forcefully pushed him to the ground. One Canadian activist with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) was hit by Israeli soldiers in the head with the butt of a rifle and then punched in the face. Israeli soldiers launched tear gas and sound bombs. A number of Palestinians were treated for respiratory problems as a result. The Israeli military detained two ISM volunteers from Britain and Canada and five Israelis from the Anarchists against the Wall. They were brought to the Hebron central police station where they have been held and interrogated since 2pm. The two ISM volunteers were released at 8pm on the condition that they not return to the area for two weeks. One Israeli minor has been charged with assaulting a police officer and is still being detained. The remaining four Israelis were offered to be released but have chosen to remain in police custody in solidarity with the Israeli minor until his release. Today's assault on peaceful protests continues the Israeli authorities' campaign against nonviolent Palestinian, Israeli and international activists. In the Hebron district alone there are more than 120 kilometers of bypass roads connecting the Israeli settlements with one other and with Israel. All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law. If built, the new road will connect the two illegal Israeli settlements of Kiryat Arba and Hagai. In effect these roads carve up the Palestinian areas into isolated ghettos. PALESTINE 3 April, 2005 Israeli Hospitalized After West Bank Protest + Demonstration Tonight Israeli activist, Jonathan Pollack, was hospitalized today after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister when Israeli soldiers fired at an anti-Wall demonstration in the Ramallah region village of Bil'in. Jonathan is currently in Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv. In these demonstrations it is common practice for Israeli soldiers to shoot tear gas canisters directly at demonstrators as opposed to shooting the canister into the air. Despite indications of reviving the Road Map, which requires a freeze on Israeli settlement growth, the route of the Wall near Bil'in has been specifically designed to incorporate the new construction of the settlement of Menorah in addition to the existing settlement of Kiryat Sefer. This evening, April 3, 2005 at 7:30 there will be a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, protesting the tactics the Israeli military uses in it's attempts to silence dissent against the Wall. February 20, 2005 Bil'in Residents Won't Stop Untill They Tear Down The Wall! Tomorrow morning, Palestinians from the village of Bil'in, located west of Ramallah, will continue in their attempts to halt the construction of Israel's Apartheid wall on their land. This morning 150 Palestinian, Israeli and international participants marched peacefully to the construction site of the wall, and were confronted by armed Israeli soldiers .the demonstrators held thier ground and were attacked wth wooden clubs, sound bombs, and tear gas. Two Israeli activists were arrested. Tomorrow they will return in much greater numbers. The demonstration will begin at 9:00am at the mosque in Bil'in. Villagers will march with activists from the International Solidarity Movement and Anarchists Against the Wall in an attempt to halt the wall's construction. The route of the wall in the Bil'in area is being determined by blueprints for a new Israeli settlement, M'nura, which is being built as an extension of the Kiryat Sefer settlement. Both of which are illegal under international law. TREES ARE BEING UPROOTED, RESIDENTS ATTEMPTING TO INTERVENE A private Israeli company working near the village of Bil'in, in the western Ramallah area, is in the process of uprooting over 80 olive trees from the villagers' land now located on the western side of Israel's Separation Barrier. The company, Dachporai Hadikaa, has already taken away by truck over 40 trees that they uprooted. The truck carrying the uprooted trees was seen entering the Kiriyat Sefer settlement. Another 40 trees lay uprooted on the ground. Through their lawyer, Nahla Atiye, residents of Bil'in contacted the local Israeli military District Coordination Office (DCO) and border police asking for intervention. In response the DCO ordered the border police to cordon off the area to the Palestinian land owners. On first attempts to pass this cordon, the Bil'in residents were turned back. After circumventing the cordon, residents are now at the site of the uprooted trees. The Bil'in residents are attempting to replant the uprooted trees that have not yet been taken away. (from ISM list) Budrus terrorized in retaliation for cutting separation fence In retaliation to Budrus youth cutting the separation fence on Friday March 11th, the Israeli Occupation Force has carried out illegal collective punishment on the whole village. Last night ten year old Muhhamad Abdel Karim from Budrus was pulled out of his bed at gunpoint and forced to leave his home while Israeli soldiers photographed and threatened him and his older siblings. This scenario was then repeated in most of the homes in the village. Israeli troops invaded Budrus at 12-30 at night and announced a 24 hour curfew. Soldiers entered homes and ordered all males between the ages of ten and fifty outside. They then proceeded to photograph them, while other soldiers conducted house to house searches in the homes, in which only terrified women, elderly people, and small children were left. The soldiers went through every room, removing everything from every drawer and closet. This continued until four in the morning when the army retreated, announcing curfew over their loud speakers as they drove away, and leaving the women and children traumatized and the men deeply humiliated. One child and five young men from the same family were arrested: AbdelAziz Ghassan AbdelAziz Awad 17 Baha Muhammad abddalah Awaad 18 Muayed Ahmad Abdel Rahman Awad 19 Muhhamad SHukri Ahmad Awad 20 Abdel Rahman omar Mustafa Awad 20 Hasan Muhhamad Hasan Awad 22 years old !7 year old Ramzi Yusef Halifa Awad wqas also arrested but has since been released. Two other young men from The Awad family have been arrested by the Israeli military in the past week Rafik Yaser Rasslan Awad was arrested yesterday and Suhieb Mahhmud hasasn Awad 17 has been held since last Monday. IRAQ: US troops kill four POWs during uprising at Camp Bucca concentration camp The guards opened fire on prisoners who were protesting and throwing stones Protests spread through four of the ten units of the camp Some had allegedly fashioned weapons from everyday objects The prisoners were killed after protesting over desecration of Qur'ans Abuse is pervasive at Camp Bucca and other US camps in Iraq http://www.uruknet.info/?p=9538 http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=132178732&p=y3zy79438 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aIrLnrZudNRY&refer=us http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7502905 http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-02/08/article02.shtml http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=9367&s2=02 http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=9341&s2=01 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/278734p-238816c.html http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=9538&s2=09 Oil pipelines hit in a string of insurgent attacks http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=8&u=/afp/20050216/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestoil_050216181701 http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=705604 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B80D1839-50D2-4C70-BB21-CB450B9261F4.htm http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/20050209/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestoil http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/8/18500/14424 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/15/content_2701773.htm http://iraqwar.mirror-world.ru/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=42716 Oil pipeline attacks - list http://www.iags.org/iraqpipelinewatch.htm Precise attacks his Baghdad fuel http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/international/middleeast/21sabotage.html?oref=login Officer killed as insurgents hit oil pipeline http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-16T131158Z_01_DOB643248_RTRUKOC_0_ENERGY-IRAQ.xml IRAQ Assyrians in various countries protest against disenfranchisement in Iraq elections Protests in Baghdad, Brussels, Stockholm, Sydney, London, Chicago and Detroit http://www.aina.org/news/20050214161653.htm http://www.aina.org/news/20050214192812.htm http://www.aina.org/news/20050214100251.htm Iraq voters - including Christians, Turkomen and Yezidi - protest poll lockout http://www.aina.org/news/20050207101004.htm Iraqis in Hawija protest "deliberate" lack of ballot papers http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=36817 Turkmen protesters demonstrate against election fraud http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=37284 http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=37245 Villagers repel insurgent vengeance raid, kill five http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1295847.htm Protests over voting irregularities in Mosul and Nineveh http://www.juancole.com/2005/02/guerrillas-kill-11-as-mosul-ninevah.html Clashes at Australian Iraq polling station force hour-long closure http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1106969219935 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4214357.stm Basra workers demonstrate in support of students http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/archives/000240.html Workers at Palestine Hotel strike and win wage increase http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/archives/000212.html Student strike http://www.uuiraq.org/english/150.htm Strike against US soldiers in Basra port http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050325/2005032513.html Wool industry workers demonstrate at ministry http://www.uuiraq.org/english/145.htm Workers at Ur Cables protest http://www.uuiraq.org/english/149.htm Leather industry workers protest http://www.uuiraq.org/english/133.htm Protests over overcrowding in US prisons in Iraq http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5687 Protesters oppose evictions, demand homes http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/d09df3be0a8b10fa4ab3e6ce6268748e.htm PIGS OPEN FIRE ON PROTESTERS - ONE KILLED Security guards attacked a demonstration by workers demanding unpaid wages http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=617800 International Women's Day events planned http://www.wpiraq.net/english/8march_wcpi_staement.htm Turkmen rally in Kirkuk http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=39346 Mahdi Army Beats 2 Students to Death in Basrah Tuesday, March 22 2005 @ 01:49 PM PST Contributed by: Anonymous Views: 201 Students of the Basrah and Shatt Al-Arab universities in Basrah city have been on strike for the last three days as a reaction to the attack last week by Sadrists and Mahdi Army militiamen on tens of students organising a field trip or a picnic at Al-Andalus park, downtown Basrah. This is taken from the 'Healing Iraq' blog (http://healingiraq.blogspot.com/), so all commentary is his. Mahdi Army Beats 2 Students to Death in Basrah No one seems to have reported the latest events in Basrah. Not any of the news services or the blogs. Students of the Basrah and Shatt Al-Arab universities in Basrah city have been on strike for the last three days as a reaction to the attack last week by Sadrists and Mahdi Army militiamen on tens of students organising a field trip or a picnic at Al-Andalus park, downtown Basrah. Hooded men assaulted the students with rubber cables and truncheons which resulted in the death of a Christian girl, Zahra Ashour, and another student who came to her rescue after militiamen had tore off her clothes and were beating her to death. He was shot in the head. Students say that their belongings, such as mobile phones, cameras, stereo players and loudspeakers, were stolen or smashed to pieces by the militiamen. Girl students not wearing headscarves, most of them Christian, were severely beaten and at least 20 students were kidnapped and taken to Sadr's office in Al-Tuwaisa for 'interrogation' and were only released late at night. Students also say the police and British soldiers were nearby but did not intervene. A Sheikh As'ad Al-Basri, one of Sadr's aides in Basrah, stated that the 'believers' of the Mahdi Army did what they did in an act of 'divine intervention' in order to punish the students for their 'immoral and outrageous behaviour' during the 'holy month of Muharram, while the blood of Imam Hussein is yet to dry.' He added that he had sent the 'group of believers' to observe and photograph the students, and on witnessing them playing loud music, 'the kind they play in bars and discos', and openly talking to female students, the 'believers had to straighten things out'. No reaction yet from the Governorate council, the police, or the British forces in Basrah. Thousands of students have been demonstrating in front of the Basrah Governorate building in Asharr for the last three days, shouting 'No to political Islam', 'No to the new tyranny' and 'No to Sadr'. The police (which is loyal to Da'wa in Basrah) reportedly attacked the students in order to disperse the demonstrations. All this while some people are campaigning for Sistani to receive the Nobel peace prize. One can't help but wonder if these kinds of events are what the Islamists have in store for us when they insist on 'respecting the Islamic identity of Iraq'. They can blame Jordan, Syria, the Ba'ath, Salifis, Wahhabis as much as they want, but they cannot utter a single word about the old new medieval Inquisition we have to deal with every day, under the sanctity of Sistani and his ilk. The new Taliban. *** Update: The Governor of Basrah appeared on Fayhaa tv yesterday claiming that the problem with Sadr's office was resolved peacefully. How exactly was this achieved? The esteemed Governor (who is a member of Da'wa) met with representatives from Sadr's office under the mediation of the Shia Islamic parties in Basrah (Da'wa, SCIRI, Fadheela, Thar Allah) and it appears that Sadr's aides had agreed to 'punish the guilty parties under a special religious court that would convene for this purpose' and to compensate the students and to return all stolen items to the students. The Governor then cheerfully met with the family of another Christian girl who was badly injured, 'generously' offering her free treatment in any country she chooses. No mention of the rule of law here. No involvement of Basrah's civil courts at all. The whole incident was mopped up in an Iraqi-style tribal-religious meeting, but this time on the Governorate level. The guilty parties were sinisterly assigned the job of punishing themselves. A great lesson in democracy. But then, no one was punished for the executions and torture at religious courts in Najaf the last time anyway. What is even worse, the official statement from Sadr's office in Basrah. It asks for the names of the students that were 'allegedly mistreated' in order to compensate them. And listen to this; 'Sadr's office in Basrah offers to provide the universities of Basrah with groups to protect the students in their future field trips.' This following Sheikh As'ad Al-Basri's fiery statements that the students had 'disobeyed his orders, and the stick was for those who disobeyed,' alasa limen asa. He also alleged that the students had shouted 'No to Islam' in their demonstrations this week, insolently adding that the students should be punished for their 'blasphemy'. The Governor literally appointed Sadr's office as judge, witness and law-enforcer. We might even say that the Sadrists were in fact rewarded for their vile act. What would the Ministry of Higher Education say about this? Or the Ministry of Interior? Or our ludicrous Human Rights Ministry, which only seems interested in what kind of cookies Saddam is having with his tea, or in Ali Hassan Majid's nocturnal toilet activities. The students of Basrah have made their demands clear; bringing the Sadrist militiamen to a public trial in the presence of representatives from Basrah's student groups, banning Islamist armed groups from entering campus or running Islamist student groups, and the dissolution of the infamous 'Security Committee' which operates in most of Basrah's colleges, and which is reminiscient of the Ba'ath's 'University Security' but taking a Shi'ite Islamic appearance instead of a fascist nationalistic one. Student groups from Baghdad, Arbil and Suleimaniya have sent statements of support to Basrah. Incidentally, four students were injured in Suleimaniya during demonstrations that have been taking place for the second week in row against the privatisation of educational institutions in the Kurdish region. Still no condemnation from the the Hawza, when the attack against the students was done in its name. Translated and/or compiled by Muhammad Abu Nasr, member, editorial board, the Free Arab Voice. http://www.freearabvoice.org/ Saturday 26th March 2005 Al-Basrah Province. Camp Bucca. Great escape reported from US Prison Camp Bucca. In a dispatch posted at 5:10pm Saturday afternoon Mecca time, Mafkarat al-Islam reported that a source in the Iraqi puppet army had reported that American forces discovered a tunnel leading out of US prison camp Bucca near the town of Umm Qasr in southern Iraq. Camp Bucca is the second largest American prison camp in Iraq, after the notorious Abu Ghurayb camp west of Baghdad. The correspondent reported a lieutenant colonel in the Iraqi puppet army as saying that the Americans on Saturday found a tunnel, hundreds of meters long and 1.25 meters in diameter, dug by prisoners in Camp Bucca. The tunnel linked the inside of the prison with the outside world. The source said that a large number of prisoners were able to escape through the tunnel to freedom. US and British forces are now conducting a general count of the prisoners to find out how many were able to get out of their clutches through the tunnel. The source added that the Americans noticed the tunnel when they observed that the feet of some prisoners were covered in mud and earth, and when they observed that they obviously looked like they had spent the night hard at work doing something. The Americans also noticed that the shower drains were filling up with clay every day from the feet of prisoners coming in to shower or make their ablutions for prayer. The source said that US forces continued to observe the prisoners and their movements until they found the opening of the tunnel under a pile of rubble behind some solitary confinement cells in the prison. The source said that the prisoners were digging during their rest periods, when the US troops would allow them to go out for free time in the open square of the prison camp. The Americans discovered the tools used by the prisoners to dig the tunnel, such as tent poles and stakes, water pails, and empty containers. These were used to put the soil aside. The source said that it was not unlikely that a large number of prisoners had escaped from the facility, particularly after they discovered the tunnel ended some 100 meters outside the prison. US forces officially acknowledged that they had discovered a tunnel in Camp Bucca, but claimed that they had found the project before any of the prisoners had used it to escape. Lieutenant Colonel Guy Rudisill, spokesman for US-run prison camps in Iraq, told Reuters that the Americans had found the tunnel before any prisoner had been able to escape through it. The Americans claimed that they found the tunnel after a military policeman during routine searches last week found an opening five feet long that was perhaps the opening of a third tunnel and reported it to officials. Searches after that revealed two other tunnels, the American mouthpiece claimed. Rudisill said that the first tunnel began under floor boards in a sitting room in the middle of a group of cells housing between 25 and 30 prisoners. It had been concealed under rubbish and was invisible to the US guards who passed by. Rudisill said that the Americans had no idea how long the prisoners had been at work on the tunnels, but said that the earth in the two tunnels was relatively soft, meaning that it was fairly easy for them to dig. He said that the dirt from the tunnels was distributed around the dirt in the camp and thrown in the latrines. He said that more inspections were under way to make sure that there were no more tunnels anywhere in the camp, which holds a reported two-thirds of all the prisoners in the custody of the US-led invader forces. Rudisill said that so far the commanders in the camp had not decided what disciplinary actions to take against the prisoners who tried to escape. ESCAPE TUNNEL PICTURES: http://www.islammemo.cc/news/one_news.asp?IDNews=60728 Iraqi students rebell against Islamists 21 March 2005 Basra students strike for an end to harassment by Islamic fundamentalists Support the student protests in Iraq! Urgent appeal issued today by the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq in support of the student strike currently taking place in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. The Education Not for Sale network of the National Union of Students in the UK is issuing an urgent appeal, calling on student unions, student societies, student movement activists and trade unionists to support the appeal issued today by the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq in support of the student strike currently taking place in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Since March 15th, students at the University of Basra have been joined by hundreds of pupils at the city's secondary schools in an open-ended strike in protest at an attack carried by thugs from Moqtada al-Sadr's Army of the Mahdi and members of the Iranian security services, leaving a number of students injured and one dead. The attack was carried out because the students, from the university's engineering faculty, were enjoying an outing in one of Basra's parks, with students of both sexes and various different backgrounds and religions mixing freely. The attackers deliberately targeted female students, singling out a young Christian, ripping her clothes and then shooting dead a young man who attempted to come to her aid. The students are demanding freedom of speech, secularism and an end to harrassment by Islamist gangs. As a result, the University of Basra has now been surrounded by police and members of al-Sadr??s militia, with tribal elders from the environs of Basra threatening to bombard the university if the protests continue. Daniel Randall of Education Not for Sale said: What is happening in Basra underlines the urgent need for solidarity with trade unions, student groups and other fighting for democracy and secularism in Iraq. British students must raise a storm of protest against this criminal attack on Iraqi students and in solidarity with the demonstrators at Basra university. "Democracy" Occupation Style: Samarra Demonstration Blocked 05 March 2005 Aljazeera Iraqi police in the city of Samarra, 120km north of Baghdad, imposed a curfew from 07.00am to 9.00pm as it sought to prevent an anti-American demonstration called for by the local chapter of Association of Muslim Scholars, according to resigning mayor Taha al-Handira. The mayor had quit in protest against what he saw as restrictive and tough security measures imposed by US and Iraqi forces on the city. Resistance Success Confirmed: Foreign Oil Corporations "Scared Off" The sabotage campaign has created an inhospitable investment climate in Iraq and scared away oil companies that were supposed to develop its oil and gas industry. March 28, 2005 Energy Security, By Gal Luft Pipelines are very easily sabotaged. A simple explosive device can put a critical section of pipeline out of operation for weeks. This is why pipeline sabotage has become the weapon of choice of the insurgents in Iraq. Since President Bush declared the end of major hostilities in April 2003, there have been close to 200 pipeline attacks. According to the Iraq Pipeline Watch at the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, most of the attacks took place in northern Iraq, primarily on the pipeline running from Kirkuk to the Turkish Mediterranean terminal of Ceyhan. In addition, there have been dozens of attacks on oil and gas pipelines leading to the refineries around Baghdad, primarily near the Bayji refinery complex 125 miles north of Baghdad. In March 2004, guerrillas began striking at oil installations in the south near Basra as well, where more than two-thirds of Iraq's oil is produced. The attacks have exacted a heavy price from the new Iraqi government- it is estimated that pipeline sabotage costs the country more than $10 billion in oil revenues. The sabotage campaign has created an inhospitable investment climate in Iraq and scared away oil companies that were supposed to develop its oil and gas industry. Demonstration Against Occupation Killing & Arrests In Al-Saqlawiya 3.27.05 Aljazeera Aljazeera has learned that hundreds of residents of al-Saqlawiya town, north of Falluja, took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the alleged detention of the mother of a wanted man who was subsequently killed during a raid by US forces on his house. A delegation representing citizens of al-Saqlawiya headed towards a US military base to demand the release of the woman and others detained during the raid. Occupation Terrorists Shoot Peaceful Demonstrators Demanding Their Wages; Four Dead March 27, 2005 By EDWARD HARRIS (AP) & (KUNA) Bodyguards for Science and Technology Minister Rashad Mandan Omar fired on a crowd of protesters in front of the ministry's offices demanding their full wages, said Hamid Balasem, an engineer at the ministry. About 50 were demonstrating, saying they had only been paid in part, Balasem said. Four protestors died and many others were injured when the gunmen opened fire randomly against a peaceful demonstration organized by installations protection policemen and Technology ministry employees here on Sunday. A protestor who witnessed the firing told KUNA that ministry of technology guards and the minister bodyguards have opened fire against the protestors who demanded pay raise. Turkmen Hold Anti-US Rally In Kirkuk: "No, No, America. Death To American Spies" 3/25/2005 Anatolia.com Inc. KIRKUK, Iraq - About 250 Turkmen chanting anti-American slogans demonstrated in the northern Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk on Friday, calling for the release of Turkmen detainees in US custody. "No, no, America. Death to American spies," demonstrators from the Turkmen Front of Iraq party chanted following Friday prayers. "Down with federalism. Kirkuk is Iraqi." "There are dozens of Turkmen being held in US custody," said Nejmadin Kassab, a spokesman for the Turkmen Front. "We want our voices to be heard on this issue, because the new Iraq is a democracy." At least 25 Turkmen have been arrested in raids in the last week, said Colonel Burhan Taib of the Kirkuk police force. In addition, Anatolia news agency reported that the Turkmen Front offices were raided by US troops in mid-February, though there was no immediate confirmation of the raids from US forces. Pipeline Repair Crane Blown Up March 24, 2005 By David Axe, THE WASHINGTON TIMES Militants exploded a bomb on one of only two cranes used by the state-run Northern Oil Company to seal breached large pipes. The attack slowed the already weeklong process of repairing damaged pipelines. Another Pipeline Blown 3.15.05 By RAWYA RAGEH, Associated Press Writer & Energy Security & (Xinhuanet) & Aljazzera In northern Iraq, insurgents blew up an oil pipeline in Fatha connecting the Kirkuk fields with a refinery in Beiji, 155 miles north of Baghdad, an official in the Northern Oil Co. said. The pipeline is used only for domestic deliveries, the official said on condition of anonymity. He did not have details on the extent of the damage. "A bomb was planted under an oil pipeline causing huge fire, on the east side of Tigris river in Fatha area near Baiji," an official in Baiji refinery told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Black and thick smoke could be seen over the area, about 200 km north of the capital, as security forces and teams of firefighters raced to the scene to put out the fire, he said. Abd Allah, part of a 3000 strong oil protection force, said firemen hoped to control the blaze by Wednesday and put it out in three days. Demonstrators from the Ministry of Health hold a protest against salary cuts in Baghdad March 13, 2005. Hundreds of employees, including security officers working at the ministry, protested after the Health Department cut their wages. (Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters) Oil Pipeline Mortared March 13, 2005 (AP) Two attacks on oil installations left pipelines ablaze in Iraq on Saturday. One blaze occurred between Samara and Fallujah to the east of the Iraqi capital, while the other started after an attack close to the northern city of Kirkuk. An oil installation security officer in Kirkuk said the pipeline was attacked by mortar fire. Pipeline Blown Up South Of Baghdad 3/8/2005 AFP and Turkish Press HILLA, Iraq - An oil pipeline feeding Al-Dura refinery south of Baghdad was blown up Tuesday near Jorf al-Sakhr, 60 kilometres south of the capital, an Iraqi oil official said. "Unknown assailants placed explosives on the 'strategic' pipeline," said Muayyed al-Shemmari, a local oil official. The blast occurred at 1 pm (1000 GMT) and firemen were called to the scene, Shemmari said. IRAQ WAR Canadian state tries to sabotage army resister's asylum claim http://www.uruknet.info/?p=9585 Pablo Paredes' brother speaks out http://www.uruknet.info/?p=9600 Kevin Benderman report http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/benderman-k.htm Benderman charged with desertion http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=9005&s2=21 Benderman and others resist reassignment http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1441289,00.html Chas Davis - another conscientious objector http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_15817.shtml Growing crisis for US army in Iraq http://www.revistaamanecer.com/english/ViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=145&CategoryID=2 Soldier kills himself rather than return to Iraq http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2005/02/202803.shtml Another Iraq war survivor "brings the war home", ends up in a siege with police http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/110803084943920.xml Over 5500 US soldiers "desert" http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=10374&s2=15 http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=10421&s2=16 http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/619/619p14.htm http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=9214&s2=28 Marine arrested for alleged desertion http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/040105_ap_ns_marine_arrested.html Interview with conscientious objector http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=10791&s2=01 Purple Heart winner flees to Canada http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/10787254.htm Army Reserve Company With Courage To Defy Stupid Orders Returns Home With No Regrets [Thanks to Desmond who sent this in.] February 25, 2005 WSOCTV ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Members of the 343rd Quartermaster Company have reason to cheer. After a year in Iraq they are back in the arms of loved ones -- not one man or woman missing. The company drew national attention on October 13, 2004 when 18 members refused orders to deliver fuel. They said the fuel was contaminated, and their trucks lacked armor to protect them from attack. Specialist Reeves Williams was one of those soldiers. "You hear everyday about trucks being blown up, and everything. We needed the protection," he said. Several soldiers were reprimanded, but their trucks were quickly outfitted with armor. Williams said speaking out was a risk he had to take. "We were all fully prepared to take those consequences to make sure the job got done and got done right," Reeves. The soldiers believe that decision saved lives and so do family members who stood by their sons and daughters during the fallout. "I'm just wondering if they hadn't said anything, would all these men and women be coming back today. You don't know," said parent Genia White. The Army decided in December that members of the 343rd quartermaster company would not be court-martialed, but some members would face non-judicial punishment such as a reduction of rank. No specifics were released because of privacy. Since then, the Army did order a safety and maintenance review and has made changes to improve armor on its vehicles. Soldier Shocked By Kids Letters Opposing The War February 24, 2005 Gary Younge in New York, The Guardian A teacher has apologised for letters sent by his sixth-grade students to an American soldier, accusing the US military of killing civilians and destroying Iraqi mosques in a futile war on terror. Alex Kunhardt sent the letters to Private Rob Jacobs for a social studies assignment. Pte Jacobs, who is serving 10 miles from the North Korean border, said his excitement at getting the letters from the Brooklyn schoolchildren turned to shock as he read them. One of the letters from the 11- to 12-year-old pupils, stamped with a smiley face, said the soldier might have been risking his life for his country, but then asked: "Have you seen how many civilians you or some other soldier killed?" Another read: "I feel that you are being forced to kill innocent people. Iraq never attacked us, if Bush cared so much about this country then we would be out there trying to find Osama bin Laden. Bush calls this war the war on terrorism. What terrorism? Name one terrorist from Iraq ... I know I can't." Most letters did include support for the troops, but few were completely uncritical. A Muslim boy wrote: "I know your [sic] trying to save our country and kill the terrorists but you are also destroying holy places like mosques." Another stated: "Bush thinks he's brave ... in his safe little white house with as many guards as he thinks he needs." He concluded with: "By the way, when you shoot someone, is it great or horrible?" Pte Jacobs, 20, told the New York Post: "It's hard enough for soldiers to deal with being away from their families, they don't need to be getting letters like this. If they don't have anything nice to say, they might as well not say anything at all." Pte Jacobs added that the letters were demoralising. [Pte. Jacobs has a right to his opinion. Anti-war soldiers will find them very encouraging indeed. Soldiers in Vietnam cheered on the mass anti-war marches and demonstrations. They were 100% right to do so. And these kids are not stupid. They know what the truth is about the war better than lots of asshole adults.] (from GI SPECIAL) GUANTANAMO BAY: Inmates attempted mass suicide in 2003 to protest conditions http://www.smh.com.au/news/Global-Terrorism/Guantanamo-detainees-in-suicide-protest/2005/01/25/1106415599072.html?oneclick=true http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5492567 AFGHANISTAN: Traders threaten blockade over VAT rises http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=99324 Protest in Kandahar over government corruption and "crime" Protesters storm government buildings and fight cops http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1318082.htm http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/03/3ed85bdb-bfb0-4894-bd95-e438f35c15de.html Afghanistan report: demonstrations against US /British occupation ( By a reporter for Sholeh Jawid, newspaper of the Communist Party (Maoist) of Afghanistan. ) US imperialism and its puppet regime have been trying to prettify the ugly face of the real life people of Afghanistan face every day. The peak of that was the election deception in last October mainly meant to boost the Bush election campaign. The big noise about democracy and the liberation of women was just empty talk. Apart from the cheating by President Hamid Karzai, many of the people did not take part in that election, especially in the southern and eastern regions. Many who did have been disappointed. Sholeh Jawid reporters talked to voters in the central area of Afghanistan who have come to the conclusion that it was just a trick to elect Karzai and legitimise his rule. They said that voting was a mistake and that those who refused to take part in the election did the right thing. Two recent events show how discontent with the US invaders and their puppet regime is rising and taking different forms of expression. Demonstration at Kabul University In November 2004, Kabul University was the scene of a student demonstration against the regime's security forces. It started after student Habibulah Heidari was stabbed to death by a gang at the university widely believed to be linked to Marshal Fahim, the former Defence Minster and an important warlord. This gang was making trouble for the students, and Habibulah Heidari did not yield to their threats. University security guards closed their eyes when the gang knifed Habibulah to death and let them ride away on their motorcycles. Many students believe that the police were involved in this killing. The day after, students protested with the slogans "Death to the security forces" and "Heidari's killer should be prosecuted". They marched from the university towards the Interior Ministry. Officials promised to follow the case but did nothing. The students demonstrated again. This time the security forces tried to suppress the demonstration. But the students counter-attacked, throwing stones, and eventually chased away the police force. At this point the police opened fired on the demonstrators. Several students were injured and many more were arrested. Ironically, the puppet regime, whose existence depends on imperialist occupation forces, shamelessly accused the students of letting themselves be provoked by foreign elements. Students in Afghanistan who were unhappy with the invasion and occupation of their country and with the puppet regime were quick to raise their opposition. This is not their first demonstration. In the last two years they have been demonstrating and raising their voices against the authorities but their protests have received little publicity. When security forces shot and killed several students protesting against the unbearably cold and miserable conditions in their dormitory at Kabul University during the last academic year, this was reported in the world media, but they were slandered as Taleban supporters. The students have been seizing every opportunity to express their discontent with their situation at the university and with the puppet regime and the presence of the US and other imperialist invaders. Demonstrations against the invaders in Nangerhar A mass demonstration against the US broke out in Nangerhar (south-east province) on 27 November. American troops had begun searching people's homes the night before in what they claimed was a hunt for "terrorists". When they couldn't find anything after entering many houses, they arrested three men and a woman and took them away. Tens of thousands of people staged an angry protest. Demonstrators closed down the main highway between Jalalabad and Torkham (the major artery connecting Kabul to Peshawar in Pakistan, where many Afghanistan refugees still live). They chanted slogans against the occupation troops and the puppet regime. The protestors were particularly indignant about the invaders coming into their homes and the arrest of the woman, who was taken away not because she was suspected of being a Taleban - that group's reactionary ideology does not allow them to recruit women - but because, the Americans said, they wanted to find out more about her husband. The regional security forces of the puppet regime attempted to prevent the demonstration and open the motorway. In the subsequent clashes between demonstrators and security forces, a teenage girl was killed and several other demonstrators injured. What was specific about this demonstration was that a considerable number of women took part. Many sat down on the Jalalabad-Torkham highway and blocked traffic to demand the release of those arrested. They kept the highway closed from early morning on the 27th until noon on the 28th. When the security forces failed to break up the demonstration, the protest spread through the whole region east of Jalalabad up to Torkham. Finally, fearing that the actions would spread even further, the occupiers and their puppets freed the arrested men and the woman and promised the demonstrators that US forces would no longer search the people's houses unless accompanied by Afghanistan government forces. But the demonstrators did not accept this and demanded an end to the brutal house-searching as a whole. On 3 December 2004, puppet regime officials in Nangerhar province held a joint meeting with the so-called tribal leaders who depend on them. Later in a statement they announced that if the people of the region wanted an end to the searches and the operations of US forces there, they would have to prevent the "terrorists" from being active in their area. The majority of the people of the region cannot tolerate the presence of American and other foreign invader forces in Afghanistan, and they don't want to accept their conditions. How can puppet regime officials expect these people to help the invaders and prevent armed activities against them? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:21:57 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:21:57 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - ASIA - part 2 Message-ID: <06e101c53908$40d04600$ab30fd3e@WOL> IRAN: Quake victims block roads in protest over inadequate aid http://www3.turkishpress.com/w.asp?s=i&i=050223105006.8vy6r6pn Iranian exiles in Germany protest Iran's nuclear manoeuvres This is despite attempts by German pigs to stop the protest http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iranians11feb11,1,3969244.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=2&cset=true Dissidents occupy plane in Belgium http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=30384&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs Iranian women protest against headscarf ban on US passport photos http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/10/content_2566714.htm http://news.newkerala.com/world-news/?action=fullnews&id=70346 http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=29618&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs TURKEY: Paper mill workers resist privatisation, strike and occupy factory http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/turk-m10.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/turk-m15.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/turk-f25.shtmlhttp://www.icem.org/update/upd2005/upd05-06.html http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5966 Workers march against government policies http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=6183 http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=6201 Police attack women's day protest Repression draws international criticism and condemnation One pig vehicle damaged by protesters throwing stones http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4222290 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=24&art_id=vn20050307130026632C429870 http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/06/turkey.demo.ap/ http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991221374&Language=ENhttp://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306289.html http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.anarchism/browse_thread/thread/9675f7290eb70e3f/4055b55897679126#4055b55897679126 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5961 Turkey, Adana, [Cukurova University] NO PASARAN TO FASCISM In Cukurova University which is known with its dissident identity for years, lately emerging fascist students!!!!! got an answer.. The incident started with the potent response of the rectorship against the attempts of erecting a turkish flag in front of r1 classrooms which is the most crowded place and the center of leftist, anti-system students of the school. The rectorship declared that the flag will not be erected.. but on friday, 12th of march, about 75 anti-system students' response with stones against the national anthem and reception of turkish flag made by about 200 fascists increased the tension of the events, anti fascist resistance campaign which was started after the clash ending with the intervention the swift force [a kind of 'riot police'] lasted one week.. on 18th of march it was heard that fascists exiting out of the prayer and coming out of the towns around adana will come to r1 classrooms. probably it was the preparation of 500 students which had made fascists to feel scared that they dispersed away after talking with the rector.. it is not hard to see the reason of these events, [newly] built up facilities in the school which will provide profit for the capital, create new slaves and design arms systems of the state such as teknopark ayagem( oil research ins.) space sciences ins. should be protected so we must be rusticated from the school.. NO PASARAN TO FASCISM AND CAPITAL.. CU Anarchists TURKS NOT THRILLED TO SEE CONDI (from ORead Daily) Demonstrations took place both just before and at the conclusion of Condoleezza Rice's visit to Turkey this weekend. Prior to her arrival protesters demanded cancellation of the visit as well as preventing the Americans from using military bases in Turkey. The demonstration, organized by political parties, human rights groups and trade unions, gathered outside the American embassy in Ankara where protestors laid a black wreath of flowers. Chairman of the Turkish Chambers of Engineers Federation Mohammed Soganji told the crowd that the USA "has been pursuing, since 15 years, the cold war policy in the region." Other demonstrators carried anti-war banners that demanded withdrawal of the American and British troops from Iraq. The Labor Party's youth wing, "The Pioneer Youth," staged a small protest in Ankara on Sunday, as the U.S. Secretary of State left the country. The group shouted slogans against the United States and President George W. Bush, who they accused of being the most dangerous terrorists in the world. In a statement released, the group said Rice had warned Turkey not to intervene in Northern Iraq last week, but added that she had come to Turkey to ask just that. The statement said that the recent developments in Northern Iraq have shown the United States to be an enemy of Turkey and that the group would not recognize any promises made by the ruling Justice and Development Party. Sources: Arabic News, Turkish Daily News, Xinhua Munzur is Life People against Dams flowed like a river against global murderer corporations >From Istanbul to Dersim, Action for Munzur! ISTANBUL-Against the global murderer corporations' dam projects in Munzur Valley and gold mining with cyanide, about 300 people flowed like a river with slogans "Munzur will flow freely", "Munzur is Life! The stream of life can not be stopped!". For the International Day of Action for Rivers on 14th of March, with the action call of Munzurun Delileri (the Mad of Munzur), Sosyal Ekolojist D?n?s?m (Social Ecologist Transformation), Munzur ?evre Derne?i (Munzur Environmental Association), Hozatl?lar Derne?i (Hozatl?lar Association), on the 13th of March, hundreds of people marched in Beyoglu-Istanbul. During the march, the protestors carried a common banner written "Munzur Will Flow Freely" and a hundred meters long huge blue fabric, representing Munzur River against war of capitalists targeting nature and human beings, was waved. Protestors chanted "Munzur will Flow Freely", "Munzur is Life, the Stream of Life cannot be Stopped", "Murderer corporations, go away from Dersim", "Murderer Rio Tinto, Go Away from Munzur", "From ?stanbul to Dersim, Action for Munzur", "No mining corporations, No nuclear Power Plants, No Dams, No Dams in Munzur", "Action for Munzur, Don't Watch the Slaughter" slogans with great enthusiasm. Many people supported the march and gathered to the "river" and chanted the slogans. When the protestors reached Galatasaray Post Office, where the press release was read, "Munzur is Life, the Stream of Life can not be stopped", "Life is in Air and in Earth, Life is not in Murderer Corporations", "Ata Holding, Rio Tinto Nalet Sero To" banners were opened. Seyri Mesel Theater performed a play in Zaza language and then the press release was read. It was decleared that the struggle against global murderer corporations attacking nature and human beings will continue. Traditional pies representing the will to struggle against dams and mining corporations were distributed. On the same day, at the same time with Istanbul, Rivers and Earth Movement made an action in Dersim. People from Dersim, met in the Market Square and marched to Gole ?etu where Har?ik and Munzur rivers meet and read a press release there. Actions against dams and mining corporations also took place in Eskisehir, Van and Ankara. For action photos: http://www.munzurhayattir.org/index.php?a=20 EGYPT: Thousands protest on campus against Sharon's visit to Egypt http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=20050210045004737 http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/537636.html http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1107487146137 Small anti-Mubarak demonstrations during Cairo bookfair "Enough" movement continues to gain momentum http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2F4DC0DB-476F-4ABE-9310-066550F30000.htm http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/731/eg10.htm http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=12956 Esco workers strike against privatisation http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/734/eg9.htm http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/733/ec4.htm Industrial action on the rise in Egypt http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/733/ec5.htm Textile workers strike against privatisation http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m18.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m25.shtml http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5967 Palestine solidarity demo attacks threat to al-Aqsa mosque http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-04/02/content_2775589.htm Demonstrations against attacks on villagers by landowners' goons http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6095 Protesters call for political reform http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Egypt%20Uncertainty http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4394915.stm http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/31Mar2005_news26.php http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=108422®ion=6 Women protest to demand release of their husbands http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Gulf%2C+Middle+East+%26+Africa&month=March2005&file=World_News2005032625419.xml Women protesters storm bombing trial over wrongful convictions http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1838D14E-4402-49A2-BB6F-7606D44483A5.htm Supporters of banned Labour Party protest Mubarak and say reforms do not go far enough http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7F40B563-44F1-4EA7-82BF-450481CAE7D5.htm More controversy and protests over alleged forced conversions of Copts http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/732/eg62.htm http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/470F557E-504D-4033-8C82-954E201D4A66.htm Reformers defy protest ban http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/171BDC44-DC05-49A0-A166-4955206ECF2E.htm http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5D53A859-FAB7-42CF-9E1A-C867F3E4BA94.htm Protests planned over police attack on Egypt villagers By William Wallis in Sarandu Published in Financial Times: March 12 2005 02: Police have laid siege to a string of hamlets in Egypt's Nile delta, allegedly beating and detaining dozens of men, women and children whom a landowner has been trying to move off the land. Pro-democracy campaigners said yesterday they were planning to take up the case of the villagers and hold a related demonstration next week in Cairo. They argue that unless state-sponsored violence is stamped out in Egypt, political reforms promised by the government will fail to bring the anticipated change. Under pressure at home and from abroad to allow greater political freedom in Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak introduced a constitutional amendment two weeks ago to allow the first ever direct elections for the presidency. His opponents among intellectuals and activists are now pressing - among other measures - for the lifting of emergency laws that were used to combat Islamic extremists in the 1980s and 1990s but have also stifled wider political life and contributed to abuses by security services during Mr Mubarak's 24-year rule. Agricultural reform has itself been a volatile issue since 1997, when new legislation gave control of rent back to landowners and began to reverse earlier laws. MOROCCO: Protesters call for release of POWs http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5725 TUNISIA: Lawyers strike and protest over police brutality http://www.tunezine.com/breve.php3?id_breve=2132 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/GH0945182.htm JORDAN (Fwd from EarthU list amman feb12;05 a message from dr. hisham bustani at Hbustani2 at yahoo.com /translated from arabic. a sit-in in amman;jordan to protest the jordanian governments measures to prevent the jordanian professional unions from engaging in political activities. -------------------------------------------------- the sit -in took place outside the jordanian parliament;after the unions building was stormed by the jordanian security forces;who brought down banners demanding the release of jordanian prisoners in israeli jails;and also demanding ending the ongoing normalization process with israel. the building was twice surrounded by security forces who prevented people from going inside;and disrupted a couple of functions;one designed to protest holding elections in iraq under foreign occupation;and the other to protest the assault on unionists and members of parliament. the sit-in raised slogans like ( freedom is a right and not a privilege);(for my country i oppose normalization);(no to silencing unions) and ( no to beatings in the streets of amman);and others.some participants symbolically used black masks with the word ( government) written on it;in a reference to the governments oppression of freedom of speech. the crowd in the sit-in this time was beaten not by men in uniform but by a mob who used all kinds of abusive language as well;and who tore down all banners. for details visit www.alwatanvoice.com under articles. you could also contact dr. bustani on his email address above. laila faisal JORDAN: Police ban trade union march Marchers manage to enter parliament before police arrive to drive them away http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/jordan/?id=12912 LEBANON: Protests against Syrian intervention at slain PM's funeral http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-16T081040Z_01_JON629418_RTRUKOC_0_LEBANON.xml Massive rally opposes US intervention http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/leba-m10.shtml Radio interview with Beirut Indymedia activist about events in Lebanon http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=11380 Two species of cedar http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=22&ItemID=7409 Students protest at US embassy against US intervention http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=13466 Hundreds burn flags near US embassy to protest intervention http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=13668 KUWAIT: Women protest for the right to vote http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=8934 http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050308/asp/foreign/story_4466638.asp http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4325207.stm BAHRAIN: Tens of thousands protest for democratic reforms http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/bahr-m29.shtml http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/526DD1A0-761C-4E50-9174-133AD7766423.htm http://chanadbahraini.blogspot.com/2005/03/constitutional-reforms-first.html YEMEN: University lecturers strike over pay and conditions http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=45755&SelectRegion=Middle_East&SelectCountry=YEMEN Students protest for greater freedom http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/CA75B1B2-E84C-4BC3-B93C-15F7408FA8F5.htm KAZAKHSTAN: Hunger strike by former workers with industrial illnesses They are trying to win unpaid disability benefit payments http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/rca2/rca2_347_1_eng.txt How the East Was Won The wilted daffodil: Easter orgy of destruction in Kyrgyzstan by Justin Raimondo On the first day of Kyrgyzstan's "daffodil revolution," photogenic girls smilingly offered daffodils to police guarding the presidential palace, but in a few hours those same guards were being pushed back and beaten by drunken crowds, who surged into the seat of government and ransacked the place. They also ransacked the entire city. "Democracy, whiskey, sexy!" - as the saying goes. Looters in Kyrgyzstan's capital city of Bishkek justified their rampage on the grounds that the owners of the big stores - including President Askar Akayev's son, Aidar - were supporters of the old regime. Conversely, in typical Soviet style, the "revolutionary" leaders were quick to accuse the looters of being part of a counterrevolutionary plot: "'It's those government-hired provocateurs who were trying to spoil our rally yesterday,' said Kadyrbai Sodirov, referring to hundreds of men in plainclothes who clashed with the anti-Akayev rally before the seizure of the government building known as the White House. 'Now they are trying to tarnish our image another way.' But Saniya Sagnayeva, an analyst from the International Crisis Group, said she believed most looters had been on the opposition side Thursday. 'It's a war of the poor against the rich,' she said. 'It is understandable: These young men are mostly from remote villages. They have no fridges, no radio at home. After their triumph at the White House, they think the city is theirs. It's winners' fever.'" That the Bush administration has unleashed a war of "the poor against the rich" may seem anomalous to some of us here at home - after all, this is the same administration that is making it harder for the poor to declare bankruptcy while at the same time giving the rich the right to keep their Mercedes - but this is nothing new for our Janus-faced administration: they are royalists at home and Jacobins abroad. While the Bushians claim the right to suspend the Bill of Rights in the U.S., they do more than merely proclaim their "global democratic revolution" - they are acting on it. It was therefore not at all surprising to read the text of a purloined memo from U.S. ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Stephen Young - originally posted on the official news site of the Kyrgyzstan government - that outlines in detail the American plan to oust Akayev. Now before I go any further, I just want to comment on the authenticity of this memo: a number of people have remarked on the various grammatical errors that appear in it. These, I believe, can be explained as errors of transcription: it seems that this was posted in a very great hurry, as events in Kyrgyzstan have proceeded apace. After all, we aren't talking about the Associated Press or Reuters here, but a news agency, albeit the "official" one, in a small and relatively impoverished Central Asian country. Secondly, we have to look at the context in which this memo appears: it was posted on a Web site that features all sorts of articles written with reasonable objectivity, and even pieces that put the Akayev government in a bad light. So the Kabar News Agency doesn't seem to be an outlet for pro-Akayev propaganda. The memo sticks pretty closely to the thrust of U.S. policy in Kyrgyzstan, and I find the signature of the U.S. ambassador as well as the U.S. government seal reproduced at the bottom fairly convincing. The distinct possibility that this is authentic, and precisely because it hasn't received attention anywhere else, compels me to take it seriously. If this isn't a memo written and conceived in the U.S. embassy, then let the U.S. State Department deny it. In any case, after drawing a portrait of the country as thoroughly penetrated by Russian, Chinese, and radical Islamist interests, the memo goes on to draw up a strategy to increase U.S. influence: "Taking into account the interests, of our presence in the region and development of democratic society in Kyrgyzstan, our primary goal - according to the earlier approved plans - is to increase pressure upon Akayev to make him resign ahead of schedule after the parliamentary elections." And of course Akayev's supporters were completely correct, as the memo itself proves. It's fascinating to read the smug assertions of the ambassador, as he calculates the impact of covert American support to his various sock puppets: "According to the materials we sent to the Department of State earlier, at present two formations are shaped on the political arena of Kyrgyzstan. . First of all, it is the pre-election block For Powers of People. In July 2004 it united six opposition parties, which nominated K. Bakiev [sic], ex-prime minister and MP, as their single candidate for the presidential post. I think he is the most acceptable candidate in the aspect of fruitful development of relations between the USA and Kyrgyzstan. I met Bakiev on repeated occasions. Bakiev expressed his consent to take advantage of the support after his block's winning in parliamentary elections. As he said, after ambiguous American involvement in elections in Georgia and Ukraine unconcealed American support provided to a candidate might have a negative effect on his political reputation. Furthermore, he was against falling off in relations with Russia by criticizing on behalf of his party Russian intervening in the Ukrainian elections. " So Bakiyev is their man, but what of the others? "Among the other significant political leaders we name M. Ashirkulov, the former secretary of Security Council, and F. Kulov, who is currently imprisoned. They represent a newly founded party - the Civic Union For Fair Elections. "We believe Ashirkulov's growing popularity has . arisen from recent scandals and his demonstrative walkout from the president's team. In our opinion, it was a specially made up action to promote the president's friend to head up a 'puppet' opposition. In this connection, we advise continuing contacts with another prominent representative of the opposition - F. Kulov, whose imprisonment will end in the middle of 2005. Enjoying deserved popularity and being a victim of [the] regime, he will have sufficient potential to struggle for the presidency. F. Kulov shares and adheres to American concepts of freedom and democracy and can be viewed as a dubbing candidate for the presidency in case our main candidate Bakiev is defeated." The truth is that the "democratic" opposition backed by the U.S. is no better - and, in some ways, worse - than the regime they have just overthrown. Kulov is a former official of the Soviet secret police who brutally crushed a 1990 ethnic uprising in the southern city of Osh and mobilized the military around Akayev's banner after the fall of the Soviet Union. He purportedly became involved in an abortive coup, and, as one study of the Kyrgyzstan opposition puts it: "Much of the equipment allocated to a special task force set up by Kulov, including electronic eavesdropping devices, mysteriously disappeared. The president, already doubtful of Kulov's loyalty, demoted him in 1998 to the post of mayor of Bishkek. In late 1999, Kulov resigned and set up his own party to oppose Akayev in the 2000 parliamentary and presidential elections. In January 2001, as his split with Akayev grew deeper, a Bishkek court found Kulov guilty of fraud and abuse of power, giving him a seven-year prison term." Oh yes, Kulov certainly "shares and adheres to American concepts of freedom and democracy" - by Bushian standards. Bakiyev is no better. On March 17, 2002, demonstrators who were holding a peaceful and legal rally in support of Azimbek Beknazarov - a member of parliament who spoke out against the cession of land to China by the Akayev government - were attacked by the police and five demonstrators were killed. Bakiyev, then prime minister, was forced to resign after an investigation revealed police responsibility for the murders. This character has been proclaimed the new "president" of Kyrgyzstan: yesterday, he was reviled as a "hardliner," and now he is being held up as the symbol of "democracy" and pro-American liberalism. The United States couldn't care less about "democracy" and "freedom," in Kyrgyzstan or anywhere else. What they care about is limiting Russian - and, increasingly, Chinese - influence in Central Asia, and their strategy is to encircle both. The "democratic tide" that pundits are waffling on about is just the ideological window-dressing that adorns what is basically a military strategy. That's the real reason the U.S. is pouring money and resources into this impoverished backwater, with the help of the Soros Foundation and other global meddlers, as Ambassador Young relates in his memo to the State Department: "We have mostly succeeded in developing contacts with another leader of the opposition - R. Otunbaeva, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs. Through the funds allocated to her we managed to lobby setting up and promoting certain NGOs as well as organizing a unified system of mass media for better coverage over the country to spread her statement about noninterference of Russia in internal affairs of Kyrgyzstan. With a view to providing favorable conditions and helping democratic opposition leaders come to power, our primary goal for the pre-elections period is to arouse mistrust to the authorities in force and Akayev's incapacitated corruption regime, his pro-Russian orientation and illegal use of 'an administrative resource' to rig elections. In this regard, the embassy's Democratic commission, Soros Foundations, Eurasia Foundation in Bishkek in cooperation with USAID have been organizing politically active groups of voters in order to inspire riots against pro-president candidates. "We have set up and opened financing for an independent printing office - the Media Support center - and AKIpress news agency to interpret impartially the course of the elections and minimize state mass media propaganda impact. We also render financial support to promising non-governmental tele- and radio companies." The tentacles of the U.S. "democracy"-exporting machine are everywhere: Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Moldova, with a Western media eager to broadcast the administration's narrative of color-coded "revolutions" (i.e., coups) as triumphs of the popular will. This strategy, which seeks to avoid outright invasion and take over countries on the cheap, was given voice by Robert D. Kaplan in a recent article in The Atlantic, in which he advocated small-scale covert interventions around the world as an alternative to the Iraq-quagmire scenario. Check out this debate with political scientist John Mearsheimer on NPR (also here), in which Kaplan details his plans for building a "global empire" unobtrusively (I got a kick out of Mearsheimer's response, in which he wonders why we should care about what happens in, say, Colombia: why, indeed - a good question, which Kaplan doesn't deign to answer). In any case, it seems to me as if the U.S. is already implementing the Kaplan Plan, and that's what's happening in Kyrgyzstan, and elsewhere. You'll note that Kaplan evades Mearsheimer's query as to the fate of empires, from Rome to Great Britain: didn't all these imperial projects fail? Well, uh, yes, Kaplan admits, but we still have "30 or 35 years" before we overextend ourselves and exhaust the U.S. Treasury, enough time to create some kind of "world order." So overweening is the sickening arrogance of the empire-builders that they don't care about the "blowback" that comes our way as a result of our policy of global intervention. And what about the human cost of all these low-grade interventions, which are supposed to save us the trouble of invading, Iraq-style, while still extending our imperial domain? This query is met with the answer all utopian madmen of the Jacobin mentality have traditionally come up with to justify their global depredations: You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. In replying to Kaplan's blithe dismissal of the slaughter in the Philippines that was the direct result of U.S. intervention, Mearsheimer notes that thousands were killed and that people to this day remember and resent it - but such protestations fall on deaf ears. Morality, humanity, the old republican virtues of modesty and humility - those are for ordinary people, not the "great men" (and women) of our new imperial class. Well, then, isn't freedom worth a few lives, or even more than a few? But that's the problem with our "liberationist" foreign policy - there isn't much "liberating" involved. Don't think for a moment that the new regime in Kyrgyzstan is going to install anything even remotely resembling a condition of freedom. As the San Francisco Chronicle reported the other day: "A witness to the government ouster in the southern Jalal-Abad and Osh regions - where the authorities fell first - said the new rulers immediately imposed new taxes on businesses. The witness, who also asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said no one in the interim government had expressed concerns about democracy or human rights. She said the newly appointed head of the Osh region told her his administration's attitude toward press freedom would depend on its treatment by the media." In Kyrgyzstan, meet the new boss - pretty much the same as the old boss. Brought to you by Uncle Sam, and paid for by the American taxpayers. NOTES IN THE MARGIN No sooner had I written the words "let the U.S. State Department deny it" than they did deny it - but not very convincingly. Here is the text of their press release on the Stephen Young memo referenced above, in full: "A document attempting to imitate a report of the Embassy of the United States of America in Bishkek is being disseminated via the internet and circulated by government supporters at demonstrations, bazaars, bus stations and in mail boxes. Made to appear on U.S. Embassy letterhead and dated December 30, 2004, the document slanderously misrepresents U.S. policy toward Kyrgyzstan and its election process. It forges the signature of Ambassador Young. This report is a crude fabrication by an individual or individuals who have no association with the United States Government. "The document in no way represents the views of the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek. Our support for democratic development here has been clearly documented in public, and is designed to support the efforts of the people and government of Kyrgyzstan to strengthen democratic institutions in this country. The creation and distribution of this fraudulent document is a disservice to the citizens of Kyrgyzstan and threatens to damage the good relations between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic. We urge the Kyrgyz authorities to denounce this forgery and take effective steps to disassociate the government from any efforts to distribute it." Oh, c'mon, guys, you can do better than that! To begin with, there is nothing "slanderous" about the memo: didn't George W. Bush clearly state in his recent inaugural address, as well as the 2005 State of the Union speech, that the U.S. government was actively seeking to export "democracy" to the four corners of the earth? We're lighting "a fire in the mind," to use the Dostoevskyian phrase uttered by our oh-so-literary President - and if Kyrgyzstan is now burning, is it any wonder that the identity of the arsonist is now coming out? Furthermore, I don't see what is so "crude" about this alleged "fabrication" - it is surely far less crude than the documents that supposedly "proved" Saddam Hussein was trying to procure weapons-grade uranium in the African nation of Niger, a reference to which appeared in the President's 2003 State of the Union address. The embassy alleges that Young's signature is "forged" - but how do we know that? Is Young willing to submit samples of his signature to a handwriting expert - and, if not, why not? One can only note, with dismay, the distinctly threatening tone of this Embassy missive. The Ambassador's office ominously refers to the possibility that this could "damage relations between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic" - but isn't it a bit late for that, considering how the U.S. government is openly engaging in a campaign of "regime change" in Kyrgyzstan? How else can one explain Ambassador Young's traipsing about the country, making speeches about the proper application of "democratic" principles and brazenly interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation? It is as if the Kyrgyz ambassador to the U.S. held a press conference demanding another Ohio recount. Implicit in this threatening tone is the demand that the posting on the Kabar News Agency be taken down: "We urge the Kyrgyz authorities to denounce this forgery and take effective steps to disassociate the government from any efforts to distribute it." Translation: delete it or you'll be sorry. But what happened to the U.S. government's alleged devotion to "free speech" and an untrammeled media? We are pouring how many millions of taxpayer dollars into Kyrgyzstan, flooding the country with propaganda - but we can't stand up to what they claim is a "crude forgery"? Get over it, guys, and stop trying to censor the brave new "democracy" of Kyrgyz. And I wouldn't have the Kyrgyz government "denounce" the memo, either - that's likely to convince people that it's real. Which leads us to a fascinating bit of speculation: if it is a forgery, and a "crude" one at that, why is the U.S. government bothering to issue an official statement? Why give it that much credence - if there isn't some truth to it? The answer, of course, is that the American embassy in Kyrgyzstan has been caught with its pants down, and is desperately trying to cover its butt. But it's a little late for that . Finally, it is difficult to see how the embassy can maintain this stance of high moral dudgeon in the context of its own actions: regardless of whether or not the memo is real, in whole or in part, they have made its declared provenance all too believable. - Justin Raimondo http://antiwar.com/justin/ Revolution that came too soon starts to fall apart in chaotic Kyrgyzstan Mary Dejevsky reports from the capital on violent ethnic rivalry and a growing sense that no one is in control 27 March 2005 [From: The Independent (London)] The success of Central Asia's first post-Soviet revolution was starting to look distinctly shaky last night, as Kyrgyzstan's self-appointed coalition struggled to form an interim government and assert the power it had won so precipitately earlier in the week. Reports from the capital, Bishkek, said that bands of youths, some armed, roamed the streets and sporadic looting continued. Local observers spoke of a growing sense that no one was in charge. The ousted Kyrgyz president, Askar Akayev, meanwhile, was reported to be in Moscow, having flown there from his first point of refuge in neighbouring Kazakhstan. A defiant statement issued in his name and distributed by email yesterday said that he left the country "for humane reasons, so as to avoid bloodshed and prevent casualties". But his tone soon turned threatening. He remained president, he said, and "any attempt to deprive me of my presidential powers by unconstitutional means will be a state crime". He had been overthrown by "adventurers and conspirators". While Mr Akayev's sudden re-emergence yesterday - and so far it remains "virtual" rather than physical - served to remind many about why he had been overthrown, it may also have sowed doubt in some quarters about the legitimacy, and the permanence, of the regime that has replaced him. Under Kyrgyzstan's constitution - passed in 1993 after the republic had independence thrust upon it by the collapse of the Soviet Union - an absent or incapacitated President is replaced by the Prime Minister. In this case, however, the Prime Minister resigned shortly after Mr Akayev fled the country. Other senior ministers had just been dismissed by the President as punishment for the unrest that followed the parliamentary elections, as had the chief of police. The temporary solution was an emergency meeting of the outgoing parliament late last Thursday, which appointed one of its members to be the new speaker - Ishenbay Kadyrbekov, a leading opposition figure who was a former minister for construction. Another opposition leader, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was named as acting prime minister and entrusted with forming an interim cabinet. He was quickly declared acting president as well. Such sweeping changes, however, appear already to be running into trouble. Their legitimacy would seem to be questionable, at the very least, and is already inspiring opposition. The prospect of waiting until June for new elections, whether for a new president or a new parliament, will require a measure of patience that Kyrgyz voters - who forced their President out of office within a matter of days - may be disinclined to show. Those aspiring to power may well want to entrench themselves in office rather sooner. Among the more ominous signs from Bishkek yesterday were reports of ad hoc militias being set up by individual ethnic groups, including Russians, intent on defending the lives and property of their own communities. Ethnic tension has long been high in the south of the country, where it borders on Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and it was violence in Osh in the south, Kyrgyzstan's second city, immediately after the second round of the parliamentary elections which arguably helped to fuel the unrest further north. And, warning of a risk of civil war, the ousted interior minister said yesterday he was leading thousands of demonstrators towards the capital to protest against "the coup" that overthrew Mr Akayev. The new leadership said the action had fizzled out but later switched the venue of a news conference on word of a possible plot to kill the acting president, Mr Bakiyev. The biggest difficulty for an interim administration, however, is that there is no central figure around whom the political opposition can rally. Although the precedents of Georgia and Ukraine have been repeatedly cited as models for the Kyrgyz "revolution", both these countries had strong opposition figures who commanded loyalty and provided a focus for political protest. And when they called on their supporters to show discipline, they were listened to. There is no such figure in Kyrgyzstan. Arguably, the revolution came too soon. The main figures named to the interim administration represent quite different groups and interests. They already appear to be jockeying among themselves for the presidency. This does not bode well for a united interim government - let alone one that will last until late June. There is not even consensus on how to describe the "revolution" -"tulip" or "daffodil". The ignominious flight of the president as protesting crowds invaded the presidential compound and government buildings in Bishkek would not have been how Askar Akayev would have wanted to be remembered in Kyrgyzstan. When he came to power in 1990, it was as a mild-mannered nuclear physicist, with a doctorate from Leningrad (now St Petersburg) University, who was chosen from the ranks of the Communist Party in the wake of serious ethnic violence in the southern border areas of the republic. He was chosen precisely because he did not have the profile of a party hack, but that of a liberal and progressive politician rather in the mould of Mikhail Gorbachev, who would be able to keep the country together through turbulent times. This profile endeared him to the West, as did his decision a few months before the break-up of the Soviet Union to abandon Mr Gorbachev and throw in his lot with the Russian leader, Boris Yeltsin. When I interviewed him in September 1991, he was eloquent in his hopes for his homeland - and confident that he could preside over the modernisation of Kyrgyzstan as a state and an economy. Even then, however, the contrast between his own education and outlook and that of the majority of his fellow-countrymen was sharp. I was sped in a convoy of government limousines for four hours from Bishkek to the presidential summer compound on the shore of the spectacular and legendary inland lake, Issyk-kul. The whole road had been cleared of traffic; only a few herdsmen on horseback were to be seen along the whole route. There was dinner, Russian-style, with the Akayev family and aides - and eventually the following day, postponed from one hour to the next, rather in the way of early oriental potentates, a formal interview. In many ways, he also seemed personally caught between traditions. Thoroughly at home in a Russian milieu, he felt the weight of his responsibility as an educated Kyrgyz. Increasingly, he came to see himself as indispensable to his country's future. From 1996 he presided over constitutional changes that allowed him to remain in power. His now grown-up children were widely perceived to have benefited inordinately from patronage. The economic promises he had repeatedly made were felt to be empty. More and more aware of how the rest of the world - and their Central Asian neighbours lived - and protested - increasing numbers of Kyrgyz seethed with resentment. The test of the "tulip" - or is it the "daffodil"? - revolution will be whether Kyrgyz voters are content with the change they have forced. Or will they, in a few months' time, be wishing they had their old president back? http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=624029 >MASS UPRISING IN KYRGYZSTAN A revolution stolen from the people FifthInternational.Org Newswire, Vienna A popular uprising in Kyrgyzstan has toppled the regime of President Askar Akayev. It brings to end his 15-year rule. Now this revolution is in danger of being stolen by rival cliques, each implicated in the crimes of the old regime. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous Central Asian country which is located south of Kazakhstan. It borders Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. While Kyrgyzstan is twice as a big as Portuga,l it has a population of only 5.05 million people. As a result of the divide and rule policy of the Stalinist bureaucracy in the 1920s and 30s, the country is divided into the following ethnic groups: 65.7% Kyrgyz, 11.7% Russian, 13.9% Uzbek, 1% Uighur, and 0.4% German. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the official World Bank figures for the year 2002, the average Gross National Income per head is only 290 US Dollars which ranks Kyrgyzstan at 181 of 208 countries. The driving force of the uprising was the suffering of the people - their empty stomachs and the iron fist of the Akayev regime. Nearly 60% of the population live below the poverty line. This is because the Akayev has been a strict follower of the dictates of the international financial institutions. It has energetically implemented the neoliberal policy of privatisation. In 1998 Kyrgyzstan became the first Central Asian republic to join the World Trade Organization. As a result its external debt of 1.95 million US Dollars is as big as its whole annual Gross Domestic Product. As a result many Kyrgyz are migrating to neighbouring countries to find a job and to feed their families. Approximately 420,000 Kyrgyz are living in other parts of the former Soviet Union and 170,000 in China. Capitalism's general law of the concentration of capital - increasing power in the hands of a few monopolies - applies fully to Kyrgyzstan. While in the rich, imperialist countries this dictatorship of the bourgeoisie can be hidden by a veneer of capitalist democracy and liberal freedoms, in a poor country like Kyrgyzstan the rule of the bourgeoisie takes a far more authoritarian form. The cake is smaller, so the varied fractions of the ruling class fight all the harder for their share. This leads to ever sharper friction in society. As a result the regime in Kyrgyzstan became ever more a dictatorship of the Akayev family. Akayev - a former leading member of the Stalinist party - became president of Kyrgyzstan in 1990. He proved a loyal lackey for all available masters. After September 11 2001, he immediately announced his support for the imperialist war drive and granted the USA a military base. But it also granted Russian imperialism a military base - just 20 minutes outside of the capital city of Bishkek. However the combination of poverty and his corrupt and authoritarian regime made Akayev more and more hated by the people. He also alienated functionaries inside the elite. The most important figures in the opposition are all former member of the Akayev regime. Felix Kulov served Akayev as vice president before he fell out with him and was thrown into prison when he announced his intention to run for president before the elections in 2000. Roza Otunbayeva was a former Foreign Minister and another leader, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, served Akayev as Prime Minister till 2002. An important trigger for the recent uprising was Akayev's plan to install his son or his daughter as his successor when his constitutional term expires in October this year. The other trigger was the rigged parliamentary elections on 27 February and, in a second round, on 13 March. Opposition candidates won only two of the 32 seats filled in the first round. Of the 43 seats at stake in the second round, opposition candidates took four. The uprising started in the south-eastern provinces which are - compared with the Northern part of the country where the capital Bishkek is located -poorer and neglected by the elite. The ethnic Uzbek minority is concentrated there. The popular uprising in the South quickly developed such a dynamic that the state apparatus broke down and the people took over various areas including Osh, the second biggest city. According to a wide range of reports it was an uprising of the poor and downtrodden, those who for years were treated as nothing more than rubbish by the ruling elite. The Akayev regime tried to secure its power by a combination of carrot-and-stick manoeuvres against the opposition and attempts to assure the support of the rulers of neighbouring countries and Russia (including a secret trip to Moscow). But it didn't help. The spark of the popular revolt in the South spread to the North and on 23 March thousands of people stormed the presidential and government headquarters, known as the White House. Akayev left in panic and flew with his family to Russia. The divided bourgeois opposition leaders Bakiyev, Kulov and Otunbayeva are now trying to re-establish order. In the first nights after the uprising many shops and buildings in Bishkek were looted and ransacked by the desperate poor and youth. There seem to be serious divisions between the three opposition leaders. While Otunbayeva seems to be the closest to Western imperialism, Bakiyev has a strong base among the Southern oligarchs while Kulov is rooted among the traditional elite in the North. After exchanging threats - including arresting each other - for the moment they seem to have agreed a power sharing deal to avoid the collapse of bourgeois rule and a successful popular revolution. While Bakiyev has been announced as acting interim president and prime minister, Kulov has been given responsibility for "coordinating law-enforcement agencies of the state" - i.e. power over the armed state apparatus. They also agreed to hold presidential elections on 26 June. Whatever their differences might be, they are only over their respective share of power. They all want to save the capitalist system and they all want to continue running the country as a semi-colony for US and Russian imperialism and the IMF. The central task now is that the workers, the peasants and the poor organise themselves in popular councils and don't let the country be run for another day by a small clique of corrupt bourgeois politicians. They must not allow only the names at the top of the system to change and Bonapartist rule to remain. They must fight for the expropriation of the small elite of Oligarchs who have looted the economy. They must fight for a massive enlargement of democratic rights. They must fight for full rights for the national minorities. They should fight for a Constitutional Assembly to discuss the future direction of the country. Only a Workers and Peasant Republic in Kyrgyzstan located in a federation of socialist republics in Central Asia can provide a future for the people free from neoliberal austerity and exploitation by the major imperialist powers. More on Kyrgyzstan Police stations burned and offices and shops looted as protesters rise up against the government http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3982-2005Mar26.html http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/29/stories/2005032903891000.htm http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OreadDaily/message/678 http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2369449 http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/&articleid=200248 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12608259-23109,00.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55113-2005Mar21.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1443156,00.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52233-2005Mar20.html http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav032105.shtml http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62138-2005Mar24.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306554.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/kyrg-m28.shtml http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/c1afc2845f2b7116f281e120c4eeafaa.htm http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Kyrgyzstan%20Protests http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1527049,00.html US role in instigating revolution? http://www.asiantribune.com/show_article.php?id=2259 http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news4/kabar1.html http://www.aljazeerah.info/3%20o/Whos%20the%20Real%20Power%20Behind%20People%20Power%20John%20Laughland.htm BALOCHISTAN: Jailbreak! 200 Masuri tribe men fled from Bugti's personal jail F.P. Report [From: Frontier Post (Quetta) 22 March 2005] QUETTA: The Chief of Masuri Bugti Qadir Khan Masuri has said more than 200 persons that were languishing in Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti's personal jail in Dera Bugti have fled Bugti jail and reached the provincial metropolis due to mounting tension and intense gun fire in the area. Talking to newsmen at FC headquarters here on Monday, Qadir Khan Masuri said that Nawab Akbar Bugti was at loggerheads with them for years as they (Masuri Bugti tribe) had established government schools, hospitals and other development projects in the area. "We have been persuading Nawab Akbar Bugti not to oppose development works and projects in the area," he said adding that Nawab Bugti men had looted army medical convoy last year in which during trading of fire his (Nawab Akbar Bugti) son was also killed in the gun battle. He went on to say that after the last year armed clashes between Nawab Akbar Bugti men and army medical corps personnel Masuri Bugti Jirga comprised of 164 men went straight to Nawab Akbar Bugti home to defuse the tension but Nawab Bugti imprisoned all Masuri men in his personal jail in Dera Bugti. He said that as situation became tense on March 17 in Dera Bugti, "I along with other Masuri Bugti 164 men have fled Bugti's jail and reached Quetta." "We have asked the Frontier Constabulary to ensure our security as the Bugti tribe Chief Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti have been making untold excesses to other small clans." http://www.frontierpost.com.pk/ Tribes battle army in Dera Bugti http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-3-2005_pg1_1 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_21-3-2005_pg1_1 Baloch alliance holds demonstration in Quetta http://www.dawn.com/2005/03/18/nat13.htm Protest over raids on Marri camp and torture and humiliation of women http://www.dawn.com/2005/03/01/nat8.htm SINDH: Nationalists call province-wide strike http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_24-1-2005_pg7_24 http://www.dawn.com/2005/01/24/nat1.htm INDIA: Journalists protest against use of Official Secrets Act http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage_link.php?chklogin=N&autono=180262&lselect=4&leftnm=lmnu9&leftindx=9 Punjab teachers take time off and rally over pension cuts http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=115358 Pilots strike http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=72262 Bankers stage nationwide strike http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=89081 http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/23/stories/2005032305891200.htm http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/23/6495762 Some bank workers march also http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/23/stories/2005032300710300.htm Insurance workers strike over pay http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/24/stories/2005032416290300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/24/stories/2005032412380300.htm http://news.newkerala.com/kerala-news/?action=fullnews&id=90112 Pharmacists stage brief strike over substandard drugs http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/22/stories/2005032209530300.htm Cinema workers strike http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050321/asp/calcutta/story_4517586.asp Chhattisgarh government workers strike http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=87342 Bank workers demonstrate against foreign takeovers http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/17/stories/2005031713970300.htm Mobile phone and landline strike hits service http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4310769.stmwork-to-rule http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/17/stories/2005031712280300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/16/stories/2005031609010300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/16/stories/2005031606550300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/02/stories/2005030209130300.htm Maharashtra electricity workers strike http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=86917 Strike at SV University http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/17/stories/2005031704380300.htm Mysore government workers protest http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/15/stories/2005031507530300.htm Andhra Pradesh electricity workers begin hunger strike over equipment shortages http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/15/stories/2005031504280300.htm Construction workers demonstrate in Tiruchi, Chennai http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/15/stories/2005031513060300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/15/stories/2005031512270300.htm Hospital strike against autonomy for hospital http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/08/stories/2005030802000300.htm Mumbai bus workers strike lasts two days before a deal is reached http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=146037 http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1276439,0008.htm University teachers march to parliament http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/11/stories/2005031115900300.htm http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=120996 Bangalore workers besiege government office http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/14/stories/2005031402150500.htm Electricity workers launch agitation against privatisation http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/12/stories/2005031206820300.htm Aluminium workers stage strike http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=83852 Lecturers oppose industrial area near university http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/01/stories/2005030111750300.htm Punjab doctors strike against restructuring http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m12.shtml Tamil Nadu salt workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f26.shtml Mumbai transport strike, construction workers demonstrate, aluminium and power workers strike, airport workers resist privatisation http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m19.shtml One-day bank strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m26.shtml Labourers stage blockade to demand rice http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/618/618p17l.htm Traders strike in protests against VAT - markets shut nationwide http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=123257 Bar owners close down and protest against state repression http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Mumbai+bar+owners+protest+govt+decision&id=70789 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1066445.cms Bank workers protest over suspension of colleague http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?chklogin=N&autono=184678&lselect=1&leftnm=lmnu9&leftindx=9 Bank workers protest against FDI, privatisation http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=72460&cat=Business Teachers stage ongoing protests over staff shortages and recruitment ban http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=120971 Semi-naked traders protest against VAT; protests spread across India, even reaching Kashmir http://netindia123.com/showdetails.asp?id=71887&cat=Business&head=Trader's+protest+against+VAT+continues http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=82260 http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=82152 Strike hits PNB By Our Staff Reporter KANNUR, MARCH 7. Banking operation in Punjab National Bank was totally hit today by a strike of its employees belonging to the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) in response to a nation-wide strike call to protest against the bank's decision to disinvest. http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/08/stories/2005030802170500.htm Road workers take out rally By Our Staff Reporter MADURAI, MARCH 7 . About 90 road workers and family members took out a procession demanding reinstatement here today. According to the police, the processionists, led by the Tamil Nadu Highway Road Labour Union Madurai district president, Raja Vadivu, marched from Tamukkam Junction to the Collectorate and submitted a memorandum to the Collector in support of their demands. http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/08/stories/2005030814170300.htm PUNJAB PEASANTS STAGE BLOCKADE The army has once again usurped more land by taking over 10 muraba land that belongs to Chak # 15 in Okara. As I write this message, the Anjuman Mazarin Punjab (landless tillers movement) has blocked the Grand Trunk Road and according to one report about 10,000 tenants have come out in protest. So far that mazarin (tenants) outnumber the police by an enormous amount which is why the police is having to sit down at the negotiating table and are adopting an apologetic attitude. However, we know from experience that it is only the power of the people that keeps them in check. It is inspiring to see this movement that the army simply cannot quash no matter how hard it tries. The Mazarin need the support of all progressive people and organizations, we hope that everyone will do their best to help the AMP achieve its objectives. Long live the struggle of the Mazarin In solidarity Hassan Nasir (from CMKP list) INDIA: MASSIVE FARMERS' DEMO - "millions" turn out for Farmers' Day in Mysore http://www.all4all.org/2005/03/1490.shtml INDIA: Slum dwellers shave heads, stage rally in demolition protest http://www.reuters.co.in/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:42134c91:4a20461539128737?type=topNews&localeKey=en_IN&storyID=7647239 Activists rebuilt shanty-town after demolition http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=117493 Hindus and Muslims stage joint procession in village, to heal pogrom wounds http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=75161 Bhopal survivors protest http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/618/618p17f.htm Villagers repel Naxal punishment raid http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/19/stories/2005031903670500.htm Muslims protest against disappearances http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=83701 Tribal women protest disruption of programme http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=120789 Protest over alleged wrongful removal of kidneys http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=72322&cat=India http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=83862 INDIA: Nepalese in Gujarat demonstrate against coup http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1240675,001300980000.htm Indian Sikhs protest against French turban ban in schools http://www.gg2.net/viewnews.asp?nid=2114&tid=breaking_news&catid=Breaking%20News Nepal peace demo held in Delhi http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=32095 INDIA: Communist-led demonstrators protest against foreign investment in telecoms http://www.siliconindia.com/shownewsdata.asp?newsno=26950&newscat=Top http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=69262 Socialists protest over bills and fares brings Kolkata to a standstill http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1004558.cms http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=66322 INDIA: Socialists stage Nepal solidarity protest Calcutta 16 February 2005, - Today, the West Bengal State Committee of Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) organized a massive rally in front of the Consulate Office of Nepal at Calcutta, protesting the suppressions of democratic rights, sacking of Government, promulgation of emergency and usurpation of all executive power by the autocratic King of Nepal. The rally was led by Provash Ghosh, the CC Member and State Secretary of West Bengal of the Party. Several speakers addressed the rally. There after, a five member Delegation, headed by Manik Mukherjee, Deputy, International of the Party along with Sunil Mukherjee, Sankar Saha, Iswari Bhandari and A B Thapa submitted a Memorandum to the Consulate General of Nepal demanding to end autocratic rule and to pave the way for establishment of democracy, withdraw emergency and abolish military dictatorship, restore all democratic rights to the people, release immediately of all political prisoners, allow the people of Nepal to decide their future and abrogate all defence pacts with imperialist and expansionist forces . An effigy of King of Nepal was burnt in front of the Nepalese Consulate Office, torched by Provash Ghosh INDIA: Naxal supporters intensify stir in support of tribal political prisoners http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG1_sub.asp?state=ES29%2COrissa#92787 Rebel blast frees political prisoners http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050221/asp/nation/story_4404104.asp RALLY SUPPORTS POLITICAL PRISONERS http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20050213012912&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0 Naxals rally behind incarcerated tribals Sunday February 13 2005 11:50 IST BHUBANESWAR: The Naxal sympathisers are back for round two. This time, they are rallying behind those tribals, who have been thrown behind bars for raising voice against the anti-people policies of the State Government. The Naxal sympathisers have termed them political prisoners. Deciding to take up the cudgels for the prisoners, a group of Naxal sympathisers, led by writer Vara Vara Rao has decided to hold a meeting in the City on Sunday demanding their release. A massive group of the sympathisers had held a public meeting in the State Capital for the first time on September 15, 2004. A delegation had met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, requesting him to initiate peace talks with the Left wing ultras. However, the next day, 18 of them were arrested on their way to Malkangiri. Sunday's meeting assumes significance in view of the fact that while the peace talks of People's War with the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh Government have reached a plateau, in Orissa, they have gone haywire even after State Government dropped charges against more than 50 tribals and announced a series of incentives. Sunday's meeting is expected to be attended by a number of top leaders apart from Rao. Sujata Bhadra from People's Democratic Rights and Shyamal Nandi of West Bengal will also address the gathering under the banner of Rajanaitika Bandi Mukti Committee. Accusing the State Government of being pretentious, convener of the committee Dandapani Mohanty said, ''while the Government is showing interest for peace talks on one hand, it is victimising the tribals for opposing its policies on the other.'' The 18 tribals, who were arrested after the September 2004 public meeting, were charged with dacoity and murder. Besides, more than 45 tribals from Motu, Kalimela, Chitrakonda and MV 79 are languishing in jails after being framed in false cases, Mohanty claimed. The number of tribals behind bars in Rayagada and Gajapati will be more than 600, he added. PAKISTAN: Karachi protesters oppose US consulate move http://south-asia.news.designerz.com/pakistanis-protest-against-planned-us-consulate-site.html?d20050210 Strike, demonstration against poverty http://lnn.laborstart.org/more.php?id=402_0_1_0_M Teachers on hunger strike in Dadu http://www.dawn.com/2005/03/05/local37.htm Tens of thousands rally against Musharraf http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/pakistan.protest/index.html Hunger strike in teacher pay dispute http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m12.shtml Militant workers block roads and protest in Lahore http://www.marxist.com/Asia/pakistan_demo250305.htm Protests, transport strike over fuel price http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050330-094505-8614r.htm Women protest against discrimination on women's day http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_9-3-2005_pg7_15 PAKISTAN KESC Anti-Privatization Hunger Strike Enters Second Week Despite various attempts at ending the hunger strike of the now fourteen workers of the KESC Employees Action Committee the KESC military bosses failed to succeed as the hunger strike enters its eight day on Feb 10, 2005. The workers are protesting at the privatization of largest state-owned electricity company in Pakistan to a Saudi-German (Kanooz-Siemens) conglomerate for Rs 16 billion while the asset value stands at over Rs 400 billion. Camped outside the Karachi Press Club the KESC hunger strike camp and its workers have changed the landscape of that area. Usually groups of four of five people stage token hunger strikes for various social and trade union rights outside the club but the camp covering over 50 KESC workers supported by a string of KESC and other political workers hanging out in their hundreds throughout the day have suddenly forced the media to take the strike seriously. By four pm the numbers of solidarity KESC workers swells to even more, an estimated two to three thousand workers visit the camp. One strikers said `The government tried to project the bidding of KESC that took place on Feb 4 as the final nail in the coffin of anti-privatisation struggle but to their and media's surprise the hunger strike camp has yet again focused on the workers struggle.' A stream of local political party and NGO leaders visit the camp to express their solidarity. `The political parties', said a worker `have largely supported the anti-privatisation struggle and have been pushed to discuss KESC privatization in National Parliament and Sindh Provincial opposition leaders have rejected privatization but they have failed to call for mass mobilization.' The workers are angry that the privatization gives right to sack the workers after one year. The fundamentalist right wing led by Jamaat-e-Islami has time and again criticized its rival political party MQM for not supporting the anti-privatisation struggle, MQM has a sizeable presence amongst KESC workers as well. While nearly half of the workers actively support the anti-privatistation struggle this right wing argument has demoralized many into buying the right-wing idea that `we are not strong enough' to win a strike. Hence the hunger strike which has yet again raised hopes of workers for a better terms of conditions after privatization. There is a possibility that the union leaders may get a promise for lifting ban on their collective bargaining agent (the elected trade union) imposed since the military came to power in 1999. The right-wing political fundamentalist parties while showing solidarity with the striking workers have time and again reminded them that the ethnic Mutahidda Quami Movement (united nationalist rights movement) which has 14 out of 22 seats from Karachi in lower house of parliament and is a provincial govt partner is not supporting the cause of workers. MQM does not oppose privatization. On the other hand Jamaat-e-Islami which controls the Karachi City local government in collaboration with MQM's Sindh Governor signed a pact with Kanooz-al-Watan (the new KESC owner) in Decmeber 2005 according to which Kanooz will build 4000 low-cost houses for the Jamaat-e-Islami controlled Karachi local council. The fundamentalists oppose privatization on the grounds that it is American Agenda but are happy to do deals with the same privatisers. Similarly MQM opposes retrenchment of workers and want temporary workers (largely Karachi based Mohajirs) to be made permanent but supports privatization as it believes in free-market economy, a claim even projected at its web-site. In their half hearted opposition to privatization these two dominant groups in Karachi (together poll nearly 70% of votes) both having middle-class professional-trader roots have helped the privatization processes go against the workers class struggle. Less than 3 percent of workers are organized in Pakistan and in the largest industrial estates in Karachi out of 500 factories 4 have trade unions. Of the biggest textile fabric and garment manufacturing factories that earn over $2 billion per year in exports none have permanent workers or trade unions. In this immense sea of workers deprived of their rights the continuing struggle of KESC workers have given a hope to a large mass of workers that it is possible to fight- back. Riaz Ahmed International Socialist Pakistan Dear Colleagues Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum [PFF] wants to share with you the happy news that PFF after bringing an end to Pakistan Rangers occupation and exploitative contract system on 22 coastal fishing grounds of Badin through mass based struggle, has also foiled Sindh Government plans of re-introducing contract system on the same fishing grounds. After continuous occupation of 30 years Pakistan Rangers withdrew from Badin fishing water on December 31, 2004 as a result of PFF struggle. However, Sindh Government decided to auction those fishing grounds on February 26, 2005. PFF initiated a series of hunger strikes and protests demanding that fishing rights be restored to the indigenous through license or cooperative system. PFF announced to organize a big protest rally on February 26 at the venue where the fishing auction was to be held in Karachi. Amidst continuing PFF rallies and hunger strikes in Karachi, Thatta, Badin and other towns and cities, Sindh government postponed the fishing auction and advised two member Sindh Cabinet Committee to hold talks with PFF and local fishermen of Badin on February 20, 2005 in Badin As a result of full day talks between Sindh Cabinet Committee comprised of Provincial Minister Sayed Papoo Shah and Provincial Advisor on Fisheries Mr. Jadim Mangrio with PFF Chairperson Mr. Mohammed Ali Shah and other PFF office -bearers it was decided to bring an end to contract system in the coastal waters of Badin once for all. It was also decided that the fishermen would be given fishing rights through the establishment of their Cooperative Societies in Badin. The talks also resulted in an end to contract system on other fishing lakes of Sindh including Kenjhar, Manchhar and River Indus fishing grounds. Report from CMKP list The army has once again usurped more land by taking over 10 muraba land that belongs to Chak # 15 in Okara. As I write this message, the Anjuman Mazarin Punjab (landless tillers movement) has blocked the Grand Trunk Road and according to one report about 10,000 tenants have come out in protest. So far that mazarin (tenants) outnumber the police by an enormous amount which is why the police is having to sit down at the negotiating table and are adopting an apologetic attitude. However, we know from experience that it is only the power of the people that keeps them in check. It is inspiring to see this movement that the army simply cannot quash no matter how hard it tries. The Mazarin need the support of all progressive people and organizations, we hope that everyone will do their best to help the AMP achieve its objectives. Long live the struggle of the Mazarin In solidarity Hassan Nasir BANGLADESH: Massive demonstration against India's planned Tipaimukh Dam http://www.bangladeshjournal.com/index.php?ID=3670&tim=9-3-2005 Protest against Indian dam project http://www.bangladeshjournal.com/index.php?ID=3670&tim=9-3-2005 http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050310/asp/northeast/story_4472770.asp Protest against acid attacks and other violence against women http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4329733.stm Workers reinstated after campaign http://www.itglwf.org/displaydocument.asp?DocType=Press&Language=&Index=1046 SRI LANKA: Protest against education privatisation http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/03/13/new27.html Fisherfolk stage boycott demanding new gear and replacement of boats after tsunami http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14462 Jaffna students march to protest killings http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14408 Tsunami protests planned Transport workers in Jaffna stage convoy to protest discrimination http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14246 http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14250 Bus strike over salaries shuts down transport http://www.colombopage.com/archive/February15144835JV.html http://www.colombopage.com/archive/February15142245UN.html http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/02/15/new12.html http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/02/16/new18.html Electricity workers hold one-day strike and demo against privatisation http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14264 Electricity strike called off quickly after talks http://www.colombopage.com/archive/March28122343JV.html http://www.dailyne Postal strike http://www.colombopage.com/archive/March17140645JV.html Protests against privatisation in Colombo http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2005/03/050302_privatisation_protest.shtml ws.lk/2005/03/29/news01.htm Protests against privatisation by workers and students http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m05.shtml Hotel workers demonstrate for redundancy allowances http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m05.shtml Health workers strike for back pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m12.shtml Rail strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f26.shtml Hunger strike by sacked workers http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f26.shtml Postal workers hold sickie campaign http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m19.shtml Clothing workers strike; teachers, health workers picket; factory workers protest sell-off http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m26.shtml Health workers' hunger strike ends after assurances http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14598 http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14576 Crowd torch army motorbike which hit civilian http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14596 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:22:49 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:22:49 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - ASIA - part 3 Message-ID: <06eb01c53908$5e940e10$ab30fd3e@WOL> SRI LANKA: More protests by tsunami survivors Date : 2005-02-16 Growing dissatisfaction in eastern Sri Lanka On-the-spot report: Part One By Shantha Kumar and Priyadarshana Meddawatta -World Socialist Web Site [From: Asia Tribune (Bangkok) 16 February 2005] Even before the tsunami hit Sri Lanka, the Eastern Province was one of the poorest and most economically backward regions of the island. Like the Northern Province, the area has been ravaged by two decades of civil war and many people live below the poverty line. It has one of the lowest levels of infrastructure including roads and telecommunications in the country. The disaster has compounded all of these social problems, destroying jobs, homes and facilities, and condemning many more people to poverty. More than 166,000 people are now homeless with about 80,000 currently in 73 overcrowded refugee camps and the rest living with relatives or fending for themselves. Some 29,373 houses, 50 schools, and 477 religious buildings and other structures were completely destroyed. The official death toll is 7,154 people and 391 missing, but eyewitnesses say at least 25,000 people were killed. We spent three days travelling in Ampara's coastal areas. While rival political parties were stoking up communal tensions, Tamil and Muslim refugees recalled with gratitude the selfless support they received from Sinhalese people. Distrust of the government and government officials is widespread and increasing. This has been compounded by allegations of corruption, including the misuse and appropriation of emergency aid. On February 4, a few days after we left, the Daily Mirror reported that a large number of Muslims had protested outside the Kalmunai divisional secretariat after Friday prayers over the unfair distribution of aid. The resentment has been fuelled in part by highly publicised inauguration ceremonies for new housing projects for tsunami victims in the Sinhalese south of the island. No such schemes have been started in the East. One protestor told the newspaper: "We want homes, boats and fishing nets, we want our children to go back to school and face examinations. No government relief has reached us so far and we are surviving thanks to the aid brought in by NGOs and other individuals. No Muslim ministers or MPs are concerned about our plight. "The divisional secretary [DS], the additional DS and the administrative officer should all be transferred. We don't care even if their replacements are Tamils as long as they are honest. We are here to fight for the rights of Tamils as well". Angry Tamils spoke to the Daily Mirror about the deteriorating hygiene in eight refugee camps that house hundreds of people. They said they would be forced to seriously consider seizing land, unless they were allocated decent accommodation. We first visited Ampara township, 20 km inland, where a large number of displaced people have taken refuge, and subsequently travelled to Karaitivu, Kalmunai, Akkaraipattu and Thirukkovil on the coast. In the absence of adequate government assistance, conditions in the refugee camps have seriously deteriorated over the past month with the danger of malaria, diarrhea and skin disease ever present. Water supply is irregular and grossly inadequate and hundreds of families are forced to share the three or four toilets in each camp. The government provides only 2 kg of rice, 1 kg of sugar and 1 kg of lentils per person per week. But there are many who are denied these meagre rations because, officials claim, they did not suffer any "direct losses". Many refugees fear that the government will even stop these limited supplies. Hardly any aid has reached remote areas such as Thirukkovil. Medical supplies are inadequate and dwindling. Akkaraipattu hospital, for example, which is nominally a base hospital, lacks basic medical equipment, buildings, doctors and other health staff. None of the hospitals in the area have psychiatrists or counsellors to treat the widespread cases of psychological trauma. Dr. M.J. Nowfel, the Medical Officer at Akkaraipattu, explained: "I requested help from the local authority to supply the refugees' basic needs and to clean the areas. But the response has been zero." He added that the government had not helped either. Nowfel said that the danger of malaria and dengue was acute, there had been sporadic cases of diarrhea and many patients were suffering from skin diseases. Many of the tsunami victims were fishermen. They are angry that the government has used the disaster to ban people from resettling within 200 metres of the seashore. They said that the directive was not to protect them from future dangers but to clear the coastline for the tourist industry. After President Chandrika Kumaratunga directed the security forces to take charge of relief operations, the army and police have extended their operations in the area. Heavily-armed police from the Special Task Force (STF) are in charge of the refugee camps. We had to obtain their permission to enter and refugees have to sign a book before leaving. The STF is notorious for its abuse, particularly of Tamils. In Ampara, the refugee centre was located just outside the hospital. Nominally run by the Church of Ceylon, the camp, was, in fact, controlled by the security forces, with troops outnumbering refugees. Most of the displaced were from Kalmunai. Poomani, 32, a mother of three children, said: "We have survived up to now on the food supplied by Sinhalese people. The government supplies never came in time to save us. But how can we continue to live like this and when will we get meals like we used to have before the incident?" Poomani dismissed government promises to pay 5,000 rupees ($US50) to each affected family. "I haven't seen a single cent for the last 35 days. When will our children be able go to school?" she asked. "Information has been collected from us but where will we end up? Up to now no one has given a firm word about our resettlement." Paul, 25, whose father had been a fisherman in Kalmunai, said: "I don't know what the government is planning to do about us. Our future is uncertain." L. Selvarajh, 64, a driver, added: "The people in the camp have decided not to go anywhere until the government tells us where we are going to be settled and what sort of housing we will be provided with". Thirty-year-old K. Sunil, a welder, explained that the village level government officer had told refugees to "find land" and that he would "make arrangements" to provide them with tents. "But how are we supposed to do this? It is the duty of the government to find land for us," he said. In Karaitivu, there are 2,908 displaced families in four relief camps. We visited the R.K.M. boys' school camp, which houses 505 people, and received a warm response from the people who were anxious to vent their anger against the government. Ilayathamby Pakyarajh, 32, who lost four children and his wife, said: "President Kumaratunga came and promised good living conditions until we were settled permanently within six months. But we are still living without proper food and sanitary conditions. This shows what the government has in store for us in the coming months." Ehambaram, 65, a fisherman, explained: "Minister Farial Ashraff [National United Alliance leader] came here and promised to do lot of things but up to now there has been no action. We have been informed that in future weeks we will be issued a ration card for 375 rupees a week a person. Without any job how can you live on this?" A group of people gathered around us all anxious to tell us their views: three fishermen- Nandakumar, 24, and Sri Bala Shanthakumar, 25, and Rasa Mahadevan, 38, who lost his wife and children-and Udayakumar, 24, a day labourer. In the course of the discussion, Bala Shnathakumar explained: "Everyone who comes here assures us that we will be provided houses and jobs but no one says when, where and how. We've been asked by authorities to vacate the school building where we are now." Rasa Mahadevan added: "They tried to take us to Valathepathy and Malwatta-both areas far from the sea. We refused to go because it would deprive of us our livelihood, that is fishing. What we want are well-constructed houses in our own area." Parasuraman Kengesabapathy, 62, said: "Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama came here and went without any concrete promise. We have not seen the TNA [Tamil National Alliance] MP Kanagasabe for whom we voted. We live by fishing. We are paid only one tenth of the value of our catch and the major portion goes to the boat owner. He too is now helpless having lost his boat and net. We have no job opportunities now." Kalmunai, a coastal town bordering the Batticaloa district to the north, was our next stop. There were 8,770 displaced families in 20 relief camps. These included the Fatima College camp with 353 families, Wesley high school with 215 families, and another relief camp in a Sinhala school with 197 families. Twenty-six families have been transferred from the Sinhala school to a nearby location and are living in tents donated by the Kalmunai Rotary Club. T. Dushyanthi, a 17-year-old girl at the Fatima relief camp, lost both her parents. "I can't sleep, thinking of my dead family. I can't think of a life without them," she told us. "Two weeks ago government officers came and asked me some questions but they left and have not come back. How am I supposed to believe that the government is going to assist me? We are completely helpless." Sixteen-year-old Vairamuthu Thatchyini, who just completed her grade 10 examinations, lost eight of her family members, including both parents. "I am the only one left," she said. "There is no one to look after me and if we are removed from the camp I have nowhere to go. I can't continue my education and have no alternative but suicide." Pathmanathan Pushparanie, 24, who lost her father and mother, said: "I don't know what to do next-to live or to die. I wish that I'd also been washed away." S.I. Jaleel, 15, another refugee lost 13 members of his family and is currently being looked after by others in the camp. Many refugees complained about the inadequate medical facilities at the camp and said the lack of medical care. Nadarajah Wimala, 40, said, "My husband is a diabetic but we have no money for his medicine. The medical officers who visited us said they didn't have any either." Government food supplies to the camp are limited to a few items-rice, lentils and sugar. One refugee explained that although the LTTE-based Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) had supplied some pots and stoves, they had not provided vegetables or other provisions. "The TRO used come here often but now it is only once a week," he said. E. Thilagawathi, 40, a mother of seven children, said: "My husband was a fisherman but I lost him. How am I supposed send my children to school? I don't hope for any government assistance. We don't get enough milk powder for our babies and I can only feed my baby son milk once a day. I can't provide him milk when he cries in hunger. Why should I expect a house and other benefits [from the government] in the future?" At the Islamabad Muslim refuge camp in Kalmunai, there were 1,365 refugees, packed into a hall made from aluminum sheeting and iron bars and partitioned into 60 units. Almost all of the refugees were fishermen who had lost all of their fishing gear. Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resource officials had collected information about their losses, but nothing had been done. Water supplies were inadequate or there were no sanitary facilities at the camp. Vadivel Gopalapillai, 44, a local TNA representative, said that Sinhalese people from Ampara had provided desperately needed food and clothing. "If not for them," he said, "we would have died waiting for the other so-called aid to arrive." He openly criticised a local TNA MP. "All these people voted for TNA parliamentarian Pathmanathan in the last general elections but 33 days have passed and he still hasn't come here. In fact, none of the TNA parliamentarians have visited. But if they don't come to see me, how are they going to see ordinary people and provide for their needs?" he asked. Letchchimee Kanthan, who was selected to study veterinary science at the University of Peradeniya in Kandy, warned of the danger of starvation. "We have no possibility of continuing our studies so the majority of us have decided to discontinue our education and find whatever work we can to get food each day. If the conditions in the camp don't improve, we could die of malnutrition," she said. To be continued - World Socialist Web Site - http://www.asiantribune.com/show_article.php?id=2156 NEPAL: Coup is greeted with protests http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/11/stories/2005021115331100.htm http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7609696 http://www.reuters.co.in/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=topNews&localeKey=en_IN&storyID=7604250 http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1301286.htm http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13633-2005Feb10.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10010701 http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5529927 http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=71234 http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050210-0420-nepal.html http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050211/WORLD11-2/TPInternational/Asia http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050211/main2.htm http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/09/nepal.protests.reut/ http://www.reuters.co.in/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:420aed2a:c23ddd5fb2b17c1b?type=topNews&localeKey=en_IN&storyID=7586698 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7586507 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL291822.htm http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=110696 Opponents arrested amidst protests http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=547254 "The worst news of the day is yet to be fully confirmed. The BBC Radio reported that the security personnel entered the hostel of the Prithivi Narayan Multiple Campus in Pokhara on Tuesday night after the students initiated a protest rally and sounds of shooting were heard. Although the BBC said it was not clear what types of bullets were used, it said that more than 250 were injured and arrested. Later, I heard a report that at least 15 have been shot dead. And, all the newspapers and FM stations outside the Valley have been forced to close down. It appears that the king wants no media at all." -- Radio Free Nepal blog posting, Feb. 4 http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050223glaser/ Trade unions organise international protests against the coup http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00336.htm Pro-Maoist trade and student unions call a series of strikes http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050201/wl_sthasia_afp/nepalmaoist_050201041016 http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=29911 http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=29265 Youths stage surprise protest as telephone ban ends http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050209/asp/frontpage/story_4355547.asp Bloggers, journalists defy crackdown http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050223glaser/ Detained politicians stage hunger strike http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=32817 Students stage protests for democracy and peace; some arrested http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=32854 Maoist trade union strike flunks, ends http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2005/mar/mar07/news04.php Last-minute ban on International Women's Day march http://www.union-network.org/uniapron.nsf/db1cb10297249246c1256f6c005f9629/0cf7531c8a0d6b70c1256fbe004e6f78?OpenDocument Seven arrested in more anti-monarchy protests - police baton-charge peace rally http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1535&ncid=731&e=7&u=/afp/20050327/wl_sthasia_afp/nepalpoliticsprotest http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050315/asp/siliguri/story_4493832.asp 750 arrested nationwide on a day of mass protests http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=34355 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34983-2005Mar14.html Journalists stage protest, defying ban http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_30-3-2005_pg4_24 Daring protesters march on government offices - dozens arrested http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/28/nepal.arrests.ap/ http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=619501 http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050328-0440-nepal.html http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1064600.cms Former ministers arrested in defiant protest http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1332514.htm Students stage protest rally in defiance of ban; oppose coup http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=106345&Sn=WORL&IssueID=27355 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050311132107419 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_10-3-2005_pg4_19 http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVIU-6ABH32?OpenDocument http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aCXatKsbtzqea1Ua2a9a0HNamal&folder=aCXatK&Name=City&dtSiteDate=20050314&sImageFileName= Mass protests called by opposition groups and parties http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/03/08/international/i081534S54.DTL Hundreds held as police suppress mass protests against the coup http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa3qzpea1Ta3a9a.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20050309 http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=33804 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aelbT3X1t1no&refer=asia Another party joins the protests http://www.nepalnews.com.np/archive/2005/apr/apr01/news05.php Police arrest student protesters Students belonging to seven different student unions took out protest rallies against the political developments following 1 February Royal move in Kathmandu and other parts of the country on Sunday, reports said Monday. According to reports, police intervened the protest rallies and arrested four student leaders including Basu Koirala- general secretary of the Nepal Students Union (NSU), student wing of the Nepali Congress, in Maitidevi, Kathmandu. The names of the other arrested students are not known. Authorities are yet to confirm the arrests. Similarly, students staged demonstrations in Pokhara, Dhangadhi and Rautahat on Sunday, demanding `restoration of democracy', reports said. Student protests follow appeals of major political parties- Nepali Congress and CPN UML. Earlier, the parties had appealed to their cadres to court arrests and move ahead with protest programmes against the 1 February Royal move. Five major opposition parties have called for countrywide protest rallies today (Monday). nepalnews.com pd Mar 14 05 http://www.nepalnews.com/ Over 400 protesters released in Janakpur Local administration in southern district of Dhanusa has released over four hundred demonstrators in Janakpur while orders have been issued against 51 political activists to be detained for the next three months, according to latest reports. Over 500 protesters were arrested in Janakpur while taking part in peaceful demonstrations Monday demanding restoration of peace and democracy in the country. According to Kantipur daily, two dozen protesters were injured in the nearby Mahottari district when police resorted to indiscriminate baton-charging on a group of protesters. A total of 37 activists were detained. In the far-western town of Mahendranagar, police fired one round of bullet in the air to stop the protesters and detained three activists, but nobody was injured. At least half a dozen protesters were injured when police resorted to lathi-charge at a group of demonstrators in far-western town of Dipayal. Seven activists were detained. In Rautahat, 11 out of 21 protesters held were released by the police. In Sarlahi, police have released 13 Congress activists who were detained while taking part in peaceful demonstrations. Reports said over 700 protesters had been detained in various parts of the country on Monday in the biggest peaceful demonstrations since February 1. nepalnews.com by Mar 15 05 http://www.nepalnews.com/ NEPAL/GLOBAL: Worldwide solidarity protests http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991221426&Language=EN CHINA: Yancheng workers rally over nonpayment of allowance http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/en/web/article.php?article_id=50252 Worker protests in China plentiful - but pre-empted? http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2005/02/18/2003223555 Tianshi print workers protest against pay cut Redundant workers march in Yancheng City http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m05.shtml Jewellery workers strike over health issues http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m26.shtml Petitioners arrested for lobbying parliament http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3209846a12,00.html TAIWAN: Protesters condemn Chinese secession law Thousands protest the warmongering law and call for peace http://publish.gio.gov.tw/FCJ/current/05040111.html http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/03/26/massive_protest_in_taiwan_against_china_law/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4893407,00.html http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?action=cna&cnaid=7642 http://www.chinapost.com.tw/detail.asp?ID=59286&GRP=A http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05066/467440.stm http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/11069324.htm http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/135949/1/.html http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2005/03/06/taiwan050306.html http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1317109.htm Rice bomber threatens to go on hunger strike; supporters rally http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?id=13&recid=104993&viewdate=0 MONGOLIA: Protests against corruption; protest movement head meets PM http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/03/30/2003248361 http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1112264367&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4389623.stm JAPAN: Protests over detention of chess champion Fischer http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=329758 Teachers meet to oppose nationalist rituals http://www.labournet.net/world/0503/newz1.html http://www.labournet.net/world/0503/japan3.html Rail strike against speed-ups, hazards, privatisation and war http://www.labournet.net/world/0503/japan4.html KOREA: Workers disrupt banker's old-age party in protest over job cuts http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200502/18/200502182241459009900090509052.html Clashes at KCTU conference - dissident faction spray paint thinner to prevent a vote on talks with bosses http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200502/200502020041.html KOREA: KCTU members blockade conference hall to stop sellout http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2005031677908 http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200503/15/200503152220323209900090409041.html Hanil cement workers on strike http://www.ifbww.org/index.cfm?n=44&l=2&c=1448&on=2 http://www.ifbww.org/index.cfm?n=155&l=2&trad=1441&detail=true Migrant workers' struggle continues http://migrant.nodong.net/zb/view.php?id=newsndates&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=233 http://migrant.nodong.net/zb/view.php?id=newsndates&no=236 http://migrant.nodong.net/zb/view.php?id=newsndates&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=234 Anti-war festival http://migrant.nodong.net/zb/view.php?id=newsndates&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=229 Solidarity events with people facing eviction http://migrant.nodong.net/zb/view.php?id=newsndates&no=237 Workers end job action at Daewoo Heavy March 11, 2005 ㅡ Union workers at Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery Ltd., South Korea's biggest construction equipment maker, resumed full-time work yesterday after holding partial strikes for three days. Operations have resumed, Daewoo Heavy said yesterday in a statement to the Korea Stock Exchange. Union workers stopped work for four hours every day from Monday, in an effort to win job security and better wages from Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., which agreed last month to buy Daewoo Heavy. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200503/10/200503102244392809900090509051.html TAIWAN: Nude protest over Kyoto and Taiwan government's eco-policies http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/413925.htm http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/detail.asp?GRP=E&id=58427 http://www.etaiwannews.com/E-Learning/2005/02/17/1108618498.htm PHILLIPINES: Still no end to Luisita strike http://www.tarlacnews.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=365 http://www.tarlacnews.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=358 http://www.labourstart.org/docs/en/000093.html Dispute continues http://www.philippinerevolution.org/cgi-bin/abshow/abshow.pl?year=2005;month=02;day=21;edition=eng;article=09#top Mill finally shuts amid ongoing strike http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2005&mon=03&dd=19&file=2 http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?index=1&story_id=28667 Troops deployed once more to Hacienda Luisita http://www.tarlacnews.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=409 Priest who supported Luisita strikers murdered http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=30389 Militant farmers allege bosses plan mass displacement of 30,000 http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=28799 Luisita villagers shoo away troops http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/mar/16/yehey/prov/20050316pro4.html Protest against road tolls; protesters dismantle barriers http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV2005021528699.html Activists stage Valentine's Day protest against VAT http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2005/02/14/militants.stage.valentine.s.day.protest.(8.05.p.m.).html http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=25832 Immigrant maids protest against minimum wage cut http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/2/6/latest/211911000fore&sec=latest Prison revolt by Abu Sayyaf suspects - statists kill 21 rebels http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/14/philippines.prison/index.html http://manila.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=3351 http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5910 http://www.bulatlat.net/news/5-7/5-7-bicutan.html Ecological protesters mark ten years of anti-mining protests http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307040.html IWD events by Gabriela Network in Phillipines and US http://manila.indymedia.org/?parentview=0&pagenumber=5 http://manila.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=3309 http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/2790.php http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/2768.php Tumanduk demand troops out http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/2737.php Freedom from Debt Coalition hold picket over power prices http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/2781.php Democracy protesters target Burmese tyrant http://manila.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=3050 Mapua students rally against name change http://manila.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=3271 Villagers protest against plans to displace them for a wildlife sanctuary http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=29946 Rally against attempts to restrict family size http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/mar/05030705.html Squatters rally to defend their homes, and vow to fight evictions http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=Metro&OID=69747 PHILLIPINES/AUSTRALIA: Filipino seafarers mutiny on wheat ship, win concessions http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/347 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m19.shtml THAILAND: Conflict likely to escalate as company bans anti-privatisation demos http://www.mcot.org/query.php?nid=36039 Air workers protest outsourcing http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m05.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f26.shtml Protest over Nike supplier's sacking of workers http://www.all4all.org/2005/03/1530.shtml International campaign wins reinstatement of activists http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1234&mode=&order=0 World Bank effigy burned in dam protests http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OreadDaily/message/676 CAMBODIA: Villagers protest after murders during land eviction http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK168933.htm http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stories/asiapacific_stories_1331870.htm MALAYSIA: Plantation workers stage hunger strike to protest unfulfilled promises http://www.asianlabour.org/archives/003394.php#more Oinkers detain foreigners after clashes between local and immigrant workers http://www.asianlabour.org/archives/003393.php#more Protest over alleged land grab http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/MM/Wednesday/National/20050330110936/Article/index_html EAST TIMOR: Activists take Australia dispute to seabed boundary http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/programs/s1335911.htm INDONESIA: Protests over fuel price hike http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/615/615p19b.htm http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/01/news/indonesia.html http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-03-01T052019Z_01_DOB118534_RTRUKOC_0_INDONESIA-FUEL-PROTESTS.xml http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/618/618p18.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/619/619p19b.htm Protesters tear down parliament gate in fuel price protest Student protesters clashed with cops and threw Molotov cocktails http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK5332.htm Hotel workers demonstrate for wage increase http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m12.shtml Lombok protesters clash with and brick police, storm barricades, trash government buildings and try to march on a prison in an attempt to free local MPs accused of corruption http://www.laksamana.net/vnews.cfm?ncat=35&news_id=8014 Earthquake survivors loot rice depot http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/29/indonesia.quake.scene.reut/ INDONESIA: Tribal protesters defend forests Jambi forest dwellers fight loggers http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailfeatures.asp?fileid=20050208.Q02&ire c=2 Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor "My God, where can we settle and make a living with our forest gone?" Women and children in the interior of Mangkekal (Makekal), Bukit Duabelas National Park (TNBD), Jambi province, cry out and complain every time they see illegal logging occurring in their area. Forest people, members of the local Anak Dalam tribe, have been struggling to protect the TNBD forest zone from illegal logging operations. "Adults as well as children are struggling for the conservation of this forest," said tribal chief Tumenggung (regent) Mirak. The national park zone covers an area of around 60,000 hectares and is home to some 1,500 Anak Dalam tribesmen scattered over seven areas including Mangkekal, Kedasung, Air Hitam and Terap. In his capacity as Tumenggung for 20 years, Mirak heads the largest group of 550 people in Mangkekal. "We need government assistance to overcome forest theft and farm clearance as we can't do it alone," he urged. Up to now forest people have protected the forests by building fences like those found in plantations, meant as a physical barriers to the entry of outsiders. To meet the food needs of his family, comprising two wives, 12 children and 30 grandchildren, Mirak relies solely on the forest. "Fruit and paddy are still sufficiently available. What we fear is uncontrolled illegal logging that will deplete resources and cause food scarcity," he added. The key wisdom of forest dwellers is to never fell trees indiscriminately. Even if they need firewood, only broken twigs are collected. Rivers are never fouled; they keep waterways and streams clean for drinking, bathing and washing. It is difficult to prevent looting, however. "Illegal loggers are stubborn and hard to overcome with the law in our tribe. Our ancestors handed down a law that says anyone caught stealing wood must pay a fine in the form of 500 sheets of cloth. But the point is actually to prevent trees being felled. Outsiders do not obey our law," he lamented. Rampant forestry theft has been the major concern for Mirak's people during his 20 years as regent of Mangkekal. Many forest plants like gaharu (fragrant aloes) and resin trees have been cut down. Sadly, when logging is carried out, smaller plants and fruit-bearing vegetation is often crushed by falling trunks. The existence of jerenang trees is especially important to the zone's community because its gum is used to color local plaitwork handicrafts. Meanwhile, random tree felling also causes pollution in rivers, with the water causing itchiness after bathing in it. Tribespeople have repeatedly fought logging to protect their forest, with women and children often bursting into tears when they see parts of their jungle destroyed because it has made their lives materially and spiritually poorer. Pengendum, one of Mirak's grandchildren, has twice been beaten up by illegal loggers as he tried to stop their activity. Almost every week, at least seven trucks carrying chainsaws enter Mangkekal to fell trees, mostly during the rainy season, with the logs being transported along the river system. "I have often been to towns and I have felt the urban atmosphere and is not as comfortable or tranquil as the forest. Town people perhaps feel the same when they have to stay in the woods. So I hope outsiders will not damage the forest, because this is our home. We may become very angry if our homes and environment are destroyed, just as they would be furious if we damaged their homes," said Pengendum. Residents protest ring road project Wahyuana, The Jakarta Post, Bekasi At least 100 residents of the Pasar Kecapi and Jatiwarna subdistricts in Pondok Melati, Bekasi, protested against the Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) project on Thursday after they failed to reach an agreement about land prices. The protesters burned tires and tore down some construction work along the Hamkam Raya-Jatiasih section. "We had agreed to give up our houses and lots and receive compensation worth Rp 1.1 million a meter as stipulated in a decree issued by Bekasi Mayor Ahmad Zurfaih. But, until now, PT Jasa Marga has not paid us. I heard Jasa Marga does not want to pay compensation," Awing Asmawi, a protester, said to The Jakarta Post. The angry residents said they would give Jasa Marga two weeks to pay, or they would destroy the toll road now under construction. State company Jasa Marga is currently constructing a nine-kilometer road linking Hamkam Raya in East Jakarta with Cikunir in Bekasi, West Java. The Hamkam Raya-Cikunir road is one of two sections of the Hankam Raya-Jatiasih toll road project. Protesters from Jatiwarna staged the protest at the Hankam Raya-Jatiasih section. They said Jasa Marga had not paid compensation for more than 8 hectares of land affected by the project. Sunarto, head of the toll road project, told the Post on Thursday that the firm was not willing to pay compensation as high as Rp 1.1 million a square meter. "We cannot afford to pay Rp 1.1 million a meter," said Sunarto, complaining that land brokers had provoked local residents to raise the prices of land there. "We have proposed an alternative solution to the dispute. We agree to pay Rp 1.1 million for land used for the main body of the road. The farther the land from the body of the main road, the cheaper it becomes," he said. Sunarto said the firm had set up a small team, which along with Ministry of Public Works officials, would negotiate with residents and the Bekasi municipal administration. "We will wait for the results of their negotiations," he said. Municipality spokesman Endang Suharyadi said "the residents have agreed to give up their lands for Rp 1.1 million a square meter. If Jasa Marga does not want to pay that much, they have to negotiate directly with these people." Last week, a special team established by the Bekasi Council to help to find resolution to the land dispute had met with a team from the Ministry of Public Works. Ministry of Public Works official and team member Riri said the team was working on new quotes for the land affected by the project. The development of the outer ring road project started in the early 1990s by private company PT Marga Nurido Bhakti. After the 1997 economic crisis, the company ran out of money and the construction was stopped. In 2000, however, Jasa Marga took over the project. S'porean investor embroiled in N. Sumatra protest Ridwan Max Sijabat and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Merek A landslide and a hotel development in a 200-hectare area encroaching on conservation land have pushed the small town of Merak into the spotlight. A nationwide controversy emerged when the development of the tourist resort by a Singaporean company caused a landslide that washed away three hectares of paddy fields belonging to locals. Several other villagers whose farmland was also affected by the landslide have not yet received any compensation, prompting them to protest. Problems for the developer deepened when the North Sumatra provincial administration discovered that part of the tourist resort was in a protected forest and PT Merek Indah Lestari (PT MIL) had not yet obtained an environmental impact certificate (Amdal). The administration asked the management to suspend development activities until the land status was clarified but the management has so far ignored the plea. Several villagers in Kodon-kodon village, which is located on an area lower than the tourist resort and facing Lake Toba, said the empty land was theirs but say they have not yet received any compensation from the company. Company management has disclosed documents that purport to show the company's official ownership of the land and said it bought the land from the residents of three neighboring villages, Kodon-kodon, Pangambantan and Tongging. Other Kodon-kodon residents, meanwhile, have expressed opposition to the ongoing development project, following the recent landslide that washed away paddy fields and fish breeding ponds. "The creation of waterways and the development of a golf course and other facilities on vulnerable land could trigger more landslides and the flooding of villages on lower-lying land," a villager, J. Simanjorang, told The Jakarta Post here recently. Before the work started the infertile land on a barren rocky mountainside land had remained undeveloped. Monang Simanjorang, another resident of Kodon-kodon, and Anthon Bahrul Alam Munthe, a resident of Pangambatan, said people from the three villages had received compensation in 2000. "The unpaid residents will receive what is their right directly from the management, but they can no longer claim the land as theirs because it has already been sold by the Simanjorang family to the company," Monang said. PT MIL president Mustika Akbar said his company had obtained an investment permit from the Capital Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM) and the Karo regental administration to develop an international-standard tourist resort. "The Singaporean investor has allocated Rp 150 billion to develop a nine-hole golf course, a five-star hotel with large swimming pool, an interfaith religious park and a commercial greenhouse. "Beside being a source of income to the local administration, the tourist resort will employ more than 1,000 people, to be recruited from the subdistrict," he said. He denied a report that part of the tourist resort was included in the protected forest and the company was damaging the environment, saying the forest land that had been used to accommodate a hotel previously belonged to local people. "The company is committed to preserving the environment by developing a safari garden and an eight-hectare orange plantation, and planting large trees around the resort's border areas," he said. Mustika said it was impossible to prevent landslides during the rainy season. "The landslide came from the dredging of land to create waterways inside the hilly resort," he said. His company would continue with the development as it had received the go-ahead from the local administration, he claimed. Singaporean investor had become interested in the area because of its natural beauty, with Lake Toba in the background. "The tourist resort will be able to attract tourists from Europe, Japan, the United States and ASEAN countries," he said. North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin said he had asked PT MIL to suspend the development project until his team had completed its check on the proposed tourist resort's status and boundaries. "The project must be halted permanently if the area includes the protected conservation area. My team, accompanied by officials from the Tanah Karo regental administration, is still at the site," he said. North Sumatra Environmental Forum executive director Herwin Nasution said the government had yet to revoke the investment permit and order the management of PT Merek Indah Lestari to suspend the project. The development was taking place in a protected forest and impacted on the water catchment area in the Toba highlands, which had to be maintained to supply water to Lake Toba, he said. "The government should form an independent team to investigate the matter. PT MIL has also breached Law No. 41/1999, which prohibits any human activities in protected forests and parks as part of the tourist resort is being built in the protected forest, which is home to numerous rare mammals," he said. Jaya Arjuna, another environmental activist, said that in accordance with the sustainable development concept, development activities on environmentally important areas were tolerable as long as they did not cause environmental degradation and used environmentally friendly technology. =================^======================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^======================================== Roundup of fuel price demonstrations from Detik.com Detik.com - March 15-18, 2005 [The following is an abridged translation of a selection of articles from Detik.com which were posted on its web site between March 15-18. Demonstrations have continued almost daily throughout the country after the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice-President Jusuf Kalla (SBY-Kalla) announced the decision cut fuel (BBM) subsides on March 1.] Makassar students issue no-confidence motion Gunawan Mashar, Makassar - Around 200 students from the Greater Makassar Student Executive Council (BEM) presented a no-confidence motion to the South Sulawesi provincial parliament because they believe that assembly members have not support actions opposing fuel price increases. The student arrived at the parliament at 11am and requested that the head of the parliament, Agus Arifin Nu'mang, meet with them and declare his support for canceling the increases. After waiting an hour however, not one assembly member emerged. Infuriated, the students attacked the front gates of the parliament. "Starting now, we, all South Sulawesi students, issue a no-confidence motion in the members of the South Sulawesi provincial parliament", said BEM chairperson from the Alauddin Makassar State Institute of Islamic Studies, Ibnu Hajar. After issuing the motion, students organised a convoy and returned to their respective campuses to demonstrate. As well as the groups of student from BEM, the parliament was also inundated by a other student groups who were demonstrating against the price increases including the Makassar chapter of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) and the National Student League for Democracy (LMND). Anti-fuel price demonstrators arrested by police Astrid Felicia Lim, Jakarta - Dozens of demonstrators from a number of different organisations who were demonstrating against fuel price increases in front of the Atmajaya Campus in Semanggi, Jakarta, were arrested by police on March 14. According to information from the City Forum (Forkot) public relations officer, Miksil Mina Munir, yesterday night an action was to be held at the national parliament in Senayan however it was canceled because it did not have permission from the police. Around 300 demonstrators therefore returned to their coordination post in front of the Atmajaya campus and held an action there where they gave speeches and set fire to tires until around 10pm. At 11pm, 500 police officers arrived and cordoned off the area then forcibly took away a number of female students and housewives who had participated in the demonstration. "Then, at 12 midnight, the 35 people remaining were also forcibly removed and taken to the South Jakarta district police [station]. Up until now they are still there", said Munir when phoned by Detik.com on Tuesday morning (15/3). Munir said however that the action would continue this afternoon at the national parliament. A number of groups are to participate including Forkot, the Indonesian Heroines of Democracy (SDI), the Volunteers for Democratic Struggle (RPD), the People's Opposition Front (FOR), the Urban Poor People's Union (SRMK) and the Women's Alliance (AP). When contacted by Detik.com, the South Jakarta police denied holding a number of demonstrators overnight. Yogyakarta students take to the streets again Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta - On March 15, student from a number of different groups again took to the streets to oppose fuel price increases. During the action they said that the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice-President Jusuf Kalla was neither pro-reform or pro-people. The first action, which was held by the National Unity Front (FPN) at the Veteran National Development University campus in Yogyakarta, had been joined by dozens of students since 10am. The second action was held half-an-hour later by the Joint School Forum (Sekber) and started at the Yogyakarta monument. They then held a long-march to the Yogyakarta provincial parliament ending up at the central post office. Accompanied by a number of police officers, the demonstrators went to the provincial parliament were they gave speeches. Other potential targets such as the Pertamina state oil company offices and the State Palace were tightly guarded by police. They also brought posters reading "BBM increases = SBY-JK step down", "Bring down prices = bring down SBY-JK" and "Reject BBM increases, reduce the price of basic goods". The coordinator of Forum Sekber, Astra Diswan, said in a speech that Yudhoyono and Kalla had lied to the people and that the price increases have impacted most on the poor bearing in minded that the price of basic goods has increased in concert with fuel prices. "Meanwhile the subsidies which have been promised by the government [to compensate the poor] are just empty words and the price of fuel must come down again", said Diswan. They also demanded that Yudhoyono replace his economic ministers who are clearly pro-IMF and other foreign lending institutions. Housewives and children demonstrate at national parliament Ahmad Dani, Jakarta - Around 50 housewives and children from the Indonesian Heroines of Democracy (SDI) demonstrated at the national parliament on March 15. They were demanding that the parliament force the government to cancel the fuel price increases. The group arrived at the parliament in two busses at around 11.45am and immediately unfurled a banner filled with signatures opposing fuel price increases. They then took turns giving speeches. One of the housewives accused Yudhoyono of going back on his promises. "SBY has not fulfilled his promises. Why is it always the little people who are now often victimised", she protested. At 1pm seven SDI representatives entered the parliament to meat with the head of the parliament. Fuel truck hijacked and escorted to East Java parliament Budi Sugiharto, Surabaya - Around 100 activists from the Cipayung Group hijacked a fuel truck in the East Java city of Surabaya and escorted it to the provincial parliament. They were calling for fuel prices to be brought down. The fuel truck, which was filled with Premium petrol from the state oil company Pertamina depot in Tanjung Perak was stopped on Jalan Pahlawan Surabaya at around 12.45pm on March 15. The truck was then driven directly to the provincial parliament accompanied by a number of demonstrators. The other demonstrators followed behind on foot or riding motorbikes. On arriving at the parliament, the truck was used as a "ornament" for speeches. It was finally released at around 1pm. The demonstrators failed to meet assembly members because dozens of police had blockaded the entrance. By 1.45pm, demonstrators were still trying to force their way in. The demonstrators came from a number of groups including the Association of Catholic Students (PMKRI), Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII), the Indonesian Christian Students Movement (GMKI) and the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement (GMNI). They were demanding the cancellation of fuel price increase, revoking the law on liberalising oil and gas, bringing down the price of basic goods and increasing the duty on luxury goods. Fuel price demonstration almost highjacks fuel truck Ahmad Dani, Jakarta - A demonstration against fuel price increases held by hundreds of students from four different groups and the People's Democratic Party (PRD) in front of the national parliament almost succeeded in highjacking a fuel truck from the state oil company Pertamina on March 15. As the truck went by, the student and PRD demonstrators were forming up under a pedestrian overpass in front of the parliament. A group of five students broke away and climbed up onto the vehicle. The spontaneous action resulted in an argument between the driver and students who eventually let the driver and the truck leave. The demonstration creating a lengthy traffic jam on Jalan Gatot Soebroto because it took up two of the four lanes of traffic. Demonstrators used a Mikrolet (small public transport vehicle) as stage for giving speeches. "We only have two demands, fuel is brought down or SBY-JK is brought down", said one of the students. The four groups who had earlier been demonstrating in front of the Atma Jaya University campus were from the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII), the National Student League for Democracy (LMND), the Indonesian Christian Students Movement (GMKI) and the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement (GMNI). Students 'cordon off' national parliament Ahmad Dani, Jakarta - Around 150 Indonesian Muslim United Students Action Front (KAMMI) and Greater Jakarta Student Executive Council (BEM) students demonstrated demanding that the government revoke Presidential Decree Number 22/2005 on fuel price increases. The students held a long-march from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout to the national parliament in Senayan, Jakarta, on March 15. On arriving at the parliament, they held the action on the left side of the parliaments gates immediately in front of the building meaning the parliament was blocked by demonstrators. KAMMI chairperson Yuli Widiastono said that the students would continue to hold actions and urge the parliament to oppose fuel price increases. "If this doesn't happen, then we will urge the DPR to use the right to [hold] an inquiry. If that doesn't happen as well then we will mobilise even more people", said Widiastono. Present of cow dung given to the national parliament Ahmad Dani, Jakarta - The People's Representative Assembly (DPR) continues to be a target of protests against fuel price increases. This time demonstrators presented the parliament with a sack of cow dung. The action was held by the Greater Jakarta Student Executive Council (BEM) and Indonesian Muslim United Students Action Front (KAMMI) in front of the parliament in Senayan, Jakarta, on March 15. The students left the cow dung after their representatives failed to gain entry to a parliamentary plenary meeting. As many as 20 BEM and KAMMI representatives were blocked by security officers as the approached the meeting room which was being used to discuss the results of a parliamentary consultation meeting on the fuel price increases with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Disappointed with their failure to get into the meeting, the students unloaded a sack of cow dung from a vehicle which was then opened and the dung spread over the road. "This cow dung is a present for DPR who's performance is such that it is indeed appropriate to give them dung. Meaning the DPR's performance has been extremely poor", said the chairperson of KAMMI Bekasi, Aryanto Hendrata. Earlier the action was marred by students and security personnel pushing and shoving each other however students calmed and at around 5.25 they disbanded and left. More fuel price demonstrations at national parliament Ahmad Dani, Jakarta - Around 200 people from the Greater Bandung Student Executive Council (BEM) and the University of Indonesia Student Action Front (FAM) held demonstration at the national parliament on March 17 opposing fuel price increases. Demonstrators started arriving from the West Java provincial capital of Bandung by bus at around 11am and immediately launched a demonstration at the front gates of the parliament. Shortly afterwards they were followed by demonstrators from FAM. Demonstrators called on the parliament to oppose the fuel subsidy cuts which they said only adds to the people's problems and this violates of the 1945 Constitution. Nine student representatives are presently lobbying to be allowed to enter the parliament to view a consultation meeting between assembly leaders. Makassar students collect signatures against fuel price increases Gunawan Mashar, Makassar - Demonstrations against fuel price increase have continued in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar. On March 17 around 20 students from the Islam Makassar University held a demonstration in which they stopped drivers, especially government officials, asking them to sign a length of white cloth as a social protests against fuel price increases. The students who were from the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) started the action at 10.30am by spreading the white cloth out on the road. "We will collect signatures and then we will show them to Mr. JK (Vice-president Jusuf Kalla) if he returns home to Makassar. [It demonstrates] that the people of South Sulawesi don't agree with the fuel increases", said one of the students in a speech. The students ended the action at 1pm and plan to hold another demonstration tomorrow. Workers and students in Sidoarjo set fire to tires Budi Sugiharto, Sidoarjo - On March 17, around 500 workers and students in the East Java city of Sidoarjo set fire to tires as a protest against fuel price increases. The demonstration began with a four kilometer long-march from the Delta Surya Stadium to the local parliament. The head of the Sidoarjo parliament, Arlie Fauzi sempat, met with demonstrators and promised he would convey their demands to the central government. After dispersing, some of the demonstrators dove in the direction of Buduran to 'seal off' a petrol station but they were prevented from doing so by police. Six students were detained for questioning although police said they would not be charged. Yogyakarta students almost clash with police Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta - Hundreds of students from the Yogyakarta Social Alliance held an action against fuel price increases on March 17. Failing to break down the gates of the Yogyakarta Agung Building a clash nearly occurred with police. The action was joined by BEM students from the University of Gadja Mada, the State University of Yogyakarta and the National Development University, the Association of Muhammadiyah Students (IMM), the Indonesian Muslim United Students Action Front (KAMMI), the Yogyakarta NGO Forum, the Yogyakarta National Students Forum and the Muslim Students Association for Reform (HMI-MPO). They carried a number of posters with messages such as "Cancel the BBM increases or SBY-JK step down", "DPR-SBY = coalition of people's oppressors" and "The DPR must reject BBM increases". On arriving at the Agung Building students held prayers then presented speeches in the grounds of the Yogyakarta provisional parliament. In a speech, action coordinator Adi Prianto said the government of Yudhoyono and Kalla must be brought down immediately and the price increases canceled. "If within a short period SBY doesn't cancel and revoke the fuel price increases, students will continue to fight and take to the streets", threatened Prianto. After holding a long-march through the Malioboro shopping district the group arrived at the Agung Building at around 3.30pm. Three platoons of police however had already cordoned off the building so they could get no closer than three meters from the main gate. Although it was tightly guarded, it failed to deter the students from attempting to break down the gates. Singing "Sir, come on Sir, lets play, push and shove..." students and police pushed each other back an forth. The students were eventually forced back and the situation was eventually brought under control when the Yogyakarta chief of police intervened to calm the demonstrators down. Makassar students cover their mouths with tape Gunawan Mashar, Makassar - If previous actions against fuel price increases were made through public speeches, this time students form the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar held an action covering their mouths. The action was held as a symbol of the fact that the government doesn't want to listen to the voices of the people. The demonstration was held by around 20 students from the Makassar Islamic University on March 18 in front of their campus who covered their mouths with tape. "Talking doesn't have any use, because the government does not want to pay attention to our demands. So it's better to be silent", said one of the students Anto. The action started at 11am with speeches after which students simultaneously covered their mouths and gathered in front of the road with posters and pamphlets which they had brought. Actions against fuel price increases have been held frequently by UIM students who have held continuous actions since prices were increases. [Translated by James Balowski.] =================^======================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^======================================== People's Forum demonstrates against hospital privatisation Detik.com - March 9, 2005 Niken Widya Yunita, Jakarta - Believing it will be commercialised, the People's Forum for Health Concerns (Forum Rakyat Peduli Kesehatan) held a demonstration opposing the privatisation of the local public hospitals (RSUD) and turning them into limited companies. The action was held by around 50 people at the Jakarta provisional parliament on Jalan Kebon Sirih in Central Jakarta starting at 11.30am on Wednesday March 9. Demonstrators wore white head bands with the writing "Reject privatisation" and brought a number of posters with messages including "RSUD rats seeking big profits" and "Return RSUD to its social function". A red banner was also unfurled reading "Privatisation of RSUD an act which will bring suffering to society". The demonstrators declared their opposition to the privatisation of the Pasar Rebo, Cengkareng and RS Haji Pondok Gede public hospitals. In addition to this, they also called for government regulations 13, 14 and 15 of 2004 on changing local public hospital into limited companies to be revoked. "There will be no bargaining, we will continue to ask that the government regulations be revoked. We will hold continuous actions if [we] are not heard", said the action's public relations officer Rendra Valentino accusingly. The demonstrators did not send representatives to meet with council members but instead asked the members to join the action. But as yet no council members were prepared to do so. The action proceeded in an orderly manner and traffic flowed smoothly. Around 20 security personnel guarded the action while the gates to the parliament building were tightly closed. (sss) [Translated by James Balowski.] STUDENTS HIJACK FUEL TRUCKS =================^======================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^======================================== Makassar students hijack fuel trucks yet again Detik.com - February 23, 2005 Gunawan Mashar, Jakarta - For the umpteenth time, on Wednesday February 23 students from the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar have again hijacked fuel tankers. This time, after hijacking two kerosene tankers they drove them round and round the city. Around 30 students from a number of Student Executive Councils (BEM) at the Makassar State University (UNM) initially held the demonstration in front of their campus on Jalan Andi Pettarani. The action was in protest against planned fuel price increases and the scarcity of kerosene in South Sulawesi. They then hijacked two fuel trucks which drove by the demonstration. Feeling that students at other universities were unconcerned about the welfare of ordinary people, the UNM students drove the two tankers to a number of campuses in Makassar including the Indonesia Muslim University, the University 45 and the Hasanuddin University. "We wanted to arouse [our] other comrades, [show them] where their concerns are about the people [should lie]", said one of the students while giving a speech from on top of one of the fuel tankers. The action, which was tightly guarded by police from the East Makassar municipal police, didn't finish until around 2pm. Actions hijacking fuel tankers have occurred frequently in Makassar. Several days ago, State Institute of Islamic Studies students hijacked a diesel truck and drove it to a demonstration at the Makassar Region VII representative office of the state oil company Pertamina. (asy) [Translated by James Balowski.] ********************************************************** TRADERS PROTEST OVER FEES Traders protest against new mall (Jakarta Post) PADANG: Some 7,000 members of the Padang Market Traders Association (KPP) held a protest against the Padang municipality's plan to build a shopping mall on the site of the Goan Hoat bus terminal, located near Pasar Raya market. The plan will likely have a serious impact on the traders, as it will block people's access to the market. Chairman of KPP, Irzal Mudazir, said that the plan to turn the terminal into a shopping mall would mostly affect medium and small scale traders. The association has conveyed their objections to Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar and the municipal council, but there has been no response as yet. --JP ACEH STUDENTS DEMAND FREE EDUCATION IN TSUNAMI AFTERMATH TITLE: Aceh students demand free tuition SOURCE: Jakarta Post - February 11, 2005 Fadli, Banda Aceh -- Hundreds of Syiah Kuala University students protested on the Banda Aceh campus on Thursday to demand that their tuition be waived and that the rector resign for attempting to force them to pay tuition beginning on February 14. Muhammad Subhan, vice president of the Unsyiah Students Big Family association, told The Jakarta Post some 500 students held the protest in response to a circular from Rector Abdi Abdul Wahab requiring the students to re-register and pay their tuition starting on February 14. "Many students were victims of the (tsunami) disaster and many of them are still living in shelters after losing their homes. How can the rector not see (their suffering) and issue a regulation requiring them to re-register and pay their tuition on time? If we don't pay, we might not be able to study this semester," Muhammad said. The students, he said, want their tuition waived this semester and are demanding the rector step down for his failure to recognize the students' suffering. "We [students] demand the replacement of the Unsyiah rector. Find another person who understands the students' situation," he said. The protest started at 10 in the morning and lasted until about 1 p.m. "I am now live under Lamnyo bridge because there's nowhere else to live. I came to Banda Aceh from Sigli because I have to re-register. I wonder how the rector can ignore our suffering," said Usman, a 24-year-old student in the university's School of Law. Students are required to pay Rp 450,000 (US$50) every semester in tuition, a huge amount for those students who lost everything in the tsunami. "If we didn't have to pay tuition, we could use the money to buy a bed or to find another boarding house. I only have the clothes that I am wearing now. All of my books and my bed were lost in the tsunami," Usman said. Rector Abdi Abdul Wahab was not at the university during the protest. The rector's deputy of student affairs, Azhar Puteh, met with the protesting students and said the university would make exceptions for students affected by the tsunami. He said students affected by the disaster had to fill in a form to have their tuition waived. Those students not affected by the tsunami were still required to pay tuition. According to data from the university, of its 23,000 students, 9,000 of them lost their houses or relatives in the December 26 tsunami. There is no available data on the number of students who died in the disaster. "The policy is very reasonable. We hope the students not affected pay their tuition, considering the high operational costs of the campus," he said. "I hope the students understand." He said the university's operations costs would be about Rp 5.6 billion this semester. TITLE: Release of youth leader demanded SOURCE: Jakarta Post - February 19, 2005 Kupang -- Hundreds of residents staged a protest on Friday outside the East Nusa Tenggara council building, demanding the release of a local youth leader allegedly detained by soldiers. Aldi Dalton Ndolu, the chairman of Kayu Putih Youth Organization, was apprehended by soldiers on Thursday after he attended the funeral of a local resident in Kupang city. Separately, Kupang Military Police chief Col. Helvis confirmed that the military police had detained Aldi for one night for questioning, but the youth leader had already been handed over to the local police headquarters for further interrogation. Aldi was taken to the military police headquarters for questioning due to his alleged involvement in the beating of a soldier in the city. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:24:02 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:24:02 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - AFRICA Message-ID: <06ff01c53908$a32e0170$ab30fd3e@WOL> BURUNDI: Health services hit as nurses strike http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/0d065dd75fc551c5c92c3fb9f08bdb00.htm http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=46056 NIGERIA: Protest march over power supply inequalities http://allafrica.com/stories/200503100882.html SOMALIA: Thousands protest against planned African Union invasion http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4257879.stm http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DCBD38F5-E5DD-4CAD-9571-612CBBAB0691.htm http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2005_03_6_5115.html http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-06-voa23.cfm DJIBOUTI: Workers protest labour "reform" http://www.afrol.com/articles/15661 CHAD: Prime Minister resigns as civil servants strike http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=45403&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=CHAD MAURITANIA: Opposition leaders secure release through hunger strike http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D88B4FFA-CAB2-4F94-B299-E1CF409C690E.htm LIBERIA: Former rebel soldiers revolt, demanding unpaid allowances http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/c077fc4f9b8a11defdbc77dd05db79ff.htm BURKINA FASO: Public sector workers strike http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/615/615p19f.htm http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991221255&Language=EN D.R. CONGO: Month-long health strike drags on and on http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050209/hl_afp/drcongohealthsocialstrike_050209164151 CAMEROON: Clashes with pigs as taxi drivers strike over levy collection, pay discrepancy http://allafrica.com/stories/200502040577.html Printers strike, call for support http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m11.shtml Outcry stops sex worker exploitation by drug company http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5965 UGANDA: Demonstrations against use of DDT http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1040573.htm Road workers stage sit-down strike http://allafrica.com/stories/200502070182.html Uganda's vagina warriors http://uganda.blogspirit.com/archive/2005/02/16/vagina_warriors.html Rail workers strike http://allafrica.com/stories/200503160505.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200503160730.html Rail workers hold sit-down strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m18.shtml Admin staff at Makerere University stage sit-down strike and disrupt lectures, graduation http://uganda.blogspirit.com/archive/2005/03/31/makerere_university_staff_strike.html KENYA: Protesters block roads as river dries up http://allafrica.com/stories/200502150713.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200502150807.html Running battles at mall over jobs for locals Police attack protesters who throw stones and fight police http://allafrica.com/stories/200503160914.html Politician forced into apology for trivialising rape http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4254343.stm Protests over constitution - police attack with tear gas http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4353949.stm Police smash protest at Indian Embassy over AIDS drugs http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4361863.stm Squatters begin long march to PM's home to protest evictions http://allafrica.com/stories/200502220648.html Hundreds protest as parliament opens, demanding a referendum on constitutional reforms http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4264405 MOZAMBIQUE: Coal miners on strike against unscrupulous employer - allege they are owed money http://allafrica.com/stories/200503170248.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200503160699.html Coal miners demonstrate http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m18.shtml ANGOLA: Port strike begins in Luanda http://allafrica.com/stories/200503020673.html ZAMBIA: School students blockade road and throw stones in protest against teachers' strike http://allafrica.com/stories/200502150851.html Hearing-impaired students protest against school fees and for disability provision http://allafrica.com/stories/200501250461.html Teachers' strike continues http://allafrica.com/stories/200502080036.html Glass workers' wives, council workers protest http://allafrica.com/stories/200502030199.html Wives of glass workers march http://allafrica.com/stories/200502240042.html Miners' wives protest against accidents http://allafrica.com/stories/200502240163.html Copperbelt workers strike, demanding manager's removal http://allafrica.com/stories/200503020516.html COMORO ISLANDS: 2 killed in dispute over teachers' strike; police-state measures condemned http://allafrica.com/stories/200503230707.html NAMIBIA: Teachers protest low pay http://allafrica.com/stories/200503110051.html ZIMBABWE: Cops arrest Valentine's women protesters who stage love-themed protest in Bulawayo More protests on Valentine's Day in Harare http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_1661814,00.html http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/69c09031ccdf9c7e331552c79f61e05f.htm http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/women/050213woza.asp?sector=WOMEN Labour protesters arrested http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_1678965,00.html Zvakwana samizdat continues http://www.zimobserver.com/newsdetail.asp?article_id=1040 Human rights activists rally http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,99843,00.html Solidarity protests at Zambian and South African borders http://iafrica.com/news/sa/769293.htm MDC activists stage protest in South Africa http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,99773,00.html Protest graffiti sprouts across Harare http://allafrica.com/stories/200503300002.html ZIMBABWE (report from Zvakwana) Local vendors facing the wrath of border gezi youth putting on police uniforms As I was going about my own business in Fourth Street/Selous Avenue, I came across a young vendor selling tomatoes. He encouraged me to buy the tomatoes he had. His eyes were very sad and he said to me: "Mama, if you don't buy these tomatoes, one of those young police will grab them from me and what will my family have tonight for supper? So I asked why the police take the products from them and he answered that it was because they do not have permits to sell and even if they do, municipal police also come and take away the products! Can someone please tell me why chihuri's guys are concentrating on harassing people trying to earn an honest living instead of looking for thieves who are now rampant in the streets? I was mad, really mad with mugabe's government. There are no jobs so the informal sector is encouraged, and when one tries to earn an honest living, they are harassed by those kids who still smell of pee in their pants! So I have decided Zvakwana, to Get Up, Stand Up and fight for the cause of the street vendor. I am also becoming a street vendor: we are going to stand our ground. >From now on, we will not be harassed by those youngsters on bicycles. What do you think? Chido waMlambo! ZIMBABWE/SOUTH AFRICA: COSATU protests continue http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1112192464477S162 http://www.sabcnews.co.za/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,100628,00.html http://www.sabcnews.co.za/economy/labour/0,2172,100336,00.html COSATU protests near Zimbabwe border http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=15217 http://www.sabcnews.co.za/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,98914,00.html COSATU vow to blockade border in protest over exclusion from Zimbabwe http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=129&fArticleId=2415934 http://allafrica.com/stories/200502170366.html SOUTHERN AFRICA: Young Communists rally for democracy in South Africa, targeting Swaziland and Zimbabwe http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=qw1112183823670B216 http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_1682775,00.html SOUTH AFRICA: Students protest over housing shortages http://olcweb.dit.ac.za/ditonline/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1026 Protests over racist song about tsunami played on hip-hop station http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-ethot0129,0,5324737.story Teachers strike http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2005/02/10/news/n24_10022005.htm http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2005/02/08/news/n19_08022005.htm Black staff stand up to white boss over Apartheid toilet http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=129&fArticleId=2400901 Miners strike at Harmony gold mine http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/26/6327721 http://www.finance24.com/Finance/Companies/0,6778,1518-24_1682084,00.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4378429.stm Thousands protest closure of Cape factory http://www.sabcnews.co.za/economy/business/0,2172,100642,00.html Harmony gold mine hit by strike http://www.finance24.com/Finance/Companies/0,,1518-24_1678613,00.html http://www.finance24.com/Finance/Companies/0,,1518-24_1678613,00.html Eastern Cape anti-privatisation protests planned http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2005/03/17/news/n23_17032005.htm Educators strike in Eastern Cape http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2005/03/07/news/n14_07032005.htm Victory for Cuba Heights squatters http://sa.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/7742.php Theme park workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m25.shtml Municipal workers' wage showdown http://www.labournet.net/world/0503/samwu1.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:25:01 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:25:01 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - EUROPE (+Global) Message-ID: <070301c53908$b6375b90$ab30fd3e@WOL> GLOBAL: Animal rights protesters launch e-attacks on fur industry sites http://www.scmagazine.com/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=newsDetails&newsUID=3eaa205b-370a-42f5-95b5-36c2bb537b42&newsType=News Quebecor workers protest job cuts http://printweek.hbpl.co.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&UID=ac06de09-cb7d-456a-b7e3-44f808701c03 Online civil disobedience for animals on Valentine's Day http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=1936 Protests at G7 embassies over Third World debt http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0314-05.htm Haiti solidarity demos in 50 cities http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=55&ItemID=7380 World women's relay march http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2005/Mar-April/WWW_Mar-April_05_.htm RUSSIA: Hunger strikes across Siberia http://www.workersliberty.org/node/view/3823 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4293715.stm http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1779760&PageNum=1 http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1769691&PageNum=0 http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1773344&PageNum=0 http://itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1792524&PageNum=0 http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1773344&PageNum=2 http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1782657&PageNum=0 http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1779759&PageNum=1 http://itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1789424&PageNum=1 Tavda factory workers on hunger strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m04.shtml Demonstrations win concessions for road transport workers http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/331 Rally against police arbitrariness http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/02/15/bashkiriarally.shtml Students protest against racist attacks http://www.gg2.net/viewnews.asp?nid=2331&tid=breaking_news&catid=Breaking%20News http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2EA15633-C9CA-47BF-B29B-3F2D185A55F6.htm Liberals protest rent/utility charge rises http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/03/28/yablprotest.shtml Protest Rally Against Police Arbitrariness Takes Place in Moscow Created: 15.02.2005 15:16 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 15:17 MSK MosNews People who suffered in a December police raid in the town of Blagoveshchensk in the Russian internal republic of Bashikiria held a rally in Moscow on Tuesday. They demanded to dismiss the head of Bashkirian police, Rafail Divayev, and held posters saying "Battered Blagoveshchensk is Russia's Shame". On Dec. 8, 2004, a scuffle took place in the town between policemen and local citizens. Divayev ordered to hold "preventive measures" to discover instigators. Policemen conducted raids on homes, beating and detaining many young men. According to human rights sources a total number of injured has reached about 1,000 and 254 people have been admitted to hospitals. The alleged instigators were found. Three local businessmen are charged with violence against authorities. After several weeks in custody, they were released under travel ban. On Tuesday, Bashkirian prosecutor's office charged the head of Blagoveshchensk police, Ildar Ramazanov, with power abuse in connection with the incident. Earlier, seven policemen were also charged, one of them detained. Several police and prosecution officers were fired, reduced in rank or reprimanded. However, Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev called the police action "legal and well-grounded" although he noted it was committed with "serious violations." Bashkirian human rights activists criticized the minister's statement and went to Moscow to hold their rally. One of the organizers of the Tuesday protest in Moscow, Vyacheslav Bikbulatov, a member of the Bashkirian department of the organization "For Human Rights" has told the Kommersant daily that Bashkirian law enforcement structures had attempted to prevent their trip to Moscow on a hired bus. Traffick police of the neighboring republic of Tatarstan repeatedly stopped the bus and checked all passports. They told the passengers they had information on terrorists coming from Bashkiria. Only a local deputy prosecutor allowed HR activists to continue their trip. Another activist, Ildar Isangulov, quoted by the paper, said they will hold rallies until the "police arbitrariness receives proper estimation and Divayev is dismissed and sent to court." The rally members threaten to start a hunger strike if their demands are not granted. AVTONOM REPORT ON PROTESTS IN RUSSIA Protests against neo-liberal reforms and repression against anti-authoritarians in Russia Dear friends! During last 9 days, Russia has been shaken by protests unseen since the "rail wars" of 1998, when embittered miners blocked railway connections around the country. Little surprise, that in some cities anarchists and their friends organizing and participating to these protests have been targeted with a fierce repression. We need your help now! In this message, you will find information about repressions in Samara and Perm, and information how you may help in case of Perm. I have also included lengthy background information for you to understand what these protests are about. 1) Introduction Free social benefits are one of the few remaining cornerstones of what used to be the Soviet social state. Most important of these are free municipal transport and free drugs for plenty of different group of people - for example in many cities groups as different as World War 2 veterans, Afghanistan veterans, victims of repression, victims of Chernobyl disaster, orphans, children of families which 3 or more children, disabled, heroes of Soviet Union, pensioners, police officers, security service officers, heroes of socialist work and other groups are entitled to free transport... in Moscow, more than 1/3 of the metro traffic is by those entitled to free transport. Besides drugs and transport, there are also benefits such as free telephone and free travels to sanatorium for some of the aforementioned groups. Often, of course, these services do not exist in practice due to "lack of funds". Neoliberal theorists propagate replacing free benefits with their monetary equivalents, and no doubt this has been on the agenda of Russian liberal reformers and their consultants from IMF and World Bank since the day one after fall of the iron curtain. But liberal reformers do not take into account -inflation (of course liberal reformers are against inflation adjustments in principle) -that unlike free goods, money equivalent may always end up to some official's pocket -sluggish administrative apparatus of Russia, due to which many regions have not yet any mechanism, nor finances to compensate revoked benefits -bankrupt state of half of the regions of the federation -and that money in the household may always be spent by someone for whom the benefit was not meant Really it was the short success of parliamentarian "communists" in Russia and protests such as "rail wars" and factory occupations in the late nineties which held the liberal reformers back for a while. But when Kreml managed to split communists and push liberal right-wing opposition out from Duma altogether in December 2003 Duma elections, it was time to get reforms back to agenda - in full steam. In the flush of victory, KGB clique who has seized all power in Russia has prepared unforeseen set of reforms, besides monetarization of benefits also partial privatization of elementary education and abrogation of laws on freedom from the impressments and conscriptions are on the agenda. Monetarization laws were passed hastily during summer months during just a couple of weeks, in a time when most of the people who will be most hurt due to reforms were out from the city - millions of people in Russia are partially or completely dependent on subsistence farming to make their living. An unforeseen coalition uniting veteran organizations, liberal right, small independent trade unions, human rights organizations representing interests of victims of repression and "communist" parties organized rallies against reform - but these gathered small numbers and were mostly completely ignored by public at large. Due to annihilation of independent TV in Russia during last couple of years, public had no any idea whatsoever what the monetarization was to mean in practice. No person who had observed the lame protests of last July could foresee the storm to begin in January, when laws began to be executed! What are the amounts of money we are talking about? Currently 28 dollars is one ruble, for one euro you must give 36 rubles. In Leningrad region, those who used to enjoy free benefits get a lump compensation of 230 rubles a month. From this, they should compensate previously free telephone (a lump sum of 80 rubles a month for unlimited amount of calls). But for example a local train from Gatchina to Saint Petersburg costs 42 rubles for one direction, and bus is even more expensive. In Voronezh, city government decided to compensate revoking benefits with a payment of 100 rubles. Cheapest city transport costs 4.50 rubles. But if a pensioner has a subsistence farm plot outside the city in order not to die in hunger, he may travel there only twice a month with this money. 11th of January - in Dzerzhinsk of Nizhni Novgorod region, 400 veterans and disabled demonstrate illegally against cancellation of free benefits 12th of January - 1000 pensioners and disabled demonstrate in Penza, demanding payments of the financial compensations. 13th of January - 2000 pensioners demonstrate in Stariy Oskol, demanding to give benefits back 13th of January - 300 demonstrate in Krasnogorsk (Moscow suburb) 14th of January - 400 in Kaluga 14th of January - 400 in St. Petersburg 14th of January - 1500 in Penza 14th of January - 200 in Cherepovets 14th of January - 200 in Rybinsk 15th of January - 1000 in Himki (Moscow suburb) 15th of January - 300 in Kazan 15th of January - At least 8000 in St. Petersburg 18th of January - 1000 in Perm 18th of January - 5000 in Tomsk and this is just a fraction of the collective, more or less spontaneous protests. And individual protests, such as non-payment and assaults on conductors, are even more widespread. In some cities, municipality is dispatching only male conductors, since they consider that female ones are too vulnerable to assaults from pensioners and disabled. In Kaliningrad, city government hastily returned free travel to police when a bunch of cops had mishandled a conductor. Anarchists have been caught by surprise by both scale and militancy of these protests - just as all other political groups. In Moscow, this surprise is also due to particularities of the city - already in the nineties Moscow strongman Yuri Luzhkov showed door to IMF consultants, and ever since his politics has been that of maintaining the Soviet social state. This is possible because Moscow is 25 times richer than poorest Russian regions, "Moscow privilege" is also a crucial method of dividing working class and maintaining stability of the center of the empire. It was clear from the beginning that no free benefits will be cancelled in Moscow. And the same strategy was chosen by Moscow region authorities as well - but not in regards of the inter-city travels! So since 1st of January, Moscow became closed for pensioners and everybody else from suburbs that formerly enjoyed free traveling benefits. Soon these cities became a hotbed of radical protest - in Himki of North-East a picket by 50 pensioners snowballed to 200 persons attempting to blockade Moscow-St. Petersburg highway, when passers-by joined spontaneously. Moscow and regional authorities made a hasty deal of temporary return free travel for inter-city commuters from 15th of January onwards, but protests are still planned in more than 20 cities of the Moscow region. Authorities have made quick concessions in a plenty of other cities as well: -In Samara, pensioners were promised a free transport until end of January -President of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimer promised to increase compensations -Governor of Kuzbass promised free travel to pensioners -In Vladimir oblast, price of local trains for pensioners was cut down to 20 rubles -In Penza, free traveling benefits were returned -In Tyumen, pensioners were returned all benefits -Same in Yekaterinburg -Same n Primorsk region of the Far East for all who used to enjoy free travel -Same in Almetevsk -Same in Chelyabinsk -In Chukotka of Far East, all benefits were returned in regards to municipal payments and drugs as well -In Bashkiria, 100% increase of the compensations -In Saint-Petersburg, metro suddenly decided to pass all pensioners in by free, without any published decision. In the end, it must be said that some of the poorest are also benefiting from the reforms. Most often this is the case in distant countryside locations, in which elderly have never been able to benefit from free travel or drugs. There, extra of few hundred rubles is welcomed. So anarchist demand as part of these protests may not be simply return to the previous situation. 2) Protests against social humiliation - at last! (Translated from russia.indymedia.org) by Sofia 16th of January 2005 Already before passing the laws about so called "monetarization" of social benefits in State Duma last summer, there were attempts to launch massive protests against de-facto abolition of the social guarantees. But because state propaganda pressed to conscience of citizens with full force, giving reforms as a real improvement of the social situation of millions of people, who are using various social benefits (from free transport to free drugs), attempt to gain necessary attention to these serious reforms of already anti-social state policies failed. These laws have been executed since 1st of January, and since then those who used to enjoy benefits have been facing the consequences. During first weeks of January there were non-legalized protest actions all around the country: in Himki (Moscow suburb), Saint-Petersburg, Samara, Penza. Vladimir, Barnaul, Stavropol, Tatarstan, Udmurtia... in every city there were hundreds or thousands of participators. While in the beginning of the protests mostly return of the transport benefits were demanded, soon angered protesters were demanding resignation of the government and president Putin. Meanwhile, government was putting all the blame on badly working regional powers. KPRF (Communist Party of Russian Federation), RKRP (Russian Communist Workers' Party) and even nazbols were accused of the protests - powers are not ready to acknowledge that in this situation people do not really need any organizers. In some cities OMON broke up the rallies, but mostly powers seem to be scared and holding back. According to official mythology, pensioners are "everything for us" - we love them, respect and are taking care of them by any means. Pensioners and other elderly people are also the most disciplined constituency, always used by deputies, governors and the mister president himself. This is why protests of the pensioners, which powers first attempted to ignore by silence, have already become and object of games of spin-doctors. 3) Protest in St. Petersburg 15th of January by Pyotr Raush of St. Petersburg anarchist league Around 1000 persons gathered 12 AM at Smolna in and illegal, spontaneous meeting. After 2 hours, without any previous agreement with city authorities crowd moved to Suvorovsky prospekt, blocking the traffic. Uprising square and further continued to Nevsky Prospekt in which traffic was blocked as well. Only few of the slogans concentrated to current issue of the benefits - most of them had a general, political character: "Down with Putin!", "Down with the governement!", "Down with Matvienko!" (St. Petersburg mayor), "Down with the regime of plundering!", "Revolution!", "Governement to resignation!", "Putin to resignation!", "Shame on Putin!", "Down with the autocracy!", "Down with Putin's gang!", "Enough plundering the people!". During the movement, number of participators kept growing, when demonstration arrived to Sadovaya street it was already more than 5000 people. There colon united with those who had protested at Gostiniy dvor since 1 PM - in the beginning there were 400 persons there but number were constantly growing during the day, when group united with the main march it was already more than 2000 persons. Crowd of 7000 blocked all movement in the crossing of Nevskiy prospekt and Sadovaya street. Speakers stood on parapet of underpassing, and invited everybody to upcoming protests of 22th of January (commemoration of Bloody Sunday 1905 at Gostiniy dvor), 25th of January (6 PM at Lenin statue next to Finland direction railway station) and 26th of January (9:30 AM at Isaak square). Simultaneously, there were around 1000 people in Victory park, blocking movement in the Moscow prospekt. From there, crowd moved to memorial of Leningrad siege. During movement, one angered driver drove over three protesters, one of whom died. Vast majority of the protesters were not in any political organizations, although in victory park there were orators from liberal "Yabloko", pro-Kremlin left-wing "Motherland" and communist groups - there were activists of several authoritarian communists groups, anarchists and human rights organizations in the march from Smolna to Sadovaya - but number of these "politized" elements was not more than 200 from the total. All of the political structures were caught by surprise with the scale of these protests. All agitation materials were read with big interest in the crowd. In the beginning, police was indifferent with the protests, although they became more active during the day. But they could not arrest anybody. 4) Repression in Samara 15th of January, activist of the NGO "For protection of the rights of electorate 'Voice"" Aleksander Lashmakin was taking a ride in a small bus with Aleksei Ivanov from the place of spontaneous protests against monetarization at crossing of Novo-Vokzalnoy street and Moscow highway. Suddenly, some plain-clothes officials stopped bus, they rushed in and took A. Ivanov and A. Lashmakin, without showing any documents. A. Ivanov and A. Lashmakin were taken to police station of industrial region of Samara. Lashmakin was brutally beaten up, he was beaten to face, his mouth was shut with tape and he was targeted with traditional "Dyba" torture, where he was hanged between two chairs and beaten. Then both were placed to a cell, where everyone arrested during the day were waiting for the court next day. Cops shouted "you all will suffer because of him (Lashmakin)", and sprayed teargas all around. This was stated by people sent to court together with Lashmakin yesterday, 18th of January in the court session. Eventually case against Lashmakin collapsed in the court. (Shortened and edited from message of Lydmila Kuzmina from the courthouse) Note: Lashmakin is not a member of any anarchist group, but he has been cooperating with anarchists a plenty of times, he was also one of the most active people in the radical ecological protest camp of Perm in the summer of 2004. He deserves all support we may give! 5) Perm protest timeline, repression and solidarity call 18th of January in perm, meeting began 12 AM. In crossing of Lenin and Kuybyshev streets there were at first 1000 people gathering. First meeting did not disturb any traffic, but soon police gave orders to take away car with loudspeaker - this provoked people who decided to have a blockade. Mounted police gathered around the meeting. 13:15 participators of the meeting began gathering signatures, demanding 1. Free transport to all categories of people, who enjoyed this right until 1st of January 2005 2. Preserve all other benefits, revoked by law number 122 and decisions of the local powers. 3. Financing abovementioned demands from city and regional budgets Until 13:45 number of participators grows up to 2000 persons. Police is still neutral. 14:00 Meeting moved to crossing of Lenin and Popov streets, and blocked movement to the single bridge over river Kama, which unites two parts of the city. Officials from regional administration invited representatives of the meeting to discuss all problems, but this was not enough for the participators. This radical move caught police by surprise, and they began bringing in "avtozaks" (cars for transport of prisoners) in case mass arrests were to be needed. 14:10 organisators of the meeting announced that in case powers do not take measures to fulfill demands today, next day they will blockade railways. People were discussing should they move to Kama bridge or stay in the crossing. 14:15 Police chief of the Perm region Yuri Gorlov came to meeting, and invited people to discuss with governor Oleg Chirkunov, claiming that governor may not have "constructive discussion" in such a noise. Police blocked way to bridge over river Kama with buses. But eventually 14:20 governor came to meeting himself. 14:20 governor Oleg Chirkunov announced, that he will not discuss with people in the street, and he invited everybody to building of the administration. Meeting voted on the question should they go, and majority decided that they are only going to discuss issues in the street. 14:31 After speech of Oleg Chirkunov, officials of traffic police made a chain to blockade way of the meeting to Kama bridge. 14:40 Chirkunov still refused to talk with the meeting. To question "are free benefits returned to pensioners", Chirkunov answered honestly "No". Crowd surrounded Chirkunov from every direction. 14:50 police was given command to arrest organisators of the meeting. Among them Roman Yushkov, activist of local Anarcho-Ecological Resistance, and another participator of the protest camp of summer 2004 Yuri Bobrov. People react to arrests by taking governor Chirkunov as a hostage, and they demand changing Chirkunov to arrested anarchist and other activists. 14:59 police agrees to change arrested activists to governor, everybody are freed. Your solidarity is needed! It is no surprise, that Perm administration is dedicated to punish local activists for this humiliation. According to current information, they are planning to arrest Roman Yushkov from Anarcho-Ecological resistance, and Anastasiya Maltseva and a number of people from other groups. Yesterday 18th of January, Aleksandr Reznik from independent trade union "Solidarnost" and his wife were already arrested, and they are kept in Lenin region police station. Local activists ask you to call to city administration, and to ask you to refrain from opening criminal cases against activists and to demand liberation of prisoners. Telephone numbers of the city administration are +7-3412-12-64-57 +7-3412-12-64-57 and +7-3412-34-94-91 RUSSIA: From new issue of Avtonom Pages 4-6: Russian news - Workers strike in city of Kropotkin against takeover of their factory, rebirth of squat Pekarnia with new name - Klizma, Anti-repression action in Krasnodar, concert for anarchist political prisoner Dimitri Ryabinin in Moscow, informal meeting of Autonomous Action in Moscow, African students protest against racist murder in Voronezh, hungerstrike in Sankt-Petersburg prisons, Seminar on ecological sabotage in Nizhni Novgorod, scandal in Kem of Karelian republic, action against fascist Movement Against Illegal Immigration in Moscow, anarchists in Nizhni Novgorod and Moscow demonstrate against new forest codex, anti-fascist demonstration in Sankt-Petersburg, "Case of doctors - 2". Pages 7-8: Reports from anarchist and anti-authoritarian activities against War in Chechnya in 60th anniversary of deportation of Chechnyans and Ingushetians 23rd of February 2004. Movie screenings in Kazan, graffiti action in Rostov-na-Donu, guerilla theatre in Yekaterinburg, pickets and meetings in Izhevsk and Samara, non-legalised demonstrations in Vsevolzhk and Moscow. Russia, Moscow: the action against a cancelling of delays from military service On February, 13th, Moscow. About 50 participants of the "Autonomus Action", students of the Moscow high schools, recruits and their relatives have taken part in protest action against a cancelling of delays. The action passed under slogans "the military ser.vice - school of all crimes ", "Who loves the Motherland, that to morning early digs on a summer residence a toilet to the general ", "We are an ice under legs of the colonel Putin". For actions gathered signatures under the letter to Minister of Defence Sergey Ivanov in whom recruits-patriots expressed desire to pass military ser.vice, but asked Ministry of Defence to put on a full contentment of their family, to enable students to combine service with study, and to invalids to provide an opportunity of service in invalid carriages. Between participants of the action the Death with slanting walked and the tablet " Mow. Or I shall mow! " During short meeting performance of the pensioner called for solidarity between elderly and young opponents politicians of the government and the president has sounded, the letter has been read to Ivanov and the invitation to antimilitaristic festival which opens on February, 20th is sounded. To autumn of 2005 the Ministry of Defence is going to reduce the list of delays from ser.vice in army on health and a social status. The young experts working after high school in scientific research institute, design offices will go to army, at space and military factories; young men with diseases of digestive and respiratory systems; husbands of pregnant women, fathers of children in the age of till three years and having two and more children, unique supporters aged or sick parents. In 2008 of Ministry of Defence promises to start to call students. For last five years " noncombat losses " (suicides, accidents) the Russian army have made 10 thousand person. By results of interrogation of the Analytical Center of Jury Levady of 67 % of inhabitants of Russia would not like, that their relatives served in army. RUSSIA: Farewell to arms! - Deserter day festival in Moscow 20th - 23rd of February 2005 Festival was organised by Moscow group of Autonomous Action, Food Not Bombs and Indyvideo. Main demands of the festival were "no to war in Chechnya!" and "No to new limitations of deferment and exemption from military service!" So, the festival got organised. Half of the program went upside down, whatever I saw around was something like moves of the Makhnovist headquarters during the civil war - through storms, chekist agents and random bands of whites. Clubs, cafes, gallerias, a map of Moscow on the table, electric trains, telephones... somewhere Bashkirians having a meeting against police terror, communists - for USSR, liberals - for something or against something, Putin running somewhere with flowers... for Chechenyans and Ingushetians - 61st anniversary of the deportations. Not to forget Rainbow Keepers, people from Association of Anarchist Movements, Federation of Revolutionary Anarchists, "unaligned anarchists" of course, human rights activists, musicians, artists, guests from other countries. 8 planned days was cut short to be 4 - 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd of February. Festival was launched with discussion on theme "anarchist and other alternatives to army and conscription". Anarchist answer to Chamberlains in liquidation of the state, and a regular army with it. A liberal with an orange scarf made a rhetorical question "to whom shirt belongs - to producer, bourgeoisie or to buyer?". In anarchism, question makes no sense: when people are armed, there will no be bourgeoisie and there will be enough shirts for everybody. That will be a society of general distribution of shirts. Soldiers back home! Let generals dig trenches! Two anti-war punk hardcore concerts were organised - 20th of February (Echo is Your Love from Helsinki, Svinokop from Saint-Petersburg, Potom budet pozdno from Saint-Petersburg, 777 Bakunina from Moscow, Crowd Control from Saint-Petersburg and In Reflection from Moscow), and 21st of February with support from Anti-war club in R-club (Echo is Your Love, Svinokop, Potom budet pozdno, Argument 5.45 from Moscow and Loa Loa from Moscow). Groups began their concerts with speeches against war hysteria, fascism and nationalism. Audience answered, diving and slamming the anti-militarist way. Anti-war banners and pictures of destroyed Grozniy were hanged to the walls. Anarchist, anti-war and anti-fascist literature and music was distributed. In the streets, boneheads were running, anti-fascists after them... Moscow nights as usual. Concert of 24th of February was screwd up, and in 27th of February Gulyay-Pole fell under strikes of chekists. Main action was a non-legalised march against war in Chechnya and against new limitations of deferment and exemption from military service. It went according to all rules of the genre, in the day of official celebrations (of day of Defender of the Fatherland) in the centre of Moscow, and was finished with spectacular arrests. 1 PM at old arbat, next to McDonald's, participators of "Food not Bombs" brought vegetarian food and began distributing it to everyone in a need (among whom many anarchists, who were hanging in the Arbat trying to look as random passers by). Police appeared and attempted to stop the event, but nobody paid attention since there should not be anything political in distribution of food. Police called support forces, which raised their fighting spirits, after which people were forced to split into small groups and disperse to small streets nearby. Unfortunately coppers did not dispersed, but continued their evil ways in the streets, harrassing any odd phenomena in the streets, such as people walking with rolled banners, punks visiting McD toilets and journalists. 2 PM groups reunited not far from crossing of New Arbat and Sadovaya ringroad, they rised anarchists flag and unrolled banners "Death to state and capitalism", "Army is a school of slavery", "No to war in Chechnya", "No to abolition of of deferment and exemption from military service" and marched by New Arbat towards centre. Demonstrators scanned "Soldiers back home, Putin to Chechnya!", "War against war!", "No to police state", "No to abolition of deferment!". When march turned to Gogol boulevard and passed by Army headquarters, people shouted "We wish a quick meeting with Hattab to all HQ!" (Hattab was influential Chechen resistance leader, ambushed by his own few years ago). There was enough chaos - more than half of the poles did not fit the flags, part of the people was lost before the conspirative start, some came late - all in all it was some 65 people. On the way, passers by were given free tabloid "deserter", made by Moscow anarchists. On the middle way march was granted a police escort. Once a while they demanded demonstration to disperse, but not with too much effort - apparently they hoped that it will leave to territory of the next station, liberating them from obligation of making decisions on their own, which gives an opportunity to have some booze to celebrate the state holiday. One of the coppers shouted to his radio "They have no leaders! I repeat - they have no leaders!". That was the most happiest line of the festival, but it is unlikely that its author could fully understand the whole meaning. This anonymous Arbat copper announced, that it was a model of non-hierarchical anarchist society passing by him, belief to which is alone a heresy for him. Demonstration passed by consulate of Turkmenistan, scanning "Down with Turkmenbashi", and soon hit the Old Arbat. Around 2:30 PM police tried to stop march by force, but they did not had nightsticks and thus they had only pretty limited success at first. So they decided to fight with symbols, grabbing people with flags and transparents. In the middle of the Old Arbat, march was first splitted to two parts, and eventually both had to disperse. 7 participators, one journalist, group of Ren-TV, big banner, flag and one drum were arrested. All of these were took to Arbat police station. Banner, flag and drum were separated from the rest, whom police tried to scare. Since threats did not had much effect, police had it on the presidential way, and they began flushing people down from the toilet. Cops attempted to wash head of one of the anarchists in the toilet, but since he was not up for a shower, they had to mangle his face instead. Presence of journalists limited chances to further experiments. Support group of some 20 people was staying at the police station, and eventually around half past 6 everyone was released. Again everybody gathered, video screening which was interfed by FSB the day before was finally done, people almost did not booze... There were also a number of other events, for example lecture on anarchist movement in USA as a part of the weekly anarchist lecture series "Bespartshkola", support for already mentioned picket of victims of OMON mop-up operation in city of Blagoveschensk of Bashkiria, a discussion on non-violent means of protests after a lecture of a guest from War Resisters International, many forms of unformal chatting... much of the program was cancelled, but general mood after event is only positive. And although Gulyay-Pole lasted only 4 days, free anarchist territory was there for at least a while. We will ride again! Farewell to army! Peaceful sky for you, Caucasus! (edited from account of Akbar, written for Avtonom #24) Post Scriptum: Indeed, everybody were surprised for amount of interest that both FSB and nazis gave to festival. Attempts to stop the event by latter group were expecially sorry. Almost all events of the festival, beginning from the Food Not Bombs of Sunday 20th, were visited by mobs of boneheads, but not once they could bring more than 20 people. For sure self-defence was not too succesfull either. Good opportunities were wasted, only 4 unimportant nazis were beaten during the events and their communication networks confiscated. But it is important to note that although Moscow nazi movement is still strong, they are having their worst crisis ever. They totally lack coordination and may not stop us even if they really try. From now on, streets will be ours! RUSSIA: Chernobyl cleanup workers, protesting over health problems, end hunger strike after winning meetings, concessions http://www.times.spb.ru/archive/times/1040/news/n_14728.htm INGUSHETIA: Rally opposes Kremlin-imposed local leader http://www.times.spb.ru/archive/times/1056/news/n_15257.htm LATVIA: Russian-speakers protest against political exclusion http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1824084&PageNum=0 BELARUS: Nazis and undercover cops attack rockers http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/23/1005084 Oppositiom supporters rally to "rehearse" overthrow; police attack viciously http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/92/370/15186_Belarus.html GEORGIA: Protests over unfair imposition of national exams http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/0816_march_9_2005/news_0816_1.htm YUGOSLAVIA: New strike at Jat Airways company http://www.invest-in-serbia.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=23538 KOSOVA: Silent march to protest charges against PM http://see.oneworld.net/article/view/107337/1/3260 YUGOSLAVIA: Air strike continues - Tunisians hired as scabs http://www.invest-in-serbia.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=24028 ROMANIA: Labour protests: demonstrators succeed in stopping anti-union laws http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/26/8559712http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/349 http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1231&mode=&order=0 POLAND: Protests against Putin - protesters arrested http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/613/613p20i.htm Health workers stage hunger strike http://www.wbj.pl/?command=article&id=25660 Tibet solidarity demo http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=9262&article=March+10+Protest+in+Poland CZECH REPUBLIC: Skoda workers to stage warning strike http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/03/29/ap1910918.html >> NEW UNION MEETS IN RUZOMBEROK, SLOVAKIA Fifthinternational.org, Vienna On Friday, 21 January the independent and militant trade union ZOO Papier held an important conference in Ruzomberok, a small town in central Slovakia with 35.000 inhabitants. As we have already reported, (see Global Newswire#229, 16 January 2005) ZOO Papier is a new militant union at the Slovak factory SCP/Neusiedler. It was formed recently after the management sacked union activists who led a struggle for higher wages. When the bureaucratic official union federation KOZ refused to support the activists they founded a new Union, ZOO Papier. The conference was attended by many militant workers. Most of them are in their thirties, representing a new generation of militant workers in Eastern Europe. The conference discussed how to take the struggle forward and agreed to affiliate to a different national trade union federation (NKOS). The meeting was chaired by Jozef Danis, vice-chairman of ZOO Papier. For comrades with experience of "normal" trade union meetings this was an impressive example of workers democracy. Everyone could participate in the discussions and many rank and file workers did so. It was no sacrilege to contradict the proposals of the union leaders and all proposals were openly debated. A number of questions where raised and controversial issues where settled either by compromise or by a democratic vote. The union has to fight under extremely difficult conditions. The SCP/Neusiedler management does everything in its power to liquidate any presence of ZOO Papier inside the factory. The Friday meeting had to be mobilised secretly by activists leaving leaflets inside the factory. Thugs in the pay of the bosses have already twice physically attacked Jozef Danis. Nevertheless the union is gaining in strength: recently 40 new workers asked to join. The League for the 5th International (LFI) was invited to the conference and sent two delegates. They were asked to share the platform and to address the meeting. In his speech the LFI representative stressed the lessons of the past - that without militant class struggle and democratic unions, workers have no chance of fighting effectively against the bosses offensive. He denounced capitalism as a system of global robbery- the bosses go from to one place, exploit it as much as possible and when nothing is left they move on to another place and another set of victims. This met with loud applause. The speaker stressed that the answer to capitalist globalisation must not be limited to national actions but must be globalisation from below. This is why we organised a meeting at the ESF in London last October with leaders from ZOO Papier and why we support their desire to participate in future ESF meetings. The struggle of ZOO Papier deserves our fullest support! Send letters of solidarity to: sativa at zoznam.sk noveodbory at post.sk Please send protests to the company at hovorca at neusiedler.sk hovorca at neusiedler.sk and at company officials in your country or international headquarters (see http://www.neusiedler.com) SLOVAKIA: Protest planned for when Bush meets Putin http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.anarchism/browse_thread/thread/b8844babde18cd44/d3e94ba485386107#d3e94ba485386107 BULGARIA: Thousands of Roma gather to protest against racism http://www.novinite.com/newsletter/print.php?id=44186 GREECE: Landfill protest blocks roads http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100019_12/03/2005_53998 Farmers protest, demand living income http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6907/690710.html Anti-deportation demonstrations target violent anti-women centre http://www.irr.org.uk/2005/march/ak000009.html CYPRUS: Combine harvesters stage blockade in farming protest http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=18383&cat_id=1 Miners strike over unpaid wages http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m11.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m25.shtml MALTA: Postal workers strike over dangerous tools http://www.maltamedia.com/news/2005/ln/article_5193.shtml BASQUE COUNTRY: 700 political prisoners go on hunger strike http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OreadDaily/message/678 PORTUGAL: Strike at Spanish oil firm Repsol http://www.finance24.com/Finance/Companies/0,,1518-24_1665216,00.html Opel workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m18.shtml Greenpeace stage blockade to protest use of illegally logged wood http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0329-01.htm ITALY: Environmentalists protest US non-signing of Kyoto http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-15-voa36.cfm Rail strike shuts down train services http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Italy%20Train%20Strike Public transport strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m11.shtml Peace protesters demand release of hostages http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050220/ap_on_re_eu/italy_iraq_hostage http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=7091 Small businesses protest Coca-Cola monopoly tactics http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200503111756-1224-RT1-CRO-0-NF30&page=0&id=agionline-eng.bnessitaly Protest against bridge, "train tax" http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200503091637-1059-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia Shooting sparks peace protests http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1317015.htm Alitalia staff strike again http://www.forbes.com/business/commerce/feeds/ap/2005/02/21/ap1838792.html Precarity activists target fashion show http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305973.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305698.html Fairground workers protest http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200503311800-1244-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia Roads blocked in rubbish dump protest http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200502261240-1033-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia ITALY: Demonstration against concentration camps NO MORE LAGERS The demonstration set off from Sagrado station and grew slowly until there were about 2,500 people. First the migrants, followed by the politicians, the centre-left and the various unionists, comunists, disobbedienti and then the anarchists. There was a large number of police and carabinieri in riot gear. After passing through the centre of Gradisca where a great many people watched the march, we wound our way to the place where they're building the "Centro di Permanenza Temporanea" [CPT, Temporary Holding Centre - one of many in Italy where migrants are held before being repatriated, often in terrible conditions - tr.]. The disobbedienti unrolled barbed wire and started throwing smoke bombs and paint, so the police launched into the crowd in an attempt to push them back. However, the tension was broken somewhat and there were a series of speeches made from the various sound systems. Some people sprayed slogans on the walls around and then the march broke up. Most people seemed reasonably happy with the success of the protest, and anarchists were quite content with their sector of the march which included about 250 comrades, mostly from the region. Photos will shortly be published. The struggle will not finish here, that's for sure. On Saturday 5th March there will be another demo and public meeting in Gradisca, organized by the Libertarian Co-ordination Against the CPT where the disgraceful behaviour of Gradisca's mayor and other politicians who do nothing to stop the construction work on the CPT will be denounced... but let them be under no illusion that we and the rest of the movement will let the matter drop. No more lagers - here or anywhere! (Translated from Indymedia Italy) HOLLAND: Reed office pixied in arms trade protest http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307414.html Action at GM animal feed company in Rotterdam http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306885.html HOLLAND: Little saboteur mice with clogs on, take out warplanes Mice Attack, Disable Four F-16 Fighter Jets Army Times 2.7.05 Four Dutch F-16 fighter aircraft were grounded by a family of industrious mice in search of a warm hideout for the winter. The rodents had launched a successful offensive to make nests in the aircraft - using some critical wiring that they had gnawed away. A Reuters report quoted a Dutch military spokeswoman as explaining that the Leeuwarden air base, where the aircraft were stationed, borders a large nature reserve, and animals often migrate into the base when the weather turns frosty. "As it is winter, mice seek warm places to shelter," the spokeswoman said. After a major overhaul that included new wiring, the jets were declared mouse-free zones and allowed to resume flying. Now, Dutch military officials are trying to figure out how to make their aircraft, and the hangars in which they are stored, less rodent friendly, using traps, barriers and poison. BELGIUM: Hospital strikes as stalemate continues http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=24&story_id=17593&name=Stalemate+sparks+more+hospital+strikes http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=24&story_id=17280&name=Belgian+health+strike+to+go+ahead http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=24&story_id=17329&name=Health+sector+strike+%27a+success%27+say+unions+ Civil servants strike over austerity http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=24&story_id=18449&name=30%2C000+Flemish+civil+servants+on+strike Hospital strike in contract dispute http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m11.shtml Brewers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m25.shtml FRANCE: School students protest over exam "reforms"; partial withdrawal forced http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4268705.stm http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=16899&name=Paris+backs+down+on+'bac'+reform+after+demos School students protest against cuts as Olympic inspectors arrive http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,11965-4179349,00.html http://www.workers.org/2005/world/france-0317/ Hundreds of thousands march against attack on 35-hour week Strikes against the "reforms" also continue http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/fran-f09.shtml http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=16568&name=French+protest+35-hour+week+reforms http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=25&story_id=17608&name=France+braces+for+%27paralysing%27+national+strike+ http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=16568&name=Mass+demos+across+France+to+keep+shorter+working+week http://au.news.yahoo.com/050205/19/sxen.html http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-05T155407Z_01_JON547583_RTRUKOC_0_FRANCE-PROTESTS.xml http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1107628436084_27/?hub=World http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Thousands-hit-streets-to-protect-35hour-week/2005/02/06/1107625063284.html http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7869072 http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=17886&name=Huge+following+for+Frenchanti-reform+strikes Researchers protest over involvement of corporations in research and new research bill which will harm science http://www.researchresearch.com/news.cfm?pagename=newsStory&type=default&elementID=47847 Airline strike over unsafe stairways which killed a worker, and related suspension http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=25&story_id=17278&name=Strike+hits+Paris+airports http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050220/bs_afp/francetransportair_050220214714 Strike hits channel ferries http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/4335971.stm Postal workers demonstrate over "reforms" http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m18.shtml Striking sailors block port, scuffle with cops http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m25.shtml France: Violent demonstrations of winegrowers in Montpellier Thursday, March 10 2005 @ 01:07 PM PST Violent demonstrations of winegrowers in Montpellier March 10, 2005 Richard James www.decanter.com Protesters clashed violently with police in Montpellier as up to 8,000 wine growers demonstrated against the latest government measures. As police attempted to disperse the crowd skirmishes broke out, as wine growers from the Languedoc-Roussillon and the southern Rh?ne turned out yesterday in Montpellier to protest against the latest government measures and show solidarity in the face of escalating economic hardship. The ?70 million rescue plan tabled by the minister of agriculture Dominique Bussereau has been widely criticised for not going far enough to support struggling French vignerons. Philippe Vergnes, representing the event organisers and president of one of the growers unions in the Aude, called on the government to 'pay up so we can get over the worst. This region has given a lot in the past, it's time to give something back to small producers.' He added, 'If we're guilty of anything, then it's because there are too many of us. If market forces are to take over, help those get out of the business, if they want to, and those who wish to stay, roll up their sleeves and get out of this mess.' The supermarket chains were also slammed as 'the biggest racket going,' along with the government's anti-alcohol measures: 'This attack on consumption has lead to the worst crisis in history.' Growers present were also demanding the right to publicise the positive aspects of moderate wine consumption. A delegation from the Languedoc-Roussillon is due to meet the minister of agriculture on 22 March. The demonstration started peacefully in Place Peyrou by the Arc de Triomphe in Montpellier, where speeches were held before the march down the hill to the station and back up through La Com?die. But by the time the throng reached the town hall - armed with placards sporting slogans such as 'Chirac - what a let-down' and 'Get to work Bussereau' - skirmishes with police had broken out. Demonstrators threw bottles, burning dustbins and firecrackers, while riot police and gendarmes responded with tear gas and a counter-charge. GERMANY: Gay-rights activists protest alleged attempt to make gay penguins straight http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3186088a4560,00.html Port workers' solidarity action wins wage deal for seafarers http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/324 Small-scale protests continue over benefits crackdown http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1446794,00.html http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1460965,00.html One-day strike at GM Opel http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=motoringSummary&storyID=687637 Farmers blockade warehouses in protest over price wars, low prices, threats to animals and health http://www.union-network.org/unisite/sectors/commerce/Multinationals/Lidl_warehouses_blocked_by_farmers.htm Demo by construction workers against job cuts http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m18.shtml GERMANY: German police baffeled by Bush poo-flags Police in Germany are hunting pranksters who have been sticking miniature flag portraits of US President George W. Bush into piles of dog poo in public parks. Josef Oettl, parks administrator for Bayreuth, said: "This has been going on for about a year now, and there must be 2,000 to 3,000 piles of excrement that have been claimed during that time." The series of incidents was originally thought to be some sort of protest against the US-led invasion ofIraq. And then when it continued it was thought to be a protest against President George W. Bush's campaign for re-election. But it is still going on and the police say they are completely baffled as to who is to blame. "We have sent out extra patrols to try to catch whoever is doing this in the act," said police spokesman Reiner Kuechler. "But frankly, we don't know what we would do if we caught them red handed." Legal experts say there is no law against using feces as a flag stand and the federal legal experts say there is no law against using feces as a flag stand and the federal constitution is vague on the issue. link for picture: http://images.indymedia.org/imc/seattle/images/2005/03/245292.jpg SWITZERLAND: Strike by staff hits Geneva flights http://www.nzz.ch/2005/02/24/eng/article5560572.html FINLAND: Strike hits multinational company http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/02/19/2003223707 http://www.artto.kaapeli.fi/unions/T2005/i05 Electricians' strike ends - bosses lose http://www.artto.kaapeli.fi/unions/T2005/i13 Protests over school closures http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english/article/1101978971828 ICELAND: Dam protesters under attack http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/news/icelandunderattack.htm IRELAND: Angry farmers march on company, Dail over factory closures http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment/story.asp?j=133249734&p=y33z5x44x http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment/story.asp?j=133249734&p=y33z5x44x Limerick students protest against incinerator http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=132689170&p=y3z689876&n=132689930 Immigrant workers picket development over pay http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0209/picket.html Limerick prisoners stage rooftop protest http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=58380828&p=5838yy3x&n=58381208 http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/ireland/Full_Story/did-sgkMjr2M-BM1ksgTbBP-2fa91M.asp Student nurses protest over unpaid allowances http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=7141 http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=136393552&p=y36394z58&n=136394312 Protests in solidarity with banned Basque youth groups http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=68953 Waterford city council workers stage unofficial strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/euro-m25.shtml -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:25:48 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:25:48 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - UK, Oceania, Canada, Israel Message-ID: <070a01c53908$cff2e1d0$ab30fd3e@WOL> BRITISH-OCCUPIED IRELAND Protests against water fees http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=610328 Sinn Fein supporters block roads in protest against monitoring commission http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=109543440&p=yx9544xzx&n=109544049 Sinn Fein stage protest stunt to protest against security forces' collusion with Unionist terror gangs http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=57546&pt=n Payback for pigs as youths rise up over drinking den crackdown http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=137436314&p=y37437xzx SCOTLAND: Protesters target army office http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=174272005 Anti-Trident blockade at Scottish parliament http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5036487.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306445.html Idiot MSPs stir up furore over harmless graffiti - call it "violent" http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=270842005 Protesters padlock banner to Scott monument, protesting arms trade with China http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=9242&article=Scott+Monument+Targeted+in+Arms+Trade+Protest UK/EUSKAL HERRIA: Hunger strike and protests in solidarity with Basque activists http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307083.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307430.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306509.html UK: Anti-Olympics protest by river users in London Protesters say the Olympics bid will steal common land, trash flood defences and wildlife havens and destroy recreational boating activities http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4253837.stm http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1108236073 Nottingham posters subvertised http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305629.html Coca-Cola depot blockaded http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306233.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306141.html UK PROTESTERS SHUT DOWN COCA-COLA'S REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION DEPOT: LORRIES BLOCKADED A coalition of anti-capitalist activists and human rights campaigners has blockaded Coca-Cola's distribution centre and full service vending depot in Longwell Green, Bristol, preventing up to30 lorries from entering or leaving the site for five hours. The depot, in Aldermoor Way, supplies Wales and the West Country, and it is believed retailers throughout the region experienced shortages today. The protesters said they were taking direct action to highlight Coca-Cola's abuses of human rights, the environment and labour rights, especially in South America and India. The non-violent blockade, which took place on Friday, March 4, was part of an international Coca-Cola boycott which was called in July 2003 by the Colombian Food and Beverage Workers Union, Sinaltrainal. The union has seen eight of its workers assassinated in Colombia since 1989 and many others kidnapped, attacked, and threatened. Protesters arrived at the distribution centre at 4.30 am and eight people formed a circle on the ground with their arms joined inside thick metal pipes known as "arm-locks". Each of the eight was wearing a large label which named one of the eight trade unionists who have been assassinated for resisting the casualisation of their workforce and for campaigning for decent working conditions. A protest organiser, who asked not to be named, explained that the activists wanted to physically confront Coca-Cola with eight bodies lying on the ground, to represent the eight murders the company has been implicated in. He said there is compelling evidence that paramilitary violence against workers was done with the knowledge, and likely under the direction, of Colombian Coca-Cola managers. The protesters were supported by about a dozen other activists who held banners and placards, handed out leaflets to Coca-Cola workers and passers-by explaining the reasons for their action, directed traffic and kept the arm-lock protesters safe, warm, covered in blankets and supplied with hot drinks. Protest supporter Dave Williams, 29, of Hanham said: "I came down tonight to support this because the UK is one of the biggest consumers of Coca-Cola in the world, and it's a company with a lot of blood on its hands." Workers at the plant, including a union official, were supportive of the protest. They told protesters they are suffering from the same pressures as Coke workers in Colombia. They said they are pressured to give up union membership, to work on casual contracts, and to work more hours for less pay. Protesters said this is exactly the type of thing the eight assassinated Colombian trade union workers were resisting; and that their resistance cost them their lives. A protest organiser said: "Some of the murdered unionists were also active in a very strong grassroots movement in Colombia for food sovereignty. This means they want Colombians to consume products made in Colombia, so that the profit does not go to multinational corporations. This is an anti-imperialist position which goes against everything Coke stands for: their entire business plan is built around economic imperialism. This is why their repression of anti-imperialists, like the trade unionists, has been so vicious." He added: "Coca-Cola International undoubtedly knows about all this and is very happy to accept the profits the violence generates, but they officially say it is a matter for their Colombian subsidiary, and not their problem. Well, a group of ordinary people were prepared to lie on the road in the sleet in Bristol, England yesterday to say: 'Actually, this IS your problem, and it's not going away!'" SINALTRAINAL leader Carlos Jul?a said in Bogot? on December 5, 2002: "When you drink Coca-Cola remember that you are contributing to a process which sows unemployment, hunger and pain. The young, happy image projected by Coca-Cola masks the suffering and the return of profits from Colombia to the U.S. We ask Coca-cola to stop killing and you to stop drinking Coke." The boycott has been endorsed by many trade unions and numerous social organisations around the world, including by the World Social Forum, the CUT and the CGTD (principle trade union federations in Colombia). In the UK, it has been supported by UNISON, the public sector union, and many other groups. The protesters also drew attention to what they said were Coca-Cola's crimes in other parts of the world, particularly in India, where the company stands accused of causing severe water shortages in communities across the country, polluting groundwater and soil around its bottling facilities, distributing its toxic waste as "fertilizer" to farmers, and selling drinks with levels of pesticides, including DDT, up to 30 times higher than EU standards. For more information, interviews, pictures or video, please call Lara on 079 7749 5247 or Geoff on 078 1403 3981. or see the report on Indymedia http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306141.html For further information see: www.killercoke.org www.sinaltrainal.org www.cokewatch.org www.indiaresource.org www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk Protesters disrupt oil trading on day Kyoto comes into force Floor trading was delayed due to the protest on the floor Oil traders attack protesting eco-warriors http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5332 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=aOE2qJ0ugD9A&refer=uk GM protest - Sainsbury's blockaded in Merseyside and Bristol http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306097.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306131.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306098.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305962.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305975.html Mass lobby of parliament vs GMOs http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/306021.html Greenwash Guerrillas attacked at "ethical corporation" conference http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/306000.html McLibel picket in Nottingham http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305441.html Linslade tree-camp evictors show up... but protesters are already gone http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305287.html Critical Mass in Nottingham http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305420.html And in London http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305948.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305939.html Oxford animal rights protests continue http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/29/uanimal.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/01/29/ixportaltop.html Covance animal abusers protested http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307258.html Hunt cunt whips protester http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306512.html Hunt cunts injure journalist after attacking sabs http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305545.html GMB union hold protests over suspension of airline worker for wearing hair gel http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0600uk/tm_objectid=15182087&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=hair-raising-protest-over-gel-suspension-name_page.html Miners protest at Northumberland pit slated for closure http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4070671 Swindon workers stage protests over sick leave http://www.itnews.it/risorse/EuroNews,Zj0xMTcwMzk1 Sainsbury's workers plan strike over crackdown freakery http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=15160680&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=sainsbury-s--pound-1m-a-day-strike-over-stolen-gum-name_page.html Nationwide rallies over pension cuts http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2005/02/19/cnpens19.xml&menuId=242&sSheet=/money/2005/02/19/ixcity.html http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=189932005 Strike shuts down science museum http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4268237.stm House of Commons cleaners stage pay protest http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4104942 FE lecturers stage one-day strike http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4293247.stm Pensions march in Cambridge http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305567.html Peace protesters stage die-in outside parliament http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4136757 Birmingham army recruiting office occupied http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=15195651&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=protesters-occupy-army-centre-in-anti-war-demo-name_page.html http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/mail/tm_objectid=15196001&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=anti-war-storm-at-army-centre-name_page.html Peace protesters occupy Lockheed Martin http://www.motherearth.org/news/news.php Day of Action Against the Arms Trade - in London, 6 companies get pixied http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307409.html EDO get visit from 'weapons inspectors' http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307433.html Demo against arms dealers Raytheon in Reading - but no-one shows up http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306922.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307241.html Tuesday 15 March 2005 The regular weekly CAAB demonstration happened as usual at NSA Menwith Hill tonight. There were 4 protestors initially and later three others came. Anni Rainbow was unable to come. Within 15 minutes of the demonstration starting, Lindis Percy was arrested by Russell Howarth (PC - Ministry of Defence Police Agency - MDPA) for allegedly 'obstructing the highway'. This was somewhat surprising as his colleague Danny Mitchell (PC - MDPA) clearly did not have any concerns, as Lindis stood briefly, quietly and safely in front of cars coming out of the base. She held a upside down US flag with the words 'STOP STAR WARS' written on it. The officer dutifully enabled protest to happen (as defined in the case of Hirst and Agu v Chief Constable West Yorkshire - 1986). Lindis was taken to Harrogate Police Station and detained by Simon Smith - Custody Sergeant. She was later charged with allegedly 'obstructing the highway'. There will be a Pre-trial review on 23 March 2005 at 10.am at Harrogate Magistrates' Court when District Judge Anderson will decide how to manage 29 cases that are now in the court (Anni has two - Lindis now has 27). A week has tentively been set aside for as many as possible of these cases to be heard - starting on 7 April 2005. Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy Joint Co-ordinators CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB) 8 Park Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 1HQ, England, U.K. Tel/fax no: +44 (0)1943 466405 0R +44 (0)1482 702033 email: anniandlindis at caab.org.uk or caab at btclick.com Website: http://www.caab.org.uk Protest over death of woman prisoner http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=943508 Protesters oppose ban on protests outside parliament http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&category=Newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED10%20Feb%202005%2015%3A08%3A34%3A210 Protest at prison by relatives of abused inmate http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4339471.stm Protesters occupy Irish Embassy in protest over trials of Shannon activists; 5 arrested http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4198592 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306119.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306067.html Trafalgar Square peace camp to protest war and repression http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306893.html Socialist women demonstrate outside prison Approximately 200 members of the Scottish Socialist Party's Socialist Women's Network today took part in a demonstration outside Corntonvale Women's prison in Stirling as part of events around International Women's day. Attending the demonstration was Carolyn Leckie MSP who was imprisoned in Corntonvale at the end of January for her part in anti nuclear direct action at Faslane nuclear submarine base. Carolyn came out of Corntonvale with prisoners accounts of strip searching, prison clothes that didn't fit and communal showers and toilets with half doors you could see over and male prison staff in attendance. The demonstrators outside Corntonvale today demanded more appropriate programmes and facilities in communities throughout Scotland, with equal access to help and support for women. Many of the women in Cornton Vale women's prison should not be there. The Chief Inspector of Prisons reports that; "90 per cent of admissions have addiction problems, 80 per cent have a history of mental illness and over 60 per cent have a history of being abused. The question has to be asked: what will the prison do for them?" Speaking after the demonstration Carolyn said; "Today was a fantastic event, organised by the SSP's Socialist Women's Network. "I know that women inside the prison will have been heartened by the event and we could see them standing at the windows waving. "International Women's Day celebrates the gains made by women but also causes us to recognise just how much we still have to fight for. "Today we were calling for a change to the prison system, to demand equality for women across the world and for socialist change to a system that produces poverty, inequality and injustice." Vicious police attack on Reading crowd leads to pitched battles with pigs http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0300reading/tm_objectid=15124341&method=full&siteid=50102&headline=-police-made-things-worse--says-riot-eye-witness-name_page.html Hundreds march against US refusal to sign Kyoto Protocol http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=2937902 Protest at Nepalese Embassy against coup http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00337.htm Rachel Corrie memorial protest at Caterpillar HQ http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306802.html Colombian VP's visit to Bristol protested http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306761.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306854.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306739.html Iranian refugees march against war with Iran http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306490.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306700.html Israeli Ambassador's speech at SOAS disrupted http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305757.html Marks & Spencer pickets continue http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305535.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305967.html Palestine student campaigners persecuted by union bureaucrats - one is accused of causing a disruption, by being punched! http://www.revolutionarycommunistgroup.com/frfi/183/183_fru.html Balochistan protest The World Sindhi Congress and the Sindhi Baloch Forum organized a demonstration protesting the atrocities committed by the Pakistan army in front of 10 Downing Street in London this saturday. Although it was a small demonstration (around 30 people), there were participants from all across the UK, and even from some other South Asian countries. The demonstrators held up placards and chanted slogans demanding an end to the oppression against Sindhi and Balochi people. There was also a session of speeches, which included speakers from the World Sindhi Congress and the Sindhi Baloch Forum, the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party Pakistan, Communist Party of Bangladesh, the PPP, and many other Sindhi and Balochi nationalist groups. At the end of the demo, leaders of the two organizing groups handed in a petition addressed to the prime minister at 10 Downing Street. The demonstration lasted for about 4 hours and despite the cold (it was below freezing!), the atmosphere was one of optimism. Many of the speakers protested against the continuous oppression against the national minorities in Pakistan, and demanded that Balochi and Sindhi people be given their national rights. They protested against the economic and social domination of Punjabis in Pakistan, and demanded a fair share of benefits and rights for their provinces. They warned of strong retaliation if the army took action in Balochistan, and affirmed that the Sindhi people would stand shoulder to shoulder with their Balochi brothers and sisters if such a situation materialised. A comrade from the Communist party of Bangladesh reminded the audience of the events of 1971, and warned that if the pakistani army continued its agressive and unjust stance, the country would once again be at a risk of breaking up into pieces. The comrade from the CMKP (being the only person residing in Punjab at the demo!) stated that the biggest enemies of the baloch and sindhi people were the army of pakistan and the ruling classes of the country. She stated that the working poor of the Punjab were sympathetic to the other nations residing in pakistan, and opposed to the oppression being carried out by the ruling elite in the other provinces of pakistan. Overall, the demonstration provided an opportunity for various left and nationalist groups from Pakistan to meet. The presence of comrades from the Communist Party of Nepal and CP of Bangladesh added to the fervour of the gathering. Many members of the groups present were already familiar with the CMKP, either through the political struggles of the party, through comrades in Balochistan, or because of the cmkp study circle on the internet. In fact, some of the people at the gathering were contributors to the list. Many people congratulated the party on having such an informative forum, and praised the 'liberal and progressive role of the CMKP in arguing for the right of self determination for all nations' and for the party's stance on the Kalabagh dam. A large number of people inquired after a certain cde Hassan Nasir, saying that they greatly appreciated his contributions to the cmkp list and other pakistani forums on the internet. All in all it was a successful and enthusiatic effort by the members of the World Sindhi Congress and the Sindhi Baloch Forum. It highlighted the solidarity between the sindhi and balochi people, and demonstrated the anger and haterd that people from pakistan feel against their army. (Also sending pictures..) In solidarity Inqalabi SIKH FEDERATION (UK) PRESS RELEASE THURSDAY 24 MARCH 2005 (23.45GMT) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VICTORY FOR ANTI-GENOCIDE PROTESTERS IN THE UK MODI TOO FRIGHTENED TO VISIT THE UK The Sikh Federation (UK) has greeted the decision by Narendra Modi not to visit the UK as a victory for anti-genocide protestors. Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: "Sikhs had been in close contact with the South Asia Solidarity Group who were co-ordinating the protest. We had plans for many Sikh protesters to be outside Gate 9 of the Albert Hall on Saturday to show him that ordinary people in the UK were not prepared to let the likes of Modi visit without highlighting his involvement in genocide. The Indian Government has quoted "security concerns" as the reason for him staying away from the UK, but we know it was the negative publicity and embarrasment that the Indian Government feared. We are also aware of the role certain prominent members of the UK Government have played in the last 48-hours in encouraging the protest - this will cause the Indian Goverment most concern." A Federation spokesman said: "The events of the past 10 days have been a total disaster for the image of the Indian Government abroad. First came the acquittal of two Sikhs in Canada, that has again raised questions about the involvement of Indian intelligence in killing 329 innocent people on Air India Flight 182, to try and discredit the Sikh independence movement so soon after 1984. In the UK this was followed by calls, by an influential group of Parliamentarians, for ?300m development aid to India to be stoppped due to unnecessary interference by the central Government of India. Within 24 hours Modi was denied a visa to enter the US, which the US State Department has upheld despite a violent and predictable response on the streets of India. Now the anti-genocide protesters in the UK have frightened Modi to stay away." The Federation spokesman said: "It is no coincidence that these setbacks for India have come in the US, UK and Canada - the three countries with the largest number of Sikhs in the West. India will need to get used to such setbacks as Sikhs are quickly developing strong alliances with human rights groups, politicians and pressure groups across the globe." For further information about this press release please contact Jagtar Singh on 07919 166163. For further information about the Sikh Federation (UK) visit: www.sikhfederation.com Fathers 4 Justice activist scales Tyne Bridge before Labour conference http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4118071 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/PA_NEWPOLICEFathersfri01fathers?source=&ct=5 Fathers for Justice target Foreign Office http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7045623/ Basque protesters scale Buckingham Palace http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4343771.stm http://www.channel3000.com/news/4279489/detail.html Father's rights protesters scale St Paul's Cathedral http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=47002 Racist Tory billboards subvertised http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307185.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306691.html Home demo targets bailiffs over ethnic cleansing http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306354.html Protest at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook detention camps http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305667.html Demonstrations call for release of UK-resident Libyan from Gitmo http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5800 Protests over Babar Ahmed stitch-up trial http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5688 Nearly 1000 protest to oppose deportation http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4266410 Elderly travellers protest against TVs on trains http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1476078,00.html Manchester United fans protest Glazer takeover Sit-down staged; boy arrested for self-defence against cop violence http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=133166426&p=y33y67y3z&t=soccer http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=4305 Council tax nonpayment protests continue http://politics.guardian.co.uk/localgovernment/story/0,9061,1435612,00.html Protest over post office closure in Halesowen http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4342259.stm Rural protest against unwanted development http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0300reading/tm_objectid=15279067&method=full&siteid=50102&headline=-overwhelming--protest-but-plans-likely-to-be-passed-name_page.html Crowded train sparks near-revolt and fights http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/s/152/152331_commuters_riot_fear.html Prisoner legs it http://news.scotsman.com/glasgow.cfm?id=309262005 School students in angry walk-out Around 200 school students staged a walk-out at George Stephenson school, Killingworth, near Newcastle, on Thursday of last week. The students walked out at dinner time after the headteacher sent out a letter banning younger students from going outside school for their lunch. They made placards and marched out, to be confronted by mounted police. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6150 Plans are afoot (ahem) to give Sky TV the boot because of the way its capitalist monopoly on football coverage is shafting smaller clubs in the lower divisions. Wrexham AFC - currently in adminstration - is certainly feeling the pinch as more and more TV money has gone to the fat cat Premiership clubs, who have raised the drawbridge on the smaller clubs. Now fans are fighting back with an ingenious plan to cancel subscriptions en masse on April 1st to register their protest. They hope to get 1000 subscribers from every club in the lower divisions - 72 in all - to cancel. This would be a massive dent in Sky's subscriptions, which are largely dependent on its monopoly coverage of most major sports. It's been described by its anonymous organiser as a "strike against Sky" and points to a potentially valuable weapon for workers faced with a new kind of enemy. The rallying cry is persuasive: "It's time for the average fan to strike back and take the game back from the financiers and brokers. Let's call it 'give sky the boot', and start a major campaign to hit them where it hurts. Wrexham fan Lee Williams said: "This is potentially massive. Capitalists understand only one tongue - MONEY. You can bet your life action would be taken if something like this showed any signs of getting off the ground. Imagine the look on the faces of the fatcats." The campaign is being coordinated through the Fans United network, which is backing a major day of unity at Wrexham's home game against Doncaster on Saturday, January 29. Lewis Jones www.seren.blogspirit.com BELATED ANTIFA REPORTS FROM CLASS WAR Thursday 23rd September - Basildon At the recent Laindon ward council election in Basildon David King, a former BNP treasurer was standing for a seat. Unite Against Fascism held a meeting a week prior to the election, with fifty people present, but no picket of the election count was organised. On the night it was announced that King had come third, and the 20 BNP members and supporters left the town hall defeated, but unopposed. Two minutes down the road, were seven anti-fascists who just happened to be drinking in town. When the two groups met (despite being outnumbered three to one), a 'full and frank discussion' with King and other members ended with them on the floor, and later receiving treatment from an ambulance crew. One of the BNP 'security' entourage panicked and managed to spray two anti-fascists with mace, as well as half his mates. No arrests were made. Thursday 8th October - Dagenham WOT NO FASCISTS? The call out was made and we headed to Dagenham, the cockney overspill in where there has been a lot of activity by the BNP. After Daniel Kelly stood in Barking another BNP candidate, Lawrence Rustem was standing for the town hall. I guess it was time to show the BNP that we are here to stop there cocky behaviour. On arrival we found a Wetherspoons, meeting up with everyone else and getting organised, people turned up from Sussex, Kent, many London boroughs, even Barking. There was a good crowd of us, strength in numbers, a guy said to me "fuck me is there a rave on?", "nah we are here to fight the BNP" was my reply. Leaving the pub In dribs and drabs we headed towards the town hall where we found you guessed it another pub, no sign of the BNP at all, a few meat wagons passing, strange stares, all was normal, a BNP spotter was seen, he had MADE IN ENGLAND tattooed on he's forehead, a give away sign I suppose! We lingered waiting, word went around that the BNP were leaving, we all legged it to the Town Hall as we arrived so did the dog handlers, someone had a go at four Tory boys, confrontation with the police truncheons raised, three arrests. We headed back towards the tube, me and two other comrades was walking along when a car pulled up, four men started mumbling something, I clocked a pin badge with the pound sign, I spat at them, they produced a cam recorder, one tried getting out more like pretended, they sped off. I legged it back on the last tube, looking back on it know there was a good turn out of anti fascists, everyone was up for a ruck and ready to kick some nazi arse, didn't really see the point in lingering fighting the old bill, I was there to show solidarity and to fight fascists. great to hear the BNP candidate lost the vote anyway. AUSTRALIA: Ice koalas and kangaroos melt in Kyoto protest http://www.manoramaonline.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=manorama/MmArticle/CommonFullStory&c=MmArticle&cid=1108463644651&channel=News&p=1002194839100&count=7 Greenpeace lay banner across dam in protest at Aussie non-ratification http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12254190-26618,00.html http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12254190-26618,00.html Eco-warriors blockade wood mill for nine hours http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=38185 Old-growth logging protested http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/88538.php Protester dares tunnel to defy bush-choppers http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=9536 Critical Mass protests journalists' interference which leads to transfer of sympathetic cop http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/88332.php Perth Social Forum is a big success http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=9498 Rural protesters target ministers http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1301455.htm Invasion Day march highlights deaths in custody http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/613/613p2.htm Newcastle activists mobilise against fascist menace http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/613/613p11.htm Workers win in rota dispute with Esso http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/614/614p5.htm Reclaim the Streets in Sydney http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/614/614p4d.htm Violent police attack peace protest at bank http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/615/615p2c.htm Tasmanian protesters successfully oppose town square protest ban http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12373966%5E3462,00.html Protest against visit of Israeli PM http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1314271.htm ABM Plastics firm picketed http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/620/620p4e.htm Protests against logging in Victoria: anti-logging protesters blockade government office http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12353287-29281,00.html http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12353287-29281,00.html Peace protest in Perth is victory for free speech http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/616/616p5.htm Brisbane peace march marred by arrests http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/619/619p11b.htm Protest opposes bay dredging http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/617/617p2.htm Green rally defies moneygrabbing protest rules http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/617/617p5c.htm Peace protest opposes Aussie troop increase in Iraq http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/617/617p4d.htm Protests target war profiteers http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/617/617p11b.htm Israeli president's visit protested http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/618/618p2.htm And Indonesia's president's visit also http://www.smh.com.au/news/Breaking-News/Yudhoyono-arrives-in-Australia/2005/04/03/1112489345589.html 1000 march for women's rights in Sydney http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/619/619p2.htm Palm Island people boycott visit by Queensland politician http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/616/616p3c.htm Protest supports Palm Island community http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/618/618p6d.htm Freedom Ride confronts racism http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/616/616p3.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/617/617p6c.htm TJ Hickey death commemorated in Redfern and Walgett http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/619/619p2b.htm Youths resist police violence - bottles thrown http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3222786a11,00.html Oinkers bricked at party http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1317945.htm Tertiary lecturers continue work bans in pursuit of contract settlement http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/615/615p5c.htm Workers strike over bullying supervisor http://www.lhmu.org.au/lhmu/news/1108682554_11577.html Disability workers stage rolling protests over workload crisis http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12509324%255E3462,00.html http://ta.harrisgroup.com.au/news.cgi?type=1&id=171691 Refinery workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f26.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m05.shtml Health workers strike over unsanitary conditions http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m05.shtml Heroic miners defy return-to-work order http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m19.shtml Aluminium workers defy fine threats to win strike http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/618/618p3b.htm Victoria Uni lecturers strike http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/619/619p5b.htm KFC HEADS EMBARRASSED BY SAUCY STUNT Animal Liberation Victoria Splashes Tomato Sauce on KFC CEO Gold Coast, Queensland - Animal activists gate crashed the plenary session of KFC's (Australia) National Conference at the Royal Pines Golf Resort today and threw fake blood (tomato sauce) over several KFC chefs, including Roger Eaton (Yum! Restaurants International, Senior Vice President and Managing Director - South Pacific). The two activists emerged from the crowd at the posh Gold Coast resort as all the KFC restaurant general managers were leaving and shaking the hands of the KFC Officials. One activist splashed the sauce over several KFC executives while the other took photographs, both chanting "KFC tortures baby birds, KFC Cruelty" Animal Liberation Victoria Vice President, Noah Hannibal (who threw the tomato sauce) said today: "KFC is behind enormous cruelty and suffering here in Australia. Our rescue teams have inspected, on numerous occasions, the sheds where KFC birds are 'grown' prior to their brutal slaughter. We consistently find sick, crippled, injured and weak birds dying from lack of care. The sheds are littered with rotting bodies, some very swollen and filled with pus. These corpses are being pecked and eaten by other birds in the shed, the air is foul and the litter is soaked and packed with the droppings of 40,000 birds. We've protested every week at the Melbourne City KFC for two years and are today determined to take our message to the top. KFC (YUM! Restaurants International) has sales in excess of $1 billion dollars in Australia. The mega international corporation is raking in the money while the birds are suffering and the public's health is being put at risk." The two activists were immediately tackled by KFC staff, after the officials splashed with sauce yelled, "Don't wait for security, get them out of here now!" KFC lawyers were present and the pair also had their camera confiscated and the flash card was removed. However, the activists had already changed the card and saved the photos they took of the incident. The two activists continued giving their strong message to the crowd as they were held in headlocks and carried out of the building. (from Liberate!) NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA: Naked cyclists give "21-bum salute" to motorists http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10010968 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3186518a11,00.html Bare-breasted protesters greet Prince Charles - with writing on one protester's chest reading "get your colonial shame off my breasts" Protesters are critical of Charles for being offended by Aboriginal topless dancers Some are calling for the abolition of the monarchy http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10114339 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1045486.cms http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12486409%5E663,00.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4328129.stm http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-03-07-newzealand-prince_x.htm http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1672921,00.html http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/08/content_2667179.htm http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050307-1918-newzealand-princecharles.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3210865a10,00.html http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7833036 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=15271043&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=bare-breast-protest-on-charles-visit-name_page.html Protest against free trade with China http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0503/S00058.htm Environmental protesters target dioxin http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_health_story_skin/477798%3fformat=html Save Happy Valley protesters chain themselves to Solid Energy building http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3210732a10,00.html Electronic sit-in against power company http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/307272.html Protest against DOW poisoning http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/29896/index.php Protest at power plant http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/29696/index.php Protest as Indonesian ambassador speaks, by Aceh solidarity activists http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/29708/index.php Anti-bigot rally - protesters slow march and disrupt rally http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/29827/index.php Lock-on targets Solid Energy http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/29878/index.php http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10114023 Power, public sector and council workers strike over pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m12.shtml International Women's Day march http://www.labournet.net/world/0503/newz1.html Solidarity protests as peace activist goes on trial http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10116568 ISRAEL: Discount Bank dispute ends http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/534789.html One-hour solidarity strike to support hospital pensioners http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1108437731191 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/539786.html http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=76643 Students protest against cuts Histadrut stage 1-hr solidarity strike against HE cuts http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=895918&fid=942 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=554433&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2741/index.php Mizrahi dispute continues - bosses send home workers who protested http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/553135.html Workers' protest disrupts Ben-Gurion flights http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/549108.html Dockers win extensive deal http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/323 Students end protest after promise of funds http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/557957.html Students protest outside Knesset http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1111461689215 Repression launched against protesting students http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=79014 CANADA: Protest against trapping laws in Nova Scotia "If you own land in Nova Scotia, you could have animal traps on your property and not even know it." http://www.canada.com/maritimes/news/story.html?id=2e4ee3f5-284e-4fb1-9bf9-d9e474d00bef Protests begin against seal clubbing http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20050331064554794C941539 http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/11260527.htm Protest over renewed license of private zoo accused of neglect http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/news/shownews.jsp?content=n033177A Seal hunt protest - Sea Shepherd activists beaten and arrested http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2005/2005-04-01-inswat.asp Street hockey game held in East Vancouver to protest road expansion http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/02/14/930510-sun.html http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_street-hockey20050214 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1108343605263_13/?hub=Canada http://www.beerleaguehockey.com/content/view/265/2/ Protests at Liberal Party forum over missile defence and other issues http://maritimes.buffaloimc.org:8080/news/2005/01/9687.php Mishkeegogamang indigenous people protest logging http://thunderbay.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/18874.php International Day Against Police Brutality marked http://bc.indymedia.org/feature/display/83/index.php Picket in solidarity with Filipino indigenous peoples http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/2869.php Man torches van in fishing rights protest http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=CAN%20Van%20Fire%20Protest Farmers protest at legislature One man torches himself during (though not necessarily as part of) the protest http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6909/690910.html http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6913/691310.html http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_national.asp?id=60749 http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/03/09/farmer-fire-050309.html http://www.reuters.ca/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:422f774f:7b1ea796cc318c1e?type=topNews&localeKey=en_CA&storyID=7857008 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050309.wimmolate0309/BNStory/National/ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1110376907107_3/?hub=TopStories http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=a2732b72-6c06-47b0-acec-b0c90d4eb2bc Anaesthetists stage walkout over shortages http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050211/TORBRIEF11-1/TPHealth/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050211.wontdoct0211/BNStory/National/ Teachers, loggers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m08.shtml Phone workers, teachers take action http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m29.shtml Lesbians hold kiss-in to protest attacks http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1107048133039_7/?hub=TopStories Palestinian refugees can stay, after protests http://www.cjad.com/content/cp_article.asp?id=/global_feeds/CanadianPress/NationalNews/n022702A.htm Residents protest ferry cuts http://novascotia.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=20050308FerryCut Protests against internment in Canada http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5843 Colombia activists take on Coke, Dow and the Royal Bank of Canada http://resist.ca/story/2005/2/26/25023/0759 Haida indigenous protesters blockade and protest in and around Queen Charlotte City to protect old-growth forests http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/24/1041/42966 http://omega.twoday.net/stories/590655/ http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/news/shownews.jsp?content=n032315A http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/story.html?id=60f5c86d-ad5e-4350-9b80-4a9614e84696 http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_logging-haida20050323 Another indigenous camp targets a resort development http://resist.ca/story/2005/2/27/0346/03492 Elders stage month-long sit-in for meeting with chief http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/6/7340/57483 Protesters support activist threatened with deportation http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/11/43650/0639 Blockade remains in place in Kashechewan By Teviah Moro Local News - Wednesday, January 26, 2005 @ 07:00 Demanding an apology from the OPP, members of the Kashechewan First Nation continued to blockade a winter road passing through their community Tuesday, throwing a wrench in the plans for De Beers' diamond-mine operations. Members of the Cree First Nation set up the blockade on the winter road used by De Beers Canada to access a future diamond site 90 km west of Attawapiskat when patrolling OPP officers began informing local users of the the road about Highway Traffic Act regulations. "Our rights as native people have been violated," said Deputy Chief Rebecca Friday. "We demand an apology from the OPP." Protesters are denying access to OPP officers and De Beers Canada employees but are allowing all other motorists to drive through the blockade, now entering its second week. In a news release, Kashechewan community leaders and Stan Louttit, Grand Chief of the Mushkegowuk Council, said members of the First Nation using the road to reach trap lines and wood were told by OPP they could no longer use the winter road. Though no one has been charged, some people using the road were stopped by officers and told to use another route, the news release says. The Highway Traffic Act says motorists must have driver's licences, automobile insurance and registration. As many as 80 per cent of the people living in Kashechewan, located 180 kilometres north of Moosonee, don't have driver's licences. Sgt. Mario Royer of the OPP's Moosonee detachment said he doesn't know when the blockade will end but that officers are respecting the wishes of the First Nation. "We're not attending the roadblock location. We turn around prior to the blockade." Royer said officers continue to patrol the road to maintain public safety. The long stretches of lonely highway can be dangerous for motorists with temperatures dipping down below -40 C, he said. The OPP came across motorists in a broken down vehicle during one patrol, Royer said. "They were many miles away from the nearest community." Louttit said resolve on the winter-road issue in Kashechewan is strong. Thunder Bay Comes Out On Friday, January 28th, Thunder Bay finally held a march in support of gay rights. The Indymedia Centre was packed and citizens filled the hallways making signs and passing out stickers. The march strolled down the middle of Red River Rd. to a town hall meeting to demand democratic accountability in accord with the Charter of Rights and equality for all. Organizers estimate that 120-150 people came out to protest Joe Comuzzi's stance against equal rights for gays and lesbians. Comuzzi's town hall meeting was filled to capacity with strong views and passionate speeches on both sides but it was clear that the gay community and their allies were well represented. Prime Minister Paul Martin is expected to launch a bill on Tuesday granting homosexuals equal rights under the Charter and both of Thunder Bay MPs have been expected to vote against it. Comuzzi could potentially lose his cabinet post over voting against the proposed legislation. This would eliminate the only Northern Ontario minister and impact the availability of FedNor grants to hold up many of the services in our region. The point of Thunder Bay's current development landslide and the jeopardization of our voice "in the tent" was raised serveral times by constituents. http://thunderbay.indymedia.org/ Vancouver police brutality protest http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/20/211117/152 Vancouver: international day against police brutality marked http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313916.shtml March 15th, 2005, was the ninth annual International Day Against Police Brutality (IDAPB). This day of action began in 1997, as an initiative of the Black Flag collective in Switzerland, with the help of the Montreal Collective Opposed to Police Brutality. The date was chosen because on March 15th, two children, aged 11 and 12, were beaten by Swiss police. In Vancouver, this year's IDAPB started off with a hot food serving at the former Woodwards squat (a large department building in Canada's poorest neighbourhood, occupied in 2002 and evicted by riot police). Along with the food, leaflets and newsletters were also distributed, containing information on the IDAPB march scheduled for that night and profiles of Vancouver Police in-custody deaths and RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) involvement in the military occupations of Haiti, Iraq, and indigenous nations in Canada. At 7:00 pm, about 100 people gathered in Victory Square. Some flew black flags and wore masks to avoid police identification (including video surveillance and plain clothes officers). After a few short speeches, the crowd began to march down Hastings Street, led by a banner with the words: "Resist Police Control - Fight For Freedom". Another banner read: "Stolen Lives", listing some of the people who have been killed by Vancouver cops in the past few years (Gerald Chenery, Robert Bagnell, Roman Andreichikov, Christopher Ecklund, Benny Matson, Jeff Berg, and Frank Paul). A stereo pumped out anti-cop hip hop, heavy metal, and punk songs. Police kept their distance from the crowd throughout the march. As soon as the crowd arrived at the Main and Hastings police station, eggs, paint, and fireworks were tossed at police vehicles and the station itself. Police cars were hit with the wooden poles with black flags attached. The march then continued up Hastings and more fireworks were thrown around. A private security car, unmarked police vehicle, and corporate TV news van were egged. After the march dispersed, at least two people were arrested. Another four or five people were seen being handcuffed, but it was not clear whether they were released or taken to jail. Only one person used the lawyer's phone number distributed at the beginning of the march. The night's events were a distinct break from the everyday routine of submission to police control and murder. IDAPB marches also took place in Calgary, Montreal, and Phoenix (Arizona). The Montreal Gazette (corporate press) reported five arrests at the Montreal event after a scuffle with riot police. - Excerpt from the Vancouver callout by the Independent IDAPB Organizing Group: "We are not calling for a protest or a demonstration. Our purpose is not to whine to the media about how awful the police are. Instead, we want to open up space for people that are directly affected by police brutality to express their anger and take action. We are not a charity, religious, or legal group trying to save the poor. We are individuals who do not want to live under the clubs and watchful eyes of the cops, and we want to fight alongside those who feel the same way. We choose to organize independently from all political activist groups and parties, and encourage others to form affinity groups and initiate actions against police control. In every society the police are the frontline soldiers and occupying army in service of the rich. Vancouver itself is the product of the violent displacements, imprisonment and forced religious indoctrination of the indigenous peoples of the Sto:lo, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. The Vancouver police murder of Frank Paul (a Mi'kmaq man) in 1998, the non-investigation of the missing women cases, and the escalated police occupation of the Downtown Eastside since April 2003 are only the most recent examples of this ongoing legacy of colonialism. The police brutality and killing that make the headlines are only the tip of the iceberg. The root of the problem is the parasitic economic system that the cops are paid to defend. The Vancouver Police Department is fighting a war for control of the city. With the Safe Streets Act and the ongoing yuppification of Vancouver neighbourhoods, this war can only escalate. IDAPB is a step towards building effective resistance to the police at a practical level. With respect to the memory of Vancouver residents killed by the police (Gerald Chenery, Robert Bagnell, Roman Andreichikov, Christopher Ecklund, Benny Matson, Jeff Berg, Frank Paul, and others), let's take the streets on March 15th." Adil Charkaoui joins Montreal protest against security certificates Sat Mar 26 EILIS QUINN MONTREAL (CP) - Suspected Moroccan terrorist Adil Charkaoui joined several dozen people [actually between 300 to 400 at peak] Saturday to protest national security certificates used to detain alleged terrorists without trial or charges. "I had a normal life like everybody and then one day, (the Canadian Security Intelligence Service) decided I was a threat to national security," said Charkaoui, 31, who was detained under a certificate for almost two years before being released under stringent bail conditions in February. "They arrested me, they didn't show any proof and they told me I was very dangerous," he said, pulling up his pantleg to show the electronic ankle bracelet he must wear. "I am just asking for justice ... I want the government to give me a fair trial to clear my name and show I'm not a terrorist." Charkaoui, who is fighting the security certificate, is among five men who have been detained under the certificates since 2000. The small crowd walked along downtown Ste-Catherine Street carrying signs and banners, calling for the end of "racist scapegoating." "Free the five," the crowd chanted. "Lock up Cotler. Lock up McLellan," they yelled referring to Justice Minister Irwin Cotler and Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan. Sophie Harkat, whose husband Mohammed Harkat has been detained under a certificate since December 2002, travelled from Ottawa for the protest. Her husband has been accused of being sleeper agent for al-Qaida. Last Tuesday, a Federal Court judge upheld a security certificate issued against Harkat, setting the stage for his deportation to his native Algeria. "I have enormous rage against the Canadian government," Harkat's wife said Saturday. "I'm a Canadian citizen and I don't have the right to know how my husband came to be detained for 27 months without knowing the charges or the evidence... It's unacceptable." Ahmed Jaballah's Egyptian father, Mahmoud Jaballah, 41, is fighting both deportation and his third national security certificate in Toronto after the first two certificates were thrown out. "We are out to put an end to the injustice is this country," the 18-year-old said, adding that the certificates are racist and discriminatory. "When we came to this country, we thought this was a country of freedom, liberty and democracy,"Jaballah, the eldest of six children, said. "I've failed to see that." Mary Foster, a member of the group Coalition for Justice for Adil Charkaoui, said the certificates unfairly target immigrants and must be quashed. "What's happened is an attack to the fundamental liberties in Canada," Foster said. "(The certificates) are discriminatory and used as a tool primarily against Muslims and Africans [misquote!]." Protester Christine Lavoie, 58, said she wanted to march against the certificates because they target Muslims the same way Quebecers were under the War Measures Act, invoked during the October Crisis of 1970. "My husband and his friends were imprisoned for over 30 days for doing absolutely nothing," Lavoie said. "That's why I'm against all this. It's these five men today but tomorrow it could be anyone." CANADA: (from Globe and Mail) Innu close school in protest over education Saturday, February 26, 2005, Page A7 Sheshatshiu, Nfld. -- Innu parents padlocked the doors of the school in this Labrador community yesterday, saying the provincial education system is failing their children. The parents say they won't take the locks off until the province promises to improve the dismal educational record of Labrador Innu. Sheshatshiu is one of two Innu communities in Labrador. Very few Innu have graduated from high school and the dropout rate remains extremely high. US AND CANADA: Haiti solidarity marches on anniversary of coup http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0228-08.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:26:58 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:26:58 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - USA Message-ID: <071401c53908$e837f4b0$ab30fd3e@WOL> SAIPAN: Workers strike at sweatshop Pacific island sweatshop workers strike over nonpayment of wages Some 100 garment workers on the US territorial island of Saipan in the Western Pacific's Mariana Islands walked off the job February 14 claiming they haven't been paid since December. Workers are owed between $1,500-$2,000 in back wages by La Mode Inc. Workers who gathered at the US Department of Labor's office in Saipan to complain about the abuse were told to wait until an investigation is completed. One worker told Marianas Variety, "They are not giving us answers. They told us to wait...but last time, like three or four weeks ago, they told us they were investigating. Now, they can't tell us anything." Saipan has served as a haven for Asian Pacific sweatshops for major US retailers. By shipping from Saipan-a US territory-import barriers can be avoided. At the same time, the island's labor force is not protected by US labor law, resulting in windfall profits for manufacturers and retailers. HAWAII: Protest against land-sale on Molokai; protesters try to stop the sale by storming the auction http://kgmb9.com/kgmb/display.cfm?storyID=3805 http://khon.com/khon/displayStory.cfm?storyID=3937 http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=6769 http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=4780 UNITED STATES: TACO BELL VICTORY! Workers turn protest into party http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/11120984.htm Unions hold "informational picket" over unfair labour practices by Ciminelli http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20050215/localnews/1990644.html Deerfield teachers protest over lack of new contract http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/local/index.ssf?/base/news-11/110846281846820.xml Social workers picket over healthcare dispute http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13944730&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6 Library workers protest as bosses spend on RFIDs instead of staff http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=17602 Former Ozalid factory workers protest over benefits owed for decades http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/feature/display/500/index.php WalMart worker, fired for unionising, goes on hunger strike http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10646/index.php WalMart workers protest http://kcindymedia.org/feature/display/2087/index.php IWW stage rally in Milwaukee http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/202997.shtml Justice for Janitors rally, Oregon http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/312617.shtml Pizza Time workers strike http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/07/1722220 Philosophers picket to support hotel workers http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/23/6269749 Garbage strike ends in New Jersey http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m01.shtml Transit, crane, chemical strikes http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m08.shtml Tire workers strike and demonstrate http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml Long electricity strike ends in New Jersey http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml UAW strike in Buffalo http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml Virginia nursing home workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml Truck drivers strike at postal agency http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m29.shtml Muslim workers walk out over attack on prayers http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m15.shtml Miners and supporters rally in Utah http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6912/691202.html Veterans' Home nurses protest overtime policies http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=90509D16-2061-455A-9DAC-9BF77AFEB9D6 http://www.vvdailypress.com/2005/111054921836443.html Florida taxi drivers protest against move towards smaller number of companies at airport http://www.abc-7.com/articles/readnews.asp?articleid=2790&z=2&p= Teachers storm city hall and briefly prevent controversial pay-bargaining meeting http://www.masslive.com/hampfrank/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-7/111225906975570.xml&coll=1 Georgetown students stage hunger strike to win living wage for uni workers http://www.counterpunch.org/swanson03182005.html http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1236&mode=&order=0 SPECIAL - 24 Mar 2005 BREAKING NEWS: Hunger Strike at Georgetown Over, All Demands Met At Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., the hunger strike has just ended. Twenty-two students went on hunger strike nine days ago to demand a living wage for University employees. All 10 Demands that the Stundent Solidarity Group had made have been met by the University. Workers protest plan to raise SEPTA fares Monday, February 28 2005 @ 03:59 PM PST By Joel Bewley Inquirer Staff Writer A group of retail workers concerned about SEPTA's proposed fare increases and service cutbacks marched along South Street yesterday to rally support for mass-transportation funding. The South Street Workers Union's 20 or so members - "workers who are poor, without cars, who come from the ghettos of this city" - would be the most affected by the changes, march organizer Andrew Rothman said. "This would never happen in the suburbs or in a wealthy city," he said. "We are an easy target for a conservative legislature." SEPTA faces a budget shortfall of $49 million. The agency is preparing to raise fares by 25 percent and slash services by 20 percent. The changes, which would include a $2.50 cash fare, would go into effect Sunday unless another solution was found in Harrisburg. City representatives on SEPTA's board vetoed a move to increase the cash fare to $3. The board will try to override that veto March 24, SEPTA officials have said. If the legislature cannot agree on a funding package, Gov. Rendell has promised to transfer federal highway money to enable the state's mass-transit agencies to operate through June. Rothman said the inability of lawmakers to create a bipartisan solution showed they were out of touch with the workers who depend on mass transportation. The increase in a monthly pass, which would be $27.50 if SEPTA's board prevails, "would be devastating to people who are living at or below the poverty line," Rothman said. Also, a decrease in service would make it harder for some to get to work on time, he said. Rothman and about 40 others marched with a police escort from Broad Street to Second Street, carrying signs and chanting slogans such as "Stop the SEPTA cutbacks." The union, affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World, has workers at eight stores, Rothman said. As of yesterday morning, 97 of the 104 South Street businesses approached by the union had signed its petition calling for the legislature to fully fund mass transit. If the fare increases go through, the union plans to ask employers for higher pay to cover the difference. Marchers used a bullhorn to heckle businesses that had not signed the petition. The result was two more signatures. "I'm just trying to help the people," said Mark Coskun, manager of a Domino's Pizza, who, after signing the petition, said he did not know whether he was authorized to do so. "I have nothing to worry about, right?" A plan to enter Whole Foods Market was thwarted when general manager Lance McAllister told the group the protest had to stay outside. "If you want to come in and shop, that's fine," he said. As the march ended, the petitions were handed to State Rep. Babette Josephs (D., Phila.), who said she was the only member of the legislature who used public transportation instead of a car. Josephs said more grassroots demonstrations were needed to show how important mass transportation was to state residents. "There is nothing in this country that is good that does not start in the streets," she told the crowd. Protests over school closures in Providence http://www.wpri.com/Global/story.asp?S=2949288 Chadsey school closure protested http://www.clickondetroit.com/education/4195392/detail.html Walkout at second Detroit school over closure http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_3549527,00.html http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/4200284/detail.html Demo over disability benefit cuts in Texas http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=131342 Protests over shortages in Ohio schools http://www.nbc4i.com/education/4184771/detail.html http://www.nbc4i.com/news/4180492/detail.html Parents protest end of special needs programme in Missouri http://columbiamissourian.com/news/story.php?ID=12010 Maine mental health advocates protest cutbacks http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/050209lynchswap.shtml Minnesota students turn out to protest for freeze in tuition fees http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/10863297.htm Benicia parents and children protest school cuts http://www.timesheraldonline.com/Stories/0,1413,296~31531~2696278,00.html School students rally against transfer of principal (and win) http://miva.jacksonsun.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?NEWS/news_storyV2005.mv+link=200503137033486 Trade unionists march against service cuts and fare increases in Philly http://www.phillyimc.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/23/0014247 Harrsburg public transport rally http://www.phillyimc.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/20/0049256&mode=thread Nashville residents demonstrate against wanton mosquito spraying http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4734/index.php Michigan protest against privatisation of social security http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=3058714&nav=0RbQXKU2 New York health protesters target Pataki budget http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/03/10/healthca.htm http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--hospitals-statebu0309mar09,0,782015.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=3053423 War veterans protest over disability payments http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=26774&archive=true Memphis students protest cuts http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=3139035 School students boycott exams in corruption protest http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/032905/sub_leap001.shtml "Pink slip" protest over education cuts in San Jose http://www.nbc11.com/news/4318669/detail.html Parents protest three-hour bus drives http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14215014&BRD=1714&PAG=461&dept_id=73829&rfi=6 Vigil protests South Bay school closure http://www2.cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_081141438.html Students, parents protest principal's firing http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=31934 Harsen Island residents protest at board meeting over school cuts http://www.voicenews.com/stories/032905/loc_school001.shtml Veterans heckle over disability payments http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=26774&archive=true Rally to support sacked radical academic http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10676/index.php Marchers support Ward Churchill http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10617/index.php CU faculty demand end to witch-hunt http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10428/index.php Hawaii students and staff protest firing of art teacher http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Mar/12/ln/ln31p.html http://www.kaleo.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/11/423155eb3df5c Parlier high-school students stage walkout to protest cuts http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/news/031105_nw_parlier.html Students protest SUNY tuition fee hike http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=3039259&nav=6uyNXAJs http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_066111624.html California students rally against aid cut http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_2600259 School students protest cuts to outreach programmes for deprived students http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=17909 Rally to support lecturer threatened with dismissal for refusing to teach weekends http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2005/03/09/local/iq_3424416.txt Harvard women protest sexism http://www.thecrimson.com/today/article506346.html School students protest against ripped jeans ban http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14225792&BRD=1719&PAG=461&dept_id=25271&rfi=6 http://www.ksdk.com/news/illinois_article.aspx?storyid=77247 Oregon forest destruction protested - Earth First set up blockades Biscuit and Fiddler "fire clearance" timber sales, which are cutting roadless, old-growth forests in the Siskiyou region, are targeted http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0307timbersale-protest-ON.html http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2005/03/08/news/oregon/state02.txt http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1110209237299520.xml&storylist=orlocal http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0308/local/stories/01local.htm http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1000718&tw=wn_wire_story http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Timber%20Sale%20Protest http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2005/2005-03-08-09.asp http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313999.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313534.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313412.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313420.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313303.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313080.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313319.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/312907.shtml http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/18/83411/5721 http://www.counterpunch.org/koehler03152005.html http://www.counterpunch.org/donnelly03092005.html http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/031605EC.shtml http://counterpunch.com/white03232005.html http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/03/25/news/oregon/friore05.txt 200 rally in solidarity with forest defenders http://rogueimc.org/en/2005/03/4126.shtml Lake Wateree protesters target land sale http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/11120950.htm Protest to save electric cars - 2 arrested http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0316-08.htm Farmland defenders refuse award in protest at funding cuts http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-20/111046957863750.xml Protesters erect giant tripod in downtown Portland http://www.koin.com/news.asp?RECORD_KEY%5Bnews%5D=ID&ID%5Bnews%5D=1894 http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/03/31/d3.or.forestprotest.0331.html http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1112266957183770.xml Taking Protest to Bank Chief's Home Street, 3 Activists Face Charges By ALISON LEIGH COWAN Published: March 13, 2005 GREENWICH, Conn., March 12 - In this fashionable, well-to-do part of Connecticut, the home of a titan of industry could easily be mistaken for a castle. But what does that make the street outside his gated driveway? Three environmental activists who ventured last weekend onto the well-appointed street where the chief executive of J. P. Morgan Chase lives may help settle the question. Within a half-hour of their arrival, they were charged with disturbing the peace for their roles in tacking posters critical of the bank's environmental record on telephone poles and trees. The posters were designed as old-fashioned "Wanted" posters, featuring photographs of the chief executive, William B. Harrison Jr., referred to as "Billy the Kid" in the accompanying text. The posters criticized the bank for what was described as its "reckless investment in environmentally and socially destructive projects in dozens of countries," and urged anyone who spotted Mr. Harrison to "ask him to do the right thing." Annette Lamoreaux, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, said her office was considering getting involved in the case. "I find this extremely troubling," she said. "These arrests were clearly based on the content of the posters that were put up, which on their face are protected speech." Such activity, she said, "was protected under the First Amendment." She paused momentarily before adding, "even in Greenwich." The activists, who say they have never been arrested before, were working on behalf of the Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco, which seeks to stop climate change as part of its mission. It has accused the major financial companies of financing projects that damage the environment, in industries like energy, mining and logging. Last year, the group elicited broad concessions from Citigroup and Bank of America, two of the largest domestic banks, but not from J. P. Morgan Chase, another top-tier bank. A spokesman for J. P. Morgan Chase, Brian Marchiony, said the bank had said it would review its environmental policies by last fall, but had to delay a decision until next month because of its recent merger with Bank One. "We're on track for April," he said. He also noted that Mr. Harrison was not home on March 5, the day of the arrests. Both Mr. Marchiony and Lt. Daniel Allen, a Greenwich police spokesman, said the executive had had no contact with the police. The Greenwich police ordered the two activists who work as organizers for the Rainforest group, Althea Erickson, 24, of Manhattan, and Jess Eisen, 23, of Brooklyn, to appear in Stamford Superior Court for arraignment, now scheduled for March 28. They were charged under state law with disturbing the peace and violating the town's ordinance against posting unauthorized bills on public property and were released after posting $500 bonds. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/nyregion/13greenwich.html?oref=login Police brutality protested - 100 rally over beating by Milwaukee police Speaker calls politician "dumb-ass" and cops "KKK killers" http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/feb05/301803.asp http://www.cbs58.com/cbsdata.cgi?_dhweb=form&_lt23r=home&kv=headlinenews.headlinenew_id=6516 http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/feb05/300761.asp Murder of child by LA police protested - rappers galvanised http://www.sohh.com/thewire/read.php?contentID=6718 Oakland curfew for probationers protested http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2863347 http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/03/BAGSKBJKJ01.DTL Denver cops provoke confrontation with Colorado AIM http://www.coloradoaim.org/blog/ Students and activists protest against imminent deportation of Boston schoolteacher http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/02/students_activists_protest_imminent_deportation_of_boston_school_teacher/ http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=71207 Protesters target racist immigrant hunt http://austin.indymedia.org/feature/display/19349/index.php http://austin.indymedia.org/newswire/display/19347/index.php Philly demo for Mumia http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2005/02/819200.shtml Hip-hop community rallies against HOT FM racism http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/143676/index.php Immigrants rally in Queens against crackdown on driving licenses http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/143752/index.php Home demo targets racist Feinstein http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728519.php Anti-immigrant crackdown sparks protests in California http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=620 Huge protest against attack on immigrants' driving licenses in Utah http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600117078,00.html Protest at Dakota uni over use of Sioux logo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OreadDaily/message/682 Tribes protest wastewater snow on sacred mountain http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096410246 San Diego protest against Hannity and Fox News http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/107977.shtml Protesters claim Latina doll stereotypes neighbourhood http://www.nbc5.com/news/4329682/detail.html Protests after student suspended for fighting racists http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102~8860~2790989,00.html Protests against the murder of Terri Schiavo http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=OGT1UVRM41GDKCRBAEZSFEY?type=domesticNews&storyID=7977535 Hero who takes gun to defend Terri Schiavo, arrested by pigs to protect murderers http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-brain-damaged-woman-arrest,0,5925065.story Woman stages hunger strike in solidarity with Schiavo http://www.ktbs.com/news-detail.html?cityid=1&hid=25909 Disability protesters rally for Schiavo in Houston http://www.click2houston.com/news/4328274/detail.html And in Austin, Texas http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=134189 Six children arrested for trying to deliver water http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=3129402&nav=2gQcXx66 "We Love Our Tubes!" Disabled Activists are Demonstrating in Florida. 3-27-5 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2005 -- Disability activists are returning to Florida to tell the simple truths about tubes: feeding tubes, breathing tubes, peeing tubes and other tubes we need and love. Disabled people in wheelchairs will demonstrate and explain the realities of everyday life with tubes, confronting society's obvious horror and revulsion with our dignity and disability pride. Terri's feeding tube is the central issue. This is the reason she is being killed. Disability activists must express our ridicule for the pathetic response of the nondisabled majority to these simple pieces of latex rubber. This case hinges on the fact that Terri uses a feeding tube, which to disabled people is no big deal -- it's just another piece of adaptive equipment. "Right now the case is settled, people are thrown back on their own beliefs, while "experts" continue to present the story as a misbegotten political intervention in a private matter," said John Kelly of Boston Not Dead Yet, "a tragic medical case in which doctors are united in their certain diagnosis that nothing is going on inside her head , and a tragic family matter in which her "husband" really does want the best for her, which is death. And people agree -- and this is absolutely crucial -- because THEY THEMSELVES would rather be dead than like Terri Schiavo. "We have been trained, over and over again, that if we only concealed our differences, tucked that legbag tube -- for draining urine -- under the pants leg, never talked about incontinence, that we could be (at least partially) accepted," Kelly continued. "But the shame that we are meant to bear keeps us down more effectively than anything that anyone could do to us." "It's time for the press to talk to the real experts on the Schiavo case - the disability rights movement", declared Diane Coleman, president and founder of Not Dead Yet, leading the disability community's opposition to non-voluntary euthanasia for a decade. "That's why 26 national disability rights organizations, including groups like Not Dead Yet, independent living centers, DQIA, and others have adopted a position in support of Terri Schiavo's right to continue to receive food and water," affirmed Stephen Drake, research analyst for NDY. "People on the right are killing us slowly with cuts to the budget and Medicaid while the people on the left kill us quickly and call it 'compassion' -- either way we end up dead -- AND WE OBJECT." Not Dead Yet is a national disability rights organization that leads the disability community's efforts to oppose legalization of assisted suicide, euthanasia and other forms of medical killing. -- Campaigns against WalMart in Oregon http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313184.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/312777.shtml Police harass Portland Critical Mass http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/02/312240.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/02/312263.shtml New York Critical Mass still under police attack http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/142561/index.php Anarchist/anti-imperialist march on St Patrick's Day in New York http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/144679/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/143775/index.php Irish Republican Socialists Win Third Place Recognition in San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade The Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America's San Francisco Bay Area Chapter participated in San Francisco's annual St. Patrick's Day parade for their 19th time this year. They did so by once again organising an anti-imperialist contingent around the slogans: "No War But Class War" and "U.S. and Britain Out of Iraq, Out of Ireland". Joining the IRSCNA's members in the marching contingent were members of the All-African People's Revolutionary Party and the Latin American Left publication El Nuevo Topo. The IRSCNA extends its sincere _expression of gratitude to these comrades for helping us ensure that statements against the war and occupation in Iraq were heard within the parade this year. Following the anti-imperialist contingent was a panel van, converted into a moving billboard which both commemorated the 30 years of struggle for national liberation and socialism by the Irish Republican Socialist Party and Irish National Liberation Army and reiterated the joint slogans: No War But Class War! U.S. and Britain Out of Iraq, Out of Ireland! The IRSCNA chapter was please to hear this week that their van entry was awarded Third Prize in the "Irish, Other" category, while the Anti- Imperialist Contingent took fourth place in its category. Following the parade, as the have done for a number of years now, the San Francisco chapter celebrated with Nachos and Margaritas at the office with their own comrades and the friends who joined them in marching this year. Members of the chapter strongly attest to the superiority of this combination of snacks and libations over the traditional Irish American corned beef and green beer...and, befitting a post parade celebration, a revolutionary good time was had by all. A week later, the IRSCNA's Bay Area chapter joined in the March 19th demonstration against the war and occupation in Iraq, where they again raised the revolutionary anti-war slogans of the IRSP in city of San Francisco. Their information table at the rally in the San Francisco Civic Center was kept busy by a steady stream of interested sympathizers. Colton, California school students protest dress code and sackings of staff Two-hour class walkout held, roof occupied, some objects thrown http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2932474 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-iebrief11feb11,1,1390058.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=3&cset=true http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/10870304.htm?1c UTEP students rally against Asarco smelter Darren Meritz El Paso Times Students at a rally and march at the University of Texas at El Paso on Wednesday urged school officials to state the university's position on Asarco's effort to re-establish smelter operations in El Paso. Several hundred students filed into UTEP's Leech Grove for "The Asarco Awareness Concert," a program organized by a coalition of student organizations that want to stop Asarco from re-establishing smelter operations in El Paso and that want to clean up land contaminated with lead, arsenic and other pollutants. But Asarco officials said several studies have been conducted that deem the soil and air at the university safe. "Several sources have said that the soil at UTEP is safe, the air at UTEP is safe and that no further action needed to be taken," said Teresa Montoya, outside public relations consultant for Asarco in El Paso. According to an EPA study completed in August 2001, the average concentration of lead in the soil at UTEP exceeded current state and federal limits for young children at three locations: Leech Grove, Memorial Triangle and Jack C. Vowell Hall. But because the university does not have a large population of young children on its campus, and because the levels of lead and arsenic found in soil at UTEP's day-care center and student housing were below screening values, EPA officials said no cleanups were required at UTEP. University officials said Wednesday that they preferred to see the Asarco smelter remain closed. "The university is not actively supporting the renewal of the permit," said Richard Adauto, assistant to the president at UTEP. "Much like everybody else in this area -- I don't know for how many years the plant's been closed -- but we would prefer it stay that way." Students involved said that they were working with Mayor Joe Wardy's office, state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, and several grass-roots neighborhood organizations, and that they also wanted to work with the university. "All we want is what the rest of El Pasoans want --for (UTEP administration) to publicly state that they don't want Asarco to reopen, so we know we have the university at our back," said junior anthropology student Jacqueline Barragan, who has been active in student activities regarding Asarco. "We want to know that the administration is going to protect us." Darren Meritz may be reached at dmeritz at elpasotimes.com; 546-6127 Protester throws shoe at Perle http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=511955 Bush poster tagged http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/122943.php Bush statue redecorated http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/37372.php Neocon billboards tagged http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/122927.php Pittsburgh Bush visit protested http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/17579.php Bush "greeted" by protesters in New Jersey http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0304-06.htm And in Memphis http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2005/Jan-Feb/W_Jan-Feb05.htm http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3063529 http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3063529 Anti-Bush road rage http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/10/national/main679334.shtml Bush visit to Shreveport protested http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050311/NEWS/50311006 Soldier's uniform hung up in peace protest http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200502%5CNAT20050215a.html http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2953818 Military recruiters protested on campus http://www.nyunews.com/news/campus/8878.html Massachusetts march against war http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Stories/0,1413,101~7516~2713931,00.html Beinicia peace vigil reaches its 100th Thursday http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/02/12/BAGQTB9I0F1.DTL California "hour of resistance" rekindles student anti-war protest http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=31914 Minnesota: Protesters stage rally and civil disobedience at weapons factory http://twincities.indymedia.org/feature/display/20202/index.php http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/22596/index.php Milwaukee banner drop http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/203016.shtml Santa Monica students protest military recruiters http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123819.php Police harass peace protesters in Venice, LA http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123684.php Oregon military families hold "troops out" demo http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/312710.shtml Women in Black protest in Dallas http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=1833 Code Pink Valentine's Day peace protest http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/17333.php Anti-war graffiti in Kansas http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/1386312.html March defends anti-recruitment activists http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-1/536/536_12_CCNY.shtml Banksy smuggles peace art into US museums http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0325-01.htm Students protest army recruitment test http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/616/616p18c.htm San Francisco peace activists target military recruiters on campus http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_2603424 Seattle counter-recruiters mobilise http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/210741_protest04.html http://montages.blogspot.com/2005/01/seattle-central-community-college.html Fighting the poverty draft - protesters target recruitment centres http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=9257&s2=29 Imperial Recruiting Stations Under Siege "I've had people throwing objects at me when I was driving by. I've had people who as soon as they see me on the street, they cross to the other side. Those situations never occurred before, and it makes me wonder how far is this all going to go." February 21, 2005 By DAMIEN CAVE (Source Unknown; from internet.) EAST ORANGE, N.J. - The five United States Army recruiters who work from a storefront office here arrived on the morning of Feb. 5 to discover that a plate-glass window above the main entrance had been shattered, along with a window in the Navy office next door. By noon, about 35 protesters were marching out front with antiwar placards, condemning the American invasion of Iraq and the recruiters' efforts to enlist new soldiers. The group's leader, Lawrence Hamm, a New Jersey civil rights activist, said the protesters had nothing to do with the broken windows, and he condemned any violence against the recruiters. The police have not found any evidence of a political motive. But for the men on the other side of the broken glass, and recruiters throughout the New York area, the vandalism here underscored what they say are the risks of signing up young people for the military during a war that has polarized the American public. The shattering of windows here followed two similar incidents in New York City and a third in the Midwest that week. On Jan. 31, authorities said, recruiters at a station near the Flatiron section of Manhattan reported that a door had been cracked, and that anarchist symbols had been scrawled in red paint on the building. That same day, before dawn, the police arrested a 19-year-old Manhattan College junior who they said threw a burning rag into an Army recruiting station that was closed for the night in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, and jammed the door locks with powerful glue. He was caught carrying a handwritten note declaring that a "wave of violence" would occur throughout the Northeast on Jan. 31, aimed at the "military industrial complex" in response to American military actions, the police said. A day later in Toledo, Ohio, a bucket of manure was thrown at the window of a recruiting station that housed all four branches of the military, the police said, and antiwar obscenities were scrawled on a nearby wall. Since the beginning of 2003, there have also been more than a dozen other often violent incidents aimed at military recruiters or property throughout the country, according to the police, recruiters and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a few cases, vehicles have been set on fire; in others, blood has been thrown through windows. Spokespeople for the armed services have downplayed the incidents even as some recruiters have increased security at their stations. Douglas Smith, a spokesman for the Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky., said that no recruiters had been hurt and that most of the nation's nearly 1,700 Army recruiting stations had not been harmed or attacked. "We're aware that there are some instances of damage to stations, and we're keeping an eye on this," he said. "But it is not something that has us overly concerned." Several recruiters in the field, however, said that they remained on edge. On Jan. 20, the day of President Bush's inaugural, several hundred students at Seattle Central Community College surrounded two Army recruiters on campus, shouting insults and hurling water bottles until the recruiters were escorted away by campus security. The protest was covered by The Army Times, and several recruiters said that they feared such situations might become more common. Sgt. First Class William C. Howard, a recruiter here in East Orange, said that the antiwar sentiment seemed to have grown more aggressive. Though recruiters are still frequently thanked for their service, he said, the insults, dirty looks and other signs of discontent seem to be increasing. "Within last year, the whole security issue has become more of a concern with me," he said. "I've had people throwing objects at me when I was driving by. I've had people who as soon as they see me on the street, they cross to the other side. Those situations never occurred before, and it makes me wonder how far is this all going to go." (from GI Special) SCSU Antiwar Kicks Recruiters Off Campus!! February 25, 2005, UIC Group This is a report from a friend in New Haven CT In less than 90 minutes, students at Southern CT. State Univ. successfully chased the recruiters from the Army National Guard from the student center on wed. Feb. 23, 2005. There were about twenty students that took part in making sure that the recruiters had no chance in signing anyone up for an unjust war that has devastated soldiers by the thousands in this country while destroying the people of Iraq by the hundreds of thousands. The Army National Guard was scheduled to be on campus from 11am to 4pm on the 23rd via an "invitation from career services at Southern" according to a spokesperson in the student center office. The SCSU Antiwar Coalition decided to arrive early (pre-emptively) and set up our message of antiwar at around 10:30 am at their reserved table. We made certain to have a ton of literature and information, such as, numerous CAN pamphlets like "The Growing Soldiers Discontent" and "Occupation is Not Liberation", as well as the Pablo Peredes Petition, and plenty of Traveling Soldier issues. Also the recent Socialist Worker issue was extremely effective due to the fact that three of the most outspoken resisters are front and center: Peredes, Kevin Benderman, and recently freed Camilo Mejia. We also made a concerted effort to let people know about the upcoming March 19 demonstration in Hartford, CT that marks the two year anniversary of the illegal U.S. invasion of Iraq and how everyone that is disgusted by the continued occupation has to get involved now! We stressed the need for people to get involved in building the strongest possible antiwar coalition at Southern and why it is such an urgent campaign for us to get the recruiters off this campus that has already seen 127 of our fellow students go off to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq. Passing students were very receptive in hearing the argument as to why the recruiters are here in the first place at a working class commuter school, why they have to lie to get students to sign up, and why they should leave and not come back. Southern students like millions across the country face increased tuition (going on nine consecutive semesters at SCSU) and numerous budget cuts that has created increased anger and frustration and the last thing we need is the Army claiming that they have "an alternative". As for the action itself, the Army set up around 11:15 am, next to us (after one of the vendors selling clothes gave up a table for them) and we immediately made their attempt to engage students impossible. First, about four of us blocked their table and handed out counter-recruitment info while the students behind our table grilled the two recruiters with questions about why they were here, why do they openly discriminate against our gay, lesbian, and transgender brothers and sisters, and how quickly will those who sign up go off to war somewhere in the world that is based on lies. Needless to say they were not thrilled by any of this and like a couple of third graders "told on us" to the student center representative within twenty minutes. By this time we had at least 8-10 students facing the Army holding signs ranging from "Get off our campus" to "Money for School, not for War" and Recruiters out, Troops Home! The student center rep wanted to meet with a couple of us and expressed that there was a problem to which we agreed by stating "yes there is a major problem, why is there an institution on this State campus that openly discriminates based on sexual orientation?" The response was typical "oh well they were invited by career services, if they were here on their own accord WE would kick them off for you". Really, how comforting to know that. Thus, the Antiwar Coalition has a meeting with career services to discuss why they would ever invite the Army on campus and do they plan on it in the future. Ultimately, we agreed to not to stand directly in front of the table, but it was at that time we started to get more confident and aggressive in our outreach and by 12:30 pm the Army needed reinforcements. Along came the third recruiter who after only a few minutes was so angry and red in the face that he could have easily been in a cartoon where their head explodes. By 12:45pm they decided to pack it up and call it a day after not getting one person to even make an appointment, let alone sign up for "duty". Interestingly enough the student center rep walked them out and was heard apologizing for the trouble, what a stunner! More importantly, the three recruiters left while we began chants of "Money for school, not for war...money for healthcare, not for war" which then erupted into cheers when they were completely off of OUR campus. It was actually shocking to almost all of us that they left so early, we really did not anticipate them giving in so quickly but when they saw that they were wasting their time they took off. We were extremely excited but were quick to say that this is just the first round; they will come back(just like they have at all the other schools in this country) and with more experienced, aggressive, and most likely intimidating recruiters that will do everything in their power to sign up the next round of students for war. That is why we wrapped up by explaining how crucial it is for those who took part to spread the word to everyone they know on campus and throughout the New Haven community that in the next round we will have to be even more organized, more aggressive, and more intimidating on our own by having increased forces taking part at Southern that demands loud and clear: WE KICKED YOU OFF ONCE, NOW STAY OUT! Sorry this report was quite long but this initial victory was so damn inspiring and displayed to people that struggle is possible and necessary especially at a time when we in the antiwar movement are inundated with the myths that we cannot do anything, the country is so right-wing, and nobody will listen, let alone get involved. Well, as what usually happens when people come together and fight, these types of myths are destroyed and you have new activists that are ready and willing to continue the fight. We saw the beginning of the re-emergence of the fightback in New Haven yesterday at SCSU, let the spirit of Seattle (and countless others) continue to spread!!! The SCSU AntiWar Coalition Vandals Attack City Recruiting Station Graffiti Slogans Spray-Painted On Building By WILL MORRIS Daily News-Record Harrisonburg, Virginia February 25, 2005 Someone busted a window and spray-painted graffiti on the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in Harrisonburg, officials said on Thursday. The vandals scrawled messages related to the conflict in Iraq on windows and on the sidewalk in front of the recruiting station. They also threw two bricks through an office window, along with a jar full of red paint. One slogan read, "It's not liberation if the Iraqis don't want us there." Army Staff Sgt. Mason Ogletree, a recruiter at the center, said the vandalism didn't shock him. Recruiting offices across the country have received warnings from commanding officers saying that attacks could happen, Ogletree said. "Did we think it would happen in Harrisonburg?" Ogletree said. "No, but I can't say we were surprised." Harrisonburg police say they have no suspects, but think the vandalism took place sometime between 10p.m. Wednesday and 8 p.m. Thursday. Another slogan read, "You killed my brother" - a statement that baffles the recruiters. According to them, no one recruited from the Harrisonburg center has died in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Valley has lost two men in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to military records, but the nearest casualty, Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Redifer, 19, of Stuarts Draft, was recruited in Augusta County. The sniper died in combat in Iraq in January. The third slogan spray-painted was, "Recruiting the poor to die for the rich." Ogletree said he found the statement ironic. "It's funny, we had two guys here today, and both of their parents were doctors," he said. The two men are set to enlist today. According to Harrisonburg recruiters, the office consistently meets or exceeds enlistment goals. The Shenandoah Valley and eastern West Virginia, they say, are known for the large numbers of people who volunteer for military service. [.] By afternoon on Thursday, the paint had been cleaned and the broken window had been replaced. In the Marine Corps recruiting office late that evening, volunteers for military service smiled while being processed. They seemed unfazed by the vandalism. http://www.dnronline.com/story3.asp US: COUNTER-RECRUITERS CHARGED CITY COLLEGE STUDENT COUNTER-RECRUITERS CHARGED WITH FELONY ASSAULT March 9, 2005 Counter Recruitment Watch Projects from Peace No War Network URL: _http://www.PeaceNoWar.net_ (http://www.PeaceNoWar.net) March 9, 2005 e-mail: _wrigleyfield at nyu.edu_ (mailto:wrigleyfield at nyu.edu) Press Conference: Thursday March 10th 4pm 100 Centre Street, New York, NY CONTACTS Activist: Meredith Kolodner (917) 881-3896 Lawyers: Sean Maher, Darlene Jorif (212) 876-5500 WHO: City College Counter-Recruiters: Hadas Thier, Nicholas Bergreen, Justino Rodriguez (pending their release) and their supporters: representatives from civil liberties organizations, national anti-war organizations, student anti-war organizations, veterans and military family members, and the legal community Three undergraduate students at the City College of New York (CCNY) were arrested Wednesday in the course of a peaceful protest against military recruiters. Hadas Thier, Nick Bergreen, and Justino Rodriguez, along with approximately a dozen other protesters attended a job fair organized by the college, and stood up in front of a National Guard recruitment table chanting anti-war slogans. Private security and campus peace officers immediately surrounded the protesters, pushed them into an empty hallway outside of the job fair, closed the hall door and assaulted two protesters and arrested a third who was taking pictures. The two students who were assaulted are now being charged with felony assault, and the third with obstruction of a government administrator. MILITARY RESPONDING TO COUNTER-RECRUITER'S SUCCESS "Counter-recruitment" has become a national issue (USATODAY "Counter- recruiters shadowing the military" 3/7/5), and it's working. Between these efforts, and general disagreement about the war, recruitment is down - according to a 3/6/5 Reuters report, "The regular Army is 6 percent behind its year-to-date recruiting target, the Reserve is 10 percent behind, and the Guard is 26 percent short." After similar counter-recruitment efforts have taken off from New York to Seattle, the military has clearly become concerned. At William Patterson University in New Jersey an activist was arrested for simply handing out counter-recruitment leaflets. Twice last semester, CCNY student protesters drove military recruiters off the campus with peaceful protests. This time campus security was ready. "We didn't even get through one round of chanting," according to Tiffany Paul, a junior at CCNY and a member of the Campus Anti-War Network, who was one of the protesters. "We were completely peaceful, it was the officers who were violent." UNNECESSARY BRUTALITY When Mr. Rodriguez was being arrested, his head was slammed into the wall. He called out "look what they're doing to me!" According to Ms. Paul, to silence him one of the guards pulled Mr. Rodriguez's hood over his head and slammed his head into the wall again. "He just stood on the guy," remembers Mark Turner, a staff member at CCNY, recalling the manner in which Mr. Bergreen was subdued by a private security guard, Mr. Robertson. "His foot was on his back, after he had tackled him. Private security are not supposed to touch us." Ms. Thier was arrested simply for taking pictures. Several witnesses recall that the guards were pulling on her hair. Juan Alduey remembers that the guards pushed Ms. Thier when she tried to give a statement to students who began filming the event. "I'm being arrested for exercising my right to free speech" Mr. Alduey recalled. SCSU Antiwar Kicks Recruiters Off Campus!! February 25, 2005, UIC Group This is a report from a friend in New Haven CT In less than 90 minutes, students at Southern CT. State Univ. successfully chased the recruiters from the Army National Guard from the student center on wed. Feb. 23, 2005. There were about twenty students that took part in making sure that the recruiters had no chance in signing anyone up for an unjust war that has devastated soldiers by the thousands in this country while destroying the people of Iraq by the hundreds of thousands. The Army National Guard was scheduled to be on campus from 11am to 4pm on the 23rd via an "invitation from career services at Southern" according to a spokesperson in the student center office. The SCSU Antiwar Coalition decided to arrive early (pre-emptively) and set up our message of antiwar at around 10:30 am at their reserved table. We made certain to have a ton of literature and information, such as, numerous CAN pamphlets like "The Growing Soldiers Discontent" and "Occupation is Not Liberation", as well as the Pablo Peredes Petition, and plenty of Traveling Soldier issues. Also the recent Socialist Worker issue was extremely effective due to the fact that three of the most outspoken resisters are front and center: Peredes, Kevin Benderman, and recently freed Camilo Mejia. We also made a concerted effort to let people know about the upcoming March 19 demonstration in Hartford, CT that marks the two year anniversary of the illegal U.S. invasion of Iraq and how everyone that is disgusted by the continued occupation has to get involved now! We stressed the need for people to get involved in building the strongest possible antiwar coalition at Southern and why it is such an urgent campaign for us to get the recruiters off this campus that has already seen 127 of our fellow students go off to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq. Passing students were very receptive in hearing the argument as to why the recruiters are here in the first place at a working class commuter school, why they have to lie to get students to sign up, and why they should leave and not come back. Southern students like millions across the country face increased tuition (going on nine consecutive semesters at SCSU) and numerous budget cuts that has created increased anger and frustration and the last thing we need is the Army claiming that they have "an alternative". As for the action itself, the Army set up around 11:15 am, next to us (after one of the vendors selling clothes gave up a table for them) and we immediately made their attempt to engage students impossible. First, about four of us blocked their table and handed out counter-recruitment info while the students behind our table grilled the two recruiters with questions about why they were here, why do they openly discriminate against our gay, lesbian, and transgender brothers and sisters, and how quickly will those who sign up go off to war somewhere in the world that is based on lies. Needless to say they were not thrilled by any of this and like a couple of third graders "told on us" to the student center representative within twenty minutes. By this time we had at least 8-10 students facing the Army holding signs ranging from "Get off our campus" to "Money for School, not for War" and Recruiters out, Troops Home! The student center rep wanted to meet with a couple of us and expressed that there was a problem to which we agreed by stating "yes there is a major problem, why is there an institution on this State campus that openly discriminates based on sexual orientation?" The response was typical "oh well they were invited by career services, if they were here on their own accord WE would kick them off for you". Really, how comforting to know that. Thus, the Antiwar Coalition has a meeting with career services to discuss why they would ever invite the Army on campus and do they plan on it in the future. Ultimately, we agreed to not to stand directly in front of the table, but it was at that time we started to get more confident and aggressive in our outreach and by 12:30 pm the Army needed reinforcements. Along came the third recruiter who after only a few minutes was so angry and red in the face that he could have easily been in a cartoon where their head explodes. By 12:45pm they decided to pack it up and call it a day after not getting one person to even make an appointment, let alone sign up for "duty". Interestingly enough the student center rep walked them out and was heard apologizing for the trouble, what a stunner! More importantly, the three recruiters left while we began chants of "Money for school, not for war...money for healthcare, not for war" which then erupted into cheers when they were completely off of OUR campus. It was actually shocking to almost all of us that they left so early, we really did not anticipate them giving in so quickly but when they saw that they were wasting their time they took off. We were extremely excited but were quick to say that this is just the first round; they will come back(just like they have at all the other schools in this country) and with more experienced, aggressive, and most likely intimidating recruiters that will do everything in their power to sign up the next round of students for war. That is why we wrapped up by explaining how crucial it is for those who took part to spread the word to everyone they know on campus and throughout the New Haven community that in the next round we will have to be even more organized, more aggressive, and more intimidating on our own by having increased forces taking part at Southern that demands loud and clear: WE KICKED YOU OFF ONCE, NOW STAY OUT! Sorry this report was quite long but this initial victory was so damn inspiring and displayed to people that struggle is possible and necessary especially at a time when we in the antiwar movement are inundated with the myths that we cannot do anything, the country is so right-wing, and nobody will listen, let alone get involved. Well, as what usually happens when people come together and fight, these types of myths are destroyed and you have new activists that are ready and willing to continue the fight. We saw the beginning of the re-emergence of the fightback in New Haven yesterday at SCSU, let the spirit of Seattle (and countless others) continue to spread!!! The SCSU AntiWar Coalition Activists highlight Dirty Gold on Valentine's day http://www.nationaljeweler.com/nationaljeweler/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000799839 Campaign against WalMart in southern California http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/6461/1/253 Residents protest against WalMart building and other issues at gala event http://ws.gmnews.com/news/2005/0208/Front_Page/041.html Activists supply bicycles to Chiapas http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14018882&BRD=1395&PAG=461&dept_id=216620&rfi=6 Gabriela network celebrate IWD in solidarity with Filipinos http://manila.indymedia.org/?parentview=0&pagenumber=5 Bayan march in solidarity with Filipinos http://qc.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=397&category_id=1 http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/2910.php Palestinian rights protest targets Caterpillar http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/33907/index.php Solidarity protest at Brazilian embassy http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/119009/index.php Vigil for Darfur in New York http://www.nynews.com/newsroom/021405/b04p14candlelight.html Protesters urge university to divest from Israel http://www.browndailyherald.com/news/2005/02/14/CampusNews/Protest.Seeks.U.Divestment.From.Israel-863083.shtml Haitians protest immigration service racism and repression http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/10763150.htm?1c New York rally against Indian chauvinist http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/145790/index.php Brazil solidarity demo in New York http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/143879/index.php Catholic Worker protester arrested at Pentagon, for protesting against Sudan genocide http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/22098/index.php http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2004d/122404/122404h.php http://worcester.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/806.php Caterpillar trader targeted on Rachel Corrie anniversary http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0317-09.htm http://www.counterpunch.org/terrall03182005.html Nazis bashed in Washington DC http://www.onepeoplesproject.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=659&Itemid=2 Students protest as Republicans stage attack on affirmative action http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?AC=&ArID=86712&SecID=2 http://www.nineronline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/16/42127454149c0 ALF hit CBC office http://www.directaction.info/news_apr1b_03.htm Valentine's Day protest against foie gras goose torture http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=890D76B2-D287-4B00-80B2-8AD28D5F3E07 http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/17324.php "Wet Seal" store targeted over fur sales http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/313543.shtml Dallas protest at Canadian consulate against seal killing http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=2140&PHPSESSID=a1c9db1caa5065975c4629c83a67ffb3 Circus targeted by PETA http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0325-05.htm J-Lo restaurant targeted in fur protest http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=72760&n_date=20050313&cat=Entertainment PETA stage naked protest against factory farming http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050310/NEWS/50310003 Professor pulls out of research in protest over collaborator's taser tests on pigs http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=6161 Animal shelter employees protest over new regime - allege no-kill policy has been abandoned http://www.bentoncourier.com/articles/2005/03/24/news/42xnews.txt North Carolina: Queer Block protest anti-gay violence http://nc.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/14055.php Anti-gay protest hit by counter-protest http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=e0a3ae64-0abe-421a-0169-17e620c7f9ee&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf Global Women's Strike rally, LA http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123887.php Dallas women's day protest supports Iranian women http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=2154&PHPSESSID=a1c9db1caa5065975c4629c83a67ffb3 US Protesters rip store over birth control Friday, March 25 2005 @ 10:45 AM PST By Judy Peres Chicago Tribune staff reporter March 23, 2005 Nearly 100 people held a peaceful protest at lunchtime Tuesday outside a Loop drugstore where a pharmacist has refused to fill prescriptions for birth-control pills. In a scenario reminiscent of the 1960s, protesters chanted, "What do we want? Access! When do we want it? Now!" and carried placards reading, "Your religion does not belong in my health care." Planned Parenthood, which organized the protest outside the Osco at State and Adams Streets, says the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act does not apply to pharmacists. That law says health-care providers cannot be held liable for withholding treatment that violates their personal beliefs. But the American Pharmacists Association says pharmacists can't be compelled to dispense a medication to which they have moral objections. Nevertheless, the association says, there must be an alternative system in place to make sure the patient gets the drug her doctor has prescribed. Student AIDS march - "abstinence is the only ignorance" http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/118535/index.php Three arrested for protesting against torture http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/117171/index.php Vigils planned during execution http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3052725&nav=0Ra7XHDl Lunch boycott at Philly prison - vindictive screws stage lockdown http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/10904855.htm?1c Death row inmates end hunger strike http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ap-hunger-strike-0209,0,1911026.story?coll=hc-headlines-local Segregated inmates stage hunger strike http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/March/31/local/stories/09local.htm http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=3151023 CT: Death row inmates hold hunger strike Feb. 4, 2005 Connecticut Death row inmates hold hunger strike HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Five death-row inmates waged a hunger strike Thursday, asking to be allowed to interact with one another and calling their years of solitary confinement "inhumane and tantamount to psychological torture." The inmates said their protest was not about serial killer Michael Ross, whose execution was put on hold this week after his attorney said Ross' living conditions could have contributed to his decision to forgo further appeals. The protest, publicized by a group that opposes the death penalty, was confirmed by Department of Correction spokesman Brian Garnett. He declined to identify the participating inmates, who are at Northern Correctional Institution in Somers and are among eight prisoners housed on death row in Connecticut. "The situation is being monitored," Garnett said. In a statement, the inmates said their request for communal recreation was "not unreasonable." At present, the inmates are alone in their cells 23 hours a day, and each gets an hour of solitary recreation outside the cells. A prisoner recently described for a federal judge how death row inmates communicate by talking through air vents. "Death row inmates are extremely well-behaved and cause no problems or dangers to the correctional officers or each other," they said. The statement mentions the phenomenon know as "death row syndrome," a theory that solitary isolation can cause severe mental health problems and suicidal tendencies. They called the segregation "inhumane and tantamount to psychological torture." Medication and temporary suicide watches were not helpful solutions, they said, because inmates had to return to the same segregation and often spent decades there as their appeals wound their way through the courts. Ross' attorney has sought a hearing to examine whether Ross, who has moved to forgo further appeals and end his life, suffers from death row syndrome. The inmates said they understood Ross' actions but were not acting on his behalf. "What we are doing is simply refusing to eat for the duration, however long," they wrote. State Rep. Stephen Dargan, co-chairman of the legislature's Public Safety Committee, said he is willing to discuss conditions on death row. But he said he has little sympathy for the inmates. "I'm more concerned about the loved ones of the victims and the psychological effect it's had on their life," the Democrat said. Annette Lamoreaux, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, said the ACLU reached a settlement with the state last year that was supposed to improve conditions at Northern. But she said no changes have yet been made. Robert Nave, executive director of the Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty, which forwarded the prisoners' concerns to members of the media, said his group is not involved in the protest and does not endorse it. A news release from the network said death row inmates have no direct contact with one another but can communicate in "rudimentary ways." The group said two death row inmates are not participating in the hunger strike because they are diabetic, but were involved in drafting the statement. Ross, who has confessed to eight murders in New York and Connecticut, would have become the first person to be executed in New England since 1960. Ross had hired attorney T.R. Paulding Jr. last year to press his effort to waive his appeals and be executed as soon as possible. Paulding had pursued his client's goal until today, after U.S. District Judge Robert Chatigny criticized him for helping Ross end his life. Paulding said he needed to consider whether conditions on death row had affected Ross' mental state. Paulding has also been grappling with what he sees as a potential conflict of interest -- whether he can continue to aggressively represent Ross given the judge's denunciation of him. During a hearing on that issue Thursday, a tearful Ross came to Paulding's defense. "(Chatigny) put a guilt trip on him. That's what this is all about, and it's wrong," the inmate said. Judge Patrick Clifford gave Paulding a week to resolve any potential conflict. On the Net: Corrections Department: http://www.ct.gov/doc Connecticut Network: http://www.nodp.org/cnadp --- Source : Associated Press _http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=102866_ (http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=102866) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:27:24 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:27:24 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - PREVIOUSLY on the barricades... Message-ID: <071b01c53909$10c25fb0$ab30fd3e@WOL> Slideshow of pics from J20 (anti-inauguration protests) http://www.stratecomm.net/~fritz/gallery/slideshow.php?set_albumName=j20 More on Davos protests http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/129542/1/.html OREAD THE OTHER CRISIS IN SUDAN Sudanese police killed between 20 and 30 people and injured 40 on Saturday when they opened fire on hundreds of demonstrators in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. Abd Allah Musa Abd Allah, secretary-general, Beja Congress in Red Sea state said, "Clashes took place between demonstrators and police, lasting for almost all Friday night.". Abd Allah said he was present in the morning when 300 to 400 members of the Beja ethnic group gathered for a march to demand the Khartoum government start negotiations with the Beja on sharing power and the country's resources. "There was a special police unit that appeared and just opened fire at them before they even moved. They fired at their heads and bodies, not even in the air," he said. Three children were among those killed, he added. A hospital source said all of the wounds were from bullets. A witness, Khalil Usman Khalil said on Saturday, "Work at Port Sudan was partially stopped, and almost completely this morning, after renewal of violence, so police resorted to disperse demonstrators." Mohamed al-Din, hospitalized with a sever stomach wound, said he had been shot as armed forces stormed his house on Saturday. "They came into my house. They shot everywhere. Four of my family members were injured," he said, barely able to whisper. Three days ago members of eastern tribes, mostly the Beja, presented a list of demands to the Red Sea state governor, including wealth and power sharing. They warned they would take unspecified action if the demands were not met within 72 hours. "This time was up today and they started a march toward the governor's office," a hospital source said Friday, adding the police stopped the march before it got very far. The source said seven soldiers were injured by stones, but only civilians suffered gunshot wounds. The protests sparked a security clampdown across eastern Sudan, with arrests of Beja activists also reported in the region's other main towns of Kassala and Jebeit, officials of the opposition Beja Congress said. "Everywhere you go and look, you see groups of police and army troops giving you the impression that they are going to shoot at you," witness Abdullah Bakash said from Port Sudan. On Sunday, tensions ran high as hundreds of mourners turned out for the funerals of those killed in what Beja leaders described as a "deliberate, premeditated" attack against their community by the Arab-dominated regime in Khartoum. In the capital, Beja Congress leaders held a press conference Sunday to set out their demands. Party Secretary General Amna Dhirar called for the dissolution of the state government in Port Sudan charging that "it has failed to protect the people". She accused the security forces of heavy-handed action in the city, and demanded immediate talks with her party's leadership-in-exile in neighboring Eritrea. "They behaved as snipers, shooting in the head and inside houses," Dirar said. "They have harassed the women. It was a massacre for exterminating the Beja people." Abd Allah said it was the worst violence against citizens in Port Sudan he had seen. "I'd heard about the genocide in Darfur but now I've seen it with my own eyes here," he said. The Beja Congress, like other Sudanese opposition groups, accuses the Khartoum government of neglecting the remote regions of the country in favor of the center, which is the powerbase of the traditional political elite. Much of the tension in the Beja populated region is fed by the same factors that led to the long running war in southern Sudan: a central government that has exploited local resources, imposed its religious and cultural beliefs on historically diverse populations and consistently pitted local tribes and ethnic groups against each other for short term tactical gain. The 2.2 million Beja of eastern Sudan have been neglected by central governments for decades, leaving them vulnerable to malnutrition, famine and disease. The political wing of the Beja Congress was formed in the 1960s to voice grievances against marginalization of the region, but, frustrated by a lack of progress, began an armed struggle by the 1990s. The Beja Congress is a sub-group of the insurgent National Democratic Alliance. The non-Arab Beja tribes complain they are being marginalized and that their region is left to poverty and neglect. Beja frustration reached new heights in the 1990s when Khartoum aggressively promoted its version of Islam in the region, launching army attacks on Beja mosques and religious schools. The Beja Congress effectively controls a swathe of eastern Sudan centered around Garoura and Hamshkoraib. World Social Forum 2005 CWI member quoted in British newspaper, 'The Independent' The Independent, a London-based newspaper, ran a story on the opening day of the World Social Forum, in which Andre Ferrari, a leading member of Socialismo Revolucionario, the Brazilian section of the CWI, is quoted. This shows how the question of Lula and his governments adoption of neo-liberal policies after coming to power is provoking interest internationally.Andre Ferrari is a member of the Executive Committee of the new party P-Sol ('Party for Socialism and Liberty') which was set up as a new party for workers and youth. Once Lula was a hero of the left - now they heckle him off stage Daniel Howden, The Independent, 28 January 2005 Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was heckled on the stage at the World Social Forum yesterday by the same international activists who hailed him as a saviour when he swept to office two years ago. The left-wing firebrand sat stony-faced on stage as he was booed before delivering the keynote address at the annual alternative gathering timed to coincide with the World Economic Forum at the luxury Swiss ski resort of Davos. As Mr Da Silva entered the sports stadium in the poverty-stricken Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, there were furious calls of "Lula! Come back to reality" ringing in his ears. >From environmentalists to human rights advocates, urban workers and rural poor, left-wing activists are angry with their fallen hero for what they believe is his failure to push for social reforms at home or abroad. The charismatic leader of Latin America's biggest country has found himself caught between the two forums, and his decision to purchase a new presidential Airbus - which whisked him off to Davos last night - has further stoked the accusations that he betrayed the beliefs which swept him to his landslide election win. "Of course people can change during their lives but imagine having a plane like that and heading from Porto Alegre to Davos," said Andre Ferrari, a member of a socialist party formed last year by Brazilians who broke away from Mr Da Silva's Workers Party. Some activists said his moves seemed more in line with the conventional wisdom at the event in Davos, which the social forum was founded to counter. Ertha Buys, a member of a Brazilian group lobbying for cheap housing for the poor, said: "There's some frustration out there because Lula is the first leftist president for Brazil, and so far he's only given profits to banks and we haven't gotten anything." The Porto Alegre event has drawn more than 100,000 activists campaigning for different causes at the six-day protest, ranging from debt relief for developing countries to distribution of idle land for impoverished farmers. Once on stage, Mr Da Silva mounted a spirited defence of his first two years in office, saying Brazil is creating millions of jobs through a stabilised economy and becoming a strong political voice for the elimination of poverty from South America to Africa. His critics point out that average real wages in Brazil have dropped 6.1 per cent since he took office in January 2003 and the President has created only 2 per cent of the 250,000 jobs for young people that he promised by 2006. Many activists at the forum compared unfettered capitalism and the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq to the tsunami that struck Indian Ocean shores last month, saying the deaths caused in poor countries by First World greed were countless. "Poverty is a man-made tsunami," said John Samuel, from India, a founding member of Global Call to Action Against Poverty launched yesterday at the forum. "The biggest tyranny in the world is the tyranny of an empty stomach." 3.c The World Social Forum Sprouts Wings - Amit Sen Gupta ( this article was originally written for the February issue of Peoples Democracy) As we walked through the venue for the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre at the banks of the Guaiba river, on 23rd January, it all seemed so familiar. The WSF was back in Porto Alegre, Brazil, where it had begun in 2001 and had gained strength in 2002 and 2003, after the interlude in Mumbai in 2004. But Porto Alegre 2005 could well have been Mumbai 2004. The same surging crowds - over 100,00 in number, the same cacophony of myriad voices, the same beating of drums, the same confusion, and the same determination on the faces of people who had come to celebrate protest and resistance. And the same determination with which people debated in over 2000 events, spread over four days, and organised in the sprawling venue of makeshift tents over about 4 kms. of a green verge skirting the river. The first message from the WSF this year was: resistance and protests that confront imperialist globalisation today have assumed truly global proportions. Two years ago in the WSF in 2003, the mention of India or Mumbai was likely to be greeted with questioning looks. No more so - after the Mumbai WSF, both are firmly on the map of the WSF. As will be Africa which shall hold the Forum in 2007, as will be numerous other places in the globe as the WSF takes wings and flies to different corners. We are Not Alone The abiding memory that everybody who was in Porto Alegre brought back was a sense of solidarity, the feeling that "we are not alone". A feeling that the gross injustice that we face across the globe is being confronted by pockets of resistance all over the world. Pockets of resistance that are also starting to link up, to strategise together, to form an united surge of resistance. We saw all this happening in Mumbai, and those who were at Porto Alegre came back with the confidence that the movement to "globalise resistance" is alive and growing, and that "Another World" is indeed possible. Bush still rules at the White House, Iraq continues to be bombarded by a savage imperial monster, the WTO continues to use trade as a weapon of mass destruction, Debt continues to cripple almost the entire continent of Africa, neoliberal economic policies continue to kill in thousands across Asia and Latin America. But the WSF is about shared concerns, about hope, and about belief that the tide must turn. The WSF is also about differences - differences in what must change, and how it must change. But it is also about a conviction that we must join together in spite of differences. Diversity of Opinions The differences were there for all to see. Not just in the different languages that people spoke, in the many different ways they expressed themselves, the different ways in which they dressed, but also in the political articulation of the way forward. Possibly nothing captured this as well as the massive 100,000 strong opening march of the WSF on January 23rd. In 2003, the opening rally was akin to a victory celebration for thr then recently installed Lula Government in Brazil. Posters of Lula and flags of the PT (the Partido dos Trabalhadores or Workers Party which Lula represents) dominated the march in 2003 and vied for attention with the sea of Che Guevara posters and green Palestinian scarves. In 2005 Che still dominated the march, the Palestinian scarves were as prominent, but the posters of Lula were few and far between. Instead there were far louder voices questioning the policies of the Lula Government, some claiming that the Government was pursuing the same neoliberal policies of the previous Government. The PT was there in force with t-shirts that had "100% Lula" stamped on them, declaiming their support for the Government. The PCDoB (the Brazilian Communist Party) had a huge contingent that marched behind a massive truck from where slogans were raised that underlined their critical support for the Lula Government. The CUT (the central federation of trade unions in Brazil) also had a huge presence, with a prominent participation by large numbers of youth -- both men and women. Between this huge political mobilisation of different hues marched those who espoused a large variety of causes - ant-war and anti-Bush protestors, ant-WTO activists, environmentalists, for cancellation of global debt, for a sovereign Palestinian state, a Dignity rally lead by the landless peasants movement (MST) in Brazil with a large Indian participation from dalit groups, and so may others. With them marched artists who performed dances, skits and mimes throughout the route, some walking on ten feet high stilts. But not just these - one could also hear a few chants of Hare Krishna from saffron robed men and women and also a handful of saffron clad Ananda Marg activists. The opening march in a way depicted the diversity of the Forum, and possibly also brought out the dilemma that may in the Forum face. While all those who are at the Forum (or most at least!) acknowledge the need to come together to face the Imperial power of globalisation led by the US, the WSF "open space" continues to be a space that is bitterly contested at the level of ideas. The major actors in the WSF include the left of various shades (communists, social democrats, fourth internationalists), religious groups (many ascribing to the "liberation theology" positions and genuinely opposed to imperialism) and NGOs. There are obvious differences within all these groups regarding the characterisation of globalisation, and the tactics and overall strategic understanding regarding it. So, while what knits the Forum together is an opposition to neoliberal or imperialist globalisation (there are differences among Forum participants even about the term globalisation), there is no consensus on how it is to be opposed. Challenge of the "Open Space" This diversity in opinion and approach is both a strength of the Forum, as well as its principal weakness. The Forum derives strength from this diversity as it provides the opportunity for a very large number of movements and organisations to come together, each feeling that their views have a place in the open space of the Forum. At the same time the diverse trends and opinions leads, often, to a sense of frustration that the Forum is not able to hammer together a consensus regarding both a strategic understanding and tactics to be applied. This has led to a tendency to attempt to "force" the Forum to take unified positions. An example of this was the declaration of a "Porto Alegre" consensus by a few prominent individuals this time at the WSF. While the contents of the "consensus" suggested was fairly bland and not objectionable, what was problematic was the fact that this went against the grain of the way the WSF as an "open space" functions. The WSF was conceived as a Forum that was not designed to lead or take decisions on behalf of movements, but rather to provide enabling conditions for movements to come togerther, exchange experinces and opinions, and forge alliances. The WSF space cannot and should not dictate to movements, nor should it force movements to take unified positions unless they are willing to do so. But the impatience to move forward is sometimes being translated into trying to make the WSF a body that takes decisions and positions on behalf of movements. This is a major challenge today for the WSF: how to accelerate the space for movements to forge common actions and strategies, while at the same time keeping the space friendly for everyone opposed to neoliberal globalisation to join in. Given the complex political entitities that form part of the Forum, an attempt by any force within (however well meaning) to hegemonise the Forum at the level of ideas, might well sow the seeds of the Forum's ultimate collapse. The challenge for the Forum, thus, is not of how certain kinds of ideas may dominate, but to ensure that the Forum is truly representative of the upsurge of global opinion against imperialist globalisation. Today, large mass and political movements are handicapped in their ability to participate in the Forum, because of lack of resources. as a result the Forum tends to be dominated by large funded NGOs, largely from the North. While many of such NGOs have and are playing a major role in opposing globalisation, there is an inherent asymmetry in the participation in the Forums. It is critically important, if the Forum is to become truly representative of global mass movements, that the WSF process is able to draw in a much larger participation from such movements. This is happening to an extent and the proactive manner in which mobilisation for the Forum was done for the WSF 2004 in Mumbai - where a conscious effort was made to ensure representation of mass and political movements -- has contributed to this. But a lot has still to be done in this regarded, and if if the WSF process is to be "directed" in any manner it should be to ensure that such movements are able to come into the process in large numbers and also that they represent adequately all geographical regions of the globe. If the Forum becomes really representative, then it would really be up to the movements to use the space provided by the Forum to work out shared visions and actions. Clearly, the WSF is not going to be the forum to take forward such actions, that is something that the movements themselves would have to decide. Good Bye Porto Alegre? The 2005 Forum, while formulating the programme, had articulated in clearer terms the direction provided by WSF 2004 in trying to ensure that shared concerns and themes are not discussed in dispersed events. The attempt from the event registration process itself was to try to ensure that events are largely organised by combining the efforts of different organisations. This is a process that has to be accelerated, and the methodology used in 2005 to be evaluated to improve upon it further. The WSF 2005 had also departed from earlier practice by not having any events directly organised by the WSF - i.e. all events at the WSF 2005 were organised by individual participating organisations. The response to this innovation was mixed this year, and many felt that the absence of some large "unifying" events with broad political messages led to the diffusion of the political sharpness that the Forum was able to provide. This is again an issue that will have to be evaluated by the International Council of the WSF. In fact, in the absence of such unifying events, the only two large events this year were those addressed by President Lula of Brazil and President Chavez of Venezuala. While these were not formally part of the WSF programme, they drew huge crowds from WSF participants. The International Council decided in its meeting just before the Forum in Porto Alegre that in 2006 there would not be a single Forum, but attempt would be to organise dispersed Forums in different continents. In 2007 the Forum travels to Africa, the venue for which is being discussed within the African Social Forum process. Mumbai had shown that the WSF can be made to be a success in a setting vastly different from Porto Alegre, and the WSF is now poised to sprout wings and fly to different corners of the globe. As we prepared to leave Porto Alegre, the question on the lips of everybody who lives in the city was : is this the last Forum in Porto Alegre? We do not know the answer today. But everyone who has been in Porto Alegre for the Forum, this year or in earlier years, will hope that maybe the Forum will come back again one day to this city which embraced us all with such love and affection. Good bye to Porto Alegre for ever? Perhaps the WSF is not ready for that yet! >>VICTORY IN BOLIVIA: MASS STRIKES DRIVE OUT MULTINATIONAL fifthinternational.org, Porto Alegre In a major blow against privatisation and neoliberal policies in Latin America, the largest water services corporation in the world, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, is leaving Bolivia. It has been driven out after a determined struggle by the people of El Alto, a city near the capital La Paz. The Federation of Neighbourhood Committees (Fejuve) of El Alto organised an indefinite general strike in January to kick the company out of the city. The strike was backed by the local trade union federation, the COR, as well as the peasants organisations and was a huge success. For three days the whole population was mobilised and the roads to La Paz were blockaded. The multinational had led a consortium which was granted the contract to provide water and sewage utilities in the area. But the company in Bolivia, Suez-Aguas de Illimani, refused to invest in providing running water for over 200,000 of the inhabitants of El Alto and instead imposed a price increase for connection to the main water and sewage system. The company demanded the Bolivian state and international donors to find them funds and credit to expand the water services in the city. The population of El Alto responded saying that any donations and credit should go to a national public (state-owned) company and not to a multinational corporation making huge profits. The population demanded that water be a public service and not a private business. Faced with this situation and with the magnitude of the strike the Government issued a Supreme Decree for the termination of the contract with Suez-Aguas de Illimani not only in El Alto, but in La Paz as well. since the systems are joined. In the coming months the old municipal company will take charge until a new community company is constituted with the participation of the local population and under the control of the Fejuve. El Alto – the vanguard of the Bolivian struggle This latest battle of people of El Alto, the alte?os as they are known, is not their first and it will not be their last. In the 'gas war' against the privatisation of natural gas resources the alte?os were in the forefront of the struggle, a struggle that eventually led to the resignation of the then president Sanchez de Lozada. It was during that struggle that the Fejuve was set up, coordinating the actions of the residents of the city with meetings of the representatives of neighbourhood committees and local trade unions. The mainly Aymara population of El Alto has continued to lead the fight against the new president Carlos Mesa who has maintained the policy of privatising Bolivia's natural resources and refused to bring to justice the politicians, police and army officers responsible for the deaths of scores of anti-privatisation protestors in October 2003. As the alte?os like to say, El Alto is a city always on its feet and never on its knees. It is a poor city. Most of its residents survive on less that $2 a day. More than half the city's population do not have access to decent water and sewage facilities. But it is a city of hope; one where the people stand together in solidarity to fight for an end to poverty and injustice and for a better life. Last September the Fejuve issued a list of demands agreed to after a long discussion in the neighbourhood meetings and workplaces. The Fejuve presented this as a letter to the nation, the "Pliego Nacional". In this letter the alte?os demanded the nationalization and industrialization of Bolivia's natural gas, the recovery of state enterprises that have been privatised, the expropriation of various politicians' properties, the repeal of Supreme Decree 21060 (which in 1985 essentially established neoliberalism in Bolivia), as well as better healthcare, employment and education. But the government of Carlos Mesa refused to listen to their demands. So the Fejuve went back to the workers of the city to discuss what actions to take. They spent weeks debating what to do next. On 15th November the alte?os returned to the streets. A 24 hour general strike was organised. It was the biggest mobilisation since October 2003. The alte?os gave the government 48 hours to respond to their demands. Now the alte?os had added the demand to expel the transnational corporation Aguas de Illimani from Bolivia. Fearful of a repeat of the events of October 2003 various state and governmental officials made contact with the Fejuve to begin negotiating the demands, point by point. Even ministers and vice ministers were forced to go to El Alto to begin the negotiations. During the negotiations Fejuve President Abel Mamani made very clear the attitude of the alte?os to the private water company, 'We didn't come here to discuss what to do to improve the service or lower our bills. We're going to start with the root of the problem: Aguas de Illimani simply must leave.' The Fejuve representatives demanded all documents related to the company be handed over to them to scrutinise. The government representatives felt they had no choice but to concede to their demands. But they did not implement them. They had merely agreed to them to buy time, hoping it would defuse the situation in El Alto. After government inspections and investigations were carried out, it was claimed the company was meeting its responsibilities. Fejuve broke off negotiations with the government, and announced an indefinite general civic strike beginning Monday, 29th November 2004. The now desperate Mesa administration offered to review their contract with Suez, hoping some breach of contract by the company could be found. This way the entire process could end with the company's "legal" exit. The people of El Alto agreed to rejoin the dialogue, unwavering in their demand that the company leave, but giving the government until 20th December to comply. The company refused to co-operate threatening a resort to international law. Suez President G?rard Mestrallet is a personal friend of French President Jacques Chirac. A meeting between the Fejuve leaders and officials from the French embassy in Bolivia ended with threats of international lawsuits, and with a phone call from Chirac to Mesa enquiring about the "security of French investments" in the country. By now the workers and poor of El Alto had had enough of manoeuvres and compromises. They declared an end to the period of dialogue with the government and began organising for the indefinite general civic strike from Monday 10th January. For three days the El Alto was paralysed and the capital, La Paz, blockaded. On the morning of Tuesday, 11th January, the Bolivian government offered to terminate the contract with Suez. In the Ceja area of El Alto, near the border with La Paz, an emergency meeting was held of the more than 600 neighbourhood committee presidents. They had to decide if this was enough to end the strike, or if it was a trick and they needed to take more militant action. The meeting decided to press home their advantage. After an anxious meeting at Fejuve's headquarters, the city's nine districts agreed that night to demand the president issue a supreme decree ending the contract, and gave him twenty-four hours to do so. If not, they would march down into La Paz and occupy all of Aguas de Illimani's installations by force. The meeting had not been over for twenty minutes when the government called: the decree would be ready at 8 o'clock Wednesday morning. Yet even when this response came from the government it was inadequate, because nowhere did the decree mention expelling the company as soon as possible. Once again, the alte?os discussed how to proceed. The government's statement, they decided, would have to say "immediately," or it would be worthless. The government sent out the decree, now official, that ordered "all immediate action" be taken to terminate the contract. After three and a half days of strikes and blockades, the people met all around the city to discuss whether or not to accept Supreme Decree 27973. This time they decided it would be enough. The march on the Thursday became a victory parade and 20,000 alte?os marched into the heart of La Paz to celebrate. One woman leader of the Fejuve reflected on the events, "El Alto is on its feet and now we're going to get rid of Electropaz [the electric company owned by the Spanish Iberdrola corporation], and to win every one of our demands." ============================================================= >>>FIFTH WORLD SOCIAL FORUM MEETS IN BRAZIL By Luke Cooper, Porto Alegre Revolutionary greetings from the fifth World Social Forum (WSF) in Porto Alegre, Brazil. As we write it's 5 o'clock on the evening of the third day of the forum with three more days still to go. Its Summer time here in Brazil and throughout the forum we've been enjoying 30 degree heat and clear blue skies. This year's forum has been broken down into nine "self organised spaces" ranging from the resistance to war, debt and free trade to reclaiming media and communications from big business. The large plenaries have been abolished in favour of this decentralisation. At the centre of the event is the huge Youth Camp that has taken over Porto Alegre's central park. Far from being the ghetto that the frightened European Social Forum SF organisers warned such a space would become, young people spill out from it into the main forum itself. Perhaps as many as 70 per cent of the participants are young people. The event opened with a huge march of around 150,000 activists coming together around the slogan, "Another world is possible". It is hard to describe without slipping into the usual clich?s - incredibly diverse, colourful, vibrant, loud. Huge samba bands shamed their European cousins in terms of their size and sound. It was impossible not to feel part of a "festival of resistance" to neoliberal capital as the demo weaved around the narrow side streets before spilling onto the docks. When the unity stopped, the discussion and debate began. The following morning Lula, the president of Brazil, addressed 20,000 participants in aptly named "Gigantinio" (little giant) stadium. Two years ago, the League for the Fifth International’s delegates reported that each word he spoke was greeted with cheers from his hysterical supporters. This time the mood was sombre and quietened. His presidency has been marked by attacks on Brazil's landless peasant movement and public sector pensions. Outside, around 3,000 protested against his presence. They were made up of the Landless Workers' Movement the P-SOL (the recent split from Lula's party), and the United Socialist Workers Party. The World Assembly of the Social Movements met on the first day. For a global body with potentially so much power to rally the masses to opposition against neoliberalism and co-ordinate an international struggle, it was disappointing meeting. There was no discussion on the way forward. Indeed, there was no discussion from the floor at all! There are other meetings scheduled so we wait to see if a bold call to action will be made. Today the P-SOL had a "national meeting" - around 1,000 people attended. The tendency is made up of a number of intenrnational organisations – the Fourth International, the CWI and the IST. Leaders of various socialist groups addressed the conference. Alex Callinicos of the SWP was perhaps the least inspiring. No talk of socialism or class struggle for Alex - he told the conference "We are building something similar in Britain, a new party we call Respect." Tomorrow is the much anticipated arrival of Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez. Many sessions have dealt with his "Bolivarian Revolution". His reforms in Venezuela include introducing healthcare into slums. They have made him a hero to the impoverished workers of Latin America. We expect his reception tomorrow to resemble the cheers that greeted Lula two years ago. So, what can we make of the WSF? We must always be wary when bureaucrats preach libertarian "decentralisation". Self-organised spaces can empower oppressed groups. They can aid networking. However, they can lead to a lack of political focus. The abolition of the plenaries has cemented the leadership and control of Lula and Chavez. Yet there is a radical and international movement here, that is desperate for answers in the here and now, but wants radical solutions that can achieve the "other world" so often talked about. Chavez and Lula will soon be caught between the wishes of this movement and the wishes of the ruling classes. The activists here that have warned against trusting these leaders and fighting instead to build revolutionary parties have been warmly greeted. For our part we have raised the call for a Fifth International and been answered with applause. >SPECIAL REPORT: CLASS TENSIONS AT WORLD SOCIAL FORUM Luke Cooper and Dave Stockton report from Porto Alegre, Brazil The fifth World Social Forum (WSF) returned to the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. From 25 to 31 January it brought together 155,000 people for six days of discussion, debate and demonstrations on the fight against war, racism and neoliberalism. Though it was the biggest yet, its division into “self-organised spaces” meant that it was totally unfocused when it came to formulating any concrete strategy for achieving “another world”. This defocusing was a deliberate ploy by the organising committee, dominated by the Brazilian Workers Party (PT). It aimed to stifle criticism of their president, Lula, who is busy carrying out neoliberal “reforms”. But this in turn produced cracks in the right wing dominance of the movement, with most of the Attac France leaders joining more radical figures to produce an attempted “consensus“ of policies for the movement as whole. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez stole the show, with his mass rally far outshining that of Brazil’s Lula, who once again jetted straight off to Davos to hobnob with the World Economic Forum billionaires. The Assembly of Social Movements issued calls to action on a series of important issues including a global day of action against the occupation of Iraq on 19th March. The forum centred on the port area. Nine thematic zones, labelled A to I, stretched along the riverfront for several miles. A vast Youth Camp, occupying a large wooded park, had 35,000 young people camping throughout the week and holding a whole series of meetings, impromptu demonstrations, concerts and parties. Young people participated massively in all the areas of the “official” forum. Indeed, there was no distinction between the two and no checking of tickets. The forum’s opening demonstration brought 200,000 people onto the streets. On the demo were large contingents of the Brazilian trade union confederation (CUT) and the Landless Workers Movement (MST). Quite a few activists throughout the demo could be seen wearing “100% Lula” t-shirts, displaying their support for the Brazilian president who is now in his third year of office. Other contingents chanted slogans mocking Lula for caving in to the policies of the IMF, breaking promises on land reform, and attacking public sector workers’ rights. But this was not simply a Latin American Social Forum. Trade unions and social movements from across the globe could be found on the demo, giving it a genuine international flavour. European trade unionists marched behind Indian Dalits. South East Asian peasant organisations marched behind the World March of Women. It was certainly a moving sight to see such a truly international mobilisation against neoliberal capitalism, imperialism and war. As before, the “self-organised” spaces provided a good opportunity for networking between grassroots activists from social movements, political parties and trade unions. But the breaking up into eleven themes and the long walk between them meant that it was tempting to stay in at most two or three adjacent zones. The large plenaries, the only meetings in which the entire movement could come together, had been abolished. Of course, they were always dominated by the “big names” of the NGOs, radical academics and journalists, and the thinly disguised representative of big reformist parties. But they did, to some extent, debate competing strategies on the way forward. This debate is what is crucial. But politics abhors a vacuum. Into it stepped two Presidents – Luiz In?cio Lula da Silva (Lula) of Brazil and Hugo Ch?vez of Venezuela – despite the hypocritical ban on political parties. The League for the Fifth International has resolutely denounced this humbug since the Principles of Porto Alegre were adopted by a small cabal after the first World Social Forum in 2001. Ch?vez star was in the ascendant in 2005. Lula, the star of the 2003 WSF, was in steep decline. Cheers fade for Lula On the first morning of the event, Lula spoke to a meeting of 12,000 in the Gigantinho stadium on the “Global Call to Action against Poverty” (GCAP), a campaign aimed at pressurising the G8 governments to fulfil promises they have repeatedly made and broken since the year 2000 to “eradicate poverty”. Lula, like Gordon Brown, has signed up to this attempt to use world public opinion to pressure the G8 into making yet another promise - which will be broken just as the promises extracted by the Jubilee 2000 campaign were broken. In any case, who will send in the bailiffs to the imperialist private banks, the Federal Reserve or the Bank of England? Nevertheless NGOs and the churches will probably “mobilise millions” of young and caring people worldwide. This cannot be ignored by the anticapitalist movement, which must give a lead and demand more than empty promises. We must demand the immediate and unconditional cancellation of the debts of the global South – to private banks, as well as to the imperialist states. Unconditional, because no clauses mandating privatisation, opening of markets, nor even control and supervision by the NGOs must be included. Immediate, because no “negotiations” (i.e. arm twisting for trade concessions) should be allowed. Outside the same stadium where Lula was mouthing platitudes about ending poverty, around 3,000 activists, organised by public sector trade unions and leftwing parties like P-Sol and PSTU, showed their militant opposition to his neoliberal reforms that have hit students and workers alike. Hugo Ch?vez steals the show In sharp contrast to Lula’s performance, at the end of the forum Venezuelan President Hugo Ch?vez addressed 17,000 wildly cheering activists packed into the same stadium. Ch?vez’ audience was probably divided 50-50 between pro- and anti-Lula supporters. But all of them cheered Ch?vez. The reason: he has used his country’s oil wealth to push through healthcare and literacy programmes, making him a hero right across Latin America and enraging the United States. Lula, on the other hand, has attacked sections of workers so he can continue paying the country’s huge debt to the World Bank. During his 90 minute speech, Ch?vez savaged the United States, its war in Iraq, its exploitation of the global south and its repeated interventions in Latin American countries, including Venezuela. He intervened directly in the debate about where the WSF should be going: “It is time to take a step and this fifth WSF could be the beginning of a new phase, and the next five years should be accompanied by a world social agenda. To that agenda we must add a strategy of power.” He added to enthusiastic applause, “It is difficult to work within this capitalism system - we need socialism.” He also confirmed that Venezuela would host the next Hemispheric Social Forum in 2006, which was greeted with a roar of approval. Ch?vez called for a “new International” during his recent visit to Spain. Who knows, he may even be contemplating some sort of refounding of the 1964 Tricontinental Conference of his hero Che Guevara, whose name he invoked more than once in his speeches in Porto Alegre. Cracks in the WSF “leadership” Since its foundation in 2001, the World Social Forum had been dominated by the most openly reformist sections of the movement, having been established by Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) in alliance with Attac and a worldwide coalition of radical NGOs. They have consistently sought to sideline the more openly “anticapitalist” elements within the movement. In Porto Alegre in 2005, this alliance publicly cracked apart under the strain of Lula’s neoliberal record in government. Chico Whitaker, the PT’s main ideologue in the social forum movement, advocates the WSF remaining only an “open space” and argues strongly against its development into a movement that could organise struggle against capitalism and war. Nineteen academics and journalists produced what they called the Porto Alegre Consensus: a programmatic declaration they believed everyone at the social forum could agree on. The first 19 signatories to the Manifesto include Nobel prize winning novelist Jos? Saramago; long time development theorists like Eduardo Galeano, Samir Amin and Immanuel Wallerstein; key writers from Le Monde Diplomatique like Fran?ois Houtart, Ignacio Ramonet, and Bernard Cassen; and anti-war and anti-capitalist writers/activists like Tariq Ali and Walden Bello. That Bello and Ali are impatient with the paralysis of the WSF is no surprise, but when Cassen abandons the defence of empty “space” we can see that something is wrong. In all probability it was their influence that kept the document so anodyne - but they obviously fear being discredited by the Lula presidency and leaving the field open to the more radical elements, like Ch?vez or the militants of the Assembly of the Social Movements. The declaration - as might be expected - includes a series of mild reforms, such as cancelling the state debt of the countries of the South, adopting the Tobin Tax, food sovereignty, fair trade, etc. Not a word about how these reforms can be realised. No strategy for power, to use Chavez’ own words. But the most staggering omission is the failure to even mention the Iraq occupation, the US threats against Iran, Venezuela, North Korea or Cuba. Even more remarkable: no mention of the Palestinian struggle. A call to action The World Assembly of the Social Movements met on the last morning in Porto Alegre and issued a call for an international anti-war day of action on 19th March. After sharp criticism of the WSF from delegates of the Iraqi National Resistance, the Assembly came closer to explicit support for the anti- imperialist struggle against the Anglo-American occupation. It also demanded the evacuation of illegal settlements on Palestinian land and the pulling down of the Apartheid Wall. The Assembly supported the anti-G8 mobilisations in Scotland in July, but under the more radical slogan of an immediate and unconditional cancellation and repudiation of the entire debt of the global south. It likewise supported a number of key campaigns by women and indigenous peoples. Unfortunately the text of the Call was only read out and the translation of it has yet to appear. Future issues of the FifthInternational.Org Global Newswire will record and analyse its calls to action. The World Social Forum was thus marked by increasing polarisation and division – even if this was probably far from clear to many of its participants, because of the lack of a mass debate over these differences. The spectre of the WSF giving birth to an anti-imperialist International, with agreed policies and co-ordinated action, was invoked by Chavez and others. Bernard Cassen, Walden Bello and Co, cautiously hint at recreating reformist or third world nationalist “internationals”. The old Stalinist parties are linking up too. The fragments of the Fourth International were well represented in the Assembly of Social Movements. There is a revolutionary alternative to all attempts to revive these dead Internationals. It is to transform the new mass internationalism and anti-imperialism into a new world party of socialist revolution. In Porto Alegre we made the call for a Fifth International wherever we had the opportunity and we found that it met with a warm response from rank and file activists and provoked serious discussion. (from Fifth International Global) TAK BAI VCD CRACKDOWN CONTINUES Police seize 1,000 VCDs of Tak Bai protest By Manop Thip-osod [From: Bangkok Post 06 February 2005] Phra Khanong police yesterday seized about 1,000 video compact discs containing recordings of the crackdown on protesters in front of Tak Bai police station in Narathiwat on Oct 26 last year. The VCDs were found at the Niran Residence Condominium in Soi Onnuch, which alerted police. Pol Maj-Gen Kosin Hinthao, Metropolitan Police Division 4 commander, said security guards reported that two men asked for permission to drop a VCD in front of every room. The guards allowed them to do so, not knowing the VCDs were about the Tak Bai incident, in which six demonstrators died at the protest site, 78 others died in trucks while being taken to a military camp in Pattani, and another one person died after arriving at the camp. http://www.bangkokpost.com/060205_News/06Feb2005_news11.php Carlo Mejia free at last! http://www.uruknet.info/?p=9752 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:28:06 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:28:06 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - repression; technology; theory; miscellaneous Message-ID: <071f01c53909$21a27130$ab30fd3e@WOL> British man held at Gitmo is blinded in one eye during torture by US goons http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/16680139?source=PA Lawyer convicted for doing her job http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/nyregion/11stewart.html?hp&ex=1108184400&en=d43440ee57f1d7a6&ei=5094&partner=homepage Lynne Stewart case terrorises lawyers http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/nyregion/11lawyers.html AI protest over missing Iraqi woman http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=9973&s2=26 Palestinians and other Arabs in Iraq under attack http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050323/REPOSITORY/503230362/1037/NEWS04 Iraq's gypsies under attack http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/616ac5819d2339f82a154c6886d4e12a.htm UK troops beat up relatives for inquiring about detainees http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=10026&s2=28 US state bars Sandinista heroine as "terrorist" http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1430305,00.html Canadian tortured in Jordan and Syria at US request http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/opinion/25herbert.html Schoolkid arrested for story about zombies at school. http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=2989614 "Zero tolerance" victimises Kentucky students http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/kent-m11.shtml Texas pigs celebrate fire at black-owned nightclub http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-1/535/535_08_TexasPolice.shtml Hospitalised man tasered to force urine test - "this is torture" says Amnesty http://www.rense.com/general63/maninhospitalbedtasered.htm Deporting young chef is fighting terrorism?! http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/opinion/html/B76E50C2-93B7-4343-84C9-2D3FB41070D2.shtml Police at Elmore Academy attack civil rights class and arrest teacher for resisting this fascist attack http://fairmontsentinel.com/news/stories/030405b.html California Latinos afraid to leave their homes because of dragnet sweeps http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=620 Police taser man for allegedly not paying for food http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10538/index.php Protest after police murder dogs in drug crackdown freakery http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-27/1110300641239220.xml Philly man tasered for trying to get home http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/001665.html Vindictive sentence for youth accused of Molotov against military target (so cluster bombs are OK but Molotovs lead to jail? What bullshit!) http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/142514/index.php Operation Harass the Homeless, Oregon http://rogueimc.org/en/2005/03/4153.shtml US political prisoner persecuted http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2005/Mar-April/Khaldun_Mar-April_05.htm He's maced after asking cops to help dying dog BY ALISON GENDAR and CELESTE KATZ DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Jaime Johnson alleges harsh conduct by cops while he was trying to help Suki. -->A Brooklyn man was pepper-sprayed when he brought his dying dog to his local police precinct, it was revealed yesterday. Jaime Johnson, 30, a maintenance worker from Bedford-Stuyvesant, claims he was unfairly treated by cops. But police sources said officers acted properly to subdue what they described as a drunken man having a violent fit. Johnson said he ran to the 88th Precinct stationhouse Saturday morning after his family's Shih Tzu puppy, Suki, was hit by a car. "I was frantic. I was scared, and I didn't know what to do, so I figured I would go to the precinct and ask for help," Johnson said yesterday. Johnson says he pleaded with cops to get an ambulance for the dog. "Within three minutes of [getting] there, I was blinded for the rest of the day," said Johnson, who denied he was drunk. Johnson said he was briefly put into a cell and then brought out and cuffed to a sink so he could wash his face. He was brought to Woodhull Hospital for what sources said was a psychological evaluation. While Johnson was at Woodhull, police sources said, the Sanitation Department was called to take the dog's body away, which is standard procedure, according to police. Johnson and his fiance, Twaina McLeod, 29, had no idea what had become of their pet until yesterday. The couple asked for help from City Councilwoman Letitia James (Working Families Party-Brooklyn), whose office is looking into the matter. February 23, 2005 Florida boy accused of assault with rubber band 13-year-old suspended 10 days after confrontation with teacher WKMG Local 6 A 13-year-old student in Orange County, Fla., was suspended for 10 days and could be banned from school over an alleged assault with a rubber band, according to a WKMG Local 6 News report. Robert Gomez, a seventh-grader at Liberty Middle School, said he picked up a rubber band at school and slipped it on his wrist. Gomez said when his science teacher demanded the rubber band, the student said he tossed it on her desk. After the incident, Gomez received a 10-day suspension for threatening his teacher with what administrators say was a weapon, Local 6 News reported. "They said if he would have aimed it a little more and he would have gotten it closer to her face he would have hit her in the eye," mother Jenette Rojas said. Rojas said she was shocked to learn that her son was being punished for a Level 4 offense -- the highest Level at the school. Other violations that also receive level 4 punishment include arson, assault and battery, bomb threats and explosives, according to the Code of Student Conduct. The district said a Level 4 offense includes the use of any object or instrument used to make a threat or inflict harm, including a rubber band. Rojas plans to fight the ruling but her son still faces expulsion. "It's ridiculous, it's a rubber band," Rojas said. The school's principal could not comment because the case is still under investigation. A district spokesman said there is still a series of meetings the district will have before Gomez is officially expelled. ***************Two US citizens thrown out of Bush public event in Portsmouth NH for wearing T-shirts Bush staffers didn't like "On Feb. 16, 2005, at the Bush event in Portsmouth, NH, a friend and I tested freedom of speech in America, and found it defunct. The event was touted as open to the public in the NH press but was really, as usual, just for Bush supporters (after two days of fruitless calling, my friend got tickets only by implying she was a Republican). We got in wearing TurnYourBackOnBush T-shirts under our sweaters (you can see pictures of the T-shirt on this page: http://www.turnyourbackonbush.org/photos.html ). We sat in the back, near the media (by the way -- there were large numbers of empty seats, which we photographed with a phone camera; there were way under 2,000 there, less than half that -- so why did the organizers tell us no seats were left). When Bush walked in, we moved to the (mainly empty) section directly in front of the banks of cameras, sat down, took off our sweaters -- to reveal the T-shirt beneath. We had reversed the shirt so that the picture of the feet and the text was on our backs, facing the media. We made sure we were leaning forward so the press could get a good look. Almost immediately event staffers came and tried to block us by sitting behind us, but our whole row was empty so we just kept moving, and they kept following -- very amusing really. They clearly wanted to throw us out but couldn't because if they had tried, the cameras would have caught the whole thing, and of course Bush was speaking -- it would have disrupted the event and been very embarrassing for them. We never clapped and as far as we could tell, were the only ones not clapping -- confirming it was another Republican-only event, this time using taxpayer funds. When Bush was done and everyone began to leave, we stood in our row facing each other so that the departing Bush supporters could see the message on our backs. During the whole time we were there, we never spoke to anyone but each other; ours was a silent, peaceful, respectful protest. Then we decided to bring our message directly to Mr. Bush. After all, everyone else had been allowed to present their message of support -- by clapping, by shaking his hand afterwards -- so why couldn't we go and silently stand there with our backs turned, presenting a message of dissent? As soon as we left the safety of the media area with its banks of cameras and very interested reporters, and approached the Bush exit area (about 60 ft. away from the cameras), we were suddenly grabbed by plain-clothes officials who did not identify themselves and physically thrown out of the event. Here's how it went. Two huge men -- not in uniform, did not identify themselves, behaving like thugs -- crowded up next to us. (We are both small middle-aged women.) Mine said, "Time to leave" menacingly. When I said why, he said "Don't make a scene." I said I'm not making a scene but why do I have to leave? No answer; he started to push me and touch me. I said "Get your hands off me! Don't you dare touch me!" and he stopped. He just crowded me forward. I said "Do you believe in the Bill of Rights?" No answer. "How about my freedom of speech?" No answer. "So now we don't have freedom of speech?" No answer. "I was hoping the police would defend our rights and uphold the law." No answer. All this time this huge bearish man kind of crowded me onward. The same thing was happening to my friend. When she was grabbed by the arm, and told she was leaving NOW -- the man kept saying, "You're out of here!" -- she asked who he was, but he refused to answer. She said, "You're frightening me! Who are you?" Only then did he identify himself. Though many prominent Republicans witnessed our eviction, they didn't lift a finger to prevent it -- and in fact turned away and pretended it wasn't happening. They forced US citizens out of a taxpayer-funded public event because they didn't like our T-shirts. I am far more terrified of the Bush regime than I am of terrorists. We must stop this cancer attacking our civil liberties before it undermines and destroys our democratic institutions." Lexington, KY anarchist faces year in jail Tuesday, March 08 2005 @ 01:19 PM PST Contributed by: Anonymous Views: 147 Anthony Poynter, one of the individuals arrested at the 1/20 inaugural protest, could get a year in jail for wanting to know why the cops were beating on a guy and then having the cops beat on and tase him. Anthony could use as much support as anyone can spare. Please send a letter or email to the Fayette Co. Attorney demanding they drop the ridiculous, false charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Anthony Poynter, one of the individuals arrested at the 1/20 inaugural protest, could get a year in jail for wanting to know why the cops were beating on a guy and then having the cops beat on and tase him. Anthony could use as much support as anyone can spare. Please send a letter or email to the Fayette Co. Attorney demanding they drop the ridiculous, false charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Margaret Kannensohn, Fayette Co. Attorney, 163 W. Short St., Suite 700, Lexington KY 40507 Of course, any donations toward his attorney's fees are appreciated and can be mailed to: Central KY ABC, POBox 8302, Lexington, KY 40533 Finally, Anthony's next court date has been set for 3/22 @ 10am. For those of you who can make it in person to show your disgust with this crap the address is: Fayette Co. District Court 150 N. Limestone Courtroom 3, 2nd Floor Lexington, KY New low for US pigs - 5-year-old arrested Police Handcuff, Arrest 5-Year-Old Girl 'I Don't Want to Go to Jail,' Says Young Student ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 18) - A 5-year-old girl was arrested, cuffed and put in back of a police cruiser after an outburst at school where she threw books and boxes, kicked a teacher in the shins, smashed a candy dish, hit an assistant principal in the stomach and drew on the walls. The students were counting jelly beans as part of a math exercise at Fairmount Park Elementary School when the little girl began acting silly. That's when her teacher took away her jelly beans, outraging the child. Minutes later, the 40-pound girl was in the back of a police cruiser, under arrest for battery. Her hands were bound with plastic ties, her ankles in handcuffs. "I don't want to go to jail," she said moments after her arrest Monday. No charges were filed and the girl went home with her mother. While police say their actions were proper, school officials were not pleased with the outcome. "We never want to have 5-year-old children arrested," said Michael Bessette, the district's Area III superintendent. The district's campus police should have been called to help and not local police, he said. Bessette said campus police routinely deal with children and are trained to calm them in such situations. Under the district's code of student conduct, students are to be suspended for 10 days and recommended for expulsion for unprovoked attacks, even if they don't result in serious injury. But district spokesman Ron Stone said that rule wouldn't apply to kindergartners. "She's been appropriately disciplined under the circumstances," he said. The girl's mother, Inda Akins, said she is consulting an attorney. "She's never going back to that school," Akins said. "They set my baby up." NO CHILD LEFT UNMOLESTED Reports of Military Recruiters Sexually Abusing High School Students On the Rise Tuesday, March 15 2005 @ 09:22 PM PST From CounterRecruiter.net: Two weeks ago Indiana National Guardsman Sgt. Eric P. Vetesy was charged with sexually assaulting six young women -- mostly high school students -- who he helped enlist in the military. Vetesy faces 31 counts of rape, sexual battery, official misconduct and corrupt business influence. Prosecutors say Vetesy assembled background information on each recruit and was able to target those he thought most likely could coerce. He most of the high school students during lunch breaks at school. "These were very young women who were being recruited out of high school classes," said Hamilton County Prosecutor Sonia Leerkamp. "This is one of the most heinous investigations of this type that I've ever seen, and one of the worst abuses of authority." Vetesy is not alone. The Indianapolis Star reported on March 1, "Nationwide, military recruiters reportedly have been linked to at least a half-dozen sexual assaults during the past few years, since the creation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. This broad education law requires, among other things, that high schools give military recruiters greater access to students." The Indianapolis Star also published background information on the other cases: * July 2003: A former U.S. Army recruiter based in Moreno Valley, Calif., was sentenced to 16 months in prison for the statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl who was joining the Army. He pleaded guilty to having sex with the girl in a back room of the Army's recruiting station and in a government-issued sedan. The girl told authorities the sex acts happened when the man was her recruiter. She later decided not to join the Army. * January 2004: A former Marine recruiter in the Baltimore area who was convicted of fondling a teenage recruit was sentenced to probation and ordered to seek counseling. The judge was quoted: "You may have misinterpreted the actions of an outgoing, flirting teenager. She was a kid. You were her recruiter. You were her mentor. She looked up to you. She may have worshipped you from afar, but that doesn't mean she intended to act on it or wanted you to act on it." * May 2004: A 34-year-old Marine recruiter in Blooming Grove, N.Y., was charged with six counts of rape, accused of having sex several times with a 16-year-old girl who wanted to enlist. The school superintendent said the man apparently got to know the student while recruiting at Washingtonville High School. * June 2004: A military jury sentenced a Marine Corps recruiter to five years in prison for raping a 17-year-old high school student in a Riverside recruiting office. The recruiter asked the teenager, who was interested in joining the Corps and was participating in an after-school Marine exercise program, to enter a back room at the recruiting station, where he raped her, the girl testified. * November 2004: An Army recruiter in Riverside, Calif., was arrested on suspicion of having sex with two 17-year-old Paloma Valley High School students. The 24-year-old recruiter was charged with four felony counts of having sex with and giving alcohol to minors. He met the two girls at an Army recruiting seminar at the high school. MORE FBI ATTACKS ON INDEPENDENT MEDIA Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:33 am Post subject: FBI investigation info FBI investigating incidents on subdomains hosted by flag.blackened.net. OK folks, here's the real deal as far as I can share it legally at the moment. Consider it as a press release if you wish and feel free to distribute it for whatever reason you deem necessary. I'm under court order not to speak about specifics and have my attorney trying to find out what the maximum penalty for disclosure really is. I hate to have to keep my mouth shut in areas where the Gestapo is involved, but I also have to weigh things against the overall security of flag and it's subdomains and also the wellbeing of my family. I have been ordered to submit IP info on two separate incidents having to do with subdomains hosted on flag. Both of these are in regard to claimed or threatened responsibility for acts of propaganda by the deed. Both incidents involve topics which are completely out of line for consideration here at flag and really I can only view them in two ways. Either people are simply ignorant about the murderous history of the FBI, or, as is my belief in one case, they are trying to make flag vulnerable to government intrusion. At this point let me say, in all honesty and conviction, that if I end up dead by strange means -- suicide, overdose, drunk driving accident (I never, ever, ever drink and drive), "accidental" gunshot to the back of the head while sleeping ala Fred Hampton, car jacking, or anything else reasonably suspicious, contact the FBI in Chico, California for more details. I have called numerous friends nationwide, anarchists and otherwise whose opinions I respect and who I know will be honest and forthwith in their opinions to ask them how I should proceed. The unanimous consensus is that I comply with the wishes of the FBI and provide the IP addresses responsible. The only point of discussion, really, has been whether or not I should reveal the specific information in violation of two court orders. Really, I am not left with much of a choice. Here are my two choices as I see them: 1. Do not comply with the wishes of the FBI. This will most likely lead to the seizure of flag and a compromise of all the sites and information online. It will probably also lead to me being imprisoned, I would guess. I personally do not fear this, but I am the sole support for my wife and infant daughter. There can be no doubt we would probably lose our home as a result. 2. Comply with the wishes of the FBI, provide the IP addresses, and count on the fact that I will catch a lot of heat and hatred from my comrades in the anarchist movement worldwide. Though it pains me to comply with the State in any manner, I have to choose option #2. The people who have foolishly compromised us all will shoulder the burden for their selfish actions. Frankly folks, they know better -- we all know better. I was first contacted by the Oakland FBI. Many of you know their history. We are talking COINTELPRO for real -- not a perceived or mythical fear. They are proven murderers and automatons for the state who will blindly follow any order to kill or disrupt without question. Read the history of their disinformation campaign against the panthers if you don't believe me. The panther comic book which they completed and distributed, the fake letters between Huey and Eldridge, the fires of hatred and murder they faked and inflamed between the panthers and the US or "united slaves" which led to the murder of Bunchy Carter and John Higgins in L.A., the list goes on and on. But, the real point is that I feel like a coward and traitor to my comrades, even in the face of what is essentially a coerced decision. I'm the last one who will criticize or disagree with any of you who want to deride me. I'm also aware that this will probably cause quite a few of you to lose faith in me, flag, and it's subdomains. This can't be avoided and it's something I weighed into my decision. I post this mainly to inform you all and give you opportunity to make your own decisions as to whether I've handled this correctly and whether you wish to use flag or it's subdomains in the future. If you don't trust me, I understand, believe me. It is by far the most agonizing decision I've been faced with in relation to my anarchist opinions. This is why we do not discuss certain things as if they are a legitimate part of anarchism. Resist the extra y-chromosome influenced urge to sound more hardcore than the guy next to you. Nobody is impressed and the powers that be are sitting on the edges of their seats waiting for an excuse to shut down flag. Freedom of speech does not exist, don't try to test it. They will come bust down your door -- for real -- point a gun to your head and pull the trigger if you refuse to comply. Believe it. Your admin, Dave CANADA: British Columbia: Police target homeless Sunday, March 20 2005 @ 09:38 AM PST Contributed by: revolution_rever Views: 54 KELOWNA, B.C. - Street people in the B.C. Interior city of Kelowna have been told by the RCMP they have until April 1 to surrender their shopping carts - or have them seized. Kelowna RCMP plan to seize shopping carts from homeless Last Updated Sat, 19 Mar 2005 09:39:35 EST CBC News KELOWNA, B.C. - Street people in the B.C. Interior city of Kelowna have been told by the RCMP they have until April 1 to surrender their shopping carts - or have them seized. The police said the carts, worth up to $350 each, are stolen property. They said they're simply enforcing the law after complaints by the city and the business community. But homeless people, who can often be seen trundling around Kelowna's downtown core with everything they own on the carts, said they're crucial for their survival. "These are really these people's homes. They carry their homes in their shopping carts," said Bob, who is homeless. "Then they get it taken away. Their sleeping bag is gone. Their clothes are gone. And they call us bums, right, because they took our stuff." Anti-poverty advocates accused the police of targeting the poor. Candace Sutherland of the Drop-In Centre said that if the police take away people's carts, the city should build a day-storage facility where they can store their few belongings. Michelle Rule, who is on Kelowna's committee on the homeless, said her group is working on long-term solutions, including more shelters and places for the homeless. She said they're also looking for help from the business community to acquire some warehouse space that street people could use to store their belongings safely during the day. But Rule warned that it could take some time to find a storage space and get it set up. Asylum seeker wins, but still detained Home Office homophobia against genuine refugee OutRage! backs Vadim's fight for justice London - 10 March 2005 Despite winning his asylum claim on 15 February, Mr Vadim Selyava, a 21-year old gay Belarusian, is threatened with deportation and is detained at Dover asylum detention centre. Mr Selyava is a constituent of the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke MP. Home Office officials successfully appealed on 28 February against the decision to give Vadim refugee status. "The asylum refusal notice given to Vadim by the Home Office is based on outrageous homophobic assumptions," said Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group OutRage!, which is campaigning on Vadim's behalf. "He was subjected to humiliating questioning to `prove' his homosexuality. Despite being in a stable same-sex relationship for eight months, the Home Office says Vadim is not gay: "It is not accepted you are a genuine homosexual"(Home Office refusal notice, 3 February 2005). "The Home Office claims the situation for gays in Belarus is `no different' from the UK and other countries, and that there is a thriving gay scene in the major cities. These claims are complete fiction," added Mr Tatchell. "In 2004, a gay rights conference in the capital Minsk had to be called off after the government threatened to arrest the participants. "A gay club cited by the Home Office, Mayak, was closed down by the government. "As evidence that there are social options for Vadim in Belarus, the Home Office cites gay cruising areas in public parks - even though cruising is illegal and gays who go to there are often beaten and robbed. "Home Office officials say that if Vadim is queer-bashed he can complain to the authorities; ignoring the fact that they routinely deny protection and redress to gay victims of violent attacks. "Vadim is a victim of the government's new `get tough' policy to cut asylum numbers. He could remain incarcerated for months until the courts reconsider his asylum claim," said Mr Tatchell. A photo of Mr Selyava is available here: http://www.outrage.org.uk/imagezoom.asp?file=Vadim Mr Selyava was arrested by immigration authorities on 26 January 2005 at the offices of the Contract Personnel job agency in Norwich. He had gone there to make inquiries about his employment. His arrest occurred even though he was working lawfully in the UK with a valid one-year work permit issued by the Home Office. The permit entitles him to work in the hospitality industry, which is the sector in which he has been employed. OutRage! is backing Vadim's application to be released from detention and granted asylum in the UK. "Having won his asylum case, he should not continue to be held against his will," said David Allison of OutRage!. "Vadim is not a criminal, but he has been incarcerated for many weeks. He should be released immediately. "Vadim arrived in the UK lawfully last June from Belarus (now an independent state, but formerly part of the Soviet Union). He sought work in the UK as a legal way of escaping homophobic persecution in his home country. He has always resided in Britain legally. "Vadim began work at the Hilton Hotel at Gatwick last June. Soon afterwards, he met his partner, Jeremy, who lives Norwich. They decided to live together. "Commuting from Norwich to Gatwick was impossible, so Vadim sought permission from the Home Office to transfer to a hotel job in Norwich. The Home Office refused him permission to switch employers within the hospitality sector. It ordered his arrest and forcible removal from the UK. "Facing deportation, Vadim claimed asylum on the grounds that he had suffered homophobic persecution in Belarus, including beatings, threats and harassment by the police and vigilantes because he is gay. He has a well-founded fear of persecution if he is returned to Belarus. "If Vadim is deported to Belarus, he will have to go into the military for 18 months. Homosexuality is against military law and can be punished with several years imprisonment, according to Human Rights Watch and the International Lesbian & Gay Association. In prisons, gay men are liable to be queer-bashed and raped. Such crimes usually go unpunished," added Mr Allison. Mr Selyava lives in the Norwich South constituency with his partner, Jeremy. They have now lived together for over eight months. He is being backed by one of the two local Norwich MPs - the Norwich North MP, Dr Ian Gibson, who represents the constituency next to Vadim's. Vadim's Norwich South constituency MP is Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary Vadim's partner, Jeremy, has written to him. A meeting has been arranged with one of Mr Clarke's staff, but the Home Secretary has not yet personally responded to Jeremy's representations. Although Vadim was granted asylum on 15 February 2005, the Home Office successfully appealed against the decision two weeks later, on 28 February. The grounds on which the Home Office reversed the granting of asylum are highly questionable, according to Vadim's former solicitor, Augustus Balasubramaniam of Duncan Lewis and Company solicitors (020 7275 2786 / 020 7923 4020). The Home Office is now seeking to have Vadim deported back to Belarus. Less than 24 hours before his scheduled removal from the UK, on Sunday 6 March, Vadim's immigration legal advisor, Chris Aigbokhan of Chris and Co Legal Services in Brixton (020 7738 3898 / 07739 985 447) secured a deferment, pending a new appeal. While waiting for this appeal, which could take months, Vadim remains in detention. "Vadim is well educated and speaks good English. He wants to work and does not wish to be a burden on the taxpayer. Once the Home Office agrees that he can stay in the UK, Vadim has job waiting for him at the Hotel Nelson in Norwich," added Mr Tatchell. I Will Kill Rosie Kane SHOOTING THREAT TO MSP OVER G8 PROTEST SIOBHAN MCFADYEN Scottish Daily Mirror, 18/03/05 FIREBRAND MSP Rosie Kane has received a death threat. Police have launched a probe after the Scottish Socialist Party MSP received a letter claiming she would be shot if she protested at the G8 Summit at Gleneagles this year. Rosie says she is now scared for her life - and is calling for an inquiry into security at the July summit in Perthshire which will attended by George Bush and Tony Blair. Lothian and Borders Police have taken the anonymous threat so seriously that they have called in Special Branch officers to investigate. The death threat letter, which claims to be from an employee of an estate near Gleneagles, warns that Rosie and other G8 protesters will be shot if they stray on to private land. She said: "I am very concerned. "This is a person talking about firearms and who claims to be in possession of a gun. "They are willing to use it against me and I am very concerned. At first I thought it was a crackpot letter but it is a threat. This person could have a grudge and this could result in a loss of life or serious injury. "The situation with the young child who was killed after being shot with an airgun is evidence enough to show that this should be taken seriously. "We are non-violent campaigners and we detest firearms. We say no to the firearms industry. "It had never occurred to me that people in the area could be armed - apart from President Bush's entourage. The fact that there will be people in the area who are carrying firearms is terrifying to me. "We have to demand that no one is permitted to do so during the period of the summit." Mum Rosie added: "Anyone who suggests they are carrying a gun and are willing to use it against protesters should be locked up. "I hope no one is injured or affected during our peaceful protests." The letter says: "We have the right to carry our legal firearms as long as we have our permits on our persons during the dates of this summit. "So I will tell you now - the first tree-creeping, unemployed, back- packing, gas- wearing, anti-democratic activist that happens to enter our boundary, we will shoot these people. "And we do have this right." A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "We received a complaint and are investigating." Leaders of the world's most powerful nations will be gathering at Gleneagles in July for the G8 summit. And an estimated 250,000 protesters will also converge to demand a fairer deal for the world's poor. Tayside Police are mounting a huge security operation involving hundreds of their own officers and many from other areas. Anti-riot squads are being trained and briefed at the former Law Hospital, near Wishaw, Lanarkshire. Rosie Kane has a history of campaigning and was fined ?150 at Helensburgh District Court earlier this week for an anti-nuke demo at Faslane. She was also arrested last week for a sit-in outside Holyrood in a home-made submarine. Nurses condemn abuse of refugees in Britain - handcuffings in hospital and abduction at gunpoint are among the accusations http://www.labournet.net/ukunion/0501/nhsasyl1.html Vindictive statist scum dish out mass sentences to Lincoln Prison insurgents http://www.louthtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=817&ArticleID=934454 Tortured at Guantanamo, and now at risk again - British detainees freed, but at risk from new fascistic laws allowing suspects to be put under house arrest and even innocent family members to be detained http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1040573.htm Imposition of fascist "control orders" leads to an attempted suicide or overdose, and another medical emergency http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=6024 Freed Gitmo prisoner fears use of control orders to suppress revelations of torture http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5898 Control orders are reminiscent of apartheid South Africa and attack dissent http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5911 Blair threatens imprisonment without trial for G8 protesters http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=15261895%26method=full%26siteid=86024%26headline=labour-in-dundee--blair--g8-wreckers-risk-house-arrest-name_page.html Ethnic cleansing "eviction" at Paynes Lane - photos of trashed campsite http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306590.html Another inhuman deportation planned http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305353.html Free speech under attack - protester and journalist banned from G8 protests http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306887.html Photographer arrested at port for taking photos http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306307.html UK immigration centre racist abuse exposed http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/real_story/4310361.stm Racists and rightist scumbags attack Channel 4 drama for telling the true story of the persecution of Bradford insurgents and the racism which led to the uprising http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=960244 London Animal Action (LAA), an organisation that campaigns peacefully on animal welfare issues, has had its bank accounts frozen by a High Court Order. It was named on an injunction taken out by Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) under the Protection from Harassment Act. LAA's harassment amounted to organizing transport to demos against HLS and arranging demos in London. their bank account contained several thousand pounds that had been raised to buy a minibus. LAA is taking legal advice to fight the case, but this would itself cost thousands of pounds and if any person claimed to speak for LAA they themselves could be made bankrupt - even if that person had never been involved in the campaign. This is just like the case of Lynn Sawyer who was going to lose her house after being sued by HLS for over 2 hundred grand in order to shut her up (SchNEWS 471). Fortunately a judge has recently overturned this ruling and reduced Lynn's fine to ?2500 costs. LAA has ceased to exist as a result, but an ex-member said "The likelihood is that this will stir up a hornets' nest of anger against HLS." (from SchNews) Recruiting Russian Style: Agents Raid Dormitories And Grab Students For Army January 12, 2005 By BRYON MACWILLIAMS, The Chronicle of Higher Education The Russian military raided college dormitories in the nation's capital on Tuesday, in many cases rousing male students from their beds, in a surprise move to collect fresh conscripts following the end to deferments from mandatory service. Agents of the city's office of military registration and enlistment fanned out among dorms across Moscow the day after the conclusion of the New Year's-Old Christmas holiday period, during which the government announced that all draft deferrals would be canceled. The raids were intended to catch students unawares. Recruitment officers, each accompanied by two police officers, sometimes literally dragged students from their beds, according to a newspaper, Versiya. Some students were taken directly to medical clinics to undergo physical examinations, reportedly in violation of a federal law that requires supporting documents from the place of study and allows young men up to three days to contest their conscription. Konstantin Kudryavtsev, an assistant dean in the chemistry department at Moscow State University, said in an open letter that two students had been awakened at 7 a.m. and taken under guard for physicals even though they had been enrolled in the university's military courses -- a status that, by law, entitles them to deferments. Only 9.5 percent of the 176,000 men eligible for the draft last fall are serving in the military. In 1994 some 27 percent of men between the ages of 18 and 27 served, according to the general staff of the armed forces of Russia. The military, comprising some 1.2 million troops, reportedly was short last fall by more than 31,000 recruits. Human-rights groups have reported that beatings and violence, often in hazing rituals, kill hundreds of conscripts annually. Desertion and even suicide are endemic and well documented. But parents fear most that their sons will be sent to fight in the war-torn republic of Chechnya. UK politicians support use of torture "evidence" http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5822 POLITICIANS AND PIGS ADMIT RACIAL PROFILING OF MUSLIMS http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5664 http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5652 http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5620 ASBO FASCISM CONTINUES: YOUTHS STIGMATISED; WOMAN PUT ON ASBO NOT TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6017 Yet another UK law suppressing freedom to protest http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1419908,00.html Australian politicians use legal technicalities to suppress free speech and exposure of torture by Habib and his lawyer http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=5447 Racist police crackdown in Port Augusta, Australia - "anti-social" is the excuse again http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/617/617p6.htm Phony deportations in Russia - Central Asians robbed http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306555.html In Malatya-In?n? University, two students were detained with the claim of making graffiti & stickering and they were threatened by the security units of the university. The students, who were interrogated with the reason of standing nearby "Freedom in Anarchy" graffiti, were threatened by ?GB (?zel G?venlik Birimi-Special Security Unit) with starting an investigation and their IDs were seized for a while. During two hours of interrogation, the students resisted and denied claims of both the security and the chairman of the department about being members of an illegal organization Date: 27.02.2005 Time: 21:34 [Source: Autonomists News Portal - http://www.otonom.info/web ] Dutch Liberal bans transplants to Muslims to punish them for not donating enough organs http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306201.html Israeli goons murder 10-year-old girl http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3596.shtml Nepal coup - protests, criticism of government banned http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050207/ap_on_re_as/nepal_1 Nepal coup unleashes army - masses of civilians disappeared http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/01/nepal10224.htm Nepal activists confined to capital http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=32356 Even blood donors are under attack in Nepal http://www.union-network.org/uniflashes.nsf/58f61ccf5875fe90c12567bb005642f9/ad6301f62ecf38bac1256fb20048d687?OpenDocument Phillipines: war on terror is a reign of terror http://www.bulatlat.net/news/5-7/5-7-bicutan.html Police terror against locals opposed to new aluminium plant in Orissa http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=70846 Kashipur, Orissa repression continues http://www.epw.org.in/showArticles.php?root=2005&leaf=03&filename=8440&filetype=html Bojong waste dump rebels sentenced, but avoid the sentences demanded by prosecution goons http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:nu-MNx09ui0J:www.thejakartapost.com/detailcity.asp%3Ffileid%3D20050211.G02%26irec%3D1+Bojong+residents+sentenced+for+roles+in+riot+site:www.thejakartapost.com&hl=en Arab journalist jailed in Spain http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0C94F820-9232-41AC-B01D-81DE057F7FE4.htm Detained Tunisian journalist hospitalised http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DBA9C711-2D79-4F68-8D36-D993DD3846DA.htm Algeria activist stitch-up ahead in state revenge for urban unrest http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306380.html Politically motivated police harassment of refugee activists in Australia http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/615/615p4c.htm Twat wants to smash Palm Island council for disagreeing with the government. ahem, "not representing the interests of islanders" http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1309481.htm Asian-Australian threatened with execution in Singapore http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/88275.php Thailand locks up Burmese dissidents en masse http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/29/thaila10381.htm The government intends to deport a 104 year old woman who has lived with her adopted daughter and grandchildren in Melbourne for 10 years, and who has outlived her relatives overseas. Cui Yu Hu has been a widow since 1973, no longer has a home in China and has outlived friends and family there. She has been refused an aged-parent visa by the Immigration Department and will be deported unless she successfully appeals. (Source: The Age)(from GreenLeft Discussion list) February 23, 2005 Egypt Said to Hold 2,400 in Bombings >From Reuters CAIRO - An estimated 2,400 men from north Sinai remain in Egyptian prisons without charge, four months after security police began rounding them up for questioning in the bombings of tourist resorts frequented by Israelis, a human rights group said Tuesday. Many of the men have been tortured and in most cases authorities have failed to tell their families where they are being held or what is happening to them, New York-based Human Rights Watch alleged. In informal meetings with the rights group, Egyptian officials justified the conduct of the police by saying that U.S. and Israeli authorities behave in the same way when their security is threatened, a director of Human Rights Watch, Joe Stork, said at a news conference. Challenged on the detentions and torture allegations at a meeting last month, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the reports were implausible because there were only a few thousand people in total in El Arish, the center of the arrest campaign. At a meeting with Stork on Tuesday, a senior Interior Ministry official said police had detained only about 200 people in north Sinai, Stork said. Asked how many people remain in detention, Stork said: "The estimate we made of 2,400 people still in detention ... that's our best guess." The Oct. 7 bombings killed 34 people. The detentions present a conflict with the official version of the investigation, according to which all nine bombers and alleged accomplices are dead or under arrest. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-detain23feb23,1,7585178.story?coll=la-headlines-world Mining Company tells Subanen Community to Cooperate or Face Immediate Eviction. February 14, 2005 Sitio Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte - Eighty-six Subanen families face immediate eviction from their Ancestral Domain at the hands of the Canadian Mining company TVI Pacific Inc. (TVI). The community members have until the last day of February to accept a relocation fee and get ready to move. If they do not comply then TVI will file an eviction notice against them. The company is offering each family 250,000 pesos ($4,600 US). Three of families have already received formal notices from the company. Emmanuel and Gaga Gonzaga, Ireneo and Luciana Calibo, and Joey and Josie Gonzaga have been ordered sign or get out. These families are among the many farmers who have been actively opposing the operations of the mining firm. Timuay Boy Anoy, a Subanen leader, has responded to the recent pressure by saying that TVI will only have its wishes "over our slain bodies". He has started further that "Even if it means death, we will continue fighting TVI because our land is our life and it has already been taken from us by TVI which does not have the slightest respect for our indigenous rights and sacred practices." TVI started open pit gold mining in Sitio Canatuan last year under a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement that they gained in 1998. Starting at the top of Mt. Canatuan, the Company has steadily worked its way down the mountain with earth scraping bulldozers. TVI operations are now just 15 meters from the houses of some members of the Canatuan community. The Subanen community refuses to relocate since they believe it is their ancestral right to live on the land. Mt. Canatuan is sacred for the tribe and they consider it their most holy place. In 2003, the families obtained a Certificate of Ancestral Domain (CADT) to the area through the Indigenous People's Rights Act. This certificate makes it illegal for anyone to enter their land without their approval. The following is an interview with Joy Gonzaga of Sitio Canatuan January 27, 2005 Josie Zamora Gonzaga has been a resident of Sito Canatuan for 15 years with her husband Lesjolando Gonzaga Sr. She has one son and two daughters aged eight, six and one. (The text has been translated and edited from the original Visayan) DCMI: Where you live? JG: I live in Sitio Canatuan. Right at the mining site. We are currently in a difficult situation because the mining area is just 15 meters away from my house. DCMI: How do you support yourself and your family? JG: Our means of livelihood is mainly farming. We planted fruit trees and we sell the products to the market and the local community for 100 pesos ($1.85 US) a day. It is not enough for the family since we need to buy milk for the children. The neighbours are hard up and selling their goods for debt. That is one thing that would like support agencies to help us out with. Our meagre income is not enough ??" especially before the harvest comes. DCMI: What can you tell me about what your life during the last year and your experiences with TVI? J.G: Last year I joined a picket in Pisawak to express my opposition to mining operations in Canatuan. My experience with TVI has been really disgusting. Since they have started operating we can hardly live or enjoy drinking fresh and clean water. Our water sources are now unclean since the mines operate day and night. Everywhere the water is polluted ??" the farmlands etc. Half of Luciana's (another Canatuan resident) plants are covered with waste. I would like to appeal to the President Macapagal Arroyo who gave them permission to operate. She should be the one to get them to stop. We are just poor but they will trample our rights. We are forced to fight for our rights. I do not know what we will do. Our right to our land is also being violated because they established checkpoints in certain areas where we used to pass. They have placed barbwire across our path. We are not allowed to enter the check points when we go home after 6 pm. On December 9, 2004, I was approached by 8 of TVI's Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAA) members. I recognized three of these men as Mr. Kanadawan, Mr. Tumimrang and Mr. Baes. They tried very hard to convince me to sign a three page document agreeing to a settlement of 170,000 pesos ($3,150). They told me that being stubborn would accomplish nothing ??" I would have to vacate anyways because it was inside of TVI's MPSA area. I simply answered that, "I will not vacate because I lived here before the MPSA and the CADT". On December 10, 2004 I was offered 250,000 pesos ($4,600). Adolfo Dalman tried to tempt me with the amount (although I did not see cash in hand) at the house of Mr. Edang. I said "no" and they told me that if I keep on refusing they would be forced to file a case against me. They also told me that 'something' would probably happen to me. I replied that "I will take note of that statement from you. If something happens to me then you will be the first one to be questioned." We all received an invitation from TVI a week after that. The people of Canatuan were asked to come for a meeting to discuss the problems. We were all asked to become members of SSAI II (a pro-mining Subanen Association organized by TVI) and accept a settlement of 250,000 pesos. A waiver was attached for us to sign. If we did not agree to sign than we would not be granted a green card which entitles us to pass TVI's checkpoints. They said deadline for the decision is February 28, 2005. If we keep on refusing we are going to be evicted from the area. When I think about how much money I was offered ??" I try not to remember that I was offered that much. I am more happy to see my children still living here and going to school. I am happy to live simply with the fruit trees and just dream that we have the money. DCMI: What is your biggest concern for the future? J.G: My biggest concern for the future is security for my family. I am concerned about my livelihood and way of life. I urgently ask the Government to act on it. DCMI: What will happen to you if you are forced to relocate? J.G: Time will only tell. I am determined to live here forever. If I will be forced to relocate I do not know what I will do. As of now I will not move from the place where I have stayed for so long. DCMI: When you think about the future, what do you wish for? J.G.: I dream of having TVI gone. What I really wish for the future is to see my children grow and live simply. I wish that TVI would leave soon. DCMI: Do you have anything that you would like to say to the people who are supporting you both locally and internationally? J.G: I would ask those who support us in our struggle to help us drive TVI out from Canatuan. - Maryanne Mutch of DCMI ===================================================================== SPYCHIPS HIDDEN IN BRITISH UNIVERSITY ID'S ===================================================================== Oops! Someone forgot to tell students at the UK's University of Warwick about the RFID spychips in their university ID cards. The cards, which also serve as library cards, are reportedly beaming out identity information about students without their knowledge or consent as they pass reader devices at the library and other campus locations. Because it's shockingly easy to hide an RFID tag in a plastic card, people need to remain vigilant even in countries like Great Britain where there are strict privacy laws. The EU's 2002 "E-Privacy Directive" outlaws the processing of "location data" (RFID data included) without "the consent of the individual." We'd love to see the lawsuits that arise out of this one! Source: Warwick Boar, 1/25/05 http://www.warwickboar.co.uk/boar/news/library_id_cards/ Big Brother Bear Is Watching You By Peter Zimonjic The Telegraph - UK 3-12-5 It has been a favourite children's toy for generations, but the teddy bear might never be the same again. Microsoft, the American computer giant, has designed a bear containing microphones, a camera and technology that will allow it to watch a child's every move. The bear, which the corporation has rather unimaginatively named Teddy, can use face recognition software to watch any child whose image has been programmed into its computer. When a child moves, the bear's head pans across the room allowing it to send pictures to a parent watching via a remote video link. The parent would be able to speak to the child via the bear's sound system, giving the adult the chance to shout a warning or other instruction when required. It may sound Orwellian but Steven Bathiche, who created the bear for Microsoft, said that it could help parents by taking on the characteristics of the person who owned the toy and helping them to monitor their child's movements even when they were busy. "The vision behind this is to be in two places at once. This is what we are aiming for," he said. The prototype bear was one of about 150 projects displayed at a recent two-day "tech fest" organised by Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, to give its worldwide teams of researchers the chance to show off their imaginative creations. Most of the new inventions, including the bear, are based on the assumption that, before long, computers will move beyond the keyboard and mouse pad and into everyday domestic goods, including stuffed toys. The bear is powered by motors inside its belly which operate its head and limbs. There are also four microphones and a sound system to send and broadcast messages, a wireless network connection to the internet, and the latest computer software. A spokesman for Microsoft, which has yet to set a date to begin commercial production of the bear, said: "He has face tracking capabilities and will react as though he was shy or embarrassed if there are a lot of people around him. One of the scenarios we envision in the future is that you could be playing Monopoly with your child and Teddy will play with you." In addition to playing games, the bear's creators are also hoping that the toy could be used as an educational tool by installing teaching programs that would help children to learn simple concepts and ideas. Claire Rayner, the agony aunt who is also the patron of Kidscape, a children's charity, said that she had doubts about the merits of the new toy. "The first thing it made me think of was Brave New World," she said. "What children want is human contact. "To condition children that a teddy bear is a talking, caring parent does not go very far towards raising someone that will later relate well with adults. "It doesn't make sense. Instinctively children bond with whatever is cuddly and nice to them and talks to them. If this toy actually does talk to them in familiar voices, I would be very disturbed by that, it is too inhuman." Roger Vincent, a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said that the toy could be useful but gave a warning to parents that they should not rely upon the technology to watch over their children. "Many accidents occur when children are not watched carefully enough. Unless the bear can follow the child around, pick them up and keep them out of trouble parents would be well advised to stay responsible," he said. "The danger comes when parents over-rely on technology. Machines should only ever be used as a back up, not as a primary care giver." ? Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2005. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main. ===================================================================== WORLD CUP IN GERMANY TO FEATURE PRIVACY INVASIONS ===================================================================== >From our German friends FoeBuD comes word of disturbing plans by German authorities to turn the 2006 World Cup into a mega-surveillance snoopfest. Application forms for tickets to the football (Americans, read "soccer") world championship require fans to give up an amazing amount of sensitive information, including passport number, nationality, financial information, and birth date. Information is also required for all others receiving tickets, even if they're not the purchasers. "Sifting out notorious trouble makers" is the excuse for this astonishing information grab. Those fans "lucky" enough to get tickets will be in for another privacy shocker: They will have "personalized" RFID-chipped tickets that enable authorities and others to track their movements during the event. The use of RFID chips to monitor sporting events isn't limited to Germany. The SuperFest held in Florida in conjunction with this year's Super Bowl relied on RFID-chipped wrist bands for age verification and cashless payment. Sources: FoeBuD/StopRFID http://stoprfid.foebud.org/en/news/news22.html The Register, 2/8/05 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/08/world_cup_2006_big_brother_charges/ Jacksonville Business Journal, 1/26/05 http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2005/01/24/daily26.html?jst=b_ln_hl Russia bullied by EU to put biometrics on passports http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/362/15164_passport.html New attack on internet anonymity - surveillance methods expand http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/0,2000061744,39183346,00.htm Fatherland Security goons to be equipped with RFID cards http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,66801,00.html We are all indigenous, and can again become. http://www.greenanarchy.org/zine/GA19/all-indigenous.php Negri on Deleuze and Guattari http://korotonomedya.net/theoria/Negri_1000plateaus.html Richard Koenigsburg - making conscious the unconscious - psychoanalysis of culture http://home.earthlink.net/~libraryofsocialscience/making_conscious.htm "It's not clear whether George W. Bush ever encountered 1984-he often appears to have read only the Bible and My Pet Goat-but Orwell's ideas about mind control have found a home in the Bush administration." http://www.uruknet.info/?p=9710 IRAQ: Riverbend on oppression of women, the elections, and more http://www.uruknet.info/?p=9626 War journalism censored http://www.uruknet.info/?p=9726 Uruknet beat the Google News censors! http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=9901&s2=23 Inside the Peshmerga - Kurdish prejudice against Arabs abounds http://informationclearinghouse.info/article8100.htm Unease among Kurds as leaders seek power in Baghdad http://home.cogeco.ca/~kurdistan6/2-3-05-uneasy-kurds-leaders-eye-on-baghdad.htm NEPAL: Dalit backlash helps Maoists http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/s1300016.htm Mexican politician accused of Zapatista killings http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/10884.html Machine politics and corruption in America http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1074174.htm Conservative's daughter comes out as lesbian anarchist and Nader voter http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42867 http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/02/con05056.html Novel about US attack on Turkey is bestseller http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FF6FC2AA-1876-494E-97E9-570A22F76B3C.htm NATO carried out European "communist" terrorism to provoke fear, crackdowns http://context.themoscowtimes.com/story/140175/ Africa's vanishing forests http://cooltech.iafrica.com/features/410795.htm Nepal: Madhessis deprived of citizenship http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aNPata0seqzpea0Qa4a9a.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&dtSiteDate=20050228&sImageFileName= Interview with Maquila organiser in Honduras http://www.cmt-wcl.org/cmt/ewcm.nsf/_/4E738440653CB121C1256FB80040F57E?OpenDocument Nestle's silent massacre in Brazil http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=1877&view_records=1&ww=1&en=1 Disobediente collapse http://www.metamute.com/look/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=1&NrIssue=29&NrSection=10&NrArticle=1464 Modern-day slavery http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-1/533/533_12_ModernSlavery.shtml BETHLEHEM BLOG: Direct from the Bethlehem ghetto http://www.bethlehemghetto.blogspot.com/ Colombian indigenous people take on multinationals http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/137659/index.php FENSUAGRO: Organising rural protest in Colombia http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia205.htm Report from inside Fallujah http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1153063.htm Starvation threatens Guarani indigenous people http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/617/617p18f.htm Karen rebels in Burma dig in for a last stand http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GC25Ae01.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:31:14 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:31:14 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - FORTHCOMING EVENTS, AND FINALLY... Message-ID: <072f01c53909$91a51050$ab30fd3e@WOL> FORTHCOMING EVENT: TRAVELLERS' MARCH, LONDON http://www.workersliberty.org/node/view/3809 4/15-17 Washington DC: Spring Mobilization against the World Bank and IMF CAUTION! A Better World is Under Construction! Spring Mobilization against the World Bank and IMF Update #2 1. Scenario: April 15-17 2. Money, supplies, copies o my! 3. Outreach 4. Volunteers 5. Next working group/general meetings The April 16, 2005 meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank will represent the five year anniversary of the first major demonstrations against these institutions in the United States. Again we will gather in the streets of Washington D.C. on A16 to show that our resistance to these institutions and their greed only grows stronger. A16 will once more be the day we show that our dreams for a better world are not only possible, but under construction at this moment, in all corners of the globe- and the IMF and World Bank, with all their efforts to demolish these dreams and actions, can never stop us. The Mobilization for Global Justice, a Washington DC based activist group is calling on all working to construct a better world to come out to condemn the World Bank and IMF seeing that they are structurally unsound and of no use to the community. 1. Scenario: April 15th: Gather at the G-7 Finance Ministers meeting, location TBA at Noon. Come wearing hard hats, with tools and banners. The G-7 is the group of wealthiest governments (US, UK, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, and Canada) The G-7 controls the IMF and World Bank. At the meeting on the 15th they will set the agenda and discuss which decision they will make. Playing on the contraction theme of the whole mobilization join MGJ as well as other groups in town like 50 Years in Enough and Jubilee USA as we go to the G-7 to inspect there foundation and condemn the system for its structural unsoundness with a expert team of inspectors working on education, debt cancellation, environmental justice and more. April 16th: Converge at the World Bank and IMF, 18th and H Sts. NW at Noon. The people have served notice to the World Bank, IMF and wealthy elite. Their greed and destruction will not do. 24 hours since first notice we will dismantle the institutions (symbolically of course). Come wearing and bearing the symbols of construction, build props, paint banners makes signs. *March to Dupont Circle with the music and puppets. Once in Dupont four construction zones will be set up in four themes, peace and true security, health care/housing/education, a clean environment, and direct democracy. Here participants can help in the construction of what represents these themes. All of this will be followed by a great benefit show with Riot Folk! April 17th: More info coming but try your best to stay in town for Sunday. It?s going to be great! 2. Money, Supplies, Copies O My! MGJ need support to pull of this year?s mobilization off. The dedication of wonderful volunteers can only get us so far! Please consider giving to MGJ via the internet. Go to our web site at www.globalizethis.org and click on the "donate now" icon. We also need in-kind contributions of paper, copies and supplies of wheatpaste and rollers. Contact mgj at riseup.net with any contributions you have. 3. Outreach: To build for the mobilization MGJ has been busy outreaching to folks to come and take part in the events. But we can only do so much. If you would like to become a local contact and help MGJ reach out to folks around the country please e-mail mgj at riseup.net . We can get you some posters, fliers either in the mail or by e-mail. If you have access to copies we ask that you help us out and make copies of the fliers. Also, there is a good chance that we know someone in your area who could speak at an event or do a teach-in. If this is something you think would be helpful or fun for your community then let us know that too! 4. Volunteers What we mean by this is MGJ won?t work without the dedication of volunteers. If you have some time, if you have some passion, if you have some curiosity, if you have a talent for pulling off the impossible then please come out to a meeting and get plugged in! 5. Next Working Group Meetings and General Meeting Outreach: Monday February 28th 6:30pm at the 50 Years is Enough office 3628 12th St NE (12th and Otis) Metro: Brookland/CUA, red line. From metro take right exit and walk down Otis to 12th St. Contact: hope, hope at 50years dot org Scenario: Tuesday March 1st 6:30pm at the Jubilee USA office 212 East Capitol St. NE (2nd and East Capitol St. NE) Metro: Capitol South, orange and blue lines. From metro walk up 1st street cross Independence Ave. and keep walking to past the Library of Congress on 1st to East Capitol. Turn right and walk to 2nd. Cross second. The offices are in the Lutheran church of the Reformation. Enter on the right side of the building. Busses: The 30?s and the 96 drop off right by the office. Fundraising: Wednesday March 2nd 6:15 at St. Stephens Church (before the general meeting) 16th and Newton Sts. NW Metro: Columbia Heights on the green line. From the metro take the north bound 14th street exit. Walk north on 14th three blocks. Turn left on Newton (you can only take a left). Walk all the way to 16th. The church is on the corner. General Meeting: Wednesday March 2nd 7:00pm at St. Stephens Church (see directions above) Christy Pardew Communications Coordinator School of the Americas Watch phone 202.234.3440 fax 202.636.4505 cpardew at soaw.org - www.SOAW.org Putting pressure on U.S. oil corporation profiting from Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara International campaign puts pressure on U.S. oil corporation profiting from Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. International campaign puts pressure on U.S. oil corporation profiting from Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. Kerr-McGee new focus of Western Sahara Resource Watch March 3, 2005 By Friends of the Western Sahara (friendsofthewesternsahara.org) This week activists from twenty countries opened up a campaign against the U.S. energy corporation Kerr-McGee, which is colluding with the Moroccan government to exploit the occupied Western Sahara. The aim of the campaign is to pressure Kerr-McGee's shareholders into forcing the Oklahoma City-based corporation out of its dealings with the Moroccan government. In 2001, the Moroccan government entered into an agreement with Kerr-McGee (NYSE: KMG) and France's Total to explore the possible offshore Western Saharan oil reserves. Total later abandoned its stake. In 1975, Morocco invaded the Western Sahara. At that time, the Western Sahara was a Spanish colony. Spain, under pressure from the US, handed its colony over to Morocco before the indigenous population could vote on its own future. Although the International Court of Justice and several UN security council and general assembly resolution have called on Morocco to allow the Western Saharans their right to self determination, the monarchical and authoritarian regime in Morocco has refused to allow a vote. So long as the population is not allowed to vote, the Western Sahara is officially Africa's last colony. It is widely believed that the Western Saharans -- often called "Sahrawis" -- would overwhelmingly vote for independence if given the chance. No country in the world recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, although over 70 countries have recognized the Western Sahara's government-in-exile. Despite Moroccan intransigence, the Western Saharan independence movement, known as the Polisario Front, has participated in a UN-organized peace process since 1991. Before then, the Polisario, with strong backing from neighboring Algeria, waged a successful guerilla war against the Moroccan occupation. The Polisario operates from refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria, where a majority of Sahrawis fled in 1976 following the brutal Moroccan seizure of their homeland. Richard Knight, a member of the Association of Concerned Africa Scholars and spokesperson of Western Sahara Resource Watch, noted that "It is remarkable that Kerr-McGee does still not understand the political, legal and humanitarian dimensions of the catastrophe they are inflicting to the Sahrawi people. For three years, the company has refused to listen to our arguments. Now we hope to get some assistance from their shareholders." Since Kerr-McGee signed the reconnaissance contract in 2001, Morocco has blocked the UN-supported peace process. Morocco has even rejected a generous plan put forward by former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker and endorsed by the U.S. in the UN security council. Kerr-McGee's activities have already stalled peace efforts and contributed to rising tension between Algeria and Morocco. One major investor has already divested from Kerr-McGee -- the Norwegian fund administrator Skagenfondene has sold its 100.000 shares, taking a two million dollar loss. Due to the massive negative attention on Kerr-McGee's activities in the occupied territories, they regarded the shares as too risky. Now the government-owned Norwegian Petroleum Fund is considering if it should sell its shares, estimated to be worth over $7 million. The campaign requests the shareholders to play a role as active investors, influencing KMG not to renew its contract with Morocco on May 1st. If the constructive shareholder pressure does not succeed in changing the KMG policy, the campaign demands the investors to divest. COMING SOON ON THE BARRICADES: EU SUMMIT IN LUXEMBOURG It seems the government has decided to hold the official european council for the heads-of-state in Brussels (Belgium), probably because of logistical and security reasons. All other councils and meetings will take place in Luxembourg-City. Where will the countersummit and the protests take place? In Luxembourg. Mainly in Luxembourg-City and in Esch/A. Where will the official Council be? Why then not protest in Brussels? First, because there is already be a demonstration in Brussels on March 19th. But mainly, because it is not the heads-of-state who are the main problem for us, but the whole capitalist machinery in the background! We don't want to depend on some big-men to choose when and where to protest - we set our own agenda. It's Luxembourg who got this presidency after all, and we don't want to let it get away unchallenged. And finally, there has never been such a protest in Luxembourg, so let's just take the chance! What kind of protest will there be? First, there will be a camp to sleep, eat, discuss etc. Then, Action days with direct actions all around Luxembourg. Third, a central Demonstration and a Reclaim-the-streets-Party. And of course, everyone is free to organize something by himself. So there will be various possibilities to join the protest, whatever you prefer! Who organizes the protests? All actions you can read about on this webpage are organized by RISE. RISE assembles various anarchist, autonomous, antifascist and ecological groups from Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium How to get there? Luxembourg is situated between Germany, Belgium and France, very easy to reach by train or car. It's about 360 km from Paris or Amsterdam, 210 km from Brussels, and 750 km from Berlin. There are direct train-connections from Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt etc. Where to sleep? There will be a camp, serving as convergence center, sleeping-place etc. The location is not yet fixed. Where can i get Flyers, Posters and Stuff? Mobilization Stuff like Stickers, Posters etc. are available in the Infoshops in Esch/A and Trier, and most other well-informed Infoshops around. Will there be a preparation meeting in my town? Look here to see if something is planned in you city. We will be touring through Germany, Luxembourg & Belgium for the months to come. If we don't show up in your town, feel free to organize something yourself . You can mail us and maybe we can help you - or just get all the information you need from this webpage (more will be available soon) Fight Governance - Create Alternatives Together against the EU-Summit 2005! On the 1st of january 2005 Luxembourg has the Presidency of the EU. Apart from Brussels and Strasbourg, Luxembourg is the third european capitol and residence of numerous EU-institutions, among them such an unknown as the EURODAC, the central registration file of all applicants for political asylum. In the tradition of the protests against the EU-summits of Nice, G?teborg, Bruxelles, Thessaloniki, etc, we want to take the summit as a chance to communicate our protest against the ruling politics to the public our protest in an effective way. RISE is a network of undogmatic organisations, groups and individuals from Luxembourg over and above that. Apart of the usual forms of protests we want to further develop theory and action, initiating new discussions and elaborating self-organised means of protest. In doing so we want to emphasize the following three basics: 1)Anticapitalism: The actual capitalistic economy, which represents the ruling paradigm of the EU, creates constantly more inequality, poverty and ecological destruction. We don't believe in capitalism with a "human face", we want to fight for an alternative economical system, which replaces wage labour&profit by solidarity and free evolvement. 2)Self-Determination and Emancipation: Instead of the existing repressive state we want a society based on solidarity and a self-determined cooperation. We want to pack up with patriarchal, racist, antisemitic, and all other all manifestations of discrimination. Let's get back our lives! 3)Anti-Nationalism: We don't challenge the EU because it is a supranational organization which caves our so-called "national sovereignty" or destroys imagined "national identities". For us the nation state is no alternative to the capitalist globalization. We refuse to identify ourserlves with nationstates as we fightfortress europe The battles for liberty must aim the destruction of frontiers and not their reconstruction! The EU as a political structure of governance is a consequence of the modern capitalist development. It forms a block, which satisfies the increasing requirements of capitalism, in an economical, military political aspect. The logic of the EU is the logic of neoliberalism. Human beings which are no longer usefull in an economical way are deported, social rights are attacked and civil-rights abolished. In the domain of international politics, the EU follows a strategy of militarisation and hegemony as well. Our protests don't intend to picture the EU as the only root of all evil. The EU is just one of many institutions in the net of governance, but we want to use the increased attention and opportunity of mobilisation evoked by the EU-summit, to communicate our conviction on the streets. Which form for which protest? With our actions we want to break up with deadlocked protest rituals and create new ways of actions. We want to unify a colored mulltitude of resistance on a common base. For us such a base is: - the refusal to delegate our right of self-determination to parties and governmental institutions - anti-authoritarian based self-organization and autonomy of the movement - direct action, civil and social desobedience. ... we don't aim at a logic of military escalation or those orgies of violence conjured and stage-managed in many cases by media and police. We don't want an atmosphere of violence, but an atmosphere of liberation, and we will demonstrate unmistakeably, that neither our heads nor the streets will ever be under control. It is particularly important to create - beyond pure street-protests - a space for meeting, discussion, reflexion and self-determined planning. Facing the increasing repression by the state on the occasion of classical demonstrations we need to fight for own alternatives to the existing system. A first step in this direction is the idea of a self-organized, alternative and anticapitalist campaign-camp. In this context we figure the following project: 1) A self-determined circle for reflexion and action, which makes it possible to express our political opinion and especially to point out our alternatives. That means: grassroots democracy, selforganisation, civil disobedience etc. We want that such a space provides at least rudimentaly the oportunity to exercise social and politic experiments beyond the capitalist society. 2) A space of meeting and coming together for the multitude of diversest social and political fights with the oportunity of exchange and networking of the diversest strategies of resistance, nets and perspectives. 3) A space of disussion and evolution, in which also 'critical' topics are discussed, which are handled to often peripherally, like antisemitism and antizionism as well as disussions about gender or animal 'rights' and others. As groups and individuals on this plattform we want to bundle powers and unify perspectives of resistance to express sustainably our protest concerning the EU-summit 2005. http://www.eurotop.tk/ FORTHCOMING EVENT April 15-17 World BANK/IMF MOBILIZATION UPDATE!!! Washington DC Date:3/24/2005 From:mgj at riseup.net Caution a Better World is Under Construction! Protest the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF April 15-17, 2005 Washington DC www.globalizethis.org - mgj at riseup.net FLASH BULLETIN! It's true: Paul Wolfowitz, the mastermind of the Iraq war, looks set to be the next President of the World Bank! How much clearer can it be that the aggressive military policy of the Bush Administration is part of the same system as the economic policies of the World Bank and IMF? After bombing Iraq and occupying it with soldiers, Wolfowitz is now entrusted with the task of dropping economic bombs on the rest of the Global South, and occupying their governments with economic "advisers." If you've ever protested against the Administration's Iraq war policy - or the World Bank and IMF - you need to be in Washington in April. Show that we understand the next step in the process of brutalizing and dominating the Global South (and beyond). The World Bank and IMF's economic policy is war by different means! Show that we demand, and are already building, a better world! The April 16, 2005 meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank will represent the five year anniversary of the first major demonstrations against these institutions in the United States. Again we will gather in the streets of D.C. on A16 to show that our resistance to these institutions and their greed only grows stronger. A16 will once more be the day we show that our dreams for a better world are not only possible, but under construction at this moment, in all corners of the globe- and the IMF and World Bank, with all their efforts to demolish these dreams and actions, can never stop us. IN THIS WEEK'S UPDATE:: 1) What has MGJ been up to? 2) Put the "scene" in scenario, 3) And the "act" in action!! If that sounds like fun wait till you hear about: 4) Housing for you & your friends!! 5) Legal training for anyone and everyone who wants to protest!! 6) Upcoming Meetings and Events ======================================================== 1. In case you were wondering. MGJ has been up to some really neat-o stuff.On Saturday we all gathered and made props for A15-17 - huge hammers, silly screwdrivers, big bulldozers (well.you get the idea).We got busy with a bunch of cardboard and have some pretty awesome props to show for it. We're planning on handing `em out at the demos, but you know the saying "the more the merrier".feel free to make as many props as possible and bring `em along!!! In other MGJ news.we've been a'wheatpasting (yes, again) and would love to get some materials to ya! We would be happy to send you an outreach packet with fliers both large and small as well as some information about the mobilization, maps, literature, whatever you need. E-mail mgj at riseup.net and let us know what we can do!! If prop making and wheatpasting aren't your style, perhaps a little game of Red Rover would interest you! Gather some friends, line up on the sidewalk, and chant "Red Rover bring economic injustice over" (or something of that ilk) and then the side of inequity (with IMF/World Bank impersonators) can send over one of their horde.only to be summarily rejected and trounced by the side of justice and solidarity which can reply "Will we accept 'em? NO we reject 'em!!" Its fun, fun, fun - we tried it at our AFTA protest and won over the crowds. Speaking of Red Rover, why don't we move on to. ======================================================== 2. Putting the "scene" in scenario. As many of you may already know our theme for this year's demonstrations is:: A BETTER WORLD IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION!! Our scenario has been shaping up nicely, so here's a little re-cap. April 15th: Gather at the Treasury at Pennsylvania Ave. and 15th St. NW @ 12 noon where the G-7 Finance Ministers will be meeting. Come wearing hard hats, with tools, banner, lots of energy, and ready to call for a people's inspection of the G-7, the foundation upon which the Bank and Fund stand. Is it structurally sound?? We have our debts OOPS, I mean doubts! April 16th: Turn your back on the Bank and Fund and Build a Better World!!! Converge at the World Bank and IMF, 18th and H Sts. NW at Noon. The people have inspected the G-7, the foundation of the Bank and Fund and now will declare them structurally UNsound. Their greed and destruction will not do. They cannot stand on such shaky ground for long - come and help bring them down (symbolically of course)! Come wearing and bearing the symbols of construction and re-building; build props, paint banners makes signs. MGJ will demolish the symbols of empire and raise up representations of the world we ARE constructing! March to Dupont Circle with the music and puppets. Once in Dupont construction zones relating to peace and true security, health care/housing/education, a clean environment, and direct democracy will be set up for exploration, interaction, and inspiration. Here participants can help in the construction of what represents these themes. Music, food, and play will follow. April 17th: Let the Construction Begin! Join with DC community organizers in a day of community service. Several special projects are in the works and will be announced soon. Let's show that a better world is under construction right here in DC!! Sounds like fun doesn't it? Well, why don't you join in and, ========================================================= 3. Put the "act" in action? MGJ supports autonomous direct action and knows its value in the struggle for social and economic justice. MGJ is here to help you realize your vision for A15-A17! Let us know what you need - contact mgj at riseup.net. To spice up your actions, you could always bring a puppet!! MGJ would like to announce that we will have a puppet factory up and running from April 11th to April 14th. If you are interested in coming out and helping out (either for your actions or for ours) please e-mail mgj at riseup.net! In case you don't see what you need here, please let us know how we can help! MGJ is here to make sure you have access to the resources you need - we are happy to help put your affinity group or organization in touch with legal and medic support. We are also happy to assist your group in acquiring resources such as maps, calendars of official events (WB and IMF events) and supplies. MGJ will also put your group in touch with local radicals working on media if you want media to be aware of your action. E-mail mgj at riseup.net with any questions. If you're coming to town here's what you can expect:: ======================================================== 4. HOUSING:: We want you to come and stay with us!! Mass housing is available from 5:30 pm the night of Friday, A15 to 8 am the morning of Saturday A16, at St. Stephen's Church, 1525 Newton St. NW (16th & Newton NW) (see below for parking and directions). St. Stephen's can accommodate several hundred folks - if you plan on using it, please let us know how big your group is:: e-mail a16dc at mutualaid.org. DIRECTIONS to ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH: DRIVING: http://www.saintstephensdc.org/directions.html PARKING: Street Only! The parking lot is for the residents of the neighboring buildings. You can also park at most suburban metro stations, many of which are just off the beltway. See:: http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/daily-parking.cfm for more info and http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm for a map designating stations with parking lots. METRO: From the Columbia Heights (Green Line) station walk north on 14th St, turn left on Newton St, and walk until you reach 16th. Entrance in back. Mass housing for Saturday A16 is still being worked out - if you think you're going to need space please let us know at a16dc at mutualaid.org. For those of you traveling in small groups please use the housing boards at www.a16dc.org/boards There are hostels in the area as well (some of them are really great too!). A list of hostels in the DC area is up under the "Coming to DC?" link at www.globalizethis.org -- check it out if you feel like this is the option that best suits your needs. Everyone who wants to come to town should be able to so.if you are coming to DC and have some extra room in your car/van/plane/train please, please, please sign up to share on the rideboard at www.a16dc.org/boards. If you need a ride the rideboards are a great place to look!! ========================================================== 5. LEGAL LEGAL LEGAL:: ***The legal hotline will be posted soon - keep on the lookout*** Alright everyone its training time!! Legal training is an important component of preparing to take our struggles to the street. The Mobilization for Global Justice and the Justice and Solidarity Collective are providing trainings so that everyone, each individual or an appointed legal person from your affinity group, can be prepared to take care of themselves and their loved ones while out on April 16th. There will be three separate training sessions, each offering a know your rights component, a street legal component, and a jail and court solidarity component. MGJ encourages anyone and everyone to come to one of these trainings. For additional information on your rights and what you can expect if you/your friends get arrested please feel free to e-mail mgj at riseup.net. Also, as of April 4th 2005, www.justiceandsolidarity.org will have updated informational materials posted. The dates, times, and locations of the trainings are listed below. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail mgj at riseup.net. Hope to see you there! Legal Training:: Session 1:: April 11:: 6-9pm:: Flemming Center:: 1426 9th and P Sts. NW Metro:: Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center on the yellow and green lines and Shaw Howard University on the green line. The Flemming Center is wheelchair accessible. Legal Training:: Session 2:: April 14:: 6-8pm:: St. Stephens Church, 16th and Newton Sts. NW Metro: Columbia Heights on the green line. From the metro take the north bound 14th street exit. Walk north on 14th three blocks. Turn left on Newton (you can only take a left). Walk all the way to 16th. The church is on the corner. There is wheelchair access at the back of the building. Legal Training:: Session 3:: April 15:: 6-8pm:: St. Stephens Church, 16th and Newton Sts. NW Metro: Columbia Heights on the green line. From the metro take the north bound 14th street exit. Walk north on 14th three blocks. Turn left on Newton (you can only take a left). Walk all the way to 16th. The church is on the corner. There is wheelchair access at the back of the building. **NOTE: As of Monday, April 4th the Justice and Solidarity Collective will have updated informational documents at their website, www.justiceandsolidarity.org. DISCLAIMER: Materials are for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for legal advice. MGJ and the Justice and Solidarity Collective, as well as the distributors of this information, are not responsible for any action taken after reading this sheet or attending these trainings. If you have a legal question you should consult an attorney in your jurisdiction regarding your particular circumstances. ========================================================= 6. PLUG-IN OPPORTUNITIES:: MGJ would love it if you and your friends would like to come and plug-in with us. You can come to meetings to get involved and to get ideas.we look forward to seeing you!! Upcoming MGJ events:: FRIDAY, MARCH 25TH 7-9pm:: FUN(d)raiser @ the Blueroom, 2321 18th St. NW Washington DC 20009. Come out to support the mobilization while enjoying the entertainment of the DC Guerilla Poetry Insurgency and other local artists! Suggested donation of $5.00 @ the door. For more info e-mail mgj at riseup.net THURSDAY, APRIL 14th time TBA:: Dead Prez w/ Head Roc @ Caf? Mowanaj, 624 T St NW Washington DC. Tickets $15.00 @ the door. For more info e-mail mgj at riseup.net Upcoming MGJ meetings:: Sunday, March 27, 11:00am - FUNDRAISING WORKING GROUP MEETING (AND BRUNCH!) The Asylum, 2471 18th Street. In Adams Morgan, very close to the intersection with Columbia, on the same side of the street as Madam's Organ. For more info: catherinebenedict at earthlink dot net Sunday, March 27, 2:00pm - MAILING PARTY 615 Kenyon Street NW (near Georgia Ave.) For more info: catherinebenedict at earthlink dot net Tuesday, March 29, 5:30-7:30pm - SCENARIO WORKING GROUP MEETING 7:30-9:00pm - OUTREACH WORKING GROUP MEETING Jubilee USA office Take the orange or blue line to Capitol South metro stop. Walk straight up (north) 1st. St. until you get to East Capitol (about Two Blocks) Turn right. Walk one block to 2nd St. Cross the street staying on East Capitol. The address is 222 East Capitol St. NE in the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on the left side of the street. Enter on the left side of the building. Just ring the buzzer. You can also take the red line to Union station. Out of the station get on Mass. Ave. Walk east to 2nd St. Turn right. Walk 4 blocks to East Capitol St. Turn left. For more info: mgj at riseup dot net Tuesday, March 29, 8:00pm - HOUSING/LOGISTICS WORKING GROUP MEETING Jubilee USA office (see directions above) For more info: scolnik at gmail dot com Wednesday, March 30, 7:00-9:00pm - MGJ GENERAL MEETING St. Stephens Church, downstairs in the dining hall (16th and Newton St. NW, Washington DC) >From the Columbia Heights metro walk north on 14th, turn left on Newton and walk until you reach 16th. Enter on the side closest to 16th Street. For more info: mgj at riseup dot net Sunday, April 3 - PROP MAKING PARTY Time and location TBA Friday, April 15, noon-1:00pm - ACTION AT THE MEETING OF THE G-7! US Treasury, 15th and Pennsylvania NW Join the inspection team as they issue a notice to the Group of 7 countries that the system they control is structurally unsound. Demand 100% debt cancellation! Friday, April 15, 6:30pm - LOCAL TO LOCAL CONNECTIONS: LINKING COMMUNITY ISSUES GLOBALLY St. Stephen's Church, 16th and Newton NW Join activists working on community issues in Washington DC as well as activists from the Global South for a night of sharing struggles, ideas, and solidarity! For more info e-mail mgj at riseup dot net ***We can't wait to meet you and march with you!! See you in April*** Americas Watch Alert! Mobilize for Coca-Cola's April 19th Annual Shareholders' Meeting! Campaign to Stop Killer Coke Alert From: _stopkillercoke at aol.com_ (mailto:stopkillercoke at aol.com) Web: _http://www.killercoke.org_ (http://www.killercoke.org/) We are calling on all our supporters to mobilize for Coca-Cola's annual shareholders' meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, April 19th, starting at 10:30 a.m. The meeting is being held at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, the site of last year's annual meeting. The annual meeting is the only place one can challenge face-to-face the chief policy-makers of the company - the top executives and board of directors. By having a strong presence inside and outside the meeting, we also serve a warning to the stockholders, creditors and other potential investors that they will be held accountable for the irresponsible actions of this company. Finally, the annual meeting can provide a platform to get our message to the media. ALSO COMING SOON(ISH): Protest against WTO in Hong Kong http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=13&ItemID=7391 Protest the Forbes global CEO conference - Sydney, Australia http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89909.php Stop Caterpillar - 13 April http://www.catdestroyshomes.org/article.php?id=132 SILLY STORY Graffifi it violent, say Scottish Parliament goons http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=270842005 http://www.dirtyjokes.com/jokes.php?joke_id=533&cat_id=7 Title: Bush Intelligence Test While visiting England, George W. Bush is invited to tea with the Queen. He asks her what her leadership philosophy is. She says that it is to surround herself with intelligent people. He asks how she knows if they\'re intelligent. \"I do so by asking them the right questions,\" says the Queen. \"Allow me to demonstrate.\" She phones Tony Blair and says, \"Mr. Prime Minister. Please answer this question: Your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?\" Tony Blair responds, \"It\'s me, ma\'am.\" \"Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir,\" says the Queen. She hangs up and says, \"Did you get that, Mr. Bush?\" \"Yes ma\'am. Thanks a lot. I\'ll definitely be using that!\" Upon returning to Washington, he decides he\'d better put the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the test. He summons Jesse Helms to the White House and says, \"Senator Helms, I wonder if you can answer a question for me.\" \"Why, of course, sir. What\'s on your mind?\" \"Uh, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?\" Helms hems and haws and finally asks, \"Can I think about it and get back to you?\" Bush agrees, and Helms leaves. He immediately calls a meeting of other senior senators, and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer. Finally, in desperation, Helms calls Colin Powell at the State Department and explains his problem. \"Now look here Colin Powell, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother, or your sister. Who is it?\" Powell answers immediately, \"It\'s me, of course, you dumb ass.\" Much relieved, Helms rushes back to the White House and exclaims, \"I know the answer, sir! I know who it is! It\'s Colin Powell!\" And Bush replies in disgust, \"Wrong, you dumb ass, It\'s Tony Blair!\" > A sexy woman went up to the bar in a quiet rural > pub... She gestured alluringly to the bartender who > approached her immediately. She seductively signaled > that he should bring his face closer to hers. As he > did, she gently caressed his full beard. > > "Are you the manager?" she asked, softly stroking > his face with both hands. "Actually, no," he > replied. "Can you get him for me? I need to speak to > him," she said, running her hands beyond his beard > and into his hair. "I'm afraid I can't," breathed > the bartender. "Is there anything I can do?" > > "Yes. I need for you to give him a message," she > continued, running her forefinger across the > bartender's lips and slyly popping a couple of her > fingers into his mouth and allowing him to suck them > gently. "What should I tell him?" the bartender > managed to say.. > > . "Tell him," she whispered............ > > "There's no toilet paper, hand soap, > or paper towels in the ladies room ! " Is this the site of Robert Kilroy-Silk's new party? http://www.vanitasparty.com/ Become a Republican http://www.thefrown.com/things/becomerepublican/ "Born in the USA". Bruce Springsteen Born down in a dead man's town The first kick I took was when I hit the ground You end up like a dog that's been beat too much Till you spend half your life just covering up Born in the U.S.A. I was born in the U.S.A. I was born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A. Got in a little hometown jam So they put a rifle in my hand Sent me off to a foreign land To go and kill the yellow man Born in the U.S.A. I was born in the U.S.A. I was born in the U.S.A. I was born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A. Come back home to the refinery Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me" Went down to see my V.A. man He said "Son, don't you understand" I had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong They're still there, he's all gone He had a woman he loved in Saigon I got a picture of him in her arms now Down in the shadow of the penitentiary Out by the gas fires of the refinery I'm ten years burning down the road Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go Born in the U.S.A. OINK! - Thanks for Class War for these: Daft Cops If They Had Brains, They Would be Dangerous! Welcome to Class War's regular round up of buffoonery from the boys in blue. As usual, this column of the paper was the easiest to fill! Diplomatic Protect Unit Its nice to know that senior officers in this team are capable of taking the sort of hard decisions management is paid for. When PC Amoreena Adams was suffering from depression they temporarily suspended her firearms licence. However a stroke of genius from senior officers saw her later posted to the armoury at the Territorial Policing HQ on Victoria Embankment, where she shot herself. Bang on! Northumbria - Bungling cops who kicked down a door in a 3.30am raid found they were at the right address but the wrong town. Officers who went to Berwick Road Gateshead about a disturbance should have been five miles away in Wallsend, Newcastle. Northumbria police blamed confusing reports for getting the wrong town but later denied they had left the first house unsecured. Confused reports? Confused plod more like! Royal Protection Unit It could happen to anyone. There you are, standing on a chair to close a window, and you overbalance and fall. What can we say to the unnamed officer, in the elite Royal Protection squad, who stumbled into a painting, gashing its canvas, and leaving the royal picture collection a million pounds worse off. Perhaps he could pay it back out of his overtime? Surrey Police It was doubles all round at Guildford police station, when special constable Anthony McArdle reported for duty. You've got to be pretty desperate to be a special, but no one could accuse McArdle of letting the job get in the way of his social life. When breathalysed at the station he was found to be a whopping four times over the limit and sadly his career as a police offisher is over. Never mind Anthony, you might find people start talking to you again now, and you will certainly have a lot more time to spend down the pub. Greater Manchester Police Its farewell also to PC Gary Hart, who resigned from GMP after being convicted of picking up a prostitute whilst on duty in his police car. Hart, who took the women to the unmanned Castle Street police station even failed to pay her the agreed ?20. In his defence he claimed that he was not kerb-crawling but "gathering intelligence on drink-drivers". A long career as a security guard beckons Gary! Avon and Somerset Special Branch We know that Britain is safe from terrorist attack as long as we have men of this calibre to protect us. When the singer in Clash tribute band London Calling sent a text message suggesting some changes to the lyrics of "Tommy Gun" he did not expect to be pulled in by anti-terrorist police. After Mike Devine sent the message to the wrong number he was visited at work by police officers concerned that that he was plotting to hi-jack an airliner. The officers eventually left Mr Devine alone after he showed them the relevant lyrics on a Clash website. Al-Qaeda must be quaking in their boots! Cambridgeshire Look out for PC Scott Haston, who tried to clear his slate in the station canteen using a forged ?20 note he had seized from a supermarket. Witty Haston then tried to pass it off as a joke, until he found himself laughing all the way to Peterborough Crown Court. Can a career in the Fraud Squad be far away? Now this one impressed even hardened cop-watchers at Class War HQ. When a group of six officers from the Territorial Support Group were sent to calm crowds in Soho, they found themselves dealing with a mob leering and cheering in the direction of a large van, where a porn film was apparently being made. Always willing to put themselves into the firing line, two hardy officers entered the van, truncheons at the ready. As concerned officers made frantic calls to enquire if they needed assistance, it soon became clear that something had indeed popped up. All was quickly revealed when the film "Horny Policeman" appeared on the internet, at http://www.hornypoliceman.net/. The two officers concerned now have a great deal more time to pursue their acting careers, as they are suspended on full pay. As Class War's always said - their brains really are in their trousers! Premier League Scum Kilmarnock Prison, run by Premier Prison Services Ltd, is Scotland's only private prison. Its officers though, are as big a set of bastards as any HMP in England or Scotland. In August David Allen, a 44 year old former supervisor at the jail was jailed for two years for planting heroin on an inmate during a cell search. A junior warder, John Robertson, who was with him during the search received 300 hours community service. Lets hope that whichever jail Allen is doing his time in, every prisoner knows precisely who he is. An old Arab lives close to New York City for more than 40 years. He would love to plant potatoes in his garden, but he is alone, old and weak. His son is in college in Paris, so the old man sends him an e-mail. He explains the problem: Beloved son, I am very sad, because I can't plant potatoes in my garden. I wish that you were here to help me dig up the garden. I love you, your father The following day, the old man receives a response e-mail from his son: Beloved father, please don't touch the garden. It's there that I have hidden 'the THING'. I love you too, Ahmed At 4pm the US Army, the Marines, the FBI, the CIA and the Rangers visit the house of the old man, take the whole garden apart, search every inch, but can't find anything. Disappointed they leave the house. Another day later, the old man receives another e-mail from his son. Beloved father, I hope the garden is dug up by now and you can plant your potatoes. That's all I could do for you from here. I love you, Ahmed -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:23:32 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:23:32 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - ASIA - part 4 (+ Pacific Islands) Message-ID: <06f201c53908$7c723bf0$ab30fd3e@WOL> TITLE: Workers demand governor's resignation SOURCE: Jakarta Post - January 19, 2005 Batam, Riau Islands -- Some 5,000 workers on Batam staged another protest on Tuesday, demanding Riau Islands acting governor Ismeth Abdullah's resignation over his failure to improve workers' welfare. The acting governor was condemned for not raising the minimum wage in Batam from Rp 635,000 (US$70.5) to Rp 728,000 a month, a hike that the workers had been demanding for the last few months. The protest on Tuesday almost ended in violence when hundreds of security guards and police officers prevented the workers from entering the governor's office compound in downtown Batam. =================^======================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^======================================== Surabaya students 'walk backwards' to protest fuel price hikes Detik.com - February 17, 2005 Budi Hartadi, Surabaya - There are many ways to express opposition to fuel price increases. On Thursday February 17, scores of students from the University of Airlingga (Unair) Student Executive Council (BEM) chose to demonstrate by walking backwards to the East Java provincial parliament in Surabaya. Before holding the walking backward action, the demonstrators held speeches opposing price increases in front of the State Grahadi Building on Jalan Gubernur Suryo. "The policies of the government of SBY-Kalla [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Vice president Jusuf Kalla] and their ministers have failed, because they only side with the big companies and ignore the economic [needs] of the little people", shouted one of the demonstrators. The president of Unair BEM, Bagus Wiyono, told journalists that the action was held because they had heard rumors that the government would increase fuel prices today. "As a result of this news public unease has grown. What's more it's added to by increases in the price of a number of basic goods", he said. According to Wiyono, in a critical situation such as this the government should conduct an audit of the state fuel company Pertamina. In this way the public would know where the subsidies which are being given to Pertamina are going. "What's more the issues being raised by the government [to justify cutting subsidies], it's not clear what direction they are going", explained Wiyono. After giving speeches in front of the Grahadi Building, the demonstrators held the walking backwards action to the Surabaya parliament which was quite far away, around 300 metres. The action became somewhat heated when the demonstrators were about to enter the grounds of the parliament. This was because scores of security personnel from the South Surabaya Sectoral Police forbid them from entering. As well as giving speeches, the demonstrators also sung songs of struggle and brought posters reading "Reject fuel [price increases] right now" and "The people's misfortune, Pertamina's profit". (asy) [Translated by James Balowski.] INDONESIA Workers demand higher salaries National News - March 10, 2005 BATAM, Riau Islands: Some 2,000 hotel and entertainment workers in Riau Islands province staged a protest on Wednesday in Batam, demanding that the government raise the minimum wage in the area. The increase in the minimum wage should follow on the increase of fuel price, the protesters said. "The fuel price hike has led to increases in the price of basic necessities, making these basic necessities unaffordable for us," said Joko, a protester who works as a bell boy in a local hotel in Batam. - JP Yogya students seal off petrol station and Pertamina offices Detik.com - February 5, 2005 Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta - Opposing planned fuel (BBM) price increases by the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice-president Jusuf Kalla (SBY-JK), scores of demonstrators from the National Student League for Democracy (LMND) sealed off a petrol station (SPBU) and the offices of the state oil company Pertamina. The action which was held on Saturday February 5 began at 9.30am at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) roundabout in Yogyakarta, Central Java. The demonstrators, who came from a number of Yogyakarta schools of higher education, carried posters, banner and red flags with the symbol of LMND. One particular poster, black in colour, which was carried by the demonstrators read "If BBM goes up = SBY-JK will be brought down and the people will unite to form an alternative government". Other posters read "overthrow SBY- JK", "Cancel the foreign debt", "Try the corrupters" and "If BBM goes up unemployment increases". In a speech the Yogyakarta LMND chairperson Lalu Hilman Afriandi said that fuel price increases are evidence of the fact that the SBY-JK government and the People's Representative Assembly have failed to bring about the people's hopes for change. The SBY government is not the solution to solve the crisis. The promise to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism and the try the corrupters within the first 100 days of the administration is obviously just rhetoric. Afriandi said that SBY should use existing evidence to arrest the corrupters and they be called on to prove themselves innocent. "In other words the mark for SBY's report [on the first 100 of his administration] is totally red. The government of SBY is unpopular because it hasn't sided with the people and isn't pro-democratic", said Afriandi. After 30 minutes of speeches at the UGM roundabout, the demonstrators then held a long-march towards the Terban SPBU on Jalan C. Simanjuntak. Along the way speeches were given and leaflets handed out to people. Before sealing off the Terban SPBU, demonstrators gave speeches at the entrance to the station. As a result people wanting to buy petrol and diesel fuel were forced to give up. When demonstrators arrived the 10 petrol station attendants immediately stepped aside and moved near the office. The petrol pumps were only guarded by Yogyakarta city police officers both in uniform and wearing civilian cloths. The demonstrators then sealed the petrol pumps while others gave speeches in front of them. A length of white cloth which was used as a head band with the writing "oppose BBM price increases" was tied around the hose and canister of a gas fire extinguisher. The pumps were sealed with a message reading "Sealed: This SPBU will supply [BBM] at the old price". >From the Terban SPBU the demonstrators continued the long- march towards the Central Java-Yogyakarta Pertamina Trade Office on Jalan Mangkubumi. There they also sealed of the office with the writing "This office has been sealed by the people". They were not however able to enter the Pertamina office itself because it was already guarded by security personnel and police so they posted the message on the front gate. (jon) http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/01/news/indonesia.html INDONESIANS PROTEST FUEL PRICE INCREASES 13,000 police and other forces on alert JAKARTA Students took to the streets in at least 10 Indonesian cities on Tuesday to protest steep fuel price increases in what could be one of the biggest political tests for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono since he took power. The government said Monday that it was reducing fuel subsidies in a budgetary move that would result in average price increase of 29 percent, and the price increases took effect Tuesday. Fuel prices have been a sensitive matter in Indonesia, ever since riots over a price increase in 1998 hastened the collapse of the authoritarian Suharto regime. The authorities placed about 13,000 police and other security forces on alert to deal with any violent protest. The cutting of the subsidies angered many poor Indonesians who depend on cheap vehicle fuel to earn a living. There also is concern that the rise in fuel prices may make other basic commodities more expensive. One of Yudhoyono's major political allies in Parliament, the Prosperous Justice Party, criticized the cutting of the subsidies, saying the government had yet to work out a detailed plan to compensate the poor. El Shinta radio and the official Antara news agency reported student protests and strikes by public-transportation drivers in at least 10 cities across the country on Monday and Tuesday. Hundreds of students blocked roads in the city of Makassar in eastern Indonesia, El Shinta said. In Jakarta, students burned tires near a major intersection and shouted slogans accusing Yudhoyono of failing to defend the poor, witnesses said. Gasoline now costs 2,400 rupiah, or 25 cents, per liter, up from about 1,800 rupiah, but is still the cheapest in Asia. In Malaysia, which also moved on Monday to cut fuel subsidies, unleaded gasoline sells for 1.42 ringgit, about 37 cents, per liter. Previous phased reductions of subsidies have set off violence and forced presidents to roll back some price increases. Yudhoyono, Indonesia's first directly elected president, said last week that he was prepared to lose popularity by sticking to the plan, but with a small support base in Parliament, he could come under political pressure if the protests turn violent. Yudhoyono, who took office in October, told Indonesians on Monday the measures were a bitter but necessary step. Economists have welcomed the decision, saying Indonesia needs to free up funds for infrastructure and development spending. The subsidies last year cost the state 59 trillion rupiah, about $7 billion. Officials said the cuts would result in a fuel subsidy cost this year of 39.8 trillion rupiah, about 10 percent of budget expenditure. Indonesia is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, but it was a net crude oil importer in months in 2004 because of production problems and low investment. Now, gasoline prices have increased by 32.6 percent and automotive diesel fuel prices by 27.3 percent. Household kerosene, vital to impoverished Indonesians, was left unchanged. Anticipating the price increase, motorists lined up at fuel stations late into Monday night. The government has promised that some of the money saved by the reduction of subsidies will be redirected to improving schools and housing for the poor. But many critics are concerned that the money could be lost to corruption, which is endemic at all levels of Indonesian society. Officials have promised the creation of a fund to help those who suffer the most from the price increases. But Rama Pratama, a member of the Parliament's budget commission from the Prosperous Justice Party, said the details of that plan were unclear. The party, he said, "rejects the fuel price increases because the government has not prepared details of the compensation program, to show they can reach the right target." "The government also has no clear plan to deal with the inflation that will be triggered by simultaneous increases in the prices of staple goods," he said. [Translated by James Balowski.] =================^======================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^======================================== Makassar students protesting fuel price hikes hijack fuel truck Detik.com - February 17, 2005 Gunawan Mashar, Makassar - Planned fuel price hikes which are soon to be announced by the government continue to attract a response from the public. Students in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar demonstrated against the price increase by hijacking a petrol truck. Actions took place at two separate locations. The first was in front of the Makassar Islamic University (UIM) and the second at the reformasi toll road intersection. As of going to print, Thursday February 17, the actions were still taking place. The demonstration at UIM on Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan was joined by scores of students. They had been demonstrating since 10am, giving speeches on the road and setting fire to tyres. They also hijacked two petrol trucks owned by the state oil company Pertamina as they drove by although they were released a short time later. As well as giving speeches the students held a theatrical action by wrapping themselves in cotton shrouds. As a result of the action there was a traffic jam on Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan. Also visible were banners reading "Reject fuel [price] increases" The other action which took place at the same time was at the reformasi toll road intersection which was joined by around 20 people from the National Student League for Democracy (LMND). They also detained a petrol tanker and gave speeches opposing increases in the price of oil. (jon) [Translated by James Balowski.] TITLE: Aceh students again rally for free tuition SOURCE: Jakarta Post - February 15, 2005 Banda Aceh -- Hundreds of students from Syiah Kuala University (Unsyiah) in Banda Aceh again held a protest at the university compound on Monday, demanding the university president, Abdi Abdul Wahab, to provide them and the lecturers shelter and free tuition for one semester. The two-hour long protest was the third in the past week. Zulfikar, the chairman of the university's student association, said that shelter provision was aimed at creating a better learning environment as many of their homes as well as those of many lecturers were destroyed in the tsunami on December 26. IWD in Bandung also takes up fuel price issues Detik.com - March 8, 2005 Ahmad Yunus, Bandung - Around 100 women and farmers from the People's Struggle Front (Front Perjuangan Rakyat) held an action commemorating International Women's Day. In their action, the demonstrators who originate from Pengalengan in West Java, also opposed fuel price increases. The action was held in front of the Sate Building on Jalan Diponegoro in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Tuesday March 8 at around 11.10am. As well a Kuda Lumping(1) artistic performance, demonstrators also brought dozens of posters and issued 10 demands. The demands included ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women, rejecting polygamy, rejecting contract labour and opposing fuel price increases. They also brought dozens of young children to the action. "I was taken to Japan in 1942-1945, I was broken hearted [because I was] violated and coerced by the Japanese", said 75-year-old Emah Astimah, a form comfort women during a speech. >From data contained in the leaflets which were being handed out, in 2001 as many as 300,000 Indonesian children were victims of human trafficking to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan while 650,000 women were trapped in prostitution. Police officer were visible but did not guard the action very tightly. One woman was seen to faint and was carried to the shade to recover. Notes: 1. Kuda Lumping - Horse made of plait work with which men dance themselves into a trance. [Translated by James Balowski.] Yogya demonstrators: Fuel price hike more important than Ambalat Detik.com - March 8, 2005 Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta - On Tuesday March 8, dozens of students from a number of groups in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta held actions opposing fuel price increases. They also called on Yogyakarta people not to be influenced or provoked by the Ambalat dispute(1) between Indonesia and Malaysia to the point where the issue of fuel price increases disappears. This call was raised by one of the participants, Mamad, who is also a member of the Yogyakarta Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII). Mamad and his colleges were giving speeches in front of the offices of the state owned oil company Pertamina on Jalan Mangkubumi. "We declare [that we] still oppose fuel price increases which were made by the SBY [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] government. We also call on the Yogyakarta people and students not to be influenced by the Ambalat issue", he said. Mamad explained that the Ambalat dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia should not be used to shift the issue away from fuel prices. Students and the people must continue to voice their opposition to fuel price increases. "The fuel issue is far more important than Ambalat, because fuel [price increases] touch [the lives of] millions of poor people in Indonesia", he asserted. The joint action between PMII from the Gadjah Mada University (UGM), the Yogyakarta State University and STIEBBANK, started at the UGM campus roundabout in Bulaksumur. As well as bringing posters with messages opposing fuel price increases, they also called on Yudhoyono to reshuffle his cabinet, particularly his economic ministers and to seize the assets of the corrupters. >From the UGM campus they held a long-march to the Yogyakarta provisional parliament on Jalan Malioboro ending up at the State Palace on Jalan Ahmad Yani. During the long-march, some 10 motorcycles owned by students who's engines had been turned off escorted the rally. Separately, dozens of activists from the Women's and People's Coalition for Reform (KPRP) commemorating International Women's Day also held an action opposing the increases and demanding a reduction in the price of fuel. In her speech, one of the participants from KPRP, Dian Novita, said the ones who are suffering most because of the fuel price increases are ordinary people, particularly women, that is housewives. The cuts to fuel subsidies has resulted in the people sliding further into poverty with the price of basic goods continuing to increase day by day. "Fuel price increases have also caused more and more working-class women to fall into poverty", she said. (nrl) Notes: 1. Ambalat - In February 2005 a maritime boarder row erupted between Indonesia and Malaysia over an oil-rich offshore area near North-East Kalimantan and the Malaysian state of Sabah. Some believe that the dispute is being used by the military to push for defense budget increases which would be paid for by money saved from the fuel subsidy cuts announced on March 1. Nationalistic rallies around the country also served to divert the public attention away from the fuel subsidy issue. Actions against fuel price hikes dominate IWD rallies in Solo Detik.com - March 8, 2005 Muchus Budi R., Solo - International Women's Day (IWD) which fell on March 8 was commemorated by demonstrations in the Central Java city of Solo. The actions was organised by two small groups with the same aims, opposing fuel price increases which they believe will further worsen the economic conditions of the people. Ambalat(1) was no included among the issues raised. The first action was held by around 40 women calling themselves the Surakarta Women's Alliance. From observations on the ground, most of them were women who have been active in a number of non-government organisations in Solo. The demonstration which was held between 9am to 10am on Tuesday March 8 used the Gladag roundabout as the site for the action. As well as unfurling a banner opposing fuel price increases they also distributed leaflets to passersby. Although there numbers were few, there threats were quite angry. "If the policy (to increase fuel prices) is not withdrawn, we will withdraw the mandate of SBY-Kalla's [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Vice-president Jusuf Kalla] who have failed to fulfil their promises to bring about better reform, but instead have brought further suffering to the people", they wrote in their statement. Several moments after the women's action dispersed, dozens of students from the Solo University arrived at the Gladag roundabout to demonstrate opposing fuel price increases. The action was also held to commemorate IWD with the group calling itself Women's Solidarity Against Fuel Price Increases. (nrl) Notes: 1. Ambalat - In February a maritime boarder row erupted between Indonesia and Malaysia over an oil-rich offshore area near North-East Kalimantan and the Malaysian state of Sabah. Some believe that the dispute is being used by the military to push for defense budget increases which would be paid for by money saved from the fuel subsidy cuts announced on March 1. Nationalistic rallies around the country also served to divert the public attention away from the fuel subsidy issue. [Translated by James Balowski.] Peaceful demo in Palu attacked by police, three students wounded Tempo Interactive - March 7, 2005 Darlis M., Palu - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's warning not to act violently against demonstrations opposing fuel price increases appears to be only words. Police in the Central Sulawesi city of Palu were unable to restrain themselves, attacking and beating students who were demonstrating in the centre of the city. As a result, it caused traffic jams and chaos. "They are still militaristic in carrying out their duties", said the action field coordinator M. Taufik. The peaceful action by 300 students from across Palu started at 10am with demonstrators giving speeches in front of the Central Sulawesi parliament on Jalan Samratulang. They were demanding that the government's policy to increase the price of fuel be reviewed because if they persists with the policy the Yudhoyono government will be taking a very serious political gamble. "SBY-Kalla [Yudhoynono-Vice-president Jusuf Kalla] must resign from their posts", shouted the demonstrators. The action was tightly guarded by a platoon of police officers. Suddenly, in the middle of the student's speeches, a stone flew in the direction of the police. The provocation made police furious and they angrily chased and beat demonstrators, pursuing them onto the main road and causing a traffic jam on Jalan Protokol Kota. Five students who were hit by truncheons were rushed to hospital with head wounds. One of them suffered serious injuries and had to be put on an artificial resperator. Police also arrested three students. The action only ended after the three students were released with the assistance of members of the Central Sulawesi parliament. According to Taufik, who is also the chairperson of the Tadulako University Student Executive Council, they will take legal action over the incident. They are to appoint the Central Sulawesi Institute for Legal Development and Human Rights (LPSHAM) as their legal representative. "The security forces and police haven's changed, [they are] still inclined towards violence", he said. According to Taufik, Palu students will not retreat from their opposition the fuel price increase policy, even if they are deal with violently. Students plan to remain at the parliament until council members agree to sign a document opposing the price increases. "On Tuesday, tomorrow, we will consolidate [our forces], we will go to the streets again and demonstrate", he said [Translated by James Balowski.] No letup in actions against fuel price increase Detik.com - March 6, 2005 Astrid Felicia Lim, Jakarta - Those traveling around the city of Jakarta need be ready to be held up by traffic jams because of actions opposing fuel price increases which are being organised by members of the public and activist groups. Actions in the capital city against price increases continued on Sunday March 6. The United People's Alliance, who had earlier vehemently opposed the fuel price increases, will be organising an open forum, rally and be distributing leaflets. The demonstration will start at the Poncol Senen Monument in Central Jakarta, continue south via the railway line and end at the Jatinegara train station. The action is planned to begin at 3pm. Activist from the City Forum (Forkot) meanwhile, plan to hold an action to collect signatures which will be held on Saturday March 5. The action will be held in the Kampung Melayu area in East Jakarta at around 12noon. Forkot will also be working jointly with a number of other organisations including several from outside Jakarta to organise a general strike. Since the price of fuel was increased on March 1, a total of 327 actions have been held by students, housewives, drivers and activists in various cities across Indonesia. (ast) [Translated by James Balowski.] Demonstrations escalate as government announces fuel price hikes Detik.com - March 1, 2005 [The following is an abridged translation of a selection of articles from Detik.com which were posted on its web site on March 1 after the Indonesian government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice-President Jusuf Kalla (SBY-Kalla) announced the decision cut fuel (BBM) subsides.] Makassar students burn tires over fuel price increases Gunawan Mashar, Makassar - Makassar students greeted fuel price increases by demonstrating on the night of Monday February 28. Demonstrations were held at a number of parts of the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar with student burning tires and reading from the Koran as symbols of the "death of the little people" who are being burdened with a higher cost of living. Piles of tires were burnt in front of the Makassar State University while students waited for an official announcement on the price increases. At the Makassar Islamic University students from the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement burnt tires and gave recitations from the Koran. A demonstration was also organised at the Alauddin State Institute of Islamic Studies where student gave speeches in the middle of the road. Hundreds of students in Kupang blockade roads Emmy F, Kupang - Around 100 students from the National Student League for Democracy (LMND) held a demonstration protesting against fuel price increases. The students who came from a number of colleges in Kupang, blockaded Jalan Soeharto and gave speeches. They also brought banners and posters with messages condemning the SBY-Kalla government. Students said that the policy to increase fuel prices was made under pressure from the rich countries and the IMF and that it only represents a continuation of the policies of the previous government because the majority of the cabinet are people from the New Order regime of former President Suharto. They rejected the increases and urged the authorities to arrest the corrupters and seize their wealth to pay for subsidies for the people. As of going to press, the blockade which started at 9am is still in place. Dozens of police officers were present but took no action. Dozens of angkot (small inter-city public transport vehicle) drivers also held a similar action at the government office for public relations in Kupang. They urged the government to adjust fares because the fuel price increases will be followed by increases in the price of spare parts. Opposing price increases, students highjack petrol truck Ismoko Widyaya, Jakarta - Lively demonstrations against the government's decision to increase fuel prices are continuing. On Tuesday March 1, Students from the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) protested the increases by highjacking a fuel truck. The action which was organised by around 100 students, had been going on since 9am at the UIN campus in Ciputat, South Jakarta. A number of students wore head bands with the writing "We oppose BBM increases". The started the action by burning tires in front of the campus. Scattered around the burning tires were posters with messages condemning the increases such as "BBM goes up, SBY goes down", "SBY constantly lies" and "The people have suffered enough, reduce BBM right now". At 10am a kerosene tanker drove by and the students immediately encircled and "highjacked" it, planning to distribute the kerosene to the people. It turned out however that the tanker was empty and was eventually allowed to go at 11am. UIN Student Executive Council spokesperson Rahmat Sahid said that they would continue the protests for four days straight demanding the cancellation of the price increases and a reduction in the price of basic goods. Fuel prices increase, Yogya students 'seal off' Pertamina offices Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta - Hundreds of students from a number of different groups in Yogyakarta, Central Java, demonstrated opposing fuel price increases by 'sealing off' the state oil company Pertamina offices on Jalan Mangkubumi. Students believe that the SBY-Kalla government has failed to fulfil its promises and must therefore resign. The action on Tuesday March 1 which began at 9.30am, was joined by students from the Muhammadiyah Student Association (IMM), the Islamic State University (UNI) and the Yogyakarta Student Alliance which represents a coalition of Student Executive Councils from the Gadjah Mada University, the Yogyakarta State University, the Islamic Student Association for Reform (HMI-MPO) and the Yogyakarta Indonesian Muslim Student Action Front (KAMMI) Before 'sealing off' the Pertamina offices the students gave speeches and burnt tires at the Yogyakarta monument. As well as bringing the flags of their respective organisations, they also brought posters reading "SBY where is your promise?", "BBM = A burden for the people", "BBM goes up = Tsunami chapter II", and "Stop oppression in the name of BBM increases". After some 30 minutes of speeches, demonstrators held a long-march to the Pertamina offices. Because Pertamina knew it was a target, the front gates had been closed since 9am and tightly guarded by police and soldiers from the sub- district military command. At around 10.30am the number of demonstrators grew even larger after hundreds of members from the Yogyakarta Social Alliance joined the rally. Although students had already asked permission to enter, security personnel refused to allow them to go in. After negotiations, the demonstrators were finally allowed to 'seal off' the Pertamina offices. The offices windows were covered with massages reading "Sealed off, BBM goes up = the little people suffer". They then held a long-march to the Yogyakarta parliament on Jalan Malioboro. Opposing price increases, students also burn tires in Jakarta Hendi Suhendratio, Jakarta - An action against fuel price increases on Tuesday March 1 was also organised by students from the Indonesian Christian University (UKI). Like other demonstrations, they also burnt tires as symbol of protest. The action in front of the UKI campus in Cawang, South Jakarta, had been in progress since 11am. In front of the UKI campus gates a huge banner was erected reading "The people are suffering, oppose BBM increases". The students numbering around 100 gave speeches and repeatedly shouted "Oppose BBM right now". They also set fire to tires in front of the campus and as would be expected, it created a traffic jam. Action coordinator Onis said that the students had planned to highjack a passing fuel tanker however none had passed the campus yet so student gave speeches while they waited for one to pass. In a statement, they demanded that the fuel price increases which had only just been announced the previous night be canceled and that cutting fuel subsidies was not the correct solution to subsidising needs of the people's. 1,680 demonstrate over price increase, State Palace a favorite target Muhammad Atqa, Jakarta - Thousands of students from 11 Jakarta student organisations have held demonstrators against fuel price increases with the State Palace being the favorite target. This was revealed in data gathered by the Intelligence Directorate and Metro Jaya police on Tuesday March 1. Of these eleven student groups, seven chose the State Palace as the location for their actions. The groups include 150 students from the University of Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM) who had earlier held an action at the national parliament, 250 students the Jakarta Student Action Circle, 100 people from the Poor People's Youth Militia, 100 workers from the Port Transportation Trade Union, 80 student from the Jakarta Students Central Movement and 150 students from the Student Liberation Movement. Other groups which chose the State Palace for their actions included 300 students from the Greater Jakarta Student Executive Council and 100 students from the State Islamic University who also invited bus drivers and conductors to go on strike. In addition to this, 150 students from the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) demonstrated in front of the Cawang campus in South Jakarta and around 150 students from UKI who demonstrated at the Salemba campus in Central Jakarta. The Metro Jaya police said that they would break up demonstrations without permits and if they burnt photographs of the president and vice-president police will take action in accordance with the law because it is an insult against the head of state. To safeguard the State Palace, police have deployed around 452 personnel. Demonstration against price increases causes one-hour traffic jam Hendi Suhendratio, Jakarta - Students from the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) set fire to tires in the middle of the road as a protest against fuel price increases on Tuesday March 1. As a result, Jalan Mayjen Sutoyo in Cawang, South Jakarta, was brought to a standstill for almost one hour. At first students only burnt tires in front of the campus however from 2pm they started burning them in the middle of the road. The action took up four lanes leaving only two for motorists to use. As a result cars and buses were unable to move. Only two traffic police were present so they were busy guarding the student action. It wasn't until 3.15 that traffic began to flow again. The spokesperson for the action, Onis, said the UKI students would continue holding demonstrations until the price of fuel is brought back down. Earlier they had tried to highjack a fuel truck but there weren't enough students hold the truck for long. Three students arrested for burning photograph of SBY Arry Anggadha, Jakarta - Three students who were involved in an action against fuel price increases were arrested by police on Tuesday March 1 for burning photographs of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). The arrests were have been confirmed by the Metro Jaya police chief Inspector General Firman Gani. "Yes, it's true, there were three people who were arrested but not those which were holding an action in front of the [State] Palace. They were holding an action at the University of Indonesia in Salemba and come from the United People's Alliance", said Gani when asked for confirmation of the arrests. Gani said the three were arrested because they were intending to burn photographs of SBY. Evidence of this was found at the location of the demonstration where photographs of SBY were found which had already been crossed out. Also found were tires and petrol. "At the moment they are being question by the Metro Jaya police. If proven [guilty], there is a possibility that they will be [formally charged and] arrested", he said. [Translated by James Balowski.] Protests erupt across the country over fuel price increase [The following is an abridged translations of a selection of articles from Detik.com which were posted on its web site on February 28, the day before the Indonesian government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice - President Jusuf Kalla (SBY-JK) took the highly unpopular decision cut fuel (BBM) subsides.] KAMMI students call for economics minister to be replaced Astrid Felicia Lim, Jakarta - Prior to a meeting of the People's Representative Assembly Budgetary Commission at which fuel price increases will be discussed, dozens of students from the Indonesian Muslim United Action Front (KAMMI) held a demonstration at the parliamentary building in Jakarta on Monday February 28. As well as opposing fuel price increases, they also called on the government to reshuffle the economic affairs cabinet team. According to KAMMI general chairperson, Yuli Widy Astono, their opposition to the price increases are final as it is a demand of the ordinary people and students. "This is final, the policy of increasing fuel prices will result in increases to the prices of other basic goods. The government should use other alternatives. For example, reducing subsidies for bank re-capitalisation which are as high as 41 trillion rupiah and increase [the state oil company] Pertamina's efficiency", he said. They said that government's argument that the fuel subsidies are only being enjoyed by the rich is false. In realty, the public already knows that the fuel price increases are being done to plug the budget deficit. Astono added that the target of the compensation funds for cutting fuel subsidies is unclear and will only lead to worse corruption. A number of demonstrators brought posters and banners which read "Oh I'm confused, the feet become the head, the head becomes the feet", "BBM goes up again", "BBM goes up the little people panic", "A sad story: BBM goes up again" and "Wasn't it enough that a tsunami struck down the country". With regard to the Budgetary Commission meeting which had just started, Astono said that they are lobbying the DPR to allow a delegation to enter and convey the student's position to the commission, that is their opposition to the price increases. Yogyakarta students demonstrated against fuel price increases Bagus Kurniawan -- Actions opposing fuel price increases also occurred in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta with students from the Islamic Student Association for Reform (HMI-MPO) and the Yogyakarta Muslim Student League (LMMY) carrying a student wrapped in a shroud to the action. The action, which was held on Monday February 28, began on the grounds of the Yogyakarta provisional parliament at 1pm where they gave speeches and set fire to an old tire. As well as bringing HMI flags, demonstrators also carried a student wrapped in a white shroud with the writing "casualty of BBM increases" and posters reading "BBM goes up, the people are strangled", "Oppose BBM increases" and "SBY what happened to your promise". After 15 minutes of speeches they held a long-march to the central post office where they distributed leaflets calling for opposition to the planed fuel price increases and for the arrests of those hoarding fuel and basic goods. In a speech, action coordinator Panji Hariyanto said the people are obliged to oppose the planned price rises and if the government withdraws fuel subsidies then the people should withdraw their trust in the government and bring the Yudhoyono-Kalla administration down. According to Hariyanto, rising the price of fuel is not the only way to solve the budget problems. "The solution is not to reduce subsidies, but to wipe out KKN [corruption, collusion and nepotism]. Not by getting the small fish but the big fish and seizing their assets/wealth to pay the debt", he said. University of Indonesia students oppose fuel price increases Arry Anggadha -- Around 100 students from the University of Indonesia Student Executive Council demonstrated against fuel price hikes at the State Palace carrying a bamboo bier with the writing "Rest in Not Peace (an embittered death)(1) on SBY-JK's conscience". The bier covered with a black cloth was carried by four students who also wore black clothing. Before going to the State Palace the students held a long- march from the National Monument which was barricaded by around 100 police. After negotiations the students were finally allowed to demonstrate on the National Monument grounds in front of the State Palace. Most of the students were wearing jackets of their university's colours and yellow head bands with the writing "We don't care SBY-JK"(2). Banners were filled with three ultimatums of the people: "Cancel plans to increase the price of BBM", "End economic policies of liberalism" and "Arrest the corrupters and seize their wealth". There were also posters reading "BBM increases will add to the suffering of the Acehnese people", "A gift for the Acehnese people, increasing BBM" and "This is not the time for 'corruption' but the time for 'caring'". Although the action proceeded in an orderly fashion it caused a traffic jam disrupting traffic from roads at the nearby Gambir train station to Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara. Opposing price fuel incases, Makassar students call for general strike Gunawan Mashar -- Opposition against planned fuel price increases has continued in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar where students are even calling for a general strike tomorrow One of the demonstrations was organised at the South Sulawesi provisional parliament by dozens of students from the National Student League for Democracy (LMND) who arrived at the parliament at around 10am. They brought banners reading "Seize the corrupter's wealth [to pay] the subsidies for the poor". A number of students wore traditional farmer's hats with the writing "Casualties of BBM increases". "There are many other solutions which should be taken by the government without having to increase the price of fuel which is the same as oppressing the little people. This includes seizing the wealth of the corrupters or increasing the import duties on luxury goods", said one of the students, Adi. A Similar action took place in front of the Aluaddin State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN). Students from the IAIN Student Executive Council demonstrated by hijacking a vehicle transporting dozens of LPG tanks. The vehicle was abandoned in the middle of the road resulting in traffic jams in the area near the demonstration. Students also protested in front of the Makassar Islamic University where they carried kerosene stoves which were placed in the middle of the road as symbol of their opposition to fuel price increases. They also held a theatrical action and called for a general strike on Tuesday. Other rallies also called for a general strike. Opposing fuel price increases, convoy of vehicles heads for State Palace Arry Anggadha -- Around 300 demonstrators from a number of groups organised a convoy of 25 public transport vehicles to the State Palace. They plan to hold an action opposing fuel price increases. The demonstrators from the Urban Poor Network, the Greater Jakarta Becak (pedicab) Network and the Greater Jakarta Public Transport Network began gathering in front of the Indonesia Plaza in Central Jakarta at 10.15am. As well as angkot (small inter-city public transport vehicle) and becak drivers, the action was joined by housewives and small children. To enliven the action, a number of house wives brought kitchen utensils. The convoy moved off at 11.10am bringing traffic on Jalan Thamrin to a stand still. The convey stopped at the Indosat Building on Jalan Merdeka Barat then continued on foot leaving their vehicles parked along the side of the road. Students burn photos of president and vice-president Ahmad Dani -- Dozens of students from the Social and Political Science Faculty of the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) held a demonstration against fuel price increase in which they set fire to tires and burnt photographs of SBY-Kalla. The action was held in front of the UKI campus in Central Jakarta on Monday February 28 causing a traffic jam when they set fire to tires and burnt photographs in the middle of the street. In speeches they said that the SBY-Kalla government has proven itself not to side with ordinary people and rejected fuel price increases saying that in order to subsidise the people's needs the government should bring the corrupters to trial and use their money to subsidise the people. Palembang transport workers strike over fuel price increases Taufik Wijaya -- In the South Sumatra capital of Palembang, around 150 ankot drivers went on strike over plans by the government to increase fuel prices. Angkot and city buses had begun "disappearing" since 12noon leaving hundreds of passengers on various routes stranded and forcing them to use motorcycle taxis or three-wheeled bemos which are more expensive. According Robi, one of the angkot drivers, they plan to take their demonstration to the mayor's office where they will urge the municipal government to adjust public transport fares for short and long distance trips. Monkey also opposes fuel price increases Arry Anggadha - Around 300 people from the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) demonstrated against fuel price increases using a "monkey act" to draw attention to their action. The demonstration which was joined by members of the Urban Poor Network and ankot and becaks (pedicabs) drivers operating in Greater Jakarta was held in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday February 28. The demonstrators held a long-march from the offices of the Ministry for Political, Security and Legal Affairs to the State Palace. On arriving at the State Palace, they organised a "monkey act". "Look, even the monkey oppose BBM increases", said the head of UPC's advocacy division, Berkah Gamulya, during a break in the action. A monkey, which was given the name Iis, could be seen dancing while carrying an umbrella and basket. Following this, the monkey rode around on a becak and bicycle. The majority of the demonstrators were housewives and children who banged household utensils such as pans, woks and jerrycans. A huge banner was unfurled which read "Oppose BBM increases, reduce the price of basic goods". The action proceeded in an orderly manner guarded buy around 100 police officers. Notes: 1. The implication here is that a person who is murdered "isn't ready to die" and will return as a ghost and haunt the person who committed the crime. 2. "We don't care" is play on words taken from a recent statements by Yudhoyono that he "doesn't care" about his declining popularity over the government's failure to fulfil key election promises in the first 100 days in office. [Translated by James Balowski.] TITLE: Disabled people demand equality SOURCE: Jakarta Post - January 25, 2005 Yogyakarta -- Dozens of disabled people in Yogyakarta staged a protest on Monday to demand equal treatment and an end to discrimination by the authorities, and the enactment of special legislation to ensure their rights were protected. The protesters met with several members of the local council, and complained about a lack of employment opportunities and public facilities for them. "We don't ask for pity. We are just demanding fair and equal treatment. For how long will we continue to be treated like this?" said coordinator Nuning Setyaningsih, who is also the director of the Center for Improving Qualified Activity in the Lives of People with Disabilities (CIQAL). She said that the main cause of discriminatory treatment against disabled people was the lack of legislation to protect their rights. TITLE: Change of hospital status sees protests SOURCE: Jakarta Post - February 2, 2005 Jakarta -- The Jakarta administration's decision to change three city hospitals into corporate entities in a bid to boost their professionalism, has received a negative reaction from several hospital staff and local residents. Fearing that the policy would reduce health services for the poor, dozens of local residents and activists protested on Tuesday at Pasar Rebo Hospital, East Jakarta, one of the hospitals cited in the policy decision, which took effect on January 1. "We are afraid that hospital fees will increase," said Pius Toa, 57, a Pasar Rebo resident. "Any corporation by definition is profit-oriented." The City Health Agency head, Abdul Chalik Masulili, defended the city's decision to incorporate the three city-run hospitals: the Pasar Rebo Hospital and the Haj Hospital in East Jakarta and the Cengkareng Hospital in West Jakarta. "There is no way that this will increase costs for the poor," said Abdul Chalik. "Whatever the legal form of a hospital, its main mission is still a social one." Out of the 250 hospital beds at Pasar Rebo, 50 percent are designated as third class facilities, which are covered by the city under its health care scheme for the poor. Abdul Chalik said that the change in status was necessary as previously, when they were government units, the hospitals were hampered by bureaucracy and staff management issues. "The change is purely meant to increase the flexibility of management," explained Chalik. "So that they can better manage the hospital's assets, finances and staff." Siti, who has worked as a nurse for more than 10 years, said that many of the hospital workers joined the protest out of concern that the hospital would deny access to the poor to health services. "When it was a government unit, I used to be able to go home at 2 p.m., now I have to stay here to at least 4 p.m." The city still legally controls all the hospitals, owning 99 percent of the shares of Pasar Rebo and Cengkareng Hospitals and 51 percent of the Haj Hospital. The administration will also incorporate the three remaining city-run hospitals: Tarakan Hospital in West Jakarta, Koja Hospital in North Jakarta and Budi Asih Hospital in East Jakarta. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Air strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m12.shtml University strikers demand vice-chancellor resign http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m12.shtml Hundreds protest over Aussie search of PNG PM http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1335475.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/31/content_2770186.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1336599.htm SOLOMON ISLANDS: Deal ends public-sector strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f26.shtml FIJI: Government workers stage walkout http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=18565 http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=18738 Water supply workers strike over back pay http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=18583 NEW CALEDONIA: MINE BLOCKADED (report from Mining Watch) Kanaks Blockade Inco's Goro Site in New Caledonia, Demand Respect for Indigenous Rights For Immediate Release - February 3, 2005 (Ottawa/New Caledonia) On February 1 at 4:00 in the morning 150 members of the indigenous Kanak Rh??b? N?? Committee blockaded the entrance to Inco's Goro Nickel site. On February 2 the number had grown to 250 protestors. Today, according to reports, the new shift of workers for the site were turned away by the Rh??b? N?? activists and Inco told its remaining 50 workers on site to evacuate. This is the latest effort in a long-standing struggle by the Kanak population of New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the South Pacific, to force Canadian nickel giant Inco to respect their indigenous rights. Andr? Vama, chairperson of the Rh??b? N?? Committee says that the blockade will last as long as it takes to get Inco and the Southern Province to the negotiation table. In a press release issued by the Rh??b? N?? Committee on February 1, Andr? Vama said, "Let us sacrifice current income earning activities to gain our rights and have them being respected over the promise of 200 years of exploitation of our natural mineral resource heritage." On February 3, Andr? Vama was taken into custody. Supporters of the Rh??b? N?? Committee and the local Kanak population fear that the French special police forces (gardes mobiles) will soon charge the people on the barricades. Recognized Kanak authorities representing the major Kanak institutions of the S?nat Coutumier and the Rh??b? N?? Committee demand that Inco: 1) halt recently resumed construction of the Goro facility, 2) initiate a negotiation process that will result in a agreement with recognized Kanak authorities that responds to their social and environmental concerns concerning the Goro project, and 3) allow an independent assessment of Inco's Environmental Impact Assessment. Kanak authorities have repeatedly pointed to the agreements Inco negotiated with the Labrador Innu and Inuit as an example of the process they seek with Inco. Inco's response to these requests has been highly combative and confrontational. Following a three-day blockade early in 2004, Inco filed a lawsuit against the then-leader of the Rh??b? N?? Committee, Rapha?l Mapou. However, in a landmark ruling in November, Justice Dominique Gilles ruled that Rapha?l Mapou and the Rh??b? N?? Committee are the legitimate representatives of the Kanak people affected by the Goro project and that their protest was peaceful and its goals of protecting Kanak concerns and the environment were legitimate. Inco has filed another suit against Rapha?l Mapou for "damages" incurred by the three-day blockade. Justice Pradal of New Caledonia's capital Noumea has threatened expulsion of the current Rh??b? N?? blockade by force. "Andr? Vama and the members of the Rh??b? N?? Committee are showing enormous bravery in standing up for the rights of their people in the face of possible police action and Inco's litigious aggression," says Catherine Coumans of MiningWatch Canada. "It is shameful that a Canadian company that should know better is violating the basic rights of the indigenous people of New Caledonia." More on the protests: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/s1300016.htm BOUGAINVILLE http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/s1330227.htm Last Updated 23/03/2005 PNG: Francis Ona stages demonstration in Bougainville capital The Bougainville rebel leader, Francis Ona, has made a surprising intervention in the political landscape of the Papua New Guinea province. After many years of isolation, the former leader of the uprising against PNG rule yesterday travelled from his self-declared "Kingdom of Mekamui", in the centre of the island, to the provincial capital at Arawa. Once there, he staged a demonstration with his supporters, in front of the offices of the United Nations. Bougainvilleans will got to the polls for the province's first-ever autonomous elections on May 20. BOUGAINVILLE: Ona leads march against Aussie occupation http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1333632.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:23:53 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:23:53 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - South America, Central America, Caribbean Message-ID: <06fe01c53908$972ce2b0$ab30fd3e@WOL> LATIN AMERICA The 3rd Latin American Encounter of Autonomous Popular Organizations has drawn to a close in the town of La Plata, Argentina. The meeting saw the participation of 400 people and over 50 popular organizations from all over Latin America. These organizations exchanged their experiences and discussed concrete proposals for advancing the popular struggles on our continent. >> FINAL STATEMENT --- of the 3rd Latin American Encounter of Autonomous Popular Organizations La Plata - February 2005 General Conclusions Introduction: The situation in Latin American countries is very similar. Imperialism is producing violations of the most basic rights such as the rights to food, health, housing, education and work. The social-democratic governments are not opposing all this. On the contrary, capitalism is operating as an instrument of change in order to continue applying the neo-liberalist model. Some examples are the creation of imperialist military bases in the region, the FTAA free trade agreement, the payment of foreign debts and the policies of privatization. Social protest is being criminalized and state terrorism continues. Though there are signs of our class re-organizing itself through the new social movements, we are nonetheless aware of the need to build popular power ["poder popular"] which canface up to imperialism. The building of popular power: The term "popular power" is used to denote the fact that it is the people ourselves who have the capacity to resolve our own problems by ourselves without delegating the task to others. Popular Power exists every day wherever we are present with direct democracy, direct action and horizontal structures. Popular power destroys bourgeois power. By building popular power today we work towards building a new society and in order to build this new, just society of equality and solidarity, we must begin by practising these principles now. It is a question of the correlation of forces between the classes and the irreconcilable class interests can be resolved from a position of force. Islands of popular power can be built, but we must grow on the basis of a united project. Popular power must be built on five fundamental bases: * The disorganized must organize in order to combat the disorganization which exists in the class and create the right environment where people can participate with political independence and organic autonomy. This autonomy must be understood as an integral part of a whole project. Organization on the basis of the principles of direct democracy and horizontality will allow us to apply suitable methodologies. * Unite those who are alone, in order to combat dispersion and the fragmentation of our people and to unify the struggles. * Create an ideological struggle, in order that the class can discover its role and its existence as an oppressed class. We realize the importance of political education in order to collectively and consciously build from the grassroots. * Protect our autonomy from political parties, from the church and from the State. * Work towards re-building social ties and the values of solidarity in order to break away from selfishness and social decomposition. The strategic accumulation of the strength to build popular power must be understood as part of a framework for empowering people, as ultimately it is the people who will have to make the changes and there is no party or political organization on earth who can substitute the people. How we will proceed united: It was agreed that we would engage in the following activities: * React to the Bush visit to Argentina in November as part of the Americas Summit, with mobilizations in every country with organizations present here today, against hunger and against the FTAA. * Participate in the activities on 11 October which will be taking place everywhere in the region. * Promote struggles to obtain the release of political prisoners. * Publicize the situation of political prisoners in every country. * Create an e-mail network in order to ensure speedy communication. Next meeting: The next meeting will be held during the last week of February in Montevideo, Uruguay. The central theme will once again be the building of popular power. The need to organize discussion by sectors was established and therefore the first day of the meeting will concentrate on general discussion regarding the building of popular power among all those present, while the second day will analyze how to build popular power in each sector and aim to promote coordination between the various sectors. E-mail: comites_resistencia at yahoo.com.br The 3rd Encounter saw participation by over 400 people from the following organizations: URUGUAY Centro Social El Galp?n de Corrales Espacio de Solidaridad BRAZIL Comit? de Resistencia Popular - Porto Alegre Comit? de Resistencia Popular - Sao Paulo BOLIVIA Red Tinku CHILE Biblioteca Popular Puel Mapu Frente de Estudiantes Libertarios Comit? de Allegados Lucha y Vivienda ARGENTINA Frente Popular Dar?o Santill?n MUP, Movimiento de Unidad Popular MTD An?bal Ver?n MTD La Verdad MDO, Movimiento de Desocupados y Ocupados UTL Sur MRV26, Movimiento Resistir y Vencer 26 de Junio Centro Popular Agust?n Tosco CTD Trabajo y Dignidad Aguanegra FAEA Santiago Pampill?n Barrios Unidos (Mar del Plata) Tinta Roja (Mar del Plata) Uni?n de Vecinos Organizados (Mar del Plata) Centro de Derechos Humanos Zaragoza (La Plata) Equipo de Educaci?n Popular de la Universidad de Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Bs. As) Equipo de Psicolog?a Social de la Universidad de Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Bs. As.) Comisi?n Techo y Trabajo (Bs. As) Gran Parlamento Ind?gena Grupo Humanidad (La Plata) Asamblea Angel Gallardo (Cap. Federal) Proyecto 19/20 (Bs. As) Libres del Sur (Bs. As) COPA La Plata (Bs. As) Colectivo Desalambrando (Bs. As) Defensor?as Populares Aut?nomas ASE (Bs. As.) Cimientos (Bs. As.) Asamblea Juan B. Justo y Corrientes (Cap. Federal) Repique (Bs. As.) Nexos, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (Bs. As.) MTD 1? de Mayo (Bs. As.) Foro Social de Salud (Bs. As.) Izquierda Gay L?sbica, Transexual, transexual y bisexual (Bs. As.) F?brica Recuperada Tucuy Paj (Bs. As.) Organizaci?n Barrial Juanito Laguna (Bs. As.) Asamblea de Bajo Belgrano (Cap. Federal) Grupo de Reflexi?n Rural (Bs. As.) Comisi?n Independiente del Puente Pueyrred?n (Bs. As) Colectivo de Trabajo de Periodismo (Bs. As) Indymedia (Bs. As.) Hoy no se f?a (Bs. As.) CIAJ (Bs. As.) Centro Cultural Kichari (Bs. As.) Asamblea por el derecho al aborto libre gratuito y despenalizado (Bs. As.) Comunidad Originaria Kilmes (Bs. As.) Asamblea de Wilde (Bs. As.) Coordinadora Libertaria (C?rdoba) CLAC (Canada) La Boatella (Spain) CNT (France) Translation by FdCA-international relations BRAZIL: REPRESSION OF OCCUPIERS CONTINUES Brasil - 16 Feb 2005 VIOLENT EVICTION IN GOIANIA, BRAZIL A large military policy operation with 2,500 men has started this morning (February 16) for the eviction of the land occupation Sonho Real (Real Dream) in the city of Goi?nia, Brazil. Two people got killed, over 800 people got arrested and several people are wounded (five were very seriously wounded). Among the arrested, two Indymedia volunteers, one from Goi?nia and one from Indymedia New York. The occupation started in may 2004 in an area which has been abandoned for years and quickly gathered 3,000 families. In January, Justice ordered the eviction of the families and since then police have been terrifying the families with death threats and sudden attacks. In February 11, police showed up suddenly and shot gas and concussion bombs and fired rubber bullets against the people. One child got hit by a concussion bomb. On February 15, in another attack, police shot bombs and fired with guns. Two people got hurt. After pressure from social movements and human rights groups, state of Goi?s Governor Marconi Perillo committed himself not to send police to evict people in a violent way (you can hear his commitment in this recorded audio. Today's attack and the so far confirmed death of 2 people showed he did not stick to his words. State Repression Showers Goiania with Mourning, Protest After the violent eviction suffered this Wednesday, the 16th of February, many of the families from the occupation Sonho Real spent the night at the Catedral of Goiania. Others stayed in a Gym, because no other space was provided for them after their eviction. IMC reporters are now hearing a great number of reports of police violence and authority abuse. Even neightbors from the occupation have made reports about being attacked by the police. Some have sought medical attention. A rally was called for today, the 17th of February at 9 AM in front of the Catedral of Goiania to protest against the violence and to demand punishment for the perpetrators. During the rally the homeless held a funeral for the two 2 militants killed in Wednesday's raid, Pedro Nascimento Silva and Wagner da Silva Moreira. During the demonstration some undercover cops were identified by the squatters while they were trying to arrest of one of the leaders of the Occupation. Trying to avoid prison, the homeless surrounded the police officers who shot many times in the direction of the crowd. In as attempt to escape, they ran to a square near the Military Police who proceeded to set up a police line and protect the undercover cops. Still coming in are many uncomfirmed reports of murders and extreme police violence, in addition to the reports about the missing bodies. A recent post to IMC reports bodies that had been hidden in tanks or burned by the police). At this time, some of the arrested remain in jail and it is estimated at least 50 people missing, based on the various eye witness reports. MORE ON GOIMBRA: http://www.brasil.indymedia.org/en/blue/ Background to the massacre http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2005/384/index.html?id=pp9.htm BRAZIL: 35000 women march on International Women's Day http://www.indymedia.org/en/2005/03/113381.shtml Rubbish collectors strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m08.shtml Construction workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f22.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml ARGENTINA: Metro workers strike and win http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=42&ItemID=7229 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4249371.stm Truckers win deal after clashes with riot cops http://money.iwon.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt.jsp?cat=USMARKET&src=704&feed=dji§ion=news&news_id=dji-00096520050304&date=20050304&alias=/alias/money/cm/nw Teachers strike in Salta and Santa Fe http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m08.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m29.shtml Air workers strike for back pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m15.shtml Construction workers block roads http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f22.shtml Protests against price rises http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={8304C588-FFED-4461-B6ED-7ECA06141720}&language=EN COLOMBIA: Mass jailbreak: 20 flee as rebels storm the prison, seven are shot by guards http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4210913.stm http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-briefs27.2jan27,1,5775428.story?coll=la-headlines-world Colombians protest after landmine kills children http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/02/15/colombia.mine.ap/ Free trade area negotiations protested http://www.ww4report.com/node/284 VENEZUELA: Squatters hold tight as land reform struggle escalates http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,12716,1397833,00.html?gusrc=rss Workers' control in aluminium factory http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1407 Indigenous people fight coal mine http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/03/07/8850822 http://resist.ca/story/2005/3/5/171818/3493 Workers call for solidarity at university http://www.marxist.com/Latinam/venezuela_sutrauft.htm Manufacturing workers also call for solidarity http://www.marxist.com/Latinam/venezuela_cnv_workers.htm ECUADOR: 250,000 march against corruption and for welfare services Mass demonstrations oppose President's stitchup of Supreme Court http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m22.shtml http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/615/615p16.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/616/616p18b.htm Protests against president over stuffing of Supreme Court; supporters also march (bugmenot login: nomail at juno.net password bugmenot) http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10919746.htm School students protest to call for concessionary prices http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/615/615p19i.htm Doctors strike over unpaid bonds http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={F346004B-E87A-48C1-8343-1D1832146776}&language=EN http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={AE491329-1ABF-4222-9CA3-A985B91A17D6}&language=EN Ecuador tribes vow to defy oil plan http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4308537.stm Doctors, tire workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m08.shtml Court workers strike as crisis continues http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m29.shtml BOLIVIA: Government oust water company after mass unrest http://www.waronwant.org/?lid=9366&cc=1 CHILE: Fisherfolk strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m01.shtml CHILE: Farmers protest Barrick mining ecocide plan http://www.tcgnews.com/santiagotimes/index.php?nav=story&story_id=8693&topic_id=1 PERU: Doctors strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m08.shtml O.A.S.: US indigenous rights event snubbed by indigenous people in protest at US policies http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10851098.htm (bugmenot login: nomail at juno.com and password bugmenot) MEXICO: Voice actors strike over union http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m01.shtml Mass march against privatisation http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m15.shtml Water system workers strike over layoffs, pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/wkrs-m29.shtml MEXICO: Cuntaleeza gets tomatoed --- In TheLies at yahoogroups.com, "Al" wrote: --- In Aztlannet_News at yahoogroups.com, tlacayaotzin at a... wrote: Condalezza Rice, receives tomatoes as departing shot in Mexico!!! From Proceso.com of today.. Avientan jitomates al auto que condujo a Condoleezza Rice "tomatoes thrown at car transporting Condoleezza Rice" Autor: judith amador tello/apro Fecha: 11-Mar-2005 *Protestan por la presencia de la secretar??a de Estado de EU * Frente a la SRE le gritan ???asesina??? y ???terrorista??? ******************* They protested the presence of the Secretary of State from the U.S., in front of the SRE, as they shouted "assassin and terrorist" ******************* M??xico, D.F., 10 de marzo (apro).- El grupo Iniciativa Mexicana contra la Guerra ???No en nuestro nombre???, expres?? su repudio por la visita oficial de siete horas que la secretaria de Estado de Estados Unidos, Condoleezza Rice realiz?? hoy a M??xico y avent?? jitomates al autom??vil que la transport?? de regreso a su pa??s. ******************* Mexico City, March 10 - The group "Initiative against the War, "Not in our name", expressed their protest for the official visit of six hours that the Secretary of State for the U.S., Condoleeza Rice, realized today in Mexico and they threw tomatoes at the her car as she passed by the group. ******************* Desde su llegada al Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de M??xico, los activistas llegaron a manifestarse al hangar presidencial con mantas y una mojiganga cuyo rostro representaba a la funcionaria del gobierno estadunidense. ******************* Since her arrival at the International Airport of Mexico City, the activists have been able to make their presence known at the presidential hangar with slogans and "a giant war monger puppet" that represented the secretary and the United States government. ******************* Posteriormente el grupo, formado por alrededor de cincuenta personas, se traslad?? a la sede de la Secretar??a de Relaciones Exteriores en Tlatelolco, donde presentaron un desfile de modas. Una de las integrantes del grupo, quien prefiri?? no dar sus datos personales, explic?? que la colecci??n se llam?? ???Dise??os Condoleezza??? o ???El mundo seg??n Condoleezza???. ******************** Behind the group, that formed around the 50 persons, of the Secretary of External Relations in Tlatelolco, where they presented a parade of puppet models. One of the group leaders, that didn't want to give her data, explained that the group collected was named "Diseatos Condoleezza" (Condoleezza Disaster) o "El mundo sega Condoleezzaa" (The world following Condoleezza) ******************** Dos travest??s condujeron el desfile que tuvo como objetivo ???reivindicar la diversidad y los derechos para todos???. Se presentaron tres modelitos: un vietnamita de Abu Graib, un campesino a punto de la muerte por las pol??ticas econ??micas de la Organizaci??n Mundial de Comercio, y un cad??ver que es ???la propuesta que el equipo de Bush est?? haciendo para todos los pa??ses que tienen materias primas y en particular petr??leo, agua y biodiversidad???. ********************* Two protestors paraded with the objective to affirm the human rights and diversity of all. Three puppet models were presented, one a Vietnamese in Abu Graib, one a farm worker near death due to economicy policies of the World Trade Organization, and a skeleton, to indicate what Bush's war in Iraq is doing to all the worlds peoples and that in particular the interest of oil supplies, pollutted water, and biodiversity destruction. ********************* A la misma hora, pero frente a la Embajada de Estados Unidos un grupo de Amnist??a Internacional protest?? tambi??n contra la pol??tica intervencionista y b??lica del vecino pa??s del norte. ********************* At the same time, but outside the U.S. Embassy, a group of "Amnesty International" protested also against political intervention of the neighbor to the north. ********************* El grupo Iniciativa Mexicana contra la Guerra esper?? afuera de la Canciller??a mexicana hasta que Rice sali?? para despedirla con los gritos de ???Fuera tropas de Irak??? y ???Condoleezza, asesina, tu eres la terrorista???, y aventaron jitomates al autom??vil que la transportaba. ********************* The group indicated the Mexican sentiment against the (Iraq) war outside the Mexican Counsulate as Rice came out to leave, they shouted "American Army out of Iraq", and "Condoleezza, Assassin", "Condoleezza, you are terrorist", and they threw tomatoes at her car that transported her. ********************* El grupo activista anunci?? que est?? preparando una gran movilizaci??n para el 19 de marzo, cuando se cumplir??n dos a??os de la invasi??n de Estados Unidos a Irak. ********************* The group of activists announced that they are preparing a grande mobilization for the 19th of March, when the 2nd year annivarsy of the invasion of the United States of Iraq occurs. EL SALVADOR: University occupied in flash protest against budget http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/613/613p20c.htm HONDURAS: Civil servants strike for pay increase http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={B313CB6A-A9D3-4F46-937A-271EA6E952D4}&language=EN NICARAGUA: Teachers? strike continues http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={0BE1BAAB-F243-4EBC-A36F-DE151AE35565}&language=EN http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={87BD3B46-5AE8-41B1-816C-81FDF6816D76}&language=EN http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={8DB1EAAD-F443-49A2-BE27-DBEE6EF78E1B}&language=EN http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6907/690754.html http://www.periodico26.cu/english_new/world/strike080205.htm Teachers end strike but threaten re-start http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={B2473277-FE80-41C6-93AB-E8C7E07B7C4A}&language=EN Teachers' strike ends in victory http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/wkrs-f22.shtml Poisoned workers set up protest camp http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=54&ItemID=7553 BELIZE: Trade unionists once more turn out to demonstrate http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13695 http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?story=539&PHPSESSID=68c687a6e75d60c4a5e7d995f0c1f188 CUBA: Wives of political detainees march to demand their release http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050218/480/hav10302182150 Wives of dissidents continue protests http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/03/29/2003248238 HAITI: Partial victory for FTZ workers http://www.labournet.net/world/0501/haiti1.html Oppositionists escape jail ? but recaptured http://resist.ca/story/2005/2/20/23119/4133 http://resist.ca/story/2005/2/21/18577/7021 BAHAMAS: Teachers occupy school in protest over transfer of counsellor http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=2356 http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/337046907263132.php Nurses stage sick-out over poor conditions http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=2909&sid=10c4fd8b1ee0b542fbef71811b3f9b9b Communication workers strike http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13666 http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/282892640147909.php DOMINICA: Caribs protest film depiction as cannibals http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/02/14/Arts/pirates050214.html Doctors demonstrate http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={60DF85AE-D08E-4A39-8442-732A82AEB81D}&language=EN JAMAICA: Sugar workers end strike in return for inspection http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/?id=15437 Students blockade university gates in results protest http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050312/cleisure/cleisure1.html TRINIDAD: University of West Indies shut down by lecturers? strike http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=58459106 Sanitation workers protest http://www.i955fm.com/applicationloader.asp?app=newsarticles&cmd=view&articleid=5757 Retired port workers picket PM http://www.i955fm.com/applicationloader.asp?app=newsarticles&cmd=view&articleid=5773 Workers demonstrate for unpaid wages http://www.newsday.co.tt/stories.php?article_id=25256 Health workers and hospital cooks protest http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=66550115 http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=66550112 Linden hospital staff strike for pay increase http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_general_news?id=14138861 Lifeguards' protests continue http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=65060007 Lifeguard strike ends with agreement http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=68916105 http://www.i955fm.com/applicationloader.asp?app=newsarticles&cmd=view&articleid=6078 Doctors end overtime protest http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=65951188 Prisoners revolt in court over excessive bail and adjournments, take magistrate hostage http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=67753824 BARBADOS: Students protest against new amenities fees Student strike and demonstrations greet the planned fee http://www.nationnews.com/StoryView.cfm?Record=57887&Section=LO&Current=2005-02-15%2000%3A00%3A00 http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=20445 http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=20411 http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=20433 http://www.nationnews.com/StoryView.cfm?Record=57892&Section=LO&Current=2005-02-16%2000%3A00%3A00 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clip_image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 4952 bytes Desc: not available URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Mon Apr 4 04:30:34 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:30:34 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades - CALLS FOR ACTION - TAKE ACTION NOW!!! Message-ID: <072801c53909$78d34dd0$ab30fd3e@WOL> CALLS FOR ACTION Protest dismissal of investigative journalist http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20050306223633963 BOYCOTT EMIRATES AIRLINE This airline is involved in deporting refugees - so boycott them! http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/614/614p4c.htm BOYCOTT TOSHIBA! BOYCOTT TOSHIBA! BOYCOTT TOSHIBA! Toshiba wants to build 100 mini nuke plants in US. (Note: "Almost unattended" means "easy target for terrorists almost any time".) http://www.energy-net.org/N-LET/EN/0RBULL/RB05226.HTM Canada seafood boycott http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/protect_seals/why_a_boycott_of_canadian_seafood.html Papua solidarity petition http://www.petitiononline.com/free800/ Petition for prisoners' rights http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?swiney12&1 Automated email: protest fur farming in China http://ga0.org/campaign/chinafur Lobby for Sonoma farmworkers http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/BucadiBeppoGallo/s8bgde427b6k6w http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/LAPhilGalloSonoma/s8bgde2y758nij Lobby for health and safety in the rural workplace http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/AgJobs_AnaCruz/s8bgde247bjb7d Free Samar and Jawad - political prisoners in Britain http://www.petitiononline.com/FreeSaJ/ Stop ferret gassing! http://www.petitiononline.com/nogas/petition.html And you can join in: Tell TOTAL Oil to pull out of Burma now! Send them an email via the website: www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html Petition: Support WalMart workers http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/walmart_accountable Support Haida protesters, defend old-growth forests! http://omega.twoday.net/stories/486494/ Petition for human rights in Balochistan http://www.petitiononline.com/baloch/ Petition against Canadian seal killing http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/370512755?z00m=21459&z00m=21459<l=1109557459 Petition for legal rights for chickens http://hsus.ga4.org/campaign/petition_for_poultry?rk=BdqPbrM1HjEfW Petition to defend Ward Churchill http://www.petitiononline.com/churchil/petition.html Petition against pesticides on aeroplanes http://thiscause.org/p/menu.php?p=AFL_CIO34967 Stop logging in Oregon! http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/siskiyou_logging/6k85b4hj8bjme Protest Goimbra killings http://www.brasil.indymedia.org/en/blue/ Support Colombian flower growers http://www.waronwant.org/?lid=9452 Background: http://www.waronwant.org/flowers?cc=1 Save Taku River Salmon from the Tulsequah mine http://omega.twoday.net/stories/504980/ Special Caribou and Grizzly Bear Action Alert http://omega.twoday.net/stories/505527/ CALL FOR ACTION: Online petition to support the Tiananmen Mothers http://www.fillthesquare.org/ Petition to support Mari indigenous people http://www.ugri.info/mari/ Petition to support student anti-recruitment activists http://www.petitiononline.com/sfsu/petition.html Petition to remove Canadian charitable status from a Zionist pressure group http://www.petitiononline.com/jnfca/petition.html Basra students solidarity campaign http://www.uuiraq.org/english/152.htm Phone to support political prisoner in US http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2005/Mar-April/Khaldun_Mar-April_05.htm Protest attacks on union organisers by Levi Strauss suppliers in Mexico http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1235&mode=&order=0 BOYCOTT TOURISM IN BOTSWANA - Bushmen displaced http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/620/620p22i.htm ****Cross Post Freely**** Jailed activist Peter Young needs your support NOW! Peter has been able to make a couple of calls out, and received his first visitor today BUT he has now been told that he had forfeited "all his rights" and his phone privileges have been revoked because he refused to take a non-vegan TB test. As a result he is now being held in high security isolation - unable to make phone calls or trade for food. Since being jailed the only thing Peter has been given that he can actually eat is a small amount of lettuce. Peter desperately needs our help so that he can remain in touch with his supporters and start getting food he can eat. PLEASE CALL THE JAIL NOW! (408) 299-8770 POLITELY point out that Peter is an ethical vegan and * should be allowed to make phone calls to his supporters * can be given an alternate form of TB test (a chest x-ray) * should be given vegetarian/vegan food **************** CASE BACKGROUND: **************** Peter Young was arrested on March 21st in San Jose, CA. He has been "WANTED" since 1998 after being indicted on charges of violating the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act by releasing mink from a Wisconsin fur farm. A support website is being setup and will be online soon SupportPeter.com) with more background on the case, and additional information on how we can all help Peter. In the meantime please send Peter a letter so he knows he's not alone. Until his phone privileges are restored letters and visits will be his only contact with the outside world. ****************** LETTERS FOR PETER: ****************** Peter Young Booking #05015987, PFN #DVF828 C/O Santa Clara Main Jail Complex 885 North San Pedro Street San Jose, CA 95110 Political censorship on campus Stuart Munckton, Sydney On February 23, members of the Resistance socialist club at the University of Technology, Sydney were prohibited by David Redden, a representative of the UTS Union, from leafleting students and selling Green Left Weekly at the front entrance of the main UTS building. Resistance members staffing an o-week stall were also forced to either remove, or cover-up T-shirts bearing the slogan "Unfuck the world!" Resistance members were campaigning against the decision by the Howard government to send more Australian troops to the Iraq war. Amber Pike, a Resistance activist and women's officer at the Kuring-gai UTS campus, said: "This is a huge attack on freedom of speech. Universities are supposed to be a place for the free flow of information and ideas. UTS has a strong history of activism; students have always had the right to express their political ideas through leaflets and T-shirts. To be told what you can or can not say on a T-shirt, or where you can or cannot distribute political ideas is an outrage. It is important to stand up to it so it doesn't become entrenched or spread." To send a message of protest to the UTS Union against attempts to limit freedom of speech for UTS students, email , phone (02) 9514 1444 or fax (02) 9514 1636. 3. Greenland Plans to Put Polar Bears in Line of Fire In an attempt to invigorate the country's sagging economy, the government of Greenland is making plans to allow tourists to shoot polar bears and keep their pelts as souvenirs. Government officials are currently drafting a decree for presentation to Greenland's parliament, and Fishing and Hunting Minister Rasmus Frederiksen expects to officially announce open season on polar bears this summer. The polar bear is part of Greenland's natural heritage, and actually appears on the country's national coat of arms. Rather than inviting visitors to kill them for profit, Greenland should protect and celebrate its native wildlife, which includes reindeer, wolves and whales. Please write to the Greenland Tourist Board to let them know that if Greenland proceeds with this cruel plan they will lose far more tourists than they will attract. Greenland Tourism - The National Tourist Board of Greenland P.O. Box 1615 Hans Egedesvej 29 3900 Nuuk Greenland Tel: 299 34 28 20 Fax: 299 32 28 E-mail: 77info at greenland.com It seems the Japanese "war government" of Koizumi while it illegally is sending troops to Iraq to carry out the wishes of the Bush administration has little concern about violating the rights of Kurdish immigrants who are subject to persecution in Turkey for supporting the independence of Kurdistan. Kazankiran came to Japan after he took part in a campaign seeking Kurdish independence in Turkey. He and his son held a sit-in protest in front of the United Nations University in Tokyo last year after Japan refused to grant him refugee status. The Koizumi government is also seeking to illegally militarize the country and repress all democratic and labor rights. Teachers in Tokyo are now being suspended and fired for refusing to sing nationalist pro-war songs. The government has also passed so called "anti-terrorism" laws modeled on the US "Patriot Act" legislation that is now being used to harass and illegally arrest trade unionists and other anti-war activists in Japan. Recently the Japanese police arrested union TAKE Ken'ichi, President of Kan-Nama, TAKEYA Shingo, Executive Board Member of Kan-Nama of the(Solidarity Union of Japan Construction and Transport Workers Kansai Area Branch) and carried out an raid on the union headquarters and 30 union members' homes in Osaka. http://www.labournet.net/world/0501/japan1.html The Koizumi government is also attempting to censor the news. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe have sought to censor NHK producers from exposing the use of "comfort women" by the Japanese government. They want to cleanse their government's previous war crimes so they can get on with carrying out the militarization of Japan. We demand that all deportations of refugees and immigrants in Japan be halted. We call on the Japanese people to investigate the violation of refugee and democratic rights by the Koizumi government and to call for the resignation of this government for continual violation of all democratic, labor and refugee rights. Please send letters of protest to the Consulate General in SF at 50 Fremont St. San Francisco. In San Francisco, the consulate phone number is (415)777-3533 To Fax or Email Japan Japanese Ministry of Justice FAX: 03 - 3592 - 7393 e-mail: Webmaster at moj.go.jp Tokyo entry Bureau of Administrative Services (Shinagawa) retreat execution section Telephone: 03 - 5796 - 7122 (direct) FAX: 03 - 5796 - 7125 ACTION ALERT: CHILD VICTIM OF RAPE AND TRAFFICKING ARRESTED & IMPRISONED >From Black Women's Rape Action Project, Tel: 020 7482 2496, Fax 020 7209 4761 email: bwrap at dircon.co.uk Please take action in urgent support of Ms Doreen Kyomugisha, a 17-year old rape victim from Rwanda (see below). Ms Kyomugisha escaped from her trafficker last October and turned up on the doorstep of the Women's Centre where we are based. After months of intensive counseling and support, she was beginning to recover from a nightmare of losing her parents through illness and war at the age of 11, being raped by many men for money in several African countries for over two years and finally trafficked to London. Instead of finding the safety and protection she urgently needs, last Wednesday she was charged with entering the UK as a refugee using "deception" and "failure to produce an immigration document or passport which is in force and satisfactorily establishes [your] identity, nationality or citizenship." She was refused bail and imprisoned. As the Home Office disputes her age, Ms Kyomugisha is on remand in Bronzefield Women's Prison where she is deeply traumatised by the imprisonment. Conditions (in this privatised prison) are totally inappropriate for such a vulnerable child. Visitors report a drastic deterioration in her mental and physical health. She is so upset that she is unable to eat (as well as suffering from an eating disorder) and has been given no suitable food[. As a result her weight has dropped 2kg in just two days from an already low 48kg. She speaks of suicide, often retches during visits, is in constant pain and has panic attacks. She is heavily medicated and being held on her own in a hospital wing, deprived of the company of others who might look out for her; she has not been allowed her own clothes or homeopathic medicine; cards sent to her have not been delivered. Last week, Solicitor General Harriet Harman, launched a European wide crackdown on trafficking claiming to improve protection and saying ". . . it is the trafficked people who are the victims." Does Ms Kyomugisha's brutal treatment indicate what "protection" victims can expect? Will the people who pressed for stronger anti-trafficking legislation speak out against how it is being used by the government to criminalise and deport immigrant people and asylum seekers? Everyone who knows Ms Kyomugisha, from members of the All African Women's Group of which she has become an active member, church representatives to health professionals, are appalled at the way she has been treated and are rallying support for a bail application on Wednesday 16 February. At the very least she must be released so that she can work closely with Legal Action for Women and her legal team to clear her name against these malicious charges, brought on the basis of "evidence" which has not been scrutinised or verified. We understand that HO policy indicates that charges of failing to produce valid documents when entering the country should not be used against a minor. On this basis alone a proper assessment of her age should have been done, taking into consideration the social services assessment and the prosecution should not have been brought. As the authorities prioritise implementing repressive immigration controls over women and children's safety and welfare, this shocking treatment of a vulnerable child makes a travesty of any pronouncements that the authorities are sensitive to rape survivors and that young people claiming asylum or victims of trafficking receive a caring response. Please help Ms Kyomugisha by: ? Writing and calling Harriet Harman and the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, to demand Ms Kyomugisha is immediately released from prison and all charges against her are dropped. Please cite Ms Kyomugisha's Home Office reference ASC/502B67 and send by email to: harmanh at parliament.uk & lslo at gtnet.gov.uk; fax 0207 271 2430 or post to Attorney General's Office, Buckingham Gate, 9 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6JP. Tel: Harriet Harman 0207-219 2057. ? Supporting her application for bail. Please send letters to BWRAP (bwrap at dircon.co.uk) for forwarding to the court. ? Attending court for her bail hearing - 9.45 Wednesday 16 February, Bromley Magistrates Court, London Road, Bromley, Kent. ? Contacting Bronzefield Prison Governor Janine McDowell, Tel: 01784 425 690; Fax 01784 425 691 urging that Ms Kyomugisha be given healthy food, her own clothes and homeopathic medicine as an urgent priority. Please contact us if you can help in other ways or need more information. Yours sincerely, Cristel Amiss Black Women's Rape Action Project, Tel: 020 7482 2496, Fax 020 7209 4761 email: bwrap at dircon.co.uk Background In October 2004, Ms Kyomugisha was brought to the Crossroads Women's Centre where we are based, by a woman who found her distressed and traumatised at a bus station. Over a period of several days, Ms Kyomugisha was able to tell us a little of what happened to her. She was born in 1987 in Rwanda. Both her parents died when she was 11. When she was 15, her relatives sent her to Congo Brazzaville with a man who forced her to have sex with men for money which he kept. She was brought to England by an African man who told the immigration authorities that she was his niece. He kept her locked up somewhere in London and forced her to have sex with several men. She managed to escape from him when he drove her to a house to see one of his clients and left her alone in his car. We have been counselling and supporting Ms Kyomugisha, including by securing legal representation for her asylum claim and for housing and support. It is clear that she is still a child. She remains traumatised by everything that has happened to her and feels very vulnerable and at risk of possible reprisals from the man who brought her into the country. The Home Office in Croydon was hostile and unsympathetic from the beginning. On her first visit to claim asylum Ms Kyomugisha was interrogated by security guards who were abusive and began questioning her in detail about her claim before allowing her into the building. She was interviewed in a public place about rape and other sexual violence using a male translator and witnessed vicious questioning of other young girls. Camden Asylum Seekers Team assessed Ms Ms Kyomugisha and provide housing and support on the basis that she is an unaccompanied minor. Health professionals have also assessed her as being no more than 17 years old. Ms Kyomugisha attends our self-help sessions, and was improving her English as well as learning computer and typing skills. SUPPORT JAILED HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST Austrian human rights activist Sandra Bakutz was arrested at Istanbul's Ataturk airport on February 9th whilst entering the country to observe a trial. As soon as the plane landed police entered the plane and removed her from the aircraft taking her straight into police custody. As a result of an imprisonment order issued by Ankara's No.2 State Security Court (also known as the Serious Crimes Court) in September 2001, she was transported to Pasakapisi Prison. Although it is still not clear what specific crime she is being charged with, she has been imprisoned accused of "membership of the illegal DHKP-C organisation". Already the authorities have said that her alleged involvement in a protest in Brussels several years ago in opposition to the visit of the then Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is evidence against her. Sandra has made regular trips to Turkey over the years to observe the human rights abuses carried out by the state. On a previous visit to Turkey in 1998 Sandra was detained and threatened by plainclothes police in Ankara when she went with a delegation to protest against disappearances. Sandra went to Turkey on this occasion as part of a European wide delegation to observe the trial of 64 people that were arrested in an operation in April last year. The defendants include lawyers, journalists, musicians, students and workers all of whom were working for legal institutions at the time of their arrests: all of them were tortured whilst in custody and are now being held in F-type isolation prisons. The sole evidence against them consists of floppy disks that the police claim contains a membership list of the banned DHKP-C. The police say that they found these disks whilst carrying searches of houses on April 1st. One of the documents containing names that the police claim to have found on one of the discs is dated February 20th, but the man recorded as its author was arrested by police on February 19th and detained until the 24th. Under Turkish law, police are obligated to seal confiscated documents such as these discs and send them to the courts immediately. However, between the time of their confiscation on April 1st, and the date they were sent to the court, May 3rd, the discs were not sealed, so providing ample time and opportunity for the documents to be interfered with. The files used for the trial consist only of printouts from the discs, so neither the judges nor the lawyers have had the opportunity to see the actual discs themselves. In an added twist last December a man was arrested at Ataturk airport in Istanbul whilst trying to fly to Berlin to participate in a conference about prison isolation. He was detained at the airport as the police claimed his name was on the never ending list even though he had not been mentioned before in any of the court hearings. Sandra Bakutz was a participant in that very same conference that also included former Irish prisoners, representatives of Basque prisoners, family members of prisoners held at Guant?namo Bay, Palestinians and other activists from across Europe. Sandra also came to England last year to make a contribution to the European Social Forum in London where she spoke against prison isolation and European anti-terror laws. Sandra has now found herself on trial in the very same courthouse that she was intending to observe a trial. Let this silence those that claim Turkey has improved its human rights record. 118 people have died in the prisons in the last five years in the struggle against isolation cells, whilst the EU chose to be complicit in this abuse Sandra didn't. Let us not permit Sandra Bakutz to be imprisoned and condemned in Turkey. Her struggle against human rights violations is a legitimate struggle. Let us not allow this struggle to be criminalised by her arrest by the Turkish authorities. We call on all people and organisations which support human rights to make her cause their own and work for her release. Please write a protest and send it to the following addresses: Austrian General Consulate Telefax: (+90/212) 262 26 22 E-Mail: istanbul-gk at bmaa.gv.at President of Turkey: Mr. Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Cumhurbaskanligi 06100 Ankara, Turkey Fax: +90 312 468 5026 Prime Minister: Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan TC Basbakanlik Bakanligi Ankara, Turkey Fax: + 90 312 417 0476 receptayyip.erdogan at basbakanlik.gov.tr Interior Minister: Mr Abdulkadir Aksu Ministry of Interior I?isleri Bakanligi 06644 Ankara, Turkey Telegram: Interior Minister, Ankara, Turkey Fax: + 90 312 418 17 95 aaksu at icisleri.gov.tr Justice Minister : Mr Cemil Cicek Ministry of Justice Adalet Bakanligi 06659 Ankara, Turkey Telegram: Justice Minister, Ankara, Turkey Fax: + 90 312 418 5667 ccicek at adalet.gov.tr Foreign Minister: Mr Abdullah G?l Office of the Prime Minister, Basbakanlik, 06573 Ankara, Turkey Fax: + 90 312 417 04 76 agul at mfa.gov.tr Police Chief: Mr Gokhan Aydiner Emniyet Genel M?d?rl?g? Dikmen Caddesi No : 89 Dikmen / ANKARA bphism at egm.gov.tr Fax: + 90 312 231 96 05 Police chief of Istanbul Mr. Celalettin Cerrah Fax : 00 90 212 636 18 32 Please send any copies of your protests to the following addresses: isolation at post.com, info at tayad.de The International Platform Against Isolation will translate messages Into Turkish and pass them on to those to those responsible for the arrest. We will keep you informed about the latest situation of Sandra Bakutz and of any planned activities in due course. FREEDOM FOR SANDRA BAKUTZ! URL: http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/12/1707994.php Rescue Members, The appaling experiments on German Shepherd puppies as young as ONE DAY has begun or is about to begin.These pups will have their hearts surgically mutilated and implanted with devices to cause congestive heart failure resulting in immediate death or death in the short term. The University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) finally released to me documents confirming the experiments requested under the California Public Records Act due to the intercession of S.F. Supervisor Bevan Duffy's office. term. An update was also provided to me by IDA which is attached. UCSF's terrible record of animal neglect and current citation by the USDA on 61 counts of the same should have caused an immediate halt to these projects and a reevaluation as called for by both a cardiologist and DMV to consider alternative investigative methods that would accomplish the project objectives. I urge you you to contact UCSF, Senators Boxer, Feinstein, Rep. Ellen Tauscher, and Nancy Pelosi. The funds for these experiments come from the Nat'l Inst. of Health. UCSF Officials: Chancellor J. Michael Bishop 513 Parnassus Ave, S-126 University of California San Francisco, CA 94143 jmbishop at chanoff.ucsf.edu Nigel Bunnett Office of Research, Box 0962 513 Parnassus Ave University of California San Francisco, CA 94143 car at research.ucsf.edu Barbara Boxer: http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm Dianne Feinstein: http://feinstein.senate.gov/contact.html Ellen Tauscher: http://www.house.gov/tauscher/IMA/get_address.htm Nancy Pelosi: http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact/contact.html Request immediate cessation of the project pending an impartial evaluation by sources OUTSIDE the university. Please CC your emails to me (dlewenthal at yahoo.com) for followup and PLEASE CROSS POST THIS TO ALL GERMAN SHEPHERD RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS YOU CAN ALERT. >From the StWC website; Eygptian Activists Arrested ...send letters of protest to Eygptian Embassy! Egyptian Security Forces arrested three activists of the Socialist Studies Center during their presence in the Cairo International Book Fair where the Socialist Studies Center was exhibiting its publications, among which was their recent release on change in Egypt titled: The Socialists' Route to Change - A socialist vision for change in Egypt (864/2005). We have received information that the three activists have been transferred to Madinet Nasr Police Station where they will be summoned to the evening prosecution, charged with distribution of leaflets denouncing a new mandate for Hosni Mubarak, the heritage of the presidency to Gamal Mubarak in addition to calling for the 4th of February demonstration, which has been called for by the Popular Committee for Change, which calls for constitutional change enabling Egyptians to elect their president from among more than one candidate, reducing the authorities of the president, an end to the emergency state, and the release of detainees and prisoners of conscience. Those demands had been endorsed by 11 political groups, 15 popular committees and organizations, and more than 2000 public figures, university professors, journalists, writers, artists, trade unionists, lawyers, engineers, and students. Among the three activists are a woman lawyer and journalist Ibrahim Sahari, who was brutally beaten by the police. What you can do: ? Write, email or phone the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the Public Prosecutor and the Egyptian Ambassador (addresses below). ? Write to your MP and ask him/her why the British government is still backing a regime which denies its citizens their basic democratic rights. Click here. ? Send messages of support from your trade union branch or community group to office at stopwar.org.uk and we will forward them to the defence campaign. Write to: His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak President of the Arab Republic of Egypt 'Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt webmaster at presidency.gov.eg + 202 390 1998 Telegram: President Mubarak, Cairo, Egypt Telex: 93794 WAZRA UN Counsellor Maher 'Abd al-Wahid Public Prosecutor Dar al-Qadha al-'Ali Ramses Street, Cairo, Egypt + 202 577 4716 Telegram: Public Prosecutor, Cairo, Egypt His Excellency Mr Adel El Gazzar Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt 26 South Street London W1Y 6DD (020) 7499 3304/2401 Press and Information Office (020) 7409 2236 (020) 7491 1542 The University of Colorado is threatening to fire radical professor Ward Churchill after right-wing students protested the contents of one of his essays, which was critical about the way the 9/11 massacre has been cast. Despite the fact that he is a tenured professor, he has already been forced to step down as co-head of the ethnic studies department at University of Colorado. Please call / write / email the Chancellor of the University of Colorado in support of Churchill's right to hold unpopular views. If he is successfully removed, this will undoubtedly cause a dominio effect, and be the start of a blacklist against progressives. I recommend threatening to boycott Colorado if he is dismissed. Contact: Interim Chancellor DiStefano Send email: chanchat at spot.colorado.edu Phone: 303-492-8908 Snail mail: 17 UCB, Regent 301, Boulder, CO, 80309 http://www.colorado.edu/chancellor/ Governor Bill Owens governorowens at state.co.us Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, CU-Boulder: Gleeson at Colorado.EDU President: Elizabeth.Hoffman at cu.edu Chancellor: Phil.Distefano at Colorado.edu CU Regents: Jerryrutledge at adelphia.net Gail.Schwartz at colorado.edu Regent.Carlisle at colorado.edu Regent.Hayes at colorado.edu Carrigan at colorado.edu Tommyjclay at aol.com Regent.Bosley at colorado.edu Regent.Schauer at colorado.edu --------------------------------------- OR: governorowens at state.co.us, Gleeson at Colorado.EDU, Elizabeth.Hoffman at cu.edu,Phil.Distefano at Colorado.edu, Jerryrutledge at adelphia.net, Gail.Schwartz at colorado.edu,Regent.Carlisle at colorado.edu, Regent.Hayes at colorado.edu, Carrigan at colorado.edu, Tommyjclay at aol.com,Regent.Bosley at colorado.edu, Regent.Schauer at colorado.edu SUPPORT WAR TAX RESISTERS Three Face Jail for Refusing to Pay for War http://www.nwtrcc.org/mtap05/mtap0205.html#three After a six-year investigation, a five-day trial, and four hours of jury deliberation, three members of The Restored Israel of YAHWEH were found guilty in federal district court on December 15, 2004, of charges related to the nonpayment of federal income tax. The trial took place in Camden, New Jersey, near where the group is based. Joseph and Inge Donato and Kevin McKee were arrested on April 12, 2004, and were charged with "conspiring to defraud the United States for the purpose of impeding, impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful government functions of the IRS in ascertaining, computing, assessing, and collecting taxes; Tax Evasion; and Failure to File Tax Returns" (see MTAP, June 2004). The two men ran a construction business, and Inge Donato was the bookkeeper. While they cooperated with state and local tax laws and filed appropriately for employees who were not members of the society, for those who refuse to pay war taxes the company honored their consciences and did not withhold taxes. The Restored Israel of YAHWEH has a long history of war tax resistance. "We cannot in good conscience pay a tax that we know goes to kill and fight against other people whose lives were also given to them by YAHWEH," says a statement by the group. "This stand has been taken in our organization since 1948 when our founder, mentor and spiritual leader, Leo J. Volpe, after much research, stopped paying federal income tax because he did not want the blood of those killed in warfare on his hands." Volpe himself was investigated and pursued by the FBI in the late 1970s and finally arrested in 1982 on charges of income tax evasion. He had been outspoken about his refusal to pay federal income tax since 1948 because of the connection to war. He spent four months in jail, but continued to refuse federal taxes until his death in 2000. A Jehovah's Witness in 1944, Volpe also refused to be drafted, and since then the group has supported other conscientious objectors to military service. A criminal trial and charge of conspiracy against war tax resisters is unusual. A disgruntled former member contacted the IRS about the business, and a particularly relentless local IRS agent pursued the case. U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle set sentencing for April 1, 2005. A two- to three-year sentence is possible, but the recent changes in federal sentencing guidelines allow the judge discretion. A statement from the society says, "The guilty verdict does not change our conviction that federal income tax pays for war and violates YAHWEH'S commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill.' We hope that more and more people will come to understand this, and will understand how unjust it is that our firm religious convictions were labeled as a conspiracy and used against us." What you can do: Send letters of support: Write the judge prior to sentencing asking him to honor the sincere convictions of the group and impose no jail time. (Send letters to Hon. Jerome B. Simandle, Mitchell H. Cohen Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 1 John F. Gerry Plaza, Camden, NJ 08101.) Attend the sentencing, scheduled for April 1 in Camden. Details and directions will be available on the Web site ( http://www.nwtrcc.org ) or by contacting the NWTRCC office. Send letters of support to: The Restored Israel of YAHWEH, PO Box 801, Mays Landing, NJ 08330, or email them at restoredisraelofyahweh at att.net. ( http://www.rioy.org/ ) An important new documentary, Mission Against Terror, (2004, 48 minutes) co-produced by Radio Havana Cuba reporter Bernie Dwyer, and Cuban TV producer, Roberto Ruiz Rebo, will travel the United States in 22 cities, with 30 showings, from January 28 to February 27. Bernie Dwyer will appear at each venue, to present and discuss the making of the film. There will also be local reports on the ongoing campaign to fight for the freedom of the five Cuban heroes, political prisoners in the U.S. SEE TOUR SCHEDULE BELOW. It is sponsored by the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, is co-sponsored by the National Network on Cuba and the local committees listed below. The documentary follows the case of the Cuban Five-five men from Cuba who are unjustly imprisoned in the U.S. for doing nothing more than preventing terrorism against the Cuban people. They were arrested on September 12, 1998 by the FBI and have been in prison ever since. The men, Gerardo Hern?ndez, Ram?n Laba?ino, Antonio Guerrero, Ren? Gonz?lez, and Fernando Gonz?lez, were sentenced in Miami federal court to four life terms and 75 years collectively. Their case is on appeal before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. "Mission Against Terror" shows historical footage of terrorism against Cuba and provides a moving depiction of the case of the Cuban Five. It features interviews with Cuban National Assembly president Ricardo Alarc?n, former CIA agent Philip Agee, attorney Leonard Weinglass, Cuban activist from Miami, Andr?s G?mez, and family members of the Cuban Five. Filmmaker Dwyer is an Irish woman who lives and works in Havana as a journalist with Radio Havana. She has worked there for the past four years. Dwyer was previously a lecturer in Women's Studies at University College in Dublin. She and Ruiz Rebo have made four documentary films together. Their documentaries have been screened throughout Europe and at the Havana Film Festival. They have won several filmmaking prizes in Cuba. Please spread the word about these events and the struggle of the Cuban Five. Copies of the video and DVD will be available shortly after the tour begins, if you are interested in organizing other events in the future. For more information, call the National Committee at 415-821-6545, or write: freethefive at a... Tour schedule: MIAMI Fri., Jan. 28, 8 pm/viernes, 28 de enero at La Alianza Martiana 30007 N.W. 7th Ave. Sponsors: La Alianza Martiana, la Brigada Antonio Maceo, la Alianza de Trabajadores Cubanos, and others 305-643-5481 PHILADELPHIA Sun., Jan. 30, 3 pm/domingo, 30 de enero at White Dog Caf? 3420 Sansom Street Sponsor: Philadelphia Committee to Free the Cuban 5 (215) 849-2793 PHILADELPHIA Sun., Jan. 30, 7 pm/domingo, 30 de enero Germantown Women's Y Sponsor: Philadelphia Committee to Free the Cuban 5 5820 Germantown Ave. (215) 849-2793 PHILADELPHIA Mon., Jan. 31, 6:30 pm/lunes 31 de enero Taller Puertorrique?o 2557 North 5th St. (at Hunningdon) (215) 849-2793 NEW YORK CITY Thurs., Feb. 3, 7 pm/jueves, 3 de febrero at Swayduck Auditorium The New School University 65 W. 5th Ave. Sponsor: NYC Committee to Free the Cuban 5, IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Cuba Solidarity NY, Venceremos Brigade, and others 212-633-6646 BOSTON Fri., Feb. 4, 7 pm/viernes 4 de febrero at Community Church of Boston 656 Boylston St., Boston $5 donation Sponsor: July 26th Coalition, Community Church of Boston 617-566-2861 WASHINGTON DC Sat., Feb. 5, 7 pm/s?bado, 5 de febrero at the Festival Center 1640 Columbia Rd., NW (near Metro, Columbia Hgts. stop) Sponsor: A.N.S.W.E.R. 202-544-3389, ext. 14 NEW PALTZ, NY Sun., Feb. 6/domingo, 6 de febrero 6 pm potluck/comida 7 pm Film and program Details to be announced MILWAUKEE Tues., Feb. 8, 7 pm/martes, 8 de febrero at Central United Methodist Church 25th St. & Wisconsin Ave. $5-10 donation Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba, Milw. Committee to Free the Cuban Five, Peace Action-WI, Nat'l Lawyers Guild-Milw., Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace 414-273-1040, ext. 12 MILWAUKEE Wed., Feb. 9, 7 pm/mi?rcoles, 9 de febrero at UWM Union, E. Wisconsin Room 2200 E. Kenwood $5-10 donation See Wisconsin sponsors listed above 414-273-1040, ext. 12 CHICAGO Thurs., Feb. 10, 11:30 am/jueves, 10 de febrero at Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Cultural Center UIC, 750 S. Halsted Chicago Committee to Free the Five: 773-376-7521, 773-878-0166 CHICAGO Thurs., Feb. 10, 7 pm/jueves, 10 de febrero at Puerto Rican Cultural Center 2739-41 W. Division 773-376-7521, 773-878-0166 CHICAGO Fri., Feb. 11, 7 pm/viernes, 11 de febrero at DePaul University Schmitt Academic Center #154 free admission 2320 N. Kenmore (near Fullerton stop, Red Line) Chicago Committee to Free the Five: 773-376-7521, 773-878-0166 DETROIT Sat., Feb. 12/s?bado, 12 de febrero Details to be announced U.S.-Cuba Labor Exchange 313-516-8004 MINNEAPOLIS Sun., Feb. 13, 7 pm/domingo, 13 de febrero at the McKnight Early Childhood Theater 4240-4th Ave. South $5 donation Sponsor: Minneapolis Cuba Committee 612-624-1512 PALO ALTO, CA Mon., Feb. 14, 7:30 pm/lunes, 14 de febrero at the Unitarian Hall 505 E. Charleston Rd. $5-10 donation Peninsula Peace and Justice Ctr., World Centric, Peace Umbrella of Unitarian Univ. Church, Palo Alto 650-326-8837 SANTA CRUZ Thurs., Feb. 17, 7 pm/jueves, 17 de febrero at the Rio Theater 1207 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz $5 donation Santa Cruz Cuba Study Group 831-462-8272 SAN JOSE Fri., Feb. 18, 7 pm/viernes, 18 de febrero at MACLA 510 S. First St. $10 donation Sponsor: South Bay Mobilization 408-998-8504 SAN FRANCISCO Sat., Feb. 19, 7 pm/s?bado, 19 de febrero at the Women's Building 3543-18th St. (b/n Valencia & Guerrero) $5-10 donation Sponsor: A.N.S.W.E.R., National Committee to Free the Cuban Five 415-821-6545 SAN LUIS OBISPO Sunday, Feb 20, 7pm/domingo, 20 de febrero San Luis Obispo Library Donation requested Sponsors: West Coast Cuban American Alliance, National Committee, HopeDance Media 805-627-1959 EUGENE, OR Mon., Feb. 21, 7 pm/lunes, 21 de febrero 100 Willamette Hall University of Oregon Sponsor: Solidarity with Cuba! 541-343-1572 OLYMPIA, WA Tues., Feb. 22/martes, 22 de febrero 12, 3 pm, and 7 pm events Information: 360-705-2241 ask for Tom or Rick SEATTLE Wed., Feb. 23, 7 pm/mi?rcoles, 23 de febrero 911 Media Arts Center Theater 402-9th Ave. (at Harrison) $10 donation U.S. Women and Cuba Collaboration SANTA BARBARA Thur., Feb. 24/jueves, 24 de febrero Faulkner Art Gallery 323-464-1636 RIVERSIDE Fri., Feb. 25/viernes, 25 de febrero Place, time to be announced 232-464-1636 LOS ANGELES Sat., Feb. 26, 7 pm/s?bado, 26 de febrero First Methodist Church Details to come 323-464-1636 OAKLAND Sun., Feb. 27, 3 pm/domingo, 27 de febrero Casa Cuba 6501 Telegraph Ave. Bay Area Cuba Alliance Noticia del Comit? Nacional por la Libertad de los Cinco Cubanos, 24 enero 2005 Queridos amigos de los Cinco Cubanos: Un importante documental nuevo, Misi?n Contra el Terror, (2004, 48 minutos) co-producido por la reportera de Radio Habana Cuba, Bernie Dwyer, y el productor de la TV cubana, Roberto Ruiz Rebo, recorrer? 22 ciudades de Estados Unidos, con 30 presentaciones, desde el 28 de enero hasta el 27 de febrero. Bernie Dwyer estar? presente en cada una de las muestras del video, para discutir la realizaci?n de su trabajo. Tambi?n habr? reportes locales sobre la campa?a por la lucha por la libertad de los Cinco H?roes Cubanos presos en los EEUU. VEA EL CALENDARIO ARRIBA: Est? patrocinada por El Comit? Nacional por la Libertad de los Cinco Cubanos y co-patrocinado por la Red Nacional de Solidaridad con Cuba, y los comit?s locales que siguen a continuaci?n. "Misi?n Contra el Terror" sigue el caso de los Cinco Cubanos--cinco hombres de Cuba quienes se encuentran injustamente encarcelados en los EEUU por el ?nico "delito" de prevenir terrorismo en contra del pueblo cubano. Fueron arrestados el 12 de septiembre de 1998 por el FBI y han estado presos desde entonces. Los hombres, Gerardo Hern?ndez, Ram?n Laba?ino, Antonio Guerrero, Ren? Gonz?lez, y Fernando Gonz?lez, fueron sentenciados por una corte federal de Miami a cuatro cadenas perpetuas y 75 a?os colectivamente. Su caso se encuentra en apelaciones ante la corte Oncena de la Corte de Apelaciones de Atlanta. "Misi?n Contra el Terror" muestra escenas hist?ricas de terrorismo en contra de Cuba y ofrece una conmovedora visi?n del caso de los Cinco Cubanos. El documental muestra entrevistas con el Presidente de la Asamblea Nacional de Cuba Ricardo Alarc?n, el ex agente de la CIA Philip Agee, el Abogado Leonard Weinglass, el activista cubano de Miami, Andr?s G?mez, y familiares de los cinco cubanos. El documental fue mostrado en el Festival de Cine en la Habana en diciembre del 2004. La cineasta Dwyer es una mujer irlandesa que vive y trabaja en la Habana como periodista de Radio Habana. Ha trabajado all? por cuatro a?os. Dwyer anteriormente fue profesora de la c?tedra de Estudios de la Mujer en la Universidad de Dubl?n. Ella y Ruiz Rebo han hecho cuatro documentales juntos. Sus documentales han sido mostrados en Europa y en el Festival de Cine de La Habana. Ellos han ganado premios por sus documentales en Cuba. Por favor, corra la voz sobre estos eventos y la lucha de los Cinco Cubanos. Copias del video o DVD estar?n disponibles despu?s que comience la gira, para aquellos interesados en organizar eventos en el futuro. En solidaridad, el Comit? Nacional por la Libertad de los Cinco Cubanos > The Church of the Resurrection (Anglican) on 435 Mohawk Road West, > Hamilton L9C 1X1 had taken under its wing a couple. He is a refugee > from Kosovo She had fled from Morocco. They have a two year old > son. Saadia fled from Morocco to get away from a marriage her father > had arranged for her with an old man who already had two wives. When > she left her father declared he would kill her if he ever got near > her. Her brother also says this. Immigration decided to send her back > to Morocco. Immigration says Morocco is a safe place where "honour" > killings are no longer allowed. This statement isn't totally right as > "honour" killings still go on there. The Church asked for a stay so > that they could arrange a safe country where she could go and then > apply from there to come back to Canada. Saadia would not ask the > church for Sanctuary because she did not want to cause trouble. The > law says the Church could not offer it to her. The Rector, Archdeacon > R. Jones tried everything he could think of to get this stay of > departure. They had very little time to do this and did not get on > to Lawyer Barbara Jackman until the Saturday, the day before she had > to leave. Jackman got an appointment for her with a judge. He would > not look at her papers. Jackman got another appointment with another > judge for Sunday morning. He just said it was too late. That afternoon > Saadia walked through the gates to her plane. Her son crying ran after > her and she picked him up and they both disappeared back to Morocco > where the parish hopes they have a safe place for her to hide but how > long it will be safe is the question. > > The Immigration Minister, Mr.J. Volpe reviewed the case and then went > on TV to distort the truth by saying that Saadia was lying about being > afraid to go to Morocco because she had returned there many times. In > fact, the returns to Morocc was when she worked in Europe and before > her father arranged the marriage. Since coming to Canada her passport > was taken away from her in 2000 and it expired in 2002 so she could > not have gone to Morocco even if she had wanted to or had had the > money to go. Volpe then broke the law by telling the TV audience > that her husband Saud had been charged with assaulting Saadia. > > This was true. The parish explained to him that this conduct was not > approved in Canada and he agreed to go to an Anger Management course. > Since taking this course there has not been any more problems with > anger. Volpe might even have remembered this man had gone through much > during the war in Kosovo and his anger problem might have been part of > that experience. > > I am asking people to write, fax, email Volpe asking that Saadia be > allowed back on a temporary residence permit to give the parish time > to sort out the problem. To get in touch with Volpe : > > Hon. J. Volpe no stamp required to > H of Commons > > Minister of Immigration, > > c/o House of Commons. > > Ottawa, Ont K1A 0A6 > > > > Volpe's email is: Volpe.J at parl.gc.ca > > > > His fax is: 613-992-9791 > > > > > > Hi constituency office is: > > 511 Lawrence Avenue, > > Toronto, ON M6A 1A3 > > > > If you could also write the Prime Minister that would be good too. No > stamp required to Commons > > > > If you write letters could you make copies and send them to the > Archdeacon whose address is at the beginning of this email. The lawyer > wants to get as many letters as possible and Jones will send on any > sent to him. > > > > This is the first time Archdeacon Jones has dealt with anything like > this and he feels terrible because he tried to do everything in the > proper way and then realized,too late, that he had been playing with > people who didn''t abide by the same standards he had used. I. > throughout all of this agonizing time, have sometimes felt as sorry > for him as I have for Saadia and Saud. The Minister seems to have > forgotten that the child that also is in danger of being killed is a > Canadian subject. A Valentine for Flower Workers February 11, 2005 Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS) URL: http://www.panna.org Shortly before one of the biggest flower-giving holidays of the year, flower workers in Ecuador have petitioned their government for permission to establish an industry wide union. Their request has been denied twice before by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Labor, so the workers are also turning to consumers in the U.S., where half of Ecuador's flowers are sold, asking PANUPS readers to urge Ecuadorian officials to certify the union. A link at the end of this article opens a sample email to the Ministry of Labor in Quito. The flower workers have chosen to name their new union for Valentine's Day, Federaci?n de Trabajadores Floricultores 14 de Febrero, a testament to the significance of consumer purchases on this day. The perfect blooms that workers in Ecuador and other Central American countries grow, cut, and pack for export rely on intensive use of highly hazardous pesticides. The International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF) reports that two thirds of Colombian and Ecuadorian floriculture workers experience health problems as a result of their work. Child labor is increasingly common in the sector. According to the International Labor Organization, fully 20% of workers in Ecuadorian floriculture are children and more than 70% of floriculture workers in Colombia and Ecuador are women. The ILRF reports that illegal pregnancy tests are often required at the time of hiring, and pregnant workers are fired. Some plantations force workers to work overtime without overtime pay before flower-giving holidays, and have fired workers for union organizing activities. Plantations increasingly hire workers through sub-contractors, who provide less training, transportation, and benefits than workers hired directly. Subcontractors are also able shift workers from one plantation to another to avoid union organizing efforts. An industry wide flower worker union would provide workers with the collective strength to counter these abuses. Currently, workers at only four of Ecuador's 300 flower companies have managed to organize unions. Those four existing unions have joined the petition for an industry wide federation, understanding that it will make them all stronger. Floriculture workers in Colombia have a sector wide union, Untraflores, which brought international attention to the pesticide poisoning of 200 workers at a large floriculture facility near Bogot? in 2003 (see PANUPS, Workers Poisoned in Colombia, December 11, 2003). Late last year Untraflores gained certification for the first local union of flower workers at a Dole plantation in Colombia. Since it was certified, the new union has gained members and none have been fired, despite management threats. If certified, Federaci?n de Trabajadores Floricultores 14 de Febrero would represent flower workers at any plantation in the country, and enable single workers to join. In the absence of a sector wide organization, at least 25 workers at a facility need to petition to form a union. While organizing themselves into a union, workers are the most vulnerable to firing or other repercussions for union activity. In 2002 and again in 2003 floriculture workers petitioned the Ecuadorian Minister of Labor for permission to form a union, as allowed under the Ecuadorian Labor Code. The Minister denied both requests on technical grounds. The ILRF reports that the Labor Ministry asked Expoflores, the association of Ecuadorian flower producers and exporters, to weigh in on the workers' request. "The exporters' association," argues ILRF "should not have the right to deny the workers the freedom to form this type of union." On February 9, 2005, workers applied for a third time, and have asked consumers around the world to send a Valentine to the Ecuadorian Minister of Labor, urging him to allow the Federaci?n de Trabajadores Floricultores 14 de Febrero to represent all of the nation's floriculture workers. Visit our new Action Center to email your letter/Valentine to Quito http://ga4.org/campaign/flower_workers For more information on labor conditions at Ecuadorian flower plantations, see the ILRF appeal, http://www.laborrights.org/actions/index.php OINK OINK People may have seen in Saturday's Guardian Diary an item which we sent them on Oldham Police. Oldham was the scene of race riots a few years ago and is notorious for the racist/fascist sympathies of its Police and their refusal to take racist attacks seriously. As the letter we have sent below makes clear, Oldhams principal officer, one Supt. Keith Bentley, personally arrested the Secretary of the Trades Council, Martin Gleeson, for 'damaging' the wreath the British National Party laid at the Holocaust Memorial event there. The BNP of course deny there was any holocaust and their presence was a calculated insult to the memories of the millions who died in the extermination camps - be they Jewish, Gypsy, Gay, Trade Unionst etc. B&H UNISON Local Government Branch passed a motion last week condemning Bentley. People may recall that 'The Secret Policeman' programme last year exposed the deep racism at a Greater Manchester training college and its toleration among its instructors. We are asking that you e-mail and fax GMP to let them know that you believe their actions are, once again, unacceptable and that the said Bentley is immediately suspended from office. Tony Greenstein divisionalcommanderoldham at gmp.police.uk, press.office at gmp.police.uk, public.relations at gmp.police.uk Fax: 0161 856 6306/0161 856 8806 >>( & 01273-540717 Fax 01273-540797 By Fax & E-Mail to 0161 856 6306 Michael Todd, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Greater Manchester Police, P.O. Box 22, Manchester, M16 0RE Dear Mr Todd, The arrest of Martin Gleeson, Secretary of Oldham Trades Union Council As you are no doubt aware, Martin Gleeson, Secretary of Oldham Trades Council was personally arrested for criminal damage by Chief Superintendent Keith Bentley, the most senior police officer in Oldham. His offence was covering up a wreath laid by the British National Party, at the Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorations. As you should also be aware, though nothing can be taken for granted in such matters, the BNP denies that there was a Holocaust. Its presence at the wreath laying celebration can therefore have had no other purpose other than to insult those who were there for the purpose at hand. The action by the BNP was clearly designed to insult those presence. There are clearly provisions in the Public Order Act designed to deal with such a mischief, e.g. threatening and insulting behaviour. Supt. Bentley however decided to arrest Mr Gleeson instead. This action was clearly and explicitly racist. Although Greater Manchester Police might fool itself into believing that putting the picture of a Black officer on its web home page is sufficient, the actions of the racist Keith Bentley clearly demonstrate otherwise. Greater Manchester Police promised, after the 'Secret Policeman' that racists would be rooted out of the force. Yet it is clear that you are happy for a racist to be the senior officer in the Oldham Division of Greater Manchester Police. We demand, if you wish to retain any credibility, that you suspend the said Keith Bentley from his position and drop all charges against Martin Gleeson immediately. Yours sincerely, WOMEN IN KENYA RAPED BY SOLDIERS FROM BRITISH ARMY BASE - Kenya government refuses to act in order to keep British aid Picket Kenya High Commission, International Women's Day, Tues 8 March 2005, 1pm - 3pm 45 Portland Place, London W1 Oxford Circus tube SUPPORT THE MASAI AND SAMBURU WOMEN'S MARCH ON THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION IN NAIROBI, 8 MARCH 2005 nkexplo at yahoo.co.uk 07984 405307 Our organisation takes part of the world tribune about the iraqian war. The NATO is an important institution in the oppressing of the iraqian people. We therefore ask for your support for our actions against the NATO and its partners. Hereby I send you an appeal to all peace loving organisations and people in the world. There will be a big international meeting of all NATO members and their partners, among them Sweden, in our countryside. I am convinced that one of their most important questions will be the situation in Iraq and how they can keep their imperialistic press on this country in order to destabilize the country and utilize its resources. We will be grateful if you will send this message to all the organizations you have on your maillist. Comradely greeting Network for Global Peace and Democracy ?stersund Sweden Kick Leijnse The 4 year boycott of Taco Bell is over!! On March 8, 2005, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers reached an agreement with Yum Brands (the largest restaurant company in the world, and owner of Taco Bell) for increased wages and an improvement in working conditions of tomato pickers in Immokalee, Florida. This unprecedented victory is proof that major multinational corporations can be held accountable for upholding the rights of workers throughout their supply chains! Thank you so much to everyone who supported the campaign. This would not have been possible without the hard work of USAS members booting the bell from college and university campuses nationwide! Join CIW and the Student Farmworker Alliance in Louisville, KY March 11th and 12th for a victory celebration. Congratulations CIW! > *OGIEK APPEAL* > > _*200 OGIEK RENDERED HOMELESS, HUNDREDS OF > PROPERTIES DESTROYED IN AN > EVICTION EXERCISE.*_ > Nakuru, Monday 7 March 2005, Report by Sang J.K > > 200 hundred members of Ogiek Community in > Enoosupukia region of Narok > District have been rendered homeless following a > Government eviction > plan causing loss of hundreds of properties, we can > now establish. In a > fact finding mission conducted by OWC to establish > the extent of losses, > it is now revealed that the affected families are > presently camping at a > local church without food and shelter. > > /" Tensions are high with the Ogiek situation > worsening day after > day given that the affected families are not even > allowed access to > water outside the church as torching and demolition > of houses goes on" > /said Kimaiyo Towett, Ogiek Welfare Council National > Coordinator moments > after he toured the area which also has been > recently rocked by tribal > animosities between 2 dominant communities in the > area. He further > criticised the police for brutality especially to > one of OWC staff Mr. > Simon Ngaiyami, who had his home pulled down by a > bulldozer with tight > security by combined forces of administration Police > and General service > Unit despite the fact that the area he resides in > was not part of the > areas targeted for evictions. > > Local sources further indicate that the affected > families who have > nowhere to go are facing starvation since all their > crops and personal > belongings were destroyed.Towett further called for > well-wishers to > assist in provision of food, medicines, water, > shelter and > clothing's. The evictions in Enoosupukia is widely > seen as a scheme by > politicians /(who sanctioned the encroachment some > years back)/ to > frustrate the Ogiek community who have been living > there for > centuries. In a 1 page 7 day notice, the area > residents were asked to > move from the area with immediate effect. /"The > county Council security > personnel shall carry out the surveillance and any > person found to be > inside the trust land area shall be evicted/arrested > "/ says the letter > in part. > > 3 weeks ago, Minister for Lands, cancelled all Title > deeds issued in the > expansive Mau forest complex with government > determined to evict more > than 100,000 people living in the forest. The > original government report > indicates that members of the Ogiek community would > not be affected. > Meanwhile a group of non-Ogiek beneficiaries of such > title deeds moved > to court to challenge the impending evictions with > the court temporarily > restraining the government from implementing the > plan till the suit is > heard and determined. Despite this, the government > is yet to obey the > court order. > > In a related development, the court case against the > same settlement in > the forest will be heard on May 16 and 17 after an > adjournment. The > judgement of the case shall be used to justify the > evictions which has > been okayed by a Presidential Commission that was > set up to investigate > Illegal and Irregular allocations of public land > which includes forest. > However the commission further recommended that > special attention should > be accorded to members of the Ogiek > community./"Subject to court ruling, > revoke the excisions and titles already issued and > maintain the area as > forests/catchments areas but put into account the > position of the Ogiek > as a recognised forests inhabitants"/ says the > commission report in part. > > With regard to this appalling situation, OWC is > therefore appealing to > well-wishers who are willing to assist the victims > of the evictions and > should get in touch with the Ogiek Welfare Council > for details using > below contacts > > Sang J.K > Coordinator > Ogiek Welfare Council > National Secretariat, Kwanza Hse, 3rd Floor > P.O. Box 12069, 20100 > Nakuru, Kenya > Tel. +254 51 2212736, Telefax +254 51 2211257, > Mobitel +254 722 236324 > www.ogiek.org > > OGIEK SUPPORT PROGRAMME > ECOTERRA Intl. - Nairobi Node > P.O.Box 177, EAK 00502 KAREN > Nairobi / Kenya > 24h call: +254-733-633-000 > e-mail: ogiek at ecoterra.net > www.ogiek.org 10 GERMAN SHEPHERDS AND ONE SAMOYED FROM THE MATACAN BASE IN SPAIN WILL BE KILLED BECAUSE THE ARMY UNIT THAT TRAINED THEM IS TO CLOSE DOWN! MOST OF THE DOGS ARE HIGHLY SUITABLE FOR ADOPTION, ONLY TWO OF THEN CAN ATTACK BUT ARE VERY OBEDIENT, SOME ARE VERY YOUNG, MOST LOVE CHILDREN AND OTHER ANIMALS, THEY ALL DESERVE TO BE REHOMED BUT THE ARMY REFUSES TO HAND THEM OVER FOR ADOPTION AND WANT TO KILL THEM ALL. THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP, HUNDREDS MORE COULD BE KILLED! PLEASE WRITE OR CALL YOUR LOCAL SPANISH EMBASSY, THE MEDIA IN YOUR COUNTRY AND THE ARMY (SR. JOSE BONO MARTINEZ) AT infodefensa at mde.es; minisdef at ext.mde.es; EL PA?S DAILY NEWSPAPER :atencionclientes at prisacom.com THE PSOE (POLITICAL PARTY IN POWER) AT: administrador-web at psoe.es YOU CAN ALSO RING THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ON TEL. 00 34 913 95 15 45! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clip_image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 73 bytes Desc: not available URL: